Team Dark

by Arkham Crusader

In this dark and gritty Sonic spin-off, Shadow the Hedgehog joins with the caniving Rouge, and E123 Omega to recover an item from his past, shrouded in mystery. In order to save the world, Team Dark has to get blood on their hands, and face their pasts head on. This story explores the inner turmoil inside Shadow, the psyche of Rouge, and we'll see just what they'd do to win.

6. Chapter 6: E123

CHAPTER SIX: E123

"Shadow, dear, that sounds like a problem..." Rouge tryed her hardest not to look behind her.

A dark gray robot stood before Shadow now, coming from seemingly nowhere. Its red glowing optics ran themselves over Shadow's form, and Shadow readied himself to fight.

The robot's optics flashed between yellow and red.

"Fugitive! Fugitive! Submitting location!" The robot stated, seeming more alert than before. "Remain in place, experiment SH200506! Remain silent! Place your hands on your head!" The robot ordered.

Shadow complied.

The robot stepped forward, and a blue energy beam glew from his claw. "Experiment SH200506. Prepare for detainment." The robot took hold of one of Shadow's wrists, and lifted him up.

"Rouge, whatever you hear or happen to see, don't stop working." Shadow commanded, not breaking eye contact with the robot.

With a snapping motion, Shadow flipped himself onto the arm of the robot, and drew his gun. He aimed it at the robot's head, and pulled the trigger.

Click.

"Damn, not here..." Shadow groaned.

The robot swiped his other arm at Shadow, and Shadow jumped out of the way, and spun in the air, then launched himself into the robot's head.

"Damage: Minimal...Resistance: Fatal..."

The robot spun itself out of the way as Shadow lept in for another strike. Shadow dodged the robot's incoming punch, and launched himself into the wall, then lept onto another wall, then launched toward the robot, and slammed his foot into the ground, shooting himself above the robot's head. He flicked his wrist like he had before.

"Chaos sphere!" He shouted.

The brilliant yellow beam struck the robot's wrist, severing the hand.

"Repairs initiated." It said calmly.

"How much longer Rouge?!" Shadow asked as he landed effortlessly on his feet.

"Thanks to this adrenaline, I say about five more minutes."

"Make it 2!" Shadow glided quickly around the robot, and then spun on his side along the floor, sending himself flying between the robot's legs, and struck them with his feet, sending the robot tumbling to the ground. Shadow flipped again, landing on the robot, raising his wrist again. Suddenly, the robot's optics flashed again.

"Reinforcements arrived. Mission complete." It said.

Shadow stopped a moment. What was this thing talking about? What reinforcements? And what was that it had called him before? Experiment SH200506?

With that, the roof began to creak and crack. "Shadow, I'm done. Lets get the h-" Rouge finally turned away from the computer, and saw the robot. "What...the hell...?"

The roof finally caved in, and crushed the area. Shadow jumped away from the robot, allowing it to be buried in rubble. Rouge ducked behind what used to be the computer desk. A pod-like vehicle hovered through the opening, flanked by a couple of robots, both bearing a resemblance to the one Shadow had just battled. Inside the vehicle, a large man, dressed in a dark red overcoat with golden buttons and a brown moustache looked down with hostility on the room.

"E123?" He asked seemingly to nobody in particular.

The large man was very odd looking, Rouge noted to herself, keeping herself crouched behind cover. She took another look, and realized who she was looking at...Dr. Eggman...