A/N: What's going on everybody? I decided to rework and add some extra content to chapter two here. I'm finally happy with the chapter and I'm in the process of rewriting chapter three as well, so hopefully that will be coming in the next few weeks. Again, I apologize for taking down some of the chapters, but I've got some fresh new ideas coming down the pike! Anyways thank you so much for reading.
Thoughts
By the time the Tornado reached the outpost, a hue of indigo had begun to stretch across the sky, allowing several early evening stars to grace the world below with their eternal light. The test run of the new weapon system had greatly surpassed Tails' initial expectations; so much so that it was rather unsettling.
Even from his aerial vantage point, he could easily see the destructive effects the barrage had on a relatively large area. The freedom fighters knew of only one other being with such capabilities and the new rotary cannon threatened to mirror the tyrant's image.
Tails' coveralls did little to prevent the cold from cutting through his body and the sudden shiver broke him from his thoughts. It was only when he caught the glimpse of the rising moon that he finally felt the return of the serenity of flight. Unfortunately, the feeling would not last as only moments later he began his descent.
The aircraft gently floated downward until the tires screeched in their routine protest when they connected with the tarmac. Tails felt his body shift forward harshly when he applied the brakes but he soon slouched back into his seat. The red biplane gingerly taxied its way back into the hangar and finally with one last beastly cough the engine shut down. The propellor continued to spin, but eventually it came to a complete stop and allowed the pilot to exit the cockpit.
Nearly as soon as his boots hit the floor, Rotor stepped into the hangar and waived at the kit. "So?" Rotor asked with a mixture of mirth and excitement, "How'd it go?"
"That thing is way more intense than I thought it'd be," Tails responded with an almost breathless tone and looked over his shoulder at the aircraft with a wary expression.
"Oh really?" Rotor asked with a cocked brow and crossed his arms, "Tell me."
Tails let forth a sigh and casually leaned against the plane's exterior, "It looked like something you'd expect from Robotnik… It almost makes me wonder if we need to tone it down or something."
"Tone it down?" Rotor asked in mock surprise, "Never thought I'd hear you say that! Especially considering how much you used to hang around Sonic."
The fox snorted out a chuckle and shook his head, "Yeah, I don't know about that Rote. Things have changed a lot since we came out here."
"You can say that again," Rotor concurred with a nod of his head and soon a comfortable silence fell over the two mechanics. He was about to leave the kit to his own devices, but the pensive expression that had formed on Tails' face caused him to pause. "You okay kid?"
"Yeah," Tails said and quickly snapped out of his hundred-yard stare with a fresh, albeit soft smile. "Just thinking."
The walrus stared at the kit for a moment, but decided not to pry. Instead, he took hold of his leather coat from a nearby desk chair and promptly slipped his arms inside. "Well, if you need me, I'll be at the north watch station."
"You pulling guard duty tonight?" Tails asked.
"Yeah," Rotor replied and poured himself a new cup of coffee, "so I'll let you lock it all down tonight."
The fox nodded and stuck his hands into his pockets. "Alright, g'night Rotor."
It was in the subsequent silence that Tails realized just how much his homesickness had returned. He actively tried to avoid discussing any topics or even people related to Knothole for that very reason. It was that wistful longing to return home that caused his heart to ache, so much so that he occasionally questioned his decision to join in the war effort.
There were some nights when the loneliness dominated his mind. More often than not, when he was in that frame of mind, he'd step out of his quarters and stare at the moon and stars. The twinkling lights lifted up his soul with a mild sense of comfort; the sky looked the same from the outpost as it did from knothole.
It wasn't the familiarity of the village that he longed for, rather it was the companionship that he missed so dearly. He found himself missing Sonic, Bunnie, and even Antoine on a far more regular basis than he would have cared to admit. The person he missed the most however, was Sally. She was the closest thing he ever had to a parental figure, and she always had a way of reading him like one of his story books. There were even times when Tails was convinced that Sally knew him better than he knew himself. The two shared a bond that could never be duplicated or even explained in words.
Sonic had taught him how to navigate the land, he learned how to fight from Bunnie, while Antoine instilled the importance of detail. Rotor had taken Tails under his wing and transformed him into the intelligent mechanical prodigy he was now. Sally however, had provided lessons in love, compassion, dedication, and most importantly hope.
Sally was always there. Even when every other freedom fighter seemingly had their fill of his presence, the princess never grew tired of him. Only now she and the rest of his family seemed so far away and they seemed to be growing more distant with each day.
Once more the lunar presence caught Tails' gaze as it rose above the skyline. In that moment, the almost weeping expression of the man in the moon seemed to echo Tails' own emotions. It was not only the empty loneliness that bothered him, there was a gnawing sense of despair that had been steadily growing.
The freedom fighters were making ready for an assault on the capital, meaning Sonic and Sally would be leading on the front lines. Tails knew if he were to be the least bit incompetent when using the cannon, his mistakes would more than likely cost them their lives. It was an unsettling thought that seemed all too realistic of a possibility. Fortunately enough for Tails, his body was soon longing for sleep and despite his worried mind, he was able to sink into a restful slumber.
The indigo laden canvas gradually gave way to the blackness of night as the moon chased the stars across the sky. The shadows cast amongst the outpost stretched out ominously, shrouding the alleyways like portals to the underworld. The pitch darkness remained quiet and undisturbed, even as Rotor watched from his post.
"All clear Rote?" The radio crackled to life in the Walrus's hand.
After taking one last, long look through his binoculars he raised the device to his mouth. "All clear on my end Gregory."
Silence consumed the atmosphere once more, only to be disturbed by the faintest of echoes emanating from the citadel. The indistinct mechanical whirs called out like a ghostly reminder of Robotnik's presence and sent a shiver down Rotor's spine. Even after all that had happened, the wicked tyrant still clung to every last inch of the city that he could. The freedom fighters had paid for every ounce of success with literal blood, sweat, and tears.
How long could this fight really go on for before a cancerous sense of despair overtook them?
The walrus shook his head and released an aggravated sigh. Succumbing to the malignant force of hopelessness would only expedite their own extinction. Besides, if Tails could find hope, why couldn't he? Or anybody else for that matter?
"I don't know how you do it kid," Rotor whispered to no one in particular. What he had said was true, Tails' ability to remain hopeful, motivated, and positive was indeed uncanny. Even more so considering the kid had never even experienced the very freedom he was currently fighting for.
A frown sprawled across his face as a fresh wave of the harsh reality settled into his mind. They were nothing short of soldiers in a fight for their lives. What would become of the freedom fighters when the war inevitably ended? If by some miracle they were victorious, what would become of Tails? The war with Robotnik had been the only situation the young fox had ever really known and understood.
Silently, Rotor dragged his blubbery hand down his face with another flustered exhale. He didn't know what would happen to any of the freedom fighters. He'd never even known what had become of the veterans of the Great War. Were they even able to return to a normal life? At least before Robotnik's coup?
"Were they even able to sleep at night?" He found himself asking aloud. He'd had that problem on any number of occasions. Sometimes, he could even see the faces of his fallen comrades in his dreams. He'd found that he carried a gnawing sense of guilt that so many others had perished, yet he'd survived. He shook his head and drew in a long deep breath as he was struck with a rather obvious epiphany, "Guess that's why the kid's been so adamant about this whole thing."
Rotor shook his head and cast a quick glance at the barracks where Tails resided. He was filled with a deep sense of concern, not only for his wellbeing now, but in the future as well. The walrus watched the night sky slowly turn as the moon chased the stars toward the western horizon.
One by one the stars began to burn out and the lunar light was subsequently hidden behind the horizon, drenching the landscape in a deep darkness. However the pitch was soon banished by the promise of the morning's first light and the world was enveloped by the new day. Unfortunately, new days often brought new struggles.
Beams of light carried lazily through Sally's uncovered window and cast a warm image across her floor and to her desk. Despite the illumination, other areas of the domicile remained darkened and were devoid of any sense of warmth.
The princess, hidden by bedsheets, writhed as if she were marred by extreme pain. However it was her turbulent mind and a terrible nightmare that plagued her restless slumber.
Sonic and Sally trudged their way through the streets of Robotropolis toward their objective. Their target was a steel mill that fed directly into the manufacturing of SWATBots. If they could disable the factory's main furnace, they could continue their push into the city.
A small squad of freedom fighters tailed close behind and flying through the thick smog overhead, a lone red biplane ruled the sky. Though the image of the aircraft was occasionally blotted out by the polluted atmosphere, the engine's roar constantly cut through the ambient noise of the city. Tails' presence brought both a sense of comfort and dread.
"I've lost visual contact with the ground team, Sally," Tails' static laden voice came through her wrist communicator. "The path is clear, keep heading north."
Sally nodded her head as if to confirm she'd received the message and waived her arm. Upon her command the freedom fighters moved forward with Sonic taking point. The further into the city they ventured, the more her sense of dread grew.
Cautiously the freedom fighters approached a clearing between buildings that granted them a proper vantage point of the foundry. The smell of iron powder and the deafening roar of the mill assaulted their senses to the point that it was nearly impossible to concentrate. In her daze, Sally nearly crossed the threshold of concealment. Luckily, Sonic had kept his bearings well enough to notice the princess's nearly fatal misstep and promptly dragged her behind cover.
The small element took a moment to collect themselves before assessing their target. Sonic slipped his backpack over his shoulder and began rummaging through its contents and subsequently produced a pair of binoculars. The hedgehog then offered them to the princess, "Let's scope it out Sal," Sonic said in his usual cool demeanor.
At a painstakingly sluggish pace, Sally crawled from cover with Sonic in tow. Once in position the chipmunk looked through the spectacles and surveyed the area. As expected, the mill dominated her vision. Thick, greasy, black soot belched from the several smoke towers that reached to the sky from the rooftop and the dull grey exterior stretched on for what seemed like miles. At the base of the mill however, was a sight that caused Sally's blood to run cold.
SWATBots guarded nearly every square inch of the structure. The red visors stared right back at her and Sally nearly let forth a gasp. Luckily, they appeared not to notice the two exposed freedom fighters and remained utterly silent and unmoving.
"What'd'ya see Sal?" Sonic asked upon seeing her tense up.
The chipmunk took a moment to compose herself before delivering the news. "The entire steel mill is guarded by SWATBots. We're going to have to find a way through that sentry."
"Why didn't T2 tell us about it?" Sonic asked with an agitated mask of confusion.
"I don't know," Sally retorted and shook her head. "Something's not right, it's like Robotnik knew we were coming. We need to warn Tails."
Sonic nodded in agreement, but no sooner had the hedgehog readied his wrist communicator, the familiar hum of the Tornado penetrated through the wall of sound. "Tails," he spoke into the device with discernable concern in his voice. "Come in Tails, do you copy?"
The communicator remained dark and silent. A deep foreboding fear welled up in Sally's chest as she waited for a response from the fox. Her anxiety only grew with the sound of the aircraft's engine as the seconds quickly became minutes.
"FREEDOM FIGHTER DETECTED!" The grainy voice of the SWATBots roared in unison. Sally instinctively looked through the binoculars to find the robots with their weapons pointed toward the sky. "ELIMINATE FREEDOM FIGHTER BY ORDER OF DOCTOR ROBOTNIK!" The tinny voices continued to chat in unison.
"Tails!" Sally wailed frantically into her own communicator. "Tails get out of there!"
The sounds of hundreds of blasters rang into the air and the freedom fighters looked toward the sky. Tearing into the polluted canvas overhead were multitudes of purple plasma bolts making their way toward a lone red biplane. The expended rounds seemed to miss the aircraft's wings by mere inches.
Suddenly, Sally's wrist communicator burst to life with Tails' panicked voice, "It's getting real hot up here ground team! I need assis- AH!"
Sally couldn't peel her eyes from the sight of the Tornado. Smoke poured from the right wing and it rapidly began to spiral out of control.
"All stations: distress call!" Tails cried out once more, "Tornado is going down in sector Delta five! Mayday! May-" the radio sharply cut to static before shutting off all together.
The freedom fighters looked on in horror as just beyond the steel mill, a new pillar of fire and smoke rose against the skyline. Seconds later a nauseating, crackling boom reached their ears.
"NO!" Sally screamed and launched herself from her bed and fell to the floor with a hefty thump. Slowly, the chipmunk opened her eyes and was relieved to feel the cold of laminated wood beneath her. It had been only a dream; however it was not her first experience. She'd been plagued by the same recurring nightmare for weeks now.
Sally leaned against the bedframe and she stared up at the ceiling. Her tired, irritated eyes made it all too apparent how little sleep she'd been getting as of late. Her frown only deepened as the source of her trouble penetrated her thoughts.
Tails had consumed her mind more than she could ever recollect and the council's decision had haunted her like a ghost. The fox would turn 13 in a matter of days and yet he'd developed an intelligent, articulate, and even adult like exterior. However, nothing would change the fact that he was a child. Her child.
She'd found herself plunged into a similar role at the age of 17, but at least in her own mind, there was a severe discrepancy between her age at the time and Tails' current youth. She was all too familiar with the horror and atrocities of war and even in her more seasoned state, she had difficulty coping with the madness. The fox would no doubt have a buffer in the form of his plane to shield him from the worst of the carnage, but even then, what would be the mental toll of knowingly launching an airstrike on other mobians?
She was ripped from her thoughts by a knock at her door and she jumped in surprise at the sudden sound. "One second!" She called out irritably upon hearing a second knock. The chipmunk clambered onto the mattress, where she slipped into her boots and vest before proceeding to the door. Her miffed expression quickly melted from her face when she opened the threshold.
"Morning Aunt Sally," Tails' shy voice reached her ears. The young fox stood before her with a timid expression and one of his tails gently wrapped around his leg.
"Tails?" Sally asked through a mask of confusion, "What are you doing here?"
The lack of warmth in the royalty's voice filled Tails with a sense of unease. He suddenly felt incredibly small and insignificant under her stare. Nonetheless, he reached into his backpack to fish out the report on the new weapon. "I… I brought you the report on the Tornado's test run. H-here," Tails said with a dwindling smile and offered the packet of paper to the princess.
Sally took the report without even saying a word and skimmed through its details while she remained uncharacteristically silent. For several minutes she remained cold and seemingly distant. Had she taken a moment to peer over the paper barrier, she would have seen Tails' smile run away from his face.
The sound of footsteps leading away from her hut caused her to pause in her reading. Sally moved the report out of her sight to see Tails slowly departing from her presence and toward the tree line. Fighting her growing agitation, she called after him, "Tails? Where are you going?"
The fox turned around slowly, with his two tails dangling mere inches above the ground. Despite his best efforts, Tails couldn't hide his pained expression. "Oh, um… I was just gonna let you read the report." Sally's ears twitched at the insecure timbre of his voice and the smallest quiver in his tone. "I-I'll be at the ring pool if you need me."
The kit's dreary eyes pierced her very soul and filled her with a heavy sense of guilt once she realized just how cold she'd responded. She watched him turn back around and take several steps before she called after him. "Wait, Tails? Come here for a second," she ordered with an accompanying curled finger.
Slowly the young vulpine turned back and closed the distance, until he was only a few feet away from her. "The council will want to see this," she said coolly and knelt down with a softened expression. "It looks pretty thorough, thank you honey."
The small smile that crawled across the fox's face filled her with a sense of warmth and almost involuntarily she reached out and pulled Tails into a tight hug. The faint scent of grease and motor oil wafted into her nose and she released a contented sigh. She'd usually find the smell repulsive and reminiscent of Robotnik himself, but it had become a calming confirmation of the kit's presence.
"So you're taking that to the council today, right?" Tails asked as he slipped away from the embrace.
"That's right," Sally said as she rose to full height and briefly glanced over the packet again. "We'll have a better idea of how to maneuver through the city, knowing how the new weapon works."
Tails opened his mouth to speak, but he was unexpectantly assaulted by a streak of blue. "What's happenin' little bro?" Sonic asked excitedly and dug his fist into the kit's head fur.
The fox grunted and writhed in the hedgehog's iron grip before breaking free. "Oh you know," Tails said and shoved Sonic away, "I'm just dropping off the report from the plane's test run."
"Well enlighten us Captain," the cobalt speedster said with a sarcastic smirk.
The playful edge the fox had displayed quickly evaporated and his body came to a near rigid standstill. "Well it caved in that access tunnel we were worried about without any kind of issue."
"How'd the plane handle?" Sally asked, "Your report didn't mention much from the pilot's perspective."
Tails shrugged his shoulders in nonchalance, "She handled pretty good in the air, but I had about a 30% reduction in speed and maneuverability and the flight time was cut in half." His cool expression once again evaporated and his eyes took on a certain quality of concern. "When I fired the cannon though, it felt like the whole plane was gonna explode."
Sonic and Sally quickly exchanged worried glances and the hedgehog's brow knit together to form a concerned expression, "What'd'ya mean big guy?"
The fox held his hands out in front of himself and violently shook them, "The plane rattled real hard. It almost felt like it was more than the Tornado could handle. It was actually kinda scary."
"Do you think it's something to worry about?" Sally asked and wrapped her arms around her frame.
Tails' eyes dropped toward the ground below and took on a glassy appearance, "I don't think so, Aunt Sally," he said before his eyes rose back up to meet her concerned stare, "I'm more worried about me being able to do my job with accuracy. I don't want to even think about what would happen if I were to miss."
Sonic wrapped his arm around Tails' shoulder and declared, "I'm not worried about it!" He then drove the index finger of his freehand into the fox's furry chest. "You're the best pilot I know!"
Tails rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged at his muzzle when he spoke, "Sonic, I'm the only pilot you know."
"See?" Sonic retorted as if he'd just proven a complex theory and his playful gaze moved from Tails to Sally. "Nothing to worry about!"
Only a few hours later, Tails once again found himself standing in front of the council and explained the basic inner workings of the new rotary cannon as well as the results of the test run. Although he stood and presented himself with far greater confidence, he still felt insignificant and out of place when standing before the committee.
"It is at this time," Sally announced and rose from her seat, "That Sonic Hedgehog and myself will be temporarily stepping down from the council to lead the freedom fighters in the upcoming assault. Commander Antoine D'Coolette and Bunnie Rabbot will substitute on our behalf during our absence."
As expected, the hall was filled with a dull roar of murmuring that gradually grew in volume. Tails was able to decipher several condescending and even harsh remarks directed toward Sonic and Sally that caused his blood to boil. Unfortunately, he dare not speak out of turn for the sake of their collective reputation.
"I call this session back into order!" Councilwoman Luna declared and clacked her gavel several times. "Order I say!" She yelled once more in an even more irritated fashion when the murmuring persisted.
"Excuse me!" Sally's sharp voice cut through the mix of voices and brought the muttering to a halt. "Luna please proceed."
"Thank you, Princess," the wolf spoke in a professional manner, "Now are the replacements that you have selected qualified to fulfill your positions? And what plan of action have you developed?"
Sally nodded confidently in reply, "Mister D'Coolette and Miss Rabbot are both senior members of the knothole freedom fighters. They have equal knowledge as Sonic and I, they are our fourth and third in command respectively. So yes, Madam Luna, we feel that they are qualified."
"What of your plans to assault the city of Robotropolis?" The wolf retorted with an audible sense of skepticism.
"We'll be developing an attack pattern over the coming weeks," Sally explained. Over the course of serving with the Freedom Council, she'd begun to understand and sympathize with Sonic's disdain of "responsible action."
"So be it," Luna said unenthusiastically, "this session is hereby adjourn." With a clack of her gavel, the members of the chamber were dismissed.
"Well," Sonic said as the trio exited the hall. "What are we gonna do for lunch? Cuz the Hog is Huuungry!"
"I think Rotor's making chili dogs at the outpost," Tails said slyly and winked at Sonic before moving his gaze to Sally.
"I suppose we are heading that way," The princess conceded.
The small band of freedom fighters soon left behind the comfort and security of knothole and headed in the direction of the Citadel.
Alrighty then! I gave Rotor a little extra screen time, added in a nightmare sequence that I couldn't get out of my head, and changed up the dialogue in the chapter a little bit. I'm waaay happier with the new version of chapter two here and hopefully so are you. Again thank you so much for reading. As always, Rock on and God Bless!