Antione was walking through Hedgehog Industries with Amy "Sonic has got zem in his basement. Ze're wearing party hats. Zis is an asset zat we can put to use". Amy stops to sign a form "So you're suggesting that I replace the entire janitorial staff with robots" "What I am saying is zat the organic element of H&M resources is our biggest point of vulnerability. We should start phasing it out immediately" "What?". Antione suddenly noticed a deer not wearing a name tag "Excuse me, Bambi. You should be wearing…". Amy was still on the last suggestion "Did you just say that?". She stopped Antione "Ant? Okay. I am thrilled that you are now the Head of Security. Okay? It's a perfect position for you" "Thank you. I do appre-" "However, since you have taken the post, we've had a rise in staff complaints of 300%". Antione nodded proudly "Thank you" "It's not a compliment" "It is a compliment. Clearly somebody is trying to hide something". Before Amy could say anything, a human woman came over "Ms Rose, your 4:00 is here".
Amy nodded "Thank you. Antione, we'll talk about this later, but right now, I have to deal with a very annoying thing" "How so?". He followed her to her office "I used to work with him, and he used to ask me out all the time so it's a little awkward". They entered the office where Geoffrey St John was waiting, he no longer had a limp and was wearing a green ascot, purple boots and gloves. He stood up straight confidently with a handsome face. Amy stared at him in surprise "Geoffrey?" "Amy, you look great" he smiled. Amy began to stutter "Gaia, you look great. I… I… I. What on Mobius have you been doing?". He shrugged "Nothing fancy. Just five year in the hands of physical therapists". Antione stepped forward "Um, do have a security badge?". Amy turned to him "Ant, it's okay. We're good" "Are you sure?" "Yes. Stand down". Antione nodded "Okay. I will be outside" "Thank you". Antione sat at a chair outside and patiently waited. He scanned the room and saw a male octopus sitting on a chair nearby reading a magazine "Hey, guy" he points to his badge. The octopus insolently holds up his own badge.
Geoffrey sat opposite Amy "After years dodging the President's ban on 'immoral' biotech research, my think tank now has a little something in the pipeline. It's an idea we like to call the Metal Virus". He places a small device on the desk and then a smaller one behind his ear "Do you mind if I dim the light's?", Amy nodded. Geoffrey did so with a remote and then pressed a different button. The device on the desk projected a hologram of millions of stars. Geoffrey gave a fake sounding sigh "Uh… Wait, hold on, sorry. That's the universe". The hologram changed into what appeared to be a neural network "That's a brain". Amy stared at it amazed "That's… Wow" "Thanks, it's mine" "What?". Geoffrey pointed at the device behind his ear "This. It's my head. It's a live feed. Come on, I'll prove it". He stood on the desk and helped Amy up "Okay, pinch my arm". Amy hesitated, "Come on. I take it". Amy did so and part of the hologram flashed. Geoffrey smirked "Told you. But that's not what I wanted to show you". He presses a button, and the hologram zooms in on a dark part of the brain "The Metal Virus has many applications, but one is unlocking and upgrading the abilities every Mobian carries from our ancestors. Aquatic Mobians can breathe underwater again, birds could fly and stop picking fights with bats".
Sonic was in his garage holding a pad. He makes a call which was answered by Antione only showing his forehead "Hello" "Is this Forehead of Security?" "What?". He moved the camera down "You know, look… I got a real job. What do you want? I have something going on here" "What, harassing interns?". Sonic walked past Mecha Sonic who was on a platform being lowered into a large room underneath the garage "Let me tell you something. Do you know what happened when I told people I was Sonic ze Hedgehog's bodyguard, they would laugh in my face". Sonic chuckled as he walked down a stairwell "I had to leave when I still had a shred of dignity. Now I have a real job. I'm watching Amy". Sonic entered a wine cellar and took a bottle "Aright, fill me in" "She is meeting up with this scientist. Rich skunk. Handsome. I couldn't make his, at first. You know I'm good with faces". Sonic half-heartedly nodded "Yeah, you're the best" "Well, I ran his credentials. I make him. Geoffrey St John. We actually met ze guy back in… 99 if I remember? The science conference?". Sonic sat down and poured himself a glass "Aldern. But Geoffrey, I don't remember that guy" "Of course you didn't. Anyway, at first, it was fine. They were talking business. But now it's getting weird. He's showing her his brain".
Sonic waited for Antione to explain but he was silent "Ant, I need context" "Hold on". Antione held up the pad but didn't turn the camera around "See?" "See what? You, watching them? Flip the screen, and then we can get started" "I am not a tech genius like you. Just trust me. Get down here". Sonic rolled his eyes "Flip the screen. Then I can see what they're doing" "I don't know how to flip ze screen! And don't talk to me like zat. You are not my boss". Sonic looked up Geoffrey on his phone as Antione spoke "And I don't trust zis guy. He's got another guy with him. He shifty" "Relax" "No. You should take more of an interest in what's going on here. Zis woman's the best thing that ever happened to you and you're just ignoring her". Sonic couldn't disagree with that "Giant Brian?" "Yes. Giant brain. Shifty character. I'm gonna follow this guy. I'm gonna run his plates and I'm gonna… You know if it gets rough so be it". Sonic got another bottle "You know, I miss you, Ant" "Yes, I miss you too. But ze way it used to be. Now you're off with ze super-friends. I don't know what's going on with you anymore. The world is getting weird". He didn't want to admit it but quite frankly Sonic wished he had the rest of the Chaotix, but they were all doing their own thing now "Ant, I need to cut you off. Do you have your taser" "Why?" "I think zere's a gal in H.M.R who's trying to steal some printer ink. You should probably go over there and zap her". He left the phone in the fridge and walked away.
Geoffrey was now sitting with Amy "Imagine if you could hack into the hard drive of any living organism and unlock it's secrets". Amy nodded "That would be incredible. Unfortunately, to my ears, it also sounds highly weaponizable. As in, enhanced soldiers, private armies, and Sonic is-". Geoffrey nodded "Sonic, Sonic. You know I invited Sonic to join Restoration 13 years ago. He turned me down. But something tells me that now there's a new genius on the throne who doesn't have to answer to Sonic anymore and who has slightly less of an ego". Amy couldn't help but agree with everything he just said but still "It's gonna be a no, Geoffrey. As much as I'd like to help you".
The two walked out together "Well, I can't say that I'm not disappointed. But then, as my father used to say 'Failure is the fog through which we glimpse triumph'" "That's very deep. And I have no idea what it means". Geoffrey chuckled "No, me neither. He was kind of an idiot, my old man. Hope to see you again, Amy" he kissed her cheek and walks away. Amy watched him for a moment when she realised Antione was next to her "Oh, Ant!" "Car's ready, if you're okay to go" "Yes, I just, um… Gaia, I forgot my other things, so… I'm just gonna…". She went back inside; Antione turned and saw Geoffrey get into a car with the octopus. He quickly takes a picture of the plates.
Amy drove up to the house and saw a large stuffed rabbit sitting outside. She sighed and entered the house "I'm sorry I'm late. I had to- What the… What is that?". Sonic was sitting on the couch in his super form "You're doing this in the house now?" "Well, you know, everybody has a hobby" "And your hobby is going Starman in the living room?". He stood up as she sat on the opposite couch "Just feeling it out. Hey, did you see your Christmas present?" "Yes, I did. I don't how I could've missed that Christmas present. Is it gonna fit through the door?". She picked up a pile of fan drawings of Sonic who shrugged "Well, actually, it's a good question. I got a team of guys coming tomorrow. They're gonna blow out that wall. So, how are you? Tense? Good day?". He massaged her shoulders "I don't want to harp on this, but did you like the custom rabbit?" "Did I like it?" "Nailed it, right?". She turned to him and smiled "I appreciate the thought very much", Sonic backed away. She stood up "So, why don't you come here and give me a kiss?". Sonic stayed where he was "Uh, no can do". Amy continued to smile "Why don't I go down to the seller and get some wine then" she headed for the stairs. Sonic followed her "Oh! Except there's been… a radiation leak in the garage" "I'll take my chances". Amy went down into the garage and saw Sonic there exercising with a device around his head "Busted". Amy didn't look surprised "This is a new level of lame" "Sorry".
The other Sonic came down and the hologram turned off revealing it to be the new Mecha Sonic wearing gloves over his hands. Amy saw a dirty plate on a table "You ate without me already? On date night?" "Well, he was just-" "You mean you". Sonic nodded "Well, yeah, I just mean we were just hosting you while I finished up a little work. And yes, I had a quick bite. I didn't know if you were coming home, or you were having drinks with Geoffrey St John". Amy crossed her arms, Mecha Sonic looked at her which she glanced at "What?". It walked away and Amy turned back to the real Sonic "Geoffrey St John? What, are you checking up on me?" "Ant was concerned" "No, you're spying on me. I'm going to bed". She turned to the door but "Hold on. Ames! Hey, I admit it. My fault. Sorry". Amy stopped and came back down, Sonic sighed "I'm a piping hot mess. It's been going on for a while. I haven't said anything. Nothing's been the same since Station Square" "I know. You don't hide it as well as you think you do". Sonic nodded "You experience things and then they're over, and you still can't explain them. Gods, aliens, magic rocks. I'm just a fast hedgehog. The only reason I haven't cracked up is probably because you moved in. Which is great. I love you. I'm lucky. But Ames, I can't sleep. You go to bed, I come down here. I do what I know". He sighs embarrassed and sits down "Threat is imminent. And I have to protect the one thing that I can't live without. That's you. And these robots, they're, uh…" "Machines. Distractions". Sonic lowered his head "Maybe". Amy's face softens and walks over to Sonic. She hugs him and then looks into his eyes "I'm gonna take a shower" "Okay". She headed for the door but glances back at him "You're gonna join me". Sonic nods and quickly follows her out "Better".
