Painful Memories

(A/N: And my personal favorite in what few Sonic games I've played...)

Team Dark

Rouge walked by a newspaper dispenser humming a tune and looking out for anything of interest. Suddenly she was stopped. A title caught her eye. She looked at it. It read: Strange emerald gains government interest. "Well this is a first," she said to herself.

"What is," a voice suddenly asked.

She gasped then whirled. She sighed on seeing who it was. She put her hands on her hips and angrily said, "You've got to stop doing that Shadow!"

"Doing what?" he asked.

She sighed. "Never mind, I mean this newspaper. We haven't been sent any information about a strange emerald, but the government is obviously interested."

Shadow frowned at the picture. After a moment he muttered half to himself, "Those idiots. They've done it again. Sonic is useless."

"You think it's a Chaos Emerald?" she asked half teasingly. She'd sensed as much.

"Faker can't even guard the most powerful things he's ever seen. How hasn't Eggman taken over the world yet with him protecting the emeralds?" Shadow complained.

"You think Knuckles would do a better job?" Rouge teased.

"That clown? How many times has he lost the Master Emerald? Hmm, let's count," Shadow said coldly. He turned to face Rouge then seriously said, "We need to get it back Rouge. If that one is missing they're probably all missing." He seized her hand and ran towards their hideout.

"Omega, we're home," Rouge called.

The robot's eyes opened. He slowly walked away from his recharge station. On seeing them he said, "Subjects Shadow and Rouge seem preoccupied."

"Eggman is after the Chaos emeralds again," Rouge said. "We know where one is, but we're going to have to steal it. Fortunately treasure hunting and theft is my forte," she said with a smile. "We might need your help. Can we count on you?" Rouge asked.

"I do not fail," he answered as he cocked his gun arm.

"Good, we move in tonight," Rouge declared. "Team Dark rides again."

"Humph," Shadow said.

Rouge flew towards the jewelry store with the other two holding onto her ankles. She landed on a roof then said, "Man Shadow, you need to lose weight," she teased, knowing full well Omega was the heavy one. Shadow looked coldly at her and she asked innocently, "What?" He rolled his eyes.

Looking down at the roof he said, "It's crawling with guards. We can handle them easily enough. Omega, you'll need to break open the air vent. I'll take care of the guards. Chaos Control should freeze them long enough to make our move. There may not be beams inside I can transport us to. If we set off the lasers our cover is blown. Rouge is good at avoiding accidents like that though."

"Agreed," Omega said.

"Let's move then," Rouge said. With that she flew upwards. Shadow grabbed her ankles, Omega grabbed Shadow's, then they flew swiftly from the roof.

The guards spotted them. "Hey, you…!" One began.

The others turned, raising their guns, but right then Shadow said, "Chaos Control!"

"Go Omega!" Rouge ordered. Omega ripped off the air vent like nothing. Rouge instantly swooped inside. Omega followed and was able to grab her ankles. Shadow then leapt after them.

Rouge had sprayed a laser reveling powder down. She saw the confusing net and smiled. "Too easy," she said as she looked at Omega and Shadow who she had perched on a figure head below the air duct entrance just above the lasers. She prepared to swoop down, but all at once three figures darted into the room setting off the alarms! "What," she gasped. She looked back at her friends only to see them just as shocked.

They watched the intruders reach the glass in seconds. The biggest one broke the glass easily. The girl scooped up the gem. They smiled victoriously and right then Rouge shook out of her shock and called, "Hey! That's ours!"

The second team looked up. Shadow exclaimed loudly, "The Babylon Rogues!"

"Shadow, Rouge, Omega!" Jet exclaimed in anger and shock. They hadn't seen them for a long time.

Rouge instantly swooped down towards them. Shadow leapt from his perch. Omega glided down. Landing in front of their temporary rivals Shadow said quietly, yet menacingly, "Hand the Chaos Emerald over."

"A Chaos Emerald? Is that what this is? I never would have guessed," Jet sarcastically replied.

"You want it come and get it freaks!" Wave shot. With that the Rogues made a break for it.

"Get back here!" Rouge shouted.

"Terminate opponents," Omega said.

"That robot is freaky!" Storm said as Team Dark gave pursuit.