LOL, update. I know it took a bit, but ya know. Little bug got into the computer so I had to put a few of them on hold. Sorry for the wait loyal fans! I think...Whoo! Longest chapter to date in this story!

Charmy Rogues

Ch.5: Pain, thy name is Extreme Gear!

By: Kiba-Sniper

Charmy, Jet, Wave, and Storm are (c) of Sega, Sonic Team, and the creators.

Pokemon (c) Nintendo

The second I woke up, I was hit in the face. The Babylon Rogues were hovering over me. Wave held some type of Gear in her hands. Jet had the second sleaziest smile I've ever witnessed. The worst smirk was Nack's when he sold the Chaotix and I out to the Metallix. ( A/N: Fleetway comics. Not the ones online, but in the U.K)

Storm whispered something to Wave, causing her to get upset.

"Are you saying my Gear is too large for him?" she demanded.

"W-well, he is puny," Storm replied sheepishly.

I hunched over, rubbing my eyes. Staring at the now angry Wave, I asked, "Waz goin' on?"

Jet kneeled down next to me, saying, "Ready for practice?"

"Practice?"

"With Extreme Gear!"

My eyes rounded over to Storm's alarm clock. In bright crimson letters, it read 7:32. My mouth dropped open to reply, but Jet silenced me with a wave of his hand again.

"I started way earlier than you. At age three I began with Ex.Gear skates, which is alot tougher then Extreme Gear! Take it from me." Jet nodded at Wave, who presented me with an airboard.

She then said that she was the one that woke me up.

I pouted, "Hey! I was dreaming about honey!"

"I don't care," she muttered, shoving the board in my hands.

"The Extreme Gear I constructed looks alot like mine. However, the color scheme is orange with a yellow center where you place your feet. There are two airboosters in the back, which could heavily increase your speed. However, with increase in speed, you can't make sharp turns that well." That's what the note on the Extreme Gear wrote.

"I wrote that so I didn't waste my breath," Wave explained. "Jet, shouldn't you be piloting the ship? You did put it on auto-pilot, now. Didn't you?"

He was about to reply, when the airship suddenly dived down. Jet swore pitifully, dashing out the room. We all followed, but Storm insisted on carrying me since he was worried about my wings. Jet was already in the captain's room, desperately attempting to steer clear of the acceleration due to the force of gravity.

The hawk grabbed a switch and flicked it upwards. We were in the middle of puffy clouds, making it difficult to for me to see.

Wave checked on a map, saying, "Jet, land the ship. A nice training area is right under us. It's the Great Forest."

Jet nodded back towards her. He glanced back at Storm. "Storm, you and Charmy go see if any damage happened in the rooms."

"Sure, Boss."

Storm, still holding me under his arm, immediately obeyed him. Our first spot was Wave's room. Storm honestly said that Wave's room was usually spotless, so no worries there. In Jet's office, the painting of his father was leaning against the leather chair. I relinquished Storm's grasp and flew over to the picture.

Those bright yellow eyes...

Espio...

I shook the memory of Espio's piercing stare at me when I stole his Pokemon cards. Yeah, Espio likes Pokemon. It's creepy, I know. He loved that little Charmander guy.

Storm shook me a little, asking me if I was alright.

I gave a crooked smile. "I'm fine, Storm! Stop worryin' about me!"

He nodded, grasping the picture away from me. He opened a drawer in Jet's cabinet, pulling out a tack. He jabbed the tack against the wall. Then, he placed the painting on it. A string was attached to it, of course. He gently hooked the string over the tack. Storm stared at the picture with an uncertainty in his eyes. I never figured out why Storm was so cautious with the painting that day. Perhaps he was scared.

Storm snapped out of it, saying, "Um, w-why not we take a look around Jet's actual room?"

"I thought this was his room!"

He pointed a finger at the door adjacent to the desk.

"Oh...OKAY!" I shouted, ramming myself into the door.

The door swung open on contact. It was extremely dark; my eyes weren't used to such things. I noticed a shimmer in the corner of the room. It was like a horror movie just fluttering over towards the light. My hands were outstretched in front of me, hoping to clutch the light soon.

"Could this be some sort of Master Emerald shard?" I thought, finally snatching the object.

Suddenly, the light snapped on. I freaked out and chucked the object at Storm. It hit directly in the beak. He fell backwards onto his leader's smaller bed. The shiny object landed on his chest. He gasped as he recognized it.

It was a crystal blue box with strange markings in a deeper blue. For some reason, it was radiating.

"Storm, what is that?" I asked in amazement.

Storm flinched at me, then replied, "This is the Babylon Control Box. A device that was created in order to restore Babylon Garden. A few weeks back, us Rogues were in the EX World Grand Prix where we faced Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Amy wasn't much of a challenge though. Then, we got to finally go to the Babylon Garden since we got the seven Chaos Emeralds. We faced Angelous, the Babylon Guardian. Got the treasure, and left. Story done."

"What's the treasure?"

Storm pointed over to a dusty carpet that was hung up. It acted as a curtain for the window.

I was about to speak, but Storm suddenly interupted me.

"Ya know, Boss probably wants us back. Le-let's go."

"Why's he so nervous? It's just a carpet, right?"

Wave's voice could be heard all around the airship. They really should steal some earplugs in case someone's ears began to bleed. I sighed. Her screeches were really grating my nerves, but I was psysched about this part:

"Charmy! We're gonna start training with you!"

"Roger!" I shouted back, leaving Storm in the dust.

Storm yelled at me to wait, but I ignored his cries. I was just so happy to finally use Extreme Gear. When Storm saved me on his board, I thought it was super cool. Wave and Jet were right down the hall. Unfortunately, I still couldn't control my timing, so stopping was a pretty big problem. Like that time I crashed into Vector when we finally got work, expect it was from Eggman. Eggman wanted some donuts.

And just like Vector, I crashed into Jet. We both collided into the wall, causing a small crack to break away. Jet looked like he was ready to murder me.

"Wave, eat him," Jet ordered, stabbing a finger at my forehead.

I screamed.

"Shut up!" Wave shouted. "I'm not going to eat you."

"I get to live another day? Yay!"

"We've landed," she continued. She placed my board on my side. "You're are going to train with me since we both can fly."

"Why not Jet and Storm?"

"Storm is clumsy, and Jet can't control his acceleration that well."

"HEY!" the birds in mention snapped with indignity.

She shrugged them off. The swallow told me to meet her outside for some serious training. What could be so bad about that? That's when I remembered how much her wrench can hurt. Subconsiously placing a hand on my slightly wounded stomach, I followed her out.

Jet began yelling at me to "not piss her off". Storm was laughing behind him. Wave grabbed a small detonator from her pocket. It was silver with a red button. Sonic told me about the detonation of his Extreme Gear at the EX World Grand Prix. The bomb was the exact same colors as the detonator. She pressed it, and Jet got zapped with bolts of electricity. He fainted soon after.

"See Charmy?" Wave smirked as Storm carried his boss to his room. "That's worse then what I did to you."

"What's the worst?"

"You'll be my dinner!"

"AAAH! SHE'S A CRAZY BIRDIE! SHE'S GONNA EAT ME!"

Wave grabbed my attenae, hoisting me into the air. As if I wasn't already high enough in the air with my wings. She pinched my cheek, ordering me to stop.

I was about to reject, but then I saw that enormous wrench again. My pupils shrank to the size of peas. I obeyed.

She patted my head, releasing me. "Good boy, now get on your Gear."

She placed my orange Extreme Gear on the ground. It hovered up onto the air about two inches. Then, it went up another three. I stared at it. When I tried to skateboard, I fell straight onto my back. My stinger got caught in some gravel when I was four. Vector laughed and laughed. Mighty was the only one that even bothered helping. Espio was somewhere...doing whatever the heck ninjas do. Maybe playing Pokemon Ruby for the millionth time. I placed a foot on the board, but it suddenly zoomed off.

We both blinked, sweat-dropped, then Wave hit me on the head. "Idiot! You're supposed to jump on!"

"How was I supposed to know? You gotta teach me this stuff!"

Wave shook her head. She jumped on her own Gear and, in a flash of purple and white streaks, she was gone.

"Whoa! She's super fast on that board! Not as fast as Sonic, but wow-o-wow!"

In a few decade seconds, she returned with my Extreme Gear. It hovered again the same length as before. Without thinking, I leaped on. I wobbled a bit, but Wave grabbed my shoulders. I was on the board.

I smiled deeply. Cheering loudly, I twirled around on the board. It turned with me.

"Awesome, Wave! How do I start it?"

"Well, you've got to get a running start," she explained. "like so." She backed up a few paces. She told me to step aside. I got off my board to watch. She counted to three. On three, she burst into a run. She counted to three again. She tossed her board on the ground, and it quickly hovered faster than mine could. Wave gracefully leaped onto it and swerved around.

The word I could utter while the finale ended was, "...Huh?"

She hit my in the back of my head again. "Your turn."

"...I gotta do that?"

"Yes."

"But I always go into flight mode when I run!"

She rolled her eyes. "Then why don't you just quit now, whiner?"

"What?!"

Wave grabbed my shoulders. She goes, "If you're gonna complain right now and give up, you're not worth my time, Prince Charmy Bee!" She snorted miserably and realeased my shoulders. She turned away from me, slowly walking towards the airship.

I froze in place. I slumped to my knees. No one ever spoke to me like that, but Espio. He always said to not give up. Nor complain. Now, here I was, whining like a little baby. I glanced back at my Extreme Gear. It looked ready to try out, but was I? I stared at it for a few moments, before snapping back at Wave.

"Wave!"

She paused and turned her neck around. She was by the entrance. "Yes?"

"I'm gonna show ya!" I shouted, punching a fist in the air. "I'm gonna ride this board no matter what!"

She smirked. "That's what I like to here. Go ahead, impress me. Daazzle me with your talents."

I noted the sarcasm in her voice. With my Extreme Gear in hand, I paced backwards. I counted to five for a small break. At five, I broke off into a dash. I counted to five in run, but when I got to three, my wings started to flutter.

"Darn it!"

I needed to get on that board. ASAP. Before I knew it, I dropped my board and jumped. The Extreme Gear board was ahead of me. I landed on my feet, but on the edge of the board.

I could hear Wave's small gasp. She cried out my name.

I was about to fall, but my wings were still fluttering. Smiling to myself, I flapped them quickly enough to be able to move to the middle of my board. I gasped, noticing how fast I was going. There was a small guage of numbers in front of me. They read "138 MPH".

"Wave! Wave! Wave, I did it!"

Wave was saying something, but I couldn't hear. Something about Christmas?

"Eh? What'ja sa-"

CRASH!

Man, I wish I saw that tree.

Wave was on her board now, rushing towards me.

"Is it okay?" she asked, kneeling down next to me.

"I think I'm-"

"The board, stupid," She slapped my across the back of my head. She instantly perked at the sight of it. It was hardly damaged. Just a few scratches. "And now you." She unzipped my jacket to see if my chest wound ripped open. "Man, you are one lucky, lucky boy. If you were any taller, you'd hit that branch and be uncounsious."

I thanked her. "I-is my board useable?"

"I believe so. Let's try that again, but this time, we're holding hands."

I have to touch a girl's hand? Eww, cooties! Well, you were probably expecting, correct? Nope, being around Cream changed that! Ah-ha! Uh, I mean...

"Fine," I muttered, flying upwards. My wings tinged slightly. My back was turned to Wave when the crash occured, so they stung a little. I hastily grabbed my board. I noticed Jet and Storm up ahead.

Jet called out if I was alright.

"He's fine, Jet!" Wave answered. "Just a few scratches."

"Oh, fine! We just got concerned. Heard a crash and all."

Storm had some paper in his hand. The newspaper from today. "I-I figured you'd like to see this, Charmy." He tossed it to me.

I caught it. Opening to the front page, I gasped: It was the South Island Institute on fire. The title fully read, "HEROES KILLED IN FIRE: TEAM CHAOTIX OF THE SONIC HEROES PRONOUCED DEAD." I wanted to cry. The mangled bodies of Espio and Vector were in the corners of the issue.

Wave elbowed Storm. "Why give him that?" she scolded in a harsh whisper.

"Sorry, Charmy," he mumbled.

I wasn't listening to any of them. I read aloud,

"Explosions ace Rodrigo the Crow struck again yesterday. The Chaotix Detective Agency were hired by Lieutenant Sterling the Owl and his comrades Majors Clause the Peacock and Flare the Chipmunk to help catch this crow. However, he killed Clause and took on his look to worm his way into the military. He shot to death Flare and poisoned Sterling. The Chaotix were iffy on Clause from the start. Vector the Crocodile's, leader of the Chaotix, and Espio the Chameleon's, brains of the Chaotix, remains were found on the outskirts. However, the final member, Charmy Bee, is still waiting to be found. It is possible that he is alive."

I snapped, shouting, "I KILL HIM! I FREAKING KILL HIM!" I tossed the newspaper angrily at the ground. There was more, comments from the Sonic Team, but I didn't care what they thought.

Storm grabbed me. "Charmy, stop! He'll only kill you too!"

"LET ME GO! I DON'T CARE! THEY WERE MY FAMILY WHEN MY PARENTS DIED!"

"Charmy, listen to reason!" Jet shouted, his head facing the ground.

I rustled out of Storm's grasp. "W-why? What reason? Are you guys crazy!? Rodrigo should pay for his crimes! He's worse then you three thieves! I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU SEE IN ME!"

Jet was taken back. Never had I snapped at anyone before. I was behaving look a spoilt child that just lost everything.

I hung my head low. Yelling at the Babylon Rogues was not going to bring back my Chaotix. "G-guys, I-I'm so sorry," I whispered.

Jet waved a hand to silence me. "No, I'm sorry. Sorry our parents didn't kill this guy before."

"Jet..." Wave warned.

"No, Wave! This kid just lost his family, like Storm's," he stared at the albatross. "Rodrigo killed his parents too, Charmy. You're not alone."

Storm shook his head positively. He didn't want to explain. I could just tell my the look of hatred and sadness etched onto his features. He heaved his shoulders, releasing a sigh. "Y-yeah. He should be about forty now. I was just a kid when he struck. Poisoned my mother and other crap."

Wave patted Storm's shoulder. "My parents died with his. We never got the valid training for the Babylon Rogues."

"Oh! I-I'm sorry. I-I should not have-"

"Save it," Storm said. "It's alright. You just didn't know."

"I'm sorry..."

Jet gestured back to the airship. "How about some food first?"

"OKAY!" I flew back into the airship, hearing their words.

"He's like you when you were that age, Boss!" Storm said.

"Yeah, that's why I like him," Jet agreed, smiling.

"He's gonna be an idiot then," Wave snorted.

"HEY!" I and Jet shouted.

---

Next: Mission 1: Get That Damn Chaos Emerald From Nack the Weasel!

Sorry, this took awhile to update.