Chapter 20: Airborne
Location: Government House
The next day...
"This show is cheesy, isn't there something else on?" Sonic asked, his boredom increasing.
"It's the summer," Leon replied, "There's never anything good on daytime television."
Sonic and Tails were seated within the den, watching a rerun of a popular children's cartoon called Billy Hatcher with Leon, Muttski, and Chris.
"It's not that bad," Muttski admitted, "It's kinda cute."
"Yeah, this show's not that bad once you get past all the egg puns," Tails commented with a grin.
"Well…it's better then that show about celebrities driving drunk," Sonic admitted.
"You mean Celebrity DUI?" Molly asked, stepping into the room.
"Don't tell me you watch it?"
"I don't watch trash, and that's trash."
Having begun flipping channels, Tails eventually settled on UNN, thestate-owned media network. A mustachioed man with dark hair appeared on the television screen, dressed in an ugly burgundy suit.
"Breaking news from the entertainment industry, as actress Kyla Velassi escaped custody during a court hearing."
"Speaking of trash," Molly began, "Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Celebrity DUI's rising star."
"Not a fan I take it?" Chris commented.
"Nope. Especially when her vagina's been one screen more then her face."
Chris was visibly disgusted, but any comment he wanted to make was silenced when the Prime Minister entered the room.
"MOLLY!" he scolded, drawing everyone's attention.
He was in the company of a stern-faced individual of approximately fifty years, with close-cropped black hair and steely blue eyes. He was, dressed in a neatly pressed green military uniform, conveying the message that he was a high-rank member of the Terran Military.
"Everyone this is General Morven Mendenhall, my Military Advisor."
"Good morning. I was able to get a hold of that IFF Beacon that was requested," he said, producing a metal case.
"Awesome!" Tails said, trotting forward, "Now I can retrieve the X-Tornado."
The twin-tailed Fox had been eager to take a bird's eye-view of the Terran Republic in the X-Tornado, denied only because he lacked and IFF. Now that he was in possession of one, he could head to the airport and retrieve his personal aircraft.
"Need any help?" Chris asked, desiring to be of some use.
"Naw. I'm just planning to head down to the airport and flying back with the X-Tornado."
"I'll inform the Airport Authority to expect you," Carmichael announced.
The Fox immediately disappeared through the doorway, with the intention of retrieving the aircraft without delay. Deciding to join the Fox, the Hedgehog quickly made for the front door of Government House.
"Yo, Tails! Wait up," he called.
The Fox cub was halfway across the property before he stopped, allowing the Hedgehog to catch up.
"What's up, Sonic?" he asked.
"Wanna race to the airport?"
Sonic was bored, and a race through the city was exactly what he needed to help break up the monotony.
"Are you sure you can keep up?"
The blue Hedgehog raised an eyebrow, surprised to have his adoptive brother flexing on him.
"Have you forgotten who you're talking to?"
A shit-eating grin had taken form on the twin-tailed Fox's face, enjoying the indignation displayed by the Hedgehog.
"You're on, Propeller-Butt!"
The two Mobians immediately broke into a run, avoiding the gate and launching themselves over the wall.
Location: Capitol City Airport
Seventeen minutes later…
Sitting in the cockpit of the X-Cyclone, Tails carefully installed the IFF beacon delivered by General Mendenhall. Having finished, the twin-tailed Fox screwed the panel back into placed that he had removed from the console.
"All done?" the Hedgehog asked from the crate he had been lounging on.
"Yep!" he confirmed, "Just have to notify Air Traffic Control that we're taking off."
Reaching for the aircraft's CB radio, Tails immediately pressed the button and spoke into the microphone.
"Control Tower, this is the X-Tornado requesting permission to take off."
There was a long silence, but eventually a feminine voice emerged from the radio's speaker.
"Acknowledged, X-Tornado. Please remain on standby until you've received authorization for takeoff."
Sonic knew he shouldn't be annoyed, especially given that planes were constantly taking off and landing.
"So…think these Terrans will ally with us?"
"Not sure," Tails admitted, "The fact that the legislature is a minority means that Aunt Sally's gonna have to pull out all the stops to convince them."
"Geez, I hope our parliament won't be this troublesome," the Hedgehog complained.
"That the reality of democracy."
Falling silent, the pair patiently waited for Air Traffic Control to grant them authorization to depart. The boredom grew to much for the Hedgehog, who pushed off from the crate and began pacing about. It was a typical reaction for Sonic, except that it didn't take long for it to become annoying.
"Sure would've been great to have had a Chaos Emerald," the Fox said, trying to distract the Hedgehog.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and find one."
"That would be something."
Having grown to used to flying at an accelerated speed, he understood Sonic's preference for highspeed. Opening his mouth, Tails was about to speak again when the air traffic controller suddenly came back over the radio.
"X-Tornado, you may now taxi onto the runway and takeoff."
"Acknowledged, Control Tower."
Sonic instantly leapt onto the exterior of the aircraft, while the twin-tailed Fox stomped out of the hanger. Activating the X-Tornado's rockets, it was lifted into the air and transformed into its flight mode. Taking off from the airport, Tails headed back in the direction of the Prime Minister's Residence.