Chapter 17: Reflections
On Mobius, Shadow was standing atop a small balcony, thinking about his own past, and thinking: "Shadow the Hedgehog….why does that name haunt me? It's the only thing I can remember. And that gruesome image……" Then Shadow had a Force Vision of what appeared to be himself, running away with a little girl, and then they were cornered by a group of soldiers. The girl then looked at him in desperation, as one of the soldiers raised a gun and then at the sound of the gunshot, everything went white, as Shadow heard himself cry: "MARIA!!!!"
Shadow then asked himself: "Who am I? Why can't I remember anything? And, who is this Maria?" His mind was filled with questions that he just couldn't answer, so therefore, he was desperate for answers.
Meanwhile, Sonic was standing on a balcony at the higher floors of Castle Acorn, thinking of something as well. Sally then walked up to him and asked: "Sonic? Is everything all right? You seem lost in thought?"
"You can read my thoughts, can you?" said Sonic. "Through that Force Bond between us?"
"Of course. Our destinies are intertwined, as if you and I were fated to be together and become Jedi." said Sally.
"I know, and that's what's been eating at me. All those years ago, I feel as if I was never appreciating life enough, blasting right by it at full speed. But now that I am able to look back on the teachings of the Jedi, I find that my power is more than what I was accustomed to using it." said Sonic.
"That's a new you that I've seen, these last several years. But our coming here has altered our destinies, Sonic. We now have a larger responsibility, and now we must use our powers to help those in need, and to adhere to the promises we made to Luke." said Sally.
"Yeah. It's what I do best, Sal." said Sonic.
"But Luke said that even the most powerful of Jedi can fall to the Dark Side, Sonic. You still will have to face the temptation. And I hope that, for your sake….for my sake, that temptation never consumes you." said Sally.
"I won't fail you, my love." said Sonic as he and Sally kissed passionately. Sally then walked away, but also began to rub her abdomen, as if thinking of something.
But further up, on a balcony behind the two, was Luke, Kyle, and Kaylor. Kaylor then turned to Luke: "Luke, do you really think Sonic can resist the lure of the Dark Side?"
"Probably. Sonic is strong, but I still fear residual traces of his past. When we first met, Sonic was like I was: Impatient, headstrong, not to mention thinking he could do anything with that speed of his. I can only pray that the teachings I taught him are enough to hold him back from the Dark Side." said Luke, thoughtfully.
"I think there are more than your teachings keeping him away from the Dark Side, Luke." said Kyle glancing at Sally.
"Yes. His feelings for her are as strong as the day of marriage. Also, I know that the bond they share allows them to see one another's feelings." said Kaylor.
"Perhaps." said Luke. "But one day, he will face the test of his spirit."
Meanwhile, at the Master Emerald shrine, on Angel Island, Knuckles was meditating, trying to tap into the Master Emerald's power, hoping to use it to track down the 7 Emeralds. It was then he opened his eyes and said: "Lara-Su, do not think that I don't know you are there!" He then turned to the sight of his daughter, who was at the bottom of the steps. "I can sense your approach through the Force."
"Did I disturb you, Daddy?" asked Lara-Su.
"You appear to have come for a reason, so no. What do you want to ask me?" asked Knuckles.
Lara-Su sat at the top of the shrine stairs with her father, and then she asked: "Dad, why haven't you taught me the ways of the Guardian? It's what I want to do with my life."
Knuckles sighed and he said: "I figured it was a matter of time until you and I had this discussion, kid. But the fact is that I'm not sure if there's any need for a guardian anymore. Look at the Jedi, and the Republic for that matter. They fulfill that role far better than any single guardian could ever. But you're asking me to lay that burden on you."
"I feel that with the guidance of teachers such as you and Master Skywalker, I could bear that burden." said Lara-Su.
"I'm sure. But the idea is that you'll be living a manipulated lifestyle, just as my life was manipulated. I'm sure you were told of how your grandfather and his forefathers before him would manipulate the life of the next generation of the Angel Island Guardian. Mine was so manipulated; I wasn't even granted a normal childhood like yours. I've lived in seclusion for years, even before the old Galactic Empire invaded. But one day, you will understand the nature of this responsibility, Lara-Su." said Knuckles.
"I hope I do, daddy. That still won't change facts about what I want." said Lara-Su.
"You sound like your mother right now." chuckled Knuckles. "But one day, I will let you make that choice in life. For now, I want you to enjoy your life. A life which you will only get once."
"Okay daddy." said Lara-Su thoughtfully, "But you know I'm not giving up! I'm just like mom you know!"
Knuckles just sighed as he watched his daughter leave. "What am I going to do with her?"
Later that day in the castle hangar, Tails was hard at work with Rotor, trying to maintain the Star Tornado, which was in due need of repairs once more. "I tell you, Tails, at this rate, this ship will end up like the Millennium Falcon." said Rotor working on the acceleration compensator.
"That's why we work on it, Rotor." said Tails working on the coolant units.
"I'm amazed with you two." said a female voice that Rotor and Tails turned towards. There was Mina Mongoose, who had come to see what was going on. "Why don't you guys cash in on a new ship?"
"Not a chance, Mina." said Rotor. "Those ships may have the latest in technology, but they are filled with bugs, and may not even get off the ground."
"While some ships are hundreds of years old and run like a charm, just like the Falcon." said Tails. "That thing has had much of its bugs worked out in its service."
"Who knows what that ship has gone through? This one certainly has been through quite a bit." said Mina.
"Okay Tails. We're ready to begin the sensor tests." said Rotor.
Tails then walked over to the cockpit, with Mina in tow, where he sat in the pilot's chair to check that the sensor displays were functioning correctly. He started with the short range sensors, which were functioning fine with no problems, but when he checked the long range sensors, he noticed something unusual. "Say Rotor, I'm picking up something unusual on the edge of the long range sensors."
Rotor soon came up and he said: "It's a large object, on an orbital course towards the planet. The mass is consistent with a comet."
"Then we have nothing to worry about. Right?" asked Mina.
"I dunno. Comets usually steer clear of planets. This one appears to be heading towards the planet. I'm also picking up strange energy readings." said Tails. "I'll inform Sonic and Sally. Get to the command center and inform them of the situation. I will join you shortly."
"Got it." said Rotor, and with Mina in tow, headed to the Command Center, while Tails retrieved a communicator from one of his pockets.
"Sonic, this is Tails."
"Go ahead Tails." said Sonic on his end.
"Could you come down to the Command Center? Rotor and I were testing the Star Tornado's sensors; we noticed a comet on an unusual course."
"On my way." said Sonic. Tails then began to head to the Command Center.
Soon, he, Sonic, Sally, Rotor, Bunnie, Antoine, and even Teero were there, where the Republic Officers were tracking the comet's trajectory. "Commander, how soon will it enter Mobius' orbit?"
"At present speed, 5 minutes." said the Flight Officer.
"Any records on this comet?" asked Sonic.
"None. This one is completely unknown. Not on any records." said Teero.
"Zo ve are dealing with ze unknown?" asked Antoine.
"It would seem so, sugah-Twan." said Bunnie.
Sonic then felt something through the Force. "I'm sensing a disturbance in the Force."
"So do I." said Sally. "The Dark Side is strong in that comet."
"Should we contact Luke?" asked Tails. "Or Coruscant for that matter?"
"Yes. Send a communiqué to Yavin IV and Coruscant at once." said Sally.
"Sir, we are detecting unusual temporal activity in various locations around the planet. Look like small wormholes….wait…..biological lifeforms exiting the wormholes, and….we are detecting weapons fire!" said the Security Officer.
"With all due respect, are we talking an invasion here?" asked Rotor in shock.
"Zere is no time to question! Commander! Signal all troops to engage ze Aliens!" said Antoine.
"Yes sir!" said the Republic Ground Commander.
"Wait, are you sure that's wise? We don't know what these aliens want, less know who they are!" said Sally.
"Maybe." said Sonic. "But whoever these aliens are, they are attacking us. We must defend ourselves!"
"Agreed." said Tails. "Let's go." Soon, he and Sonic quickly exited the Command Center to help the Republic forces defend the city.
Sally just sighed and told Antoine: "Lock the castle down! Send out a distress signal to any nearby Republic forces in this sector!"
"Yes, mou princezz!" said Antoine as Sally turned to go with Sonic and Tails.
Meanwhile, Shadow was standing on a hill outside of Mobotropolis when he witnessed the aliens come out of the wormholes and begin attacking everything in sight. He watched as the Republic Soldiers rallied to try and repulse this assault. Shadow was preparing to move towards the city when he heard a voice: "Shadow….as you can see, the day of reckoning will soon be here…."
When he turned around, he saw the image of an alien who looked rather imposing. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
"Bring me the 7 Chaos Emeralds, just as promised." said the Alien who then disappeared as several explosions occurred near where Shadow was standing.
"What was that all about? If he knows the truth about who I am, I have to believe it. If I'm gonna learn the secrets of my past, I'll have to get those Chaos Emeralds!" Shadow then activated his Lightsaber, which showed a red blade, and he headed straight for the city.