Sonic the Hedgehog

Team Dark

Well, no point in staying up here. Rouge thinks to herself begrudgingly.

It's true. With Eggman staring up at her exact location, an escape seems risky. Not only was her arrival expected, but so was her method of entry. The likelihood of guards stationed outside to prevent her from leaving is high. It's no wonder the mad scientist below her has stayed out of GUN's radar for so long. That doesn't give the spy much relief as she pushes the vent out in front of her and slowly descends onto the floor below. Both Eggman and the Jackal Rouge now identifies as Zero study her closely, anticipating any sudden movements. But it's not just them in the room. No, in the other corner, out of Rouge's initial sight is a robot that looks to give GUN Hunters a run for their money.

The hulking robot stares at Rouge with bright, glowing red eyes. Its hulking body has an appropriate red and black color scheme, except for its yellow square head and spiked metallic bracelets. Like most other Eggman creations, the mechanism looks as if it were built out of nothing less than titanium. What catches Rouge's interest is the ingrained Omega symbol on its right shoulder.

"Ah, Rouge, so kind of you to join us!" Eggman says, relaxed. "Now the fun can really begin."

"I like fun," Rouge says, not allowing herself to feel intimidated. "Just not too much of it. What's this about? You said you were hiring me to steal something."

"And that hasn't changed," Eggman responds in a playfully innocent voice. "What's wrong, Rouge? Don't you trust your employer?"

"I trust no one," she says coldly. "Least of all a global terrorist."

"I like you already," Eggman says. "Ease up, Rouge, this is still, by all means, a transaction, think of it as nothing more."

Rouge can't tell if Eggman is simply playing naive, or if he genuinely sees nothing suspicious about having a killer machine in the room watching her every move. Eggman walks over to a safe sitting on a desk behind Zero and begins imputing the combination. As he does so, Zero eyes Rouge, who immediately does so back. The experienced Spy knows his type just by looking at him. A worthless, boot-licking Lackie who can't afford to not look threatening. It's that base intimidation that gives people like him all they have. Underneath it all, they're screaming, crying, begging to be respected. The cringy, forced expression on Zero's face would be enough to get the spy to laugh if she wasn't currently in the presence of a man all of Mobius fears.

Speaking of which, that very man opens the safe and turns around to give Rouge a pleasant smile. Not as if that's what she is eyeing right now. No, the current sight is by far more appealing. Tucked away in that old, grimy safe was a small but priceless pile of jewels. The priceless collection of gold and silver still manages to shine brightly even in this lighting. A small bit of drool forms on the edge of the spy's mouth as she instinctively flies over to it. Without bothering to so much as ask if she has permission, she grabs the jewels and jewelry and brings them close to her heart.

She has spent years building up her perfect, beautiful collection. Yet, nothing she has at home begins to match the beauty of the ones she has in her very hands. It takes the strongest mental fortitude the spy has to snap out of her wonderous thoughts and begin to question what could very well be too good to be true.

"How'd you know-?"

"About your jewel obsession?" Eggman finishes. "I've done my homework, Rouge, that's all. A good employer takes good care of his employees."

"Technically, I never agreed to work for you," Rouge says.

"Oh, but you will," Eggman replies in a non-threatening manner. "Because you see those jewels in your hands? There will be PLENTY more where that comes from."

More? Rouge thinks excitedly. Maybe working for a terrorist isn't so bad. At least he pays handsomely.

Yet, she doesn't forget to ask: "What is it I'll be doing exactly?"

"What you're good at," Eggman answers. "I have something I need you to collect- something I need you to steal. Think of them as jewels, but with infinite power... what you will be stealing in exchange for your hefty pay are gems only known as... chaos emeralds."

Chaos emeralds? Rouge thinks. I wonder how much these gems are worth if my talents are required.

"This sounds right up my alley," Rouge says. "Fine, I'm in. Where do I start?"

"Woah-ho-ho, not so fast, Rouge," Eggman says. "You still need a proper introduction to your teammates."

Rouge's eyes light up with surprise. Never in her career, has she not worked solo. How priceless are these gems?

"First, say hi to my newest creation and YOUR newest partner: E-123 Omega!"

He can't mean-

Rouge's fears are confirmed once Robotnik points to the hulking robot in the corner of the room who waves its hand.

"GREETINGS, PARTNER," it says. "YOU BETTER PULL YOUR WEIGHT OUT THERE."

"Uh... there were some difficulties adjusting his personality," Eggman says. "But on the bright side, he is sure to be efficient on the field!"

The front door leading into the room suddenly slides open. Rouge turns to look to see who is at the entrance, but only his bare outline is visible. Yet, that's all she needs to see. A gasp escapes her lips. Of all things she was expecting to see, Mobius's war hero working for the very man he fought against was not one of them. Sonic the Hedgehog quietly makes his way into the room, the door sliding shut behind him.

As the figure gets close, something seems off about Sonic's appearance. For one, his quills are a lot more spikier in person than on all the posters celebrating him. And since when did he have a great deal of white chest hair, and what are with the gold rings around his wrists? Also, he has gotten significantly closer, his blue fur should be seeable right now.

It finally dawns on Rouge. She doesn't fully know why exactly, but this is not Sonic the Hedgehog. This stranger's dark fur is not the result of poor lighting. His head, quills, and legs are lined with traces of red. His white, shiny shoes give off a high-tech appearance. Who is this guy? Eggman decides to answer this question enthusiastically.

"Rouge the Bat... meet Shadow the Hedgehog!" he nearly yells. "The ultimate lifeform!"

Just looking into Shadow's cold, dead, red eyes nearly gives Rouge chills. Unlike Zero, or anyone else she's met, this Mobian means business. His presence alone commands attention. And what did Eggman mean by 'ultimate lifeform'?

Eggman holds his hand out proudly among the three, vastly different people in front of him.

"I proudly pronounce you all... TEAM DARK!"

...