Hey people! So I've had enough time to finish writing and polishing this one, but, again, I don't know if I'll be able to keep this pace for long. Anyways, as always, hope you like it!

Oh, and I have great plans for the next one. Stay tuned… XOXO

CHAPTER III:

On a rail

It was half past nine when Moon arrived at Southern Station to catch the last train to Soleanna. They went out of the bus, carrying matching duffel bags, and into the station. The air was cold on the outside, and the clouds had filled the evening sky once again, which looked like it could start raining at any moment. Ash was happy to be inside, relatively warmer and free away from the breeze. His cotton jacket, the only jacket he had, wouldn't be very useful in the rain. Moon, on her part, was huddled in her leather jacket, her feathers puffed up to keep her warm.

They walked to the toll and bought two tickets to Soleanna. They then went to Platform 5, where train awaited its passengers. The platform was rather desolate, as not that many people travelled to Soleanna at that time of year. The city mostly received tourists during the summer and on the famous Festival of the Sun, in spring, though there were plans to open a ski resort at the nearby White Acropolis, to draw visitors during winter.

Ash looked at the train. It was an older model, with an elegant design. The route between Central City and the City of Water still had a couple of those old-fashioned, Soleanna-styled engines, as the principality had always strived to project an image of culture and refinement. To Ash, however, it looked just a nicer-than-ordinary train.

It could have been nice, he pondered, visiting Soleanna with Moon, under different circumstances. I don't think we'll have much time to go sightseeing, or shopping, but maybe that's for the best. I don't think my wallet would survive it. Ash had heard that the city was very expensive, and he wasn't sure how long could they afford to stay, should they decide to go solo.

The wolf was lost in thought when he realized that his sister had said something.

"What?" he asked, coming back to reality. "What is it?"

"Erasmus," said Moon. "Over there." She gestured behind Ash with her head. Ash turned around, and indeed, there was the little otter, looking everywhere suspiciously and nervously, until his blue eyes caught sight of Ash's amber ones. Erasmus' face lightened up, and he greeted them as quietly as possible. He then urged them to follow him into the train.

The cars were divided in compartments spacious enough for four people to sit comfortably, or six a bit huddled together. Due to the few people that was boarding, Erasmus said, they wouldn't need to share theirs. They placed their baggage in the overhead compartment, and sat down, waiting for the train to depart.

Not long after, thin raindrops begun running down the window. The train started to move, slow and lazily at first, then gaining speed. Soon they were advancing at a fast and steady pace, the city lights blurred and stretched at both sides, until they disappeared, replaced by a long extension of farmland and small towns. As far as Ash knew, the Paleblight hadn't reached that far south yet, but the experts hadn't been very optimistic about the future. At the interviews, they mostly keep to the same old statements. We're working on it, the government is sparing no expenses, we're testing an experimental fungicide, we advise caution, so on and so forth.

"Once we arrive tomorrow, my friends will pick us up," had said Erasmus. "They'll bring us to a safe house in the city. Depending on how the meeting turns up, our paths may separate then."

"Is there anything else you can tell us?" asked Moon. "That is, that your friends won't mind you sharing."

"Well…" he started, "you already know more than you should, due to my mistake earlier today." He got a little red on his cheeks. "But I'm sure they'll be happy to meet you. They used to have greater means and allies back in the day, but things have been rough as of late."

"I feel you there," said Ash. "We used to have some backing before, too… but enough about that. We should try to get some rest."

There wasn't much talking after that. Erasmus and Moon went to their datapads, and Ash pulled out a book from his bag. It was a crime thriller, and the beginning had really grabbed him. But Ash couldn't concentrate on it, now that the many uncertainties on the horizon kept popping in his mind. He found himself having read the same line three or four times without understanding a word.

After almost an hour of this, he closed the book, and stood up from his seat. Moon gave him an inquisitive look.

"I need to stretch my legs, just that," he said. "I won't be long"

Moon nodded, ant went back to her datapad. Erasmus didn't seem to have noticed, concentrated as he was typing something on his.

Ash headed to the front of the train. A few cars later, he found what he had looking for: the bar car. There was no one there, save for the barman, a balding human in a waistcoat, with a neat moustache, lazily drying glasses.

"Goodnight sir, how may I serve you?" he asked, putting the rag down.

"Goodnight." Ash sat at the bar. "Scotch, neat. No, wait," he interjected before the barman had any time to move, as he remembered he had promised. "On second thought, make that a cup of coffee. Black, one sugar, please."

The barman nodded, and turned to the coffee machine. Ash rubbed his eyes together. He really needed a drink, but a promise was a promise, and he wasn't disappointing Moon with his lack of self-control again.

Memories of the time his sister had found out about him carrying a flask came to his head. He could smile, now, remembering, but at the time it was the maddest Moon had gotten at him. He shuddered at the mental image. She could be so scary when she wanted… It had been his lowest point back then, and it could had cost him dearly. But Moon hadn't given up on him, and neither did the others.

The others, he thought. Hope they're doing fine.

He sighed, the steaming cup waiting in front of him, and sat in silence, taking the occasional sip. Not long after, the car door opened, and a small figure went in. It was Erasmus.

"Do you mind if I accompany you?" he asked Ash, who shook his head.

"No, have a drink with me," he said. Erasmus ordered tea.

The two of them sat there in silence for a moment. Then, Erasmus spoke:

"Actually, I was wondering if I could ask you something. If you don't mind, of course."

"Nah, ask away, kid." Said Ash, nonchalantly. "Though I may not give you an answer.

"Razz," said Erasmus.

"Huh? What did you say?" asked Ash.

"I meant, my friends call me Razz. Or Razzie, you know, it's short for Erasmus?" said Erasmus, a little awkwardly. "I mean, if you want to."

"Ah, well, okay. So, what did you want to know, Razz?"

"I know this is a personal question, but, what is your reason for doing this? I asked Moon the other day, when we met, but she didn't want to elaborate. Now that there's only us… well, I'm just curious, that's all."

Ash didn't answer right away. He took a deep breath and looked at his cup. The coffee that was still inside was getting lukewarm.

So, our past… He didn't enjoy talking about that. Had done so before, sure, and to people whom he trusted even less than Erasmus, but it wasn't a comfortable matter, and told the otter as much.

"And besides," he continued, taking a quick glance at the barman, who didn't appear to have been listening, "I'd rather discuss that more privately".

Erasmus nodded understandingly. They stayed at the bar for a while longer, while Erasmus finished his tea. Then, they paid for each drink and went back to their car.

"Moon must be wondering where we've gone for so long," had said Ash, on the way back. "Best not mention the bar car, ok Razz? Moon might get the wrong idea".

"How so?" asked Erasmus, who followed him shortly.

"Let's just say she may not believe me if I told her I only had coffee,"

"Oh. Alright."

When the pair arrived back at their compartment and opened the door, Moon was fast asleep on her seat. Ash gestured to Erasmus to try and keep it down, and they sat on the opposite bench. Thankfully, Moon was a heavy sleeper, ad didn't seem to have noticed them returning.

Ash exhaled, tiredly. It had been a long day, yet thanks to the caffeine he wasn't sleepy yet. He looked through the window, but the darkness was absolute. Though at least it appeared to have stopped raining.

"Now that we're in here," whispered Erasmus, "do you think we could continue our previous conversation? I mean, about how you two started going after Doctor Eggman. If you want to, that is…" he added somewhat bashfully.

"Yes, I don't mind sharing it," Ash whispered back after a moment. "It's not like it's a secret or something, after all, though it's not something I talk about often. But I would like to know your story too. Eleven year olds don't usually join secret teams in dangerous paramilitary activities. Usually."

Erasmus nodded.

"Yes, that's fair," he said, although he sounded unsure. "So, why do you do this?"

"Crescenton." Erasmus looked at him with eyes wide open. Ash could notice how cold the atmosphere had gotten inside the compartment. That name tended to have that effect on people. "Two hundred and thirty dead in one night," he continued, "all friends, neighbours and family. Everyone that was in town that night. Only Moon and I survived, at least that I know".

Ash couldn't forget that night, even if he tried to, and Lord, he had tried. But in the five years since that night, he could still smell the smoke of burning huts, and hear the gunshots from the army of robots, and the frightened screams of his friends and family, pierced by bullets or blown up to pieces until there was nothing but silence.

It had started with the sight of the massive airship, appearing out of nowhere, hovering over the town. Then, a wave of killer machines flew of out of the ship, opening fire at the town, as the airship pointed its guns and followed suit. Ash and his parents were outside when it happened. He remembered them, trying to shield him from the projectiles, the weight of their bodies over him, out in the mud, and his mother's last words, telling him to play dead. That was what had saved him back then. Staying immobile for what felt like an age. Until he passed by. The bald madman, the monster responsible for that atrocity, just walked by, as if all the destruction and death and pain were of little matter to him, and into the chief's hut, the largest in town. Ash couldn't remember anything more from that night, as he passed out not long after.

The wolf then felt a piercing pain in his paw, as he had clenched it so hard that his claws had went into his palm, drawing blood. The one thing he had almost forgotten was how much he longed for vengeance, after so many failures. And to think that until that morning he had given up on ever paying it all back…

"The morning after, I woke up, and saw the extent of the damage," he continued, after composing himself. "Then, I remember hearing crying from one of the huts. That's when I found Moon. I didn't know her or her family well back then. God, she was your age, or younger, and there she was, a small thing, all alone and scared, just like me."

"Wait," interrupted Erasmus, trying not to raise his voice as to not wake up Moon. "I thought you two were brother and sister. I assumed, hearing you call her 'Sis'…"

"Ah, yes. Well, despite the strong resemblance," said Ash, not without sarcasm, "we are not related. By blood, that is. I took her out of what remained of her house and to safety. I told her that I was going to be his big brother and that I would protect her. And we've been together ever since." But in all fairness, she's done a better job of taking care of me than the other way around, he thought to himself.

"Not long after that, we made de resolution of chasing him and give him hell for that," continued Ash. "But you know the rest. Eggman was gone. Disappeared without leaving any trace. Until now".

Ash looked at Erasmus. The little otter seemed horrified, but also truly saddened by the story.

"I'm sorry, Ash. That all of that happened to you and Moon." Ash could see the sincerity in his eyes, but also something more. It was something he had only seen in his sister's before, in the few times they had talked about the fateful night. Was it…?

"You know the feeling, don't you?" he asked Erasmus. "Who was it that you lost?"

Erasmus took a deep breath. His hands had begun to shake a bit after hearing the question. It took him a moment to compose himself.

"My mother," he said at last, looking on the verge of tears. "She was my only family. We had a large house in Otterdam, by the river."

Ash knew the city by reputation. Otterdam was a busy trade centre, bustling with merchants and artists and peoples from all over the world, making it one of the richest and most culturally diverse cities on the globe.

"We descended from a very wealthy family," went on Erasmus, "and my mother wanted to give me the best education possible, so she sent me to the best schools in the city, assigned me private tutors, and after I turned eight, sent me to college in Rambridge."

"College at age eight?" said Ash, very impressed. Most animals didn't go to college, much less at such a young age.

"Yes, well, I was a good student" responded Erasmus, sounding a bit embarrassed. "Anyways, two years after I began my studies there, in History, Folklore and Mythology, I received the news. My mother… had been murdered." As he said that, his voice started shaking. "This was a year ago. Someone broke into our house and just… murdered her. It wasn't a robbery; nothing was missing. The police didn't find any suspects nor leads, and the case was going nowhere. It was then that I decided to look for answers on my own. My research put me in contact with a group of people that were investigating similar assassinations that had took place in Otterdam around the time when my mother was killed. I can't tell you the details, but in short, we discovered it was Doctor Eggman who had been behind the killings."

"And that group of people is who we're meeting tomorrow?" asked Ash.

"Yes. Listen, Ash, I can't assure they will trust you right away, but now that I know your story, I know that I can." Ash must have looked unsure, since Erasmus felt it necessary to say something more. "I won't tell them of your past if you don't want to, either you or Moon. I promise."

Ash looked at Erasmus. He was beginning to realize that Moon was even more right that she could have imgined. If the kid was acting, then he was the world's greatest actor. Ash didn't usually grow to trust new acquaintances so quickly, if ever, but Erasmus had something about him that just screamed honest. He seemed as if there was no cynicism in him, at all, despite everything, and that he would keep by his principles no matter what. It was almost frightening.

Ash placed a hand on Erasmus' shoulder

"Thank you, Razz," he said. "Well, it's getting late." He stood up, and sat carefully beside Moon, leaving the other bench to Erasmus. "Lay down, and try to get some sleep, kid," he whispered.

"Goodnight, Ash."

"Goodnight, Razz."

Carat walked hurriedly down the main corridor in GUN Headquarters. This was not the old GUN building, which still operated as the seat of the main administration, but the new underground complex. Carat had not been a fan of the change, as she despised the long elevator ride down to the base, which took nearly ten minutes each and every time. But such were how things were now, and as a high ranking officer she had to act professional and keep her opinion on the matter to herself, as the Colonel had been so clear about. Repeatedly.

As she walked down the long tunnel, she could only think of his conversation with Ulster, a couple of hours ago. Moon and Ash had been discovered by GUN, then. She counted on that happening sooner or later, but Eggman's return had screwed up her plans big time. It wasn't going to be easy to convince the Colonel that the kids were not going to get involved, but Carat trusted that she could use her means and influence to misdirect him for at least a while.

So she was, lost in thought, and paying little attention to any of the other personnel in the corridor, when a call behind her took her out of her pondering.

"Major?" said a high, familiar voice, timidly.

Carat turned around to face the owner of this voice. There she was, First Lieutenant Penelope Liszt, known informally as Penny the Skunk, and formally under the codename Astra. She was one of the newer officers in the compound, and like most rookies there, under Carat's supervision. The girl was of middle height, with deep purple fur with stripes of a pure, snowy white, and beautiful hazel eyes. Her puffy tail was almost as tall as her.

Many in the base considered her an eye-turning beauty, though she mostly kept to herself. Carat, as she couldn't help but to think somewhat motherly of her young protégés, wished that the poor girl could loosen up a bit and have some fun. But Penny was devoted to her job and didn't seem to have much care for anything else.

"What is it, Lieutenant?" asked Carat, trying not to sound too impatient. "I have an appointment with the Colonel in five minutes, so please be quick."

"Yes, ma'am. It's about the news."

Ah, yes, the news, Carat thought. It was all everyone had been talking about that day. To say that it had been a stir would be an understatement. For the first time in years, the search for Eggman was once again amongst GUN's top priorities, even if most of the efforts were still destined to the Paleblight research. Carat counted with Penny coming to talk with her about it, and yet she was not happy to have that conversation.

"Walk with me, Lieutenant," she said, starting to stroll before waiting for an answer. Penny was soon by her side. "What is it concretely that you wanted do discuss?" she asked, although she already could imagine the answer.

"Mutt and Pallas. They are going to run after Doctor Eggman now, aren't they?

Here we go, thought Carat.

"You must know where they are, ma'am. I need to ask you to contact them and talk them out of it." The girl was starting to get a bit frantic. "if they try to do it all by themselves they-"

"That's enough, Lieutenant," cut Carat, lowering her tone. "Pallas and Mutt are no longer your concern nor are they children for me to babysit. Keep your attention to your work, where it belongs."

"…Yes, ma'am"

Penny was good at hiding it, but she was hurt, Carat could notice it. She tried to soften her expression and said, more warmly:

"Don't worry about them. You know them well enough, so have trust in them. Whatever they do, they know to take care of themselves."

"I understand, ma'am," said Penny, though sounding unsure still.

"Back to work then, Astra," replied Carat. The girl saluted, and went on her way.

The poor girl, thought Carat. She's still hasn't gotten over them. She sighed. At least she could trust in Penny not doing anything stupid at such a delicate situation, focused as she was in her career. If only Carat could say the same about her superiors…

And as she was thinking that, she found herself at the Colonel's door. She sighed, and knocked.

"Come in," said a voice from the inside. Carat went in.

There he was. GUN commander, Colonel Thomas Cyrus, codename Firth. The Colonel was a tall and thin man in his thirties, with short black hair combed as if he had used a ruler, and impeccably shaven. His eyes were black, cold and beady, and his cheekbones high and prominent. He didn't have anything resembling a sense of humour, which Carat enjoyed to exploit.

Colonel Cyrus had been appointed just two years ago, and had taken the habit of making consistently wrong decisions, at least in Carat's opinion. An opinion which was well respected amongst most of her colleagues, and many others in the city. Carat had always found herself at odds with the upper echelons ever since she started as an auxiliary to GUN, and still after she joined officially. But where she could respect the previous Commander, even if their goals and standards didn't always align, she couldn't see the new one with anything less than contempt, if well hidden behind her taunting. The man was a politician, much more than a soldier, and that wasn't what GUN needed at the helm.

"Did you want to talk to me, sir?" she asked, knowing full well how much it irritated him to be asked stupid questions.

"Yes, Major," he said, sitting behind his desk. "As undoubtedly you must know by now, your former protégés, codenames Pallas and Mutt have been seen here in Central."

"Have they, sir?" Carat continued playing dumb. It seemed to be starting to work, as a vein twitched on the Colonel's forehead.

"Yes, they have," he answered, dryly. "Very few knew them as well as you. What do you make of this news?

"That they… were in town? We're not exactly on speaking terms, sir." Carat could see where this was going, and added "Though if I were a betting woman, I'd say they will be probably looking to settle down. News of Eggman or not, Mutt was already tired of the chase two years ago, and Pallas wouldn't leave him on his own, sir".

"Mutt is of no concern to me, Major," the Colonel said caustically, the bile almost audible. "He is just dumb muscle. Drunk dumb muscle. With some cunning to him, I'll give him that, but barely more than a common grunt. Pallas, on the other hand, could be a valuable asset. Her service record was impeccable. Her loss was a heavy one, her abilities could still be of great use to the cause." As he said this his eyes glanced down to the two files on his desk. Carat couldn't believe that the Colonel could still be that obtuse in this matter. As long as he was in charge, Pallas would not help GUN again. And as for her brother…

"With all due respect, Mutt could had been as valuable an asset if you hadn't gone out of your way to antagonize him. Sir." Carat was almost fuming, but she knew better than to push too far, her self-control being finely tuned after years of dealing with politicians and intelligence agents. In any case, he decided to ignore the remark, but not without giving her a scathing glare.

"We will find about their whereabouts soon enough. Whether they are still here or on their way to Wave Ocean is of little consequence. You are to join the Paleblight research team, and keep out of the Eggman investigation. That's an order."

"Yes, sir," she responded robotically.

"That is all. You may leave."

Carat saluted, and left.

Now in her quarters, Carat locked the door and went to her hidden radio set. She contacted various people, but the conversation was more or less the same. She had done what she could. The agents loyal to her in Central would report sightings of Ash and Moon in the city, and those in Soleanna and its vicinities would see nothing. Of course, she couldn't prevent some true reports reaching Headquarters, but between her maneuver and the blessed bureaucracy, she had bought enough time for them to reach their destination safely.

I've done what I can from here, she thought. But you'll be in good hands.

She hid the radio, and went to bed.