Miles was watching him with the same bored expression.

"So?" inquired him Sonic.

"Whatever."

"You are on!" The blue hedgehog tightened his fist and jumped on the board. There he almost lost a balance, as this was even his first time standing on it. He almost lost the bet before starting the engine. "Good," he muttered once he got a confidence in his posture. He slowly pressed the acceleration button under his left heel, and the board bolted forward. He screamed as it surprised him, bursting through bushes like nothing.

"Watch out!" he screamed, as he had no chance to avoid collision with Amy.
His board was flying right to her. She shrieked as Eclipse hugged her, leaping to safety with her and landing on the grass. Sonic missed them by a centimeter and was gone before she could lift her head.

"What was that?" she asked, watching in the direction Sonic went.
"ExGear," replied Brian who hurried to her side and helped her to get up. "But I never saw one so fast," he added.
"Amy," Eclipse silently called her. "Sorry." He gestured to her dress that had green stains and was ripped at two places.

She checked it. "Aw, that is okay. You protected me, so it's not your fault," she smiled at him, "unlike a certain hedgehog can claim." Her face darkened, and a sweat drop appeared on demon's forehead.

Meanwhile Sonic was like in heaven. The board was so fast he was leaving just a blue line behind. Well, he was faster than it, but it was an awesome feeling. The wind was running through his quills, bringing his excitement to the maximum. His body got in a second adrenaline rush he couldn't hide.

"Yahoo!!" he shouted, jumping over a bush and zigzagging between trees. He attempted to do a loop in the air. The world spun around him, but the landing was perfect. That gave him a lot of confidence, and the approaching gazebo was the perfect obstacle to test his skills. He smirked, lifting the board off the ground, feeling how he landed on the roof with the board continuing forward.

He leaped in the air, grabbing his board with one arm, spinning until he landed. That made him a bit wobbly for a moment, but he soon regained his original speed. Just for fun, he made sharp turns over a flower bed, destroying many plants, but he didn't care, having too much fun. That led to a collision with a fountain as he wrongly guessed the right distance for a jump.

Instead of overcoming it, he landed on the top, pushing the water stream back, before it fired him into the sky. Suddenly, it felt like everything slowed down. His eyes could see only the bright moon, he stretched his arm toward it, feeling it was within his reach. The moment he was ready to grasp it, he noticed his body was descending, and the time started to flow normally.

"Whoah!!" he yelled, feeling his stomach was for a moment trying to jump from his mouth. The landing was a bit bumpy, but he didn't fall. He clenched his fists, bursting forward.

Of course, his ride didn't go unnoticed, and soon guards were trying to catch him. They yelled at him to halt, but Sonic naturally ignored them. It would mean to stop his awesome ride, and he would be in great trouble if they would succeed. On top of that, he was sure his boss would chew him for it, not to mention Amy was much closer. He jumped over another bush, approaching the goal line.

"Hey, Tails!" he shouted and waved at the young fox. Suddenly, the board lost an altitude, burrowing into the ground and flinging Sonic forward. He had no time to stretch his arms, so he fell face front into the dirt. "Ugh! Yuck!" he mumbled, spitting the soil. His body jerked, and he uttered a painful moan, as the board actually catch-up to him, landing on his head. He rubbed the sore place, standing up. "Man, that was one awesome ride!"

"Sonic!" called him Amy, rushing towards him. "What were you doing?"

The blue hedgehog was so geeking out, he overheard her angry tone, so he happily answered, "Checking out the most coolest ExGear ever!" He hugged it, and the pink lady would swear she saw hearts hovering above his head.

"Guards are coming!" Eclipse warmed them as he heard and smelled them running their way.
"Time to scram!" Sonic muttered with a stiffed smile. He grabbed the board and Miles, pushing him into the driver cabin while he put the board in the cargo space and took place next to the fox. Miles started the engine, heading further into the garden. The demon simply climbed into tree roof.

Those guards soon arrived, questioning Amy and Brian. The girl played very scared lady, having tons of complaints about her ruined dress, and that made the guards quickly leave her alone, which was exactly her intention. The sokina provided only vague information about someone quickly passing them while they were enjoying a peaceful stroll after a dance.

The guards searched the garden since they also got reports about a speeding car and destroyed bushes. However, they were left puzzled as no vehicle drove through any gate. They would never imagine Miles' vehicle was capable of hovering just like ExGear and overcoming a short distance thanks to it. It was one more reason for Sonic to geek out.

When they got home, it was a late night, but nobody, except for Miles who went to his room once they arrived, was in a mood to go sleep. They had so much to discuss, so they sat down around tea table in a small saloon, enjoying tea Brian's maid made for them. Amy made sure to lecture Sonic for his dangerous ride. She wasn't really angry at him, but this was her way to hide her excitement and a wish to try it at least once too.

Sonic slurped his tea, mentioning, "Tails is awesome, but it's a shame he doesn't smile."

"Tails?" Amy asked puzzled who he was referring to.

He grinned. "Yeah, that's a nickname I gave him because he has two tails."

She looked a bit worried. "Sonic, I don't think it's a good idea to call him that way."
"How come?" His ears perked.
Brian took a sip of his tea, carefully listening. He was also thinking there was no harm in such nickname, but he was sure there was more to that boy.

Amy started to explain, "From what I have heard, he never showed any emotions. He even didn't cry when he was born, and it made everybody worried. His two tails weren't making it easier for him either. He grew up in a small village that had only limited contact with outside world.

His folks weren't bad people, but villagers pressed them into getting rid of their son because they believed he was possessed, or that a demon switched him for a fake baby. He was lucky agents of The Order found him before the situation got ugly.

They took him with them to the Albion City, and it was soon revealed he wasn't possessed, he was born with a strange personality. When I have met him, I immediately saw his soul was empty and colorless. I tried to connect with him, but I failed." She made a small pause to take a sip of her tea before continuing, "You may be unknowingly hurting him by giving him such nickname."

Sonic's ears flopped down. He really thought those tails were cool. "Maybe he doesn't mind," he said after a while. "When we were on the run, he mumbled something like, Tails, huh?" He scratched his muzzle.

"Really?" Amy exclaimed before thinking about it. He usually provided no response to anything non-technical. She smiled. "Maybe he needed to meet someone who runs first and thinks a lot later."

The blue blur stuck his tongue out. She giggled in response, it was fun to tease him. They enjoyed the calm atmosphere for a few more minutes before the urge for sleep was slowly overtaking their bodies. Thankfully, their rooms were prepared, and they could plunge into beds and fall asleep in the next minute. The only one not going to a bed was Eclipse who used this opportunity to write in his diary.

Around the same time, in unknown place stood a white echidna man in a black cloak in front of a huge glass tube. Inside of it was greenish liquid and some humanoid creature that defined all rules of anatomy, having multiple limbs growing from a seemingly random spot, and its head was heavily deformed. Thin tubes were stabbed into its body pouring some substance inside.

He was observing it, checking something on the paper he was holding when the creature in that tube started to squirm. Its body was jerking and twitching like something was trying to escape from inside until it burst. Its body was reduced to a yucky mess pressing against the glass. However, the white echidna looked bored not batting an eye.

"Sheesh, another failure. I swear the quality is dropping down," he mumbled in a deep voice. He pushed a button on the panel under the tube, flushing the content. He glanced the three rings he had around his wrists. He rubbed one, cleaning it a bit. He looked around the room which was filled with similar tubes, holding grotesque creatures. He walked alongside them, silently clanging with three rings that were around his ankles as well. Without them his steps would be silent, as his feet were covered by bandages, silencing any sound.

From time to time he frowned as he was checking them. He was reading papers that were attached to every tube, and it seemed most of the results were average at the best.
This way he controlled about eight tubes before looking over his shoulder, seeing a fiery figure standing behind him. "Can't you see I'm busy?" he asked annoyed someone was disturbing him.

"I have the requested information about that person," she answered, slightly closing her ice cold eyes that were in contrast with red shades. She was maybe a bit taller than him, but it might because of the mane that was made of light blue flickering flames.

The echidna swiftly snatched the papers she was holding, barking, "Finally! What took you so long?" He tossed the other papers away, reading the new ones.

The woman adjusted her red bracelet before answering, "It wasn't easy. I had to sneak into the central archive." She swung with her long lion-like tail which was burning with light blue flame like her mane. Actually, it seemed her whole body was in flames
He taunted her with his hand, gesturing she was babbling. "Whatever."

This gesture made her flames burst for a second, but the scientist was so immersed in the document he paid her no attention. She balled her fists, tightly clenching them before wiping her palms into her gray trousers that were part of her uniform. Other than that she had sleeveless short-top, so her belly was exposed, showing a thin red line on her hips that was slowly glowing. The same burning line was on her arms.

She turned around and left this dim place once she wiped her red gem on shoes clean as some gooey substance got onto it. She hated him, he was unpredictable and weird, but she had her orders, and so she had to do everything to fulfill them, even if it meant risking her life for this madman.
The echidna didn't try to stop her, as he was now smirking like crazy. He kept reading that papers over and over until he burst into laughter that filled the vast room, echoing back. He was so busy with his laughter he didn't notice three subjects exploded in their tubes, slowly flowing down.

It took him long minutes before he calmed down, muttering, "This is perfect. This is the best subject I can ever get!" With dance-like steps, he flushed down the failures, entering the darkness that was hiding most of the room.

Nothing of it was known to Amy and her friends when they two days later after the noon returned to Albion City. Their first steps took them to the headquarters of The Order. That place was as busy as ever once they entered the secret area. Amy exchanged greetings with a few agents she knew, and Eclipse mumbled some words too.

This wasn't his second visit. During the past year, he visited this place for a few times, but he was unable to get used to goosebumps-feeling the holy aura was giving him. He reached into his pocket, throwing a cookie into his mouth, munching it. The sweetness was helping him to ease his mind.

After a couple of minutes, they reached the main office where mister Nigel was residing. Once they knocked, they heard his cheerful voice, calling them to come in, so they did. Eclipse glanced at the closing door, not understanding how it can be done without touching them. Then again, he thought it might be thanks to ring technology as it was capable of quite wonders.

They stopped five or six steps in front of the heavy table, and Amy announced their arrival using their code names, "Agent Fairy and Raisin are reporting for duty."
The squirrel man nodded with a smile. "Your timing is perfect."

Eclipse's nostrils opened a bit as he inhaled the smell coming from his boss. It was a strong odor of anticipation and urgency. His yellow eyes drifted toward Silver who was standing behind the table on Nigel's right side, reading some papers.

The hedgehog's stern expression was never showing emotions, making him scary and cold-blooded, and the demon was sure that's how he was inside. Their first encounter left him with burned legs that thankfully completely healed; however, Eclipse was sure his legs turned hot from time to time, remembering the past pain. He shifted his attention to the boss once he heard about their new mission.

"I wanted to give you a different mission," Nigel started, folding his fingers into a big ball, "but this matter is more important. Agent Silver," he nodded towards the silver hedgehog of S-rank, "will be again your partner."

The amber eyes, Silver had, were lifted from the papers, burrowing into the duo. Eclipse gulped a bit, slightly lowering his head, but Amy raised her chin, knitting her eyebrows.

The silver hedgehog smirked, saying, "Get ready, we will departure in half of the hour." His voice was showing how much he wasn't thrilled for the next hours. He walked toward Amy, handing her the report he already memorized, leaving the office.

The duo then left the office too after making sure there was nothing else for them. On the way to their rooms, they have got after becoming agents, Amy was reading that report, giving the papers she had read to Eclipse, so he could have the same information.

Once the demon finished reading, he looked at his partner. She was frowning, and her happy attitude was gone. He bit his lower lip because if that report was right, it meant they might be meeting an old enemy. A really creepy person that was able to escape because of his incompetence.

His hand clenched papers, and Amy's fingers gently covered his, softly saying, "It will be alright. We will get him this time." Her voice was firm, and he nodded. "So, how much make-up can a girl put in her bag in less than twenty-five minutes?" she jokingly asked.

That question made him crack a smile, replying, "Enough to knock anybody with its weight."

She giggled, and they hurried to their rooms to prepare before can Silver have another reason to look down at them.