Maria lay in a hospital bead, her unconscious body using a mask to breath. The doctors did everything they could, but they weren't sure if Maria would wake up for...awhile, if at all. Her right hand and wrist were broken, a left rib broken as well as another cracked, and she had a concussion that kept her unconscious. Shadow sat there, berating himself for the past 4 hours when his wrist beeped. He took a step outside.
"Miles...have you found anything?" He asked, a dangerous edge in his voice.
"I have Shadow..." Tails responded, wires hooked up to the head of Metal Shadow. "And you won't believe where this came from..."
Shadow listened intently, then his eyes widened in anger as he rushed off in a blur, making 5 consecutive Sonic Booms when he was clear of people and slowed down when he got to his destination: The Whit House.
.
The President had filed papers when an alarm went off, detecting movement outside. He left for the main room when the doors splintered away, showing Shadow the Hedgehog.
"What is the meaning of-" The president was cut off a a Chaos Spear whizzed by his head. He turned his head to see Shadow was NOT in a good mood. He moved forward, his hands lit up in a green flame when a voice cut him off.
"WAIT!" Rouge yelled, getting between Shadow and the President. "Shadow, what's gotten into you?"
"Out of the way Rouge. This is personal." Shadow said darkly, but Rouge stayed put.
"Shadow, what happened? Talk to me." Rouge offered.
"What happened? WHAT HAPPENED?" Shadow asked as his flames grew. "Your BOSS sent a metal duplicate that almost KILLED me, then put Maria BACK in a hospital. SHE CAN'T BREATH ON HER OWN RIGHT NOW!" Shadow roared and Rouge backed up a bit, intimidated.
"He must really care to go this far..." Rouge thought, then something popped up in her head. She looked over and saw the Presidents Aid from around the corner, a nervous look on his face as he cowered. "How could you..." she mentally asked, remembering that odd conversation she heard from an underground room. She stuck around, hearing if "This would work." or some such, then saw the Presidents Aid walk out.
"Shadow, listen. I think I know who tried to kill you..." Rouge said as she nodded over. Shadow looked and the Aid made a run for it, but Shadow was faster. He dashed up, appearing in front of the Aid as he brought his heel up and smashed it into the Aids face.
The Aid fell back, holding his nose as blood poured out. "What the hell is wron-" But Shadow slammed a fist down next to him.
"Where. Is. He?" Shadow asked darkly.
The Aid had a nervous look, then turned away. "I won't talk to a terrorist!" He spat out, but Shadow grabbed him by the collar bone and dragged him to the roof of the White House. "I don't know!Idon'tknowwhereheis!" The Aid sputtered out quickly. "A few hours ago I lost contact! Please don't kill me!"
Shadow loosened his grip a bit. "Why? Why me?"
"You're too powerful. Somebody had to put you down!" The Aid screamed.
Rouge appeared behind them, saying a base was under attack from Robotnik with a new set of mechs.
Shadow's scowl deepened, then brought his hand closer. "If Maria dies because of this, it's your head I'm coming for." He threatened, then crushed the collar bone as he threw the Aid behind him. "Lead me there Rouge." Shadow ordered, telling Miles he'd be out for awhile and not to follow. This time, he was out for blood. Robotnik was going down. One way or another, it ended tonight.
The two boarded a ship, taking them to the base as Rouge told Shadow what the mission had to be.
"We need to destroy the three terminals inside. That will take out the defenses protecting Robotnik." Rouge sated.
"Why not just hack the system down?" Shadow asked.
"We could, but it would take a LONG time. Robotnik must've been at this for awhile." Rouge responded. "Shadow, there's something else you need to know. They have a body suit in there along with three Chaos Emeralds. The suit is a dummied down version salvaged from Robotnik's Emperor...be careful." Shadow nodded. He looked on as the base came into view, a massive tower surrounded by what must've been the new mechs Rouge had been told of. The robots design had guns on either arm, a silver body with thin reverse legs. They all turned, ready to fire.
Shadow jumped out of the ship, slamming onto the robots and bouncing off as a yellow blur zooming from mech to mech as they shattered from the force. Shadow made his way to G.U.N fortress, breaking through the concrete floor as he watched a plane load up on soldiers before leaving.
Shadow ran forward, watching more mechs fall from above as he shot down a corridor. Coming to an open room, Shadow kept going forward as he fired off Chaos Spears and Flares, destroying anything in his path, including G.U.N robots that had no pilots. He kept going, coming up to the first terminal, a massive spire with a blue top. He went to destroy it but was surrounded by robots on all sides.
Shots fired everywhere as Shadow ducked an dodged away, smashing a GUN robot as he continued going as he made his way to the terminal releasing a Chaos Blast, causing an EMP wave shutting the immediate threats down. Shadow landed, taking a short breather before he blew open another door and jumped down a small pit, landing on a platform as a blue static flared up. He knew better than to touch it. He looked forward, seeing the blue static in front of him as he shot forward, bouncing off the walls before making it to land as he ran up another ramp.
Several more GUN robots fell as Shadow ran past them, wanting to conserve his energy before fighting yet some things were inevitable. He ran up a metal floor, getting to the second level and blew open another door when he saw the elevator he needed to go down was destroyed. He made another jump, somersaulting as he landed. He popped back up and continued on his way, jumping over a laser gate when gun mounted camera's started to fire at him. Shadow moved quickly, getting out of the hallways as he made it to the second terminal.
He mounted a turret, firing bullets at the GUN defenses that fell along with the terminal, destroying it as a second EMP came about. Shadow breathed as he looked at himself, watching as scrapes where he was shot healed themselves. But he was slowing down, getting tired. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep this up. Getting up, Shadow moved forward through another set of doors as he saw a series of them close. He turned and saw a thick vehicle and got an idea. Getting inside, Shadow stepped on the pedals as the vehicle surged forward and broke through every door it hit. The only problem was it wouldn't stop as Shadow jumped out when the vehicle slammed into a big GUN bot, a mini gun on the underside. Shadow ran forward, shooting up the side of the wall as he was shot at and a bullet skimmed his arm. Making it inside a door, Shadow grabbed his arm as it slowly healed. He moved forward, getting in a cart as t went down to find the final terminator overrun by robots.
Shadow charged in with a battle cry, smashing robots left and right but he was being over whelmed. A missile hit nearby as he was flung back, almost falling into the blue field below. Shadow dragged himself back up, looking ahead as more robots came to finish him off.
Shadow scowled when a rocket was fired, aimed at the terminal and blowing it up. He looked around and saw Rouge had just entered, a launcher in hand as she flew to him and helped him up.
"Did you have to trash the base?" Rouge asked as Shadow simply shrugged, walking forward with a limp. "Are you going to be ok?"
"Wheres the suit you told me about?" Shadow asked, Rouge telling him it was just ahead. "Don't get involved." Shadow warned, walking into a big room.
"So...you lived." Robotnik stated from above, descending in a massive red suit resembling an upper torso, a head with one "eye" up top. Robotnik sat in the center of it, the chest open and exposing himself. "This suit was salvaged from my Emperor suit, can you believe that? They were making weapons to destroy you, even keeping three Chaos Emeralds from you. So why bother?" Robotnik asked, seeing Shadow hunched a bit and tired. "You won't last long in the sorry state you're in. Give up."
Shadow stood upright, putting his hands up. "You should know me well enough Robotnik, I never quit. Not then, not now, and not ever."
Robotnik smiled cruelly. "I was hoping you'd say that." He said as the chest closed. "Shadow, meet DIABLON!" Robotnik roared as missiles fired from the back. Shadow darted to his left, out running the missiles as he made a jump for it. But Shadow slammed into some sort of shield, bouncing back. "Come now Shadow. I know you hit harder than that!" Robotnik mocked as he backhanded Shadow away. The head started to glow an odd blue color and fired a laser. Shadow jumped back, barely dodging the beam as he fired a Chaos Spear and it connected to the suit, but didn't do much. Shadow circled around, noticing a blue light in one arm, a yellow light in the other elbow, and a purple light in the back. This thing was being powered by 3 Chaos Emeralds...great.
Diablon fired more missiles as Shadow dodged, but the laser caught him dead center. Shadow flew back, rolling off the edge and grabbed on again, pulling himself up. "The only reason your still alive right now is because of all that Chaos Energy you have inside of you. Normally it's a pain to deal with, but now I get to toy with you longer than should be necessary." Robotnik commented, picking Shadow up and throwing him across the room as he slammed into a metal crate and dented it. "And who can help you? You came here alone." Suddenly, the suit started to malfunction, the force field fazing out as Diablon fell to ground level. "What the-?"
"He's not alone." Rouge started. Suddenly, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy burst from the ceiling.
"He never was!" Tails yelled as he threw a hammer wielding Amy. Amy flew forward, slamming her hammer into the the body of Diablon and made it back up.
"Sorry we're late to the party. Traffic was a mess." Knuckles stated, helping Shadow up. Shadow looked at him and the two nodded. "Amy! TENNIS!" Knuckles yelled as Amy nodded, backing up. Shadow formed a spin dash as Knuckles threw a punch as hard as he could, shooting Shadow forward. Shadow slammed into Diablon, shattering the metal plating on an arm as Amy hit him back with her hammer, sending Shadow threw the head of Diablon. Tails came in and caught Shadow mid-air, spinning a few time before throwing Shadow as he slammed into Diablons back, shattering the metal. "Those suits are meant to combat just Shadow. But they've got nothing on us." Knuckles stated.
Diablon got back up when Shadow jumped up, releasing a Chaos Blast finishing Diablon. The three Chaos Emeralds fell as Robotnik rolled away. Shadow walked forward, a Chaos Spear in hand as he picked Robotnik up by the collar.
"I gave you all of this...and this is my thanks?" Robotnik spat out.
"You took EVERYTHING from me that day!" Shadow roared with pain in his voice, raising his spear and preparing to kill. "Never again!"
"Shadow, WAIT!" Tails yelled.
Shadow turned, mist on the bottom of his eyes. "You want him dead as much as I do Miles." Shadow responded, rage in his voice.
"Shadow...this won't change you back..." Tails stated. Shadow looked back at Robotnik, dropping him. Then raised his spear once more.
Robotnik closed his eyes and waited for the end, but he heard something else. Metal shattering. He looked and saw his robotic arm was destroyed once more, then Shadow in his face.
"It's not what Maria would want..." Shadow stated as he turned with Rouge coming up, arresting Robotnik. Shadow wobbled a bit and Tails helped him walk. "What about Maria?" Shadow asked.
"She'll be fine Shadow." Tails assured and Shadow nodded, getting into the X Tornado as Tails flew off with Shadow passing out in the back seat.
.
Maria winced as she opened her eyes, looking around. One eye was still pretty swollen and her sides just hurt, along with her hand. She looked around to see herself in a hospital room, with her parents on the couch next to her asleep.
"They haven't left this room since you came in two days ago." She heard, turning to see Shadow. "It's over Maria. Robotnik is under custody." He said, looking a little down.
"Sssshadow?" Maria said weakly, concern in her voice.
"They made machines meant to take me down Maria...The people I help protect are afraid of me." Shadow stated. "And one day...I might be on the run from them."
"Sh-adow..." Maria stated, lifting her hand as Shadow came up, taking hold. "I will always...be your friend...I promise..." She stated with a horse voice. Shadow gave a small huff at that when her parents started to stir. With Maria's head still turned, Nelson gave Shadow a disapproving glare, and Shadow took it as a cue to leave. Shadow nodded over to Maria's parents, as she turned and saw them, with Shadow walking away and seeing Rouge in the hallway.
"Why didn't you kill him?" She asked, walking alongside Shadow.
"Would it have changed anything?" Shadow responded, with Rouge saying it probably wouldn't. "Where are you keeping him?" Shadow asked, with Rouge revealing it to be a secure section of Area 99. "Keep an eye on him Rouge. I don't want to see him get loose." Shadow stated as Rouge nodded. Things would be a bit more peaceful for now, but trouble would always find a way to surface.