Chapter 5:

Preparations

When the group of four walked into Freedom HQ, Miles was surprised to see that only Sally was there.

"Where is everyone?" He asked.

"The others that you met yesterday are all still making their way over here." Sally explained. "As for some help from other sources… we aren't getting much."

"What are we looking at?" Sonic asked.

"The only ones that can come are Team Dark who have some business to take care of first, and The Chaotix, who were on Angel Island, so they will be a bit." Sally explained.

"What about Amy? Where is she?" Miles asked.

"I… didn't try to contact her." Sally said. "She's off seeing her cousin for the first time in quite some time, and I didn't want to interrupt."

"Cousin huh? That's a new one." Miles said.

"Dude, the guy looks almost exactly like me… it's kinda creepy to be honest." Sonic said.

"PFFT! So she fell for someone who looks just like her cousin?!" Miles said with a laugh. "That sure is something."

"Well, his fur is more teal compared to my blue, but yeah." Sonic said with a laugh.

"Alrighty then, back on topic though, we have a bit of time before the others get here…" Miles said.

"Ok, so we have a bit of time to come up with a plan!" Sonic said.

"I already have one actually." Miles said. "At least, one for getting in and freeing my wife."

"Ok, is there anything you need for this?" Sally asked.

"Well… how many Chaos Emeralds do we have?" Miles asked.

"Not all of them, and even if we did we aren't going to just have Sonic go Super and go in there." Sally said.

"I only need one for what I am planning actually." Miles explained. "So, how many?"

"Well, between us and Team Dark, we have six… getting the last one would be difficult though." Sally explained.

"How so?"

"Well…"

Later

"So, I use these… star posts, you called them?" Miles asked, getting a nod in response. "Right, I use these to go to this other 'Zone' and pass a trial that this Feist guy gives me, then I get the Emerald. That's all?"

"Pretty much. They get more difficult with each trial though, and this is the last one, so don't expect an easy time." Sonic said. "Don't be afraid to back out if you can't handle it."

"I'm sure I'll be fine." Miles said as the portal opened. "Also, thanks for letting me use one of your emeralds for this."

"Just make sure not to lose it." Sonic said. "The last time we had to wager an emerald to get one, so it will probably be the same here."

"Gotcha. Here I go." Miles said.

And with that, he went in.

"You sure we shouldn't go with him?" Tails asked. "It's gonna be dangerous."

"He said he doesn't want to 'spoil the surprise.' Don't know what he means, but I guess we will find out." Sally said. "He sounded really confident in his abilities, so he might be fine. Anyways, we are gonna get planning. Why don't you take Skye to the park Tails?"

"Right… good luck you guys." Tails said as he took Skye.

"Don't worry little guy! We will be back with your mom before you know it!" Sonic called over.

As soon as the door closed, Sally turned to Sonic.

"Tangle." Sally said.

"Huh?"

"I figured you would need to know her name, and now that Tails is gone, I told it to you." Sally explained.

"Oh, ok." Sonic said. "So… let's get thinking!"

About a half hour later, everyone had arrived, and Sonic and Sally were filling them in on the plan they came up with.

"So, is everyone on board?" Sally asked.

"I just have one question." Shadow said. "You keep saying that we are going on a rescue mission, but who exactly are we rescuing?"

"Well… that's kinda hard to explain… truth be told, there is going to be one more of us coming, and he will be able to explain everything." Sally said.

"Ok, and that person is?"

"That would be me." Miles said from the door.

As Sally turned around to look at him, she noticed something getting tossed in her direction.

"A little tougher than I thought, but I got it!" Miles said as he began walking towards the group.

Sally then looked at the emerald in her hands in amazement.

"So… what did he have you do?" Sonic asked.

"Eh, nothing really special. Just had to beat him in a fight." Miles said.

The looks that everyone gave him spoke volumes as to how shocked they were.

"…What?"

"… Dude, you basically just told us you kicked a god's butt…" Sonic said. "And I am pretty sure the new faces were already surprised enough to see you."

"Yeah… so would you mind telling us what is going on here?!" Shadow said, really annoyed with all of this.

"Right… where do I begin?"

After a brief explanation on everything that has been going on, Sally began to explain the plan to Miles.

"So, you already said that you had a plan for getting in and saving Tangle, so we are going to let you do that." Sally started. "We will all be working together and sticking together for the most part for this. In the meantime however, we decided to take advantage of all of this to get some information we have been wanting for a long time."

"And that information is…?" Miles asked.

"Schematics for the entirety of Eggman's base." Sally explained. "We have been wanting to end this war with Eggman for quite some time, but every time we destroy one of his bases, he always escapes and makes a new one. We want to find a way to cut off his escape, and finally put him away for good."

"Alright, that makes sense. So how are we going to do that?" Miles asked.

"While we are all going in and fighting Eggman's forces, Espio will be taking Nicole in this handheld…" Sally said as she held up Nicole's handheld form. "To the central computer, where Nicole will be doing the rest."

"You don't mind that we are doing this? I mean, we are kinda taking advantage of your situation…" Sonic asked.

"No, it's fine. I appreciate that you are all helping us out like this, so if we can help you end your war, then it's the least that I can do." Miles explained. "That being said… let's get going. She's probably bored out of her mind waiting for me."

"Right! Freedom Fighters! Move out!"

End of Chapter 5

Next time, we… don't actually go to the rescue mission. Gonna be checking in and seeing just what Tails and Skye are up to while everyone is gone!

Sorry for the shorter one, not much was left to do before the rescue mission started, and the next chapter has nothing to do with any of this.

Also, don't worry, I am gonna write out some of the Feist fight, I have my reasons for not doing so here.

See you all for Chapter 6: Mischief.