Sorry the updates have been so slow. I had writer's block (again), and my mind has been occupied with stuff (including a possible idea for my next big chapter fic, stay tuned). Anyway, Chapter 20 is up.
Back with the twins, Yume had convinced (more like threatened) Mech into leading them to Zynth's main office. Mech didn't really want to, but he ended up agreeing all the same. So the threesome continued through the vast maze of the fortress.
Everywhere they looked, however, there were bodies of androids scattered across the floors. Some looked like they had been shot, others smashed, and some looked completely fine. It was at first believed to have been Ghost, but then Akumu reminded them that Ghost may have had a gun, but nothing to smash with, or any other sort of thing (for there weren't many slash marks, and no traces of bazooka anywhere).
"Then what do you think it is, Mr. Genius?" Yume asked sarcastically.
"I don't think it was the robots," Akumu muttered to himself, "because they don't have a big variety of weapons. Same goes for Eggman, so…I don't know who could have done it."
"I do." Mech and the twins turned around. Behind them was a dark blue hedgehog, with bright green eyes. He was smirking at them, just like a certain someone…
"Mr. Sonic?" The twins asked, startled.
"Possibly," The azure hero replied. "So, where are you three headed?" He looked like Sonic, and he sounded like Sonic, but something seemed…off. Definitely off.
"Before we tell you, let me ask you this," Yume said, a touch of spite in her voice. "Where are all the other adults? You couldn't be the only one who escaped."
"Who says I escaped from something? I think that's what you should be doing." Oddly enough, the hedgehog's glove ripped as his hand turned into a cannon, and he fired. Yume ducked at the last minute, and then stared at him.
"Well, I can tell you aren't Sonic," The she-hog replied, tossing her brother the Spawn container. "So then, who are you?"
"I believe we've met before," The blue one said, still grinning. "You sure left a mark with that kick of yours."
"I know who you are," Mech exclaimed, looking him in the eye. "You're Commander Blur! So you are the one that's causing everyone to malfunction!"
"Oh, am I?" Blur asked innocently. "That's quite a claim, for such a weakling. Whose side are you on, anyway? You can't seem to decide."
"I'm on Master Zynth's side, of course!" The assistant cried. "How dare you question my loyalties?"
"Then why, may I ask, are you assisting those two? They are organic creatures, for crying out loud!" Mech and Blur both glared at each other. Yume realized that they looked oddly similar, and realized that, since Blur was a Sonic clone, that could only mean Mech was as well. The only reason she didn't realize earlier was probably the fact that he wore that cloak to hide his missing arm. Otherwise, he seemed like Sonic with fur dye and yellow contacts.
"Yume," Akumu whispered to his sister, "let's leave now, while they're distracted. I bet we could find the right room from here." Yume knew her brother was right, but oddly, it didn't feel right to her. Even though Mech was a suck-up, and annoyed her to heck, he still had helped them, hadn't he? Yume was unsure of what to do, for she had never been in a situation like this before.
"Come on Yume," Her bat-boy brother growled, grabbing her by the arm. "We should get going. Now." She nodded, and began to walk away.
"Oh, you really think you can leave?" Blur stared at them, and then muttered two words; "Chaos Burst"
Meanwhile, Zynth was busy barking orders at his troops. Nearby, he was watched by Ghost.
"Not Ghost," the gray hedgehog thought. "My name is Shadow. Sha-dow. The Hedgehog. Ultimate Lifeform. Me." It was probably quite odd, suddenly finding out who you were, but not really feeling anything about it. Shadow decided that would have to change, and to do that, he would have to find his soul. When Zynth's attention was elsewhere, Shadow ran off, weapons in hand. Where he was running, he did not know, but he could feel something. There was something nearby…something important.
There it was, up ahead. The corridor was a dead end, though Shadow knew there was a room on the other side. He didn't know how, he just knew. There was probably another corridor that lead to it elsewhere, but Shadow decided not to waste time getting to it. Instead, he pulled out the bazooka, and aimed for the wall.
KABOOM!!! In a matter of seconds, there was nothing left of the dead end, and Shadow stepped over the debris into the room. Surprisingly, someone was in there already, a cybernetic echidna sitting at a nearby desk, grinning.
"So, you finally show up," Eggman noted. "Just as planned."
"You knew of this," Shadow stated. The mad scientist nodded, still grinning.
"All part of my plan," He agreed, "to finally reclaim the Robotic Empire."
So, the plot thickens! At least, I think it thickens. Anyway, I'll try to update earlier next time. If I don't update in a week, then PLEASE remind me. I am getting really bad about it. Anyway, I shall see you (hopefully) in a week. Enjoy!
Note: The technique "Chaos Burst" as used by Blur earlier is a technique the Gizoid copied from Shadow in Sonic Battle. It is like a smaller, more colorful Chaos Blast. Comparitive power levels are not known.