Chapter 24
Brandy slowly begins to come to, her entire body felt sore as she began to open her eyes. The above lights blind her for a moment as she realizes she's in the infirmary. She moves her head to see Sophia lying in the bed next to her.
"Brandy?" She hears Caroline's voice as she turns her head to see Caroline sitting next to the bed. "Thank goodness. TK, Dr. Q, she's awake." She started wiping away tears.
"What happened?" Brandy asked moving her hand to grasp her hear. She could feel a pounding pain in the back of her head.
"You don't remember?" she asked looking at TK and Dr. Q who were starting to walk over.
"The last thing I remember is we were all finally together and then…" It all came flooding back to her as she jolts up from the shock, but the pain her body felt stopped her from getting out of bed.
"You shouldn't move around too much, you need rest." Caroline said trying to get Brandy to lie back down. She looks over a Sophia and gets a better look of her condition, she was covered in bruises, then she noticed Kolt on the far bed attached to a respirator.
"Saya did this?" Brandy looked shocked, not believing what she was seeing.
"It wasn't Saya…" TK said moving her chair from between Sophia and Kolt over next to Caroline. "She's being controlled by Eggman." Caroline gets Brandy to lay back down on her pillow
"Why… This wasn't supposed to turn out this way…" She covered her eyes with her arm trying to hide her tears from them.
"Please Brandy, you need more rest." Caroline begged as she grabbed Brandy's hand. Dr. Q walks over and places her hand on Brandy's head.
"Focus on getting better, you have a concussion and at the rate you're healing you should feel better by the end of the day. But rest will help speed it up more."
"What will resting do? We've already lost." Brandy said letting out a sigh sounding defeated. Sophia jumps up out of bed quickly taking the four of them by surprise as Sophia looks around like there's danger as she's not recognizing her surroundings.
"Sophia?" Caroline calls out but she doesn't react.
"You should not be moving around." Dr. Q runs up trying to stop her as she notices her eyes were red. "Shadow?" She said as Sophia reacts to that.
"Where am I? Where's Maria?" She said looking around, she gets winded and falls to her knees. Dr. Q runs up and helps her back to the bed,
"Try to relax, you're safe." She said as Sophia's eyes change back to black as she lies back down and passes back out.
"What just happened?" TK asked, "She reacted to Shadow's name but not her own?"
"Her eyes were also red…" Dr. Q said thinking to herself. TK, Brandy and Caroline look at each other confused and worried. "The aftereffects of her removing her inhibitor rings must have been delayed…" Dr. Q tried to reassure them. "She just needs more rest, as do you Brandy." She said walking over to them.
"Alright," Brandy said,
"We'll be right here." Caroline said as Brandy falls back asleep.
"Do either of you girls know the Alien Species Shadow was made from?" DR. Q asked, Caroline looks at TK confused.
"Do you mean the Dark Arms?" TK asked,
"Can you tell me about them?" She asked grabbing a chair and sitting next to TK.
"They were a race that attempted to destroy Mobius, twice. From what I know, all of them shared a Hive mind with their leader Black Doom. Shadow was the one that destroyed them."
"What about the ability to use Chaos Control?" She asked,
"From what I understand, Doctor Gerald Robotnik used Chaos energy to create Shadow with the help of Black Arms DNA. But I wasn't there when they fought."
"Doctor Robotnik? Isn't that Eggman?" she asked as TK shakes her head,
"Eggman's great grandfather was the one who created Shadow."
"Maybe I shouldn't have asked, now I'm even more confused," Dr. Q said shaking her head,
"Why did you want to know about Shadow?" Caroline asked,
"I'm just trying to get as much information as I can. I can't know how to take care of you all if I don't know how your past lives could affect you." She said glancing at Sophia. "And Shadow being called the Ultimate Lifeform has too many unknown variables."
"That makes sense." TK said, "I hope Sophia's okay…"
"She'll be alright, the worst is over. But I think you both should go rest as well. If any of them wake up, I'll come get you." She said as they both nod and leave the infirmary. Dr. Q kept a close eye on Sophia.
Meanwhile, Eggman was finishing up moving into his base hidden in the mountain side. Dark Sonic followed behind him, letting out a yawn.
"Will you stop that," He said annoyed, "Once I've finished here, I'll set up your chamber."
"Chamber? What, don't trust me?" Dark Sonic teased with a grin,
"It's to help you absorb Dark Chaos energy more efficiently." He said holding out his hand as Dark Sonic hands him the Dark Chaos Emerald. "And no, you may be a fake personality I embedded inside the Chaos Emerald but deep down you're still Sonic."
"I'd say I'm hurt, but I actually don't care." She shrugs, "I just want to beat up Shadow and Knuckles again. Watching them squirm was the best." Dark Sonic said,
"Yes it was quite pleasing to watch. They won't be much of a threat now that Sonic is gone. Their spirits might even be broken." Eggman set up a small pod and at the top was a chamber for the Dark Chaos Emerald to be placed. He places in the Dark Chaos Emerald and looks at Dark Sonic, "Get in and rest, you sustained some injuries with your fight with Shadow."
"You're lucky I'm fine with small spaces." She shrugs and lies in the pod as it closes, she lets out a yawn and goes to sleep. The Dark Chaos Emerald begins to glow as does the Chaos Emerald on Dark Sonic's arm.
"Good, it works, now to start the next phase of my plan."
That morning Brandy wakes up feeling better. She sits up, the infirmary was darkened but she could still see perfectly fine. She looks over at Sophia who as still asleep. Slowly and quietly she climbs out of bed and heads towards the door.
"I don't remember giving you permission to leave." Dr. Q said switching on the lamp on her desk,
"Sorry, I was hungry and thought I'd go grab some food." Brandy said as Dr. Q lets out a sigh.
"Fine, but then come right back I need to make sure your concussion is completely gone." She said as Brandy nods then leaves the room. She walks to the kitchen; she wasn't sure what time it was, but it was uncomfortably quiet. She kept replaying what she remembered in her head, wondering what happened after she was knocked out. She enters the kitchen to see Caroline and TK making food as they both stop as they see her.
"You should still be resting." TK said as Caroline walks up and hugs Brandy,
"I'm so glad you're okay." Caroline said,
"Me too, I just came to grab something to eat, I'm starving." Brandy said,
"Food's almost ready, have a seat." Caroline said with a smile as she runs back to finish cooking. Brandy takes a seat at the table.
"Are you two alright?" Brandy asked as they both stay silent not able to make eye contact with her, "That good huh?"
"I… I still don't know how to feel…" TK said,
"Yeah…" Brandy said as Caroline puts a plate of food in front of her.
"Eat up! You need to recover your strength." Caroline said,
"Thanks Caroline," Brandy said as she starts eating.
"Have Sophia or Kolt woken up yet?" TK asked,
"They were still asleep when I left." Brandy said, "Dr. Q wants me to go back so she can make sure my concussion is gone." Brandy said,
"I hope they wake up soon…" Caroline said.
"Me too, I'd really like to know what happened after I was knocked out…" She said as both TK and Caroline's faces darken, "I know you both went through a lot… But I need to know what happened."
"We understand… it's just…" Caroline tried to say,
"I don't want to believe it…" TK said, "Hearing it…makes it real…"
"I understand that, I don't want it to be real either but pretending it didn't happen isn't going to change anything." She said, "We need you to think of a way to fix this TK."
"Me?" TK looked at her surprised,
"You're the smartest person out of all of us, and you're Saya's best friend. If anyone is going to find a way to save her, it's you." Brandy said, as TK thinks.
"I… I can definitely try." She said, "But we need more information."
"Which is why we're waiting for the others. Once they are healed, we figure a plan of attack to turn Saya back." Brandy said finishing her food. "I'm going to head back before Dr. Q thinks I collapsed in the hallway." She lightly joked. They both smile as she leaves, she could tell they were broken, and they needed something to hold onto. Now to make sure Sophia and Kolt are alright. She enters the infirmary as Dr. Q is checking on Kolts vitals. He was still attached to a respirator and monitor.
"Oh good, how are you feeling?" she asked,
"Better then TK and Caroline…" She said with a sigh,
"Yes, where you suffered physical damage, I fear their spirits have taken far worse damage." She said walking over to the bed as Brandy sits back down and Dr. Q starts checking her over.
"I think once Sophia and Kolt are awake, they will start to get better." She said, "Has Sophia had any more outbursts?"
"No, I've been keeping an eye on her and there hasn't been any change. But she should be waking up soon."
"Mind if I stay and wait for her to wake up?"
"Of course not." She said with a smile, "You're good as new but I still suggest taking it easy." Brandy takes one of the chairs and sits next to Sophia.
"I hope you wake soon… We need you."
A few hours pass. TK and Caroline walk into the Infirmary to check up on their friends.
"Hey," Brandy said as the walk over,
"Anything?" TK asked as she shakes her head, "You were right before… We need to know the whole story before we can figure out what to do next." She said,
"Even though it hurts to think about." Caroline said as Brandy grabs their hands.
"I'm proud of you both," She said with a smile.
"What time is it?" They hear behind them as they turn to see Sophia sitting up,
"Sophia?" TK hesitantly called out not knowing who would respond.
"Yeah?" She said holding her head, "Man, everything hurts…" She said as Dr. Q walks over and checks her over.
"Feeling better?" She asked,
"Not really…" She said pushing the flashlight away from her eyes.
"What's the last thing you remember?" Dr. Q asked,
"Teleporting with Knuckles…" She stops and looks around then sees Kolt on the other bed. "Damn…" She attempts to climb out of bed, but they all stop her.
"He's out of critical condition and still recovering. Which is what you need to do as well." She said.
"I'm going to go grab Sally and Elias, they wanted to be informed when Sophia woke up." TK said leaving the room.
"Being on the submarine is the last thing you remember?" Caroline asked,
"Yeah, why? Should I be remembering more?"
"You had a bit of an outburst yesterday, almost like you were sleepwalking." Dr. Q said, "it could have been from the shock.
"Makes sense…" She said still holding her head. "Still feel kinda fuzzy…" They hear the sound of beeping coming from Kolt's bed as he's pulling out the respirator and climbing out of the bed.
"What in the world?" Dr. Q said running over to Kolt trying to stop him, "You are in no condition to be moving!" She said as he pushes her away.
"Tikal!" He yells coughing and standing up.
"Yes Knuckles?" She asked appearing next to him.
"Why didn't you tell us there was a Dark Chaos Emerald?" He asked with anger in his eyes as she looks shocked.
"I… I didn't know… I had no idea there was a Dark Chaos Emerald." She said,
"You expect me to believe that? You're connected to Chaos, there's no way you couldn't have known." He said as she lowers her head.
"I felt the presence of Dark Chaos energy… But I couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. I thought it was just energy… I had no idea Dark Chaos took a physical form." She said.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Caroline asked,
"Because… I didn't want to worry you." She said,
"Look where that got us!" Kolt yells, "We all almost died, all because… you … couldn't…" Kolt's eyes darken as he collapses. Caroline stops Sophia from moving as the others rush over to him.
"This is why I said stay put!" Dr. Q said, "Help me get him back in bed." She said as Brandy helps her put him back in bed.
"Good to know there's no brain damage, he's still his hot-headed self." Sophia said,
"Any longer of his hot-headedness could have killed him." She said as Elias, Sally and TK enter the room.
"What's going on?" Elias asked as Brandy noticed that Tikal left in the middle of the commotion.
"Kolt had a little outburst. I need to make sure he's alright." Dr. Q said looking him over.
"And you Sophia, how are you feeling?" Elias asked,
"Still recovering sir." She said as Caroline lets her go.
"I'm glad you're alright. After you're recovered enough to leave, please come find me, I need a full report of what happened." He said.
"Understood." She said as she starts to try to leave the bed.
"Sophia, I swear, if you attempt to leave that bed again, I will restrain you to it." Dr. Q said with a glare that frightened all of them.
"Maybe wait till she gives you permission to leave…" Elias said,
"Those who are not current patients, please leave. I'm not done making sure Sophia is alright and now I need to make sure Kolt didn't harm himself further." She said as they all begin to leave.
"How are you feeling Brandy?" Sally asked as they all left.
"Better," She said,
"Would you be able to tell us what happened?" Elias asked,
"I can tell you what happened up to me getting knocked out." She said,
"Any little bit helps, at least until I get Sophia's report." Elias said,
"Are you two okay talking about it?" Sally asked Tk and Caroline as they walked into the conference room. They both nod.
"Alright, start from the beginning." Elias asked as they begin to recount what happened.
Meanwhile back in the infirmary Sophia was lying down impatiently waiting for Dr. Q to finish checking on Kolt.
"How is he?" She asked,
"Obviously, he'll live, but I swear you all want me to have gray hair by the age of 30." She said with a sigh.
"Sorry," Sophia said,
"How are you feeling, anything out of the ordinary?" She asked glancing over at her.
"No, just angry… Robotnik got the upper hand and now…" She lets out a sigh, "Now I don't know what to do."
"I have to ask… Did you remove your inhibitors?"
"Right after Elias ordered me not to? No. This is just straight up burn out from fighting a being controlled by Dark Chaos." She said.
"Kolt said Dark Chaos as well, what is that?" she asked,
"The thing that originally destroyed Mobius…"
"Did you touch it?"
"No? Why are you asking odd questions? You're acting like something happened."
"You really don't remember…"
"Remember what?" She asked sitting up looking annoyed.
"Your outburst… it wasn't you but Shadow." She explained finishing checking up on Kolt ad walking over to Sophia's bed.
"What? That doesn't make any sense." Sophia said,
"Who's Maria?" Dr. Q asked. Sophia looks shocked at the question as she looks away.
"Someone who was very important to … Shadow…" She said,
"Not important to you?" Dr. Q asked sitting next to her bed.
"Why would she be important to me? She died fifty years before I even met Sonic and his friends." She said,
"Because she was important to Shadow." She said, "You may want to distance yourself from your past but it's still a part of you. On top of that it seems to be reaching out." She said,
"Could have been the shock of failure… I don't take losing very well. Especially if it's people I care about."
"Your eyes were red." Dr. Q said as Sophia looks confused, as she begins to ponder.
"Just like when Saya was recovering from Chaos poisoning…" She said out loud,
"Wait, Saya's eyes turned red?"
"No they turned green, the same color as Sonics." She said.
"So it really could be a side effect of you removing your inhibitors…" Dr. Q said,
"At this point that's the only thing that makes sense. I haven't used Chaos Control in my human form like Saya did." Sophia said.
"But do you think you could?"
"I am the Ultimate Lifeform." She said half-jokingly,
"I hate it when you say that." Dr. Q said rolling her eyes. "For now don't try anything like that. Just rest for now." She said as Sophia nods her head and lies back down turning towards Kolt and watching him. She was concerned for him but was also concerned about what Dr. Q just told her. She didn't need to worry about herself while trying to figure out how to save Saya. And now that they know a Dark Chaos Emerald exists. She fears what will happen next.