After fishing Sonic out of the swimming pool, Keith led the sopping wet hedgehog into his house. Taking him up into the nearby bathroom, he grabbed two towels, one for himself and one for Sonic. As the two dried off, Keith began asking Sonic a couple of questions.

"So, where are you from?"

"A planet called Mobius."

"Cool. What's it like?"

"A lot different from here." He finished drying himself off, tossing the towel onto a nearby hook as he sat down on the toilet lid. "Not as many buildings, or humans."

Keith finished drying as well, hanging up his towel before leaning on the wall.

"So, everyone's a hedgehog on Mobius?"

"No. We're all different creatures, but there aren't a lot of humans. In fact, I've only ever met one human on Mobius."

"Who?"

Sonic just grimaced, his fists clenching.

"I'd rather not answer that."

"Fair enough. So how did you end up in my pool?"

"Well, I was racing this group called the S-Team. I managed to beat them, but I ended up losing my footing and went shooting off of a large ramp. I'm used to doing that back home, but usually there's more ramp for me to land on. This time, all I had was your pool. I'm just glad you were there when you were, otherwise I'd be one drowned hedgehog."

Keith went wide-eyed.

"You outraced the S-team? How?!"

Sonic stood still for a moment, before speeding around the room for a quick second. One he settled back down on the toilet, Keith had to readjust his glasses.

"Whoa… that was awesome! Can all hedgehogs do that?"

"Nope, just me." Sonic then gave a yawn, stretching his arms. "Although, I will admit that all the running I've been doing and getting pulled her has seriously wiped me out. I don't suppose I could crash here for the night?"

"Sure. We have a few guest rooms, and there's one right next to my room. Just make sure not to wake Ella or Mr. Tanaka."

"Who?"

"Ella's the housekeeper and Mr. Tanaka is our family's butler. They both get up early and I don't think Ella could handle… well, you, this late at night."

"Fair enough. Just point the way."

Keith nodded, then escorted Sonic out of the bathroom.

…

The next morning, Keith woke Sonic up. The hedgehog had fallen asleep the second he'd hit the massive bed in the guest room. He almost didn't want to get up, despite Keith insistent shaking.

"Sonic, get up. You're gonna miss breakfast. Ella made pancakes."

"Pancakes, eh?" Sonic realized, slowly getting up. "Sounds delish. But I thought you didn't want anyone else knowing about me?"

"Correction, I didn't want them finding out about you in the middle of the night. If you're going to stick around, and something tells me you are, it might do us all some good to introduce you to the house staff first off. That way you don't have to hide from them."

"That would be preferable." He jumped off the bed. "Let's get going then."

He led Sonic out of the guest room and down the stairs towards the kitchen. The smell of freshly made pancakes and syrup reached their noses, making Sonic's stomach rumble. The sound of a television playing in the background could be heard as they entered the kitchen.

Standing in the kitchen were two people. The first was a woman of Hispanic descent, black hair done up in a tight bun while wearing a simple blue dress with a white apron and comfortable shoes. The other was a man of Japanese descent, tall, lean, and wearing a well made suit with a bow tie.

"Ella, Mr. Tanaka, I'd like to introduce you to our guest." Keith then stepped to the side to reveal Sonic. "This is Sonic. He's a hedgehog I fished out of the pool.

Sonic gave a small wave.

"Hey."

Ella stared blankly for a second, then let out a horrified shriek. Mr. Tanaka quickly went over to her, shushing her.

"You are making a scene, Ella," he admonished. "Sonic is Keith's guest. We must not be so rude."

"But he's-"

"It's alright, Ma'am," Sonic reassured. "I promise I won't hurt you. Though I will have some of those pancakes. They smell great."

He sped into a seat on the table, sitting attentively. After a second, Ella relaxed, grabbing a plate and dropping about four pancakes on to it. She set them in front of Sonic, giving him a small smile.

"Lo siento. Enjoy your breakfast."

"Don't worry, I will."

He began digging in as Keith grabbed his own plate, joining Sonic at the table. As he began drowning the disks in syrup, Mr. Tanaka approached him.

"Master Keith, I can only assume you have not informed your parents about our guest."

"Not yet," Keith admitted. "Mom's still working on that film shoot out in Paris. I doubt she's going to be home for a while. As for Dad, he never leaves his lab, so I think we're going to be fine."

At the word "lab", Sonic felt his appetite leave him. He pushed his plate away as he turned to Keith.

"Your dad's a scientist?"

"Yeah. He has his own lab out behind the pool. Sega labs he calls it. He works from home so that way I had a parent present for when I was growing up. However, he spends most of his days inside working on whatever it is that he does in there."

"That's… fine, I guess."

Keith looked concerned, setting down the syrup bottle. Sonic just twirled his fork on the plate, no longer eating.

"Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing. I-"

Suddenly, the kitchen door was thrown open. A man with brown hair that was hanging in his face came rushing in. He was wearing a lab coat over a polo shirt and jeans. He had bags under his eyes that suggested he hadn't gotten a lot of sleep, and the biggest grin plastered on his face.

"Keith!" the man shouted, rushing over to the teen. " I just got word from your brother! There was a talking blue hedgehog that broke the sound barrier last night! Can you believe it?! To think that such a creature exists! I simply must try and find a way to get a sample of its DNA, or maybe a quill, or maybe-"

The man was suddenly silenced at the sight of Sonic sitting at the table right next to Keith. The hedgehog seemed frozen, staring at the man in fear.

"Is… that...him?"

"Back off, Doc!" Sonic declared, leaping off the chair away from the man. "I ain't about to be your science experiment!"

"Sonic, it's okay!" Keith tried to explain. "This is my dad! He won't hurt you!"

"He's a scientist! That's all the reason I need to stay away!"

The man seemed to come out of his shock, realizing how uncomfortable he was making Sonic. He held up his hands, backing away.

"What my son says is true. I'm sorry I startled you, but I promise I mean no harm."

"You just said you wanted my DNA!"

"Well, that was before I realized you were sentient and capable of rational thought. I'm a man of science, not a monster."

"Same difference."

Keith sighed, turning to his dad.

"I'm sorry dad, I didn't realize Sonic didn't like scientists."

"It's alright. I'll just eat my breakfast in my lab. I do it all the time so this won't be any different. Perhaps we can try this again once he's a little more willing."

As Ella went to hand him his plate, the TV began playing a news bulletin.

"We now go live to our breaking stories of strange creatures being discovered in Station Square."

Sonic turned to the TV, assuming they were talking about him, but went wide eyed when he saw what was on screen. The footage was grainy and a bit shaky, but he could make out the figure of a Mobian rabbit clinging to a small chao. They were on top of a billboard, both of them crying in fear as police officers and firefighters surrounded their perch.

"It is unknown if these creatures have any relation to the Blue Blur that outran the S-team late last night, but authorities have warned everyone to stay away from these creatures. The National Defense Forces have been called in to apprehend the beings. If you have any information regarding these creatures, you are to call the number on your screen-"

Keith paused the TV, turning to Sonic. The hedgehog was just staring at the screen in shock.

"Cream and Cheese… they got dragged here too."

"You know those two?" Keith questioned.

"Yeah, I do. And I'm about to go rescue them!"

Sonic instantly went to speed off towards the door, but Keith's father quickly grabbed his arm.

"Hold on there. Do you even know where you're going?"

Sonic wrenched his arm free on instinct, but didn't try to run off again.

"No…"

"Why don't you let me make a few calls. I can find out where your friends are being taken, then we can make a plan to rescue them."

Sonic thought for a moment. He disliked the idea of working with a scientist, but he knew he'd need help to rescue Cream and Cheese. Reluctantly, he sighed.

"Alright, fine. You can help, Doc."

Keith's dad nodded.

"Thank you. And it's Charles actually. Charles Kent. But, you can call me Chuck."

Sonic's look softened a bit, looking towards him.

"Chuck, huh? Cool name."

Chuck nodded, then went off to make a few phone calls.

…

An hour later, Sonic was pacing around the living room, growing more and more anxious. Keith sat on the couch, watching him.

"How long is this supposed to take?" Sonic griped.

"From what I know, the government isn't big on sharing its secrets. The only reason my Dad can get through is because of his military contracts, and even he has to jump through hoops to get answers."

"I'm surprised anyone gets anything done around here."

About that time, Chuck re-entered the room. He had a grim look on his face.

"Well, I have good news and bad news."

"Please start with the good news," Sonic insisted.

"The good news is that your friends were taken alive and unharmed. The bad news is that they were taken to Area 51. They believe that you and your friends are some sort of genetic experiment sent by... Well, they don't know who you were sent by. They simply believe that you are dangerous, especially after your speed show last night."

"So what is this 'Area 51'?" Sonic asked.

"It's a secret military base, one where the government keeps everything that it doesn't want the public to know about," Keith explained. "Stuff like spy satellites, high-tech weaponry, and aliens, at least according to my friend Kathryn."

"I'm afraid your friends have been brought in to be experimented on and researched," Chuck added. "If we want to keep that from happening, we need to move fast."

"Fast, I can do."

"Maybe so, but you can't just go running in there," Keith pointed out. "Those two didn't look like they could keep up with you easily. You're going to need a plan if you're going to get both of them and yourself out of there in one piece."

"Good point," Sonic conceded. "Got a plan?"

Keith put a hand to his chin, rubbing it in contemplation.

"Well, you'll need a ground crew while you're there for a speedy getaway, not to mention some way of knowing where you are."

Chuck nodded.

"I may be able to procure Some blueprints of the building, and you do have your learners permit, right Keith?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Then here's what we'll do. Keith will drive us to the outskirts of Area 51. I'll work on getting those plans, and Sonic will reserve his speed for the heist."

Sonic nodded, clearly becoming restless.

"Okay, we have a plan. Can we go now? Cream and Cheese are waiting for me!"

…

Sometime later, Keith, Chuck, and Sonic were driving down a desert highway. Keith was Manning the wheel as Chuck worked on something on his laptop. In the backseat, Sonic tapped his foot impatiently.

"Can't you go any faster? I could have been there five times over by now!"

"Well, there's something called a speed limit," Keith explained. "I have to obey it, or I could get in trouble."

"Technically, what we're doing could get us all into big trouble," Chuck pointed out. "The speed limit doesn't exactly mean much when we're about to break into a governmental facility."

"Maybe so," Keith allowed, "but better safe than sorry."

Chuck turned back to Sonic, handing him an earpiece with a red eye-screen.

"Well, we will obey the speed limit, but that doesn't mean you have to. Take this."

Sonic took the device, turning it in his hand before situating it over his left ear. The screen rested right over his eye.

"What's this for?"

"It's an infrared scope and communication device. This will allow you to see everything in the infrared spectrum, as well as allow me to communicate what I learned once I finally managed to get the schematics we need. I have it on good authority that many of the security features that are installed in Area 51 use infrared sensors. With this, hopefully you can avoid them."

Sonic nodded, then undid his seat belt.

"All right then, see you there!"

He slid out the window and onto the street, taking off down the street. Chuck let out a whistle.

"When Sam said he was a speedy critter, he wasn't exaggerating."

"No he wasn't," Keith agreed.

…

At Area 51, the place was abuzz with activity. Doctors, scientists, and soldiers were everywhere, going crazy over their latest find. Inside one of the central labs, hidden behind several layers of security, Cream and Cheese were contained in yet another glass pod. Several doctors were looking over them, causing the two to recoil in terror.

"Please, let us go… we didn't do anything wrong."

The doctors seemed to ignore her pleas, continuing their scans and tests. However, one female scientist looked at Cream with sympathy.

"She... She reminds me of my daughter."

"Don't let your guard down, Dr. Birnbaum," another scientist warned. "We don't know anything about these things. For all we know, this could be some elaborate scheme."

The doctor gave a small nod, but shot Cream and Cheese another sympathetic look.

…

On the outskirts of Area 51, Sonic began rapidly approaching. In his ear, he could hear Keith's voice.

"Sonic, can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear. Did Chuck manage to crack the case on those schematics?"

"Just did," Chuck's voice answered. "To get inside, you'll have to hop the main fence, then head into the nearest air vent. You may still run into a few security systems, however, given their small size, the security won't be nearly as tight as it would be if you went in the main entrance."

"I'll take what I can get."

Sonic then continued speeding forward, seeing the facility on the horizon. As instructed, he jumped over the fence, flipping before landing on the other side. Almost instantly, several cameras began trying to find him, motion sensors going crazy.

...

Inside, alarms began blaring as security teams began scanning the cameras, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruder. However, all they caught was a blue blurred shape diving into one of the nearby air vents.

"Unidentified intruder has escaped into the air vents," a security officer announced.

"What was its last known location?" the lead security officer questioned.

"Sector D." The officer paused, then turned to his superior. "Sir, no human can move fast enough to avoid our security system, and the vents are too small for a normal person."

The lead security officer pondered for a second.

"Think it might be that blue hedgehog the S-Team encountered last night?"

"It's… possible."

"We need more than possible. Keep looking!"

…

Inside the vent, Sonic slid for several feet until the vent evened out into a flat area. He landed hard, flopping onto his stomach before rubbing his tail.

"Ouch," he let out. "I think I got skid marks on my butt."

"Sonic, you okay in there?" Keith asked.

"I don't think I'll sit down properly for a few days, but I'm fine." He looked up and saw several security beams criss crossing through the infrared scope. "And it looks like your dad's invention is working."

"Can you see a way through the vents?" Chuck questioned.

"No dice. The beams are too close together. I'll have to go down."

"Just be careful, Sonic," Kent cautioned.

"Can do."

Sonic then removed a vent cover, taking a look at the cameras dotting the hall. He watched them for a moment, taking note of their movements before carefully dropping down into the hallway. He instantly clung to the wall, speeding diagonally under each camera in time to their movements. This ensured none of them caught sight of him. He made it to the end of the hall, reaching the safety of a shaded alcove.

"Ha! I could do this in my sleep!"

"Don't go celebrating just yet," Chuck warned. "You need to get to the center of the facility. That's where the main lab is, and no doubt where your friends are being held."

"I get the feeling this is one of those 'easier said than done' moments."

"I'm afraid so. The halls are lined with turret cans. If they spot you, they'll start firing. Then there's the lab itself, which is protected by a retinal scanner."

"Well, I knew this wouldn't be easy… just do what you can about the scanner. We'll figure out the rest when we get to it."

With that, Sonic continued his trek down the hall, carefully avoiding the gaze of the cameras.

…

Inside the main lab, the doctors continued their work on their terrified prisoners. Dr. Birnbaum watched the events unfold, feeling more and more uneasy the longer it continued. A metal ring then descended around the cage holding the two creatures, doing a 3D scan of them.

"While the rabbit creature appears to have some form of sentience, the small thing that it's carrying seems to be little more than a domesticated pet," one scientist remarked.

"Fascinating," another scientist gasped.

Dr. Birnbaum couldn't take much more. She turned to the head scientist, a pleading expression on her face.

"Sir, I don't think these things are dangerous. The rabbit looks like little more than a kid. Maybe if we just talk to it, it can tell us where it's from and why it's here. There's no need for this."

"We don't know anything for certain. If these two are connected to that blue hedgehog from last night, they may pose a threat. We can't take any chances."

"Sir, look at them!" She gestured to Cream and Cheese desperately. "She's a little girl for Christ's sake!"

"I don't know what she is! Until we do, we keep digging! And if you ever challenge me again, you can kiss your job goodbye! Is that clear?!"

Before she had a chance to give an answer, the lights suddenly died. The entire area was plunged Into darkness. Emergency lights kicked on and the doors opened, common practice for emergencies. In the split-second it took for the emergency lights to kick on, Sonic came speeding in, smashing through the glass containing Cream and Cheese, grabbing them both, and getting them to safety.

"Sonic!" Cream let out before Sonic shushed her.

"Great to see you too, Cream," Sonic whispered as they hid behind a corner. "But I need you and Cheese to be as quiet as possible for this part. Ok?"

Cream nodded, Cheese doing the same. As they waited, Dr. Birnbaum caught sight of them in their hiding place. She locked eyes with Sonic, who put himself between the doctor and his friends.

"Sir, I'm going to check with maintenance on the cause of this blackout," she announced, gesturing to Sonic to get behind her. "I need time to clear my head anyway."

"See that you do."

She began walking, Sonic taking Cream's hand and pulling her along so they were hidden behind the doctor's coat tails. Once they were out of the lab, Dr. Birnbaum turned to the three Mobians.

"Tell me you're not a monster," she begged in a low whisper. "Tell me I'm doing the right thing by helping you."

"You are," Sonic told her. "You're saving an innocent life."

Dr. Birnbaum gave a sigh of relief.

"Then I suggest you hurry. I don't know how long it will take for maintenance to get the power back on. Trust me, you do not want to be here when they do."

"Agreed," Sonic replied before turning back to her. "Thanks. You're the second person today that's given me reason to reconsider my views on scientists."

The doctor smiled at them, then walked off in one direction. Sonic promptly took Cream's hand, pulling her in the other.

…

Meanwhile in the Power Center, several mechanics were trying to find the source of the failure. When they opened the door, they were shocked to see that the room was full of what appear to be tiny paper airplanes. These airplanes had circuitry embedded into them, their sharp tips embedded in several of the power wires. One of the mechanics removed one of the airplanes, examining it in his hand.

"Paper airplanes?" he let out. "What the heck is going on around here?"

"Not sure, but we need to get the power on, now!"

…

Back with Sonic, he and Cream ran down the hallway, the former silently grateful that the cameras were down. It made it easier for him to run with Cream. As they ran, Cream couldn't help but voice help but voice some of the many questions she had.

"How did you know where to find us? Are the others here too? Where are we?"

"I had some help, and no, it's just me right now. As for where we are, we seem to be on a planet called Earth."

" Earth? I've never heard of such a place. It reminds me of Dr Robotnik's place. How are we going to get out? I want to go home!"

"We'll figure it out, Cream. I promise."

Just then, the lights begin flickering as power was restored. Sonic skidded to a stop, looking up in horror as the cameras all began turning on him and his young companion.

"Not good! Keith, whatever you and Chuck did with the power didn't last long!"

"What?" Keith let out. "Sonic, we didn't do anything to the power."

"The power network is on a closed system," Chuck explained. "The only way someone could tamper with the power supply would be from the inside."

"But who could've-?" Sonic suddenly broke out into a huge grin. "Of course. Who else?"

"Sonic! The cameras!" Cream cried, pointing up at the cameras.

Each of the cameras had a small slot that was opening up on the top. From this slot, a small, yet powerful turret rose up. Laser sights focused on the three escapees, much to Sonic's dismay.

"Cream, as soon as I move, run!" Sonic ordered.

He immediately took off, drawing the turret fire as Cream rushed to keep up.

…

Outside, Keith and Chuck could hear the sirens going off around the building. Keith clutched the wheel of the car, his knuckles white with worry. Chuck was typing a mile a minute on his laptop, trying to find a single weakness that he could exploit, but coming up empty. In frustration, he slammed the laptop closed.

"I'm sorry Sonic, but the entire facility has gone into full lockdown. I can't see any way for me to help you."

"It's ok! I think we've got it covered."

…

Inside, Sonic dashed from one camera to another, taking them out in sequence. As he landed on one, he turned the laser so it would blast the other cameras, destroying them instantly. He then yanked the camera out of its socket and threw it on the ground, smashing it.

"Sonic, they're closing the doors!" Cream shouted.

Sure enough, large metal doors were slamming down all across the hallway. With a small yelp, Sonic rushed over to Cream, scooping her up in his arms and through the doorway. They made it with seconds to spare, but were instantly besieged by even more of the turret cameras.

Sonic instantly sprinted forward, dodging and weaving between the blasts as best he could. Just then, several tiny paper airplanes came zipping out, slicing into the cameras. They severed wires, smashed lenses, and completely destroyed the various turrets. Surprisingly, neither Sonic, Cream, or Cheese were even scratched by these mini airplanes.

"What's going on?" Cream asked, looking at the airplanes. "What are those things?"

"If I'm right, back up," Sonic answered, still seeming confident. "Let's move!"

He took hold of Cream's hand again and started running. They made it through the last of the security doors, successfully cutting them off from many of the cameras. By now, the lockdown was complete, with the cameras that were still functional acting completely haywire. They seemed to be shooting randomly and all over the place. By now, the escapees had made it to a stairwell, Sonic pulling all three of them up. Cream was starting to become even more worried, seeing all of the lasers dancing around the stairwell, leaving char marks and holes everywhere they went.

"Why are we going up? I thought we should be going down, where the door is! What if we fall?"

"We're going up to get out. Don't worry Cream, we'll be ok."

As he said this, one of the lasers cut through the stairs they were running up. It fell right under Cream's foot, causing her to drop. Luckily, she was holding Sonic's hand, allowing him to catch her before she fell. He gripped onto the hand railing of the stairs, supporting himself as he tried his best to hold on to Cream.

"I've got you!" He called out.

As he tried pulling her up, a laser cut through the stairs he was standing on, causing them to fall. They fell for only a short moment before another set of hands grabbed Sonic. You looked up, right into the face of Tails, the two tailed fox. Said tails were spinning rapidly, acting like helicopter blades as he grinned down at the hedgehog.

"This is why you shouldn't do things without me. I'm always having to save your butt."

"Tails!" Sonic cheered. "I knew it was you!"

"Tails?" Keith repeated. "Who's Tails?"

"A very good friend of mine," Sonic replied as Tails set them down. "Thanks for coming to the rescue, buddy."

"Anytime. Come on, I've got the Tornado waiting on the roof."

"Then let's go!"

The three of them then started making their way to the roof, where the Tornado was sitting on the helicopter pad. The engine was running, just waiting for the three to get in. Tails got into the pilot seat as Cream took the passenger one. Sonic leapt onto the back of the plane as Tails prepared for take off.

"Keith, Chuck, we got out! Let's make for home!"

"You got it, Sonic!"

The Tornado took off after Keith's car, the lot of them leaving the crumbling remains of Area 51 in their dust.

…

Back at the Kent house, The Tornado was stashed in the garage as everyone gathered around it. Sonic handed Chuck his headpiece before standing by his friends.

"Keith, Chuck, let me introduce you to Tails. He's my oldest friend and a technical genius back home."

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Chuck replied.

"Likewise," Tails replied. "I have to say, that headpiece is a nice piece of work. I'm surprised you were able to adapt it to Mobian physiology in such a short amount of time."

"I'm more impressed by this incredible biplane of yours," Chuck admitted. "I would love to swap schematics with you at some point."

Off to the side, Ella was bringing out some hot cocoa and some homemade cookies. Cream and Cheese, who were seated on a couch off to the side, graciously took some.

"After everything you niños have been through, I think you both could use some of my famous hot cocoa."

"Thank you very much," Cream told her.

Cheese let out a squee of delight, drinking some of the cocoa and getting a brown mustache on his face. Everyone laughed, then Sonic turned to Chuck.

"Hey, I wanted to apologize for the way I acted earlier. I also wanted to thank you for helping me find Cream and Cheese. I don't think I could have done it without you."

"It was my pleasure, Sonic."

Keith looked at Tails, then at Cream and Cheese, then finally back at Sonic.

"Hey, I have a question. How many more of you are there?"

Sonic thought for a moment.

"Well, there's those of us you see here, my friend Knuckles, Amy Rose…" his expression soured, "and Eggman…"

"I hate to admit it, but I was thinking the same thing," Tails dreaded. "If we got pulled here…"

"Then 'he' must've too," Sonic finished.

…

On a small island in the South Pacific, there was a large mechanical tower that seemed to be growing out of the side of a cliff. Several small Bots were swirling around the top, and inside, Doctor Robotnik sat in his chair. Orbot and Cubot were on either side of him, all three of them looking through a massive screen at Station Square. Beneath his goggles, Robotnik squinted.

"So, this is the world that Chaos Control sent us to. A bit primitive, meaning it will be difficult for me to rebuild the device that brought us here. Not to mention the lack of Chaos Emeralds means returning to Mobius is downright impossible!"

He slammed his fists on his console before taking a breath.

"Still, why look a gift horse in the mouth? If I can't return to my own empire, I'll just have to build a new one here."

Robotnik then let out a maniacal laugh, unable to wait to unleash his signature brand of destruction upon the world.