What's your position?
"Clear... Just like it's been for the past hour."
Stop your whinin'. You're on lookout duty cuz you screw up everythin' else! Your name fits you, Zero...!
Zero stuck his tongue out, even though he knew nobody could see it. He peered through the scope of his sniper rifle, watching over the street outside of their target, currently empty of civilians at this time of night. "Overconfident, pompous, piece of-"
Don't finish that sentence.
Zero grumbled, shutting off his communicator from his end. "It's not my fault people are alive..."
That seemed to be his problem. He could take out every single test dummy and target sheet with incredible accuracy, but the second a real, living target was placed in front of him, his finger froze on the trigger. Perfect score on his skills, but a big zero on his live performance. Not a good quality for a member of the esteemed Jackal Clan, the best mercenaries in the business.
His uncle's voice grumbled through the comm. Just watch for anything suspicious...
"Can do..."
Zero groaned, his face settling into his hands as he stared out into the dark.
Earlier in the day, there had been a festival in the town, and now the night events were ongoing, which meant practically all the civilians were in the square and nowhere near this laboratory they'd been paid to infiltrate by a rival kingdom. The Duke of Soleanna was supposedly dabbling in some less-than-legal operations in hopes of finding immortality for his lineage, and if he had discovered it, the other dignitaries wanted it.
Zero could see the lights, and very faintly hear the crowds roaring with excitement. The Duke was making an appearance there, which meant he wasn't here to complicate the operation. Just minimal personnel were here; lab techs, security, the occasional scientist, nothing out of the- Wait a minute.
The jackal's ears pricked up and then swiveled around, had he just imagined it? He was beginning to think so when it came again, and he pulled out his comm again. "Hey... Does anyone else hear that?"
Hear what?
"...Nothing." Zero muttered, "Just my imagination."
Getting jittery up there, Deadweight?
Stick to the mission, Loser.
Zero sighed, "Affirmative..."
He was settling back into his position when he heard it again, louder this time; a baby crying. What the hell would a baby be doing here? He didn't know, but he did have a pretty good idea of what the others might do if they found it before he did.
Abandoning his post would be putting the mission at risk, but then again, he'd seen his family in action. They could handle anyone who might poke their heads in, right?
They'll kill me if something happens... But they might kill the kid if I don't do something... Why do I care? It's not like I know who it is...But they're just a kid...
"Ugh! Whatever...!" He hissed, looking out the window one more time before hurrying down the steps from his post. "Just get the kid and bring him back, and figure out what to do later. Simple."
He listened for the cries, following them down the maze of halls, but keeping in mind how he got there so he could get back just as quickly. The lab seemed oddly empty and quiet, where was everyone? The best thing he could come up with was that the others were taking out anybody they encountered and hiding the evidence.
The cries finally led him down a flight of stairs, the air getting colder as he descended into the darkness. What could be down here?
At the bottom of the steps the air was icy cold, and his footsteps echoed off of the stone walls. It was like a tomb, empty and lifeless... Except it wasn't empty.
Zero's eyes were met by a very bright light as he opened the door at the bottom, a sharp contrast to the darkness his eyes had adjusted to. The cries were coming from inside, and Zero winced as he peered inside. Only one thing seemed to be dark amidst the spotlights; a little black mobian toddler, huddled inside of a tall glass container and weeping. "What...?"
The toddler's sobs quieted, and his massive ears pricked up as he lifted his head to look at Zero. His eyes were red from crying, and while he looked somewhat canine in appearance, there was just enough difference that Zero couldn't determine what exactly he was, other than trapped. He scrambled across to the wall of the container, pressing his tiny fingers upon the glass.
"This is taking 'Timeout' to a new level..." Zero whispered, his eyes shifting down to the console that was attached to the container. So many buttons, no clue which one did what. "What're you doing in here, Tiny?"
"Hewp...!" They whimpered, "Hewp pwease...! Pwease?"
Zero started to search the console again for the off switch in order to comply, but then stopped himself. Why? For all I know there's a perfectly good reason why he's in this thing.
Do you really believe that? You said you'd take him back to your post.
That was before I knew he was locked in a...
Zero shook his head, he was talking to himself again. "...Fine."
"Hold it! Freeze!"
Zero stiffened as he heard the shout from the stairwell, his fingers hovering over the console.
Then came the gunshots.
Zero's fingers flew across the buttons, pressing them all rapidly in hoping that one would open the cannister. "Now or never, now or never, now or never, now-"
"Hey!"
The next few seconds seemed to take forever to pass. He heard the shot be fired, his fingers continued to press buttons as he also jumped to the side. The shot hit the console, it popped and then crackled before erupting into a fireball. Heat washed over him, and then... Nothing.
Sorry, Kid...
Shadow was growing tired of this.
An hour had passed since he'd retreated to his room, meditating on his bed and trying to bring Thaw up to the surface where they could at least talk. Nothing.
Shadow didn't understand. For someone who was supposed to be the leader of a group of warriors, he seemed to be very hesitant to show off his skills. Why would he choose a host if he had no intention of working with them?
"Perhaps you are no warrior...Perhaps you're just a coward...!" He spat.
Then his eyes went wide as Thaw slammed into his stomach. The pain sent him reeling, and he rushed across the room before puking into the trash can.
Shadow trembled as he panted, swallowing back the urge to puke even more into the trash can. "Why...?" He whispered, "...Why are you doing this...?"
There was no answer, and Shadow sat on the floor for a moment, closing his eyes. Thaw clearly didn't like being threatened, so it must be time for a new approach...A softer approach. Shadow wasn't very good at soft approaches.
"...Okay, if you're going to be here, then we have to cooperate, but if you're just going to sit there and hide every time I need you, then-"
You don't need me...
Finally, a response. The voice sounded very much like his own, except for the weak, trembling tone it was in. Shadow would never stoop to that level. "If I don't, then why did you wake yourself up to save me back there?"
I don't know! I... I just... I felt like-
"You were literally made to defend and protect; it's wired into you, you can't help it."
Hmph... Not good at it, though.
Shadow's ears pricked and then he leaned back against the wall, "Oh...I see... You've lost your nerve."
I-I haven't!
"Yes you have!"
Shadow sat up once again, his voice echoing off of the walls in his mostly empty room. "You didn't get the others to safety in time, you made a mistake, and now you're too scared of messing up again to even try!"
Thaw was quiet for several minutes, and Shadow had managed to get back up onto his feet by the time he spoke again. How can they forgive me? I...I failed them.
"Look. You and I went through almost the same situation... We both were made to protect people, and then were attacked and lost our loved ones and were forced to be dormant for a long time...But unlike me, you still have your family. I can't say that they're pleased about what happened, but I can't imagine that they blame you as much as you blame yourself... Yes, you didn't get them out in time, but you were not the one to cause the attack."
Shadow waited for Thaw to argue, but he didn't. He thought perhaps their conversation was over, but then he felt a sudden urge of energy rush through him again, and in a flash he had transformed. Black feathered wings on his back, and a green vest, boots and gloves now replaced his usual attire.
You're right...
"Well I'm glad we could come to an agreement... Now perhaps you can help me-"
"I knew it!"
Shadow turned, seeing Rouge standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips, "I knew something was up! You'd better start explaining right now, Mister!"
...You know, my wife used to talk to me like that.
"Any chance it's her?"
My previous host's wife, I mean...
You will have to interrogate them both at a later date. Omega informed as he marched up behind the bat, There has been an attack on the Soleannan Embassy. We are to investigate immediately.
Shadow crossed his arms as he shifted back into his normal form. "Let's get to it, then."
Rouge grumbled, "Fine, but this conversation isn't over."
"Believe me, I know it isn't." Shadow took a deep breath, Thank you for finally coming to your senses...but don't do that again.
Once again, Thaw was silent, but for now, Shadow didn't worry about that. Right now, he needed to focus on being a GUN agent, not an Amethyst.
That was it. This darkness was just the precursor to whatever laid beyond life, whichever afterlife everyone argued about was real... So why did it feel like somebody was touching him?
Zero didn't want to know, he just wanted to lay there in death, but he'd had enough when whoever it was stuck their finger up his nose. His eyes flew open and he swatted at them with a growl, but it quickly changed to a whimper as pain stabbed every inch of him, his head especially. He plopped back down, grimacing as it hit hard stone.
What had happened? He tried to remember.
"Ooo 'kay...?"
His eyes opened again, and he looked over at the owner of the young voice. It all came back when he saw the toddler, a little dirty but otherwise unhurt. He sat up again, ignoring the pain. "H-Hey... Y-Yeah, I'm good."
The toddler smiled a little, his fluffy tail wagging back and forth. "Go home now?"
"Home..."
Zero looked around the room. Everything was a mess, and from the red dripping down from the ceiling, he wondered how he was still alive. He' been closer to the blast than anyone else, after all.
A sudden pop and something falling out of his ear caught his attention, and even more when he picked it up: A used bullet, one of theirs. "...Yeah, I don't think going home is going to be an option, kiddo; considering it looks like my folks tried to take me out."
The toddler looked at the bullet in the jackal's hand, and then snatched it up and shoved it in his mouth.
"Hey! No!" Zero grabbed the toddler's cheeks and stuck a finger into their mouth to fish it out. "Spit it out! No!"
He finally removed it and chucked it across the room. "Sweet Chaos, what's wrong with you!? You don't eat bullets! Geez...!"
The toddler smacked his lips a few times, and then looked back at Zero. "Go home now?"
"You wanna go home? Fine. Where do you live? Cuz I'd be happy to drop you-Hey!"
He looked down at the child as they grabbed onto his arm and rubbed his head against his fur. He groaned, and then pulled himself up to his feet, "Okay...Come on, Tiny. We gotta get outta this place before anybody sees us...!"
The toddler happily took his hand, sucking on his thumb as Zero led him towards the stairwell.
"But the next children's home I see, you're goin' in it."