G.U.N. Storage Facility Epsilon

Rouge touched down outside the base, leaning against a tree to rest her sore wings. G.U.N. kept confidential material they didn't want under wraps in secure locations, taken down on pen and paper so that way nobody could hack these databases and access these materials that way. It was an outdated manner of storage, but it worked. If anyone wanted to see it, they had to show up in person.

Being part of G.U.N., Rouge could probably walk in the front door, but she didn't see the fun in that.

"The eagle has landed, and after I take five, I'll be cracking open that shell and taking what I need," she announced to herself.

Flying such a long distance wasn't ideal, but it would attract less attention than taking a vehicle. After resting her wings long enough, the bat took off once more, landing outside a door toward the back of the building. Reaching into her bag, she began picking the lock, fiddling the tools around until she heard a small "click," and the door opened. Stepping inside, she was met with rows upon rows of filing cabinets as far as the eye could see.

"Right. I may not have thought this all the way through."

Some sort of directory would help a ton.

Fortunately, while places like Epsilon were low-tech, they weren't made by complete luddites. A computer sat unoccupied at a desk, which would hopefully have a directory of all the files there, split up into categories if she was lucky. After using her G.U.N. credentials to log in, she was delighted to find out that it was indeed split into categories. Files for people were in section D, which was just a brisk stroll away, so the bat left the computer and went that way. The filing cabinets went almost, but not quite, all the way to the ceiling, with a ladder to access folders at the top.

"This will be an adventure," remarked Rouge, ignoring the ladder in favor of using her wings.

Grid was apparently experimented on by a woman, so that narrowed down the bat's search by half, maybe further if this woman was indeed a scientist. If the yellow munchkin had described her any, it'd be even more helpful, but Rouge could hardly fault her for not thinking about that. For the next few minutes, she repeated the same basic movements: open the drawer, look at the folders, look at the contents, put them back, and shut the drawer. There were quite a few scientists in there, but none of them seemed to be in the field of giving children superpowers.

She was about to call it quits, when she opened up a drawer and saw a folder marked "Maker." Looking in, she found out a human woman's picture, as well as a list of details about her.

"I believe this 'Maker' lady fits the bill," she remarked with satisfaction, looking at the end of the document. "Hmm… she had sensitive material confiscated around 5.3.887, but the helicopter delivering it never arrived. 5.3.887… oh! That's just before Operation Battery happened."

Pulling out a small camera from her bag, she used it to take a picture of each page of the file, before carefully placing it back. She was about to head home when she heard noises nearby. It seemed someone had noticed the door she had cracked open. It was then she heard a clanking, hiding atop the cabinet as a G.U.N. mech walked past, scanning down each corridor to try and find any signs of intruders.

For the second time that week, Rouge would find herself having to escape a heavy metal monster. She was very much aware that all this could have been avoided, but the thrill of stealth had clouded her judgement. The mech scanned down the hall, looking for footprints or fingerprints, but found none. Having searched the corridor as thoroughly as its size allowed it, it moved on, Rouge gliding down from her position to the floor. For all their fuss, nobody had bothered to close the door back.

"A slight hiccup, but altogether all too easy," she remarked, flying home with her information.

Topaz's House

Grid was greatly enjoying what was on, occasionally turning away from the TV to answer questions about her powers.

"So, can you see into that pantry?" asked Topaz, pointing it out and earning a nod from the yellow squirrel. "What's in it?"

"Uh… chips, some kinda drinks, an empty thing of soda-"

"Wait, empty? But Rouge said she'd throw it out!"

"Did she take the last one?" asked Shadow, just as the bat in question stepped into the room. She set the camera down, going through the pictures.

"So, does that look like the woman who did this to you?" she asked Grid.

The yellow squirrel gasped. "Yeah, that's her!" she chirped, Shadow putting a protective hand on her shoulder.

"She didn't hurt you, did she?"

"Nah, she was just kinda weird, and smelled like cheese." Grid looked at the picture a little while longer, then got up to head for the kitchen.

Shadow kept an eye on her from where he was sitting, talking quietly with Rouge. "That's not all, is there?"

The bat shook her head. "She had a load of materials confiscated by G.U.N. in mid-887, but they were never picked up."

The black hedgehog rubbed his chin as he heard these words, his mind going back to his conversation with Sonic. "Think it means something?"

"Maybe, but we'll have to see later. We can connect the dots after we stop your kid from emptying Topaz's pantry."

The black hedgehog couldn't help but snort from laughter as he heard this, stepping into the kitchen as Grid tried reaching for something on a high shelf.

Ashdrop Village

It was very dark when Maisie and her new guest made it home, the red rabbit quickly clearing up her couch so that Cosmo could sleep there. "Sorry about the mess," she apologized. "I didn't realize I'd be having a guest."

"It's quite alright," replied Cosmo, moving aside some notebooks and taking a peek at their contents. "So, you're a writer, hmm?"

"Yep, I have an active mind that this place doesn't stimulate very much." The red rabbit took the notebooks and set them down on the coffee table. "Which is why I can tell there's something you aren't telling me."

"Hmm?"

"Out with it, Cosmo. There was more to you being upset than just Tails not remembering you. What was it?"

The Seedrian sat down, not saying anything. "It's… it's complicated. I'll tell you later, maybe when you're not an unfamiliar stranger."

Maisie nodded respectfully, deciding not to press the issue any further. She didn't know how Cosmo would react if she did, and didn't really want to find out. As Maisie turned on the TV, it just happened to be turned to a soap opera.

"I just like having the background noise," she explained to her guest.

"Donovan, there you are! Lisa told me you were her girlfriend, so why did you take me out?"

"Who's Lisa? I… I don't know who she is."

"Cut the crap, you spoke with her just two days ago, you creating-"

"Change it," said Cosmo insistently.

"Wha-"

"I said change it!"

The red rabbit quickly did so, her brows furrowing as a thought came to her. "Oh, I get it now… you have a crush on your Tails, don't you?" Cosmo nodded, a few tears coming to her eyes. "Oh… Well, uh, at least there's nothing depressing on the… news channel."

"The train crash was absolutely devastating, not just coming off the rails, but taking out two signals and a work shed-"

The TV was promptly switched off, the two looking at each other. After a few seconds, Maisie began to laugh over the situation, and eventually Cosmo joined her. The two laughed together until their faces and chests hurt, taking long, deep breaths to keep from cracking up again. It was dark outside, so the red rabbit offered her roommate a blanket and pillow before heading up to her room. She was happy to help Cosmo navigate the maze that was being in Sonic's circle, and imagining the two of them fighting side by side in the future.

"I wonder who Sonic had to guide him along," she pondered, before getting into bed and going to sleep.

Not much to say about this one. Take care, everyone.