CHAPTER 6

THE TEST

When Shadow and Espio got to the Chaotix Detective Agency building, they were both hoping to get jobs.

"Okay Shad, just act like a normal middle classer", Espio looked over to Shadow and saw him smoking a cigarette. "Not that way! Put the cigarette away, Shad. Vector doesn't allow smoking in the building."

Shadow sighed and dropped the cigarette on the ground, "That's too bad..." He said in an uncaring voice.

Espio and Shadow then stepped through the door with the rest of the gang in the main lobby having their eyes fixed on Shadow especially Tonya.

'Espio, what the hell!' Tonya thought.

Vector crossed his arms, "Looks like Espio found himself a new friend."

Charmy kept thinking that he looked familiar, "Doesn't he look strange to you?"

"He sure does."

Tonya started to panic, "What are you two talking about? He doesn't look strange at all, besides I'm sure he has a good reason to be here right, Espio?"

Espio nodded, "Sure he does. This is my friend, Shadow. He and I want a job here."

Charmy sighed, "Not again, Espio."

"I'll pass this time I know I will."

Vector didn't believe that Espio would pass the tests since he kept failing over and over, "We'll see about that, Espio. Follow me."

Tonya walked beside Espio, "What's wrong with you!" She whispered, "He can't be here!"

"He can be here as long as Vector doesn't know that he was a Street Punk", Espio whispered back.

Tonya placed her hands on her hips, "It's gonna be your fault if he gets caught."

"I'll take that chance..."

Charmy looked back at them, "What are you two talking about?"

"None of your business, Charmy", Tonya said.

Charmy took his eyes away from them and continued to follow Vector.

Soon they came into a basement with practice targets.

Vector handed Shadow and Espio pistols, "Your objective is to hit the targets directly in the head with one bullet."

Espio twirled the gun in his hand, "Heh, piece of cake."

Tonya faced a different direction, 'What a fool...'

Espio looked over to Shadow, "You know how to work a gun right?"

"Of course I do", Shadow said.

Vector pointed at the targets, "Okay you two give it all you got." He watched as Shadow and Espio held the gun in their hands steady in their hands and quickly shot one bullet directly in the targets' head.

Espio sighed, "I surprised I made it this far."

"You mean to tell me you couldn't even pass simple target practice?" Shadow asked.

"That was only the first part", Vector took out a white cloth and handed it to Shadow.

"What the hell is this for?"

"Now you have to do the same thing except this time you have to wear a blindfold", Vector said as he smiled.

Shadow looked over to Espio, "Is this the part you keep failing?"

Espio nodded slightly, "Yeah."

"Wait, why didn't you get one?"

Tonya crossed her arms, "He shot Vector by accident."

"Having blindfolds put over your eyes is a stupid test. People can get hurt!" Espio shouted. "Besides I didn't mean to shoot him."

Tonya sighed as she looked over to Vector, "Vector, this is stupid. Charmy and I didn't have to do this."

Vector placed his hand over her mouth, "Shut up!"

"I can do this", Shadow had said quietly as he placed the blindfold over his eyes.

Charmy bursted out laughing, "You can't do that! It's impossible!"

Believing Charmy's words, everyone watched as Shadow easily shot the target in the head.

Everyone's mouths hung open especially Vector. He thought it was impossible, "That was absolutely amazing, Shadow!"

"Yeah!" Charmy agreed, "How did you learn to do that without looking?"

Shadow began to brag, "I guess being a Street Punk has its advantages."

Vector crossed his arms as Shadow said the word Street Punk, "What did you say?"

Shadow just realized what he said and wished that he never said it. He looked over to Espio, "Sorry, Espio."

"Both of you will be sorry when I'm through with you!" Vector yelled.

Espio stood in front of Shadow, "Don't hurt him Vector, he's not a Street Punk anymore. I swear."

"I don't believe it!"

"Vector!"

Tonya placed her hand on Vector's shoulder, "Just let him go, Vec."

The crocodile sighed, "Fine, I don't ever want to catch you two here again. Got it?"

The hedgehog and chameleon nodded sadly and began to leave.

Later in the city, Shadow and Espio were walking on the sidewalk looking down to the ground.

Shadow looked over to the sad chameleon, "I'm sorry I blew it, Espio."

Espio looked over to him and smiled, "It's not your fault."

"Yes it is. It was because of me that we lost that job. Maybe I was better off dying."

"Don't say that! You have meaning in life and your going to find that meaning. Even if it means me spending my entire life with you."

"Espio..."

"We're friends now and that's what friends do."

Shadow's frown turned into a smile, "Thank you, Espio."

As soon as they settled that they felt a massive shake coming from the ground.

Espio was confused, "What's going on?"

Then a huge white robot with rocket launchers on his wrists unleashed the rockets from the rocket launcher on the asphalt destroying the road.

Shadow's eyes widened at the sight of the destructive robot, "This can't be good..."

N/A: Sorry for not updating. It's been like...4 days maybe. I know some of you may think its not a big deal, I just don't like my work to be in late. That's why I try to update everyday at least. Well lets just hope the next chapter won't take so long.