"Good Morning, Mobians! The time is 5:00 AM and you are listening to Mobius in the Morning. Our top story today: scientists were able to store digital data in DNA, could the new SD card be in your genes? More on that after a message from our supporters…"

Sonic rolled over and grabbed his phone playing a podcast. Waking up to a story was easier than music for him. With how often Sonic ran with music on, he had already out played any songs he favorited. So for now, he was switching to podcasts until new music came out. Tails told him the news would make him smarter, "but not that I think you're dumb!" he would say after.

His travels all over the world made him quite the cosmopolitan and lover of culture and history. He had tried to learn a little bit of each language he could, at least words used in emergencies. Being a hero meant he needed to communicate with the needy or at least understand their needs. As a result, between language learning stories, he would listen to tech podcasts so he could talk to Tails about his interests. Sonic didn't always understand everything on a deep level, but he likes seeing Tails get excited about even knowing some of the buzzwords or concepts that came from the high tech side of news.

The day was still cool as the sun was rising over town. Morning runs were always relaxing for Sonic in the morning since few people were around to recognize him. After being domestic in the same town for as long as he has been, people still treated him like a celebrity. He did save the world, a few times even, but sometimes he just wanted peace and quiet on his runs.

"...now that scientists have been able to microscopically store data, where do we see this going?" The show host asked.

"We expect that this new form of DNA data storage will open up possibilities to replicate high amounts of processing and archiving. A system could be as vast as the internet but not need a wi-fi signal to process. This could mean the new cloud is just a few strands of DNA stored on your computer instead of chips," the scientist replied.

"Does this mean we could create computers that could process like humans?"

"Yes, researchers have been looking into how to program a system that could operate like a human brain, with neural networks and machine learning, and we expect it would outperform humans in any rule-based tasks like board games or mathematics."

""Would these super machines be able to think, dream even?"

"This is still in the works, but scientists are theorizing that using DNA chains as the data storage and processing could have a side-effect of creating human nature in a system, things like independent thought and hopes and dreams could exist for those machines based on how they use the DNA chains they are from. After all, we still know so little about how we are able to create our own thoughts, so a machine might have the same accidental creation powers we got from our DNA evolution over animals."

"Absolutely fascinating, thank you doctor," said the host. "Thank you for tuning into Mobius in the Morning! We will see you tomorrow for more news and culture!"

With the show over, Sonic turned on his playlist and made his way back home. Seeing that it was 7:00 AM, Sonic started getting a quick breakfast ready for him and Tails, who was still sleeping. He didn't want to make too much since the barbeque was a potluck today at Amy's house, and he wanted to try at least a bite of something everyone brought. Sonic settled on making toast for himself and some cereal for Tails, quick and easy!

"Tails! C'mon, buddy, time to eat!" he shouted up the stairs. He heard some groaning and shifting. 'Figured that fox would stay up late binge watching,' Sonic thought.

Sonic sat by the window and watched the neighborhood come to life as the sun was in the sky. The suburbs weren't as bustling as Station Square, but less congestion in the streets and population gave Sonic better paths to run. Sure, the parks weren't as fancy or exciting, but the wilderness hiking paths here in town sufficed for the hedgehog's desires.

"Morning," Tails said in a groggy voice and droopy eyes.

"Morning, Tails! Got you a bowl ready, just need to add milk. I wasn't sure how long you would take and didn't want it to spoil!" Sonic said with a smile.

Tails grabbed the milk from the refrigerator and poured it half way into the bowl. Then, he grabbed the coffee pot and poured the next half into it. For good measure, he added some spoonfuls of sugar and stirred it. Sonic grimaced and coughed at the sight.

"Stay up too late, little buddy?" Sonic giggled.

"No, just up to early," Tails replied with yawn and started eating his concoction at the table with Sonic.

Sonic laughed. "I just wanted to make sure you are ready for today's event! You don't wanna miss our fun outing with the gang, right?"

"Do you think Amy will let me sleep on her couch there?" Tails said, drinking from his coffee cereal bowl.

"You'd have to ask her," Sonic said. "Oh hey, I was listening to the news and heard about this new data stored in DNA thing? You know anything about that?"

Tails stretched and got some more life in his eyes, finally feeling some of the caffeine. "Yes, I actually use that technology on my system in the garage currently. The depth of DNA chains makes processing speeds higher and scope of intake better too." Tails got up to get a cup of coffee, this time without cereal in it.

"So what does that mean, exactly?"

"Basically, it can take in thousands of inputs and process them on the fly without much hesitation. The media describes it as 'human' since our bodies take in thousands of points of data from our senses and processes them simultaneously and unconsciously. The system is able to do the same, not because it has human ability really, but because the data storage and process power is so highly increased it seems near instant and can account for everything all at once."

"Wow, and you've already been doing that before they started?"

"Well, of course! I have to stay ahead of whatever Eggman can come up with. The reason I don't share my inventions with the public is because Eggman could always reverse engineer them for evil! A robot with that high of processing power could be very dangerous."

"So Metal Sonic didn't use that?"

"No, Metal was an expert system. He knew everything about you and us and could predict what you would do, but he was not able to think without having prior exposure to something. That was why we could trick him and beat him. A robot with DNA processing could just come up with new ideas and avoid tricks."

"Guess you might want to make a robot then with that in case Eggman makes one," Sonic said.

"Better yet, I can use one of the old robots we have in storage that I decommissioned from Eggman. Saves me some time on building a new one," Tails replied.

"Great! We can work on that tomorrow, but today is about the barbeque!" Sonic cheered. "Do we have all that we need?"

"Of course, I got all the chili dog ingredients you requested and they are bagged in the refrigerator. Amy will take care of all the cooking parts once we arrive for lunch."

"Perfect. I am going to get some more steps in before we have to go. Need anything while I am out?"

"Maybe some coffee that doesn't taste so bitter?"

"Gotcha, I'll get you a latte on my way back."

"Thaaaaanks, you're the best big bro ever!" Tails said in a tired voice.

"And don't you forget it!" Sonic said as he left out the door.

After taking a walk into the downtown suburbs and doing a few circles in the block, Sonic stopped into Starbucks to get Tails something to keep him up. Stepping into line and checking his phone while he waited, he almost didn't recognize who was in front of him until she spoke.

"Hi, darling, I'd like a grande pink drink and a venti black coffee, please. And be sure to make those with love!" The bat paid and turned to wait in the lobby.

Sonic quickly ordered a peppermint latte for Tails, luckily this location kept some in stock year round. "Hey, Rouge!"

"Oh, well look who it is, the hero of Mobius here at this unassuming coffee shop!" Rouge teased. "Now why would the fastest thing alive need something with caffeine?"

"Haha, oh I'm just getting that for Tails. He likes to stay up late, but I need him energized for the potluck today!"

"Ah yes, I have a similar problem with my roommate too. Something about 'the chaos energy within me fuels my energy levels greater than sleep.' Well, then why is he so tired whenever I need him to go somewhere then?"

"You know Shadow can't ever be bothered to do something unless he wants to," Sonic rolled his eyes. "That black coffee for him?"

"Moderation isn't his strong suit. He drank a whole pot already today and ran us out of beans, so he gets Starbucks as a treat now for being oh so willing to join us today. I was surprised you asked Amy to ask me to ask him to come."

"I'm surprised he said yes," Sonic replied. Perhaps he was actually more willing to make friends than his normal cynical, lone-wolf self he had seen in the past.

"I can't ever get him to do much, but he must like me a little bit still to indulge in our friendship feast today," Rouge replied.

"Order for Rouge!" The barista called out.

"And that's me," Rouge said, walking and getting her drinks. "I'll see you at lunch, big blue. Stay beautiful now!"

"Cya then, Rouge!" Sonic waved as she left the building. For once, Sonic was actually looking forward to seeing Shadow. The two never got along well, but the night he visited seemed to have been the start of a new Shadow. Hopefully, with Rouge there, he wouldn't be as tense as he was with just Sonic alone.

"Order for Sonic!" The barista said. Sonic walked and got the drink and thanked them. Making his way home, walking to not spill Tails' drink, Sonic hummed along to his music and felt excited to see everyone for a fun lunch outing.