Sonic had received a text message to meet Knuckles at SEGA HQ, he had no idea what the meeting was going to be about. On the way there, Sonic comforted himself that it was going to be about the new game.
It was true, the meeting was about the new game, just not how Sonic envisioned it. He entered the SEGA company lounge, Knuckles was waiting for him there sitting at a table and eating an expensive-looking meal. Sonic approached the table and sat with Knuckles.
“Want something to eat?” Knuckles said.
“Nah, coffee is good.”
After an awkward pause, Sonic said:
“Why did you want to see me?”
“I am here to talk to you on behalf of Polanzo about your political activities.”
“What are you talking about?”
Knuckles cleared his throat. “Your friend Shadow, you are supporting him in his bid for mayor. That’s no good. We want you to publicly denounce him. It will be a good show considering how close you two have become, people will believe whatever you say. Make up some allegations and say you don’t support him anymore.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because he is running against Kenji Tanaka, Kowareta Yume’s 31-year consecutive mayor. If you must know, Tanaka is one of Polanzo’s close business associates. Polanzo has bribed Tanaka to tear down residential areas so that SEGA can build casinos there. Shadow has pledged to cancel that deal. We can’t have you, one of SEGA’s most important assets, go against its financial interests. You understand?”
“What if I refuse?” Sonic nervously sipped his coffee.
“Then no next game, no game directing at SEGA ever for that matter. You can only expect mobile game cameos at the most.”
“You can’t just cancel the next game. I signed a contract.”
“SO what?” Knuckles shrugged.
“What do you mean so what?”
“Exactly what I said. What are you going to sue us? You can try to, we have some of the best lawyers in the country. It would be very stupid of you if you think you could beat the company in court.”
“Knuckles don’t you think this is wrong? What does my being friends with Shadow have to do with my game directing? Polanzo is stepping out of line with this. Did you know that he has hired Robotnik to work for SEGA? He working on the Mean Bean Machine with our company’s money?”
“How the hell do you know that?” Knuckles furrowed his eyebrows.
“How do I know? How do you know?” Sonic said with a mix of anger and disappointment. He expected Knuckles to be shocked.
“Well, it doesn’t matter how you found out.” Knuckles shrugged again. “Bottom line is you know how powerful SEGA’s legal team is if they were able to get Robotnik out of prison, so don’t think your little contract is going to stand against them.”
“So you are fine with Polanzo doing this? Robotnik, the psycho who tried to take over the world? You are fine being the second in command of someone who is financing him and his dystopian dream project?”
Knuckles slammed the table. “Don’t you dare lecture me about what right! I don’t remember you saying a word when Polanzo seized power in 2001. nor did you ever try to confront him about anything that was clearly objectionable. Even now, you knew about the Robotnik thing yet you still would have worked on the new game. When things don’t inconvenience you personally, you will go along with whatever. However, the moment you are affected suddenly you are the paragon. Don’t come at me with morality, you’ve been bankrupt with it for a long time.”
All of Knuckles’ words rang true, Sonic didn’t have anything to say in his defense and tried to deflect: “Well don’t you as vice president think that financing Robotnik is wrong?”
“I do my job and my job is to do what the president wishes.” Knuckles stood up from his seat. “I’m done with this conversation. I’ve said everything I had to say. If you want the next game you got to speak out against Shadow and his bid for mayor.”
“You’re asking me to sell out my friend.”
“Whatever way you phrase it that’s what you have to do.” Knuckles finally left the lounge and Sonic was left to sit alone at the table.
Sonic had remembered Vector’s warnings about the dealings at SEGA. In his head, he turned back the clock to the early 2000s, Polanzo’s coup and usurpation of the presidency, his violence in removing senior executives, his abolishment of term limits, and so on. He also remembered how many times Tails had said something was wrong at SEGA and Polanzo specifically but he brushed it off. He was willingly closing his eyes to the increasing authoritarianism within the company even though he was in a position to stop it. Now it’s too late to stop it.
He had effectively had two choices in this matter.
Option A: Sell out his friends. If he were to do that he would permanently lose the only two people in his life that he had left. He was once alone before and Tails forgave him, he realized that if he were to do this now, he would never get a chance at forgiveness again. He would sever his ties with Tails and Shadow forever.
Option B: ruin his career. If he doesn’t denounce and go against Shadow, considering Polanzo isn’t going to step down as president anytime soon. He will not get another chance to direct another video game ever again. He had finally gained some momentum with ‘Sonic: Revelations’ and now that could vanish. He would forever be stuck working jobs he doesn’t like nearly as much as making video games. Going the indie game route also wasn’t an option because he had spent most of his newly earned money from Revelations on Shadows campaign.
No matter how you look at it, there is no happy ending. Sonic has to sacrifice one thing and both are very important to him.
I have to go grab cigarettes to think this through, Sonic thought to himself. I told myself that I would quit smoking forever but right now I need to get some to calm down.
***
Sonic was waking up in his bed. He was in a spacious, polished, and slick apartment. It wasn’t as impressive as his penthouse from the 2000s but it was quite luxurious compared to the place he shared with Tails back in Kowareta Yume. He made himself some breakfast and turned on the TV to watch the morning show.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
He had gotten used to watching it with Tails all of the time, but now he was performing this morning routine alone. In fact, he hadn’t spoken to Tails or Shadow since that mayoral election business. He doesn’t speak much to anybody these days. He is completely alone in his life.
Sonic had made a comeback with his new video games, he was relevant again and people were buying his games. He was employed at SEGA and directed whatever games he wanted to. He had stopped reading reviews, that doesn’t stress him anymore. Making the games he wants, when he wants to make them.
A sense of déjà vu had crawled up in his head. Sonic was in this position before. When he had developed ‘Sonic Unleashed’. He had gotten what he wanted, a game on his own terms but in solitude.
Was this what his goal in life always was? To end up alone and miserable to get the career he wanted. No money, or slick apartment, game-directing opportunities could fill the void in his heart. The moments when he and Tails were sitting together in that shitty apartment, drinking coffee, laughing, and playing dumb games like who would win.
Sonic was getting ready to go to SEGA on his new game. Commuting from home to work would be something Sonic would do for the rest of his life, with no one in his life but himself with his selfishness and ego.
“Would you like a refill?”
Sonic opened his eyes and saw a waitress in front of him. He wasn’t in any new apartment or working on a new game. He was still in the SEGA lounge, right after his conversation with Knuckles. He was so engrossed in his imagination that he felt transported into his future and lost himself in his fantasy.
“Yes please.” Sonic extended his empty coffee cup to the waitress and she poured hot coffee.
Sonic realized that his cigarette had burnt up while he was daydreaming. He took another one from his newly bought pack, which he acquired in the SEGA lounge. He placed the cigarette in his mouth and inhaled.
There really isn’t anything much more to think about. Only one choice is the right one. Sonic thought to himself.
Sonic grabbed his SEGA security clearance card and stared at it.
If I’m about to ruin my video game career forever I might as well go all the way.
Sonic reached for his cell phone and called Vector.
“Hello! Vector the files we talked about before, Which ones did you want me to get?”
“DFUJ30i203ir02 in the computer room,” Vector said on the other side of the line. “Why do you ask?”
“Did you get them?”
“No.”
“Well, I am about to get them for you right now.”
“Are you serious?!” Shock and excitement overcame Vector. “What made you change your mind?”
“I won’t be working for SEGA anymore soon. I might as well get them for you while I still am employed there.”
“You have no idea how big this is. Are you sure about this? You will never get to work at SEGA or any video game company ever again?”
Sonic took a deep breath. “Yes, I know the consequences. I am prepared for them. I am about to go get those files. Let’s meet at café Alps in an hour.”
Sonic walked to the computer room and casually grabbed the files Vector asked for. Nobody asked him anything on his way nor did anyone notice that the files were taken. The operation was quick and smooth. He thought it was kind of anticlimactic, his whole life as a videogame director, ending with just a simple folder of papers. After obtaining the files Sonic met with Vector and handed him what was requested. Sonic told Vector what had happened with Knuckles and what made him change his mind. Vector reassured him that he made the right choice, thanked him and they parted ways.
For the first time in a long time, I have finally made a decision that I won’t regret later.
***
A couple of days had passed since Sonic had taken the files. He didn’t receive any new messages from SEGA and nothing changed in his life. A long time might pass before anyone at SEGA finds out that anything is missing from the computer room considering how many things were. Even when they do by that point it will be very hard to figure out who took them.
In that sense, Sonic was clear from facing charges for disclosing company or trade secrets. Right now Sonic was with Tails and Shadow organizing an event. Shadow was supposed to have a rally and speech in a venue and the three of them were making preparations for the event. Sonic never said a word to the two of them about Knuckles or Vector’s request. He kept the whole thing to himself.
For the future with SEGA, Sonic had decided to simply let it go and to ignore any new texts from Knuckles demanding he denounce Shadow or any other meetings with him or Polanzo. He had made his peace that his career was over and like once before when it came to being a hero he had decided to hang up the boxing gloves once and for all.
As the three were preparing the venue for the big event, team Chaotix entered the place and approached Sonic.
“What is it? Did I get the right files?” Sonic asked feeling worried he had made some kind of mistake.
“No no, everything is fine on that front,” Vector said in a reassuring tone. “In fact, the files you gave me helped us complete our investigation. We came to thank you personally.” Vector extended his hand.
Sonic before he could shake Vector’s hand was interrupted by Tails, “Why is team Chaotix here?”
“They came to thank me,” Sonic said not wanting to reveal to Tails what had transpired.
“You mean you didn’t tell them about the files?” Vector was surprised.
“What’s this about files,” Shadow heard the commotion and joined the conversation.
“It’s really nothing,” Sonic tried to move away from the subject.
“I will tell you about it,” Vector ignoring Sonic’s wishes told Tails and Shadow exactly what had transpired. About Robotnik working for SEGA, Polanzo, Knuckles’ threat, and Sonic taking the files. “That’s about it. The three of us are about to go to our employer, we need to fly over to the Netherlands.”
“Based off the way we was branded
Face it, Jerome get more time than Brandon
And at the airport they check all through my bag
And tell me that it's random,” Charmy the Bee rapped followed by a massive sigh from Vector and Espio.
“Charmy does this where he only talks in verses of rappers he listens to,” Espio reminded everyone. “Ignore him, he is on a Kanye West phase now.”
“Were you a Kanye West fan Shadow when you were a Nazi,” Tails looked at Shadow and spoke in a cheeky tone.
“I want to forget that part of my life,” Shadow nervously laughed. He thought about how if anyone found out about his past beliefs his shot at being mayor would be destroyed.
“Anyways,” Vector said, “We better get going. Thank you Sonic once more for helping us. We will call you guys when we get back.”
Team Chaotix left. As they were leaving, Charmy kept rapping Kanye West verses and you could hear groans from Vector and Espio. Our three heroes were now alone and Tails turned his gaze to Sonic. Tails looked at Sonic with an angry face.
“I know what you’re going to say,” Sonic said and was embarrassed by himself. “I should have helped Vector the first time he asked me, I should’ve listened to you all these years when you kept bringing up Polanzo. I’m no good and I understand why you’re mad.”
“What are you talking about? That’s not why I’m mad at all,” Tails snapped back.
“Then what is it then?” Sonic was taken aback.
“I’m mad because you didn’t ask for our help. Why did you take on this alone? You should have talked with us too. We’re a team aren’t we?”
“I just felt horrible about not wanting to help. I was so selfish that I wanted to keep my career and close my eyes to everything wrong that was transpiring. Only when it affected me did I jump in to help. I’m a terrible person.” Sonic lowered his head.
“You’re wrong. What you did was good, also I’m certain the Sonic I got into a fight with from 2006. wouldn’t have made the choice you made now. I think you did real good.” Tails tapped Sonic’s arm. “I just wish you would have relied on us you know. We could have taken those files instead of you.” Tails chuckled and Sonic cheered up.
“I’m sorry, I promise I will lean on you guys next time I’m in a similar situation. I do think I made the right choice about the files, I don’t regret it one bit.”
“Are you sure about that?” Shadow chimed in. He sounded worried. “Not to be a downer but since I moved in, most of what you talk about is video games. It’s your main passion and you said to yourself you are the happiest when you direct games. Are you sure you’re going to be okay with that door closed to you forever?”
“Yeah he’s right,” Tails nodded, “Are you sure you’re okay with that.”
“Guys, there is nowhere in the world where I would rather be than with you.” Sonic placed his hands on Tails’ and Shadow’s shoulders. “Whatever and wherever I want to be with my best friends. I made the mistake before when I took the people closest to me for granted. As clichéd as it sounds the most important thing in life is to be surrounded by the people you care about the most. So don’t worry about me, I’ll think of something in the future. You know me.” Sonic winked and smiled at them.
“Let’s worry about you getting elected mayor,” Sonic said and looked at Shadow. Shadow gave him a nod and the three continued to work on the preparations for the rally.
Tails was moved by Sonic’s words. While Tails liked being depended on by Sonic, he was happy that Sonic came to his decision by himself. It spelled out true growth and change. Only under pressure and in bad circumstances do people show how they truly are inside. In Tails' eyes, Sonic had shown that he still had a little bit of hero left inside him.
In fact, as Sonic spoke he had a real sincerity behind his voice. He also exuded confidence and a kind carefree attitude. He wasn’t bothered at all about his career. His mind was completely at ease. To Tails for a moment it was like all the years had disappeared, Sonic looked like he did from the days of living in the forest and fighting Robotnik. His old friend was back!
***
Weeks later, Sonic and Tails were waking up in their apartment. It was early morning and both were going through their usual routine. However, Shadow was nowhere in sight. Tails made breakfast and coffee and the two sat in front of the TV.
They turned the TV on to watch ‘Good Morning Tokyo’, a staple routine both were quite fond of.
“Good Morning Tokyo, today at the studio we have a very special guest,” said the reporter on the TV, “Kowareta Yume’s mayor, Shadow the Hedgehog!”
Shadow entered the stage and Sonic and Tails felt a great sense of pride seeing him there.
“Thank you for inviting me to the show,” Shadow said.
“How does it feel to dethrone Kowareta Yume’s 31 years in a row mayor. It must’ve been a tough election cycle.”
“It was quite the battle but I think the main thing was that the people were motivated, there was a great enthusiasm for change. An enthusiasm that seemed to have been dead because of broken promises and apathy.”
“What can we expect differently from you Shadow in comparison to the previous mayor Mr. Tanaka.”
“Well the obvious thing is that we have canceled all urban redevelopment deals that were made under suspicious or dubious means, but the biggest thing is that today we have signed a piece of legislation that will finally replace the ward’s terrible sewer system! We don’t plan to stop there of course. It is my hope that by the end of my term, Kowareta Yume will be transformed into a pleasant place to live in.”
The reporter adjusted his seat, “Do you feel like you will be able to achieve everything you plan to? Will the people be satisfied with the change you bring?”
“It’s hard to say now, but I can say I was someone who used to be very bitter and nihilistic about the world. I felt like it was impossible to fix any problem and that the world we live in was doomed. When you think about big problems you will lead yourself down this path. However, recently I realized that we can impact and change the little things. That’s why I started my organization ‘Not all of me, all of us’.
“The sewer system was something is something that affected everyone living in Kowareta Yume and by the end of my term that problem will be a thing of the past. So little by little if all of us try to do what we can, the world will be a better place. I sincerely believe that to be true.”
“Now that’s our fucking mayor!” Tails yelled enthusiastically at the TV. Sonic laughed and cheered Shadow on by yelling at the TV with Tails.