On the way home, you told Vector and Espio your story and what your mission was now. The two seemed much more understanding and mature than the younger members like Tails and Rouge who kept sending you mixed signals.

"I had heard that the Wolf encouraged you to join his side, however, I was unaware that you were kidnapped by him assuming you were a Freedom Fighter." Espio was much more curious about your old battle plans and strategies while Vector mourned the loss of your corrupt youth like the gator dad he was. He missed Charmy, deeply, and was mostly quiet on the ride home.

"You seem like a nice kid (Y/n), what happened?" Espio asked for the third time, curious about what switches in your brain told you to join the Wolf.

"I think a civilian suddenly being granted massive mounts of power got to me- it was cool but I do regret how I had to use it..." At this point, you were starting to get tired of the questioning... "but now I use it for good, my skills and such." You patted the helmet that sat next to you, the signature of your armored look.

"Well thank you for coming to help us." Espio gave a final nod, using his reasoning to see you were indeed, tired of the questioning. He then looked to Vector who was staring out a window, zoned out. He ahd never seen the gator unfocused before.

The leader snorted as he was awoken from his trance and looked at you and Espio. "Sorry I-

"-Thinking about Charmy?" You asked him gently. Vector huffed and nodded. "I said we'd get him back right?"

"I hope so- either we go get him ourselves or we find a cure." Vector felt more confident at the thought of taking matters into his own hands.

"Tails is working on a cure already back at Restoration HQ." You added, making the gator dad and Espio smile, knowing that there was some hope.

"Glad to hear that, it'll come in real handy if someone gets infected from the Freedom Fighters, euh- other than Sonic that is." Vector scratched his chin at the mention of their greatest hero's handicap.

"WHAT?!" You yelled out loud. Your eyes widened, shocked to hear that. Sonic the Hedgehog, the Blue Blur and the fastest thing in the world had been infected? There was no way-

"(Y/n) SHH SHH!" Vector flew up from his chair and covered your mouth. Slowly, you sat back down and he whispered close, "We haven't told the public or the soldiers, we don't want to cause a panic."

You nodded with your mouth agape and sat back down, "I had no idea, is he gone 'gone' already?"

Thankfully, Vector was able to give some clearance to that sudden reveal. "No, apparently he can run off the infection. He was actually at the docks right before you arrived but had to speed off due to it spreading already."

A close call to meeting Sonic- you were starting to be lesser afraid of meeting him, however, it had to happen at some point. He hadn't really come up in conversation, probably as he was too busy or once again, the Freedom Fighters were keeping information from you.

"That's a relief, he's probably been extremely helpful. When I first got to HQ, Rouge told me he was distracting a horde just so our truck could get into the gate safely-" You leaned back more comfortably in your chair. "And now he's probably distracting the Seaside City horde."

"(Y/n), you said you were from Seaside City right? Before you were captured by Wolf?"

You nodded, "Yeah, that's right."

"So it was probably rough seeing your home in that shape huh?" Vector was finally talking more, missing out on your previous conversation. It was coming back to him.

"It was- but... I knew a lot changed since I was gone too. I wouldn't be surprised if all my stuff is all gone, moved out, or whatever." Your stuff. All your belongings from before Wolf captured you. You remembered your (favorite color) all about the room, in decorations, stuffed animals, and all over anything that completed the college room aesthetic.

"Will they give you a room at Restoration HQ?"

That question caught you off guard. A room? A space to call your own? Home even?

"I- don't know." Your ears went down in a shyness, did you need a room? The image of all your childhood and your college dorm flooded into your memory. Did you still like the same stuff? What was new?

"I think you should get one if you're working on the front lines with us." Vector spoke up.

"You're so battle hardened, you need some of that civilian life back, even if the world isn't really good enough for that right now." Espio added on. "It is a good place to meditate, in your own space." The lizard did a praying, zen-like pose with his hands and closed his eyes. One eye opened a second later when the speaker of the ship lit up once again...

Rouge was on the microphone, letting the crew and passengers know that you were descending back into the Restoration HQ airship hanger.

Vector, Espio, and yourself got up to stand near the bay doors as the airship you were in came to a rest on the ground. Gante joined your side eventually and you all walked towards the control room to report. The soldiers would handle the refugees.

"Welcome back!"

Pink hair whipped around from the other side of the desk to look at your squad with wide, and somewhat stressed-, green eyes. The girl wore a fitting red dress with white tips and a hammer sat next to the station.

Amy Rose.

Vector took the stage, "Amy, I'm sure you've heard about (N/-) (Y/n) joining the Freedom Fighters to combat the virus?"

"Oh, of course, I was the one who authorized it." Amy, was completely unphased at your presence. She was the one you should be thanking for getting you out of your prison.

"I'm (Y/n)." You held out a hand respectfully and Amy shook it.

"I know, I read your file and thought you'd be a good fit to help us out. You may have had a rough start but I know you can do just super!" She tried to be energetic, but her tone slowed as she appeared tired.

"Amy, are you stressed?" Rouge appeared out of nowhere and flew over to her side, waving her hand in front of her eyes. They barely reacted, and with a small shoulder shake, Amy flew back to life.

"NO! I'm ok!" She shook herself off and got back to business. "Now tell me what happened."

Vector, you, and Espio looked to each other to see who would speak. Both boys were about to speak simultaneously when you spoke up first.

"The infected breached the barrier right as our rescue ship arrived. I stopped one but Charmy... He flew out to try to save someone but was grabbed, by an infected... We lost him..." Your trio looked down in sorrow, having to repeat the loss over to Amy who too was shocked at another member of the core troupe being taken by the virus.

Amy walked around the counter and gave Vector a hug, eventually pulling Espio into it as well, comforting her friends. "We'll get him back."

"Mhm." Vector nodded, "We all agreed to that on the way back here."

Vector and Espio began to chat with Amy, giving their report as they were in the middle of everything for much longer.

"Psst-" Someone whisper hissed behind you. Your ears flickered around trying to locate the sound. Looking across the desk you saw Olive slyly lean over to grab your attention. You raised your eyebrow in a 'what?' expression.

"Follow me. I got something to show you." She started to skip towards the hanger and left you hesitating to follow or not. You had done your part, I'm sure Amy and Co. wouldn't mind you wandering for a bit.

Surely enough, you began pacing after Olive who swiftly made her way towards a smaller airship. It was navy green with massive wings with two large spiraling propellers embedded within them, allowing the vehicle to be a hovering type.

"Is there something special about this ship?" You looked to Olive who had opened the lowering door to the small transport hanger within the ship. It looked to hold maybe a crew of 20 and could be piloted by one. There was the hanger and then two T-junctions to go left or right. In the center was a small staircase to the pilot's cabin.

"Just come with me." Olive grabbed your hand and took you left towards a series of doorways. 2 rows of maybe 4 doorways. She took you to the closest one that linked to the pilot's cabin and pressed her paw pad to a print scanner. It opened and revealed a vacant room with one window facing outwards of the ship to the HQ hanger.

"What is this?" You questioned. It didn't look too special, an empty room with a window. But Olive was already on it, digging through a small opening locker and closet situated on a perpendicular wall. It looked heavy, as she was pulling it rather than lifting it out. "Here."

You walked over and put a hand on the box, pulling the tab and seeing a flurry of (favorite color). Sheets, stuffed animals, picture frames, and other random items.

"Olive- is this?-" You shuttered, almost falling back.

She smiled up at you, "When you disappeared, we had to move your stuff but- I kept it. I knew you would come back wherever you were so- here you are." She shrugged shyly, hiding a faint, kind blush in her bangs. Her eyes widened when you hugged her, holding your friend tight. You were both holding back tears.

"Thank you Olive... You've made me feel like a civilian again."

I wonder why everyone's being so nice to you 🤔

Chapter Length @1700 Words