Eggman turned from the large computer as he heard the elevator doors open. An eyebrow twitched up as a haggard Shock stumbled in, holding the area just below his right collarbone. The bald scientist crossed his arms, "So what happened?"

"...It didn't go well..." replied the echidna, leaning against a computer console.

"Which means...?"

Shock sighed, "Well, I met them. We talked for a short while – very short – then, I... discharged. One of the bolts hit that two-tailed fox you mentioned. He was knocked out."

"And Sonic?" asked Eggman, almost too eagerly, "Was he hit?"

"No. He was too fast."

They didn't seem too... well; they looked less threatening than the Doctor... thought Shock.

"I see. Hm."

"Well, we did get into a small fight, but after I stalled him with a short burst of electricity, I didn't think it was wise to stick around there for much longer, so..." he winced from the pain.

"Well, at least you made it back."

"Huh," Shock grunted before turning his head away.

"So... what did you think of them?"

"I'm not sure, yet," replied the echidna, peering at the Doctor from the corner of his eyes.

Eggman nodded, "You'll see..." he turned back to the computer, "In the meantime, while you've been away, I studied your biological scan data. I've found out why you have this 'discharge'."

Shock showed some interest at this.

"There is something else..." continued Eggman, "Do you know why your fur is grey?"

"No. I've never found out," said Shock, looking down at his body.

"You're about to. It appears some of your cells are slightly mutated."

"Mutated?" asked the echidna, walking up to the monitor.

"It's an awful word, but it's not as bad as it sounds. Basically, the cells that give your fur its colour have changed in such a way that they give out the wrong bio-chemicals."

"I see... I guess now I know why I'm not red like all the others," he sighed quietly, "Now, what about my discharges?"

"Ah, yes. Well, that is caused by an abnormality in your genes."

"Oh, great. What am I, some kind of freak?"

"Now, now. Don't worry. I have developed a device which should suppress the discharges. It's experimental, so it may not work, but it's worth a try."

"Alright. You might not get any feedback from me for a long time. It's rare, like I said."

"Give it a shot, anyway. Here."

Eggman brought out a cylindrical metal object with a hole running through its centre.

"Wear this on your wrist," said the Doctor, handing the object to Shock.

Turning it over in his hands, the echidna looked for a way to put the bracelet on, then found it unhinged along its length. He slung one half on his right wrist, and then connected the other half, encasing both the joint and some of his forearm.

"It's pretty light," commented Shock, moving his arm around.

"Of course. I can't have you being weighed down, can I?"

What does he mean by that?

"Well, it's getting late and you've had a rough day. Take the elevator down to the third floor and go into Room Six. I've had a mattress and blanket put there for you, my friend."

"Thanks."

.

Shock stepped out of the elevator and looked down at the injury given to him by the blue hedgehog. A bruise had shown up and was tender to the touch. He walked down the corridor, thinking.

I'm still not sure about them... I'd like to try and talk to them again, but I don't think I made a very good first impression. I'd rather not talk to anyone, but I'm involved in this, now, so I guess I have no choice...

He looked up at the number on the door – six – with an Eggman caricature face beneath it. Shaking his head, he opened the door and switched on the light. Inside, the metal room was all but bare. Against the wall opposite the door were a mattress and a blanket like the Doctor said. Both the mattress and the blanket were a light grey.

At least they match my mutant fur... he thought wryly.

Looking out the window, he saw it had started raining. He walked over and leaned his head against the glass pane, tiredly watching the constant hustle and bustle outside. He was glad the window kept out most of the noise.

He stepped back and stretched his neck. After walking over to the light switch, Shock closed his eyes before turning off the light. He stood with his eyes closed for several more seconds to allow them to adjust quicker and then opened them. With help from the few functional streetlights outside, he was able to see around the room. He made his way over to the mattress, got under the blanket, and once more closed his eyes, listening to the faint patter of rain mingled with the foreign sounds of city life. After what he had been sleeping on for years, the soft mattress and warm blanket felt alien, yet slightly familiar. Clutching the blanket, the echidna brought his hands underneath his chin, slipping into slumber.

.

A smile appeared on his face as he felt gentle fingers stroking his locks. He knew it was his mother before he had opened his eyes to look at her. It was morning and the young echidna gazed lovingly at her, seeing the sunlight, muted by his room's closed curtains, brightening her light red fur.

His smile dropped and he removed his hands from underneath his chin.

"Mama... why do I look different?"

His mother looked at him sadly. Every so often, he would be consciously aware of his fur colour and ask why his wasn't the same as the other echidnas'.

"You don't look different, Shock. Your fur is just a different colour, that's all."

"But why?"

She smiled and stroked his cheek with her finger, "Because you're special."

"But I don't want to be special," he mumbled, "I want to be the same as you and Papa..."

"I'm sure it'll get its colour when you get older. It's just a little late, son."

.

Shock's eyes opened. It was morning, but there were no curtains or sunlight. His mother was not here, either.

Sitting up, he sighed and put his head in his hand. That dream, or memory, whatever it was, conjured up feelings inside him. His parents... he missed them. But it was for their own safety that he stayed away.

Shock looked at the device around his right wrist. If this thing worked, then maybe after all of this was over, he could seek them out, again. But after so long, would they welcome him back? Would he be able to fit in again? Would they remember him?

Would they still love him?

Rising stiffly, the echidna stretched, then walked to the window and studied the traffic below. Last night's rain still shone on the streets and land-based robots splashed through dirty brown puddles that filled the cracked, cratered roads.

I hope it'll be over soon... I don't want this to be my life...

He turned and left the room, taking the elevator to Eggman's lab.