The Hurst was getting chased by Zik's fighters, Sally was troubling to lose them "Gem, I'm rolling us starboard. Be ready to fire those rear guns". Tex ran to the gunner position and found G-merl damaged on the floor "G-merl's down! I got you covered" he sat down on the gunner. Sally rolled the ship and Tex managed to shoot one of the fighters down but four more then appeared. In the common room Wave ran to the door as Tails' face turned angry "I already know what happened. They're dead". Scratch shook his head "The Prowers should hide. The troopers came. They took Amadeus and Rosemary away". Tails grabbed his shoulders "What? Where? Where did they take them?". Scratch sighed "Forgive Scratch. Scratch failed. Scratch was afraid. Scratch couldn't raise Miles Prower". Tears formed in Tails' eyes "Forgive you? You could have stopped them! Why didn't you stop them?". The PA activated "Tails, I need you in the cockpit!", Tails sighed "Yeah. I'm on my way". Tails wiped the tears from his eyes, glared at Scratch before running towards the cockpit. Sally pointed to the co-pilot seat "Tails. Nav-computer's off-line. With G-merl down, I need you to fix it". Tails leaned down and did the best he could considering this wasn't his specialty. Sally saw Scarships in front of them with more fighters being released "Could really use that nav-computer, fast". Scratch then entered "For fast travel over interstellar distances, hyperspace is optimal". Tails moved out of the way and Scratch started to repair the nav-computer. Sally saw the computer's light turn green "He actually did it. Hang on!" they jumped to lightspeed. Tails helped Scratch stand up "Uh, Sally. This is Scratch" "An did Scratch just signal hyperspace coordinates directly to my ship?" "That would be my guess". Sally sighed in relief "Well, thank you, scratch. I think you saver our lives" "Guess there's a first time for everything" Tails said before walking away.
Zik entered the bridge of a Scarship, and the wolf captain ran up to him "We are receiving a signal from the tracker. They will not be able to outrun us for long" "I still sense the Shinobi and his apprentice within my grasp" Zik replied right before the Scarship jumped to hyperspace.
Everyone was now in the common room, Wave and Sally were repairing G-merl, Sonic examining Scratch while Tails was leaning against the table staring blankly into space. He then glanced at Scratch "So? Now what do we do with him?" "We have a few ideas. But you're the one who has history with him. What do you think we should do?" Sonic asked. Tails stared back down at the table trying to hide his anger "I don't know and I don't care" "Tails, you'll never advance as a Shinobi if you can't be honest with yourself, at least". Tails rolled his eyes and walked away but Sonic grabbed his shoulder "Tails', I saw how you reacted when Scratch was in pain. I know you care about him". Tails angrily glared at Scratch "Why should I!? He abandoned my parents when they needed him!". "What could he have done against the entire Empire?" Sonic asked. Wave stood up "And besides, look at what he's done since. The Imperials encourage these implants but they're not mandatory. Not yet. He must have volunteered. And then he uploaded their secrets and ran. Maybe he's trying to make up for letting you down. Why else would he take on the Empire alone?". Scratch suddenly looked worried "The Empire. Track. Hurst". Tex scoffed "Oh, please. The Imperials can't follow us through hyperspace". Scratch then projected a hologram of a small device "Imperial XX-23 S-thread tracker was developed by Sienar Systems to trace ships through hyperspace to destinations". Sally finished fixing G-merl "We better find out if we're tagged". G-merl started looking around erratically "Whoa. Calm down, Gem. You've just been offline for a few minutes. We need you to scan the Hurst for a device".
They were now in the cockpit with G-merl projecting a hologram of the ship "So they did tag us" Wave said. Sally nodded "Yes. But the good news is the tracer's actually on the hull of the Sneak" "How is that good?" Tex asked. "It'll allow us to detach the Sneak and lure the Imperils away from the Hurst and Scratch". Wave didn't seem to like this "Whoa, whoa, whoa! You want to detach while in hyperspace? Do you know how incredibly dangerous that is?". Sonic smirked "Not as dangerous as what I plan to do with the ship. I checked our current trajectory. Sally, if you can modify the hyperspace coordinates-" "I could" she replied sounding slightly insulted. Sonic continued "Then we can pass by the asteroid field where the old clone base is" "You mean the base with the nasties who live in the shadows?" Wave said. Tails was surprised "Wait, what? Why would we want to go down there?". Sally nodded "He's right, Sonic. Why not just drop the Sneak into our trail and let the Imperials chase after their tracker?" "Because there's more than a tracker at work here. Back on Emerald Hill, I sensed it. Zik is on our trail and as long as Tails and I are on board the Hurst, we're jeopardizing Scratch's escape".
Scratch was now in the kitchen staring blankly at the wall while Tails was watching. Wave then entered and stared sympathetically stared at him "So, your parents… Do you really believe they're dead?". Tails sighed "I don't know anymore" "Why don't you talk to Scratch before you go. You may not see him again". Tails headed for the door "Maybe that's for the best". Wave followed him "What? How can you say that?". Tails stopped "Wave. I've been on my own since I was seven, okay? If I'd let myself believe my folks were alive, if I thought they'd come back then I never would have learned how to survive". Sonic then entered "You ready?", Tails glanced at Scratch before nodding. The two entered the Sneak and Sonic got in the pilot's seat "Separating now" "Stay safe. And Tails? Look out for Sonic". Tails smiled "Somebody has to". The ship separated and started spinning out of control as it jumped out of hyperspace. Sonic managed to stabilize the ship and headed for the asteroid.
Zik was had his eyes closed "I sense movement in the Force" "Y-Yes, sir. The tracker indicates the insurgent ship has emerged from hyperspace. Should we-" "At once"
Tails and Sonic headed towards the base's hanger "Can I please know the plan, now?". Sonic smiled "Remember the nasty creatures Sally and Wave met" "Yeah. Although I'm not trying to" "Well, I'm gonna need you to connect with them like I was trying to teach you before, if we're gonna survive this". Tails' face turned to fear "Um, is now really the best time for a lesson?" "No, but I figure it's learning like you do best, by surviving" "Sonic, I can't. I'm… I'm afraid". Tails though Sonic would be disappointed, but he instead chuckled "I got news for you, kid. Everyone's afraid, but admitting it as you just did, makes you braver than most and it's a step forward". They entered the dark hanger and Tails breathed heavily "Okay. Okay". Sonic patted his shoulder reassuringly "I'll get the tracking device off the Sneak. You go make some new friends". Tails slowly walked out of the ship and watched the creatures slowly advance out of the darkness. He began to quiver "One with the Force. One with the Force" he held out his hand and closed his eyes as he could hear the growling getting closer. It wasn't working and Tails wasn't able hold his nerves and backed away from them. Sonic, having removed the tracker jumped next to hand and held up his hands "You're blocked! Let go" "I can't" "Don't be afraid". Tails tried again "I'm not afraid of them" "Then what?" "I don't know". The creatures were getting closer "Yes, you do! What're you afraid of" "I'm afraid of… I'm afraid of knowing. I'm afraid of the truth! I'm sorry, Scratch. I forgive you" Tails cried. Sonic was amazed to see all the creatures stop.
Scratch was resting in the common room when he suddenly raised his head and looked around. He then stood up "I, too, am sorry. Forgive me… for everything". In the cockpit Sally, Wave and Tex were docking the ship with a cruiser from Echidnaopolis when the commlink activated "Ortiz to Hurst. Docking complete. Heading to the airlock now" "Acknowledged, Ortiz. We're ready and waiting" Sally said. Wave sat back in her chair "I don't suppose Tex, and I could get to meet Ortiz this time?" "Nope. This time, you stay in the cockpit". Tex sighed "But that's what we did last time". Sally left the cockpit and saw Scratch standing in the corridor "You seem better" "Scratch's mind is clearer now. But it is difficult. There's so much information". Sally led him to the docking bay "Ortiz's people will help you with that and keep you safe" "But will Scratch see Miles Prower again?". Sally smiled reassuringly "I hope so. Someday. Is there anything you'd like me to tell him?" "Oh, Scratch failed Prowers. Did not watch over their son. But Scratch tried to make it right by accessing Imperial files" "And that intel will be invaluable". Scratch shook his head "Oh, intel unimportant, an accident. Scratch access fie on Miles Prower's parents. Scratch knows Prowers fate". Sally's eyes opened wide hopefully "Then tell me, Scratch. Tell me and I'll tell Tail… Miles".
Zik and a squad of troopers landed on the asteroid and followed the signal towards the base "Keep them contained. I want them alive". They entered the hanger and activated their torched on the blasters. They saw Tails and Sonic meditating with the creatures behind them. Before the troopers could react the two Shinobi pointed towards them and the creatures suddenly charged forward and attacked. The troopers were killed quickly but Zik got passed the creatures and chuckled "This was your plan? To lure us here and allow these creatures to do the work for you?". Sonic ignited his lightsaber "How do you think it's going". Zik ignited his and cut a creature that tried to attack him in half "Pathetically" "Guess if you want something done right…." Sonic charged forward and the two duelled but Zik was able to get the upper hand and launch Sonic into a wall. Tails stood up and ran to him as Zik laughed "Your feeble training is nothing in the face of true power". Tails took the lightsaber "You're not going near him", Zik quickly pulled it out of his hands "I believe I am. In fact, it's time to end you both for good". Tails stood his ground, "Your devotion to your master is admirable, but it will not save you. Nothing can". Zik launched him back and walked right past Sonic towards him. Tails tried to hide his fear "Get back!" "Haha. Good, use your anger. I will teach you what your Master could not". Tails turned defiant "You don't have anything to teach me" "The darkness is too strong for you, orphan. It is swallowing you up, even now". Tails back away no longer able to hide his fear "No!" "Your master will die" Zik said sadistically. "No!" "Your friends will die and everything you've hoped for will be lost. This is the way the story ends" Zik laughed. Sonic woke up and saw Tails with his eyes now full of rage, the ground began to shake and behind Tails inside a large hole came a massive creature identical to the others "Tails? No!" Sonic yelled. Zik backed away as Tails sent the creature after him. This was too much for Tails and he fell to the floor unconscious. Zik used his lightsaber to keep the creature back while Sonic ran over to Tails "Tails?". Tails slowly woke up "Sonic? What happened? I-I feel so cold" "I know. It's okay. We're leaving". He carried Tails threw the hanger and saw the creature knock his lightsaber out of his hand. Sonic quickly grabbed it with the Force before and boarded the Sneak. Zik seeing this forced the creature to back of and chased after the Sneak but it took off and destroyed his shuttle "My master will not be pleased" he said fearfully.
Once in space Sonic turned and saw Tails curled up on one of the chairs, he went over and sat opposite him. Tails looked up to him "I saved us?" "You did" "But something doesn't fee right". Sonic understood "If your will isn't strong enough when you open yourself to the Force, you become vulnerable to the dark side" "But I was trying to protect you". Sonic nodded reassuringly "I know. But your anger and fear caused that giant creature to attack" "I don't remember it". Sonic looked guilty "That's for the best. Your powers are growing so quickly, you weren't prepared. I didn't teach you what you needed to know. I'm sorry".
The shuttle attached to the Hurst and the two of them entered where the others were waiting "Welcome back" Wave said. Tex nodded "You outsmarted them again. Good job, boss" "Never a doubt" Sally added. Tails tried to get past them "Tails, I have something to" Sally tried to say but Sonic stopped her "Tails needs a little time to himself right now". Tails left the room and Sonic sighed "We need to talk". Tails sat on one of the gunner seats staring out into space when Wave entered "Rough couple of days" "Yeah. It's been strange" Tails replied blankly. Wave smiled "I have just what you need. I got the holo-disc from your old house. It was pretty degraded, but I cleaned it up. And I found something. She slotted it into the console and an image of a young Tails with his parents appeared in front of him "Mum? Dad". Both his parents had slightly darker fur that Tails and wore blue clothing with Amadeus wearing an eyepatch over his left eye. Tails stared nostalgically at the image, Wave smiled "Happy birthday, Tails" she left as Tails smiled at her thankfully before staring back at the image.