Chapter Text
The evening sun was beginning to say goodbye to Emerald City by the time Detective Corporal I Shadow the Hedgehog made it to his workplace, the Royal Mobian Constabulary’s Eastern West Command – located in the West End borough – and danger and intrigue were beginning to say “hello”. The Royal Mobian Constabulary was the national state police force of the Kingdom of Mobius, and being a branch of the Crown Armed Forces of Mobius, it not only conducted patrol and investigative duties like regular police departments, but it also conducted antiterrorism operations around the globe. On paper, Constables worked a “three days on, three days off” schedule, which meant three 12-hour shifts in a row followed by three days off, alternating between the day shift and night shift every six weeks. In practice, however, they had to be ready for action 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, regardless of vacation or holidays. Still, polls showed that the majority of Constables were satisfied with the arrangement.
That aside, after scanning his keycard at the gate, Shadow entered the command, an old marble building constructed before the Great War decorated with a few gargoyles. After entering the complex, he walked past the desk sergeant, a black cat.
“Good evening, Shadow,” said the sergeant.
“Good evening, Sergeant Scott.”
Shadow eventually found his way to the meeting room, where a number of Constables were gathered already, both uniformed members and plainclothes members. Shadow took a seat in the back and waited for the briefing to get on with. Then, his Hedgehog Sense tingled, and in this case, it told him that someone he knew was coming his way. Shortly thereafter, Detective Corporal I Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective II Miles “Tails” Prower entered. The Ultimate Life Form only shot them a brief glance before focusing his gaze to the podium at the front.
(Please don’t sit over here) thought Shadow.
Shadow kept his eyes forward and his arms crossed, hoping that this would somehow magically stop Sonic and Tails from sitting next to him.
“Hey, what’s happenin’, Shad?”
Shadow looked over to his right, only to discover that Sonic had indeed sat directly next to him.
(Oh no.) “Shut your mouth, Faker.”
Sonic chuckled. “Still goin’ on with that Faker jive, huh? Ya do know that’s so 20 years ago, right?”
“Whatever. I didn’t like you then and I don’t like you now, OK?”
“Riiiiight. Anyways, Tails and I are goin’ to an auto polo match tomorrow night. You want in?”
“Sonic, how many drugs did you take to come to the conclusion that I want anything to do with you or that orange rat?”
“Um…Shadow…with all due respect, foxes are canines, not rodents,” said Tails.
“Shut up. I don’t like you either…Tails.”
“Do you even like anybody?”
Shadow turned away. “No, and I don’t even care.”
“Awww, is my Shaddy baby acting like Mr. Cute Little Tough Guy again?”
Shadow turned and saw Corporal I Rouge the Bat sitting to his left. Rouge was a member of the Constabulary’s Motorcycle Squad, and probably the only person Shadow could tolerate. Since it was late summer, Rouge wore a dark blue short-sleeve uniform shirt like other uniformed Constables, but she also wore dark blue Jodhpurs with black/silver stripes running down the sides and black Dehner Motor Patrol knee-high leather boots, items typical to the Fall/Winter Patrol uniform. Additionally, she wore a midnight blue Super Seer motorcycle helmet instead of the usual peaked cap. That aside, Shadow promptly made his response to Rouge:
“Rouge, you’re lucky I kind of like you.”
Rouge giggled. “Oh, you’re so funny! Seriously, though, I wonder if you’ll ever have a girlfriend.”
Shadow shook his head. “I don’t see what this has to do with anything, but no.”
Rouge gently pinched Shadow’s cheek. “Hey, never say never! Someday, some sexy female hedgie might want a piece of you!”
“Rouge, stop that.”
“She’s right, ya know!” said Sonic. “I used to not want romance, but Rouge taught me that life ain’t so bad when ya got a hot mama cheerin’ you on!”
Rouge laughed. “Oh Big Blue, you flatter me!”
“Ain’t that what relationships are about?”
Shadow rolled his eyes.
(Please end me now.)
Before anything could end Shadow’s life, however, Sergeant III William “Willy” Dominguez entered. Dominguez was a brown hyena with green eyes. His job as the briefing leader was to check to make sure that not only were all the outgoing and incoming Constables present and accounted for, but also that they had all their necessary equipment and that their uniforms were in good condition. Satisfied that all the Constables were squared away in addition to being present, he began the briefing:
“Good evening, Constables. First of all, I wanted to congratulate Detective Corporal 1st Grade Hawkes for his handling of the Gorsky Park Axe Killer case. Not only was he thorough in his investigation, but he followed procedure to the letter and knew exactly when to take risks. Hawkes, you should be very proud of yourself. Second of all, I wanted to give everyone a heads-up about a drug cartel that’s been distributing counterfeit medications around the West End. We don’t know exactly who’s distributing this junk, but BOLO for any dealers who are passing this stuff around and alert Sonic and Tails to it; they’re the ones working this case. Also, Corporal 2nd Grade Welles just got out of the hospital, but is still on medical leave. I want to thank all of you for doing what you could to help her out. Your camaraderie and brotherhood is vital to the spirit of the Constabulary, and if we can even save one Constable’s life, then we can hold strong against anything. Before I conclude this briefing, I have an order for Detective Corporal 1st Grade Shadow: please report to Deputy Chief Guzman’s office after this briefing. All outgoing Constables, enjoy your night off. Everyone else, get out there, and let’s be careful on the roadways.”
===
Shadow headed for the office of Deputy Chief Luanne Guzman, the night executive officer for the Eastern West command. He knocked on the door when he got there.
“Come in.”
Shadow entered Guzman’s office, which had a fairly typical setup: a mahogany office desk with her name plate on it among other knick-knacks, the Mobian and Constabulary flags flanking her desk, various awards and photographs hanging on the wall, and a shelf with souvenirs from her career in the Constabulary. Guzman herself was a tall, voluptuous woman with tan skin and emerald green hair. What really shocked Shadow, however, was the presence of someone else here: a pink hedgehog with short, bobbed spines on her head. She wore a red hair band, a red zippered hoodie over a red tank top with white trim, black leggings and red knee-high boots with white cuffs and white stripes running down the front. Shadow stood before Guzman and saluted, and Guzman returned the salute.
“At ease, Shadow.”
Shadow dropped the salute, but remained standing at attention.
“Shadow, I understand you’ve been assigned to investigate the Emerald City Ripper case. You’re one of the best detectives I’ve had, which is why I’m assigning you a partner. Shadow, meet Detective Constable 1st Grade Amy Rose. She’s new to the Investigative Services Team.”
Shadow looked over at Amy, the pink hedgehog.
“Hi, nice to meet you!”
Amy attempted to shake hands with Shadow, but he left her hanging, much to her confusion:
“Why aren’t you shaking hands with me? I don’t bite!”
“Shadow, please shake hands with Detective Constable Rose,” said Guzman.
Reluctantly, Shadow shook hands with Amy.
“Now then, I trust you’ll treat Detective Constable Rose with the utmost of respect and cooperation,” said Guzman.
Shadow nodded. “Yes ma’am.”
“Good. Do your best. Dismissed.”
Guzman saluted Shadow and Amy, who returned the salute before heading out on assignment. Shadow clenched his fists, not particularly looking forward to working with Amy.