I apologize greatly for the delay in getting this out! I had hit a bit of a block on where exactly to take the story, and I also ended up busy with other things. But I think I've finally figured out a direction to take this. :D
Without further ado, enjoy!~*
Sunlight began to filter in through the high windows, rays landing on the two black and red individuals laying down in the center of the room. Shadow and Eclipse had fallen asleep waiting for the remaining two that were in stasis to regain consciousness. And at last, Shadow was given a rude awakening--not by Eclipse, either.
"Shadow! Wake up! Where are we?"
The hedgehog grunted, preferring to sleep a while longer. He was about to shift to a more comfortable position, but then it hit him. "Maria!" He sat up, reluctantly prying his eyes open. The two stared at each other for a moment, smiling, glad to know the other was safe. Shadow then remembered just where he was. "Oh, um, we're on Earth. I think. This guy says his name is Eclipse and that he's my 'brother,' though I'm not sure whether to believe him. He told me we've been in stasis for...quite a while."
"He sure is odd-looking," Maria commented. "But it is funny, he has the same colors as you. Maybe he's telling the truth?"
The voices caused Eclipse to wake up as well, and he tiredly responded. "Heh, so you guys are no longer icicles." He yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, this is Earth, and you lot have been frozen for about fifty years now. Welcome to the twenty-first century!"
Maria looked at Eclipse in disbelief. "Fifty years?!" she exclaimed. "But...that means..."
Eclipse knew where she was going with this. "Your grandfather was discovered and executed by the government, and your brother grew up to be an evil scientist who wants to take over the world. Yeah. Also, I'm here to take Shadow back to Black Doom. He's being kinda stubborn about it though, so I guess I'll stay with you all for about a week so we can get to know each other." He stood up and stretched, oblivious to how the sudden news was causing tears to well up in the blonde-haired girl's eyes. Shadow hugged her for comfort and glared at Eclipse, who simply shrugged with a blank expression.
"Everything will be alright, Maria," Shadow said softly. "The professor wasn't as good of a person as he led you to believe, anyway."
Standing a few feet away, the Biolizard (or "Bio," as she preferred to be called) quietly analyzed her surroundings. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the new guy, and wondered what it was he and this "Black Doom" wanted with Shadow, along with just how he knew about the fates of Gerald and his grandson Ivo. She had a hard time believing anyone in the Robotnik family could actually be evil. Rather than asking, however, Bio decided to wander around as the other cryogenic tubes caught her eye. If Ivo were truly up to no good, then surely something around here would prove it.
Shadow caught her long orange tail disappearing around the corner and let go of Maria. "Hey, Bio! Where do you think you're going?!" He quickly stood up and chased after the lizard. Maria wiped her eyes on her sleeve and followed out of curiosity.
Eclipse was left on his own. After making Shadow's friend upset, he settled that this would probably be a good time to leave the building and head off to alert Doom. He skittered his way up the stairs and went through the thick metal door as silently as possible. He gently closed the door behind him, yet a click still sounded, stopping Shadow in his tracks. He rolled his eyes. "Great. He left us."
Bio didn't notice as she was distracted by a particular tube, containing what appeared to be a small robot. She looked at the neatly-written label on the base of the glass. "Gizoid," she read aloud. That name sounded familiar. The date written was only about a year ago, so Gerald couldn't have had anything to do with it.
Maria and Shadow caught up with her and looked at the metallic orange humanoid she had been investigating. "...Gizoid?" Maria asked. "Didn't grandpa say something about finding one of those once?"
Shadow nodded in agreement. "From what I remember, it's an artificial life form made by an ancient civilization. Supposedly some sort of high-tech weapon. It was rumored to 'awaken' once in possession of all seven Chaos Emeralds."
Bio shuddered. Artificial life form? High-tech weapon? That sounded eerily similar to the purpose Gerald intended for herself and Shadow. Maybe this thing was the professor's inspiration, and now, his grandson's...she shook her head. "It's kinda giving me the creeps. Let's go look at the other experiments."
Eclipse had made his way through the monotone tiles of the building, pleased with himself as he had destroyed the place's security system. He took a proud stance when he stood outside in the grass to greet the six small creatures waiting for him.
"Hey guys! Don't worry, I'm back safe and sound. I know I don't have Shadow with me, but we've gotta get back to dad. I managed to get some... interesting details."
The critters murmured. They couldn't speak, as they were genetically modified Wisps--tiny, mute alien beings containing unbelievable power. Of course, these six had been enhanced with Black Arm genes, making their abilities compatible with what would normally be their natural enemies. (Black Doom and the Mother Wisp kind of have a bitter rivalry with each other. You wouldn't expect a giant pink, flowery jellyfish to be so powerful, but she had obliterated many troops effortlessly when the Black Arms first attempted to invade Planet Wisp.) Hovering in front of Eclipse, in order, were: Cregal, a Crimson Wisp; Blurk, a Blue Wisp; Livo, an Ivory Wisp; Purzy, a Purple Wisp; Cyzer, a Cyan Wisp; and Rhygen, a Magenta Wisp.
They at least understood the Darkling's words, however, and Cyzer prepared itself to fuse with him, as the Cyan Laser ability can send an individual from one location to another in mere seconds.
"Laser!" Eclipse commanded, and the snakelike mutant Wisp dissolved itself into Hyper-Go-On particles, surrounding and finally combining with Eclipse, shooting themselves upwards in the direction of the Black Colony. The other five Wisps rapidly followed the bright blueish-green trail.
It was a busy day as usual for government spy Rouge the Bat. Today she had been tasked with locating the current whereabouts of Doctor Eggman by the President, and she wasn't about to disappoint. Rumor had it that the Doctor had uncovered old blueprints from his grandfather, detailing something known simply as "Project Shadow." Whatever it was, it sounded mysterious, and Rouge was certainly all for mystique.
Despite her assignment being to look for the mad scientist, she had decided to do some research on the experiment beforehand. The only file that came up after a solid hour of web searches was a flyer detailing plans for some sort of hybrid creature that was to be given life with alien blood, along with a black-and-white image of a reptilian face. Some notes were left attached to the digital file stating that Project Shadow had been safely contained in a high security building just outside of downtown Westopolis. Rouge knew it was now her top priority to retrieve the experiment before Eggman could get his grubby oil-stained hands on it.
Westopolis wasn't very far from Central City, so combined with her powerful wings, it didn't take long for the bat to locate an inconspicuous concrete building sitting in the grass about half a mile outside the cluster of skyscrapers. That had to be the place. She swooped down to the grey structure and contemplated the metal door now standing in front of her. Surely this place would be on high alert if she attempted to enter.
Nonetheless, it was worth a shot. She cautiously turned the knob. The door was heavier than expected, but it opened with no other issue. Rouge glanced around in front of her, waiting for alarms, bells, lasers, something. But it remained quiet. All that was laid out in front of her was a dark hallway lined with fake plants and inoperable sconces, ending with a bend to the left. She sighed and tip-toed down the winding corridor, ears swiveling to catch any sign of security catching her.
At last she reached another thick, metal door, and still everything was silent. The bat held her breath and reached for the steel handle.
The door creakily opened up to reveal an almost impossibly large room, filled wall to wall with lines of towering tubes containing an array of otherworldly objects--and even beings. Jackpot, Rouge thought to herself, a smirk appearing on her face. She skipped the staircase leading to the floor completely and instead hovered to the other end of the room. Upon reaching the ground, however, she took immediate notice that all three of the glass tubes in front of her were open: one having been unsealed normally, while the other two were shattered.
A lump formed in her throat. She may not have been detected by security, but she feared her fate here might be worse than any authority capturing her. Who knows what beasts lurked down here that could break through two whole inches of glass? She had to leave immediately. She had to tell the Pres--
"Are you looking for something, miss?" a young girl's voice called out from behind. Rouge flinched and turned around to see a tired-looking blonde girl dressed in a simple blue outfit. At least it wasn't the monster she'd anticipated.
"Oh! Yes, indeed. I'm looking for the...'Project Shadow,' whatever that is." Rouge was concerned the little girl had no clue what she was talking about.
"You're looking for Shadow? He's right here! Shadow, we have a visitor!" the girl shouted. Within seconds, around the corner came the most interesting sight Rouge had seen in a while: a dark, messy-furred creature resembling a hedgehog covered in patches of red scales and bearing claws. The two stared at each other for a moment, and then Shadow finally crossed his arms and spoke up.
"Let me guess. You're someone ELSE who wants to take me away for Gaia-knows-what reason? Get in line; I apparently have an audience with an alien warlord--who happens to be my father--in about a week."
The bat was less than prepared for that response, but she made an attempt to reply anyway. She decided to ignore the alien part. "Well, yes, in a way. But if I don't get you out of here myself, then you'll be found out by a mad scientist who wants to use you as a weapon of mass destruction."
Shadow closed his eyes and let out a small chuckle. "That's exactly what the aliens are wanting to do with me. Nothing new there. Seems everyone's after me like hot cakes." He sighed and opened his eyes again, looking at Rouge once more. "Though, I do suppose you'd be the better choice to get out of here with. As long as you're not planning anything funny."
This was easier than Rouge thought. She nodded. "I promise. Now how about we get the heck outta dodge?"
The trio headed back towards the staircase, though Shadow decided to first call out to his remaining friend. "Hey, Bio! Someone's here to let us out. You coming?"
The lizard looked in his direction, hesitating before finally responding. "I...think I'll just stay here, actually. I'm not sure how well the general public would receive a man-made reptile with a giant life support machine on its back and tubes in its head. I'm better off with these other experiments. I'm just a prototype, anyway. You're a better version of me. You should go on ahead."
Shadow and Maria looked at each other worriedly, but neither could think up a retort. There was a long pause.
"If you say so." The Ultimate Life Form marched up the stairs following Maria and the bat. "I hope you don't get too lonely."