A/N: Okay, first of all, I wanted to say thanks to everyone who's been reading, especially those who review, follow, or fave! You guys are the best. :)
Also, here's a question for y'all! In a couple of chapters, I'm going to be doing a one-shot that has a little bit of optional fluff at the end. Does anyone want the fluff to be included? The default will be to post the chapter minus fluff, but if anyone wants it, I'll put up the uncut version. Or if someone really really hates fluff with a passion, well, I'll take that into account too. Let me know what you'd like!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic and Co.
It wasn't what you'd consider a landmark, but Shadow and Rouge seemed very interested. They'd been sitting at the recycling center for an hour by now, watching the machinery at work.
The whole plant was abuzz with noise. Conveyor belts carried mounds of recycling along, while giant magnets hummed overhead, pulling out all the metal objects. Enormous machines opened gaping maws to receive piles of the scrap, then contracted with a horrific screeching and crunching, then spat out terrifyingly small cubes of compacted metal. Glass bottles and jars smashed loudly as they were tumbled down to a melting bin, where they dissolved rapidly into a steaming ooze of liquid glass. Plastic tumbled more quietly into another bin, where it met a similar fate. The whole affair was loud and violent and potentially terrifying, but the two Mobians just sat there and gazed around at it in silence.
At length a worker noticed how long they'd been sitting there.
"Hey, you!" he said roughly, as he passed by. "This isn't an art exhibit! Get going, now!"
Reluctantly, Shadow and Rouge got up to leave. Before walking out the door, Rouge cast one last glance over her shoulder. She sighed.
"Omega would have loved this . . . "