Okay, this chapter is slower then the others, but it is a necessary part of the story. It's basically James finding out more about the hedgehogs and the hedgehogs finding out more about James. Things should get more interesting in the next few chapters. Enjoy and thanks again for the continued reviews.

In the city, Sonic and co. had arrived back at their little underground base. To them, it was home sweet home, but for James, who had to keep his head low to avoid smashing into the ceiling, it felt like walking around in a shoebox.

In the living room, everyone was settled in, Manic was playing video games, while Sonia was at her keyboard and practiced a few songs.

Sonic walked in from the kitchen, carrying with him a can of soda. He handed it to James.

"Here ya go."

James nodded a thank you, and then quickly opened it and drank half of it in one shot.

Sonic looked a little surprised, but he just smiled about it. "Guess people like you can develop quite a thirst."

James shook his head.

"Man, you have no idea."

He downed the rest of the drink, and swiftly crushed the can on his forehead. He took aim and threw the crushed tin into the kitchen, landing perfectly in the trash bin.

Manic looked up from his game at the site of that. He laughed.

"Hey, he shoots better then you do."

Sonic glanced at him. "Yeah, very funny."

James chuckled at the two brothers sarcasm toward each other. Reminded him of him and Lars during their child hood. But it also made him remember that the rest of his band was still trapped in Prison. But he didn't want to dwell on that thought at the moment. He shook his head and tried to clear it away.

He walked over and carefully sat down on the armrest of the couch, making a makeshift seat. He glanced around at the hedgehogs

"By the way, I just wanted to say thanks for saving my ass up there earlier."

"It was really no problem," Sonic said. "It's what we do."

"That's right," Sonia said, looking up from her keyboard.

"We're the group that keeps things at peace up there. Us and the rest of the Freedom Fighters."

James cocked his head, confused.

"Freedom Fighters? What's that, like some kind of resistance?"

"That's exactly what it is," Sonic said. "We fight for freedom of all Mobians against the evil empire of Doctor Robotnik."

James got slightly enraged at the name of Robotnik, but he kept it inside.

"Empire? You mean this guys controls this place?"

"Not just this place, most of the planet. But we get more people joining our side every day. The stronger the Freedom Fighters get, the more we can kick Robotnik's but!"

Manic looked up from his video game, smiling. "Right on, Bro!"

James scratched his head.

"Okay, I get that. But who are Mobians? That's what the people on this world are called?"

Sonic put on a sarcastic grin. "Well duh! The planet is called Mobius."

Everyone got a quick laugh.

Sonia walked up and sat on the couch next to James.

"So…James, right? Why don't you tell us something about where you come from."

Manic looked up from his video game.

"Yeah, let's here something about you."

He put down his controller and moved up to the others, sitting on the floor in front of James. Sonic sat up in his chair. All three were ready to listen.

James looked around at his audience. He figured that it'd be only fair to answer their questions, since they answered some of his.

"Well," he started, "I come from a world called Earth. It's a place that you could say is a lot like this planet, only humans are the dominant force, not animals."

Manic smirked.

"Humans? Is that what the people on your world are called?" He was mocking James earlier statement. Sonic and Sonia laughed a little. "Very funny" James said.

Sonia got herself back under control.

"Okay, animals don't run the planet, but do they still exist on your world?"

James nodded. "Yeah, but the thing is, they can't talk or stand on their feet or do stuff like humans can. Or you guys for that matter. The animals on our world run wild in their own habitats. And no, they don't live in big cities or little houses."

The hedgehogs were surprised yet amazed to be hearing this.

"Who controls your world?" Sonia asked.

"Really, the planet is divided into seven continents, each broken up into lots of countries. Each country has it's own government."

"Does that mean things are always at peace?" Sonic asked.

"No," James said, "Unfortunately, some governments don't really see eye to eye. Our history is full of wars and stuff like that. But we try to let different countries deal with their problems on their own. To each his own, you know?"

The hedgehogs nodded in understanding. For a minute, no one spoke. But Sonia was still curious, so she finally gave another question.

"James, are you the only one that Robotnik brought to this world?"

James looked up. He wasn't really in the mood to talk about that subject, but it was brought up, and if he didn't answer it now, they'd probably pester him about it later. He took a deep breath.

"Well…no. Actually, He sucked me and three of my friends here as well."

"Your friends?"

"Yeah. And they're still locked up at the bastard's base. I wish I could've gotten them out, but I was lucky to make it myself."

"That's sad," Sonia said with genuine sympathy.

"Must suck knowing that a madman's got your friends trapped in a prison cell," Manic added."

James looked off into space for a minute.

"Yeah, it does. And if I had the help, I'd go back there and get em' out so we cold get back to our world."

There was a brief silence. James finally broke his gaze and looked away. It was clear he didn't want to go any further into that topic. And who could blame him?

After a minute, James let out a yawn. He didn't know what time it was, since he had forgotten to put his watch on before being captured. But what he did know was that after a day like today, he was tired.

He slowly stood up, being mindful of the ceiling.

"Say, you guys wouldn't happen to have a place where I can sleep for the night do ya? Like a guest room?"

The hedgehogs looked at each other, then back to James.

"Yeah," Sonic said, pointing down a hallway at the end of the room, "We have a room at the end of that hallway. Make yourself at home."

James nodded.

"Thanks."

He slowly turned and walked toward the hallway, keeping his head low the whole way.

When he reached the room, the first thing he noticed was how small the bed was. The headboard didn't even go up to his shoulders.

"Just great. There's more room in my fucking shoe then there is in there." But then, he remembered that noting in the base wasn't built for humans.

He looked around for some alternate means, and he noticed that the floor had a whole lot of space.

"Better then nothing."

He went up to the bed and pulled the small blanket and pillow off, then carefully lied down on the floor and tried to make himself comfortable.

"It's going to be a long night," he said to himself.

Back in the living room, the three hedgehogs were talking about James, keeping it low enough so that he wouldn't hear.

"I think it's pretty cool to have a person from a another world sleeping in our base," Sonic said. Manic nodded.

"Yeah, but how can you be sure that he's not tricking us? For all we know, he could be under Robotnik's control take us right to him."

Sonia shook her head. "I doubt that. He wouldn't have destroyed fifteen SWAT bots and kicked Sleet in the 'zone' if he were working for Robotnik."

Manic looked away.

"Just being cautious,"

Sonic jumped off his chair.

"Sonia's right. He just wants to get his friends and go back to his world. And I think that we should help him with that."

"Why?" Manic said. "He said himself, on his world, they let people deal with there own problems."

Sonia smacked him on the back of the head.

"Ow! What was that for?" he said as a bump appeared.

"You forget that we're not on his world. We're on ours. We told him that the Freedom Fighters fight for all good on Mobius. I think that as long as he's here, we should help him."

Sonic agreed. "Yeah. It's our duty as Freedom Fighters!"

Manic glanced at his brother and sister. He felt the bump on the back of his head, and sighed.

"Okay guys, I guess you're right. I'm in."

The group came together and gave each other high fives. Manic smiled. "Besides, it'll give us a chance to ruin another one of Robotnik's sorry plans."