Despite any rumors and efforts to the contrary, I'm still around, and I'm GOING to finish this tale. To falter now would not be fair to you, the readers. With that, lets continue on...

Part Twenty-Eight: Odds Defied

High in the evening sky, the oppressing chill of suspense clung to her wingtips like an unshakeable dew. Deep down, Rouge still could not believe how fast things had spiraled out of sane control. Back during her days with the Guardian Unit of Nations, she had led small infiltration teams into terrorist strongholds or raided the financial stores of tyrannical madmen around the world, but never had she seen such a concentrated force of men or armament so dedicated to such a simple goal. Even when Shadow was by her side and the pair had taken on those more destructive and entertaining missions, it was usually just the two working alone. No battalions of troops to back them up or covering fire from a screaming aircraft pass were used, or really even needed. When her silent flight was paired with his blinding power, anything else was overkill.

So it seemed that in order to capture her darker partner in crime and the life he'd helped create, the agency had reached a new level of paranoia. Though her ears were almost overwhelmed by the thudding rotorblades of the troop helicopters on the rooftop and the sirens on the armored vans below, her well trained cerulean eyes caught the streaking lights on the wingtips of the six fighter-bombers orbiting high above the city lights. It wasn't a long shot to guess that they waited for only a single word to drop their deadly cargo into the city and erase the entire block.

I never thought I'd have to call in a favor like this, but Shads isn't gonna like all this attention during his sweet little reunion the huntress thought to herself as she pulled a seemingly normal cellphone from her boot cuff and dialed one of only three numbers programmed into it. A number connected to the ear that had the most influence, and perhaps the most compassion "This is Rouge, authorization two-six-one beta, requesting connection to line zero-zero-one…"

Laying quietly in the attempted comfort of the hospital bed, Amy Rose was anything more than at peace. The instant those sirens had been tripped, she knew who it was that had set them off and that he was close, she could feel her own heartbeat accelerate along with Shadow's like the echo reaching back for the voice. Regardless of that, it was as if the entire world was devout in its effort to keep her midnight savior from her, weather it be by mechanical or plain underhanded means. At least the first captor explained his actions at least, but why was it all repeating itself already? Rubbing her hands along her warm occupied stomach, it was then the real truth began to dawn upon her like a spoiled sunrise. It's not him they're going to come after, it's not even about me really…they want this. They want our children. But why? They're not even born yet… And their father still doesn't know he is one!

With such curiosity added to an already anxious mind and recharging maternal body, the young flower could stay put no longer. Even if her dark knight knew what it was he was defending, she still had been denied his touch for long enough. Slowly, she lowered herself from the warmth of the covers to the cold tile floor. Her legs had not known such a delicate weight for a while and buckled under new use, but Amy steadied herself on the bedframe. Once her footing had stabilized itself enough, she began to head to the outside world, before the door flew open and twin masses of ruby and orange joined her "Knuckles! Tails! What's going on?!"

"Amy?! What are you doing up?" the echidna stammered out in surprise.

"I have to get to him…Shadow…he needs to know…" she replied, though her voice betrayed the waning energies that could not support her weight yet. Yet before the young flower collapsed to the tile, she was caught by a fluttering twin-tailed fox "Amy, you need to rest now, you're body's been through a lot of trauma. The doctor will be back any second now, and…"

On cue, the doorway indeed flew open again, but it did not produce the labcoat-wearing canine. Instead it announced the arrival of two humans clad in bulletproof armor under clean black suits and silenced sub-machine guns drawn. Yet even with eyes shielded by tinted lenses, a measure of shock rode across their faces as they found themselves staring into more eyes than they had bargained for. Not to mention a pair of heavy spiked mitts. "Hands up, echidna! Stand aside, or you will be neutralized!"

Smiling a smile that only shined anger, Knuckles answered with clinched fists "Care to repeat that?"

Bringing his sights to bear on the crimson guardian, the agent had intended to make good on his word. But years of fighting all over existence had added a touch of speed to Knuckles' strength and the echidna connected with a devastating uppercut. The human flew effortlessly through the air and back out of the room, his weapon firing indiscriminately as he fell. The other suit-clad operative was too stunned to move as his comrade disappeared, giving Knuckles plenty of time to administer the left hook that piled both agents together in a mess against the far wall.

Smiling, the echidna could not help but comment "Guess not." Turing back inside, he braced the door wide enough to let Amy out, still supported slightly under kitsune power "Lets go find that hedgehog of yours before he gets himself in any more trouble."

Nodding to her ruby sentry, the energies in Rose's eyes was coming alive once again. Steadying her footing against the tile floor, she nodded to them both "Let's go."

Against the fury of one enraged hedgehog, these mortal forces had barely held their own. The only real advantages they had savored until now was Shadow's injured state and his ignorance of their real goal. The first time the crimson-splashed hedgehog had turned up in the hospital was the first time Shadow had reappeared on G.U.N's influence. Naturally they were curious and so clandestine sweeps had been made to find him once he left, since it was rare that their finest former agent had gotten his charcoal hide in this much trouble. But even the highest ranks had to acknowledge that it was going to be next to impossible to beg, bribe, or rein Shadow back into their employ. The ultimate life-form was quite content in doing whatever he wished, whenever and however he wished to do it. Which was disturbing enough on its own, but when the bodies and wreckage of their scouts began to compile, the agency started to feel that time-worn sense of desperation and anxiety. Even if the attacks carried a signature completely unlike the midnight hedgehog, that only meant that something just as ruthless was sharpening its teeth.

Then, in a span of twenty-four hours, the entire world had changed. Dr. Ivo 'Eggman' Robotnik, criminal genius and the greatest threat to the safety of the world had emerged suddenly from hiding in a very well-scripted series of abductions and destruction. And just as quickly, the doctor had been put down by his arch enemies; Sonic, Shadow and the rest of their compatriots. While there had been celebration all around the governments of the world with that news, the Guardian Unit of Nations was now faced with a new dilemma, and one that had been brought up and re-buried with every new administration. Because with one climatic battle, the greatest threat to world peace now became its very guardians. Or more importantly, the most powerful and hardest member to predict or control; Shadow the Hedgehog. Such abilities could not be left to run rampant without focus, so G.U.N had to reclaim their most valuable agent. And that mission was complicated tenfold as soon as Caimen sent in his report on both Shadow and Amy Rose. What would happen when the midnight hedgehog's limitless prowess was gifted into the form of an infant? Or even worse, would those energies transfer themselves into the mother of those children?

The orders had started as simple ones; observe when possible, communicate if necessary, detain if provoked. But somewhere down the chain, those words had been shifted and mixed into the marching orders of a totalitarian force. But even that blockade had failed to anticipate the true goal of the target hedgehog and was now falling apart. Sonic's attacks were never meant to be fatal, but were quite successful in knocking any wayward soldier right onto their armored rears. It was Shadow who was blazing the trail through the ranks, for he did not care if these pawns before him were shattered apart as long as they were no longer in his way. He would be reunited once again with his most cherished flower and not even the infinite powers of all the cosmos would stop him. Together, the two hedgehogs tore through the trenched defenses of the opposing soldiers as they both had done so often before with any obstacle in their way.

"Good to see the old Shadow hasn't lost his touch" Sonic could not help but comment as they sped through a corridor towards freedom and ascension

Replying only with a patented "humph", the midnight loner pulled ahead slightly, only to witness the chasm to liberty slam shut with another airlocked door. Growling with a primal instinct, Shadow channeled his stabilized power into a spinball and blasted into the door. The steel buckled against the force of the blow, but the barrier would not break, a clear sign that the ultimate life-form was still not at his peak. As did the small trails of blood he left behind, which did not go un-noticed by his cobalt comrade. "Yo, Shads! You alright?"

Bracing himself on one knee, Shadow could feel the warm feeling of life trickle against his chest and spines. Even if his Restrictors afforded him greater recovery speed, they still needed time to seal and restore such massive trauma. And since circumstances added fuel to impatience, it was becoming painfully clear that the ebony warrior would need Sonic's help more than he would ever admit "Fine. But I'm fed up with being caged like this!" He replied, gathering more of his reserve energy around his fist to summon a Chaos Spear.

Suddenly, a cerulean arm grabbed hold of his and yanked it back. Ruby eyes snapping wide, Shadow was at a loss for words when Sonic stepped in and said "I'll get this."

Scowling at this sudden offer of assistance, the darker hedgehog inquired "Why the hell are you helping me, faker? Do you hope to win Amy back with some pig-headed chauvinism?"

With an attitude much more becoming of the ultimate life-form, the blue hedgehog folded his arms and closed his emerald eyes "Not quite. I promised Amy that I'd bring you back to her. It's the least I can do to make some kind of mends for what's happened." Then, just as quickly as his namesake, Sonic settled back into his normal persona "Now then, let's get outta here!" And with a page from his darkened rival's book, he coiled into his own spinball and darted back down the hall to pick up velocity before slamming with all his might into the door and shattered it outward "Now then, are we done stalling Shads, or can we get going?"

Stuck between an actual grin as his counterpart's efforts and the traditional scowl for the entire mess, the ultimate life-form took off up the stairs with Sonic in a close second.

As soon as the shots resonated into his ears, Cale leapt from his spot and broke out into a small sprint back down the hallway to Amy's room. As fast as his feet could push him, the canine's mind was about six steps in front with one single plea set on repeat My God! They've found her! By all things sacred, please don't let me be too late!! For not only did Dr. Caimen beg for Rose's safety and the security of her friends nearby, he found himself staking his own on whatever reaction a certain bloodstained hedgehog might have when he learns the depressing reality that may or may not await him around the next corner.

And indeed, as soon as that last bend of ignorance was rounded, the physician's jaw dropped in shock at the mass of crimson and anger in his way. But it was not the horrid scene of defiled innocence he expected. Instead, he gazed upon a smile of victory from a spiked echidna sitting on top of a pile of groaning limbs and bruised egos.

"What kept ya, doctor?" Knuckles inquired, punching out one of the stirring agents yet again.

"I came as fast as I could. What's all this then?" Caimen asked, feigning ignorance at the scene to cover his own shock.

Shrugging, the echidna dismounted his post to stand side by side with his fellow warriors "I'm not sure, but they were after Amy. Don't suppose you would know why."

"No. Though I'd say we've stumbled upon a conspiracy. Regardless, it is good to see you are up and about, Miss Rose."

Nodding, the cherry blossom scanned down the corridor, emerald eyes ablaze with determination "Where is Shadow? What floor?"

For an instant, the physician almost questioned the sanity of her decision, but with so much in the fray already, the issue felt irrelevant "Floor B-3. It's the isolation level, below street level. The nearest access is the fire escape, just beyond there. I'm going to check on Rouge, and then I'll join you. Until then, please be careful."

Once the trio had rounded the corner and disappeared from sight, Cale released the breath he had been choking on "This is getting out of control. If Rouge can't get through to some calmer heads, I'm not sure where this all will end" he growled to himself. Or at least, he thought her was alone.

"Well now, did someone miss me?" a sultry voice purred from out of nowhere, making the canine almost jump out of his skin.

"Rouge! Did it work?! Did you get a hold of the Commander?" Caimen asked. It was a gamble, but both agents knew that it was unlikely that the leader of the Guardian Unit of Nations even heard of this operation. If they could convince him of the absurdity of the mission, they knew he would call it off.

"Better yet, I went right to the President direct" she said proudly, causing the doctor to flash a triple take. "And you actually got through?"

Nodding, the ivory bat produced a small note and handed it to him "He still remembers the times we had to stomp on Eggman. New orders for whoever's running this sham. And you, actually."

The canine physician examined the notary from his employers, and had to bark out a laugh "'Applied force deemed unnecessary. Observation and monitoring authorized until further notice.' Well hell, I could've told them that…"

"Told them what, doctor?" another voice interrupted, this one smooth and near monotone. Neither of them had to guess whose it was as they turned to see a familiar ebony hedgehog pacing their way, with Sonic in tow. The bandages across Shadow's chest were again stained with blood, though the splatter told Caimen that not all of that fluid belonged to the hedgehog. Still, both of them were quite stunned to see him actually standing at all.

"Shadow! My god, what happened to you?!" Rouge nearly yelped in amazement as she darted over to her former partner's side. She didn't really expect him to be all warm and fuzzy, no matter how relieved either was to see the other, but the scathing look those bloodscryed orbs shot her stopped Rouge in her tracks. "I'd thought it was obvious. Our former partners tried to have their way with me in this operation."

Oh no…this isn't going well Cale pondered, trying to weigh what options were left to him. To reveal the truth to Shadow would certainly earn his wrath, however swift and painful it was, which also meant that no one else would be able to secure their safety in the future. But if he did nothing, the wolf was certain that this angered ultimate life-form would detonate eventually, and then any pain and anguish he caused would be on Caimen's conscience as well. "Calm yourself Shadow. Miss Rouge had nothing to do with this."

Stopping his advance on the treasure hunter, the ruby stained hedgehog glared at the doctor "Stay out of this wolf. You don't know the half of this."

"On the contrary. I know more than you can imagine" Cale growled back as he produced his golden shield to show the world "Special Agent Caimen, Guardian Unit of Nations, at your service."

Neither hedgehog could muster a response to his bold statement. Sonic was more or less confused at this little adventure he'd been shanghaied into, whereas Shadow looked almost ready to explode.

"You…uh… wanna run that by us again, doc?" the brighter speedster asked.

"Are you sure you want to do this doc?" Rouge asked while trying to back behind some kind of cover.

"If it will put some kind of resolution to this façade, then so be it." he replied, immediately very aware of the energized yet deadly gaze that Shadow had fixed him with. "Then you're the one responsible for this disaster!"

"That's right Shadow. I'm also a pawn in of the operation here, which means I was the one who told G.U.N you two were here. And it's probably thanks to my efforts that the agency had to resort to such barbarism to carry out its wants." That stopped the approach of the darkened fury, but the look in those eyes still was not satisfied. So reluctantly, Cale produced the order he had received earlier in the week, demanding the cessation of life inside the innocent flower "These were my orders. I say 'were' because I have no intention of carrying them out."

Scanning over the note only once, the piece of paper suddenly combusted in Shadow's hand "So, that's what this is all about. The bureaucrats are worried about the power of innocence, so they'd rather take a page from Eggman's book and destroy the very morals they hold dear. Pathetic."

"Is it, Shadow?" Dr Caimen questioned. "You destroyed the biggest threat to peace to world has seen in decades. Now that Ivo is dead, the world will move for peace and pacifism, the kind of world where you're children will be free to roam as they wish. This is a last move of desperation by soldiers who are afraid that their time is over."

Scowling, the midnight hedgehog turned his back towards them "Their mistake. They made the same one a lifetime ago and shattered my home. This time, I have to show them how wrong these humans really are!"

"But would Maria really want you drenching your hands in blood?" Rouge injected, standing between the hedgehog and the canine "Is that what Amy wants you to do?"

The very energies around him seemed to flicker at the mention of her name. Giving each of them a solid glare, Shadow let his anger, his arrogance bury itself beneath restraint "Where is she?"

Cale pointed down towards the fire escape "Looking for you. She, Knuckles and Tails are heading for the isolation level where you are supposed to be. You should be able to catch them before…" Turning to meet the hedgehog's crimson gaze once again, the physician found himself speaking only to Sonic and Rouge.

"Before you can even finish" the cobalt speedster shrugged.

Let it never be said that Shadow backs down from a challange. With the two sides of the chessboard coming together again, its up to the ultimate life-form to show us just why he is perfection's incarnate.

Reviews are welcome!