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

*Aside from my original characters*.

ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO SEGA + Archie Sonic Comics.

Please R&R. Enjoy!

Chapter 13

Out of the fire..

Gemini city, Earth:

Bonnie cursed as she bashed the public phone back down on its receiver. The old grimy phone booth rattled with the impact, the vixen walked quickly back to the table the two foxes had chosen. Bonnie and Eli had walked a long time and when they were sure no one was following, they had slipped into a filthy little dinner.

"No one's picking up at the hideout" she whispered as she took her seat next to him, panic thick in her voice. Eli only grunted in response. They had stopped the bleeding in the ally, but during the rush to get as far away from the crime scene as they could, it had become clear something was wrong inside.

Bonnie waved the lone waitress over, and asked for some water. The woman nodded and headed off, Bonnie quickly lifted her brother's jacket and peeked at the wound and let out a hushed gasp, the gauze she had wrapped around him was so heavy with blood it had lost its elasticity, and was sagging so bad it wasn't even covering the wound.

When they got their water Bonnie had to roughly shake Eli awake to take a drink. Now the vixen was terrified, she tilted the glass to his lips helping Eli drink. The older fox finished the whole glass off, gave a satisfied sigh and went to lean back on the table top. "No no no sit up straight, you have to stay awake Eli, don't go to sleep ok? Hey? You hear me?"

Acorn palace, Mobius:

The four mobian's stood in the hangar bay wing of the palace, confusion riddled their faces. The hanger bay was empty save for a single table with a projector and some files, the shortest of the four was tapping his shoe impatiently, a purple furred hand on his blaster by his hip, brown fedora atop his head. The mobian gave a sigh, when one of the others said what was on everyone's mind, "this is a waste of mah' time, I have an oil refinery to look after, and I aint' trusting my idiot group to handle things without me"

The female of the little group ruffled the speaker's coarse grey fur between his two short, stiff ears. "Relax there 'Cyclops', were early anyway" she said teasingly, giving her wings a small flap of amusement "HAH! Like we had a choice, and the little guy's right, this is a waste of time mates" spoke the tallest and gruffest of the four, green gloved fists clenching with irritation. "And your time will be well compensated for"

The four turned in the direction of the voice, walking with intent, was Geoffrey St John, "I'm sure your all wondering what the Crown could want with you scum bags, well it's that very fact why you're here." The tall mobian with the green gloves let loose low growl which seemed too vibrated the very ground he stood on. "I think you should listen to your friend and relax, all of you."

St john stood feet away from the small band of trouble, a thief, a bounty hunter, a former freedom fighter and one who was the last of his race. He fixed them with a glair till he was sure they would listen, "you all have skills that can be useful to me, and I say again mates, you all will be well rewarded"

Independence HQ, Earth:

Dutch walked out of the elevator, towards the make shift communications room. The underground complex, which was currently home to the independence chapter on earth, was damp and cold. The Doberman gave a shudder as her rounded a corner of the concrete maze.

"What's the word from our chapter on Mobius?" he asked as he entered the com-room. "good sir, they're ready for the operation as soon as you give the order" the dingo replied, staring at the many monitors on the wall. Dutch grinned, "excellent, inform Drago Wolf to begin phase one." His communication officer nodded and began to punch in numbers into the computer, when Dutch got a jolt, he suddenly remembered his two newest recruits.

"Have Bonnie or Eli reported in?" the dingo shook his head, "er..no sir, uh well, at least I don't think s-" Dutch rounded on the young mobian, "You don't think? You have one job, sit here and receive transmissions, so did they or didn't they?!" the dingo quaked under the glare of his leader, "I-I- I went out for a s-s-smoke s-s-ir, I'm s-orry!" "YOU WHAT!?" Dutch roared as he grabbed his coms-officer by the scruff of his neck, lifting him to eye level "If I check that computer… and find missing calls, you'll wish the Echidna's had wiped all of you dingoes out when I'm done with you. Out of my sight!" he barked.

Dutch released the young recruit, as soon as the dingoes feet touched the ground he bolted from the coms-room. The Doberman sighed and started searching the computer records, his gut lurched, and anger started to boil inside him. 4 missed calls; all to the number he had given the two foxes in case of emergencies.

Dutch sprang from his chair and stormed out of the room, taking off at a run down the long damp concrete corridors. He passed two of his recruits on the way, "You two! One of you go tell the security officer to lock this place down, the other come with me." The one who followed Dutch was full of excitement; it was another of the dingoes Dutch had inducted into the Independence, "were too boss?" he asked as he quick stepped behind his leader, chest swelled with pride that he was going on a mission with the big guy, the boss man.

"Rescue mission my lad, get your gear and meet me top-side"

-Check back for more chapters and thanks again for reading! :D -