"Alright, pull into that motel," Vector said, pointing to a building just ahead on the road. "I need to sleep in a bed and not this damn car for a moment."

"Very well, we're good on time anyways," Espio replied. "If we get up early, we should be back at the loop by noon."

"This will give us good time to upload some of our footage and charge up our equipment," Tareq noted.

"And the chance for me to finally charge my phone," Charmy added.

Espio pulled up to the motel and parked the car. They all got out and stretched their legs while Vector made his way to the front desk after finally squeezing out of the vehicle. Charmy leaned against the side of the car looking up at the sky. "There is quite a bit on your mind, is there not?" came a voice at his side. He looked over to see Espio leaning against the car alongside him, also starting at the sky. The bee looked back at the sky, unfazed by the chameleon's sudden appearance. He was used to this by now.

"What of it?" he asked.

"Like it or not, we are still a team, even if only for one more day. Your behavior as of late has not been one of a good teammate."

"Team, huh? That's what you see us as?"

Espio looked at him with curiosity. "Do you see us differently?"

Charmy thought for a moment, before looking down. "No," he lied.

The chameleon crossed his arms and looked back to the sky, a slight look of disappointment on his face. "I see."

The bee glared at him. "Just tell me you don't believe me instead of doing the whole subtle shaming thing for once."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Come on, big bro, knock it off. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

The chameleon turned to him with a satisfactory smile. "Big bro? As in, 'big brother,' perhaps? Is that how you see me?" Charmy's face flushed as he realized his slip of the tongue. "If I am your older brother," Espio continued, "what does that make this team? What does that mean of the relationship between yourself and Vector?"

Before Charmy could answer, the sound of stomping feet and frustrated grumbling echoed from nearby. The group turned to look at the direction of the noise, only to see a rather annoyed-looking Vector. "They only had one room available!" he groaned. "Can you believe that?!"

"Please tell me it's a double and not a single," Bailey muttered.

"I didn't ask. We'll find out when we get there. Come on."

The group followed the crocodile up a flight of stairs and into the room he had the key for. Inside of the room were two beds, a small couch, a coatrack and a closet. "It's a double!" Bailey cheered.

"With a small couch!" Tareq added.

"Well, if there were three of us here that would work out just fine," Charmy noted, "but there's five of us. So two of us are sleeping on the floor, most likely."

"Why can't can't some of us share a bed?" Vector asked scratching his head.

The bee gave him a nasty look. "Oh, sorry, I didn't think you were cool with that kind of thing."

The crocodile frowned. "What was that?"

"Oh, nothing. I just figured that, you know, given your history, you might be a little… hesitant to that idea."

Vector was starting to get angry. "Listen here, you ignorant little brat," he muttered, pointing to Charmy. "I've been trying to tell ya something all week, but you've been refusing to talk to me in any meaningful way the whole time."

The bee glared up at him. "What's there to talk about? Come to think of it, why would I ever want to talk to you, anyways? You're just some old jerk, anyways."

"Now look here, you little brat!"

"Brat? That's all you see me as, huh? Some bratty little kid? All you ever do is treat me like a child. Everything I like is too dumb and childish for you, huh? You never show any interest in the things I like unless they can make you money. That's how we got here to begin with!"

"Now you're just twisting my words! When did I ever say anything like that?!"

"Actions speak louder than words, you dumb croc!"

"Actions? ACTIONS?! What about your actions as of late?!"

"Oh, give me a break…"

As the two continued to bicker back and forth, Bailey turned to Tareq, who had pulled out a camera to get footage of the hotel room. "You should, uh," he said awkwardly to the other cameraman, "yeah, no, you should probably turn that off."

"Yeah, you're right," Tareq sighed.

Espio thought for a moment, before turning to the cameraman. "Actually," he said, "accompany me outside for a moment. Bring the camera as well."

Tater flashed a look confusion, before shrugging. "Uh, alright then."

Espio led the cameraman outside and down the steps they had come up earlier. At the bottom step, Tareq focused the camera on Espio as he pulled out his phone and called one of his contacts. "What are you doing?" Tareq asked.

"Calling in back-up," the chameleon said with a smile as he put the phone to his ear. After a moment, he spoke to someone on the other end of the phone. "Hello? Yes, it's me. We're doing the challenge video, but I get the feeling we'll need some help tomorrow. Will the two of you be free? …Yes, Green Hill Zone, next to the loop not too far from the Death Egg ruins. …Excellent, stay close, but do not reveal yourselves until things seem dire." The chameleon looked into the camera. "It will make for much more exciting content that way, I presume," he said with a wink, before looking back to the phone at his ear once again. "…Excellent. We'll see you then. Take care, brother."

Espio hung up and began to ascend the steps once again. "Who was that?" Tareq asked, following behind.

"That, dear cameraman," the chameleon said with a smile, "is a surprise."

The two entered the room they were staying in once again, only to find Vector and Charmy still arguing, with the later using his wings to hover eye-level with the former. Espio let out a frustrated sigh and cracked his knuckles. In a flash, he jumped up to their level and chopped both of them at an angle between their necks and shoulder blades. With a unanimous "urk!" of surprise, the two's eyes rolled into the back of their heads and they both fell backwards, passing out on the floor.

Espio bowed to the two of them, before turning around and facing Tareq and Bailey. "Well, I believe we have settled who shall be sleeping on the floor tonight," he said cheerfully. "Why don't you two hard working gentlemen take the beds? I suspect you will need plenty of rest for our final challenge tomorrow. I shall rest on the couch tonight."

"Y-yeah," Bailey said nervously. "Sure, ok. Sounds… great."

"Yeah…" Tareq agreed.

The chameleon nodded with approval. "Well, if that is settled, I shall place a dinner order for us and take a relaxing shower. I have not had one for almost a week now."

As soon as Espio had finished ordering them all food and locked the bathroom door behind him, both cameramen let out a sigh of relief. "It's so easy to forget how scary ninjas can actually be until you've spent a week with one," Bailey sighed.

"No, kidding," Tareq muttered, wiping some sweat from his brow.

Charmy's eyes opened slowly, his head hit with a nasty headache. "Ugh…" he groaned, rubbing his head. Taking in his surroundings, he realized he was packed into the car with the rest of the group. In the front passenger seat, Vector seemed to also be nursing a similar headache.

"Oh good, you're awake," Espio said from the driver's seat. "We're almost back at the loop in Green Hill Zone. It appears as though our enemy has a video just for you, Charmy."

The bee blinked. "What?" he asked. "Where- when did- what's going on?"

Bailey handed a laptop opened to a video over to Charmy as Tareq focused his camera on the bee's face. "Just hit play whenever," Tareq said, giving a thumbs up.

Confused, Charmy briefly glanced at the camera before turning his attention to the laptop and hitting play on the video. Once again, Jimmy stood behind some kind of control panel. "Pesky Chaotix!" he said. "You may have effortlessly taken out my three lieutenants, but don't think you've won! I've been preparing all week to crush you meddling detectives. You better come and face me! If not, I can't guarantee her safety…"

Charmy blinked. "Huh?"

The camera shift to show none other than Cream in some kind of cage dangling from a ceiling. "Help me!" she yelled melodramatically. "I'm a damsel and I'm in a lot of distress right now!"

Charmy's eyes widened. "HUH?!"

The video cut back to Jimmy. "That's right!" he yelled, an evil grin on his face. "I've captured the kid of the Chaotix crew's very own girlfriend! You better come and face me, detectives, or that happy bee will end up a sad bee soon enough! Mwahahahahaha!" With that, the video ended.

Charmy clenched his fist. "This wasn't apart of the deal," he thought. "How…?"

Suddenly, words Cream had spoken to him the beginning of the week echoed in his mind. "Who knows, maybe you'll have a fun surprise halfway into this challenge thing you're doing."

This was planned. She was in on it. This was all for the content, wasn't it? Then he had to play his part. Charmy slammed the laptop shut and gripped Espio's shoulder. "What's our ETA?" he asked.

"We should be there in roughly an hour and a half at this rate," the chameleon replied.

The bee's grip tightened. "Floor it."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm certain."

"…Very well then."

The eyes of the other three people in the car widened. "WOAH WOAH, HEY!" Bailey yelled, throwing his arms up in the air.

"I BEG YOU, RECONSIDER!" Tareq pleaded.

"Well, it was nice knowing you all," Vector sighed.

Everyone flew back into their seats and began to scream as Espio pressed his foot down hard on the gas and began maneuvering through traffic. Panicked screams escaped the lips of Bailey and Tareq. Vector shut his eyes and began humming to himself to stay calm. Charmy's eyes widened with fear as he stared out the front window, bearing witness to the numerous close-calls. Espio said nothing and leaned forward, eyes boring down on the road ahead, ready for anything.

Tareq and Bailey rushed out of the car, heaving heavily as they bent over with their hands on their knees for support. Charmy stumbled out of the car behind them and collapsed on the ground, embracing the grassy mounds around him the best he could. Vector sat in the car, breathing heavily and clutching his chest, trying his best to calm his rapidly beating heart. Espio got out of the driver's side door and knelt down next to Charmy. "Never ask me for anything ever again," he whispered. The bee simply nodded slowly.

After a few minutes, Vector finally climbed out of the car. Point towards, Espio, he yelled, "Never do that again! Ever!"

The chameleon glanced over his shoulder. "We made it here in only half-hour, did we not?" he replied.

"I wish we hadn't with those maneuvers you made. I can't believe we're still alive!"

"I'm gonna ask for a bonus," Tareq breathed, "and like a week off work once we're done with all this."

"Dude, same," Bailey agreed.

The group took a moment to catch their breath, Espio rolling his eyes at what he deemed to be an overreaction. Once everyone had calmed down, the group began to walk towards the loop they had met at just days prior. "So… what are we supposed to do now?" Vector asked, scratching the back of his head in confusion as he looked around.

"We track down the big bad, duh," Charmy replied with an eye roll.

"I do not think that will be an issue," Espio said, stopping in his tracks.

Vector and Charmy looked back at him, only to see him gazing up at the sky.

They followed his fax to a giant flying machine not too far in the distance. "Is that-" Vector gasped.

"No, he's still locked up," Espio replied calmly. "But I have no doubt the machine is the genuine article."

As the object came closer into view, the trio were able to confirm what they were seeing. Eggman's old flying machine, the Egg-mobile, that he always used to fly around in. Only, now it had a new coat of paint, a new logo, and a new pilot. Behind the steering wheel stood none other than Jimmy, clad in a pink and blue variation on Eggman's old outfit. Charmy turned to one of the cameras and pointed to the man on the flying machine. "What the hell?" he asked. "This guy is actually insane."

"Pesky Chaotix!" Jimmy yelled as he descended down to the group, continuing to play up his bad guy persona. "You've done well to make it this far. Now for your last challenge: Defeat me in combat! I await you at my factory! Mwhahaha!" Letting out an evil laughter, he spun his flying machine around and sped off.

Regaining his composure, Charmy gritted his teeth. "You heard him!" he yelled to the rest of the group. "After that rich cat!"

Vector put his hand in front of the bee. "Hold it, kid," he said cautiously. "This sounds like a trap."

"This sounds like a trap!" the bee repeated in a mocking tone, using his hand to mime a person talking. "I don't care, you big dumb gator, he's got my woman!"

Charmy blinked, a sudden look of fear in his eyes. He turned to the closest camera and quickly said, "Don't put that in the video. Her mom will kill me."

Vector rolled his eyes. "No she won't, there's not a hostile bone in her body. She's too sweet and caring and lovely and…" The croc's eyes widened with embarrassment. He turned to the same camera and yelled, "You put that in the end product and they won't ever find ya again, ya hear me?!"

"Loathsome as it is for me to interrupt the daily argument," Espio chimed in coldly, "I can't help but notice that our villainous internet celebrity is getting away." The chameleon pointed to the flying machine growing smaller in the sky as it flew off.

"Gah!" Charmy yelped in surprise, fluttering his wings rapidly and pulling down his goggles over his eyes. "Less talking, more following!" The bee sped off in the distance.

"Grr, I got a bad feeling about this," vector groaned as he ran after him.

"Your feeling is mutual, my friend," Espio replied as he too followed suit.

Tariq and Bailey looked at each other as the trip ran off.

"They completely forgot about us didn't they?" Tariq asked.

"I'll call Jimmy and have someone from the crew come get us," Bailey sighed, pulling out his phone.

"Charmy, wait!" Vector yelled as the bee flew into a giant, dark hangar that Jimmy had flown into not too long prior. "I'm telling this is a trap!"

"When have you ever been right about that kind of thing anyway?!" Charmy spat back, turning around to face the crocodile. "In fact, when have you ever even been right? You sure weren't right when you reduced the team down to three members!"

Vector's heart skipped a beat. Those words stung. He wished he could come up with the words to fight back, but he couldn't.

"The more I think about you, the more I wonder why I didn't leave sooner," the bee continued. "I don't understand why I should have to listen to you any longer." With that, he turned to fly into the hangar.

Vector stood there, unsure of what to say or even do, until Espio tugged at his arm. The crocodile turned to him, confused, only to see him pointing at something. Following his gaze, Vector realized the hangar's door was closing. Without a second thought, he grabbed the hand of his chameleon friend and broke into a full sprint, dragging him behind. "CHAARRRMMMYYYY!" he screamed, trying to squeeze through the closing door just in time.

The bee stopped in his tracks, before turning around again, furious. "WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU WA-" His eyes shrunk as he took in the sight before him. "Uh-oh," was all he muttered, before the crocodile crashed into him and the door shut behind them.

Surrounded in darkness, the three of them scrambled to their feet. "Ugh… you ok?" Vector asked.

"I'm fine," Charmy replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Because I know I got some muscle, and I kinda landed right on top of you there-"

"I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, just leave me alone."

"I am also okay, thanks for your many concerns," Espio muttered half-heartedly.

"Oops, sorry Espio!" the bee replied, embarrassed.

"Sorry for dragging ya along back there, buddy," the crocodile added.

"It is fine. Where are we, exactly?"

In response, a spotlight shone down on all three of them. Slow clapping echoed throughout the giant room. "Well done, pesky Chaotix!" Jimmy's voice echoed. "I didn't think you'd ever make it this far. Now I've got just one last teeny-tiny challenge for you all…" The clicking and whirring of a bunch of gears began to spring to life as electricity sparked and crackled. In the distance, a giant figure began to glow pink and blue. Slowly but surely, the rest of the room's lights began to come on, revealing none other than the Death Egg Robot, refurbished and now with a Mr. Beast coat of paint. "Defeat me, Dr. Beast, in combat…" A glass chamber on the belly of the robot opened, showing Cream stuck in a cage. "…and also save the damsel in distress! Mwahahaha!"

The trio looked on in awe. Vector leaned in to Charmy and whispered while covering the side of his mouth, "What's this guy's net worth again?" The bee slowly turned his attention to the crocodile, replying with a simple, cold glare. The croc cleared his throat. "Right, time and place sorry." The two went back to looking at the giant robot before them, unsure of their next move.

Author's Note: I'm very sorry this took so long to get out. I don't have much of an excuse aside from extreme writer's block and a new job. I know I said this would end off the Chaotix storyline, but I'm gonna give them one more chapter because I really want to get back to writing the other characters more, specifically Tails and Amy, of course. Thank you very much for all the support this story has gotten. I never thought I'd get this kind of support on any fanfic, let alone my first one. Thank you very much, and I hope to have another chapter out sooner rather than later.