Prologue

He was a cop. A good cop. At least that's what Miles "Tails" Prower told himself as he stared into the darkness outside his small, prefab home. From this distance, the deserted suburban streets seemed safe, but Tails knew better. Beneath the silence, behind the shadows, things were ready to explode. Still, he took the transfer like the good cop that he was. He sudden remembered his father and instinctively took a step back from the window. His father, had been killed that way, looking out a window. Back when Station Square first started to slip.

Maybe it started when the feds had cut off loans and were urging cities on Mobius to fend for themselves, seventeen years ago. The problem was that most of the major cities on the planet dominated by the anthropomorphic furries were strapped tighter than a snare drum. Station Square, like its sister city on Earth, Detroit, snapped. Social programs were whittled to nothing. The poor didn't understand that. They took to the street to vent their anger. Prower's family had lived in what was known as Old Station Square which started out as a village called West Island, back then. There had been families there back then, who had clung to their hopes and dreams all their lives. Prower's father had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sniper. Bang. Hiss. The tinkling of shattered glass. That was the end of Amadeus Alexander Miles Prower.

Dying, his father seemed almost amazed and amused by it all. He had moved to West Station Square to make a fortune working in the airplane factories after years dragging it out in the Knothole Conflict as a tightly wound lieutenant in the Royal Army. Then the aircraft industry went under and the elder Prower wound up working for the new Earth company in town, Omni Consumer Products. Grunt work. But the insurance had paid for the funeral. Nice, ornate coffin. Prerequisite flowers with the machine-copied signatures of faceless executive cronies. His father had stared up into his startled 8 year old son's eyes and whispered "Son of a gun." He had shrugged, smiled and died.

Tails sighed. OCP had turned out to be Station Square's savior of sorts. New housing projects. New jobs. When the city found itself bankrupt, unable to even pay the cops less than six years ago, OCP marched in and simply privatized the struggling police force. They now paid the police. And the fire department followed shortly after, and then the sanitation crew. The pay was hardly crap but hell, at least they paid you on time. Prower heard gunshots behind him. Instinctively, he whirled around. Spotting the source, he relaxed. Five-year old Kyle Reese Prower was sprawled in front of the TV, watching reruns of an old 2000 cop show, T.J Lazer. It was his favorite. Tails tried not to smirk as the human cop on the tube gunned down half a dozen thugs, twirled his guns and replaced them in his holsters. The pot bellied Lazer with his William Shatner toupee would have been dead meat (or fur) in the troubled Station Square districts in five seconds. The scene that Tails was heading into tomorrow.

Tails felt his stomach tighten slightly. He was tense, but he'd screwed if he'd let it show in front of his family. It was bad enough that he brought the nightmares home, the images of screaming faces, battered cars and streams of blood and tears. He wasn't going to show weakness or worry in front of his blue-furred kit or his deep orange furred wife, Dawn. He glanced at the window, and saw his own reflection in the twitching light of the TV. He jumped, for that one second the face he saw was the face of his father. He had the same styled white muzzle, and deep blue eyes, then this lips, eager to smile but not knowing how to relax that much anymore. He forced himself to laugh at his own uneasiness. Twenty-five years old and he was turning into a wiener. He nearly laughed out loud. Welcome to the Wiener Club, Miles.

Dawn walked into the room. "Dinner will be ready in a minute." she said. Their eyes met. She knew how jumpy he felt. They'd been together since high school and developed a friendship that blossomed into love. Tails forced himself to smile at his modestly stunning wife and rubbed his stomach. "Great babe..I could eat a horse." Dawn smiled in return. "I'm sure you could. Will pot roast do?" Miles nodded. "I suppose I can force myself." He stared at his son, still watching the tube. Kyle laughed. "I can if Dad can."

Dawn walked out towards the kitchen. "A couple of wiseguys." Miles watched Kyle get up and Tails' own gaze locked onto the TV as it switched programs. A tall man in a suit of armor holding a very big machine pistol was wading through the troubled streets of Detroit. RoboCop. Now that was reality TV. He stared at the screen and shuddered. Robo had it easy, being bulletproof and armed to the teeth.

But Prower didn't. That was for sure.

Chapter 1
West Station Square
10:09 PM

A full moon shone down on Station Square, giving it a dead, eerie glow. Four monolithic skyscrapers towered above in Central Station Square, the future gazing down with disdain upon the last crumbling remnants of the past. Most of the city was long asleep, but in Station Square, there was a feral street life at all hours. Officers Vector and Espio guided their Ford TurboCruiser down a deserted street. They were rehashed 2000 Ford Taurus police cruisers that were souped up with bubble-gum and coat hanger tricks by the mechanical minded bored desk cops forced to sit back because of some injury or other problem. Two blocks ahead of Vector and Espio, another 'Cruiser hummed. Vector and Espio were watching the back door tonight. They didn't mind, it was monotonous work but in this sector, monotony was welcome.

They watched the stubby 'Cruiser ahead of them disappear down another corner. The cars weren't much to look at but they kicked the hell out of the streets, their Taurus engines sounding like banshees screaming when they were revved. The alligator and the chameleon furry cops allowed themselves to be lulled into a sense of security. Above them, slowly flickering spotlights casually reflected off buildings and badly maintained storefronts. A garish, tattered billboard caught Espio's eye. It was an old OCP one promising a lot of great benefits for humans to colonize Mobius. Now even space travel was old hat.

Vector glanced at the small computer mounted on the dashboard as he drove. Readouts, more readouts. He twisted his large scaly body in the seat in a vain effort to get comfortable. His tail was curled in an awkward position, because of the uniform, which was a literal pain in the ass. Padded armor suits, high impact plastic crash helmets with plastiglass faceshields. He tried to find a position that would put a little less pressure on his already coffee-tortured bladder. Fat chance of that bud. He sank into his seat and just pissed the night away. Literally.

Vector and Espio took the corner easily. The lead car was once again in view. Far ahead of the first car, a shadow glided across the street. Espio tensed. Gut reaction. He wondered whether Charmy and his human partner Alcott, caught it. He then began to muse about the last guy of the Chaotix Cops, Mighty. The armadillo had cracked with what the Station Square cops called Blue-Quill Syndrome, after what happened to former Station Square police sergeant Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic was an easy going cop, a big hero back when Dr.Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik, was trying to knock everything down and put Mobius deeper in the crap. But the stress caught up to the then 21 year old hedgehog and Sonic cracked worse than an egg. He had switched sides, becoming chummy with the 'Square's biggest cocaine Realtor, Shadow. Shadow as another hedgehog, black as night with various red splotches pockmarking his fur. The last thing they knew, Mighty had even joined Sonic's camp.

The radio of their cruiser squawked to life. Someone at the ComLink dispatch center had spotted the blip on the radar as well. "Got a rabbit running East on Hoover Street. Check it out Unit 216." The lead car sputtered a reply.

"Roger, chickencrap sir, over." A laugh and a buzz. That would be Charmy. He worked very hard at taking very little seriously. "Relax pal..." Charmy says, the bee-furry directing that to Vector and Espio. "We got you guys on the grid." Vector relaxed somewhat. The runner ahead of the lead car was beeping steadily on the computerized map of the area. The lead car increased its speed and pulled around another corner out of sight. A glowing blue ball with several gray others on the second car's dashboard indicated the guys out there. From the map, Espio could see that the point cruiser was getting nearer to the prey.

Just routine stuff, probably winos. Still, they were pretty lively for drunks. Vector took the ComLink microphone from the dash. "See anything Alcott?" From the point car, Alcott's voice spoke out. "Looks like a woman, man. A chameleon." The African-American let a small snort escape into the airwaves. Espio stared ahead, flashing Vector a bemused look. They heard laughter from the first car.

"Jesus Charmy, pinch me. Am I crazy or is she stark raving naked?" Alcott continued. Charmy feigned shock. "She's holding a sign.." he buzzed, "It says free blow jobs." Vector and Espio smirked at each other, recognizing the old joke. Alcott boomed over the radio. "Oh my god Espio...it's...it's YOUR WIFE!" Vector eased off the gas. Wiseasses. He could hear them laughing hysterically over the radio. Then, a stifled noise emerged from his left. Abruptly, the laughter stopped. A hoarse cry blurted forth from the radio. Espio leaned forward and whacked the ComLink. Nothing but static.

On the Hunter map, the red dot that was the lead TurboCruiser suddenly burst. Espio snorted. "crap." The purple chameleon furry closed his eyes for a second. Vector slammed on the gas, whizzing down the corner Unit 216 took. He was tired of this war on the streets routine. He slammed on the brakes and gazed at the street before him. Espio unsnapped the riot shotgun from the dash without thinking, trying to control the nausea bubbling within him. Not ten feet before them was the twisted burning remains of the Ford. The bodies of Charmy and Alcott were sprawled on their streets. Charmy was literally splattered, and Alcott was positioned awkwardly like a rag doll. An ominous cloud of black, putrid smoke erupted from the shattered engine.

Vector fought to keep control. He barked into the ComLink, "Officers down. Unit 217 requests backup and Medivac." The reply came in a hail of static, and was short and to the point. "Unit 217. All available units presently engaged. Proceed as PCU. MediVac request acknowledged." Espio pounded his fist on the dash. "Great...Clint Eastwood time." He eased the passenger door open. "Come on.." he snarled. "I'll..cover you." Vector and Espio slowly opened their doors and slammed them shut. Whoever blew up the 'Cruiser in front of them, was a group of hardcore nutcases. Whoever it was, was probably out there, watching them now. Espio stood before the car, turning in slow circles. The mounted flashlight on the shotgun he held sent a small circle of light playing across the abandoned buildings. While he cased the area, Vector approached the burning cruiser, his faceshield down.

He gazed at the splattered yellow, black and blue mess that was Espio. Charmy the Bee, Chaotix Cop #3, age 21, on the force for one year. Dead. Espio was still twitching, looking at Vector. "How's Alcott?" Vector moved towards him. "Good as dead." He bent over the shuddering human. Barry Alcott was still alive, barely. His body was beginning to writhe and shake uncontrollably. Convulsive shock. Massive chest wound, christ, Vector could see the man's heart. Vector felt the tears well up into his eyes. Why these guys? Why on a routine patrol? He froze over the body, his anger building. Espio still twitched.

The chameleon moved the flashlight over the same spots over and over again. There seemed to be no one there. But he was still nervous. "C'mon man. Let's get the hell out of here!" he hissed. Then came a faint click. Espio whirled around and was slammed to the ground by a blue blur. He dropped his shotgun, and tried to pick it up and made a mental note to yell at Vector. It was his last real thought. A five shotgun barrage of 00 buckshot blasted his head off. The roar of the shotgun was brief and deadly. Vector turned around and began to shake. His last and best buddy had just bought it. He fired at the blue blur, but missed. It was too fast. And it was too dark. He fired again and continued to shake. The blue blur....

It came at him this time, and this time it just simply knocked him over. Vector raised a gloved hand up, waiting for the shotgun. It didn't come. He blinked and was staring at a blue hedgehog, with emerald green eyes. The hedgehog was wearing a dirty black coat and various other clothes. The 'hog sniffed uncontrollably.

It was Sonic.

Other figures emerged from the shadows. Vector stared at them. A fox, an echinda, two humans and an armadillo that he recognized. It was Mighty and it was Sonic's crew alright. Mighty shook a spray can and bent over the bodies of Espio, Charmy and Alcott, spraying numbers on them with the Day-Glo. 29..30..31..

"How ya feelin'?" Sonic laughed. Vector snarled. "Sonic.." He reached for his dropped shotgun and Sonic laughed a dry wheeze. He then pressed his shotgun to Vector's outstretched arm, at the shoulder and fired. Vector's arm bounced off the pavement bloodily, resting near the shotgun. "Nah..I ain't going to let you get rid of me that easily. I need to pass a message on. And you're going to help me man." Sonic motioned for Mighty the Armadillo with a gray gloved hand. Mighty nodded and approached Vector. He sprayed a number over Vector's head.

32.

"Aw..crap.." Vector said. "Mighty..." His old buddy..was helping set him up for his death. How ironic. Sonic then took the Day-Glo and started to spray a complex pattern beside the crocodile. Vector turned his head, staring at the words Sonic wrote.

"This is a message to these guys' cop buddies. Station Square is my city."

Vector turned his head to stare up at Sonic, who was standing up. The short hedgehog laughed. He raised his shotgun and Vector's pupils tightened up. Sonic laughed again. "Bang!" he crowed. The shotgun boomed and the buckshot shredded Vector's head.

Darkness.

Chapter 2

On the next morning, Prower sat back, sipping coffee as Kyle bounded through the house, on his way back to school after breakfast. Dawn silently stood at the sink, mechanically going through the motions as Prower watched the small TV drone on. If he had any sense, he would have been watching cartoons. Maybe reruns of "Full Metal Alchemist" or something. But he was a news junkie. He couldnt get enough information. Now, he was about to get too much. On the screen, a TV commentator made a determined effort to show the world that he had the most and brightest teeth. Lead anchor Hammish McHaggis should have gotten some award just for the width of his smile. The Scotsman closed his mouth and began his report. "Todays top stories, Pretoria. The threat of nuclear confrontation in Earths South Africa escalated today when the white military government of that besieged city-state, unveiled an Iranian made neutron bomb, and affirmed its willingness to use the four-megaton device as the citys last line of defense. Also the President of the United States made a visit to the SKYNET orbiting.." he squinted at the teleprompted. "Ye spelt it wrong ye, fag!" he yelled to someone off screen and continued.

"Nice.." Tails muttered, getting up and going into the kitchen to toss some extra sugar in his coffee. He had a feeling that hed need every ounce of energy he could muster today. His tour of duty today ran from afternoon to after dark. The TV flickered as a videotape of an angry man running a gauntlet of reporters in from of Station Squares City Hall appeared. "Locally.." McHaggis continued, "Councilman Big the Cat called it quits today, relinquishing his city council seat after being denied a recount in one of the closest elections in this citys history." The videotape ended and Prower found himself staring at the burly Scotsman and his suit. Behind him was a superimposed graphic. The body of Vector with a red "X" slashed over it digitally, in a clean, clever and very commercial manner. It was the type of thing you saw on a Corn Flakes box. Prower felt his chest tighten. He was half-expecting this.

"In other local news, four dead police officers. Police union leaders blame Omni Consumer Products Mobius division, the firm which recently entered into a contract with the Mobius city to run and fund the Station Square Metropolitan Police Department. They claim that, since OCP has entered the police business for the second time, safety procedures have become lax and most precincts are understaffed. Furthermore they insist that the investigation into the killings in the Station Square sectors have been sorely undermanned. Christopher Thorndyke, Division President of OCP Mobius, has this response." McHaggis drones on. The thin, angular face of career executive Thorndyke filled the screen. "Every police officer knows the risks he faces in the field. Ask any cop and theyll tell you about it. If you cant take the heat, then stay out of the kitchen."

The body of Vector appeared again. "The police have examined the crime scene and have added to another 27 with the same M.O. The group responsible is led by this man.." a black and white photo of Sonic toting a shotgun appeared. "Sonic the Hedgehog.. unofficial crime boss of Station Square. Today hes at large while Station Square Metro police officers attempt to contain the crisis." McHaggis raised a beer on his desk and made a fist. "Good luck cops!" he says, with enthusiasm.

The Station Square Metropolitan Police West Precinct station looked more like an armed camp than a precinct house. Bulletholes pockmarked the outside of the building. Most of the Ford TurboCruisers lined up in the street outside boasted dozens of dents and scratches. Prower pulled his gas-guzzling station wagon into the ground-level parking lot, grabbing his athletic bag and opening the door, red tennis shoes meeting gravel and asphalt. The sun beat down on the fox, sweat already rolling down his forehead. He raised one long sleeved hand and wiped it away. He started to walk towards the front entrance where a long line of busybodies were waiting to give the booking officer their life story. A Prisoner Transport Van pulled up to the side through another entrance made available by a sidestreet, and six lowlifes who looked like a collective ragtag group of demons, human and furry, were guided into a fenced in walkway by three tired cops. One of them had a recently broken nose and bloodstains on their face, long made dry by the heat. Tails pushed through a line of drunks at the door and entered the precinct station finally. But he wished hed stayed outside. It was cold. Very cold. The interior of the station made the Black Hole of Calcutta seem cheerful. Cops saddled with prisoners wandered in and out of hallways. Tails then noticed a literal red faced sergeant in his early 30s stare down at the chaos from a slightly elevated desk. The sergeant was an echinda named Knuckles, and he was one of Tails best friends. Scratch that, he was the only friend he had left from his original bunch that didnt go missing, lose contact or just go plain Blue Quill. Knuckles noticed the fox and left his desk, starting towards him. Before he got two feet forward, a fat weasel in a suit strode beside him. Another one, who was slimier than the first, being a bail bondsman and all, stuck behind his buddy. The first weasel, a lawyer, started to groan. "Attempted murder! Its not like he tried to kill anyone. This is a violation of my clients civil rights.." The bail bondsman then circled around his friend to be at Knuckles right. "Make it aggravated assault and I can make bailin cash." He held up several 50 dollar bills up. "Right now!"

Knuckles lip curled and his teeth were bared. He spun around and started to walk in the attorneys path, causing him to step back. "Listen pal" Knuckles spat. "Your clients a scumbagyoure a scumbag, and scumbags see the judge on Monday morning." The attorney then tripped on his own feet and smacked into the bail bondsman. Knuckles rolled his eyes. "Now get out of my police station." He yelled. "And take moneybags with you! Go on!" Tails then had a clear enough path to be at Knuckles side. The fox tapped the echindas uniformed right shoulder. Knuckles then spun around with his fists ready. Then he caught his breath.

"HeyKnux. Relax." Tails says. "When have I ever wanted to hit you? He clapped him on the shoulder and the echinda smiled slowly. "Cmere man." He outstretched his arms and the two embraced, Knuckles laughing. "Welcome to Metro West Prower. Or as I like to call it, my own personal Hell." Tails then raised a sheaf of papers. "Transfer forms." He says. "But I hear theyre useless." Knuckles grabbed the papers. "Well, I should file them away anyways." He started to walk back to his desk and the fox followed. "Although Id love to file them up Christopher Thorndykes ass." Tails snorted and chuckled. "I came here from Metro South." Knuckles also snorted. "Nice precinct. I understand its so smooth down there that theres vending machines stacked against the walls in the locker room. But thats all gone here. No frills. We work for a living down here Miles.." Knuckles fished a pen out of his pocket. "Get your armor and suit up." Tails nodded and turned his head left and right. He didnt know where to go.

"HeySarge." Tails says. Knuckles pointed his pen to the correct hallway without looking. "Call me Sarge again and Ill have you filling paperwork out. Its Knuckles or Knux. You know that!" Tails grinned. "Yeahyeah..I do." He muttered, and slid past a few cops into the hallway Knuckles indicated and a human cop was beside him. "New recruit for Hell, huh? Im Manson." The man looked nearly skeletal and had messy black hair. Tails slid his eyes to the left. "Prower." Manson continued to walk with him, tossing his helmet up into the air. "So what brings you to this little paradise?" Manson turned left into the large locker room and Tails followed behind him. "Have to pay the bills somehow, with the way OCPs jacking up housing rent." Another cop, this time a furry, slammed down the handset of a payphone. He was a brown rabbit, and the name Chessman was on his uniform. "Omni Consumer Products.." he spat. "What a bunch of morons. Thorndyke and his cronies are going to manage this department, right to the ground!" He stared at Tails. "Where the hell are you from?"

Tails tossed his athletic bag onto a bench which immediately buckled and broke. "Metro South." He muttered, shrugging out of his jacket. Whistles then broke out. "Well well well.rich boy huh?" Chessman says, grinning. Tails glared at Chessman as he went to his locker and started to unlock it. "Nonot really." He says. "I was transferred there by the orders of Sonic." Scowls broke out from all the cops in the room then. One of them punched his locker door. "Blue quilled cop killing bastard!"
"And while youre at it, OCP cut ten guys loose from Metro East. Said they were overstaffed. My ass.." Chessman groused. "We could use tanks down here." Manson pulled his helmet on. "Try to get backup when youre in a jam." He snickered. Tails finally had his locker open. "Pfft, yeah. Try to find a MediVac after youve been jammed." He uncinched his shoes and kicked them off. The fox pulled his uniform out of his bag and snatched up the armor suit from inside the locker and pulled off his dress shirt, wearing only his black pants and white T-shirt. He pushed one arm into the dark blue sleeve of his uniform jacket and then the other. He then started to button up, unconsciously staring at the OCP patches on the sides of his sleeves. He tucked the jacket into his pants and then pulled on the bodysuit. Chessman was square jawed, muttering. Then he punched the payphone. "I tell you what we should do, we should strike. screw em!"

Then the other cops fell quiet. Boots could be heard slapping against the concrete floor. Tails looked up and to the right as Knuckles, jaw tight, brushed past him with another cop, who was holding a cardboard fox. Knuckles stared at the locker next to Tails and pulled a nameplate that said "Vector" on it, off of its rack. He tossed it into the box. He then opened it and gently placed a picture of Vectors family in the box. He stepped back and motioned to the other cop, who slowly went forward and started to empty the locker. Knuckles turned to face the cops, and looked ten years older than what he was.

"The funerals tomorrow. The department requests that all officers not on duty to attend." He says in a monotone. "Donations to the family, may be given to Cecil as usual." The cops stared angrily at the floor. Knuckles then walked over to Chessman and stood deliberately at his left side. "And I dont want to hear anymore talk about strike!" he yelled. "Were not plumbers! Were police officers." He then tilted his head to the left and bared his teeth. "And police officers dont strike." The echinda turned away from Chessman and Tails looked up. "HeyKnux." The fox says. Knuckles stopped. "Yeah?" he said saucily.

"Im sorry man." Tails says, pulling his helmet on. "Vector was a great guy. Great cop. Like you." Knuckles placed a hand on the foxs shoulder and started to smile. "Thanks kid. I needed that." He turned away and crossed around the corner, leaving. Tails took off after him, partially running. Knuckles moved up a small pair of steps to the chair of the elevated booking desk. He settled into a hard metal chair and sighed. "Before you go off on patrol, I think you should meet your new partner." Knuckles had his eyes fixed on the front doors. A human with the temper and build of a rhino suddenly burst through the doors, hands manacled. A short visored foxcop barely tall enough to come up to his elbow, leapt high into the air and kicked him in the groin. The handcuffed giant swung in the foxcops direction. The little cop, caught off guard, tumbled down to the floor with a thud. The foxcop pulled a nighstick from a belt holster and in a series of suprisingly quick moves, beat the giant human bloody. Knuckles rolled his eyes. "Lewis!" he yelled casually. "Come up here when youre doing screwing around with your suspect."

The foxcop nodded and punched the human in the face. The prisoner collapsed into a chair. The foxcop strolled over to the desk. "Fiona Lewis. Meet Miles Prower. Transfer from Metro South." Knuckles growled, taking his voice down a few decibels. Lewis pulled her helmet off. She was a red fox, and in a rugged way, looked cute. "Miles "Tails" Prower.over at Sonics Metro South." She said. "Remember me at Knothole?" Prowers stomach tightened. "Yeah" the 25 year old fox says. "Like it was yesterday. Lewis huh?"

"Yeah. Finally got a registered name. Lewis is a common cop name." Fiona says. Tails rolled his eyes. "Wellare you ready to go? Wheres the parking garage?" Fiona laughed and started to walk off. "This way.." Prower shook his head in confusion and followed. Knuckles stared at the door that Fiona left through, chuckling. "I give you my blessings," he said. "You make such a lovely couple." It was a cheap joke, but the cops closest to Knuckles laughed anyways. Theyd take whatever humor they could whenever they could find it.

Prower and Lewis walked into the parking garage. The place reeked of gasoline and carbon monoxide fumes as dozens of cops piled into their Ford TurboCruisers and gunned them, preparing for afternoon patrol. Fiona popped gum with her teeth and led Prower up to one of the cruisers. It was beat up but looked functional. "Pretty slick, huh" Fiona says proudly, "Had body work on it last week. Sanded the bullet holes clean." Tails nodded. "Slick." Fiona walked over to the drivers side of the car and yanked the door open. "Id better drive until you know your way around."

Tails smirked and slid by her into the drivers seat. "I always drive when Im breaking in a new partner." He closed the door, leaving Fiona outside popping gum furiously. The fox fired up the engine while Fiona walked around the car and climbed into the passenger side. She sneered. "Do you guys drive these things in Metro South, or do you have chauffeurs?"

In response, Tails slammed down on the gas pedal, sending the TurboCruiser fishtailing along the offramp of the parking garage. At the street exit, two cars stood idling, the cops inside trading horror stories of their night shift duty. Tails smirked again and sent the cruiser slicing between the two cars, missing them by inches. The car zoomed onto the street and barreled off west. Fiona blew a large bubble and popped it. "Not bad," she admitted. "for a Metro South transfer." The car skidded down a side street, the gleaming skyline of the refurbished areas of Station Square shining in the afternoon sun behind. Fiona casually pointed to the metropolis in the rear-view mirror as the car plunged into the Metro West Precinct service sector. "Say goodbye and goodnight to civilization, Prower."

Tails glanced in the rearview mirror, the tower of Omni Consumer Products headquarters, rising 151 glass and steel stories above the city, shone brightly. "Im not sure if Id call that civilization." He muttered.

"You learn quick." Fiona smiled.