Violet Dreams

Part II

Chapter 28: Divided

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear."

Location: GUN Headquarters, Emerald Desert – 11:30 am

Humming gently in the background, the single bulb light swung ever so slightly above the steel table of which the President and Shrike sat at. The walls were covered with renaissance paintings, while tastefully placed plants lined the corners of the room. The President of the United Federation cupped the mug of coffee in front of him, and drank softly to clear his throat. Watching silently, Shadow could see the frustration building in Shrikes eyes, and the fact the President had so little information on what had attacked was beginning to anger him. The glass mug clanked against the table, and the President sat straight in his chair, resting his left leg on his right. His bandages had been removed upon arriving at the base, and the medical ward had stitched up the only minor cut on his forehead, giving him a generally hardened exterior.

"The most I saw of my failed assailants were there cloaks," the President remarked for the third time in the last hour. "They were white, and had nothing on them except a black circle on the back, with black flames around the hood, center and edges. I'm guessing they're apart of some sort of religious extremist group."

"I thought that as well, Sir," Shrike agreed. "However, no terrorist I have ever dealt with has used anything like the creatures civilians spoke of. Did you see any?"

"A group of them attacked me, and then my car," The President replied, shuttering with disgust at the memory. "Their skin looked like scales, and smelt rotten. Their arms were much, much longer than their legs, and strangely, they had blades on their elbows. I don't think I've ever seen a living creature, or anything for that matter, with a more horrid face. It's jaw hung from threads of muscle tissue, and its teeth were like dirtied knives. And I'll never forget the look of those hollow eyes."

"So you have no recollection of the two hidden attackers?" Shrike sighed after jotting down the appearance of the monsters, slightly disturbed by the description. "From what I've been informed of, they didn't seem robotic like the Doctor's previous technologic endeavors. They moved with the fluidity of a living being."

"The one was very big, and strong from what I saw," The President sighed, rubbing his temples. "The other very small, female I believe, and it seemed she had more physical strength than her accomplice."

Nodding and jotting down the information, Shrike closed the notebook in front of him, and stretched. He took a sip of the water in front of him, slurping it down rather noisily for Shadows liking. The dark hero moved across the quiet room from his position against the door, and took a seat as well, resting his hands on the table.

"Neither of them were robotic, sir," Shadow explained. "They were living, breathing creatures, Commander. In fact, the larger figure actually apologized several times. The Doctor couldn't have manufactured something like that. The only known creature I know of that's been engineered, is myself, and Professor Gerald had a much more brilliant mind than that of Doctor Robotnik."

"Perhaps they have no relation to Ivo whatsoever," Shrike pondered, rubbing his chin. "However, I'd like to discuss something of equal importance with you, Mister President."

Glancing over to his leading officer, Shadow couldn't help but feel suspicious. He had an undying respect for Commander Towers, but something was off about his predecessor. Being the guard, Shadow stood from his chair, and took up his spot by the door once more, his eyes locked onto the large buck ahead of him.

"It involves that of Sonic and his comrades," the buck explained, his lip twitching angrily. "Though I appreciate the good deeds they've done for the world, it's leaving the very organization dedicated to protecting the nation dry of work. Now the way I see it, they could be classified as criminal, or we could have them work for us. Using abilities on the levels of those few could help us with our military program."

Quirking a brow through a drink of his coffee, the President replaced his mug, and folded his hands around the mug. "What're you proposing, Commander?"

With peaked interest, and narrowed eyes, Shadow turned his attention to his commander, who had shifted in his seat. What would he ever gain by forcing that blue moron to work for the government? There had to be something more to what he was letting on. Finding it best to sit and wait for the Commander to finish, Shadow folded his arms and kept his eyes trained on Shrike.

"As you know, our own Agent, Shadow, was created by the hands of Professor Gerald Robotnik. But what you might notknow is that it was apart of a super soldier program. We shut everything down, because yes, it was becoming a danger, and back then we feared the work he was conducting. Gerald wasn't a man for power, he took up the project for two reasons – we provided him the money to sustain his research, and he was searching for a cure for mortality. He loved his granddaughter, Maria, and so created Shadow, the living definition of immortality."

Turning his attention to the obsidian hedgehog, Shrike motioned for him to leave the room, much to Shadow's annoyance and frustration. With hesitation, Shadow nodded and left the room, his anger flaring from the sudden turn of events. The door clicked shut once again, and the Commander turned back to the intrigued President.

"Shadow the Hedgehog was the first to be infused with the Ambrosia gene, essentially what GUN wanted to create a perfect line of soldiers. Though it gifted each recipient with individual gifts – some not so great as others – it was unfinished. The project was shut down before it could be finished, and again, as you know, everyone aboard or associated was killed. Each subject the gene was given to suffered severe mental shutdown. However, Shadow was perfected. By infusing Black Dooms DNA with the Ambrosia gene, Gerald was able to by-pass the side effects of everything else. Shadow was unique. His body accepted the hybrid, while with everyone else it literally ate them from inside out."

"What are you getting at, Commander?" the President replied sternly. "I'm not about to fund a project that could potentially cause another catastrophe that Project: SHADOW did all those years ago."

"What I'm getting at, sir," Shrike stated with a grin, leaning closer. "Is to start up that project once more. If we can get DNA samples from every one of those overpowered heroes, then perhaps we can pick up where Professor Gerald left off. The only reason the world shuns the military, is because we aren't equipped to fight the supernatural threats of which Sonic and his friends do. Now I'm not at all saying I'm not grateful, because I am, I'm simply pushing for a stronger government. Tides are changing, and I've realized after the attacks on Station Square and Empire City that we need a change as well. What do you say, sir?"

Rapping his fingers along the table, Lincoln McHolm gazed at the leader of his military with great interest. However, as tempting as it could be, to have an undefeatable government, he was weary. The need for such a brute force in this age was unneeded. Aside from the recent attacks, the United Federations had always managed to pull through.

"You bring up a very valid theory, Shrike," the President acknowledged. "The threats to our nation have been becoming much more deadly. Though we do rely on Sonic and his friends for safety, it is merely a reassurance for the obstacles we cannotovercome. Outside help isn't unheard of, Commander. If the government, and military, relied on inside knowledge and force alone, we wouldn't exist. The population makes up whom we are. I see two immediate problems with your plan, Shrike. One, as useful as it would be to have Sonic and the others work for the government, it is unlikely. You can't force anything upon the civilians. Although I'm sure you've come up with a plan around that, as well. Two, the work, funding, resources and minds aren't at our disposal. Gerald is one of the greatest minds of the last one hundred years. He will probably be the greatest Chaos Physicist to have ever lived. To replicate his work and findings would be near impossible. I'm sorry, but I just see this being a benefit to our nature right now, Commander."

Clutching his hands into tight fists, Shrike forced a calm nod. His lip twitched with agitation, and frustration. What gave this man any right to decide what was best for nation security? Besides the privilege of being labeled leader, he knew nothing of combat and strategy like a true soldier did. With tensed arms, and tight fists, Shrike stood to his feet.

"I'll be in contact with you about further information regarding the attacks, President," Shrike gently sneered, leading the world leader out the door.

As the door swung open, Shadow darted his attention towards the exiting buck. Once again, anger boiled up inside his veins, and suddenly Shadow began to doubt whether or not his affiliation with this government was the right choice. Waiting for his mark to leave, Shadow noticed the look of anger present on his Commander's face. Whatever they had talked about, the President had declined. Relieved somewhat, the dark hedgehog turned his gaze to Shrike immediately after being called.

"Agent Shadow," the Commander barked. "I want you to prepare for big changes. You're the key to the military's success in this world, and without you we'd be disbanded because of that blue hedgehog. I'd like you to get information on the threats encountered in Station Square and Empire City, and report back to me as soon as possible. Though the population of this nation may not know it, we're at war with those damned vigilantes, and it's about time we take our stand."

Nodding silently, the crimson washed hedgehog turned and left. Surely Rouge would be able to find out the details he had missed out on within that conversation. Although he had vowed to leave his past behind him, there was something nagging in the back of his mind, telling him that it wasn't done with. There were answers to be retrieved, and if the very government he worked for were going to retain them from him, he'd destroy it from the inside out. But, perhaps that's what his Commander was already doing.

Rounding the corner to the hallway leading to the outside world, Shadow found Rouge on the phone with someone. Though unable to make out the conversation, he immediately realized it was their Commander by her body language. He made his way towards his accomplice slowly, allowing her time to finish the phone call. Once she had hung up, a bright flash of light filled the room, warping the two from the base. The walls had ears, after all.

Location: Adabat Jungle – 12:15 pm

"You sure don't waste any time, now do you, sugar," Rouge chuckled with a wink. "What's gotten you so worked up?"

"Assuming you know our mission," Shadow replied angrily, as he trudged through the moist jungle floor and shrubbery. "That man is withholding details about the ARK. He knows something that I don't."

Concerned, the albino bat pulled at the hedgehogs arm bravely. "What are you talking about, Shadow?" she pried. "I thought that was all behind you!"

Ignoring her words, the dark hedgehog continued his trek through the thick jungle. Snakes slithered away from his rampage of swatting away branches, while other creatures scampered deeper into the depths of the unexplored. Everything that he had learned was only part of the truth. It was like giving someone a car, but not the key. Rouge desperately jogged behind her angered companion, grasping on him and begging for him to stop for five minutes into the trek, until finally the ultimate lifeform spun around, knocking the flustered and startled bat backwards.

"Shrike is a corrupt man," Shadow snarled viciously. "He's using the military for his own little games!"

Watching the infuriated hedgehog, Rouge grasped his shaking hand within her own two hands. "We'll sort this all out, Shadow," she reassured. "We just have to play by his rules for now, and then we can get to the bottom of it all. For some reason, I think those weird appearances in Empire City and Station Square have something to do with all this."

The birds above squawked, while crickets chirped in the bushes. Shadows heavy breaths had come to a slow, giving him the chance to cool down, and focus on the task at hand. Closing his eyes, and finally regaining his disposition, the dark hedgehog turned back around, peeling apart two massive branches that intertwined in front of them, allowing them entrance to a large clearly occupied by nothing more than a medium sized dome like building.

"Peace is no longer an era," Shadow explained. "We've receded back to war over the last day, and if we're going to solve anything, we're going to need extra fire power."

Unsure of what her friend meant, Rouge could only follow the dark hedgehog across the clearing, and up to the door of the building. It was very plain to the naked eye, having no windows whatsoever, and one door. Its paint was rusted and scratched, while vines had begun to grow along the walls. The huntress squinted her eyes slightly, attempting to make out the symbol written on the door. She blinked gently, realizing it was GUN's. Just then the door slung open thanks to Shadow.

"What is this place, Shadow?" she questioned curiously. "I didn't know GUN had bunkers outside of the country."

"It's a storage house," he explained, glancing around through the darkness. "At one point during the Millennium war they had used it as a decoy and filled it with explosives. You were guarding the King during that time. However, afterwards, they stored weaponry and supplies in here."

Rouge stood silently at the door, astounded with the size of the building within. A stone staircase rounded the circumference of the building, leading down into a lower area, which was easily three times the size of the building from outside. Above, dirt and mud from over time had covered up the glass of which the rooftop was made of, allowing only brief shafts of sunlight through into the work area below. She heard a clank, and then the hum of a generator. Suddenly the room lit up with a dull, grey light. She peered over the railings, noticing the floor itself had been made out of glass and light. Intrigued, Rouge jumped over the guardrail, and extended her wings to ease her descent beside Shadow, who had taken up a spot in front of a computer.

She turned in a slow circle, taking in all the weaponry and equipment along the walls. Five bunk beds were positioned beside a small kitchen space, TV and sofa, while three tables were fashioned together to create a dinner table. Cabinets filled with what she presumed was out dated food or battle equipment stood idle behind the computer space, which had several thick cords running from it and into the ground. She assumed it controlled the lights as well.

Suddenly steam lifted from a panel in the ground. A square of eight tiles flashed off from their lit up state, and began to rise upwards, bringing a cloud of smoke and dust with it. Rouge coughed and sputtered, blocking her eyes from the sudden storm of debris. Once the dust settled, Rouge found herself able to see again, although at first she had to blink a few times to clear her eyes of any remaining debris. With a deep gasp, her eyes grew wide at the sight in front of her.

Standing within three titanium walls, their old partner Omega E-123 stood idle. A circuit of lights flashed to life within the walls, illuminating the shining, crimson armor of the battle droid. The thick cords running from the computer to the robot flashed to life, as Shadow input commands and data into the computer to revive their shut down friend.

"Omega!"

"Taking the duty of God upon our shoulders, we can choose our paradise through the lives we take." Abraham Towers, GUN Supreme Commander – 1985 – 2009

To be Continued

Authors Note - Yes, yes, another slow chapter. Lot's of information crammed into it at the same time, though! IF you've been skimming through chapters up until now, this is definitely the one to take the time to read and think about! Once again, there's a lot of set up in this chapter, and quite a bit of foreshadowing. On another note, I just couldn't leave Omega out of this. At first, I wasn't originally going to use him; but honestly, Team Dark isn't the same without the big ol' cuddly Omega. I'm definitely on a role for updating! Any guesses why the title is what it is? Leave your theories, comments and tips in a review!