Silver awoke in his bed, shivering and sweating from another nightmare. Then confusion caused the gold eyes to darken; he hadn't used his bed last night having passed out from over use of his powers. Cautiously the eyes glanced round but the barren room remained undisturbed. Slowly and wearily Silver swung his feet into his boots and wobbled his way to the weights. He froze and glanced at the pale morning light the filtered into the room. Once there had been a time when the day had truly brought delight and Silver let his thoughts run back to the time when his adoptive father would shake him awake before the morning's light. They would walk to the edge of the city to one of the few wild places left and there they would watch the sunrise and the world awaken. It had been a long time since then and Silver struggled to recall how it felt when his father would carry him home from these walks and play with his son before heading out to work. Those were the days Silver believed that he lived with his family and it was the bitter truth that tore him from them to find his own answers. Soon after he had left the dreams had started and Silver had begun to prepare for an unknown enemy. He had been right to be wary as just a month after he left home the van had turned up; it never left just stood outside on the edge of the road. Most people thought it was empty and abandoned but Silver knew better; he'd stayed up hidden from view and watched the dark shapes creep in to the house. Faked sleep when they entered his room and be terrified when they left without doing anything. Now though he was long past caring, dead to everything but his own goals. However something lingered in the back of his mind and the light renewed its efforts to take control. Some part of Silver still wished for the life he had left behind. For the first time in a year Silver turned away from the training equipment and stepped into the sun for no reason other than the fact he could. Soon he was walking a familiar trail towards the city's boundaries. Warm light tickled his back and the great knots of tension that seemed to cling to the teen loosened. Silver noted that the once exhausting climb up the hillside was easy now and was glad to see his hard work pay off. Eagerly the white hedgehog dropped onto his stomach on the soft green spring grass and, as no one was around, rolled around on it. Slowly but surely the lack of responsibility sank in and Silver dozed in the open air, sleeping without dreams for the first time in months. Exhaustion meant he did not stir until late afternoon. With a last regretful look Sliver started for home or at least attempted to. The hands the grabbed him covered his mouth and held him round the waist against an unmoving form. Even using his powers to propel himself forward failed to free Silver. Whoever had him was strong.

"If I let go you mustn't make a sound" a dark voice hissed in his ear

Silver nodded and the hand was removed. Spinning to face his assailant Silver was astonished to see another hedgehog though the other had dark fur and bright red eyes.

"My name is Shadow" the dark hedgehog informed him "until this morning I was a GUN agent assigned to monitoring you and, if needed, imprisoning you and I have been for the last 13 years"

Silver blinked in surprise "You have been watching me since I was two?"

"Longer" Shadow scowled slightly "your parents were GUN approved and ex agents... your real family has no idea you're even alive!"

Now Silver growled lightly "what are you talking about?"

Deliberately Shadow waited until he held the other's gaze "GUN took you from your parents"

And Silver dropped to his knees, unwilling to hear another word but desperate to know more...