Chapter 6: Wildest Dreams
~Amy's POV~
Monday morning had finally come and I could not be any more unprepared.
Shadows knows I work at G.U.N. now.
I hope this wasn't a huge mistake…
I startup my coffee pot before heading into my bathroom to brush my teeth and quills and start my day.
After grooming myself to a more professional and appropriate appearance, I head back to my room to get dressed.
Today I'm wearing a navy blue pantsuit and white heels.
In my closet I unlock a small safe and retrieve two Sig Sauer P229 E2 and place them in my deep concealment shoulder holster.
Guns aren't really my preferred combat weapon but G.U.N. requires all field agents to carry and these are the standard guns most agents are assigned.
I usually never use mine since I can summon my hammer straight into my hand, still it does work in a pitch against certain types of Robotnik robots.
I grabbed my badge and ID from my night stand and give Sakura a goodbye kiss on the forehead before going back to the kitchen.
I pour myself a cup of coffee and think about the day ahead of me.
We finally closed the case last Saturday. It'd been so long since I'd heard "Mission Complete" and I was so tired of the disguise I'd been wearing.
It feels nice to know I've got a clear schedule ahead of me.
I wonder momentarily if I'll finally get to do a quick, short mission or if I'll be sent on another long, drawn out, months long mission.
Either way, I'm excited for what the day has in store for me, even if I am a little more nervous now that I know Shadow knows about my job status.
I try to push the thought out of my mind. I haven't seen him at G.U.N. in all my years there.
What are the odds I'd see him now?
After my second cup of coffee I grab my keys off the hallway table and head for the garage.
In there sits a red Suzuki GSX-R and a custom painted black Yamaha R1M, along with my white Jeep Wrangler.
I decided to take my black and pink bike out today.
I walk over to the hooks on the wall and take my helmet, gloves, and black leather jacket off them and place them on me.
I flip the keys to the garage, opening the door and cranking up my bike, I roll out slowly, giving it time to warm up.
After clicking the keys again to close the garage doors behind me, I pull out my driveway into the road and head to work.
~ Shadows POV ~
*If you don't like it, then why are you blushing?
The car ride is long and uncomfortable. Snickering from the front seat only makes my torture feel never ending.
I want to escape out the back seat but the child safety locks keep me trapped in my confused stewing.
The laughing grows louder and distorted, my surroundings grow warm and red as I feel the embarrassment rise in me.
As I look out the window of the moving car, the scene before me blurs and the next thing I know, I'm sitting on a bar stool holding a beer in my hand.
I hear a musical laughter erupt from beside me. I turn to see green eyes and pink fur giggling on a bar stool beside me.
She smiles and I feel sick on my stomach, like I've swung too high on a swing set at a playground.
I close my eyes and shake my head to drown out the feeling and when I open them again, I'm sitting on a couch in a slightly familiar living room.
My chest feels heavy and I look down to see pink hair and fur on me. Her head is on my chest.
She looks up at me and I freeze, unsure what to say or think.
"Come back again, okay?" She smiles up at me.
"Huh?" That is all I can reply. I'm confused and the tight feeling in my chest is screaming louder than the twisted knots in my stomach.
"I said, come back again, okay?" She says again, smiling bigger as she looks up into my eyes, drawing closer to me.
"O…Kay…" I say, staring at her as she leans closer to me, each second that passes her eyes grow closer to mine.
The closer she gets the more uncomfortable I grow and before she's inches from my face her eyes close slowly.
I close mine too, not sure what I'm expecting and then—*
—BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP—
I groan loudly as I sling my arm around frantically slamming my bedside table and somehow missing the alarm every time.
I sit up begrudgingly and peer angrily in the direction of my alarm clock, clicking the button on top to turn it off.
I peak over at my Chao who is hiding under the covers to avoid my now silenced alarm clock.
I shake my head frustrated, and suddenly notice a thin layer of sweat on my body.
Why am I… what was I dreaming about?
I drag myself out of bed and head to the bathroom to start my day.
After some oral hygiene and much needed self grooming, I head back to my room and get dressed for the day.
I peer into my closet and my mind momentarily drifts back to my dream from last night. I can barely remember any of it, but flashes of pink fur plague my mind.
I shake the feeling out of my head and try to focus on the task before me.
My last mission was a success, although most of them are. They're usually pretty quick and easy, only lasting about a day or two.
I'm usually in and out and on to the next thing the next work day.
Last Friday I came in, got my mission and finished well before lunch. I couldn't ask for a better Friday. But that meant that today was going to be a new mission Monday, with no idea what was in store for me.
Still staring into my closet, I shake my head roughly and grab my clothes for the day: a pair of navy blue trousers and a white button up long sleeve. I pair it with a brown belt and loafers.
Although I'm not a fan of most any shade of blue, dark navy blue is an exception because I look damn good in it.
I head to the kitchen, and make a cup of coffee. I scarf down the hot beverage with a breakfast muffin and head for my garage.
I look at my black and red 1973 Plymouth Duster. It took me years of hard work and restorations to get it looking this good. Had it not been for all the top rated missions and overtime at G.U.N., this car would still be a run down, pipe dream.
As nice as a smooth car ride sounds, I opt for my black Harley-Davidson Low Rider S. Today felt like a bike ride kind of day.
I walk over to the locker I have on the back wall of my garage and unlock it.
I pull out my guns and place them in holsters, then put on my gloves, leather jacket, and helmet.
I start up my bike and pull out my phone.
Knuckles*
Me: Lunch?
Knuckles: Can't, guard duty all week on the Master Emerald with Rouge.
Me: Fine. Dinner?
Knuckles: Yeah, the whole gang at BBBG?
I sighed. So this is really a thing. She's in the group now just like that?
Me: Fine, see ya later
Knuckles: You too!
I put my phone away and clicked on the garage doors, pulled out and closed them behind me before heading off to work.
It was a short thirty minute drive, traffic was light, the sky was clear, and as I suspected it was a perfect day for a drive. Fresh air, scenic sights, and a relaxing, smooth ride.
I pulled into the parking lot at work and made my way towards the bike spots.
As my eyes rolled over the different makes and models before me, I caught sight of that bike.
It was a pink Yahama. One of those sporty street bikes. I rolled my eyes everytime I saw it.
It was here almost every day and I've yet to see the owner of it. I can't help but wonder what idiot pays for a custom paint job and picks that ridiculous shade of pink.
I pull in beside it and scoff at the sporty bike before heading inside.
I swipe my badge at the gate and make my way a few steps inside. I then place my helmet, keys, and guns on a moving belt as I step through a metal detector.
Once identified and cleared by security, I collect the rest of my belongings and head into the building.
I make my way to the elevator, badge & scan in, so that I can head to the nineteenth floor we're my sector is held.
Once on my floor I clock in and head for my supervisor's room.
My supervisor is a middle aged, black hawk, named Nicholas Temper, a well seasoned agent with years of combat experience.
When he sees me he makes no formal greetings or fake smiles, exactly the same way I like to conduct coworker interactions.
"Agent, you've been called to the twenty fourth floor to receive today's assignment." He says to me, thumbing through paperwork in his hand and scanning it with his eyes.
"The twenty-fourth floor?!? What about my team?" I ask, surprised.
I usually run my own missions with my team or recieve solo missions.
But the twenty-fourth floor is higher up, which means it contains more elite and confidential information.
There are twenty-five floors in this G.U.N. facility and it's run by the head G.U.N. leaders on the top floor.
I've worked my way up over the years and am due to move to the twentieth floor soon, but cooperating on a mission with the team on the twenty-fourth floor is unheard of. Rouge and Knuckles only work on the fifteenth floor.
To be asked to complete a mission with the top agent fieldwork floor could launch me into one of the floors in the twenties for sure.
This could be my big break.
"None from your team, just you. The twenty-fourth floor leader is interested in your talents and wants to see what you can do for them. I don't have to tell you what this could mean for your career, do I?" Mr. Temper said, raising an eyebrow up at me from over the stack of papers he was reading through.
"No sir," I replied quickly and cooly.
He nods and then hands me a mission summary packet in a manila folder as he said, "Get going then."
I took the folder and head for the elevator.
Once inside, I flipped through the contents of the folder until I found a new badge. I pulled it out and held it up to the elevator scanner, which unlocked floors twenty through twenty-four for me.
I quickly pressed the "24" on the touch screen panel in front of me and waited for the hand scanner to pop up.
I take my glove off, scan my hand, and replace my glove as the elevator takes off heading to the twenty-fourth floor.
As the elevator doors open I'm overwhelmed by the technology before me. Computers, giant screens, and hard light projections of unknown areas, Robotnik robots and weapons, and different people with varying degrees of wanted levels litter the walls and air above them.
I look around in amazement at everything before me and am surprised that no one makes a move to greet me at all.
I walk to a counter at the front of the room where a purple badger wearing a headset sits at a desk, typing away on a computer.
"Goodmorning, Agent. Welcome to S.I.N." she says to me.
"This is S.I.N.?" I ask in amazement. Maybe I should've taken them up on their offer after all…
"Yes. If you take your mission summary to that room over there," she says, pointing to an office across the room, "you will receive your briefing and orders."
I nod to her and then head for the office, which looks a lot like Mr.Tempers, only cleaner and fancier looking.
I knock once and a voice says 'come in,' so I enter the room.
A white fox is who I am meeting with. She rises from her seat to shake my hand and then motions for me to sit at the seat across from her desk and I sit as she does.
"Agent Ultimate, I want to thank you for meeting with me this morning. I'm sure you have not had time to read the mission summary, so might I fill you in?" She says, speaking very clearly and pronouncing all her words so elegantly I wondered if I was picking up on a slight accent.
"Please," I respond, and nod for her to continue.
"My name is Victoria Vision, field name Agent Vision. I run the S.I.N. operation here at G.U.N. My sector specializes in covert operations that contain sensitive intele that is not known by the other sectors. In short, we like to handle the problems quickly and quietly in hopes of snuffing them out before they become big operation problems. When we fail, that is where the lower sectors come in. You are the muscle for what we are unable to prevent," she said, watching me closely for any reactions.
My mind races and I'm speaking before I've even thought all this through.
"So you're the reason we've been battling these giant gravity harvesting robots for months on end?"
"That's one way to look at it…" she says cooly, with a sly smile.
"What you and the other sectors don't know about the giant gravity harvesting robots is that Eggman has been developing these robots for years. The model your sector has been tasked with eliminating is actually the thirty-ninth prototype." She said, and my jaw dropped open, although I quickly regained my composure.
"We have successfully foiled his plans with these robots thirty-eight times before without making any large news or word of it. Robotnik has tried to release these robots for the past two years, yet we have successfully stopped him at every turn. Because of our work, you have avoided having to fight these machines for over two years and we have developed technology we believe can combat these robots and put an end to Robotnik's gravity/chaos emerald developments."
"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked, trying to read her face but coming up short of any answers.
"The lower sectors are not meaningless tools to the leaders of G.U.N.. You are our first and last line of defense against Dr. Robotnik and his battle to claim the Master Emerald. My sector's job is to lighten the load of war and tip the scales in your favor before you even set foot on the battlefield. That is why I say, where we fail you prevail. We do the best we can to prevent the worst and ease the burden when we ultimately fail. Secret and undercover work can only get us so far, but it buys us the time we need to prepare for the real fights."
I close my eyes to think about all she's said. I still don't understand how I play into all of this.
"So what do you want with me?" I ask, staring her straight in her eyes.
She relaxes a little when she realizes I am not upset by what information she has given me.
"Dr. Robotnik grows more unstable as we speak. Every time he attempts to create robots that can harness the power of gravity he is endangering every single life on this planet. The work he's doing will eventually lead to the creation of a black hole. I shouldn't have to tell you how one black hole will destroy all of life as we know it."
I nod and she continues.
"We have requested your help in assisting a team that will infiltrate Robotnik labs and collect all his research work on the gravity harnessing robots. Then we need to have his research destroyed."
"You want me to tag along with your team on a steal mission?" I said, simplifying her statement.
"Yes. There is a higher threat of security and our team needs backup in case they are ambushed."
"I thought your people were secret spies, trained to avoid boobytraps?" I chuckled to myself.
"All of our 'boobytrap' avoiding skills comes from research and field tech work. But this mission is time sensitive. We can't wait around to gather data and information on how to sneak in and sneak out. We are anticipating that this mission will involve sneaking in and end with an under fire quick get away. The last team sent out came back with less than half its crew, so this time I will only be sending in a team of four, including you."
"And I'm guessing I won't be team captain on this mission…" I ask, slightly irritated at the idea of following a stranger's command.
"I'm afraid not. You don't know enough about the overall mission and we don't have time to inform you of the whole history… While I must admit I was displeased with my last mission group, I have since replaced the captain who lost half the team."
"Who's this new Captain that will be leading me?" I asked, nervous about the idea of being led by a rookie leader.
"She is a former member of the previous failed team and the reason why eight of my agents made it back alive. Where the previous captain failed, she stepped up and made some tough calls that saved lives and got what remained of the team home. If you'll follow me, I'll introduce you to her now," the fox said, as she stood up and opened the door of her office.
I followed her out the room and back into the main floor, my mind swimming with information.
Why did they ask me to do this? I'm only on floor nineteen, there's still four floors above me full of agents they could've chosen…
"You'll have to forgive me, I haven't briefed my Agent on you at all. She has no idea we'll be adding another Agent from outside of S.I.N. to her mission," the fox said to me as I followed her from the main floor down a hallway.
"I know my Agent history isn't the nicest but when it comes to the field, I know how to work well with others to get the job done," I responded, reassuring her that I can work with anyone I need to in order to complete the mission.
"That's what I'm hoping for, Agent Ultimate, because I was worried your history with the Agent would get in the way," she said as she opened the door to what looked like a break room.
"Our history?" I asked her as my eyes moved from the fox to the room before me.
In the room was a gray ring-tailed lemur and a white and black striped tiger. They were laughing and talking amongst themselves but stopped and stared when we entered the room.
"Agent Tangle, Agent Jian, this is Agent Ultimate, he'll be working with you on today's mission."
They both smiled at me and I decided to do the polite thing and introduce myself properly.
"Captain Tangle, I look forward to working under your leadership today," I said, extending my hand and shaking the lemurs.
She shook my hand but looked at me questioningly, "I'm not leading this mission," she laughed nervously.
"My apologies, Captain Jian?" I said, reaching out to shake the tiger's hand.
She smiled but shook her head, as she shook my hand, "I'm not Captain either, your talking about Agent—-"
"—-Rose!" said the lemur as she looked at someone behind me.
"There you are!" said the fox as she turned around, "I was hoping to introduce you to Agent Ultimate myself! This agent is one of the most experienced and recommended field agents in G.U.N.! He's agreed to assist your team in Operation Blackhole!" Mrs. Vision said, as I turned around.
Rose!?!?
No—No—No—No—No!
No fucking way. How the hell do I have this kind of luck?
"What the hell," I mumbled to myself, shocked as I turn to look at none other than Amy herself; we stared at each other like we'd both seen a ghost.
~ Amy's POV ~
This cannot be happening.
This. Cannot. Be happening!
What the fu—
"What the hell," he mumbled as he stared at me, slack jawed and surprised.
Did he really just say that?!?
"I'm sorry, you two do know each other, right? My intel didn't mention any past issues between you two," The fox asked as she looked between the two of us.
The room grew thick with discomfort and the silence felt unending.
Shadow and I shared multiple uncomfortable looks before I finally decided to speak up.
—-"He's just an—-" "She's only an—-" "old friend—-" "acquaintance—-"
"Of mine," we both said at the same time, talking over each other but still managing to finish on the same ending.
He blushed a bright pink and I knew my blush was matching his as the embarrassment of the situation set in.
"Oh… Well that's a relief! This should be a simple mission!" Mrs. Vision said, with a warm bright smile on her face.
Everyone in the room looked awkward and uncomfortable, everyone except Mrs.Vision.
She always was good at pushing right through the hard parts and getting things taken care of.
This is just another mission for her. And it should be just another mission for me too.
"Alright then! If you'll all take a seat, I'll recap your mission for you!" The fox side as she closed the door to the room.
Me, Tangle and Jian took our seats, leaving one left for Shadow in the back right corner.
I sat in the front left chair, closest to the one door into and out of the room, in case I needed to make a great escape from this living nightmare.
I felt a sinking feeling eating on my shoulders like I was being watched and when I turned my head to peek behind me, I caught the eyes of Shadow. He burned a bright red and looked away from me quickly, which I mirrored by snapping my head back to the front of the room.
I try hard to keep the heat in my cheeks from rising to my ears but I can already feel them turning red with nervousness.
"I know you already know this mission inside and out but we need to get Agent Ultimate up to speed enough to be able to perform his role adequately so bear with me," Mrs. Vision says to me and my crew.
I nod along in agreement and listen patiently.
"We have located an Eggman research facility and connecting warehouse that builds, tests, and operates the gravity harvesting Robotnik robots, which we've codenamed GR-Robot."
"Our research has picked up on multiple polar anomalies, which we believe means that the Robotnik robots are on the verge of creating a black hole which would destroy all life as we know it on this planet."
"Today's mission is to infiltrate the research facility, collect the research data, erase the data from Eggman's facilities database, and plant a software bug we have developed to keep a watch on all Eggman's future research data."
The fox finished her speech and clicked a button on a handheld device. The light in the room shut off and when she clicked another button, a three dimensional, light projection structure of a building popped up in between her and us in the room.
She reached forward and touched one corner of the building which lit up red, the rest of the projection a light blue color.
"This is where you will enter. It is the safest entrance we've assessed. After initial entry we're blind, we have no further data that will help you on this mission. That is where Agent Ultimate comes into play. He will see your team safely in and out of the building. Any questions?" Mrs. Vision asked us.
I turned around at my team, looking at them nervously. They both gave me a smile and a thumbs up.
When my eyes met Shadows', he only glared at me coldly, as if I had done something wrong.
He closed his eyes and turned his head, crossing his arms across his chest.
I turned my nose up at him and turned back around in my seat, crossing my arms in frustration as well.
This is my big mission! I will not let his bad attitude ruin it!
"All good?" Mrs. Vision asked as she looked at us all, nervously.
I could tell she was just as anxious about this mission's success as I was. There was just as much riding on this for her as there was me, if not more.
"Yes ma'am," I replied with a huge fake smile, and she was none the wiser. No one in my sector could read through me, I hid my tells well.
The addition of Shadow changed things. I had a bad habit of letting the things he says and does get to me. I always get flustered or confused or upset around him.
I couldn't afford to be distracted by him today or any day at work for that matter.
I'm not much for images nowadays, but I refuse to let him ruin the respect I've gained from my coworkers.
"Alright then! Head to the armory for your gear and guns! I want you out of here in fifteen minutes, remember suit up policy! The armory locks in seven minutes so get in, get out, and get going." Mrs. Vision said as she gave us a warm, reassuring smile.
"Yes ma'am!" We all said at the same time. All except Shadow who nodded but said nothing with his arms still crossed over his chest.
I stood up and led the way out the door and down the hall that leads to the armory.
I peeked over my shoulder to see Jian and Tangle giving me a reassuring smile as they followed me faithfully down the hallway.
I was looking to make sure Shadow was following us, so I looked over my other shoulder and saw him following steadily behind Tangle at the end of our little group.
He was walking with his head down and I felt a tinge of pain when I saw him. He looked disappointed and it made me feel bad too, like I had disappointed him.
Suddenly he looks up and his eyes meet mine. His piercing red eyes tear straight through me, so I quickly snap my head back around.
As we reach the armory I think momentarily to myself that maybe I should say something but as I hold the door open for everyone to enter, I can't find the words to say to him as he passes me.
"This is gonna be so sick!" Tangle shouted as she ran into the armory and immediately found her place on the wall.
"Straighten up Agent, this is a mission, not a field trip," I scolded the Lemur as she picked up a Mk22 Mod 0 Advanced Sniper Rifle off the wall.
"Yes ma'am," she replied sheepishly with a small grin.
"Agent Jian, how are you holding up?" I asked as I took off my jacket, and gun holster with the guns.
Jian nodded as she avoided my eyes, "I'm good now, Chief, I swear."
"I believe you," I replied and she met my eyes and we nodded.
Jian had a hard time bouncing back after the last mission took half our crew out.
She was just following orders from our previous team leader, and did exactly what she was supposed to do. It's not her fault that it was a bad call, and no one blames her. It was a series of bad calls… And like the Agents we are, we followed every single order. We were just following a bad lead…
Jian pulled her cybernetic tail out to her front and grabbed it, switching out her current blade for our designated field blade: a Ka-Bar USMC fighting knife.
Tangle was already pulling her field outfit and armor out, and Jian turned to her locker to do the same.
I turned back to my locker and stared at the suit before me. I pulled it to the front of my locker and began unbuttoning my shirt; I'd already hung my navy suit jacket in the locker.
As I pulled my shirt off I was jolted back to reality as I heard an uncomfortable grunt to my left.
Mortified, I turned to lock eyes with Shadow, who I had forgotten was here and who was now a deep shade of red as I stood in only a bra and pants right in front of him.
~ Shadows POV ~
The girls were chatting amongst themselves. I almost thought they'd forgotten about me but decided I didn't care.
I turned to look at a locker on the wall that had a sticker placed on it that read: "Guest - Agent Ultimate".
Guess this is mine… of course they wouldn't place anything permanent yet. This is temporary. Unless I can pull off a clean mission…
I opened my locker to find what appeared to be a standard men's black stealth suit. Upon a more thorough investigation I realized the quality was much greater than the suits I was assigned back on my sector.
There were more pockets, more armor platings, and a lot more built in components. When I picked it up, pieces of it lit up and I realized it wasn't just an armored stealth suit. It had the high tech, intelligence upgrades that S.I.N. optimized in their daily work.
"Greetings. Agent Ultimate." A man's voice said from the suit. It sounded like my cell phone's virtual assistant.
I look around the room for an entrance to a locker room before I remember we're basically already in one.
On sector nineteen me and the guys all changed in the—
I froze in terror as an uncomfortable grunt left my mouth.
The talking in the room quieted down and when I turned to look at the other Agents in the room the realization dawned on me.
All Agents change together!
I briefly saw Tangle with no pants on as she stood in her shirt and underwear, giving me a shocked and realizing look.
I caught a glimpse of Jian who already had the legs of her suit on, wearing only a bra. She ignored me completely and kept changing, like we're all supposed to do.
She zipped up her suit from her pants up to her top, not a care in the world. Meanwhile Tangle was frantically trying to pull her skin tight agent suit pants legs on to cover up her state of exposure.
Before I could stop myself, my eyes met Amy's… and then they traveled south before I snatched my eyes back up to hers, red hot and completely embarrassed.
She was still wearing the pants of her pants suit, but stood in just her bra less than six feet in front of me.
She wore a look of absolute shock and embarrassment as she quickly spun around to have her back face me.
I did the same and quickly snatched my suit off, trying to shake the image from my head as I put my suit on.
Great, now I'm the workplace pervert!
Because really, who would ever believe my reaction was one of shock and not intrigue?
After I finished dressing I turned back to my colleagues, before turning right back around just as quickly.
What the hell?!?
Jian and Tangle had managed to squeeze into their suits just as quickly as me, but Amy was still getting dressed.
I only caught a glimpse but of course I'd turn around right as Amy is struggling to pull her suit over her ass, her back still facing me—providing the perfect view of her jumping to squeeze her butt into the tight agent suit.
I turned and damn near shoved my head in my locker, trying to avoid the women in the room.
I'd probably unintentionally made them all uncomfortable as hell so the least I can do is banish my embarrassment to my locker until I'm sure they're all done.
A few seconds later I hear a nervous cough followed by Amy saying, "Agent… Ultimate? Are you ready to hit the drop pad?"
I pulled my head out of the locker and slammed it shut, saying, "Yes, Captain," as I turned to face her.
Her face was bright red and growing darker and I felt the same red warmth rise in me as well.
She turned on her shoes and heads for the back door of the armory, Tangle and Jian following her.
Tangle whispers something to Jian who giggles and peeks over her shoulder at me for half a second before turning back to Tangle and whispering back to her.
For secret agents they sure are pretty obvious!
I sigh as I follow the women down the hall, through a door, and down a long stairwell to the back lot of the G.U.N. Building where our aircraft area is contained.
We walk down the runway past all the buildings, one… two… three…
My mind races as I think about what all has transpired.
I'm uncomfortable with the idea of Amy being our leader. Not because she's a Amy but because I don't know the first thing about her as an Agent.
Up until a few days ago I didn't even know she was an Agent.
I look up to see we're now passing buildings, fourteen… fifthteen… sixteen…
My mind draws back to the meeting we had…
She lost half her crew on their last mission. I look up ahead at her. She's walking straight and tall, with purpose. Not an ounce of doubt tinged in her body language.
And yet she carries this loss with her…
I think back to the other night when she told Knuckles she'd lost her mother… she'd probably already lost her teammates then too.
And yet at the bar and at her home she never let on that anything was bothering her or that she had lost so much. She carried that weight with grace, so no one had the slightest clue what she'd been through.
I know all too well that weight isn't carried easily, no matter how gracefully you carry it. She may hide it well from others but that doesn't mean the pain isn't there.
I'm snapped out of my train of thought when we reach the twenty-fourth building, a hanger with "24" painted on the front.
As we walk inside the building, lights flicker on automatically and I'm surrounded by multiple aircraft and vehicles.
There are multiple Humvee's and Kawasaki M1030 motorcycles in the bay that catch my eye.
"Tangle, will you pull the stealth cargo ship out? I want a quiet run," Amy said.
"A stealth cargo ship?" I ask her, trying to sound as genuine and non condescending as possible.
"The military wants stealth cargo ships. Getting harder to deliver vehicles and equipment across seas without getting shot down. G.U.N. allowed S.I.N. to request the first approved lot. Told the military we'd run their test flights for them. So far so good, and with the advancements in technology S.I.N. has made to them, they'll finally be released this year." Amy said as she walked through to the side of the bay, allowing for the massive plane to pull out.
"Sounds like you guys get all the toys," I replied, a little bitterly.
"Awwww, don't pout," Amy chuckled as she teased me.
"We always share our toys with the lower levels… eventually," she said with a wink.
"Oh yeah? When do we get fancy suits?" I shot back at her, a smirk threatening to break through my stern facial expression.
She looked me up and down in my agent suit as she processed my answer, her face turning a dark shade of pink as a blush appeared.
The male version I was wearing is a one piece zip up suit that featured some slightly tight cargo bottoms with lots of pockets and a very fitted top that had enough armor plating to make up a bullet proof vest.
It was short sleeve and my biceps and pecs fought against the firm yet stretchy material shirt.
Knuckles gym work out session is amazing…
I hadn't realized till now that I was much bigger up top then I use to be, thank in part by my gym buddy.
The Knuckles Klan sure do know how to push the body's limits.
I no where near match Knuckles broad frame, but I was definitely in a class all my own when it came to other hedgehogs.
I blushed in return as I finally got a look at her suit.
Her suit, the women's version, reminded me of that one comic book heroine who dressed in all black.
The suit was also a zip up one piece but theirs were skin tight from head to toe. Long sleeves, knee high black combat boots, thigh strap holster for a gun, on the other thigh a strap holster for a knife, a belt with a million pocket compartments on it, and armor plating on the abs, elbows, and knees.
After giving each other the look over, she turned to the side to look out at the sea of vehicles before us. I did the same, standing shoulder to shoulder to her now.
I tried to ignore the blush I felt on my face and was grateful when she opened her mouth to talk.
"Sector twenty actually just got theirs last week. As long as S.I.N.'s production team keeps on schedule, you'll have yours by the end of the month. But hey, enjoy the test run," she laughed as she lightly punched my bicep.
"Ouch!" I said, more out of shock than pain and she laughed.
Before I could stop myself a chuckle escaped my mouth and I quickly cut it off and resumed my natural stiff demeanor.
Her face fell and a bit of sparkle left her eyes. She recovered quickly, plastering a smile back on her face but her eyes remained hazy and less bright, and for a moment I felt guilty for shutting down her fun.
She coughed nervously and then turned to the open bay of the hanger, yelling, "Drop the cargo bay doors!"
Jian, who was standing on the runway, guiding Tangle's driving, turned to Amy's voice and nodded.
She motioned for Tangle to stop and then dropped her vest and cones, and motioned again for Tangle to drop the bay doors.
Tangle left the pilot pit and a few seconds later the bay doors dropped and she appeared in the cargo area, waving down at Jian who joined her on the aircraft.
Amy turned to me and smiled.
"Can you load up one of these into the bay?" Amy asked, motioning to the blacked out BMW S 1000 XR's parked amongst all the different vehicles in the bay.
"Yeah, you just need one?" I asked as I turned and walked closer to the bike.
Before I get to the bike, I hear another one start up; it's the other blacked out BMW S 1000 XR that Amy is now sitting on.
What?
"Yeah," she says, as she turns back to look at me, and smiles, "we just need two, so I'll load this one if you'll just load that one."
Before I can protest, I watch in amazement as Amy takes off on the bike and drives out the hanger, onto the air strip, and then up into the cargo bay of the plane.
I pick my jaw up off the floor and turn on the bike. I shake my quills and gather myself as I drive out onto the flight strip over to the aircraft.
I make my way up the bay doors and slow down to a stop when I'm inside the craft.
Amy is getting off the bike as I walk the bike up to the back wall of the aircraft where she has the other bike.
She immediately starts strapping down the bike, latching the bike to the aircraft wall and floor with a set of ratchet tie-down straps.
She walks over to me and hands me a similar set of straps and I get off the bike and secure it in place as well.
"Tangle, what's our weather look like?" Amy says over her shoulder and she turns from me and disappears into the pilot pit.
I turn back to the bay and look at the rows of seats that line the walls.
I walk over to one and sit down when I notice the white tiger who hits a button on the wall to pull up the aircraft's bay hatch, sealing the plane shut.
She turns around and catch's my eye and I look away, grumbling to myself in displeasure.
She walks over to me and sits down, one seat in between us.
"Did you sleep with her?" The Tiger says.
"What?" I ask, snapping my head around to look at her.
Her eyes narrowed slightly and a smirk stretched across her face.
"Look I gotta admit, the hedgehog fills these suits out almost as good as I do, I know," she says with a laugh, jestering to her rack which might be just as big as, if not bigger than, Rogues.
I turn away from her again, my face flushing as I think back to Amy in her bra.
It was a plain black bra… it matched her black underwear which I also accidentally caught a glimpse of.
I'd done my best to avoid thinking about it up until now. I hated to admit that I was intrigued but I know when to be honest with myself.
I admit I had noticed Amy's visually appealing development. But what threw me off was the black underwear. I don't know why I expected frilly white lace and pink ribbons, so the strappy black pieces threw me for a loop.
"What are you trying to say," I snap back at the tiger as I cross my arms over my chest and close my eyes.
"I'm just saying you look at her like her body's a canvas and you're a painter. So my question is, have you already painted her before or do you just really want to paint her now?" Jian says with a half tease half serious tone in her voice.
"This is hardly work appropriate," I reply as a blush fills my face. "Is everyone in sector twenty four an HR threat?"
"I'll leave you be for now hedgehog," Jian says, admitting defeat as she holds her hands up.
She reminds me of a younger Rouge. I'll have to remember to use an empty HR threat as my ace with her.
"But if you stick around you'll have to learn to get used to me. I'd work on not staring at her so much if I were you…" Jian laughed as she got up and sashayed away.
I huffed to myself as I crossed my arms tighter across my chest.
I have not been staring at her!…
I think back over the day and wonder vaguely if there's any truth to what the Tiger said but quickly chase the idea out of my mind.
Gods, I can't wait to get back to my sector and as far away from—-
"Okay crew, let's buckle in, it's going to be a good three hour flight," Amy says and I look up to see her looking from Tangle and Jian to me.
Jian catches my eyes and smirks, with a told-you-so grin and I look away, rolling my eyes.
I strap myself into the seat I'm currently sitting in.
Jian sits four seats away from me and motions for Amy to sit beside her.
Tangle waves us off as she heads to the fight deck. Looks like she'll be our pilot.
I close my eyes and ignore everything around me as I decide I've had enough of Jian for the time being. I don't dare look down the seats at Amy because the moment I do, Jian will be there to smirk about it.
Since I'm not exactly the conversationalist type, and have nothing I want to say to Amy anyways, I decide I'll just take a nap until we reach our destination.
As I begin to doze off I focus on the noise of the plane and feeling of flight as I drift off into sleep.
* "Can you believe that creep?" "No wonder he's only a level nineteen agent, no one wants to work with him." "Doesn't he realize normal people don't act that rude?"
Voices from an unknown source harass me as I walk down an empty hallway. The lights flicker above me and each door I pass is locked or has no door handle at all. I am trapped, destined to travel this unending hallway, a single door at the end but always out of reach.
"He's not very nice…" "The guy's an asshole!" "Who would want to be friends with him?"
The voices grow louder as I start to pick up the pace, spiriting down the hallway trying to reach the door.
"I heard he abandoned his only friend and left her to die." "I heard he's the reason she got killed!" "I heard she never cared for him anyways…"
The voices are overwhelmingly loud. I am in a full blown sprint now, as I chase after the door at the end of the hallway.
Suddenly, the hallway stops extending and before I can stop I run straight into the door at the end of the hall.
I slam into it so hard the door flies open and I am left on my hands and knees cowering on the floor.
I hear a shriek and look up to see—Amy!
She is sitting on the floor in her underwear, her button up shirt on her arms and hanging over both sides of her shoulders. She looks like she is terrified and tears are in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in here, I—"
"What do you want with me?!?" She cries out as she wraps the shirt tighter around her frame, almost completely covering her body with the shirt.
"I—"
"—Isn't it obvious? He's in love with you," Rouge says as she steps out of the shadows and kneels down beside Amy, placing a supportive hand on her shoulder.
"I am not!" I shout, trying to plead my case.
"He's just some asshole who thinks he can screw with your head," Jian says as she also steps out from the shadows and kneels at Amy's other side, placing her hand on Amy's other shoulder.
"That's not what this is!" I yell as I stand up.
"Then what do you want?" Rouge, shouts back, standing up herself.
"I don't know!" I reply, looking to Rouge for help but she only glares at me coldly.
"What is this then?" Jian snaps at me, standing up also.
"I don't know!" I shout back at them, taking a step back.
Amy rises from the floor and wraps the shirt around herself tightly. It barely covers her underwear and her shoulders are exposed as she clings to the fabric, holding it in place.
"What do you want from me?" Amy asks, tears in her eyes as she takes a few steps towards me.
"I don't know!" I shout as I turn and run back for the door.
I met the wall. The door is gone. I am trapped.
A small hand touches my back.
I turn to see just Amy, alone, in the room with me, still holding the button up shirt around her shoulders and covering her frame.
"What do you want from me?" She asks, her green eyes piercing into mine as she places her hand on my chest.
My heart is racing, pounding against my chest. Surely she must feel it?
"I… want…" *
Before I can answer, I hear the sound of quiet giggles and whispers to the side of me.
The sound of the planes hum floods my ears and I realize I've woken up from a dream, my body covered in a cool sweat under this damn suit.
I refrain from opening my eyes and try to ignore the chill my recent dream has left on me when I hear the voices beside me more clearly.
"…So what's up with you and the edgy hedgehog?" Jian asks.
"Jian! Be quiet, he'll hear you!" Amy snaps back in a hushed whisper.
"That dudes been sleeping like a log since we left headquarters! We're fineee. Besides, I wanna know what the deal is," Jian says back, unaware that I am in fact awake.
I decided to continue to play like I'm asleep. I don't think I could bear the embarrassment or the blush that would come with admitting I was awake right now.
They'd probably think I was creeping on their conversations the entire flight…
"There is no deal… he's just this guy I used to know and have recently reconnected with…" Amy whispered back.
"Use to know? Reconnected? I knew you two fucked!" Jian laughed to herself.
"Oh my gods, no! We knew each other when we were kids! He use to hate me… and up until recently he still did. Honestly, sometimes I think he still does…" Amy replied, forgetting to whisper this time, not that it mattered.
My heart sank in my chest when I heard her say that. I really do suck at being a decent friend. Not that this friendship was really my idea, but that's besides the point.
Amy doesn't deserve this, doesn't deserve my shitty attitude towards our friendship.
Jian laughed.
"Girl, are you delusional? That man does not hate you!" The Tiger said.
"I don't know Jian, he doesn't seem pleased to see me here or be working under me… I think he really doesn't think I deserve to be here…" Amy sighed.
"What, like you at G.U.N.? Girl, please! You saved our lives last week!… You are the sole reason sector twenty-four still has field agents! Me, Tangle, and five other people owe you our lives. I don't care how you got into S.I.N., I wouldn't be here today if you weren't!"
"Thanks, Jian… I just don't know how to relate to him. It's like every time I think I've broken ground with him, he puts another wall up…" Amy said, and she sounded defeated.
"Why are you trying so hard with him in the first place?" Jian asked Amy.
"I think he needs a friend. Rouge is worried about him and neither her nor Knuckles can get through to him lately."
"And Rouge and Knuckles are?"
"His best friends, for years," Amy replied.
"So if his best friends can't get through to him, why are you so hell bent and determined to?" Jian asked.
"Because I know what it's like to drown and not be able to ask for help."
"Well… let's just say I don't think you have anything to worry about," Jian laughed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Amy replied in a high pitched shrill.
"That hedgehog could not get enough of you in the locker room!" Jian laughed again.
"Shut up, that's not even true! He probably just didn't expect three women to start striping in front of him like that.." Amy said, to my defense.
"And why the hell not? It's G.U.N. policy. Seven minutes max in the armory. Get in, get dressed, get out," Jian replied, "We don't have time to be prudes."
"Yeah, but sector nineteen doesn't have any female agents. He probably expected separate armories for men and women," Amy stated.
"We'll thank gods we don't! Did you see his back muscles?! That hedgehog sure does know how to fill out an agent suit! Me-ow!" Jian said with a laugh but completely serious.
"Oh my gods, keep your voice down! Don't talk about him like that!" Amy snapped back in a hushed whisper.
"He's so tall and handsome as hell… He's so bad, but he does it so well," Jian sang as she teased Amy
"Jian!" Amy pleaded with her to stop.
"Why, because you want him all for yourself, Pinky?" Jian said with a teasing sigh.
"I—-I—-I didn't say that! Look, you wouldn't like it if he told all his buddies about your half naked physics so you—you shouldn't be discussing his!" Amy said, choking up on her words.
"Maybe you wouldn't! I won't mind if Mr. Mean told all his friends about the incredibly sexy tiger that he saw at work today!" Jian said as she laughed.
"Jian, please! This is a workplace, not a high school!"
Jian laughed. "Whatever you say, princess!"
"…That's captain," Amy huffed.
"Yes ma'am," Jian responded kindly, before the conversation died back down.
A few minutes passed but just as I was about to present my fake wake up, Jian spoke again.
"Hey, Captain?"
"Yes, Agent Jian?"
"I bet you're glad you wore a matching set when you picked your underwear out today, huh?"
"Shut up, Jian," Amy laughed, and Jian laughed with her.
Gods, how much longer is this plane ride?
—————————————————————————
And that's the end of this chapter!
Looks like shadow has a lot of self esteem issues he seems to be repressing instead of dealing with? And is that some ptsd/guilt from Maria? We'll see…
I've been having a lot of vivid dreams lately, and since the things I dream about stick with me and give me something to think about,
I've decided I'm going to throw a few dreams around my stories in order to write a little bit from the characters' inner psyche.
Let me know what you think, I hope you enjoy it!
Sorry it's been so long, school is getting more intense but I thank you for your patience and support!
Please leave a comment/review and let me know what you think!