Chapter 20: Operation The Doomed
Maria couldn't believe what she had just seen. The lady that she was just talking to not a moment ago was now gone, just like that. The horror was written on Maria's face as her brain couldn't give her a logical reasoning for why this GUN soldier just shot the Medic. But, whatever was going on wasn't over as the soldier turned his weapon towards Maria, Shadow and Emerl.
"Wha-Stop!"
Was all Maria could utter before suddenly she found herself whisked away from where she once stood as a bullet sailed past. He, he fired at her. Maria was completely lost for words. What, what was going on? It seemed Shadow was equally as confused as she was, but instead of being frozen, he immediately took action as he quickly disarmed the soldier with a well-placed kick before delivering a follow-up kick causing the soldier to crash to the ground. No sooner had he fallen than Shadow was right there on top of him.
"Answers!" Shadow shouted at him with such rage in his voice, "I want Answers!"
"It has begun," Was all the soldier said before pulling out a combat knife out of his boot and attempted to slash at Shadow. Yet, Shadow reflexes reacted in time to avoid the knife and then, rather by reflex or something else, he slammed into the soldier using his spin attack, thankfully only knocking him out with some a few torn pieces of clothes to go with it. Shadow glared at the unconscious soldier, wanting to drill him for everything he had. But, there wasn't much he could do about it as he looked back towards Maria who's facial expression was showing that she was still in shock. Currently, Emerl was kneeling down trying to comfort her.
"It's Ok Maria," He said, "The scary man is done."
It took Maria a moment to calm down before finally, she managed to get up. Her eyes drifted over to the medic causing her tears to well up again. But, she had to be brave... that call came over the GUN Soldier's radio, so who knew what could be going on next. Shadow also seemed to come to the same conclusion. What just happened wouldn't be the end of it as he walked over to Maria and helped her up.
"We should get to the Professor," Shadow said, "I don't know what's going on, but I have a feeling he may be in danger as well."
Maria could only nod at this point. She could only hope that her grandfather was well, after all, he didn't exactly have someone like Shadow around him. So Shadow took that as a good sign and looked to Emerl.
"You're coming with us," he said, "I need you to help me guard Maria."
"Yes yes," Emerl said in a child-like seriousness, "I shall help guard Maria!"
Shadow nods as he walks to the door and opens it. Upon doing so he could instantly hear gunfire going on in the distance. Shadow turned back and looked at Maria as seemed she tensed up slightly. She could probably hear them too, Shadow reasoned. Yet, she looked brave, almost determined, but Shadow had seen that look before, yet this time even more intense, as he knew she was scared. But, now was a time to get things moving.
So the Trio headed out into the hall. Shadow was on high alert as the group progressed, slowly making progress yet trying not to get the attention of any of the GUN soldiers. Soon, they were about to turn the final corner before reaching the Professor's Lab, when they saw 3 of the soldiers stationed there. Their weapons were drawn and they were ready to attack anybody that got close who also one of them.
Shadow swore under his breath as he saw that, Quickly halting the others and pulling them back around the corner to make sure they weren't spotted.
"They seem to be guarding the Professor," He said.
"We know he's alive then," Maria said sounding relieved. Shadow nods.
"It won't be easy, but I'll need to take care of those guards," Shadow remarked.
"Don't hurt them too badly," Maria said which almost made Shadow double take. Then he remembered that is was just how Maria was. She cared about all living creatures, even if they were trying to hurt her. Yet, Shadow couldn't help but like that about Maria. She was just so innocent, so caring, and was... this wasn't the time for that. So Shadow turned his attention to the GUN soldiers in front of the Professor's lab. How would he go about taking them out? Well, he wasn't really one for stealth, not that there were any places he could hide as it was a straight shot there. So, he did what came naturally and quickly turned the corner and dashed going straight for the GUN Soldiers. This seemed to catch them a little off guard. They weren't exactly expecting a full-frontal assault like this. This allowed Shadow to cover half the distance before they finally got wise enough to open fire on the Black hedgehog. Yet, it was no match as Shadow shifted his position down the hall to avoid the stream of bullets coming his way. Try as they might, even with all 5 of them blasting at them, Shadow continued to weave through the onslaught and make his way forward.
"Come on!"
Shouted one quite annoyed by Shadow weaving and flipping around to avoid the streams of led going their way. But it was just no use. They couldn't hit him. Finally, Shadow was in striking distance as he jumped into the air and spun into a ball before smashing right into them. He held back, if only for Maria's sake, as it knocked each of them off their feet. They weren't done yet as they each reached for their knives and attempted to get back up. But Shadow quickly kicked one directly on the head causing him to fall back down unconscious. The other two rolled out of the way but couldn't exactly go for their guns or risk friendly fire. Still one advanced, swinging the blade in a horizontal slash, aiming for Shadow's head. But the Ultimate Lifeform ducked the blow and quickly swiped his legs out from underneath him. The other one tried to use this to his advantage and come down at Shadow with a Vertical slash, but Shadow managed to reach up and snag his arm before flipping him over his shoulder to land right on his comrade. Shadow didn't waste much time and delivering two straight shots to their heads in order to knock them out cold.
"You did it!"
Shadow glanced down the hall to where Maria had peered around the corner and was congratulating Shadow. Shadow almost smiled... then he saw about a dozen Soldiers coming down the other end of the hall he was on and they just spotted Maria.
"Get down!"
Shadow yelled across the gap as Maria quickly ducked down as a bullet just whizzed past her. Shadow wasn't sure what to do. There wasn't enough time to cross the gap before the soldier's reached her. Even if he did, what then? He couldn't take them all on. Sure he was able to dodge 3 rapid-fire streams, it wasn't easy but he had a fast reaction time and the accuracy to pull it off. but 12? If they worked well enough, they'd be able to cover just about all the angles. That's when to both Shadow and Maria's surprise, Emerl steps out and in front of Maria holding out his arms in defiance.
"I will guard Maria!" Emerl said, "Attack Mode, Initiate!"
"No!"
Was all Maria could say as suddenly, Emerl's eyes turned red as he charged at the soldiers. None of them wasted any time opening fire at the android quickly advancing on him. The bullet came in and Emerl evaded some on his way towards the group, but as Shadow predicted, even he couldn't dodge them all as he was pelted with heavy gunfire, it wasn't a pretty sight but Emerl wasn't down yet as he kept his advance on the GUN soldiers. Shadow, seeing what Emerl was doing, quickly head back to where Maria stood with the horrified look on her face. Shadow reached him just as Emerl reached the Gun soldiers. Emerl was sparking in various areas from placed the bullets had managed to penetrate, but he was made of some hard stuff as he began to strike out at them, ruthless hitting them but still, the numbers were gaining on him.
"Shadow... you... you have to stop him."
Maria was close to tears as she saw the soldiers' were overwhelming Emerl, but he still managed to hold his own. All Shadow could do was to place an arm around Maria.
"Come on, we have to get to the professor," was all he could really think to say, "Emerl is giving us this chance to save your grandfather."
Maria wanted to protest. She wanted the soldiers to just stop. Yet, she was powerless to do anything on her own. All she could do was helplessly watch as the one she seen as her child fight to keep her safe. It was a losing battle. Finally, with one last gentle tug from Shadow, Maria left, turning her back towards the scene. Tears just rolled down her face as she could hear the battle still going on. Different sounds rang past and the images that flooded Maria's mind was just too great. Thankfully, Shadow was able to keep his focus as he helped Maria pick up the pace and soon enough, the two made it to the Professor's lab. Maria had to take one last look at the battle as Shadow opened the door. The two walked in as Maria kept her eyes on the battle. She couldn't tell if Emerl was winning or losing this far away but it didn't look good one way or another. Then the door closed, blocking her view entirely from sight.
