Thirteen Years Ago…

Labyrinth Zone, South Island

Early Morning

A six year old Sonic was coming back from Green Hill Zone and thanks to his uncanny speeds, he was able to cover a great distance from there to his home. He had always been seen as a speedy hedgehog even by his dear uncle who says he'll be a gold medalist when he grows up. That was all before the coup by that awful man who took everything from him.

However, the speeds he is traveling at now is comparable to a car at full speed and it seems that he has only gradually gotten faster as his body matures with age. Sonic reckons he'll be faster than a speeding bullet someday and be able to use his speed to go see all those international locations he only sees in those pictures around Green Hills like Soleanna.

He did have trouble at the start in controlling his own momentum on the terrains of South Island and was crashing into walls a bunch of times when he couldn't stop in time, even getting himself hurt on a few occasions with him having to be taken to get treated for them. It wasn't until his guardian/surrogate mother pulled him aside and taught him how to actually manage his momentum properly while going fast which helped the fast-moving hedgehog to feel confident and safe in going fast.

The owl has been his light in a world seemingly engulfed by the darkness of a big-gutted dictator and his empire of machines. Having been nothing but kind and nurturing to him. A mother he never had growing up. He thinks Uncle Chuck would have liked her, Pretzel Lady and Donut Lord a lot he thinks sadly to himself.

When he arrived home, the owl had woken up by then and was frantically looking around the house for him. Likely believing he's been abducted or kidnapped before eventually seeing him.

Her worried eyes turned to stern ones as she addressed him. "Sonic! Where have you been?"

"I was out for a jog…" Sonic answered her immediately, hiding the flower behind his back. "Over at Green Hill Zone."

"You know it's dangerous to go out there alone at your age. Especially with what unkind people lurk out there." The owl furrowed her brow when she noticed he was hiding something from her. "What are you hiding there?"

The suspicion in her wore off when the little Sonic showed his guardian a cute and beautiful flower usually found at Green Hill Zone. Having been dug up and put into an orange flower pot by the hedgehog child.

"This is for you." He says to her while presenting the gift. "For how awesome you've been to me."

The owl smiled, forgetting her worries and going over to accept the gift while giving him a gentle pat on the head that elicited a happy squeak from him. "Perhaps I overreacted there a bit. You're not going to be little forever and I can't stop you from wanting to see the world but you have to understand you're putting yourself at serious risk when you're out there."

Sonic nodded with a smirk. "As Captain Rescue would say; 'What's life without some risks taken?' and those Freedom Fighters on the mainland are risking plenty against that mean old Robuttnik."

Word of Tig Stripes and his band of Freedom Fighters had reached the shores of South Island. Sonic quickly became enamored with them both for their bravery in taking a stand against the dictator of Northamer and the fact they likely made the mustached blob's day's less pleasant now that they're around. He'd hope to someday serve in their ranks with his special powers when he's old enough.

"There is a limit on how far you can push your luck when you're going the risky route before it borders on recklessness. You have to know your own restraints where other lives are concerned and for your own sake." The owl puts the new flower by a window in the little home. "To wield great power comes with its own set of responsibilities and burdens. Those Freedom Fighters know what they have signed up for and what there is to lose."

"He's gonna come over to our home eventually." Sonic points out. "He won't stop with the Kingdom of Acorn, he'll want the rest of the world too."

"It is a possibility but one that will hopefully never come to pass. Let that man be their problem while you try living out your best life in the now and getting the experience you need." The owl looked back at him. "Live out the rest of your childhood before you grow up into an adult and perhaps by then, he'll have been defeated before your eighteenth birthday."

Sonic beamed at the idea of growing up and being a big hedgehog. "When I grow up, I'll have all the chili-dogs I want and I'll show everyone who's the fastest thing alive!"

The female owl smiled at his youthful optimism. "Maybe someday but today, we're having another lesson for you today. The topic of morality, willpower and choices. I suggest you eat plenty at breakfast before we begin this lesson in full…"

Present Day…

Central Freedom HQ, New Mobotropolis

Afternoon

With Doctor Ellidy arriving in New Mobotropolis after answering a message sent from Nicole a little ago, he came over to Central Freedom HQ and Sally quickly assembled an impromptu meeting in the briefing room. The lynx's accounts of Tarek Mengele were largely similar to those of Charles' and King Max's but there's more details behind his experiences with the previously thought-to-be dead scientist.

"...When I found that lab of his' and the horrific sights that decorated it along with a smell of death surrounding it, I had him reported to the Royal Secret Service and testified against him. You already know the rest of the story." The aged lynx gave his rundown of his working relationship with Tarek over fourteen years ago and eying at Tarek's recent photo on a photo. "I too had sworn to never discuss the topic to anyone else not involved in the incident and let the matter be forgotten."

Sally held her chin in deep contemplation, getting a better picture of Tarek's history with her father's court. "It does fill in the missing blanks on his professional history but you know what question we're going to be asking you next."

"I know it's about our personal relationship. How I am the one amongst our peers that really knows him as a person." Dr. Ellidy sighed, taking a drink of his water. "I also know it'll open up some old unwanted memories I spent years trying to forget about."

"We do apologize for the distress this will cause. It's just that you are our best lead on figuring out what are Tarek's motives."

"I understand. I would have preferred going through the rest of my life with him gone but such is life…" The elderly lynx looked over at Sonic and others present at the meeting to hear his story including newcomer Gadget the Wolf. "Excuse any issues with my recollections as a byproduct of my old age."

"It has been over fourteen years and the little details get lost in that time." Sally curtly nods. "Even if it's not that vivid, you'll still be giving us something more substantial to work with."

Ellidy glances at Nicole before quickly averting his gaze as though remembering regretful just now. "Though I worked with him the most and had the most interactions with, he's very secretive about his own personal life aside from a few crucial details I got out of him. Couldn't tell you if he was a married man or not but I assume he might have been in the past."

"Considering the kind of guy he is, he probably fridged his own wife." Sonic remarked with crossed arms, leaning back on his chair. "I'd be amazed if there's even a thing resembling a heart in that jackal and anyone crazy enough to actually find love from him."

"Contrary to what you may think, he does have a heart somewhere in him. I'd know because he's given me some prep talks whenever I was feeling unsure of myself and they did the trick. I wasn't sure why but he seemed to like me well enough to do that." Ellidy thought about that display from the unusual jackal. "It could have been an act to throw me off from what he's really like, he was being genuine or both. Hard to say."

Rotor asks. "Would you have both helped out in each other's projects from time to time?"

"Of course. He did have an innate understanding of neural pathways and brain structure which proved helpful in developing my A.I that would eventually culminate in the form of N.I.C.O.L.E as you all know." Doctor Ellidy gestured to Nicole when he mentioned her. "I occasionally assisted him with his work."

"Anything you can tell us about them?"

"Xavier wasn't one for giving me exposition on what he was working on. He is one of those people who doesn't disclose openly about his projects unless he's certain they're a success or whenever they're completed." The lynx recalls from memory. "I can't really give you the full details on his projects but I could give you a good educated guess on what his work pertains to."

Ellidy allowed the memories to come to him. "Much of his scientific endeavors seem to revolve around the study of organisms, the science of de-extinction, our relationship with entropy and how the cells in our bodies are slowly dying from the day we're born to old age. There's also the times he's made mentions of various mythologies and works where tales of resurrections and immortality have taken place."

"Based on your words, it sounds to me he is seeking the answer on how to achieve immortality." Tails surmised, digging into his own knowledge on the matter. "His own Philosopher's Stone."

"It would be within his M.O."

"Yet I get the feeling it's not that he's after." Sally put in her two cents. "He doesn't strike me as someone who's personally desperate to cheat death."

"Immortality was something that did cross his mind but it's the act of resurrection which is more of his interest." Doctor Ellidy then asks; "You've all heard the story about Lazarus of Bethany?"

"A dude died. Then later brought back to life by a holy miracle." Sonic saw where this was going. "I take it that Doctor Mad Jack believes that such a miracle is scientifically possible?"

"Appears so judging from his various experiments."

"And I thought Eggman was nuts. I'm one to be talking about doing the impossible but even I think that's beyond what anyone can do and the few times we did have a resurrection take place, it was always under extraordinary circumstances." Sonic subconsciously runs a hand over his chest like a spear had pierced through it. "I don't think you could even pull off such a thing without any drawbacks."

"To him, it's seemingly within the realm of possibility. All he's missing is a key piece of the puzzle and we can very well revive the dead as we please."

"...Even all those victims of his'?"

Those words hung heavily in the air at the table and Sonic could only think of that vixen child. How much was it worth the losses to achieve the scientific breakthrough of the millennium?

Sally opted to keep the conversation going and get more answers from Ellidy. "...If we presume that's what he is after, then we have to think of the what's and why's of his goals. The reason he'd do all of this."

As she said that, Gadget remembered something. "Didn't you, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles speak with him a few times before the disaster?"

"Me and Sonic mostly but you're right. Assuming he was being truthful, I know for a fact that he had once been a father himself according to his own words. Either he's not with his family anymore or they died long ago." The chipmunk nodded, thinking back to what Tarek had said to her and Sonic in those few times they spoke. "I had tried to fish for details out of him before he got wise to us."

"And he probably knew we knew. Even why we went to Resort Island." Tails added with a frown. "If he didn't plan to set us up, then he knew how to adapt to anything unexpected."

"That's Xavier alright. I always suspected he left behind a lot more bodies than what we're all aware of." Ellidy rubbed his weary eyes. "I think the only reason I managed to have him reported to the crown was that he didn't expect me to."

Sonic thought back to all of his exchanges with Tarek. Both times he got him cornered and won the debates. How effortless it was for that doctor to dissect him like a patient on a surgical table. How badly he wants him.

Through his own recollection did he remember a vital clue. "It is not the goal of resurrection he's after but actually the goal of conquering death and having it yield to his will. Every experiment he's been doing so far has been to find the solution to the entropy problem."

"And with Kirk's stolen miracle secret, he'll be closer to that breakthrough than ever before." Rotor puts two and two together. "Ever closer to curing death itself."

"But wouldn't that be a good thing though?" Gadget questioned. "No longer will people have to die and experience longer rich lives."

"Problem with that is the fact that death is an act of release for those suffering in great pain, those who harm people will be left unkillable including dictators, the possibility of reviving people like Julian Robotnik and the whole question of what we'll be bringing back to life. Are we really reviving our loved ones or their physical bodies?" Rotor shook his head. "There's also the fact we could be seriously messing with forces we can't even begin to comprehend."

"And only a deranged maniac like him would seriously believe he can cure death like it's the flu." Sonic finishes with a stern look, getting up from his chair. "We need to stop him soon before he inadvertently starts reviving the likes of Black Doom in his hubris."

The others at the table were a little alarmed at Sonic's less sympathetic mentality towards Tarek even in light of Sally's statements about him being a father. They all knew him as someone who has always tried to see and find the good in others; even Doctor Eggman but yet he's not affording that same charity to Tarek whom he seems to regard him with disdain. Gadget was a little unnerved by the display given he perceived Sonic as the ultimate good in his eyes.

In a messed up world, Shadow would have to be the one arguing with Sonic that the jackal might be doing it all for his family and could be suffering from a deep emotional pain that's driving him to those extremes.

Johnny and other longtime friends of the blue hedgehog secretly hope they're misinterpreting him here. That they're only seeing a slight lapse in his judgment based on his choice of words and he'll eventually come around to his senses before he ends up doing something he'll seriously regret.

"Agreed." Nicole looked back over at Doctor Ellidy. "There anything else we need to know before we leave?"

Ellidy glances at the holo-lynx and seeing his own late daughter Nikki in her, he frowned sadly as he prepared himself to reveal a long held secret of his'. "Only that it was he who had helped me to map out the artificial brain of Nicole's software in half the time it would have taken me to do it alone… And it was also he who convinced me to imprint my late daughter's essence onto Nicole as a last resort in saving her life."

They knew about Ellidy being Nicole's creator, who his daughter was and the cover story of her being from the future but knew nothing of that until now. Whether she'd come into being with or without his hand in her creation, it's still a shocking revelation that challenges what they thought they all knew about history. A part of history kept away from them for years and Nicole is trying to process the new info.

"I had thought of doing it myself but he made a compelling argument and it was enough to make me go through with it." Ellidy elaborated on his statement. "He knew as well as I at the time that Nikki's condition would never improve."

A question formed in Tails' mind. "Any reason he did that?"

"In all my years, I've never figured out his reason for it. I never really got the chance to ask him that." The lynx rubs his eyes. "Perhaps he understood what it's like to lose a child and he respects me enough to make that gesture..."

He looked up to see Nicole putting a hand on his shoulder and wordlessly assuring him with a smile that she understood his actions. The old scientist smiled back. Being assured that he made the right decision to give the holo-lynx the gift of life.

"Whatever's the case, we have a duty to bring him and his people." Sally stood up from her chair. "Thank you for your insight Doctor Ellidy and that concludes this meeting…"

Twelve Years Ago…

Green Hills, South Island

Night

Word about the fall of the Freedom Fighters has reached South Island recently and Sonic was crushed about it when he heard what had happened to them. A band of heroes led by Tig Stripes taking the fight to the tyrant and causing him no end of grief. Living symbols of rebellion.

And they were brought down by one of their own members Tray Scales who had sold them out to Julian. Supposedly acting on behalf of his people for their defeat at the hands of King Silvanus Acorn generations ago. A fact that the Robotnik Empire was more than happy to report to all those keeping up with the news and the territories under their domain were quick to resent the Southern Baronies as being the land of traitors.

It seemed like hope had been snuffed out with a whimper and uncertainty has circulated around the island about what their future may look like now that one of the keystones of the resistance against Robotnik has fallen.

His guardian heard the news and that seemed to have made her suddenly reluctant to let Sonic venture out into an even more dangerous world beyond the island's limits. Acting out of protectiveness for his wellbeing but that isn't how he sees it.

To him, she was coddling him and refusing to let him see the greater world like he's a defenseless child. It's like she thinks he can't handle the real world and it annoys the wanderlust hedgehog to no end.

After sneaking out from home while the owl was presumably asleep, he made it to Green Hills and wandered around the town aimlessly with no particular destination in mind. Just anywhere that caught his fancy. Have time for himself away from home.

His peace would be short-lived when he bumped into a varsity jacket-wearing lizard who was quick to rudely shove him back. "Hey watch it you stupid rat!"

"I'm a hedgehog, not a rat!" Sonic angrily responded back. "You should be watching where you're going Dumbzilla!"

"Is that so?" The green reptile sneered as he snapped his fingers and four more reptiles appeared to back him up. "Then you're gonna regret messing with Anton Veruca aka the Number One Hooligan on South Island!"

The four smaller reptiles each look distinct from one other. One wielding a switchblade, one with a crazed look to his eyes, one a little dim-looking and one girl wearing a haughty smirk.

Undeterred and very confident in his own powers being enough to overwhelm the five lizards, Sonic stood firm with an arrogant smile. "Heh, I'll take on every one of you schmoes before it's bedtime!"

His arrogance would be his own undoing as upon trying to take on the five lizards including Anton, he'd be quickly overwhelmed by the whole gang. Anton was able to beat him through his own brute strength and the aid of his siblings to make it a five to one battle. A battle the young Sonic lost due to inexperience and thinking speed alone would make it an easy one for him.

Soon, the seven year old finds himself being dragged and dropped into a dumpster bin like garbage. The absolute smugness on Anton's face told him everything about how badly this encounter had went for him.

"Buh-beddy-bye little rat!" Anton chortled as he and his siblings ran from the dumpster. Their laughter grows quieter and quieter the further away they are from the scene until only the nightly ambience of Green Hills remains.

Once he was sure they're long gone and mustering the strength to power through his bruises, he slowly climbs out of the dumpster until he's outside of it again.

He shakily stood up against a nearby wall and could feel a cut on his lip as a swelling on his left eye when he ran a hand over his face. Wincing a bit when he grazed the now-puffy eyelid. To top it all off, he also stank from whatever was in the dumpster bin.

"SONIC!" His owl guardian had just found him and was shocked by his current state, quickly rushing to his side with a look of worry on her features. "Sonic, who did this to you!?"

The hedgehog averted his gaze from her and said nothing. The silence made his adopted mother furrow her brow in disappointment at his actions tonight while she went to carry him away to be treated for his bruises.

"Once we get you checked and patched up by a doctor for your injuries, we're going to have a looong talk about you going out on your own in the morning." The owl said sternly to him and he knew he was in deep trouble with her by that tone of voice. Eyes focused ahead as she flew over Green Hills.

Leaving him with that promise, she left her child to go and think about tonight. He felt both sore and humiliated by his encounter with that hooligan.

It was also a very humbling experience for him as it clearly taught him that relying on speed alone isn't enough to win all battles, not be so overconfident in his own abilities and he is far from ready to take on the world just yet. He's got much to live and learn from life.

The next time he takes on Anton's gang, he'll be a whole new hedgehog… A stronger and braver hedgehog!

Tornado, Great Canyon

Evening

"...Sonic. Sonic!"

"Hmm? You said something?" Sonic snapped out of his recollections and looked over to his brother in spirit. The fox seated in the cockpit with a pilot's helmet and aviator goggles on while he stood on the wings as he usually does whenever they're traveling on the Tornado.

"We're nearing our destination in about seven minutes. Just so you'd know." Tails told him, sparing his idol a glance. "I called out your name earlier but you didn't respond."

"Mustn't have heard you then." Sonic looks on ahead. "Deep in the old memory lane and all."

"What were you reminiscing about?"

"Me being pretty green early on. Not knowing how to execute a spin dash properly and making mistakes. That kind of stuff."

"Like how you were during that business on Eggman Island with Mighty and Ray?"

"Something like that. A trial by fire for an eight year old like me." The blue blur smirked to himself. "And I passed it with flying colors."

"By the skin of your teeth according to Mighty." Tails points out before popping the unavoidable question that's been on his mind. "At that briefing, you didn't seem to be too warm on Tarek. In fact, it seems like you have a strong hatred for him from the way you spoke of the guy. Almost in the same vein as Julian."

Sonic side glances at the twin-tailed pilot of the Tornado. "...And I suppose you want to know the reason why?"

With a nod for an answer, he reluctantly admitted to his little brother. "I… Was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt but after what I saw in that laboratory and the people he had abducted for his experiments, I realized he's a psychopath of the highest order. Someone who's a danger to everyone around him."

"But we don't know what he's actually like. Everything we've heard about him has been from other people."

"What we've heard and seen of him is enough reason for me to have him shut down."

"I agree except there's something off putting about the way you're behaving over this guy and the way you speak of him…" Tails was hesitant to say but thought it'd be better to get it out of his system now before they reach their destination. "It's almost like you're obsessed with him—"

As though he had said a trigger word, Sonic yelled at him. "It is not an obsession!"

The fox felt a lot smaller now after getting yelled at by his big bro and Sonic quickly realized what he had done with a look of guilt plastered over his face. Appalled by his own outburst. Maybe Sally was right to be as concerned as she is.

"I-I don't know what came over me there but I'm so sorry about that Tails…" Sonic guiltily averts his gaze from Tails as he's too ashamed of himself to look at him. "I shouldn't have done that… Not when you're only just voicing your concerns…"

"...I… I understand…" Tails said quietly. That was enough to make Sonic wince inside.

"I'm not mad at you. No, I'm mad at myself for causing all of this." The hedgehog sighed quietly, running a hand down his face. "Having people tell you nonstop that you suck because some tabloid says so and barely able to get a good night's sleep hasn't made this a pleasant week for me as you can clearly tell."

"You're just going through a rough patch like I have once but that'll pass and this will all be behind us." The fox assured him the way he knew how. "Me, our friends and everyone else who believes in you know that you care about those victims and we feel the same. It's the idea of you going over the edge for them that scares us.

"I know it won't bring any of them back to life but they may rest easier when their executioner along with his servants is brought to justice and stands before judgment…" Sonic said in quiet yet heavy contemplation. "And I might be able to rest easier knowing he won't be hurting anyone else on my watch. You included."

"If being with you has taught me anything, it's that anyone who harms your friends while you're around is quick to regret it afterwards. It's a guaranteed way to get you angry." The fox smiled. "I know you'll never let anything bad happen to me or anyone else but don't forget the sentiments are the same on our end as well. I can get just as angry as you are."

"Yep and that's why Knuckles is our designated angry guy on the team because neither of us look pretty when we're seeing red. Especially to our ladies." Sonic quipped with a grin. The two brothers in spirit share a laugh and release the tension together.

Out of everyone who the resentful voice Sonic's head said had let him down, Tails isn't one of them as the quiet optimistic voice would argue to the former. Not even Infinite was able to poison his faith in him as much as he tried in the six months he had to break him down mentally. That shining hope stood as the last tangible line of defense between him and utter despair. The last remaining anchor to sanity leading up to his eventual freedom.

They'd soon reach the F.F.S' location and Sally went to work on assembling a team to infiltrate West Robotropolis to disable the defenses to allow for an easier siege to be staged while hoping to capture the criminals with their pants down as the old saying goes. The team comprising a mix of her own people and members from the Royal Acorn Army plus Knuckles and Julie-Su would act as Plan A. If they aren't able to succeed, they have Plan B ready to go just in case and she'll be leading this other team.

The first wave of the R.A.A arrived with the Freedom Fighters while the second wave were on their way over. Originally just an assurance to the council, Sally was quick to realize their strategic value in numbers and tactics for a mission of this scale. Have them go cover the perimeters of Big Kahuna Island and their targets' escape routes by extension.

A stealth submarine designed by Tails was being loaded onto the waters at the coast of Grand Canyon while the team were getting themselves ready including Gadget who was loading up his utility pouches with gadgets and other items he'll be needing to use. He would pick up a camera device disguised as a medal and put it on him.

The red wolf turned to see Sally coming over to him. "There something you need?"

"Thought I'd come over and bid you good luck on this." Sally replied, glancing at the submarine for a moment before looking back at him. "Feeling nervous about this?"

"I'd be more concerned than nervous."

"Concerned of what exactly?" She enquired with a raised brow. The red lupine thought about not saying anything but it's her that's asking and it'd be bad etiquette to ignore the noble woman's question.

"That I'll screw it up again… I had Lindsey and them at my grasp twice but I managed to lose them both times." Gadget rubbed his neck with an uncertain face on. "I might botch something here and cause them to slip away from us once again."

"You lost them the first time because you were caught in a moral dilemma between them and a teammate's life. You lost them the second time because of something unforeseen and out of your control. Yes, you had them in your sights and lost them both times but not because you screwed up." Sally rebuked his statements. "Your teammates including Miraju all reported you hadn't made any major errors that cost us our suspects' capture and they all blame the circumstances that brought upon their escape including I.G.N."

Brushing aside her bangs, she continued; "While I respect you being able to be introspective and acknowledging your own faults, I must also ask you to leave your own self-doubts at home when we're on a mission. This is no place for that now and all it's doing is holding you back from doing what you can do. You fall down seven times, you stand up eight."

"O-Of course." Gadget straightens up, seeing that he's got his duties to fulfill. "I-I will try and do that."

"Don't take this as a reprimand. I'm telling you this because you're more capable than you give yourself credit for and you need someone to give you some positive reassurance." The chipmunk told him. "Let you know you're worth it."

Gadget nods and remarks to his leader. "I think I'm beginning to see why Sonic likes you a lot if this is anything to go by..."

That got a good chuckle out of Sally. "Well, that depends on how you see us both."

"How do you both manage to be together anyhow when you're as different from each other as they come?"

"No idea. Guess opposites attract warts and all as they all say." She winked with a coy grin. "I'm sure whenever you meet your Mrs. Amamiya, she'll be asking the same thing."

Gadget bashfully averted his gaze. "A-As if that would ever happen…"

"Never count out the possibility. Comes with the job description."

The royal chipmunk ends on that note to go see the other members of the stealth team. Leave him to think over her words. Casting aside his own doubts and ignoring that voice in his head to focus on the mission.

Sonic and his team made their way over to Big Kahuna Island in Tails' Super Sea Fox. Able to reach the shorelines undetected and they proceed to disembark from the craft to begin their infiltration.

The team consisted mainly of Sonic, Tails, Julie-Su, Johnny, Gadget, Manic and six R.A.A commandos dressed in white camouflage gear. Making up for a team of twelve. Sonic wordlessly led his group through the chilly terrain towards West Robotropolis and very focused on the mission.

"...Despite the sighting of the Egg Predator, there don't appear to be any signs of patrolling guards out here anywhere that we can currently judge." Gadget reported to Sally, walking behind Sonic and Tails. "My guess is they're either patrolling over at the outskirts of West Robotropolis or there are none at all."

"I would still recommend caution in spite of that." Sally advised on the communication line and was wary of the fact. "They might suspect that we're here and have acted accordingly."

"Understood. Over and out."

"What's the word?" Manic asked after the wolf ended his call. The latter half-turning his neck to him.

"That we should be careful here in case this is all a trap."

"Her exact words?"

"Just the gist of what she's told me."

"Ah." Manic nodded slowly. "If you were able to date one of them, who would you go for? Her or Amy Rose."

The wolf snapped his gaze to him in slight disbelief. "W-What kind of question is that?"

"A friend to friend kind of question."

"More like a loaded question..." Gadget mutters while the green hedgehog grins to him. Throwing an arm around his shoulder.

"My man, you gotta not worry too much about these things when you're among friends."

"And Sonic?"

"Bro's chill about these things. He'd understand it's just a hypothetical and nothing serious."

"What if I want to date someone else?"

"Like who?"

"Your sister Sonia."

"Oh, that's different."

"Different how?"

"Dude, she's my sister and she's upper class."

"So is Sally and they're both royalty. Don't see what makes Sonia any different from her."

"Well, she's a bit more uptight given her upbringing, sort of vain at times and a little particular about how you do your knots with her. She does not enjoy a bad one and apparently turned down the last guy over it. Plus she can lift some serious weights despite her size." Manic said to him with his valley boy drawl. "If you want to have a chance, you better know how to tie up a rope well and how to make killer ribbon bows."

"I do know how to knot well and I'm getting along with her alright so far… Though I wonder if that's more due to my association with Sonic than anything." The red wolf wondered the last part out loud to him.

"Eh, I think she'd still warm to you regardless like I have." The green hedgehog assured him. "Between you and Bartleby, I think we'd rather have you as our in-law over him but don't tell her that."

"Why not?"

"Because in her stepmom's words, it'd be scandalous and you would probably either be on his bad list or Dingo's for fancying her. That's what." Manic would bring the conversation back to Sally and Amy. "Also you didn't answer my question dude."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes."

"Fine…" Gadget had to think it over for a moment. "Amy."

"Any reason?"

"I know her better than I know Sally, I find her optimism very endearing and she did save me from ending up on the streets. Plus Sally already has someone."

"Ah…" Manic cocked a grin at his answer. "You prefer a strong yet feminine lady with a big heart to a tomboy resistance fighter."

Gadget flashed him an indignant look. "What? You just asked me a question of who I'd pick between the two, not stating my preferences."

"You just said you find her endearing and therefore, you like her a lot."

"Least I find her endearing while you are just a pain..."

Manic chuckled at the wolf's dry remark and the growing rapport he's been having with him. "That's what my sister always says to me and bro."

Gadget wore a mock contemplative look on his face. "In that case, it's all the more reason I should start hanging out with Sonia more often…"

Julie-Su walked alongside Johnny and the echidna picking up on the difference in Sonic's recent behavior, seeing how little he's spoken since she arrived. "Must be exhausting dealing with I.G.N's ruckus twenty-four-seven."

"That's not even half of it luv. It'd be easy to ignore those tossers if not for the fact they've managed to get a lot of folks under their spell and you don't want to even hear the things they were calling us earlier."

"Good thing me and Knuckles don't live in cities with that going on. I'm astonished they're allowed to openly attack you guys like that."

"Controversy and sensationalism makes business. Someone's going to get hurt or worse if this keeps up and they're sure as hell ain't going to take responsibility over it."

"And you guys?"

Johnny sighed silently, looking at his other teammates. "It's not exactly helpin' with our recent morale. It's even getting to Sonic too and that's when you know it's serious."

"So what if he punched that guy? He had it coming."

"We know he's dirty but in the court of public opinion led by Judge I.G.N, Sonic's the guilty one and it's hard to get around that clip as anything other than what it is."

"People are so easily led like drones as long as the speaker sounds charismatic and easy to listen to. Save a million worlds but getting caught swearing after stubbing your toe is all it takes to be hated by everyone."

"It had happened to Nicole and it has now happened to Sonic." The rabbit shook his head. "Sometimes, I have to wonder why he and Shadow even bother helping the world with fickleness like that."

"Probably stubbornness. It's both their saving grace."

"Yeah. It's also what you and Knuckles both have in common." Johnny dryly remarks with the female echidna shrugging her shoulders. She was about to say something when Sonic suddenly stumbled in his steps and Tails quickly caught him in his arms.

"Sonic, what's up?" Tails asked in concern. Figuring it's likely another unexpected mindlink between Sonic and Mecha Sonic.

The blue hedgehog shook his head as he straightened up his stance and glances around. "I think my imposter is about somewhere but I can't tell where exactly and how close..."

"Let's hope it's just him dreaming in a status pod."

Sonic nodded in agreement. Having long suspected that he is somehow experiencing a form of hallucination or something similar to it as a result of his mysterious link with Mecha Sonic including his daydreams and overlapping vision. If only he knew what exactly activates the link to begin with and be able to use it to his advantage like using him to spy on Tarek's group.

An unsettling thought crosses his mind. What if Mecha Sonic has been able to peer into his thoughts and been observing his double in silence without him even knowing about it? Reading both his mind and sensing his internal emotions like a book. Know all about his own inner turmoil.

The group continued onwards through their route until they're able to finally sight West Robotropolis in the distance. One of the commandos would check through his binoculars and reported no patrolling guards or machines of any kind around the abandoned area. Something that made all of them immediately suspicious.

Sonic's ears then twitch and he quickly pulls Tails down to the ground just as a red laser beam zips over where the fox had stood a moment ago, scorching the rock behind them. Then came the sounds of rocketing jet thrusters and the blue hedgehog felt himself getting torn off from Tails and slammed right through a wall of ice followed by an uppercut.

"Boy, you're starting to suck now with how easily I got ya!" Mecha Sonic taunted as he does a leg drop on Sonic who quickly rolls out of the way. The two Sonic proceed to clash in a duel against one another blow for blow.

Tails and everyone else were quickly being taken down by Mecha Sonic's backup. All suddenly emerging from their hiding spots.

Juile-Su had an inkling something was up prior to Mecha Sonic's appearance but she didn't expect the ambush to be this swift. The blaster-wielding echidna sees that Lindsey and her gang were among the attackers. All wielding weapons that were making quick work out of her whole group

It wasn't only just them though. They're also being supported by the unexpected sight of Dark Legion Troopers who were aiding in the attack. Before she could ponder any further, she'd get zapped into unconsciousness by a stun laser. The whole infiltration group all dealt with in seconds.

When Lindsey saw a downed Gadget, she pulled out a pistol and pointed it at the defenseless wolf with the intent to kill him but a gloved hand suddenly appeared to smack the barrel away from the lupine. Discharging a bullet into the snow next to him instead.

The redheaded woman glares at a red female echidna clad in white combat camouflage gear and the latter responds with a glare of her own. "Yardley. Your orders were very clear about taking these prisoners alive."

Lindsey growled at the high-ranking Dark Legionnaire. "Your boss ain't very smart in allowing these brats to live and I got a score to settle with that four-eyed dog."

"If you wish to file a complaint, then you can take it up with my 'boss' but orders are orders." The echidna responds calmly, gesturing to her troops to go collect the unconscious group including Gadget. "I would suggest not letting anything personal get in the way of your line of work or else it'll be the end of you..."

After saying that, she walked off to report to base and the grimacing Lindsey muttered to herself whenever the echidna was out of earshot. "Dreadlocked bitch…"

"You just love the sound of your own voice, ey?" Sonic retorted as he did a homing attack on the robot who predictably blocked the hit with his forearm guards and shoves him back. The blue blur backflips onto his feet.

"What can I say dude? I got a voice that needs to be heard!"

"And I'm gonna shut that voicebox up if it means I don't have to keep listening to your trash talk!" Sonic growled through as the two butted heads and both moved in place due to near equal momentum power between them. Both their hands locked together in a test of strength.

"In your dreams schmuck!"

Then as if the universe conspired to deny Mecha Sonic the chance to properly savor another battle with his namesake, Sonic would get zapped by a stun laser due to having tunnel vision in trying to take out his metallic doppelganger and slumps down to the snow which to the robotic hedgehog's very vocal frustration. "HEY! I had this loser right where I wanted him!"

A surly Slimy marched over to Mecha with a ray gun in hand and admonished the robot. "You were supposed to deal with him and take him out, not fool around like it's a game!"

"It was my fight, not yours' and you got lucky with that shot." Mecha Sonic huffed at the green reptile with arms crossed. "I didn't need your help."

"Don't you be giving me tha—AGH!"

The robot hedgehog lifted the green-skinned scientist off his feet and held him up by the neck to meet his glaring optics. "Just because I allow a self-important pencil-necked geek like you to revive me does not mean I owe you anythin' and that does entitle you to boss me around as you please. Got it!?"

"C-Crystal!" Slimy choked out before being released and letting out a few coughs while quickly getting oxygen back into his lungs again. Looking up to Mecha Sonic in disbelief at his brief but unexpected act of defiance.

The machine ignores the startled scientist and instead has his red optics focused on the unconscious Sonic laying on the snow. Vulnerable and full of inner turmoil.

Eleven Years Ago…

Labyrinth Zone, South Island

Night

"...I will not permit it!"

"It's only a matter of time before they start setting their eyes on our island when they find out about the Chaos Emeralds' location and you know it!"

"You alone couldn't hope to defeat an empire of machines and I certainly didn't teach you to be a freedom fighter either. You know what happened with Tig Stripes and his group."

In the owl's hut, both the owner and an eight year old Sonic were having another argument with each other again. One out of a handful they've been having in the last few months when it came to their philosophical differences and this argument was about the Robotnik Empire possibly invading South Island.

Emotions running high on Sonic's end as he has grown sick and tired of his guardian trying to coddle him from the world like he's a baby needing to be protected at all times. Frustrations all boiling up to the surface at being constantly told by her about what he can or can't do. The relationship between the child and the adult was tragically all coming apart because of it.

The owl argues on guarding Mobius' great secrets from the empire and letting the likes of G.U.N deal with the problem while the hedgehog argues about taking action and bringing the fight to the empire itself until freedom is restored to all of the lands.

"They were betrayed by one of their own, not because of Robuttnik's brains. I bet they'd have him on the ropes by now if not for that." Sonic rebuked her point. "I lost everything to him and so has everyone else. He overtook the Acorn Kingdom in a few days, his brother Ivo stole the throne from the Hedgehog Kingdom thanks to the backing of those crooked aristocrats and I doubt G.U.N are gonna do too much against them with the advantages they got."

The owl frowned at his words. "You're just a child. A child at your age shouldn't be worrying about the state of the world and live out their innocence."

"I lost mine when I lost my uncle and my dog." Sonic furrowed his brow. "And you're more than capable of taking him on with your power. Your Order of Sophocles was able to take on the Echidna Empire in the past and thwart their goals of world domination. The Robotniks are nothing compared to them."

"You forget that was a long, long time ago in ancient times and that I am the last of my clan. I alone cannot hope to defeat him nor could you." His adopted mother reminds him. "My duties as a Knight of Sophocles are to protect the secrets of artifacts like the Chaos Emeralds from people like Robotnik. Prevent far worse disasters from taking place."

"What becomes of the world after you go, huh? Ever thought of that one?" The hedgehog pointedly asks her that question. "They'll just find those artifacts and render your efforts pointless anyways. I'd rather go out there and fight for my freedom than continue living like this. Least I get to know what's beyond the horizon."

"The people of Green Hills might have been hospitable and pleasant to you for the most part but I doubt you'd get the same treatment everywhere else. Any kindness and charity you show, they'll take advantage of because it's every man for themselves out there." Sonic's guardian sternly tells him as someone who only wants what's best for him and thinking of his well being. "A stranger you helped will be the same stranger who'll accuse you and cast lies about your character. Even betray you to save their own skins or for a few mobiums."

"I can take on whatever life throws at me because I'm my own guy and I do what matters to me. I know there are bad people out in the world as much as there are good people in it as well." Sonic retorted sharply, getting sassy with her. "I heard ya the first time. I'm not deaf or stupid you know."

"Even still, you're not ready to handle the real world."

"You think I can't handle the real world but you're wrong. Maybe it's you who can't handle the real world and would rather be cooped up like this where you can boss me aro—"

The owl raised her voice at the belligerent hedgehog. "Don't you be speaking to your mother in that tone!"

In a spur of the moment and not thinking it through before saying it out loud, Sonic vomited all of his built-up frustrations at her. "You're not and never will be my real mother to me you stupid nag!"

Suddenly, the argument they were just having died in an instant as an uncomfortable silence fills the entire hut in its stead and the stern owl's stern expression melts to a look of shock. Then shifts to a look of genuine hurt with the eyes seemingly watering from how deeply those words hit her.

Only after thoughtlessly airing out those hurtful words did Sonic realize what he had just done and immediately regret it but the words of apology all died in his throat as he tried to say sorry. He had just said straight to her face that she's not his mother.

She took him in and gave him a warm bed to sleep in when she didn't have to. She fed him and nursed him despite having no monetary incentive to do so. She taught him and chose to teach him about what she had learned through the former Order of Sophocles even if he's an outsider himself.

The owl chose to take him in when she could just as easily hand him off to the local orphanage.

And that's how he chooses to repay her? With those very hurtful words that he can't take back? Calling her a stupid nag on top of it all?

Feeling immense guilt and thinking he had just gotten himself thrown out of the house, Sonic quickly speeds out of the hut but not before leaving behind a letter telling the owl to let him go. Thanking her for taking care of him but he must find his own way in the world now. His mind on leaving to see the world for himself was already made up before they even had this conversation.

He just couldn't look at her anymore after what he's done to make her cry. Maybe he's overreacting and being emotionally overwhelmed by the guilt but that's the way the young hedgehog sees it. If he couldn't treat his own guardian well despite being so good to him, it's probably best that he'd be a loner from now on. Less likely to hurt other people that way.

Someday, he'll come back and make up once he sorts himself out. Just simply a matter of when he'll ever see her again.

Then as he's running through the plains and in the middle of his thoughts, he hears something rumbling behind him. Sonic glanced over his shoulder to see a bespectacled bald-headed mustached man piloting a large metal machine bearing his face on treads and racing towards him. The sounds of his maniacal laughter only added to the terror.

Try as he might in outrunning it, the machine still caught up to him and captured the eight year old before hauling him away. Bringing him from South Island to an unfamiliar one called Eggman Island.

His sadistic captor Doctor Ivo Robotnik would gleefully tell him that he alongside two other fellow captives have been selected for a set of very dangerous and potentially life-ending trials as part of an experiment about one's will to survive...

Author's Notes: We learn new facts about Tarek, see Sonic's friends be alarmed by the Blue Blur's current behavior and one last look at Rookie Era Sonic for now.

Did get a little crazy with the flashbacks in these last few chapters but I feel they're necessary for Sonic's story. Hopefully you readers don't mind them too much nor mind the portrayal of a younger Sonic being more flawed and more prone to having a real attitude problem.

Stay tuned for the next chapter. Leave a review and I'll see you all next time.