Being Free

Written by Airo Smicktor

I don't own Sonic, Shadow, and Fang etc.

Chapter 12 - Activation

"Initiate - To set going by taking the first step; begin."

Life readings on Project Shadow: Breathing – Negative, no oxygen flow around body has been detected. Pulse – Negative, no body or reflex movements have been detected. Heartbeat – Negative, no blood flow around body detected, however, a blood loss has been detected. Synopsis – Project Shadow has reached the final status for and living and organism – death. Shadow the Hedgehog has died, and therefore must now reach its next stage.

By the command of his creator, Professor Gerald Robotnik, and, more correctly, his granddaughter and rightful owner, Maria Robotnik, the final command structure of Project Shadow will be unlocked so that Project Shadow may exist with no previous knowledge of events before his death. Initial commands for the Re-Birth of Project Shadow will therefore commence... Standing by...

"...Damn..." was the only audible word that Fang could come up with to describe what was going on. Fang just stared at the stream of words that flashed up on the screen in front of him, as more information came up.

Being Free is now in operation. Action One – Location. Purpose of Action: To find the exact co-ordinate of Project Shadow. Description of Action: Not necessary, location already confirmed. Project Shadow is located in area known as the 'Sand Circles' outside the Ocean Palace sector. Alert, Project Shadow is located under a stone structure. Clear path to body is required to initiate Re-Birth; therefore Chaos Inferno will be activated to clear path. Alert, increased energy level has been detected on Project Shadow's body – scans indicate that Project Shadow was in the area of or had a Chaos Emerald at the time of death, therefore all life-forms in the area without the position of a Chaos Emerald will be transported to safety while Re-Birth is in operation. Commence Chaos Inferno...

"Why... Why did you have to leave me again... why...?" Rouge had been inconsolable ever since the pillar fell, she had just cried while lying slumped next to the pillar. Amy, Cream and Big had come over to see what had happened, but Tails kept Cream and Big busy while Sonic explained to Amy what had happened.

"So... You mean that he's..." The pink hedgehog started to ask.
"Yeah... It breaks my heart Amy, it really does... He deserves so much better than this..." A tear was starting to form under Sonic's eye, a rare display of emotion for him. "He was... almost like a brother..."

Amy stepped forward and embraced the blue hedgehog, and for once, Sonic didn't refuse. It was what he needed, a different sort of friendship, which he had always tried to deny before, but he really needed it. Amy was lost herself, a little surprised at how vulnerable Sonic could be, but she knew that she needed to be there for him right now, as she had always wanted to be. This was very different that how Amy had wanted it to be, but it happened all the same.

Not that far away, Knuckles was talking to his old clique, the Chaotix.

"It's a damn shame K, a real shame." Vector said.
"I know V..." The Guardian replied."...and it's all that Eggman's fault, him and his stupid robots. I swear to the Gods, when I get my hands on that son of a...!"
"Easy K! His time will come, but not right now, it isn't the time!" Espio stated
"I know Esp, but I'll get him all the same... What are you guys doing here anyway?"
"We're on a case! We're on a case!" Charmy sang out loud

"What are you signin' about? This isn't the time or the place... speaking of which, do you think we better..." Vector pointed over to the pillar, where Rouge was now standing, just staring at the pillar.
"I suppose so, we'd better get him out of there. He deserves a decent funeral I guess... But if you guys are on a case, then you'd better..."
"No way K! We may be detectives, but we're still your boys! We're a much a part of this as you are, we'll help out! Come on boys, let's go!"

With that said, Knuckles and the Chaotix started to head over towards the pillar where Shadow rested underneath.
"Hey... did you guys hear that..." Espio stopped, his ninja sences detecting something
"Hear what Espio?" Vector asked
"It sounded like a rumbling... from... under that pillar!"

Rouge's eyes went wide, as she pressed an ear against the pillar. "I hear it! I hear him! HE'S ALIVE! HE'S STILL...!"

Rouge was unable to continue speaking, as she was propelled backwards when a violent red and black tornado spewed out from the pillar, obliterating it completely. Everyone around stood in awe at the sight, as the tornado travelled high into the sky above them.

"What... What is that?"
"It's either the end... or the beginning." Sonic replied to Amy, as he pulled her in tightly as the tornado turned into a powerful, bright light than quickly surged forward as it consumed them both.

Chaos Inferno successful, path to Project Shadow has been made available. Life forms have been transferred from area to safe location. Alert, one life form found with similar energy level in the area, therefore that life form would not be affected by the use of Chaos Control. Commence scan of life form to confirm identity... I.D. match found. Nack the Weasel... Also known as Fang the Sniper... Link confirmed with descendent of Gerald Robotnik, therefore this life form is in contact with current line of the Robotnik family. Do not hold back any information from this life form.

Fang peered over from behind the rock he was hiding behind, and looked over at the tall mass of colour that seemed to be flowing out of the sand a short distance away. He put two and two together. This wasn't a dream, it was reality. A reality he'd rather not be a part of. He quickly looked back to the computer screen, hoping to read some more about what was going on, but was met with a single line of text.

Action processing...

"Now I'm never going to know what the heck is going on here!" Fang peered over the rock again. The tower of colour that had been there before had vanished. Gone, out of sight, as if it had never existed. '

'What in the Green Hill is going on here?' he thought, as he cautiously moved out from the rock, and over towards where he could faintly see what looked to be the wreckage of some sort of machine...

Action One status – complete. Obstruction covering Project Shadow has been removed; all life forms in immediate surrounding area have been safely teleported from the location via Chaos Control to nearest centre of activity (area known as Grand Metropolis). Awaiting next command structure...

"So it is beginning..." Robotnik sneered as he watched more reports of the progress of Re-Birth show on his computer screen. "This means that Metal Sonic must have defeated Shadow... This is not a good sign... Still, no matter. Fang will still be able to locate the 7 Chaos Emeralds and together we will defeat that metal-headed freak! Now, let's get in contact with the Chaotix, they must have made some progress towards the Grand Metropolis... I need them to get to my base under the Power Plant ASAP now. I didn't think that I'd have to rely on those two robots down there, but desperate times call for power measures... Dare I say, an Ultimate measure?"

Action Two – Reanimation. Purpose of Action: Primarily to reactivate Project Shadow. Description of Action: Regeneration of lost blood, limbs etc. Reactivation of heart for blood pumping, of lungs for oxygen consumption, of brain for rational thought. Seal up any opened wounds etc (include internal bleeding) to prevent further blood loss. This action also includes the 'colour-change' side-effect as stated in the Project notes of Professor Gerald Robotnik. Initiating...Action is currently being carried out...

"This is somethin' ya don't see everyday..." Fang remarked as he carefully stepped over the smoking parts of the Egg Hawk that were strewn all over the sandy hill. It was worrying that the main part of the machine was still burning a few steps away. "Guess the Doc didn't design these things for defence..." He said as he eyed up a rotor engine, which was spewing out black smoke on the side of the craft. "...Or to be eco-friendly..." Fang looked around. The place was deserted, but people had been here, he could tell from the imprints in the sand. Fang kneeled down as he examined the marks in the sand.

"Okay, let's see... Sneakers, extremely worn through, they'll be Sonic's... Another sneaker, but not as worn through, accompanied by rapid tail marks, that's Prower's twin tails alright... Ah! These footmarks are those shoes Knuckles wears, especially designed for Echidnas... A female's boots... Not any females either, these are Rouge the Bat's boots... You never forget another thief's trails when they've stolen from you..."

Fang got up from his position, and looked around again. "Makes sense, since Sonic's gang are always beatin' down Robotnik, but what the hell made that weird coloured..." Fang looked over a small hole over at the side of the ground. Something was in it. Fang cautiously moved over towards it. He looked down into it, and his eyes widened. 'Sonic the Hedgehog.'

Action Two status: Complete. Internal blood levels have returned to stable conditions for optimum output. Repairs and re-setting of broken bones and ribcage have been successful. Internal organs re-moulded to original shapes. Skin pigment alteration has been detected, estimated total length of colour change: 5 days. Final synopsis: Project Shadow is alive... Awaiting next command structure...

Fang took a step back as he viewed the sight before him. The familiar form of the blue hedgehog was lying motionless in the bottom of this small hole in a pool of what seemed to be his own blood. Emphasis of seemed, as there wasn't a single scratch-mark or wound on 'Sonic's' body. No signs of a struggle, or any conflict. This was enough for anyone to question if they were dreaming or not. Sonic also seemed to have altered his appearance a little, some of his quills had green streaks running down them, which if Fang remembered rightly, matched his eye colour, but looks were probably the least of 'Sonic's' worries right now...

'Damn... I guess ya died a hero's death if ya took out that robot of Metal Sonic's... The Doctor's gonna flip his lid when he finds out about this...' Fang reasoned in his mind, kneeling down closer towards the corpse. He didn't see anything else around him to indicate what, or who had done this all; or why 'Sonic' had just been left here like this. There were no laser marks, no bullet shells, just a late dark hedgehog in a shallow grave of crimson, clutching a Chaos emerald...

After seeing the emerald, Fang simple said the only suitable words that he felt were suitable to describe the situation: "...Score..."

Action Three – Depletion. Description of Action: To remove the memory banks of Project Shadow to fully complete the Re-Birth process and Project Re-Birth. Description of Action: Access the stored memory banks of Project Shadow in the brain of Project Shadow, delete all memories that will not be required for regular life and battle functions, re-activate mind traits, thus fully reactivating Project Shadow. Initiating...Action is currently being carried out...

Warning, central nerve centre of...

Override attempted...

Roooboootniiik...

Restart attempting...

Further investigation required...

Abort operation, repeat...

Warning, extreme danger if...

Eeend...

Final wish of...

Maaasteeer...

Shut down initiated...

Connection severed...

Action status: unknown...

Liiink cooonfiiirmeeed...

Primary...

Locate remaining...

Secondary...

Looocaaateee maaasteeer...

Confirm identity...

Destroy organism...

Bat...

Hedgehog...

Destroy enemy...

Throoow iiit aaall aaawaaay...

Nooow waaakeee uuup... Prooojeeect Shaaadooow...

N.B: WHEN REVIEWING THIS CHAPTER, DO NOT FOCUS YOUR REVIEW ON WHAT I WRITE IN THIS BIT UNDERNEITH THE CHAPTER ITSELF. THAT KIND OF REVIEW DOES NOT HELP ME AT ALL. Thank you for your kind attention in this matter.

ARGH! Re-Birth! GOD DAMN RE-BIRTH! That was the most commenly used phrase when I was writing up this chapter. Seriously, all the technical terms are doing my head in. Reason for lateness of update: Computer being fixed. No need for me to really comment on this chapter, since if you read it carefully enough, it makes sence. I hope. Onward with review replyness:

Anthony Bault - Knuckles would probably say: "Screw you guys! I'm goin' home!" Yeah, sudden Shadow death. Had to be done. He never really dies anyway. Yep, Re-Birth is here, and it coninues on in the next chapter. Thanks again for the review.
Sonic/Anime - Little thing? I don't think that a huge pillar crushing Shadow to death is a little thing personally... But don't worry, he will live! Otherwise this would be a short fic. Thanks again for the support.
Zyzz - The lack of names was designed to show the emotion of uncertanty and confusion in the situation. It's worked I see! Thank you for the chants of support.
hyper Phantom - next time, could you please comment of the chapter itself, rather than my comments. Then I can find out what my audience is thinking about my work, rather than the stuff here which is individual stuff. Please don't take this as a nasty comment, I'd just rather have focused reviews. Thank you in advance
Celestial the Hedgird - I suggest you try the de-caff. I'm not sure that a Re-Birth chant really works that well... Nevermind. Thank you for the support of cliffhangers and of Being Free as a whole

I'll put up the next chapter soon(ish) and then everyone will be happy (I hope). By the way, the end is coming, but not until Re-Birth finishes completely... You'll have to all wait and see I'm afraid... We'll, I'm not really.

Edited 29/03/05 for paragraphing