-1Far, far away on Angel Island, the echidna village slept. All was quiet, the air balmy and windless as the moon shone down on pure peace. A pair of figures, one big and one smaller, moved among the huts. One was rotund and the other shone in the moonlight. Doctor Eggman and Cyber Shadow had infiltrated Angel Island, heading for the temple. "Master, your idea of my using my attack on the Freedom Fighters to distract them long enough for us to sneak in here was brilliant." The conceited mad doctor replied, "Aren't I always brilliant?" They navigated through the passages with surprising rapidity because of Cyber Shadow's built-in compass and the energy radar Doctor Eggman had designed for just such an occasion. Soon they stood before the Master Emerald. "Master," the black robot asked, "Why have we come here?" Doctor Eggman replied, "Legend speaks of the Master Emerald having a hidden secret, an awesome power that can be used for great good or great evil. We are here to claim that power." Cyber Shadow stepped up and grabbed the Master Emerald in both hands. "How do we awaken this power?" Doctor Eggman was about to reply to his creation's question when a soft little voice squeaked wordlessly from somewhere close to the ground. Looking down, mad scientist and robotic creation beheld a single Chao standing off to the side, staring up at the with a look of surprise and stark terror. The tiny creature abruptly let out a frightened squeal and ran. Other Chao appeared from varying hidden alcoves, alerted to the presence of the intruders by their compatriot's alarm call. They took up the call and ran as well, blanketing the hallway in fleeing Chao.
Doctor Eggman shouted, "They'll alert the guards and we'll be found! Open fire!" The robot didn't hesitate. "Yes, Master." Keeping a firm hold on the Master Emerald with both hands, Cyber Shadow quickly extended the laser cannons set in his shoulders and loosed a salvo. The frightened, squealing mob of Chao barely dodged, some being sent flying head over heels to crash into each other and nearby objects. In his hands the Master Emerald grew decidedly damp. Unable to feel it since he lacked the sense of touch, Cyber Shadow didn't notice it and so kept firing. He only realized his mistake as an extraordinarily cohesive stream of water blasted out of the stone to envelop and drench him. The energy emitted from the robotic hedgehog's laser cannons was conducted and redirected before he could react. Convulsing with an agonized wail, the black-armored robot was frozen in place as a wicked blast of electricity tore through him. As he fell the water moved of its own accord, rapidly forming an amorphous shape roughly the robot's size. Chaos Zero had his adversary pinned; expertly molding his watery body to complete the circuit and keep the charge flowing, slowly killing Cyber Shadow. The fallen robot was fighting for his very life, desperately clawing at his adversary. His talons did no damage, the aqueous creature's very body flowing and reforming around the lethal weapons. Their eyes locked; terrified red to angry green. This metal freak of nature dared to threaten the Chao in Chaos Zero's presence. Chaos Zero would not allow this to go unpunished! Doctor Eggman acted, whipping out the Chaos Onyx; which he'd secretly stolen back from the Freedom Fighters after the Angel Island incident; from where he'd been hiding it and showing it to Chaos Zero. The aqueous being immediately released his hold on Cyber Shadow and slowly backed away from the gem he feared so much. He knew with a dreadful certainty what would come next, and he didn't want it to happen. It was his duty to protect the Chao. If he transformed, he would surely destroy them all. The mad scientist proclaimed, "There's nothing you can do to stop me now! You're mine, Chaos!"
The badly damaged robotic hedgehog struggled to stand up and failed miserably, the electricity and water combination having really done a number on him. Chaos Zero was still backing away from them, shaking his amorphous head in mute denial, holding up his flipper-like arms in a warding off gesture. Seeing no other way out he began to diffuse, intending to become a sentient puddle and flow to safety. Doctor Eggman moved like a pitcher in baseball winding up for a throw, which looked more ridiculous than it was. Then he lobbed the Chaos Onyx straight at Chaos Zero with a surprising amount of strength and accuracy for a non-athletic mad scientist like himself. Gem and aqueous being both shone blindingly bright as Chaos Zero unwillingly assimilated it into himself. The blazing outline changed, growing and shifting into something far deadlier. When the light finally died away, what stood there was no longer Chaos Zero but Chaos One. The drastically altered water being somehow emitted a thundering sound similar to that made by a massive, powerful wave crashing against the shore, but it didn't act to harm Doctor Eggman in any way. "…Master…" The weak, static-filled voice drew the mad scientist's attention to where Cyber Shadow lay crumpled on the stone floor. Badly damaged and barely functional, he was in dire need of major repairs fast or he was done for. His dimmed neon eyes flickered wildly as he once again struggled to stand up. Doctor Eggman's face remained impassive and he didn't even move. "I don't need you anymore now that I've got the power of Chaos on my side, Cyber Shadow. You've served your purpose." The robot understood what that statement meant as both mad scientist and altered aqueous being began to leave. "…Master… No…" Cyber Shadow struggled with all the meager strength the critical damage had left him to reach out after the receding forms of Doctor Eggman and Chaos One. "…Please…" Fearing for his continued existence, not wanting to die yet, he struggled to voice his desperate plea with all of his rapidly fading strength. "…Help me, Master…" Neither of the two even so much as looked back as the fallen robot continued to struggle to crawl after them and beg futilely. "…Please… Help…" Soon they were gone, and Cyber Shadow was all alone, facing the imminent threat of total systems failure with no hope of rescue. He didn't want to die yet, not so soon after just being activated, but all he could do was go into stasis lock and await the slow leak of his power core that would eventually kill him. His final thoughts before he made his desperate descent into darkness were a silent plea for someone, anyone to help him. But he doubted his plea would be answered.
Knuckles had felt something very wrong happening via his innate link to the Master Emerald. All the hedgehogs, knowing that his guesses were more reliable than most people's facts, followed him back to Angel Island to offer what help they could, with Tails tagging along not too far behind as usual. Nobody had known that Knuckles was capable of running that fast. The only ones who could keep up with him were the hedgehogs. They set the world record for fastest time navigating the temple labyrinth as they headed for the chamber that held the Master Emerald. The scene that lay before them upon entering the chamber was confusing, at the very least. The Master Emerald wasn't on its pedestal like it usually was. It lay on the ground near the limp, motionless form of Cyber Shadow and it looked… empty, somehow. The robot looked as if he'd been dunked in a lake, although there was no water nearby. A series of claw marks stretched behind him for a few feet, showing that he'd dragged himself that far before his strength finally failed him. But what had happened? Looking him over with a full-spectrum scan, Metal Sonic gave his verdict, "He is very close to the point of no return, but he has not yet passed it. He can still be repaired." Sonic looked around and then piped up, "I can't figure out what the heck happened here, but maybe he can tell us." Tails said nothing in response to that, merely getting to work.
It took about half an hour, during which Knuckles was very impatient and grumpy. Eventually, Tails backed off and said, "That's it. He'll be okay." Cyber Shadow's baleful neon red eyes flickered on as he stirred slightly. "Huh… What?" He seemed surprised and disoriented as he sat up. "I still function? …How?" Tails smiled and answered, "I repaired you." Cyber Shadow recognized the child as one of his former master's enemies, which confused him even more. "I am your enemy… and you helped me anyway?" Tails nodded.
Cyber Shadow gingerly stood up… only to have the profoundly angry Knuckles grab him right by the neck and actually lift him up off the ground, heaving him up against the far wall and pinning him there. The echidna gave an angry growl and snarled right in the black robot's face, "What did you do to the Master Emerald? Talk!" Indigo eyes glared death threats into fear-filled crimson. Cyber Shadow, still very weak from the massive damage he had taken, struggled and kicked but was unable to break free. He tried to get Knuckles to release him, frantically prying at the echidna's powerful hand with desperate claws. Sonic and Maria tried to get Knuckles to let go of Cyber Shadow, but the echidna's strength was too great. Metal Sonic tried to step in, only to receive a vicious backhand that sent him flying into the nearest wall. He reiterated his enraged demand a second time, tightening his grip on the black robot's neck and threatening to break it. Cyber Shadow, still struggling futilely to break free, eventually forced out a few words, "…Doctor Eggman… wanted… unlock hidden power…" Knuckles tightened his grip at that and the stress on his neck passed way beyond even dangerous levels. He couldn't take this much longer. Knuckles yelled at the robot, "What hidden power? Explain! NOW!" The robot felt the metal in his neck beginning to buckle and give way under the great pressure the furious echidna was exerting. If it gave way fully, the damage would be fatal and irreparable. He could only manage one word. "…Chaos…" Knuckles' angry snarl worsened at that. Cyber Shadow was terrified of what the echidna might do next. One good squeeze would finish him for sure. Instead, Knuckles dropped him. The impact upon landing drove him to his knees. Sonic and Metal Sonic tried to help him up, but he waved them back and stood on his own. Turning to the others, Knuckles acted as though nothing had happened. He said, "Guys, Egghead's awakened Chaos, the god of water. The only way he could have gotten Chaos to follow willingly is to have given him a Chaos Crystal. That means we're dealing with the level one form, Chaos One. He's going to want to get the other Chaos Crystals to reach his final form, meaning we have to get them first and keep them away from him no matter what it takes. We've got a few of them right here, which is good, but…"