Hi everyone. I was typing all of last night and every second I could today and I finally finished this chapter. It's a little long...but I wanted to get this over with. Please don't hate me! Reviews are welcomed and THANK YOU to all of those who already have reviewed. Read on...if you dare...not really, but seriously, don't hate me. Please!

Nicole's POV:

It had been almost two weeks since I had talked with Martha really early in the morning…and things were just the same. Training for about ten hours with an hour lunch break somewhere in the middle, and Shadow criticizing me every second he could. That guy can get mad real easily…trust me. Anyway, I guess everything started going south when Shadow had insisted Arianna and I had a training session together.

Now I know that sounds normal to most people, but he never wanted us in the same room while training. It was like he didn't want us to know how well the other one was doing…which I later found out that was the exact reason…but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Arianna and I arrived in the training room exactly five minutes before six in the morning. We had already had breakfast and started stretching. I was wearing my standard outfit: a red and black t-shirt and red jeans and black combat boots with the ever present infer-red goggles on my head and the two inhibitor rings on my wrists. The goggles are kind of an inside joke with my sister. She wears these high-tech blue goggles that allow her to scan random objects, see heat sources, etc. I had the same exact model, just red. We always wear them no matter where we are going. It always drove Shadow crazy…I'm off subject again…aren't I?

Anyway…Arianna was always changing styles so I never knew what to expect from her. That morning, she was wearing some faded jeans with a pink T-top and some white tennis shoes. Unlike Shadow (and, I've been told, me) Ari was a very gentle, loving girl who could comfort and befriend pretty much everyone. Also, she never required inhibitor rings because of her weakened chaotic energy. So what surprised me that day was she was actually wearing her rings/bracelets. Seriously, why are they called inhibitor 'rings?' We wear them on our wrists for Pete's sake! I mean, wouldn't you call them-off subject again. Sorry.

Okay…so we were stretching and having our daily talk about our training, last night's dreams, and whatever else popped in our heads. Suddenly, Shadow just appeared out of thin air. Arianna jumped in surprise, while I just stood there. He always pulled that trick on me (and often added a punch or kick at me) and it always drove me insane.

"Alright! Both of you, up on the balancing platform and show me what you got!" our mentor shouted.

Yep. Normal day…that is until about nine when Shadow got a call from Sonic. He pulled out his phone and flipped it open. "This better be important Faker. I'm busy."

Ari and I froze in the middle of our sparing match and glanced over in curiosity.

Shadow listened to the blue hedgehog then sighed. "And why do you need me for that? …Of course they requested all of us…I'll be over in a minute." He slipped the phone in his pocket. "Continue."

Shadow's 'minute,' is more like thirty minutes. By the time we finished our sparing, almost half an hour had passed. Half way through the session, Arianna had excused herself to go help Martha with something so I was left in the torture camber with Mr. Cheerful.

Shadow looked at me grudgingly after a really bad match on my part. "Work on that. I have to go." He turned on the spot and vanished.

I looked around the room and frowned. "Yeah, right," then whirled around and teleported back to my room. I grabbed the small black radio and plopped on my bed. "Miley, are you there?"

No reply from the device.

I leaned back and pulled up the guitar. "Might as well work on something," I mumbled to no one in particular. I had had an idea circling my mind for a little while now and begun to write down some chords when suddenly,

"BOOM!"

A muffled explosion rang out. I jumped up then cursed myself. "Someone is probably testing that new rocket launcher across the lot," I thought. Only a few minutes passed when my phone went off. I groaned and glanced at the caller ID. Shadow the Hedgehog. I jumped up and scrambled for the phone. "Hello?"

Shadow's voice growled back at me. "Took you long enough; Arianna wasn't answering. Go find her then teleport to Angel Island. Grab whatever you need then leave, because you aren't coming back for a long time."

I frowned. "Why? What's going on?"

"Just do it!" the phone went dead.

I shrugged then walked out of the room. I walked down to Anderson's lab. Placing my ID card in the slot, the computer accepted the code then began opening the sliding doors.

"Ari we have to go. Shadow's or-" I stopped. The lab was trashed. DNA samples lay broken across the floor. File cabinets were overturned with the files streaming out. The room was in complete chaos. I swallowed slowly. "Ari?" No answer. I looked around and was suddenly filled with a fearful desire to leave as quickly as possible. I whirled around and chaos controlled to my room and packed a quick suitcase. I placed my guitar and music in the specially designed case that could shrink at will. Quickly, I placed the now miniature guitar in my suitcase then zipped it shut. Now a little frantic I was about to teleport when a sudden explosion rang out, much louder than the first one. "That came from inside." Sirens blared and soldiers ran in line down the halls. I ran out of the room and sprinted down the hall into the kitchen.

Martha was on the floor from the shock wave. "Nicole! What are you still doing here? I got a text from Shadow that you were going to Angel Island!"

I stared at her blankly. "Shadow texts?"

"Nicole! Focus!"

"Sorry…I just find that a little amuse-"

One look from Anderson and I shut up.

She got up and brushed herself off. "Somethings happened, not sure what but I know it's not good. You need to leave now. We'll be okay."

I shook my head. "I'm not leaving you here!"

The scientist shook her head. "Yes you are."

"But-"

"No. Now listen here Nikki. I made you to help people true, but I also made you to help someone who needs you just as much as you need them. You need to go. You'll save the world, but it's not you're time to save this facility. Now go!"

"But-"

"GO!" Anderson pushed me down the hall as explosions filled my ears. Soldier's shouts of terror filled the air and several screams were silenced as the explosions grew closer. Martha pushed me in my room and slammed the door. "Get out. NOW!"

I shoved down the tears that were threatening to fall and whispered through the door. "Thank you Martha. I won't let you down."

I almost thought I heard her reply back, "I know you won't."

The front door was blasted off its hinges and Martha's battle cry rang out. Those sounds were the last thing I heard as I teleported away.

I landed on Angel Island with my suitcase. Shadow grabbed my arm immediately and dragged me away from the edge. "You're late."

"Nice to see you to," I mumbled under my breath.

Shadow just glared at me. "Where's Arianna?"

"Um…I don't know."

He gave me the explain-or-I'll-kill-you look.

"She wasn't at the facility. I scanned like ten times. No trace of her energy…at all. All I found was…"

"What?"

"Um…that lab she said she was going to be at. It's completely trashed. Like someone came and put a bomb in it or something."

Shadow stopped and looked at me. He frowned and let me go. "I'll go check it out. You join the other kids at Sonic's house. I'll be back as soon as I can."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah…that may not be a good idea."

The hedgehog glared at me. "Why not?" he growled

Gulping down my fear I breathed deeply and launched into a quick explanation. "Um…someone-was-attacking-the facility-and-I-wanted-to-stay-and-help-really,-But-Anderson-made-me-leave-her-behind-and-I-think-that-everyone-may-be-getting-killed-because-someone-wants-me-dead-and-I-"

Shadow held up his hand. "Stop talking. Go to the house. I'll be back."

The hedgehog vanished.

Running through the forest, I was trying to process what exactly was going on. Shadow was acting way grumpier then usual and actually seemed a little…scared? No way, this is Shadow he doesn't get scared, maybe angry and obnoxious, but not scared…right? I gulped and picked up the pace. When I reached the blue hedgehog's house I was out of breath.

"I really need to do some more running…" I grumbled.

Unfortunately, someone heard me. Jr came running out of the house and attempted to knock me over. I jumped up and flipped avoiding the blue blur by mere milliseconds. Jr skidded to a stop. "Aw man…I thought you were Ari. She's easy to get."

I scowled at him. "You know…you are way slower than a certain other blued hedgehog I know."

Jr scowled back at me. He really wasn't, but he didn't need to know that. Jr looked exactly like his dad with the attitude and ego problems included. In fact, the only way you could really tell them apart was the shoes. Sonic always had his signature red and white sneakers while Jr preferred these shoes that Cosmos had designed; gray with white stripes. Other than that…like father like son.

His twin sister, Annie, came running out with a hammer drawn. "Jr, we're supposed to stay in here, Shadow's orders! Are you dumb or just disobeying?"

I smiled. "I think a little bit of both."

Jr glared at me, but the glare quickly turned to a look of panic as Annie threw her hammer in his direction. He yelped and dodged as the hammer hit the ground and exploded.

Annie pulled out a circle about three inches in diameter from her belt. She pressed the button on the back and a hammer expanded from the circle. "You made me waist my last exploding hammer!" She lunged at her brother. Annie had her mother's temper and her strength. She favored wearing long gray pants under a short blue dress with gray shoes and the signature of the family; white gloves. Her hair reached down to the middle of her upper arm and her bangs pushed out of her eyes. Her belt that she wore over her dress had been made of several circles that supplied her hammers. The belt was a third birthday present from Tails. I don't know who thought it was a good idea.

I always assumed the long-term goal of these fifteen year old twins was to see who could kill the other. Annie was trying to smash her brother to a pulp when Arnold and Topaz came out to watch.

Arnold, who was about two months older than the troublesome twosome, was wearing brown hiking boots and a light brown cowboy vest with strips of leather hanging on the front and back. This echidna, unlike his father, had no interest in guarding any gems of any sort. Arnold was more intent on reading adventure stories and trying to have his own story to write. Unfortunately, he never got very far, what with his father and all. No matter how hard he tried, Knuckles wouldn't let his son get away for long.

Arnold leaned up against the house and crossed his arms. "Are those two at it again?"

His little sister nodded. "No surprise there Arnold,' Topaz hovered about a foot off the ground and watched the action.

Topaz was one of the biggest jewel thief's in the country. Although, since she was only fourteen, she couldn't be tried as an adult. She wore a short pink dress with a long sleeved white shrug (it zipped up in the front. Not sure what those are called…) that reached down to the middle of her lower arm over it and white gloves. Her boots were pink over white and she always seemed to wear some sort of make-up. Today, it was pink eyeshadow with some light pink lipstick. Yep…mother's girl if I ever saw one.

I rolled my eyes. "Jr and Annie should just duel to the death, then we won't have this mess to deal with."

Arnold glanced at me. "Oh great…it's mini-Shadow."

I really wanted to punch him, but one look at his hands and I reconsidered. Before I could decide, Miley decided to join us outside.

"She's not a mini-Shadow, Arnold. For one; she's a girl!"

Topaz rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I never got that. Why is that?"

Sigh. "Cloning is a complicated process. You can never make a perfect clone; there will always be a flaw. One way to help in the process is switch the gender. It helps become more stable and more likely to survive the process. Does that make any sense?" If I had a nickel for every time I had to explain that…

"Not really." Arnold replied. The two siblings went back to watching the twins fight.

Miley grabbed my arm and gently pulled me inside. "Ignore them. They don't want to understand."

I nodded then sat down on the nearest chair. "What is going on? Shadow called me and then GUN was attacked and-"

"GUN was attacked?"

"Long story. What happened here?"

Miley shifted in her chair. The yellow fox seemed to be in love with brown since the day I met her. Her standard outfit was a light brown t-shirt, dark brown shorts with a brown piece of fabric tied over them, brown lace up shoes, an unbuttoned dark brown trench coat that reached her knees, light brown fingerless gloves, a piece of light brown leather tied around her wrist with a piece of twine to make some sort of bracelet, and her aviator goggles placed upon her head (brown straps with blue lenses). She had long white hair that went a little past her waist and long white bangs that covered the left side of her face. I always teased her about only being able to see with one eye, but she just told me to take off my goggles for a day, then report back to her. The jokes stopped pretty quickly. Some of them were pretty good though. I always said if she forgot to move her hair when she put her goggles she would….sorry off subject.

My best friend sighed. "I'm not exactly sure. All I really know is that it was supposed to be a simple mission. First Generation was called for some sort of rescue mission at an old chemical factory. There had been an accident and there were still some workers inside. They were then supposed to help clean up. That was about an hour ago. Well fifteen minutes ago, the chemical factory, blew up!"

"What!?"

"Well, it didn't exactly blow up. More like a giant shock wave ripped through the area. It didn't knock down the building or anything, just sent this giant bubble of energy throughout the area."

"Okay…then what?"

"That's where I got. Jr, Annie, Arnold, Topaz and I went down to see how everyone was. We didn't even get half way when Shadow showed up and teleported us back to the island. He' a real jerk at certain points, you know that?"

I shrugged. "You get used to it. What about Cosmo?"

Miley frowned. "She's still at the shop. She didn't want to come to the factory."

Cosmo was the oldest of second generation and by far one of the kindest. It was no surprise when the Ari and she became best friends. Sixteen years old, Cosmo usually wore a dark blue skirt with a light blue stripe down the middle, a dark blue t-shirt, light blue and white tennis shoes, light blue fingerless gloves and her mother's golden heart locket. Unlike her sister, she delighted in making small projects.

Miley on the other hand was tired of doing all the dirty work and wanted to actually build something bigger. She had been secretly working on a biplane with her sister for the past three months and it was almost finished. I had never seen Miley so excited about anything in her life.

"Does Shadow know that she's not here?"

"I think so…maybe not. Oh man I am so dead if he doesn't know that."

I rolled my eyes. "Where's your father?"

Miley shrugged.

"He's with the others duh," Jr said as he walked in with the other kids. Annie looked exhausted from chasing her brother.

Miley rolled her eyes. Then turned to Topaz, "Who won?"

She smiled. "Jr. By seconds. So I believe you owe me five dollars."

Miley shook her head. "Nope. I bet that Jr would lose after three minutes and you bet Annie would lose in three minutes. It's been five min. Sorry Topaz."

The bat crossed her arms. "Dang it…"

Everyone started laughing…until Shadow marched in. The room fell silent.

"This is no laughing matter! Now all of you! You are not to leave this island…ever. I just put up the energy field so nothing can get in and hopefully out. Now all of you need-"

"Wait. We can't leave!" Arnold did not look happy…at all.

"What part of that was unclear? No leaving, no contact, no nothing. You can go anywhere on the Island and do whatever you want but you have to train for at least two hours a day." Shadow paused and pointed at me. "You have to train for at least four."

"Oh come on!"

"No but's Nicole! You and Miley both! No joking around! All of you!" He took a deep breath.

Miley raised a tentative hand. "Um…where are Arianna and Cosmo?"

Shadow glared at her. "I don't know."

Topaz started laughing then quickly stopped when she saw Shadow's face. "Wait, you're serious?"

"What part of no joking around do you not understand?" Shadow hissed.

Everyone but me took a step away from him.

The emo hedgehog took another deep breath. "You will train, occasionally have a class on some technique or gadget, and then you'll have all the free time in the world. Do you understand?"

Junior raised his hand. "So Mr. In Charge…did our parents give permission for this? Whose idea was it? Is this some sort of training exercise?"

Shadow didn't say anything. He walked over to the window and stared out at the forest.

I'm not sure who was more surprised; me, Miley, or 2nd Gen. We all sat in silence for about three minutes. Annie finally broke the silence.

"So…where are our parents?"

Shadow looked at her then looked back out the window. I blinked then stood up. I thought I had seen something in his eyes, but I wasn't sure.

I walked over and stood behind him. "Shadow? Is something wrong?"

My mentor turned around and looked me directly in the eye. There was defiantly something wrong with his eyes. "They're gone."

Topaz looked confused. "Who's gone?"

"Your parents."

Jr shook his head. "Dad told me he wasn't taking Mom to Hawaii for another month."

"Not on vacation! They're gone!"

Mileys eyes grew wide. "You don't mean they're…" she trailed off not wanting to say the word.

Arnold shook his head. "It's Team Sonic they can't die."

In that moment I realized what was wrong with Shadow. His eyes looked sorrowful.

I placed my hand over my mouth. "No way…they cannot be dead…"

Without a word, Shadow looked over second generation. "I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything. They're gone."

Annie turned pale. "They can't be…"

"Dead! Well, news flash Annie, they're gone! Dead! No more First Generation! You're on your own now! So if you want to leave the island, be my guest! But don't come haunting me in my dreams if you suffer the same fate they did!" Shadow breathed heavily.

No one moved. We were in too much shock.

"What about Arianna and Cosmo?" I whispered.

"I don't know. I didn't see any bodies, but there were signs of a struggle in Tail's workshop and at GUN. I assume they're both alive, but I'm not sure. We're all you got."

Miley had started crying silently. Annie and Jr kept sharing glances that clearly said, 'Is this for real?' Meanwhile, Topaz was trying to comprehend the impossible while Arnold didn't move. I kept my face as still as possible and waited for Shadow to finish.

"I'll retrieve the bodies tomorrow. I expect all of you at the Master Emerald in two weeks to restart your training. You need time to get over this traumatizing event. I encourage you all to help one another. Now I'm leaving to check on GUN. Please don't blow up the island while I'm gone." The new caretaker of second generation walked out the front door without a word.

As soon as he left, Miley burst into full on sobbing. I walked over and helped her up. "Come on girl. Let's take you home. I'll stay with you for now. Let's go…"

Miley nodded and allowed herself to be lead out of the hedgehog's house. I didn't look to see how the others were taking it.

We walked through the forest towards the Prower's house/work shop. When we arrived, it certainly looked like someone had fought. Windows were smashed and spare parts were scattered all around the yard. Miley didn't seem to notice.

I walked inside and led her to her room.

She ran inside and threw herself on her bed and continued crying.

I softly shut the door and made my way to the small guest room.

The room was neat, but way too white. "I'll have to fix that later…" I whispered aloud. I looked out the window and stared at the sky. It had become over cast and had begun raining. "Perfect weather…" No sorrow filled my mind or heart, I never really knew the other adults. Tails was always gave me some cool gadget for my birthday and Christmas; Amy was like that friendly aunt that lives on the other side of the country; Sonic was the teasing uncle; I never really talked to Knuckles; and Rouge was sort of like a business partner to my 'father.' And for some reason…I didn't feel like they were gone forever. But deep down inside I knew that wasn't true. Pulling out the guitar case, I decided to work on the song that had been so rudely interrupted. A few minutes later and a tuned guitar in hand I began strumming. Half way through the song I changed the lyrics and wrote it down.

Song: The Call

Artist: Regina Spektor

(Looked up the lyrics and copy and pasted. I encourage all of you to look up the song and listen. Or just read it through. It's one of my favorites.)

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry
I'll come back when you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never been this way before
All you can do is try to know who your friends are
As you head off to the war
Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget
Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'Til they're before your eyes
You'll come back when they call you
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back when they call you
No need to say goodbye

I looked out the window and closed my eyes. "We'll be fine…Say hi to Cream for me."

Yep...Team Sonic 1st Generation...is DEAD!? Sorry to all of those who were looking forward to Nicole meeting First Gen. And for those of you who are wondering what happened to Cream...read the first chapter. I'll give you a hint...she was in the battle with Eggman. Code name: Tea Time. Don't kill me! How does Nicole know about Cream?...she's a girl Shadow of course she knew! R&R! I want to know what y'all think. (yes I said y'all. get over it) Thanks again to all of those who reviewed and commented. Oh and Christian Ape99, did the whole girl Shadow thing make sense? Shadowsthebest, of course he's a little abusive. He's shadow...sorry inside joke. You wouldn't get it... Anyway, I'll post the next chapter ASAP, but don't expect miracles to happen in the next chapter. It's just going to get worse...