Stage 1: Westopolis

Player Character: Shadow

Goal: Find 2 Chaos Emeralds

Shadow's POV

The Unknown's words from before didn't leave my mind "Hm... A promised time huh? Well then, I could use the Chaos Emeralds as bargain for the information he knows."

Having reached the skyscraper's top within the city, I've observed the shoot-out between aliens and the humans dressed in the exact same soldiers' uniform from my memory.

Suddenly a blue dash knocked the aliens off their feet, giving aid to the humans. Only one guy fits this description: Sonic the Hedgehog.

Whatever, he can handle himself, while I'll finally take what I'm here for.

At the ground I've the weapons used by both fighting sides, bet I could use that in case if either of them tries to get in my way finding the Chaos Emeralds first.

The laser beam from the sky destroys the city's surroundings. I've successfully stayed away from it. Human soldiers and aliens nearby weren't so lucky. Here I've found the broken cage keeping the green Chaos Emerald I grew attached with two years ago. Taking it with exhale "I can feel the power welling up inside me!"

At another part of city's warzone I've ran into the same purple star with single yellow eye from the beginning. It spoke "You are late, Shadow... From now on my eye shall follow and observe you for me... Now start by finishing off these soldiers who dare to resist me!" and then it disappeared again.

I don't know who he is, but doing his bidding might put me against Sonic, which i couldn't risk with my own mission at stake.

Thing were going my way so far, when I've found the second (blue) Chaos Emerald.

The Big Alien's hologram appeared from the ground sounding displeased "You've deliberately disobeyed me, Shadow!"

Calmly but firmly I explain, while walking "Look... I don't take orders... Especially when I don't even know your name or cause. But I'm not here to fight you either. I'm collecting the emeralds to find my own answers."

He wasn't getting off my back "You REALLY don't understand the situation, do you?! Perhaps, Professor Gerald has done more to your memories than I imagined."

Agitated with another missing piece of my past, I stopped, turned around, looked into his eyes and asked "What Professor did you just metion?"

Alien: "Hmm... Strange that you don't remember your maker."

Shadow: "What are you talking about?"

The Alien grew annoyed "Silence! The ramifications of your disobedience will be severe!"

He bended his left arm and outstretched to the side causing flash into my eyes.

Blinded, weightless and unwillingly losing consciousness, I yelled.

A/N: That's the end of Stage 1. Beside Shadow, other heroes will also get to work defending the earth. Who, when and where?!...