The deafening sound of explosions filled the dusty, dry air as bombs and lasers suddenly filled the area known as space. These weapons of destruction were aimed at the quiet, peaceful ARK that hovered carefully over the earth.
Holes were broken into the thick metal as people plunged from outside spacecrafts into the flaming ARK.
Panic and mayhem broke out as flashing red lights went off in the building. Scientists raced to hide under tables, while others attempted to arm themselves with the pitiful pistols and shotgun aboard. Many who opposed were quickly shot down by the enemies wepons whick were of much more power. Blood sprayed across the while tiled floor as the opposining forces fought their way deeper into the space labritory.
On a more peaceful end of the ARK, three hedgehogs stood staring out of a thick glass window at the glowing sphere of green, blue and white that they called Earth. By their side stood a tall, pale, blond haired young woman. The foursome stared silenly out at the planet.
"Isn't it beautiful?" The young woman ask looking at the eldest hedgehog. "I wonder if well ever get to go there?" The large ebony looked up before lifting up a smaller, female version of himself. "Not to worry Maria. We will see it one day. Isn't that right little Nicki?" Nicki blinked before smiling. The young hedgehog had been created with the unique ability to understand and comprehend things most children her age wouldn't. She was unable to speak, but her companions understood her through the steady training of sign lanuage they had been taught, but Nicki rarley used it, feeling as if it was much easier to simply resond with smiles and waves.
Just then a scientist burst in from the door behind. His fomerly white lab coat was now singed and ripped. His face was pale and covered in soot and dust. His eyes betrayed a wild panic that he tried to hide with a calm composure.
"Doctor! What's wrong?" The large ebony hissed in surprise. The old fat man saundered over to them keeping one eye on the door.
"Were under attack Shadow." The fat man cried. "The US armies have discovered my work and plan to destroy it all! You all need to evacuate!"
"No! I'll go help them out." Shadow argued, but the Doctor shook his head.
"Shadow, you and Maria need to stay here and guard Lava and young Nicki. We can't lose any of you. You must flee to the escape pods on the lower decks and travel to earth."
"Nicki and Iz can foight! Weez as strong az big brofer Shadow ." the young red hedgehog by the name of Lava claimed, his voice full of a strong toddler accent. "Togepher we can foight gurd!" Shadow shook his head.
"I'm sorry Lava, but you're too young to even hold a gun. You and Nicki both are first priority and we can't stand to lose you." He smiled reassuringly. Lava sighed, but Nicki's eyes remained trained on the spot behind the Doctor. She tried to warn him, but her lungs were not yet strong enough to create sound, although she knew how to speak and exactly how to say it, but even so, her youthful body failed her as a human, dressed in bulletproof armor shot the Doctor in the back. He collapsed, but was still alive.
"Run!" He screamed weakly before the enemy slammed his foot down, crushing the innocent man's skull. He turned to face them, but the foursome had taken off down the hall, heading towards the pods. He cursed swiftly before taking off after them.
Shadow held Nicki's had as the young girl stumbled after them. Her eyes were trained behind them and more of the opposing forces broke through the walls behind them. Shots rang out, hurting her ears and they turned the corner and dashed into a dark stairwell.
They pratically leaped down the staircase as the enemy broke into the stairway and began firing another round of bullets at the group. A few grazed past Nicki's ears, but she grew frightened as Lava was shot in his thigh causing blood to gush out onto her bare foot and causing Lava to stumble and fall.
Shadow lifted him up onto his shoulder leaving Nicki to run on her own. Her pathetic baby legs slowed her down as she fought to reach the exit. She sstubbed down the stairs as her companions vanished around the corner. She leapt off and scrambled away as a bullet nicked her left ear.
She soon caught sight of the others as they began crowding into the the Pod Lauch Station. As she ran into the room after them, she was lifted from the ground by Maria.
"Oh my! I'm sorry Nicki! I didn't mean to leave you!" The blonde reassured quickly as they walked over to the pods.
Shadow grabbed Lava and placed him into one of the pods quickly as the approaching footsteps of the souilders close ever closer. Maria soon did the same to Nicki.
"Shadow!" Lava groaned as he held his heavily bleeding thigh.
"Shush! Do you want them to hear you before we have a chance to escape?" The large hedgehog sighed at his younger brother. "Everything will be alright." He turned to face Maria and possibly put her in a pod next, but Nicki already sensed the upcoming events to come. Whether it was from Maria's sudden tension or the sight of a single leaver that determined the take off of the pods that allowed travel to Earth. She knew that Maria was expected to go, but she loved Shadow as much as Nicki did herself and would gladly put herself in danger as long as he was safe.
With a mighty push, the thin girl shoved the hedgehog into the final pod, slamming the door shut and locking it. Nicki watched as the hedgehog began to panic, his eyes widening, but the young girl ignored his pleas and went on to lock Lava's chamber before pausing at her's. She smiled down at the young pup before locking the chamber and moving towards a lever by the door. Nicki's ears twitched as the footsteps came to close for comfort.
"I guess that you will be going to Earth without me." Maria sighed. Shadow screeched her name loudly as she pulled the lever. "Sayonara Shadow the hedgehog," Before she could finish the enemy rushed through the opening causing Maria to push down on the lever before she was ready. The last thing Nicki saw was Maria being shot directly in the head by a hand-held laser gun before she was shot out of the ARK and into oblivion….