In the Hurst common room Fang and Tex were playing a holo-board game. Sonic entered with Tails "Let's end today's lesson by levitating G-merl" "If I do can I drop him?". Sonic smirked and looked over to G-merl "Sure". Fang laughed as he juts killed one of Tex's monsters "H. Chalk another one up to the clone. Takes more than brawn to win this game, big guy". Tex chuckled "Or maybe I let you win, old guy". Wave leaned into G-merl "Lock down", G-merl beeped in a laughing fashion. Tails was standing in front of him with Sonic next to him "Remember. Focus". Tails raised his arm, G-merl shook lightly but didn't leave the ground "Focus. Look through the Force. Picture it in your mind". G-merl stayed where he was, Tails dropped his hand "I can't. I can't do it" he said disappointed in himself. Fang looked over to him "Hey, kid. When you're looking through the Force don't forget to look with your eyes too. The gizoid's got feet locked". Tails glared at G-merl as Wave laughed and high fived him. Fang stood up "The Shinobi general I served combined the Force with his wits, and it made him a great warrior". Tails was about to say something when Sonic got in front of him "Tails' has plenty of wits. What he needs is more discipline" "Well, then you better let a soldier handle that". Tails rolled his eyes at the two of them. Sally entered "Wave, I have a mission for you and Gem. Thanks to Captain Fang, I found a new base where we might be able to salvage some much-needed medical supplies. Tex, you should go to". Sonic stared at him "Better find those medical supplies quick. Captain Wits is about to need them". Fang sarcastically chuckled "So there's where the boy's lack of discipline comes from, hmm?" "You're saying I lack discipline?" "Yeah, that's exactly what I said". Everyone left the room as they continued "Funny. But a soldier's discipline can't compare to a Shinobi's. It takes far more discipline not to fight" "Oh, so you're just gonna ask the Empire to lay down their weapons and give up". Sonic rolled his eyes "No that isn't what I meant. What I meant is Tails' has to learn to stay in the moment, be present. You got it, Tails?" he turned and realised everyone was gone. Tails climbed into the Sneak "Hey, you weren't assigned this mission" Tex told him, "Pease take me with you. I'd rather deal with dangers out there than the crossfire in here". Wave smirked "You say that now" she took off.
They arrived at what looked like an old space station "What is this place?" Tails asked, "It's an Old Republic medical station abandoned after the Clone Wars" Wave answered. The flew towards a hanger that then opened, Wave smirked "What do you know? Fang's codes worked. They landed inside and exited, G-merl beeped nervously "Oh, come on, Gem. It's not so creepy. Just dark. Nothing we can't handle" Tails said. Tex stared at him "Wait. You actually understand that glorified beeping tin can?" "Yeah. Sort of. I'm learning". Wave walked up to the door and tried to open it, but nothing happened "Yep. I was afraid of this. No power". "I'm on it" Tex said, he walked over to the door and forced it open. They all stepped through and G-merl's eyes lit up like torches. They cautiously walked deeper into the station, Wave thought she heard something behind her but there was nothing. They entered a circular room "Well, this is the command centre. Or what's left of it. G-merl, power it up" Wave said. G-merl plugged into the console and the station suddenly lit up "I didn't mean the whole station I meant this control panel".
Sleuth was on the bridge of a Scarship with Infinite and Naugus who was glaring at the dog "These mystics are unnecessary. I don't know why Lord Eclipse insists on sending them". An officer turned to them "Agent Infinite, I may have something. A power surge at a decommissioned medical station in Sector 11. Could be Freedom Fighters". Before Infinite could say anything, Sleuth walked up "I sense those we seek". Infinite nodded "Very well. Admiral, set a course for this medical station" "Your assistance is unnecessary, Agent Infinite. I shall go alone".
Wave was working on the console "Okay, Gem, shut everything else off except for this one terminal". G-merl did so and all the lights turned off "I got the inventory files, but most are corrupted, unreadable. I can't tell where the med supplies are or if they even exist". Tails ignited his lightsaber to illuminate the room "So, change of plans then. G-merl stays here, repairs the files, while we search for the supplies" "Well, it's worth a try, I guess". The three of them left with Tails leading, Tex came up behind him "Why don't you put those Shinobi powers to use finding the medical supplies so we can get out of here?" "It doesn't work like that, Tex. Besides, I could still find them before you". Tex glared at him "What's that supposed to mean?" "Well, I'm more perceptive, faster and-". Wave got between them "I don't care which one of you finds them first, as long as you find them".
G-merl was working on the console when he heard a noise coming from the corridor. He cautiously walked through with his torch on, and he could hear metallic clanking. He eventually turned back around and saw a small black robotic chao with red eyes. G-merl backed away but the chao fired electricity at G-merl stopping him from moving. The chao opened up a small hatch on the back of G-merl's head.
Tails could hear G-merl beeping over the commlink "What? Gem?" it cut off. "What is it?" Wave asked, "It's Gem. I think he said he needed help". Wave nodded "We better get back. Use the vents. We'll get their faster". She jumped through a vent hatch on the ceiling and was followed by Tails. Tex however saw the size of the hatch "Um, I'll take the long way".
Tails and Wave came out one of the higher levels "Gem!?" Tails yelled and they head a strange noise. They ran a corner and saw the robotic chao hovering in the dark. The two stared at it confused when a female fox walked out of the dark behind the chao. She had red fur and wore a black top "My pet told me you were here. I've been searching for you for some time" the chao rested on her shoulder. Tails stared at her "Who are you? A bounty hunter?". She grinned sadistically "I'm Fiona and um..." she said sadistically as she ignited a lightsaber shocking Tails. He ignited his lightsaber "You're an Inquisitor" "Oh, good. I won't have to explain it to you. So, do you know what come next?". Three more chao started flying around Wave forcing her to back away and fire on them. Fiona ran forward and fought Tails. She kicked him back to Wave "We need to find Tex and G-merl" she said. Tails stood up "Yeah. Good idea" they ran for it. They turned a corner and saw Sleuth "How many of these guys are there?" they ran back another way. There was a door, but Wave managed to get it open. As they went through Fiona grabbed Tails with the Force stopping him from moving. The chao grabbed his feet and dragged him back through the door as he desperately scratched the floor trying to stop them. Wave saw him "Tails!" she ran back to help. Tails already knew how dangerous one Inquisitor was, he quickly stood up and cut the doors panel closing it and separating him from Wave. He turned to face the two of them, Fiona smirked "Such a noble act. Just like a Shinobi". The chao grabbed Tails and pushed him against the wall but he tried to hide his fear "You're learning". She took his lightsaber and leaned in close to his face "But not quite enough" she said mockingly. Sleuth was about to decapitate Tails, but Fiona stopped him "I'm surprised to see you here" "The kill is mine" he said angrily. She rolled her eyes "You are short-sighted. We will use the boy as bait to draw in the others. Now find the girl" "No!" Tails yelled. Sleuth left with two of the chao while Fiona leaned back to Tails "You and I are gonna have a talk and if you're good, maybe some of your friends will survive".
Wave was running through the base when she met Tex running the other way "What's going on? I heard blasts" "They've got Tails. Two Inquisitors". Tex sighed "One was bad enough. We need to get Sonic" "No. If we send a signal, we could compromise the fleet. We have to try and save Tails ourselves" "How're we supposed to do that?". Wave thought "I'm working on that".
Tails was back in the command centre; his hands were restrained, and he was sitting on the floor leaning against an old holo-unit. Fiona was standing in front of him "You handle a lightsaber well, apprentice" "I've got some time if you want a lesson". She smirked and kneeled down "You have great potential but lack much. Perhaps it is I that might teach you as your master never achieved the rank of Shinobi Knight. Did he". She sat back in a chair behind her, "Maybe not, but he took out the last Inquisitor. I think I'll stick with him". Fiona nodded "Yes, the death of Zik was a surprise to all". She stood up and ignited Tails' lightsaber "Yet, it does present the rest of us with new opportunities". She stood up and pointed it and inch from Tail's face, he began breathing heavier and he was beginning to sweat. "There are many hunting you now, all intent on killing you and your master. Does that frighten you?". She moved it to his throat, and she leaned down in front of him. Despite his fear Tails' glared at her defiantly "If you're gonna kill me just do it" "Kill you? I have no plans to kill you… Yet".
Sleuth was walking through the corridors when he looked down one full of crates "Your fear betrays you". He walked down the corridor, Tex and Wave were hiding at the end behind the crates. Sleuth walked past two bombs paced on a crate. Wave pressed the detonator, but they didn't go off "What?". Sleuth lifted the bombs with the Force and threw them at the duo. "Run" Wave yelled, they turned a corner, but the explosion launched them into the wall knocking them out. Sleuth walked up and took Wave "The other is yours. Do as you will" he said to the chao. He walked away as the chao went over to Tex and started shocking him. He screamed but managed to grab one of them and smash it against the floor. The other jumped onto his face. He stood up and backed away and felt a crate behind him. He turned around and banged his head against the crate crushing the chao. He was disoriented for a moment but then noticed that the crate had an Imperial symbol "Now I find the med supplies". He carried the crate out and saw Wave's mask lying on the ground.
Fiona sighed and held out her hand "Why can't you just cooperate?". Tails started groan in pain, "Why do you compel me to inflict pain?". She grabbed his face and forced him to look at her "You know we'll find the others, so why not just tell me where they are?" "Because unlike you, I can shut up. You're like a broken robot". She covered his mouth "Shh. You don't hide your fear very well. Poor child. If only you had the power to protect your friends" "My friends do well protecting themselves". She chuckled "That's what people said about the Shinobi. Now they're all dead" "Not all of them!" Tails said. She stood up and turned her back to him "We know about Amy Rose". Tails tried to hide his surprise "Who's Amy Rose". She turned to him "As pretty as you are" "What?" Tails said, his confusion overtaking his fear. Fiona ignited her lightsaber "I only need you alive. That doesn't mean in one piece. Now, where's Amy Rose".
Tex was running when he saw G-merl's disabled body "Oh, Gem. What'd they do to you?". He banged on G-merl's chest waking him up, he beeped "You know I don't understand what you're saying. Just come with me. I need your help".
Sleuth entered the command centre with Wave "What has the boy revealed?" "Nothing I wish to share" Fiona answered. She looked down at Tails "Contact your friends and bring them her. That's all I ask". Tails silently shook his head, she put the lightsaber to his throat "Contact your friends".
Tex was walking out of the Sneak carrying a blaster while G-merl was beeping "You are mocking me, right? I can never tell". He sighed "Everyone seems to know everything these days. Truth is, I don't really stand a chance going alone, much less with you. But if we leave, we'll never see those kids again".
Tails and Wave were waiting when the commlink activated "Hello, Naka-Six, come in. Uh, do you read? This is Commander Redfruit" "Answer him" Sleuth said. Wave nodded "Uh, Commander Redfruit. Yes. Yes, I can hear you" "You missed your check-in. Am I correct in assuming mechanical difficulties have your craft stranded again, and you're in need of help with repairs?". Wave paused "Commander, we, uh, we can handle everything. No need for you or the others". Sleuth grabbed her by the head and put his lightsaber to his throat. Tails nodded "No, Commander. We changed our mind. We could use some help. Bring Sonic, and you better bring Amy too" "Very well. Meet you in Bay six. Don't worry. We'll fix everything. Keep your chin up".
They were being taken through the base "Once we have the others, we'll dispose of them both… Very slowly" Fiona said as she opened a door. They entered the empty bay. Tails was trying to understand the chin up line. He looked up and saw the Sneak attached to the ceiling with Tex waving down at him. Tails nudged Wave's arm making her look up and see it as well. Tex released the ship and it dropped "Go!" Wave yelled and the two ran out of the way. The Sneak fired on the two Inquisitors forcing them to deflect with their lightsabers. Tails pulled his own lightsaber towards him and ignited it. They ran onboard the Sneak which tried to fly out of the bay but was grabbed by the Force. Wave fired on Sleuth forcing him to let go, Tex set engines to maximum causing Fiona to be pulled forward. The Sneak flew out and escaped. Tails laughed "We made it. Good plan, Tex" "Let's not get all emotional. It wasn't a big deal. But I did save both of you and got some medical supplies by myself". G-merl beeped "Yeah, you helped a little, G-merl".
The Sneak docked with the Hurst. In the common room Sally was sitting lying back on a chair reading a data pad. Sonic just beat Fang on the holo-board "Yeah" "Looks like you can be disciplined when you set your mind to it". Sally covered her face with the pad to hide her laughter as Sonic got annoyed "What? Wait. Are you trying to say you're teaching me a lesson?" "There are many ways to find victory". Sonic stared at him "I'm not sure if I like you more or less now". They heard the Sneak dock "Speaking of lack of discipline". He stood up and watched Tails enter "Tails, we need to talk" "Yeah, we do, about the two Inquisitors we just ran into". Sally and Fang stood up in surprise, "Inquisitors?" Sonic asked. Wave entered "Yes. Two. We got lucky. Tex saved us. Without him, uh, things could have been bad". Fang saw Tex enter with the supplies "Well done, soldiers" "It was a group effort. Those Inquisitors are nasty business. Sonic, why didn't you tell us there were more of them?". Sonic didn't answer and stared at the ground. Sally stood next to him Commander Bristles is going to need a full report on this". Tails nodded "We did get the medical supplies. Some of them" "That's good news. I'll meet you three on the command deck" Sally said. The three left but Tails stopped "Sonic, they knew about Amy" "I'll tell her" Sonic replied as Tails left. Sally put her hand on Sonic's shoulder "Did you know there was more than one?" "No, I didn't. Do you think Amy knows?" he asked Fang. Fang shrugged "I honestly don't know". Sonic sighed "We really have no idea what we're up against", Sally hugged him.