The Hurst entered the atmosphere of a small white moon. They flew towards a small base above a mountain. They landed in a hanger and the group came out. Sally was smiling "Tails, I'm proud of you for taking the lead on this rescue mission" "You would've done the same thing". Sonic stepped forward "You said these people are wanted by the Empire. Do you know why?" "No, but I hear they're closing. We better hurry". Tex was curious "So where'd you hear about these refugees anyway?" "Oh, you know, one of our, uh, contacts. Speaking of, G-merl, you better let him know we're here". G-merl took out a device which surprised Wave "Hey! Where'd you get that transmitter?". G-merl beeped worrying Tails "There's no answer! We better hurry".
They ran into a cargo bay, they hid behind large container and saw a stormtrooper "Oh, no. We're too late". A turtle officer stepped forward "Get those refugees out of there". The troopers opened a container "Move!". Two figures slowly walked out. Tex suddenly sniffed the air and seemed to recognise the scent. The two figures were a female pink and white insect creature and the other was a green male road runner. Tex stared at the two of them in surprise "My people. They're Sand Blasters". The two Sand Blasters were forced to walk "Move!" "Where are you taking us?" "To a detention facility for a nice, long stay". Tex suddenly jumped out and beat down both of the stormtroopers. The others walked out and surrounded the officer with Tails shooting him in the back. Then a familiar green hedgehog walked out "Well, hello, hello! You arrived just in time, as I knew you would". Tails walked over to him with his arms crossed "You could have warned me the Empire was here" "Ah, but I sold the Sand Blasters to the Empire knowing the heroes would save the day. You being the heroes, of course". Sally looked to Tails "Manic is your contact?" "To be fair, he contacted me". Manic nodded "Yes, to be fair. Because I knew these two belonged with that that one" he pointed to Tex. The two Sand Blasters smiled at Tex "It's him. Captain Tex the Lizard" "The Prophecy". Tails stepped forward "Captain?" "Yes. Captain Tex of the Sand Blast High Honour Guard" the insect said before she bowed with the roadrunner. Tex backed away as Manic laughed "A reunion! I was right again. How wonderful". He grabbed the leg of the knocked-out officer "I could use a little help" Sonic and Wave reluctantly helped him. Tex crossed his arms "Thought I was just about the last of us. How is this possible?". The roadrunner stepped forward "Do you remember me, Captain?" "You look familiar" "Jolt. I serve under you in the guard. This is Lumina the Wise". Tex nodded "Oh, yeah, I know who she is". Tails hit his back "I didn't know you were a captain" "He never told any of us" Sally said. Tex looked away from them "It was so long ago. I… I forgot" "We have not". Sonic nodded "Alright, let's get them out of here". The group started walking but Manic stopped them "Does this mean I am not getting my finder's fee?" "You never were" Tails said as the group walked past him. Manic smiled proudly "Perfect answer. I am so proud of you right now. I never had a student learn this quickly". He closed the door of the container but then "Hold it!". He turned and saw a squad of troopers "Uh, something wrong, my friends?" "Distress call from an officer. He was meeting an informant here" "Really? Oh, my, my. Well, you know, I just arrived, uh, but a group of, uh, Imperial fugitives, uh, Freedom Fighters, I believe they just fled the area. I understand there is a reward for those".
The group were walking through the base casually "So, tell us where you're headed" Tails asked Lumina. She smiled "Our new world, Guardian Rock. Prophesized in the ancient Sand Blast writings. It is a safe system where our people can begin anew". Tex groaned "Look. The only safe system for us was Sand Blast and it was destroyed". Jolt shook his head "Sand Blast was not destroyed. It was transformed as part of the future destiny of our people" "There's no future destiny. Everything is gone". Lumina laughed "We are not gone. We carry the ways of Sand Blast within us and will until we reach our new home. Everything is happening as it was meant to". Manic was at the end of the corridor with the troopers pointing at the group "There. That's him". One of the troopers took out a holo-disc "Agent Infinite, the informant came through. We have the insurgents in our sight" "Move in. I'll be there soon. And, Commander, I want them alive". The trooper ran to the docking bay leaving Manic who took out a transmitter "Tails, my boy. It's your pal Manic".
Tails took the transmitter form G-merl "What is it, Manic?" "Just so you know, there are, uh, stormtroopers on their way" "How close are-". A laser blast went right pat his head "Pretty close". Sonic and Sally fired back killing them. They ran forward as more appeared "They've got back up!". Wave picked up the dead trooper gun "So do we!" she threw them at Jol and Lumina who didn't catch them. Jolt shook his head "Oh, no. We do not fight. It is no longer our way". Tex pushed them out of fire "What? Your Sand Blasters. You're warriors". The group were now surrounded on both sides". Tails ignited his lightsaber and covered the Sand Blasters. Manic waved at Tails from behind the troopers before pressing a button on a panel. Doors closed between the ground and the troopers on his side. Tails got on his transmitter "What happened?" "Another rescue by Manic the Hedgehog" "Thanks, Manic! We owe you one". Sonic turned to him "No we don't!" he fired back at the troopers. Wave shot the final one and they all started running. Manic was grinning when "Hold it right there!" he turned and there were more troopers. Manic laughed nervously "Well…. This must be incriminating". The group made it back to the Hurst and Tex got on the turret and fired at the troopers as they ran in. The Hurst flew out and into space when an Imperial cruiser jumped out of hyperspace. Sally flew over the ship and quickly jumped to lightspeed. Infinite and Negus watched from the cruiser "I believe that was them, sir". A hologram of a stormtrooper appeared "Sir, the insurgents escaped but I think we have a way to find them". Manic was brought into view "Well, good news. I will help. Always eager to assist the Empire".
They were no all in the cockpit of the Hurt "Ok, so where is this new world we're taking you to?" Sonic asked. Lumina stood up and looked out into space "We do not yet have the location Guardian Rock" "We have maps if you need them" Sally said. Tex rolled his eyes "There is no Guardian Rock, Sally. It's a myth, an old legend". Lumina ignored him "The time has come to prepare the ritual that will guide us to our new home". Tails got up "Come on. I'll help you set up" he left with them. Tex sighed "Better go make sure they don't drive that kid crazy". Wave at back in her chair "This is going to be an interesting ride".
They entered the common room, G-merl beeped "I'm not weird!" Lumina yelled. He beeped again "The Ashla led us to the pirate, then to you so that we may find our path to the new world". Tails didn't understand "The Ashla?" "The spirit of the galaxy. I believe it I what you call the Force. And it is through your Force, our Ashla that the prophecy come. It is written and it is spoken". She began drawing three individuals on the floor "The promise of Guardian Rock will follow the fate of The Three. The fool, simple and selfish, he would lead. The warrior, bold and bloodthirsty to hunt the hope of tomorrow. Finally, the Child, to destroy him! We will find our new home only if the child saves the warrior and the fool". Tex rolled his eyes "Well, I have no idea who the fool is, and I only see one child. And you're not rescuing this warrior" "Perhaps you are not the warrior?".
Infinite and Negus were staring out on the bridge of the ship as it was in hyperspace. Manic was behind them "Well, finding these unfindable enemies of yours should be no problem for Manic. Especially after we work out the details of my payment". Infinite didn't turn around "I assume you have a tracking device" "I… Oh, well. I was just getting to that! You see, you are good. This is why I prefer to do business with the Empire". He put hi arm over one of the troopers "What is your name?".
Lumina was holding a staff and had her eyes closed focusing. She then opened them and smiled "Ah. We must begin. The fool has set event into motion" "The only fools I know are us for listening to this gunk" Tex said. Jolt went over to him "What would you have us do, Captain? Fight? Did that serve us on Sand Blast" he sat on onside of Lumina. She turned to Tails "Please join". Tails looked to Sonic who nodded. He then looked to Tex who gave a 'If you must' nod. Tails sat down, Lumia and Jolt both started to chant. Tails listened and after they went through it a few times he was able repeat it properly. Tex sighed and left the room. He went to hi quarters and started to pace when Tails entered "Tex, those are your people in there. Why do you act like you want nothing to do with them?". Tex turned to him "Chanting ain't gonna help save anybody" "Considering what we've seen Sonic do how do you know that?". Tex sat down "As captain of the Honour Guard. I was responsible for protecting the royal family and every single Sand Blaster. Their safety was my duty". Tails sat next to him "You couldn't have stopped the Empire" "I fought to the end. We held the palace. And then there was a bomb. And when I woke up, it was all just gone. We retreated. I was as good as dead at least until Sonic found me". Tails nodded and put his hand on Tex's back "I can't imagine. I lost my parent, but you must have lost everyone. But at least you're alive and… and you've got a chance to help your people again". Tex sighed "They called me Captain. I don't deserve to be called that. I failed my people that day" "So don't fail them now" Tex looked to Tails.
G-merl was now projecting a map in front of Jolt and Lumina "The path to Guardian Rock will be revealed through the fates of the Three". Lumina held her staff in front of G—merl's eyes. His hologram lit up the crystal and all the planets on the map turned green "The child must save the warrior and the fool". She then looked up and saw Tex and Tails enter "The child must show us the way". Tex pushed Tails forward, but Lumina shook her head "No. The child of Sand Blast". Tex's face dropped "Wait, wait. I'm the child? I wanted to be the warrior". Tails looked away "Yeah, you're not acting like a child" he said sarcastically under his breath. Tex heard him and growled but then reluctantly stepped forward. Jolt bowed his head "Your sword, as the ancients used it". Tex slowly took out his red sword and twisted the two sides of the hilt. His sword sparked with electricity and held it against Lumina's staff. The others watched amazed and changed the map. Sonic examined it "Those systems are beyond the Outer Zones, in Wild Space. Not on any map" "The child must show us the way". Tex focused and electricity passed through his sword and into a specific planet "That's it. Guardian Rock".
Wave was sitting in the co-pilot seat next to Sally "How far is it Guardian Rock?" "Well, judging by this-". The ship shook violently "Power down the hyperdrive. I'll ready the shields! G-merl!". G-merl plugged into the console as Sonic and Tails ran in "What's going on?" "There's something in our path!". They jumped out of hyperspace in front of a large cloud "What is that" "An imploded star cluster, biggest one I've ever seen". Sonic smirked and looked to Sally "Nice save" "If we get any closer, the gravity field will destroy us". Jolt entered "What happened? Are we on course?" "Sure are, but out course is blocked by the worst kind of space anomaly we could've encountered". Sally sighed "This is what happen when we jump into uncharted space". Lumina walked past and looked into the cluster "Ah. This is the maze that was prophesized" "What? A maze? You never said anything about a maze. You prophecy types always pull something like this" Tex said angrily. An alarm went off and the cruiser arrived behind them "Attention, insurgents. As much as I might like to watch you consumed by the maelstrom before you I will offer you a chance to surrender. An opportunity for survival" "How did he find us?". They then heard a different voice "Hello, my friends!" "Manic? What're you doing with him?" "I must apologize, Tails. I hid a tracker on that transmitter. You know, for insurance purpose". G-merl threw the transmitter to the ground and Tails stomped on it "Well, thanks a lot, Manic. You've been a great help today". Infinite came back "You have one minute to prepare for boarding or be destroyed". Lumina stared at the speaker surprisingly smiling "The warrior plays his part well" "Wait, Infinite's the warrior? And I got stuck being the child?". Lumina turned to Tex "There are many warriors, fools and children, Captain. The child in you can't see how things are but how they can be. The fool denies his destiny, but it is the warrior you are who will create one. You are never one of these. In time, you become all of them". Tex stared down at her for a moment before "Tails, bring me my sword". Sonic was curious "What're you thinking, buddy?". Tails ran back in and handed the sword to Tex "You can do this, Tex. I know it". Tex activated the sword "Just like the ancients used it". He walked over to the console with a determined face "Your time is up". Tex held his sword over the console and the power shot through into it "Tex, what're you doing?" Wave asked, "Leading the way. Trust me". The ship started moving towards the cluster, Ties were released from the cruiser to chase after them. The red power passed through the Hurst protecting it from the cluster while the TIEs were torn apart. Tails and Sonic put their hands on Tex and closed their eyes. The cruiser started to get torn apart and quickly retreated. Tex opened his eyes "I see it. The way through!" The ship suddenly activated the hyperdrive and shot through the cluster.
The group were all lying unconscious, they started to wake up. G-merl kicked Tails "Ow!". Tails looked around and saw Tex lying on the console. Sonic and Jolt helped him up "Captain?". He started to wake up "Uh" "Hey, buddy, you hurt?" Tails asked. Tex held his head "I've had worse". He turned and looked out onto a planet "But I've never seen better. We're home". Lumina smiled warmly "Guardian Rock".
Tails and Sonic were now alone in the cockpit "Tex's been down there for a while. Are you sure he's coming back?" "Pretty sure". They saw the Sneak flying towards them "Guess you were right" Tails said. They walked out and saw Sally talking to G-merl "Sorry, Gem. You're gonna have to put all of Tex's stuff back in his room", G-merl grumbled. Wave came over "Kinda sad those two all alone on that planet". Tex then walked though "They're not alone. There were already Sand Blasters down there. Guardian Rock is where my people originally came from". G-merl beeped making Wave smile "Yes, Gem, that means there's a lot more of him". Tails raised his hand "Uh, how do we get out of here by the way?" "The place has been charted by the system. Which means we can always come back" Sally said. Tex smiled "And if we meet any other Sand Blasters I can show them the way".