The Tale of Enza the Bullet

"Maria? What's this?"

"That's a computer. Someday, everything will be run by computers."

"Even other computers?"

"Yes, Enza. Even other computers."

Enza the Bullet awoke from his dream. Or was it a memory? No matter. Enza didn't believe in dwelling on dreams. Life was too short to focus on such things. Instead, he promptly forgot everything he could. But he couldn't forget that girl… what was her name? Maria? He felt like he had heard that name before… but where?

"You alright, man?"

"Yeah. Just had a bad dream, that's all." Enza said to the blue hedgehog, Sonic. They had been traveling together ever since Shadow went on his killing spree. The world had become desolate, and many of the people that survived flocked to the Space Colony, ARK. Even at his great speed, Sonic couldn't make it to the last ship, and Tails' workshop had been destroyed in the chaos.

"You sure? I mean, you've had some bad ones in the past. One time, you actually screamed in your sleep. I think you said, 'Please, Mario, don't leave me!' or something. I didn't know you were like that."

"I'm not. If anyone's like that around here, it's you, Blue Boy," Enza snapped. He didn't mean it, of course. Hell, Sonic kept that picture of Amy so close that the bat almost vomited on more than one occasion.

"Ha-ha. Good one, Enza. Hey, what's that over there? It looks like…A HUMAN?"

"What? There haven't been any humans on Earth for…about two years!"

"Tell that to him!" And they rushed over there.

"Shadow, watch over Enza for me."

"But Maria, why do I have to watch the little brat?"

"Now, why do you call him that? You know that I have to help Uncle Gerald with his experiments. Besides, you were just like him at that age. So go."

"Ok, Maria. But only because you want me too."

"What's wrong, bra—I mean Enza?"

"You… You didn't want to play with me! You hate me, don't you, Shadow?"

"Of course I don't hate you, Enza. It's against my purpose to hate, you know that."

"S-sonic…you're Sonic the Hedgehog, aren't you?" The man asked. He was dressed in clothes that could barely be considered rags. He was obviously homeless before Shadow went crazy. And he wasn't doing much better now. However, he DID seem to know who Sonic was, so he wasn't one of those crazy homeless guys. This was good for Enza, because those guys freaked him out.

"Why, yes. Yes I am."

"I never thought our paths would cross again."

"What are you talking about, dude?"

It was then that Sonic took a really good look at the mysterious man, and noticed his enormous moustache. "Eggman?"

"Yes. Unfortunately for me, I missed the last ship to ARK. It looks like you did, too. And who is your friend here? He bears a good resemblance to Rouge."

"I—I'm Enza, and I've never heard of Rouge. Why do people call you 'Eggman'?" Enza responded.

"Isn't it obvious? I mean, come on! I look like a giant, talking egg! Well, that, and my real name is, in fact, Eggman Robotnik." Eggman answered.

"Ro--Robotnik? I-I've heard that name somewhere before…"

"AHA! I see that my reputation precedes me." Eggman boasted proudly.

"No, I've never heard of you before. Have you heard of anyone named 'Maria'?" the bat asked the (apparently) formerly evil man.

"Oh. Maria… I haven't heard that name in ages. Maria is, WAS, my aunt. She died in 1994, when Shadow was created. Where did you hear her name?"

"I think I met her. But I'm not sure about where. Could you tell me where she lived? Before she died?"

"Ah, yes. I believe she lived on the Space Colony, ARK. She helped my Grandfather with the Shadow Project. I do believe that she once said that there was another product of that project. Something called "The Bullet", I believe. Why did you want to know? Enza?"

"ENZAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Maria! Get Enza out of here!"

"Enza! You shouldn't be in here! Get out!"

"What are you doing to Shadow? STOP THAT! GET OFF OF ME! SHADOOOOOWWW!"

"Finally, he's awake."

"Shut up, Eggman. Are you alright, Enza?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. What happened? Where are we?"

"We're in what's left of Eggman's hideout. Turn's out that he's been living here ever since Shadow messed with those alien guys. I don't blame him. Even though it's been mostly destroyed, it's still a pretty strong fortress. It took me a while to get through here, even with Skippy here's help."

"I told you to go right at that crossroads!"

"You said left! LEFT! You understand that? L-E-F-T! As in, the opposite of right!"

"I'm surprised that you even know what the opposite of anything is."

"Look who's talking, Mr. Build-All-of-my-Hideouts-with-a-Clear-Path- Straight-to-me!"

"Why, I ought to…"

"You ought to what? Build a metal version of me in an obviously bad attempt to destroy me? Nice try, but I've beaten that 3 times already. Face it; you're a one trick pony."

"STOP IT! STOP FIGHTING!" And with that, Enza released a large blast of purple energy. In fact, it was very, VERY close to being Shadow's Chaos Blast. Only purple. And only slightly less powerful. The base, or what was left of it, was very nearly wiped out. Sonic and Eggman were both left unconscious from the blast, and Enza ran.

"I'M TIRED OF DOING ALL OF YOUR DIRTY WORK! LEAVE ME ALONE! JUST GET AWAY!"

"Enza…you've never talked to me like that before…" BOOM! "I—I have to go… Shadow is…"

"GET HIM! HOLD THE BAT DOWN!"

"AAAAAUGH! LET GO!"

"JETISON HIM FROM THE COLONY, BEFORE HE DESTROYS US ALL!"

"YESSIR!"

He awoke with a start. After checking to see if Sonic had followed him, it became clear. His purpose was clear. At least, it seemed that way to him. Also, now he had a mission. Find and destroy Shadow the Hedgehog, before he destroyed the world, and ARK, his only connection to his past.