CHAPTER 5

THE MAN BEHIND IT ALL

That next day at the Chaotix, Shadow ran up to Rouge in a hurry, "Rouge, I discovered some pretty useful tips that can help us with our case."

All Rouge did was cross her arms and looked at Shadow with a glare.

"What?"

"How about an apology?"

Shadow then realized she was still upset from yesterday, "Oh right, sorry. Anyway I talked to the son's mother again and she gave me some info about her new boyfriend."

"What did she say?"

"She described her boyfriend as a red porcupine, yellow eyes, goggles on his head."

Rouge gasped, "Appex?"

Shadow nodded, "Lance is behind the whole thing. We gotta stop him."

The rest of the group walked up to them.

Vector smirked, "You guys will need some muscle."

"Looks like we'll need it", Shadow said.

Later outside of the Street Punks' hideout, Appex was leaning against the wall thinking about some things until Zena showed up.

"Appex?" She asked hoping she didn't disturb him.

Appex looked over to her, "What?"

"Must you do everything that Lance tells you?"

"Yes, I must obey him. We should all obey him. After all he is our boss."

"So if he tells you to jump off a cliff would you do it?"

"No."

"Then why did you do it?"

Appex faced her, "For the money of course."

Zena put her hands on her hips, "Appex, you're awful! Just because Lance told you to! Why don't you kiss his ass while you're at it." She angrily walked back inside.

He paid her no attention and looked ahead of himself. He thought he saw someone approaching him, 'Could it be...' He looked harder and saw a black hedgehog walking towards him, "It is. Shadow! He probably figured it all out. I'd better warn Lance." He ran back inside. Once he got inside he saw Lance threatening the child with his pocket knife. "Lance, Shadow is here."

The fox smirked, "Already?" He then saw the door getting kicked open.

As Shadow walked in the room with the Chaotix behind him, he saw the child crying with Lance's knife to his neck. "Let the kid go right now."

Lance held the knife closer to the boy's neck, "Not without my money. Appex!"

Appex stood in front of Shadow, "I'm on it."

Shadow stood in a fighting stance, "I don't have time for this."

"I'd make time if I were you", Appex put his goggles over his eyes.

"You guys get the child while I take care of Appex."

Everyone nodded and ran for the child.

Shadow ran towards Appex with a punch. He hit him in the face.

Appex stood there like it caused him no pain. He smirked, "Is that all you got, hedgehog?"

Shadow cracked his knuckles, "I'm just getting started."

"We'll see." Appex's quills sharpened around his body. He then unleashed his quills at Shadow, but unfortunate for him, Shadow used his speed and dodged his quills.

Appex growled under his breath, "Bastard."

While they were fighting, Charmy flew over to the boy and untied him. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

The boy nodded, "He hit me in my head with a gun."

Charmy noticed the mark on the side of his head, "Don't worry, you're safe now." He then felt something touch the back of his head. He didn't turn his head to see who it was.

"The kid goes nowhere", Lance pushed his gun against Charmy's head. "Give me the kid. Now!"

"I don't think so", a female voice said behind him.

The next thing he knew, he was kicked in the back causing him to drop the gun he had. He fell to the floor. He looked behind him and saw Rouge standing there with a smirk. "You're Shadow's girl am I right?"

Rouge nodded, "Damn straight."

Lance tried to reach for his gun, but Rouge stomped on his hand. He yelled in pain.

Rouge crossed her arms, "Maybe next time." Then she saw a red blur fly pass her.

Appex hit the wall hard with his back. He fell to the floor panting. He saw Shadow standing in front of him. He took his fist and hit the floor, "This isn't over."

"I believe it is. Now get out of my sight!"

Appex slowly arose from the floor and ran out the building with Lance behind him.

Shadow walked over to the child, "You okay?"

The boy nodded slightly.

Shadow could tell that he was still a little frightened.

Rouge tapped Shadow's shoulder.

He spun around and faced Rouge, "What is it?"

"I wanted to say I'm sorry for pushing you around. I guess I just don't have it in me to be bad."

Shadow made a slight smile, "It's okay. I'm sure you were just going through one of those phases."

Rouge didn't know whether to take what he said as a compliment or an insult. She shrugged her shoulders and kissed him on the cheek.