Chapter Eleven – Companionship

But Sonic vanished. He didn't return to the battlefield and when the leftovers of Eggman's territory was searched once the dust settled, he wasn't there either. Back on the battlefield Tails was extremely worried but Shadow just smirked, reassuring the Fox. He knew exactly why he had taken off. Sonic was blind, but only a handful of people in the whole of Mobius knew the real truth. Shadow, Tails, Knuckles, Rouge and Eggman, but the Ultimate Lifeform knew no one would ever believe the Human. The Blue Blur just wasn't ready for the world to know. But Tails just giggled.

"Then don't tell them." He smiled. But Shadow frowned.

"What do you mean?" He asked. Tails heaved.

"Sonic is more then just a hero. To the people, he's a legend. Powerful, flawless, perfect. It's was what caused all of the problems with Amy. She believed that too. But." He added. "Regardless, Sonic is someone whom the people can believe in for all time." He sighed, but Shadow raised an eyebrow. But Tails's face fell. "But as you and I both know, Sonic is anything but perfect, and if the world knew that he is completely blind, despite winning, that perfect legendary Hero persona, that so many believe in, desperately cling on to, would be utterly shattered, then the world would just fall into chaos." He sniffed. Shadow blinked, deep in thought. The Fox had a very good point. The real truth would indeed smash everything. The people's morale would plummet, effectively rendering Eggman's defeat completely pointless. What would be the point of saving a planet that didn't want to be saved? Sonic's fame as the Hero did indeed extent that far and wide, and as irritating as Shadow found it, but to many, it meant the world, a drop of hope during bad times, and even the Ultimate Lifeform appreciated that.

He deeply sighed, as he place his hand deep into his quills on his back and pulled out a small plastic box and held it out for the Fox. Shadow smirked.

"I think you'll be needing these." He hissed. Tails looked at it and frowned.

"What's that?" He asked as Shadow placed the box in his hands. The Black Hedgehog heaved.

"I brought these just incase the fight, last night, lasted until this morning, but the Blue Blur vanished before I could put them on him. You might get some resistance from him though when putting them in. They did horrendously irritate him after several hours of wearing them." He sighed. Tails's frown deepened as he opened the box, and his jaw dropped. It was Sonic's fake contact lenses, Shadow had created for him. They were indeed as impressive as Tails had originally suspected. He brought them right up to his nose, taking a deep look at them. The level of detail and work was astonishing, especially as the tiny nano level, of which of circuitry was created at. Still able to reacting to light, the fake pupils opening and closing in response. But then Tails turned the lenses over and examined them further, from the back, and suddenly, his eyes narrowed. Then he beamed.

"These are seriously impressive but I think I can see what the problem is. If I tweak them, I can stop the irritation from happening." He giggled. Shadow smirked and nodded. But then Tails just grabbed him. He placed his head on his arm. An almost hug, without actually being one, but deeply respectful. Shadow frowned but Tails cried. "Thank you, so much. You brought my best friend back to me when I really didn't deserve it." He wailed, letting him go. But Shadow's smirk just broadened.

"We've all made mistakes, Kid, especially me. Sonic, as irritating as he can be, is the real reason why I am stood here, today. He fought for me when no one else did. When I had recovered my memories, having just sent the Black Arms packing, destroying them. I was confused and alone. I had nothing. Eggman was desperate for my alliance but I didn't want it. I had nowhere to go, and to be honest, joining to good guys really didn't appeal either. I wasn't exactly welcome and I got a lot of aggression, but never from Sonic. I had Team Dark, and that was alright but I wanted more, and the Blue Blur lead the way. I remember overhearing the arguments you guys had about me, and still he stood his ground. He believed in me, and that meant a lot, even though I never did find out why. Why did he fight for me, when everyone else just shunned me?" He admitted, deeply shrugging.

Tails gulped, biting his lip, the colour draining from him, in horrible guilt. He'd been on of those original people who had lashed out against Shadow. He looked down is sorrow, sniffing hard.

"I'm so sorry, you didn't deserve it." He stammered. Shadow had proved time and again since, he could be trusted, even if his methods are much to be desired. Shadow growled, folding his arms.

"No, I didn't." He spat, harshly. But Tails heaved, suddenly piping up, when he realised something.

"I think I know why he fought for you." He stammered. "You were created in a laboratory, forced to obey Gerald Robotnik, you constantly had your memories swiped. You didn't choose any of it. You were innocent." He heaved. Shadow just blinked. The Fox was indeed correct, but Shadow had never thought of it all like that before. Tails just squealed. "You didn't deserve any of it. It was pure injustice, and you know Sonic hates that, more then anything." He panted, pausing slightly. "Wow." He praised. "To work that out, so quickly and so early on, was really something. That was one heck of a leap of faith in you, from the Blue Blur, and we both know, now, he was exactly right." He sighed. Shadow himself heaved, feeling completely and utterly honoured. Sonic was indeed right and he was indebted to him. Well, not anymore. Saving his life and rehabilitated him, pretty much evened them out. Shadow just smirked, as he began to walk away.

"Look after him." He hissed, but Tails just ran out after him, grabbing the Ultimate Lifeform by the arm, again. He growled.

"Oh no, you not leaving." He declared. Shadow frowned, but then Tails just giggled. "I will be expecting you back at my house. You still haven't finished your studies of Sonic's hearing. That was the real reason why you saved him, wasn't it?" He wondered. Shadow licked his lips and then just smirked. That was indeed true, and he didn't bother hiding his excitement of the possibility of continuing his fascination of him. He sniggered.

"His Sonar, you mean." He hissed. Tails's jaw dropped.

"Wait. He can see what he hears?" He gasped. But Shadow's smirk just broadened. "Not just hears, but smells, and feels through touch too. He said it appears to him as pale blue images through the darkness. I caught a glimpse of it, when I connected to him, via a Chaos Emerald." He leered. Tails just exploded in pure excited.

"What? Wow. Now that I gotta see. If I let you continue your studies, at my house, of him, will you share your findings with me." He pleaded. Shadow heaved then smirked, having made up his mind. He nodded.

"Sure, but your going to have to do up that house first and pass the vulnerability inspection. That won't be easy, Fox." He growled. But Tails heaved.

"Yeah. It won't but I'll get Knuckles to help me. I'll use the money you gave me back to get the work done. You were right to register him. It's a layer of protection he desperately needs." He sighed.

Suddenly, they were interrupted by another search party, also having failed to find the Blue Blur, but Shadow noticed a slight glint in the Fox's eyes, which hinted he knew more then he was letting on. Tails thanked them and soon, the search party had moved on, to look in another area. They were alone again. Shadow sniggered.

"You know where he is, don't you, Fox?" He hissed, rather coldly. Tails giggled and nodded.

"Yeah. Despite the last five years, and what's happened, Sonic hasn't really changed, and there was always one place he'd run to when overwhelmed by a given situation. In the deep south of the planet, several thousands miles from here, there is a beautiful pink blossom tree, growing on the every end of a high, dangerous overhang of a cliff. Apparently, the views from up there are spectacular, but it was Sonic's mother's favourite place in the entire world. Her's and his father initials are carved into that tree." He explained. Shadow eye's widened. Tails giggled. "I know. Sonic having parents. Hard to believe, isn't it. But whenever things got tough, I'd always find him curled up in a ball fast asleep beneath it. I have already sent Knuckles alone to go and get him. Trust me, he'll be there." He smiled. But Shadow deeply frowned.

"What happened to his parents?" He wondered, but Tails's heart fell, deeply sorrowful.

"Nobody knows. Sonic was two years old, when they just, vanished. They're dead, obviously, but how or what happened to them, is a complete mystery." He heaved, but then the Fox just rounded on Shadow. "Take my advice and don't bother. Sonic had me spend years searching every archive, register and database, I could hack into, including the Mobian Authority Mainframe, the Eggnet, and even the Ark." He paused, gulping hard. "Sorry." He stammered. "Looking for them. We found nothing, and all it successful did, was severely upset him." He cried, the memories raw. He hated every minute of it. "Trust me, Sonic's parents are gone, and we should leave it that way." He stuttered. Shadow sighed, reluctantly agreeing. He potentially could have found them, but Sonic really wasn't mental strong enough to cope with that, yet again, and realised it was just kinder to him, just to leave it.

Everyone worked together to clear up the mess from the battle as Shadow escorted Eggman to the Mobian Authorities and a maximum security prison. Eggman was surprisingly cooperative, but the fear of being potentially slaughtered by the Ultimate Lifeform if he refused, was enough to get him moving. By the time Shadow returned, it was nightfall. He was impressed. The battlefield was empty of broken Badniks, and the area had been also restored to it's natural beauty. Shadow spotting Tails finishing it up, with some seriously sophisticated technology. Yeah, he knew the Fox was behind this.

Suddenly, there was a noise behind them, as someone came to join them, sounding rather exhausted.

"Hey." He bellowed. Tails immediately stopped everything and ran to the new arrival, giggling in pure glee. He gave the Echidna an enormous hug.

"Hey. Yes, you found him." He beamed. Sonic was flat out fast asleep in Knuckles's arms, purring gently, sucking his thumb. The Echidna smiled, heaving hard, having carried him all the way here.

"Yeah. He was exactly where you'd said he'd be." He panted. It was a long way, but then he deeply frowned. "But I also found him cuddling these two." He added, indicating the black and red sphere, and yellow and black cube on Sonic's lap, in his arms, both with grey eyeholes, also asleep. Shadow wondered over, and immediately recognised them in the darkness. He smirked.

"Orbot and Cubot." He declared. Both Tails and Knuckles just stared at him, gobsmacked. But Shadow just sniggered. "Sonic isn't cruel. He may have destroyed everything belonging to Eggman, but not the two robots that mean the most to him. Everyone needs company, even if it is of his own creation." He hissed, coldly. Then he took the robots off Sonic, careful not the wake them. They were indeed asleep, not off-line. "I will return these to him. They can do no more harm then the Human himself." He added, to intense giggling from both Tails and Knuckles. The Echidna smiled.

"Sonic has definitely rubbed off on you." He grinned, but Shadow just rolled his eyes. He leered.

"So what if he has, it's my choice, isn't it." He scowled. He walked away from them, a sleeping robot in each hand, for Tails to call after him. He frowned.

"Hey, what about you? You said everyone need company. Your alone on the Ark now?" He wondered. Shadow stopped and turned around, visibly shrugged and then turned back, and carried on walking before his Chaos Controlled out of there. He knew Sonic would be alright, and now in safe hands. He also knew that both Knuckles and Tails would both work their behinds off to keep him, get that house done up and pass that inspection. Shadow smirked. He'll be back. His studies of Sonic's Sonar was indeed incomplete, and with the Fox's help, they would eventually get to the bottom of exactly how it worked. But first, he had a job to do.

He went straight to Eggman prison, instantly appearing directly outside of his cell. The Human was still awake, sat on the end of his bed, and didn't even flinch at Shadow's arrival. In fact, he was seriously unimpressed. He growled.

"Come to gloat, Hedgehog." He hissed. But Shadow just smirked as he then Chaos Controlled again, and instantly landed inside Eggman's cell, itself, making the Human squeal and move backwards in fright slightly. He smirk broadened.

"Actually, I've come to return something to you. Courtesy of the Blue Blur himself." He leered, and then revealed the robots that were behind his back. Eggman's heart leap, immediately throwing out his hands for them. He stammered.

"Orbot, Cubot!" He gulped, and took the precious robots with huge delight. He'd mourned them badly. Loosing his entire empire was nothing compared to how much loosing those two had upset him. They had meant more to him then he had even realised. He now felt huge respect to Sonic for doing this for him, in saving them. He didn't deserve it, but it truly meant that he really was a hero, despite being blind, and that Eggman could never have defeated him, no matter what happened. He quickly checked the robots over. They were still sleeping, completely unharmed. He heaved in utter relieve, looking back up the Shadow as he cuddled them.

"Thank you." He stammered. Shadow nodded in acknowledgement, and with a Chaos Emerald, he teleported from the prison and back to the Ark. Eggman did stand trail for his crimes, his loyal as ever robots by his side. Getting them back, made him extremely cooperative and because of that, he was allowed to keep them, as he spent the rest of his days behinds bars. Shadow never heard from him again.

As for company, Fox was indeed right, but truthfully, it wasn't really any of his business. The Ark was indeed feeling, cold, dark and dank since Sonic left, and Shadow really hadn't been liking it. It used to be warm and cosy. Not anymore. But he could easily find company. He doubted few people would turn down the opportunity to spent time on the Ark. He thought of perhaps a prostitute, but that was the wrong type of company he was wanting. Mating didn't really excite him anymore. Having Sonic around, as a friend, had put him off the idea. But he did think of someone else, but nowadays he had no idea where to find them. So Shadow decided to go back to where this entire fiasco started, and truthfully, he actually hadn't been back there in nearly five years. He'd worked as a professional killer all the while he was caring for Sonic. The flexibility of the work suited his needs at the time better then shift work. Would he find anything there, no idea, but he decided, for curiosity's sake, to try.

G.U.N.

It was strange landing back the foyer of the main headquarters again. The place completely unchanged but the constant sight of new faces, gave away the passage of time. What reception would he get? No idea, but Shadow didn't really care. It wasn't for the organisation he was really here for, but for someone, he had a hunch might be working here again, after a rumour flew around that her previous job had fallen through.

Rouge.

Shadow had no intension of wondering through G.U.N. looking for her. His presence in the foyer, which had caused absolute panic and his reputation alone, would be enough to bring her, if she was here, straight to him. Shadow smirked. Yes, she was there. Her distinctive perfume heavily lingered on the stagnant air in the building. He smirk broadened, as he patiently waited and watched G.U.N. desperately work out what to do with him. It was very amusing, all of them were utterly terrified of him. It was clear they wanted him gone, but no one dared approach him, not even the new Director General.

Shadow sniggered. Yes, fine. He'd be leaving soon, he was done with the place anyway, but not before talking to the Bat first. He sighed. Actually, the tutoring he had done there, that one time, had actually been fun. He had enjoyed it, and maybe finding his own students, loyal and hardworking, rather then the rubbish G.U.N. provided, would make more efficient use of his time. He frowned. That was a thought, and a possible path he could go down, now with Sonic off his hands.

Suddenly, there was a seriously unimpressed voice from behind him, growling at his rather unwelcome presence. She hissed.

"You've got some nerve showing up here. You've been thrown off the books." She spat. Shadow's reputation as a killer was now so bad, that literally no one was safe. But his smirk just broadened as he turned around, at Rouge, looking stunning, as always, in a new deep purple, high neck outfit. Shadow rolled his eyes.

"Your assuming I care." He hissed, extremely coldly, completely unsurprised. Rouge huffed. But she held her nerve, despite being somewhat frightened. With the others around, such as Tails, Knuckles or Sonic, Shadow was actually safe, but alone, no, and she desperately wondered what the Ultimate Lifeform was here for. She heaved.

"What do you want?" She asked, getting straight to the point. But Shadow just sneered, walking right up to her. He, at that very moment, wasn't in the mood to rush. His lip curled.

"I wanted to see you." He admitted but Rouge raised her eyebrow.

"Oh, really. We're not in a relationship, you know." She defended. She wasn't interested and never would be. But Shadow growled, hissing hard at her. He scowled.

"Do I need an excuse to see a friend." He spat, very annoyed. But Rouge just frowned.

"Friend?" She questioned. "You don't really do friends." She declared. Then her eyes widened, as she realised the truth of what was going on, grinning hard. "Your missing Sonic, aren't you?" She giggled. But suddenly, Shadow's anger exploded but Rouge was completely unphased, still intensely smiling. He roared.

"That insufferable Blue Blur." He growled. "No." He spat. "But the Ark is rather cold and dank, on my own up there." He admitted, biting his lip, heaving hard. Rouge just blinked, utterly stunned. She gulped.

"You want me to join you?" She stammered. But Shadow's nerve and thus his anger, just broke. He was never good at asking for things like this. He growled.

"You know what, forget it. I apologise for asking. Your allowed to say no, you know. I'll find someone else." He hissed, and just turned and stormed away from her. Rouge just stared, completely and utterly gobsmacked. That last comment clearly stated it was a genuine question. He was indeed looking for someone to join him on the Ark. Nothing sinister, just company. It seemed Sonic really had rubbed off on him, and five years of having the Blue Blur on the space colony, had left the Ultimate Lifeform not wanting to be alone up there anymore. Rouge couldn't blame him. He had to contend with something she could only dream of. Immortality, and the fact that everyone he'd ever know, would die someday, always leaving him behind, alone.

Rouge shuddered. The mental torment. She dreaded to think. Shadow didn't show it, but she knew the Black Hedgehog. It was there. She heaved as she watched the Ultimate Lifeform walk away and then vanish with a Chaos Control teleport, to the complete and utter relief of everyone there. She knew he'd never come back here again, and she was left somewhat annoyed at her fellow G.U.N. colleagues. Shadow may have been a killer, but he should have treated better then that. She heard of his kindness to Eggman in returning Orbot and Cubot to him. The fact that Sonic had saved them from the destruction wasn't that surprising. He did that, but the Ultimate Lifeform's immediate intervention, that was different. He'd changed, and Sonic was the reason.

She was still so amazed at what he'd done with the Blue Blur. Seeing him blind was shocking. She, like everyone else, believed there was nothing wrong with him. Shadow's double jeopardy trick with the Mobian Authorities still fooling everyone. It let Sonic keep his reputation. Kept the legend of the Hero of Mobian alive and for that, Rouge felt that Shadow, at least, deserved a second chance.

Suddenly, she had an idea. She, herself, didn't want to go the Ark. Shadow's company would just wear her down and wondered how Sonic put up with him for five years. However, she knew of someone, or some two, who could. She immediately left G.U.N. to find them. Eggman, in prison, had recently fallen desperately ill. Gravely sick indeed. Rumours were flying around that he wasn't going to make it. Turns out that he'd contracted N.I.D.S. (Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome), the same disease that his cousin Maria had. Apparently, it ran riff throughout his entire family, and Eggman getting it later in life, meant it was highly aggressive and he deteriorated very quickly. There was no cure.

Well, there potentially was, but no one dared ask him for it. Shadow had never mentioned the cure for N.I.D.S., not since Maria died, but truthfully, he didn't actually know where it was. After his creation, numerous painful experiments were done on Shadow, all to supposedly help Maria, which was why he very reluctantly agreed to them. He loved her. But after her sudden death, which wasn't part of the original plan, Shadow searched the Ark's archives and even his own memories, after their recovery, looking for the cure. He never found it. No documentation, or word of mouth ever mentioned how exactly Shadow was meant to heal Maria. Leaving the Ultimate Lifeform to now believe there was no cure.

It was all a coverup, an excuse for his creation, that seemed plausible and now Shadow distinctively remembered Gerald heavily fostering his relationship with Maria, as a means of making do as he was told. He growled. The underhanded sly evil schemes of a Robotnik. He should have seen it coming. But he was very young, back then, newly created. He just didn't know. He growled. In hindsight, it was obvious, and when the news came to the Ark, of Eggman's illness, Shadow wasn't that surprised, though he smirked. A fitting end to the despicable Human.

But the Mobian Authorities, however, wasn't going to let that stand, sending a court order to the Ark, legally demanding the cure for N.I.D.S.. Shadow heaved.

"But there is no cure." He sighed to himself, and immediately sent them back all the evidence he had proving that fact, exposing Gerald's lies and betrayal. Initially, he wasn't believed, but, to the surprise of everyone, Shadow returned to the planet, agreeing to be examined. He hated it, but the scientists were very respectful, unlike those on the Ark. They all frowned. Why was Shadow doing this? He heaved as they all worked around him.

"Two reasons." He hissed, extremely coldly. "One, to get you guys off my case. Once we're done here, I'm not coming back." He harshly scowled, to the intense fright of some of the scientists. "And two, to expose Gerald for the utter lier he really was." He heaved. Suddenly, a voice behind Shadow made him turn around, in the laboratory. A familiar face by the door. Rouge deeply sighed.

"There is no cure, is there." She gulped. Shadow shook his head, and all the scientists around him, also agreed. They weren't very happy about it, at all. There was nothing in the Ultimate Lifeform's physiology, or D.N.A. that even hinted at a possible cure. It was a lie. There was literally nothing Shadow could have done to save Maria. He growled. He wouldn't have put it past Gerald to have organised that G.U.N. invasion of the Ark, that got Maria killed, to get Shadow mentally broken, with grief, enough to willingly obey him. The Ultimate Lifeform, the Ultimate Weapon was the point, after all. Not some stupid cure. Pure evil manipulation as it's absolute best. To sacrifice a granddaughter, who wasn't going to survive anyway.

Tears fell down Shadow's face, as he realised, he was now so incredibly grateful he was rid of the control from that filthy Human. In fact, the entire Robotnik family, and as he dried himself off, he knew exactly who the thank.

Sonic.

The one person who never gave up on him. Shadow smirked. He'd paid back his debt to him, and now the Blue Blur was safe and would be well cared for the rest of his days, the Fox and the Echidna would personally see to that. He looked back at Rouge as the scientists were finishing up, he noticed she carrying something in her hands. A very familiar sphere and cube, curled up in their shells, blinking very sorrowfully, but somewhat shaking with fright. Within minutes, the scientists were done, and Shadow was allowed to leave. He walked up towards her. He frowned, looking down at the robots in her hands.

"Orbot and Cubot?" He wondered. But Rouge just heaved.

"I think Eggman already knew there was no cure, because he immediately agreed with me and gave me, these two, to give back to you. Maybe they might give you the company you seek." She shrugged. Shadow blinked, utterly stunned at her, as he took the robots from her, the both of them silently blinking up at him. Suddenly, word came through that Eggman had died, to heavy mournful beeps and squeaks from the robots. Loyal to the very end. Shadow smirked. Loyalty was a trait he highly valued, and maybe those little robots could show their worth to a new master. He nodded to Rouge. Yes, he did have a use for these two on the Ark. As for company, he'll get to that. Orbot and Cubot might be good enough, but he didn't actually know them that well.

Soon, Eggman was buried, and world returned to normal, and everyone went their separate ways. In the end, Shadow never sort further company for the Ark. It was very awkward at first between them but the robots obediently went about their jobs on the Ark, very keen to look around, having never been there before. They did extremely good work, Shadow automatically thanking them for it, which blew them away. Eggman never did that, and soon things started to relax, as they all got talking. It turned out that Orbot was a superb chess player which was one of Shadow's favourite games. As for Cubot, his stupid antics reminded him a lot of Sonic, which brought a welcome relief to the space colony. Shadow liked the robots, a lot, and completely understood as to why Eggman had built them. They were extremely good at keeping a person company and also saw why Sonic was very fond of them too. Orbot's brutal sarcasm and Cubot's child-like nature bouncing off each other perfectly. Soon though, all three of them began to bicker horrendously.

Shadow did regularly returned to the planet, to both teach, work and finish his studies of Sonic's Sonar. Shadow was impressed at how quickly Tails turned everything around, passing the inspection with flying colours. Shadow was pleased, as Sonic always bounced at him, delighted at every time he came to visit. The Fox and the Echidna found their routine, as Sonic was well looked after, and with the fixed contact lenses, living life normally.

But as the days, turned to months, then years, decades and centuries, as one-by-one all the people Shadow knew passed away, leaving him always there, forever ageless, but now, not longer alone. Three creatures, two mechanical and one organic, all creations of the House of Robotnik, now destined to spend all of time together.

Sonic's death hit him particularly hard, as he attended the funeral. But he just couldn't help but smirk, extremely broadly, causing some to accuse him of being very disrespectful. But he just sniggered, as he perfectly knew that the Blue Blur himself would see the very funny side of it all, as all his heroic exploits were read out for the entire planet to hear. Shadow now finally extremely proud of him.

Sonic The Hedgehog.

The Hero, the Legend, The Saviour.

And completely blind, and the world never knew.