Chapter 5: The Lookout
Sonic is the first to shake hands with the transparent hedgehog, who reiterates he's a big fan of the blue blur and his friends. He introduces himself as Trent, another enhanced civilian whose been wronged by Victor. He begins to tell his story, which slowly calms the tension between both sides in the process and allows them to settle down.
"...and after I got outta Victor's bullshit town, I came here to hide out. You know, I was kinda surprised that anybody could find the entrance, but seeing that only Sonic the hedgehog found it, I guess I shouldn't be" Trent says
The group talk amongst themselves quietly but Amy decides to be straight up with the young hedgehog
"Yeah, how is it that you know us, exactly?"
Trent walks over to a satellite conductor, opens the two small doors of a metal box and presses a power button on the front. Everyone watches a small television screen turn on and light up the dark cavern.
"What is that, a news station?" Tails asks
"Yes it is. Do they have TV on Mobius?"
"...they should be getting it soon"
Manic steps forward "So, wait - that's how you know us? Watching TV?"
"And the video games. They kinda went downhill, though.." Trent says as he shows a few games in his collection
Manic looks at his brother "Where the hell is my game?!"
"That's not important" Sonic says as he steps forward "...Trent, listen, my friends here need a ride out of The Nexus, things are only going to get worse-"
Amy looks at him "You're coming with us!"
Sonic turns away "I'm sorry but I can't leave, not yet"
"What? Why not?"
"...I made someone a promise I'd help them against Victor-"
"To hell with that, we came all this way out here to bring you home! We're not leaving without you - I'm not leaving without you!"
As Amy and Sonic argue, Knuckles steps away from both groups and leans against one of the walls as he thinks to himself. Manic raises his phone to eye level and an old voice mail from Julie plays.
The tired Echidna listens to his girlfriend pleading for him to come home and be there when their child arrives. Message after message plays for him, and it inspires Knuckles to keep fighting.
"...she's been sending these all day, bro" Manic says
Knuckles turns to him "Not a word to the others, okay? I don't need them on my ass about this"
"You got it"
On the other side of the large interior, Trent notices Tails going through the electronic pieces inside the bag he'd taken back from Victor. The Fox appears visibly upset and curses to himself, so Trent comes over.
"What's up?"
Tails puts the pieces down "...I'm missing a few key items for this transportation device, Trent... this is our ride home"
"Do you know where they are?"
"They're inside Victor's stupid castle, but we just went through hell to escape that place, and now Mongol's outside!... nobody's getting in there without running into trouble..."
The transparent hedgehog smirks as he shows off his invisibility to The Fox
"How about I go, man. No way in hell they'll see me coming. I can get in and out of anywhere"
"Are you sure? I mean, I don't want you getting hurt because of us, Trent"
"Hey, The Sonic Heroes need my help. You don't get a chance to help them everyday. I've got your back"
Tails grins at his new friend, then goes on to explain what the missing items are and how they look.
About half a mile from the cave entrance, Raul's soldiers put Maine on a gurney and travel back to the medical centre in Victor's metallic city. The android assistant Spaceman informs the robotized Eagle of Maine's condition, and where Mammoth Mongol is.
"...we believe Mongol has Sonic and his friends cornered inside the cave to the east, however he can't get in" Spaceman says
Victor finishes his drink and stands up "...let's go talk to him"
"You wish to enter the battlefield, sir?"
"Why not. It's been awhile since I got my hands dirty"
The Eagle orders his guards to bring him some armour and a few specialized weapons, including swords and firearms. With his arsenal readily available inside a metal crate, Victor leads a team of 40 guards down to the cave for an assault.
They meetup with Militia leader Raul and Guardian Velocita, both figuring out the right way to gain access to the massive cave.
"Gentlemen. I assume you have a plan of attack" Victor says
"Yeah, we blow a hole open so we can enter" Velocita says
"I like it. How are we doing this?"
Raul points over to a grimy section of the cave "We need to send someone in to plant the explosives without being detected, otherwise we'll be easily subdued by Sonic's friends and the enhanced renegades. I suggest Velocita and Spaceman go in, the android is clearly the fastest with these mobile devices, and Velocita is more than capable covering him"
Victor looks at his assistant, then nods in agreement
"...and Mongol?"
Raul laughs "He's been trying to smash a hole in the cave for a little while now, but it's not coming down. I say we send him in first once we gain entry. You know, take most of the fire"
The Eagle grins "I like that plan. Alright everyone, let's MOVE OUT!"
As Velocita and Spaceman pack their equipment bags and get ready to enter, Trent enables his invisibility cloaking and casually walks past the small army.
The Transparent hedgehog is conflicted on whether to stay and disrupt this war party, or to continue onwards to Victor's now unguarded castle.
Tails would want me to play this smart Trent thinks, making up his mind on what to do.
He leaves Jambi country and sets off to steal back the remaining pieces of Tails' transportation device.
Velocita and Spaceman find an entrance and squeeze through a gap along the old stone wall of the cave, intent on planting their explosive charges and breaking into the hideout.
The party continues at Charmy's basement apartment well into the late hours of the night, and nobody in the neighbourhood caring in the slightest. Rouge took off earlier with some equipment Charmy passed on to her, but regardless, the private function goes on. Bark the Polar Bears hands out fresh beers to the guests, while Manic's friend B.B tells a funny story to the rest of the gang.
Loud and obnoxious rap music plays throughout the apartment, drowning out the annoyed bangs from Charmy's upstairs neighbours.
Outside, Thompson butts out a smoke and signals for his girlfriend to join him back inside when he suddenly bumps into a tall figure in a grey pin striped suit at the door.
"Whoa, didn't see you there, slick" Thompson says
"Do yourself a favor and get lost" The suit replies as he opens the door
"Uhh come again?"
Before the tall hedgehog can step forward, the mystery man pulls out a G.U.N badge and stops Thompson in his tracks.
"God damn police?!"
His girlfriend gets in between the two before things escalate
"Come on, baby, we're going home" Mickie says "...we dont need this heat, Tom"
She grabs his hands and pulls the tall hedgehog away, while the suit walks inside and heads downstairs.
"Alright, everyone, party's over, get outta here"
"Whoa, hey! What's this? We weren't even doin' anything!" B.B says
The suit flashes his badge once more "I said get out. All of you except Mr. Charmy Bee. We need to have a little chat, son"
Manic's mentor Farrell finishes his drink "Whatever, cop. Hey, everyone's welcome at my spot, the Four Star downtown. I got the room for the weekend, let's go"
B.B follows Farrell, Bark fills his bag with drinks from the fridge and Big the Cat picks up OMEGA's robot head from a nightstand on his way out. Everyone is gone and the music is shut off in 20 seconds.
Charmy spins around in his chair and clears his throat before he greets his guest.
"What can I do ya for, uh - is it Officer? Agent? Special Agent?"
"Warwick will do, boy" the suit says
"Gotcha... care for some cream soda? I just stocked up"
"I'm fine, thank you. Now Charmy, I understand you have a piece of technology on the property that was recently acquired from a G.U.N facility" Warwick begins "...and that a wanted fugitive gave you possession of these stolen items"
The Bee smirks "I don't have a clue what you're talking about"
Warwick laughs "Son, it's a federal crime to lie to a law enforcement officer. You wanna change that statement before I book you?"
"My best friends Vector and Espio were law enforcement officers and YOU locked them away! You're nothing but a chump! ...and besides, I haven't committed a crime so you don't have the right to arrest me, dickhead!"
The suit looks around Charmy's littered and condensed apartment "You are saying that no stolen property is being held here? You're really going for that?"
Charmy extends his hands "Look around if you want. Check. You won't find a damn thing here, except my massive game collection, maybe. Y'know, I'm training to be in pro Esports right now and I don't really have time for your interruptions, special agent. So do what you want, but trust me, I know my rights. If you violate them, it's game over for you"
"Is that a threat-"
"I don't know, do you feel threatened?"
Warwick scoffs "...you sure have a way with words, boy"
"My roommates spent 10 years learning the law and all the legal loopholes imaginable. I practically grew up on courtroom dramas, pal. Try me"
The short standoff ends with Warwick calling his team to search not only Charmy's apartment, but the entire house he shares with his upstairs neighbours. When nothing of interest is found, Charmy sits back down on the gaming chair and cracks open a can of soda, keeping eye contact with the visibly pissed off Warwick standing at the door.
"So. Got what you came for?" Charmy asks sarcastically
"You're still on the persons of interest list so expect check-ins every now and again. And you'd better remember that if we find anything incriminating on you, I'll personally come back here to drag your sorry, crying ass to jail. Understand?"
The teenager chuckles "That one always gets me. Yeah, okay special agent. See ya next time!"
The suit exhales as he walks back upstairs, purposely forgetting to close the door. Charmy flies over, shuts the door and goes back to gaming, knowing Warwick is still outside trying his best to find anything suspicious.
The teenager reads a text message from Rouge
Is that cop gone?
-R
Charmy starts typing a response
Not yet. Can you hang onto it for a little while longer? My place is compromised.
-C
This thing won't stay a secret forever but I can keep it off the grid for now. TTYL.
-R
Charmy puts his phone down and sighs quietly. He never thought he would have to keep his friends' actions a secret from the police, but he also never thought his two best friends would ever get falsely imprisoned by the same police force.
The two things he wants more than anything right now, is for everything to go back to normal, and everyone to come back safe.