-Episode 13: Holding Out For A Thread Of Hope-
Upon getting the go-ahead from Sally, Tails and Rotor head out in the Tornado towards Robotnik's abandoned base, where Sonic was defeated and almost killed by Geoffery St. John, who is currently attacking the Knothole which Tails and Rotor got away from.
"Hey Tails, are you really sure we can find him?" Rotor said, co-piloting the jet.
"We just have to go to his last known location: ...Robotnik's abandoned base." Tails said, holding out a slim hope of finding Sonic.
"I just hope you're right..." Rotor said.
"I should have done something sooner...I knew something was up with Geoffery! All this time, but I couldn't-!" said Tails, letting out his feelings of guilt about his suspicion of Geoffery.
"It's not your fault, Tails...We just have to find him and we can save him, right." asked Rotor, trying to reassure the young Fox.
"...Yeah, you're right." Tails answered, before smiling and turning to the course in front of him, his eyes full of resolve.
As the two of them finish their conversation, they land the Tornado somewhat hastily in the centre of Robotnik's abandoned base and the two of them leap out of the jet and run towards Sonic's unconscious body, which was within their sights.
"Sonic!" the both of them call out, before Tails kneels beside him hastily. He calls out to the Hedgehog once more, but recieves no response from him, just before Rotor steps in and kneels beside the Hedgehog.
"Tails, hold on. I think I have something that can help!" Rotor said, before putting down his backpack and taking out two glove defibrillators and puts them on, before placing his hands on Sonic's chest and administors three shocks, at the second shock, Tails looks on in despair at the Hedgehog's lack of response.
However, Rotor then administers the third shock, causing Sonic to gasp deeply and cough harshly.
"H-hey guys...thanks for that.." Sonic said with a smirk and a wince of pain before standing up, with Tails hugging him immediately afterwards. Sometime afterwards, the three of them were seen near the Tornado, with Sonic being the first to speak.
"Tails...I shoulda listened to you.. Geoffery was a monster.. He wiped all the other Freedom Fighters.." Sonic said, recounting Geoffery's revelations to him.
"You mean...?" Tails asked, wanting to know what he meant, while also dreading the answer.
"He killed Darcy, Griff, everyone..." Sonic confirmed.
"...We gotta make sure he pays for his crimes." he continued, to which both Tails and Rotor nodded. After this exchange, the three of them head back to the Knothole in the Tornado, with a snowstorm picking up on the way. Suddenly, the trio feel a rumble that resembles a hit to the jet from a projectile.
"We've been hit!" Tails yells out, as he attempts to control the jet.
"We're going down!" Rotor screams, holding onto the sides of his seat.
The three of them brace themselves as the jet crash lands through the Knothole village before the jet finally comes to rest outside the briefing hut. The three of them jump out as soon as the hatch doors open through Sonic's force. As soon as the three of them gather themselves, not only do they notice the snow worsening, but they also see Nicole passed out on the ground.
"Nicole!" Sonic calls out as he jogs over to her, with Tails and Rotor following him, before they kneel beside the unconscious Lynx.
"D-...Don't worry about me.." Nicole utters, sounding like she's glitching out.
"Nicole?!" Sonic calls out.
"...Sally...needs your help.." Nicole continued, her glitching starting to worsen.
Sonic looks up and hears a battle going on in the distance, he looks to Nicole who nods at the hedgehog to go and help her. With this, Sonic speeds off towards where the battle can be heard, all while Tails and Rotor stay at Nicole's side.
"Nicole!" Rotor calls out.
"It's okay..." Nicole whispers, still glitching.
Meanwhile, Sonic continues to run in the direction of where the sounds of battle can be heard.
Upon the revelation that Geoffery killed Freedom Fighters such as Darcy and Griff, Sally attempts a strike on Geoffery, who responds by grabbing the rings on her wrists and proceeding to crush them. Sally screams as Geoffery's strength damages the rings, causing the blades to cut out and as he crushes her wrists.
This is interrupted due to a blue force hitting Geoffery, causing him to slide on his feet and also causes Sally to drop to the ground.
"Wha-…" Sally says before she gasped, with the last shot focusing on her widened eyes focusing on a VERY familiar silhouette… one who moments ago was… a blue blur, one that reveals himself now.
"Sonic?!" Sally said, shocked to see him, with the last shot focusing on her surprised expression.
-To Be Concluded-