Resistance - Team SOS

The forest guardians

Belle's vision was glitching beyond recognition of anything in front of her. To the Mobian Tiger carrying her, that was probably for the best.

"Do you have what I asked for?" The voice over the handheld device in the feline's hand asked.

"Yes. You know our agreement. I give you the robot, you lead me to Robotnik."

"Of course, I'm a man of my word. And one more thing....make sure that pesky Resistance team doesn't find out about this. The last thing I need is those three idiotic hedgehogs interfering with the plans I've worked so hard to create...."

"I told you. They can't find out. My powers will wipe them off the radar if they dare step foot in this operation."

"Don't be foolish. That 'Team SOS' is made of a psychic hedgehog from the future, an advanced biology project led by humans and the doctor's greatest creation to date. They already took out one of my associates. Your artifacts are interesting, but they won't save you from that."

"...don't question the trinkets of the white tongue."

"I'm not questioning, I'm stating." A slight chuckle.

"Now, go ahead and get going before I decide to call the whole deal off."

——

Metal held Tails close as the yellow fox was attempting to fly the upgraded Tornado...for unknown reasons, at least to Tails.

"Metal, I've flown the Tornado a million times before, you know I'll be fine."

"I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about YOU!"

"You've been worried about everyone else since FOREVER! Can't you take a break from that and worry about yourself for once!?" Tails snapped back.

"...."

The fox bit his lip when he looked back to the front.

"....Silver's right, you know...." Tails suddenly stated after a few moments. "You don't deserve to suffer alone. And that means letting others help you with yourself, okay?...we care about you."

Metal tightened his grip, letting out what sounded like a hum of affirmation.

They flew on in silence after that.

The sun was setting, casting shadows across the ground. Metal couldn't help but have his vision drawn to the sight. In that light...a golden spark shone for a moment, just a moment in the faraway distance, through the mountains.

And it immediately caught Metal's attention.

He remembered it all too well.

The golden streak.

Taking Belle.

She was there.

"Hey, Metal...are you alright?"

"...I found her."

——

Silver didn't really expect to be in this position.

Well, being held down by a group of weird Mobians with masks.

Silver and Shadow had been heading towards the entrance of the strange city before being tackled down out of nowhere by a rat and ox, and a rabbit wearing a white and red striped mask had been eyeing them, wielding a Gate-defending spear.

"Who are you, outsiders? And what have you come for? To take our city for yourself?" The rabbit asked.

"What!? No, we're here to look for our friend, this just seemed like the most likely place she'd be!" Silver answered, frankly, confused as hell. Shadow was no different.