"Don't worry, frail citizen!" Sonic announced. "I've come to rescue you!"

Shadow glared at him angrily, then looked to the floor. "It's...humiliating being rescued by your rival."

"Eh, don't feel bad! We all have our weak points!" Sonic bent down, preparing to spindash.

"Sonic, NO!" Shadow and Tails shouted in unison. They looked at each other, then Tails continued. "That's the primary post. If you knock that out, the whole place will come down on us."

"Hmm, Egghead never was good at architecture... so what do we do?"

"If Miles can get this collar off, I should be able to get myself loose without damaging the post." Shadow informed.
He bent his head back as Tails looked over the collar.

"Hmm...I'll get my tools. Sonic, stand guard and beat up any robots that come in here."

"Roger!" Sonic dashed towards the door, and Tails quickly returned with his tools.

"Now hold still, I don't want this to hurt you when I take it off."

"It's not like I can go anywhere..." Shadow groaned. He leaned his head against the post, until with a sharp snap it released him, and he felt his strength coming back. "Okay, stand back, Tails...Rrrrraugh!" He snapped the chains then got up to his feet.
"Okay, let's just- wha-oh!" He yelped as his legs collapsed out from under him, dropping him to his knees.

"Let me get you to your apartment, Shadow." Tails offered. "You're not quite ready to get back on your own."

Shadow groaned, "...Alright, but only if the Blue Hedgehog doesn't talk the entire way there."

"Deal."

Sonic crossed his arms. "Come on!"

"Then let's go."

...........................................................

Silver's eyelids fluttered open, though it wasn't long before he felt the pain and winced. "Ah...!"

"Silver!?" Blaze quickly entered his sight, her eyes red with tears. "Can you hear me, Silver?"

Silver smiled, taking her hand. "Yeah...I feel terrible..."

"You were hit pretty badly... I'm glad you're okay, though." She carefully helped him to his feet. "Can you make it to town? We need to tell Sonic about this."

"As long as those guys don't come back... I still can't believe they can take out my powers..."

"We'll figure something out..." Blaze led him out of the safehouse into the morning sunlight, where there was no evidence of the attack.

"Let's make sure they never attack anyone again..."

.............................................................

"You got the blanket?"

"Check."

"Flashlight?"

"Check."

"Extra food- Oh! Like those chocolate bars with the nuts in them and then the whole thing's covered in-"

The hedgehog slammed the bag shut. "LG! For once, stop talking about food and focus! Her men are already on the move and the Queen's putting her messages in as we speak. If we don't leave now, we'll miss the plane and never get to them in time!"

LG sighed, "Right...sorry. I'm just nervous. I've never been on a plane before- well, actually that's not true. I rode on Tails' plane, but that wasn't enclosed, and it was just me and Tails and Son-"

"Okay, I get it." He zipped up the bag. "I don't trust your 'tunneling' strategy very much, so we're flying over there. Come on, if we hurry it up, we can stop at the candy store in the airport before we board."

"Sweet! I love that plan!" He grinned, "I can't wait to see Sonic again... and the other Faes too."

"Me too, LG, me too..."