Chapter 2
The walk seemed to take hours to Tails but really it wasn't more than half an hour. The scenery around the three was the same as before, long concrete tunnels, running water and the cold draft. Tails started to shiver from the cold at one point causing Shiro to remove his jacket and place it around Tails' shoulder. Nara still followed on behind, fixated on Tails' tails as they flicked back and forth, before finally deciding to pop the question.
"How'd you get two tails?" she asked curiously.
Tails glanced over his shoulder at the young rabbit and looked at her closely. There was not a hint of malice or cruelty in her voice, just genuine curiosity. Tails gave a small smile and looked back at the path in front of him.
"I was born with them." he responded.
"Did your mum and dad have two tails?"
"I…I don't know. I never knew my parents."
"Oh…"
Nara seemed a bit embarrassed for asking that last question and fell completely silent. Tails glanced over his shoulder again at the rabbit.
"It's ok, don't worry about it." he said.
"Best leave her be." said Shiro quietly.
"Huh?"
"She lost her own parents when she was young too, that's why I'm looking after her."
"Oh…right."
Tails looked back at Nara again for a moment before looking forward again. Presently Shiro stopped and turned to one side turning into a small branching tunnel. It was so narrow that they had to go down it in single file sideways in order to fit without getting stuck. As they progressed further along the small tunnel Tails began to wonder just where they were going. They had said he was in the sewers of Robotnik Square but where was that? Eggman didn't have any cities to call his own, all his bases ended up getting destroyed in one shape or form, where was he? More to the point what were two kids doing living in the sewers?
"How much further is it?" asked Tails quietly.
"Nearly there." replied Shiro finally coming to a stop.
He turned to one side and slipped through another thin passage in the wall. Tails quickly followed, making sure he didn't scrape his burnt hands on the wall as he did. The new passage was even thinner than the other one but it was only about a meter long. A few second later Tails found himself bursting into a large open room. Lights hung from the wall all over with a few small tables littered around the floor. Off to one side lay three piles of rags with what looked like bedding folded up on top of them. From the ceiling was suspended a large plastic tarpaulin which was catching water that dripped from various overhead pipes and fed it slowly down into a series of large barrels at one end of the room. On the other side of the room sat a set of broken down cupboards with a door hanging open allowing Tails to see that it contained food. Shiro stepped past him into the room and called.
"Aero! Hey Aero you here?"
There was a rustling to one side of the room and a small flap of material covering the entrance to another room lifted to reveal a new face. The face was that of a blue fox, his ears were tipped with a black mark and black fur covered his muzzle and chest. His bangs flicked up and then drooped low over his face, which reminded Tails of what his had looked like when he was younger but a bit more exaggerated, but they also look rather shaggy. He wore a pair of baggy deep green cargo pants, a brown sweatband on his right wrist, a pair of black rimmed glasses and a set of white trainers. He quickly stepped out of the room smiling cheerfully.
"Hey Shiro, find any food while you were out?" he said obviously not noticing Tails as he crossed over to where one of the water buckets were.
"No but I did find this." replied Shiro giving a nod in Tails direction.
The fox stopped and looked towards Shiro and Tails, this time taking notice of the new arrival.
"What the? Shiro where'd you find him?" he asked.
"He was in one of the sewer passages, he's got injuries too, have we got any medical stuff left?"
"I'm not sure, Nara used most of it when she fell of that water pipe a few months back."
Out of the corner of his eye Tails could see the small rabbit shifting around nervously as if she felt sorry for what she had done. During this time the fox had crossed over to a cupboard on the near wall and was rummaging through it. After a bit of searching he finally pulled out some bandages and a small tub of something.
"We don't have much left so use it sparingly ok." he said handing the items to Shiro.
Shiro took them quickly and started to walk over to the water barrels beckoning Tails as he did. Tails slowly followed as the other fox passed him and went to talk to Nara. Shiro set the items down on a crate next to the barrels and pointed at the open barrel.
"Take those gloves off if you can and stick your hands in there. Gotta get those hands cleaned off before we dress them."
Tails gave a small understanding nod and looked at his hands. He had managed to leave them unclasped since he opened his hands earlier in the sewers but it now became apparent that he couldn't remove his gloves without causing pain to himself. He slowly raised his left hand to his muzzle and tried to pull the burnt glove off with his teeth but failed in his attempt, finally lowering his hand and looking at Shiro.
"Could you?" he asked sheepishly holding out his hands.
"No problem." replied Shiro.
Shiro reached forward and took hold of Tails gloves but not before pulling a small flick knife from his pocket. He quickly cut what was left of Tails' gloves and let the tattered pieces fall to the ground. He nodded towards the water bucket and Tails slowly submerged his hands into the water. The sting was evident on his expression as the cold water started to sooth his burns. Tails' expression soon relaxed though as he started to swish his hands around slightly allowing the water to do its work. He could have stood there for hours but Shiro finally indicated that it was enough and he removed his hand. Shiro then proceeded to dab Tails' hands dry using an old rag and then opened the tub the fox had given him.
"What's that?" asked Tails a little wary.
"It's like an antiseptic cream but we make it ourselves. Problem is the mould we make it from it getting a bit scarce now so we have to be careful how much we use." replied Shiro scooping out a glob of the cream.
Tails looked at it for a moment and rose and eyebrow. The cream was a rusty red colour and looked like it had lumps of some kind in it.
"It's ok you know, I can do without if you're short." said Tails quickly.
"No worries, we got enough to treat you, besides those burns are pretty serious. Now hold still, this might sting a little."
Tails held out his hands allowing Shiro to rub a small amount into his left palm. As the cream touched his skin he gave a sharp yelp, the cream immediately having an effect as it touched his wounds. He bore out the pain as best he could as Shiro applied a coat of the cream to both his hands and then put it away. He then took out some old looking cloth bandages and proceeded to wrap each of Tails hands up in them. By the time Shiro was finished Tails' hands looked more like white stubs but Tails had to admit that he'd done a good job and the cream really was working.
"Thanks." he said giving a small smile.
Shiro waved his hands out to the side and smiled himself.
"Think nothing of it, if we can't help our own kind what is this world coming to?" he replied.
"Yo Shiro! You done yet? I've got a fire going if you want to warm up a bit." shouted the fox from earlier across the room.
Tails felt his fur bristle at the mention of a fire. He hadn't noticed much before now but the sewers were really quite cold. Shiro noticed his reaction and stepped up beside him, placing an arm round his shoulders.
"Come on you can come share our fire and have a bit to eat if you like and in return you can tell us what you're doing here." he said guiding Tails over to the fire.
Tails was only happy to obey and followed Shiro's guiding hand over to the fire where he promptly sat down on a small cushion and started to warm himself in front of the fire. Shiro sat down across from him and a moment later both the fox and Nara appeared with a few drinks and a bit of food which they set down next to the group before sitting down themselves. There was a moment of silence before Shiro spoke.
"Well I guess introductions are in order, proper ones this time. I'm Shiro, just Shiro. This is Nara and the one you haven't met yet is Aero."
Tails looked over at the fox who in turn gave a small wave.
"Pleased to meet you, who are you anyway?" he asked politely.
"I'm Miles, Miles Prower, but most people call me Tails." replied Tails.
"Tails? Why Tails?" asked Aero.
"Because he has…" murmured Nara quietly.
"Because I have two tails." finished Tails flicking his twin appendage into view.
Aero gave a blink and then removed his glasses, giving them a wipe on his trousers before placing them back on his nose.
"I noticed that earlier but I though my eyes were messing up again." he chuckled, "Isn't that a little odd?"
"I guess so but I'm used to it. Besides they're useful." replied Tails flicking his tails back behind him.
"Useful? How so?" asked Shiro sitting forwards.
"Would you like a demonstration?" asked Tails glancing round the group.
Shiro and Aero looked at him with a bit of suspicion whereas Nara was looking on curiously. Tails waved his hands and then stood up, backing off a few meters to gain some free space.
"I'll keep it low or I'll probably knock a load of things over in this confined space."
Tails slowly leaned over forwards slightly and gave his tails a quick spin, lifting his feet from the ground by about a floor. A small draft built up in the room, kicking up a bit of dirt and nearly blowing out the fire. Tails quickly stopped when he saw this, dropping back to the floor again and walking back over to the fire. The three furries around him did nothing but stare at him as he sat down again and started to warm himself once more. After a moment he looked round at them all and spoke.
"See."
"That was…." started Shiro.
"Amazing!" finished Aero, "I never thought a fellow vulpine would be able to do that!"
"Well it took a while to learn how to do that." said Tails smiling slightly at the comment.
"I can imagine." replied Aero looking round at his single tails, "Makes me wish I had two tails now!"
"Oh believe me you don't want that kind of attention." put in Tails quickly, "Sometimes it's just a nuisance."
Aero nodded slightly, still casting glances at his own tail. Shiro slowly leaned back and took hold of one of the trays of food, bringing it forward into view.
"You hungry?" he asked.
"Starving." replied Tails glancing over at him.
"Well it's not gourmet cooking but you can have a bit if you like."
Tails looked at the contents of the tray, there was a bit of bread, a few raw vegetables, some sort of cooked fish and a small tub of nuts. Shiro held out the tray towards Tails and slowly Tails reached forward, plucking a piece of bread from the tray. Holding it between his bandaged paws he began to nibble at it. The bread wasn't all that appetising but Tails was too hungry to care. Shiro then offered the tray around the others starting with Aero.
"You mind if I…?" he asked.
"No course not, I had it last time remember." replied Shiro with a smile.
Aero gave a smile in return and swiftly picked the fish from the tray, tearing into it with a vengeance. Tails couldn't help but stare slightly at him which Aero noticed and stopped just long enough to speak.
"We don't get a lot of meat or fish down here. That doesn't bother Nara but Shiro and I need it so we kind of jump at any chance we get." he said before tearing into his fish again.
"I see." replied Tails as he resumed his nibbling.
Tails then cast a glance at Nara, the young rabbit was now holding a carrot between her hands and was gnawing on it slowly. Her ears drooped down right in front of her face but Tails could still see her eyes, shifting slowly around the ground nervously. Shiro set the tray down behind him but not before taking a handful of nuts from the bowl, which he started eating as he looked round the group.
"So, now that introductions are taken care of why not tell us a bit about yourself Tails? Where do you come from? How old are you? Stuff like that." he asked looking at Tails.
"Ok sure, well you know my name and the reason for it so I'll move on." replied Tails, "I come from Western Isle and I'm twelve years old."
"Twelve eh? You look older." said Aero.
"Really?" asked Tails looking down at himself.
"Yeah, and Western Isle eh. I've only heard of that place myself, I can't imagine how you survived there." put in Shiro.
"Huh?" questioned Tails, "What do you mean by that? Western Isle is a beautiful place."
"Beautiful place?! What planet do you come from? How can you describe an island covered in barren wastelands and machines a beautiful place?"
"Wha…what?"
Tails' expression change to one of puzzlement and fear, he had no idea what they were talking about.
"That's not true!" he objected, "I was just there a few weeks ago walking under the canopy of the forests, visiting my hometown, meeting my old friends. It's a paradise! Crystal blue seas, golden yellow beaches, acres of lush green forest, huge towering snow capped mountains…"
"The mountains are still there but they aren't snow capped any more." said Aero.
"What are you talking about? What's happened to Western Isle?" asked Tails.
"You really don't know?" asked Shiro questionably.
"Know what?" replied Tails.
Aero and Shiro looked at each other for a moment before looking back at Tails.
"Robotnik took over Western Isle over five years ago Tails, he turned it into an island of hell." said Aero.
"Huh?!" blinked Tails, his colour fading from his face.
Aero and Shiro just watched Tails' reaction to this news with interest. Tails then started to glance frantically round the room in a mild panic.
"What's going on here? What's going on? Where's Sonic?" he started saying over and over.
"Sonic?" questioned Shiro slowly before his eyes went wide in revelation, "No! You're not THE Tails are you?"
"Who do you think I am?" replied Tails now getting a bit frantic.
"My lord!" said Aero slowly catching onto Shiro's revelation.
Nara just sat sucking on her carrot looking around nervously from behind her ears. Tails was now looking from Shiro and Aero and back again, searching for answers to his questions in their eyes but finding none. Slowly his head sunk to his chest in defeat and confusion.
"What's going on?" he murmured.
"Tails, where have you been all this time?" asked Aero.
"What do you mean all this time? The last thing I remember I was…in Eggman's base helping Sonic to recover the Master Emerald. Eggman brought out this huge robot which Sonic started to fight as I went after the Master Emerald. Then this generator started drawing power out of the Emerald and I grabbed the Emerald trying to pull it free but I burnt my hands and passed out. The next thing I remember was waking up in the tunnel with you earlier." said Tails quickly.
Aero and Shiro looked at each other in amazement for a moment before looking back at Tails.
"Tails, history records that both you and Sonic died trying to stop Robotnik eight years ago." said Shiro slowly.
"Eight…years ago?" repeated Tails, his ears drooping, "How is that possible and…no! Sonic isn't dead! I have to find him!"
Tails was on his feet a moment later and walking purposefully towards the crack in the wall leading back to the sewers when he suddenly felt something fasten itself around his leg. Looking down he saw that it was Nara the young rabbit. Her small body shook as she wrapped her arms tighter around Tails' right leg, looking up at him from underneath her drooping ears.
"Don't go…" she whimpered softly, "Please don't go…"
Tails looked away from the rabbit for a moment and back at the crack in the wall before looking back at Nara. He repeated this a few times his expression a mix of fear for his lost friend and sadness before finally looking back at Nara. The rabbit was still looking up at him, her eyes fixed on his face and tears starting to form in her eyes. Tails slowly pulled her off his leg and bent down to her eye level, placing a hand on her shoulder and using the other to brush her tears away.
"It's ok Nara, I'm not going to do anything rash." he said.
"I don't want you to do! It's dangerous out there!" replied Nara slowly, "I don't want to see anyone else get hurt."
"I won't get hurt Nara, I know how to look after myself."
"But if what you say is true then this isn't the world you know Tails." put in Shiro.
Tails slowly looked over at the racoon and then looked away at the ground, a slight growl emanating from his muzzle. Tails suddenly felt Nara start to shake under his hands at this last action and he turned back to her. Nara was now looking down, only just glancing up at Tails with her eyes, her face nearly completely hidden by her ears. "Sorry Nara." Tails sighed in defeat, "I…"
Tails didn't finish his sentence, instead he gave a sigh and stood up, walking over to the far side of the room and sitting down on the floor with his back against the wall. He tucked his knees up to his chest and lowered his head to his knees before wrapping his arms around his legs. Tails just couldn't make any sense of it, it was like he'd fallen into a bad dream and couldn't wake up. What had happened to Sonic? What was going on in the world around him? Slowly tears of his own started to form in his eyes and a lump formed in his throat. Shiro and Aero just stood side by side a little way off watching him, they'd already gone through this stage earlier in their life but they knew how it felt and they both knew it was probably worst for Tails. Nara just stayed still where Tails had left her, her eyes filling with fresh tears as she watched the kit start to cry. It was only a few more moments before she got to her feet and sprinted the short distance to where Tails sat, collapsing next to him and bursting into floods of tears herself. Tails responded by putting one of his arms around the small rabbit and hugging her close, to which Nara responded by hugging him back. Shiro and Aero slowly turned away from the pair and started to walk across the room talking quietly to each other as they did.
"Poor guy." commented Shiro.
"You really believe everything he's said?" asked Aero.
"I don't know Aero but judging from his reaction he's either a good actor or he really is telling the truth."
"You really think he's THE Tails?"
"Do you doubt your own kin Aero?"
"No never! It's just hard to comprehend. I mean I know I'm not really old enough to remember the stories of Sonic and Tails, I was only two when they were killed, but if this really is him…where has he been for the last eight years?"
"I don't know Aero and something tells me that even he doesn't know."
"You think he has amnesia?"
"That only covers the last eight years? That'd be pretty strange Aero."
"I know Shiro but I mean what else is there?"
"I don't know Aero but even if he had amnesia he'd have still grown."
"Huh?"
"Listen, when those two were apparently killed I believe Tails was twelve from what I can remember. Even if he's been wandering around lost in his head for the last eight years he should be twenty by now! He doesn't look any older than you Aero."
The pair slowly looked back at Tails and Nara, still wrapped in each others arms crying.
"He sure doesn't have the emotions of a twenty year old either." observed Aero.
"Exactly!" agreed Shiro, "There has to be more to this but I don't think asking him about it now would be a good idea, we'll try tomorrow. For tonight lets let him rest, Aero go grab an extra set of bedding."
"I don't know what we have spare but I'll do my best."
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Tails lay awake on the floor staring up at the ceiling. The room was nearly completely black apart from the light of a bedside lamp that had been placed next to Nara, apparently she didn't like sleeping in the dark. The only sounds in the room were the steady, somewhat loud breathing of Aero, the steady of dripping water from the pipes above them and the distant trickle of water running along the sewers back in the main passage. Tails shivered slightly, his fur sticking up due to the cold. He had placed his bed at the opposite side of the room to the other three, not out of mistrust, but just because he didn't feel comfortable yet. His body yearned to move his bed over to where the other three slept and nuzzle into them, sharing body heat, but instead he just wrapped the scratty piece of blanket tighter around him. Even his twin tails weren't enough to keep him warm in this place.
Tails started to think about what the others had said to him earlier. Eight years? Could eight years really have passed? What had happened to him to make him miss that much? Had he passed out or fallen into a coma? That wouldn't explain waking up in the sewers though, how'd he get there? More questions like these started flying around in his head, a lot of them about Sonic and what had happened to him. They had said Sonic was dead but that couldn't be true, Sonic would never die that easily and certainly not before he had defeated Robotnik. Speaking of Robotnik, just what had happened to this world? They had spoken of him taking over Western Isle and Robotnik Square. How had Eggman been able to do this?
He slowly sat up and looked around the darkened room. He'd never get any answers hiding out down here, he'd have to go out and look for himself. He had to find out what had happened for himself. Quietly he swung the blanket off himself and stood up. He glanced around the room for a moment before his eyes a small book of tattered paper sitting to one side. He crossed over to it and tore a thin slip off a sheet before looking for a writing implement. He finally found a felt marker and sat down on his blanket before he wrote out a quick note and then crossed to the sleeping trio. He tucked the note carefully under the lamp and then looked at the sleeping furries. He smiled slightly and then ruffled the hair on Nara's head slightly. The rabbit stirred in her sleep, giving a happy murmur as she did.
"Forgive me for leaving guy…but I have to."
Tails slowly straightened up and started to walk away, casting a final glance backwards before slipping into the crack in the wall. The darkness grew around him as he passed out of range of the small lamp and entered the next thin passage although his eyes were just able to make out shapes in the darkness. He slowly progressed along the tunnel, becoming more nervous and tentative as he did, the tunnel seemed to be a lot longer than he remembered it being. At last he heard the noise of the running water in the sewer channel getting louder and he finally appeared in the main tunnel. He wasn't sure which way to go but he knew whichever way he decided on he wouldn't be able to find this place again. After a moment he decided to go right and set off down the narrow walkway beside the sewer channel. As he walked he listened to his footsteps as they hit the concrete over and over and began to wonder if he was doing the right thing. Leaving without even telling them, going out to look for Sonic on his own, leaving those three by themselves again. Was it right?
Presently something caught his eye, a small glint in the darkness as light shone on something metallic. He slowly edge closer to find a ring of light shining down on the sewer floor and leading up to it a small metal ladder. The light was coming in round the edges of a circular manhole cover but was still enough to illuminate the area. For a moment Tails paused looking up at the sewer ceiling and the ring of light. This was the point of no return for him, if he went on he knew he'd never go back and if he went back he knew he'd never try this again. The urges to help the others and to look for his friends started bouncing off each other in his head until one finally won over the other. With a short sigh he placed one of his arms round the first rung and then wrapped his second round the next rung. Slowly he climbed the metal ladder, finding it a fairly difficult task due to his bandaged hands but finally made it up to the cover. He lowered his head and pushed up with his left shoulder slowly edging the manhole cover up and then to the side. He then used one of his arms to push the cover all the way off and popped his head out into the open. He was instantly hit by a cold wind that nearly froze the fur on his face. He shivered heavily ducking back down into the sewer and curling up slightly as he clung to the ladder. He understood why the other furries had been wearing clothes now, the weather really was perishing cold. Bracing himself for the chill, Tails slowly lifted himself out of the sewer and slid the manhole cover back into place. Slowly he stood up and looked around at his surroundings.
He was standing in the middle of a crossroads with tall building shooting up towards the sky all around him. They were all constructed of a dull concrete brick and had metal girders and plating all over them, obviously not design for aesthetics but more for function and cheapness. A few street lights were scattered around the streets, each giving off the occasional flicker of yellow light illuminating the area when they did. Tails couldn't see a single living creature or plant anywhere at all, it was if the entire place was a ghost town. High above him the moon was shining brightly, occasionally being blotted out by a passing cloud, and all the while the cold wind blew.
Tails looked down each of the four streets one at a time pondering which one to take. They all looked the same yet strangely they all seemed familiar as if he'd been here before. Finally picking the street straight ahead of him he started to walk at a steady pace. As he walked along he glanced from side to side looking at the various buildings. He passed what appeared to by an electrical equipment shop, the window smashed and broken gear spewing from it. The next building appeared to be an apartment block, the windows all boarded up and rubbish crammed into the door corners. Third came a clothes shop, a few window dummies still stood in the window covered in dust. The trend continued as Tails continued on, numerous other builds and shop all as deserted as the last. Tails finally came to another junction, this time a t junction with a left and right choice, he chose left and continued on into the town.
The wind continued to blow making Tails' fur bristle but it wasn't the only thing making it bristle. He hadn't been sure for a while but he now knew something was following his movements. Something or was it lots of things? A rustle to his right in a dark alley, a brief clang from the roof tops above, a whir from a shop to his left. His pace quickened, panic and fear now starting to fill his mind, until finally he broke into a run. As he tore down the street his pursuers finally showed themselves, creeping from alleyways, shops and rooftops all around him. Ten, no twenty, no more, robots started pouring into the streets all around him. Some looked like spiders, others like short men and a few looked like giant snakes. Tails pressed his eyes together tightly, wishing it was all a dream and that he'd wake up in his bed at home. It didn't happen though, he didn't wake up and instead the robots started to close in all around him. Realising his position Tails quickly took to the air, hoping to fly over the gathering mass of metal. His plan appeared to be working before a few specks appeared in the night sky moments before three new robots shot down towards him. Tails only caught a brief glance at the new robots, they looked like a double set of triangles fixed together, the forward triangle smaller than the rear one. Tails swerved in mid air, narrowly avoiding the robots charge, but in doing so crashed into a lamp post and fell back to the ground. Luckily he had cleared the surrounding robots and decided to just run, going into a sprint down the street. It was then that a faint sharp sound caught his ear moments before a sharp sting flew down his right arm. He gave a scream and tripped over, rolling for a moment before coming to a stop. He glanced over at his arm to see a large needle like device imbedded in it, which he quickly smashed with his bandaged paw knocking it off his arm. For a moment he just looked at the needle, feeling his arm starting to go numb as he did. It didn't take much longer for this numbness to spread around his body and he started to feel sleepy.
"No…can't…must find…Sonic…" he murmured quietly before finally falling unconscious.
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Nara stirred slightly, her eyes slowly fluttering open as she woke. Even though night and day didn't really exist in the sewer the natural instinct to go to sleep and wake up was still there and Nara was renowned as an early riser. She slowly rolled away from the other two and folded her bedding up against the wall before looking around. She found herself looking at Tails empty bed and cocked her head slightly in puzzlement. Giving another glance around the room she discovered Tails was not in the room and her puzzlement grew. She headed over to the curtain that served as a door to the second room and stuck her head through it.
"Tails! You here?" he said happily.
A further look around the room, which was used for storing various items, found that Tails was not their either. Her head quickly whipped back to the main room and she cast another glance around before darting over to Tails bed and checking, finding that he wasn't their in a second. Nara was now worried and she quickly darted over to where Shiro and Aero were sleeping, grabbing Shiro and shaking him quickly to wake him up.
"Shiro! Shiro wake up!" she cried.
The racoon groaned slightly and curled up.
"Nara! Lemme sleep some more will you." he moaned.
"He's gone! Tails is gone! Shiro wake up!" cried Nara quickly.
"Huh?"
Shiro sat up quickly, forgetting his sleepiness for the moment, and looked around the room before finally looking at Nara.
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" he asked.
"I can't find him, I just woke up and I can't find him." replied Nara panicking slightly.
"It's alright Nara, calm down."
Shiro quickly brought Nara into a hug with one arm and used his other to grab Aero's shoulder.
"Hey Aero! Aero you lazy sack of potatoes wake up!" said Shiro quickly giving the shoulder a shake.
The fox rolled over and moaned before sitting up and rummaging around for his glasses. When he finally found them he quickly placed them on his nose and focussed on Shiro.
"Shiro you clown! It was my turn to sleep in today." he complained giving a huge yawn.
"Aero we have more important things to worry about right now, Tails has disappeared." replied Shiro standing up.
"Disappeared?" asked Aero, "What do you mean?"
"He's not here dummy! We have to find him."
Aero finally realised the situation and gave himself a quick shake to wake himself up before he made a move to pick up the lamp when suddenly he stopped. He had noticed the slip of paper Tails had left under the lamp and quickly whipped it out.
"What's that Aero?" asked Shiro quickly.
"Trouble! Read for yourself." replied the red fox handing the note to Shiro who quickly snatched it off him.
"Sorry guys but I can't stay here." read Shiro, "Sonic has to be alive somewhere and I have to find him. I thank you for your kindness during my stay but now I take my leave. Farewell and keep safe, Tails."
Shiro slowly let the note drop to the ground a look of astonishment crossing his face as he did. It wasn't a moment later that Nara burst into tears and collapsed into a heap on the floor making Aero rush to her side and embrace her. The fox looked over at Shiro and asked the obvious question.
"What do we do? If he went out during the night he's more than likely been captured by the patrols."
"Simple." replied Shiro, "We rescue him!"
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Tails gave a small moan as he slowly started to come round, his consciousness slowly starting to return to him. At first he simply lay still, curled into a loose ball where he lay, but finally he slowly raised his head. At first the world was a grey fuzz but slowly things started to come into focus and Tails was surprised to find that the grey fuzz hadn't been far from the truth. He found himself staring at a plain grey concrete wall which was lined with numerous cracks and had a pretty rough finish. Tails lay studying the wall for a moment before a stinging feeling in his hands distracted him. Tails slowly brought his hands up to look at them and found himself staring at his burns once again, the tattered remains of his bandages hanging from them. He winced slightly and rolled slowly onto his front, pushing himself up onto his knees as he did. What greeted his vision made him give a sharp yelp of alarm.
Long, thick metal bars stretched across the front of the concrete room he was in proving it could only be one thing, a cell. Tails' ears drew back immediately, the events of earlier coming back to his mind. He glanced around again, looking for a way out but found no vents or windows in the cell at all just plain concrete walls. It was then that he heard a faint robotic whirr from along the corridor and his head snapped up quickly. A small hovering robot soon came into view, it was basically a large round ball with several long spindly arms sticking out of it. On the top was a small antenna dish and the whole thing was covered in a multitude of coloured lights. Tails watched from his position on the floor as it turned towards him and clicked for a few moments before suddenly shooting off down the corridor. Tails quickly pulled himself to his feet and rushed over to the bars but the robot was gone before he got there. He pressed his muzzle up close to the bars and tried to look down the corridor after the robot but he couldn't see any more than a few meters along the corridor. He slowly took a step back and turned around, leaning his back against the bars of the cell. He slowly raised his left hand to his muzzle and started to absently gnaw on his middle finger. As he did the hot breath from his nose passed over his burnt hands making them sting slightly. He ignored this and started to cast his glance around the room slowly, puzzling over what exactly he was going to do. He had been captured and thus escape was a top priority but Tails had to admit to himself that he was puzzled over what was going on. Had everything Shiro and the other had said been true? His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the corridor and the slight tingle of metal against itself. Tails slowly turned to look over his shoulder and pressed his face against the bars trying to see who was approaching. The corridor was dark, lit by no lights, and only a small single bulb hung from the ceiling of his cell so it was very difficult to see who was approaching. All Tails could see was a rounded shape moving towards the cell but as it drew nearer Tails started to back off slightly. In the dim light from his cell he could now see small metal buckles and a pair of goggles glinting. Colours started to become more apparent, a bright red and a deep black, a general shape started to form, a large rounded figure. Tails quickly jumped back and took up a fighting pose as finally the figure can into the light, Robotnik. Tails recognised him easily but he looked slightly different to what he remembered, firstly his moustache was a lighter shade of brown and the tips were slightly grey. His clothes were similar to what he usually wore but now had large gold shoulder pads and his jacket had a few tassels hanging from it.
Tails couldn't help but growl as the plump man stopped in front of him. Robotnik didn't say anything or move for a moment but then finally gave a sharp chuckle.
"Well well! I would never have thought it possible if I hadn't been here myself." he said rubbing his chin slightly.
"Thought what?!" growled Tails in response standing his ground.
"That you're alive my furry friend. I had always though you'd died all those years ago but it appears not to be the case."
"What are you talking about?"
"Then you are as ignorant as I thought you would be. No matter, let me show you."
Robotnik quickly raised his arm and a portion of the cell door slid up into the ceiling. Seeing this as maybe his only chance to escape, Tails leaped forwards aiming straight for Robotnik. However, just as he cleared the cell doors two robots, like the one that had appeared earlier, darted out of the shadows. Tails was too occupied with Robotnik and escape to notice and before he knew it the two robots were on him. It only took a moment for a robotic arm from each robot to fasten onto Tails' wrists and hold him still. The two robots then moved upwards sharply, pulling Tails off the floor, and a further four robotic arms attached themselves to his ankles and tails. Tails hung suspended between the two robots completely helpless and unable to move, this however didn't stop him from struggling.
"ARGH! Damn you Robotnik!" he cried straining at the restraints.
"Bah! You're still as idiotic as ever Tails, do you really think you could escape that easily?" chuckled Robotnik.
"Yes actually!" replied Tails smiling at Robotnik.
Robotnik's chuckle faded in a flash and he reached forward sharply, grabbing Tails' hands and pulling them up into view. Tails couldn't help but yelp as Robotnik did this. The burns, although for a time soothed by the antiseptic cream, still hurt. Robotnik held Tails' hand palm up allowing both of them to see the burns.
"Now I am sure of what happened." he said letting go of Tails hands, "Bring him!"
Robotnik turned and started to walk down the corridor out of the cell block. As he did the two robots started to hover after him, bringing Tails along with them as they did. Tails was now watching everything closely, trying desperately to find someway that he could escape. He still couldn't believe what was going on but for now he was more concerned with how to escape. He was looking in every which direction trying to find a vest or something that he could use to escape. He then stopped and looked at the two robots holding him and hung his head.
"God what have I got myself into…?" he asked quietly to himself.
