Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Chaos Controller ❯ Checking on a friend ( Chapter 2 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Shadow sighed as he found a package on his porch that belonged to Aleena. He had a lot to do at home today, but he figured she may need her package today. He picked it up, then raced back to Aleena’s house. 

 He climbed up the steps, then rang the doorbell.

 After a few minutes, no one had answered.

 Shadow knocked on the door.

 No answer.

 Shadow knocked again. “Aleena?”

 Still no answer.

 Shadow pulled his keys out of his shirt pocket, then unlocked the door. He walked inside and closed the door behind him. “Aleena?” He asked. “Are you okay?”

 “Shadow?” Aleena asked. “I’m in the living room.”

 Shadow walked into the living room to find Aleena sitting in her favorite chair and wiping her eyes. He set the package on the coffee table. “What happened?”

 “I did something stupid.” Aleena said as Shadow sat down on the couch. “I got a phone call from Manic, saying that he was being held for ransom and he needed me to send money through some app. It sounded just like him, down to the fact he always calls me Ma. I did it and found out that whoever it was drained my bank accounts when I called Manic. It was a bot mimicking his voice. He was at work the whole time.”

 Shadow sighed and held back the urge to ask her why she didn’t think to call and ask him if it was a scam. 

 Aleena sniffled.

 “Do you still have the app?” Shadow asked. 

 Aleena motioned to her tablet. “The info should still be on there unless they hacked my tablet too.”

 Shadow got up and walked over to the little table by Aleena’s chair. He picked up the tablet. “I don’t have the password.” He said, handing Aleena the tablet.

 Aleena started unlocking the tablet as she blinked back tears. “They sent the links through my email.”

 Sonia happened to walk in. “Mother?”

 Aleena drew a shaky breath. “Sonia?”

 Sonia pulled her gun out and aimed it at Shadow. “Step away from her.”

 “Put that away.” Aleena said. “That’s Shadow.”

 Sonia put the gun away. “I’m sorry.” She said, stepping closer. “I saw her crying and you… I… I didn’t realize you were Shadow.”

 “It’s fine; you’re just trying to protect her.” Shadow replied. He said, sitting on the chair next to Aleena. “She got ripped off by some loser online claiming to be one of your brothers.”

 “Well, Manic had been involved with shady stuff as a kid.” Sonia said, sitting down beside Aleena.

 “It wasn’t him.” Aleena replied. “He scolded me already.”

 Shadow raised an eyebrow. “Never heard of the Starline app.” He said. He did some more typing. “Okay, it’s a known scam….”

 Aleena motioned to the screen. “What is this site?”

 Sonia looked at the screen. “Is that the dark web?”

 “No, it’s a GUN adjacent site.” Shadow said.

 “Adjacent?” Sonia asked.

 “I was in GUN, a specialized division completely off records.” Shadow replied. “So don’t mention it ever.”

 Sonia and Aleena nodded.

 “Subdivision of Eggman enterprises, which is a sister company of Robotnik Industries.” Shadow replied. “No surprise, ties to the Guild.”

 “Manic, his fiancée, and her brother were in the Guild.” Sonia said.

 “He told me that he and Surge got out of it.” Aleena replied. 

 “Or so he said?” Sonia asked.

 “If he and his fiancée were still in the Guild, they’d be dead or missing fingers.” Shadow replied. “There’s a rule of no attachments, meaning they couldn’t be together unless they paid their debts and got out. The way your mother talks about him, I can’t see him keeping a secret romance quiet for longer than a week.”

 “You had to investigate the Guild?” Sonia asked.

 “Yeah.” Shadow replied. “Then got injured and had to abort the mission two months later. It was never reopened as far as I know.”

 Shadow ran his hand through his spines. “Call Manic and see what he knows.”

 Aleena called Manic back and put the phone on speaker.

 Manic picked up after two rings. “What now? You wired money to a prince in Tashistan?”

 “Manic Edsel Hedgehog.” Aleena scolded.

 Manic sighed. “Sorry, Ma. I’m just frustrated.” He replied. “The police gave me the run around when I called them about it. What’s wrong?”

 “Shadow wanted to pick your brain about the Guild.” Aleena said. “You’re on speaker.”

 “Is it someone connected to the Guild?” Manic asked.

 “It goes through the Guild, then to the Starline app.” Shadow replied.

 “Oh, him.” Manic said. “I didn’t work under Starline’s section, but Surge and Kit did. He knows his stuff in tech and all, but he’s an abusive… not repeating what we call him in front of Ma.”

 “I see.” Shadow said. “Does Surge or Kit know anything?”

 “Surge probably doesn’t know about that app because she never mentioned it to me.” Manic replied. “Kit might because he’s still trying to pay his debts, but he can’t talk about it or they’ll kill him.”

 “He’s dead if he doesn’t.” Shadow said.

 Sonia and Aleena looked at Shadow.

 “Do what you gotta do, but please spare him.” Manic replied. “He’s an orphan and was forced into it along with Surge. He’s an aqua fennec with pinkish eyes. He’s really timid and polite unless you mess with Surge. He’ll usually back down and won’t fight you.”

 “Alright.” Shadow said. “Sounds like he’s got a conscience. He’ll be fine, you have my word.”

 “Sorry, I couldn’t help.” Manic replied. “Ma, I’m on my way to pick up Surge. We’ll be there soon. Bye.”

 “Bye, sweetie.” Aleena said. “Be careful.”

 Manic hung up.

 “You’re not going after those guys, are you?” Sonia asked. “Let the police handle it.”

 “They won’t.” Shadow replied. “They’re understaffed and it goes deeper than they probably know. It’s GUN territory. There’s probably the usual bureaucratic red tape and someone might have a hand in it.”

 “I suppose you’d know.” Sonia said. 

 “I do.” Shadow replied. “That’s why I retired from GUN.”

 Shadow got up. “I don’t know if I can get your money back, but they won’t do it again.”

 “You don’t have to do this.” Aleena said.

 “I want to.” Shadow replied. “You’re family to me and Rouge. You’ve done a lot for me when she died, it’s the very least I can do for you.”

 Shadow left the house.