Chapter 48: Presidential meeting

9:01pm

18 hours until the bombs go off

White jungle

They run in the jungle at night time. the ninja is running in the dark into the trees. He parkours his way hearing buzzing flying above him. vector is swimming in a river following the stream. The noises and sounds of animals and soldiers can be heard within the jungle. Espio stops up ahead with charmy stopping next to him.

Espio: "Hold it."

Charmy: "What is it?"

Espio: "Shhh."

Vector overhears and dives underwater with only his eyes and nose above the water. A few beams of light can be seen in a few yards ahead. They come the way of the chaotix team talking.

Black Arm Soldier: "Keep an eye out. They're down here somewhere."

Black arm soldier 2: "Unit 12, any sign or traces?"

Unit 12: "We found the aircraft the three were in. Scanning the area."

Black arm soldier 3: "Why not just burn down the jungle. Make sure no one gets out alive."

Black arm soldier: "Negative. That might work but we'll be compromised. We already made our Appearance known to the world."

Black arm 2: "This is a waste of time y'know. Our plan will be a success tomorrow. There's no way they're gonna make it out of this jungle."

Black arm: "That's why we're here to make sure they don't leave this place alive."

Black arm 3: "They unleashed the octocenafangs. They'll be able to track them for us."

Black arm: "They're probably dinner food for them by now. Hoping they find them first."

Black arm 2: "So that sonic guy? Who is he?"

Black arm 3: "So called fastest thing in the world. He damaged the eyeclops to save his friends. In return he wasted most of his energy and was captured by our leader."

Black arm 2: "How noble."

Black arm: "Yeah and he's caught in our hands."

Espio sends a kunei at the black arms neck.

Black arm: "Gaachk!"

Black arm 2: "What the hell!"

Vector hops out of the water and drags one in there with him. The last one races to the water and fires his gun in the water.

Black arm 3: "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

The bullets hit his buddy but luckily not vector. He runs back to check on his buddy and Espio uncloaks and snaps the last one's neck. Vector hops from the water and Charmy flies down. They check the bodies and find a map and pick up their flashlights. Charmy picks up the pistol from the side of the black arms and the flashlights.

Vector: "Okay. So we're at this part of the jungle."

Charmy: "Seems like they have operations in the jungle."

Espio: "So they were working behind enemy lines."

Vector: "Smart. We're on enemy lines. No wonder they shot us down."

Charmy: "Well lets get out of here. We still gotta deliver this message to them."

Espio: "Why not deliver the message from one of the bases here?"

Vector: "Hey now, you're not actually suggesting on sneaking into the bases?"

Espio: "We need to know who our enemies are and what they're planning."

Charmy: "I don't know."

Espio: "This is an opportunity. Besides we could find a vehicle we can hijack and hurry towards the GUN Base."

Vector: "He's right. There's one near us 10 kilometers out. We sneak in."

Charmy: "And how are we gonna do that?"

They look down at the dead bodies.

Vector: "Hey espio. How are your sneaking skills."

Espio: "Still sharp as the night."

Mazuri village

4:20am

The ship lands back in the village where most of the people are sleeping. Tails, sally, bunnie, and Nicole walk out with a ship full of tanks of gasoline. Rotor wakes up and notices. He walks over.

Tails: "We got the parts. Plus the gas. Thankfully the police of savannah was nice enough to share some of their gas."

Rotor: "While you were gone, Eggman called."

Tails and Sally: "What!"

Knuckles: "What does that conniving snake want?"

Rotor: "He said to meat him in sand ruins along the way back. He said it's an emergency and to bring the weapon."

Bunnie: "Wait how does he know about the weapon?"

Tails: "But what about all these people?"

Antione: "We shall take them to mobotropolis. Make sure they get to safety."

Sally: "Okay. Tell my father and brother. Make sure they evacuate the entire kingdom of acorn."

Bonnie: "Got it."

Sally: "Tails. Can we actually trust eggman right now?"

Tails: "To be honest, I don't know. Over the years we know his nature. He tends to make allances and plan his own agenda. Recently he's been helpful but right now I don't know. My only thing is how does he know what that weapon is?"

Sally: "Sounds far fetch. Maybe we should get to sand ruins?"

Knuckles: "How do we know Egghead won't try to capture or kill us?

Tails: "Although he potentially started this mess, he knows a lot more about these creatures. I don't like it either but we're running out of time and options."

Sally: "Damn. Okay we'll take the weapon to him."

Tails: "Okay. Im coming with."

Sally: "No tails I need you-"

Tails: "I'm going weather you like or not. I need to know what eggman has up his sleave."

Rotor and sally look at each other.

Rotor: "Most of these people are still injured."

Bonnie: "Don't worry y'all. We'll be in metropolis by the time yall get back home."

Tails: "Did eggman state a time?"

Rotor: "He just said as soon as possible. And make sure we aren't followed."

Tails: "Okay. Lets go."

Central city

White house

9:46

Shadow, rouge, and Amy sit in a conference room. Rouge is dressed accordingly for a group meeting in a skirt like she's ready for business. Amy is in her formal wear as shadow stands with a sweater on him. he sits next to Amy waiting for the generals and The president to come in.

Amy: "How are you holding up?"

Shadow: "Fine."

Rouge: "You're thinking about him?"

Shadow: "Yeah."

Amy: "He'll be fine."

Shadow: "I know. I'm a bit worried about him. it's like its happening all over again."

Amy: "He cared enough to not make a fuss up there."

Shadow: "Yes, because it was our home. Down here is a whole different story."

Rouge: "Y'know. Maybe Amy could talk some sense into him. seems like he's grown a special attachment towards you."

Amy: "Maybe."

Shadow: "I don't think it's a good idea for you being anywhere near him."

Amy: "It's okay. I can handle myself. And him."

Shadow: "That's what im afraid of."

Amy: "Oh c'mon. He's locked up anyway. Sonic beat him. I think things are starting to look pretty good now. We can help him."

Shadow: "One thing about him is that he stays true to his word. He says he's gonna do something, he will do it."

Amy: "So what? he's only misdirected. Maria would've fixed him."

Shadow: "I don't think she could've helped him. There are some things and men that cannot be changed. Gloom is a hard one to break."

Amy: "Hey. Nothing is so broken that it cannot be fixed."

Shadow looks at her.

Shadow: "Maybe you're right. But yet still, his ambitions is strong."

Rouge: "I think he just needs some sense knocked into him. Maybe you're the one to do it Shadow?"

Shadow: "I think you been hanging around knuckles too much."

Rouge: "You're probably right."

The door starts opening. The president walks in with three other people and Abraham.

President: "Welcome to central city. It's good to see you again Shadow."

He shakes his hand and everyone starts sitting.

Amy sits next to Shadow. Shadow sits close to him as Abraham sits across from him. Rouge and Cal and two other people sit at the far end.

President: "Ladies and gentlemen. Meet Commander Silla and Mort."

Shadow: "Pleasure to meet you guys."

Silla: "Pleasure to finally come face to face with the guy that saved this city."

Mort: "And the guy wo fought against us."

Shadow: "I was finding the answers to my past."

Abraham: "We all were."

President: "So gentlemen, the Menace known as Gloom has been detained?"

Abraham: "Yes sir. Shadow and his friends have defeated Gloom."

President: "Have we got anything? A new threat or enemy we don't know?"

Cal: "We managed to find and discover old intel about the black arms and that guy. Turns out Shadow wasn't the only one."

Silla: "So how many of you are there?"

Shadow: "Just us two."

Cal: "Technically three. But something didn't go right over 50 years ago with the third one. Somehow he died during the test."

Mort: "So Gerald was still holding out on us?"

Rouge: "Seems like it."

President: "Hm. I have been getting reports that people are now being taken into custody ever since you left. Have you recently known that other nation icons and leaders have been kidnapped by these unknown terrorist?"

Shadow: "Black arms. They're back."

Silla: "That's impossible, we killed all of them."

Rouge: "Seems like you didn't. They have ways to keep an eye on us."

Mort: "So they must be a cult? A new terrorist?"

Amy: "No. they're black arms. We fought one in our second encounter with Gloom on an island."

Shadow: "They know how to spy too. They also have he power to access mainframes."

Abraham: "So our security isn't as safe?"

Shadow: "Something like that. They always find a way."

President: "Do you know anything about our fallen comrad general Feldore and why they targeted him?"

Abraham: "Yes. Our guess is that they targeted him because he was also the same one who carried out the order 50 years ago for the Ark raid that got Gerald killed. And Maria."

President: "Shadow, who is Gloom to you?"

Shadow looks down and a hand holds him. Amy's hand. She looks at him and smiles. Shadow exhales and comes out.

Shadow: "He is my brother. He's family to me."

President: "Do you understand the reason to why we have him?"

Shadow: "To make sure the protection and security of the human race."

President: "Do you have any reason to aiding Gloom?"

Shadow: "No. but I will ensure the best of my- I mean our ability that he is converted to the right way and dealt with."

Cal: "Bullshit. He wiped out almost my entire battalion. I lost good soldiers thanks to him."

President: "Calm down Cal. Now I understand your concern and wellbeing on your brother's behalf but you must understand he must be punished for the murder of innocents he caused?"

Shadow: "I understand sir. And I'll be there to make sure he is tried and held accountable for his actions."

Cal: "Are you fucking kidding me? We have him right where we want him in custody. we could kill him now and-"

Shadow: "and then what? if we kill him now, you think that's gonna stop them. we don't know what these things are capable of. They probably were in hiding this whole time. Gloom is their heir. Their leader."

Abraham: "He's right. We kill him and there has to be someone who is second in command. They might go on a rampage and start killing innocents."

President: "So he aligns himself with the black arms?"

Shadow: "Yes Mr. president. And I attend to make sure he is helped without the need to harm or kill him."

President: "If that doesn't work?"

Shadow: *Exhales* "And I will do what I must to ensure the safety of this planet."

Mort: "Again how do we not know that this guy isn't an accomplice or double agent to getting in our heads and spreading information to them."

Shadow: "I made a promise to my sister a long time ago that I will ensure the safety of this planet and it's inhabitants that live here and give them a better future."

Silla: "We'll need more than just a promise Shadow."

Shadow: "I proved it before."

Abraham: "When you lost your memory correct?"

Shadow: "Yes."

Rouge: "Time and time again he showed his allegiance to this planet. We stop and spy on eggman and fumble his plans for you guys."

Shadow: "Me and this lovely woman right here helped stop him on the Space ark."

President: "Speaking of the space ark, how are they doing up there?"

Cal: "A lot better than the last program. In fact they're already coming up ideas and ways on how to beat these things."

President: "How did he even get up there? Wasn't there more?"

Shadow: "No it was just him. Me and him were made out of the same material as the space lizard. He used chaos control."

Abraham: "The chaos emeralds."

Shadow: "Speaking of them. I have them. they'll never get their hands on them. Sonic has one."

President: "Oh yeah the blue hedgehog. How is he?"

Shadow: "Last time I saw him was this morning. He went to find Princess Sally who has been kidnapped by them."

President: "Just what I expected from him and his fellow freedom fighters. I know they won't fail us."

Cal: "So amy rose right? You and shadow have been the ones to get close to him. What do you suggest we do?"

Amy: "To be honest. I'm close to making a breakthrough with him. he could possibly grown an attachment to me."

Cal: "Attachment. Like lover wise?"

Amy: "No. possibly something close to as a relative if you want to call it that."

Mort: "Are you trying to say you're black arms?"

Amy: "N-no because-"

Abraham: "It's because they're lovers. They have a connection. So gloom will treat her like one."

Rouge: "Way to tell everyone their business."

Abraham: "What? they're our business too so that we can get close to the prisoner."

President: "Well, I think we got as much information we need for today. So Shadow the hedgehog, Amy rose, Can we count on you to defeat this new threat."

Shadow: "In every way we can…"

Amy: "In every way possible…"

Shadow: "The best we can do."

Amy: "And the best of our ability."

Shadow: "Along with the help of the freedom fighters. Yes."

Amy: "And we will."

The president smiles.

President: "I know you won't fail us. General Abraham. Can we count on you to handle any attack right?"

Abraham: "Our best of the best are keeping an eye out for them. they get anything and we'll be there ready for em."

President: "Well gentlemen. Wish you the best of luck and hope for the sake of humanity."

The president stands and walks out of the board room.

Cal: "I got my every eye in the world on you hedgehog."

Shadow: "You need your eyes checked pal."

Cal: "You watch your self."

Abraham: "So will you be needing plane Ms. rose?

Amy: "No thanks. I'm gonna stay and help him."

Abraham: "Well. Y'know where to find me."

He stands up and cal follows him out. Mort and silla stand.

Mort: "I hope you know what you're doing."

Silla: "Good luck."

They walk out and it's just the trio.

Rouge: "See? I knew you could do it Amy."

Amy: "Yeah. I was a bit nervous."

Shadow: "What the heck, I thought you agreed on going back home?"

Amy: "I know. But I just can't sit by and do nothing. Not my style nor can I just leave you. besides you'll need me to get to him."

Rouge: "So what's his actual attachment towards you?"

Shadow: "He sees her just like Maria. You got her flare."

Amy: "Don't make me blush."

Shadow: "I mean it. You act like her. you talk like her almost. You got her hot headedness. Best of all you got her beauty."

Amy: "Awww."

She kisses him on the cheek.

Rouge: "Get a room. Also have you heard from them? I haven't been able to reach them."

Shadow: "Other side of the world."

Amy: "They probably found her and those people they been kidnapping."

Rouge: "Maybe."

Shadow: "So, where is he?"

Rouge: "You're scheduled to come by tomorrow morning. We'll be heading to the GUN Fortress."

Shadow: "Got it."

Rouge: "Now, a girl needs her beauty sleep. I'll be at the hotel."

She opens the window and flies out towards the hotel they're staying at."

Amy: "Well. We should get some sleep. Gonna be a long day tomorrow."

Shadow: "Yeah. We should."

They walk out and take a car that escorts them to the hotel. They go in and enter an elevator. And head up to the floor they're on. Shadow opens the door for and she walks in. She takes of her shoes and hops onto the bed. She lies back stretching her arms and legs out. Shadow comes up on the bed and crawls on top of her.

Amy: "Man. It's been one long day."

Shadow: "I know."

They start kissing. One long smooch of relieving each other's stress from a long day.

Amy: *pant* "You think Sonic and the others are alright."

Shadow: "I honestly don't give a fuck what they're doing."

He kisses her again and licks her neck.

Amy: "Ooohh… *gasp* wait shadow."

Shadow: "I know."

He gets off top and lies next to her.

Amy: "I wasn't gonna say stop."

She gets on top of him and starts kissing him passionately. He returns the favor.

Amy: "Your brother. I know he can be better."

Shadow: "I know. I'm afraid that they'll kill him."

Amy: "They won't. So what about you?"

Shadow: "What about me?"

Amy: "When you said you'll do what you have to do, did you mean it?"

Shadow: …

She stares at him. He looks out the window.

Amy: "It's okay. I understand."

She lies on him and gets comfortable. She lies her head in his chest fur.

Shadow: "Is it okay to asks you this?"

Amy: "Yes?"

Shadow: "What happened to your family?"

Amy: "My family?"

Shadow: "Yeah."

Amy: "Well. I hardly knew them. my cousin I rarely see him time to time. I only have a small memory of my mother. I hardly knew her."

Shadow: "Where is your cousin?"

Amy: "Oh he's in Mercia. He's king now ever since they took down the eggmans legion over there."

Shadow: "You're royal blood?"

Amy: "I have no idea honestly. I came from a rich family and that's all I know."

Shadow: "It's honestly amazing that we're going back to that place. The irony."

Amy: "What?"

Shadow: "Remember on how we first met."

Amy: "O-oh…" *blushing*

Shadow: "C'mon. don't tell me you forgot."

Amy: "I didn't I just remembered the details."

Shadow: "You thought I was Sonic."

Amy: "Yeah."

Shadow: "You just saw a hedgehog and immediately-"

Amy: "I got to impatient okay."

Shadow: "Impatient enough to not know you're ex boyfriend is blue?"

She raises her hand in the air and prepares a signature snap that calls in her hammer.

Shadow: "Okay, Okay, Okay. I'm just teasing."

Amy: *Giggle*

Shadow: "Does the use of force always the answer?"

Amy: "Nope. But it gets the point across."

Shadow: "Hmph."

Amy: "Y'know. When we met, I honestly thought you were a bit cuter than Sonic."

Shadow: "A bit?"

Amy: "Well… not to mention you looked a bit cooler than sonic I mean-"

Shadow: "It's alright. I understand. I'm touched honestly."

Amy: "What were you like when you first met me."

Shadow: "I just said she's pretty. But I gotta stick to the mission. I guessed you were apart of sonics rescue."

Amy: "What were your true thoughts about me?"

Shadow: "You were honestly in my opinion. I honestly knew there was something special about you. I knew I was gonna see you around a lot more. I didn't expect you to remind me who I was and where I came from. Maria would have begged me to save the planet from the lizard like you did. To this day I will not forget the words you used on me. the words you begged me to help Sonic and the others. I'll always remember that and keep my promise until my last breath."

Amy: "Aww that's so sweet."

She kisses him on the mouth.

Shadow: "So what did you think of me?"

Amy: "Someone who might've been a bit troubled. But in the end, it felt great knowing how much you wanted to change. How deeply inside that may not seem the type of person who cares, but in reality I just knew deep down there was a big softy in there. You looked like you were hard as stone, but you actually have a heart of gold like sonic. You're like his reflection. Something a bit better and made for me. I accept Sonic choosing sally. I just really wished he noticed me more, but now… I have you."

She looks up to see Shadow staring out in the window.

Shadow: "In my opinion of sonic. I honestly despise him. When I first saw him. He reminded me a lot like gloom. His personality and his hot headedness. I honestly admire his noticble flair. His way of things and view on life. Him and Gloom are not so different. Maybe that's why he takes a notice on you. Maybe it's something like sonic only without the speed. The only difference is that Gloom has patience."

Amy tears up a bit from hearing that. She closes her eyes.

Shadow: "I think there is a way to turn him around. a way to-"

He looks down to see her asleep on him. He grabs the cover and rolls it on them. He stares up in the ceiling and remembers a quote from Gerald.

Gerald: "Nothing is so broken that it cannot be fixed. It may not be perfect, but it's a lot better."

10:30pm

17 hours until the bombs go off

Sand ruins

5:30am

In the ruins the ship resides. Tails, knuckles, and Sally with Nicole in her hand wait for the Doctor.

Tails: "We should rest up."

Knuckles: "Yeah. It's beena long day and night."

Sally: "Eggman will wake us up when he gets here."

Tails: "The others should be on their way towards mobotropolis. It's morning here and night time there."

Sally: "Yeah. We should rest."

They all wait in the ship keep the cool air running as the sun begins to scorch the desert and sand ruins.

Tails: "Sleep tight guys."

They all sleep and wait until the doctor arrives later.

To Be Continued…