Sonic Adventures

SHADOW STORY

Episode Four

No News and Bad News

The small log cabin was hidden well by the trees and plants of the forest, but Sonic was able to locate it. A sign on the door read "DETECTIVE SERVICES".

"The Chaotix Crew?" Sonic asked, puzzled. "This is your big idea Amy?"

"Yes!" Amy said harshly, "It was better than yours!"

"He didn't have one!" Tails said.

"Exactly." Amy walked up to the door triumphantly and knocked.

A voice came from the inside. "Who's there?"

A slit in the door slid open and two eyes appeared. "Hey guys! Its Sonic!"

Charmy the bee threw open the door and welcomed the group inside. Vector the crocodile and Espio the chameleon were reclining in chairs.

"Hey guys!" Amy cried.

"This is unexpected," Espio said. He swiveled in his recliner and leaned upon a wooden desk. "What could you guys need from the Chaotix Detective Service?"

"Answers," Sonic said vaguely.

"What kind of answers?" Vector asked, interested.

"We were wondering if you could tell us where Eggman is," Amy said, leaning on the desk towards Espio.

"I have no idea," he said. Obviously, girlish charms didn't affect him.

"Damnit!" Sonic cursed, "So much for your great idea Amy."

"Well I tried!" she yelled back.

"You guys could check the criminal file for Eggman," Charmy spoke up. "Maybe the government has a clue where he is."

"Good idea Charmy!" Tails complemented. The group thanked the Chaotix Crew for their help and boarded the Tornado for Tails's workshop.

With a little bit of help from her chao Cheese, Cream managed to construct a makeshift cast for Rouge's leg. Rouge claimed that it was feeling better, but every time she said that it would get worse. She tried to keep her mind off of it by reading the newspaper. The front headline caught her eye. She read it aloud to Cream.

"CHAOS AT THE WHITE HOUSE: Officials indicate that after returning from a routine mission, government agent Rouge the bat allegedly attacked one of the guards. She then headed for the President but one of the guards, Agent John Kent, was able to injure her severely. Rouge then, obsessing her defeat, flew out of a window and hasn't been seen since.

"Police are on high alert for this elusive ex-government spy. Authorities say that she is highly dangerous, but may be slightly less lethal due to her inflicted injury. Authorities also would like for anyone who may know the whereabouts of the spy, to call 911 immediately. Mallory Pynn, Senior Editor; Station Square Press."

"Wow," Cream said, "That's not true, is it?"

"Of course not!" Rouge said, disgusted. "They're trying to cover it up. Obviously the President and his cronies know about Project Shadow."

There was a small silence, but it was broken by the sound of the Tornado approaching. Sonic, Amy, and Tails had returned with answers, so they thought.

"I can't go back there!" Rouge cried at the request. She shoved the newspaper into Sonic's face so he could read it. "I'm wanted! The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime!"

"But Rouge!" Tails said, "If you don't go in there and get those files, who will?" The room fell silent.

Rouge sighed. She stood up and balanced on her broken leg. The cast was thick, but a small tingle of pain was felt when she did it. "With this cast that Cream made me, I think I'll be able to do it."

"Yeah!" the group said in unison.

"But!" Rouge said aloud, "If I'm to get in there, I'll need backup protection. I don't want to use my leg any more than I have to."

"Agreed!' Sonic said. "We rest now, and in the morning, it's off to the White House."

"Um, sonic?" Tails said. "Going to the White House isn't going to do us any good. We need to go to the Pentagon for these files."

"All right, all right! Same thing." And with that they headed for bed.