CHAPTER 3

Rouge

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"Hey, kid! Wake up! Julie, do we still have those so-called ammonia salts in the medicine cabinet?"

"Yes, I'll get some."

"Kid! Wake up!"

"I wonder what caused him being unconscious?" said Espio.

"No clue. There's no bumps or bruises on him, and where we found him, there was no sign of struggle. And if there was, we would've heard it."

"Here are the salts!" called Julie.

"Good, let's have 'em."

I don't know what happened, but the next thing I new, a very rank smell came tearing through my nose. It hurt my eyes too. Man, that stuff reaked.

"Hey, get that stuff away!" I coughed.

Then Knuckles said "Good, he's awake. What happened, kid?"

"Whoa, where am I?"

"You're back in Knux's house. We found you outside lying on the ground." said Vector.

"You did?"

"Yes, what happened?" inquired Knux.

"What happened?"

"Why were you unconscious?"

"I was unconscious?"

"Outside last night you were."

"Outside I was?"

"Was your mother frightened by a parrot? What happened, kid!?" said a rather irritated Knuckles.

"Calm yourself, Knux." warned Julie-Su.

"I am perfectly calm." Knux replied through gritted teeth.

"I...dunno what happened. All I saw was this beautiful woman."

"Sounds like he found you a potential date, Knux." added Mighty jokingly.

"Shaddup!" retorted Knux and Julie. "You said 'beautiful woman?'" asked Knux.

"Yeah, I think she was a white bat."

That raised a red flag in Knuckles' head.

"White bat? Was she dressed like a bit like a spy from TV?"

I didn't know Knux watch TV all that much. "Yeah. That's it."

"You know what this means, people? Rouge IS here. She's after the Emeralds again. Special look out procedure, effective on the hour!" barked Knuckles.

"Who the heck is Rouge?" said I [who would be named after a color. She wasn't even red in the least.]

"Rouge is a treasure hunter. She has been peskering me for the Emeralds on the Island! Now, Chaotix! We need to keep a look out! Mighty, check the Marble Gardens! Vector, scout Sandopolis! Charmy, buzz around Echidnaopolis! Espio!..."

Espio bolted to attention.

"...look somewhere." said Knux after a pause. I just rolled my eyes.

"Tails, come with me to the area around the Hidden Palace! She'll get there eventually."

We all left Knux's house to our assigned locations.

"Good, you spread out the team. And you brought that 'kid' to guard my Emeralds. You fool. He is easily manipulated. You made your last move, Echidna. Soon, your treasure will be mine."

- - - - -

Knux and I got to the secret entrance to the Hidden Palace. You couldn't see it unless you were almost on top of it. After we entered the Palace, Knux contacted the Chaotix for updates.

"Charmy, see anything?"

"No hair or sign of that bat, Knux."

"Vector?"

"All I see is one thing...sand, nothing else."

"Mighty?"

"See no bat here in the Gardens."

"Espio?"

"I'm ground-searching Echidnaopolis. Nothing so far."

"Nothing here near the palace. Keep looking, men."

He signed off and said to me.

"Tails, go to the transporter, beam up to the link up at the surface and scan the area."

"Yes, sir!"

"Don't call me 'sir.'"

I beamed up to the surface [hmm, sounded like Star Trek there for a sec. Heh heh.] and scanned the area as he said. Nothing, nothing but grass and trees everywhere.

"Knux, looks clear."

"Thanks kid, but keep looking. If I know her, she'll be in hiding until her opportune moment. We need to stay alert so that moment may never come."

"All right."

- - - - -

I stayed up there for hours...and more hours. I was getting pretty tired. I nearly fell asleep when I heard a small voice. Good thing I have good hearing or I wouldn't have heard it.

"Hello, cutie."

I spun around to see who spoke, but saw no one.

"Red, or whatever your name is, is that you?"

"Hmm, it could be, but you can't tell, can you?"

"Stay away from the portal!"

"You look sleepy, go to sleep."

"I don't need sleep! Stay back or I'll get Knuckles and he'll kick your butt!"

"I can help you sleep."

Then, I heard a zip and a bit of pain stabbed in my arm. I looked to find a needle in my arm. I hate needles. I freak if I see something sticking in my little body. You would too, wouldn't ya?

"OW! Hey, quit that! That hurt! You...oh, my...I feel...sleepy."

"Yes, sleep."

I couldn't control it. My vision just went black. That twice in two days. Geez, that must what happen when you see a beautiful girl. I collapsed and fell to sleep.

"Sweet dreams, foolish kid." she tauntedly said as he lurked from the bushes and entered the portal.

"This is what that Echidna gets for hiring a kid to help. He has defied me long enough. I'd love to see his face when he sees his precious Emeralds gone." and she disappeared into the portal.