Author's Note:
The first segment of this chapter used to be a Teaser Snippet for Chapter 6. I wasn't planning for it to be part of the story at all. It was just a old deleted scene that I wanted to share to give you, the audience, a broad idea about the upcoming chapter. However, after my sister read the teaser, she insisted that it be apart of the story. So, after some tweaks, the former Teaser Snippet is now apart of Chapter 6!
I hope you enjoy it! 😁
Inside Dodon Pa's Mansion
[Normal p.o.v.]
After Metal and Rouge parted ways to look for Devious, Rouge started wandering through the different crowded rooms and corridors of the mansion. There were four levels to the mansion and Rouge was currently on the main floor. Metal ventured to levels 3 and 4, leaving Rouge to explore the others.
King Donda Pa was never one who lacked in abundance and his mansions were likewise. Each one was styled to attribute the environment that surrounded them, and the one Rouge was in was no different.
The mansion was large and fanciful, displaying the breath of winter. The hallways were long and wide and painted a calm blue. Tall windows filled the rooms and corridors showcasing the fierce blizzards outside.
The halls were decorated with broad tapestries of cream and royal blue, and the floor was polished marble. The rooms were equally vast with crystal chandilers, honed marble floors and many assortment of decor to accent the rooms.
Rouge scanned the multitude of faces as she made her way throughout the main floor. Everywhere Rouge went she was surrounded by Mobians, both good and bad. Everyone seemed cordial enough, but the bat knew better. She could just feel the tension in the air.
Rogue would have been lying to herself if she said this whole affair wasn't the least bit unsettling. It was just a matter of time before something or someone causes the inevitable.
It took a whole hour, but she had finally explored all of the main floor. Rouge still hadn't found her man though. It was time for her to switch tactics.
Just then her communicator picked up a male voice.
"We can't celebrate yet. We still need Rouge to do her part."
The voice was Slinger the Ocelot.
"Don't you worry your pretty head about me, Ocelot." Rouge cooed, "I'm already in the mansion, and I've got to say, this mysterious dealer knows how to put on a party! I'm surprised that Dodon Pa even allowed this event! But seeing that he never takes sides...I guess it's not too surprising."
"Hey Rouge!" a female voice squealed through her eyepiece.
Rouge immediately smiled. It was Salkia, her sweet little student. Well, she wasn't little anymore, but Rouge couldn't get the cute little 10 year old out of her head, who wanted to learn how to kick but.
"If any of the food looks good, save me some! Okay!?" Salkia asked.
"Will do, honey!"
Slinger gave out a groan.
"Just stay focused, alright!"
Rouge rolled her eyes. She could tell he was in one of his moods again.
"Relax, Slinger. No need to get snippy!" she said.
"Yeah! We all know you're jealous!" Salkia added.
"Mm hmm!" Rouge smiled.
Slinger released another groan, which made Salkia giggle. She knew she shouldn't be teasing Slinger when he's like this, but he's been acting like a big grump the whole day. And she was tired of it!
Salkia and Rouge continued to pester Slinger with their giggles, until he finally spoke.
"That's not the reason why!" Slinger argued.
This made Rouge and Salkia both fall silent. They knew what he was talking about. [Author: Chapter 4 reference] No one spoke for sometime.
Rouge sighed and decided to change the subject and break the awkward silence.
"By the way, what do you mean by 'Rouge needs to do her part'? You two are the ones assigned to get the package! I'm just here in case there's a slip-up."
"And to secure our escape route!" Slinger emphasized.
"Which I already have covered!" Rouge insisted, "Now you stay focused on your job, while I stay on mine."
Slinger sighed. "Fine. We'll contact you when the package is secured."
Rouge's communicator went silent and she continued to make her way through the crowd, as different fragments of conversations caught her ears.
"I wonder what makes this relic so powerful?" asked a female.
"Whatever it is, I bet it's worth a fortune!" another spoke.
"Everyone's assuming that this relic has power, but for all we know, it could be a hunk of junk!"
"Well, if that were true, then Dodon Pa wouldn't have allowed this event to take place in his mansion in the first place."
Well, would you look at that!, Rouge laughed to herself. It seems everyone's here to get their hands on the relic. Huh! Too bad none of them will have a chance to see it!
"What I really want to know" a male's voice began, grabbing her attention, "is who this mysterious dealer is? He clearly doesn't care who gets the relic as long as he's getting paid. And I for one, don't trust those kinds of people. If I'm going to get that relic, I need to first know who I'm dealing with."
"Smart guy." Rouge whispered, as she approached the stairs to the second floor.
"Okay Rouge, enough eavesdropping. You got a Mobian to find."
Once atop the second floor, she looked about and immediately identified this level as the party floor. The music was louder here and gambling tables, slot vendors, pool tables and the like were scattered throughout the joining rooms. Rouge felt like she had walked into a casino.
Rouge peered over the corridor's open railing, and took one last look at the faces below, trying to find the one Mobian who would know how to pinpoint Devious. But she had no such luck. Rouge sighed. She knew it was a long shot. This guy was wanted after all, but Rouge couldn't ignore her strong hunch that he'd be here.
Rouge gritted her teeth in frustration.
Where is he!?
Time was of the essence. She and Metal only had a limited amount of time to locate Devious, before Salkia and Slinger collected the relic. If her sources were correct, the best and only person who could find Devious quickly would be his favorite broker.
Rouge looked over the crowd again, but she still couldn't spot her man.
That cat could be hiding anywhere! I better check in with Metal to see how he's doing.
"Metal, honey? This is Rouge. Do you copy?"
There was no answer.
"Metal, come in! This is Rouge. Did you find anything?"
Still, silence. Rouge was about to try again, when a deep sinister voice startled her from behind.
"Looking for someone in particular, my dear?"
Rouge spun around to come face to face with the infamous psychic magician Mammoth Mongul.
His large tan trunk was almost touching her nose. Rouge could smell thick expensive cologne and winsted.
It was never easy to frazzle this bat; she has faced many dangers before, all without hesitation. Some, even close to death, but Rouge also knows when she's met her match.
The hairy elephant towered over the bat, making her appear small and insignificant. Mongul's dark green orbs pierced through Rouge's teal eyes, paralyzed her. She remained in his gaze for ten full seconds.
A small smile slowly crept on the mammoth's face. Was Rouge terrified? Yes. Did she want to scream and fly away to safety? Yes. Was she going to show it? Not on her life!
The Bat released herself from Mongul's spell; eyes sparkling with defiance, as she matched the beast's smile with her own.
"I'm surprised at you, Mongul!" Rouge scolded, "You of all people should know not to be here! It could be dangerous for you."
Mongul smiled at the bat's attempted threat, and decided to give one of his own.
"My dear, Rouge. I appreciate your concern but I can assure you that I am not the one who is in the least bit of danger."
"Is that so?" Rouge questioned, trying to sound unaffected by his words, "Well, even still! I would think you would send one of your mindless followers to get the relic for you to save you the trouble."
"Don't be so quick to judge, bat. I have sent one of my men to take care of the relic. I'm here for a different reason, and being here is no trouble at all."
Rouge raised a painted brow, "Oh?"
"Yes. Just like you, I'm looking for someone, a colleague of mine." Mongul leaned down to bring his face closer to Rouge's ear. "And perhaps", he whispered "my colleague is the same pink cat dealer you're looking for."
Rouge took a step back.
How does he know about Locky!?
Rouge swallowed, as her heart raced.
"I'm sorry, who?"
"No need to hide it, Rouge! Someone of your acquaintance told me all about it."
Rouge gasped.
Oh no, Metal!
"No need to worry about your robot friend, my dear; he's perfectly safe. But I know he'll appreciate your concern."
As he said this, Mongul's eyes met Rouge's and his distinct facial features began to pixelate before her. It was just for a brief moment, but Rouge could clearly see the face of her comrade.
"..."
"..."
"Metal, ..." Rouge whispered, "I'm gonna knock your bolts right out of you! And turn you into scrap!"
Metal Sonic quickly returned to his cloned form and moved out the way, before a slap could be delivered to his face. Some guests saw the scene and were shocked at Rouge's bravery.
"Why so anger?..." Metal Sonic questioned. His voice was just above a whisper. "Did I scare you?"
"Shut. Up." Rouge growled.
"Okay, okay! I just came down to tell you some news." Metal rose to his full cloned height and peered down at Rouge.
"Then start talking!"
"Not here." Metal instructed, still holding Mongul's deep voice. "Follow me."
Metal brought Rouge to a quiet room somewhere on the second floor. It wasn't like the ballroom, like the other rooms Rouge been in. This was a study. It was large in comparison to most studies, but it was still a study, none the less.
Once both were safely inside with the door locked, Rouge turned to Metal.
"Now, talk!"
"Why are you still angry?" Metal still was using Mongul's voice.
"Metal, stop with the cloning for one second and talk to me!"
Metal sighed, and returned back to his normal self. Rouge let out a small breath she didn't realize she was holding. Rouge folded her arms, waiting to hear her comrade's message.
"I was surprised at how many Mobians came to Dodon Pa's Mansion." Metal said simply."
"That's what you wanted to tell me!?" Rouge screamed.
"Rouge, if you do not wish for us to be discovered in a restricted area, I suggest you lower the volume of your voice."
"I'll start lowering my voice, when you stop messing around! Now, tell me why you brought me here!?"
There was a silence in the air, as each stared at the other.
"I found him." Metal calmly spoke.
"What?"
"I found him." Metal repeated, "I found Locky."
"Where? How?"
"He's here on the second floor, and I used my scanner to locate the DNA match."
"Good going, Metal! But that still doesn't explain why you disguised yourself as Mongul!?"
"When I went to scout out levels 3 and 4, I immediately detected hostility from the guests. The guests on the upper levels are mostly dangerous or wanted criminals. So, I cloned into Mongul to disguise my appearance and to put them at ease that I could continue my search without disturbance."
An "I see." was all Rouge could say as Metal Sonic turned and headed for the door.
"I'll leave you to find Locky."
"Wait, I thought you said you found him!"
"I did. I found which floor he is residing on. Now, you must find out which room he is in."
"Are you kidding me, Metal!? Do you know how long it took me to walk through all those rooms and corridors just to get here!? And now you want me to do it all over again!? There could be twice as many rooms on this floor, not to mention the activity here is more lively. Searching for Locky on this floor by myself will take hours."
"Not my problem."
"Uh? Hello!? We were both sent to find Devious!"
"Exactly my point. My objective is to find Devious. I have assisted you in locating Locky on the pretense that he can increase my chances in completing my objective. My assistance has been sufficient and now you must do the rest."
"Grrh!"
Metal Sonic ignored her and continued.
"Besides, this gives me enough time to secure our exit. I overheard your conversation with the Blazers and how you lied about our escape route being ensured. So, I must go and take care of that promptly."
"Fine! You win! I'll search for Locky by myself, just respond to your communicator next time."
"Will do."
Few Hours Later
"Before I begin, how do you want this story delivered?" asked the voice of a beautiful female. Her demeanor held elegance and poise, as she began to inspect her nails.
Not hearing a reply, the woman lifts her gaze from her nails to examine her companion. She raised her eyebrows, indicating she was waiting for his response.
"...What are you asking?" he finally spoke.
Rouge let out a soft sighed.
"It's a simple question, Shadow. How do you want me to deliver my report? Do you wanna hear the abridged version or the loong version?"
Rouge and Shadow were seated across one another at Shadow's reading nook. It was early afternoon and a heavy rain had just passed, leaving the air smelling fresh and new. Sunlight emanated from the clouds and passed through the wall of windows, adorning Shadow's office with light.
Rouge had just returned from her mission with Metal Sonic and it was time for her to give her mission report. And boy did she have a story to tell!
Shadow furrowed his brow. "That's not what you asked."
Rouge was about to combat, but Shadow held out his hand to silence her. His eyes were closed, as he took a moment to consider Rouge's question, hand still in the air.
Shadow didn't understand Rouge's change in behavior. In the past, when it was time to give her mission report, Rouge would just tell Shadow her story. He didn't understand why Rouge decided to be annoying today, and he didn't really care what version Rouge told, as long as he got all the facts. So, he chose the one he thought would give him what he wanted.
"Uh, long version."
Rouge twisted her face as if she had sprained her wings and hissed between her teeth.
"Tsss! Are you sure about that? Cuz I'll be diving into a lot of unnecessary details." she began. "Like who was there, what they were wearing, the conversations I overheard, the hors d'oeuvres on the snack table, definitely the desserts, Metal actin' a fool.."
"Alright, alright!" Shadow interrupted, waving a hand to stop her rambling. "Do the abridged version."
"Oo! Good choice!" Rouge applauded, which Shadow returned with a death glare.
"Okay," Rouge said cheerfully, "let's begin!"
"Yes. Let's!"
Rouge held back a chuckle as she took a breath to begin her tale.
"Once Salkia and Slinger went off to search for the relic, Metal Sonic and I entered the party. As you already know, I, president and CEO of Treasured Gems, was on the VIP list. And thanks to the wonderful efforts of our Tech Team, Metal appeared on the security's digital guest list. So, I guess you can say we got in without a hitch! Give Tails my thanks by the way."
Shadow nodded, "Of course. Continue."
"To cover more ground, Metal and I had decided to split up. I had told Metal Sonic, before we got to the mansion, to focus on locating Locky the Cat. So, .."
"Wait! You knew Locky would be there?"
"Well yes, but it was also kind of a hunch, since you still have that warrant out for him."
"Exactly! So, how did you know that he'd be there?"
Rouge gave a knowing smile.
"You're not the only one who has sources, you know. I'm practically a walking book of information myself!" Rouge said proudly, flipping her hair in triumph. "But seriously," she continued, "it's not like I'm being kept in the loop anymore. Downsizing to a part-time spy has forced me to create my own network. Besides, it's good for business!"
Shadow gave a small smile, "Why am I not surprised."
Shadow stayed quiet for a moment, fondly looking down at nothing in particular. He secretly missed the good old days, when Team Dark was still a team, hunting down emeralds and stopping villains from every dimension. Although they all still work for G.U.N. - Shadow as the Commander, Omega as a Senior Agent, and Rouge as a part-time spy able to pick and choose her missions - it wasn't the same.
But these thoughts only lasted for a moment.
"So!" Shadow continued, drawing his attention back to Rouge. "Before reaching the mansion, you told Metal Sonic to search for Locky even though your objective was to find Devious."
Rouge knew where this was going.
"Yes, but I had good reason too."
"Really!? Do tell! Cuz I would love to know how you were able to convince Metal to go against his orders."
"Do you know what relationship Locky and Devious share?" Rouge asked with a smile.
"Locky is a well-known broker in the black market trade. Before he went into hiding, Locky was one of several dealers that Devious did business with. So what?"
"So what!? Shadow, you make it sound like Locky is a nobody! If you made a list of all the brokers that Devious transacted with the most, Locky would be on the top! For some reason, Devious prefers Locky, making him very significant. There's definitely a bond between the two."
"You don't think I know that, Rouge? It's because of that fact, I sent out a search warrant for the cat, but that just spooked the creep into hiding!"
"Excuse me! I couldn't tell."
"Well, I did. And no one has seen or heard from Locky since his disappearance 3 years ago. So naturally, I saw him as a dead-end, but you seem to know something about that pink cat that I don't."
"Only that someone has been having brief calling sessions with Locky for these last five months, maybe even more." Rouge said soothingly.
"And how did you discover this!?"
"When Locky went missing, I enlisted the help of an old friend who owed me a favor. Since he had some experience in this field, I hired him to track down Locky. I told him that once he found the cat, to contact me. That was almost two and a half years ago."
"But your associate did find Locky. Yes?"
Mm-hm! And that's when I discovered Locky was in communication with someone called... Wily."
"Wily?... Never heard of him."
"Neither have I. So I decided to do a bit of digging, and do you know what I found!?"
Shadow could tell Rouge was dragging the conversation and decided best not to encourage her.
"Rouge," Shadow warned, "I really hope you have a conclusion to this. Cuz, there are two other agents I have to deal with before this day is through, and I'm already getting a headache listening to you! So, if you can, speed it up!"
"Ugh, fine! All of Locky and Wily's communication was done over a special satellite phone. Their conversations were always short and they never met in person. As you know, satellite phones are one of the easiest phones to tap into, but I wasn't able to pinpoint their location. So, they must have specially engineered them to not be tracked. But nonetheless, them using satellite phones indicates that they wanted to be seen, else they would have used a different form of contact."
"Interesting, ... and why do you think that is?"
"Well, that leads to my second discovery. We both know Locky would never jeopardize his safety for anything unless 1) he was blackmailed or 2) to assist a close ally. Now, throughout their communication, Wily has never blackmailed Locky nor was there been any indication that they had issues in the past. So..."
"So you think Locky and Wily are friends?"
"I wouldn't say 'friends', more like partners."
"Partners?"
"When I started doing some digging about this Wily character, I couldn't find anything on him. No records, history, associates, occupation, or anything that would suggest a connection between the two."
"Have you considered name change?"
"Yep, and I still came out empty-handed. That got me thinking, perhaps the name's an alias."
"Why would Wily need an alias?"
"Why else but to protect his identity! I mean, think about it! Who would Locky find so valuable to partner with that he would risk his own neck to expose himself, but at the same time keep the identity of his partner concealed?"
Shadow rose to his feet and began walking aimlessly throughout the room. He was silent; deep in thought.
"Who do you think it is? I know you got a name." Rouge asked.
Shadow stopped abruptly and looked at the bat. He held the answer in his eyes and Rouge let him know through hers that his thinking was right.
"Rouge. Are you sure?" Shadow's voice slightly wavered. He wanted to believe what was told to him, but so many times he had received disappointment. So many times had he felt close to finding his man, only to be let down again.
Rouge saw all of this in his eyes. His plea for the truth, and warning towards her if she was lying.
Rouge knew how important this case was to him; how finding Starline was his top priority, especially after what Starline did during the war.
What he did... to Shadow.
"When I came up short with identifying Wily," Rouge said, "I concluded that he was either a ghost or didn't exist. That's when I started pondering about his name. At first, I thought it was an alteration of the name Willy, but I realized Wily isn't a name. It's a word. It means full of wiles, crafty, and the synonym for wily is devious."
"Well, then." Shadow smiled, "My hunch was right. Devious did make efforts to reach out to Locky, after all!" Shadow walked back to Rouge and placed his hands on the table. "How long have you known that Devious was in contact with Locky?"
Rouge saw the change in Shadow's eyes how they left from suffering and had returned to their glorious confidence. Her heart warmed at the sight of it.
"Since January." she smiled, a hint of her flirtatious behavior returning.
"Three months. So for three months, you knew Devious was in contact with Locky and you didn't tell me?"
"I have my reasons, Shadow. If I'd told you about Devious, you would've most likely acted irrationally."
Shadow gave an irritated tsk and continued his aimless trek through his office.
"Not to mention," Rouge continued, "Devious wouldn't have been able to instruct Locky to attend Donda Pa's mansion to deliver a message."
"A message? To who?"
"Why… you!"