Tails was leading the others to the docking bay of the Hurst, he looked nervous "Now, everybody, just try to keep an open mind about this, Ok?" "Is there something you're not telling us about this job with Manic?". Tails tried to look offended "Come on. When have I asked you trust me, and it hasn't worked out" "Do you really want us to answer that?" Tex asked. Manic came through the airlock with a large grin on his face "My friends. My friends! It is I. I can't tell you how much your welcome warms this old pirate's heart. You're too gracious". Tex glared at him "I agree. Especially since the last time we saw you, you abandon Tails on that doomed Imperial station!" "Well, it was my fault the station was doom" Tails said sounding regretful. Manic nodded "And besides. We all made it out because Manic the Hedgehog always delivers. Just wait until you see what my new partner and I have cooked up". Sonic crossed his arms "What new partner?". Tails nervously laughed "Now, remember, guys? Okay? Open mind". A familiar weasel then entered "Have you recruited these two-bit smugglers yet? We need to get moving" "Wes Weasely? What makes you think we'd even consider working with him?" Sally said angrily.
Manic nodded "Yes, I-I know that the two of you have had your past… conflagrations, but when Manic profits, so do you. And believe me, with what we have to offer the profit for your Freedom Fighters will be great indeed". Sally shook her head "I don't care what you have to offer. I'm not allowing that on my ship". Wes smirked "Oh, I remember now. The feisty one. Wait… You hit me with a tray!" "Why did you do that?" Manic asked. "This sack of flicky fodder tried to buy me from that scumbag Khan and make me his servant" "I paid a fair price. Technically I still own you". Sonic crossed his arms "Tex, throw him back on his ship" "Got it". Manic quickly got between them "Now, now, don't be blind to this amazing business opportunity. Oh… sorry" he said awkwardly. Sonic sighed "What're you offering" "Oh, wise one. I knew you would see things my way. Ooh, sorry, again". Sally crossed her arms "Well, I'm not moving my ship until I know exactly what you're offering". Manic smirked "Weapons. I am promising you all the weapons you can carry unguarded and simply yours for the taking" "No goof enough" "Even if they are proton bombs? According to out mutual friend Tails here you've been trying to acquire them for quite some time". Sally stared in silence for a moment before "Show us".
They were now all in the cockpit heading towards a planet. Manic was standing "The planet Savannah" G-merl projected a hologram in front of him. "As I happened to pass it on my travels. I detected an Imperial freighter adrift in the upper atmosphere. Escape pods jettisoned, completely abandoned". The ship could be seen, Wave examined it "Must have gone in to close. It's stuck in one of those atmospheric storms. It's slowly being pulled in". Wes nodded "And its cargo will soon be lost. I have the manifest. Its hold is loaded with a large supply of proton bombs". Sally stared suspiciously at him "Hmm. So, what's in it for you two?". Manic casually shrugged "Well, there is also some cargo you would not be interested in. Uh, you know, there's, um, precious metals, rare artefacts, riches untold. That sort of thing". Tex smirked "So, we'll split the treasure". Manic laughed "Split the treasure. Oh, that's a classic. No, no, no, no. My bid, purple friend. You get the bombs". Wave looked confused "If you just want the treasure what do you need us for? Why not use your own crew?" "Trust me, that is a long, boring story. No, my friends. You are the guys for this job".
Sonic turned to him "If the Empire couldn't salvage the ship, what hope do we have?" "Because we have something in our favour that the Empire does not for we are desperate!". Sally sighed and rolled her eyes "For once, he's right. The Empire would abandon this ship without a second thought. But we can't afford to pass up an opportunity like this". Manic looked hopeful "Well said. Then we have a deal? I think we have a dead" he left the room with Wes. Sally examined the hologram "There'll be no way to dock with that ship in the storm. We'll need another way to off-load the cargo". She then saw Fixit enter "Fixit, you know the specs for this type of freighter?" "Of course. I was serving on a class four container transport when G-merl found me". Sally nodded "Just get to work with Tex on a plan for this salvage operation" "Wait, Tex is in charge?" Tails said confused. Tex got up and left with Fixit "Sorry, kid. I got this one". Sally turned to him "That bother you?" "Well, I did set up the mission". Sally nodded "Yeah. With Manic". Tails sighed sounding guilty "Look, the station was my fault I don't blame Manic for-" "It's not just the station. We don't trust him. We're going through with this but with Tex in charge". Tails looked like he was about to argue but then just left. Sonic looked in Sally's direction "I know what you're doing, but Tails' got to learn on his own that Manic's not the friend he appears". Sally nodded "Yeah, I know" but then she jokingly smirked "Maybe he thinks because you and Manic are brothers, nothing will happen" "We don't look similar" Sonic said bluntly. Sally mockingly nodded with the smirk on her face "You kind of do. And don't get me started on Scourge".
Sally flew the Hurst over the freighter "Engage stabilizers. I'll hold her as steady as I can". Fixit watched "Estimating chance of mission success at 38.5%". Sonic turned to him "38.5%? This is your plan!" "I have factored that in. Without me, your chances are almost zero". Sally turned on the PA system "Alright, salvage team. We're on the clock. That cargo ship is sitting above the storm's vortex for now but it's sinking fast. Once it's pulled under, it'll be ripped apart. So, make sure you're not on it". The others were in the cargo hold. Tex checked his sword "Don't worry. We'll be in and out. Tails, you ready to go?" "Yes, sir, Captain" Tails said half-heartedly. Tex turned to him "You got a problem with me in charge talk to Sally when we get back". Wes entered but Manic stood in front of him "Wes, this is a dangerous mission. Perhaps you and your lovely singing voice should stay here". Wes sarcastically laughed "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Me stuck here while you claim the best treasure. Forget it! This job is half mine and I've got the manifest. I go with you, or we don't go at all. Hear?". Tails rolled his arms "Yeah, yeah. I'll keep an eye on him" "You better. Wave, let's do this" Tex said. Wave nodded and opened the doors "Alright, boys. Good luck. I'll be here waiting for the cargo".
They jumped out onto the freighter. Tex opened a hatch and the jumped inside a dark corridor "We're gonna need to restore power to the to the cargo hold. G-merl, get to the bridge and see what you can do". Tails turned to him "Are you sure splitting up is a good idea?" "It's a good order. Here's another one. This way". Everyone followed Tex apart form G-merl. They kept walking when they saw something run pas the corridor "Ah! What was that?" Wes said. Tex pointed his torch in that direction and saw something running at the. It jumped on Manic and stared punching him "Help! I'm being attacked" "You treacherous son if a-". Tails pulled him off and recognised him "Wait. This one of the bees we rescued". Manic's eyes opened wide "Oh. Hi, Bart. We should get going". Tex stopped him "Start talking". Bart crossed his arms "Yeah, tell them". Manic sighed "Wes came to me with a flight plan he'd acquired an Imperial freighter with a fat cargo and no escort. So, it sounded like an easy score" "You attacked an Imperial ship?" Tex said as if he wasn't surprised by the stupidity. Tails shrugged "Well, we do that a lot" Exactly-wow, really? Sorry, anyway, you should be giving us a medal. Oh, if you'd only seen it. It was glorious". Tex began to feel pain in his head "Yeah, yeah, okay. Just skip to the part where it all went wrong" "We disabled the ship with ion mines, but it drifted into this maelstrom. Ah! But of course, my brave little bee… Look at him. He insisted on trying to board it anyway, but tragically-". Bart glared at him "Then you left me to die!". Manic looked offended "Die? I would never abandon any of my crew. You are like family. Yellow, insectoid family… Okay fine, instead of the 1% you were promised. I will give you two". Bart didn't even hesitate to shake his hand "Deal". Tex was glaring at them "So you brought us in only after you'd lost your entire crew trying it yourself. You lied to us. What a surprise". Tails decided to stay out of this as Manic made excuses "Well some of the truth is better that none of the truth which is what you used to get. So, don't try and tell me that I have not grown". Tex growled in anger "I don't have time for this. Cargo hold, now! I can pull your limbs off later". Manic laughed "He's always kidding. He's kidding right?".
Sally and Sonic were waiting when Wave came over the commlink "Wind's getting worse. We shouldn't stick here to long" "Thank you, Wave. Your concern is noted. Tex, status update" "We're at the hanger door now".
Tex was trying to get the doors opened "It won't budge. G-merl, we need power on the cargo deck". Tails took out his lightsaber "I can do it" he cut through the door but the moment he finished what was left of the door opened "Oh". Manic and Wes excitedly ran in to the hold which was full of crates form different planets "Wes, my friend. Pinch me". "Look! Proton bombs" Tails said pointing at a pile of them. Tex smirked "Alright. Let's get started. We don't have much time" "Come on. Admit it. Manic came through" "I'll believe it when we're all safely on the Hurst". They both started loading bombs onto a small hover platform and moving them to the hanger door. Tex went past Manic and Wes who were fighting over a crate "That's mine. I saw it first" "No! I saw this ship first, so I get first claim on anything in it!" "First claim? What is that? What kind of criminal are you?". Tex was watching with clenched teeth "Both of you shut up!". Wes dropped the crate "I'm not arguing with this washed-up hedgehog. I saw better stuff in the back anyway" Don't hurry back!" Manic yelled after him. Tex got on his commlink "Ok, G-merl, you good to go?" G-merl beeped "Okay everyone. It's about to get windy". The hanger doors opened, and the Hurst flew in close. Wave was standing at the door "It's about time. Crosswinds are too strong to use the magnetic hoist" "Copy that. Powering the winch. Stand by to receive cables".
He activated the winch "Now!" it fired two cables which locked onto the Hurst "Cables secured. Good shot!". Tex placed a magnet onto the cable and Tails came over with 4 proton bombs. He attached them to the magnet "Alright, Wave, first load proton bombs coming out. Better watch yourself, cause if they get knocked about too much" "I'll be careful". The magnet takes the bombs across the cable until stopping near the Hurst. Wave turned her wispon violet and the bomb stared to slowly get pulled towards her and she led it inside "I got it! One down". Mani ran up to Tex "Hey, buddy. Listen, since you got your first load of bombs could we maybe start moving treasure". Tails was staying out of this as Tex answered "Our ship, my operation. Bombs first". Tails loaded another four bombs "Hey. Where's Wes? He's been gone a while" "Not our problem. Wave, another one coming out!". Tails got on his commlink "Wes, where are you?", Manic walked past him "Oh, he's fine. Don't worry". Tex sighed in frustration "Alright. Now I'm worried. Wes, this is Tex. Come in". There was no answer "I got this. I'll find him" Tails said, "No, you get on the winch. Keep the cargo going out. And remember, bombs first". Tex exited the hanger and cautiously walked through the dark hallways "Wes? Wes!". He turned a corner and saw a purple hemisphere shaped robot with four lights at the front. Tex was about to go for his sword but was hit over the head.
Tails delivered another load of bombs to Wave when the ship suddenly shook "Whoa! Gem, what's going on?" G-merl beeped "Copy. Come back to the hold". He changed frequency "Sally, Gem's lost the stabilizers. This ship' going down fast" "And it'll take you down with it! Get everyone off now". Tails nervously scratched the back of his head "Uh, there's a little problem with that. We lost Wes. Tex went looking for him, but they haven't come back" "Well, find Tex! We're running out of time here". Tails saw Manic and Bart loading a crate "Manic, come on. I need your help" "Kind of busy right now, Tails" "But isn't Wes your friend?". Manic dropped the crate on Bart in surprise "More partner. That means occasional business acquaintance" "It also means more treasure for you if he doesn't make it back, right?". Manic smirked innocently "Well, I never thought of it that way but, uh, you never disappoint me, Tails". Tails walked away "Yeah, wish I could say the same".
Tex woke up with a sore head and realise he was inside a cage "Where am I?" "We're in jail, you idiot!". He looked and saw Wes in another cage "What happened? I remember some kind of robot". He got on his commlink "Tails, you there?" "Tex! Where are you? I'm patching in Sally" "Looks like we're in the brig. Wes' is here too. We got knocked out by some kind of robot".
Tails was looking through the ship "I thought this place was abandoned". They then heard Fixit "Oh. I'm afraid I may have overlooked that in my planning. The Egg Fighters the Empire utilizes on its cargo ships. It must have reactivated when power was restored. I advise you not to engage. The consequences could be problematic". Tails heard Tex sigh "Could have told us before" "I need you all back now! The Hurst can't take much more of this!" Sally said. Tails nodded "Copy that. I'll find him. Now, where' the brig". He heard a metallic sound behind him and quickly ignited his lightsaber only to see G-merl "Gem. Hey, we have to find the brig. Tex and Wes are-" G-merl just ran past him and Tails ran after him. They eventually made it to the brig and saw Tex in the cage who glared at him "Not one word!". Tails shrugged "My missions don't go much better. Gem". G-merl unlocked the cage and Tails handed Tex his sword "Right. Let's get off this ship. And be careful. That Fighter is still around somewhere". G-merl then let Wes out and they all ran. They turned a corner and saw the fighter at the end of the hall. Wes screamed, took a blaster form Tails and fired madly at the robot destroying it. Tex grabbed the blaster "We didn't want to destroy it!" "I did it. I'm a hero". Tex sighed as the commlink activated "Salvage team, what happened?" "We encountered the sentry, but Wes took it out" Tails answered. They then heard Fixit "Oh. I advised you not to engage. If one sentry comes under attack, the others will be activated" "What others?" Tex asked.
They then saw three more Fighters "Tex, Tails, I am not kidding! I need you off that ship in a big hurry!". They all ran as the Fighters started firing on them "Trust me. We're in a hurry!" Tex yelled as they entered the hanger. He tired to close the door, but the hole Tails cut through allows the Fighters to still shoot. Tex glared at him "I didn't know!" Tails said in defence. Tails and Tex both took cover to try and hold off the Fighters as Wes started fighting Manic over a crate. Manic moved away and picked up a chest "Where's Bart?" Tails asked, "Oh, no! He must have fallen to his doom. Well, I shall spend his share wisely, in his honour". He loaded the chest onto the magnet before sitting on top "Let's go". We went on the other magnet, "I will beat you to the ship!" "That means nothing. This isn't a race!". G-merl beeped before running "What'd you mean every man for himself. You're a robot!" Tails yelled after him. He ran past Tex and started flying towards the ship "I hope you run out of fuel". Tex then loaded four bombs and sat on top of them. Tails ran towards him and jumped on as well. They then started heading towards the ship. The Fighters fired on the winch breaking it off. Tex quickly grabbed onto the cable and grabbed Tails' hand saving them both. Tails jumped on Tex's back and cover him with his lightsaber as Tex started climbing up the cable as the freighter started falling. Tex made it up and Sonic helped them into the hold. "I'm cutting the line" Sonic said before cutting the cable wit his lightsaber "Punch it, Sally". The doors closed and the Hurst flew away from the planet.
Wave was watching Manic, and Wes take out the crate "Pretty nice haul". Sally entered and looked to Tex and Tails "Good job, you two". Tails gave Tex a high-five "Way to go, Tex". Wes stopped Manic opening the crate "Oh no, hedgehog. Half of what's in there is mine" "Oh, but you forfeited this crate when you went off to look for your own loot. What's in here is all-". He opened the crate only to see Bart inside. He screamed and Tails laughed "Guess he didn't trust Manic not to leave him behind again". Sally smirked "Sorry it didn't work out, Manic". Manic sighed "Work out. No, no. This is better, yes, because, uh. Friendships is the greatest treasure". He hugged Bart surprising Tails "You really mean that?" "Mostly". Bart however punched Manic's stomach and laughed. Manic fell to the ground wheezing "See? He's always laughing. Always having a good time, this Bart". Sally crossed her arms "I look forward to you gentlemen continuing this conversation on your own ship".