Shadow looked at Maria as a strange chill fell over the room. Something was wrong. Something was different. Something had changed. Her hands were growing cold too, and her eyes seemed fixed on a particular spot on the ceiling.

"Shadow," she said. "I don't know where I am, but I'm hearing strange noises. I heard them when I was… you know…"

Shadow pursed his lips. "What are they saying?" he asked. "Maybe you're hearing something from where you're at."

"I can't make them out, but it's a woman's voice." She paused. "She's saying…"

Shadow looked at her when she trailed off, hoping that she'd continue, but to his surprise he found her quivering with both hands over her mouth. "Maria, what's wrong?"

She tried to jar her hands from her mouth but couldn't. Her arms were locked where they were. "I-I can't…" she said through her fingers. "I-I…"

Shadow looked around, confused. "Maria, if it hurts too much to say you don't have to-"

"I'm trying to-" she said, taking a sharp and pained breath after. "I don't understand why I can't-"

Shadow jumped a little as Sonic buckled beneath the strain of whatever force had taken both of them. "What is this?" the younger hedgehog asked, clutching his head. "Who is…"

Shadow looked at Sonata, who'd finished crying and was now staring in awe at what was going on. Well, perhaps awe wasn't the right word- horror seemed more appropriate. She looked to Shadow and nodded, and the crystalline structure in her eye spread a little bit more. "I can recognize this," she said. "It's the same flavor of awful I got when I first started succumbing to the Garnet."

"What?" Shadow said. "But, what do you even mean by that?"

"It's another Eye," she said. "One that isn't attached to you. Whatever it is, there's something in common with Maria and your body that's making this happen."

Maria finally spoke up, gasping as she stopped clutching her mouth. "Shadow, I think… I think your blood has something to do with this."

Shadow shook his head for a second in disbelief. The walls outside moaned and the sounds of dripping slime and the scent of rot gathered. There was no clear visual that Shadow could see, but the dread seemed to peek in. "Maria, how long have you been having those hallucinations?"

"Since I got my transfusions," she said, still anguished. "Well, since about a month after the start of the treatment."

Shadow shook his head. They wouldn't be the only ones affected by this. His stomach swirled at the thought of how Bastette was managing her sister.

Sonata carefully brushed off her trousers. "Hang on, what if…" She squeezed her eyes shut and focused. "This has to be manageable."

Akshi and Rouge entered the doorway and gasped. "What's going on here?" Rouge asked Shadow.

The whole room fell silent as Maria and Sonic sat back up. The former stared at Akshi for a moment, but there was something wrong with her eyes. They'd lost their glint entirely as she shakily stood up.

Sonic instinctively stood up and began moving towards her. The uncomfortable feeling in his chest pulled him forward, but as he went to grip Maria's shoulder to prevent her from walking forward, she raised a hand up.

"What the…" he said, frustrated as his legs and arms failed to move. "What are you doing?"

A strange voice seemed to gurgle from Maria's throat. Shadow frowned as he caught the intent of danger in her eyes and moved forward. "Maria, what are you doing? This isn't like you!"

Maria stopped for a second before a familiar voice seemed to echo through the halls. The voice sent Shadow into a quiet and reserved panic as he tried to comprehend what was going on. He knew the voice, he knew the tone, and that only made it more terrifying to hear it come from his best friend.

"Shadow, you generous donations have made this far too easy," the raspy voice said.

Shadow's quills stood on end. "Doom, what have you done to Maria? Where is she?"

"Oh, wouldn't you like to know…" he said. "If I told you, I wouldn't have a food source anymore."

Shadow felt sick. "Get your disgusting hands off my friend," he said, moving forward.

A pair of arms restrained him, and he looked back to see that Sonic had grabbed him and refused to let go. "Get off of me, you son of a-"

The voice came from Sonic's mouth now, but in Shadow's tone of voice. The cold and frigid sound sent him into chills, but it was intermixed with a new voice, this time more feminine and sadistic. "Is that any way to talk to your progenitor?" he asked.

Shadow recoiled as he felt something wet and warm against his neck that left a trail of slime. He forcibly tore himself from Sonic's grip and turned around. As he caught Sonic wiping his lip with one of his arms, Shadow spied his dead-eyed glare and a familiar symbol hovering over his forehead.

His heart began to race, and he could feel the same horrifying pressure-pain strike his chest as he recognized Doom for what he was.

"So now you're aware," Doom said. Sonic's face still glowered, but now there was an intense fire in his eyes.

Shadow turned and began running towards Maria, who was still advancing on Akshi. He lurched as Sonic grabbed at his waist and held him fast. "Oh no," he said. "You're not going anywhere."

Sonata, terrified in all of this, began holding her arms out, terrified as her powers failed. "Akshi, run!"

As the blue bird turned, Maria's arm shot out from her side, sharpening to a point of deep black and piercing whatever was in front of her…

… which happened to be Rouge. The bat stood there for a moment and smirked at the spike through her rib before turning to Akshi. "Glad it was me instead of you, huh?" she said. "I'll come back, just please go find me."

In an instant, she dissolved. Maria gained control again and began breathing in and out far too quick. She held herself close and stared at Shadow before dissolving as well. Sonic felt a firm punch to the face as he was knocked back and subsequently turned to dust, and Shadow, now free of his grasp, was left alone with the birds.

"What… what was that?" Akshi asked.

Sonata tried to compose herself, falling into her brother's arms for comfort. She wrapped her arms tightly around him. "The Garnet isn't alone."

Shadow clutched his head, remembering the eye symbol he'd seen over Sonic's forehead. He still felt his heartbeat racing, and he was shaking from the intensity of his palpitations. "Akshi… she's right."

As the sirens came on, Shadow's panic kicked into overdrive, and he immediately vanished.

Tails was already there to offer water to him. Sonic sat up in the chair and awkwardly looked at his rival, and Bastette was at the front window making phone calls. Everything seemed to be just as frantic out in the waking world.

But maybe that was the anxiety talking. Shadow graciously took the water and downed the glass. "Thanks…" he muttered, affect flat but shaky.

Sonic stared at his hands. "What the heck did I just do? I don't know what came over me."

Shadow pursed his lips. He wasn't sure how close Bastette was to hearing them, so he scooted a bit closer, being careful not to nudge the little alien in her sleep. "You were possessed."

"I… was?" Sonic asked. "It felt wrong."

Shadow remembered that Sonic had licked his neck under the Eye's influence and shuddered. He didn't want to bring it up. It stirred up uncomfortable emotions aside from the ones of his horrific discovery.

"What happened to you two?" Tails asked. She nervously looked at Bastette. "Tette said she had a courtesy call from Jolt about Briar- she apparently had convulsions in her sleep."

Shadow nodded. "As I had suspected. Sonic, can you explain? I…" he was still reeling at the thought of what he'd witnessed.

Sonic frowned. "I don't wanna have to explain what I did there. I mean, it was gross." He wrung his hands. "Are… are you okay?"

Shadow stared for a moment, then shook his head. "I know you weren't in your right mind."

Tails awkwardly shuffled over with a plate of waffles. "Um… can someone please use a full sentence to explain what happened? Or do I have to build a device to get my answers?"

Sonic frowned. "It's really an uncomfortable answer, but… I sorta… licked him?" he said.

Shadow's face began to flush from the embarrassment and he quickly set his drink down.

Tails sighed and set the plate on the coffee table. "Was this… a conscientious decision?" she asked, awkwardly grinning.

"No!" they both said aloud.

Tails put her hands up. "Geez, okay!"

Shadow frowned and grabbed the water again. "There's another Eye of Luneria," he said. "It took ahold of Sonic somehow and did… that…"

"Ugh," Tails said. "Yeah, I guess that is uncomfortable." She carefully sat down next to Shadow on the couch and gently pet Blue, who was still snoozing. "Glad it's over, right?"

"Maria is alive."

Tails looked at Shadow. "What?" she asked.

Shadow turned and intently glared at her. "Maria is alive," he repeated.

Tails raised a finger and stood back up before running to her knapsack. She fished out a notepad and a pen.

"What are you doing?" Sonic asked.

"What I always do with a new development- notate every detail." She quickly returned to the couch. "Okay, start from the beginning." She paused as she saw Shadow still ruminating over what he'd said. "Sonic, give Shadow some time and go first."

"Okay, well…" he said. "We started off by finding Rouge's apartment and meeting back up with Rouge and that bird guy."

"Akshi," Tails said.

"Akshi, right," Sonic replied. "We figured out we should be heading to the ARK since it appeared over the city, and when we got there, Akshi's sister and… Shadow's friend happened to be there."

Tails nodded. Her tongue began to poke out from her mouth as she focused. "Okay, I'm starting to get a picture. Not much yet, but I'm getting there."

"Well, when we found them we found out Akshi's sister is growing a nasty green crystal in her eye," he said. "Judging by how Akshi reacted, I think it's safe to say that-"

"Hm… was it spreading?" Tails asked.

"Yes, it was," Shadow replied. "Akshi seemed to react as though she were already dying."

"Poor Akshi," Tails said, pausing to take one of the waffles. She bit off the edge of it and continued. "He just found out his sister is alive and now she's going to end up like the rest of his friends."

"What do you mean?" Sonic asked.

"Well, making a long story short," she said, "his friends lost their souls to Luneria a long time ago. I don't know why the Garnet would hang on to his sister like that."

Shadow thought for a moment on what Luneria had said to him. She'd mentioned that she'd been feeding on Maria, and she'd implied that it was continuous. Shadow felt a burst of painful swill brush the back of his throat before he harshly swallowed again. "The Garnet is doing the same thing that Luneria is doing to Maria- savoring her like candy." The comparison made him sick, even if it was apt.

Sonic frowned. "That makes… a lot of sense, actually."

Shadow stared at him. "You say that like there was something you saw, too," he said.

"Not saw, but tasted," he corrected. "Even though I couldn't stop it from happening, when I… you know… it tasted like…"

"Chili dogs, I'm guessing," Shadow ventured.

"Well, yes, but…" Sonic paused, embarrassed that he was even about to admit it. "It tasted better than any chili dog I've ever had. That's one of the reasons I'm messed up about it."

Shadow shuddered. "I really wish you hadn't said that."

"Me too, buddy."

"No, no, that's good information, actually," Tails said. "I think I'm beginning to get it. Shadow, what about you?"

"Sonic seemed to cover a lot of it, but I still have a few things," he said. "For starters, Maria was acting just as strange. She was hostile and… not herself. They were both under the same control."

"So Luneria has control of both of them, somehow? I'm not sure what could link your body with Maria, Shadow," she said.

"What about his blood?" Sonic asked. "You give Briar transfusions, why not your friend?"

Tails paused. "That's eerie," she said. "Bastette, are you okay? I think we have some details to discuss."

Bastette was still teary-eyed as she backed away from the window. "I-Is this about Briar?" she asked.

"Yes, actually," she said. As the cat came over to the fox's sitting point and stood behind the couch, Tails handed her the notes she took. "What can you make of this? I know what I'm seeing but I need a second pair of eyes to make sure it's clear."

Bastette's eyes flicked back and forth on the page. "This is… hm…" She looked at Sonic, then to Shadow, and frowned. "So from what it appears, the only people who were affected by the Eye that showed up have some link through Shadow's blood. The same blood that gives poor Briar the hallucinations."

Tails nodded. "Shadow, where is Maria? You said she was alive, surely she would have told you where she was."

"I wish I had the answer," Shadow replied. "When I asked, she said that every time she wakes up she's just at the beginning of the dream again. She's been having it since…" he trailed off. "I think you know what."

"Yeah," she said. "I know what." She jotted down a few more notes. "It's possible that she's being kept unconscious by whatever has her. I mean, you watched her that day, she didn't turn to crystal. She has a body… somewhere."

Shadow remembered what Maria had said. "I don't like the possibilities that were posited."

Tails nodded. "We need to get a search going. Do you have any means to contact GUN? I'd normally ask through Jolt but…"

"Yeah, Briggs has his hands full right now," Bastette said. "He has a meeting to take care of."

Sonic frowned. "Isn't Rouge awake?"

Tails frowned. "I tried calling her but she wouldn't answer," she said. "I don't have any idea what she's up to."

Shadow frowned. "Here, give me my phone," he said.

"I left your phone at Rouge's place," Sonic replied.

"Oh, of course," Shadow said. He was a bit louder than normal. "Someone give me their phone."

Bastette sighed. "Okay, I'm probably the one who will be the most cleared," she said, handing him her phone after unlocking it. "I mean, my sister's dad is a member of the Brass."

"That doesn't matter, as long as I have a line," he said. He began flicking through the screens and tapping. "Just making sure this isn't traced…" he muttered.

"I got issued that phone two weeks ago," she said.

"People can tap in by that point, hopefully your phone is clean enough. Normally I'd use my burner but someone doesn't seem to think ahead…" Shadow glared at Sonic before he rubbed the spot on his thigh. The injection from last night still stung a little bit.

He held the phone up and listened, tapping his foot as he waited. There was no way that G.U.N. would buy this. He groaned as the familiar ache of the arm he broke the night before settled back in.

"This is a highly secure line, and I do not recognize this phone number. Please input-"

"Ugh, no reason to use a robotic tone of voice," Shadow said, irritated. "Site 81, User A031SB. I have a clearance code of 7A. Before you ask, the answers are crimson and ebony."

"You don't sound like Agent Shadow," the voice replied.

Shadow shook his head. "I'm…" he paused. "Sick."

"Records indicate that you're impervious to illness. Care to try again, sir?"

"Ugh," Shadow groaned. "Anderson, right?"

"That is correct," the voice replied.

"The one who's been flirting with the new office assistant?"

"Excuse me?" Anderson replied. "I don't know what you're-"

"I'll report you to your director as well as to her fiance, Tom," he replied. "I know who I am, so stay in your lane."

"...could I have the registration number on your government-issued vehicle? For posterity, of course."

As Shadow continued his call, Tails gave Sonic a plate and a few waffles before handing him a fork. "Sorry, it's a bit short notice. I was busy making... more notes. And I forgot to wake you two. We're a bit behind schedule, but it'll still be enough time to head over there."

Sonic nodded and looked at the clock, which read 9:45. "That's alright, I'm certain that we can zip over there no problem." He looked down at Shadow's shoes. "Thanks for giving me a crash course last night."

"Hey, it's what friends do, right?" she said. "Besides, it's a new skill."

"Appealing to my sense of adventure," he said, ruffling her hair. "I'm glad to know you're still okay with me after… well, everything."

"Honestly, this whole little adventure is leaving me feeling more certain that I wanna be your bestie," she said. "That sort of honesty was something we both needed."

"Oh, right!" Sonic said. "I need your help with something. And you're the smartest girl I know, so…"

"Alright, spill the details," the fox said with a smirk. "Don't butter me up without following through."

"Well, you know how you said we need to start a search?" he said. "Well, one of the places that Shadow's friend might be is up on the ARK."

"It is pretty massive," Tails replied.

"I know," Sonic replied. "He said that as soon as this whole mess with the Garnet is over, he's gonna go search by himself. I can't let him go alone- it'll take him months!"

"Well, isn't that a coincidence?" the fox said, pulling out her notes. "We have to head to the ARK anyway."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Tails said, pointing at a page. "Turns out that the Black Arms intend to use the Cannon. We're gonna head up there and nip Dire Doom in the bud before they get a chance to use it." She paused as though she were about to say something, but then shut her mouth again.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing, just details about the mission I should maybe keep to myself for now," she said.

Sonic nodded. "I trust ya, buddy," he said. "Anyway, do you think we could pull something together to help him find her, like a scan or something?"

"You read my mind," Tails said. "That's what we're gonna use to pinpoint Doom when we're up there. I can calibrate it to make it more sensitive." She checked her notes. "If I'm calculating this correctly, I'll just need a few hours to make sure all parts of the plan are in motion."

"Well, what are we going to do in the meantime?" Sonic said.

"Well, you have a date to keep with your appointment," she said. "And I'm going to need to do some work on my own. So the rest of them should head along with you."

"I mean, it's an appointment, right? No need to have people tagging along…"

"When you fell last night, your arm got broken," Tails said. "Well, Shadow's arm for now. But it's still your arm."

"Right," Sonic said. He looked down at himself again. "I forgot that for a second. I mean, you'd think that I of all people would be happy looking like… you know what I mean, right?"

"And you're questioning it because it doesn't feel right?" Tails asked. "Maybe because you know that isn't you. It isn't you, I promise. You aren't any less yourself because of this."

Sonic smiled. "Thank you, Tails. I…"

Tails smiled back. "If I didn't know better I would have snapped a photo to remember the day Shadow the Hedgehog cracked a smile."

Sonic nodded. "You'll have plenty of time once we find our answers."

Shadow ended the call and began fiddling with the cat's phone. "Alright, time to flush your phone of any traces of that conversation."

Bastette sighed. "This better not remove my contact with Briggs. I need to keep up to date while Jolt moves out."

"If I accidentally do, I'll get you an updated contact file," Shadow said, handing the phone back. "Sonic, what are you and Tails talking about?"

"Oh, it was nothing, just some plans. We have to go to the ARK," she said.

Shadow nodded. "Yeah, any time the Black Arms are involved, I assume they'll go for the most powerful weapon to try and do as much damage as possible. That's why I called an evacuation notice in," he said. "Hopefully it won't come to that."

"Yeah, hopefully," Tails replied. "Shadow, I need you to go with Sonic. You should take Bastette and Blue with you."

"Why?"

"Well, Bastette is headed to Kingdom Valley and Nyx might be able to assess this thing between you two. As for why I need Blue gone…" she paused. "I think she still has a connection with Doom, even if she isn't aware of it. I'm hoping that you can keep her busy so I can get our plan in action when we go up there." She frowned. "There are other reasons too, but I can't disclose them yet. I'm sure you'd understand why."

Blue stirred on the couch and opened her eyes to see the waffles that were left on the coffee table. Tails watched as she began eating, but did her best not to make too much eye contact.

"Why do I get the suspicion that you've got a plan B?" Shadow said, placing his hands on his hips.

"Because I always have a plan B. What you're sensing is probably plan C."

"Right," Shadow said. "You forgot to tell me that my arm is broken and I need to go to the doctor's anyway."

"I figured you'd have the sense to remember," Tails said, closing her notebook. She walked over to Blue and offered a plate. "You're going to make a mess. Eat quick because Sonic and Shadow are taking you to the doctor's office."

"S...Shadow?" Blue asked. Her head turned towards the black hedgehog.

"Is something wrong?" Tails asked.

"No, it's nothing…" Blue said. She gingerly put the waffle in her mouth and began to chew, glancing every three or four seconds at Sonic.

Tails frowned and turned around before moving close to Sonic. "She's hypervigilant about you, I think that's a sign. Keep your guard up."

"No problem," Sonic said. "Don't take too long, and keep me updated." He slid his own phone off the nearby table. "Text me."

"Got it," the fox said, giving her friend a thumbs up before bounding to Bastette. As the two academic types finalized plans, Shadow gently picked up Blue, who still had a waffle hanging from her mouth. "So, are you ready for your first acting gig?"

"This'll be a breeze," Sonic said. "What about you?"

"Ditto," Shadow replied, matching Sonic's cadence.

"Excellent," Sonic said, adjusting his posture. "Break a leg."