Hey, people! Sorry I took so long to update this, I hate writers block. Anyway, here's the next chapter, but before we get to that, let's answer reviews.

Tantrum: Well, I understand why it didn't make it to the archive, but I'm glad you like it so far. Don't worry, Rena's only going to help train Tails for his duty.

Dark Qiviut: Nope, never heard of them. Renz gave me a website on where to buy them, so he helped a little.

Shade-the-Hedgehog: Thanks for the correction. Enjoy this chapter!

That's all, but I'm still hoping for more reviewers. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Follow the RRE rule! Ja ne!

What Happened Before

"Can we trust her, Sal?" Sonic asked, still keeping a firm hold on Tails and Cream.

"I'm not sure." Sally said. She walked forward until she was just out of reach of Deathstryke's claws. "Deathstryke…Rena." She amended when the fox flinched at the first name. "What happened to you?"

Rena's eyes filled with hate. "Robotnik." Was her answer.

Chapter 3: What Happened

Rena was moved to a high-security cell under heavy watch. Only Sonic and Sally were allowed to see her. Though Tails tried to see her often, he was never allowed to.

The little vulpine boy spent more and more time alone in her room. Everyone was so busy that only Cream noticed this. The little rabbit grew so worried that she took the matter to her Aunt Bunnie.

"Poor dear." Bunnie said after Cream had told her story. They were in their living quarters in the middle of Knothole. "Ah see what ya mean. The poor dear is confused."

"How, Aunt Bunnie?" Cream asked.

"Well, put it this way." Bunnie said. "You've been growin' up in Knothole alla yore life with few memories and a locket with a picture of yore olda brotha. Suddenly, a stranga barges into yore life and tries ta kill the two people ya love most. Then, ya realize that this stranga is yore olda brotha, changed by Robotnik into some weapon. Yore brotha regains his memories and surrendas, but yore not allowed ta see him 'cause he might kill ya. Yore sure he can be trusted, yet nobody listens. Tell me how ya'd feel."

Cream frowned. "Angry at the Freedom Fighters for one, for not letting me see him."

"Good start."

"Guilt for it being my fault that he was captured." She continued.

"Well, not what Ah was thinkin', but go on."

"Sad at what happened to him."

"Keep goin'."

"Wondering what the other kids would say about him and me."

"Again, not what Ah was thinkin', but go on."

"And angry at Robotnik for doing this to him." Cream finished.

"Bingo!" Bunnie said, smiling. "Now ya know a little of how Shugah-Tails feels. Now, since you're closest to him, what da ya think he's gonna do?"

Cream frowned again. "He's gonna talk to her, no matter what he has to do."

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"Why can't I talk to her?" That would be Tails, asking—I take that back—demanding Aunt Sally.

Sally sighed. This was the tenth time in three days. "Tails, we can't be sure of what she'll do. She might hurt you."

"She won't!" Tails protested. "I'm sure of it! Just give her a chance."

Sally rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. Looks like Sonic's stubbornness had been transferred into the little vulpine. What did she expect?

"Well, Sal." Sonic said, coming into the room. "Deathstryke has given is valid information. What about that swatbot factory that we hit two days ago? She said that is had a self destruct and even gave us the codes to activate it."

"I know, Sonic." Sally sighed again. Then she turned to Tails. "She doesn't want to talk about what happened to her. Do you think you can find out?"

"I might be able to." Tails said hopefully.

Sally nodded. "Alright. I'll talk to her. We'll watch from cameras, but if she even tries to hurt you, we'll kill her."

Tails gulped, then nodded.

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Rena sat in her cell, meditating. As much as she hated the practice that Robotnik had taught her, she did find it very relaxing.

A light winked on above the door to the room, and Princess Sally Acorn stepped in. Rena got up and bowed. "Your highness."

"Rena." Sally acknowledged. "Your brother wants to see you, and we'll let him, but be warned: If you even try to hurt him, Sonic will rush in here and stop you. I even managed to get him to carry a blaster for that scenario."

The silver haired vixen blinked. "I thought Sonic hated technology."

"He does." Sally admitted with a small smile. "But he's willing to do anything to protect Tails."

Rena gave a half smile of her own. "You really love my brother, don't you?"

"He's the closest thing I have to a child of my own." Sally answered, turning. "I promise: You hurt him, we kill you." And she left, not even giving Rena time to answer.

The door opened again, and Tails walked in. "Hi, Rena."

"Hello, Miles." Rena greeted, smiling.

Tails wrinkled his nose. "Rena, please. Don't call me that. Call me Tails."

Rena chuckled. "Alright…Tails."

Tails grinned, then grew somber. "Rena, what..?"

"Happened to me?" she finished as he cut off. At his nod, she sighed. "Did the princess tall you to ask this?"

"Yeah." Tails admitted. "But I've been wanting to know, too."

"Alright, I'll tell you." Rena said, then turned to one of the supposedly hidden cameras. "I'm only going to say this once, so you better listen well, Princess."

Imagining the flabbergasted looks Sonic, Sally, and the Freedom Fighter Guards were wearing, Rena sat and gestured Tails to do the same. "To tell the truth, I don't remember too much about when it happened, just a lot of pain. What I learned later was Robotnik had every single one of my bones, including my skull, removed and replaced with metal replicas.

"The metal is blaster proof, so I can't be killed with a blaster. The metal is thick around my vital organs, so a bullet couldn't kill me. A head shot from a blaster or an old fashioned gun would knock me out, yes, but not kill me."

Tails was slack-jawed. "Rena…"

"My claws are in my fingers." Rena continued. "My hands have pistons that are linked with my brain. If I tell my claws to come out, whether consciously or unconsciously—" She held up a finger and the tip of her claw came out. "They come out."

She sighed. "I can't even bleed to death. Robotnik injected several thousand nano-bots into my bloodstream. They can quickly regenerate torn tissue." She demonstrated by moving her active claw down her arm, cutting long and deep. Tails gasped, but Rena quieted him and made him watch. In seconds, the cut was healed. Rena showed him her arm, ands he saw that there wasn't even a scar underneath her fur.

"Because of these nano-bots, I'm practically immortal." Rena said, staring at where the cut had been. "Disease can't kill me. Weapons can't kill me. Only a two million volt electric shock can kill me."

Tails couldn't take it anymore. He broke down and dived into Rena's arms. "Rena, I'm sorry!" he wailed. "It's my fault you were put to that! It's my fault that—!"

But Rena cut him off, pulling him back. "No, Tails. None of this is your fault. I gladly gave you to Sonic to make sure you were safe. I would gladly go through all that pain again if it meant that Robotnik would leave you alone." She pulled him into another hug. "I love you, Tails. Never forget it."

"Let him go." Demanded a new voice. Rena and Tails looked up and saw Sonic holding a blaster to her head, more FF troops coming in behind him.

Rena slowly let go of Tails and raised her hands. Tails whirled on Sonic. "What are you doing?"

"I didn't want to, buddy, but Sal was insistent." Sonic said. "Come on, let's get out of here."

As they left, Rena mouthed, "I'm sorry." to Tails. When the door closed, she heard Sonic shout, "Tails, wait! Let me talk to you!"

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Hours later, Rena sat on her bunk, scratching. "Oh, yes." She muttered. "You know you need a bath when the fleas attack."

She ran a finger across her left ear and felt something not a flea. Curious, she pulled it off and examined it. Just as she recognized it, the door burst open and Sonic and Sally rushed in.

"Tails is gone."