-Crossfire-

They've stopped. I turn, slowly, surveying the area. I'd know if there were robots coming, now, like my little brother, so like me, so immensely different, but it's a habit, and a good one. We've been here before. To the side, my left since I'm facing backwards, is the corridor Chess died in.

A Chaos Emerald… at last I know what my power is, what my brother's power is, what kept us alive on that day of ruin when the city fell. Robotnik will regret what he has done! I will destroy him, I will have my revenge! There is no reason to hold myself back when he is so near and at last my power can be unleashed!

"Crossfire!"

I would destroy him, too, given just an instant, the only thing stopping me, the only thing holding me back because I know he can bind my fury. But by the time I had reached him, little brother would have me, knowing what he does, being what he is. Since I learned what I truly am, he has not been far from the Guardian's side, or from mine, but I can't hate him. My fury is not for him, my other half, my opposite, my counterpart. It is for them, for these fools who think they can control me, for Robotnik who destroyed my life.

I turn again, see Shadow, standing next to Amy. Didn't he see the power he could have, he does have? The hatred and fury I saw in him before give him a strength he will not use, a power he holds back. He's wrong to fear it, foolish, weak, when simply letting go could destroy all that he hates so much. My strength is his strength, and together we could unleash an unstoppable force.

They've been talking, though I haven't bothered to listen, not needing to hear, their words worthless. Now they're done, and Shadow turns to walk away, off our original path to where Chess fell. If anyone will come with me, it'll be him, and futures flash through my mind in an instant. My eyes narrow, reflecting my thoughts, focused on one thing and one thing only. Why are there no futures where I can use my power the way I should? Why in all the maze of actions and reactions is there no way I can push Shadow into the fury he had before, the fury that brought us here? What coward's bond holds him now that did not then? And why can I nowhere see further than this escape?

The frustration I feel fuels my rage. I spin on one foot and slam my fist into the nearest wall, visibly denting it for all the thick metal of its construction, feel a faint satisfaction as they all jump, except for little brother, watching me with calm blue eyes the mirror image of my own. If none of them dare destroy him, I will go alone! Let them try and stop me if they dare!

I turn and walk away, hear the Guardian begin to speak, feel power rising behind me and spin to cut him off before he can finish, but already it stifles my power, calming me against my will, and I…

…Look around, awake just above the anger. There they are, all but Shadow, Sonic there, Amy there, Knuckles and Rouge there, standing together with his hand on the Master Emerald. Fools, bringing it to this place, almost certainly to their deaths and to its loss! Little brother there watching me with eyes serene as clear sky, and footsteps I turn my head to look at are the sound of Shadow returning, carrying Chess. Dead as that family she dreamed of finding, now, never fooling me with her optimism and her empty hope. Fresh anger sparks pure fury, and I…

…Can't break away from the Guardian, can't reach him in time, can't destroy them because he and little brother would stop me. I settle for glaring at him instead, a poor last choice to what I would do given a fraction of a chance, but our so-called leader tells them to keep going and I have no choice but to follow.

Not long before we reach the way out, following the path we made, few enough robots there to stop us, the few that are falling broken the instant they come within my range. Outside in the ruin of the city, they don't stop, so I don't, the Guardian behind me making sure I can't turn away.

"We need to get someplace high up!" Sonic says, looking around even as he does at the city skyline, plenty of tall buildings around even broken as it is. Little brother nods, scans the area, and points.

"That one."

It's close by, a bit battered but probably in good enough shape, safe enough to go up since little brother suggested it.

"All right, let's get up there before he sends more robots after us," Amy replies, confirming his decision I suppose, as if anyone needed to when they know what he is. She looks over at Sonic. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Of course I do, Amy!"

Hah. Overconfident idiot. Should I tell them that there is no future beyond reaching the top of that building, that everything is clouded? Their grand plans, whatever they are, are doomed to failure! I could tell them, the fools, fighting their hopeless battle, but one thing stops me. Not the Guardian, not little brother, but something I know will come. I smile, dangerous and cold, enough to make Tails look away, anticipating my revenge.

Soon, they will tell me to unleash my power…