A/N - Thank you so much for all reads, reviews, faves and follows! =D Commence Part Two of Sleepless!

Part Two - Judge

Chapter Thirteen

Twelve-thirty in the morning. The chime from the school's florescent clock rang it out across the eastern district of the Beatdrop Capital.

Silver leant out of the open window outside the school room, the cool night air washing over his quills. His fingers itched. The whole endeavor had made him long for a cigarette, but he'd given those things up more than a year ago.

The window had been wide open the moment they'd arrived. Either an entry point, or the exit, for the killer. Something had startled the black hedgehog, but the puzzle as to what left Silver scratching his head.

It was clearly that hedgehog. Blood had caked his hands. Caught in the act, shocked enough to vanish on the spot. He was definitely not your average Mainframer.

"There's no clear clue as to when he might strike again." Blaze's voice dragged Silver out of his reverie.

He turned his head to see her standing in the doorway to the classroom, her coat pristine. No sign she'd been poking around the body. Her gloves had been removed to avoid staining them, yet there wasn't a trace of it on her fur.

"Just that odd mural of a canine's head," she went on. "Maybe that's his next target?"

"It can't be that vague," said Silver. "There are millions of canines all across Mainframe."

"If he was caught in the act then he wouldn't have had the time to narrow it down too much. So far, that is all we have to go on."

Silver cast a defeated look into the room. Well, they had their killer. It was unmistakable. Not just some copy-cat-criminal trying to grab attention.

Blood pooled on the floor around the deer's body and caked his chest fur, but there was no sign of any damage. An autopsy would undoubtedly confirm the method as being the exact same one as the other victims. The mural was odd. A glaring clue. Yet the previous crime scene had tin cans and other kitchen equipment laid out like a replica of the east and north districts of the city. Not to mention the hands of a clock.

As soon as the 'suicides' were revealed to be murders, the killer had grown more creative. Deliberately setting up clues as if he were merely messing with them. Yet the terror was clear on that black hedgehog's face. Terror at being caught? Or was there more to this than could be seen without digging deeper than the surface?

Silver moved back into the classroom and leant back against a table near the front. The canine face stared back at him. Only one eye. The right one was left blank, almost as if the mural were incomplete.

"Can you think of any canines that might be a potential target?" Silver didn't expect a response from Blaze.

She perched beside him, her nose buried in her phone. Thumbs tapping at the touch-screen, and the glow from the screen lighting up her face.

"Off the top of my head," she said, "the only one I can think of is that jackal that got away from GUN."

Silver's ear quirked towards her and he gave her a sideways glance. "Why him? He's a maniac, right?"

"I've no idea," said Blaze. "But the first recorded 'suicide' we managed to trace back happened only a matter of days after he was broken free."

"How did you work that one out?"

"I've been looking for a pattern," she explained. "Something that could have happened that would turn a person to madness, or to act on such extremes to vent their frustrations. The ones that came up that coincided with this killer? The revelation to how GUN treat their employees. Gadget's 'Project Wreckingball' war threat. And Infinite escaping his clutches. There's been smaller, less significant news since then, but nothing I feel would merit a mad man clearly clamoring for attention."

Silver rubbed his chin as he stared at the mural. "Now that you mention it, Gadget is also a canine."

"Mhm. But he was locked up yesterday."

Silver let out a sigh and Blaze shifted beside him, setting her phone back in her pocket.

"As for the victim," she said, "I've managed to trace him back to this school using the ID I found in his wallet. He was a teacher here."

Silver lowered his head into his hand and pinched his nose. "I thought we evacuated everyone linked to this school."

"We evacuated everyone currently linked to this school," she said. "He was long retired. Taught every age from kindergarten to college. He was actually very well respected."

Silver grimaced. "We should have considered retirees."

"'Handle your rambunctious class of students throughout their various years, from kindergarten all the way to their masters degree.'" Blaze nodded and pushed herself back from the table. "We should have. The clue was right there on that video game. The problem was, we just thought it was hinting at the school."

Silver glanced up at her, catching her eye. Silent as she looked back at him. A small smirk teased the corner of her mouth and she let out a dry, single laugh.

"I guess I'm off the hook now?" she said.

He pushed himself from the table and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I think the evidence speaks for itself. I'll call the police station. Let them know they can send someone down here now to have a second look at all this."

"And I'll contact his family." Blaze let out a bitter sigh as she followed Silver from the room. "I don't think I'll sleep tonight."

"Me neither." He paused as she caught up to him. "I think the drinks are on me."

"Is that your way of apologizing for suspecting me?"

He shrugged and cleared his throat. "Maybe. Is it working?"

She fired him a playful grin. "We'll have to wait and see."

...

Computer code glitched and swirled into the air as Shadow and Rouge slipped out of the Chaos Network. The black hedgehog doubled over with his hands on his knees, gasping to catch his breath. Rouge stood trembling beside him, rotating her ears and flitting her eyes left and right. He found himself straining his ears also. No sound of any chopper blades. Just water splashing over rocks and stone.

Shadow straightened and looked out at the River Binary. Its bridge arched overhead, dripping with green algae-infested water. A rat squeaked in the shadows, snuffling around whatever garbage had been dropped that day.

"We're still in the Beatdrop Capital?" Rouge asked.

Shadow let out a sigh and leant back against the cold stone wall. He didn't have an answer. Not one that made sense. His claws still felt sticky. The fur along his fingers stood out at odd angles, and that metallic tang of blood rose off them. Less than before. He'd washed them at an outdoor tap off some alley cafe in haste. Clearly it wasn't enough. He kicked himself back from the wall to finish rinsing them off in the river.

"Why are we still in the Beatdrop Capital?" Rouge pressed.

He dragged his claws over his fur, scraping away until small tufts of it were washed downstream. It would never be enough. Nothing would. He'd never be clean.

"Shadow, answer me!"

The fine quills along Shadow's spine stood on end and he paused with his hands still in the water.

"I don't know." He stood and flicked his hands a few times in a bid to dry them. "I just feel… it's safer if we stay here."

"Safer?! They're looking for you!" Her voice wasn't much more than a hiss, but each word was like an alarm blaring.

Shadow flinched, casting a glance to each tunnel mouth. No drones. He shook his head and returned to leaning against the wall.

"They've seen me," he said. "They'll expect me to run, not stay here."

"What, so you think you're safer hiding in plain sight?" Rouge stood before him and folded her arms. "Gotta admit, it makes sense. But still, Shadow, that's a huge risk. We should bail, lie low in a sewer in Cipher or something."

Shadow dragged his hand down his face as he stared at the dripping wall across the river. Hiding… he was no stranger to that.

"It's not the right move," he said. "If I want answers, they're in this city."

"Seriously, Shadow? You're talking about finding Infinite while the whole of Mainframe are looking for you?"

"Yes," he said flatly, meeting her gaze. "What if these powers are the reason I'm doing this? I'm tired all the time, Rouge, that's not normal! I fell asleep on the roof of a casino, and the next thing I know I'm standing next to a dead body with blood on my hands!"

Rouge's jaw dropped and she stood there, speechless.

"This isn't me," he went on. "I don't kill people! What's happening to me? Unless… unless I was made to be a weapon like GUN were trying to do to him?"

"No." Rouge shook her head slowly. "Your records clearly state you were created for medical science."

"What if that was all some elaborate cover-up? What if I was made to be some mindless killer and that's only showing now?" His crimson eyes widened and he flashed a canine. "What if I put you in danger?!"

"Shadow!"

Her voice was soft yet firm, silencing him. She placed a hand on his chest and moved closer. He took a few deep breaths, trying to quell the anxiety flooding through him. In his mind he was back in that classroom again. His heart flew into overdrive. He just wanted to run.

"I won't deny I'm terrified," she said. "But you're right. It's not you. I know you, and something is very wrong. I want to help you."

"I know…"

Always there. Ever the idiot. Why could she never just run? Leave him. Look after herself. His fingers twitched at his sides as he considered pulling her into him. But his hands still felt dirty. Dirty and wet.

As if she'd read his thoughts, she trailed her hand up to his cheek and inched closer to him. "We'll get to the bottom of this, okay?"

Each soft word tickled the fur on his muzzle. He became oddly aware of the warmth from her body warring with the cold, damp tunnel. His claws trailed up her back to rest between her wings, and he lowered his head to hers. Her tiny nose almost brushed his, and he paused, taking in a sharp breath. It wasn't what he'd been going for, but did it really matter?

He closed his eyes as she trailed her fingers through his quills. But his heart lurched. All he could see was that deer, fixing him with a lifeless stare. Questioning. Accusing. It turned his blood to ice.

She pulled back, eyes no longer on him. His heart lurched again as he looked down at himself. A deep, red glow radiated from his body, casting eerie shadows throughout the tunnel. Everything looked threatening. Even the rat's squeaks seemed oddly loud, almost rhythmic.

'Run.'

He found his eye drawn to the mouth of the tunnel, where the river poured its way in. A lanky shadow bobbed along the wall, drawing closer, a probing spotlight scanning over the grass. No… the squeaking wasn't from the rat.

Shadow grabbed Rouge's arm and pulled her back into him. Pink mist flooded from his body, surrounding them both. What appeared in the tunnel wasn't entirely dissimilar to a Strider Drone. Smaller, and with long, clawed arms. Its spotlight fell on them both as the pink mist swallowed them up, throwing them both back out on the outskirts of the Beatdrop Capital.

...

The hospital ward was filled with repetitive beeping and chimes from various different machines. Each one pushed Rough's fur on end, causing his heart to race faster. He'd never liked hospitals.

He cast a glance to the larger skunk tucked under a clean, white sheet. Stable, but still unconscious. The doctors had wound electrical tape around the fraying wires to stop them damaging the linen. At least, that's what they'd said. The amount of fussing over it told Rough they had other concerns they weren't yet willing to reveal to him.

Despite Pulse City's reputation, the health care was fantastic. Given the lifestyle of the abundant space pirates and mercenaries filling the city, it had to be.

Rough twiddled this thumbs as he stared anxiously across the ward. The doctor was due to be back soon to tell him what the situation was. What they could do for Tumble. A shrill chime came from his left and he jerked his head around towards it. The drip. Its little song to let one know it had finished. Water. That was all it was. Apparently Tumble had been somewhat dehydrated, unable to drink with that helmet on. A large gap at the base of his chin made the doctors wonder if he was fed and watered through a large straw so the helmet could be left in place. Rough felt his hackles bristle at the reminder and he turned once again to see if he could spy the doctor.

There he was. A mink, chatting to a mouse nurse by the door. It wasn't for long. The nurse nodded and left the ward, and the doctor turned to make his way back to the space pirates. The dour look that crossed his face caused Rough's mouth to turn down in a frown.

"Don't like that look you're givin' me, doc," he said.

"I really wish I had better news." The mink tapped his digital ClipBoard and sighed. "All in all, Tumble is healthy. But we can't risk removing the helmet."

"Why not?" Rough scoffed.

"Because it's intricately wired into a socket in the back of his skull." The doctor pulled a chair over to perch on it. "Whatever Gadget has done, he's made sure that removing the helmet will be detrimental. It's almost sadistic in design. The scans show that the wiring goes into his brain, which allows the helmet to control his mind. It also spreads across every part of the helmet, powering the lights and the aids to his vision. If I were to guess, I'd say thermal imaging, night vision, telescopic… whatever he's programmed into it. The helmet is basically one massive computer powered by living tissue. None of us have ever seen anything like it."

Rough clenched his teeth together, more in a bid to stop his eyes filling with tears. "So what? You're tellin' me he's stuck like this?"

"Until we can find a safe means to remove it, I'm afraid so. Otherwise we risk serious brain damage." The doctor paused as a small grimace crossed his features. "He's fortunate enough the impact from your attack didn't do any internal damage."

Rough flinched and screwed his eyes shut. "So what's gonna happen to him then?"

He dreaded the answer. 'Remain a monster'. 'Mind-controlled forever.' 'A vegetable.'

"There are some computer experts in this hospital," the doctor explained. "Those who deal with bio-enhancements and robot limbs. They've offered to have a look at it and see if there's any way they can de-activate the mind-control elements, which will allow him to have a better quality of life."

Rough looked up at that. "So there's hope?"

A smile graced the mink's muzzle. "Yes. But… he'll unfortunately be stuck with the helmet until we find some way to remove it. That might turn out to be a life sentence, I'm afraid."

Rough looked over at his brother, feeling a knot tighten in his chest. So he may never see his brother's face again. The poor skunk sentenced to a life of feeding through a tube. But it was better than the thought of losing him completely.

"I know it doesn't sound nice," said the doctor. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But it's the best option we have so far. The tech team who have offered to help are fantastic, so he has the best chance at a good life, even if he is restricted to that helmet." He paused and gave a weak smile. "He'll still be himself."

"I guess." Rough couldn't look at the mink.

"I'm sorry it's not better news."

"Don't worry 'bout it." Rough tried to force a smile, but his eyes glistened with the threat of tears. "So long as he's okay…"

As he trailed off, the doctor stood up. "I'll be back soon with further information. Unless the tech doctor arrives before I do?"

"Thanks, doc." Rough watched him go then sank into his seat, dragging a hand down his face. "I seriously wanna punch that wolf…"

...

Mainframe was in an uproar, and not just the Beatdrop Capital. Citizens were bailing on the large city, fleeing to the surrounding towns and villages. Striders and Fliers fed the commotion back to Eggman's lair, spreading it across the abundant screens.

Starline leant on the control deck, beak agape as he took it all in. They were fleeing The Heartbreaker. The murderer, rampant in the Beatdrop Capital. Shadow the Hedgehog, caught red handed. Literally.

"Is there nothing we can do about this, Doctor Eggman?"

He turned to face the large human, sat twirling his mustache. His brow furrowed as he silently seethed. The whole of Mainframe knew about Shadow now. He'd be hunted, most likely killed. But as things stood, Shadow was a huge threat.

"My Stalkers are on it," Eggman muttered.

One of the solitary clawed robots plodded across one of the screens that was trained on an empty side street.

"We could send more robots after him?" Starline suggested. "Or more GUN forces?"

"I want less attention on that hedgehog," said Eggman. "I know what I'm going to do, Starline. Don't you worry about it. You focus on getting those cameras into Pulse City like you promised you would."

Starline gave a nervous laugh and adjusted his tie. "Of course, sir."

He turned to leave the computer room, casting one last glance back at the mad doctor. He'd risen himself, following the platypus from the room.

Starline cleared his throat and paused in the hallway. "What do you have planned, if I may be so bold as to ask?"

"Damage control."

Starline raised an eyebrow at that, but Eggman didn't elaborate. He marched down the corridor, his beetle robots flocking around him.

Starline's fingers twitched as he watched him go. Then he tutted.

"Damage control," he scoffed under his breath. "I know a thing or two about that. Probably more than you do."

He turned on the spot, marching towards the main doors. It was still dark, but the sun had begun to push its way up through the clouds. The crimson eyes of the sentry robot cut through the shadows, fixing on Starline.

"Where are you going at this hour?" it asked.

"I have business to attend to." Starline looked back at it over his shoulder. "As you were."

The robot straightened, but didn't salute. Starline felt its eyes on his back as he strolled away from its probing sight. Once comfortably hidden from view, he flicked the hand baring his Warp Topaz. A wormhole spread open before him, leading into a pristine white corridor. He stepped through it, closing it up again behind him.

GUN facilities were all the same. Clean, white tiles with robots moseying back and forth. The sheer lack of soldiers was down to the hour alone. Once the day had begun, the place would be teeming with them.

Starline's boots clinked rhythmically as he marched through the corridor with an educated stride. He paid the signs no heed, turning to follow the corridor to the heart of the facility. He finally came to a stop at a door marked 'Judge Program'.

He knocked politely then pushed the door open. Two large, wide eyes fixed on him from behind a desk. He gave the chinchilla a small bow.

"Pardon the intrusion," he said. "My name is Doctor Starline. I am here on behalf of Doctor Eggman."

"Really?" The receptionist didn't look convinced. "He usually sends a robot."

"This time he has sent me." Starline held out a small ID card. "I need to discuss a dire matter with whoever is in charge of the Judge Program."

The chinchilla checked over his ID and nodded. She handed it back and waved a hand.

"Go on through," she said. "Only Sergent Faust is on duty at the moment."

"He'll do just fine." Starline flashed her a grin then marched on past.

A loud click came from the double doors as the receptionist released the lock. Two sets of doors, the other locked from the inside. Sergent Faust must have released the lock, because the look the large badger gave him told him he'd been informed of Starline's visit.

"Since when did Eggman start hirin' flesh and blood to do his dirty work?" Faust asked.

"Since one showed promise."

Starline leant against the wall, taking in the room. The machinery. The stench of oil and grease. In the far corner stood a towering robot. Red and black, with an Omega symbol painted on its shoulder. A hulking, powerful mass. The thick chains and double locks wouldn't have kept it confined if it had been active. And the soldiers themselves would have been like wet newspaper to those claws.

"Is that the Judge Robot?" Starline asked, nodding towards it.

"Aye. Only one we have in our facility." Faust pushed himself from his seat to join Starline's side. "That one's had some problems, but we think we've ironed out the kinks. Eggman interested now then, is he?"

"He is." Starline rubbed beneath his beak. "What problems did it have, exactly?"

"Robocidal tendencies," said Faust. "Trashed a load of Egg Pawns durin' trainin'. They weren't even its targets. It just went nuts."

"That could be an issue if it were to encounter drones in the streets," said Starline.

"Exactly. That's why we fixed it. Can't say for certain, yet, but it shouldn't be an issue no more."

"In that case, colour me interested." Starline looked the Judge up and down. "What separates it from the other Judge-grade robots?"

"Drive," said Faust.

Starline moved over to the robot and circled it as Faust went on, keeping a watchful eye on the doctor.

"No moral programming. Kinda the same as the others, but this one is programmed to get the job done, no questions asked. You tell it what to hunt and it'll do it."

"Fantastic." Starline placed a hand on the robot's oversized arm. "I have just the target for it."

"Oh?" Faust raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. You've heard of Beatdrop's serial killer, I presume?" Starline met the badger's wide, surprised eyes. "He needs to be stopped. But ordinary means will not be enough."

"You kiddin' me? He's one man!"

"One man or not, this is no ordinary Mainframer," said Starline. "Shadow can regenerate. He's almost entirely bullet proof, and he's intimately linked to the Chaos Network. We can't rely on GUN soldiers and the police force to get that hedgehog under control. We need something bigger. Something merciless. Something that cannot be stopped."

"So you want a Judge-grade 'bot to take him out?" Faust's eyes narrowed on the robot. "One question, doc. Why that one?"

"You answered that question for me," said Starline. "And as for worrying about the citizens? Beatdrop is practically evacuating itself."

"Not everyone."

"There will be significantly less casualties. And we can always issue an evacuation plan. We need to act now."

"Now?! Evacuation could take days! Weeks, even!"

"It'll take much less time once this robot is released into the city. Do you want Shadow to strike again? For all you know, you could be his next target." Starline tapped the robot on the arm. "Unleash him."

Faust rolled his eyes, his entire body twitching with nerves. "All right. Who am I to question Eggman?"

"Yes. You should never question his genius." Starline released the robot to straighten his tie. "I expect results before the day is out."

As Starline left the second set of doors, he heard an engine whir to life. A small chuckle escaped his throat, and he activated another wormhole just outside the reception area. Soon, Shadow would be easy to catch, and Eggman's regenerative technology would be put into motion. He just needed to keep a close eye on that Judge.

...

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