Sonic X: Penny's Tale: Book One

Robotnik's Revenge

Soon, Scarlet and Mr. Stewart headed towards the retirement home.

"Excuse me," Scarlet said, walking up to some women on the front porch. "I'm Scarlet Garcia. From SSTV news." 

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"Reporter, I have nothing to say to you!" Mr. Shmitz said, glaring at Mrs. Garcia and Mr. Stewart. "I just want to be left alone!"

"We don't want to trouble you, sir!" Scarlet said, waving him down with her hands. "We simply would like to ask you a couple of questions."

"Can you tell us what happened on Space Colony Ark about 50 years ago?" Mr. Stewart asked Mr. Shmitz curiously.

"Nothing happened." Mr. Shmitz said, closing his eyes and looking away.

"I understand your reluctance to talk about it, sir, but you were there when it occurred and we need to find out all that we can." Scarlet said. "Please, sir, I need to know."

"You don't have any idea on what you're getting involved in, young lady." Mr. Shmitz said, staring at her fiercely. "Just leave it alone before you stir up trouble!"

...............

"Looks like you boys really goofed, didn't they?" Rouge asked Eggman.

"None of your business!" Eggman growled at her from the screen.

"Fine," Rouge said. "Let's launch the counter-attack! How about giving me the password for the colony?"

"M A R I A. Maria," Eggman said. "That's the magic word. Meanwhile, I'll be standing by a crazy gadget."

Rouge smirked when the screen went black. "Fooling that fool oughta be a snap." She said. She moved towards the keyboard. "Alright, let's start hacking. Maria. M-a-r-i-a."

Rouge smiled in satisfaction when the screen opened up and looked at the files. "Let's see what pops up here." She clicked through files until she found the one she wanted. "Ah. Project Shadow. Top Secret. Sounds exciting! 'Ultimate creature development project.'" Rouge read. "Sure sounds juicy to me." Her eyes widened when she continued reading. "Shadow. Sealed off?" She asked. "But how?!"

She stood up. "But if that's true... then who's he?"

.................................

Penny sighed as she closed her eyes, curling up on the floor beside Shadow. Shadow watched by her side out the window at an upcoming spaceship.

"Here comes your friend," Shadow said.

That woke up Penny quite quickly. "Hu?" She asked. She stood up and quickly turned to the window. "You mean Sonic?" She asked.

"He'll be a fool to challenge me." Shadow huffed.

"You're the fool!" Penny huffed back. "Not Sonic!"

Shadow turned to the girl. "You'll see I'm right. This is one battle your friend cannot win."

Penny's heart started pounding, and she turned her attention back to the image of the spacecraft flying towards them. "Sonic..." The girl thought.

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"What you're investigating is much more dangerous than you know!" Mr. Shmitz said, refusing to communicate. "I won't answer any of your questions and that's that!"

"Please, sir!" Scarlet pleaded. "You've just GOT to tell us what happened! You're the only survivor! Everyone else was...lost..." She shuddered. She closed her eyes. "Even my father." She looked at him. "I'm begging you, please tell us! You owe it to the memory of all those innocent people!"