Skye Prower

"Or one of those hamster runs of interconnecting tubes!" giggled Melody. She gave a quick glance towards the door to make sure Anna hand't suddenly appeared. "Did you say something Dylan?" she asked. --------- "Thank you Zamy," said Anna, rushing forward and hugging the Zone Cop.

"What, is he shrinking?" asked Melody. ---------- "Please do. I mean the rest of..... our family... got second chances. He deserves one too at least," said Anna pleadingly.

Melody seemed uncertain how to react to the news. "He's not turning into some rampaging monstrosity is he?" she asked. "I think you're probably right Dylan." ----------- "I-I-I.. I dunno I wish I knew. I want him to have a second chance."

"And they will stay in those cells, right?" asked Melody. "I mean, Fa... Miles does know a lot of magic he could use to get out. And if your counterpart knows something of tech..." ----------- "Even if there was, I'm not sure Moebius would be the best place for him," said Anna. "Unless we could find his parents."

"As long as Skye doesn't find out... Actually, where is Skye? And Daddy?" asked Melody ------------ "He did have parents on Moebius," said Anna. "But something happened to them. They just... disappeared one day from what Miles said, and he wound up hanging with Sonic... before he became Scourge."

"Wait? They're here?" asked Melody surprised. ------------- "I... I see. I'm sorry," said Anna. She lowered her head and turned to walk away.

"And what kinda job would that be?" queried Melody, then she heard Dylan. "Actually Dylan, there's an easy way to find out," said Melody. "What's everyone up to Hope?" ------------- "You really don't want to see him rehabilitated, do you?" asked Anna. She glanced at Ziona. "I guess your partner would have felt the same way about me after what I did."

"Should I call her?" asked Skye, clearly torn by the idea. ----------- "I.. uh... wellllllll... I've... not thought about kids... and he's not exactly little. And besides, I don't think having him and Skye in close contact all the time would be good for either of them. Plus the points that Zamy raised"

"Even after what I did today?" asked Skye. ------------------ "Somehow I guess I can't afford the premiums!" said Melody. ----------------- Ziona's mouth dropped open and she stared at Glen in shock.

But I don't post here Knux.... wait a second.... rats.... Erm, *rolls dice* Cheery? You around?

"But will Mom? And Melody? And Tikal... Oh god, Tikal. She's so pure, and I'm just a monster." ----------- "Yes Glen?" asked Ziona

"How come vehicles need insurance but speedster's don't?" asked Melody, laughing again. ------------ Anna nodded. "Thank's for your help. I know the two of you would rather lock him up and throw away the key."

"And I'm guessing being jet propelled is out too?" continued Melody. ------------ "I don't think it's a disorder, but it's worth trying," said Anna. "But I don't know who would want to adopt him."

"Okay. I'll leave out the request for rocket launchers then," laughed Melody. ------------ "I'm guessing being obsessed with me isn't mitigating?" asked Anna

"But can everyone else forgive me?" ----------- "Yeah, Anna really does want to help out. I think she wants to make up for, you know, the whole possible future thing," said Anna. "And you can help me out too right?" Melody glanced at Sabre. 'Fancy working on a few modification for a wheelchair?' Melody thought with a grin. ------------ "I know you two won't want to hear this but... Is there anything you, I or Miles could do get get a reduced sentence. Or even better, some kind of program like me, Melody and Skye are on?" Anna asked desperately.

Skye emerged fully from under the bed and sat on the ground, knees tucked slightly in, tails wrapped around him and head bowed. -------------- "If you're sure Dylan," replied Melody as Hope arrived. Melody smiled at seeing her friend despite the situation. She grinned as she read the books title. "I was worried she'd gotten lost. Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that I should get my legs back. The bad news..." Melody gulped and her smile vanished. "It's gonna be a few days at best, and I'm gonna need to relearn how to walk... and run." -------------- Anna knelt down and hugged Miles. "Goodbye Anna," said Miles quietly. "Goodbye Tails. But I'll try and keep in touch," Anna replied. She tried to sand up, but Miles held on for a second or two longer before letting go. --------------- "There's a difference between forgiveness and letting off scot-free, Glen," said Ziona as Anna walked out of the cell. "Ziona, Zamy? Can I talk to you about Ta... Miles?" Ziona glanced towards Zamy.

"He can't?" asked Skye, poking his head out from under the bed. -------------- "Anna should have been back by now," said Melody, starting to sound worried. She shivered slightly. "You don't need to hang around if you don't want to Dylan. I'm not sure where everyone else is." ------------- "You hate me?" whispered Miles. "No. No I don't. But parts of who you are... yes. And... and I'm not sure you can change, even if it was the only way. I'm sorry Tails," Anna replied. She stood up. "Don't wait for me. Try and find someone else." "Anna!", said Miles, turning back to face her. "Yes?" "Please. Have the best life you can. Don't waste it." "I won't Tails. I promise." ---------- "Even if the only penalty was having to give up milkshakes for a day I'm not taking that bet!" said Ziona. "And No-Zone jail isn't a nightmare Glen."

A small tear rolled down Miles' face. "I'll try, for you," he replied. "And there's something else. I know you won't want to hear it..." Anna begun. "Don't say it. Please don't say it. Why can't we be together?" Miles pleaded. "Because... Because I don't love you," said Anna, causing Miles to curl up, and he made no more attempts to hide his tears. "You're my friend Miles, but that's all." "But what about... when I'm older? And isn't us together... the kids... our future... isn't that what happens?" he asked desperately. "I don't know. Maybe," Anna confessed. "But you can't force this now. And... the person you are... Your ambition, your desire to scheme, conspire and rule... None of that appeals to me know. I actually... I hate it." ------------- "You're right. That's unforgivable," replied Ziona.

"I... I did?" pondered Miles as he thought back. "I... I remember giving up memories, but not what they were." "You gave them up for me," said Anna. "You meant it for the best. But... without those memories... you..." Anna shook her head. "And it twisted me too, made me crave more... That action.... We should have know... Trying to do a selfless act on Moebius, that it would turn out wrong. That's what destroyed us in the end Miles. The very thing that brought us together." Miles turned over, not wanting to look at Anna. "What are you wanting me to do? I don't think an apology is gonna work." "I want you to find some way to remember. Get those memories back. The only true happy memories you have. And, maybe then, you will start to like the name Miles again." -------------- Ziona glanced back towards the cell. "I know I shouldn't, but part of me feels sorry for him."

"I... didn't have parents Mi... Anna," said Miles. He was a little surprised to see Anna suddenly burst into tears. "What's wrong?" "You did have parents Tails. You used to talk about them often. And they did care for you deeply," Anna explained. Miles shook his head. "No. You're wrong. I-I didn't..." Miles protested "You did," Anna interrupted. "I think... I think you gave up your memories when you gave me my speed." ------------ "One helluva beating," replied Ziona dryly. She looked at Zamy. "Honestly, with the number of charges from this case, not to mention the jail break itself, he could well be an old man when he's released. If he's released."

"

"How can you be so sure? Is he dead?" ------------- Miles tried to smile, but with his pain wasn't able to. "You know... I... I never liked being called Miles," he confessed. "I always preferred Tails." "I knew you changed because of Scourge. But when he left, why didn't you go back?" asked Anna. "I thought... I thought people would take me more seriously," admitted Miles. "What about you?" "Me?" "You've changed your name to. Please, tell me the truth. Do you prefer you new name?" "Yes," replied Mina, without even needing to think. "Why?" "Because it was chosen by someone who actually cared about me. And so was yours," she pointed out. "What... what do you mean?" asked Miles. "Can you remember your parents.... Tails?" she asked. ------------ "Maybe later," teased Ziona

"And when it comes back the next time?" asked Skye. ----------- "Miles, what wrong with you?" asked Anna concerned. She placed her hand on his forehead. "You're... you're burning up and freezing at the same time. How?" "Hope," responded Miles. "She... she jabbed me with something... something else. It's hard to breath. Every nerve feels like it's on fire. Except for my tails. I can't feel my tails." "Shh, it'll... I can't say it'll be okay, but I can't. You'd know I was lying." said Anna sadly. "Tell me anyway. Please? There's no one else who will," begged Miles. Anna looked tearfully down at him. "It'll be okay Miles. You'll be fine." ---------- "I suppose we can't argue with the other two though," replied Ziona.

"I can't believe that, I want to but I can't," replied Ziona. -------------- "Miles?" asked Anna as she knelt down next to him. The fox cub was shivering and sweating, be didn't responde. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she repeated his name. Slowly, his eyes started to open. "Mi-Mina?" -------------- "But even so," Ziona replied.

"Thanks Hope," replied Anna with a smile. Then, taking a deep breath she went into Miles' cells. "After everything he's done to her..." commented Ziona to Zamy.