"So, which one of you wants to tell me what happened today?"

Sonic awkwardly fiddled with his thumbs, clearing his throat and cringing when three sets of eyes bore through his guilty face. He lifted his head to meet green and brown eyes peeking behind hands clasped together. Elbows on the dark wooden desk, the man wore a formal dark greenish-grey military suit. A wall length window stretched behind him and highlighted the city of Station Square below.

"Straight to it huh? Well, Eggman showed up-."

"I know. I just wonder why we didn't know of Badnik sightings beforehand."

"Pretty poor communication skills, huh?"

The mans eyes narrowed.

"We're really zoning in on that one detail?"

"That one detail prevented us from tracking him down, leading to more attacks across Mobius. Without that knowledge he's been able to return and continue scheming away freely."

Sonic pulled on his neckerchief. "Look, I thought I could handle it- alright?"

"Clearly you underestimated your opponent."

He glared, but Tails was speaking before he could argue. "We're sorry for not saying anything sooner. If the Badniks were more organised and in larger, more common groups we would have let you know. But they were random with no sense of directive- we honestly chalked it up to them being faulty."

The man hummed. "Well, there's no point in arguing about what's already happened. We need to focus on finding Eggman and bringing him to justice."

"Where'd you like us to go?" Rouge asked, resting a leg over her other.

"Survey the base at Christmas Island-."

Sonic paled, almost shooting up. "H-hold on, Christmas Island? He's b- there?"

Shadow eyed his rival curiously, but the Commander was conversing before he could ask. "You familiar with the place?"

"Ha! No, er, I thought it was all hazardous and stuff though?"

"Mostly, but apparently safe enough to set up an evil base."

"Then we'd better check it out, yeah?" Sonic rubbed his nose.

The Commander's eyes widened. "Well, I didn't think you'd-."

"Miss a chance to scramble some eggs? It's like you don't know me at all, Towers."

"We could use your expertise with the man."

Shadow massaged his temple. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Fine, I suppose the pair of you can accompany Team Dark to Christmas Island. But it's only surveillance- try and find any signs of action there. The past year he's had to rebuild a place for himself, so be careful."

"On it, boss." Sonic grinned, saluted and stood.

"Surveillance only, Sonic. Nothing more."

"I understand your pain." Omega sympathised, claw to his chest. "I want to tear the place down too."

"I- what?"

———

He closed the door with a sigh, resting his hands against the wood for a moment prior to turning towards the man in the maroon chair.

"Shadow, is there something you want?"

"Are you sure it's wise to have those two come with us?"

"They have a plane you can use to observe above, and you have to admit Sonic knows Eggman better than anyone. But that's not really why you're here, is it?"

Shadow stiffened. "It's something the Doctor said. I thought I knew everything I needed to, but apparently there's 'gaps' in my memory. Seeing as G.U.N's connected to my past, I thought you might know something he does too."

Towers shifted at the mention of the military's poor past. "You shouldn't let him cloud your judgment. Don't let him make you doubt yourself and lose focus."

"But you do know something."

"I never said that."

"You never said anything."

The man massaged his forehead. "Look, Shadow- I admire your grace to work with us, but I'm sorry. Not just for what happened over fifty years ago but I can't help you now, either. Don't you think you should...move on? Let g-."

"Don't you dare." Hands slammed onto the desk and cold red eyes bore into wide green and brown.

"You don't have missing pieces of your past. You know who you are, how you came to be and what you're meant to do. There's still so much about myself that I don't know."

"And that must be difficult, but there's nothing I can do."

"Rouge said there was a file."

Sweat began to form atop the mans head. "Rouge says many things."

Shadow glared. "I trust her. She wouldn't lie about this. Besides...." He gestured to the folders on the Commanders desk, both with grinning faces- one a round, moustached man and the other a blue hedgehog.

"Do you keep files on all well known people, or just ones you have a distaste for?"

Towers rather hurriedly closed the folders and stuffed them into a draw, clearing his throat and straightening his uniform. "I'm just keeping a record. Those two...I don't know how much we can trust them."

"Eggman I understand but- and I can't believe I'm saying this- Sonic hasn't given us any reason to not trust him. Reckless, sure, but surely you can see what he's done for Mobius."

"Lie?"

"Sorry?"

Now that, was curious. "He lied to us about the Badniks."

"I wouldn't consider that a-."

"And he's lied about a whole lot more. I personally wouldn't put my faith in a leader who can't even be honest with his team. Sonic's more than reckless. Eggman's a worldwide hazard. Paired together and there's chaos."

"What are you saying, Commander?"

"Nothing, of course. I'd want to be sure where my loyalties lay, is all."

"...Right. Well, if you refuse to be honest with me I'll travel to Christmas Island with the others."

"Good, I have a couple of interviews shortly."

"Interviews?"

"A new scientist wishes to join our small lab."

"May I ask who?"

"She said Doctor Harris. Now, if that's all?"

Curious. He couldn't help but wonder what the other interview was for. Stepping to the door, before his hand reached the handle Shadow turned back around. "I should mention, I received a file earlier this week."

"Oh?"

"About a missing persons case. A few, in fact."

"I don't recall ordering someone to give you that."

"That's because you didn't. The Chaotix Detective Agency did."

—————

Two days after, and business was slow. Money was tight and bills were nearing. He couldn't help feeling ecstatic when news came in of a new case, but of course knowing that meant a new crime was committed lowered his mood. The purple chameleon slipped some papers his way, stating they were jotted notes of interviews he and a bee had carried out.

"Ha'e we been to the scene of the crime yet? To any of 'em?"

"We thought it best to catch you up first, Vector. So we can go together."

"Well, what're we waitin' for now? Let's head out!"

Thus he found himself in a closed restaurant, only for the time being. Tapping his chin, he observed tipped over chairs, torn curtains and dirty, broken dishes across the floor.

"Place was being closed for the night at the time of attack, right?" Vector questioned.

"That's what the lady said." Charmy buzzed from behind.

Espio stepped from the kitchen with a tattered apron in hand. "This belonged to Christopher Dyke, the victim."

"Well, the guy definitely defended 'imself against his attacker."

Charmy swung the entry door back and forth. "No signs of a break in, I-I don't think."

"Lemme check." Vector stepped over to observe, eyes soon widening. "You're right."

"A customer then?" Espio theorised. "Or staff. At the very least someone he knew."

"With all this mess you think we'd find some hair or somethin', right?" The large crocodile scratched his head.

"Could be bald." Charmy tried.

"Even so...these claw marks." The purple chameleon traced his hand over scratches ripping through the curtains. "I don't think even Mobians have some quite like this."

"If it was, we'd find some trace of them around here. But nothin'? Same with the last two, yeah?" Vector frowned.

"Right."

"This don't sit right with me- something weird's going on here."

"Good thing we asked for help, huh." Charmy replied.

"Too right. Either way, let's head back and gather our thoughts. No good standin' 'round here."

When he'd made the suggestion to traverse home, the last thing he expected was to find someone at their door step. Even more surprising to discover they were one of Sonic The Hedgehog's friends, Amy Rose.