"How you holding up?" A sweet feminine voice filled into the Robot's comm link.

"ADEQUATELY. THESE USELESS CONSUMER MODELS ARE PALTRY TO DISPOSE OF EVEN WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ULTIMATE LIFE FORM." Somehow, despite his perpetual monotone, the Robot managed sarcasm into words "Ultimate Life Form". The eighteen year old bat shrugged her shoulders as Omega continued to blast away at Egmman's mechanical henchmen.

"So Shadow wanted to use up a few of his sick days to get himself some alone time. You know he likes to get away ever so often even from my inescable charm. I'm just surprise G.U.N. still allots sick days to a being who can never get ill," she grumbled something under breath resembling "lucky bastard".

However, as Rough thought on it as she worked on computer's keyboard, she did think it was a bit strange the brusque way that black Hedgehog told them of his desire for some time off. She could still recall the empty look in his eyes as he told them. Right before they were going on a mission raiding one of Eggman's bases, similar to their current one.

"Rouge, Omega." Shadow uttered those words as he walked into the lobby room of the debriefing office as the two waited for their mission and teammate to arrive. "I'm sorry to say that you two will he conducting this raid alone. I'm taking some time off. I just confirmed it with the Commander who agreed to let me use my sick days to take as he called it,' a mental leave'".

"WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS OF THIS DECISION?" Omega's subtle cues, that took constant observation to even notice, indicated he was aggravated. The two had long since learned that when his volume levels were half an order higher that his rage was building.

"I just need some time to myself to sort out few questions plaguing me."

"Shadow," she said softly," whatever it is, are you sure we can't help? Do you really need to leave? These 'brooding sessions' of yours occasionally get you in trouble than we still get roped into." Rouge eyed him suspiciously. It wasn't out of character for him to go his own way for a while, but usually gave them a more advance warning than this.

"No you can't. It's nothing that of the sort your worried about." He knew she didn't believe him. Rouge's heightened perception as a spy and a thieve allowed her to catch a instant of deliberation on his face. "I'll leave you two to your mission. Best of luck." He left the room and the call of their supervisor stopped any chance of pursuing him.

Rouge continued to type away on the keyboard as she strained to decipher what Shadow needed to settle. The manner in which he just left was too bizarre even for him to just account to character. Any thought of Shadow was suspended as she retrieved what she needed.

"I have the files Omega. Let's go," she pulled the USB out of the port and soared though the air. The hatch slid open as Omega sent it a signal and she joined his battle. She did her trademark Screw Driver Kick right into a large Eggman robot blocking the corridor, reducing it to scrap with her sheer power.

"Nice of you to save a girl the last one." Rouge had a cheeky smile on her face as she floated in place.

"INTRUDERS. THIS BASE IS BEING SET TO SELF DESTRUCT." Alarms blared to life.

"Well we have what we need. I won't slow down for you Omega, so keep up." Rouge glided down the corridor with the heavy footsteps of Omega close behind.

As the remaining minions in the base descended upon them she dodged their blasts, and the fire of Omega from behind her as it decimated the enemies before them. She finished Omega's job with series of powerful kicks: a round house kick that knocked off the head of one robot, a sick kick that went right through a another, an elevator kick that knocked one through the air.

With the area cleared the two continue through the base. The architecture of Eggman's bases very familiar to the two of them. They soon found themselves at the sealed doors leading to the outside that Omega blew down with a few of his rockets. Rouge soared through the building's newly made cavity until she was a safe distance away.

Omega soon ran up to her with his metallic feet leaving duvets in the earth as he went. The sirens continued until silence for a brief second. That was soon filled by explosion after explosion as the base collapsed in on itself.

"I know cool people aren't suppose to look at explosion but I think an exception can be made." She turned to smile at Omega.

"Do you-" Her phone ringing ended her question. She regarded the caller ID with surprise as she moved the phone to her ear. "Shadow. Have you found an answer to whatever you were brooding over this week?" Her voiced was lace with her familiar humor but also concern for her one of her dearest friends.

"Yes, it's been settled," he let out a pained sigh she loathed to hear. "I'd like to talk to you, is Omega there?"

"Yes he's here, your on speaker so Omega can hear you." She tapped on the screen to make it so.

"AFFIRMATIVE SHADOW."

"Rouge I'd like to talk to you over dinner. Omega I would invite you if I didn't know your opinions on eating establishments."

"THEY ARE THE EMBODIEMENT OF THE PUTRID INCONVIENCE OF ORGANIC LIFE."

"I'll talk to you alone when I get back. But right now Rouge, I'd like to have discuss something with you over dinner. Is that alright?"

"Of course it is Shadow. What's the topic." The Bat was deeply intrigued and concerned by the fatigue And urgency Shadow spoke of this with.

"I want to talk about it with you face to face. I'll send you a text containing the address of the restaurant."

"Ok Shadow, I'll be there," she was confused by Shadow's mood and sudden reappearance. "You know we can talk about anything right?"

"Yes I do." He then hung up.

"O-K," she took the USB from the folds of her clothes. "Here Omega take this," she placed the USB to the robot's mechanical palm. "I'm going to go off and meet him now. I know G.U.N. will be mad at me for running off before reporting back in but I need to check this out."

"AFFIRMATIVE ROUGE. I SHALL LET HQ KNOW THAT SHADOW KEPT YOU FROM REPORTING AS IT IS TRUE AND KEEP YOU FROM BEING REPRIMANDED."

"Ok," she eyed him awkwardly and flew off. Rouge withdrew her phone and checked the address sent to her and adjusted her course towards Acornopolis."