(Sonic Adventure 2 - Character/Story Screen)

My name is Dodon Pa, the greatest tournament host on the planet Mobius! Hohohoho!

Sonic and his friends have raced quite enough for a while. They still have no idea how advanced I am in a technological context.

I suggested a break from the track and into fuelling the racers. I will show to them how we make or break.

This is indeed quite a marvellous set of races so far! Hohohoho!

(/)

CHAPTER 1: A MYSTERIOUS INVITE

Act 2: II - Planet Upgrade

[SEASIDE HILL WAREHOUSE, SEASIDE HILL]

Arriving for a lunch break couldn't be more of a decoration from Team Rose's perspective. After all, they had fought back to earn themselves a first victorious triumph on Team Sonic. Amy lacked hesitation to silently wink at the blue hedgehog in a way that concealed her crowing desire. Either way she controlled her desire to boast, the pink hedgehog held onto Team Rose's gratitude. The 12 year old was still labelling Dodon Pa as problematic, as if she had mere concern for Sonic and the gang. Even if she would show her true feelings directly, she wouldn't have sufficient evidence to back up the untrustworthy nature of the kind of mobian Dodon Pa is. Upon entering the garage, the group came across a lone Honey the Cat dragging a clothes rack with two mechanic jumpsuits. Even with their inviting victory, Amy expressed mere sorrow for her mechanic's absense. Despite this, she held great regards for her team.

"Hey Honey!" Sonic greeted from the back of his first defeat, albeit he felt cheery. "Long time no see!"

"Ah, there you are." Dodon Pa brushed aside the blue hedgehog's welcoming gesture in favour of the task the feline was given.

"Hey guys!" The feline was feeling cheerful. Her emotion was normal to her.

"How was the development? Did you finish it?"

"I was finished before the final Grand Prix race." Honey explained, unaware of her team's victory. "I didn't want to interrupt Amy's concentration."

"Good news, Honey. We won the Grand Prix." The pink hedgehog broke the intoxicating news, much to the feline's disappointment she didn't get to witness the whole thing.

"That's great news, Amy! It's a shame I wasn't there to see you win..."

"It's okay. There's always next time for tricks!" Amy retracted her focus onto the sole reason Honey was absent. "Have you made the jumpsuits for you and Sally?"

The cat nodded nonchalantly, a contrast to her mood before the imperative assignment. Something in her mind allowed the body's insistence to display.

"Wanna see them?" The feline exhorted, encouraging Amy and the other racers to take a quick peek.

Dodon Pa's curious heed prompted a voluntary withdraw from the group, aiming at Honey's line of jumpsuits. The cat had chose a design she felt suited the type of role the tanuki gave her. The jumpsuits bare striking resemblance to scuba diving suits, but only with two distinct white lines and a colored middle line running from the neck to the feet from the sides. The middle part of the jumpsuits were completely white with only Tails' button mechanism applied to where the heart would be located. The middle line, sleeves and the sides of the suits wore a different color corresponding to the character, with a tint of brown and yellow for Sally and Honey respectively. Their names were printed on the back of said jumpsuits for recognition. Honey, however felt the necessities for accompanied shoeware, each set having a pair of laced sneaker of white and whatever color the cat chose for the rest. Dodon Pa inspected from a close distance, the feline expressing a merely tiresome emotion.

"I tried my best, I really did!" She explained, lifting her ears for the feedback. "What do you think, Dodon Pa?"

The tanuki pushed forward, his finger draped the chin, only inches from his fluffy mustache. Honey's feedback as if the host inspected was the sole focus of her absence from the Grand Prix.

"These look simply amazing, my feline friend!" Dodon Pa reacted with positivity. "It's worth your absence when you and the other mechanic puts them on!"

Honey's eye widened at the hearing of the other mechanic. Dodon Pa was referring to Sally Acorn albeit not knowing the princess' name yet.

"Oh, right. You mean Sally Acorn?" She moved her left hand in a statement associated with comprehension.

"Hi..." The Knothole hero greeted awkwardly.

"Honey the Cat." The feline continued, possibly to avoid the tanuki referring to her specimen.

Dodon Pa turned away. Nothing came out of him. It wasn't like he was going to remember the names anyway. It was his tournament he was emceeing. Both mechanics eyed him in mere burden, carried by his grand sets of races. However, it took quite a bit a guts to see right through him. With a few steps towards a door that gave on to the main garage canteen, the tanuki retracted to Honey.

"Are you wiling to join us, Honey? You seem rather esurient for food."

"Sure, give us what you got!" The feline opted with no hesitation, lacking the necessities since becoming Team Rose's mechanic.

All nine mobians set their points to the canteen, the scrumptious smell of its primary head chef cooking away at the racers' meals. Sally, by her judgement knew the scent came from an aquatic creature.

"That smells delicious." The chipmunk sniffed in temptation. "Is that fish?"

"You'll see..." The tanuki braced the surprise, keeping the moment out for a little longer.

They disembarked into the vacant canteen, every chef behind the concealed kitchen working hard for the racer's meals. All chefs were appointed by the tanuki himself on ensuring his participants never malnourish. The quiet sounds of cutlery being clattered amongst the chatter expressed the energy and commitment that brought the food its scrumptious flavours according to Dodon Pa. For the head chef though, he was responsible for it all. This particular kind of chef sported the same attire as the rest of his peers - a white chefs jacket with buttons down the middle supported by white pants. Their pay-off was loyal, admiring all of the tips he had collected prior as if he owned a fabulous golden rating in Spagonia's high street. He had it all for a charming fellow. The racers and the tanuki halted, scanning the room for a potential seating arrangement. Noticing the canteen was empty, they had freedom to sit anywhere, but decided to stick to a group of sorts. Taking the table in the center with one side concealed behind a wooden wall, they had protection behind the glass that lay the table opposite it.

Everybody lowered their height to seat themselves with the exception of Amy, the pink hedgehog merely folding her arms out of moderate distrust. She took a keen, curious gander towards the fading Dodon Pa as he made his way over to greet the head chef. On behalf of Amy Rose, she played concerning utterance.

"What is he up to now?" The pink hedgehog turned towards his direction. Bitterness was starting to take its toll on her.

"We don't know." Honey responded. "Where is he going? What is he doing this for?"

"Relax." Sonic reassured, setting the bar high on avoiding letting the girls off their leashes. "Dodon Pa is ordering us some food to eat in this swanky canteen."

"He didn't even tell us what we liked, Sonic!" Amy raised her voice.

"So, it's a surprise to you."

"Dodon Pa is just testing what we are like in these intervals." Tails stated in confidence. "To be fair, he isn't always like this."

"How do you know that?" The pink hedgehog leaned aggressively towards Tails. This caused the kitsune to fluster defensively.

"I learn to keep my emotions to myself, Amy." Knuckles had his eyes closed in a pensive mindset. "I decipher his motives and purpose so I can prepare myself for when he comes back."

"Pretty thoughtful for a small brain, eh Knux?" Sonic nudged the echidna playfully, the red mobian grinning in response.

The head chef made his way to Sonic's table accompanied by Dodon Pa as a way of introduction. The chef even bought his orders over there as respect.

"Racers, I would like you to meet Jar the Donkey." Dodon Pa gave a brief introductory. "He's quite possibly the best chef on this side of Adabat. His halibut recipe is nothing short of spectacular!"

Amy sat down and tested the small chunk of cooked halibut in the wake of gobbling the dish whole. Her impression upon chewing the recipe sprung to mind; the delicious implications of tasting the dish delighted her as she gulped down the piece.

"I've never tasted halibut this amazing before!" She responded to a pleased Dodon Pa.

"I bested the experience from the Eurish states and analysed their recipes there." Jar explained. "My thoughts were to bring this halibut recipe all the way to Adabat and voila! It worked!"

"What's your secret?" The pink hedgehog became invested in Jar's way.

"Before the dish is served, I take a piece and taste test to see if it's edible. The halibut recipe is probably the most notable of mine. I basically learnt like the back of my hand. I have a strong immune system that shields the diseases from me. Of course, not everyone likes my approach to cooking."

"Yeah..." The blue hedgehog was chewing the recipe. "This is tasty!"

"I had my signature dish endorsed by the folks over at Breeze TV in Casino Park." Jar explained. "They basically know me by the way I serve my halibut."

"Good." The tanuki patted the chef's shoulder. "I made extra sure that my racetracks were in that area of the planet. I will speak to whoever is the anchor of Breeze TV and thank them for making you become a superstar in your own merits."

"That's all I ask, I'm perfectly happy with that, Mr. Pa. I need to get back to the kitchen.

Jar departed for his station, the gang tucking in to their orders, the halibut especially coaxed Amy to merely rethink ever viewing the tanuki as suspicious. There was alot to redeem about him however.

"I saw the Breeze TV broadcast." Tails began, Sonic and Amy staring to him. "The proud and gratifying chef also made an appearance on a Spagonian reality show and won. And he explained all of it in an interview after."

"That's kinda nice of him." The blue hedgehog answered, intrigued. He was still eating his halibut, but admired the tanuki to his credit. "Ya know, Dodon's really gone all out."

"He may be going this far for us to earn his trust, but I'm keeping an eye on him. He doesn't know what he has planned for us next."

"Neither do we, that's the best part, is not knowing what's gonna come next!" The hedgehog gulped a bite of the food.

Tails, however didn't interpret the tanuki's faith the same way his buddy know him as. The kitsune had to be sceptical and realistic about his approach.

"I mean- if you say so, Sonic. I'm here with you every step of the way in the meantime."

"Thanks, buddy!"

"Buddies stick by no matter the cost!" Dodon Pa nibbled the large pieces of halibut he was consuming. The tanuki was stationed between Big and Knuckles, sliding a stool from the nearby table. "I'm pleasantly surprised by the lack of fighting within the teams. Granted, this is a fierce competition after all."

Amy's eyes widened upon his speech, awaiting her empty mouth before retaliating. Leaning over frantically, she foretold her team's actions.

"'Fierce competition?'"

"Your skills are truly magnificent on the track, pink hedgehog. That goes for the rest of your team and everyone too."

"Why wouldn't you have won that Grand Prix, Amy." Honey leaned to her, gulping the final piece of her meal. "Dodon Pa's just amazed at how your settling in with these races."

"Hohohoho!" The host cackled profoundly, his throat readying a mere cough for concern for Amy's conspiracy. "That's the whole point of these races, young feline. Betterment is always significant to the average mobian."

"I'm ready to get started whenever we are all set." Sally swallowed the last of her tasty halibut. Leaving the prestigious cutlery lying on what was left of her meal, she grew the eager chipmunk.

"Follow me, and we shall start on the fixing!" The tanuki lead the way. Sonic, Knuckles and Big gladly kept the last pieces of halibut in their fingers as they departed.

Exiting the canteen to the way they came in, Dodon Pa felt ecstatic inside. His way of addressing Jar by only his strengths coaxed the racers into mimicking his strategy of thinking outside of the box. No one even notice he did this in his own style. He gave time to brainstorm his next move, a sensible, wise tanuki thought as he lead the group down a small corridor to the garage. He knew what would unfold in his words, foreshadowing his thoughts like a silhouette of uncertainty. The racers couldn't play him like a stack of cards even if they tried.

No hesitation slumped on the racers, whom by entering the warehouse garage, found the six racing vehicles all lined up, preparing themselves for its next trial. The proud host turned around in an informative methodological mindset and began the exposition.

"My caring racers, your vehicles are an amazing asset to my tournaments, but a lesson shall be made clear to you that once in a half moon, they get unwanted features such as dents and overheated engines. Your job is to assist the team mechanics in your team to check your racing machines for any faults associated with engines."

The group, while interested didn't pose any question apart from Tails, who raised his arm slightly.

"That's interesting to note, but how can one racer distinguish itself from the next?"

"Ah, that's a marvellous question, my fine two-tailed fox!" The tanuki stated. "That's where the cosmetic mods come in. You see, my builds of your racing machines arrive in their default packages. It is up to you to decide whether you want to design them to your liking."

"Sounds interesting... keep going..." Amy paid attention to the fascinating feature.

"But... We only have a limited amount of cosmetics due to our entrances and tournaments being so early." The tanuki displayed a rather expected caveat. "You see, by purchasing cosmetics from the objects known as 'Mod Pods', you can have unlimited freedom in your decor."

"Cool." Sonic gave a thumbs up. "Where are these Mod Pods anyway?"

"Hohohoho!" He cocked. "The Mod Pods are located in every single garage ready for use for the value of 10 racing credits. Each position in a race will give you certain amount of credits. For example, if you finish last in a race, you can only obtain a few credits, but you get more when finishing higher."

"Aw, yeah!" Sonic expressed his excitement. "That's what was displaying on the leaderboard after our races! I have to admit Dodon Pa, you're organising is neat!"

"Hohohoho!" The host emitted a chuckle of approbation. "So it does, blue hedgehog. Anybody can obtain credits after a race to unlock new features for their vehicles!"

Sonic landed a thumbs up in his direction. He wasn't always concerned for what he was truly putting on this show for. He was just blindly anticipating every step. Meanwhile, Tails wasn't feeling quite as elated as the sachem beside him, either way he was feeling quite interested and mere suspicious of the tanuki's scheme. However, he pressed on knowing this was what he came for after all. The kitsune set this eyeline on the small details of his own Whirlwind Sport, starting with the car horn he was getting quite used to.

"I have a question, Dodon Pa. "He spoke, informally. "Does the modding include the car horns that came equipped with our racing vehicles?"

"The horns do get overlooked by the more prioritized features." The wise tanuki stated. "If you wish to spend precious downtime by modding these supercars, I would have no problem with that. After all, making a difference is imperative in contrast to making a flashy appearance. Hohohoho!"

"That sounds wonderful!" Honey added.

"We're quite short on mobility options for now." He brushed his mustache. "But the basics have been covered, I will get to them when I get back?"

"When you get back?" Honey was confused.

"I have to inspect the racetrack back in the Lost Palace. I need to make sure it's kept clean for any future gatherings."

"But did he inspect the other racetracks after the previous races? "Knuckles pondered to himself. "Alot can come in a Grand Prix, I don't know if he can pull such a thing off."

"Inspections are easy, credulous echidna. It is my duty to keep things in order for the tournament to go ahead."

"I gotta say, Dodon Pa. You're just like me with my own sets of vehicles back home." Tails stated.

"Excellent, yellow fox boy. I like the sound of that."

The host directed his attention to the team mechanics and their uniform.

"How well do the jumpsuits fit you two?" Dodon Pa curiously asked the two team mechanics.

"Well, a fashion designer's number one rule is to determine if they fit or not." Honey explained her research. "I trimmed the fabric down to a comfortable size we would wear which would not be too tight, nor big."

"That's perfect reasoning, yellow feline! That tells me you've done this before as what you've achieved, yes?"

"I'll grab my brown jumpsuit." The chipmunk parted from the group and tugged the lone clothing rack towards them.

"I better follow." Honey collected her jumpsuit, chasing Sally to the backroom to change attire.

Both girls faded from view into the pair of clothing booths tucked away into the backroom of the garage. The tanuki thought wisely, interpreting how suited they sparkle once equipped into their jumpsuits. Along the lines of his thoughts, lay their potential from the podium they were climbing. He was excited to witness, more so than Sonic, Amy and the others staring awkwardly in the direction of the backroom. As good as it was, there were only two mechanics right now.

The two mechanics emerged from the backroom, now dressed in their newly-developed mechanics jumpsuits. The outlines equalled the colour associated with the girls. Overall, they were cute in appearance, resembling that of someone willing to join in on the mechanics business.

"How do we look?" Honey giggled cutely, dazzled by her work. Lifting a leg up slightly to dynamically pose, the two shone themselves with praise from the group, Dodon Pa especially.

"My, my. You two look splendid!" The tanuki clapped with appraisal.

"Thanks." Sally appreciated, heading to the main workbench. Honey followed her as the chipmunk changed target. "The suits really do look good on us, Honey."

"That's the best part about being a fashion designer!" She winked, grabbing the necessities for the occupation.

"I suppose she did outperform herself in favour of the Grand Prix, but it's just one set of races." Dodon Pa acknowledged the huge pay-off. However, his mind was now on the vehicles' maintenance. "You better get to work, girls. I'm expecting some modding and refuelling done.

"We'll get to work on the vehicles right now."

Both Sally and Honey exposed their zeal for what they came for, holstering the spanner in one hand, the gasoline can handed by the other. However, as temptation as the chipmunk could move on to making a maiden start to refuelling, the priority lay within the customization. She lay her focus on the horn, pressing her fingers against the soft, welcoming pigmented leather that was overlooked by what it was made of - the steering wheel. Upon hearing a dated and somewhat rustic sound emit from the used horn, Sally focused on the tanuki for feedback.

"The horn's a bit iffy..." The chipmunk collected her thoughts after testing the Speed Star's car horn. From what she could tell, the horn's sounded a little 'off' with its presentation.

"Ah, that's not a huge problem." Dodon Pa saw the issue as a cakewalk. To be fair, he was a former mechanic trainee. "Horns likes that get fixed often. A combination of things cause that to happen, bad wiring, a corroded ground within the circuit, a faulty horn relay...".

"You...didn't get this technical when you introduced us to this sport." Honey saw the mere suspicion from his rhythm of speaking. Truthfully, the cat wasn't the only one to think that way.

"Instructions are not important for mobians like myself. I'm a man of a can-do-it-all nature."

Sally rolled her eyes. At this rate, she would be expressing the tanuki the same way Amy executes it.

"Riiiight. What do you want me to check?"

"There are many ways to go about fixing a car horn. The tool-free method is simple - you first need to locate the fuse box within the dashboard and identify the horn relay, switch out the relay for a comparable and working one and test the results."

"Uhh... fuse box, got it!" The princess located the square-shaped hinge beneath the dashboard of the blue hedgehog's speed mobile.

She twisted the handle on its Y axis, opening the box full of wires connecting to all sorts of nooks and crannies. Sally pushed her gloved hand through, locating the almost difficult task of finding what appeared to be a horn relay that resembled a plug socket with a circular handle on top. Her finger felt the metal structure of the relay and used her other hand to attempt to yank it away from the circuit with precautionary movement of the fingers each dismantling the cables attached.

"Be careful about taking out the relay cables, Sally. They might electrocute you if you dare pull them out aggressively." Dodon Pa warned.

"I've seen quite alot of cars in the big city and I gotta say, shouldn't the fuse box be located inside the big thing where the engine is?" Honey was obviously pointing to the closed hood. Granted, she had no idea Dodon Pa was mere different from any other motor vehicle manufacturer.

"I like to push boundaries and let these vehicles work their magic! Who cares about realism when this is just a friendly race!" The tanuki considered. "Besides, they are in working order since I made them for you racers. Hohohoho!"

Honey turned her head to the chipmunk in silence. She didn't want to say anything else about the host's inconsistencies. He was her boss from now on. From the corner of her eye, she caught the glimpse of a stack of horn relays shelved on a nearby workbench. Taking a quick haste to collect one for Sally, she bolted towards as soon as she requested for a replacement.

"I need a new horn relay for the sound to work perfectly." The Team Sonic mechanic spoke, the faulty relay in one hand as it became visible to Dodon Pa's naked eye.

"Here you go!" The cat exchanged the new for the old, returning to the workbench as a means to place it there.

"Thanks! I gotta put this one in so the horn could work." She fiddled the brand new horn relay into the rightful place of the old, dusty relay.

The chipmunk located the relay socket and plugged the metal object into it's rightful position. She grabbed the wires connecting the previous relay and fitted them into the novel relay. From there, pulling her hands out of the fuse box allowed her to twist the knob to seal the box shut and test the horn. She pressed her finger against the center of the Speed Star's steering wheel anticipating the improved audio cue.

Honk!

She had hoped it would have worked out the way it did; a satisfactory Sally wiped her forehead in repose. Departing for Dodon Pa's minimum distance with her was the only thing for the two to inspect any more modifying.

"It looks like the horn is fixed." The tanuki draped his chin. "But what about the car itself?"

"I would figure it would need some tuning up. I'll just grab a spanner and check." The chipmunk turned to a vacant grey spanner on top of a workbench.

"Yes! Indeed, chipmunk highness! Certainly check before you finish the job! That's always a mechanic's order!"

Just as Sally was about to begin checking for more potential modifiers, a nearby wall-mounted telephone began ringing moderately sound. Everyone, including Dodon Pa paid their attention to the specific area of the garage, the latter moving over to the phone and answering. Who could he be speaking to? If, so, why would he know about the garages sporadically dotted around each tournament racetrack? The tanuki picked up the beige phone and held it to his ear, acessing whoever on the other end to talk. After moments of pure silence and awkwardness, he turned to the group.

"Oh, it's for you, Sonic the Hedgehog." The tanuki hovered the phone from him, the blue hedgehog stepping up and excusing Dodon Pa.

"Sonic speaking! Who is it?" He spoke coherently awaiting his receiver, little did he know who was actually on the other end.

"Sonic! It's me, Manic the Hedgehog. Your sibling!" The familiar voice of the green mobian hedgehog coaxed Sonic to show a radiant smile. "Long time no see! How are you doing, chum?"

The blue hedgehog surprisingly hurried a swift emotion of unusual shock hearing Manic's familiar child-like voice echo throughout the phone's tough speakers. With no hesitation, he greeted the green hedgehog back the same way.

"Manic, it's been a long time since I've seen you, little buddy! How ya' been?!"

"I've been relaxing. You?"

"Strange guy hosting tournament."

"Yeah, I figured. Listen Sonic, Sonia and I got word of Dodon Pa's tournament! The event is broadcasted all over Northamer!" Manic stated before someone else rang in his head. "Ooh! You're never going to guess who else is coming with us!"

"Tell me!" Sonic bit his lip in anticipation in a smiling grin.

"Sonia is calling her now! She found out you were racing, so she came to watch!" The green hedgehog sibling leaned away from his phone in the presence of his sister speaking to this mobian. "Ain't that right, Sonia?"

"Tania stopped by the Mystic Ruins Jungle to find hikers from Station Square wearing Dodon Pa merchandise." The brief interruption between Sonia and Tania was noted. The sister returned to her other sibling once the exposition was mounted. "Speak to me again, Tania. I didn't catch that."

Tania, on the other end of the line, faced herself with the tall trees and hedgerows of the jungle. She sported yellow fur, a light-pink t-shirt with the letter T printed on, covered by a slim yellow jacket, a purple skirt with faint vertical lines and purple and white laced shoes with grey soles. She also wore purple cuffs for her gloves and 2 pink earrings on each side. Her quills was akin to Sonic himself.

(Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) - Tails)

"Everybody's got this Dodon Pa craze going on." The hedgehog turned around to more trees and hedgerows. "Is there a new event going on? I'm sorry I haven't been in the 'no alot. Big stuff's been happening that's out'ta my control."

"Your location is unknown to the guy, Tania. Do you know where Seaside Hill and Planet Wisp are?" Sonia queried.

The yellow hedgehog seemed dazed. She wouldn't know based on her experience. She responded with her best answer.

"I'm afraid not, Sonia."

"Well..." The sister conjured an ultimatum. "Based of what we know, Planet Wisp is somewhere up in space and Seaside Hill is in Adabat. Tails will know where they are located. You're best bet is to speak to him."

"Got it!" Tania hung up in acknowledgement, a trickle of the typical girl she was to Manic and Sonia.

(/)

"And there she goes again..." Sonia followed up with placing her phone on a makeshift coffee table. She hovered her eyes to her brother. "You never hear from Tania that much. She's always busy doing her errands. Have you still got Sonic on the phone?"

"I'm right here, Sonia. I didn't leave you." The blue hedgehog parked the relief into his sister despite Tania's busy schedule.

"Listen, Sonic." Manic leaned forward, the blue hedgehog hearing his distinct voice echo on the other end of the receiver. "There could be the possibility of Tania coming to watch you race with your friends."

Upon hearing those optimistic words, Sonic grew hopeful of Tania's reunion. For now, interest clouded his mind.

"Oh, cool."

"Sonia and I will support you throughout Dodon Pa's tournament! Everybody would like to wish you good luck!"

"Thanks, buddy!" Sonic responded in assurance. "I'll see you in the stands above my winning podium!"

Manic expressed a playful chuckle over the cockiness of Sonic; glistened with the sound of the green hedgehog emoting.

"I will see you there! Later!" The green hedgehog wished a momentary farewell to Sonic, a testament to his lifelong brotherly friendship with the blue blur. Sonic blushed as he hung the phone back on the wall, Dodon Pa right beside him.

"Hohohoho! I see he is quite adamant and determined to see you, hedgehog."

"It's been a while since I last saw Manic and Sonia. It almost feels like a few months back when we first butt-kicked Eggman together. Life is short."

"Indeed. Time management is a key component to our schedule as racing candidates." The tanuki stated as Amy questioned his excuse.

"He's talking about reminiscing, not timing, Dodon Pa."

"Ah, yes. That is also a proud endeavour we heroes all have moving forward."

Dodon Pa followed the hedgehog away from the phone, not noticing Tails had mysteriously left. Holding their wrenches, Sally and Honey were still crowded around their team's vehicles, examining any more potential faults. They cautiously held a belief to check everything around the racing machines. One wrong mis-checked opportunity could vanish their victory. Even so, it was the racers' job who had a second test on their own merits. Every mobian inside the garage, with the exception of one crowded around Sally and Honey with their vehicles for improvements.

Big, meanwhile kept inside his own world of mischief. He never really interacted well as much as Amy did, nor Sonic or Tails or Knuckles. He was always the big purple internal mobian that did his own thing. He had only ventured out into the unknown with Amy and Cream, or to some extent, Sonic. The large feline broke from the group, turning his sights to the peculiar opened door where Tails was acting suspicious behind the garage wall.

(Team Sonic Racing - Comical)

"Yeah, get back to me as soon as you find anything out." The kitsune responded to his wrist communicator, a fellow mobian stood as his receiver.

He hung up as Big entered the back of the warehouse, possibly gathering an errand from Dodon Pa as the Frog Cruiser's improvements became vital.

"Who are you talking to, Tails?" He felt interestingly inquisitive, prompting the fox's hesitation.

"Um, nobody, Big."

"I understand. I talk to Froggy when he's not around and I miss him." The cat reminisced about his treasured pet.

"Well... I'm sorry to hear that. Nature does what nature wants, I guess."

(/)

His conclusion into the garage prompted a quick fix on Sally and Honey tapping the vehicles' metal with a wrench in inspection. Luckily, there were no faults with the engines right now.

"Hey Tails." Sally wanted to explain. "Keeping the Whirlwind Sport and the team's vehicles is a vital element, so we need to tap our wrenches on them to make sure they are working right."

"It's only been seven races? Are they working okay?"

"Seems to me like it. I don't know about Team Rose, though."

"That's fine." She walked away from the Whirlwind Sport. "How are you?"

"Had to run quick to a bathroom. I... uhh have an idea." Tails planted a light bulb above him. "I'm considering putting a tracking device on my car."

"Why?" Sally merely slanted.

"It's an extra measure for us and Sonic and Knuckles in case I'm somehow away from the group. You can check where I am. Don't worry, it's the same device synced up from all of my modes of transport."

"Are you willing to put in the small amount of flexibility into that?"

"Rest assured, my time management is pretty decent to say the least."

At will, Honey walked over to Sally and Tails, finding nothing to report back on.

"Amy, Big and Omochao's cars seem to be working fine. I tapped the metalwork with my wrench multiple times to make sure."

"That's good to hear." The Knothole princess replied positively. "Tails and I were discussing whether to install a track device on the Whirlwind Sport just like he did with his other vehicles."

"In order to do that, I have to install it on my Miles Electric device and sync it up to the car." The kitsune interpreted. "The device is back in my Mystic Ruins workshop, so I can't execute the installation now."

"Wow!" Honey was flabbergasted. "I don't think I'll ever pull off something like that with Amy!"

Tails giggled at his genius.

"There might be a little bit of time before the next race for me to grab the Miles Electric. You never know what Dodon Pa has up his sleeve in regards to time management."

Meanwhile, Honey had tilted the gasoline can upright as it emptied its contents into the fuelling tank located within distance of the engine. The cat frantically steadied her balance to perfect such a simple task, as the engine was susceptible to fail, rendering the car temporarily useless. However, Honey thought to herself, as her gloved fingers sheltered her fingers from the oil. From the last drop of oil, she inspected the bottom of the canister for leftovers that could be used. There was none. Yep, She was finished refuelling the Frog Cruiser and the team's vehicles. Carrying what the now-empty canister, Honey leaped towards Sally and Tails. She would rather speak to them in the meantime.

"I think Big's vehicle is ready to go now, that's all of 'em!" The feline declared.

"Great news, Honey!". Sally gave a thumbs up. "I assume there's still enough time before the next race. Wanna check? I already double checked Team Sonic's cars."

"Nah." The cat declined. "I'm good. There's always the time to check later."

Sally winked, signalling another thumbs up. As Honey was striding to leave her spanner on the red, wooden workbench beside the vehicles, Dodon Pa intervened in the two's conversation.

"There's more complex mechanic work we need to go over, my two precious team mechanics. But I think there's not alot of modifying we can even do before the next race." Dodon Pa explained, gathering the eyes of many within the perimeter of the garage. "The next race is on Planet Wisp. There is also a garage near the Doctor's Mine as previously cited."

Tails raised his gloved limb.

"I'm a master at mechanics myself, I can help Sally if she needs to."

"Wonderful choice, my furry fox friend! You should help others in need of any deed, even if it's a short workload!"

"How much work to be curious?"

"Ah, plenty of work, Tails. Plenty of work. Hohohoho!" The tanuki cocked a brief cackle of anticipation, sending the racers and their mechanics into uncertainty beyond.

[30 MINUTES LATER]

[OUTSIDE DODON PA'S SPACESHIP]

(Sonic Lost World - Who Got Us Into This Mess?)

The wise tanuki leapt off the mobile as a requirement to dust off the vacant Lost Palace track. Unbeknownst to his senses, the purple chameleon was in clear view of him, but decided not to intervene in the confrontation as much as Espio would. His mission was clear to him; this was his opportunity to volunteer. Now with Charmy out his sights, explaining his forecoming job benefited his chances of acquiring. The chameleon emerged from behind a wooden fence that barricaded the track from its natural beauty overlooked by the cascading waterfall in the distance. Dodon Pa had inspected the aftermath of the final Grand Prix race be a thrifty endeavour, a smile forced upon his jaw that wore his face proud. This was it - he was ready to mix things up a bit. The tanuki turned around, unaware of Espio's absorption carrying towards him. He was surprised. Whoever this mobian was to him sure felt like interacting in an etiquette way.

"Mister... Dodon Pa? Is it?" The chameleon began initiating Vector's promise whilst striding toward the track.

"The one and only. Proud host of this tournament, if I do say so myself. Hohohoho!" The tanuki glistened with a cackle.

Espio found himself in the middle of a now empty Seaside Hill course once competitively energetic. He reacted by noticing his surroundings.

"The race finished, didn't it?" The absent-minded ninja folded his arms.

"It has. I'm just inspecting any possible liabilities that may arise from Lost Palace's next race within my grand outings. I'm planning to mix things up a little for my next race."

Espio's senses merely flickered with curiosity. What did he mean by mixing things up?

"Carry on..."

"It was suppose to be a secret for myself, but it wouldn't hurt to tell at least one acquaintance about this plan." The tanuki aimed to drag Espio into his exposition, much of the chameleon's little knowledge about the guy.

"What kind of secret?"

Dodon Pa strided forward a few yards.

"I aim to begin a new set of races in the Doctor's Mine called Survival Races. They are much different to any Standard Race in the sense that the last racer crosses the finish line will be eliminated. This is one my favorite aspects of any of my tournaments."

The chameleon seemed intrigued. What kind of other modes could this bold tanuki dish out? Did he really mean Survival? As in 'Danger'? This was all too good to miss out on. He sought out his primary mission as a replacement thought.

"Interesting... I hope to see what other plans you have. I sent myself at the behest of Vector closing the detective agency in favor of your tournaments. I was hoping to volunteer to be in his services once more."

His fluffy orange ears twitched. Espio was willing to be a team mechanic for whatever team Vector was gathering, and it was exactly what the bold tanuki was fetching in his races.

"I was dearly hoping for another fresh mobian to walk upon a request, the second one, Infact." Dodon Pa caressed his mustache. "Your timing couldn't be more ambiguous as I am indeed scouting for more racers to join Team Sonic and Team Rose!"

His tiny feet coaxed to move backwards, the tanuki twisting in motion to face his direction with little strides to indicate pacing.

"You know, my purple chameleon fellow. The qualities and skills do quite match that of your specimen."

Espio had no idea what this tanuki was talking about. He was even barely experienced in the field of mechanics to even come close to what he called "match".

"Uhh... Ninjas do not match their skills with... whatever you're talking about."

"A team mechanic, unless I have no idea what I'm even talking about. In that case, you've got alot to learn, wise pal."

The chameleon pondered. This was probably and arguably the first time he had ever come across the job of 'mechanic' rather than its gimmicks. His senses questioned whether an additional task was met before his fate. Being a Chaotix member, he couldn't let that down.

"Are there any paperwork and contracts I need to sign before I become Vector's mechanic?" The sensible chameleon stated.

The tanuki cocked a chuckled of possible uncertainty.

"Not at all, my chameleon fellow. There's no need to sign meaningless paperwork and contracts. I do business on the whim!"

Espio flickered with mere foreshadow. How dangerous would this guy actually be? This is the type of guy that pushes important clauses past him and never lets time waste no further. The chameleon was starting to picture this guy as some sort of mischievous mobian who fancies the damages he creates. Nevertheless, he pushed forward with a glued absorption.

"That's a bit... shady." The purple mobian gazed on the ridiculed thought. Snapping back to his objective gave priority. "Am I the only mechanic willing to help you?"

Dodon Pa emit a chuckle. Espio was totally unaware he wasn't the only one.

"Two other mobians offered to be in the shoes of a working team mechanic. They're inside the Seaside Hill warehouse fixing their team's vehicles. It is up to you to wander over there and familiarize yourself, if you don't mind prepping for this... 'Vector' person."

"Vector is a good friend of mine. I'll have no problems working with him."

"A wise decision, my friend..." Dodon Pa hastenly rotated to show the chameleon the attached spotty ensemble. He was eager for every step of his genius experiment to follow unscathed. He was sure of it. "It's wonderful for mobians like you to volunteer in my extra special tournaments! Everybody is in the garage nearby! I look forward to giving you to run-down on mechanics!"

"I prefer an introductory." The chameleon comprehended, his eyes closed in his signature pose.

He was always laid back and relaxed, even at the helm of working in the Chaotix Detective Agency would he be serious about his objectives at hand. He would wonder what precious time he could undertake, pondering at the potential hands-on approach of his new craft.

"Hohohoho! Then welcome aboard to the team. I will be looking forward to meeting your friend!" The tanuki concluded, advancing to the garage.

Espio could see the tanuki departing the Lost Palace track in favour of the aforementioned location.. The chameleon merely held a squint at how this guy ran things, but his objective of securing a mechanic slot paid off in his eyes. Now he was working again, the purple mobian would find this situation he encapsulated himself in weird in the context of him working for his best friend and not with him. Nevertheless, scrubbing aside the rum renewed the confidence and shed light into what he was putting himself into. As he witnessed Dodon Pa no more from shrubs aplenty, Espio peculiarity began to scout his destination - the distinguishable garage on the cliff-face.

(/)

[THE CHAOTIX DETECTIVE AGENCY, STATION SQUARE]

Amidst the closed office and dust particles strewn across the floored corners of the cuboid office, Vector accessed his main computer and proceeded to scout for any potential mobians willing enough in assistance. The hardest part was shutting down what defined him to be a prominent figure, and whisking Charmy away to a babysitter. Vector's concentration were hindered due to sending his two best detective buddies away, leaving him an option to let it all out.

"Man... things were better when Espio and Charmy were around with me. We could tell stories and laugh and stuff, now I'm all alone looking for other mobians to hang out."

The crocodile thus aimed sights at the agency telephone.

"Tails gave me a promise to fulfill. That Dodon Pa guy sure seems suspicious to me, but it's not worth backing down."

Vector helmed his smooth-gloved fingers on the keyboard.

"Those two ought to be still using their investigation skills to eye what he's up to. Meanwhile, I have to find some candidates for my race, and gather some intel on Dodon's races. I'll get back to Espio to see how he is doing."

Vector's secondary research gave him power to look up the tanuki on Station Square's proud browser with exceptional Wi-Fi connectivity. Within a few clicks of the clean mouse, the responsive and compact cursor's actions prompted a page with the tanuki's mysterious business the crocodile had never heard of before. Vector released the mouse and took a keen interest in the heading of such website. His perception of the guy slowing grew so clear, but why was he hosting racing tournaments? With his body pushed towards the head of the chair, Vector's mind began to conjure up a way to watch Dodon Pa in the flesh.

"Hmmmm..." The crocodile mused his newest assumptions including that if he may be able to race for a start. "His profiling is interesting. His portfolio detects he is a regular at this sort of thing. It looks like I'll have to spy on him like a true detective's bread and butter."

The green crocodile stood up and imagined the big bucks he would ensue on himself plus the two other racers as if it was a big possibility nonetheless. It was a perfect plan to sneak into the perimeter of Whale Lagoon's track and analyse the host for its worth. Just thinking about this ingenious plan made the detective boss snicker inside, but he by all means hefted his resolution to his pastimes.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Dodon Pa's Tournament - Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, Tails Miles Prower, Amy Rose, Big the Cat, Omochao.

Team Mechanics - Sally Acorn, Honey the Cat.

References:

Hell's Kitchen - Jar the Donkey's character and occupation as Dodon Pa's chef is based on Series 8 contestant Ranjit "Raj" Brandston from the popular American competition reality series, Hell's Kitchen, often regarded as one of, if not the worst contestant on the show. The name Jar is the aforementioned contestant's alias spelt backwards. Jar's species is a reference to one of the common insults Gordon Ramsey yells out at his contestants for messing up.

Shogakukan Sonic Manga/Nibroc-Rock - Tania the Hedgehog originates from the Sonic manga serialised by Shogakukan. Tania's design is based off Nibroc's render on DeviantArt. Both design and attire are credited by him.

This is a bit of a mind-blow, but upon finding out what kind of show Hell's Kitchen was, I stumbled across Roger Craig Smith as one of the narrators. Yes, you heard that right! I never realize his voice was hidden from the amount of clips I've seen on YouTube, but Sonic is there somewhere. Now his Pizza Hut cameo makes a whole lot of sense. That, or I haven't been paying too much attention to his voice. Anyway, Vector's plan to investigate the outcome has me curious. Sending Espio and Charmy away impacted his morale. The dude clearly can't think straight without the chameleon and the bee. What is Dodon Pa even planning next? All will be revealed in the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed this and take care.

Another thing I failed to point out previously. I know some of you will not get these references, that's okay. For those people who will get them and know where they originated from, feel free to skip the reference section to avoid redundancies. Just so you know when you see them coming.

P.S. Sorry this chapter took so long. I have been getting prepared for University and it's workload. Alot of time needs to be priotized on the academic side before I can continue with this. Hopefully I will update the story one by one, chapter by chapter and fix errors in previous chapters.

Please review.