Hey yall! Joe Stalin here with Chapter 5 of 'The Return of Shadow Fox'! Thanks to all those who have reviewed so far, and to all those who have read so far! Anyway, enough talk! Lets get to it!

The Return of Shadow Fox

Chaos Control

The wind blew; a powerful gust that cut through the night. The sparkling wind brushed its icy coldness against the face of its recipient.

He shivered and clutched his coat tighter to his body. He was early tonight; then again he was always the first at the base. He looked back and forth, looking for any signs of life from his vantage point through his binoculars. Finally he lowered his binoculars, and leant back against the metal wall. He stood next to the sign that read the name of the base-

'Station Square Science And Research Facility'

He placed his backpack on the floor next to him, before looking at the digital watch on his wrist.

11:45PM

''Well. Looks like another quiet night'' he whispered as another gust of wind ripped through the night.

At that moment, something in the distance caught his attention. Through the darkness, something was approaching...at speed.

''What the hell?'' he spoke out loud as he reached for his binoculars.

Suddenly, a bright flash of light caught him off guard. Seconds later, a huge explosion ripped through the base, knocking him off guard. The night was lit up by the resulting fire ball.

Whent he smoke had cleared, the full extent of the damage could be seen. A huge hole had been blown through the concrete defense wall, flames licking at the sides. Whatever these things were, they were powerful.

Moments after the explosion, the emergency siren went off, cutting through the night. Inside the main building, technicians scrambled for cover as another explosion ripped through the infrastructure. Moments later, they were greeted with the first sight of their attackers.

''YOU WILL SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY! RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!'' The E-1000 commanded as it landed inside the base, E-950's at its side. The tecnicians looked on terrified, as their attackers marched through the hole blown into the wall. The E-1000 marched upto the terrified personnel.

''YOU WILL ALL STAND DOWN AND MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO RESIST US. ANY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE WILL BE DEALT WITH SEVERELY. UNDERSTOOD?''

The technicians nodded in compliance. As the E-950's marched up to sheperd the prisoners away, the E-1000 pulled out a remote control and flicked a switch. The device crackled to life.

''MASTER, WE HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE BASE. IT WILL BE SAFE FOR YOU TO LAND''

From the other end of the line, a static inpared voice crackled into life.

''Excellent! Make sure that none of the prisoners make any attempt to escape. If they do, kill them!''

''I OBEY, MASTER''

Unbeknowst to the E-1000, the bases security personnel were at that very moment making their way to the main building. All of them were armed, and all had one thing on their mind. The base and its secret cargo in the ower levels had to be protected. At all costs.

As the E-950's made their way deeper into the base, the E-1000 remained on guard of the prisoners.

''I APOLOGISE FOR THIS, BUT AS LONG AS YOU REMAIN CALM NO ONE WILL BE HALMED'' The E-1000 stated to the prisoners. Secretly, it was slightly regretting its actions. But that was absurd. It was an order, and it was to be obeyed without question.

Suddenly, above the base a powerful engine roared through the night. Above the base, the E-Chopper was coming into land, its metallic body lit up by the flaming wreckage of the base. As it began to lower itself into the main compound of the base, the security guards braced themselves to open fire.

The E-Chopper landed and its rotary blades slowed to a stop. After a few seconds, the main door swung open, and someone stepped out onto the tarmac. The figure was small in stature, dressed in a long balck coat and hat. The guards raised their guns.

''Freeze! Do not move!'' One of the guards shouted at the figure. A gust of wind blew through the compound as the figure lifted his head up and faced the security personnel.

''Hello boys! Remember me?'' Shadow Fox laughed. His black coat blew around him as the wind cut through the base. The guards stared dumbfounded, and lowered their guns slightly.

Shadow Fox sniggered and eyed the guards.

''No? Well, never mind! Because soon, you wont remember a thing!''

With a laugh, Shadow Fox grabbed his coat pocket and gave it a squeeze. Suddenly, a powerful electric current ripped through the guards, rendering them unconscious. Shadow Fox smirked, and removed his mind altering device from his pocket.

''What would I do without you?'' Shadow Fox sniggered. Behind him, Eggman emerged from the E-Chopper. Shadow Fox turned to face him.

''Your guys impress me Eggman! I just hope that they're careful with the cargo!'' Eggman walked upto the fox.

''Don't worry! They will be!''

At that moment, the E-950's emerged from the base. In their hands were several metallic crates, each of them with a security key pad attached to them. The E-1000 emerged from the base and approached Shadow Fox.

''ALL HAS GONE ACCORDING TO PLAN MASTER! WE CAN NOW LEAVE'' Shadow Fox smirked.

''Excellent! Now, the real fun can begin!''

Shadow Fox laughed and made his way to the E-Chopper. Behind him, the E-950's were carefully placing the metal crates into the helicopter. Once they had finished, they stood to attention as Shadow Fox approached.

''Perfect! Everythings gone according to plan! Lets go!'' Shadow Fox gestured to Eggman, and jumped into the cockpit. Eggman and the E-1000 walked upto and climbed into the helicopter and started up the rotars.

A few seconds later, the E-Chopper took to the air. Beneath it, the base continued to smoulder.

Inside his watch tower, the guard pulled himself up from underneath the debris just in time to witness the E-Chopper an the E-950's take off into the night.

''Well! That was unexpected!''

''And in Station Square last night, a daring raid on the scientific research compound on the outskirts of the city resulted in several casualties and extensive damage to the building itself. What is so suprising about this raid, is that neither the guards nor the personnel were able to remember anything that had happened. More news as we get it.''

The news report flashed across the screen, and one person was fixated with the screen. Chris's grandad stared fixated as pictures of the damaged base flashed across the screen.

''No! It couldn't be!'' He stammered as something came to mind. Something that he had hoped he would never have to think about again.

No one able to remember a thing? Mind manipulation? Those two things stuck in his head. Only one person he knew was capable of doing such a thing. He just hoped that he was wrong.

''Oh Tails! What have you done?''

''No, no its no use! I cant shift it!''

Shadow grunted as he desperatley tried to ply the manacle off Tails's wrist, to no ovail. Reluctantly, he released his grip and shook his head. Tails sighed.

''It doesn't matter Shadow! Even if you could get me out of these things, we're still stuck in here aren't we?'' Shadow grunted.

Suddenly, the cell door swung open. Shadow tensed himself up, expecting Shadow Fox. Instead, his eyes focussed on the E-1000.

''I AM HERE TO BRING YOU FOOD. I APOLOGISE FOR THE LONG WAIT, BUT I AM DOING THIS AGAINST MY ORDERS''

Shadow looked quizzically as the robot approached them. In its hand was a tray of food, which it layed on the floor.

''What do you mean against your orders?'' Shadow asked. The E-1000 turned to face him.

''I WAS ORDERED BY MY MASTER NOT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY NOURISHMENT, BUT I COULD NOT DO THAT. PLEASE DO NOT TELL MY MASTER'' Shadow frowned.

''Why should you care? Your hardly on the top of my christmas list at the moment!''

''I DO NOT KNOW. MY FUNCTION IS TO SERVE MY MASTER AND OBEY ORDERS WITHOUT QUESTION. AND YET, I COULD NOT STAND BACK AND LET YOU STARVE''

Shadow was dumbfounded. Did this robot actually have emotions? Did it feel sorry for them? Shadow decided to test his suspicions.

''So, you were ordered to let us starve were you? Do you know also how long your 'master' is prepared to keep us locked up in here?'' The E-1000 tensed up.

''I AM NOT AUTHORISED TO TELL YOU THAT. YOU ARE ENEMIES OF MY MASTER. YOU ARE A THREAT AND HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED. I DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHY I BOTHERED TO HELP YOU!'' Shadow jabbed at the robot.

''Hey! You listen here bub! We're not the bad guys here! Whatever that creep in a suit has told you about us isn't true!'' The E-1000 cocked its head to the side.

''I KNOW I SHOULD NOT BELIEVE YOU. AND YET, I FIND THAT YOU SEEM TO BE SPEAKING THE TRUTH'' Shadow walked upto the robot.

''Then will you help us get out of here?'' The E-1000 stepped back.

''NO! I CANNOT! I AM SORRY!''

Shadow snarled in frustration as the E-1000 turned and left the cell.Tails stared back at him.

''What just happened there?'' Shadow looked at the tray of food on the floor.

''I'm not sure. But I think that we've got an ally in here!''

Outside the cell, the E-1000walked down the corridor. Suddenly, he was confronted by a surprised looking Shadow Fox.

''What are you doing here? I gave you no orders to come down here!'' Shadow Fox frowned. The E-1000 stood to attention.

''I APOLOGISE MASTER. I THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD BE PLEASED IF I TAUNTED THE PRISONERS, TO MAKE THEM KNOW THAT THERE IS NO HOPE FOR THEM''

Shadow Fox stared quizzically at the robot.

''Good idea. Take this up to my car!'' Shadow Fox gestured at a suitcase at his side.

''I OBEY MASTER!'' The E-1000 grabbed the suitcase and walked down the corridor. Behind him Shadow Fox stared back, suspicion evident on his face.

Inside his lab, Eggman stared awestruck at the several metallic crates layed out on the work table.

''Shadow Fox! Your an evil son of a bitch!'' He laughed. Behind him, someone walked into the lab.

''Whats that about me Eggman?'' Shadow Fox sniggered as he walked upto the work table.

''I'm just in awe! Never could I have come up with such a plan!'' Eggman laughed and patted the fox's shoulder.

''Oh don't flatter me Eggman! You'll make me blush!'' Shadow Fox laughed and tapped one of the crates.

''Talk about a doomsday weapon! With this, Station Square will fall! You'd better finish packing!''

Eggman smirked. ''I'm almost finished! The cars are standing by outside, and the plane will be ready for us. Are you ready to make the announcement?''

Shadow Fox shook his head.

''Not yet. I think I need a change of outfit. This old thing just doesn't feel right any more! What do you suggest?'' Eggman shrugged.

''Something cream?'' Shadow Fox raised his eyebrows, and then laughed.

''Yeah, that could work! Make sure the camera's ready, I'll be back in a minute!''

As Shadow Fox made his way out of the lab, Eggman grabbed one of the crates and pulled it off the worktop.

''My friend, you are the ultimate genius!''

In downtown Station Square, Sonic ran at high speed with one thing on his mind. Finding Tails.

Shadow hadn't called him back, and against Amy's advice he had been out all day searching desperatley for his little bro. Whatever had happened to Shadow, it was too much of a coincidence. Something was going on, and he intended to find out what.

Above him suddenly, a holographic screen appeared out of thin air, and loud music blasted across the square. Curious onlookers stopped whatever they were doing and looked up at the screen. Suddenly, on the screen Eggmans face leered.

''Greeting inhabitants of fair Station Square! This is your ever loving Doctor Eggman here with fantastic news! An old friend of mine has just dropped by, and what he's got to say may interest you!''

Sonic came to a halt in the middle of the square and stared up at the screen. On the screen was a large swivel chair, facing away from the camera. All Sonic could make out wasthe white gloved hand of whoever was sitting in it.

''What the hell?'' He muttered. Suddenly, an all too familiar laugh perferated through the square.

''Ah Station Square! For a long time now, this city and all its inhabitants has been playing on my mind! And for good reason! Look and behold Station Sqaure...!''

Sonic stared dumbfounded as the chair swiveled round to face the camera. What he saw sent a chill through his entire body.

''No!'' the blue hedgehog stammered.

''I'm baaaaaaaaack!'' Shadow Fox laughed.

Next Chapter: ''Difficult Choices''

Please R&R and tell me what you think! I know I'm a bitch for not giving away Shadow Fox's plan, but its the only way to keep the interest of my readers! All will be revealed in the next chappy!

Joe.