Chapter 10

What Am I?

Maria chased after the purple hedgehog trying to keep her in view. She was able to for a few minutes but then she peddled into a forest and lost her.

"Great," Maria said out loud. "now I'll never find out what I want to know."

Suddenly her bike ran into a rock and she was flung from it. She landed on her stomach and got the wind knocked out of her. After a few seconds she sat up and found her bike's front tire blown out.

"Perfect!" she exclaimed throwing up her hands, "This is just perfect!"

She gave the bike a frustrated kick then grabbed its handles. The girl began to walk the bike further into the woods.

Within minutes she was lost. Now what? she said to herself. How am I going to get out of here now?

She reached up to push a branch out of her way and found herself staring into two big green eyes. She gasped in surprise and let her hand drop. She took a step back, stumbled over a rock, and fell on her behind.

"Sorry," a voice said, "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Who is it?" she asked.

A gray face appeared. The gray face of a male vampire bat.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"My name's Suicide," the bat answered getting out of the tree and landing right side up on the grass. "Sorry if I scared you."

He offered his hand to her.

Maria took it and he helped her to her feet.

"Thanks," she said softly.

"No problem," he said smiling at her showing his two fangs, "So what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this anyway?"

"I'm lost," she admitted.

"I guess lot's of people are getting lost these days, " the bat muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"The other night this black hedgehog got lost in here and asked me for directions."

"Shadow."

"Eh?"

"Nevermind," she said shaking her head, "Uh...can you do me a favor?"

"I guess."

"Could you tell me which way that purple hedgehog went."

"So you saw her too?"

Maria nodded.

"She went that way," Suicide answered pointing behind himself.

"Thank you."

"You know, you'll never make it there on foot."

She looked at him.

"I'll take you there if you want," he offered.

"Okay..." she said a bit uncertainly.

"All right."

Suicide grabbed her under the arms. "Hold on tight, " he said flapping his wings.

Soon they were in the air heading to the gray building in the distance.

As they flew to the building Maria explained a few things to Suicide. He listened carefully and didn't ask questions.

A few mintes later they were at their destination. Suicide hovered in the air a moment looking the place over. "Impressive," he said whistling in amusement.

"But how are we going to get in?" Maria asked.

Suicide looked up toward the top. "There!" he exclaimed pointing to an open window near the roof.

"Yes!" Maria exclaimed. "Let's go."

He flew up and into it.

When they were inside the bat set Maria down and she looked around taking the room in. "I don't see anyone," she said.

"What's that?" the bat asked pointing to an odd circle on the floor near Gerald's computer.

Maria turned her attention to the circle and the computer. "That's a transeporter," she explained clicking at the keyboard keys. "and it's set for...ARK?"

"Didn't that place shut down over fifty years ago?"

Maria nodded.

"Do you think that hedgehog went there?"

"There's only one way to find out," the girl replied stepping on the pad.

"I'm coming too," he said also stepping on the circle. "who knows what's up there. You might need my protection."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Shadow paced the floor trying to figure out a way to stop what he would be forced to do soon. "There's got to be a way," he said to himself. "There just has to. I can't take revenge on people who I forgave. I just can't."

"Oh, yes, you can," said a voice.

Shadow looked up.

He saw Mystic standing in the door way tossing a yellow Chaos Emerald up and down in her right hand.

"What do you want now?" he growled totally sick of her.

"I know you knew Tails had a fake," she said in anger. "I think you also knew I'd mess up too and look like a complete idiot."

"So?" he asked.

"I don't like being made a fool of, Shadow," she grumbled walking up to him. "If that fake Emerald hadn't been discovered when it had there would have been trouble. Namely a lot of trouble for you."

"I don't care," Shadow said folding his arms and glaring at her. "Say what you will, but it doesn't matter. When Earth is destroyed so are we."

"So?" she asked. "It will be worth it."

"Worth what, Mystic?" he asked.

She fell silent. "I don't like where this is going," she said turning to go. "See you later."

"Do you even know the reason for why you were created?"

She froze.

"Do you?"

The female hedgehog looked back at him with cold eyes. "What are you inquiring?" she asked.

"I'm not inquiring anything," he replied, cocking his head at her. "I just want to know if you know your purpose."

"I-I-" she stammered.

"You see. You don't know," he said. "Gerald never told you the reason he created you did he?"

She looked away.

"You are one pathetic creature."

Mystic glared at him. "Don't ever call me that!" she growled.

Shadow stared at her mockingly. "So what is it worth, Mystic?" he asked. "It's worth nothing if you were created for a worthless reason. Like only to capture me and to get the seven Chaos Emeralds."

"Shut up!" she screamed slapping him across the face. "I am NOT worthless!"

Shadow just stared at her not saying anything.

"You want to know something, pet?" she yelled. "You weren't even completed when GUN attacked ARK. Maria made an incomplete creature make a promise. You weren't finished until after that happened. Did you know that?"

Shadow was speechless.

She grabbed his arms and slammed him against the wall. "You don't know!" she exclaimed her voice cracking.

"Don't know what?" he asked.

She now began to shake him. "You don't know how I feel!" she said her eyes filling with tears. "Whenever I'm around you! I feel a pain in my heart. I know you...I know you!"

Before Shadow could say anything to that Mystic let him go and dashed out of the room blinded by her tears.

Shadow watched her go with more questions unanswered. She knows me? SHE KNOWS ME?!

As Mystic headed to the central control room she thought about what Shadow had said. I have no purpose? she thought, Gerald never did tell me why I was created. Why did he create me anyway? Maybe I'd better ask him.

She entered the control room. "Doctor," she said.

Gerald turned from the controls. "Ah, Mystic," he said smiling, "Did you find the Emerald?"

"Here it is," she said holding it out for him to see.

Gerald took it and added it to the others.

"Uh, Gerald," she began.

"Yes?" he asked looking back at her.

"Uh...well...," she stammered trying to form words.

"Yes?" he asked again.

"Wh-when will the Cannon be ready?" she finally blurted out.

"In about an hour," he answered.

"Do you want me to get Shadow when it's time?"

Gerald shook his head. "No, I think I'd better."

"Okay, what should I do in the mean time?"

"Whatever. Just don't leave the Colony, okay?"

She nodded.

She turned to go but cast one last look back at him.

He was watching her with a strange look on his face. The same look Shadow had given her earlier. What do they know what I don't? she thought leaving the room and walking down the corridor, Who am I anyway?

"Wow, this place sure is big," Maria said looking around.

"A lot bigger then I thought it would be," Suicide agreed. He looked up at Maria. "Are you even sure that winged hedgehog came here?"

The girl nodded. "I'm positive," she said. "Gerald needs the Chaos Emeralds to activate the Cannon and that hedgehog was looking for them. It all fits."

"But how are you so sure?" the bat presisted. "She could have just been a thief after the Emeralds for her own purposes."

"I know she works for him."

"How?"

"For one thing. Real hedgehogs don't have wings which clearly indicates that she is some kind of ultimate lifeform. Second I heard her say Gerald when she stole the yellow Chaos Emerald from Tails."

"Oh," he said nodding, "that explains a lot."

Maria was about to say something else when Suicide suddenly hissed. "Shhhhhhh! Do you hear that?"

The two listened. They both heard the sound. It sounded like someone pounding on a door.

"It sounds like it's coming from over there," Maria said pointing down the left hall.

The two rushed down it until they came to a stop in front of a locked door.

"Someone's in there," Suicide said.

"Don't worry in there!" Maria called, "I'm letting you out!"

She unlocked the door and Sonic the hedgehog fell out and landed on Suicide.

"Hey, watch out!" the bat said catching the blue hedgehog before he fell on the floor.

Sonic looked up a the bat, "YIKES!" he exclaimed jumpng back. "Who and what are you?"

"I'm a bat and my name's Suicide," the bat replied slightly annoyed. "I'm here with this girl to help stop Dr. Robotnik from destroying the world."

"And find Shadow," Maria put in.

Sonic looked up at her. "You look just like the Maria Shadow's always talking about!" he exclaimed.

The girl nodded. "Yes, I know. She was my aunt."

"Then you're related to Gerald and Dr. Eggman."

"Yes, and that's why we have to stop him," Maria explained, "but first we have to find Shadow so we can get him out of here. I heard he's the only one who remembers how to use the Eclypse Cannon so if we can find him we can stop this. Do you know where he might be?"

Sonic shook his head. "No, I don't, but I think I know of someone who does.."

He turned. "Follow me," he said.

Mystic stood in the research faculty staring out the window at the blue planet called Earth. She was thinking about what Shadow had said.

Is my creation really pointless? she thought, Why was I created anyway? What am I? Who am I?

She looked back at the escape capsule controls and suddenly her mind was filled with strange images.

She was running down the hall with Shadow holding her hand. Sirens were blaring and she was panting hard.

She ran into the lab and she and Shadow hugged. She ran to the controls. Shadow opened his eyes and shouted. "MARIA!"

She pressed the button and an escape capsule fell over him. She leaned against the thing and looked at him her eyes pleading.

"Shadow. I beg of you. Please do it for me. For a better future. For all the people who live on that planet. Give them a chance...to be happy. Let them live for their dreams. I know you can do it. That's the reason you were brought into this world. Sayonara, Shadow the hegdehog."

Mystic returned to the present. She stared at the controls her eyes wide in confusion. What was that? Why do I remember Maria's wish? What-Who am I anyway?