Rouge the Bat could admit that sometimes, only sometimes, she did take advantage of her position as one of G.U.N's highest ranking agents. Not to score days off work, but to...borrow or occupy supplies that would usually take weeks to sort and note down. Alas, there simply wasn't time (and even if Shadow did whine in protest- she argued it was for the greater good).

So with her hands slyly splayed over her hips, she fluttered her wings and eyelids- occasionally brushing a finger down the staffs arms denying her what she wanted. They blushed, of course, and tripped over their words- but frustratingly continued to shut down her request for a helicopter.

What almost broke her facade, however, was Shadow shaking his head and stepping to her side. "This concerns the Commander."

"We can inform him of your deviance." Omega warned, towering behind his two friends.

Rouge lightly pushed her longer fur over her shoulder. "Come on, boys, you wouldn't want to disappoint a Lady, would you?"

The agents in question silently looked to each other for aid, sweating under the gazes of the famed Team Dark. In the midst of Station Square's G.U.N's Armoury, the space was stuffed with weapons and tools for a wide array of missions- fit with an echo and steep, concrete walls. So, when the room's door swung open to reveal a confused, ruby curly haired scientist all looked to her in surprise.

"She's the new hire." Shadow murmured.

"It's been a couple of days and somehow I'm still getting lo- oh!" Green, unnaturally so, eyes landed on Team Dark and lit up in a slightly unnerving way.

"My! I know who you are!" Almost stumbling over herself, the scientist held out a hand to the cautiously staring Shadow.

"You must be Doctor Harris." He greeted, accepting her gesture when Rouge elbowed him.

"You know my name? Chaos. This isn't how I wanted my first impression to go but, well, we haven't figured out time travel yet so it's not like I can change it." She awkwardly laughed. Shadow stared.

Like the other scientists across GUN, she wore the military's badge and a classic white lab-coat. Black glasses almost hid beneath frizzy, long red hair- but what unnerved the Ultimate Lifeform most were her teeth. They were so...triangular. As far as he knew, humans didn't naturally have shark-like teeth (but Rouge- far more versed in Mobian Culture- didn't seem to notice).

"Shadow isn't the friendliest- we all get nervous around him to start with." She pinched the growling hedgehog's cheek. "But he's a big softie deep deep deep-."

"Thank you, Rouge."

"Where were you going to?" Omega interrupted (and only then did D. Harris realise she was still shaking Shadow's hand).

Letting go with sweat gathering at her forehead, she met the rather terrifying robots optics. "The lab, but I must've made a wrong...turn?" Attention turning to the agents, a red (weirdly shiny, and Shadow knew it wasn't sweat) brow raised.

"What's going on here?"

"Nothing." The hedgehog replied, more sharply than intended.

Rouge elbowed him again. "We have a mission, but these guys won't let us get what we need."

One stepped forward. "There's a protocol we need to follow. We can't hand out equipment just when someone asks."

A vein began to show at the side of Rouge's head. "I told you, it's important."

"What's the mission?" Doctor Harris wondered.

"Not-."

"Commander Towers wants us to survey something."

"Rouge."

"It's not confidential, yet." She grinned.

"We're wasting time." Omega almost whined. "Observing Eggman's base without attacking is bad enough."

Shadow frowned and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"My, the Doctor's base, huh?" Doctor Harris turned away, but Shadow didn't like the brief sight of the glint in her eyes.

"Is it just you three going? I mean, I've heard of your capabilities- even when alone- but even so, this seems dangerous."

"We have company. If we can get a helicopter first."

"Well." Piercing green eyes looked to the agents. "If it's a matter of the Commander. I may be new here but even I know it's a foolish idea to go against him."

"We really-."

"I don't know the intricacies of this place, but it'd be a shame to lose agents at a time like this. Especially with the Doctor's return." She turned on her heel, snapping her fingers. "But! I guess if you three really don't care-."

"H-hold on!" One of the agents gave a resigned sigh, looking at his clipboard. "Fine. We should have one ready for you three in about an hour. Come by then."

Rouge grinned and squeezed the agents' shoulder. "There we go. See? It wasn't hard at all."

"Let's not push our luck." Shadow grumbled, head jerking to the door, and led the way out the Armoury.

"Thanks for the help, hun." The flamboyant bat applauded, large ears flickering at the scattered sounds of Harris' heels.

"Call it a favour- as a fan, of course."

"We should threaten people together." Omega suggested, patting red, curly hair.

"I-? Sure? U-um, I don't mean to pry but who's the company for the mission?"

"Seeing as you helped us out." Rouge started. "I'm sure you've heard of them before. Do the names, Tails and Sonic ring any bells?"

Shadow glared at a rather greedy grin. Perhaps he was being paranoid. Harris hadn't done anything but help them so far.

"I'm certain that's sarcasm- who hasn't? Where's the location?"

"Christmas Island, why?"

Somehow, the scientist became even paler than before. Green eyes seemed to shrink (could such a cartoonish reaction happen to humans anyway?) and she looked to the floor.

"Really?"

"Everyone has that reaction." Shadow grumbled.

"Well, um, Christmas Island sunk, right? I thought the Doctor wiped it all out."

"We thought so too." Rouge shrugged. "But you can't deny what we've picked up from there."

"Of course. I just, I mean, didn't the Doctor completely pollute and flood the place? Thirteen years ago or something close."

Curiosity pinched at her brain when Team Dark fell silent, expressions pouring out confusion. Did...they not know?

"What?" Shadow almost demanded.

"How'd you know that?" Rouge's shoulders straightened.

"Research. How didn't you know? I'm not sure on the specifics but, something angered the Doctor enough he decided to flatten all three islands- like what he did to Prison Island. After, he decided-." Abruptly, she looked off to the side and cringed.

"I rambled, sorry. You three- er- five will see for yourself anyway. I-I really should go- I'm already late."

Shadow reached as she turned. "Wait!"

Cold. When she looked back he felt chilled. Something about her teeth flaring and eyes, somehow, darkening, made his throat tight. He hated it.

"If you want to know more, just ask him."

—————

The house of Vanilla and Cream was already surrounded by police tape. Citizens observed from the sidelines and cameras and reporters dotted the near area. The mother's bakery was shut, and after having asked around, it seemed to have been for days. Thankfully, when on the premises, their faces were recognisable enough that the detectives already on scene let them by.

"Do you think they're okay?"

Vector, large as he was, struggled to follow his buzzing partner under the police tape. "I'm sure of it. They've been on adventures with us before- so they can handle themselves 'till we save 'em."

"Even so, Vanilla and Cream are still classed as regular citizens." Espio reached a dark purple glove up to the tattered curtains.

"I don't wish to undermine their skills, but we must remember they aren't like Sonic or Amy or even Tails. We should act with fair urgency."

Charmy watched his boss awkwardly crouch beside a tea set with a little yellow evidence number at it's side. "You worried about her?"

The crocodile immediately reddened. "I'm worried 'bout 'em both."

The other two shared a glance, equally cracking grins.

"Course you are. Vanilla's gonna protect Cream, Vect-."

"That's why I worry. I don't want her to endanger herself in the process."

"Cream's her child." Espio, very helpfully, pointed out.

"I know that! I just-."

"It's understandable for you to worry, but we'll rescue them and the other victims before-."

"Do you guys recognise her?"

The older two stepped by other detectives and labelled evidence to peer out the window with Charmy, where a teal hedgehog with red suit stood proudly at the paths end.

"Ain't that the Breezie lady who set Sonic up years back?" Vector frowned.

"What's she doing here? Isn't she covering 'The Return Of Notorious Doctor Eggman'?" Espio's arms crossed.

Charmy dropped to stand when the hedgehog in question turned her icy stare to them. "Between that, her other shows and Casino- I'm surprised she has the time."

"She's CEO of Breeze Media, she has a crazy amount of employees." Vector informed. "What's weird to me is, with that in mind, why is she here herself? She wasn't even around when Sonic did get arrested."

Espio turned back to the living room behind, suspiciously observing the damaged state. Yellow eyes soon landed on the ruined curtains.

"You don't think she's caught onto the idea something weird's going on, do you?"