Chaotix: The Lost Files

By: Phoenix Ride

Case 1: The Price of Greed

Vector couldn't believe his luck today. Not only had the detective agency not seen a new case in weeks, but the bill for the rental came in claiming two hundred dollars. However, being one to control his temper, Vector didn't go smashing the landlord, he smashed his walkman instead.

Now he was out alone, in the middle of town, searching the tech stores to find a new one. His red eyes gazed through one the store windows, spotting a walkman that he liked. Unfortunately, the price was to expensive.

"Heh" Vector sighed " what does it take to get a little money around here?"

Like an answer from above, something small and hard struck Vector in the back of the head. Vector growled and turned to see who had hit him in the head, barely noticing a guy running away saying...

"I'm free! I'm free!"

"Maniac," grumbled Vector, picking up whatever the person had threw on the ground.

It was a small green eye, with a cat-like iris and a gold frame. A remarkable piece of craftsmanship as far as Vector was concerned. It was almost as if the eye was staring straight at you.

Not knowing anything better to do with it, Vector attatched the strange-looking eye to the gold chain around his neck. Suddenly, a horrified scream attracted his attention.

A man was being roughed up by three muggers. Growling, Vector charged at the three men and pulled them of their innocent victim. Streaming flame from the crocodile's mouth, warned the muggers to never return.

"Are you okay pal?" asked Vector, helping the beaten man up.

"Yeah thanks" said the man, brushing off his brown hair " the name's Peter J. Smith of Studio Productions. I was just out for an afternoon walk, when those three hooligans ruffed me up. Excuse me, your name is?"

"Vector" said Vector, shaking the man's hand " I run the Chaotix Detective Agency,"

"A detective huh?" said Peter " then I'm very pleased to make your company. Listen, I owe you one for saving my life, how about you come and work for me in my studio as a reward. You'll be paid well, and be admired by hundreds of fans,"

"Uh..I don't know" said Vector, reluctantly " you see, my partners and I run the agency together, it wouldn't be right to abandon them when the rent is already high as is,"

"Vector baby!" said Peter " think of the pride, the fame, the money. Your friends won't miss having you around. In fact, you'll be doing them a favor by getting a high-paying job to help support that detective agency of yours,"

"You have a point there" said Vector, looking to Peter " but I really should talk it over with them first,"

But before Vector could move, Peter stepped out in front of him with a contract and pen in hand.

"Vector" said Peter, waving the contract in the gator's face " sign now, or the contract leaves the station. You don't want to let your friends down do you?"

Vector eyes looked from the contract, to Peter and back. The crocidile knew in his mind that this may be his only one chance to ever earn enough money to support the agency and pay that unpaid rent bill. Grabbing the contract and pen from Peter, he signed.

"See you Monday," called Peter, taking the contract as Vector walked away. An evil grin playing on his lips.

"Foolish croc" snarled Peter " you just signed your whole life over to me,"

As Vector entered the agency, he struck a postive 'tude, and exclaimed the news to Espio and Charmy. Both the chameleon and the bee were stunned.

"What about the agency?" asked Espio.

"That's exactly why I'm doing it" said Vector, sitting at his desk " we need money, and with this being a slow crime week, the chances of us getting a case to pay the bills in time are slim to none,"

"Agreed" said Espio " but what if a case does come up? What will we do then?"

"I guess you'll just have to take charge" said Vector " my first job for Peter starts tomorrow. Don't worry guys, we'll make it through this,"

Monday morning, Vector was called to the studio to star in the film, Peter had gladly titled; Secret Agent Vector. Vector's gold chain and headphones were left untouched, and a snappy, leather jacket and sunglasses were placed on his body.

Vector enjoyed shooting all the secret agent scenes, and the pay was enough to fill a bathtub. The rent to the Chaotix Agency was quickly paid off, and the whole Chaotix team found themselves in their first movie premiere.

Although joyful with Vector's success, Espio was begining to grow worried. Vector had been away from home a lot lately. Charmy was getting sick of Espio's nutritional meals, and Espio was actually getting sick of the peace and quiet.

True, the chameleon craved for silence almost daily from his loud companions. But with Vector gone, it almost seemed like the house was to quiet. Not even Charmy dared to make a sound.

Although, they would probably never say it out loud, Espio and Charmy missed Vector. They missed his raging music, demanding voice, and even cranky demeanor.

After the movie was over, Espio and Charmy walked backstage to talk to Vector, but were blocked by Peter and his security guards.

"And what are you doing back here?" Peter glowered at Espio and Charmy.

"To see Vector" said Charmy " he's our friend,"

"Vector doesn't need friends no more" said Peter, his eyes glowing green, and white teeth growing sharp " he belongs to me. Now and forever!"

With that said, the two security guards roughly picked up Charmy and Espio and kicked them out the door, letting them land hard on the street.

"Hey Peter" said Vector, walking up to his manager " have you seen Espio and Charmy?"

"No I haven't V-man" lied Peter, leading Vector away from the door " but who needs them baby? Your time is now! Greed is your new friend baby! Greed and green!"

"Ow, that hurt," said Charmy, dusting himself off.

"Something is definately wrong in there" said Espio " did you see the look in Peter's eyes?"

"Yeah, and how his teeth suddenly turned into fangs" said Charmy " what's up with that?"

"I don't know" said Espio " but we're gonna find out!"

With that said, Espio and Charmy dashed off to Jason Burg Studio's where Peter and Vector worked. Peter and Vector had just been busy dicussing the plot of another movie, when the limo pulled off at Vector's trailer.

"See you in the morning Vec," said Peter, driving off, leaving Vector behind. Espio and Charmy took this as their chance.

"Hey Vector!" yelled Charmy " over here!"

"Where'd you guys go? said Vector, walking up to them " I was looking all over for you after the movie premiere,"

"Your friend Peter and his goons kicked us out!" snapped Espio.

"What?" said Vector stunned " I don't believe that!"

"Believe it!" said Charmy " I still got the scars to prove it,"

"There's something wrong about this Peter J. Smith character" Espio told Vector " when I called the producer at the priemere, he said there was no Peter J. Smith on the payroll anymore. When I asked what he meant, he said that Peter J. Smith was resting at the Saint Hope's Cementary!"

Vector was stunned by Espio's intel. Had the Peter Smith he had been working under for the past few months be a fraud? Was he just a con artist using a dead guy's name? Anger rose up in Vector's viens at the mere thought of him being tricked.

"We're going to find out who this guy is right now!" said Vector to Espio and Charmy " Let's go!"

Peter recieved quite a surprise when an angry Vector, Espio, and Charmy burst into his office. His green gaze looked over the trio calmly.

"Vector" said Peter, smiling at the croc " how pleased to have you visit,"

"Stuff it Peter!" stormed Vector, his red eyes gleering fierce with fire. " tell me who you really are! Or do I have to make you talk!"

At that comment, Peter left out an evil laugh, and his eyes started glowing green. Wind started howling through the building, and dark clouds covered the sky.

"Foolish Vector" said Peter, in a demonic voice " you could never harm me. I own your whole life!"

With that said, Peter's flesh ripped off, revealing his true form. Vector, Espio, and Charmy tried their best not to gag from the sight. The once human Peter, had transformed into an ugly, demonic, black lizard with glowing green eyes, nasty claws, and twisted arms.

A blood red mane sprouted out of his head, and deadly, silver spikes covered his entire body. Yellow flames poured from the demon's mouth as he spoke.

"Wanna play?" he hissed.

"He's mine!" said Vector, charging towards the demon.

The demon didn't even flinch as Vector approached him, just grinned, and clicked his claws. Next thing Vector knew, he was down on the ground howling in pain. The green eye on his chain was glowing bright, striking him with bolts of green lightning.

"Your my property now Vector" said Greed grinning, as Espio and Charmy looked at their fallen leader in shock " the moment you signed that contract, your whole whole life was handed over for me to control. Your soul is mine, and it will stay mine, forever!"

"Not if we have anything to say about it!" said Espio, him and Charmy rushing in to take down Greed.

They didn't get very far as Greed blasted them away with a stream of yellow energy. Both Espio and Charmy were both knocked into a wall, burned and unconious. Vector looked at his two friends with pain in his eyes.

"Espio...Charmy," he stuttered.

"Hahaha" laughed Greed " how pathetic! The poor fools didn't even put up a decent challenge. There's no one to save you now Vector. Surrender your soul to me!"

"No...Way!" yelled Vector, breaking out his painful binds and charging at Greed.

The green eye on Vector's chain stung the crocodile with the fury of a thousand suns, but the croc ignored the pain and wrapped his claws around Greed, choking the life out of the demon.

"It's over Demon!" Vector growled at Greed " you don't control me anymore!"

"Fine then" Greed choked out as he dissolved into dust " but you will see me again,"

When the demon dissappeared, so did everything he created. The amulet that hung on Vector's chain was gone, the contract burned, and the movie studio rested in silence. Espio and Charmy were still a little burned and bruised from their experince, but were lucky to come out alive.

"Well I guess my movie career is over," said Vector, as he and his friends walked out of the studio gates.

"At least you got to enjoy your fifthteen minutes of fame," said Espio.

"Yeah" said Charmy " and thanks to that demon, the rent's paid off. We have our agency again!"

"Detective Vector" grinned the croc " ah, I like the sound of that,"