aaaaand boom
all the hard work disappears down the drain
Sonic only slept a total of 20 minutes after he arrived back at his room. The overwhelming sense of sorrow and confusion kept waking him whenever he closed his eyes to sleep. What happened to Shadow? Why was the ARK a disaster? When did all this happen?
There were so many questions running through the cobalt child's mind, that every time he entered a sleeplike state, he would find himself jolted out of it with another burning question. Sonic growled. If rest was to be unattainable, then he better do something good with the time. Like find answers.
Pulling the covers off, Sonic slipped into his shoes and cautiously approached the door. When the red sneakers stepped close to the metallic entryway, the sensors activated, triggering a device to open the door with a hiss. Sonic jumped, clamping his paws over his mouth to cover up a scream building up in his throat. The years of neglect had left the space station in a run-down condition, everything creaking and groaning with age. The sliding door was no different.
Sonic poked his blue head out of the doorway and looked down the hall for any sign of Shadow. When his eyes revealed nothing, the speedster let out a sigh of relief. Freedom.
Sonic wasted no time in running the Central Control room. It took the blue blur seven seconds to reach the great doors to the Cannon Core. However, the heavily fortified walls did not open, forcing Sonic to screech to a halt a mere hair away from the steel. Whew. That was close. Sonic tapped his red shoe against the floor. Weren't these doors automatic?
A faint buzzing sound caught the hedgehog's attention. Tilting his head, Sonic let his emerald green eyes look down a nearby corridor. Then, without any warning, a light blinked on. Sonic's quills tensed slightly at the light. What did it mean? He tip-toed his way towards it.
The light shone above a room. A very important looking room at that, but a room still. What was in there? A gilded sign rested on the door at human eye level.
Prof. Gerald Robotnik: Head scientist and Director.
Sonic reached up, trying to reach the doorknob with his small stature with little success. Pushing onto his toes did nothing to help. He was still too little. Sonic growled. He had made it this far already, he wouldn't be defeated by a door. Gloved paws pushed against the ground, Sonic preparing to jump. Then, the handle turned.
Freezing was the only thing Sonic could think of. Someone was already inside, and they were headed out. The handle clicked, letting the door suddenly swing open with a crash, making Sonic scream out loudly.
The person on the other end reciprocated the action and proceeded to scream in a similar fashion, both shrieking and fluffing until they dared to open their eyes.
"T-Tails?" Sonic coughed, throat dry from screeching.
"Sonic?" The fluffy yellow fox gasped.
Miles then proceeded to vomit into a nearby trashcan. He heaved and groaned, messing the paper still resting inside. At last he stopped, licking his lips and burping slightly.
"Uugh." Tails moaned. "I'm not ever doing that again."
"Doing what?" Sonic asked, twitching his ear in confusion.
"He's too young to be teleporting." Another familiar voice groaned. Sonic turned to see Knuckles soothing Amy with a series of gentle pats on her back. Another figure stood close behind him, looking on in concern.
"Knuckles! Amy! And…" Sonic stopped, frowning slightly at the bat in front of him. "I.. Don't think we've met."
"It's Rouge." The bat giggled, extending her hand. "Sonic I presume?"
"Yeah… What are all you guys doing here?" The hedgehog in question asked, looking around the room at his peers.
"We came here for you." Amy giggled, flopping on top of her blue hero and embracing him tightly. "We came to rescue you!"
"We also came to stop Shadow." Tails finished, standing fully upright.
"Stop Shadow…. From what?" Sonic questioned, suddenly worried.
"You… You don't know?" Knuckles frowned.
"Know… What?" Sonic answered, frowning back.
"The Eclipse Cannon?" Amy worded, trying to jog the hedgehog's memory.
"What… About it?"
The group of children (minus Sonic) exchanged worried looks. Shuffling and awkward tension filled the room before Tails spoke again. This time with more worry.
"Shadow is going to use the Eclipse Cannon to blow up the world." Miles explained softly.
"What?" Sonic asked, shocked to the core. "No! That's not true!"
"Why else would he be collecting the seven Chaos Emeralds?" Knuckles pressed, stepping towards his distressed blue friend. "He needs them to fire the cannon."
"No!" Sonic shouted, stepping away from the echidna. "That's not true and I can prove it!"
The blue blur wasted no time in blasting back down the hallway towards the Central Control room. He stared at the door briefly before seeing a keypad. If the password was consistent, then this shouldn't be a problem.
The door creaked open when the rest of the mobians caught up to Sonic, looking on in shock as the awesome sight unfolded before them. Collectively, their eyes went wide, thoroughly shocked by the mechanical wonder within.
"Sonic… this…" Tails sputtered, words stolen from him as his mind tried to dissect the cannon from sight alone. Sonic didn't pay attention. He simply marched forwards, stepping along the thin metal catwalk with no hesitation. The blue hedgehog reached the center of the room, friends only a few steps behind. He tried to reach the keyboard once again only to be stopped by Tails.
"Sonic wait!" He squeaked. "You don't know-"
"Tails, please." Sonic scoffed, placing his hands on the keyboard. "I've learned a few things."
The computer blinked to life, displaying files upon files of information to explore. Tails's eyes grew wider than before, his yellow appendages twitching and trembling in delight. Sonic steered the cursor down, selecting a file named: PROJECT SHADOW.
Day 781: Successful awakening of the Project has left me st-
"Sonic, what are you doing?" Knuckles asked, stepping forwards.
"I'm showing yo-"
"No, you aren't." Tails frowned, crossing his fluffy arms. "Why are you in the PROJECT SHADOW file?"
"Because Shadow is-"
"Is he?" Amy interjected. Sonic stopped to look at her. "Is he PROJECT SHADOW?"
Sonic looked up at the screen. Was Shadow the ultimate life form? It certainly seemed like it from the time spent with the dark adult, but was he really the project? Emerald eyes fell upon the project file photo. The cursed robotic lizard stared back at him. It seemed to be taunting him, with it's arched neck and sly eyes. The blue head fell. His friends were right. Sonic had no idea who exactly Shadow was.
The cursor was moved over a different file, opening the professor's diary. Sonic's eyes followed as Tails scrolled through the scientist's work, trying to find something on the Eclipse Cannon.
XX/XX/19XX
I don't know why I have agreed to such a horrible act, but I have. The payment is too generous to turn down. If I do not, then my research will die. PROJECT ECLIPSE, I hope you are used for nothing evil.
Tails kept scrolling.
XX/XX/19XX
It is complete, the horrible weapon. However, in light of recent events, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. The Black Arms… How could I be so stupid. At least the world has the means to defend itself against my treacherous mistake. I should have asked myself if it was all worth it before selling my soul to the devil.
"Woah." Knuckles whistled. "That's intense."
"What else is there?" Rouge asked, reaching over and scrolling down.
XX/XX/19XX
They will be coming soon, I know it. I have made preparations to visit my daughter down on the planet. It will bring her great joy to hear news of her own daughter's cure. My Maria… I worry for your safety. G.U.N is lurking around, waiting like a snake to strike. There is nothing I can do, but pray. They are scared, and when humanity fears something, they will destroy it. Shadow… please keep her safe while I am gone… I fear something terrible is going to happen.
"So… he was paranoid?" Rouge sighed, sitting down on the floor. "I fail to see how this helps us out."
Sonic, on the other hand, was glued to the screen. He took in every letter with rapt attention. Something Tails had never seen Sonic do in his life. The blue blue pondered on the entry before him. Maria… That name was everywhere. All the passwords, on the books in his room, and…
Emerald eyes grew dark. Shadow… had said her name. He wasn't very loud, and Sonic nearly forgot about it, but he had said it. Not in passing, but in full. Was she… the Professor's granddaughter?
"Find more entries about Maria." Sonic blurted, catching Tails off guard.
"... Why?" The fox asked, turning to look strangely at his best friend.
"Just do it."
XX/XX/19XX
I don't know exactly what happened, or what really went wrong. The research… my projects… Was I mistaken to create the Ultimate Life Form? Was I wrong to want to find a cure? I thought it would benefit humanity, I thought it would bring in a new age of peace and prosperity. But then G.U.N landed on the ARK… They were sent to destroy the project I have been working on, They wanted to destroy him! Everyone… my colleagues… my patients… my beloved Granddaughter Maria… I hope you are all okay.
"Oh my…" Amy gasped. "I hope they didn't get caught in the accident."
"Keep scrolling." Knuckles urged.
XX/XX/19XX
The ARK… it was shut down and myself arrested. In an act of kindness, the military let me keep my diary. But my research.. Everyone aboard.. It was broadcasted that it was all an accident. But I know better. It was a coverup to keep my prototype from falling into the wrong hands. It was a coverup to sweep those… atrocities under the rug. Maria… Shadow… I hope you are okay.
"So… it was a lie?" Tails peeped over the glaring silence. No one responded.
XX/XX/29XX
Those sick monsters. I hate them. I HATE THEM SO MUCH.
XX/XX.19XX
I found Maria's name among those who had died. My Maria… my beautiful snowflake… my ocean wave… gone… she was only twelve, what did she do to earn her death? They have no idea who they have angered.
XX/XX/19XX
they had the nerve to bring him to me. to me. they have delivered into the hands of the destructor. I will take everything away from them just as they did to me. They will know… they will know… they will know...
XX/XX/19XX
I have done it. I have completed Project Shadow. I have created the Ultimate Life Form. They took him away, but sooner or later… he will be set free. I made his mind perfect - pure. Purer than those who stole her. For only the good can end evil. When they eventually do come for me, I will leave him everything. My possessions, my life, and my intentions. If you who reads this dares, release him onto the world and he will reign destruction and terror upon all. I'm counting on you Shadow… REVENGE
XX/XX/19XX
All of you ungrateful humans will feel my loss and despair. All of you ungrateful humans will feel my loss and despair. All of you ungrateful humans will feel my loss and despair. All of you ungrateful humans will feel my loss and despair.
I hate you. I hate you. I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HA-
Tails turned the computer off. Everyone stared in horror at each other over what they had just read. Sonic collapsed onto the ground. Everything made perfect sense. The Emeralds, the Prison Island, the outbursts… the pain…
Tears started to fall from the azure hero's eyes, stunning all around him. Sonic... was crying. Sonic the Hedgehog, hero of the world, savior of the planet… was crying. Sonic was not one to cry. In fact: Tails had never seen him shed a tear in his entire life. It was pure shock and horror that filled the air upon the realization of Sonic's lament.
"I'm so sorry…" He sobbed, catching the flood of tears that erupted from his quivering eyes. "It's all my fault…"
