A/N: If you haven't noticed yet Chapter titles are song titles. Looking at the notes for this chapter I'm assuming it'll be a long one but IDK? We'll see…
And as always follow me on Insta please @quint_doodles to check the artworks and Snugglesmesilly on Deviantart
*I will be posting artworks there for this fic. There will be cover art uploaded soon as well that I'm working on with somebody else at the moment. (This might become a comic lol)
Chapter 4: Polaris
Heavy footsteps clanked against the metal floors as the mad scientist walked around the room where his latest project stood a couple steps away from him floating in their cells. He walked up to the female looking over her form with interest.
"The females just about ready... But the boy..."
Eggman looked back at the lavender hedgehog in concern. Despite the time they've been in their chambers and the numerous changes he made to the boys nutrients his development wasn't really progressing. Something was wrong and he worried this one wouldn't survive even if he left the boy in the chamber to continue development. With a frown and wiggle of his mustache he walked away from the pathetic creature with disinterest and shrugged.
"No matter… After all there's still one more sample I haven't worked with…"
He looked over at his scanners glancing up at the surveillance of his bases. It didn't seem like there was any movement and he smirked followed by manic laughter.
"Those idiots haven't even caught on yet have they?"
He chuckles waddling away but then suddenly he freezes looking back at the screen in worry.
"What if they do know what I'm planning? Maybe they're just staying low like I did…hmmm… No good, I'll have to see what those pesky rodents are up to."
He turned and left from the room pulling up his wrist controller sending out commands.
"Computer! Send out the Eggdrones!"
The round man cackles evilly in the darkness of his base. The screens of his computers lighting up showing hoards of funny red-orange egg shaped drones moving out in all sort of different directions.
Silver floated some equipment down to the underground lab of Tails workshop. He looked around the place, it was definitely better than the garage back at the old house back in Central City. His ears perked up to the sound of splashing further back in the room and walked over to the noise. Amy was helping Tails fill the chambers with some strange looking fluid, it looked like peach tea Silver thought oddly.
"Whats that stuff for?"
Amy emptied out another plastic bag into the chamber with a smile.
"We have to recreate the amniotic fluid for the babies. Tails thinks though by the time we get to them, they'll only need a few more days in the chamber before they can come out. They are hedgehogs after all."
Silver nodded letting the two continue with the tank liquids. Instead he went out to see what everyone else was doing. Everyone was walking around waiting for Amy and Tails to finish up with tanks. Soon they'd be off. He realized Shadow wasn't there and huffed putting hands on his hips in disapproval.
"Go figure, the nerve of that guy…"
"Who?"
Sonic walked over holding a can of orange crush soda and a pack of MM's in the other. He laughed at his friend, it didn't matter how old Sonic got, he'd always be a kid. The blue hedgehog gave him a curious look but shrugged. Just then Amy and Tails ran out excitedly waving over the group.
"Lets go guys everything's ready!"
It was two in the morning and everyone stood inside the underground lab filled with confusion, weren't they supposed to be taking off?
"Yo Tails, what gives? When are we leaving?"
Sonic asked from his seat on a counter top with a yawn. Tails smirked, walking over to a clear space in the room and a control panel came up from the floor.
"Right now."
The room began to shake and everyone tried to hold onto whatever they were closest to. Suddenly there was a loud noise as if something was being activated and Tails laughed as he sat down and pulled the levers back.
"Guys, welcome to the new and improved Blue Typhoon. I fixed the place up after one of the Eggfleet designs. Of course with some personal modifications and better design, heh!"
Cream ran up to one of the windows glancing down at the scenery below. The landing space of Tails work shop for the Tornado was opened wide and closing over with giant metal doors. She watched as it quickly became the landing platform again and cheered excitedly.
"Wow Miles! Its amazing, you really are an amazing inventor."
The fox chuckled shyly scratching at his ears. He turned back to steering for the time being. They'd be at Eggmans Island shortly, he only hoped they moved fast enough to go unnoticed by Eggmans surveillance.
A large gloved hand holding a coffee mug, lifted towards his mustache and gave a satisfied sniff.
The heavy aroma of coffee filling the room and he sighed relaxing into his chair as he looked over the latest readings of the hedgehogs in the chambers. Suddenly alarms blared loudly causing the man to spew out the coffee in panic. He stood up rushing over to the computers with the large words [Red Alert] in bright red-orange lettering. The man growled slamming a hand on the control panel yelling.
"Computer! Zoom in on surveillance 47!"
Goggled eyes focused on the image becoming clearer, even in the dark he could make out a familiar craft, there was some altercations to it and it was larger, but he knew that design. Eggman growled angered his arch enemies would dare try to recreate his genius inventions, the audacity! He started typing away at the control panel thinking of all the robots he could send out their way for an amazing attack but he suddenly paused sucking in his air in dramatic panic making a screeching sound of sorts.
"I cant start an attack here, we'll destroy the base! My beautiful experiment! Nooo!"
He looked back at the screen quickly in thought as he inspected Tails craft. They were so close already it hardly left room for much options. A fist slammed down on the control panel in irritation and he growl walking out of the room in defeat. There was no time to play, he had to move quickly.
The island was as still and quiet as it had been for months, that was until Tails inspected the island closer and noticed a spot with a bunch of trees rustling viciously.
"Woah guys, this isn't good. I think Eggmans making his move!"
Everyone rushed forward looking out the windows feeling very panicked.
Sonic made a fist and scowled, it was starting to feel like the plan was a fail even before it began. Suddenly his wrist communicator started beeping and he rolled back his glove to see Shadows name blinking on the little screen. Sonic pursed his lips pressing the screen to answer.
"Shads?"
"Get your ass down here faker! If you don't get here now you'll miss your chance!"
Sonic looked away from the wrist band to see everyone's fear stricken faces. Tails was the only one still gripping the handles of the steering.
"Cream can pilot the Tornado… Take the crew and go Sonic…"
Green eyes looked up the fox, his back still turned and he smiled in understanding with a nod. He looked back at the wrist band with a grin as he spoke.
"Get on that ship Shads, we'll meet up with you soon." Sonic pulled the fold of his glove back over the wrist band giving his friends a smirk. "Lets go guys!"
The Tornado was in the lower level of the Blue Typhoon. Amy was seated behind Cream as everyone else got on the wings of the plane. Cream put on her headset and flicked up some switches and Tails voice spoke loudly through the speakers within the room.
"Alright everyone, prepare for take off! I'm opening the gates now!"
Cream readied the plane and pushed the steering forwards as a large metal door hissed open and the plane rolled out and flew into the distance. Tails could see the Tornado from his seat. He stood in the silence for a moment feeling odd, this was nothing new, he'd been alone before. Yet, watching his friends become specks in the distance as they flew further away he suddenly wanted nothing more than to be the one piloting the Tornado instead of Cream.
Tails sat back down and moved his hands around the control panel speeding up the Typhoon.
"I'm coming guys…"
The Egg fleet was just ahead and Cream bit her lips as she maneuvered around Eggmans in coming attacks.
Amy screamed as she held onto the sides of her seat as the Tornado moved left and made a flip, her hair whipped around her face with the harsh winds. Cream steadied the plane again glaring forwards focused on piloting them through the maze of fire and crafts coming towards them. Amy looked at her control panel and pressed a button that brought up two steering handles and the pink hedgehog smirked as she saw two falcon shaped aircrafts coming their way. The bottoms of the Tornado opened up and brought out two weapons that moved and fired at the ships with bright blue beams.
"Yah! I got them!"
Amy yelled out excited and the group covered their faces from the debris as they flew through the explosion. Sonic looked ahead with excitement now that things were getting exploded. They were closer now and green inspected the scatter of different crafts around the area planning his moves. With a grin and a chuckle he kneeled on the wing of the plane holding on to the edge with his left hand. Silver and Knuckles looked up at the blue hedgehog in curiosity but Sonic looked ahead with excitement and determination gleaming in his eyes. They knew where this was going.
"Gotta go fast!"
Sonic leaped off the wing curling into a ball and bashed into flying crafts coming towards him. The group watched excitedly as the blue blur left in a trail of vibrant flashes of blue. He used the mess of crafts to his advantage bouncing and exploding off different parts of machinery as he laughed and yelled, the excitement and adrenaline taking control of his body. This was amazing he realized. The mixture of heat from the flames of the explosions and cold brutal winds slapping against his face and rustled his quills sent him on overdrive in absolute exhilaration.
"Heh! That the best you got Egghead?" Sonic punched his fist through a craft shaped like a hawk and pulled out its wiring making it fall towards a balcony of sorts on the Egg fleet. As it got close enough to jump, the blue hedgehog kicked off the craft and flipped before skidding to a landing in a crouched form watching the explosion with a smirk.
Just then Silver floated down controlling one of the crafts to shoot at others before he jumped off crushing the thing with his powers letting it fall down to the ocean below with a satisfied smile. Sonic smiled too but his expression quickly changed as he saw a craft in flames coming up right behind Silver. On top was Knuckles tearing and punching away at the metal exterior with angered growls.
"Woah Silv, watch out!" Sonic yelled.
The grey hedgehog looked over in confusion then looked back and started screaming as he ran off just as Knuckles crash landed the beat up ship. The red echidna jumped off in anger kicking a piece of metal scrap that fell on the floor.
"Burnt my sweater! Rouge gave me this, damn it!" Sonic shook his head at his friends putting a hand on a hip and tapped his foot as he spoke.
"Took you guys long enough." Knuckles flipped off the blue hedgehog with an eye roll.
"Shove it blue!"
Silver watched as Cream and Amy landed the Tornado and jumped off the plane running towards them.
"Come on guys this is no time to start bickering, lets go." Amy yelled at the men in the group.
The metal flooring they were on rumbled and rattled and as it grew closer turned into heavy clanking footsteps of large Egg-bots running at them with massive guns. The guys pushed the girls behind them with fists at the ready. Sonic looked back at Amy as Silver activated his ability sending a group of bots crashing into each other.
"Ames, take Cream and go find the kids. We'll hold these guys off for you here."
Jade eyes glittered worriedly at her friends but she knew they needed her. She felt Cream grab her hand and she turned around just as she was pulled to make a run. Behind them they could hear the guys yelling directions and curses at each other. Just as they managed to open a door they turned back to watch the guys be thrown from a huge explosion. Amy gasped turning around to run back but Cream held onto her hand tightly.
"They'll be alright Amy, they're tough!" The rabbit looked back at her friend with a tear filled smile. "They're counting on us."
The pink hedgehog noticed the girls tears and nodded in understanding. She let go of the girls hand picking up the pace running down the dimly lit corridor.
The surveillance zoomed in on the pink hedgehog and the rabbit running in the hall, it reflected on the goggles of the man watching the monitor with anger and slight panic.
"Damn those rodents! They can't stop me! There's no other choice... It's still in the prototype state but it'll have to do…"
He brought up a blue print of a massive robot, its design, something strange and bulky. He smirked evilly in the darkness of his control room.
Amy and Cream looked around the corridors in confusion, everything looked the same.
Cream pulled out a glass slab that she touched on the side and it lit up. She quickly got to work looking through the files rouge had given them searching the information for any clues. The pink hedgehog sighed as they continued walking down the hall. Their feet making light tapping sounds against the metal flooring. They passed a dark hallway without notice as Cream kept her face glued to the screen of the tablet.
Amy felt fingers tap and slither along her side and she blushed with a gasp turning around to squeal in fright.
"What the- Oh my gosh Rouge! You scared the life out of me!"
The bat smirked and winked blowing a kiss at the girl as she glared angrily.
"Hey pinky, didn't mean to scare ya."
The pink hedgehog huffed and crossed her arms. Cream came over to two happily.
"Rouge! If you're here, dose that mean Shadows here too?"
The bat blinked at the girl before nodding.
"Ya, he's here alright. He went to help out blue and the others which leaves me with you two now sadly."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
The hot headed hedgehog stomped her foot stepping between the rabbit and the bat.
"Calm down hot stuff, you should be happy I found you two when I did anyways…"
Rouge turned her head with a shrug making Amy growl, Cream only laughed nervously beside them hoping they wouldn't start a fight soon.
"Why? We were doing just fine on our own Rouge!" The bat looked over lifting a brow then smirked waving her hand nonchalantly.
"Well Ames for one, you were already going the wrong way."
Amy squawked feeling defeated and she groaned as Creamed beamed excitedly.
"Oh that's wonderful Rouge! If you know where they are you can help us find them."
The pinked hedgehog scowled and flipped her hair back in annoyance.
"Whatever lets just get this over with…"
Rouge grinned widely as she lead the way towards the chambers.
A metallic hand tightened its grip squeezing. The hedgehog struggling in its grip screamed out in pain as he swore his arm threatened to dislocate from its odd angle.
Knuckles and Silver looked over from their own battles to see Sonic struggling to escape. A massive claw swung throwing the echidna to the other side of the room with a heavy crash as he broke through the wall.
"Knuckles!" Silver yelled pushing away a giant egg-bot with his power into another and ran off as they exploded.
Again Sonic screamed and Silver looked back at him growling in frustration. There was still more coming and he could tell they were greatly out numbered. Just then a burst of chaos energy flew past the grey hedgehog and struck the giant robot holding Sonic. It blew up letting the hedgehog drop from its claw. The robot dropped heavily shaking the room along with it. Sonic coughed on the floor from the dust and debris. His hand coming up to swat the dusty air and he stared as his vision cleared focusing on the dark silhouette walking towards him. Green eyes blinked as the figure stood before him with a smirk on his tanned muzzle.
"You're getting slow hedgehog."
The battered blue hedgehog smiled up at his rival as he offered a hand. Gladly he reached out clasping their fingers together and he was pulled up to stand.
"Thanks Shads, I owe you one."
"You owe me a lot more than that…"
They turned back to see Silver coming out of a Busted up portion of the wall with Knuckles in toe. The grey hedgehog smiled waving at the pair.
"Hey Shadow! Thought you'd never make it!"
Shadow crossed his arms looking away from his comrade with disinterest making Sonic chuckle besides him and suddenly stopped as lasers were shot at them. Shadow reached out grabbing the back of Sonics faded red sweater pulling him into his chest and teleported away as a bunch of explosives were thrown their way from an Egg-bomber.
"Woah! Thanks Shads…"
Shadow put down the hedgehog with a smirk but they quickly pushed back turning to face on the coming attacks. Sonic smirked with fists at the ready.
"You think you can keep up Shads?" The dark hedgehog chuckled.
"Heh! Don't make me laugh hedgehog, you have enough trouble just trying to keep up with me." Sonic snorted dodging a laser.
"Funny! You picking up on humor now Shads?"
The dark hedgehog kicked a large metal claw arm that tried to grab at him. A large piece of broken up robot parts smashed on top of the giant Egg-Bomber braking it. Sonic and Shadow looked over surprised. Silvers hands with their mint green glow were lifted as he glared in their direction.
"Would you guys stop messing around and get serious! What if the girls are in trouble?"
Knuckles punched a badnik coming towards Silvers back blowing it apart. The grey hedgehog looked back in surprise giving a thankful smile. Knuckles came up to the group smearing grease off his cheek in irritation.
"Sonic, take Shadow and go check on the girls we can handle things here."
Silver smiled activating his powers looking back at the pair as Knuckles ran over besides him.
"Go, you two are faster than us anyways we'll only slow you down."
Sonic nodded and looked at Shadow before they both turned to leave dashing away.
"You said you knew where you were going."
Rouge walked up to a wall with a screen and began clicking away ignoring the pink hedgehog.
"I do know where they are, just keep your mouth shut for a minute will you."
Amy grumbled and Cream patted her shoulder trying to calm her down. Suddenly the door hissed open and Rouge smirked in victory. Cream walked inside looking around the place curiously. It was dark like the rest of the ship and the rabbit almost tripped over some large wiring on the floor. Amy reached out grabbing the girl by her arm and she smiled thankfully. Though the pink hedgehogs eyes looked ahead focusing on something else entirely.
"A-Amy? Wh-whats wron- Oh!"
The rabbits golden eyes looked up to see the chambers of the hedgehogs floating before them. Rouge walked over stroking the glass of a cell with a soft smile.
"Hello again…" Amy walked up to the bat with an awe struck face. She studied the little hedgehogs features closely picking out what looked familiar with a smile.
"Woah… They really look like them don't they?"
Cream went over to a control panel typing away quickly. Amy and Rouge stepped back as an arm extended from the ceiling and latched onto the top metal seal of the chamber and twisted removing the seal. The rabbit rushed as she rummaged through the satchel she had on. She took out a little yellow casing with a sticker logo of two twin fox tails on the lid with a lightening bolt. She smiled fondly unlocking the side of the box and opened the lid. Inside were two cloudy white marble looking things. She turned the box around to show the women the items and Cream looked over at Rouge kindly.
"We need your help getting these inside the tanks otherwise we cant extract the children safely Ms. Rouge."
The bat blinked at the girl nodding and took the items in her hand. She made a face, they had an odd slimy texture and it almost felt like she was holding boba pearls in her hand but much more squishy and slimy. She flew up to the top of the chamber and dropped one watching as it clunked into the liquid and drifted down to the hedgehog and started expanding. They watched as a white cloudy sphere formed around the hedgehog. Suddenly the sphere floated to the top and Rouge jumped back as it splashed a little bit.
Rouge picked up the sphere flying it down to Amy and went back up to repeat the process with the other. The alarms blared and Rouge rushed to finish taking out the next orb as soon as it floated to the top she handed it down to Cream and they all turned running out of the room quickly.
Soon a swarm of Egg-bots came towards them and Rouge looked back in worry, they couldn't fight with the kids in hand. Rouge reached down taking the gun out from the gun holster on her thigh and began shooting.
"Cream, Amy! Get out of here!"
The women nodded running away with the orbs in hand.
Two hedgehogs speed through the fleet leaving behind streaks of red and blue flashes behind them as they zoomed past different sections of the aircraft.
A scream rang against the metal walls making the blue hedgehog stop and look around trying to find where the noise had come from. For a moment it was quiet till the screams rang out again and his eyes widened in panic.
"Cream, Amy! We're coming hang on!"
They sped off following the screams of the women turning corners and exited another room till they met face to face with a giant robot they hadn't seen before coming after Amy and Cream. They squealed in fright as a massive clawed arm swung at them. Both looked up just as Sonic and Shadow speed in swooping up the women and moved them to the other side of the room by the exit. The hedgehogs set down the women looking back at the large robot in frustration.
"Nothings ever easy it is it…" Shadow huffed at Sonic as he gave him a grin to lighten the mood.
Creams communicator beeped and blinked with a small red dot under the fold of her glove. She pulled back the fold seeing Tails name blinking on it before answering.
"Hey guys did you miss me? I'm right outside, I'll be waiting for you guys here as soon as you make it out!"
The rabbit beamed happily holding onto to the orb in her hand for dear life. Sonic looked back at the rabbit girl.
"Get to Tails, if you guys clear out of here I don't have to worry as much about the place blowing up, heh."
Amy shook her head with a smile. The massive robot started moving again and readied its arms for another swing. Shadow looked at the women in panic as he shouted running at the robot.
"Go damn it! Get out of here already!"
The girls didn't have to be told twice as they ran off and ducked away from the arm coming at them full force.
Sonic ran towards the fight and paused just as he saw Shadow run and kick off a wall and spin dashed into its outer shell roughly making horrible metal clanking and bashing sounds. He repeated the action causing dents in the robots exterior and suddenly the massive thing creaked and groaned as it lifted its arms and started spinning its torso with incredible speed smacking the dark hedgehog harshly. Sonic moved to the side as the hedgehog made impact and crashed cracking and denting the metal flooring beneath him.
"Shadow!" Blue yelled and growled looking back at the metal spinning contraption in anger. This was seriously starting to piss him off.
"How the hell does Egghead even have enough time to be building all these damn things? They just keep coming!"
Shadow coughed from the floor and kneeled like he was preparing for a race.
"That's hardly relevant, lets just get this over with hedgehog…"
"Heh, I was wondering when you were gonna start taking this seriously Shads."
The dark hedgehog rolled his eyes but chuckled. The two of them gave each other a look before splitting opposite directions and headed for the robot attacking one after the other. Both using a combination a spin dashes, kicks and chaos spears.
The robot would put up a shield every time the two hedgehogs attacked simultaneously. Shadow looked over at Sonic in concern. He watched the hedgehog breathe heavier than usual and the sweat beading on his face was clearly dampening the fur there. A torn glove came up to wipe at a blue brow and Shadow noticed the flinch that came with the simple movement. Sonic turned back and grinned before jumping back into the action throwing a heavy punch at the back of the robot making it stumble. Even with the tremendous blow, the blue blurs punches, shadow noticed getting were weaker.
Shadow hummed in thought, the moron must have hurt himself in the fight earlier before they encountered this massive robot. A yell made his ears twitch and he turned to see Sonic underneath a giant metal foot.
"Arghh! Ahh! Get off of me!"
Shadow growled taking out an emerald from the inside of his G.U.N jacket and ran leaping into the air.
"Chaos Control!"
Time stopped and the dark hedgehog landed on top the robots head. He glared at it as he lifted his hand, a chaos spear forming and sparked lighting the fur against his face. He plunged the spear through the robot head making a hole and he tore at the open metal and reached inside tearing up the wiring there without care. The machine rattled beneath him and began to creak. Time was starting to move again and he reached deeper tearing more wires and panels out before leaping off the massive metal contraption landing gracefully on the floor. The robot started making strange popping sounds just as Sonics screams became audible again and then the top half of the massive thing exploded sending chunks of metal, debris and wiring flying about the already destroyed hallway.
The room rattled and shook as the robot landed to the side in a heavy heap. Sonic lay on the ground looking puzzled before glancing around the place in curiosity. He spotted Shadow off to the side standing nonchalantly with a hand on his hip. Hints of red orange glow reflecting off Shadows fur and G.U.N jacket of the fire coming of the robot on the ground. From this angle the dark hedgehog looked incredibly cool and Sonic felt stupid for thinking so in the first place. Shadow looked over at the blue hedgehog and smirked. He shook his head letting his arm drop as he walked over offering a hand for the second time that day. The blue hedgehog gave a sheepish smile and made a face as he was pulled up by his left hand.
"What happened? Did you get injured?" Sonic huffed massaging his shoulder.
"Ya, but I think its just sprained. I'll be fine Shads."
Green eyes glanced over to the other end of the hall where the lights weren't flickering and looked at Shadow with a grin.
"Should we get going then?"
Shadow shook his head in disbelief following after the blue blur down the hall.
Amy shivered from the cold, they were flying over the ocean and it was the early hours of the morning and it was freezing.
Cream turned blinking through the harsh winds smacking at her eyes. She could just make out the sun rising in the distance casting a pretty mixture of orange pink hues in the sky with tiny speckles of starlight still left over from the night. Her eyes sparkled in wonder for a brief second allowing herself to enjoy the view till gun fire tore her from the trance and back into reality. The woman squealed in fright running away. They were running out of places to hide and they ran jumping up to the back exterior of the craft.
Numerous robots and different looking drones with fire arms came at them aiming red dots at the women clutching the orbs protectively to their bodies. Cream whimpered hugging the orb tightly, wind blowing her ears and bangs viciously behind her. Amy stood in front of the rabbit girl protectively, her arms also gripping the orb against her chest. It felt warm against the cold and she swore it occasionally pulsated. It was strange, how it made her feel calm and somehow gave her encouragement. Amy bared her teeth and took a stance holding the orb in one arm as best she could and extended her other at her side reading her fingers for a snap.
"Hey! Leave them alone!" Tails flew the Blue Typhoon to the tail of the air craft next to the women and aimed the fire arms of the Typhoon at the robots exploding the ones closest.
"Miles! You came!"
The fox nodded down at them with a confident smile as he continued firing at the coming egg-bots.
"Come on guys let go!"
Amy and Cream ran off holding onto the orbs. A latch unlocked and hissed as it lowered. The rabbit and the hedgehog were surprised to be greeted by a bruised and battered Knuckles and Silver.
"Hey honey, did you miss me?'
Knuckles punched Silvers arm with an eye roll making the hedgehog groan in pain giving the echidna a smile. The pink hedgehog shook her head at the guys as she walked onto the metal door passing over her orb to Silver. Cream stepped inside and the metal latch locked back into place closing the door. Knuckles turned over to see Silver who was staring at the orb curiously in his hands. He swore it was radiating tiny bursts of positive energy and he drifted closer entranced by the things presence.
Sonic ran along side Shadow passing through the many corridors and rooms of the Egg fleet.
To be honest he was following Shadow, he didn't really know his way around this ship. Besides, every room looked the same.
"Woah! Watch it blue! Too close, stop!"
Sonic snapped out of his thoughts and the floor screeched horribly as he stopped almost crashing into Rouge. The woman sighed relieved and Sonic let out a nervous laugh.
"Heh, sorry Rouge! Didn't see you there."
She raised a brow at him placing hands on her hips.
"You really oughta watch where you're going blue, you almost made rode kill oughta me."
Blue laughed scratching the back of his neck in a nervous habit. Shadow came up besides him and stood crossing his arms.
"Moron…" Sonic glared at the dark hedgehog about to start an argument when all their wrist bands started beeping. They all looked at their wrist bands answering at the same time. Tails voice rang loudly through the tiny speaker.
"Hey guys! Sonic, if you're listening you can get out of there now! Amy and Cream got the kids and Knuckles and Silver are here now so we can go home!"
Sonic grinned excitedly almost bouncing in step. He pressed the screen of the wrist band speaking with excitement.
"Alright guys! That's awesome, we'll be there shortly Tails. See ya"
"Later Sonic!"
Tails replied and Sonic covered the wrist band again with the fold of his glove grinning at rouge and Shadow.
"Well, lets go."
Shadow uncrossed his arms walking over to Rouge who stood with a hand on her hip. She laced her arm with Shadows with a wink and he rolled his eyes at her. Shadow placed a hand on Sonics shoulder who gave him a puzzled look.
"Shads?"
The dark hedgehog smirk uttering two words.
"Chaos Control…"
They group was gone in a flash of bright light leaving the room empty and sparking from left over destruction.
Eggman growled from his seat slamming a fist on a control panel. His mustache twitching as his lip quivered.
A large screen with many surveillance camera views from around the ship played out before him reflecting on his goggles. Each one showing a different image of destruction. Some parts of the ship were in flames, wires sparking and flapped freely in the wind of the exterior of the ship.
"Damn…"
He didn't think they would actually find the hedgehogs. Eggman walked away from the monitor in defeat. There was no point in going after them, what's done is done.
After all, there was still the third specimen. The round man cackled evilly as he exited the room and the doors hissed as they closed behind him.
Sonic dropped to the floor in a heavy heap groaning in pain from the harsh impact.
Shadow and Rouge stood beside him with smirks staring at him making him blush and get up from the floor dusting himself off.
Knuckles came out of another section from the ship to where they were with a smile.
"Glad you guys made it out alive."
Sonic looked at Knuckles and he struggled to form words as he spoke, he just wanted to know.
"Did they…? Were they able to…? I mean-"
The echidna smirked at the bumbling blue hedgehog growing more nervous as he spoke and shook his head fondly. He pointed over his shoulder behind him to an opening into another room with a smile.
"Go look in the other room."
Green eyes blinked like a curious child ignoring the bat and the echidna as he rushed to the next room.
He walked in cautiously as if he were walking on eggshells, afraid to make too much noise and he looked to the back of the room where he knew the chambers would be and froze shocked in place. There in the holding cells were two little hedgehogs floating peacefully. Something odd stirred in his chest and he gravitated closer to the cells reaching out a hand to the glass and gasped. He didn't expect it to be so warm. Peach lips smiled fondly at the forms behind the glass.
"Woah… This one really looks like me… Heh, except for the color."
Amy walked up behind him with Silver in toe. He had an arm around her waist as they stared up at the cells with smiles.
"I know right? The other one looks more like Shadow." Silver said.
Sonic looked over at the midnight blue hedgehog humming in approval. Her quills were like Shadows but there were quills framing her face, she didn't have the red streaks though. Blue ears twitched hearing new footsteps enter the room and he removed his hand from the glass as Shadow walked in. Sonic stepped back as the dark hedgehog stared at the chambers emotionless. For a moment blue worried the moody hedgehog would throw a fit and cause a chaos blast in the room but Sonic was surprised when Shadow only closed his eyes and turned walking out of the room without another word.
Somehow, Sonic felt like the entirety of his world crumbled. Shadow was the only one who could ever make him doubt himself and he looked down at the ground with clenched fists holding back tears with the strength of a thousand men as he bit his lip. It was stupid, why did he feel like crying? He didn't need Shadows approval, he thought in anger but closed his eyes thinking.
'Then why is it affecting me like this?'
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked back meeting jade eyes glittering back with encouragement.
"Don't worry Sonic, he'll come around eventually."
Blue smiled back at the girl putting a hand over hers.
"Ya, I hope so too Ames…."
As the Blue Typhoon was hid back in place beneath Tails works shop the group gathered in the medical wing for some patching up.
Amy and Cream got to work quickly cleaning wounds and scrapes and placed bandages where others were worse. Sonic chuckled from his end of the room as he watched Cream place pastel colored band aids on Shadows face despite his resistance. The dark hedgehog made a face and flipped him off causing blue to laugh. Amy glared and pulled Sonics arm as she was inspecting him making him cry out in pain like a baby. She smacked the top of his head between his ears like a scolding mother giving him instructions as she bandaged his shoulder. Shadow shook his head and got up from his seat as Cream walked away happily skipping to Knuckles.
When they were finished the interior of the blue Typhoon was dead silent. Everyone had moved upstairs to celebrate a mission well done. Amy insisted she'd cook and the group excitedly ran up the stairs to help in preparation for the breakfast feast. It was morning after all.
Sonic walked back into the lab without turning the lights on. A soft pink hue illuminated the room and it was enough for him to see his way through. The toes of his shoes stopped just before they hit the metal stand of the cell. Hands in his pockets, he looked up staring at the hedgehogs wondering. There were so many thoughts floating in his head there wasn't just one he could pick out and focus on long enough to catch a clear grasp on his jumbling thoughts. Instead he continued to stare content in their presence and warm glow.
"I know you're here Shadow…"
The said hedgehog walked out of the darkness with a stoic expression.
"I thought you would have left upstairs with the others."
Shadows voice came out smooth against the silence making Sonic shiver and he blushed having such an obvious reaction crossing his arms in a sad attempt to conceal it.
"Heh, nah… I guess I'm just kind'a tired ya know? Plus I wanted to get a better look at these little guys."
Sonic turned and gave Shadow a grin before turning back to stare at the cells.
"You shouldn't get attached to those things if you know whats good for you."
Blue sighed letting his arms drop and he turned putting a hand on his hip.
"Can't you look at this a little more positively Shads? I mean these guys were created with our combined DNA! Don't you think that's awesome? Imagine the abilities these two could have Shadow!"
"Ya, amazing, incredible, unstoppable powers probably and possibly immortal! Doesn't that scare you? Imagine a moment where they lose control and we can't stop them, what then Sonic?"
The room was silent as they glared at each other for a moment and Sonic green eyes looked back up at Shadow sadly.
"You don't know that… The world could love them just like us one day… They could be the best thing that ever happened to this world…"
Shadow stared down at the blue hedgehog who seemed to be shrinking the more insecure he got with the discussion but Shadow pushed forth not giving in.
"And if they don't? When the world shuns them for their incredible abilities seeing them as nothing more then weapons of mass destruction and tries to lock them up and they turn their backs on the world to become its greatest enemy… We won't be able to stop them Sonic and you know it…"
Sonics fists were clenched at his sides and red eyes observed the blue hedgehog noting a tremble every so often.
"Maria would love them, no questions asked just like she loved you Shadow."
"Don't you dare speak her name hedgehog!"
Sonic scoffed stepping up closer to Shadows face with a glare.
"Why, because it's the truth? I wish Maria were here now to see how you're acting so maybe she could talk some sense into that thick skull of yours!"
"Argh! Shut the fuck up Sonic! You don't know anything!"
Shadow grabbed a fist full of Sonics sweater and pulled up lifting the hedgehog slightly. The toes of his shoes grazing the white polished flooring of the lab. Sonic smirked in his grip and chuckled.
"You've been alone so long Shads, isn't it time you let somebody in?"
Shadow widened his eyes dropping the hedgehog and turned away. Sonic sat on his knees looking up at Shadow, the peach hue from the cell cast a soft glow on their forms in the darkness.
"This… This could be the start of something really amazing Shadow. I mean, if you want to… I'd like it if you helped me raise them…"
Shadow huffed walking away without looking back.
"I said I would help you get them out. What you do with those creatures now is up to you Sonic. I have no interest in raising monsters…"
With that he left out of the lab without a second word and Sonic sat quietly in the darkness, the glow from the tanks the only lighting in the room where the blue hedgehog kneeled. He sniffled softly in the silence and his hand came up to wipe angrily at a stray tear.
He looked up at the cells with a sad smile.
"It looks like it's just going to be us three huh little guys?"
He chuckled lightly in the silence of the room. Sonic brought up his knees and folded his arms on top resting his head on his shoulder. Green eyes glistening with the glow from the lighting of the tanks as stared ahead with a soft smile.