I do not own any Sonic characters.

Chapter 9

Everyone was able to go to the Egg-carrier fine with minor delays. Some people would fall down in exhaustion while others would have to stop and rest. Sonic, Tails, Shadow, basically everyone who was on the team, had to help others. Blaze did little, she was embraced at the fact she lost a fight that those she doubted won.

Silver and Tails were working together to create camps on the outskirts of the Egg-carrier. The battle ship Eggman had wasn't designed to hold all those people. Tails even gave someone his bed and Sonic did the same. The others soon obliged to it, but the group would sleep on the carrier.

Tails had gotten more close to the Babylon Rouges and was willing to talk with them for a short period of time. Ralph was busy trying to get Sally off his robotic tail. She kept asking about his past and why she couldn't remember him.

Sonic and Team Dark ran around looking for food while Metal Sonic acted as a guard for the camp. Knuckles would help lift heavy parts for the camp and Eggman would run scans to find where the robots were.

Miles "Tails" Prower and Silver the hedgehog, hero from the future, just got done setting up the last tent. Tails stayed inside the tent to sort out the belongings Silver shoved in with his powers. The group thanked them profusely and began to set up and reorganizing what Tails put. The fox didn't take it personally; everyone has their own way of organization.

Tails walked out and Silver was standing there "Tails, we have a major problem."

"What?"

"Water. Food sure Sonic and others can get some, but the water is not good. We don't have enough for everyone here and we can't keep going out for water. That would be a nonstop trip. It would even tire Sonic out and we need him to be at his top level right now."

Tails rubbed his forehead "We could make a well, but then we need water in it. I can't just make a water system above land, the robots would see the pipes. And we can't make it under ground because that would require digging a lot and to the nearest water source."

Silver scratched his head "We have spotted a lake nearby, but we have no idea if it's good to drink or not."

Tails crossed his arms "Well… what color is it?"

"Clear blue, but that doesn't help does it."

"No. Bacteria are basically invisible to our eyes. If it were a different color though I would say never drink it. Although, I do have an idea."

"What?"

Tails smiled and ran toward the lake "Follow me."

Silver shrugged and flew after him.

Sally soon walked by pestering Ralph "Ralph! I want to know who you were before anything happened."

"I was a baby in my mom's womb."

"I didn't mean before anything happened to you at all. I meant before the Mysterious Villain."

"I was a nobody. If you don't mind I need to help the others out." Ralph walked away.

Sally stomped her foot and ran after him "No you don't, I will get my answer right now or tonight."

Ralph turned to her "I'll tell you when everyone else wants to. You're not the first to ask who I was your highness and probably not the last."

Suddenly a blue blur appeared and began to drill downward. Dirt flew everywhere and Sonic and Shadow ran to block each speck. Ralph and Sally ran to the hole dug to see Metal Sonic standing there looking up "Coming up." He said.

He spun once more and began to make the hole bigger. Sally and Ralph ran from it covering their heads. MS broke through the ground and threw the last dust toward the trees. Eggman drove his pod above the hole and dumped a grey liquid inside it. Omega and MS flew in it and began to pat it to the walls and floors equally.

Sally ran at Eggman "What are you doing?"

Eggman smiled "Tails contacted me and told me to make room for a well. I just did."

Knuckles ran over "A well. Why would that damb fox want a well?"

Eggman glared at him before answering "We're running out of water."

"Actually we're out of water." Sonic spoke up.

Eggman looked shocked "You drake the last one?"

"What? No. I gave the last drop to a kid who didn't have any for two days."

Eggman rubbed his forehead "Okay, okay. Good point."

Silver landed next to the well "Is it ready?"

Metal Sonic flew up with Omega "Slightly."

Silver flew down and came back up "Metal walls. That will help stop the ground from sucking it."

Eggman raised a finger "It also acts as a great purifier. It kills around ninety-percent of the bacteria."

"Wow. Only ninety-percent?"

"Shut it hedgehog."

"I didn't say anything."

"Not you Silver."

"Shadow didn't say anything."

"Not him either."

"Amy is with Cream in the forest as scouts so she couldn't have said it."

"Seriously?"

"Metal Sonic is only a robot so you mustn't have been talking to him."

"THIS AGAIN!? I WAS TALKING TO SONIC!"

Silver smiled "Ohhhh… right. I was about to get to him."

"THE LAST TIME YOU USED THAT I LOST MY TEMPER! DO NOT USE IT AGAIN!"

"Your tantrums are amusing as it has been said before. Also telling me that only edges me on."

Eggman growled. Silver then began to lift stones and planted them around the hole so no one would fall in. The grey hedgehog then pressed something on the side of his head "Ready… you can go now. I'll direct you."

Silver placed his arms down and looked at the well. The others looked at each other and then at him. After a while Ralph said "Um… Silver?"

Silver turned to him and placed a finger on his lips "Shh."

He turned back to the hole. Eggman rubbed his glasses against his eyes "What are you waiting for? It's not like water's going to appear in the well."

The ground suddenly began to shake and a part of the metal wall ripped open. Tails fell in as water shoved past him. The water began to lift up toward the surface. Tails face appeared out of the water "Silver, Now!"

Silver snapped his fingers and the water stopped. Sonic smiled and looked at Eggman "You were saying Egghead?"

Eggman had placed his face into the palm of his hands "Next thing you know, unicorns are going to exists."

Tails fell back into the water and bobbed back up and gasped. He clawed at the top and fell back in. Sonic noticed "Wait, I think he's waterlogged. He can't fly out."

Tails gasped for precious air once more as he tried to call out. He was too wet and heavy to fly out. He was already tired of spin dashing the ground as a way to dig so water could get in. The fox tried to grab the sides, but the slick metal wall made it impossible to hold on to.

As he fell in the surface without a breath, a hand got a hold of his. Tails grabbed it for dear life. He was pulled out of the water gasping for precious oxygen. He began to cough and looked up to see his rescuers. Storm had grabbed Jet by the ankles and Jet grabbed Tails' hand "I got ya." The hawk said "Storm. Lift us up before I lose my grip."

Storm obeyed. Ralph ran to the edge and once Tails got close enough he grabbed him from Jet. Jet was grateful he almost lost his grip, Ralph on the other hand had super strength (because of the armor Tails made him) and pulled the fox out with ease.

Tails was shivering and turned to the two birds "Th-th-thanks."

Jet rubbed his sore shoulder from lift the golden fox and nodded "No problem."

Wave scoffed and mumbled something about "Now the water's polluted." She was suddenly elbowed by Sally.

Omega knelt next to Tails and slightly turned on his flamethrower. The fire warmed the fox up nice and slowly. The fox whispered his thanks and stood up. He turned to Sonic "Well… the water is cold. Heh, heh."

Sonic crossed his arms and looked angrily at him. Tails lowered his ears. Sonic then shook his head "You could have killed yourself Tails."

The fox looked at the ground and grabbed his right arm "Yah… I know." He whispered.

Sonic looked at him more sadly "I don't want you to get hurt buddy."

Tails nodded silently. "Just be more careful next time. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, but you made me worried. I almost jumped in to save you."

Tails' left ear twitched. Sonic was deathly afraid of water, hearing that almost made Tails cry. Not from being sad, but joy. This says to him that Sonic really does care. Sonic almost hugged Tails, but knowing that the fox hated those, he only patted him on the head and ruffled his fur.

Tails smiled lightly as he looked around. Everyone was about to go on about their business. Blaze ran over and Sonic stopped her "Woah, woah, your highness. Where's the fire? Err… no pun intended."

"What? Oh, my powers, never mind that. What happened? I heard a commotion."

"Tails was able to drill a hole to the well we made and water is now in it. We have a water supply now, but the metal walls and Tails being drenched made it impossible for Tails to get out so he almost drowned in till Jet and Storm got him out in time."

Blaze nodded "Well… Thank him for me. I was about to go find water myself."

Sally soon called everyone on the coms "Team meeting in the carrier."

Sonic tapped his com "What'd I do now, Sal?"

"Not you. Just get in the carrier."

Blaze raised a brow "Does that include me?"

Sonic shrugged "Well, you're part of the team. So… yah, I guess." Tails followed the two into the carrier.

Sally walked in and Eggman tapped a minicomputer in his hand "Water systems are fine, last tent is set up, and food is now up to… a year's worth according to all the people here and their appetite."

Sally nodded "Good, but that's not why I called a meeting."

"Here we go." Ralph sighed. Tails looked at him confused.

Sally looked at Ralph "I want to know more about Ralph and this "Medal of Honor" I gave him."

Ralph rubbed his mask where his eyes were and sighed "I said drop it your highness."

Eggman looked at the dog "Actually, I'm mystified as well."

Ralph turned to Tails. The fox shrugged "Hey, I may know who you use to be, but that won't help you against the entire room."

Everyone stared at Ralph. The dog sighed "Fine."

He stood up and walked forward. He stopped and sighed once more "I use to be part of a taskforce that would go in to difficult problems and prevent them. Our group was only called if it were something major. Example, Eggman."

Eggman was startled "What?!"

"Not anymore. We use to be the kings last hope or use. That is, in till Sonic came around. Suddenly my men and I were the only ones not fired. Luckily I was part of the group that was the best of all of them. We were only tasked with chores Sonic was unable to do or had no time to. The people we fought the most was a bunch of terrorists."

Tails began to flick his own ear "What was this terrorist group? I couldn't find much on them."

Ralph crossed his arms playfully "Oh really? This might be because the king paid no interest in our adventures with the group and decided to not file my reports."

Eggman was messing with his computer "You were the leader then?"

"Yes, I was. Until my team and friends were murdered. Not by the robots the Mysterious Villain made, but those robots did confuse them. The terrorist group took advantage of that and killed them. I wasn't there at the time so I couldn't help them."

Sally nodded "That's a nice background, but what about that Medal of Honor."

"That was for saving the planet, my men, and giving your scientists new ways to defuse bombs as well as making more powerful and efficient weapons."

Sonic sat back and began tapping the air with his foot. He was losing interest and becoming impatient. Ralph noticed "Want me to elaborate, Sonic?"

"Fine!" the blue hedgehog sighed harshly.

Ralph shrugged "It was not a special mission so no one bothered to ask Sonic. Some of our nuclear reactors have gone missing. My team was tasked to find them. We did, but it was being used to destroy the planet. The terrorists knew we would be sent so we fell for a trap. I escaped. My men were taken to a fort that not even Doctor Eggman could penetrate."

Eggman mumbled barely audible "Oh, that fort."

"I went in it undercover as one of the men. They thought they had me trapped. So they weren't on full alert. I found out that they had made one of their bombs no one was able to deactivate or diffuse. Anyone who tried died in the explosion, but this time the bomb had the reactors in it and was about to be placed in the core of the planet. They were digging strait down into it with stolen technology from Eggman."

Eggman raised a brow. Tails became worried and patting the floor with his feet. Ralph sighed "They haven't taken anything from the newest robots made by the Mysterious Villain… to my knowledge." Tails only quickened his tapping.

Ralph continued his story "I was told only to defuse the bomb and escape the base so Sonic would be called and destroy the place. I ignored them. I snuck into their storage facility and messed with their bomb. After taking samples and pictures I somehow deactivated it."

Sonic sat straighter "How?"

Ralph pointed at him "That's classified. Not even you are to know." Sonic slouched in disappointment. Ralph continued "I then removed the reactors and set it to blow in five minutes. I was then ordered to get out. I disobeyed. I ran in deeper to save my team. I broke them out and had to help some run at the same time as fighting off any adversaries. We finally got out and the base exploded. Result is that Ralph the Extreme Specialist Assault Team Leader has accomplished thus: impede the destruction of the planet, reclaimed the nuclear reactors, brought back new forms of bomb deactivation, brought back specs to improve weaponry, destruction of the most deadly terrorist group's major base, saved the lives of his men against a direct order, and captured an enemy to be brought back for interrogation. After all this the mission was named "The Nuclear Terrorist Assault"."

Blaze had a brow raised "I don't recall you saying about capturing anybody."

"That's because that woman was the only one to escape the blast. I saw her and grabbed her before she could escape. I contacted the nearest base for medical help and for men to come and arrest the terrorist… She actually turned out to be forced into their group. I was the only one to stick up for her and managed to allow her on my team. She was a very valuable ally." Ralph sighed and looked down.

Amy had crossed her arms and legs "I'm sensing a romance connection."

Ralph shrugged "We did come close. I was able to tell her my feelings. At first she was unnerved by it, but she soon accepted it and responded with her own feelings. Apparently we had the same feeling toward each other. Nothing got carried away though. A few days after we confessed she died. That was when the attack was initiated."

Jet blurted out "What attack?"

Everyone stared at him, some with shocked faces others with a face that asked 'are you stupid?' Jet then turned to Tails who's eyes looked sad and at the verge of tears. "Oh."

Tails then looked down and his ears fell. Sally looked back at Ralph "Well that would give you the medal, but if you were the best why aren't you given another team?"

Ralph shoved his hand into his coat and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He gave it to her. She grabbed it and opened it up. Her eyes almost popped out of her skull at what she read "AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE?! WHY?"

Ralph chuckled "I was injured."

"When?" Ralph motioned at his own body in the armor suit that was the only thing keeping him alive. "But that suit makes you stronger."

"I don't call the shots. I was incredibly injured and as a result a machine has to move and breathe for me. Seven pulled some strings for me and made me a part of Team Dark. I hate the team name though."

Wave looked around "Speaking of Seven, where is he?"

Sonic stood "Is that a reference to what I think that is."

Silver flew next to the swallow "I think it tis a reference to which we believe."

Wave threw her hands in the air "I was NOT trying to disrespect to fox in any way. Leave me alone."

Suddenly a head appeared around the corner "Hmm?" Seven called.

Sally smiled and waved "Thank you for coming Seven, but no. We didn't need you. Go back to your job."

The robot revealed a thumbs up before disappearing around the corner. Storm looked at the chipmunk "What is he doing?"

"He's organizing files, paperwork, and weapons Tails, Eggman, and I brought."

"Oh."

Ralph gently took back the paper from Sally's hand and after replacing it back in his coat he stretched "Ahh… I think I'll go see if the refuges outside need help."

As he left Blaze stood "I'll go check too."

She left. Silver soon followed as well as Knuckles, Amy, Cream, Cheese (Mainly because they didn't want to be around Tails), and the two robots: MS and Omega. Sally looked around "Anymore?" She asked sarcastically.

Shadow stood with Rouge and walked out. Sally rested her head against an arm "Oy Vey."

Eggman turned to his screen "I'll run a full system scan to check for bugs and to see if my security systems are failing. Tails… Wave… come up here."

Both were extremely hesitant, but complied. Tails and Wave slowly walked up to the doctor "Yes?" They asked at the same time.

She and Tails looked at each other in shock before turning away in disgust. Sonic nudged Sally and pointed at the two before laughing quietly with the princess. Tails noticed "I DO NOT!... Have ANY feelings toward that swallow whatsoever. Will they stop acting like I do! What do you want Egghead?"

Eggman turned to them "I want you two to help see if there are any upgrades or problems my system needs to be fixed or acquired."

"WHAT!" Both screamed. They began protesting at the same time making it inaudible. Eggman slammed his fist against his chair "SHUT-UP!... Tails, I know you and I are friends right now, but I'm trying to help you with an enemy you might want as a friend. Wave, I know you think ill of the fox because of a grudge, but I'm trying to help you understand the fox better. This time alone together my help."

Sonic was stiff and looked surprised at Eggman. He spoke to the corner of his mouth to a puzzled Sally "Did he hear them both?"

Sally shrugged. Silver floated near them and smiled as he whispered "I think he's also helping them get a relationship with each other."

Sonic faked a smile and nodded. He was thinking of a certain individual the fox had his eyes on. Luckily she was not here at the moment. After a long hesitation and glaring at each other Tails and Wave looked at the computer Eggman stood and left from. Tails walked over to it and pushed a button activating a live projectile screen. He turned to Wave "Going to help?"

Wave scoffed, but walked over. They began to look at the files on different screens. Tails would occasionally flip files toward her computer with their connected screens and she would do the same with him. Both were touch screens and both could use their hands making it easier.

The rest of the team left the room to continue with helping the camp.

Tails only paused to look at the corner of the room. Something had moved. Wave realized it "What are you looking at, Shorty?"

Tails looked at her then the corner "I thought I saw something." After a long pause he turned back to his work "Never mind… I'm just seeing things."

As both went back to work neither noticed that the corner Tails looked at moved once more and a figure moved out of the carrier and into the camp almost completely invisible.

Alpha One's Base

Alpha One sat staring at the screen. He was analyzing videos of Sonic and his friends fighting. He was studying their attacks and moves to be better prepared for the next fight. The doors opened behind him "What took you so long, Phi?"

Phi stepped up to his leader "I was at the camp Sonic and his friends are building for the survivors. I was almost spotted by our master and that Swallow."

Alpha One paused the video and stood slowly up. He turned and slowly walked toward his assistant, his steps causing echoes throughout the room. He stopped and with his head slightly down glared at Phi "Anything to report against the swallow?"

"No… but her team saved our master's life from drowning." Phi revealed the video he recorded of the fox in the well.

Alpha One nodded "They think they have to work with them because of my threat. I won't carry it out. They saved him and that's more than the insults they threw at him."

"I was also at the battle field when you left."

"I figured. You're not stupid enough to know when the best time is to find their "secret" location."

"It appears our master is not yet ready to reveal himself."

Alpha One nodded "His plan is carrying out extraordinary, better than I would have hoped." Alpha One twisted back to the screen to begin watching the videos again.

Phi then stood to his full height "He also has his eyes on someone."

Alpha One turned sharply around and almost struck Phi's face with his own "Who?"

"The princess of this dimension. With a small chance of the swallow."

"Small chances mean nothing to me. You're saying our master has his eyes on Blaze the cat?"

"Yes."

"How do you know such a thing?"

"He admitted it to Sonic. He knows she would hate him for this and is afraid he will lose her interest."

Alpha One turned to his screen and pressed a button on a remote he had. The image of Blaze appeared. He glared at it for a minute before saying "I can see how. Keep her alive. Tails will get what he desires. Even if it's the last thing I do."

End if chapter. Sorry it took too long. This was harder to make than it looks, also it is possible that this chapter will be edited. Another side note: if you want I can write out Ralph's adventure he described with the terrorist. The "Nuclear Terrorist Assault" Mission. Otherwise, reviews are appreciated.