((I've been gathering my thoughts for the past few days, and now I believe I am ready to continue this fic. Mind you, I just had a root canal done this morning and the good dentist had to give me about seven sequential shots of Novocain in the mouth for it to have any effect. Needless to say, I'm a little sore... and a little more than loopy. Just the state for some interesting content, I believe.)))

Sonic: I just thought of something... Why would Eggman want ALL the emeralds if he knew that the Master Emerald canceled out the Chaos Emeralds?

Knuckles: because he's an idiot.

Sn: some idiot you'd have to be, then, to be tricked by him twice...

K: -pummels Sonic- grapes, gawdamnit. TT

Oh lordy... Well, onto the fic I suppose...

Capter 2- Dead Aim

"It's been so boring since everything quieted down..." Sally mused to herself whilst sitting at her elaborate desk. She'd found talking to herself a better pastime than talking to any of the guards during the regular "business" hours, and there was much to be discussed anyway. She was glad she was alone for the moment. If only Sonic would stop by like he'd promised... but that wouldn't be any use because he'd be shooed away because "her majesty is busy." Oh, fuck it all. They call signing paper after paper work? This is how she served her people?

"I'd give anything for a break in the SSDD routine... Why can't everything just be like it was?... That reminds me, I have a hair appointment tomorrow... Thank GOD!" she pulled at a lock of her reddish-maroon-dyed hair, visualizing the brown roots showing through. She cringed at the thought.

"Maybe I'll get highlights this time..."

At that moment, unbeknownst to her, a small red dot snaked its way across the room, settling on the back of her head.

(AN- SSDDSame Shit, Different Day)

-

Her dark brown eye was settled in the sighter, and she smiled as she found her target. Couldn't ask for a more perfect shot. Not in three lifetimes. This was just too easy. Her finger slid along the smooth, cool surface of the trigger, sucking in a slow breath as she readied herself for the kill...

She jumped involuntarily as her cell vibrated in her pocket. The sleek device opened with a flick of her wrist and she placed it to her cheek.

"What?"

"Confirm your position."

"I'm looking at her right now. Twenty feet from the window. I have a perfect shot."

"Hold up 'till we get there. We're en route to you as we speak."

"But, Aka..."

"Boss's orders."

"Fuck him. I have a shot and I'm taking it."

"What about your escape route?"

"Do you think I'm some sort of rookie? Everything's laid out as planned! How many times have we done this before?"

"There's an unexpected delay in operation. You won't be able to do the job and get away unnoticed. There's a chance we could all be compromised."

"Oh, yeah? What?"

"I'll tell you when I get there. Don't move." There was a click as the two were disconnected.

"Damn that pie-eyed raccoon... she's starti'n to act like a gawdamn cracker!" Poe threw down her sniper rifle in disgust, sitting on the hot shingles of the roof.

"I'm supposed to sit back and be governed by some voice without a face or name... jus' go along with these orders sayi'n 'yes, massa!' Damn it all."

She fluttered her wings, readjusting them as they were folded on her back. She rested her chin in her hands, waiting for her late accomplices.

-

She looked up as there was a light rap at her door.

"Come in."

The door opened cautiously, and a blue head peeked around the wood panels, ears swiveling.

"It's alright; the guards don't stay in my room. Not anymore..." she chuckled as Sonic sighed with relief, closing the door behind him.

"So, where have you been? Two months and I see hide nor hair of you and you just show up one day-"

He touched noses with her, grinning. "Excuse me, I didn't know you didn't have a phone either, your majesty." She grinned back, kissing him briefly.

"You know how it is around here. All my phone calls are monitored. I just wanted you to stop by or something. I mean two months..."

"Funny, we hadn't talked in about three years... Two months makes all the difference."

"Are you being disrespectful?" she sat back in her chair, mock disbelief in her eyes.

"No, but I could be if you wanted..." He kissed her more deeply this time, stealthily sliding a hand up her skirt. She didn't object.

-

"Oh! This just makes my fuckin' day!" Poe grasped at her hair in frustration, then reached for her cell.

"Aka, the princess is now otherwise engaged. I'll have to come back later to get a good shot. Oh, and, almost forgot: FUCK YOU."

"Glad to see you're in a good mood. We'll just have to try tomorrow; it was out of your hands."

"Out of my-" Poe had to pull the phone away for a moment while she regained herself and refrained from screaming. Sally was doing enough of that now for the both of them.

"I told you I had a shot not fifteen minutes ago! I could have taken it!" she hissed into the small cell.

"No, we were in a bad position. You couldn't have-"

"Don't assume what I can and can't do! I ain't your nigga no way no how! I'm gonna take this next shot whether her boyfriend's in the way or not!" she snapped the phone shut, stuffing it in her coat pocket, striding forward on the roof and picking up her rifle on the way. She heaved it onto her shoulder angrily, taking aim.

She froze as she heard a click at the back of her head.

"Put the gun down."

"Says who?"

"Put it down."

The voice was rasped and deep. Odd...she hadn't seen anyone... Where had he come from?

Slowly, she slung the rifle's strap around her shoulder and let it dangle, raising her hands.

"Now, turn around."

She did so, then gasped. A gun was hanging in the air by itself. She shrieked, flapping her wings frantically and making her retreat to the sky.

"Heh heh, always works." Espio lowered his gun as he melted back into view. "Though I didn't expect such a nice reaction. She must be superstitious."

He glanced in the direction of her presumed target, then grimaced.

"God, do they have to go at it with the window wide open? Ugh..."
With that, he made his way back the way he came.

----------

Poe was usually in her right mind, actually. I'd always thought of her as responsible and sane enough to make her own just decisions. After the incident on the roof, however, I was beginning to doubt my trust in her.

"Tell me again. Who pointed the gun at you? Now I want you to think about it, speak slowly. There was someone holding a gun. What did he look like?"

Poe closed her eyes in frustration, huffing out a breath through the noseholes on her beak.

"I told you! I saw it with my own eyes! The gun was floating by itself! It was a ghost!"

I had to sigh with disappointment. Now I had two loons to babysit. Kai, by the way, found it amusing to no end. She couldn't stop giggling from her chair where she sat, cleaning her rifle.

"A genuine spirit! Well, if I'd known the royal family employed dead people I wouldn't be killing them to begin with!" she dropped her gun as she was reduced to spasms of loud mirth.

Well, neither of them knew what the issue had been to cause us to abort the mission. Now was as good a time as any...

"The royal family recently hired a personal bodyguard unbeknownst to the princess. In fact, very few even know of him. He's supposed to be a professional. I looked up his records and I have to say they're impressive."

I pulled the said documents from their folder in my case next to the hotel bed.

"He's worked for the best. It says he's the master at stealth operations, and he's been hired to protect several dignitaries, a president, and now the royal family. I'd just been warned of his presence while we were on our way over. I'll bet anything he was using his stealth skills to trick your eyes into thinking he was a ghost of all things!" I thocked her on the forehead with a finger to let her know she was in disgrace.

"Next time I expect you to keep your head."

"Yeah...sorry... I just..."

"We'll have no excuses. Just stay alert."

She smoothed her feathery hair back with a hand, sighing. "You know I can do better than that... I don't need scolding..."

I let her off at that, turning back to the papers I had laid out on the small table.

"Do we know what he is?" Kai inquired as she stood by the table, looking through the papers herself.

"It doesn't say. My guess is a cat, or equally agile species. He must have some advanced technology, to make himself invisible, that is..."

"I have a theory!" Kai offered cheerfully.

"We're not interested." Poe stated, sitting on a bed.

"But... it's a good theory!"

"Do you even know what a theory is?" I asked her.

"Eh...an educated guess."

"That's a hypothesis, dear. And I wouldn't be expecting any intelligent OR educated guesses from you. Let it lie. We'll find this bodyguard before we take out the princess. Starting tonight."

"Tonight?" Poe objected.

"Yes. As soon as possible. Kai, get dressed."

"Aren't I?" she looked down at her shabby and overly-casual garb.

"No. Not for where we're going. Wear my brown dress if you like. Tonight, we go in style."

Poe clapped her hands with glee.

"By the way, you're not going."

She made a sound of disbelief and disappointment.

"He saw your face. We can't afford him to recognize you." I explained, placing my documents back in their respective folders. She just sneered at me, crossing her arms.

--------------------

I can't really remember a time when I actually wore high-heels, especially Aka's four inch ones. If she weren't so bleeding short she could afford not to do this precarious balancing act I had been forced to perform that evening. The dress was nice though. I like brown...

She, of course, wore white. More like a nice vanilla cream color, I'd say. It brings out her eyes. How she could step so quickly in such tiny stilettos is beyond me. Like walking on pins for heels. It's a wonder she didn't make holes in the floor.

Well, I have to say, it was the poshest gig I'd ever laid eyes on, ignore my grammar. All sorts of important and pretty people came out to show off their expensive garments and rich spouses. It all seemed rather plastic to me. Unreal people are disgusting to talk to. This is why I avoided them at all costs... and made myself welcome to the champagne.

The castle at Knothole was by far one of the nicest I'd had the privilege to be in. you shouldave seen the princess's getup. A gorgeous black dress that sparkled and outlined her frame quite nicely... cut off a little daringly high above her knees. Damn the fact we had to kill her. Such a waste... I forgot to mention the fact that I don't care for boys, didn't I? Ah, well, no matter. On with my recollection of the party!

Now, there I saw the king and queen. Our elusive guard shouldn't be far away... Ah! There I saw one dressed in black, a nice pressed suit like you see all those important special service men wear. Oh, save the dark glasses. Why would anyone wear them at night anyway? Well, my suspicion was right! Our stealthy target was indeed a chameleon. Why he chose purple of all hues as his usual color confused me. Perhaps he was flamboyant? Ha! A queen for a bodyguard. This is too much. Poor thing...he deserves better.

Aka was conversing with some VIP's at the moment, so I thought best not to disrupt her. That and I wanted to nail this bastard myself. I sneaked as gracefully as my clumsy feet would allow to the far corner he occupied, my hand slipping to the small pistol at my garter. Gawd, fancy that! Me, Kaimera, wearing a garter! Hell must have frozen over earlier.

He saw me, of course, and raised an eye ridge at me as if to say "you can't be serious", then turned his attention to the royal family.

Oh, he really wanted to make me mad, didn't he? I noticed he was standing against a curtain. If I could get him behind that, my work would be easier. The shot could be muffled by his body and no one would be the wiser.

I looked around to make sure no one was looking, then made a dash to him with every intention of tackling him and disappearing behind that curtain.

If only it weren't for these bleeding heels...

I tripped, you see, and none too gently. The next thing I knew, I was face- to-face with his shoes and I could feel a draft at my backside. The dress undoubtedly had flipped up when my tail jerked to keep balance. What good my tail did, I'll never know. I looked up sheepishly at the amused face of the nameless chameleon.

"Are you ok, miss?"

"Ah...uh...eh..."

He took my hand and helped me to my feet with a curt yank, leaving me quite embarrassed. I smoothed the frills of my dress, feeling a warm blush at my cheeks. Damnit, my chance was ruined.

"I'm alright, thank you..."

"You probably shouldn't run in those..." he advised, obviously fighting off a smirk. Ha. He would probably know, too.

"I'm sorry... my name's Kaimera..." I offered my hand, expecting him to take it and say his name in return. I was curious. He looked at my hand, then at me, but didn't shake it.

"Nice to meet you Kaimera."

Ooh! Not fair! Say your name, damnit!

"And... what's your name?"

"That's not really important. Go on and enjoy the party. Try not to trip."

That bloody bastard... oh, I'd enjoy killing him, that I would...

"I'm just curious... a handsome bloke like you has to have a name... right?" my intention was to flatter him, not seduce him. If my suspicions were correct, he much preferred a partner of the more masculine variety, but I had to take my chances.

"Miss, please..." he began with a complaining tone... well, somewhat. I couldn't seem to get all that much emotion out of him.

"Just your first name... it couldn't hurt, could it?" I put on my coy face, fluttering my lashes a little for effect. I wanted to retch.

He smiled slightly, giving in. Maybe he was straight after all?

"Espio."

"Well, Espio... are you working at the moment?"

"yeah..."

"When do you get off?"

"...I don't..."

I blinked a little in surprise. Round the clock supervision. He MUST be good...

"You have to sleep sometime, don't you?"

"Well, yes..."

"And that means you have a bed... right?"

"Uhh... miss..."

"Call me Kai "

"Miss... This is inappropriate. Please go and enjoy the party."

Alright, let's bring out the big guns! Watery sad puppy eyes!

"But... I was just curious..."

He sighed. "Yes, I do in fact sleep in a bed. Satisfied?"

"Not yet..." I bit at a gloved finger, giving him my temptress eyes. He blushed visibly. Good...I was getting under his skin...soon he'd be mine...

"You have to take a break sometime..." I prodded.

"When the party's over, yeah. But-"

"Espio... I think it's time you were rewarded for all your hard work..." I shoved him into the curtain, then pulled it up, over our heads.

"Miss, please, this is inappropriate-"

He shut up when I pinned him against a wall. I reached for my gun as I leaned in to kiss him. I knew I shouldn't have been enjoying it as much as I was. If I were straight I would have definitely shagged him. Unfortunately, I would enjoy killing him far more...

I felt a sharp pain to the side of my neck and suddenly everything was dark.