Tails was outside the ship with his lightsaber out and wearing a helmet. Tex and Wave were on either side of him firing their blaster at him with non-lethal shots. Sonic and G-merl were watching "You've got the blocking down for the most part, but you shouldn't just randomly deflect the energy any which way. You've yet to hit the target I gave you" he pointed at a stormtrooper helmet on a rock. Tails didn't say anything and tried harder to hit the target but instead he just let shots through which hit him. Sonic sighed and signalled Tex and Wave to stop "You're distracted impatient. What's your rush?". Tails took off his helmet "Sorry. I just don't want to miss Senator Rex's transmission" "You don't even know if he'll transmit today" "He's been on more frequencies lately, and I have a feeling". Sonic smiled mockingly "Well I have a feeling you're gonna get stunned if you don't stay in the moment. This moment" he said sternly. Tails put his helmet back on, Tex and Wave continued firing at him with G-merl now joining in. Tails did his best to block but then "You there" "Senator, you're in terrible danger" "Put you saber down, boy, now!" "The Empire knows you're here. Stay close, Senator" "You want me to go in there" all these voices hit Tails at once. He was suddenly in the middle of a street and saw troopers surrounding him. Then he was running with Senator Rex "Your parents were very brave".
Tails suddenly woke up on the ground with the others standing over him. Sonic helped him "I got stunned, didn't I?" "No, you deflected every blast back at the target" they both saw the helmet lying on the ground covered in blaster burns. Tails clutched his head "I saw something. A vision. I saw Moritori Rex. He… he knew my parents". Sonic helped him stand "Slow down. What was in the vision?" "We were sneaking around in the dark. Troopers were everywhere". Wave shrugged "Sounds like a pretty average day" "Except Senator Rex was there fighting with us. And he said he knew my parents". Sonic sighed "Tails, just because you saw it doesn't make it true. The future's always in motion" "It might be though". Tex suddenly hit Tails over the back of the head, "Ow. What was that for?" "You didn't see that coming". Tails was about to say something, but Sally then stepped out of the Hurst "Tails, hurry. He's on". Tails ran into he common room where Sally was sitting in front of a recording of Angelica "The insurgents terrorizing our world will soon be brought to justice. I have assurances from-". The others entered the room as the recording changed to Senator Rex "Citizens Senator-in-exile Moritori Rex here coming to you with a reminder that the Empire applies the term insurgent to anyone who dares defy their tyranny such as some very courageous souls on Emerald Hill".
The crew looked pleased "To those Freedom Fighters, I have a message. The sun may have set on the Old Republic but a new freedom can be won if we are brave enough to fight for it today. See you soon, my friends". The message ended "He's coming here to meet us" Sally said confusing Tex "How do you know that" "My contact, Ortiz, says the senator hides coded messages in his transmissions. When Rex mentions a world, it's always the next one he visits". Sonic didn't look convinced "How come the Empire hasn't caught him?" "They'd still have to find where on the planet he's hiding" Tails answered. Sally nodded "The clues he put in his messages are obvious to the locals of the planet but go right over the Empire's head". She rewound the message "The sun may have set on the Old Republic, but a new freedom can be won" "He said the Old Republic and A new freedom". Tails thought to himself "Well, there's the New Freedom Mural. It's painted on the wall… indie the Old Republic Senate building". Wave changed the hologram to the building "It's been abandoned since the Imperial complex was built. Good place for a get together". Tex looked sceptical "Yeah, but when's this meeting?" "He said sunset and today in his message" Sally answered. Sonic nodded "Yeah. But we should bring insurance in case the Empire is cleverer than we think". Sally turned to Tails "You have a friend inside the Imperial complex. So, find out for sure". Tails nodded "I'll meet you at my… my parents' house in 1700". Tails was about to leave "Tails. About your vision. Don't be too quick too-" "Sonic, I know. It's juts I feel so sure about this. More than anything in my life" Tails replied before running out of the room.
Later that day, a young fox was wearing an Imperial cadet uniform and helmet. He was casually walking through the complex until going down an ally where another Tails was waiting who spotted him "Skye!". Skye smirked "You're a stealthy one, Connor Bringas". Tails sighed "Yeah, that's me… stealthy Connor. Thanks for meeting me last minute, cadet. By the way how did you get past the gate". Skye looked smug "I've been promoted. Got class three clearance now" "Um, congratulations" "To both of us. New clerical and courier duties give me greater access to intel you can use. You know unless I'm caught". Tails nodded "Yeah, I'd rather not have you shot. What do you have?" "Agent Infinite and every section commander have been in a secret tactical meeting. He's gathering troops for a massive operation. Something to do with the old Senate building. But it might just be a drill. I'm not sure". Tails looked worried "It's no drill. I need to warn the others" "One more thing. I'm being transferred off-world to the officers academy on Arkanis". Tails sighed "There's something you should know" "Don't tell me you're gonna miss me, Conner", Tails laughed "Sure. But no. My name's not Connor. It's-" "You there". Tails turned around and realised he was surrounded by Stormtroopers similar to his vision. Tails turned to Skye "Out of my way, Imperial scum!" he pushed Skye aside and ran for it. One of the troopers stopped to help Skye up "Cadet, are you alright?" "Yes, sir. I caught that fox selling black market goods" "We'll get him". Tails ran down a street and took out his lightsaber. Instead of igniting it he used. He then used the attachment to fire stun blasts at the troopers. He then went down an alley and climbed up the wall out of sight.
Infinite was in his office when Angelica entered "Agent Infinite. You're certain this operation will solve our insurgent problem? The Inquisitor says-" "I believe the Inquisitor has put too much emphasis on the capture of the Shinobi. Our attention should be on the insurgents as a group. We catch my insurgents; we catch his Shinobi".
Tails arrived at his old home but only G-merl as there "Where is everyone?" G-merl pointed at the hole in the floor to the secret room. Tails looked down and saw the others examining a device "It's pretty old. He said his parents used it to broadcast from" Wave said. Tex sighed "I don't get it. They weren't soldiers, just citizens. Why'd they risk it all?" "They had hope, to make the galaxy a better place for their son". Tails then climbed down Wave stepped closer to him "Cutting it a little close. I know you don't want to miss Rex's meeting" "Neither does the Empire. And you were right, Sonic. They know where the meeting is. Infinite has an operation planned probably to capture Rex or worse". Tex looked to Sonic "The Imperials will have numbers" "We'll have surprise" "What gives you that idea?" Wave asked him. Sonic smirked "I'm being optimistic".
The next day the group were watching the Senate building. Wave used her mask to enhance what she was looking at "There's a dignitary shuttle and two protocol bots on the platform. Re must already be inside. I'm not seeing any Imperial forces". Sonic looked down at the street and saw troopers "They're patrolling the area" "We should get Rex out before the Empire moves in" Tails said. Sally however looked troubled "Wait. Why haven't they moved in?" "They want us too. It's a trap" Sonic answered. Tex shrugged "Maybe this time we don't go. We don't even know for sure our precious senator is in there" "Yes, we do. I saw it" Tails said defensively. Sonic examined the building again "If we can get up there without being seen maybe we fly him out on his own ship". Tails smiled "I know a way. I've used it before".
An Imperial gizoid was standing guard at a sewer hatch when G-merl approached. G-merl shocked the other gizoid disabling him. He then went over to the control panel and opened the hatch. He then pushed the other gizoid down it. The others approached and Tex could smell something "Ugh. That's a sewer pipe". Tails nodded "Yes, it is. And I can pretty much guarantee we're not gonna run into any stormtroopers down there". They started climbing down with Sonic going last "Ok, Gem, stay here, just in case we need a backup-". G-merl closed the hatch above him and laughed.
The group were walking through the sewer with Tails leading "Used to be too much water to walk down here but since the Empire started rationing, pretty dry" "Doesn't help the smell". "I wouldn't know. I love this mask" Wave said. They made it to a ladder and climbed up one at a time. They found themselves on one of the higher levels of the building "You two, up to" Sonic told Tex and Wave who climbed higher up the building. The others entered a large ha where Rex was waiting with two robot guards "Welcome. I was beginning to think no one on Emerald Hill got my message" "Senator, you're in terrible danger. The Empire knows you're here" Sally said. Two blaster shots were suddenly fired from behind them and hit the two robots. They turned and saw Infinite walk in with stormtroopers. Tails and Sonic ignited their lightsabers and Sally pulled Rex towards them, but more troopers entered from all sides. Infinite removed his mask and arrogantly smirked "Sonic, Shinobi knight. Your apprentice, Jun or whatever your real name is. And a chipmunk I've yet to meet". Angelica then entered "Where is the lizard and the Wispon swallow?". Infinite turned back to the group "If you won't talk, then my troopers will become a firing squad" "You better do as he says" Rex said. Tails glanced at him "Don't worry, Senator. Our friends will be along". Suddenly smoke bombs were dropped from above blinding everyone. Tex jumped down with his sword and started killing troopers while Wave shot them with her Wispon from the columns on the ceiling. Sally covered Rex "Stay close, Senator". The group ran out with Wave leaving the Imperials a detonator which went off. Tex laughed but Sally ten saw the shuttle was gone, before she could say anything an Imperial shuttle then appeared. They quickly ran towards the hatch and Tex saw Infinite run out of the room and fire at them. They jumped down and closed the hatch before running as fast as they could. Rex fell behind and leaned against the wall "Yes, I'm… I'm coming" he sounded tired. Tails and Sally went to see if he was okay, "I apologise, my friends. I've never come this close to capture before". Troopers appeared and they kept running, Sally, Tails and Rex took cover one way while the others were opposite them. "We'll draw them away! Get Rex to the hatch" Sonic yelled at them. "How will you find us?" Tails asked, "Please, you smell worse than the sewer" Wave said. Tails was about to say something when "Say something clever later. Let's move" Sally told them as the three of them ran.
G-merl was pacing outside of the patch when two troopers walked up to him "G...merl. Is this one of ours? I can barely read it's operating number". G-merl then saw the other trooper sealing the hatch "Insurgents are loose in the sewers. Sound the alarm if you see any activity". G-merl saluted and the troopers left. G-merl then immediately started cutting the hatch open.
Tails, Sally and Rex were walking through the tunnels "You're so well organised. To evade the Empire as you have, you must have quite a support system. Good funding, powerful allies". Tails looked proud "No, this is it. We're all there is" "You can't be serious" "Your transmissions have helped keep us going". Sally nodded "Just to know someone else is out there has meant a lot". They entered a passageway with a large fan in the middle. They jumped down "Senator, watch our back" Sally gave him a pistol before she and Tails walked towards the fan. He suddenly raised the pistol "That's enough. We're not going anywhere". Tails looked shocked "Senator, what're you-" "Put your saber down, boy. Now!" he turned the pistol to Sally forcing Tails to put his lightsaber down "You're… You're with the Empire?". Sally looked calm "But all your transmissions, those planets you visited. How did word not get out about you?". Rex smirked sadistically "Because no one ever knew not even my own robots. Insurgents are not arrested. They're identified and watched. The troublesome ones have… accidents after I'm gone".
Tails couldn't process this "But you're not a traitor. You're a voice of freedom. Just like my parents" "Parents? No one has spoken against the Empire on Emerald Hill since". His eyes opened wide "The Prower transmissions. I remember them. The original voices of freedom. You're their son". Tails looked betrayed "But why? Why?". Rex sighed "I joined the Empire, for my family. For their lives. Like your parents should have. Your parents were very brave, Miles, but look where that got them. They're gone". Sally calmly walked towards them "They're not gone, Rex" "Stop right there" "As long as we fight, all that they spoke out for lives on". Rex hand shook and he pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. He stared at it surprised before Sally took it and punched him "You should know if you're holding a charged blaster" "You knew?" Tails asked. Sally glared down at Rex "He tried to get us to surrender. He wasn't tired when he stopped. He was waiting for Infinite to catch up. And he wanted our secrets. I didn't want to believe it". The others entered the tunnel "What happened to the Senator?" Tex asked, "He's working for the Empire" "So what's our plan?" Sonic asked. Sally turned back to the fan "We stop this long enough to for us to get through". Sonic ran up to the fan "Cover me" he raised his hand and the fan slowed down. Troopers appeared and Tails covered Sonic with his lightsaber. The fan stopped and everyone quickly ran through before it started up again. Rex woke up and was angrily glared at by Infinite making him look terrified.
G-merl was cutting through the hatch when a lightsaber suddenly came through in front of him making him fall back. The crew quickly climbed out and G-merl beeped "Hey you're supposed to be gad to see us" Sonic joked as they al ran.
They made it back to the ship and Tails was sitting alone in the common room looking sad. Sally and Sonic entered "You alright?" the latter asked. Tails sighed "I didn't see it. I was wrong". Sally sat next to him "We all thought he was a good person". Tails turned to Sonic "I thought my visions were correct" "Your emotions clouded them. It takes training and discipline to see things clearly. Vision are difficult, almost impossible to interpret". Tails smiled "What was the last vision you had" "I saw a bratty coyote who caused me a lot of trouble". Tails laughed "I guess you were wrong on that one" "Yeah. You're not a coyote" Sonic joked before leaving the room. Sally put her hand on Tails' shoulder "You know, I wanted to believe in Rex as much as you did" "Yeah. Guess there's something wrong with us". Sally smiled "We have hope… hope that things can get better. There's one thing Rex said that was true. We're not insurgents. We're Freedom Fighters".