Chapter 23

Shadow smiled as he hung from a beam near the top. He swung straight over and slashed a guard in the back. He swung the chain around the neck of a second, and pulled him into the third. He quickly moved on, now more concerned about killing people than stopping Naugus. His chain proved a useful item indeed, not only a weapon, but a tool for transport. He mulled over a few names for it, such was the ego of 'Dark Shadow'. 'Scorpion Tail' seemed kind of obvious, so no… something to do with metal… Avenged Sevenfold… aha! Vengeance… a suitable alter ego for his gun, Valentine.

Rouge had lost track of Shadow entirely. He was just too fast. She stopped for a rest in an alcove. As she caught her breath, she heard breathing that wasn't hers… there was someone else here. She looked round… only shadows. She pulled out her dagger – just in case. She looked in further. The alcove went a little deeper. The way was lit by a torch just around the corner. She went to inspect something written on it. She heard the breathing getting more prominent… wary, she tightened her grip on the knife. She heard something swinging. Instinctively, she turned around and raised her dagger. Sure enough, a second dagger was being held off by hers. She couldn't see its owner. She ducked under and the knife slid away. It came back for a second attack. She sidestepped and tried to grab the attacker's arm. He pulled away and pulled her off her feet. He threw her over his head, but she pulled him with her and flipped him aswell. She rolled on to her feet. She saw the attacker when he landed on his feet a few metres away – it was a black bat, with deep scarlet wings. He was quite muscular, and somewhat battle scarred – he had a patch over his right eye. He was wearing a long black leather coat. They stared at each other for what could have been a minute, but it could have been an hour. Finally, he spoke in a deep, but clear, voice;

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same question."

"For all I know you could be working for Naugus."

"Same again." An awkward silence fell on the corridor. Rouge eventually broke it. "Well that was one hell of an introduction."

"Names, eh? You start."

"Why?"

"Small world – I might remember you from somewhere."

"Then I should remember you."

"Blade. Ring any bells? Ah, Goddamit!" He cursed when he realised he had let his ego get ahead of his intentions.

"Rouge. Pleasure meeting you." Blade raised an eyebrow as Rouge stood straight up and stowed her knife.

"We should split up. You guys," He pointed at Silver, Diesel, Jet and Wave. "Go find some wheels, boards, whatever, something to move faster. We'll try and find the others. Tails and Blaze should be fine for now. Let's go!" Sonic hurried off with Amy and Knuckles close behind. Silver sighed as Jet, Wave and Diesel hurried on, excited by the prospect of vehicular transportation. He trudged on like a frustrated parent, trying to keep them out of trouble.

Another flight of stairs… how many can there be? Thought Nack, as he ascended with the hope of finding either Shadow or Rouge. There was little point looking for both by now. He stopped in a small hallway for a breather. The place had black curtains all over. In the centre was a rug, a small futon, a lamp and some clothes strewn around the floor. Someone was living here. A chest lay open to one side. It was filled with ammunition. He heard a rustling in the curtains. He backed against the wall. A booted foot flung itself at him. He sidestepped it and hit it away. He whipped out a gun and aimed in its general direction. He ducked and rolled through the drapes, keeping his aim fixed the whole time. A fist grabbed the barrel of the gun and tried to take it off him. After a struggle, it slipped out of both their hands and bounced across the floor. Nack reached forward and found shoulders. He flipped himself over them and drew his other gun. When he landed he found himself staring down the barrel of another gun. Holding the gun, however, was a familiar face. A green hedgehog with his quills spiked up, a pair of sunglasses resting on his forehead, and a scar across his right eye. Well, the scar was new, but the other features he recognised.

"Manic?"

"Nack?"

"I thought you were dead!"

"I thought you were dead!"

"It's been too long."

"What is it, four years?"

"About that."

"So what brings you to my humble abode?"

"Just passing through, kill Naugus, that kind of thing."

"Did they take you back?"

"No, but they were passing through and needed a hand. What have you been doing?"

"Living here. The whole tower is usually deserted. It's kinda comfy when you get used to it."

"Why didn't you make your way back?"

"I couldn't. I was on the run for about three months, before they lost me in here. Pretty cavernous and empty."

Blaze groaned. Her head was spinning – it felt like there was a lump in it, where it had been hit. She opened her eyes, and the image that slowly came into focus was… Tails. She jumped. He fell backwards, nearly off the edge.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to… you just gave me a jump, that's all…"

"It's okay, I didn't fall off…" He responded, shaken, and slightly embarrassed. He sat down next to her.

"What happened? All I remember is getting hit on the head."

"The others escaped the other way. I pulled you out of the way of the rocks, but it was to this side. The ship was knocked out into the middle of the shaft. See?" He pointed out to where it was, slowly dropping to the ground.

"Why didn't Silver and Diesel help me?"

"Diesel, I think, nearly wet himself," Blaze laughed at this. "Silver was too concerned about himself to notice."

"Bastard… well… um, thanks…"

"No problem…" He stared out across the shaft. Blaze took off her gloves and jacket.

"God, it's warm…" She looked over at Tails. He wasn't staring at the far side of the shaft any more. "Do you have a clip in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"