A/N: This is finally the next day.
Last Time on Inverting Mistakes . . . Rouge the Bat had just finished giving Shadow the Hedgehog the biggest makeover ever, and renaming himself Terios. Then, Cream the Rabbit had attempted to escape her prison and tasted freedom, providing hope for herself. In the mean time, Silver the Hedgehog and Blaze the Cat agreed on helping a strange man called Kiro to his home in order to help him flee. Lastly, E123-Omega was taken prisoner during the ARK Reopening Ceremony. What shall happen next?
This Machine
"He dreamed of her every night. And then there came to him good fortune for which he had not even hoped, oil upon the fire, double darkness upon his eyes. . ." ~Les Misérables
The room was cold and dark. E123-Omega switched on his lights and looked around to examine his surroundings. GUN Prison, Cell Number 8467. 56º F. Energy: 100%. Shadow is at GUN Training Grounds. Rouge is. . .at. . .location cannot be found. The robot broke free from his chains.
"Revenge!" Omega yelled in his robotic voice. Shortly after, another robot appeared behind him and captured him. Omega tried to squirm but he was shut down yet again. The other robot passed through the prison walls, swiftly like a ghost, with Omega in his arms. He crept out of the prison unnoticed, and arrived before the rim of the ocean. Overlooking the beautiful, yet deadly waters.
Shadow, er—Terios—sat in the waiting room. He was scheduled to try out to be a GUN Agent. I can't believe I gave into Rouge's idea. . .He thought. Just then, speaking of the devil, Rouge came inside. She caught the attention of the other various anthropologic animals and humans waiting as well for the GUN Training. She was used to it. Heck, Shadow was used to it. He glared at anyone else looking at Rouge. He had always been very possessive over his friends. Everyone looked away at the sight of his death glare. He smirked sadistically.
"Good morning," The bat flirted with him. "My name is Rouge the Bat and I will be your guide. If you need anything, just holler." She winked at him as she extended her hand. Shadow took it.
"Nice to meet you, Rouge." He squeezed her hand. "My name is Terios the Hedgehog. It'll be a pleasure working with you." Rouge stooped down and whispered into his ear.
"You really need to change your attitude more. Try being a combination of Sonic and Knuckles." Shadow groaned. She already gave him so many theatrical lessons. It frustrated him hearing that he still can't pull it off. "You also need to morph your voice a lil' higher." She stood back up and waved goodbye to him. As soon as she left, everyone looked at him with envy for having such a sexy partner.
"It's not my fault I got a hot partner, haters." He growled out to them. He felt so different, so unlike himself. I sound like the blue bastard already.
"Terios?" A man came in and called him to the training grounds. They walked through a hallway that Shadow always walked through to observe the future members. As Terios, he had to at least act marveled at the spectacular training ground.
"I like your training grounds." Is all he managed to huff out. He hated commenting on everything around him.
"Thank you; it's the most advanced in the world." The soldier replied.
Terios underwent the same training program he did just a few years ago. His pride prevented him from beating Shadow's score. He had to act pathetic to them, but at the same time, highly competent. The final test was always his favorite. It was meant to create your worst fear into a reality. This is the test people rarely past, and it determines your rank.
"You ready?" The doctor, who had just finished plugging cables in and putting pads on him, asked. Terios nodded. Of course I'm ready, I'm the Ultimate Life form. The doctor nodded and put him to sleep.
He blacked out and underwent his hallucination. He saw himself with Rouge. She lies dying and near a crater. "T-Terios. . ." Her eyes tried flickering shut while cringing to the pain of a black eye. "Take this, and save the world." She handed him a Chaos Emerald. Their hand remained intertwined with the Chaos Emerald between them. "They deserve a chance. Everyone does." She groaned. "Please. . . " Her eyes stopped flickering and her hand went lifeless.
Terios stared into the red bleeding sky, yelling in anger. Power was building up inside of him. He gently placed his friend's body down on a pillow of flowers, and then he flew up into the sky to look at the world burn. He couldn't bring himself to feel bad for the world, not anymore. They, once again, killed his best friend. Power began eroding off him.
"Chaos . . . BLAST!" Just as how he was watching the world be destroyed once and for all, he saw his gray fur stripping off as well as his yellow quills. He became Shadow the Hedgehog. Himself. He felt odd though; divided between himself and his alter self which Rouge created. A morbid feeling inside him arose. What if she created a form of Shadow that would finally appeal to her? It was impossible though, she couldn't be that evil. . .right?
Shadow woke. Terios woke. The doctor had a frown on his face. "Well, you pass. Barely." Shadow was glad that the doctor couldn't actually see what he dreamed but only read how his physical being would react to the stress levels. Soon the doctor had a smile. "Nevertheless, congrats. You're now a rookie in GUN. Welcome abroad." They shook hands. Shadow looked around to see the faces of disappointed trainees who didn't make it in. He looked up to the observatory glass where the Commander stood tall and proud. Shadow found himself scanning the glass for Rouge, but she wasn't there.
Rouge flew through the sunny sky. She was tracking her USB while Shadow underwent the training program. . .again. She had a feeling he would rather have her looking for the USB than creepily watching him. Shadow's powers always interested her as much as any gem did. To her, he was like a beautiful diamond waiting to come out; until this happened, he'll remain a black, cold, charcoal jerk. That's what Knuckles is for. Where Shadow calls her immature, Knuckles always follows her flow and games; even if in the end he'll end up hating her for being such a boss. But they quickly make up and move on. She wouldn't be able to choose her favorite though; they were both the most interesting gems she's ever laid eyes on. Gems, she knows on the inside, she'll never acquire. Depressingly enough.
The tracker led her to familiar detective agency. The Chaotix have it? Rats, they're working for the Commander. Better be "careful". She landed near a bush a peeked inside the windows, securing the area. Her excellent hearing abilities told her there was security cameras beeping inside. When she snuck through a window, she programmed the cameras to shut down for five minutes exactly.
The tracker didn't tell her exactly where it was hidden so she looked around—trashing the place. This is so fun. She thought as she uncapped a Sharpie and began squiggling the walls. Finally, after fooling around, she found the USB under Espio's pillow. She replaced it with a decoy. Just when the cameras turned back on, she snapped the window shut. I should trash Angel Island next; I'd love to see that echidna's face when he sees everything out of place. She texted Terios on her GUN communicator to meet her back at the Club. She flew off into the horizon, humming nice tunes.
Then, suddenly, a shadow blocked her sunlight. It was a robot. She was ready or combat. It wasn't necessary though. The robot hugged Rouge and gagged her. She squirmed or her freedom but it appeared the robot was made just for kidnapping. The merry robot began flying to another location. Soon, they stood above the surface of an ocean.
"Commencing launch. In five," Rouge began kicking the robot in all ways possible. She only managed to scratch it and nothing more. "Four, three," The robot strapped an iron ball onto Rouge's ankle and an oxygen mask. "Two, One." For once, she didn't want the robot to let her go. The anthropologic bat shut her eyes. Oh great, I'm going to die, and my make-up is going to smear. She submerged in the deep sea. Bubbles rose from her mask. The pressure built on top of her but something in the mask disappeared that pounding feeling. The chain on her ankle was too secure, so she couldn't be freed.
Shadow arrived at the Club. He went ahead and made himself a smoothie. The guy just underwent a terrible nightmare. The saddest part is that last time he took that test; it was the exact same hallucination. Only it wasn't Rouge pleading to him, it was Maria. In his mind, Rouge and Maria were the same. Even if Rouge was way different than her, their inner motives intertwined. It was a mystery to Shadow. The door knob rattled. Shadow stood up from the sofa. Rouge must be here.
Wrong. It was an enormous robot, his arms stretched out in elastic cords to get the hedgehog. Shadow dodged his arms, but the robot sprouted another two arms for Shadow. Eventually the arms trapped him in a corner and enwrapped Shadow against the robot's chest.
"Chaos—!" He stopped himself. He's in Rouge's home. He can't blow it up. The robot went outside and sky rocketed into the clouds above. The robot gagged Shadow. Soon, they were on top of an ocean.
"Commencing launch. In five," Shadow flinched in recognition of the situation. He sent Chaos spears out to the robot but it deflected them, only leaving dents. "Four, three," The robot strung three iron balls onto each of Shadow's ankles, then stuck a mask on his face "Two, One." The robot dropped Shadow several feet high into the ocean. He submerged at an extremely high rate, eventually blacking out.
Kiro unlocked his door trembling. He was still in shock that he wasn't dead. "Mister Kiro," Blaze began. "Is there anything you want us to assist you in packing?"
"Food, please." The man mumbled as he walked into his room. "Thanks again. You're very kind."
Silver and Blaze got a cardboard box and began piling all the canned food possible in there. "You know," Silver began as he placed a can of corn into the box. "I wonder what Kiro did for him to get captured."
"I've been pondering about that for some time now." The purple cat told her companion. "I guess he has information they want or," She looked around to make sure the man wasn't eavesdropping. "He is the bad guy."
"Blaze, I can't see any trace of him being anything evil." She shrugged.
"I still believe we cannot trust anyone." The placed they box in the living room and waited for the old man to finish packing. They scanned the simple furnished living room. "Silver," Blaze got up and headed to a small bureau. The anthropologic cat picked up a small picture frame. "It's Eggman. He's terribly old though." Silver walked in next to her.
"How many years are we into the future?" Silver asked his purple companion.
"The exact same we came back last time. So why is he so old?" Blaze though aloud.
"That's because that's not Eggman." The duo turned around. Kiro carried three small briefcases, but set them down for the time being. "That's Professor Gerald Robotnik, Eggman's grandfather." The two anthropologic animals made way for Kiro to get to the picture. "I worked as his apprentice fifty years ago. Everything he created or made, it was with me. I learned my passion from the greatest genius of all time. Sadly, he got killed by GUN while I visited my family on earth." Silver and Blaze resented even noticing the picture frame. They could see through Kiro's eyes the great pain it brought him to remember his past. "Come along companions, we have a beach mansion to go to." He smiled at them as he took the picture frame with him.
The duo took his briefcases from his hand. Silver carried the box off food with his telekinesis. Kiro called a cab and it took them to a train station. The ride on the train took them about five hours. The sun was just about setting peacefully when they arrived. The hedgehog and cat helped Kiro carry all his things. The house was next to the beach, with a beautiful evergreen forest behind it. The house was Victorian in style. Kiro got out an antique key and unlocked the enormous house.
"Welcome to the Robotnik summer home. I haven't been in here since the tragedy happened on the ARK." One could tell the house must have been beautiful at one point, but now, it had cobwebs were everywhere, furniture was covered in white sheets, and dust invaded the floor. "No one will ever think of checking here. This house belonged to the Professor. And now belongs to Ivo—I mean—Eggman. He's never come in here though."
Blaze fell in love instantly with the vintage home. It was the decoration she always wanted for her castle, but was never allowed to change it. "We shall clean it," She looked over to Silver with a twinkle in her eye. "Correct?" He nodded happily.
The group rigged the electricity and managed to get all the light they'll need. Soon the anthropologic animals decided on cleaning the whole first floor. Blaze ran around taking the sheets off the priceless furniture. Silver got rid of the dust in a blink of an eye with his powers. Soon, the duo began moping the main floor like a game.
"I so won." Silver called to his best friend.
"Lies!" The cat laughed. She was surprised at herself. She hardly had fun. The cat had even forgotten about her worries before. Like Silver said, what could happen?
The stairs creaked as Kiro descended upon them. "Oh my," He mumbled. The duo looked up at him. "I haven't seen the house this clean since Gerald lived here. That was sixty years ago!" The man beamed with pride. Silver and Blaze knew it hurt when he talked about his old friend, but he also loved doing so. "Come you two, I'll show you to your rooms." They flew up the stairs.
"Blaze," The man opened a door to reveal a room fit for a princess. "Your room." It was full of dust and the furniture was covered. Not for long though. The duo cleaned it in two minutes or less. The walls were a warm pastel olive color. The room contained a white writing desk, and the bed had lilac bed spreads with beige curtains falling around it. There was also a small sitting space on the window to overlook the ocean.
Next was Silver's room. Kiro beamed at the two anthropologic animals. He enjoyed seeing them have fun with this. Silver's room had creamy beige walls. The bed had royal blue bed spreads. He also had a writing desk, but it was a dark brown oak color. There was a trunk at the foot of the bed of the same color. "Thanks, Kiro."
"My home is yours as well. Welcome." Silver was at a loss for words, Blaze was just plain speechless.
"Thanks. . ." She mumbled.
"And don't worry. The bed sheets are freshly washed. I stuck them into the laundry machine while you two cleaned." They smiled.
The whole house was spotless in an hour. The backyard was weed-free and all. Kiro had prepared food when they finished. They dined warm broth and warm tea with crackers.
"I hate to ask of this from you two, but I have a favor." He took spoonful of the broth.
"Anything, Kiro." Silver called out to him from across the round table.
"The men who took me away also have a young girl prisoner. Her name is Cream, Cream the Rabbit." Blaze dropped her spoon and got up.
"I know her." Kiro looked at the cat funny. "Why do they have her? She's as innocent as any flower."
"Exactly my point." He cleared his throat. "They were planning to transfer us to another prisoner soon. It's on volcano island." The cat nodded.
"Should we go tonight?" Silver looked at his friend.
"I intended you to do so. I have a feeling they'll be transferring her tonight." She nodded and sat back down.
"Consider it done."
Cream the Rabbit woke to the sound of the metal door opening. "What do you want with me?" She called out. Cheese was next to her, standing their ground.
"Oh, nothing in general, sweetie. You see, we need to change you to another prison." The rabbit inched to the corner of the cell.
"Don't touch me." The man laughed as he grabbed her foot. Another man came in behind him and grabbed Cheese. They took them outside and threw them into a trunk. That trunk was inside a submarine.
"Poor girl," Cream overheard one of the pilots calling. "I heard they aren't letting her go until next spring." Spring? It's barely going to be spring again. So I'll be here for a year? The poor Rabbit shuddered at the thought.
"If only she was lucky like Kiro." Kiro? What happened to him?
"Oh yeah, I heard the guys sent out to make him talk let him get away."
"That's not all. The old man had help. A silver hedgehog and a purple cat came to the rescue."
There was a pause. "You know this situation is turning worse once the anthropologic animal pests get involved."
"You said it, Dante. Though," The other guy called. "You're one to talk, I mean, you are one of them."
Cream gasped. "Yeah, but unlike them, I know what's good for me." A pause. Dante then broke the silence. "I hope they find him though. We need him in order to enter the ARK's database. He is the only surviving apprentice of the Professor, and the one whom he entrusted to the most."
Cream never got to hear the rest because she blacked out alongside with Cheese from a lack of oxygen. Eventually, the submarine emerged, through a boiling lake. The two prisoners were handcuffed to a leash and woken.
Cream rubbed her eyes. "Welcome to Volcano Island." A man with a ski mask told her. You'll love it here, I assure you." The poor rabbit was thrown into yet another cell. The irony of this was, it was freezing. The night went by swiftly, yet Cream couldn't go to sleep.
Clang! Cream looked around her cold dark cell. "Who's there?" She called. Two figures appeared as silhouettes beyond her cell bars.
A familiar female voice called out to her. "We're going to bust you out, Cream."
The rabbit whimpered. "B-Blaze?"
Rouge woke up in a comfy armchair. She looked around. Where the hell am I? Through the glass walls, fishes swam. Across from her, Terios was asleep on a similar armchair. She got up and raced to him. She didn't even question why she wasn't chained to the chair.
"Shadow. . ." She mumbled to her friend as she shook him.
"Rouge?" A robotic voice called out to her behind her. The bat turned around.
"Omega?" She flew to her companion and hugged him. "I missed you." The robot remained motionless. (He still doesn't understand why Rouge always wrapped her arms around him whenever they see each other. It felt nice though.)
"What happened to Shadow?" He pointed at the yellow and gray hedgehog. "Why is his physical appearance rearranged?"
"Because we need to conceal his true identity. He escaped the attack, unlike you." She looked around. "Omega, scan the area to find out where we are."
"I have already tried. It is unknown." His robotic voice remained neutral.
"Ho! Ho! Ho!" The two spun around to find the mad doctor standing there. "Welcome to my secret lab!" Eggman bowed to his company. Omega and Rouge jumped in front of lifeless Shadow to defend him. Omega got out his missiles ready for fire.
"On your mark, Rouge." She nodded.
"Wait!" The doctor yelled. "Don't blow up my beautiful fortress just yet! I brought you here to make a proposal." Omega was ready to commence firing but Rouge held up her hand.
"What do you mean?" The doctor grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"My beautiful Rouge," He only looked over at Omega who was still aiming at him. "I believe you three are all against the Space Colony ARK reopening, correct?" Shadow began moaning.
"What?" He mumbled. Rouge rushed to his side while Omega remained motionless, still aiming at Eggman.
"Shadow, we're with Eggman." The gray hedgehog looked around.
He stood up and faced Eggman. "What do you want, doctor?" Eggman laughed.
"Well, I was getting to that, Terios." The doctor cleared his throat. "As I was saying, you three are all against the Space Colony ARK reopening. Well, so am I. They plan on recreating my grandfather's greatest creation," The odd shaped doctor pointed at Shadow. "You." He pressed a button on a remote and an armchair popped out from the floor. The doctor sat on it. "There is another GUN branch that has been created exactly for this purpose. Their motives are dirty and sick though. They plan on getting this," A screen had also popped out while he talked. He pointed at a weird object floating through space. "I'm not sure what it is but I know it's better if no one finds it." Rouge motioned to Omega to put away the weapons.
"What exactly do you want from us though?" Shadow interrogated the obese doctor.
"We will join forces. You two are already in GUN," He pointed at Shadow and Rouge. "I have been observing you three since the attack on the ceremony. Disguising Shadow was a magnificent idea even I myself would have never thought of. We all know Rouge will be assigned to be the first one to explore the ARK before the remolding begins. You need to make sure Terios is with you while you do so. You two need to gather information on that object in space before the others do. We will make sure to retrieve it before they do. Once they lose hope for the object, we'll send it back into orbit."
"Hold on," The yellow hedgehog called. "We never agreed to work with you."
"Besides," The materialistic bat began. "What's in it for us? How do we know you don't plan on keeping the object for your own dirty uses?"
The Eggman laughed. "I'll put Shadow in charge of it. How's that?" The team looked at each other suspiciously. "You three are the most competent people I've known. You want something, you three stop at nothing to get it."
"Fine." Shadow turned around. "Anything to stop the reopening." He looked over at his two friends. "I don't join though, if Rouge or Omega don't agree."
The bat stood in thought. "If I get to keep some of the Chaos Emerald we get, I'm in."
"Consider it done, my love." Eggman tossed the yellow Emerald out to the bat.
"Omega?" Shadow asked his friend.
"I do not agree with the plan, but if Shadow and Rouge do, then this is a good choice. The doctor's death will be swift if he changes any arrangement he has told us about."
"We're in, doctor." Shadow called out to his old ally.
"Welcome aboard, Team Dark."
Gahhh I know I said it would be updated the next day D; My beta diappeared shortly so hopefully my awful grammer skills did the trick +.+ ENJOY!
