A project, but more than that. An exercise in patience, but more than that, still. The culmination of his genius? Yes, that would do nicely.
A gravelly baritone assaulted the chamber.
"Computer, let's check on our favorite appliance this evening, hm?"
The thrill never lost its edge for the doctor. The knowledge that this wholly unnatural series of events had been brought forth by his own hand. Twisting and bending the natural order into something cold and rigidly to his design, it was what he lived for. Why, it made him feel like a veritable god. He was a god, in his own eyes, and soon in the eyes of all Mobians, whether they liked it or not.
They most certainly would not.
"Affirmative, Doctor. Accessing remote connection. Connection established. Launching ocular feed."
"Oooooh, it's a beautiful thing. The time draws ever nearer," the good doctor muttered within his cathedral of steel, as the titanic monitor in front of him flashed to life, "Each passing second is a single step in the grand march toward my glory.
"Soon enough, soon enough. Those little cretins, they will die, the empire will crumble to sand, and all in the most delicious of ways.
True to the hedgehog's word, at precisely 7:00 a rapid knocking resonated through the house. The front door practically shook from the force.
"Sonic, you live here! You don't need to knock!" Tails shouted from the study.
"I need you to open the door!"
"Open the…huh?"
Tails quickly marked his place in the book he'd been reading and made his way to the front of the house. He rounded the corner into the living room and opened the front door to be greeted two blue legs, and a stack of pizza boxes and soda bottles obscuring the upper half of what could only be Sonic.
"Thanks, bud!" he proclaimed as he entered the house and promptly plopped his treasure trove of junk food onto the coffee table.
"Sonic, we have plenty of food in the kitchen, you didn't need to…"
"Up bup bup!" Sonic interrupted, wagging an index finger in front of his face, "No movie night is complete without an inordinate amount of greasy pizza! It's the law!"
"No," Tails retorted, grinning "I don't think it is."
"Well then that's why I should make the laws," Sonic replied with a laugh,
"You gonna petition the King for that?," Tails fired back, "So, you ready to go search the archives? I've been kind of in a horror movie mood lately."
"Totally, but hey, before we get this everything started, how about we head over to the workshop? I wanna see what you've been working on with the Tornado that's gonna give our old pal Ivo such a headache."
"Oh," Tails had nearly forgotten that he'd mentioned his work offhandedly to Sonic during their call, "It's nothing aesthetic, mostly internal systems stuff. I'm afraid it wouldn't be that interesting."
Sonic gave him a playful punch in the arm, "Dude, you and that plane have saved my spiny behind more times than I can count. If it helps us take it to Egghead, then it's plenty interesting to me. So c'mooooon!", Sonic said, enunciating the last sentence with an exaggerated whine in his voice.
"Fair enough," Tails responded with a chuckle, retaliating with a slug of his own. He'd long passed the hero worship phase of years gone by, the awe-inspired reverence with which he regarded Sonic in his younger days, but Tails still held enormous respect for his older brother, and hearing his words of encouragement never failed to bring a smile to the young fox's face and give him a hearty boost of confidence.
The walk from the house to the shop was brief, the not-quite-cool but also not-particularly-warm air of the summer twilight surrounding them as they strolled. The summer in this part of Mobius doused the area in a blanket of humidity, but Tails never particularly minded. In his opinion, it only intensified the experience of the regions natural splendor. Once they reached the shop,the inventor entered the passcode into the keypad by the door and held an eye up to the retinal scanner, which finally gave the two access once the authentication system had been sufficiently appeased.
Once inside, Tails flipped the switch and watched as his workspace was bathed in a brilliant glow, the low hum of the light fixtures radiating throughout the room. It was a familiar sight, one that he'd seen hundreds of times before, and that aerated a distinct sense of belonging and purpose. He brought Sonic over to the workstation he'd been practically glued to a few hours before, and gave the hedgehog a rundown of the setup while the PC booted up.
"Basically," he began, "I've been working on making certain combat systems in the Tornado more efficient so that, in a fight, we can focus more on the battle itself, and less on the small things."
Tails walked over to the workbench next to the PC, upon which rested a large, cylindrical metal device so complex that even thinking about what inner workings might lie beneath the shell nearly gave Sonic vertigo. Thankfully, Tails anticipated that eventuality, and quickly began running down the basics.
"This is the CPU, well, one of them at least, that's usually tucked away inside the Tornado. You know how the cockpit displays things on screens to give me warnings and readouts, right?" Sonic nodded.
"Well this computer is part of that. It deals with anti-missile protocols and is also the hub for the for the targeting systems. I had some rudimentary AI programs installed to automatically detect enemies and lock onto them before I fired the heat-seeking missiles, which is a really helpful system and can save valuable seconds on the battlefield…when it works."
"Ah," Sonic said, starting to get the picture, "So I take it the program wasn't exactly reliable?"
"Well, it was reliable enough to be useful, but yeah, it wasn't the most efficient it could be. It would miss enemies here and there, or take a couple seconds too long to target, by which time I could have done it manually. It also sometimes lagged behind certain Robotnik drones, which is what really worried me. Those guys give us enough trouble as is; we don't need the targeting AI working against us, too.
"So that brings us here!" He continued as he moved over to the computer terminal.
The monitor had by then come to life and displayed a window with a black background and lines upon lines upon lines of code that seemed to stretch into infinity, at least as far as Sonic was concerned. There were other programs open in various separate windows as well, only some of which Sonic could recognize: a heatmap of some sort of mechanical assembly, a graph representing what looked like speed over a given time, and solitaire. The code, however, dominated the monitor.
"So…this is…?"
"Algorithms!"
"Algorithms."
"Built from the ground up!" the fox beamed. If he was reluctant to talk about his project earlier, he was practically gushing about it now.
"They're systems within systems, in a way, designed to learn and adapt to different combat scenarios through a complex series of neural network pathways. Meaning, in building the commands for the AI, I didn't have to program and account for each and every possibility we might encounter, I just had to 'teach' the AI what to do based on certain parameters, like weapon strength and target priority."
"Tails, bud, usually I'm pretty good at keeping up, but you're kinda losing me here."
"Oh, sorry," Tails apologized, slowing his cadence down to a more conversational speed, "Basically, it boils down to this: the computer can take information in, and once it's analyzed all the variables in a fraction of a millisecond, it will figure out the best way to target enemies based on our current situation."
"Oh oh oh! I think I get it!" Sonic began with a burst of enthusiasm," So it's not just following instructions, it can make its own instructions?"
"Exactly!" Tails confirmed with a wink, "Which means I won't have to babysit a bunch of computer screens in the pilot seat, and we can focus on delivering the pain to Robotnik."
"You're the man, little bro!" exclaimed Sonic, grabbing his brother in a headlock and ruffling his hair, "So how do we know if it works?"
"I've got a testing session coming up soon near Green Hill. King Maximilian is arranging for me to use one of G.U.N.'s military bases to try it out in a controlled setting."
"Woah, seriously? I thought we were still kinda in hot water with the G.U.N. higher-ups."
"Well...we are. But we worked something out. I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but King Max is…pretty persuasive."
Sonic let loose a guffaw, "Don't I know it! You remember the time he stared me down so hard for hitting on Sal in front of him?"
"Oh man!" Tails exclaimed, and burst out laughing as well, "You called me afterward and were like, 'Dude! If I go to jail, you'll bail me out, right?'!"
The two shared a few moments of raucous laughter between them before deciding movie night could wait no longer. Tails shut down the terminal and the two headed back toward home, darkness having fully enveloped the landscape while they were inside. The sounds of cicadas and bullfrogs danced among the trees and provided the soundtrack to another picturesque Mystic Ruins night. Tails glanced over at Sonic as they continued on their way, and the thought of how lucky he was to have a friend and brother who was so supportive entered his mind, not for the first time. So willing to listen to him ramble on endlessly about topics that were far over the hedgehog's head, yet he always followed the best he could with rapt attention. So enthusiastic for action and excitement.
Sonic, as jovial and often sarcastic as he was, held a heart the size of all of Mobius. Whenever a soul was in danger, Sonic would step up in any way available to him. This altruistic disposition was seemingly woven into his DNA; it was the way it had always been. It's what drew him to the hero life, what spurred him on through hardship, and above all, it's what brought the two of them together, and for that, Tails was more grateful than he could ever put into words.
He turned his attention forward as they approached the front porch, and the two were in the highest of spirits as they entered the house once more and bounded up the stairs to raid the movie shelf.
The aftermath was as cataclysmic as expected. Empty soda cans were the dominant feature of the coffee table, with a couple of empty pizza boxes laid out among the debris. The end credits had begun to roll and movie number two of their late-night double feature was in the rear-view.
"I don't get it!" exclaimed the hedgehog, reclining on one of the couches with a half empty can in his hand, "So he was a ghost the whole time?"
"I…think so?" pondered the kitsune, feet crossed and propped on the coffee table.
"But everyone could see him! He touched so many things! How is he even a ghost at that point?"
"What else would he be?"
"I dunno…just a dude who died and then ignored it?"
Tails let out a surprised laugh at the turn of phrase, nearly choking on his own soda in the process. He hadn't realized how much he needed this: a chance to let loose and just be. As stimulating and exciting as tinkering and inventing was, it was still taxing, and often took a lot out of him. Sonic had always been good about bringing balance to Tails' life. It was one of the many benefits of their friendship, and Tails knew the inverse was true as well.
He'd noticed how Sonic was more mindful nowadays – less willing to jump to conclusions, more likely to consider his options and make responsible decisions. It wasn't coincidence; Tails was rubbing off on him just as much as he was on young mechanic.
"Maybe you can hit up some message boards online with your hot takes," Tails jokingly offered. Now that the movie was finished, however, something had occurred to young fox that he'd forgotten he wanted to inquire about:
"Oh, hey, I've been meaning to ask: what've you been up to the past couple days? We were so busy talking about the Tornado, you never mentioned it."
Sonic took the last gulp of his soda, tossing it effortlessly into the trash can across the room. "I was down South, helping out some folks in Splendor."
"Splendor?"
"Yeah, you know Splendor. Little fishing village, 'bout 1,000 people? Anyway, they had a bad storm down there while I was in the area and the tide came in real high. I got some people out of danger during the flood, and kinda stuck around for a while to do whatever I could to help after the water went back. No casualties, though, thankfully. Just a good thing I was nearby, I guess."
"No kidding," Tails concurred, "That's why you're out there, though, yeah? To help."
"Absolutely," Sonic replied, then his expression shifted to a more pensive one, "But I guess…it's also because there's always something out there you've never seen before. It's exciting, knowing that you don't know, y'know? Whatever's over the next hill could just be another hill, or it could change your life."
"That's a great way to look at things, actually," Tails commented, "Well, at any rate, I'm glad you are who you are, in that way. Otherwise…I...I might not...well, you know."
There was a beat of silence before Sonic sat upright on the couch. He cast his eyes down at the floor for a moment before looking up at Tails, "Do you remember the day I found you at all?"
"I do. But it's really fuzzy. I was pretty…out of it."
"You were, big time." Sonic confirmed, "In more ways than one. You were covered in mud, your eyes were darting everywhere, you'd only speak to me a couple words at a time. Wasn't a pretty sight."
"I don't doubt it. All I can remember is these thoughts running through my head," Tails recalled. He began to rub his hands together, "None of them really comprehensible or even coherent. All I knew was that I was afraid."
"I could tell that much. Thing is, though, you never lashed out at me when I tried to get close or talk to you. I could tell you had a great heart just from that. You were in about as rough shape as a guy could be and you still were willing to trust me - to see the good in others. That means a lot, bud."
There was a longer silence, then. Neither of them knew when the atmosphere had gotten so heavy in the room. Late-night conversations had a way of doing that. It was Tails who finally broke the stillness.
"So, the flood in Splendor. It looked…natural?"
Sonic looked up, a slightly quizzical look on his face, "Yeah. Like I said, just from those big storms that rolled through. Why?"
Tails leaned forward on the couch, resting his arms on his knees, "I guess I'm just anxious about Robotnik. Whenever he goes this long without making himself known I worry that he's plotting."
"I know what you mean. A guy who's that loudmouthed going quiet just doesn't seem right, but how long has it been since we heard anything out of him? Four months?"
Tails nodded, "At least. Usually he'll make some kind of threat or declaration in that amount of time, even if it's hollow. He's too egotistical to lay low without cause."
"I understand where you're coming from, T. But, I dunno, maybe we're just overthinking it."
"Maybe. But I'd rather overthink it and be wrong than disregard it and be caught unaware."
"Fair enough," Sonic hopped off the couch, stretched, and let out a mighty yawn, "All I know is I'm full of pizza and it's time for bed."
"Yeah, I should hit the hay soon, too," Tails admitted, picking up the remote and switching the TV off. He quickly glanced up at the wall clock, which, to his surprise, read 2:30am, "Oh man, I really should hit the hay soon."
"Say, if you're not too busy in the workshop, how 'bout a run some time tomorrow? Maybe head up to Station Square and grab a bite?"
"Sure, sounds great," Tails replied with a smile, "Night, Sonic."
"Night, bro. See you tomorrow."
The racoon entered through the doorway into a sparsely yet carefully decorated office. He held a manilla folder in his hand, which he passed to the coyote behind the desk, and stood at attention.
"Sir, these are some forms you'll need to fill out and sign by next week. They're pertaining to the live fire drill the king has arranged at the base."
"At ease." The coyote opened the folder and skimmed through the documents within, a look of dissatisfaction plain to see upon his face, "For Prower, right?"
"Correct."
The coyote flopped the stack of papers on his desk in exasperation, "Like we have any choice."
"Have you let King Maximilian know of your...reservations, sir?"
"Ah, what good would it do, Howard?" the coyote responded, "Those damn kids have the whole royal family in their pocket. If I raise a huge stink about it all we'll get is a bunch of grief from the government and even more paperwork." He leaned back in his worn leather chair and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Nah, it's better to let the little superfreaks have their fun and get out of our hair as quickly as possible."
"You feel pretty strongly about this, then?" the racoon broached.
The coyote nodded, "The King, I admire him in a lotta ways. But he's too...trusting. Far too trusting, especially to be the leader of a nation. He sees how those kids, the hedgehog and his crew, work with chaos energy, and thinks of 'em as superheroes. What they are is a ticking time bomb ready to fuck us over. Whether it would be intentional or not, I really don't know."
The raccoon was unsure exactly how to respond.
"All the same, sir," he finally ventured, "the test is scheduled for next Thursday, 0900 hours. The relevant information is in the dossier for you to review."
The coyote sighed as he gathered the forms back into order and placed them on top of the envelope on the desk, "Thank you, Howard, I'll have them ready by tomorrow evening. You're dismissed."