[Center][h3][color=cf5087]TE[/color][color=f9c714]AM[/color] [color=a4c53a]CHAOTIX[/color][/h3]
[u][b]South City, Gettin' Some Grub[/b][/u][/Center]

[hr]

It'd been a pretty quiet year.

Vector, Espio, and Charmy were sitting in a booth inside a local South City diner close to the detective agency, called The Hungry Frog. Vector would always treat the group to a hearty early dinner after a job well done (Before splitting the reward money, of course) and today was no different. They had just closed a case, a bit of a manhunt more than a real investigation, but the guy was in the slammer now and they got paid. You could get away with a lot of things in this city, but if you endangered the wealth of someone, that person was willing to spend just as much as they'd lose just to secure what they lost back. Vector, being a man of the people, obviously couldn't turn down some prime-time jewel seller who was livid at a robbery the police hadn't managed to stop. He gladly took that bounty, and now was enjoying the fruits of said labor without much of a care.

Or at least he would, if he didn't hear the news from a TV positioned up in the corner of the diner. A year of peace... True enough, but the topic of Eggman left a sour taste in Vector's mouth. No body was ever found, and while it was easy to argue that there was just that much ground to cover that it might be a lost cause, he wasn't so sure. It was easy for the common individual to put it aside and appreciate the peace his potential end would cause, but anyone who'd dealt with Eggman knew not to doubt his tenacity. That being said, his crew had been searching for the better part of the year, and came up with nothing. It was frustrating, but also calming in a way. There was a part of him that didn't want to find Eggman; To think he was truly gone. But that was childish to think, in his opinion. Vector would be suspicious even if there WAS a body, let alone without one. They needed a plan.

Vector raised his coffee mug, comically small considering his size, and took a polite sip from it as he stared at the television. Where did they need to look? Did they need to look into governments? Someone so far off the grid that nobody would think a person was out there? Maybe he was in plain sight, and it was so obvious that they were just overthinking it--

[color=f9c714]"Uh, you okay, Boss?"[/color] 

Charmy's concerned voice caused Vector's gaze to fall on him. The crocodile realizing he'd been spacing out, blinking and setting his mug down. [color=a4c53a]"'Course I'm okay! We just got paid for a job well done."[/color] Vector responded with enthusiasm, trying to hide his negative thoughts from Charmy and Espio for the moment. He knew they were stressed too, and didn't like bringing up the topic while they were supposed to be relaxing after a day's work. There wasn't much more they could be doing, anyhow, right?

[color=cf5087]"He's thinking about Eggman again."[/color] Espio added, cutting through Vector's attempt to keep the topic at bay. The ninja pointed back at the TV with his thumb, causing Charmy to avert his gaze, then look back at Vector with an annoyed expression. [color=f9c714]"Why don't ya just drop it, Vector? We've spent way too much time looking for that fat tinkerer! Being paranoid is exactly what he'd want."[/color] Charmy spoke in a somewhat aggressive manner, challenging Vector's thoughts on the matter. Eggman wasn't one to be found until he was ready, and the Bee figured they could just smack him silly if he ever popped out with a scheme again. 

Vector took a moment to think on Charmy's words, chewing on a fried frog leg, the diner's specialty. He appreciated the willingness his team had to comment on or discourage his actions at times, their disagreements were what helped them work through situations faster at times, or help one-another when they were stuck on something like Vector was now. As he swallowed his food, the croc responded with a bit quieter of a tone: [color=a4c53a]"You're right."[/color] He admitted, adding: [color=a4c53a]"But I can't stop thinkin' about it. Things have been too quiet, you gotta feel like something could happen anytime, right?"[/color] He questioned, looking between the two expecting agreement this time.

[color=f9c714]"I just told you, that's called being paranoid!"[/color] Charmy replied, sitting back in his seat and picking up the grilled cheese on his plate. He took a large bite out of it, before commenting with his mouth full: [color=f9c714]"Even if Eggman did come back, can't Sonic just handle it? He's usually the one that handles that 'egghead'."[/color] He took that nickname Sonic coined on the Doctor, and used it happily.

[color=cf5087]"Maybe the Doctor himself, but there's usually a lot of ground to cover with his schemes."[/color] Espio chimed in, being real about Charmy's statement. [color=cf5087]"The Doctor himself is a threat, but then you have to take into account his machines, then whoever else he's pulled into the fight to push his agenda."[/color] He explained, before returning to his soup.

Vector scratched his head, slightly annoyed but at the same time, glad the conversation hadn't gone too far south. [color=a4c53a]"Let's just leave it at we gotta be ready, just in case!"[/color] He said, trying to end this discussion. [color=a4c53a]"If he's gone, then the world's a safer place. If he ain't, we'll wrangle him in for reward money. Sound good?"[/color]

Espio offered a simple hum of acknowledgement, while Charmy let out a [color=f9c714]"Uuuh-huh!"[/color] With his mouth full again, spitting crumbs all over the table, to which Vector was, to put it lightly, miffed.

[color=a4c53a]"You spat crumbs onto my plate, [b]CHARMY![/b]"[/color]

Charmy swallowed, offering a nervous laugh as Vector had his hands up as if he'd strangle him, waving his hands in front of him as he tried to get out of being in trouble. [color=f9c714]"Ahahah, s-sorry Boss!"[/color]