Prologue

On Earth: Lab

Gunshots. Screams. Explosion. Two scientist, a man and woman, rushed two children into a vehicle. The man went to the back of the containment vehicle to check on the white master emerald that had been earlier placed there. The woman was strapping seatbelts onto the kids.

Just as all was set a male Mobian green wolf ran into the room. Strapped to his back was a bow and a quiver nearly empty. On his waist hung a belt and on both sides was a dagger. The only article of clothing he wore were fingerless gloves and long, lightweight, brown boots.

In his arms was a female child hedgehog, unconscious to all that was currently happening. Her spines curved downward with the tips curled up. Her fur was a brilliant ruby red with black running down the middle of her spines.

She quietly mumbled, "Shadow" before returning to silence. It caused brown eyes to look quickly at her, wondering what she meant by that name. There was no time however as his sensitive ears pricked up at a woman's voice.

"Gale, over here!" the woman waved out the back of the vehicle.

Said wolf sought for the owner and ran to her. He handed over the child. At that precise moment G.U.N. soldiers found them. None of them were able to pull their triggers. With amazing speed and precision, Gale spun and rapidly shot an arrow into the hearts of five men.

"Get going, Professor!" Gale yelled at the driver. He made no move to enter, merely readied his bow. Six arrows left. "I'll buy you some time!"

"We can't leave you behind!"

Gale snarled at the panicked woman. "Yes you can. I will catch up later." And without waiting for a response he shut the door on her. "Hurry!"

More soldiers flooded the room. Gunshots rang in the garage. The professor floored the pedal and madly drove away. The children could hear their mother yelling out for Gale.

A man held up a radio. "Sir, they're getting away! They just left the building!"

Speed was a trait that ran through Gale's family line. They had been bred and trained for it. His name was given in hopes he would be the fastest of the family. That hope was not misplaced. As soon as he heard the soldier report to his commander, he chose to live up to his namesake. No one was going to leave this building without his assent, which none of the soldiers were going to get. He was going to make sure no one got close to that vehicle.

In Outer Space: Space Colony

It begun the same as the lab on Earth. Gunshots. Screams. Scientists running around. G.U.N. soldiers following orders.

A little blond, blue eyed girl was stealthily leading a male black, red striped hedgehog to an escape pod. She was thankful that they had not been spotted.

"Ruby!" the hedgehog suddenly exclaimed quietly with a hand to his head.

"Shadow, what's wrong?" the girl asked.

"Something just happened to Ruby." Shadow shook his head to release the sensation he just felt. His eyes turned confused.

The girl gasped. "Oh no! Is she alright?"

"She's still alive, but I can't connect with her like usual."

"Maybe those soldiers are attacking the lab just like here!" She grabbed his arm. "We have to hurry!"

Thinking about her statement riled Shadow. He could guess the reason for the cut connection. If he were right, Ruby was knocked out by using too much of her power in self defense. He had only seen Ruby do it once when she had been brought to meet him. It was not pretty for her nor those in proximity.

When at last they arrived, she had Shadow enter first. Just as she was about to enter, G.U.N soldiers found and shot her on sight.

"MARIA!"

Using her last energy she hit the button that would close the pod and plummet down to Earth. Shadow banged on the door, willing it to open. Through the small window he could see her look at him. She spoke her last words to him before darkness forever claimed her.

"Shadow, live and protect the planet I love."

"MARIA!"

His words were lost to all as his pod jettisoned into space, destined for Earth. All he had now was Ruby, if she was not captured or later killed. If either of those events occurred, those G.U.N. soldiers had it coming. No one was going to mess with his twin sister!