"Storm! Storm! Go get Jet! I think he's waking up."

Everything was blurry. Sonic heard footsteps leave the room.

Room.

Sonic opened his eyes finally to realize he was now in a room. The last  memory he had, he was lying on the streets of Westopolis. He was very unsure on where he was, he's never seen this room before. The walls were a walnut-colored wood, the floor and ceiling had studded-steel borders, and there was a green banner with a golden insignia hanging from a bar. Come to think of it, it resembled a pirate's ship...

Ironically however, Sonic recognized the symbol on the banner. It was a bird that almost looked to be in the shape of a genie's lamp.

It was the symbol of the legendary group of alien thieves, whose tactics and actions tempted even their gods to punish the entire race: The Babylon Rogues.

Sonic's mind cleared up and had just realized one of the Rogues was with him in that room. She was a purple swallow with a white bandana and a pair of yellow glasses on her head. Captivating periwinkle colored eyes with long eyelashes.

"Wave?! What're you- where am I?!" Sonic bantered.

"Pipe down, Sonic. You're in-...well, better hands." she responded.

Wave The Swallow was the technician of the three only existing Babylon Rogues; along with Jet The Hawk- their leader, and Storm The Albatross-, the strongarm.

Speaking of the latter, he rushed back into the room, thumbing behind him, "Jet wants him...in his office!"

Wave moved out of Sonic's way so he could have his space. Sonic jerked up and slid off the bed, walking slowly to the door. He stopped to see Storm catching his breath.

"Uh, are you OK big guy?" Sonic raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah...just...just go down...this hall. I'll catch up!"

"Storm, Jet's room is only five doors down!" Wave noted.

"Yeah but...coming back here is another five doors, Wave! That's like...ten doors!" the gray albatross huffed.

"Oh fine, I'll take him!" Wave dismissed.

Storm fell back sluggishly, his wide white-feathered stomach exposed. Sonic had noticed a particular trait about Storm now that his arms were spread out- and even Wave for that matter. They both had markings on their arms that were coming from their wrists that looked liked flames. In fact, Wave had the same designs on the hem of her pants, and based off Sonic's memory, Jet had it on his shoes.

Sonic followed Wave out of the room, down the wooden hallway highlighted with teal carpeting.

"Hey, could I ask you something? 'Cause I know Jet's gonna be stubborn about it." Sonic asked Wave.

"Shoot." Wave replied.

"What are those flames about? You all have them."

Wave pointed to the ones on her legs, "Well, these are just designs that look nice and match our arms," she then pointed to her arms, "These are natural markings we Babylonians have."

"Oh...I guess that's kinda cool." Sonic nodded.

"We are cool." Wave corrected.

"But I'm the coolest!" a voice cut in as they approached Jet's open door.

"Sure you are. Alright, he's yours, Jet." Wave returned, walking off.

Jet The Hawk was sitting patiently at his brown desk and teal cushioned chair. Just by looking at Jet, you could tell he was a rival perfect for Sonic. His name, the green feathers and blue eyes (an inverse of Sonic's blue fur and green eyes), and the red shoes, but accented with black instead of white.

"Jet." Sonic addressed.

"Hey, Sonic ol' pal!" Jet greeted back with a slap on his desk.

"Are we really pals?"

"Well...good point, I'm still skeptical about that too."

"What do you want from me? Or first, where am I?"

"You're on my ship. You're safe."

"I mean, I was safe on the street."

Jet stood up from his chair and turned around to walk to his wall-to-wall window. "Were you?"

"Uh. Yeah? I mean-...Jet, why am I here?"

"Well, last night I saw flashing lights down at Westopolis and heard loud grumbles that were rattling the ship's loose objects. So I steered us over, but by the time we got there, the only thing there was you and a bunch of trashed buildings."

"I can assure you that wasn't me...well, not the buildings at least..."

"I know it wasn't your fault, nobody's accusing you. We brought you up here, because you just so happened to be the second lifeless body we stumbled upon."

"There was a first?"

"...Your friend, Silver. I'm sorry for the loss."

"Oh...right..."

"And I know it wouldn't be like you to not pick up a friend's dead body, you're too nice for that!"

"Thanks!...I guess."

"So that leads me to my next point, Sonic: What's been going on lately?"

Sonic took a deep breath. He went over to Jet's seat and jumped on it to lie down, feet over the armrest.

"Hey! Who said you could sit there?!" Jet chirped.

"Shut up, I'm your guest anyway. So-..."

Sonic began to tell Jet about the recent events. What already happened, how it happened, who was involved, and what could be next. He then focused on Mephiles; who he was, why/how was he involved- every chapter of the tale leading up to the moment that the two speedsters were sharing currently.

"That's quite a bit to take in there." Jet huffed.

"You're telling me." Sonic agreed.

"Going back to Silver, don't worry about his body. We found medical attention for him to officially declare his...mortality status."

"Oh wow, thanks Jet!"

"Uh-huh...As to your problem...You probably shouldn't be here then."

Sonic sat up straight to face Jet, "What do you mean? You just said it's safe here- Wave said I'm in good hands-"

"Better, hands!" Wave interrupted from the hallway, passing by the room.

"It's not the ship that you should be worried about, it's being away from everyone." said Jet.

"But I just told you, Mephiles is gone!"

"Then tell me, hedgehog, how do you explain this?"

Jet waved Sonic over to him. Sonic hopped off the seat and sped over to look at the view.

Buildings were on fire, some leveled- their smoke desecrating the blue sky to black. G.U.N. helicopters and planes were orbiting the city. Gunfire could be heard if an ear was brought close enough to the glass. With this, there were creatures- Heartless flying around the city, fighting some aircrafts, along with multiple Darksides wreaking havoc.

"Oh no." Sonic muttered.

"You better leave now. I'll be watching ya, Sonic. Oh, I almost forgot!" Jet remembered.

He walked across the room and past his green and yellow airboard, the Type-J, to a closet. When he opened it, he pulled out a blue board. It was Sonic's Extreme Gear, The Blue Star; a white and blue airboard designed by Tails especially for Sonic.

"It's quite a long way down if you haven't noticed. I called Tails to bring it over for you when you wake up." Jet giving Sonic his Gear.

"Tails! Is he alright?" Sonic worried.

"I'd assume so. He said to meet him on Mission Street, Central City."

"I'd never thought I'd say this, but thanks Jet."

"Don't mention it. Now, go."

Sonic ran out the room and a minute later, Sonic was seen gliding back down on his Gear in a green trail of light heading away from Westopolis.

"Ya know, we just lied to him twice." said a voice at the door.

Jet turned to face Wave leaning on the door frame.

"Yeah...You know, with the given circumstances, is it normal to feel...guilty?"

Wave thought about her answer carefully. "Well, normally I'd tell you to suck it up, survival of the fittest...But, now we have a part in could be the end of the world."

Jet sighed, "But this could also go against everything we live for..."

"Your call."

"That's a lot of responsibility."

"It's always a lot for you."

"Whatever, Wave! Just give me time to think..."

"OK!" Wave rolling her eyes on her way out.

Jet stood looking at the havoc down below. Then, he looked down at his hand, holding what could be his own: the red Chaos Emerald.

"JET!"

Jet put the Emerald away again, frowning, "What could you possibly want now?!"

He left his office to where Wave could have been.

"JET!" Storm shouted this time.

"I'M COMING!"

Jet arrived in the room where his companions were calling him.

He looked at both of them standing at the door, "What?"

They didn't respond, as Jet looked ahead and saw yet another dilemma to deal with.

"The Psychic Hedgehog is awake now," Wave commented, "I wonder if a third lie will cover your second."

"It was a white lie." Jet snapped.

"Sure it was, it's always innocent to lie about someone's death!"

"Ohhhh, I get it now! Because he's white!" Storm tuned in.

His comrades eyed him, then ignored him.

"Hey...Where am I?" the Rogues' guest inquired.

*😁😁😁😁
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*CHARACTERS INTRODUCED:

Jet The Hawk

Wave The Swallow

Storm The Albatross