Oh, hi internet. Thanks for even stopping by to read my first, and possibly, only story. First of all, I'm mostly doing this to practice writing and because I thought I should contribute to a site that I frequently visit. As for the story itself, relationships will exist, but won't be very major; I'm focusing more on telling a story (plus I'm a guy). If some characters seem OOC, it's mostly because things have changed from certain circumstances, but don't worry, you'll see many sides to the characters. That's all that I can think of right now. Enjoy.

The Countdown

Act 1: Scream

Chapter 1: Clear Skies

Sunlight shone in from a window as the room was filled with the buzzing of an alarm clock. The buzzing stopped when a gloved hand hit the 'off' button. Ruby eyes flicked open and peered at the time on the clock.

'2:00 PM,' it read. To the average person, this would be cause for panic, but not to this person. With a short groan, he got out of his small bed and walked to the mirror hanging on the wall. The reflection of a jet black hedgehog with red streaks in his quills stared back at him.

Shadow the hedgehog sighed and began readying himself for the day and for work. He went to his closet and pulled out a red t-shirt and a pair of dark bluejeans. Mobians, unlike humans, had the choice of going out in public with or without clothing, but Shadow preferred to fit in with both groups.

Before these times, he had been in the employ of the Guardian Union of Nations, or G.U.N. The job had been awarded to him by the Commander of G.U.N. himself after Shadow had defeated the alien warlord Black Doom. Shadow cringed at the thought of his name. He had learned that Black Doom was his biological 'father' with the help of his creator, no, his true father Professor Gerald Robotnik. Back to G.U.N., he had been happy to have that job until only a few months ago. They had assigned him an assassination mission despite Shadow's insistence to protect every person on the planet. Soon afterward, he resigned and moved to Station Square. Now, he had a new job and was ready to go to it.

He walked out of the apartment complex where he lived and onto the streets of Station Square. The weather was warm, the skies were clear, and Shadow was early. What better time to simply cut through the park?

His jet shoes clanked against the sidewalk as he took in the fresh air and green foliage. The birds sang as Shadow began to think that this would be a very good day.

Then he showed up.

"Hey, Shadow!" the voice called. The ebony one rolled his eyes. To fit in with his new circle of friends, Shadow was forced to learn how to be sociable from his friend Rouge the bat. However, if there was one person that Shadow had the most trouble being friendly with, it was him. Not that Shadow hated him. In fact, he had many qualities that Shadow respected. Unfortunately, he was also one of the most hyperactive annoying creatures that Shadow knew. "Hello, Sonic," he replied.

Walking up from behind him, Sonic put his arm around Shadow with the grin that he had practically copyrighted by now. Looking into his green eyes, Shadow saw a gleam similar to a pound puppy that had just been adopted.

Here we go, Shadow thought.

"So Shadow, I was just thinking. The weather's so nice, and Eggman hasn't reared his ugly head for a while..."

This much was true. Sonic had foiled the Doctor's last plot a few weeks ago and he hadn't been seen since. Shadow should have figured that Sonic's insatiable appetite for adventure would lead eventually lead Sonic to him.

"Look, Sonic," Shadow began, "I would love to have another race with you and have it end up being a tie again, but I have to go to work." With that, Shadow began to walk off without him.

"Oh, come on, Shadow! It's just one little race!" Sonic begged.

"No," Shadow answered, "I'm not in the mood."

"Fine," the azure hedgehog said, "I'll just have to follow you around until you are in the mood."

Shadow sighed and walked on choosing to ignore him. Thankfully, Sonic managed to keep his mouth shut as he followed the annoyed one.

After a few minutes of walking, they finally reached Shadow's destination: Club Rouge. The club was owned by one of Shadow's closest friends, Rouge the bat. She had given him the job after he had resigned from G.U.N. and taught him how to act... normal.

Shadow took out his keys and unlocked the front door. When he opened it, he pushed Sonic to the side long enough to close the door behind him and re-lock it. Sonic was soon staring through the glass door at Shadow with a look of amused defeat on his face. "Hey! No fair!" he shouted.

"Shadow, what's going on?" a voice behind him called. Shadow turned to face his employer, a white bat dressed in her usual jumpsuit with a pink heart across her chest.

"Just keeping out the riff-raff, Rouge. That's what you pay me for, right?"

Rouge smiled and rolled her eyes. Taking out her keys she corrected him, "Actually, I pay you to tend bar. You throw in the riff-raff thing for free. Secondly, Sonic isnt riff-raff, he's a good friend and he's always welcome in here. Right, Sonic?" she added a wink to this inquiry.

Sonic smiled smugly through the glass and nodded. Rouge unlocked the door and let Sonic in, much to the irritation of Shadow who simply turned and walked to the bar. He looked out at the empty dance floor and noticed the empty DJ station. "Where's Knuckles?" he asked.

"He's having trouble with his equipment, he'll be out in a few minutes," she replied. "So Sonic, what brings you back here?" Shadow chuckled softly. So he wasn't the first one Sonic had gone to in his boredom.

"I'm waiting on Shadow. He's going to race me at some point whether he likes it or not."

"Oh," she said, "Then good luck to both of you." Shadow noticed the smirk on Rouge's face and was thankful that at least she knew what the outcome of the race would be.

"Why bother?" asked a voice, "Shadow's not one to change his mind very easily and we all know that you two just tie every time." Shadow smirked. It was good to have co-workers that were less naive than Sonic.

"Hey, Knuckles," Shadow called. A red echidna with a crescent shape on his chest had walked in carrying a large speaker. It was Knucles, the club's DJ and one of Rouge's closest friends. He, too, had learned that there was more to life than simply focusing on a goal. The new camera and alarm system for the Master Emerald had helped him calm down, also.

"Sorry it took so long, this thing short-circuited because some stupid kid put a ring in it," Knuckles explained. "Are we ready to open?"

"Now that you're here, yes," said Rouge, unlocking the door.

"Great!" exclaimed Sonic. "Now I can order drinks, right?"

"Um... sure, Sonic. Whatever you like." Judging by the tone of her voice, it seemed that Rouge was as surprised as Shadow to hear that everyone's favorite blue blur drank. If the parents of Sonic's fans ever found out... Hm...

"Alright, fine, what'll it be?" asked Shadow, trying not to sound very eager to oblige.

"How about a cognac with Coke?" Sonic suggested. This didn't surprise Shadow. A strange drink for a strange person.

Shadow took a glass and began preparing the drink. He took the cognac in one hand and the Coke in another and poured them simultaneously into the glass. Then he performed a trick that he had been working on for a few weeks. Throwing the cognac up into the air, he tossed the Coke from one hand to the other, turned around to place it back into the refrigerator, and caught the cognac behind his back. Applause came from behind him as Sonic commented, "Nice form, but check this out."

As Shadow put the bottles away, Sonic rubbed his gloved hands together, held up the drink, and downed it in a matter of seconds. Immediately afterward, he slammed the glass back down on the bar and began to rub his temples. "Whew, I haven't done that one in a while."

"I'm impressed. I didn't know that you could handle that kind of stuff," Shadow commented.

Sonic rubbed the back of his head. "Yep, I just need to do it in the daylight hours to keep from getting too drunk."

Shadow sneered. "But I wonder, just how much can you handle?"

Sonic's trademark grin returned to his face. "Bring it on, bar boy."

Knuckles sat at his DJ station with an evil grin on his face. He had caught Shadow's meaning.

Shadow reached under the bar and handed Sonic a packet of Alka-Seltzer. "You're going to need it by the time I'm through with you," he warned.

"Like I said, bring it on."

"I intend to."

Cracking his fingers, Shadow began the onslaught. Drink after drink after drink, each stronger than the last, Sonic gulped down every one. By the time the first group arrived at the club, Sonic was having difficulty even lifting the glass. "Is that all you've *hic* got?" Sonic asked.

Shadow had to keep himself from laughing. It was working. "Not even close."

For the next hour, Shadow juggled the orders of the guests and the slew of drinks that he provided for Sonic, but it was worth it. Just when Shadow thought that the blue hero would never crack, Sonic spoke, his words a drunken slur. "I'll tell ya Shadow, *hic* this race is gonna be fan-" but before he could finish the word, he collapsed on the bar. Shadow's plan had succeeded. On the other side of the room, Knuckles was dying with laughter, but Shadow wasn't quite finished yet. He printed out the massive tab that Sonic had accumulated, tied it to the blue one's arm, picked him up, and threw him out of the club doors.

When he walked back inside, he met the worried stares of the clubgoers. He stared back trying to make it seem less akward until Rouge broke the silence. "Don't worry, people, he only does that to drunks." She grinned slyly and walked up to one of the bar patrons. "So I'd take it easy if I were you." The cat looked down at his martini, put it back on the bar, and left. "Knuckles, would you stop laughing and put on a new song?"

It was now 3:00 AM, and Shadow was walking back home. He would enjoy reading in the next day's newspapers that the famous Sonic the hedgehog had been found drunk outside of a nightclub. Unfortunately, that day was well and truly over. This was marked by the worst sound that he could possibly hear at the time:

The ringing of his cell phone.

If you've gotten this far, thanks a ton for reading it. I know that there wasn't really any action in this first chapter, but don't worry, it'll pick up. Reviews are very much appreciated (not that I'm expecting very many from this first chapter). Tune in next time to find out what's so bad about a ringing cell phone. -Rev897