Tails and Sonic were on the bridge of a cruiser that was in hyperspace, the latter was wearing his black outfit with his face uncovered. Sonic glanced in Tails' direction "Something's bothering you". Tails had no surprise for Sonic knowing. He sighed "It's the chaos drive" "It's safe. You know it's dangerous" "I… I know. It's just Master Blaze sent us there for a reason. Maybe there's something we're missing". Sonic sighed "Master Blaze gave us a chance to defeat the Raiju, and we failed". One of the pilots turned to him "We're coming up on the coordinates commander but the transport's now responding". They jumped out of hyperspace and saw the transport badly damage.
Tails and Sonic entered the transport, the walls were slashed, and the hall was barley lit "There must have been one heck of a fight" Tails said. Sonic took a sniff "I can smell the carbon scoring. This way". He guided Tails to a door and when they opened it and they saw a black gizoid beeping sadly. Tails walked over to it and saw it was standing over a wounded snake pilot "Hang on. You'll be alright. We'll get you help. What happened?". The snake groaned in pain "Red… Red blade. After you… made me tell… The Hurst is in danger" "Was it an Inquisitor?" "We gotta warn Sally" Sonic said.
They entered the bridge, and the pilot activated a hologram of Sally who had her arms behind her back. Sonic smiled "Sally! Am I glad to see you're alright". Sally stared at them both blankly "Sonic" "There's another Inquisitor after us" "Sonic, it's not an Inquisitor". Sally was then pushed out of the way and Scourge appeared. Tails' eyes opened wide "Oh no" "What? What is it?" "Just an old friend, Master Shinobi". Tails started breathing heavily, "Something wrong, Tails?" "You betrayed me" "No, I betrayed your friends. I would have been loyal to you". "What do you want?" Sonic asked him, "The Raiju chaos drive that our apprentice and I acquired on Marble Zone". Sonic crossed his arms "We don't have it" "I hope that isn't true because if it is". He ignited his lightsaber and a hologram of a restrained Wave, Sally, Tex and G-merl knelt in front of him "Then you friends have no future". Tails stepped forward "Okay. Okay, we have it. Just not with us" "We'll give it to you, as long as our friends remain safe". Scourge smirked and deactivated lightsaber "Agreed. Good. Oh, and one more thing, your Shinobi chaos drive, give that to me as well" "Sonic, no" Sally said fearlessly. Sonic sighed "Fine" "I will be in touch with coordinates for our rendezvous. Don't disappoint me" the message cut-off. Sonic turned to Tails "You wanna explain how he knows that?" "I… I thought he was on our side. Is it still on the Hurst" "Where else would I keep it?". Sonic sat down and Tails stood next to him "What about the Raiju drive" "Yeah, that's not gonna be easy" "I thought you said it was safe". Sonic sighed "Yeah. That's the problem".
The Hurst crew where in the common room with a group of old green Metals pointing blasters at them. Scourge was examining a painting Wave made on the wall "So this isn't just a transport. This is your home" "You looking to move in?" Tex said mockingly. Scourge smirked and turned to Sally "Captain, could I have tour of you ship?" "Well, the airlock is down there, if you want to see yourself out". Scourge took out his saber "Show me around. I insist". Tex struggled but Wave stayed calm "Don't do it, Sally". Scourge glanced at her "Wispon, you of all should trust me. I did rule your people after all". Wave looked away from him as Sally stood up and guided Scourge out of the room. Tex struggled against his cuffs "Is that true?" "Unfortunately". Sally took Scourge past the cabins, she opened Tails and Tex's "That's interesting smell" Scourge said. They then opened Wave's and Scourge rolled his eyes "How colourful". They then entered Sonic and Sally's making Scourge smile "Ah, yes. Dull, grey. This is a Shinobi's quarters. Now, show me where he keeps the drive". Sally shook her head "I don't know anything about him" "That's not true. You know everything about Sonic the Hedgehog. Or should I use his real name? Olgilvie Maurice". Sally failed to hide her surprise, Scourge held his hand in front of her face, and she started to grunt in pain. Scourge grinned sadistically "Yes, it was your idea to recruit the apprentice. And he found it". He looked down at the drawer under Sonic's bed "No, stole the drive". He laughed as he took out the drive "That wasn't so difficult, was it?".
Tails and Sonic arrived where Sonic met Ixis "So you left the drive here?" "More like I left it with someone". The walked down and Tails placed down a sensor. Sonic walked around the area "Ixis? Ixis, are you here?" "Who's Ixis". Sonic ignored him "Ixis! I need the chaos drive". Tails watched Sonic looked concerned when he realised there were spiders crawling towards them. Tails turned to get the sensor, but it was gone "What?" Don't worry. If you stay calm, they won't attack" Sonic said. Tails backed away but then saw one of them getting close to Sonic. He ran forward and got in front of Sonic before igniting his lightsaber "Stay behind me" "You'll make it worse. It's possible to get along with them". The spider then all suddenly scattered "He's here" Sonic said. The broken sensor dropped in front of them right before Ixis appeared "The Shinobi returns, and with his student. Perhaps for a talk" he laughed. Tails looked up at him amazed. Sonic stepped forward "Unfortunately, we don't have time to chat, Ixis. We've come for the chaos drive" "Ah, yes, the keeper of the shadow lore. Why do you want it?" "Tell him, Tails". Tails needed a moment to clear his head "Uh… Okay. We need it to saver our friends. A Raiju, Scourge, had them. He wants it" "I do not know this darksider, but I know his kind. Why does he want it?".
Sonic shrugged "We don't know. But he also wants my Shinobi drive" "Oh. He would bring them together. Such a vengeance carries grave danger". Tails didn't understand "Why? I thought the drives were just libraries of information. They are that and more. If two such powerful sources of knowledge are united, they will grant a clarity of vision beyond your kind". Sonic couldn't say he understood any better "What does that mean?" "When joined, any secret, wisdom or destiny can be seen through the Force. One could bring much chaos with such hidden truths. I have seen it before". Tails stepped forward "We still need it to save our friends. Can you give it to us" "Hmm. The object you seek is a source of imbalance between you and your teacher. How you find it will be as important" he looked over to a dug tunnel through the ground. Tails nodded "I'll get it" he headed towards the cave. Ixis watched and leaned down next to Sonic "The cave runs deep, with many twists and turns. How can you be sure where it is now? Huh?". Sonic raised his head slightly "I hear something" "If you listen". Sonic stepped forward and took Tails' lightsaber with the Force "What're you doing? I need that" "The spiders will attack you as soon as you turn it on. Use your commlink. I'll guide you". Tails nervously stared at the tunnel entrance, took a breath, and then stepped in. Ixis turned to Sonic "Why take his weapon?" "He needs to learn to not use it".
Sally was back in the common room with the others and heard Scourge screaming in anger. Sally smirked "I guess he can't get it open" "Doesn't sound happy" Wave said. Tex smiled mischievously "I'm about to make it worse" he pushed G-merl into one of the Metals as Wave jumped up and kicked the other one to the ground. A third Metal entered but Sally charge forward and beat it against the wall "Get to the engine room. Quietly". They went down to the lower level and then heard Scourge enter the common room. They heard his footsteps "He makes an awful lot of clanking" "He must have robotic legs" Sally said. Wave pondered "We can use that against him". Scourge entered the cargo hold and saw G-merl. He advanced while igniting his lightsaber but G-merl plugged into a control panel and Scourge was suddenly pulled by the legs towards the roof. The trio ran in and fired at him, but he deflected it with his lightsaber. He deflected one hot and the control panel stopping the magnets. He dropped down, a crate landed on Tex, Wave charged but Scourge grabbed her with the Force and threw her at Sally. He then grabbed G-merl and threw him through a door and closed it. He advanced on the downed Sally and Wave with gritted teeth "You will remain alive only so long as you're of use to me!".
Tails was cautiously walking through the tunnels "Tails, keep to the left" "Got it". He kept going but a spider then appeared in front of him. He gasped and turned back only for there to be another spider "Tails, what's happening?". Outside Ixis was staring at the tunnel entrance but Sonic was gone. Ixis looked down at a blue flicky "Perhaps master and apprentice will rediscover their balance… Or perhaps they'll be eaten. Such is the way of things". Tails was pressed against a wall, he threw a rock at one of the spiders "Get back!" he yelled. The spider hissed at him. Tails closed his eyes thinking he was about to be eaten but he then felt something. It was fear but not his he felt it coming from the spiders. He remembers feeling this fear before, in the walker pilot he killed. Tails took a big risk and stepped forward and calmly stood in front of the spiders. After a few moments Tails opened his eyes and saw that the spiders were now gone. He turned and saw Sonic standing watching them "How did you know they wouldn't hurt me?" "I've had to learn to see things differently since Marble Zone. Come on. I'll get take us to the drive". Tails followed him and smirked "Yes, Master". They entered a cavern on the saw the drive on top of a spider which was sleeping in a pile of other spiders "You've got to be kidding me" Tails said, "Stay calm". The two reached out and pulled the drive towards them. The spiders started to wake up but ignored the both of them. Tails grabbed the drive and they both slowly walked back, and the spiders left them alone. They exited the tunnel and Ixis smiled at them "Perhaps balance is fully restored" "Thank you, Ixis" Sonic said. Ixis nodded "Your true struggle has only begun. Be warned. The darksider will not be able to open the Shinobi drive. That task will fall to one of you". Tails examined the Raiju drive "So, we have that power to" "Do what you must, but such power come with a price. Once a secret is known it cannot be unknown".
The two of them were now in an A-wing. Sonic watched Tails examining the chaos drive. Sonic sighed "If you think it can help, open it". Tails turned to him surprised "I don't know. It shouldn't be me. It does…" "You'll be fine. I trust you". Tails sighed and handed it to Sonic "I don't. What's our plan" "I think we ought to play it by ear". Tails was surprised "How are you so calm?" "The greatest power Scourge has is our fear that he'll hurt our friends. We have to control that fear. Stay relaxed".
They arrived in an asteroid filed and headed to a large ring with a base built in. They landed in a hanger where they saw the Hurst and Scourge waiting. Tails got out and helped Sonic. Scourge walked towards them "Over here, Master Shinobi. Just follow the sound of my voice" he said mockingly. Tails looked like he was ready to kill Scourge, but Sonic put his hand on his shoulder "Easy". They both jumped down "Welcome, my young apprentice. I hope you found the Raiju drive… illuminating" "I don't see our friends" "You'll see them when our business is finished". Two Metals entered as Scourge looked to Sonic "You can see them now. As for you apprentice. My robotic friends will take you to the command centre. Uh, if you attempt to escape or the robots are deactivated, your friends will die" he said dismissively. Tails followed the robots "Good to know". Scourge led Sonic through the halls of the base "In all honestly, I was never trying to blind you" "Oh, no. You were just trying to kill me". Scourged opened a door "Well, if at first you don't succeed". He pushed Sonic inside "Try, try again". He closed the door and before Sonic could react the doors behind him opened and he was pulled out into space. He managed to grab onto part of a docked shuttle and used the Force to pull him back towards the hanger. Ice began to form around him, but he just managed to get through the shield. He fell to the ground and started breathing heavily trying to stand up.
Scourge entered the command centre and saw Tails looking out a window. He leaned in close to the Metal "Terminate the prisoners" he whispered; the Metal left the room. He then looked to Tails "I kept my part of the deal. Your friends are safe. Come apprentice, sit". Tails went over and the two kneeled in front of each other. Tails handed him the Raiju drive and Scourge gave him the Shinobi one "I doubt you comprehend the power that is within your grasp" "I know if we open these drives together and questions we ask will be answered". Scourge was surprised "So you do understand. Well, what is your question?". Tails wondered, there was one thing he wanted although he was scared to ask it "I want to destroy the Raiju" As ambitious as ever. As for me, I seek something much simpler, yet equally hidden" "Which is?". Scourge suddenly looked regretful "Hope. Now, let us begin". Thy both opened the drives, and they hover in between them. They joined there was a large purple flash of light.
Sonic was on top of the Hurst and opened a hatch. He entered the cargo hold and saw three Metals about to shoot Sally and the others. He jumped down and quickly cut off their heads with his lightsaber. He then released the cuffs from his friends' hands "Where's Tails?" Sally said.
Scourge shook his head angrily "I don't see anything!" "Wait. I see something". Tails opened his eyes and looked into the light, "What is it!?" Scourge yelled. "I see-" "Tails!". Sally and the other ran in but the drives lit up even brighter blinding them all "Where is he!?". Sonic however calmly walked forward, he could see the room as completely white but saw a black silhouette of Scourge and Tails "I see him. I'll get him out. Be ready!" "Wait. You see him?" Sally said. Tails focused on the light when "Tails! Tails! Listen to me. Look away!" "Sonic". Scourge looked up to him "No! Stay focused, apprentice. We're so close" "Tails, turn away before it's too late!" "But it' so close". Scourge's eyes opened wide "I see him!" "Twin suns" "Tails, it's not worth it. Trust me" Sonic pleased. Tails heard him and raised his hands, "NO!" Scourge yelled. The drives released a burst of energy throwing them both back. The drives fell to the ground as everyone stood up, but Scourge was gone.
Scourge was trying to get to a shuttle, looking disoriented with a shocked expression "He lives". He entered the cockpit and started laughing "He lives!". He continued to laugh as he flew away from the base.
Sonic held the unconscious Tails "Come on. Find your way out, Tails. Come back to us". Tails groaned and held his head "Oh!" "You okay, kid?" Tex said. Tails sat up "I think so. Wait, Sonic, you could see me? You can see again?" "I could, but only through the light of the drives. Do you know what happened?". Tails tried to remember "I saw images, pieces of something, but I… I can't make sense of them. I don't know if it's what I wanted to see or what Scourge wanted to see" "What were they?" "Places, mostly. Planets. Some familiar, some not. I'm not sure what they mean". Sonic helped him up "I'm sure we'll find out together".