Chapter 14

The four friends left Sally's house sometime in the afternoon. Amy's theory that Fiona and Geoffrey nabbed the jewel became more and more believable, which filled them with doubt. Amy constantly checked her surroundings, worried about where the two villains hid while Sonic walked with more thought than normal.

Shadow's walk was no different than normal. In fact, it was impossible to know if something bothered him or not. Even his face was normal with how it showed no smile, looking like he was thinking over something complex.

Even though Sally told Sonic and herself that she would not try to blame herself, the guilt of losing the strange orb weighed heavily on her conscience. Because it rolled out of her pocket, the skunk and fox had it. Her diamond blue eyes watched Sonic as he walked with his hands behind his head.

The hedgehog sensed her looking at him and asked, "What is it, Sal?"

Her cheeks quickly colored as she said, "Um, nothing." She then stopped. Her eyes were locked on something across the street, "Over there."

He stopped and backed up to stand beside her, "What is it?"

"That skunk who walked by just now looks like Geoffrey."

The hedgehog looked that way and said, "Is that right...?" Before Sally could grab him and tell him that they should come up with a plan first, Sonic was long gone.

Shadow sighed and muttered, "I have an idiot for a brother."

Amy asked, "Why would you say that, Shadow?"

"He's jumping into something without much thought. That skunk is Geoffrey, but attacking him like that is not advisable."

"Why's that?" she looked at Shadow curiously as she tilted her head, allowing her pink curls to dangle by her shoulder.

His red eyes stopped looked at the skunk and glanced at her, "He is wearing a CIA uniform."

The girls fell over. Sally stood up, saying, "Why can't Sonic just sit and think for once? I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty certain that everyone else like the police will think that Sonic is attacking someone from the government."

Within one heartbeat, Sonic jump-kicked the skunk who was drinking coffee, saying, "Ah ha, thought you could fool us with that government get up didn't ya, Skunk boy?"

It took the skunk by surprise, making him spill his drink with wide eyes. The skunk looked at him with a panicked face until Fiona came there as well. People passing by stared as Sonic looked like a loon for kicking Geoffrey in the head.

Fiona said to Geoffrey, "Get on your feet, you're embarrassing the service."

Geoffrey was still looking at Sonic with huge panicked eyes while he was still on the ground in the same position, nervously saying, "Ah hah, hah, hah, hah...that—that's right...I'm a CIA agent, and you are just a lowly citizen."

Sonic looked down at him as though what he said did not matter and said, "I have no idea what a 'CIA agent' is, but it sounds contagious."

Geoffrey stood up, brushing himself, and said, "You've got that one wrong. It's not a disease."

"Then what is?" The blue hedgehog began to smile mischievously, "Because I'm pretty certain that anything involving you is one."

Geoffrey rolled up his sleeves, "You…you..."

Both jumped at each other right when Sally grabbed Sonic's ear, and Fiona grabbed Geoffrey's. Sonic looked at Sally and said, "But…I mean…aw come on, Sal."

Sally pulled him away, saying, "Sorry...but, I don't really feel like being arrested."

Geoffrey looked at Fiona and said, "Thanks for nothing. I was ready to put Sonic in his place and everything."

"And then what? Let everyone here see you in your real form? We all know that you can't possibly keep up with Sonic unless you use all of your power."

He waved his fists in the air in a temper tantrum, "You are making me sound like some kind of weakling!"

"Yeah, so what if I am, you've got a problem with that?"

The skunk jumped up, "That's it. I'm going back there right now and show Sonic who is boss."

As Sonic was dragged back to the others, he pulled his arm free, looking annoyed. He was going to return there, but Shadow stepped on him.

"What was that for?" he asked. He then looked at his older half-brother, who glared down at him for not looking before he leapt, "Not you too, Shadow."

Shadow looked down at him and said, "He and Fiona are not the only ones we should worry about."

Sonic blinked at him, confused, "Come again?" His ears twitched as he tilted his head.

The black, multicolored hedgehog motioned ahead to where the two villains stood. Geoffrey stood up and brushed his jacket as Fiona moved next to the stop sign. Another joined their group. He was an Echidna who had dark sunglass, a black suite, and seemed to have much muscle.

The Echidna walked over to them and grabbed Geoffrey's arm, saying, "Do not blow the mission. Remember, it could still take effect without you in it."

Out of fear for the Echidna's wrath, the skunk straightened himself and kept an eye out for the president. Sonic looked at the Echidna as though he did not get what Shadow was getting at and leaned against his hand, looking bored. His legs were crossed as his other arm rested on a knee.

Amy asked her boyfriend, "What is it, Shadow?"

Shadow crossed his arm, no longer stepping on his brother, and said, "That Mobian...I know him."

In unison they all said, "You know what?!"

The three looked at him for two silent minutes. Their eyes were wide, and everyone stayed perfectly still like palace statues. It was not what they expected.

Amy finally asked, "Um, how exactly is...it that you know him?"

Shadow rubbed his chin, "Not sure. There is something about the way he walks and his body type..." he then froze as Sonic looked at the three across the road again.

Sonic was still in the same bored position as he said, "Well, it slips my mind who that guy is."

Shadow suddenly said, "It's him."

The little brother looked up, "Him, who?"

"Come on, if we are lucky, that sword for opening other worlds was never moved." Shadow pulled Amy's hand.

She said, "What sword, Shadow?"

He looked back at her, "Hmm? The sword is something I used in a fight against that Echidna. He called himself Enerjak. I had to borrow it from some people though."

Sonic called out, "You mean, 'steal'?"

"You were never there, how did you know about that?"

"I didn't have to be there to know. I just happen to know your version of 'borrowing'."

Shadow rolled his red eyes and held his head as though a headache was bothering him.

The pink girl said, "I know you want to find the staff, but aren't you worried about losing track of Geoffrey and Fiona?"

The Ultimate Life Form looked at the group of villains, "I have more concern about our odds against their friend. He has got more power than Fiona in his finger."

"You're worried about facing him?!" she looked shocked, since Shadow was not the type to be so cautious about an enemy.

"Let's just say that no matter what you throw at this Echidna, nothing would affect him."

She followed him, feeling confused, "So what should we do?"

"Simple. Grab the magic sword," he smirked at her while Sonic and Sally exchanged glances.

A green energy appeared in his hands, which made Sonic's eyes shrink. He said, "Oh, no you don't. I know what happens to me when you use that on me. I'm running there."

Shadow looked evil as he said, letting the energy suck them into a portal, "Now why would I do that? Besides, this place can't be reached by running."

They were pulled into a chaos control while Enerjak glanced at where they were as he smirked thinking go on ahead. Give it your all, Shadow. I can already figure out what you seek. It's ironic how you are seeking aid from the treasure of the one responsible for your species' extinction.