Super Sonic Squad

Season Five, Episode Four

I Need You Here

By Cole Bezotte

After searching for hours throughout the Great Forest, Cosmo still could not find Tails anywhere, no matter how hard she searched. But she dared not give up, not after he had saved her life from the hands of the deadly Rech. However, Tails was not the only one to be given credit for the heroic deed; Spencer had come to the rescue just in time. Perhaps he too had the answer Cosmo needed.

But once Spencer was asked Cosmo's anxious questions, he could not give a guess. "I guess I was too wild in the battle," he said after his answer. "I did not see where he could have gone. But if he's really that scared, you must go find him. He is depending on you…"

Cosmo immediately began her search, little knowing that Tails went to Amy Rose' house for help. She was considered a helpful therapist, especially to cowards such as Antoine D'Coolette. Today, after talking with Sonic, Tails sought some additional advice from Amy regarding which girl to take as his true love.

"I really wish you wouldn't ask me that question," Amy said after hearing out his question. "After all that trouble I went through with Sonic, things have become difficult for me. But I'll help you out as best as I can. When thinking of those two girls, which one is the first that comes to your mind?"

"Both of them appear at the same time," Tails answered in reply, closing his eyes to think. "It's as if they're arguing over me. I can't help but admit that I am very close to both of them. I can't seem to choose either one to be my TRUE love."

"Such decisions are hard to make, Tails. It would be best if you wait until you finally choose what it will be."

"But I don't want to hurt one's feelings if I take the other. I really hate to do that."

"Hey, I was disappointed to know that Sonic was not actually in love with me, but I soon understood completely once I met Sally for the first time. Because you had forgotten about Cosmo, you ended up sticking with Courtney until she returned."

"It's true! I fully declared that I loved Cosmo right when I launched her to destroy Dark Oak! I thought that she would be gone forever, which is why I took Courtney. But now that they are both here, I'm going insane trying to find out which one I take."

The conversation was suddenly interrupted by a shout from Christopher as he rushed inside to report something urgent. "I saw her!" he exclaimed. "Cosmo is out there, and she's just been kidnapped!"

"Kidnapped?!" Tails replied. "By who?"

"I saw Eggman in action with some skinny clown freak!"

"That's Needles you're talking about! I don't know how he and Eggman escaped from space, but I'm not waiting around to save Cosmo! She must be freed now!"

"Tails!" Amy said. "I hope you're not making a big mistake. If Courtney was to know about this…?"

"Do you want a good friend to die again?!" Tails interrupted. "SOMEONE has to save her skin, and I'm lucky to be the first one to do it!" With that, he flew out with his two tails spinning like a propellor, gliding him to where Dr. Eggman and Needles had kept Cosmo as a captive.

Meanwhile, as the new Psycho Brothers finished tying a tight rope around their captive, Cosmo began to think again about Tails' reaction during the battle against Rech.

"He heard what Courtney said…" she thought silently. "Ever since I came back, she began to doubt Tails' loyalty. I never knew that he would turn to someone else after what happened years ago. Now he's beginning to blame himself for all the trouble. I should be sorry for that kiss from earlier today; I should have known that Tails had found himself a new friend. It's not his fault; he did not know I would be back…"

"He's coming!" Needles spoke up, interrupting Cosmo's thought. "He found us!"

"I expected this," Eggman replied, looking out the window of their abandoned hideout (a lonely estate on a highland). "But he does not expect that we are ready for him!"

Tails walked through the doorway of the house, desperately searching for Cosmo. But little did he ever know that Cosmo was ready to forgive him for his attitude from earlier. "You better show yourselves!" he demanded.

"We've been waiting, little one!" Needles replied, rushing past the fox as he attempted to strike at him. "Even your strength cannot match mine!"

"You won't gloat for long!" Tails replied. "You're about to meet your end!"

"All you can do is talk to keep your nerve up!" Eggman said as he ripped one of the four legs from a nearby table. "You know you haven't a chance between the two of us!"

"You both are more psychotic than ever!" Tails replied. "If you dare get at me, I'll crush you before you can lay a hand on Cosmo again!"

"Stand back, Needles!" Eggman continued as he prepared to swing the leg forward. "I've waited too long for this perfect chance!"

"No!" Needles interrupted, pushing himself past his evil partner. "I'LL get him first! He's mine!"

"I said BACK, you fool!" Eggman replied, grabbing Needles' arm tightly. "The first blow must be mine!"

"I've warned you not to try to give me orders, Julian! Now, since you're so eager to land the first blow, I'll give you the first chance! Go ahead!" With that, Needles teasingly pushed the overweight scientist right at the determined young fox. Tails quickly grabbed the table's leg and laid a heavy blow upon Eggman's head, pushing him back. "Now THAT should stop your bragging!" Needles continued. "He hurled you back! You need me, Julian-and don't ever forget it."

No sooner of a word spoken, Tails received a telepathic message from the heartbroken Corlonian. It came to his surprise that she would contact him mentally even after the battle from earlier that day. "Why did it have to happen?" Tails heard from her. "You never told me…she still lives!"

"Courtney!" Tails replied with a message thought back at her. "I didn't know Cosmo would come back! You have to understand me!"

Distracted by the mental message, Tails did not see Dr. Eggman take out a special potion. He planned to throw it at the fox and slow down his motions, making him unable to fight. Angered by what he was currently facing in life, the youth furiously threw the table's leg at his opponents, shattering the beaker that Eggman held. The chemical spread all over the two evildoers, causing their actions to cease and suddenly stop.

"They're frozen!" Tails thought as he rushed to find the bound Cosmo. "I can only hope for a miracle between me and Courtney. I never thought she would turn on me like this!"

"Thank you so much, Tails!" Cosmo whimpered as the fox untied her binds. "I never should have doubted you! I have something to tell you…"

"Don't even bother!" Tails interrupted. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm done with both you AND Courtney! I can't go on like this anymore! I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings if I take either one of you as my true love!"

"But Tails…" Cosmo sadly replied, "If you leave now, our feelings will be hurt anyway. You've been a real friend to us!"

"I'm sorry, but I can't take ANY of you to be my love. I'm DONE! Good-bye…"

Cosmo wept bitterly as she watched the lonely youthful fox walk away from the abandoned house and into the wilderness outside. As far as she knew, there was no point in begging Tails to come back after what Courtney had said. She had to go speak with her and set things straight. But would it be enough to bring Tails back to where he belonged, with his friends?

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THE UPCOMING EPISODE.