"So, what do we do next?"

Sally was sitting around the campfire in the early autumn afternoon sun with some of the others, all enjoying some of Antione's specially made stew. Johnny took a sip, savoring every morsel as if it could be his last.

"Seems to me," said Johnny, "we've got to figure just how we're gonna go up against a genocidal poultry product who can prop up large-arse force-fields on a whim."

Porker took a sip, balking as the sheer intensity of the heat like a cat whose food hadn't been prepeared just right. "What we need is a base. Somewhere where we can plan things out, organize things, have somewhere where we can strike against Eggman without him knowing where we are." He then gestured towards the canvas that was Knothole Forest around him. "Granted, we already have part of that covered, but I think we still need an actual headquarters."

"Have ideas in mind," said Tekno, still not quite back to her old self. She was a bit more spaced out from the group than the others, inching away whenever anyone else got close, but at the very least, she'd managed to get her air of general confidence back. "Problem is that we need the resources to create it. Short supply just now."

"That is a problem," said Sally.

"Yeah," said Rotor. "There are all sorts of things I could whip up, not least among them being some special gadgets to give those of us without any powers some extra punch, but right now, it's just not possible."

"We also need information and supply routes," said Chirps. "First step by step, ahem, first step of starting a rebellion. Without supplies, you can't do anything, and without information, you're dead in the water. Like an inbred fish. I could help you get them set up, but it'd still be nice to have a head start."

"It would be," said Sally, "but right now, I'm afraid that just isn't an option."

"And that is where you are mistaken."

Like a voice from on-high, a low, deep, yet somehow eloquent baritone came from above as a giant owl in a red bathrobe swooped down from the trees before landing with a bow akin to that of the most gentlemanly of gentlemen. Everyone else was suddenly at the ready, but Sally just stared at it as if slowly starting to remember an old friend. "Harvey? Harvey Who?"

"The one and only," said the owl. "Harvey Who, Acorn Kingdom's Director of Intelligence at your service. Though I suppose one could say former Director, sadly."

"Thank God," Sally muttered. "Good to see you Harvey. Everyone, this is Harvey Who, and he is who he says he is."

"Hold up," said Johnny. "Just how'd you find us anyway?"

"As I said," said Harvey, "I AM the Director of Intelligence. I think I would know where a resistance group would be hiding out. And of course, I am an owl. We tend to have better vision than most."

"Harvey," said Sally, "there is one thing I need to ask. How did you manage to escape?"

"Quite simple. I flew the coop. As soon as Robotnik made his move, I took off like a bat from hell."

"And you didn't think to see if the King was alright?"

Harvey helped himself to a bowl of stew, managing to use the edges of his wings like a makeshift pair of hands. A triumph if anyone ever saw one. "The King is an old and dear friend of mine, but think. If Eggman were to get ahold of me, he would potentially have access to every single iota of knowledge stored in my noggin. And there's a lot of it. In my line of work, , one must not afford to take chances. Regardless of how much one sometimes wishes they did."

"I understand. It's just… things have been difficult. Let's leave it at that for now."

"Not from Armada?", said Tekno.

"No," said Harvey, "though I have heard of the group. Nasty fellows, the lot of them. Except you my dear, I am sure."

Chirps raised his hand. "Ahem."

"You too, eh? Though to be honest, I'm not so sure about you. Chirps, isn't it?"

Chirps took a swig of stew, as if trying to keep his mind off of anything else. "So, already know of me, huh? Makes sense."

"Indeed it does. I do my best to know all there is to know. It is, or at least was, my job."

"Speaking of which," said Sally, "there's a lot we need to know. "If you could help us in any way…"

"My dear, I would be delighted. But why don't we start with what it is YOU know, hm?"


Sonic was busy pacing atop a hill several yards away from the camp. He was going back and forth like a pendulum, as if he wanted just to stand still but had too much energy to leave it at that.

Tails flew in from the north, not having much better to do as Sally and the others discussed just what they were going to do next. 'Big people talk', they said. Phooey. "Big Bro?" said Tails.

Sonic kept pacing to and fro, almost like a broken record.

"Hey, big bro?" Tails landed with pitch-perfect precision like a machine. And Sonic just kept on pacing.

"BIG BRO!"

"WHOA!" Sonic practically became the fastest jumping bean alive as he hopped back as though someone was gunning for his head. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. "Oh. Lil' bro. Hey." And Sonic went right back to pacing.

"Big bro, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, lil bro. Just, just nothing. Just leave me alone."

Tails for the briefest of moments considered doing just that. It was a VERY brief moment.

"No."

"What? What brought this on?"

"Listen here, 'big bro'. You're the one who out of the blue made me your 'lil bro', and you my 'big bro.' I didn't ask for a 'big bro.' I never wanted to be anyone's 'lil bro.' But here we are. So if we're to be bro's, we might as well act like it. Or what's the point? So come on, big bro. Sonic. What's wrong?"

Sonic clenched his fists, his first thoughts being to just run like the wind and be done with it all. Which wasn't a bad idea. But no. Something kept him, of all things, standing still. As though maybe he'd just been waiting to pour out his heart to somebody and didn't even know it. Not until now.

"You want to know what's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong. I came into Mobotropolis just wanting to enjoy myself; have some fun, see the sights, and then get on with my day. That was it. Then Eggman attacks. Well, no problem there, I'm thinking; might even be fun! Then I meet a hot babe and tell her I'll save her kingdom, rescue her dad, and beat the crap out of Eggman in ten seconds flat. So then, what's the problem here?"

"You haven't done it yet," said Tails, his comprehension dawning as Sonic poured out his troubles.

"You're freaking right! I haven't done it! Sally's capital is a lost cause, and the kingdom might turn out the same if Eggman has his way! Eggman is still out there laughing his fat arse off, and I can't say I blame him! And Sally's dad. Oh Gaea, Sally's dad."

Tails reached out to put a hand on Sonic's shoulder as his back was turn, trying to comfort him like the lil' bro he kept saying he was. "You tried, big bro. Sometimes, that's all anyone can do."

Sonic spun back around before Tails' hand could reach him, that he even knew about it. "Except that's not all I can do! Or at least it shouldn't be. I'm supposed to be the fastest thing alive! So how come I wasn't fast enough to save him? How come, huh? How come?!"

"I don't know. But I don't think you should even be asking yourself that question. You couldn't help what happened."

"Maybe. Except if that's the case, what am I even doing here? If I can't 'help what happened,' if I can't make a difference, then what good am I?"

"You're the fastest thing alive. Isn't that good enough?"

"And that's another problem. I AM the fastest thing alive. Which means I can go just about anywhere I please. Except if I stay here, that's not gonna be the case anymore, is it? Heck, the only reason I offered to help was cause I thought this was all gonna be over in one night. Fat chance of that."

"Well, it isn't. This isn't something that's just going to be over with a snap of your finger." Tails snapped his own fingers, a small attempt at some visual aid. "That's something you need to accept."

"I know. But I don't know if I can."

"Then that's something you're going to have to come to terms with on your own. But I'll say this. I really liked having a big bro. Even if he could be kind of a jerk sometimes. And I hope he sticks around." Having said his piece, Tails flew off, knowing that whatever Sonic was going to choose, it would have to be of his own making.

"Funny," muttered Sonic as he watched Tails fly away into the sunset. "Now he's the one leaving me behind. Ain't that a kick?"

After a long while, Sonic ran off through the trees, though over in the bushes, if one listened very closely, one could hear something stirring from within. It wasn't a very loud something, but in a low, hushed whisper, one could hear just one single word:

"Aliens."


"'Triplets borne, the throne awaits; a seer warns of a deadly fate…' Oh, this is never going to work!"

Mina sat up on the low-hanging tree branch she'd been laying down on, trying her best to come up with a brand new song. Not that it made a difference. "I don't even know what the point is, Sonia. Why even bother trying to come up with new music when everything could just come crashing down around us? When it could all be over just like that?"

"Hm?" Sonia had been lying underneath the branch in the tall, willowy grass, almost letting it embrace her as though part of her wanted it to drag her down into the dirt below so that she wouldn't have to face today. And then she heard Mina. "Oh. Sorry, Mina."

She supposed that would have to wait. Sonia slowly sat up, occasionally plucking a blade of grass out from her dark pink quills. "Sorry. Had a lot on my mind." Indeed, when one finds out their father is bankrolling a deranged madman, one does tend to have quite a lot on their minds, as it so happens.

"Oh, sorry. It's just, what are we even doing here?"

"Well, I know what I'm doing here. More than ever. I guess the question is, what are you doing here? Though I thought your mind was pretty made up."

"Well, it was kind of in the heat of the moment, you know? Just, everyone else was pledging to give it their all to take down Eggman; I didn't want to let everyone down or be seen as the odd Mobian out!"

"So, what, you really just want to up and leave, just like that?"

"I don't know!" Mina mussed her hair as though she were trying to tear at her brains. "I don't know, and I think that's really what's getting to me. I mean, I want to help, I really do. And I CAN help too. Ever since I nearly tumbled off that cliff a year ago, I've been able to run circles around just about everyone. I'm the second fastest thing alive. So I guess if I didn't help, I'd feel guilty."

"But?"

"But, I guess what the other part of me wants to do more than anything else is just keep writing and singing music. I mean, you know me, Sonia. That's always been a passion of mine; what I've always really wanted to do. Write and sing and just, you know, just make people happy. I think."

"You think?

"Well, I've never really thought that about just what I wanted to do with my music. I mean, I thought I wanted just to make people happy, but I've been starting to think there should be more to music than just that. Only I'm not sure just what that 'more' should be. But that's kinda' a mute point, isn't it? While I'm here fighting, I can't devote as much time to my music, but while I'm spending time on my music, innocents might be out there dying that I could have helped save! I'm just not sure what to do."

Mina then noticed that Sonia seemed to be staring into some unknowable void, or at least one would think so given the almost vacant expression on her face. "Something wrong?"

"Nah, not really. Just thinking."

"Yeah."

"Look, if you ask me, we could use all the help we could get. And you'd be a lot of help. But I guess it's not as if I'm impartial here. Mina, you're one of my best friends. So if you were to up and leave, especially now, I don't know what I'd do."

Mina jumped down off of the branch and zipping right up to Sonia, hugging her like a stuffed teddy bear. "I'm so sorry!"

"Don't be. Heck, it was probably selfish of me to even say it. But you gotta do whatever you gotta do. Don't worry about me. I would like you to stay, everyone would like you to stay, but that's something you've got to decide for yourself."

"I know. I just wish I didn't have to, is all."


After deciding he was determined to NOT be the fastest sadsack alive, Sonic decided to take a little run around the forest. Like a bullet, he was darting through the grass and dashing through the bushes, and it did wonders in making him feel alive. But that didn't mean he felt any more sure of himself. He came to a halt in a clearing, where Bunnie seemed to be doing her best to up her balancing act. She was trying to walk over to Antione as straightly and naturally as possible, her back stiffened and her poise ladylike as could be, but she couldn't help but nearly tumble over with every step. Before long, something finally gave, and Bunnie started making a tumble for the dirt. Sonic was just about to rush in to sweep her off her feet, but Antione had already seen to that. As soon as he noticed Bunnie was about to topple over, Antione raced in, propping her back up and holding her until she managed to get herself together.

"Thanks, Ant'," said Bunnie. "Guess I'm still getting the hang of this, huh?"

"Do not worry, mon Cherie Bunnie," said Antione. "This is something that will take time. You cannot hope to get used to three new limbs in one day."

"I know. Though I wish I could. Seriously though Ant,' thanks for helpin' me. I know you're worried about your father and all. He still isn't waking out of that coma you know."

"Yes. It is, shall we say, most troubling. I do not even know where to begin. If my father is dead, I do not know what I shall do."

"Well, my parents are safe and sound in the country. For now anyway. But still, I really am sorry for you Antione."

"Please mon Cherie," said Antione, "do not be. Though it is appreciated. It is you who received, shall we say, the raw end of the deal."

"Yeah." Bunnie clenched her fist tight. "You know, I may have seemed like the big responsible girl back there, but I really did want to kill him. If Shortfuse wasn't there, if he didn't give me a reason to be the bigger bot, I don't know what I would have done. And honestly Ant', it scares me."

"I know, mon Cherie. But I also feel that you would have been able to overcome yourself even if there had been no-one there to give you a reason to."

"And how do you know that?"

"I do not know. I just do."

Bunnie giggled like a schoolkid. "Oh Ant', who ever knew you had a sense of humor? My stars!"

"I have a sense of humor?", said Antione with complete sincerity. "That would be a first."

"Oh Ant'!"

Okay, thought Sonic, this was starting to get just a tad too sickening for his tastes. Sonic dashed over to Bunny and Antione, skidding in the dirt as he made his breaks. "Hiya Bunnie. Hey, Ant'. How're things hanging?"

"Hey sugar-hog!", said Bunnie. "Not too bad. Well," she said, wiggling her arm, "all things considered."

"Uh huh. Anyway, you guys up to doing anything?"

"I am just helping Bunnie, shall we say, find her balance?" said Antione. "When training for the royal guard, we were shown and given many different techniques, including how to keep our balance in certain situations. So I am attempting to assist Bunnie with just that."

"Well, good for you." Sonic then attempted to walk off like a driftless layabout.

"Hey now," said Bunnie, "what's the rush, sugar-hog? Somethin' on your mind?"

"Yeah, you can say that."

"I know the feeling."

"You know, tell me something, Bunnie."

"Yeah sugar?"

"I don't want to be rude, but you were just this close to being turned into a walking talking wind-up toy. But it doesn't seem to bother you at all. Or if it does, you don't let it show. Just how do you manage that?

"I'll be honest, sugar. I don't know." Bunnie sighed like a slow touch of wind, not even really sure herself what the answer to that was. "I guess it's because, no matter how much I don't want to be hurt or how many times the universe decides to take a dump on me, it's because I don't want to see anyone else hurt or suffer that much. That's just who I am. If someone's in trouble, I gotta help. Couldn't do anything less. Don't mean I don't care about myself; I do. But there are just some things that are more important."

"More important, huh?"

"Well, yeah. Don't know how else to put it."

"Right. Well, thanks, I think. Though I'm still just not sure what to do."

"What to do about what?"

"Never mind. Thanks, but—"

"Hold on there, Sonic," said Antione. "I think I know what your problem is, yes?"

"And what's that, Ant'?"

"You do not wish to stay, do you?"

"And how do you figure that?"

"Why, it is written all over your face, monsieur. We have not known each very long, but I think I know you well enough to tell that you are a man who lives for action and adventure. You are not duty bound to serve any one man or woman or ruling power, and so are free to do as you wish. In fact, you are not even from this kingdom. If you wished to leave this place, we would not stop you."

"But?"

"But, I believe we would all be sorely disappointed with you if you did. You are many things Sonic. Among which includes being irresponsible, rude, selfish, insensitive, tone-deaf in more ways than one-"

Sonic stuck his fingers in his ears, just short of going 'La la la!' "Okay, okay! I get the hint!"

"Honestly, you really might have laid it down a bit too thick sugar, said Bunnie. "I mean, from how I hear it from Sally, there wasn't much Sonic could do. I'm not sure if Sally's over it, but it was a lost cause."

"Except I could have done something! Or I should've. There had to have been something I could do!"

"But there was not!" Antione's hands started to tremble ever so slightly. "There was nothing you could have done! The doctor had already arranged victory before it ever began! It is one of the first rules of war; win the battle before it even begins. He suspected we would come, or at least prepared for what he may well have considered just a slight possibility, and within his terrain, in his domain, it was almost suicide in hindsight. So that is not good enough to simply call it quits. And as I was saying, for all of your faults, that is one thing you most excel at."

"You mean doubting myself.

"Uh, no. Not exactly. What I meant was, when the chips are down, you seem like you would always be ready to charge forward. Even if you should not."

"Gee, thanks." Sonic's gratitude as visible as his last chili dog.

"Do not mention it," Antione grunted, as literal as one could get. "But the point is, you do not seem like one to give up so easily. Not to me. So I do not think sulking over something you could not help is going to help anyone. Not us, not Sally, and certainly not yourself."

"Maybe. That's something I'm gonna have to think about it. Thanks, Ant.'"

"Oh." That was new. Antione wondered if he was even speaking with the same Sonic he had met just a few days ago. "Well, ahem, thank you. I must say, that is most unlike yourself."

"Like you said, I've got a lot of things to think about. And maybe that's one of 'em. Catch you later!" Sonic dashed once more, leaving Antione and Bunnie in his dust. An entire cloud of it. Antione practically coughed his lungs out as it blew straight through him, breathing a sigh of relief as it moved on. Bunnie, however, wasn't in so dire a straight, only managing a few slight coughs herself as it passed through. Which wasn't something that exactly went unnoticed.

"That was also new," said Antione. "Are you alright Bunnie? I mean obviously you are, but I was wondering if you were alright in a different sense, which is to say—"

"It's okay Antione. I know what you meant, and it was very sweet. And you're right. By all accounts, I should have been coughing up a storm. But I wasn't. You'd think that'd be a good thing."

"But it is not, is it?"

"I don't know. And that's what really scares me, sugar."