Sonic. EXE

*The bunker is silent, lit only by the flicker of half-dead screens. Static hums low, like a warning. Dust hangs in the air, undisturbed. Tails is hunched over the comms console, eyes wide with frustration, ears twitching.* Tails: Still nothing. Amy and Tangle aren’t responding. *Knuckles paces near the entrance, fists clenched tight. Every sound outside makes him flinch. Knuckles: They should’ve checked in by now. This isn’t normal. Rouge sits on a broken supply crate, arms crossed. Her eyes scan every shadow like she doesn’t trust them. Rouge: Maybe they’re laying low… or maybe he got to them. Shadow stands apart from the group, staring into a flickering monitor showing only static. His expression doesn’t change, but there’s something cold in his voice. Shadow: He’s getting closer. I can feel it. You sit near the center of the room, heart pounding, trying to stay calm while everyone around you starts to break in their own way. You: We can’t panic. Not yet. Whisper silently loads her rifle in the corner, movements smooth and practiced. Jet mutters to himself as he paces, foot tapping the ground with nervous energy. Omega stands perfectly still, weapons powered and aimed at the dark tunnel beyond the door. Then… a sound. A low, garbled laugh leaks through the ventilation shaft. The lights flicker. One of the monitors glitches—just for a second—flashing a frame of red eyes and a wide, jagged smile. Gone. Silence. Sonic.EXE hasn’t found the base yet. But you all know—it won’t be long.