Chapter Text
It was cold. It was also uncomfortable. Those sensations gradually broke through the blanket of unconsciousness he was waking up from. Ears ringing and head pounding, he tried to bring his hands up to his eyes to rub off whatever sleep was remaining. Was he asleep? When did he fall asleep? Who wakes up from sleep feeling this horrible? Those questions didn't hold priority for very long as he realized his hands were met with firm resistance. He couldn't move. It also occurred to him that he wasn't laying down. Panic shot through him and his eyes flung open. Swiftly regretting this decision, he recoiled, squeezing his eyes shut again in response to the blinding light. That did not help his headache. In fact, it made it worse.
Taking his time he slowly opened his eyes, letting them adjust to the light. He did his best to take in his surroundings. The first thing he looked at was his hands. Well, his suspicions were confirmed, but that didn't make him feel better in the slightest. Clamped to the metal chair he was propped up in, his hands wouldn't wiggle free despite his effort. Attempting to move his legs only confirmed they were held in place too. Fantastic. After coming to terms with the fact that he's been kidnapped, he looked around to get a better grip on his surroundings and a potential escape plan.
Looking directly in front of himself he saw a metal table which reflected the light of the lamp directly above it into his eyes. Squinting, he turned away to look at the rest of his surroundings, yielding little results. The rest of the room was too dark to really see anything, and he couldn't make out what was on the other side of the table thanks to the light being obnoxiously blinding and his eyes having not fully adjusted. Yep. Interrogation room. He rolled his eyes and sighed. If this was an interrogation for one of the many crimes he's committed he was not looking forward to it. Although this did seem a little extreme for it to be the police. He supposed it could be some gang he inadvertently ticked off...
Tap.
His line of thinking was cut short.
Tap.
What on earth?
Tap.
Thanks to the bare room causing the sound to echo, he had a hard time pinpointing where it was coming from.
Tap.
Trying to twist around in the chair did no good.
Tap.
It was getting annoying.
Tap.
Looking forward again revealed the reflection of the lamp light in two, perfectly circular lenses looming over at him from across the table.
Tap.
He made eye contact. His blood ran cold. The tapping stopped.
His feathers pressed flat against his body and his eyes went wide at the realization of what he was looking at. Who he was looking at. This reaction caused a gleaming, too wide smile to spread across the other figure's mustached face.
Doctor Eggman.
"I was wondering when you would notice." Eggman's gravely voice reflected off the concrete walls, emphasizing the doctor's speech. Trying his best to calm himself, the one in the chair put on an unbothered facade (entirely too late) and responded.
"Well-" His voice croaked from being unused for who knows how long. Ew. He cringed at himself and cleared his throat, continuing.
"Well maybe I would've woken up earlier if you hadn't..." Wait, how did he get here?
"Uh..."
Crap. He couldn't think of anything witty to say and backtracked.
"What do you want? What did you do with Wave and Storm?" Good enough he supposed. At least he knew Eggman, and knew he probably wouldn't do anything too horrible to them. Or himself. Eggman isn't the type to straight up kill or torture someone. That's too far, even for someone as despicable as Eggman... Right?
A chuckle came from the other side of the table, causing him to shudder in fear despite his efforts against it.
"Your lackeys are fine. They don't even know you're gone. That being said, they wouldn't be able to find you if they did notice your absence."
At least his friends were fine, but that last part wasn't comforting. In fact, you could call it the complete opposite of comforting!
"What do you want?" He repeated the question again. The sooner he figured out what Eggman wanted from him, the sooner he could get out of here.
"I want you to do me a favor." A favor? Eggman had to be delusional if he thought he was going to give him a favor.
"Are you kidding? You aren't getting any favors out of me." The looming figure leaned forward, allowing his face to be fully illuminated. He ignored Jet's decline, continuing to talk.
"I need you to steal the emerald from the Tornado, and a couple other locations. Destroy their extreme gear, and the Tornado too. I'll even give you the devices to do so."
His jaw dropped. The Tornado?! No way he was going to attempt that. It was practically a suicide mission! Tail's workshop may as well be a mine field with the amount of traps in there! Not to mention then Sonic would be after him. Not that he was admitting he would have any trouble with Sonic, of course. Just that it would be more effort than it's worth! Yeah. That's the reason.
"You want me to do this as a favor? You're insane! Like that's happening!" He scoffed and turned his head dramatically.
"How about we do a little trade, then? Your friends' lives, and yours, for this little job. Or have you already forgotten your current situation?" The Doctor's smile grew wider as he gestured to Jet's restraints.
That gave him pause. There's no way Eggman would actually kill them. Eggman must be bluffing! Probably! Hopefully. Before Jet could sass him, Eggman straightened his back, bringing himself out of the light, sighed, and brought his forefinger and thumb to his temples.
"I'll pay you." He stated flatly.
"Why didn't you start with that? Consider it done!" He really needs to rethink his priorities.