Since we are going to hire the lovable detectives this turn I come up with this omake:
The Chaotix are on the case!
It was a quiet morning at the Chaotix Detective Agency or as quiet as it could be when rent was overdue, the fridge was empty, and Vector was pacing the office muttering about their next paycheck. Espio sat cross-legged on the floor, meditating to block out the chaos, while Charmy buzzed around, balancing a pencil on his nose for the tenth time that morning.
A knock at the door startled them all or rather, it wasn't a knock, but the thud of a small box falling through the mail slot, landing on the desk with an unassuming plop. Attached was a note that read:
"Open."
Curious, Charmy flitted over to the box. "What do you think it is? Treasure? A secret spy gadget? Oooh, maybe a new video game console!"
"Or a prank," Espio said, narrowing his eyes. "Be cautious."
Vector, ever the opportunist, reached for the box and opened it. Inside was a small, old-fashioned radio before anyone could comment, it crackled to life.
"Good morning, Chaotix," a smooth, disembodied voice said through the static.
The team froze.
"I have a job for you. I need you to find someone for me. A missing person."
Vector's eyes lit up with dollar signs. "A missing person, huh? You've come to the right team! We're experts in-"
Espio cut him off, raising a skeptical hand. "Vector, wait. The last time we got a job from a mysterious device, it was
Eggman. He tricked us, and then
he didn't pay us."
Vector waved him off. "C'mon, Espio, that was one time! Lightning doesn't strike twice, right?"
Charmy giggled. "Technically, it can if-"
"Not now, Charmy," Espio said, his gaze still fixed on the radio.
The voice crackled again, interrupting the debate. "If you're too afraid to take the job, I can always find someone else. I hear business hasn't been booming lately."
Vector froze, his jaw dropping. "Wait, how do you know that?"
The voice chuckled. "Everyone knows that."
Charmy burst into laughter. "Even the radio knows we're broke!"
Espio sighed. "This is humiliating. First Rouge mocks us, now a
radio is taunting us."
But Vector slammed his fist on the desk, leaning closer to the radio. "Alright, buddy, we'll take the job! But we
will get paid, or so help me-"
"I wouldn't dream of stiffing you," the voice said smoothly. "The details are in the box. Good luck, Chaotix." The radio clicked off.
Espio crossed his arms. "This is a bad idea."
"Yeah," Vector said, grumbling as he picked up the papers in the box. "But rent's not gonna pay itself, is it?"
(line break)
Far away in the darkened control room of a hidden base, Dr. Eggman sat, a smirk playing on his face as he leaned back in his chair.
"So, they took the bait again," he muttered. "Those bumbling fools are as predictable as ever. Forced to rely on them
again, how humiliating." He sighed dramatically, placing his hand over his forehead.
Orbot waddled over, tilting his head. "Sir, if they're such fools, why hire them?"
Eggman glared at his assistant. "Because they're cheap, gullible, and actually effective in a chaotic, accidental sort of way. Besides, they don't even realize it's me. I'd call that a stroke of genius on my part!"
Cubot chimed in. "Uh last time they kinda figured it out it was you, boss."
Eggman growled. "Details, Cubot. Irrelevant details!"
Not my best work but I just imagine that Eggman would do the same thing he did on Sonic Heroes to hire them and the jab about Chaotix financial situation was in a earlier IDW issue where Rogue said everybody knows how much they need rent money so Eggman would also, accidently, trow a similar jab at them.
Also yes they did figure out it was Eggman that hire them in Sonic Heroes.
Bit of trivia lightning actually does strike the same place twince, sometimes even more times.