Running down a dirt path, his cloak flowing behind him, Kytan saw M.A.X. trapped in an alley with a small group of people blocking his exit, and at the head of that group was a cat in a Secret Service uniform with a gun aimed at his partner, big mistake.

He dodged past the people with farm implements as weapons and went straight for his target, leaping up and planting on hand on the armed cat’s head he flipped over until he was upside down balanced on his target’s head. As his momentum carried him over Kytan smashed what was left of the Bluebell fruit in the cat’s face and pushed him back. Completing his flip, his feet landed solidly on the ground kicking up a bit of dust. Kytan spun around and faced the cat, placing himself between him and M.A.X.

Without looking at M.A.X.: “I can’t take you anywhere, can I?”

“Well, its not like I planned this or anything.”

“Are you damaged?.”

“Well I did fall out of a building last night.”

“I meant within the past 10 minutes.”

“I’m not sure, I think he did get me a bit though.”

“what?!” Kytan said turning to M.A.X. for the first time, and seeing that two inches above M.A.X.’s optic receptor was a small black mark that wasn’t there this morning. Two inches lower and he would have been critically damaged.

Kytan spun back around to face the cat that shot his partner. Under his hood his eyes narrowed and a growl escaped his lips that was more beast than anything else as the Secret Service Agent wiped some of the fruit from his eyes and took aim again.

Taking a few quick short steps foreword and swinging his right foot up, Kytan kicked the gun out of his hand and straight into the air, taking a small hop with his left foot he brought his right foot over and planted it on the ground while he planted his left foot square in his quarry’s chest sending him flying back, landing a foot in front of the stunned crowd that had gathered. Holding out his hand, Kytan caught the gun that had finally fallen to the ground and pointed it right at its owner. Pulling down his hood and letting another growl out Kytan just stared at his target for what seemed like an eternity.

Then forever ended and all hell broke loose. (Always wanted to say that.)

* * *

Sonic, Sally, and Tails arrived at an unusual scene. Pushing through a crowd of angry villagers with weapons at the ready they saw this: Kytan with his hood down his ears flattened against his head and a look of pure anger on his face, was holding a Secret Service agent at bay with his own weapon. Fellow agents and a small kit with a look of fear and confusion on her face were helping the agent in turn off the ground. While he wiped what looked a lot like the remnants of a bluebell fruit off his face. Next to him St. John and the rest of his squad had their weapons trained on Kytan and the Overlander probe droid behind him.

Kytan backed up a few feet and called over his shoulder; “M.A.X. get behind me.”

M.A.X. moved up beside Kytan and Sally finally got a good look at him. A spherical robot the size of a basketball, floating up at eye level, definitely Overlander design. The ends of the sphere were sliced off and were a few inches away from the sphere connected by a small series of wires and supports, they glowed blue. Down the center of the sphere was a small crevice that went all the way over and under, in the center of this was a small optical sensor that could move up and down this crevice like a track. A few small antennas were spread out across its top.

Looking closer, Sally could see that Kytan’s partner had taken damage; one of his antenna were bent, dents were plentiful across his surface, one of his glowing blue extensions kept flickering, and there was a black mark at the very top of his shell.

St. John stepped foreword keeping his crossbow trained on Kytan and the probe next to him. “Put down the weapon, and step away from the probe”

“I’m gonna go with ‘no’ on that one.” Kytan growled keeping Quatrain’s weapon on him.

“I’m not going to give you more warnings, if you put the gun down then maybe we wont shoot you, you can just give us whatever weapon you found in Robotropolis and we can let you go.”

Kytan narrowed his eyes and his ears twitched the slightest bit, he then thrust both arms out to his sides, his left hand with the gun in it pointing to the alley behind one of the cabins and his right arm pointing to the side window in the other.

“You accuse me of being a spy for that scum Robotnik, insult my way of living, and then almost destroy my partner.” At that he twitched the gun foreword a few times as if to aim it back at Quatrain but deciding against it. “And you expect me to just give you the gun and be on my merry way, I think not. What I want.” At this he did swing his arms forward and aimed at Quatrain again. “Is a reason not to just up and shoot this punk right now.”

Katrina’s eyes widened in fear at hearing this, noticing M.A.X. came up and tried to reason with Kytan.

“Now look Kytan; can’t we just talk this out with them? We did come here with peaceful intentions in mind. Plus this agent here was only doing his duty, I am constructed from an old Overlander probe aren’t I?”

“Well yeah, I guess I forgot”

“So it was a mistake, that’s no reason to go shooting him with his own weapon, we’re here, they’re here. Let’s just put down our weapons and talk this over.”

Sally, noticing an opportunity, stepped foreword.

“He has a point, why don’t we just put down our weapons before somebody does something they might regret.”

“Princess, I don’t think that is such a good idea with this guy’s record and what just happened, for us to just lower our weapons –” St. John started to argue but Sally cut him off.

“That wasn’t a suggestion St. John.” She said her voice getting hard as steel. “It was an order, now lower your weapons.”

Reluctantly, St. John lowered his weapon, and the other solders followed suit. Seeing this Kytan too lowered his armament. But he did not drop it or give it back. (He’s not stupid.)

“And before we go on.” Sally continued. “I think you should show us what you came to give us, and we can decide if we can take it for you.” She said looking at Kytan.

“Agreed.” Kytan said, and taking off his bag, he slowly placed it on the ground and pulled out the gun. He tossed it to Sally but before she could catch it, St. John caught it out and with a quick glare at Kytan, began to inspect the gun. After a minute or two he finished his inspection.

“This is what you came all the way here to give us? This is nothing more than a simple energy rifle with some adjustments and a few circuits added here and there. Princess, obviously this is faked just so he had a reason to follow you and find out where Knothole is. Men?” At this all of the soldiers brought their weapons up again and aimed them at Kytan.

“Obviously you are not the brains of this operation.” Kytan retorted not even bothering to raise his own weapon. “If I wanted to find this place or if I was some thief you would not have even known I was here, and I sure wouldn’t have needed to make up a reason for being here either.” Kytan reached down and grabbed a computer disk out of his bag. “I also downloaded this from the computers in the same lab I got the gun from, and then M.A.X. erased the computer’s memory.” He rubbed the bandage on his head. “Not that it was really needed.”

He tossed the computer disk to Sally and this time before she or St. John could catch it, Sonic snatched it out of the air and with a smirk at St. John he handed it to Sally. She opened the small computer at her side and put the disk in. A few seconds later a female voice came out of the instrument.

“Security codes and research design schematics match those of previous Robotnik experiments.”

“See its real. No matter what solder boy says.”

“I can verify its authenticity Princess.” Said M.A.X. “I have visual records of our discovery of the weapon.”

“Ze are probably faked.” Antoine said walking up with a glare at Kytan and M.A.X.

“You can test the footage if you wish.” M.A.X. said, “I assure you it is real.”

“One last thing.” St. John said aiming the rifle at Kytan, and before anybody could even say anything he pulled the trigger—and nothing happened.

“Why did you even take the time to give this to us, it doesn’t even work.”

“It does work.” Kytan rolled his eyes and reached into the bag for a third time. He pulled out a large rectangular disk with a power gem in the center. “But it needs this.”

Sonic and St. John stepped foreword as if they were going to compete for whom got to catch the power source.

“Actually.” Kytan said placing the gun’s battery back in his bag and swinging the bag onto his back. “The gem stays with me, you guys get the rest.”

“Now wait a minute.” St. John said. “If the gem is used in a part of the gun we are going to need it also for tests, so hand it over.”

“Oh, when you put it that way…no.”

“Look, Having the power source would help us a lot in understanding the gun and deciding what to do with it.” Sally said.

“The disk Kytan gave you has all of Robotnik’s research and records on the weapon princess.” M.A.X. said. “But we need the gem; it’s why we were in Robotnik’s laboratory in the first place. Once we sell it we’ll—”

“You’re just going to sell the gem?” Sonic said.

“No I’m going to make tail jewelry out of it.” Kytan said getting tired of having to explain their actions. “Of course we are going to sell it, we weren’t up there risking out lives for some Freedom Fighter sabotage mission. We were up there to make a profit, and we will once we find a buyer.”

Before anybody could argue Sally spoke up. “That’s ok, we do not need the gem to decide what to do with the gun. You earned it and you shall be allowed to keep it.”

Kytan smiled and made a slight bow. “Thank you Princess.”

St. John decided to continue to argue. “But Princess, we need the gem to make tests on the gun, see if it actually works and how dangerous it is.”

“Actually we don’t need the gem to power the gun.” Nicole spoke up. “The only reason a power gem was used was the gun requires a large amount of energy and a power gem is the smallest and most portable source of the required energy.”

“Exactly.” M.A.X. agreed. “Almost any generator can produce the amount needed but a power gem made it portable, since you are only going to do tests on the gun you do not need it to be operable in the field.”

“You weren’t planning on using the weapon in the field were you?” Kytan asked a small smirk forming on his face.

“No, but having the power pack would make any tests a lot easier.”

“The subject is closed St. John.” Sally said. “Kytan was considerate enough to bring us the gun and all the research that he risked his life—”

“Ahem.” (M.A.X.)

“Correction, their lives to get. And without asking anything in return. So he shall be allowed to keep the gem.”

“Actually, I am going to have to ask for something from you.” Kytan said, a little annoyed at the fact that they thought he would just hand over the gem if they told him to.

“Aha, I knew that he would have ze trick up his sleeve.” Antoine said.

“And just what is it that you ask?” Sally asked getting a little suspicious herself.

“Well, my partner had a lot of damage after last night’s adventure. And having blueboy over there.” He pointed to Quatrain who still had a blue tinge in his fur after having got the fruit off his face. “Shoot at him sure didn’t help matters. I myself have only limited electronics skills and have only been able to fix him a bit, the only price I ask is that you help me repair him and get him to the shape he was in 24 hours ago.”

“A reasonable request, you two can stay here until repairs are complete.”

“Thank you, I hope we won’t impose on you for long.” M.A.X. said.

“You won’t impose; it is the least we can do after all you went through to get the gun.”

“Great, now that that’s settled.” Sonic said. “Maybe now I can get some lunch, hey Tails I’ll race ya.”

“Sure Sonic, but only if I get a ten-second head start.”

“Sure buddy.”

At that Tails jumped in the air, and spinning his twin tails just like he had done the night before flew down the path and was gone. Sonic counted ten seconds impatiently while tapping his foot and saying to himself: “There is no way he’s getting the last chilidog.” Then, in a blur of blue, a cloud of dust, and the sound of his stomach rumbling, the hedgehog was gone.

“Oh, lunch I’m starving.” Kytan said and started to follow at a much slower pace as St. John and his men started to dispel the not so angry crowd and Rotor took the gun and computer disk.

“But you just ate, how can you be hungry?”

“Simple M.A.X. half of my breakfast went into that Secret Service Agent’s face… which reminds me, I should apologize to him.” With that he turned and started to follow Quatrain and Katrina as they went to have lunch themselves—and to wash what was left of the bluebell fruit off of Quatrain’s face. M.A.X. started to follow but Rotor stopped him.

“Wait, you should probably come with me and Bunnie, I’m going to do a checkup on her robotic parts and start my tests on the gun you two gave us. I can see how much on you needs to be fixed while I’m at it.”

“Sure, it’s nice to meet you, the name’s M.A.X.”

“Mine’s Rotor and this is Bunnie.” He responded and pointed to the Half-robot rabbit next to him. “How did you get your name anyway?” Rotor asked as the trio left for his lab.

* * *

As Quatrain and Katrina left for lunch and to write up Quatrain’s report on what just happened, They heard running footsteps coming up to meet them. Turning around Quatrain saw Kytan catching up to meet them.

“I uh wanted to apologize for what happened back there.” The striped feline said. “Nothing personal, I just sorta get overprotective of my partner at times.” He laughed. “Just don’t tell him that.” Kytan held out his hand. “Truce? I won’t hit you with fruit as long as you don’t shoot at my partner.”

Quatrain smiled and shook his hand. “Agreed, I’m sorry for that, I thought he was a real Overlander probe.”

Katrina spoke up. “Now can I have M.A.X. over for lunch Uncle Q?” She asked.

“Sure, but I think he should get fixed up first, maybe dinner.”

“Definitely make sure he gets repaired before dinner, without his night vision he’ll wander back to Robotropolis before he finds your place.”

“I’ll remember that. Say, do you want to join us for lunch?”

“Naw, maybe another time. I’m gonna follow Sonic and Tails, I just have to find out what a chilidog is. But before I go, I didn’t catch your names.”

“My name is Quatrain and this is my niece Katrina.”

“Nice to meet you under better circumstances, Mine’s Kytan. Ceya around.” And in a rush of black cloth he spun around and ran down the same path that Sonic and Tails had gone. Katrina pulling on his arm spun Quatrain around as soon as Kytan was gone reminded him just how much she was looking forward to lunch, and they headed towards Quatrain’s cabin, she with a big grin on her face and he with fruit juice on his.

* * *