Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Note: Yes, I know I have not been able to put up any new chapters only because of many problems. I won't list them (I'm sure I've told you a few), but you can ask me via e-mail (that's if you're that curious to know). I'm attempting to put up the real 28 for you. Apparently I've lost the entire chapter on the other computer, but I'm not giving up. As for my news, I have something in store… I just recently beat S.A. DX. (1/18/04) You'll see, soon… as for updating… I can't say.
Broken Hope
[Air over 'Eastern Base sector']
"I don't think I can get through the base's barrier. You'll need to find an entrance, guys!"
Sonic muttered a thing or two, but didn't give up his spirit of adventure and peril. Wherever he was, danger always accompanied him. Explosions were filling the bright, yet gloomed skies of a creepy mix of steel gray plus spots of lighter white, which the sun's rays try to penetrate through. Shadow, meanwhile, had his outline on mind whilst plummeting at a greater speed alongside Sonic.
Falling like two feeble creatures wasn't his exact initiative of storming Egghead's base, but it would have to do.
"If we can find an opening, since Miles can't do it himself to find us one, we'd be able to assault the fort."
"Yeah, right on, Shadow, but we have to hurry up and find them. I think Knucklehead and Rouge are, by now, where they're supposed to be."
"You better be right."
Sonic's response; a wry grin spreading on his face.
However, the ground was coming further up upon them than expected. BAM! An explosive almost tore the duo away from each other when they were just finished talking. Sonic coughed for a moment after free falling away from the smoky area.
"Woo, almost caught us there!" Apparently, Sonic hasn't had this much excitement ever since the road-boarding incident using a certain piece of metal from a certain helicopter…
"Idiot…" Muttered the Crimson and black hedgehog.
He had long enough to dawdle in this current situation. Without warning of any kind what so ever, he turned directly nose-down in a vertical position, speed picking up with the streamline of his pose. The azure hedgehog glanced down at his diving 'partner' and forgot he was one of those who weren't really in the mood to play games. Especially if their friends' lives were on the time's line.
"I guess I got too caught up… All right, no more games. Time... to… GO!"
Sonic, taking a similar place as Shadow, dove downward as he gained incredible speed. Either both were crazy, or they seemed like they were trying to commit suicide at a high-altitude velocity.
The first moment, at a glance, Shadow took notice as there were cannons popping up from an interior section. …Perfect! In a split-second's time, he flipped to a normal flat-bodied position to slow his speed down, Sonic repeating right behind him just a few feet above Shadow in the air. They had thirty seconds before they hit ground zero. And go splat, on the metal surface that is abnormally protruding from the forest-like area.
"Sonic… follow me, I have an idea."
"You have an idea? Great… whatever."
Until the hero noticed there were the same freaking explosive cannons popping in and out of the ground as they were on that ridiculous Egg Carrier back when all that mess was started by Chaos zero, the mini-turret guns are there, as well. Isn't life just grand when he uses the same thing over and over? Does Shadow know they're trying to shoot at them, and also that they're seemingly more armored this time rather than a simple metal plating that was done to them as they were before? … Sonic thought he was nuts himself. Who could complain? He was occasionally considered nuts with the stunts he pulled… running across, down, up, and sometimes diagonal, building sides.
"You have got to be kidding me…"
Shadow was about to comment, when an interruption occurred.
"Man, I didn't think you'd have the audacity to think up an insane plan."
"…"
"Hah! C'mon, Shadow. Let's go!"
"We're going to impact the cannons and slice through them. Then we should find ourselves in, at least I believe, a section of Dr. Eggman's base."
"You believe?!"
"It's called taking risks, is it not?"
"Uhm… yeah." Sonic sweatdropped.
"Then, shut up, doofus, and go!"
Shadow takes off at another speed increasing pace, flinging him forwards within ten seconds left till impact. He spun, faster and faster, until he hit solid metal. The plating was holding way too easy against the down-smashing spin dash attack he performed. But as Sonic's spin dash hits near the same area, the metal plating began to slowly create a depression, therefore… the creaking noise began, and… FWHING! FWHANG! KA-BHAM! Two overly-large holes in the larger cannon began to smoke due to being cracked open like a nutcracker breaking a walnut shell, except this 'walnut' was filled with sensitive circuitry, and primarily the metal's pattern turned inwards like hooks. More smoke came pouring out, as the surging electricity had nowhere else to go. Numerous wires were split in two, straight down the core. Both hedgehogs totaled the cannon to where it could not fire anymore. Rather… just a ticker-down to explode.
That was their cue to make a run for it after penetrating the floor lining, and into the second level of the base. Dank and dark, this was an animal's worst nightmare; metal strewn about everywhere. No sign of organics besides the robots that roam the hallways, either working, or guarding the base. However… both hedgehogs took no notice of their new surrounding scenery. The most ideal thought they had was to run. For the cannon started to build up pressure. That's enough pressure to blow a hole upon the surface. Wasting no time, Sonic bolted off, with Shadow tailing behind at the same speed across the flooring. As many as a few robots even took observe the two animals running away… from something. That is, until the explosion starts. The hallway fills with sweltering heat, and fire. The section of that base shook with an intensity of that as an earthquake's magnitude of …maybe, what? Four? Possibly five at the most.
"Shadow, let's split up. I'll go this way, you'll go that way."
"Fine. We won't be able to cover much ground with staying together, anyway."
The duo of hedgehogs split up, each one going their different direction. Sonic taking the west route, and Shadow to the southern half. He had to find both girls, before that maniacal madman could do something that would hurt him, and them. The ultimate life form, as he was pronounced himself, sped at an utmost speed he used specifically for rushing. In that hour, he needed to run. Not away, but to search relentlessly.
Maria… please, help me make sure they're okay… I know I can save them!
… Screaming? No, sounds of shouting…
[Northwestern base sector]
"You sure they're in?"
"Well, judging from the shockwave of a recent explosion… yes."
"Reckless hedgehogs."
"You can't blame them, they're that determined to save Amy, and Blizzard. We are too, now come on."
"I've got more important things to deal with, like taking out that stupid bat and getting my emerald back. It's all starting to make ironic sense that bats are thieves."
"How dare you! Are you saying my species are all thieves? Some of my most prominent contacts are working as regular employees for crying out loud, you creep."
"Will ya quit calling me 'creep'? It doesn't make sense to keep on calling me that."
"No. You've insulted me, jerk."
"Great," Knuckles grumbles, "You're going to keep on finding new worthless names to call me until you give up, am I right?"
Rouge, having about up to her forehead in all his smart-alecky behavior that she was just simply going to abandon him right there, and let him have the male bat all to himself. Like she even cares about what happens to him! Steaming with anger, Rouge easily took to walking off, heels clicking upon the metal surface of the floor that echo off into the distance, while Knuckles just didn't quite know whether or not his annoyance was working. Maybe it was, because he wasn't thrilled about working with her, again. Who knows? Maybe she'll take them before he could… maybe she has connections with that black bat? He just hoped she didn't. Besides, maybe she'll just lead him to him. Easy piece of cake… right?
[Interior of base, core's center, 5th lab area]
I'm in pain… wha… where… am I…
I see faint light, but I'm off the ground…
Don't know where I am, but… I'm just too tired…
…Gotta keep awake… gotta keep… going… can't fall…
Please… someone end my pain.
The unconscious form of Amy was lying on something. Something that was making her jerk up and down sort of violently to where her eyelids were peeking off and on due to the bright lights of the hallway were blinding her weakened eyes… Which weren't even fully opening every time. The hall lights only served to keep her eyes shut in this horrid condition. Something, her hearing wasn't off, sounded like heavy footsteps with metal panging the metallic flooring to the base. The reverberating sounds were echoing down the hallway, well, it seemed to be a hallway to a semi-unconscious pink hedgehog. Mumbling? She could hear faint sounds of complaining and murmuring beneath a breath. One that was close by.
"Stupid Sonic, even more so that Shadow! Shadow must be eliminated before he becomes to be a new pest in the collection to my plans. I already have enough with that blue hedgehog; I don't need another interfering, especially if he's supposed to be dead… I guess my grandfather made him as powerful as I thought he had been, then. He's more of an idiot than I was! Who cares about my deceased cousin! He had no right to do this to me. Maybe I should have given second thoughts about freeing Shadow…"
That's right, Robotnik. Serves you right…
WHAM! A compilation of new waves of pain jolted Amy out of unconsciousness… maybe it was not only because she had begun to awake, her mumbling was not too far off bad, either in her state. The doctor, with his surprising strength for such a frail-like man, shoved Amy onto the cold ground in pain. The walker turned around and at its feet was a shocked Amy, trying to weakly crawl away. Eggman sneered at her pathetic attempt to get away.
"You weak little girl. You can't do a thing, and how dare you say that to me. You'll die for it, I don't care if Sonic and, or Shadow comes to the rescue. It'll be too late. They'll find you lying on the ground, covered with bullet holes… or, rather, a pile of smoldering gray ash."
"You… wouldn't… dare."
"Oh? Do you really think I can't, with my schedule being pushed to its limits? I've had enough of you and your interferences. All of you pathetic animals, stopping my plans every time I try to take over this planet, which will soon fall beneath my feet in fear, and become mine for the taking."
"It's… not yours. No one ever said… it was yours. It never… will be!"
The pink hedgehog was barely able to speak, let alone hold herself up by hands to face Eggman from the floor's position. Her strength seemed to weaken, almost trying to leave her in her time of need. Robotnik was going to kill her in just a few moments, and neither Sonic nor Shadow could do a thing about it unless they happen to arrive at the nick of time. Who said they would arrive just exactly then? The ears flatten against her skull, not out of anger, but out of pure fear of being murdered. Amy had been almost slaughtered by Metal Sonic. Her physical condition deteriorated when she had been beaten almost to near death by Blizzard, a changed one at that. Should Eggman pay, he will go to hell for it. All the malicious things he has done to the world, he'll suffer for it. He'll never win… self-confidence seemed to be coming back to Amy all at once. Like she was reviving herself by thinking all of these thoughts… that she survived.
"You won't win…"
Her own voice was rising slowly, in tone and in volume, despite her current spot.
"Do you know why…? You'll NEVER win! Sonic and Shadow will defeat you if I'm slain!"
Amy screamed at Eggman, who took a step back using the walker. The doctor, astonished at her recovering act and her threatening tone of voice, leveled it down with the very same laser gun he held Amy hostage with on the ARK, and aimed it directly at her head.
"You make me sick, you vile puny insect. I will no more delay the inevitable! Goodbye, Amy Rose."
His finger slowly squeezed the trigger for the mechanism to fire; all of it was in slow motion. Everything slowed down, as if someone were trying to kill time. This also included Amy, who was also slowly reacting as the burst of white laser poured out from the barrel of the gun, straight at Amy herself. A distant object hurtling at the speed of sound was hastening towards the scene. Who could tell, because as soon as the beam was slowly about an inch away, the blurred object swept the weakened Amy out of the way, a shocked deep-sounding yelp coming from her, and took the full force of the laser fire all for itself, searing the arm used to shield the pink hedgehog. Whatever it was, it tossed the thing a good distance, before Eggman reacted faster. Time became faster, back to normal time… all of it was slow motion.
That object's fur sizzled under the laser fire. That very same one didn't look too thrilled. He had followed the shouting thanks to his sensitive hearing. His blood-red tinted eyes glared into the fear-filled doctor, who was forcing the egg walker to back away. The dear doctor started to shout directly at Shadow for his intrusion, but realized this was not Sonic at all. Rather, Shadow in his place. Hot mad, as well, to add. The black fur, the red fur stripes on his curved quills, ankles, and wrists. The eyes… Those shoes.
"No…. it can't be… aaaaahhhhh! Get away, you moronic hedgehog! I don't need your incursion..."
Shadow!
The red and black hedgehog rebounded by pursuing Eggman, who was already fleeing down the hall as fast as he could. He sent his hand up, and waved it furiously behind the egg walker in an instant, spreading violent spears of energy towards the walker, screaming at the top of his lungs - his special attack in full-fledged fury. Although this happened, however, the doctor turned a sharp corner, only for the spears to collide with the walls' corner, and tear them apart into mere rubble the moment of impact. Slabs of steel collapse to the ground, and what remained on the inside were special linings to insolate …something. The spears had torn that particular section to pieces. He got away… for now. Shadow stopped moving, and stood in place. He had chased off Eggman, but not for good. Quickly, the voice of the mastermind spoke, echoing down the hallway.
"You'll never get away with it, Shadow! You shall soon see you and your pathetic friends' demise, all too quickly for me to enjoy the tormenting pain, and the suffering... Oh well! Hahahah ha ha ha ha haaa!"
"Your escape only proves your cowardice to face me, Robotnik."
Shadow states coldly. However, he had something else to tend to. Amy was just in shock; Shadow came at a split second's notice to just… save her. But why? Was he that fast? Or did he hear her? Whatever the reason, she was just glad to be living and breathing air. Not dying from a shot wound from a laser, which would have ended up murdering her the instant it struck. Speechless, she had no idea what to even say besides the usual thank you, or hug. Unfortunately, she's hardly thanked him enough so far, and…
She covered herself quickly to get out of the way of the glance she received. This was embarrassing to her. Shadow could see her disposition. And turned away to think for a moment. He didn't need the suit… he was just fine with or without it. With that, he shed off the suit he was given hours earlier. It was basically worthless to him, but Amy needed it. His jaw moved, but no words came out, as if he didn't know what to say. Or even present the suit to her in person. Shoving his setbacks down his throat, and gathering what courage he could, approaching her seemed easy at first glance. Neither was exchanging words, or gestures, but Shadow continued. Halting directly behind her, he started to extend his right arm out, which was gripping the suit firmly, towards Amy.
"Here. I don't need it."
With his voice, only her face came into view. Amy had sores, bruises, and dried blood on her face. It looked as if she were pulverized half to death by someone or something. His cheeks squint upwards, as if he couldn't take the sight of her condition for one more moment. Kneeling down to her side, without looking directly at her, he quietly asks.
"Who did this to you? Was it Robotnik?"
Amy's expression soured. She also bit her lip in the process, as if it were hard to tell him who did it. She wouldn't know his reaction, but telling the truth was her best and only option.
"… It wasn't him, but…"
Pause.
"Please, don't take me… as crazy. Eggman did something to--your sister. I did not understand at… first, but she's the one who nearly killed me, for the… fun of it."
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