A man rushes through the G.U.N security offices, a folder in his hand. He sighs, wondering how far he'll have to walk to find his boss in this chaos. Damn, this was all very inconvenient, what with the sudden hacking. Who'd want files like those anyway? Far as he knew G.U.N didn't have any good information on whatever it was that was stolen… He strides past the interrogation rooms, then stops, pulled from his thoughts by a disturbance. What was that noise? Voices…? He stands back and looks over the string of darkened rooms. They all seemed to be empty, though? Why would someone be in one of those rooms?... Unless they were doing something behind someone's back! Which any sort of secrecy was bad enough in this state of affairs… "Douglas!" The military intern stands to attention as his boss approaches him, abandoning his concerns for the moment, and extends the file.

"Sir! I've brought the files you asked for, sir!" The man takes the folder with a nod, slipping it into his velvet coat. He seemed rather out of place in his long, purple tailcoat, cream-colored ascot, black pants, and shiny black boots with a gold, winged loop crested on the front. While most of the other staff boasted their shiny pins on their sharp suits, he seemed to take a much more laid-back approach, pinning most of his honors on his cuffs and the only medal he bore was pinned on his chest pocket, ornamented with a matching cream handkerchief arched around it. "Thank you for bringing this to me, Douglas. This will be very useful in my research." The man dismisses the intern with a smile and a wave of his hand as he breezes past him, not paying any mind to military formalities. "You can go back to work now. Have a good day, Douglas."

Douglas stammers a little, perplexed by his attitude. "Uh, Sir! T-Thank you, sir, y-you too?..." He stares after him a little while, taking in his outfit. Clearly he didn't appear to do anything on the battlefield. But wait, there were those voices again! The intern turns to investigate further, and was surprised by the appearance of one of the cleaning personal leaving a room. Douglas sighs and heads back to his work station, now disheartened. Maybe if he had exposed some sort of scandal he might have gotten a promotion...

"Whaat? But Shadow, don't you think that's pushing it a little? I mean, it'd be one thing if it was just a setback in time and space, but we don't know anything about this Mephiles except what you can remember." Rouge sat in one of the metal chairs, lounging with her legs slung over one of the arms as she turned over Shadow's suggestions. The ultimate lifeform, still leaning back against the wall, closed his eyes and looked away from her and her doubting eyes. Would he truly have to do this by himself? Would not even Rouge stand beside him? He held back a shiver; this attitude was uncalled for. Even if Rouge didn't agree, she would never abandon him like he dreaded. What was wrong with him, thinking these thoughts? This couldn't really bother him that much… Rouge watches him carefully, studying his expression with her arm propped on the table, resting her chin in her palm. It was hard to make out his emotions in the dark, so instead she took to possibly cheering him up. A small smile spreads onto her face as she looks him over one last time to be sure she was going to approach him the right way. Little bands of light played on his slick quills, practically glowing in the stark contrast between the fuzzy black-and-white realm of night vision and the piercing beams sneaking through the blinds.
"Ahh, but… I suppoossee… If this is really what you want to do…" Rouge stands, shrugging her shoulders with closed eyes, being amusingly nonchalant in the hopes of raising his spirits. "I guess I'll see what I can do." She looks at him in time to watch him turn to her, and she studies his face to make sure she played her cards right, hands on her hips confidently. He had tilted his head slightly, his eyes wide as he thought while keeping a neutrally friendly expression. He was waiting for her to further explain herself, so she jumps at the chance, shifting her weight to the other side of her hip. "I'll see what I can do here while you go out and look for other Chaos Emeralds, especially that purple one you were talking about. There's nothing I can do about the one I just gave to Dacado, but as far as I know it's just being transferred to military safe-storage, so I'll talk to the Commander about it."

Shadow nods and stands up up, gracefully letting his arms fall to his sides. "I'll go out and start looking for that emerald then. I get the feeling we'll get some answers from it." He starts heading for the door, then pauses, looking back at his partner. "Do you have any way to contact me so others won't hear?" Rouge turns her head a little, showing off her skin as she spoke, as was in her nature. Shadow frowns at her a little; he really wished she'd stop doing that… "I have a communicator that can change to whatever airwave frequency I want it too," Rouge said as she touched something that glinted on her ear, just like a little cyan ear-ring. "As long as we're on the same frequency we should be able to talk through your communicator." Shadow nods, satisfied, and closes his thankful eyes as he heads for the door. Rouge follows, smiling to herself. Perhaps it was selfish of her, but she was glad to have those perfectly formed, grateful glances and small smiles all to herself. They barely saw Omega anymore thanks to their military work, so she was the only one Shadow really trusted in his life at the moment. Instead of walking out first, Shadow holds the door open for her, which was unusual for him. Rouge pauses for a moment and stares, appalled and confused. He had his back against the door, holding neutral eyes on her. Once she had stepped out of the room Shadow looks the door from the inside and lets it close behind him. Rouge watches the look in his eyes change: From calm and friendly, to aggressive, focused, and prepared. He straightens up, his breath changing just slightly as he holds his head high. He simply nods to her and starts walking down the hallway to the nearest exit. "Good luck, Rouge. Tell me as soon as you learn something."

Rouge gives him a friendly salute. "Will do, honey." She grins as she walks down the other way, back into the building, her heels clicking on the polished floors. Shadow had always let her do her own thing – it was such a rare gift that he'd show such kindness. She gives a little skip and a laugh, catching the attention of a large number of employees, not forgetting that one guy who looks up without a clue. What did this mean, then? Does he trust her more? Does he likeher now? Is he trying to charm her or something? Rouge sighs and tosses her head, re-adjusting her communicator. She needed to settle down before she could talk to the Commander. With one last giggle, she prances toward the big guy's office.

Shadow wanders with his ears perked, following the draft in the hallways. He had been mistaken in which way was the best route, and ended up a tad lost. Now, he was caught in the maze that was the research wing. The scent of chemicals burned in his throat, all too familiar in his senses. Despite the way it put him on edge as he wandered about, it was also nostalgic and calming. After a short debate, he found he was quite comfortable here. In fact, it was a bit fun to try and identify chemicals and elements simply by their smell. From what he could remember… he used to do that a lot before the Accident… Shadow suddenly grits his teeth, furiously gathering all the will he bore in his bones. No memories. Not now. Not ever again. He railed and raved to himself as he found the exit and stormed out of the base. He gave up all that when the Black Comet came, and revealed his origin. None of it had to matter – and so it didn't! Nothing about who he used to be mattered anymore! How long did that have to sink in until he stopped remembering these things? He shook his head, and ran a hand through his quills, allowing himself to get lost in the cool breeze that slipped through his fur. He imagined that he could float on the wind, and that it could carry him away from this damned body, and all the blooded strings attached to it. Shadow sighs, rubbing his eyes as he steadies his soul. Maybe he was tired or something… Perhaps he should doze off somewhere for a little while… He allows his resolve to harden again, walking northeast towards that emerald. Despite all that had happened, he hadn't forgotten which way to go. Suddenly that laugh sounded in the back of his mind, making him shiver with rage. That laugh – her laugh. It was sweet and tender, like tiny bells in the trees as the wind blew by. First her laugh, then her face; warm and youthful, innocently pale away from the sun's kisses, with reddened cheeks and pink rose-petal lips, and those wide, incredibly blue eyes like an endlessly deep, cerulean sea… And all of that framed by such lush, wavy golden hair… Such a rich shade of blonde it was, and silky to the touch… Would he ever be able to forget a face like that? Shadow swallows hard as he realizes he had suddenly stopped in the middle of a paved, government path, as memories swallowed him whole… Suddenly he was somewhere else as his mind insisted on reliving the moments so that they were purified and true. Shadow strains his mind as he steps out of himself, away from the Ark, away from Maria and her sweet, childish laughter. He snarls, breaking into a run. He runs across the cleared, grassy fields surrounding the base, through the forests and the intertwined branches lying low with spring foliage, and up the mountain between him and his goal; away from those terrible memories, stirred by something as simple as the sun in his eyes. He'd never turn back, he insists, tears streaming down his cheeks from the sudden sting of the artificial lights he was staring at fifty years ago. Not again. Never again.

He flops over, the cool grass giving way to his quills. Or was it Maria's sheets around his head? Was there really any difference…? Both were so gentle, enveloping and comforting… He takes a deep breath, foggy mountain air filling his lungs and confusing him. It was so different than the Ark's air – where was he again…? He was with Maria, wasn't he? He was seven years old, and Maria was five. They were playing hide and seek and Maria had found him hiding under her sheets. They were both laughing their little lungs out as she tried to pull him out by his ankles, because he refused to leave just for the hell of it. Such childish bliss… Neither of them had a thing to worry about, and Maria finally had a friend her own age who would love her unconditionally…

Shadow blinks, moaning as he's pulled from such a vivid memory. He felt his consciousness disconnect from the distant past and return to him, but his world was white and fuzzy. He sits up with a sigh, rubbing his aching, straining eyes, and listens to the mountain songbirds sing. It had been so long since he had been pulled in so deeply… The ultimate lifeform sighs and takes in where he had left off. He had been scaling straight up the stony mountain, and had collapsed on top of a grassy outcropping when he couldn't keep it together. He sighs again, looking off into the distance. The view was awe-inspiring, and made him feel thoughtful. He studies the horizon and the sun, taking in the sunlight dancing on the forest treetops, and racing the wind on the flourishing grasses in the distance. For how long had he been out at that time, when he was seven? From what he could remember, it didn't seem like long… That was the only day he could remember from anywhere in his childhood, until he was fifteen or so, and it seemed about right. Suddenly his throat tightens, ceasing all thought – It was there, he could sense it behind him. Over the mountain, and moving fast: The Chaos Emerald. He jumps up. If he doesn't go after it now, he might lose it. He lunges – and hesitates. He almost tumbles straight off the mountain, suddenly yanked into one last thought. Was he truly capable of just escaping his memories? Could he be utterly unable to turn a blind eye, until he remembered everything…? How long would that take? He sometimes literally could not stop himself from collapsing; he was always so vaunerable! He shivers and grits his teeth. Don't worry about this now… Shadow thinks to himself, and willing himself to move on, he jumps off the ledge, kicking on his skates to make a smooth landing several hundred feet below him. He would go around the mountain and cut the emerald bearer off before he escaped. He could feel the stone beckoning him, pulling at his entire being practically; urging, driving, begging him to come closer, so it could tell its tale. How did he know it wanted to reveal things to him? It told him so. And it also said it was of dire importance that he know. Shadow purses his lips, realizing that as he had gone around the mountain, the emerald bearer had turned north instead of continuing west, aiming to cross the distant mountains. He gives a growl and picks up the pace, the forest blurring all around him as he dodged massive trunks, foliage, rocks, and streams. He needed that emerald.

-(0 o 0)"-
Author's Note: ... To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what to say. I feel so ashamed it's taken me this long.I know none of you want to hear me whine about this and that, and why I didn't update sooner and [blah blah blah], because that's what everybody knows a Fanfiction writer has to deal with. 'xD But, although I couldn't update sooner, I did try and meet a request for longer chapters... This was four pages, and 2,400+ words. From now on, all of my chapters are going to have to be 2,400+ words if I can do so without ruining it. That's a promise.

My deepest thanks go out to all of you who are still reading. I know how dull this must be, waiting for some half-assed wanna-be novelist to update her shit at a reasonable pace. LOL... :P I also know you came here to see Shadow and Mephiles interacting, and got four chapters of Shadow. However, your wait is nearly over. Mephiles should be appearing within the next two or three chapters. I hope that eases some of your minds and gives you some insentive to stick around. :) Thank you for all the new reviews as well! They are my motivation when I feel like giving up, so please don't stop forking them out. :) Hope you enjoyed.