AN - Ok ok, I know everybody feels sad for Shadow, but you'll have to wait a bit longer before finding out how he's doing. Sorry.
Again, many thanks to my reviewers.
Alexandria Prime - Shadow always gets that sort of bad luck. But don't worry, he's tough enough to make it through. As for what he may or may not do in the future, I can't say. Far be it from me to spoil anything for you!
Infinite's Ruby - Glad that scene got to you, I went through quite a few iterations of it before finally deciding I liked it. There's going to be a lot more diving into Rouge and Shadow later on in the story, and I wanted to get that interaction between them right.
TheLastoftheRealOnes - Yeah, you really won't see much of Sonic for a while, but just trust me when I say he's not having a lot of fun. :(
Awdures - Tails doesn't get enough love. And yeah, under normal circumstances, Rouge would be the first to doubt that Shadow had joined Eggman, But Infinite's trickery is nothing to sneeze at, and in the heat of battle, emotions can get in the way of thinking things through. But to say the least, Rouge and Shadow's relationship will be a very interesting part of the story in the future.
endless-pastability - "The calm before the storm" is a really good way of summing it up, actually. I'm glad you liked that chapter, and I hope this one is just as enjoyable for you!
bajy, Extreme Light 9, & PetsnanaG - Thanks for the reviews, and here's the next bit of story for you all!
Chapter 13 - The Coming Storm
The morning after the battle dawned cool and clear, with a bracing wind sweeping over the hills from the north. The bright rays of the sun, firm and warm in all their early summer glory, beamed down on a sprawling city that against all odds, still stood tall and free. The Resistance (with GUN's timely assistance) had saved the city from Eggman's assault, but there was no time to rejoice. Neither was there time to dwell on the questions or forebodings of the evening before. The dawning of a new day brought important issues to light, and there was much work to be done.
Metropolis stood free, but victory had not come without cost. Several fires still raged in the western outskirts of the city, which had borne the brunt of the previous day's carnage. A few buildings had been completely demolished, several more were in precarious conditions, and countless others had at least minor damages. There were dozens of citizens with varying degrees of injuries, and many more whose homes or livelihoods had been ruined in the attack. To make matters worse, with the mayor and most of the city officials having fled before the attack, there was very little government left to maintain control or begin any sort of relief effort. GUN had stepped in to partially fill that void, if only to preserve some sort of law and order among the inhabitants, and to begin fortifying the city against future attacks.
The fact that the militaristic organization was even involved, let alone pledging to support a group of mobian vigilantes, spoke volumes as to the severity of the situation. GUN was a majority human organization, and seldom involved itself in dilemmas outside the borders of the United Federation, the government which funded and authorized it's operation. Their offer of help for the fledgling Resistance was... unusual, to say the least. This was an untested alliance, forged only by necessity in the face of a common enemy, and it would require compromise from both sides to work. To that effect, the commander of GUN would be landing in Metropolis at noon, to survey the situation and meet with the Resistance personally.
In the meantime, the Resistance was making preparations of its own. Silver, Amy, and Espio had joined in the effort to secure the city and provide aid to the wounded, while Tails, Vector, and Charmy made a return to the floating island, onboard the fox's recently captured airship. Unfortunately, they forgot to warn the island's rather paranoid guardian about their arrival, and Knuckles nearly suffered a heart-attack upon seeing the large red and yellow ship, emblazoned with enemy insignia, heading straight for his island. If it weren't for Tails quickly explaining the situation over the comm, the instinctive guardian probably would have jumped out and tried to punch the incoming vessel out of the sky.
"Next time you bring an enemy ship to my island, try letting me know you've captured it, before you show up!" The echidna scowled into his communicator as the airship arrived at the edge of the floating landmass.
"Sorry!" Came the sheepish voice of the fox, as he maneuvered the vessel into a docking position.
"You'd better be..." Grumbled the guardian under his breath.
"My my, somebody sounds grumpy this morning." Teased the nearby Rouge, her confusion and worries about Shadow pushed aside in the light of a new day. "What's the matter, Knucklehead? Not a morning person?"
"No, I'm just a little on edge because my island is still floating in the middle of a war zone!" The guardian responded in a huff, crossing his arms as he looked away from the bat. "And it doesn't help that Tails comes flying in unannounced on an giant enemy airship."
"Oh, relax a bit, Knuckie." Rouge smirked with a wave of her hand. "You have to admit, foxboy scored us a nice prize."
"Don't call me that." The echidna muttered, before glancing over the docked airship and admitting: "It's definitely something we can use." A moment later he added: "But he still needs to call ahead next time."
Tails, Vector, and Charmy emerged from the ship a moment later, each of them dirty and bruised from yesterday's battle, but glad to be safely back on the floating island.
"It's good to see you're all in one piece." Knuckles remarked as he glanced them over. "Any signs of trouble down there today?"
"Nothing major." Reported Tails. "But Silver did spot what looked like a surveillance bot off to the north. If I know Eggman, he's definitely keeping an eye on us."
"Hmph. We can only hope he hasn't seen the island yet." The guardian muttered, glancing up at the clear sky above. "There's not enough cloud cover to keep us hidden well today. I don't want to stay here too long."
"Couldn't Eggman's sensors detect the island anyway? Clouds or no clouds?" Questioned Vector.
The echidna shook his head. "The Master Emerald's energy field keeps the island hidden from conventional sensors. If it didn't, everybody and their brother would be able to find us up here."
"We still can't be too careful." Warned Tails. "Eggman has found the island before, and he'll be able to find it again if he looks hard enough for it."
"Right." Agreed the guardian. "Like I said, I don't want to stay here for long."
"But we can't just leave the city alone!" Voiced Charmy. "What if Eggman attacks again?"
"That's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when." Replied Tails. "He's nothing if not persistent."
"When and if Eggman attacks the city again," Rouge spoke, "GUN forces can be here to defend it and, if necessary, send out a distress signal."
"That will have to do." Affirmed Knuckles. "We just can'tâ"
He was cut off by the urgent beeping of his communicator, through which Espio announced:
"We've got incoming bots down here."
The ninja's keen eyes scanned the northern horizon, staring closely at the incoming enemies.
"How bad is it?" Came the voice of Knuckles.
"It's not another army like yesterday." He reported coolly. "Several dozen eggpawns, perhaps a hundred at the most. Some buzz-bombers as well. Nothing we shouldn't be able to handle."
"If that's all, then let's head out and smash them now, before they reach the city." Silver spoke up from beside the chameleon.
"And if it's a ploy to get us to leave the city?" Espio questioned.
"GUN is still here, and we can make it back soon enough if there's a problem." The hedgehog replied.
"Go on then." Decided Knuckles. "A few smashed bots now is less for us to deal with later. Let us know if you end up needing a hand."
"Will do." Promised Silver, turning to Espio. The chameleon gave a nod, and the hedgehog lifted his hands, levitating them both down to the streets below, where Amy was busy helping to direct care for the wounded. A brief explanation later, and all three of them were racing out of the city toward the invaders.
"You two worry about the eggpawns." Directed Silver, his companions nodding their assent. "I'll take care of those buzz-bots."
Reaching their target, the three Resistance members prepared for the fight. Espio vanished entirely, and Amy summoned her hammer, as Silver's hands glowed bright and he took to the air. The robots turned to fire on their assailants, but they were a bit too late. Amy smashed her way through the Eggpawns in front of her, and Espio was a barely visible blur as the other pawns fell before his skillful and precise attacks. The buzz-bombers above them didn't fare any better, smashed to pieces by psychic energy or hurled against the ground with crushing force.
In a moment, it was over. The troop of robots lay in scattered pieces on the grassy turf, as the victorious trio poked through their remains.
"Why would Eggman send such a small force, when we beat off an entire army yesterday?" Wondered Amy.
Espio shook his head, unable to provide a reason, and Silver made no reply at all, rubbing his forehead as a mild headache manifested itself.
"Something doesn't feel right here..." He muttered after a moment, glancing over the ruined machines around him.
"What is it?" The pink hedgehog asked.
The white one shook his head. "I'm not sure. But I think we should get back to the city."
His companions nodded their agreement, and the trio headed back to Metropolis, unaware of the sinister eyes following their every movement.
The city was unchanged as they made their return, but Silver couldn't shake the unnatural and foreboding feeling that had settled within him. Something just felt wrong. Nevertheless, their task had been accomplished. The group of enemies had been demolished, and there was little time to dwell on vague feelings and impressions. The work to fortify and secure the city continued apace, and Rouge joined the trio already on the surface. Shortly thereafter, a squadron of armored helicopters was detected approaching the city from the east, signaling the arrival of GUN's commander.
The four mobians waited at the landing pad as the helicopter touched down, and the Commander stepped out. His look was exactly what you would expect from a man who had spent decades in the military. He bore himself with an air of unquestioned authority, and his steps were firm and measured. His short, greying hair blew wildly in the wind of the still-moving helicopter blades, and his eyes, one green and one brown, darted quickly over the mobians before him.
"Commander Tower." Rouge saluted as she stepped forward.
"Agent Rouge." He replied curtly, turning to face the others. "I assume you three are representatives of the Mobian Resistance."
"Representatives?" Silver repeated. More like half of the the entire group.
"Indeed." Continued the Commander. "The negotiations must begin as soon as possible, we have much to discuss regarding this... joint effort."
"Negotiations?" Silver echoed again, confused. "Nobody told me we needed..."
"Of course!" Interrupted the pink hedgehog at his side, elbowing him in the ribs as she stepped forward confidently. "Amy Rose, official representative of the resistance, here under the authority of Knuckles the Echidna, at your service."
"Abraham Tower." The commander introduced himself with a firm nod. "Here on authority of the president of the United Federation himself. Is there a place we can discuss these matters?"
"Right this way." Amy replied diplomatically, quickly turning back to Silver and Espio. "You two." She directed authoritatively. "Keep things together out here while I'm busy." Then she lowered her voice, whispering: "And let Knuckles know he owes me for this." Then, straightening her back and turning around to face the commander again, she led him and Rouge into one of the nearby buildings.
Silver and Espio watched her go in silence.
"Huh." The white hedgehog finally managed. "I guess we'll let Knuckles know that he owes her one."
Leaving Amy and the Commander to their discussions, the duo returned to their work helping to fortify the city. Already, gun turrets had been mounted atop buildings, Beetle drones patrolled the outskirts, and several hundred mobians had been enlisted in the clean-up effort. The work would continue, but for now, the was peace in Metropolis.
That peace however, was only a fleeting illusion. Only a couple hours after the commander's arrival, GUN's robotic sentries detected an object headed straight for the city.
"We've got incoming from the north." A human voice announced to Silver and Espio through their comm units.
"What is it this time?" The white hedgehog asked.
"Were not sure." Reported the GUN agent. "But it's moving at supersonic speeds, and will reach the city within minutes."
Silver narrowed his eyes, and with a mental shove he shot into the air, heading off to the north. There, in the distance, a small figure was blazing over the terrain towards the city, leaving a long trail of dust in its wake.
Darting forward, the white hedgehog moved to intercept whatever it was. Even as he got closer however, all he could make out was a bluish streak moving almost faster than he could track. Flinging a hand forward, Silver raised a psychic barrier in the figures path, and prepared himself for a fight. The incoming blue streak veered aside at the last moment, avoiding the barrier, and curving around to strike the white hedgehog from the rear.
Silver shielded himself by pure instinct, turning around and finding himself face to face with a sleek blue robot. Another sudden headache beset him, as he took in the bot's appearance, and again he couldn't help but feel that something was just wrong here.
The machine in front of him was built in the image of a hedgehog, but with some sort of jet turbine built into its chest. It's feet were red, formed like shoes, and it's hands terminated in sharply pointed fingers. It's joints were powerfully built, it's metal body gleamed brightly in the afternoon sunshine, and it's red irises glared sinisterly at him from within their black housing. It was plainly a more powerful and advanced mech than any he had fought before.
"What on earth are you?" The telekinetic hedgehog muttered to himself, as he glanced over the metallic figure. There was little time to wonder however, as not a moment later the robot zipped to the side and sent a metal fist toward his ribs. Silver launched himself backwards just in time to dodge, and the fight began.
The metal hedgehog moved fast - faster than anything he had fought before - and it was all Silver could do to keep it at bay. Several times he tried to telekinetically grab the machine, but at such high speeds in such close combat, he couldn't manage a strong enough grip. A few bursts of energy forced it back slightly, but a second later it was on the attack again. A psychic push redirected a fist sent toward his gut, and another knocked aside a powerful kick. The bot charged at him, and Silver leapt into the air to dodge.
I won't be able to beat this thing in such close quarters. He realized as the bot charged him again. I need to fight it from a distance. With a vivid cyan aura surrounding him, Silver clenched his fists and shot away from his assailant at high speed.
Let's see just how fast this thing is.
Twin sonic booms resounded over the landscape as Silver pushed himself faster, and the robotic hedgehog followed close at his heels. Faster, faster, he pushed himself, yet the untiring robot still followed doggedly behind him. He pushed himself even faster now, to the very limits of his speed, as the world moved around him in a blur. But even then, the indefatigable machine was faster, now just a few feet away from his heels.
One more trick...
The white hedgehog braced himself, and reversed his mental push, stopping so quickly that he almost blacked out. The robot shot past him in an instant, curving around to charge at him again. But Silver was ready for it this time. His golden irises traced the bot's path, and with a sudden thrust of his palm, the metal hedgehog smashed violently into a telekinetic barrier. It spiraled out of control and landed hard on the ground, severely dented but astonishingly not destroyed.
"You are one tough robot." Silver muttered to himself as he raised a glowing fist, lifting his opponent in a tight psychic grip. "But why are you here alone? It's not..."
He trailed off then, as the pain in his head suddenly intensified. Until now it had been a mild ache. Now it was a full-on migraine. He shut his eyes against the pain, and when he reopened them, the robot was gone. His telekinetic grip held nothing but air.
"What...?" He gaped, staring at the empty space in front of him. "Where did it go? Why is my head-"
He cut himself off, as he heard footsteps behind him. He turned then, and came face to face with a sinister looking figure wearing a pointed mask, with an odd glowing ruby mounted in his chest.
That masked being Tails described... The white hedgehog realized, with no small amount of apprehension. The one who defeated Sonic...
His headache intensified again, as the dark figure stared at him in silence for a moment, arms crossed and head cocked to the side.
"Your mind is stronger than the rest." Came a deep and sinister voice from behind the mask.
Silver furrowed his brows at the unexpected pronouncement. "What?"
"Let's find out exactly how strong it is..." The stranger continued, reaching out with a black gloved hand as the gem on his chest pulsed brightly.
Before he could protest, Silver was blinded by a flash of light, and forced to his knees by a now unbearable migraine. Scenes from his past, from the planet's ruined future, flashed like phantoms before his eyes, while the world twisted and spun beneath his feet. Closing his eyes against the images, Silver raised his hands to his temples, struggling to focus what energy he could through the pain. Finally, as his mind seemed ready to burst, the white hedgehog cried aloud: "Psychic Control!"
Mental energy lashed out in all directions, and the masked stranger growled in pain as Silver's headache vanished. Wasting no time, the white hedgehog turned and launched himself back towards Metropolis while his powerful enemy was distracted. He knew there was no way he could take on a being with such incredible and unknown power. Not alone, at any rate.
Espio and Amy were already waiting for him at the city's edge, as he arrived and gasped out the warning: "The masked one who defeated Sonic is here! Where are Rouge and Commander Tower?"
"The Commander just left, and Rouge is back on the Island." Amy explained. "But GUN is dug in, ready to fight no matter what. And if that masked creep is here, I'll make him pay for what he did to Sonic myself!"
Silver shook his head. "I admire your courage Amy, but that's suicide. Trust me, you're no match for him. Just maybe, if we all work together, we have a chance."
The pink hedgehog's eyes suddenly widened then, hammer materializing in her hands, and Espio's eyes narrowed as he glared at something behind Silver.
"Did you really think escape would be so easy?" Came the distorted and malignant voice of their enemy.
The white hedgehog took a deep breath, even as his adrenaline spiked. "I don't know what to expect." He answered as he turned around. "I just have to take what I'm given."
The masked one laughed then, a twisted and awful sound. "You have spirit! I will deeply enjoy seeing it crushed. Nothing can save you from what is coming."
Several GUN drones arrived then, homing in on the enemy and firing their lasers. But the dark figure batted them away like it was child's play, raising his hand as the drones were flung backwards.
"Everything you know is at an end." Declaimed the figure. "You cannot fight back, you cannot flee. Despair in that knowledge, before you perish!"
He raised a black gloved hand again, and the trio were sent flying backwards, deeper into the city. When they regained their bearings after impacting the street, the enemy was gone.
They stood in silence for a minute, catching their breath, when suddenly the ground began to vibrate beneath them. There was a sound from all around, a muffled rush like the crashing of waves on the shore.
"What now?!" Espio shouted.
The street below shook more violently, cracking in several places as geysers erupted from below, and citizens could be heard screaming in the distance. The rushing sound became a roar, as water erupted from storm drains and sewers. The formerly clear skies grew suddenly grey, as dark swirling clouds formed and coalesced into a stormy ceiling above the city, and rain began to fall.
"What in the name of Mobius is this?! Cried Silver, as his head began to throb again.
"No..." Breathed Amy, staring around with wide and panicked eyes, as a nightmare from the past was re-born before her eyes. The rain fell harder, as more geysers erupted from the streets around them, and the city began to flood. "It can't be!" She muttered. "The emeralds aren't... We took care of this... It's not..."
"Amy?" Silver questioned worriedly, as water rose quickly past their ankles. "What's going on?"
At that moment, the floodwaters swept inwards, toward the city center, and Silver quickly levitated his companions to higher ground atop one of the nearest buildings to avoid being carried away. As they landed, the white hedgehog could do nothing but gaze in awe-struck horror as a gigantic, writhing mass of water gathered in one of the flooded city plazas.
"No!" Amy cried out. "Not again!"
As they watched, that mass of water coalesced into a massive reptilian form, liquid water transforming into a sort of scaly skin around the behemoth, as it sprouted from the waves below and towered over the city. Huge liquid tentacles erupted from around the base of the strange creature, and heavy eyelids snapped open to reveal narrowed jade orbs. Twisting and writhing like a monstrous watery demon, the creature turned its gaze to the stormy sky above. Opening it's massive jaws, the beast let out a horrible, unearthly scream that shattered windows and struck terror into the hearts of humans and mobiles alike, across the entire flooded city.
Thunder, rain and lighting
Danger, water rising...
Author's Note: A whirlwind chapter, this one. A bit shorter than most so far, but with a lot of action, as well as introduction of a few plot elements that will be important later. I could have gotten this update out a bit faster probably, but Sonic Generations just got enhanced for Xbox one and, well... I've bit a tiny bit distracted.
But anyway, Silver finally meets Infinite here, as well as having a short scrap with Metal Sonic. Those scenes were fun to write, especially from Silver's perspective, not really having met these characters before. So it will be interesting to build on that going forward.
Another thing - Forces cheated us out of a Phantom Chaos boss fight, and we got giant Infinite snakes instead, for some reason. That looked cool and all, but come on. Not fair to tease Chaos like that and then never do anything with him. So here in this story, he's going to show up for more than 10 seconds, and actually be a serious threat.
A couple quick trivia items, for those interested:
"Abraham Tower" is the name given to the GUN commander in the comics, and in both the comics and the games, he has one green eye and one brown eye.
Silver's move "Psychic Control" is from Sonic Rivals, where it is used to disorient opponents for a short time.
As always, reviews, suggestions and opinions are welcome, and I will have the next chapter out as soon as I can. :)