Note: Thanks so much to Blazepyro for being one of the main supporters of this little thing, as well as Luna Eevee. You guys are two of the best motivators for getting me to continue this. Thank you to everyone else for your reviews and support as well, and I hope to hear from you all!
Here's the questioning session, as well as some hints of things to come. Again, don't want to go too fast, but not too slow. As well as load you guys down with words, something that I've been very guilty of in the past and is something I hope to improve on. Anyway, reviews are the best encouragement for me to keep going, so I hope you all come and read and leave your input! Also, while I don't want to be too demanding, yet I'd love for this to be included in a community or two, seeing as the last fic managed to get into some.
Also, a hint to a part that'll be delved into later. I'll warn now, it's not pretty.
Chapter 13-Laying out the Pieces
Stationed in a chair with the head of GUN. Far from a position he would ever imagine himself in again.
"So," Commander Tower began, folding his hands and bringing them up to his chin. "Do you want to start or should I?"
"You're asking me?" Shadow questioned, the human man remaining motionless in his chair.
"Be grateful that I am." Tower told him matter-of-factly, clearly in no mood for any smart remarks. "Private Octavia and Sonic have already given their reports of what had occurred, as well as one of the present staff of the previous location, Nurse Jacob Mallory, so it's only fair that all parties report on what happened." He narrowed his eyes. "Though, it's fair to say that it's undeniable that you have quite a role in all of their stories." Shadow narrowed his eyes, the man doing so back. Still, the hedgehog should've expected this, he thought. He far from liked it, but it was inevitable. And seeing as he was here now, what other way out was there but forward. Plus, like it or not, he gave that human woman his word. Curse it. "No lying."
"I DON'T lie."
"Lying by omission is STILL a lie." Tower answered. "And need I remind you that there are lives at stake. So, if you DO indeed have some semblance of care for humanity as you so claim," he paused, both he and Shadow growing quiet, their minds centering on the image of one, youthful face with golden, flowing hair. "You'll relay EVERY detail and EVERY single, seemingly insignificant portion of what happened."
Releasing a sigh, the Ultimate Lifeform shifted his red eyes, then looking to the uniformed, aged man opposite of him. Fine. He would tell, although, not without some conditions. "You go first."
Tower was clearly angered by this rebuttal, yet ultimately, he did see some merit in the hedgehog's 'request'. Besides, he hadn't exactly given details regarding his side either, something of which would probably go in his favor in getting the black and red rodent to loosen his lips.
Up Above the Earth
His feet bled as he was led down the darkened, near lightless hall, the windows to the starlit abyss outside serving as his only source of light. He didn't struggle, both from the general weakness of his body and that the strength of the creatures restraining him wouldn't allow for any sort of escape. He winced and released small whimpers as he was forced to walk forward, though he'd take this over what he had been, or rather, hadn't been before. Even if, in a way, he had never left his former captivity.
Finally, at long last, they seemingly reached their destination, the larger, stronger creatures tossing the human garbed in little more than a hospital gown inside the room, he looking from his place on the floor to the floating, multi-limbed, single eyed entity above him, a hooded figure bearing a pair of arms but no visible legs.
Surprisingly enough, the human needed no introduction to either of them.
Earth
"The Ark's been cut off? Entirely?"
Commander Tower nodded. "Since yesterday, the entire link between us and them has gone out. Any means of communication has been unsuccessful, and with that, it's safe to assume that the men we have aboard also have no means of reaching us." He entire form stiffened. "And given from what Private Octavia and Sonic have said so far, I'm beginning to signal out a particular suspect for how that is. The only question is, how. Seeing as you and Sonic saw to sending that monster to where he belongs. Or…so we believed." Shadow saw for the briefest of moments that the older man shuddered somewhat. Dare he say, he regained a look that spoke not of just apprehension, but childlike fear, as if the very act of speaking of Doom was taxing to him in of itself. Still, regardless, he steeled his nerves and pressed on, despite the difficulty. "So, then you come in with your story."
Shadow bit his lip. This wasn't going to go well in his favor, he knew.
Above
"Greetings, Jerry Parker. Or do you prefer your moniker, Firecracker?" The floating lifeform told the human, said human saying nothing and staying on the floor. "Oh, come now. Surely the fundamental manners of exchanging 'hello' is shared on your home, yes?"
The man, Jerry/Firecracker moaned, his body wracked with aches and pains. It was the first sign that he was finally free, and ultimately, given that, he'd take all the pain in the world if it meant that. He tried to speak, his freedom having only been granted to him but mere moments ago, yet found his tongue not cooperating with him, drool and gurgles only able to emit from his semi-numb mouth.
"Ah, yes. I forgot. You're not entirely there, are you?" Black Doom 'remembered', floating towards the barely clothed man. "It seems I've also forgotten to properly thank you. My children are quite vulnerable in their first stages of life, thus, as their parent, I must provide them a haven for food and warmth." A lone tendril came to rest on the man's shoulder. "You have children of your own, yes? Margret and Harry was it? Surely you would understand, right?" the man remained silent, still wrestling with his tongue to say something, anything. "Of course you do. Any loving parent would. And, from how highly you spoke of your own, I believe we share a kinship in that regard."
"Y-You…" finally, at long last, Jerry managed to get something out. "You sick…sick freak. I…I won't…"
"Won't what?" Doom questioned. "May I remind you, you're not in any position to do anything for or against me now. For the most part. Look, you can barely stand as it is. Though, I do apologize for that. My children get a little…unhinged when they're hungry."
Hungry…the word made his stomach churn. After this, he'd probably never be able to hear the word without expelling everything he had just taken in again. Though, by now, he would stop kidding himself. There was no next time for him or anyone else that was aboard this ship. They were all doomed. Doomed at the hands…the tentacles of this small monster that now held his and everyone else's lives in his grasp.
Earth
Abraham Tower was frozen in place, doing his best to keep on a brave face, though it seemed at that moment, he and Shadow were linked through the clear unease that the two shared with the news just delivered. Yet that wasn't just it, oh no. The method in which he had presumably returned made it even more dire. "So…he has the Chaos Emeralds in his possession."
Shadow nodded attentively. "It appears so."
The GUN Commander lowered his head, the hedgehog opposite of him seeing his hands begin to tremble. Again, a childlike fear. The same that he had seen displayed by Octavia. His mind found that it began linking the two in that, yet also in other areas. Such as how, oddly enough, the hazel colored eye of the man…it seemed to resemble her eyes. "But then…he did something to do you?"
Shadow braced himself. He knew this part was coming. "Yes."
"Such as?"
The Ultimate Lifeform bit down on his lip, hard. "I…I don't entirely know."
"What do you mean you' 'don't know'?"
"Exactly that." Shadow answered. "It…it's not exactly easy to describe."
"Well, you and I both know that you're not leaving until you say what you know. Or, we can engage in a little game of chase, if you prefer. But given the circumstances, despite your speed, I can guarantee you won't get far. We have eyes EVERYWHERE."
Shadow bit down harder to where he nearly broke his skin. He didn't want to; he REALLY didn't want to. But again…the image of her face came to him. Thus, he parted his lips and begin to speak.
Above
The tentacle parted Jerry's hair that was soaked with sweat, a gaping hole the size of a quarter on the back of his neck, clear, viscous fluid coating it and making it slippery to the touch. "Rest assured, it's clean." Jerry inwardly scoffed, as if that mattered out of everything. Black Doom continued to survey and gently prod at the wound, the human man only able to feel mild pressure due to the numbing fluid surrounding it. "And I doubt you've suffered much discomfort during my darling child's…occupation."
"Di-Discomfort…my…my-"
"Language, Jerry." Doom chided. "The walls have such sensitive ears."
The human tried to maneuver his arm to swat the tentacle away, yet all he could do was wriggle a few fingers, and that was the most he could do as he was struggling to keep himself semi-upward on his hands and knees. "You…you won't…get away with this. You…you won't- "
"Really, how many times do you intend to repeat yourself? Is your species' vocabulary that limited, or are you an exception?" Doom snarled, though afterward, he gave the man's head a small pat. "Do forgive me." He drew closer to the human. "I get a little irritable when I'm hungry…"
Earth
"…which brings us to where we are now." Shadow concluded, Abraham Tower sitting back in his chair.
"That's all?"
Shadow nodded. "That's all."
"Nothing else you wish to share or disclose?"
The hedgehog narrowed his eyes. "No."
The human and hedgehog stared each other down, the room engulfed in uneasy silence. Minutes upon minutes passed as the two's eyes locked with each other, awaiting for the other make some sort of move, whether it be the twitch of a lip or small parting of the mouth, any indication that maybe, just maybe, the other had more to say, yet were keeping it from the other.
"May I remind you that this far extends past whatever differences GUN and you have?"
"I need no reminder. You asked for my part of the story and I gave it to you."
"I don't entirely believe you."
"Neither do I you."
The two continued this game with each other, said game continuing before the human had finally reached his limit, deciding to bring up a detail that had yet to be shared. "Angel Island has fallen."
Shadow rose a brow. "When?"
"During the night." Tower confirmed. "Sonic detailed that it crashed along the coastline between Mystic Ruins and Station Square. According to him, the echidna Knuckles and Agent Rouge were present at the scene, unconscious- "he saw Shadow stiffen upon hearing the bat's name. "But still alive. The Master Emerald had vanished without a trace."
"So, it's been shattered."
"Assumedly." Tower said. "Sonic, nor his friend, Tails, can confirm this for certain, yet from past reports, it seems that its disappearance is a given indicator of it having occurred. From last I heard; Tails is currently stationed at his workshop in Mystic Ruins overseeing the two. So far, their conditions have been stable. Though a broken wing has been reported for Agent Rouge." The Commander then shook his head. "What she was even doing there in the first place confuses me. It could simply be one of her 'treasure hunting' stunts, but…" he trailed off, getting off topic. "Well, seeing as you've already told us all you 'presumably' know, I think I'll double take with your blue friend and the Private." He rose from his chair and made his way to the door. "Don't think this is over, though. Not by a long shot. I WILL be coming back for more, as there clearly is some." He was about to leave, but then turned back to Shadow.
"What?"
"Nothing." Tower remarked. "It's just…odd that you haven't tried to escape. It's even more odd that you even came here of your own free will at all." The hedgehog released a heavy sigh but said nothing. Curse him and his promises at times. "Nevertheless, stay put. I'll deal with you in due time." With that, the door shut.
He was leaving out details, Tower knew it. There was no way that all Black Doom (God, it still seemed impossible) did was merely 'stick' a tentacle in him, which somehow 'miraculously' gave him the ability to use Chaos Energy without the use of an Emerald. There was much more than that. There had to be.
Ironically enough…just as it was with him.
The Night Prior
"Sir?" Abraham turned towards one of the individuals at the control panel. "We're getting something!"
The older human wasted no time in going over to him. "Well, don't keep everyone waiting! Who's contacting us?!"
"It…that's just it!" the man at the panel cried out. "I can't get a clear picture!" he gestured to the screen in front of him. "But if this means that someone's managed to make contact, then perhaps all this was just a false alarm-"
"Ab….ham?" Everyone froze upon hearing the voice from the speakers. The picture was still riddled with static and was barely visible, yet from what little anyone could see, a shot of the world they dwelt on was present on the screen. Not the one that had just barely managed to be heard. "Abra…am?"
"…adjust it." Commander Tower suddenly ordered.
"S-Sir?" the young man stationed at the panel began. "What's-"
"Do it."
Obeying, he turned the dial and as he did so, the sound became clearer and clearer, everyone finally able to hear what the voice was saying. "Abraham? Abraham?" the picture was far from clear, yet in the heavy shadows, there appeared to be…something there. Hidden away and not revealing itself, yet there was one thing was visible amidst the poor picture quality. A single, glowing eye that seemed to shimmer as if it held a shell of stone. Or crystal. "Excuse me, young one," the voice spoke again, the young man in front of the screen shivering upon hearing it. "Is Abraham available? I must speak with the boy." His tone was a sickening, contrasting mixture of friendliness and hidden intent, it clear that whatever the disembodied voice had in mind, it was far from good.
Tower was frozen in place. 'No…' he thought repeatedly. 'No, no, no, no, no, no, no…'
"Ah, there you are, dear boy!" the voice proclaimed, seemingly pleased. "My, my…you HAVE grown since I saw you last!" the older man was robbed of words, everyone noticing that, to their collective surprise, their Commander began shivering. "You still have the same, lovely eyes though. I always thought it was peculiar that your kind could have two eyes of a different color."
"You….no." the Commander of GUN uttered. "You..you can't be…"
"Well, that's rather rude, don't you think?" the voice chided, as if speaking to a child. "It's been so long since I've seen you, and you haven't even told your friends about me?"
Everyone looked to their Commander, of whom began to steadily back away from the monitor. "What…how did you-"
"Oh, come now, dear Abraham, surely you've noticed SOME traces of me, yes? Traces and little clues that I left just for you? Clues that you've yet to say thank you for."
"Who…are you?" the young man stationed at the panel questioned, the eye seemingly narrowing.
"Let the boy tell you himself. He and I are old friends. At least, we were. I can't say whether the connections remain after all this time. Though…I do hope that you spared me some thought, child. I've certainly spared you some."
It was a poor effort, everyone could see, but still, the older man steeled himself, choking back bile that was rising in his throat. God, the monster sounded just as he had remembered. Yet…he didn't appear to look the same. No one could really see any visible form save for the single eye, everything else being coated and hidden in thick shadows. "Black…"
"Go on, boy. Say it." the hidden figure chuckled. "Say my name."
"Black…" it was painful to even speak it. "Black Doom…"
"In the flesh." The voice confirmed. "Or rather…my new flesh."
"H-How…"
"In due time, little Abraham. In due time." Doom gently said. "I cannot stay long, yet I felt it inappropriate to leave you without some semblance of an announcement of my arrival. And, I thank you kindly for the generous offer of this ship. As well as the compensation of this current supply of food."
Food…no. No, he couldn't mean…
"By the way…do watch out for my small one down on Earth, would you? He can be quite the handful." The picture began to fade away. "Goodbye for now." The image faded away, leaving a screen full of static, then the screen went dark, the connection having been lost or eradicated completely.
Present Time
Above
He knew well what awaited him. There was no other reason that he would've been freed if not for something useful. Despite himself, his body attempted to make a spring forward, yet a pair of hands held him down, the hooded figure the culprit. "W-Wait!" Jerry shouted, beginning to struggle, though again, he could only do some much due to the already weakened state of his body. "Y-You don't have to do this!"
"Don't have to?" Doom questioned. "Do YOU not need to care for the most basic of needs? Do you not need to drink and eat as well? Again, I would think that you would be a bit more understanding." The smaller, multi-limbed being lowered itself in front of the terrified man's face, the gem covered eye boring down into his own.
"W-Wait! Wait a minute!" Jerry began again, he then looking to Black Death. "Y-You! You don't have to do this! Please! I- "
"Quiet!" Death snarled. "You're the one making this worse for yourself! Be grateful that Breeder is even granting you this ounce of mercy! There are other methods that we can feed, and none are pleasant, I assure you!"
"Hold a moment." Black Doom said, Black Death completely flabbergasted.
"What? But Breeder- "
"Death. Hold." The smaller being's tone grew dark, the hooded figure inching back from him, obeying and releasing hold of the human's wrists. "You clearly wish to live, that much is certain."
Jerry could only weakly nod. Pathetic really, yet now, any sense of pride long gone and replaced with the instinctual drive for self-preservation. "It's…it's a basic need. I…I would think you'd understand."
He winced when Doom's eye darkened, yet nothing came. "Indeed." The tentacled figure simply stated. "Well…if you're sure, then I suppose I could release you."
"R-Really?" Jerry uttered, though he regretted doing so immediately. This was too good to be true, too good for the monster that held him and the rest of his squad for so long before. In that cave, concealed and hidden away from the light with only the two in front of him and the rest of those horrid creatures for company. Not to mention the monster's little 'discovery' that was then performed on each of them.
"Of course." Doom told him. "Although…" he trailed off, eyeing the human. "I WILL still be in need of nourishments."
Jerry's eyes widened in horror. "You…you mean- "
"What other option is there?" Doom questioned him. "If you are that determined to stay alive, then one amongst you must take your place. Yet…given your current condition, perhaps your other comrades from our days together may be more willing to perform this duty of theirs. After all, if not you, then the responsibility must fall on someone else."
Jerry was silent, his body beginning to tremble. He was afraid, hew wouldn't deny that. He wanted to live; he wouldn't deny that either. And yet…to push such a fate on anyone else, on those that were stuck with him for that specific frame of time…that suffered with him…he…he didn't know. He just didn't know what to do.
"Well?"
The human man said nothing, and for a good while, did nothing. He didn't remove himself from his place on the ground, let alone try to speak, to plead his case or list reasons as to why someone else would make a better candidate. He did nothing, but lower his head, a few stray tears landing on the floor.
"So…this is your choice." Jerry weakly nodded, saying no more. He felt Death's hands seize him by the wrists again, yet Jerry lifted his head up to face Doom, looking him dead in the eye. "I thank you." The smaller being told him, as if he were some parental figure congratulating a child for an accomplishment. "Your sacrifice will be remembered and appreciated. Not just by me, but by all my children."
"…. just shut up and get on with it."
"…as you wish."
Jerry hollered when he felt the sharpened tips of the tentacles secure his neck and force his head in an angle to where his forehead was facing Doom. The human couldn't exactly see him, yet he heard something opening, an orifice of sorts, images of slick and smooth surfaces coated in thickened coats of saliva and mucus coming to mind. Then, he felt something wet smack against his temple, and what appeared to be strands of white fibers branched out and spread all over his face. He had no idea what it was, yet whatever it was, it was quite sticky and held his head in place when he instinctively tried to pull away.
Then, it struck.
A pained moan escaped him due to the speed that the instrument hit him, it piercing through the skin and what he assumed to be his very skull, though he couldn't exactly be sure as, even as it struck, everything seemed to be going numb.
"You're mine." He heard Doom say, not openly, but in his mind. Or what was left of his mind, already feeling himself slipping away. "All of you are mine…" then, Jerry grew limp, Death now holding him to keep him upward for the convenience of his Breeder. "Just as 'he' will be in time."
Doom began to feed.
Earth
Curse that woman. True, he had been the one to give his word, yet he should've known better in retrospect. And if her superior believed that he would relinquish anything further, he was gravely mistaken. And while he hadn't said it, it was clear that there was some belief that the hedgehog wasn't telling the truth, yet again, another insult. He had told that man nothing BUT the truth!
It was just the truth that he knew he could deliver. On some things, he was just as clueless as anyone else would be if they heard it.
Shadow stared down at his gloved hands. This access to Chaos Energy, the heat that seemed to emit from his body the more and more he used it…the familiar voice he had heard for the briefest of seconds…it all pointed to something else. Something far more than what was on the surface. And contact being lost to the Ark…a scenario immediately came to mind. Which then gave way to boiling rage.
'You dare…' Shadow inwardly snarled. 'You DARE lay claim to that place?! Lay your filth ridden tendrils on it?!' Oh, he was just about ready to go and warp himself up there and give that monster a piece of his mind, logic and reason momentarily taking a backseat as his fury continued to rise- "G-GAH!"
Until another sensation overcame him.
He stood up, the world around him disappearing and being replaced by images of white, pure sand and rolling waves. What in the world? It appeared to be a coastline, yet it didn't appear to be the area he had been to that night. Then, he felt it again. The 'pull', the 'draw'. The familiar, clenching grip on some hidden part of himself that compelled him to follow. Yet…yet where was this place? And better yet, who was drawing him and why? His suspicions immediately turned to that of Doom, or perhaps it was Death? Yet even then…there was something off about it. It was…different somehow. It felt familiar, and yet…he couldn't exactly explain.
Then, he heard it. A gurgling, hoarse voice echo in his mind. Not Doom or Death, yet unmistakably one that belonged to the Black Arms.
'Come and see.'
Note: Things will be more like the last version from here on out, albeit with some adjustments. Also, there'll be some spotlight given to a pivotal character in the next coming chapters, somebody that Blazepyro likes very much. In fact, it was due to them that this didn't just become a rewrite of the Shadow the Hedgehog game, as I found I couldn't simply go do this without them. Who am I talking about? You shall see later...
Please leave any input you see fit to, as reviews are the best motivation for me to keep going as well as have more frequent updates. Thank you!
