This chapter will not be primarily the reader's perspective.

Tails was working diligently on the cure project as data from Sonic began to pour into the data server. Refining it and altering the state of a fresh virus sample, he was able to easily make up a test cure. He watched it as it mixed with the virus... And to his bewilderment, the cells of the metal virus began to deteriorate and turn to dust, reforming into living, organic cells once more.

"Eureka!" the little fox cheered, throwing his hands in the air at his achievements. "This is incredible. I have it!"

He rushed over to his computer, typing everything into a data server plate to store the information. "This has to get to the control room as soon as-"

BANG. A massive crash came through Tail's door. Above him, the lights flickered simultaneously. The power was gone, thankfully right after the data successfully went into the drive. HQ lost power.

Startled, Tails flailed backwards to avoid getting hit by the zombot, throwing his arm in the air, and tossing the fragile server plate onto the ground, shattering it's form as pieces went flying.

"No.. No- NO NO!"

A dull emerald zombot burst into the doorway, stammering into Tail's lab. Although the fox spent most of his time in this room, he was able to recognize this infected mobian with a cool jacket they had on- Tails realized that this was a refugee already inside HQ. How'd it get in? Was HQ breached?

Right now, that didn't matter to him. He may have been scared, but he was ENRAGED. The fox darted behind a curtain, and a loud noise came from behind it. The power had cut off the wired and tubed hanging from the machine that bounced up and down with energetic excitement. The legendary walker Tails had built. It was in pristine, navy blue and gold condition, and he stared down the infected that made it inside.

"I had it. I was so close." Tails growled to himself when the zombot didn't respond. It was unable to- The fox raced forwards in his walker, squishing the poor zombot underfoot and racing through the halls of HQ.

"OH WOW! IT'S THE WALKER HAHA!!!" A very energetic and unconcerned voice rang out from above.

"Not now Tangle. Let's get moving!"

"Does that mean I can.. RIDE IT!?" Tangle the lemur has appeared, hanging from the ceiling by her strong tail that snaked through the support beams.

"Just get on!" Tails yelled. The fangirling primate jumped on the back of Tail's walker, and they began to race down hallways, blasting zombots out of the way as those who remained fled past them.

Tangle, of course, was cheering behind Tails as she watched chaos unfold. "WEEEEEEE HEH HEH EEEEEEE!"

. . . . .

The Walker ran down towards the hangar, where the most chaos had begun, Charmy was suddenly back, which alerted that already frantic Tails to the flying infected.

Like a professional equestrian rider, Tangle stood up on the back of the walker, yelling, "Whisper, TAKE IT AWAY!"

At that moment, a hyper quick ray of orange was shot at Charmy, stunning him to the ground. Vector and Espio cried out for their friend. Gante grabbed their shoulders to turn them away, "Don't make the same mistake again."

Regretfully, the two members of Team Chaotix sighed, and they began to run behind the escaping refugees.

You were in quick pursuit, the Walker close behind. Whoever made that shot jumped from their position and followed too, coming up to your right.

According to the lemur, this was Whisper. "Hey, good shot out there W-"

Wolf.

Whisper was a wolf, who looked just like THE Wolf from your past. No-

Underneath her sci-fi mask, you saw a hint of bright glowing turquoise glaring at you. She had that same darker cloaked armor and same fur color as him. It was hard to block his image out of your mind as it was projected onto Whisper.

"(N/n)," the sniper muttered. You two passively stared at each other, even if Whisper's eyes were closed. There was an atmosphere of more conflict between the two of you, even if ever so subtle.

Silver blasted between you two, "RUN NOW CONFRONT LATER PLEASE!"

You shook it off and continued on. 'More important things' you both thought.

The group turned a hallways towards the secondary hangar meant more for escort ships rather than those like the Endurance, however it was there too once it was announced there was a breach in HQ to pick up passengers. Thank god, Olive made it out.

The hangar was much larger and packed. The room had two massive doors that were half way open. After the breach, they were ordered to lock down, but as the power went out it didn't make it. Allowing for the refugees to get in, but also with the infected following right on their tails.

"Gemrel, get the door!" Vector skidded to a halt, using his massive gator strength to manually close the super heavy doors.

"𝙰𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎." The robot switched on his boosters to full, clawing at the door to get it shut. Vector groaned at the pressure he had to put on the door.

"WHOA WHOA WHOA STOP HIM!" Someone yelled out, Tangle who was at the back.

Those who could see past the door noticed a golden spot racing through the hallway. Charmy. He was making a b-line towards the survivors. Silver, who could use his telekinesis, was distracted with Cream, running onto the one escort ship with the rest of the very few survivors. The Endurance already took off, its guns aimed at the doorway just in case they got through.

"NOT TODAY!" Vector jumped into the sky higher than any alligator should, grabbing Charmy with his bare hands and bolting back towards the Infected. Sacrificing himself, just like that. Espio stepped forwards, "VECTOR NO!" but the courageous, Team Chaotix leader snapped at him.

Vector laughed, "Haha! It's almost like I deserve this. Stay back Espio. Take care of everyone else." The alligator winked at his reptile friend and placed both hands on the door, squishing Charmy as they began to close.... "You're the lead detective now."

Crash.

The doors closed behind him. The horde was gone, but so was Vector. Silence. Everyone was shocked with what just happened.

"They're coming from the right!"

"Get off!"

"Run!"

Voices were toned out behind the crew, even the explosion of Tail's walker being overwhelmed by a wave that broke through a small side down and slowly streamed in.

It snapped everyone out of it as they bolted to the ship, locking themselves inside. With the SS Endurance already in the air, you boarded the escort ship, taking not that- there were very few inside. Maybe 20 survivors and the Freedom Fighters. Amy, Silver, Espio, Cream and Gemrel. Olive reported 5 in the Endurance, thankfully including their friend Roman, his brother, and Gante.

The escort ship took off, Tails flying up into the door before it closed and landed in front of Amy. He looks around, just as confused. He knew what was wrong, just not wanting to believe it..."Where- is everyone?"

Amy was stuttering with tears as she tried to look away from Restoration HQ... "Restoration has fallen, and almost everyone with it."

I couldn't bring myself to make a bee pun when Charmy was racing through the doorway. Bee-line. I'd never.

Chapter Length @1290 Words