It's been awhile! Ya'll ready for my Tomfoolery??

"What do you mean I'm getting a Hybrid!?"

Stone flinched, his ears flicking at the angered screech coming from the meeting room. Even through the closed door, Stone could clearly hear the heated discussion inside.

Straightening up, he carefully fixed his ears and made sure his tail was still at attention.

He didn't need to make his new boss even more upset by not following his training.

Not that any of his previous superiors would ever compliment him on his skills or training. A Hybrid was expected to perform for the sake of their duty, not to be praised. Stone had learned the long and hard way that he was nothing more than a tool for the government, specifically GUN.

As a German Shepard Hybrid, Stone was meant to be the model of all Hybrids. He had been the top of all his classes, even sent on some of the most dangerous missions in the last decade.

He had secretly hoped that would impress Dr. Ivo Robotnik.

It seemed that nobody wanted to work with a Hybrid, even the great doctor.

There were far too many times Stone had been faced with ridicule and scorn when he joined a team for a mission. One time, a rowdy agent had even yanked on his tail so hard, Stone had been scared it had been damaged. It had taken all of his self control not to bite the agent.

"I need a real agent, not some animal running around my lab!"

Stone's tail wanted to droop in disappointment, but he refused to do so. He would do anything in his power to change the doctor's mind.

Another ten minutes of yelling passed before the door to the room slammed open, revealing Robotnik himself.

Standing at attention, Stone offered the doctor a mild smile.

Robotnik sneered at him.

"Follow."

Used to short commands, Stone picked up his belongings at his feet, a backpack and duffel bag, and followed behind. He could hear Robotnik muttering under his breath.

"Not just a Hybrid, but a live in one. Oh, I'm going to make Walters regret this."

"The last thing I needed was some mutt."

Stone had heard worse from others before, but he has hoping Robotnik would be different. He had attended a few of the doctor's presentations before and he was always impressed by Robotnik's vision. The man seemed to be above normal humans, caring more for robots.

Maybe he wouldn't care that Stone was a Hybrid.

He was wrong it seemed.

They exited the main building on the base, heading towards a lone building set away from all the others. It looked innocuous enough, no different from the other concrete structures. However, as soon as they approached the entrance, he could tell there were far more security measures in place than any other place on base.

Robotnik used an eye scanner, hand scanner, and impossibly long code to open the door.

Stone could feel his excitement returning. He was finally going to work for the genius doctor.

Robotnik was still quiet as he led Stone through a long hallway to an elevator. As the metal doors closed around them, Stone took a calming breath.

He never did do well when he couldn't see the sky.

But, it was a small price to pay to be able to be there. To be at Robotnik's side.

Two floors down, they stopped in what looked to be a communal kitchen and lounge. Everything looked practically new, barely touched. Even the couches looked as if nobody had ever sat on them.

Robotnik led him through the room and down another small hallway. Opening a door, he turned to glare at Stone.

"This will be where you'll sleep while you're here. Keep your shedding to a minimum."

Stone's mouth dropped slightly.

It was a basic bedroom with a bed, closet, bedside table, chair, and desk. The bed looked just as pristine as the couch. A layer of dust was on everything in the room.

Stone wanted to fall to his knees and kiss Robotnik's feet.

On every other assignment, Stone had been expected to either sleep on the floor or outside. The only time he really ever got to sleep in a real bed was when he was in the hospital. Even the Hybrid dorms only offered thin, hard mats for them to sleep on. The government wasn't going to spend money on frivolous for their attack animals.

But here was Robotnik, offering him not only a bed but his own room.

Stone gave Robotnik a wide smile, for once not concerned about showing off his much sharper teeth.

"Thank you, doctor. I'll keep it clean."

"I don't care what you do," Robotnik curled his lip. "You can decorate later. I have things to do and you might as well be useful."

Decorate?

Robotnik was giving him permission to store his possessions here? Stone couldn't believe what he was hearing. First, his own room, and now he was allowed to keep something that was solely his.

If only he could have worked for the doctor sooner.

"While you're here, I expect you to perform like any other agent. I won't tolerate any stupidity simply because you're part canine. Hopefully that'll help you actually complete simple orders."

"I won't let you down, sir."

"Let's not get our hopes up," Robotnik snorted. He led the way back towards the elevator.

Stepping in behind him, Stone couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips.