Time Heals All Things

Chapter Eleven: Things Get Interesting..

"Rouge, this is a very dangerous mission.." Commander Andrew's serious tone wafted into the pregnant female bat's ears but her facial expression did not change. It remained unperturbed, calm and disinterested as she continued to lounge back in the comfy chair and run the silver nail-file over the painted pink nails of her ungloved left hand.

"Ho-hum, what else is new darlin'." She drawled in a monotonous voice, these words were hardly new to her in her long twenty-six year career as a high-ranking G.U.N agent.

"Due to the specifics of your pregnancy, you have been deemed unfit for active duty." Commander Andrews' face broke into a smile knowing that this would get her attention fully onto him and sure enough the nail-file dropped out of Rouge's fingers and onto the solid floor of his office with a small clatter.

"Excuse me?" Both her neat eyebrows shot upwards in surprise at these words. She was now giving him her full attention, her eyebrows quirked as if questioning these orders.

"You didn't think that we would allow you to accompany Agent Shadow out onto the field, did you?" The human commander asked seriously, both hands clasped calmly on the desk in front of him, over the dossier in the brown envelope that had the classified outlines of the assignment. "That is out of the question. You are pregnant and until your infant is born you have been reclassified so that you are directly out of harms way."

"Well aren't you sweet.." There was a dry edge to the sugary voice that dripped from Rouge's mouth as her teal eyes gazed thoughtfully at her commanding officer. "Define 'reclassified'." Her tone hardened a little and it was obvious from her slightly tense posture that she was not thrilled with the idea of being separated from Shadow. The two had been partners for the entire twenty-five years that Shadow the Hedgehog had been with G.U.N. They really expected her to just stop working with him now, after all that time.

"Instead of going out on the field, you are to remain behind to analyse Intel and relay it on to Shadow out on the field." Commander Andrews explained in a level voice which only made the pregnant female bat shake her head with slight disbelief.

"And you honestly expect Shadow to take notice?!" She exclaimed in a loud voice of scepticism, out on their assignments she barely held any sway over her black and red partner. She was technically the higher ranking Agent but Shadow was unpredictable, known very well for dismissing orders and going rogue, even AWOL at times when it suited him. He did what he wanted and he did it his way, he had no regard for proper procedure and he didn't care for receiving orders.

"He listens to you." Commander Andrews stated.

"Barely!!" Rouge countered immediately. "He gets results, sure but he isn't interested in doing anything by creed. To him the ends justify the means.."

"Even so, it would be irresponsible or me to allow you onto the field. You are to remain behind unless you wish to be discharged of duty." The red haired human with silvers sides gave the female before him a stern look. "The choice is yours." He added dangerously, the icy glint in his blue eyes showing that he would hear no more arguments on the subject.

"Fine..." Rouge sniffed sulkily and folded her arms, her ears dipping slightly as she hated being beaten but knew that if she was to play any part in this new mission she had better just agree to his terms. A thought suddenly hit her and immediately her ears bounced back up and she looked serious and business-like again. "But you'll have to replace me on the field. Someone needs to keep Shadow in check."

"Agreed." Commander Andrews nodded curtly. "Any suggestions on who might be suitable?" For the first time during their meeting the red and silver haired human looked curious, perhaps realising that many of the human G.U.N officers would not make a good partner. The black and red hedgehog did not socialise with many of them even though he was considered a hero by a lot of the newer recruits. He was never short of invites to their social gatherings but he would politely refuse, stating that his duty came first. He was known as a workaholic and often came in during days of leave to use facilities such as the firing range for target practise, the gym and to brawl with Omega, the only piece of machinery that he deemed suitable to dual with. Despite his lack of regard for military creed Shadow was dedicated to be the best officer he could physically be, his new partner would have to be able to match him..