Chapter 28: Eggman's Return
The next day, Shadic was getting ready to go to church. He knocked on Shadow's door.
"Dad? We need to go soon. It's almost 11."
"All right." Shadow got himself ready and opened the door.
Shadic smiled. He was in dress clothes, as was Shadow. The two went outside and got in their car, then drove to the church and went inside. They saw Tails, who smiled when he saw them.
"Glad to see you made it."
"Wouldn't miss this," Shadow said. "Looks like the service is about to start."
Shadic smiled and sat down with his father. He had already become a Christian, as well as getting baptized. Shadic looked at his father, who grinned. Tails sat down beside them also and looked at them. Tails hoped everything was all right between them again. Shadow looked at him and nodded. A few minutes later, the service started. Something about this service seemed to take longer than usual for Shadow. By the time it was over, he couldn't wait to leave. He sighed as they left the building.
"That was a good service," Shadow said. "Felt like it was a little to long, though."
Shadic nodded. They were about to get in the car when they heard a loud laugh. Shadow's ears perked right up. He knew that laugh. He moved in front of Shadic, snarl forming on his face. He looked around for the doctor. Eggman chuckled and landed in front of them. "I didn't know you had gotten religious, Shadow," he said. "No matter. I've escaped from GUN and now I'm going to take my revenge...starting with you!"
He fired a serum into Shadow, who screamed in pain as he was hit in the arm. Eggman chuckled, and then grabbed Shadic. Shadic screamed and struggled to get away from him. Shadow tried to get to his feet and run after them, but whatever Eggman had given him made it impossible. Shadow growled and hit the ground. The last thing he heard before he fell unconscious was the sound of Eggman's laugh as he flew away, taking Shadic with him.
Tails ran to Shadow's side. He was worried about Shadic, but Shadow needed attention. "Someone call a doctor!"
Someone nodded and called the hospital. In minutes, an ambulance was there and took Shadow to the hospital. the doctor examined him and sighed.
"Is there anything wrong with him?" Tails asked.
"He's been injected with a disease," the doctor said.
Tails sighed and shook his head. "Dang it, Eggman. what did you do this time?" He asked himself, and then looked up at the doctor. "What disease?"
The doctor hesitated. "AIDS, I believe."
Tails' eyes widened. That was a terrible disease, one that could kill. He looked at Shadow and then back at the doctor. "What will happen to him? Will he die?"
"Unless some kind of miracle happens, yes."
"How long until he does?"
"He has a few years left. Exactly how many depends on him."
Tails nodded. "What do you mean, it depends on him?"
"His will to live could play a part in this. Of course, the disease will eventually spread regardless." The doctor gave Tails a smile. "You won't need to worry too much for a while."
"There is no cure, I assume?"
The doctor shook his head. "None that we know of." The doctor looked at Shadow. "He'll wake up soon."
Tails nodded. A few minutes later, Shadow groaned and woke up. He looked around and saw the doctor, as well as Tails, and was confused. "What happened?" He asked.
"Eggman injected you with AIDS," Tails said. "Luckily, the doctor says you have a few years to go. Who knows, maybe by then people would've found a cure."
"I doubt it," he said, then looked up. "Eggman! He kidnapped Shadic! We have to do something."
"Should we see if G.U.N. knows anything?"
Shadow nodded and ran out of the hospital. Tails sighed and followed him. Soon they came to GUN and walked inside.
"Are you sure running in like this is the best thing to do?" Tails followed Shadow through the building, wondering just where exactly the hedgehog was going.
"What do you mean?" Shadow snapped. "In case you haven't noticed, I no longer have my powers, and that includes my super speed!"
"I know that! I was just thinking, maybe you should calm down. Yelling at them isn't going to get you anywhere."
Shadow glared at Tails. "You expect me to calm down? My son has been kidnapped, I've been diagnosed with AIDS, and will only live for a few more years! All of this is Eggman's damn fault! How the hell did he escape, anyway?"
"He flew off, like he usually does." Tails fell silent, not wanting to give Shadow another reason to yell at him. Hopefully G.U.N. would be able to help.
Shadow stormed up to the Commander and glared at him. "Tell me how Eggman escaped!" He yelled. "I want answers. He kidnapped my son, and I intend to get him back!"
The Commander was startled by Shadow's outburst. "We don't know how he escaped. Once we figure it out, I'll let you know."
The black hedgehog glared at him, then walked out of the building. He went back to the church, got in his car, and started it up.
"Where do you think you're going?" Tails asked.
Shadow glared at him. "I'm going after Eggman," he said. "He's gone to far this time, and he's going to pay."
"You don't even know where he is." Tails sighed. There was no stopping Shadow. "Let me help you, at least."
"Fine, you can help. Just don't get in my way. Most likely he's in his base."
"I'm good at not getting in the way."
Shadow nodded, and they headed towards Eggman's base.
