Dear Readers,
To those of you who have taken an interest in this story, please let me apologize for the long Hiatus. I hit Writer's block so from this point on it's a joint fic with Jolt T.R.H. Please enjoy the many ideas we've adapted into this story, and review so we have motivation for more!
Chapter Nine
It feels like we've been running for a week now. Since Shadow took me out of Amy's house we've dashed through deserts, jungles, flatlands, and I swear we've been over water at least twice.
"Big brother, when are you gonna tell me where we're going?" The suspense is killing me.
"The perfect place to train. That is all you need to know." He responds. I grumble to myself, but keep skating. I swear Shadow is an ass at the best of times.
"Tell me." He glances back at me, and for the first time, I notice something off about his traditional glare. "I never heard of you until you more or less landed in my lap a few weeks ago. Are there any more siblings I should know about?"
That takes me by surprise.
"None that Ai told me about. Why, do you think there could be more?"
He pauses with a look in his eyes. "That is what disturbs me more than any current threat." He says. "Imagine the things that could happen... if there was an army of us. If they come out just as innocent as you did, then they can theoretically be easily manipulated by anyone that finds them." He looks right at me. "Keyword Eggman."
"Hey, Ivo is not that bad," I protest, forgetting the attack with the Egg Viper for a few minutes. "Personally I think he just needs a friend or two. He probably only has all these robots in his daily life, that seems pretty lonely to me."
"He has a nephew. His name is Snively." Shadow responds. "The little prick tries to usurp Eggman at least twice a month."
"Exactly! Shadow, like it or not, he's our cousin! Would it hurt to be a little nicer to him?"
"The point I'm making... You know what? How about I tell you a story? Have I told you about the time where Eggman made the world split apart and release a giant-ass demon ghost creature?" Shadow states.
"Dark Gaia? Sonic told me about that while I was in the hospital... But here were you during all that? Sonic was off being a Werehog..."
"I was busy helping GUN traffic the people that were near the breaks in the Earth. Because Sonic sure as hell didn't save those people, especially the ones that fell into the core of the planet." Shadow says dryly.
I wince at the image Shadow put in my head.
"I'd never say it to him, but I'm sure we could have saved three times as many people if Sonic had helped us." Shadow starts skating again.
"Or if I'd been here..." Why hadn't Ai woken me up earlier? From the way it sounds there were plenty of chances to get me off the ARK. I could have been a big help...
"You could have. That is why we're here, so I can teach you to make a difference." Shadow says back to me. "We heroes won't always be around, Luna. That is why a new hero always makes a difference."
That makes me smile, "Thanks big brother."
"Hmph."
"I knew you'd say that."
"Hmph."
I roll my eyes, and continue to follow him. We're in ome frozen part of the world now, one I think I heard Sonic describe as Ice Cap to me.
"Are we almost there?"
"If that will get you to be quiet, then sure, whatever you want." He responds. "Get ready for confrontation. I hear there's a band of Freedom Fighters up here, and Sonic doesn't keep tabs. You'd think a guy who thinks himself a natural leader would keep his troops informed of world events."
That throws me a bit, "Freedom Fighters? I dunno big bro, the world seems pretty free to me..."
"Sonic never told you? There's a band of Freedom Fighters on every continent. Granted, some of them don't really fight for freedom, more like defend themselves from Eggman. There's the Downunda Freedom Fighters, the SandBlaster Freedom Fighters, the Freedom Fighters of Mercia, and some others that I forgot. The ones up ahead are the Arctic Freedom Fighters. I don't know how much news gets up here; I just know that we're the only two creatures out here not blending into the snow or water."
I look at our black, and red fur. he's got a point there, but we're strong enough to face anything headed our way. We're "Ultimate" Lifeforms after all.
"And before you suggest that we can fight anyone out here, Sonic and Silver were here, and they gave the Freedom Fighters some of Egmman's tech to defend themselves. In essence, if you're not Sonic, watch yourself." Shadow turned off his skates and hit the ground, slowing considerably but maintaining a quick pace. "Deactivate your skates. The ground is thin, any heat may collapse the area."
I nod, and cut power to my skates.
We travel silently for a few miles, keeping our ears open for anything unusual. Finally, Shadow said, "I think we're clear. Add just enough power to skate, just in case."
I nod, and do as he says. "How come we don't feel the cold?"
"Our cells were designed to withstand any temperature this planet has to offer. In cold, we can work much harder due to less chance of overheat, and in heat, chemicals bind with our ambient Chaos energy and they leave our bodies through the Chaos field around us. Basically, our cells are hardier than a regular Mobian's. I have to admit, it was the one of two gifts I thank Black Doom for."
"And the other would be...?" I asked curiously.
"Advanced immunity. See, we aren't immune to disease, it's just that Mobius doesn't have any viruses or anything that Doom's homeworld did, and vise versa. If we were to go on the Black Comet right now, odds are, we'd catch something and be like the sick people on this planet." Shadow looked at his gloved hands.
"Not agelessness?" I tilt my head.
"Agelessness is a double-edged sword, Luna. We don't have to fear old age, but we can never grow old with those around us. We will always be around, but those around us will die eventually. And, getting a bit spiritual, if you believe in the end of all days, then we'd live to see it, and, if we're unlucky, we'll be around when this planet falls apart. But maybe I just look on the dark side of things."
"You are pretty dark," I joke, but his words strike a deep blow.
I think about all the friends I've made since I came to earth. Amelia the human lady at Station Square, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Rouge, and even Trouble. I rub my wrist, thinking about Ai, my computer-programed friend, and caretaker. They all have a better chance of dying before I do.
I stare at the back of Shaodw's head, "...So one day we'll lose them all... Shadow...am I ever going to lose you?"
"If I don't kill Sonic first," is his snark reply.
That makes me smile a bit. "Have you two EVER liked each other?"
I have a pretty good idea what the answer is.
"I'll say this. He has my respect, and he's the only person who I know as well as myself, and vice versa."
Okay, maybe not. I was expecting a more "Hell no" kind of answer. We continue to move in silence for a while...
"He and I were forced to work together to fight a foe stronger than each of us individually. We almost died that day. I wish you could've seen us then. You would have seen the faces of allies, not rivals." He said finally, looking back at me.
I tilt my head, "You sound like you enjoyed that."
"It was the best day of my life. On that day alone, I fought harder than I have ever fought before. I dread the day we have to fight side by side again, for when we do, then that means that I have to pray to Chaos that the one person who is my equal doesn't die. And that we don't have to resort to Chaos Fusion." Shadow smirked, thinking back.
"Chaos Fusion? Sounds like an energy drink to me."
"Heh, the companies around here will copyright anything. No, imagine a blue hedgehog with my highlights and chestfur, Sonic's gloves, and his shoes with my rockets."
I think about it, and then laugh at the image in my head.
"Oh CHAOS that's priceless! You were "inside" him, or was he "inside" you?" I bust up laughing again.
"It's a perfect incorporation of both our individual aspects, we became Shadic." Shadow said, annoyed. He then smirked and questioned, "But if we did something private, would it be gay or masturbation?"
I drop to the ground laughing even harder. "OH STOP IT! I CAN'T BREATHE! I CAN'T BREATHE!"
Shadow chuckled and was about to add more, but his wrist beeped. He frowned and moved his glove up a little, revealing a red and black watch. "Play transmission, Omega." He stated, becoming serious again.
"Affirmative."
The screen turned on, and a serious-faced man with grey hair and different colored pupils (One orange, one blue) said, "Shadow, are you busy?"
"I dunno, does training an apprentice count as important?" He stated caustically. Shadow apparently hated this man, but did nothing to spite him.
"I suppose, but that will have to be put on hold for a bit. We got a situation on the ARK." I poke my head up beside Shadow's, "What kind of situation?"
The man blinked and asked slowly, "Is... that a female you're training?"
"Classified." He growls before I say anything. "Now, what is the problem, Commander Towers?"
The Commander straightened and said, "Right. A squadron of soldiers found a hidden room in Gerald's laboratory, and as soon as the door was opened, an alarm went off. After that, the squadron failed to report in. It's been two hours, and there has been no contact. You know the ARK like the back of your hand. I have it on decent authority that something came out of that room, and I need you to do some recon and capture."
"Yeah, more like search and destroy." Shadow mutters loud enough for me to hear before saying, "Fine, but I demand special pay due to the personal value the ARK has to me. If it has been damaged by your men's bullets, I'll know."
Towers stood still for a second before growling, "Fine. But you will report every update as it comes up. Take as much backup as you need. Towers out."
"So... no training in the snow?"
Shadow sighs, running a hand through his quills. "I hate GUN some of the time. This should take half an hour, tops. Wanna see our home again, and possibly run into an Artificial Chaos? I swear, the soldiers always die to those things, it's so stupid."Dec 8, 2013"But what if it isn't an... Artificial Chaos?" I ask, unsure of the term.
"Oh, right, you've only been awake recently. On the ARK, we had scientists who wanted to recreate the god of destruction, Chaos. I'll have Fox-boy fill you in on that later, but anyways, the scientists succeeded somewhat. They couldn't use Chaos Emeralds, and they couldn't really move around, but they were... I suppose you could call them living. They became security systems for unwanted guests, such as GUN. But when GUN invaded all those years ago, the Artificial Chaos went crazy. I killed all of the ones between me and Maria, and the escape pods, but plenty were left for GUN to handle. Their attacks are very basic, and apparently, GUN soldiers are trained to shoot the body, because they can't kill the things. They die to a blow to the head, for future references."
"Right... but what if it isn't an Artificial Chaos?" I question.
"Then I'll try a chilidog."
I smile, "Okay, sounds like an adventure! They probably just finally picked up on my escape from there, but still..."
I stretch, and crack my neck, "I'll teleport back to Amy's place, and pick up Ai just in case, okay?"
Without waiting for a reply I vanished with Chaos Control. I stopped off in my room long enough to get Ai off my nightstand before warping back to Shadow.
Shadow tapped his foot impatiently and he stated, "We need to work on your speed when we get back. You took a full eight seconds."
"Well excuse me Mr. Snob, but I almost never take Ai off in the first place. It took me a bit to find him!"
The watch screen lights up, "Considering you were planning to be gone for months on end I expect there is a pressing matter you require my help with?"
Luna nods, "Yeah, GUN wants us on the ARK to investigate something."
"Ai. How original." Shadow stated. He didn't dwell on this, however, and said, "Ai, can you access the ARK's old network?"
As an afterthought, he added, "If not, Omega will need to give you a patch update."
"Shadow, for longer than you have been alive I WAS the ARK network. Updating security files..."
We waited patiently for a moment, and then Ai reported, "There has indeed been something of a small commotion on the ARK, but it is not directly connected to you Angel. I was careful to hide any trace of your existence from that place as we left."
Luna blinks, "So... What happened?"
"Data unavailable, whatever it was disabled security feed for a good long while, even now. Also, for the record, it was Professor Gerald Robotnik that gave me my name, Shadow."
"Yeah? He's also the guy who gave me the name Shadow, Biolizard the name Biolizard, and Emerl the name Gizoid. He sucks at naming." Shadow stated dryly.
"Shadow, sending coordinates of GUN squad's last report in." Shadow's communicator monotones.
"Thanks Omega." He looks at me and states, "Seriously though, Shadow? Luna I understand, but Shadow? Shad would've been better."
Luna tilts her head, and steps up to Shadow, looking him closely in the eye...
"...What?" Shadow leaned back, a touch irritated.
Luna quickly punches him in the face.
Shadow blinks, staggering back. He rubs his nose and growls, "The heck was that for?"
I crossed my arms, "Who are you, and what have you done with my brother? He hates being called Shad, and he NEVER makes jokes!"
"I hate beings called SHADS. And why would you care at my attempt at humor?" Shadow crossed his arms as well.
"Because if you're an imposter I want to know what the hell happened to my real brother."
"Grr... fine. Rose told me to..." He mumbled the rest under his breath.
I raise an unamused eyebrow, "Amy told you to what? And who tells you to do ANYTHING?"
I raise a hand, and form a Chaos Spear, pouring as much energy into it as I can while keeping it stable. If this is a trap then I'll not be taken easily.
Omega beeped and said, "Error! Shadow in building! Other Shadow not real!"
Shadow frowned and looked at the watch. "Wait. Aren't you on my wrist?"
"Error! Error! Logging off!" Shadow's wrist communicator shut off, and Ai started beeping.
"Luna, can you hear me? Omega patched me through Ai, where are you right now?" Shadow's voice came through loud and clear on Ai.
I smile, "Bingo faker! Hey big bro, I'm in the arctic with you apparently. Is this what Sonic calls April Fools day?"
"Negative," Ai informs me matter-of-factually.
Shadow smirked and stated, "Well, good job, detectives. I'm afraid I can't stick around and get destroyed though." He became silver, and shifted into Metal Sonic. He dropped the watch and said in his monotone voice, "The Doctor sends his regards. See you on the ARK!" He shot into the sky.
I watch him go, "Shadow! It's Ivo's robot, the one that looks like Sonic!"
"We need to get to the ARK before he reports to Eggman. Grab Omega's watch and teleport to Rose's house. I'll meet you there. Out."
I nod, and scoop up the fallen watch before warping to Amy's front yard. Shadow was there, and he grabbed the watch, putting it on. "Omega, download."
The watch turned on, and said, "Downloaded."
"Good." He held out his hand and stated impatiently, "We don't have all day, let's go." I roll my eyes, and take his hand, "Okay, you're the real Shadow..." Shadow warps us onto the ARK and says, "Right. Find the thing moving around up here. We'll split up. Report in every five minutes. Sync."
Ai synchs with Omega, and I nod. "Happy hunting big bro, but if you find Ivo please don't kill him."
Shadow grunted and flashed away.
I turn, and skate through the hallways of the ARK, looking for clues while Ai uses Sonar to alert me of danger.
Shadow landed in a ready crouch, pulling a gun and aiming around. He stands and looks at Omega, stating, "Omega, activate scans."
"Scanning. Shadow, are you certain splitting up is a valid option?"
"Omega, Luna is my sister. Therefore she's an Ultimate Lifeform. I have confidence she won't die."
"Valid points. However, you have not succeeded in making her at full power yet. She is not aware of her full moveset like you are."
""It's just a recon mission. Nothing will happen." Shadow growled, putting Omega on silent and creating a Chaos Spear in his free hand and holding it backhand. He supported his pistol with the dagger and started walking, using the light from his spear as a flashlight.
I looked around, my fingers glowing with blue energy. It's a move I'd worked on a while back called Chaos Arrows. Not as powerful as Chaos Spears, but much faster. Plus I can shoot them like a machine gun.
"Luna, the source of the disturbance isn't far, be wary."
"Thanks Ai," I whisper as I spot a door up ahead. I quietly sneak over to it, and Ai opens it with a beep.
The room was empty and dark, except for an active panel on the opposite wall.
I crept over to it, and Ai floated off my wrist to land on it. Within moments we had access.
"So what happened Ai?"
"I'm working on it... Woah... This is crazy encrypted! Hm... Look around, this will take me a minute to access these files." Ai said slowly, processing.
I nodded, and started looking around the room for clues.
"Gg... Hold the phone... What's this?" The panel beeped, and a door opened from the wall.
Inside, something crashed to the floor.
I jump, and hold up my glowing hand to see better.
Something rustles inside, then no more movement or sound came.
"I'd say there's something in the room, but that would be stating the obvious. Stay aware." Ai warned.
"Since when are you so chatty Ai? Did you catch a virus?"
I slowly step towards the room, eyes, and ears peeled.
"Omega is also on the line. I'm keeping him updated for Shadow." Ai responds.
The lights turn on, sensing me moving closer. Why didn't they turn on when that thing moved? I peek and look around.
The room was the same as the other behind me, but this one had five pods on one side a table of chemicals on the other, and a door that led into I assume another room. One of the pods was open and empty.
"Tell Shadow I found an open pod, and give him our position," I say to Ai.
"Roger."
"Shadow, Luna and Ai have found a empty pod. Receiving coordinates." Omega droned.
"A pod?!" Shadow whipped out his Chaos Emerald and called, "CHAOS CONTROL!"
He landed where they had first landed, and skated down the hallway, leaving a trail of fire due to a combination of his skates and the speed he was moving on them.
"Shadow? Data not computing, what is wrong?" Omega asked.
"Artificial Chaos aren't found in a pod!" Shadow barked. "Luna, do not enter that room! There's something-" His transmission cut off.
My ears twitch, my super-hearing letting me here the entire thing on the open channel.
I turn towards the door, "Say what Shadow?"
I suddenly felt a weird pressure on my chest. I looked down to see a pair of gloves on my...
"EEEEEEEEKKKKK!"
I spun with a Chaos fueled kick, and bashed a figure across the room while crossing my arms over my chest. I had no idea why, but I felt violated!
"OWOWOW!" A male voice screeched before becoming silent, footsteps echoing all around the room.
"LUNA!" Shadow blew a hole straight from the hallway and ran in, aiming a fully charged Chaos Lance. He looks around, his ears alert and his eyes narrowed, adjusting to the dim light.
Out of instinct I run to him, ears flat against my head, and hid behind him.
"Shadow someone's in here!"
"Did he hurt you?" Shadow's somewhat existent protective instinct making him flare out, his hair spreading out and moving his legs out, to make him a bigger target and me a smaller one.
"Well no, but someone grabbed my chest."
He looks at me concernedly. "That's sexual harassment, Luna! No one, under any normal circumstance, should ever touch any of your private areas!"
"Don't tell her that! She feels good!"
Shadow threw the lance as hard as he could, the lance making a sizzling whistle before it struck the back wall and fizzed out. "Come out, freak!" Shadow roared.
"I think I'll stay in here, thank you." After a moment the thing says, "Here's an idea! Why don't you come in here? In fact, why don't you both come in? The darkness is fine!"
I poke my head over Shadow's shoulder, "What's sexual harassment? And you back there, that did NOT feel good, that felt WRONG!"
"I'll have Rose explain later. Now is not a good time." Shadow growls.
"All beginners say that." The voice purrs. "All it takes is a little social interaction, and things flipflop! Oh, and you forgot to mention consent, Darky. Consent means it's not harassment!"
"Yeah, voluntary consent; as in, in their right minds, awake, and not forced!" Shadow countered.
"WHAAAAAT? So alcohol influenced consent isn't consent? I call bull!" The voice complains.
I couldn't help but wonder how the hell he knows all this stuff when I was almost a a baby when I first came out of the pod.
That's when the realization hit me... HE CAME OUT OF A POD!
"Shadow, he's one of Gerald's experiments too! He's our brother!"
"He's-" Shadow paused, his pupils dilating. "Shit."
A pair of eyes looked at us in the darkness, with crimson pupils. "WHAAAAAT? But he's boring! And you're cute!" The voice protested. "I don't believe you at all! You're just trying to mislead me, just like Doom did! Just like those soldiers did! I'm not listening anymore! I'm going to find Father! He'll know everything!" With each sentence, his voice became more and more crazed, until finally, he shot out, decking Shadow with full-on tackle. He knocked me to the ground, squeezing my chest again, before bolting.
I screamed and tried attacking him again, but he was already gone, a trail of fire slowly fading out.
Shadow jumped up and roared, "You're not getting away from me!" He shot down the hallway as well.
With little else to do I snatched Ai off the terminal, and back onto my wrist. "Ai, help me head him off!"
He brought a map of the ship into the air in front of me, and I teleported into a hallway where this new stranger would be going. I took a few breaths as I heard him approach. When I saw the speck of light down the hall I thrust my hands forward.
"Chaos Shield!"
The X of energy returned, and I got an idea. I poured what energy I could into it, and it became an inch-thick wall of energy. My new brother made a satisfying "SMACK!" as he collided head first into it, landing on his tail.
I smiled sweetly at him through the wall, "Why don't we try that again? I'm Luna, and that back there is our older brother Shadow. Nice to meet you... I think..."Dec 13, 2013He looked almost exactly like Shadow, except he had, like, twenty times as many quills on his head, and they stuck out in such a way that if he spinned like bro or Sonic, he could probably cut through steel.
He stood coolly, rubbing his tail. "Luna? Shadow? I don't have a name... but I think Midnight matches the trend." He rubbed his head, pausing and looking at his left shoulder. He blinked, and looked at his right. "But she's cute!" He whined, looking at his left shoulder again. "They can't be my siblings! They weren't in the room with the others." He looked at his right shoulder and growled, "No, not until Gerald clears this up!"
Uh... this guy is a few nuts short of a sundae.
He looked at me and smiled, a nervous tick in one of his eyes. "Crazy? You think I'm... crazy?" He tilted his head slightly, smiling a creepy smirk. "...Yeah, but with the people I met on the surface that's a pretty broad generalization."
I take down the shield, but I stay on my toes in case he goes for another grab at my breast. "From what I was told Shadow was the first attempt at making the Ultimate Lifeform. You, and I were side-projects I guess. I was in stasis until a few weeks ago."
I look to the side, "And I'm sorry to tell you this... but Professor Gerald is dead, has been for maybe fifty-six years now."
"No... no! You lie! Gerald promised to tell me what was happening! Where is he?! WHERE IS HE?!" His tick became a twitch, his eyes glowing red. He was no longer being silly; he was serious.
I droop my ears, sincerely sorry.
"Midnight... I'm sorry, but I don't have it in me to lie to someone, especially not family. At least you got to know him for a little while."
I reached for his hand, sadness in every bit of my body.
"No... No! NONONONONO!" He clutches his head, screaming and falling to his knees.
I run over. "Are you okay?" I ask concernedly.
He pays no attention to me, muttering to himself. "He promised... Can't be fifty-six years... It all looks the same... Black Doom still coming... the prophecy will doom us all... No... GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" He screamed, charging a hand with Chaos energy. He flung it haphazardly at me, and I just barely maneuver away.
"HEY! Watch it!" I shout at him.
"I WILL KNOW!" He screeches at me, pulling a green vial from his hair.
"Wait, what are you-" I start.
He crushed the vial, the liquid and crystal touching his flesh, and he roared, "CHAOS CONTROL!" He vanished.
THAT threw me for a loop, and Shadow skated up just then.
"Where did he go?!"
"I... I'm not sure. He pulled some glass thing of green liquid out of his quills, crushed it, and vanished!"
"How did he get- never mind, they're all over the ARK... GRAH!" He slammed the wall, creating an indent. "Just great! The Commander's not gonna like this... And now we have another undisciplined Ultimate Lifeform running around on Mobius!"
It took me a second to process that statement fully.
"HEY!"
