Wow! Thanks for keeping up with this so far, everyone! I'm sure you're reading even if you don't say anything, but reviews are always nice. ) We're almost done! ...With SA3, that is. Only one more chapter to go... but that doesn't mean the story is finished! Keep your eyes peeled for more!
That night Tails had a dream. He dreamed of Alene.
She was sitting on the edge of a rock near the ocean, with the waves going in and out. Her form was illuminated by moonlight, and in that light she seemed almost mystical. She turned to him, and Tails could see her silvery mouth moving to form words, but he could not hear them.
Suddenly the tide started rising, and Alene was swept away on the water. Tails ran toward her, calling, but the sea was too fast and no words escaped his mouth.
Then the tide washed Alene back in, but she lay like a dead thing face down on the beach. Tails turned her over, but her face was that of Gabriel's. He stared with sightless eyes at something overhead. Tails looked up and in the sky was Kerrigan. He laughed cruelly, and beside him was Floyd, badly wounded, and Sonic, dead.
Tails screamed, and Kerrigan disappeared, along with the scene on the beach and everything else. He was standing alone, on nothing, surrounded by nothing.
Then out of the nothingness came Shadow.
"Tails," he said. Tails could not speak.
"What do you know of the metiyas' plan to invade the fortress?"
"N-Nothing," stammered Tails. He found himself feeling horribly afraid, awfully vulnerable.
"Do not lie!" Shadow towered above him, now seemed to be a great and powerful lord.
Tails told him all that he knew.
Shadow shrunk back to normal size and looked thoughtful.
"That will be all. Maybe we shall meet again." Then he vanished in a flash of painfully bright light, and Tails awoke screaming.
"Tails! Shush!" Alene was right next to him, holding her hand over his mouth. He looked up at her with eyes of those who are hunted.
"You'll wake the whole base!" she whispered. Tails realized where he was and closed his mouth.
"What was that all about?" Alene asked, and in her voice was genuine concern.
Tails told Alene his entire terrible dream.
"Sounds like a nightmare. I think you're a little stressed out, with Sonic mad at you and everything. Just go back to sleep. I'm right here - you'll feel better in the morning." With that, Alene went back to her sleeping quarters.
Tails lay back on his cot. The dream had been... too real. That couldn't be right. Something was wrong here...
Tails sighed and turned over on his cot. He decided to think about it in the morning. Soon he was fast asleep, a dreamless sleep.
The next morning he had completely forgotten the dream.
He was preparing to go down to breakfast when there came a knock on the door.
"Come in," Tails called.
Sonic entered, closing the door behind him.
"Tails... we need to talk."
"Okay, I guess," said Tails. He sat down on his cot but did not meet Sonic's eyes.
"Tails..." Sonic sighed. "I'm sorry."
Tails looked up.
"I've been kind of snapping at you since that incident in the city, and I can see you're feeling bad, so... I'm sorry."
Tails shook his head. "No, I should be sorry. I really don't remember anything, but I shouldn't have been..."
Sonic held up his hand. "No. Don't worry about it. Truce?"
He held out his hand to shake.
Tails' smile lit up the whole room.
Gabriel looked at the two coming in for breakfast and smiled.
So they've made up. I'm glad of that, for it will make things a whole lot easier. He walked over to Sonic.
"Good morning, Sonic. I have news for you."
Sonic looked over at him. "What is it?"
"Retio thinks we're ready to invade Hashlar's fortress. We have so many metiyas now that we've had to expand the base. At the last count, we had about 70,000 metiyas here, and more join every day. I want your opinion."
Gabriel looked at Sonic seriously.
"Do you think we're ready?"
"Of course!" said Sonic. "70,000 metiyas should be more than enough!"
Gabriel grinned. "I thought you would say that. All we need are some more weapons and supplies, and then we'll start! I estimate we'll start in... three days."
Tails jumped in excitement. "All right!"
Sonic couldn't help it. He grinned too. During the next two days Retio and Saermore were very busy. The base churned like a beehive, full of activity and excitement. Every one pitched in to help gather the last few supplies and forge the last weapons that were needed. Soon the world would know of their fight for freedom!
Retio hand-picked two infiltration parties. There were to be four people in each group, each carrying a load of rakk. Retio announced to the base who was in what party. Rouge, Tails, Alene, and Harry were picked as the first group. For the second group, Floyd, Cerin, the eagle Destrin, and Retio himself were to go.
For the group whose job it was to fly over the walls, Saermore, Forthos, and twelve other metiyas were picked. The flying machines were built, tested, and ready to fly.
Sonic and Gabriel were picked to lead the army that would distract Hashlar at his fortress gate so the others could slip in.
With all that in mind, the army of metiyas geared for war.
Meanwhile, with Saermore's group...
Saermore mounted his flying machine. The others in his group did the same. Retio, Sonic and the others had left an hour ago, so they should be approaching the fortress by now. Retio was to go in first, then Sonic would distract Hashlar, and lastly, Saermore's group would fly in.
The flying machines were rather clumsy, but at least they worked. They were made out of light but strong wood, and had two wings with some sort of hide stretched across them. You could control it by pedaling the pedals that were located in the cockpit beneath your feet.
Using these pedals, Saermore and his group pushed off the small airway that had been cleared in the forest and took to the air.
The wind rushed against their faces, and Saermore felt the thrill of flying. The machines could not do any fancy loops or anything, but they could fly.
In about fifteen minutes, they reached the fortress (it taking them much less time then those on foot). It was huge, and Saermore finally realized what they were up against.
The fortress was made of thick impenetrable rock (at least impenetrable for ordinary weapons) and stood many stories high. It was a bleak black color and had many towers amongst it. All flew the flag with the sign of the metiya.
Saermore gulped, and then steeled himself. He must not let his army down! Not too far from the front of the fortress, he could see the metiya army mobilized and marching, ready to fight Hashlar's troops that were now pouring out of the gate, armed to the teeth and shouting war cries.
He directed his machine around to the back of the fortress, and then flew in.
Meanwhile, with Retio...
They had sneaked into the passage an hour ago and placed bombs in key points of the fortress. Tails' group had done the same, and now they were waiting for Saermore's team to come in with the detonators. The infiltration groups would have carried the detonators with them, but they were large and unwieldy, and would have looked suspicious. As they were, no one gave the new metiyas a second glance. They hurried around doing various minor tasks that they were assigned to, fearing if they didn't someone would discover them.
Tails asked to go around and check for Saermore's group in the courtyard. Retio agreed absently, knowing Tails' eagerness to get this over with.
About ten minutes later, a toad metiya approached them timidly.
"The Lord Hashlar wishes to see all of you in his throne room," whispered the toad. He then turned around and hurried away.
"The throne room?" Alene whispered to Retio. Retio shook his head uneasily. Something was not right...
They, however, hurried to the throne room as normal metiyas would do. The guards, humans, opened the doors for them, and they went in. Behind them, the guards shut the door and then bolted it...
They crawled in front of Hashlar's throne without making eye contact. Retio, however, peeked up, making sure some of his facial hair obscured his eyes.
Hashlar did not look like a nice man. He was of average height but very gaunt, his skin stretched over his bones. If he was any thinner, he could have been mistaken for a skeleton. He had a short, neatly trimmed beard and a small mustache that curled up at the corners. He wore ornate robes, purple velvet trimmed with gold and silver. On his elaborately wrought belt hung a sword. The hilt was studded with jewels, and the sword was long.
Retio quickly looked back down, an imperceptible movement of his head. "You called for us, my lord?" he asked in a barely audible whisper.
"Yes," replied Hashlar, stroking his beard and smiling evilly. Retio and the others of course could not see this.
"I was reported by one of my... servants that there are spies in the fortress. Have you any knowledge of this?"
Alene tried not to, but she started slightly. Hashlar noticed this and his evil grin grew wider.
There was a short silence. Finally, Hashlar arose.
"Well, I did give you the chance to be honest with me, but I guess you'll have to learn the hard way." One of the guards seized Floyd, and others took the rest of the party, forcing their heads up to look at Hashlar.
"Game's over, Retio," said Hashlar quietly. "Did you really think you could sneak in here unnoticed? My faithful servant informed me just now of your presence." He was grinning broadly now, and his voice had the tone of a cat playing with a mouse before it dies.
"I suppose you will want to know who it is?" said Hashlar lazily. Without waiting for an answer, he gestured behind the throne.
A very familiar figure stepped out. The group gasped. For standing there, with eyes like fire, was Tails.