Tloj: Phew! It took a lot of willpower to get this edited. :P Well, enjoy!

Lady fist stands in the clock tower, ears raised. A slight creak in the wooden planks makes her whirl, brandishing her Energy Sword mode as a chameleon goes from transparent to neon green in midair, the sword cutting him in half at the hip.

"Nice." I smirk from my spot in the shadows near the window, listening through the crowd with my superhearing.

She straightens, "I kinda just wanted to put them down at first, but when more them one of them puts his hand in a naughty place... I just figured, fuck it."

I chuckle. "Why are they finding naughty places, hm?"

"Because I'm irresistible," she teases. "But that's beside the point. Still got that arrow?"

I toss the crossbow to her. "Didn't I tell you to do this yesterday?"

"Where's the fun in that?" She climbs up to a window, and looks at the crossbow. With a shrug she takes out the bolt, inserting it into a dart launcher on her wrist.

"The thing is to line up the shot in advance." I remind her. "That's the test, not hitting the target."

"Oh Yee of little faith, quit your whining," she says as she lines up the shot.

I watch her with a frown. That's not my test...

Millie frowns, "I don't think this arrow can make it from this distance, too much wind. Time for plan B!" She rustles around in her outfit top for something.

I tilt my head, watching her as my tails swish.

She pulls out a small detonator, "I put Sleeping Gas grenades under the stage last night. One puff of smoke at the end of his speech, a pair of assassins silently steal them away, and the general populace will be none the wiser..."

"That's good... so what's the backup plan if things go south?" I take the crossbow.

"Blackout," she replies. "Tails packed you a nice missile that can blot out the sun in a mile radius for about an hour."

"Ooooooh!" I can feel my spine tingle. Now that is something I could use on a daily basis. I remind myself to ask him for another one later for personal study.

She smirks, "And if all else fails, we raise Hell. This IS Eggman's city after all so no big loss for property damage."

I lean forward and kiss her. "Best sidekick girlfriend ever."

She wags her cottonball of a tail as she purrs, "I love you too."

I chuckle before turning serious, my ear twitching. "Here he comes." I can hear a quiet thrum of engines in the distance, barely noticeable over all the commotion below, but it's what I've been expecting.

She smirks, "Got a video camera with you? As soon as his speech ends I fire the sleep gas, and Hero releases the fireworks to gain the crowd's attention."

I nod and motion to the invisible security camera with anti-reflection on the lens to prevent being spotted. "Yep yep!"

She leans over to kiss my lips, "Good, because we might wanna rewatch this."

"I will. Imma show my grandkids how I kidnapped Eggman." I smirk as I kiss her back.

She giggles as the speech begins...

...

Shade focuses, "...I sense Tails Doll, and Lady Fist are in position...not surprisingly I can't feel the Nightshades' Chi."

I nod. "Of course. Now, I need to work on the fireworks." I start focusing.

She raises an eyebrow, "And how do you plan to launch them from the middle of a crowd?"

I look around. "Yeah, not a good idea." I spot a fountain. "Over there."

"So near water?"

I nod. "I can use the water to strengthen the bursts as well as make sure no one is close enough to get zapped by me."

"Ah."

I start focusing, listening to Eggman.

"People of my fair city. This is Doctor Ivo Robotnik. Now I know about the rumors about dissension in my troops, the Dark Egg Legion, and their so called "savior" Hero. I am here to quall these rumors. This "Hero" is under my grasp, under lock and key in my most secure facility. Order will soon be restored."

I feel my blood boil. Under control? You're the evil one here.

Shade blinks, "Either he is lying to save face... Or he truly believes it."

"Antonio will be able to tell us later. He's good at reading people." I'm getting close to full charge.

"That is all. Please, do not fear any uprisers in your fair city. They will be dealt with swiftly and harshly." Eggman finishes, bowing.

Abruptly a cloud of white smoke envelopes Eggman, and Snively.

I slam the water in the fountain, releasing my charge. The electricity shoots to the center of the fountain and launches off the center, flying high into the sky and exploding into fireworks.

Shade smiles, "I'm impressed."

The crowd is awed, and when they look back at the stage, the Doctor and his second-in-command are missing. Mistaking the whole thing for a performance they all start to applaud.

"Let's book." I grab her hand and start maneuvering through the crowd.

...

Millie smirks, "Checkmate."

"Indeed. Nice shot." I nod.

She hops down beside me, "So let's go meet with the others."

I nod as I pack everything up, taking her hand and flying to our regroup point.

In an old warehouse condemned for demolition a week from now we find our assassins with the two prisoners tied up. Reave, and Crystal are wearing their hoods as they nod to us.

We nod back. "They awake?" I tilt my head.

Crystal nudges Snively with her boot, and he squirms against his bonds, and gag.

I smirk. "Kill the lights and take off the gag."

Reave nods, and narrows the shutters so only the barest hints of light are in the room. Then he uses a hidden blade to cut off Eggman's gag.

I lean in until I'm right next to him, the red gem on my mask illuminating only my mask and Eggman's face, and he's clearly terrified.

"We can do this the easy way... or my way. Where is Fear?" I hiss.

"W-who?!" He whimpers, horrified.

Out of the corner of my eye I can see Millie recording all this.

"Tall imposing figure, echidnaen, father of the Hero?" I hiss, my tail moving slowly back and forth, almost threateningly.

"Doesn't ring any bells!" He squeaks.

"Then where is the Hero you have captured?" I growl.

"I am not at liberty to say-" He starts, but is cut off as I swiftly slam my fist into his kneecap so hard I dislocate his lower leg at a horrific angle, at least to the two Overlanders.

"Wrong answer." I turn to Snively.

Snively shakes like a leaf as Crystal cuts off his gag. "I can vouch we don't know anyone by the name of Fear, and for security reasons I was not given the location you seek!"

"Bullshit." I bring my foot up and slam it onto the seat right between his legs, breaking through the chair and leaving a boot-shaped cut just centimeters from his body parts, leaving the chair intact.

Snively's already wild, If albeit scarse, hair stands up even more, and he screams, "I SWEAR I DON'T KNOW! IT'S FOR THIS VERY REASON I WASNT TOLD!"

I hiss and whirl back to Eggman with a tilted head, something I suppose fits the Joker more than Batman... but hey, I'm the Tails Doll.

"I know you know him. So where is he? Where is the Hero?!" I raise my fist, ready to strike his other kneecap.

"WAIT!" Eggman howls, and I pause.

"I don't have him! I never had him! But I know where he is, I can take you to him! Just let me go!" He pleads.

"Mm, he'll pass."

Eggman's eyes bug out of his glasses.

Hero walks in as Fire Hero, holding a glowing fireball in his hand, illuminating his face in a terrifying way. "Just making sure you're telling the truth."

Millie as Lady Fist crosses her arms, "Can we still wail on them for the fun of it?"

"Maybe. If they don't say where Fear is." Hero smirks almost sinisterly.

Millie smiles as she chooses the Energy Sword mode on her gauntlet, adding a little blue light to the room.

"Wait!" Eggman yelps.

Hero tilts his head. "We're listening."

Millie shakes her blade, "Most of us are anyway."

He sweats. "Fear is in Death City!"

"Never heard of it." Hero deadpans.

"Of course not! It's a secret underground city."

"Known only by those deeply involved in the Underworld like Mob bosses, infamous muderers... Or assassins," Reave says. "So that's how you got the Nage to work with you."

"So I see you know about them as well." Eggman growls.

"Of course." Hero nods.

Crystal grabs Eggman's jacket, "And since you don't know who we are, I would guess you're not really the man pulling their strings, are you?"

"No. I only supply things to them, in exchange for valuable information." He gulps.

Crystal hisses, and extends her Hookblade.

"That's all I have I swear!" He cringes.

"Fine."

We all look at Hero.

"Give us the location. We'll go there. And if we don't like what we see, we're coming for you again." Hero states.

"I've been there, we don't need him," Crystal says in a voice like ice as she raises her blade to plunge.

"Let him go." Hero states. "He's not our enemy. Fear is."

"He helped destroy my clan," she seethes.

"So destroy his robots. His time will come, and you're welcome to be there. But we might need him again later." Hero states.

Reave crosses his arms as he watches.

I flick my tail. "Tens seconds to decide."

Crystal snarls, and let's go of his jacket with disgust. She hears him let out a relieved sigh...

And then she whirls, using her blade to cut off his arm at the shoulder, as effortlessly as cutting warm butter.

He screams, his eyes bulging from his head as blood spurts from his shoulder.

"Let that be a reminder," she says coldly. "The Nightshades live." And with that she sheathes her blade, turning away to walk into the shadows.

Hero and I look at each other before extinguishing our light sources, and I swiftly whack a nerve in their necks, making them pass out. "Take Eggman to the hospital." I look at Millie. "I'll drop Snively.

Millie nods, and lifts Eggman. "Oh crap! You need to lose some weight, mate!"

"He did, he lost an arm." I smirk, grabbing Snively and flying out.

Behind me I can hear her say, "Should I be concerned because he's getting steadily lighter?"

"Yes, he needs to be in the hospital yesterday. Make it happen, Lady Fist!" I call. I fly back to the square and hang him upside down on a building. "There, that should be scary enough." I reach into my pocket and pull out a crimson pastel gem and place it in his coat, so he doesn't forget what had transpired. I then fly back.

Millie is already gone, and I see Crystal cleaning the blood off her blade with a cloth.

"Maybe next time you could do that when we're close to a hospital?" I deadpan, pulling off my mask and breathing fresher air.

She takes down her hood, and looks at me out of the corner of her eye. The look in her gaze is stony, a clear challenge, like she's daring me to contradict her.

"Don't look at me like that. You may not care if he dies, but it's on your head if he does, and we need him again."

"Do we really? We know where to go, and we could have just scared Snively into working with us after we made him watch as WE RIPPED OUT-!" She cuts herself off as Reave puts a hand on her arm.

"We don't do that though. We're the good guys. We kill as little as possible, if at all." Hero says calmly.

"No, YOU'RE the good guys," she says flatly as she raises her hood. "We are assassins. We do what men like you can't sink to do, and we do it so you don't have to."

"You may be assassins. But you work with us, so you deal with our rules." Hero says easily.

"We chose to work with you," Crystal says. "We made no contract. Now we know where to go, and can exact vengeance ourselves."

Hero looks at Reave sadly. "Reave... can't you say something about this?"

Reave nods, "Crystal, we both know it's foolish, and desperate to try to attack the Nagé on our own. Especially after tonight, you let your emotions sacrifice our anonymity. Eggman will tell the one who controls the Nage of our existence. Now we are to be hunted."

Crystal whirls on him, "So you would sit idly by while our clan dies with us?!"

Reave meets his older sister's gaze steadily, "Our clan surely will die with us after tonight. When did you sacrifice your wisdom for madness Sister?"

*CRACK!*

It's so fast none of them see it when she backhands him hard enough to send his face to the side. Still his face betrays no emotion.

I wince. "Is that how I act during a temper tantrum?"

Hero nods. "Yeah... except more eye lasers and punching through walls."

Cystal's face twisted with rage slowly I tenses as she watches her handprint forming on his cheek. "...Reave...I..."

He looks into her eyes, "I know."

She bows her head with closed eyes as he hugs her. Ever so slightly her shoulders shake with silent sobs.

"...And then they usually end with Mom slapping you and you turn to normal." Hero blinks.

"Hugs work too." I spin out of my Tails Doll outfit.

Millie takes off her mask, "I know a bat, she's got hypnotic powers. She can wipe their memories of all our faces."

"Sounds useful." Hero nods.

"To everyone but me, 'cuz I wear a mask." I shrug.

Crystal turns back to us, "I'm sorry... I forgot myself."

"Yeah... again. Seriously, this is becoming a thing." I deadpan.

Millie tilts her head, "Is it the Crimson Tide?"

Crystal clears her throat, "...Perhaps..."

"The what?" Hero blinks.

Millie stares at him, "...The Crimson Tide? The Curse of Eve? THAT time of the month?"

"Oh." He blushes. "Why make it so complicated? You're confusing me."

"What can I say? When women have had to deal with it for so long we make ways of saying it... Tenderly."

"I need to ask Sarah about these things so I don't ask." Hero scowls.

"Well, we're burning time." I speak up, looking at Millie. "Eggy's in the hospital?"

She nods, and pulls out a cell phone. "I'll have them taken care of before sunset."

Shade walks up to Hero, "That was an exciting hunt, in its own right."

"Indeed." He nuzzles her with a smile.

"Does Mom know you have two girlfriends?" I smirk.

"Shaddap." He smirks back.

Millie pauses in her dialing, "...What... Are you doing?"

"Echidnas are polygamous. They're both echidnas. Duh." I say. It didn't really bother me, congrats to him.

"Yeah... But my sister, my pregnant sister...is not an Echidna," she says through her teeth, her eyes zeroing in on Hero.

I grab her shoulder. "She's his first wife. He will take care of her first and foremost. Right Hero?"

He nods, backing away slowly with a gulp.

She cracks her knuckles, "Did you ever even talk about the possibility of polygamy with her...?"

Hero nods with a gulp. "I called her between capturing Eggman and questioning him."

Millie glowers at him, and Shade steps between them.

"Millie, I respect your desire to defend your sister's honor," Shade says. "However Sarah is not a child. This is between Hero, Sarah, and myself. Given that I provoked this if you have issue then kindly take it up with me."

Hero pulls out his phone. "If it makes you feel any better... I can call her again."

Millie glances between them, and throws her hands up with a sigh. "Whatever, I'm tired. And since we're on our way into Hell itself apparently I can just find out when we get home."

I pull her into a hug. "Hey, at least you know I'm only eyeing you."

"You better," she says with a smile, turning to hug me back. "Otherwise Batman or not I'll... Think of something, for now let's just go back to the hotel."

...

Jane looks down the sights of her pistol as she cleans it.

Counterpunch walks in, looking around. "This is the place, Smoke? Seems a bit... public."

"That's why it's perfect," he replies. "Strangers don't give a shit, and it's easy to spot Shadows."

"You know how I hate public... hello, is that her?" He blinks when he notices Jane.

"Yup, and I suggest shooting straight with her," Smoke advises.

"Sure." He looks around the room, subtly suspicious of traps as he walks up and pulls up a chair across from her.

Jane looks up, and smiles, "Hey Sugah."

"Hi." He greets. "I'm Counterpunch. Is it usually this empty? I thought there was more party than this." He looks around the private lounge area they sat in.

Jane twirls her gun, and holsters it, "Well I'm Jane, pleased to meet you."

"Nice to meet you to." He smiles. "So I heard you're only into girls?"

"Yup," she says with a nod. "Sorry if you were wondern'."

He shrugs. "Meh... I was just hoping to see if I could try converting you."

"You ain't the first," she says, pressing her breasts together with her arms.

He smirks. "But unlike others, I've actually done it."

Jane raises an eyebrow, "Oh really? How?"

"Nope, not spoiling anything." He smiles. "You don't need any advantages, it looks like."

"You play dirty," she chuckles.

"Hey, I'm the undercover guy with all the tricks and secrets." He sticks his tongue out. "I could get a few attachments for your little blasters if I wanted to."

"ain't no blasters, just regular old pistols. They belong to my great great great Granddaddy."

"Of course... but hollow rounds hurt more than copper." He chuckles.

"I think I'm fine Sugah, but thank you ever so much for offerin'."

He nods. "Very well. Smoke, is there anything planned? If not, I do believe I'll take this fine young lady out on a date."

Jane raises an eyebrow, "I don't believe I recall you askin'."

Smoke raises his hands, "I need to call my guys, anything beyond that is between you guys."

"Well then, would you mind grabbing some dinner with me?" He offers.

Jane sighs, "...Fine, alright, but ya mind if I bring someone along?"

He shrugs. "I suppose..."

Jane smiles, "Hey Sugah-kitty, ya'll usin' Juno for anythin'?"

Smoke shakes his head, "Not at the moment."

Counterpunch blinks and tilts his head.

"A communications officer in the legion," Smoke says. "Pretty cute."

"Ooooh, June? Yeah, she's kinda cute. Always hides behind a computer though..." He smiles.

Smoke raises an eyebrow, "Well if no one has called dibs yet, I got my eye on her if nothing happens tonight."

"No promises, but I'll see what I can do." He winks.

Smoke gives him a thumbs-up as Jane stands, "Well c'mon, let's go get her."

Counterpunch stands as well. "Where'd you last leave her, Smokey?"

"First off don't call me that, I'm a cat not a bear. Second I think she's back at the hotel."

"Okay... where's your hotel? It's not like I've been keeping tabs on you guys yet." He sticks his tongue out.

"Yeah, pretty sure I don't want that thin in mah mouth neither," Jane says dryly, headed for the exit.

He blinks. "Sassy little..." He chuckles and follows her.

"Good luck," Smoke calls after him with a chuckle.

Outside Jane puts her hands on her hips, her tail brushing the sidewalk as she waits for Counterpunch to catch up.

He tightens his trenchcoat amusedly as he catches up.

Jane smirks, "We're at that big grand hotel on 8th Ave."

"The fancy one? How'd a group of 'nobodies' secure a place there?" He had to admit, he would've never looked there.

"Exchange rate Sugah, one ring back home is worth about ten here. No offense." She shrugs as she starts walking.

He scowls. "That explains the better than average pay... sonnuva..."

"Aw don't feel too bad, Station Square ain't got nothing on the views I've seen here."

"Yeah... it's a really nice city." He glances at the crystal clear canals.

Jane nods, "A nice place to visit, tourism must be boomin'."

"Indeed. And so is the underworld." Counterpunch nods.

"I see, any bounties worth cash'n in on?"

"Depends, do you have any friends you'd like to turn in?" He asks dryly.

"Nope," she says with a smile.

"Then no, unless you happen to bag Sonic the Hedgehog." He shrugs.

"Woah, back the truck up," she stops. "Sugahog has a price on him?"

"Well yeah. It's posted by Eggman." He nods.

"Uh huh..." She rubs her chin thoughtfully, "So... How much we talkn'?"

"Hold on to your top: Your price. As long as you have him, you name your price."

Jane blinks, and smiles, "A blank check eh? He must want him bad."

"Of course. It's the eternal war of villain and hero, one can't live without the other. Both sides deny it, but it's always true. Once a hero, always a hero, and a hero always has a villain." He chuckles.

Jane folds her hands behind her head with a sigh, "And if I break that cycle not even Chaos know what would happen... Speaking of..."

Up ahead she spots Cinder walking over a bridge with the God of Destruction by the hand.

Counterpunch freezes. "L-Lord Chaos?! He's free?! That girl doesn't know who she's dating!"

Jane laughs, "Oh I think she does Sugah, that there is Smoke's pal Cinder."

He blinks. "That's Cinder? She seems... nicer than I last saw her."

"Got a point there," Jane mutters. "She has been trying to act more womanly lately..."

Counterpunch watches them walk by. "Well, if Chaos isn't attacking anyone, then at least she has the monster under control."

Cinder pauses, and looks over her shoulder at Counterpunch. Suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stands up, some primal instinct telling him the most dangerous predator on the planet is stalking him... And it's VERY hungry.

He backs away slowly with a gulp.

Jane holds up a hand, "Sugah, he don't know what he's talk'n 'bout, just ignore him."

Chaos chuckles. "Monster is a broad spectrum."

Counterpunch shrinks a little. "I... apologize, Lord Chaos!"

"It's alright, she'll only bite you hard enough to hospitalize you."

Counterpunch backs away more, shivering.

Cinder sighs through her nose, "Between Spike, and the rest of the world I should be used to ignorance by now." She holds chaos' hand a little tighter as they continue walking.

Jane waves, and turns, "Once you're done taste'n yer foot, can we go?"

Counterpunch scowls at her. "Yeah yeah, let's go."

She giggles, and hugs him, "Aw don't feel too bad Sugah. No injuries, an' you still get to go on a double date with June."

"If she doesn't turn shy with it, which she probably will." He states.

Jane chuckles as they make it to the hotel, and she leads him up to the room.

Seis walks by, pausing. "You got a boyfriend? I thought you weren't into guys."

"He ain't mah boyfriend, but he said on date could turn me Bi," she looks at Counterpunch out of the corner of her eye. "Wanna bet money on it Sugah?"

"Oh, I'm definitely betting money on this man." Seis smirks. "Does 50 rings sound extravagant?"

Jane smirks, "Fifty says he can't do it."

"50 says I can." Counterpunch scowls.

Jane puts her hands on her hips, "I feel bad for take'n all yer money... On second thought not really. Sies, where's June?"

"Upstairs getting cultured into Star Wars. Imma getting popcorn. Want some?" Seis offers.

"Sure thin'!" She smiles, headed up the stairs to find the sunny echidna.

Seis looks at Counterpunch. "Sir, if you convert her, I will worship you." He says simply before walking into the elevator.

Counterpunch blinks before shrugging and following Jane.

Tloj: Yeah, sorry for the filler. The next chappie is a bit of character development and filler too. I promise the action will come back. But request more chapters if you want to keep reading! I get lazy sometimes, but positive reinforcement helps! :) So, R&R!