Salve gente! How ya been?

And now, the 'Bla bla bla yada yada' thing.

Sonic, Shadow and Co. Are of Sega; Johnson Kaler is mine and Alan Decò is just a name made up for an occasion or two.
(Johnson Kaler is a very side/support character; he will not have a main part on the fic)

Again, don't look at the errors… Before I put the new chapter online I read it two, three times. And Word doesn't always pick the wrong word up. For example, 'Bong' and 'Long' are two similar words (it changes only the first letter) but with total different meanings.

Authoress' note: Weeks ago I ran into Indilee's best work (I suggest that you go and read it, but I warn you. There's swearing in it). Yes, her work has given me inspiration, but I swear! The things that happen in this chapter are something that I thought about months before I read her fic.

Voice from background: So?

Just to tell, so nobody start saying that I copied her work.

*Blender's noise from the background*

Don't mind it… it's just my brain that keeps working on this fic ^^

PS: This chapter really gave me much work, I had to rewrite seveal pieces several times...

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CHAPTER SEVEN

Total Chaos In the Middle Of Nowhere

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Rouge and Knuckles were into the sewers the entire day and they were starting to get annoyed by the bad smell "Say, Knuckles, do you know where are we going?" Knuckles thought for a moment then shook his head "Nope, not a clue." Rouge's eyes closed halfway "Ah…" She said a little discouraged; she didn't like much the sewers, but as long as she was with him, she really didn't mind the thing.

To distract herself a little, she opened the folder and on top of many papers was a photo. Upon seeing who the subject of the picture was, the bat chuckled a little. The photo showed Shadow in his five, maybe six, years and he was looking to his right. Maybe his attention was attracted by something funny because he was restraining himself from laughing hard.

Rouge shook her head a little and put the picture on the side, revealing a golden bracelet; like the ones that Shadow always wears. She picked it up, admiring the strange fine incisions on its outer side. She fidgeted with it a little, until she saw its inner side, where a little incision was 'To Shadow.' She read 'It's a gift…' She frowned 'but… by who?'

The white bat unconsciously stopped walking 'Is this a gift from Maria? Or by the one that he can't remember?' A voice disturbed her thinking. She looked up to see Knuckles watching her with a raised eyebrow "Oh, sorry." She smiled "I guess I was too deep in thinking…" "Thinking about what?" "This." She responded holding him the bracelet. The echidna took it in his glove "On the outside there are some carvings, and in the inside there's the writing 'To Shadow'."

Knuckles examined the carvings "You know, Rouge? This could be an ancient language." "You sure?" He shrugged and handed back the ring to Rouge "Yes, they are like the ones in the ruins in my island, but I'm sure that it's not ancient echidna, or I'd be able to read it." "Maybe Shadow knows what's written." Knuckles shrugged again "Who knows." He stopped and watched her looking attentively at the object "Shall we go?"

The bat looked in his eyes and smiled "Sure!" She said putting away the bracelet and securely closing the folder. The echidna quickly turned away from her and started walking "Hey! Wait!" Rouge exclaimed reaching him; she leaned to the left and glanced at his face. She could see a faint red under his cheeks' fur 'He's so cute when he's blushing.'

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Sonic woke up as water touched him; he looked around and saw that he was trapped into some sort of tube. His shoes and gloves were gone, exposing his three toed feet; they had little claws in the middle of each finger/ toe and they were white in color and five millimeter longs, like his hands. The water was slowly raising and had a strange greenish tinge; it was even warm. He got up, preoccupied, and put his hands on the glass "Hey! Let me go!" He yelled to the few people that were in the room. They were mainly scientists, and they didn't seem to care about him or his protests. He looked around again, and to his right, in another capsule like him, was Shadow. He started to wake up, and when he saw where he was, he jumped to his feet and looked at Sonic with confusion in his eyes. The last thing that he remembered was being buried by rubbles.

Sonic started pounding at the glass; the water had reached his knees and he purely disliked it "HEY! LET ME GO!" He screamed raged. Shadow was speechless; he couldn't believe his eyes. The blue hedgehog was on the edge of rage and desperation. He never saw him like this, not even when he was into that explosive capsule. Sonic always showed a smile of pure confidence. The only time that the hero made a different expression was when he was falling to Earth; it seemed that he was on the verge of crying.

A man entered in the room and Shadow noticed that on the iron door was printed a big G 'Go figure…' He thought as the general stood before the two captives. The man smiled pleased; in his eyes only wickedness and selfishness. The smile increased and soon transformed into an evil, pleased chuckle; he then turned and started to leave. Shadow looked at him then faced Sonic; the blue hedgehog was watching the man leaving with pure hatred in his eyes "Hey! You! Why this?"

The man stopped without turning "Well, the black hedgehog is a top-secret weapon…" "That doesn't mean that he deserve this!" "Ha ha ha… touching. Very, very touching blue hedgehog. But you…" He paused, wondering about something "Yes, there are many reasons because you are here, hedgehog. Too many. Farewell, hedgehog." He started walking again "Remember, human, I will get you for this. Remember it." Sonic hissed menacingly. Everyone in the room shivered uncontrollably; everyone but the general. The man stopped "I'd like to see you do that." He chuckled leaving the two hedgehogs to their supposed fate. When the man left the room with the guards and a few scientists Sonic started forcing the glass again with his shoulder.

Shadow stared at the door; he knew that they wanted him because he was a creature projected and created by Gerald, but Sonic? He had done nothing! Or was it? The black hedgehog just stood there, thinking and knowing to well that he was going to be locked away again.

When the water reached his torso, he saw Sonic lean his head on the glass and look at him; he was deep in thought. Shadow looked in his double's eyes; he could almost make out what he was thinking. Then, his eyes suddenly softened and closed, breaking the spell.

'I will not give up. No matter what!' He thought 'There's no way that I'm going to let those humans take away my and my friend's freedom!' He opened his eyes; eyes burning fiercely with decision. He started kicking the glass, his little claws making faint scratches on the transparent surface "I SAID TO LET ME GO!"

Shadow pondered 'Why he looked at me like that? What was he thinking about? And why I felt like I was going to understand his thoughts?' He looked at the other hedgehog 'Why he's still fighting? There's no way out of here, is it?' He continued to watch passively. Tired to see the men chuckle at Sonic's effort he closed his eyes; he could still hear voices, but they suddenly disappeared, leaving an eerie silence. Even the rushing of the raising liquid disappeared into thin air; curiosity took over him and he reopened his eyes. And he found himself somewhere else.

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He was still in a stasis tube, but he was sitting on the ground, back leaning on the glass; there wasn't water that was raising and the room was different. At his right there was another tube, but it was empty and the glass was halfway up 'What? Where am I?' He was confused, really confused. The door opened and in the room stepped him; one of the most brilliants minds of all times and non other than his creator. Prof. Gerald Robotnik. Two other scientists closely followed him "Professor, are you sure that he will come?" One of them asked; Gerald nodded "Positively. S-02 is the perfect bait. He will come for sure."

Shadow was more confused than before; he tried to talk but his body wasn't responding 'S-02? Bait? Who has to come? What's going on?' He blinked and the scenario changed again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was again in the GUN's lab and the water had reached his neck; he shook his head to clear the confusion that was swarming in his mind 'What was that?'

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The alarm went on and the chao looked around "What the?" Johnson asked out loud, and to answer his question a voice grated from the loudspeaker "To all military personal, we are under attack. I repeat; we are under attack. Reach your respective positions." It said.

The man was about to rise from the seat when a thought crossed his mind; he didn't have a combat position. He was just a man that was stick there with the apparently task to compile papers.

"Oh, well… I guess it's up to them." He said to no one in particular. John looked at the chao and was about to say something when the door burst open. He looked over his shoulder and froze. There, standing still like a rock despite his material, stood the water being known as Chaos.

The water beast walked up to the man and looked at him. Even if he found the man with the chao, he could tell that he was not the one that he was looking for. John nodded and handed him Iris; the chao looked at the beast in the eyes and smiled. She could feel gentleness into his soul.

Chaos was going to take the little being in his hands when he felt something else; it was a Chaos Emerald. And it was deep down in the base. He looked down and caressed Iris' head, then looked at the man and left.

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Despite the alarm that was blaring, the things in the lab were going according to the plan. A man put a hand on the glass surface of Sonic's container "He's really strong, look at the glass… it was supposed to be indestructible for a living being, and he nearly made a crack…" He said retracting and looking at the captive. Another man walked beside him and looked at the blue hedgehog with interest "You are right. It will be interesting to examine him." "Yes, but what about Dr. Eggman? Sonic is the only one able to thwart him and his schemes…" "Who cares? When we are done, there will be no need of him."

Sonic had fought with everything he had, but the water reached the top of the stasis tube before he could break it. Now he was surpassing the limit and his lungs screamed for fresh air. Floating in the middle of the tube he curled in a fetal position and released all of his air, breathing in the green liquid; he convulsed and coughed as the warm fluid replaced the air in his lungs. His first thought was that he was going to drown and die, but after a moment of stillness he opened his eyes. He was feeling tired, very tired, and he was feeling his eyes grow heavy as his mind slowly drifted to sleep; but he fought it. He could breath, so he could still fight; Sonic smirked, his eyes burning again with the fire of pure confidence. He slowly put his feet on the same spot were the marks were and he leaned his hands on the opposite side.

The two men looked at him for a few seconds, then one of them called another man that was on a console "Sir, he's fighting back the liquid's properties." He said; the scientist looked up from a clipboard and saw the blue hedgehog push on the glass with his feet. A bip from the console attracted his attention; Sonic's pulse was increasing, alongside with his breathing pace "Amazing…" He muttered disbelieved.

Shadow's eyes were closed and his heartbeat and breathing pace were very low. He had already breathed in the water and was slowly drifting to sleep; until some commotion that was coming from outside attracted his attention. He slightly opened his ruby eyes and saw the three men watch the other glass tube, so he turned his head curiously; his eyes instantly snapped wide open with surprise mixed with shock as he saw the scene that was having place. Sonic was fighting; although he was having difficulties for the insufficient oxygen, he was still fighting 'Sonic…' The black hedgehog was astounded; he couldn't come up with a single word to describe the action of the blue hedgehog. Ignoring the tiredness he put his hands on the glass surface when he saw him convulse uncontrollably; he shifted his attention at the scientists and saw one of them at a console, switching a little lever. After he had done that Sonic stopped convulsing and stood still, but not for too long because he resumed pushing. Another convulsion and again he stood still for a moment or two, after that he resumed again his escaping attempt.

"He's implacable!" One of the men near the tube said looking at the hedgehog "He… he wants to break free at all cost…" The other trailed off "He will not be able to!" The scientist at the console stated releasing another electric shock; this time a few times more powerful. Shadow saw Sonic scream with all of his lungs; even if the water down his throat nullified the scream, the black hedgehog could clearly imagine it.

The blue hedgehog couldn't feel his body anymore; he could feel only the continuous pain running through it. Letting loose a silent scream he forced his body to continue to work; he wasn't going to lose. The pain increased, and in response he increased the strength of his effort; after endless moments he felt the glass slightly budge under his force.

The three men stopped, stunned at the display of the implacable hero. The crack was there, long a span and well thick; the water started to sprout from it as the crack got larger "Quick! The tranquillizer!" The man at the console ordered "Yes Sir!" The other responded picking up a little bottle. The scientist at the console paused as he heard another crack resound on the air "Get ready." He finally commanded. The man holding the tranquillizer picked up a little gun and fuelled it with the serum.

The electric shock was still on, but he didn't mind it anymore. He could feel the glass crumple under his feet, and this made him more determined in not giving up. Finally the glass broke and the liquid splashed on the metal ground of the lab; the pain brought by electricity stopped, but it was replaced by the one on his legs. Sonic sunk to the bottom, his legs on the sharp edges of the new opening; he closed his eyes, relishing in the momentary peace.

Despite his tiredness he was full awake; something was keeping him awake, and it was the adrenaline brought by Sonic's actions. Shadow was happy to see that the blue hedgehog had broke free, but he was concerned about him; he had received so much electric shocks that a normal being would be dead by now. The black hedgehog saw the man holding the gun advancing on him, and started pounding on the glass in hope to warn him of the incoming danger.

The man took the blue hedgehog's feet and pushed them into the glass tube again, which raised with a faint swishing sound; the remaining water sprawled around, soaking the metal floor and the feet of the two nearby human "Hey! Couldn't you drain the liquid first?" "It wasn't supposed to be released here, so shut up."

The man holding the gun watched as the blue hedgehog coughed up the water that was in his lungs; after he stopped he looked at the man next to him "Is he unconscious?" He asked. The other shrugged looking at the one at the console. He got up and slowly neared the unconscious being on the ground, moving him with his foot; Sonic rolled on his back, but afterward he didn't moved "I guess that the fatigue knocked him out, but it's best if we put him under sedatives." He said holding out a hand; the other scientist handed him the tool and backed off.

Sonic was actually faking unconsciousness, waiting for a good opportunity to act; and now he saw it. As the hand holding the gun approached him, he snapped open his eyes and with a swift motion of his right arm he grabbed the other's wrist, twisting and breaking it.

The man screamed in pain and was brought face to face with the blue hedgehog; he could see his green eyes burning fiercely "Don't ever underestimate me. Whatever you do. I'll break free… no matter what!" He kicked the man in the stomach, sending him on the ground several feet away. Sonic raised to his feet and looked at the other two "Who's the next?" He asked, holding his fiery gaze and raising slightly his quills. The two men looked at each other and ran out of the room scared for their lives.

"Good." Sonic said walking over the console; he scratched his head, trying to figure out what to do. He was interrupted as he felt something connect with the back of his head; he fell on the ground dazed and rolled on his back to see the man that he kicked holding a metal stool. He rolled again to avoid another hit and saw the sedative gun lying on the ground near the broken tube. The blue hedgehog grinned and kicked away the stool from his opponent's good hand; after the man backed off for the hit he raised and dashed to the tool. He picked it up and with a jump he avoided a swing from the man, landing behind him "Say good night!" He said pushing the needle into the man's back; he immediately collapsed on the ground chuckling "Such a powerful beast… you are… he was right… nobody can… tame you…" He said falling asleep under the drug's effect.

Sonic looked at Shadow grinning "See, Shadow? Nobody can take away my freedom." He said panting lightly; he then walked to the console, trying to figure what switch would release the other hedgehog. He grunted and kicked the big metal box "To hell with this!" He yelled turning around and looking for another option. The blue hedgehog grinned again and walked over a glass compartment encased on the wall near the door; in it a kit for emergency cases complete with a first aid kit, a hatchet and a hose in case of fire. He opened the thin glass door and let loose a surprised short scream when the hatched nearly fell on his bare foot.

Sonic took the hatchet and walked over the tube containing Shadow; he placed it on the glass and motioned for him to back off as best as he could. The black hedgehog accomplished and watched as he charged up for a swing.

Sonic swung as hard as he could and the bang produced by the hit resounded loudly into the room; he lifted the axe and watched as the water poured from the newly produced crack. He was ready for another hit when the door opened; he turned his head and gasped quietly.

On the door stood a squadron of twelve GUN robots; after a moment they raised the laser rifles and made a steep towards their objective "Freeze hedgehog." One of them grated. Sonic stood still, pondering what to do; he couldn't take all of them because he was too tired, but four of them would be possible.

The hedgehog grinned and with a quick move he launched the hatchet at the panel next the door, breaking it; the little thing sparkled and the door closed, leaving out of the room almost the entire squadron. Now only four of them where there, shooting at the moving hedgehog; but he was too quick for them. Sonic ducked behind the console and noticed the big cable sprouting out of it; he took it and tore it from the metal box "Surrender yourself hedgehog." It was the general who spoke; the hero growled "Ah! Make me, idiot!" "Suit yourself, hedgehog! Take him!" The man bellowed through the robot's speaker.

A robot rounded the corner and saw the hedgehog on the ground holding a cable "Human! I have a name!" He yelled putting the cable into the joints of the robot. The mech convulsed for the shock as the current ran trough his chips and metal parts; Sonic ran and curled into a ball as the robot exploded. Shards flew everywhere and the blue ball was hurled into another robot, sending it in pieces. Two down, two to go.

He uncurled and landed, sliding for a few feet on the wet surface of the lab; he gritted his teeth when a sharp pain appeared on his legs. He raised and looked at the remaining bots; none of them made a move "Hedgehog…" "What do you want, human?" "I want to tell you this." He paused; Sonic took the opportunity to prepare himself for another attack "I propose you a pact." The blue hedgehog backed off "What?" "You can leave if you leave here the black hedgehog. He's enough for our plans." Sonic remained silent and turned to look at his black doppelganger "Alluring…" He said putting a foot under the stool that was on the ground.

Shadow could feel his heart being crushed by an invisible force; he was scared, terrified that the other hedgehog was going to betray him. He watched him and that fear vanished immediately as he saw his eyes; eyes that expressed rage "But I'd rather die than leave him here!" He yelled in response "I will do something better, hedgehog. I will take away from you your speed and your freedom."

Sonic's rage exploded; he kicked the stool so he could grab it with his right hand and spun around with all of his speed and strength. The stool was launched and connected with the head of one of the two remaining robots "Human! It's better for you to hide somewhere where I can't find you, because I'm going to hunt you until you are dead!" He yelled pointing a finger to the last robot. A 'hmpf ' resounded from the metallic loudspeaker of the mech "We'll se, hedgehog. To all robots of the base! Stop the blue hedgehog at all cost! Don't kill him." He paused and the robot raised its gun "Aim for his legs." He finished.

Sonic jumped to avoid the laser beam directed at his legs and ran towards the robot avoiding the shots; when he was in front of the mech he jumped and round kicked its head. The hit was so powerful that the little flat head literally flew away, hitting the wall; without it the robot collapsed on the ground giving off a few convulses.

The blue hedgehog landed neatly, but his legs failed him and he found himself sitting on the floor; he looked at them and sighed, trying to decide what to do. He touched one of the glass shards that where in his right leg and winced; yes, he could still walk and perhaps even run, but now that all the action was over his adrenaline was out and the sharp pain was catching up with his mind. He sighed again and looked at the door; the robots on the other side where trying to knock it down, but for now it was keeping up. Sonic looked around for the hatchet and found it lying under the last robot that he destroyed; he took it and pulled it from under it "Hang on, Shadow! I'll pull you outta there, no matter what!" He said panting.

Shadow saw him get up to his feet with difficulty and limp toward his position; the blue hedgehog smiled at him and started hitting the glass with his last strengths. After a dozen of hits the glass broke and the water was quickly drained on the floor; the black hedgehog fell to his hands and knees on the few inches of the remaining liquid and freed his lungs from it. After the coughing fits ended he looked up to see Sonic leaning on the hatched for support "Are you ok?" He asked gasping lightly. Shadow crouched and left the glass tube through the hole opened by him "What about you, Sonic?"

The blue hedgehog smiled "These are only scrapes. Don't worry." He said bending over and prying a glass shard out of his leg "See? I'm fine! They're too small to have cut trough my muscles." He held out the pieces to him "I'm not sure of it, Sonic. I can see pain in your eyes." "Th…" Sonic was cut off by an explosion that blew up the door; the two hedgehogs were thrown on the floor, and when they looked up they saw the rest of the robot squadron, plus a dozen of men pointing their laser guns at them. The two squadrons parted as the infamous man walked up to them "Well, well, well…" He stopped and looked down at the two "Impressive, blue hedgehog. But I told you. You can't escape."

Sonic's eyes burned again with the fire of rage; but soon the rage transformed into pure shock as three men pinned him firmly on the ground and a robot placed its foot on his left leg; the general smiled evilly "Break his legs, so he doesn't escape." He said leaving the devastated room.

The robot increased the pressure on the leg and Sonic screamed as he felt the shards of glass cut deeper in his flesh; that was too much, and he lost it. He planted his teeth on an arm at his right; the man yelled and released his hold on the hedgehog. With his right arm free, Sonic swung at a second man, hitting him in the face and causing four nice red marks where his clawed fingers passed; the man, shocked by the swing, fell backwards, releasing the blue hedgehog's other arm and leg. Sonic grabbed the third man that was holding him by the shoulders and launched him at the robot; the mech lost its balance and fell on the ground crashing loudly. The entire action took place in only a few seconds and nobody, besides Sonic, had the time to understand what was going on.

Shadow managed to understand only one thing; Sonic was really pissed off and was attacking everything that was a threat to him. How he could act like this he couldn't understand. The blue hedgehog was heavily drained of energies; he could see that by his breathing pace and by the movements of his body. But he neither stopped nor slowed down.

His train of thoughts were interrupted by a loud grunt let loose by the other hedgehog and looked up. Sonic was now pinned to the ground on his stomach, a robot's foot pressing firmly on his back and four men that were holding still his limbs. The ebony creature looked around and saw other two men on the ground and two robots with missing limbs 'How that happened?' He was too shocked to rebel against the two robots that were holding him.

"Somebody, please, go and get a tranquillizer, a sedative, something!" One of the men pinning Sonic pleaded "Going…" Another murmured massaging his belly; he had received a full force hit from a foot of the hedgehog. He limped around the room and found the gun on the ground under the seat at the console; unfortunately for him the bottle of tranquillizer was in a thousand pieces and the liquid was sprawled on the floor "We have a problem…" He said "What?" "No tranquillizer… I have to go to the storage rooms and pick up a new bottle." "Then start running!" Another one yelled "Uh… yes." He responded running out of the room.

Sonic was getting weaker as the time passed; he stopped struggling and went totally limp under the grasp of the men. Everyone stopped, leaving the room in total silence; only the labored breathings of the blue hedgehog and the little noise made by the robots resounded on the air. Sonic closed his eyes and let his body relax. The men, believing that he was out cold, released their hold and backed off, only the robot remained "Is he…?" One of them asked kneeling beside the hedgehog.

Now free from the humans' grasp, Sonic rolled to the side, throwing the robot off balance. The mech fell on the ground with a loud 'thud' and the blue warrior jumped to his feet, kicking the chin of the kneeled man in the process "Shadow! Need a hand here!" He half yelled half grunted from his efforts.

The black hedgehog, hearing him call his name, snapped back to reality and kicked the right bot's head, damaging his eyes and a few chips into it; but in doing so he winced at the pain brought on his bare foot. The robot immediately shut down and released his hold, falling on the ground. He then gripped the other robot's right arm and pulled hard. The arm was ripped rather easily and he used it like a weapon to smash its head; the mech instantly collapsed down, motionless. Shadow felt his energies rushing back to him; and he purely liked the feeling.

"The black one! Subdue the black one!" A man yelled when he saw Shadow's display of rebellion "This ends now." He firmly said as his soul burned with a new fire. Unknown to him it was very similar to the one that Sonic showed when he fought to break his glass container.

Sonic surveyed the room 'Four robots and ten humans…' He stopped thinking as he saw Shadow jump and do a back somersault, kicking the chin of a nearby human; the man flew backwards and hit the wall. He crumpled to the ground and remained there immobile 'And nine humans.' He corrected himself. He was ready to attack a man that was in front of him when he felt his back fur going on end; he jumped and round kicked the man that was trying to hit him on the back of his head with the butt of his rifle, sending him on the floor unconscious. He landed and crouched, round kicking the other man's legs from under him; the man hit the ground with a yell of surprise. The blue hedgehog raised and drop kicked him on the stomach, assuring himself that he wasn't going to jump back into the fight too soon.

Shadow looked around for his next possible target; he saw a robot aiming at his companion and jumped. He somersaulted in mid air and kicked the robot's head with the heel of his right foot; the force of the hit was enough to dent the metal, but not enough to take it down. However, the mech lost it's balance and the shot that went off hit the ceiling instead of its original target; the hit broke a lamp, which fell on top of another human, knocking him out. The ebony hedgehog ripped the rifle from the robot's hand and used it to shot the mech's head.

Sonic jumped and punched another man under his jaw, making him go up a feet; he then hit the ground with the back of his head and passed out. The blue hedgehog felt the air suddenly leave his lungs as he was hit on his back by something hard; he fell on the ground and rolled on his back. A mech was looming over him with his laser rifle charged up and aimed at his legs; the blood in his veins instantly froze as the world momentarily slowed down for him. He gulped and kicked the rifle off the bot's hand; the weapon's shot hit the ceiling and two lamps were taken down.

Sonic, seeing the force of the hit, momentarily paled, but his thoughts quickly went back to the flying rifle, which landed at his right. He rolled towards it and avoided the metal foot that hit the floor instead of his leg and took the weapon in his left hand; he turned on his back and put his right hand on the rifle, and aiming at the robot he pulled the trigger. The laser shot hit his target, causing a nice hole in the middle of the mech's torso; black smoke started to sprout from it. The robot fell backwards, hitting the floor with a loud clang. The blue hedgehog raised and turned around, only to see one of the two last mech shoot at him; the laser went off towards Sonic's left leg, at tibia's height.

Shadow heard a scream that was halfway between pain and surprise; he turned his head and saw Sonic badly fall forward. He shoot the robot's head away and used the rifle like a boomerang to strike the man that was trying to recharge his weapon; the gun flied for ten feet before it connected with the target's face, causing him to fall on the ground unconscious. The black hedgehog ran towards a man at his left and used him like a springboard to jump at the next one; the man was thrown several feet on the ground, skidding on the water and going to hit the console with his head.

Shadow flew towards his objective and curled up; he felt himself connect with something soft and promptly uncurled to see the man fly on the ground. He was immediately out cold. The last two men tried to flee but were stopped by the ebony hedgehog that ran and kicked one of them on the neck, sending him on the other; the two lost their balance and hit the wall.

He landed breathing a sigh of relief, but when he turned he saw the last robot pick him up by his neck; the grasp tightened and he started to see white and black spots. His vision became blurry and the colors faded, until the robot released his neck and everything returned normal. The black hedgehog fell on the ground and looked up; the robot fell on its side revealing its killer "Sonic…" He said looking at him in disbelief "I thought that… you were hit… I saw you fall."

Sonic smiled "Nearly… I managed to parry the hit with the rifle…" He held up the damaged rifle; it was missing its butt and the broken edges were black "But the recoil sent it against my leg, making me fall…" He finished throwing away the broken weapon. He walked to the door and looked at the corridor; nobody was coming for now "C'mon, Shadow. We have to find at least our shoes before we leave."

Shadow watched him with attentive eyes; the blue hedgehog had several wounds at the legs, and his left one was the worst. Besides the shards that were still in his flesh and a few burns caused by too much near laser shots, he could see a big purple zone slowly forming under his blue fur in the same spot where he had received the crush by the robot's foot and the nasty hit by the rifle.

Seeing Sonic slowly walk out of the door, Shadow jumped to his feet and reached him, stopping him by putting a hand on his right shoulder "Wait Sonic… You can't go around with these nasty wounds!" The other hedgehog turned around "I know Shadow, but we don't have time to stay here for my wounds." He responded. The black hedgehog stopped, Sonic was right; they hadn't the time to stop, or they would have to face other robots sent there to stop them. He looked around for clues and fixed his gaze on a grate on the wall opposite the door "I have an idea." He said walking over the first aid kit on the little alcove; he picked it up and turned around. He could see Sonic walk to the grate and remove it by jumping and kicking it; he had understood his idea and had preceded him in his intention. The passage was near the ceiling and was big enough for them to crawl in it, but for a human it would be impossible to travel in it; they would have time to rest and patch up Sonic's wounds.

The man returned holding the bottle "I got…" He stopped as he surveyed the room; it was literally a total mess in there. Black spots were everywhere marking a laser hit; most of the neon lamps were now on the ground. One, that was hanging by only the energy cable and that was flickering, chose that moment to fell on the floor making a loud clattering noise. All of the robots were on the ground and half of them were beyond repairs. The men were down like the robots and only now a few of them started moaning and moving slowly "…it." He finished realizing that he had run all the way for nothing and that the two hedgehogs had escaped.

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Chaos stared at the new corridor that he was in; it was rather large and on the walls, at every intersection and corner, was installed a surveillance camera. Knowing that in that direction was a Chaos Emerald, he headed toward the source of the sensation. Bashing every robot that got in his way, he arrived at a door with a plaque on it. There, written in capital letter, white on red, was a ''A1' Storage Room. Military Zone. Impassable limit.' inscription. Blowing up the iron door, he entered in the room.

It was dark and a few shelves where lined on the left wall; on them many boxes were full of folders and other hand sized item. The other side was filled with strange machines and capsules a feet wide and two tall. They were filled with greenish water and into them were little embryos heavily deformed; the specie was unrecognisable. On the glass of every capsule was a label that went from S-03 to S-11.

He walked up to the shelves and in a box he saw what took him there. The yellow Chaos Emerald.

He took it; maybe he could use it to create some more havoc in the base. When he got there, he could sense that many of its dwellers where evil, greedy and careless of the others that where around them "Freeze!" Someone said from the door, Chaos looked at him and tightened his three fingers on the emerald. There was a blinding light coming from the watery being and when it ceased Chaos was no more there.

He had used the blinding light caused by the fusion with a Chaos Emerald to avoid the man that tried to stop him; he wasn't bad, so there was no need to hurt him. He crossed the hallways causing havoc on all sides, but avoided the very few men that weren't rotten and reached the room of the man with the chao.

Chaos bent lightly his head on the side; it was a sign of confusion. He was sure that the room with the chao was this, but neither them nor the man were here. The beast looked around for clues, and on the table he saw a paper sheet; on it he could see drawings. They where stylized and bad drawn, but he could clearly made out that it was a message left for him. The first was a man and three chao into a room; the second was representing the same characters but they were running. In the third they were on a flying vehicle and in the final one the four of them were in a garden, surrounded by other chao. It was clear that the message meant that the man was taking the chao back to their home.

Chaos stood there; if he had mouth, then his lips would draw an amused smile. He put the sheet paper back on the table and silently thanked that blue hedgehog for stopping him some time ago; he walked out of the door and stopped as an announcement left the grate of a nearby loudspeaker "To all military personal and non. The two prisoners have escaped. Track them down and use sedative guns to recapture them." The man speaking paused for few seconds "You may injure them, but only if necessary and it must be non lethal. I want them back alive. In particular the blue one!"

Blue one? Could he be talking about that blue hedgehog? The water being was going to walk away to discover who this 'blue one' was when the loudspeaker grated again with the same voice of before "Look out even for the water being known as Chaos. He has a Chaos Emerald and he is dangerous. Try to recover the gem only if this beast show up. Don't go look for him, your main quest is to retrieve the two fugitives."

The loudspeaker fell silent once again and Chaos looked around; if the man's order was to not look out for him, then he could pass unobserved more easily. Now that the chao were safe and on the way for home, his mission switched from rescue to understand and escape causing a lot of havoc on the way. He looked down at the Chaos Emerald into his right arm; it was rather eerie for it was slightly being drained by something. He felt it before, in fact it started when he fused with the gem, but in the rush to get there he pushed the feeling into the back of his mind.

Chaos decided to follow the faint sensation, which led him back to the storage room; the sensation that the emerald energy was being drained strengthened itself. He entered in the room and his eyes widened in disgust and shock. The embryos were growing unnaturally fast; although they where abnormally deformed, now he could understand their species. Hedgehogs.

His watery body nearly boiled for the rage that his mind produced. How could somebody play with life like this? That was unforgivable! He walked to the tank labeled S-03 and looked at the little being mutate; now he could see little patch of fur. It was black and red in color. He placed the left hand on the top of the tank; he could sense an abnormal hunger for Chaos Energy. This would pose a really bad problem; such hunger always took its bearer into a state of berserk. Uncontrollable and really dangerous; a mindless monster.

He decided for the best option; he would instantly eliminate the lives within the tanks. He hated to do this, but the risk to let them grew it was too much; and even if he let them do it, they would never have a normal life. Thanks to the humans into this place. He would make sure that this place would be blow up. Nobody has the right to play with life.

A bright white light erupted from the door, followed by a scream and an explosion. Chaos left the room as the flames devoured machines, items, folders and the lives within their tanks; he looked back into the orange flames and felt no more draining. He turned and ran away letting loose his greatest scream. A scream filled with hate and rage, but also filled with pain for the ones who would not be able to feel the pleasure of life.

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"Disappeared? What do you mean disappeared?" The general almost yelled at a man "W-well…" He started "I don't care! They are still here. Search every room, every corridor, everything! I want them back!" He commanded yelling. The man saluted and quickly walked out of the door.

The general walked back and forth in his office; he stopped as the door swung open and a man in white coat entered in the room carrying a little folder "Ah, it's you." He said looking at the man; he was in its middle thirty, and had black hair and eyes. He was the head scientist of the whole place and good friend with the general "So?" He asked to the man "I have two news. Do you want to hear first the good one or the bad one?" "The good" "Our theories where correct." "And the bad?" "The blood that we picked up is insufficient for our scopes; and the samples died after about two hours from the withdrawal." He paused and sighed "The project can't go on if we don't have the body and all the Chaos Emeralds."

The general sighed "I admit it, I have underestimated them, but that will not happen again." The two men sat at the desk "I heard that they disappeared after the fight in the lab. Is that true?" "Yes, but I know that they are still in here." "How are you so sure?" "Because the only exit of this base is under heavy guard. They would be immediately spotted."

The scientist looked up, attracted by something "Not if they pass through the air ducts…" He said; the general followed the gaze of the other man and slightly squinted his eyes in rage and frustration. He turned and pressed a button on an intercom; after some seconds a man entered in the room "Commander! Search the air ducts. Those two hedgehogs may be in there." He quickly said; the man nodded and left for his businesses.

The general sighed once more "They are crafty." He said; the scientist nodded "Yes, they are. And Sonic is very strong willed. He will not stop until he and Shadow are safe." He paused "Yes, this will be an interesting chase."

The same man of before rushed into the room again "S-sir! The 'A1' storage room was blown up. Everything went destroyed in the explosion and the following fire." He said nervously; he didn't know what was in there, but he knew that the 'A1' storage room had very important things in it, and he also knew that the new wasn't going to be liked by the two superiors. The general jumped to his feet and beat his hands on the desk "What?!" He almost yelled; the scientist just stared disbelieved. Almost fifty years of work lost in a damned explosion "Who did this?" His tone was calm despise the situation, but it had an icy tone in it. The poor man sweated and gulped "It… it was Chaos, sir." He stuttered. The general sat back into his chair and shooed off the man. The human left gratefully the room.

"Why would Chaos destroy something that he doesn't know about?" He asked to himself "Could he possibly have understood the meaning of the specimens?" The head scientist asked back; the other man sighed and burrowed his head in his hand "If that's right, then we have a powerful enemy to watch out for." "Yes." The other responded nodding. The two men knew that now every move in their plan would have to be extra careful; they would have to watch out for the blue hedgehog's friends, government spies and now an angered Chaos.

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It was dark and dusty in there, but it was better than the corridors that were full of men and robots in search of them; they had stopped in a corner, near a grate, so Sonic could lean on a wall and Shadow could see and treat his legs. The black hedgehog picked up the other hedgehog's right leg and started to carefully take away the shards; although the blood had stopped soon after the battle, the blood loss had been rather bad. He glanced up at Sonic. His head was turned to the left, toward the other branch of the duct, and he was trying hard to not wince; the strange thing was that he wasn't complaining about the fact that he was the one that was treating his legs. Or rather, he seemed glad that he was here with him. After he cleared the leg from all the shards he picked up a bottle and a cotton wad from the first aid kit that was placed at his left.

He carefully started cleaning the wounds with it 'Look at this…' He put the wad down and fished in the white box for some sterilized gauzes to cover the wounds 'If I was him, I wouldn't be able to fight like he had done… much less to be able to walk.' He briefly looked up. Sonic had his eyes tightly shut and his mouth was drawing a light frown on his face; he was clearly in pain. Shadow sighed and returned his gaze to the leg; now that the wounds were all covered with the gauzes he could pass to the bandaging. It was the first time in his life that he had to do it. Not that it was something so terribly hard to do, but if not done correctly it could cause problems afterward; too much tight it will close the blood circulation, too loose they will simply slide down. He turned and picked up a roll of bandage "Tell me if it's too tight or too loose." He whispered starting to wrap the blue hedgehog's leg; he only received a nod from him.

A minute later the leg was bandaged 'Nice, considering that it was my first attempt.' He thought as he carefully placed it on the duct's floor. Shadow looked down at Sonic's left leg; the glass shards were deeper in the flesh here, and the purple zone had grown in size and deepened in color. The bump took almost a third of his entire lower leg "This will be more painful, so brace yourself." He said; the blue hedgehog was going to say something when a raged and pained scream filled the corridors. The two stopped and Shadow's fur stood on end "What… what was that?" He whispered uneasy; Sonic smiled "That was Chaos. I don't know why he's here, but judging by his scream he's kinda mad with the humans in here…" "Chaos?" The blue hedgehog waved his hand "Long story, I'll tell you when we get out of here."

After the commotion in the corridors ceased, Shadow went back to his task. After he carefully took off the shards and disinfected the wounds he patched them; sighing he took another roll of bandages and looked up "Sonic?" The blue hedgehog slowly turned his head "Yes?" "I'm going to bandage this, but I'm not sure if you will be able to walk. The left leg is…" He trailed off, not knowing what to say. Sonic made a hint of a smile "I'll be alright. I'll be able to walk and the wounds will heal in a week or so." His voice sounded distant and his eyes where half closed.

'He's really strong willed, but I know that he has reached his limit.' Shadow thought wrapping the leg 'I wonder… will he surpass his limit? If yes, what will happen next?' He fixed the bandage with the strong adhesive tape, making a loop around the leg with it, and looked up. Sonic's body was limp against the metal wall at his back and his head was slightly bent down; his eyes were cast downwards and were almost closed now.

They looked distant, spent and empty…

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Do do do! I think that this is the best cliffhanger I have ever done! Actually I love how I ended the chapter *Evil laughs* I guess that you have to wait for the next chapter *Runs away from an angry mob*

Next chapter:

'Follow Me, I'll Set You Free'

Az