Chapter 10: Crime and Punishment
In the Egg Fortress, security room.
D.R. is looking at the helicopter on camera.
"Impressive, Shadow, but the closer you get to your objective the more dangerous it's going to get!" he says and then turned his attention to the left. The view shows a very well polished magnum on a nearby control panel. "If I have to get involved I won't hold back!"
With Shadow, in the fortress.
BOOM! He lands-well, smashes, the helicopter to a stop in the fortress's hangar.
"Argh! I gotta learn how to use this crap!" mutters the black hedgehog as he struggles to get up from the wreckage but a piece sticking out trips him over. "Oof-Damn it!" He is just about to kick whatever it is until it catches his eye. "A SHOTGUN! Now my luck is changing!" Whoosh! After that, the helicopter bursts into flames. "Or not..." He quickly takes the weapon and some shells and leaps right out of the cockpit and BOOM! ducks just in time to avoid the shock wave of the exploding helicopter. As if he set off a silent alarm, robot raptors storm in in an orderly fashion and surround Shadow. They slowly circle him while looking at him. Shadow just aims his shotgun while trying not to get close to them. Suddenly CLANK! A larger version of the raptors land inside of the circle and slowly approaches Shadow, the other raptors get behind the bigger one as the big one stomps right in front of Shadow and looks down on him. Shadow, although he is scared on the inside, glares back at it. After a moment of staring, robotic noises are heard then the big one faces the little ones and nod; they nod back.
"Intruder confirmed, termination in progress!" announces the big raptor, its voice sounding like a deep metallic demon. The little raptors screech and a yellow energy barrier forms around all of them; they run really fast then their legs form into wheels, now they're surrounding Shadow and the large raptor cutting off any escape.
"So, you want me to stand around and let you destroy me, eh?" asks Shadow as he raise the shotgun to eye level. "That's not happening buddy."
"Weapon detected!" shouts the robot as it swiftly smacks Shadow down with its tail.
"Oof!" The robot then makes an attempt to stomp on Shadow but he rolls out of the way just in time. He lifts up the shotgun to eye level quickly. BOOM! He fires right into the robot's chest causing massive amounts of electricity to engulf it. Shadow uses the time to get on one knee and aim. The electricity wears off BOOM! and the robot quickly blocks with its heavily armored tail. The tail then sweeps horizontally at Shadow and knocks him almost into the smaller raptors. "Whew!" The large one then walks over to the hedgehog and makes another attempt to step on him but Shadow notices a small crystal under its foot as he evades. The shock wave, however, causes Shadow to roll over again. Shadow stands up quickly but trips over and lands right into the other raptors. BZZZZZZZZZT! "AAAAAHH!" The barriers are electrical! Every inch of Shadow's body stung him to near paralysis. Shadow fights through the pain and stand up again. The large robot then walks over to him but BOOM! Shadow lands another shot through the robot's chest causing more electricity to surround him. "I should shoot him again... no, I'll get a surefire result when I wait for him to stop shorting out." The electricity wears off but the robot just stands immobilized. "YES!" The raptor circle began to close in on them quickly so Shadow had no choice but to take refuge under the large one. The circling raptors then spread out again while continuing their movement. "Can't rest yet, gotta figure out how am I gonna get past those bolt heads." Suddenly Shadow heard an opening noise and looks up. "Oh crap!" The under side of the giant raptor opens on him. BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM ! Multitudes of mini-bombs drop on him causing him to fly right from under the robot and into its view.
"Repairs partially complete! Resuming battle mode!" Shadow laid helplessly in pain on the floor. He had been blown up at close range so the blasts were extremely effective. He tries to get up but is too weak to continue, all he manages to do is lay on his back. His vision is blurry and his body felt as if it was going to fall apart any second. He notices something large approaching him through all of the blur.
"That must be it!" He grabs and aims the shotgun. BOOM! Then blue strings of energy is seen which Shadow interpreted as being the electricity. "Got him... ugh..." Shadow is overwhelmed with exhaustion and pain then passes out.
Meanwhile, with Flare and N.
Both are still sleeping.
(Flare's dream)
Shows Station Square then zooms into a playground.
A younger looking Flare is on a bench watching little kids playing, now it focuses on a black cat about the same age wearing a red jersey with sporty looking black shorts, playing with a dark gray cat about 10 years old wearing the same thing. Flare sighs happily as she watches the older one. Suddenly an enormous crowd of people run away screaming as robots filled the area while shooting at everyone. The black cat is one of those who is shot. Flare tries to run and help him but the crowd is too strong and she can't make her way through, then robots surround the cat blocking the view. Flare just reaches out but still can't get through. A tear drops down her cheek as she is trampled by the crowd.
(Dream end)
Flare jumps up and break into a sweat.
"Robotnik! YOU'LL PAY!" growls Flare. Whoosh! A ball of fire erupts around her body and flickers wildly. That woke N up.
"Whoa whoa whoa, turn the heat down, I'm not fireproof ya know!" shouts N.
"Sorry N, it's just that Eggman - the dream - pissed me OFF!" With that, the fireball flares up again, almost roasting N. Realizing this, Flare immediately calms down dispelling the flame.
"Wait, where's Shadow? I have a bad feeling that something happen to him." Flare glances at the time.
"7:30 AM, Shadow is not back, I'll try to find him."
"Wait, it's working time and daylight, we'll get caught for sure!"
"...so what are you gonna do?" Flare closed her eyes and thought for a moment then opens them with a determined look on her face.
"I'm gonna fight!" Flare runs off.
"But-" The door slams shut. "...I'm going with you!" N chases after her.
Meanwhile, on the Egg Fortress rooftop.
"Argh...uhn...uh...huh..." Shadow moans as he regain his consciousness. To his amazement he is on the ground, facing the dull gray sky. "How? How...did I get...outside?"
"MUHAHAHA!" laughs Eggman, Sonic Shuffle style. "Wakey, wakey, Shadow!" Shadow sits up quickly, on guard. His arms and legs are chained to two poles on either side of him. He looks forward to see T in the same situation but on his knees while looking down on the floor his face bruised, bloody and the floor around him littered with blood. Eggman is standing next to him while holding a sword. Looking around, it became clear where he is; the roof of the Egg Fortress.
"What have you done to him?"
"Me? He did this to himself! He broke the law; laws are meant to be followed. I created them so that they WOULD be followed. When one goes against the law it would only be fitting that the law be enforced, wouldn't you agree, Shadow?"
"No, frankly I don't care about you or your laws. I came to rescue T and put an end to you."
"Hmph! Why can't you people accept the fact that I'm gonna be the world ruler?" asks Eggman as he carelessly swings the sword nearly cutting T.
"You have the country, isn't that enough?"
"No, as a matter of fact, it isn't! I want complete power where everywhere I go, I want absolute control over the entire PLANET!" Shadow glares silently at him. "Don't look so glum, Shadow! Today is your lucky day, you have a chance to go away alive while your useless friend here gets to be a star in in his final moments just like many who came before him!" Suddenly overcome with fear, Shadow's heart skips a beat.
"What do you mean!?" Shadow hoping it wasn't what he was thinking. Eggman lets out a chuckle.
"You get to watch your friend die!" Shadow nearly gasps at the news.
"NO!" Eggman beckons D.R. who walks over to T with Silver right behind him. Silver is holding a shotgun similar to the one Shadow was using. D.R. sets up a camera.
"Relax, all things considered, you should be right there alongside him. Instead, thanks to careful consideration, you get front row seats and a slap on the wrist." Eggman grins with malicious intent.
"You're on, sir." says D.R., looking through the camera.
Meanwhile, with Flare and N who are running through the streets while taking down oncoming robots.
Bang! Bang! Boom! N fires 2 shots into the robot raptors head explode it.
"Another one for the scrap yard!" she says.
A large ad screen activates and Eggman's theme booms from it. Even the robots are paying full attention.
"Look!" shouts Flare pointing to the screen. The exact area where Shadow and T are being held is shown on screen.
"No!" cries N and Flare simultaneously.
"MUHAHAHA!" laughs Eggman once again in Sonic Shuffle style. "Greetings citizens of Robotnik Land! It is very rare that I speak to all of you incredibly happy people like this since you all live such happy lives but today a homegrown terrorist decided to attack our beloved Egg Fortress!" The camera closes up on T. "Ahem! It seems our very helpful peacekeeper, Silver, had to be a little rough with him but it was necessary in order to retain peace! Now what do we do to people that try to disturb the peace?"
"We get rid of them!" D.R. is heard saying in the background.
"We vaporize them!" exclaims Silver excitedly.
"Exactly!" shouts Eggman as Silver punches T in the face. "You heard them yourself; death is the price you pay for your insurgency!" All the robots in the area cheer and pump their fists in the air.
"YOU MONSTER!" shouts Shadow as he struggles to break free of his shackles.
"Shadow..." Shadow heard T whisper very weakly. "Don't worry about me... I knew what I signed up for and what the risks were... Beat Eggman...give everyone a chance..." He coughs. "A chance...to be...happy..." Those final words echo in Shadow's mind briefly putting Shadow in a state of shock.
"A chance to be happy? I've heard that before but where and from who?"
"Silver, do us the honors!" shouts Eggman as he hands Silver the sword. "Killing without a machine just isn't my style." Without any hesitation Silver stabs T right through the stomach with the sword he was holding.
"AAAHHH!" T lets out an ear-shattering agonizing scream as Silver drives the sword until the tip pokes out of T's back. Shadow fearfully and helplessly watches while trying desperately to break free. Silver suddenly twists the sword before releasing the handle, leaving the sword inside of T. Blood gushes out and sprays everywhere. "DAMN YOU!" D.R. and Silver laugh at his pain.
"Stop it!" demands Shadow.
With Flare & N...
"NO!" shouts N in horror. "This isn't happening! It can't be happening! It just can't!" She starts breaking down crying. Flare comforts her.
"Damn it, Silver captured him instead of killing him... We can't do anything to help him!" said Flare. "Oh God...Let this end soon"
"There is no God! If there was then none of this would be happening!"
"N..." Flare couldn't think of anything else to do or say. She just bravely watches the screen.
With Shadow.
"Make him suffer more!" shouts Eggman. Silver creates a mini tornado which eventually enlarges to T's size, D.R. blast loads of tiny icicles which circulate through the tornado. Silver controls the tornado to go over T and all that is heard is sick slashing noises and T screaming in pain. After moments of helplessly watching Shadow final speaks.
"CUT IT OUT!" He shouts so loud that the ground vibrates.
"Makes us." Silver retorts. He and D.R. thrust their arms out and the tornado explodes shooting white specs of energy everywhere. When it cleared, T is sliced everywhere and panting hard; blood oozing from every cut. Shadow glares at everyone's pleased faces. A powerful urge to shout 'stop' rising in him but decides that no one will listen.
"Heartless bastards!"
"Shadow..." T whispers again but far more weakly this time. "This is where we say...good bye! Tell...the other...that's I'm sorry."
"Tommy..."
"Let's wrap it up, finish him off boys!" commands Eggman.
"I know you have it in you to break those chains...use it! Use your power!" T says then coughs up some blood.
"My power?" Shadow asks, confused..
"Silver, do the honors." says Eggman. Silver picks up the shotgun and aims directly at the center of T's forehead.
"It's an honor alright." replies Silver with a grin.
"Does the terrorist have anything else to say?"
"Eggman..." T says softly then takes a deep breath. "With my last breath I WILL CURSE YOU! You will be finished!" Next he points to Shadow. "Shadow...and the others...they WILL DEFEAT YOU! YOUR! DAYS! ARE! NUMBERED!" With that T's body goes limp and lifeless.
"They always choose the dramatic way out! Ok, Silver, we wasted enough time now finish him!"
"Good...bye..." Shadow cried unwillingly. He closes his eyes. Click!
"Aww. No ammo?" Silver says with a whine. "I wanted it to be ironic that he was killed with Shadow's weapon. Oh well, I have another idea." Silver cups his hands and a white energy ball forms between. "HEDGEHOG BEAM FULL POWER!" Shadow only hears a loud roar followed by a quake. When Shadow opens his eyes all that was left of T is large crater spot with his imprint, and Silver having a few sparks of energy surrounding his hand. "Treason is an the unforgivable crime! It should be a sin if you ask me." Shadow's heart is now filled with fury and anger, he desired it more than anything at this moment. Now the only thing on his mind is to stop Eggman.
"And cut! Got some prime footage. " D.R. says gleefully as he packs up the camera equipment and leaves.
"Eggman!" Shadow growls while giving the evil doctor a death glare. "I'LL MAKE YOU PAY!" With an intense roar a red aura instantly forms around him. He shatters his shackles like glass and balls his fist.
"Whoa. An aura?" gasps Silver.
"A red aura, very interesting! I guess keeping you around was a good decision after-all!" says Eggman with a smile. Shadow points to Eggman.
"Eggman it's all over for you! First, I want to KILL Silver, then you'll be joining him!" growls Shadow fiercely while starting down Silver.
"Kill me?" Silver asks surprised. "I'd like to see you try!" Shadow and Silver rush towards each other.