a/n: It'll hurt. But reach ever upward. #herewego

Revolutionary Operation, Type Zero

Kinetic Sky

18. The Suns of Liberty, Act 2

"Fly me to the moon...and let me play among the stars..."

Although she sang, she carried nervousness in her heart.

The city of Westopolis was...

"Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars..."

Untouched.

But a ghost city all the same.

"In other words, hold my hand...in other words, darling...kiss me..."

A small ache hit her chest as the words came out.

She sang almost casually, her voice echoing down the streets and bouncing around the empty buildings.

"Fill my heart with song...let me sing forever more..."

Her ears twitched with each note that echoed back to her.

"You are all I long for, all I worship and adore..."

She could see through the city without having to lay eyes on it, sounds bouncing around and mapping each section ahead for her, and only her.

"In other words...please be true..."

She paused her singing and tapped the small bracelet on her wrist.

"All clear, Omega."

"Affirmative. I will meet with you in T-minus two minutes."

"Mm-hm. See you soon."

The skies were still blackened and unsettling.

"In other words..."

She paused and felt the last verse of the song die in her throat, doing nothing to revive it as sadness took over.

Rouge closed her eyes and stood in the middle of the street, silently waiting for her partner to arrive.

"Not as bad as I was expecting..."

The ice was visibly torn apart for several miles around, though not enough to lead into the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. There was nothing but snow and flat, white land in sight.

Shadow was content with gliding and coasting to his destination. Coordinates pinpointed the crash site thirty miles north of Canadian Forces Station Alert, located in the community of the same name. He found this a good outcome as he wouldn't have to explain himself to anyone once he reached the silo. There was yet to be any sort of investigation, but that was probably because of the extreme cold that he was experiencing.

"It's not bad, but it's not good either. I probably shouldn't stay out here too long."

With that thought, his Air Shoes increased their output and he moved faster, swinging his arms in time with his movements. He soon could see the silo lodged in the ice up ahead.

A few moments later, he had reached it. Seven feet high and made of metal, just like the rest. He placed a hand on it and tried to sense if there was anything inside.

"Hm. It's the same. The barrier...and a source of energy." He activated his communicator. "Prower, come in. I've reached the crash site."

"Yeah? That's good news."

"Indeed. The silo is the same as the others. Same internal barrier, same energy source, same method of activation. The energy that would have been used to activate it has been dispersed as a result of damage to the container. Other than being jammed into this ice, it's intact. You said that Metal Sonic is evolving these technologies, correct?"

"Yeah. That's what we know so far."

"Then there's no time to waste. I'm going to send this directly to ARK. Contact the Doctor and tell him it will be in Lab 3, Sector R."

"Roger that."

"Here I go." Shadow focused and brought up his memories of the ARK facilities, painting a picture within his mind. He placed a hand on the silo and snapped his fingers, making it disappear in a flash of light. "It's sent."

"You okay?"

"Fine," he said, exhaling sharply. "Sending things that distance just takes a bit of energy."

"Eggman's confirmed the arrival of the silo."

"Good. Mission complete," Shadow announced to no one in particular. "Commencing new mission. Prower, maintain your course and continue searching for the Master Emerald pieces. I'll leave on my own."

"You sure? It's cold down there."

"I will be fine," he said with annoyance. "Worry about yourself."

"You're the boss. See you later, and good luck."

"I appreciate the sentiments." Shadow ended the conversation and stared at the hole in the ice. "Only a matter of time now...hm. That's right, I was careless." He contacted Tails again.

"Hey, what's up?"

"I didn't give you the data. Record these figures as I recite them...you may find them useful."

"Roger that. Go for it."

"Are you troubled, Rouge?"

"Huh?"

"Scanners indicate a high amount of anxiety and stress. Your stress levels have increased by twenty five percent."

"Everything's tense right now, you know? I'll be fine."

Rouge resumed her walk towards the G.U.N HQ, whistling along.

"Rouge. The notes of your whistling are wavering."

"They're not-"

"I am a machine. I have also been in close proximity to you for several years. I can easily discern your moods and habits. You are acting erratically."

Omega lumbered towards Rouge as she stopped. He pointed a metal hand at her.

"You are distressed over Shadow."

"That's ridiculous...I'm just a bit worried, is all."

"Even if I am only a machine, I might be able to alleviate your stress." Omega whirred for a moment, a beat passing. "There are no worthless consumer models to destroy. Perhaps talking will help."

"...I keep forgetting that you see and hear everything sometimes. Even if you don't want to," Rouge said softly. She walked over to an abandoned sports car and leaned back on the roof.

"..."

"Omega...I'm lost in my feelings for him."

"..."

Realizing the robot would not try to speak, she continued. "I...for the longest time, I've looked at him differently. Even though we decided that we would just be friends, it's always been more than that. Always been more than just camaraderie. I thought that maybe if Knuckles and I worked out, I'd be less of a burden on him, you know? But that fell through, and I found myself getting closer...so much closer than I wanted, or expected. I didn't want him to see my wounds and scars. But he...not only saw them, and accepted them...he did all he could to try and heal them. To try and heal me, the un-healable. Even if he didn't see it that way, it felt so romantic. And for a while, I lost myself in the feeling. I flirted, thinking it didn't mean anything. I was just being myself, teasing and all that. But he was never really annoyed. He never really disliked me for it, or anything else I did. More than just comrades, we became...more. Just more."

"..."

"I've been in love with that man for so many years. A few passed without me realizing it. Then once I did, I tried to deny it. And now I...I want him to..."

She rolled to one side and placed a hand on the cool metal of the car.

"I want him to notice me. Not just as a friend, but as a woman. I'm starting to ache for him. Is it wrong of me?"

"I cannot ascertain that," Omega said, breaking his silence.

"What can I do?" she asked as she stood up.

"Talk to him."

Amy's voice echoed after Omega's.

Tell him how you feel.

"But now is..."

"Time can be unreasonable and cruel, comrade. It knows no logic and does not regard organic emotion. The longer you delay your confession, the more this emotional pain will presumably grow. Shadow is most distressed when you are in emotional flux."

"..."

"As Sonic once noted, 'if now isn't the right time, then when'?" A perfect imitation of the blue hedgehog's voice rang out.

"...I know. But I don't want to-"

"He seems to be no stranger to pain. He willingly ignores it in regards to matters involving you, Rouge."

"I'm so full of excuses. I'm such a coward."

"Cowardice is reserved for those who give up. Rouge...you are no coward."

"Omega..."

"Fear is not equal to cowardice."

"I..."

He tapped her shoulder gently with a metal finger.

"The one to decide your destiny is you. But from my observations of your interactions with Shadow...regardless of the final outcome, he will remain in your presence indefinitely."

"..."

Rouge looked up into Omega's glowing eyes. She smiled.

"Omega...thank you." She floated upwards and kissed him on the top of his metallic head. "I know what I have to do. And besides...these emotions, they'll mess up the mission. I have to get this out of the way."

"You are welcome, Rouge."

She touched the bracelet on her wrist and went into thought.

"Will you require privacy?"

She almost said no, seeing as Omega already knew everything...but she also wanted an air of intimacy for once.

"Yeah. Do you mind?"

"Negative. I will move out of audio range. Contact me when you have completed your conversation."

"I'll do that, hon. Thanks, I mean it."

Omega turned and walked away. Rouge clicked a button on her bracelet and waited.

"Rouge. What do you need?"

"...I need to talk to you. Where are you?"

"Five miles south of CFS Alert. I've escaped the cold snap. What do you wish to speak to me about?"

"I...I just...wanted to see how you were doing. That's all, Shadow. I don't mean to waste your time."

"It's fine. How are you doing?"

"We're...almost to HQ. Westopolis hasn't been transformed like the other places. But it's abandoned all the way around. I need...to investigate more with Omega."

"Understood. Contact me when you have more details. I've sent the silo to the Doctor. He's going to look at it."

"That's really good."

"Yes. Be safe, Rouge."

"You too, Shadow. I...I'll see you in a bit. Take care."

"I will, Rouge. Thank you."

The call ended and Rouge put a hand to her head. She didn't hear Omega arrive behind her.

"You could not do it."

"What was that you said earlier...?"

She turned, tears falling from her eyes.

"Not a coward, was that right?"

"..."

Rouge pressed a warm hand against the robot's frame, head hung low.

Her frustrated sobs bounced off of the windows nearby, only to be swallowed up by the unforgiving darkness.