Meanwhile elsewhere.
Shadow and Omega sat on their beach much as they had always done. Shadow puffed on his cigarettes and Omega sat and looked at the sky. And nobody had seen the two since the battle with Negaduck, except for Rogue. She would stop by every now and then, usually bringing the two something like cigarettes or oil. The two had grown to enjoy her company somewhat, but still above all they enjoyed each other's.
And once again the two sat as they had always done. Shadow with his eyes shut, cigarette in his mouth and Omega right by his side. But then they were set upon.
A figure reached out and grabbed Shadow, then held him up. Shadow and Omega however were not threatened by this intruder as they did nothing to stop him. Even while being held Shadow casually opened his eyes and looked at his attacker. It was Sonic the hedgehog.
"Hey, Shadow." He said."Long time no see."
"What do you want?" asked Shadow gruffly. Sonic responded by letting go, causing Shadow to drop onto the ground below.
He hit the ground hard, and a soft "Off" came out of his mouth when he made contact with the earth.
"Hey Omega." said Sonic as he turned his attention to the robot. But Omega made no reply, he just sat there motionless."Is he all right?" asked Sonic as he examined Omega closer.
"He's asleep." replied Shadow. Sonic looked over to investigate, Omega's red eyes were black indicating that we was asleep.
"I didn't know robots could sleep." whispered Sonic walking over to Shadow.
"He's temporarily shut off you don't have to whisper dumbass." told Shadow as he took a puff on his cigarette.
"So what's up?" asked Sonic as he now stood before Shadow.
"Do you want something?" asked Shadow plainly. "Because I got better things to do."
"Like what?" asked Sonic. Shadow sat up and adjusted himself in his chair.
"Sleep, smoke." replied Shadow.
"Uh-huh." said Sonic.
"So if you've got something to say, say it or fuck off." said Shadow. Sonic was mildly put off by Shadow's bluntness.
"Well" began Sonic as he looked at Shadow. "The other heroes and I have been training ever since the battle with Negaduck."
"Well good for you." replied Shadow.
"And we've all gotten a lot stronger because of It." continued Sonic. Shadow took a puff on his cigarette."And I was wondering if you've been doing any training since then."
"Is that all you have to say?" asked Shadow.
"Well have you?" asked Sonic ignoring Shadow's bluntness.
"No." replied Shadow."I have not."
"Why not?" asked Sonic."What if someone like Negaduck comes along and we have to fight him, what if you're not strong enough."
"I'll only be fighting if I find the need to." replied Shadow."If this opponent is strong and interest me I will fight him, I don't train because I don't want to have a fight with an opponent weaker than me, that'll ensure I have some fun. And I beat Negaduck last time, so if you little heroes wanna go train and get better good for you, but leave me out of it."
"But what if your weaker than your opponent?" asked Sonic.
"Humph." said Shadow with a chuckle."I'm the ultimate life form, nobody is better than me."
"Wanna put that to the test?" asked Sonic with a sly sound in his voice.
"Not really." replied Shadow.
"How about a race?" suggested Sonic.
"I just told you No." said Shadow.
"What's the matter." teased Sonic."Are you scarred are you chicken."
"I'm not afraid of anything." replied Shadow. "and especially not you."
"But you are afraid of losing your best friend." said Sonic. Silence fell on them.
Shadow's eyes flew open that was a low blow even for him. It reminded him back to the battle when Negaduck killed Omega. Shadow had been a cold person but the lost of his best and only friend changed him. It enraged him in that battles, helping him win. It was said that a lone tear went down his face when that happened.
"I've beaten you before." said Shadow breaking the silence. Then he rose from his spot, took one last puff on his cigarette and then discarded it to the ground."This'll be no different." Then he walked pasted Sonic and looked out into the ocean.
In the distance, very far away was an island. It was useable to the naked eye, but it was out there. Shadow turned back to Sonic and pointed out to the water.
"Somewhere out there is an island." told Shadow. "That'll be our finish line."
"Well." said Sonic as he went into a running stance. "What are we waiting for?" Shadow pasted by him and walked over to the sleeping Machine Omega. Sonic watched on.
Shadow walked over and nudged the machine. "Omega." He said. The robot's eyes flashed open and he was awake and conscious. The first thing he saw was Shadow, but then his scanners picked up a figure behind Shadow. The machine quickly jumped to his feet.
"Intruder, Intruder." He shouted as he jumped at Sonic. The blue hedgehog was so bewildered he froze still. But Shadow quickly stepped in front of Omega, thus stopping him from going on a rampage. The two stood before each other now calm and silent.
"Omega." said Shadow. "This is Sonic, we know him."
"Why is he here?" asked Omega.
"He's challenged me to a race." said Shadow.
"And you accepted?" asked Omega. This was an odd thing he never expected Shadow to do.
"It's complicated." replied Shadow."But I'd like you to be the starter for our race." Omega looked at Shadow, then Sonic, then back to Shadow.
"Very well." said Omega. Then Shadow turned around and stood next to Sonic. Sonic entered a sprinter's stance, while Shadow just stood up straight.
Omega changed his right hand into a gun and pointed it into the air.
"Ready…" Sonic stiffened his muscles."Set…" Shadow scratched his head. Then Omega shot off his gun and the two set off. Sand and water kicked back as the two ran off. The only thing Omega could see was the blurs off black and blue racing across the water.
Meanwhile on Angel Island. Knuckles was walking down the pyramid steps and to the rest of the choatix. The group was mindlessly sitting around, except for Julie-Su and Vector. The two were sparring.
Knuckles sat down next to Mighty and watched on with them. Vector reached out and swung at Julie-Su, but she ducked then punched Vector in his chin. The crocodile stumbled back.
"Somebody has to go watch the emerald." said Knuckles suddenly. His voice broke the sound of everything; everyone turned their gaze to him.
Vector gave a look to Knuckles, then to Julie0Su, then to the other three members of the choatix.
"Julie-Su can."' replied Vector."She hasn't watched it in a while." Mighty and Espio glanced up to Knuckles and then to Julie-Su.
"I will not." protested Julie-Su. Vector's face sunk down as if he'd been defeated.
"Go do it Julie-Su." said Knuckles."Give Vector a break." Julie-Su shot Vector a mean glare, and then she made her way over to the pyramid steps.
"Only for you baby." She said. And then she and Knuckles kissed, then Julie-Su made her way up the steps and Knuckles joined the boys.
"How's it going boys?" asked Knuckles.
"Fine, fine." They replied with several head nods. Vector walked over rubbing his neck.
"How about you?" asked Knuckles.
"She was kicking my ass." told Vector.
"Then perhaps you should train harder." suggested Espio.
"Well thanks, Espio." Said Vector sarcastically."I never thought of that, what have we been bustin our asses this whole time, eh?" mighty and Knuckles chuckled at the two.
"If anybody's ready." said Knuckles."I'm willing to go a few rounds." Knuckles stepped out onto the battle field."I have some stress I wanna burn."
"There's actually one thing Knuckles." said Vector stopping him.
"What?" asked Knuckles.
"When was the last time you got off this island?" asked Vector.
Knuckles looked puzzled, but he thought about the question.
"A few months." He replied."When Negaduck attacked, why?" He wondered why such a question would be important.
"We think you should get out more." Said Vector as he pointed to Mighty, Espio, and Charmy.
"Well we're outside right now." Said Knuckles.
"No, No." said Vector waving his arms."I mean out, out, like the city."
"Why would I wanna go there?" asked Knuckles.
"Why wouldn't you wanna go there." spoke up Mighty.
"There's the theater, opera." said Espio.
"Women and booze." added Mighty.
"I'm in a committed relationship." replied Knuckles.
"And that's part of the problem." said Vector. Knuckles looked over to him."You and her have been cooped up on this island for months now, you have to get out."
"If I'm going anywhere it'll be with my girlfriend." said Knuckles.
"Knuckles." said Vector stepping in front of him. Espio and Mighty joined at his sides."We're telling you this because we're your friends and we care." Knuckles stood and listened.
"Just go out for a while." said Mighty."Have some time to yourself."
"But I-" said Knuckles.
"You said your stressed." said Espio."Some time to yourself would be good."
Knuckles stood and examined his friend's faces. They were all sincere, they surely wouldn't have said any of this if they didn't care.
"Alright alright." said Knuckles as he gave into them."I guess I'll go out."
The trio stood before him feeling accomplished.
"But." said Knuckles getting close to them and whispering."Don't tell Julie0Su where I've gone, you know how she gets."
"No problem." said Vector."We've got it all under control."
Then Knuckles took off, off the Island.
Meanwhile in the race Sonic against Shadow.
The two and just taken off and were already neck and neck. Water erupted around them, leaving a small path where they had been.
Sonic looked over to see Shadow calmly keeping up next to him. Then he began thinking.
Even thought Shadow hadn't been training, he was still able to keep up with Sonic who had. How strong is Shadow?
The two continued to race across the ocean. But little did they know that they were being watched.