All around the universes, TVs appeared around the Heroes.
"Look at your friend," the Eggmans sneered to their world, "it didn't take much to finish him off."
Each showed the same scene: the Tails laying defeated on the battlefield. However, this scene contained Boom Tails going around checking on all the others. The Eggmans didn't see this.
Knowing their reactions were being watched, the Heroes hid their relief. All that showed was the terror and fear each felt.
Tails was down.
Tails had been defeated.
Curses and threats were mumbled under breath. X Knuckles yelled that Eggman would regret this. A burning anger was apparent in the Sonics' eyes, anger they didn't dare let show.
The one exception to this was Modern Sonic. When he saw the Tails defeated, what he had caused, he collapsed. His reasoning told him it wasn't his fault Eggman hadn't left an escape from the Phantom Egg Robot. It wasn't his fault Eggman created this revenge plan.
'But it is my fault he's my best friend. That put him in danger.'
'This is my fault.'
'My fault.'
Boom Tails was up on his feet, still moving around, which meant all were still alive. He avoided undetonated missiles and bombs. Modern Sonic duly noticed was that he kept looking over to the east. He was keeping an eye out for someone.
Modern Sonic's mind was reeling. He couldn't focus on anything, didn't know anything, except this was his fault.
His mistake.
'My stupidity.'
'My actions not only led to my Tails getting hurt, but for all of them to be ripped from their universes, their friends, their Sonics. And for what? To be destroyed.'
'How can I forgive myself? I've caused so much suffering. Tails is my friend. Will he forgive me? Do I deserve to be forgiven?'
Modern Sonic became aware of the others around him. He looked up at the X's, terrified to find their hatred aimed at him. Instead, all eyes were staring right into the camera of the TV.
Relief flickered in Modern Sonic, albeit only briefly. The X's weren't mad at him. They were mad at Eggman.
It took all his strength to stand up, to look the camera in the eye. He imagined Modern Eggman behind it, laughing. Then he said in a voice so low and dark it scared even him,
"You'll regret this day."