UlTrRa SiK pRoDuCtIoNs pReSeNtZ:
LoVe'S bUrN
By: UlTrAa ShAdDow
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Sega's characters….but I'd be a very happy guy if I did!
"You can close your eyes to things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to things you don't want to feel."
Third Person POV:
Doctor Eggman's newest base was hidden deep within the Sahara desert. There, Knuckles stood over looking the large desert.
Arms crossed over his chest and eyes locked upon his sights in front of him, Knuckles was poised for battle. With the dark, fierce gleam in his eyes, even Eggman was slow to approach him.
"Hello Knuckles, did we enjoy our first night's stay?" Eggman asked slowly, arriving behind him.
Knuckles responded with a low chuckle, but kept his sights dead ahead of him, "Okay, what do you want now?"
Eggman walked alongside of him and stared out the window as well, gazing at nothing in particular.
"Unfortunately, I have grim news to tell you." Knuckles smiled. "What? Did the nearest McDonalds close down?"
Eggman laughed. "Boy, don't we have a sense of humor today? Well, as happy as you are, I've got some poor news to report to you concerning Rouge."
Knuckles' amethyst eyes tore away from the desert to meet Eggman's, "What? What about her?"
Eggman smiled. He knew he had hit a soft spot, and now the echidna was like putty in his hands.
"You see, I've asked one of my spies to locate her and bring her here, but he claims that in the middle of the night, a male jumped her and she was sent to the hospital in critical condition," Eggman informed.
A look of terror washed over the echidna's face, " Is she okay?"
Eggman turned to look at Knuckles, whose face began to darken. A heavy grimace poured upon Knuckles' face and his blood began to boil. He clenched his fist and his dark eyes met Eggman's.
"Who did this?" he growled.
A small smirk appeared on Eggman's face, "My sources tell me that it was a black hedgehog with red streaks, so I'm guessing that our friend Shadow's responsible…"
"Shadow? But I thought I just saw that guy with her..." Knuckles fell silent thinking, "Why would he turn on her so quickly?" Eggman shrugged, " Perhaps punks don't need a reason to harm others."
Knuckles turned to face the Sahara again, quietly running over his thoughts. "So what are you really trying to get at? Other than pissing me off…"
The echidna kept his face to the dessert, staring at nothing. Eggman took another step towards him.
"Knuckles, I ask a deed of you. If you agree, your mission would be to find Shadow and beat the living hell out of him do it, if not for me, for Rouge," Eggman said.
Knuckles pulled his gloves tight, "Heh, I was going to do it anyways, that guy's been on my bad side for a while now. Oh, if I'm not back before five, that means I'm not through kicking his ass yet…"
The red warrior turned his back to the doctor and headed on his way out. Eggman watched him smiling, until he turned to face the scientist.
"What?"
"...Where am I going?"
Eggman's smile disappeared, " After the first fork take two lefts."
Knuckles smiled bashfully before he turned on his way. As soon as he turned his back to the doctor, all contentment on his face disappeared. The echidna kicked the door down and entered the transporter, destination: Station Square.
Once Knuckles left, Eggman smiled. "He's gone now, you can come out."
A dark hedgehog dropped from the ceiling, landing gracefully, silver eyes glinted from the light's touch, "Did you capture Rouge, Scythe?" Eggman asked.
"Of course, doctor," he replied with an unsettling smile," However, must we trust that echidna? He must be pretty crude if he can't find his way around the establishment."
"Do not concern yourself with such trivial matters," Eggman said, " He is extremely valuable to me now."
In Rouge's apartment…
The sun's strong, lovely rays shown upon Shadow's face. The dark hedgehog couldn't help but frown; damn, it was morning! Before the hedgehog could meditate upon how much he hated mornings, he heard someone knock on the front door.
He slowly rose to his feet and started towards the door with very droopy eyes; at this very moment, the ultimate life form looked like the night of the living dead.
Impatiently, Shadow swung the door open with his customary frown armed and ready and in place to give whoever a good barking at for daring to disturb his slumber.
"Aloha, Shadow! What, are you not gonna let us in?" Amy smiled.
Shadow's face fell, it was only the rose hedgehog; how could he possibly threaten her and tell her to run before he would shove his boot up her rear end? Before Shadow could answer, another face appeared, an unwelcome face that belonged to the azure hero, " Heya Shads! Mornin' faker!"
Shadow narrowed his eyes and prepared to give Sonic the tongue lashing of the century, "...Go away...now!"
It was morning and the ultimate life form never had his best quips at least until noon. Sonic frowned, "Ugh! How rude! Let us in!"
With that, Sonic pushed the door open and sent Shadow flying into one of Rouge's silk couches. Sonic strolled into the apartment being followed by Tails, Amy, and Cream.
"You can't just barge in here!" Shadow cried, half bewildered and half furious.
"…Still living in the past, are we? That was so two seconds ago!" Sonic said with half a smile.
"Hey Shadow! Long time no see!" Tails said, smiling, "So where's Rouge?"
Shadow glared slightly at the young fox; just who does he think he is? First waking up the ultimate life form, barging into his sleeping facilities, and then demanding answers from him?
"Hmm, isn't she in the bedroom? I haven't checked yet…so I'm not sure where she is…" Shadow said rubbing his head.
He definitely needed more sleep, he was actually being nice to people for a change! Shadow frowned at such a terrible thought, 'Damn I'm just not a morning person!'
"I bet I know where she is," Sonic said with a demonic smile, "I bet she's still in the bedroom waiting for her one-minute man!"
Tails, Amy and Cream burst out laughing, while Shadow despite himself, was fighting off a blush. How dare they make the ultimate life form burn red with shame!
"SHUT UP, PATHETIC LIFE FORM!"
"He ain't the cookie monster…'CAUSE HE'S THE NOOKIE MONSTA BABY!" Sonic said thrusting his pelvis.
Everyone fell out laughing…everyone but Shadow, who was trying to keep himself from unleashing his 'ultimate life form powers' upon everyone in the room.
After a while, they all settled down and Sonic was the first to help himself to the television set while Tails and Cream invaded the fridge and Amy found her way into Rouge's closet.
"Nope, Rouge isn't in her room, "Amy called, pulling out a shirt from Rouge's nightstand.
"That's strange, she doesn't just leave without saying anything," Shadow said softly.
"Heh, I bet you would know that, wouldn't you?" Sonic said smiling.
"…Your ass is grass!" Shadow said standing up. While he chased Sonic around Rouge's apartment, an important newsflash appeared on the television.
"We interrupt this program to bring you an important newsflash. Last night at about midnight, shrieks were heard coming from the Bay bridge. And now we head over to Tom Sawyer with the story," the blue vixen said.
"Thank you Skye; and I'm here with the chief of the Station Square police, Officer McCloud. Officer, exactly what took place here last night?" Tom asked moving the microphone to the officer's face.
"Well, looking at the traces of blood on the cement, I'd say there was a brutal beating here."
"So do you know who the victims and the culprits are?" asked Tom.
The officer scratched his head, "Well, witnesses say that they saw a black hedgehog and a white bat here last night. An anonymous caller told us that he had witnessed the whole atrocity and he recognized the people involved. He said the victim, who was the white bat, is a woman named Rouge, and the culprit, the black hedgehog, is identified as Shadow."
"Shadow? The same Shadow who's wanted by the scientists and recognized as one of the most dangerous, wanted criminals?" Tom cried.
"I'm afraid so. We need to catch this psycho before he gets to anyone else. So, if you, Station Square, know his whereabouts, do contact the police station ASAP, that is, and stay safe, Station Square."
The entire Sonic team fell silent. They all stared at Shadow.
"...That's..." Sonic started.
"...Impossible," Tails said to himself.
"Oh Shadow, you really didn't do that did you?" Amy cried.
"No, I would never lay a hand on Rouge," Shadow said softly.
Amy and Cream cowered away from Shadow while Tails only rubbed in chin as if he was deep in thought. Sonic didn't do much either except stare at Shadow wide-eyed.
"Hmm, I'd have to say I believe you," Tails retorted.
"How can you trust him, Tails?" Cream asked quietly, "I mean, there's a lot of evidence against him."
Tails shrugged, "True. Although there is a lot of evidence against you, Shadow, in my book, things just don't add up. I mean, one witness claimed to identify the culprit as you, but how are they sure? I mean, it was dark outside, so they'd have to be at least within ten feet to recognize your features. And no halfwit criminal would allow a witness to come that close."
Sonic smiled and patted Tails' head, "And that's why it's such a good thing you're so damn smart, kid!"
Sonic looked up at Shadow with a smirk. "Hey, don't worry, Shad, we know you didn't do it, but it must suck ass to have the cops all over your back. Trust me, I know."
"Hey! I've got an idea! You can stay at my workshop while we straighten out this mess," Tails said with a smile. "And, here, take this walkie-talkie. If anything happens you can tell us."
"...Thank you," Shadow said softly.
He slowly headed toward the door, staring at the all; perhaps...perhaps he really did have friends after all. He gazed back at them one last time, a semblance of hope dawning on his face.
"Well, take care Shadow," Amy said waving at him.
Sonic frowned, "Well, what are you waiting for? Get your ass moving!"
Rouge woke up to find herself in a cage. Fear flooded her as she instantly grabbed the bars in front of her and tried to pry them loose, no success. This time she took a few steps backwards and lashed out with a couple of kicks, no good again. She was pretty trapped.
'A girl in a cage in some unknown place, I really don't like this...' she thought to herself.
Just as her fear was being to manifest into something uglier, Rouge heard a chuckle and turned to see a black hedgehog watching her from across the room. He was reclined comfortably in a big chair observing her with an amused expression; bastard.
"You…" Rouge hissed.
"So, you've finally awakened I see," Scythe said.
He walked across the room and stood in front of Rouge. He pulled out a needle filled with a bright green substance and reached his arms between the bars to grab Rouge.
But her defensive instincts kicked in and she sank her sharp fangs into his arm. What in the world did he think she was going to do? Let him stick that twelve-inch needle into her delicate arm? Scythe yelled in pain and snarled. "You little bitch!"
He opened the cage, snatched Rouge out by her slender arm and injected her with the green substance. After he was done with her, Scythe threw her back in the cage and locked it shut, holding his bloody arm while cursing. His silver eyes narrowed as he grimaced at her. It all happened so fast that she couldn't even formulate a defense against him.
"Somebody ought to teach a whore like you some manners."
"What the hell did you inject in me, you bastard?" Rouge asked impatiently.
Scythe smiled, " According to the Doctor, that's classified information for you or for him not to know."
"Him who?" Rouge asked curiously.
Scythe walked over to a table and bandaged his bloody arm. Was he hesitant to answer her question? "Shadow."
"Shadow? What? Why do you need Shadow?" Rouge asked.
There was no response from the dark hedgehog who had his back towards her. He was still taking his sweet time nursing his injury. What a hypocrite; here he could inject her with a needle and yet cry over something like a bite wound.
"ANSWER ME !" Rouge shouted. "
"Shut the hell up! Do you really want to know why Eggman wants your little weak-ass boyfriend? " Scythe said, turning his head Rouge's direction.
His voice took on a mocking tone, " Eggman said he needed Shadow in order to fulfill his plans of world domination, but why the hell would he need Shadow, after he created me? I'm twice as strong and twice as fast as he is, or that stupid blue hedgehog as a matter of fact. Chasing after that guy is simply a waste of time."
Rouge smiled. "Do you know what I think Scythe? I think you're jealous of Shadow because Eggman needs him, and not you. That's it, isn't it, Scythe? You're really a jealous bitch who can't stand the fact that you're not the best. And even you know that, deep down inside, Shadow is better than you are."
Scythe snarled and ran to the front of Rouge's cage. He picked her up by the collar of her jacket and yelled in her face, " YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME YOU IGNORANT BITCH! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MY STRUGGLES AND MY PAST! BUT I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I AM THE TRUE ULTIMATE LIFE FORM AND THAT I WILL BE THE ONE TO HELP EGGMAN RULE EARTH! NOT SHADOW! AND AFTER I HAVE SHADOW'S BLOOD SMEARED ON MY HANDS, I'LL DESTROY YOU!"
He threw Rouge into the opposite end of the bars and stormed out of the room. Rouge felt tears run down her cheeks as she felt both scared and angered. "WELL YOU BETTER LEAVE BECAUSE SHADOW'S GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!"
Shadow was skating through a thick shower to reach the Station Square train station. Although he was heading for refuge, his mind kept wondering about Rouge.
The thought of Rouge being harmed by some spineless punk enraged him. But what was even worse in the matter was that he had no clue of Rouge's whereabouts.
Something. Something had to turn up and he would find her. Shadow reached a fork in the road. One way was going to the Station Square train station and the other path lead to the direction of the Bay Bridge.
Shadow clenched his fist and skated off towards the Bay Bridge. Hot on Shadow's heels was a familiar red echidna.
"Shadow," he whispered. He narrowed his eyes and sped off after him.
Shadow reached the Bay Bridge and noticed the traces of blood on the bridge. He grimaced slightly, knowing and yet not wanting to know who the owner of the fluid was. Who in the world had done this to her?
"Rouge," Shadow whispered. He stooped down and bent to his knees. The antihero swept his hands across the cement of the bridge, and the tips of his gloves where stained with blood. He curled a tight fist as his anger manifested dangerously; oh yeah; someone was definitely going to get their ass waxed for this.
"…I promise you, revenge," Shadow hissed.
Shadow heard footsteps approaching and he turned around to see a furious Knuckles approaching him. "Hello, Shadow," Knuckles growled.
To be continued!
Chapter Eight's Theme-'Ooo La La La'-Teena Marie