"Akira's Log Entry… Twenty-One? Twenty-Two? I haven't checked what was the last log entry before recording this and I don't really care right now to check… Just needed to get a few things off my chest.
The Dark Legion remains elusive as is and hadn't heard anything from them after December 9th. It appears they're laying low after being found out and haven't made any moves that positively theirs'. The stolen chip was probably the last item they needed for their Legionizer.
Our unofficial inside man has been keeping quiet. I assume they're not able to get the info out to us at the moment or they've finally figured out who their leaker is and had them eliminated. Either one could be possible given the lack of any significant movement from them..."
No.1Hooligan wrote: Told u losers dat Sonic is a froud all long but u didn't want to believe it until IGN exposed the fake and send him packaging. Suck on it Sonicfags!
TheTangledOne#4 replied to No.1 Hooligan: You are just a hater who wants an excuse to trash on him.
TheEgoGrump replied to TheTangledOne#4: Nah, he just sucks. I don't know what you people ever saw in him but it's sure as hell his fault for my life being as bad as it is. Good riddance to that punk.
TheTangledOne#4 replied to TheEgoGrump: You would blame him for your divorce if you were a married man.
No.1Hooligan replied to TheTangledOne#4: No one asked for your comments stupid.
#SonicFagsAreMentallyChallegedMorons
TheBlindMojo wrote: The Knothole Freedom Fighters have seen better days and that new red guy might be one of the worst additions they ever had. Talk about nuking the fridge with him. He has ruined the team forever.
ProMitchell replies to TheBlindMojo: Probably a diversity hire to fulfil a racial quota of having a token asian on the roster or something but they should definitely cut him and a bunch of the other useless deadweights from the team if they don't want to be left behind and seen as being desperate for relevancy. Seriously, who would want a picture with that four-eyed goof?
Tess#111 replied to ProMitchell: I think the red wolf is a cutie and you wish you're half as pretty looking as he is.
No.1Hooligan replied to Tess#111: Your opinions are trash and so are your tastes in guys lol. Go KYS stupid bit*h.
AmesCD93 replied to No.1Hooligan: That's very nasty of you and Sonic is more of a man than you ever will be because he's a real hero and so is the other guy yet this is how you show your gratitude by promoting lies as truths.
No.1Hooligan replied to AmesCD93: The crazy psycho fangirl of the Blue Fake has made herself known. Cryn he ain't here to rake yo now that he's ran off after getin exposed or have yo device to go with the four-eyed beta because no one else wats him and he's th oral one who'll prick ya stank a*? Lol
AmesCD93 replied to No.1Hooligan: How about you repeat that to my face in person? I bet you're not that brave in real life when you're not behind a screen pretending to be a tough guy and you're only parading IGN around because they just happen to align with your views.
You always have negative things to say about Sonic. It's only now thanks to that one biased piece of "journalism" that you're feeling bold to make those comments because you won't get backlash for it and you have people duped by IGN along with other like-minded bullies like you around to back you up.
That so-called "beta" you speak of could kick your ass in a real fight and has more courage in him than you will ever have. Real tough guys don't brag about being tough guys.
You'll be eating your words when Sonic comes back to save the day again and prove you haters all wrong. Just you wait.
No.1Hooligan replied to AmesCD93: Too long. Not reading that. Get a life sweetie.
#SonicWasNeverGood
TheOfficalCactusJohn (Verified) wrote: I find it very concerning that people are actually taking the rhetoric slander coming from IGN's mouths as gospel rather than questioning and thinking for themselves about what's being passed off as journalism these days. Even more concerning is that there are some disingenuous characters online who are gaslighting others into believing their truths because it's in vogue right now.
I do not know Sonic and his friends personally but I do know they are good people who have done good for all of us and nothing IGN has to say can change that. I wish the best for him and the others to do it.
To the new guy, it might be overwhelming but you have people rooting for you and they matter more than the opinions of those telling you that you can't do it or that you suck.
You are a champ for stepping up to the challenge and maybe someday, those who had doubted you will come around respecting and loving you for what you've done like they did for me. You are a legend.
#HaveAPleasantDayBangBang!
December 17th
Central Freedom HQ, New Mobotropolis
Morning
"...Hey, even the hardcore legend himself is on your side." Manic says to his friend Gadget while checking through social media on his phone as they, Johnny and Rotor were having lunch together in the mess hall. "That's gotta count for somethin' my man. Plus, it looks like you even got a few female supporters here~"
"Comes with the territory of being famous luv." Johnny commented, having seen the comments. "That Tess one for example calls him a cutie and Amy knows him personally so she's more inclined to defend him from that Hooligan tosser."
Rotor scoffs lightly. "Who cares what he thinks? Once this whole Sonic and his Stupid Friends hate train ends, he'll go back to irrelevancy and everyone else will move on."
"...It's almost been a whole week since Sonic has run away following the incident on Big Kahuna Island and no one has been able to locate his current whereabouts. Sally still got people out looking for him but he doesn't seem to want to be found as she puts it when I had asked her about it.
Unfortunately, IGN are still running with their bashing of us and insinuating through weasel speak that Sonic just couldn't handle the music ever since they noticed his absence. Who knows how much they're aware of why Sonic left or they happen to stumble on a lucky guess and run with it?
The total silence from our foes while we have the other key to their new ultimate weapon didn't help matters either. As Sticks says, they might be waiting for the right time to make their next move and catch us by surprise while IGN are ready to bury us for the next blunder we make.
Due to other more urgent matters and pressure from the Council or Councilmen Hamlin and Rosemary specifically, the search for Sonic the Hedgehog had to be lowered down on our priority list. Believing that the hunt for Tarek and the Dark Legion takes greater priority because of the intel we have.
Penelope thinks Hamlin must have gotten in Rosemary's ear and had convinced her to back him up in the last council meeting. I think what had happened with her child might have had some part in her as well as her husband putting the pressure on us to go locate the people who got away from us.
I can only imagine how much it pained our leader Sally to make the decision to downsize the efforts to find him given that she's taking his absence just as hard as Tails and the rest of us despite putting on a brave face for us.
The only positive from this disaster besides acquiring one of the Shards for study is that Sonic isn't blamed for what happened due to alibis being given about him being mind-controlled by Mecha Sonic including a bodycam recording from Rotor's Iron Suit and Sir Charles reminding the Council of Sonic's prior mind-control incidents while spinning the narrative slightly to obscure certain details to help them understand why Sonic had ran off.
They think Tails getting wounded and the constant negative press had driven him away while I and others on the team think that was just the last straw that really did him in after enduring the most stressful weeks of his life from the way he was acting leading up to his explosion point. Both interpretations are true but the former is only ninety percent true while the latter is about ninety-five percent...
Speaking of Tails, I can safely say he's recovering well thankfully from what I had seen when I went to see him last and Nicole reckons he could be dispatched from the hospital sooner than later if he can avoid doing anything to reopen the wound. It could be a while before he's allowed back onto the field again. I know he wants to go and find Sonic as much as I do.
I thought about that Shard and wondered if it could help speed up the healing process for him, maybe erase whatever scar might be formed on him… Guess we'll have to wait and see. Same for the Sprout Twins who are both okay according to what Sonia had told me last and Miraju is recovering just fine. Likely to return to action soon.
It is a Christmas miracle that they all survived being murdered by Lindsey given her history. If only we had another Christmas miracle to make the negative press against my teammates go away…"
"...You think that'll happen?" Gadget asked. The realist in him thinks the matter of the hate train against them won't be resolved neatly when it all blows over.
"The only reason this even got started is because of that one clip with Boris and even that's been taken out of context." Rotor nodded. "If people knew what was actually going on, they would all turn around and side with Sonic over his outbursts. Boris didn't exactly make himself look sympathetic by being belligerent and making the disaster all about the sunk costs rather the fact a lot of people lost their lives to it. If only someone had caught the exchange leading up to the punch..."
Manic recalls something from a while back. "I think I do remember Sally sayin' she had seen someone holdin' what looked like a camcorder when they were arguin'. Maybe that dude has the footage?"
"In that case, how come it hasn't surfaced yet?"
"Maybe it already has and we haven't found it yet."
"As hopeful as I am about that, I kind of doubt it exists."
"We gotta have hope. It is Christmas after all."
"Speaking of Christmas, are you guys going to the Christmas Eve party?" Johnny looked at his colleagues. "Or got any plans that week? I'll be going to it."
"I might go to it with my family." Rotor ate another piece of his food. "What about the rest of you?"
"I don't know…" Gadget thought it over. "I'll probably be over at Golden Bay over Christmas."
"Probably? Thought you had it sorted?"
Gadget sighed, rubbing his neck. "It's been a real hassle trying to book a flight to Golden Bay around this time of year and I have been busy with recent Freedom Fighter business… I did tell my parents that I might not make it this year…"
"We can take you over to Golden Bay if you want." Rotor points out to him. "I doubt Sally would mind you being away for a while to spend time with your family."
"I don't know… We're down five people, we don't know where the Dark Legion are and…" Gadget almost hesitated before finishing his sentence. "I would rather help you guys out when I'm needed. Besides, I can go and see them another time."
The wolf had his own personal reasons for not taking up on the offer but as long as they believe he's not a liability and he can show them his worth, they don't need to hear about the rest. It's the least he could do for them after everything that's happened recently and not letting other people down.
"If you say so." Rotor accepted his response as he checked his watch. "I'll need to get back to my workshop. There's a few projects that I need to finish up on including ones Sally wants done."
"You do you man." Manic glanced at his phone. "I got some stuff to do today."
"Me too." Johnny added with the rabbit having his own plans for the day and turning to Gadget. "What about you?"
"Well, Vanilla had asked me the other day if I wanted to come with her and Cream to Furville. Maybe catch up with the Chaotix there since she had mentioned something about them coming over." Gadget responded as he remembered something he had plans for. "At least I think they're coming over."
Johnny clicks his tongue. "We can definitely do with their help in figuring out where those bloomin' Legionnaires are hiding at..."
"...From our analysis of the Dark Legion Gunners and everything else recovered from Big Kahuna Island, we're no closer to figuring out the Legionizer's location. I could go into detail about what Nicole and them have unearthed but most of them are confirmation or shedding more light on what we knew about already. I would just be repeating myself if I dwell anymore on the matter.
IGN continues to keep running down our names. I know they're a tabloid lot and frankly those presenters does need to get a real knocking down a peg for their insufferable attitudes yet their words however full of it they are seem affect the real world including mine… Everytime I go out in the world, I am guaranteed to have one or two strangers out in the world give me some grief, a passing dirty look or two and maybe some old heckling for good measure. Occasionally topped off with me coming home to find it vandalised with toilet paper or worse, graffiti on the front exterior with unpleasant messages.
Some people would say to just get over it and deal with it. Must be easy for them to say when they're not constantly being put on the hot seat by a so-called news organisation who's got an axe to grind with you for whatever reason.
Be singled out as the rubbish one while already feeling like you were shotgunned into your position ahead of more deserving candidates because you just happen to be friends with someone who's got a lot of political stroke, feeling the need to prove your worth to your new colleagues while fumbling the ball at the same time and having anxieties…
It can get too much for someone like me to handle. It seems like the only reason I stuck around with the team as long as I have despite these hardships and despite me contemplating on resignation is because of Sonic.
Perhaps me sticking around on the roster is me doing it as a favour to him for getting me onto it and thinking that's what he would have wanted me to do. The one guy on the team who seemed to understand me the best, could put my worries at ease with just his words and make me feel like I belong amongst his company of friends.
With him gone, it's like I have lost my greatest support... I never got the chance to ask him why he really wanted me on the team in the first place straight from his own mouth nor will I ever get the opportunity with the way things are going..."
The Rabbits' House, New Mobotropolis
Lunchtime
Gadget headed over to the Rabbits' house. Greeted by the mother rabbit before being let into the house and being treated to a cup of tea with the Rabbits.
"...You'll love the sights of Furville." Vanilla said to him. "And the Christmas Market is such a delight to check out."
The wolf smiled, taking a sip of his cup. "Might remind me of my own childhood memories when I see it."
"You'll definitely like it Mister Amamiya." Cream chimed in. Giggling as the wolf pats her on the head.
"I'm sure I'll like it." The red wolf said, pulling back his hand. "It'll be nice to see the Chaotix again if they're meeting us there."
"Unless something comes up, I imagine they'll take the day off for this one." Vanilla nodded. "You got anyone you want to bring along?"
"Well, I—"
He stops as a knock on the front door interrupts him and Chocola the Chao goes to answer it. Opening it to reveal Penelope Platypus in her casual clothes. Petting the brown chao before being welcomed into the house.
"Thought I'd find you here." Penelope says to the wolf with a smile before greeting the Rabbits. "Good day to you Vanilla and Cream."
"Good day to you. What brings you to our home?" Vanilla asked, looking between Gadget and Penelope. "I take it you had plans with him as well?"
"Seeing as it's the holidays and all, I thought I would try to get a day with Akira here and hang out." The platypus sheepishly replied. "Admittedly… It was a spur of the moment thing when I decided on that."
Gadget shook his head. "Of course it was a spur of the moment thing Last Minute Penelope."
The platypus furrowed her brow both annoyed and bashful. "I-I had told you not to call me that around others!"
"I never explicitly promised not to let it slip and that was a long time ago. A little rusty on the details." Gadget said with arms crossed and a little smirk. "Besides, I figured you being a councillor would have made old habits die hard."
"And you of all people should know they don't."
"Not my problem if you come to my house and find it empty today because you didn't ring me in advance."
"Hey, you're just as bad for that as I am. I—"
"Please." Vanilla cuts in. "Don't be bickering like children when you're in our house."
"I'm not a child!" Penelope and Gadget protested that sentiment in union. That earned a big giggle out of Cream.
Clearing her throat, Penelope asks her friend. "Well, you got any plans today?"
"I'm going to Furville with Vanilla and Cream." Gadget responded, gesturing to the Rabbits present. "You can come along if you want."
The purple platypus looked at Vanilla and Cream. "You both mind me coming with you?"
"Not all." Cream beamed. "We'd like you to come with us and Mister Amamiya. It is Christmas after all; the season of giving and togetherness."
"She does have a point." Gadget added. "We can hang out over at Furville."
"If it means not having to deal with those irate hecklers for the whole day, then sure thing." Penelope grumbled a little on the heckler part. "I think someone left behind a mess of toilet paper on the roof of your house when I came looking for you."
"Again? Oh for fu—" Gadget stopped himself from dropping the bomb when he remembered that Cream's within earshot. "I only just had it cleaned yesterday. That's about the fifth time it's been vandalised and twice that it was done with toilet paper since I moved in."
"What about the neighborhood watch in your area? They shouldn't be letting that be going on like this."
"I asked one of them about who wrote that vulgar message on my front door with a spray can the other day and she said she saw no one…" The wolf furrowed his brow at the recollection. "Even though it was done in daylight just before I got home, the paint was still wet, her house is right across the street from mine and I know for a fact one of her boys did it because I could smell the scent of that paint on him yet she says he never left the house. Even if I knew he did it, it'd be my word against his'."
"That is beyond ridiculous…" Vanilla frowned at that as did Cream. "We've lived here for roughly three years now and that's the first time I have heard about that kind of nonsense going on in this neighbourhood. You should file a complaint to the police about this."
Gadget looked pensive at the thought. "I… I don't want to stir up any trouble he—"
"Trouble?" Penelope cuts him off, incensed at what she's hearing. "That's straight up disgraceful behaviour with how you, Cream and the rest of the team are being treated here because we didn't fight our war against a dictator just to have some punks go run around and do this just because some disingenuous dirt sheet mongers decided to stir the pot!"
"Rotor says it'll all blow over soon—"
"And when will that be? If this nonsense keeps going on, one of those hecklers is going to start pushing it too far and begin throwing a molotov through your window unless we start laying down the law on that type of behaviour!"
"Please, I don't want to make anymore of a rucku—"
"Those hellraisers will think it's okay to—"
"Listen Penelope, I don't want to call the police on this and that's that! If I want to call them; that's my choice, not yours!" The usually soft-spoken wolf raised his voice in a sharp tone that startled the others present. "The public is scared and confused after almost a year of hell; easily susceptible to being influenced by bad actors with ulterior motives because they want someone to blame for what's going on!"
Gadget's brow was furrowed into a glare and feeling a little fired up. "It just so happens Sonic, his friends and I are being blamed at the moment for the tragedy on Resort Island because what happened that evening is horrific… Once they get it all off their chest, they'll simply move on with their lives, forget about what they were originally mad over and most of them will never say sorry for being part of the hate mob because accountability is something that is often taught but rarely practiced in action."
Looking at the girls' faces and noticing the silence, he sighed once he calmed down from his rant. "...Apologies for the outburst. It's just been a long week for me and it's probably been the same for the rest of you…"
Turning to Cream and offering her an assuring smile. "Besides, I would rather focus on the festive joys that Christmas brings and having a wonderful time. Spending time together."
The young rabbit smiled back and hummed in agreement. Excited about the Christmas Market at Furville.
"Let's make this a good one." Penelope added with a little nod. The warm atmosphere of the conversation returns but the platypus has questions on her mind that she wants to ask Akira about whenever she gets a chance to be alone with him.
"...Christmas is often thought of as a holiday of joy, festivity and miracles but for the weary, it's a season of emotional blues. Deaths, divorces, broken dreams and hardships. For every party celebration on Christmas Eve, there's a widower somewhere silently remembering the passing of their partner and the words from the heart that were never uttered out loud.
This Christmas has been a tough one with how things have panned out for several of us thus far. The negative press, the hospitalisation of our teammates, the panic around getting presents for other people and all the other stress that make it a rough December to get through. I know it's certainly a rough one for me.
I guess what I'm trying to get at here is that Christmas is either the most wonderful time of the year or the most miserable thirty-one days and aside from moments like my reunion with Penelope, it hasn't been a pleasant one for me personally from how everything's been going including today…"
Furville, Northamer
Evening
Heading down to Furville and meeting the Chaotix there, they headed down to the Christmas Market together while doing some catchup. Gadget was pleased to see Vector, Charmy and Espio again.
"...Right now, we're a little dry on cases at the moment." Vector was telling Gadget about what the Chaotix have been up to lately while they were over at a grotto where Santa is with Cream being in a queue with Penelope to go see him. "And you know what that means for us."
"Low flow of cash?"
"Partly that…" The crocodile was sheepish about that one. "But it also means we get to have some free time after a busy two months."
"Yeah. We were busy looking for missing people, missing pets and missing things after everything went to heck." Charmy added, hand on his chin. "There was this man who had lost his toupee—"
"Charmy! We don't discuss sensitive information about our clients!"
"I wasn't naming names here and you've seen how big that bald spot on his head was!"
"Yes but we're professionals and professionals have tact about their clients no matter who they are!"
"Even though you commented about the bald spot too?"
"Hey, don't confuse the matter!"
"This happen often?" Gadget turned to Espio. The chameleon nodded with a sigh.
"Unfortunately, yes..." The ninja replied. "It comes with the job description. You learn to get used to it."
"You gotta be crazy enough to sign up and ride with the Chaotix." Charmy chimed in on their chat. "And we already got a new guy who did just that. Oh yeah, we got ourselves a new hire recently."
"Really?" Gadget commented. "What's he like?"
"I don't know." The bee shrugged his shoulders. "He's only been around for a few days and only spoke to him once."
"More like annoyin' him once." Vector remarked as he grinned to the wolf. "Anyways, he fought in the war just like you did and helped us out with a herd of Egg Pawns once. He came to us wantin' to be a private detective like us and we were more than happy to hire him."
The wolf nodded before asking the crocodile an innocuous question. "That's great to hear but how are you going to afford his salary while you also got rent to pay?"
"Buddy. Like never askin' a lady about her age, you should never ask a guy about the size of their bank accounts…" The head of the Chaotix Detective Agency almost did a spit take on that before continuing. "He's doing his work with us as a volunteer and his pay is taken from whatever payout we get. He does have his own source of income elsewhere but I haven't thought to ask him about that yet…"
"What Vector said." Espio added with a nod. "How are things going with you and Sally's group? I know the media haven't been kind to you lately but their opinions are worth dirt to us."
"...Things have been tough lately with the way things are going for us and you know what's the big story this week. It hasn't been easy..." The wolf sighed. "Especially when you're the favourite target…"
"Misfortunes are not forever. No different than rainy days." The chameleon assured him. "Things will get better."
"Even if you don't believe in the big man upstairs, you just need a little drop of good ol' faith in things workin' out in the end." Vector patted the wolf's back which almost knocked him to the floor with how strong he is. "You might even pull out a miracle of your own if your convictions are strong enough."
"Here you go." Vanilla came back from a stall with two cup holders of coco and offered the drinks to the boys. "Did I miss anything?"
Charmy came over to grab a cup. "Only that Vector was giving Ava here prep talk about pulling off miracles in prison or something like that."
"What? No!" Vector exclaimed at that. "That is not what I was sayin' to him Charmy! I meant the convictions of the spirit!"
The bee was quick to quip in response. "Well, I'm looking at a convicted spirit right now."
"Hey, watch it kid lest you want some coal for Christmas." Vector grabs his cup from Vanilla with a mouthed thank you. "No, I was just tellin' him about havin' faith even when things are lookin' rough."
"That is wonderful advice Vector. Such a giving gentleman. " Vanilla smiled. Thinking it was nice of him to do that.
"And there's a few other things he can also give you hehe~" Charmy said slyly with nudging eyebrows.
The crocodile didn't hesitate to respond back at his teasing attempt. "You got a gift to give to Saffron or you still lookin' for it?"
That stopped Charmy's teasing and was quick to avert his gaze in embarrassment which tells Gadget what he needed to know about the Saffron situation. The wolf couldn't help but smile at the fun vibe the Chaotix brings to this day out and can blissfully enjoy the occasion with their company. Maybe they could help reignite that fire in him he's been missing lately.
"The war's over and we, the good guys, emerged victorious… So why do I still have this dark cloud over me? Why do I still have this wall erected between me and everyone else on the team not named Sonic? Why's the reality of my dream being just how I wanted it but yet I can't bring myself to truly bask in the glory like I should be?"
From the music concert to the beer drinking contest at Furville's annual Christmas Market, good times were had by all with Gadget and Penelope able to have some fun together like old times. Charmy and Espio had gone off somewhere, presumably to do some shopping because the bee needed to get something for Saffron.
Vector would tell a story about a crazy run-in with Ms. Alpha's gang and the case of the bootleg Tails dolls.
"...I think I heard about this one. The dolls all had wonky eyes and they gave him blue shoes for whatever reason." Penelope recalled hearing about a case involving knockoff Tails dolls on the news once. "Wasn't that shipment a front for a diamond smuggling ring?"
"Yep. Came up to around nearly sixteen million mobiums for the entire doll shipment of blood diamonds after it was seized." The crocodile nodded with a sigh. "We only got a measly five-hundred for our work in the case after it was all said and done..."
"Some people would have grabbed a few of those dolls while no one's looking and sell off the diamonds afterwards to earn a profit. That's more money than most of us would ever see in our lives." Gadget mused out aloud at that. "You'd never have to worry about rent ever again if you guys had done that."
"As temptin' as it was and how easy it would be, makin' a profit off from what was mined unethically would leave a real sour taste in our mouths if we did that." Vector shook his head at the thought. "The Chaotix ain't about that kind of business."
"A true man of integrity." Vanilla added with a smile to make hearts flutter that made the crocodile blush. "Same for your friends."
"A-Ah well, we also k-know it would be an o-offence to tamper with evidence..." The detective stammered a bit, turning his head away. "Wouldn't want to risk spoilin' the case against the smugglers involved and all that…"
"Would have made for a lovely jewelled gift with all those diamonds…" Gadget remarked with a hand covering over the lower half of his face oddly enough.
Penelope didn't skip a beat to tease him. "Why, because she's a woman?"
"What? No!" The wolf objected to the insinuation. "Diamonds are just inherently pretty looking on anything you stick them onto."
"...Including women?" The platypus said coyly with a smile. Gadget would have said what he's thinking out loud right now but remembered that Cream, Cheese and Chocola are nearby.
"Ugh, I had figured your services to the Acorn Council would have patched out that trait of yours' and your reserved attitude towards your colleagues made me assume but it appears I was sorely mistaken..."
"If I didn't have that, what else could I rib you with?~"
"This is about the most talkative I've heard from ya." Vector commented to the councilwoman. "Must be tight as thieves if you're bustin' his chops."
"He's like a little bro to me while I'm like a big sis to him." Penelope admitted, patting the annoyed Gadget on the shoulder. "And like an older sibling, busting his chops comes with the territory. Humouring him, buying him ice cream, teasing him ab—"
"He gets the point and you're forgetting we have a child here." Gadget interrupts, looking over to Cream. "If you ever wanted a sibling, forget about it. They're more trouble than they're worth."
"Speaking from personal experience Mister Amamiya?"
"Absolutely." Gadget told the little rabbit, flashing a look at the platypus. "If you give them an inch, they take a mile. They can be just as bad as Badnik… If not worse than one at times."
"But you'll love them all the same." Penelope added, smiling at Cream. "Especially when you're both close and have a strong bond."
"It would be nice to have a brother or sister..." Cream murmured, looking out to the distance where she'd see the funfair area just a few minutes' walk away. "Can we go down to the funfair?"
"If your mother's okay with that."
Vanilla looks around and sees a sign for a dance couple contest where the first place prize is a set of free tickets to a holiday. Vector taking notice of the contest as well.
"If you want to enter that dance there, me and Gadget can take Cream and the Chao over to the funfair." Penelope would suggest to both Vector and Vanilla, seeing the sign for the contest. "Give you two some alone time together. We could meet up at the town centre for the fireworks show."
"Are you okay with that sweetie?" Vanilla asked her daughter who nodded.
"Don't worry. We'll make sure nothing happens to them under our watch." Gadget assured the mother rabbit. "I swear to that."
"I know." Vanilla smiled knowingly.
"Have fun you guys and don't eat the yellow snow." Vector added. Him and the older rabbit headed off to go partake in the dance contest in hopes of winning the prize together.
Gadget, Penelope and Cream went over to the funfair with the two Chao. Unknown either to them or Vector who didn't see them coming past him, a particular group of people in the hoodies would follow them down to the funfair as well.
"...Every time I seem to come this close to overcoming that negative voice, something will come along and bring me back to square one. Perhaps the state of our team morale, the circumstances around Sonic's exit might be a contributing factor in it all feeling like a melancholy downer right now…"
After a few turns at the rides with Cream and her needing to go a few minutes in, they headed down to the toilet mobile area that's annoyingly located near the outskirts of the event some distance away from the funfair. Said area is situated near the public park.
While they waited on her outside, Penelope finally popped the question. "Akira. What's been up with you late—"
"Don't you start this again…" Gadget was quick to cut her off. "I've already given you an answer and I am not going to repeat myself ."
"Don't you be giving me that attitude." The councilwoman chided him. "If you had actually let me finish there, I wasn't going to ask you about the house but about how things are with you in that group."
"Oh… Then you should have started with that." The red wolf crossed his arms. "I take it you've been waiting to ask me this?"
"Aye." She nodded. "Been meaning to ask since our reunion and thought it's about as good a time as any. You mentioned it's been a long week and you've been with the group for nearly half a month now. They've been treating you well?"
"They treat me pretty well and things are good."
"...Are you okay?"
"What? Yeah, I'm okay."
"Doesn't sound like it. I can tell you're affected by recent events and something's been on your mind." The platypus enquired. "Are you sure things are good on your end?"
"I know your friend Hamlin would love to have some dirt but Sally and them have all been very good to me. More than I even deserve…"
"Deserve?"
"You know about my series of blunders. Ones that allowed Slimy and them to get away." The wolf told her. "One of them even made the news and they haven't let me live it down since. You know about the rest."
"Rotor has told me you're not at fault for any of them."
"Well, I think that's him being charitable. The way I see things, I've been nothing but bad luck for the team. The results speak for themselves."
"I know a friend who causes bad luck for others and he never lets that stop him. I understand how you feel about it but you shouldn't be kicking yourself over it."
"It's easy enough for you to say when you're not having to meet expectations as Sonic's chosen one and getting thrusted into Sally's team before you're even ready for it." The wolf responded back. "Neither you or your friends ever got to be on the main team but I did because of Sonic. Come on, you got to feel some kind of resentment at me over that."
"Akira… I'm more than proud of you to be on the main roster. I say you earned it after what you've done for us all in the war." Penelope was in disbelief over what she's hearing from her childhood friend. "I know you're not the most confrontational person around but even you wouldn't let those vandals walk over you and the only one around here who thinks you don't deserve what you got is yourself… Whatever happened to you?"
"I changed. People change. That's the fact of life." Gadget replied bluntly, turning away from her. "The Akira Amamiya that you knew then was a little pup but you're speaking to me as if I still was that pup. You still see me as the wolf that you remember from childhood, not what I am now…"
Penelope was about to retort his points but a yelp from a Chao nearby interrupts her and the two quickly hurried over to investigate the disturbance over at the mobile to find a bruised Chocola on the ground along with a gang of hooded figures running to the park with an unconscious Cream and Cheese in tow.
"Go get the police! Hurry!" Gadget said to Penelope as he ran after the abductors and chased them into the park while the platypus went to go get help. If he's not able to stop them himself, the police would at least be able to stop the gang from escaping with Cream and Cheese.
He chased the gang into the park and was able to quickly catch up to them as he tackled one of the hooded assailants with a lanky build onto the grass. Pulling down his hood and revealing the assailant as Slimy.
Before the wolf could do anything else, one of the other hooded figures quickly came to Slimy's rescue to attack the Freedom Fighter. Blindsiding him and getting the upper hand. He would respond back by dishing out a side kick that knocked down his attacker, his foot connecting with their chin.
The attacker whose figure is feminine in shape lets out a grunt as she hits the ground and he recognised this individual as Lindsey. However just as he realised this, he'd be zapped with something and would quickly lose consciousness. Falling to the ground.
Lindsey really wanted to kill the defenceless wolf while he's defenceless but Slimy with a zapper blaster stops her. "Come on, we're wasting enough time as is!"
"I'm getting sick of seeing this stupid dog!" She yelled at him right as Jason rushed over to them.
"We gotta leave now!" Jason told them both. "I think I spotted some cops in the area and I ain't going to be spending life in the joint over this!"
"The arrogant one's right. We don't have long and we got a job to finish." Slimy added. Not out of support for Jason but because his neck is on the line and he would very much like to keep it.
Weighing her options between either taking the time to get her revenge but getting caught in the process or keep her freedom to finish the job and getting paid, she reluctantly opted to spare the wolf's life thanks to circumstances and hurriedly ran off with her crew to their escape vehicle. The job comes first and her love for money compels her to see it through.
The next time they meet each other, she'll make it the wolf's very last and she won't let anyone talk her out of it. She'll make him pay for making a fool out of her and that's a promise. This is just another delay for the inevitable.
"...Hey, you hear what Private Poltroon did today?"
"Yeah, that little bitch froze up during the middle of combat training and got someone injured. Sarge wasn't long in tearing his stupid ass a new one."
"I don't know what our leader sees in him but he sure as hell ain't gonna last long in the field. Probably would wig out, tuck tail and flee like the coward he is or the red idiot gets us killed."
"Would have figured the hazing we gave him last week would have taught him how to toughen up but I guess the elevator doesn't go all the way to the top if you get my drift. Moron thought it was punishment for an offence he committed."
"I'll say this; whatever crap you hurl at his way, he'll take it and he does make for a good source of inspiration to the rest of us."
"Yeah. How not to be a spineless little waste of space as Sarge would say. He'll amount to nothing with the way he is and I bet Sonic would agree if he was here with us right now."
Akira overhears a conversation between two of his platoon mates from around a corner and hears what they really think of him behind his back while they share rancorous laughs together. The same guys who acted friendly to his face and who told him that the humiliation he received was actually an act of military punishment from Hockley due to an offence he had supposedly committed.
Dejected, he slipped away to go somewhere alone where no one could see him cry to himself…
When Gadget regained consciousness, he'd be greeted by the sight of police officers and Penelope who would help him up to his feet. "W-What happened?"
"Found you laying on the ground. You alright?"
"Yeah, yeah…" Dusting himself off before remembering something. "Wait! What about Cream and Cheese? They okay?"
Penelope shook her head. "I'm sorry but afraid we don't know because we're all still looking for them and the kidnappers as we speak."
Gadget's face fell into a distraught one at the news. He had swore to Vanilla that nothing would happen to her daughter and he failed that task royally. Maybe he can still right this wrong yet the cynical voice in the back of his mind says otherwise.
Despite the Chaotix and the police's best efforts in their search, they weren't able to locate Cream and Cheese nor their abductors anywhere around Furville. Not even as much as a dandruff for a clue was left behind by the kidnappers, the info from eyewitnesses present at the scene of the crime didn't help much either and IGN caught wind of what happened.
The Knothole Freedom Fighters didn't have much of a lead to go off on other than vague guesses as to the motive behind the crime whenever they showed up to the scene to assist in the search. Said group getting heckled by a few unhappy citizens who were swayed by IGN with Gadget getting the brunt of it.
Vanilla was terrified for the well-being of her child and beyond upset when it appears they're in the custody of those bad people who managed to pull a houdini in their escape attempt. Vector was just as devastated but pressed on with a heavy focus to get to the bottom of things and the rest of Chaotix doing the same. Hoping that they'll find out where she's been taken to and rescue her along with Cheese.
The gravity of what happened sets in for everyone affected including a very quiet and distraught Gadget as the wolf silently blames himself for what happened to the young rabbit and her friend. He barely spoke to anyone else for the rest of the day including Penelope who tried to speak to him. He wanted to be left alone tonight.
"...I just don't know anymore and all I'm doing is rambling away with no sense of direction or purpose… Being strangled by my imposter syndrome and a person can only put up with so much noise in their head before enough's enough. I'm so sick of feeling like this all the time when I should be my better self and seemingly talking into a void that'll never answer back… End Log. Akira signing out."
?, ?
Night
Lindsey and her crew plus Slimy would eventually make it back to the hidden base in their stealth craft with a member of the Knothole Freedom Fighters plus Cheese as hostages as per Lien-Da's orders. One that can be used as a bargaining chip for the Shard of Creation.
Lien-Da and Gae-Na along with their bodyguards eyed the returnees as they brought their latest acquisition who struggled against her captors down the loading ramp.
"...Let me go!" Cream shrieked at Lindsey whose left eye was twitching. "I won't go along with this!"
"Shut your whiny gob." The red head woman said warningly at the child, growing ever so tired of dealing with children in general and just wanting to pistol whip the little bunny right now for irritating her. "I am not someone you want to be wearing out the patience of. So shut it."
The young mobian wisely ceased her protests. The dark look to the woman's eyes tells her that this adult is not above hurting a child.
"As you can see your worthiness…" Slimy said to Lien-Da, then gesturing over to the captured Cream. "We brought you back a valuable piece for the exchange."
"I was hoping you'd snag Tails or Amy for me..." Lien-Da nodded, looking over at the rabbit. "But this child should suffice as a bargaining chip. Congratulations, you get to keep your neck. For now."
"Y-You're so very kind…" Slimy wore his practiced smile while thinking opposite thoughts before leaving the hanger to go to his lab. More than eager to be away from Lindsey and her boytoy Jason.
"I went to all the trouble of coming up with this plan. The effort in me going out there with a crew and Creepo over here to abduct this brat for you. All to get back something this dork here was dumb enough to lose in the first place and someone I had to go save when that mutt caught him." Lindsey spoke to the Grandmaster while getting in jabs at Slimy. "Would certainly like to be compensated for this job."
"You'll have to wait on your compensation a little while longer until after we get the other Shard back." Gae-Na informed the human. Jason sputters at her statement.
"We've been busting our asses off for you since that wacko brought us in and you're trying to stiff us now!?" Jason voices his outrage and makes his complaint known with Lindsey in agreement. "We almost got done back there!"
"And your boss had agreed to pay us for our service after we did this job!" Lindsey sneered at the Kommissar. "We did exactly what you asked us to do and now, you're doing this to us? Are you for real?"
"In case you're forgetting; it was a handshake deal, not a contract. I will instead pay you at a later date I deem appropriate. Given that your own oversight had led to those brats finding out about us last time and your alleged history of flipping on your clients, I'm not counting my chickens just yet until I am confident things are going as expected." Lien-Da said with crossed arms. "Don't give me any more reason to alter our deal any further than I already have."
If the Grandmaster wasn't surrounded, Lindsey would have killed her for that. She staked her career on this for the biggest payout but instead, she gets treated like a goon to be bossed around.
Lindsey's left eye twitches again and her hand on Cream's arm tightening. "You bi—"
"Let go of m—OW!" Cream had cried out about the adult hurting her but the livid redhead challenged her frustration into a hard slap across the child's face. The hard sound of the smack was heard by everyone within earshot and the rabbit tried to not react to it as her eyes started to water before being shoved to the floor at Lien-Da's feet.
"If I had my way, I'd mail pieces of her back to her mother just for not shutting the hell up..." Lindsey growled, sneering at Lien-Da while Gae-Na went and helped up Cream off the floor. "And you should also know that I am not someone to be messed with!"
The Grandmaster was undeterred by her threat and just rolled her eyes. "Making threats at me is not going to make your money materialise faster nor would I recommend it if you value your life that much. Kommissar, take the child and her Chao to the holding cell."
"As you command." Gae-Na led Cream and Cheese away from the hanger with a few guards following behind them. Away from the tension-filled scene between Lindsey and Lien-Da. The both of them barely disguising their dislike for one another.
"Know your role with me Honey Bunny…" Lien-Da turned and began leaving the hangar with her guards. "You'll get paid when you learn to play ball and I have actual reasons to trust you. Goodnight."
Agent Butch watched the Grandmaster leave with her people until they were and then looked back to find Lindsey quietly seething to herself while glaring at the exit that Lien-Da went through.
He knew the redhead just about had it with the perceived disrespect being shown from the Grandmaster and knew that the gears were turning in her head. If she wasn't happy before, she's even less so today.
Ever since that "brilliant" elaborate scheme from the Grandmaster to bait the Knothole Freedom Fighters into a trap had nearly led to their own capture, Lindsey's opinions of Lien-Da are less than positive and they already weren't that glowing to begin with. She didn't like her right hand woman either even though said woman is the reason she's not facing life behind bars right now. As far as she is concerned, the Grandmaster is a deluded idiot that her jackal employer is unfortunately working under.
Tarek was currently busy taking on a key project the Dark Legion had going on following an inexplicable mishap that saw the death of its former project head due to an industrial accident and thus he couldn't be there to help smooth things over between the two. The jackal scientist is seemingly the unofficial peacemaker for the pair of them.
A fact Butch is well aware of and had organised a little 'accident' the other day while no one was looking to force Tarek to be preoccupied elsewhere. Making sure he's not around to prevent a spark of conflict between two egos from taking hold. The gambit seems to be paying off from the look of things.
There is no move more effective in scoring a victory than causing a division on the opponent's side and watching them tear each other to shreds while blaming one another.
He just hoped none of them would get wise to what's going on while he subtly strokes those flames towards one another whenever possible and could buy some time for those Freedom Fighters to formulate a comeback to foil the Dark Legion's scheme.
It was nearly tense enough when they had figured out they had a mole among them and only when he had pinned his activities on the conveniently absent Lionel did he avoid being found out.
"...The dopey four-eyed Scrappy Oliver has gone and fouled up his team's good name once again." Adam Frosk spoke to the viewers of Informative Global News along with co-host Anita Mercante as they covered the story in Furville. "Just an hour ago, both a child and her Chao were abducted in Furville. According to a reliable witness, the Free-Dumb Fridger present at the scene of the abduction was easily taken out by the masked assailants and one of them is allegedly identified as a female from what our reliable sources have told us."
"Guess his own membership in the male patriarchy just pales against the almighty girl power." Anita snidely remarked with a smirk before adding in an ill-relevant comment that's allegedly a "joke". "If she was an MMA fighter, she could probably beat most of the male heavyweights with her power and all of the men in his group no doubt."
Adam sideyes his co-host before continuing on. "...Seeing as the abduction occurred under his watch and how easily he was taken out by those thugs, it raises questions about the competency of the organisation employing him. If he can't even save a child from getting abducted, what hope does he have in protecting the rest of us common people?"
"Imagine the embarrassment his family must be feeling that their son lets a child get taken… On his watch no less!" The anchorwoman wore a faux sympathetic face. "I think with his track record, he should do what his buddy Sonic did last week and leave. He's nothing but a clown and we ain't laughing buddy."
"Oh definitely. If they want to save face over this, they probably should show him the door before he embarrasses them and himself any further. Just a thought." Adam then puts on a well-practiced sympathy face for the camera. "To the parents of the victim watching this; we, the honest people of IGN are very sorry about the emotional distress that the red idiot may have caused due to his seeming negligence and we pray for the safe return of your child and her Chao..."
"This could be my last entry… Having thought about it long and hard, I have come to a decision. One I've contemplated on for a while but after my latest failure to even save a fellow teammate, let alone a child; I've made my mind up.
I know it'll be crushing for them, for me, for her and for everyone who got to know me because it's not something I ever wanted to consider as someone who always dreamed about being one of them but I can't pretend anymore.
The dream is what saved me, the moral support from people like Amy gave me reasons to push on even when I'm second-guessing myself and then there's Sonic… All doubt fades in the presence of a true miracle man. The one guy who could silence that voice in my head.
However, my heart just isn't in it anymore… *sniff* I don't want to disappoint them any further than I already have and be part of the problem. It'd be in everyone's best interest that I resign from the team and go home. Perhaps that'll finally help take away the illness they're currently inflicted with and clear them of my kegare.
If you love something that much, then you're also willing to let it go… This might be my last entry as a member of the Knothole Freedom Fighters... *sniff*
I'm so sorry Sonic... I wish that I could be the hero that you always wanted me to be but I find that I am truly my own worst enemy and I may never be able to evolve or actualise my own potential into becoming the greater version of me that I am destined to be... *sniff* Akira Amamiya signing out for the last time..."
Akira's House, New Mobotropolis
Night
Inside his own bedroom, he held his head in his hands with slumped shoulders after recording what is probably his last entry in his own digital journal late at night. Heart heavy with tears and resigned to his equally heavy decision.
The sight of tears in Vanilla's eyes, the failure he feels over his inability to protect Cream's wellbeing and people like Adam Frosk publicly kicking him while he's down all drove the young prospect to his breaking point. He just can't take it anymore.
His spark of heroism seemingly extinguished before it could ever get the chance to grow into a flame. Never getting to awaken the real Akira Amamiya.
December 18th
Central Freedom HQ, New Mobotropolis
Morning
Sally was looking over some reports despite her mind being elsewhere and preoccupied about Cream's abduction when the door to her office opens to reveal a bespectacled red wolf with a forlorn look on his face. Even before he opened his mouth, she just knew right away the reason for him coming to her at this time.
"Can I get a minute with you?" He asked her. His voice almost sounded robotic and tired.
With how quickly she set aside the reports, he has her undivided attention. "...Akira. I just know that this isn't going to be a pleasant one. Have a seat and tell me what's on your mind."
Gadget took a seat at her desk and then took a deep breath before going ahead with what came here to say. "I… I've been thinking about this for a week now and… I've come here today to tell you that I am resigning from the team."
The chipmunk frowned at that. "...May I ask the reasons for your resignation?"
Gadget dips his head down. "It's… A number of factors. The first one is the negative reaction from the public and how that's been affecting me personally. The second is to do with my own track record of dropping the ball with you guys and how much I feel like a liability. The third… It's to do with Sonic or rather the lack of Sonic."
"What is the issue with Sonic?"
"Not with Sonic himself because he's been good to me and I owe a lot to him. No, it's to do with my connection to him and how that got me a spot in your team ahead of the other candidates." The wolf shook his head. "I don't know what you might have thought of it but I know for some of the others and those looking in, it could be taken as an act of cronyism. That I only got in because I happen to be friends with him and I'm not blind to that perception..."
Letting out a sigh. "Although I'm not being blamed for our recent failures and most of it was down to bad timing; I feel I am not performing up to the standards expected of me and whenever it's my turn to make a key call, I fumble the ball each time. If I am continually falling short like that in my responsibilities, then it might be a sign that I am not cut out for this in the long run and it's best that I leave before I become a serious liability. The negative media attention doesn't help it either…"
Looking from up his lap to face Sally. "I appreciate what Sonic did for me but I think he made a mistake in getting me a spot on the team and me accepting the offer instead of turning it down like I should have. Just because I helped him save the world once doesn't mean it can work the second time… All that was done to win the war was never due to me and more because of everyone else around me. My actions have always been at someone else's call."
"I know Sonic…" Sally said with an uncertain undertone to her words. "And I know that he didn't make any mistakes with you. Did you accept the offer because you thought it was what you wanted or because you didn't want to disappoint him?"
"The latter… I always saw it as a thankful gesture for rescuing him and being there to lend him a hand when no one else was able to. Part of me thinks I'm doing this more for his sake than mine and only stuck around because I thought that's what he would have wanted me to do. He seemed to see something in me that I don't. If only I could see why..." The wolf responded. Voicing out what he's kept to himself for weeks and on his way out no less.
She had believed he always wanted to be part of the team but actually hearing his confession struck hard.
"...Admittedly, I wasn't too sure of you at first when Sonic had initially recommended you and you'd well be aware of how I am when we're inducting new members based on what qualities they have for me to want them on the team. I have been proven wrong on my assessments before as Amy can attest to." Sally spoke honestly with the red wolf. Seeing as it's better to be frank with him and he seemed to prefer that from her anyways.
The chipmunk continued. "Having said that, I always had you shortlisted for a membership based on your contributions to the Phantom Ruby War and the quality of your character. Vector, Silver and everyone else from your cell all spoke highly of you. All Sonic, Tails, Amy and Knuckles really did was give me more reason to fight the Restoration over you to have you on my team."
"Having gotten to know you as a person, seeing how the others have taken to you as a teammate and how you've performed in the line of duty, your decision to leave is… I speak for everyone here in saying that we're crushed to have you go because we do really like you for however brief your tenure may be and think your label is an unfair one... But I understand that it's your choice and we must respect your decision." She gave him a sad smile.
"Should you ever change your mind later on, just know that you'll always be welcomed back with us. In any case…" Sally extends a hand out to the wolf. "I wish you only the best in your endeavours and Merry Christmas."
"You too." Gadget smiled somberly, shaking the chipmunk's hand. "It's been an honour serving with you."
"Likewise…"
After exchanging their last words together, Gadget got up and left Sally's office while she watched him go until he was gone from sight. The chipmunk turned away from the door, a hand over her face as she let the departure of the team's newest member sink in and mulling over it. Another soul leaves the team.
He's not the first person to resign from the team of their own accord but his reasons are among the most heartbreaking. He didn't have an injured back, he didn't fall out with them and he didn't retire because he wanted to pursue a career. The constant attacks on his character from those media vultures wore him down until his flame seemingly died out and she would love nothing more than to verbally tear those people a new one but then that might encourage them to up the ante even further.
First it was Sonic who left because of his own demons, now it's Akira's turn to leave because he's lost his will. Someone she had seen as the first of a new generation of heroes going into the new decade. Now, he is a patron of the what if club. Her and her team have braved through dark times before in the past.
Only difference is that Sonic is not around to help light the way through the shroud and towards a better tomorrow.
Gadget slowly walked through Central Freedom HQ. Taking in the sights one more time before he goes. Before he packs up and moves back to Golden Bay City.
He comes across the Hall of Heroes. A room dedicated to memorialising the fallen heroes of the Freedom Fighters including ones from other groups like Carl Condor's High Flying Freedom Fighters and Monkey Khan's Dragon Kingdom Freedom Fighters. Their names and likenesses recorded for prosperity including having holographic images showing what they had looked like in life.
There are also screens on stands in front of each member of the hall where he can access their individual profiles including their service records.
During his initial tour, he was told that the Hall of Heroes is a newer addition to Central Freedom HQ with Tails being an advocate for it. Believing that it would be a nice way to remember those who fell fighting the good fight and be a good source of inspiration for all future recruits.
Tig Stripe's Original Freedom Fighters are the most prominent members of the hall given their importance with golden statues of each member barring Trey Scales decorated around the hall. The latter is still acknowledged as a member but his treachery has snubbed him of having a gold statue in his honour and largely unpersoned outside of token nods to his contributions to the team.
The wolf's attention is on the one dedicated to the fallen members of the Knothole Freedom Fighters. Names like Nate Morgan and Tommy Turtle listed here. He knew who they were in passing and how they lost their lives in the end.
Names like Y. Kotera are admittedly unfamiliar to him and the scope of their contributions vary but are nevertheless remembered along with the rest. The actions of the few saves the lives of many.
His gaze fell upon two particular members of the hall whose names he's heard in passing from Sonic. One is an elderly cat named Cat and the other is a green plant-based girl named Cosmo. Both have holograms showing what they look like.
Going over to the touch screen in front of Cosmo and pulling up her profile to read about her. Learning that she or rather her mother Earthia had once come from a planet called Green Gate, a world ravaged by war between the inhabitants and the enemy attacking it. Described as a planet home to fully sentient plant liforms.
Green Gate would ultimately be rendered as a desolate world when its' Planet Egg was taken out by Lucas and his followers in an effort to annihilate the invaders for good followed by the detonation of nuclear weapons on the surface by Earthia to stop her overzealous husband from extending his wrath towards the rest of the universe.
A comment noted that this is all according to a hologram message left behind by Earthia and other clues from Green Gate.
Cosmo's biography details her life story. A few paragraphs about her life on a space colony up until the Metarex came and massacred almost all of her people with her left as the last of her species. A line written in brackets notes that the Metarex would put a tracking device and a chip in her which made her a spy for Dark Oak. A fact she wasn't aware of until much later.
The main body of the biography details her life following the demise of her people to her meeting Sonic and his friends on Mobius before they get embroiled in a war against the Metarex to save the universe. Ending with Cosmo doing exactly that and defeating the threat for good but at the cost of her own life Tails had to fire a power cannon shot to save the universe. A shot that would vanquish her also.
All that is left of her is a heart which has since grown into a plant and under the care of Tails. Inducted into the Hall of Heroes as a member of the Knothole Freedom Fighters posthumously and noted as the first ever alien to be awarded with a medal of honour award in their name for her part in the Metarex War.
That all gave the wolf a moment of pause. For all of his own failures, they all pale in comparison to Tails' bittersweet victory against the Metarex and it's something for him to think about. The fox had to make a decision that a youngster his age shouldn't have to make; let alone towards someone he had loved dearly.
Looking up at Cosmo's hologram, he sees a kind and gentle smile on her face. One that matches the person that she's been described as by others.
His gaze soon fell upon the sight of Cat and he pulled up his profile to see what it had to say about him. Described as a calm and collected gentleman. Very loyal to his friends to the end. Was once part of Tig's group but saw little action during his team with them.
Cat isn't his real name but it's the one most of the others addressed him by including Sonic who is noted to be close friends with him and something of a protégé to the older mobian when he first became a member of the group. Both being on similar wavelengths with one another.
He taught the young hedgehog who had spent most of his early days working alone on the value of teamwork when the younger Sonic had proved to be somewhat of a difficult person to cooperate with in no part thanks to his attitude problem. That was until Cat spoke to him one night and somehow found a way to get through to the teen with an attitude which then led to Sonic becoming more willing to be a team player from then on. Gadget wondered if he's the person to thank for helping Sonic be the great team player that he is today.
The wolf continued reading and learning of Cat's time as an active member of the Knothole Freedom Fighters from its' formation up to that fateful mission involving the sabotage of Stealthbots. According to the write-up, things were going until a mishap from Antoine nearly jeopardised the whole mission.
Only thanks to Cat's distraction did the others avoid capture at the cost of him getting caught by the Swatbots who had him taken in for questioning about the location of Knothole Village yet he refused to spill. Earning him a sentence to the detention center. Sonic had attempted to go rescue him from the detention center but was told by the older mobian to go save Sally and Antoine instead before reluctantly conceding to his request. That would be the last time he ever see Cat.
Even after the end of the First Robotnik War where many thought to be missing people would resurface following Julian's demise, Cat is not among them. Since then, he has been declared missing in action and presumed to be deceased with how many years it had been when he was last seen by anybody.
Due to his tenure having occurred before the group became really famous around the world, he is seemingly unknown to most of the general public with only the most knowledgeable fans of the group even aware of him. With what's come out about Sonic and knowing of his less than stellar relations with Antoine in the past, he wondered if part of that is due to what happened with Cat.
The realist in him thinks Sonic had always held Antoine responsible for what happened to Cat for a long time. Not everyone is that forgiving and not everyone is incapable of holding grudges either. Anyone who says they never held ill feelings towards someone once are bold-faced liars. Everyone has that one person who earned a spot in their bad books and Sonic is no exception to that.
Did Sonic's resentment towards many of his own friends start with Infinite or did Infinite simply bring up that side of him back from beneath the sea of the self? Is it the intent the one differentiating factor between what happened with Sonic's exit and what happened with Fiona's? That one's resentment drove them to start dancing with the dark side followed by betrayal and one's resentment led to a breakdown because they couldn't trust those around them to help them?
So many questions with so little answers and the wolf thought it'd be pointless now to ponder over these things since he'll be heading back home. Return to a normal civilian life and leave the world-saving business to the experts who know what they're doing. These people here didn't ask to lose their lives just for a screwup to come along and squander their efforts.
With a heavy heart, he pulled back his hand from the screen and walked out of the Hall of Heroes. Off to exit Central Freedom HQ for what seemingly may be for the last time. Walk away from his own destiny.
If it's not making you feel happy, then it's better to leave whenever you can lest that unhappiness start turning into bitterness and he'd rather go out while he still has some positive feelings towards being a Freedom Fighter…
Author's Note: Bit of a downer ending, don't you think? Fortunately, this is just the opening chapter to the third act of the story and not the end.
Seeing as Sonic had most of the narrative focus last time, I figured I'd give the spotlight to Gadget this time around and show the effects of Sonic's departure a week later.
Show our titular wolf's relatable everyman quality and how he responds to the overwhelming pressure of being a media punching bag when Sonic isn't around to offer him support. Show the complexity behind Gadget as a person both to the reader and to the other characters around him.
Leave your thoughts in the reviews and I'll see you readers another time.