Good Morning!

Wow that was a really long chapter last time, I hope you enjoyed it!

So last chapter was what I was thinking as a kind of limit to the rating for this series, but it may change.

Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter and comment, PM, Review and the like if you wish.

Sincerely,

Gate Keeper

Chapter 3: Of Revelations Great and Small

Eggman looked worriedly at Mrs. Vanilla. Her dress was torn and dirty in several places, and it seemed that on her flight from the hooligans she had suffered minor injuries that had bled and scabbed over.

What stuck out to Eggman were her eyes.

They were shrunk and dilated and you could serve an entire family enough to eat from the fear alone in them. Eggman saw how they darted back and forth across the entire opening of the cocoon, and he was reminded of another time they were like that.

They were like this when he had captured her and Cream those years ago.

Eggman shook the thoughts from his head. Not now! Help her now; deal with possible traumatic memories later! He spoke, "It is lovely to see you again Mrs. Vanilla. You seem to have been in quite a bind, and I'm sure you have questions, but I need two things from you right now." Great job Freud, now I'm sure she's even more scared than before you idiot! Vanilla had shrunk even more into the back of the cocoon and Eggman raised his hands palms forward. "It's okay, I'm here to help right now. I need your home phone number, as Cream is still at home yes?"

She nodded.

"Good, good. I'm going to call her and we will all meet together to discuss what has happened, is that alright?"

Another nod.

Okay, progress! At least she is giving some kind of response! "Thank you very much, Mrs. Vanilla. May I have the number?

"… I-it's the local area c-code, then eight s-six seven five three oh nine."

Eggman chuckled "Your family is a fan of Tommy Turtones I presume?"

"O-oh not really, it was my h-husband's favorite song."

"Do you mind if I call him too? He really should know that his wife was in danger."

Vanilla started shaking, and Eggman could see the water build up around her closed eyes. Oh, dear. What did I do this time?

"H-he hasn't been around since before you took over."

Eggman frowned. We need to change the subject now! This is a horrible mindset to be in now for her! "I'm sorry to hear that. Now the next item I need is your permission."

She sniffled. "For what?"

Eggman sighed. "I need your permission to administrate a sleep serum."

"Oh, I really don't think we need to do-"

"Mrs. Vanilla today you have been chased down, almost sexually abused, reminded of your missing husband, threatened and then rescued by someone who for lack of a better term you could classify as an enemy. You were almost murdered! Twice for heavens' sake! Your adrenaline is pumping faster than fists at a rock concert and your mind is experiencing more stressful and harrowing events at one time than I believe you have ever at any other point in your life!"

Eggman pointed his finger at Vanilla, jabbing it at her with each point "You. Need. To. Sleep. If you agree then I will give you a shot that will help you calm down physically and mentally enough to get some kind of rest long enough for me to get you to my infirmary so you can be checked over by some machines I have and let you get to a comfortable bed at my house until such time as we are both conscious and ready to discuss what this means for us both."

"And if I don't?"

"Then I will get you to my infirmary so you can be checked over by some machines I have and let you get to a comfortable bed at my house until such time as we are both conscious and ready to discuss what this event means for us both."

"So you're going to do the same thing anyway, regardless of what I say?"

"Yes, it is expected of a gentleman to help in any way he can."

"Why not just leave me at the local hospital? I'm sure they could do a fine job patching me up."

Eggman glanced over his glasses to look Vanilla in the eye. "Mrs. Vanilla, you are the mother of a celebrity. It will NOT go unnoticed that you had ended up in the hospital and you will NOT be left on the sidelines of the wave of press rumors, investigations and interviews that both you and Cream are fortunately mostly spared of because of Sonic, Knuckles and the "big game" being around. Besides we have unfinished business, and a gentleman always takes care of business."

Vanilla chuckled faintly. "Your mother raised you well, if you can keep by those rules now!"

Eggman smiled. "Thank you, Mrs. Vanilla. You're too kind. Do I have your permission to give you the shot?"

Vanilla nodded. "B-before you give the shot, I have a question Eggman."

"Yes?"

Vanilla looked straight at Eggman, sitting up a little straighter than before. "I understand you were Minister of War before you took over. If that's the case…"

She leaned forward, grabbing Eggman's arm and pulling him close and locking eyes with him

"… Was my husband in Mobius when you took over, and if not where was he?"

Eggman could hear the pleading in her voice, longing for the one she loved and who was ripped from her. He could see the determination, and why she continued to ask questions that could seriously harm her emotionally.

It's a good thing I went through the old military records to see where people had ended up.

"Your husband was on a mission defending one last post against an Over-world assault when I took over Mobius. I don't know where he is now, it seemed like everyone from my old command was able to reunite with their families.

Vanilla released Eggman's arm, sadness overcoming her face as she sank back into the cocoon. Wiping her eyes with her arm she looked back up at Eggman. "Thank you, Eggman. Please, give me the shot; I-I have a lot to think about and I need some rest."

Eggman stood up and stepped away from the cocoon, which closed over the rabbit.

"Beta." Eggman commanded. "Give Mrs. Vanilla shot of sleep serum then take her to home base and put her in the infirmary immediately. After that you can go clean up and receive updates from the core system." Beta chirped a short melody before the cocoon wrapped up and started rocketing away on four small wheels

He turned to Gamma and the unconscious would-be killer. "Gamma, bring the hostile to the local police station, then return to home base and receive cleaning and updates." Gamma gave a few high pitched beeps before grabbing the unconscious hedgehog and flying off.

Eggman turned to the end of the alley and sighed.

"Oh no, not you two too."

Two hedgehogs at the end of the alley gulped simultaneously