Knuckles, Tails, Rouge and the rest of the team gathered supplies into the jeeps to head south into the desert. After driving over 50 miles across the sands they stopped over a dune overlooking a desert village below. From out of the village three motorcycles were driven by a team of rogues which were heading straight for them.
"Rogues!" shouted Espio, causing the others to pull out their weapons.
"Hold your fire!" ordered Knuckles "They're on our side."
The rogues stopped near the jeeps and lowered their scarves.
"Jet, Storm, Wave, any trouble beyond the village?"
"Nothing yet, but we've circled the entire desert and have found some scrap laying around." answered Jet, the green hawk.
"I see." said Knuckles "Is there anymore?"
"We're not sure." answered Storm, the large gray albatross.
"But we'll keep searching." interjected Wave, the purple female swallow.
"Alright." said Knuckles "We'll stay in the village for a while, lay low in case there is something out there."
The team along with the rogues drove down into the village, which seemed to be completely deserted. Everyone exited their vehicles and was shown to their resting spots by the rogues.
"Women sleep in one end and men in the other." said Jet, opening the door to the men's resting place.
"As soon as night falls we'll head towards the next village, and if it's safe we'll come back and let you know." said Storm.
"Good." nodded Knuckles "Let's go grab our bags and we'll hit the hay early tonight."
That night as the team lay sleeping in their huts Tails, having trouble getting to sleep due to a noise coming from outside, gets up and quietly heads out the door. While outside he spots a hooded figure sneaking into one of the buildings and hides before he is spotted. Tails watches as the hooded figure opens door, looking left and right to see if anyone is watching. After the hooded figure closes the door a hand clamps over Tails' mouth. Tails is startled until he hears the voice of the one the hand belonged to.
"Ray?" whispered Tails "What are you doing out here?"
"Same as you. Bark and I heard something out here and decided to come check it out."
Tails looks up at Bark, not realizing before that he was there.
"Listen, I saw someone sneaking into one of the buildings on the right." informed Tails "I think it might be a rogue."
"You think we should go check it out?" asked Ray.
"This might be crazy, but yeah."
Tails, Bark and Ray make their way to the building the hooded figure snuck into. Inside they saw a railing and crates lined up against the wall below the railings.
"This place looks different." said Ray.
"I know." answered Tails "This place doesn't look like it was made of just sand and brick."
"What do you think?" asked Ray.
Before Tails could answer the large doors at the end of the room opens. Tails, Ray and Bark hide behind the crates as rogues with black robes and hoods come into the room followed by a white echidna.
"Doctor Finitevas." said one of the guards, saluting the white echidna.
"Where are the parts?" asked the white echidna.
"This way sir." said one of the rogues, leading Finitevas to a crate on the left.
"Perfect. Just what I need." smiled Finitevas, holding up the part to what looked to be a weapon and examining it "Did anyone follow you?"
"You mean those three ex-rogues? No sir, I made quick work of them."
"Good. Good." nodded Finitevas "You keep up at this rate and you may be promoted. "
"Thank you sir."
And with that Finitevas left, leaving two rogues behind to guard the place.
"Great, now what?" whispered Ray.
"I don't know. We need to get out of here and warn the others and inform Knuckles and Rouge that Jet, Storm and Wave are dead."
"Damn, they didn't have a chance..."
Before Ray could finish his sentence, Bark stepped out from behind the crates.
"Bark. What are you doing?" whispered Tails.
Bark made his way towards the two guards. Not alerting them, he tapped his gun on the steel floor below. The guards spun around, but was met with a paw right to the face. Both guards stumbled back, dropping their guns and took out their knives. Bark dodged the knives as they came swinging at him and he kicked the both guards at the same time, causing them to drop their knives as well. Feeling defenseless one guard picked up his knife, but Bark rolled across his back, spun the guard around and gave him a swift, hard punch to the jaw. After doing that Bark saw the other guard's knife coming down at him. Quickly he grabbed the blade of the knife, kicked the guard in the knee, twisted the guard's arm, spun around and stabbed him in the side with his own knife. As the other came to Bark lifted the stabbed guard over his head and tossed him into the other one. After the fight was over Bark dusted off his gloves and smiled.
"Holy crap! That was amazing!" cheered Ray "Who knew such a big guy like you could be so light on his feet."
As the three celebrated Bark's small victory Knuckles, Rouge and Espio chimed in.
"What's going on in here?" asked Knuckles.
"Rogues." said Tails as the three approached the bodies of the rogues that Bark finished off.
"Let me check." said Espio, bending down to check the pulses of the guards "One is gone, the other one is still alive."
"Good, we might need him." said Knuckles "You three did good tonight. I suggest you three get back and rest."
"Sir." said Tails, before leaving.
"Yeah?"
"I heard one of the rogues say they took out Jet, Wave and Storm."
"Dammit." said Knuckles angrily "They must have been camped in or around the second village. Anyways, you can go on ahead. Get some shut eye. We might end up having a big fight on our hands."
Sorry for the late update. I kind of had a bit of writers block. I was thinking of adding another one of my own fan characters to this story, but I decided against it because I feel like that would slow story down. I might end up giving that character his own story later on after I'm done with this one, but we'll see. Let me know if you would be interested in that. Anyways thanks for reading and be on the lookout for the next chapter. Hopefully I don't get writer's block again.