Section 2: Chance Encounters
Despite the dust and grime on the window, the morning sunlight was strong enough to shine down like a spotlight upon Matt as he slept at his desk, pencil still in hand and numerous pieces of paper, some filed and some crumpled scattered across the table. As his eyes slowly opened everything was a blur, both the vision of his room and the memories of the previous night. As his vision adjusted the first thing that became clear was the piece of paper in front of him. It was labelled 'Dimension Jump "Space Ripper" Mechanism '. Immediately his eyes widened and he leapt to his feet ran to the window and let out a triumphant scream to the streets below. However he was drowned out by an even louder scream coming from the area.
He looked down to see a female echidna sprinting down the street below. "Damn, I know her name it's, it's..." He scrambled through his tired brain, trying his best to remember. "Tikal. That's her name. But why is she taking a run in this dump?" It was then that a metallic red robot appeared giving chase. Due to its stumpy build Matt easily recognised it as one of Eggman's drones. Feeling adrenaline starting to rush through his body, he sprinted out of his room so fast that he ripped up part of the carpet on the way out.
Tikal was starting to lose her breath, but she did not dare stop as she knew that the robot would not tire so easily. Her mind wandered to what would be waiting for her if she was caught. Undoubtedly she knew she would be taken away and delivered to Eggman. Suddenly she felt her foot slide and her ankle buckle as she slipped over on an oil patch on the floor. "No, NOOOO!" she cried as the robot grabbed her arm and flipped her onto her back. "Please, anyone, someone help" she screamed as the robot gripped tighter and tighter on her arm. Her eyes sealed closed with fear, Tikal's life flashed before her, but the image she faced when she forced them open again was something she would remember for years to come. A figure was standing immediately behind the oblivious robot, and within a moment, the sight of an industrial cinder block came crashing down on the robots head. The robot twitched, sparked and fell to the floor, revealing Matt holding two halves of the block.
"You're gonna need some ice on that" Matt said with a smile "That was a nasty fall". Tikal smiled back "It doesn't feel that bad" she said, but as she went to stand the pain in her ankle suddenly hit home. "I...I don't know how to thank you" said Tikal. "Well?" He thought. He smiled and assisted Tikal to her feet, placing her arm around his shoulders and keeping her damaged foot off the ground "Maybe you would allow me to walk you home". "Matt" she said softly, "Tikal" He replied acknowledging that he also knew her name, "I would like that very much" she smiled and looked deep into his eyes.
Chris's mansion was about an hour away, but they had agreed to take a much safer route that had more people around which extended the journey by another half hour. On the way the pair talked about their interests and hobbies, likes and dislikes and as they approached the house talked about their history. Tikal explained how her tribe was wiped out, how she ended up in the master emerald and the day she was released, and Matt told her about him not having any parents and raising himself. This brought him onto something important. "Tikal, are you and the others still trying to get back to your home?" "I don't know, I mean, I don't think we are in any rush, we rather like it here actually. Why do you ask Matt?" His mind wandered to the designs he had made the previous night. "Well, I do have a couple of things that you may be interested in, they are just theories and sketches at the moment, but maybe in a few years they will be a reality" "What might that be then?" she smiled. Matt paused, almost hesitant to answer, but he then saw Chris's mansion. "Is this the place?" he pointed, "Yes, I can open the gate for us". Tikal took out a key and released the lock; the gate proceeded to slide open automatically.
As they walked up the drive the front door opened and Shadow and Tails rushed towards them. "What happened Tikal?" asked Shadow "You've been gone for 4 hours, we were all getting worried about you" followed Tails. "I was attacked by one of Eggman's robots, it tried to take me away" Tikal replied with a tear in her eye as she recalled the horrific event. Seeing the tear Matt decided to change topic to take everyone's mind off it "She's hurt her ankle, do you have an ice pack to put on it". Shadow looked up at him, suspicious that he was somehow responsible for what happened "And you are?" "Relax Shadow" said Tikal who could sense slight tension building between the two boys "His name is Matt, He destroyed the robot that attacked me" She laughed softly "Took an entire cinder block to its head". Shadow relaxed and smiled. "Thank you for helping her home Matt" said Tails "Would you maybe like to come inside for a bit? I'm sure the others will want to meet you" he said with a hopeful smile. Matt meanwhile had become transfixed on Tikal, he didn't know why but his stomach felt light and his mouth dry as he looked at her. "Hello, earth to Matt" Shadow had to physically wave his hand an inch from Matt's face to get his attention. "Oh sorry, yeah I'd love that Tails, but first I'll just get that Ice on her ankle" he reached into his trouser pocket "And Tikal tells me Cream is a bit under the weather, I've got a couple of things that will make her feel better within the hour" Shadow smiled warmly, something he didn't do often "She will be glad to hear that, come on in, we'll get that ice and I'll show you where she is" The four friends walked to the door and entered the mansion.