Tails was sitting at a table with a bowl in front of him "Okay. I can do this" G-merl was watching. Tails put his hands out and focused on the bowl and closed his eyes. He concentrated as best he could, and he could hear the bowl rumbling. He smiled and opened his eyes only to see G-merl moving it with his hand, he beeped as if laughing. Tails sighed "Very funny. But I don't need your help". G-merl grabbed the bowl and ran off "Hey! Get back here!". He chased him into his room where he stopped upon seeing Tex lying on his bed "Kid, you wake me, you die". G-merl then fired a small electric ball at Tex knocking him off the bed. Tails tried to hold back his laughter "It's his fault" "I don't care. I'm crushing you both". G-merl ran out of the room. Tails backed up to the door and covered his face as Tex was about to punch him. Tails' mind raced "Um… Uh… I saved your life". Tex stopped and slowly lowered his fist "Uh, that better not become a running thing" he said in irritation before going back to bed. Tails sighed in relief "Thanks, buddy. No hard feelings" before climbing up to his bed above Tex's.
Suddenly the middle part of the bed fell down onto Tex. In her quarters, Wave was painting her walls when she saw Tails running out of his with Tex again angrily chased him "It wasn't my fault!" "Tell it to my fist". She looked out and saw G-merl holding two bolts from Tails' bed. She then walked into their room "Huh, needs a little something". Tails ran into the cargo hold where Sonic was loading crates. Tex jumped form the railing towards him but Tails got out of the way causing him to crash into the crates. He got up and now saw Sal angrily glaring at him and Tails from the railing. She went down "This is my ship you're wrecking, and I want you both off it" she opened the cargo ramp. Tails walked up to her "It wasn't my fault. He would-" "Sally, be reasonable" Tex said. She handed them a data pad "What's this?" "A market list. There's a town two clicks to the south, and I'm sending you both on a supply run. And don't even think about coming back without at least one red fruit. Clear?". They both sighed "Clear". They walked out giving each other death glares. Sonic stood next to Sally "How do you expect them to find red fruit on Emerald Hill?", Sally smiled mischievously.
Tails and Tex entered the city and split up to find the different items. Tails walked through a marketplace when "Miles?". Tails froze and turned to where he heard the name. There was an older chameleon with a white beard at a stand "Is that Miles Prower". Tails recognised the chameleon and walked up to him "Mr Barney?" Tails looked slightly worried and looked around. Barney smiled at him "Miles. Look how you've grown. Here, have some fruit" he passed one to Tails "Thanks. I don't suppose you have any red fruit". Barney raised his eyebrows "Red fruit. Red fruit doesn't grow on Emerald Hill" "They don't? Uh, of course they don't" Tails said sounding annoyed. Barney shrugged "I suppose you could find an off-world importer, but it'd cost you" "Right. Well, great seeing you again". Tails walked away but saw a group of troopers led by a human officer. He hid and watched the Imperials walked up to Barney's stand "Mr Barney. Have you changed your mind?" "No. I told you, I'm not selling my farm". The officer surprisingly smirked "Very well then" he and the troopers then walked away. Tails walked out of hiding and walked straight into Tex carrying two crates "We've got everything but the red fruit. Any luck?".
Tails shook his head "No. And I don't think Sally meant for us to have luck" "Well, someone has to be selling those things. Here, take this. I'll go find one" he handed Tails the other crate. The weight of the crate caused Tails to stumble backwards into another crate accidently opening it. They looked inside and saw red spiky pods with a glowing yellow centre "Red fruit" they both said together". They went over to the owner who was a Black Arms man "How much for the whole crate" "I'm sorry. They're already sold". Tails sighed "Well, maybe we can buy them from-" they looked back to the crates and saw them being taken by troopers. The Black Arm scoffed "From the Empire? Good luck". Tex ad Tails followed the troopers who took the crate to a ground transport. Tails smiled, "What're you smiling about?" "The answer to our problem". Tex looked at the transport and then pushed Tails out of sight "No" "Hey, it's not like we've never stolen from the Empire before". Tex sarcastically nodded "Right. So, what's the plan, kid? You gonna use the Force". Tails peaked his head out of the crate and remembered the bowl "Uh, maybe we should try something else" "We should go" "You go. I'm getting what we came for". Tails got out of cover "Wait, kid" Tex yelled. Tails sneaked past the troopers and climbed onto the transport. He opened the crate and took out one of the red fruits when "You there!" the troopers had spotted him. Tails froze when the troopers were suddenly hit by two crates thrown by Tex.
Tails jumped down and the two ran as more troopers appeared and chased them "You made me lose the rest of the supplies!" Tex yelled at him. Before Tails could answer Tex saw the troopers "Sorry, kid" he picked up Tails and threw him up onto the roof. Tails got up and looked down "Tex!" "Run! I'll catch up" the troopers then chased him away. Two of the troopers noticed Tails and fired at him forcing him to run as well. Tex entered a square where there was a landed TIE fighter with a pilot entering. He ran towards it, got on top and quickly threw the pilot out. Tex jumped in the cockpit and laughed "Never actually flown one of these before". He with some struggle managed to steer the fighter which he used to fire on the troopers chasing him. He started laughing as the ship started spinning around firing randomly before eventually flying up "Too bad the kid wasn't here to see that. He flew over the city and saw Tails desperately running from troopers. He flew next to Tails who saw him inside "Tex! Where'd you get that" "I'll explain later". He opened the hatch and Tail jumped inside, he landed on Tex which threw the fighter off balance. They accidently shot a another imperial crate throwing fruit on the window of the fighter blinding them as they flew away.
Sally was walking through the ship before hearing something from Tex and Tails' quarters. She was about to enter when Wave quickly stepped out and stopped her "Sorry, Sally. No entry" "You do realize this isn't your room and I'm the Captain?". Wave smiled innocently "I was inspired. It was Tails' idea" Wave closed the door. Sally shrugged "Could be worse. Could be my room".
Tex was flying the ship blind "I think we're safe". Tails however sensed something, a growing danger "We need to turn". he felt it getting closer "Turn!" he grabbed the wheel and turned the ship left just missing a large rock formation. Tex was surprised "How did you do that?" "Not sure. I just knew". Tex nodded "Good. That's very good. Now get out there and clean the canopy".
Sonic was in the common room paying a holo-game with G-merl, Sally entered as Sonic managed to beat G-merl who sighed and walked away. Sally sat next to Sonic who smiled "Have to admit, it's a lot more peaceful aboard with the kids gone" "Yeah, but I'm feeling a bit guilty about sending them-" "On a wild red fruit chase?". The commlink activated "Naka-four to Hurst" "Right on cue. Go ahead, Naka-four" Sally said. "Right. Well, we've had a bit of a problem", Sally smiled at Sonic "I thought you might. Look, don't worry about the red fruit" "Yeah, red fruit. We found some. But we lost them. Then we found them again and smashed the-" "Oh, just cut to the chase, kid!". They then heard an engine in the background confusing Sonic "Wait! What am I hearing? It sounds like-" "Yeah, about that. See, well… We stole a TIE fighter". Sonic's eyes opened wide in anger "You what!? Get rid of it" "Do we have to?" they both said. Sonic sighed "At least tell me you dismantled the locator beacon". They heard Tex nervously laugh "Of course. We're not fools. Under there. The red wire. No, wait. The blue" "Well, which one?" "It's the red and the blue" Sonic told them. "Right. Got it. I mean, got it a long time ago. Right away. Immediately" they heard Tails say. Sonic was trying to contain his anger "Stealing a TIE attracts unwanted attention. Rendezvous at Shadow Site 2. Fly straight there. Do not stop and don't do anything" "On our way. Naka-Four out"
Tails sighed in relief "That went well" "Yeah" Tex replied smirking. Tails glanced at him "Do you know where we're supposed to go?". Tex casually shook his head "No, idea" Tex said smirking.
The Imperial officer arrived at the farm belonging to Barney where he and his wife angrily waked out "I told you before, we're not selling this farm" "You misunderstand. We are no longer interested in buying". The transport behind the officers fired a shot at the home destroying it much to the shock of them both. Before they could say anything two stormtroopers seized them.
Tex pressed a button on the control console "Okay. Navigation systems online. Course set for rendezvous point" "Wait. What's that?" Tails saw smoke in the distance. Tails recognised the area "Go check it out. Please", Tex sighed and headed for the smoke. They flew over what was left of the Barney farm which upset Tails, "Friends of yours?" "Friends of my parents". Tex checked the scanner "I've got three troop transports heading west" he then saw Tails who smiled at him "Oh, I know that look". Tails shrugged "What's the worst that could happen?" "Well, we both wind up dead" "Beside that". Tex sighed and flew west. They eventually flew behind the troop transports with the lead one carrying the Barneys. Tex got on the commlink "Attention, transports. This is Imperial Commander Red Fruit". Tails hit his shoulder "Red fruit? Seriously?" "Shh. There's a report of insurgent activity in your sector. Reduce speed" "Acknowledged, Commander". Tails nodded "Alright. Get me in close. I'll keep my commlink on in case there's trouble" he got on the outside of the fighter and jumped down onto the lead transport. Back with Tex who flew in front of the transport "This is Supply Master Lyste, Lsm-03. My men reported a stolen TIE" "Well… uh… That is a totally different TIE. I sent it to seek out the Insurgents" "Commander, repeat your operating number".
Tex mimicked static "Sorry. Didn't catch that. But maintain current position". The transports suddenly fired on him "Don't think he's taking Commander Red Fruit seriously". Tails leaned over the edge of the transport where the Barneys were "Mr Barney!" "Miles!" "Hold on. I'll have you out soon". He tries to reach down to a control panel, but it was just out of reach "You'll never reach it. It's too dangerous" Barney yelled. Tails sat down at the edge of the transport and took a breath "You can do this" he closed his eyes and focused all his concentration on the control panel. He raised his hand and waved it and he heard the button be pressed. The holding capsules opened releasing the Barneys. Tails smiled and nodded "Baby steps. Baby steps". He stared down at them "You need to jump" "But were going to fast!" "Trust me, you'll be fine. Anything's better than here". The Barneys reluctantly did so but as Tails watched them three troopers climbed up behind them and fired. Tails jumped behind the cannon for cover while Tex made a pass and shot down at the other two transports.
The cannons started firing on him forcing him to back off. Tails jumped to the transport carrying the crates and used the one carrying red fruit for cover. Tails picked up some of the fruits to throw at the troopers but the moment they saw him they screamed and jumped right off the transport much to the confusion of Tails. He quickly put one of the fruits into his bag before running to the turret. He took a wrench out of his bag and placed it in one of the turrets barrels. He backed away ad the turret blew up when it tried to fire at Tex. Tex then flew upside down over the transport and stuck his hand out of the hatch. Tails grabbed his hand and flew away with the fighter before Tex pulled him in and turning the fighter back around. Tails sighed in relief "Thanks for the save. Guess I owe you now". Tex smirked "Let's just say we're eternally even". They flew across the landscape when Tex's face dropped slightly "Who's Miles?" he asked. Tails froze "How did you-" "You left your commlink on. Remember? You wanna explain it". Tails sighed and had clear pain in his eyes. Tex kept his eyes on him "Kid, I don't like it when people-" "It's my real name. Miles Prower" "Why do you call yourself Tails?". Tails looked reluctant to answer but he knew it was too late to not say anything "The last thing I remember my parents telling me was to keep my name a secret. They said it would put me in danger. So, I've been calling myself Tails for years now. It's become my name". Tex understood and nodded without saying anything. Tails looked worried "Listen, could you not tell the others. It's something I like to keep to myself". Tex smirked "You got it… Tails" he then changed the subject "Also, don't you collect these?" he showed him the pilot's helmet. Tails grinned "Don't have one of these yet. Thanks. So, what do we do about the TIE?".
The two arrived at the Hurst on foot where Sally and Sonic were waiting. Tex smugly held out the red fruit "One fresh red fruit, as ordered", to his confusion Sally and Sonic casually backed away as they started laughing "What?" Tex asked. Sally stopped laughing "You know those explode, right?". Tex and Tails looked fearfully at the fruit "What?". Sally innocently shrugged "I didn't think you'd actually find any". Tex looked down at the fruit "Ah!" he threw it far away and once impacting the ground it exploded. Sonic stopped laughing crossed his arms "Alright, forget about the fruit. Where's the TIE?". Tex solemnly sighed "I crashed it" "Yeah, it was a great loss" Tails added. Sonic nodded "That's what I like to hear". Tex and Tails ran into the ship when the former gave the latter an affectionate noogie. They entered their quarters where Wave was waiting "Finished". They turned to the wall she was pointing at and saw that she had painted Tails' bunk falling on Tex. They both stared blankly at the picture "Wave, who told you to paint this?" Tex asked clearly irritated. Wave, looing smug pointed at the door where G-merl was watching "G-merl" "This was you!" they said to him". G-merl quickly ran "Come back you metal menace!" "I'm tearing that rust bucket apart!" they chased after him into the cargo hold where they crashed into the crates. Sally and Sonic watched this with amused looks "Well, at least they got rid of the TIE". Tex and Tails heard this and glanced at each other and smiled.