Act I: AWARE
Chapter VII: Blood on the Leaves
808 Ocacia Street, Thursday 8:56 PM
The squad car had parked across the street from the quiet and dainty tailor shop.
Sonic studied the outside of the building curiously – starting to understand why such a place would be named as a possible location for underground crime dealings.
The answer? It looked like shit.
The building was rusty, the windows were smudged up, the sign reading "Oswalt's Tailor Shop" was barely legible.
Scourge had told him from his own private-investigating that he didn't see a soul inside the building. From what he could understand, this business had been pushed aside a little bit by the number of high-end clothing stores that were scattered around the city.
I mean – there were plenty. Why would someone need to come all the way out here when there were far better options?
But – the one question Sonic couldn't shake? Why on Mobius would this business be under Ashton's name?
That was Tikal's fiancé, who was murdered not too long ago. Sonic and Tails could remember the day where they had to tell Tikal that there was no evidence to suggest any one suspect – like it was yesterday.
Watching the poor Echidna's heart shatter – her eyes glossing over…
That was something they so desperately wanted to forget.
But – that's their job. As hard as it is – sometimes the only news is the bad news.
Amy's fingers tapped on the steering wheel, as Tails reclined in the passenger seat, the search warrant from the court in his lap.
All they needed to do was slap the warrant on the door for whoever came inside in the morning. Knuckles placed a call to the current manager that the business was being searched due to suspected activity of an independent crime organization.
The owner never followed up.
Sonic's mind racked with a million questions. Why this place? Why was it last owned by Tikal's fiancé? Why is the way this business is run so suspicious? Does anyone even know this place exists?
Sonic was tired of sitting idly – sprawled out in the back seat. Clicking his tongue, he shot up.
"Alrighty folks – we doin' this, or what?"
Amy and Tails turned to look at him – the bags under both of their eyes saying everything that their minds were thinking.
Amy sighed – glancing to Tails. "Might as well get started, boys."
With the detectives nodding to each other – they hopped out of the car, trudging up to the store as Amy sat watch.
Sonic shined a flashlight through the windows – peeking around inside.
It looked like your typical tailor business – if the year was still 1970.
Yikes – this place needed HEAVY renovation, from clothes – all the way to the general upkeep of the place.
Tails taped the warrant to the door, as he began to pick the lock.
It felt illegal, but it was the furthest from.
As the pair walked inside, they began their usual callouts to ensure no one was inside the building.
They poked around in cabinets, drawers, dressing rooms, backrooms, you name it – they searched it rigorously.
The pair were mostly silent, only needing to say anything unless they found something genuinely useful.
After the store was searched high and dry, the only place left was the basement.
That was where the supposed jackpot would be.
Sludging down the stairs, they were instantly curious of the lock on the door.
A very sophisticated, chain-lock. Sonic cast a quizzical look to Tails, who only grimaced at the sight.
"We're gonna need bolt cutters."
Calling Amy inside – she marched down the stairs, pair of bolt cutters in hand.
While she went to work on the bolt cutters, Sonic shone his flashlights on the surrounding walls.
His eye's squinted, catching some interesting sketches.
There were plenty of scribblings littered on the wallpaper. What any of them meant, he wasn't sure.
This place gets weirder and weirder every minute they're inside.
"Lock's all good."
Sonic whipped his head around, as Amy held the chain in hand.
"Try and make it fast – this place is giving me the creeps."
Sonic could only chuckle, not really disagreeing.
As the two walked inside, they flicked on the light switch.
As the lights shone on, they were met with –
A very normal looking basement.
Strangely normal – since everything else in the store had some unexplainable uncanniness to it.
They poked around, rummaging through whatever they could find.
"Sonic – the more I'm down here, the more I am realizing our trip to Nazo was pointless."
Sonic sighed, a hand rubbing under his nose.
"As much as I wanna say I disagree, I don't. Seems like he sent us to a dead end."
It was so infuriating. There was absolutely nothing incriminating down here. It wasn't a terrible surprise, since Eggman's goons even said there was no such base down here.
But, when you have two warring criminal gangs? They're going to protect their skin – while selling their enemies out.
Even if it wasn't Mafia property, surely there was SOMETHING here that made this place mean a damn to Nazo.
And, now that he's escaped, maybe something here will lead them right to him.
Snapping Sonic out of his thoughts, however, was Tails's voice, more wired-up than it had been all night.
"Here!"
Sonic whipped his head around, trudging over to Tails.
As he brushed off the top, Sonic was looking at –
A portrait.
Of…Shadow?
It looked like Shadow – but it didn't look like Shadow.
Who was that girl with him in the painting?
"Is that…"
Tails snapped a photo, jotting down anything notable of the painting.
"I – don't know…"
But – the door slamming shut up top was quick to snap their eyes right away from the painting.
Eggbase Strip Club, Thursday 9:03 PM
Bean and Nack sat right in front of Robotnik.
"What. Did you say. To the police?"
Bean shot a glance to Nack, his hat tipping right over his eyes,
"Nothin' incriminatin' – that's for sure."
Robotnik scowled, banging his fist on the desk. Bean yelped, as Nack only managed a quick shudder.
"Do you think I am some fool? I have put my faith in you two – and you ended up with criminal charges!"
Infinite was reclining – his hand placed right on top of his mask. The music outside was bumping, his only comfort from the annoyance that was occurring in front of him.
"Criminal charges against US – not you."
Bean watched as Nack argued with their boss, opting to keep his beak shut.
That didn't last, as Robotnik's eyes whipped right onto him.
"You are the one who placed those thermite charges. Are the casings in their possession, Bean?"
Bean's eyes were peeled across his head. He glanced between the two, swallowing a lump in his throat.
"I – I dunno, boss! Ma – maybe…?"
"Maybe is not a good enough answer, Bean. Do you realize what could occur? When they find out you two are gone, it is OVER for us! Do you understand that?!"
Eggman should stop putting things into the universe.
Infinite's head shot up – the chaos inside the club beginning to pick up.
He heard the shoutings of voices he was praying not to hear.
"Ivo, the police are here."
808 Ocacia Street, Thursday 9:48 PM
The detectives had shacked up in a closet.
Once that door slammed shut, and those footsteps began trudging down the stairs, they were taking no chances.
Tails was shuddering, Sonic placing his hand on his shoulder in attempts to keep him calm.
Who was here? It wasn't Amy.
Shit – Amy. She was keeping watch. What happened to her?
Gaia, he couldn't think about it.
He poked his eyes through the blinds, already cursing at the fact that the lights were on.
A blessing and a curse – whoever was here will know someone is around, but with the lights on, Sonic could see exactly who was here.
The shades of black and red stepping into the room made Sonic's heart plummet through his chest.
Shadow.
Was Nazo right? Was this a Mafia base?
Sonic watched as Shadow searched throughout the basement, his finger resting on his gun.
He was alone, but there WERE footsteps upstairs.
Gaia, WHAT happened to Amy?!
As Sonic watched Shadow's pacing, he realized that very quickly that Shadow was there doing the same thing Sonic was.
He was looking for something.
Perhaps this wasn't a Mafia base, but now Sonic was starting to believe it was still as sinister as he thought it would be.
He pressed a few buttons on his walkie – hoping to send a signal to Amy that they were in trouble. He only hoped it would get through – there was barely any reception down here.
He continued watching, Tails casting glances to Sonic.
He wasn't sure what to do, but he felt there was probably only one option.
Nodding at Tails, he kicked the closet door open – so hard it fell off it's hinges.
"Police! Drop your weapon!"
Shadow stopped dead in his tracks, his back turned to the pair.
Sonic had his gun pointed, his hands shaking in fear.
He knew Shadow was going to recognize that voice.
Shadow sighed, keeping his back turned from the detectives.
"I'm going to give you a few minutes to gather your things, and leave. I do not wish to hurt you, Sonic."
"You gotta tell me why you're down here, Shadow. But first, you need to drop your weapon, and put your hands behind your back."
Footsteps pounded down the stairs, the Rogues entering the room, weapons drawn.
"Do not fire at them. That's an order."
Sonic cast a look to the birds, locking in a deadly gaze.
These people – he KNEW them.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Shadow finally turned around, slowly – as to not provoke the detectives.
His red eyes locked onto Sonic's for the first time in years.
"I cannot tell you why I am here. I do not wish to hurt you, but I will if necessary."
Sonic just wanted to walk up to him and hug his friend, or at least – he thought they were friends.
He knew Shadow struggled, but what could have possibly pushed him this far over the breaking point?
Tails finally piped up, a death stare locking into Shadow's crimson eyes.
"Shadow – you need to drop your weapon and come with us."
Shadow remained emotionless – his glare bearing into their very souls.
"Shadow, what are you looking for?"
Shadow finally took a few steps, snapping.
"None of your god damn business, Sonic!"
The detectives took a sharp step back, their guns trained on him.
"It IS my business – this IS police business, and YOU need to come with US, NOW."
Even if Sonic sounded stern, the nerves were evident as his voice shook.
He spent months denying that Shadow was some big-time Mafia Godfather.
But – now he was staring at it.
And he lost any hope that he was wrong.
"Sonic, if you do not leave, this will become violent."
Shadow's finger subtly clicked the safety off on his gun, as it remained trained to his side.
"Shadow, you are under arrest. You are abided by law to drop your weapon and put your hands behind your back."
The Rogues just stared at them, watching as Rouge entered the room.
"Boys, you need 'ta listen to what he's sayin'. We don't wanna hurt you."
Sonic's gaze whipped to Rouge, and with that –
His heart finally dropped all the way.
"Rouge, all of you in this room are under arrest. You need to stand down and allow us to take you down to the station."
Rouge placed her hand on her hip, eyeing Shadow, his level of danger rising highly.
"Sonic, this is my final war-"
His voice was cut off as a gas activated, beginning to flood the room.
The lights flickered, flashing between fluorescent yellow and an ominous red.
Sonic and Tails peered around, watching the room quickly turn into a death trap.
Shadow hissed through his teeth. "That bastard Ivo."
Sonic whipped his gaze to Shadow, an eyebrow cocking. "Ivo?"
Shadow said nothing, as the Mafia began to dart upstairs.
"Hey! Stop right there!"
Sonic and Tails gave chase, but the gas was quickly hazing up their senses.
It was becoming hard to see where their own feet were, tripping oversteps as they trotted up the stairs, before charging through the doorway.
Sonic and Tails barged through the doors, but – they were gone.
All of them.
Sonic cursed, staring up at the piercing moon, as footsteps approached from behind.
"Gaia, are you guys alright?!"
It was Amy, who was clearly running out of breath.
"Amy? Thank Gaia, we thought you were hurt!"
Amy sighed, leaning over a bit.
"No – I was responding to a nearby incident when I heard the doors swing open. I saw a group running out, but they were gone before I could even make chase. Then you guys dashed out."
Sonic and Tails were heaving, their hands on their knees, casting quick glances back to the Tailor Shop.
"Shadow was there, and some of his 'employees'".
Tails sighed. "But – it wasn't their base. Some gas activated, and Shadow said Robotnik's name, before they began to make a break for it…"
Amy rubbed her temples, her mouth hung open – drying up quickly.
Sonic's head was reeling. Had they all been setup? Not just him – but Shadow too?
What kinda sick game was being played here?
And – most of all, how does all of this tie up to Tikal?
Amy tapped into her phone, grimacing. "I'm going to call the Chaotix, see if they can come out here and investigate that basement. They'll have a better understanding of what the hell that all was…"
Sonic nodded; his eyes trained to the ground. That gas, along with the flickering lights, only confirmed that there was something much more sinister at play here.
Whatever it was – Sonic didn't like it at all.
Back Alley of Tower Lux, Thursday 10:35 PM
The getaway van was stalling, as Eggman placed a swift kick to the side of it.
"This blasted van! You two, when we are out of this mess, you'll be finding a new line of work."
Nack and Bean leaned up against the van, their eyes trained to the grimy grounds.
Infinite paced around, as Metal scanned the engine, looking whatever caused the van to stall out.
They had managed to break before the police got there, peeling out from behind the club as soon as they heard the words 'police', ringing throughout the air.
Eggman had called some of his lower-level employees to come and retrieve them, so they could begin next moves in a more secret location.
Infinite scoffed, watching the Ruby on his chest continuing to fail.
"We must get this Ruby fixed soon, Ivo."
Eggman scowled, spitting on the ground.
"This is NOT the time, Jackal! We are in a crisis now!"
As many close calls as these criminals have had, their luck surely had to run out soon. This kind of luck does not last forever, and sooner or later, Eggman had to realize that.
Leaping through the night, a force slammed down on top of the van, earning startles from all of them.
Metal's jets activated, darting up, only to be grabbed around the neck.
Ivo shot his gaze up, growling through his teeth. "Who the hell is up there? Put my machine down this minute."
Footsteps reached to the edge of the roof, as Nazo bent down – piercing green eyes locking onto Eggman.
"You all need to come with me now."