Station Square traffic. To the four men cramped in the car next to a sweaty crocodile, there was no greater Hell on earth. Had it not been for the lunch rush, they would've made it to City Hall three hours ago. "This is ridiculous," Vector grumbled, rubbing his tired eyes. "Can no one in this city drive?"

"Spoken like someone who's never driven in Station Square," Charmy remarked. "You should see the traffic after work hours are over. Now shut up while I parallel park."

"Wha-?"

Everyone in the vehicle was thrown off guard as Charmy suddenly floored it. As the bee turned the car slightly, he switched from the gas to the brake, throwing everyone around as the car sloppily slid into place. Vector's head slammed against the side of the car, just above the window. "ARGH!" he yelped from the sudden pain, grabbing the side of his head. "What's wrong with you?!"

"Woops, I'm sorry," Charmy said sarcastically. "I guess we've arrived at our destination."

"Why would you ever park like that?!"

"Don't blame me, blame my teacher."

"Well, then your teacher is a moron!"

"For once, we agree on something."

A look of surprise crossed the crocodile's face. "We do?"

Espio poked his head between the two from the back side, his eyes swollen and red from how tired he was. "You taught him how to parallel park," he told Vector, irritation present in his voice.

The croc blinked. "Oh."

The five of them got out of the car, Vector taking the longest due to him barely even fitting inside of the thing. Bailey immediately started getting some b-roll footage of the building while Tareq focused on the Chaotix trio, specifically Vector as he struggled to get out of the vehicle. "You better not put any of that in the final edit," the crocodile grumbled, pointing at the camera.

"Uh, good rule of thumb," Charmy chimed in, a smug expression ever-present on his face, "if you're working with YouTubers and tell them not to put something in, they're more than likely putting it in."

"Just lead us inside before you two give me a headache," Espio muttered.

The group walked into City Hall, walking past people there on business. After Bailey and Tareq got the clearance, the group began walking to the mayor's office. "So… what do you think this challenge is going to be?" Vector asked.

"I can't help but feel like we're gonna be doing a 'greatest hits' of their old challenges, but I could be wrong," Charmy replied. "So… nothing that could help an out of touch boomer who doesn't watch YouTube like you."

"Try me, I watched some of their videos over the weekend to know what I'm up against."

The bee rolled his eyes. "Classic Vector. Shows no interest whatsoever in what you like until he can make some money out of it."

Vector frowned. "That's not true and you know it."

Charmy looked over his shoulder at the croc, a smile on his lips and disdain in his eyes. "Keep telling yourself that, you might just convince yourself it's true." He looked forward again. "Anyways, looks like we're here."

The group now stood just outside the mayor's office. "Do we just go in?" Vector asked, scratching his head.

"The door is open," Espio yawned, pointing at the small gap in the door.

The crocodile shrugged. "You know what they say, open door, open invitation."

"Thieves say that," Charmy pointed out. "That's what thieves say."

The chameleon rubbed his hand down his face and let out a long sigh of frustration. "Oh, for the love of-" Espio pushed past the other two and marched on through the door.

Vector and Charmy looked at each other awkwardly. "…Ladies first," the bee said with a smirk, gesturing towards the door.

Vector rolled his eyes and walked through, Charmy and the cameramen following close behind. Nothing seemed out of place inside the mayor's office, save for a giant key leaning against the desk and the chair behind the desk facing away from the group. "Yeah, that's a giant key, alright," Charmy said sarcastically, pointing at the key of the city.

"And the man in the chair is presumably not the mayor of Station Square," Espio added.

"How does he say those alliterations so effortlessly?" Vector wondered aloud under his breath.

"That's right, I'm not the mayor!" a voice from behind the chair said. "The mayor is on vacation!" The chair spun around, revealing a human male in a top hate and suit with a cape with a fake mustache. "I'm Dr. Beast's second lieutenant! An evil guy so freaking evil I have an evil mustache! I'm Karl!"

Charmy burst out laughing. "Really? Karl?" he asked rhetorically. "The guy who plays Minecraft all the time? Please. Stand aside, grandparents! This is a challenge for two youngsters with big numbers next to the word 'followers.'"

"Fine by me," Espio yawned. "I am far too tired to compete in any challenges right now."

"You don't want to talk this over?" Vector asked, crossing his arms.

The bee smirked at the croc. "Nah, I'm good.

"Suit yourself then."

Karl raised an eyebrow at Charmy. "Oh? You're approaching me? Instead of waiting for me to explain the rules and discuss with your teammates a plan of action, you're taking me head on?"

Charmy grinned as he walked closer to the mayor's desk. "I can't get the next clue out of ya with two sleepy old men weighing me down."

"Oh ho! Then come as close as you like."

"The World Wide Web has once again tainted one of my favorite comics from childhood," Espio sighed.

"Don't you mean 'manga'?" Tareq asked.

The chameleon shot him a dirty look. "They're the same thing. You westerners are ridiculous with such trivial debates as these."

"I'm just asking what the comments will ask, man."

Charmy sat on the mayor's desk, resting his hand on the key to the city. "So, Minecraft boy, what's the challenge?"

Karl smiled mischievously. "It's a simple one, Charmy. A staple of the channel as a whole. It's a 'last to leave' challenge. Specifically…" Karl kept out of the chair and grabbed hold of the key to the city. "Last to keep their hand on the key to the city wins!"

The pupils in the bees eyes shrunk as he gripped the key tightly. "Oh… you mean… I gotta hold on to this until you let go of it? Well, that could probably be a few… hours…"

Vector burst out into laughter. "Ha! Yeah, I think I'm gonna catch some rest alongside Espio. Let us know when you're done!"

Vector and Espio sat down in some chairs and began to doze off. Charmy sighed. "I never thought I'd get a first hand experience of this kind of challenge," he muttered. "Mainly because I never wanted to do one of these challenges."

"Should've talked it out with your team," Karl teased, "cuz now you're stuck with me for a few hours!"

Vector yawned and stretched his arms. Opening his eyes, he turned to look at Espio. Still asleep. Poor guy must be exhausted after running in circles for a full day. He turned his attention the key to the city. Both Karl and Charmy were still hanging on, though no Karl lay on the mayor's desk looking at his phone and Charmy sat on the floor, bored out of his mind. "How long has it been?" Vector asked.

"Six hours of pure, mind numbing boredom," Charmy groaned. "My phone died after twenty minutes."

"That's why you make sure they stay charged."

The bee rolled his eyes. "No, really? I had no idea. Thank you, Captain Obvious."

The crocodile frowned. "I'm getting really tired of your attitude."

"I've been tired of you in general for a while now."

"Hey, who's hungry?" Karl interjected. "I'm ordering food right now if anyone wants anything."

"Oh, sure!" Vector replied cheerfully. "I'm starving!"

"Not very villainous of you to offer us food like that," Charmy said with a smile.

Karl grinned. "But it is villainous to make you guys choose something off the kid's menu! Mwahahaha!"

The crocodile crossed his arms and crowned at the bee. "Now who's the loudmouth?"

Charmy rested his face in his hand and let out a long sigh of frustration.

Espio stirred awake from his slumber, letting out a refreshing yawn. "Morning, sunshine!" Vector yelled to him. "Err… evening I guess."

The chameleon looked over at him. "How long has it been?" he asked.

"Well, let's see, I woke up around four hours ago, so in total I'd say this challenge has been going on for around ten hours now."

"I did not expect him to last more than two. Consider me impressed."

"Eh, don't give him too much credit. He skipped denial and anger and went straight to bargaining."

Vector gestured in the direction of the key. Karl sat on the floor now while Charmy leaned against the desk, both still gripping the key. "Please," Charmy pleaded. "I'll do anything. I'll do a collab video with you. I'll do ten collab videos with you. I'll ask to join that stupid DreamSMP thing even though I'm not a fan of the guy. Just please, for the love of Chaos, let go of this stupid key. I'm begging you."

Karl put his hand on his chin. "Hmmm… tempting, but no."

The bee fell to his knees, still not letting go of the key. "Please… I'm begging you. Just let go of it, man…"

"Not happening."

Vector turned to Bailey, who was currently the only cameraman rolling as Tareq had gone to sleep to get some rest. "Make sure you get all of this," he told him. "I want to see this in the final cut."

Bailey shrugged. "I'll pass the word to the producers."

His eyes were heavy, but he couldn't fall asleep. Not now. Not after thirteen hours had passed. He had to stay awake. He needed to stay awake, or he would lose. Karl let out a loud, long yawn. Instinctively, he let go of the key and stretched his arm, before putting it back down. His eyes widened. "Wait…" he muttered.

"I SAW THAT!" Charmy yelled in his face, his tired, bloodshot eyes making him look like a madman when paired with his joyous demeanor. "I SAW THAT! DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT?! HE TOOK HIS HAND OFF! I WON! I. FREAKING. WON!" The bee threw the key to the ground and pumped his fists in the air. "WOOOOOOO!"

"NOOOOOO!" Karly screamed in defeat. "I wasn't even thinking! I just did it automatically!"

Charmy grabbed Karl by the collar and pulled him in. "GIVE ME THE CLUE, YOU TWISTED VILLAIN!"

"Ok, ok! Calm down!" Karl said quickly, waving his arms around frantically. "Here's your next clue: Bright lights, colors all around! Flashing lights and endless sound, stay all night until the lieutenant is found!"

The bee's eyes narrowed as he let go of the man's collar. "What…? What does that mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Vector asked. "It's Casino Night Zone."

"That-" Espio started, before thinking it over. "…He's right, actually."

Charmy looked at the croc with surprise. "How did…?"

"I've lost so many times at the slots, Charmy," Vector said grimly. "I know that place like the bag of my hand. Let's roll out, gang!"

"Espio, buddy," Charmy begged. "Carry me, please. I'm so exhausted…"

Vector sighed. "I got him." He picked up the bee and slung him over his shoulder.

The bee glared at him. "I asked Espio for a reason," he muttered.

The crocodile. "Look, I get that ya hate me right now," he said softly. "I get that you'll probably hate me for a good long while since you don't wanna talk things out right now. I've accepted that. I probably even deserve that. But you're still family to me. At the very least, we're still teammates until this is all over. So… the least ya can do is tolerate my presence, kid."

Charmy eyed him down for a moment, before staring straight ahead. "Fine," he sighed.

Vector smiled weakly as he followed Espio and the cameramen out of the building.

Author's note: Short but sweet one. Next one's checking in on some other characters. Thanks for the positive feedback to the Sonic reveal, I was nervous about including that but I'm glad to know it landed well. Remember to read & review, and thanks once again for all the support.