Chapter Nineteen

The activity in the newly freed city was already picking up…not much had changed since the previous day. People still went to market to get food for their meals; guards patrolled their usual routes at the city walls. But today would also be very interesting. It had been about a week since Sonic was defeated…Shadow had healed already, but Tsuko needed more time, so the return to the city would have to wait.

One of Yumi's friends, an orange hedgehog, burst in as the group was having breakfast.

"Yumi! There's a group of echidnas outside!"

Tsuko was the first to respond. "Maybe Cadmus is here…I suppose he wants to make peace."

"Peace? Between hedgehogs and echidnas?" the orange hedgehog responded.

"Yeah…" Amy added. "Sonic and Knuckles started the war. Hopefully both sides have sense enough to make peace. Anyway, let's go see!"

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

"And just who are you, emissary?" one of the warrior hedgehogs, a brown one, asked Cadmus, who was still standing at the gates sternly. "Don't lie to us…if that is even possible for your kind."

Cadmus tried his best to be polite. "I am Cadmus, and I am the new guardian of the Chaos Emeralds and elected Prime Arch-Echidna. I have come to make peace with the hedgehogs and end this senseless war that my predecessor started."

"You don't seem very royal-looking…" another answered.

"Hey! Let that echidna in!" Shadow called from the other side of the wall.

"You heard the hedgehog! Let me in!" Cadmus said.

One guard shrugged at the other, and then they opened the gates, which creaked, as always, from age.

"Welcome…Cadmus…seems like you've got everything under control back at your place," Shadow said as Cadmus came inside with his small retinue. "So, let's get down to business."

"Indeed." Cadmus replied.

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Now that that's over and done with…what's next?" Amy asked when everyone had returned to the lab many hours later. Tsuko was resting in a small healing chamber similar to the one Amy was in when she awoke.

"We head to the big city to stop Vector, that's what," Espio responded immediately and with a hint of anger. "You remember what Eggman said…he's crazy enough to start a nuclear holocaust. If he gets his hands on that egg…it'll be the end of the world as we know it." He slammed his fist into his open palm when he said this.

"We also need to find this 'Miko' guy." Shadow added. "And I also need to pay someone else a visit."

"Who?" Cadmus asked. "Must be pretty important for be a part of this."

"Would you believe me if I said this was my niece?"

"Your…niece!" Amy exclaimed.

Shadow looked up and away from the group, a little shy about what he would have to tell them. "It's a funny thing, really. After this whole mess happened, Rouge got together with some guy…fell head over heels for him. They're together for a few months…then things got out of hand, and now she's got a child…and no father to raise her. The guy left her…she was so young…I would have though she'd known better. I've been visiting them on and off for the last several years.

"But you and Rouge aren't related…why is she your niece, then?" Espio asked.

"Heh…she's called me Uncle Shadow…Rouge's daughter is a really sweet girl, but a little shy. Rouge has changed a lot, too. You would never have guessed she was once a government spy…now she works as the head waitress in some downtown bistro."

Espio couldn't help but find this somewhat funny. "Wow…things really have changed over the years…Shadow's turned into a family man…Amy's a clone…I was a criminal…"

"Huh? You…" Cadmus asked.

"Yes…I was there when…damn…"

"You saw Charmy and Cream get killed, didn't you…" Shadow said before Espio could bring himself to finish his sentence.

Espio, perhaps for the first time in his life, began to break into tears of grief. "Yes! I could have saved them! They were so young…not even in their prime!"

"Easy, Espio…don't cry now…we'll get Vector…"

"Why the hell are we still sitting around for?" Espio growled. "Let's go!"

"What about…" Metal Sonic asked.

"He'll come out eventually!" the chameleon replied as he started out.

"Espio! No!" Shadow said as he zipped in front of him. "We still need to plan…"

"What's there to plan?" Espio growled. "We find Miko, break into Vector's office and give his just desserts!"

"To think a ninja, of all people, would be so reckless…" Tsuko said as he came in. "Yeah, I overheard the whole thing." He was still wet from the healing fluid, dripping wet to be exact. He shook himself off in a matter unto a dog, splashing everyone with it.

"Geez…do you mind!" Cadmus said.

"Sorry. I guess we're heading out…"

"Now that's you're up and about, yeah," Espio said immediately, and started out.

-- -- -- -- -- --

"They can't win, Mother Earth. Geddon will be victorious."

"What? What do you mean, Father Sky?"

"…His victory is inevitable for one reason: not everyone in the group has awakened yet. Geddon can only be defeated once they all have been awakened…the one whose power remains dormant is not ready."

"Who must awaken?"

"The lover of Water is the one."

"The young bat? But…when will she be ready?"

"One year after her mother perishes in the inevitable apocalypse…"

"No! There must be another way! I will not allow Geddon to begin his unholy feast on this beautiful world we created, Father Sky! Nor will I allow an entire intelligent species to be annihilated! It's monstrous."

"There is no other way, Mother Earth…it has to be this way. Fate cannot be altered…but his victory shall not last long. Take comfort in that at least…"

-- -- -- -- -- --

Rouge had a long day ahead of her…the restaurant she was working at was going to host the inauguration party for Mayor Vector. Thankfully, she had the morning to take care of a few things at home…getting Crimsa ready for school, cleaning the kitchen…the usual. At about 10 AM, the phone in her kitchen rang. She picked it up and sat down.

"Hello?"

"Miss Bat?"

"Speaking. Who is this, might I ask?"

"A representative of the police, miss." Rouge's heart stopped for a second when she heard the voice's response

What would the police want with me…" she wondered. "Oh…what is it? I haven't done anything illegal, have I?"

"We need some information…has your boss, Mr. Mario, acted suspicious lately?"

"Not to my knowledge…no, he hasn't."

"Miss…it's obvious to us that you are hiding something from us. I highly recommend that you tell us what is being hidden in that bistro!"

"…no one that I know of! What makes you think I'm hiding something?"

"That's classified, miss. Now…tell us who is being hidden there!" the voice responded coolly.

"I'm telling you, I don't know anything!" Rouge yelled angrily.

"Your lack of cooperation disappoints us, Miss Bat. I highly suggest you tell us, or we will be forced to use drastic methods."

"What are you going to do? Arrest me?"

"That has never worked in the past. We have other methods."

"Like what?" she spat.

But there was no response. Whoever was at the other end had hung up.

"They must have been bluffing…idiots." As she said that, suddenly, it hit her…Miko was not just a lone gunner…those "hooligans" were a coherent unit! They were the rebels of G.U.N.!

Rouge was frantic…what would those corrupt policemen do? Trash the restaurant? Loot the house…then it hit her…Crimsa...no…they wouldn't sink that low.

Still, she quickly finished the housework, and sped off to work, to ensure that everything was still in order at work.