Author's Note: Well. This story takes place in the comics universe so it'd probably be confusing to those who don't read the comics, so I recommend going to Google, typing in 'archie sonic wiki' and read about characters and things that are in the comics. Oh, and no flames please, it's my first story, cut me some slack. So here we go with chapter 1 of Stranger In A Strange Land.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

-X-

It was a nice, calm day. G.U.N. hadn't called him in, and there didn't seem to be an emergencies as of yet. Shadow sighed to himself. He was laying on top of a building with his hands behind his head and his eyes closed. He listened to the sound of the waves not too far off and the sun in his fur. This would've been a great day if only-

"No! Nononononono! Don't drag me into the water!"

A scowl found its way to Shadow's features. The day would've been great if he wouldn't have to spend it with the blue hedgehog and co. Hope had encouraged him to be more friendly with the Freedom Fighters after he and Rouge had been invited to a beach party (Omega couldn't make it. He prefers to not have the chance to fry his own circuits.). It was pointless and annoying, but he did it for Hope's sake. She looked almost identical to Maria. They were distant relatives, Hope was Maria's step-first cousin once removed. He was so lost in thought he didn't notice something was wrong until Sonic sped off to the direction of Freedom HQ. Shadow hopped off the roof and asked Tails what was wrong.

"NICOLE said she felt an interdimensional wormhole appear around Freedom HQ. Sonic went to check it out." Shadow nodded and sat in an empty chair away from the others. About twenty minutes later Sonic came back with a rather grim look on his face. Shadow sat up from his lounging position and picked up the conversation with mild interest.

"Sonic? Was something wrong?" Sally asked, placing a hand on Sonic's shoulder.

"Do you remember that time I got stuck in another dimension?" Sonic asked. Tail had a thoughtful expression, then asked, "You mean Blaze and Marine's dimension?" That caught Shadow's attention. He and Blaze had met before. He first met her when trying to catch Metal Sonic which ended with her giving him a Chaos Emerald. They then met again where G.U.N. had sent him to support Rouge when she was supposed to investigate a disturbance created by Blaze's Sol Emeralds. That had caused a huge fiasco whereas somehow the Babylon Rouges and Team Hooligan had gotten involved. Between nearly getting seriously burned and blown up, that whole fiasco was confusing. On thing he did remember was how Blaze's face held betrayal and disappointment, which behind her mask of disappointment her eyes held sadness. Shadow shook his head, shooing away the memories.

"Yep, well it seemed that Blaze and Marine had gotten hurt pretty badly, so they teleported here and they were unconscious when I got there. I found Dr. Quack and asked him to tend to them." The idea of Blaze hurt triggered something that felt like anger inside of him. Shadow did his best to ignore it and watched as the Freedom Fighters hurriedly packed up and began to head to Freedom HQ.

"Well? Aren't you going to go check on Blaze?" Rouge's voice prompted him to turn. He did, and saw Rouge with her hands on her hips looking at him expectantly. "... What?" he replied. Rouge gave him and exasperated look before throwing her hands in the air. "I don't know why I even bother! I try to do a nice thing and everyone is too dense! Ugh!" Rouge pinched the bridge of her nose and took a breath. She opened her eyes and stared at Shadow. "Go check on Blaze. Send my regards." Her tone told Shadow not to argue. He huffed and started off towards Freedom HQ.