(Here we go, Chapter 2 is up. I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega does. I do own the Nega-5 girls, however, and I also own Ambient, and the prism chaos emeralds, but that's about it. Oh well. Enjoy the chapter!)
CHAPTER 2
Shadow the Hedgehog looked down from the cliff he was standing on, as he gazed at the ocean before him. "A sea of endless blue… It's so beautiful. It reminds me of her eyes… Maria… Why can't I get over her death? She wouldn't want me to be sad all the time, but how can I let go? I don't want to forget her memory…" He clutched his head. "Why do I torture myself like this!" He let go, sighing. "I am REALLY screwed up in the head."
"Shadow!" A female voice called. "Lunch is ready!"
"Coming Rouge!" After the last fight with Eggman, and against Metal Sonic, Shadow had currently taken up residence with Rouge. At least now, he had a place to live. He mostly kept to himself with memories concerning his past, because he, in his words, "didn't want to bug Rouge with his problems." Shaking his head, he began to walk back towards Rouge's house.
Unbeknownst to Shadow, above the sky, 5 pairs of eyes were watching him from above, and they sure as hell, weren't guardian angels.
"We've found him at last…" Fury said with glee. "Shadow has no idea GUN still has an interest in him. That gives us the opportunity to strike without warning." She raised a glowing hand. "He'll soon find out that he's no longer the only ultimate life form around here…"
Shadow walked into Rouge's house, smelling the aroma of Clam Chowder in the air. His stomach growled in response to the aroma as he sat down in his chair.
Rouge the Bat came in from the kitchen, carrying two large steaming bowls of clam chowder, which she set down on the table before sitting down herself.
Shadow dug into his clam chowder with enthusiasm. One taste of the Clam Chowder's creamy, flavorful taste and texture, and Shadow began wolfing down the seafood delight. UMF SCARF GLUB "Mm! Rouge, this is delicious!" Shadow had a smile on his face.
Rouge laughed at Shadow's enthusiasm as she ate he own serving. "I'm glad you like it."
As Shadow ate, he realized something about the clam chowder. "This chowder… It's not store bought or comes from a can does it?"
Rouge flushed slightly. "Wh-What are you getting at?"
Shadow smiled. "You made this yourself. You're really a good cook."
"Oh… Well thank you…" Rouge said humbly.
"I wonder what Knuckles would think of it…" He said with a sly tone, smirking at Rouge.
Rouge blushed madly. "H-H-Hey! Why would I care about what that echidna thinks?"
Shadow continued smirking. "That blush says it all. Also, I've seen the way you look at him, and the way he looks at you. I can sense that there's a "love connection" though neither of you'll admit it." He just looked at Rouge, smiling.
Rouge was at a loss for words, as she just sat there blushing.
'I hit the nail right on the head.' Shadow thought. 'All of a sudden, I feel slightly happier.'
Rouge sighed. "You're a sharp one Shadow. Do you really think Knuckles feels the same way?"
"I don't think. I know. If you just talk to him, then you'll see that-"
CRASH! BAM! BOOM! "DANGER! DANGER! THE PREMISE IS IN DANGEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR! SQWARK
Shadow stood up. "What the hell! That sounded like Omega!"
Rouge shot up as well, turning for the doorway. "Yeah. And it sounded like he's being attacked!"
Both hedgehog and bat ran to the front door, throwing it open, and charging into the front yard, where they saw the muscle of Team Dark trying to fight off two assailants, who appeared to be using chaos control attacks, just like Shadow. Both were female, but one was a silver hedgehog, and the other was a blue echidna.
Shadow, needless to say, was at a loss for words. "What's going on here? Those two… They're using Chaos Control! And those uniforms… Those are GUN uniforms!"
"GUN? Here!" Rouge was shocked. "I thought those guys gave up on trying to find you and use you."
"So did I, but apparently they found me, and used some of my DNA to make more Ultimate Life Forms…" Shadow took a stance. "I can't allow copy cats!" He shot forward, and pushed Omega out of the way of an incoming chaos bolt. Standing up he turned to face the attackers. "So GUN's trying to recapture me huh? Don't think I've forgotten what you creeps did to Maria!"
Fury turned to her companion. "Our little scuffle seems to have drawn out our target Fear. It's time to engage." She turned back to Shadow. "So, Shadow… At Last we've found you. Still pining over Maria, huh? Psh… Get over it. That girl and her grandfather deserved what they got for making that space colony."
Shadow's eye narrowed. "You bitch… I know you… You're Fury the Hedgehog! I remember reading those GUN documents on you and your female friends. Your blueprints, they were. But I never thought GUN would actually construct you. Anyway, you have no right to talk about Maria like that! She was one of the sweetest, most gentle, most kind beings ever to live, and you creeps just took her life away due to some stupid suspicion!"
Fury sighed angrily, at Shadow's emotion. "Shadow you're too emotional. But thankfully GUN's sent us to bring you back for a complete personality re-wipe, to get rid of those blasted emotions and guilt."
Shadow shook his head. "I am not going back! I don't want to lose my memories or emotions. You have no idea what love is, so you don't understand how I felt for Maria!"
Fury frowned. "Shadow, you do NOT have a choice. Fine… If you won't come back on your own, then I'll kill you and bring you to headquarters myself. They'll just make another clone of you anyway." She snapped her fingers. Pain, Sorrow, and end joined her and Fear. "The Nega-5 are the judges in this trial, and you, Shadow, are hereby guilty for being a traitor against GUN!"
Shadow meanwhile was charging his energy at this time. "In your dreams! CHAOS CONTROL!" Shadow fired a long wave of chaos energy at the 5 adversaries.
"HALT!" Sorrow the Bat created an energy field using her voice, nullifying Shadow's attack.
'Damn, so they can use chaos control too, huh?' Shadow didn't have much time to think as all 5 females suddenly rushed him.
BLAM! The Nega-5 were sent reeling back, from a sudden explosion.
"The hell was that?" Fear the Echidna growled. She then noticed the remains of a bat shaped device.
"How do you girls like my bat cracker?" Rouge the Bat appeared in the middle of the field, in a confident stance. "Sorry, but I can't let you hurt Shadow. I don't care what your selfish reasons are for capturing him."
Fury glared at Rouge. "Rouge that Bat, government agent and treasure hunter… You, woman, have signed your own death warrant. Anyone who sides with Shadow must be killed!"
Rouge the Bat yawned. "Oooh… I'm so scared…" She said with a sarcastic tone.
"Oooh, you should be!" A voice from behind mocked, as its host grabbed Rouge forcefully from behind. "I'll make you experience the worst pain you've ever faced!" Pain the Fox spat in Rouge's ear. Pain's eyes sparked with energy, before her whole body erupted with chaos energy, consequently shocking Rouge severely.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Rouge screamed, feeling all of her nerve cells going wild and sparking with indescribable pain.
Pain ceased her energy field, letting Rouge go limp, before letting go and axe kicking the bat-girl in the back. Blood splattered right onto the ground, staining the grass, as Rouge flew, right into the path of End the Mongoose who grabbed Rouge by the throat.
Shadow, needless to say, was horrified. "Let her go you monsters!" He charged toward End. But Fury suddenly appeared in his lone of path, and smacked him across the face, so hard, blood flew from his mouth and nose, and he fell on his rear.
"Stay back you worthless piece of filth, and let us kill her."
"Like hell I will!" Shadow said smacking Fury aside, and using a chaos control charged fist at End, sending her flying and releasing Rouge.
Rouge looked worse for wear, with her fur and burnt and singed, her clothing tattered, her neck red, and her back cut open and bleeding profusely from that axe kick.
"Christ…" Shadow cursed. "They could do all this to Rouge in just two attacks?" He noticed his attackers beginning to circle in.
Suddenly a wave of machine gun fire swept over the Nega-5, as Omega charged into the battle with his guns loaded. "SHADOW. NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO RETREAT. PERCENTAGE OF VICTORY IN BATTLE IS VERY LOW."
Shadows sighed. "Normally I'd hate retreating, but if I don't, Rouge dies." He took out a yellow chaos emerald and stood with Rouge and Omega close to hi, while Omega continued to fire at their opponents. "CHAOS CONTROL!" The chaos emerald flashed brilliantly with energy as it engulfed Team Dark and they vanished from the battle field.
"NO!" Fury cursed angrily, stomping the ground. "That prick thinks he can get away from us, he's sorely mistaken!"
Meanwhile, Sonic and Tails were at Tails' workshop, as Tails was busy making some modifications to the Tornado. Sonic yawned and stretched. "Hey Tails? What are you adding onto the Tornado this time?" He asked as he handed Tails the welding torch.
"It's an advanced chaos emerald detector." Tails explained as he took the blow torch. "With it, we can hope to find a chaos emerald from miles away before certain rivals, coughEggmancough know where they can find it. Its energy readers are SUPER sensitive, so they'll detect any energy signature from even 120 feet in the ground."
"Wow, that's some power." Sonic said. "I wonder how many chaos emerald we can find with that…"
"Well, I don't know the exact number, but I can tell you, a LOT."
BOOP! BOOP! The said device started beeping like crazy.
"What in blazes?" Tails inquired.
"Sounds like we have a chaos emerald close by…" Sonic said. "Only, the monitor reads that it's getting stronger and stronger, and that it's right within 1 foot of us?"
Suddenly a chaos energy field opened up right in front of Sonic and Tails, blinding them with light. When the light began to die down, in place stood a familiar rival.
"Shadow!" Sonic exclaimed in surprise, and then noticed Rouge's state. "Oh My God! Rouge!"
"Sonic… Rouge needs to get to a hospital, quickly!" Shadow said. "There's something dangerous lurking about, and I'm afraid it's my fault that it's active."
TO BE CONTINUED
(Well, looks like Shadow has some explaining to do to Sonic and Tails. What dirty tricks and measures will Nega-5 try next?)
