Author's Note:
The short segment of lyrics in this chapter were taken from Team Dark's theme from Sonic Heroes, Shadow's theme from SA2, and White Jungle from SA2; This Machine, Throw It All Away, and Rhythm & Balance. These songs and their lyrics do not belong to me.
Chapter 4
Shadow stared hard at the creature called Dimitri – not that there was much to look at. There were no glowing red eyes from beneath this hood, but Shadow could feel that it was looking right back at him… maybe even through him. Shadow was about to say something wry to the dark figure, but Dr. Eggman spoke first.
"A long time ago, the leaders of the echidna tribes, notably those on Angel Island, grew leery towards new technology. As the citizens gained more knowledge and power with technology they created, the leaders feared they might loose control and influence over the populace. As the government's paranoia increased, more and more what they considered 'threatening' technology was destroyed or confiscated – however, sophisticated weapons and similar devices were hoarded in secret by the government. Eventually technology was outlawed altogether, to the outrage of many citizens." Eggman began to pace again, "Dimitri and his followers here were, and are, pro-technology. They formed the Dark Legion – an organization devoted to bringing advanced technology back to the island and its people indefinitely… at whatever cost." Eggman looked to Dimitri.
"We do not see technology as a mere tool… we see it as enriched life. Without technology," Dimitri reached out with one completely cloaked arm, and grabbed the solid steel railing on the portable staircase, "Many of us would have died long ago – from old age, starvation, or sickness. We would still be…" he effortlessly ripped a section, stairs and all, off the staircase, "…weak, primitive life forms." Eggman was not pleased with the destruction of his property, but he was too shocked to do anything about the sudden gesture. Dimitri chortled quietly as he tossed the twisted metal aside, "The government managed to suppress many people who still wanted the gift of technology, but not us. They fear us." Dimitri paused, "Those fools on the island were terrified that we would overrun them. They managed to indoctrinate the people into fearing that the technology we strived to liberate would needlessly complicate their, happy, simple little lives. Our goal is to magnify and fulfill that fear. To make them understand. Complexity is a part of what makes our lives whole…"
Dimitri did not speak like any being Shadow had ever met, mechanical or organic, and he spoke with a rich darkness that rivalled his own voice. He also had the impression – judging from that 'demonstration' -- that he was as physically strong, or perhaps even stronger than Knuckles. Shadow wanted to size him up, to put aside any doubt that he could defeat this creature if necessary, but it was impossible to do so through the dark cloak.
"You are machines." Shadow decided.
"They are machines." Dimitri gestured towards the masses of robot echidna to Shadow's right, "Robotnik's roboticizor made them mindless slaves… they've lost their will. They are below us. We are superior life forms."
Shadow raised an eyebrow at that (only slightly disturbing) comment.
"In return for our help, Robotnik promised to make us stronger with technology, and he did. Physically he made us strong …but he never told us what that machine did to the mind. Before we realised what happened, all but us six were completely transformed into mindless machines. Fate, however, did have a plan; our free will was spared, and now we live to lead the Dark Legion."
Eggman cleared his throat, "At first, Dimitri was angry that his soldiers had been roboticized, but he soon realised that his new army was much better than the former… this way, there would be no betrayers; no rebels."
"…and" Dimitri cut in, "…they are much more powerful and efficient than before, while representing all that we stand for; technology!"
Shadow was acceptant of this long, dual speech, but was aghast at how similar the two thought. Both Dr. Eggman and Dimitri strived for a metallic, complex, technology-run future, without regards to what others thought or what cost it may charge to the natural world… and just as importantly, the natural mind. Not that any of this mattered to Shadow; all he wanted was to reveal his past, and find a purpose in life. If that involved the occasional ludicrous, morally objectionable plan, then so be it. It's not as if he hadn't killed sentient beings before.
'...but I had a good reason for that.' Shadow insisted to himself.
After ridding themselves of Metal Sonic and Sonic the Hedgehog, their only real roadblocks, Eggman and the Dark Legion could work freely to create their separate utopias – though with or without each other, Shadow could only guess.
There was a long pause before Shadow finally spoke.
"Alright, so when do we take on Metal Sonic and his… minions." Shadow felt odd calling his duplicates 'minions'.
"As soon as possible." Eggman rubbed his hands together, "…but first, I should mention that GUN is still looking for you as well as the Chaos Emeralds. They know something is up. Sonic and company have been helpfully taking care of GUN so far, but with the way things are going, I'd rather they keep away from the emeralds as well. All we need is Super Sonic and Metal Sonic beating us down." Eggman sighed, "Metal Sonic has one emerald, GUN has two emeralds, Sonic has three, and one is unaccounted for."
"The white one I used…" Shadow nodded slowly without breaking eye contact with Eggman.
"Our first mission is to get the majority, preferably all, of the emeralds before someone else does first. It's us, versus Metal Sonic, versus GUN, versus Sonic."
"…and the Guardian." added Dimitri thoughtfully.
"I have a feeling he's teamed up with Sonic again." Eggman countered, "Alright… Shadow?"
"Yes?"
"Tomorrow morning you'll go and find that blue emerald—"
"White." Shadow corrected.
"Yes, yes…" Eggman waved a hand in the air, dismissing the inane error, "Whatever you do, don't use it to warp back, or it may teleport again. I can't have you sucking the power out of all the emeralds, then risk them teleporting when they're low on power."
Shadow bristled, a little insulted with Eggman's tone, "Normally I can prevent that. The manner in which you use the emeralds determines whether or not they will teleport after use."
Eggman rolled his eyes, but fortunately for him, Shadow couldn't see because of his dark glasses, "Dimitri, tomorrow you will lead whatever numbers you desire against Sonic and his friends – that includes Guardian Knuckles. Your primary mission is to collect the emeralds they possess; secondary and optional mission is to significantly mangle them. Do not kill Sonic." Eggman stressed the last part, "Incapacitation is preferable."
"Why can't we go tonight?" asked Shadow, arms crossed.
"…because… I will need to be awake while you carry out your missions."
Dimitri, Shadow, and all those within earshot, tilted their heads slightly to one side, puzzled.
"I haven't slept for days;" Eggman explained, annoyed, "Having a diabolically insane robot on your case, Sonic and GUN beating me to every emerald, plus keeping one eye out for you," he pointed a white gloved hand directly at Shadow, almost accusingly, "has been thoroughly nerve wracking." he dropped his hand.
Dimitri nodded and stepped back, "Yes, it would be wise for those of us who must, to retire while we still can…" he gestured towards the six behind him, who bent their heads slightly and walked away. Dimitri soon followed.
"Be patient Shadow," yawned Eggman as he walked towards his Personal Egg Transport, "Not everyone is a true insomniac like you." Eggman climbed into his PET and pressed a few buttons, powering down the robot echidna and lighting to the warehouse, "I don't think I could stop you even if I wanted to, so I'll say: Feel free to look around. …but I'm begging you to not leave the base—"
"What about my files."
"They aren't here. Once we have defeated Metal Sonic, I will take you to the place where they are located, and let you have free access to whatever you like."
"Where is this place? Why can't I go there now?"
Eggman sighed, leaning back in his seat and massaging his head with his hands, "You're around seventy years old and you ask more questions than a child… guess it comes with being immortal." he lowered his hands and looked at Shadow, PET now hovering a few feet off the floor, silently.
Shadow waited, vacant of expression.
"If I gave you what you wanted now, I imagine you would not have any incentive to help me. You are uncooperative by nature, and I am grateful to have whatever of your services you choose to lend to me."
Shadow smiled a dangerous, wry smile, "What if I accessed the E-Net, and found the files that way?"
"They are not on the E-Net—"
"I know—"
"Let me finish!" Eggman growled and let out another sigh, too tired to start a temper tantrum now, "They are not on the E-Net, and the location is uncharted, it being so old. You won't find its coordinates on the E-Net, its location is only known in my mind. Like I said… feel free to look around." then he added quietly, "…but you won't find anything terribly useful." Eggman started to float away, "Remember…" he lifted a finger to the air, "I have something you want, and you have abilities I need. It's a fair trade, don't you think?"
"You're not one to be… fair, Eggman." Shadow's smile had now spread to a devilish grin, "I believe the word you're looking for is 'bribe'."
"It's a fair trade, " insisted Eggman, yelling, as he was further away now, "…and don't leave the base! If you can find a way out, that is!" Dr. Eggman hovered out of the room with those last words. He instantly regretted the last bit, as it sounded like a challenge; Shadow enjoyed proving Eggman wrong, whether it was trivial or not.
"Why would I leave? I have nowhere else to go…" Shadow said quietly, knowing no one could hear.
The room was dark, the main lights being off, but dim strip lighting lined the edges of doorways, steps, and at the bottom of the walls. At a steady, medium speed, Shadow made his way up some metal grate steps, across a catwalk, and then left the warehouse through the wide door where Eggman had exited.
Living up to his name, Shadow slowly skated down the dark, wide hallway, making no noise as he went. It felt like… ARK… with its cool, smooth metal corridors, dry, drafty air, and surreal atmosphere. This atmosphere jogged a memory… his routine before the demise of ARK...
When Maria was staying on the colony, which was fairly often, Shadow could remember sleeping for several hours each cycle (as there is no real day or night in space, each 24 hours was considered a 'cycle'). On those 'nights' when she was absent, Shadow would skate endlessly down the countless hallways of ARK, sleepless. Was the memory real? It didn't matter. It made him feel better to experience something familiar. …and so he skated.
From what he could remember, ARK had many rooms and domes containing live environments. Most of the 'Green Rooms' as they were called, contained trees, flowers, shrubs, grass, and more. Others had more of a rock garden look, or had many ponds containing holographic fish. The largest dome, which included at least twenty acres of grassy fields, a deep lake, and badlands, was transparent so that you could see the stars outside. There was a peaceful, natural place for everyone living on the colony. Shadow could remember being with Maria in her private Green Room, reading her school texts or playing silly games, but doubted he would find such a serene place in this base of Eggman's. There would be nothing else but these cool, metallic hallways in this base to remind him of… home.
As the hallway split into a 'Y' shape Shadow veered left. The hallway narrowed, its ceiling stretched high, and it was so dark that he couldn't see where it ended. The hallway was also very long, so Shadow felt secure enough to pick up speed. As he reached a bend to the right, he leaned all his weight right and executed several crossovers to make the turn. This next hallway was short, and he soon found himself doing more crossovers to the right. Another long, high-ceilinged hallway faced him. In this one there was something glowing yellow and hanging from the ceiling. As Shadow drew nearer, he discovered it was a clock; it read 24:58:01… 02…03…
'Almost there… yet a long way to go.' Shadow thought, in reference to the time. He bent his head lower as he poured on more speed. The hallway made many more random zigzagging turns, before he ended back where he started at the Y split.
Shadow stopped, tilted his head slightly to look up at the split, and then started the loop again. …and again… and again… Around and around he went. The loop was fairly long, but as he began to time himself using the hanging clock, it seemed to shorten.
Not concerned about conserving energy, Shadow swung his arms in rhythm to each skate stroke, white gloves making wide arcs in the dim light. At each turn, he would swing one arm diagonally to keep rhythm and balance as he crossed over, while keeping the other arm swinging. He was a natural speed skater.
01:21:54… 01:22:45… 01:24:01… each time he saw the clock, it seemed to be only a minute later. Time was passing so slowly.
He completed another loop, his 66th if he wasn't mistaken, and unconsciously allowed his mind to wander. The wind he created rustled his quills and whistled by his small triangular ears; it was nothing like running free in the desert, but it felt good. His hover-shoes, technically known as Air Shoes, had heated up quite a bit, but Shadow didn't feel a thing as he effortlessly rounded another corner.
'I've done the loop so many times now, I could do it with my eyes closed.' he thought, though not at all bored with the repetition; it allowed him to think more clearly. He passed the clock again; it read 01:43:02.
He decided to actually try – Shadow's eyes closed, but he continued to run, his classic, determined look frozen on his face. Shoes making a faint swooshing sound as they propelled Shadow down the hallways, his legs seemed to take over, mindlessly pushing off and gliding to keep him going around and around in the loop. He hit no walls, and did not slow down. The wind felt so good against his front… and he didn't want to stop.
swoosh… swoosh… swoosh… swoosh…
You try to take me down,
Stop the show!
It seems you've never tasted fear,
or loss of control.
The power lives in me.
The power that is me.
swoosh… swoosh… swoosh… swoosh…
We all danced in fire,
Trapped in this machine.
Don't know how long we've waited,
As the Eggman's watching.
swoosh… swoosh… swoosh… swoosh…
Shadow, don't make me upset,
I don't wanna hear you.
Shadow, don't make me upset,
You are frightened at something.
SWOOSH… SWOOSH… SWOOSH… SWOOSH…
"Oh…" Shadow stammered, as he came to a halt. His shiny red eyes fluttered open. How long had it been since he last looked at the clock? He moved towards the clock. It read 03:05:05… 06… 07… 08…
His ears had decided to focus on the sound of his shoes – making it sound louder – and he awoke from his dream-like state. The sensation he felt was not unlike the one felt after being disturbed from an unfulfilling, yet deep, sleep.
'Was I… sleeping?' he contemplated the definition of 'sleep', and then decided the closest thing to describing what just happened would be 'Sleep Skating'. Raising an eyebrow and taking a deep breath, he turned on heel and started to run in the opposite direction; counter clockwise in the loop. Whatever had happened, it ate up a few hours time. This pleased Shadow, as he was now a few hours time closer to setting out on his mission. He felt that he had accomplished something.
It was around 4:30 in the morning when Shadow decided to stop and rest. He had thought of everything that he could think to have thought about for the moment, and had thoroughly worked out each side of his body. It was time to reflect and wait.
Standing in the hallway, almost under the clock, Shadow looked up.
'Just how far does that go up?' his look of determination slowly faded to a smirk, 'Let's find out.'
Shadow leapt straight up onto the clock – which sagged and sparked a little, not from his weight, but the sheer force as he pushed off – and then bouncing upwards from wall to wall at incredible speed, slowly made his way towards the ceiling. As there were thick cables and pipes connecting wall to wall, Shadow had to look carefully in the dark before he hopped to the other side.
Except there was no ceiling. Shadow could see stars in a navy blue sky peeking through a narrow gap at the top of the walls. Encouraged by the thought of fresh air and open space, he tripled his pace, bounced around a hot steam pipe, and flew towards the opening, arms outstretched.
Except it wasn't an opening. He realised this a millisecond too late.
"Oh shhhh—" SLAM!
Shadow hit a thick, heavily reinforced glass window face first, the sound of the impact reverberating throughout the hallway. He had been so sure it was an opening, but the glass was so clean, and the area so dark, that he couldn't tell that there was anything there. Shadow fell off his point of impact, and tumbled a few meters before catching himself on a pipe. He hung by one arm for a moment, rubbing his sore, smashed face with the other. How embarrassing… The Ultimate Life form runs into a window. Shadow resumed his cranky air, let go of the pipe, and dropped several hundred feet, ricocheting off various pipes to slow his fall. He landed beneath the clock (it read 3:15:45), and remembered what Eggman had said: "…and don't leave the base! If you can find a way out, that is!"
Shadow crossed his arms and huffed, "What? I suddenly can't be trusted to take care of myself?" but instantly resented it. Dr. Eggman had probably saved his life when he 'rescued' him from Metal Sonic, having had no idea how to effectively fight this formidable new foe off. Eggman didn't want Shadow to leave in case he had to rescue Shadow from that metalhead again. …and what better way to have Metal Sonic attracted to the base, than by having Shadow run laps around it.
…then again, 'I'm the Ultimate Life. I could have eventually figured out a way to beat Metal Sonic silly.' but he resented that, too. A mental conflict ensued…
'What if I couldn't? What if he had killed me?' said one side.
'What if… What if…' the other side dismissed, 'It doesn't matter now. It's in the past. I can self-heal in minutes, I could be at your throat in a heartbeat, kill you eight times over before you hit the ground, I'm… I'm…'
'I know I'm strong, but just how strong is strong. How immortal is immortal? Can I even die in battle? Of injury?'
'… … …' the other side had no answer to that, and so was out of the argument.
'What if I… what if… what if I can't be killed?! I'll be stuck here forever… I'm in this endless life forever… forever…'
No one can break you, nobody can tear you,
You live an endless life forever…
"Shadow." Eggman's voice.
"Wuh?" Shadow looked up. He had become senseless again, and had slumped against the wall on his right shoulder.
"You looked… almost worried there for a moment." Eggman raised a concerned eyebrow as he stepped into the dim yellow light emitted by the clock. He was wearing a red nightcap with large white Eggman logos polka dotting the fabric. He quickly removed the cap and stuck it in a back pocket, not having remembered that he was even wearing it.
Shadow merely stood up straight and rubbed his head. He was a little rattled, but more disturbed by Eggman's choice of hat than worried about himself.
"Let's walk." Eggman offered Shadow the lead.
…and they walked. Shadow felt awkward walking for any length of time; his shoes, large clunky things that they were, weren't exactly meant for it. His step almost looked as if he were stamping the ground – like the pistons of an old steam train — rather than the usual 'heel-toe-heel-toe' pattern.
"I thought you said you needed to sleep, Doctor." Shadow said blankly.
"I did, until a rather loud bang woke be up. That wasn't you, was it?"
"Erm…" Shadow thought quickly, eyes darting to and from the floor, and if it had been lighter, you could have seen his face turn red beneath the black fur, "Yes." then Shadow spoke again, quickly trying to change the subject before Eggman could ask what had happened, "Doctor Eggman, is it possible for me to die of injury?"
Now it was Eggman's turn to be caught off guard, "Uh, I don't see why not. Though it would be hard for any creature to beat you within an inch of your life, let alone lay a finger on you."
Shadow looked at the floor.
"You're thinking of Metal Sonic?" Eggman pried.
"I couldn't even attack him."
"Ah yes… that would be the upgrade I gave him. He allows those whose genetic data he's collected to pass straight through his body. It's easily overridden, don't worry about—"
"How?" Shadow interrupted, interest peaked.
Eggman was getting used to the interruptions. It was Shadow's nature to only hear what he needed – or wanted – to hear, "Look at your hands."
Shadow raised his gloved hands and looked at the palms. They were still stained with his blood, "What about them?"
"When I found you, you were trying to push Metal Sonic away with your feet and hands. You were able to touch him, no?"
"Yes, but…!" Shadow started to insist, then stopped, realising what Eggman was trying to tell him, "Oh." Shadow lowered his hands.
"You see, he allows any material or matter carrying your genetic signature to pass through, but your gloves, clean at the time," Eggman shook his head, spying the state of Shadow's gloves, "do not carry that signature. They block or mask the signature, and allow you to—"
"Touch him!" Shadow smirked as he punched one palm with his fist, imagining the pleasure of decking the bolts-for-brains Metal Sonic, "So that's how it works."
"I'm telling you this, because I want an ally to finish Metal Sonic off, not an enemy. If an outsider destroys Metal Sonic, it will further portray that I have no control over my own creations."
Something seemed to snap into clarity in Shadow's brain. It was the feeling déjà vu, but not understanding the purpose of the feeling he cast it aside and continued the conversation.
"…but… in all honesty, you really don't have much control over your creations." Shadow raised an eyebrow.
"The smart ones anyway." grumbled Eggman to himself in resentful agreement.
"What was that?" Shadow had failed to hear.
"Never mind…" Eggman waved it off, "Keep in mind that if your gloves are soaked in your own blood like that," Eggman took one of Shadow's wrists and looked at his glove, "You won't be able to touch Metal Sonic."
"Right." Shadow squirmed uncomfortably from his weak grip. He didn't like physical contact with humans, though he did respect Eggman for at least one thing; his lack of fear. Most beings would distance themselves from Shadow, but not Eggman. Not unless there was good reason.
"Wait a minute." Eggman stopped walking and looked carefully at Shadow's wrists, "What happened to your bands?"
"My what?" Shadow said blankly, his face wincing slightly.
"The gold rings around your wrists and ankles. I just noticed… What happened to them?"
Shadow looked himself over. Indeed the rings were gone. He had not noticed himself.
"I… I don't know." Shadow eyed the back of his wrist as he thought, 'Great, all I need is another mystery.'
"Well, it's probably a good thing. This way we'll be able to tell you apart from the clones." Eggman began to walk again, leaving Shadow behind to admire his wrists. Now that Shadow had noticed it, it felt strange to not have those gold bands. They had been on him almost as long as he could remember.
Shadow turned and jogged to catch up to Eggman. He had stepped onto an open lift, and Shadow had to jump high to get on the quickly ascending platform.
"What purpose did they serve?" he questioned as he composed himself next to Eggman.
"What do I look like? Your creator?" Eggman grunted.
"Yes.Striking resemblance." Shadow ran a hand through his quills.
Eggman ignored that comment, "Obviously they don't do much, as you didn't notice until I told you."
Shadow was silent. He kept looking at his wrists now, feeling… exposed.
"Get over it, Shadow." Eggman rolled his eyes behind his glasses.
"How about I take your glasses… see how you like a part of yourself missing." Shadow suggested.
"Fine… it's not as if it's my arm or leg." Eggman said, semi-sarcastically, and crossed his arms, hoping the lift would reach the top soon.
"Shall I take them then?" Shadow thought Eggman was serious.
"Drop it, Shadow…"
It was Shadow's turn to cross his arms and hope the lift would reach the top soon. Eggman was no fun.
The lift had taken them to one of the only aboveground section of the base. The secondary controls stood here – a large, circular structure with many blinking lights and holographic screens, much like the one Eggman had used during their last saga with Rouge. The wall behind the computer reached up to join the ceiling at a 45-degree angle, and several long, seamless, heavily reinforced windows stretched from the floor, up the walls, and across the ceilings as skylights. The sun was just starting to rise, lighting the vast room and the outside with brilliant orange light. The windows allowed a beautiful view of the sunrise over a dry desert landscape.
Shadow found this room peculiar… it wasn't at all like Eggman… it was more… more like Gerald's style.
"Tell me Doctor, did you build this base?" Shadow asked curiously.
"Parts of it, yes." he replied.
For once, Shadow was satisfied with an incomplete answer. He knew… Smirking to himself, he knew that a good portion of the base must have been Gerald's design. That's why he had felt so at home, running the loop.
SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM!
Shadow's happy thought broke. He unfolded his arms slowly as he turned around. Eggman had pulled a lever on the control panel, making large metal sheets close over the windows, one by one.
"Typical…" muttered Shadow, allowing his expression to go blank again.
"As soon as the Dark Legion is ready, you can begin your mission. I want you both to start at the same time. It will be easier to track you all that way." Eggman read a message that popped up on one of the screens, "Ah… see? Dimitri's briefing them right now."
As Eggman fiddled with the controls and various complicated screens, Shadow sought out the darkest corner in the room, and leaned against it, arms and feet crossed. He let his eyes close, and entered another almost meditative state as he waited.
"What exactly is Dimitri?" Shadow asked after a very long silence, "…and the other cloaked ones."
"They're cybernetic echidna. Parts of their body have been replaced by robotic parts, but they're mostly flesh and bone." Eggman answered, speaking slowly as he was working at the same time.
"Why do they cover themselves?"
"Why don't you ask them?"
"Because you seem to know a lot about them."
"We'll I never thought to ask them about such a minor detail. It's a personal choice I suppose… but the way they act sometimes, it's almost like a cult."
"Humm?" Shadow opened one eye but didn't move from his place in the dark.
"They worship technology apparently. Before they met my father, the rule was that you had to replace a body part with a cybernetic piece to be accepted into the Legion. It's fascinating…"
"Hn…" Shadow growled and closed his eyes again.
"I didn't get to see much of them, but some of them have more robotic parts than others, voluntarily. One of them has the majority of her spines replaced with medusa-like appendages. She can use them as extra hands or as weapons; very useful."
"She?"
"Four of them are males, two I believe are females."
"Oh."
"It's hard to tell who's who sometimes, as they all like to linger in the dark, are very bitter and ruthless, and don't talk much… kind of like yourself."
"Humph…" Shadow turned towards his corner, annoyed with the conversation.
There was another long silence. Shadow lost track of time, but what must have been a half hour later, one of the cloaked figures entered the room by the lift. This one had a glowing red eye under the hood. Shadow opened one of his red eyes and watched intently as the cloak walked over to Eggman. Each step they took clanked heavily against the metal floor.
"We're ready to commence our mission." the male voice reported.
Eggman turned from his work, "Good. You all have your tracking devices activated, and I assume Dimitri has already gathered the information he needs to find Sonic and Knuckles?"
The cloak seemed to twitch at Knuckles' name, but nodded slowly.
"Then you may leave at once."
The cloak started to leave as Eggman turned back to his screens.
"Oh… Kragok, wait!" Eggman spun around again.
The Dark Legionnaire, Kragok, stopped and turned to face Eggman once more. Eggman turned to Shadow.
"Shadow, I want you to leave with Kragok. The Dark Legion will show you the way out."
Kragok seemed to jump as Shadow stepped from the concealment of his dark corner. Had he not noticed him standing there? Kragok didn't wait for Shadow, and was on the lift by the time he caught up.
Shadow stared into Kragok's glowing red eye – it being the only focal point available – and Kragok stared right back at Shadow. This continued for what seemed like an eternity, and then Shadow broke eye contact.
'I'll show him.' Shadow thought, then said, "This lift's too slow, see you at the bottom." and with that he leapt straight over Kragok's head, letting himself freefall a few hundred meters to the floor below, hover shoes breaking the fall as he landed lightly. Down here the hallway was dark, especially now that Eggman had closed all the skylights.
CLANG! Shadow looked to his right. Kragok had followed by simply stepping off the platform and landing beside Shadow, with hardly a bend in the knee. It may have just been the light, but Shadow swore he could see a smirk beneath the hood. The smirk soon faded.
"This way." Kragok said coldly.
Shadow followed, unfazed. After a few minutes of walking and another game of chicken – a freefall straight down the middle of a spiral staircase this time – Shadow and Kragok found themselves in the place where Shadow had first made his appearance in the base; the large warehouse/hangar-like room. This time the majority of robot echidnas were lined up in tight formation to the left of the room, freeing up space in the middle. The hangar had opened up at the back to reveal a segment of a cave; the quad rails and several of the flatbed cars from the high-speed train contained within. Around 20 more of the robot echidnas were standing on a flatbed of the high-speed train. Although they were purely mechanical, someone had dressed them in black cloaks similar to the six cybernetic Legionnaires. Another flatbed carried two small tanks.
'Tanks?' Shadow thought in disbelief.
Kragok walked over to the other five of his kind, who had assembled near the train. Shadow joined them shortly. One of them looked at Shadow and spoke directly to him.
"We have been instructed by Eggman to take you with us, and leave you at the first stop." It was Dimitri.
Shadow nodded as three of the cloaks started to move onto the train. Then the last three turned and boarded the train as well. One of the last three leapt into the air and glided onto the last car. Shadow sprinted over to the train and found a small space where he could sit, undisturbed by their prying red eyes; behind several robots and a metal crate, which he assumed was for transporting the Chaos Emeralds once they were 'collected', as Eggman had put it.
The door to the hangar closed behind them, sealing itself so well, that it looked like just another part of the cave wall. The train began to move. The ride was not unlike the previous one he had taken against his will on this train; smooth, but fast and fairly noisy.
As they went, Shadow listened in on the conversation behind him while watching the Legionnaire in front of him, who was sitting with its back to him on the last car. Shadow was just out of earshot, so he could only hear fragments of what was said.
"So who's going to take … … Guardian?" asked a female voice.
There was a pause as this was considered.
"… will do the honours. He's … but … not worth my time." Dimitri.
"Thank … …" Kragok sounded sincerely grateful by his giddy reply, so Shadow assumed he was the one who was assigned the 'honour'.
"… about Sonic?" the female voice again.
"I want … three … … … on him, plus the Mechidna. … not … … underestimated."
Shadow assumed that 'Mechidna' were the robots he was sitting behind.
"…and his other allies?" an unknown male voice, "The mutant fox, and perhaps the Chaotix team?"
"…can fly well, … I'll send her against … fox. Rex and I will take any others who cross our path."
The train was slowing, so it became easier to hear.
"Where is … … anyway?" the female voice.
"… last car." Kragok.
"Good. I hope she falls off … we stop." the female again.
Three of them chuckled.
The train approached the first stop, a small platform and metal doorway that said EXIT on the left.
"Lien-Da, you're supposed to think that way about the enemy, not allies!" laughed one of the unknown voices, "Let alone your little sis—"
"Half sister. ...and don't call me that." She hissed in a deadly serious tone, "I'm Kommissar now…"
One of them whistled in mock impression.
SMACK! Someone got slapped…
The breaks screeched and the train halted, jarring Shadow to get to his feet. He vaulted to the platform on his left, and started for the door.
"It's your own business to how you get back, you know." yelled Kragok, almost teasingly, "So we hope you remember where the door is…"
Shadow said nothing. He was just going to use the emerald to get back, regardless of Eggman's warnings. The train started to move again, and just as Shadow placed his hand on the latch to the door, it whooshed out of sight.
Shadow flipped up the heavy metal latch and pulled open the door. It led to a rocky cave. Shadow stepped through the doorway, shutting the door behind him, and started to jog down the cramped path. One dim security light on the opposite side of the door was the only thing lighting the cave, and so the tunnel became darker as he went. He could hear water rushing at the end. As he came closer to the sound, the air grew damper and the floor started to splash under his shoes. Shadow suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and swore. Ahead of him was a deep pool of rushing water. Two obviously Eggman-made pipes (for it had his logo printed on them) gushed a thick, steady stream of surprisingly clean water into the pool, which seemed to be draining whirlpool-style to some outside source. There was no way out except under water. Was this really necessary? Had Eggman been able to pick up the white emerald up on radar enough to send Shadow to the closest location? Or was this some sick joke? Shadow swore again and sunk his head into his hands. Like Sonic, he couldn't swim, but as an added bonus, if he got his Air Shoes wet they wouldn't work for hours after. Not only that, but Shadow had no idea how long the water tunnel was. He could very well drown before making it outside – if that was even where the water went. He hesitated for a moment at that thought, and then thought about the benefits. Drowning was probably one of the better ways to die… better than being sliced and beaten by Metal Sonic.
'I'd rather try to find a meaning for my life before I die,' he thought, '…and at the moment, my purpose is this mission for Eggman.'
…and he bravely dove head first into the water.