"What did the bunny say to the duck?" Shadow asked.
Cream thought for a moment, furrowing her brow. "I don't know. What?"
Shadow spoke with a deadpan tone and expression, which served to make the punchline all the more funny to Cream, "You quack me up."
Cream giggled then let out a small fit of laughter. "Okay. Okay. It's my turn now." Cream cleared her throat to compose herself. "Where do rabbits learn how to fly?"
Shadow smiled knowingly, he and Maria had often shared jokes five decades prior, many of the jokes Cream and Shadow now shared Shadow had heard before from Maria. "G.U.N. flight school?"
"No." Cream fought back a fit of laughter, "In the hare force."
Shadow smiled and poured Cream another cup of tea. Shadow genuinely enjoyed Cream's company. What he admired most of all about the small rabbit, just as he had also admired in Maria, was Cream's virtue. The world could never fully appreciate or comprehend the good that one person could do. How one person could touch the lives of so many and by causality, affect the world for the better, yet tragically, at that same moment, that same person would be none the wiser to their own irreplaceable contribution that bettered the world. Most were ignorant of this fact…
Shadow was not.
"Not bad Cream, I have one final joke for you and I have saved the best for last. The ultimate joke." Shadow grinned mischievously. "A joke so powerful it will through its very utterance destroy any comedic power your previous jokes had."
Cream leaned forward on the small plastic table they sat at. Her face beaming with excitement before getting stoic and serious, an expression she learned from mimicking Shadow.
"I'm ready."
"Are you sure Cream? I'm not sure you are."
"Mr. Shadow. I was born ready."
"Alright then… What is a prickly pair?"
Cream thought for a moment, then her face lit up as the answer dawned on her, "Two hedgehogs."
Smart girl, Shadow thought. "Nope. What do you call a prickly pair…?"
Cream racked her brain thinking but could not think of the answer. "What?" She asked.
"Sonic and Amy."
Cream burst into laughter.
Tarious sat at the table between Shadow and Cream, opposite Cheese. He continued munching on the fruit Shadow had given him, not really understanding the joke. Tarious had been invited to play with the other Chao but declined. He wanted to stay with Shadow as he had a burning desire for head pats that he was determined to receive one way or another.
The door to the Garden opened.
Shadow's eyes darted to the door as it began to open. His hands reflexively grabbed whatever could be used as a weapon. A teapot. A butter knife. His own clenched teeth and fists.
Dr. Nagato entered the parted door. Shadow relaxed.
"Mr. Shadow. We need to talk. Please follow me at once."
"Later. I'm busy."
"I wasn't asking."
Dr. Nagato and Shadow attempted to stare each other down. One being just as stubborn as the other.
"It is of the utmost importance." Dr. Nagato said.
Shadow relented. "Fine, but make it quick. I don't like my time being wasted."
"Please, follow me to my office."
Shadow promised Cream and Tarious he would return shortly, then, after giving Tarious some much deserved head pats, he followed Dr. Nagato out the metal sliding doors and into a long hallway.
"What is all this about, Doctor?"
"Not now."
Upon reaching the elevator, once the doors closed Dr. Nagato spoke to Shadow, "Upon entering my lab and office, do not touch anything, and I mean anything. Also, any electronics you possess will be left in a secure container. Phone, watch, pacemaker, anything and everything. "
"Why so secretive, Doctor? In my experience nothing good comes from it. Especially when it involves members of the intelligentsia like yourself." Shadow said.
Dr. Nagato rolled his eyes as the elevator dinged and the doors parted. He went through the security procedure and then buzzed Shadow through.
Dr. Nagato had barely opened the door half an inch to his private office and lab when he slammed it shut.
"Excuse me for one moment. I forgot how messy the lab had become. Please turn around for a moment.
Shadow reluctantly did so.
Dr. Nagato was gone for only a minute. He soon opened the door and upon Shadow entering the lab, Dr. Nagato led him to a solid lead container, which sat inside another technological device.
"Everything goes in here-"
Ding
Dr, Nagato's phone had chimed, so he checked his phone's notifications. "There has been another missile strike by Eggman."
"Any casualties?" Shadow asked.
"None fortunately. Though, I worry. I worry quite a bit. I have a grandson, I'd be devastated if something were to happen to them and their parents."
"Well, once we deal with Eggman, you'll have much less cause to worry."
Dr. Nagato sent a text, then turned off his phone. He put the last of his electronics in the safe. A few seconds later, Shadow heard a similar ding from another device behind what he assumed to be a locked door.
"The jamming device alone should be strong enough to prevent any eavesdropping, but only a fool trusts technology wholeheartedly. I find the periodic table and physics to be much more reliable at times. Just one last check."
With that said, Dr. Nagato grabbed what looked to be a hand held metal detector, "If you don't mind, could you raise your arms and make a T pose?"
"Do you give Cream the same royal treatment?"
"Don't be ridiculous…" Dr. Nagato froze. His mind racing with terror, but as soon as it had gripped him, he mentally waved off the possibility. "Ridiculous. Now, this will let me know if there are any bugs on you, what you may think is a flea could actually be an Eggman or G.U.N. micro bot spying on you."
Shadow glared at the Doctor as he was checked for bugs.
"Alright. You can lower your arms now."
"So what am I doing here?"
"Would you like to take a seat?" Dr. Nagato asked.
"No. I want you to get to the point."
"Okay. Alright. I'll take a seat then."
It was at that moment Shadow noticed that on the end of the table sat two still steaming cups of tea. Sitting on the table next to Dr. Nagato was.a comically large briefcase. Dr. Nagato reached over and unlocked the briefcase. He then turned it around so the contents faced Shadow."
"Hmph. What is this? You wanted to show off your retirement savings from one senior to another. Don't make me laugh-"
"-No. This is a bribe."
Shadow crossed his arms threateningly. "I'd be very careful with what you are about to propose."
"I am confident you will find my proposal most agreeable."
"Then you don't know me as well as you think you do."
"On the contrary. I know your type very well."
"You know nothing about me. Who I am or what I fight for."
"Don't be stupid. You're a soldier. A highly trained lapdog. When G.U.N. says jump you ask, how high?"
Shadow bared a fang and clenched his fists. "I'd be very careful with throwing around those accusations if I were you."
"Or what? You'll threaten me? Beat me? Kill me? So quick to resort to violence. I wonder what Cream would say?"
"Not at all, I'd simply turn my back on you and walk out of here. Never to return-" Shadow then spoke under his breath, "-and I'd take Tarious with me."
Shadow and Dr. Nagato glared at one another. The latter leaned back in his chair, "Mr. Shadow." He began, as he clapped his hands together before interlocking his fingers, "One does not need intel from a military intelligence agency nor a Phd to know we don't exactly get along. We got off to a bad start. For that I sincerely apologize. Perhaps we can put our interpersonal relationship aside and clear the air between us?"
"Fine. Just get on with it."
"Mr. Shadow, please answer honestly. If you were ordered to assassinate me. Would you-"
"-Yes. Definitely. Without a second thought." Shadow smirked.
Dr. Nagato glared yet again, "I'm serious."
"You assume I'm not being serious?" Shadow chuckled.
"Most amusing. Fine then. Same question, but the target is Cream the Rabbit. Do you carry out your order?"
Shadow's grin was wiped off his face.
Shadow was livid. "This is the most ridiculous question I have ever heard-"
"- Then it should be easy to answer." Dr. Nagato retorted, pressing Shadow to answer.
"... don't waste my time." Shadow turned and began to leave the high security lab.
"I want to pay you to train her. Train her to be so strong that neither G.U.N. nor Eggman could bring about her demise… and ideally, neither could you…" Dr. Nagato said.
Shadow stopped dead in his tracks.
"What… what did you just say to me?"
"I want you to train her. She must become stronger. I would pay you handsomely."
Shadow about-faced and proceeded to walk up to the seated Doctor.
"I understand you may wish to talk specifics. If you prefer jewels or precious metals that's not a pr-"
Shadow had closed the distance between them, reached up and grabbed the Doctor by the throat, Shadow then threw him onto the ground, and proceeded to choke him with one hand.
"Why would Cream need to be trained to survive assassination attempts from Eggman and G.U.N. as well as best me in Combat? What the hell are you hiding? Speak." Shadow shouted as he violently shook the Doctor for emphasis.
As Shadow momentarily relented, relaxing his grip, Dr. Nagato struggled to gulp down air, then after swallowing enough oxygen, he spoke, "Please don't take this the wrong way but I cannot trust G.U.N. or the Federation, and I don't trust you either so-"
Dr. Nagato wasn't sure what had happened but he found himself on the ground one moment, speaking to Shadow, then the next he was flying through the air. It happened so fast, yet paradoxically, it happened in slow motion as well. Regardless of his wacky perception of the event, he roughly landed on the table, knocking over the suitcase filled with a comical amount of Federation currency, before he rolled onto the ground, then came to a rest along the wall.
Dr. Nagato, shook his head, more dazed and confused than in any physical harm despite the assault upon him. He looked up and saw Shadow standing over him. Dr. Nagato raised his hands in a defensive, fearful posture, then lowered them, slumping back against the wall chuckling.
"This could have gone better."
Shadow blinked, and looked at the Doctor on the ground who sat surrendered and defeated. He looked at his hands as he noticed his body was shaking slightly out of… of fear? Dread? His body was clearly in fight or flight mode. He forced himself to be calm. He closed his eyes and lowered his head in shame.
"I- I'm sorry. I have not acted like this in some time. It is not something you deserved nor is it something I am proud of. I hope in time you can forgive me."
Shadow opened his eyes and reached down to offer the Doctor a hand.
Dr. Nagato accepted it. "No worries. Like I said, we simply needed to clear the air between us. Shall we take a seat?"
"S-sure."
"As I was saying, I would like you to train Cream. While I have my concerns regarding you and G.U.N. you do have her trust and the combat expertise to train her."
"Train her in what exactly?"
"Anything. Everything. She needs to be able to defend herself from G.U.N. from Dr. Eggman, even from you, and I."
Shadow stared into Dr. Nagato's eyes then asked the single most important question he could think of, "Is Cream in danger?"
Dr. Nagato swallowed. "There are many secrets that I possess. Secrets that I could only entrust to two people. My late wife was one such person. The other, Cream the Rabbit. I cannot trust anyone else. Even you. Though, I wish it were otherwise."
Shadow felt anger and rage swelling inside him. "I am going to ask you one more time. By chaos, you are going to give me a yes or no answer. Is Cream in danger?"
"...she is."
Shadow stood up off the chair and began to nervously pace about the room as he wracked his brain. He suddenly stopped walking momentarily.
"From who?" Shadow said.
"Eggman. G.U.N. Anyone who desires power. She has time to grow her strength. How much time, I do not know."
Shadow could not believe what he was hearing. This couldn't be happening. This had to be a nightmare. Surely he was mistaken? "Do you really think G.U.N. would-"
"-I know they will. They've done it before. It wouldn't have been the first time the Federation has killed children in the name of protecting the greater good. You've worked at G.U.N. You know how they operate."
"They… they've changed. They're not the same institution they used to be. They weren't the ones who killed innocent men, women, and children fifty odd years ago."
"You're wrong Shadow. They very much are. A government is a many headed hydra. Cooler heads may prevail and keep the beast docile and tamed, but make no mistake. Any of its powers, including its military and intelligence agencies, could all be turned against the people they have sworn to protect. Especially if it is in the name of protecting the greater good. Especially if fear and hatred consume their consciousness. Then mass tragedy is all but assured unless the people, or in this case, Cream, has the ability to protect herself from tyrannical, corrupt, and Machiavellian entities."
Shadow stood silently then spoke, "How much are you willing to pay?"
As Dr. Nagato opened his mouth to answer, Shadow spoke yet again.
"Double it."
"Done."
"Double it again."
"Whatever you wish."
Shadow stood silently, thinking. He turned and walked up to the Doctor and offered a hand.
Dr. Nagato reached down and shook Shadow's hand.
"Forget the damn money. I'll train her for free. I cannot be bribed, remember? Don't insult me again."
The doctor exhaled a breath he had not realized he was holding. "Thank you, Shadow. I may be beginning to see what Cream sees in you."
"Understand this…" Shadow began as he moved to the door that led out to the hallway he had entered from. "It is her choice, I will not force her to do anything, though, I will have a talk with her. Then, the choice is in her hands."
"Of course. That is all that I ask. That she be given the choice and opportunity to protect herself. Thank you."
"Later old man."
"You too."
Shadow walked out the door.
"Oh, one more thing." Shadow said as he stuck his head through the open door. "What ammo are your guards equipped with?"
"Oh, uh, 5.56 hollow point rounds and 12 gauge buckshot. Why?"
"Change it to tracer and armor piercing rounds, repeating in that order for the 5.56 ammo. For the 12 gauge, change it to armor piercing slugs."
"We'll do that."
"Good."
As Shadow walked down the hall, his superhuman hearing could have sworn he heard the Doctor speaking to someone.
His mind and body was on edge. He was clearly hearing things.
"Ridiculous." Shadow said to himself.
It must have been his imagination.