Once again, Shock was on his way back to Eggman's base. As the Motobug rolled through the smog-filled streets with other mechanical creations driving, walking, or flying by, the echidna thought back to the planning they had done at Tails' house.

.

"So, there's a Motobug outside?" asked Sonic.

"Yeah. It'll do what I say and take me where I want," replied Shock.

"Your own robot, eh? That's pretty cool!"

"Whatever. Let's get to planning..."

Sonic grinned and nodded, liking that the echidna wanted to get down to business quickly, "Well, how about we just attach a note addressed to Eggman to that robot of yours saying you're onto him, now?"

"Sonic, did you even think that through?" asked Tails, giving his older brother a 'what the heck?' look.

"...It's somethin'," said the hedgehog with a shrug.

"Here's my idea – since we know Shock can go in and out of Eggman's base practically at will, why don't we use that to our advantage, instead? He could bring us information and stuff. Well," Tails' blue eyes turned to the echidna, "that is if you don't mind being a double agent of sorts? Or have an idea of your own?"

Shock crossed his arms and thought for a moment, then gave a small shake of his head, "I can't think of anything. Your idea's good. I'm for it."

"Cool, it's settled," said Sonic, nodding.

"Alright. I'd better get going."

"Whoa, slow down, there! Don't ya want something to eat?"

"I've spent long enough away. I don't want to go back, but I've got to keep up appearances."

"Well, take something to go."

"Alright... do you have any oranges?"

"I should do," replied Tails, making his way to the kitchen.

"Don'tcha want a chilli dog?" asked Sonic, holding up the last quarter of his own.

The echidna grimaced, "They're not really my thing..."

Sonic blinked, "Uh... okay. I guess they're... not for everyone."

"Hey, Shock, here ya go!" said Tails and threw the echidna an orange, which he caught.

"Thanks."

"Hey, d'ya know nothing rhymes with orange?" said Sonic.

"Yeah," said Tails and Shock at the same time.

The hedgehog looked at them both, "Oh... right," he said and stuffed the last of his chilli dog in his mouth.

"Okay, I guess I'll... see you later," said Shock and began walking away.

Sonic quickly finished chewing, swallowed his morsel, and began following the echidna outside, "Listen, thanks for being cool about all this."

"Yeah."

"If you ever need a place to stay, come by any time," said Tails.

"I might do that."

"Alright, cool! See ya!" said Sonic and waved Shock off as the echidna climbed onto the Motobug and ordered it back to Eggman.

.

The elevator doors parted and, like he had done countless times before, Shock stepped into the harshly-lit lab of Doctor Eggman, only this time it felt different. He felt more vulnerable than he did before. It could have just been because he now knew the truth about the Doctor, who was currently standing looking out of the large window at the far end of the lab with his gloved hands clasped behind his back.

"Where have you been?" he asked suspiciously in his gruff voice, looking over his shoulder at Shock.

"Sorry. I got caught up fighting Sonic and Tails again," the echidna replied, pretending to limp a little as he walked towards Eggman.

"Is that so? What happened?"

Shock reamed off the story he had made up in his head on the way back, hoping it sounded convincing enough.

"...Then that fox came flying out of nowhere and got me hard in the leg. I was able to get out of there, though," he finished.

"I see. That's unfortunate about your injury," said the Doctor, who had turned to face him.

"You can say that again."

Eggman walked over to a door and stopped, turning to the echidna, "Despite that, do you feel up to assisting me with something?"

Shock shrugged, "I guess," he said, and, remembering to limp, followed the Doctor inside a mostly empty, plastic-floored room with a metal slate suspended above the floor by two steel bars with rubber fitted over the clamps.

"You see this slate? It's made of titanium," said Eggman.

"Yeah?"

"Give it your best shot. Hit it with as many volts as you can in one go."

"Are you sure that's safe?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Titanium is the least conductive metal, you see."

"Alright... but what's this for?"

"No offense, but you wouldn't understand. However, one way to look at it is to see just how much power you have in you."

Shock studied the slate, then nodded, "Okay."

Eggman stepped back as the echidna summoned the electricity in his body. Shock built up the charge to its peak, holding it as a perfect blue-white ball crackling between his hands. He hadn't summoned this much energy very often. Holding so much power was as frightening as it was exhilarating.

With arcs of electricity flowing over his body, he focused on the titanium slate, then released the ball with a loud crackle. The ball exploded against the metal, sending out a shower of sparks. There was a faint buzzing noise and the air smelled slightly of ozone. Shock turned back to Eggman, who stood with his mouth agape and his moustache hairs standing on end. Looking down at himself, Shock noticed that his own grey fur was puffed out.

"Very impressive, my young echidna friend," said Eggman, unsuccessfully trying to smooth his moustache.

"I have to admit; that felt good."

"That was your maximum, yes?"

"It was."

"Let's check the terminal outside. It should give us a reading of just how strong an electric charge your body holds."

Shock nodded and started walking to the door, but had only gone a few steps before getting a tingling feeling inside him.

Hearing the footfalls behind him stop, Eggman turned, "Shock?"

"It's happening..." said the echidna through gritted teeth.

"Don't try to control it. Let's see if the bracelet does what we need it to."

Instead of trying to fight it back, Shock apprehensively let the discharge run its course. Arcs of electricity appeared as usual, then, before they could shoot off, the bracelet beeped. Shock felt a pleasant cooling sensation sweep through his body. The tingling dissipated, along with the crackling arcs.

Shock held up his right wrist and looked at the device in wonder.

"It... worked..." he breathed.

"A success!" crowed Eggman with a laugh.

"I'm free of it. It still... happens... but it's not a danger to everyone, anymore," Shock ran his fingers over the bracelet, "I'm... free..."

He stood for long moments, almost unable to absorb the information. Something that had plagued him his whole life, the main cause of him being alone, was now gone. He had isolated himself to protect others from the discharges. It was the very reason he had left home; he had injured his own father during one of the attacks. Fortunately, the bolt was weak and his father recovered quickly. Even though his parents did not blame him, as they knew he couldn't control it, Shock didn't want to risk harming his parents again. Next time they might not be so lucky. So, after a tough decision, he left.

That was around nine years ago. And now, with this device, he didn't have to worry about unintentionally hurting anyone. Especially his parents. His heart soared and he started shaking in anticipation.

He could go home.

"Shock?"

Eggman's rough voice awakened him from his reverie.

"Y-Yes, Doctor?"

"Are you feeling alright?"

Shock took a deep breath to calm himself, "I'm fine."

Eggman motioned with a nod of his head for Shock to follow him.

Outside the room, the echidna saw the large Doctor typing commands into a console at lightning speed, his fingers flying over the keys as deftly as a pianist's. He studied the data readout and then made an exclamation.

"Here it is, Shock," he said, pointing at the monitor, "It appears you can hold an electric charge of approximately... eight-point-seven million volts. Impressive."

"Eight-point-seven... million?" asked Shock in awe and disbelief, "Are you sure you didn't misread that?"

"There is no mistake. It says it quite clearly here," replied Eggman, gesturing at the number on-screen. Shock wanted to see with his own eyes and looked where the Doctor was pointing.

V: 8,704,616

The echidna stared at the huge number, then lifted his hands in front of his face. A sceptical frown appeared, "Isn't that a bit big?"

"Not really, especially when compared to lightning, which can generate anywhere from one hundred million to one billion volts."

Shock blinked, "Wow, that's... amazing..."

"The power of nature is truly incredible," agreed Eggman, turning his head to stare out the window where the sun tried to shine its brilliant light on the dismal, dirty city below the murky clouds.

There was a silence between the two. Shock's gaze fell upon the life-changing bracelet on his wrist. He knew Doctor Eggman was a liar and had deceived him, but he was genuinely grateful to the overweight scientist for his creation. As he spent most of his time alone, the echidna had had to handle practically everything by himself, so his experience in giving thanks to anyone was practically none. And normally, he wouldn't thank the Doctor, but he thought it would help solidify the image that he still believed the lies he was being fed.

"I..." he dropped his arm and looked up at the bald, bespectacled man, "...Thank you, Doctor. For this bracelet."

"Of course," said Eggman, placing a heavy hand on the young echidna's shoulder, "Well, I think you should take a break. Walk around for a while, get something to eat... just don't leave the building..."

Darn...

"...I may need your assistance with something else later."

"Alright," he replied quietly.

Shock had hoped to get out; he was feeling a little stifled, although he wasn't sure the thick air outside would be any better. But he did as the Doctor said and stayed within the confines of the tall building, hoping to be free of the place and see his parents once again. He knew exactly where they were. Still in the house he had been raised in, still together, still happy. Happy without him? Or was it a mask? He'd find out.

Mama, Papa... I'm coming... wait for me...