Tails ran over the mines, getting blown off the track. He activated the grappling hook and was able to hold on. Shadow slammed on the brakes and jumped out.
"What are you doing?" Rouge angrily asked. She flew her car in front of Shadow. He looked sternly at Rouge.
"I'm helping Sonic's best friend. And there's nothing you can do to stop me!" he yelled. Axel landed and climbed out. He pulled a gun.
"You must be destroyed" he said. Shadow looked shocked. He slowly backed towards Tails. Tails was knocked out cold.
"Tails! Tails!" Sonic was yelling over the radio.
"Is he okay?" Jeremy asked.
"The Caterham isn't answering. Something must be wrong" he replied. Sonic and his cohorts drove off. Shadow was walking on a nearby ledge. He kicked the gun out of Axels' hand. Axel threw a punch, which Shadow clumsily dodged. Tails was waking up.
"Axel, man. It doesn't have to be this way" Shadow said as he was pushed to the ledge. Tails was awoken by this commotion. He saw Axel rip up a chunk of ice and was about to throw it at Shadow.
"Whoa!" Tails exclaimed. He revved the engine. Tails was trying to save Shadow.
"Don't do this, Axel" Shadow said.
"You refuse to follow orders. You must be destroyed" Axel said robotically. Tails was frantically trying to turn the engine over.
"Come on. You don't have to do this!" Shadow shouted. Tails got the engine started.
"Success" he muttered to himself. He pressed the gas pedal, trying desperately to swing the car up. Shadow looked over as Tails swung it around, knocking Axel off the ledge. He fell down into the icy water below and didn't surface.
"Why did you help me?" Shadow asked.
"Not important. All that matters is your alive" he said. Tails spun around and raced off. Shadow ran out and hopped into the NSX. He revved the engine back up and chased after Tails. Rouge was furious.
"Why aren't you destroying him?" she angrily asked. Shadow sighed.
"He saved me. From you" he replied. Sonic and the rest came racing up the hill.
"Hey, there they are" Amy said over the radio.
"Let's get them!" Sonic exclaimed. Shadow noticed them in the rearview. He cracked a smile. Rouge went back to the ground and tried to stop Shadow, but it was too late and he raced off. Rouge quickly followed.
"Hey! Let's get them!" Sonic shouted over the radio.
"Yo, Buck. You don't seem to talk that much. Say something" Knuckles said. Jeremy perked up at this. He had been hanging in the back of the group with Antonio the whole race. He laughed over the radio.
"Just to prove I'm still alive, I'm going to win the race" he retorted to Knuckles. He quickly punched it and sped through the group, and up to Rouge. He was able to get past her despite her best attempts to block and hot ahead of Shadow and Tails.
"I guess we can all learn something from Buck" Cream said over the radio. Knuckles quickly privatized the radio line between him and Sonic.
"He drives like Jeremy" he said.
"So?" Sonic asked.
"Where do you think he learned it?" he asked.
"I think that's some food for thought" Sonic answered.