⸺𝙉𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙞𝙩.❞

A/N: I EDITED THIS WHOLE CHAPTER

24.01.2024

Curiosity sparked in you as you get up from the seat and walked towards him. Leaning on his supercomputer to get a better view.

"Is this... binary code?" you inquired, your eyes fixated on the screen. "Wait... They reproduce spontaneously! Like... blood cells?"

"Yeah," Tails nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "What you're looking at is something remarkable. This, my dear, is the brain." he smugly leaned on the table with a grin that he get it from Sonic.

Confusion painted on your face as you muttered, "What...?"

With evident excitement, Tails continued, "I am sure you will get it. I know it looks complicated but it's actually easy. For you and me at least, after you first get how it works..." He muttered the last part. He quickly continued, "I've discovered a way to replicate our brains. Not only that, but these replicated brains can develop and learn independently. It's like cloning ourselves, creating sentient beings with our memories, a bit similar to an artificial intelligence. And I can even design an exoskeleton that makes it feel so real, not even Eggman himself would suspect a thing. With this, we can live as long as we want. We could be storng. We might even match the power of chaos emeralds! We can win against Eggman once and for all. We bring peace upon the world. We could be together forever."

A warm smile played on Tails' lips as he added, "And so could our friends."

His words hung in the air, mingling with your thoughts. This astonishing revelation had dawned on Tails while they were working on Shard's new body, presenting endless possibilities and opportunities. It was an exhilarating proposition, changing their lives forever.

But you couldn't help but voice your reservations. "Well, from what I've heard from Shadow, immortality is no fun."

Your sigh lingered, and you looked earnestly at Tails. "We don't need any of that, Tails. What you've found is incredible, but what we have here is enough. We don't need anything else. Immortal or not, in the end, we'll defeat Eggman with all our friends and save the day. I agree with Amy to some degree about not to interfere with nature's affairs. And definetly not mix tech with living beings. That's kind of Eggman's thing." You hissed nervously.

A crestfallen expression crossed Tails' face as he muttered, "I.. I am not doing the same thing Eggman does! How long will this fight take between him and us then? It all just repeats itself over and over again."

"As long as it should take. I believe that everything happens for a reason." Moved by his uncertainty, you embraced him tightly, holding him close. "Please, Miles. Promise me that you'll no longer pursue this."

Tails returned the embrace, exhaling deeply. "Alright," he conceded, feeling a mix of disappointment and relief flooding over him.

After a long, tight hug, you parted from Tails with a deadpan look, your tone slightly teasing. "Now, take me back to the girls before they can tell everyone I'm dead." He chuckled lightly at that.

"Of course."

The shockwave burst out of the headquarters and rolled across the entire city, leaving pure darkness in its wake. The cacophony of chaos and confusion created the perfect distraction for you to escape Rusty Rose's clutches. As you kick her off, you crawl back into the comforting embrace of the shadows, grunting as pain shoots through your side. You glance down and notice the wound reopening, fresh red colors intertwining with your new clothes. Damn, you just changed. And Nine's nice clothes getting dirty too. It was yours now but whatever. It was good that your clohtes were dark and does not show much that you had bleed once again. You weren't question about his color choices but it was matching with his own. Even though the design was different the colors defiently matching. That made you wonder. Did he made it on purpose or instincly? Maybe there was a reason behind it. You shook your head to get your thought in order. No time to think such things right now. But hat definelty helped you to calm your racing heart.

As the darkness subsides, the city lights flicker back on, revealing a scene of havoc. The council members struggle on the floor, disoriented and dazed. The Eggforcer guards regain their bearings and regain control. Amidst the commotion, Mr. Doctor Eggman frantically touches his head, only to realize his toupee is missing.

"My toupee! My toupee!" he screams, panic evident in his voice, as he searches desperately for his beloved hairpiece.

From the shadows, you can't help but smirk at the absurdity of the situation. "Told you so..." you mutter under your breath, relishing in Eggman's misfortune.

After a few frantic moments, Eggman miraculously finds his toupee and hastily puts it back on his bald head. The tension in the air momentarily eases as everyone shifts their focus elsewhere. Meanwhile, Done-It, struggles to regain his composure and make his way back to his floating egg seat.

"Ah, so help me... I tell ya what, I..." Done-It stammers, his voice filled with frustration.

In the midst of the chaos, Don't, suddenly finds his mobile device and is met with a disappointing game over screen. He lets out a grunt of frustration.

"Ugh! I almost had a high score!" he exclaims, his irritation palpable.

Rusty, monotonuously typed lines of code. Her attention was drawn back to Sonic, muttering to himself incoherently. Sonic was abruptly jolted from his thoughts by the ring that had restrained his hands and feet suddenly came to life, swooping through the air and landing between two robotic arms. The arms firmly gripped the ring, rendering Sonic immobile once again.

The council finally able to get back to their seats and sat upon their floating chairs, observing the events unfolding front. Sonic strained against the bubble-like restraints that held him, feeling frustration seep into his bones. He knew he had to find a way out, but he was exhausted.

Sonic broke the silence with a puff of air as he spoke woozyly. "So, what do I get for passing the test?" he asked, a tired smirk playing on his lips. Exhaustion lingered in his voice, a testament to the challenges he had faced.

Done-It, a council member, couldn't hide his shock at Sonic's audacity. "Did this blue rat figure out a way to steal our power supply like the girl?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.

Rusty, overhearing their conversation, interjected, "Correction, Your Eminence. He did not draw on the city's power, but-"

"He brought his own," Nine, interrupted, his eyes lit up with realization.

The council erupted in confusion and disbelief. "What?! What do you mean 'he brought his own'?" Deep, questioned with a furrowed brow. "How does this hedgehog walk in here with the same power supply as our battery?" Done-It fell asleep for a second before quickly waking up. Sonic chuckles, looking like he's drunk on exhaustion while you glare at the council, a guard forcefully dragging you next to Nine.

You and Nine glance at each other only for a second before they put some kind of cuffs on you, covering the entirety of your hands and wrists. Must be a stronger power restraint you guessed with a scoff.

"Incredible! Our crystal plus his energy charge would give us enough power to finally stamp out the resistance and put an end to those pesky rebels forever!" Mr. Doctor Eggman spoke, smirking.

You frown with that. You guys never get enough, do you? Nothing is going to satisfy them. They've already taken over the world, what else do they want?!

Babble starts babbling something before giggling, the council looking to the youngest, absolutely mortified.

"Uh, really? Don't you think that's a little excessive?" Mr. Doctor Eggman spoke, unsure.

Babble slams his fist on the table fiercely. "You heard the baby. Energy extractor." Mr. Doctor Eggman claps his hands.

Above, steam gushed from a large hole, engulfing the scene in a cloud of mystery and confusion. You and Sonic, both dumbfounded, glanced at it with pure bewilderment as Nine's eyes widened in alarm. The council grinned sinisterly. Rusty, also directed her attention towards the enigmatic hole.

Suddenly, a metallic machine emerged from the depths of the hole. It was unlike anything you had ever seen before, its mechanical form sending shivers down your spine. The contraption extended two long arms, each equipped with a menacing spike, and a nozzle protruding from its center. It ominously loomed closer to Sonic.

"Anyone else having bad dentist flashbacks?" Sonic quipped, trying to lighten the tense situation.

However, Done-It, wasted no time in issuing orders. "Cut out the prismatic energy he's got inside that prickly hide of his!" he commanded, his tone filled with determination.

An idea suddenly struck Sonic, and he seized the opportunity to speak his mind. "Wait! Can a hedgehog say his last words?" he asked, his voice filled with plea.

The council members exchanged puzzled glances before finally granting Sonic his request, albeit with a condition. "Fine! But be brief!" Done-It conceded.

Sonic took a deep breath, his thoughts racing as he tried to think of something to say. However, before he could utter a single word, he was interrupted by an impatient voice. "Hey, hedgehog! Get on with it!" one of the council members snapped, clearly growing weary of the impending doom that hung in the air.

Unfazed by the interruption, Sonic regained his composure. "Right! I just wanna say that this life of mine has been a wild ride," he began, his words resonating with a sense of nostalgia and gratitude.

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Sonic's sentiment. As one of his closest companions, you had witnessed his countless adventures and fought by his side through thick and thin. Sonic's words struck a chord within you, reminding you of the extraordinary life you had shared.

Nine winks at Sonic, who winks back twice.

"Who would've imagined the places I'd go or the chili dogs I'd eat when I got there."

Mr. Doctor Eggman smacks Don-It when he falls asleep again. "Uh, I'm here. I'm... I'm listen-ing."

"But at the end of the day. It's not about the ups or the downs or the zigs or the zags. It's about the friends we made along the way." He glanced at us, and you and Nine felt weird vibes from his speech. He looks dazed and confused after that, "Huh? Uh..."

He winks at Nine again.

"Enough with the winking already!" Mr. Doctor Eggman snapped.

"I'm almost done, I'm almost done. Where was I? Uh...uh... um..." Is he doing this on purpose?

Mr. Doctor Eggman speaks, sounding blasé and irritated, "Oh, boy..."

"Ah, friends! Right! Alright, let's see, um... Froggy and Big. Ah, always there when I needed a pick-me-up. Rouge!" He continues going back to the topic at hand.

Nine looks puzzled by his talking.

"Oh, Rouge with her... with her heart of gold hidden beneath her wings. And, uh, and Knuckles with his..." he pauses, nothing comes to mind, "knuckles! And, of course, how can I forget Y/n? My star that lights my way in my dark days." He whinked towards you, somehow you felt this meant more differently then the ones he did towards Nine, leaving you more confuse. "I would also like to thank Amy..." He glance at Rusty.

"Thanking? Does he think he's winning an award?" Deep questions mockingly.

Babbles screams of anger and impatience waking up Done-It in an instant.

Mr. Doctor Eggman with a wicked grin on his face spoke up. "Babbles is right. It's almost dinner time," he exclaimed, his voice dripping with malice. "Finish him! And then after dinner, we'll talk about what we can do with the girl!" He grinned towards you which you return it with a glare. His words sent a shiver down to your spine, as you realized the danger Sonic was in.

Sonic, let out a whine of protest and exchanged a glance with Nine. "Hey, Sir Winks-A-Lot. There is a plan, right? Right?" Sonic whispered, desperately seeking reassurance. However, Nine pretending to have a simple irritant in his eye. "Nope, sorry. Just dust in my eye," Nine replied, rubbing his eye for added effect.

The sudden shift in his behavior left you and Sonic puzzled. You and Nine exchanged a look, both glaring thought the other's very being. "What are you doing?" You hissed. "I don't know what you mean." He huffed back causing you to roll your eyes. "Sure."

Sonic, swallowing nervously, let his gaze linger on the menacing machine that was drawing closer. "Looks like this is game over," he muttered dully, a sense of defeat laced in his voice.

As if in response to Sonic's resignation, the extractor began to spin and emanate a vibrant red glow. Mr. Doctor Eggman eagerly drummed his fingers together, relishing the approaching victory. Rusty stared at the scene. You and Nine watched with a mix of emotions, unable to tear your eyes away from the impending doom.

In that moment, as the extractor powers surged, you caught a fleeting glimpse of regret in Nine's sky blue eyes. His heart ached with the desire to do something, to help Sonic, and you knew it. But it was too late now. Sonic blew a futile breath upon the extractor, hoping against all odds that it would buy him more time. But like everyone else, he knew it wouldn't stop what it was going to do to him. He then turned towards you and Nine. "See ya, guys," he spoke hopelessly, accepting his fate.

You shook your head, was his end really going to be like this? Just like that? All those years of fighting against Eggman and this was how he will be taking down? He didn't deserve to die like this. It was at this point that you stepped forward, ready to cry out to Sonic at any given second. The intense emotions swelling within you threatened to spill over. Your heart pounded in your chest, fueled by fear. Just as a tear was about to escape your eye, something - or someone - knocked the extractor away. Rouge swooped in from out of nowhere and effortlessly did her thing, floating above everyone's heads. The Chaos Council gasped in disbelief as you grinned happily and sighed in relief.

Sonic looked around, a wide smile spreading across his face in relief. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. "I'm alive! I'm alive!" he chuckled, unable to contain his joy.

"GET HER!!" The Chaos Council shouted in unison, their anger boiling over. Two Eggforcers flew after Rouge, ready to eliminate any threats in their paths. One of them fired a laser at her, narrowly missing.

Nine, seeing the distraction caused by Rouge's intervention, took the opportunity to sneak away from the chaos. He knew that time was of the essence, and he had to find a way to prevent the Chaos Council from continuing their plans. You watched everything happen before your own eyes, helpless with your cuffs.

A sense of déjà vu washed over you as you remembered being in a similar situation before. However, this time, the stakes were higher, and your freedom seemed even more elusive. You quickly slid away similar with Nine but towards an opposite side, using the commotion to your advantage and avoiding any unnecessary interactions with the chaos around you. Your mind raced, searching for a way to help Sonic and put an end to this madness.

Suddenly, Knuckles crashed into the lab, dishing out punches left and right. This distraction gave you a momentary respite, and you focused on trying to free yourself from the cuffs. Your hands strained against the restraints, grunting with exertion. In your desperate attempt to escape, you found yourself dodging the approaching bots, vulnerable and defenseless.

But why, you wondered, could you not summon your gloves to protect yourself when you needed them the most? It occurred to you that you must have pushed them to their limit, exhausting their power. It seemed almost poetic that they couldn't save you in this moment. As you struggled, your side ached more, a reminder of the perilousness of your situation and that you must be more carifull or it will bleed more. Your helplessness hit you like a brick.

"So, we done stealthing?" Knuckles asked, his voice tinged with a hint of excitement. Rouge landed gracefully beside him, her fists clenched firmly.

"One hundred percent," she replied confidently.

In the dimly lit chamber, the extractor stood tall, shooting a menacing laser beam from its ring arm. They knew they had to act quickly. Rusty emerged from the shadows, blocking Rouge and Knuckles' path to the captive Sonic. With a powerful slam, she sent them crashing into the cold wall.

"What's going on? I can't see," cried out Sonic, his voice filled with desperation.

Rouge and Knuckles gathered their strength and with a mighty effort, pushed Rusty back, causing her to stumble and move the extractor.

"Wait, wait..." Sonic's warning fell on deaf ears as the laser from the extractor cut into the metal arm that holds the ring. Desperately, he continued, "Wait!"

The arm was damaged beyond repair, and with a resounding explosion, the ring released its grip, sending Sonic rolling away, still captive but now screaming in terror.

"Filthy rebels. Destroy them!" Mr. Doctor Eggman's furious voice echoed through the chamber.

Bots flew towards Rouge and Knuckles, their metallic bodies gleaming in the dim light. With precise punches, they deflected the bots with ease. You nervously slip away into the shadows while struggling with the cuffs that bound you.

The council flinched and moved away as falling bots crashed around them, their unease palpable. Meanwhile, Mr. Doctor Eggman watched ferociously, his rage unable to be contained.

Rouge threw another bot against the wall, the resounding impact echoing through the laboratory. Her movements were fluid, each strike a testament to her skill and determination. The room quickly transformed into a battlefield, with sparks flying and metallic clashing filling the air.

Observing the chaos, Rusty turned away, his expression emotionless but firm. "Eggforcers, secure all targets!" she commanded. In response, three Eggforcers emerged from beneath the floor, their metallic bodies rising into the air with a mechanical grace, heading towards their assigned objectives.

Unperturbed by the imminent danger, Knuckles, intercepted the advancing Eggforcers, his fists blazing with unmatched strength. He delivered powerful punches that rendered the machines