Author's Note:

This story is still on hiatus - I have no idea if I am going to finish it or not but I do have a lot of cool ideas if I were. But the other day I was going through it and really didn't like this chapter. Maybe it was because I was rushing or something or just wanted something to show that people actually read the story (this was before I found out you can see "Traffic Stats" and thought reviews were the only indication that people read the story - To those who was reading it all along while I kept saying no one was reading it, please accept my apologies... I still am learning things about this site). But yeah, I really didn't like the chapter so took it out and redid it. I figured the least I could do was touch it up and make it a bit thicker and more believable.

But again, this is still on hiatus. As of now I am working on Still A Need For Heroes and seeing as that is quite extensive it might be a bit before that gets done. And who knows, maybe after that I will pick this thing up again. Not making any promises though.


Rush

Chapter 3: Joker and the Thief

Part 2: Rendezvous

"Glad you could make it. Can't believe you actually showed up."

"I can't believe this isn't some hoax." Fox replied.

"Well if you weren't too drunk to completely dismiss all of this." The voice said in a soon to be signature sarcasm. "But let's cut the small talk and get down to business." Anput replied, finally revealing herself as she stepped out from the shadows and from behind a stack of crates off to the side. "So you want to rob a bank."

"Well. Not so much. I just want the benefits." He said giving a quirky smile.

Anput gave a small huff before continuing. "Well before we discuss any more, don't go and think you are something special and that you have us by the haunches because we need you oh so badly." Again, her sarcasm was clear as day.

"Why would I think that?" Fox said, feeling a little attacked.

"Because there are some like you that would try and take advantage of the opportunity we are presenting you." She responded, turning her back to him as she began walking as if she was pacing back and forth. Whatever part she was trying to play, she was playing it well as she picked up some old gizmo lying on a crate and fiddled with it, acting completely disinterested in the slightly older fox. "You have to realize if you decide to roll with us, you are in it for the long run." She put down the contraption and turned her attention toward him, emphasizing the seriousness of the topic she was about to cover. "Whatever dangers exist, you cannot skip out on them and whatever the plan calls for you have to oblige. You cannot get the 'easy' way out and you cannot, DEFINITALY not, try to betray us."

"You act as if I don't have mercenary on my resume; like I haven't been part of a coalition before. Not only that, but I'm a little insulted you think I am even capable of those things; desertion, betrayal, skimping out on duty or breaking down in the face of danger. Who do you think I am?" He retorted crossing his arms, letting his expression duplicate his feeling toward her words.

She looked back at him through the sides of her eyes and her head only slightly cocked toward him with an almost seductive grin. "Consider it the 'Terms and Agreements.'"

"So what exactly are the 'Terms and Agreements'? What exactly is the reason you came to me? Because I'm not going to believe you if you say you felt sympathy for some drunk in a bar." The animal asked pretty bluntly.

"We need your leadership; your ability to think on the spot and get through a pinch without panic. We've done jobs before but this is different. We are talking about the most secure vault on the planet, designed by the slimy froggy friend of yours. Not only that, there is something in that vault that is of particular value to us. This heist will take much planning and articulation to pull off. Figured only a true architect should suffice."

"Yeah? And why not some other tactical ace?" Fox continued to punch her with question after question, only now being able to do so since their late night encounter at the bar three nights ago.

The jackal smiled. "Heh, we've been watching you for quite some time." Fox cocked an eyebrow. "We have been scouting out others but you seemed ideal. We know you've been in a bit when it comes to financial troubles. Though, I don't know why you're complaining. It's not like you had to live on the streets for a good while." She said, changing the tone slightly regarding the last part.

"Yeah well, the way things are going that won't be long." He added.

"Anyway. You have exposed yourself to be the top pick amongst our recruits."

"And if I've 'exposed' so much to you?" He became a little curious, egging the jackal to finish his statement.

Another little giggle. "Well if you must know, you are desperate. You need this just as much as we do. You are underpaid at work despite practically running the company all on your own for a period of a few weeks not too long ago. Debt has taken its toll on you and your depleting reservoir of fund from your previous profession. And you are not too shy about getting so engrossed in your own dealings that you often forget some fatherly and even husbandly duties." Anput smiled playfully.

Fox let out a low growl at the jackal. "So you've been watching my wife and son too?" He snarled behind gritted teeth, beginning to get a little defensive.

"Oh no, we are respectable people. We won't dig into your personal life. It's just that sometimes your personal life follows you." She said matter-of-factly. "Well, there was this one time your wife was bumped into but that was coincidence. She's got a keen head on her shoulders might I add." She concluded, smiling at the vulpine before suddenly dropping the smile and frisky attitude, adopting a sterner one. She raised her paw and started staring at her nails, playing the non-interested persona again. "Besides. All we needed was that statement in the bar. Ironically enough it was exactly what we were planning so since you already suggested robbing a bank, why take further actions to convince you I figured."

"You'd even take a drunkard's words?"

"Hey, drunk words are sober thoughts. We figured all you needed was a little invitation and you would come along nicely. Was I wrong?"

"You keep saying 'we.' Am I going to meet your friend or are you just insane?" As if by cue from his statement, Fox sensed another presence in the area. His ears twitched as he tried to listen to the surprisingly silent movements.

"I can tell you still have those warrior instincts. That will come in handy." A new voice echoed through the warehouse. Fox stood stationary, trying to spot any movements from his peripheral vision or hear the position of the origin of the voice. "Don't be alarmed, I'm not going to harm you. And you might as well stop trying to scope me out. I have been monitoring your conversation with my assistant for a while now."

"Then why not show yourself." Fox said steadily.

"Oh I intend to." Fox jolted around to see the red and black hedgehog standing right behind him. He was completely thrown off of his speed and surreptitious maneuverability. He was about to go into defense mode but quickly calmed himself. "My name is Shadow."

"Fitting." The vulpine snarled.

"No need to get hasty. I requested you remember? You heard what Anput said. We are here to request help from you. And by you showing up this evening, you have shown us you are interested."

"Yeah? And how do you know I didn't call in the police or have some plant somewhere?" Fox said, testing the peculiar creature in front of him.

"Says the one who just got sneaked up on." Anput cynically added as she took the back seat on the dialog now that Shadow stepped in.

Shadow cocked his head toward her but still directed his speech to Fox. "Trust me, I know." He resumed his normal approach and began pacing around with his hands behind his back. "Now, we've gone over essentially the ground rules for this operation but we have not received your final word." He extended his hand to his possible new business partner but was a little taken back when the two did not shake after a short while.

"I'm going to need more."

"More?" Shadow was set back a bit.

"More information. This is a bank robbery. Of the Hilltop. One of probably the most esteemed and high-end bank on the planet. Getting caught would probably end up destroying whatever life I had to look forward too, and if not that I'd probably get taken to the 'back room' for the bank's own form of punishment. This is not something to simply agree to do. I'm going to need some for convincing." Fox explained.

"Very well. What are you looking for."

"A plan of action, an outline for what to expect, a contingency plan for whatever might and probably will go wrong, and anything else that would convince me that this is not a joke, that you are serious heisters and not trying to get me to do your dirty work because of my name. For all I know, you could be just two pups trying to make a quick buck." He didn't actually believe that last statement, he could tell especially from Shadow that they knew what they were doing, but he still needed reassurance.

"We have had for quite a while in our possession, the floor plan of the Hilltop, schematics to their security structure and electrical system, and names and times of all current employees and normal shift changes." Anput cut in to explain.

"Then don't you have everything you need?"

"Not exactly. The vault–" Shadow began to state before getting cut off.

"Yeah yeah yeah, it was designed by Slippy. And that is relevant how?"

"Part of the plan. Before we can get into the details of the coup, we are going to need those designs."

"And you are going to need me to get them I assume." The vulpine continued.

"Yes and no." The hedgehog said abruptly. "We need your help with certain details on how to obtain them, but we will be the ones to retrieve them."

"Uh huh."

"The design to the vault is the final piece to the puzzle. We need to find out how to crack it in order for all this to work. We have dealt with getting out of tight spots numerous times," Anput let a grin crack at her business partner's statement. "but I apologize that is all I can tell you about how we plan to get out of sticky situations. Unless of course you want to stand there for a few months to go over all the planning and contingencies we have already made."

"If you have everything already mapped out, why exactly do you need my 'leadership' skills." Fox said getting more and more suspicious with every statement from the strange counterparts.

"Simple. The X-Factor." The three stood momentarily in silence. He then continued. "For everything there is a variable that no one can determine; an element that no one can predict which has to be dealt with expertise and completely on the spot. In order for this to work as smoothly as I'd like, I would feel much more comfortable having someone like you on the team." Shadow explained.

"And the team consists of us?"

"Currently, yes."

"We are in need of a tech guy. You know, someone to stay in the van and tell us they are on to us or something like that." Anput again showed her contribution to the rendezvous.

"So what would the split look like?" Fox asked, expecting to have them say they would take an estranged portion. But he was surprised at Shadow's answer.

"All even. We split the pot evenly. If everyone does their part, everyone gets their share."

At this Fox was nearly convinced. He still ran it through his mind but something was pulling him to do this. The way the opportunity arose was mighty sketchy, but they seemed like they knew what they were doing. He needed the money and would love the adventure and danger but still wasn't sure. He'd have to keep it from Krystal which could or could not be something easily done. It all depended on how well he could keep a poker face, and poker mind while dealing with his wife.

"Well?" Shadow extended his hand again. Anput, in the background, leaned on one leg while bending the other's knee and crossing her arms across her chest with a face that beckoned for him to make a decision.

But again, something was pulling him to agree. Something told him that this was what he should do and that it would all work out if he shook the hedgehog's hand. Hesitantly, he extended his arm and let his paw firmly grip the individual's hand and gave it a confident business shake. "You have a deal."

Shadow quirked a grin. "Outstanding." But suddenly there was a clank off in the distance.

"Shit." Anput said as she quickly moved into action, moving behind some crates to investigate.

"What was that?" Fox asked, figuring the two would have an explanation. But Anput's retort did not comfort him at all.

Shadow looked around briefly then turned on Fox. He grabbed him by the collar. "You said you came alone." He snarled.

Fox was unaffected by the threat however. "You said you knew I did." The two stared at each other waiting for either one to back down or to make another move but neither did.

Shadow saw he wasn't lying and released his grip. He turned around in the direction of the sound and shouted, "Reveal yourself! You are prying on private matters."

"No need Shades. I got him." Anput said as she dragged a roughed up wolf into the scene.

"Ah, wuld ya let me go already? I ain't done no harm at-tall." The lupine stated as he was thrown down by the jackal.

"Shut up handsome."

"State your business." Shadow demanded.

"Ah… Ah just…." He said a little shaky. He looked up at Shadow, obviously being the ringleader, and saw only mere interest. "Ah want in."

"In?"

"Yes. I can contribute to the sting and I need the money." The wolf stood up and dusted himself off.

"How did you even hear of this meeting?" Anput barked.

"Wait, you're the loud mouth from the bar that night!" Fox said realizing where he met the accented creature before. Shadow shot a glare over to Anput but she tossed her shoulders to her neck, not knowing who the guy was or how he heard of the rendezvous.

"That's right I was. I overheard these two's conversation then picked up this strip after that bloke tossed it." He clarified to Shadow. He pulled out a small piece of paper with Anput's original message written on it, 'Three days, Holland's Point, twenty-two hundred hours.'

Shadow turned to Anput with despise. "We'll talk later." He then turned his direction to the wolf. "And what makes you think we need you?"

"Well I heard you only have tree of yer trying to rob an entire bank." He said.

"And?"

"And that doesn't sound like much. Besides, I can do whatever you need me to do. I'll be as loyal to you till we get out of there with the sacks. After that, you won't have to deal with me."

There was a long pause between all parties. Shadow looked over at Anput but her expression said she was completely indifferent. He didn't know why he was considering accepting his plea. He was not the kind of person to generously and blindly accept people into his operations. But an extra hand could prove helpful.

"If yar want, I will leave now and never speak a ward of this. Yer have my word." The wolf stated. "Just saw an opportunity and figured I'd give it a shot."

Shadow didn't give his statement the slightest acknowledgement. "What can you do?"

"What?"

"I asked you. What can you do?" The hedgehog's condescending tone didn't really help in making the outside wolf feel a bit uneasy.

"Er, well I got fight." It was the first thing on his mind.

Shadow turned around about ready to dismiss the guy. "I think you've watched too many movies. There isn't much room for brawling."

"I think you misunderstood." Paddy snapped back with a surprising amount of confidence. Much more than what was show mere seconds ago. This caught Shadow's interest?

"Oh?" He turned back to face him. "How so?"

"Dark 'n ominous guy like you should know what I'm talking about eh?"

In the blink of an eye, Shadow was on the wolf and threw a right hook right into his face. "'Got fight' huh? At first I didn't think a grungy kid like you knew what that meant."

The wolf was taken off guard and nearly collapsed from the blow. Paddy staggered a bit and regained his footing just before wiping the small rivulet of blood leaking from his mouth. "You take me for a glunterpeck?"

Shadow threw another fist into the wolf's gut. "I have no idea what that means."

By this hit, Seamus fell to his knees clenching his stomach as the wind escaped his lungs. His assailant didn't see the need to ease up on him even as he was down wheezing for air. He drew back his arm to give another punch to the face but Seamus saw it coming. He tried to dismiss the pain he was in and quickly ducked to avoid another blow. In return he charged up from his knees and threw his body into Shadow's and continued to push him back a few feet all the while letting out some kind of warrior cry.

Fox stood petrified as the audience to the erupting scene. He was completely lost at what was going on but still couldn't get over the fact of how fast Shadow moved up on Paddy in the initial hit. Anput wasn't too shocked as Fox was as she hasn't moved from her position leaned up on a crate. She just blankly watched as if it was a sport.

Meanwhile Seamus pushed Shadow a bit more to disjoin their bodies and tried to bring up an uppercut to the hedgehog's face. The cool and collected Shadow just slipped to the left and dodged the punch while responding with left hook to meet the wolf's unguarded face. Unlike the first hit, Seamus went down after this one. He quickly got on all fours and pushed his battered body off the ground. The beating he was enduring almost seemed to increase his weight as even getting back up was a struggle. But nonetheless, he was determined to get up and get up he did.

"That all ye got?" He sputtered with a mouthful of blood.

"Not at all." Shadow said as he quickly spun and gave a hard kick to the wolf's side. He let out a shriek of pain and stumbled again, making sure he would not go down again. He let out another adrenaline filled shout as he charged the hedgehog but every throw of his fists in the black and red figure's direction was fruitless as Shadow moved around them with ease. It was as if he was toying with the lupine.

Once he felt the time was right, Shadow caught one of his fists in his own open palm just before it was about to hit his face. He let out a small smile and sent his other hand into the already sensitive gut of his foe. Seamus coughed which sent some of the pooled up blood in his mouth onto the ground around the two fighters. "Had enough?"

The wolf gave another yet lighter cough. "I'm still awake ain't I?" He let out as much of a sneer as he could manage.

"Very well." The hedgehog then grabbed the wolf's head and sent his knee crashing into his skull. Once Paddy's head bounced back, it was already prevalent the gash on his forehead made from the hit.

"Damn Shadow! The guy even said he'd leave!" Fox finally shouted out about ready to involve himself as well.

"Trust me. He wanted this." Shadow answered back softly.

Fox was grinding his teeth together in anger at the senseless beating and instinctively reached down to his hip for his blaster but realized it wasn't there. Even in retirement, his muscle memory remained intact in instances of peril.

Anput saw this. "I wouldn't suggest trying anything. Shadow's not really the one you'd want to cross. Besides, you already shook his hand didn't you?" Her grin was just as cutting as her attitude as she moved her arms from being crossed over her chest to behind her head like a headrest. "Might as well just enjoy the show."

Seamus fell back down to his side, aching as his body was bruised and battered. Shadow hadn't even seemed to break a sweat. In the muggy warehouse, even his pits on his dark green button-up remained dry. The wolf tried to get up but couldn't. His vision was blurry and the world around him was spinning violently. He tried again but stumbled back to the ground. He managed to make out Shadow approaching him. "Stop trying. You've had enough." But the statement didn't register for the shaken lad. In a last ditch effort, Seamus stood up and wildly threw a fist into the air. In his current state, he couldn't designate a specific target for the punch but maybe that was just what he needed. In the random movement of his flailing and most likely concussion controlled arm, he managed to strike a single blow on Shadow's check. Shadow's head turned in recoil to the hit and if his fur wasn't so dark you could probably see the bit of red that occurred on his skin from it. But in Paddy's state, the hit was not very strong and didn't do much damage. In fact other than the simple recoil it didn't seem to faze the hedgehog. All he did was let out a small smile.

"Anput, get some kind of medical supplies." The smile never left the hedgehog's face.

After a good few minutes of recuperation, Seamus sat propped up against some crate as Anput managed his wounds. She continued to replace the gauze pads that were soaking up the blood in his mouth. Bandages across his forehead were already turning red.

Fox stood by, taking Anput's previous advice and decided to stay out of the affair. But soon Shadow spoke out to the wolf after the long drawn out silence of his recovery.

"So kid, you said you wanted in?"

"Still do." He slurred with the gauze pads crammed in his mouth.

Shadow moved over to the resting fellow and crouched down to his level. He stared deeply into his eyes to try and read them. "You heard everything Anput said before I revealed myself?"

"I did."

"And you understand this situation?"

"I do." He answered pretty quickly, knowing now where this was going. Shadow took a few more minutes to look into the young man's eyes.

As if he found what he was looking for he finally spoke out. "Courage, strength, persistance, loyalty… You sure do got fight kid." He stood up and began to move away from the injured creature. "Do not disappoint. You will do your job and you will do it well. I would have no regrets throwing you out on the street in the middle of our scheme if you fail me, or even show signs of weakness." The dark hedgehog sternly laid out in a mighty intimidating fashion.

The lupine's face would have shone with excitement and promise if it didn't already closely resemble a pulp. "Ah'll do my part." He managed to sputter.

"What's your name kid?"

"Seamus." He answered. "But some call me Paddy."

Anput let out a small cackle. "Kfsh, Paddy." She mumbled.

"Very well then, it's settled. This will be our normal meeting place. I have rented out this warehouse for the next few months. We will be doing all our planning here and all our field work practice here as well. Since you two still have jobs and personas to keep, we will meet at your convenience. This is the real deal here so do not screw up. Do not lead anyone on and act as if every meeting we have never happened. You see one of us on the street, you ignore us. You have someone asking you about something, make something up. Something believable. The success of the entire operation rests in how well we perform in and out of the job. You got that?"

"More than you know." Fox answered.

"Ah do." Paddy replied.

"Good."