Last Call

"Ow….where….where am ?" I groaned. Every part of my body was aching; I suppose the guys had to make everything look convincing.

It took my eyes a few seconds to re-adjust to the room's lighting. Once I could see I noticed how grim of a situation I was in. I was strapped to a gurney and couldn't move my arms or legs. I tried to move my head, but that was impossible as well. It seemed to me Robotnik had thought of everything this time.

"Ahhh Tails, so glad that you could join us. Did you have a restful nap?"

I would have glared at the tub of lard, but I couldn't so I just didn't give him a response. When I didn't dignify him with a response he got in my face.

"I don't think you understand the situation you are in my dear boy. I know what you were trying to do. Do you think I am dumb enough to just let you WALTZ into my home and kill me? I don't think so."

I began to sweat and some grey dye fell into my eyes. "Then….what did you do to the others? If you knew…that I was here with friends…..what happened to them?"

"They are no longer any of your concern Tails. I have made them into my willing pawns. As a matter of fact, the two huskies tied you to this gurney. Isn't that nice to know. Knowing your only friends in the entire world betrayed you?"

"If you made them into your slaves then they aren't my friends." I said as I closed my eyes and shed a single tear….that was more than I dared do.

Robotnik pulled a lever and my gurney moved up so I could see the entire room. I noticed right away that the three boys no longer had free will. You could see it in their faces. Not to mention they had been stripped of their police jackets and were standing ramrod straight with their chests puffed out. It pained me to see anyone this way, but it hurt me deep inside to see the only friends I had left in the entire world be put under Robotnik's power.

"So what are you going to do to me Robotnik? I have nothing left to take. You've taken everything from me now."

Robotnik smiled. "Oh I haven't taken everything. I want your soul as well. I want you to obey everything I tell you and watch as you follow me like an obedient dog. It would be the final embarrassment to you and my final victory against you and your pathetic rebels…Oh wait…you are the last one."

I watched as Joey brought Robotnik the serum that could only be to bring me under his power.

"Don't worry, soon your body will be at ease. You'll thank me for this."

"Tails….NO!" Carson said as he shot the serum out of Robotnik's hand. I watched wide-eyed as Joey quickly loosened the binds that held me. I quickly ran over with Bryce and Carson. Joey also quickly bounded over and joined us. Robotnik was completely baffled at what had just occurred.

"How is this possible? I made you into my servants. You should be following my commands."

I watched as Joey stepped forward. "We serve no one Robotnik. Tails made us strong enough to block your mind control. We would never serve you."

Carson aimed and fired his rifle at Robotnik and there was no effect on the dictator.

"Did you really think that I'd not come prepared myself? I've had more than one assination attempt occur these past six years. I will agree that this is the most interesting attempt yet. However, it is still a failure."

Robotnik snapped his fingers and several of his slaves came to his side and made it impossible to get a clean shot. One of the slaves was Knuckles…I couldn't believe it. After all these years there he was and loyal to Robotnik.

"What's the matter Tails? Does this bother you? If you want to kill me you'll have to kill him!"

I clinched my fists and looked down at the ground. "If that is what it takes."

I took the rifle from Carson and took down all the slaves around Robotnik. Then, before Robotnik could react I aimed for his head and fired. The bullet found its mark and his head exploded like a melon. I fell to the ground in a heap and cried.

I had done it. I had finally done it.

Then I heard footsteps and clapping.

The three boys stood beside me and we waited to see just who was clapping.

Then, Elias came from the shadows and looked at all of us. He walked over to Joey and ran his gloved hand down the boy's naked chest.

"Amazing Tails, you did a good job creating these things. They will come in handy now that Robotnik is dead and I can take over."

I just stared at Elias. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"What's wrong Tails? Didn't think I had survived? Well thanks to Knuckles I did survive. That is why I saved him and let him serve us. I am going to extend that offer to you and your friends as well. I could use some good lieutenants to help me keep order."

I spat in Elias's face. I still couldn't form a complete sentence because I was so enraged. I noticed Carson and Bryce both were ready to pounce at any second. However I was afraid that they would be changed if they even got near him.

Before Elias could wipe his face I attacked him. Little did I know how strong he was. I landed several blows, but he kicked me off of him and I slid into the wall. I couldn't get up and the next thing I knew Elias pulled a gun and shot me in the stomach.

"Tails….you fool….you could have had anything and everything had you just joined me. Robotnik was just a fool, but me? I am already a prince. It wouldn't take long for everyone to obey us."

I knew it was over. "You…killed your best friends and sister….just for power….how…how could you?"

Elias shrugged. "I did what was necessary to make my plans work."

I tried to get up, but I was already getting weak. I felt Carson and Bryce pick me up and carry me. However, I knew what I had to do. I was a relic of a past era. They didn't need me to change things…they just need a chance.

"Carson….Bryce…Joey….let me go….just let me ask a favor."

The three boys looked at me. "What is the favor?"

I began to cry. "Don't let me be painted in a bad light in the history books. Let everyone know about Sonic and everyone…let them know we did everything we could."

Joey shook his head. "Tails…you can tell everyone that. You are going to live!"

I fell back to the ground and desperately grabbed the rifle that I had killed Robotnik with. I looked at Elias as he laughed at me.

"Tails, you don't have the strength to finish me off! Just die already so I can enslave your friends!"

Bryce however, did have the strength. I watched as the husky ran at Elias and pulled his blade. Elias had no time to dodge and was killed instantly.

I was glad to see that my people were almost free….all that was left was destroying the tower. I knew that if the three of them stayed with me then they would die too. I looked at my bleeding torso and sighed. There was only one thing to do.

"Carson…Bryce…Joey…leave this place…I've got to finish the job. There is no way I am going to survive. Let me finish things. I have been dreaming of this moment for six years."

The three boys didn't want to leave me. "Fine….take me to the central hub quickly….I'll blow it up and you can escape."

"But…father…." Bryce said sadly.

"Guys….you have to understand that I love all of you…..but it is time to let me go. I'll always be there….just…please help me do this. Remember its not goodbye….its see you some other time. One day…we will see each other again."

Once again the boys didn't agree, but did as I asked. I was carried to the central hub as my friends killed any remaining officers. After the boy's dropped me I turned and waved them off.

"Leave….I am setting this to blow in five minutes.

"Tails…think about this…just a second…we need you." Carson said.

I shook my head. "If you really needed me, you wouldn't have survived so long without me. Let me go."

Reluctantly, they left me. I slowly crawled to the computer and hacked into the security files. It was easy to find the self-destruct system. I set it for five minutes and sat back.

"Sonic….I'll see you again soon."

I watched as the countdown hit 10 seconds….this was it.

Then five seconds.

I closed my eyes as I heard explosions rock the tower.

"Finally I can go home"

Third person view

The three boys made it out with seconds to spare. Each boy looked at the ground sadly. They had lost the only father they had. However, they didn't have much time to morn as a large crowd had gathered to watch the tower fall.

"Citizens" Carson yelled. "Robotnik is gone. We are free again! The war is really finally over!"

The three boys stood and watched as the population began cheering. It was finally over. Everyone could move on with their lives.

Bryce heard a man in the crowd began chanting. "Freedom!"

Within moments the three boys were being carried off as heroes by the crowd. Joey looked at his two friends and gave a thumbs up. The two huskies looked at each other and reminded each other that they would remind everyone who really saved them.

However for now; they would celebrate as thirty years of tyranny had come to an end.

Twenty years later. Mobian Military Academy

"Can anyone in this class explain why Robonik was finally able to be defeated?" Sergeant Collins said as he walked around his class of new recruits. "Was it really done by a small group?"

One of the cadets raised his hand. "No it couldn't have been. Robotnik had too much security. I think it was a mass attack of the rebel forces. They finally must have just bled him out."

Sergeant Collins began to answer, but noticed someone in the back of the room.

"Ah, perhaps you can give us the right answer General?"

All the cadets turned around and noticed Carson, Bryce and Joey standing there.

"Cadets we have a treat today! These three have proven themselves time and time again during the time between the fall of Robotnik and the reconstruction period. It is an honor to be able to actually see them."

One of the cadets stood and saluted the three men. However, Carson moved forward.

"You want to really know how Robonik was defeated? Does anybody know the real answer?"

The entire class was silent. Everything from that day had been labeled classified until that very day.

"Tails Prower and the Freedom fighters were the real heroes. Sonic and his friends protected Tails and made him strong. He in turn made us strong and made the ultimate sacrifice in order for all of us to be free. If you salute anyone, it should be them. Not us. We were only pawns in this war. Without Tails, we would all still be enslaved."

Collins nodded his head. "Yes…we were informed today that Tails and his friends were not really the wanted criminals we were always told. Apparently there is to be a statue dedication to them today."

The three men nodded. "That is why we are here. Get your cadets ready. It is starting soon."

Several hours past and finally the entire academy was standing in the main entrance. Several people that didn't know the freedom fighters talked about how great they were and then finally they revealed the statue. The three warriors looked at the statue of their father and his friends and tears began to flow from all of their eyes. It had taken the men fifteen years but they finally cleared the freedom fighter name and made them the heroes that they deserved to be.

The three then turned and saluted their father. As they did the entire academy did as well. After several seconds a 21 gun salute began and the brass band began to play the hymn for the fallen.

"Tails…we did it….we made you a hero." Joey whispered.

"Carson…do you think Tails is watching?" Bryce asked.

"Yeah…I think right now all of the freedom fighters are looking down on us."

Bryce nodded. "Do you think he's proud of us?"

Carson stood and watched the massive amount of people saluting his long dead father.

"Yeah…I think he is…I think he is."

END