ULTIMATE DARKNESS

ULTIMATE DARKNESS

Starring:

Shadow the Hedgehog

RougetheBat

Mephiles the Dark

Shade the Echidna

Sonic the Hedgehog

AmyRose

Miles "Tails" Prower

Knuckles the Echidna

E-123Omega

Chapter One: Meetings for a Mission

Night fell upon the city of Central City.

Few were awake at this point, those who were had busy things to take care of, or simply weren't tired.

One of them was Rouge the Bat.

She had just gotten out of the central building in the city where G.U.N. agents were briefed in secret about a mission by the president himself, or the G.U.N. High Commander.

It didn't matter who to Rouge; she only cared about who was going to offer the bigger reward.

This particular mission was so secret, though, that they couldn't risk telling her there.

They only told Rouge that she was to meet another G.U.N. agent in Night Babylon in the bar who would then give her all the details.

So, Rouge gently soared in the night sky out of Central City and to Night Babylon.

She stopped for a moment to enjoy the cool, gentle breeze that blew on her face.

Rouge could feel the excitement in the atmosphere. Dormant, but there.

Rouge sighed to herself in a relaxed manner, and then leisurely flew on.

Rouge entered the bar. It wasn't very busy at the moment, only about five customers were in it. Rouge looked around for anyone who might be the agent she was supposed to meet.

In her heart, Rouge hoped it would be a certain one...

Finally, she glanced over at a corner. Two red eyes gleamed for a second, and the figure who had them made a slight, beckoning gesture with his hand which no one else noticed but her.

Rouge strutted over in a casual manner, and concealed her excitement with her customary smirk.

"Hey, Shad" she greeted, seating herself next to him.

"Figures they send you" Shadow said, chugging down the last of his drink.

Rouge leaned back in her seat. "Not too nice at greeting an old friend, are ya?" she queried.

Shadow was silent.

Rouge's smirk widened a bit. "Won't even buy a lady a drink?" she asked, scooting a little closer to Shadow.

The black and crimson hedgehog took notice of this advance but made no notion that he had.

"I'm out of spending money" Shadow said.

Rouge sighed. "Okay, fine. We'll do it your way; straight to business" she said, a little disappointed. "What's the mission?"

Shadow looked around for eavesdroppers, and then lowered his voice.

"Our scouts have reported a possible sighting of a Metarex soldier confiding to another" Shadow explained. "Right in Central City, too. We're to go undercover and act as though we're just staying at a local hotel in Central City and confirm if the sightings are true or not."

Rouge folded her arms and raised her eyebrow. "That's it?" she asked.

Shadow shrugged. "Yeah, pretty much."

"I don't see why this had to be kept even more secret than usual; it's probably just a paranoid idiot high on something. I could be out looting treasure from the most ancient temples in the world right now..."

Shadow suddenly smirked.

"What's so funny?" Rouge asked.

"I admire your ability to insult humans, Rouge" Shadow said. "Hardly any of the other Mobians do so."

Rouge took this as praise, and her wings rose a bit. "Well, quite a few of them ARE stupid, but they have the exceptional and occasional rare gems" she said.

Shadow shook his head at the 'gems' part.

Rouge then stood up. "Well, what are we waiting for?" she asked. "Let's go to this hotel we're supposed to stay at!"

Shadow stood up, left a 5 cents tip on the table, and they exited the bar.

Shadow went over to his motorcycle, and ignited it.

"Hop on" he said.

Rouge put her hands on her hips. "You kidding?" she asked. "That'll mess up my hair like no tomorrow."

"Then put this on" Shadow said, tossing a pink helmet to her.

Rouge looked appalled. "And get dumb-looking helmet hair?" she asked.

Shadow gripped the handlebars firmly. "It's one or the other, Rouge" he said, trying not to sound frustrated.

Rouge shrugged, and eased the helmet on, hoping her ears would prevent most of the hair-mess that would come from it. She mounted the motorcycle, and they took off. Rouge put her arms around Shadow to keep from falling off as they sped on. Rouge couldn't help but notice Shadow's tough abs, which she couldn't help but explore a little with her hands...

"Do you mind?" Shadow said irritably.

Rouge awoke from her daydream. "Sorry, Shad" she said, smirking. "It's not my fault you let me put my hands there in the first place."

Shadow rolled his eyes, his quills wavering in the wind.

"Hey, Shadow?" Rouge asked.

"What?"

"Where'd you get this helmet, anyway?"

They made a right turn, and Shadow responded; "I bought it for you on the way to the bar."

Rouge blinked.

For her?

With Shadow's own money?

Shadow basically getting her a GIFT?!

"Well, uh... thanks, Shad" Rouge said.

"Don't mention it" Shadow said. Suddenly they came to a stop.

"Huh? This isn't Central City" Rouge said, getting off and taking off her helmet. "We're still in Night Babylon!"

Then Rouge realized they were in front of her house, right next to Club Rouge.

"You'll need to get your stuff before we go to the hotel" Shadow explained.

"Ah. Of course. Be right back!" Rouge said, and was off.

Rouge returned carrying two large bags stuffed full. Shadow was a little surprised by the quantity of clothes Rouge was holding.

"Ready" Rouge said, the weight that would exhaust a human very little to a Mobian.

Shadow shrugged, Rouge remounted, and they were off.