Chapter Twelve: Shadow's Somber Day
"Thanks for the ride Shadow. You sure you don't want to join me. We could have a whole lot of fun at the Casino." Rouge said.
"Sorry, I have plans."
Shadow stared at Rouge as she hopped off his motorcycle and grabbed a large carry-on suitcase that had been secured to the back of the motorcycle. She put her hand to her mouth in faux surprise upon hearing Shadow. "You? Have plans? Like what? Bingo with the seniors at the retirement home?"
"Ha. Ha. Very funny, but no. I'm going to be visiting a farm and later on this week I'll be giving a bomb defusal lesson to a future potential agent." Shadow, naturally, didn't feel the need to mention that the potential agent was Cream the Rabbit and that first they would be having a tea party. It was an irrelevant detail.
"I see. Well you have fun with all that. I'll see you in a week, Shades. Enjoy your quant trip to the farm old man."
Shadow scoffed silently. He was about to verbally retaliate when he had a moment of clarity and perspective just as Rouge turned and began walking toward the bank entrance.
Shadow squeezed the handlebars tightly, he looked at the road in front of him before he turned back to look at Rouge as he spoke, "Rouge, before you go…"
Rouge turned and faced Shadow. "What's up?"
"I don't often speak like this Rouge, but we were pretty damn lucky back at that mountain. I was overconfident. Sloppy. I underestimated the danger and as a result, you and Tangle almost paid the price. After having lost Maria... then recently almost losing you and Tangle..."
Shadow looked away from Rouge, far into the distance, beyond the horizon, as if seeing a glimpse of some ethereal realm. He thought of Maria. He thought of his promise to give all life on earth a chance to be happy. His grip on the motorcycle's handlebars tightened as he thought of Eggman raining death from above, week after week. He thought of Mimic, still at large, a being too twisted and cruel to let roam freely on this planet. But most of all, Shadow thought of his friends. He had to do better. He had to be better in order to protect those he cared for and to honor Maria's dying wish. If he had to take matters into his own hands to save the world, well, it wouldn't be the first time he'd done that.
"Shadow…" Rouge said. Her worry for Shadow, evident in her voice.
Shadow turned back toward Rouge, a determination echoed as he spoke while a fire blazed in his eyes, "Trust me when I say it won't happen again. That's a promise. I swear this to you as my witness. It won't ever happen again. I won't let it... That's all I wanted to say. Later." Shadow turned on the motorcycle then sped off and around the corner.
Shadow drove onto the Highway, he drove until Central City was far behind him. Eventually the shops and gas stations were replaced by fields of wheat, corn, and rows of greenhouses. Eventually the Road ended and Shadow arrived at a large wooden home. He parked his motorcycle and made his way to the door, knocked three times, then stepped off the porch to wait and take in the drastic change in environment he found himself in. As he waited, the sun passed by a cloud painting the landscape and fields in a brilliant golden glow. The warm sun shone down upon Shadow, warming his quills along with the rest of his body. The warmth reminded him of a faint memory from many decades ago, when Maria would lovingly hug him before going to bed and again after awakening. Shadow recalled how they would hold hands as they skipped throughout the Space Colony ARK, playing games together, as Gerold Robotnic smiled briefly at them, before soberly and obsessively returning to his work, disappearing for days at a time. Shadow felt tears begin to form, "Damn pollen" he said as he soaked in the sun's rays.
Shadow closed his eyes in an attempt to halt the irritation wrought by the pollen and listened to his surroundings. He could not stop himself from thinking how much Maria would have loved to visit this Farm and meet the good people living here.
"Maria, you should be here, with me." As Shadow held back a tear, he had but a single overwhelming thought, "It's not fair."
The sounds of the farm were vastly different from the sounds of the city or of the ARK. Shadow heard the wind blowing against the vast fields of wheat, the sound of flickys' singing in the nearby trees, the wind chimes tinkling together on the porch. All these sounds culminated to produce a sense of gaiety that Shadow had not felt since his time with Maria. It overwhelmed his memory and left him frozen in place, grappling with nostalgic feelings that Shadow had long suppressed from his mind due to the pain of their remembrance.
The moment soon passed, eventually the door was opened by Douglas the Squirrel. Upon seeing Shadow, the child slammed the door and screamed, "Dad! Dad! Shadow is here!"
"Son, that's rude, we need to greet guests politely. Come on now. Let me show you how it's done."
The door was opened once more and "Dad" the Squirrel greeted Shadow, "Howdy Mr. Shadow, good to see you've taken up our offer. We've been hoping you'd stop by for a visit, believe you me. Why don't ya come on in? We'll fix you up a plate. Most of the family is about to sit down for lunch."
"I'll wait outside, I don't want to interrupt your family meal." Shadow said curtly, as he expertly hid his apprehension as he began to turn away.
"Nonsense, I insist. There's plenty of food for everyone. We even have coffee beans." The Father said with a grin.
Shadow thought for a moment… then he thought of Maria, then relented. "If you insist."
The Father turned his head down the hall then yelled, "Honey, add another plate to the table. Mr. Shadow will be eating with us!" From the kitchen, a half-second passed, then a plate was heard shatting on a hard surface. The Father turned back to Shadow and smiled, "Follow me inside, I'll grab you a plate that's in one piece and properly introduce you to my Wife, Anna."
A few minutes later Shadow found himself seated at a large mahogany "adult table" with Douglas and his parents. The table's plastic flatware, glass dinnerware, and glass drinkware had been swapped upon Shadow's sudden arrival and replaced with fine porcelain, silverware and crystal glasses. Added in front of each "Adult" was a fancy napkin that Rouge would have found aesthetically pleasing, but Shadow knew them to be awful for drying one's hands with. A few mostly younger children were seated across the room at a smaller plastic table that had been brought out, with plastic cups, and plastic cutlery. They were chatting and laughing when one of the children, one that clearly was several years older than Douglas, stood up at her Mother's direction, and served Shadow a plate of fresh fruit, nuts, a bowl of oatmeal, and coffee beans. The girl then poured Shadow a glass of water and a separate glass of fresh orange juice. The young teenage girl was visibly shaking while pouring the water and orange juice into the crystal cups. She stole a glance at Shadow before her eyes darted away when his gaze turned toward her, then the girl looked toward her smiling parents and swallowed nervously before returning to her seat at the children's table and began eating along with the other children.
Just then, a pair of identical teenage squirrels walked into the dining room Shadow was seated at, carrying some tools, clipboards, and other equipment as they passed. They stopped at the table and began to tell their parents they were going to get a head start on the evening chores and would eat later when they noticed Shadow seated at the table. The trio exchanged silent glances. As the twins examined Shadow, their body stiffened and their eyes dilated as they mentally processed that Shadow the Hedgehog was in their house, in the same way a child might mentally acknowledge a poisonous snake that had found a particularly cozy spot in the living room to relax in. The twins looked back towards their Father and Mother, a silent question being asked, only to be answered with yet more silent smiles. After glancing once more at Shadow, the twins turned and walked outside to tend to their chores leaving Shadow, Douglas, the rest of the children, and their parents to eat.
"Hmph! If they have a problem with me they should say so. Regardless, thank you for the food Mrs. Squirrel. It all looks exceptional." Shadow said.
"Please, call me Anna." Douglas's Mother began with trepidation in her voice, "My Husband Leoporldo and I are so thrilled for you to visit us today. Our son is so excited to have you over. Douglas is terribly infatuated with you Mr. Shadow and we had some questions we were hoping you could answer about your career in the Military.
This caused Shadow to subtly raise an eyebrow.
The Father spoke up, turning to better face Shadow as he cupped his left hand while quasi whispering, "Since he met you at the restaurant and learned who you are, Douglas has been reading all the articles about you online. He even dug up a viral picture of you and another hedgehog posing in front of the White House. He even printed it and framed it on his bedroom wall."
"Dad!" Douglas shouted, his face red with embarrassment. "Don't say that! You're embarrassing me."
"Has he now…" Shadow said quietly to the parents.
Anna the Squirrel coughed to fill the sudden silence, then smiled, her eyes betrayed her though, as Shadow could tell her smile was fake. "Douglas has said he's thinking about possibly being a G.U.N. soldier when he grows up. I told him it's very dangerous work-"
"- naturally I said that it's an honorable job, with good benefits. It could help our son get a first class education, get valuable real world skills, and leadership training. I think it's a great Idea. One can never be too young to plan for the future after all." The Father said as he looked to Shadow, seeking his agreement, then turned to his wife and added, "We certainly support whatever career our son chooses to pursue, just like our other darling child that chose to pursue a career as a fashionista, right sweetie?"
Anna gave a wry smile to her husband, "That is true dear, but I'm sure Mr. Shadow can give Douglas a better understanding of what life is really like for a soldier. We certainly shouldn't give Douglas a biased and incomplete viewpoint. Between Eggman's world domination schemes and alien invasions, Douglas might be asked to pay the ultimate price to protect our world. He should fully understand the risks in becoming a soldier."
"Sweetie, I understand your concern, I truly do, but this is Douglas's decision. Most G.U.N. soldiers don't fight Eggman or Aliens. Those are astronomically rare circumstances that most soldiers never encounter. In the event they do occur, that is exactly what the Robots are for. Also, any one of us could get run over by the automated tractor-"
"-Yes, but the tractor does not shoot at you and launch missiles at your position, dear."
"I can answer any questions you may have." Shadow said as he tossed some coffee beans in his mouth. "But I can't promise either of you will like the answers."
"Sure," The Father said as he learned back in his seat, while the Mother took a few calming breaths, "Douglas, are there any questions you have for Mr. Shadow about working for G.U.N.? Anything about his work that you find interesting?"
Douglas finished eating some nuts and contemplated for a moment, "Did… did you have to kill anyone?"
For a brief moment the Father's expression was one of embarrassment then anger, "Okay Son, let's not ask our guest such a private question-"
"-It's fine." Shadow said as he finished eating a grape. He furrowed his brow in thought. "My memories are spotty. There are gaps missing from my life. I know I have harmed if not outright... ended... life in my past, it is a fact I spend each day atoning for, but what I have come to learn since those dark times is that we can choose who we will be and what we will become. We can envision a better world for ourselves and others and through our determination and our actions we can become more than what we once were. I have done things some call "unforgivable" throughout my past, but I have since then changed. I now use my strength, power, and determination, to serve all life on this planet and to create a better tomorrow."
Douglous's eyes shimmered, "So cool!"
"Alright, give me another question, kid." Shadow asked.
Douglas popped some grapes in his mouth then asked, "Do you have a battle buddy you work with?" Douglas asked.
"I have three currently." Shadow said with a slight smile. "We just got a new buddy fairly recently. She has proven to be a valuable part of the team."
"Is she a squirrel?"
"No, she is the Lemur you saw at the restaurant not long ago."
"Crazy tail buddy!"
"What's another question you have?"
"Are… are there a lot of cool guns and vehicles in G.U.N.?"
Shadow grinned. He liked this kid. "There are many and of every kind."
"What's the coolest one?" Douglas asked, seated at the edge of his chair, not even bothering to eat his food anymore, his full attention devoted to the black hedgehog seated across the table from him.
"A sentient robot that can bust through a wall of solid concrete and steel, tear a car or robot in half, then launch enough missiles and armor piercing rounds to destroy and break out of an entire enemy prison facility."
"Wow!" Douglas said aloud.
The Mother's smile disappeared for a moment, as her face tensed and wrinkled with worry. "I understand you boys find those Robots and military toys very fun and cool, but Douglas, you should remember that being a soldier requires you to follow precise orders. Oftentimes those orders can have you fighting not just Eggman, robots, or aliens, but other human beings. It's a hard thing to judge when violence is to be used. But if you join G.U.N. you won't have a choice. You'll have to follow your orders. Many soldiers suffer from horrific nightmares at what they had to do... people they've had to kill... It's not all fun and games. There could be blood on your hands Douglas. Could you really live with that?
"Woah now, that's not fair at all!" The Father shouted, then caught himself as he lowered his voice. "The Federation has a long and cherished tradition of military service. People have fought to protect our way of life and have even died to protect all life on this planet. Sometimes, the bad guys are just bad and need to be dealt with."
"You mean killed. Don't you dear?" The Wife snapped back.
"If the bad guys cannot be convinced, captured, or redeemed then I don't see what other option there is. Evil must be stopped. That means good Men and Women joining the service."
The man's Wife rolled her eyes, "Oh baloney, maybe in your comic books, but the real world isn't so simple, Leoporldo. How many operations has G.U.N. classified and kept hidden from the public?"
"I'm sure that's for national security reasons."
"Yeah right. You know full well the Federation has backed the wrong horse once or twice and G.U.N. had to be deployed to deal with the fallout while innocent people suffered the consequences. You say he doesn't need to worry about Eggman or Aliens, you forget that someday he could be the villain."
Douglas took a sip of some orange juice as he stared back and forth at his parents, a glare on his face, "I'm not a villain." He said, his statement falling on deaf ears.
"Now this is just ridiculous, isn't it Shadow?" The Father said.
"Don't you bring him into this on your side! I'm sure Mr. Shadow knows exactly what I'm talking about don't you?" The Mother said as she turned her glare toward Shadow.
"Well..." Shadow said but was cut off by Leoporldo.
"Now Cupcake-" The Husband said in a gruff and apprehensive voice
"-Don't you Cupcake me!" Anna shouted.
The room fell silent as all the children silently turned to listen and watch their parents argue. The children watched, petrified, unable to look away, never having heard or seen their parents so angry with one another before. One of the youngest children at the kids table was on the verge of tears due to their yelling.
"Anna, let's not pressure Mr. Shadow, he is our guest after all. And I think you're getting a little bit too heated about this."
"Oh, that's easy for you to say. You want him to join G.U.N. You would be so proud if he decides to join his school's JROTC program when he gets older, wouldn't you? I seem to be the only one at this table worried about our little boy and what could become of him!"
"The husband lowered his voice and spoke sternly to his wife, "Now, you know full well that is not true at all, Dear."
"Then why are you pushing him so hard to join!?" Anna asked.
"I'm not! Douglas doesn't have to make a choice today, he's only a child." Leoporldo replied.
"Someday he won't be! What he walks away from this table thinking matters. It matters a lot. He could die!"
"Maybe! some soldiers die but if it's what our boy really wants to do it's the only way he'll really get to live his life on his own terms!
"I cannot accept that!"
The father gave a vexed and dumbfounded look to his Wife then yelled, "WHY NOT? IT'S HIS CHOICE!"
"BECAUSE I CAN'T BEAR TO LOSE ANOTHER CHILD!"
"..."
There was Silence…
Total silence...
All except for a single child at the kids table who could hold back their tears no longer. The Mother delicately put her silverware on her plate, stood up, and walked out of the dining room, her footsteps stomping on the stairs as she walked up to the second floor.
Leoporldo turned to his children and said, "Kids, your Mother and I still love each other very very much. We just had a heated disagreement. In hindsight, daddy could have handled this a lot better. Why don't you all clean up and I'll go check on Mommy, okay?"
The children nodded while the youngest ran over for a hug from their father, wanting further reassurance that all was really okay between them.
"Mr. Shadow, I'm sorry you had to witness that. Douglas, I'm sorry your Mother and I got into an argument. We both love you very much and just want what's best for you. Sometimes parents disagree on what we feel is best and for that I am sorry. We'll both make up and be back to our lovey dovey selves before dinnertime, I promise. Until then... why don't you show Mr. Shadow around the farm?"
"... okay."
"Thanks kiddo."
Douglas got up and left, with Shadow awkwardly following behind the young boy, they walked outside without another word spoken. The child kept his head down, as if in a trance, and made his way past several greenhouses and fields of wheat. Shadow followed him in silence, trailing behind the boy. They walked for several minutes until Douglas stopped, sitting on a log of wood and stared ahead at something that laid under a mighty oak tree.
Shadow came to an abrupt halt when he saw what Douglas was somberly staring at. The black hedgehog walked up behind the young boy and extended his hand to put on the boy's shoulder but hesitated, stopping himself, then withdrew his hand. He then decided to quietly take a seat next to Douglas on the log of wood and joined him in staring at a tombstone.
"What was his name?" Shadow asked.
"Dustin. He was my big brother." Douglas said as his lip trembled as he fought to hold back tears. "He died during the alien invasion."
"He must have been a great brother, for you to care about him as you do."
"He was."
"Is he the reason why you want to join G.U.N.?"
Douglas nodded. "My Mother does not want me to join because I could die as well, but she doesn't understand."
"Understand what?"
"If you don't stand up to bullies, they'll keep picking on you." Shadow stared at the young boy who seemed much wiser and mature than his age would suggest. Douglas continued, "I don't know if I could be a soldier though, I hate bullies, but I hate fighting more. I'm not very strong and I'm a bit of a scaredy-squirrel too."
Shadow remained silent for a moment as he looked ahead at the tombstone and read it's inscription. It read:
Dustin the Squirrel of the Squirrel Family.
Loving son and cherished older brother.
He made the ultimate sacrifice so that others may live free.
He died a Hero in a world where so many never truly live.
"No one gives what he does not have"- Dustin
"You know what I think?" Shadow asked softly after he had finished reading the tombstones inscription.
Douglas turned and looked at Shadow as the young boy wiped tears from his face and mumbled, "Nuh-uh."
Shadow, with great effort, put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "I think the greatest soldiers and commanders are those who know the cost of war and have those that they love and cherish, those that they must protect. Because at the end of the day, even if they are against an overwhelming foe, whether they are weak, cowardly, terrified of fighting, when they stand and fight to protect others and those they love they will fight harder and with more bravery than a thousand men and women."
Douglas spoke with a voice of determination causing a spark of flame to ignite in his eyes, "I want to follow in my brother's footsteps. I want to stop bullies from causing harm. I want to protect my family and the world."
"I think those are fine goals to have." Shadow said approvingly.
"Today, I am going to tell my Mother that I will join the JROTC program when I get older… that I will join G.U.N. someday. Could you be there when I talk to her?"
Shadow stood up, looking to Douglas not unlike a Mythical Legend, a Titan, that stood towering over him, causing Douglas to meekly look up toward Shadow."
"Kid, no, that's not right." Shadow said, correcting himself. "Private Douglas… it would be an honor."