3 weeks ago

Robots blasted their way through a base, shooting down everyone who got in their way. Following behind them, a fat man with a big red mushtashe walked calmly, not even bothered by bodies falling and being captured by robots, nor of the explosions caused by laser fire from both sides. It was rather obvious who was going to win this conflict.
Dr. Robotnik stopped at the end of a hallway, and looked to one of his robots that floated next to him. "Get this door open!"
"Yes sir," it droned, headed for a console next to the the large blast door that blocked the man from what he was after.
"Its here, I know it is," he muttered to himself, moments before the doors opened, letting him into a large labrotory.
Within the room, several large containment tubes layed hooked up to machines. Cryo-tubes. Robotnik laughed.
"Yes, this is it...GUN's secret weapon..."
Headed for another console himself, he pulled from a small pack, a green gem. A chaos emerald. He set it on the console and began to enter in a series of commands. "Decades of legacy, all locked behind one simple name...here's to you, Maria."
He chuckled as he entered the password MARIA into the console, to which caused one of the cryo-tubes to unseal and open. A shadowy figure rose from the robe.
"Project Shadow...is mine."

--

Sonic Underground CHAOS
A New Venture, Part 1
Shadow Rising
written by Sonic Remix
Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters and indica © and 1991-2008 SEGA - Sonic Team

--

The black hedgehog stood at a console, in the city of Robotropolis, as Dr Robotnik went over screens of different hedgehogs. Three of them, blue, pink and green. He spoke to the black hedgehog. "These are the hedgehogs. Sonic, Sonia, and Manic. They been a thorn in my side for years now. What I want you to do is to find them, befriend them, and then lead them right into the robotisizer."
The hedgehog, Shadow, looked to Robotnik and smirked. "Most assurely, Doctor...whatever you say."

Overhead in the rafters, a cloaked figure watched the pair with lavender eyes, narrowing them as she listened to them.
What are you up to, Shadow? she wondered before taking off down the catwalk, trailing Shadow outside.

Meanwhile, across town in an underground hideout, Sonic the Hedgehog sat in a chair, gripping a gutair in his hand and strummed it, a song in his head as he tried to get it to sound out on his gutair. He was disrupted when he heard keys jingling behind him. He turned to see his sister, Sonia, walking towards the outside area. "And where do you think you're going?"
Startled, Sonia jumped and looked at Sonic. "Shopping! Is that a problem?"
In a flash of light, Sonic's gutair diisappeared, changing into a medallion around his nexk as he stood up. "It is when we don't have the money to be shopping for anything other than food."
"Well this is important to me, Sonic!" She huffed before turning up her nose and folding her arms. "...its Bartleby's birthday soon, and I want to get something nice for him."
About this time, Manic was coming from the kitchen, an apple in hand, as he watched and listened to the conversation as Sonic replied. "Bartleby? No offense, sis, but why are you still seeing that loser? He's not right. He'd rather hide behind his money then to do anythign useful with you. He's not exactly loyal to you."
Sonia sighed. "Not everyone is a fighter, Sonic! Some people can't help it! I know Bartleby can do better, I just know it!"
"So can you, Sonia! You always got guys coming after you, I just know any one of them can be a definite step up from Bartlebutt!"
Sonia, angry at this, retorted in response. "How would you know, Sonic?! You haven't even GOT a girlfriend!"
The silence was near deafening as Manic dropped his apple from the outburst. Sonic stood there, staring outward toward Sonia, but not at her. It took Sonia a moment to calm down and realize she said the wrong thing to her brother, and looked away. "Sonic...I-"
"Don't talk to me."
The response from Sonic suprised Manic and hurt Sonia as he suddenly walked past, heading outside. Manic finally decided to go after Sonic, leaving Sonia by herself, feeling terrible for what she said.

Manic followed Sonic outside into the open air, and to a small, dark alley in behind the building. Manic had never bothered coming back behind the safe house before, so he was suprised to find a pile of old matresses there. Sonic was laying on them, able to look up and see the stars above, despite most of the lights and pollution. The small dark alley gave a bit of focus to what the rest of the city missed.
"Whoa..." Manic breathed. "Sweet spot, bro!"
"I perfer my solitude here, Manic," came the bitter reply.
Manic frowned and sat down. "Look, Sonia didn't understand what she was sating when she said that-"
"But she's right!" Sonic retorted, slamming his fist against the matress. "I DON'T have a girlfriend! I don't have anyone!"
Sonic sat up in frustration, looking at Manic. "I don't get it! I can barely get a date, and yet Sonia has all these guys flocking to her!"
Manic looked at his brother, a little bewildered. "Are you crazy, bro? You probably have more girls falling for you than me! How can you NOT get a date?"
Sonic fell quiet, turning his back before he muttered. "They're not my type."
Manic blinked. "And how would you know?"
Sonic sighed. "They only wanna date me because I'm a hero, or better, royalty. Sure, I'm not exactly sitting in the lap of luxury like Sonia's loverboy, but around here, titles mean all the difference."
"So...you're saying you want someone who will see past all that to see the real you?"
"Exactly!"
"...how would you accomplish that?"
"..." Sonic sighed, flopping backwards on the matress. "I donno...maybe its something more than that...maybe...I just want someone who's different. Someone...REAL...someone who's not going to fall prey to corruption...I don't want to date someone who'd no sooner turn me over to Robotnik, given the chance."
"There is..." Manic finally said, looking up to the stars. "She's out there...you just have to find her."
Sonic turned his head to Manic. "And how will I know when its her?"
"Time...proof...you'll just...know...it'll hit you, bam..." Manic said, distantly, watching the stars.
Sonic blinked, turning his head back to the sky. "You had a girlfriend once?"
Manic was quiet before he replied. "Sorta...a long time ago..."

Present Day

Deep within a tropical forest, a large van rolled through downa dirtt road, Sonic driving while Sonia and Manic were in the back, looking over some data on a computer. "So the turrets are set around the base here, here, and here. We can bust in, take out the robots and turrets, and set the bombs, and Robotnik's newest base is history!"
Manic grinned as he listened in on the plan. "Robotnik's gonna have egg all over his face!"
"Egg? Then we'd have to call him 'Eggman'!" Sonic laughed as he drove.
"Eggman? That's a good one!" Manic laughed.

Meanwhile, in the base, Robotnik was sitting down, looking over some information he was gathering from the nearby ruins. "Yes, its perfect! This plan is the best one I ever had...and with Shadow to keep the brats busy, no one can stop me..."

The van continued to roll, the sight of the base coming up in the distance. Sonic frowned as they approached. "Its not very big...what's Robotnik doing out here anyway?"
Sonia spoke up. "Well, according to intel, Robotnik's been out here doing some research on the local ruins...he's searching for something...a weapon maybe."
"Yea, but what could be out here that Robotnik would want so much?"

Robotnik looked over the latest results, looking rather suprised. "Well well, its a small world AFTER all..." He looked to the robot. "Prepare the Egg Carrier! Its time we leave."
"Sir, intruders approaching the base," the robot droned.
Robotnik stopped to smirk. "Its them..."

Sonic floored the petal, the van racing in as Sonia took control of the console that controlled the weapons on the van. As Sonic raced to the gates of the base, Sonia began to shoot out the turrets that were taking aim at the van.

Eggman marched down the hall, alarms sounding as he picked up a comm signal. "All SWATbots, deal with the hedgehogs!"

The van slid to a halt, Sonic looking back. "Manic, see if you can get into the system and download information on what Robotnik's up to!"
Manic grinned, running to the computer console and getting to work to get into Robotnik's system while Sonia began to shoot at the robots that came out of the base.
The Egg Carrier suddenly lifted off from the base, catching Sonic by suprise. "Whoa, that's a big ship!"
Sonia finished taking out the robots as she looked to Manic. "Please tell me you got the information before that ship took off!"
"No, I'm trying to get into the base computers, but there's some kind of looping feedback! Its like-"
He suddenly looked up. "SONIC, FLOOR IT!"
Not needing to be told twice, Sonic took off, speeding the van down the road and away from the base before a large explosion rocked the area.

Robotnik entered information into a console. "Set a course for Angel Island!" He smirked. "I have a suprise for the resistance..."

That night, the SU were staying in a hotel in Station Square, a local costal town near the forest where they were investigating the base. Manic was sighing as he looked over information on a laptop in their room. Sonia was pacing back and forth. "Anything?"
"Naw, that Eggman was just way too quick for us this time, I got ziltch. I can't even get a lock on where his ship is heading."
Nearby, Sonic groaned. "He's up to something...just...what is it?"
Suddenly a beeping sound was heard on Manic's laptop. "Hey, I got an incoming transmission..."
He hit a button, and a voice was heard as the hedgehogs gathered around the computer. "You want information on what Dr Robotnik is up to?"

As the Egg Carrier cruised through an oncoming storm, Dr Robotnik was holding a meeting with his two bounty hunters, Sleet the Wolf, and Dingo.
"This should be a job that even you two can't screw up. I want you to run a search for chaos emerald energy."
"Chaos emerald? Don't you already have one, sir?" Sleet asked.
"According to legend, there are seven special emeralds. I want ALL of them!"
"Seven? Uh...yes sir!" Sleet nodded. A robot floated up to Robotnik.
"Approaching Angel Island, sir," it droned.
"Excellent," he grinned.

All three hedgehogs gathered around the laptop, as the video feed of a black hedgehog showed on screen. Sonic inhaled rather sharply at the sight of another hedgehog. He had a rather unique look, with swept up spines and blood red stripes...and ruby eyes, deep in mysterious. He was, needless to say, exotic.
"Who are you?" Sonic asked immeditely.
"My name is Shadow. My timing is rather convienient, so I understand your suspicion. I actually been monitoring your activities for several weeks now and want to help."
Sonic folded his arms. "Well, friend, how can you help us?"
Sonia elbowed him. "Sonic!"
Shadow held his hand up. "Its okay, he has every right to be suspcious of me."
Well this is a first, Sonic thought. Either he's a good actor or he's not even trying to gain our trust up front.
"How about we meet someplace public this evening and talk about this? You may even pick the location," Shadow offered.
Sonic eyed the screen supciously as Manic and Sonia took to their brother. Sonic finally nodded. "The Burger Shop in Station Square. 7 o'clock."
Shadow smirked. "Its a date."
The screen blacked out. Sonia looked to Sonic. "Should we trust him?"
"Well...he made no attempt to hide the facts of his conveinet timing...I donno Sonia..."
"Dare."
Sonia and Sonic looked tgo Manic, who uttered that word. "Huh?"
"Dare. Dare to take a chance. That's what I say," Manic replied.
Sonic thought about it, a hand touching to his medallion.

Sometimes when your hopes have all been shattered
And there's nowhere to turn
You wonder how you keep going
Think of all the things that really mattered
And the chances you've earned
The fire in your heart is growing
You can fly, if you try leaving the past behind
Heaven only knows what you might find

Dare - dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare

Everybody's trying to break your spirit
Keeping you down
Seems like it's been forever
But there's another voice if you'll just hear it
Saying it's the last round
Looks like it's now or never
Out of the darkness you stumble into the light
Fighting for the things you know are right

Dare - dare to believe you can survive
The power is there at your command
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare

Dare - dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
The power is there at your command

Dare - dare to keep all your love alive
Dare to be all you can be
Dare - 'cause there is a place where dreams survive
And it's calling you on to victory

Sleet and Dingo were running some monitoring on the screen, leaving Dingo to whine. "Why do we have to do this again? Why can't we just take the emerald from the island?"
"Because, you oaf. When Dr Robotnik gets done, that emerald's going to be worthless. We have to find seven SPECIAL emeralds. Robotnik already has one, so we have to find more!"
Suddenly a beeping sound occurred, and Shadow appeared on screen. "Sleet, tell the Doctor that the plan has been set. We're meeting in Station Square at 1900 hours."
The screen flicked off, leaving Dingo to wonder. "That's a lot of hours to be waiting. I thought we were supposed ta get them tonight!"
"It IS tonight, stupid! Its military time. He means that the meeting nis at 7 PM!"
"Ooooh...I don't get it."
Sleet slapped his face. "Grrr..."

Sonic sat at the table in the burger joint, a plate of chilidogs on hand. "Oh yea, now THIS is living!"
Manic and Sonia sat with him, each with their own plate of food they ordered. All they had to do now was to wait. Finally he entered. Shadow approached them. Just looking at Shadow in person caught Sonic in the middle of a chilidog, looking at him like the way a deer is caught in headlights. Even Shadow was locking eyes with him as Shadow sat down at the table. "Thank you for meeting with me."
Sonic swallowed his bite quickly, dropping the rest of his chilidog on the plate to speak. "Hey, if we have a friend to help us, then all the better. So why do you want to help us?"
Shadow cleared his throat. "Admittedly, I was orginally recruited by the Doctor to serve as a double agent. He wanted me to gain your trust. But I wanted no part of it. So I fooled him. I was able to get some of his plans before I left the base. That's how I knew about what you three been up to. I have been spying for him, but no more."
Sonic looked suprised, and looked to his siblings. "Well, you gotta hand it to him, he's honest."
Sonia folded her arms, not convinced. "Uh huh...and why exactly do you want to help US?"
"Sonia!"
Sonic was the one speaking up this time, only to leave Shadow to hold his hand. "Its okay, your sister has every right to ask questions. See, the thing is-"
A sudden explosion rocked the joint, and through the wall were several robots. Sonic lept to his feet. "SWATbots!"
Shadow got to his feet as well. "The Doctor must be after me. He knows I betrayed him!"
Sonia and Manic lept to their feet, joining their brother at his side as Sonic spoke. "No problemo, Shadow! We got this covered!"
All three touched their medallions that they wore. With a bright glow, they transformed into instruments. Sonic aimed the head of the gutair at the swatbots and strummed the strings, shooting out a bright laser that shot the swatbot, causing it to explode. Sonia followed suit with her synthesizer, and Manic beat on his set of drums, causing a miniquake that knocked the rest off their feet.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"
The triplets stopped as Sleet came in, holding a laser. An orange laser that was probably Dingo, having been shapeshifted into an alternate form. And it was pointed directly at Shadow. "Don't move...or your new friend gets it!"
Shadow looked at Sonic. "Don't listen to him! Take him out while you can!"
"No."
Sonic was the first one to recall his intrument, looking at Sleet. "I won't have anyone hurt because of me."
"How noble..." Sleet grinned, before aiming the laser at him. "But a big mistake!"
Suddenly Sleet was beaned across the head from behind by an intricately carved staff, falling and revealing a cloaked figure behind him. She spoke. "He won't be out long! Run for it!"
Not having to be told twice, Sonia and Manic recalled their instuments. Sonic grabbed Shadow's hand, pulling him outside quickly, with Manic and Sonia following. The mysterious cloaked figure took up the rear.

On the Egg Carrier, a transporter activated, and Robotnik appeared on the ship, grinning. "It has begun! Set course for the base..."
As he sat in his chair, he pressed his fingertips together, grinning. "The god of destruction is in my control..."

The group ran outside the burger joint, and into the night, where they stopped when they found many spectators watching the skies. Sonic looked up and stared. "What the-??"
A mist of green sparkles were floating down over the city. In the far distance, Sonia noted a falling star...or so it looked. Moments later a thunderous earthquake tore through the city, jolting everyone off their feet.
"Just what WAS that?" Manic yelped, rubbing his bottom and getting to his feet.
Everyone continued to watch the skies as Sonic breathed. "I don't know, Manic...I just don't know..."

To Be Continued...

"Dare" - performed by Stan Bush on the Transformers (animated version) soundtrack.