I'm not dead. Honestly.
It's been too long since I've updated this. (damn real life)
Anyway, hope this chapter begins to make it up to you.
Legal stuff: Ah sod it, you know the drill.
Shadow stared down at the city hall from his vantage point. Cassie was searching the area meticulously for any sign that a shooter had been stationed here.
Shadow stood where he believed the shooter had been standing. He looked down at the cordoned area, the white chalk outline visible even from this height. Two local city police officers were guarding the sight while G.U.N Agents worked with what little evidence found on scene in a small white tent.
He had heard that the governor had been relocated to a smaller, more secure office deeper in the city for his protection, although Shadow was certain that the greying bulldog had not been the intended target. Still he couldn't fault the reasons behind that course of action.
"Anything?" He asked over his shoulder, his eyes still watching the two police officers who were sitting on the steps of the city hall with what looked like a pizza box between them.
"Nothing." Replied Cassie, slumping down against the wall next to her partner. She turned her hazel eyes up at the ebony hedgehog. "Do you think Knuckles has had any luck? He doesn't seem like a people person."
Shadow snorted his amusement. They had left the echidna back down on the ground floor talking to the receptionist about the case in an attempt to gently ease him into the role of a G.U.N Agent.
"Probably not. The initial investigation team interviewed all workers who were here on the day of the shooting, but nothing really helpful came up."
"Yeah well, as soon as someone see's a G.U.N badge they instantly clam up, afraid we'll find out about all their silly little secrets." She grinned broadly but her good humour faltered when she didn't get the usual smirk from Shadow as she usually did.
"Shadow? What's up?" She noticed that his hand had gone to the communication device hook around his ear, one which all G.U.N operatives of a certain rank received instead of phones.
Shadow's stance changed. His knees bent slightly, his feet sliding to shoulder width apart, his fists clenched, his face drawing into a tight scowl. He reached into his quills and pulled out the keys to his Landrover and tossed them to a concerned looking Cassie.
"The case is yours." He said shortly before doing something he hadn't done for almost two years. "Chaos Control!"
He thanked the Doberman and Horse for their time and wrote down all the information they had told him into the notepad Cassie had given him with a smile. He had found out that on the day of the shooting, a brown eagle had come in, and collating that with what the receptionist had told him that eagle had been a complete stranger. Now all he had to do was get access to the security footage from that day, especially that from the elevator itself, and they would have a face to go on.
A sudden shiver ran down his spine, something he hadn't felt since...
His eyes widening he sprinted towards the elevator and hammered his finger against the button for the roof. Hopping from foot to foot he willed the metallic box to rise faster.
What had happened to make Shadow use Chaos Control after so long? Nothing good that's for sure.
As soon as the doors slid open the red echidna dashed through. He skidded to a halt almost immediately, seeing Cassie pacing back and forth with her phone pressed against her ear.
"Yes I quite understand, but- Yes ma'am." She stopped in her tracks, lowered her phone and pressed the button to hang up. "You uptight, bootlicking rodent! Hey Knuckles."
"What's going on? Where's Shadow? Who were you talking to?" He blurted out his mind reeling with possibilities.
"Relax Knux. Shadow most likely got a call from command too important to ignore and Chaos Controlled out of here."
"Wait, how'd you know about Chaos Control?" Cassie waved off the question.
"It was in his file. I was trying to find out what was so important that Shadow would drop this case, but the Commander's receptionist is as stubborn as a mule when it comes to ugh! Stubborn squirrel! I was leader of the underground fighting Robotnik while G.U.N was busy rebuilding after his attack!" She began prancing about imitating a high pitched and annoying voice. "I could run G.U.N better than anyone else. I've fought side by side with Sonic and helped defeat Robotnik! Gods, what a selfish, egotistical, arrogant little... Ugh!"
Cassie ceased her pacing and looked Knuckles in the eye, seeing his concern.
"I'm sorry Knuckles I shouldn't let it get too me." She sat down on the gravel, her back pressing against the cold concrete wall. Knuckles walked over and squatted in front of her.
"Hey it's alright."
"No it's not!" Cassie snapped making Knuckles fall backwards. "I've never been in charge of a case before! And Shadow's left me in charge! I'm doomed!"
She buried her face in her hands as Knuckles clambered back to his feet. He sat down next to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"You'll be fine, besides I think I've found something." Cassie looked up into his face. His smile was friendly and warm. She smiled back.
"You think so?"
"Yeah. Come on, I'll show you." Knuckles got back to his feet and held a hand out to help Cassie up. She grinned as she accepted and was hauled to her feet.
"I guess we'd better not disappoint Shads." She said with a mischievous grin. "Let's do this!"
Shadow appeared in a flash of green light outside the Commanders office, startling the brown squirrel behind her desk. He turned his glare on her.
"Has anyone else arrived?" He demanded, the harshness of his voice causing the receptionist to flinch. She shook her head, too afraid to speak.
Shadow snorted and pushed open the doors. The grey haired human looked up from his desk, slightly surprised to see Shadow had not kicked down his door for once.
"Shadow, I thought you would get here first." He picked up a folder and handed it to the hedgehog. Shadow opened it and began to skim-read the contents. "Agent Rouge was sent to investigate a rise in activity around the debris of the Death Egg. Three hours ago, Agent Topaz received this message."
He pushed a button on his desk and a recording began to play.
"-it deep Topaz, I need out! Now!" Shadow instantly recognised Rouge's voice. He also heard the sound of roaring jets and the heavy thump of footsteps.
"Intruder sighted." Shadow's eyes darted to the machine playing the recording, his pupils narrowing.
"Topaz! I'm compromised!" What followed was the sound of gunfire, a cry of pain then nothing. The Commander reached forwards and switched off the machine.
"Nothing follows after that. We assume that Robotnik's robots utilised a jamming signal the moment they realised she was sending a communication. And with the radio dead zone that surrounds the Death Egg wreckage sight, we have had no further contact." Shadow turned his eyes to his commander.
"No contact from Robotnik?"
"No." Replied the Commander with a shake of his head. He clenched his hands together and rested his elbows on his desk. "It is imperative she is recovered. If this incident shows us one thing, it's that Dr. Robotnik did indeed survive his last battle against Sonic the hedgehog."
"The Dr's like a damned cockroach!" Snapped Shadow, his eyes ablaze.
"Indeed. I have taken the liberty of informing Sonic of this development, he will be awaiting your arrival near Agent Rouge's last known location." The Commanders steely blue eyes focused on Shadow's blood red. "Bring her home Shadow."
"What of the other top Agents?" He inquired.
"Once I have debriefed them they will be on standby to act a backup on your command. They will be leading four full squads of soldiers. I will not allow Robotnik to escape again."
"Understood Commander."
"Good luck Agent Shadow." Shadow nodded curtly, turned on his heel and marched out of the office. The Commander leaned back in his high-backed chair and rubbed his eyes and the bridge of his nose. A flash of green light told him that Shadow had left. "Miss Acorn, come to my office."
After a few moments the brown squirrel walked through the still open doors.
"Yes Sir?"
"I understand that Agent Shadow was leading a team investigating the shooting at the city hall. You are in charge of the investigation until his return. Rendezvous with his team and do what you can to get the job done."
"Will do Commander." The squirrel replied, saluting before she left the office.
Once out of sight a broad grin came to her face. Finally Sally Acorn was getting back into the field.
Admittedly not as long as I wanted but still.
I've decided to begin replying to each review I get, however whether I stick to it is another matter.
And don't worry, I'll be uping the pace of this story before long.
Corrupt TE is back folks!