INT. BASE CORRIDOR. UNKNOWN
ROUGE THE BAT (She/ Her) SMACKS a plastic-and-metal device on
her knee pad. She is dressed for impact sport, but still
managed to wear ankle boots with a high heel and has unzipped
her jumpsuit at the top to show off her heart-shaped sports
bra. The hot-pinks and navy are dulled by the fluorescent
green light, and she has two chunky blue bangles keeping her
gloves up.
Rouge, SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG (They/ Them) and E-123 OMEGA (He/
Him) are walking down a corridor lit only by flickery
emergency lights shining towards an exit, pointing in the
opposite direction to which they are going. The corridor is
all metal and rusted, with weird dents and fissures running
across the floor, walls and ceilings.
Omega's footsteps CLANG as he slaloms in front of Rouge and
Shadow, and charges off in front of them, his hands CLANGING
on the wall as he runs his fingers on the ridges.
Shadow walks by her side; they are juggling two glowing tear
shaped gems - blue and red - with just one hand, so fast they
form a blue and red streak that can't be differentiated from
afar. Rouge ignores them, fussing over the device in her hand
with a blinking screen - it BEEPS and FIZZES. Omega TROTS
back down the corridor noisily.
E-123 OMEGA (O.S.)
DIRECTIONS REQUIRED!
He runs back and forth from Shadow and Rouge and the end of
the corridor repeatedly as they languidly follow him, then
are finally chivvied into rushing: Shadow into the lightest
of jogs and Rouge into the air.
INT. CORRIDOR T-JUNCTION. UNKNOWN
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Still nothing?
ROUGE GRUMBLES with the device. SHADOW and E-123 OMEGA share
a snarky look.
E-123 OMEGA
YOUR RELIANCE ON TECHNOLOGY IS YOUR
WEAKNESS.
She glares at him.
E-123 OMEGA
HA. HA.
She rolls her eyes.
ROUGE THE BAT
It's getting confused, like
whenever we move, it loses track of
the other blips...
It FIZZES again, and she taps it hard on Omega's titanium
chest, making a CLANG that echoes around them.
E-123 OMEGA
PUNY BEEPER CANNOT PERFORM BASIC
TASK. OPTIMUM ROUTE IS...
He twists his head from side to side quickly, then slowly,
and WHIRRS.
ROUGE THE BAT
Oh dear, best be careful who you
call a puny beeper!
She waves the scanner in the air; six dots are glowing, and
although the map changes to reflect where they are the dots
seemed to be burned into the screen, as they do not move, nor
are they effected by the static.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Well, pick a path, and I'll tell
you if it was right.
They stretch out as they speak, CRACKING all of their spine
creepily. Omega and Rouge instantly point in opposite
directions, and Omega smacks her hand down, knocking her out
of the air.
E-123 OMEGA
OBEY ME. MY BEEPS ARE SUPERIOR!
ROUGE THE BAT
Sure. Go his way. Don't take too
long.
Shadow presses a hand to their chest as though her words were
a bullet, smiles the smallest smile, and WHOOSHES down the
corridor on their rocket boots - their golden trail is
visible for a second, before they turn a corner. Omega spins
his wrists excitedly, as Rouge reboots her device. After only
a second of quiet, Omega is shifting and bouncing on his
feet.
E-123 OMEGA
I WILL ASSIST SHADOW.
ROUGE THE BAT
You think you'll can catch 'em?
Here, can I just stick this in you?
I can't make wing or tail...
She opens his chest, revealing a hatch where cables and parts
are zip tied, and clips the beeping device in with a few
clicks. Omega GRUMBLES as he parses data.
E-123 OMEGA
SIGNALS ARE MOVING
ROUGE THE BAT
Yeah, the two Shadow just took. I
should have got those of them.
E-123 OMEGA
ALL SIGNALS ARE MOVING.
ROUGE THE BAT
What, the Starsi Drops? We found
these two strapped into the walls
as power supplies. I doubt the rest
are just rolling around.
E-123 OMEGA
DROPS UNSTABLE WITHOUT GROUNDING
MAGNETS.
ROUGE THE BAT
Exactly, so if they stayed here
since the base was used, they're
secured into something.
E-123 OMEGA
EXPLANATION ACKNOWLEDGED. STARSI
DROPS ARE MOVING REGARDLESS.
The little panel on his chest blinked into a display, and she
scrolls the map around, viewing the colourful signals, until
Omega seizes and the screen fritzes.
ROUGE THE BAT
Oop, sorry Darl.
E-123 OMEGA
NOT-PUNY BEEPER: IMMUNE TO PAIN.
ROUGE THE BAT
Okay, hon. Ugh, Shadow, couldn't
you have left me one? I'm the
treasure hunter! Plus they're not
so hard, they could break at Shadow
speeds.
E-123 OMEGA
SHADOW IS MORE RESPONSIBLE.
ROUGE THE BAT
Untrue!
E-123 OMEGA
SHADOW IS MORE TRUSTWORTHY.
ROUGE THE BAT
Unfair!
E-123 OMEGA
SHADOW HAS CHAOS CONTROL;
PROFICIENCY WITH DROPS LIKELY.
ROUGE LACKS CHAOS CONTROL. ROUGE
LACKS SELF CONTROL.
ROUGE THE BAT
... Well alright, you've got me.
But what you call 'lacking self
control', I call indulging in
whimsy, and it's very charming.
And, they shouldn't try to use
them! It would be highly
irresponsible of them to do that,
and we'd better trust that they
won't. We don't know what they'll
do!
E-123 OMEGA
SHADOW IS NOT SO UNPREDICTABLE?
ROUGE THE BAT
I meant the gems. But they have
gone quite a way further than I
thought...
Rouge gently taps at the screen again, checking Omega is
steady.
E-123 OMEGA
SHADOW IS FAST.
ROUGE THE BAT
Yes, but I don't think the corridor
should be that long. Unless they're
running down every possible
offshoot - oh, look at that,
they've stopped.
E-123 OMEGA
ALL OTHER DROPS ARE MOVING...
ROUGE THE BAT
Shh! They're right on top of one -
unless that's the wrong floor?
E-123 OMEGA
THEN NO USE IN STOPPING! I WILL
DIRECT THEM.
Omega beeps his own chest and a phone symbol with a blurry
picture of Shadow snarling appears.
INT. MAINTENANCE STAIRS. UNKNOWN.
SHADOW is standing very still, their red iris covered
completely by widened black pupils. They are crouched down on
the top of the stairs, hiding - even their quills and ears
are flat to their back. Their hand behind their back fizzes
with Chaos Energy, and holding the red Starsi Drop, while the
blue is mostly covered in their other hand.
Something GROWLS before them. The stairs double-wind, and
just below Shadow an enormous metal nose sniffs up through
the metal grating - the nostrils are the size of their eyes,
and its own eyes glow a dizzying purple beaming into the
dark. They hold still, hands shaking with potential energy,
waiting to strike
EXCITED POP MUSIC suddenly sounds from their belt pack, and
within it their phone lights up with a picture of OMEGA
wearing a pink bow. Shadow leaps into the air and bolts out
of sight, back the way they came, fumbling with the fanny
pack as they zip around the corner and blend into the
Shadows.
For a moment, all is silent, and they sigh in relief, turning
their eyes angrily to their phone. Then the corridor behind
them EXPLODES.
INT. CORRIDOR T-JUNCTION. UNKNOWN
E-123 OMEGA
INSOLENCE! YOU WILL NOT HANG UP ON
ME!
ROUGE LAUGHS, then her ears both swivel in one direction as a
distant crash is heard.
ROUGE THE BAT
Shush! Come on!
OMEGA CLANKS after her as she flits down the corridor.
INT. MAINTENANCE CORRIDORS. UNKNOWN.
SHADOW runs at lightening speed, zipping from doorway to
doorway. Behind them, a METALLIC DOG bigger than an elephant
thunders down the corridor, gnashing its teeth. Shadow rounds
the corner, and attempts to spin and blast it faster than it
can predict, but the beast melts into the wall. They BLAST it
anyway, but they make a hole in the wall that the dog squirms
out of, and into the ceiling.
Wherever it travels, it weakens the structures, creating the
unhealthy scars they'd seen before. Shadow dives into the
hole to hide, and finds themselves in another metallic lab.
INT. MAINTENANCE CORRIDORS. UNKNOWN.
ROUGE and OMEGA charge down the corridor, then she tugs him
back by the handle.
ROUGE THE BAT
Wait! I heard it!
E-123 OMEGA
EARS NOT BETTER THAN SIGNALS!
ROUGE THE BAT
You called the last one!
She has already flown down the stairs, and Omega rail-grinds
down the swivelling hand rail with a horrible SCREECH.
INT. BASEMENT. UNKNOWN.
ROUGE and OMEGA are running through a storage basement of
some kind, which is open, wide, and the first stone floor
they've found. Rouge flies along the ceiling, one ear
pointing forward and the other flicking around for more
information. She suddenly stops, turns, and points.
ROUGE THE BAT
THERE!
OMEGA was running behind her, but he stops and shoots the
ceiling with an enormous lazer. The metal melts open, and a
dark blur streaks in, chased by a lump in the wall. It has to
charge along the ceiling, and is stopped by the grating.
SHADOW finds their feet and stands in front of Rouge and
Omega, gripping the Starsi in each hand.
ROUGE THE BAT
Nice to see you, too.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
I can't shoot it with my hands
full.
ROUGE THE BAT
You're welcome for coming to get
you. Gimme-
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Nope!
She grabs the blue gem against their will, and Shadow is
distracted by the dog bark. A nose and some gnashing teeth
protrude from the wall, followed by glowing purple eyes, and
then it spits itself from the wall and lunges for her.
Shadow POWS into the side of its face, and it careers off
course but reforms. Omega dives over Rouge and opens a tirade
of bullets, as Shadow sticks the red drop they kept into
their fanny pack.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
It reforms! You can't just-
E-123 OMEGA
MORE POWER!
He BLASTS it with bigger bullets, splashing metal pieces of
its body across the floor.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
It'll only-
E-123 OMEGA
MORE POWER!!
Shadow tucks the red drop they kept into their pack, and
fizzes chaos energy into their hands, zapping with Omega and
a frown on their face.
E-123 OMEGA
MAXIMUM DESTRUCTIVE FORCE!
Omega launches himself into the air, and SMACKS onto the
metal and concrete, tousling with the diminishing dog. The
more he and Shadow separate it, the less of it there is,
until it is the size of one of Omega's hands, still gnashing
and biting. Omega clamps its jaw, taking it's head between
his fingers, and CRACKS its body on the ground with a sad
HOWL.
The liquid metal on the ground suddenly becomes hard, and the
pieces of metal on Omega dry there, giving him a goopy
exterior.
The head that was in his hand is still whole, but is glowing
purple now. He SMASHES it on the ground a few more time,
until the metal splits and reveals another encased drop
shape.
E-123 OMEGA
SHADOW WILL LEARN A LESSON - ALWAYS
APPLY MORE FORCE!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
I suppose so. Don't crack it,
though.
Shadow looks at the purple drop, and fumbles in their fanny
pack for the Starsi drop - it is gone. They twirl around in
panic for a moment, before they spot Rouge hiding something
behind her back.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Give them back.
ROUGE THE BAT
What are you talking about? Omega's
got the beeper.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
The gem, how did you even- you
shouldn't be carrying them both.
ROUGE THE BAT
You did!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
I'm careful.
ROUGE THE BAT
We just caught you fighting with a
puppy over it.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Big Dog. I was looking for a safe
place to beat it down, that's all.
Don't put them so close together!
They smack the red drop out of her hand as she brings them
both to her eyes greedily. Omega sits up from un-denting his
chest, and SHIVERS, his chest displaying a yellow signal,
blinking closer to them.
ROUGE THE BAT
What? It's not like I can use them -
Right Omega?
E-123 OMEGA
INCORRECT. LEFT.
He throws a bomb at the wall, and another Dog bursts out. The
hole has revealed another underroom, this one with heavy
waterpipes DRIPPING stagnant sludge.
INT. THE BOILER ROOM. UNKNOWN.
E-123 OMEGA
ANNIHILATE! CHARGE!
OMEGA shunts the dog backwards and blasts it, as it tries to
worm its way around him towards SHADOW and ROUGE. Shadow
FIZZES into the room, one drop in each hand, and tries to
spin into a ball, but the pieces nearly touch and they fall
out.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Omega!
They throw the purple one to Omega. Time slows down as
Rouge's eye drifts to the Starsi, absentmindedly firing a
bolt from a bow on her wrist. The purple drop sail through
the air, and into Omega's fingers, which grasp too hard, and
SHATTER it.
Rouge SCREAMS over the slowed GUNFIRE and CLINKING SHARDS.
INT. THE BOILER ROOM. UNKNOWN.
SHADOW spins into a ball as they FIZZ into the room, but they
fall out as they try to keep the pieces apart. They cast
around to OMEGA, fist raised with the purple droplet. ROUGE's
hand is on theirs, and she takes the purple Starsi, stuffing
it in her ankle boot. Shadow frowns at her, but her eyes are
thunder.
ROUGE THE BAT
Don't tell me you were going to
throw that?!
They roll their eyes.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
He had it!
They dash forward and strike through the silver dog. Its
yellow eyes are on Rouge, and she darts into the air as it
tries to splash itself over to her.
Rouge darts and dodges around their assault, flattening her
ears against the loud sound. Her ankle is glowing purple, and
her belt blue, so the yellow-eyed dog keeps targetting her.
However, when she seeks cover behind Omega, it seems to
startle for a moment, before whirling around to see her
again. After a few more swoops, she whistles.
ROUGE THE BAT
Here, puppy! You want it- you got
it!
She lobs her arm, letting the force of it whirl her behind
Omega and Shadow again, and something clatters. Shadow tries
to dart after it, but she has their quills in hand.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
What are you-
The metallic dog charges down the corridor after the clatter.
Omega continues firing, and takes a sheet of dislodged metal,
charging after it one arm wound back and the other firing.
Rouge taps her bag to Shadow, revealing behind her hand a
blue glow still within it, and her loose right glove, missing
the blue bangle to keep it on.
ROUGE THE BAT
Go on, get your hits in!
They GROWL, but spin up a homing attack, and bounce off the
walls and the dog, splashing more metal about.
The dog catches up to the 'drop' already half depleted from
Shadow and Omega's assault, only to find that it was a
sparkly blue wrist-bangle. It WHIMPERS, then is SMACKED on
the head by the metal plate Omega clashes into it's neck,
separating the head and body. He grabs the head, tosses it
into the air, and gets ready to bat it out, but Shadow shoots
it before he can, and it fizzles with green chaos energy,
dropping the gem in Omega's hand.
E-123 OMEGA
KILL-STEALER! SHADOW WILL PAY WITH
THEIR HEAD!
Shadow rolls their eyes, snatching the yellow gem from Omega.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Don't be childish. I did most of
the work anyway.
E-123 OMEGA
LIES! OMEGA'S DAMAGE OUTPUT FAR
EXCEEDS SHADOW'S!
Omega picks Shadow up and shakes them hard as they smirk.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Haven't you learned your lesson,
Omega? You're yet to beat me one-on
one. But if you're looking to get
pulverized, I will gladly obliged.
Rouge, hold:
They hold out their empty hand that did have the yellow
Starsi Drop. Rouge looks at their palm, then back at Shadow,
and tuts, revealing it tucked up her shirt, over her stomach.
ROUGE THE BAT
No you won't.
Shadow looks at their hand, then around, then scowls,
wriggling out of Omega's grasp.
And, sorry, how am I the
irresponsible one, who lacks self
control, when you two can't keep
from fistfighting with relics!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
I never said you weren't
trustworthy.
ROUGE THE BAT
No, you didn't, but he did-
E-123 OMEGA
I DID.
ROUGE THE BAT
-and you don't disagree. Stop
taking them from me! You're clearly
having a lovely time fighting
grumpy doggies, and I'll have a
lovely time holding my lovelies, so
what's the issue?
Shadow pulls their lips taut and shrugs guiltily.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
You're trustworthy... but not wise
with gems. A blindspot. Natural,
for a mortal.
ROUGE THE BAT
I am so wise! Ask me, go on -
what's a Ruby made of? AL-2-O-3.
Strength of an Opal? Rated 6,
variance of 1.
What goes with highest carat gold?
According to Momo Machel, you
should always pair-
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Where should you not put unknown
powerful artefacts: in your shoes,
clothes, or tucked in your ear?
She bites her lip, and knocks her head on one side: the blue
crystal plops out of one ear.
ROUGE THE BAT
It sounds like the ocean... and
sparkly...
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
It could have taken us years to
notice that brain damage.
ROUGE THE BAT
Potential brain damage!
E-123 OMEGA
ELIMINATE BRAIN FOR MINIMAL DAMAGE!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
And there's your answer - if you'd
put some rock over your potential
brain, you can't be wise.
Rouge folds her arms, eyes twitching, and points her nose
away.
ROUGE THE BAT
Well, they're most likely a kind of
fluid metal anyway, since they're
magnetic and tensile.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
I don't care. Give them to me, and
we'll get the last two and get out.
She sulkily gives them the drops, and they begin a quick
juggle between all four with one hand. Barely stopping to
look at their hand, Shadow rolls their eyes, and turns to
Omega's chest to punch in numbers.
ROUGE THE BAT
I'm just saying, I don't only care
about jewels. I also care about
things that look like jewels.
E-123 OMEGA
AND LOOKING LIKE JEWELS.
She tilts her head, and Omega mimics her.
E-123 OMEGA
QUERY: IS SHINY EYE PAINT AND
ACCESSORY NOT FOR CAMOUFLAGE?
ROUGE THE BAT
No, it's for joy!
Shadow punches Omega's stomach trying to make the display
work, denting him. Omega BEEPS indignantly, picks them up,
and throws them at the wall. Rouge gasps as their juggled
gems fall loose, and dives under to catch them on her wings.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG (O.S.)
(stuck in a wall)
Not my fault!
INT. THE BASE ROOMS, SHAFT. UNKNOWN
SHADOW juggles the whirl of colour as they duck under the
long pipes, at the front of the crew.
E-123 OMEGA
BEEP
ROUGE follows after them, spider crawling along the pipes,
her pupils whizzing with the gems they juggle.
E-123 OMEGA
BEEP
OMEGA stomps behind them both, making a horrible scraping
sound as he widens the shaft with his shoulders.
E-123 OMEGA
BEEP
ROUGE THE BAT
Yes. Thank you. Beep.
Shadow peeks through a small vent, and looks back to Rouge.
ROUGE THE BAT
Nope, no closed spaces. They
benefit from those.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
So, wait out in the open with no
cover?
ROUGE THE BAT
Yes. On we go.
Shadow grumbles, but presses on.
INT. VAULT ENTRANCE. UNKNOWN
SHADOW juggles the Starsi drops as they try to open the
twisting door handle, then attempt to Chaos Blast it with one
hand.
E-123 OMEGA
TWO SIGNALS... APPROACHING FROM
ABOVE. SUB-OPTIMAL BATTLE GROUND.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
I'm working on it!
ROUGE THE BAT
Oh no, they might have to - gasp! -
give them to me for one moment! Oh,
what travesty might befall us all?
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
So that's your plan. Always got
another motive. This is just like
on the Ark!
ROUGE THE BAT
Do you wanna go there with motives,
babe?
Shadow CHUCKLES softly, wrinkling their nose at her, but
chucks the gems over her head to Omega.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
If you'd stop being childish, you
might get to hold them by now.
ROUGE THE BAT
Why do I even put up with you?
Omega: Gimme!
E-123 OMEGA
WILL NOT GIM!
ROUGE THE BAT
Why?
E-123 OMEGA
FOR FUN!
Rouge GROWLS, and pushes past Shadow to pick at the lock.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
It's not a pick lock.
ROUGE THE BAT
Every locks a pick lock, just
believe.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
It's really not.
ROUGE THE BAT
Wanna make this interesting? Your
doubt is spurring me on.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Sure. You can have one if you're
right.
E-123 OMEGA
TWO SIGNALS INCOMING.
ROUGE THE BAT
Just the one?
Rouge purposely JANGLES the lock.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Stop messing around!
ROUGE THE BAT
You started it! Even stevens?
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
No!
She RATTLES it firmer, pulling a grim face.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Is it opening or not?
ROUGE THE BAT
If life is fair, it might be.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
FINE! Two. You can have two.
She drops the lock, revealing it was already open, and swings
the door wide.
INT. VAULT PROPER. UNKNOWN
ROUGE swoops down the steps into the storage room - it is the
first concrete walled place they have found.
ROUGE THE BAT
Well now you have to gimme, Omega,
I earned it!
SHADOW KICKS the door as they enter, and shuts it behind
OMEGA. Omega tries to dangle the drops over Rouge's head, but
she flaps up and takes her rightful two, squishing them to
her face.
ROUGE THE BAT
(cheeks squished)
Oh my babies! Mwah mwah mwah!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
You do things like that, and it
makes me doubt your decisions.
ROUGE THE BAT
(cheeks squished)
Why did you close the door? We want
them here!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Now? We're just standing in a
sealed room, no strategy, no trap?
ROUGE THE BAT
Whenever, why not?
They TUT their tongue, then rove their eyes over the room,
and their face falls.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Really, Rouge? Ridiculous.
Rouge is flying on her back, sparkling the Starsi drops in
her fingers.
ROUGE THE BAT
Shiny, they're going to look so
nice in a bright-lit cabinet! I
could stare at you all day!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
I'm sure you'll find time for the
rest of the room.
She rolls over to look at the space; there are rows of smart
cabinets, and Shadow pulls one open, revealing thousands of
tiny, shiny colourful things. She swoops down, her toes
wriggling with excitement, and her eyes shiny and bright.
ROUGE THE BAT
OOH!
Shadow smacks her out of the air.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
So was this a plan, or was this a
plot to pinch more jewels on the
way?
ROUGE THE BAT
How was I supposed to know the
Vaulted room with a wheel-lock was
for treasures?
They roll their eyes. Omega begins STOMPING behind them on
the concrete floor.
ROUGE THE BAT
I mean, really! This was a metal
extraction factory, what would they
be doing with these?
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
That's not our concern.
ROUGE THE BAT
No! Taking out potentially harmful -
and gorgeous, dazzling, fabulous
gems - is! Come to think of it, are
all these carrying power? That's a
bit more than a belt bag can take.
Shadow put their head in their hands.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Omega, scan these?
Omega GROANS like a child.
E-123 OMEGA
DISSATISFACTION! SIGNALS CANNOT BE
DETECTED OUTSIDE OF CONCRETE
BARRIERS.
ROUGE THE BAT
That's why I wanted the doors open -
they need to come in to us!
Shadow hops up the steps back to the door, then pauses at the
handle.
E-123 OMEGA
NUMEROUS LOW-LEVEL SIGNALS. TOO
SMALL TO BE DISTINGUISHED.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
No, we can't fight them here - if
those things take their power from
these, we can't fight them with a
huge store.
ROUGE THE BAT
Sure we can, they'll run out of
metal.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
And that metal will be picked up by
the thousands of smaller crystals,
and those will all become dogs and
attack us.
ROUGE THE BAT
They're tiny, how bad could they
be?
But why are they here anyway...
These are too small to power
anything, surely?
Omega scans the other cabinets, his neck squeaking. Shadow
put their ears to the door, and a GROWL emanates from behind
it. The metal door then THUMPS, and they dart back.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Too late for that, look what your
greed has led to!
Rouge is deep in thought, and just waves them away, staring
at the Starsi drops in her hand. She plunges her other deep
into the draw.
ROUGE THE BAT
Omega, but these in your cannons.
We'll get past them, maybe have to
come back for those last two.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
But they wanted the drops. You're
giving them what they want.
ROUGE THE BAT
Sure, but they chase them too.
She fills her pockets with sparkling tiny jewels, and winks
at Shadow.
ROUGE THE BAT
And hey, there might be some
left...
They grimace, and brace at the door. Rouge and Omega line up
behind them, Omega's cannons ready, Rouge hiding behind, her
arms laden with two.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Swap.
ROUGE THE BAT
What, now I can't have-
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
You take these two. Not because you
deserve them. I'm just a better
shot than you.
ROUGE THE BAT
Aww- oh. Fine. A win is a win.
They toss the Red and Yellow drops to her. She stuffs them in
her pockets, jacket, belt, and keeps one in hand, and in
return she pours out the tiny drops. They click, spark and
magnetise eachother, and Shadow catches them in a stack.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Ready?
They open the door before the others can respond.
On the other side of the door, there are two sniffing noses,
glowing Green and Orange eyes, but two heads sprouting from
one eight-limbed beast.
ROUGE THE BAT
(whispering behind Omega)
I thought I was.
Shadow throws the beads in their hands directly over their
shoulder, and it captures the eyes of the mutts as they sniff
blindly in the room. Their eyes sparkle at the colourful
beads, the glowing beads rising to the surface of their
metallic heads as they pass, and the beast skitters through
them.
E-123 OMEGA
ATTACK!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
You know that isn't what we agreed.
They grab Omega by the handle, and speed them down the
corridor. Rouge glances at the beast descending on the gems
scattered on the ground, rolling and absorbing them into its
body. Her eyes fix on the green and orange glowing 'sockets'.
She SIGHS, and lets just the tiniest flash of red from her
hand as she swoops after her team. One of the heads twists as
it feasts, gaining tiny colourful eyes on its face.
INT. MAINTENANCE CORRIDORS. UNKNOWN.
SHADOW releases OMEGA to run on his own, as Rouge puffs to
catch up.
ROUGE THE BAT
Bait taken, let's just hope they
don't follow too soon...
E-123 OMEGA
DO NOT HOPE. I WILL DELIGHT IN
CRUSHING THEM!
They run along winding corridors, Rouge hooking her feet
under Shadow's armpits, so they can grab Omega in their
thighs, and Rouge carries them up an empty elevator shaft,
ROUGE THE BAT
No, Shadow's right - we don't even
know if they're any use. Not worth
the hassle.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Not worth it?
ROUGE THE BAT
No, obviously I know how to
prioritise, otherwise I wouldn't
have suggested we use- oof
Her voice strains as they reach the third floor up, and she
flops them ungracefully onto the ground, and as she falls the
purple drop flops from her ear and CLANGS on the metal. She
cringes, and grabs it in her teeth as they get up and speed
off.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Under control?
ROUGE THE BAT
(with full mouth)
Your fault! You guys got heavy!
E-123 OMEGA
CORRECT! I AM LADEN WITH ROCKS AND
BOMBS!
Something BARKS, and it echoes up the elevator shaft. Shadow
scoots behind the two, and starts shoving them both along,
sending a golden trail behind them.
E-123 OMEGA
OPTIMUM EXIT: LEFT
Shadow skids them down the corridor to the left, then
immediately drags them out as they are chased out by a
smaller tripod beast with no head but thousands of small
eyes.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Needed to know that, Omega.
ROUGE THE BAT
Go on, big guy-
E-123 OMEGA
FIRE!
He scatters sparkling gems like hail over and behind the
creature. It stops to gather them, and swells with colour and
shining metal from the ground.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
We can't do that too much.
ROUGE THE BAT
I'm sure we'll get out fine... and
survive without those last two big
shiny babies...
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Please don't be predictable.
She hops out of their shove and flies above them both.
ROUGE THE BAT
How dare-
E-123 OMEGA
SIGNAL AHEAD. OPTIMUM EXIT BLOCKED.
ROUGE THE BAT
Alright, well shoot to disract it!
The walls start to bulge, and two more half-formed beasts
sniff out from either side of the corridor, as something
BARKS across the corridor from the direction they are
running. Rouge gazes at their sparkly eyes, and shakes her
ears, covering them this time.
ROUGE THE BAT
No, don't distract me, pretty
things!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Pretty?
E-123 OMEGA
ORDER REJECTED:
He blasts his non- gem-ammo hand into the ceiling, and opens
his fingers into four shining cannons. A bright light flares,
and the ceiling is melted. Rouge winces, but scoops Omega up
with her feet in his handles, and Shadow hops on.
Omega keeps the flare going for several floors, and the lumps
in the walls can't keep up, although their teeth gnash as
they fly.
E-123 OMEGA
Canon depleting in 5-4-
ROUGE THE BAT
(strained)
One more floor...
Shadow climbs down Omega, and boosts their shoes so they
scoot through the thinner gap in the waning beam.
E-123 OMEGA
3-2.5-2.2
ROUGE THE BAT
Nope! I tap!
She GASPS and places them on the next floor, as Omega stops
his beam.
E-123 OMEGA
VICTORIOUS! SUPERIOR STAMINA!
ROUGE THE BAT
This time, sure. Just knowing where
to stop, y'know. Mature things.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Hmm.
E-123 OMEGA
SUSPICION REGISTERED.
ROUGE THE BAT
Ugh, I can't win, can I?
She waves her hand in disbelief as she jogs behind them,
tapping the gem in her hands on the wall.
INT. BASE CORRIDOR. UNKNOWN
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Anything, Omega?
SHADOW, ROUGE AND OMEGA run the corridor they first strolled
down, towards the exit signs this time, as Omega stumbles,
his screen fritzing.
E-123 OMEGA
PROCESSING REDUCED - POWER RESERVED
FOR MOTOR CONTROLS!
ROUGE THE BAT
It's okay, babe - we're nearly
there - they've gotta have given up
by now!
As they turn the corner, she taps the gem in her inside hand
on the wall, and it starts to swell.
Shadow spins into a ball, careering down the corridor and
blasting through the door.
EXT. ABANDONED MINE ENTRANCE. DAY.
SHADOW EXPLODES the security door like a bullet.
ROUGE THE BAT (O.S.)
There's no points for tyle, hon!
OMEGA charges through the whole, and Rouge finally hops
through, swinging out on the metal frame with her hand. She
looks over her shoulder furtively as Shadow dusts themself
off and Omega empties the remaining gems from his wrists.
E-123 OMEGA
RETREAT UNNECESSARY.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
I thought you spent your power?
E-123 OMEGA
STORES WILL ALWAYS STRETCH FOR
VIOLENCE!
ROUGE THE BAT
They had the terrain advantage in
there, Big Guy - all that Metal to
regenerate! You're already mostly
outta bullets.
She faces away from the door, ears flicking as something
RUMBLES behind her.
ROUGE THE BAT
It's too bad we can't bring them up
here, but, oh well, nevermind.
Omega WHIZZES his fists excitedly, as Shadow squints into the
dark.
Rouge takes a few casual steps forwards, eyes still closed,
as the corridor glows green and orange, and then with
pinpricks of bright colours. Shadow braces, but she shoots
them a smile.
Out from the broken door surges the conglomerate beast,
covered in glittering gems and with two heads gnashing. It's
paws are more mouths set beneath colourful and misshapen
eyes.
E-123 OMEGA
FIRE!
Omega unloads the last of his bullets, and when they fire
empty he BACKFIRES in frustration, then throws Shadow, who
just forms a ball before they hit the beast in the chest.
Rouge stands calmly, inspecting her fingers as the beast
contends against Shadow's speed, splashing shards of itself
over the dirt around them. It forms a broken wave, depleting
as it surges towards her, and by the time it reaches her
ankle it is just a spray of silver metal and colourful drops,
with two perfect drops at her toes. And Shadow, unfurled at
her feet.
ROUGE THE BAT
Oh, how wonderful! Who would have
thought, not I - all the gems, and
these teeny little pretties too!
This must be my reward for the
virtue of Self Control!
Shadow stares up at her, rolling their eyes, as she takes the
gems into the crooks of her arms, and glows happily.
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Right. But you can't carry all of
those. You can... have them when
we're home.
She puts a hand out to them, and lets them take the red gem
in it, and bestows the yellow carefully on Omega's head.
ROUGE THE BAT
Thank you so much, Shadow, in the
end I learned a valuable lesson
from all your teasing!
SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG
Oh, I bet.
E-123 OMEGA
... I LEARNED NOTHING. UPGRADE ME
TO A GREATER BULLET CAPACITY!