Chapter 43: Follow Me
Sitting on the floor chained. Everywhere to his legs and arms He sits as there is a tripwire to his left foot organized with a shotgun pointing at him above. He even tries to break free, they'll know. Cameras on him in the room watching him 24/7. Soon the door opens and it's Sonic.
Sonic: "So we finally get to talk."
Gloom: "You my friend… I… I Don't know if I have the words to describe you. That blade is must be Ancient."
Sonic: "Nope just got it made the other day by Beth."
Gloom: "Of course. That explains a lot. You used the energy Core's right?"
Sonic: "Yep."
Gloom: "Even after death Gerald still testing me. He was always the genius. I have to say, I am jealous of that blade. Did you give it a name?"
Sonic: "Blitz."
Gloom: "Flash of lightning. Perfect name."
Sonic: "So what's your story?"
Gloom: "I'm not telling you the plan."
Sonic: "No. Not the plan. Whatever it is I'm pretty sure I'll stop it."
Gloom: "So what do you want?"
Sonic: "Two things. One where is Sally?"
Gloom: "I don't know."
Sonic: "You got her kidnapped."
Gloom: "For the record it wasn't really my idea."
Sonic: "Who was it?"
Gloom: *Whistle*
Sonic pulls the sword out and electricity starts circling the blade.
Gloom: "So is that like supposed to scare me?"
Sonic: "I can make it stop or I could make it so much worst."
Gloom: "Tsk. I promise you I don't know. Really, I mean it. I have no idea."
Sonic puts the sharp end of the blade towards his nose and slices a bit of it.
Sonic: "You really don't know?"
Gloom: *Shrugs*
Sonic: "Whatever. We'll find her. Anyway, can we know your story? Where you been? What happened?"
Gloom: "Why would you care?"
Sonic: "Trust me. I understand how you feel. The world is scary. It's part of life. You just have to accept it and hope to make a change."
Gloom: "That's where you right. I'm going to make a change."
Sonic: "And how exactly are you going to do that?"
Gloom: "Well first im gonna…"
Sonic: "Gonna?"
Gloom: "Nice try Dick!"
Sonic: "So close. Well can we know your sad background story?"
Gloom: …
Sonic: "Please?"
Gloom: *Sigh* "Fine. After my father came for me-"
While Gloom is telling Sonic everything that happened to him, Shadow waits outside watching through a window and knowing he's telling Sonic everything. He sits in a chair with his leg crossed on the other one. He has his arms open on the couch. A door opens and he sees the Captain walk in.
Cal: "Shadow."
Shadow: "Yeah."
Cal: "May I have a word?"
Shadow: "Gonna have to wait your turn after Sonic."
Cal: "No. I mean you?"
Shadow: "Sure."
Cal sits down at the other end of the couch knowing he's not in the mood.
Cal: "So why are you here?"
Shadow: "Keeping an eye on him"
Cal: "Good. Good. So those rings on him? what are they?"
Shadow: "Eggman said he find a way to keep him at bay. I don't trust him."
Cal: "Hmm. You do know we're going to kill him, right? And possibly lock you up as well?"
Shadow: "You won't. Believe me you won't. But we have a common enemy."
Cal: "True."
Shadow: "So my question is why would he murder a man?"
Cal: "Specifically, from GUN HQ and Commander Abraham who is about to promoted to general, He targeted William Feldore. He made the call 50 years ago to raid this place. So, call this his vengeance."
The door opens and Sonic walks out the interrogation room.
Sonic: "Okay. I got everything tails needed. Captain. So where's Amy?"
Shadow: "Packing. We'll be leaving in a hour."
Sonic: "And Egghead?"
Shadow: "Managed to get in geralds old laptop. Also GUN is sending more troops here to wrap up the bodies and confiscate the intel and other stuff on the Meteor."
Sonic: "Did you give em the numbers?"
Shadow: "Private Roj has it memorized."
Sonic: "We still need to find Sally."
Shadow: "And we will."
Sonic: "Y'know what sucks about this man."
Shadow: "That your girlfriend got kidnapped?"
Sonic: "Okay look she's not tech…" *sigh*
Shadow: "Look I was only messing with you?"
Sonic: "It's not just that but it feels like we don't know our next move."
Shadow: "So what about the chaos emerald."
Sonic: "We'll look for that on the go. I'm just off right now man."
Shadow: "I Know how you feel."
Sonic: "So Cap? What are you going to do?"
Cal: "I get my soldiers home, bring them to their families, and continue with business."
Sonic: "Right on. I'll go look for that Emerald as soon as we land."
Shadow: "Do you know where it is?"
Sonic: "Rouge told me. I'll get there as fast as I can."
Shadow: "How's knuckles?"
Sonic: …
Shadow: "Listen, I just want you to know that I am-"
Sonic: "Let me stop you right just there. I am sick of him. After what happened to Knuckles in there I am ready to run over his face with the back heel of rubber on my feet. He Sent you and Amy to other side of the world. He hurt my friends. He killed innocents. He kidnapped Sally for whatever reason I don't know. He crippled my best friend and He's going through a shocking phase. AND I'M STUCK UP HERE IN SPACE WITH THIS ASSHOLE WHO SHOT AMY AND YOU."
Shadow and Cal look at him in shock.
Shadow: "Never seen this side of you. I kinda like it."
Sonic: "Listen, I'm just pissed off. I been up here to long and i…"
Shadow: "About to lose to your mind?"
Cal: "I'll leave you two alone for a moment."
He exits the room and Comes across a familiar figure with bunny ears. She has a gas mask on to block out the decomposing bodies in the cargo hold. She has a bag full of old stuff. She stops ahead and the Captain looks at her.
Cal: "For the record I have no hard feelings about it."
She removes her mask and smiles.
Cream: "Sigh, that's a relief. So are they in there?"
Cal: "Yeah. But I wouldn't disturb them for a minute."
Cream: "I'll wait. Again sorry for tranqing you and sorry about your squad."
Cal: "Everything happens for a reason. And no problem about it."
He walks past her to the cargo hold and she heads to the room where sonic and shadow are having a talk. She opens the door and enters the room to find a blade at Shadow's neck and Shadows spike below at Sonic's private Area.
1 minute before
After Cal left the room.
Sonic: "How are you so cool at a time like this?"
Shadow: "I'm as frustrated as you are. In fact I'm ready to send him into a pod and toss him out into the endless void of space where he'll be safe and won't hurt anyone else. But it's wrong and I'm doing this for Maria."
Sonic: "Maria? MARIA, MARIA! I am sick of hearing that fucking name?"
Shadow stands up and marches to sonic who slashes out his blade at shadows throat and Shadow grows a spike out of the palm of his hand and aims it at his Crotch.
Sonic: "Are you fast enough? Will you be able to pierce me before slit your throat?"
Shadow: "Is that a line you're willing to cross?"
Sonic: "I am going to stop this no matter what. Saving the world is always my job."
Shadow: "Difference between you and me is that I am cursed with this for eternity. You're not. We have a common goal. And right now killing each other right here in this room won't solve anything? I am keeping my calm and I'm ready to stop him."
Sonic: "So what are you gonna do?"
Shadow: "I'm gonna work with Eggman."
Sonic: "Eggman? Are you kidding? He's the reason this is all happening."
The door opens and it's just a friend in a gas mask. They look to see who it is. They figure who it is by the look of her long ears. They both stare at her and she looks back in shock.
Cream: "I'll wait outside. But Beth wants to talk with you guys."
Shadow: "Both of us?"
Cream: "Mm-hmm."
Shadow: "Who's watching him?"
Cream: "I'll stay."
Shadow: "No."
Cream: "Don't worry. I'll be fine, besides what is he gonna do? Also it's an emergency she says."
Shadow: "Don't go in there."
Cream: "I won't."
Shadow: "I'll be back."
Sonic: "Keep a close eye on him."
Cream: "Eyes like a hawk."
They walk out the room and it's just Cream and cheese their keeping an eye on him. She has Maria's old back pack with some of her stuff Shadow let her keep. She checks her phone and see's a text from her mom.
Vanilla's Text: "Hope you're having a good time baby. Miss you both intensely. It's getting a bit lonely here."
Cream text's her back they'll be back to the planet soon. They have what they came for. She puts her phone back in her pocket.
Cream: "Cheese. Keep watch, tap the window if someone is coming."
Cheese: "Chao."
Before she does anything else, she clicks a button in her pocket. She opens the door and finds gloom locked to the teeth on the ground.
Gloom: "Oh fuck no man."
Cream: "Hey."
Gloom: "They let you in?"
Cream: "No. I let myself in."
Gloom: "And they think you're going to get something out of me?"
Cream: "No. I'm just here to see you. We know everything now. Everything about who you are and how Maria meant to you?"
Gloom: "What makes you know so much about her?"
Cream: "I might be a child but I understand that pain. Similar."
Gloom: "Hmph. You don't understand at all. Believe me, you won't."
Cream: "Maybe not, but it's the importance that I want to understand."
Gloom glares at that.
Gloom: "Hmph. So what do you want?"
Cream: "I brought something for you."
Gloom: "What?"
She puts down Maria's backpack.
Gloom: "What are you doing with my sister's bag?"
She unzips it and takes out an old relic Gloom remembers fondly. His heart stops for a moment and he knows it.
Gloom: "Wh-what are you? H-How did you? where?"
Cream: "It was hidden. She knew Shadow or you would find it."
She takes out old pictures of them and Maria. Mostly of her and Gloom. Shadow wasn't the picture type but he would take join in when she wanted.
Gloom: *Sigh* "Oh man. I thought these were gone forever. Where did y'all find them?"
Cream: "Secret hole in Maria's Room."
Gloom: "She had secrets? From me?"
Cream: "Both of you. You were both precious to her."
Gloom: "I know."
He swallows his spit as she shows her the pictures.
Cream: "So what was she like to you?"
Gloom looks at her for a moment and decides to answer.
Gloom: "She was my heart and Soul."
Cream: "Hm. Did you ever have an attraction to her?"
Gloom: "Uhhhh, what do you mean?"
Cream: "In love wise."
Gloom: "I honestly should break off these chains and get that shotgun over and put it to your brain, but I'm not gonna do it."
Cream: "Sorry just curious."
Gloom: "She was 12."
Cream: "Like me."
Gloom: "Listen, I don't know what game you're playing but I don't like you."
Cream: "Ditto. But I'm the forgiving type."
Gloom: "I really despise you?"
Cream: "Alright! keep up that negative energy I have the tranques on me."
Gloom: "N-no it's fine."
Cream reaches into her bag and pulls out more needles.
Gloom: "Uhhh they're not for me are they."
Cream: "If you play nice, they won't be."
Gloom: "Whew!"
Cream: "Don't think this is over I have something for you."
Gloom: *gulp*
She pulls out a needle with liquid in it. Not made for darts but something to help.
Gloom: "Uh, What is that?"
Cream: "This you jerk. This is sodium thiopental. In other words, the truth drug. I learned it from tails."
Gloom: "OH HELL NO HELL NO! HEEEELP!"
She injects it into his leg.
Cream: "Hold that thought big guy."
He starts breathing in heavily and sucking his bottom lip. His eyes are all the way wide.
Gloom: *Grunts* "You mother bitch!"
She presses down hard with the needle and injects the stuff into him. He feels it going through his bloodstream. His heart starts racing. Chest hurting a bit.
Gloom: "I am going to kill you."
Cream: "Was that the truth."
Gloom: "Y-ye… No… Noo!"
Cream: "Starting to take effect."
She puts the stuff in her bag and starts to get ready to ask him questions.
Cream: "Okay. What are you doing here?"
Gloom: "I'm… I-. OH it hurts! I'm. I'm here for the black arm essence."
Cream: "What does it do?"
Gloom: "It- it holds great power. If he drinks or Injects it into his blood stream, he'll be reborn again."
Cream: "What do you plan on doing with it?"
Gloom: "I'm giving it to my brother. Waiting for me."
Cream: "How many more are out there?"
Gloom: "J-just… Agh! Just one I know for sure. I just need the black one."
Cream: "What about the other one?"
Gloom: "What other one?"
Cream: "Okay. Where's Sally?"
Gloom: "She's in a prison. An abandoned prison and mine off the edge of Mazuri. Far from the villages and anyone who wouldn't bother us. A freakin forest jungle no one bothers to go into."
Cream: "hmm. So what happens if Shadow drinks it?"
Gloom: "He… would have to go through a phase. He would have to suffer through everything again."
Cream: "What do you mean about that?"
Gloom: "Learning is a painful process. His body and mind would have to relive everything and fast."
Cream: "I see, but happens when he's done."
Gloom: "He'll be a completely different Shadow. He…He'll be greeted by his other half."
Cream: "So what's your next move when you leave?"
Gloom: "F- No, …I …uhgaaaa. Gaah… I-Can't… Please!"
Cream: "Where are you going next?"
Gloom: "I must… Find a fucking… book that's located somewhere in the Holaska."
Cream: "Where?"
Gloom: "Debris of the Black Comet."
Cream: "What is the book."
Gloom: "NnnnnGGGAhhha… AHHHHHH!"
Cream: "What is it Gloom?"
Gloom: "Q-quod nigrum a-arma transferunt libro de Anima."
After revealing all of it she reaches into her pocket and puts down the tape recorder. She clicks the button and rewinds it making sure it had everything. It's a clear playback of the whole conversation. He starts to calm down knowing he was broken. He feels used.
Gloom: "Here's another truth… I hate you."
Cream: "Hmmm… the language. Tails will translate it. Okay now to get personal."
Gloom: "Wha…?
Cream: "Why are you doing this? You're gonna destroy so many lives."
Gloom: "To protect this planet… And his inhabitants no matter the costs. Even if it kills me."
Cream: "So what happens now?"
Gloom: "I get that vile. One way or another."
Cream: "You won't"
She taps his head and takes out a lollipop. She puts it in his mouth and the flavor relaxes him.
Gloom: "Mmmm. What is this?"
Cream: "Candy. A lollipop."
Gloom: "Not bad."
Cream: "See you later."
She walks out with everything and waits in the waiting room. She sits on the couch and chills on her phone while cheese floated around.
Meanwhile in the research facility
While Cream is interrogating Gloom, Sonic and Shadow head into the research facility to see Beth. They walk into the room with the projector and they see more images of Gerald and Maria. Some where she was a baby.
Shadow: "Is that?"
Eggman: "Cousin Maria."
Sonic: "She was adorable. So where's Beth?
Beth: "Down here."
She raises her hand after she under the desk fiddling with stuff. She bumps her head under the desk getting something ready but places it back.
Beth: "ouch. Okay so where is the blood viles?"
Shadow pulls them out. Two viles of glowing matter of blood.
Beth: "So what do you think they are?"
Shadow: "I have no Idea."
Beth: "May I study them before you leave."
Sonic: "Will it be fast?"
Beth: "It will."
He hands her the blood viles. She grabs them and puts the viles in a scanner. It scans both viles and she turns something on the projector. They zoom in and look at it's cells inside. There's wandering eyes in the cells.
Eggman: "Ooohhh…"
Beth: "Oh my God."
Sonic: "What the…"
Shadow: …
The eyes swim and sloosh around in the bottle. There's a circular black hole and the cells forge into something in Shadow's bottle. The red circle looks like a black hole. A yellow cornia shows up in the middle. The yellow line grows a bit brighter and the red ness form a shape. A shape like the black arms symbol. It's perfect for the perfect ultimate life form.
Shadow: "Yep that one's definitely mine."
Sonic: "It's your color scheme."
Eggman: "Check out the other one."
The black vile has a spikes withen the cells. The cells have a purple dot in the center with another yellow cornia. The spikes outside the blackness of the cell have a greenish dark tint at the end of the tips. It's different from shadow's blood vile.
Shadow: "Hmph. That one's different than mine."
Sonic: "He's probably after both of em. He drinks both of these they'll probably make him even stronger."
Eggman: "No. I read through the comets books. These specific blood essences only work for specific borned black arm members. You're born with a specific trait, that's your faction."
Shadow: "Hmm? Faction?"
Eggman: "The black arm's history is known to be divided by three factions. "Rubrum in TURBO. Retorta et Tenebrae. De rerum natura moderatoris."
Sonic: "Uhhh English."
Eggman: "The Red Vortex. Your clan that you were made from is the red vortex. Black Doom made you and Gloom from the three factions and clans. The red vortex, The twisted Darkness, The nature controllers."
Sonic: "I get the irony of red in there but what makes him special?"
Eggman: "You know how the ability of you to channel energy and stretch it on with the power of chaos? His ability stretches his power. His clan was birthed from the power of Black Holes. Black holes stretch and crush all known matter and things in the universe."
Shadow: "Oh the vacuums of space?"
Sonic: "Huh?"
Beth: "Well technically they don't suck. They catch whatever comes to their path. They stay in one place no matter what. it's actually the gravitational pull. That catches objects in space."
Sonic: "Oh yeah. Like that time when me and the Babylon rouges stopped a black hole."
Shadow: "I heard about that. That was you?"
Sonic: "Yeah but we also had to fight this giant… I don't know how to explain it. But just to let you know *cough* Eggmans fault."
Beth: "Now I'm interested."
Eggman: "Technically it wasn't fully my fault."
Shadow: "To be continued. So what is this things abilities?"
Eggman: "Have no idea, just yet. In the meantime if I was you, I would study that stuff more before doing anything… rash."
Shadow: "We'll find out later. Right now, we should take the stuff and get ready to go."
Eggman: "Before you go, you wouldn't mind if I had a blood sample from you, would you?
Shadow: "Hmph. Fine"
Sonic: "What are you gonna do with it?"
Eggman: "Nothing you wouldn't do."
Maria's room
While the others are packing up the intel from the meteor and Geralds Laptop, She was busy packing Maria's and her stuff after a talk with Shadow. He agreed to let her keep whatever she wants in her room.
Amy: "Alright, and this she wouldn't mind if someone kept this."
She packs some CD's and pictures and places them in a box. Knuckles walks in helping.
Knuckles: "Anything else?"
Amy: "Her picture and a few of these boxes."
Knuckles: "What about her bed?"
Amy: "It stays."
Knuckles: "Dresser?"
Amy: "That too. I got all her clothes in one of these boxes."
Knuckles: "Wow and Shadow is okay with this?"
Amy: "Yep. It was my idea."
Knuckles: "Hope it fits on the ship."
Amy: "It will. Thanks for the help by the way, I needed the muscle since shadow is watching him."
Knuckles: "Y-yeah He…Hehe."
Amy: "Sorry. Forgot you're.
Knuckles: "It's fine. Trust me. I'm okay."
He picks up some boxes and Maria's painting and walks out to cargo hold at Tails Ship. Amy looks around and laies on the floor and looks under the bed. She sees a guitar.
Amy: "Huh, didn't know she played."
She grabs it and places it on the bed. It's still in perfect condition. The strings are dusty. Dust is all around. She blows it and wipes it off with a towl. She pulls a few strings and notes and tunes it out a bit to perfect it.
Amy: "It's been a while but I know I still got it."
She remembers an old song she used to play and starts playing the tune and rythme of the mmusical instrument. She plays a E, F, G, C, C twice and remembers the rest of the music notes she used to play and hear when she was younger. She plays a song special for Sonic.
Amy: "Any where you wanna go, any where you need to know, all the best in life, I wanna get it for you."
She stops right there and remembers the rest off the song.
Amy: *Giggles* "I still got it." *Sigh*
A hot flash goes through her head and she starts remembering her mother and cousin. She remembers her childhood before sonic came into the picture. She remembers a few flashbacks of Mercia. Her early life and her mother and father. She knows her cousin is still in Mercia over seas. Helping out with the freedom fighters and Mercia citizens. She remembers the town she grew up in and Robotnik came into the picture and Sonic coming to the rescue. The flashes turn and continue to the day she ran into shadow and confused him for sonic and the same room she begged him to help the others. the Flash back ends and she back into reality with the wood and strings in her lap. She looks back to find Rouge standing in the doorway.
Rouge: "Well don't honey, please keep going."
Amy: "Later. Let's get this stuff into the ship."
Rouge: "So what was that song?"
Amy: "Follow me."
Rouge: "Where?"
Amy: "In-side, Out-side, to the stratosphere and the moon shining for you. Knows that I adore you. Suddenly all that, sadness, will just slip away and you'll see what I mean. If you follow me in my dreams."
Rouge: "Wow. That's something you made?"
Amy: "No. it's an old song. I don't remember where I heard it from but I played that song over a thousand times. So what are we going to do about Gloom?"
Rouge: "GUN will take him. they'll lock him up at HQ."
Amy: "They will?"
Rouge: "Yeah. He's too much of a risk. He'll be locked up safe and triad."
Amy: "Is he still in there?"
Rouge: "As of now. We have surveillance on him. Guards watching him. Cream is in there right now."
Amy: "Im gonna pay him a visit."
Rouge: "Do you need someone with you?"
Amy: "No"
Rouge: "What are you gonna do?"
Amy: "I got one more card to play."
Glooms cell
In the head of the black hedgehog locked in the cell. He speaks to his second in command to arrange plans.
Gloom: "I am pleased with your progress. They beat the shit out of me for it. I have to say. you sent I fine message."
?: "Thank you."
Gloom: "How's the princess?"
?: "Fine."
Gloom: "Good. Need to save her for the big one. Those fools still have it. We need to get that vile If only I had more time to look for it but those idiots found it back at the canyon."
?: "Did something happen?"
Gloom: "Well… Nothing made... I don't wanna talk about it."
?: "I understand. My I ask how does it feel to be back home?"
Gloom: "Its okay. Its not perfect, but I'm happy to be back. Now, now we focus on the plan."
?: "Yes sir."
Gloom: "Hold that thought. I should warn you they will be coming. They got the location on our ransom and the comet piece."
?: "Should we move her to our actual base?"
Gloom: "No. keep her there. Just continue as plan. I'll contact you to get strike at the HQ. You did put do what I told you right?"
?: "Yes sir."
Gloom: "Good. I'll be waiting."
He lowers his pupils back into reality. Seems he got off the phone. He sits waiting for someone to come and a pink hedgehog comes in.
Amy: "Hey."
Gloom: "Where did you find that?"
Amy: "Under her bed."
Gloom: "Figure it was there. So what do you want."
Amy: "Felt like talking to you one more time before we leave."
Gloom: "We?"
Amy: "Including you. At home on our planet."
Gloom: "What happens to me."
Amy: "… Lets not worry about that. I found this and I felt like playing you something."
Gloom: "What's it called?"
Amy: "Follow me."
Gloom: "Follow you?"
Amy: "No. Follow me. Literally the name."
Gloom: "Weird."
Amy: "It's an old song. I remember when it came out. I was in love with this song."
Gloom: "Why?"
Amy: "It reminded me of someone."
Gloom: "Well play away."
Amy starts tuning a bit and starts playing the song she knows and loves.
Dear reader, play this if you want.
watch?v=v8y_5FK4OF0
Amy: "Anywhere you wanna go...
Anything you need to know!
All the best in life...
I wanna get it for you!
Lately I just feel so fine!
I imagine that you're mine!
In my world you're gold...
I only wanna protect you!
And whatever I want, I get...
I want a shooting star!
Whatever I need, I have...
When I'm with you!
Follow me inside!
Outside!
Through the stratosphere!
The moon is shining for you...
It knows that I adore you!
Suddenly all that sadness will just slip away...
And you will see what I mean...
If you just follow me in my dreams!"
After Amy finishes playing, She looks at Gloom who stares at Amy.
Amy: "Well?"
Gloom: "It was nice. Something Maria would listen to."
Amy: "Thanks."
Gloom: "You play good by the way."
Amy: "Thank you."
Gloom looks at her and closes his eyes.
Gloom: "Why are you acting nice towards me."
Amy: "I don't know. I should be mad at you, but for some reason. You remind me a bit like someone I know."
Gloom: "I assume the blue one?"
Amy: "How did you?"
Gloom: "Meh it wasn't hard. We got similarities but I know the world as the cesspool it is. He probably does too."
Amy: "Gloom, you really don't know him. He sacrificed everything and fights to the end to stop whatever evil comes. He was… He was-"
Gloom: "A hero? Friend? More than that?"
Amy: "Yeah… all the above."
Gloom: "I get it. I have to say I'm a bit impressed by him. He's strong. He held a blade to my throat earlier."
Amy: "He did?"
Gloom: "Yeah but he wasn't gonna do it. Tried to interrogate me."
Amy: "Wow."
Gloom: "Didn't know he had a dark side?"
Amy: "No that's kinda the first."
Gloom: "Hmph. Nature. People's Nature. It's only if they are close to the point of breaking their energy walls start to leak."
Amy: "Is everything darkness with you?"
Gloom: "Not always. I'm just saying that guy has something that I wish to have."
Amy: "And what's that?"
Gloom: "The will to keep moving forward."
Amy: "And he always does."
Gloom: "Hmm. He'll snap sooner or later."
Amy: "He won't. he'll never will."
Gloom: "Are you sure about that?"
Amy: "Are you trying to get in my head."
Gloom: "Damn you're smart."
Amy: "We know all your tricks now."
Gloom: "Sure you do…"
Amy sits there messing with maria's instrument. It's almost time to go and she comes out and says it.
Amy: "Listen we know about how much Maria meant to you."
Gloom: "Huh?"
Amy: "We know everything. You used to take pictures together. You always filmed everything. She loved this planet. We know everything now."
Gloom: "What do you know about her?"
Amy: "She loved you very much."
Gloom: "I know. I'm not gonna stop."
Amy: "You have to Gloom. I know you're better than this."
Gloom: "I know I am, but… I can't stop now."
Amy: "Don't you think she would've wanted you to stop?"
Gloom: "No. Yes. She would. But she doesn't understand. None of them did. The black arms only wanted to help this planet. Not destroy it. We have figured out a way to preserve life on this planet. No matter the costs, I have to continue my purpose for living. Maria was a victim caught in the bullshit of the Humans own fear. I'm doing you guys and every living thing on that planet a favor. I will carry us through this, kicking and screaming and you will thank me for it. It's time to start a new perfect world free from the failures you suffered."
Amy: "You got it wrong. It won't help. They wanted to use us as a fuel source."
Gloom: "Only the bad ones. Everyone else will assimilate."
Amy: "But that's tyranny. Everyone wants to live freely."
Gloom: "And they will when we're done with the job."
Amy: "What are you trying to do?"
Gloom: "You'll find out soon enough."
Amy: "But what about shadow?"
Gloom: "He'll come to understand too."
Amy sits as she's tuning and playing on the guitar. She stops playing and places it on the side.
Amy: "Gloom what's your dream?"
Gloom: "… I want to see her again."
Amy: "Nothing you do will bring her back Gloom."
Gloom: "Oh you're in a shocking surprise."
Amy: "What?"
Gloom: "Nothing, don't worry about it."
Amy: "No please tell me."
Gloom: "No."
She clutches her hands together and opens her eyes wide. The intensnes of the cutness bubbling her eyes and Gloom feels overwhelmed.
Amy: "Pwease?"
Gloom Looks in shock and awe. He feels dominated but refuses to give in.
Gloom: *gulp* "No."
Amy: "Tell me how."
Gloom: "No."
A loud screech on the monitor happens in the room and Cream comes on.
Cream: "He already told me everything."
Amy: "He did."
Cream: "With a little compound I made to make him talk."
Gloom: "She is evil. For that she must be destroyed."
Amy: "Not on my watch."
Cream: "I admire your ambition. But you're not gonna do jack."
Gloom: "We'll see."
A knock comes at the door and black hedgehog enters the room.
Shadow: "Alright get ready. We're gonna get him out."
Cream: "Before we leave there's something you need to know."
Shadow: "What."
Cream pulls out the tape recorder and plays the conversation they had an hour earlier. She plays the tape and plays it in the monitor of the cell room. It repeats the whole thing and Amy looks at the black hedgehog who smiles guilty but trying to look innocent. She smiles back and grabs the guitar.
Shadow: "Nice Job using sodium thiopental. How did you even make it?"
Cream: "I asked Beth and Tails."
Shadow: "Nice job."
He walks in.
Shadow: "Got everything?"
Amy: "Mm-hmm."
Shadow: "Alright. we're ready to go. And you, I know you got something up your sleeve. What are you hiding?"
Gloom: "You already stripped me down. What else do I got to hide?"
Shadow: "Nice try. I know you know something what do you have?"
Gloom: …
Shadow: "I'll find out."
Gloom: "What happens to me?"
Cal enters the room at the right moment and comes on the monitor.
Cal: "We torture you at HQ until you spill beans on everything."
Gloom: "Uhhhhhh… okay. Please just give me the vile and I'll be on my way."
Shadow: "Oh you mean this black one? Who does it belong to?"
He pulls out the black liquid.
Gloom: "That's not yours."
Shadow: "Who is it then?"
Gloom: "He's a mystery man. I have no idea what he looks like. He is the third hedgehog though."
Shadow: "Take me to him."
Gloom: "Why not talk to him yourself."
The curse mark on Gloom's forehead glows and Shadow's arm starts glowing again. He takes the both of them in a premonition leaving the others out in reality. Shadow finds himself in a dark place. A empty void in space. He starts feeling some weight taking him somewhere. He looks down to see a black hole. A void with a red swirls on it. It sucks Shadow down in until he starts feeling pain. He falls into the eternal blackness and the void gets chaotic with purplish colors. He finds himself next to a tree. a tree and a mansion. He's back at the lake where him and Maria spent that one week with each other next to the lake.
Shadow: "Guys? Gloom?"
Gloom: "Behind you stupid."
He looks behind and see's his brother standing. He walks foreward. And raises his hand.
Gloom: "Follow me."
Shadow seems a bit confused and follows. He follows him to the lake and sees a figure. He see's the mystery standing and waiting. He's carving his combat knife into a tree spelling out Maria's name.
Gloom: "Hey, mute. Look who came in our private world to see us."
The Mystery turns around and sees the ultimate life form part 2. He walks towards him in silence with his armor and helmet on.
Shadow: "So, you're the third huh?"
The mystery kneels down and brings his fist in the air and hand over his heart.
?: "Please to finally meet you lord Shadow."
Shadow: "Lord?"
Gloom: "You defeated our father. You earned but lost the name of black arms since you are a traitor."
Shadow: "My allegiance was to Maria. No one else."
Gloom: "And Maria died thanks to her own people."
Shadow: "And if I earned the title of leader then I command you to stop this at once."
?: "That's not how that works. According to the rules of the black arms we only serve the benefits of the black arms. You see you defeated our leader but you did it with the humans and the people of this planets help. You betrayed us."
Shadow: "Yes and for the greater good. The good for this planet and Maria."
The mystery stands in defiance and looks at him.
?: "We earned a right to this planet as the humans do. We clean up the mess of the universe and this is our way. To help this planet and the black arms the best way we can. Your planets inhabitants are truly evil for destroying what we wanted to create. We will serve who we choose."
Shadow: "Don't you see Black Doom was intending to steal the freedom of the humans to make this planet into his image?"
Gloom: "Yes. And he was right. The freedom of these pathetic tools and fools using the evil of this planet for their own benefit hurts others and themselves. They take and take and take and kill and steal to get what they want. The politicians, the corporations, the gangs, the leaders, the gifted, and the Smart and innocent. They are bound by their own destruction. They will kill each other off someday. They would risk the safety off this planet for their own benefit."
?: "We think it's time for change. It's time to be something to them. give them purpose?"
Shadow: "Gods?"
Gloom: "If we have to be or we could be the devils to preserve this planet."
?: "Devils?"
Shadow: "I can't let you do that. What about the innocents."
Gloom: "They'll come to love it too. They will be better. The better versions of themselves."
A flash of light burst across the black sky. The flash turns into something familiar. The black comet. It's brand new and bigger. A surge of purple light starts to fill the side of it facing down and it falls to the ground.
Shadow: "I can't let you guys do this?"
Gloom: "You don't have a say in this."
The ground starts shaking and the purple energy blasts hits the ground and turns humongous as a nuke. The destruction starts coming and they get swallowed in the dust storm. The wind and destructuin dies down and they're in a storm of rain. With rocks floating in the air. The mystery is nowhere to be found.
Shadow: "Where did he go?"
Gloom: "Follow me."
He follows him and a guitar can be heard along with Amy's voice.
Amy echoes: "I don't know what happened. He just passed out with Gloom!"
Shadow: "Where is she?"
They walk across an open platform with the skies lightning and thundering. They're up in the air. They appear to be on the black comet and he looks down. Cities and towns in ruin. Fire and explosions with multiple black comets.
Gloom: "Follow me inside. Outside through the stratosphere and the moon shining for you. knows that I adore you. until suddenly all the sadness. Terror and Hurt will just slip away and you'll see what I mean. If only you follow me in my dreams."
Shadow: …
They walk in the comet. They walk down a hallway and the voices get deeper.
Sonic echoes: "Get him on the ship."
Gloom continues to walk with shadow until they enter a room with the chaos emeralds. They're floating on a table with Maria lying on concrete bed.
Shadow: "Maria? Maria!"
Gloom: "Do you see yet? My plan? This is my dreams of the future. My plan to make the world a better place. The world needs her and us. We will be Gods if we have to. We will bring joy and happiness with no wars. No more fear. No more sadness. No more machines. No more rebels. No need for freedom. It's only us."
Shadow walks towards Maria and the emeralds start glowing. The mystery is seen standing there maskless. The figure can't be seen clearly. Just a shade of darkness Surrounding his face. An empty shell that doesn't look like anything.
Shadow: "What is this?"
Gloom: "You'll see."
Maria's eyes open and her mouth opens wide. A portal opens above. The three of them start glowing. Shadow starts glowing red orangish. The mystery starts glowing green purple. Gloom black Pinkish. The portal has a hand and Maria screaming in a voice that sounds familiar. Not her voice but someone other than hers.
Shadow: "Amy?"
The vortex opens with a yellow eye in the middle. A pink hand reaches down to reach Maria. Shadow closes his eyes and wakes up on the ship. He opens his eyes to see Amy rubbing her hand across his forehead.
Amy: "Hey handsome."
Shadow: "Hey."
To be continued…
