Chapter 41 , and Cassie does some good old fasioned digging through the files.
We also say goodbye to Tails as he sets off on his own adventure (which will be posted elsewhere)
Also, Sonic does a bit of thinking. (Very strange I know but we all do it sometimes)
Anyway, enjoy.
Cassie was flicking back through the case files when Shadow came marching into his office.
"Should I just add your name to the door?" He asked, the sight of her behind his desk becoming extremely commonplace. She gave him the barest of glances before going back to reading.
"Would you? That'd be awfully kind." Her voice was deliberately tinged with sarcasm and although she was staring fixatedly at the paper in her hands, the smile on her face was evident. Shadow walked around his desk to stand behind her and looked over the scattered files littering the desk.
"How many times have you read these?" He asked reading the first few lines of one.
"Enough to get an idea of where to go." Cassie answered stoically. She passed up the file of Andria Metha'as, a name that rang a bell with Shadow, followed by a piece of paper with the signature of Sally Acorn. "Andria Metha'as, as we know her, came to visit her brother, and I use that term loosely, just hours before he was found dead in his cell."
Shadow nodded as he read through what he'd been handed. "She arrived with a lawyer, a mister Acklesfield, who can be seen in the footage we have of their visit. The DVD's here."
She pointed at the disk which was currently laying on top another pile of papers. "The papers they handed over at the front desk were authorised by High Judge McCrowly of all people, so I suggest we talk to the good judge and try to contact this Acklesfield guy. But considering the fact that Andria Metha'as turned out to be associated with these Assassins, I've got a feeling that we'll either be stonewalled by bureaucratic bullshit, or find a rot deeper than we could've considered."
"So in other words…" Cassie looked up with a broad grin.
"I've never gone after a judge before. We're gonna have some fun."
-0-
Tails splashed his face with cold water, toothbrush hanging from his mouth. He went back to brushing furiously as his free hand reached for a hairbrush.
He wanted to be perfect for today. And despite having nothing but his old oily overalls, he wanted to appear his best. He'd washed and shampooed his fur, cleaned his teeth twice so far and was no attacking the fur of his scalp in an attempt to rid himself of knots.
His conversation with Sonic had really given his confidence a boost and he was prepared to capitalise on that.
Minutes later he was dressed and ready. He marched to the front door reached out for the handle and stopped. His hand was shaking. Tails spent a few moments simply staring at his trembling fingers, wondering why they were shaking. Could it be because he was prepared to change everything he'd known for a girl he barely knew? He remembered Sonic's words of wisdom and shook himself out of his stupor and gripped the door handle firmly and gave it a twist.
Stepping out into the bracing morning air caused his breath to catch in his chest. Small streams of smoke filtered through his lips and warm breath met cold air.
Hunching his shoulders, Tails set his feet on the path towards Sakura's billet, retracing his footsteps from the night before.
He kept his eyes focus ahead, not wanting to be distracted from the task he'd set himself. He strode past homes and small businesses as citizens of New Mobotropolis returned to their day-to-day lives despite the grey smoke of still burning embers drifting skywards from the rubble of the castle. A number of people who recognised him, either from his days in the Freedom Fighters or having seen his face on television associated with the Sonic Team, waved or called after him, but he didn't give them more than a passing glance or slight wave of the hand.
As he neared the military compound sights of the mad rush became apparent. Soldiers rushed here and there carrying heavy loads and twice he had to dodge out of the way of an oncoming jeep or truck. Raised voices called across the tarmac, vehicle horns and engines roared as the entire compound of engineers prepared to leave.
He looked around, turning as he walked trying to catch a glimpse of red fur, his ears straining for the sound of her voice. Some of the soldiers glanced his way but most were content to just work around him.
"You there!" He spun around to see a lion marching towards him wearing the same urban-cameo as all the others, although the insignia on his shoulder was that of a Sergeant. "Who are you? You haven't got permission to be here!"
"I'm sorry; I'm looking for Sakura McCain." Tails said quickly, standing his ground despite the intimidating advance of the captain. The lion ceased his stride and looked at him quizzically.
"Wait, I recognise you. Tails Prower, the inventor and engineer of team Sonic, correct?" Tails nodded and the sergeant took on a more relaxed stance. "I don't suppose you'd like to explain why you're looking for one of the Corporals, mmm?"
"Well, I… that is, um…" He quickly cleared his throat as it was becoming apparent that the lion was beginning to lose his patients. "That is a matter I would like to take up with your commanding officer, if you please."
The Sergeant looked at him in a manner not dissimilar to how one would stare at an annoying bug buzzing around their head. After a tense moment he shrugged his shoulders and told the rather relieved twin-tailed fox to follow him.
The way he walked cut a path through the bustling soldiers like a scythe through wheat with the engineers sidestepping out of his path or stopping to avoid collision. Obviously this Sergeant was either well respected or feared of a retributional temper.
They entered one of the small buildings in the centre of the courtyard. Inside it was already being striped of everything that wasn't nailed down, all the work flowing around a single Labrador who continued to pour over a set of maps seemingly oblivious to all that was going on around him. The lion stopped and snapped a parade style salute and the Labrador glanced up, revealing a tired set of eyes.
"Sir, Tails Prower of the Sonic Team wishes to speak with you." Tails glanced down at the cameo jacket lying on the table, making note of the Captain stripes.
"Very well Sergeant, you may go." The lion saluted again and turned on his heel before marching out. The Captain went back to his maps. "So what may I do for you Mr. Prower?"
"I, well… I…" The Labrador glanced up again, seeing the nervousness practically radiating from the young fox.
"Take your time Mr. Prower." That comment did little to calm Tails' nerves as the young genius began wringing his hands together.
"I was hoping to see Sakura… before she left… you know, to talk and maybe…" He trailed off under the captains' relentless gaze. The Labrador pushed the maps into a pile and signalled one of the hovering soldiers who swiftly rolled them and disappeared through the door.
"Get me Corporal McCain." He said with a wave of his hand sending another soldier scurrying away. The captained turned and walked the few paces to the only window overlooking to courtyard and the madness beyond. "I understand that you are quite the engineer yourself Mr. Prower."
"I, I dabble a little." Tails muttered, unsure as to the reason behind this change in topic.
"And humble. I believe that it was you who designed and constructed the anti-air batteries of New Mobotropolis, as well as being a huge driving force behind the creation of Nicole's nano-robotics. You and Rotor have been the lynchpins behind many technological advances for not only the Acorn Kingdom, but for the entire world. Any other Mobian would be splashing their face on the front pages of every magazine they could."
"I um… I've never really been attracted to that sort of life." Tails replied semi-truthfully. He'd watched how Sonic had revelled in the limelight and how much he enjoyed it. But unlike Sonic, Tails wasn't called upon as a celebrity. True he had helped to save the world on many occasions, but Sonic was the hero, he was only the smart sidekick and he was happy with that.
"So it would seem. Which begs the question, why do you want to speak with one of my Corporals?" The captain glanced back at the young fox and watched as he shuffled his feet. "Something personal I see."
"I-I-" For a second time Tails was stuck for words, but what he wasn't expecting was for the captain to chuckle.
"I met my wife in the forces you know. She's part of Army Intelligence and we've been together for almost seven years now." He smiled at Tails' gawping expression. "I'm guessing you've fallen for Corporal McCain and want to follow her, correct?"
Tails shuffled his feet, wondering how this stranger could read him so well. The Labrador chuckled and shook his head. "And they say romance in the army is dead."
"Well unfortunately I cannot simply induct you into the Forth Acorn Engineers, ah good morning Corporal." Tails spun around and saw a confused looking Sakura smile warmly at him. She saluted her commanding officer and walked slowly forward to stand next to the golden furred fox.
"Morning Sir. Pardon me for asking, but why is Tails here?"
"Mr. Prower is our new advisor Corporal."
"What!" Both foxes exclaimed in unison before glancing at each other.
"With the Forth being deployed to Mercia and the Guardian Unit of Nations sending their aid to replace us here, we need someone to liaise with their commanding officer and I can't spare any of my people." The captain sauntered back to his desk, perfectly aware of the stares he was getting, not only from the two foxes but also the other soldiers who had been ferreting around the command office. "So when I get a celebrated engineer like Tails walking in asking if he can join, how can I pass up that chance?"
"You… wanted to join the Forth?" Sakura asked disbelievingly. Tails felt blood rush to his cheeks and took a strange interest in the floor.
"I-I, wanted to… I talked with my brother and he said that… um…"
"You will rejoin us in a week's time, or when GUN have everything under control." The captain said. "Hopefully, by that time you'll have figured out what to say. Dismissed."
Despite his order, both Tails and Sakura stood aimlessly glancing from the Labrador to each other. The captain simply went back to work, being handed a small data-pad and carrying on with the logistics of moving an entire regiment.
After several moments passed, Sakura laid a hand on Tails' shoulder and they slowly walked out, leaving the bustling command post behind. They slowly made their way silently back through the courtyard, neither sure of what to say.
"Sakura, I… um… I wanted to talk to you and…" Tails knew that he was a nervous type and that he struggled with words around women he found attractive, but none so more as the one he was with now.
"I think I know what about." Their eyes met, an unspoken understanding linked them together and on impulse Tails held out his hand. After a moment Sakura took it with a smile.
"You know what? This could be the start of a beautiful relationship."
"You just had to say it didn't you." Tails exclaimed before they both degraded into laughter which was last to the crowd of soldiers as they walked on towards the future.
-0-
Sonic wrung his hands together as he paced in ever quickening circles around his room. He had been taken off of the heart monitor and his bandages had been changed, but despite this the doctors still wanted to keep him in for observations for at least another day and night.
His mind wouldn't stop spinning. Tails was following a girl to Chaos knows where, Shadow was smiling and happy which was scary enough by itself, he'd seen echidnas walking around and had glimpsed Knuckles talking to one in his own room. And what had Shadow said? That he'd gone a step further? He needed to figure things out.
Slumping down onto his bed he rubbed his forehead with both hands. Memories of recent events began to flow through his mind, his carefree runs, the phone call he'd received from GUN, Shadow's mission, explosions and the flash of a blade. A twinge of pain flashed across his chest as a pair of yellow, murderous eyes flashed through his mind.
As he rubbed the bandages wrapped tightly around his chest, Shadow's words kept echoing back. A step further…
He stood back up and headed to the door. If he remembered correctly, Amy had said that she'd be visiting Knuckles and helping Rouge with some of her patients. That brought a smile to his lips, Amy was always the type to help others.
Amy…
A thought quickly surfaced and the cobalt hedgehog left in search of her with determination set in his every step.
And thus ends Sonic's and Tails' parts in this story, leaving only Shadow and Cassie's and the ever nearing final chapter of FntS!
Hope you've enjoyed this chapter and see you next time.
-Corrupt TE-