Chapter 3

With a beep the projector turned on and the image of Eggman sitting in a chair appeared. "Is everyone here? Great. Let's get started."

Tails sat at the table with Stu, Barby, and Guru. Sonic, Walt, and Bill stood around the table, the latter two keeping a distance from Tails. The curtains were drawn so the only illumination was that of the projected image of Eggman.

"Undoubtedly you're all aware of the situation, but as a quick recap my creation, Crocbot, has gone missing and the command center I established in Downunda was trashed. There are no leads as to what happened or where Crocbot is."

Tails raised his hand. "I'm thinking this may be a trap."

"Then we are in agreeance. Which is why we're having this meeting here." A satellite image appeared next to the doctor's head. "The last report from Downunda mentioned a suspicious find in these mountainous regions. To what specifically wasn't mentioned, but it was enough to warrant further investigation by the standards I encoded. Whatever it was, it took top priority. So it was a high level alert that somehow didn't trigger safety protocols. That is only possible if they were altered. In other words, hacked."

Walt stiffened. "Hold on! Why wasn't that mentioned before?! That's a significant detail."

Eggman turned to stare at him. "Probably because the kingdom would have immediately assumed it was Tails' doing."

"How come you think it's not? It's a real possibility."

"Because simpletons such as yourselves think you know so much about breaching a system. If Tails was actually responsible it wouldn't be on such a small scale as one continent."

"Not unless he was after just this continent!"

"Then how about, because I say so! Miss Koala keep your pet on a leash before he barks a bark he can't teeth."

Barby sighed and stared down Walt. The wallaby sighed, leaning back against the wall.

Eggman nodded. "Good. Now, as I was saying. The hack was small and it altered the way the system filtered data. It's not a significant hack, which is why it's still obvious and noticeable though difficult to comprehend."

Sonic raised his hand. "Hey Egghead. I remember Ralph talking about Anonymous and your tech. Could this be him? He seems trap like."

"Don't call me an Egghead, hedgehog. And I've already thought of that. I contacted Ralph and his team. They assured me this was too on the nose to be Anonymous. His traps are more subtle and he wouldn't dare bring out two major heroes. It's too much attention he can't afford, even peripherally. If it was just a suspicious alteration in the codes, I would be skeptical, but wouldn't contact the kingdom. It's the fact my command center was destroyed that it was too obvious to dismiss. Whoever it is wants us to know it's a trap so as to bring out our top heroes." Eggman waved to them. "If they're confident enough or crazy enough for that then they have something up their sleeves. Hence, why I want Tails here. He's the smartest one here, there's no means of which they could outperform him working with Sonic and others." He cast a certain glance toward Walt.

Eggman turned back to Tails. "Normally we would investigate the area in more detail. Using GPR to conduct a speleological survey, of course. But the situation is more complicated than I previously thought."

Everyone looked around confused. Tails perked up, "Ground Penetrating Radar. He's saying he wants to use technology to take pictures of the cave systems within the mountain. Creating an impromptu map so we won't go in blind." He looked up at Eggman. "How are things complicated? Are there too many tunnels?"

Eggman shook his head. "There are none. According to the imaging, it's like there is a giant egg nested inside the entire mountain. Someone's blocking the imagery somehow and I can't figure out how."

Tails sagged into his chair. "Then I need to develop a more advanced substitute to peer inside."

"Correct."

"Damn it." Tails stood up from his chair and paced the room. "Let me think."

Eggman turned to the rest of them. "Get that? It means you're splitting up. You all will investigate the mountain as if everything were normal to avoid suspicion while Tails here focuses on developing something that will inform you of what is happening. I trust Sonic raced his way around the mountain."

"… Maybe."

"Great. Did you perhaps find some caves large enough for me to stand in?"

"Maybe."

"Did you or did you not!"

"I don't know, I wasn't looking. Why would I go measuring caves I see? It's not like I go spelunking every time I see one."

Eggman sighed, rubbing his lenses into his eyes. "So much for that idea."

"Hey, if you're sending drones everywhere to take pictures why didn't you find caves?"

Eggman rounded on the hedgehog. "I did you incompetent! I asked you in case I missed any!"

Sonic raised his hands. "Okay, sorry. Yeesh. I ran to run. I'm not a surveyor."

Eggman groveled as dots appeared on the map of the mountain. "I found these caves, ones that would fit Crocbot, so you all will be going out there where they are not."

The Downunda Freedom Fighters blinked, looking to each other in surprise. Sonic raised a brow at them while Tails continued pacing. Barby raised her hand. "I'm sorry, but why aren't we checking out the caves?"

"Because, that would be an obvious trap. When you come across the caves, just pretend to survey the area for signs of entry and movement. Even if you find any, move on."

"I'm sorry, but why?"

Sonic waved his hand. "Cause there's a secret entrance. Am I right?"

Eggman looked like he rolled his eyes. It was hard to tell with the shades hiding them and all. "Yes exactly." An oval shape appeared onscreen, it forming in the mountain's image perfectly. "This shape has four distinct places it touches the outskirts of the mountain. That means that in all likelihood, the real entrance is in one, some, or all four locations. The primary group will survey these parts and test to find an entrance. Make it subtle and don't go in. Not until Tails has a proper layout of the inside. Got it?"

They nodded and Eggman turned to the fox. "Have you thought of anything yet?"

Tails nodded, coming back to the table. "Yeah, but it'll take time to set up. I'm missing some pieces so I'll have to borrow material."

Walt and Bill gave the fox an apprehensive look. Barby noticed and stood up to draw away attention. "What kind of material?"

"Just some base components, wires, ore, parts. If you can give me access to your reserves I can look at what I have and then build it from there. I'll compensate you of course."

Barby shook her head. "No. It's there for this exact purpose there's no need."

"Barby." Bill muttered.

She shot him a warning look before returning to Tails. "Of course, one of us will stay behind to make sure you can find the proper tools. Maybe even provide backup for you if anything goes south. If we're splitting up we shouldn't leave someone behind.

Eggman sighed, staring her down. "This wouldn't be an attempt to 'keep an eye on that one,' would it?"

Barby crossed her arms. "You said this was a trap. How do we know this is not what that trap is for? I'm not leaving a teammate by themselves in such a serious situation. We'll discuss the two teams by ourselves. We get Sonic will be with the surveying team and Tails will stay back, but we haven't established the who or what with my team. If you have a problem with that you can request a different team to replace us."

Eggman leaned back in his chair. She knew he couldn't do that. They are the best in Downunda and they didn't have the time to go and wait for a replacement team. Her logic was sound even if there were ulterior motives. Grumbling, Eggman gave a dismissive wave with his hand, relenting.

Barby nodded. "Good. Is there anything else?"

"Apparently not, since you know so much more than I." Eggman snarked. "You discuss the specifics. I'll be in my carrier looking into other options on my end." He reached out to shut off the call.

Tails jumped forward. "Wait! Eggman."

"What?" He sat up annoyed.

Tails smiled. "It's… nice working with you again."

Eggman froze, looking taken aback. He studied the fox closely, then nodded. "Yes. I suppose it is." He then shut off the call.

The doctor sat back in his chair with a sigh. He didn't expect that. The boy looked so earnest too. It was nice though, bouncing ideas off each other and developing a sound strategy. He wished he could say it was like the good old days, but in reality that wasn't true. The last major plan of Tails involved tricking everyone before revealing his hand. It was quite the complicated mess they were in.

Metal Sonic walked in. "They seem distracted. Should I head out to grab them?"

"No, Metal. No." Eggman got up from his chair and walked out. "It doesn't feel right. Tails is our friend. I don't want him dead."

XXXX

Barby closed the door behind Sonic and Tails, waiting a few seconds at the door to make sure they were walking away before looking back to her group. "Well? What do you think?"

Stu propped his boots on the table, crossing his arms. "Seems legit. The fox was nice and all. Their friendly teasing was certainly realistic. I wouldn't call it an act at least. Kind of hard to fake that kind of chemistry."

Guru scratched his head. "Were we suppose to watch them? I thought they were our teammates."

Bill sneered. "Supposed teammates. We are housing the Mysterious Villain after all. I wouldn't trust him as far as I can throw him."

Walt grumbled. "Leave him behind to toy with our equipment. Is he mad? Of course he is, he's Eggman. I'm glad you had enough sense to push one of us to keep an eye on him."

"I meant what I said, Walt. I'm still not so sure about him, but I'm not leaving him alone here if this is a trap. I want to think he is someone we can rely on."

"And what about Thrash, huh? I'm not having a repeat of that!" Walt snapped.

Barby growled, her fists clenching. "You had a part in that too. Now, are you going to listen to me or are we repeating what happened?"

That shut the wallaby down very quickly. He looked away in shame, neglecting to say anything more. Seeing he was done Barby sighed. "Look, you're right in saying I want someone here to keep an eye on him. I don't know if we can trust him, but I know we need to right now. That's why you guys will go ahead with Sonic and I'll stay behind."

"Hold on!" Bill shot up. "You're not staying here with him!"

"I am. I can take care of myself."

Walt snapped to attention. "Hold on. I get why everyone else is going with Sonic, but why me? I'm perfectly capable of dealing with the fox."

"Cause you're too uptight around him. I can act cool and comfortable so he can relax around me. He knows you don't like him and will be on alert the whole time. Not to mention the tension might start an argument. We need him focused on the machine. We need it."

Stu fiddled with his cap. "I'm not sure why I can't stay. I can be like that around him."

"When it comes down to it, if it turns into a fight. Could you hurt the boy?"

Sue faltered, then sagged into his chair. "Guess not."

"I'm willing to take that responsibility and I'm not hostile toward him. I'm the best choice in this group."

Bill growled. "I overheard their conversation. The hedgehog was implying the fox likes you. I'm not comfortable with the thought of you two alone."

Barby crossed her arms and leaned on one foot. "Like it or not, that only means I'm the better choice. He'll be less likely to harm me. Besides, we're here on professional reasons. This isn't a speed dating spot. Stop worrying."

XXXX

Sonic tapped his foot on the sandy floor of the desert. His eyes wandering over the house those freedom fighters were in. He didn't doubt for a second what they were really discussing, but he was playing along since he knew not one of them could take on Tails alone. Maybe put up a good fight, but Tails wasn't some pushover as his demeanor lead people to believe.

Like right now, how Tails was striding around him in circles, biting the tip of his finger in contemplation. Sonic groaned. "Going dizzy again."

"I still don't understand how that words. You roll up into a pinball moving at super speed."

"And you're thinking is smoking your brain so much I can't breath."

"Adding more nonsense on nonsense doesn't make it clearer."

"I dunno. It's making me dizzy. That's all I know. Maybe your dedication to over thinking things is rubbing off on me and it's throwing me into a tailspin. Not a thinker myself after all."

Tails rolled his eyes and began walking around him in the opposite direction. Sonic deadpanned. "How nostalgic, thanks."

"Didn't Eggman seem strange to you? The way he responded was out of character. Like he was annoyed with us or something."

"That's out of character?"

"Be serious! He legitimately seemed upset with us. Not in our usual banter either. Something has to be bothering him."

"Tails," Sonic grabbed him by the shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "It's Eggman. You know he's a moody guy. He's just in one of his phases. We just need to give him some space and time. He'll bounce back eventually."

"I guess."

"You over think things too much. Come on, let's think of something else. Who do you think will stay behind with you?"

"You better not be thinking-!"

"Bet five bucks its Barby." Sonic nudged Tails and giving him one growl of attraction.

Tails shook his head. "I sometimes loathe you."

"Aww, love you too, buddy. But I'm being serious… maybe a little serious. I'm thinking as the leader she's going to stay behind. I doubt it's for anything more than that. We're not really in the right air for romance you know. I'm just trying to get you to start engaging with people of the opposite sex."

"Why?"

"Cause I know you want a girlfriend Tails." The fox flinched at Sonic's words, looking away and down. Sonic rubbed his temple. "Sal and I could see it. You're lonely and after seeing what Sal and I have you began wanting that companionship. I don't blame ya, you live a rather lonely life and as much as I hate to admit it, you're a bit clingy to the friends you have. Again, can't blame you."

Tails crossed his arms and walked toward the jet. He did not want to have this conversation right now. Sonic rolled his eyes and followed. "Tails, you need to start branching out. You can't keep yourself held up in that shed. It's not healthy and it won't change anything. I only want you to be happy, buddy."

Tails opened the side of the jet, rummaging thought it and taking out certain objects and materials. "I don't need some companion."

"Oh, well, let's be honest, neither do I. If anything, Sal'll probably have a stress free life if I wasn't around. That's not why we have these relationships, bro. I'm dating Sal because I want to. You should never date someone because you 'need' to. If that's the case, there's a problem. It's why I never took Amy seriously, she was too obsessive."

Tails turned to him. "So if she were more mellow and dependent you'd date her?"

"Well… I'm gonna use the girlfriend excuse here to say I only have eyes for one person."

"Uh-huh. That's what I thought." The fox went back to rummaging.

The hedgehog leaned up against the jet. "I'm not saying you should try and date Barby, Tails. It's not appropriate to ask that here. What I am saying is try and get to know her better. Like you're on a date."

Tails stood up all stiff. "Date?! What does that mean?! Am I dating her or not?!"

"Not. You're only trying to get to know her. I only meant it will be like a first date. Think of it this way. When you're trying to understand a computer, what do you do?"

"I look into its programming, see how it functions."

"That's exactly what dating is. Just less hands on. Just… instead of looking at a screen and a keyboard your stuck with voice commands and speakers. So you ask questions."

"Just like that?"

"Maybe less robotic and technical jargon, but the concept stays the same. Try asking about her as a person. Not her past, her person. Past stuff comes after trust and right now you're in medium territory. A good place to start but you're not friends yet."

Tails took out a bag and began throwing everything on the ground in it. "Her as a person? So this is practice?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I'm pretty sure she's like seven years older than me, at least." He shut the jet and locked it.

Sonic slid up, going nose to nose with him. "You gotta get outta that mindset pronto. You're both adults, that doesn't matter any more."

"Wait, I'm not an adul-."

"Tails, if you focus on how you're relationship will only fail it's only going to fail. Relationships are based on how well you two connect, not how incompatible you are. There is no such thing as perfectly compatible. Couples argue, a lot. It's the good ones that don't fall apart because of that. If you push someone away before they can get to know you they'll naturally want nothing to do with you." He clasped Tails no the shoulder. "A romantic relationship is a near copy of a normal friendship. The difference is the intimacy and the affections. You care about them more than a friend and you want to be closer to them emotionally and physically. Take away that, it's a normal friendship. So go in there trying to be best buds. That's your practice."

Tails stared at him unassured, but before he could say anything a voice broke out over from the house. "Sorry for the wait. We have everything settled." Barby came out with the rest of her team right behind her.

She planted her hand on her chest. "I will stay behind and accompany the fox while he builds his project. The rest of my team will go with Sonic to find the entrance."

Sonic nudged Tails and coughed, rubbing his fingers together for money. Tails looked down at the hedgehog's hand. Reached into his tails as if to draw something out, only to shove his fingers into the hedgehog's palm to pinch the skin and twist. Sonic yelped and pulled back, waving his hand around while staring at the fox affronted.

Tails grinned at him and walked over to Barby, indicating to the bag. "I have the tools I need. Just need to look at what you have and see if I need to deconstruct anything further."

Barby waved him over. "Follow me. I'll take you to the shed. You guys start scouting and take your time."

Sonic threw his arms out. "Wait, seriously? You know who I am? That's not fair."

Tails looked back at him. "Take it as punishment."

"What did I do?!"

"Maybe you can think about it on your walk."

"Not cool." Sonic pointed at the fox as he got further away. He then turned to Walt. "Alright, since the team is splitting up along with their respective leaders, I guess that means I'm in charge of this team."

"Don't push it hedgehog. We'll follow your lead, but if we don't like it we don't have to follow it."

"I can see we're going to get along just nicely Wannabe."

"Wallabee!"

XXXX

"They are splitting up." A slim robot stared at the screen. It slid its hand over the skull of Crocbot, tilting its head to the side. Tails' Mechanic tapped its fingers on the metal frame. "How unfortunate. I should not have expected differently. How foolish of me."

It shoved the deactivated robot off itself and stood. It marched over to the consul and pressed a few buttons. "Perhaps I can mold it to my advantage… Yes. That is almost perfect. A few changes will not hinder the plan. Activating cronul shift test. Let us see if my hypotheses is correct."