DISCLAMER: I OWN NOTHING OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, Sega or Archie Comics:

*Aside from my original characters*.

ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO SEGA + Archie Comics.

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Chapter nine

Bad idea.

The wind rushed through Sonics blue spines as he ran, a blue blur streaking across the horizon. It was early evening; the moon was above the skyline, the sun was just shining its last rays across the land. Sonic soaked it in, at his speed, he could chase the sunset for a while, but he needed to focus. He hated seeing the king; old Maximillian Acorn was pompous and arrogant in his winter years. The smog signaled he was near Mobotropolis.

And after the rather sour break-up with long time lover sally acorn, the king's daughter, things definitely went downhill. 'What could the old man want now' sneered sonic to himself as he bounded over a fallen tree and resumed his pace as if his feet had never left the ground, Sonics mood was dark. Amy and himself had only just arrived home a few short hours ago from dropping Tails off at Portal Station, finished dinner, and were about to go to bed for the night.

Acorn palace was lit up with white and green lights, spilling up from the ground by huge spotlights. It was the only impressive landmark in the Mobius industrial city. Many, if not all the buildings were turned into factories for Eggman when he all but conquered Mobius completely, now repurposed back into living spaces, offices or stores. It gave off an eerie feel, giant pipes and smoke stacks, industry and grime, mixed with rebuilt clean Mobian apartments and businesses.

Some factories remained operational, producing electricity or metal works. The whole city had a dreary, grey look to it. Despite the massive rebuilding that had not stopped since the people of Mobius were free of Eggman, It still smelt of burnt metal and grease. Sometimes broken by the smell of street vendors and there food stuffs and goods. In a blink of an eye sonic was up on a factory smoke stack, spin dashing from one roof top to another. In moments he would be at the palace, he took his time walking up the stairs however...

The guards looked on edge today, which was odd. Sonic had seen these same two guards here for years. They never looked lazy; they did however have the luxury of being in the heart of Mobotropolis. Danger of any kind was mostly reserved to the overbearing sergeants of the secret service giving them a good verbal lashing for not doing this or that or for not looking "fit for duty".

But today they were tense, like they were expecting something. What? Sonic had no idea but as he walked up one of the guards, a squirrel of modest build, stopped him in his tracks and said "sorry Sonic, I've been told to hold you here till agent St John get here.

'oh great' thought sonic as he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes 'what does that nosy skunk want with me now' the distrust that Geoffrey St John held for sonic only increased tenfold since the split of the Princess and hero of Mobius.

'Darn guy is too loyal for his own good' mused sonic, a thought that made him grin, 'what would old stink tail do if sally and her father went up against one another?,' "sonic, this way if you please mate'" said a stern familiar voice broke the hero's thoughts, "look Geoff old buddy, I don't have time for this, what'cha bring me all the way here to Mobotropolis for?" "Not here mate, follow me." Said the fit skunk, Sonic followed the black and white furred agent, unsure about all the stern faces, "what? Did eggman come back from the dead?" Sonic said, chuckling out loud, still no response.

They filed into a briefing room, there in his wheel chair, bushy mustache, crown and all was the king. Maximillian Acorn. A plaid blanket folded on his knees, beside him, looking particularly stressed was his daughter princess Sally, in a white business suit, with her hair pulled back into a pony tail.

"Sonic" she said dryly. She looked tired, her blue boots and vest traded for a white pants suit, the princess was the face of Mobius, her father too unwell to have dealings in politics. He nodded at his former companion, not making eye contact, he felt an odd twinge of guilt for the youth that seemed to be sapped from the brave princess warrior.

Sonic looked to the others in the room, there looking grumpy as normal was knuckles, arm crossed eyes closed, leaning up against the briefing rooms projector wall. 'Humph, not even a hello' sonic shock his head and turned to Geoffrey, "ok, what's going on?" "Sonic we need to explain something" sally spoke first, "and we need you to stay calm mate," added St John.

King Acorn was stern faced; hand crossed in his lap, "I'm sorry my dear boy, but we had to do this" Sonic furrowed his brow. St John continued, "Well mate, it's like this, remember the group that turned into traitors? Well we suspect there back" Sonic briefly remembered hearing about the 'Independence' during the first year after the war with Eggman was over. "Yeah, there that group that wanted to leave the rule of the crown, so? They caused a few riots and a few messes, but you secret dudes with the nice suits stopped 'em right?" "Aye we did mate, sort of, but we didn't catch the big fish, there leader." the skunk replied.

St John moved over to the wall Knuckles was leaning on, and gave an annoyed cough. The echidna opened an eye, shooting the skunk with a fixed glair, and shifted ever so slightly so that St John could flick the light switch. Pictures of a big black dog type Mobian were projected on the rear wall. "This ugly blokes name is Dutch Durbin. He's a Doberman with a bit of a violent streak, after 2 years of trying to find him; we bloody well hit the jack-pot. He's in Gemini City on earth!" the excitement and vigor evident in the acorn agent's voice. Sonic could care less. Why was he here? This had nothing to do with the retired freedom fighter, "and?" the blue hedgehog sighed, smiling on the inside when Knuckles blurted out impatiently "Would you get to the point?"

"Its Tails, he's the perfect chance to end this little gang's terror for good, and show the human government we can handle ourselves." Geoffrey was clicking the projectors switch, pictures of the Doberman flashing, "but we couldn't have gotten this plan rolling without tails, that genius going to a 'tech' conference Alone? We knew it would be too tempting, hostage taking is the brown coats fav-" "WHAT?!" sonic and knuckles blurted out at the same time, sonic jumped up from his chair, fists clenched "what hostage? Wait…he's Bait?! You used Tails for bait!?" "What were you thinking?" Knuckles asked, eyes glaring at the skunk. Two squirrel Acorn agents stepped forwards from the wall, taking a no nonsense stance, hands hovering near stun sticks.

Sally spoke "I didn't like the idea ether, you two, but Geoffrey is right, if they were on Mobius, we could keep tabs on them. Hunt them. But on earth? We have-" Sonic couldn't believe what he was hearing, he repeated himself.

"You used him for bait?" his voice thick with venom, eyes shooting from St John to sally. Knuckles shook his head, thumb and forefinger rubbing his forehead, asking "How could you ever think this was a good idea?" Geoffrey spoke up; the excitement in his voice gone now, replaced with contempt at the two freedom fighters outbursts.

"I have three of my best agents watching him as we speak, this is just reconnaissance mate, once I hear from them, we inform the human authorities and request we round them up-" knuckles interrupted, "Does Tails even know he's being used like this?" St John furrowed his brow, "We had no choice but to put this plan into action without his knowledge. I just got word half an hour ago that the brown coats are already following him, so were extracting Tails now. And then were going to following the scum back to their hide out, Tails will be home in an hour, two tops." King Acorn nodded his head, "I gave St John permission, the Independence is the last threat to us all. After this is over Mobius will TRULY have peace, do you understand my boy?"

Sonic couldn't believe what he was hearing, they had used his best friend and one of the smartest engineers, as bait to finish a score with a ragtag band of separatists, without asking him or even discussing it.

Sonic felt his anger grow; sally even thought this was ok? Or did she do it in spite of him?… his head was whirling with possible reasons why they would take advantage of Tails and Sonics trust. He felt a thick gloved hand grab his shoulder reassuringly, "you don't, you can't, give anyone permission to manipulate others, what gives you the right?!" knuckles growled. "He's the king" Sally snapped back, finally speaking "and this threat needs to be dealt with. There dangerous and clever, and if they influence some humans to their side? They could ruin everything, did you honestly not notice that were STUCK to another planets orbit? Our problems cannot, and will not become there problem."

Sally's voice was raised, almost quaking. Her hand on her fathers shoulder. The authority heavy in her voice, she had made just the tiniest bit of sense to the red and blue freedom fighters. Geoffrey St John waited till everyone seemed to be calm, "So mate, you see the need for secrets, but in a bit my blokes are going to call in. Tails will be brought home, and the independence scum tracked down like the traitors they are". Sonic was not impressed, his anger not affected by the confident agent. Knuckles snorted his disapproval, turning sharply, and walked out of the briefing room.

Sonic gave his 'King' a glair; the blue hedgehog turned and pointed a gloved finger at the agent. "John, this is way over the line. You do anything like this again, I don't want to think of what will happen" he switched his glair to sally, "And you.." Sonic shook his head; unable to stomach his thoughts, turning without speaking further… he followed his friendly red rival out of the room.

Everyone remained silent for a few moments, Sally was about to speak first when a head poked in through the door, a wide eyed chipmunk agent with a face like he had seen a ghost "Sir, Geoffrey sir? Agent Rob O' is on a 'human' line, h-he's in human c-custody… and needs to speak to you… now." The king, princess and St John all exchanged worried glances, the head of the acorn agency walked briskly to the hallway, and then sprinting to the communications room, skidding to a halt; he reefed the door open and grabbed the receiver that was off the hanger.

Sally followed, leaving her father as he sat in his wheel chair, his fingers wringing together. He looked frail, almost brittle. This stressful day hadn't gone well and it took its toll on the old squirrel. His eyes snapped to the door, he heard an odd sound he hadn't heard in years…

Sally was fast-walking down the hallway after the head of her security; if there agents were in human custody, it couldn't spell anything good. The last thing she needed was even more complications, she already didn't like this idea, she halted a few meters from the communications room, a puzzled look on her face when she first heard it, it was something sally had head before numerous times during the war, but nothing like this, It started off as a high pitched whining, turning quickly into a guttural and mournful scream. It lasted for a long moment, shifting to heaving sobs, Sally darted the last few meters to the high tech' room. St John was on his knees clutching his chest.

Tears soaking into his facial fur, Sally knew instantly what had happened, despite her concern Geoffrey's wife had volunteered for the mission, it was her focus and dedication that the Skunk had fallen in love with, St John had only shrugged his shoulders at her request, his adoration and respect glimmering in his eyes.

To Geoffrey St John she was the perfect agent, wife and companion. Sally fell to her knees beside the weeping skunk. The Mobian was curled into a ball, his deep sobs broken up with sucking, gasping breaths. Sally's eyes started to well up with her own tears; the sobbing skunk was always a brick wall of self control, a shining example of an agent. The two sat there for a long time, a small band of lower level agents slowly begun to gather just outside the door.

Their faces downcast, they didn't even need to know what had happened to know why their endlessly brave and courageous head agent had collapsed into a weeping, screaming heap on the floor. There sympathetic sniffles and quiet crying could be heard for their fallen comrade.

WOW! Sorry for the lack of updates, its X-mass so my store is super busy, anyway more chapters coming soon, thanks for the support

*BTW please support the Archie Sonic Comics, you're missing out if you ONLY play the games- unless of course you like bland, boring as all hell, shit stories (Sega are masters of this). Then by all means skip this amazing comic series we don't need narrow minded people reading this pure gold.*

I'll do my best to put chapters out faster, I have them in story board form so it's easy to do I just need time, again thank you all for the views, reviews, and comments. Please enjoy.