Sonic the Hedgehog "My Brother's Keeper" by Shawn Wolski The author will accept questions and comments via E-mail at the following address: n5una@mail.utexas.edu Sonic the Hedgehog and other associated characters are based on the creations of Service and Games (Sega), Archie Comic Publications, and the Sonic the Hedgehog cartoons (Saturday morning issue) created by DIC and Sega of America. Additional characters that appear are the original creations of their respective authors (characters indexed by author): Holly-Beth Vixie Kraft: Nina David Pistone: Bookshire Draftwood Shawn Wolski: David This work is protected under various copyright laws. The author grants his permission for free distribution, under the premise that the work retains its original format. No other utilization of the following work, monetary or otherwise, is permitted. Temporal Notice: The background of the following story takes place a few months after the failed Doomsday Project, during the midsummer of the year 3236. The maturity of the day was very near the hour of midnight in Knothole's time zone. Almost everyone of the Knothole Freedom Fighters and their associates from the Wolf Pack and other groups were asleep in their huts, dreaming the dreams of a benevolent future for their planet. Nearly all the lights were out, to promote each individual's travel into the dream world, a place where everyone lived an alternate life for the duration of their time of slumber. The borders and the interior of the encampment that was home to members of an extended family, the members consisting of various decent of status and other aspects of heritage, were as silent as the vacuum of space. Almost. If one could listen and look with more intensity and persistence, Knothole was not the perfect example of peaceful and somber darkness. In one particular hut, no unlit regions existed for the blackness to take refuge. It was a warning to the agents of the shade that their victory would come another day, another time in the hereafter. Or, more than likely, it was only Rotor and Bookshire in the development phase of yet another late-night project in Rotor's new workshop. Inside, Rotor hefted the massive glass vat from the biogenics storage closet, a 100 kg cylinder containing twenty kg of an intricate, carefully balanced powder holding the basic chemical elements of life. No DNA or other evidence of order resided in the powder, but it was a segment of preface to a new artificial lifeform that Rotor and Bookshire toiled to design for some time. He carried it cautiously over to the main computer, where Bookshire was laboring over the theoretical designs and composition of the endoskeletal frame. The middle-aged raccoon displayed signs of his steadily advancing age, with suggestions of silver streaking through his fur. However, when intensely working on a project worthy of provoking his prowess, he was no older than his teenage associate. Younger, in fact, for he concentrated on such projects like a child with a new playtoy. Rotor slowly lowered the vat to a temporary resting place by the main computer, grunting with the gradual displacement of its mass from his powerful muscles. After Robotnik's failed attempt to finally bring Mobius and its inhabitants groveling to his feet, he had more leisure time to exercise, both physically and mentally. A short time ago, Rotor might not have been able to perform such an act as carrying the voluminous load the short distance to the main computer. Then again, the old Rotor wasn't the walrus working on the important experiment that night. Bookshire sensed Rotor's presence, but did not look up to examine his comrade. The majority of his concentration centered on the computer display, while he softly pressed the appropriate controls to alter the various parameters of the endoskeleton to conform to his specifications. The endoskeleton took the structure of a young eleven year-old fox, belying the strength that would normally be present in a lifeform many times its size. The new alloy that Rotor and Bookshire designed for the frame was perfect: high tensile strength, nearly invulnerable to multiple weapons-grade laser impacts, stealthy (nearly all forms of detection devices were blind to its presence, except optical), and more than adequate to the task of shielding the organic overlay (on connection to the positronic matrix, it could expand the stealthy field of influence, retarding nearly every sensor). The raccoon also reviewed the positronic matrix. It was a work of art for something that had been conceived of in such a short time. Countless hours were spent on the cranial cognitive unit, which it was more officially known as between the two partners in cybernetics. Part computer, part organic design, it would allow the new lifeform to function and think. This would promote interaction with the other Knothole residents. Many sleepless nights produced the perfect programming that the new artificial life would need: tactics, command procedures, physiology, and other subjects important to Freedom Fighter commanders. For this was to be Sonic's near-future second, if not his replacement. "Whew. That was some workout. How's everything at your end?" the walrus asked his friend. Retaining his focus on the computer display, Bookshire replied, "Faster than expected, Rotor. The endoskeleton and the positronic matrix designs are ready for freezing. I don't think we left anything out of the system that might be needed." "Great. The sooner, the better. Sonic's been complaining that he didn't have any excuse to get out of Knothole these days, with noone to go on missions with." Rotor dictated this with an air of finality. In truth, Sonic had been rather wearied by the now perpetual boredom that seemed to permeate Knothole. However, there was more to his mood under the surface. He was seriously considering an alteration to the chain of command, wanting to have more time to devote to his other hobbies. He tired of not having the opportunity to make command decisions, or to risk his life to safe another's. He thought of taking a step down from his command position, but had noone to offer it to. His relationship with his friends was also taking a precarious turn. Sally had been put under increasingly higher degrees of workload, and didn't have the time that she and Sonic used to have for leisure in the past. Sally wasn't the only one; just about everyone else had been assigned to other tasks, except him. He felt left out, since nothing that he could do seemed to be available for him to concern himself with. Ultimately, he needed something to do, or someone he could talk to that would understand his condition. Otherwise, the irritated hedgehog might die of boredom, a point that he attempted to make abundantly clear to everyone else at Knothole. "Well, I hope that this little project of ours does," said Bookshire with a grave tone to his voice, "I can't bear to see Sonic like that anymore. All alone and depressed, something must be done, and fast. That boy's too young to waste away like he's doing now." Rotor nodded in silent agreement, knowing all too well what one of his closest friends was feeling now, without a function worthy of his attention. The two cybernetics experts taxed themselves further into the early hours of the next day, with no further verbal exchange on any subject. Working as a single entity, they both continued on their task of creating a new life, and possibly a new comrade for Sonic. * * * At 0800 hours the next morning, the sun's bright rays pierced through holes in the foliage that protected Knothole from detection by sensors and other silent, unseen observers. The solar radiation continued its confrontation until it came near a blue teenage hedgehog, sitting on the steps to his home. It seemed to notice the mental condition of the hedgehog, for it softened from a shower of fine thorns to a smoother, blanketing shape over the hedgehog's body. After not receiving any response from this gesture of kindness, the rays intensified their IR components, as if it was attempting to warm the beleaguered hedgehog's heart. Still no reaction from him. The rays persisted, as if hoping that the hedgehog would appreciate their attempt to lighten his mood. Sonic steadfastly maintained his hunched-over, sulking position. 'Man,' he thought to himself, his mind replete with anxiety, 'what am I gonna do with myself? Sal and everyone else is too busy to do anything with me. I can't even help them out, since I don't have a clue as to even half the stuff they're doing. I'm gettin' tired of being the Number One hedgehog, 'cause there's nothing for me to do at the top. Maybe I need to step down, give someone else a chance to save Mobius. But who?' Sonic had no answer to that question, one that had fused itself into his mind gradually over the period of time after the destruction of the Doomsday Project. Everyone had a position to fill but him. 'I wanted to teach the kids, let them know how it's done being a Freedom Fighter,' Sonic's private tirade continued. 'But Tails got a hold of that, maybe I taught the big guy TOO well. Sal's been working on managerial whatever-she-calls-it for who knows how long, and I ain't any good at that. I can't even get a hold of Rotor, since he's always either asleep or working on that project of his. And Dulcy's not going anywhere, not with that hurt leg she got making that bad landing a few weeks ago.' A labored sigh of dismissal. 'What's a hedgehog like me to do?' The sound of differentially-displaced air brought Sonic to his full alert condition, ready to react to any form of danger. The sound was very familiar, but something he had not heard for a long time, or so it seemed to him. The sound gradually wavered, then abruptly ended as an expertly-placed drop to the ground was executed by a ten year-old red fox. The fox then paced over to Sonic's position, with a distressed look on his face. "What's ya up to, Sonic?" the concerned red vulpine queried his best friend and mentor. "Nothing at all, Tails," the hedgehog responded, sighing. "What's a cool dude like you doing hanging around a major drag like me for?" he questioned, not without a slight hint of frustration to his voice. "Well, you been looking really down lately, Sonic. I know it's that you've had nothing to do here, now that Robotnik and Sneezeley's gone. I thought I might be able to do something to cheer you up," Tails said, unable to keep the hopefulness out of his voice. 'Why, that little genius,' Sonic thought, his face copious with surprise. 'He read my mind.' He said nothing, expecting Tails to continue prodding the point further. He was not disappointed. "I did have a class to teach today, but I told everyone else to take the day off. So, how about it, Sonic?" the little cub demanded, uncertain what method the dispirited hedgehog would use to respond with. It was Tails' turn to not be disappointed. "Sure, big guy," Sonic finally replied, after contemplating the current alteration in plans for the day. He gently stroked Tails' head with an almost religious reverence, and stared straight into his eyes with a smile on his face. "It'll be just like old times, you and me together." Tails chuckled a bit, then said with sincerity, "Yeah, just like old times. Race ya past the lookout tower!" He then curled his tails together, then slowly levitated from the ground as his tails rotated around their mutual center of axis. "Hey, hold up a bit!" Sonic exclaimed jocularly, all evidence of downslide in his normally cavorting mood eliminated for the time being. Accelerating in place, he called to his airborne comrade, "OK, three.....two....one....juice time!" They discharged themselves from the area as quickly as their respective legs or tails would permit them, and accelerated toward their arbitrary finish line. The race had begun, and Sonic felt like a new hedgehog again. After a few hours of high-velocity enjoyment (amplified by giving Antoine a few moments of fright by rocketing next to the tree where he was assigned as lookout), Sonic and Tails returned to Knothole, halting about three meters in front of Rotor's workshop. They were both so exuberant, that Sonic forgot his former mode of depression, and Tails forgot that his friend was depressed. As if remembering something, Sonic quirked his eyes toward his two-tailed companion. "Oh, man! I give up, Tails! You beat me every time!" Sonic blurted out, with an expression of mock anger on his face. "Oh, gee," Tails retorted in kind, mimicking Sonic's facial expression, "next time, I'll make sure I beat you by more than a few seconds!" More hopelessly uncontrollable laughter flowed from their mouths. Unable to repress the urge, they embraced and kissed each other, like long-lost friends that had met again after years of separation. Sonic was beginning to feel more like himself again, and he enjoyed it as much as Tails did. He felt as if he had finally found a role to conform to in Knothole, and that was to be Tails' friend. An act of gratitude that he had not had the time to display recently, and he pondered over why he didn't do such a thing sooner. He found no answer to his personal inquiry, and didn't concern himself with that at the moment. "Hey, Sonic," the young vulpine said to his associate in gaiety, after regaining control of his guffawing, "how about we go see Rotor and Bookshire? I bet ya they're working on that new project right now." The more senior hedgehog considered the matter for a few seconds, with his arms crossed and his left foot rapping the ground. "I don't know, kid," he said thoughtfully. "They might be too busy to worry about us." "Ah, come on, Sonic," his little friend pleaded. "Besides, they invited me to come over here yesterday. They said that it might be ready to show off now." More silence and concerned thought from the hedgehog. He wasn't entirely enthusiastic about interrupting Rotor and Bookshire in the middle of what they regarded as an important activity, since none of the technobabble would make any coherent sense to him anyway. However, he was interested in at least knowing what the project was, considering the fact that the specifics and even generalities had been concealed from him. When he was satisfied with his decision, he replied, "OK, Tails. Let's see what their little secret project is." The two companions trotted to the entrance of Rotor's workshop. They arrived together at the door, and came to an uneasy stop. For reasons unknown to him, Sonic somehow forfeited his nerve to enter the hut. His former reservations resurfaced, as he thought about how too premeditated and convenient this encounter appeared to be. The windows emitted no illumination from the interior, and something about the way Tails dictated his suggestion forced the hedgehog to delay his advance. He looked to his friend; Tails revealed nothing, but patiently waited for the hedgehog to signal a request for entry. "Go ahead, Sonic," his two-tailed comrade commanded encouragingly, "knock on the door. It won't bite." The reluctant hedgehog complied with the order, totally prepared for what he expected to happen. He was equally unprepared for the unexpected events. The door opened, with a suspicious creaking sound attached to its movement on the hinges. A shaded figure of a blue walrus lingered inside, beyond the doorway in the darkness. He gestured to them for passage, and the hedgehog and fox gradually paced into the dimmed workshop. Sonic gazed around the blanketing blackness, endeavoring to focus his eyes. As if in retaliation, the room suddenly altered in form. He was blinded by the sudden increase in illumination, and deafened by the multitude of voices crying out the word, "Surprise!" 'Whoa,' Sonic thought to himself, 'what's going on here?' He rubbed his eyes to compensate for the appearance of light where there was only an unlit region about two seconds ago. After his eyes finally terminated the task of focusing, he noticed that all his friends in and out of Knothole were waiting for him. Sally walked over to the baffled hedgehog. "Surprise, Sonic. I hope you like it," she said, then kissed him. "I'm sorry that we've been keeping you in the dark about this, but now's a good a time as any to reveal it to you." Sonic's jaw dropped with an almost audible thunk. "You mean," he ventured, "that all this time you've been busy working on whatever that is? And you were fibbing about all that administrative work you were doing?" His outstretched finger indicated the endoskeleton and the vat full of the prepared organic mixture. It was Bookshire's turn to explain the rationale of their former, "busy" atmosphere. He carefully limped over to Sonic to illustrate the actual scene of events. "Not exactly, Sonic," he answered to his confused juvenile comrade. "You see, we know that you've been bored and all, with nothing to do here at Knothole while the rest of Mobius isn't in danger anymore. So we decided that you probably wanted to step down off your command status so that you would have more time to do other things. That's when the idea came up to design a new Freedom Fighter." "New Freedom Fighter?" the hedgehog inquired. "To replace me?" "It can take whatever position in the chain of command you want," the raccoon continued, "it can be the commander of Knothole, or like a first officer to you. It's your choice, Sonic." "What about training and everything else?" "Don't worry about this one. The new artificial lifeform will be totally self-sufficient, and it's programmed to have basic emotions, ability to command, repair itself, and other functions. We also gave it the ability to dynamically respond to new situations, learn from them. Not a problem at all," the experienced raccoon reassured. "How's it repair itself?" the still-cynical hedgehog asked. "It has nanites in it to take care of damage and construct new parts," Bookshire replied. Seeing a shocked expression on the hedgehog's face again, he continued, "No, not those nanites. These nanites aren't programmed to do anything to us; their made for the compuorganic lifeform." Bookshire was all too aware of the unpleasant memories the word had to Sonic, not to mention the rest of the Freedom Fighters. "Cool. So when's it gonna be active?" the now-interested Sonic questioned. Tails took charge of leading him to the main computer. "Right over on that computer, Sonic. Press that big red switch." As he and his companion walked to the computer, Tails didn't notice the large bundle of cables lying stretched out across the floor. Sonic saw the cables first. "Tails, the ca-" he tried to warn his friend. It was too late. Tails foot located the cables and reacted via the appropriate physical laws of the universe, long before his eyes could see them and direct his body to avoid. He flew across the space between his former location and the main computer, his nose impacting with the indicated red key that would activate the new lifeform. Before his blackout, Tails slid down the side of the computer, opening one of the storage compartments. After coming to rest on the floor in a semi-unconsious state, mind probing electrodes attached themselves to his head. The room exploded into a blinding radiance. Inside the vat with the organic mixture, the component atoms combined and recombined, forming a DNA structure over the endoskeletal frame. The nanites worked hard at their labors, manipulating the organic overlay into the appropriate electrical and organic constituents. Influxes of data came from Tails, as the cranial positronic unit scanned the information by utilizing the remote electrodes on his head. The process continued on for about ten seconds. Tails woke up to see a black and dark gray fox, about his height and size, trapped in the glass vat. One powerful fist strike later, and glass shards erupted from the vat, spreading over the floor like a tidal wave crashes over a ocean-front city. Everyone else in the room watched in horror as the new artificial lifeform slowly paced across the room in a precise, measured cadence toward Tails, making no sound as it did. When it arrived at its location in front of its organic counterpart, it gently and flawlessly lifted the dazed vulpine up to examine his condition. What the compuorganic lifeform said was even more startling. "What has occurred to format my brother into his current state?" it demanded, seemingly concerned about Tails' condition. The voice was so much like Tails, only this particular vocalization was that of an adolescent fox. It was deeper and slightly harsher, yet still very similar to that of its organic counterpart. Tails replied for all the observers in the room. "Waht?" he asked, bewildered by the turn of events. He attempted to force the stinging pain from his nose. "Wo's 'or bro'her? I ain' 'or bro'her." The artificial lifeform didn't have any difficulty interpreting its "brother's" speech. "My medical sensors detect a minor concussion in your olfactory region, and it is in my estimation that you have been injured in a procedure which I am unaware of. Please allow me, brother, to attend to your ailments. I have no intention of inducing any detriment to your organic configuration." The awestruck organic fox's eyes expanded wide with primal fear. He struggled to escape from the grasp of his oppressor, and succeeded in his savage body motions. Tails screamed, staring a hardened sneer into the compuorganic's video receptors, "You're not my brother, and I never want to see you again, you robot!" He darted out of the workshop before anyone could detain him, and disappeared into the Great Forest. The new lifeform could only observe the scene that occurred, speechless and almost upset by the unfavorable reaction that Tails displayed. "Someone's gotta go after Tails," Sonic finally said, returning to reality again. "I'll take care of this," replied Dulcy. "Besides, he can fly, and I might have a better chance of getting him." "Yo, Dulce," the baffled hedgehog queried, "what about your leg?" "Oh, this?" she answered. "This was the only way I could think of from telling you about the project too early. There's nothing wrong with it. You know how much I can babble at times." As if proving her point that her leg had sustained no damage, she prodded out of the hut and used it to force herself away from the ground, then flew off to retrieve Tails. Sally walked over to comfort their latest addition to the Freedom Fighter group. "Are you OK?" she asked, concerned about how it would react to prejudice immediately after it had just been constructed. It took in a deep breath, as if to calm itself. "I am fully functional, physically and mentally," it stated, "however, I am rather perturbed by the way Tails reacted to my endeavors to assist him. I also realize that lack a denomination, something for others to know me by." Sally thought the matter over. "How about....David?" she suggested. "Very well, then," the compuorganic replied, "that shall be sufficient for my purposes of identification." He smiled, as if pleased with the privilege of having a name. Sally embraced and kissed him, gratified to have him as a new Freedom Fighter and companion. Not quite certain how to respond to this gesture of kindness, he returned the act to her, making certain his finely-tuned tactile sensors returned signals of a firm, but tame grip. David did not desire to destroy a near-future ally in the college of life. * * * And learn David most certainly did. He found that there were many functions to life besides his undecided role in the chain of command. Over the period of three weeks, David accomplished many tasks to improve his status in his new domicile. He learned more about the intricacies of his organic companions' speech and emotional displays. He also learned how to fly, since his endoskeleton was modeled very closely after Tails. After some instruction from Dulcy and receiving her experience from seeing what procedures Tails used to hover, fly, and land, David became capable of flying to almost any location. He studied novels, encyclopedias, poetry, and it seemed as if there was no way to quench David's lust for information. He instructed his nanites to manufacture appropriate hardware for upgrading his survivability, and to improve the preexisting equipment that he had built inside him. Yet, there was one area which he failed to complete successfully: his relationship to Tails. As David built up his emotional database, that fact only served to compile to complex and frustratingly gargantuan proportions. In reality, the situation was no more severe than it was on David's first day of life. Through an almost telepathic agreement, for Tails had no intention of being anywhere near David, they managed to maintain a respectable distance. Sally counseled him about his bind with Tails; Sonic tried to convince Tails to rethink his misgivings about David. Nothing seemed to work. The only alternative was to permit Tails a wide berth from David. For a while, everything was almost perfect, as long they did so. However, as life would have control over events, this status of peace would not survive for an extended period of time. David was pacing around the Knothole/Great Forest border near the bridge at about 1700 hours, testing his latest sensors for accuracy. During his passive IR scan, he noticed a form appear about thirty meters in front of him as he directed his head forward. Intrigued by this, he converted his sensors to visible light scan, and magnified the image. It was a young female skunk, about Tails' age and height. Nina saw David and ran over to him. David downloaded the required data about Nina into one of his dynamic provisional memory storage units. What he read he didn't enjoy at all. According to his data, Nina was a close friend to Tails. And if Tails saw David and Nina together, the situation could become an unsettling one for all three parties. That was one confrontation that he had no intention of participating in. David's stress registers increased with the anticipated battle that would ensue if he didn't act to prevent it. He turned around to evade the near-future battle. It was too late. Nina already had him contained in her powerful grasp, and David had no hope of immediate salvation except to implement his overwhelming strength. He was unable to do so, for any such act would critically injure Nina, and part of his basic moralistic programming prevented him from doing so. His respect for life was too strong to justify a violent response. Therefore, other, more civil procedures would have to be acted on. "Oh, David!" the young skunk exclaimed to him, not softening her grip one iota. "It's so good to see you again! It's about time you got away from those adults and over to those your own age!" David attempted to find a diplomatic mean of escape. "Nina, I would very much appreciate your friendly attitude towards me, if you would please allow me to maintain a respectable distance!" "Oh, sorry about that," she apologized, and complied with his implied request. "It's just that I've never had a chance to see you personally, I got a little too excited." "You aren't the only one that might get excited," David retorted, as kindly as possible. "According to my information, you are Tails' friend, and....Tails and I do not exactly have an amicable relationship as of this current time. I have no desire to be the perpetrator of any distress between the two of you," David stated, using all of his sensors to locate Tails before he and Nina severely got into trouble. Tails was located about 300 meters away, but his location was surrounded by trees. It was more than likely that he would not see David and Nina, but David wasn't inclined to take any risks. He said so to Nina. "Why can't you two get along?" she inquired. "From what I saw over the past few weeks, you're not the one at fault for this." That took David completely off guard. He was uncertain as to how to answer Nina's question. Of course, David wasn't at fault for anything, except for being created. And that, he had no control over. He never had the opportunity to answer. Tails arrived, his eyes silted and teeth exposed with anger. David measured Tails' stress levels, and found that an eruption was about to take place, no matter what David could try to prevent it with. His organic counterpart stood in his position, slowly breathing with a dangerous tension. "What...are...you...doing...with...Nina?" Tails managed to slowly spit out, unable to control the rage in his voice. Nina answered for David. "He's just talking to me; nothing more. I just wanted to be friends with him after I saw him away from all the adults here." Her calm voice belied the anger she was feeling toward Tails and the way he was treating David. "That doesn't matter! He's a robot, something to take us back to Robotropolis whenever he has the chance to!" Tails barked out, even more stressed than before. Nina continued as calmly as the situation would permit, "No, David's a Freedom Fighter, just like you are. And nothing is going to change that!" David wished that he could contribute something to the conversation, but considered the consequences beforehand. It would ultimately serve to further degrade the already tenuous relationship he had with Tails. And the condition was becoming more precarious just from this exchange. "Well, what do you need to associate with a robot for? He doesn't have anything to give you, he's emotionless, stupid, and the worst excuse I've ever seen for a brother!" With that last remark, Tails ran back into the Great Forest. Little did Nina and Tails know that a storm was advancing over the area. And Tails was in the middle of it, unheeding of the warnings. David warned Nina of the situation. "Someone has to go after him, at least to teach him a lesson," Nina replied, unable to maintain the level of calm she had only a few seconds ago. She moved to go after him. "No," he ordered, extending his hand to block her path. "I'll retrieve Tails." "Are you sure about that, David?" his friend asked. "I will have a higher probability of retrieving Tails, since I have capabilities to utilize that you don't have available," he answered, with a determined look on his face. "The way you can assist me is to get help from the others in Knothole. I require their presence here in order to prevent the situation from becoming critical." She considered his orders, but said nothing further. She knew what the unspoken words were. She then ran off to Knothole, as quickly as she could. David did the same, only in the opposite direction. With all his sensors active, he searched for Tails as far as he could scan. After locating his trail, he rushed to Tails' aid. About fifteen minutes later, David located his counterpart. Tails was sitting on a rock, apparently unheeding of the rain pouring down on him, and the thunder which seemed to be getting closer every second. Tails was also blind to David's arrival, since he made no indication that he noticed the compuorganic fox's presence. Then again, in the darkness created by the storm, David would be the only one who could view anything. He thought with a belated sense of worthiness that he didn't send Nina, or tell her to send anyone after the two foxes. They would have become as lost as Tails appeared to be. "Tails?" he called over the thunder. "It's me, David." "Get away!" the other fox retorted. "We don't have anything to talk about!" "On the contrary," David replied, maintaining his outer calm, "we have everything to discuss. Starting with the condition between us." "There's nothing I have to say to you, David!" Tails yelled, wishing that he could be alone right now and nothing else. "Please, Tails!" David nearly pleaded. "Tell me what it is that troubles you about me!" As if the very storm had tired of the confrontation between the two foxes, a fork of lightning streaked down the sky and found an impact point on a nearby tree. The violated branch erupted into flames, falling straight down on Tails' position. He saw the branch and instinctively crouched over, in the hope that this would protect him. David took action to rescue Tails from a conflagration that would otherwise consume him. He flew up to the falling branch, and disengaged his rotating tails. Utilizing both of his tails, David swatted the flaming branch, dislocating it from its lethal flight path. Tails was safe for now. On the ground, Tails waited for the fiery death to fill his field of vision. It never came. The only sounds he could hear were the rain, thunder, and David's tails slowly returning him from the tormented areas above ground. He saw David stop rotating his tails about two meters above ground, then expertly drop to the ground, landing so that the shock would dissipate through his body. Tails' savior slowly walked over to him, his face a testimony to worry. "You...you really care about me?" Tails asked, not trusting his voice to sound coherent. David understood him without difficulty. "Of course I care about you," he responded, "as well as the rest of the Freedom Fighters. What ever gave you the impression I didn't? Is that what you were concerned about?" Tails started crying, for he had overlooked something in David, and had neglected him for so long. He felt sorry for David, and ashamed of himself for harboring the prejudice he had, just for the fact that David was something of a form he had no personal control over. He got up and hugged David, and didn't release his grip on him for a long time. Sniffling, Tails said, "I'm sorry I treated you the way I did, David. I just didn't know that you really cared about me so much. I thought you would go crazy and send us back to Robotropolis or something." "Tails," David answered jovially, "you know me better than that. Besides, even if I did want to take you back to Robotropolis, I couldn't." "Why's that?" Tails inquired, the shamed look on his face converting to one of wonder. "Because you're like a brother to me," David continued, "and there's no Robotropolis available for me to send you and the rest of the Freedom Fighters to." "It's good to have you back.....brother." They both shared in a mutual session of laughter, then David gradually guided his brother back to the refuge of Knothole. * * * The next day, there was no indication of the adversarial state that existed between Tails and David. They were like two foxes that had finally found themselves, which in this case, they did. Sally and Sonic watched from a distance as they saw the two foxes actually playing together, instead of Tails being at David's throat, and David doing everything in his power to escape. They were like friends, or (dare they think it?) brothers that were concerned for each other's welfare. "I can't believe it, Sonic," Sally said after the realization struck her as to what the fox pair was doing. "It seems like they were enemies just yesterday. I wonder what brought Tails out of it?" "Don't know, Sal," the hedgehog said, equally awed by the transition. "I asked them earlier, but they wouldn't tell me why." "Maybe it's just as well that way. These two are going to be a powerful team in the future." And the condition of Tails' transition remained a secret, to everyone in Knothole. All that mattered now is that they loved each other like brothers of a long acquaintance. They both agreed to tell everyone one thing though: that David's name be changed to David Prower. EOF.