disclaimer: as usual disclaimer on prolouge, on the exception that the song appering in this chapter. That is "breaking the habit" and belongs to linkin park.

Chapter 18: Death in the Family

I assumed by the silence that Nite wasn't too hopeful about his health as the radio was working, but considering I didn't know where doomsday was I had to go back to the teleporter. And the fake emerald's power had been spent by the battle between myself and Meta Sonic. What's more I had to carry his robotic body back to the tower myself, which slowed me down. All in all though, I made it back in ok time, only like five minutes. That was about 50 minutes since the virus was downloaded I guessed. When I returned I told the others what had happened.

"So we need to fight doomsday then." Said Gerald

"But how Professor?" asked Shadow

"Simple, we need the emeralds, and Nite is bringing them" I replied

"What will that accomplish, he has already charged Doomsday, and chaos attacks are too weak to use on something of that size" said Espio

"Super forms" I stated calmly

Everyone looked at me with a blank stare. Everyone but Gerald that is.

"Super forms? What are you talking about Streak? What you see is what you get, its not like we can suddenly start flying around" Shadow Stated

"If that's what you think then you guys obviously haven't used the full potential of all seven emeralds here" I told him

"What do you mean?"

"Do you really think that my world's Sonic could take on the things he did as he was?"

"No he could not" answered Gerald, "Super Forms do exist, just as Streak says, I built it into your DNA Shadow. When all the emeralds are gathered, you, Nite and Sonic are able to achieve what is known as a super form, which by legend should, not only change your form, but increase your powers, allow you to achieve flight, and make your invulnerable, for as long as the Chaos Energy remains in you."

"Why didn't you tell us about this before Professor?" asked an astonished Shadow

"Because with only one Emerald in my possession, I assumed that we would never have enough to cause such a feet, that was my reasoning"

At that point a very injured Nite finally arrived, holding a white wolf shaped Robot under his arm. I assumed it was Trance, also in an off state, but I was too worried about him, he was bleeding badly.

"I have… the emeralds" he said, then he the robot and the emeralds all collapsed onto the ground. I took a guess at who the robot was as we all ran over to him.

Trance

Though this was certainly not the most important thing on my mind.

"Is he…?" I asked as the professor examined him

"Alive… but badly injured, and in a comatose state. He will need medical attention.

"Robotnik's going to pay for this" I muttered.

"Damn, I lost him!" came another voice behind us, I turned to see Ebon standing in the door way

"Ebon?"

"WHAT!"

Espio Frowned "What are you talking about, we have bigger things to worry about than somebody you supposedly lost" he said "Can't you see Nite's condition"

"I'm not blind Espio, but I think it's important to know where the spy is"

"What?" I almost chuckled, I glared at him "we know where the spy is, he just entered the room"

"What? You can't expect me to be…?"

"You're the most likely to be the spy, after all it was you that disappeared when we took on Meta Shadow!"

"ME? Streak you idiot! I was gone because someone had hit me on the head! I was out cold!"

"Save it for when this is…"

BANG

I was interrupted by the sound of a bullet firing from a gun "UUGH!" Gerald Yelled in pain. I felt a cold feeling wash over me as I turned around. Everything seemed to go in slow motion, the bullet sound echoed through the throne room, as I saw Gerald begin to fall. I rushed over to catch him and placed him carefully on the ground. At the same time, Espio through a shuriken and it hit the shooter, who fell to the ground.

"PROFESSOR!" Shadow, Kyu, Jet, and Ebon Screamed

"GERALD!" came Shade, Bark, Nack, Sela and Sayber's similar yells. All of the others rushed over as I felt a cold new feeling run through me. Sadness.

"M-master…?" I muttered quietly to myself. Looking over to the wound. Right in the lung

"Memories consume… like opening the wound

I'm picking me apart again…

You all assume, I'm safe here in my room

Unless I try to start again!"

"S-sstreak." He said weakly

"I'm here sir"! I was able to say through the tears that where now beginning to role down my face…

He grinned slightly "N-now what h-have I told you about calling me that."

I tried to smile myself, though it wasn't very convincing "R-right… professor…"

"I… I don't think I… have long left…"

"NO! Don't say that!"

"I don't want to be the one,

The battles always choose!

Cause inside, I realize,

That I'm the one confused!

I don't know what what's worth fighting for,

Or why I have to scream!

I don't know why I Instigate,

And say what I don't mean!

I don't know how I got this way,

I know it's not alright!

So I'm breaking the habit…

I'm breaking the habit…

Tonight!"

"Th-theres no point in denying it Streak… I'm… dying. Streak… I- I need you to do so-something for me… defeat my… my grandson… give the people… who still live a chance to… to be happy. Just… like the Maria of both… worlds wanted. I know you… you can do it" he spluttered as he began to cough… all I could do was nod. I saw him smile slightly.

Clutching my cure… I tightly lock the door

I try to catch my breath again…

I hurt much more, than inside before,

I have no options left again!

"Shade… take… take care of Nite… theres still a ch-chance for him."

I didn't see it but I knew she was nodding.

Again he smiled weakly. Before he died his final words where "sayonara… Shade… Shadow… Streak." It was at that point that he fell lifeless in my arms. Shocked, I placed him down. I don't know why but I felt the urge to get up and see his assailant. What lay there, having fallen from the ceiling, was a robotosized Jeremy, a mask of his normal face lying next to him. After all this time, the spy had been him… not Ebon, but my rivalry with the raven blinded me to it. I felt numb all over as tears began to creep down my face…

"I don't want to be the one,

The battles always choose!

Cause inside, I realize,

That I'm the one confused!

I don't know what what's worth fighting for,

Or why I have to scream!

Don't know why I Instigate,

And Say what I don't mean!

I don't know how I got this way,

I'll never be alright!

So I'm breaking the habit…

I'm breaking the habit…

Tonight."

"…Streak?" Shade managed to ask through sobbing.

The feelings inside of me swelled up. Regret, guilt, sadness… those where the feelings that filled my otherwise numb body. And there was only one major thing on my mind now. If this had happened two years ago, it would be revenge, but now… after all I went though… the thought on my mind was to fulfil my master's final wish, and in turn the wish of Maria Robotnik, whos death had caused misery in both worlds.

"I'll paint it on the Walls!

(I'll paint it on the Walls)

Cause I'm the one at fault!

(Cause I'm the one at fault)

I'll never fight again!

(I'll never fight again)

And this is how it eeee-eends!

(And this… is how… it ends)"

As the tears stung my eyes I felt something else. There was a gasp behind me as the familiar presence of the Chaos Emeralds floated closer to me. As began to spin around me, I felt their power begin to surge through me. More gasps where made, I knew what they where seeing, my body beginning to glow with power as the emeralds span around me with increasing speed, my fur beginning to change golden and point upwards and a golden aura surround me… I was Super Streak again.

"I don't know what's worth Fighting for,

Or why I have to scream!

But now I have some clarity,

To show you what I mean!"

"That's… a Super form…?" asked Shadow

In those few seconds, my thoughts went through my most important memories of Professor Gerald. Those dark memories of the Gerald of my world torturing me, trying to teach me and test the limit of my abilities from within that tube so long ago where the first to come to mind, but where quickly over shadowed by the much happier ones, of my first meeting with this world Gerald, how kind he was to me. Even when he found out I wasn't Sonic, that I was a creature once created to destroy the planet, he welcomed me with open arms. Even then he didn't reject me; he cared for me, like a father would his son. In the end I realised, it was this Gerald, the same one who had once lived, and died on ARK in my world, that was my true creator, and that was the same one who had died in my arms a few moments ago. The one who was the closest thing I had to…

"I don't know how I got this way,

I'll never be alright!

So I'm breaking the habit…

I'm breaking the habit…

I'm breaaaaking the habit…

TONIGHT!"

In that instant all the emeralds flew away in different directions across the murky sky, making a large hole in the ceiling behind them. There was a large rumble in the distance. I knew what it would be, Robotnik launching his battleship. I took off, flying through the hole created by the emeralds. This would end now. Justice would be served.

This is for you… father