This chapter was really short, so I easily wrapped it up tonight. Figured I might as well have since I was in the mood to keep writing and finish the story.

Once again, I thank you for all the reviews, favs and wonderful support from you guys. Thank you for sticking with me for this story and I hope you enjoyed it!

I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog, only Azure the Dragon and other mentioned OCs.

Normal POV

"Well? What do you think?" Azure asked as Hope sat across from Azure in her lab. Azure looked at Hope with optimistic eyes, holding a digital data pad in her hands – her report on the Scepter of Darkness mission. Azure sighed and hung her head. "I should leave out the parts about the time travel… shouldn't I?"

"Yeah, I would leave those parts out, especially the part where you meet your future self and your future brother. They just… it just sounds really farfetched in the bigger picture," said Hope.

"You mean crazy?" asked Azure.

"Wha? No! Of course not!" cried Hope, waving her arms.

"Yeah, you mean crazy," Azure sighed. She pulled up a chair next to Hope at her workbench and began editing her report on the data pad. "Do you think Shadow's going to mention the time travel? Because if he is, I really think I should too, otherwise the Commander might get suspicious if my report doesn't coincide with Shadow's."

"Knowing Shadow, he'll only put down the crucial information. I've skimmed a few of his reports in the last year and they're really short and to the point. Chances are Shadow's only going to include information strictly related to the mission."

"Well, here's hoping my first mission report doesn't come back to bite me," Azure muttered as she submitted her report to Commander Towers. Nearly a minute later, the data pad beeped, signaling that she received a new message. "Oh man, the Commander wants to see me. I'll see you later, Hope." Azure waved goodbye as she flew out of the lab towards Commander Tower's office.

She lightly knocked on the door. "Come in," she heard form the other side. She slowly opened the door and poked her head inside.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Yes, Azure. Please have a seat," he said, motioning to the chair opposite to him. "Excellent work on the Scepter of Darkness mission. It's a shame that it was destroyed in the process, but a resource is better destroyed than in enemy hands. And the revelation of this Solaris Project is… enlightening. We had intended to modify the Scepter to use it as a power source but it brings relief to these old bones to see it shattered."

"You don't know the half of it," Azure muttered to herself quietly.

"Pardon?"

"Oh, nothing!"

"Anyway, you're probably wondering why I've called you here. You recall that Agent Rouge of Team Dark is still away on an undercover mission abroad?"

"Yes, that was the reason you sent me to White Acropolis instead," answered Azure.

"Correct. It appears that Rouge will be preoccupied with her mission for a rather extended amount of time, leaving Team Dark one member short for team missions. Team Dark is one of our top strike teams and being short a member will negatively affect mission executions, subsequently reflecting badly on G.U.N. Would you be interested in filling that position?"

Azure simply sat in her chair, taken aback by what Towers had just asked her. "Uh… are you asking me to join Team Dark?"

"Temporarily, of course, until Rouge returns. But I can understand if you wish to decline…"

"N-no! Of course not! It would be an honor to serve on Team Dark sir!" Azure cried with excitement, her smile stretching wide across her face.

"Good to hear. The rest of Team Dark is preparing for another mission so report to the hangar bay as soon as possible," said Towers.

"Yes sir!" Azure said with a salute. "If I may ask," she started, before exiting his office, "I know I'm not the best agent here, so… Why?"

"The initial idea was not mine, but came to me as a suggestion."

"From who?"

"Shadow," answered Towers.

"Shadow? R-really?" she asked, a light blush forming over her cheeks. She turned her head slightly away from Towers to hide her blush under her long bangs, trying to keep her composure.

"Yes, he came to my office after you all returned from Soleanna and suggested placing you on the team. He must see a lot of potential in you," Towers said with a proud smile. "From this moment, it only gets harder. Your training will only grow in intensity and the missions will be more high risk, but under Shadow and Omega's tutelage, you should be just fine. Don't waste this opportunity."

"I won't, sir!" Azure gleefully cried before racing off to the hangar bay. Just as she arrived, she spotted Shadow and Omega just finishing their mission prep.

"Organic social protocol dictates that I should congratulate you on joining the team," said Omega.

Azure chuckled at Omega's attempt to act like an organic. "Thank you, Omega. You say the sweetest things."

"Are you ready? We're moving out soon," said Shadow, pulling at the cuffs on his wrists.

"Yeah. And Shadow?" Shadow turned to face her. "Thank you," Azure said with a smile.

Shadow stared at her for a moment before turning his head back to the hangar doors. "Don't make me regret it. Team Dark, move out!" he declared, silently smiling to himself as his team boarded the helicopter that would take them to their next mission.

Well, that's it. Whitewash is officially COMPLETE! I had a wonderful time writing this story and I'm glad I could share it with you wonderful readers. I'm even more glad that you enjoyed reading it!

But wait! The story doesn't end there! Press the good old "Next Chapter" button to get a sneak preview of the sequel, Hostile Encounters!

Until next time! ~ZP