Chapter 10

The group stood outside of the hidden entrance to the base as Restoration air and land transports finally arrived to take care of the ECS Units. Medics and mechanics alike took note of each one's physical and mental condition before loading them up for proper treatments and rehabilitation. Soon, a transport of Wisp experts arrived to examine and safely relocate the ones Shadow had freed from the pods. Shadow brought forward the laser Wisp, now peacefully snoozing in his arms, to one of the technicians. "This one took a blast from a sonic cannon. Please make sure he isn't permanently injured."

"Right away, sir." Said the technician, carefully grabbing the Wisp from his arms and bringing it over to an examination table. As the technician moved, Shadow could see a familiar blue hedgehog smugly leaning in the back corner of the transport. "Make a new friend, Shadow?" Sonic asked as he walked over. "Maybe a few. As much as I hate to admit it, I couldn't have won today without them." Shadow said, walking with Sonic towards the water's edge. "Yeah, didn't hear many of the details, but it sounded rough." Sonic replied, waving to Cyber, Raccoon, and Rouge as medics finished checking them over. "Eh, I've dealt with worse. Still...I don't like the implications of what I just saw..."

"Yeah, Shadow Androids...Any reason I'm just now learning about them?" Sonic asked, in an oddly blunt tone for him. Shadow just looked down at his reflection in the water, highlighted by the brightness of the moon. "Call it...Personal shame." Sonic just shrugged as he looked over at Jack, stubbornly filling out a report as medics tried examining him. "Yeah, bit of that going around lately, I guess."

Rouge cracked sore joints as she, Cyber, and Raccoon walked over to Omega. "Well, I guess that's mission complete. Lot of boring paperwork to do in the morning." She said with a yawn. "Yes, but I would have words with the both of you before we part ways." Omega said, before pointing at Raccoon. "YOU! A healthy spirit of destruction rests within you. We must unite again in the heat of combat!" Raccoon smiled and nodded as Omega turned to Cyber. "And you! Please devise a translation unit in the future. I detest playing telephone with fleshlings." And with that, Omega turned and started walking away, with Rouge shrugging before following him. "Was that an insult?" Jack asked as he approached, having heard the last of the conversation. Cyber raised her arms into an "I don't know" position. "I guess it wouldn't be THAT bad of an idea." She said, as non-chalantly as her voice could convey. "Especially if these unexpected team-ups are going to keep on happening." Jack just chuckled as he put his arm around Cyber. "Well, I'd say that's more THEIR problem than yours, but we can bring it up to Tails during the next check-up if you want." Cyber nodded as the three of them began walking back to their hotel. It was time for a good night's rest.

Many days later, in a village not too far away from the East River Forest, a young, brown bird with thick glasses walked alone along the riverbank. This was often the place he went to whenever he needed some alone time, especially since the other kids in his village didn't understand his love of technology. What before was just a mild disinterest in technology had grown into a low-tier technophobia after the Metal Virus had torn its way through the humble lumber town.

The bird was nearly completely lost in his thoughts when he noticed some kind of body floating under the water. Worried someone was drowning, the bird quickly dove in, and brought the figure to shore...Before noticing the bright sheen of its liquid metal body. The bird quickly checked his hands for Metal Virus infection, if it was returning...

But no, he was safe. Breathing a quick sigh of relief, he took a closer look at what he had just pulled out of the river. It looked like some type of metal hedgehog, with pink stripes along its body, along with white and pink shoes and gloves. It was undamaged, save for a hole in its head where a part of its CPU seemed to be missing. The bird scratched the bottom of his beak...It seemed like a bad idea, but if he worked some odd jobs around town, saved up enough for the parts...

Checking to make sure no one else was looking, the bird began dragging the android into the woods and towards his home.

To be continued...