Emerald Canyon - The Rebellion Base

Cream the Rabbit kneels down on ground, tending to a patch of earthy soil that extends in a long strip off to her right. Cheese the Chao floats just above her, struggling slightly to hold up a metal watering can. Several more similar strips of soil are patterned out in front of Cream, reaching all the way to a makeshift fence constructed of uneven strips of wood, which wraps all the way around the clearing in the forested area near the end of the canyon. The area appears to be a vegetable garden.

Cream stands back up. "Okay Cheese, time to water this one."

"Chao chao!" Cheese lets the watering can tip over, and starts flying at a steady pace over the strip of soil, letting out the perfect amount of water.

"Hey, Cream?" Tails waves hello from the other side of the fence behind her.

Cream looks back with surprise. "Oh, hi Tails."

"I thought you'd like to know, my new proximity sensors just went off. They're back."

"Really!?" She looks over at Cheese, who has just put down the can. "You hear that, Cheese? Let's go say hello!"

"Chao!"

Cream excitedly runs off, hopping nimbly over the fence, Cheese following close behind. Tails smiles after them as they leave.

Cream sprints past the waterfall that tumbles down from the cliffs above, past the row of tents marking the Rebel camp, until she can finally see a figure off in the distance. She runs even faster at the sight.

Quickly, the figure comes into view. It's Vector the Crocodile. He appears to be alone. When Cream gets close enough to realize this, she skids to a halt.

Vector gives her a wave. "Evening, Cream."

Cream gives a courteous bow, despite her apparent nervousness. "Hello, Mr. Vector. Umm…is Amy here?"

Vector closes his eyes and shakes his head.

Cream gasps in horror.

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Chaos Project

Season 1, Episode 5

Team Chaotix and the Case of the Computer Room Caper

Written by ChaosProjectAuthor

Daily log, April 17th, 0 A.E. Vector the Crocodile reporting.

Since we were both headed to the same place, Sonic sent Espio and me along with Amy's team to destroy one of Eggman's robot facilities. But I had to come back alone. I guess the place was under heavier guard than they were expecting. So once we had the data we needed for our intelligence report, Espio offered to stay behind and help with the job, while I came back with the report. I'm sure they're all fine, but they won't be back until late. I scared poor Cream half to death before I told her that part, she must've thought something terrible happened to them.

Well, I guess I gotta deliver that report now. Vector, out.

—–—

Vector places the papers down on Sonic's desk. Sonic takes up the top one, and quickly scans it over. "Excellent work as always, Vector."

"Well, Espio's the one who's really into all this intelligence gathering, I just write it down."

"And that's the part I need. I'd be lost without all this, you know?" He reaches over to the side of the desk, and picks up a small, familiar computer unit. "Excuse me for a sec." He arrays all of the papers out in a row, and holds the computer out over them. Then he clears his throat. "TAL, scan documents and save in Intelligence Reports." A bright blue light projects from the bottom of the computer, which quickly sweeps across the reports. A soft chime sounds to indicate that the process is complete. Once it does, Sonic continues, "Update existing data, and begin standard analysis." He sets the computer aside and leans back in his seat. "TAL's been a lifesaver. I may need these reports, but I can't be spending all hours of the day reading them."

"Old habit from my days on the force. Reports had to be real thorough."

"You were a police detective?"

"It's a long story."

"Another time, maybe. For now…can I ask you a favor, Vector?"

"Whaddya need?"

"You said the others won't be back tonight?"

"It'll be another few hours, at least."

"Cream's really been missing Amy. It must've hit her pretty hard to hear she wasn't coming back tonight like she was expecting."

"It did."

"Do you think you could…tuck her in?"

"What? Me? Uh, I-I'm…not really good with kids."

"Really? Seems like you're doing fine with Charmy."

"Yeah, if you call yelling at him five times a day 'fine'. Besides, isn't she getting a little old for that kind of thing?"

"Hey, we're all dealing with this war in our own way. Amy tells me that Cream sometimes gets scared at night. I wish there was more I could do to help her, but we should at least do what we can."

"Then why don't you do it?"

At that moment, TAL produces another chime. "Because I have an analyzed report to look over. Look, I won't tell you to do anything you aren't comfortable with, but I'd appreciate it."

"Ugh, fine. I'll do it."

Sonic gives him a wink. "It's getting late. Better get to it."

—–—

Cream, dressed in floral print pajamas, sits at the foot of a thin mattress placed in the corner of the relatively large tent, Cheese starting to doze off sitting by her side. But she remains transfixed on the empty bedspread on the other side of the room, apparently belonging to Amy. A knock comes at the center post holding up the tent entrance. Cream and Cheese both look up. "Come in."

Vector has to crouch especially low to make his way in. "It's just me."

"Oh, hi Mr. Vector. Do you need something?"

"Actually, since Amy isn't back yet, I thought I'd make sure you got to bed alright."

"Thank you Mr. Vector, but that's okay. I thought I would just stay up until Amy got back."

"Well then you'd be up all night. Think how mad Amy would be."

"Oh, I guess you're right."

"Just lay down and go to sleep. She'll be back before you're up in the morning."

"Okay." Cream moves the tired Cheese over to a pillow by the side of the bed, and then lays back in her own.

Vector pulls the covers up over her. "Everything'll be fine. We'll win, just like we always do. There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Mr. Vector…will you tell me a bedtime story?"

"A bedtime story!? But I–… Aren't you–… I'm…uh…not really much of a storyteller."

"Come on, you're a detective, aren't you? Tell me about your first mystery with the Chaotix."

"Well…that one…might be a bit much for you. But I guess I could tell you about the job that really put the Chaotix on the map."

"Oh, please do."

Even Cheese looks up to say, "Chao chao."

Vector can't help but smile. "…Alright." He pulls out a stool from the back of the room, and sits down by Cream's bed. "So…it began just like any other day at the office…"

—–—

Early Autumn, 3 B.E. – Four years ago

During the events of Shadow the Hedgehog

I, of course, was hard at work, as usual.

Vector reclines back in his swiveling desk chair with his feet crossed up on the table, nodding his head along to the music that blasts at full volume from his headphones. The ceiling fan above the cluttered office spins continuously. Charmy sits on a small chair on the side of the room, pointing a remote control at an old boxy TV hung up in the top corner, flipping through channels constantly.

The wide doors into the waiting room outside open as Espio moves his way inside, carrying a small brown box in one arm. "Vector, we have a package. …Vector?" Vector, eyes still closed, is so engrossed in his music that he doesn't even seem to have noticed Espio's arrival. Espio sighs and shakes his head as he places the package on the table.

"Lemme see, lemme see, I wanna see!" Charmy excitedly flies straight at Espio,trying to get a look at the package.

Espio catches him by the face, and holds him back at arm's length. "Stay back, Charmy. Or did you forget what happened with the last package?"

Charmy pulls himself back, and crosses his arms with a pout. "Humph. Fine." He turns around and flies back to his seat, resuming his channel flipping.

Espio takes out a kunai knife and skillfully swipes it across the tape seal on the box, splitting it open. He pulls out the small red radio device that sits inside. He looks up to Vector, but he's still completely oblivious. He presses a button on the side of the device, and a red light flicks on. "This is Espio of the Chaotix. We've received your package."

After a moment's delay, a distorted voice responds out of the radio's speaker. "This is the Chaotix? Excellent. I've heard good things about you. I require your detective services."

Espio closes his eyes and lets out a sigh as he realizes the familiarity of the situation. "Very good, sir. I'll just need a name and some other identifying information before we get started."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible. My identity must remain anonymous."

"I'm sorry, sir, but after a recent incident, we no longer accept anonymous jobs. Company policy."

Suddenly, Vector's large hand grabs the radio out of Espio's, as he shoves him aside. "Give me that!" He clears his throat. "Terribly sorry for the confusion, sir, but what my partner Espio meant to say is that the inconvenience of an anonymous job requires us to charge a substantial extra fee."

"That will be fine. I'll pay any price. Money is no object."

Espio objects, "What about our policy? We didn't get paid last time we tried this."

Vector sees nothing but dollar signs. "Espio, don't be silly. He said he'd pay any price. This guy's desperate! Besides, that's our number two policy. And you know our number one, don't you?"

Espio sighs. "Never turn down work that pays. But why even have–"

Vector cuts him off by resuming his conversation with the client. "You have yourself a deal, sir."

"Excellent. This job may be an unusual one for you, but I have faith in your abilities."

"Unusual is our forté. Just tell us what you need us to do."

"The man you will be investigating is Professor Gerald Robotnik. How much do you know about the case?"

"Uhh…let me think…" Vector scratches at his head for a moment. "From that one space station, yeah? Went crazy, tried to blow up the planet, almost succeeded a few months back?"

"That is what the world believes. But Professor Gerald is an innocent man. And your job is to prove it."

"As detectives, we'll have to determine that for ourselves."

"All of the evidence you'll need is contained within the database of the Space Colony ARK. But this mission is extremely time-sensitive. In a few days' time, none of this will matter."

"Sounds like an interesting challenge."

"There's more. The ARK's computers are encrypted, and you won't be able to access the data without the encryption codes. These codes were confiscated by the military, and stored on six top secret disks. These disks were housed in the Security Hall facility on Prison Island. As I'm sure you're aware, the island was destroyed a short time before the ARK incident."

"Are you saying the data's irretrievable?"

"Not necessarily. Five of the disks were most likely scattered over the remains of the island."

"Didn't you say there were six?"

"The sixth disk was stolen by Dr. Eggman soon before the island's destruction. The data on the disk has most likely been uploaded into his personal computer system. You'll have to hack in to retrieve it."

"Hacking a computer to get the data we need to hack a bigger computer? You should be warned, we're not exactly computer experts."

"I'm certain you'll find a way. Now get to work! You're already wasting time!"

Vector finally puts the radio down. "Alright boys, you heard the man! It's time to get cracking! We'll have to split up if want to save time, so Charmy, I'm putting your tracking skills to work on disk duty. Get to Prison Island, and find those disks! …Uhh…Charmy? You've sure been awful quiet the last few minutes."

Finally paying attention to Charmy, they both realize that he stares with mouth agape at the television screen. Somehow, the babbling bee is completely without words. They follow his gaze up to the screen to see what it is that has him so shocked. On the live news report, hundreds of red and black creatures rain down from a massive vortex in the sky above a familiar dim city. They crash down into the streets, crushing cars and attacking everything in their paths. GUN soldiers try to gun them down, but they seem to have little effect. Vector and Espio are just as stunned as Charmy.

Unprompted, the voice in the radio calls out, "By now, you've likely seen the news that our planet is being invaded. This changes nothing. You must complete the mission before it's too late."

Vector finally shakes it off. "When has a little action ever gotten in our way, eh boys? We're going to get those codes, retrieve that data, and solve the case of Professor Gerald! The game is on! Now Charmy, remember, you're going to Prison Island to find the five top secret disks. Got it?"

"Uhh…yes sir!"

"And Espio, we're going to break into Eggman's base to access his computers. Charmy, you can meet us there when you're finished. Everyone ready?"

Espio nods. "Roger."

"Then c'mon, boys! Let's go!"

—–—

Charmy says that Prison Island was crawling with those black aliens, but somehow, he managed to find all five of the disks before we'd even penetrated Eggman's base.

Vector hangs back in the shadows of Eggman's base, arms crossed impatiently. After a moment, Espio's voice seems to emanate from nowhere, "Coast is clear. Let's move forward."

Vector stares down at an area in front of him where some slight distortions can be seen in the air, betraying Espio's camouflage. "What's with all this sneaking around, anyway? We're wasting time! Can't we just smash everything and level the place?"

"We'll never get to Eggman's computer that way. We must remain completely undetected."

"Yeah, whatever." Vector moves past the invisible Espio, turning the nearest corner and proceeding into a hallway lined with large red conduits, leading up to a tall metal door with a wide circular lock in the center. "How do we get through here? Should I break it down?"

Silently, the now-visible Espio presses a button on a panel on the wall, which causes the door to open. "That won't be necessary." On the other side of the door lies a wide circular room with a transparent ceiling that offers a view of the dusk sky outside. In the center of the room is a strange glowing machine hooked up to a large semicircular computer console, with green lit monitors showing all sorts of unintelligible information. "We should be able to get all the data we need from there."

Suddenly, Charmy flies into view, apparently having been waiting there. "Hey guys." He triumphantly displays a stack of five computer disks. "I thought you said this would be hard."

Vector shouts, "Charmy!? How'd you get in there so fast!? We've been sneaking around this base for hours!"

"Well, I am the world's fastest bug. Also, I came in through the window." He points up to the ceiling, where one window panel hangs open.

Espio has already sat down at the seat in front of the computer console, and begins his work at the keyboard. Vector and Charmy walk up to watch over his shoulder. Vector looks over to one of the side screens, where a small alert has popped up. "Uh oh. Someone's been detected on the base, it looks like we've been caught!"

Charmy gasps, "Oh no! We gotta get out of here! Let's go, let's go!"

Espio keeps his focus on his work at the computer. "It's too late to turn back now. Just watch the door, and take care of any of Eggman's assassins as they come."

With a slight groan, Vector turns around and starts watching the door that has long since closed behind them. He taps his foot impatiently as Espio continues to clack at the computer keys behind them. He loses his patience entirely after a short time, and turns back around to put a hand on the back of Espio's chair. He shouts into his ear, "Aren't you done yet? At this rate, the entire day will be wasted!"

Charmy echoes, "Yeah, whole day wasted!"

Espio glances up with irritation at Vector for just a moment. "Hey, back off! Data retrieval isn't exactly me specialty." He gets back to work.

Charmy grabs Espio's arm, and starts to pull on it, strongly suggesting, "Let me do it, then!"

Vector puts a hand in Charmy's face to push him back. "Stop bugging him, Charmy!"

Charmy flails his arms about, continuing to shout with his voice muffled by Vector's hand, "Lemme try, lemme try, I wanna try!"

Vector glances up with surprise as he hears a mechanical hiss coming from behind them. He and Charmy both turn to look at the door as Espio turns and leaps from his chair, taking a battle-ready stance. "An assassin!?"

As the door continues to open wider, the walking figure of Shadow the Hedgehog is revealed on the other side.

Vector greets loudly, "Well, well. If it isn't Shadow! Your timing is impeccable!" As Shadow continues his silent walk, Vector proceeds, "You know that Eggman fella pretty well, don't ya? Well, we need your help to hack into his computer…and don't ask why! And we don't have any more time to waste!" Espio has relaxed slightly, but still eyes Shadow with suspicion as he walks towards them. Charmy just seems surprised to see him there.

Shadow stops for a moment as he meets Espio directly in the eyes. Finally, he answers, "Hmm…well what a coincidence." He puts his hand on the desk chair, and Espio quickly steps aside. "I'd like to know what the good old Doctor's up to as well." He simply pushes the chair aside as he stands in front of the computer console. He glares down at the keyboard for a moment, and raises his hands as if to start working at it. But then he raises one arm up even higher above his head, and slams it down in a chop onto the console. "Haayaa!" Espio gasps and reaches out, but is much too late to stop him.

A brilliant vortex of orange light is instantly generated in the center of the room above the strange glowing machine, which pulsates as it circles around. Impressed and surprised, Vector mutters, "Whhoa…"

Without any hesitation, Shadow leaps up and disappears into the vortex.

The Chaotix stare at the pulsating light in silence for several moments, before Charmy finally shouts, "Cool!"

Vector agrees, "This may be the big case!" He pats a heavy hand onto Espio's shoulder. "Espio, we're counting on you!"

Espio nods. "Roger that." He takes his own leap, spinning down into the portal.

—–—

Present day

Cream breathes out, "Wow. Where did the portal go, Mr. Vector?"

"You see, that machine was really a gateway into Eggman's computer itself! By going in, Espio was actually able to find the data and grab it with his own hands! But there was a problem. Because the data was fragmented, stored in four different cyberspace terminals. And of course, it wasn't long before Eggman–… Oh, man, I can't believe how late it is! I think we'd better stop for now."

"Oh, no, please don't stop now! I need to know what happens next!"

"Chao chao!"

"Well…I guess I can keep going. But I'll have to skip ahead a bit. So, with Shadow's help, Espio got all the data we needed, and they gave Eggman a whooping on the way out. And with that, we had everything we needed to find that proof on the ARK. Everything, that is, except a way to get there…"

—–—

Four years ago

So if we wanted any chance of getting up there in time, I had to call in a favor from an old colleague of mine.

The Chaotix walk through the metallic halls of a different base, this one plastered with the familiar 'G' emblem of the Guardian Units of Nations. Espio voices quietly, "Are you sure we should be in here, Vector? Isn't this a restricted area?"

"Relax, Espio! Trust me, this guy's an old pal of mine, we worked together on a case way back. I'm sure they have an extra space shuttle or something lying around we can borrow. Besides, look around. Do you see anyone trying to stop us?"

Charmy questions, "Wouldn't they be a little bit busy trying to, you know, fight off the alien invasion and all that? Maybe they don't even know we're here."

They arrive at a metal door plastered in the white, full-decorated version of the GUN insignia. "Don't worry guys, we'll be on our way up to the ARK in no time."

The door automatically rises open in front of them, opening the way to the GUN central command room, filled with lit screens of world maps and red blips, as well as other horrifying images of the war, managed by almost two dozen workers collecting and relaying information from them. On an elevated platform in the center of it all sits a man with silvery white hair in a decorated uniform, his back turned to the door. But at the sound of the door opening, he turns to see. "Now what's going on!?" The man's mismatched pair of red and blue eyes clearly identify him as the High Commander.

Vector greets, "Commander! So good to see you again! Sorry to bother you when I'm sure you're so busy, but I've got a favor to ask, and it's very important."

"What!? Who are you, how did you get in here!?"

Charmy is quick to answer, "That's an easy one! We're the Chaotix, and the door was open!"

Espio questions quietly, "'Old pal', you said?"

"Well…really we were more like associates. He…might've questioned me about a case…once…" Espio groans and shakes his head.

The Commander rises to his feet, appearing furious. But before he can say anything more, the door opens once again, and a soldier steps in, throwing a salute. "Commander…the invaders! They seem to be in retreat!"

"What!?"

"Estimated over 1000 black aliens turned tail left their active battlefields, returning to wherever they came from. Alien ships tracked leaving the surface all seem to be converging at the Space Colony ARK." Vector and Espio glance at each other for a moment.

The Commander pounds his fist onto the side of the chair as he shouts, "The Eclipse Cannon! This isn't a retreat, soldier! It's an attack plan!" He presses down on a button on the chair's arm, channeling his voice through the base's PA system. "Attention all units! Mobilize all mech battle sections! We must stop the aliens from infiltrating the ARK at any cost!" He takes his hand back. "And somebody get these clowns out of my command room!"

The messenger soldier holds up his weapon threateningly at the Chaotix. They all raise their hands at once in surrender. He motions for them to proceed out the door. "You heard the Commander, get moving!" They slowly file out.

That was when I first started getting suspicious. Everything seemed to center around that ARK. There was something that connected the Professor to those aliens, and whatever it was, my client seemed to know about it. I didn't know what the answer was yet. But I knew the only way to figure it out was to get to the ARK and see for myself. And I wasn't going to let such a minor setback keep me from finding the truth.

—–—

The Chaotix hide behind various support pillars in the hallway of the GUN base. Vector holds a finger up to his mouth, indicating for the other two to be silent. Charmy obligingly mimes zipping his mouth shut.

After a few moments, a loud voice can be heard shouting down the hallway, "Let's go, move it, move it!" A squadron of soldiers rounds the corner, jogging in formation on their way towards the Chaotix. The leader of the troop stops at a large door just in front of their hiding spots, and slides a key card down a control panel on the side, causing door to part open with a rumble. "Everyone in position, prepare for launch!" The soldiers all move inside.

As the doors begin to close behind them, the Chaotix spring from their hiding places and run inside after them, making it in just as the door shuts. On the other side is a massive hangar bay. The Chaotix watch in wonder as the metal ceiling above them parts open, flooding every square inch of the massive room in brilliant moonlight. On the ground along both walls, dozens of F6 Big Foot military walker mechs of a familiar design are periodically stationed, each one with a soldier preparing to climb inside.

Vector walks up to the nearest soldier, and taps him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir. The Commander said he needs you to report for a special assignment."

The soldier turns with confusion. "The Commander? What now?"

"Hey, I don't know, but it seems to me like he's in a pretty bad mood today, so if I were you, I wouldn't keep him waiting."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'd better–… Hey, wait a second! You aren't a pilot, how'd you get in here!? Let me see your badge!"

"Uhh… I…"

Before the soldier can say anything else, he suddenly collapses to the floor, unconscious. Espio stands behind him with an upraised hand, apparently having struck him in the back of the neck.

"Espio, what'd you do that for!?" He looks around frantically to make sure no one else saw. But the rest of the soldiers are thoroughly distracted, most of them now closing the cockpits of their mechs.

Espio drags the body into the shadows in the corner of the hangar. "He'll be fine in the morning." He leaps into the air, and lands nimbly in the cockpit of the unconscious soldier's mech. "Let's go."

Vector climbs in with a bit less grace, Charmy flying in behind him. It quickly becomes clear that there isn't nearly enough room for all three of them, as Vector has to shove Espio aside to cram his way into the seat. The cockpit closes over them.

Espio voices, with Vector's hand still pressed over the side of his face, "This isn't going to work."

"Then you'd better get out there and…'borrow' another one for yourself!"

Charmy comments, "Uh, guys, I think it's too late for that." On the far side of the hangar, the first of the mechs are taking off, their large and bulky feet retracting inwards to leave a hovering craft that appears surprisingly maneuverable, followed by the next closest pair of mechs, continuing in formation.

Vector activates the machine and puts his hands around the main controls. "Guess we'll have to make do. This shouldn't be so hard." He presses a button which causes the thrusters to fire much too violently, but he quickly corrects the problem. "See? Easy."

With the stream of mechs rocketing away from the base, the one occupied by the Chaotix follows behind. Espio can be heard questioning, "Is this thing really spaceworthy?"

"Only one way to find out."

Charmy cheers, "Oh boy, we're going to space!" He starts to chant with a musical inflection, "Space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space~"

"SHUT UP, CHARMY!"

—–—

The swarm of military mechs soars as a unit past the edge of the planet's atmosphere, onwards to the looming hemispherical figure of the Space Colony ARK. One mech still stands out from the others, constantly jerking around in an erratic fashion as it flies. Vector can be heard shouting, "Get your elbow out of my ribs, Espio!"

"As soon as you get yours off of my face."

"Yikes! Watch where you point that stinger, Charmy!"

"I'm sorry, I can't help it when you keep moving around like that! Maybe I can just sit over here…"

"No, don't sit on that, you idiot!" The mech's main thrusters fire hard once again, rocketing the machine to the front of the swarm. As if they'd given some sort of silent signal, all of the other mechs begin to follow their lead, firing their thrusters and forming up in a tight formation with the Chaotix at point. And approaching them in a much less organized swarm from the direction of the ARK is a mass of flying red and black creatures.

Espio comments, "Doesn't look like we'll get past without a fight."

"Figure out how to use these missiles, Espio! Charmy, you handle the gun. I'll keep us flying straight."

Charmy cheers, "Yahoo! Alien hunting, alien hunting!"

Directly in front of them, a large Black Hawk fires the first shot in the form of a wave of energy from its tail. Vector is forced to turn the mech into a steep dive to dodge underneath the attack, as all of the mechs behind them break off into battle. The space field erupts into a firefight as attacks are rapidly exchanged from both sides. As the Chaotix mech pulls back up into a climb, the gatling gun on its front begins to fire. A small Black Wing near the line of fire attempts to fly out of the way, but the arc the mech flies in causes the stream of bullets to hit its mark, shredding the creature into splattering green goop.

Charmy cheers, "Yeah, I got one!"

Espio comments, "Nice shot. But don't get cocky." A missile fires out of each of the launchers on the mech's shoulders, each one homing in on a different Black Hawk, blowing them both to bits.

A voice shouts out of the radio, "There's too many of them, we can't break through!" Just as he says, the swarm of aliens seems to far outnumber the flying mechs, and seems to be pushing most of them back.

Vector shouts, "I've got an idea! Charmy, be ready on those guns!" He violently turns the mech on its side, and pulls it into a sweep. The gatling gun fires, spraying bullets in a wide arc that shreds through at least a dozen more of the aliens.

Charmy shouts in a surprisingly deep voice, "Yippee-ki-yay, brain-suckers!"

Espio fires off a whole volley of homing missiles, dealing almost as much damage. "They don't eat brains, Charmy. You watch too much TV." They've made a fair dent in the aliens' numbers, evening out the odds, but there's still a long battle ahead.

"Says you."
Another voice comes in over the radio, this one recognizable as the leader of the squadron. "This is F6-18! They're on my tail, I can't shake 'em!" Another mech zooms past theirs, closely followed by a trio of armored Black Volts.

Vector moves them in to follow behind at top speed. "Let's help him out, Espio!"

Espio fires off three more missiles. Coming in from straight behind, they take quite some time to catch up, but eventually they hit their targets, taking out all three of the pursuing aliens. The Chaotix mech flies out through the explosion, leaving it covered in soot and green alien goop.

The radio sounds off again, "Great shooting out there, F6-02. Thanks to you, we might just turn this around. Remind me to give you a medal when this is all over, Phil."

Charmy questions, "Uh, do you think we should tell him the guy he's talking to is still unconscious in the hangar bay?"

Vector seems to disagree. "Let him give the poor guy a medal, he deserves it."

Espio suddenly shouts, "There's an unidentified craft approaching on radar!"

"Well whose side is it on!?"

"I think it's…" Before he can finish, a flurry of laser fire blasts past them, cutting a hole into the ranks of the remaining aliens. A moment later, a familiar red craft with a two-tailed logo plastered on the side rockets along the same path, continuing past the battlefield on its way to the ARK. "…Sonic!"

"Doesn't matter who it is, they just gave us the opening we needed! Let's find that computer room, boys!" The Chaotix mech flies in behind the trail left by Sonic's craft, and rockets through behind it. One of the Black Volts in the back of the swarm notices them passing through, and fires off one of its organic worm missiles. Arcing through the air, the missile impacts the side of the mech and detonates.

Warning sirens wail as the mech spirals out of control, trailing smoke out of its mostly-destroyed left side. "Brace yourselves, boys! This is gonna be a rough landing!"

Charmy screams, "We're gonna crash! Ahh!"

The mech tumbles towards one of the many metal platforms that hang beneath the Space Colony above. Vector tries to keep the nose pointed forwards with all the control he can manage as they hit the ground hard, skidding across the floor and wreaking further havoc on the already-damaged machine. When it finally comes to a stop, everything goes still.

A hard pound comes from the inside of the cracked cockpit. A second one blows the canopy completely off. Vector is the first to climb out, coughing through the smoke that billows out. Charmy and Espio quickly follow.

Espio looks back at the flaming wreck of the mech. "I don't think we'll be able to return that anymore."

Vector waves it off. "Eh, they won't miss it."

Charmy is busy staring off into space. "Uhh…Vector? Wasn't half the moon blown up a couple of months ago?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"So…why can I see the whole moon, right over there?" Charmy points beyond the brilliant blue horizon of Earth, to the full moon that rises above it.

"Well, that's because…uhh…come to think of it, I have no idea."

Espio suggests, "A mystery for another time, perhaps."

"Espio's right, we need to get moving! We only have a few hours left before our client's deadline!"

That ARK was massive. So to save time, we agreed to split up and search on our own. And luckily, I had another run-in with Shadow, he led me straight to the computer room. And that was when I realized. Professor Gerald was the one who created Shadow. And here Shadow was, somehow deeply involved in this war. To be honest, I wasn't sure if he was with the aliens, or against them. But it was the exact connection I'd been looking for. The answer to the mystery of the Professor's innocence was standing right there in front of me. So you can imagine my surprise…when I learned that he was an alien all along.

—–—

"Black Doom…" Shadow clenches a fist, lit by the blinking green lights of the computer room. "…I need to know the truth." Vector stands beside him, staring with mouth agape at the robed alien overlord. "Am I really as the humans say…an evil creation? Tell me…I need to know!"

Black Doom slowly floats down to ground level. "…It is true. I created you…you are a part of me."

Vector clenches his own fists, resolving to do whatever he can. He leans over Shadow's side. "Hey, Shadow…you okay?"

Shadow slowly looks up from the ground. "If that's true…then I'll have to accept responsibility for my crimes. But first…I will avenge the victims who died aboard the ARK on that tragic day!" Shadow springs at Black Doom, prepared to attack. But as he is about to strike the alien's head, Black Doom seems to partially fade out of existence, and Shadow passes straight through.

Black Doom turns around again to face Shadow with a terrifying laugh. "The humans seem to have convinced you of this absurdity. They have brainwashed you and your feeble mind. If you wish to know the full truth…you will return to the Black Comet." Black Doom waves out an arm, and instantly becomes cloaked in a harsh blue light, forcing Shadow and Vector both to shield their eyes. In another instant, he is gone.

For a few moments, Shadow looks down at his own hands. Then he lets them drop, and merely stares at the floor.

Vector walks up to him with concern. "Shadow…?"

Shadow doesn't look up. "It's all true… I've caused so much destruction…" He shakes his head as his eyes fill with sorrow. "I should never have been created…" He closes his eyes and clenches his fists. "Is this who I am?"

Vector shouts, "Hey, don't go there…yet! Things may not be what they seem!" Shadow turns to walk away silently. "You could be…" Vector seems to cut himself off as he watches Shadow exit in silence.

You could be innocent. That's what I wanted to tell him. You could be the selfless creation of an innocent man. But I didn't know that. Not for certain. Not yet. I wanted to tell him to stay, to tell him that I was about to find all the answers he was looking for. But I knew where he was going. I knew he needed to be on that comet. And we had our own job to do, we were running out of time fast. So I called up the boys, and we got to work.

—–—

We managed to extract the data from the computer room without much trouble, and only then did our employer tell us that we would need to take it to the Research Lab to view it. He also warned us that all the data would delete itself if we weren't finished before the deadline. He generously offered us a bonus for the inconvenience. And before long, we had everything ready to go. Besides a few problems getting the data decrypted.

Espio types away at the main console near the wide windows of the familiar Research Lab.

Charmy quickly starts to tug at his arm. "Espio…are you in yet!?"

Vector puts a hand over his face and pushes him back. "Quiet, Charmy!" While Charmy continues to struggle against his hand, he leans over Espio's shoulder. "Espio, we need you to focus! If we don't hurry, all the data we recovered will be lost!"

Espio shakes his head, clearly under stress. "Easier said than done! Who signed me up for this, anyway?"

Charmy finally escapes from Vector's grasp, taking a deep breath in. "That's it, I'll do it! Get out of the way!" He flies straight at the console.

Vector shouts after him, "Get back here, you idiot!" He's much too late to stop Charmy from making use of what he learned from Shadow, slamming into the computer with the full force of his shoulder, causing a loud crash. Espio steps back just in time.

Suddenly, the diamond-shaped screen above the console lights up with static. All three of them look to each other in surprise, simultaneously echoing, "Hey, it's working!"

They all watch on in interest as the static solidifies into an image of the white-coated Professor Gerald Robotnik. Solemnly, he begins to speak. "Shadow, my son… If you're listening to this, then the worst has happened. You need to know the truth…"

—–—

The Commander stands beside the President in the GUN command room, watching the very same video play out on every screen in the room. "The government plans to shut down this research facility…to cease all of our research…and imprison all who know about you. I made a terrible mistake, Shadow. It's all my fault…making contact with that comet. Now listen very carefully…"

The President watches the screen in confusion. "Professor Gerald…?"

The Commander gives a slow nod in approval. "Vector…"

—–—

In the deepest part of the Black Comet's core, Shadow kneels before the imposing figure of Black Doom, the seven Chaos Emeralds arrayed above them. But all around them, floating screens of unknown origin continue to play the same message. "In 50 years, the Black Comet will return…they plan to harness its powers to destroy this planet. The only way to stop them…was to develop a way to use the very power they intended to use, against them…"

Black Doom looks around in confusion. "What!? What is this!?"

Shadow looks up from the ground with a smirk, and answers with only a single word. "Vector."

—–—

In another part of the comet, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Sonic, Rouge, and even Dr. Eggman all stand perfectly still, some in more awkward positions than others, paralyzed in place by the effects of the alien gas. "Shadow…it's up to you. Only you can stop them. I developed the Eclipse Cannon…it's the only weapon that can destroy the Black Comet."

Eggman declares, "That's it! It's brilliant!"

Tails voices, "I don't understand. Who's sending this message?"

Amy wears a smile. "It has to be Vector…"

—–—

Present Day

Vector clasps his hands beside his face, and continues in his best teenage girl impression, "He's the coolest, handsomest, most brilliant detective there ever was!" Cream can't help but giggle. Cheese has already fallen asleep.

Suddenly, a voice declares from outside, "Oh, I said that, did I?"

Cream shouts excitedly, "Amy!"

Amy pushes aside the entrance flap and ducks into the tent. "Now what exactly is going on here? Why aren't you asleep, Cream? Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"It's okay, Vector was just telling me a bedtime story."

Vector scratches behind his head with an awkward chuckle. "I, uh…guess we both got a little caught up in it."

Amy sighs for a moment. "That's alright. I'm glad Cream had someone to keep her company. But I think you'd better get going. Now."

Cream cries, "Wait! He hasn't finished the story yet!"

Vector thinks for a moment. "Well…there's not really much else to tell." Amy nods for him to go on. "Inspired by the message we sent, Shadow was able to fight off Black Doom's mind control, take back the Chaos Emeralds, and destroy him and the Black Comet he came from. And once the world learned that the Chaotix were responsible for it all, people were beating down our door trying to hire us. We were busy for a long time after that. And that's the story of the job that put the Chaotix on the map."

"But what about the Professor? Was he really innocent? Didn't he still try to crash the ARK into the planet?"

"Hey, you're pretty inquisitive. A good quality for a detective." She smiles at the praise. "All the data we needed to prove the Professor's innocence was in that computer. As he said in his message, his plan was to use the Eclipse Cannon to destroy the Black Comet. But if the Black Aliens learned about that plan, he knew they might try to sabotage the cannon. So he came up with a failsafe. He would sooner destroy the Earth than let Black Doom have it. So he developed a program that would crash the ARK if the aliens took total control. But a few months earlier, when Sonic and his friends used a fake Chaos Emerald to destroy the Eclipse Cannon, it caused a malfunction in the ARK's systems that made the program trigger early."

Before Cream can say anything else, Amy interjects, "Alright, I think that's enough. Time to get some sleep."

Cream lowers her head. "Okay…" Vector gets up to leave. But before he gets very far, Cream questions, "Vector? Will you tell me another story sometime?"

Vector stops to look back at her with a smile. "We'll see." He ducks out through the exit, into the open night.

After walking for a little while, Vector stops to look up at the sky. He takes note of a particularly bright point of light in the sky, which can only be the Space Colony ARK. He puts on a smirk. "Well, I guess there was…one other part to the story."

—–—

Four years ago

A man lays out on what appears to be a hospital bed in an old, stuffy room. It's impossible to get a good look at him. But on the television screen in front of him, Professor Gerald's message plays out. "Shadow…you are the only hope to save mankind as we know it. The future of this planet depends on…you!"

Suddenly, the young Maria Robotnik appears on the screen beside her grandfather. "Don't worry, grandfather. Shadow and I will protect this planet. Right, Shadow?"

As a nurse enters the room, the elderly man raises a haggard arm high enough to point his bony finger excitedly at the screen. "Th…that's Maria… That's my daughter!"

The nurse moves over to the man's bedside. "That's very nice, Alfred." The nurse picks up the remote from his nightstand, and turns off the TV. "But that's enough TV for today. It's time to get some sleep."

The man, Alfred, watches through his thick spectacles as the nurse leaves him alone again. His health seems quite poor, with a gaunt face and wrinkled skin. The hairs on his once-well-trimmed mustache have grown long, wiry and unkempt. He seems to wheeze on every breath.

After a few moments, a small red communicator device buzzes from his nightstand, and Vector's voice comes out. "You were right, sir. All the data is here. Professor Gerald was innocent."

Alfred reaches around to pick up the device, and holds it on his chest. "You've done excellent work today, Detective. You've cleared the name of an innocent man…and likely saved the world as well."

"That honor is yours, sir. No one would've ever known if it weren't for you, Lieutenant Robotnik. It's been an honor working for you."

"So you know…?"

"I'm a detective, sir. It's my job to know." After a moment, he adds, "I didn't tell the others. Your secret is safe with me. But if I might ask…why all the secrecy?"

Alfred takes a long breath. "When Shadow was launched from the ARK 50 years ago, it was I who found him. But eventually, the military found out. And when they did, I was given a choice. Secrecy…or execution. If I ever breathed a word about Project Shadow, or what happened on the ARK, I would be put to death, like my father. So I stayed silent. I held out all this time, knowing the day would come when the fate of the world would depend on the information I wasn't allowed to share. But none of that matters, now." He takes a long pause. "You'll find everything I have deposited in your account shortly. I no longer have any need of it. And good work such as yours deserves reward. For making everything worthwhile…I sincerely thank you. But now…I wish to be left alone."

"I understand. It was a pleasure, sir." The device goes silent, and turns off. Alfred places it aside.

For a long time, he stares at the blank screen still in front of him, as if the image of his long lost family were still there. "Father…I know that your anger with humanity was true. I once felt that same anger. Your last words were so filled with hate… Perhaps you truly did think…to reprogram the ARK…to carry out your revenge. Perhaps you even began the change. But you couldn't go through with it. Because of your dedication to the good of humanity that had lasted so long…and because of Maria's. It was only an accident that the world still saw you at your worst. But now…they've seen you at your best. Now…they see you as the hero you are. I hope I've made you proud…"

He takes another long pause. Then he begins again. "Shadow…there were so many terrible things I thought about you. So many terrible mistakes I've made, that I know you will one day face the consequences of. I know I can never make up for that. But I hope that I've prepared you for when that day comes…"

The next pause is the longest yet, so long that he almost seems finished. But still, he starts again. "Maria…my daughter… There hasn't been a day of these last decades I haven't longed to see your face again. I never thought that I would make it this far. But every day, you gave me the strength to carry on. To wait until the day that I could show the world your grandfather's legacy…that I could light the way for your closest friend…that I could save the world that you loved so much. I did it all for you… Maria…"

He takes one long, deep breath in. Then he finally lets it all out. The curtains in the window flutter gently. Then everything goes completely still.

To be continued…