The Hurst was getting chased by four fighters and a Scarship. Sonic was on the turrets trying to shoot the fighters down. Everyone else was in the cockpit "G-merl, do you have the coordinates?", the gizoid nodded and the ship jumped to hyperspace. Sonic entered the cockpit "Told you we'd get away", Wave turned to him "With the shipment. You said we'd get away with the shipment". Sally checked the ship gauge "Sonic, we're low on everything. Food, explosives, fuel. We need to make some money, or we might as well put the Hurst in storage" "There's always Shellbreaker's job". Tex scoffed "So we're arms dealers again?" "Mm, more like arms redistributors". Sonic rolled his eyes "Come on. We don't even know what kind of weapons we're taking about here". Tails shrugged "Hey, if it puts food on the table and frees up time, I'm in". Sonic looked to Sally "You in?", she crossed her arms "Say I am. What then?" "I already know the mission. Let's head to the spaceport".
On Emerald Hill, the crew minus Sally entered a large public transport separately. G-merl ran in annoying people "How rude" Tex said as if he didn't know him. Tails then angrily entered and hit G-merl over the head before sitting down. A green female anglerfish entered the transport with male anteater "This way, Mr Wabo" she said. Wave sat next to Tex and smiled as she watched them sit at the front. The anteater started to talk in a different language, the angular fish nodded "Where is that translator?". "Coming, Minister Angelica. Come along, Emerl" Orbot said as he entered the transport along with Emerl. The transport then took off and jumped to hyperspace as G-merl was making noise next to Tails, Sonic who was sitting behind them acted annoyed. G-merl kept tapping Tails' shoulder and chirping. The anteater spoke to Angelica who then turned to Orbot "Amda Wabo is most honoured you are joining him on Drak. And, uh, if I might add a personal note-" "Will you cut it out!". They all turned and saw Tails pushing G-merl of the chairs "You have plenty of room! Stop crowding me!".
G-merl electrocuted him with his hand. Sonic groaned and stood up "Kid, how about you get that rust bucket under control?" "Mind your own business!". Sonic turned to the robot pilot and the front of the ship "Hey pilot. Isn't there some rule against robots in the passenger area?". The pilot turned around and sighed "I am sorry, sir. Your gizoid must proceed to the back of the craft". Tails looked angry at this "Hey, if my gizoid's banished, those gizoids are as well!". Orbot looked offended "Gizoid? Me? I have never been so insulted. I'll have you know I am a protocol robot, fluent in over six million forms-". Angelica sighed "Pilot, these two robots are with me and I am on Imperial business" "Sorry, ma'am, but these are Imperial regulations". Angelica reluctantly nodded "I can't risk an incident spoiling these negotiations. I need you both to go". Orbot and Emerl went to the back "Oh, this is so humiliating. Trust a gizoid to ruin everything". Emerl beeped which confused Orbot "What mission?". Drak spoke again "I'm sorry, Mr Wabo. I don't understand you". Tex leaned forward "Hello. Excuse me. I couldn't help noticing your predicament. If it's of any help, my ward here is quite fluent". He looked to Wave who shook her head "Oh, I would never presume. Though it would be good practice for my level five exams at the Imperial Academy". Angelica smiled "You're a level five academy student? I was too, once upon a time". Orbot listened to this from the back "That young creature can't possibly take the place of a fully programmed protocol robot such as I. The odds of our mission becoming a complete debacle".
Emerl pushed him "Don't you shush me!". G-merl then got between them and pushed Emerl back "Well, thank you. There. you see, Emerl? Here is a gizoid who understands etiquette. You could learn a lot from this one", Emerl sighed. Angelica was speaking to Wave "Now, please ask Mr Wabo where the shipment is being held". Wave did so and Wabo answered "He said Bay 17" "Sentients, we are approaching Drak. Please prepare for landing" the pilot said. The ship jumped out of hyperspace near Drak and landed at a spaceport near a city where a squad of troopers where waiting. The group exited the ship, Angelica turned to Wave "My dear, you did great service to your Empire today. Good luck on those level fives" "Oh, I will, Minister. It's been such an honour. Thank you". Angelica, Wabo and the robots met with the troopers "Take us straight to Bay 17" "Yes, Minister". Tex and Wave walked past Sonic and Tails "Bay Seven" she whispered to them as she passed and placed her mask on. Tails went to a small hidden area and entered a vent, his commlink activated "Alright, Tails, get to Bay Seven, open the door, and we all get paid". Tails smirked "Stealing to stay alive. I thought my life would be different when I joined you guys" he said jokingly. Tails made it to the top of the spaceport and went to the edge. The drop frightened him, and he took a breath before jumping down to another part of the building, eventually reaching another roof where he went through another hatch. He climbed through the vent and reached a large room "Okay. I'm in Bay Seven" he went to a large door and opened it revealing Wave, Tex and Sonic on the other side. Tex clapped "Well, kid, you pulled t off" "Was there ever any doubt?" "Yes". Sonic went over to a control panel and opened the roof doors allowing Sally to land the Hurst inside "Do we know what exactly Shellbreaker has us stealing yet?" she asked over commlink. Tex heard and decided to open the crate but suddenly backed away gasping. Wave looked inside and picked a strange looking weapon out "Whoa. They're Shadow rifles. These were banned by the Senate. You can short circuit an entire ship with these" "That's not why they were banned" Tex said horrified. Sonic grabbed the rifle and put it back in the crate "Get them aboard before the company comes".
Angelica was in Bay 17 "There's nothing here. Where are my Shadow Rifles?", Emerl beeped "Yes, she said Shadow Rifle. Now hush" Orbot said. Wabo spoke "He said the cargo is in Bay Seven, he wonders why we are here. The girl must have mistaken seven for 17, very common mistakes for amateurs in Aqualish". Angelica sighed in frustration "Well, there's no time to waste. Take us to bay seven". G-merl was watching this and when the group walked out, he ran to Emerl the two started to fight. Angelica then realized "Wait. This is the gizoid that caused our translator to… To Bay Seven, double time!".
The group were getting the crates inboard the Hurst when they saw troopers running toward them "Hands up!". Tex calmly did so and walked up to the troopers, "What're you doing?" Tails asked. Angelica and the others arrived, Wabo spoke "He says those crates contain his Shadow Rifle". Tex shook his head "No, there must be some mistake. Can't possibly be Shadow Rifle in there cause they're illegal, right?". Sonic and Wave were out of sight with their crates, the latter pushed them onto the ship while Sonic took out a pistol and sneaked towards Tails. Angelica crossed her arms "That's irrelevant. We're going to search your crates" "Be my guest" Tex replied. Two trooper waked past him making him smile "On second thought" he grabbed the two troopers and used them as human shields. He then threw them at the other troopers he then ran forward taking out his sword and fired laser bolts from it. Sonic jumped out and gave him cover "Get those crates aboard!" he said to Tails who pushed his crate towards the shop. Emerl saw G-merl running past and followed him "What? Emerl, where are you going?" Orbot asked as he chased him. The three robots boarded the ship. Sonic and Tex then ran inside as more troopers appeared, the ship then took off.
Tails and Wave started at their new guests "Oh, look. G-merl made friends" "Hello, I am Orbot, and this is my counterpart, Emerl. I was translating for Minister Angelica when we were attacked by thieves like, uh, you" Orbot saw Tex and Sonic. Sonic examined the two "Imperial robots. Naka-five, let's get a couple restraining bolts on these two" "On it" Wave said. Sonic then turned to Tex and Tails "Keep an eye on them". Orbot was confused "I'm sorry but there's been a terrible mistake. My partner and I are in service of Minister Angelica of Emerald Hill". Sonic went up the ladder when "Sonic, a word?" Tex said, "Can it wait? If I don't confirm our rendezvous with Shellbreaker then we'll have done all this for nothing". Tex sighed "Yeah. About that… Maybe this time, we don't sell to Shellbreaker, eh? Maybe we get those Shadow Rifles out of circulation instead". Emerl began sending a signal out as Wave walked over to Tex "Least we got them out of Imperial circulation. When I was translating, I found out that the contents of the crates were being shipped as prototypes so the Empire could mass-produce them on Emerald Hill". Sonic smirked "See, Tex? Perfect crime. We steal weapons meant for the Empire and sell the for rings we desperately need to keep this bird flying". Wave then looked down at Orbot "Oh, hey. If we need rings, maybe Shellbreaker will buy those two robots" "Good idea" Sonic said as he went back up the ladder, Tex didn't seem convinced by the argument.
Infinite was on board a Scarship speaking to a hologram of Angelica "Describe the thieves" "I saw five, an adult male hedgehog, a juvenile male Fox, a juvenile female swallow, an old black and grey gizoid and a male lizard carrying a Sand Blast weapon. Honestly, Agent Infinite, I didn't think there were any people form Sand Blast left". Infinite's head rose slightly "A few, Minister. Only a few".
Tails got thrown out of his quarters by Tex "And stay out!" "You can't do that! It's my cabin too". Tails banged on the door angrily when "Tails? Come in here" he entered the cockpit where Sally was waiting "Sally, Tex's booted me from-" "I know, but maybe you could cut Tex a little bit of slack today". Tails rolled his eyes and sat down "The way he cuts me slack?". Sally stared sympathetically at him "Do you know what a shadow rifle is, what it does to an organic being?" "Uh, no" Tails answered not knowing what that has do with Tex. Sally nodded "Well, Tex knows. Because it's what the Imperials used on his people when they cleared his home world. Very few people on Sand Blast survived. And none remain on Sand Blast". Tails eyes opened wide before guiltily sighing "I… I didn't… I'm sorry" "Good man. So, how's the Shinobi training going with Sonic?". Tails scoffed "I tell you when it starts" "We'll see about that". The ship jumped out of the hyperspace near Emerald Hill "Home, sweet home".
The ship landed, Sonic and Sally were heading to the cargo hold "Can we discuss this later?" "That's fine, love. But we will discuss it". They entered the cargo hold where the others where waiting, Emerl tapped Wave's shoulder who nodded "Right. This gizoid says its real mission was to make sure the shadow rifles never reached the Empire, and that his master will pay handsomely for their return". Sonic looked down at him "I'll think about it". This angered Tex "So, we're not selling the robots but we're selling the shadow rifles? We don't even know who Shellbreaker's buyer is" "We know it's not the Empire and I already made a deal with Shellbreaker. So, let's get these crates off the boat".
Infinite was waiting on the bridge when "Sir, a distress call to Governor Angelica has been rerouted to you". Infinite went over to a console and heard a voice "This is Orbot, human-cyborg relations. My counterpart and I were abducted from the spaceport on Drak by criminals. Thieves! Outlaws!". Infinite grinned "Remain calm, my friend. All I need is your location" "Sending our coordinates now" "Have no fear. Help is on the way".
In the middle of large rock formations, the Hurst crew met with Shellbreaker and his robots. He examined one of the shadow rifles and grinned "Oh. I can make some beautiful music with these" "They're not that kind of instrument!" Tex said angrily. Sonic ignored him "Let's just get this over with". They then heard a ship coming. They turned and saw an Imperial transport carrying two-legged Egg Walkers. Shellbreaker angrily turned to the others "You were followed!" "That's not possible" "Tell that to the Empire". Shellbreaker jumped onto a speeder holding two crates, Sonic ran up to him "You haven't paid us" "Shellbreaker doesn't pay for half a shipment. And he doesn't pay for trouble with Imperials". The speeder started taking off "My friends, I hope you live to bargain another day. And if you don't… eh". Wave stared at the transport "Shouldn't we be going to?" "We can't let these disruptors fall into Imperial hands. Wave, destroy the guns" Sonic said. Wave laughed "Now you're speaking my language. I'll go get my gear" she ran towards the ship but then saw Emerl running out with Orbot and G-merl. "Emerl, what're you doing?", Emerl beeped "Joining the crew?". Emerl picked up on of the shadow rifles and beeped, Wave was impressed "He says we can overload the rifles and then they'll go boom! Good call, little guy. You can join our crew anytime".
Sonic nodded and took one of the disruptors "Aright everyone, get them ready. I'll deal with the walkers. The transport dropped two of the walkers, Sonic got behind cover and fired at one of them immediately disabling it. The other one quickly fired at him, knocking him back. Sally fired it, distracting the walker before running out of sight. Tex helped Sonic up and they both took out their basters as the transport released Infinite and troopers. Orbot walked out "Oh, thank you. Thank you. I knew some form of rescue would arrive. I told Emerl but he thinks so ill of stormtroopers". They fired at him "Wait! Don't shoot! Don't shoot! You're here to rescue me!" he ran back. Sally was running from a walker "G-merl, ready the ship for take-off". Tex and Sonic were firing at the troopers when Infinite stepped forward "You, lizard!" he pulled out a red sword identical to Tex's "Face me!". Tex eyes opened wide with rage before pulling out his own sword and charging out, "Wait!" "Tex!" Sonic and Tails yelled. Tex and Infinite clashed swords, Tex tripped him to the ground "Only the Honour Guard of Sand Blast may carry that sword" "I know. I removed it from a guardsman myself". The two continued to fight "I was there when Sand Blast fell. I know why you fear those rifles. I gave the order to use them". Tex angrily charged forward but Infinite managed to out manoeuvred him and cut his leg. Sonic and Tails took cover from the troopers and watched Tex "That lizards gonna get himself killed". Wave and Emerl finished with the rifles "We're ready". Sonic and Tails grabbed the crates and turned them to where the troopers were coming from. Wave, Emerl and Orbot pushed the other one towards the walker. The rifles blew up killing the troopers and destroying the walker. The explosion distracted Tex and Infinite managed to cut his arm. Tex wounded fell to the ground. Tails watched Infinite about to perform the killing blow "NO!". Infinite was suddenly thrown back to a rock, knocking him out, Sonic stared impressed at Tails. Tails stared at his own hand confused, "Everyone, move!" Sonic yelled. Everyone ran to the Hurst except for Tex who Sonic helped up "Come on, big guy. We gotta get out of here". Sally helped them in "Gem, get us out of here". The ship took off, Wave went over to Tex "You alright, big guy" "Yeah". Sonic helped him up, "Thanks mate. Appreciate the save" "Wasn't me". They all looked to Tails who nodded to Tex, "Thanks kid". Sonic smiled "Tails, your formal Shinobi training starts tomorrow".
The Hurst was now docked with an Echidnaopolis. Inside Senator Wynmacher handed Sonic a handful of rings "That's very generous, sir" "Well, I'm very fond of these robots". He looked to Orbot and Emerl "Then I'm glad we could return them". The two walked together and Wynmacher smiled "The simplest gesture of kindness ca fill a galaxy with hope" "Isn't that a Shinobi saying?". Wynmacher led him to the Hurst "Safe travels, my friend". Sonic nodded "Safe travels" he went through the airlock leaving Wynmacher with the robots. He turned to Orbot "You didn't tell them my name" "Of course not, Senator. But this entire ordeal has rather stressed everyone of my circuits. Permission to shut down?" "Granted". Orbot left and Wynmacher kneeled down I front of Emerl "You recorded everything, old friend?" Emerl beeped "Good. We'll focus on the Imperials later. For now, show me what you have on your Freedom Fighters".