Sonic stood stock still. He had decided he would wait for Sally to show up before he moved. She walked into her office and headed for her desk, not even glancing at Sonic.

"What do you want? Be quick, cause I have other things to do."

Sonic was about to respond when Mina walked in after Sally. She seemed worried. "Don't get me wrong, I think he should have known better. But you know he's right. We both know he's going about it all wrong, but he's got the right idea."

Sally turned on Mina, obviously not happy. She straightened her face when she saw Sonic. "Um... no. There is no way he should be doing this. I am... relieved and surprised that he survived, but..."

Sonic cut in before Mina could. "But what? Tails? You're talking about Tails, right?"

Mina jumped, spinning around. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you followed us in..."

Sonic made no attempt to appear happy. "I was already here. Look. This is how it is: Tails is wrong. Absolutely and completely wrong. He has become no better than any of the others. And allowing him to continue makes us just as wrong as him. He is our responsibility."

Sally shook her head. "Sonic... I think it's more of a... necessary evil. We may not like it, but it seems to me that it's for the better. We do have a mission, and it isn't to protect criminals. Our mission as Freedom Fighters is to ultimately defeat Robotnik. What Tails is doing frees us up to deliver a crushing blow to Robotnik's forces. With Scourge gone, the other criminals and mercenaries that always cause us problems will be running scared. Nothing stands in our way."

Sonic shook his head. "Now you're starting to sound like him, Sally."

Mina jumped between the two of them when she noticed Sonic advancing on Sally. "Hey! Stop it! Sonic, Sally is the most levelheaded person I know. She knows what she talking about. We need to take down Eggman while we have the chance. Tails has given us that chance."

Sonic huffed, obviously mad. "I'll make you see. We need to stop Tails." He stormed out of Sally's office and slammed the door shut.

Mina turned to Sally. "We won't go after him, will we?"

Sally looked grim. "Not under my orders. If we run into him, I'll see if I can talk some sense into him... try to get him back. But until then, we focus on Eggman." Mina nodded and turned to leave, but Sally called her back. "Keep an eye on Sonic. I don't want him doing anything foolish."

Mina sighed, letting her shoulders sag. "Okay... sure." She left Sally's office and went to the main room in Freedom HQ. She sat on a couch next to Amy and Bunnie.

Bunnie sighed and rested her head on Mina's shoulder. "Hey, how's Tails?"

"He's alright. I'm more worried about you. You shouldn't be up and about so much."

Bunnie gave her a ridiculous look, indicating that she was sitting. "Ah am neither up nor about. Ah worry about Tails, though. He's a good boy, but he's all alone out there."

Sonic broke in. "Sorry to interrupt, but he's not alone. And you'll never guess who's with him."

Amy turned from pink to red. "He's not with that dirty scoundrel Fiona, is he?"

Sonic nodded in triumph. "One and the same." Amy stood and started waving her hammer around, threatening Fiona from a distance. Sonic continued. "Tell me now that he hasn't fallen in with the wrong crowd."

Bunnie remained seated, but added her piece. "Tell me, then, what circumstances they met under. He may have redeemed her."

Amy turned on Bunnie. "Yeah, right! And maybe they'll get married and have a two-tailed daughter named Miley."

Bunnie looked up at the ceiling, caught up in the fantasy. "Miley! What a cute name! Oh, Ah hope they invite me to their wedding."

Amy looked furious. "Don't make me break your other arm!"

"SHUT UP!" Sally walked through them. "Leave Tails be. We'll deal with him some other time, but for now we should focus on Eggman."