A delicious smell woke Sonic up. He was laying against a wall section near what was left of the camp. A make shift tent had been constructed from what was left the camp. Sally was sitting in front of a fire, cooking something in a frying pan. She noticed that Sonic had woken up.

"Sleep well?"

"As well as can be expected considering the surface." He stood up and stretched. "How long was I out?"

"About two hours. It took some digging, but I managed to find a food cooler that hadn't been destroyed. Hope you like hotdogs."

"Got any chili?"

"Sorry, but there was some ketchup in the cooler."

"Too bad." Sonic sat down next to her. "I love chilidogs."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. Uncle Chuck would make supply runs every so often. He would make this big pot of chili and we would roast the hotdogs over a campfire."

"You must miss him a lot."

"I do. How about your family?"

"Not much to say really. I know my dad is the king and that is important job, but he is a complete workaholic and mom is always busy with some noble cause. My older brother is wrapped up in proving himself a worthy successor to the throne. I was raised primarily by Rosie, my nanny." She pulled the pan out of the fire. "Don't get the wrong idea; my family is very loving, just distracted."

"Sounds nice. So what is the plan?"

"The communication equipment was destroyed and so was the flight pod. So I am stuck here until I can get word back home or they get so worried they send someone to get me."

"Tomorrow I'll take you to Knothole Village. They have a radio and already called for assistance after the attack last night. Plus I am sure Antoine is worried about you."

"I just wish I had some answers for what happened here. Why was that guy smashing the ruins up with a wrecking ball and where are the mobians I was working with? If I wasn't the target, then what was?"

"I wish I had some answers, but I am probably the least clued in person on the island."

"Not by much." Sally looked up at the setting sun. "Let's eat and worry about the questions in the morning."

On a small stretch of land that could barely be called a tiny island, Raza's troops sat, unsure of what to do next. She had lost one ship and all but three of her men had been injured severally enough to keep them out of action for a few weeks. Valuable equipment had been damaged or destroyed and there was nothing to show for it. No cargo or loot to sell. That hedgehog had ruined everything. Raza sat in front of the small communication console, putting off calling her employers and telling them that she had failed. She analyzed her reflection on the blank view screen. She had fought in the war against the mobians and had been more than a little angry that a peace agreement had been drawn up. Therefore, she opted to do private sector work. Years of war had hardened her features. She ran her hand over her baldhead that she had kept shaved for as long as she could remember. For years, she had always had a plan or course of action. She wanted payback, but lacked what she needed to get it.

A button on console began to flash as a set of numbers appeared on the screen. She sat up and pressed the button. "Captain Raza."

A human with a long nose and sparse hair appeared on the screen. "Raza, so glad you're still in the area."

"What do you want Snively? I am not in the mood to put up with you right now."

"Things at the village go that badly?"

"How did you know that?"

"You forget, I have access to your mission recorders. But don't worry; I have an offer that can help the both of us."

"I'm listening."

"I too was troubled by a blue hedgehog that could move at remarkable speeds. No doubt the same one that caused you trouble. I have no lack of equipment, but I am going to need more than mindless machines."

"Most of my men are out of action."

"Just you should suffice. Help me catch this rodent and not only will I pay you a substantial amount, I will also help you in rounding up ever last animal in that village." Snively smiled. "So do we have a deal?"

"Yes."

Next Morning

Sally hung on tight as Sonic ran out of the ruins. He kept his speed down enough so that wind didn't force her to keep her eyes closed. He stopped when he reached the wreckage of the robots he had destroyed the previous day. "These are the machines that attacked me on the way to the ruins."

"The ones with the animals inside"

"Right." Sonic set her down so she could examine the pieces.

"Strange." Sally held up one of the sphere halves. "This appears to be some kind of battery case." She ran her hand along the inside of it. "There are energy absorbers built into the sides. They are similar to the devices we use to draw energy from gold rings." She put the sphere half into her satchel. "I'm going to show this to some of our experts. Maybe they can come up with some answers."

"Hope so, because my head still hurts from trying to figure it out."

"You're not alone."

Sonic and Sally arrived in Knothole around noon. A small roughly rectangular shaped shuttle was sitting near Brookshire's house. It had the image of a red acorn with white wings on the sides of it, painted on the front of the shuttle. Sally identified it as the symbol of the Kingdom of Acorn's Airforce. A pair of guards, both beavers stood next the shuttle. Upon seeing Sonic stop near the house with Sally in his arms, they ran up and aimed their blaster rifles at him.

"Unhand the princess!"

Sonic set Sally down and held his hands up.

"Stand down!" Sally's voice had gained a razor edge that prompted the guards to obey. Despite her appearance, everyone could feel her royal authority. "This hedgehog saved this village and my life, so I expect you both to treat him with respect."

"Yes your highness." Both guards spoke in unison.

"What are you doing here?"

One of the guards stepped forward and saluted. "We received a distress call from this village yesterday and were told to divert from our patrol route. When we arrived, Squire D'Coolette informed us of what happed at your dig site. Commander Foley told us to remain here while he and the rest of our patrol group went to go and find you."

"When did you arrive?"

"This morning."

"Must have just missed them. Radio them and let them know I am here. A lot has happened over the past day."

"Ma'am!" Both guards bowed and ran to their shuttle.

Sally sighed. "This isn't going to end well."

"How so?"

"My father didn't know I was at the site. He would prefer that I keep my hobbies confined to the royal library. Mother covered for me, which will make him even angrier. But that isn't the worst of it. Everyone else have vanished, no doubt abducted in a similar fashion that the villagers were going to be. The political fallout when this gets out will be major. And I have no answers for the families of those who are missing."

"It wasn't your fault. Snively didn't seem to know who you are. I hate to put it this way, but you only escaped because you got trapped in that chamber."

"That doesn't change anything. I will be blamed for this and that is all most people will focus on."

"Starting to miss my little island."

"SONIC!" Tails appeared from behind his house and nearly tackled the hedgehog down when he jumped in for a hug. The little two tailed fox was covered in grease.

"Hey." Sonic patted him on the head. "What happened to you?"

"They let me help fix your plane. It just needs to recharge and it will be ready to fly."

Sally's grim face turned into a smile. "Who is this?" She knelled down so she was at the fox's eye level.

"Miles Prower." Tails smirked. "But Sonic gave me the much cooler name, Tails."

"It certainly is." She looked up at Sonic. "You have a plane?"

"It's my Uncle's biplane. He converted it to run on solar or ring energy." Sonic chuckled. "I kind of crashed it when I forgot to recharge it."

Sally laughed and looked back at Tails. "You helped fix it?"

"Yep." Tails puffed out his chest. "It was easy with Nicole helping me?"

"Nicole?"

"It's the computer in Sonic's plane. She is really smart and told me some funny storied about Sonic."

"Really?" Sally stood up. "We have some time before the rest of the patrol returns. I would love to see the plane."

"Can she see it Sonic?"

Sonic nodded. "Sure, but tell Nicole to ease up on the stories. I have a few funny ones about her I could share."

"This way!" Tails quickly led Sally to the plane.

The hedgehog glanced at the shuttle. "What have I gotten myself in to Uncle?"

It took a little over an hour for the other two shuttles from the patrol group to arrive back at the village. Sally had spent a lot of that time talking with Nicole. Sonic figured he had found the only two people on the planet who enjoyed listening to Nicole explain how she worked. It wasn't like he didn't care for the AI, she was as much family to him as his Uncle, she just tended to drone on and on. Sally also listened to Tails as he explained how he and the others had fixed the plane. The young fox was bursting with joy with all the attention he was receiving. Sally seemed happy as well, but her mood dimed when she saw the two shuttles fly over and land near the third one. She thanked Tails and Nicole and walked over to meet the ones coming out of the shuttles.

"Hey Sonic. What is wrong with Sally?"

Sonic sighed. "She has to return home."

"She doesn't want to go home?"

"It complicated." Sonic sighed and leaned against the plane. "Really complicated."

Tails climbed out of the pilot seat and sat on the wing. "Are you leaving too?"

"Wish I could stay, but I need to find my Uncle and Sally said she could help." Sonic managed a small smile. "But I'll be back."

"Really?"

"Of course. Got to visit my new best bud."

"Who."

Nicole sounded from the controls. "I believe he was talking about you, Tails."

That got a big grin out of the fox.

Not wanting to waste any time, Commander Foley opted to start the journey back to the capital that night. Each of the three shuttles carried one pilot and two ground troopers not counting himself. All the ground troopers and one of the shuttles would remain to help protect the village until a more permanent detachment could be established. When they had reached one of the outlaying air bases, he could beef up the security before heading to the capital. Sally and Antione would ride in his shuttle. Sonic opted to follow the shuttles in his biplane. They traveled in a line formation, with the commander's shuttle in-between the second shuttle and Sonic's plane taking up the rear.

Commander Foley was large, even for a brown bear. He despised leaving his the comfort of his office to come on patrol flights and avoided them as often as he could. When the distress call came in, he thought it would be a good bump to his career if he made an appearance. Drop in, reassure the locals, and get a good mention on his report for when the next round of promotions came around. However, he couldn't have been more pleased when he found out the princess was also on the island. Bringing her back to the royal palace almost assured him a general rank. His career was looking bright. He put on his most polite smile when he addressed Sally.

"Your Majesty, we should arrive at Airbase Jango by tomorrow afternoon. There I can put together a proper escort to take you home."

"That's fine." Sally kept her eyes looking out one of the small windows.

"I am sure the king and queen will be very happy to see that you are unharmed." When Sally didn't answer, Foley turned to Antione who was sitting next to her. "And I am certain you will get some sort of medal for your own heroics."

"But of course." Antione sat up. "I fought off the machines when they attacked our camp, but when it was clear they would overwhelm us, I knew the only choice was to find help as soon as I could."

"Very good. It is important to know when to fight and when to go find help. You will make a great knight when you come of age."

"Thank you very much."

"I just hope you remember my name when you make your report."

"But of course." The two started to laugh.

Sally sighed as she tried to tune them out. She recognized Foley as a self-serving mobian the moment she saw him. Antione had a good heart, but a fragile ego. Her mother had forced her to bring him along so there was at least one member of the Royal Knights, even if he was only a squire. In addition, her mother was hoping that Sally would start to develop some feelings toward Antione. He was the son of General D'Coolette, one of the heroes of the war and considered a good match for her. A flash of light snapped her out of her thoughts. Before she could try to figure out the source, the entire shuttle shook as an explosion went off.

Foley hit the intercom button with his fist. "What is going on?"

"The forward shuttle was shot down." There was panic in the pilot's voice. "It appears to be several enemy contacts, but they are not showing up on the radar."

"Forget the radar and get us out of here."

"Trying sir."

Sally looked back out the window. "Sonic."

Sonic didn't see the attackers, but he heard them just before they struck. It was the exact same buzzing noise the robotic wasps had made. Before they started to fire, Sonic pulled his plane out of formation to try to find the source of the sound. That had saved him. A swarm of ten of the robots flew in from behind and in front of the formation. Laser fire hit the air Sonic had occupied. Sadly, the shuttle in the front was hit hard and began to fall, covered in flames. Sally's shuttle began to do some evasive maneuvers, which forced the forward swarm to break up and attack individually. Laser cannons mounted on the front of the shuttle started to fire, but the wasps were small and hard to hit. Sonic wished his plane had some sort of armament.

"Nicole, take over."

"Please don't do what I think you are going to do."

Sonic undid his flight straps and stood up in the pilot seat. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just going to knock out some of those things." He climbed onto the top wing and made the mistake of looking over the side of the plane. It was a considerable distance to the water below. "Shouldn't have been so resistant when Uncle Chuck wanted to teach me how to swim."

Blue energy began to spark around his body as the swarm that tried to attack him began to fly closer. He jumped from the plane and curled into a ball. The glowing intensified as he spun in midair. Sonic suddenly shot forward and smashed into one of the wasps. He bounced clear as the robot exploded and crashed into another one. He repeated this move until all ten of the wasps were destroyed. He had hoped his momentum would have been enough to reach the shuttle, but it banked right and he missed it by a few feet.

"Not cool!" Sonic started to fall. As he braced for the impact against the cold ocean water, his plane appeared below him and landed on its upper wing. "Nice flying Nicole."

"I promised father I would take care of you if anything should happen to him."

"I appreciate it." Sonic groaned and pulled himself to his feet. He could see the remaining wasps converging on the shuttle. Three of the machines had been shot down and the shuttle had managed to avoid talking excessive damage, but it was clear that it couldn't take to many more hits. "Get us closer so I can take out the remaining ones."

"Be careful Sonic. That move of yours is taxing on your body."

Sonic couldn't deny that he felt a little winded. He could run all day, but summoning the energy to bounce around like that was draining. "No choice. Just try to catch me again when I'm done."

The shuttle violently shuddered as one of its engines was hit by blaster fire. A side panel inside the passenger area exploded and spat out flames. Foley rolled clear as the arm of his uniform caught fire. Antione fumbled with the fire extinguisher as Sally hunted for the parachutes. Another explosion rocked the shuttle and it began to fall. Foley took the extinguisher from Antione and put the fire out on his arm. He rushed to the door to the cockpit. It wouldn't slide open on its own, but he managed to force it open. Most of the cockpit was missing and there was no sign of the pilot. He turned back to the two teens. Sally had managed to find only one parachute. Foley mentally kicked himself for skipping the supply inspections. He sighed knowing what he had to do. Foley helped Antione into the parachute and rigged a partner harness.

"You're responsible for the safety of the princess."

Antione saluted. "No harm shall come to her."

"We are not leaving you."

Foley helped Sally into the partner harness. "All that matters is your safety." He opened up the back hatch. "At least recommend me for a promotion posthumously." He shoved the pair out of the shuttle.

Antione pulled the ripcord when they had fallen clear of the shuttle. The wasps continued their assault and the shuttle exploded in a ball of fire. Neither had time to grieve as the swarm of wasps turned towards them.

"Not to worry you my Princess, but we are going to have company."

"You wouldn't happen to have a weapon on you." All Antione could do to answer was shake his head. "Then we will have to separate from the chute and take our chances with the water."

"Really?" Antione gripped the release. "The water is so far below us. We could hurt ourselves on impact."

"I doubt it will hurt more than getting hit by the lasers."

"Right." As Antione started to pull on the release, a glowing blue ball smashed into one of the wasps and bounced around to smash the remaining ones. The ball stopped glowing and uncurled to reveal Sonic. He waved as he fell. His plane swooped past and he landed on it. "He saved us." Antione cheered, but in his enthusiasm, he pulled the release and he and Sally were separated from the chute. "Whoopsie." The two didn't fall very far, they landed on the upper wing of Sonic's biplane.

"You two alright?" Sonic was back in the pilot seat.

Sally looked over the side of the wing. "Can't complain." She pointed at something behind the plane. "Look out!"

Before Sonic could look, the tail of the plane was obliterated by energy blast. The source of the blast was a half sphere pod driven by Snively. "Enjoy the landing, hedgehog."