Disclaimer: Rouge the Bat and all characters and settings related to the Sonic franchise are copyright Sega Corporation.

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Chapter Two - A Ghost from the Past

Rouge's hand clenched into a fist and she glared at the decrepit scientist. Rouge had never seen anyone so ancient... his skin was practically white, and hugged the bones of his withered face, as dry and lifeless as the bone itself. His moustache was still present in the form of two wispy cobwebs of white hair that looked so fragile that one could imagine a strong breeze would blow them to dust.

He certainly looked like a dead man.

"Rouge, I..." he stopped and gathered saliva in his dry mouth, "after... after that horrible day, I went into hiding. I was alone for so many years, mourning, wallowing in sorrow... and plotting." He stopped and looked up at the bat, as if waiting for her to prompt him to continue.

"We saw you die!" Rouge repeated, placing one foot forward as if issuing a challenge.

"No, Rouge, that video was a fake. I paid off members of the military to make it, and say in their records that I'd been executed. They KNEW the hell I was going through, and thought I was too damn pitiful to cause any problems, so they accepted my money. Thought I was going to die soon anyway, I shouldn't wonder." He spat out the words hatefully, and Rouge frowned. Bribe or no bribe, whatever their reasons, they had helped him. They knew (or they thought they knew) the old man was no danger, so they helped him.

"Why did you fake your death?"

"So I could be alone, Rouge." The bat felt an icy shiver every time Gerald spoke her name. It still felt like she was hearing him speak from beyond the grave.

"Alone to plan your revenge, right?" Rouge said testily. Gerald's face cracked into a weak smile.

"Of course. I don't believe there's anything more I need to say about that, though."

"You can tell me now why I was brought here."

"Because I needed to tell someone. I needed to tell you. While you were up there, I was lying down here willing that lump of metal to smash this damn planet to pieces." He spoke in a resentful and bitter tone of voice, sending further shivers down Rouge's spine.

Rouge became impatient and angered by the mad scientist's words, "but why me? Why not Sonic or Tails... or Dr. Eggman! Why don't you tell your own dear grandson how you were willing him to die?!"

Gerald laughed. That skeletal jaw of his clicked open, and he actually laughed.

"Imagine if he saw me. He'd have a heart attack." Gerald stared at the far wall for a moment, then continued, "he can't know, nor can Sonic or Tails. They're too close to him, in an odd kind of way... they'd tell him. Besides, them and the echidna... I don't want to tell them. I don't feel I could talk to people like that about something so delicate. You... you're different. You remind me of-- well, never mind."

Rouge sighed and threw herself down on a chair by the scientist's bed, "all I can do is be honest with you, Professor. I pity you for your losses, I really do, but I find it hard to respect your actions, no matter what pain you were going through. Revenge wouldn't bring your granddaughter back, Gerald." Straight after speaking, Rouge wondered if she shouldn't have held her tongue. This man had lost his mind from grief; perhaps Rouge had no right to judge him.

"I know that," Gerald muttered meekly, "but I wanted this wretched planet destroyed. This is a cold world, Rouge." He paused briefly, "Shadow died, didn't he?"

"Yes, Shadow died."

"... This is a cold world." Gerald repeated, and lowered his head.

"Look, Professor, it was sad Shadow died, it's sad when anyone dies, but he was happy. He lived for Maria, and he died for Maria. He died doing the thing that would've made her the happiest... he died doing the most he could have possibly done to fulfil Maria's wish. Doesn't that make a difference?"

The professor just stared at her silently, his wrinkled brow curved into a frown.

Rouge leaned forward and continued, "it was so surreal in the ARK that evening, you know. Sonic and Dr Robotnik, mortal enemies, sitting next to each other in silence. Of course we mourned Shadow's death, but we could keep going. We had each other, still." Rouge smiled a little.

Gerald glanced up at her hatefully, "Oh yes, Shadow died such an honourable death. For who? A planet of ungrateful, ignorant monsters! The people who MURDERED my granddaughter-- his best friend!-- needlessly! They don't deserve to live; poor Maria was too benign and optimistic for her own good. More innocent, wonderful people like her will meet a miserable and pointless death. It isn't right."

"I know that, but can't you see you need to give people a chance to prove themselves? I think that's what life is all about. Making yourself and others as comfortable as they can be. Contributing as much as you can, you know?"

Professor Robotnik was silent for a moment. "I lost everything," he said quietly, "even with all my money, my achievements and my respect... I lost the one thing that I cared about and cherished more than anything."

Rouge extended her hand. She knew the bedridden professor couldn't extend his own to shake it, but she was doing it as a sign of understanding and reconciliation. "You need to know, Gerald, that there is always a reason to carry on. There's always something you can be thankful for."

A tear slipped from Gerald's eye and spilled into the cracks and wrinkles on his face. With his head resting back on the pillow, he closed his eyes in silent thought.

"Please don't be angry at us; we had to give people a chance. Nobody deserves to be judged like that..."

"Do you know what it's like... when you miss something so much that you forget what you still have?" the professor's wet eyes fixed on Rouge's for a moment, "I grieved... too much to even notice I had a grandson who idolised me so much. I didn't think he knew I existed... not until I saw a reporter talking to him that day. I could've found him and gave him some help... love... but I was too damn busy wallowing in anger and self-pity." His voice became more choked up and unsteady as he continued, more tears flowing from his sunken eyes. "What a waste..."

"But he's alright." Rouge said, "he's got a chance to find some degree of happiness and contentment, as have many like him. Whatever mistakes you made... our determination and heart put them right. It worked out okay, I promise you." She smiled.

"Shadow was right," Gerald stammered, "this is what Maria wanted..."

Rouge stood up and Gerald, sensing she was going to leave, quickly continued, "Thank you, thank you all. Please, you mustn't tell anyone where I am... but I'm pleased you all did what you did. I wish I could tell my grandson how proud of him I am, I wish I could have been there for him, instead of living this lie... but there's nothing I can do about that, either. If I'd had someone like you to knock some sense into me sooner, I wouldn't have lived the last 50 years consumed by my own hate and sorrow. I can't change that, sadly... but at least now I have hope."

Rouge stood up and saluted jokingly, "we'll sort this planet out yet, don't you worry!"

Gerald Robotnik smiled widely and nodded his head slightly-- the closest he could get to a wave, "farewell, Rouge, and thanks again."

Rouge picked up her bag as she said goodbye, and opened the door to leave the man to his thoughts.

"And one more thing... make sure my grandson doesn't get into too much trouble, okay?"

Rouge laughed cheerfully and waved to him, before leaving the man in peace.

The End.