Chapter 3:

The dust cleared and Shadow scanned his surroundings. Rouge had 'borrowed' the access codes to a government satellite network and had used it to pinpoint the Chaos Emerald. Although the uninhabited region of Pumpkin Hill was a little far away for his tastes, he would stop at nothing for answers. He looked around and saw a small gleam on the ledge below. Shadow leaped down and smirked as he clutched the green Chaos Emerald in his hands. He felt the familiar warmth pulsing through it as he focused its energy. Just then, the roaring sound of engines filled the air. The black hedgehog searched the sky for the source. He didn't have to look hard.

An enormous flying battleship cruised across the horizon. Even from his distance away, Shadow could see countless gun turrets covering its hull. There, on the side in bright yellow paint, was an insignia he had seen so many times before.

"Dr. Eggman… just the guy I wanted to see." With a quick toss of the Chaos Emerald and a blinding flash of light, Shadow vanished.

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A bright blue bi-plain soared through the air towards the Eastern Desert.

"So, what do you think Eggman wants with the Master Emerald?" asked Tails. Knuckles clenched his fist.

"I don't give a flying fuck! That fat bastard pulled some trick and stole my emerald. Well he isn't getting away with this. He's made a fool of me for the last time!" Sonic grinned.

"You're just pissed because he tricked you again." The echidna glared but looked down.

"… shut up."

Tails shook his head. "Okay guy, it should be just ahead an-" he gasped. The others looked and saw what had the young fox's attention.

"Crap!"

"Whoa! How does the old guy do it!"

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Rouge dashed silently through the hall of Eggman's base. While Shadow got his emerald, she decided to check up on the doctor. While helping Shadow had its own rewards, she was being paid a fortune for investigating and crippling project 'Ultimate Army,' maybe even double what she got for the data on the Gizoid. Skillfully avoiding a guard robo, she slid through a door onto a balcony overlooking the desert. The bat smiled as she noticed three brightly colored figures making their way towards the fortress.

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"How could Eggman make another Egg Carrier!" panted Knuckles as he stumbled through the dunes.

"I dunno," gasped Sonic, "but it's NOT a good sign." He glanced over enviously at Tails, who was having no problem gliding over the sand. A voice from above caught their attention.

"Long time, no see, boys. Did you come here to see what all the fuss is about, or to ask for a date?" Rouge glided down from the balcony and landed in front of the trio.

"What do YOU want?" Knuckles growled. The bat's face grew serious.

"It's not what I want, but what you need."

"What do you mean?"

She licked her lips seductively. "Why, me of course. C'mon big boy, admit it. You know you want me." Knuckles' face turned the same shade as the rest of his body.

"I, uh. Ummm. Er ah cough. ErrrrrrrrrrGAHHHHH! JUST GET OUT OF OUR WAY!" He stumbled past her muttering to himself. Sonic could barely suppress his laughter.

"C'mon Tails, we need to get going. Later, Rouge." And they dashed into the fortress.

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"Hmm, hmm. He's too easy." Rouge prepared to scale the base's walls when a loudspeaker rang through the perimeter.

"Egg Carrier 3, now clear to land. Repeat, Egg Carrier 3 is now clear to land."

Rouge scratched her head. "Now what could that mean?" As if on cue, the ground began to rumble and a gigantic runway emerged from beneath the desert sands. Upon gazing up at the sky, Rouge's jaw dropped. The Egg Carrier 3, although not as impressive as Eggman's previous fleet, was coming in for a landing several yards from where she was standing, revealing just how deadly it was. It seemed to be completely covered in guns, rocket launchers, and other means of destructive weaponry. Everything that wasn't meant for killing was plated with laser-reflecting steel, except for the deck which was encased in a bubble of chaos energy. Despite all the military secrets that she had, Rouge knew that there was nothing around that could touch that thing. A figure walked out on the balcony she had previously been standing on.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the government's top spy, Rouge the Bat?" Eggman cackled as he stared down at the intruder. "Are you impressed by my new toy? As unstoppable as it is, once I utilize its cargo, I will bring the world to its knees!"

"Hmm. That's what you think Doctor." She smirked and folded her arms. "You've been stopped every time you cooked up a scheme before. What makes you think this time will be any different?" The villain grinned widely.

"Perhaps, but you wont be around to see it." With a snap of his fingers, a small army of E-2000 drones swarmed around her, each with its cannon aimed straight at the bat. Her mind went blank and her head began to reel. Just as Rouge was about to meet her end, an earth-shattering explosion sent her and the robots flying across the sand. She turned and looked at the titanic inferno that was once the flying death machine she had viewed as indestructible. And there, walking out of the blaze with glowing red eyes was Shadow the Hedgehog, Chaos Emerald in hand.

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A.N. - Ok, the ending was a little clichéd, but not bad, right? Please review or email me personally.