At 0500 hours the bugle blared. Everyone rose from their beds and headed to the training grounds.

"Alright!" said Knuckles "One by one you'll have to run the obstacle course you see before you! Keep in mind, you are not running this course to challenge each other, you are doing it to challenge yourselves! Do I make myself clear soldiers?!"

"Sir yes sir!" shouted the soldiers.

"Good." smiled Knuckles "Ray, you're up."

"I got this." Ray nodded.

When Ray finished the obstacle course his time was 1 minute and 42 seconds.

"I could have done a little better." Ray panted.

"Mighty."

Mighty's time, 1 minute and 44 seconds.

Bean's time, 1 minute and 5 seconds.

Bark's time, 1 minute and 50 seconds.

Charmy's time, 1 minute and 6 seconds.

Vector's time, 1 minute and 45 seconds.

Last one up was Tails.

"You ready soldier?" asked Knuckles.

Tails nodded. Knuckles started the timer and began running through the course as fast as he possibly could. Almost halfway through he tripped and sprained his wrist.

Twenty minutes later...

"That was a nasty fall you had." said the dark haired lynx, wrapping a bandage around Tails' wrist "But it should get better in no time."

"Thanks." said Tails, getting up to leave.

"Hey." Tails turned around to see Cosmo approaching him "I hope you get better soon."

"Yeah." smiled Tails "Me too."

"If you need anything don't be afraid to come and ask." said Cosmo.

Tails smiled at Cosmo and left for the barracks.

In the barracks Tails sat down on the side of his bed. He looked up to see Vector approaching him. Vector sat across from Tails and looked him right in the eyes.

"Now, you see what I've been saying?" asked Vector.

"What are you talking about?" asked Tails.

"All of this thinking, hoping, you can't even run a simple obstacle course because of it."

"That's not the reason I tripped!"

"Isn't it?" Vector retorted "What was on your mind while you was running?"

"Well... my cousin... and..."

"Exactly." said Vector "That's the problem. You need to realize that this is more than just about Foxtrot. It's more than just about a girl. You have to learn to sacrifice things if it means it help the greater good."

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

"Because... I had a friend that didn't take that advice. She was taken by the enemy. God knows whatever happened to her." Vector stood up and walked towards the door "I don't want the same thing to happen to you. You're young, and there's a lot about this war that you don't know."

"Vector." Tails said quietly, getting Vector to turn his head "Thanks. And I hope you find this friend of yours."

"Don't count on it." huffed Vector, leaving the barracks and Tails behind.

Meanwhile...

"55%."