Enigma Unleashed
Mission 1: Awakening
Data-log #001: In the beginning I had planned on creating a creature not just equal to Project Shadow, but superior to him, in case of Shadow going rogue. But my plans came to an unexpected halt when the subject became awake and first lived.
Hidden Laboratory, Unknown Location
In a hidden part of the world, a high-tech lab was hidden inside a mountain. This lab was relatively small, but housed three powerful and dangerous creations. Each was hidden away in a separate containment pod and were cryogenically frozen. But as they slept on in their blissful stasis, a certain villain was being foiled by his arch-nemesis, once again.
Station Square
Sonic The Hedgehog was racing through downtown with Eggman's latest machine following him. But it was quickly destroyed by an old friend of Sonic's, Knuckles the Echidna, with a swift uppercut to the head, sending it flying away.
"Damn you, you infernal hedgehog, and all your allies." Eggman scorned his nemesis, retreating in defeat.
"Yeah, yeah, roar all you want Egg-head, it isn't gonna change anything." The cobalt hedgehog shot back, earning a scowl from Eggman.
"One day Sonic, One day!" Eggman roared as he disappeared from view.
Sonic and Knuckles pumped fists as Tails landed the Tornado nearby the two with Silver in tow.
"I'm telling you Silver, there is no such base on this planet." Tails told Silver, his voice cracking from containing his frustration.
"Trust me, there is. And if we don't find it soon, we're all doomed." The silver hedgehog told the twin-tailed fox.
"What you two arguing over?" Knuckles asked bluntly, attracting the pair's attention.
"Hey Silver, long time no see," Sonic said casually, extending his hand in greeting.
"Yeah, long time." Silver replied, shaking hands and smiling at Sonic's casual nature.
"What were you two talking about?" Knuckles asked once more, getting annoyed at being blatantly ignored by Tails and Silver.
"Well, Silver believes that there's a secret base somewhere on this planet that holds three of the most dangerous creatures on the planet, but if that were true, we'd have found it by now, right?" The young kitsune told the other two.
"It is true Tails, it's just hidden a lot harder than most. The creatures contained within are, individually, forces to be reckoned with. Even Sonic would have problems with dealing with one of these guys." Silver added in.
"Alright Silver, where do you think this base could be hidden anyway?" Sonic asked, not showing his concern of these creatures.
"My sources say that the base is hidden in one of three mountains, but they don't know which one. We need to find that base and destroy it quickly."
"Okay, okay, but if we have three mountains to check, we're gonna need some extra help." Sonic said with a grin, Silver smiling at the fact he sided with him.
"I'll send out the word to meet up at my workshop." Tails told the trio, Knuckles grunting in recognition, before hopping back into the Tornado and messing about with the controls.
Tails' Workshop- Some time later
Sonic, Knuckles, Silver and Tails were all gathered in the main room of the workshop with a few others. The few who answered the call were Shadow, Rouge, Team Chaotix, Amy, Blaze and Jet the Hawk. Jet and Sonic shared a friendly glare at each other, but refrained from settling any scores this time. While Rouge and Knuckles were embracing each other affectionately, everyone knew the two had started dating, but no one knew how long, except Shadow.
The black Hedgehog was the most anxious anyone had ever seen him, yet alone seen him anxious. Shadow knew something, and he was afraid of it.
"So you're telling us that this base contains three powerful creatures that need to be destroyed before they wake up and cause devastation." Amy asked curiously.
"Not powerful Amy," Shadow corrected her grimly, "These creatures by themselves could defeat me or Sonic in our Super Forms, and are absolutely dangerous and not to be taken lightly."
"How do you know so much Shadow?" Blaze asked, the question on everyone's minds.
"Because the main subject in that base was created by Gerald Robotnik, with one purpose in mind."
"And what's that?" Charmy asked, getting up in Shadow's face.
"My destruction."
The bombshell Shadow dropped took effect almost instantly. The entire gang looked worried about the ebony hedgehog, even Jet. But now the ebony hedgehog's anxious nature was understandable, he feared for his life.
"Then let's not waste any time and hop to it eh?" Sonic said suddenly, breaking the solemn mood.
"Me, Shadow, Sonic and Jet will check out the first location, while Knuckles, Rouge, Silver and Blaze can check out the second." Tails told the group, following his best friend's lead. "Team Chaotix and Amy can check out the final location and we this way we can cover the most ground fastest."
"Thanks guys," Shadow mumbled quietly to himself, grateful for their help.
Third Location- With Team Chaotix and Amy
Espio and Amy were looking around the base of a sheer cliff for a way up, while Charmy and Vector were resting near the middle of the cliff's base. The green crocodile was growing frustrated with the lack of success they've been having and their rotten luck.
"First we find that quicksand patch, then the damned poison ivy, what's next?" Vector whined, scratching his tail furiously.
"Calm down Vector, it's not our fault you aren't having the best day, alright?" Espio said bluntly, earning a rise from Vector. The purple chameleon was growing sick and tired of his partners' constant antics. Vector's bravado and Charmy's annoying nature.
"I'll show you!" Vector bellowed before charging at Espio full force and fists raised. Espio simply side-stepped the attack and sent Vector straight into the cliff face. The green croc collided with the rock and creates a large cloud of dust, causing the others to cough.
After the dust settled, the trio could see that Vector was lying down face first in a heap of stones, inside a hidden tunnel! Espio and Amy approached cautiously, while Charmy flew ahead and tried to wake Vector up. It took a minute or two, but the bee finally managed to wake up the crocodile.
"Looks like your stupidity actually paid off for once," Espio commented, earning a whack from Amy, but barely flinched at it. Vector was still dazed so he couldn't reply.
The four travelled inwards and discover a small chamber with three separate pods on one side of the room and a computer panel in front of them. Charmy flew up to the middle one and tried peaking in, but was dragged back by Amy. Vector was standing beside Espio, who was currently trying to access the computer systems, more importantly, the data files.
"I'm gonna contact the others and tell them we found it, okay?" Amy asked hesitantly, not sure if Espio would be able to survive with Charmy and Vector for long without a mediator.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," Espio said, not taking his eyes off the computer panel. Vector just grumbled in reply as he was busy keeping Charmy away from Espio. Amy sighed and exited the tunnel to make the call.
Espio was busy trying to access the needed files, without triggering the creatures' release. Vector quickly got fed up with waiting and pushed Espio aside, leaving Charmy in his care. But Vector had no clue what to do, so in his ignorance, accidently caused the pods to sudden activate and decompress.
Charmy took advantage of Espio's daze and flew towards the middle pod. The young bee wiped away the frosty layer and got a view into the pod, but what he saw was shocking. It was a crimson-red hedgehog. As Charmy looked closer, the hedgehog snapped his eyes open and burst out of his pod, along with his companions, just as Amy returned from making the call. Espio quickly recovered and disappeared into the background.
The Hedgehog rushed forward and easily knocked out Amy, while one of his companions grabbed Charmy and threw him against the wall. His final companion sent a fist straight to Vector's skull and instantly K.O.'Ed him. Espio finally got a good look at the three supposed monstrous creatures.
The first one was a male crimson-red hedgehog with six spines overlapping, forming a saw-like design, with a large spine running down the middle. Each spine had a metallic silver highlight. He had deep blue eyes and wore a pair of red heavy duty googles on his head. He also wore a pair of black gloves with a red x on the back of each, and a pair of black and red sneakers, reminiscent of Shadow's except with an armoured brace.
The second one was a large feral-looking grey hedgehog like creature with sharp claws for hands and had black fur on his chest and the tips of his six bushy quills. His eyes were bright red and shone with aggression. He wore a simple spiked wristband on his left wrist and a pair of navy boots with an armoured buckle on each. His fangs were visible and Espio shivered at the menacing sight before him.
The third and final creature was someone Espio had never met, but heard of greatly. Metal Sonic, but he looked different than Sonic described. He had dark navy plating and looked a lot like his supposed Neo-Form, but was more sleek and shorter, with only five metallic spines protruding from his head. Two curved down and were followed by two more, but the final spine shot back and suddenly spiked up at the end. His electronic green eyes shone with power and cruelty.
The grey one sniffed the air and grinned menacingly, before turning to the crimson one and pointing straight at Espio's location.
"Come on out of hiding, I promise me or my comrades will not harm you unintentionally," The crimson hedgehog called out to Espio, his voice sounding smooth yet, cold. Espio reappeared and walked in front of the trio.
"I'm Espio," the chameleon introduced himself, even though he shouldn't have, yet for some reason, the crimson one made him feel secure and safe.
"Nice to meet you Espio, I'm Maximum," the hedgehog told him, extending a hand in greeting, which Espio shook, "My comrades here are Brutal to my left and Neo to my right." Indicating to the grey beast on his left and the robot to his right.
"Neo? I thought you were called Metal Sonic?" Espio asked curiously. At a nod from Maximum, Neo replied.
"I was previously called that, but I have outgrown that name and wish to start anew." The android explained. Espio nodded in acknowledgement before returning attention to Maximum.
"So what are your plans now Maximum? To destroy Shadow?" Espio asked bluntly, earning a loud growl from Brutal.
"And give that crackpot scientist his last wish? Hell NO!" This shocked Espio, but what he heard next was even more unexpected.
"I just want to go out and see the world, live a little. And we'll need someone to show us the way." Maximum told Espio, a hopeful look in his eyes.
"You want me to show you the world?"
"Yes. You're obviously smarter than these fools," Neo told him, gesturing to Vector and Charmy, "And you seem to have the possibility of keeping up with us."
Espio mulled over on what he had just been told. Even though Vector and Charmy annoyed him to no ends, he was still their teammate. Yet he held no loyalties to them, they relied on him more than he relied on them.
"I can tell you're conflicted," Brutal said, his voice harsh and deep, "But know this. Once you join up with us, there is no turning your back on us, traitors aren't tolerated."
"Brutal is right, we hold loyalty above all else, and value every one of our comrades, giving them the proper respect and treating them equally among the group." Maximum agreed, somehow reading Espio's mind and knowing what to say.
"Alright, I'm in!" Espio said finally, after a few more minutes of debating.
"Then welcome to The Unleashed Crew!"