Hey, it's the same old junk. Sega owns Sonic and ARC. Drake's mine.
Thank you for all the reviews, and keep sending them!
If you've been wondering where Rouge and Knuckles disappeared to, here's the answer. This chapter is strictly a Rouge and Drake chapter. Knuckles will show up in the next chapter. We're abandoning the situation at Getaway Isle for a little while. Yeah, it's short again, but don't worry, longer chapters are on the horizon.
Chapter 8: Break-in and a Meeting
Meanwhile, Drake had arrived in the city. All the citizens looked at him strangely. Last night, he had checked his mini-computer and it had detected a strange energy radiation coming from this city, Station Square. It wasn't a Chaos Medallion, but he figured he should check it out anyway. Drake felt bad for leaving so suddenly, but Foxaroni had left him before without saying good-bye, so he didn't feel too bad.
Drake adjusted the Jet Booster Heels attached to the ends of his shoes. He'd found those in a city gutter and practiced with their extra booster power.
He finally found what he was looking for and headed straight for it.
On one end of the city, Knuckles was finishing his hunt for emerald shards in Meteor Chamber, while on the other end, Rouge grabbed her last shard in Security Quarters.
The spy bat crept around the building. This time, she wasn't just here for Master Emerald pieces- she was on a mission! Yesterday, she'd gotten a call from headquarters ordering her to investigate the strange radiation of energy from this building. The president was worried it was another plot by that nefarious Dr. Eggman.
Rouge snuck by a few cameras in the hall and kicked out a machine that asked for a password. "Gee," she whispered to herself. "Those Iron Boots came in more handy than I expected."
Rouge stepped into the dimly lit room. She headed for the glowing tube in the center of the room. "Hmm," she whispered. "This looks suspicious." She walked closer to the tube, her boots clicking slightly.
A big, grayish blob floated in the center of the tube. The blob only faintly had pairs of big feet and little hands. One round head with pointed ears protruded from one side.
Rouge gasped as she looked at the grooves around the tube. The seven Chaos Emeralds sat in these slots, glittering dangerously. Her eyes fell upon the monitor at the front, flashing the words, "Please insert Chaos Medallions."
"Chaos Medallions?" Rouge said. "I've never heard of Chaos Medallions. Is this some kind of trap?" She looked around, warily. Suddenly, her large bat ears caught sounds of footsteps and they were very close! Rouge ran to the back of the tube, but it was too late.
A figure appeared in the broken doorway. Rouge was confused and squinted at the figure a while. Finally, she stepped out from behind the tube and ran towards the figure.
"Hey! It's you!" she cried.
Drake emerged in front of her. He cocked his head. "Um…do I know you?"
Rouge stopped short. "Wait a second, you're not the one I'm looking for."
"Phew," Drake said. "I was afraid I had forgotten you. Who are you? My name's Drake."
Rouge turned around. "None of your beeswax. Go away, imposter."
"Imposter?" Drake said. "Why am I an imposter?"
"Never mind," Rouge sighed. She studied the figure in the tube and took notes.
"What it this place?" Drake asked. "Do you live here?"
"Of course I don't!" Rouge cried. "Will you stop being so stupid? I'm busy here. Go away and leave me alone."
Drake didn't budge. He stared at the tube in wonder. His eyes traveled down to the blinking monitor that read, "Please insert Chaos Medallions." "Oh no," he said, under his breath. "No, don't tell me…" Drake stepped up next to the tube and noticed all the glittering Chaos Emeralds. "Oh no," he said again.
"What are you doing?" Rouge snapped. "Get away from that tube. I don't want you touching it. Didn't I already tell you to go away?!"
Drake just remained perfectly calm, as always. "Are these the…Chaos Emeralds? If they are, then…" He closed his eyes and put his hands over his face.
Rouge perked up and looked at him. "What? What if they are?"
Drake didn't answer. He was beginning to glow green.
Rouge watched in fascination.
The green light grew stronger, and something large and circular was forming behind him. His eyes opened the whole way as the green light filtered through his body. His mouth dropped open and spoke on its own.
"These two must never unite, for in the hands of evil, ultimate destruction will fall upon both sides…this is why keepers are chosen by these powers to ensure that the Passage is sealed at all times…" Slowly, the light faded and Drake dropped to the ground, unconscious.
Rouge scribbled down notes. "Weird," she commented as she exited the room and snuck her way out of the building.
Drake woke up again and went crazy. "I didn't know it had gone this far. I have to find those remaining Chaos Medallions!" He ran out of the building, the same way Rouge had gone.