((AN: I use Scrivener for writing, and this chapter almost didn't go out because it had a persistent error that was causing it to crash whenever I typed anything. I spent six hours rebooting, uninstalling and reinstalling, sending reports to developers, looking through forums, then looking at error logs myself and parsing through recursive error messages.
All of which is to say, I really hope you guys appreciate the effort.
Content warnings for this chapter: Silver's part has more parasite-body horror shenanigans. Sonic and Shadow's part doesn't have anything this time. I'm keeping this T rated for now, but in the same way that Temple of Doom is PG13 rated; that is to say, it's still going to be uncomfortable, and kind of gross in later chapters. If you disagree with my judgement about this, let me know in comments. Thank you for reading.))
The next few hours were filled with learning.
Silver looked on with a blank expression as the black overtook Amy. He couldn't see the changes, but he knew deep down what they were; it was wiping her old self away, just like his old self had been wiped away. A burst of pleasure spread through him, his eyes become half lidded as he let it overtake him. If only he knew back in the woods how good it felt to let himself go, to give in to something more perfect and strong. Would he have still touched it when it was attempting to stay attached to that worthless metal body? Would he have run, foolishly afraid of what changes it would bring? Or would he have embraced it, letting it come into him like a long lost traveller returning home?
He realized he didn't care. It didn't matter how he would have felt before. It didn't matter how anyone felt before. It was better for it to take them. For it to make them part of it. It was like, he realized, the blending of two colors; though they may start apart for a time and both may influence the final shade, the stronger of the two would be more dominant in their combination, and the weaker barely remaining. A deep black must overcome a wisp of silver, a tinge of pink. It was the way thins were supposed to be.
As it fully entrenched itself in her brain, everything doubled in a flash. Suddenly, he had two sets of eyes, two sets of hands, two stomachs, two chests, two Heads. He felt twice as much, saw twice as much, heard twice as much. Still, he was one unit - there was no real sense of separation between the two bodies, other than where they occupied space. None of this struck him as odd. After all, he wasn't just Silver anymore. Now, he was Silver and Amy both, and he was neither. Or was he even a He anymore? Could he really be a He if He was both He and She, and not either of them? Their bodies were separate, but ultimately they were part of the same whole, the same being, the same consciousness.
Exhilarating.
The second set of eyes opened, and Amy shot up. She instantly knew how to walk, how to breath, how to talk to some extent, but most other things evaded her. It didn't matter, though, at least not right now. She felt no sense of loss for her memory, nor did she feel a pressing need to understand. Instead, she just accepted the fact of it and moved on. Standing up, she looked at Silver as though he were her own hand. It wouldn't do to dwell on anything she had before, she realized. Now, only the Purpose mattered. Everything else must be secondary.
The two bodies sat on the pavement, their two sets of eyes watching as the sun set. The sky shifted in degrees, light reds giving way to purples and blues until, finally, the sky went dark. A light red haze crossed the sky, reflecting the city's artificial light back at them. Bright lights from the passing cars would shine directly in their eyes before passing, but it did not bother them at all. Instead, they kept watching, staying still until they were sure nothing more would change. Their bodies felt slower, they realized…run down. Tired.
"Sleep," they both said as they shook out of their stupor and glanced around. They knew they needed Sleep, but not where to do it, or what it looked like. Was Sleep like when they fell down after the Purpose had taken them? Was it like Charging, where they needed to be plugged into something? Where would they find a place for it? Or was it something else? The knowledge was there, they realized, but unless they saw it, they wouldn't be able to remember. It didn't break through the haze they felt in their minds, try as they might to retrieve it. This wouldn't do. If they didn't Sleep, they couldn't continue. It was essential.
They both stood up, getting a feel for both bodies before they walked aimlessly on the streets. There were less people around then before when they had food at the cafe, but the range of experiences called their attention much more than before. They saw a man talking to what they remembered was called a cell phone, but they couldn't remember what a cell phone did or how to get one. They saw another man and a woman walking down the street holding hands, both smiling. Silver and Amy started doing it themselves for a moment before letting go; it felt weird, and it didn't make sense to them anymore. They saw a mother and a child, and the child cried as the mother tried to comfort it. They remembered how to Nurture, and though they no longer felt it, they remembered the concept of Sadness. The two smiled, walking down the street. How glad they were that they couldn't have Sadness anymore; there was no room for it in a life dedicated to the Purpose. They fulfilled the Purpose, and they felt Pleasure when they did it. Everything else was irrelevant. They continued to move in synchronized steps, wrapped up in their own thoughts, until they stopped simultaneously, to stare at a stranger.
This woman was strewn across a park bench, a folded coat underneath her Head. Her eyes were closed. Her breathing was slow and even. Though she wasn't smiling, she seemed calm. This is what Sleep looked like, they realized, and they were glad. But something wasn't right about it, and this nagged both of them in the back of their minds. Sleep wasn't something normally done outside, they felt from deep down… but they couldn't remember where it was supposed to happen. It bothered them. Maybe, if they waited long enough, the woman could tell them where Sleep normally happened.
A cold wind blew, and the stranger stirred. Her eyelids squeezed together as she sat up, shivering slightly. As she blinked awake, she saw Silver and Amy standing in front of her, unspeaking, staring. She waited a moment or two for one of them to say something, but they didn't talk at all; they only stood and smiled. "What do you want?" she mumbled, unfurling her coat and putting it on.
"Where do we Sleep?" Silver and Amy asked in unison. It unnerved the woman who honestly just wanted some rest, but she brushed it off. It was late. She was tired. These were just some weird kids.
"Not on my bench," she said, starting to lay back down. The two tilted their heads, confused by her words, and she sighed. Of course they wouldn't Sleep on her bench. People didn't Sleep on benches, and besides, she was already there. They made no effort to move, expecting further explanation, until she sighed. Limply, she pointed her arm to the south. "Look, there's a shelter down the road that takes kids like you. It's called The Nest. I doubt there's any beds, but you can ask them for a place to stay. Maybe you'll even be lucky. Now please, just leave me alone."
The two nodded to themselves, then looked at each other. "Beds," Amy said by herself, experimentally. What was a bed, again? Was it like where the woman was Sleeping? No, that couldn't be right.
The woman stared at the two of them for a second. They didn't flinch, twice, or even shift their weight; instead, they were as immovable as statues. She adjusted her scarf, crossing her arms and sitting up straighter. "You're not going to leave until I show you myself, are you?"
"What is a bed?" Silver asked. "Show us."
She groaned and stood up. She adjusted her coat, buttoning it up and rolling her shoulders before moving. Her body creaked and cracked as she walked, and Amy and Silver both followed her. For a moment or two, they copied how she walked - hunched over, dragging one foot on the ground, clinging tightly to her clothes - before realizing that it caused Pain and walking like they had before. It was different, though, than how they knew to walk. Were such differences important? If there were other ways to walk, maybe they weren't doing it the best way. That wouldn't do, but they didn't worry about it too much. They needed to see a bed, first.
After several blocks, the woman stopped. She nudged her head to indicate a building on the side of the road, and both Silver and Amy looked at it. It was worn down, with a fire escape barely attached to the wall and mold on the outside of the bricks. There were lights coming on through the outside, but it still seemed like a cold, uncomfortable place. Over the door was a cheap gray sign, reading The Nest in bold, worn letters. "There you go," the woman said. "You happy? Can I finally get some peace?"
Amy and Silver did not move, instead looking at her and thinking about her question. Could they give her peace? That kind of feeling was a very different kind than the one for food or for sleep. Peace, calm, and bliss were fleeting before, they realized. So much of their lives had been taken by Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Loss, but before now, they had never been fully rid of them. Like weeds, they could never have truly gone before; when they took one away for a time, it would only spring up later. How much of their lives before had they spent chasing the happiness or serenity that they now felt all the time? How much time had been wasted in worry or strain, trying to get rid of the dreaded negative feelings that now seemed as inconsequential as wisps of smoke? Now, they could barely imagine what Sadness felt like; the part of them that could be sad or angry was gone, pulled up by the root, and it felt so much better without it. Their insides stirred, and deep inside them, they felt a strong need. They could Nurture her, they realized. Not only could they give her peace, but they had to; it was the right thing to do. The perfect thing. Their obligation. And they wouldn't stop with her; they could give peace to everyone. What a world it would be, if everyone could feel like they did now!
They both grabbed her arms roughly, throwing her off balance, and started to drag her away from the main road. She kicked and screamed, trying to fight the two of them off, but neither of them paid it any mind. The stirring of the Purpose inside either of them was not as overwhelming as it had been when Silver gave it to Amy, but there would be enough to share with her. Before long, she would have peace she asked for.
Sonic's face burned red.
Oddly enough, the soldiers - all highly professional men and women, trained in combat tactics and warfare that Sonic wouldn't even think about without feeling sick - didn't say a word about Sonic's presence in the GUN base. Instead, they were visibly off balance, looking away quickly and avoiding any semblance of eye contact as he walked alongside Shadow and Rouge in the hallways. He suspected it was due to Shadow's glares at anyone who gave them more than a passing glance. It looked like a dare - his expression seemed to radiate an attitude of importance, challenging any fool to question his choices, to question his judgement. Of course, they didn't, and they could move unimpeded. Sonic himself was one of the strongest fighters there was, and in most respects he considered himself to be Shadow's equal, but even he had to admit that if Shadow looked at him in a certain way, shivers would roll down his spine. Maybe he was just that intimidating.
Once they narrowed down the time period and distance, as well as the roughly triangulated results of the trace on the signal they found the exact coordinates of Eggman's base. Unfortunately, the Tornado wasn't big enough for the three of them, and the only available craft that could hold them all and travel the distance needed was a small helicopter. During the flight, the three of them sat in a space meant for two humans; Rouge piloted while Sonic and Shadow shared the other seat. The two of them had touched before, but only in the context of fighting or sports; never anything lasting, or warm. Sonic couldn't help but brush up against Shadow during the three hours they were in the air, feeling the heat of his skin seep into his own like the warmth of a blanket. When the other spoke, the deep vibrations of his voice went through Sonic like electricity, and Sonic could feel goosebumps trailing up his arms. And when a loud bang outside the plane caught Shadow's attention, he had leaned over Sonic to make sure it was nothing, his hand on his thigh and his scent filling the air. Even after it was over, Sonic couldn't stop thinking about how it felt, and a small part of him wanted to touch him again.…
Hence, the red face. Embarrassment. Yeah, that had to be it.
He didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed when the copter landed. Shadow helped him out of the plane, keeping him upright until his crutches were back under his arms. Once he found that Sonic was stable, he put a fair amount of distance between himself and the other two, muttering something about already wasting so much time. Sonic tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't acknowledge anything, so he turned to Rouge instead. The bat, unlike her partner, stayed behind and walked with Sonic, chatting amicably while Shadow searched the hall in front of them for any remaining traps. To be honest, it felt a little condescending - Sonic could just as easily see as ever, so he knew how to avoid the traps - but he didn't say as much to Shadow. In his own was, he knew Shadow was trying to keep him safe, and he felt glad for it. An odd feeling, but a grateful one, nonetheless.
When they reached the center corridor, Shadow hesitated before opening the main door. "This is strange," he muttered to himself. "There was hardly any resistance coming here...not even a token one..."
"What are you thinking, Shadow?" Rouge asked, cutting herself off mid sentence.
"This feels too easy."
"Like a trap?"
Shadow shook his head. "No, even for a trap. There were robots swarming the base in the transmission earlier, but not a one has fought us so far. Even abandoned bases normally have a few that the Doctor forgot to turn off. Even he wouldn't leave a base completely unarmed, and even his usual traps aren't being triggered."
"So what you're saying is," she said with a bit of a laugh, "is that it's quiet… too quiet?"
Shadow was not amused. He started to charge a Chaos attack, but stopped before he could unleash it. As it fizzled, he turned to the two of them with a concerned look on his face. "Rouge," he said, "you break down the door. I'll stand by Sonic."
The bat raised an eyebrow. "What? Why?" Sonic wanted to know why himself, but said nothing.
"Because if there is an attack, I can carry him out quickly. Or do you think you can fly him out with that cast?" Shadow gestured at the wretched thing, and Sonic winced. Oh yeah. That.
"I guess not." Rouge smiled, waving a finger at the two of them. "You boys will want to take a lot of steps back. You two may use your Chaos attacks, but I'm a fan of a good old fashioned bombs, and they can get pretty messy." She laughed and turned around, and the two hedgehogs scurried back as she worked on the door. Sonic didn't know where she was holding her tools - frankly, he didn't want to know - but sure enough, he heard the whirring and clacking of metal, then the furious beating of wings as she flew away from the ticking door. An explosion shattered the reinforced door and part of the surrounding frame, smoke billowing as the shards of metal flew. Rouge pursed her lips before coughing.
"That's odd. Normally that only makes a small hole. Either this door is weak, or I'm better than I thought." She smiled to herself, then turned to her two companions. "Are you two okay?"
Sonic nodded and threw a thumbs up. "We're all good! Let's go!"
The smoke dissipated, and the three of them entering the inner sanctum. Once they could see the inside, they were puzzled - Rouge even gasped in astonishment. Robot pieces were scattered everywhere. Stray arms and torsos littered the floors, and the floor crunched beneath their feet with metal bits. By itself, that wasn't unheard of - Eggman's robots were incredibly easy to break - but something about it made the group feel uneasy. None of the metal was warped, burned, or rusted like the bots they were used to seeing. They weren't broken from the outside, and they didn't explode, but they were in pieces and nonfunctional all the same. It was puzzling.
At one point, a crutch hit one of the stray pieces of metal and slid out from underneath him. Sonic's stomach dropped as he fell, face first, into the ground. A heavy thud echoed in the room, and both Shadow and Rouge turned to where Sonic laid on the ground. "Sonic!" they both yelled, and Shadow rushed over to him. Rouge was concerned, but more unusual was Shadow's own worried face as he came close. "Are you alright?" he asked, losing a bit of his calm, and Sonic only blinked. Where was this coming from, he wondered. Sonic had gone through a lot worse than a little fall before, sometimes even by Shadow's own hand, but Shadow looked at him now like he was something…fragile. It annoyed him, but not as much as it should have, and he said nothing about it.
For now though, he just rubbed his nose, where he was bleeding slightly. Nothing felt broken except his pride. "I'm fine," he said, brushing himself off. He exhaled through his teeth, trying to ignore the leftover stinging pain. "I'm- wait. What is that?"
His focus shifted to the robot arm now directly in front of him, and he crawled nearer to it to get a closer look. "I've never seen anything like this before," he said, as much to himself as to the others. "Look at the joints, guys. It's like they've…shoot, I forgot the word. Decomposed?"
Shadow moved closer, picking up the arm and holding it closer to both of them. More tiny pieces of metal shook off the end, but he paid them little mind. Instead, he squinted, holding it close to to the both of them. "They can't decompose because they've never been alive. Erosion, maybe…or dissolving. It almost looks like it got eaten by acid, but if it were acid it would be much less targeted…."
Sonic ran his finger over the joint, small pieces of metal sticking to his glove. He looked at the runoff, which tinted the fabric a dusty black. "Weird… could this have anything to do with Eggman's experiments? I thought he was working on something biological"
"That's exactly why this doesn't make sense. What kind of disease also affects robots? This doesn't look intentional… it's too widespread and messy. Maybe there was an accident."
Sonic was about to chime in with his own theory when he heard the buzzing of a computer booting on. Looking up, he saw Rouge's hands at the computer console, a look of pride on her face as the monitor whirred to life. "Or maybe we can just look at the last active security cam video," she said, fingers moving furiously across the keyboard. After a few moments, a near overhead shot flickered on the screen - only instead of the three of them and spread out debris, this was a lab whirring with active robots, surrounding the mad doctor himself. It was the same scene from the transmission sent to them, they realized - only now, it was focusing directly on the Doctor's actions. His eyes glinted mischievously as he lifted up hands covered in solid rubber gloves, revealing the device he was working on. It was only a small drone, with a canister embedded in the middle of it. "Ah, yes, I've done it! Orbot, come over here and take a look at the future, model H.E.L.– wait, no, what are you doing?"
Another bot had picked up what appeared to be a flight controller for the drone. The latter buzzed as it lifted from the ground, then moved jarringly about the air. "You idiot!" the Doctor screamed. "Be careful with that! If the prototype gets loose in here, it'll affect me! I can't afford to lose my genius, even for a moment. You–"
The bot controlling the drone, though, didn't listen. If anything, the drone moved more erratically, scraping against the walls, bumping against the ceiling and the floor. One particular bump made a cracking sound, and the Doctor's eyes went wide with panic. "Orbot! Cubot! Get the Egg Carrier immediately! It's going to blow!"
The last second of the video was the drone flying directly at the camera. As it made impact, the sound of something shattering barely came through before the feed was completely lost.
"Damn!" Shadow yelled loudly. "If he's in the carrier, he could be anywhere by now!"
"Well, not anywhere," Rouge said, putting her hands on her hips. "That thing only moves so fast, and if he left two days ago, stopping for food and rest, he's at most… one thousand and five hundred miles from here."
Shadow glared at her. "Yes, Rouge. That narrows it down significantly to, I don't know, the entire coastline!"
"Maybe, but that's only a starting place. And you forget, we have our resident expert on the Doctor here with us and access to all of the GUN databases. Sonic, got any ideas about where he went before we call it in?"
Sonic paused a second, looking at the two of them, then at the arm. He knew they had their orders, and he didn't want to ask about the consequences of not following them. Still, though, the terrified sound of Eggman's voice when talking about the vial, that sickening crash, the dissolved robots… he had to admit, if he were on his own, his top priority would have been chasing down what this thing was that had Eggman so scared. But even Sonic had to admit that right now, he had to depend on other people to get him close to the action, let alone stop anything; like it or not, they were his ticket to stopping the Doctor this time. Without Rouge and Shadow, he'd still be stuck at home, trying to read an empty book. He closed his eyes. Besides, if they found Eggman, he could tell them more about the vial, and that would kill two birds with one stone. He and Shadow could chase it down, save the day together, celebrate after. Yeah, he thought. That sounded good.
Biting his lip, Sonic tried to think of places along the coast where Eggman would go to lick his wounds after something literally blew up in his face. There were a few bases, but both he and Eggman knew they were under close government watch. He wouldn't have had time to build a new one, even if he did have his bots on hand. Eggman wasn't the type to have nondescript safe houses; they weren't lavish or exciting enough to satisfy his never ending boredom. Maybe he could have gone to one of the black markets, but even those were a long shot if he didn't have anything to trade with. He would have to go to some place where he wouldn't stand out too much, a place where lawlessness was unremarkable, a place where he could get money and resources to rebound after everything crashed down.
In a flash of insight, he found it. "Casinopolis," he said. "He's in Casinopolis." And as fast as he could manage, he propped himself back up and started hobbling back to the helicopter.