Being Free

I don't own Shadow, but Shadow ownz.

Chapter 17 - Bond

"Connection - A person, especially one of influence or importance, with whom one is associated, as by kinship or common interests."

"What's going on?"

Shadow was confused, and not for the first time today. He had trouble understanding where he was, who was around him, and even himself. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't remember anything. It didn't help matters that a dark voice in his mind would whisper words that meant nothing to him.

But there had been things for Shadow to do. He'd been introduced to something they called 'gym equipment'. Shadow had found himself able to use them naturally. If only he could recall what the activities were he was doing, he'd be far more happier. All he knew was that they were being referred to as 'tests'.

He enjoyed the 'running machine' the most of all.

But now there seemed to be some sort of commotion. People were running around frightened and worried, explosions could be heard from outside, and generally there was panic everywhere.

"Where am I?"

No one seemed to around where Shadow was. He had wandered off in an attempt to find out what was happening. But now he was just lost. And alone.

And bored.

Turning a corner, he only found himself in another long metallic corridor. One that was exactly the same as the one he'd just been in, and was like the rest he had been through. He was getting slightly annoyed with the whole situation he was in.

All around him was blank walls, floors, ceilings, and a slightly open door…

Shadow stopped, noticing the door. Titling his head slightly in a child-like manner, curiosity got the better of him. He moved closer towards the door, upon which the door automatically opened fully.

Surprised by the sudden movement, the hedgehog took a step back, apprehensive. After a moment, Shadow took a careful step forward, leaning his head in to look around him. His eyes looked around the large room, and then locked onto a gemstone on a podium in the middle of the room.

Everyone else in the world could tell you that it was a Chaos Emerald.

"What is it?" Shadow spoke to himself, as he moved into the room and towards the emerald.

The black hedgehog was entranced by the gem, drawn towards it almost hypnotically. He could not tear himself away from gazing at it, nor moving away from it.

When he was right in front of the emerald, there was only one thought running through his mind

Pick it up.

So he did.

It was then that the connection was made.

I am the ultimate life, a flawless existence, everybody tries to be straight, but things are still unchanged. Stars don't twinkle, the moon doesn't shine, it's useless to resist, their effort will be wasted. Oh yeah, hurry to the unexplored land, to the pure body, to the perfect experience. I don't mind steep slopes, any obstacles, head straight for your goal by any means, there is a door you've never opened. Birds don't sing, the wind doesn't blow, there is a window with a view you've never seen. Nothing is unpredictable to me, nothing can surprise me, get there no matter how long it takes. Oh dark, the darkness that dozes in the dusk, oh yeah, hurry to the unexplored land, throw it all away. I'm not scared at all, I'm shivering with cold. No-one can break you, nobody can tear you, I don't want to hear you. I am the mystery of the world, you live an endless life forever. I struggle against despair, oh dark, the darkness that dozes in the dusk, I can tell it by the cold eyes. Throw it all away, I am the warrior. You see a light wherever you go, it's my way to go, you have to face it again and again.

And again

And again.

And again…

NOW WAKE UP!

Shadow shuddered, before collapsing to the floor, still clutching the Chaos Emerald in his hand. Gasping for breath, his eyes were glazed over, with a far away look in his eyes. He had been hit was a powerful rush of thoughts and emotions, all to strong and fast to be retained.

Tooo theee preeessuuureee, eeeveeerythiiing's juuust liiikeee… Aaan iiilluuusiiiooon, Iii'll beee looosiiing yooouuu… Beeefoooreee looong…

Rolling onto his back, Shadow stared blankly at the ceiling, therefore not noticing the glow from the emerald. He was still paralised by something literally out of this world.

'Shaaadooow… Prooojeeect Shaaadooow…' A hollow voice called in the black hedgehog's mind.

'Who… What…' Shadow thought

'Liiisteeen tooo meee… Uuultiiimaaateee Liiifeee-Fooorm…' The voice repeated.

'Who… Who are you…'

'Iii aaam paaart ooof yooouuu Shaaadooow… Weee aaareee faaamiiily… Ooof theee saaameee blooooood…Theee saaameee biiirth… Theee saaameee hooomeee…'

'What… What happened… The emerald?'

'Iiit iiis whaaat cooonneeects uuus… Theee poooweeer thaaat iiis meee… Thaaat iiis weee… Iii uuuseeed theee Chaaaooos Eeeneeergy… To meeentaaally cooonneeect uuus…'

'Wh… Why?'

'Iiit iiis tiiimeee tooo briiing yooouuu hooomeee… Tooo theee truuuth… Ooouuur truuuth… Ooouuur deeestiiiny…'

Shadow sat up, still gripping the emerald.

'How?' Shadow thought to the voice, now very interested.

'Theee Chaaaooos Cooontroool… Gooo tooo theee pyraaamiiid iiin theee deeeseeert… Fiiind theee teeeleeepooorteeer… Tooo theee AaaRK… Theee Spaaaceee Cooolooony AaaRK…'

'Pyramid?'

Almost on cue, an image appeared in Shadow's mind of a large pyramid hidden away in a desert. Suddenly the image zoomed into the central door of the structure, through the stone corridors, the keyholes on the doors, then through metallic tunnels, and finally stopping in a room with a large computer consol and a pad with two footprints on the floor.

'Heeereee…' The voice continued. 'Uuuseee theee Chaaaooos Cooontroool… Heeereee… Neeeveeer loooseee… Huuurry…'

Shadow nodded, and stood up. He saw the location, and with the energy ripping through his vains, he could reach it. With a small smirk on his face, he held the emerald up over his head.

"…Chaos!" Shadow began to say, when out of the corner of his eye, something caught his attention. He lowered the emerald, and turned his head fully to look at what the it was.

Slowly, but far more confidently than anytime before, Shadow walked over, and looked down curiously at the item. It was small, silver, and shaped in a funny 'L' shape.

Anyone else in the GUN Base could have told Shadow it was an experimental handgun.

Shadow knelt down and picked it up. He was able to hold it perfectly in his hand, while the other still held the Chaos Emerald. Although Shadow didn't have a clue what he had just picked up, he was sure it would be useful in the future.

'Neeeveeer loooseee… Huuurry… Huuurry!' The voice spoke again.

Nodding in understanding, Shadow again held the emerald over his head.

"Chaos Control!" He said, and in a flash of light, he was gone, far away from the base.

Five seconds later, a female spy/thief entered, and cursed her luck on not finding an emerald. That would be the least of her worries though, as the base's security detected the use of Chaos Energy, and sent the R-1/A Flying Dog to investigate…

…Soooooon… Theee siiins ooof aaa creeeaaatooor… Wiiill freeeeee itsss creeeaaatiiiooons…

Author's Notes: Yeah, I found insperation again.Celestial the Hedgird & Katrina Madd - Thanks for the support. SpadeHand - Please, no fighting in the reviews, but thanks for reviewing. Right now we're in SA2, and Shadow has just left Prision Island.

That's all for now. What? You want to know what's gonna happen next? Well, let's just say that there's some heavy duty angst coming Shadow's way.And yes, I have seen the trailer for the Shadow the Hedgehog game.