Beginnings, Part I

...

--
In some cheap single-story home in Emerald City, Jawbreaker the Cat sat in his chair in the living room, quietly reading a book with nothing but the faint light from the lamp sitting on the small table to his left. Reading had been a common pastime for the feline for a while now, as it helped distract him from everything else going wrong in his life. His business was failing, he was in deep, deep, deep financial trouble, and he was truly running out of ideas and time. By no means does this mean that Jawbreaker's a negative person though, it's just getting to be a bit too much for him. Just because everything's going to shit doesn't mean he can't pretend it's not, even if it's only for a couple hours each day.

Soon Jawbreaker's ears popped up when he heard the door across from where he was sitting slowly squeak open. He finally glanced up from his book to see a pair of very demoralized amethyst eyes staring back at his own fiery crimson eyes. It was his girlfriend Iris, and Jawbreaker could tell from the expression on her face that, unlike himself, she had grown sick of constantly pretending everything was okay.

"Shit," Jawbreaker thought in his mind. One thing Jawbreaker noticed about himself over the years is that he was a much more unflappable person than the people he was around. Even his girlfriend, and Jawbreaker had known for a while that the situation would grow to be unbearable for at some point.

Jawbreaker kept his eyes locked on his girlfriend's as she made her way through the doorway and over to where he was sitting, while he was thinking of something to say to at least try to distract her from the situation.

"Hey babe, you want to see what I'm reading?" Jawbreaker asked his mate.

"Cut it out," she snapped, "you know exactly why I came in here."

Jawbreaker was at a loss for words at how uncharacteristic Iris was acting. Yeah, she was pissed.

Jawbreaker closed the book he was reading and shifted in his seat a bit so that he was facing his girlfriend. "So what's the problem?"

"The same problem we've had for the past four months."

Jawbreaker sighed. "I told you I've been working on it."

"You've been working on it?"

"That's what I said," the male replied calmly.

"Then why are we still struggling to pay rent every month?"

"Listen, Iris, things like this don't happen overnight."

"I understand that, but it's been past overnight for a while now."

"Well..." Jawbreaker stuttered. He was losing her. "I mean, you have stayed with me and supported me for two years now. I don't see how you could just leave me now."

The expression on the female's face shifted instantly after hearing that sentence. She raised her voice a bit. "See, that's your problem. Why do you have to be so nonchalant about everything?"

Jawbreaker doesn't reply.

"Can't you take a hint?" She was yelling at her boyfriend now, and all he could do was listen.

"We're not the same as we were two years ago, when we first started dating. You were much younger and dumber and I don't think you understood the responsibilities you would have to take on."

Jawbreaker finally decides to reply to her. "Why the hell wouldn't I know the responsibilities? Do you even know what you're even saying anymore? I'm always working on this repair business, and I work an actual job along with that. I barely have any time to do anything else because I'm trying to make this business relevant. And we can barely pay rent because my job pays close to nothing. If you paid attention sometimes, maybe you'd realize this."

"Here you go again with this business." Iris was furious now. "Why won't he just own up and admit nothing's going right?", she thought to herself. "When will you realize that this stupid fucking business won't work?", she screamed at her boyfriend.

Jawbreaker stared at his girlfriend. He was livid. "If that's how you feel, then just leave. I don't need you to stay, go find somewhere else to live," he said to his girlfriend, surprisingly calm despite the look on his face.

Amethyst eyes met crimson again, then Iris turned around and stormed out the door.

Jawbreaker sighed, still sitting in his chair, tears welling up in his eyes.

A few minutes passed, then he stood up and grabbed a small piece of paper from his desk and an old, chewed-up pen.

He wrote on the paper, "Change locks to door", then placed the paper back on his desk and went to bed.

________________________________________________________________________

Somewhere in the middle of a forest north of Emerald City, Sonic and Tails are sitting in their cabin having lunch. This has been a rather quiet Friday for them after an otherwise very busy week beating up enemies and saving villages. They had been travelling all week, not being able to settle down in one place, but finally they have a chance to. The cabin they're currently staying in is their main living spot (most of the time where they stay when they're not on a mission), it's where most of their personal belongings are. In addition to this one, Sonic and Tails have other cabins all across Mobius, because as heroes, they're constantly on the move and need to be able to settle down wherever they can. They both know it's very possible that they'll have to move to one of their other homes soon though.

Sonic takes a bite from his chili dog and looks at Tails. "Any plans for today?"

"Not as of right now, but I have a feeling something should happen soon. It doesn't feel right at all having nothing to do," Tails replies.

"Yeah, I'm surprised we've gone this long with no action."

Tails nods at him before hearing a tone coming from his laptop, which he responds to immediately.

"It's a video call from Amy," he says to Sonic after opening his laptop. "Right on cue to tell us about our next mission, I'm assuming."

Sonic's entire mood changes with the news of the video call. "So what's our issue now?", he says to the laptop screen, visibly and audibly annoyed.

After a couple seconds of silence from the laptop (reception is pretty bad when you're deep in the forest, as expected), Amy tells Sonic and Tails the news, as the boys are both eagerly awaiting it. "Well, it's two things, really. The Chaotix just informed me that they found an underground bunker in the forest near where you guys live, and they were able to break into it. They found several large high-tech destructive robots inside the bunker, but—"

"Sounds like just another wave of Eggman robots," Sonic replies. "We'll have that taken care of swiftly." His trademark confidence has noticeably already returned to him, but leaves just as quickly when he hears Amy's voice through the laptop again.

"You didn't let me finish. The thing is, from what they told me, the robots aren't Eggman's."

Sonic and Tails both looked at each other in confusion, seemingly making sure that what they heard was reality.

"The Chaotix couldn't find anything related to Eggman in these robots, or the bunker."

"If they're not Eggman's robots", then who could they belong to?", Tails asked.

"That's what they were trying to find out the last time I spoke with them," Amy replied. "They said most likely that there's some anonymous party behind this."

"Well, as soon as you receive more intel, you need to give us a call," Tails said to her, trying to end the call. "Thanks, Amy."

"Wait, don't leave yet! I have one more thing to tell you!"

Tails and Sonic both refocused on the laptop screen quickly.

"Funny how right as you mention more intel, I get a message from the Chaotix."

"Well, what does it say?", Sonic suddenly asked. The cobalt hedgehog seems to be very eager now, when just a short while ago he couldn't care less.

"They said that this whole robot situation just got way bigger. They were in the city and found four bunkers, and right before that they found two more in the same forest!"

Emerald and sky blue eyes both widened to look at each other. Neither of the boys could find anything to say, therefore they continued to listen.

"They weren't able to get into any of the other bunkers but said they're pretty sure they contain either more robots or different types of very expensive and VERY dangerous weapons."

Sonic finally breaks the silence between the two. "Were they able to find out when the bunkers will open?"

"Unfortunately not, and that's why whatever you two choose to do, you need to do it urgently. If you need to, you can come stay in my apartment in the city, but just get here as soon as you can. These weapons could be unleashed at any moment."

"Got it," Tails says. "We'll be there soon." He then proceeds to end the call and close his laptop.

"Well, there's your action you wanted," he says to his blue friend while starting to pack his laptop up. "We need to get ready to go to the city."

After several seconds with no response, he looks over at Sonic, who is sitting at the table, staring off to the left. "Sonic?" Tails taps him on the shoulder. "Aren't you ready for this mission?"

"You know I'm ready dude," Sonic finally replies. "It's just that.... I never thought I'd say something like this, but..." He stopped.

Tails looks at Sonic, and motions to him to keep talking.

"I need a break, Tails." Sonic looked back at his friend and Tails could tell from his facial expression that he was very worn down.

"A break?????" Tails couldn't believe what he just heard and had to replay it in his mind to make sure he wasn't losing it.