AN: Ok, so I've been reading all the reviews on this story and you want me to tell you what I noticed? They're all the same! Seriously, the only that's different is the user names. I'm glad that people are reading the story but come on people, I don't want to be reading the same message over and over again, show some creativity!

That being said:

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THE CHAPTER!

Chapter 3: Plans

Shadow sighed as he finished cleaning up Sonic's mess in their living quarters. He really wanted to climb into his bed, but he hated a mess and always thought it was best to clean it up when the hyperactive six year was in bed. After he'd finished cleaning the living room and bathroom, he was ready for bed when he saw one of the rats Sonic played with, a black and white one, staring up at him.

In its mouth was Sonic's torch.

Shadow frowned as he pulled the torch out of the rat's mouth and examined it. Since when did Sonic get his hand on a torch? Shadow sighed as he tossed the torch into one of the cabinets and decided to ask Sonic about it later. Just as he was about to hit the hay, there was a light knocking on the door and he resisted the urge to Chaos Blast.

He opened the door and glared when he saw there was no one there.

He stepped out into the dark hallway and looked around, but he found no one there. He was about to go back inside when he noticed a small white envelope on the ground in front of the door. He carefully picked up the small envelope and frowned when he saw what looked like a rough blue hedgehog scribbled on the front of it.

It didn't take a genius to work out that it was for Sonic.

The question on Shadow's mind was who put it there? He was about to open it when the flapping of wings and the heavy scent of perfume filled the air, he sighed as he turned around to face his visitor. It was his 'friend' Rouge. She was an anthropomorphic bat with white fur, tan skin, teal eyes and endowed female features.

She had large pointy ears, small fangs, a bare muzzle with a small black nose, a short tail and a pair of black wings on her back.

Only her head appeared to have fur. Her short white hair flared out at the back and she wore blue eyeshadow, as well as lipstick. Her typical attire consisted of a black skin tight jumpsuit, a pink, heart-shaped chestplate-like top with white trim, and tall white gloves and boots with pink cuffs.

"Hey Shadow, what's that you got there?" She smiled, gesturing to the letter in his hand.

"What are you doing here Rouge?" He glared and she just huffed in annoyance.

"I just wanted to say goodnight to my favorite blue baby before he went to bed, but it looks like I'm too late."

"Don't lie to me, you already saw Sonic after his dinner, so why are you here?"

"Alright fine." She sighed. "I ran into Knuckles a few minutes ago and he said you could use some help watching Sonic, like a babysitter."

"Oh did he real?" Shadow glared, already plotting to skin the echidna alive.

"Yes, well, you didn't answer my question Shadow, what's with the letter? Pinky still trying to get with you?" She laughed.

"It's not for me, it's for Sonic." He glared as he handed her the letter to look at. She quickly opened it and pulled out a piece of paper. When she saw what was on it, she frowned in confusion.

"It's some kind of child's drawing, of what, I haven't a clue." She said as Shadow's heart clenched.

"A child you mean as in-"

"I'm not sure, but if it is one of them then he's got some guts."

"But Sonic's seen any of the others before, how could one know he was up here?"

"Well, can you think of a time when Sonic was out of your sight, even if it was only for a few minutes?" She smirked.

"But why a drawing with no words?"

"Maybe the child can't read, or was afraid someone like you would see it first, and what are these things doing here?!" She screeched as the white and black rat ran passed her and into the darkness.

"Sonic didn't want them to go hungry, I only let them hang around because he likes the company."

"Rats make disgusting pets, you have no idea where they've been, that poor boy needs real company, besides you, me and the others." She sighed. "Have you considered bringing him a playmate? Like a friend? I mean, there's an abundance of them down stairs."

"Out of the question! The others would lose it if they found out!"

"Since when do you care what anyone else thinks, besides, you out rank pretty much everyone here." She said. "Have you considered that having someone around who was close to his age would encourage him not to run rampant around here?"

"It would probably encourage him more."

"Then consider what's expected of him, don't you think that as his guardian you should try and give him some kind of childhood while you still can?"

"This child, whoever they are, I don't want them trying to contact him again, they'll end up telling him what's really downstairs."

"He's going to see it sooner or later."

"He's not ready!" Shadow snarled. "He's a six year old kid who likes stories before bed and hates taking baths! It's my job to protect him from things he's not ready for and he isn't ready for any of it!"

Rouge looked him in the eyes before looking away and sighing.

"So what do you plan to do when the time comes?" She asked and he flinched slightly. "You knew how'd this would be when Sonic was given to you all those years ago and you promised that when that day comes you'd let things run their course; but you don't want to hear that do you? Now you realise Sonic isn't the same; after watching and helping us care for them you thought 'What's one more child?', but not even you, like all of us, couldn't stop ourselves getting attached."

"Of course Sonic isn't like them downstairs! You work down there, you should know there's something wrong with them, they don't laugh, most clam up them minute they notice one of us is nearby and their constantly trying to escape!"

"They're just children, they could never understand the reason for The Ark." She replied.

"To be honest, I'm still having a hard time understanding it myself." He sighed as turned back to his door.

"Remember what I said honey, you're his guardian, it's your job to protect and provide for him, that includes all his needs." She said before flying away.

He didn't say anything and went back into the room. After checking to make sure Sonic was still asleep, he went back into his bedroom for some well earned rest...

Unbeknownst to Shadow or Rouge, just above their heads in the vents, a pair of blue eyes were peering down at them, listening as best as they could to their conversation.

Once the bat and hedgehog went their separate ways, the small figure crawled back thought the dark vents and pipes until she returned to her room, which she shared with six other children.

As she climbed into her bed, the others immediately pounced.

"It's alright, I'm fine." She reassured. "I tried but it didn't work, as long as he's with him we can't get close, so for now we're on our own; but if we don't finish this then no one's getting out, so we need to focus."...