EARLIER…
Surprised by the appearance of the Columbian government's top-secret weapon, Robotnik had but one response for him…
"What's that!? Is that you, Sonic? Are you trying to spoil my plans again?"
Sure, the hedgehog who appeared from the containment unit bore a great resemblance to Sonic, but Robotnik quickly came to the realization that this was anything but the Blue Blur who'd once wrecked his plans for world domination…
"Wait a minute…you're not Sonic! This is impossible!"
"My name is Shadow. Since you were so kind to release me, I will grant you one wish, my master."
"Really?"
Shadow raised a fist. "Behold the true power I possess."
Robotnik was going to need Shadow's power, for a G.U.N. mech similar to Big Foot had entered the room.
"This is Scorpion Troop's Hot Shot," said the pilot. "Enemy movement has been detected. En route to intercept and destroy."
"Copy that," said the G.U.N. dispatcher.
Shadow raised his hand.
"CHAOS SPEAR!"
A bunch of green arrow-shaped lightning bolts shot themselves at the B-3X Hot Shot, thereby destroying it.
"Hmph. You're so pathetic." Shadow crossed his arms.
"Bravo!" Robotnik clapped. "What a spectacular display of power! So, Shadow, YOU must be the military's top-secret weapon! However, what did you mean when you said you would grant me one wish?"
Shadow turned around to face Robotnik. "Bring me more of the Chaos Emeralds."
"I would be only too glad to do so!"
"I'll be waiting for you in the central control room on the Space Colony ARK."
"ARK?"
Shadow ran away.
Later that night, while looking for a place to stay, Tails was passing by an electronics store when he noticed a news broadcast coming from a bunch of TVs in the window display:
"…in other news, the worldwide military organization known as G.U.N. has arrested Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic – a resident of the Kingdom of Mobius – was wanted in connection with the destruction of military facilities and the robbery of the First Bank of Station Square and is being transported to Prison Island…"
Hearing these news, Tails immediately fled for the shore of Station Square.
Tails could've taken the Tornado to Prison Island. However, considering how heavily defended it was, he opted for a stealthier approach: he donned some scuba gear from Sonic's disguise bag and swam all the way to the island. Upon reaching the shore, he changed out of the scuba gear and put on a G.U.N. soldier's uniform, consisting of a navy blue BDU, black load-carrying vest, black leather combat boots, a black PASGT helmet and ballistic goggles.
"There's no doubt about it; this must be the island!" said Tails to himself. "I still can't believe that Sonic would destroy military buildings or rob the bank! Just hold on, Sonic; I'm on my way!"
With that, Tails headed over to the main part of Prison Island, trying his best to act normally, or at least how he thought a G.U.N. soldier would act normally. Judging by the lack of enemy attacks, he seemed to be doing an all right job of it so far, and in fact, various G.U.N. soldiers reacted positively to him:
"Hey man, how's it goin'?" asked one soldier.
"Not too bad. What about you?"
"Ah, S.S.D.D., ya know?"
Tails nodded. "I know, right?"
"How are you doing?" asked another soldier.
"I'm all right. And you?"
"I'm kinda bored, actually."
"Me too."
"You new around here?" asked yet another soldier.
Tails nodded. "Kinda."
"If you're looking for the prison block, it's up that path." The soldier pointed in the general direction.
Tails smiled. "Thank you."
"No problem, man!"
Despite the fact that his disguise was working, not everything was smooth sailing for Tails, as evidenced when he came to the front door.
"Excuse me, but I'll need to see your identification," said a G.U.N. soldier at the gate.
"Identification? Hold on a sec…"
Tails fumbled around in the pockets of his uniform and managed to pull out a wallet with a G.U.N. ID card, which he handed to the soldier. The soldier looked it over, and then…
"OK, you're all set." The soldier handed Tails' ID back. "Carry on."
"Thank you, but…I'm kind of new around here. Could you please tell me where the main cell block is?"
The soldier pointed at the front door. "Go down the main hallway, take the second left and take the first elevator on your right. The main cell block will be two floors down."
Tails smiled. "Thank you!"
"Hey, you're welcome!"
Tails headed into the prison building.
(So far, so good,) thought Tails.
As he continued to navigate Prison Island, Tails kept getting a warm reception from the soldiers here. In a way, it made him feel somewhat warm and fuzzy. Nevertheless, he did his best to remind himself that he was here to rescue a dear friend. Soon enough, he found the elevator he was looking for, but something unexpected happened…
"Show me your papers," said a mysterious voice next to Tails.
Tails turned and noticed a G.U.N. officer addressing him.
"OK…"
Tails flashed his ID for the officer, who looked it over.
"Who is your commanding officer?" asked the officer.
"Um…shouldn't it be right there on my ID?" said Tails.
"Who is your commanding officer?"
"Um…"
The officer leaned in a bit closer to Tails. "What is your name?"
"Um…!"
Realizing that there was a very good chance that his cover was going to be blown, Tails jumped up, swung around and knocked the officer cold with his twin tails. Finally, the elevator arrived, but not sure about what to do with the unconscious officer, Tails dragged him into the elevator. On the way down, Tails searched the guy for anything that might prove useful.
"Ah! This might just unlock Sonic's cell!"
Tails pocketed a keycard, and once the elevator reached the floor where the main cell block was located, he stepped out and looked around.
"Sonic can't be far now…"
True to Tails' thinking, Sonic was locked up in a cell located not too far from the elevator. However, Tails got a frostier reception than he expected…
"Yeah, what do ya want?" said Sonic.
"Sonic, it's me, Tails! I came to bust you out!"
"Huh?"
As if Sonic's Hedgehog Sense wasn't enough to convince him that the G.U.N. soldier standing before him was indeed his best friend, the fact that his twin namesakes were still visible did it.
"All right!"
Sonic pumped his fist, while Tails used the keycard to unlock the cell.
"My man!" Sonic gave Tails some dap. "Enough screwin' around, let's…"
Suddenly, a klaxon blared throughout the prison, and red lights flashed accordingly.
"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!" said a woman over the PA system. "An unauthorized person disguised as a G.U.N. soldier has infiltrated the facility and broken out the prisoner known as Sonic the Hedgehog. All units, locate and apprehend the suspects."
"Ready to race, Ace?" asked Sonic.
"Ready whenever you are!"
And so, Sonic and Tails ducked into the elevator before any soldiers could apprehend them. When the elevator reached the ground floor, a group of G.U.N. soldiers had their MP5s and M4s ready, only there was nobody in the elevator but the unconscious officer.
"What the hell?" said one of the soldiers.
The soldier cautiously entered the elevator, M4 at the ready, when suddenly, Sonic dropped down on him and knocked him cold before knocking out the rest of the soldiers with a Spin Dash. Tails jumped down after.
"Why are you just standing around, Sonic?"
"I gotta get my jacket back. Do ya know where they're keepin' it?"
"I saw an evidence room on the way here. Follow me!"
As Tails ordered, Sonic followed him, which wasn't easy because a bunch of G.U.N. soldiers were bearing down on them. Fortunately for Sonic and Tails, these guys were disciples of the Imperial Marksmanship Academy, so they managed to escape unharmed. Even so, Sonic had to remind himself that these soldiers were probably innocent of any involvement in anything that Robotnik was cooking up – provided that Robotnik had returned, that is – so he made it a point not to use too much force against them if it could be avoided. It wasn't long before him and Tails found the evidence room.
"Cover me!" said Sonic.
"Got it!"
Using his Hedgehog Sense, Sonic pored through the various storage bins and lockers until he found his M65 field jacket. He was just putting it on when…
"Sonic, shield your eyes and ears!"
Sonic did so as quickly as possible, and it was just in time, for a soldier had thrown a flashbang grenade in the room. Fortunately, neither Sonic nor Tails got blinded or deafened, and when soldiers poured in to try to apprehend them, Sonic stopped them with a Spin Dash, and him and Tails escaped outside.
"Let's split, man!" said Sonic. "If Robuttnik's back, I'll whoop him real good!"
"Are you sure about this?" asked Tails.
"I wouldn't tell ya if I wasn't!"
Tails nodded. "Before we part ways, though, tell me: why did you get locked up here, anyways?"
"You ain't gonna believe this, but there was this black and red hedgehog that almost looked like me!"
Tails' eyes widened. "So he must've been the one who destroyed those military buildings and robbed that bank!"
"Wow, no wonder people were treatin' us like we killed King and Queen Acorn! Let's split, Schmidt!"
"Here, take this, too!" Tails handed Sonic his S.M.E.C.K. back.
Sonic and Tails parted ways. Sonic's path took him to a portion of the island known as Metal Harbor, where various naval vessels were docked. Seeing as how he was deemed a threat by the government, the Columbian Air Force sent F-35 Lightning IIs in an attempt to bomb the Blue Blur. However, the combination of Sonic's speed and the Air Force pilots having graduated from the Imperial Marksmanship Academy meant that their bombs and missiles missed him, though a few came too close for his liking.
"Whoa, talk about havin' a blast!" said Sonic.
In addition to the CAF, various G.U.N. soldiers on the ground and various drones attempted to blow Sonic away, but once again, he was too fast for them. Despite being fast, Ol' Blue needed to find a way off the island, figuring that he would be recaptured if he stayed too long.
"Missile launch in 15 seconds," said a male voice over the PA.
Sonic looked over and spotted a missile silo off in the distance.
"That's it!"
Sonic sped on for the missile silo.
"10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…"
Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.