Reunion
"Why are you doing this to me?"
This room was so cold. Darkness, everywhere... the only light came from barely functioning light bulb on the ceiling. It swayed to and fro, and constantly made this clicking noise, as if it were going to fall.
She sat in the corner... clothing, still drenched in blood. They put her here, after a space drive that felt like hours.
This was it... she was going to sit here, and rot away, like bodies in the desert. The soldiers wouldn't kill her, no... the NIDS would.
But that gave them no reason to treat her in such a way.
She did nothing to them... nothing... other than live on the Ark, with her friends and family. But, oh yeah, that's right, they killed her friends and family. So, why hadn't they done the same to her yet? Why hadn't they opted to put a bullet in her brain, like they did to all the ones she cared for? Did their cruelty know no bounds?
She cradled herself, as best she could in an attempt to gain warmth in this cold room. And her eyes... they closed... like so many times before...
"Grandpa..." she murmured, "Shadow..."
She was so sad, and so scared. Her body was trembling. And all she could do was wait. Wait for life... wait for death... wait for anything...
Wait for a release...
The door to her cell opened...
...
"Grandpa..." she whispered, eyes opening.
With outstretched arms she gave a yawn, as the possible dream subsided. Again? Really? That was the second dream in one day. When she got back, she was going to ask Delta Branch for more powerful pills. The ones she was taking right now wasn't cutting it.
Her eyes traveled to the window of the great helicopter, and she gazed out of it. First, she saw nothing but blue seas, but then, a Metal Harbor came into view. Floating about the harbor were many G.U.N. Beatles, as well as many other grunt soldiers. Maria couldn't help but to give a smile at the sight of the scurrying forces. She could remember when she was once like that. Running about the base, doing this for that person and that for this person. But as great as those memories were, it did nothing to alleviate her mind of the horrors of this island. No matter what, she just didn't trust the place.
"We've arrived at Prison Island," one of the helicopter's pilots called, "Awaiting further orders, Agent Maria."
Moving amongst her men, she came to he vehicles cock-pit. Gazing beyond the dashboard, she marveled at the approaching green of the islands. More specifically, the metallic base that was on it. Maria stepped back.
"Bring us closer to the ground," she ordered, "and open up the door."
"Are you sure, Agent Maria?" one of the pilots questioned.
"Positive, now hurry it up!"
"10-4..."
Slowly, the helicopter came to the green glades of Prison Island. Moments later the side door opened up, and wind poured into the great vehicle. As her soldiers covered their ears to drown out the great noise, Maria stepped nonchalantly to the helicopters edge.
"Listen you newbies!" she roared over the wind, "This is your first assignment! Go to Warden Coffee the rabbit! He will further explain the situation!"
She spun around, and gazed toward the ground.
"But Agent Maria!" a voice, Abraham's voice, called out, "Where are you going!?"
"I'm going hunting..." she answered, not even bothering to give him the time of day.
Her eyes closed shut. The wind rushing through here hair was just so exhilarating, she was ready to explode! Once her blue orbs opened, they were no longer blue, but red. Not caring for her own safety, she leaped out. Falling yards above the grass, she just enjoyed the simple rush of wind. The air falling past her, the wind blowing against her, it all equaled perfection.
And then she landed.
A strong shock wave traveled out, sending dust rocks flying everywhere. Maria stood up from the small pit she made, and gazed about. Red eyes still shining, she stepped forward, ready to search for those escaped inmates. Her hand fell to her waist, and quickly withdrew the pistol she coveted so much. Seconds later, she withdrew a small speaker that would fit snuggly around ones ear. After tinkering with the ear piece for a few seconds, she caused a pleasant sounding buzz to whisper.
"Agent Maria here," she spoke out, "currently heading into Prison Island's forests..."
"Agent Maria?" a surprised voice on the other end called, "Where's your squad!?
"They should be heading to the main base soon enough," she answered, "I, on the other hand, am heading directly in alone."
"Agent Maria!" a stern sounding voice then yelled.
"Ah, Warden Coffee! Nice to speak with you again!"
"It's Captain Coffee, to you, Agent."
"Yeah, yeah," she answered, smugly enough, "just make sure my soldiers don't get lost, I don't wanna have to write that in a report."
"You're taking to many liberties, Agent Maria!"
"I always do..."
Tapping the edge of her earpiece, she turned the machine off, assuring her little to no interruptions. Eyes moved about the forest seconds later, as the blonde girl with blue eyes tried to formulate plan.
Hunting missions... as much as she hated them, she was the best at them. Maybe it was these cursed abilities of hers that made her an expert at anything that entailed violence. Lifting her pistol to the side of her head, she peered deeper into the greenery of the trees and grass. Time to get a move on.
One foot in front of the other, she stepped off for the great Prison Island forests.
...
The aged rabbit held his cane with dignity.
Stepping down the many halls of Prison Island, he made his way toward a very specific area. The halls, they stretched on endlessly. One turn would bring him to another hall, a turn after that, a hall would follow. He would have been angry, had he not been the one who designed it all.
But he was getting a head of himself.
Withdrawing a handkerchief, he wiped it along his sweat drenched brow, even though the air in the halls were cold. He needed to keep moving forward. So, chocolate eyes set forth, he continued on his journey. All the walking eventually ended here.
His hand came to the keypad on the side, and he pressed it quickly. The door slid open, and all that met him were glowing orange eyes.
He gazed into them, and they gazed back.
"Captain Coffee..." a voice came from the silent room.
"Stand down men..." he said, bringing his handkerchief to his mouth, "Do you understand why I have called you here?"
The eyes moved back and forth, in a 'no' manner.
"Its Maria," the older rabbit said, "she can't be trusted..."
"But," another voice called, "Maria is an ally."
"She is a weapon," Coffee said, disdain in his voice, "and like all weapons, she can be easily used by anyone who gets their hands on her."
Silence...
"Then... what is it you would have us do?" a voice said, breaking the tension.
"Follow her... and the first notion you find of her betrayal, I want full evidence..."
"Understood..." a full trio of voices answer back.
The rabbit pulled out, and the eyes, they faded away, as if never being their in the first place. Coffee once again dragged his handkerchief against his head. He needed to get back to his room and fast. The Elites would deal with Maria.
...
Her now blue eyes gazed into the folder.
So many people, so little time...
The forest was so big. Rushing water screamed in the distance, while the grass at her feet grew up. The fallen husks of trees laid everywhere, and the hollow insides created perfect building like structures. That's where Maria was, walking along the dead of the fern and gully. As depressing as it would look to any outsider, the blonde always found it to be... comforting. The warm air, the shades of the trees, the nice wet grass, it was all alive, it just looked dead. And Maria, she loved it.
Nostrils flaring, the young woman started to scan the area for anything out-of-place. Why did Prison Island have to be so big? As hard as it is to find most kinds of escapees, this place had to make it that much harder by adding a damn forest in it! Oh how Maria hated Prison Island. If it wasn't the wicked and frightening visions she had, it was the forest she needed to contend with. Still, many pleasant memories surfaced from this island, all revolving around her G.U.N. training. Hey, not all of Maria's memories are harsh!
But as much as she wanted to take a trip down memory lane, she really had a mission to deal with. Seventy-seven missing inmates, no help, and an entire island to search. Better get cracking...
That's when the trees began rustling.
She gazed up, and saw the day sun peering through the high off canopies. Many green leaves began falling seconds later, as she started to comb the area with her eyes. Someone was here, she was sure of it. The grass rustled again, causing Maria to tense up. Who was here? She would yell out, but that would be a dead giveaway to her position. Whoever it was, she was sure it wasn't an ally. Grip on pistol tightening, she closed her eyes shut. Moments later, they opened up, the blue orbs inside now replaced with red ones. Her nose began to twitch, as a familiar scent of metal and oil filled it.
A G.U.N. mech... that's what was around.
Growing annoyed, she let out a groan as her eyes traveled back to her intruder.
"Really!" she called out, "You scared the crap out of me!"
But it wasn't a G.U.N. mech.
A cold, long, black hand attached itself to the side of a tree. Maria, finding it odd that it wasnt the familiar grey and green of G.U.N., tensed up almost immediately. The hand started to pull on the tree, before sending it crashing with its own mighty strength. Maria looked down to the tree, shock on her face, before returning her gaze to the cause.
It wasn't a G.U.N. mech. This machine was taller, made of black and blue armor, and had red visor like eyes. Manly in shape, it easily dwarfed the human woman before it. A white target appeared on the machine's visor, and moved about, before looking its position on Maria. This machine must have labeled her an enemy, as it immediately withdrew a weapon to deal with her. The rifle in its hands aiming forward, it fired a flurry of bullets. Maria's latent abilities were working in overdrive, as she immediately leaped behind a tree to save herself from certain death.
The red eyes she owned began to scan the environment, as she thought about a counter attack. Which got her thinking, what was this thing attacking her in the first place? In the years she spent at G.U.N., she's never seen such a tall, cold, and deadly machine. But now wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts. Gazing beyond the tree she hid behind, she tracked down the tall machine. It was heading her way.
With a quick movement of her hand, she aimed forward her gun, and fired. The bullet flew through the air, and struck the machine square in the head. It did nothing.
The red visor of the robot locked itself on her position, and began firing its gun once more. In a series of rolls, Maria was able to dodge the attack, and return to safety once more. Now, she was getting angry. Red eyes moving over, she stopped caring for her own safety, and lunged forward. Gone was the thoughts of trying to figure out where this thing came from. Now, it was shoot first, ask questions later.
Her gunfire flailed wildly through the air, and served only to make a distraction. It worked, well enough, as the dark machine had no idea what to do. Protecting itself from the bullet storm, it suddenly found its arm being grasped tightly by the blonde girl before him. And then, exerting strength far beyond that of any human, she pulled him over. The machine quickly loss balance, and Maria was able to toss him far away. Its large mechanical body twisted through the air before coming to an eventual stop in the face of a tree. But Maria wasn't finished. Dashing forward, she tore her hands into the back of the machine, whilst letting out loud feral growls. Slamming her hands onto the machine's back, she tore into it like a piece of cardboard. Wires and cords flew from the robot's back, as the woman laughed sadistically at her works. It didn't take long for the machine to come to an end, and for Maria's tirade to come to a stop as well.
Falling back, she closed her eyes, as breaths of relief came to her. Sure, she was prepared for battle, but not with a seven-foot tall robot such as that! That was... a bit... too much... A bunch of human inmates was what she was expecting, not a bunch of inhuman ones. Didn't G.U.N. have a separate facility for mobians and such? Wouldn't this robot be among them? Maybe, but it wasn't her place to think about it. She had a mission to accomplish, so she went on to finish it. But something wouldn't allow it.
"No! No! No!" a loud, obnoxious, and annoying voice yelled, "I can't believe this!"
Maria glared around in search of the voice. Who made it, and where did it come from? She didn't like mysteries, and she was ready to deal with this intruder.
"Hey you!" she yelled, despite herself, "Tell me where you are this instant!"
Her answer was the wheels of a car. Or at least, she thought it was, until the mysterious noise came into sight. Rolling over a hill at high speeds, was a small, robot. It was shaped like a lady bug, and had only one wheel. The robot's eyes locked themselves on Maria's position, and suddenly started revving its engine. Cocking her head in confusion, the blonde agent merely scanned this bot in surprise. Just what was she looking at?
The machine once again revved its engine, and dashed forward at intense speeds. Realizing the time for understanding was over, Maria's eyes turned red once again. Taking a pose reminiscent of a grappler, she prepared for the oncoming being. It may have been moving fast, but Maria, she could move faster. In a blue blur, she disappeared, and reappeared before the robot. It shook in fear at her sudden appearance, and tried to move away, but it was too late. Maria scooped it up in her arms, and then slammed it down in the ground.
"NO!" that voice from before roared, "Not Motobug too! First Shadow Guard, then Motobug! Enough is enough!"
Whoever that voice was, Maria agreed with him. Enough, was enough, and she was ready to finish it. Pinpointing the location of the voice, she ran over to a tree, and struck it with a kick so powerful, it sent it shaking. Leaves, branches, and even bird nests fell from the canopies, before a certain someone fell to.
He crashed into the ground, groaned in pain, and then started looking up. Tall, slender, and a mustache that would make President Teddy Roosevelt blush, he revealed to Maria something sinister. But she wasn't ready to make assumptions, not until he saw his face. He turned to her, grew a smile, and then withdrew a pair of glasses from his long coat.
"Baby cousin!" he suddenly yelled out.
"Ugh..." she murmured, "Ivo!"
Ivo Robotnik, better known as, Dr. Robotnik, and occasionally, Eggman. He was Maria's cousin, and so far, her only blood relative. If he had any siblings it wasn't known to her, or him. So what they believed. He was tall, loud, brash, and a freaking genius. Smarter than any other human being on the planet, he was a child prodigy. If only he wasn't insane. Labeled a terrorist for his constant attacks and many robots, Eggman, though highly incompetent, was a force to be reckoned with. And if anyone didn't believe him, his robot's did the talking.
"Ivo, what the hell are you doing here!?"
"Ah," he said, springing up, "I can't tell you that! You're a government spy! My worst enemy!"
Suddenly, she grabbed him by the nose, and pulled him forward.
"Ivo!" she said, showing anger.
"Ow, ow, ow!" he said in pain, "Stop it Maria! The swelling hasn't gone down from last time you punched me!"
"Last chance Ivo!" she barked, "Tell me why you are here! Last time I checked, you were sitting pretty in Blue Ridge Zone!"
"You darn G.U.N. agents shut that place off! I couldn't get to my secret base!"
"Oh, boo, hoo! That doesn't explain why you're here, now tell me!" her grip on his nose increased, "Ivo what are you doing here!?"
"Just let go, I'll tell you!"
Her eyes squinting, she scanned his face closely. And then, with a groan, she released him, much to his pleasure.
"Oh, thank you, baby cousin!"
"Its older cousin! Why do you keep calling me that!?"
Despite her obvious displeasure, he hugged her close, showing a nice sign of family attraction. As evil as Ivo was, it was well known that Maria loved him. He was, after all, her only blood relative. It had also been kept secret, that she would occasionally allow her cousin free, if there was no one around. Wrong yes, but alas, blood is thicker than water.
"Now, Ivo," she began, breaking from his grasp, "what are you doing here?"
His arms crossed over one another, and his gaze shifted to that of the robot he called Motobug. Lifting it up, he let out a groan, while his glasses reflected the sun.
"You have no idea how long it took me to make this guy!" he yelled out loud with great disdain.
"Ivo!" she roared, jolting him.
"Ok, ok! Jeeze! You're too serious, Maria!" his gaze moved to the robot he called 'Shadow Guard', "But dammit! You destroyed both of them."
"IVO!"
"Fine! All business, no play! Always the same with you Maria."
"Ivo Robotnik! What are you doing here!?"
"Isn't it obvious? Inciting a little chaos, is all."
"That doesn't make any sense!"
"Does it, Maria dear? Does it?"
"Stop talking in your stupid riddles! What are you talking about!?"
"Take a gander at this!"
Reaching his hand into his jacket, he withdrew a strange, old, document. Pulling it forward, he showed his cousin an image of a strange rock. But it wasn't any normal rock.
"This," he said, pointing at the image, "is what is called a Chaos Emerald!"
Maria crossed her arms. Chaos... Emerald...
"Maria! Don't you see this?" that indifferent voice called.
She spun around, and was on Ark once more. Her age, eight, the hedgehog's age, seven. He was holding something as he waved at her, a smile on his face. This something was shining, and green.
"What is that?" the eight-year-old girl asked, eyes gleaming.
"Its called a Chaos Emerald," Shadow answered, his ruby eyes moving to the object, "apparently, Daddy, says its powerful."
"Daddy? No, Shadow, his name is Professor Gerald to you, not Daddy!"
"Whatever, Maria!"
"So... what's a Chaos Emerald?"
"From what Dad-err, Professor Gerald says, they're seven of them, and only a few people know of their existence. They can do amazing things though!"
"Like what?"
"Like... honestly... I don't know... really..."
"Silly Shadow!"
"But Dad-er, Professor Gerald, says they can do such great things!"
"Doesn't this thing come with a manual, or something?"
"I don't think it does."
"Well... it looks pretty..."
"I wish it were blue, though..." Shadow murmured.
"Why's that?"
"It be more like you..."
She blushed.
"Aww, Shadow, I-"
"MARIA!" Ivo's voice yelled.
She jolted up, and her blue eyes moved up and about the forest.
Good God, she did it again! She just had one of her visions! Falling back, she groaned aloud, while her hand found her head. Her cousin, showing a genuine act of concern, tried to help her up, but she swated away his hand. Instead, she put her hand into her vest and withdrew a silver casing.
"What's that?" Ivo questioned, his blue eyes shining from behind his glasses.
"Nothing, Ivo," she said, "now go away."
Sliding up the case, she popped out a pill. But before she could eat it, her cousin snatched the pill and case from her hand. Maria leaped forward almost immediately, but Ivo dodged out-of-the-way at near super human speeds.
"Now now," he said, a mocking tone in his voice, "calm down Maria dear."
"Ivo, give that back!"
"Let me see this here," he said gazing down at the pill, "Oh, now, that's interesting!... Hmmm... seems some traces of PCP in this as well! And is that some barbiturates!? Wow, someone's drugging you, Maria dear!"
"What are you jabbing on about!?" she barked, reaching forward.
"Maria, someone's drugging you!" he repeated, easily
"That is medicine given to me by G.U.N., now give it back!"
"Nope!"
"Ivo!"
Her eyes gleamed red, and Ivo suddenly grew a force smile. Regardless, he stayed adamant in his position.
"Maria," he said, "Calm down!"
"Give those back!" she roared.
Finding it better to be alive, than dead, he relented, and handed the woman her silver casing. Almost immediately, she swallowed a pill, and a sigh of relief followed. Still, she wasn't pleased with how her cousin was treating her, and she instantly hung him up by his collar.
"Ivo! What was that about!?" she barked.
"Hey, I'm not the one drugging you!" he replied.
"Why do you keep going on about druggings!?" she inquired, shaking him.
"Someone's drugging you Maria!" he said, through the shakes.
Dropping him, she gave him a sharp glare. But after a minute, her glare softened into a simple gaze. This gaze was followed up by a sigh, and a question.
"Ivo," she said, "you mentioned a Chaos Emerald... what are they?"
It was only a coincidence, right? That vision... it was only a coincidence that her vision had a Chaos Emerald in it, and her cousin just mentioned it, right? A coincidence... a coincidence... It was only formed because he mentioned it first, right? Right?
"Chaos Emeralds," he said raising his hands, "honestly, I don't know what they are... From what mythology says, they hold the power to do anything! There are seven of them, and if one were to attain all of them, they'd be granted infinite power!"
Seven of them... Shadow said there were seven of them. Her vision was... correct?
"Where are they?" she asked.
"I don't know... but I do know G.U.N. has one of them... check this out."
His hand moved into his coat, and when it returned, it held a simple silver device. Pressing a button on the device, he gave a grin whilst stroking his magnificent mustache.
"You see this?" he said, "It's a tracker I made! It follows peculiar energy sources, and one of them is fastened tightly in this base."
"Prison Island is big," Maria said, eyes squinting, "that source could be anything."
"Do I look for just anything?" he said, almost insulted, "That's a Chaos Emerald if I say so myself!"
"You just said you don't know where one is! How can you be so sure?" she replied.
"Because I'm a Doctor! And you, you're just an agent! I do the thinking, you do the muscle work!"
"What did you say!"
"Calm down Maria dear!"
"Ivo! Just tell me! What do you know about Chaos Emeralds?"
"Not much..." he answered... but then, a sly smile grew on his lips, "I have a proposition for you though."
Maria squinted. She hated his propositions.
"And what would that be?" she questioned.
"Well, G.U.N. seems to trust you, don't they? How 'bout you sneak in, get the Emerald, and come back?"
"If you think I'd do that, then your stupider than you look!"
"Oh!" suddenly, he withdrew a pill, "I'm not the one being drugged!"
"Give me that!" she ordered.
"Nuh, uh, uh! Maria dear, someone's messing with your mind using these drugs! And me, being the expert genius I am, think its someone in G.U.N."
"Why would they drug me!?" she said, "I work for them!"
"Just earlier, you were speaking with something named Shadow... now, I don't know what a 'Shadow' is, but I do know you were going crazy! I assume these pills are what you take to get rid of your craziness?"
"I'm not crazy!" she barked, "I just have... visions... I'm not sure of what but... from what I see, they show me on Ark as a little girl, and this red and black hedgehog named... Shadow..."
"Red and black hedgehog... Nope! Doesn't ring a bell! But it does get me thinking!"
"Thinking about-"
Overhead, a loud noise blared. Both Maria and Ivo gazed up, to see helicopters flying over head. Immediately, the mad doctor groaned, while his fists began to shake.
"Damn!" he said, "I took too much time!"
"What are you talking about?"
"G.U.N. is sending in reinforcements! Meaning my mission was a failure! And my prison break idea was so great!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa... wait a second, you caused the prison break?"
"Well, of course I did! With seventy-seven inmates loose, no one would notice if I snuck in and stole a simple emerald." his face bend down, "But it doesn't matter! The window of opportunity has closed! I need to retreat..." he looked down, "And you just ruined my bots!"
He turned around, hands in coat, and walked off. But Maria, she needed more.
"Ivo wait!" she called, "Tell me! What are Chaos Emeralds, and why do you keep saying someone's drugging me?"
An insidious grin grew on his face, and he looked over to her.
"You really wanna know, don't you?" he questioned, his grin growing.
"Ivo, tell me! What are they?"
"Well... I can't talk now but," he got closer, "Come to Glyphic Canyon. That's where my current base is... we'll talk more then..."
He stepped off, and gave a smile.
"Now, see ya later, cousin dear!"
Turning around again, he began to run. Maria reached for him though, and yelled for him to stop, but it was too late. He disappeared in the shadows of the forest. Growing angry, Maria tightened her fists. Though she glared off in his direction, she saw nothing. How did he get away so fast? Didn't matter though. He was nuts.
Silver case in hand, she quickly popped a pill from its top. Lifting up the small white capsule, she gazed at it instead of swallowing it. Would... would G.U.N. really be drugging her? No, there was no way, she was their best agent. It had to be Ivo lying again! It had to be!
Or was he?
Ivo may have been a lying, stealing, and intelligent bastard, but he would never lie to family. There was just some things he wouldn't do, and lying to another Robotnik was one of them. So... was... G.U.N... drugging her? There was only one way to find out.
She dropped the pill.
Sliding the silver case in her vest, she let out a sigh. If she didn't take the pills, then the visions would have their way with her mind. That... wasn't something she was waiting for. But a drug is a drug... and Maria doesn't take drugs.
"Maria?" a young voice called from behind.
Turning around, Maria's blue eyes met green and brown. Abraham stepped through the bushes of the forest, while a group of G.U.N. agent's followed from behind. He gave his adopted sibling a smile, before growing adamant.
"Uh, Agent Maria," he said, putting forth his best soldier voice, "we're awaiting further orders."
"None at this time," she responded, "just keep searching for inmates..."
"Understood."
Clenching onto the rifle in his hand, he stepped off, while his allies followed. Maria remained standing though. Thinking on the pills, she started to murmur.
"I don't trust them..." Shadow's voice whispered.
"Trust who? G.U.N.?" Maria responded.
"Yeah... they keep giving me these looks, Maria... I don't trust them..."
"You can always trust G.U.N. Shadow! They're the reason why we're here..."
"Yeah right... I'll keep my eyes on them for now..."
Yes... keep their eyes on them... Maria stared off. She would meet with her cousin. Glyphic Canyon, he said. After all of this is said and down, she'd meet him. But the mission comes first.
For now... anyway...