Disclaimer: Same as before. I don't own any of these characters.

Extreme Measures

Chapter 2: Sacrifice

"Alright, so does everyone understand their assignments?" asked Sally as she again stood before the freedom fighters. All in attendance including Antoine, Rotor, Bunny, Sonic, and Tails nodded. "Okay then, so let's head out."

Everyone moved to begin heading out for the mission, but Sonic stayed behind, pulling Tails with him.

"What's up, Sonic?" asked a confused Tails as he looked up into the eyes of his hero, noticing worry. The two tailed fox was very keen when it came to reading people's emotions, and here he was sure there was something wrong.

"Tails, buddy, you sure you're up for this?" questioned Sonic, still noteably worried about having his little buddy go out on a mission without him. "I mean, the security is going to be top notch, and uncle chuck just told us about a new laser gun that robutnik has been working on, which he will no doubt arm all of his swatbots with."

"You don't think I can do it?" asked Tails, obviously hurt that Sonic wasn't confident in his abilities.

"No, it's not that," covered Sonic, aware that he had now hurt his friend's feelings, "it's just that, well, I worry about ya, lil' bro, i just wanna make sure you know what you're doing."

"I'll be fine Sonic, don't worry. And I'll take good care of Bunny too. I'll be just as brave as you are." stated a confident Tails. "Now let's go, everyones leaving without us!"

And with that the little two tailed fox that Sonic called his best friend revved up his tails, and headed off in the direction of the others.

"I know you're brave, little buddy. That's what I'm afraid of." muttered Sonic as he too sped off in the direction of the group.

.........................................................................................................................................

"Hurry up Sal! I can't hold these guys off much longer!" yelled Sonic as he spin dashed through yet another swatbot. "Find robutniks plans already!!"

"I don't think they're here Sonic!" yelled back Sally as she sorted through yet another draw of papers. "Hopefully one of the other's is having more luck!"

"Sally," came a voice from over the communicators, which she quickly recognized as belonging to Rotor, "Antoine and I can't find anything in sector B!"

"Darn it!" stated a frustrated Sally. "Bunny, come in" she spoke into the communicator. "Have you and Tails found anything yet?"

"No, honey, not yet but....wait....what's that Tails? Sally, Tails found it! It looks like some sort of scroll....." said Bunny.

"Great Bunny, alright, everyone fall out to the check point!" yelled Sally over the communicator. With that, Sonic ran over to her, grabbed her hand, and immediately sped off past all the awaiting swatbots in the direction of the checkpoint. They arrived in a matter of moments.

"Is everybody here?" asked Sally a few minutes later.

"Yep, we're all set and ready to go." said an eager Rotor, obviously wanting to get out of Robotnik's base as soon as possible.

"Okay, let's...."

"Not so fast, princess," came Robotniks voice. Everyone looked around in shock, but didn't notice anyone. Thats when Sally realized "it's coming from over the loud speaker!"

"ahh, very good princess," came Robotniks voice again, "I am very impressed that you were able to breach the computer program blocking off the scrolls."

"Computer program?" asked Sonic, glancing over at Tails, who was sporting a huge smile from ear to ear. Sonic could only grin and shake his head. "He's growing up so fast" he said to himself.

"Unfortunately, I cannot let you get away with those. So, I would like you to meet my newest invention."

With that a swatbot carrying some sort of gun stepped out from the adjacent building.

"You created a new swatbot? Great advancement robutnik." laughed Sonic.

"ahh, but it is not the swatbot that is new, hedgehog. Take a look at what is in his hands. I call it, the death ray, a lazer gun powerful enough to kill anyone with one blow. And now," said Robotnik as he pushed a button, " you will all get to experience that first hand."

With that, some kind of sticky substance was dropped on them from overhead, covering all of them and making it so that they couldnt move. All, except Tails that is, who at the time was out of range of the substance. Sonic was first to notice this.

"Tails, run!!" he screamed, fearing what he knew his two tailed accomplice would do next. Unfortunately, his fears became a reality. Tails looked over from his friends to the swatbot, who was now powering up the gun and aiming it straight at the trapped freedom fighters.

"No!!" he screamed as he broke out into an all out run in the direction of the swatbot.

"Tails!!" screamed Sonic, but it was too late. The little fox ran head on into the swatbot, sending it flying into a nearby tree where it broke into bits, but also absorbing the full brunt of the lazer for his trouble. He then fell onto his back, and did not move.

Sonic looked on in shock, watching as his best friend sacrificed himself for him and the others. "NO!!" he screamed, then began to rev up his feet to try to break loose from the sticky substance which had entrapped him. It did not work at first, but with Sonic's determination to get to the side of his fallen comrade, he eventually broke free, and ran straight over to where Tails now lay.

"Tails, TAILS!!" said Sonic as he shook the tiny fox back and forth.

"S..so..nic" came his pain-filled reply.

"Hold on buddy, just hold on!" said Sonic, becoming aware of his inevitable fate. He then looked down to the fox's stomach to see it covered in blood. "Oh god," he said, "please Tails, hold on!"

By now, the others had gotten free and were all surrounding the two, holding their hands to their mouths as they looked on.

"A...aun...t Ss....al...ally," struggled Tails, "here, take the scrolls," he said as he struggled to hand her the peices of parchment. Sally reluctantly took them, tears in her eyes.

"Tails, you listen to me! You are not going to die!" yelled Sonic, now starting to panic.

"S...so...n..ic, I'm ss..ssoo cc.coo..ld aa..nnnn.dd sss...lee...pyy" muttered Tails.

"No Tails! Do not go to sleep! Just hang in there! Please! Please Tails, you can't die. You're my best friend.....my brother...PLEASE!!" cried Sonic as he watched Tails slowly slip away.

"Ss....on...ic, I l..lo...ve y..ou" said Tails, right before closing his eyes, never to be opened again.

"Tails?" questioned a now openly sobbing Sonic, "Tails?....TAILS!!" Now overcome with emotion, Sonic broke down. Hugging the now limp body of his best friend close to his chest, he cried, and cried. The rest of the group also broke out into tears, not only for the loss of their friend, but for Sonic's loss as well. Just then, at a most inopportune time, Robotniks voice once again came from over the loudspeaker.

"aww, how touching! The little fox sacrificed himself for all of his friends! I couldn't have planned it better myself!!"

Sonic then stood up, with Tails's body in his arms. "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS, ROBUTNIK!" he screamed, "I WONT LET YOU GET AWAY WITH THIS!"

In response Robotnik only laughed, making Sonic even angrier.

"JUST YOU WAIT!!" he screamed at the voice. "I WILL GET YOU!"

The laughing persisted.

"ROBOTNIK!!" he screamed again.

"Sonic," said Sally as she tapped him on the shoulder, "we have to get out of here. we can do no more good." she said with tears still readily flowing from her eyes.

Sonic, saying nothing, turned around, and proceeded to speed out of robotropolis, Tails still in his arms, with all the other freedom fighters hot on his trail.