…
Warning sirens wail in the control room. Eggman demands angrily, "Argh! What the–! What's going on!? Why did the cannon explode? And why is the ARK falling!?" He frantically pulls up files on the control panel searching for an answer. "The ARK shouldn't be falling! What's going on?" Suddenly, a file opens on its own. "What!? What's happening here?" It's a low-quality video file. It shows an old looking man with a long silver mustache, chained to a chair. The wall behind him is filled with complex mathematical equations. "It's…it's my grandfather, Gerald Robotnik!" Professor Gerald prepares to speak.
—–—
Sonic and Knuckles run into the research lab. Sonic appears to be explaining, "So, I managed to switch the real Emerald with the fake one using Chaos Control. Eggman stole the fake Emerald!" Tails and Amy are thrilled to see them, but their reunion is interrupted by a violent tremor.
Knuckles asks, almost like a demand, "What's that…that vibration!?"
As the tremor continues, a door can be heard opening. Sonic whispers, despite the noise, "Hey, wait! Someone's coming!"
Rouge swoops down in front of them. The shaking finally stops. Knuckles shouts, "You! You haven't given up yet?"
Rouge doesn't seem interested in a fight. "It's all over for us…"
"What do you mean?"
"I've just received a message…from my boss. This space colony ARK is currently approaching the Earth at an incredible velocity. It…it will probably impact Earth." Suddenly, she gasps and points behind them. Professor Gerald Robotnik has appeared on a screen above the control console.
Knuckles inquires, "What's that on the screen?" Professor Gerald prepares to speak.
—–—
The same video has appeared on every screen on the planet, just as Eggman's message did. Citizens gather in large city squares to watch. The professor on the screen finally speaks, "This is a death sentence for every human being on Earth. If my calculations are correct, the space colony ARK will impact the Earth in 27 minutes, and 53 seconds." People of all races, cultures, and walks of life are horrified by the speech. Some point to the sky, able to see descending fireball in the distance. "All of you will be destroyed, along with your beloved planet Earth."
—–—
The ARK begins to lose chunks of its outside crust as the flame around it glows even brighter. From inside, Sonic and friends watch the message as well. "I plan to give you a taste of my revenge once all the seven Chaos Emeralds are collected. Once I initiate this program, it cannot be disabled. All of you ungrateful humans who took everything away from me will feel my loss and despair!"
Another voice in the video demands, "Is there anything else you want to say?"
"No…"
The other voice now commands to others in the room, "Ready–" the video cuts out and starts over.
Amy finally asks, "What's going on here? Who is that?" The video continues, "This is a death sentence for every human being…" The ARK starts shaking again.
Knuckles shouts, "Hey, the vibration is getting worse!" "All of you will be destroyed…"
"Professor Gerald Robotnik…" Eggman is already explaining as he walks into the room. "…one of the greatest scientific minds in the world, and my grandfather." "I plan to give you a taste of my revenge…"
Again, Knuckles shouts, "What!? I knew you were behind all this! Stop it right now, or else–"
"I'd have done this a long time ago if I'd had the chance!"
Sonic steps forward. "What do you mean?"
Eggman, just now learning of Sonic's survival, changes the subject. "You're pretty persistent for a hedgehog, aren't you!? You're still alive, huh?"
"Ha! Just letting Knuckles pilot the shuttle on the way over here was more dangerous than you could ever be!"
Eggman ignores the joke, and pulls out a small memory disc. Rouge asks, "What's this?"
Eggman hands it to her. "This is my grandfather's diary."
She walks it over to the console and places it in. Words come up on the screen, and she begins reading. "I don't know quite what happened, or what went wrong. Was it a mistake to create the Ultimate Life Form? I thought it would be something that would benefit mankind. But then the military guards landed on the colony that day. They were sent to destroy the research project that I had been working on. My colleagues at the research facility…my granddaughter, Maria. I hope you are all safe." The professor's voice can almost be heard reading the mournful lines. "The colony was completely shut down, probably to keep the prototype from falling into the wrong hands. The ARK was shut down under the premise that there had been an 'accident'. …I found Maria's name among those who died when the ARK was shut down. She meant everything to me, and I couldn't bear the thought that she died because of my research. I lost everything. I had nothing more to live for…I went insane. All I could think about was to avenge her…somehow, some way. I got scared as I no longer was able to control my thoughts. All I could think about was that I wanted it all to end. Based on my original projections, I was able to complete my project, Shadow. I designed its mind to be perfect, pure. I will leave everything to him. If you wish, release and awaken it, to the world." Rouge finishes, "If you wish to fill the world with destruction…" She turns to face Eggman. "Oh, so that's why you released Shadow from the base!"
"The energy of the Chaos Emeralds is being used to create an overload in the Eclipse Cannon, making it highly unstable and explosive. If the colony collides with Earth, the planet will shatter into pieces, like my grandfather predicted." He finishes with some pride, "That mad scientist!"
Amy asks, somewhat sarcastically "You wish that was you, right?"
Tails steps forward. "We have to stop the space colony, now!"
Now Eggman steps up. "The space colony ARK's position may have shifted due to the amount of energy given off by the Emeralds. We have to stop the energy!"
"But…how?"
Rouge ponders for a moment. "Hmmm… That's it! There is a way to stop the energy!" She turns to Knuckles. "We have to use your Emerald! You're the one that told me that the Master Emerald has the power to stop the Chaos Emeralds!"
Knuckles thinks about that for a moment. He recalls saying, "The Master Emerald contains special powers that neutralize the energy of the Chaos Emeralds. That makes it very powerful!" He pulls out the Emerald, which he has somehow shrunken. "That's right. If I use this, I just might be able to stop the Chaos Emeralds!"
Tails pulls up an internal schematic of the ARK on the screen. He points to an area near the center, where the cannon lies. "The reaction of the Chaos Emeralds is moving towards the Cannon's Core! It may be too late!"
Eggman pushes them aside and starts working on the console. "There may be some time left, if we pull together. We might be able to get to the shortcut that leads to the core." A pathway appears on the screen. The screen zooms in on that pathway, showing a more detailed diagram of its various rooms and hallways.
Sonic takes only a brief look. "No worries! Just leave it to me! I'm the world's fastest hedgehog!"
"Then let's get to work!" The group huddles around closer. "So here's the plan…"
—–—
Tails, riding his Tornado mech, lands in a narrow room. He goes over his part in the plan in his mind. "This shortcut is extremely dangerous, intended for only the most dire of emergencies. So there are two security locks on either side of the ARK, preventing access. Those locks must be destroyed before we can accomplish anything else. Tails, you take the one in the northeast quadrant. I'll handle the southwest one." Tails blasts open a locked door in front of him. He's stopped on the other side by a heavily-armored security robot. Tails aims a Homing Missile around its defenses, destroying it. Eggman shouts over the radio, "Alright, Tails! Now destroy the security lock so we can get into the Cannon's Core." After blasting through another horde of robots and another door, he makes it into a square room with a raised platform in the back. "Okay, Tails! There should be a security lock somewhere in that room! You need to destroy it!" Dodging around a security laser, he makes it up the platform. A large black machine lies at the back of the room. Tails unloads a volley of missiles into it, destroying it completely.
—–—
Eggman lands in a narrow room, riding his own mech. "All right! Now it's my turn!" He is immediately faced with three of the armored robots from before. He destroys them one by one, and moves on. After blasting through many more robots, he eventually comes to a similar square room, this one filled ankle-deep with some sort of acid. Tails comes in over the radio, "Great, Eggman! There should be a security lock somewhere in that room!" Eggman begins the process of hopping between machines floating in the acid to make it to the other side of the room. He finally does, and unloads a volley of missiles into the black device in the back.
—–—
Rouge lands in a large circular room, considering her own place in the plan. "Since the ARK was was shut down, the core has become flooded with liquid. However, there should be an emergency switch somewhere in the dome, here, which can drain the liquid out of the core. Rouge, it will be your job to find that switch!" She gets to work. She quickly come across a large button, sealed in some sort of cage. She thinks, "Looks like I've gotta find a way to unlock this cage first." She proceeds in the other direction. Along the way, she encounters nearly as many security robots as Tails and Eggman, but eventually comes across a smaller switch. Hitting it does nothing apparent, but Eggman, monitoring from afar, shouts through the radio, "Hurry, hit the switch and drain the liquid!" She rushes back to the entrance, where the main switch lies, and hits it from above. A door opens, and the liquid starts to drain.
—–—
Knuckles lands in the same room which Rouge was in moments ago. He thinks over his own part in the plan. "Once the locks are destroyed and the liquid is drained, we should be able to reach the security door to the core. Knuckles, it should be right in front of you when you reach the dome. But you'll need to find the switch that opens it!" He continues into the hallway through the door which the liquid drained out of after Rouge opened it. Eggman shouts at him over the radio, "Knuckles! I found the switch on radar! The security door control switch is accessible from the pathway in front of you." Knuckles runs forward into it. He arrives in a room heavily guarded by robots. But the switch can be seen behind them. Knuckles smirks as he gets to work crushing the robots.
—–—
Sonic rushes through the security door as it opens. Sirens wail, warning of the breached security. His part in the plan is simple. "There's a massive energy disturbance near the core. You will have to be very careful clearing it. But from there, you're free to run straight to the core. Knuckles will catch up with you. You're our last chance. We're depending on you!" Sonic arrives at a room full of robots, with electricity crackling and arcing between walls and machinery. One by one, Sonic strikes the robots from the air, and continues out of the room, remembering to hit a switch on the way out. Eggman comes in on the radio, "Sonic! You've cleared the electrical disturbance. It's all up to you now!" Sonic comes to the end of the long, narrow tube he had been running through, revealing a wide, steeply declined channel, with the drained liquid flowing down it at high velocity. Without hesitation, Sonic dives in and begins sliding down towards the Cannon's Core.
—–—
ARK: Abandoned research lab
Colony impact: 19 minutes 50 seconds
Amy storms angrily through the lab. "Oh, I hate it when they leave me behind!" She stops suddenly as she realizes that she is no longer alone. "Look, it's Shadow!" She turns back the other way and starts thinking. "I've really gotta stop whining… Everyone is trying their best to help…and so should I!" She runs back to the window, where Shadow stands. "Shadow, we need you! Please help us!"
Shadow keeps staring out the window. Finally, he speaks, never taking his eyes off of the planet below. "It's all going according to plan. There is no reason for me to help them. Besides…" he casually waves his hand through the air. "…there's no way to save anyone."
Amy won't accept this. "There has to be!" She takes another step forward. "I know that people fight over the most trivial things. Some people may be selfish, just like the professor said… But basically, on the inside, they're all good. If they try their best, and never give up on their wishes…they always have a reason to be happy. That's why you should help them, saving them is a good thing!" She adds with final emphasis, "Shadow, I beg you…please do it for them. Give them a chance!"
"Shadow, I beg of you…please do it for me…for a better future." Shadow's memories stab at him, sharper and clearer than ever. He shouts in surprise, "Maria!" She continues, "For all the people…on that planet…give them a chance…to be happy. Let them live for their dreams. Shadow, I know you can do it." Solemnly, she presses another button, and the pod is launched away from the colony. "That's the reason why you were brought into this world. Sayonara…Shadow the Hedgehog." The memory ends.
Shadow tightly clenches a fist. "That's what I've promised her…and I must keep that promise." A tear falls from his eye. "That's what Maria wished for."
"Shadow?"
"I've got to go now! I have to keep my promise to Maria…and you." He sprints off towards the Cannon's Core.
—–—
ARK: In the core
Colony impact: 15 minutes 27 seconds
Sonic lands with a splash in the Cannon's Core. A strange, almost organic-looking machine pulsates on the ceiling of the room. Beneath it, a ruin-like structure made of stone supports the six Chaos Emeralds and one fake Emerald atop seven separate pillars, arranged in a circle around the main structure in the center. Knuckles lands right where Sonic did moments ago. They nod in acknowledgement of each other, and turn back to the ruin structure. Knuckles gasps as he observes the structure. "What's that? It looks just like the shrine of the Master Emerald!"
After thinking for a moment, Sonic responds, "They probably designed the core like the shrine to harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds." They look to each other and nod once more, then start running for the fake shrine.
They skid to a stop as they hear a voice they've come to associate with danger—Gerald Robotnik. A screen has appeared below the strange machine. "All of you ungrateful humans who took everything away from me will feel my loss and despair!"
The machine begins to pulse faster, filling the room with duplicates of the same clip. It begins releasing massive sparks of energy. "Knuckles, here it comes!" The machine begins to open, emitting a blinding light. The holographic screens all play slightly out of sync. "All-all of you-you ungrateful-grateful hu-humans who took ever-everything away-way from me-from me will feel-feel my loss-loss and despair-despair!"
The silhouetted figure of a massive lizard-like creature can be barely made out. Until it entirely reveals its gargantuan jaws in a mighty roar. It crashes to the ground, almost on top of Sonic and Knuckles. Now completely in normal light, its colors are primarily orange and black. It wears a large device on its back, which is attached to the sides of its mouth, as well as a few other parts of its body, by long green cables. Its eyes also seem to have been replaced by machines.
Knuckles is taken aback. "Could this be the prototype of the Ultimate Life Form that was supposed to be encapsulated?"
Another voice sounds from behind them, "Leave this one to me." Sonic turns back in shock at the appearance of Shadow. He keeps walking past them.
"Shadow, what're you doing?"
Shadow keeps walking until he is face-to-face with the lizard. They stare each other in the eye for several long moments. Finally Shadow turns back to face the others. "I'll handle this, while you run to take care of the Chaos Emeralds!" Sonic and Knuckles nod to each other once more, and head for the shrine. Shadow turns back to the lizard. He thinks, "The Biolizard…the prototype of the Ultimate Life Form. Rouge's report was about you…because my creation wasn't documented like yours was. You may have been called 'Shadow' once…but now, you're just an ugly prototype!"
The Biolizard roars, and swipes its massive tail at Shadow. Shadow leaps over the tail, and continues around to the creature's front. Though the lizard uses its mouth to attack, Shadow dodges, and uses its mouth cables as a stepping stool to leap up to above the device on its back. He strikes the device, cracking it, and causing the Biolizard to roar in anger. As Shadow lands, the lizard is already prepared to attack. It begins releasing from its mouth a series of orbs which appear to be made out of some sort of dark energy, and launches them at Shadow. Shadow rolls under the ones aimed higher, and leaps over the ones aimed lower, again making his way towards the cables on the Biolizard's head. Again, he leaps from the cable to attack the device on its back. It roars even louder.
