CHAPTER 6

Some time later Helen was awakened by a loud clanging noise.

When her eyes opened she was surprised and relieved that the room's lights had finally come on. Her blue eyes scanned the homely circular room until they came to rest on Shadow.

The poor hedgehog looked horrible. His black quills were all rumpled and his body was twitching as if he was having a nightmare.

Is he okay?

Helen crawled closer. She heard small moaning sounds as if he were in pain.

I hope he's all right, she thought. I hope he isn't sick or something.

She finally reached him. She put out her hand and shook him gently. "Shadow," she whispered. "Shadow, wake up."

He let out a sleepy sound and rolled over on his side. Her hand had rested on his head. For some reason he felt warm. I hope he doesn't have a fever.

She sat up and rested his head on her lap. She started rubbing his wrists, trying to wake him.

The hedgehog didn't stir.

At least he's breathing, she thought. But what could be wrong? Do ultimate life forms get sick? If so how do you make them feel better?

Helen knew you had to cover a feverish person's head with a cold wet cloth, but she didn't see any in their prison.

What else could I do? she thought feeling panicky. What else do you do when someone's sick?

Suddenly she heard a door open.

The girl looked up. The wall on the left side had opened. She saw Eggman standing there grinning.

Without a word he walked over to them.

"Leave us alone!" she shouted, holding Shadow tightly.

Eggman loomed over her. "Now don't get so crabby, my dear," he said.

"I'm not your dear," she growled.

Eggman chuckled. "Are you scared?"

Helen was and she admitted it. "Yes, I am."

"Good."

He glanced at Shadow. "And who do we have here?" he asked leaning over.

Helen held the sleeping hedgehog even tighter. "That's none of your concern," she screeched.

"Helen, could you not talk so loudly?" Shadow mumbled. "And please don't hold me so tight. I can't breathe."

"Sorry," she said loosening her grip slightly.

Eggman began to poke the half asleep hedgehog. "Shadow, wake up," he taunted.

"Leave me alone," Shadow said, sleepily reaching up to swat Eggman's hand away.

Eggman pulled his hand back before Shadow had a chance. "It looks like your friend is sick," he snickered.

"Just leave us alone," she said looking up at the scientist.

Eggman laughed and reached down to pick the two up. Helen swatted at his face. "Get away!"

The scientist ignored her orders and picked them up. The girl was slightly surprised that this fat slob was strong enough to pick her, as well as Shadow, up. She was carried into his hidden base all but kicking and screaming.

The evil genious took them to a place that looked like a prison. He opened one of the cell doors and threw them inside.

Helen let out a yelp as she hit the concrete floor. She wound up on top of Shadow, who still didn't seem aware what was happening. She heard the door clang shut and looked up. Eggman was walking away.

The girl sighed in relief. I hope he doesn't come back.

She sat up and stared down at Shadow who still hadn't moved. I hope he's okay. I hope I didn't hurt him.

The black hedgehog rolled on his side. She heard him talking in his sleep. It was too quiet for her to understand though.

I wish he'd wake up. I feel lonely. I want to talk to someone. But I can't do that. It would be rude to try and wake him. I'll just have to wait.

Helen let Shadow sleep. She looked at the cell door. Her thoughts began to wonder. What is Eggman going to do to us? she thought.

She heard a movement and looked back at the black hedgehog. He seemed to be waking up. "Shadow," she said shaking him gently.

The hedgehog opened his scarlet eyes. They rested on her image. "Helen," he said groggily. "What's wrong?"
"Eggman captured us," she answered. "He took us to his base."

Shadow began more awake at this knews. He sat up and looked around. "Where are we?" he asked.

"Eggman's base."

The answer seemed to cause a dark cloud to pass over the black hedgehog's face. He seemed to wilt and he fell back onto the floor. He closed his eyes and sighed.

"What's wong?" she asked.

Shadow gave no answer. The girl didn't expect one anyway. She didn't ask again.

Eggman seemed to be enjoying himself. He was sitting in his favorite chair and laughing at any amusing thoughts that came to him.

That laugh was getting obnoxious. Decoe and Bocoe were a hair's length from telling their boss to shut up.

Finally he did grow serious. He thought about Helen again. "I wonder how much of my plan that girl heard anyway," he pondered resting his chin on his knuckles.

"You could always ask her," Decoe suggested.

"Good idea," the scientist agreed. "Bring her to me. But before you do don't forget to give that thing back to her."

He gestered at Helen's wheelchair which he'd saved, just in case.

The robots nodded, grabbed the wheelchair, and headed out of the room.

When they were gone Eggman leaned back in his chair, that smile still on his face. "If that girl knows Sonic she could be of some use to me," he told himself as he relaxed in his chair, revaling at the thought. "I could use her for bait. Then I can try the Egg Destruction Switch on somebody." He laughed. "That girl will be my bait and Sonic will be my test dummy!"

"Don't worry, Helen," Shadow said sitting up. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Helen had asked him a question and that was the answer he had given her.

"I don't know," she said looking at him with uncertainty. "I don't want to be any trouble. If it weren't for me you wouldn't be here."

"If it weren't for me you'd still be at the bottom of that canyon," he pointed out.

Helen nodded slowly. She knew he was right. If he hadn't come along when he had she'd still be in that canyon. "I know," she said. "But..."

"Helen stop blaming yourself for everything!" he chided her. "It''s not your fault we were captured!"

Helen looked down at her hands but didn't reply. She felt Shadow was wrong somehow. For some reason she just knew it was her fault and now Shadow was paying for it as well.

Helen heard the door open and looked up.

She saw the two robots from the day before come into the room.

They had her wheelchair.

"Where'd you get that?" she demanded.

"Eggman wants to speak to you," they said ignoring the question. They walked up to her and Shadow.

Shadow blocked their path. "Why does he want to speak to her?" he demanded.

Decoe hit him with something. Shadow groaned and fell over. "Shadow!" Helen exclaimed leaning over him. "Shadow, are you all right?"

Before he could answer the two robots grabbed her arms and tried to put her in the wheelchair. She screamed and fought against their grip but was unable to get away. They shoved her in the chair and began to wheel it out of the prison cell.

Helen glanced over her shoulder and Shadow, who hadn't gotten up. I hope he's all right, she thought. I hope he wasn't hurt too bad.

The robots took her down the hall.

Helen sat back. She was scared. She'd never really had an encounter with Eggman before. She was dreading it.

The robots took her into what looked like a computer room.

"Here she is, doctor," Decoe said.

"Excellent," Eggman said swivleing around in his chair. "leave us alone for a minute."

The robots left.

Helen finally got her first real close look at Dr. Eggman. The fat tub of lard's face held a serious expression. Helen began to dread what might be happening next.

She braced herself.