a/n: Piecemeal.

Galactic Shackles

05. Linearity

"It's the first glimpse of forever."

"..."

Ten days passed since the last appearance of Sonic the Hedgehog. The city of Station Square resumed its flow. On a park bench, in the summer sun, there were two figures.

"Forever is a strong word. That's why I used it, Tails."

"That so..."

"Mm. Yes, it is."

The colour was slowly returning to Amy. She looked healthier than she had in the past few weeks. Her normally bright green eyes had permanently dimmed in the wake of constant turmoil. She still carried the dark lines beneath them.

He held the can of soda in his hand, staring into the distance from his seat. There was a bright, perpetual fury in his blue eyes. He never let it take over him. Never even let it out. It was merely there inside of him, swirling violently.

They sat together, with only each other left.

"Are you gonna be okay?" he asked.

"I'll be fine. I'm going to try and wait for him."

"He tried to sever what you had."

"He did," she replied slowly. "I know."

"...he loved you. More than you could understand. He became...nobody."

"..."

"I wonder how much it hurt," Tails said.

"He wouldn't let me share that pain."

"You would die, Amy."

"...I would. How cruel." She brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "Tails."

"Yeah."

"I...love him even more now. Even though it hurts so much. Even in this despair, watching him sink into the darkness...I love him so much."

"Yeah."

"I want to live."

"I'm glad you do."

"I should go. I feel tired."

"Will you be okay?"

"Home isn't that far away. I can walk," she said as she stood up. "Please take care of yourself too, Tails."

"..."

"Tails. Is everything okay?"

"That's a harsh question."

"It is. I'm sorry."

"You didn't mean it."

"I'll go home. I love you a whole lot. I love you."

"I love you too, Amy. Get some rest."

"I will. Thank you."

She bowed at the waist before walking away. Tails sighed and took another sip from the soda can. He looked at the city skyline and murmured a silent prayer.

Another ten days passed. Knuckles returned to his island by way of Tails and the Tornado. His offer of a stay on the island with free run of it was rejected by the younger boy. He had his own plans.

The guardian respected them and bade him farewell for the time being.

An unusually crisp summer morning saw Rouge pouring herself a cup of coffee. She yawned and closed the window nearby, feeling a chill go across her stomach.

"You're amazing, hon. I didn't feel like cooking this morning."

"You deserve this much. This workload has been obnoxious, to say the least."

"Damn right." She sat down to her already prepared plate, across from Shadow who was content with a cup of black coffee. "Any news about the Eggman?"

"None. Not even on our 'other' channels."

"This is getting creepy, to say the least." She hummed as she ate a forkful of scrambled eggs. Shadow was her favourite chef, bar none.

"Is that the word you would use?"

"First one that came to mind. Let me get my motor going and I'll give you something more colourful." She noted that he wasn't reading anything this morning. "Darling...you seem to have something important on your mind."

"I was thinking about those two."

Rouge set her fork down and sipped at her coffee. "I've been doing the same. Amy...she looks a lot better."

"It was because-"

"Yeah. Just...don't remind me of that."

"He willingly threw himself into nothingness for her sake."

"Embracing the title of monster?" Rouge asked. "That's a lot, even for Blue. I know he's a tough cookie, but...god, I can't get it all out of my head. Seeing Amy like that. Seeing Tails like that. Both just...so..."

"..."

"But they're somehow getting over it. Was that his plan?"

"Yes."

"And what if it didn't work?"

Shadow took a sip from his mug. "You know he didn't plan further than that."

"...go figure, then."

"Yes." He looked at her as she sliced apart her pancakes. "Take today off."

"What?"

"Call in sick. Take the day off."

"Shadow...listen-"

"No. I won't hear it. You need rest, and not just of the physical kind."

"Honey..." Rouge sighed. "I'm not going to get far fighting with you, am I?"

"No."

"Your honesty is almost refreshing." She let her eyes float upwards in thought. "Alright. I'll call in."

"Thank you."

"Have you got something planned?"

"I'm taking you out to dinner later."

She chewed on a piece of pancake and looked at him curiously. "You don't need to butter me up for that, honey. Ready when you are."

"Your sense of humour is intact, it seems."

She smiled as he sipped at his coffee again, staring back at her. "Shadow?"

"Yes."

"...let me worry about you too."

He paused for a moment. "If you must. But only after I finish worrying about you."

Rouge nodded. "Fair trade."

The slowly healing wounds would soon open again. Before then, two months would pass.

"Espio...you're sure you saw what you saw?"

"I made sure to record as much as I could."

"That doesn't even sound real. Like some sort of sick joke. And you said he was goin'...?"

"Yes. That is correct."

Vector watched the footage from Espio's micro camera and listened to the audio. The Chaotix' office was deathly silent.

"Man alive," he said with quiet disbelief. "You think those two know?"

"We can't take any chances," Espio replied.

"I'll make the call."

A half hour passed. Shadow and Rouge walked through the front door and took their seats on a leather couch, positioned on the far side of the room.

"You didn't sound like yourself, Vector," Rouge said. "And calling us here means it's gotta be serious."

"You're not gonna like this. Espio?"

"Right. I was conducting surveillance for one of our clients, when...I saw something of interest. A vehicle crossing town with a certain passenger inside. I wanted to be sure, so I followed. The vehicle stopped at GUN Station Square Headquarters."

"This was today?" Shadow asked.

"This morning, yes."

"We were out in the field. It...wasn't a particularly important thing, either. Seemed off," Rouge noted.

"There is a reason for that," Espio said.

"I'm getting chills. Serious chills. What's going on?"

"I managed to infiltrate the building and track down the location of the entourage. The person being escorted was none other than Ivo Robotnik."

"Ol' Egghead himself. Sans restraints. I'm guessing the detail was armed, but...well. It gets worse," Vector said.

"..." Shadow felt himself tensing.

"I bugged the room. Have audio and video," Espio confirmed. "Your organization is...or rather...already has made arrangements for Doctor Eggman to work with them. Within the month, secretly...he will be a full-fledged employee. And the project they want him to work on is codenamed 'Thor'."

Shadow's expression was stone cold and unyielding. Rouge folded her arms across her chest and leaned back into the couch. Both were quiet.

"I...I'm gonna play the file," Vector said. He did so, turning the computer speakers up as everyone listened.

"...the abilities you provide...use to the ends of research..."

"Noted...criminal activity, but taking into consideration..."

"And I would be...the entitlement...fair, then and..."

"...Sonic's impact...you would be restricted, of course..."

"...agree to these terms."

"As long as you understand...very sensitive...not going to be trivial if..."

"...right."

"Okay. Doctor Robotnik...welcome aboard..."

The video ended.

"It's really come to this, then?" Rouge asked quietly. Her face showed no emotion. "Never would have...imagined it."

"They need to know."

"Shadow-"

He spoke through gritted teeth. "They. Need. To. Know."

"..."

"I'm not sure that'll go over too well. Maybe we oughta wait," Vector suggested. "Even then, what can we do? I mean...the only other thing we can do is..." He made a slashing motion across his throat. "But that ain't legal, or worth it."

"Those children aren't stable yet. We can't go opening up old wounds," Rouge protested.

"No. We can't hide this from them. Rouge, we are also a part of GUN and this was deliberately hidden from us. I can't be party to any of this madness," Shadow shot back. "If you think they will be distraught now, just make the mistake of allowing this to simmer for a while. We can't hide this from them forever."

"And what if they decide to-"

"Then there's nothing we can do. That choice is theirs."

"Espio. What do you think?" she asked.

"...I side with Shadow. If there is a time to tell them, it is now when things are fresh. We do them no favours by witholding the truth."

"It hasn't quite sunk in yet. I feel like I want to...just...but it won't do us any good even if we do."

"No snap decisions."

"Yeah. No...snap decisions." Rouge coughed once, feeling the stress start to catch up.

"I'll deliver the news."

"Shadow-" She paused. "I understand. I'll see you at home...or rather, I'll be out. Give me a call when you're done."

He nodded as she stood up and left quietly.

"She gonna be okay?"

"She'll be fine," Shadow assured Vector. "I'll have Espio come with me to deliver the news. I assume the boy will be in the same place as usual."

"Good luck, then. Hope they don't...I just hope it doesn't hurt as bad as I think it will."

Shadow and Espio left the office. Vector closed the video on his computer and sat down, leaning back in his chair.

"Now I get what Knuckles meant. Bust your hump for the world...and this is all you get in return. Hell of a life."

"I'll get that."

Amy got up from the kitchen table and walked to the front of Tails' workshop in the Mystic Ruins. The door opened to reveal Espio and Shadow, an unusual combination for the time. Or any time, really.

"Espio, Shadow. It's nice to see you again," she said.

"Salutations," Espio greeted.

"Is Prower in? We need to speak with you both."

"I'll get him, Shadow." She disappeared back inside and called for the younger boy. A moment later, he arrived while pulling his goggles onto his forehead.

"Hey, Shadow, Espio. I was just having a look at the Tornado. Amy said you needed to talk to both of us?"

"Yes. It's...urgent. And quite..."

"I'll cut to it," Shadow interrupted. "Kid, Eggman was brought to the city HQ earlier today. Espio caught it while on duty and followed. Got audio and video of the entire interaction. GUN is employing his services, and it'll be finalized within the month."

Amy and Tails both looked at Shadow, impassive for a moment as the words started to sink in.

"He's...not going to be locked up?" the boy asked after a long wait.

"No," Espio answered. "While he will have to follow strict protocol...it is much like being in witness protection. He is, essentially...a free man."

"I suppose this is just the punchline to that...cosmic joke, then."

"Rose-"

"It all feels kinda...numb. You know?"

"I'm sorry. I don't."

"I wouldn't want you to."

He stared at her, trying to figure out what it was she felt, or even what she was thinking. Her melancholy smile pained him more than anything else.

"You worry for us so much. Thank you, Shadow. You really are so kind."

"We both appreciate it," Tails said calmly. Espio said nothing, observing. A reaction, an explosion of anger. Those would have been less unsettling. It was this stillness and acceptance from both of them that was...

"Did you know?" Amy asked. "Is that why you came to tell us?"

"None of our channels indicated it, and they took great pains to send our team out on missions while Eggman was near. This has been in the works for months, under our noses," Shadow said. "If the old man did know, I'll make sure he understands the consequences."

"There's not much...what's done is done," she replied. "Anger or sadness...those won't change a thing. Well, that's not entirely true, I think. Sonic did a lot to stop Eggman, and after capturing him one last time, this was the result. I wonder what it all means? It makes me sad thinking about it."

"Does it matter?" Tails asked. They looked at each other. "You must know the answer."

"You're right, I do." She gave him a kind smile. "Thanks for reminding me."

"I won't always be here to."

"You shouldn't say something like that."

"I mean it. You have to learn to take care of yourself if something should happen."

"You're right but...that sounds sad, doesn't it?"

Tails looked at his feet. "It's reality. As unfortunate as it might be."

"I see." Amy looked over to Shadow again. "Would you like some tea? A snack?"

"I simply came to relay the message."

"I too must decline," Espio said.

"Alright. I'll have to make a fresh pot anyways. It was nice of you to come by and tell us all of this. It's really disheartening, but not much different from everything else. We'll endure."

"..."

"Not something a young girl should be saying? I know...Shadow, I'm just so tired. You can see, right?"

"I can. I'm sorry that it came to this, Rose."

"Me too."

"We'll see you another time, then."

"Be well, both of you," Espio added.

"We'll be okay. See you guys around," Tails replied before going back inside. Amy bowed at the waist before following him, closing the door behind her.

"Those children are shells," Espio said solemnly. "It was unsettling...seeing them with no emotion."

"They may have gone over the edge already. I know it wasn't an act for us," Shadow answered. "And unfortunately, there's nothing we can do. I don't have any sort of advice. I never held a particular grudge towards the Doctor, but..."

"Do not dwell on it too much. I will have Vector send you the video file through a secure network by tomorrow. In the meantime, rest. You are experiencing mental strain as well."

"...right. I'll head home. Until the next time, shinobi."

"Until the next."

Espio disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Shadow held a hand to his head and warped himself into the apartment.

"You got a pitch to keep me around?"

Rouge spoke with her face buried in the couch. A half-empty bottle of wine was on the table nearby.

"It's easier to destroy a target from within," he replied.

"...sounds lame."

"...possibly."

"I'm willing to try anything you endorse, hon..."

"I see."

"What happened with the kids?"

"..." Shadow closed his eyes. "They reminded me of my old self. The world holds no meaning to them now."

"Not even tears...?"

"No. Simply cold acceptance."

"..."

"Rouge?"

"...I'm so tired...Shadow."

"..."

She pushed herself up into a sitting position, staring at her wearied reflection in the television screen. He took a seat beside her and leaned back into the cushions.

They were together and silent for a very long time.

"I didn't expect a call so soon from you."

"I didn't expect to make the call at all."

"How touching. So...you've decided."

"I'll take your offer, Princess. I'll go with you."

"What about Amy?"

"She's better off here. She wants to stay and wait for him. I won't stop her. I'll support her no matter what."

"I see. Then welcome aboard, my dear Miles. I promise you, we will change the world together. We will become justice."

"I'm fine with that. More than fine."

"I will meet with you tomorrow morning. Is that alright?"

"That's alright, yeah."

"Good. I'll allow you time to pack your important things afterwards. Once more, I must ask...will you be alright living in Soleanna?"

"It's fine. I need a new start anyways."

"Mm...good. Then it's settled. I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you for helping me. I will keep my promise to you, Miles."

"And make use of me in the process."

"Haha...yes. I will make use of you. And I will do so without restraint. Good night, dear. Pleasant dreams."

He heard the click on the other end and set down his phone.

"Justice, huh..."