Hey guys I'm finally back :D I had a great holiday, and I'm back into writing again.
Gonna admit this was the chapter I dreaded, mostly because I feel the good stuff is coming later where we can get into the fluff. Loves me some fluff o3o
I have to say I'm really surprised, I was not expecting that many reviews on the last chapter, so thank you thank you thank you so much!
As always I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
Time wasn't going to be wasted. Shadow had seen how the impossible robberies were happening and there was no doubt in his mind who was responsible. For years Eggman had used robots to do his dirty work. He held an underground organisation, supplying criminals with everything they needed on the black market. So far, any effort to catch him as been impossible. Even now that he's using people as his minions, they'd rather take their own life then speak out against the madman. This time will be different… it had to be.
An operation had been set up; a trap. It was the one thing Shadow knew Eggman, or any thief for that matter, could resist. A Chaos Emerald.
So far on the records four emeralds had been stolen, all suspects leading to Eggman. As a measure, G.U.N had searched out the last remaining three and kept them under security. Despite his efforts, the General refused to allow Shadow use of the Chaos Emeralds as bait. So there was only the next best thing.
A fake.
Two days ago it had broadcasted on the news that Station Square National Museum would be displaying a genuine Chaos Emerald for three days only. They needed time to get the word out. It had generated such a buzz that crowds gathered outside of the museum, ready to see the powerful gem. Shadow spent the two days on guard, standing in the corner of the room where the emerald was displayed on a pedestal, sealed under bullet proof glass. He felt it in his gut. The robber must have come to check out the challenge. His crimson eyes scanned anyone with blue coloured fur, and there were a lot of citizens. Blue wasn't a usual colour among the mobian race, but there was plenty of blue in the room, along with greens, reds, pinks, every colour there basically was. Not surprising however, the Chaos Emerald was a big deal, but more so for mobians then humans. Mobians had the ability to sense Chaos energy, each having their own personal level of doing so. Shadow was one of the few who could sense high amounts of chaos, and even use it to further his power. He could only wonder if the criminal could do the same, given the impossible power he possessed. Shadow could run fast, but even he couldn't break the sound barrier.
The emerald looked no different from the real deal, and to disperse any suspicion, the pedestal was filled with energy rings, mimicking the sense of Chaos energy. Now all there was to do is wait.
Nothing happened in the three days, but that was expected. G.U.N had set up agents and made their top priority to protect the people should anything happen. There was only one night left and Shadow knew this had to be the night.
It was rumoured the emerald would be shipped out to South Villa, a quiet city under heavy guard as the arise of a war was soon to break out. The criminal needed to grab the emerald now or they'd lose it for good. South Villa was on the other side of the planet.
Shadow hid carefully behind one of the historic statues that were on display in the same room as the emerald. Lasor senses were activated all around the room, four G.U.N guards stood at each wall, guns in arms and on high alert. The glass container holding the emerald had a think armour sealing the gem away. Cameras were everywhere, recording what was to take place.
It was all excessive for a fake, however they needed to make it as real as possible. If the criminal was going to strike, he would expect no less.
Although… was this too much? The thief stole jewels, and money from the banks by running fast and snatching what he could. Would he ignore the emerald if the security was too hard to bypass? No. Eggman would want the emerald no matter what. If this guy was working for Eggman he'd be here.
Shadow shook his head, he had been doubting himself so much lately he was losing focus. He activated the communicator on his wrist. "SkyWatch, it is currently 500 hours, I'm requesting an update, what do you see?" he whispered, being as silent as he could. A voice replied in the ear piece he wore.
"Sweetie why so formal?"
"Just tell me what you see."
"Hmm fine. There were a few suspicious men hanging around but none of which match our description. Turns out they only wanted to relieve themselves against the building."
"Nice" Shadow sighed. Time was running out, why did this keep happening?
"Other than that I- Oh my… Shadow red alert! He's here, he's already ran into the building!"
The sound of an engine like boom cracked through the air, and as Shadow turned to look past the statue, he had barely anytime to register what was happening. A flash of blue shoot passed the laser beams, setting the high alarms off. The room was on lockdown, door barriers being activated to seal anyone inside the room as it all flashed red.
The guards opened fire. The orders were to keep the thief alive at all cost, so instead of bullets they were to use tranquilisers. Shadow was also to use tranquilisers, be he always kept a loaded handgun on him, just in case.
Despite their efforts, not one shot reached the blue spinning ball. Shadow watched it all. The thief used a homing attack and took out all four guards, the tranquilising darts recoiling when they hit the spin. He started to feel his hand sweat as it reached for his hand gun. He had to keep reminding himself, this was expected, stay with the plan, or this will be for nothing.
The spinning stopped, and the thief dropped to his feet perfectly. Just like in the footage they saw, he wore a red jacket, hood over his head and his face covered with a brown scarf. Shadow couldn't see who he was or what he looked like, but it didn't matter. The moment the alarms went off, G.U.N had the signal to surround the building. Rouge had the air team under her control, and she would have no problem in fulfilling her part in the mission. Shadow stood his ground, he wouldn't blow it this time.
The thief ignored the continuous alarm. His eyes fixated on the metal cylinder, containing the emerald.
Shadow waiting.
The thief didn't run this time. He walked up the steps towards the pedestal, and stood for a moment. Staring at it. Possibly sensing the Chaos Energy. Either way he seemed sure. He looked back at the door, to see if anyone was coming. No one.
So then, with one, swift kick, he smashed through the metal barrier, and bullet proof glass all at once. Shadow had never seen anything like it! Shards of glass and metal rained along the floor, and the thief stood up right once again, despite the bleeding from the lance of his leg.
The fake emerald was exposed, shining powerfully as if it were the real thing.
Shadow looked up to the corner of the ceiling. Behind one of the decretive pillars was an air vent. Just as planned, Rouge had snuck through, keeping control of the air team if they should need them. Now, however, it was only them two against a powerful criminal. They needed to get this done! They were the best G.U.N had. Shadow gave her the signal, and the trap was underway.
Rouge held a remote with one red button on it. She pressed it down.
The thief reached out his hand. There was no one around and he destroyed all the cameras when taking out the guards. If this really was a Chaos Emerald, then he wanted to feel it's power.
He touched the emerald with his fingertips, then screamed out as electric bolts shot through his body.
"NOW!" Rouge dived down, using her powerful wings to knock the thief back from the emerald, sending him skidding across the floor. Shadow ran to him, gun held out as he aimed for the legs. Wasn't fast enough. Before he knew it the thief span in a ball and dashed into him. Shadow felt the wind leave his lugs as he smashed against the wall, cracks visible from the impact. Whoever the hell this guy is, he was strong… Too strong!
Rouge didn't hesitate. The thief ran to the emerald once again and tried to take it, but the moment he touched it he felt the electric burn his body. Rouge grabbed his hood, pulling it off and revealing a head of quills. She dragged him away from the stone, kicking at the back of his knees to get him immobile. He fought back though. Reaching up to grab her hair, he pulled her over his head and slammed her into the floor, then pulled his hood over his head.
"Rouge!" Shadow gasped, seeing her groan in pain as she laid there. He felt his breath begin to heave, and seething chilled his teeth. Eyes fixed on nothing but the criminal, Shadow held out his gun and opened fire.
The thief dodged every dart, almost scaling the pillars and running along the walls. There was no way out, but he seemed uninterested in leaving, not until he got the emerald, which he kept coming back to, only to experience the same shock. Could he seriously not work it out?
"Rouge I need you to distract him" Shadow said, pulling the bat up as she was slightly dazed. But she was a tough woman, she shook it off and focused on the job.
Taking to the air, the bat swooped down at the blue criminal, swinging her leg out in a move she called swivel kick. The thief leapt back, dodging everything she threw at him. Shadow ran up behind, punching the centre of his spine. The thief cried out and fell to his knees. Rouge took her chance, she wrapped her arms around his neck and placed him in a headlock. As his hands came up to stop her, she grabbed them in her hands and wrestled to secure him. Shadow kneeled also, securing the thief's legs under his own. The gun was held against the arm, and he fired.
But… nothing happened.
"What?" Shadow gasped, staring at the dart that had broken against the thief's skin. He took his chance. Pulling down the scarf, the thief bit down on Rouge's hand. In pain she yelped, letting go in a moment of weakness.
The darts weren't working, Shadow had no other option.
The thief was about to swing his fist at Shadow, but in one move Shadow pulled out his hand gun and fired at the criminal's ankle.
Shadow could barely hear anything other than the sound of his own breathing. The thief had thrown him off, but screamed out, lying on the floor helplessly and unable to move, his hood uncovering his head. Shadow almost dropped his gun, finally getting his breath back. They had done it… finally. It wasn't over yet though.
Walking around the trembling body, Shadow stood to be in front. Aggressively he reached down and grabbed the thief's wrist, dragging him back up to his knees. He held the gun up to the masks man forehead. "GET UP! TO YOUR FEET NOW!" Shadow growled at him, doing so to show he wasn't going to mess around.
However, to his own surprise, the thief acted in a way he had never expected. All the other criminals who worked for Eggman taunted him, laughed at him, or even lashed out one final time. They were all vile men who took their pride to the grave. This one however, the most powerful criminal Shadow had ever encountered, did not.
He pleaded. Green eyes wide and fearful while his body shook desperately.
"P-please… y-you have t-to let me go" the thief begged. Something struck Shadow about his voice though. It was… youthful. But he couldn't show weakness, this could be an act to escape.
His brows furrowed deeply. "You'll get no sympathy from me Criminal. Admit it! You're working for Eggman!"
"No! P-please…"
"ADMIT IT!"
"I NEED TO GO HOME" the thief cried out. Shadow said nothing more. With the gun in hand he swung it at the thief's face, and with that one quick motion the scarf fell, and the thief spat out blood. Angered, tired and baring little tolerance, Shadow struck him once again, causing the thief to now choke. Breathing unsteady, and with a heartbeat racing so badly his chest ached, the thief finally found the strength to look back at the agent, to look directly into his eyes.
Shadow dropped his gun. The hold on the criminal's wrist released.
"No…" he exasperated, his palms sweating and his jaw trembling open at the boy in front of him.
It was him… this was the boy…
Rouge had the handcuffs ready, and the G.U.N security was being lifted to allow the backup solders to enter the room. As Shadow dealt with the suspect, she gave the orders. "Get the standby paramedic team in here. We have four G.U.N soldiers down, and the suspect will need treatment when we get him out."
She walked over to her partner. Before she said anything, she rushed to the thief, pulling his hands behind his back and securing him in the handcuffs. "Shadow what is wrong with you? Don't just stand there when he's not secured!"
Shadow said nothing. His eyes couldn't unlock from the emerald green he had seen only a couple years ago, a boy that moved him so much that it change his life. This… was him.
"Whatever. Let's go dirt bag, move it!" Rouge ordered as she dragged the young hedgehog to his feet. He cried out against the pain, being forced to limp on his injured ankle as an army of soldiers surrounded him.
"Please! Please you don't understand!... I must go home… my brother needs me!... please!" he cried out, struggling against the agent as she led him outside. He begged everyone, screaming for them to let him go.
Everyone followed them, except for Shadow. He didn't move, but watched as the thief was dragged away. When he was the only one left, his head dipped lowly. He had never felt so much like crap before now. This was his only victory so far with the Eggman case… but this kid… he wasn't a criminal. He couldn't be…
"Sonic… What happened to you?"
Dun Duuun!
Poor Sonic can't catch a break.
Sorry this chapter wasn't as long as the last one, but this is all I could add in for this scene. Next chapter should be longer as there's more to cover, but we shall see.
If you enjoyed this chapter please share the love and leave a review, kick me up the butt to write more or let me know what you'd like to see happen. All suggestions are helpful :)
Till next time.