Being Free
Written by Airo Smicktor
I don't own Sonic etc or the lyrics to Supporting Me
Chapter 14 - Leave
"Farewell - The act of departing or taking leave."
M.B.I. confirmed to be a secret government agency designed to prevent terrorism, ensure public safety and protect Mobius as a whole from falling into chaos. Sharing many of the qualities the GUN claimed to stand for, therefore M.B.I. is untrustworthy.
Restart Action Three immediately, and send warning to M.B.I. of consequences of further intervention.
"Sir, we have an incoming message from the ARK!" Jenkins said.
"WHAT? On screen, now!" The General ordered.
Attention commanders of the M.B.I. This is the central control computer system of the Space Colony ARK, currently responsible for the carrying out of Project Being Free. You are hereby advised to abort your operation, repeat, and abort your operation, for the greater safety and protection of the planet Mobius. Project Being Free is the utilisation of the technique of 'Re-Birth' to save Project Shadow. Warning, extreme danger if this process is disrupted and/or delayed, which could lead to an unstable Project Shadow.
This is the final wish of Professor Gerald Robotnik, and of Maria Robotnik. Please do not interfere any longer.
End Transmission
"What? What does that mean?"
"You fool! The final wish of Gerald Robotnik! He's trying to use some kind of programme to make Shadow destroy the world again! I want you to stop whatever this Re-Birth thing is at once, and I don't care if you have to use viruses or blow up ARK! JUST DO IT!"
"Yes, yes sir!"
"Well Fang, what news?" Robotnik's voice asked over the radio.
"It's all good! I've got two emeralds with me, so that makes three emeralds that we've got!" The Weasel replied back, with a smug grin on his face.
"Splendid! This is excellent work Fang! I knew I shouldn't have severed ties with you!"
"Heh, save the thank yous for when we've smashed Metal! But don't worry, I'm already outside the Casino Park, so that fourth emerald will be ours in no time!"
"Excellent! But tell me, where did you find that second emerald of yours?"
"You're not gonna like this but, I swiped it off of Sonic's again?"
"Well, I was past that Ocean Palace place, and I heard all these explosions, and I saw the wreck of one of your machines, it kinda looked like a big bird"
"THE EGG HAWK?" The Doctor's voice roared over the line
"Umm... That could've been the one I guess"
"THAT WAS NO SONIC YOU FOOL! IT WAS SHADOW! RE-BIRTH IS HAPPENING, AND YOU JUST LEFT HIM THERE!
"Hold up Doc! I didn't know that! I just saw a blue hedgehog with these green stripes on his head, and I assumed it was Sonic!"
"Damn-it! We had the ultimate life-form in our mitts, and now we've lost him!"
"We can still get him! He can't use that Chaos Control stuff without an emerald, can he?"
"Hmm... Perhaps your right Fang... I better check up on how it's coming along though... Over and out..."
Repeated infiltration of internal systems detected, control over Re-Birth greatly reduced, and Project Being Free is in danger of closer. Options limited, disregard Action Three. New objective initiated, move Project Shadow to safety immediately. Initiated. ARK sensor rig standing by, locating the Chaos Emeralds' Locations found, distance calculated, amplifiers activated...
Suddenly, Space Colony ARK churned into life, as the whole station began to slowly revolve on an axis of its own. The 'front face' of the ARK, which by looks alone resembled the familiar Eggman insignia, was turning around to stare directly down at the planet. The ends of the 'beard' of the station began to light up, as they focused in on the targets below. Three in a casino, one in a jungle, on in a desert base, one in a castle of the dead, and one in a fortress of the sky. Without warning, beams of light and energy came racing out from the ARK, and hurtled towards the world below with an unfaltering purpose. They were on a mission, to protect a creation so it could protect mankind. The beams were of an energy and power so pure; they pulsed through solid surfaces without harming them in anyway, almost of a supernatural and ungodly power. A rarely used power of the Chaos Emeralds – the power of good. Although the 'good intentions would be very misplaced...
Eggman loaded up his computer to read the information about Re-Birth's progress.
"What's this? The ARK has been moving? This can't be possible"
Eggman's thoughts were quickly cut short, as suddenly a bright light filled the room he was in. In a reflex movement, Eggman stood up, only to find himself now floating in the strange light. He felt something glowing in his pocket, so he pulled out his Chaos Emerald. It was glowing and shining brightly. Was this some form of Chaos Control?
"EGGMAN!" Fang called over the computer line he had spoken to Eggman through. "Somethin' weird's goin' down! My emeralds are glowin' like mad and I'm floating in mid-air!"
Eggman's eyes went wide in fear. He instantly knew what was happening, and what it meant... "Re-Birth is going wrong"
Chaos energy amplified. Power utilised, currently being converted. Project Shadow structure accessed. Access granted. Initiating Chaos Control to distort time flow, and teleportation at the same time. Time travel will therefore be used to safely send Project Shadow into the future, where it will be safe for him to live in peace. Commencing...
The silent, blue-coloured body of Shadow lay in the hollow grave-like pit, lying in a pool of his own blood, so that the half of his body that did lay in it was now crimson coloured. Shadow breathed in, and out. His body was working fully, but his mind was not. Unthinking, unmoving, the living dead. The Ultimate Life-Form. His mind was empty of thoughts, of feelings, of memories. He was alive, yet brain-dead. He was... Re-Born...
The body of Shadow sat up quickly, sending blood flying of his back into the sandy walls around him, with eyes still closed. Shadow then stood upright, which caused streams of blood to flow off his body and splash down to the puddle below. Still without thought, without sight, Shadow pulled himself out of the hole, and stood around. The slightly smouldering wreckage of the Egg Hawk remained, with parts strewn across the sand. Shadow stood still, unemotional, uncaring, unfeeling, unknown.
His eyes opened. He stared blankly into the distance, not taking in the sight of the wide ocean before him, but was it waiting to confirm something. Shadow slowly raised his arms from his sides, allowing his fingers to outstretch from his clenched fist, until his arms were about level with his shoulders. He stood still in this position, still waiting for a sign, a signal, a calling.
Without warning, the very tips of Shadow's gloved fingers began to glow slightly, very quietly at first, before glowing more assertively. The whole palm followed this soon after, and soon both of Shadow's hands were glowing brightly with Chaos energy.
'Not yet Shadow... Not yet'
Shadow remained still, as more energy formed around him, at his feet, in his arms, in his legs, slowly moving inwards to his chest.
'It's not your time to leave yet Shadow... You must stay'
His whole body was now overcome with the Chaos Energy, as it caused his muscles to tighten and his veins to pulsate. The energy now formed around Shadow's head, causing his quills to rustle slightly, reacting with the influx of power. As the power now fully consumed him, Shadow's blank eyes started to focus, as they rolled into the back of his head.
'You have to give them all a second chance Shadow... Don't make me upset'
As Shadow's eyes rolled back into his head, the energy glowed even brighter than before. Subconsciously, Shadow then spoke the immortal words
"Chaos... Control"
'I only wanted to give your happiness Shadow, is that too much to ask of the people of earth? Shadow, can't your hear me? Shadow! Please Shadow! I don't want to lose you again! Shadow! Shadow? Where... Where have you gone?'
Project Being Free has now ended with partial success. Shut down initiated of ARK, connection severed with Dr. Ivo Robotnik and Fang the Sniper. Project Shadow is now currently secure in the time slipstream... Re-Birth has been completed...
'Tooo theee preeessuuureee...
Eeeveeerythiiing's juuust liiikeee...
Aaan iiillusiiiooon
Iii'll beee looosing yooouuu
Beeefoooreee looong...'
Warning... Failure has been detected in time travel... Due to rushed nature of operation and interference from M.B.I., Project Shadow has...
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Time influx is occurring...
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Prooojeeect Shaaadooow haaas...
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Tiiimeee traaaveeel...
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Hiiistooory iiis beeeiiing reee-wriiitteeen...
Hiihdhsg
Prooojeeect Shaaadooow haaas beeeeeen seeent baaack iiin tiiimeee...
Baaack hooomeee... Muuust reeetuuurn... Leeeaaarn truuuth...
Krk...
Faaaiiiluuureee... Prooojeeect Beeeiiing Freeeeee... Viiictooory?
"...Maria?"
"...Yes Grandfather?"
"...I do believe I have made a great error of judgement"
"...So begins Shadow's second life..."
Noooooooooo! Re-Birth done! ARGH! Ah well, now for the second life to begin eh? Oh, it's a messed ride for Shadow from here-on in folks, but I'm sure you'll love it. Or not. But I'm having way too much fun to care right now anyway! Now where did I put those replies for my reviewers...
Celestial the Hedgird - Thanks again for the support, and I hope you managed to catch that bus. I don't use transport anymore, just the Chaos Control
Anthony Bault - Yes, very interesting it should be... Or is that could? I hope that Shad and Rouge aren't looking up naughty stuff on your computer (no comment on if I do).
Fuwa2 Kyara - I don't plan on Shadow dying again, so don't worry. I hope that I explained more in the e-mail I replied to. Thanks again, and I hope that the pic you're doing rules all!
Only 3 reviews? I just couldn't wait for anymore! I'm way too hyper right now! HA-HA! I'd better go before I hurt myself or others, so get ready folks for 'The Second Life' and continue to send in the reviews! Thank you!
Edited 29/03/05 for Paragraphing