-Amy-

I duck back down below the edge of the console as a shot blazes past my head, almost singeing my fur. That was too close! Blaze is shouting orders to Chess, and part of me wonders how in the world he knows what to tell her, but it's lost in the battle. I jump up again, snap off a few more shots, duck out of the way once more as further blasts score marks into the wall behind me. Over half of the robots are down, and I prepare myself to jump back up once more – but then I hear real desperation in Blaze's voice, the first time I think I've ever heard it.

"Jump! Left!" And then, just instants later, "No!"

Chess' voice rings out then, a cry of pain, sounding almost as much surprised as hurt. I snap my head around to look at her... and know straight away that there's nothing I can do, nothing any of us can do. She's lying on the floor, looking at the hole in her chest with an expression of numbed shock in her green-gold eyes. I can't bear to look, but can't look away. From the moment I found her, I looked out for her, and she relied on me more than anyone else except Trick and Gaze. She was just a child when we met, a shell-shocked teenage girl trying to survive in the ruins of the city. She looked up to me, trusted me to make everything all right, forever optimistic and idealistic even after all Robotnik had done. Now... now I've led her to her death. How, how could I have been so stupid? How could I have done this to her? I can't look away... I'm as guilty as if I had pulled that trigger myself...

"Amy!"

It's Shadow. I barely even notice his voice. Something blurs through my field of vision, and I hear a series of crashes and explosions. My eyes are fogged with tears; when I blink and clear them, Tails is in front of me, kneeling by Chess. He looks over at me, sky-blue eyes meeting and matching mine in helplessness and sorrow. She's dead. There's nothing we can do.

I've led us here to die...

I watch dully as Crossfire pushes Tails aside. Shadow comes to stand next to me, but I can't respond to him. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be in this place, Chess wouldn't be-

No. I can't allow myself to do that. I can't let my feelings get in my way any more than they already have. Shadow ran out here, but I didn't have to follow him, and I didn't have to bring her. I can't blame him.

Which means it's my fault...

Crossfire stands again, moving with his usual economical grace. Even though I'm only looking at him from the side, I can see in his every move that someone is going to pay for this, someone is going to die for this. I'm not afraid of much any more, seen too much to be afraid... but as he stands and turns to look at me, I'm afraid of him.

"I should have done this long ago..."

Blaze watches him, inexpressibly sadly, but doesn't try to stop him. Whatever Crossfire intends to do, his brother isn't going to hold him back. Why does that scare me so?

"No."

It's Knuckles, talking as if he knows something I don't, somehow knows what Crossfire intends. The grey squirrel spins around, the full force of that intense blue stare directed at Knuckles. If it were me, I honestly think even I would pull back under that look, but Knuckles holds his ground.

"Not yet. I can stop you, if I have to. We have to find Sonic first, or you'll kill us all."

Crossfire stares at him, but he doesn't back down. In the end, unbelievably, it's Crossfire who looks away.

"Whatever you say, Guardian."

Relief washes through me, and I don't even know why. Our position's no better than it was. Chess is dead, Sonic's still a prisoner, and Shadow...

I can hardly bear to do it, but I turn my head to the left and look up at him. He's looking back, an anguished expression on his face, weight resting on his uninjured leg. He's sane again, whatever demons from his past possessed him fled once more... at least for the moment. I stand up, facing him.

"Shadow..."

I can't say any more. I can't speak. I want to cry, but I can't even do that. Shadow catches me, and all I can do for a moment is stand there, leaning on him, holding onto him as though I'd fall if I let go. Maybe I would. I can feel the warmth of his right arm across my back, the cold, unyielding metal of his left just above it, and for one ridiculous moment I almost feel safe.

But I'm not safe, none of us are safe, and until I get us out of here, I can't afford to relax – even to mourn Chess. Reluctantly, I let go and step away. Shadow lets me. I know he understands.

Don't leave me again, Shadow. I need you here, more than ever. I need you so I can find the strength to get us all out of here. I need you so I can carry on after what I've just done. I care about you too much, and I can't stop myself, so I need you here with me so I can't make the same mistake again...