Author's Notes:
Please read 'Ranma's interdimensional team of heroes', Chapter 3, before starting with this chapter.
Kakeru Ozora looked through his telescope and smiled at the view. "See that, Pluto?" he asked the black hedgehog standing next to him. "That blue light up in the sky... it's a new comet! And I'm the one who discovered it!"
Pluto smiled. "Well, good for you... then you'll have the honor of naming it."
Kakeru looked at her. "I already came up with a good name," he murmured. "How does 'Princess Snow Kaguya' sound?"
Pluto grimaced. "Doesn't that strike you kinda... corny? How about something simple, such as... the White Comet?"
"Such a simple name is an insult to a celestial body as brilliant as that comet," Kakeru frowned. "No, no, 'Princess Snow Kaguya' is much better."
"Well, if you think so... when are you going to tell your colleagues about this discovery?"
Kakeru sighed as he sat down on his chair. "I already did."
"And what did they say?"
The young astronomer groaned and clutched his head. "They didn't believe me! They said I should rather study mythology instead of astronomy!"
"Aw, poor Kakeru!" Pluto said and gave him a reaffirming pat on his back. "Don't worry, we'll find a way to prove it to those fools that your comet exists."
"I certainly hope you are right..." Kakeru muttered.
At the same time, a serious snow storm was raging over Station Square.
Rouge the Bat shivered as she ran through the snow, wrapped in a thick mantle. "I must be insane, leaving my warm and cozy club at such temperatures..." the sneaky spy grumbled to herself. "But nooo, I had to listen to my orders and seek out the origin of the strange light they have seen falling down near the coast... wait a minute..."
She stopped when she saw something gleaming in the snow at her feet. "Now what is that?" she murmured and brushed the snow aside.
She smiled when she got a better look at the item in question. It was a gorgeous crystal, gleaming in various colors and looking almost like a colorful snow flake itself.
"How beautiful..." she muttered, entranced by the beauty of the crystal. "If that is the source of the light my superiors have seen... then I think I won't tell them about it. This cutie is way too enticing for me... I won't tell a single soul about it. No, this one belongs all to me!"
And she put the gleaming crystal into a bag she always carried with her, in case she would stumble over such a precious object.
She shivered when an icy breeze swept over her. "I really should get going now, before my wings start to freeze off..."
And as she hurried back home to her warm and comfortable club, she never realized how the glowing crystal was slowly draining away her energy...
Dr. 'Eggman' Robotnik stared at the electronic device lying in front of him in astonishment. "Wherever did you find this, Metal Sonic?" he demanded to know.
The robotic hedgehog sneered. "I managed to 'acquire' it during our last raid on a GUN outpost. You remember that post we attacked because we needed additional weapons for our robots?"
"Aaaaah, yes, I remember!" The doctor cackled gleefully. "Had I ever know that they were keeping this old diary in there, I would have paid them a visit much sooner..."
"A diary?" Metal Sonic would have frowned if he had a biological face. "That doesn't sound too impressive..."
"Oh, I assure you, it is impressive! It is the diary of Professor Gerald Robotnik, the most brilliant genius that had ever existed on Earth... and by the way, he's my grandfather!"
Metal Sonic rubbed his metal chin. "I... see. So, what are our next steps, doctor?"
"Make sure the new E-Series robot is ready," Eggman commanded. "I will take him along on my 'visit' to the island base that is mentioned in the diary."
"You mean E-123? Are you sure he is ready for such a mission yet?"
"Don't question me!" the doctor snapped. "Now go! Nothing will stop me now!"
"Only if your daughter and her new friends don't learn about this plan..." Metal Sonic muttered as he turned around to follow his master's orders.
But he made sure not to say it out loud. He didn't want to upset the good doctor more than necessary. After all, he didn't want to give him a heart attack...
...as appealing as the thought might be.
The pink hedgehog was running through the streets, searching for the one she was caring for...
"Diana! Diana, where are you?"
Chibiusa looked underneath all the parking cars, up into the treetops of the park, and into all side alleys.
An older, similar-looking female hedgehog with blonde quills came running up to her. "Well, did you find her?"
Chibiusa shook her head sadly. "I wonder where she went," she sighed. "Now I can understand the worries you went through when Luna disappeared..."
"Well, Luna always tends to get into all kinds of trouble, so I wasn't TOO worried..."
"I suggest you concentrate more on searching for my future daughter than to make stupid jokes about me," Luna scolded from above, when she and Artemis came jumping down from a window sill.
Artemis was frantic. "I can't believe you just lost her like that," he scolded the young, pink hedgehog. "What were you thinking?"
Chibiusa knew Artemis was just worried about Diana, so she didn't let herself being bothered by the harsh tone he was talking to her. "I'm sorry, Artemis..." she sighed. "Actually, we were just doing what we always did... I walked home from school and Diana walked next to me. Then one of the girls in my class called for me and we talked for a while. I know Diana didn't want to indicate that she was able to talk like we and the humans do, so she stayed silent... but when I looked for her, she was gone!"
"We always knew Station Square is a dangerous city," Artemis murmured. "We should have watched out for her... we are bad parents..."
"Now, Artemis, I'm sure Diana knows how to take care of herself. Maybe she just wanted to play with the local cats and got sidetracked. Or she lost count of time, you know how kittens can be..."
"We should look for her some more," Usagi said. "How about we look in the Casino District this time?"
Chibiusa sighed. "I'm starting to feel like Big, when he's searching for his frog friend..."
"Intruder alert! Intruder alert! Security Breach at Gate 3! Intruders have been located in the north quadrant and are moving in the direction of the underground base! All units prepare to engage: Basic emergency battle formations! Standard Battle Formations initiated! Locate and stop the intruders from reaching the security area! This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill!"
All the while this voice was shouting out the warnings and instructions through the loud speakers that were scattered all around the underground base, two bulky frames were blasting their way through the security robots that were guarding the corridors and security chambers.
In the cockpit of a bulky machine with two powerful legs and an attached lock-on gun, an obese man with an enormous moustache laughed gleefully.
"Muahahahahahah! This is all too easy!"
The bulky, two-legged robot that was standing besides Dr. Eggman's walker fired his machine guns at the incoming guards.
"G.U.N. troops approaching! Enemy threat not over yet! Fire Fire!"
Eggman and his newest creation, the powerful E-Series robot E-123-Omega, breached through GUN's defenses as they slowly approached the center of the base.
"Let's see what my grandfather was working on," the doctor grinned. "A top secret military weapon... The military shut down the research because they feared it."
The robot lowered its arms. "Enemy mech units repelled! Area secure for now! Instructions?"
"We go down there and search for the military weapon of course, you idiot!" Eggman shouted. "And let's not dawdle... hurry up!"
Omega's optical sensors wandered around until the doctor was in their center. The robot's intelligence chip was far more developed than those of his precursors, allowing him to directly tap into the brain of the animal component within his core. Logic and cunning, added to his fire power, turned him a more formidable opponent than Gamma or Beta had ever been.
His developed intelligence also allowed him to have something all of the earlier robots of the E-series lacked: A conscience! And thus, he was capable of questioning his superior's ideals.
The good old doctor knew about this, still he never was afraid that Omega would turn against him. After all, he was his creator, and therefore Omega had to be thankful that he existed at all.
This logical flaw was still programmed into Omega's electronic brain when he replied: "Affirmative!"
Still, Eggman didn't notice how Omega was hesitating when he replied...
Finally, the scientist and his creation had breached the last defense of GUN in the base and reached what they had been looking for: The Underground Facility!
The Doctor's Egg Walker walked up to the control panel as Eggman looked down at it with glee. Then he looked into the pit that was behind it. A strange capsule was visible within.
"So this is the top secret weapon the military was afraid of?" he wondered. "It's a lot smaller than expected..." He shrugged and looked closer at the console.
"Enter user data..." he muttered. "Enter password..." He grinned and entered a few letters. "The password is... MA-RI-A! Maria!"
He reached into his pocket and retrieved a shining item which he held up into the air with glee.
"Good thing I was able to steal the white Chaos Emerald from that bank transport my robots attacked the other day... now all I have to do is to place it into this console and..."
Something happened when E-123, who was still standing besides the huge entrance door of the facility, saw the shining emerald with his optics.
He recalled some strange images from his host's brain... a young hedgehog girl with pink fur was clinging onto a shiny emerald, while a man in a hovering machine was demanding it... a bulky man... with a bushy mustache...
Omega froze. A man like... Dr. Eggman?
While Omega's inner circuits were trying to find an explanation for the weird streams of data that were flowing through them, Eggman put the Chaos Emerald into the console... and the whole machinery inside the pit came to life.
The capsule slowly moved out of the ground, while white steam was released. For a while, the doctor saw nothing but plumes of steam... but then, he saw a dark silhouette.
Those spines... was that... a hedgehog?
"What's that? Is that you, Sonic? Are you planning to foil my plans again?"
The black hedgehog with the red stripes running along his spines smirked at the doctor.
"Wait a minute!" Eggman blurted out. "You're not Sonic! This is impossible!"
"My name is Shadow," the hedgehog spoke up. "Since you were so kind to release me... my master... I will grant you one wish."
Suddenly, both of their heads turned around as they heard the clicking sound of Omega's guns.
"Dr. Eggman!" he said in his mechanical voice. "Put down the Chaos Emerald... and surrender yourself to me!"
"What... what is this defiance?" Eggman shouted in outrage. "You heap of scrap metal! I created you! Now put down your weapons, or you'll regret it!"
But somewhere, deep inside Omega's core, a tiny voice of reason shouted against its prison. She was way too small and weak to break free from this prison...
But... if she could control the shell she was trapped in, she would use it to stop Eggman from whatever he was planning to do this time. And she would begin by taking the Chaos Emerald from him!
"This is your second warning, Eggman!" Omega said. "Hand over the Chaos Emerald and step out of your combat vehicle!"
"You traitor!" the doctor shouted. "I knew I shouldn't have given you a free will..."
But Shadow only smirked. His strangely-shaped shoes gave off a burst of energy as he propelled himself up into the air... and landed next to the surprised scientist.
"Behold the true power I possess!" he said coldly as he faced the defiant robot. His steely glare was unnerving for all living beings, and although E-123-Omega had no nerves, his calculations showed him that this hedgehog was far more powerful than he looked.
Deep inside her robotic shell, Diana gulped. Her tiny kitten body was unable to move, but she realized that she was in a bad situation.
'Oh Mom... I wish you were here... where are you?'
Luna was walking along the pavement, looking everywhere for her daughter. "Diana!" she shouted. "Diana, where are you?"
She was so distracted by her search that she didn't notice the approaching truck when she stepped onto the street.
She gasped when she heard the loud honk of the incoming vehicle, but she was far too stunned to move away.
In the last instant, a tall man dove for the small cat, rolled over the ground and pulled her to safety.
The truck dangerously swerved to the right, but the driver was able to step on the brakes in time.
Luna let out a sigh of relief. She was still alive, and no one got hurt. She then looked up into the face of her savior.
The handsome, blonde man smiled down at her. "I hope you're not too scared, little kitty," he said as he picked her up from the ground.
Omega aimed his arm cannons at the black hedgehog.
"Eggman must be eliminated!" he said in his mechanic voice. "Interfere and you'll have to be eliminated as well!"
Shadow showed him a smirk. "Stubborn machine..." he whispered.
He then jumped up into the air, curled up into a ball and dove straight for the rebellious robot.
'I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die!' Diana thought frantically inside the core of the robot.
But the programmed battle routines made reacting to that attack surprisingly easy.
Shadow had barely time to dodge the incoming bullets and made an acrobatic roll towards the console, where he grabbed the Chaos Emerald.
"Hey, that's mine!" the doctor protested.
Shadow ignored him. He held the shiny jewel up into the air and yelled:
"CHAOS CONTROL!"
As he started running, the powers of the emerald were increasing his velocity to near-lightning-speed, and everything around him seemed to move in slow motion.
Shadow had no trouble at all to reach E-123-Omega... and gave him a swift kick to his metal torso, which made him slide back into the heavy, metal door, where he collapsed.
Sparks were coming out of the robot's limbs as he tried to stand up again. His head rotated around aimlessly as he tried to take aim again. "Must... eradicate... all enemies..."
Diana knew it was futile, but she tried with all her strength to make the robot she was now controlling stand up again. But it was to no avail.
Eggman climbed out of his Egg Walker and walked over to the struggling robot.
"Insolent machine!" he grumbled and pressed a switch near Omega's shoulder. The red lights that were his eyes went dark, and his whole body went limp.
And Diana felt as if she was falling into a deep sleep...
"I have to lock this traitor away as soon as I get back to the base," the doctor muttered before turning around to face Shadow.
He was truly intrigued by that hedgehog's abilities. That black hedgehog which looked so much like Sonic's dark twin...
"The way you took care of Omega was spectacular!" he grinned. "So, Shadow... you are the top secret weapon the military was afraid of. But what did you mean when you said you will grant me a wish?"
Shadow turned his back to the doctor and looked over his shoulder. "Bring more Chaos Emeralds!" he said calmly before he started to walk away.
"Shadow, wait..."
Shadow gave Eggman a final sneer. "I'll be waiting for you in the central control room... of the Space Colony ARK!"
And then he left.
Dr. Eggman looked after him in astonishment. "ARK?"
Rouge coughed as she opened the door to her private chamber within her very own club. "I'm home..."
"Rouge!" Minako said in surprise as she turned around. "Where have you been, it's getting late! I was worried, you know?"
Rouge gave the young bat an amused chuckle. "By now you must know that a spy's work is never finished... and that a good thief will work day and night... especially in the night!"
"Well, as long as you're back... did you find something?"
Rouge put her bag on the table and started to open the zipper. "I found this near the sea and..." She wanted to say more, but a sudden fit of coughs made her bend over.
"Rouge, are you all right?" the blonde bat asked with worry as she came over to her mentor.
But Rouge waved her off. "I'm fine," she muttered. "Just a little cold... but nothing a good night's sleep won't cure!"
"Are you sure?" Minako asked. "You look kinda miserable..."
"I'm okay," Rouge snapped in annoyance. "Now, as I said, I found this awesome stone at the seaside..." And she unwrapped the multi-colored crystal.
Minako stared at it in awe. "Wooow..." she murmured. "It's beautiful..."
Rouge grinned with pride. "Yes, isn't it? I think this beauty will look fine in..." Another fit of coughs made her stagger backwards.
"Rouge!" Minako said in an alarmed voice. She felt Rouge's forehead before the older bat could do anything about it and gasped. "Rouge, you are red-hot! You need to get to bed, now!"
"I already told you, I'm fine, I..." Another sudden cough made her stop her sentence.
"No way you're fine!" Minako said firmly as she dragged her mentor and friend off to bed. "You're getting to bed right now, and that's final!"
"I can do that myself..." Rouge protested in annoyance as Minako put a blanket over her fever-shaken body.
"I'll make a nice tea for you, and no getting up late in the night again, you hear me?" Minako said sternly. She then shook her head. "Man, I knew it was cold outside, but this... Oh yeah, before I forget, we need to take your temperature!"
"Minako, don't you da-mmmpph!"
Minako smiled as she put the thermometer into Rouge's mouth. "And keep it inside, do you hear me?"
And she walked over into the kitchen, where Artemis was impatiently waiting for his dinner.
"No time to feed you now," Minako said as she ran past the surprised tomcat. "I need to make some tea for poor Rouge..."
"Hey, I have some needs as well, you know?" he protested. "Looking all through town for Diana made me hungry and tired... can't you at least give me a bit of tuna?"
"No way!" Minako shot back. "Your tummy can wait, Rouge's fever can't!"
"Is it really that bad?" Artemis wondered.
Minako nodded as she took the tea bags out of the cupboard. "I felt her forehead, and you won't believe how hot it was! She needs to get some rest... and she must drink tea, a big amount of it!"
"Well, at least she can't go around and cause trouble..." Artemis murmured. He never liked that they had to live with that thieving bat. He also didn't like the influence she had on Minako.
When the tea was ready, Minako brought it into Rouge's bedroom. The older bat gave her student an angry glare.
"Don't give me that!" Minako scolded. "Now drink up your tea, it's good for you!"
Rouge mumbled something around her thermometer.
"What?" Minako asked. "Oh, wait a second..." She pulled the thermometer out of her mentor's mouth.
Rouge tried getting rid of the thermometer's bad taste before she replied: "I said I can't stay in bed now! I have a new assignment I need to carry out, a very important one at that!"
"It'll have to wait until tomorrow!" Minako decided. Then she looked at the thermometer. She gasped. "No way you're going outside if your fever doesn't go down again by tomorrow! And if it's getting worse, we have to consider a hot footbath."
Rouge simply let out a low growl as she pulled her covers up to her nose.
Minako walked to the door and turned around to her friend before she left. "Now have a good night's sleep! Get well soon!" And she closed the door.
"I don't believe this..." Rouge muttered. "I'm a skilled thief and a special agent for the government... not some child that needs to be mothered and pampered..."
She knew that her fever was worse than she had admitted, but if it went down by tomorrow, she would have to do some stealing before taking care of her grand mission. And it would have to be something extraordinary, just like that gorgeous crystal...
Like... that echidna's Master Emerald, maybe?
With a satisfied grin on her face, she layed back in bed. After a few more coughs and sneezes, she fell asleep.
The crystal she had placed on her night stand was giving off an eerie light...