Sam Speed's Starting Line

**Sam Speed's Starting Line** is the eleventh one-shot of Sonic X: Heroes Forever.

## Characters

* Sonic the Hedgehog
* Sally Acorn
* NICOLE (Does not speak)
* Mighty the Armadillo
* Ray the Flying Squirrel (Does not speak)
* Cream the Rabbit (Does not speak)
* Cheese the Chao
* Miles "Tails" Prower (Does not speak)
* Bunnie D'Coolette
* Antoine D'Coolette
* Rotor Walrus
* Amy Rose (Does not speak)
* Sir Charles Hedgehog (Does not speak)
* Manic the Hedgehog (Does not speak)
* Sonia the Hedgehog (Does not speak)
* Jules Hedgehog (Does not speak)
* Queen Aleena/Bernadette Hedgehog (Does not speak)
* Dulcy the Dragon (Does not speak)
* Hope Kintobor
* Chris Thorndyke
* Helen (Not named, flashback)
* Chuck Thorndyke
* Ella (Does not speak)
* Mr. Tanaka (Does not speak)
* Lindsey Thorndyke (Speaks in flashback)
* Nelson Thorndyke (Does not speak)
* Sam Speed
* Hector Dragg (Flashback)

## Plot

At an afterparty inside the mansion, Sonic is glad for a rest. Sally is surprised Sonic is tired, but, he admits that's not the case as running across a hot desert and getting sand in your shoes is no picnic. Sonic is also curious that Sam was a professional race car driver and decides to go and ask him why he joined the police. Apparently, Sam was currently in an alcohol-free drinking contest with Chuck Thorndyke.

Sonic thinks that this was even more pointless than drinking with alcohol, not deciding to join in - and the fact he was underage anyway - and asks Sam why he joined the police force. Sam gets a bit cocky, which causes Antoine and Bunnie to be reminded of a younger Sonic. Sam flashes back to when he and Hector were in first grade and Lindsey was also at school with them.

Sam, in his first grade, looks very similar to Chris, but, he has a missing tooth, has bandages, and is hanging out with his sister Lindsey. She is reprimanding him for crashing in a skateboard race again, but, it has no effect on Sam as Lindsey wasn't their mother. Hector nearly crashes into the duo, and politely apologies, much to Mighty's shock. Hector was much nicer as a kid, but, as the duo started to get older, Hector became more reckless. When a tire pops on his bike and he falls off and hurts himself, Hector forces himself to the finish line. Sam tries to get him to take it easy and get help, but, he refuses. As Hector beat Sam, he was planning on leaving town and he thought he'd never see Sam again.

Later on, Sam and Hector started racing professionally and Sam won gold medals every time. Hector was the only real challenge he had and he was bored, so, he decided to quit. One day, as Sam was finishing up his shopping at the grocery shop, he hears a scream coming from a little girl and a kidnapper taking her to his car. Sam, realizing that his nephew Chris was roughly the same age as the girl, rushed out in his own car to chase the kidnapper down. He puts himself in a lot of danger, but, ultimately manages to save the grateful little girl. The police come and arrest him, mistaking him for the kidnapper.

When Sam comes to, the chief reveals that the family of the little girl testified for him and the real kidnapper was being held for charges. As it turned out, Sam was arrested for putting both himself and the little girl in danger, though if he waited, the kidnapper might have gotten too far away for the police to track down. The chief gives Sam a choice: three months community service or a year at the police academy.

In the present, Sam reveals he chose the year at the academy and he and Hector formed the Speed Team. Sonic has a new appreciation for Sam for taking his jobs as an officer seriously. Rotor notes it's starting to get late and Sam leaves for a patrol. Sonic smirks in a cocky way, saying he'll go even faster next time. Antoine, Bunnie, and Sally note that Sonic is still a bit cocky and Sally gives him a flick on the nose, causing Sonic to be embarrassed as the episode ends.

## Trivia

* This takes place the same day as Chapter 21.