Not All Here

S91 visits the surface

Tails has a visitor

We’re trying some things with this one, folks.

S91 stood behind two rows of S Models. At the front, Sage was reviewing the objectives of the decent operation. An annoying pressure was building at the joint of S91’s spine and tail. A niggling, creeping need to move. He grit his teeth, applying all of his willpower to stay still and presentable. He could stand at attention just as long as the other S Models. He could!

Oh wait, no, he couldn’t. His foot began to tap a rapid beat on the metal floor. Shit, crap! The motion did not fully relieve him of the annoying feeling. No, it just traveled down into his legs and grew into a thurm to run!

“Ninety-one, are you paying attention?” His attention snapped up. Sage stared at him with a disappointed frown while all ten of his brothers had twisted to consider him with vacant, unreadable gazes.

“Yes! Yes, totally paying attention. Got every word!” He smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. Stupid leg, quit it! This was really going long though. When would they get to the surface already? No, he had to be patient and focus like his brothers. They never got distracted. Had to prove he was exactly up to spec, just like them.

Sage’s projection flickered and she continued speaking. His brothers returned their attention to her, but S06’s gaze lingered. 91 arched a brow at the guy, and the S Model turned back to Sage.

“To reiterate, this is purely a reconnaissance mission. Engagement with the enemy is permitted only as a last resort. Six will be the designated leader.” S06 stepped forward and faced the squad. He locked gaze with S91 again and a shiver shot up his spine, impacting the base of his skull and crackling along his scalp. Huh, that’s weird. S91 gulped and averted his gaze.

Sage put her hand over her heart. “For the Glory of Mankind.” His brothers, as one, placed their right hands over their cores.

S91 rushed to repeat the gesture. “For the Glory of Mankind.” He repeated before becoming immediately, terminally self-conscious as his brothers remained characteristically silent.

“As for you, Ninety-one.” Sage floated closer to him. “Under no circumstances are you to engage with the enemy or anything else you may encounter.” 91’s ears drooped. How could he demonstrate that he could handle combat? “You are also prohibited from leaving the operational area. Should you encounter hostiles, you are to return to the extraction point immediately. Do you understand?”

S91 looked at the floor. “Yes, I understand.”

“Following orders is a demonstration of capabilities, Ninety-one. Especially when you may disagree with them.” Sage lectured. She meant well, he knew…but it still stung.

“I know…”

She continued to twist the knife. “You are still unstable, Ninety-one. These restrictions are in place to protect you. If you should begin desynchronizing on the surface, the risk of decomposition will be much higher than within the confines of this forward base.”

“I know…” Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted M93 entering the bay. Ugh, that guy. At least he hadn’t been present to hear how toothless S91’s orders were.

“Please do not let your over-eagerness-“ A metal fist collided with S91’s jaw and he flew across the bay, bouncing against the floor once before sliding to a stop. Not great.

S91 groaned and rubbed his jaw. “What the hell‽” He looked back, beholding M93 glaring at him with menacing red eyes as Sage chewed him out, gesticulating her arms wildly. S91 jumped to his feet, his fangs baring. “I didn’t even do anything this time!”

91 let out a yelp as M93 ignited his thrusters and launched at him. He dodged a grab by ducking and then brought his foot up in a sturdy kick to where M93’s hip and torso joined. M93 tented over his foot but turned the upward momentum into a flip. The mechanized infantry sprung off his hands and landed solidly. By then 91 had placed ten feet between them.

“What’s your deal‽” S91 snarled. This guy, I swear!

Absently, S91 could hear Sage further condemning M93. She appeared between and tried to block 93’s view of 91. As a hologram, she couldn’t really interfere with any substance, though.

In a flash, M93 had crossed the distance and 91 barely dodged. His heckles rose and he felt a surge go through his quills. This bucket of bolts really had it out for him. He was probably jealous that S91 was getting to go to the surface, poor guy. 91 broke into a run and 93 stayed on his heels as he cut a loop around the bay. His brother’s watched the proceedings with indifference.

S91 spun suddenly, aiming a kick at M93’s head, but the robot dipped and landed a punch into 91’s belly, launching him with enough velocity that he cleared the space and slammed into the far wall. Pain rippled through him as his body peeled off the wall and he flopped to the metal ground. “Yeah, that hurt…” He said through girt teeth.

If he was faster, this wouldn’t be a problem. He just wasn’t going fast enough. Why was he pulling punches?

Wiping away the fluid leaking from his mouth, S91 pushed to his feet. M93 slammed into him, sharp claws around his neck, pinning him to the wall. 91 stared defiantly into his opponents glowing red eyes. “What’s the matter?” He asked through a restricted oxygen intake conduit. “Jealous Sage likes me more than you?”

The red eyes flickered, taking on an even more hatful intensity. The claw gripped tighter and M93 wound his free hand back, clenched into a fist and ready to liberate more of S91’s fluids through his face.

A peach-colored hand gripped M93’s raised forearm. S06 held so tightly the metal casing buckled. M93’s face snapped around and glared at into the emotionless yellow eyes of the interloper. The pressure on 91’s throat did not lessen, and a bit of panic might have started to creep into his central processor. Just a little. Not a lot. A comfortable amount of panic. Yeah, that sounds right. Comfy panic.

Sage appeared above them. “Enough!” She snapped, showing uncharacteristic emotion. “This is highly inappropriate, Ninety-three! Release Ninety-one at once!” Okay, visual input is starting to be compromised. Totally fine. Not anything to be worried about. T-that’s normal.

Still M93 did not back down. S06’s hand began to look fuzzy as it started to vibrate ultrasonically. The metal in his fist softened under the friction and S06’s grip snapped M93’s forearm in two like a twig. The grip around S91’s throat loosened.

Before the amputated limb hit the ground, S06 punched M93 so hard in the face that he pierced through the opposite wall with a scream of metal tearing. Air rushed in and the outside could be seen through the hole. Welp, won’t be seeing him for a while.

Oh, shit that was the bulkhead. S91 was in awe as he gasped and sputtered, needed oxygen returning to his internal components. He felt at his throat and his hand came back bright red, covered in mixed coolant and lubricating oil.

“Ninety-one,” Sage’s tone had returned her normal calm. “You are to report to the maintenance bay.”

“No!” He croaked. Shakily, he pushed to his feet and leaned on the wall. “I’m fine! I can still go to surface.”

S06 considered him with a blank expression, hand on his hip, seemingly unmoved by what he’d just done. What a cool guy…

“Please, Sage! I promise I’m fine. It’s just a scratch. Barely broke through my outer membrane.”

She considered him with cold eyes. “Is your stabilizer undamaged?”

S91 looked down at the device that ran across his chest. He’d taken some hard hits, but not to his chest, thank goodness. A few slams into walls for sure, but the tech was somewhat durable. “All systems nominal.” S91 looked up eagerly.

Sage’s brow knitted and she flickered every few seconds. She looked over at the hole M93 had poked in the side of the ship and then she seemed to come to a conclusion. “Very well.”

“Thank you so much! You won’t regret it, I promise!” He turned to S06, “Thanks for the save by the way! Pretty wicked, by the way, what you did to Ninety-three. That guy is a primo jerk, am I right? You’ve got to show me how to do that some time!” S06 looked at him passively, his yellow eyes unblinking, his face a flat mask, and gave no response.

oOo

A blast of hot, dry wind rushed in as the back hatch of the dropship lowered. The squad of S Models curled into balls and peeled out in a brilliant line of blue, S06 in front. S91 emerged, shading his optical sensors with his hands against the blinding sunlight.

Sandy, pale dunes spread in every direction as far as he could perceive. SO MUCH SPACE! He’d seen video but nothing could have prepared him for this. A gust blew by, covering him with a dusting of sand, and taunted him as if to say, playfully, ‘are you ready?’. And how!

His legs began to register impulses. He needed to move. Just a quick run, right now, be back so quick, Sage wouldn’t even notice he’s gone its right there he could just be rightbackandreallyfastwhyhejustgogogogogogogoGO! He took a step forward-

And Sage appeared right in his face and S91 jumped back. “Patience Ninety-one.” Damn, he hated that word.

91’s gaze looked past the projection at the rolling dunes. Some of them towered above the others. He could probably catch sick air cresting one of those bad boys. Sage moved into his line of sight again. “Okay, yeah. Totally.” His foot was tapping again.

Sage gestured and two small spherical drones joined the one that was projecting her visage. “These will be your indicators for both speed and proximity. Green is acceptable. Yellow represents you approaching your allowable limits. Red indicates you have exceeded your bounds and must report back here immediately or face repercussions.”

S91 nodded enthusiastically, “Green is go. Got it.” He crouched, ready to launch, but she got in his face a g a i n…

“Ninety-one, I need you to take this seriously. We are in a low stakes environment, but there are still countless risk factors at play. If you exceed your limits, you will desynchronize and, this far from base, you will likely decompose and then disassemble.” He might not though! She was such a worrywart.

Straightening, S91 rotated his shoulders to further free up his joints. “I’ve got this, Sage.” He flicked a thumb over his nose and smiled. “You can trust me!” His foot was tapping so quickly he was starting to sink into the sand.

She considered him silently for a beat. Then she gestured at the drones once more, both lit up green. “The one to your left is for your speed. The one on your right indicates your distance from the extraction point. If you want to maximize your run distance, I suggest you head in a straight line away from the transport. Once the drone turns yellow, backtrack until it is green. From that point you can run the circumference of the allowable perimeter.” She floated to the side.

“ThanksforthetipSagebye!” He took off.

Something crackled in his core as he shot like an arrow through the sand. Feet pounded over sand, nearly faster than could be perceived. A storm blew up in his wake. He caught up with that teasing gust and showed it what speed really was. The drones tried their best to keep up, but he was the fastest thing alive!

ERROR

S91 gasped as all his systems fritzed at once and he stumbled. He planted face first into the hot sand and slid pretty far as the earth ate his momentum. The drones caught up with him, yellow fading to green and green. 91 picked himself up and brushed fine sand from his synthetic fur. How embarrassing. “No one saw that, right?” He asked the drones, who remained silent. He didn’t care for this sand eating habit he seemed to be developing.

“Right, let’s try that again.” He crouched into the launch position, one foot planted far behind the other and fingertips pressing into the soft sand. All systems go! With a sharp crack, he was on the move again. The desert smeared in his vision as he accelerated. The pain receptors in his legs began to fire, lecturing him on his limitations. They were just warnings though, which meant everything was still fine and he could go faster. Yeah, flawless logic right there.

His oxygen intake wasn’t fast enough, and his synthetic muscles began anaerobic respiration. S91 was slowing down. This wasn’t right. Something about this wasn’t correct…but he couldn’t put his finger on it. As he slowed down, his noticed a rapid pounding in his head, as if every thurm of his core was threatening to blow out his fluid channels.

The drones caught up with him, the speed one blinking red that faded into yellow. “Yeah, yeah, I got that.” 91 was still moving, but the pace felt…slow. Like he should be able to go faster. No, he could! He knew he could. The stupid drones could even keep up with him at this pace. The distance one turned yellow and he cut a sharp right.

Okay, let’s think about this rationally. If he went faster, he’d tear his body up. But first there would be a lot of pain. That’s what the pain simulators were for right? To let him know when he was about to decompose himself. And that means there was a range of speed that would hurt like a mother, but not be enough to leave a mile long strip of desert strewn with his parts and fluids. And that was the speed he needed to go. Great plan! No notes, let’s do this!

The pain began almost immediately as he sped up again. And he did what he always did, lean into it. He clenched his teeth against the growing headache. His regulator was cutting into the flesh of his chest as his core threatened to break free. Fast, but not too fast. What? No way, fast as possible!

A spark ran through him and the pain ebbed. It was as if his body had been desperately yearning for something and finally got a little taste. The world seemed to gain a new clarity. These dunes felt…familiar?

That was impossible because he’d never been here or anywhere on the surface before. And also, not important. What was important was that he could go faster now!

Sparks continued to tingle through him pleasantly. Maybe this was what all the other S Models felt? Maybe this was him finally overcoming the defects he had been manufactured with? A wide grin spread across his face and he accelerated.

As he dashed up a massive dune, he caught something dark out of the corner of his eye. Ha! He’d show that faker who’s the fastest! S91 launched over the crest and shot into the air. Yeah, wicked air. He twirled, shit-eating grin sharp as ever, to gloat at-

No one was there.

He was alone. Duh, idiot.

S91 blinked as he started to fall back down. But wasn’t there- He’d thought- S91 hit a wall in his mind. He needed to see what was on the other side. A sharp pain stabbed through his head and he cringed. Something’s missing. The drones caught up with him. Blinking red and green. He landed and slid down the other side of the dune. He felt so sad and disappointed. The speed drone stopped blinking, then faded to yellow, then green, as he came to a stop at the bottom.

The pain eased back. What was that? Probably getting too much sun, overheating his circuitry, overtaxing his coolant system. He was perspiring liquids and his quills puffed to try to vent some of the excess thermal energy. He ran a hand over his regulator. It stuck uncomfortably to him in the dry heat and he could feel the drumming of his core underneath it. The sparks had faded. His blue eyes drug over the horizon.

So much space! So much room! Nothing like the cramped corridors and chambers of the Forward Base. Room to breathe, room to run, room to live! This world was more amazing and beautiful than anything he could have imagined. No wonder the humans would do anything to win it back.

Once he defeated the Shadelord and became the Real Sonic, he and ░▒▓██▓▒░ could run all over these dunes, jumping and flipping through the air as if they had no worries. And they wouldn’t have any because the War would be over and everyone would be happy forever after.

S91 frowned. What were his odds when super strong models like 6 were out there? No! He couldn’t think like that. He lowered into a starting lunge. Sage believed in him. He would never give up!

Blasting forward, he immediately outran the drones. Something invigorating rippled through him, urging him forward. The sparks were back! He didn’t have a clue what the sparks were but he knew that they let him go faster. And then faster than that! And then faster than that!

S91 continued around the perimeter of his invisible fence. He settled into a speed that balanced the pain against the ripples coursing through him. It was pleasant to stretch his legs for so long. Relaxing even. He didn’t know what everyone was worried about. He just needed to go for a run and he’d be all better. T---- was worrying too much.

S91 grimaced. What was that? Wisps of thoughts paired with flashes of memory of…well they weren’t humans. Animal people? Kinda like what he was modeled after. A piercing pain slashed over the spongy processors in his cranium and he began to error out again. No! This time he fought it. With the sparks help he could barrel through the pain. He lived for pain and danger and excitement and-

His friends!

S91 gasped. Thoughts and memories crowded to the forefront of his consciousness, all demanding his immediate attention. A cacophony of colors and sounds and feelings, all trying to combat the terrible urge to-

ERROR

No!

S91 stumbled, but curled into a ball and kept going. He knew he wasn’t supposed to, knew Sage would be very, very, very cross with him, but he needed to keep going. If he slowed, he’d lose the sparks (that go go go go!) and then he’d never know what- what-

What was happening to him?

Oh….He knew.

He was desynchronizing.

Yeah, Sage said this would happen didn’t she…He was in for a lecture, that was for sure. A stern talking to…

S91 slowed and uncurled. The sparks faded and pain wrecked him. He bent double, nearly pressing his head into the sand as he tried to endure the ax that was clearly trying to crack his skull open like a coconut.

Finally, he straightened and wiped the perspirant from his brow with the back of his hand. Those hallucinations…if he told Sage about them, she’d make him go through calibration again and he really, really, really hated going into that tube. Just the thought of the flux fluid entering his lungs made his quills tense. He knew it was important for the maintenance of his internal systems…but he just couldn’t understand why his pain receptors had to be turned on for the procedure.

That’s why he hadn’t told her about the blue thread.

Speaking of which- Oh, shit, there it was! The thin gossamer strand, shimmering an iridescent blue in the bright sunlight, meandering from his chest out his side, out of the acceptable area. His eyes followed it into the distance and beheld, shimmering in the desert heat, a large triangular structure right along the horizon.

A rush of familiarity knifed through him. Which was weird because tHaT dIdN’t LoOk LiKe AnYtHiNg To HiM. S91 gasped and began to pant. Shit, it was still happening. Even though he’d stopped, he was still desyncing.

He…he should go back. That was the responsible thing to do. He faced towards where he thought the transport had landed. The thread swayed into his sight, caught in a gentle breeze, twisting and flowing almost playfully. What was on the other end?

It flowed through the air, tantalizing. S91 reached out and grasped it and a blue flash ran along its length. Suddenly it was thicker and stronger. He followed it, turning his back on the extraction point. It ran into the distance towards a- Pain! There was something there, but he couldn’t-

S91 tightened his grip on the thread and the painful fog seemed to lift. It’s a pyramid! And the top opens and a space shuttle flies out. He didn’t know why he knew that. Was it a desync hallucination? Was the pyramid just a mirage?

Well, there was only one way to be certain.

He kicked up a sandstorm in his wake as he dashed out of the permitted zone. Both drones blared red before they ate his dust. With a firm hand on the ethereal thread and the sparks coursing through him, it was like someone was taking a sledgehammer to the wall in his mind. It chipped and shook. Jagged parts fell away and he could almost see what was on the other side.

S91 reached the pyramid in no time. He’d been here with his f------! He’d fought E-----! They’d stolen a shuttle to go to the A--! He’d saved the w---- with ░▒▓██▓▒░ !

Running up the pyramid, 91 launched off, twisting to get a view of the surroundings. The place was deserted and pretty trashed. And that was…new?

He slid down the other side and came to a halt in a long courtyard lined with obelisks. The corpses of mechanized infantry models that he didn’t recognize littered the courtyard and the stone was blackened in many places. Something pretty awesome went down here, that’s for sure.

He jogged in place as he looked around. If he stopped moving he’d start forgetting again.

Why’d the thread bring him here-? A flash of green! The thread bent and coiled forming a shape, an outline of something, and the brilliant azure shifted to a bright green. The outline moved slowly forward and then disappeared, the thread dissolving back into azure. S91 looked around frantically. The blue thread was everywhere, looping around and around, filling the courtyard.

Green! He saw the outline moving rapidly all over the courtyard and he followed it. What was it? The shape was about the size of him and- Yes, it was a person! The face, the arms and legs, all loosely defined like cardboard cut-out or shadow puppet. What would happen if he touched it?

Before he got the chance, his ears perked at the roar of an approaching engine. A large armored mech appeared, its thrusters blasting the courtyard, dispelling the thread. A loudspeaker blared, “XHXS XX X RXSXXCXTXX XRXA!” It was a squat cylinder shape and armed to the teeth with artillery. On side the GUN Shade insignia displayed prominently.

Oh, shit, shades!

“WaXt, iX XhXT SXXXX XXX HXXXXXXX?” The speaker blared that noisome shadespeak like he could understand it.

S91 could outrun it, there was no doubt, but it might be able to track him back to the extraction point. If their ride got toasted, the whole squad would be sitting ducks. He had to neutralize it here and book it. Okay, ball up, blast through it, get the heck out. Good plan, let’s GO.

S91 curled into a tight ball and revved up to a high rpm with a screeching vreeeeeee! He shot forward, shooting straight up one of the obelisks to get level with the mech before blasting towards it. He tensed his quills and prepared for impact. The sparks were with him once more, telling he could do it. He could do anything.

With a scream of steel on superheated quills, S91 ploughed into the floating mech as the loudspeaker blared confused, panicked noises. He pushed with all his might, but he was slowing down, losing momentum. Why wasn’t he cutting through it? The mech shifted in the air and S91 fell off.

Uncurling, he flipped and landed on his feet. Breathing heavily, S91 looked up and frowned. He’d barely scratched it! That…that wasn’t right. He should have tore through that hull like it was cotton candy!

He wasn’t all here. Something is missing.

The mech’s guns were turning on him now and he bolted to avoid a spray of gunfire. A volley of missiles took flight and pursued him as he weaved through the obelisks in the courtyard and then out into the open desert. S91 dug in his heels, kicking up a cloud of sand particles before doubling back and taking a flying leap over the explosives. On his way over, he kicked one into another and the resulting explosion caught the rest.

He was about to curl again, when gunfire tore spouts into the sand, making him retreat on foot. The mech was right on top of him, its thrusters singing his fur. Crap, crap, crap!

Suddenly a flash of blue arched over the sands and shot up and straight through the mech. S91 leapt out of the way as the whole thing fell and erupted into a gout of flames, knocking 91 to the ground. He crawled backward away from the destruction. Through the smoke he saw a figure climb on top of the wreckage. S91’s breath caught. It was S06!

S91 flinched when something red flew in his face. His two drones buzzed around him, eager to display their displeasure. Above him a third drone hovered. Sage’s image appeared and she stared down at him with stony red eyes. S91 cowered back.

Sage narrowed her eyes at him, silently demanding his stillness, and then turned. “No witnesses.” She declared, swiping her hand to the side.

Six punched through the cockpit of the mech and tore the hatch open. He reached down and when he straightened, he held a shade by the neck with one hand, its feet dangling and hands tearing at Six’s forearm. It was one of the tall varieties. Six raised his free hand and it began to vibrate ultrasonically, ready to slice the head off the shade with a swift swipe.

“No!” S91 screamed, “We don’t-“ His voice died as a sharp pain ripped through his head. Why’d he say that? Its just a shade. Shades didn’t deserve to live…right?

Six stilled. His yellow eyes, piercing through the smoke and flames, turned to find S91’s. 91 shook his head. “Don’t…” He whispered. Six dropped the shade and it fell back into the cockpit.

“Six!” Sage snapped. “I gave you a direct or-“ She froze and turned to look out over the sand. “Now of all times.” Her voice flattened. “Six, Ninety-one. You are to immediately return to the extraction point.”

S91 didn’t register the order because his gaze was fixed on his thread, glowing brightly now, and pulled taunt, leading him in the direction Sage had looked. He needed to follow it. Had to follow it. Whatever was on the other side, he needed that. Would die to have it would die without it-

“Ninety-one, are you listening?” Sage appeared in his face and he blanched.

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure.” He pushed to his feet. He could almost feel the pull of the thread. As his gaze turned to follow it once more, he froze.

Six stood on the mech and stared intently in the same direction, a bright blue thread leading out of his chest as well.

That doesn’t look like anything to me. No.

That doesn’t look like anything to me. You’re wrong.

That doesn’t look like anything to me. You can’t fool me anymore.

“Six.” S91 said it quietly, but his brother turned to face him, his yellow eyes, normally so impassive, showing a strained trepidation. “We’re all here now.” S91 whispered.

“That is a shame.” Sage said and before S91 could even process the statement, his stabilizer flared to life with a high-pitched whine.

Prelate Scout Unit Number 91 deactivated.

---

Tails gripped at one of his tails through his clean room suit. His eyes ached but he couldn’t rub them through his goggles. He shivered even though the enclosed room was stiflingly hot with all the excess heat from the processors. All these factors contributed to an increase in difficulty to type at the rate he needed.

“You should eat, Tails. You entered autophagy fifteen hours ago and I am detecting signs of dehydration.”

“Stop scanning me.” He hissed. Tails was so close. He almost had the solution! All the lost sleep, all the missed meals, all the everything would be worth it. So close…

But what if it wasn’t enough? What if Sage was too ingrained already? What if she knew what he was doing? He thought back to her text*. I hope whatever you are constructing below your workshop can stop me.*

Who was he kidding? She knew, she had to know. Her entreatments, ALL TRICKS! Ploys to gain his trust. If he had been a fool, had been tricked, had been trusting, she’d have entrapped him. In some way he’d been working to hurt his friends, he knew. But he hadn’t trusted, hadn’t listened to her! He was free and he would WIN!

But he had trusted once when he took her schematics. They’d found Sonic. No! That didn’t matter. When she didn’t get what she wanted she snapped him back up. Further, Tails hadn’t trusted her! He’d just been so desperate he’d have accepted any consequences…

Consequences…He’d acted regardless of the consequences, just like Eggman.

Sage knew everything! Everything any one of them did, (Chaos!) or even thought! She was probably watching him right now through some sort of way he hadn’t thought of. Oh Gaia, she probably already had nanites! They were in his blood right now**-**

“MECHANIC, YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUIRED OUTSIDE OF YOUR DEPRESSION!” The booming mechanical voice reverberated down the shaft from his workshop proper.

Musical laughter filled the space. “I like him. He’s funny.”

“I’m busy!” Tails shouted. “Leave me alone, Omega! I don’t have time to upgrade you further!”

His monitors flickered, purple-colored fractals spiraling into infinity. “And clever, too. A depression being an indentation into the earth and also you’re-“

“Nicole, if you’re not going to help me, can you at least be quiet?” Tails grit his teeth to keep them from chattering. Why was everyone so bent on distracting him? Didn’t they know what was at stake? Were they too stupid to see? Why can’t they just listen? This would be so much easier if they’d-

“Tails?”

The clear, sweet voice pierced through the darkness of his thoughts and Tails jumped. His keyboard fell out of his lap and clattered against the floor, a blank key shooting out and under one of the fabricators. “Oh, a visitor.” Nicole’s voice lilted through the analogue speakers.

“C-cream?” Tails dashed to the airlock. Through the glass he could see her leaning into the shaft and looking about concerned.

The rabbit spotted him and gave him a concerned smile. “Can I come down there?”

“No!” Tails shouted.

“O-okay.” Her face retreated.

His stomach clenched painfully. “Wait, Cream! I’m coming up to you. Just wait a minute!”

“You need to be careful with your heart rate so high and your blood pressure so low.”

“Stop scanning me!” Tails snarled and jabbed an accusatory finger at his bank of monitors flickering with geometric swaths of purple. With a huff, he closed the doors to the airlock and began to peel off his stinking suit.

Tails about fainted climbing the ladder to his main lab. Damn it, Nicole was right, he should eat something. He struggled to clear the last rungs of the ladder. Hands gently gripped his forearm and helped him stand. “Cream, you’re really here.” He looked into her cinnamon-brown eyes and his light headedness faded as his cheeks blushed.

“Tails…” Cream’s eyes searched his face and then down over his matted pelt. “Oh, Tails.” Her voice was small and soft. His heart shriveled. What did he have to do to never have her speak so sadly ever again? He could do it, whatever it was. “Your beautiful tails.” He followed her gaze to his neglected limbs.

Tails pulled away and tucked his tails behind him. He’d- He’d not been taking care of himself, that was true. But there was good reason! Still the shame threatened to drown him. He looked at the floor. “Why are you here?” His voice was hoarse, long dried from the conditions of the clean room and just standard issue dehydration.

“Miss Amy gave me a package to deliver to you, but that’s not important, right now.” She shook her head, her long ears flopping side to side adorably. “Please tell me what’s happened to you!” Cream stepped forward and reached out to him, but he retreated further.

Of course she couldn’t see that his health didn’t matter. “I’ve just been busy, is all. You know there’s a war on right?”

“THE MECHANIC REFUSES TO UNDERGO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. IT HAS BEEN THIRTY-FIVE HOURS SINCE HE LAST EMERGED FROM THE HOLE. HE IS RUSTING AND UNFIT FOR SERVICE.”

Tails ear pinned back aggressively. “Shut up, Omega!” Why was the stupid robot even still here? Wasn’t there a genocide he wished to commit? Patricide at the very least?

“Of course I know, Tails. That’s why I’m running deliveries non-stop for the Resistance.” She motioned to her messenger bag lying on the floor. “I haven’t hardly seen my mother because she’s taken so many shifts at the field hospital.” Cream continued to approach him and soon Tails’ back was pressed against a work bench. “But we still find time to take care of ourselves. Please, Tails, listen to me. You’re shaking like a leaf.”

Tails trembled against the bench as her soft, warm arms wrapped around him and pulled him into a gentle hug. His ears drooped as he felt her gloves ghost over his protruding ribs. He blinked, his eyes burning, but he had no moisture to spare. I can’t- No time- doesn’t she understand?

Slumping, Tails pressed his face into Cream’s shoulder, and he released a gasping sob. His trembling increased into near convulsions. “It’s going to be okay.” Cream murmured, holding him tighter. “Why don’t we take a sit?”

Cream led him to the worn couch and gently pushed him down. He did not resist. The old cushions smelled of machine oil and metal dust, just like it did the night he last saw Sonic. It seemed stupid now, how angry Tails had been. Sonic was all apologies, but in that way where he didn’t really know what he was apologizing for, as if ‘sorry’ was a magic word that would put all the burned bridges miraculously back together. Tails had slept on this couch that night, the mattress in his room in ruins. Sonic was gone already by the time he woke the next morning.

That idiot! Tails hiccupped. How could he keep doing this to everyone? To me? I hate-!

Hands cupped his face and lifted his gaze to warm brown eyes. “I’m going to go look for something for you. Please stay here, okay?” Cream asked. Tails swallowed and nodded.

Cream turned to the large murderbot. “Mr. Robot, please make sure Tails doesn’t leave the couch while I’m gone, okay?”

“WITH PREJUDICE, SMALL DAIRY PRODUCT.” Omega declared, raising his arm as his hand was replaced by a rail gun and pointing it at Tails.

“Gaia Below, Omega!” Tails’ hackles raised and his fingers dug into the grimy couch cushions. In response, the railgun began to give off a high-pitched whine as it primed.

Cream returned before things could escalate further with a cup and a blanket purloined from the couch in the living space.

“Uh, everything in your fridge is expired or growing something and I could only find energy drinks in your pantry, so brought you some water.” She held the cup out to him and he took it. Under her expectant gaze, he took a sip. And then immediately drained it, because, holy shit, he was thirsty.

“I-I’ll go get some more.” She took back the cup and wrapped the blanket around him. It still smelled like Sonic…Tails bit back a hiccup. “You stay put, okay?”

While Tails worked his way through the pitcher of water Cream had returned with, she worked a finger between the folds of cloth covering of Amy’s package, loosening the wrapping. “I have a suspicion what this might be.” She said with a smile. “Oh!” She exclaimed.

Tails’ ears perked. “Are those-‽”

Half a dozen homemade mint chocolate chip muffins with sugar frosted tops glistened like precious jewels before them. Tails began to salivate and his stomach roared with an intensity that had him nearly bent double. How long had it been since he last ate something? What had Nicole said? Oh, Gaia, that’s thirty-nine hours. No wonder he was lightheaded.

Cream extracted a card from the bundle. “’Don’t leave until you see him eat at least one.’” She read aloud. This had to be the most Amy thing that Amy had ever done…She was running a global war (nearly on her own) and still found time to bake him muffins.

Cream plucked one of the large muffins out of the tin and handed it to Tails. He stared blankly at it, seemingly unsure what to do with it. He didn’t have time for this, needed to get back to work. The world was depending on him. They were staring the Singularity in the face and no one seemed to care.

“Tails…” There’s that sad voice again. Tails looked at Cream, her ears drooping and brow knitted. “Please eat it.”

Tails shoved the muffin into his face. Though it was moist, delicious, and utterly perfect, Tails gagged and coughed. “Not so fast!” Cream leaned him forward and pounded on his back until he gasped. “I’m going to get more water. Please don’t choke again before I get back.”

The muffin was too delicious, there was no way he could obey Cream this time. He went to take another bite-

“MECHANIC…” Omega cautioned, which, if Tails was being honest with himself, was about the kindest thing he’d ever seen the robot do.

Tails hissed at Omega like an animal, clutching the muffin like something precious. And, given his current state, it was. The red, glowing optical sensors that passed for Omega’s eyes seemed to narrow.

Cream returned before Omega murdered Tails. She handed Tails the cup once more and sank into the couch beside him. Tails quickly devoured the muffin and licked the crumbs from the waxed paper wrapper. He reached for another, but Cream blocked his hand. “Tails, do you know what refeeding is?”

“Oh, yeah,” He shrank back, sinking into the cushions. “You’re right.” Too much, too soon caused its own problems.

“We’ll just wait a bit and make sure your stomach can handle another muffin.”

“Don’t you need to leave? I ate one, just like Amy asked. You don’t have to stay.”

“I know.” Cream slumped down next to him.

Tails turned to look at her. She was so pretty. The way her ears framed her face and the darker colored fur accentuated her eyes.

And he…he looked like death warmed over. His fur was mussed and matted. He smelled like a sewer after marinating in his clean room suit for so long. His eyes were weighted down with heavy bags of sleep debt and his skin was pale under his dimming fur due to lack of sunlight. How could she not be revulsed?

“It’s going to be okay, Tails.” She said again.

He cringed and pulled away. “No, it’s not!” He barked, his muzzle crinkling in disgust. Why did everyone keep saying that? It was delusional! Was everyone stupid?

“We’re no closer to finding Sonic or the Ruby than we were when this all started.” He leaned forward and gripped his head. “But I’m not even sure finding them will solve this problem like last time. Sage isn’t even using the Ruby except when she attacks Station Square or Central City.” He reached for one of his tails. The tip of one was completely bald now, so he pulled at the thinning white hairs on the other. “It’s like she wants to keep us focused closer to home. Pin us in until she’s ready with ever she’s got in store for-!“

Cream reached for his hand and laced her fingers through his. He sputtered, words dying in his throat. Gently she lifted his tail from his grip. “I know Miss Amy’s recipe for those muffins. I could make some for you, if you’d like.”

Tails stared at their hands. “Y-yeah.” He said absently. His heart was pounding in his chest and his stomach churned as it contended with both muffin and emotions.

“Do you remember Sonic’s birthday two years ago?”

Of course he did. How could he ever forget? “We sat by the lake for a while.”

“And I was talking about how much trouble I was having in trig?”

Tails smiled. She scooted away, forcing Tails to lean over or disentangle their fingers. With a tug, she pulled him to lean against her shoulder. He stiffened but couldn’t hold the posture for long. And there was the blood glucose spike as his pancreas revivified. He was…suddenly…so…sleepy.

“You were so quick to offer to be my tutor. I was just venting, but you gave me a lecture right then and there. I watched you draw shapes and angles in the mud with a stick. You were so nice, just immediately rushing to help me in the best way you knew how.”

“Mmmm.”

“I still failed that test, you know? But I didn’t care. Why would I spend time concentrating on your drawings when I could be looking at you?”

Tails gave out a light snore.

See? See‽ I can be nice to Tails!