Chapter 32: Suspicion

As Amelia had predicted, Sonny and his friends' vacation to South Island was much more relaxing once they had defeated Doctor Eggman. Even Rouge seemed to be happier, though she and Chuck constantly bickered. Meanwhile Marina got to work on building a new ship she named the Super SS Marine with Miles helping her out. Then once it was finished, Marina sailed off to Bygone Island to be with her cousin but she and Miles kept in touch through email and video-chat.

Sonny was enjoying his time too, but he was still bitter that his parents couldn't come down to see him. Yet he remembered that his life had gotten more complicated now and maybe it was better that his parents weren't too involved. As for the Chaos Emeralds, Sonny did the same thing as he did before and sent them flying in different directions in Super Sonic form. He figured they would be found eventually, but this method made it more difficult for those who were purposefully seeking the Emeralds out such as Doctor Eggman and possibly G. U. N.

After New Year's Day, Chuck left for Angel Island while Sonic and the others took the first plane back to Central City. At the airport, Rouge was picked up by her father who was a very tall man in his early sixties with short white hair, red and blue eyes, and wearing a gray military uniform. He briefly greeted Sonny and the others before leaving with Rouge in tow. Then from there, Amelia went back to her single-room apartment while Sonny and Miles went back to theirs.

"What did you think of Rouge's dad?" Miles asked. "He seemed kind of intimidating."

"Yeah," Sonny replied. "It's no wonder Rouge is constantly seeking attention from other people."

"That's one of the things I don't like about her, but I guess you can't blame her considering what she has to deal with."

"It would also explain why Rouge is so withdrawn. Now what did she say her dad's job was?"

"She said he works for the government, but didn't specify what he does."

"Didn't that seem odd to you? She sounded like she knew her dad's work but chose not to tell us."

"Probably because her father was standing right there."

"Do you think he's some kind of government agent posing as a military general?"

"Sonny, don't be ridiculous. That kind of thing only exists in movies."

###

The next morning, Sonny was violently woken by Miles who had a panic-stricken face.

"Sonny, get up!" Miles said nervously. "You need to see this."

"Give me five more minutes," Sonny said groggily.

"I mean it!" Miles said, dragging Sonny out of bed into the main living-room/kitchen area where he plopped him in front of the TV.

Onscreen, an anchorwoman was talking while the caption beneath her said 'Blue Blur a thief?'.

"Police investigators are baffled by this jewel robbery that was committed last night because the thief came and went in only a matter of seconds and the security cameras were mysteriously destroyed in the process," the anchorwoman said. "Here is an artist's rendering of the stolen gem."

A picture flashed up on the TV showing a rough drawing of a big green gemstone.

"That's a Chaos Emerald," Sonny muttered, feeling more awake than before. "What was it doing in a jewelry store?"

"It was sold to the jewelry store a few days ago by a dealer who pawned it off a homeless guy who claims to have found it in an alleyway," the anchorwoman continued. "While the police don't have any leads on who committed the robbery some people believe that it was The Blue Blur, a mysterious phenomenon that has gained massive popularity in the past three years though G. U. N. has been vigorously investigating it."

Miles then turned off the TV. "I'm sure you don't need to hear the rest."

"I don't what those people are talking about," Sonny said as he got up. "We had just gotten home last night, so it couldn't have been me – I mean, it couldn't have been Sonic."

"Then who else could it have been? Metal Sonic?"

"He was demolished by Knuckles, but maybe Doctor Eggman repaired him."

"It's possible, but we won't ever know since the security cameras got destroyed."

A sudden knock came from the front door, surprising both Sonny and Miles.

"I'll get it," Sonny said, and dashed over to the front door.

Sonny opened it partway, and was surprised by what he saw. There were two G. U. N. soldiers standing outside wearing helmets that obscured their faces. One of them glanced down at a piece of paper and then back at Sonny.

"Are you Sonny Hedge?" asked the G. U. N. soldier with the paper in his hand.

"Uh, yes," Sonny replied slowly. "Are you from G. U. N.?"

"We'd like you to accompany us, Mr. Hedge," said the other G. U. N. soldier, who was taller than the other one. "There are a few questions we have regarding your...whereabouts last night."

"Is this about the robbery?" Sonny asked, though he already knew the answer. "Because I had nothing to do with it. If there's anyone you should be bugging, it's Doctor Eggman."

The G. U. N. soldier with the paper made a puzzled frown. "Eggman?"

"Sorry, I meant to say Doctor Robotnik," Sonny said hurriedly. "Well, I've got a busy day ahead of me so I don't have the time to talk to you right now."

Then as Sonny tried to close the door, the tall G. U. N. soldier pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Sonny's head.

"We're not leaving until you come with us," the tall G. U. N. soldier said sternly. "Get dressed and be out here in five minutes, or we're coming in."

"Y-Yes, sir," Sonny said hesitantly and closed the door.

"Who was that?" Miles asked.

"Can't talk right now," Sonny said as he went into his bedroom and got dressed in his Sonic Phase. He then grabbed a leftover chili-dog out of the fridge and said, "There are two G. U. N. soldiers standing outside and they want to talk to me about the robbery."

Miles' eyes widened. "Do you think they know about Sonic, and suspect that he did it?"

"I don't know," Sonny said as he finished his chili-dog. "But I've got a bad feeling about this."

Immediately, Miles went into his bedroom and brought back a small device shaped like a coin with a pair of fox tails on the cover. "Put this in your pocket. It's a tracking device that'll allow me to see where you're going. If you're in trouble, press the cover and I'll be there in a jiffy."

"Thanks, man," Sonny said, gripping the small device in his palm and then he walked out the door where the G. U. N. soldiers escorted him to a military helicopter that was parked a few blocks away.

###

Inside the helicopter, Sonny was forced to sit on a bench with the two G. U. N. soldiers who brought him standing on either side of him while a third who didn't have a helmet on sat across from him.

"Is anyone going to tell me what this is about?" Sonny asked impatiently.

"Not till we get to the base," the soldier without the helmet said.

"And how long will that take?"

"Two to three hours depending on how good the wind is."

"Well, I hope it's soon because I hate being cooped up in tight places for too long."

Outside the window, the city streets and buildings grew smaller as the helicopter rose into the air. The G. U. N. soldiers were silent, which made Sonny uneasy. So he made a slight cough, causing the soldiers to flinch a little.

"Sorry," Sonny apologized. Then he said, "So, um, does this ride include any snacks or in-flight movies?"

The G. U. N. soldier who didn't wear a helmet shook his head.

"Aw, man," Sonny whined.

"We know how you feel, kid," said the G. U. N. soldier with the paper on Sonny's right. "All the Commander told us was to bring you to the base for questioning on your potential involvement with the jewel robbery, and that was it."

"But I didn't do it," Sonny said. "I had just gotten home from a two-week vacation in South Island."

"You were in South Island?" the tall G. U. N. soldier said with interest on Sonny's left. "I heard Doctor Robotnik was spotted near there."

"Yeah, but G. U. N. took care of him," Sonny fibbed.

"That's not what I heard," argued the G. U. N. soldier without the helmet. "The Colonel who was sent to investigate claimed Doctor Robotnik got away, but The Blue Blur left a submarine made by the Doctor and two roboticized men behind."

"Roboticized?" asked the G. U. N. soldier with the paper.

"You know, turned into robots," replied the G. U. N. soldier without a helmet.

"Wow," the tall G. U. N. soldier responded. "I knew Doctor Robotnik was crazy, but…what's going to happen to them?"

"From what I hear they're being taken to a research facility to see if they can be changed back into humans, but I'm doubtful. Doctor Robotnik's technology is far superior to ours despite all the accomplishments we've made."

"You shouldn't give up just yet," Sonny snapped. "I'm sure they'll find a way."

"You sound awfully optimistic," said the G. U. N. soldier without a helmet. "Now remember, kid, whatever we talk about in this helicopter stays in this helicopter. Promise?"

"Yeah, sure," Sonny said, and pretended to fidget. "Um, is there a bathroom around here?"

"Nope," the tall G. U. N. soldier said. "But we could open the door so you can piss out the side, though I would wait till we're out of the city."

"But I really have to go," Sonny replied, fidgeting more.

The G. U. N. soldier without a helmet sighed. "All right, fine, but make it quick."

"Don't worry, sir, I will be," Sonny replied.

While the G. U. N. soldiers stood up and walked over to the helicopter door to open it, Sonny took a deep breath and rolled towards the door. As he spun he transformed into Sonic which made him spin faster. The G. U. N. soldiers were so surprised that they moved out of the way as Sonic smashed right through the helicopter door and used what was left of it as a skateboard to glide his way down to the ground. The G. U. N. helicopter attempted to turn back, but Sonic was already skating down one of Central City's sloped streets before they got a chance to fire at him. Bystanders and cars alike halted as Sonic zipped by them with bullets coming from the G. U. N. soldiers flying past him.

###

Once he had gotten safely out of the city, Sonic made his way to the seaside cliff hangar where Miles kept The Tornado. Using the secret entrance underneath the trail bench, Sonic got inside without any difficulties, and found a fridge full of soda, hotdog and hamburger bread, as well as hamburger and hotdog meat. Next to the fridge was a small stove and microwave. Then on the opposite side was a bathroom.

"Boy, Miles sure thought of everything," Sonic said thoughtfully. Then he suddenly remembered the tracking device and took it out of his pants-pocket. "He's probably on his way as we speak."

"Then we should leave," Sonny said in ethereal form in front of Sonic.

"To where? We're wanted fugitives now, Sonny," Sonic responded.

"And that's why I don't want Miles involved," Sonny replied. "If he helps us, they'll go after him too."

"I see." Sonic looked down at the tracking device. "So until we figure out who actually stole the Chaos Emerald, we should lay low for a while."

"Exactly," Sonny said as he sighed. "Go ahead and destroy that thing."

So Sonic did, and grabbed a couple of sodas and the whole packet of hotdogs and hotdog bread just as he left.

To be continued…