(AN: Hello everyone! Well, it's time for a new chapter! I was actually meaning to get this out yesterday, but because I was tired from work Saturday, I forgot to write. Sorry guys! I hope this makes up for it!)


THAT NIGHT

It seemed to be at night that the Examineer reporters would finally calm down. Vector found this to be a sigh of relief. What would have happened if they had found he sleeps nude?

…then again, isn't he and the rest of his male friends always like that?

He could hear Espio's footsteps from outside the hall. The chameleon most likely had a cup of tea in hand to drink before bed.

"I could ask him but… is now the appropriate time?" Vector mulled.

The door to Espio's room shut.

"Screw it."

Getting up from his bed, Vector left his room and made his way towards the purple reptile's room.

"Espio? Ya gettin' ready for bed? I wanted to talk," The crocodile said, knocking on the door. After a few seconds, Espio opened the door.

"I WAS… but I guess I can hear you out for a bit. Don't keep me awake or wake up Charmy though."

"Always the mature one, even in times like this."

"Don't get me wrong, that article wants me to commit seppuku, but I shall stay strong to get to the bottom of this and find out who's writing that nonsense."

Vector closed the door behind him, now worrying how Espio would feel now that he's said something like THAT.

"Err… that's the thing. I wanted to talk about the article. Just me 'n yeh."

Espio looked up. "Just us two? Is there something about it?"

"Well… how do I put this… I know the article isn't real. But… yeh know, yeh don't really get yer feelin's out there."

"W-what are you saying?!" Even in the moonlight, he could see Espio's scales turn red.

"I mean… gah, how can I really word this? If you ever have feelin's, yeh can just tell me. It's fine."

"Are you implying I have romantic feelings for someone?!"

"Dang, got on his bad side…"

"Y-yeah… I think I made things awkward… Uh… Imma just head to bed… night."

Espio sighed. "Good night…"

As the crocodile left the room, he wanted to slap himself silly.

"Why in the name of CHAOS would you ever question Espio about that?!" He screamed mentally. "Jeez, Vec, yeh may be the Chaotix leader but yeh can sure be dense sometimes. Whatever, I'm goin' to bed…"


In his bedroom, Espio couldn't help but feel a pit in his stomach. Did he really have romantic feelings for anyone? And if that article is to say anything, could it really be someone like Vector?


THE NEXT DAY

The "Investigation Team" sat at their usual place, discussing more about the Examineer.

"Hey, where's Shadow and Rouge?" Amy asked.

"They said they'd be late. Said they were dealing with something important. I hope it's a G.U.N. related thing. Can you imagine if Rouge was stealing jewels and Shadow was merely tagging along?" Tails sighed.

"Or maybe it's finding a key person about our little case, fox boy?"

Everyone was startled. It was no doubt the voice of Rouge, but where was she?

In a flash, Rouge flew down next to the table, Shadow by her side and a person the group had never seen before.

"Thanks fer joinin' us. The heck's that?" Vector asked.

"This is apparently, one of the so called 'reporters' for the Examineer. We're going to question him about the company he works for, and we're making sure he DOES comply," Rouge replied.

"I-I can't! It's against company policy!" The reporter, a red dove, whined.

"Well I'm sure they won't care since they won't find out, right?"

The dove whimpered as he was sat down by Shadow.

"Alright, start talking. When were you employed by the Examineer?" Shadow questioned.

"I won't tell!-"

"Hmm… won't talk? Well, how about we try a NEW way of making you talk. Cream, do you mind if we can use your water bottle? I promise to buy you a new one," Rouge said.

The rabbit at first didn't want to share, but… she WAS a part of the Investigation Team.

"Anything for the cause…" She told herself. The girl handed the bat the water, who in turn forcibly poured it on the man's hand. He screamed loudly, clearly not enjoying it.

"Guys, you know we're basically torturing someone in public right," Amy flatly said.

"I know that! He asked for it, not me!" Rouge shot back.

"OKAY OKAY! I WAS HIRED THE DAY IT STARTED!" The dove yelled.

"The day the Examineer began?" Espio questioned.

"It hasn't been around for that long, so it makes sense," Tails added. "Okay, now, we need to know now. Who's the one behind the company? Is there a CEO?"

The dove was gasping for breath at this point. He freaked out as soon as he saw Rouge tipping over the bottle.

"ALRIGHT! I'LL KEEP TALKING! JUST DON'T POUR ANYMOREEEEEE!"

"Is it wrong to kinda feel bad for him?" Charmy asked.

"Nah, I'm enjoying this," Knuckles replied.

"Glad to see you're complying. Now answer Tails' question," Rouge said, giving the bottle back to Cream.

"Alright… yes, there is a CEO… I won't lie though, I don't know his name," The reporter said.

"What?!" The group said.

"How can you be a part of a company and NOT know your boss' name?!" Rouge questioned.

"I think you're lying," Shadow said, brow lowering.

"I'm not lying! I don't know his name!"

"Then how were you employed?"

"I… that's… private information! It's… company polic-"

"Shut up about that!" Knuckles yelled. "Answer the question!"

"That… I… you'll never know! He'll come after you!"

The dove ran away, and within an instinct, Shadow kicked him and Rouge took the bottle of water again and poured it all over him. The dove only screamed for a second before going silent and then… exploding.

At this point, everyone who hadn't run away from the food court was now running away. The group looked at the pile of wires and metal parts on the ground.

"Whoa… you were right, Espio. They're not alive," Sonic said.

"Robotic reporters?" Vector said to himself. "Could it be Eggman?"

This got the group riled up.

"Eggman! Of course! He must be behind this!" Tails exclaimed.

"Wait. How do we know for sure?" asked Espio.

"Wh-what do you mean 'how do we know for sure'?!" Rouge replied.

"Think: Eggman never once created a robot that looks scarily like you and me. Metal Sonic doesn't count, you can tell he's not Sonic by the way he looks. But the way the reporter looked, you would never be able to tell he was a robot."

"Doesn't Eggman have his little insignia on all his robots? The only way to prove it is if we find it," Vector said.

"Ooh! I'll go find it!" Charmy exclaimed.

"No yeh aren't, yeh might get electrocuted. Lemme handle this."

Vector walked over to the robot and looked around the casing of the robot. The outer shell didn't carry and kind of insignia…

"Nothin' so far. I dun think we can open it up, so Tails, mind if yeh take a look at this thing?"

"No problem. If there's no Eggman logo, then I think we can rule him out."

"But this depends know… does Eggman even KNOW about the Examineer? What if he's getting a laugh out of it," Amy said in a worried tone.

"Well, why don't we ask the doctor himself?" Shadow suggested.

"Oh sure, let's just bust into Eggman's base and be like 'Hey, do you read this tabloid?'" Knuckles replied.

"Red, don't you know that G.U.N. calls me a fantastic thief for a reason?" Rouge said. "I'll talk to the man. In fact, I'll even do it right now."

Rouge flapped her wings and flew off, leaving the group behind.

"I'll take this back to my place now," Tails said. "I think our little investigation is done for the day. Remember, if Rouge can't pinpoint Eggman, then our suspect is someone else."

"Dismissed!" Vector yelled.


THAT NIGHT

"What… what is it about this article that bugs me?"

Vector kept looking at the headline: "VECTOR AND ESPIO… IN LOVE?!"

He reread the article over and over again. Not just for any clues behind GamNeg, but also about the specific 'thing' bugging him about the article.

"Is it the way it's worded? Is it the subject matter?"

Vector adjusted his reading glasses. The lamp on his desk was starting to dim.

"…I should go to bed."

He yawned, and then looked at the tabloid yet again, the headline burning into him for some reason.

"VECTOR AND ESPIO… IN LOVE?!"