Keep those reviews coming! Shade; yes, I am very sadistic but unfortunately, I can't seem to help it! Evil laugh! I really do like Tails but it's just a case of 'tough love' if you get my drift?! Anyway, if I wasn't this evil, this story would be pretty damn boring would it not?
Chapter Six: Operation Hedge-Pig.
The group began to creep their way through the maze of alley's. Sally was in front. She had Nicole in her hand, scanning it for any short cuts they could take to give them a better chance to save Tails.
They finally managed to break into Robotnik's fortress with barely any problems-only a handful of SWAT-bots blocked their path with which Sonic disposed of quickly and quietly.
"Which way now Nicole?" Sally asked the tiny computer.
"There is a small vent to your east which could help you to get to Robotnik's 'Dome' without being noticed by any STEALTH-bots or if you just want to get there as quickly as possible, you could just try the elevator due North of your position." Nicole explained.
"Affirmative Nicole." Sally replied as she turned to the others and looked at them for their suggestions.
"Vell I tink ve should take ze ventz." Antoine nervously said.
"Well, I know we want to get to Tails as quickly as possible but we would be no help to Tails if we got caught as well would we so I'm afraid to admit that I agree with Antoine on this occasion." Rotor spoke up.
"That is a wise idea." Knuckles said. He had been silent since he had spoken to Sonic so this comment made Bunnie jump who had forgotten that he was behind her.
"O.k then. As long as no-one has any problems with that idea, we shall go up to level 3 through the vents and then discuss the next section of the plan there." Sally said and began to lead the way through the vent opening which was helpfully near the floor.
"It's gonna be O.k Knuckles isn't it?" Sonic asked as he crawled behind the silent Echidna.
"I'm not saying anything. Just try to think about what needs to be done now. It won't do any good worrying what might happen and what could go wrong because I assure you, everyone tries their hardest tonight and no-one can do better than that." Knuckles said trying to reassure Sonic as best he could but still didn't do a very good job.
One reason for this was that he was having a hard time dealing with it all himself-he knew EXACTLY what had happened to the fox in great detail and it really was disgusting. Also, Knuckles just wasn't used to being this nice to people. He preferred to hide his feelings so as not to show others how vulnerable he could be. But he now understood how Sonic was feeling because he felt the same way himself so he had to show some sort of empathy.
They continued onward and upward until they reached the third floor then Sally stopped and turned to the others who were panting; crawling all that way was very hard when you hadn't had much sleep.
"Alright everyone, take a quick breather while I tell you whats going to happen next." She paused and the others slumped as best they could in such a small space as they gasped and panted.
"Right. Team 'B', which I will remind you is Rotor, Antoine and Bunnie, will continue from here up to the next floor and go and distract Robotnik on the balcony which Sonic told us about. I will give you Nicole for directions towards the balcony as it is through a series of other rooms including his Control Center. Team 'A' (Me, Sonic and Knuckles) will continue from here to where Tails is being held in Robotnik's 'Dome'. From then onwards, we will have no contact except from the radio's until we reach the meet up point which is at the main gates of Robotropolis where I will brief you on any mission details or problems that may have occurred so we can deal with them accordingly. Understood teams?" Sally said quite optimistically. She even smiled when she said it for some reason. She wouldn't be smiling if she knew what was going to happen... Sonic and Knuckles both thought at the same time.
"O.k. Sal! Understood! Lets head on out Team 'B'!" Bunnie said and they set off upwards.
"Good Luck you guys!" Rotor called back over his shoulder to Sally and the other two who were left.
After a moment of silence, Knuckles decided to try another attempt at being nice.
"Thanks! You too!" He replied-he could get used to being nice he thought to himself-not too often though, he had a reputation to uphold!
"C'mon then guys, lets get this over with as quickly as possible." Sonic said changing the subject.
"I can't wait to see my baby again!" Sally said almost excitedly.
"So that's why you're so smiley!" Sonic said.
"It's not going to be the same Tails you saw last though unfortunately, 'Ol Buttnik has seen to that." Knuckles said and then just realized that he had officially opened mouth and inserted foot.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT KNUCKLES?! DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T?!" Sally yelled a little too loudly.
"SHHH!!! It doesn't matter now. I'll tell you when we get back." He said slyly-he knew that by that time there would be more important things on their minds so he would get forgotten about all together for the time being.
The group continued on in silence for a while but finally came to a large, silver door which needed a pass-code to open it. Sally turned to Knuckles as she knew that he used to work for Robotnik.
"Er...HEDGEPIG...." He said in an embarrassed tone. Sonic looked mightily annoyed.
"Hedge-pig my blue butt! At least I'm not a fat, ugly, smelly lump of lard like HIM!" Sonic whispered in a tone that could freeze hell over but didn't attract any unwanted attention.
"That's good Sonic-just save up that anger for if we meet any trouble in here." Sally gave the tiniest of giggles as she said this.
She said the pass-code into the small speaker on the wall and the acceptance light on it turned from red to green, showing that the code was correct and the door slowly began to side open with a hissing noise...