They hit the G.U.N. databases, researching the chemical in question. The information they found was heartening—the substance was in fact being currently researched as a relatively harmless measure of crowd control or suspect immobilization. Once it entered the body, it would remain in effect until it was broken down naturally by enzymes—about eight hours.
Shadow checked the time. Assuming that Blaze and the children had been stabbed with the poison just before five AM, it was a healthy seven and a half hours ago already.
They radioed Omega and asked him if there'd been any development since they'd left; he reported some faint stirrings among the kids, but nothing significant. Shadow warned him that those coming out of shock would probably still be extremely terrified and panicky, which seemed to make Omega a little panicky himself. He hadn't the faintest clue how to deal with terrified children.
"Keep your head on straight, we'll be coming over in no time," said Shadow. "We just need to gather some equipment."
"The straightness of my head is hardly a factor in this situation," retorted Omega bitterly. "I am not to be held accountable if these small organics suffer emotional trauma."
"Well they'd be more traumatized if your head was on crooked now, wouldn't they?" said Shadow.
". . . What?"
"Stand by, we'll be seeing you," said Shadow calmly, hanging up and taking off down the hall at a rapid stride.
"I thought you said you didn't joke," Silver called, jogging after him.
"I don't."
They gathered up a few syringes of tranquilizer, which the databases said would be useful for calming the leftover terror caused by the chemical. G.U.N. didn't have too much spare tranquilizer lying around, and they wanted to avoid using it if possible anyway, but they would really need Tails to have a calm head on his shoulders. It would probably be up to him to figure out how to cure Sonic.
On an impulse, Silver darted to the kitchen by the rec room and came back carrying a box full of grilled-cheese sandwiches.
"Seriously?" said Shadow.
"It's a comfort food," retorted Silver. "There's nothing more calming than a grilled-cheese sandwich."
Rolling his eyes, Shadow checked to make sure all his scratches had closed, grabbed Silver by the arm, and shouted "Chaos Control!"
They materialized at the edge of the campsite, which was now bathed in a delicious patchwork of speckled midday light, filtering in through the pine branches, dancing on the forest floor, and kicking up a soft woodsy smell. It looked like a good place for hope.
"Here we are," remarked Shadow, striding over to the still-unconscious Mobians.
"I continue to insist that my head is not crooked," grumbled Omega.
"Don't listen to him," said Silver soothingly, setting down the box of sandwiches. "We're going to wake them up in no time Omega, and they'll be fine."
"We should probably go in order," said Shadow, deftly preparing a syringe of tranquilizer. "The children and Blaze were first, then Knuckles and Amy, then Espio, then Rouge. I'm going to give Tails a minimum dose of the tranquilizer and see if that doesn't wake him up a little faster. You can try to wake Blaze or the other kids by hand meanwhile, if you want to."
Silver hung back a moment, watching as Shadow carefully injected a bit of clear fluid into Tails' shoulder.
"Wake up kid," said Shadow, flicking the little fox's ear. "All the way, now."
Tails twitched erratically, groaning. His eyes slid open—Silver held his breath, and maybe Shadow did too—and suddenly Tails was sitting bolt upright, his eyes wild, his breath shallow and fast, his tails bristling. He looked around frantically, shaking with terror, but he didn't scream or panic nearly as badly as Marine had.
"Take it easy, kid," said Shadow evenly. "It's fine. Nothing's going to hurt you." He stiffened as Tails suddenly latched onto him, still shivering. "Hey now—"
"Go easy on him, Shads," advised Silver. Shadow shook his head and glanced meaningfully at the tranquilizer, but on the other hand they didn't want Tails loopy and loose-limbed either. He tried to remember how he'd seen Sonic comforting the little fox during thunderstorms, but couldn't recall anything of use; in the end he settled for patiently sitting still and letting Tails cling to him as needed.
"S-s-sorry," Tails managed between chattering teeth, evidently realizing that he was creating an awkward situation. "I d-don't know why . . . I'm . . . sooooo . . . "
"It's a chemical poison," said Shadow, patting Tails on the shoulder gingerly. "It'll wear off eventually."
Meanwhile, Blaze was starting to stir and tremble slightly. Silver bolted over to her side and gathered her into his arms, murmuring soothingly into her ear. She gained consciousness slowly, but was soon tense and wide-eyed, staring all around the clearing as if waiting for something to leap on her. On one hand there was no guarantee she wouldn't burst into defensive flames any minute, as her body was searingly hot, but on the other hand Silver had no intention of letting go.
"You enjoying this or something?" Shadow grumbled, looking over while trying to detach Tails from himself.
"No. I've never seen her frightened of anything before, ever," said Silver softly, stroking Blaze's back. "This is the least I can do for her."
"Sap," muttered Shadow, finally prying Tails' arms loose. "Get over to Omega, kid. He's a nice solid bit of shelter."
Omega made a dismayed gritting sound, but Tails shook his head bravely.
"I-I'll be okay," he managed, wrapping his arms around himself. "Just a few minutes . . . "
Shadow nodded wearily and raked a hand through his quills.
For a while all was confusion. The kids were a little slow to wake up, since the poison went a longer way in their small bodies. Knuckles eventually awoke, all in a fury and ready to thoroughly kill whatever was giving him such a powerful bout of horrors, while Cream and Charmy were still in tears and Marine was still panicking. Silver and Shadow had their hands full, as Blaze was not yet in any condition to help out, so Omega hoisted Knuckles up by the ankles and held him still until he calmed down. Soon enough Amy started to twitch and cry out, and Espio stirred faintly as well.
"This is murder," groaned Shadow. "Drop the echidna, Omega, you need to take on some of these kids."
In the end they herded all the young ones over to a very uneasy Omega—although he needn't have worried. It turned out that they did in fact find the sturdy mass of metal comforting, and they had no problem with huddling against him quietly and waiting for the fear to wear off. He patted the more distressed ones on the heads carefully and gave them some of Silver's grilled-cheese sandwiches.
"Espio's going to be dangerous," called Shadow, watching the ninja's hands straying unconsciously to his shurikens already. "Leave him to me. Silver, you handle Amy; Blaze, are you in condition to help out?"
"I believe so," said Blaze quietly. Her normally severe ponytail was a little unkempt, but her eyes were already regaining their usual regal glint. Just that her hand twined a little more willingly than usual into Silver's.
"What about me?" asked a gruff voice from nearby. Shadow glanced up from guarding Espio to find Knuckles, knocking a hand against the side of his head as if he had water in his opposite ear, but otherwise looking quite coherent.
"You in condition?" asked Shadow tersely, turning back to Espio and prying a shuriken out of the chameleon's fingers.
"I'm fine."
"Keep an eye on Rouge then, she'll be waking soon."
Knuckles glanced up.
"You sure? What if she panics? . . . "
"Figure it out," retorted Shadow.
"Me? . . . "
There was a silence.
"You know how it stands." Shadow slapped Espio's hand away from his shuriken case and prodded the chameleon impatiently, urging him to wake up. His eyelids lowered slightly. "She probably doesn't need anyone looking after her anyway."
"True." Knuckles got to his feet. "Never does."
". . . Never."
Nearby, Amy stirred and gave a stifled wail, starting to wake up in earnest. Shadow glanced up long enough to give Knuckles a coolly analytical look, then turned back to his watch.
At last all of the Mobians were conscious and in various stages of equanimity. With so many of them scared or otherwise worked up, there was a fair bit of drama; Charmy looked like he wasn't about to unlatch his arms from Espio's waist anytime soon, and Cream was still hiccuping and rubbing her eyes as Amy hugged her soothingly, shivering herself. Rouge, still looking a little paranoid, gingerly flexed her fingers after finally loosening that death grip on the red Chaos Emerald. Omega said nothing, but patted her on the head long enough to show he meant it.
"Where's Sonic?" asked Tails, as Shadow and Silver had known he would. Silver gave Shadow a "you-handle-this" glance.
"Well, kid," said Shadow wearily. "He's not exactly himself right now."
They tried to explain it as gently as possible. Amy nearly lost it, and Tails looked pretty badly shaken as well, while the others had a hard time believing it.
"It's Sonic? You're sure? Not just a lookalike?" asked Knuckles stubbornly.
"It was the Faker one minute, and next thing I know he's stabbing me in the back," said Shadow. "Besides, it would explain why he was the one who brought Amy in, and why Espio got attacked while out alone with him."
"I saw him too," said Espio quietly. "He must have sneaked up on the others, but I got a glimpse of him and tried to catch him with a shuriken. It did look a bit like Sonic."
"There you go." Shadow waved a hand tiredly. "So then, next step is to change him back."
"Is there any sign of what might be the trigger?" asked Espio. "Does it seem to be a scientific cause, or a magical one?"
"Listen, it could be anything from poison injection to demonic possession, I don't know," growled Shadow. "That's what we needed the kid on his feet for."
"M-me?" stammered Tails. "I . . . I don't know if . . . " He gulped, then set his jaw. "All right. Take me to see him."