Sonic the Hedgehog

Complication

"HOW INFURIATING!" Eggman's voice echoes through the closed doors leading into an empty, silver hallway Rouge navigates through.

"Oh boy, it doesn't sound like he's in a good mood," Rouge says groggily, having just been woken up by a SWATbot from a five-hour nap.

Snapping awake to a metallic, inhuman figure filling her vision certainly wasn't ideal. But the fact she wasn't startled is proof to the spy that she's been on board this ariel madhouse long enough. Somehow, unknown to her, the latest bag of priceless gems she received wasn't as appetizing as before. Perhaps maybe their beauty has worn off, which to Rouge, sounds like a thought that rivals the highest form of fantasy. Maybe it's something else.

In front of her, the two metallic doors slide open, revealing the Control Room. Eggman sits in his chair as usual, a transparent green radar displayed near his lap. Standing in the center of the room is Shadow, arms crossed, looking down at the floor in thought. Beside him is E-123 Omega, looking stiff and unproblematic as always.

"Glad you could finally join us, Rouge," Eggman says with a nasty frown.

"What can I say?" Rouge smirks, shrugging. "A girl needs her sleep."

"All you do is sleep!"

"Well, in all fairness, there's not much to do around here, Eggy."

"Egg... MAN," the disgruntled genius corrects, leaning forward in his chair.

Shadow turns around and faces Rouge. The stern look on his face reads as a clear message to dial the sass down. Realizing the Doctor is in a worse mood than usual, Rouge makes the smirk go away, despite still being humored by her employer's outburst.

"May I ask what the situation is, Eggman?" she asks, walking to Shadow's left.

Eggman leans back in his chair and turns his attention back to the radar.

"Nothing is showing up," he mumbles, clenching his fists. "No chaos energy, no irregular energy signatures... nothing!"

"So there must not be an emerald nearby," Rouge casually suggests.

"Impossible!" Eggman waves off. "The satellite imaging I used to locate these ancient gems revealed one to SPECIFICALLY be in Starlight City. Or at least around the general area. Yet, I detect nothing! The only people to know of such locations are me, GUN, and that blue pest. The GUN agency doesn't communicate or deal with outsiders outside Station Square's borders and I'm CERTAIN we beat Sonic here. We've been surveying the city for hours and I'm tired of waiting!"

"So you want us to go down and see if we can manually find it without the help of a scanner?" Rouge asks.

"Yes, and a situation like this is why I recruited someone like you in the first place Rouge," he says, pointing to her. "Treasure hunting is a passion of yours. Now turn it into a responsibility. DO NOT fail me!"

"We shall return with the emerald, Doctor," Shadow guarantees before he and Rouge start making their way to the Cargo Bay.

"SIR, IF I FIND THE EMERALD FIRST AND RID YOU OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, WILL YOU FINALLY RECOGNIZE MY GREATNESS AS YOUR FOREVER FAITHFUL SERVANT?" E-123 Omega asks, looking up at his master.

"Sure, whatever, Omega," Eggman sighs as he tiredly rubs his forehead.

...