Chapter 2: How Eggman Found Dark

                The assassin, Dark, sits back, thinking of the money he has stored away and how Eggman will add to what he already has.  Still, if he is to get Sonic, he needs a way to do it… Sonic is indeed fast, and Dark notices the deep raw power he can harness with the help of special items of power, being the chaos emeralds or power rings.  No wonder Eggman had problems with him, his inner abilities and the help of his friends can be quite uncalculatable.

                Flashback… As you may recall, Eggman was stuck on an idea on how to defeat Sonic, so he asked Decoe and Bocoe to help him and find a source of inspiration.  They begin to search the city for something but are coming up empty handed. After a bit, they are beginning to quit. "What are we going to do? If Eggman does not get what he wants, he could put the blame on us and disassemble us!" says Decoe. "Well there must be something here that Eggman would consider important!" responds Bocoe. Just then, they act as if something has gotten their attention. They turn around to see some figure in a long, brown trench coat and spy hat walking down the pathway of the park. Because of how the coat and hat are, his face cannot be seen. "Wow, censors detect him to be a hedgehog life form." "You are correct, but according to my bio scans, that is not Sonic!" This is when the mysterious figure runs off at the same speed Sonic can run at. The robots cannot believe their eyes. "Are you sure about that, Bocoe?" Bocoe checks his previous scans again. "It's affirmative. But I think I might need to get a repair."

                Meanwhile, Eggman is preoccupying himself when his robots contact him. "Dr. Eggman! We have something that might be of use to you!" "Oh? And what could it be?" "We are reporting from the park of Station Square, where we have found a hedgehog-like life form that is fast as Sonic, but is not Sonic at all." "Well then, who is he?" "Identity unknown. All we were able to find out is that he has grey fur." "Well find out more! I want to know about this hedgehog! One super fast animal is enough; I don't want to fight two!"

                And so, the two robots, accompanied with Bokkun, search the city to find out. They ask many people, only to no avail. Finally, one person says that he does not know the being but he knows where to find out. "If you've been searching the streets, you've been looking in all the wrong places. You'll find out what you need to know a lot faster in the underworld. That is where all the criminals are, and I believe I heard one or two talk of a grey hedgehog before. They can tell you what you need to know." Following the advice of the unknown, random person, they take the search to the underworld. The number of criminals there has greatly risen since Sonic and friends came to earth.

(Author's Note: Is that really such a surprise? He's Sonic the freaking hedgehog, for crying out loud! ^^)

                As they ask random people, answers are not what they can use. Some don't know anything. Some say there is a grey hedgehog in the underworld that commits amazing crimes, but that is all they know. One person said he is a killer known as the deliverer of death, another says that he is a freak that is a mix of many breads. Some say he is a hero. Others confuse him with Sonic. Eventually, they take a break. "We need a better lead. All this info does not tell us how to locate him or anything." "But there must be SOMEONE who knows about this grey hedgehog." A man walks up from behind and speaks in a heavy voice. "Did you say something about a grey hedgehog?" The robots turn to see a big man dressed in a suit, probably some kind of mafia member or something. The robots leap at him. "You know something?!" "Tell us now!" "Calm down! Calm down! Of course I know about him." They robots calm down and the mobster straightens his tie. "Most of what you might have heard is true. He is a criminal, an assassin for hire. Not many people know his name, nor have they seen his face clearly. Most camera shots are a blur at best. He has ninja skills, or at least is said to have them, as well as super speed. I don't know where he presides, but I know where you can find out." The mobster begins to write something on a piece of paper. "Go down to the bar at this address, and ask as many people you can about him. If you are lucky, one of his friends will spot you and give you futher information on how to find him. The rest is up to you." After receiving the information, they update Eggman on the information received, and then proceed to the given address.

                Once there, they do ask around. No one knows a thing; some just try to avoid them. Believing the info is false, they begin to leave. Outside, a random asian person stops them. "Wait! You are looking for the grey hedgehog, yes?" "Yes! Can you take us to him? Maybe tell us how to find him?" "I will take you to him if your business with him is legitimate. He does not like investigators." "Well then we can promise you that we are indeed legitimate! We work for Eggman, how could you be anymore dishonest then that?" "Very well. Follow me." He directs them into a sewer system. He says that it helps keep the location a secret. He talks more about the assassin on his way. The assassin does not want his identity said or spread, though some may already know it. The asian man and the assassin are both ninjas from the same doujou. The master took the assassin in when he was just an abandoned baby and showed him everything he knows, even his rarest and most complex techniques that he doesn't often show the other students. The master molded him into the perfect ninja and the perfect killing machine. He raised him to be heartless, without emotion. Unthinking and uncaring so that he would be able to push himself to skill levels no regular person could. Soon, they do reach their destination and walk amongst the surface once again. A few feet away, in the only light amongst many tall buildings, is a small housing with some security devices near the door. The asian man stops the robots before they approach.

                "If you wish to proceed, put these on." He hands them ninja masks. "This is his form of security. If a person approaches his door without wearing it, he will leave in secret, and all that will be left is the explosion of his headquarters. From there, he will relocate in any random place of his choosing. Good luck." He bows to them and walks off into the shadows. Heading his word, they put on their masks, and approach. A sign near the door reads "Wait till light turns green before entering." Indeed there is a red light over the door. Some unseen cameras move and zoom in on the robots at the door. Then, the light buzzes, and turns green. They notice and enter. The place is not lit too brightly at all, just enough to see things in the room.  There is a recliner or two. There is a piano in one corner, a TV in a high corner of the room, many misc. stuff. And, at the end of the room, a desk, and a hedgehog in a chair--Dark. He is not wearing his clothes. His coat, hat, and other things are hung up on a coat rack near him. He looks at the robots that have entered his home. "What can I do for you?" "Oh, it's not what you can do for us," says Decoe. "…but what can do for our boss," says Bocoe. "Dr. Eggman!" finishes Bokkun, as he pulls out a monitor and turns it on. "Oh no! Son…Sha… No, you are neither of those. Who are you?" "My name is not to be said. I assume you are the one known as Eggman?" "Yes that is me. But I want to know more about you." The robots begin to update Eggman on all that has happened.

                "So, you are an assassin for hire, hmm? They tell me you are as fast as Sonic with ninja skills! Show me what you got! I need a sample!" "Very well. But what I am about to show you is for our eyes only and is not to be copied or taken out of my possession. This tape I have is the only known video proof of my skills and should stay that way." "Understood." Dark pulls out a video tape from his desk and walks over to the TV set in the corner. He pops it in and begins to play it. It demonstrates many of his ninja skills, as well as his speed. It shows his use of his mechanical, transforming arm and ninja sword. It shows even more. "Wait! What is all this?" Eggman demands. "This is other abilities I have; enhanced strength, and my other visions. I have a tinted vision, like sunglasses, night vision, heat sensing vision, and normal. The only one I don't have is X-Ray. [It's] probably too complex to form into a vision." Eggman is just in awe about this, it's like a dream come true! The perfect killing machine for hire! It's TOO good to be true… "Well, you are truly impressive. But how did you get such abilities? I know you were not born with that arm…" "You are right. My speed, strength, visions, and robot arm are all 'gifts' from an accident. That is why there is no white in my eyes." "I see… You seem to have enough talent to do what I want." Dark reaches up and turns off the TV then returns to his desk. "They call me the deliverer of death for a reason. I NEVER let ANYONE go. I ALWAYS make sure my target is dead. The ONLY thing that would keep me from completing a mission is if the employer could not pay or if the target is already dead." "Wouldn't you not be able to complete a mission if YOU were killed also?" questions Decoe. Dark just stars him down, somewhat with a deadly look in his eyes. "I CAN'T be killed. I am not that easily beaten…" Decoe backs off with that remark. "Alright then! No more questions! I've decided… I want you to kill Sonic the Hedgehog! And don't worry about price! I'll pay whatever you want!"

                Eggman reaches down and pulls out a picture. "This is Sonic the Hedgehog." Eggman switches to another picture. "He lives here, at the Thorndyke residence with the Thorndyke family and his friends." He switches pictures again. "This says how to find the Thorndyke place. However, you might have to do some extra searching outside the city since he is a free spirit type of guy." Dark just looks over all that he has been shown. "Alright then. Consider Sonic as good as gone." "Oh! One more thing! Before you go on the case, there is something you need to see!" Eggman reaches down then pulls up some more pictures. "Behold! This is a Chaos Emerald! There are 7 of them." Eggman switches to the next picture. "And this is a power ring. Don't let Sonic get ANY one of them! These things power up Sonic. If he gets one, his skills will raise far beyond yours. And above all else, DO NOT let him get all 7 emeralds! If that happens, it will be YOU who has to worry about living! So remember, DON'T LET HIM GET HIS HANDS ON THEM!!!" "Understood." Moments later, Dark is putting his coat on, loading his gun arm, putting on his sword holster with sword, and is seen leaving his home at Sonic speed.

                Back to reality… "So, you are back, huh?" Dark, startled, turns around to see Bokkun behind him, holding a monitor that Eggman is communicating through. "What are you doing back here?! I ordered you to kill Sonic and I want you to do it now!!" Dark, though mad that they are still there, relies calmly. "Look, today was a mere set back. I failed to kill him, but that does not mean I have given up yet! I will kill him." "You failed? Did anyone besides Sonic and his friends see you?" "No, not enough to identify me. We were traveling very fast in the battle, too fast for human eyes or cameras to get a good shot of us. That is how I usually operate. I only failed because I underestimated him. You were right; he does have great inner power and speed. Plus, his friends kept interfering, even after I thought they would stop." "Wait, are you telling me you did not kill them either?" "No, of course not. You're only paying me to kill Sonic, aren't you? Killing anyone else will cost extra." "I just told you NOT TO WORRY ABOUT PRICE! What ever it is, I will pay it. Just make sure you kill Sonic, and do it by ANY means necessary! Even if it means killing anyone else who gets in your way…" Dark thinks about this a moment. Could he really offer such money? He's killed before, but no one has ever really told him to kill others besides the main target. Could he really have enough money to pull this off? "I can pay you anything you want! Want your vision back to the normal way it was? Do you want to reverse what that accident did to you? I could even generate a new arm for you. And I mean a real one, so you would not need that robotic arm anymore." Dark becomes insult by this. "Leave my powers and arm out of this!! I may not have asked for them, but I'd rather keep them and be the better fighter I am than take them away. Over half of my completed missions I would not have completed if it weren't for my skill. But if you really want me to kill those others, I will charge the same amount I charge for one death. I will charge that amount for every extra person I kill."

                Eggman is a bit more satisfied now. "Alright then. But tell me one more thing. Why would you need that much money? There must be a reason…" Dark looks down. In his mind, he remembers many things. He remembers the attaching of his mechanical arm, some unknown thugs threatening some innocent people; but mostly, he remembers a nurse that took care of him once in his life. He whispers to himself… "Suzette…" "What did you say?" Dark snaps back to reality. "Never mind what I said. Look, why I want that much money is none of your concern, and I don't need any power removing operations. Just leave everything to me."

                Dark narrows his eyes, totally focused now. "I WILL kill Sonic. Count on it."

End Chapter 2

Coming Soon: Chapter 3