Infiltration of the Egg Base had been simple once Edge and Jack got in. The trio had been careful to sneak past any Badniks they didn't need to fight, and quick to dispatch any that they did. Edge's new whip sword had been particularly handy in that regard, and was apparently an idea he'd perfected while in prison...Though of course, unorthodox weapons(and their grisly usage)had been what LANDED him there, so perhaps not a good idea to encourage him too much.
The three soon came upon a large Egg Hammer, the really annoying ones with that weird helmet protecting their weak spot: A large button on the top of their head. Jack used the hover function on his Void Wispon to silently float across to one ceiling girder and get into position. The plan was for Jack to quickly wrench the helmet off of its head so Spike could bash the button before the thing could raise any alarms. A commonly used strategy during the war...But something was off.
"Wait...Where's Edge?"
"WAHOO!" Came the cry of the wolf, as he swung at the Egg Hammer with his sword, unlatching it just in time to wrap the thing around the helmet and pull it off while in mid-air. Noticing the new annoyance, the Egg Hammer smashed its massive tool into the ground, shaking the girders just enough for Spike to lose her balance and fall into range. The Egg Hammer quickly took notice of her and was about to strike before Jack's Wispon sucked it into a void. Jack jumped down and helped her to her feet. Edge approached, looking very satisfied with himself. "That was fun."
"Fun!? You almost got me KILLED, you moron!" Spike said, smacking him across the head. "Hey, it got the job DONE, didn't it?" Edge said, defensively. "Now come on, if these blueprints we ripped are correct, the ECS Units should be just up ahead!" He finished before walking over to a nearby door. Spike looked at Jack, who had just been standing there in silence as the two argued. "Yeah, just the type of support I expected from you, Jack." She said in disgust before following Edge. Jack would be lying if he said that didn't sting a bit, but he decided to concentrate on keeping the peace for the time being. Edge pressed a button, opening the door to the storage room where the ECS Units supposedly were(wasn't even locked), and the trio was promptly greeted by...
Nothing.
Zip, zero, zilch. Nada.
"Oh, good show, Edge! Totally worth all the hassle!" Spike said sarcastically. Edge started frantically searching around the room. "I...I don't get it! This is the only place they could've been in this base! Were they already moved!?" Jack took a deep sigh before speaking up. "Edge...I don't think there were EVER any ECS Units here."
"Oh REALLY? What's gotten into YOU, Jack? Some actual sense?" Spike quipped. Jack elected to ignore that comment. "Listen, Edge...The only Badniks we've run into in this base are the standard kind...ECS Units are always surrounded by other prototypes." To follow that, Jack then pointed up to the ceiling. "And look, no cables for their data ports. Not even a sign that they were ever there...Your info was wrong."
Edge stepped back, shocked. "But...Who would have faked that info? Knew that it was what I was looking for?" Spike rolled her eyes in response to that and stepped forward. "Cut the act, Edge! We both know you made it all up! Now come on, we have a deal. Back you go!"
"I SAID I'd go back when the job's DONE, Spike! And THIS job isn't DONE!" Edge said, tensing up. Jack walked forward slowly, trying desperately to deescalate the situation. "Edge...Please. We'll figure this all out, I promise, just...You need to go back." Edge looked at Spike, then at Jack, an odd sadness filling his eyes. "I'm sorry, Jack, I really am...But I can't do that yet."
Faster than Jack could react, Edge drew his sword and whipped Spike in the chest, knocking her into the metal wall behind her as he made a run for it through another door. Jack ran to Spike's side. "Ugh...I'll be fine...Just get him!" Spike croaked out, clutching her wound. Jack nodded and took off after Edge.