All copyright info is on the first page. Noticed a mistake on this chapter. I was looking for my 3 shadows reference and it's about half way down when Big and Rouge meet. It should say "Grandfather was a Rogue" not "Rouge"
Sonic adventure 2: A shadow's memory
Chapter 9 - Is the cannon going to fire today?
Is yesterday, tomorrow, today?
Knuckles flew out of the shuttle and headed to the base of ARK.
"Hey Knuckles where are you going?" asked Amy. She never got a response. Sonic and Tails stepped out; Sonic rubbed his head in pain.
"Good riddance. Damn Knucklehead we have an earth to save and he almost killed us", Said Sonic.
"Well you did let out his Master Emerald shards, and he is the guardian", Said Tails.
"So it's my fault we almost got killed. Angel Island can wait, we need to stop that cannon", Said Sonic, "So what's the plan Tails?" Tails pulled out a chaos emerald in a smartly presented box.
"Yes we know you have a chaos emerald", Said Amy, "What's the plan"
"This Emerald is a fake. It has the same wavelength and properties but it's less powerful that the real one. When it comes in contact with the chaos energy of the other six emeralds it'll explode. It looks so real and acts so like the real one a machine cant tell the difference", Said Tails.
"So we put it in the computer controlling the Canon and wait for an explosion. Just point me in the direction and I'll be there faster than you can say boom", Said Sonic.
"Hold on it isn't going to be that simple. The machine will notice it if the power if on. I'll shut down the main generator giving you a few seconds before the back up generator kicks in" Said Tails
"So the plan is to slam the emerald into the machine when the power is down", Said Sonic. Sonic took the Fake emerald and headed off to the centre of ARK. Tails headed to the main generator.
Action stage: Eternal Engine (Tails)
Meanwhile Eggman watched the feed from the security cameras on ARK. The computer picked up two similar energy signals. Shadow watched on as Eggman wiped the sweat of his brow and turned to the computer.
"Doctor, what do you think this means?" asked Shadow.
"Two signals? Do they really think they can trick me with that fake emerald", Said Eggman, "Well I can't let them succeed, whatever their plan is. It's time to finish this and take my place as ruler of the world". Shadow moved to the transporter.
"Shadow wait, I should be the one to tell them the end is near", Said Doctor, "If something should happen to me I'll need you to finish the job". Eggman warped up to ARK and landed under the ARK. The gravity was low and it was the best route to Amy who had been left alone.
Action stage: Cosmic wall (Eggman)
Amy wandered around ARK, not knowing exactly what to do. Sonic and Tails had left her alone and she felt scared.
"Oh why do they always leave me alone?" whined Amy
"Well Perhaps I can help you with that", Said Eggman.
"Ah Doctor Eggman!" Said Amy. Eggman pulled out a gun and aimed it t her head.
"Please don't hurt me", Said Amy
"Oh I won't hurt you, providing you tell me where Sonic and Tails are", Said Eggman.
Rouge had been trying to hack into the main computer.
"Come on, there has to be a way to get to the project shadow file", Said Rouge. Suddenly her Radio began beeping.
"Oh hello doctor, how's things?" asked Rouge, "What they're here? Yeah sure I'll get on it. But I'll need help, can you tell me the password for the computer. Tricking that doctor is too easy", She walked to the computer and started typing, "Ok the password is MA-RI-A, Maria. Maria huh? I've heard that name before"
Suddenly the screen flashed an image saying; 'Master Emerald detected'. Rouge got excited, Not only did she have access to the computer but she could finally settle that urge to get the Master Emerald. She went to an area where the gravity was weird; it had planet like rocks that held their own gravitation field. Big the cat had found himself sitting right at the end of Ark's breathable area. If his weight shifted too much on way he'll be on a crash course with Earth. He followed the thin ring back to ARK.
Action stage: Mad Space (Rouge)
Meanwhile Knuckles had entered a section separated from ARK, sort of a maintenance area. It was very hostile, as there were loads of small meteors smashing into the complex. Rouge looked towards the complex from the area she was in. While Knuckles was looking for the emerald shards she had collected all of the ones from her area. Big walked along Ark's undersurface and slipped falling on top of Rouge.
"Whoa that was close, luckily something soft broke my fall", Said Big
"Hey who are you calling Soft, big guy", Said Rouge.
"Huh! Who said that?" asked Big confused.
"Get off me you fat….", Said Rouge
"Oops sorry!" Said Big getting off Rouge. Rouge stood up and wiping herself down.
"Ok so who are you anyway and what are you doing here?" asked Rouge.
"I can't say", Said Big, suddenly his radio started playing up.
"Big the cat report, Big the cat report", Said a voice over the radio.
"Is that the general? Oh I get it now you were sent to spy on me. Of all the nerve, Don't you trust me", Said Rouge picking up the radio, "General this is Rouge, believe it or not I have been doing my mission undercover, there was no need for you to send someone to spy on me".
"Not just you Rouge, Everyone. We want to know what's going on. We don't trust you, we knew what your grandfather was like, a rouge, just like you. We asked you to do this because you are the best not because we trust you", Said the voice.
"You'll get your job done. As soon as I sort out a little personal matter I'll head back to the computer to print out the file on project shadow", Said Rouge, "Now if you'll excuse me I have an emerald to steal. Coming big guy". The two government spies descended to Meteor herd, a place where Knuckles was busy recovering the emerald shards.
Action stage: Meteor herd (Knuckles)
Big landed inside the lava area while Rouge fell into the main structure of the tower. Big watched on from above as the two hunters faced off.
"Long time no see treasure hunter, did you find MY emeralds", Said Rouge.
"That's a good one. YOUR emerald, talking to you is a waste of time", Said Knuckles, "Hand over those Master Emerald shards, give them to me".
"Very well if you won't give them to me, I'll take them from you", Said Rouge.
Face off: Knuckles Vs Rouge.
The floor on the structure kept opening up to reveal a lava pit underneath. The two ended up facing each other on a high, yet thin beam above the pit. Panting heavily after such a hard battle.
"Stop fooling around and give me back MY emeralds", Both hunters said at the same time.
"What kind of a hunter are you anyway, attacking a lady shame on you", Said Rouge.
"Well what kind of a lady steals gems anyway", Said Knuckles.
"Those belong to me", Said Rouge slipping off the beam, "ARGH!"
He didn't know why but Knuckles jumped off the beam holding the top of the beam with one arm. He reached down and grabbed Rouge's hand. Rouge thought her life was over, what in the world. Knuckles pulled her up, and as the two stood up straight they looked into each other's eyes. There was a long pause as Knuckles admired her Emerald eyes, while Rouge was lost in Knuckles' dark eyes. Their hands were still held together.
Then suddenly Rouge pulled hers away.
"Hey get off me, keep your hands to yourself", Said Rouge.
"Is that how you tank someone who just saved your life?" asked Knuckles.
"Saving my life, don't think I owe you one. You just wanted to hold my hand didn't you, you're such a creep", Replied Rouge.
"This isn't a game you know, and besides you have some pieces of the master emerald. I was saving them", Said Knuckles. Rouge sighed and handed over the emerald shards she had.
"No matter what you say it sounds crazy. Just take them, they stink like echidna's do", Said Rouge. Knuckles said nothing, he was more happy that he could finally restore the Master Emerald. The glow of the Master Emerald was as intense as the Emerald itself was important.
"Finally", Said Knuckles sighing with relief. He looked at Rouge who looked sad, with the Master Emeralds glow highlighting her eyes again. Knuckles became nervous and confused.
"Hey kid, are you going to be alright", Said Knuckles, "I have to make my way back to earth ASAP"
"Don't worry about me," Said Rouge, "Perhaps there are some jewels I'm not meant to have". Knuckles said nothing and just left. Rouge looked over to Big who has just got out of the lava pit.
"We'd better get going", Said Rouge running towards the main control room. Big followed her.