Sonic: The Madness

Rouge the Bat, "treasure hunter", government agent, thief. The winter air was
cold, but she flew on. 'I can't believe this, under my nose this whole time, a
jeweled necklace sitting in an abandoned house! This will be to easy,' she
thought. It was true, the winery only ten miles from Central City was
abandoned, and one of the owners had left behind an expensive necklace filled
with jewels. "Liberating" such a treasure when no one even wanted it seemed to
be the right thing to do as far as she was concerned. And being a winery,
maybe a few bottles of expensive wine remained that she could sell.

She also wished she had worn something a bit warmer. This late on a January
night, her wings were getting cold. But it didn't matter as the winery was
below. Entering the main house was no problem, the window wasn't even locked.
The temperature wasn't much improved inside either. The heating system wasn't
running, indeed, the place seemed abandoned.

It took her mere minutes to find the necklace. "Come to mommy!" she muttered.
A gold necklace with several smaller jewels, and a large blue gem at the
center. She admired it for a few seconds. "Very nice... now, I wonder if
there's anything else in this-"

The light turned on. Momentarily stunned, she turned. A young man, perhaps
only two feet taller than she was, stood in the doorway of the room. "I- uh
oh..."

"Just take it and go," he said. The man turned the light off and walked
away.

She was tempted to take the advice, after all, she had what she came for. But
something nagged in the back of her mind. All reports said the property was
abandoned for the past six months. That, and the cold air outside had already
worn on her wings. Who was the man she'd seen? Had she seen him at all?
Running through the house, she found him, sitting at the fireplace in the main
room. He was looking at photos. She watched as he tossed them in the fire, one
by one. Curiously, she approached. He seemed to either not notice her, or not
care. She picked up a loose photograph. It showed the man with a young woman.
The two didn't look like a couple, or at least not a happy couple. "Who is
she?" Rouge asked.

"My ex-girlfriend. She left me when the winery went out of business. She only
wanted me for the money anyway. Doesn't matter," he answered dryly. Rouge began
to understand somewhat.

"I didn't think anyone still lived here. What happened? This place was once a
famous wine producer."

He explained, "the land died. Nothing grows. The grapes lost their flavor and
the vines died. We can't produce anything. The employees left, everyone left.
I inherited this land a year ago. I inherited nothing. Why are you still here?"
He hadn't once looked at her, he just threw the pictures away, one by one. Photos
of friends, employees, the history of the business.

"It's cold out," Rouge explained, or tried to. It was only partially true. "My
wings... do you mind if I sit by the fire?" He waved his hand at a chair.

Rouge felt sorry for this human. She knew why now. Shadow often had the same
look on his face, a look of emptiness and despair, loss. Even his voice when
he first spoke reminded her of Shadow. A lonely voice filled with uncaring.
He acknowledged her presence and nothing more. Even so, she was shallow enough
to look at him. She couldn't help it, as much as she seemed to think men as a
whole were useless, she still checked them out. This human, she thought,
didn't look too bad. He was clean cut, shaved regularly, and wore nice
clothes, a remnant of his rich lifestyle. She could tell the hint of muscle
under his clothes, likely from years of working here.

But his face betrayed his good looks, his face showed that he had lost the
will to live and functioned on a basic level. He was showing signs of under
eating. He was asleep as well. 'Typical,'she thought. 'Too self-absorbed in
his own self-pity to notice an attractive woman paying attention to him.' Not
that she's ever seriously considered a human male before, but flirting was her
nature. Besides, between the hedgehogs, the echidna and others, crossing
species borders was nothing new to her, when it came to checking men out.

She sat by the fire until she was warm again. Even the fire felt minimal
inside this place, it was so cold. Feeling well enough to fly, she left. It
was sometime after she was over Central City that she realized she'd left the
necklace behind. 'Damn,' she thought. Her home in Night Babylon wasn't far,
closer than flying back anyway. 'Still, it would give me an excuse to go back
there. That human did intrigue me for some reason. Though I wonder if maybe
he's ill? He didn't look too well.'


-------------------------------------------------

It had been three days. Rouge flew near Central City, bruised. GUN had ordered
her to help an archaeological mining team after a mine collapse. She needed to
check herself over for injuries. The Central City Winery wasn't very far, at
least. She reached the house in a few minutes. In the daylight, she could see
the land clearly. It was true, the land was decaying, the plants turned brown,
except nearest the house where only faint living plant life remained. She
thought it was a tragedy that such a business could fail because of natural
disaster.

She found the young man in the main room, reading a newspaper. "You should
lock your windows and doors," she greeted.

He looked at her. "What happened to you?"

"Oh, nothing... but I do need to check myself in a mirror."

"Second
door down the hallway," he said, returning to his newspaper.

'That was odd,' she thought. 'He showed concern for me when he saw me. He LOOKED
at me, then went back to his newspaper.' She found the bathroom. Like the rest of
the mansion, it was well decorated. The mirrored cabinet was the type in which
the sliding mirrors could be removed. Taking one out, she stood it opposite the
other mirrors. Her initial inspection showed no injuries from the front. Her
back, however, was scratched. A sizable scratch between her wings. 'No wonder
that hurts so much.' She found the man in his chair. "I have a cut on my back."

"...and?" he asked.

"I need it cleaned and bandaged, what do you think?"

His stupidity had not impressed her. "Oh..." he stood, following her to the
bathroom. She sat on the counter as he ran a washcloth under the sink. He
gently cleaned the wound. "It's not bad. Probably won't leave a scar. This is
going to burn," he said, wiping the scratch with alcohol. Rouge winced. She
could have turned around and smacked him, it burned terribly. She resisted the
urge to scream, but her eyelids shuddered and air slipped out from between her
teeth. The pain subsided quickly, however.

"That was... don't do that again. Can you look my wings over for any scratches?"

He didn't say anything, but looked them over anyway. "I don't see any. You have
a tail. That's odd."

"You've never seen a bat before or something?" she joked.

"Yes... small bats," he answered.

"I bet none of those little cave bats were as attractive as me, right?" He looked
stunned. "Oh... I'm sorry. It was just a joke." She had overstepped the comfort
zone. Aside from being a human, he had also left an unstable relationship.
Flirting probably made him angry, not to mention uncomfortable. She wasn't even
his species, after all.

"Whatever." He left the bathroom.

Rouge followed. "Hey, wait! I don't even know your name!" He ignored her. "I'm
Rouge," she said.

"Rouge... that's a... nice name. Tom." He had replied. "I didn't mean to... no
one visits. You're the first visitor I've had in a long time. I don't have any
friends. I have nothing."

"That's not true," she replied. "You still have a nice home."

"Why did you come here the other night? To steal that necklace?"

She was a bit stunned by his change in tone. "Yes. But it's not important."

"No, go ahead and take it, I don't need it. It's not worth much," he explained.
"I'm very tired right now. But... if you want to come back, feel free. I'll
leave the windows unlocked so you can come as you please."

He was reaching out to her. "I'll do that, when you're feeling better," she
said. He quickly fell asleep. Rouge left quietly, though she doubted any
noise would wake him. It was evening, and the air would soon be cold.
Curiously, she picked a grape from one of the few remaining vines near the
house. Tasting it, she spat it out. 'Eww, tastes like ashes," she thought.
She wasn't sure in the low light either, but the color of the vines seemed
off. And maybe it was the light playing tricks with shadows, but she was
almost certain the trees were moving. There was no wind.


-------------------------------------------------

She's decided to poke around and find out more about the winery. The Central
City Winery was owned by the Adriani family, until a year ago when Thomas
Adriani, the only child, inherited the land at age 20 after his parents died.
The winery continued operation, until six months prior when the land began to
fail. Orders cut down until production halted. The winery shut down, the staff
left, and for all anyone knew, the property abandoned. However, Tom had
remained behind, living reclusively. The wines held by the owners had all been
auctioned off recently. 'Why do I care about this? There's nothing in it for
me, aside from that necklace,' she thought.


-------------------------------------------------

It had been a week since she'd met him. She sat by the fire. "I don't like
wine. Funny that I'd inherit this. I don't like alcohol. I hate wine, it
tastes like rotten grapes. But it's been our family business. I worked here,
and I hate wine..."

"Then why continue here? You could have sold the land," she said.

"I hate wine, but there's a lot of money to be had in selling it. People pay good
money for rotten grape juice. I don't understand the rich," he answered. "They
think that paying lots of money for something makes it special."

She thought it an odd attitude for him to have. "Aren't you rich?"

"Technically," he replied. "But I save my money, I don't spend it on luxuries."

She asked, "what about that necklace?"

"You're obsessed with jewelry. My old girlfriend wanted it, she begged for it. I
bought it, and when I tried to give it to her, I found a letter waiting for me.
She was out of my life. I didn't care. I honestly didn't much like her. My
parents hooked us up. After a point, I started ignoring her hoping she'd leave,
and she finally did, but not because I wanted it... she left because I wasn't
making money. Why do you like jewels so much?" he asked.

"OH! I- it's hard to explain. But, they're pretty. I like looking at them," she
replied.

"Then why aren't you out collecting more? You're a treasure hunter, sitting here
with a lonely, broken man doesn't get you what you want."

She became agitated. "I'm trying to be
nice to you! If you don't like it, I can just leave right now!"

"That's not what I-" He looked her in the eyes, briefly. Turning away in
embarrassment, he continued, "I think you have a heart. You try to hide it with
a tight body suit, a flirty attitude, and your obsession with material goods.
You want the world to think you're tough, but here you are... taking pity on
someone, expecting nothing in return. And I think you've done this before."
She was amazed, he had looked through her. "I'm tired. I don't hate you, Rouge.
Don't think I do because I yelled at you." He fell asleep.

It had been a month. Rouge had seen her new friend off and on. Things went
well, as Tom seemed to show more interest in life now. He wasn't as depressed
as he was, although at times he still seemed to push Rouge away. A part of
him still seemed to want to avoid her for some reason. She sensed this, his
pushing away. He also seemed to be getting worse as time went. He was tired
more and more, often falling asleep during conversations. Rouge was starting
to worry. It was then she noticed it, as she flew above the property. The
death of the plants seemed to form a ring. The worst centered around a well
at the edge of the property, near a river. It was odd, and perhaps too strange
to be unrelated. She had come to believe that whatever was making Tom sick was
related to the land.

She needed to consult someone about this.


-------------------------------------------------

Dr. Eggman didn't flinch as Rouge snuck into his base. "What do you want, bat
girl? I don't have any Chaos Emeralds for you!"

"Very funny, Doctor!" she insulted. "I need your expertise on something."

"Oh? Are those idiots at GUN finally useless to you?"

She gave him an angry look. "Bring up the Central
City Winery on your satellite view."

"Ah, I know the place," he said. "Why you
would want that brought up is beyond me- hmm, interesting. I knew that place
shut down because nothing grew, but am I seeing this? The death forms a
perfect ring around the well! That's not natural at all!"

"And your opinion?" she asked.

"I don't have one right now."

"There's more. The owner of the property is tired all the time. I tasted one of
the grapes, it tasted like ash. And I think the trees are moving on their own at
night without wind. I've seen it several times."

Eggman thought the evidence over. "I have a friend I should consult on this."

"You have a friend? That's funny!" Eggman gave her a cold stare. "It was a
joke, don't get psychotic on me!" she said.


-------------------------------------------------

Central City was home to a private investigation firm. an odd one at that. The
sign in the window read HERBERT KOLCHAK WESTWOOD PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR.
Herbert was inside. It was after hours anyway, but he lived here. Stacks of
books, artifacts, and newspapers littered the small apartment. He was busy
working on a broken lamp. "Home is my heaven, home is my hell... why can't I
figure out what's wrong with this stupid thing?"

His video phone activated. "Herbert! Are you even there?"

Herb grabbed his
cane, and made his way to the phone. "Yes, yes, Ivo, what do you want?"

"I have a small job for you," Eggman explained.

"A job, that means money. Okay, send one of your flying machines to pick me up,
because I'm sure I have no ides where your base is. Not that it wouldn't be
easy enough to find since you paint your logo on them!"

Eggman wasn't appreciative of the comment. "It will be there to pick you up
shortly."

At Eggman's base, Herbert Westwood hobbled to the control room, walking
slowing as his right leg begged the cane's support. He noticed Rouge, and
jumped back slightly. "Ivo, there's a..."

"That's Rouge. An annoyance, but harmless, I assure you," Eggman explained.

"Harmless..." he stared at her with disgust. 'He doesn't like me at all, does
he?' she thought.

"Look at the screen, what do you see?" Herbert checked the image.

"That... isn't natural. No sir, not at all. Something is in the ground, sucking
the life out. I've read of this before, but I can't off hand remember where. Is
anyone living there?"

"Yes, a friend of mine," Rouge explained.

"Then you would do well to get that person away from there, as soon as possible!
Now, Ivo, you know where to send my money for this consult."

Rouge was walking away, the warning ringing in her mind. "Then you would do
well to get that person away from there." Her friend was dying and his land
was killing him. However, she could hear the two men arguing. "That... thing.
With the wings. She's probably responsible for that in the first place."

"Oh, really, Rouge may be a thief and a spy but she's hardly-"

Herbert cut him off. "I've studied things like her, humanoid creatures with
wings. Things that drain a man's soul for life. Listen or not, you still owe me.
I'm returning home."

Eggman sighed. Herbert had hobbled off. Eggman followed Rouge. "I should
apologize for that. He... he didn't mean to-"

"I don't care what he thought. I have a friend who may be dying. I have to go,"
she said angrily.

"WAIT! Normally I don't take interest in such matters, but if Herbert feels
strongly about something, well... I can't very well take over the world if it
ends. I don't have a Chaos Emerald, but I know someone who does. That stupid
echidna Knuckles has one..."

"And how would you now that?" she asked.

"Because, my dear Rouge, I have been trying to pry it away from him for the past
week! Stubborn fool doesn't understand science! Besides, I would assume that you
would want that fool Shadow to help you. At least, I doubt you can carry an adult
human, especially if he doesn't want to go."

Eggman was right. If necessary, Rouge would have Shadow use Chaos Control to
take him away. Rouge may be the closest Tom had to a friend, but he was
stubborn. "Just who was that odd man you brought here?" she asked.

"Herbert! Oh ho, he was an old childhood friend of mine. He's been a paranormal
investigator for 30 years. We have our... philosophical differences ever since
I took to my current hobbies, but he still works for me. He does research on
the various older buildings I use, after all, if it's haunted, he'll know how
badly. Now go. You don't have much time!"


-------------------------------------------------

Rouge headed to Angel Island immediately. It didn't take her long to find
Knuckles. He was sitting patiently over the Master Emerald. "ROUGE!" he
shouted. "You're not taking the Master Emerald!"

"Oh shut up, I'm not here for that. I'm here for the Chaos Emerald you have,"
she said. "How'd you know-? Like I'd give it to you, you thieving bat girl!"

She flew towards him. "I don't need it for myself. I need it to help someone!"

He grinned. "Help someone? You? You'll say anything..."

Rouge lost what shred of patience she had. Walking towards the echidna, she
grabbed the quills on the sides of his head and pulled. "I am in a hurry, and
I have had it with you! I have to save a life! Now give me that Chaos Emerald
or... or I'll tear these off!"

Knuckles was shocked. The anger was more than he'd ever seen out of Rouge,
and he was almost certain he heard a tinge of sadness in her voice. He pulled
the Emerald out and handed it to her. She let go. "I'll give this back when
I'm done with it." She turned.

"Rouge, wait, what's going on?" She flew off without answering.


-------------------------------------------------

It was night. Rouge found Shadow near Station Square. "I need your help."

"Oh?" he replied. She handed him the Chaos Emerald. "You're giving away a
Chaos Emerald? It must be important."

"I need you to help me save someone. A friend of mine might be dying. He-"

Shadow cocked an eyebrow. "He?"

"Yes, my new friend is a man. He's not my boyfriend. Does this bother you?"

He replied, "why should it? If you want to date someone, it's no business of
mine."

"I just said we're not-"

"Where is he now?" Shadow cut in.

It was past midnight when they arrived at the winery. "Nice place," Shadow
commented. Even now, he could tell the land was decaying. The air and ground
were unusually cold.

"He's inside, we should hurry," she said. They ran to the house. before they
could enter, they heard the loud thud inside.

"What was that?" Shadow asked. They found him. Tom was lying on the floor,
unconscious. He had fallen off the ladder in the library.

"No, we're too late!" Rouge screamed out, horrified at the sight of Tom's
limp body.

Shadow checked his pulse. "No we're not. He's still alive. Barely."

Rouge stooped to check on him. "He'll die here. I... I failed him."

Shadow reeled. Maria was in his mind again. Watching her die. He was certain
he would never forget that. "No he won't!" Shadow said. "I won't let him!
Chaos CONTROL!"

In seconds, the three were in Central City Hospital. They had startled the
staff. Shadow looked one of the doctors in the eye. "This man needs care.
NOW!" Quickly, the staff had Tom to the emergency room. "He should be fine.
Lets go," Shadow said.

Rouge turned away. "I can't. I have to stay here." Somehow, Shadow understood. He
had told her that her friend would be fine, but he didn't believe it. Even now,
he wondered if they were too late. "Find Eggman. He can help you now."


-------------------------------------------------

"There you are, doctor," Shadow greeted.

"Shadow... this had better be good, I'm busy!"

"Rouge sent me. Her friend may be..." Shadow explained.

"So you were too late," he replied. "Or were you? He's still alive?" Shadow
nodded. "Not that I particularly care about Rouge's friend, but... I did some
further research. Wait one minute..." He punched keys. In seconds, the vidphone
to Westwood's office came to life. "WESTWOOD!"

"Hyello?" Herbert called.

"I found something interesting about the winery," Eggman said.

"Oh? And that would be, what, Ivo?"

"A meteor fell there six months ago. The fireworks last July, to be exact. No
doubt it was ignored because of the festivities, but my satellites recorded it.
It made an impact dead center in the well!"

In his office, Herbert stumbled around, looking for something. "No... not
here... where is it..." He reached an unorganized cardboard box and drew out
a large black book. Finding the page inside, he read. "I knew it... it's
happening. I'll be at that winery in ten minutes! Meet me there!" He ran off,
hobbling on his cane. Down the stairs and to his van in the parking garage, he
sped off with a fury. "Oh boy... oh crap, this isn't good..."