CHAPTER NINE: HIT THE GROUND RUNNING!

Alarms were blaring louder and louder, as Eggman looked on at the computer monitor. "Darn it, looks like I have to abandon this ship!" Suddenly, the doors blasted open. Dr. Eggman turned around to see Bass walking in with the six Chaos Emeralds revolving around him. The doctor's body somewhat relaxed. "Good, Bass! Now that I have the Chaos Emeralds, we can leave!" Bass looked down. Sonic's words were still ringing in his mind. "Actually, you can leave by yourself. This "partnership" thing is over." Eggman raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What? What are you talking about, Bass?!" The robot stepped forward as he spoke. "You lied to me. You said the Nocturnus Clan was gone from this world." The obese doctor sat down in his chair. "Oh that. I haven't lied to you at all. I merely said they were gone from this world. I never said anything about them being dead. That was YOUR assumption." Bass glared at the doctor. "Regardless, I've been wasting my time with you. I'll crush Sonic and Knuckles, and I will find the Nocturnus." He throw the emeralds down to Eggman's feet. "You can keep your precious Chaos Emeralds. I don't need them. You're lucky, Dr. Robotnik. The next time we meet, I won't hesitate to destroy you." Bass vanished from the room.

After Bass left, a red orb shaped robot rolled across the room. The robot opened itself up. It had glowing blue eyes and mouth. It had a round head connected to the lower half of its sphere by a small body. The robot also had red gloves on its hands. "Well, that Bass is quite a terrifying fellow, isn't he?" Another small robot rolled (with great difficulty) over to the orb shaped robot. This robot was a yellow cube shaped robot, having similar features as the first machine. "Arrr! He be a scary lad!" Dr. Eggman sat up from his chair and began walking. "Cubot, Orbot. Prepare the teleporter. We're leaving this place at once!"

With Angel Island now buried in the ocean and the Egg fleet virtually gone, the heroes had no choice but to travel to the Central City. Central City is the capital city of the United Federation, and the Federation was in possession of the last Chaos Emerald. "We better meet up with the President if we want that Chaos Emerald" Tails suggested. "Hmm, how do we go about doing that? We just walk into his heavily guarded house?" Knuckles was skeptical about going to the capital city. "I just hope we don't run into that bat girl…."

The Tornado was coming in for a landing in Central City. As they landed in the city, they began to think of a plan to get the emerald. "Hey boys, did you come to visit little old me?" Knuckles' face fell in despair because he knew who that voice belonged to. "Great, the thieving bat found us….." The heroes looked and saw Rouge the Bat standing before them. Rouge is both a part-time top government agent and jewel thief. She has white fur and teal eyes. Her muzzle and torso were somewhat tan. Her dark wings were purple in color. Her short white hair flares out at the back. She was wearing blue eye shadow and red lipstick. Rouge's attire consisted of dark skintight pants, a pink, heart-shaped chest plate-like top, and tall white gloves and boots with pink cuffs. The boots are high heeled and feature hearts on the toes. "Is that anyway to greet those you haven't seen in a while, Knuckie?" Rouge gave Knuckles a quick kiss on the cheek. Leaving Knuckles dumbfounded, Rouge flew over to greet Sonic and Tails.

"Hey Big Blue, how are you?"

"Pretty good, Rouge"

"Well, Sonic are you still single?"

"STAY AWAY FROM MY SONIC, ROUGE!"

"WHOA, calm down Amy!"

"Oh how I do enjoy teasing her"

After settling Amy down, Tails informed Rouge of the situation. "So good old Eggman's back, huh? I guess our intel was correct after all. Okay then, come on. I'll take you to the G.U.N. Commander." Guardian Units of Nations is the worldwide military/emergency law enforcement organization of the United Federation. Its purpose is to protect the world from various threats. At the G.U.N. headquarters, Rouge lead the heroes to the Commander's office.

"So, Dr. Robotnik's forces have been spotted around the world. I see. We'll have to secure the Chaos Emerald in the Radical Highway Zone." G.U.N. Commander Abraham Tower is an aging human male with a lined face and grey hair. He suffers from heterochromia as he has one green eye and one brown eye. He has stern features and wears a grey uniform adorned with a sash and ribbons of yellow, red and blue. "Commander, we have guests" Tower gave word to let them in. "Agent Rouge, you've brought me Sonic the Hedgehog. Good, I'm glad you did. I'm sure you are aware of Doctor Eggman's recent attacks." Sonic stepped forward. "Sorry if I'm rude, but we need your Chaos Emerald. Eggman has got his hands on 6 of them already, so I think that it would be smart to give-" The Commander cut Sonic off. "Don't worry, I know. The Chaos Emerald is located in Radical Highway Zone outside the city. It is currently being defended by my other two top agents." Sonic smirked. "Okay, guys let's go to Radical Highway!" As the heroes out of the office, Tails talked to Sonic. "I'm surprised the G.U.N. Commander even let us have the Chaos Emerald." Rouge joined in the conversation. "He normally wouldn't have done so. Buuut, since you all have contributed SO much during Operation: Final Takedown, the Commander made an exception." Sonic shrugged. "Either way, it's good for us."

Radical Highway was the name of the bridge that connects Central City to the city of Station Square. "Well boys and girl, we're here." Rouge pointed to the top of the radiant bridge. "The Chaos Emerald should be at the top of the bridge. How about you go to the top to get it?" Sonic gazed at the arch of the bridge. "My pleasure, this is going to be easy!"

"Don't bet on it, Blue Hedgehog"

Tails looked up and saw two menacing figures standing on the top of Radical Highway. In an instant, the figures disappeared and reappeared directly in front of the group. The first figure was a black hedgehog with red stripes on his quills. He had red eyes and white gloves with gold rings on his wrists and ankles. This hedgehog also had black and white rocket soled shoes.

The second figure was a huge robot with a stocky upper body and arms. It had red eyes and claws for both hands. Its height is also great and its shoulders larger with a visible Greek symbol on the front of the left and back of the right with red handlebars on the top. There was one circling pipe around the waist with two flaps attached and a jet installed in its back. A piece of metal noticeably stuck out, and it also has one extra finger, two hands with yellow wrists studded with large spikes like a dog collar and just below his stripe is a silver plate. Rouge approached them and turned to face the heroes. "Well boys, I'm sure you recognize these two. Shadow the Hedgehog and E-123 Omega"

Shadow the Hedgehog is the end result of Project: Shadow, an effort to create the Ultimate Lifeform. Created by Eggman's grandfather, Professor Gerald, in his efforts to find a cure to a rare disease known as NIDS that was affecting his granddaughter Maria Robotnik, Shadow is gifted with the powers of the alien Black Doom through that entity's blood.

E-123 "Omega" is a battle robot created by Dr. Eggman and is the only known remaining unit of his E-100 Series line. After being kept in storage for over a year, he was released by Rouge and declared war on Dr. Eggman. Shadow, Rouge, and Omega form the top G.U.N. agent group known as Team Dark. "INITATE BATTLE MODE!" Omega opened fire on the heroes, unleashing a barrage of missiles, laser, and gun shots. "I got this!" Knuckles unearthed a piece of the highway and threw it at the incoming attack. Knuckles' efforts neutralized Omega's assault, but Omega wasn't finished. "HUMANOID ECHIDNA DEFENDED MY ATTACK. MUST COMENSE COUNTERATTACK" Omega transformed both of his arms into flamethrowers. "That's enough…Omega" Shadow stepped in front Omega. Sonic stepped forward as well.

"Well well, I knew sooner or later I'd meet up with you again, faker!"

"FAKER? Heh, let's not bring up that argument again"

"I came here for that Chaos Emerald."

"Well blue hedgehog, just because you want this emerald doesn't mean you get to have it. Frankly, you don't deserve this emerald."

"HUH? Why is that?"

"Because you are always full of yourself, and you'll end up letting the Doctor steal the emerald. The emerald would be better left under my care."

"Oh really? Why don't you prove it?"

"Fine Sonic, In order to prove your worth, I will race you for the emerald!"

"A race? Hehe, I'd never thought you'd be the one to suggest one. I accept!"

Tails voiced his concerns. "Are you guys sure about this? Isn't there any other way?" Shadow responded with "No". Tails sighed, accepting the battle that will take place. The last Chaos Emerald was hanging in the balance. If Sonic lost this race, Shadow the Hedgehog will keep the powerful jewel. The hedgehogs prepared themselves. Sonic was still confident that he would win.

"Shadow, give up, I'm the fastest thing alive!"

"You are foolish. Speed is not everything. Your overconfidence will be your undoing, Sonic the Hedgehog!"

"Bring it on Shadow, I'll leave you in the dust!"

"Hmph! Very well, I guess I have no choice but to unleash the power of the ultimate lifeform!"

The green Chaos Emerald disappeared from Shadow's hand and reappear at the very end of the bridge aka the entrance to Station Square. "First one to grab the emerald wins. Anything goes." Sonic sported a smug grin. "Fine by me!"

Sonic and Shadow's race had begun. Sonic, moving at the speed of sound, and Shadow, manipulating space and time, created a momentary distortion of reality that pushed all non-participants back. "Chaos Spear!" Shadow leaped into the air, waving his hands. Bolts of lightning were unleashed from his hands, in the shape of spears. Sonic, who is now running backwards, set his hands to form a fist. "Sonic Wind!" Sonic summoned several blades of wind and launched them at Shadow. The spears collided with the wind attack, turning into an electrical whirlwind.

Sonic used this as an opportunity to activate his Sonic Boost to gain the lead. "Hmph, you underestimate your opponents too much Sonic, Chaos Boost!" A red aura surrounded Shadow as he used his rocket soled air shoes to catch up with Sonic. The hedgehogs zoomed down the highway, going full speed. Neither of them was gaining the lead.

Meanwhile in Station Square, a white flash of light brighten an alleyway. The light dissipated, unveiling a hedgehog. The mysterious hedgehog was very light gray (almost white) with white fur on his chest surrounding his neck with yellow eyes and tan skin. He wears white gloves with cyan circles with lines sticking out of the bottom leading to his golden bracelets accented in cyan. The tops of his boots are of a similar fashion with a red gem set in gold. The rest of his boots are navy blue, white and cyan. He has two large spines at the back of his head, while at the front of his forehead there are five distinct spines flared up and back, the two final ones covering up most of his ears. He was emitting a cyan glow, resulting from telekinesis. "Looks like, I've arrived on the right date" The hedgehog looked around, assessing the current state of the buildings. "If I make it in time, I might be able to make a difference."

Back in Radical Highway Zone, Sonic and Shadow continued their race. The green Chaos Emerald was in view now. "Shadow can use his Chaos powers to get the advantage. I can't afford to lose this fight" Sonic noticed Shadow has not released his Inhibitor Rings. "He still has a reservoir of power at his disposal. Looks like I have to really cut loose!"

"SONIC BOOM!"

Sonic drew up some wind around him and used it to launch himself forward with a burst of speed so great that it broke the sound barrier. "See ya, Faker!" Sonic went full force, going as fast as he could. The black hedgehog smiled. "Heh, you never cease to surprise me blue hedgehog…..CHAOS CONTROL!" Sonic was inches away from the emerald; it was in arm's length. As Sonic reached for the powerful jewel, the emerald suddenly disappeared. "WHAT?!" Sonic was unable to control his speed, causing him to trip and fall.

When Sonic looked up, he saw Shadow, emerald in hand. Shadow begins to criticize Sonic. "Sonic, you are the hero of Mobius. You have the potential overwhelm any opponent; however, you are so over confident in your ability that you put yourself and your friends in danger. I know you can defeat the Doctor and save the world, you proved that to me many times before. Just don't make any critical mistakes just for your "entertainment". Shadow's words left Sonic speechless. "Shadow, I-" Shadow threw the emerald to Sonic. "Save the world from the Doctor, Sonic the Hedgehog!" Sonic smiled and stood up. "Heh, thanks Shadow." As they returned back to the others, Shadow stopped Sonic. "Sonic, our intel says that there has been increased robot activity around the ruins of Metropolis City. It looks like that's where the doctor's base is."Sonic thanked Shadow before leaving. Sonic took off back to Central City with Tails, Amy, and Knuckles in pursuit.

As Shadow watched them leave, Rouge and Omega walk up to him. "My, my. It amazes me how far your and Sonic's friendship has grown." Shadow looked at Rouge. "Hmph! Hardly, I just needed to see if he was up to the challenge of fighting the Eggman Empire." Rouge smirked. "Right, right. It would be far too scandalous for you two to be anywhere close to being friends." The black hedgehog turned away. "HMPH! If anything, he MAY have my respect, that's all" Shadow closed his eyes.

Suddenly, an explosion erupted in Station Square. Shadow looked behind him in shock. "What was that!?"