Sonic Adventure 2 adaptation- part 6.
"An Eclipse of the Moon"
By Thalia 'RockChick' Evans.
Chapter 1
Location: Above Prison Island
1 Time: 3 seconds to detonation
A small blue plane drifted between the island and the clouds. A vivid orange fox piloted the craft, while a pink hedgehog with green eyes was squashed into the cockpit behind him. Below them, Prison Island seemed strangely tranquil…
The peace would not last for long.
Suddenly, several small explosions erupted over the island, multiplying and expanding until the whole place was a mass of flame!
Debris was hurled into the air, varying in size from small clods of earth to huge trees and boulders. A great mushroom of smoke rose high into the atmosphere, where it would remain to block out the sun for several days. Then came the sound, a deafening roar, and a shockwave that nearly knocked the small plane out of the air.
In the cockpit, Tails fought the controls. The turbulence was almost too much, but he was a good pilot and soon had the plane under some semblance of control. A new thought occupied his mind now.
"Sonic… oh no…" His friend was down there.
"Tails, Do you think he...?" Amy whispered from behind him. She was in a state of shock, and Tails could do nothing but shake his head. He was usually optimistic, but this…
"Nothing could survive that…" Tails had heard those words spoken many times before, usually referring to a very desperate situation of the 'Super Sonic' variety.
But Super Sonic was gone…
"Oh, no," Tails said again, unable to find any other words. Suddenly, however, Amy tapped him on an orange-furred shoulder.
"Tails, what's that?"
* * * *
Deep in the smoke cloud, the hover bike made another sharp turn to avoid a large chunk of flying debris, then ploughed through a cloud of hot ash. Sonic squeezed his large eyes shut to avoid the stinging particles, and grimly hung on to the back of the vehicle.
Clear of the flaming cinders, Sonic looked at the figure hunched over the handlebars in front.
Rescued twice in one day. Man…
Suddenly, a mass of burning tree loomed ahead, and the bike made yet another wrenching change of direction. The movement was so quick that the green Chao almost lost its' grip on the brown hedgehog's head quills.
Sonic had to admit it, though- this guy's reflexes were fast… very fast. And he had turned up at exactly the right moment. That was strange in itself, but what was it about the dude that made Sonic so… uneasy?
The biker looked over his shoulder. Blue tinted shades protected his eyes.
"You okay?"
"Sure," Sonic replied through gritted teeth.
Rescued twice in one day! And he hadn't got the Chaos Emerald. And, to make matters worse, both Robotnik and Shadow had escaped- he knew that, as there was now no trace of the energy signatures belonging to Shadow or the Chaos Emerald.
And Sonic had definitely come out the worse for wear after that fight in the jungle…
"No way, that creep got lucky," Sonic muttered. "And I got a shot in, too. Ol' Stripes is gonna be hurting for weeks…" Sonic allowed himself a small, tight smile at that. Shadow wouldn't forget about that battle in a hurry… of course, neither would Sonic. If he hadn't been hanging on for dear life, he would have touched the throbbing bruise on his head. It must be an impressive colour by now, he thought- as was the slightly worse one on his back.
"Hey Sonic-" the biker said, interrupting the other hedgehog's thoughts. "Better get your head down, we're heading out of here…"
Sonic did so, as they passed through another patch of smouldering ash.
"What I wouldn't give for a pair of those shades right now," He thought to himself, grimacing as he felt sparks singe his fur. He must look a real mess by now-
The bike suddenly emerged into clear air, swinging around for a better look at the devastation below. There was nothing left down there except flaming ruins… the forest, the buildings, everything was gone. "Whoa," Sonic gasped. The biker hedgehog shook his head sadly.
"All that destruction… and for no reason at all."
"Yeah," Sonic agreed. "But I don't think there was anyone living there." Sonic's rescuer nodded slightly.
"Still…" The moment of reflection ended as Sonic heard someone calling his name. He turned, to see the Cyclone heading his way, Tails piloting and Amy waving from the cockpit.
"Well," Sonic grinned, "Look who's come to join the party."
* * * *
Later, back at the Emerald Hill Zone base…
"Argh! Gerroff me!" Sonic yelled, pushing Amy's hands away from his face.
"Don't be such a baby- I'm only taking a look," Amy chided, peering at the black eye that was beginning to show on his face. "That's one heck of a shiner- what did you do, run into a tree?"
"Somethin' like that," Sonic muttered. He sat down on the couch, and yelped involuntarily as a jab of pain lanced up his back. He shot a glance at Amy, sighing as he saw that she had noticed.
"Get up, let me see," She commanded.
"Jeez, will you stop fussing? It's nothing!" Sonic griped, as Amy peered at the injury to Sonic's back. She winced at the purple bruising visible under the blue fur.
"It doesn't look like nothing," She said, concerned. "Maybe I should put a bandage on that…" Sonic replied only with a scowl. He was being very sensitive about this- more than usual, even…
"Shadow, huh?" Amy said gently, sensing the cause of Sonic's bad mood. The frown deepened- a definite affirmative.
Amy nodded wisely to herself. It was best to change the subject, even though she was concerned. This Shadow… he must have real power, if he could do so much damage to the lightning-fast Sonic.
"Sonic, who do you think that biker was? I'm sure I've seen him before somewhere."
"Hmmm…" Sonic replied, with an expression of puzzlement. He looked back on the conversation they had had, shortly after arriving back at the Emerald Hill Zone.
"It's time I left," The golden-brown hedgehog had said, mere moments after the bike had come to a landing and Sonic had dismounted.
"Wait a minute," Sonic replied, getting his first good look at him. The biker had the same athletic build as Sonic, but may have been slightly thinner- although it was difficult to tell due to the blue denim jacket he was wearing. His features were maddeningly familiar, but were obscured by the blue shades and the spiny quiff that hung over his face. Although his eyes were partly hidden, Sonic could not meet his gaze for long- there was something unnerving about those eyes.
"Hey, have we met?" Sonic asked, puzzled.
"You wouldn't remember me," The other replied simply, grinning as if at some private joke. His voice too was familiar, but again Sonic could not place it. Perhaps he was one of the Emerald Hill folk, Sonic thought, asking him.
The only reply was that infuriating, knowing smile. The hedgehog then turned his bike to leave.
"One more thing," He called over his shoulder. "Shadow isn't what he seems. Don't judge him too quickly, Sonic!" The bike began to rise into the air. Bewildered, Sonic called to the mysterious hedgehog one last time-
"Hey, guy! Who the heck are you?!"
"They call me Phoenix," came the distant reply. "Or Shade. Take your pick!"
"Shade Phoenix, huh?" Sonic murmured. "One day I'll find out your real name…" Then Sonic turned, shaking his head, and went inside.
"He calls himself Shade," Sonic told Amy. "I don't trust the guy. We don't know what his motives are…"
"He did save your life, though," Amy pointed out. "And he helped me and Tails, too. I think it's fair to assume that he's on our side."
"I suppose," Sonic agreed reluctantly. "I wonder what Shade meant about Shadow. That black hedgehog seemed like an all-round bad egg to me…"
Amy frowned, wondering if Sonic was right. It was true that Shadow was working for Robotnik, but something just didn't fit…
"I wonder what he's up to," The pink hedgehog said quietly to herself.
Chapter 2
Location: The space colony ARK
2 Time: Fifty years earlier
The blue planet turned lazily in space. White cloud swirled its surface, and on the distant, curved horizon, the sun was beginning to set.
Those who watched this spectacle were separated from it by the airless vacuum of space, and the reinforced viewing window of ARK. In reality, the division was far greater than that.
Shadow turned his eyes away from the view, and glanced to his left. The girl standing there was as different to him as he could possibly imagine. She was human and had been born naturally. Shadow fitted into neither category…
Yet somehow, they had become friends.
She was the only one who didn't treat him like some kind of scientific curiosity.
"Isn't that what I am?" Shadow thought.
No, it was more than friendship. Maria was… almost family.
"How could I know what that word means?" He said to himself. There were so many questions, and so few answers…
"I just don't know anything anymore…" Shadow said aloud. "I'm not even sure who I really am." The question, of course, was not 'who', but 'why'. There had to be some meaning behind Shadow's existence. A purpose. Something…
Maria Kintobor turned blue eyes towards the black hedgehog, and said nothing. Shadow sighed, and resumed gazing out of the window. If she didn't understand either… well, at least he had someone to talk to. There was silence for a minute or so; then Maria spoke.
"Shadow, what do you think it's like down there on Mobius?" Unlike Shadow, she had been down to the planet's surface, but Maria had been too young to remember.
Perhaps, Shadow thought, they were not so different after all…
"Dr. Gerald once told me, his life's work was dedicated to helping the people on that planet," He answered hesitantly, briefly wondering if he was a part of that plan. "Perhaps if I go down there, I'll find my answers…"
Thoughtfully, the pair turned and contemplated the view in silence.
* * * *
Fifty years later, the view remained the same. But now Shadow was alone… utterly alone. His eyes flicked to the left. There was nothing there, except perhaps for ghosts…
The view was as beautiful as ever, but Shadow could no longer appreciate it. He knew now what the people down there were like.
He had found his answers.
He had found his purpose.
He would make them pay.
3 But…
The feeling of doubt surprised him. Why did he suddenly feel so unsure?
4 His life's work… helping the people of that planet…
He had saved Rouge's life, and again, the question arose. Why?
Why had he risked his life to save hers, when she was expendable? Was it because of his memories of Maria? Or because it had simply felt right to do so?
Instead of doing what he thought he should, Shadow had acted on what his heart was telling him…
Shadow almost smiled at that. Did he even have a heart?
At that, Shadow's hand went to his chest. He showed no outward sign of pain, but inwardly he winced. The injury was minor and would heal quickly, but that was not the point…
That blue hedgehog….he was another problem that had to be dealt with. The impostor had escaped the inferno, of course. The ARK's sensors had detected the two small craft leaving the island.
Shadow had underestimated his abilities… or was it just his determination? He even felt a small stab of envy towards the blue one, although he would not consciously admit it. The blue hedgehog seemed to know who he was and why he was there… which was more than Shadow could say.
"What are you..." He wondered.
"Why so melancholy?" Someone said suddenly. Shadow turned to see that Rouge had entered the room, without him noticing. He felt a vague anger at himself. He should never allow himself to get caught out like that…and this was the second time.
"It was so unlike you, Shadow, to come and rescue me like that…" The bat continued. "I have to admit, though, your ability to use Chaos Control sure comes in handy."
Did she expect thanks?! No chance.
"Huh, I was just saving the Chaos Emerald. Not you," The hedgehog said dismissively. Rouge fixed him with a piercing gaze. Her voice took on a thoughtful tone.
"But that's not the whole story, is it?" Shadow's eyes narrowed; then he looked away.
No, he thought. It was not.
The moment of tense silence came to an end as the round figure of Robotnik appeared in the door.
"It's time," He grinned evilly. Shadow pushed his doubts to the back of his mind. Finally, he thought, the time was at hand. Vengeance would soon be his. With five emeralds in their possession, they had enough Chaos energy to put their plan into motion…
"Let's get this show on the road."
* * * *
Chapter 3
Location: Emerald Hill Zone
5 Time: 8.00pm
"Sonic, will you please stop pacing?" Tails said, as Sonic got in front of the TV again. "I'm trying to watch the news."
Sonic was, as usual, impatient. It was made worse by the fact that he'd been in a bad mood to begin with- he didn't like the thought of sitting around all day doing nothing, especially when Robotnik and Shadow were still at large. Not knowing what to do next, the others had been watching news broadcasts about the prison island explosion, while they waited for the Kintobor Computer to come up with something.
He hadn't come up with anything yet.
"Sonic, why don't you just get some rest or something," Sighed an annoyed Amy. "We just have to wait until Dr. Kintobor finds out where Robotnik is, then we can put a stop to… well, whatever it is that he's doing." Sonic frowned at her.
"Hang on. Robotnik has just blown up an entire island, and now he's out there somewhere with goodness knows how many Chaos Emeralds and a guy who could eat Metallix for breakfast, and you're telling me to get some rest??" Sonic paused, bristling. "Have I missed something?!"
Amy just sighed again. There was no point trying to get through to him. An angry Sonic, she knew, was a stubborn Sonic. Porker, sitting next to her on the couch, just shrugged.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Sonic ripped it open.
"NOW WHAT??"
Knuckles was visible in the semi-darkness outside, silhouetted against the full moon. He raised an eyebrow.
"Someone got out the wrong side of bed this morning."
"Oh, hi Red…"
* * * *
Some time later, the gang had explained to the echidna what had been going on while he'd been away. When they had finished, Knuckles nodded.
"That explains why Sonic looks like he ran into a wall," he said devilishly. Sonic gave him a deadly stare.
"Don't rub it in," snarled the hedgehog. But after a few moments, Sonic turned to more important matters.
"You found some Chaos Emeralds." It was a statement, not a question- there was a lot of energy coming from the cloth bag Knuckles was carrying on his shoulder.
"Not exactly," said the red echidna, emptying the contents onto the table.
Sonic, Tails, Amy and Porker gazed at the shattered remains of the Master Emerald. With them was an intact emerald, smaller and sapphire blue in colour.
"Looks like you haven't had much luck either," Tails observed. "What happened?" Knuckles shrugged confusedly.
"I'm not sure. Robotnik tried to steal the Master Emerald, but then it just shattered. I don't know why." Porker thoughtfully examined the shards.
"If the energy hasn't dissipated, you may be able to put it back together," He said. The pig had spent a lot of time studying Chaos energy, so was able to reassure Knuckles. The echidna nodded; he had thought of the same thing.
"That was the plan, but I only have about half the pieces. I'm guessing that bat girl, Rouge, has the rest."
"Rouge?" Sonic said thoughtfully. "I heard Robotnik mention her just before Prison Island blew up." Knuckles opened his mouth to say something, then stopped, an expression of surprise on his face. The others followed his gaze towards the television.
"Robotnik," Sonic growled.
Picking up the remote control, Tails flicked through the channels. The image of the mad scientist remained on screen.
"It's on all the channels," the fox exclaimed. "This transmission is being shown all over the planet…" Then everyone fell silent as Robotnik spoke.
"Citizens of Mobius," He grinned evilly. "Prepare to witness the formation of the greatest empire of all time… the Robotnik Empire!"
"Not a chance, lard belly," Sonic hissed, fully aware that Robotnik couldn't hear him. Then he turned and yelled up the stairs into the control room. "Hey Kintobor! Put a trace on this thing, I want to know where it's coming from!"
"I'll get right on it!" The digitised scientist called down. Sonic looked back towards the TV, where Robotnik's speech continued.
"…And for any zone that would even consider not bowing down before me, here is a little…demonstration of the fate that awaits you!" The camera then panned to show a window, with a view of outer space and a planet turning lazily below.
"Sonic, you'd better come look at this!" Amy stammered from by the window. He looked outside, eyes widening, then rushed to the door. The others stared at each other for a second, then followed him.
Outside, an unusually bright star grew into a glowing disc, rivalling the moon for brightness.
And unseen by the Freedom Fighters, but watched by millions of others across the planet, the moon swung into view on the television screen…
* * * *
The ARK space colony was about half the size of Mobius' moon, and resembled a small planetoid. It even had its' own thin atmosphere, provided by 41st century technology in order to make repairs easier. The surface, however, was barren- the real space station was inside. The illusion of a natural satellite was perfect except for a line that bisected the ARK into two halves- one half being empty cargo space, the other containing the space colony itself.
The dark line started to glow with a blue light. The cargo section suddenly disintegrated and exploded into space, revealing something that looked nothing less than an inverted city- metallic skyscrapers pointed downwards, ringed with lights, and in the centre a conical tower projected into space.
The cone slowly began to open like a flower. Inside, a fierce blue-white light pulsed…
Then, it was over.
* * * *
Millions gasped in horror as the sky exploded into a firestorm of light. The glare was visible even in daylight; in the darkness of the Emerald Hill Zone, it was blinding. The light lasted no more than a second or two before fading back to darkness.
Sonic blinked rapidly to clear his vision. The others were standing around in shock, blinking or shaking their heads.
"Is everyone all right?" He said, somewhat unsteadily.
"Yeah…but what was that?" Knuckles breathed. Porker peeked nervously around the doorway, while Amy and Tails stared up at the night sky.
"Whoa…" Said Amy, incredulously.
Half the moon was gone. There was just a huge, glowing crater.
From behind them, the sound of maniacal laughter issued from the TV speakers.
"He's… insane…" Sonic hissed, taking a step back. "It's like the Death Egg all over again."
"Only worse," Knuckles added grimly. "We have to stop that cannon!"
Porker frowned, deep in thought.
"That… that had to have come from ARK." He stammered. Sonic nodded in agreement, finally knowing what Robotnik had been up to.
"Well, now we know why he was after the Chaos Emeralds." Sonic looked up at the bright star that they now knew was ARK. It was time to put a stop to this, he thought.
It was time for Sonic to do his hero thing…
"Doc K!" Sonic called as he rushed up the stairs, his friends close behind. "That transmission came from ARK, right?"
"Yes, originally," The Kintobor computer answered. "But the broadcast was being relayed through a transmitter in the desert, outside the Metropolis Zone."
"I guess now we know where Robotnik's base is," Sonic beamed. Knuckles just looked depressed.
"Not the desert again…"
Sonic smirked at the scarlet echidna. The hedgehog was now in a better mood, despite what had just happened- he now knew exactly what he had to do. Knuckles scowled. Typical Sonic behaviour- when there was nothing wrong, he snapped at everyone for no good reason… but when the world was about to end, he was as happy as-
"C'mon, guys- you ready to rumble?" Sonic interrupted. "I bet there's a way up to ARK in that base somewhere."
"Wait a minute, Sonic," Porker cautioned him. Sonic sighed and begun tapping his foot on the floor. Porker shot him a glare before continuing. "I have an idea. Knuckles, can I borrow that blue emerald of yours?"
"Yeah, sure…" Knuckles gave a resigned nod. "Just don't smash it or anything, okay?"
Meanwhile, on the television downstairs, a timer began counting down.
24. 59. 59
58.
57…
5.1 To be Continued…
Sonic and the gang infiltrate Robotnik's secret base, but the mad scientist has a little surprise waiting for them.
Sonic Adventure 2 adaptation, part 7:
Lift Off
"An Eclipse of the Moon"
By Thalia 'RockChick' Evans.
Chapter 1
Location: Above Prison Island
1 Time: 3 seconds to detonation
A small blue plane drifted between the island and the clouds. A vivid orange fox piloted the craft, while a pink hedgehog with green eyes was squashed into the cockpit behind him. Below them, Prison Island seemed strangely tranquil…
The peace would not last for long.
Suddenly, several small explosions erupted over the island, multiplying and expanding until the whole place was a mass of flame!
Debris was hurled into the air, varying in size from small clods of earth to huge trees and boulders. A great mushroom of smoke rose high into the atmosphere, where it would remain to block out the sun for several days. Then came the sound, a deafening roar, and a shockwave that nearly knocked the small plane out of the air.
In the cockpit, Tails fought the controls. The turbulence was almost too much, but he was a good pilot and soon had the plane under some semblance of control. A new thought occupied his mind now.
"Sonic… oh no…" His friend was down there.
"Tails, Do you think he...?" Amy whispered from behind him. She was in a state of shock, and Tails could do nothing but shake his head. He was usually optimistic, but this…
"Nothing could survive that…" Tails had heard those words spoken many times before, usually referring to a very desperate situation of the 'Super Sonic' variety.
But Super Sonic was gone…
"Oh, no," Tails said again, unable to find any other words. Suddenly, however, Amy tapped him on an orange-furred shoulder.
"Tails, what's that?"
* * * *
Deep in the smoke cloud, the hover bike made another sharp turn to avoid a large chunk of flying debris, then ploughed through a cloud of hot ash. Sonic squeezed his large eyes shut to avoid the stinging particles, and grimly hung on to the back of the vehicle.
Clear of the flaming cinders, Sonic looked at the figure hunched over the handlebars in front.
Rescued twice in one day. Man…
Suddenly, a mass of burning tree loomed ahead, and the bike made yet another wrenching change of direction. The movement was so quick that the green Chao almost lost its' grip on the brown hedgehog's head quills.
Sonic had to admit it, though- this guy's reflexes were fast… very fast. And he had turned up at exactly the right moment. That was strange in itself, but what was it about the dude that made Sonic so… uneasy?
The biker looked over his shoulder. Blue tinted shades protected his eyes.
"You okay?"
"Sure," Sonic replied through gritted teeth.
Rescued twice in one day! And he hadn't got the Chaos Emerald. And, to make matters worse, both Robotnik and Shadow had escaped- he knew that, as there was now no trace of the energy signatures belonging to Shadow or the Chaos Emerald.
And Sonic had definitely come out the worse for wear after that fight in the jungle…
"No way, that creep got lucky," Sonic muttered. "And I got a shot in, too. Ol' Stripes is gonna be hurting for weeks…" Sonic allowed himself a small, tight smile at that. Shadow wouldn't forget about that battle in a hurry… of course, neither would Sonic. If he hadn't been hanging on for dear life, he would have touched the throbbing bruise on his head. It must be an impressive colour by now, he thought- as was the slightly worse one on his back.
"Hey Sonic-" the biker said, interrupting the other hedgehog's thoughts. "Better get your head down, we're heading out of here…"
Sonic did so, as they passed through another patch of smouldering ash.
"What I wouldn't give for a pair of those shades right now," He thought to himself, grimacing as he felt sparks singe his fur. He must look a real mess by now-
The bike suddenly emerged into clear air, swinging around for a better look at the devastation below. There was nothing left down there except flaming ruins… the forest, the buildings, everything was gone. "Whoa," Sonic gasped. The biker hedgehog shook his head sadly.
"All that destruction… and for no reason at all."
"Yeah," Sonic agreed. "But I don't think there was anyone living there." Sonic's rescuer nodded slightly.
"Still…" The moment of reflection ended as Sonic heard someone calling his name. He turned, to see the Cyclone heading his way, Tails piloting and Amy waving from the cockpit.
"Well," Sonic grinned, "Look who's come to join the party."
* * * *
Later, back at the Emerald Hill Zone base…
"Argh! Gerroff me!" Sonic yelled, pushing Amy's hands away from his face.
"Don't be such a baby- I'm only taking a look," Amy chided, peering at the black eye that was beginning to show on his face. "That's one heck of a shiner- what did you do, run into a tree?"
"Somethin' like that," Sonic muttered. He sat down on the couch, and yelped involuntarily as a jab of pain lanced up his back. He shot a glance at Amy, sighing as he saw that she had noticed.
"Get up, let me see," She commanded.
"Jeez, will you stop fussing? It's nothing!" Sonic griped, as Amy peered at the injury to Sonic's back. She winced at the purple bruising visible under the blue fur.
"It doesn't look like nothing," She said, concerned. "Maybe I should put a bandage on that…" Sonic replied only with a scowl. He was being very sensitive about this- more than usual, even…
"Shadow, huh?" Amy said gently, sensing the cause of Sonic's bad mood. The frown deepened- a definite affirmative.
Amy nodded wisely to herself. It was best to change the subject, even though she was concerned. This Shadow… he must have real power, if he could do so much damage to the lightning-fast Sonic.
"Sonic, who do you think that biker was? I'm sure I've seen him before somewhere."
"Hmmm…" Sonic replied, with an expression of puzzlement. He looked back on the conversation they had had, shortly after arriving back at the Emerald Hill Zone.
"It's time I left," The golden-brown hedgehog had said, mere moments after the bike had come to a landing and Sonic had dismounted.
"Wait a minute," Sonic replied, getting his first good look at him. The biker had the same athletic build as Sonic, but may have been slightly thinner- although it was difficult to tell due to the blue denim jacket he was wearing. His features were maddeningly familiar, but were obscured by the blue shades and the spiny quiff that hung over his face. Although his eyes were partly hidden, Sonic could not meet his gaze for long- there was something unnerving about those eyes.
"Hey, have we met?" Sonic asked, puzzled.
"You wouldn't remember me," The other replied simply, grinning as if at some private joke. His voice too was familiar, but again Sonic could not place it. Perhaps he was one of the Emerald Hill folk, Sonic thought, asking him.
The only reply was that infuriating, knowing smile. The hedgehog then turned his bike to leave.
"One more thing," He called over his shoulder. "Shadow isn't what he seems. Don't judge him too quickly, Sonic!" The bike began to rise into the air. Bewildered, Sonic called to the mysterious hedgehog one last time-
"Hey, guy! Who the heck are you?!"
"They call me Phoenix," came the distant reply. "Or Shade. Take your pick!"
"Shade Phoenix, huh?" Sonic murmured. "One day I'll find out your real name…" Then Sonic turned, shaking his head, and went inside.
"He calls himself Shade," Sonic told Amy. "I don't trust the guy. We don't know what his motives are…"
"He did save your life, though," Amy pointed out. "And he helped me and Tails, too. I think it's fair to assume that he's on our side."
"I suppose," Sonic agreed reluctantly. "I wonder what Shade meant about Shadow. That black hedgehog seemed like an all-round bad egg to me…"
Amy frowned, wondering if Sonic was right. It was true that Shadow was working for Robotnik, but something just didn't fit…
"I wonder what he's up to," The pink hedgehog said quietly to herself.
Chapter 2
Location: The space colony ARK
2 Time: Fifty years earlier
The blue planet turned lazily in space. White cloud swirled its surface, and on the distant, curved horizon, the sun was beginning to set.
Those who watched this spectacle were separated from it by the airless vacuum of space, and the reinforced viewing window of ARK. In reality, the division was far greater than that.
Shadow turned his eyes away from the view, and glanced to his left. The girl standing there was as different to him as he could possibly imagine. She was human and had been born naturally. Shadow fitted into neither category…
Yet somehow, they had become friends.
She was the only one who didn't treat him like some kind of scientific curiosity.
"Isn't that what I am?" Shadow thought.
No, it was more than friendship. Maria was… almost family.
"How could I know what that word means?" He said to himself. There were so many questions, and so few answers…
"I just don't know anything anymore…" Shadow said aloud. "I'm not even sure who I really am." The question, of course, was not 'who', but 'why'. There had to be some meaning behind Shadow's existence. A purpose. Something…
Maria Kintobor turned blue eyes towards the black hedgehog, and said nothing. Shadow sighed, and resumed gazing out of the window. If she didn't understand either… well, at least he had someone to talk to. There was silence for a minute or so; then Maria spoke.
"Shadow, what do you think it's like down there on Mobius?" Unlike Shadow, she had been down to the planet's surface, but Maria had been too young to remember.
Perhaps, Shadow thought, they were not so different after all…
"Dr. Gerald once told me, his life's work was dedicated to helping the people on that planet," He answered hesitantly, briefly wondering if he was a part of that plan. "Perhaps if I go down there, I'll find my answers…"
Thoughtfully, the pair turned and contemplated the view in silence.
* * * *
Fifty years later, the view remained the same. But now Shadow was alone… utterly alone. His eyes flicked to the left. There was nothing there, except perhaps for ghosts…
The view was as beautiful as ever, but Shadow could no longer appreciate it. He knew now what the people down there were like.
He had found his answers.
He had found his purpose.
He would make them pay.
3 But…
The feeling of doubt surprised him. Why did he suddenly feel so unsure?
4 His life's work… helping the people of that planet…
He had saved Rouge's life, and again, the question arose. Why?
Why had he risked his life to save hers, when she was expendable? Was it because of his memories of Maria? Or because it had simply felt right to do so?
Instead of doing what he thought he should, Shadow had acted on what his heart was telling him…
Shadow almost smiled at that. Did he even have a heart?
At that, Shadow's hand went to his chest. He showed no outward sign of pain, but inwardly he winced. The injury was minor and would heal quickly, but that was not the point…
That blue hedgehog….he was another problem that had to be dealt with. The impostor had escaped the inferno, of course. The ARK's sensors had detected the two small craft leaving the island.
Shadow had underestimated his abilities… or was it just his determination? He even felt a small stab of envy towards the blue one, although he would not consciously admit it. The blue hedgehog seemed to know who he was and why he was there… which was more than Shadow could say.
"What are you..." He wondered.
"Why so melancholy?" Someone said suddenly. Shadow turned to see that Rouge had entered the room, without him noticing. He felt a vague anger at himself. He should never allow himself to get caught out like that…and this was the second time.
"It was so unlike you, Shadow, to come and rescue me like that…" The bat continued. "I have to admit, though, your ability to use Chaos Control sure comes in handy."
Did she expect thanks?! No chance.
"Huh, I was just saving the Chaos Emerald. Not you," The hedgehog said dismissively. Rouge fixed him with a piercing gaze. Her voice took on a thoughtful tone.
"But that's not the whole story, is it?" Shadow's eyes narrowed; then he looked away.
No, he thought. It was not.
The moment of tense silence came to an end as the round figure of Robotnik appeared in the door.
"It's time," He grinned evilly. Shadow pushed his doubts to the back of his mind. Finally, he thought, the time was at hand. Vengeance would soon be his. With five emeralds in their possession, they had enough Chaos energy to put their plan into motion…
"Let's get this show on the road."
* * * *
Chapter 3
Location: Emerald Hill Zone
5 Time: 8.00pm
"Sonic, will you please stop pacing?" Tails said, as Sonic got in front of the TV again. "I'm trying to watch the news."
Sonic was, as usual, impatient. It was made worse by the fact that he'd been in a bad mood to begin with- he didn't like the thought of sitting around all day doing nothing, especially when Robotnik and Shadow were still at large. Not knowing what to do next, the others had been watching news broadcasts about the prison island explosion, while they waited for the Kintobor Computer to come up with something.
He hadn't come up with anything yet.
"Sonic, why don't you just get some rest or something," Sighed an annoyed Amy. "We just have to wait until Dr. Kintobor finds out where Robotnik is, then we can put a stop to… well, whatever it is that he's doing." Sonic frowned at her.
"Hang on. Robotnik has just blown up an entire island, and now he's out there somewhere with goodness knows how many Chaos Emeralds and a guy who could eat Metallix for breakfast, and you're telling me to get some rest??" Sonic paused, bristling. "Have I missed something?!"
Amy just sighed again. There was no point trying to get through to him. An angry Sonic, she knew, was a stubborn Sonic. Porker, sitting next to her on the couch, just shrugged.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Sonic ripped it open.
"NOW WHAT??"
Knuckles was visible in the semi-darkness outside, silhouetted against the full moon. He raised an eyebrow.
"Someone got out the wrong side of bed this morning."
"Oh, hi Red…"
* * * *
Some time later, the gang had explained to the echidna what had been going on while he'd been away. When they had finished, Knuckles nodded.
"That explains why Sonic looks like he ran into a wall," he said devilishly. Sonic gave him a deadly stare.
"Don't rub it in," snarled the hedgehog. But after a few moments, Sonic turned to more important matters.
"You found some Chaos Emeralds." It was a statement, not a question- there was a lot of energy coming from the cloth bag Knuckles was carrying on his shoulder.
"Not exactly," said the red echidna, emptying the contents onto the table.
Sonic, Tails, Amy and Porker gazed at the shattered remains of the Master Emerald. With them was an intact emerald, smaller and sapphire blue in colour.
"Looks like you haven't had much luck either," Tails observed. "What happened?" Knuckles shrugged confusedly.
"I'm not sure. Robotnik tried to steal the Master Emerald, but then it just shattered. I don't know why." Porker thoughtfully examined the shards.
"If the energy hasn't dissipated, you may be able to put it back together," He said. The pig had spent a lot of time studying Chaos energy, so was able to reassure Knuckles. The echidna nodded; he had thought of the same thing.
"That was the plan, but I only have about half the pieces. I'm guessing that bat girl, Rouge, has the rest."
"Rouge?" Sonic said thoughtfully. "I heard Robotnik mention her just before Prison Island blew up." Knuckles opened his mouth to say something, then stopped, an expression of surprise on his face. The others followed his gaze towards the television.
"Robotnik," Sonic growled.
Picking up the remote control, Tails flicked through the channels. The image of the mad scientist remained on screen.
"It's on all the channels," the fox exclaimed. "This transmission is being shown all over the planet…" Then everyone fell silent as Robotnik spoke.
"Citizens of Mobius," He grinned evilly. "Prepare to witness the formation of the greatest empire of all time… the Robotnik Empire!"
"Not a chance, lard belly," Sonic hissed, fully aware that Robotnik couldn't hear him. Then he turned and yelled up the stairs into the control room. "Hey Kintobor! Put a trace on this thing, I want to know where it's coming from!"
"I'll get right on it!" The digitised scientist called down. Sonic looked back towards the TV, where Robotnik's speech continued.
"…And for any zone that would even consider not bowing down before me, here is a little…demonstration of the fate that awaits you!" The camera then panned to show a window, with a view of outer space and a planet turning lazily below.
"Sonic, you'd better come look at this!" Amy stammered from by the window. He looked outside, eyes widening, then rushed to the door. The others stared at each other for a second, then followed him.
Outside, an unusually bright star grew into a glowing disc, rivalling the moon for brightness.
And unseen by the Freedom Fighters, but watched by millions of others across the planet, the moon swung into view on the television screen…
* * * *
The ARK space colony was about half the size of Mobius' moon, and resembled a small planetoid. It even had its' own thin atmosphere, provided by 41st century technology in order to make repairs easier. The surface, however, was barren- the real space station was inside. The illusion of a natural satellite was perfect except for a line that bisected the ARK into two halves- one half being empty cargo space, the other containing the space colony itself.
The dark line started to glow with a blue light. The cargo section suddenly disintegrated and exploded into space, revealing something that looked nothing less than an inverted city- metallic skyscrapers pointed downwards, ringed with lights, and in the centre a conical tower projected into space.
The cone slowly began to open like a flower. Inside, a fierce blue-white light pulsed…
Then, it was over.
* * * *
Millions gasped in horror as the sky exploded into a firestorm of light. The glare was visible even in daylight; in the darkness of the Emerald Hill Zone, it was blinding. The light lasted no more than a second or two before fading back to darkness.
Sonic blinked rapidly to clear his vision. The others were standing around in shock, blinking or shaking their heads.
"Is everyone all right?" He said, somewhat unsteadily.
"Yeah…but what was that?" Knuckles breathed. Porker peeked nervously around the doorway, while Amy and Tails stared up at the night sky.
"Whoa…" Said Amy, incredulously.
Half the moon was gone. There was just a huge, glowing crater.
From behind them, the sound of maniacal laughter issued from the TV speakers.
"He's… insane…" Sonic hissed, taking a step back. "It's like the Death Egg all over again."
"Only worse," Knuckles added grimly. "We have to stop that cannon!"
Porker frowned, deep in thought.
"That… that had to have come from ARK." He stammered. Sonic nodded in agreement, finally knowing what Robotnik had been up to.
"Well, now we know why he was after the Chaos Emeralds." Sonic looked up at the bright star that they now knew was ARK. It was time to put a stop to this, he thought.
It was time for Sonic to do his hero thing…
"Doc K!" Sonic called as he rushed up the stairs, his friends close behind. "That transmission came from ARK, right?"
"Yes, originally," The Kintobor computer answered. "But the broadcast was being relayed through a transmitter in the desert, outside the Metropolis Zone."
"I guess now we know where Robotnik's base is," Sonic beamed. Knuckles just looked depressed.
"Not the desert again…"
Sonic smirked at the scarlet echidna. The hedgehog was now in a better mood, despite what had just happened- he now knew exactly what he had to do. Knuckles scowled. Typical Sonic behaviour- when there was nothing wrong, he snapped at everyone for no good reason… but when the world was about to end, he was as happy as-
"C'mon, guys- you ready to rumble?" Sonic interrupted. "I bet there's a way up to ARK in that base somewhere."
"Wait a minute, Sonic," Porker cautioned him. Sonic sighed and begun tapping his foot on the floor. Porker shot him a glare before continuing. "I have an idea. Knuckles, can I borrow that blue emerald of yours?"
"Yeah, sure…" Knuckles gave a resigned nod. "Just don't smash it or anything, okay?"
Meanwhile, on the television downstairs, a timer began counting down.
24. 59. 59
58.
57…
5.1 To be Continued…
Sonic and the gang infiltrate Robotnik's secret base, but the mad scientist has a little surprise waiting for them.
Sonic Adventure 2 adaptation, part 7:
Lift Off