His heart was practically about to burst. He couldn't comprehend how Sonic could run so far nonstop, but following him around for all those years certainly helped. He had found an alleyway in a part of town that seemed completely desolate. Carefully maneuvering between the walls, he found himself standing in front of a dumpster. Life certainly hadn't come to this, had it? No, not yet. He flew to sit upon it, and pulled a piece of cardboard over himself to rest for a moment. They probably wouldn't stop to look for him here.
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Silver had walked on the rooftop for a while before he decided ground level might be a better idea. He looked down over a ledge and slowly hovered his way down to the ground.
He landed in an alleyway that was littered with loose trash and bags. Tails couldn't have gotten far, he focused on his surroundings and without having to close his eyes he could feel a rapid heartbeat close by.
It was faint, and he almost didn't catch it but he knew he was close. He didn't want to risk calling out his name so he kept walking forward, his boots making a noise every time he stepped.
Without knowing he passes Tails that was hiding under cardboard.
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His heart beat faster. He swore nobody came around these parts; who could it possibly be? Tails cautiously shifted his position to take a peep at who was walking around. It was Silver. He sighed shakily, but didn't understand why he was there. "Silver," he called out quietly, but loud enough for him to hear. "Silver, what are you doing here?"
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Silver turned and walked over to him. "I sent those guys away in another direction, you're gonna be okay for now." He had hoped that he had somewhat of a calming tone.
"But- we need to let Sonic know about this." He whispered.
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"What?" He sat up abruptly and yelled, "N-No! He can't know!" He paused and returned to whispering, embarrassed. "He can't. I can't do that to him. I don't want him to get hurt. It's bad enough that I told you and Espio about it at all."
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Silver's quills went up at Tails' tone. He figured this might happen so he let out a small sigh. "Tails, these guys are hunting you down and- I want to help, but I can't do it alone."
"If we don't tell Sonic or anyone else they will find you." He said sadly. "Sonic would be more hurt if he found out that you didn't tell him." He kept his voice down.
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"Dammit-" Tails threw the piece of cardboard on the ground. "Don't you think I know that? You're right. He'll be upset, but I'd rather just deal with it myself and have him never find out. I hate always going to him when I have problems. Don't you think it bothers him? It's pathetic-and selfish for me to bring him into this. This is my fault. Just leave it alone."
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Silver let his words soak in. He understood the feeling all too well. Always relying on the friend to come in to help doesn't always feel great.
He felt defeated, he knew the feeling of being a burden on a friend at times. He really wanted to get Sonic on their side, but Tails wanted to resolve this his way and Silver just wanted it resolved. If Sonic isn't involved he would be happy.
"Here- Why don't I just help you take care of these guys without his help?" Maybe Tails and him could figure out a way to outsmart these henchmen they didn't seem very bright anyways.
"Stop running and catch these assholes."
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Tails' ears perked up at the suggestion. "You...you'll help me? I don't know. I can't forgive myself if anyone is harmed because of this. I haven't even had time to think of a plan. I feel like they're watching me wherever I go..."
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"I'll be fine Tails," he helps Tails off of the dumpster. "If we can just figure out a way to put the Station Square cops on the Mafia's trail they will be more occupied with them than you."
It was a decent plan, and it wouldn't require a lot of fighting necessarily. There was always negotiation but he felt like Tails wouldn't be up for that, unless Silver handled it himself.
Silver could theoretically manipulate people, but it would require a lot of power that Silver hasn't had in a long time.
"Or I could try negotiating on your behalf."
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"It's the mafia, Silver. The police are basically in their pockets. I know what they want, but there's a reason I didn't give it to them. I made a device that can permanently erase certain memories from a person's mind. I made it so anyone who's suffering from serious traumatic experiences can use it to live a normal life." Tails' ears pointed down. " They'd only want this to make their jobs easier."
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Wow. A machine that can erase painful memories- he knew Tails only had good intentions for this device but he could see the potential evil side to it as well. He also couldn't help but be curious as to what the holes in the mind would be like to navigate through with his telepathy.
Would it be completely gone or just dormant? He figured he would ask how it worked after the business was over with.
"Is there anyway to use the device on them? Making them forget you have it?" He crossed his arms in deep thought.
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"That could work, but it's still only a prototype. I've been too worried to go to my workshop in Mystic Ruins. I don't know if they've reached it yet, but if they have, I really don't want to see what they've done with it. Even if I someone complete it, I don't know how we'll get all of them in a vulnerable position to even do that."
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"We won't know until we go see for ourselves, Tails." He paces the ground and tries to think of a plan.
"Let's say they haven't found your workshop, could you complete the prototype there if I guarded you?" He stopped pacing and looked at Tails.
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"Hm, maybe. I need an hour or two to get it done, but even then I might need a test subject to make sure it works perfectly. I don't know where I'd find someone willing to lend a memory they want erased."
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Silver thought about this carefully. It would just be him and Tails at the workshop, of course it would have to be him to be the test subject.
"I'll do it." He says it with a serious look. "It will just be us there and I wouldn't know how to operate this device."
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"Are you sure? It'll work, I promise. Just have a memory-any memory, actually, that you can focus on clearly so my device can pinpoint it and dissolve it from the brain neurons concerned with memory."
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"Will it hurt?" He asks cautiously. "And, there's no way to get it back?" He looks at the ground and starts pacing again, his stomach was in knots from the uneasiness he had about the whole thing.
Something I will forget forever. He racked his brain for the particular memory. He wouldn't want to erase any memories with Blaze or the friends he made in this timeline. Not anything with the last couple days with Espio, either. It would have to be some embarrassing moment from childhood.
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"It won't hurt, and no, you'll never get it back." He looked at the sky and watched the clouds pass slowly. They seemed so peaceful. Too bad he couldn't relax at the moment. "Um, if you don't have any bad memories...we could probably make some." He laughed. He wasn't even sure where he was going with that.
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Silver's brow raised slightly and he chuckled softly, "It's not that I don't have bad memories it's just-," He felt this wave of vulnerability hit him hard so he decided it was best to avoid this line of thought out loud.
There was a moment of paused silence.
"Let's just get going."
He walked forward and peeked his head out as he looked both ways. "How do we get to the Mystic Ruins, exactly?"
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"We have to take the train. I'm worried they might have someone there to keep an eye out for me. It's mostly why I haven't even had the chance to go back there." He cupped his chin in thought.
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"I could smuggle you on to the train in a briefcase?" He offered, after his last couple days with Espio he was willing to do disguises again.
"Or, maybe there's another way to get there." He thought to himself that maybe he could fly there with Tails.
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"A briefcase? No, but maybe some type of rolling luggage..." He considered it briefly, then shook his head. "The train is the only way I know how to get there. It's too far and risky to go walking. It sucks that I don't have my plane here, either."
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Silver nodded in agreement. He was broke and wasn't sure how much he would need to buy luggage big enough to fit Tails. He looked behind him and sees the dumpster.
Maybe there is something I can use in there. He lifted up the lid and pinched is nose. Ugh- that was a strong scent. He looked around and- Jackpot!
"Tails, you'll never guess what I found!"
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"It wouldn't happen to be a portal that could directly send us to Mystic Ruins, would it?"
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"Oh-sadly no." He pulled out an old piece of luggage that was a dirty gray color, he unzips the main compartment and dirty laundry spilled out onto the ground.
"Get in my friend." He gestured to the small, cramped, and smelly bag.
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"Um. Do you think we could throw that in a laundromat before I get in there? I'm no germaphobe, but I don't want to suffocate from the stench." He clamped his nose; the smell was assaulting him from where he stood.
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"Okay, but we need to hurry." He raised the collapsible handle and started to walk down the street with the bag behind him as he went to closest laundromat.
He ignored the faces that people made about the bag he was pulling.
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Tails stood close to the dumpster, grabbing the cardboard he'd thrown earlier to shield himself from any prying eyes. It wouldn't be so hard to stay inside. Maybe a little uncomfortable, with a leg or two growing numb after a bit, but the train was typically fast. He wouldn't worry about not being able to breathe as long as Silver unzipped the bag a little when they'd head inside. It was basically the perfect plan, unless they checked the insides of bags, which thankfully, they didn't.
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Silver returned from laundromat 15 minutes later and opened the bag. "It's cleaner than it was before, hop in. I even got you a bahama breeze air freshener in there."
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"Oh my god, I love that scent!" He stepped in carefully then sat comfortably with his legs tightly pressed against his chest. He took a deep whiff of the Bahama Breeze scent and shivered. "It's been so long. Zip me up!"
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Silver zipped the bag but left a small gap for Tails to have some fresh air. "I thought you would, and I just want to apologize in advance for all of the bumps we will be hitting along the way."
He started to pull the bag getting used to the new weight it had now that Tails was inside. He started to head for the Train Station.
After he boarded the train Silver sat down and turned the bag to face him. The train announcement lady said, "Now departing for the Mystic ruins."
He cracked the zipper opening just a little more. "You okay?" He whispered quietly.
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"Yeah. I mean, my left leg fell asleep, but overall I'm doing fine." He adjusted himself with the little space he had. "I'm going to attempt to nap in the meantime. Wake me up when we're finally outside."
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Silver nodded and looked around the train. He didn't see anyone suspicious so he leaned back and made sure that he kept the bag closed. He wished he could take a nap this was turning out to be quite a day. He started to close his eyes, his hand was wrapped around the handle of the luggage so no one could grab him and walk off.
After 45 minutes on the train he opened his eyes and realized people were getting off. He looked at the sign that said they had arrived in the Mystic Ruins.
He got up and rolled Tails out of the train.
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The little fox was well into a dream about flying in the clouds, settling into a beautiful grassy field, then watching the sky turn from day to night. He has essentially fallen asleep in his dream as he counted his fifth constellation in the peaceful darkness.
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Silver unzipped the luggage when he knew the coast was clear of the Mafia's thugs. He watched Tails tumble out of the bag and he had noticed that the fox was asleep. Feeling bad his ears drooped.
"Sorry." He winced.
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"Huh-wha-?" Tails mumbled out of his slumber when coming out of the bag. "Oh," He stretched out all his limbs and let out a loud yawn. He opened his eyes after rubbing the leftover sleep away and looked around. "We're here!" His tails swished around elatedly.
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He looked around at the beautiful scenery as they were standing on some kind of wooden structure that was the landing dock for the train.
He gazed at the sky it seemed bluer out here than it did in Station Square. "So, where's your workshop?" He looked back at Tails.
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"It's over there on the cliff." He pointed in the direction of it, although the stopped train was blocking the view. He immediately flew down to the solid ground and waited for Silver. "I hope nobody's there..."
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Silver started to walk that way with Tails. "How about I go over there just to make sure there isn't anyone waiting for us."
If he could check it out to see if it was safe he would just signal Tails to let him know it was clear.
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"Yeah, sure. Check if there's noise coming within the workshop, too. I don't want any surprises."
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Silver traveled to the workshop and walked up the large set of stairs, he ducked down. He spotted a a henchmen guarding the door. He furrows his brow in frustration. He cursed silently.
"Shit." He looks around and waits to see if anything happens.
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"You find anything that looks like the device, Paul?" The man leaned against the door.
"I can't find shit in here. Just a bunch of metal things, but none of them look like what we're looking for." Inside, someone was rummaging through Tails' inventions, moving aside tools and other unfinished prototypes.
"Why don't we just take 'em to Boss and see if we can make some profit with it?"
"I don't know, Caesar. I don't think Boss would appreciate us wasting his time with this shit. We need that memory eraser. You know if the others boys had any luck finding him?"
"Nah, fucker's probably hiding. I don't think he'd want to abandon his doohickeys."
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Silver crept up quietly closer to the door. He strained his hearing to catch the conversation. He used his ESP to yank the door open that caused the man leaning on the door to fly forward.
He ducked again.
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"Ah, shit!" Caesar stood up as Paul laughed at him. "Oh, shut the fuck up!" He stomps on the door furiously before turning to see Silver. "Who the fuck are you!? And nice job with the door, asshole."
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Silver stood up straight and shrugged, "I try." He started to walk forward he clenched his fist and brought Caesar up with telekinesis he looked over to see Paul raising what could be a weapon.
He used his left hand to grab Paul. The blue glowing power irradiating from his fists.
"I know the Mafia wants this device who's your boss?" He held the two henchmen in the air. "If you don't tell me I'll drop you off the edge of this fucking cliff."
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"W-woah, woah, hey! I think we got off on the wrong foot, buddy! You looking for the device, too? Maybe we can make a little agreement." Paul was basically shitting himself at this point, but the best thing to do was stay calm. "Yeah, uh, you can get in on this, if you want. We all live, we get the device, and everyone's happy!"
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The nerve of these people, he thought. He sneered at their pathetic attempt to coax him to their side.
"When you attempt to harm my friend there's nothing you can do to keep me off your back." He clenched harder making his telepathic grip tighter on the two men.
He knew he would burn out sooner or later so he had to make this quick. Silver didn't like to employ violence, but this was different. They were a threat to his friend and to others.
"The name of your boss, please." He growled. He started to walk closer to the edge.
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"Canstella-Boss Canstella!" Caesar squealed.
"Yo, Caesar, what the fuck, man?"
"I don't care, I don't want to die, Paul."
"Oh yeah, like Boss ain't going to kill us for revealing his name?"
"Fuck, it's not like we can even find him. Always moving..."
"But he can find us, dipshit."
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Silver watched the two bicker back and forth. He held them above the edge of the cliff the deep blue sea underneath them. He was starting to feel the strain.
"So- his name is Canstella. He moves around? You said something about that." He squeezed Caesar.
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"Ah, y-yeah! He's never in the same spot. Even we don't know where he is now." Caesar moved around needlessly.
"Yeah, dude. Look, just let us go, and we won't take another step around-or in that workshop again, okay?"
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Silver paused for a moment. So their boss moves around a lot, if he wanted to stop anything from happening to tails he needed the boss to call off on the manhunt for tails and his device.
"Why should I trust you to leave my friend alone?" He moved them back on solid ground and let's them go, but he was ready for anything despite being winded.
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"You kidding me? We don't want to mess with your super powers. You had us dangling above a fucking cliff!"
Paul started kissing the ground they were on now. He wiped the dirt off his lips, "Hell yeah. I nearly shat myself."
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Silver gave a curt nod. "If I ever see you two or any of your other guys around Tails or his workshop I'll drop you guys off a fucking mountain."
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"A cliff is enough, honestly."
"We don't have much power over the others, but if it'll save their asses too, they'll listen." Paul and Caesar ran off together, pretty much ecstatic to be running off with their lives intact for now.
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Silver watched and felt his stomach churn with anxiety, he wondered if he did the right thing. He turned to walk back to the station to tell him that the henchmen were gone.
The sky started to darken as the day was coming to a close, he brought Tails back to the workshop. He went inside after him and closed the door behind him he could seriously need a nap as Tails worked on the device.
"Hey-do you mind if I rest while you work on the device?" He found an old leather couch in the corner of the room.
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"Yes." Tails responded sternly, "I do mind. Because of what you've done, my head is sure to be sought after." He pulled out a sci-fi looking gun from his drawer and pointed it at Silver, ready to shoot. "I really shouldn't have told you anything. I have three shots on this thing. One for you, one for Espio, and one for myself..."
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Silver's expression goes from being tired to extreme terror, he held his hand out as if to stop him but he doesn't use his powers. "Hold on!" He said in a panicked tone.
He couldn't believe what was happening. His heart beat fast. He said he would kill him and Espio and that made him fearful. He said he was going to kill himself!
"Tails, these guys are not coming back! I know who their boss is- Someone by the name of Canstella- after this device is done I'm going to find him!" He stepped a little closer.
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Tails took a step towards him as well. "That's nice. Are you telling me this so I can formally greet him when they capture me?"
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"No, I'm telling you this because I'm going to find them and wipe their minds. No one is going to capture you."
He noticed Tails move closer he still had the gun pointed at him. "If you kill me Tails someone will find out sooner or later." He couldn't believe this was happening he was trying to save him but this was really surprising. His trust wavered.
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"I know, but I'll be dead too. So what's the big deal?" He cocked his gun. "Silver, do you remember me asking about making some bad memories?"
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Silver let out an exasperated groan. "Oh my god, Tails. You fucking scared the shit out of me!" He paced slightly holding his head as if he had a headache.
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Tails laughed maniacally, lowering his gun. "Well, it worked, didn't it?" He approached the couch. "This gun doesn't have bullets or anything deadly. It shoots blankets." He shot at the couch, and out came a fluffy sheet of cotton. He placed the blanket shooter back in his drawer and looked in the top shelf of a high cabinet, soon pulling out a thick pillow.
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Silver sat on the couch carefully as if his head would come off his shoulders, he watched as Tails brought him a pillow. He grabbed the pillow gently and sets it behind him as he leaned back. His front quills hung off the edge of the couch.
"Thank you, tails." He found a blanket and covers himself with it.
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"No problem." He began reorganising his things from the mess the two men had left behind. Tails knew something like this would happen, so he kept the device inside the Tornado when he had the chance. He activated the Tornado, went outside to fetch his item and returned inside to continue his work.