Chapter Ten

After landing, they find the others in the Game Room.

Shadow faces the TV with his arms crossed, Rouge on his left. Reave sits on the couch with Cocoa in his lap, and Spike leans against the wall with his arms crossed. When he catches sight of Angel he pulls her into a close hug, limbs trembling.

Angel can sense the tense atmosphere, and is concerned by Spike's shaking. She wraps her arms around him in an attempt to comfort him "What's going on? Why are you shaking? Why is everyone so tense? You're starting to scare me..." She starts to panic, wondering what has happened.

Shadow points to the news story frozen on the TV. On the screen are the burned ruins of a house... HER house. Reave picks up the remote, and presses the play button.

"Police are still investigating the mysterious circumstances behind this fire, but we have been assured that the resident was not inside at the time. Police are on the lookout for the current whereabouts of Angel the Hedgehog, and urge anyone with information on this incident to come forward."

Reave turns off the TV, and Spike holds her a little closer.

"Shadow," Spike's voice if filled with barely contained rage. "Permission to eliminate a threat to one of our soldiers?"

Shadow heaves a huge breath, "I understand your anger, but we currently have no idea where Metal Sonic operates from."

Spike looks up at Shadow, eyes as hard as daggers, "... I don't think Metal Sonic was responsible for this."

Shadow turns to them with a hard look of his own, "... Is there something you two forgot to tell me?"

Angel's eyes are practically glued to the screen, her mouth open in pure shock "I can't believe...no..." She puts her hands over her mouth and tears start to fall, "It's completely destroyed. Everything...Everything is..." Her lip starts to tremble as she finally breaks down.

Shadow starts walking towards them with a growl, but Luna puts a hand on his chest. He stops, but continues to glare at them, "What haven't you two told me?"

Spike closes his eyes, and rubs Angel's back gently.

Angel bites her lip, ignoring Shadow and hugging Spike as close as she can. "Tell me it's all a dream...that Luna and I are still at the mall about to buy that amazingly awesome Chao bed...please." She whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Spike strokes her quills, "No... It's not... But when I get my hands on HIM the rest of his life will be a NIGHTMARE, I swear to Chaos."

Shadow cracks his knuckles, and crosses his arms, "Him... WHO?!"

Angel whimpers "Are you sure it was him, there's still a chance it could be Metal Sonic, right?" She pulls back and looks into his eyes, biting her lip. "This is why I didn't want you to get involved..." She pulls away and runs a hand through her quills, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands and facing Shadow.

"It's nothing," She shakes her head "Absolutely nothing, it's my business, forget about it." She tells him in a quiet voice, before walking out of the room and breaking down once more, she goes to the pool area to think.

Spike balls his fists, and glares Shadow right in the eye, "If you won't give me permission, then I'll just leave."

Shadow grabs his arm as Spike turns to go, "You have my permission. Bring him to me, alive if possible. I want to see just who threatens my team like this."

Spike nods, and Shadow lets him go, "I can't let you take the whole team for a search mission. Just take two volunteers."

Spike glances at Reave who nods. Spike heads for his bedroom while Reave goes looking for Angel.

When he finds her by the pool he stops about three feet from her.

"... Shadow has authorized a mission to capture whoever did this to you. Spike is leading it, and I'm going with him. There's still one opening left on the team, if you'll come with us."

Reave looks away, "Actually... I would prefer it if you did. Spike... he's clearly extremely fond of you. I fear this incident is causing him to revert..."

Angel sighs, and wipes her eyes clean again "I...I don't know if I can, Reave." She turns to face him, "What do you mean "Revert"?"

Reave crosses his arms, staring at the floor away from Angel, "I didn't even know about it until I had been traveling with him for nearly a year. Spike harbors a dark past, outlined by a trail of blood." He takes a deep breath, "I know you're hurting right now, but right now... I'm afraid. I'm afraid that you're the only one who can stop him from spiraling completely into the abyss of a person he used to be."

Reave gives a slight shudder, and closes his eyes, "I won't force you... But I just wanted you to know that I believe he needs you if he's going to come out of this... sane."

Angel is hesitant, but she nods "Okay..." She says quietly, unsure if she has even said anything at all. "I'll come with you, though I'm not sure how much help I'd be. Is Shadow mad at me? Is he kicking me off the team?" She asks, biting her lip nervously.

Reave shakes his head, "No, he's not. He wouldn't have bothered making this mission if you weren't one of us."

Reave turns his golden eyes to hers, "If anything, I think he's disappointed in you two. How is he supposed to help us if he doesn't know there's a problem? Perhaps if he had known earlier he would have prevented this in the first place."

He steps forward, resting a hand on her shoulder, "And he's not the only one, Angel. We are a family here, so we always take care of each other."

Angel manages a shaky smile "Thank you, that means a lot. I didn't tell Shadow because I didn't want anyone to know about all this. Spike found out inadvertently and ever since he's been insisting that he get involved. And now you know why I didn't want anyone to get involved, it's too complicated..."

Reave gives her a warm smile, and offers a hand to help her to her feet, "He should be waiting on the deck for us. We have a mission to do."

Angel takes his hand and pulls herself up, "Right," She nods, "Why is there only the three of us?"

"Shadow doesn't want all his soldiers in the field in case Metal Sonic attacks." Reave leads her up onto the deck where Spike is waiting. He's wearing the coat he used to make a crib for Bubbles, and it bellows around him as he turns to them.

He cradles Angel's face in his hands, "I want you to know that I'm not fighting this fight for you... I'm just evening the odds." And with that he lightly presses his lips to hers.

Angel gently kisses him back before pulling away "Thank you...so much." She replies, before pulling him into a fierce hug "And I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you I love you too..." She shakes slightly, and tries to take a deep breath to calm her down.

Spike nuzzles her head, and looks up at a sharp whistle. Luna is jogging towards them with her Extreme Gear.

"Now I know you three weren't leaving without me!"

Reave frowns, "Shadow said he only wanted us three to-"

I'm not one of his soldiers," Luna cuts him off. "If I wanna go, then there's nothing he can do to stop me!"

Angel looks at Luna and smiles "You don't have to, y'know. What exactly did Shadow say you guys needed to do?" She asks.

Luna does an impression of Shadow's voice, "Bring him to me, alive if possible. I want to see just who threatens my team like this."

Spike lays a last kiss on Angel's forehead, and steps away from her. He picks up his extreme gear from the deck, and turns to face them, "We have our orders. I have a contact in the city who can tell us all we need to know about the target. Let's move people!"

Spike turns, and runs off the edge of the ship. He rides in mid-fall, and takes off across the waves. Luna, and Reave follow suit.

Angel suddenly hesitates, closing her eyes. She takes a deep breath, and after a moment, opens them again, running towards the edge and riding her extreme gear, catching up with the others.

Spike leads them over Station Square, and into the oldest part of Downtown. They land in a deserted lot, "Everybody still accounted for?"

"Yeah," Angel nods "Where do we go from here?"

Spike presses a button on his boar, and it collapses into a strip of metal the size of a stick of chewing gum, "It's been a month since I last checked on him, so he should still be around here someplace." He turns in a slow circle, stowing the metal onto a pocket. He nods at what seems like an abandoned hotel.

"In there... Let's go." Reave, and Luna flank him as he approaches the building.

Angel frowns and follows "Does this guy live… in there?" She asks, looking up at the building.

"Looks can be deceiving, Sweetness," he pushes open the front door to show a moldy, and crumbling lobby. Spike's eyes sweep the room, and come to rest on a door off to the side. Without a word he pushes it open.

Inside is what looks like a gym, but for serious fighting training. Spike puts two fingers to his lips, and lets loose two piercing notes.

A figure drops from the ceiling. A cat wearing sneakers, cargo pants, and a hoodie crouches in front of them. The hoodie is a light gray color, and it's hood hides everything, but his eyes. The left sleeve is missing, and tied around the exposed bicep is a length of bandage material. Green eyes peek through the slit in the hood as the figure slowly stands.

Angel is silent as she observes her surroundings, and the figure in front, wondering just who he is and how Spike knows him.

Spike grins, and mischievous twinkle in his eye, "It's been a while, eh Smoke?"

The cat crosses his arms, "Yeah, a bit longer too much to ask?" His voice is raspy, almost as insubstantial as his namesake.

Spike chuckles, and the two share a brief embrace, "I hear you're the man to see if you wanna know something these days."

Smoke leads them over to some furniture in the corner of the room, "I see you're hanging with a new crew."

Spike gestures to them, "Part of it anyways. This is Reave, and Luna." He takes a seat on a couch, and pulls Angel into his lap, "And this is Angel."

Smoke takes a seat in an old armchair, eyes going over the group. They rest on Angel for a minute longer, and then he says, "So what is it you're after.

Spike's grin fades, "More of a "who" than a "what", Smoke. A fox, totally white, and may have been asking around about a purple hedgehog."

Smoke nods slowly, "That narrows it down a lot, but does he have a name?"

Angel bites her lip, "His name is Nathan," She answers him quietly "Do you know him?"

Smoke's head snaps to her, eyes wide. Then he starts chuckling, which turns into a bellowing laugh.

"Wow," he gasps. "Looks like the gang's getting back together Spike!"

Spike wraps an arm around Angel's waist, a hard look in his eyes, "So he's been giving HER problems as well?"

Smoke nods, regaining himself, "Yeah. Punk has been making a name for himself in Central City lately. Word on the street is that he's gathering up every fighter he can from the streets... They says he's making an army."

Spike nods, "Nice to know... But what do YOU say?"

Smoke's eyes seem to smile, "Me... As far as I know it's true, and then some. Our old girl is the only one keeping him in line. Only thing I don't know is how he's doing it. Mo-Fo's got him some serious backing these days."

Spike looks at Angel curiously, "You always just made him sound like a small-time wannabe, Sweetness."

Smoke shrugs, "Best I know up till a few weeks ago he was. Then he made a crew, and started taking over."

Reave rubs his chin, "Interesting..."

Luna sits on the arm of the couch, a thoughtful frown on her face. "So someone helped him make it to the top?"

Smoke stands with a stretch, "Did it too fast to have done it alone."

Smoke puts his hands on his hips, "There's something I wanna know too. The Spike I ran with in Poisoned Rose never took anything personal. So why this?"

Spike glances at Angel with a small grin, "People change Smoke."

He nods, "Guess so... but not too much, I hope." he jerks a thumb at the boxing ring in the center of the gym, "Three rounds for old time's sake?"

Spike laughs darkly, "Sorry man, but with the mood I'm in I'd probably kill you."

Hearing Spike's words, Angel tenses. "Spike...are you okay? This is freaking me out..." She frowns, feeling nervous

Smoke nods, and sets his gaze on Angel, "Yeah, women bring out the worst in any man."

Spike slides Angel onto the couch beside him, and lunges for Smoke. The cat falls back into his chair, and uses his feet to send Spike flying over him. He collides with a punching-bag, growling. He lands on his feet, summoning his sword, and using it to cut the chains securing it to the ceiling. He sends it flying at Smoke with a round-house kick.

Smoke flips high, and smashes the bag into the cement floor with an axe-kick. The two pace a slow circle, eyes locked. Suddenly Smoke goes into a series of flips before taking a firm stance against Spike. The hedgehog answers by banishing his sword, and punching the ground. His fist leaves a small crater in the cement.

Then they lunge for each other. Smoke aims a kick at Spike's face, but Spike catches it. He grabs Smoke's leg, and lifts him over his head to smash him into the cement several times. When he's done, Spike spins, and sends Smoke flying into a cement pillar which cracks on impact.

Spike grins, "Looks like she was right, you can't fight your way out of a wet paper bag..."

Smoke glares at him, and attacks. He fakes a jab to Spike's face, instead delivering a knee to his gut, followed by an elbow to his jaw.

Spike staggers back a step, spitting blood. When he locks eyes with Smoke again the emptiness there causes the cat to flinch. It's all the opening Spike needs. He dashes forward, smashing his spiked fist into Smoke's Solar-Plexus. The blow sends him flying across the gym, and crashing into a cement wall. Smoke falls to his knees, the bottom half of his hood staining red as he coughs up blood.

Spike's gaze is hollow as he summons his sword, and slowly advances on Smoke like a predator.

Angel is watching the two intently, "Wow...they're really going at it." She glances at Reave "He's not really gonna kill him...right? He WAS just joking?"

Remember ages ago, when we first started talking, and you said that Reave and Cocoa were based off your best friend and his girlfriend, do they know about it? It came to me yesterday for some reason, and I was curious lol

Reave slowly shakes his head at her, and licks his lips, "This is who he used to be, Angel. Honestly, I believe all his time in the Hot Shelter he's been training on HOLDING BACK..."

Luna stands, "We gotta stop him, he'll regret this later!"

"If you're going to fight him act as if you intend to kill," Reave says solemnly. "It's the only way you'll get his attention."

Luna eyes Spike, "And that's supposed to be a good thing?"

Spike rolls Smoke onto his back with a foot, and raises his blade as if to stab him in the throat.

Angel is literally on the edge of her seat, panicking "Will somebody DO something!? He's taking this too far! I knew this was a bad idea." Her mind is trying to decide whether to intervene, or whether to see what happens.

Reave tosses a knife in the nick of time. As Spike brings his sword down, the knife knocks the blade to the side just enough so the blade buries itself in the ground next to Smoke's neck. Spike catches a second knife as it sails for his neck, and slowly turns his face to look at them. It's like he can see them, but he's not SEEING them. They can see blood on the blade of the knife as he drops it.

Luna licks her lips, "Okay genius, now what?!"

Reave draws his bladed Tonfas, a look of sorrow etched on his face, "We have to fight now..."

"Oh joy," Luna groans, and warps to kicks Spike in the head. Spike blocks the blow with a forearm, but is distracted when Reave attacks low with his Tonfas.

He blocks Reave with his sword, and tosses Luna into the Boxing Ring. Reave takes a defensive stance as Spike circles him, the tip of his sword gouging the floor as he goes.

He doesn't seem to notice Angel at all.

Angel slowly stands up, shaking slightly, as bad memories come flashing back. She can feel herself getting teary eyed, but manages to keep her composure...just. She is frozen still, unsure of what to do and deep down, she knows she is a little afraid.

"Spike!" She yells out, stepping forward, knowing it's a risky move. "Stop this! You're not...normal! This isn't you!" She continues, hoping to bring him out of his rage with words, not wanting to resort to violence.

Spike freezes at the sound of her voice. Reave doesn't relax his stance, but keeps his gaze locked on Spike's face. Luna groans as she sits up in the ring.

Spike blinks, and he turns to Angel. His eyes seem to refocus as he takes in her features, "... Sweetness? How'd-"

He comes up short as he takes in the room. he sees Smoke lying unconscious, and looks at the wound in his own hand. He closes his eyes, and banishes his sword, "Damn..."

Reave lets out a relieved breath, and sheathes his weapons, "I knew it was a good idea for you to come along, Angel."

Luna checks Smoke's pulse, "He's alive, and in stable condition."

Reave shakes his head, "He was foolish to provoke you, old friend."

Spike balls his fists until his knuckles crack. He can't seem to look at Angel now, "No, I'm the fool for letting him get to me like that."

Angel slowly walks over to Spike, and gently puts a hand on his cheek, still a little tense and weary "Are you okay? What happened to you? You just...flew off the handle." She frowns

Spike still can't meet her eyes, "I forgot myself, I'm fine now." He grips her hand in his for a moment before turning back to where Smoke lay.

Spike starts digging through his pockets, "C'mon buddy, you always have some- AHA!"

He pulls out a vial of yellow crystals. Reave raises an eyebrow, "Smelling Salts?"

Spike uncorks the vial, and waves it under Smoke's nose. He sits up in a flash, and groans, clutching his gut. His hood turns to Spike, "... I see you haven't lost your touch, heh."

Spike helps him back to his chair, "You gonna be okay?"

Smoke raises an eyebrow, "You've forgotten who I am? Damn kid..."

Spike sits back at the couch, "You said Blondy was putting together an army... It would be an insult if I didn't have one of my own when I swing by to meet him."

Smoke shares a look of understanding with Spike, and they both chuckle. "Last I heard she was working out of Central City too. Tell her I said hi, and shoot me a line when it's about to go down, 'kay?"

Spike nods, "It'll be a Poisoned Rose reunion."

The two shake hands, and Spike leads the others out of the building."

""She"? Who's "she"? And what is Poisoned Rose?" Angel questions as they walk out.

"Jealous?" Luna nudges her with an elbow, and winks. She catches sights of her watch, "Um, guys? It's 2:25, we gotta go pick up Bubbles, and Trouble in five minutes."

Spike turns, "In that case; Luna, can you Chaos Control us to Chao Island? We'll rest at the Egg-Carrier tonight, and report what we found out to Shadow."

Spike leans in to whisper in Angel's ear, "I'll explain everything later, I promise." He looks too ashamed of himself to meet her gaze.

Luna holds her Chaos Emerald out to them. Reave sets his hand on top, and Spike does too. Angel sighs and mimics the others' actions, feeling a little frustrated.

Spike sets his hand on top of hers, and Luna shouts, "Chaos Control!"