Alright, I just skimmed through to edit it, so if there's typos I'm sorry.

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Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic

Rated T for violence

CH. 21

The lights were off in the large room of Beta, almost every seat in the tables full. All eyes were turned to the projection on the wall, which showed a map of the ARK and the space around it. Some soldiers lounged lazily in their chairs, while others leaned forward attentively. A GUN general stood by the projection, talking about the discovery Sonic and his friends had made and what they'd brought back.

The mentioned group sat at one half of a table, the other half filled with more soldiers. Rouge glanced around at her friends, bored of hearing information she already knew. Most were looked to be paying close attention, but Sonic had his feet up on the table, one arm strung over the back of his chair. She knew that was just him, and that he was listening to every word. Storm was slumped over, her chin resting in one hand. She was running one finger over the chips in the table absently. The bat had noted that the two black hedgehogs hadn't sat next to each other, which was startling since they had been inseparable. Storm was abnormally quiet, and though that behavior wasn't unusual for Shadow, she could tell something was wrong. She knew they had left together for a few hours and wondered what could have possibly happened.

"So," the general said, clearing his throat, "here is our plan of attack. I've already spoken to the Commander from Alpha and the other one from Gamma, and we've come up with a solid strategy. We're going to launch three rockets, or the best substitute we have, from each secret base at the same time. Our base shall be the one to carry the bombs while the other two act as a diversion."

Shadow sighed, settling back into his chair. It sounded like a good plan so far. He didn't rather like being the one to be told what to do, but he supposed the GUN soldiers wouldn't like one hedgehog who thought he knew better (despite any evidence that proved the fact) running the show. He stole a glance at Storm and felt his chest tighten. What exactly had happened at the park? He and Storm had been bonding so strongly, and truth be told, he'd been so very happy. But then . . . she'd moved to kiss him. The thought sent his heart bouncing, but at the same he felt nervous. He couldn't decide whether he wished she had or was glad she didn't. It was something he was unprepared for.

"Each base is in charge of a different attack," the general continued, pacing back and forth. "Gamma will attack from space, hopefully drawing out any defensives Dr. Eggman has. Alpha will go with Beta inside, and then branch off to do their own diversion attack inside. Beta's position will be stealth, while the other two will be the complete opposite."

Storm straightened slightly, picturing the attack in her head. But she couldn't help but be distracted. She sat on the other side of Rouge while Shadow sat on the other side of Sonic, but she could still see him. They'd returned to the base with few words, just in time as the meeting began. Although there were two seats together, they'd both sat in the single ones, as if sharing the same thought. She didn't want to upset him further. She wasn't sure what impulse had prompted her to want to kiss him, but she was decidedly disappointed that he'd rejected her.

She let out her breath heavily. Perhaps "rejected" wasn't the proper word, but that's what it felt like to her. She'd done something she'd never done before, and her attempt wasn't returned. She felt a slight tinge of embarrassment, but it was diffused when she remembered that Shadow had apologized. He'd turned away, and then said that he was sorry. What did that mean?

She was jerked from her thoughts when she realized she needed to pay attention to the plan. The general was saying, "Once inside the ARK, the Beta group that carries the bomb will split into three. This will ensure that if one fails, there's two more to continue the mission. They will go into the EGG chamber and destroy the weapon." He straightened, stopping his pacing. "Now . . . is there any questions? . . . Good. We'll began preparation tomorrow. Dismissed."

There was a general commotion as soldiers began getting up, talking over all they'd just heard. Storm watched as her own group dispersed before turning to the bat. "Rouge?"

"Yeah," she turned around, leaning against the table.

"Can I talk to you?"

"About Shadow?"

Storm sighed, lowering her gaze. "Yeah."

Rouge sat back down, crossing her legs. "Okay, tell me what happened. It's obvious that something is going on."

The prototype shrugged before venturing, "We went to have some fun at the amusement park. And we were getting really close, you know? But then . . . he just turned me down."

"What exactly did you do?"

Her face flushed, and she glanced around to make sure no one was near. "I tried to kiss him." Upon Rouge's smile she quickly added, "I thought he wanted to, too. And I don't know why I did it, it was on the emotion of the moment. But, he turned away. And then he apologized, but I don't know what for."

Rouge looked at her tenderly. "He likes you a lot, Storm, I can tell that much. I've been around him an awful long time."

"You think so?" she asked, hope blossoming.

The bat nodded. "He does. But, Shadow doesn't warm up to very many people. And it takes him awhile to do so. He's bonded with you faster than I've ever seen him."

Storm thought she liked that idea.

"Yet, you have to understand that Shadow has had a rough life. There are many things that could be . . . I don't know . . . hindering him. Making him hesitant about opening up to someone."

"Well, tell me." The hedgehog said. "I want to know everything about him."

Rouge thought for a moment, glancing at nowhere in particular. Then she turned back to her friend. "How much do you already know? About his life before you met him."

"I know he's the Ultimate Life Form, created by Gerald Robotnik aboard the ARK. I know about Black Doom's part in his . . . our . . .creation and what the alien wanted with Shadow. I know that he was there during the ARK invasion and that Maria was shot before she sent him in an escape pod down to the planet. And I know that Shadow became GUN's prisoner and spent roughly fifty years on Prison Island." She paused. "That's pretty much it."

"Okay," the bat nodded. "Let's start from the most recent. There was an incident with a demon named Mephiles. Shadow took him on as his enemy and nearly destroyed him. But he merged with another being and it took Shadow, Sonic, and another hedgehog named Silver to stop them. But Mephiles tempted Shadow to turn against humans because all they've ever seem to do is hurt him in the end. Shadow refused."

Storm nodded to show that she was listening.

"And you know about Black Doom, trying to get Shadow to aid him in destroying the world. The only good thing that came out of Black Doom arriving was that Shadow got his memory back." At the hedgehog's stunned expression, Rouge explained, "Shadow had amnesia for a time. It was Dr. Eggman who released him from GUN's prison, and so Shadow assisted the doctor in his plot to take over the world."

Storm was shocked. She never knew this part of Shadow.

"But Eggman's plan failed. The ARK ended up heading toward the planet. It was going to crash into it and kill everyone. Shadow and Sonic went out into space and . . . and fought the Biolizard, the creature that was taking the ARK on its path."

Storm nodded, frowning. She'd seen the Biolizard before, but had thought it was harmless. But she didn't want to question the first prototype's motives. That wasn't the important information.

"They stopped it, but the ARK was still crashing. So, they created a huge Chaos Control, taking the space colony back into its orbit. But, the effort exhausted Shadow and he fell to the planet." She sighed. "We all thought he was dead."

Storm's jaw dropped, her red eye wide. "He . . . fell?"

The bat inclined her head. "I found him later in Dr. Eggman's base. The doctor was trying to clone him, and did succeed in making some robots. Shadow couldn't remember anything. Just his name, Maria's name, and how she died." She sighed heavily. "So, he had amnesia until Black Doom had him gather all the Chaos Emeralds. The alien also did him the courtesy of explaining why he was created, which Professor Gerald had never fully done."

Storm worked the information over in her head, the room now almost empty. "He seems to have been very close to Maria. And I guess she liked him a lot, too, if she used her dying moments to get him out of the ARK."

Something in Rouge's eyes dimmed. "All I know is what I get from Shadow or what I can tell he's feeling. He and Maria were inseparable. She meant so much to him. Her murder left a deep wound, and that's why he had such vengeance when Dr. Eggman released him from prison. It wasn't until he was able to step back and examine what he was doing that he realized Maria wouldn't have wanted that." She smiled. "So, yes, they were very close."

Storm was awed. Shadow had had it rough. She couldn't believe he was still able to keep his sanity after everything he'd been through. She thought it made her long imprisonment seem like nothing. She began to get an idea, a start of a theory of why Shadow turned her down. If it wasn't because he didn't truly like her, then maybe it was rooted in his past . . .

Shadow turned as he heard a knock on his door. Crossing the small room, he opened it to find Storm.

"Shadow," she said, looking at him seriously. "We need to talk."

"About what?" he asked, glancing at the rocky walls.

Her hard expression fell. "We need to talk about what happened at the amusement park. I don't want us to not be friends because of a . . . whatever it was."

Shadow sighed. He didn't want to talk about it, but he had to admit that she had a point. He leaned against the door frame. "Okay."

When she realized that he wanted her to go first, she said, "Did I . . . offend you by . . . making a move?"

He would have been amused by her dancing around the specific words, but it actually made him happy that she did. "No, no you didn't."

She studied him before continuing, "So, we're still friends?"

"Yes, I want to be friends," he agreed. "I'm sorry that I stopped talking. I just . . . didn't know what to say."

She leaned forward, an eagerness and tenderness in her eyes. "But, on the ferris wheel, you apologized. You apologized for turning away." She cocked her head to the side. "Why?"

An uncomfortable feeling settled in his gut. "I'm . . . just not . . . ready."

"But do you feel something for me?" she asked, leaning closer.

Shadow rested the side of his head against the doorframe, closing his eyes. "I like you a lot, Storm." He opened them again. "But when that is concerned I don't know what I want."

She responded softly, "Is this about Maria?"

Shadow felt a jolt through his body, his eyes going wide. Before he could reply, a GUN soldier suddenly walked up, skidding to a stop upon seeing them.

"Storm," the soldier said, drawing her attention. "I'm sorry, but the Commander has contacted us and he wants to speak with you."

She let out her breath. "Okay, thanks." Glancing at Shadow, she turned around and headed off.

Her thoughts turned from the Ultimate Life Form as she walked down the hall, wondering what it was the Commander wanted. She really was in no mood to talk to him, but then again she was never in the mood to talk to him. She left the hall that was lined with doors and crossed the large room full of tables, some occupied by soldiers. She went into one of the many small backrooms that were used for a variety of purposes. Since the Commander was at his own base, she knew which room to communicate with him in.

She opened the door and went inside, shutting it behind her for privacy. The only light came from the large computer screen mounted on the wall, shining blue light on her face and accentuating the curves of the rocky walls. The computer was used for its webcam, allowing the bases direct communication. Thick wires and gadgets were attached to it. They were Tails' creations, preventing anyone from spying over the computer.

Right now the screen was filled with the Commander's face as he watched her coolly.

Storm crossed her arms, coming to a stop in front of the screen and looking up at the man. "What's up?"

"Storm, I want Shadow."

Her mouth twisted into a scowl. "And I already told you, no way."

"You are going to give him back to me. He's GUN's property and you stole him."

"He's no one's property," she snapped. "And I'm not going to have this argument with you."

The Commander's eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't talk down to me. If you don't give me Shadow, I promise you that I will make your life very difficult."

She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Commander, you and I hate each other. Why don't you have this conversation with someone who actually cares what you say? Try Sonic, he's more or less the leader of our group. Although you won't get anyone to "give you" Shadow, as you call it. Go bother someone else." She paused, a thought occurring to her. She peered up at the screen, her eyes narrowing. "Why are you talking to me about it? There's lots of other people here, with higher ranking positions, that you'd be better off talking to."

The Commander simply scowled at her, his mouth a thin line.

Realization dawned on the prototype and her eyes widened. She dropped her arms to her sides. "You want me to trick Shadow, to betray him to you like I did last time."

"He trusts you," the man responded.

Storm felt anger flare in her. "That was hell for me the first time I did it, and there will not be a second time." She turned on her heel, heading for the door.

"I'm warning you, Storm," the Commander said, causing her to stop. "Get me Shadow, or you will be sorry."

She looked back over her shoulder, glaring at the screen. "Give it your best shot." With that she walked out, slamming the door shut behind her.

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