Chapter 11: Passage
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Shadow was laying face down and felt like his skin was electrified, and his head felt like an overripe tomato, ready to explode in any second. He hands slowly and painfully slithered across the ground--feels like rock--searching for any means of support to pick himself up. Finding none, he lay there, waiting for his energy to return. As he lay there, his brain began piecing together what happened, and found itself struggling. Shadow had never truly recovered from two bouts of complete amnesia that he had experience within the past four to five years, so if he experienced trauma, his brain always struggled to piece together what happened. Thankfully, his brain was getting more efficient, and soon he was able to piece together what had happened from the current information it had. One moment Rouge and he were facing this Mephiles character, and somehow the latter summoned some kind of wormhole, into which Shadow and Rouge were vacuumed. The next moment, he was here...but what about Rouge?

Shadow found the strength to roll himself over onto his back. Now being able to see, he could see that he was in a building...or what was left of it. It must've been caught in a humungous fire. Everything was covered in ash and the walls were lined with scorch marks. His eyes snaked around until they located Rouge, laying on her side and still unconscious. She looks none the worse for wear, so she must be all right.

The black hedgehog soon was able to muster the strength to sit up, and when he did he shook his head to shake out all the cobwebs in his head. How long had they been out? Where we they now? And how do they get back?

Rouge stirred a little, and she rolled over onto her back, instinctively careful due to her wings on her back. Her eyes fluttered open, but she seemed to have a hard time keeping them open. Moaning, she whispered, "What...happened?"

"Mephiles sent us through some kind of wormhole," Shadow said matter-of-factly. They were in a bit of a crisis, and Shadow's mind began to switch to passive survival mode: find a way to get back and manage to arrive in one piece. Shadow said nothing more for several minutes; he concentrated on mustering the energy to stand up and walk without getting dizzy. He had accomplished this, just as Rouge sat up. Walking around the room, he soon found what used to be a large glass window, blown out and nothing left except the glass-shard-filled frame.

What he saw outside was shocking: the landscape must have witnessed one colossal firestorm. It looked like what was a rocky plain, now completely burned out. The air was hot and the wind brought little relief, plus it smelled of sulfur and ash. Nothing looked familiar...yet. That Mephiles was right about one thing, though; this was definitely oblivion.

Rouge had gotten to her feet, but seemed to be experiencing severe vertigo still and kept having to lean against the wall for support. She soon was able to shake it off, and walked towards Shadow. "You okay, Shadow?"

Shadow's looked completely healthy medically, but his eyes were vacant and expressionless. Rouge knew from experience that when Shadow looked like that, there was something on his mind. "I'm fine. You?"

Shadow never really did share his mind with anyone, and Rouge wasn't surprised that Shadow batted the way the unanswered question that Rouge really had asked, one without spoken words. "I am too."

Shadow gazed back at the burned out landscape, and Rouge followed his gaze and let out an oath. "What is the place?" Rouge didn't stop there; she looked around in the room where they woke up and saw the devastation of a furious fire, almost hell-born.

"We've seem to have teleported to another location. This does not look familiar to me."

Rouge batted her eyes and looked at the landscape again. There must've been some kind firestorm, or an apocalyptic war that caused all this devastation, she thought. Rouge couldn't help but wonder if this is what the Apocalypse would look like.

"We'd better find out where we are," Rouge said. "Should we look around this wreck first? We might find something."

Shadow glanced at Rouge. "Yes. Let's search here before venturing outside to investigate this place."

Rouge nodded and turned to find a door. Shadow didn't move for a little while longer. His eyes once again registered distantly, as if catching a thought on the smoking horizon.

"Mephiles..." Shadow breathed. "...who are you?"

- - - - -

The Princess of Soleanna sat in her cell in Cell Block C-17. Unlike most cells, this one was not Spartan as prison cells would be, but decorated and comfortable to the point of almost kingly luxury. The bed was well cushioned with red velvet blankets with three pillows stuffed with downy feathers, and beside the bed was a black cherry wood nightstand, elegantly carved. The mirror was spotlessly clean and the frame was brass. There was even carpet on the floor, and by the look and feel, it must've cost a fortune to lay down. Her captor, Dr. Kintobor, apparently was eager to see that all her comforts would be realized and met.

Despite the luxury of her surroundings, Elise was in a state of dismay. Her hero, the one that selflessly threw himself into danger's wind to rescue her was trapped...for her sake, and there was no way that she could see that he could come back. It was just one hour ago when it had happened...

Dr. Kintobor and Elise were in an observation chamber, overlooking a cylindrical chamber that dropped twenty feet beneath the floor of the observation deck. There was not way to get down there from the deck directly, for a thick concave glass window stood as a near invisible barrier between the deck and the cylindrical chamber.

Elise looked down into the cylindrical chamber. It was brightly lit and was white-walled. There were no distinctive features on the walls except lined wires and some decorations, but the floor and ceiling was another thing all together: the floor had one large circle platform on the floor, surrounded by eight identical pillars with one slot on the top of each one. Each pillar was decorated with silver-like metal wings. Elise noticed with the shock that it was designed to match the design of the Talismans of Essence. Eight pillars and eight Talismans of Essence; the parallel was too close.

The room the two physically-contrasting humans was sparsely lighted, quite the dynamic opposite of its cylindrical brother. Near the window there were a vast supply of buttons and switches on a keyboard, most notable a very large switch that came out of the floor itself. The back of the room was lined with computers, shedding their modest light in the room. In this room, Kintobor and Elise waited for the arrival of Sonic the Hedgehog bearing the Talisman of Fire, under the premise of an exchange. There was a small nagging doubt in Elise's mind that Kintobor would not relinquish Elise once he got the talisman, but in her present position, there wasn't anything she could do about it if that doubt was truth.

A blip on the computer screen. Kintobor investigated the computer's notification, and Elise could see a smile break out on his aging face. "It seems that the guest of honor has arrived...and has brought some friends!" Kintobor said, almost too pleasantly.

Elise looked at the computer screen where the doctor was, not venturing closer to the doctor however. It showed a video feed of the outer gate, showing the three figures were standing outside the gate, facing an AK-10 drone. Yes, she saw that one was Sonic, and another one was his two-tailed fox friend, Tails. The other was something or someone that Elise has never seen before. Red hair, heavy-browed, spiked fists...a description that Sonic gave Elise when they were out in the meadows the previous night rang through her mind. Yes, that must be what Sonic called Knuckles...an Echidna he called him.

Another blip. Another screen showed that the AK-10 was querying Kintobor regarding the two strangers. The doctor relayed a typed message back to admit them. Elise's anxiety grew. Sonic was handing over one of the keys needed to summon the Flames of Solaris, or at least so Kintobor claims.

The video monitored the trio's movements through the gates and into the courtyard. There, they were halted by one of the biggest robots Elise has seen. The only other one she had seen was the EG-3000 Cerberus, the same one Sonic smashed in the desert ruins. Dr. Kintobor picked up a small microphone, pressed a button on the computer console and said, "EG-1000 Genesis, stand down and permit the three to pass." Then as an afterthought said, "It is all right, Sonic. He won't fire unless I command him to."

The robot, dubbed the Genesis, didn't move, but the three moved around it, led by the AK-10 unit further through the courtyard and into the gate that lead into the main building of the base itself. The other two gates were just housing and construction factories for mass-production robots, but there was a bay to create one-of-a-kind robots, like the Genesis, Fenrir and Cerberus. Another one was ready and yet another was in progress, Elise had learned.

The allotted time was to be dusk, just after sunset. Sunset was forecasted this late I the year to be a little after 6:30 PM, so Sonic was due to show up before 7:00 PM. It was 6:47 now. The time for dusk should be any minute now.

The base was large and complicated to navigate to anyone who was strange to it, but they had to robot guide. Elise expected that they would appear in the doors that Kintobor and Elise used to get here. Thus she was surprised when the three without their mechanical guide entered the whitewashed cylindrical room at 7:03 PM. Apprehension swelled in Elise's soul, but reason quickly said that they probably took a wrong turn for it would also explain why they were late, but the apprehensiveness did not fade. Why wouldn't it?

Kintobor didn't seem surprised that they appeared on the lower level; as a matter of fact, Elise thought it looked like it was planned. Quickly, her apprehension turned into fear. This smelled of a trap.

The three below seemed to feel the same way, as they kept looking around the room, inspecting it for traps, and wouldn't step too far from the still open door, prepared for a quick escape if needed.

"You're late, Sonic," Kintobor said with a touch of humor.

All three looked up and through the concave window towards Kintobor, but apparently couldn't see him that well for they weren't looking directly at him, possibly due to the harsh lighting reflecting off of white.

The red Echidna, Knuckles, spoke first. "Well, we had to deal with your little pet! Stupid little thing broke down in the hallway back there!" His voice, somewhat deep and had some power behind it, filtered through the speakers in the observation deck.

Sonic looked as if he didn't want to joke around. "Where's Elise, Dr. Kintobor!?"

"My, my, aren't we impatient?" The obese human motioned to his right with his hand. "She's right there, unharmed."

Elise sure enough was unharmed, but apprehensive as a young sparrow on the first day out of its nest. "Sonic!"

Sonic started forward, but stopped when Kintobor spoke again. "This glass is six inches thick. I doubt you could muster enough speed in ten feet to break through."

Sonic had to concede this point. Tails and Knuckles were still inspecting the room for traps.

"Now, down to business Sonic. The Talisman of Fire..." Kintobor started.

Sonic looked at Elise. Elise shook her head; this was a trap, she knew it was. Sonic probably felt that it was as well, but he also looked like he didn't have a choice. Elise was on the line. He slowly lifted up the silver talisman bearing the red jewel, glowing hotly even in the white light. Tails and Knuckles looked apprehensive, for they tensed up.

A ghost of a grin etched itself onto Kintobor's face, unnoticed by all. "Now place it on one of the pillars in the slot, point down."

Sonic looked at the pillar and the circle in the center of the room. Unknown to Elise and Dr. Kintobor, the hedgehog had been blasted with a sick wave of nostalgia. The last time he was told to place a Chaos Emerald into a circle on the floor, he was blasted into space and had barely escaped without getting cooked. With his free hand, he motioned towards the door. Tails and Knuckles stepped backwards closer to the door, but both looked ready to grab Sonic and run.

The talisman's point fit perfectly into the slot. It must've triggered inner machinery, for the pillar lowered into the ground, but stopped when only the top part of the wings and most of the jewel were still above ground. It began to glow fiercely. Sonic edged towards the door.

Suddenly, quick as lighting, Kintobor slammed a button on the console. The door below slid shut with a hiss and a slam, trapping Sonic, Tails and Knuckles inside. At once, the circle (which was a glass lens) lit up with purplish light and down came a wall of energy, further trapping the three in the room.

Elise's fear was realized. It was a trap!

There was still some fight left in them, for Knuckles drew a fist back and smashed a spiked fist into the wall of energy, only to have to thrown back sending him into Sonic and Tails, who caught him. He looked dazed.

"It's no use," Kintobor calmly said. "The energy shield is way too powerful for any of you to overcome. Thank you so kindly for the Talisman of Essence, Sonic. Now you can witness first hand the prototype for my greatest invention, and will be the greatest invention of all time! This is a prototype born from Project Solaris."

Of the four others in the area, only one knew what that meant. Elise spun to Kintobor with a gasp. No...he couldn't be! That was madness! "Doctor! No!"

Kintobor shoved Elise aside and strode towards the large lever protruding from the ground. "With this machine, I can soon control the fabric and flow of time itself!" He pulled it with enthusiastic force. "Farewell!"

The energy above gathered in a spiral and became a wormhole. Sonic, Tails and Knuckles didn't have anything to grab on to, and didn't have the time to find anything just the same. All three were sucked in the air, all three crying out in surprise.

Tails was sucked in first, followed by Knuckles. Sonic managed to cry out, "Elise!" before he was sucked in as well.

"Sonic!" Elise cried out, hands slapped against the window. She watched her rescuer being sucked into the wormhole, and she could do nothing. It closed with a flickering of blue electricity. Elise dropped to her knees, devastated.

"Don't fret, Princess," Kintobor said, his voice deepening back to the kind voice he adopted, although Elise knew it was empty kindness. "They are not dead..." Kintobor looked away, having an afterthought. "...yet."

Elise didn't face him. She was trying very hard not to break down in front of Kintobor.

"All the machine did is send Sonic and his pals through time; where exactly, I do not know. It could be the distant past or far future. By an astronomical chance, they could even reappear a few minutes from now. Because of that flaw in the prototype, that's why I require you for the final touches. What I want...is your power. It's what's needed to truly finish the Solaris Time Machine."

"My...power?" Elise managed to say. This surprise checked any want to cry, allowing her will power to suppress the tears a little longer.

"Indeed. All that is needed is the eight Talismans of Essence and your power. Once I obtain those, the Flames of Disaster shall be summoned!" Kintobor's voice rose to an impassioned intensity. It disturbed Elise.

"I already have five of the Talismans already: Fire, Ice, Lightning, Water and Light. The remaining three shall soon be mine."

Kintobor's voice dropped again to normal levels. "So, Your Grace, this isn't meant to be a threat in any way, but I just wish to say that it might be wise to remain on my good side."

Elise looked down. Was Kintobor so close?

Another blip on the computer. This one surprised Kintobor, and for a split second, Elise thought Kintobor was nervous. His base was already broken into before and left half of it a war-zone. Now someone else was here.

He pulled up the read-out and swore so strongly that a sailor would blush for shame. The EG-1000 Genesis was heavily damaged and initiating kamikaze program. He soon discovered that there were many more reports in, but he was so caught up with ditching Sonic somewhere in time that he didn't notice. The invaders were identified to be a white hedgehog and a purple cat, and both although unarmed, were dealing heavy damage on the Genesis and the reinforcements.

Kintobor hit the door running. "No! They'll take the Talisman of Light!" Throwing the doors open, he faltered. He had nearly forgotten about Elise. Casting a dark glare at Elise, he ran out, shot the door. There was the unmistakable sound of a door locking. Elise was trapped for the time being in this room.

That was one hour ago. She was now in her cell in Cell Block C-17. Kintobor had returned in a terrible mood. The Talisman of Light was stolen, and no sign of the two thieves were found. He had dispatched a red alert to apprehend both culprits, and if necessary, dispatch them. He was going to get that talisman back at any cost. He was so mad that he didn't escort the Princess back to her cell as he usually did; he had an AK-10 unit escort her.

She sat down on the bed, and was being consumed with despair.

Suddenly, in her mind's ear, she heard the familiar voice of Sonic. "Hey, it's okay. Smile." Then another familiar voice. "That's a good girl, Elise. Become a strong queen, and remember, don't cry no matter what happens." Elise's despair ebbed. "No, I mustn't cry. I need to smile." Elsie bravely put up a smile, and wasn't sure she succeeded. "Sonic will come back somehow. He came to my rescue once before, and he can do it again." Cold logic dictated that it was impossible for Sonic to come back from another time, but if there was one thing that Sonic could demonstrate, it was that logic didn't stop him from doing the impossible.

Just the same, she felt she needed to help Sonic somehow. She couldn't physically, but maybe she could ask someone to help. She clasped her hands together, lowered her head, closed her eyes and began to pray. A divine help couldn't hurt at all.

"God in heaven, please protect Sonic and his friends...wherever they are. Bring them back safely..."

- - - - -

A purple Echidna stood over the pond that his younger had been visiting for so long now in the eternally sunlit lands. He was there, watching the events that had just transpired, and when Elise said her prayer, the water rippled.

"She has a strong faith," he said quietly. "No doubt the Divine One will answer."

Kneeling down beside the water, he gazed deeper into the water. He could see that Sonic, Tails and Knuckles had been brought into the future, right now wrought with destruction. He couldn't help but smile. This was no accident or utterings of chance; the Divine One brought them there to see the truth, and to know what needed to be done.

Their road would be hard and perilous, but that was the way that must be walked for the best results. They know that, and the violet Echidna knew that they would act upon that; they had countless times.

"My blessings be with you three. You are strong, but be cautious. Your enemies are close at hand. Be sober and vigilant."

Standing up, he turned around and headed towards the altar to pray. His plan is in motion.

--END OF PART ONE--