Rouge sat on a wooden chair with her hands tied behind her. The chair sat in a dimly lit warehouse with three others surrounding her. She was dressed in a black evening gown with a pink heart on design covering her chest. Rouge grinned at her three captors. The one on the right smacked her across the cheek. She straitened and looked at the figure in the middle as he approached. He was a human, as were his thugs. He had bulge for a stomach and what little hair he had was grey.

"This is not how I wanted this evening to go," he said with regret in his voice.

"I know how you wanted this evening to go," Rouge answered. "Believe me, this is better."

"Who sent you? Was it Christen? Did he really think we needed him for our transportation?"

"I thought Ben handled all the exporting."

"Your outdated information betrays you. Ben is nothing more than a front. A rouse. Too bad. The famous Black Rouge turns out to be nothing more than a pretty face."

"You think I'm pretty?"

The human turned his back on Rouge and walked to a table full of tools.

"Tell Christen he's out. We have someone else to move all of Eggman's old robots. Although," he turned, holding one of the tools. "You may have to write it down."

He approached her as the thug on the right grabbed her and forced her mouth open…Suddenly the left thug's phone rang. He answered it and turned to his leader.

"It's for her," he said in obvious confusion.

The leader grabbed the phone. He was about to say something, but the person on the phone cut him off. Rouge could hear Charmy's voice on the phone, but she couldn't make out what he was saying. With a stunned look, the leader gave Rouge the phone who held it with her head and shoulder.

"Charmy, I'm working," Rouge said annoyed.

"Rouge, we need you to come in," Charmy answered.

"I'm in the middle of an interrogation. This moron is giving me everything."

"I didn't," the leader cut in. "I didn't give anything."

Rouge just looked at him and went back to talking with Charmy.

"You can't pull me out."

"Rouge…Shadow's been compromised."

Rouge didn't say anything for several seconds.

"Let me put you on hold," she finally said. She gestured to the thug on the left to take the phone. When he reached for the phone, she kicked him making him stagger. She stood up with the chair and spun to wack him with it. He went down. Rouge than rolled with the chair to avoid the attack of the other thug. She jumped and slammed into him with the chair causing it to break and knocking him unconscious. With her hands free she quickly finished off the leader.

She picked up the phone and began walking away from the unconscious men.

"What happened?" Rouge asked.

"We'll fill you in later. Right now, we need you to get the big guy."

"Charmy, you know Sonic wouldn't trust me about as far as he could throw me."

"No Knuckles has Sonic and I got Tails. You've got the big guy."

Rouge final understood what he meant.

"Oh boy."

Mighty the armadillo sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking a green valley in the middle of a thick forest. The scene was peaceful, but Mighty couldn't enjoy it. He missed his friends. He didn't know how long it had been since he had last seen everyone, but it's been years…

He had been on an adventure with the Chaotix to stop Eggman as usual who had stolen the Master Emerald. They had been battling one of Eggman's giant robots which was powered by the Master Emerald. He had attacked it…and it exploded. His body had been infused with energy from the emerald causing his body to change. He had grown larger… stronger… and his skin and turned green. He couldn't remember much but anger…so much anger. When he came to, he discovered that he had turned into a monster and had attacked his friends. Even Ray… timid, defenseless Ray.

He had left soon after that. He couldn't risk hurting anyone again. He had wondered the world trying to stay isolated; researching all he could for a way to reverse his condition, but to no anvil. And sometimes… he still lost control. He would get angry and someone would get hurt. He had to stay here…away from everyone…forever.

A rustling to his left forced him back to the present. He turned and saw Rouge approach him. Mighty got up and began backing up.

"Don't worry, I don't bite," Rouge said with a smile.

"It's not you I'm worried about," Mighty answered with a nervous look. "I assume I'm surrounded."

"No, just you and me."

"How did you find me?"

"GUN has always known where you were. We just kept our distance and even kept Eggman of your trail."

"I appreciate that, but what do you want."

"The Master Emerald has been stolen and we want your help getting it back. No one knows chaos energy like you."

"So you didn't come for the monster."

"Not that GUN told me."

"And GUN tells you everything huh? And what if I say no?"

"I'll try to persuade you."

"And if the other guy says no?"

"I don't think you'll risk an incident and hurting me. If you'll just…"

"STOP LYING TO ME!" Mighty yelled at her. Rouge pulled out a gun and pointed at Mighty as well as all the GUN soldiers that were hiding.

"Just you and me huh?"

Mighty just stood there looking at Rouge. Rouge waited a few moments than signaled for the others to stand down. She also lowered her gun.

"We had to be prepared," she said defensively.

"I understand and I just wanted to see what you'd do. I'll come with you, but of my own choice."

Knuckle stood looking at the screen as the figures on it discussed the threat Eggman presented. He hated that he had to make a deal with them, but it was the fastest way to gather everyone and find the Master Emerald.

"Do you really think Dr. Robotnik will start another war?" the central figure asked.

"No doubt," Knuckles replied. "His goal is to rule the world and I for one don't want to give up without a fight."

"Do you really think these people will be able to help?" asked a female figure. "They don't seem very stable."

"Look," Knuckles began. "These people may be isolated, unbalanced even, but with the right push…I believe they'll be exactly what we need."

"War isn't won with sentiment," the central figure said.

"No," agreed Knuckles. "It's won by soldiers."

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