Note: Hello! So, SO sorry for the late update (really though, it's kind of obvious I keep doing it). Truth be told, I was conflicted on how to start this, as I had several ideas of what to do, yet ultimately, I feel that this is the best direction to go in. Here is a delve back into something more action packed. Granted, it won't be entirely like the last version, yet some similarities are here. Also, this marks the first step in one specific character getting their namesake. Who? Well, you'll have to see. Though first time readers may be a bit confused, it'll make sense later.

That said, here's hoping you enjoy!

Chapter 9-Testing

Sonic and co. © of Sega/Sonic Team

His head whirled around, and he caught it. Just for the briefest of seconds, eyes of red met what appeared to be an eye of green and red.

Then, it was gone.

"Shadow?" the blue hedgehog questioned, yet the black and red Ultimate Lifeform said nothing. "Hey, yo." Sonic said again, snapping his fingers in front of Shadow's face. "Hey, Earth to-"of which were promptly thrust out of his face. "Dude, you care to share?"

Shadow remained silent, what he had sighted gone, yet still, he didn't take his eyes off the spot from the clearing, the trees steadily growing in both number and density. 'What are you even doing?'

What happened next was something that he would've never anticipated, let alone would've even believed, had he not heard it himself.

'…follow.'

Sonic knew not what was even going on with the other hedgehog, yet it was clear that something was wrong with him. His form grew tense and stiff, his eyes were wide and seemingly shocked. Dare he say, it seemed that the other's blood had just turned icy cold. "Shadow?"

It wasn't anywhere that he could see. Yet it was close. At least, he assumed so, otherwise he wouldn't have just heard…no. Not heard. Not with his ears.

'…come.'

The voice reminded him of the likes of Black Death and…

"Shadow?"

Guttural and deep, albeit its pitch was somewhat higher. Perhaps it was indicative of its age. Given the creatures he had seen the night prior, that was perhaps the case. Yet still, the fact that the creature was communicating with him, the fact that he could understand it…Shadow couldn't contain the shudder that wracked his darkly colored body. 'Where are you?' he hadn't meant to reply, the thought just came to him. Nevertheless, this seemed to be enough, as the standard, rudimentary musing gained a response.

'Follow. Come.'

Sonic was about to inquire as to what in the world was going on, yet his eyes fell on Shadow's, as well as the direction they were gazing so intensely in. While nothing could've been seen, something must've been present. Shadow's lips began to part, yet no words came from it. Nevertheless, Sonic attempted to read the other hedgehog's lips. 'And…if I…say…no?' he thought was mouthed. Not long after, another pang of tension assaulted Shadow, he stepping back a bit away. The blue hedgehog got a look at him again, and his face appeared different this time. His eyelids appeared to be fluttering somewhat, his gaze was hazy and glassy in comparison to the intensity he held before. Frankly, it looked as if he were staring off into space, completely separate from the world. Though just as quickly as this strange, trance-like state came, it went. Shadow stumbled back, almost losing his balance outright. A groan emitting from him, he brought his hand to his head and shook it, as if suddenly feeling a headache coming on. "Shads?" Sonic asked, Shadow finally getting his bearings back. "You ok there?" The other hedgehog was silent, as if he were trying to get a grasp on what was happening at the present time. "Hey, c'mon! Give me something, man!" Sonic questioned, albeit with a good degree of force behind it. Not out of aggression, but the other hedgehog had been too quiet for far too long for his liking.

And what came next was something that the blue hedgehog didn't know to either call a blessing or curse.

"Don't follow me."

With that, the coal black hedgehog sped off.

A Distance Away

The blaring of a siren woke her with a start, she shouting "I'm awake! I'm awake!" to nobody, realizing that she was alone in the room. Though not for long, as the door was thrust open, the nurse that had previously been treating her grabbing her by the wrist.

"C'mon!" she urged, pulling Octavia from the table.

"Wh-What's going on?" the dark-haired woman questioned. "What's triggered the alarm?"

"No time! Now, come on!"

There was no time to protest as she was pulled out of the room, several other staff members in the halls, all seemingly heading for whatever laid at the very end of the ever-stretching corridor of white. Though, just then, the young woman's hazel eyes caught something. Through the small, glass window in one of the doors that was passed, she saw something. Something that, despite the crowd moving behind her, made her momentarily stop.

"What are you doing?" the nurse questioned, yanking Octavia forward. "Move!" yet even as she pulled her forward, the GUN soldier still seemed to protest against her, she going against the incoming tide as if she were trying to reach something beyond her current reach.

Unknownst to her, the flood of people that were passing by one of the many stairwells that were located in the small base, people making their way up the stairs in a fashion similar to the group in the hall. And also unknownst to her, a pair of eyes centered on her specifically, a gasp exiting their throat when she broke free from the nurse's hold, then quickly becoming lost in the ever continuing group.

"What are you doing? Move!"

Granted, they were caught in a situation like hers now, especially now that they had seen her. The two continued to be pushed and shoved, forced to go in a direction opposite of where they tried to head, helpless against the superior force all around them.

She had lost her.

"All right, close it up!"

She had lost her.

Nevertheless, there was nothing else that could be done. The automated door was closing, and she was trapped behind several others, all of them to be contained in the confined space. Finally, the door came to a close, the lock hissing and signifying that it, and they, were firmly secured.

The nurse pondered her current situation, let alone how she and everyone else residing on this particular level of the base had come to even be here. Since the young woman had come in, it was clear that she was quite exhausted and had been battered by someone more than a few times. And despite having to attend to other matters at the time, from what she managed to get from the woman, apparently she and her squad were attacked by a hoard of 'black creatures' that she insisted to be those that invaded the Earth but a few months ago. Whether or not this was simply due to exhaustion or not was yet to be seen, yet if this was indeed true…

"Hey," she heard a voice ahead of her say. "What triggered the alarm anyway?"

"No clue." Another answered. "Though really, what sort of reason would anyone have to try and break into here?"

"Maybe it relates to some sort of terroristic threat?"

"Again, why would they come here for that? Besides, wouldn't a more public incident be more successful in demonstrating their message? And on top of that, there's been no reports of anything of that sort for some time. At least in this area."

She continued to listen in on their conversation, taking in bits and pieces and trying weave them together with the woman's former statements. Terroristic threats simply sounded ridiculous and an attempt to grasp at straws, yet with that said, while she couldn't simply been delirious at the time, the GUN soldier seemed to be mostly there. Yet…yet how could that be? They were all destroyed! It was all over the place! They were all dead!

Just then, everything was black.

"What the?!" shouts of bewilderment and confusion began to sound through throughout the secluded chamber, everyone pondering as to just what had happened.

"What's happened?" some questioned.

"The power's out!" others in turn replied.

"Yeah, we can see that! How?"

"Hey, don't look at me! I'm just as clueless as you are!"

"I'm not looking at anything! I can't even see my hand in front of my face!

The nurse's eyes slowly began to adjust to the sudden darkness that overcame all of them, though her trepidation and the general mood of everyone inside hadn't improved. The woman's words continued to echo in her mind.

Just then, she felt something. It felt like a hand, and yet…somewhat was wrong. It was big, big enough to dwarf her shoulder, and the fingertips felt chilled and uneven. As if they were composed of hardened rock. Several pairs of eyes centered on her, she daring not move as a low trilling filled her right ear.

Perhaps it was best that he didn't push his luck too much considering that he had just about warped in the middle of an oncoming crowd outside. That was one of the problems with teleportation. True, he could usually gauge where he'd end up, yet the specifics sometimes got lost in translation. It was usually best when he had visited the location before and held an image in his mind. Though given there was still good chunks of memory that had yet to entirely return to him, and those brief images usually didn't become much more than that, even when he tried to visit somewhere that appeared to look like them.

Of course, as with most things it seemed, it was something that he'd have to attend to later. Assuming more things from days long lost to him didn't rear their ugly heads along with the others.

He didn't need to fear being locked inside due to the closed door, he simply warping out and ending up in the now empty, darkened hallway, brief images of the starry abyss that composed of the outside coming to mind, yet he had to remind himself that he was on Earth. In fact, this place seemed to not bear any access to the outside at all. No windows, nothing. Shadow bit his lip, his dislike for this place already increasing. Still, he couldn't leave yet.

Not until he found what was drawing him. It was like before…yet different. Surely though, surely Doom wouldn't be so foolish as to expose himself in a place such as this. But the creatures he saw last night…

The coal black hedgehog began to make his way down the hallway, the pull still present, yet it had lessened in pressure, as if seemingly appeased. He was where it wanted him to be. Only thing now, where to go now? He slowly walked around, hearing nothing but the sound of his shoes against the ground.

CRASH!

The sounds of shattering glass made his ears stand up and the quills on his back stand up, the hedgehog whirling around in the direction the sound came from. From what he could gauge, it was a little closer than he would've hoped, and as he listened on, and judging from the general model the other doors shared, it seemed that a form larger than him had broken through it and was currently making their way through the space they had created. His mind jumped to it being the work of one of the Black Arms, yet if that was the case, for what reason would they need to break a window? Could they not simply Chaos Control their way out? Or was it merely a means to grab his attention. Speaking, how did he manage to gain such abilities? The answer, via Doom, was perhaps the simplest and most obvious, yet a part of Shadow wasn't entirely comfortable with accepting that. Especially given that he had little to no idea what the far smaller and revived creature had done to him, let alone what the images that flooded and passed through his mind even meant. He couldn't even remember them; they went by so fast. It was then, however, that he stopped himself. This was far from the time to be dwelling on such things. They, like a great deal of other things, would have to be pondered on later.

It was then that he saw a shadow trailing itself along the wall, its owner only separated by a corner, the sight of the barrel of a pistol being in such close proximity to his head caused him to react and seize the hand that held it and twist. A pained, female voice cried out upon feeling her limb being treated in such a manner, the owner of said arm reaching to wrangle the larger, glove clad fingers off her.

And there the two stood. Red eyes gazing into hazel ones, neither entirely expecting the other to be of whom the7 would meet on the other side.

"Y-You!" Octavia spouted out (or more appropriately, squeaked, her voice raising in pitch), still gripping onto her weapon, albeit, said grip was beginning to grow lax due to the angle the hedgehog held it in. "H-Hey." She said, struggling. "Hey, you're sort of…do you mind?" her limb was released, she bringing it close to rub and massage the heated ache away that said twisting had caused. At least that was the worst he had done to it.

"What are you even doing here?" Shadow questioned, keeping his eyes from the firearm she held in her position.

"Me?" the human woman questioned, taken aback. "What about you?" she shot back. "I'd say that you were outright stalking me by this point!"

"Think what you want." Shadow told her curtly, his attention not staying on her long, his eyes looking around the small, enclosed hallway, as if searching for something.

"Well, why ARE you here?" Octavia pried further. "Better yet, why's the power out? At least, I'm assuming it's out." Shadow didn't answer her. "Hey." Again, no answer.

It was distant, just as it had been before. Just as it had been when he was led here. Yet…had he not seen…was 'seen' even the right word? Whatever the case, it wasn't akin to what he had experienced the night before. Not entirely.

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Why are you- "

"Quiet!" Shadow hissed, mentally cursing, his concentration gone.

"Why are you here?" the human woman continued, clearly either not taking the hint, or simply not caring. The hedgehog suspected that it was mostly the former. "Better yet, why now?"

"Better yet, why do you insist on asking me all these questions that'll clearly get you nowhere?" the coal black hedgehog shot back, turning to face the rather pushy woman. Though when she didn't respond, he grew suspicious. "What?"

"…you know…" she began. "Maybe…maybe the guys weren't that far off."

"What are you talking about?"

She looked to him; her features stern. "Maybe there's more to this. Maybe…" she continued. "Maybe you know more than you're letting on."

Shadow growled. "What are you implying?"

"Well, isn't it just a LITTLE peculiar that NOW, once I'm in here, there's supposedly something that triggers the alarm. Then, the power goes out, then…you just so happen to be here." Shadow said nothing, it clear what she was saying. "Hey, you can't deny that it's all just a LITTLE too coincidental to ignore."

"So, that's your verdict." Shadow simply stated after some moments.

"…yeah. Yeah, it is." Octavia confirmed. "Besides, it's not like you're the most trustworthy person. Besides, you DID attack those soldiers in Westopolis, as well as supposedly planned to give those two Emeralds you gathered to that Black Doom guy." She went on. "Not to mention those ruins that rose. We only know what happened up there from your word alone. Who's to say that Eggman was even there? Maybe you DID help Doom raise those- "

"Shut up."

"And you outright attacked the Commander- "

"Shut up!" Shadow had finally had enough of hearing her talk. "Shut up! You know nothing, wench! How DARE you!" he began to approach her, enraged. "You weren't there either! In fact, you're only going off what that blasted organization has documented, all of which is wrong! Not that such a thing would surprise me, but don't you DARE go blabbering about things you CLEARLY have no idea about!"

"Then answer me, why ARE you here?!" Octavia questioned.

"If what you say is true, it's a miracle that I AM here! Considering you seem like someone who wants to live!"

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Yet, it was then that he felt it again, completely unaware that Octavia was looking right at him. "Um…hello?" she questioned, registering that, given his expression, he seemed to be incredibly focused on something. In fact, the young woman though that said look appeared rather familiar to her. "What? What is it?"

"Don't follow me." It was then that he dashed off down the hallway.

Elsewhere

Well, well, well…for all his supposed 'shock' at being able to make use of Chaos Control without the Emeralds. He just up and CHEATED his way in here! Ultimately though, the blue hedgehog would have to simply make it work. It wasn't as if he knew this place anyway.

Speaking of…why was this place so empty?

From the outside, when Shadow had stopped, there seemed to be nothing more than a small shed of sorts in the middle of a small field of grass. Perfect indicator of some secret base. If ol' Egghead was good for anything, he allowed for the improving of Sonic's deduction skills. Albeit a little, the old man didn't deserve THAT much credit. Still, Shadow totally cheated. Sonic had to up and find a vent in the barren inside of the shed and climb his way down. Or rather, plummet, seeing as he fell a good few feet or so upon entering. Yet he was in now, and from the looks of it, in a place that either wasn't even bothered to be lit, or these guys were behind on their electric bill.

Making his way out from the vent, Sonic lightly treaded the floor, careful to not create too much noise. Still, small echoes of his steps sounded out through the wall he was currently in. He had just arrived, yet already, the hairs on the back of his neck began rising. Even if he didn't understand Shadow's sudden 'draw' to this place, let alone in the direction this small place was located, it was clear that, now that he was here, there was something here.

Especially considering that no one else appeared to be.

Just then, as he was about to veer around the corner, a large shadow began to ease its way along the western wall. Hiding behind a corner, the blue hedgehog's ears alerted him that whatever this figure was, it was coming in his direction. Though…from what he could here, the steps didn't appear to belong to anything large. If anything, they appeared to belong to something of regular weight. At least, regular to that of a human. Still, just in case, he peered just enough around the corner, green eyes keeping track of the incoming shadow, its form beginning to take shape as it drew closer and closer.

Elsewhere

Close.

He was getting close.

There was no doubt now, he, or someone relating to Doom, was here. Perhaps it was that Death again, yet this felt different from either of them. Dare say, it was almost…familial.

Shadow banished the thought as he continued down the ever-stretching hallway, the protests of the young woman falling on deaf ears. Up ahead appeared to be a large door, a hatch of some kind. He stopped at it, hearing nothing from the other side. Given the situation, as well as how everything was now coated in a veil of darkness, he doubted that whomever was inside, if the flood of people he head seen earlier was any indication, would be so quiet.

Then, he heard something. "H-Hey!" Something that made him inwardly groan. "Don't run off on me!" Octavia chided him, though her lecture was placed in between heavy wheezing and breaths to get air back into her lungs.

"Your memory is worse than I suspected." Shadow answered her back. "I distinctly remember you being told NOT to follow."

"Well…" the dark-haired woman wheezed. "That…that's not happening. Not…" she huffed. "Not that I…finally…"

BANG!

Both she and Shadow's eyes centered on the door, the banging increasing. It sounded as if several hands were pounding on the other side, yet they were only able to be heard briefly and were subdued due to the heavy material of the door.

Elsewhere

As suspected, it wasn't anything dangerous, though, the blue hedgehog wouldn't have expected such a sight, especially given the emptiness all around him.

"Oh!" a male voice shouted in surprise, stumbling back as he saw the blue blur peek out from behind the corner, nearly falling right on his- "Oof!" scratch 'nearly'.

Going over to him, Sonic surveyed who was before him: the human appeared to be a middle-aged man garbed in light blue scrubs and plain, white shoes, his skin peach and hair brown. He bore a pair of glasses and surprisingly long hair, it tied in the back in a low ponytail. And was, obviously, quite startled. "You ok there, man?" Sonic questioned.

"Y-Yeah." The man answered, rubbing the lower portion of his back. Geez, he must've landing on his tailbone.

"Here?" Sonic grabbed the man's hand and pulled him up, chuckling as he saw the man's eyes widen as the far smaller hedgehog managed to get him back up on his feet. It was always kind of amusing to see humans surprised at just how much strength he had. Then again, the lower portion of him was a better demonstration of that. "Guess it doesn't need saying, but you wouldn't happen to have any idea who turned out the lights, would you?"

"No clue." The scrubs wearing man confessed. "And truth be told, it's probably not anything good."

Sonic's feelings were mutual, yet still, he was curious about something. "Well, I guess we should start with names." He told him. "I assuming you- "

"Oh yes." The human answered. "Everyone knows who you are too well."

Sonic smiled and gave a little bow. "At your service." He chuckled. "And you are, good sir?"

"Trying out formality?" the man gave a small laugh. "Anyway, I'm Jake. Jake Mallory."

"Ok then, Jake," Sonic began. "Given you and I are both on the same page about the lights, mind telling me as to what you're doing out here all alone?"

"Well, truth of the matter is," Jake answered. "I'm looking for someone." He confessed. "A woman."

A woman…it was just a hunch, and really, he had little idea as to why it just popped up, yet still…no harm in checking, right? "She wouldn't happen to have dark hair, would she? Kind of messy looking?" that seemed to get Jake going. "Hazel eyes, young looking? And, if I may, in need of a bit of a shower and toothpaste?"

"Yeah!" Jake confirmed. "Tell me, you've seen her?"

"Here, no." Sonic confessed. "But those forest rangers took her, and I assumedly that'd be the end of it." he then paused.

"But what?" Jake asked.

"Let's just say…I'm here on a hunch." Sonic then looked to the unworking lights above. "And all things considered, I don't think I'm that far off."

Elsewhere

"Wh-What's going on?" Octavia questioned, looking to Shadow, whom was watching the door intently. "What's happening?"

"Shh!" he shushed her, she biting her lip as she too centered her attention back on the door. The pounding began to subside, slowly, yet steadily, until there was nothing but silence.

The human woman inched her way towards the door, placing her ear next to it. "H-Hello?" she questioned, knowing well that, given the door's thickness, her voice probably wouldn't reach. Still, if they could hear faintly whatever was going on from the other side, then maybe her words would have a chance of reaching. "Hello? Can anyone hear me? Are you all right in there?" she heard nothing. Yet she was beginning to suspect…she turned back to Shadow, stepping away from the door. "Why are you here? Tell me." Shadow was silent, seemingly turned away from her, looking down the darkened hallway. Octavia didn't say a word, she reaching for her knife. A pistol or something along those lines would've been desirable right now.

Even more so now that, from the shadows, both hedgehog and human could see a figure standing in the middle of the hall, a low trilling echoing all throughout, a green and red eye glowing in the darkness.

Note: Truth be told, I wrote three chapters after another to hopefully make up for the late updates, yet that also reminds me that I probably need to go and update my 2nd instalment of Mega Man: Missing Episodes (of which I'm following a similar formula). Granted, I've got a previous version to work off of for this, so here's hoping future updates won't be too TOO late (not making any promises though).

That said, hope you enjoyed!