Hey guys, I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Sorry about the wait. I was in a bit of a funk.. Anyway, all feedback is welcome! just no flaming please!


CH 10

Eggman shoved Astrid into large tube that had wires coming out from the top. He smiled evilly as he watched her struggle.

"Face it. You won't be able to escape that tube, your power will be sucked out of you and will be in our dragon friend to help him wreak more havoc." He said as he began to take her into a larger carrying ship.

"NO! I DON'T WANT THIS!" She yelled.

Eggman let out a loud laugh. "You don't have a choice in the matter, your power is exactly what we need and you will be giving it to us now."

As Eggman began to leave, he heard a loud explosion coming from his base. He quickly looked over and wasn't surprised when he saw Shadow. But he was surprised when he saw Shadow filled with a rage he had never seen before.. His blood red eyes had murder written all over them. With quick movements, he began to fly away, but it was no use. Shadow used his jet shoes to make his way to the mad scientist and break into his ship.

"Let. Her. GO!" He growled, practically making Eggman piss himself.

Eggman pressed a button, and a tube was released. Shadow went after it with quick haste. When Shadow was out of ear shot, Eggman cackled. He had sent a decoy, and planned to escape as quickly as possible with Astrid.

XXXXXXX

Astrid was connected to a strange machine from inside the dragon machine. Eggman was cranking some kind of wheel and flipping levers. Astrid grew more and more scared. Was this going to hurt..?

Eggman flipped the last lever and soon, Astrid began to feel excruciating pain all over her body. It felt like she was being electrocuted over, and over again..

She squeezed her eyes tightly and tried to endure, but it wasn't working.. Eggman was cranking up the power. Soon enough, she passed out..

After two hours, she woke up. Her vision was blurry, she didn't recognize the room around her, she looked up as best as she could. All she saw was a fuzzy silhouette. The person seemed older, and it was clear there was distress in his unclear features. He put a hand on the glass and a tear slid down his cheek.

"I'm sorry Astrid.. But this must be done.. You are my only hope.."

Astrid soon passed out again, she woke up again another hour later and she looked around as she felt weak. She was back in the tube Eggman trapped her in.. was what she saw a dream..? A memory..? Her thoughts were interrupted as she suddenly saw someone entering the room. From what she could see, it was a hedgehog.

Soon, they came in the light, and it was revealed to be Sonic. "So this is where you are." He merely said as he looked around.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him.

"Long story, but Shadow actually came to me for help. He told me Eggman was going to use you for his sick plans so I decided to help."

Astrid looked away. "Why help? We're bad people.. I hurt you." She said sadly.

Sonic came to her and put a hand on the tube. "I don't think you're all that bad. I think you're just misguided. I can help you know."

Astrid looked into his emerald green eyes. They held nothing but determination and hope. She put a hand where Sonic's was. "Please.. Help me.." She whispered, nearly breaking down into tears.

Sonic gave her his signature smirk. "Will do." With one swift punch, he broke the tube and let her out. He grabbed her hand and led her out of the giant machine.

The two of them ran out to where Shadow was, his blood red eyes held relief as he saw Astrid with Sonic. "I found her, just like you wanted me to. Now how do we stop this machine?"

Before he spoke, he noticed Sonic and her holding hands. With a glare he took his sister and held her near him. "We have to first find the release hatch for the emeralds inside of it. When we release the emeralds, there should be a self destruct switch hidden somewhere. We just have to be careful, there are lots of hidden traps inside of it." He explained.

Sonic nodded. "I'll take care of that. After all, I am pretty fast." He said with a cocky attitude.

Shadow's brow twitched. He felt like Sonic was challenging him. "We'll just see about that." Soon the two of them ran ahead, leaving Astrid alone. Her eyes were trained on Sonic the whole time. Something was bugging her about him.. He had a familiar air about him for some reason..

XXXXXXX

Sonic and Shadow were back inside of the machine. They both went separate ways, Sonic was going to release the emeralds, and Shadow was going to activate the self destruct mechanism.

Meanwhile, Eggman had no clue on what was happening and was just enjoying the destruction his machine was causing, and the hard effort the rest of Sonic's group was trying to put in to stop the machine.

Rouge was by Astrid's side. Oddly enough she felt a need to protect her after hearing her story about Maria and why they had done this. She put a hand on her shoulder. "You need to relax. I believe Sonic and Shadow are fine there. I doubt they would let this thing kill them." She said.

=With Sonic & Shadow=

Sonic and Shadow were actually having a hard time getting through the machine's traps. They were actually well hidden and activated quickly. It was practically made as if Sonic was going to try to infiltrate here.. But they couldn't give up. Not when they were so close..

Shadow pushed forward. Determined to stop Eggman's terrible machine. He skillfully dodged all of the dangerously sharp traps and finally made it to the self destruct button.

"I made it. Did you release the emeralds?" Shadow asked, channeling in to Sonic on his walkie talkie.

"Already done! Hit that button and let's high tail it outta here!"

Shadow took a deep breath. He'll have to be quick. He won't know how long that count down will be. With a quick, but hard slam. He pressed the button.

**Self destruct activated** **Counting down.. 11..10..**

Shadow quickly ran through all the traps as the countdown was nearing its final numbers. He was nearing the exit until something took hold of his leg. A metal claw.. He pulled as hard as he could, but it wouldn't budge.. Was he going to die here..? And leave Astrid to fend for herself..? No.. He had to get out of this death grip. For him, and his sister..

He got to his feet, and began to run, pulling the metal claw as hard as he could with his leg. He moved his legs faster and faster, but it wasn't budging.. He was going to die here..but at least it won't be in vain..

As he braced himself. Suddenly he felt the pulling claw release from his leg.

"You're really going to accept dying to one of Eggman's machines?"

He looked over and saw Rouge. She smirked at his speechless demeanor. She grabbed his hand and flew them out of the machine just as it exploded. They landed right where Sonic and Astrid were, Astrid ran up to him and hugged him tightly. "I thought you were going to die.." She muttered.

Shadow merely 'hmphed' as he let her hug him.. Sonic smiled at them. They really weren't as bad as Astrid thought they were..