CHAPTER 8

Dr. Eggman was steamed.

"I can't believe that girl!" he roared, slamming his fists on the keyboard. "I can't believe she acted that way toward me! Hos disrespectful!No one gets away with disrespecting me!"

He stood up and looked at an image of the girl on his computor screen. "Hmmm... I must say, she does look kinda familer."

He stared pacing. "Now, where have I seen that face before?"

Then it hit him. He returned to his computor and typed something on it. Another image appeared next to Helen's. This one was an old black and white photo of a girl with blond hair standing behind an old man, who was seated.

Eggman centered on the girl's face. He compared the two images of the girls. His guess proved right.

"Ah hah!" he exclaimed proud of his find. "I knew I saw that face before!"

He grinned. "Maybe this will also convince Shadow to work for me."

He typed something else in. "Now, all I have to do is find out that girl's name. I saw her once at that school I snuck into maybe she has some identafication there."

A minute later Helen's class picture appeared on the screen. "Hmmm... It seemes her name is Helen," he mused, rubbing his forefinger against his chin. "She does go to the same school as that brat Chris Throndike. Sonic lives with Chris..."

Eggman leaned back in his chair again. "This is very interesting, yes."

He looked back up at the pictures of the two girls. "Well, there's no doubt about it. That girl Helen must be the reencarnation of my cousin Maria Robotnick."

He leaned forward . "There's so many advantages of the new age!"

Shadow studied the cell door. The bars were of solid iron. There was no way anyone would be able to break them easily. But there has to. There's a way to get out of everything, even iron bars...

Suddenly he found himself staring into the faces of Decoe and Bocoe. "Ahh!" he exclaimed backing up.

When he realized who they were he demanded. "What do you want?"

"Dr. Eggman wants to see you," Decoe replied.

The door opened.

"Shadow," Helen said.

He loked over his shoulder at her. "Hmm?"

"Where are you going?" She looked worried.

He walked up to her and put her hands in his. "Dr. Eggman wants to speak with me," he told her slowly. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

The worried look didn't leave her face. "Be careful," she said.

"Don't worry, I will," he promised.

The black hedgehog let her hands go and walked back to the door. He exited. Decoe reached over the grab his arm. He wrenched away. "There's no need for that," he said. "I'll go willingly enough."

The robots didn't push it. They knew what would happen if they did. They started walking. Shadow followed them down the hall.

I don't know what he wants but whatever it is I won't let him get to me, no matter what!

When they arrived at the computor/control room the robots let Shadow presense be known then left.

Shadow stood staring at the back of Eggman's swivel chair, his arms folded and an impatient expression on his face. He wanted me to come here so he could ignore me? How rude!

Shadow thought of tapping his foot but that wasn't in his chaarcter so he just stood waiting. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the scientist swivled to face him.

"Shadow," Eggman said standing. "Well well, I am a little surprised to see that you were able to survive that fall."

Shadow was in no mood to start a nice conversation. "What did you want to speak to me about doctor?" he asked, his voice showing the annoyance and impatients he felt. "I doubt it had anything to do with my well being."

"You're right," the scientst agreed. "I couildn't care less how you survived, though, it mystifies me on how you could have."

"Just get to the point!" the black hedgehog ordered impatiently.

Eggman clucked his tongue. "Impatient are we?" he asked. "I'll explain what I want in a minute."

Shadow wasn't in the mood for waiting. He didn't push it, though, he was angry about something else. "I'd like to know something."

"What?" the scientist asked.

"I would like to know why you hit Helen," Shadow said. "I saw the mark you gave her. It still hasn't disappeared yet. You call yourself a gentleman? Striking a lady! Shame on you!"

Eggman felt he had to justify himself. "She wouldn't answer me!" he protested.

"That's no reason to hit her!" the black hedgehog exploded. "You should never hit a girl! What's wrong with you?"
Eggman stared at him as if he were crazy. "Looks like your little fall messed up yoor personality abit," the scientist said.

"Nothing has messed up my personality!" Shadow protested. "I'm the same person. I just can't stand it when someone hits a girl."

Eggman made a weird face. "Oh, so you're a gentleman all of a sudden?"

"It's not that, doctor," Shadow said. "It's just that I let some people hurt a girl I once knew a long time ago..."

"Maria," Eggman said.

Shadow looked at him surprised. "How did you know about her?"

Eggamn grinned. "She is my cousin."

Shadow ground his teeth. "Y- your cousin?"

Eggman nodded. "Yes, my cousin," he said, turning back to his computor. "I also know something about that girl who's with you."

"W-what?" Shadow stammered.

The scientis looked back at him, the grin getting bigger. "Wouldn't you like to know." he taunted.

At that moment Shadow wasn't sure he did. He said nothing for the longest time then asked. "Is that why you wanted to speak with me?"

"Partly," Eggman said shrugging carelessly.

"If that's only partly the reason why don't you just get on with it and tell me already, so we can end this," Shadow said impatiently. "I have someone waiting for me."

"Helen," Eggman said chuckling mockingly. "The Maria look alike."

"What do you know about that?" the hedgehog demanded.

"I'm not blind!" the scientist roared. "Any idiot would be able to notice how much they look alike. That is any idiot who saw both their pictures."

"I am not an idiot!" Shadow objected totally offended.

"I didn't say you were!" Eggman protested.

"Yes you did."

"No, I didn't."

"YES YOU DID!"

"Look, I don't have time for any 'Yes you dids' 'No I did nots'."

"Neither do I!"
"Good," the scientist said sitting down. "So lets drop the subject and move onto something else."

"I don't want to talk to you," the black hedgehog said.

"And why not?"

"Because I have no reason to. You're the one who wanted to talk to me. I've done most of the talking. Why don't you just tell me why you wanted to speak with me already so I can get out of here?"

Eggman frowned. This wasn't going the way he'd planned.

"Forget it," the scienstist said waving his hand. "It's not important anymore."

Then why the heck did you want to speak with me! Shadow didn't say.

"So you want me to leave?" he asked instead.

"You got that right."

Eggman summoned his robots in. They took the ultimate life form back to the cell. When he entered it Helen rolled her chair up to him, a relieved look on her face.

"I'm glad he didn't do anything to you," she said giving him a quick hug.

"Me too," Shadow agreed. "But I have no idea why he wanted to talk to me."

"Didn't he tell you?" the girl asked.

Shadow shook his head. "No, he didn't."

"Then it was kinda pointless wasn't it?"

"I guess so."

Shadow sat on the cell floor and crossed his legs. He folded his arms, closed his eyes, and let his head drop.

"Is something wrong?" Helen asked.

"Nothing important," the hedgehog said. "I'm just trying to figure out something Eggman told me."

"What about?" she wanted to know

Shadow looked up at her. He had to tell her. It involved her too. Maybe she can help me figure it out. "It was about you," he replied. "You and Maria."