Chapter 7: Dark Friend
Sitting back at his desk the tired black hedgehog with crimson red highlights yawned as a red echidna leaned up in the dark corner tapping his foot impatiently. The room was silent as the Hedgehog tried to think up what to say to his old friend, but the words could not seem to come to mind. The door opened slowly and a purple chameleon walked in.
"Um…" Espio mumbled.
"Yes Espio?" Shadow wondered.
"You called me right?" Espio said as he slowly pointed at himself.
"Yes, no one has heard from Shade in awhile." Shadow said, "I know he isn't very fond of me so…maybe you can go and see what's up?"
"Since when did I become your messenger boy?" Espio grumbled, "…Fine, I'll go since I've been meaning to talk to Shade anyways."
"I'm coming to; it's been 3 years since I've seen Shade." Knuckles said.
Knuckles got up from his corner and stretched as he walked toward the exiting Chameleon. Shadow stared blankly and blinked as he looked at the now empty room, he rolled his eyes and leaned back again and started to take a short nap…
Dashing out of the sewage drain and through the city Knuckles and Espio made good time, the people ignored the lightning fast duo as they made it to Gate Delta. Espio grinned as the gate opened and lead the way as through the dead grass and down a dark mountain into what looked like a bottomless pit, Knuckles looked around in awe as the cavern full of crystals went by in a blur creating a dazzling silhouette of colors. The cavern came to an abrupt end as a massive wall cut things off; Knuckles scratched his head as Espio knocked on the floor in a pattern, Espio signaled for Knuckles to come close. Knuckles dashed to Espio's side and looked on in shock as a bubble of energy formed around them and sent them down a warp tube of sorts and onto a platform in the middle of a makeshift shrine. Knuckles turned to his right to find a black Echidna with dark blue patterns going down his dreads, arms, legs, and top of his head sitting in front of a large Black Emerald with mini black emeralds around it.
"Been awhile Espio." Shade said, his deep voice sending a chill down Espio's spine.
"Sure has." Espio said hiding the small shiver in his voice.
"Shadow sent you on another "check up?" Shade coldly said.
"Yea. You heard about Robotnik's outpost in this sector?" Espio asked.
"No." Shade answered coldly.
"Robotnik is slowly zeroing in on this shrine's location. He built an outpost so he could easily find it, but we destroyed it, but it's only bought time, he's definitely going to be building more here." Espio said trying not to look Shade in the eye.
"When will that fat asshole have a heart attack?" Shade said, "I grow tired of this game."
"Maybe you should give it to him." Espio chuckled.
"Believe me I will." Shade said as he began to stand up and turn around. He slowly opened his eyes so he could look at his friend, Shade's Electric green eyes opened wide as he saw the red echidna behind Espio.
"Before you say anything…that's not an illusion. It's him." Espio chuckled.
"Knuckles!" Shade gasped in excitement.
"Heh, good to see you again Shade." Knuckles said, "Espio broke me out."
"…I see. I'm without words…I…I…whatever good to have you back." Shade said unveiling his ever elusive smile.
"Espio get to the point of WHY we are here." Knuckles commanded.
"Right…Shade, we need to know if you and Larez have found another place to store the Dark and Light Emeralds. This shrine won't be very safe much longer." Espio said.
"Larez's shrine hasn't been noticed yet; I plan on moving these Emeralds there in a few days." Shade said, "Oh! I noticed something a few days ago…"
Shade reached down to his waist and pulled out a small cube, he threw behind him and the cube expanded into a large screen, Shade crossed his arms with his back to the screen as the screen began to playback some sort of event…
"I was searching the area for another cavern when I came up on one of Robotnik's outposts, it was quiet and had a large number of ships docked at it…"
The screen began to show Shade dashing through the dark fields and down the slope of a steep hill, Shade came to a sudden stop as he looked out at a large tower with 5 massive military ships docked at it, Shade crept up to the tower and hid behind a large metal crate as he looked out at the large group of guards, they rolled strange barrels across the steel floor creating massive pile on a sort of hover cart. Shade watched carefully as the guards loaded their guns and watched as a large group of black beasts with spines and quills made of pure razor sharp titanium rose out of the fog and quickly walked up to the pile of barrels, their crimson red eyes circled around the platform as Vector walked out from the guards and met the largest member of the monstrous group. Vector crossed his mighty arms and looked down at the group as the searchlights cast a yellow glow across his green-scaled back.
"Vector! What is he doing here with Robotnik's goons? Why are they meeting with the Quaro?" Shade whispered.
Vector walked up to large Quaro and looked it straight in the eye.
"Here is the latest shipment of Emerald Ore! Emperor Robotnik says take it and get lost." Vector demanded.
The Quaro merely nodded as two of them grabbed the cart and pulled it away from the large group of Guards. Vector stood strong as they faded into the distance with the large shipment.
"Why the hell are they feeding the Quaro rare Emerald Ore?" Shade pondered.
"That was it, I left after that before I got spotted…"
Espio put his finger against his cheek and thought as Knuckles crossed his arms and looked at Shade.
"Puzzling…why would they give them Emerald Ore?" Espio wondered.
"Emerald Ore?" Knuckles asked.
"Emerald Ore is a refined energy one can get by refining Emeralds into their purest state, Robotnik uses it to power the city, only difference is that the Chaos Emerald, and the Master Emerald have unlimited energy, and give him an unlimited supply of Emerald Ore." Espio said.
"Might be best to ask Vector about this, I'm going to move into Larez's shrine to buy some time." Shade said as he began to scoop up some Dark Emeralds.
"Very Well, we'll go talk to Vector about all this." Knuckles said.
Shade nodded and shook Knuckles' hand as Espio began to leave; Knuckles quickly took off after Espio as Shade ran towards the rest of the Dark Emeralds.