Showtime
The helicopter glided over the swath of destruction. Her blue eyes gazed out among the Weapons Bed, as it laid with a sea of crushed steel and bodies. Her fox tails ceased their motion, and fell down, as her face bent into one of sadness. Feeling the hand of someone else on her shoulder, she gazed up to the man beside her. Commander Samson Taylor held that stone gaze of usual, while his partner was a bit less than enthusiastic.
"Calm down, Samantha." he stated coolly, as if this was something usual.
"But, Commander Taylor," she answered, crestfallen, "How can I? You... you see this?"
He nodded curtly.
"Yeah," he responded, "I see it..."
It didn't take long for their helicopter to land. It stopped on Prison Islands Infirmary ward, where they were met by a series of guards. Samantha leaped out first, the fox genius tugging on her wavering coat. She was followed by a few guards, and finally Commander Taylor. His aged eyes glared about the horizon, before he followed closely her commanding officer. Down the outdoor platform they trekked, before making their way into the base. Many soldiers were about, being poked and prodded with needles and such. One of them was going on about how his clothes magically disappeared, but he was universally ignored.
Eventually, the Commander and Head Scientist made their way to the room they wished to see in the beginning. A room holding a very angry, and very haggard, rabbit.
The brown eyes of Coffee the rabbit jutted around the room, while his mechanical arms slumped over. He was covered in bandages, especially around his head, where he suffered some third and second degree burns. Maybe that's why he was so angry.
"Coffee..." Samson said, taking a seat near his bed.
"What," the hare murmured, "Come to mock me on my failure."
Samson gave a light chuckle, as he covered his lips.
"No, no," he replied, "It should be you who mocks me."
The rabbit scoffed, causing his blue eyes to move to Samantha. The blonde fox returned his gaze, before wilting and looking away.
"Why is she here?" he questioned.
"Those arms," Samson retorted, losing that chuckle, "Using the roboticization process on yourself was just plain, stupid, Coffee!"
"I had not choice," the rabbit replied, angrily, "The twelve-year-old problem of yours has finally showed its true colors! Maria lead an assault on us!"
"I know, Coffee," he replied, leaning back in his chair, "I know."
"Then what are you going to do about it?" the rabbit questioned, "What next?"
"So far," Samantha answered, "We've figured that Maria is searching for the Chaos Emeralds."
"I know she wants the Chaos Emeralds" Coffee said, matter of factly, "But my question is, what business does she have with the Chaos Emeralds?"
"We believe it has to deal with Ivo," the fox went on, "There's reason to believe he's the brains behind the operation."
"I know that too," Coffee stated, "That cousin of her's is playing with her like some kind of puppet." he glanced up, "So what now?"
"We are currently looking for Chaos Emeralds," Samson said, leaning forward, "If Ivo wants them, we know he'll send Maria after them. Currently, we already know where one other Chaos Emerald lies."
"And that's where?" Coffee inquired.
"Empire City."
…
The window seal slid open.
Blue eyes peered over the edge, and into the room within. It was still clean, the bullet holes fixed, and the sheets of the bed nicely folded. Her lips curled up in a smile at the sight, showing that he still cared. But for how much longer?
With a silent demeanor, she climbed into the room. Her feet landed on the floor with an inaudible tone, as her blue gaze wavered to and fro. Lifting her pistol to her head, she started to slowly trek across the room. She wasn't planning on shooting anyone, but knowing G.U.N., they've probably had her home bugged already. She'd need to work fast, and work silently.
Laying against her wardrobe, she started to prod its entrance. Still silent in her antics, she continued to work most deftly. The wardrobe opened finally, much to her glee. All her clothing lied safely inside, as well as a steel cache that lied in the back. She pried open the steel casing, and showed to her eyes the armaments that lied within. A scope. That was it. The case had other indents within it that would comfortably hold her pistol as well as silencer, but for now, all she needed was that scope. She took the lens out, gazed to the weapon in hand, then slid it smoothly on. The added attachment made her weapon a bit heavier, but not so much that she couldn't bear with it.
With that in place, all that mattered were her clothing now. There was no way in hell she was going back to Ivo, and wear his clothing. The thought of it alone was unsettling. She was getting her clothing on, his black and red just clashed with her blue and white.
Her heart race increased. Someone was in the room with her. Lifting her gun up, she showed her stalker she meant business. All she had to do now, was see who her stalker was.
She spun around. Her hand opened wide to palm whoever her attacker was. She struck a spherical object.
"JEEVES!" she barked, before quieting herself down.
"Madame Maria!" he responded, blue eyes shining, "You have returned!"
The blonde agent leaned back on her wardrobe, as the blue eyes she owned closed in relief.
"Dammit Jeeves," she whispered, "You scared me."
"Well, you scared me, Madame Maria! I thought you were a burglar."
"Well, I'm not," she stated, turning back to her wardrobe, "Now, help me out here, will ya? I need to get some clothes and weapons."
"I'm... I'm afraid I can't do that, Madame Maria." he responded, blue optics gazing down, "You are a wanted criminal now, and G.U.N. has ordered me to turn you in immediately."
"You're not planning on doing that, are you Jeeves?"
"I don't want to," he responded, "But I must. G.U.N. has already sent the order."
"Jeeves," she responded urgently, "You have to keep myself a secret! G.U.N. can't know I'm back in the city!"
"Madame Maria, I'm stuck in a corner! I must call G.U.N."
She grabbed him.
"Listen, Jeeves." she stated, "I'm Maria here, remember? Your... owner! G.U.N. issued you to me when I first started living here, right? Would you really turn away six years of service?"
"I have to, Maria!"
"Jeeves, who are you loyal too? G.U.N., or me?"
"Both!"
"Then just remain loyal to me for a while."
There was a sudden click. Jeeves' blue eyes faded off, and his body fell to the ground. Maria sighed out in pleasure, as she was happy to remember his off switch. Eyes returning to her wardrobe, she started to stuff one of her many suitcases with clothing. After that was over, she made sure to stick Jeeves inside as well.
"Maria." a whisper came, "Have you had your fun yet?"
The blonde woman gave an annoyed groan, before lifting the radio from her waist.
"I'm here, Ivo." she responded, "Now hush up!"
"Me? Maria, that home of yours is probably crawling with G.U.N. bugs! They probably already know you're there!"
"I know, I know! Now shut it! I'm dropping my clothing in the alley near my home, send one of your Badniks to pick it up."
"Ugh... I can't believe you talked me into this."
She neared her window.
"Yeah, yeah, just do it!"
"Okay!... Do you remember where the Chaos Emerald is at?"
"The Empire City museum, yeah, I know." she sighed, "I can't believe that rocks a Chaos Emerald. The red one... All the times I've been there, and not once did I feel something off... anyway..."
Peering over her window seal, she dropped her case of clothing off. Soon, she leaped over the edge too, and landed in the alleyway beside her home. Opening her overcoat, she slid her pistol comfortably inside. Blue eyes scanning the nighttime streets, she started off, hood on head.
Her face was blinded from everyone who saw her at the moment, fortunately enough. But she did realize one thing. An overabundance of G.U.N. soldiers. They were everywhere, alongside G.U.N. vehicles, and G.U.N. bots. Civilians were, understandably, frightened, as no information was given as to why G.U.N. was here. Somehow, Maria had to appear just as suspicious as the civilians, while at the same time appearing incognito. Hard yes, impossible, no.
Pushing her overcoats collar farther up on her body, she shaded out her face. For now, this was all she had. Blue boots shuffling, she made her way toward Empire City Museum. The sky suddenly started to expel rain, catching Maria off guard. She remained stoic, however, and continued on her way. Her footsteps splashed against the rain laidened pavement ground, ignoring all she passed. Coming near a group of G.U.N. soldiers, she realized they were checking every civilian they passed. The blonde agent began to fret, as her blue eyes moved along the roads. She needed to figure out a way passed this, or else she'd surely be caught. Finding an unguarded alley way, she sneaked off for it.
The alley was a dead-end, but she wasn't afraid. Looking up, she smiled at the sight of a catwalk, one that lied on the side of the building. After a leap, she climbed up the catwalk, and made her way to the building's rooftop. She didn't walk about the rooftop yet, as she was still unsure of if G.U.N. was watching her or not. To her luck, she found them. Two agents were on the rooftop, armed with sniper rifles. They combed the city streets, being sure to aim their guns on anything that seemed suspicious. Maria had to groan at the sight.
"Snipers," she whispered to herself, "Really? The must want me dead..."
She approached one, while being sure to be silent. Grabbing him around the neck, he slammed his head on the brick side of the roof, knocking him unconscious. The other guard had his back turned, so he didn't notice. Maria acted quickly on him, first by bringing him to his knees via kick to the leg, and then knocking him out via a bash to the head.
With these two soldiers out, she felt comfortable in returning to the streets. That was, until, A G.U.N. sentry beetle flew along the city roads. If she was caught by the robot, she'd be outed, regardless of her disguise. That just added another object to her list of things to avoid. That is, unless she did something about it.
Grabbing one of the sniper's rifles, she aimed it over the roof's edge. The beetle hadn't noticed her, as it moved its way further down the roads. Glaring through the rifle's scope, she aimed at the beetle's scanning module. It lied on the back-end of the robot, blatant for all to see. Just another flaw in the design.
Pulling back on the sniper, she fired. Her silent bullet flew through the air, and struck the beetle square in the scanning module. Sparks flew, and the beetle spun around quickly. As it tried to scan the environment, it realized it couldn't. Things just came back with a fuzzy vision. Before the beetle could move to her position, she leaped over the roof's edge, landing on the other side. Still carrying the rifle in hand, she quickly snapped it into pieces, making it easier to carry. Moving it into her coat, she once again started off for Empire City's museum.
Looking over the corner of the building, she glared at the G.U.N. soldiers she passed. They were still checking other civilians, and were completely ignorant of her. Maria smirked, and turned away to continue her trek.
"Maria, have you arrived yet?" Ivo's voice called, causing her to grow frustrated.
"I'm moving there now!" she responded, angrily, "Now shut your trap! What if someone hears us?"
"Fine then, I'll maintain radio silence until you call back!"
"Good!" she grew silent briefly, "Did the Badnik get my things?"
"Yes, Maria, now stop fretting!"
Pressing the off button on her radio, she returned to her mission. The sidewalks were pretty silent for a while, giving her safe passage through the city. That is, until, she neared the museum. The roads were littered with G.U.N. soldiers and G.U.N. bots, all of which were being very analytical. Maria quickly moved behind a building, as to not bring attention to herself. The last thing she wanted to do, was get caught.
"Dammit..." she whispered to herself, going over the situation in her mind, "It'll take forever to get there."
Blue eyes moving up, she looked to the museum. It was a great building, matching a college campus' main building. The lights that brought attention to the museum were on full display, as if they were trying to lead her to the building. It didn't take long for her to figure it was a trap. That's the only reason why all of this was here. But she didn't care. The Chaos Emeralds, she felt as if it were a connection to those memories that plague her. She'd fight all the guards in the world if it got her what she wanted.
Serious thinking aside, she prepared to make her way to the museum. From what she's noticed from the many times of being here, the museum had many ways inside. Why wouldn't it? It's only a museum, something far removed from the bases she's had to sneak into before. But the place had cameras, a lot of cameras. She'd need to avoid them, at least until she found what she wanted. The only way that she could do that, was sneak through the ceiling.
From where she was standing, she could tell the ceiling was crawling with snipers. Perfect. Just. Perfect. Regardless, she climbed up the building she stood beside. For some odd reason, this one had no guards or soldiers on it. Shaking her mind of the thoughts, she ran over to the edge of the roof. Leaning over, she quickly withdrew the pieces of the rifles. Snapping it together, she turned her eyes toward the museum's roof. Just as she hypothesized, it had snipers all about it. Maria groaned. No where, in her mind, did she want to kill any soldiers. Though she's technically defective from G.U.N., the act of killing a soldier still felt like a betrayal. Besides. What if one of them were Abraham?
She had to shake her mind free of the thought. Abraham wouldn't be here. He's still in training, this mission would be held for only the greatest of soldiers. She needed to remember that.
Flipping the stand up on her rifle, she leaned it over the edge of the roof top. Holding firm the rifle, she gazed down the scope to the museum's roof. Her vision ran along the frames of fellow soldiers, all of which were analyzing things. They really, really, wanted her. If she fired, she knew she'd draw attention to herself. But it would be impossible to sneak into the base with those guards still there. Before she moved, she needed to think. Thinking made her realize. Those lights had got to go.
Her ears twitched. Blue eyes looking a head, she felt this screaming force in the back of her head. She was being watched. Unlike last time, however, the urge was stronger, causing her to move away into a shaded part of the rooftop. Lifting the rifle, she trekked her gaze left and right. Someone was here with her, she knew that. Just where?
"Where are you?" she whispered.
Maria's eyes turned red. As if in slow motion, she saw the water droplets of rain break with the wind. A fist was thrown. Maria grabbed it.
"Iguana agent!" she stated, immediately.
For a fraction of a second, the invisible soldier appeared before her. The next instant, he disappeared. Maria stood up, heart racing, grip on her rifle. She needed to take down the soldier quickly, or else her position would be alerted to the others. She saw his invisible footsteps breaking the water as he ran. Hand moving into her coat, she withdrew her pistol. At great speeds, she aimed it at the agent, and fired.
The bullet struck him in the leg, causing him to fall over. His invisible suit malfunctioned from the hit, as he crashed into the ground. He tried to get to his feet, but Maria had already gotten to him. She wrapped her rifle around his neck, and pulled up, causing him to choke. A cackle of lighting appeared in the air, briefly muffling the Iguana agent's screams. Maria continued to choke her victim, even as he tried to pry the rifle from around his neck. It didn't take long, but his body slumped over. Maria grunted, those red eyes of her still gleaming.
She snapped his neck.
His body fell over silent, as death surely took over. Maria fell back, as her hand lied upon her head. The red eyes she owned turned back to blue, as her breathing started to regulate.
"Dammit!" she stated, looking at the Iguana agent's body, "Not again!"
This was the second time she's killed someone, and it hurt her. Honestly, she felt these violent tendencies every time she performed her meta-human genes. She'd need to regulate that.
She dragged the Iguana agent's body into the shade of the rooftop, before returning to her sniping position. Glaring through the scope, she aimed at the museum's ceiling. She saw all the guards were still moving about, keeping their sights on everything. With the Iguana agent guard, she could scan it closer, however. One side of the rooftop was different from the rest. That side was guarded by only a few guards. Licking her lips, she fired.
But not at the guards. Instead at the lights.
One light was followed by another, which was followed by another. The city streets were plunged into darkness, causing many of the soldiers to run about in fear. Calls, screams, and orders were traded amongst soldiers, giving Maria the perfect chaos to sneak through. She shuffled through soldiers in the night life, hearing their orders of returning life to the lights, before reaching the side of the museum. She leaped up on a metal ladder, and climbed up the side where the roof's defense was the most weakest at. The snipers at top didn't notice her. She noticed them, however, and quickly dealt with them. A punch here, a kick here, that's all that was needed to bring dark silence. The sniper's allies noticed nothing, as they were still running about in confusion. Maria smirked at the sight, before slipping into one of the museum's air ducts.
She banged across the long silver tunnel, before meeting the end. Groaning, she tried her hardest to clear her mind of the dazed pain. Now she was started to regret things. It didn't take her long to continue though. She crawled through the vents, before reaching an opening.
Her eyes peered through, seeing the sights of flashlight armed guards. They moved their cones of light over everything that seemed out of the ordinary, while keeping their guns at the ready. Not wanting to face the soldiers just yet, the blonde agent continued to crawl through the air vents.
It took her an hour or two to find it. The vents were a confusing maze of tunnels and bungalows, which drove Maria insane. But once she arrived, it was worth it.
The chamber that held the Chaos Emerald. There it stood, in a glass case on a pedestal. It was shining, it was red, and it was beautiful. Maria was enamored by the sight. Just glaring at it made her heart flutter lightly. But the time of enjoyment had past.
She trekked her blue orbs up and down the room, before locking her gaze on the case. Opening the vent, she made sure one last time that no guard lied within.
None. A trap. Regardless.
She laid out of the vent. Her feet dangled a bit, before she landed on the cold floor. From her belt, she withdrew a machine shaped like her cousin's head. Tapping a button on it, she caused it to expel gas. Red lasers appeared in the room moments later. Trip lasers.
Maria replaced the device, and started crawling. She moved under one laser, moved over an other, slipped between two, and then between another. A few seconds later, she arrived at the emerald's pedestal. Her tongue slithered out to lick her lips. She grabbed the case.
She lifted it.
She knew this was happen, but she didn't care. The roof started to expel alarms as the lights flashed red. She could hear the shuffle of feet run up to the chamber door. She dropped the glass to the ground, causing it to shatter against the earth. Her hand reached forward, and she grabbed the red Chaos Emerald.
…
Her eyes sprang open.
Alarms, alarms everywhere. She could hear people running outside, yelling orders.
She heard gunshots.
The alarms were screaming in her head. She tried to move, but a heavy body was stopping her. Grabbing a hold of her sheets, she gazed at the dazed face of her hedgehog best friend.
His ears were twitching at the sound of alarms, and it made him groan. He just seemed so unaware of what was happening.
"SHADOW!" she screamed, jutting him up from his sleepiness, "WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
That got his attention.
He tore himself from her chest, and gazed at the room. The lights were flashing red, showing the urgency in the area. It didn't take him long to get ready. Leaping off from her bed, he quickly shuffled on his shoes and gloves, and made his position at Maria's closed-door. With those screaming lights pushing him forward, he opened the door. His head moved out, so he could gaze up and down the hall.
"There he is!" a guard roared, "Get him!"
Shadow gave a grunt. Rolling into a ball, he spun off toward the invading attackers. Maria clenched tightly onto her face, and screamed wildly, as fear began gripping her. She heard Shadow's fight, the bullets, the pain, the destruction. He returned to the door seconds later, his face filled with urgency.
"Get dressed," he said, looking back down the hall, "I think we're under attack."
It didn't take her long to do so. She didn't wash or anything, that would take to long. Instead, the put on her favorite blue blouse and blue band.
"Maria!" he called, his voice pressing.
"Coming!" she answered, putting on the shoes she coveted so much.
His hand reached through the bathroom door seconds later, as his face seemed more urgent than before. Gripping her hand so tenderly, he lead her out of her room quickly.
What was going on? What was happening? Who was attacking? And why, why were they running?
Shadow hadn't loosened his speed in the least bit, as he dragged her down hall after hall. They hadn't run into their attacker's yet, but she knew the time was coming.
"Damn those soldiers," she heard Shadow curse, "I can't believe them!"
"What soldiers!?" she responded, "Shadow, what's going on!?"
He stopped, to lean against the wall. Signaling to her with his hand, she did the same. His head moved to the edge of the wall, so he could see around the next corner. No guards there.
"Shadow!" she yelled.
"G.U.N.!" he stated, shock in his own voice, "G.U.N.'s attacking us!"
She couldn't believe his words. Grabbing her chest, she moved those blue orbs of hers left and right, as she pondered on those words.
"But," she said, "Why would G.U.N. attack us?"
"I don't know," he whispered, "But... they seem to be after me..."
Facing the sliding door before them, the hedgehog opened it up. Hand once again latching onto hers, they ran in. The door slid close.
Silence...
Footsteps...
Her footsteps.
Maria couldn't believe what she saw.
Here, the blonde agent stood, on Space Colony Ark. Once again, she warped back in time, it seems. Blue eyes moving left and right, she wondered why she brought herself here.
And what was going on?
Everything she had on her person when she grabbed the red Chaos Emerald was here. Including the red Chaos Emerald. Will this keep happening, she wondered. Would every time she grabbed one of these rocks, she'd be warped back in time to a moment in her life? She didn't know, and it hurt her inside.
But sitting here and thinking about wouldn't make things move. She needed to move.
She lifted high that pistol of her's, and moved toward the sliding door. Automatically, it opened, revealing to her a sprawling metropolis of machinery and lights. Her past self and Shadow could be anywhere in here. That's bad. Why? She didn't know much about time, but meeting her past self could spell disaster for the future. It's just a thought.
Grabbing the buttons on her jacket, she snapped them open, revealing the body suit that lied beneath. The pieces of the rifle laid attached to her jacket, but she cared not. It wouldn't be necessary right now. All she needed was the pistol in her hand, the Emerald in her other hand, and the belt around her waist.
Moving into the room, she heard the fire of gunshots. Some echoed away, others were dangerously close. Suddenly, a man was thrown before her. He wasn't the fighting kind, one could tell, as his body was clad in scientist robes.
"Please," he pleaded to a person Maria couldn't see, "I've done nothing!"
"Its orders..." a man responded.
Gunshots echoed, and the scientist before Maria was torn through. His blood flew, clothes were tattered, and he died quickly. The sight of the innocent man being killed angered Maria. Turning over the corner, she surprised the soldier who killed the scientist. He had little time to react.
The blonde agent pulled on her gun, sending bullets into the soldier. He was stricken down by the attack quickly, and he died just like that. Maria should have been saddened, but she felt vindicated by her action. Grabbing the dead soldier's assault rifle, she turned to face the exit.
"Shadow!" she heard her younger self cry, "Did you hear that?"
"Shhhh! Maria!" he commanded, "We can't let people know where here!"
"We can't hide, Shadow! We need to help the others!"
"How?"
"Grandpa's heal units! They'll be able to heal all those of their injuries."
"Where can we find some?"
"Grandpa has heal units all around the base! We'll need to find them on our own."
"Maria... we... can't..."
"Shadow! I'm not taking 'no' for an answer! We need to help the others!"
"Fine but... the moment things get to bad, we're heading out, understand?"
She heard her younger self breathe in.
"Thank you Shadow..."
Wait. Who said that? It wasn't young Maria. It was. Future Maria. Agent Maria. She found herself saying words meant for her younger self. Odd.
"Did you hear that?" Shadow questioned.
"I... think I did..." twelve-year-old Maria answered.
"Let's go..." he said, flatly.
Maria heard a sliding door open, then close. She made sure to keep mouth closed that time, as to not bring attention to herself. Seconds later, she slid through the door before her. Her pistol was still at ready, as she searched valiantly for answers. Any answers would do! Why was G.U.N. attacking?
The only place she felt she had for answers, was her younger self. So she would follow her younger self. Just like last time. That's where the answers were.
This place was a maze however. She should have stalked herself and Shadow a bit closer, because now she was lost. One hall led her down another, which lead her to a room, which would lead her to a battle, which would lead her to a hall, which would cause the cycle to repeat. Seconds turned to minutes, minutes to hours, and after a while, she got annoyed.
The blonde agent stopped at a door, the commotion of a battle yelling on the other end. Knowing that she'd have to fight some G.U.N. soldiers, she opened the door slowly. Just as she believed, a battle was being waged. But not as she suspected.
The room was so very cold, it made Maria's skin tingle. Glaring forward to see what was going on, she saw a great vehicle. It was disc shaped, and had heavy thrusters on the bottom side, keeping it afloat. Cannons were equipped all around the massive vehicle, housing homing rockets within them. Maria knew this vehicle. She had always held a certain fear of it. And now she knew why.
The Heavy Dog.
"Pilot to base," the Heavy Dog's pilot called, "I have found the hedgehog! He is currently fleeing with a civilian!"
The black and red hedgehog stood before the giant machine, as his fists tightened with rage. Maria, twelve-year-old Maria, hid behind him, as she quaked with fear.
"You have your orders pilot," a reply was given, "Take them out!"
"Yes sir!"
The Gatling gun below the cockpit started spinning. Then it fired.
Shadow quickly dashed back, his arms scooping Maria up in a bridal manner. The bullets tore through the metal floor, but it missed Shadow thanks to his insane speed. The hedgehog instead leaped on a levitated platform, while his gripping increased on Maria's body. The Heavy Dog returned its sights on him, but this time instead of firing bullets, it opened a slot on its back side. Large brown spherical objects were expelled, and they all made this clicking noise. It didn't take Shadow long to figure out what they were.
"Bombs..." her whispered.
Maria's screams got his attention again. The Heavy Dog's cannons had started firing. Rockets moved about the room, and aimed on his position. Increasing his grip on Maria again, he leaped out-of-the-way to dodge the rockets. The sound of explosions irked him forward, and he started skating around the room at great speeds. The Heavy Dog shifted its deadly gaze toward him, as the Gatling gun started to turn once again. Bullets started to riddle the room, but Shadow wouldn't be deterred. He leaped all about the room, dodging rockets, bombs, and bullets, all while carrying a screaming Maria in his arms. After a minute or two of hopeless dodging, he figured it was time to go on the offensive. Landing a good ways away, he shifted his ruby gaze toward the Heavy Dog. His air shoes bursted alive with flames, propelling him forward. As the Heavy Dog spun around to meet him, the cockpit met his feet. He crashed down on the glass entryway with so much force, he caused a sizable crack to appear. The Heavy Dog's pilot was thrown back by the attack, where his head slammed against the back of the pit. Once his dizziness subsided, he looked forth. The cockpit met rockets.
Shadow had, apparently, moved some of the homing rockets back into the Heavy Dog's head, causing a great explosion. The Heavy Dog saved about wildly, crashing into walls and platforms alike. Finally, it crashed into the ground, uprooting much of the steel and wires that lied beneath. Shadow landed, his hands still on Maria, but with a heavy need for breath.
Agent Maria was surprised by what she saw. She had never seen a mobian take down a machine like that before, if it's ever happened before. She felt her heart quake, as a smile came to her lips.
"Shadow!" twelve-year-old Maria said, "Are you okay?"
He dropped her to her feet, so he could lean up against a wall. He was so tired, he could feel his heart pump with action. Maria dragged her fingers against his muzzle, causing him to make a pleased expression.
"My hero..." she said, bringing a smile to his lips.
His smile met hers. She kissed him, on his lips, causing a lively vigor to reinvigorate him. He straightened himself out, grabbed Maria's hand, then started walking off. Agent Maria hid herself against the shadows, so they could see her. She felt so good.
And as the door opened for their escape, another door opened on the Heavy Dog. The glass case slid open, and a bloody arm holding a gun stretched forward. Shadow and Maria turned around. The pilot aimed his pistol toward the blonde girl. As his finger squeezed the trigger, the black hedgehog moved in front of it.
Bang...