A/N So it's the next chapter, personally I'm not sure what everyone thinks of Scourge. I want to make this almost like the suicide squad(I started making this before I realized this movie was being made) they are all either former good guys, anti heroes or flat bad guys…. Except Silver. I felt like the team needed someone who wasn't going to be tied down by emotional problems or being a dark character. He's like a small light in the dark… or they all are and he's just a little brighter… if that makes sense.

Anyway I have a plan for Silver, and I was finally able to figure out a way to make it happen thanks to a lot of time to think at work. It will be a bit until we see where that goes but for now he's learning and growing.

Anyway thanks for continuing to read on and I hope yu enjoy this one.

It was the day after Scourge had been captured and so far he'd been a good prisoner. Nobody annoyed him and he was given things he needed to pass the time. Though he preferred to be alone. Besides that he hadn't really made a decision to join yet.

Tails realized that Eggman would probably notice that his specialized robots were destroyed and would be hunting for Scourge. He was smart enough to also realize Scourge couldn't escape by himself.

The fox walked out of the workshop to go scout around the wasteland for any signs of Eggmans scouts.

"Hunny, don't you think it would be wise to take someone with you?" his mother said realizing what he was doing.

"Never bugged you before" Tails was just starting to put on his armor.

"You weren't alone all those times before, you have your friends now"

He strapped on one of his gauntlets "First, they aren't my friends, they are my teammates. Second I can handle myself my suit has cloaking tech remember?"

"Yes, but you even said it would help to work together so you can get used to eachother in the field"

Tails sighed slouching a bit. She wasn't gonna give up so he got up "I'll find someone"

Partially armored he walked through the base, he wanted to ask Shadow since he'd most likely be quiet and just want the job done like himself, but he peaked in the bedrooms and found both Silver and Shadow napping.

The only one awake was Fiona who was quietly sitting in bed reading.

He definitely wasn't gonna take Scourge, he neither trusted him nor could depend on him anyway because of his leg. With only one option and his mom not letting him go alone he quickly called to her "Hey"

She snapped from the pages "Huh?" she looked to the other two thinking they had spoke but Tails knocked on the wall to catch her attention.

"Oh sorry, what's up Tails?" she'd calmed since yesterday and was more composed around the male fox now.

"I suspect Eggman will want to know why his bots specifically made to hunt Scourge failed, watch my back while I see if he's sent patrols"

"Don't you think you'd rather do that alone?" she asked knowing he'd be more effective alone due to his stealth armor.

"Mom won't let me leave without someone and since you're the only one up I guess it's you. Gear up quick" he clearly wasn't asking.

Fiona shrugged and decided to just get it over with. She bookmarked her page then got up to go get her gear.

Donning her utility belt, as Tails called it, several EMP grenades, a communicator, a small knife on the side of her boot, her pistols and several other things she was ready.

Alright Tails, lead the way" she said knowing he liked it that way.

Going up the elevator was easier then last time. The past, mostly, behind them, things were easier now. But neither actually looked at the other or spoke. Both felt like that was how it was gonna stay. It was still clearly better than Tails wanting to rip her throat out.

The door opened and both walked outside to the empty desolate world. Since Fiona had been living in it for two years the feeling of dread and depression had become normal. Since going into Tails' underground facility it wasn't around. So when she came back outside she always felt terrible again.

Not thinking about it was near impossible, the emptiness of the waste was everywhere. The lack of birds, leaves in the wind or people, it made the world incredibly empty. Along with the feeling of emptiness, dread followed.

Looking off into the sky she found some familiarity, the clouds couldn't be taken away. It was the one thing that couldn't be changed.

She sighed making Tails' ear flick "Tails… even if we do succeed and defeat Eggman…. Things won't be how they used to be"

He was silent, he was trying to find an answer "Perhaps, but how do we continue to breath? If he burnt every plant then we'd all suffocate eventually with no plants making oxygen"

The females brain started churning "If that's correct than what's Eggmans plan, rule a planet that will eventually die?"

"I don't think so, he must have a facility or multiple facilities holding vegetation, it's the only way"

"And where there's trees…"

"There's seeds" Tails finished her sentence.

Both looked to one another, Fiona more or less smirking, it was small but for a split second there they synced.

"Think we can steal some?" she asked

"We'd need to find a facility first" Tails thought aloud.

"The only things around here are food storage, and the food is pretty much plastic. He's hiding it on purpose. If people were getting vegetables they'd know he has plants and would look for them" Fiona surmised having lived through rationing.

"So all we need is a location. Not many ways to do that. Unfortunately without a network to work with my sensors can't go too far. Maybe if we're lucky Eggmans bots might have it in their memory banks"

Fiona smirked "Easy, find some bots, cut em open and you work your magic"

"I've taken down a lot of robots over the years, none had any information, only elite units would know I bet.

"What about the ones we destroyed yesterday?" Fiona suggested thinking it would be easy.

"I'd have to either access them when they are active or recently destroyed. They have been down for hours, they're completely off"

"Dammit" she cursed.

Suddenly she realized something "Wait Shadow had plants growing under his town, where'd he get them?"

Tails shook his head "They got lucky, a guy who was a gardener was in the town and had the seeds before hand"

She cursed again.

Silence reigned again until Fiona spoke "We'll find them, I'm sure we will" her optimistic view wasn't too far fetch. If they kept stirring up trouble Eggman would send his best at them and they'd have tons of robots to exploit.

With another long silence Fiona remembered where she was and felt terrible again.

Luckily Tails spoke again "So what'd you see in my workshop?"

Barely containing a gasp she said "Nothing" her eyes darting in the opposite direction of him.

His eyes rolled and said "Don't lie, blueprints were everywhere"

She mentally sighed realizing he just meant in general, not specifically "Oh ya. I looked at a few, saw one for your own line of robots"

"The government wanted me to design a new generation of robotic units, I was nearly done when it all started. I finished it but with no resources I couldn't make even one and anything I can get my hands on I have to use for repairs of existing stuff" he sighed at the end.

"I'm gonna be honest the work is keeping me sane but at the same time it's holding me down. I have to keep the place in check constantly and all the time spent doing that reduces how far I can go. Early on I was able to camp out and keep the place going a few days on it's own reliably and travel out but now, any day anything can happen"

Fiona frowned, poor kid was working as hard as ever for all of them now "Anything I can do, if we're gonna do anything we need you in tip top shape and with more free time on your hands"

The male fox quietly thought it over and sighed "Maybe, I'll think about it" honestly the offer was welcome but at the same time he doubted she could handle the work.

"Just let me know kid… wait I need to stop calling you that" realizing he was way beyond being a kid. He was a man now.

He managed a small chuckle "Ya probably should"

Both smiled lightly feeling that old comradery for a moment.

Tails had a burning question to ask her, something only really she should have a part in, he couldn't trust Silver since he was close to the topic of discussion.

"What Shadow said, you get worried hearing that?"

"Of course I did, he had blood in his eyes, from what I heard Shadow could hide his emotions better than anyone. He hid those emotions almost too well. Imagine if we hadn't gotten him to say that down the road. He might just leave us all to finish the job" she shuddered at the thought.

Tails saw the shiver and said "If he does I doubt we'll be able to stop him. He's stronger than all of us, except maybe Silver and he follow him without question"

"He's a good kid, I think he was surprised by what Shadow said too"

"Still doesn't mean he'll disobey his decisions" the male said flatly.

Fiona sighed and hummed "Well let's just remember what he said and leave it at that, we're too few in number to lose him to mistrust. We're all packed inside your bunker, stress could get high fast"

"Good point" he noted that, for now he'd trust Shadow.

They continued walking quietly, both content with the silence and traveling up and down the dunes of ash.

The emptiness made Fiona ask "Do you think there's anyone else like us out there?"

"What, people with extraordinary abilities or powers that can actually fight?"

"Ya, Shadow explained all the freedom fighters went on that attack but what about others. I mean the Chaotix don't count in that. Or… I heard about a cat named Blaze. What about Rouge?" she remembered the few times she met the bat and how they competed "Or Omega?"

"If they are out there they are keeping low" Tails said simply "And Blaze probably is back in the Sol universe"

"Good point, why would she stay in this hell hole?"

Another couple minutes passed and Tails said "Well for now we've seen no sign of anything. I think we're safe for now"

"That's good, hope it stays that way"

He agreed though made no sound to say so and headed back home.

His female companion quickly caught up and asked "You said you'll be keeping an eye on Shadow incase he pulls any shenanigans, but… what about me. I'm sure you're waiting for me to break out Scourge"

"You'd think I would but I'm not" he smirked, her asking that only solidified his faith that she was done with the green hedgehog.

"Why do you believe that… I was a surprisingly good actor, I pretended nothing had changed while spending time with Scourge?"

"You also showed your emotions too easily sometimes, trust me, I can see the hate in your eyes. You think he's less than dirt right now; you also took every chance to get rid of him. No mercy or taking advantage of an extra member swayed you" he chuckled "I can tell you still hate the idea"

Despite that sounding a bit rude she smiled, he trusted her, something he probably hadn't done in a very long time. It felt like an achievement. Despite everything she was ironically his closest ally next to his mother.

"Thanks, it means a lot to know you trust me, but I guess trusting and liking someone are two different things?"

This time he was quiet for a moment before answering "Not gonna lie I do sometimes think of the past still and it angers me, but I'm trying. I promise you and I are on good terms and I'm trying to make it better with time"

"Really? You don't have to do that Tails, a lot happened, maybe I'm beyond forgiveness?" it sounded counter productive to her life but ever since he explained what happened to him after she left she felt a lot of guilt and self loathing.

Tails sighed but answered "A friend of mine taught me to give everyone a chance even if they clearly wouldn't change"

Both thought of the blue hedgehog.

"He wasn't too hurt with me leaving was he?" Fiona asked.

"His pride was a little bruised knowing he lost you to Scourge, especially since he lost before it started" the younger fox referencing how Fiona seemed to realize Scourge hadn't been Sonic on a subconscious level.

"But he got with Sally and things were fine. After that everyone hoped you'd snap out of it but also felt betrayed"

She frowned "Some obviously more than others"

"… yes"

I'd have done things differently had I known… but hindsight is useless"

He nodded in confirmation.

"So we're good?"

"For the last time we are even, why is that so hard to understand?" he snapped at her.

"You nearly caved in my skull when we met a few weeks ago, it's hard to forget that"

"I was angry" he didn't say any other excuse, he had simply gotten so angry he tried to brutally kill her, nothing much else to the story.

"Ya I know" she looked away for a moment "I don't blame ya" knowing his pain gave her perspective she didn't have before.

"You've gotten faster" he suddenly said.

"What?"

He chuckled at her confusion, she looked so dumb and amusing to him "You were always very agile, could have been a cheerleader in a second life. You've only gotten stronger and faster since then, had you not you'd be dead, several times over. Running from those robots must have taken everything you had" he remembered her own story and her close call with death.

"Everything and more, plus some blood and skin" she grabbed her tail and moved aside some fur seeing the scar where a bullet grazed her.

"We've all changed since then, physically and mentally it seems" Tails crossed his arms, the scar on his face jumping out at her. She'd almost forgotten it was there, desperately trying to imagine his old happy self.

She reached out and touched the top half of the scar only for him to slap her hand away "Does it hurt?" she asked, not because of his slap but more emotionally.

"I feel it sometimes, but even then it's usually a numb feeling"

"Any other scars?" she asked.

"Only mental ones"

She made a light smile happy to know he hadn't taken too much permanent physical damage, his mental scars though, she had a huge part there making her frown again.

With another silence Fiona decided to probe one last question before they got home "You said, in your story, that you felt Sonic was holding you back from your dreams. Do you still believe that?" she didn't, but she wanted to know if he had reconsidered since then.

"No I don't… I think he wanted me to stay because he and everyone else could see me drifting away"

She nodded and finished the walk back in silence.

With that both went to the elevator, both quickly scanned for anything that might be watching before going inside and traverse down again. Tails had his arms crossed staring at the door while Fiona had her hands on her hips. The silence didn't feel awkward like before. Both felt somewhat comfortable around the other.

The door opened and Tails said "Thanks for helping out, I'll consider your helping out around here"

"If ya do you won't regret it" she grinned.

He just kept walking and got back to his stuff.

Fiona smiled, the walk revealed a lot, they could work together without any major conflict in the background and they even were able to devise half a plan. Hopefully he'd talk to Silver and Shadow about their idea too.

She looked to the small cell door and thought about Scourge inside, probably napping. She shrugged not really caring walking by. Unfortunately for her Scourge saw her pass by and knocked on the small glass window.

She rolled her eyes but turned and pressed a button next to the door "What?"

"Since when are you and pipsqueak friends, you broke his little heart back in the day?" he asked his tone mocking.

"He's made it clear we aren't friends, we're teammates with a common goal"

"Never saw you as someone to fight for Mobius, you are the rightful queen back home" his tone changed to an offer like he'd give her that back.

It was wasted on her as she laughed "And prey tell, how are we getting back to Moebius?"

"We'd find a way, you and were a good team, remember?"

"Shut up Scourge your tricks won't work. I see how our relationship was now, a loyal teammate you could count on to save your ass but ditch when it was convenient" her teeth bared angrily.

"I didn't want to leave you-"

"Because if you could have found a way to bring me and you'd find another way to betray me, you didn't even try! You looked and gave up?"

"What did you want me to do? Wait and be cut down by all that lead? Run over to you and shredded by the bullets, there's was no way to get to you. I wasn't sticking around to see how long I could last?"

"And that's where you failed, someone like Sonic would have stayed and atleast tried!'

She growled back at her his toothy mouth curling downward into a scowl "Don't compare me to him, I'm not him! Besides he'd stay, just like when he left you behind in that prison!?"

"No, you don't use that on me anymore! He didn't know I was there, and it's as simple as that. Had he known I'd have been freed earlier" her defense of Sonic passionate.

"Had it been me we would have torn through every wall and eventually found you"

"Don't try Scourge, you aren't getting me back, you betrayed me and assumed I was dead. Looks like I had an angel on my shoulder and with every ounce of effort, skill and guts I had I escaped that ambush. And here I stand finally able to laugh at you, free and with purpose!" She almost threw her hands in the air to be dramatic.

"Your purpose will get you all killed, Eggman went crazy, he won't be so stupid anymore. The four of you could never defeat him"

"You could be apart of it" she suddenly offered softly and smiling.

He scoffed "Now it's my turn to say fuck off and stop trying. In here I'm safe, that's all I need for now" he walked away from the door and went back to a book he was reading, surprising to say the least that he was reading at all.

Fiona rolled her eyes letting go of the intercom button and scoffed "Idiot, he quite literally has nothing else better to do and he decides t stay in a tiny room. Even after knowing him so long she was surprised by his decision, perhaps he was getting a read on the team and would eventually decide to help and cause problems, or maybe he truly wanted to just be safe down here. Either way she wasn't gonna fall for his words anymore.

So another chapter down, man I've been completely destroyed by work, just generally being tired and stuff. Plus I'm helping a guy with a small project, not difficult or time consuming but it's a factor.

Anyway I hope you liked the chapter, realy reflects where the dynamic of the two relationships Fiona has with Scourge and Tails is going. Anyway, thanks for reading and live long and prosper.

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