"Sooooo this is fun," Sonic said. Of course, he was being sarcastic.
After the exciting news that Tails had been able to finally pin-point 'Project' Shadow's location, Sonic had thought that they were finally going to get in on some long overdue action!
But, alas, it was not so. Of course, he understood the advantages of having a game plan since just rushing into a highly secured G.U.N base probably wasn't the best idea all by itself. Packing for the trip was also something to consider, what with the base where Project Shadow was being held was literally in the middle of nowhere. At least, if the information in the files Tails retrieved was correct.
And then there was the sense to bring some medical equipment in case G.U.N hadn't been taking good care of their little 'weapon', or in case one of them got hurt while trying to break in.
Still, however valid the reasons, the planning part of this rescue mission had drawn on way longer than Sonic would have liked. Sonic at least appreciated the quick departure from base, only to be disappointed yet again by a long, confining drive through the desert terrain.
A few eternities later and they finally arrived.
One would assume they could've done something then, right? Wrong. To Sonic's dismay, Tails and Omega both agreed to wait until nightfall. Something about how it'd be easier to break into the base under cover of dark. Which was just a ridiculous thought by itself since Sonic had broken into plenty of high security facilities in broad daylight way back in the day.
But the hedgehog held no sway in the debate. So they waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Sonic felt like he was going to burst and the itch to jump into action only got worse the closer the sun came to the edge of Mobius' skyline.
He leaned back in his chair, tapping his foot and staring at the ceiling of the huge vehicle.
"Ya know, Tails, I think we should definitely do this for vacation next year! I never knew I'd have so much fun traveling out to break a friend from prison and then sit around and not actually do anything!"
"Sonic- I swear- if you don't stop being passive aggressive I'll leave you back in the lair next time and it'll just be Omega and I going out on missions."
Sonic huffed. "Sure, cuz we have so many other missions to go on."
Tails glowered, but went back to his old sudoku book the size of a dictionary.
"If it is any consolation, I too am restless to begin our mission. Perhaps, considering that the setting of the sun is approximately only a half hour away, we should communicate the best game plan?"
Sonic was quick to jump onto Omega's idea. "Yeah! Now see, that's what I'm talking about!" Sonic thumped the dash sportingly. "Let's do that!"
Tails, who had glanced over at the loud thump to the dash, rolled his eyes.
Sonic continued, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, here's what I'm thinking. Tails uses his genius brain and shape-changing skills to open a way into the base. I slip in and find where they're keeping Shadow. I drop my location to Omega, who relays it back to Tails, then we break Shadow out and speed out of there!"
"What if we get caught?" Tails deadpanned.
"Then we fight our way out! Come on, between my speed and your cunning, there's no way those G.U.N guys would stand a chance!"
"And if they have machinery or tech more advanced than we think?"
Sonic waved a hand, "I've busted through a million bots more lethal than anything G.U.N can come up with!"
Tails closed his Sudoku with a sigh.
"Sonic, I'm sorry..."
Sonic looked at his brother, suspicion slowly creeping in.
"Why?"
"Because we can't do that. I already have a plan, one that Omega and I figured out already..."
"Oh. Well, that's okay! I've never been a planning guy anyway. So what's the call, bro?"
He flashed Tails a grin.
Tails rubbed the back of his head.
"So, first, I'm gonna go in, in disguise of course, and Omega's gonna be overriding the identification systems so that I can get in without proper ID. If he's able to get access to the databases then he'll try to locate Shadow, that way I don't have to find a computer room, and then he'll lead me there."
Sonic nodded. It seemed like a reasonable plan so far.
Tails continued, "They'll probably have him in some sort of high security cell, which means I'm going to need time without any alarms being raised to hack into whatever safeguards they have, so Omega's gonna make sure no one walks in on me. Once I've got him out of whatever it is they have him in, we'll get Shadow out through the air ducts."
"Air ducts? Really?"
"Surprisingly, yes. Omega's helped me get the layout of the air system and, even though it does have multiple safeguards, we both agree they'll be easier to disable without anyone noticing than if we tried to simply walk out. When we're almost out I'll signal you and you'll bring the truck as close to us as possible. After we get to the truck it's a straight shot back to the lair."
"Sounds like a great plan, bud, but- what do I do?"
"Well... You're the getaway driver."
"Yeah, okay but besides that! Don't I get to help break in? Or at least help break Shads out?"
Tails shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sonic, but you can't."
"What are you talking about?" Sonic was getting irritated. He wanted some action! He'd been confined inside the lair for decades, left behind while his own little brother soloed dangerous undercover missions. And finally, after all this time, he was being sidelined on one of the most important rescues in over a hundred years?! He quickly tried to argue against it.
"I won't even be seen! You know how fast I've been able to go! Not even the cameras will see me!"
"I'm not worried about the cameras, Sonic." Tails hesitated before continuing, looking up at Sonic with sad eyes, as if he really didn't want to tell Sonic any more than the hedgehog wanted to hear it. "It's something else. Omega and I have found that, at least in this base, G.U.N has chaos readers all throughout the complex. Usually they're just at the entrances but there're some even in the hallways and offices."
"Chaos readers?" Sonic asked, "Why? Chaos energy hasn't really been a thing for a hundred years! Why would they still keep them as part of their security?"
"I think it's because of Shadow. If he broke out, it would make finding him a lot easier. At least, that's my theory. But whatever the reason, the chaos readers are designed to alert center control if there are any abnormal spikes in Chaos energy and, no offense, but you radiate the stuff more than the sun does UV rays. You'd be setting off so many sensors there's no way it'd go unnoticed."
Sonic tapped his foot against the floor, an irate sound. "Then I can be a distraction! I'll set off the chaos readers and everyone will be so distracted trying to catch me no one will think about you sneaking in!"
"We can't risk it," Tails protested, "If they really do keep those chaos readers in case Shadow tries to escape, then I can't help but think that they have some sort of mechanism in place to secure him. What if setting off a Chaos reader triggers a trap? Remember, Shadow's pretty fast too, maybe they have something that's neutralizing!"
"First off, I'm faster than Shadow. Whatever they have set up for him won't be able to catch me. Second I can't sit on the sidelines anymore, Tails! Even if it is risky I want to help!"
Tails took in a deep breath, his eyes pinching closed. The pained expression on his face quieted Sonic's arguments and stilled the restless energy inside him. The hedgehog realized that Tails was legitimately worried and that made him wary.
"I know," Tails said quietly. "I know how much this is torture for you..." He opened his eyes and suddenly seemed extremely tired as he looked up at Sonic with a pleading expression, "But I still have to ask you to please, please stay here. If something happened- if they got you- none of this would've been worth it. Please, Sonic... Can you trust me on this one?"
Sonic forced himself to relax, pushing himself to smile at his brother and rest a hand on the fox's shoulder.
"Of course I trust you, bro. Always have." He pulled back, sucking in a breath and grimacing. "And, it'll be hard, but fine. I'll stay here."
Tails visibly relaxed, smiling up at Sonic like the hedgehog had just taken the world itself off the fox's shoulders.
"Thank you, Sonic."
Sonic waved a hand. "Yeah well, just be grateful that running wheel of yours works so well. Or else I'd really be gettin' tank fever."
Tails laughed. "I'm surprised that thing is still working! Don't let me forget to check it over when we get back."
Sonic looked out the tinted window, and watched the sun slowly descend beyond the edge of the world. "Yeah sure, will do."
Tails closed his sudoku and got up from his chair, heading to the back and trifling around with some of the supplies they had brought.
"It will soon be time to initiate our jailbreak," Omega commented from over the speakers.
"Got that right," Sonic replied, "Wish we could cause G.U.N some trouble for all the pain they've been..."
The blue streaks on his arms glowed angrily, his emerald eyes glinting from some unseen light.
A hand on his shoulder settled the energy boiling inside him and he looked over at his little brother.
"They'll pay for what they've done, Sonic. Don't worry. But right now, our first priority is getting Shadow. We can come up with our plans for revenge after that," he gave the hedgehog a conniving grin.
Sonic nodded, returning a smirk, "Right. Shadow comes first."
"I would not be opposed to planning glorious revenge now..."
~•~•~•~
Tails walked up to the guard booth at the entrance of the complex. The front gate had been easy. A simple matter of Omega hijacking the electric lock. Tricking technology was easy. Tricking an actual person would be much more difficult.
Tails hoped his disguise would be convincing enough.
"You got this, buddy!" Sonic encouraged through his ear piece.
"Thanks," Tails whispered.
"I have access to the main security system and have already begun to open files pertaining to Project Shadow."
Tails struggled to hold back a smile, which became all too easy as he stepped up to the security booth and came face to face with a beefy, stub-nosed man who wore the meanest scowl Tails had ever seen on a person. The guard eyed him up and down and Tails felt a flutter of panic in his chest. Had he forgotten to hide something? Did he still have ears? Was fur from his one visible tail poking out somewhere? Was the uniform wrong?
In one sharp motion the man stuck his hand out the booth window.
"Security ID Pass," he huffed.
"Oh! Uh, right!" Tails scrabbled for the forged security card stuffed in his vest pocket. Relief rolled over him as he handed the card to the guard.
The guard snatched it and swiped it into his machine with a sniff.
"You new here?" he asked, voice implying he couldn't have cared less.
"Uh, yep! Sure am."
The guard scoffed, crossing his arms while the computer system ran the forged ID card.
"Figures. Bringing in new people into this place is a stupid move if you ask me. But then, who am I to talk sense into anyone? I'm just the security guard!" He scowled when the machine beeped and a green light flashed across the screen. In one motion the card was shoved back towards Tails, who quickly took it.
The guard jabbed a thumb at the door.
"You got thirty seconds to get inside before it locks and I'm not in the mood of giving you a second chance if you miss it."
"Thanks-!" Was all Tails was able to yelp before running to the door and hurrying inside. His heart raced as it swung closed behind him with a resounding click.
Here he was. This was it.
"Welp, I'm in," he whispered.
"Never doubted ya."
"Yeah well, now's the hard part."
"Hey, I have to miss out on the 'hard part', so you better have fun for me."
Tails smiled, walking forward into the building, "I'll do my best. I'm going incognito while I'm in the thick of it. Talk later."
"Got it."
Tails strode into the base. The main entrance was surprisingly large and welcoming, with a front desk, marble floors and even a lounging area, complete with chairs and a coffee machine. People in uniforms marched purposefully left and right, and Tails did his best to match their posture despite his pounding heart.
His boots clacked agonizingly loud against the marble floor as he followed a random hallway, pretending to know what he was doing.
As he proceeded deeper into the complex, the halls became smaller, and the marble floors became less clean. He took note of the agents and soldiers, scientists and mechanics who passed him by, each with their badge, proudly displaying the three star wreath over a bold, goldenG. The same that he wore upon his own vest. It made him feel sick and dizzy and his palms suddenly became sweaty.
He'd infiltrated countless G.U.P stations before, both as Mobian and as Human. But this place was no guppy station. This was G.U.N. The place where hundreds of well-trained military forces were being housed for further training- where new advances in military weaponry were being discovered and tested every day- where scientists and brilliant minds were drafted from schools and brought here to work on top secret projects. It was where people in power controlled the masses, and where one of his friends was being held prisoner by those same people in power, as if he were nothing more than a criminal.
A place filled with people who would drool at the chance of having Sonic under their control. Or even a mythical Kitsune.
Tails fought back a shudder, forcing a smile as an agent with a sour expression marched past. His hand tightened on the handle of the briefcase he carried.
It dawned on Tails that he didn't have any idea where the computer room would be, or if they evenhada computer room, and that he'd been walking randomly through the complex with no idea where he was going. He would've asked Omega for directions, but with so many G.U.N personnel around he didn't dare try asking now.
As if reading his mind, Omega's voice came over the ear piece.
"I have news that will be beneficial to Tails."
"He can't talk right now, big guy, just say what's up."
"Noted. The news is that it is no longer necessary for Tails to gain access into G.U.N's database directly."
"I'm assuming that's a good thing?"
Tails glanced behind him to make sure no one was coming before he whispered,
"Very. I'm guessing you've found Shadow's cell?"
"...More or less."
There was a deafening silence over the comms.
"Omega, what do you mean 'more or less'?" Sonic asked cautiously, "You've either found him or you haven't."
"I have found where they are keeping him, but he is not in a containment cell as we had previously assumed."
Tails turned a corner, ignoring the group of three humans in Kevlar vests as they walked past.
"What do they have him in then?"
"Based on the files I have scanned,G.U.N has stored the ultimate lifeform in the best way they know how. He has been indefinitely confined to a stasis pod and is kept in a highly monitored section of the lowest level in the facility."
"So basically impossible to get to?"
"Difficult to get to, difficult to break into and levels of difficulty in releasing him from the stasis pod should be considered as equally, if not more, difficult."
An audible inhale from Sonic as both he and the fox-disguised-as-a-human processed the newly acquired information.
"Well, it's up to you, bud. Do we go on forward, or regroup and think up another plan?"
Tails ducked into a thin hallway where the light from the rest of the building didn't reach. He pinched his eyes shut, all the ways this could go wrong spinning through the wheels in his head. But every time he thought it would be best to turn back his mind would bring up the images of Shadow, coming on missions, being dragged to a social event, racing against Sonic time and again just to see who would win for the fun of it.
It had been over a hundred years since Tails had seen Shadow's face. Over a hundred years of Shadow being kept prisoner unjustly and against his will.
The thought was enough to make him want to cry, scream, and tear apart the entire complex at the same time.
"No," Tails whispered, "We've done all the preparation we need. Omega, you're inside G.U.N's system so you should be able to bypass most of the security measures as well as plug Sonic into the live security feed. Sonic, while Omega is focused on breaking down the security I need you to keep an eye on me and let me know if there's something or someone I need to avoid. If we play this right we should still be able to pull it off."
"You sure, Tails?" Sonic asked hesitantly, "It'll be risky."
Tails' hands clenched, "We're not leaving him here any longer, Sonic. Risky or not, we're getting him out today."
"Alright! That's what I'm talking about!" Sonic cheered.
"I approve this decision," Omega hummed.
"Well good," Tails muttered, peeking out from his hiding place, "Cuz you're also going to be my map."
"Affirmative."
Sucking in a breath, Tails stepped back into the flow of the complex.
"Alright, Omega. Show me the way."
~•~•~•~
With the help of Omega and Sonic, Tails had made his way down into the extremely off-limits depths of G.U.N. And that wasn't speaking figuratively. Somehow G.U.N had dug themselves deep into Mobius' crust and managed to keep the levels of laboratories, testing facilities and more, off the floor plan.
The deeper it went, the tighter security became. Thankfully, with Sonic keeping sharp eyes on the cameras and Omega literally inside the system, Tails managed to slip past most all safeguards without too much struggle.
Down in the depths of G.U.N, pristine walls and abundant lighting were replaced with grey steel and dim industrial lights, the halls narrow and dark. What few rooms Tails had passed were equally shadowed and foreboding. Very few people were actually inside the rooms but Tails didn't doubt that the humans would've been very safe if they were. Windows into the rooms were thick, reinforced with wire, and the doors were made of heavy steel, each with a grim electronic lock and a three digit number engraved into its surface.
Strolling through the dimly lit hallway Tails tilted his head to the side.
"How does it look?" Tails whispered.
"Lookin good, little bro!" Sonic answered, "I've definitely noticed less people down in these levels. Omega? How's it lookin' on your end?"
Omega's robotic voice chimed in over the ear piece, "Not much farther until you reach your destination. Follow the next hallway to the left until you reach door numbered 1951."
"Got it."
Following Omega's brief instructions Tails found himself standing in front of another thick steel door. Large, dark-stained windows stretched on both sides of the door, offering little view into the actual room.
Tails leaned in close to one of the dark tinted windows, one hand cupped over his face as he squinted , trying to see through the glass. He could make out shapes and blocky figures, but any details as to what those stationary figures were was lost to the low lighting.
Tails looked back at the thick metal lock on the door.
1951.
"You sure this is it, Omega?"
"Affirmative. I would not deceive you with faulty information."
Tails sucked in a breath. "Alright then, open her up."
"Request acknowledged"
There was a tense moment of silence as both Sonic and Tails held their breaths.
A whirring sound came from the lock and dull red light blinked to life. There was an electrical buzz as the light turned solid green, followed by a heavy 'clunk!' And with that, the door groaned open half an inch.
Tails wanted to cheer but held it back. Barely keeping the tremble out of his fingers, he reached out and pulled the door open with a long, low creak.
His skin prickled with anticipation as he stepped into the dark room.