Hey, friends! Here's the next chapter and it begins part two of the story. There will be three parts to it. I'm very, very proud of this chapter and I think you'll love it!

KaiThePhaux: I'm glad you liked his capture! Honestly, I wasn't so sure about it, I didn't know if I'd written it with enough intensity. Good to hear I did! Thanks! I'm happy you like Storm and it's always great to hear I have them in-character! Thanks for reviewing!

WerehogWatcher: The reason behind his capture is mentioned in this chapter. Thanks for the review!

Dark-Illusion-Detective: Haha, glad to hear Storm's actions have you split. 8D That was the desired effect and it's great to hear I pulled it off! Thanks for your review!

DragonQueen09: 8D All right! Here's the next chapter! Thanks for reviewing!

Farming Chick: lol You were brave for the haunted house! I probably would have been like your sister, honestly, haha. Thanks for the review!

PerlaNemesis: Thanks! I'm glad you like it! And thanks for your review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic, Storm is my OC

Rated T for violence

"You ain't the only one who feels like this world left you far behind
I don't know why you gotta be angry all the time."
-Angry All the Time by Tim McGraw

Part II

CH. 11

Storm shoved open the thick metal doors of the Commander's office before they had time to open themselves. They made a loud bang as they hit the walls, and Storm hoped she'd made a mark.

The Commander jumped in his chair behind his cherry wood desk, startled. He wore his well-pressed gray uniform, his silver hair combed back, his two colored eyes staring at her.

Storm marched across the thick carpet, shouting, "Why didn't you tell me?!"

After a pause the Commander sighed, relaxing. He glanced at his tenth-story window, the jungle spread out over Prison Island. The warm sun that came through shone off the stacks of papers, telephone, and computer at his desk, casting shadows behind the expensive furniture set about.

"Tell you what?" he asked calmly.

Storm came right up to the desk, red eyes burning, and slammed her hands down on it, shaking the computer. "Don't play stupid with me, I'm not in the mood."

Straightening out the fancy computer, he asked, "I suppose your presence means Shadow has been successfully captured and brought here. I merely requested you to return to ensure you weren't playing a trick." He met her eyes again, inhaling the air that smelled heavily of cleaning products. "You have your freedom. You may go."

She narrowed her eyes, leaning forward threateningly. "I know who Shadow is. Why didn't you tell me he was the Ultimate Life Form?"

"It was irrelevant. A target is a target."

"That's a load of-"

"Besides, that may have changed your mind. I knew if you had found out, it would be after you had a taste of freedom." He smiled. "And that would be too tempting to resist."

Storm growled, her veins burning with anger. Partly because he was right.

The Commander made a dismissive gesture. "You may go."

"Tell me what you're going to do with him."

Seeming more annoyed than defensive, he replied, "Experiments, what do you think? We want to find the source of his power, and try to duplicate it." Upon seeing her expression, he added, "He won't be harmed."

Storm was unconvinced. "Was I not good enough?"

"You're not him. Besides, he's too dangerous. He must remain in captivity."

She gave him an animal-like snarl, glaring viciously. "You have no right to treat him like a science project."

"That's what he is," he replied calmly.

"He has his own life, his own thoughts and dreams and feelings. And so do I."

"Well, you're free, so your troubles are over."

She clenched her teeth. "He never asked to be the Ultimate Life Form." The Commander met her eyes, unwavering, offering no response. Sighing, she felt her tension ease fractionally. "So I can go?"

"Yes, please do. And don't come back."

"And Shadow won't be hurt?"

With an exasperated sigh, he looked up at her and said in a measured tone, "Storm, you have no right to be attached to him."

She gritted her teeth, tightening her hold on the edge of the desk. "He's the only reason I exist, so I think that's enough." She shoved off the desk, turning and heading for the door.

The Commander's voice called, "All you are is a science experiment gone wrong, both of you. You're not human."

Storm stopped by the door and looked back at him. "We may not be human, but he has more heart than everyone combined in this sick agency." She went out, slamming the door shut behind her.

When Storm exited the building, the hot sun beat down on her. She did a quick survey of her surroundings, seeing the thick jungle and GUN soldiers walking about. One camouflaged jeep rumbled by, and a tank stood to the side.

She was angry, the feeling like fire inside of her. She was angry at GUN, angry at the Commander, but mostly she was angry at herself. She had been the Commander's puppet, doing his bidding and getting him what he wanted. And what he wanted was Shadow. She could imagine how upset Sonic, Rouge, and the others would be when they found out.

Eyeing one scrawny soldier heading toward the towering gray building, Storm dashed to him, grabbing his uniform and slamming him into the hard wall. Then she pulled him down to a seated position so she could look into his wide eyes.

"Where is the Ultimate Life Form being kept?" she growled.

"I-It's in the Commander's building. Bottom f-floor."

"Thanks." She yanked away from him and darted back inside. She figured the soldier wouldn't raise any alarm or report her. More than likely he was scurrying away hoping his peers didn't see that. No GUN soldier would admit to spilling a secret anyway.

Storm walked quickly down the gray halls, her footsteps echoing. She knew the building well enough to be confident of her route. She wasn't sure what she planned on doing, she just knew she had to see Shadow. She had to explain things to him. He at least deserved to know why.

She reached the bottom story and headed to the only room in the hall, passing surveillance cameras. The Commander was probably watching her but she didn't care.

She stopped, studying the locked door. There was a keypad and a place to swipe a cared. Irritation flaring, she punched a hole through the door above the handle and opened it from the inside.

The room was small and white, formed into a perfect square. Two cameras swiveled in opposite corners. There were cabinets and a sink, along with computers lining one wall. A table with metal straps sat to one side, and it made Storm feel sick to look at it. A small section of the floor was cut out, bars blocking the opening. She slowly walked up to it, peering inside. All she could see was darkness. She assumed that it went down several yards.

"Shadow?" she called tentatively, dropping to her knees.

A pause, then, "Storm, I swear I'll kill you."

She bit her lip, feeling those words pierce her heart. She searched the blackness, but couldn't see him. "Shadow, I'm sorry."

He snorted, and she heard the sound of chains clanking against the floor. "Sorry? How can you be sorry when you're up there and I'm down here?"

She regarded the bars that blocked the entrance. "You're right. I'm not sorry for what I did. I'm just sorry that it had to be you, someone I had started to consider my friend."

His words were dripped with venom as he snarled, "We are not friends."

"We shouldn't have been. I got too attached . . . to all of you." She looked back into the darkness. "But you have to understand that I was a prisoner here. The only way for me to get my freedom was to give them you."

"Who are you, Storm?"

"I'm your prototype."

He was silent, no sound coming from his prison. She shifted uncomfortably, swallowing. The white floor was cold under her knees, the computer screens flashing to the side.

Finally, he said, "Explain."

"I was after the Biolizard," she responded. "Before you. But when Gerald took me down to Earth to show to the scientific community, they deemed me too dangerous." She closed her eyes at the memory. "I was locked away on Prison Island, and I've been there ever since."

His voice was a level softer. "Did you know Maria?"

She cocked her head to the side. "Who?"

"Maria Robotnik. The Professor's granddaughter."

"Oh, no I didn't. She was a very small child, she was in daycare mostly."

He fell into silence again, and she could only imagine that he was contemplating her words.

Storm stood up. "I just wanted to tell you why. And to apologize."

When he spoke, the bitter tone was back. "Well, I'm glad everything worked out for you."

She closed her red eyes. "The only person I've had for all these years is myself. I have to look out for me first." She turned and headed for the door, adding, "I'm glad to have at last met you, Ultimate Life Form."

Then she was gone.

Shadow leaned against the cold wall of his prison, the darkness so thick that he could barely make out his own body. Far, far above him was the barred entrance, the light on the other side dull. His cell wasn't very large, and the air was stuffy.

He examined the chains that kept him from moving. Two heavy iron shackles locked his wrists together, so large they traveled up his arm. A short length of chain extended from it to the floor, and Shadow had the impression that much of the chain was secured underground to prevent any escape. His ankles were shackled separately, chains running from them to the floor.

He sighed, the sound carrying in the space. His ribs slightly ached from being kicked, and he still felt weak from the sedative.

He was angry at himself for being caught. For so easily letting down his guard. He knew why GUN wanted him. It was for the same reasons they always wanted him. They thought he was too dangerous and they were jealous of his power. One GUN soldier had mentioned the Commander, and Shadow could only assume who they were talking about.

The last time he'd seen the Commander was when the man was trying to kill him for revenge. He blamed Shadow for Maria's death. The memory made the hedgehog grit his teeth. That was ridiculous. He had been blamed for many things, but never for Maria's murder. But apparently the Commander had been a boy on the ARK, and Shadow somewhat remembered him. He had told the hedgehog he'd seen Black Doom creating him.

Shadow shifted his position, the chains clanking. The Professor had wanted Shadow to help mankind, to help Maria, but he could only create him with help from the sadistic alien Black Doom. Doom had wanted Shadow to serve him, to help him conquer the world. When the alien had arrived, Shadow had come to terms with who he was and why he was created. He made a decision. And then he kicked Doom's ass.

The black hedgehog smirked, the cold causing him to slightly huddle, supporting the weight of his wrist shackles on his legs.

Storm. His prototype. Why hadn't the Professor mentioned her? He supposed that made sense. He always wondered how the Professor could have gone from the Biolizard to him. Still, he was confused on the details. As soon as he broke out, he would make sure to get information from her.

He closed his eyes, leaning his head back. He refused to be GUN's prisoner again. The last time he'd been locked up for fifty years between the ARK invasion and Dr. Eggman releasing him. He would not stay here again.

He squeezed his eyes tighter against the painful memories that surged up, attacking him in full force. Being on this island, being a prisoner again, brought too many memories back. He had been alone with his pain for fifty years, always seeing the bullet tear into Maria's body, her blood soaking into his own white gloves. He recalled all the dead bodies they'd passed on their escape attempt. Guns. Machines. Soldiers. Running. Pain. Blood. Death. His whole world, everything and everyone he had known, had been torn from him in a single day.

A whimper escaped him as he struggled to repress the memories. He inwardly cursed GUN. He'd been doing so well, why did they bring him back to this place? What else could they possibly take from him? He had nothing.

Shadow knew that was wrong. He had started to build a life again. He'd started to care about things, to protect people, to have friends.

No. He wouldn't stay here. He wouldn't let GUN destroy him again.

Okay, three things:

I know you might be a bit confused regarding Storm (you and Shadow, lol). But I will go into detail and explain things.

If you read ARK, I entered it in Mystery002's fanfic contest. If you like it the best, please vote for me! The link is in my profile, on the first line so you can't miss it! I appreciate you guys' support!

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

And please review!