Chapter 1

"The Great Train Conspiracy"

Business had been lucrative for the still fairly freshly minted Team Chaotix. Vector, Charmy, and Espio had come over to Station Square after the flooding by some creature called "Perfect Chaos," which had led to the need for highly deductive and astute minds such as their own for missing persons cases(of which there were plenty), rescue, and recovery of personal property. Just as things began dying down, though, a new problem had emerged. During all this recovery, the brave workers of Station Square's various train stations, who had successfully managed to strike for better wages before all the flooding went down, had worked for their old pay as a part of recovery efforts, with the understanding that the better wages would resume once said recovery was done.

However, the upper management and the workers weren't currently in agreement about the recovery being done, which was causing uproar and bringing in the threat of another strike. So, when some of the workers pooled together to hire the Chaotix to investigate their boss, they instantly took the job. After all, better wages equals better pay for them too, right?

At least, that was how Vector encouraged Charmy and Espio as they trudged through the underground passageways of Station Square. During the Perfect Chaos incident, many previously blocked waterways had been opened, and that included an entrance into the train station's records room that the workers happened to know about. Climbing in, Espio camouflaged himself and did a quick security sweep. "All clear." he said, and Vector and Charmy climbed in. "Alright boys, start looking for anything shifty." Vector whispered, as all three fanned out across the room. Espio took the ceiling. "If we carefully observe the dust pattern on these filing cabinets, we can easily determine the most recent records, and narrow our search." Vector just shook his head. "Maybe, but they're likely sorted with the closest records to the main entrance being the most recent."

"True. But we must also factor in their organizing system." Espio replied, thoughtfully. "Probably by year and month, judging by this place." Vector said, carefully observing the filing cabinets. "Uh, guys, why don't we just use the computer?" Charmy cut in, pointing to a desktop sitting nearby. Espio and Vector gave each other a sheepish look as the three gathered around and began sifting through the files on the computer. For a company as essential as this, the security on this computer was surprisingly low, and soon, they hit paydirt. Inconsistencies in cash flow all over the place going back years. The evidence trail was hidden, of course, but not very well. As if whoever was doing it wasn't very scared of getting caught...

"Most people would at least try to dodge this type of evidence against them. Doesn't look like this guy even flinched." Vector said with a whistle, as the last of the records finished printing. "Maybe he's a idiot." Charmy replied simply, putting the printouts into a waterproof backpack before zipping it up. "Perhaps...BUT PERHAPS NOT!" Espio said, before jumping to move Charmy out of the way of a fast moving, sharp object. It hit Vector in the arm, but his skin was tough enough that it didn't get too deep. "A throwing star?" Vector asked, looking at the object in disbelief as he pulled it out of his arm. Espio nodded as the Chaotix formed a protective circle next to each other. From the shadows came people of various sizes and species, wrapped from head to toe in black robes, with only a slit for their eyes and tails(if they had one).

"Ninjas." Espio said bitterly.