Chapter 09: Stopping the Countdown

Sonic and Shadow were fighting it out as the works went dark, and then, Sonic was able to gain the upper hand in the fight, and knock Shadow to his knees. "It's over Shadow! It's over!"

Shadow gleefully got up and said: "I don't think so, It's over for you!" as he pointed out a countdown clock near Sonic and they began to feel the ARK start to move.

Forell and the Imperial Technicians stood in awe as Luke, Leia, Sally, Han, Chewie, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Kaylor, 3P0, and R2 ran into the room to watch the man's message. "The countdown for my final revenge has begun! In a few minutes, you will all be destroyed. Space Colony ARK will hurdle through the atmosphere and crash into this planet with devastating force! You have no time to prevent this disaster and absolutely no hope of survival! Your rulers took my granddaughter Maria from me! So I'm destroying everything you care about! Now you'll feel what I felt when I lost Maria! You'll see! You'll see! You'll see!"

"Who is this guy?" asked Amy.

R2 beeped something and 3P0 said: "That is Shadow's creator, Professor Gerald Robotnik. He is also the biological grandfather of the late Dr. Ivo Robotnik."

"Robotnik's granddaddy huh?" said Han thoughtfully. "Not what I'd call loving." But then the ARK started to rumble again as Forell and the remaining Imperials fled to their shuttles and escaped to the Apocalypse.

"This whole station is falling apart!" gasped Sally.

"It's gonna get a lot worse soon." said Rouge. "The propulsion systems are locked out, so we can't reverse course."

R2 then beeped something else. "He says that the Colony's navcomputer was preprogrammed to descend and overload the Eclipse Cannon to the level equal to a supernova! Oh dear!" translated 3P0.

Then, another message came from Professor Robotnik: "I plan to give you a taste of my revenge, once all the seven Chaos Emeralds are collected. Once I initiate this program, it cannot be disabled. All of you ungrateful humans, who took everything away from me, will feel my loss and despair."

But then, R2 whistled something, which 3P0 translated: "He now says that he has some information about the Professor that he received from Rouge. He will display the entry now." R2 then displayed a hologram of Professor Robotnik's diary.

Kaylor then read the entry out loud: "Revenge. That is all that matters to me now. When I began my research, I only wanted to do good. That is why I worked to create the Ultimate creature. But the leaders of the project worried that I'd use it to take over the world. So they seized my lab on Space Colony ARK, and they took Maria from me. And my life took on a new purpose: Instead of helping people, I would get revenge on them! Night and Day, I planned, so long after I am gone, my revenge will be complete. I've done it. My greatest design is now complete, the Ultimate Life-Form Shadow, my enemies think they've defeated me, but Shadow will carry out my orders without question. Now it sleeps, but one day in the future, it will be reawakened. Shadow will bring total destruction."

"Oh my, he's gone totally insane!" gasped 3P0.

Chewie barked a question to Han, and he replied: "I dunno pal, this guy sounds like he completely lost his marbles."

"So what are we gonna do?" asked Leia.

"We have to find a way to stop this station, and fast!" said Luke.

"NICOLE, any suggestions?" asked Sally.

"The shields on this colony are impervious to blaster and warhead fire Sally. The only option would be to destroy the colony with the Hypervelocity Cannon down on the planet." said NICOLE.

"I think we'd better save it for last resort." said Leia. "Let's see if we can disable the Chaos Emeralds."

"And I know how we can." said Sonic, walking in. "Knuckles, you can control the Master Emerald, right? Maybe you can drain the Chaos Emeralds and allow us to safely remove them and immobilize the ARK."

"You know, that doesn't sound like a bad idea." said Knuckles.

"Agreed." said Luke. "Let's get on it, then. Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, Kaylor, Han, and Chewie, you make your way towards the Master Emerald Chamber is, and we can probably use that to drain the Emeralds. Sally, Leia, Amy, Rouge, 3P0, and R2, I'll escort you the Command Center where you'll be safe for the time being. We need to get in touch with the Republic ASAP."

"Got it." everyone said as they set off for their respective destinations. Sonic's team hurried down towards the central core of the ARK, where the chamber was located, and where the Emeralds were being transported to. Of course, they had to take out many sentry droids and turrets along the way.

Meanwhile, Luke's group made their way to the command center, and R2 got to work trying to override the controls. "I hope they can make it in time…" murmured Sally.

"Me too. But don't worry, they can and they will, Sally." said Leia.

Meanwhile, Rogue Squadron could only watch as the colony fell towards the planet. "Good luck Sonic." thought Wedge. "You and your friends will have a lot of trouble getting us out of this one."

Down at the Castle, the Republic personnel could only watch as the ARK bore down on the planet. Antoine and Bunnie walked to a back room and then Antoine said: "My dear Bunnie, if we die today, I would like azk vou a question."

"Spill it out then, sugah-Twan." said Bunnie.

Antoine then grabbed a small box out of his pocket and said: "Bunnie Rabbot, will you do me ze great honor of becomink my wife?"

Bunnie was shocked at this, but knew that the love was true and replied: "Why Antoine! Ah-ah-ah will!" then Antoine placed the engagement ring on Bunnie's ring finger and she said: "At least we'll die together knowing we love each other so much."

"Oui, Bunnie. I feel zat zis was ze last time we'd have together. Even if Sonic succeeds, ve shall be married." said Antoine.

"Ah hope so…." said Bunnie.

Back on the ARK, Sonic's team was blasting multiple turrets and getting past force fields, even getting out of a flood chamber before they were sealed in. As Sally, Leia, Rouge, Amy and the droids sat in the Command Center, Sally then said: "I still can't help it. I know Sonic will come through for us today."

"Don't count on it." said a voice. There was Shadow, calmly and casually walking towards them.

Amy then realized something and worked up courage. "Shadow, please. You've got to help them!"

But Shadow simply scoffed at that plead by replying: "Everything is going according to plan. I have no need to help them. Besides, there isn't a way to save everyone. The people of this planet deserve to be destroyed."

"That's not true!" said Amy. "Sometimes people fight over the smallest things, some are selfish, much like the war between the Republic and the Empire, like the Professor said, but everyone deep down has some inner goodness in them. Well, almost everyone. But if people follow their hopes and dreams, they have a reason to never give up on them, and they'll be happy. That's why you should help them. Saving everyone is a good thing in the end."

"Why should I, after what happened here?" asked Shadow.

"Because, I know how it feels." said Luke walking up from behind. "My father was once Darth Vader, servant of the Emperor. He thought the Dark Side of the Force was the only place for him, and he saw no point in turning back to the Light Side. But during the Battle of Endor, he realized that he didn't want me to suffer and die at the hands of the Emperor, and he gave his life for my own. He made that sacrifice, and was redeemed back to the Light once more."

"So your father chose life for you? One fair Jedi, Luke Skywalker. The only true Jedi that remains…for the sake of your life…" said Shadow thoughtfully.

"I must agree with Master Luke, Shadow." said 3P0. "There are times when I dread human behavior, but I understand why they do it, since it's their nature to destroy each other. But there are good people like Master Luke and Master Sonic out there who will fight for the sake of others."

"I agree. A Jedi always puts others first. They are willing to fight and die for the sake of peace and justice. If you help us today, Shadow, you can be redeemed yourself." said Luke.

"Please Shadow…" begged Rouge.

Shadow then had a flashback to Maria's death, and saw her say: "Shadow…I beg of you…Please…do it for me…for a better future…for all the people who live down on that planet…give them a chance to be happy." and then she ejected Shadow's escape pod as she then said: "Let them live for their dreams. Shadow…I know you can do it. That's the reason why you were brought into this world." her final words were then: "Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog…"

Shadow then realized his mistake: "That's what I promised her…and I must keep that promise!"

Luke and the others smiled in joy of Shadow's realization. "I must help Sonic with stopping this!" and Shadow turned to the door."

"Me too. I'm going with you." said Luke.

"Yes, come Skywalker. Let us stop this once and for all!" said Shadow, as he and Luke raced off.

"Shadow." said Luke. "I sensed that the light inside you has returned. You are now at peace with yourself. I'm glad you made the right choice."

"Thank you Skywalker. I now realize that Maria wanted me to protect this planet. And now that I know there is an order of people who do that, I hope you will take me into consideration in the future."

"I will Shadow, when I'm ready. And remember: The Force will be with you. Always."

As Sonic's team approached the core. They saw what looked like a shrine which looked like the shrine on Angel Island. "Looks like this is the place! Let's do this!" said Sonic.

But then, a large capsule hanging on the wall broke open and out came a large lizard which stood right in the way of the heroes. "What is that?" gasped Sonic.

"That looks like a prototype that was supposed to be locked up." said Knuckles.

"Man, that looks ugly!" said Han.

"Leave this to me and Skywalker." said Shadow, who walked right past the heroes.

"Luke, what is…?" asked Han before Luke cut him off.

"Just go, Han. Shadow and I got this covered." Luke activated his Lightsaber as he and Shadow got ready for battle as the others ran past them. "So Shadow. How do we take this thing down?"

"If we take out the device on its back, we might knock this creature out!" said Shadow as the BioLizard attacked the two. They dodged the lizard's tail and mouth and then Shadow struck the first blow, by grinding on the cables and striking the device. Then Shadow was shook off as Luke distracted the beast and repulsed it's projectiles with his Lightsaber. Then Luke struck next and Force Jumped onto the back of the creature and hit the device with his Lightsaber.

Meanwhile, Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, Kaylor, Han, and Chewie got to the shrine, where Knuckles placed the Master Emerald in its place. He then recited the chant: "The servers are the seven Chaos. Chaos is power, power enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos. Only you can do this. Stop the Chaos Emeralds!" Then the Master Emerald glowed brightly and began absorbing the energy from the Chaos Emeralds. But then, the BioLizard repulsed Shadow and Luke, and began roaring loudly. Then it started to glow and then, it disappeared!

"It's gone!" gasped Tails.

But then, the Colony began to shake violently. Then, Leia called Luke on his Communicator: "The Prototype is still alive, Luke! It just attached itself to the outside of the ARK, and now it's keeping us on course!"

"Damn. That's not good." said Luke.

"So what do we do now?" asked Han.

"We've got the trump cards right here." said Sonic, who then looked at Shadow. They agreed that now was the time to use the power of the Emeralds. Knuckles, Tails, Han, Kaylor, Chewie, and Luke watched as the two hedgehogs summoned the Emeralds to them.

"When Sonic and Shadow gain the power of the 7 Emeralds…" said Kaylor.

"They become…" said Han.

"Super Sonic and Super Shadow." said Luke. And he was right. Sonic and Shadow were now in their Super form and ready for action. They flew outside the ARK, where the BioLizard, now the Final Hazard, was, and now it was time to defeat the monster.

"Can you hear me Sonic, Shadow? The life support system on the creature's back is its weak spot. Destroy that, and the creature is helpless." said Sally. "Hurry! We're counting on you!"

"We'll do it." said Sonic.

"And we will!" said Shadow.

The Final Hazard fired off many beams and projectiles at the two, but could never land a hit on them. Sonic and Shadow responded by firing back beams of energy at the creature and scored a few hits on the life support device. But it wasn't enough, for soon, the creature fired off many energy balls at them, and was very difficult to evade. But before the balls hit Sonic, they were destroyed by a barrage of cannon fire. Sonic looked to see Rogue Squadron's X-Wings joining the fight. "Hey, don't you know you shouldn't fight alone?"

"Copy that, Wedge. I'll keep that in mind." said Sonic.

Shadow was trying to evade the energy balls on his tail, and then, a barrage of missiles took them out. It was the Millennium Falcon, with Han and Chewie aboard. "Don't leave us out of the action. Even you need help sometimes!" said Han. Chewie roared in agreement.

"I understand, Solo. I will remember that." said Shadow. Even with the help of Rogue Squadron and the Falcon, they just weren't causing enough damage. But then, Sonic had an idea and begun to coordinate with everyone.

The creature saw Rogue Squadron's X-Wings charging it and fired a beam at them, which they dodged, and then Rogue Squadron fired off a salvo of Proton Torpedoes at the creature's life support device, which slowly damaged it. The Millennium Falcon came next, firing its cannons and missiles at the device, which severely damaged it. Then, Sonic and Shadow came charging at the creature and delivered the final blow and destroyed the device.

The creature began to explode and finally disintegrated as the Colony began to burn up in the atmosphere. But Sonic and Shadow held it back with their remaining strength. "No way that's getting through!" said Sonic.

But then Shadow heard Maria in his mind: "Shadow, I beg of you!"

"Maria!"

"Give them a chance to be happy!"

"Now Shadow!" shouted Sonic. And then together, they both said: "CHAOS CONTROL!!!" and then a large light encompassed the ARK and then it disappeared. They reappeared right in the ARK's original position.

But Shadow, derived of his strength, began to fall towards Mobius. "Maria…this is what you wanted…right? This is my promise I made to you…." and then, Shadow gave one last glimpse at the ARK, but not before passing out from exhaustion.