Hello again! I'm going to make this one short, but I've been rethinking the structure of the story. I know I said last chapter I was planning five more + an epilogue, but I might have to add another chapter to get everything in. I just hope that I continue to uphold the quality and not rush things!
Chapter 16: Fading Friends
Space Colony: ARK-Many Years Ago
This was the day that everything in Shadow's life changed forever. Two hours from now, GUN would send a strike team to the ARK, and kill everyone on board. No one, not even the wise professor Gerald Robotnik, saw it coming. To everyone, it was just another day in the tranquil orbit of space. In the observation deck, Shadow was doing his usual routine: staring at the planet below him, wondering… thinking. All his life he was aboard the ARK, which made him curious if anyone else was like him on that planet. Was there anyone else besides Maria and the Professor that he could rely on? Fixed on his thought, he was too distracted to notice Maria shimmy her way next to him. He didn't act surprised, it was a thing she did for a while now. She was always very amused when she found Shadow ensnared by his own thoughts. Made it easy to sneak up on him. Something that he had gotten used to. "What are you thinking now, silly?" Maria cheerfully asked him. Even with Maria, he wasn't always open. He didn't want her to be concerned with him. She needed to be concerned about herself. Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or N.I.D.S., was what it was called. It withered her from within, but it never broke her smile.
"The Professor says he has a serum he wanted to test today. Took some of my blood and infused it with those nanobodies that have been helping you. He has a good feeling it'll cure you." Maria wasn't satisfied. She knew that Shadow was wondering about something else.
"It doesn't matter what he was thinking. What were you thinking?" Shadow knew that Maria caught on to his deflecting. It would only be more of a hassle if he continued to do so.
"Once you're cured. We can go down there. Down where there is a sky, grass, and the sea. But… will there be more like me? As far as I know, I'm the only one of my kind."
"Is that what has been troubling you?" Shadow crosses his arms and has a gloom in his eyes.
"The Professor told me that the Ultimate Lifeform was practically immortal. I can't age. One day… you'll all be gone. I'll be alone. Do you think… Do you think I will find others? Others that won't make me feel alone."
Maria takes a deep breath and exhales heavily. She looks past the glass and at the planet. "This is the only air I've ever breathed. I can't imagine how fresh it will be down there. It'll be a new experience for both of us. But I know we can move past the fears we hold onto." Shadow turns to look at Maria, entranced by her words. "You're strong, Shadow. Of course you'll find someone else. Just promise me one thing." Maria makes eye contact with Shadow. She wasn't smiling, wasn't playing. She was serious about what she had to say. "When you meet that person, or people, promise me you'll do whatever you can to keep them safe." Shadow looks uncertain. It was a big promise to make, and for someone he hasn't even met yet. "Promise!" But… he had to. For Maria.
"I promise."
Mystic Ruins: Underground Bunker-Present Day
How fortunate Shadow was that this shelter was here. Blast doors, holding cells, supplies, and computers, everything located beneath the surface of Mystic Ruins. Not many people knew it, but resistance fighters built this bunker as a forward operating base when Eggman took over. For a year it's been abandoned, but thankfully still operable. Sonic and the others should get here soon, but what would he tell them about Tails? He was locked behind one of the glass-holding cells. He was laid in the bed, still unconscious, and fortunately, that third tail dissipated. Shadow hoped that when he woke up, he would be his usual self. But for how long?
Tails' Mind: Black Void
Tails woke up in an endless abyss, where he was weightless and suspended without momentum. Swaying his arms and legs around in a panic led him to figure out that it was like swimming. He was surrounded by breathable and invisible water, if he could call it that. Thinking quickly, he used his tails as a rudder to propel him forward. He wondered if this dimension was a part of what Harrow did to him, or if he was just dreaming. However, with everything that has been happening to him, the former wasn't hard to grasp. He didn't know what he was looking for, but anything was better than this nothing he had been floating through. Was he trapped here on purpose? That was the case Tails feared the most. Did something take control of his body and send him here for the rest of eternity? He would never see his friends again, he would never see the world again. The thought of it almost made him cry, but he had to be strong. For Sonic and for his friends. Suddenly, he saw something. A figure appeared to be standing on solid ground, even though there was none. He had to get closer. He reached a point where he could make out a voice. "What do you mean it wasn't complete?" Her voice was familiar, but Tails couldn't put together who it was. "All of that hard work, just to be set back."
When Tails approached close enough to see who it was, it was too late to turn back. He froze in fear and gasped. The figure was Harrow. She heard Tails and turned her head around to gaze at him with a deathly look in her eyes. "You!" Tails shouted. "Where am I?"
"So your mind was linked to this place too?" Harrow turned her body to face him and stepped forward. Following behind her, from the darkness, emerged the fox demon, Its eyes glowing a furious red and showing its teeth.
"I told you this would happen." It bellowed with a deep growl. Tails yelped and tried to propel himself away again, but the demon roared a deafening howl, causing Tails to cover his ears and flinches to a halt. Harrow pounces forward and tries to snatch Tails by the leg while he was still preoccupied, but instead, her hand simply phased through it. "Weren't you listening? The ritual was interrupted. He's not fully here… yet." Tails looked up at the demon, he was still afraid but a hint of curiosity tugged at him. Somehow, he felt safer, knowing that Harrow couldn't touch him.
"What's going on? Where are we?" Harrow hissed and turned away from Tails. She looks toward the demon, waiting for its explanation.
"This is my realm. I am Huxian, god of the abyss. Both of you mortals have been linked to my subconscious with the usage of 'hex'. It is a power that I granted prophets back on the planet: Reign. For centuries, I foretold them of a prophecy. A two-tailed fox is destined to be born, acting as a physical vessel for me to merge with. You, Miles 'Tails' Prower, are that vessel. Once I sensed your presence in the universe, I ordered The Highest, a mere pawn, to create the Abyss Voyagers and search every planet for you."
"You- you got this all wrong." Tails pleaded. "This extra tail is just a genetic mutation. This is just a coincidence."
"Is it?" Huxian snarled. "Yet, you paired nicely with me. If we had more time to act together, we would've been unstoppable." Tails shook his head. He didn't want to hear any of this. He denied the possibility that this was supposed to be the 'great' purpose he was told about.
"I won't let you in!" He screamed with cracks in his voice. "I won't abandon my friends for you!" Harrow sighed. She walked back to Tails, calmly. She wasn't trying to intimidate him anymore.
"You like being called Tails, right?" Tails turned his head away. He didn't answer, or more like he wouldn't answer. He figured she had probably hurt a lot of people, possibly many of his friends. "Well, Tails, you won't have to." Tails propped his head back up. He was listening but still wasn't convinced. "We all can agree on one thing. The Abyss Voyagers are evil. But they are powerful and I don't think your friends will be able to stop them by themselves. Huxian, as I'm just learning its name now, also doesn't see them as its proper will. If you two complete the merge, we can fight off the Abyss Voyagers for good. Your friends will be safe, I swear." Just then, a white light envelopes around Tails. He is being picked up and raised above gracefully. He was leaving them. "You must be waking up. Think on my offer, will you?" The light consumes Tails and disappears.
GUN HQ: Laboratory
"He will not be happy with any of you." James scowled, directing his disdain toward Arsonal and Vulnter, who were both battered and bruised. They were both lined up against the wall of the lab, surrounded by a plethora of GUN soldiers. They aimed their rifles at them like a firing squad. Arsonal knew that today, they were going to die. Well, he should've been the only one to die. Why did Vulnter come back for him? She could've lived and not betray the Abyss Voyagers if she just left him behind. "The Highest will ultimately decide your fate." James lifted his wrist and tinkered with the watch. The interface displayed him opening up contacts and selecting a name listed as 'The Highest'.
"You should've gone after them. Why did you come back for me?" Arsonal murmured to Vulnter.
"And let you die? You're crazy." Vulnter's head was bowed down the whole time. She refused to look the firing squad in the eye, nor James.
"Now we both get to die. Great plan."
"GUN can't do anything to us without permission from an Abyss Voyager higher up."
"Isn't that convenient? It's almost like we both just betrayed the very essence of the code. 'Don't abandon the mission', is what those dogmatic partisans always say." Vulnter finally lifts her head to look into Arsonal's eyes. She tried to make him more confident in their situation.
"Have a little faith, will you? The Highest will be our judge." Arsonal sighs.
"That's why I'm worried." Their near conversation was interrupted when a random GUN soldier yelled at them to shut up. Like it or not, Arsonal had to accept that they would have to be judged on one of the biggest crimes that anyone can commit to the Abyss Voyagers. Treason. Even if there was a bias towards them, it wouldn't make much of a difference. Entering through the door on the other side of the glass was Harrow, who was shocked to see the lengths James went to to ensure that Arsonal and Vulnter couldn't escape.
"What's going on here-" Harrow was silenced by James raising his index finger to her, basically telling her to shush. Afterwards, James' wristwatch broadcasts a hologram of The Highest in the room. Harrow immediately grinds her teeth in frustration.
*What has possessed you to call me at this time, James?* He elegantly spoke.
"This is a trial, my Highest. Arsonal and Vulnter have broken your code. They allowed fugitives to escape."
*First, have you lost all traces of them?* He was more direct and impatient now. It seemed that he just wanted to know about the whereabouts of Tails before the trial.
"No. I had a few scouting drones track them back to Mystic Ruins. Harrow has sent Metal Sonic and a strike team to ambush them once we know where the vessel is located."
*Good. Now, what to do with these two?* The Highest steers his focus back at Arsonal and Vulnter. *Oh, Vulnter. Now why did you have to cross me?* Vulnter tried to speak, but The Highest stopped her. *No words, Vulnter. You've said enough about your allegiance once you disobeyed orders, twice! And for what, him?* The Highest points at Arsonal. *Isn't it obvious that he is not devoted to our cause like you were?* He sighed, disappointed in his pupils. *Guess it was only a matter of time before you would regress back to your loyalty to your… friends. What to do now?* They were at his mercy, but what chance did they really have at getting it?
"With your command, we will fire upon them." James stated.
*No. I feel the need to set a more prominent example.* Arsonal and Vulnter were confused and shocked. What could he have possibly meant by that? Arsonal started to worry less about if they were going to die and more about what devilish plan The Highest set out for them. *Eggman!* Suddenly, Dr. Eggman came into the hologram view, lost and dazed. He clearly didn't have a clue that he would be put on the spot like this. *Doctor, you are aware that you were a target, at one point, to the Abyss Voyagers, right?* Eggman nodded. *You were also aware that you were kept alive and constructed machines against your own will for Vulnter, right?* Eggman nods again. Vulnter realized what was going on. The Highest was having Eggman being both judge, jury, and executioner. *James, escort Vulnter inside the roboticizer chamber.* Immediately, James gave the order for the soldiers to apprehend Vulnter. She tried to get away but was tackled down by the overwhelming force. She cried for help as they dragged her inside the roboticizer. Arsonal wanted to fight back, but they took away his flame cannons. He'd fight with his fists, but they were too scarred and burned from the cannon overdrive to do anything. All he could do was watch and plea for Vulnter as the chamber doors closed. Harrow pounds on the glass with a fit of rage, she too did not want to see this happen. *Now, Eggman, the choice is yours. You get to give the order. Does she deserve mercy? Or does she deserve enslavement?*
Eggman was surprisingly torn. On one hand, he could get the satisfaction of watching his captor get what he always wanted to do to her, but on the other, he knew if he did, his secret alliance with Harrow might come into question. But he started to get to know Harrow a bit better. He knew her desire to kill The Highest was her greatest priority. So he had no doubt that she would have no choice but to rely on him still, even after he did this. *Execute it.* He said with a dastardly grin. The scientist at the control panel emotionlessly presses the activation button and starts the machine. Arsonal and Harrow's eyes widen as they see the machine start to whir and come to life. Vulnter tried to break through the glass, but it was futile. Electricity started to build up through her and she fell to the ground, screaming in utter agony. Arsonal sprang forward to help but he was restrained by the soldiers. Smoke envelops the chamber and Vulnter is lost inside. Moments later, a speaker placed above the machine blares out a monotone voice.
*Process complete. Opening doors.* With a hiss and a bang, the doors spring open, letting the smoke trickle out of the chamber. Arsonal knew what would step out, but thought of nothing but fear of the anticipation. What would she look like? Would she be so far gone you wouldn't even recognize her anymore? Right now, he wished for someone to gouge his eyes out, it was better to not see at all what has become of his friend. It was almost like the soldiers were reading his mind, as one of them use their fingers to keep his eyelids pried open. He heard the hard metallic steps pace their way closer to the exit of the chamber. Each one was more unnatural than the last. Her silhouette appeared. It remained the same at first notice, but the differences were apparent at a closer look. Jagged edges and stiff fur, it wasn't a good sign. But the wait wasn't long, as her new form stepped out of the smoke. Arsonal's eyes widened in horror, anger, and regret. Her once vibrant fur and eyes dulled. She seemed to be put together with scrap and with whatever GUN had lying around for parts. Essentially, most of her physical parts stayed the same shape, but she was beyond who she once was. Unnerving and cold, unlike her once more upbeat attitude.
*Arsonal.* The Highest calmly caught his attention. *That is what happens when you betray the code. You get one more chance, that's it.* The soldiers lift Arsonal to his feet with ease. He's given up. They look at James for instructions, and he gives them a shoo with his hand, indicating that they can leave. *Doctor.* The Highest shifts back to Eggman. *I must say, your inventions have been truly valuable to our cause. Unlike Vulnter, I see that you were not meant to be caged. Perhaps a condolence gift?* The Highest points to Metal-Vulnter. Eggman grins and rubs his hands together.
*My, my… what a great idea.*
Mystic Ruins: Underground Bunker
At first, it was just Shadow alone with Tails in the room, but soon, more and more funneled in to catch up on what happened. The first impressions were as Shadow expected. Sonic would freak out, asking why Tails was locked away, backed up by Amy and Knuckles. The Chaotix would try to jump to conclusions and put together what was going on. Rouge and Tower mainly stayed out of the heat, knowing the Shadow would explain everything. It wasn't going to be easy, telling them all that Tails might no longer be himself. That he might try to hurt them. It was what he was going to come out with, but before he could, Tails woke up, perfectly fine. He was groggy and loopy, clearly confused about where he was. He asked why he was locked away, prompting Sonic to get on Shadow's case more. What was the most interesting was that Silver II had a weird look on him. Like he knew what Shadow was going to say. Shadow recalled Silver II saying that he didn't know what happened to Tails, but perhaps he knew that the Abyss Voyagers had done something. Maybe they were too late to stop it now. Maybe that's what Silver II was thinking. That this world, this attempt… was doomed. "If you want answers, then shut up and listen to me." Shadow commanded, making everyone else observing him settle down. He turned to Tails. "Tails, I don't know if you remember, but when I got you away from Harrow, you weren't yourself anymore and attacked me." Everyone in the room was shocked. "Whatever she did to you, it's changing you." Tails looked down at the ground, frightened yet somewhat aware, which confused Shadow.
"So that wasn't just a dream…" Tails rubbed his head. "It must've been Harrow who I saw, along with some… awful creature named Huxian. It referred to itself as a god and wants to merge with me. I… I swear I can still hear its voice clawing at the back of my head!" Tails held his head, trying to keep his composure. Silver II walks through the crowd and steps up to Shadow.
"We need to talk." He whispered. Shadow looked back at Tails. He was sitting upright again, looking at the ebony hedgehog. He gave him a nod.
"I'll tell everyone else more about the details. Don't worry, I can handle it." He said. Shadow at least admired his optimism for being in the situation he was in. It wasn't easy to have a smile on his face. Silver II started to walk away and head to the elevator leading back to the surface. Shadow quickly followed.
Outside
Sitting on one of the ruins' pedestals, Silver was patiently letting Whisper tend to some of his wounds and injuries. He was burnt pretty badly in his fight with Arsonal. He wondered why he was spared, as everything afterward was just a blank. "Thank you so much, Ms." Cream was also there too. She was just observing Whisper helping Silver. Her smile and enthusiasm were enough to cheer up even the grumpiest of people.
"It's nothing." Whisper responded shortly. Silver was grateful, but curious as to who Whisper was and how she ended up with them from Station Square. Again, everything was just a blank after the battle.
"Mind if I ask why you came along with us?" Whisper tightens the bandage on Silver's thigh, causing him to wince for a little bit.
"I helped out your friend, Tails, when he was abandoned. He's the only person I trust in my life now. I won't let him slip away."
"Well, thank you for taking care of him. We were very worried." Whisper takes his gratitude with a hum of graciousness. She continues to work on Silver's wounds, but the hedgehog wasn't yet satisfied with her answers. "You didn't have to come with us though. I thought you were a civilian when I first saw you, but your gear, your wispon, you were a combatant once."
"Guess a part of me missed the battle." Suddenly, Silver II and Shadow walk past them through the path in the woods. Silver glances and Silver II and they both exchange looks. Without any warning, both of them started to feel massive migraines. Whisper tried to see what was wrong, but after Silver II passed by, the migraine went away. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah… That was weird. I can't describe the feeling, but whenever I'm with the other me, something irks my brain. Like memories that are not my own try to find me."
Meanwhile, deep in the woods, Silver II briefly checks the surroundings to see if anyone had followed them or was watching. Shadow meets up with him and Silver II seems a little more at ease. "What did you want to discuss?" Shadow asked. Silver II took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"Shadow, this attempt… it has been the closest I've ever been before to saving everything. Everything that happened before, I never got to see Tails before everything went black. But now… we have him. But we're not done. Whatever that thing is that's inside him, it will get to him before we can find a way to stop it. Somehow I fear that if we don't act accordingly and fail to stop the bad future now, the cycle will be endless. We have to do something. We have to-"
"What are you getting at?" Shadow narrows his eyes. He didn't like where Silver II was heading with his argument. He sensed that something was wrong with him, ever since the bunker. Did he want to know? Or did he already know where this was going?
"You know what must be done. What do you think? One life or the rest, which is more important?" Shadow widens his eyes and grinds his teeth. He balls a fist and swings across Silver II's face. The white hedgehog however doesn't fight back, instead, he continues to try and persuade Shadow. "This is pointless! You're thinking irrationally."
"What you propose is out of the question! Seriously? The first resort you dive behind is the last one?!"
"We don't know if anything else will work. We don't know anything!"
"Then we'll try to find another way. One where we don't have to kill any of our comrades." Shadow grabs Silver by his chest fur and lifts him up to his level. "So if we lose now, you can just try again, right?"
"You don't want that." Shadow tightens his fist and is ready to lay out Silver II. "The wave of darkness is just an illusion. It doesn't kill, it doesn't freeze anyone in place. It just blocks people's sight from what is reality. You don't understand how that is truly awful." Shadow loosens his fist, but he doesn't let go. "Once the wave comes, everyone will be lost. They can't find their homes, families… food, and water. In days, most people will die back accidents or dehydration. The rest will shortly follow, all except one… You." Shadow fully loosens his grip, ready to listen to Silver II. "The ultimate lifeform, practically immortal. Almost every time, I see you before I go back and try again. That disease you have, it's killing you slower than you think. Even then, you will walk the empty planet for years. Alone and withering away. Is that something that you want?" Shadow is conflicted, but it has always been something that he has been afraid of for years. A fear that Harrow showed him not too long ago. The fear of being the only one left. The fear of being alone forever. Could he do it, after hearing all of what Silver II said? Would he be the one to now pull the trigger?
GUN HQ: Barracks
"You double-crossing-" Harrow shouted into her radio. On the other line was Dr. Eggman.
*I never said that I wasn't going to have a little revenge.* Harrow growls and grits her teeth. Her seething transmits clearly into the radio. *Is the deal still on?*
"The deal!?" Harrow slams the wall, forming a gaping hole. "You just killed it with whatever that stunt was!"
*If that's the case, we have no chance against The Highest. We need to stay together to beat him.*
"How's that?"
*My virus has fully taken control of most of the Abyss Voyager's system, just as planned. However, there is only so much I can do to short-circuit The Highest's nanobot conductors. Most of it is controlled manually, but it will be weakened when I execute the command. That's when you swoop in and take him out. Afterwards, his nanobot conductors will be in our control. Get it? I need you to make up for my physical drawbacks and you need me to fluff up your competition.* Harrow grunts and digs her claws further into the wall before ripping them back out, taking most of the wall apart.
"Fine! But at the end of all this, you will de-roboticize Vulnter." Harrow turns her radio off and lies against the wall. She slumps down to the ground and rubs her eyes. They were filled with bags. Just then, her radio comes back to life.
*Harrow?* It was James. She groans and picks the radio back up and turns on her transmitter.
"What?"
*Has Arsonal come back to his quarters?*
"No, why?"
*Weeeellll… let's say he made a big fuss about what happened. Aaaand…he's gone* Harrow jolts back up to standing and yells in the mic.
"What do you mean he's gone? Where did he go?"
*He might've happened to beat down all of the soldiers guarding him, where he proceeded to retrieve his flame cannons back and burn a hole right to the outside of the base.* Harrow grinds her teeth again, causing sparks to fly. She squeezes her hand and crushes the radio.
Mystic Ruins: Underground Bunker
The bunker was silent. No one knew what to say, but who could blame them? Tails just got done explaining what he saw and what the truth was behind the Abyss Voyager's obsessive need to get him. A few murmurs broke out amongst the group, but one, in particular, stayed quiet. Sonic didn't want to accept what his little buddy said. He didn't want to believe in the fact that if Tails' situation gets worse, he'll never be the same again. He blamed himself for this, that if he wasn't so careless while entering Tails' house, he could've saved him. He failed not only the mission, but he failed his friend. As Sonic apathetically stared into the ground, he felt a sensation he doesn't feel often: Rage. The rage towards the Abyss Voyagers and the rage towards himself. He wanted to explode with all the fire within him, as felt that there was nothing they could do to help. They had no knowledge of the hexes or this 'god': Huxian. Unless someone from the Abyss Voyagers told them more, which was highly unlikely, Tails could only fend off for so much longer. These thoughts made Sonic's blood boil. He clenched his fist and it started to tremble. For whatever reason, dark-purple sparks conjured around his fist. They were small, but not unnoticeable, as Rouge saw them being emitted from Sonic. "Sonic? Are you ok?"
"Ok? How could I be ok?" Sonic snapped as he flung his head around to face Rouge. "With all the dumb mistakes I made getting here, how can I ever forgive myself? Not only that but how could you have let the Abyss Voyagers take control of GUN so easily?"
"That's hardly her fault, Sonic!" Commander Tower spoke up, defending Rouge. "If anything, I should be the one to blame. I let the enemies close on purpose to lure them out. But I never expected them to be so powerful."
"So it's your fault Tails will become a monster!?" Sonic shouted at the top of his lungs.
"That's enough!" A booming voice erupted from behind them all. Shadow was back, waiting by the elevator floor. "All of you stop this nonsensical bickering. What happened can't be changed. What we do next is what matters." Everyone was all ears. Shadow brought up the notion, but the rest were expecting a little more elaboration. Sensing that it was still his cue, Shadow offers a short break. "We need to clear our minds, get some fresh air and talk things through. Let Tails get some rest." A reasonable idea. Perhaps for the best, since everyone was coming at each other's throats. Even Tails seemed accepting of the idea as he leans back into his stiff bed. With that, everyone boarded the elevator and headed up to the surface.
Later: Outside
The group of heroes were gathered around the laid-out stone ruins on the open field of grass. A vicious breeze swooping in from time to time. While Espio, Knuckles, Amy, and Silver discussed Tails' situation, the others were minding their own business. Although, Whisper noticed an exchange of looks between Shadow and Silver II. For whatever reason, Whisper didn't trust Silver II. The original, sure, but something seemed more brutish about this new one to her. Maybe it wasn't the right word, but Whisper thought it was along that train of thought. She had a feeling that something between those two was being kept from everyone else, which made her wonder more about what it was and why it was kept. Regardless, she wanted nothing to do with it unless it was going to hurt somebody. Sonic remained the closest to the bunker's entrance, leaning against a stone pillar next to it. He kept turning his head to briefly eye the entrance. He wanted to go back inside and talk to Tails. What use were they going to get by talking about hypothetical solutions out here while Tails was alone again? He wouldn't let it happen. Sonic stepped up from the pillar and went to the bunker's entrance. "Sonic, why don't you just wait here with us." Silver II said, but Sonic only stopped for a second before continuing forth without saying a word back. "Fine, I guess we'll have to do it now…" Silver II pushes his hand forward and activates his powers against Sonic. He is engulfed by the blue aura and frozen in place, struggling to break free.
"Hey! What are you doing!?" Amy yelled.
"There is no freeing him, Sonic. Tails cannot be saved." Silver II ignored Amy and talked to Sonic.
"So what then? Are we just gonna let it happen?" Sonic barked back.
"No. We'll end it before it even has a chance to begin. I'm sorry Sonic… but Tails has to die." Sonic couldn't believe that Silver II would come to such a conclusion already. Was he that desperate? Before he could fully comprehend his words, he was flung away from the entrance and into a tree. Seeing Sonic being attacked, Amy, Knuckles, and the Chaotix leap into action to pounce on Silver II. But the future hedgehog was too quick for them, and with a swipe of his finger, they too were frozen by his psychokinesis. Silver wanted to intervene too, but his wounds were yet to be fully healed. The most he needed to do now was to make sure that Cream was protected. He put his arm in front of her and kept her out of harm's way. The last one of the bunch to try and stop Silver II was Whisper. She lined up a shot with her wispon and was ready to fire. But before she could, a chaos spear pierced through the wispon and it was pinned to the ground. She looked back up and saw Shadow casually walk past everyone and head to the bunker's entrance. Whisper's suspicion was confirmed, Shadow was working with Silver II.
"Mr. Shadow? What are you doing?" Cream sheepishly asked.
"I'm going to end this nightmare, once and for all."
"Stop!" Sonic pleaded. "Please don't do this! He doesn't deserve it!" Shadow stops for a second. Truthfully, he didn't want to do it, but not every happy ending has everyone come out alive. If he wanted to stay and argue, he might've talked about his fear of being alone to justify this action. But he knew that it would never be enough to defend this sin to save the world. He could hear the pain in Sonic's voice, how he was aware that he held no power here. If he continued, Sonic would never forgive him, none of them would forgive him. That would have to be something he would have to live with.
"I know…" Shadow proceeded forward and entered through the entrance. Sonic cried out with all the air in his lungs, begging him to stop. It wasn't long before the tears started to drop. Once again, Sonic failed to save his buddy. Why… Why couldn't he just do anything to help? Just once he wished he could be there for him one last time. Why wouldn't the universe at least let him have that?
Underground Bunker
Shadow descended down the elevator and walked forward. The lights were out, just so that Tails could get some peaceful rest. 'This isn't right.' He thought. 'Why do I have to do this?' At the corner of the wall is a red rectangle button that activates the lights. The room springs to life again and Shadow sees that Tails is sleeping, which didn't make things any easier. He must've been a light sleeper, as the lights cause him to stir and lean up from the bed. He rubs his eyes and sees Shadow.
"Shadow? What's going on?" Shadow quickly dodges the question.
"How… how are you feeling?" Tails rubs his head gingerly. He looks more at peace.
"My head feels more clear."
"That's good." Shadow says as he lowers his voice. "Listen, there has been a situation. We are moving to a more secure location as a base. We'll be safer there."
"Where is Sonic and everyone else?" Every question he asked killed a part of Shadow further since he had to keep fueling the lie to him. He wanted him to at least go peacefully and not be afraid.
"They went on ahead. We'll see them soon though." Tails seemed reluctant to believe him. It would be an odd thing for Sonic to go on ahead without him now. Shadow approached the cell and the keypad to its side. Since he was the one who put Tails here, he was the only one who knew the combination. He raised his hand to type but was interrupted by Tails again.
"What did you and the new Silver talk about?" Shadow froze. He knew that Tails would catch on soon. "I heard him say that you two needed to chat. It's frightening, you know, having two Silvers be back in the past. Seems like the future is really bad right now. Almost makes me think that… that I have something to do with it." Shadow's fingers started to tremble. Tails had to have figured it out by now. Shadow closes his eyes and tightens his jaw in frustration. He can't bear to look at him anymore.
"I'm sorry…" He quivered. "Please… tell me you can find a way to stop this. Anything at all." Tails solemnly shakes his head. He had no idea what to do.
"It's ok. I understand what has to happen." His voice now started to shake. He was afraid, but he understood that there was no other way. All he wanted now was to make sure that everyone else was safe, that they could live their lives to their fullest. If he endangered any of that, then he knew what must be done. "I'm ready." Shadow grabs his arm to stop its tremors. He resumes typing in the password on the keyboard. '6-2-7-4-2' which with the letters on a phone keypad translates to 'M-A-R-I-A'. The glass doors open, and now nothing was in the way of Shadow and Tails. The hedgehog steps into the cell and stands in front of Tails. But instead of ending right away, Shadow decided to sit next to the fox on the bed. Maybe there was time for one last moment to put both of their minds at ease.
"They're going to hate me after this. Either way I choose, I'll end up alone forever. It's not fair. The choices that are given to us aren't choices. They're just different ways to end up at the same place. It's the biggest lie ever told to us, that we get to choose how our story begins and ends."
"How can you believe that? You're Shadow! You determine your own destiny." Shadow sighs and looks at Tails. He couldn't understand how he can remain so optimistic at every fork in the road, every barricade.
"I don't get how you can think like that. Why do you stay so cheerful?"
"I guess that's just my own choice. Not every choice is something that's given to us. We don't just wait for it to come, we got to invent them ourselves!"
"Are you saying that we get to make up our own choices? Our own forks in the road?" Tails smiled and gave a thumbs-up.
"Of course! We do it all the time. When you wake up and think about what you want for breakfast, or what to watch for a movie. You make these decisions on your own." Shadow was starting to understand now. He seemed intrigued by what Tails was explaining, being able to decide fate at every turn. "I get where you're coming from, but it's not that simple. Sometimes we don't get to dictate what comes our way, but that's life. So get that illusion of choice idea out of your head, because you always have a choice!" Tails' words have gotten to Shadow, just a bit. From this day forward, he would not cloud his judgment with the fabrications he's been telling himself.
However, that would require tomorrow to exist. Even after everything Tails said, it would have no point if the world faded away. Shadow gives one last smirk before standing up and changing his demeanor to serious. He still had a job to do and a world to save. Tails sensed it too, and once again, he was ready. He closed his eyes and looked up. Shadow manifests a chaos spear and holds it above his head. If he struck down, then the Abyss Voyagers would have nothing left to fight for. He could stop everything they've been working up for. But he would betray his friends, the ones who stayed with him through every fault he had. They saw him for who he was and appreciated him. Was he ready to abandon them? Was he ready to make that choice?
To be continued…
Next up: New Potential!
