Return

"We have a problem," the radio buzzed, "Maria's memories... the pills aren't working..."

G.U.N. Base...

Commander Samson Taylor kept his eyes closed. He didn't want to acknowledge the information he had been given, but he knew attention had to be paid. Maria was on her way to him, and it wouldn't take her long to arrive. Still, what should he do with this new information? As far as he knew, Maria had no recollection of her past on Ark. But if the pills failed, then the memories would return. He needed to deal with this problem, and quick.

"Thank you, Supervisor Chalmers," he murmured back into the radio, "return to your position, I shall deal with this problem in due time..."

"Copy that, Commander Chalmers..."

The machine buzzed off seconds later, and Samson was once again left alone. With a deep breath, he took in the information. He needed to process it again, just so he could understand everything. Those pills... they couldn't fail, or else. Or else...

G.U.N. would lose its greatest weapon.

His finger found the edge of his desk, as a faint mumble escaped his lips. He just couldn't believe it.

"Delta Branch here," a woman's voice called through the radio, "Commander Taylor, is that you?"

"Miss Prower," Samson murmured, "I have a special mission for you."

"Is it Maria, again? Did she run out of pills?" the woman asked.

"No, not exactly," he answered, "Maria's pills need an extra kick to them."

"What do you mean?"

"Could you make them stronger, next time? Her visions are coming back and they won't go away."

"I'll try, Commander," the woman answered, "but this can't be good for her head."

"Just get it done..."

"10-4..."

Pressing the button again, he let out a sigh. Samantha Prower was an... interesting woman. Being a mobian, she was a short yellow fox. Her age was minimal, but her mind was large. A genius, there was very little she couldn't do. The creation of Maria's pills was just one creation in a list of thousands.

The door opened. The first thing that stepped through was her blue boots. Blue eyes gazing forward, the blonde agent let out a silly sigh.

"Commander Taylor," she said, smirking, "good to see you this morning."

"Agent Maria..." he answered, nonchalantly, his eyes on the folder before him, "How was your morning?"

"Same old, same old..." she responded.

Stepping forward to the Commander's desk, she spun around an empty chair and sat in it. Retaining his indifferent nature, the Commander kept his eyes trained down on the folder before him. As Maria grew impatient, he started to rummage through the files within the folder. A quick look up showed Maria with an unsatisfied face, as if he had been keeping her here for hours. For some reason, he enjoyed annoying Maria, a personal past time of his, if you will.

"I got your message," Maria said, ending the silence, "what's going on at Prison Island?"

"Prison Break, as stated." he answered.

"Ugh, I hate these," she said, gazing up, "why must you send me? Are you sure there isn't some... dictator that needs assassinating, or some... rebel forces that need quelling?"

"But Maria," Samson said, grinning, "I thought you enjoyed these round-up missions?"

"I hate it when they entail Prison Island!" she yelled, "That place gives me the creeps! As if... as if I've been there before!"

"You have been there before, Maria. Your G.U.N. training took place there."

"You know what I mean!" she slouched back, "So... who am I looking for?"

"Just your usual fair," Samson said, gazing back down to the folder, "the killers... the terrorists... the assassins... the hackers... like I said, your usual fair..."

"Is that the folder detailing my quarry?"

"Correct, Maria. Seems you've become a bit savvy at this."

"When you've done it enough times, it all blends in to one another."

Picking up the folder, he handed it to her with a stern hand.

"Seventy-seven inmates have escaped, with many of them being taken as we speak."

"Yes..."

"You will be aided by a group of G.U.N. Mechs...

"Great..."

"And you shall be taking with you a group of new soldiers."

"Not so great!"

"Is that so?"

"I hate working with others!" she barked, "They always question my authority! All because I'm a girl!"

"It's the 60's, Maria," he said, smiling, "Times are changing!"

"But not fast enough! Listen Samson! If one of those soldiers question me! Or belittle me because I'm some young girl, I'll kill them myself!"

Whether that was an empty threat or not, Samson wasn't going to test it. Maria had... issues... sometimes...

So with a nod, he sent her on her way.

"Head to the hangar, a group of men should be waiting for you."

Giving a salute, Maria started for the door. But, she suddenly stopped. Laying her hand on her head, she let out a groan of pain. With a questioning eye, Samson gazed to her. She had stopped so suddenly, and refused to move an inch forward.

"Shadow..." Maria suddenly murmured, causing Samson to shoot back, "Stop that... that's... not how doors work, silly..."

Samson was stuck, as he had no idea how to deal with this. And, Maria continued.

"No, you press this panel on the side, see?" her fingers started pressing an invisible set of buttons, "And then, the door opens up, like this!"

Was she... having an invisible conversation with Shadow?

It was official, Maria was losing her mind. Her memories were coming back, and that could serve as a problem in the future. Maria started to giggle, a girlish, and childish giggle, as she continued mentioning Shadow. This couldn't be good...

"Maria!" he suddenly yelled, jolting the woman.

Her blue eyes moved left and right frantically, as if someone had frightened her. A moment later, she returned her gaze to Commander Taylor, and gave a silly smile.

"Sorry 'bout that, Commander," she announced, "it's just... the visions..."

The commander nodded.

Yeah... visions...

"Are you sure you're good for this mission?" Samson asked.

"I'm fine," she said, grabbing her silver case of pills, "I just need this every now and then."

Once again, she took a pill, and swallowed it. The pain in her head subsided. Giving a sigh of relief, the woman returned her gaze to the door before her. Seconds later, she was gone, heading toward the hangar where her mission would resume.

Now alone, the Commander took the time out to lay back in his chair. That was... scary, to say the least. Maria's memories were coming back, and at a worst intensity. What used to be visions was now full-blown flashbacks. She was actually having conversations with a being that had been dead for a decade now.

The pills weren't working... and if they stopped working... she might remember... He needed to make sure that never happened... ever...

Pressing a button on his desk, he caused a buzzing to echo in the room.

"Captain Rabbit... I have a mission for you... It deals with Maria... she's currently heading to Prison Island, for a mission. I want you to keep a close eye on her, understood?"

"Understood..." a voice on the other end responded.

The buzzing came to a close, and Commander Taylor took the time out to breathe. He didn't want Maria to leave... he couldn't allow her to leave... She was too powerful, to great an asset to G.U.N. If she remembered her past. Then there would be no telling what she would do.

...

What would she do?

"You see this, Maria?" his old voice called.

"What is it grandpa?" her six-year-old voice answered back.

"This is Project Shadow." he answered with a smile.

"He looks so cute," she said, "like a cat."

"He's a hedgehog." he responded, "He's also the reason why you're here."

"A hedgehog? What's a hedgehog?"

"You'll learn, soon enough... he's gonna be your best friend, sooner or later."

"What do you mean?"

"Can't you see, Maria? He's got your cure inside of him."

"My cure?" she questioned.

"Yes... your cure..."

"My... cure..." she murmured, voice adult once more.

The blonde's blue eyes opened up, revealing to her the end of the elevator. The doors slid open, and she gazed about to the rows of helicopters, jets, and other G.U.N. vehicles. A smile grew on her lips as she looked at Heavy Dog, one of G.U.N.'s eldest vehicles. Big, powerful, and with rockets pointing every which way, it was a machine that knew only destruction. But, as much as she enjoyed the destruction it could cause, she also felt an overwhelming sense of fear when near it. It was... a strange relationship, indeed.

But her mission had no dealings with the vehicle. Instead, she moved over to a helicopter made to carry large amounts of people. Men by men stayed by the vehicle, all awaiting their current mission. Some talked, others marveled at the fact of shooting, while some stayed indifferent with silence. But all trained their eyes on the beautiful blonde girl head toward them. As stern face as she was, not even she could invoke fear into the young soldiers, especially since her clothing consisted of a blue vest, white shirt, skirt, and boots. She may have been able to tear them all to shreds, but she lacked that terrifying visage that would make them listen.

"Listen, you newbies," she barked, hands on her fists, "I'm only going to tell you this once!"

All of their eyes were locked onto her. Whether it be from respect, or confusion at being yelled at by a woman, Maria wasn't sure. Didn't matter though, she had their attention for now.

"I am Agent Maria Robotnik, your captain for this mission." silence, "I'm pretty sure you've been properly debrief, but I'll go over it one more time. A prison break occurred at Prison Island not to long ago. Within this folder in my hand lies all seventy-seven people believed to escape! Keep in mind, this number may be less, or greater, so be on the lookout!" Still, their prying eyes made no attempts to answer or heed her call, leaving Maria with little knowledge on their state of being, "Do you understand?" she questioned.

The silence remained overbearing. Maria was hoping one of them would say something, but all remained silent. So, giving a sigh, she signalled for her group of soldiers to get on the helicopter. They did so quickly, but not without their snickers and quips.

"A girl?" someone questioned.

"I joined G.U.N. to get stronger, not to be yelled at by some broad!"

"I can't believe it... she's sexy too..." that one made Maria blush.

Regardless, she kept her stoic demeanor against their calls.

"Silly boys..." she murmured.

"Silly Shadow..." she said, seconds later.

Oh no! Not now! There was no way she was going to have a vision here, with these men of hers getting aboard that ship, less she really look like a fool. The last thing she wanted to do was reinforce that stereotype of weak, dumb minded woman. And, now that she noticed it, she was blonde... great...

With her men on board, she got onto the helicopter last. Hand hanging on the side of the helicopter, she signaled for the pilot to get the vehicle moving. From below his helmet, the pilot gave a nod. With presses to buttons and pulling back of switches, the helicopter took to the air, sending out a storm of sound and wind. The helicopter door slid close seconds later, and sent the entire vehicle into darkness, save for the light that came through the windows. The helicopter began moving forward, and soon, it freed itself from the confides of the G.U.N. base. Maria's eyes peered out the window before her, and she glared down to the sea of trees she floated over. She often forgot this base was surrounded by trees and such.

Trees... how much she loved them. Living in Empire City, she never got to see them often, which hurt her greatly. But she would never show it... she was to strong for that...

With a yawn, she pulled back from the window, but her gaze never wavered from it. Then in the reflection, she saw something. A questioning glance exited her eyes at the sight, before she scanned it a bit closer. One of her men, she could tell, was reaching for her. More specifically, that one was reaching for her butt. Maria gave an annoyed glance at the soon to be groper, as she went over in her mind how she should deal with the situation. She was about to crush that fool.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, she never got the chance. Another soldier grabbed the groper's wrist, and held it in a death grip. Maria, while trying to keep up her ruse, gazed out the corner of her eye to her savior. Holding the soldier back, his heterochromia eyes filled with anger, was Abraham.

"I recommend you step off, comrade..." he murmured, light rage in his voice.

A second later, he released his grip, allowing the soldier to fall back. Arms crossing moments later, he never lifted his deathly gaze.

"Thanks..." Maria said, keeping her glare away.

"They don't know you can kill them all effortlessly..." he said back.

"Let's just keep that between us." she answered, "No need getting them scared... how'd you get here so quickly, anyway?"

"Not to long after you left, we took a transporter... those things are horrible!"

"Yeah... the first time is always the worse..." she looked to him, "Go ahead and sit down now... I don't want people thinking I'm babying you."

"You will though, won't you?"

"Of course! What are family for?"

With a slight smile, he returned to his seat to await the coming mission. Maria, on the other hand, moved her attention to the window. The sky had become so beautiful with its great blue shine. So beautiful... beautiful indeed...

"Don't they kinda look cute?" she suddenly said.

"What?" Shadow answered, "The Artificial Chaos? Sure... they... sorta look cute..."

She was standing in one of Ark's many rooms. In the tube before her, the silver head of a certain ancient god. Maria... she was... eight at the time... Shadow, he was beside her but... he was smaller, like he hadn't grown completely yet. If one were to put his age into numbers, he would be roughly around seven.

"They look creepy if you ask me, Maria..." he said, tapping the glass.

"Oh, don't be that way! From what mythology said, this thing was once worshiped by an Echidna race, down on Earth. But... the race was destroyed by the very thing they worshiped, and their race was lost forever..."

"Sounds sad." Shadow said, emotions genuine.

"You're telling me..." she answered, "Well, enough with the Artificial Chaos, Grandpa doesn't want us in here." she turned away, "Let's go play hide and seek Shadow!"

"Yeah... hide and seek..."

She wilted at the thought. Once again, her hand reached into her vest, and pulled out a silver casing. Flipping a pill, she swallowed it quickly. At this rate, she was going to burn through them in no time at all. And yet, she didn't want to think about it. Blue eyes gazing out, she just stared out the window. Did anyone hear her vision? Well, the dead silence in the copter didn't give her an answer. She would ignore them... for now...

Just... ignore them...

"Dude... she's crazy..." someone whispered.

...

Captain Rabbit gazed toward the radio. Damn that Maria Robotnik. Why did they ever allow her to join G.U.N.? It was bad enough they had been playing with her mind, but she was also related to a great terrorist. Those things coupled together made her trouble... deep trouble... Untrustworthy trouble...

"Captain Coffee the rabbit..." a random agent called, "They've arrived..."

The light brown and white furred rabbit gazed toward him. With a nod, he sent him away. It was time for him to send his special agents. They would keep his eyes on Maria... she wouldn't do anything...

Picking up a photo on his desk, he marveled at it. It was a young female rabbit. Possibly six in age. Written on it, in nice cursive, the name, Vanilla. Coffee dragged his hand down the image, before shifting his attention elsewhere. On his desk, the Prison Island warden pressed a button.

"Yes, Captain Rabbit..." a voice called.

"Prepare the Special Agents... send them to hunt down Maria Robotnik."

"Understood, Captain Rabbit, but... may I ask why? Is Maria not an ally?"

"Just do it..." he said, flatly.

"10-4, Captain..."

The radio died in a buz, and all that was left was silence. Standing up from his desk, the aged rabbit walked over to the window in his room. Laying hands behind his back, he brought in a breath, and then let it out.

"Maria Robotnik..." he murmured, "You've come back home..."