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As the Ultimate Lifeform, worn and weary, made his way out of the building, he questioned where exactly he just came from. He couldn't find a trail of buildings he had created large holes through, so it must've been somewhere underground. It was logical since the place had smelled moist and particularly not inviting. He probably could find the hole he had made and enter the base through that way. Whatever, he thought while scanning the back alleyways of Central City he was in, it's not like they're going to come up and try to get me again anyway.
He closed up all his inhibitor rings, ridding his wrists and ankles of the chains that hindered him. Though he had used up nearly his whole natural Chaos supply, he still was on his feet. But he was growing haggard.
How the ex-G.U.N. gang did obtain him in the first place Shadow did not know, and honestly, at this point, Shadow did not care. He guessed he would have to go through town and get to G.U.N. headquarters. It was the only solid lead he had going then.
Rain began to assail Shadow's black pelt, which was already ragged and hideous enough. Anger coursed through him as his limbs barely cooperated in holding up his body. He was not going to put up with this load of garbage today. Not today.
So the Ultimate Lifeform didn't deal with the load of garbage that was handed to him and decided to just hail a taxi in the city and chalk it up to the fact that nobody would've done any different. A dreadfully frightening time it was for the poor taxi driver who drove Shadow downtown and had to endure his murderous glower in the mirror.
Once Shadow reached downtown and hopped out of the taxi, the yellow car was gone in an instant, exceeding the speed limit to get in safe distance. Perhaps it was a poor choice to get a ride, especially if the fact that he was dead was true.
Oh, well.
The black hedgehog stayed unswervingly under the shops' awnings to avoid the pouring sheets of rain as he walked. He observed the familiar skyscrapers and large amounts of scrambling pedestrians. Their heads were aimed at the ground and their minds elsewhere. That was good; he didn't necessarily want to cause a scene as a supposed dead hedgehog walking.
He took notice that everything seemed to be the same since he last remembered it. Though it was highly illogical, a small part of him expected flying cars and holograms attached to every technological device since it was supposedly "years later." Curse Rouge for making him see all those sci-fi movies.
Shadow stopped. And he remembered those movies and not what had happened to him? Now he felt like ripping apart a Transformer.
He continued with the stream of the crowd as calm white clouds continued to hang over the hectic humdrum of the capital Central City. In a way, Shadow had missed this place. Quickly, he shook his head. Why was he acting like he hadn't been here in so long? It wasn't really true that he was killed, was it? Though he kept bringing it up in his head, he never assumed it was true or even partially accurate. The Ultimate Lifeform couldn't die by any mere act of violence; he was immortal.
But the man did say it was in a battleship where he took his last breath. And it was an accident. Which only made it more embarrassing. Nothing could've just accidentally killed him, and Shadow would never accidentally allow someone to kill him or drop his defenses just enough for someone to do that. In his mind, there was no possibility.
And even if he died, he was recovered years later- -how many he did not find out. It could've been two, three, or even ten years since his death. But why would he be revived now of all times? If he had really died in a battleship, how did those people recover him?
The words from the previous conversation instantly echoed through Shadow's head.
We want to know who you are.
The real Shadow the Hedgehog died years ago.
What do you last remember?
Who are you?
Get talking, duplicate.
Shadow shook his head as if to clear them. Blast it, he tried to remember the past events prior to this, but all that came up was the stupid altercation he had with that idiot soldier. Still, he couldn't help but feel déjà vu. It seemed like the events of the Black Arms all over again. At the thought of those memories, he clenched his fists, digging his fingernails into the gloved palms of his hands. Hatred filled his red eyes, and he promptly fixed them on the ground ahead as he trudged on.
Shadow hated being helpless, and that was one of the times where he was being just that. He hated amnesia, and he had just that. He had heard versions of his past from various sides- -Black Doom, G.U.N., Eggman. Confusion had been his main feeling, and there had been nothing he could do but listen to those less-than-trustworthy folk.
He brushed past a pedestrian and knocked him aside with a shoulder. Never again would he be manipulated like that.
Speaking of the less-than-trustworthy allies, he planned to go to G.U.N. headquarters, which was fortunately nearby. He needed answers, and they had the files that would inform him on his death or even if it happened. He wouldn't have to go through the corrupted, biased people to get the information he needed.
However, Shadow couldn't just walk into G.U.N. headquarters and announce his presence, although he very much would've liked to do that. Defense systems were heavy, and while Shadow could slip through them on a good day, he was not in the exact condition for a 'breaking-and-entering.'
He had to somehow enter without facing anything violent.
Shadow walked towards the direction of the G.U.N. base when his eyes caught sight of two large posters decorating a majestic-looking museum. He first read it in a monotone voice, "Sight to see. Azure Chaos Emerald exhibit on display. Witness the true beauty of a real emerald." He entered with a great throng of people, a smirk slowly appearing. "That's basically wearing a target," he muttered, "I wonder if they've had any visits from crazy, egg-shaped evil geniuses or jewel-obsessed bats?"
As expected, the main exhibit was in the front, so Shadow did not have to travel far to see the gleaming blue Chaos Emerald in its case. It was in a pure glass case on a marble stand on a pyramid of several flights of red-carpeted stairs. Around the beginning of the stairs a ruby red rope wrapped around the pyramid, setting anything beyond it off limits. He examined the lofty, pillar-adorned room casually with an impassive red gaze to see close to a couple hundred occupying the place, their boisterous voices bouncing all the way up to the ceiling. The more people, the better.
Without thinking, Shadow pushed his way to the red rope. Already, he began to experience a flow of energy emanating off of the emerald. He couldn't resist it any longer. Once the last person was shoved out of his path, he slipped under the rope and scaled the flight of stairs like it was nothing. Apparently, it seemed that many people had already noticed, as the hedgehog could hear several overdramatic gasps from the crowd. Regardless, he retracted his arm and, mustering the Chaos energy he was beginning to attain, called out.
"Chaos Spear!"
A flicker of lime green energy and a skillful throw later, the glass lay on the red-carpeted stairs shattered as Shadow grasped the blue Chaos Emerald. Instantly, he felt complete rejuvenation sink into his veins, and it caused his heart to beat fuller once more.
The crowd began to scream and fall into pandemonium until someone shouted and several soldiers piled into the museum, guns cocked and ready. "Hands in the air! We're not afraid to shoot, so drop the Chaos Emerald...Shadow?!"
Now Shadow smirked ever-so-slightly, remaining at the top of the pyramid of stairs. He held his hands up in the air nonchalantly, shining emerald beauty still in hand. "Good to see you again, G.U.N."
G.U.N. was harsh, even with its agents. So it was no surprise that once they procured Shadow, they threw him into the room of the Commander with not so much as a word to their captive.
Wordlessly, the black hedgehog scanned the Commander's room; things had basically remained the same with the exception of some new books and awards of best defense. It still had a professional and intelligent air to the room as if the owner of this office was a studious scholar and not a gruff military leader. That fact never failed to amuse Shadow.
He viewed everything but the Commander until he was forced to make eye contact with his old boss. However, his boss, appearing grim as usual, did not look back at him.
Two soldiers flanked his sides and both seemed unwilling to speak much.
"Sir, we found this at the Central City Museum," one of the soldiers explained, "It...er...he...it was attempting to steal a Chaos Emerald and we stopped it."
The Commander, who was sitting at his desk the whole time, stood up from his seat at this. Gray and white hair still littered his head, but there were several spots beginning to thin out. His uniform remained spick and span, without a speck of dust lying upon it. He then stared at the soldiers disbelievingly. "That's what you call urgent?" he asked dryly.
How could Shadow ever forget his bluntness?
"But, sir, the identity of the hedgehog..."
"Is Shadow, yes. I can see that," the Commander said, finally turning his oddly-colored eyes to the hedgehog, "So you've returned, huh? You're looking as nice as usual."
Shadow only held his glare, looking unfazed by the jab. "Cut the sentimentalities. I want answers, Commander. Now."
His old boss leaned back, unsurprised. "Asking for answers in the most insolent way possible, huh? You seem to be acting normal."
"But how could he have come here? How could he have survived?" the brave soldier persisted to speak.
The questions and minute body language only deepened Shadow's dread and slowly started to confirm what he had first heard and could not believe himself.
"All in due time, we'll find out," the Commander merely answered, turning to his desk and pressing a button. He then muttered into a small speaker, "Agent Rouge to the office."
So she was still working at G.U.N. as an agent. Shadow scoffed slightly. If his death was true, then the time period between that and now could be assumed true as well.
"He should be dead! He- -he can't be here now. The way the others told about him..."
"Soldier," the Commander addressed harshly, "Leave the room. Now."
"But what if he- -?!"
A nonchalant wave of the hand interrupted the G.U.N. agent's protest. "He won't do anything. He's looking for answers as much as we are. Now leave, soldiers." Once the soldiers indeed exited, the Commander faced Shadow dourly. "What was the point of attempting to steal the Chaos Emerald? Attention?"
"Why go to G.U.N.'s base asking for answers and have to climb through all the ropes to reach you when I could just commit a felony and go straight to you? The energy boost was a plus as well."
"Classic, Agent Shadow. You're supposedly dead, I assume you've figured out. And I thought you were Project Shadow, the invincible, immortal being."
"I am," the hedgehog stated bluntly, "I highly doubt that what you assume is my death has actually happened."
"Bold words for someone who doesn't even remember what's happened to him."
Shadow clenched his fists and intensified his crimson glare. Between a three-foot amnesiac Ultimate hedgehog against a six-foot, stocky military man, the staring battle continued on for quite some time.
Then, suddenly but casually, the Commander looked down, much to the hedgehog's satisfaction. He followed the man's gaze and his eyes fell upon the exact sleek object he had seen before. "Tell me," the G.U.N. military leader said, "Can you still shoot?"
Scoffing, Shadow folded his arms as if to ask him where he was going with the topic. The gun was tossed haphazardly into the folds of his black, red-streaked arms.
"All right. Shoot then."
Without any response but a mere glare of understanding, Shadow's arms spread apart, allowing him to grasp the gun as it fell. The air turned quite tense. He swiveled to the doorway and held the sleek, night black weapon in one hand. It was a simple pistol, but anything that was owned by G.U.N. always had a technological appearance that was superior to everything. He fingered the smooth trigger carefully, the glossy sheen of the holster gleaming menacingly in his eyes.
An internal tremor slipped down his spine. Nothing outwardly showed any sign of his reluctance, except the lengthy amount of time he was taking. He neither shook nor trembled, yet the natural beat of his system kept snagging on something about the look of the weapon.
For some reason, the gun taunted him, and Shadow fought to understand why.
"Any day now," came the flat voice of his old boss. He was mocking him.
His vision refocused, a sigh silently escaped him, and his grimace deepened.
A perfect shot at the center of the door.
If it hadn't swung open.
Shadow had barely enough time to recover and escape from the zone of his concentration, swearing in his head as he fumbled his hold on the G.U.N. pistol. He remained in his hunched-over position, his hold on the gun tightening, and kept his line of sight on the floor.
He could hear a mature, feminine voice ring in somewhat hesitantly, "You wanted me, Commander- -?" The sentence hitched abruptly. "Shadow?!"
The hedgehog only looked up to meet the teal wide-eyed gaze of a white bat at the edge of the door, her mouth agape. He straightened himself and dropped the pistol, folding his arms up once again, as if it were his go-to for comfort. His eyes never left the bat's eyes, which seemed to be a mix of shock and frustration. He then heard a flat, commanding voice break the silence.
"I know this was on such short notice, Agent Rouge, but I'd like you to meet your old comrade again, Agent Shadow, who is coming back for more. I hope you two can play more nicely this time around."
Please tell me what you think; I appreciate all feedback, especially constructive criticism. Thanks!
-JD
