Chapter Two

"…and this is our board room. Many important decisions have been made here, naturally." B.B said while opening a door for his guests.

Rouge looked around the bright room briefly. "It's literally just an arcade with a white board."

The crow picked up a basketball and scored a three pointer from twenty feet away. "It boosts creativity and team morale."

Espio remained silent while the bat checked her phone for the time.

"So, you guys used to date, right?"

"How the hell did you know that?"

B.B shrugged. "Everyone talks."

Rouge glanced at Espio but he wouldn't make eye contact, so she replied, "Well, we all needed something to pass the time during the occupation. Figured I'd try new things and when lockdown was lifted, we went our separate ways. End of story."

The chameleon cracked a smile and chuckled. "I remember it ending differently but I suppose it was merely a matter of time for us."

"We agreed that dating was only getting in the way," Rouge snapped back. "I enjoyed myself too, Espio, but let's not pretend like we were soulmates."

"No one made that claim…"

The bat scoffed at him. "I'm not going to be guilt tripped by you. We do dirty jobs. Screw emotions. Sonic is the only one who gets to live happily ever after, not us."

Espio acknowledged this with a simple head nod, staying very stoic while B.B sipped on a soda.

"…good luck on your little adventure, I'm outta here."

Rouge exited the room and hopped on the elevator.

"Quite the catch, she is." The crow quipped.

"She's just stressing over work. There's kindness under the surface."

Her elevator went up to the roof while Manic and Jamie got off a second elevator and entered the board room.

"Did Batgirl dip already?"

Espio nodded at Manic.

"I was going to tell her something funny, but nevertheless.."

"I hear a commotion, and laughter. Is there a classroom below this floor?"

"You are correct, sir." Manic said. "Some of the parents teach the children during the day, and it's our responsibility they have supplies… but for us with free time, we also have a pretty good training facility in the basement."

"…go on."

Bark entered the board room with a challenge. "We might talk strategy in this room, but things get settled downstairs. And I've got a feeling you're leaving out some important details in your story."

Espio stepped forward to face the polar bear. "I was about to get to it but it sounds like you want to 'spar.' I think we can do both."

Manic smirked while keeping them apart. "B.B, boot up The Kiln. This'll be good."

The crow left and Espio kept eye contact with Bark while asking his host a question.

"Boot up?"

"We've got a high end battleground simulator inside the facility. It helps us stay sharp against all those badland numb nuts out there."

"Mostly made up of Chambers' members."

"Now we're gettin' somewhere." Bark said while heading to the elevator. "Follow me. I'd always wanted to throw down with a narc."

The chameleon stayed close behind. "Ex narc, big boy. And I recall watching them put you away for five years."

"Now watch how long it takes to put you away."

Within the first two minutes of sparring, Bark was knocked down and the chameleon jumped around the simulated venue. They started in a rainforest, the fog obscured most of the area and the windchill felt very real. But Espio had traversed harsher terrain so it was no problem to get the high ground.

"…yer pretty good, chameleon." Bark complimented. "What do ya know 'bout The Chambers?"

"They're a syndicate who've been pushed across the world to avoid Warwick's grasp. Sonic caught most of their figureheads but the rest retreated to The Badlands."

The polar bear tried to sneak up but Espio countered the attack and floored him once more. Bark laughed and stood up to change the battleground. The chilly wind was replaced with scorching heat as a desert road was materialized. Espio was impressed with how well the simulation worked.

"…blue boy kicked out the bad guys, and y'all get to keep paradise to yourselves. So why come through here?"

He blocked Espio's homing attack and stood ready for the next strike.

"My best friend was kidnapped and killed over here."

Manic watched from a luxury box that overlooked the arena. While they fought, Jamie gave him periodic updates on the bug they planted inside Rouge' helicopter.

"So it's a revenge thing."

"It's all I want."

"And quite the coincidence, you not being on government payroll anymore. No repercussions."

"I know I'll pay for my sins one way or another. But I don't care."

Bark motioned to step up and trade shots so Espio raced forward. They engaged and the chameleon was hit with a powerful blow that knocked him skidding across the 'asphalt.' He got to one knee and held his chest, while his sparring partner cracked his knuckles and waited for a response.

"Looking to die fairly quick fighting like that."

"Those men who killed Vector won't see the daggers coming. I'm only blowing off steam in here."

"Quite the grieving process, guy."

"…my other option left."

As they changed the battlefield, Manic left them and went up to the computer lab a few floors above. Jamie, his girlfriend Lita and Nina sat at stations and played a team deathmatch in their favourite FPS.

The green hedgehog pushed the door open and asked, "You get anything from Batgirl?"

"Nothing of importance." Jamie answered. "She's been singing TLC, off key, for thirty minutes straight. I don't think I can take anymore."

"Nobody can beat the original, anyway. Where is she now?"

He glanced at his second monitor for a moment then went back to his game. "..by the border."

Manic watched the red marker move across the screen, while Rouge switched songs on her playlist. The audio spiked and Jamie threw his headset off.

"Okay, she has to know we're listening."

"Damn. Was hoping she'd let something slip about the deals going on 'round here…"

The bat laughed aloud as her music blared. "You dickheads get what you wanted? Yeah, I found your stupid bug! Nice try, Manic!"

The green hedgehog looked away from the computer and walked to the door.

Before she tossed the bug out her side door, Rouge spotted something in the distance. The unattended entry port she used to enter The Badlands was now heavily occupied.

"The hell is this?" She asked while slowing down.

A watchtower had been built and a search light shined on the chopper. Someone in fatigues motioned for her to land her chopper, next to the other vehicles that'd been stopped. She knew right away these weren't cops by the fact these men carried assault rifles, yet they were searching everyone they've stopped. A very tall tall man dressed in a combat uniform approached her helicopter after it landed and he waited for Rouge to step out.

"What's going on? Your holding up traffic!" She yelled.

"We are border control officials and have reason to believe suspected 'runners' are using this port, so it's been closed-"

"Alright, I'll just use another route."

"All ports are closed until further notice."

"You can't do that, I have to get home! These folks likely live over there, too! Let us through right now!"

The massive guard cracked a smile. "What are you going to do, call the cops?"

Jamie turned away from his game screen and yelled out, "Manic, come back, something's happening!"

"What is it?" He asked.

They listened while she argued with the guard.

"You'd better get out of here with that tough guy act, douche! Let me through!"

"We're commandeering this helicopter. Step aside."

Manic looked at Jamie for a second, then he ran to grab his jade medallion. His body illuminated with energy for the first time in years and after getting the coordinates to Rouge' location, he sped down the north stairwell of the tower.

He was used to pushing through pedestrians but since hardly anyone lived in Labyrinth, Manic cleared blocks in seconds but it took some time to get used to this speed. After slipping and crashing into trees, he followed the phone's GPS instructions and saw the syndicate patrol.

"Ten. Eleven. Twelve…" Manic counted quietly. "..should be no problem."

As the tall guard pushed a male badger against his car, six other gunmen pointed their weapons at his family inside. A neon ball of energy blasted the group backward and panic ensued.

Rouge ducked into her helicopter when the gunfire rang out, as it was bulletproof. When she started the engine, the tall man ripped one of the rotor blades off.

"Are you shitting me?! Come on, this is BRAND NEW!"

She watched Manic dodge gunfire with acrobatics and fire energy in return. The others who were detained made a run for the canyons while they fought. Rouge waited for the green hedgehog to incapacitate the syndicate men before she got out. She clearly wasn't sticking around to help.

"I knew we'd see each other sometime, Manic." The tall man said.

He slid across the ground and faced off with the guard. "And you are…?"

"I'm disappointed you forgot me. Maybe this will jog your memory-"

The guard fired a shot so fast, the bullet went through Manic's abdomen before he could react. Rouge audibly gasped when he fell to his knees.

He struggled to breathe while trying to heal himself, and the guard walked toward him while switching firearms. Manic flashed his jade energy to temporarily blind the guard and combat rolled before being executed. He jumped up and disarmed his opponent, but was overpowered. His medallion didn't heal him like it used to and he took heavy blows to the face. A spinning back kick knocked him into the side of Rouge' helicopter and he spit out blood.

Her door swung open and she fired Desert Eagle rounds at the guard's head. They clanged off his helmet and he went down immediately, while Manic looked on.

"Jesus, woman!"

"I should've let him cap you for planting a bug in my chopper!"

He raised his arms apologetically. "Had to be sure you weren't leaking our location to anyone."

"That's dumb as shit and you suck one-on-one!"

"I don't usually deal with performance issues."

Rouge grabbed a bag and hopped out of the disabled chopper. "Well now you owe me one. See you around."

Manic watched the bat take flight and head toward the port through the canyons, then almost immediately flew right back to him.

"Need to yell at me some more?" He asked.

Rouge reached out to offer her hand, which confused Manic until he saw the horde of Chambers' gunmen climbing up the hill after them. He took her hand and conjured a shield just as the bullets were fired.

"Holy shit, holy SHIT!"

"Which way to your tower?!"

"Northwest! Move it!"

"I'm not Tails, piss off and keep them off our back!"

They'd escaped the ambush relatively unharmed, and the tall guard miraculously got back to his feet. The helmet was built to take some damage, bullets or energy beams, and every Chambers foot soldier wore one.

"Rip the chopper apart. Find anything she was hiding." The guard ordered.

His men went to work, while he followed the trail of spilled blood. The evil smile returned while he pulled out his phone.

An hour passed by the time Rouge and Manic returned to the Liberation Tower. He'd healed well in that time. They landed at the front doors and said hi to the doorman/security guard Corben. The tower was locked down and Manic's circle was called to the board room. He assured them he was fine when they saw the bandages covering the bullet wound.

Lita, Jamie, Nina, and B.B sat around the extended air hockey table while Espio and Bark stood by the door, both now sporting fresh bruises. The chameleon was surprised to see Rouge standing in the room as well.

"Heeey guys," she greeted. "Turns out I'm sticking around for a little while longer."

"Trouble outside?" Lita asked.

Manic stood up. "Yeah, big time. We've got Chambers in the area and now they're pissed at us."

"Let me guess," Espio said. "They closed the border."

"Look at you, brains. Hey, did you know about the bug slugger here planted in my chopper? Bad guys have it now 'cause of you, Manuel."

"I thought we were passed that?"

"What? The hell is wrong with you!" Nina said.

"Guys, we're gettin' off topic here-"

Daaaad!

The group were caught off guard when the child's voice echoed throughout. They watched a tiny hedgehog boy run across the room and into Manic's arms. He was identical to his father in every way except for the eyes, they were blue like his mother's.

Cee entered the room. "Sorry babe but he wouldn't go to bed unless he saw you."

"Um, dad?" Espio asked.

"Yeah. This is my son. Espio, Rouge, meet Graham. Say hi, Gee."

"Aww, he's so adorable!" Rouge exclaimed.

Espio turned to the mother. "Hello miss Cee. It's been a few years."

"Oh hey, I remember you. Espio, that's right. You and Vector are with agent Warwick. Did he send you here?"

"No, I came alone," he glanced at Rouge for a moment. "…originally, that is. I came for help finding - some bad guys."

"Bad guys?" The boy asked.

Manic stood up to hand Graham back to Cee. "I'll be up in a few minutes, little man. Daddy has to finish work. Brush your teeth and listen to mom."

Rouge smiled while waving goodbye to Graham, then everyone sat down.

"Where were they hiding this entire time?"

"Downstairs. I asked Cee to stay with the other families the moment you guys showed up. We take security precautions here, and you can see why. We've been trying to stay low key-"

"And now we have trouble with the syndicate." Bark said.

The group turned to Rouge and Espio.

"Manic, I-"

"That wasn't our intention." Espio replied.

"No… but here we are. I've got no doubt they'll come around, so we're gonna need your help."

"I came here to ask for the same thing, these men are cowardly murderers. I want them gone as much as you."

Manic turned to Rouge for a response.

"I just wanna go home," she said. "..but I don't wanna see anything bad happen here, so I'll help too."

"Sounds like a plan, then. I hope you guys like long days and late nights."

Espio smirked. "You know I hardly sleep. I live for this."

"Very good. I'll leave you guys to figure who's at what station, and who sleeps where. I've got some things to sort out before I'm ready to fight again."

Nina and Lita lightly shook Rouge' arms. "Come on, we'll show you around the cool side of the tower while the boys get everything set up."

B.B, Bark and Jamie sarcastically gave them obscene gestures and Espio waited for instructions. With the tower locked down, the group now needed to ready themselves for the imminent arrival of The Chambers.

By now, the canyons were crawling with syndicate members and their ward leader was in the middle of a phone call to the higher ups. The back of the tall guard's head was exposed while he exchanged helmets, and he spoke into an earpiece.

"…it was Manic the hedgehog. He had an enhancement and backup… I'm calling in Redd on the probability there are more elementals inside Labyrinth… I'm aware she's on assignment but respectfully, she won't find those runners over there… tell her she can have the tower once we take it."