Hello everyone! It's time for another chapter! But first, the reviews!
LancetheFox: Tails and Amy's relationship is certainly a complicated one, especially considering Tails' previous time with the Resistance, but as to how things go, you'll have to read and see!
Perturbo: The story is getting closer to its end here, so you'll get to see where it's headed super soon! I hope you'll enjoy it!
Theredfox9: Thank you for your review! It means a lot to know you enjoy the story! Creating these mechanical augments for the characters have been super fun, and I'm glad you like them! Hopefully you'll enjoy the rest of the story as well!
That's everyone, so let's get going!
Mechanized Production
Enforcers
Tails sat on the edge of his cot in his and Sonic's shared room, both of his mechanical tails sprawled out behind him as he hung his head in his hands.
"What am I going to do?" He thought, his conversation with Amy still fresh in his mind. "There's got to be some way she'll let me stay, right?
As Tails tried to think over his options, the door to the room opened.
"Hey Tails," Sonic said as he entered the room, taking note of the fox's concerned expression and posture. "What's up?"
"Nothing, it's just… Thinking about the Resistance is all…" The fox responded, not even bothering to look up at the hedgehog.
"About if you want to stay? I overheard part of your conversation with Tangle earlier, and I'll say, it'd be nice having you around again. We've both been through a lot, haven't we?"
"It's not that… I do want to stay, but… Amy seems to have other ideas…"
"Oh…" Sonic responded as he sat next to the fox, now understanding why Tails seemed a bit upset. "You talked to her right?"
"Yeah but… She just seems to think I'll just get in the way… It's like she sees me as a threat…"
Sonic put a hand on the fox's shoulder, "Hey, it'll be okay. Even if you're not around here anymore, I'm sure you'll find somewhere to call home. Either way, you'll always have friends here. We were all worried sick when Cosmo told us you got captured by Robotnik, Amy included. I'm sure she cares for you Tails and she just doesn't want to see you or anybody here get hurt."
"Maybe you've got a point… Cosmo said that if I end up leaving she'll come with me, so at least she'll be around still."
"That's good! Speaking of which, what's the relationship between you and Cosmo? How'd you two meet? She was worried sick when you were gone…"
"We met shortly after I left the Resistance, she found me while I was wandering around in the forest. We became friends after that, and she was there when Robotnik's enforcers found me." Tails answered, a faint blush starting to appear as he explained. "She's just really nice and a good friend. I'm just happy to be able to be with her and-"
"You're in love with her aren't you?"
Tails' face quickly turned a bright shade of pink in complete and utter embarrassment. "N-No!" He stammered, "I mean… Maybe a little… But I-"
Sonic had to suppress a laugh at the fox's embarrassment. "I'm happy for you bud! You don't have to be embarrassed about it! Have you told her how you feel yet?"
"Y-Yeah, she knows."
"How serious is it? If she's willing to go with you when you leave I imagine you two have got to be pretty close."
"I mean we both know we love each other, that's for sure."
"You two kiss yet?" The hedgehog teased, watching Tails' already obvious blush only intensify further.
"Sonic!"
"I'm just messing with ya, you two are great together!"
Tails sighed, "I just love her so much… I really don't want to make Cosmo choose between being with me or being with all of you…"
"I'm sure things will work out somehow, you can figure it out in the morning though, it's getting late."
"Maybe you're right…" The fox responded, he did feel quite tired after all the events of today and getting to reunite with the Resistance. "Sleeping on it would probably help."
"Everything will work out somehow, I'm sure of that much." Sonic said as he rose to his mechanical feet. "Now get some sleep."
The hedgehog left the room, leaving Tails by himself once again. He let out a yawn as he stretched himself out a bit, sleep did sound nice right now. Laying down on his cot, it wasn't long before he was sound asleep, his mechanical tails dangling off the edge as he let his brain slowly drift into dreamland.
-X-
Tails snapped out of his dreams as an explosion shook the entire base. Adrenaline rushing through his system, the fox practically jumped to his feet and rushed out the door into the hall. Sonic, who had returned at some point to go to sleep himself, trailed just behind him.
Another explosion shook the structure as the two of them arrived in the main living room, finding Amy, Cosmo, and Cream already there. Shrapnel and other debris laid at the bottom of the ladder that exited the base and a faint draft of nighttime air coming from the entrance tipped the fox off that the doorway that accessed the base had been completely destroyed.
"Attention members of the Resistance." A voice which Tails immediately recognized as one of Robotnik's enforcers, the black hedgehog specifically, began, "You will surrender specimen four hundred fifteen to us immediately, failure to comply will result in the destruction of your compound and usage of lethal force."
"What's the meaning of all this?" Bunnie asked as she arrived in the main room, Whisper and Tangle followed close behind her.
"It's Robotnik's three enforcers who attacked me and Tails," Cosmo explained. "For whatever reason, Tails is very important to Robotnik."
"Well, I'm not about to just give that tyrant what he wants." Amy commented, "We outnumber them two to one."
Tails was surprised by Amy's response, seeing her unwillingness to just hand him over to Robotnik gave him at least a bit of hope that he could mend their broken trust.
"It's going to be getting out of this bunker that's the problem…" Sonic added. "I mean, they're probably watching the exit…"
"I'm working on a plan for that, Cosmo you can manipulate plants right?" Amy asked.
"Yes, I am made of them after all." The elemental answered.
"How much?"
"Likely enough for whatever you have in mind."
"Good, we're only really going to have one shot at this, so we'll have to make it count. Tails, if you survive this, you're going to have to explain why Robotnik is after you specifically, alright?
The fox nodded, listening very carefully to everything being said.
"Alright, here's the plan…"
-X-
Shadow was getting impatient. He knew that fighting the Resistance inside their own base was foolish at best, and suicide at worst. Simply waiting for them to come out was the best course of action, even if it wasn't his favorite.
Locating the base hadn't been hard with the tracker they'd been following, and the Omega Suit's missiles had made short work of the underground structure's fortified door.
Now the trio waited outside for the Resistance's response to their demands.
"Detecting seven lifeforms just inside the entrance." Omega's robotic voice spoke, the instruments built into the robot feeding the information directly to Alpha's brain. "Assuming you want to count the mass of animated plants that is."
"Probably just considering our offer," Rouge added from a communicator in Shadow's ear as she sat in a nearby tree, the few rays of silver moonlight that broke through the leaves glinting off of her talon-like fingers.
"It's taking a bit longer than I'd like…" Shadow growled, "Omega, give them another warning shot."
A missile launcher extended from the shoulder of the hulking machine next to Shadow, firing a single projectile that struck the side of the cliff near the entrance to the underground structure, the ensuing explosion shook the entire area and kicked up a large cloud of dirt.
After the dust settled, Tails exited the underground compound, Cosmo followed close behind him as they both stepped out into the night, the moon above casting deep shadows through the trees.
"Well, look who it is." Rouge commented, "Seems like they might have just accepted our deal."
"Flamethrowers armed. Just in case the plant decides to try anything." Added Omega, remembering their last encounter with the duo.
Shadow watched the two Resistance members with suspicion, still, he couldn't complain, perhaps they'd decided to accept their terms after all. "Looks like you've finally come to an agreement."
"I don't know why you three are helping Robotnik." Tails said.
"That's none of your business."
"Do you even know what Robotnik's after? Why he's gone to the lengths that he has?"
Shadow paused, he knew Robotnik had a purpose for the Complex, and for whatever reason this one two tailed fox was important enough to warrant tracking. "All I know is you're important enough to him for us to be after you."
"It's because Robotnik wants to live forever. That's why he needs me. He'll live longer than any of us here can imagine. We're all just pawns in his game."
Cosmo and all three of Robotnik's enforcers looked at the fox with surprise.
"Where are you going with this?" Shadow asked.
"Robotnik is dangerous, his plan is to turn the planet into his own robotic paradise. That means eventually, he'll get rid of all of us, you three included."
"Well what's to stop us from killing you right now, I mean, wouldn't that stop Robotnik's plan?"
A tree branch behind the trio shifted slightly, as if it was blown by an invisible breeze, notifying Tails that Cosmo was ready.
"It would, but I know you won't. Robotnik said he wanted me alive didn't he? Either way, I just needed to distract you for a bit."
The fox's words registered a bit too late for the trio to avoid Cosmo's plans as the very ground they stood on burst upward, animated temporarily by the grass and a colony of mycelium growing underneath. Thrown off their balance, Robotnik's enforcers were unable to respond as a portion of the cliff face above the entrance to the Resistance's base broke off, the roots of plants eroding it into a makeshift wall they could use as cover between the two groups. This would give them a short window of time to escape their entrapment while their attackers recovered.
As soon as there was any sound of action above, Amy rushed up the ladder that exited the base and outside to join the other two mobians.
"I can't believe that worked," She commented, gripping her hammer with both hands as Sonic emerged from the base behind her.
Before anything more could be said an explosion blew apart the dirt wall separating the two groups, blowing a cloud of earth everywhere that made it difficult to see. Cosmo, who was caught closest to the blast, was knocked backward into the cliff face behind her.
"I was hoping you'd just come peacefully…" Shadow said.
Omega took aim at the assembled group just in time for Sonic to launch himself at the machine, his metal spines leaving a dent on the exterior and knocking the robot suit's aim off its target, the weapon discharged into the air as the hedgehog bounced backward, landing squarely on his feet as he smirked at the machine.
"That's it!" Omega said. "Let's see how you like this!"
Bright orange pillars of flame jumped from the machine's wrists, giving an orange glow to the dark night as it set fire to the nearby grass and plant life. Sonic narrowly avoided the flames, only to have a second patch ignite in front of him as he slid to a stop.
Before he could be set alight by another stream of fire, a bolt of cyan colored plasma struck one of the machine's wrists, directly hitting one of the flamethrowers attached and sending a large ball of flames exploding across the area as the weapon detonated.
Sonic dashed backward to avoid the spray of flames. He looked over in surprise at Whisper as the wolf took aim with her weapon and fired once again at Omega, the second bolt harmlessly striking the armored exterior of the machine.
"Figured you could use some help!" Tangle exclaimed as she rushed over to the hedgehog, her long mechanical tail wrapping around him and pulling him away from the flames to relative safety.
Amy, Bunnie, and Tails meanwhile moved to engage Shadow. The black hedgehog summoned a spear of plasma energy in one of his hands as he sized up his three opponents. He needed Tails alive, but his assignment specified nothing about the other two, and getting the Resistance leader out of the picture would be nice…
Hurling the spear of concentrated energy at Amy, the hedgehog barely had time to register the attack before she instinctively swung at it with her hammer. The impact of the weapon caused the plasma to detonate, blowing Amy and Tails, who were both close to the blast backward.
Rouge watched the entire scene from her position in the trees. Shadow had given her strict orders to engage only when she had a good shot at capturing, or at the very least incapacitating Tails. It seemed like the other two were doing a decent job at handling the Resistance for now, and she didn't see much of a need to engage at the moment. Still, she knew the opportunity would present itself soon enough.
Cosmo gathered her bearings for a moment as she tried to decide which of the two groups to help. Figuring Omega was more than a bit preoccupied with the trio that had been fighting him, she decided that Shadow was likely the one they needed help with. Manipulating the vines and branches that made up her arm, the elemental soon had a makeshift whip of vines extending from her wrist that she could use to assist the rest of the Freedom Fighters. Combat wasn't her strong suit, but she figured she'd have to contribute somehow.
Tails engaged the thrusters on his back and charged directly at Shadow, his own rapid acceleration catching the hedgehog off guard as the fox tackled him, sending the two of them tumbling to the ground as Tails deactivated his augments.
Throwing the fox off him, Shadow prepared another bolt of plasma, as he did, Rouge dropped down from the trees to assist, seeing the two of them had separated somewhat from the rest of the Freedom Fighters.
Cosmo joined Amy and Bunnie as the three of them attempted to capitalize on the opening that Tails had tried to create.
"That plant's getting on my nerves…" Shadow growled, taking aim at the elemental before releasing the plasma bolt he'd summoned.
The projectile directly struck Cosmo's arm and the resulting explosion obliterated the plants making up the side of the elemental, sending her flying into a nearby tree.
Rouge's mechanical arms opened into wings as the bat flew toward Bunnie. The rabbit used her own mechanical legs to keep herself steady as she intercepted the bat. Her powerful mechanical arm grabbed hold of one of the bat's wings and crushed a large segment of it, obliterating the bat's hand and severely damaging their arm in the process.
Tails got to his feet just in time to notice Shadow preparing another bolt of plasma to throw at Amy. Activating his thrusters once again he quickly closed the distance between himself and the black hedgehog, catching Robotnik's enforcer by surprise.
Figuring that the hedgehog would simply overpower him in any direct fight, Tails deactivated his thrusters a short distance from his target, taking a pair of quick steps before he spun himself around, his mechanical tails striking the hedgehog directly in the chest and interrupting his creation of another energy projectile as he knocked the wind out of him.
"How you all holding up?" Sonic asked before charging once again at Omega, the hedgehog struck the machine directly in the chest, knocking it off balance and sending it tumbling to the ground.
A bolt from Whisper's rifle struck the machine's leg, finally piercing the exterior plating and damaging the components inside.
Shadow knew this fight was going poorly, this was supposed to be a relatively short engagement, but things had spiraled into a fight that would take much longer, and things weren't looking great for them.
"Team Dark!" He began after catching his breath, "Fall back!"
"We're retreating!?" Omega said, getting to his feet just in time for Tangle's tail to wrap around the mech and slam it to the ground. The impact threw the machine's wolf pilot into one of the walls of his tank contained inside, disconnecting his mind from the suit for just a moment before the link restored itself.
"We'll be back," Shadow continued, narrowly avoiding a swing from Amy's hammer as he dropped back away from the Freedom Fighters.
Rouge pulled herself from Bunnie's grip, tearing off a damaged section of her arm as she moved to regroup with Shadow.
Omega internally sighed as the machine once again rose to its feet, a plasma bolt from Whisper's rifle harmlessly striking its armor as he too began to retreat.
"Do we follow them?" Tangle asked.
"No," Amy responded. "We've got bigger things planned."
With the immediate threat over, Tails rushed over and knelt next to Cosmo, who still sat at the base of the tree she'd struck earlier. "Cosmo, you're hurt!"
"I'm alright," The elemental responded, taking in her own missing arm and leg. "You forget I'm not all these plants, I can grow them back."
Tails let his panic fade as he remembered, Cosmo wasn't really the plants, she was the machine that controlled the plants. "Then… You're not damaged at all are you?" He asked, "If you are, I'm sure Whisper can fix it!"
The elemental smiled at the fox's obvious concern, "I'm perfectly fine, just going to need a minute."
"Hey," Amy began, placing a hand on Tails' shoulder. "Thanks for the help."
Tails sighed, "You're welcome…"
"Honestly, maybe I was wrong about you… You can stick around if you want Tails, maybe the Resistance has a spot for you."
The fox looked at her in surprise for a second before smiling. "I'd like that. It's kinda nice to have everyone around."
"Glad to have you around, but there's still work to do." Amy continued, "But first, I'm going to need to know everything you know about Robotnik…"
Alright everyone, that's all for this chapter! Let me know what you thought about it in a review! Until next time!