Chapter 4: Monkey Business
--
"I can't believe you're actually watching a chesss game."
"It's fun, really." The viridian hedgehog stated. "Trains your mind."
"But I can't ssstand it! Ssso much thinking." His lizard companion replied.
"And that's why you don't do any of the mission planning, Drake." The hedgehog retorted, closing his computer.
"Pfft." Drake uttered.
"Hey, here's a question for you." A purple-feathered bird added. "If a rooster laid an egg on a rooftop, which way will it roll?"
Drake pondered this for a moment.
"Left." Then he thought again. "No, right... Or maybe? Left is... But right..."
"Gee thanks, Storm. Now he'll never stop polluting the air with stupidities."
Storm the Bird chuckled and the phone rang.
"Yep?" The hedgehog answered. "Oh, hi chief. No I haven't... She's at it again? Oh great. We'll be right there."
"Mission?" Storm asked as she walked up to her teammate.
"Trici's goons were spotted smuggling bijouteries to a warehouse at the harbor."
"Hmm. I wonder if she'll ever give up."
"Probably not." The hedgehog said, reaching for his jacket. "When the money begins rolling in that fast, you don't want it to slow down."
"How philosophical, Turbo." Storm smiled at him.
"You coming, Drake?" Turbo called back at his red lizard friend.
"Right!" He replied and came running over to them. "That'sss where it'll go. I think..."
Turbo rolled his eyes.
"This is gonna be a looong trip."
--
"Where the hell did he go?" Felicia asked herself, looking around for a pair of big wings but finding none.
She jumped onto a bench but found no better result. Heaving a sigh she hopped off and began walking home.
She was looking down and when she bumped into something big. Felicia fell onto the ground but was pulled to her feet by a pair of strong arms.
"Watch where you're going, dammit!" The cat roared at her. Her clothes were baggy and her hair was white and spiky, like her fur.
She was well built and had an angry look on her face. Her shirt had the logo for "In Utero" by Nirvana on it.
"You watch where YOU'RE going!" Felicia replied, venting her anger.
"Now you're asking for it, doggie!" The cat threw a punch at her but another arm, belonging to neither of them, stopped it. Felicia turned to
see her attacker's twin sister, slightly slimmer with long, wavy black hair and a tight dress.
"Izzy! Shame on you!" The other cat scolded her twin. "Apologize. Now!"
"But, she walked into ME!" Izzy, the white haired one defended herself.
"No I didn't!" Felicia said.
"Ah, fuck this." Izzy scowled and walked off.
"I'm sorry for my sister's behavior." The other twin apologized and introduced herself as Fluff.
"Well, I gotta go follow her before she kills someone... again." Fluff added solemnly and bid farewell to Felicia.
"Wait a second." A thought struck Felicia. "Do you know a woman named Rouge?"
"Oh yeah, she works at a bar of some sort called Bad Luck. A short bat with white hair, can't miss her." Fluff smiled.
"Thanks!" Felicia waved her off again and smirked.
Now I got info. She thought. He's gotta let me help him now!
She walked three steps before another thought popped up.
...As soon as I find him.
--
He had left her behind because he couldn't take responsibility for another person in his current state.
At least that's what he told himself. Having used her for info felt bad, as did lying to her about joining him,
but he just didn't feel ready or strong enough.
The cab rolled along slowly. He'd asked the driver to take him to a café, cause he really needed coffee right now.
"That'll be-" Before the cabbie could finish the sentence, Matt was out the door and faaar away. The cabbie rolled off,
cursing all the way back to the station.
Meanwhile, Matt panted the exhaustion out of his lungs.
"Damn, I'll bring money next time." He groaned, turning back around the corner and confirming that the coast was clear.
To his east was a café.
It was crowded with people, but no-one seemed to be eating or ordering.
Matt raised and eyebrow and made his way towards it's entry. Upon opening the door, a small "Whoa" escaped him as he
realized that the place was completely STOCKED with people.
Everyone was elbowing their way around and trying to make enough room to stand. They seemed to be aiming for the same
direction, a table at the corner. Suddenly a mild voice spoke above them.
"Look, one question each, OK people?"
That voice... Matt thought. Where have I heard that before?
He listened closer and managed to make out what some people were saying, at least...
"... so Sonic here's-..."
"Sonic's the best..."
"I just came for Sonic..."
"Who the hell is Sonic?" Matt asked out loud. The audience gasped and turned around, gazing at Matt who shrugged nervously.
"You don't KNOW?" Someone said.
"Uhh, no." Matt replied, scratching his neck.
"Wait a second..." The mild voice from before said. The crowd began moving and forming a way for someone to walk over to Matt.
A blue hedgehog, wearing red shoes walked up to him and looked him in the eye.
"You gotta be kidding me..." He said seriously. Matt shivered at what he might've done to this one.
"Matt! Where've ya been?" The hedgehog grabbed Matt's hand and shook it heavily.
"Umm, away?" Matt tried, looking dumbfounded.
"Don't you remember? It's me, Sonic!"
A bell rang in Matt's head.
"Oh yeah! Now I remember. You were just a kid last time I saw you." Matt smiled at his memories.
Sonic let go of Matt's hand and motioned for him to come and sit.
"This is my bro, Tails." Sonic jerked a thumb at Tails, a yellow-ish fox with two tails. He waved at Matt and smiled.
"And that over there is Knuckles." Sonic repeated the motion at a red echidna in the corner, who didn't seem to like the attention from the bystanders.
The echidna's red fur knocked on Matt's brain, but he subdued it and sat down. his dreadlocks also rang a bell, but Matt could'nt make any sense of it.
"This is Matt, guys. Dad and I used to hang out with him a few years ago."
"Hi." The bat greeted them and their audience.
"Did you know that Matt's the one who gave me my name?" Everyone in the mass of people went "Ooh".
After lying about where he'd been, what he'd been doing and such, Matt began feeling bad and decided to leave. He shook hands with
half the world, it seemed, before managing to exit the crowded place.
Night had begun falling and the sky was colored deep orange from the sunset. Matt didn't want to stroll around again, at least not with his
current wound still healing as a reminder.
So when a limousine slowly drove up beside him, he accepted the ride.
Inside, a young tigress sipped a glass of champagne accompanied with two people, which were so ugly Matt hoped they were her bodyguards.
"Well, well, well..." Trici began, throwing a mischievous smile. "Where are you headed?"
"I dunno. A hotel would be fine." Matt shrugged. "Do you always pick up hobos and drive them around?"
"Oh, you're no hobo are you... Right, Mattheus?"
Matt froze, then shivered.
"What do you know about me?" He demanded. "Tell me."
"Let's start a little slower." She replied coolly. "My name is Trici."
"Great. Now that we've gotten to know each other-"
"I know a lot about you, Mr. Mattheus."
"Call me Matt. Now tell me-"
"Impatient, are we?" Trici said, putting her glass down. "Care for a drink?"
"No, and cut the bull- Wait, yes I do. Pour me one." Matt changed.
He downed it in one gulp and put the glass back.
"There. Happy now?"
"Why the haste?" Trici snaked over to the couch Matt was in. Matt pressed himself into the corner. "I got some things that need doing. You know, a job."
"Please, get to the point. What do you want from me?" He tried.
Trici ignored his remark and crawled onto him. He was beginning to feel a tiny bit uncomfortable now.
"Look, get off or I'll-"
"You'll what, hmm? Kill me? Leave the car?" She tickled his chin. "Then you'll lose the only chance of filling your blank memory."
Matt shuddered at this humiliation. He desperately wanted to know what she knew, but was this really worth it?
He sighed. "Go ahead, I'm listening..."
She slid off him and glared.
"Some idiot ratted on my business at the harbors. I want you to get down there and make sure none of it gets disturbed,
understand?" Her tone changed from seductive to demanding.
"What's the pay?" Matt asked blankly.
"A piece of my mind." She smirked in a way that made Matt nauseous.
"Whatever. I'll do it." He said, waving an arm. "When will we meet again?"
"Don't worry your cute little head about that..." Trici purred. The only thing making it hard for Matt to ignore her was her spectacular appearance.
She was curvy, had freezing blue eyes and wavy blond hair cascading like a river down her back. Her red dress left little to the imagination,
and reminded more of a piece of cloth rather than a piece of clothing.
The car pulled to a soft break and the door opened next to Matt. He hurried out.
"See you soon, honeybuns." Trici blew a kiss at him as they drove off.
Matt looked around and stated that he was down by the docks. Now he just had to find the gear she was talking about...
This whole job thing seems awkwardly familiar, Matt thought. Have I worked for Trici before? No, She's too young. Hasn't been in the business long enough. Still...
He peeked round the corner and saw a warehouse, just like she mentioned. Matt went inside and dismissed the thought of what might
be in the boxes, because he'd rather not know.
An idea struck him and he began looking for empty crates as part of his plan.
--
"Are you sure this is the right way, Drake?" Turbo asked his backseated friend.
"No, the right way isss left." Drake replied.
"But, you were saying right every time I asked before?"
"No, that'sss where the egg isss gonna roll. But then again..."
"Arggh!" Turbo growled and began reversing. After another 10 minutes they finally arrived at the scene.
All three of them stepped out and looked around.
"Keep your heads down guys, we don't know what to expect." Turbo ordered as they crept closer to the docks.
The only thing they could make out were the sounds of feet and boxes being placed. Turbo looked at Drake and nodded, motioning for
him to scout ahead. Drake climbed the building and jumped a few roofs soundlessly.
Some minutes later, he returned and shook his head.
"Jussst one guy."
"Well, this just got a whole lot easier. Come on!" Turbo commanded, storming around the corner.
When they reached the building, the tall bat inside dropped a box and put his hands in the air.
"Don't shoot." He stated more like a command than a request.
"If you tell me what's going on here." Turbo replied in the same tone. The bat smirked and opened one of the boxes.
"What the heck?" Turbo wondered, as he noticed that the box was empty.
"This is just a storeroom for boxes." The bat waved over the crates. "Nothin' in them."
"I'm stumped." Turbo turned to Storm and Drake, and shrugged heavily.
The three began walking away. Stupid false alarm. Suddenly, the bat caught up with them.
"Hey, do you guys know any cheap hotels? I'm uhh... quitting, for the night." He said slowly.
Storm looked at Turbo before asking; "Don't you have a home?"
The bat looked down and scratched his hair. "No."
"Turbo," Storm whispered. "Don't you think he can stay at HQ for the night?"
"What? But we hardly know him?" Turbo answered.
"What's your name?" Storm asked the bat politely.
"Name's Matt. Least that's what people call me."
Turbo pondered for a while. Then pondered some more before finally deciding...
"All right, but only tonight. You're gone in the morning, right?"
"You bet. Thanks!" Matt walked up beside them and followed them to their car.
--
Notes:
So now Matt's been in contact with both the "good" and "evil" sides. Question is, which one will he choose; The one he's familiar with or the newer, stranger one where people care for you, and you for them?
Trici. Anyone remember the name? Any HHC followers will know. But not enough, just yet ;)
This story is shaping up to become pretty good. Any tips on what you'd like to see are very welcome, you can post them as a PM to me or as a review to this story. Depends on your mood :)
PLEASE PEOPLE! Reviewing isn't that hard, it makes me happy, it's free and you don't even have to log in to do it! Pretty please, Click the button below.
And get a cookie.
If you don't you get a slap.
/Matti