"Tails."

"Tails."

"Save us."

"Save us."

"Peace."

"Feel peace."

"I'm sorry."

"I'LL KILL YOU!!!"

"AAHH!!!"

Tails shook his head, trying to erase the thoughts from his mind. He was worried. Not just for Cosmo, but for the entire world.

One hour earlier.

"We managed to get the radio tower fixed." said Espio "We know exactly where they're being held."

"Cargo ship, out east." said Rouge to the team "We also got strange readings coming from somewhere further east. We don't know what they mean, but they're pretty big. It's probably where the main hideout is."

"Only two of you will be heading for the ship. The rest of you will head towards the signal." commanded Knuckles "It may be dangerous, but you know what you signed up for. And remember, we're not just doing this to win a war, we're doing this bring peace."

Current time.

"Hey Tails." spoke Vector hovering over the cargo ship "We're here."

"Take us down." said Tails.

Vector lowered the plane towards the ship, letting Tails climb out get off on one of the crates.

"It doesn't look like anyone is on the ship." said Tails through his communicator.

"Watch your back though. You never know. It may be more crowded than you think."

Tails climbed off the crate and onto ship's floor where he heard knocking coming from one of the crates.

"Cosmo?" whispered Tails, trying to find something to open the crate.

"Tails, what are you doing down there?!?" asked Vector.

"I'm trying to find something to open the crate. Somebody is inside."

"Well you better hurry. I see someone from up here heading your direction."

"Hurrying." said Tails, finding a crowbar laying across from the crate he heard the knocking from.

Tails shoved the end of the crowbar under the lid of the crate and put all the weight he could on top of it. When the crate snapped open it wasn't Cosmo that came out, it was a blue ostrich wearing the same kind of gear as the Rogues.

"Who are you? What were in that crate?" asked Tails, pointing his gun at Rogue.

"Please don't shoot." said Rogue, putting his feathered hands up.

"Hey!"

Tails and the ostrich turned around to see a big red guy coming at them with a hammer. The red guy swung the hammer at Tails, almost hitting him, but instead knocking him down. The ostrich climbed out of the crate and grabbed the crowbar. Rushing over to another crate the ostrich pulled the top and took out an AK47. The red guy hovered over Tails ready to drop his hammer until round of bullets shot from his abdomen. Tails rolled out of the way before the red guy could fall on him and got up to thank the ostrich.

"Now back to my questions. Who are you and why were in the crate?" asked Tails.

"My name is Akhil. I come from a land east of here. For years my people have been ruled by tyrant that goes by the name Robotnik."

"Robotnik?" asked Tails.

"Yes." answered Akhil "My people fear him and the army he has created. Some of us are forced to fight in wars we have no business being part of. And those that try to oppose him..."

Akhil pointed to the crate he was in, indicating that more of his people were locked inside of crates.

"And once they drove us to the middle of the ocean the crates inside."

"Monsters." whispered Tails "Do you know if there's anyone else on the ship?"

"I heard some of them talking about a green girl." said Akhil "Said she was taking her to Babylon."

"She?"

"Yes. It was a female voice. One I've never heard before."

"Vector, did you get any of that?" asked Tails through his communicator.

"Sure did." replied Vector.

"Think we can fit one more on the plane?" asked Tails.

"I'm sure we can squeeze him in." said Vector.

"Good." said Tails "Akhil, you're coming with us. We're taking you back home. And we're going to end this tyrant's reign of terror for good."

"Thank you. Thank you. I'm grateful. So grateful." cried Akhil.

As the three head towards the Island of Babylon, inside of island's prisons Cosmo sat, scared that nobody was going to be able to find her. But she had hope. A small, small spark of hope that she would see Tails once again.

"Stand up prisoner."

"Sh-Shade?"

"I said stand up." ordered Shade "I'm taking you meet the king."

Shade pulled Cosmo from the ground and pushed her and towards the exit.

"Shade, I don't understand." whispered Cosmo, before noticing Charmy and Bark behind one of the cells.

"I'm sorry Cosmo. I'm doing this for my home." said Shade.

"Doing what?" asked Cosmo, panicking from the thoughts of what might be done to her.

Shade stopped in front of a tall building. Bright lights shined down upon the two. Shade pushed Cosmo through the entrance of the building, not phased by the bright lights and whispered.

"Saving it."