Sonic the Hedgehog

Forced AU

Rating: R

Space Colony ARK: The space station - purposed as a laboratory - built specifically for the development of the Ultimate Life Form, with the extensive, expensive project led by the world's historical leading biology specialist; Gerald Robotnik - grandfather of whom Mobius knows as Doctor Eggman.

"What was that, Shadow?" exclaimed Rouge the Bat, immediately after Chaos Control.

The black hedgehog and the white bat were now currently located in the corridors of the space station, with the male mobian taking out a green Chaos Emerald from his spines, and channeling the energy to convert it into light; and the surroundings soon became dimly lit with a warm yellow light.

Debris were littered around every corner of the space station from its neglect since a few years ago.

"That was the enemy who made the illusions." Shadow explained as he walked towards a direction, producing clanking sounds as his footwear contacted the metal floor. "We're being affected by the illusions, and I don't know how; or why."

Rouge seemed to think for a moment as she put a hand to her chin.

"That explains that other Shadow that we saw, then." Rouge deduced as she followed behind the black hedgehog in the dimly lit corridor. "Where are we going?"

"To the power room."

With several minutes of following Shadow around, climbing staircases and navigating hallways, Rouge could clearly tell - with her time spent with the hedgehog - that every moment spent in the space station caused her friend to recall more and more harrowing events as he seemed to walk mindlessly while being in thought.

"... are you okay, Shadow?" asked the bat, softly.

The black hedgehog seemed to snap out of his thoughts and nodded his head, as he turned into another corridor. Walking a few paces, he suddenly stopped and opened up the heavy shutter door presented to them.

The female bat saw a room filled with stations of control panels, wiring beneath the floors and ceiling, and heavy-looking machinery in all corners of the room.

"Most of the ARK's functions can be powered with a Chaos Emerald." Shadow said as he walked towards what seemed to be like an adaptor to hold the said energy provider in a corner of the room, hidden behind some other machinery.

He gently placed his Chaos Emerald into the holder; and as soon as the green jewel came into contact with the steel conductors surrounding the container; a noise began to sound.

A whirring sound began to be heard, and it grew louder into a comfortable volume, familiar to the black hedgehog which seemed to be able to relax the mobian slightly. The station began to power up, drawing energy from the Chaos Emerald; which channelled power directly from Mobius's Chaos Field, and fed it to the ARK's generators.

Lights began to flicker, and turn on fully. Soon enough, the whole space station was lit up with the installed artificial ceiling lights, as the female bat blinked several times to adjust her visual senses to the illuminated environment.

"So, why are we here?" inquired Rouge as she folded her arms.

"This is the safest place I could think of." came the reasoning from the black hedgehog as he walked out of the room once more. "And we have to find out about the enemy - the ARK should have enough resources for any research we need."

"Paperwork again…?" grumbled Rouge as she followed the artificial hedgehog.

"Don't complain, Rouge." responded Shadow.

"But where do we start?"

"Whatever it was; it had the ability to hijack the brain's functions, and alter what we feel, and see." Shadow opened a door to reveal a room full of computer stations, and filled bookshelves in a corner of the room. "That's where we start - neuroscience."

"... I wish Tails was here; he'd know about these kinds of stuff." commented the female bat as she followed Shadow towards a computer station.

"They should've managed to escape by now." Shadow mumbled.

A subtle, but clear sound caught their attention, piercing through the hum of the generators onboard the space station.

The sounds of someone typing: the click and tap of fingers on the keyboard - every single little sound was audibly heard by the two mobians present in the room.

Shadow's sensitive, biologically-engineered ears perked, as he tried to close in of the source of the sounds. Walking further into the room, he moved into the direction of the sounds amongst the many computers stationed in the room.

Suddenly, his eyes presented him with something he couldn't believe.

Immediately after, a loud gasp from Rouge was heard behind him.

The pair of eyes stared back: a lifeless set of eyes - noted Shadow.

It was Tails.

"Oh good, you're awake." stated a familiar, old man's voice as he recollected his senses. "I was afraid I might have to bring you to an actual doctor."

"Eggman…" Sonic groaned out after he took a deep breath. Looking up, he saw that he was in a tiny cell, and his limbs were bound with some technology unknown to him.

He noticed that he was sat down on a bench.

"I win this time, Sonic!" exclaimed the evil scientist with joy. "I'm not going to allow you to ruin this for me again! Eggmanland will now finally be built!"

"Good for you, Egghead." responded the blue hedgehog as he stretched his muscles as casually as he could. "But I'm gonna have to burst your bubble sooner or later."

Doctor Eggman grinned at him.

"You don't understand, hedgehog." replied the rotund man. "I have truly won this time - I created the ultimate weapon, and I have already gotten you out of my way."

"Not until I die." Sonic smirked right back. "Oh wait; I forgot to mention; I can't die, Egghead."

"I know." revealed the scientist. "Do you think I'd not know about my enemy?"

"As expected of you." Sonic continued to smirk. He already knew that his immortality was of no secret to the other. "But that just means you can never get rid of me."

"I prefer it that way, hedgehog." Eggman responded as he leaned onto the bars surrounding Sonic's cell. "You can watch me while I take over the world; enjoy the show!"

"Trust me, Eggman." Sonic said sternly, and seriously. "My friends can, and will get me out of here."

"Trust me, hedgehog." Eggman responded with the same phrase. "With my new weapon, nothing your friends do can stop it; so enjoy your stay."

Sonic watched as his arch nemesis slowly strided away, with his hands behind his back. Eggman slowly walked towards a control panel, and pulled a lever.

The sounds of screens turning on their displays made their presence known to the blue hedgehog, as he looked to his left where it used to be a black wall, now replaced by thousands of feeds of security cameras stationed around the entirety of Mobius.

"Relish in the show of me - slowly but surely - turn the entire world into the long-awaited Eggmanland!" cackled the evil rotund man. "I hope you appreciate my efforts to make sure that you're the first to know about every area conquered."

Sonic looked at a particular display grid switching between security camera feeds of City: The place was destroyed, and practically nearly burnt to the ground, if not for the firefighters. All he could see was charred buildings.

"Oh, trust me, Eggman…" Sonic mumbled loud enough for the person outside his cell to hear. "I am."

"Here's the fun little game I'll play with you, Sonic:" the evil genius seemed amused at his own thoughts. "You'll be the one choosing where I attack next."

The blue hedgehog chuckled in false humour.

"And what if I don't answer?" came the hero's response.

"Then I'll just make use of that handy little device right next to you." the scientist pointed to the right of the hedgehog.

It was a giant wheel of fortune, with different areas of Mobius listed down on the different, equally divided section of the circle.

"And everytime you move even slightly too much - like you did when you stretched…" Eggman paused for his own dramatic effect and amusement. "That wheel will detect that movement, and begin to spin for a new location."

The Hero of Mobius's eyes widened.

"You've already selected the next place - and how nice of you to pick out the other largest populated sector of Mobius." gloated the evil scientist.

"No…"

"You won't last three months, hedgehog."

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