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Manic knocked on the door of Sonic’s house.
“Maybe we should’ve gotten a hotel.” Jade said.
“There’s better security here.” Manic replied.
A few minutes later, Sonic finally answered the door.
Sonic yawned. “Manic? What’re you doing here so early?”
“Someone burned our house down.” Manic said.
“What?” Sonic asked.
“I’ll explain in a minute.” Manic replied.
Sonic stepped aside. “Go on in, Jade.” He said. “Sal’s up.”
Manic handed Elodie to Jade.
Jade walked inside with the twins. “Thanks, Sonic.”
“You’re welcome.” Sonic replied. He stepped outside and shut the door behind him.
“I have some old business to take care of.” Manic said. “If I don’t, it’ll be worse next time.”
“Are you ever gonna tell me what you were involved in?” Sonic asked.
Manic shook his head. “I wish I didn’t know.”
Sonic nodded tersely.
“After this is over with, bro.” Manic said. “I guess I owe you that.”
“Alright, but I’m holding you to it.” Sonic replied.
“Take care of my family for me.” Manic said.
Sonic nodded. “Of course, bro.”
Manic hugged Sonic. “Thanks.”
*
Manic sat on one of the patio chairs at Ivo Robotnik’s house.
“So good of you to come.” Robotnik said, sitting down across from Manic.
Manic scoffed. “Oh, yeah, it’s the least I could do after you firebombed my house.” He said sarcastically.
“Well, I had to get your attention somehow.” Robotnik replied. “Anyway, I’ll leave you alone if you do this job.”
“Not like I have a choice.” Manic said. “What’s the job?”
“It seems you’re not afraid of Shadow like everyone else is.” Robotnik replied.
“That’s because I haven’t crossed him.” Manic said.
“We have reason to believe he’s an informant for GUN.” Robotnik said. “We need him silenced.”
“And I’m the only one who can be forced into this?” Manic asked.
Robotnik nodded. “So we need proof that the job has been done.” He replied. “We’d like the job done this week.”
Manic got up and left. “Fine.” He said. “I’ll see what I can do.”
*
Manic showed up at Shadow’s house as Shadow and Rouge were walking out the door.
Rouge smiled. “What brings you here, Manic?”
“Make it quick.” Shadow replied. “We have things to do.”
“It’s not like we have reservations.” Rouge said.
“It shouldn’t take long.” Manic said. “It’s important. Business.”
“For the guild?” Shadow asked.
Rouge barely blinked at Shadow’s answer.
“You really are the informant.” Manic said.
Shadow unlocked the door. “Step inside.”
*
“I thought you got out.” Shadow said, sitting down on the couch.
Manic sat down in the computer chair. “I did, but someone called the debt up.”
“If you do a job for the top of the guild, that cancels your debt.” Shadow said.
“Ivo and the kingpin manipulated me back in.” Manic replied. “They burned my house down. They could’ve killed my family.”
Shadow nodded. “I’ll see if I can help you.”
Manic looked away. “I don’t know if you can.”
“What do you have to do?” Shadow asked.
“Take you out.” Manic replied.
“Kill me?” Shadow asked. He scoffed. “That’s out of your skill set. You’re the master thief, not the assassin.”
“I know.” Manic replied. “That’s why I came to you. You need to know and I need your help.”
“Maybe we can fake it.” Shadow said. “You can keep your family safe, leave the business, and I can do the same. Rouge and I can move to Tashistan.”
“He wants proof that you’re dead.” Manic said.
“By that, he means he wants the body.” Shadow replied.
Manic leaned against the arm of the computer chair, propping his head up with his hand. “I was thinking that Rouge could raid their operations.”
“It takes months to organize raids.” Shadow replied. “Besides I think GUN has got their hands in the guild’s operations. Rouge isn’t on the case anyway. It’s a conflict of interest. I’m lucky I got total immunity for anything I’ve done.”
Manic leaned back in his seat. “So… I’m dead. My family’s dead if the guild catches onto the fact they exist.”
“No, we can take it down.” Shadow said. “We don’t need GUN’s help.”
Rouge stepped into the room. “You need my help?”
Shadow turned around. “I-”
“I’m glad you agree.” Rouge said, hugging Shadow.
Shadow sighed.
“Alright.” Manic said. “This has to be done this week.”
Shadow got up. “Let me get another cup of coffee, then we’ll go.”