Chapter 9: Shut up, Faker!

In the long hallway of the colony, Knuckles puts down the Master Emerald and looked around himself. He somehow feels the energy of the emeralds nearby, but they are all the way at the cannon. What energy is Knuckles feeling? Just then, the bright light appeared in front of him. A blue figure fell from the light and landed on his stomach. Knuckles found Sonic on the floor as the light dies. Sonic's alive! But Knuckles actually didn't know what happened minutes ago.

"Sonic? Are you all right?" Knuckles asked the blue blur who got on his feet, feeling so dizzy. "What happened to you?"

"Oh, man... I just used Chaos Control with that fake emerald." Sonic replied, placing his hand over his forehead.

"Chaos Control?" Knuckles asked, Sonic leaned against his shoulder, Knuckles keeps him steady. "Easy there. You can't pass out at this time." He told him. The blue hedgehog shook his head and look at the fake emerald.

"Knuckles...we don't have much time left..." Sonic told his friend. "I hate to ask, but...can you help Tails and Amy? I have to place this fake emerald on the Eclipse Cannon." He started to run off, leaving Knuckles behind.

With Rouge who is now downloading the files of "Project: Shadow" and the mysterious prototype of the ultimate life form.

"This is quite a research. And all of the emeralds will be mine soon. All mine." Rouge said with a smirk.

"I don't think so." A dark, voice said from behind the bat. Rouge turned around and gasped. Shadow is there with a glare. "So, that was your plan from the beginning, huh? Or was it the direct order from the president? Now, I know who you are. You're the government spy, Rouge the Bat, aren't you?"

"Have you been spying on me?" Rouge asked with a smirk. "Aren't you the naughty little boy?"

"I had a feeling that you are up to something. You're pretending to work with us." Shadow told the bat. "You're the most pathetic creature I have ever met in my life."

"Hmm, look who's talking. What about you?" Rouge asked while taking out the paper with a picture of the monster in black and white. "According to this, it said this is sealed away 50 years ago. The prototype of the ultimate life form, named Shadow. Then, exactly who and what is standing in front me?" Shadow wanted to snap at her, but then his wrist communicater is on. Eggman's voice is heard.

"Good news, Shadow! We have the last of the Chaos Emeralds." He said in delight.

"And?" Shadow asked.

"It seems like one of our enemies is heading to the Eclipse Cannon. We have no time to waste. Go there immediately!" Shadow had his hand down and turn away from Rouge.

"If you want to live, leave the Chaos Emeralds where they are. The fake emerald is good enough for you." Shadow said to her.

"Do you really think that...you're the REAL Shadow?" Rouge asked.

"No doubt." Shadow replied.

"Even your memories might not be real, you know." Rouge said. Shadow sighed a little, never turn to Rouge.

"Even if my memories are not real, it's still me, Shadow." The black hedgehog told her. "And I will fulfill my promise to Maria, that's all it matters to me now." He walked away. Rouge stood there watching him in silent. She doesn't know what to believe, the results of the project, or the hedgehog.

Knuckles unlocked the door for Tails and Amy to get out. The echidna told them that Sonic is heading to the Eclipse Cannon.

"SONIC'S ALIVE?!" Tails and Amy cried out in surprise.

"Of course he's alive! I saw him not too long ago in the corridor-" Knuckles started.

"And he's heading over to the cannon! How much time do we have left?" Amy asked.

"We have like...5 minutes!" Tails cried out. Now the three went back to the escape pod room to see the view of Earth. "We believe in you Sonic."

Outside Space Colony ARK, Sonic found the very long hallway that leads to the cannon. He took a deep breath and about to make a dash, but then heard a familiar voice behind him. Sonic turned and saw Shadow there beside him.

"You never cease to surprise me, blue hedgehog. I thought that the capsule you were in exploded in space." He said. Now the two hedgehogs walked down the corridor. Sonic smiled and took out the fake Chaos Emerald.

"You know, what can I say...I die hard!" He exclaimed. "You actually saved me, you know."

"Hmph. You used Chaos Control with that fake emerald." Shadow said with a sneer. Sonic smirked at him. "So, there's more to you than just looking like me. What are you anyway?" Sonic started to run and Shadow started to skate. They are both in speed. Sonic replied to his enemy.

"What you see is what you get! Just a guy who loves adventure and speed!" He said. "I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!"

"I see. But you know. I can't let you live." Shadow responded. "Your adventuring days are coming to an end." Now the two hedgehogs are now in full speed, outside the colony. "Before this is over, I'll show the true power of Chaos Control!" Shadow yelled as he used Chaos Spear at Sonic, who dodged out of the way.

"All right, Shadow! Time for me to finish this!" Sonic growled and he made a Sonic Wind at Shadow. The two hedgehogs were using speed and power to each other while heading over to the Eclipse Cannon. Even Shadow uses Chaos Spear on Sonic and wrecking the walls of the colony. It could even damage the Eclipse Cannon. Sonic punched Shadow in the stomach, making him fall back with a growl.

"Stop me, and the cannon will fire!" Shadow told the blue hedgehog. Sonic clenched his fists. "The doctor will place the emerald and will fire the cannon. The humans will have to say their prayers."

"They haven't done anything to you, Shadow! But, if that's what you really want, you have get through me, first!" Sonic said. He started to roll into a ball and charged at Shadow, who dodged out of the way and used Chaos Spear on him. Sonic got stunned, and got kicked on the back by Shadow.

"Call yourself a 'Hero', blue hedgehog?" Shadow laughed. Sonic glared at him.

"Shut up!" He shouted. He used Sonic Wind, and Shadow flew back. Sonic charged at him by rolling into a ball. The two continued to fight, damaging the Eclipse Cannon's core without knowing.

Orbot, Cubot, and Eggman are all in the control room where the Chaos Emeralds are. Eggman began to place the last emerald on the cannon. But the alarms went off. Orbot looked at the screen.

"Doctor, the Eclipse Cannon had been awfully damaged!" He said. "What is Shadow doing down there?"

"I don't care! I'll fire the cannon anyway!" Eggman said as he shoved the robots away from the desktop and pressed the button. The lights started to flicker, and Eggman started to laugh evilly. But the alarms went off again. The lights went off. Everything is dark. Eggman's laughter died off when he realised something is not right.

"Doctor, is this suppose to happen?" Cubot asked. The screen came on, showing an old man all chained up in the chair. Eggman is stunned.

"Grandfather!" He cried out. The robots cried out in surprise.

Sonic is thrown onto the edge of the platform. Shadow walked towards him. They have been fighting for a while now. Before anything they could do, the station started to shake. Sonic got up and looked around.

"Wh-what's that vibration?" He asked.

"Your time is running out!" Shadow said and he started to skate off in full speed to return inside the colony. Sonic called out for him, but the black hedgehog is already gone. Sonic looked down to see Earth. He realized that the Space Colony ARK coming down to Earth!

"What?! We're going down to Earth!" Sonic cried out in shock. "I've gotta get back to my friends and see what the hell's happening right now!" Sonic ran off in full speed.

Tails, Amy and Knuckles were wondering what was happening as well. Rouge came in with a calm look.

"You! You haven't given up yet?" Knuckles asked.

"Cut the act, Knuckles! It's all over for us!" Rouge said.

"What do you mean?" Knuckles asked.

"I just had a message from my boss. The space colony is moving down to Earth...it probably...will impact Earth." Rouge replied. Tails and Amy had their eyes wide. Knuckles' mouth had dropped. They thought Sonic had stopped the cannon, but this changes everything. How could a Space Colony ARK move towards Earth in order to destroy it?