Disclaimer: James Harrison is mine. None of the others are.
Chapter 11
The group arrived at Umbrella's main base a few days later. Cold and barren, Sonic figured it made sense for the base to be there. The knowledge didn't warm him up at all. As far as Black Doom was concerned, the best course of action was to bomb the building and get it over with. Eggman wasn't happy with that idea, and for once Sonic agreed with him. They needed the computers located inside. How to get inside in the first place was what Sonic was having difficulties with. Guards were keeping watch, and the doors looked like they weren't going to open any time soon. Black Doom had gone missing a few minutes ago without an explanation of where he was going. Eggman wasn't any help; he just kept mumbling something about Metal Sonic and some redesign he had to do.
"The way is clear," Black Doom said.
He'd come up beside them without either noticing him. Blood on his hands and face set off bells in Sonic's mind.
"You... You killed them!" Sonic hissed. "I didn't want to kill anyone!"
"Those pathetic humans were between us and our way inside. Now that they're out of the way, we can enter. That is what you wanted."
Sonic sighed in irritation. Every part of him knew the alien king was right. In order to get things done, sometimes you just had to do things you weren't proud of.
"We got a plan at least?"
"Sure," Black Doom sounded confident. "We get in there and kill anyone we see. That way, none of them will be capable of stopping us."
Sonic shifted nervously. That was all well and good for an evil tyrant, but a hero shouldn't do such things.
"Isn't there something else we can do? Like sneak through or something?"
Eggman laughed into the frigid air. Sonic truly was weak in some ways.
"Let us handle it. We have no qualms about this business."
Black Doom and Eggman went to the base and blasted a hole in the wall. Despite his inner conflict about the plan, Sonic ran to join them. If it was for Shadow, he could deal with it. It wasn't as if he actually had to kill anyone. Alarms went off all over the building as the trio went through the new hole. Black Doom was more terrifying than Sonic had been expecting. Things from around the room were flying through the air, slamming full-force into any human standing. Loud cracks could be heard in the air, shortly followed by screaming. Black Doom was taking a sick pleasure in it, that much Sonic was certain of. Eggman was nowhere to be seen, most likely down some other hall. Sonic knew he'd be fine. The scientist had survived more than anyone ever expected him to. He just had to find the guy in charge. The sound of running echoed down the hall as the sudden gust of Sonic's passing knocked humans off their feet. His legs carried him through the halls. Making his way through the building without a map wasn't something he looked forward to.
Most head offices are on the top floor. ...I think.
Sonic turned onto a set of stairs. The humans in the hall got a look at him in that instance, and drew their weapons. Bullets flew past driving into the wall and stairs. Sonic didn't spare them a glance. They could wait. On the next landing, someone opened the door. A shout reached his ears as the human moved back and slammed the door closed once more. Sonic nearly hit the wall on his next turn. The stairs seemed endless. But the elevator wasn't a choice he could use. Not only could people interrupt his progress, but it would take too long for it to reach the top. His legs could get him there faster.
As Sonic flew through the door onto the top floor, humans began shouting. He picked up something about 'unprepared', 'no plans', and 'protection'. It was all rendered useless as he spun into the door at the end of the hall. An old man was on the other side of the sole desk in the room. He looked up when Sonic burst into the room.
"How did you-"
"Fastest thing alive," Sonic bragged. He walked over to the desk and slammed his hands on it. Leaning forward, he looked directly into the human's eyes. It lifted him from the floor, but that wouldn't prove to be a problem. "You're the one in charge, so I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
The old man merely looked down his nose at the hedgehog. The speed at which he'd gotten to his office was intriguing.
"Would it have anything to do with becoming a specimen of ours?"
Sonic's nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Why would someone willingly become a specimen?" Sonic asked. He shook his head. "No, I came to talk to you about Shadow the Hedgehog. I want you to leave him alone."
"And why would I do that?" the old man asked. He was unimpressed with Sonic's demand. "I'm aware of who you are, Sonic the Hedgehog. You'd never be able to take the steps necessary to stop me."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Sonic said. "You're trying to hurt everything I hold dear."
"I'm not trying to hurt anyone. If that creature gets harmed during our exploration of his body's functions, it would be in the name of science. This is the only way we can find the secrets that died along with Gerald Robotnik."
Sonic could feel that anger again. The anger itself was starting to annoy him. It was unnatural how quickly it surfaced and burst through his body.
"Shadow doesn't want to get hurt in the name of science." His voice came out as a growl. That worried him. "There are no secrets locked in his body."
"The secret to immortality, you stupid hedgehog." Sonic's growl got louder at the old man's insult. "Professor Gerald Robotnik is the only person to ever achieve such a thing. Without his creation, we won't be able to follow in his footsteps."
"I. Don't. Care." The anger is Sonic's body was unbearable. He wanted to contain it. Anger of that magnitude was dangerous. Both to him and everyone around him. "I won't let you use him like that."
"You won't have any choice in the matter, I'm afraid. Even that silly princess can't stop us."
Sonic tilted his head to the side in confusion. Ridges furrowed as he regarded the old man. He tipped his seat back with a proud smile on his face.
"You didn't think we would give up so easily, did you? The things that freak's body can teach us are invaluable. With the information, we will be able to complete our biggest project."
Sonic didn't like the sound of that. From what Rouge told him of the President's worries, Umbrella was trying to do something that defied the very laws of nature. Different alarms went off and the old man looked up.
"Oh dear. It seems some of them have gotten loose."
Sonic climbed onto the desk and grabbed the old man's throat. Such violence was against his nature. In this case, he felt it was necessary.
"What has gotten out?"
The old man grinned. "You won't kill me. You're too pure for that." His laughter was cut off as Sonic tightened his grip.
"Don't test me," Sonic snarled. "I'm not in the mood for mercy."
Black had begun replacing his blue fur. Despite the fear creeping into the old man's eyes, he still refused to say a word. Green eyes started to glow as they narrowed. The grip tightened as Sonic's lips parted. Watching the life fade from the old man's eyes was pleasing. The old man's feeble attempts at removing his hand served to amuse him. The snap sounded louder than he would've thought. The old man was dropped to the floor as Sonic turned from the desk. Humans had thrown the door open, guns drawn and at the ready. Sonic grinned at their attempt of bravery. The first gunshot rang out. A scream followed a second later. Blood burst from what remained of his right arm. The others began shooting as their comrade fell to his knees. Sonic dodged them as the bullets seemed to go slower than their intended speed. By the time Sonic left, the room was covered with the blood and limbs of the humans.
Carnage was left in the crazed hedgehog's wake. Laughter rang out through the halls as he took immense pleasure in the pain he was inflicted. Each scream increased the sensations filling his body. Every drop of blood spraying onto his face increased the terrifying visage. The soldiers preferred to run rather than stand their ground at the sight of him. Unfortunately for them, it wasn't enough. He caught them and tore them apart as their comrades screamed in fear. When he saw the creatures, they were regarded and treated exactly the same as the humans. The undead creatures were torn apart. Their dead blood did nothing to satisfy the blood-lust that now clouded his mind. Only fresh blood spurting from the still-warm body of a human could satisfy him.
It went on for an hour, until every last human lay in a pool of his own blood. Sonic himself was covered in it, glowing eyes searching for whoever dared attack him next. Black Doom approached with caution. Even an immortal being could fall to such a fury.
"Sonic?" he asked. "Are you still here?"
Sonic's head turned in his direction. The glowing green eyes held recognition, which Black Doom took as a good omen. He wasn't entirely gone.
"We need to change location. If you intend to take down Umbrella, we need to listen to Doctor Eggman."
-Two days later, Soleanna-
"What?" James was on his cellphone. "That's impossible!"
Shadow looked over at the tone of the doctor's voice. Worry was practically radiating from him. Something interesting was happening.
"How could two hedgehogs be causing so much damage?"
James set a glare at Shadow. He didn't appreciate the smug expression that was clearly etched onto her face. Her pregnancy had gotten far. If his calculations were correct, she only had ten days left before it was time for her to give birth. He didn't have that much time.
"I'm going ahead with the plan," he said. "Evacuate the building. If at least one of our bases can survive, then we'll be fine."
He closed the cellphone and slipped it into his pocket. Shadow was glaring at him now, red eyes narrowed. Her ears had flattened against her head.
"We can't be late for this."
James pressed a button on the side of his watch. Minutes later, another doctor was running in with a Chaos Emerald in hand. Shadow's eyes didn't leave the emerald. James pulled a gun from his coat pocket as he approached her. Placing it in her hands, he wrapped an arm around the hedgehog. Mouth close to her ear, he gave her his commands.
"Teleport us onto the Ark." Shadow would've said something if he hadn't cut her off. "I know you have enough energy and knowledge to pull it off."
"If I were to do that, I could seriously damage myself," Shadow said. The cold steel of the gun pressing into her abdomen silenced her.
"If you don't, I'll fire. I'm sure there's no need for me to explain what would happen then."
He pressed a kiss to the side of her head. Shadow tried to hold back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. The Ark held memories. Too many. Now, she had no choice but to go back. For the sake of her unborn baby. Elise ran into the room as Shadow began her specialty.
"What are you doing? Let her go!"
Elise's voice sounded far off as the muttered words ripped them through space and into the Ark. Shadow collapsed at James' feet as the doctor gasped for breath. His expected reaction was something Shadow couldn't take pleasure in at the present. Pain was stabbing across her abdomen and into her legs. Never before had she felt such pain after executing a Chaos Control. Tears tumbled down her cheeks, pulled out by both pain and sadness. James grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. His strength surprised her.
"Let go of me."
The command was so weak, it didn't surprise her that the doctor didn't listen. Instead, he dragged her along the hall and into a large room. Shadow dimly recalled which room it was from her time on the Ark. It was where most of the experiments on her had taken place. Where she'd had needles pumping who knows what into her body. More tears tumbled from her red eyes. Shaking had overtaken her. James ignored everything she said and did. Soon, she was strapped onto the table. James stroked her face affectionately. Shadow spat at him, anger filling her eyes. A slap brought stinging to her cheek. Humiliated tears ran down her cheeks as she kept her face turned from him. That was just as well. James didn't want her glaring at him the entire time. No amount of anesthesia would help with this procedure.
"I'll be back in a minute."
Shadow listened to James' footsteps leave the room. Nobody would be able to find her here. Choked sobs escaped from her body. The last time she'd been so useless, her dearest friend had died. Her powers hadn't been enough to save her. Now, she'd be unable to save herself or her baby. Sonic would be so angry with her. The straps over her body limited the amount of trembling she could do. Pain stubbornly coursed through her abdomen. Biting her lower lip, Shadow tried to calm herself and will her tears away. Nothing she thought of worked. Closing her eyes was useless; all she saw then was Maria and Sonic. Both were disappointed. The expressions they wore tore at her heart and brought on a fresh wave of tears and sobs.
When James returned, he felt no sympathy. He understood what had to be done. Her body housed everything they needed to advance in science. If her baby died and her world was shattered, so be it. Nobody had ever said science came without a price. Something always had to be sacrificed for the wonders and miracles science could bring to the world. The life of something created by some scientist who'd lost his mind paled in comparison to what could be brought into the world with her assistance. She would come to understand how beneficial her sacrifice would be. One day, she would thank them. Of that, he was certain.