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Username: Salem
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Access approved. Welcome, Salem!

Mission Info:

Mission: Retrieve data on Project Shadow
Location: Eggmanland
Mission Difficulty: 9/10
Main Hazards:
- Large army of robot guards
- Security system likely active
- Obstacle course en route to base
Post-mission Meeting area: Mystic Ruins Train Station, 23:45

~~~

Sweat was pouring down Salem's face as he entered the main computer room. "That... was... hell..." he said panting. He wiped sweat off of his head with his sleeve. "I'm just lucky I got in without running into any robots. But knowing Eggman, it's not like they would've proved any trouble..."

Still, he found it odd that not one robot was in sight on his way to the base, save for a few Egg Molers here and there.

"My client did say he was attacking Station Square, but still, even if he took an entire legion with him, he'd at least be smart enough to keep some guards at base... Oh, well. Back to business..."

He walked over to the main computer and switched it on. He entered the login password his client had informed him off, and began searching through the files for Project Shadow.

"All right. Got it..." He opened the folder, and asked for a separate security password. "Okay, password was, I believe... M-A-R-I-A..."

But when he entered the password, the folder denied access. "Ugh. Maybe I typed it in wrong. Hopefully Eggman didn't change the password..."

He tried typing the password in again, but it still denied access. "Damn, he must've changed the password. Huh?"

A window popped up on screen.

System has detected an intruder hacking into the computer system. Maximum security system on.

The alarms started blaring. The black hedgehog was in danger now.

"Dammit. Mission failure--I gotta get outta here!"

Salem held his knife in his hands. "Tch. I don't care whether this is that fatass' property or not--I've got somewhere to be right now and you're not gonna hold me up!"

Salem charged forward at the army, not caring whether he busted their circuits or simply ran past them to escape.

"I could say the same thing..." Salem replied. "I've never met someone half a second late for a meeting under any circumstances. I never let anyone or anything get in my way, and you screwheads won't be any different."

He jumped toward a random Egg Pawn standing in his way, slashed through it like butter, and ran off out of the computer room as fast as he possibly could.

[Salem. Landing a hit, much less actively destroying another fighter, is powerplaying. I'll let it slide this time, but you're supposed to attack and give the opponent a chance to react to it. Please keep that in mind from now on.]

"Number 52!" The Pawn called out to his fallen brethren. "...Eh, I never liked him much anyway."

It took a dive at the hedgehog and aimed its blaster at him, as the others followed suit. Soon the intruder had lasers aimed at him from all sides, with trigger-happy Egg Pawns manning each one. "At least be courteous enough to tell us who you're meeting here, and why you chose such off-limits territory for your rendezvous- Robotropolis isn't exactly the most scenic spot for a date."

The Pawn seemed genuinely curious. Egg Pawns were programmed with colorful personalities, but as soldiers, they knew no fear. Whether this guy was stronger than them or not was something they never bothered considering- Their goal was to protect their home, no matter the cost.

[Usually I don't powerplay anymore, but I thought the Egg Pawns would be an exception for two main reasons:

1. 99% of all Egg Pawns are killed with one or two hits in the games

2. There's an entire legion of them, so what real difference would it make if I killed some here? ]

Salem looked around at the surrounding Egg Pawns. Fear was starting to overtake him. Ah, hell... he thought. If it were just a small army of them, I could've taken 'em out just fine, but here... the hedgehog looked around hi again without turning his head. There's gotta be hundreds of 'em. Might as well tell 'em what they wanna know...

The black hedgehog raised his arms slowly. "Well first, I'm here on a mission for somebody else. I've got no interests in this place, just doing my job." Salem looked around him to see if any guards had calmed their weapons yet. "And second, this isn't really where I'm rendezvousing. I'm meeting with my client somewhere else, in..."

The black hedgehog was almost ready to give off his meeting area. Wait a minute... if they find out where I'm... no, gottsa fool 'em...

"I'm meeting my client at the Ice Cap." Close enough to the Mystic Ruins where I'm really meeting my client... "Now if you don't mind letting me pass..." Salem said as he began to take a step forward.

"I'd much rather accept, thank you very much..." Salem then flung his knife toward the apparent "leader" of the Egg Pawns. The knife anchored in the metal floor five inches from where the Pawn was standing. "However, before I leave, I wanna tell you something: I despise anyone who tries to hold me up during a mission. I can understand that you were trying to protect your master's territory, but if you ever, EVER try to get in my way again, each and every ONE OF YOU will end up in the JUNKYARD!" Salem was walking toward the Egg Pawn while he was speaking, and by the time he got to "junkyard", he had slammed his foot right in front of the robot.

Salem kneeled down to pick up his knife, feeling a bit foolish for trying to intimidate a robot, though he didn't show it. "Now that I believe I've made myself clear..." he said as he yanked his knife out of the floor. "I'll be off now. Thank you for letting me off, and my apologies for having to break in."

The hedgehog suddenly seemed so nonchalant as if nothing had ever happened. He got up and walked off to the nearest exit, when he suddenly stopped and checked on the time. 22:56. I've got some time... "Say..." the hedgehog said softly as he turned his head back to the Egg Pawns. "How about I strike up my own deal with your Eggman..?"

The black hedgehog had completely turned around now. "You see, I came here on a mission. A mission to retrieve data on an experiment called Project Shadow. Now, if you could possibly make arrangements with the doctor to let me take a copy of this data, I'll be willing to accept one job from the hard-working genius--free of charge!"

"So how 'bout it?" Salem continued. "Does it sound like a deal your doctor would accept?"

"Huh..." Salem began twirling his knife in his hand. "Well, then. Are you at least familiar with the name Shadow the Hegdehog?"

Come on you idiots... Salem thought. Project: Shadow. Shadow the Hedgehog? You still haven't figured it out yet.

"Well, too bad." Salem said aloud. "Well, the doctor's gotta know something. I'm gonna go meet with my client, then head over to Station Square to speak with the man in person. Au revoir."

At those words Salem turned around and finally left Eggmanland.

[Again, this is Robotropolis. Eggmanland is what I'm planning to turn Station Square into.]

(OoC: Eh... Okay. I guess that I can call this place Robotropolis from now on)