They appeared all of a sudden.

One day, out of nowhere, a large spaceship showed up and hovered in orbit over Mobius, and a few hours later, the first reconnaissance drones were on the surface.

At the beginning, everyone decided that this was another Eggman's plan. Drones didn’t pose a threat, almost didn’t attack, and were easily destroyable.

But then the ship landed.

And hell came.

Chapter 1. The Key.

Four months later.

Sonic was nervously pacing from corner to corner, periodically ruffling the fur on his head. His quills quivered, reflecting internal tension, and Tails cautiously kept track of his erratic movements that’s been passing dangerously close to valuable equipment and hard-won samples from defeated drones. The narrow room where the workshop at their current base was set up clearly had not enough space to accommodate the agitated hedgehog, but the little fox had no idea how he could calm his proclaimed brother. Not in this situation.

"You won’t actually do that, right?" Tails said at last after reading Sonic's expressions. The blue hedgehog stopped and looked at him with a serious tone without a word. Tails shivered under his gaze, but continued "Sonic, it’s clearly suicide!"

“No, it’s finally the only real chance.”

The fox kid sighed wearily. He already regretted that he had decided to share his discovery with the blue hero in the first place, and not bring it up for discussion with the rest of the Resistance. Amy or Knuckles could have convinced the hedgehog not to act rashly, but Tails just didn't know what to say.

Sonic darted off again, threatening to inadvertently break something, and the young fox made another attempt to reason with him.

“Listen, even if this key passes you through the shield and allows you to infiltrate the base, we still have no idea what’s inside.”

They had already tried twice to get on the invaders’ ship: both times without any success. The first time, at the beginning of the invasion, they couldn't even get close enough to realize that on the second attempt, despite their best efforts, they would be stopped by an energy shield. No one suspected its existence. Drones prevented any attacks on the ship, so not a single shot had reached the shield before, and visually it turned out to be noticeable only from a several meters distance. In that attempt they lost the Tornado and only miraculously were able to return without any more loss. After that failure Knuckles banned large-scale raids without absolute certainty in the plan. And without a way to get through the shield.

They already had tried all possible options, none of which gave a positive result. Until today, literally five minutes ago, after months of hard work, Tails was finally able to extract an identification code from the insides of one of the drones, which, in theory, should pass its wearer through the shield, and write it to the key card. And this information was what he, out of joy, didn’t hesitate to share with Sonic, who took a look into his workroom at that moment. But right away the young inventor was convinced that this was a bad idea: the hero’s eyes flashed with unhealthy enthusiasm, and he immediately began to feverishly think over some crazy and - what was more dangerous - hasty plan.

So Tails had to stop him. If only Sonic did actually listen.

“The key works and it’s enough - I’ll deal with the rest as I come up to it. Tails, look, I…” the hedgehog stopped and took a deep breath “I can't go on like this anymore. I have to do something. Something more than simply destroying outposts that appear faster than we can raze.” 

The blue hero clenched his fists and furrowed brows in a clear desperation, and at this moment the little fox realized that Sonic was indeed on the edge. Otherwise, he would never let him see himself like that. Even in the most desperate situations he always put on a smile, as soon as he realized that his younger brother was near, to not worry him, to protect him from problems, to inspire hope, even if it seemed that there was none.

But it looked like there really was no hope.

Mobius had experienced a lot. Eggman's plans were often so devastating that they had to rebuild entire cities. The ancient gods literally tore the planet apart. Countless times they had been dealing with the problems that seemed worse and worse with each iteration, but every time they managed to get through them, no matter how many enemies opposed them.

But just one ship that appeared out of nowhere dealt the fatal blow.

Yes, they were resisting - how could they not? - desperately and selflessly, as always when the fate of the entire planet was at stake. But everyone understood that it was only a prolonged agony.

The invaders knew no mercy. They hit with dreadful accuracy and only a few could dodge their lasers, one blow of which promised certain death. They were devastating cities, leaving only abandoned buildings and streets without a trace of survivors. Tiny drones could sneak into any gap - they scouted the territory, looking for any target, and then their larger relatives ruthlessly destroyed it.

The drones weren’t invulnerable and, with the proper skill or weapons, could be successfully neutralized. But there were too many of them. So many that it seemed there was no end to them. Over the past four months, everyone had long lost count of exactly how many were destroyed by the planet’s combined forces. 

Which, to the overall panic, were sorely lacking.

G.U.N. bases took the brunt of the attack, since the invaders immediately identified the main threat and dealt with it in the very first days by one synchronous massive attack. At the same time they had dealt with the ARK while the ship was still in orbit. This was how Mobius had lost the first and most global line of defence.

All the hope was on the Resistance and its members now. Even if military forces weren't completely destroyed and still could make a solid contribution to the battle, they were no match to the collective power of the planet's defenders who just recently lived through the half a year under Eggman's terror and still remembered how to fight superior forces. They even had their hero this time. Unbeatable and elusive, the symbol of freedom and their hope for an early victory, one blue hedgehog already had done more damage to invaders than anyone else. 

And still it wasn't enough.

Even with his speed, Sonic couldn’t keep up everywhere. The number of victims was only increasing and the burden of responsibility for the lost lives pressed on the Hero of Mobius more and more with each day of this notoriously lost battle. So Tails understood how hard it was for him right now and how attractive the idea of ending everything with one single blow looked like.

But he couldn't let him take that risk. Not now, when the blue hero, who just returned to the base after another sortie, must first of all have some rest.

“What you have to do is to get some sleep,” Tails said cautiously, hoping that the worry in his voice wasn’t too strong. “Sonic, how long ago did you actually-?”

“There’s no time for this,” the hedgehog interrupted him, covering his face with his hand. “Each second wasted they move further and further - soon we simply won't be able to control such a large border.” He sighed, making it even more obvious for Tails of how tired the hero actually was.

“If you collapse from exhaustion right in the middle of a fight, it won't help anyone,” the fox replied reasonably.

Sonic ran his hand over the quills again. “You're right. And I’d like to sleep, but…”

The blue hedgehog looked away, not finished, but Tails already knew that was gnawing him, and why Sonic was here at such a late hour: in recent months, insomnia tormented him viciously, and Chaos knows how many days the hero spent on his feet, unable to let himself relax even for a couple of hours, because, as he said, with every second the invaders were conquering new territories, and it became more and more difficult to restrain them. He needed a break, just as he needed a clear goal instead of a vague: "Destroy all machines." And if Tails couldn’t approve of the idea of ​​immediate infiltration into the base, it still was within his power to propose an alternative. Right?

“Okay, since we have the key, then let's make a plan so that we all…” began the little fox, but Sonic interrupted him again.

“I’ll go alone,” he said uncompromisingly, “Knuckles won’t allow risking the emerald for an official mission.”

“You want to take the emerald?!” Tails couldn't help crying in surprise.

“Well, I must somehow return if it becomes too dangerous, don’t I?” Sonic finally smiled, but this fake smile couldn’t deceive the fox kid.

“Sonic, please,” he almost begged, “Discuss this with the others. Together we’ll have more chances.”

Sonic frowned in response, and then suddenly asked:

“How many can that key hide?”

Tails froze, puzzled, and took a moment to think. “Not sure,” he finally admitted, “Maybe two or three.”

“See?” the blue hero folded his arms over his chest, “So this must be a covert mission. And in case of danger we'll have to run away. Better be only two of us or else I can’t use Chaos Control. But this way we’d lose the advantage of mobility - I alone will be faster than with any of you.”

The sight of such a rationally reasoning Sonic frightened even more than his chaotic darting around the room, and Tails thought with an inner sadness that he would give a lot to return those carefree times when all problems were solved with a smile on the hero’s face and a couple of sharp phrases, instead of forced seriousness. The fox kid felt that he was losing this battle, but what other arguments did he still have?

"We can try to ask G.U.N…" he began hesitantly, to which Sonic, as he expected, chuckled.

"Again? You think something has changed?"

And sadly Tails knew the bitter truth behind that chuckle. The only one who could really compete with a blue hedgehog in speed was Shadow, but G.U.N. kept silent about him, referring to military secrets. According to Rouge, the last time she saw the agent was three months ago, almost at the start of the invasion. The authorities kept telling her that he was on a top-secret mission, but even with all her abilities to search for information, she had no idea what exactly that mission was, and when the black hedgehog would come back. If he really would come back... Because, apparently, his emerald remained at the base.

They still haven't found the last, seventh emerald. Two were at the Resistance, one at G.U.N. HQ and the other three…

Three emeralds were in the hands of the invaders.

No one knew why the machines needed them, but it seemed that this was the real reason for their appearance. They scoured for the remaining gems, methodically exploring the planet's surface and leaving devastated cities behind.

So far, the heroes have managed to successfully hide, secretly moving from base to base with two small gems and the Master Emerald in their hands. But how long will their luck last? Several times the drones had already spotted them, and it took a lot of effort to throw them off the tail. The next time could always be the last.

There was still a chance that with four emeralds they could somehow return the other three. And it looked like here it is, this chance: they have the key, they can get through the shield, and all that is needed is not to rush and think over the plan.

Why did he still not understand it?

Tails took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the keycard in his hand. 

“Even if so,” he said firmly, defiantly looking the blue hero in the eyes, “I won’t give you the key. It's too dangerous.”

The blue hero's face showed genuine confusion. For several seconds they stood in complete silence, glaring at each other. And then Sonic closed his eyes and raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture.

“Okay, okay,” he capitulated, “You’re right, let’s discuss it tomorrow.”

“Really?” Tails widened his eyes in surprise.

“Yeah,” the hedgehog grunted, “I got too excited. You know that I often make hasty decisions…”

"...without thinking over the situation to the end," Tails continued with a smile, quoting the words that Knuckles often repeated after the next reckless act of the blue hero.

Sonic spread his arms out to the sides, admitting the truth, and Tails breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the prudence of Hero Mobius played into their hands this time. He hoped that by the morning his position would change at least a little, and he could calmly listen to the other’s arguments. Tails himself ran out of them.

The fox kid went to the work table and pulled out the top drawer to put the key card there. Then he turned back to Sonic, not noticing how he quickly looked away from the drawer.

“Go sleep,” continued Tails, looking at the blue hero with a soft care in his eyes, “At least try - even this kind of rest will do you good.”

“Sure, I'll try,” the hedgehog smiled with the corner of his lips, “And you deserve a rest too - it's quite late.” He patted the fox on the head with a habitual gesture and headed for the exit.

“Or early - depending on how you look at it,” Tails smiled back, following him with his gaze.

‘Well, it could’ve been worse.’ The little fox shook his head wearily as soon as the steps of the blue hero died away around the corner. At least he had time to rest and put his thoughts in order. If, of course, he could fall asleep now.

The little fox literally collapsed onto the nearest box with equipment, which in recent days served him as an impromptu bed, unable not only to go to his bed in the residential part of the base, but even to lift the blanket that had slipped to the floor. Contrary to his fears, as soon as his head touched the pillow, he immediately fell asleep. Deep and without any dreams.

In the morning, his internal clock woke him up at exactly nine o'clock. Yawning and rubbing his eyes, Tails thoughtfully noted the strange sensation: a vague memory, as if someone stroked his head. Left over from yesterday? Strange. And doubly strange, he noticed belatedly, that he was carefully covered with a blanket, which was definitely on the floor when he went to bed.

Who could-?

He jumped up abruptly, throwing the blanket aside. Then slid to the floor, ran to the table, tore the drawer towards himself with trembling hands and, looking inside, froze in horror.

The key was absent.

A strange sound, like an incipient cry, escaped from the young genius's throat. He already understood, could feel that the irreparable had happened, but still didn’t let the panic rising inside him to take over. The key must be here, it just had to. Because if not…

“Tails?” 

A voice suddenly coming from behind made him flinch. He turned to face Amy standing in the aisle.

“Y-yes?” the fox squeezed nervously, foreseeing her next question.

“Have you seen Sonic?” asked the pink hedgehog, frowning, “I've been looking for him all morning. Thought maybe he’s at your place.”

Oh, no.

“Knuckles is about to snap - someone took one of the emeralds, and… Tails?”

No no no.

A terrible foreboding of impending disaster filled him and the floor suddenly slipped from under his feet. He had to grab the edge of the table to keep from falling, but his weak limbs couldn’t hold him straight, and he slowly sagged down to the ground.

This can’t be happening.

“Tails!” An agitated cry barely broke through the ringing in his ears, but he paid no attention to it.

A single thought persistently beat in his temples.

.

.

‘What have I done?’