Chapter Three

BUSINESS LOUNGE - TWO GATES CITY

Agent Warwick didn't want his government agency, The Orderix, to be plagued with mass corruption like G.U.N was, so he ensured their strict guidelines were followed, and led by example. He'd known of The Chambers' activities while under the previous administration but couldn't do anything as a low ranking official. Now, he was in charge and it was past time to put an end to this syndicate. The arrests stirred the pot, but the seizure of businesses forced them to flee from paradise and start over. Revenue loss was destroying The Chambers, and The Orderix would keep going.

This rainy morning, Warwick assembled local PD to accompany him while he took his personal squad up to arrest a top executive for a business front of The Chambers.

The squad was made up by trackers Jet, Storm and Wave; The Babylon Rogues. SAGE, the upgraded swatbot reprogrammed by Tails. And Manic's elemental protege Starr. Espio and Vector spent years training this group and once they were a unit, Mobius' greatest agents gave the approval to Warwick.

They flanked the boss while entering the business lounge and got executives' attention. "Everybody stay where you are, do not move!"

The Orderix agents took charge while Warwick walked toward the executive's office.

"We're here for Mr. Lenn, where is he?"

Numerous employees all claimed not to know where their boss was, which didn't surprise Warwick but it did piss him off. SAGE politely questioned the secretary, the Rogues played bad cop and Starr searched the lounge. Warwick spotted an old, grey haired hedgehog amongst the crowd and stepped forward to face him. This senior wearing a crimson three piece suit was identified as Slayton, the callous leader of The Chambers.

"Don't make this difficult. Give up your boy."

Slayton was slow to make eye contact. "It appears the chairman of this institution has taken a personal day. What he does on his time is entirely up to him, agent."

"You're only adding more shit to your plate lying to us, old man, and I'm going to make damn sure you eat all of it."

"I don't appreciate the constant harassment, your accusations are proven false time and time again in court. It's time for you to move on."

"Funny you should mention that, I was going to advise you do the same." Warwick said while motioning to his squad. "At the rate I work at, you'd be smart to get out while you can."

Starr saw him point toward a maroon haired female hedgehog standing to the right. White button up shirt, tie, black skirt and heels. Looked roughly the same age as the elemental, and she sported some interesting jewelry around her wrists.

"…I have no reason to flee, my business here is legitimate but I will record that threat. Is there anything else-"

"There is," Starr chimed in. "I had a question about those rings. What's your name?"

The young lady smiled and she walked next to Slayton. "They call me Redd. Nice to meet you, agent."

"Right, Shadow the Hedgehog owned those power rings, correct? I remember seeing those as a kid, wouldn't forget what they looked like."

"I'm not sure where this claim comes from but I assure you-"

"If you think I can't prove it, give me ten minutes."

"I purchased these at an auction, I'll have you know." The old man said. "The certificate of authenticity is in my office if you'd like to see it. But if that's all, respectfully, you have no lawful business here."

Warwick gave them both a death stare before leaving. "Do you think your guys will kill Dogg before he kills you?"

"Good day, agent."

Redd's smile grew and she waved enthusiastically to each member of the squad, especially Starr. There was a mutual dislike but this girl definitely won the first exchange.

Redd dropped the fake smile and joined Slayton in the back room. "They're getting braver by the day."

"They've been putting in extra hours so that would explain it."

The secretary closed the door behind them so they wouldn't be disturbed.

"I'm worried Warwick knows too much, father. He name dropped Dogg on purpose."

"He knows I employed him in the past, that's all. He wants Dogg and Scourge back in prison, nothing more."

She exhaled. "Yeah, well not only that, but that bitch with the big mouth recognized these rings the second she looked at me. There's gotta be a million replicas but she knew…I should just waste her-"

"You've been called in."

"Alastair can't handle Rail Canyon? I figured."

"He says Manic is picking a fight. Somebody smuggled his medallion across the border, he's become a threat once more."

The maroon hedgehog looked out the window. "Let me ask you, why are we still backing up Nero's dimwits? We have enough problems over here, we shouldn't waste resources keeping up this truce!"

"Nero keeps the cycle going in The Badlands, you know this. Fleeing is slowly becoming a reality, my dear. Just go over and flush them out, Alastair can take it from there. You'll be home by morning."

Slayton waited for his daughter's response, and she nodded. He grinned and opened a book while she walked out the door.


Bark, B.B and Jamie planted stationary turrets and landmines throughout the dilapidated town streets around their tower, while Nina and Lita parked junk cars at separate intersections. They had a defensive strategy ready for this very occasion, which is why they stocked up on weapons and ammunition. Inside the tower, Manic brought the families to the bunker. It depressed him to know this was normal for them, and he yearned to get his family out of this situation. He hugged Graham and kissed Cee, then went back upstairs.

"I need a soundtrack, here!" He said into his comm.

'House of the Rising Sun' echoed through the tower.

"…that'll work."

Rouge was shown to the weapons cashe where she eagerly took a kevlar vest, twin Desert Eagles and a Mac 10. Curiously, Espio didn't take anything and only waited in the hallway.

"You always go in naked to every fight?" Manic asked.

"I have everything I need."

Rouge shook her head. "You know these guys are coming to shoot, and not to throw hands, right?"

"I had some inclination, yes."

The bat and hedgehog watched Espio type into a touchscreen display on his gauntlet. The exterior of his combat suit suddenly hardened into dense yet thin armour. A silver neck guard protected his exposed skin and a metallic helmet materialized perfectly around his head. LED sights in his eyes blinked and scanned the room. Both Rouge and Manic were impressed by the armour.

"Man, you make the rest of us look like pansies with this getup!"

Rouge went in close. "I'm not gonna lie, this is the best you've ever looked."

"Not really meant for fashion, but I'll take the compliment. Where do you want me?"

Manic pulled up a layout of the downtown square on a swivelling TV screen. "Looks like you can take a hit, so I suggest you cover the front line from a vantage point. Corben will be our eyes in the sky so listen to his prompts. Chambers have body armour too so you've gotta hit 'em hard in order to drop 'em."

"Are these guys really the be-all end-all?" Rouge asked.

"Let's just say, all the weapons banned over there are owned by Slayton's guys here."

"Who is that?"

"The founder and worshipped leader of The Chambers." Espio said while showing an image of him on his gauntlet display.

"He's a sack-less old prick to me," Manic said. "Coward pays betas with guns to kill 'cause he can't do it, himself. Then lives off whatever they steal."

"Wow, I wonder why I haven't heard of him before…"

"We should take up positions, never know how long we have until they come."

Manic swallowed some Advil, grasped his medallion tight and took in all of the jade energy it releases. His forearm veins resembled glow sticks and he clenched his fists. The trio walked out the door to the rooftop and looked over the square. Manic ran down the side of the tower, while Rouge flew to another building, and Espio shot a grappling hook from his right gauntlet and traversed the area.

"Everyone, stay vigilant." Manic said. "These guys like sneak attacks so don't be surprised if we're waiting all day for them."

Bark yawned. "Oi, I'm tired 'a waiting already!"

"Just be ready, big man."

The morning breeze died down as the hours went by, and the sun heated up the battleground. Rouge sat in the shade while Espio opened an air vent to circulate air through his armour and keep him cool. Bark dosed off periodically but would jump when he heard the slightest of sounds. B.B kept everyone's spirits up by sharing sharing useless facts over the radio channel.

Alastair, the ward leader of Rail Canyon, sent groups to cover every entrance into the small town and he called his team to stay on him. Redd arrived with a change of clothes, swapping the business casual for athletic wear covered by tactical gear. She was greeted with scorn from her contemporaries.

"I'm not happy being here, either, but you begged for help so," she started with. "Keep your eyes forward."

"We've wasted enough time."

Alastair led the small army into the city, and Redd produced a crimson chaos emerald. She teleported from her position and surveyed the battleground as she circled around. The landmines and turrets caught her attention but instead of inform her allies, she kept it to herself. These were Nero's men, after all, and she wouldn't miss them.

Espio spotted the very tall ward leader first. "Incoming at the south entrance."

Manic recognized him. "I get first crack."

The elemental vaulted across rooftops and landed twenty five feet from Alastair. It took Manic a moment but he remembered where he saw the massive soldier before. Outside Casino Night Zone, misunderstanding between he and Scourge. And Cee being held at gunpoint.

They stopped ten feet from each other and Manic spoke first. "I didn't get your name that night. Would you like to share."

"You slipped away from me last time," the leader said. "I couldn't catch you over there, but now you're stuck on our land. It seems too good to be true."

"It is. You think I'm an easy kill. I fought a goddamn mammoth right after I skipped town, what makes you think you stand a chance?"

"It's not him you should be flirting with."

The hedgehog's gaze was brought to the left of the giant. Redd teleported beside him, looking unimpressed.

"Alastair isn't one for small talk, so he called me to help. But you don't stand out to me. I'm already bored of this."

"Alastair, eh? And who the hell are you?" Manic asked while checking her out.

"Redd. You like what you see?"

"The jewelry and chaos emerald, yes. You? I've seen better."

She glanced up at the giant and laughed. "I was wrong, you do interest me, Manic. Surrender and we can continue this conversation elsewhere."

"Sure, let's do it. I'll lay down and let you take everything. Totally."

Alastair rolled his eyes. "Put a hole through him, already."

"Big Al wants to go. Come on."

Redd sensed movement above and teleported just as razor sharp daggers were thrown her way. The giant blocked his neck and they stuck in his left arm, then Manic engaged him.

He looked up at Espio for a second. "I called first dibs, dude!"

The chameleon couldn't respond because Redd appeared behind him and fired a laser from the emerald at him, which he took head on. The attack knocked him off the rooftop he stood on so he fired the grappling hook and swung to another building. The maroon hedgehog met him on this rooftop and fired more shots, this time he evaded them.

Alastair kicked Manic away and looked back to his men.

KILL THEM ALL!

The horde rushed to flood the city from all directions. They were fired upon and the explosions rocked the streets, yet hardly any foot soldiers went down. Bark unveiled an arsenal of weapons from his post and rained bullets into the gunmen. Nina detonated explosives underground and this created deep sink holes that trapped dozens and cut their numbers down. Redd was shocked by how good their defensive measures were, but continued fighting.

She punched Espio but his armour only damaged her fist. She teleported and let out a quiet groan while shaking her hand.

"…Manic's friends are full of surprises, too. I like the armour. There's a dead guy in it, though."

Espio used his heads up display to try and follow Redd as she teleported around him. He stayed silent and ignored her taunts while dodging beams. She moved much faster than him but he knew where she was going to be. One backflip evasion later, the grappling hook was fired at the perfect moment and caught her right bicep.

"What the hell?"

She took Espio with her when she teleported and he shot the second grappling hook at a nearby wall, then tossed her back to the sidewalk. Redd screamed out when the crimson emerald slipped from her hand.

She barrel rolled away and Espio stepped in front the gem. "Experience comes in handy."

"Give it back. Now."

"That would be foolish of me."

"I recognize you - the ninja."

Espio scanned her face but no matches came back on his HUD. He could only guess as to how this syndicate killer knew him.

"…I didn't get a chance to work on your buddy but I heard he lasted a few days."

He lowered his helmet so he could look into her eyes. "Tell me who killed my friend."

"Couldn't say. I don't work in this shithole, but that'd be a good question for Big Al."

They looked on while Alastair dodged gunfire from Bark's weapons. Espio changed targets but picked up the chaos emerald.

"We're only here for Manic, so hand that over and I'll let you live."

"The lies don't stop with you. This belongs to Shadow, and so do those power rings."

"Yeah, so I've been told. You've gotta admit, these look better on my wrists than his."

"You killed Shadow?"

"Pfft, duh! I'll bury you next to him, too. Just hand that over."

"…come get it."