Note: 2nd upload due to three chapters being written one after the other. Thank you for your patience.
Chapter 10: Connection
Sonic © of Sega/Sonic Team
Both stood motionless, the glow of the differently colored eyes, the shadowed creature releasing low, deep breaths that sounded gravely and husky. It was then that they began to realize: the banging on the other side of the door, the sudden presence of this creature…Octavia bit her lip hard whilst Shadow simply looked on, awaiting for whomever would make the first move.
Only, none of them would be making said move.
A cry from Octavia drew Shadow's attention, another jewel covered creature having seized her and held her in an arm lock, she in turn struggling and attempting to reach her knife. The hedgehog began to move, only to feel a clawed hand grip him by the head and throw him down the hallway, he in turn slamming against a far larger form. Octavia continued to struggle fruitlessly against the creature's superior strength, her fingers wriggling madly for the knife in its sheath. Then, Shadow found a pair of arms wrapping around and seizing him in a similar manner. Then, in a flash, the two disappeared, leaving the human alone with the two Arms, both looking upon her hungrily.
…
The world was spinning around so fast, Shadow had little time to comprehend what was going on, yet finally, it seemed that they had stopped somewhere. From what he could tell, it seemed to be something of a main hub of the rescue base, several hallways beginning from the edges of the large, circular room. Yet that wasn't what jostled his senses and baffled him completely.
The pair of arms holding him suddenly let him go.
He didn't process it at first, just that he had a chance of freedom and he took it, leaping in the opposite direction of the Arms spawn and turning to face his abductor. It was only then that he fully grasped what happened, and at the same time, it escaped him. He gazed upon the larger creature, it too gazing upon him. It tilted its head, though whether it was inquisitively or mocking, Shadow didn't know. Though soon, perhaps it wouldn't matter.
This moment came sooner than expected, the creature lunging forward, claws glowing orange as it then raised it, Shadow doing likewise.
"Let go of- oof!" Octavia protested, only to have her words cut short by a blow to her lower stomach, said blow knocking the air out of her.
The creature holding her and the one standing close by observed her struggles, this seeming, to her surprise and horror, excite them. The other one began to give her small jabs in the areas open for it to reach: her stomach, her ribs, her sides, each jab with a sharpened claw that felt more like a stab each time it touched her. It wasn't exactly pleasant, not to mention distracting her from her goal, yet she still fiddled and tried to reach the only means of defense she had. A shiver ran up her spin as she felt something drip on her shoulder, she catching the sight of a maw opening in the corner of her eye, small bits of thickened spittle dripping from it. And looking to the one not restraining her, it seemed to also have a similar look of hunger in its eyes.
C'mon…c'mon! Just nearly there! She could feel the handle graze her fingers!
Suddenly, she felt her head being gripped hard and held in place, the one not restraining her seemingly studying her, surveying her form up and down, its maw beginning to open as it continued to do so. Though, it was then that she heard the one restraining her let out a hiss in protest, it tightening its grip on her. The other began to move closer, making a grab for her head, only to snag her hair, Octavia releasing a shout of pain as it attempting to drag her closer to it, the other in turn pulling her back.
Though, despite herself, it seemed that through the pain, she felt her hand grip the handle of her weapon.
With another pull forward, the woman did likewise, plunging her knife into the abdomen of the creature that held her hair in its grasp, it stumbling back due to this new source of pain. The other holding her then saw the green fluid its fellow spawn emitted from its newly produced wound, it then feeling a stabbing pain in its upper torso. By reflex, it released the human woman, she stumbling over and taking in gasping breaths. Though this brief reprieve didn't last long, their eyes centering on her, and it was clear that they had no intention on letting her go so easily.
…
"Chaos Spear!" the flares of orange light flew in the red and green-eyed creature's direction, it in turn rolling out of the way and delivering its own flurry at the hedgehog. Shadow leapt out of the way, readying himself for a homing attack when he was in the air, yet as he thrust himself downward, he found that he met nothing. A pair of claws from behind just barely grazed his back, his quills raising as he whirled around to see a flash of blue. Again, he felt a pair of claws on his back, Shadow, however, didn't turn back, he feeling the creature approaching him.
It made no sense. It had released him, only to then decide to engage with him again. Yet now, it seemed to be seemingly 'waiting' for him to make a move. It was waiting for HIM to make a move…
"Well…two could play at this game!"
The creature approached, yet just as it was seemingly about to use its claws again, Shadow whirled around and seize its wrist, a blue hue coming over his body.
She ran, the fear of potentially tripping over herself growing as she continued down the hallway. Though she needed to take a break. She needed air. Finally allowing herself to stop for a moment, she leaned up against the wall, holding her chest as her lungs burned and her chest ached, the pains from the night before not doing her any favors either.
Where had he gone, she thought. Well, that was a trite question, considering she had no idea where she was now either. True, from the outside, the base didn't appear to be as large as most GUN facilities, but it was, she assumed, still containing a decent number of floors. She'd kill for a map right now, she pondering whether or not she'd be able to even find one. Probably not, especially considering her luck since last night. And perhaps, ever since she had joined GUN.
Yet…yet she had to keep her image. She had to keep herself at least looking like a soldier. 'Stay strong.' She heard 'his' voice echo in her head. 'Don't you dare let them see you like this.'
"Don't…" she repeated to herself, forcing herself up off the wall. "Don't…not…like this."
Just then, she heard something. An echoing pound of some sort. And from the sound of it, it was but a few yards…maybe even a few feet away.
'Not like this…' she mentally repeated. 'Not like this…' she didn't exactly want to go down…not like this. Yet…yet maybe he'd…"Ah!" she gasped, the sound echoing down the hall again, this time definitely closer. 'Maybe…' she took in a breath and ducked behind the corner of an intersection, ultimately bringing herself closer to whatever the source was, yet, despite herself, she brought her knife close, holding it on her chest and trying to steady her breathing. 'He…he would be pleased.' She reminded herself. And even more, if she was successful…unlikely as it would be…then 'he' would be even more pleased. Taking in yet another sigh, another bang being heard, she leapt out, holding her weapon high, ready to strike.
Only to find nothing awaiting her. Absolutely nothing-
BANG!
She would kill for any sort of firearm right now.
BANG!
Right. Now.
Hollering in surprise, a black mass was flung itself against the wall, Octavia stumbling back as it was just mere inches away from her. Suddenly, a black blur followed not far behind. The large alien and the smaller hedgehog were duking it out with each other, the larger of the two swiping and scratching with its claws, managing to catch and tear at the smaller one's flesh. Though that wasn't what drew the young woman's attention: when the creature was slammed against the wall, she noticed that some of the growths of gem that were on its back were broken, green fluid splattered on the wall it was currently forced against. The same color that flowed from the hedgehog's cuts. She lunged forward, the intention to plunge her knife in the chest of the larger creature, though this only served to divert the creature's attention from the hedgehog to her.
"GAH!" Octavia released a pained gasp as she felt a fist meet her stomach, knocking her back several feet. It began to lift itself up after throwing Shadow off, going over to the downed woman. Seeing the larger being standing over her, it knelt and made a grab for her, yet a smaller blur knocked it to the side, stumbling over somewhat. The Arms spawn looked down at Shadow, trails of green fluid running down its back and to the floor, small 'drips' echoing throughout the hall.
The creature was about to rise again, yet a homing attack to its head knocked it out cold, the body becoming motionless and splayed out on the ground.
The dark-haired young woman turned to the wounded hedgehog; eyes wide. "You…you…" she began, gasping for breath. "You saved me. A-Again." Shadow said nothing, beginning to go off in the other direction. "H-Hey! Wait!" she said, getting up and going after him. "Wait! Please! I-"he didn't get a word out before he felt her seize his wrist. "Wait, please."
"Why should I?" he asked her harshly.
"I.." 'I can't let you leave.' "Look I…" 'I can't let you out of my sight again.' "I'm…" 'He'll kill me if I do.' "I can't let you go."
Shadow scoffed. "Are you serious?"
"No, that's not what I mean." Octavia told him. "I…" 'I need…' "I need your help."
"That's funny." Shadow told her. "You need help from a supposed criminal."
"I…" she began, stammering. Indeed, she was rather despicable before. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"
Her words were interrupted by the sound of a pounding feet not too far away from them, Shadow speeding off in that direction, Octavia following behind at a distance, praying that the creature wouldn't wake up.
He continued in the direction of the sound, awaiting for whatever would come up-
"OW!"
Or for it to come up to him.
Both he and the one he ran into were tossed back from the force they hit each other with, Shadow able to see a blur of blue in his vision as it began to return to him. "What the…" he began, seeing Sonic rubbing his temple. He sighed, had the meaning of 'don't follow me' become lost to everyone?
"What's up?" a voice from behind said, male, a shadow trailing over the wall and drawing closer.
"Hey, what happened?" He then heard Octavia call out from behind, the two sources then coming around the corner and standing by the two respective hedgehogs, the humans looking at each other, one bearing a lit flashlight.
"Jake?" the woman asked, he in turn looking at her in shock, though it was clear that a good degree of relief was in his features.
"Oh, An-"he began, though he stopped himself. "I mean, Octavia." He corrected himself, earning a look from both hedgehogs to him, then to the woman he was addressing. "Fancy you being here."
"Y-Yeah." She said, rubbing the back of her head, slightly averting her gaze. "So…what's up with you?"
"Uh, not that I'm against this little reunion," Sonic then spoke up. "But aren't we supposed to be heading somewhere?"
…
"It should be around here." The nurse stated, the party of four running to their newly assigned destination. Well, three of their assigned destination. Shadow held little interest in finding what they were looking for, yet ultimately, he admitted that he had little sense of direction now. By now, they had traveled down several flights of stairs.
Honestly…why wasn't he 'feeling' anything now? At least, not anything prominent now. They were here, he was sure of that. And yet…they weren't near. Why?
"You know, I CAN just go and find it- "
"No, no, we're nearly there!" Jake assured, just then seeing a door and the sign stationed close by. "I know-"
"Oh, forget this!"
"Whoa, hey, what-" Octavia began, though when everyone turned to see Shadow vanish before their eyes.
Everyone was suddenly left pondering what to do…at least, until Sonic took ahold of both of their wrists and began racing down the stairs, both humans completely lost to the world as everything flew before their eyes. Then, as quickly as it had begun, they stopped, flopping to the floor like wet noodles.
"BLEUGH!"
Though one was a bit more vocal about what they thought of the journey. As well as providing a physical demonstration.
Nevertheless, Jake looked up after finally getting steady on his feet again, he was relieved at the sign stationed by the door.
Communications.
"You might wanna get back a bit." Jake and Octavia obeyed (Jake helping Octavia off of the floor), the blue hedgehog curling up in a ball and revving up akin to a tire before charging at full speed, smashing through the window, bits and pieces of glass flying. Sonic landed on his feet in the darkened room, just around the same time as a blue flash appeared, the two hedgehog's looking rather surprised at the other's subsequent arrival in the same location.
"Have trouble finding the place?" Sonic asked, Shadow's lip tightening.
"No." he answered. "Though I assume that there was some difficulty on your part."
"Oh no, none at all." Sonic answered. "Besides, at least I did mine fair and square." Shadow didn't get a chance to shoot back a retort before unlocking the door, Jake and Octavia coming inside the room via the broken window, the nurse moving his and everyone else's only source of light, all pairs of eyes surveying the room.
"This whole thing is odd." Jake stated.
"You don't say." Shadow answered, Octavia shooting him a look, seemingly taking offense to him being addressed in such a way.
"The power going out is one thing." The nurse continued. "But even so, the backup generators should be allowing some of the stuff here to continue working."
"If that's the case, what's the point of even coming in here?"
"Because the communications network runs on a different generator than that of the lights and other functions, such as the doors in case of extreme emergencies." Jake explained. "And assuming those creatures are responsible for the former, then the sooner we can get something out of here, the better…" he then paused, his flashlight catching sight of a stain on the floor. A rather large, red stain. All pairs of eyes traveled and followed the small trail that followed, leading down the short entrance hall that was in the area.
Following said trail, the party came across a sight that signaled to them that things were more than just a little messy. Thankfully, it seemed that the sources of said messes were nowhere to be seen.
Going in further, the four observed a large control panel that had been quite damaged, scratches lining the once stainless metal, the nodules and keyboards torn to pieces, keys and glass littering the floor beneath the panel. Jake went over and ran a hand over the broken technology, still, he lifted open a small panel hidden away in the underbelly of the panel, a single button resting in the small, secluded square. Pressing it, the room was suddenly alit with light, the massive monitor located on the wall flickering on, it displaying several cracks, an image trying to appear on the screen. Characters appeared, the cracks making it difficult to read, yet from the sight of it, there were two words that were able to be registered.
'Message Received.'
Jake looked to Octavia, both looking incredibly hopeful. "They did it." the nurse sighed, going over to the woman. They really did it."
It was then that her smile faltered. "Only…" she began, biting her lip uncomfortably. "Was it recent?"
Jake averted his gaze. "I don't know." He admitted. "But…it got out, at least. Someone's coming."
Just then, a darkened shape manifested itself in front of the damaged screen, its shadow casting over the humans and hedgehogs, its duel colored eyes centering on them all.
Note: A pivotal character will gain their namesake features in the next chapter.