Chapter 6: Guest Uninvited
Location: Thorndyke Residence
Three minutes later…
Emerging from the building, the group found Rotor standing outside Acorn One with his arms crossed. Despite having his head tilted towards the ground, Sally could still make out the annoyed expression.
"What seems to be the problem, Rotor?"
"We've got a stowaway," he answered.
"Who is it this time?" Sonic questioned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"It's Sticks."
An incidental member of the Freedom Fighters, it was believed that her parents had fallen victim to Robotnik. Spending her formative years alone, she lacked the knowledge about the civilized world.
"How did we miss her!" she demanded.
"She hid herself within the ventilation system."
"Not exactly the person we want on a diplomatic mission."
"Just…let me handle this," Amy stated, pushing past the blue hedgehog.
Heading into the aircraft, the Hedgehog found the contents of Rotor's toolbox laying scattered across the floor. It was obvious that Sticks had taken the Walrus by surprise, but fortunately she hadn't fled from Acorn One. Looking up, Amy found that the ventilation duct above her head had had its cover removed.
"Sticks! It's alright to come out."
She could hear movement form within, which proceeded a pair of blue eyes staring down at her. The brown and orange furred Badger soon pulled her entire body through, dropping down without a sound.
"What in the world are you doing hiding in there?"
"Hiding from the government agents surveilling my burrow."
"Sticks, you know not everyone is out to get you."
"Better safe then sorry," she stated, "So what are you doing here?"
"You mean; why are we in Station Square?"
"We're in Station Square!?"
"Yes, Sticks. We came down here because the Council of Acorn dispatched us on a diplomatic mission to meet with a group of humans in Murasia."
"Oh! Okay," the Badger said.
"I have to admit; I was expecting a bigger fuss," Sally commented to Sonic from the doorway.
"What should we do? There's no way we'd be able to fly her back up to Westside Island, even with the X-Tornado," Tails stated.
"Maybe Amy could head into town and see about grab some essentials for her."
"That's okay, I've got everything I need," the Badger announced.
Without warning, Sticks leapt onto the back of one of the seats and shoved her arm into the vent duct. She rooted around inside for a handful of seconds, eventually withdrawing a duffle bag that had been hidden inside. Letting it hit the floor, the feral badger immediately dropped down and unzippered the bag.
"I'm compelled to ask why you have that hidden," Amy said.
"In case my Burrow comes under surveillance by government agents…, or aliens, or robot clones. I've packed all the essentials, Boomerang…, staff…, nunchucks…, slingshot…, mace."
Pulling the aforementioned weapon from her bag, a look of surprise appeared on Sally's face.
"Uh…where exactly did you get that?"
"I donno, I find lottsa stuff."
"Gotta hand it to Sticks, she certainly knows how to come prepared," Sonic commented.
"Alright, you can come with us, but only on the condition that you behave yourself and you don't carry all your weapons."
"Can I bring my mace?" the badger asked.
"Your can bring the boomerang and the slingshot."
"Okie dokie!"
"Well now that that's resolved, I'd like to show you the project I've been working on," Chuck stated to Tails.
"And what project is that?" the Fox inquired.
"Something I think you might like."
Removing the remote from the pocket of his lab coat, the Professor pressed a button, causing the garage to rise-up. Located beneath it was Chuck's personal lab, where construction of the X-Tornado had taken place. A small fighter plane now occupied the space, one that had been painted silver, blue, and yellow.
"Wow! What is it?"
"It doesn't have a name yet, but I have been calling it the Hyper Tornado."
"What's the length of the wingspan? What's the maximum speed?" Tails asked, a dozen questions popping into his head.
"I'll share all the details with you," Chuck said, stifling a laugh from Tails' enthusiasm, "How'd you like to take it for a test flight?"
Without even saying a word, Tails pulled down his goggles over his eyes, a grin plastered all over his face.
"Yeah, this sound's super borin' so I'm gonna go look for something to entertain myself with," Sonic declared.
"It's not like you to skip lunch, especially one made by Ella," Sally commented.
The juvenile Hedgehog considered for a moment, but eventually the growling of his stomach made the decision for him.
"Change of plans. Lunch first then entertainment."
"Just don't cause any trouble...like last time."
Sally remembered the first time they had been in Station Square, and how the blue Hedgehog had led law enforcement on a chase through the city.
"Relax, Sal. I ain't gonna go lookin' for trouble. Just gonna ask Sam if he's interested in a little race."
"That's exactly the type of trouble I was referring to."