"I know you said that you would take full responsibility, but military law and procedure simply does not work that way, and to be blunt, my superior wont give a damn, so this is as far as I can take you. As far as I know, you exited this vehicle and proceeded to follow your orders to go into hiding." The agent said to Rouge without so much as sparing a glance at her as he stared out the window.
Rouge grinned cheekily, "Of course, why, I already know exactly where I'll be staying. You can tell your superior I flew off to a safe and remote location where not even G.U.N. could find me."
"Good." The agent said, his relief audible.
Rouge, after getting dropped off a few blocks from the G.U.N. base that housed the military hospital Shadow had been admitted to, turned to the agent that had ensured her safe arrival. "Thanks for the ride." She said.
"Don't mention it."
The car drove off leaving Rouge to sneak into the base and hospital. She would have to evade the Military Police, cameras, and motion sensors. For anyone else it would be a near impossible feat. Fortunately for Rouge, when it came to infiltration and stealth she was the best there was.
…
"Director Bruli, the patient you requested to be kept informed on is about to go into surgery. The individual's operation will be in the specified level five surgical room as per your request."
Director Bruli, picked up his radio and pressed the button to reply, "Thank you for informing me. I am on my way there now."
Director Bruli took an elevator to the surgical wing of the military hospital. After going through the sanitation preparations he made his way to the observation room. Upon arriving at the door he moved his hand to grab his identification key card to enable entry into the rooms beyond. To the Director's surprise, his key card I.D. was missing.
"What the hell?" He checked his pockets but no luck, his keycard I.D. was in fact missing.
He picked up his radio, "Be on the lookout for my identification card. It seems to have gone missing. Also, send a bored MP here to open the door for the observation room."
"Yes sir, an MP will be there in a few minutes after he is cleared for entry into the surgical wing." The secretary said.
The director tapped his foot impatiently, miffed to be missing the beginning of the operation. He looked at the door and looked around him. He was alone in that particular hallway of the surgical wing of the hospital as G.U.N. was fortunately not very active, that meant there were few patients that needed surgery. He hoped it stayed that way.
After a minute of waiting. The Director stepped towards the door and tried turning the doorknob.
To his shock and surprise the door opened, which meant someone had entered the room and failed to reactivate the magnetic lock with the simple push of a button. A violation of the security and safety procedure.
"Sir, you called for an MP?"
The Director jumped in place, startled by the jackal that stood next to him, "Chaos, Jack you scared me half to death."
"My apologies sir. What seems to be the problem?"
"I… I think we might have an unwelcome guest inside the observation room. My I.D. is missing and all the other surgeons who have access to this room know to lock the door after entry."
"Should I call for backup?" The Jackal asked with a raised eyebrow. His hand rested on his radio.
"Have security raise a silent alarm. Block off the exits to the surgical wing. Just as a precaution. I'm likely just proving myself to be an old fool who simply lost his I.D. while another old fool forgot to press a button to lock the room, but here at G.U.N. we don't take chances."
"Yes sir." The M.P. whispered a set of secret and mundane phrases as per procedure. "It's done, sir."
"Good. You have your gun right?"
"Yes, but this is not an environment where a gun would be… advisable."
"Damn."
"I do have a riot submachine gun though. It shoots rubber bullets that hurt like hell." The Jackal said excitedly.
"That'll do. Now let's see who's in here."
The Jackal had his riot submachine gun in a ready position as the Hospital Director opened the door.
Inside they saw a slender figure in scrubs and a surgical mask that concealed the obviously femine person's face as they furiously attempted to mess with the observation room's control panel.
The bat winged character looked at the two new arrivals and sheepishly grinned through her face mask. "Hello boys."
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
The bat, put off by the man's rude tone snapped back, "Who the hell do you think you are? I'm supposed to be here as part of my medical practice."
The Director could scarcely form a sentence as he stuttered and cut his own speech off, flabbergasted at the audacity of this intruder. "I'm the Medical Director of this base's Hospital. I know every personnel member and you're not one of them."
"Shit." The bat said under her breath.
"Take off your mask. Now." The Director commanded.
The intruder took off her mask, sighed, then said flirtatiously "I guess the jig is up. Great job catching me boys."
"You… you're that Bat that keeps breaking the dress code… and a few dozen other rules." The Director began, his voice filled with condemnation. He immediately realized why she had broken into the surgical wing of the hospital. Undoubtedly to see him.
The jackal's ears perked up and could not help but hide a lewd grin, "You're that Bat!" He said excitedly.
"Guilty as charged." Rouge replied with a curtsy.
The Hospital Director was much less excited as he spoke. "Leave us. Inform security this all was an unscheduled lockdown practice. Inform my secretary that I remembered where my I.D. went."
"Are you sure you don't need me to escort her off the floor-"
"Leave. Now." The director said as he glared at the Jackel.
As he began to leave he turned, and as he was closing the door he faced Rouge, "Big fan, well, I don't actually know what you do as all your work is obviously classified but me the other men and women have heard stories about you and-"
"Leave us." Director Bruli shouted.
"Bye bye." The military police trooper said with a wave.
"Finally, we're alone." The director said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Oh Doctor, truly I'm flattered, but my heart belongs to a younger man who has a bit more spring in his step. I hope this won't harm our professional relationship."
"Oh, cut the crap Rouge. We both know why you're here." To punctuate his sentence he pressed a button on a remote control and the wall-sized display turned on to show several different parts of the operation room. Everything from the operation table Shadow was on, to the table of tools, and other machinery.
"Next time, don't insult me. Ask and I'd be happy to let you in to see your partner in crime."
"Oh. Thank you Doctor." Rouge said with genuine thanks and a hint of surprise.
"Ahem. If you please. I believe you have something that belongs to me."
"Hmmm? Oh. Of course." Rouge slipped her hand into one of her pockets then handed over the Director's Identification keycard. She then took a seat.
The doctor attached it to his lanyard then took a seat to watch the operation.
"Amazing. Isn't he?" Director Bruli said.
Rouge looked at the video feed of the operation Shadow was undergoing. In an instant Rouge was overwhelmed by a sense of horror as a revelation was swiftly made.
"Is… is he awake?" Rouge said as the color from her face was drained and her stomach formed a knot.
"Of course he is."
Rouge stood up ready to storm into the operating room and stop the operation when the Director urged her to stay.
"Will you please be seated and relax. No drugs, propofol, anesthesia, or any other anesthetics we have tried have had any effect on his body or mind. So of course he is awake. To you I'm sure this is a important point to remember is that to him this is simply another surgery. Business as usual."
Rouge looked at the surgery in horror. "What… what the hell are you all doing to him?"
"Miss. Rouge, I take it you have never actually witnessed Agent Shadow undergo a surgical operation? I can understand why he never bothered to tell you. It is a gruesome sight."
Rouge felt her stomach churn as she watched the surgery unfold. "No… I… I never…"
"He had been shot quite a few times. I don't need to tell you that he is not a normal creature. When he arrived at this hospital not long ago his cellular tissue was already mending the damage the bullets and fragmentation had caused. All he needed us to do was to go in and retrieve it. No different than removing a few dozen pesky thorns, albeit with a lot more digging around and spilled blood."
As the Director spoke, electronic instruments cut through and cauterized Shadow's flesh. It was a race against time as the flesh slowly repaired itself. Several G.U.N. surgeons worked in tandem to remove the ever regenerating flesh and muscle so the metal fragments from the gunshots he had received could be located and removed using sophisticated equipment.
Rouge's face turned pale and she felt as if she was going to hurl her airline food onto the pristine hospital floor.
"Should I activate the audio system? The sound of the suction tube is my favorite."
Rouge scowled at the director. "Do you enjoy tormenting visitors?"
"I wouldn't call you a visitor after the stunt you pulled. Especially when I was so considerate to cover for you. Why, I'm more wounded than Agent Shadow at the outright abuse I have received through your actions today. Have you nothing to say for yourself, Rouge the Bat?"
Rouge rolled her eyes. "Alright. I apologize for stealing your I.D. and sneaking into your hospital. I promise I won't do it again unless ordered to."
"Excellent. All is forgiven. Just remember, we have procedures for a reason… also do as I say, not as I do."
"Right."
A brief moment of silence came over the room as the Hospital Director Bruli and Rouge the Bat watched the operation as more metal fragments were taken out of Shadow's body and put into a magnetic container so they would not be accidentally lost.
"So, is this how you get your kicks on a Friday night old man?"
The Director laughed. "Hardly, I have a scientific interest in Agent Shadow. If I could run some tests and analyze some samples, who knows what advances we could make."
"Knowing Shadow, that sounds like something he might be okay with depending on what the purpose of the research was for. Have you asked him?"
"No. I can't."
"Really now? Why is that? Politics?" Rouge asked.
"More like a dictator's command. The damn Commander, ever the Ceasar, has specifically forbidden any and all collection or analysis of Agent Shadow's genetic or biological material. He's untouchable. He and his wife have the ear of every damn politician and even the President. Sometimes I think he purposefully lets Eggman run rampant with his-"
The Director silenced himself.
"-please forgive my outburst. I spoke out of grief of the many innocents we have lossed from Eggman's acts of terror. It would be best for us both if we forget we had this conversation."
"It's fine. They say bats are the most trustworthy and forgetful of creatures."
It was now the Director's turn to roll his eyes, "I highly doubt that's what anyone says. Still… it's all a damn waste if you ask me."
"You seem to take this all rather personally." Rouge said. "Not to immediately drift back to the previous topic-
"-I do take it personally." The Director loudly proclaimed with a fervent passion. "I'm sure if you dedicated your life to advancing medical science and you had in your care a being unlike any other, only to be told to politely fuck off back to your mundane medical fields of study, you'd take it personally as well. There is absolutely no good reason the Commander should interfere with my professional pursuits. He knows nothing of Medical Science. He's a paranoid fool at best."
"Wow." Rouge said.
"Don't tell him I said that."
"Don't tell anyone you saw me today and we'll call it even." Rouge said with a wink.
"Deal. All I want to do now is to watch his body at work… My god. Look at him. Not a single creature in the world compares."
Rouge, now feeling like she was no longer at risk of throwing up, felt well enough and curious enough to ask, "Do… do you think he could regrow an arm?"
"I have no idea. I just know he is damn tough to kill. If you could incinerate him to where the cells of his body were effectively vaporized… that would do it for anyone. Even a godlike being such as he."
"Shadow a Godlike being?," Rouge began, "Think what you want but I always thought of Shadow more as an Achilles than Superman, but that's just me."
The Hospital Director did a double take then stared at Rouge, his eyes still presumptuous but softer and less scorful, as if he was seeing her for the first time. "You… read Homer?"
"This may come as a surprise to you, but not only am I humble, talented, beautiful, and intelligent, I also have a taste for the classics.
"Ithaka?" Director Bruli said with a hopeful grin.
"My favorite poem." Rouge replied.
"How fascinating!" Director Bruli spoke with all the excitement as a schoolboy who found a classmate who likes the same cartoon show, and by the laws of mutual obsession and appreciation felt destined to be friends. "Tell me Miss Rouge, what do these Ithakas mean to you?"
Rouge thought carefully, cautiously, as no question was more important than the one she had just been asked, "I would be lying if I said I don't love money and the finer things in life, but that is ultimately a means to an end. Things, like great wealth, are meaningless unless you have someone to share it with. Like Odysseus on his journey, I continue to brave many dangers in search of my way home. I aim to overflow my vessel with great riches and jewels so when I find my own Ithaka, those that mean most can be provided for. Should the jewels be found to be glass, and the coins purity diluted, well, it matters not as at long last my Ithaka had been found. My own home and hearth. But that is easier said than done in this crazy world. In reality Ithaka has proven to be quite the stubborn knucklehead. So I've been treating myself as of late to the little pleasures of life. They are a poor substitute for Ithaka and provided little relief if I am honest."
Director Bruli's eyes glimmered with overflowing joy and respect for the most esteemed bat he now found himself speaking to. "I would not worry too much about that, Miss Rouge, true joy and happiness in life is always difficult to find and even more difficult to obtain. You strike me as a wise, intelligent, and most virtuous being. I have no doubt all your life's ambitions will come to fruition."
Rouge smiled, a small bliss on her face. "Oh, thank you. That is very kind of you."
The digitized sound of a bell sounded three times.
"Well, the operation is complete. Miss Rouge, it was a pleasure and privilege to speak with you today. Feel free to drop in anytime you wish. I would love to hear of your ongoing journey to Ithaka." Director Bruli extended his hand toward Rouge.
Rouge smiled and shook the offered hand. "You know, I just may do that."
After the handshake concluded Director Bruli moved to get the door for Rouge, "Allow me, Agent Shadow should be up and about in a recovery room across the hall. Please speak with the receptionist on this floor to get access to the room. Patient consideration and privacy is important to us."
"Of course. Thank you." Rouge said as he made her way to see when she might be able to visit with Shadow.
…
There was a Knock on the door but Shadow did not hear it.
The handle was turned from the outside but a simple lock prevented entry from anyone except hospital staff.
Shadow had recently entered his recovery room and discovered his smartwatch waiting for him, presumably recovered and delivered to him with the utmost effort undertaken to do so. As Shadow checked his phone post surgery he discovered he had four messages that had been missed since the ordeal with Mimic.
Shadow pressed a button several times on his phone and the first of three messages began to play.
"Hi Shadow, this is Amy Rose calling. I'm sure you are very busy stopping some crime group or saving the world again but I had a selfish request. Sonic is getting a little stir crazy. He can't remember how long he has been on voluntary house arrest since the doctor ordered him to take it easy so he could heal. He can't remember if it has been days, weeks, or months. I'm actually really worried about him. I think almost losing Tails really affected him but you know Sonic, he's shy whenever it comes to talking about his own feelings. If you can stop by sometime I'm sure he would really appreciate your visit despite swearing the opposite. Oh, I almost forgot, I've been so busy tending to Sonic that I haven't spoken to Cream in ages. Last I heard you were filling in for me. It's so sweet of you! Maria would be really proud of you Shadow… I hope you don't mind me saying that. Anyways, we should all go out together sometime. Get the whole Team together to celebrate… life? Yeah, life! I'll let you get back to doing your thing. Don't be a stranger, tough guy. You have lots of people who care about you. Bye-bye!"
A cold robotic voice announced, "End of Message."
Shadow pressed a button.
"Message deleted. Next message. Message received… yesterday… at… 6:34… PM."
"Hello Mr. Shadow. This is Mrs. Squirrel from the Farm. We had the pleasure of your visit recently. I am sorry to make such a request so unexpectedly, but Dougless's dog just passed away from an infection and we have to bury it tonight before it starts to decompose and attract other animals. Douglas got the dog shortly after his brother passed."
"…The dog was named after his late brother…"
"Douglass is taking it really hard. We all did our best to comfort him as any good family does but he is disturbingly… depressed and distant. We're looking into selling land or assets so we can afford a therapist for him as his mental health seems to be degrading. I am so sorry to ask this of you, but as a Mother I beg you. If you could speak with him, or just even be there for him during this difficult time in his life, even if it is just half an hour, we all would be forever in your debt. He's at that age where he looks to others outside his family for understanding and guidance. I understand you work for G.U.N. and may not be available, so please do not worry if you cannot make it… but if you could… it would mean the world to him."
A cold robotic voice announced, "End of Message."
Shadow pressed a button.
"Next message. Message received… yesterday… at… 9:01… PM."
Instead of being a young lady energetic and full of life or a Mother's humble request, this speaker was younger and his words carried a youthful tone of overwhelming sadness and fear.
"H-hi Mr. Shadow." The sound of static built to a crescendo then died down just as the young boy began to speak once more. "It's Douglass the Squirrel. I'm calling to ask you a favor if you're not too busy. It would…" The squirrel on the other side was heard clearing his throat to better keep his composure. The involuntary tic caused his voice to crack and waver, betraying the emotional weight he bore. "I know I am blessed with a great family. A Mother and Father and several other brothers and sisters I can talk to about this, but they… they don't get it. It hurts so much. Everyone I love keeps dying and I'm scared. They all just say that's a part of life and time heals all wounds but they don't feel what I feel. I-" Static returned then dissipated causing his voice to briefly sound like that of an unintelligible robot before the connection was fully restored. "-was hoping if you're not busy I might be able to talk to you? You're really cool. You're different from everyone else I've ever met. You can protect people. Keep people safe. You're everything I hope to be someday."
Static returned with retribution then quickly dissipated. The boy's message continued, "I know you're probably really busy and don't have time to visit or speak to some random kid like me. In some boring, rural, middle of nowhere, old timey, dump. I know that this is really sudden and all but if I could see and speak to you I-" Shadow heard the boy sniffling, trying to compose himself as he attempted to hold back tears. "- if I could just see and speak to you… I know… I'll be able to bury my dog next to my brother and I won't feel so sad, scared, and alone." The sound of tears beginning to form could be clearly heard by Shadow through the phone's audio recording. "Even… even if it's just for five minutes. It would really mean a lot to me. Sorry if I bothered you."
A cold robotic voice announced, "End of Message… No further messages. Goodbye."
Shadow stood frozen as his sense of time left him. After collecting himself he pressed a series of buttons on his smartwatch then waited impatiently.
Three ear grating chimes were heard, followed by a disturbingly artificial pre-recorded voice that said, "We're sorry, you have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please check the number and try your call again."
Shadow tried calling the number three more times, but each time the call failed to go through.
Shadow felt dizzy. It was a foriegn sensation to him. As if he was not in complete and total control of his senses, particularly the sense of balance or velocity. Shadow fell to the ground and breathed rapidly as his mind processed everything all at once.
Shadow thought of Maria and the promise he made to her. To give everyone in the world the chance to be happy. To be a light in a dark world. He thought of Mimic and the countless lives that were stolen and had been ruined. How he failed to have stopped him. He thought of Cream… how the dark world would try to break her spirit. How the world had too few truly good people. How he had promised to protect her and now she was without his protection and guidance. Shadow thought of Eggman… the missiles he fired every other day upon the defenseless and the innocent… the nuke he was undoubtedly building under the maze of mountains… the countless drug and human trafficking rings in the world, that he was seldom ordered to destroy despite being both willing and fully capable, and the countless men and women that died trying to make a broken and imperfect world a better place.
Shadow thought of everything… everything he had left to do to fix the world. To bring people happiness. To Shadow, it seemed like the longer he lived in this world, the longer the list would become.
Shadow refocused his mind to create a short term list. "Make a plan, attack, divide and conquer, then move onto the next mission. Repeat. Quick and efficient." He was good at that, he thought to himself.
He had to visit Sonic, make things up to Terios after the suffering he went through at the hands of Mimic, then make contact with the squirrel family and be there for Douglass.
Last but not least, he had to make sure that Sonic and Amy, as well as Knuckles and Rouge got hitched before they died. That he, Shadow, the ultimate lifeform would not inherit a world where everyone he cares for had died without fulfilling their dreams… and if he was lucky, they would not leave him all alone with no descendants to watch over, protect, and to bring happiness to.
Then there was everything else wrong with this broken and backwards world… more permanent ills that plagued humanity. A few hundred years and Shadow might put a small dent in those problems.
First things first, Shadow reminded himself.
Shadow felt his heart racing. He did not understand what was happening to him. He was literally the ultimate lifeform. These things, these feelings of anxiety and dread, they don't happen to him. His superior body and mind was above such petty… involuntary biological manipulations.
After a minute the room stopped spinning and his heart rate returned to its steady and normal beat. Shadow stood up and quickly left the room. The time was ticking by, faster than it ever seemed to before.
…
"Sorry Shadow," Amy said. "Now's not a good time-"
"-Don't tell him anything!" Sonic was heard shouting through the phone from afar, his voice muffled and strained as if in pain. Meanwhile a young foxboy was heard laughing hysterically far off in the background.
Amy whispered, "Sonic got a traffic cone stuck on his head. He's adorable."
The fox's laughter grew even louder then suddenly stopped as he desperately tried to fill his lungs with air, then began laughing even harder as he wiped tears from his eyes.
"Amy! Amy! Take a picture of him!"
"Amy. Help! I'm stuck!" Sonic was heard pleading.
"Try dropping by in… a few hours. See you then Shadow. Tails, grab the butter!"
The call ended.
Shadow unlocked the door and exited the room.
"Finally! You opened the door. How are you doing?" Rouge said with a look of concern.
"I'm fine."
Rouge gave Shadow a suspicious look. "No. You're not. If you were, you wouldn't say you were fine. You would bitch and complain about any number of things. Particularly my nagging."
Shadow stopped walking, turned to face Rouge, then said matter of fact, "I said. I. Am. Fine. That means, I am fine."
"Everyone knows that's not what that means."
Shadow glared ahead as he walked. "Leave me, I'm not in the mood for your vexing antics, Rouge."
"Vexing antics? Excuse you, but I disobeyed orders to go into hiding to check on you. I'm not leaving until we talk about how you are feeling. I want to make sure you're okay. I'm worried about you, Shadow."
Shadow stopped and turned to Rouge. "You want to know how I am feeling?"
"Yes. That's all I want. Then I'll be on my way."
"I'm feeling annoyed… that you are nagging me instead of Knuckles. There. Happy?" Shadow said with a grin as he resumed walking.
"No. What happened this past week? Why are you so cold and distant? This is far worse than normal."
Shadow was silent as he continued walking. He turned down a hallway and changed the destination he was heading toward as an idea came to him.
"Shadow? Shadow! Answer me? I just want to talk."
"Well that's too bad, because I don't."
After a few minutes of Rouge following Shadow and unsuccessfully trying to appeal to him. Shadow turned and walked toward a room and blocked the doorway with his body. His hand blocked the room's nameplate as well.
"I need a pair of handcuffs." Shadow said.
The three figures inside the room looked up from their paperwork toward the black hedgehog with .
"Now!" Shadow shouted.
Someone handed Shadow a single pair of handcuffs. Shadow then put one end on his arm, then grabbed Rouge's arm and attached the other end to her wrist.
"W-what are you doing?" Rouge said. As she stared at the handcuff Shadow and Rouge now shared.
"Making sure you can't run or fly away." Shadow turned back to the room. "We have an intruder who is violating her orders and needs to be removed from the facility immediately."
The three Military Police Officers stood up and exited their office and began to verify Shadow's claims.
"This is ridiculous." Rouge said. "Why doesn't he have to go into hiding?"
"Because unlike you, the Commander is not worried about me being a target of assassination. Go bother someone else with your presence. I have things to do and you are getting in my way." Shadow said as he added a crisp flick of his uncuffed wrist, shooing Rouge away, to help get his point across.
Rouge's eye twitched, "Why you…" After a minute of verbal assault by Rouge, the Military Police verified the facts of the matter and escorted Rouge off the base.
Shadow, now free from both Rouge and his self imposed shackles, made his way to the Chao Garden.
On his way to exit the base a few others who knew Shadow asked how he was doing. If he was alright.
"I'm fine." Was the black hedgehog's only answer.
He wasn't.
…
After nearly forcing his way into the research facility, Shadow attempted to enter the Chao Garden but found the room locked. He tried having his palm read but the door refused to open. Shadow grew more and more enraged when-
"Here, let me." A frail hand, weathered by age was placed on the biometric scanner. The door to the Chao garden opened.
"Thanks." Shadow said gruffly.
"How is she?" Dr. Nagato said.
"Who?"
"Cream."
Shadow entered the Chao Garden. As he entered the chao looked to see who had entered. Upon seeing Shadow many of the Chao screamed and ran in fear as they attempted to hide.
Shadow walked over to a secluded edge of the garden and sat down. He began to sulk."
Dr. Nagato walked up beside Shadow and took a seat as well.
"Please understand, My calls have not been returned. I just want to know if Cream is okay."
"As far as I know… she is fine. She has been banished from my life just as she has likely been banished from your research." Shadow said with a heavy heart.
The pair was silent as they watched the Chao slowly return to some sense of normalcy as they one by one no longer feared for their lives.
"Life is often not fair-"
"Really? You don't say." Shadow said with a bitter tone.
"My point is life is unfair, everyone we love will die someday, and everything we work to achieve will be forgotten or lost to the cruel passage of time."
Shadow turned, blicked, and stared at the Doctor. "Chaos, that has to be the worst, most depressing pep talk I have ever heard."
Dr. Nagato smiled. "You would be correct If the pep talk was finished. Fortunately for you and I, it is not."
"Well, if nothing else you have intrigued me. So finish it already before I try and fail to kill myself."
"Very well, as I was saying, everyone dies, all our accomplishments will be forgotten, someday the sun will literally explode destroying the solar system and everything in it. Bad bad stuff, no?"
"Get to the point."
"Now despite this darkness and tragedy, there is light and hope in our world. There are those rare people who make us jealous and joyful of the world yet to come by the virtue and goodness of their character and the sole fact they exist in this world."
The old scientist watched the Chao play for a moment before continuing his speech.
"Is it not amazing that we live in a world at the height of scientific understanding and mastery of physics? Is it not amazing that, thanks to quantum computing, we might one day be able to send and share our thoughts, words, and values, faster than the speed of light across the world and stars? Is it not amazing that the mere act of connecting with another person, physically or emotionally through our words or deeds, can through causality, set into motion a chain of events that makes the world an infinitely better place for the billions of people that are yet to be brought into this world? That in a world filled with countless heroes and villains, the greatest power is still that of love and compassion. That the sharing of a moment in time between two people in its greatest form has the power to grow and protect life itself. Is it not amazing, that a moment of love and compassion for another paradoxically only lasts the briefest of moments in the grand scheme of infinite time… but through the infinite passage of time, the results of our fleeting efforts to have bettered the world and those in it has the power to stretch into infinity by the causal power of our noble endeavors..."
Shadow began thinking of Rouge and Omega, Tangle and Whisper, Vanilla and Cream, the Chaotics, Sonic and Amy, Douglas and his late brother.
Most of all, Shadow thought of Maria. Kind hearted Maria. His rock. His angel.
Sweet, sweet, Maria…
Shadow then thought of everyone who had ever shown him compassion and kindness. He thought of everyone who in their own way fought to create a better world with the precious little time they had.
"...I am an old man. Soon I will die, my body will decompose, and the world will continue onward with nary a soul except maybe my grandson, Shota, to remember me. My point is, despite how bad our life may seem, how horrible the world becomes, how tragic our life and existence may in fact be, we all exist for a mere blink of an eye, where billions of us share a single time and space as we try to achieve some measure of happiness for ourselves and those we cherish. Yet in that same blink of an eye we have the power through our words and actions to become immortal, to alter the world, nay, assuming we expand someday across the stars, we have the power through our words and actions to alter the universe itself for the better so that all who follow us might know a greater happiness, and all it takes, is one brief insignificant moment of time, of love and compassion selflessly shared with one another."
Dr Nagato took a deep breath as Shadow looked at him. He looked more frail than ever, yet never did he look more full of life.
"Cream may be gone from our life, but that does not mean we cannot strive to do as she did. To be a light in the world. Think about what I've said. You know where to reach me should you need anything."
With that said, Dr. Nagato stood up and readied himself to leave by dusting off the dirt and strands of grass from his pants. As he did so three Chao ran over to Shadow.
"Well, well, well, it looks like you have at least three little ones who look up to you." Dr. Nagato smiled and waved as he left the Chao Garden.
After the door closed behind the Doctor, Shadow looked at the Chao that had run over.
"Cheese, Chocola, Terios." The Chao smiled and stood near him as Shadow hesitated, then held out a gloved hand and comforted the Chao, reassuring them that all would be well.
"How is your arm, Cheese?" Shadow said of the red tie wearing Chao.
Cheese the Chao readied a mighty punch then struck shadows open palm with all the strength he possessed… to little effect.
"Keep at it. You'll be back to your former strength before you know it.
"Chao Chao!" Cheese said with a smile.
"I presume this is your new friend you told me about, Chocola?"
"Chao Chao Chao!" The chocolate brown Chao that wore a light blue tie said cheerfully."
"It's good to meet you." Shadow said as he shook its tiny arm.
Terios put his head in Shadows lap. His tiny arms holding onto him tightly.
"Shadow scooped up the dark chao. "Don't think I forgot about you. We still need to make a Chao special forces after all."
Terios simply hugged Shadow and held onto him. Not ever wanting to let go.
…
As Shadow was leaving he passed the reception area.
"Come again soon." The receptionist said genuinely, without an ounce of vitriol.
Shadow stopped and turned.
"Did the Doctor put you up to this?"
The Receptionist looked away from his gaze and to the picture on her desk.
"With the rabbit gone, you may well be the only person left to visit them with any regularity. I had a daughter once... I know how much they must appreciate you."
Shadow was shocked by this news but kept his face neutral. "I see. Thank you."
Suddenly the receptionist's fury returned, "But next time you better go through procedure not force your way in, nearly breaking the door. I don't care if you're some tough spec ops Ultimate Lifeform," The receptionist said mockingly, "Do it again and I'm going to get a cone stuck on your head and then I'll roll you down the nearest hill myself. Comprende?"
"Uh, Comprende?"
"Good, now beat it."
…
Shadow sat in Amy Rose's living room while Sonic and Shadow were in the kitchen. Shadow took the opportunity to send a text to Rouge. He did not know when she would be able to read it but he felt he owed her an apology nevertheless.
Shadow looked around at Amy's apartment. It was very… pink. Very Amy. Pictures of everyone hung up on the walls from various get-togethers. Shadow, the few he was in, had the same bored expression. "They were good times. Simpler times." Shadow thought to himself.
Amy walked over with Sonic from the kitchen and placed a tray of sonic-head shaped cookies. Made from a custom ordered kitchenware website, the lame gift Sonic had given Amy one Christmas meant Guests had been forced to devour Sonic's face ever since.
"Tails had to go back and talk with his lawyer about a lawsuit, so it's just the three of us, at least for now. Well, dig in!" Amy said.
Everyone grabbed a Sonic cookie.
"Hmph, these cookies are hideous. Oh wait… that's just your ugly mug." Shadow said.
Sonic grinned then chuckled in preparation of a sassy comeback, then clutched his chest as he silently winced in pain before he could laugh properly or could say his comeback."
"You alright?" Shadow said.
"I'm fine." Sonic said abruptly before Shadow could even finish his question.
"You looked like you were-"
"-I said I am fine. My lungs are just irritated from the heavy traffic smog on my jog over here."
"It's not like you to jog or lie, Sonic. I would have assumed it's beneath you."
"What are you on about? I'm fine. Why are you trying to gaslight me into thinking I'm unwell? Is there something you need to talk about privately with me?"
"Hmph, I could say the same to you."
Sonic looked over to Amy, and softly spoke, "Hey Ames, these cookies are amazing!
"Oh thank you Sonic." Amy said with a blush and a sweet smile.
"I don't suppose you could give Shadow and I a couple minutes to chat." Sonic said.
"Oh, of course. I'll go get something for everyone to drink. Milk for Sonic and for Shadow?
"Coffee beans would be fine."
"I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Thanks Amy." Sonic said.
After Amy left the living room Sonic turned to face Shadow, glaring at the black and red hedgehog.
"Not cool dude." Sonic said.
"I can speak as I wish. First off, how are you Sonic? How are you really feeling?"
Sonic was silent.
"You're in great pain, aren't you?" Shadow said.
"I am in so much pain. You have no idea." Sonic said in a desperate whisper.
"I could tell by your inferior ability to chuckle. You bring shame to all hedgehog kind with your inability to laugh self deprecatingly at your own failures and shortcomings."
Sonic rolled his eyes. "Ha ha."
"It's not quite the same. It is lacking a natural earnestness" Shadow said.
"Just don't tell Amy how I am really doing."
"She doesn't know? How bad are your wounds?"
"Look, Amy said if she had taken my offer to join us Tails and I would never have almost died or suffered as we did. I'm not proud of it, but I convinced her I am in better shape than I really am. I don't want her worrying about me or thinking it's her fault for not joining us that day. She partly blames herself for not tagging along to fight Eggman. She just got back to her normal self. I can't tell her-"
"-Tell me what?" Amy said as she entered the living room. On a small living room table Amy placed a cup of milk for Sonic and a small cup of coffee beans for Shadow.
Without missing a beat Sonic sweetly said, "How lucky I am to have such a pretty girl like you in my life."
Shadow fought the urge to hurl.
Amy hugged the tray she had carried the drinks over with against her chest as she blushed. "Oh Sonic, you kill me with kindness."
Shadow stared at Amy then back to Sonic who at some point during that exchange had put on a pair of shades.
"Say Ames, Shadow and I are still having our Bro talk, would you mind giving us a few more minutes?"
"Of course Sonic, anything for you."
"Thanks Ames."
Once Amy left the room Sonic tossed the shades and said, "Works every time."
"You're quite the actor."
"Actor? Oh, right, yeah, I am. Thanks. Ahem. Anywho, so what's up? How have things been with you?"
"Do you want the truth or a comforting lie?"
"The truth."
Shadow chuckled, "I wonder if Amy would say the same? Regardless, this last week has been utter hell. The city is on a knife edge Sonic. Eggman is getting bolder, more callus in his missile strikes."
"Yeah, what else is new." Sonic said.
"Sonic, Eggman is very likely building nukes."
Sonic stared frozen in disbelief. "No. That can't be."
"G.U.N. Intelligence has not formally announced anything yet, but In the mountains Eggman was mining Uraninite, Autunite, andTorbernite and surely several uranium minerals. You would only mine these minerals if you were trying to enrich uranium. Maybe he is just using the ore for nuclear energy. I doubt it though. If we assume the worst, Eggman is gathering the components to develop Nuclear Weapons. Currently, if Eggman wants to attack us from afar he has to launch dozens of rockets and hope to overwhelm our air defenses. However, should he develop a nuke, It doesn't even need to get close to have apocalyptic repercussions. If my theory is true, I worry that a lot more people are going to die before we are able to confirm our suspicions."
Sonic's posture tensed. His carefree attitude had disappeared since Shadow started talking. His brow furrowed with worry. "What do you mean more people will die? What has happened since I've been gone?"
Shadow stared off into the distance as he rested the side of his head on the palm of his gloved hand, his elbow on the armrest of the chair. "There was a serial killer who had killed what we estimate to be at least a dozen people. We don't know if he was taking ordres or working for a organization to create instabability and distract us from other priorities, or if he was just an insane lunatic killing and torturing for fun. He should be interrogated by G.U.N. as soon as he is able to form sentences again." Shadow glared into the distance as his fists tightened and his jaw clenched. The side of his mouth bled as one of his fangs pierced his skin. "He nearly killed Cream. He got off easy."
"What exactly happened to Cream? Is she going to be okay?".
"The first thing you need to know about Mimic, is he is a Mimic Octopus and can alter his body to near perfectly impersonate anyone he has seen. He was there Sonic…"
"W-where?"
"In Vanilla's home, eating her food, who knows what else. Perfectly disguised. Pretending to be her. I wanted to fill his head with lead, but he was smart. He planned for everything and if I wanted to save Cream I had to play his sick games and obey his rules. In the end, he was captured but Cream was burned as well as physically and emotionally scarred. When all was said and done, Cream was banned from adventuring and I was banned from ever seeing her again. I'm not sure if Miss Vanilla will be welcoming visitors anytime soon. Please do try your luck. Cream's a good kid. She needs someone watching out for her."
Sonic was silent while Shadow sighed.
"And that's just the tip of the iceberg for the chaos and damage he caused." Shadow suddenly stared at Sonic. "I don't mean to sound dramatic but dark times are fast approaching. I have a horrible feeling that something terrible is bound to happen. I agree with the Commander, Eggman has been left to his own devices for too long. Fear and greed keep the political powers that be from ordering G.U.N. to take decisive action to end the threat he poses. This is assuming none of them are even taking bribes from Eggman. Chaos help us if we have traitors in the Government."
Shadow rubbed his forehead and temples for a brief moment then continued his rant.
"I am the ultimate lifeform. I can shrug off any attack and heal my body from deadly blows, but I am learning that my mind is not as resilient as I had thought or hoped. Sonic, I know we don't always see eye to eye on a lot of things and we have different methods of… solving problems. But right now, the city if not the world could really use you and your optimism. The world has been left without your ugly face running about for too long and is worse for it. So when you are healed… get off your ass and make ready for war.
Sonic was silent as if in deep thought. A look of worry appeared then dissipated from Sonic's facial features.
"Definitely dude." Sonic said as he raised his fist and extended it toward Shadow.
Shadow stared at it for a moment then bumped it with his own.
"The truth is, though it pains me to say it, I, Shadow the Hedgehog, could really use some help right about now. I'll be counting on you Sonic. Don't disappoint me."
Shadow shoved the coffee beans in his mouth, then made his way to leave.
"Hey Faker." Sonic said.
Shadow stopped with his hand on the door that led out of Amy's apartment.
"Don't be a stranger, you're always welcome."
"I know."
Then Shadow left. Sonic slowly closed the door behind him.
Amy returned to the living room. "Where did Shadow go?"
"He had to run. Hey Amy…" Sonic said as he rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"Yes Sonic?"
"I… I haven't been honest with you and you deserve to know the truth. I… chaos, I couldn't even be honest with Shadow even when he saw right through me."
Fear flashed across Amy's eyes, "What do you mean?"
Sonic took a seat and motioned for Amy to do the same.
"I'm not actually fully healed. In fact, I'm in massive pain from my slowly healing wounds. I didn't want you to worry or do something silly like blame yourself. The truth is, it is going to be a while before I am back to one hundred percent. If I ever get back to normal that is."
Amy, seeing how nervous Sonic was, hesitated then began to gently rub Sonic's back.
With all the tenderness of a loved one, Amy asked, "How bad is it?"
"When Metal struck me across my chest, he punctured flesh and bone and collapsed one of my lungs, tearing into it. It couldn't be saved."
Sonic felt tears gather around his eyes, as his lips began to tremble, Amy wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. Letting him know she was here. He was not alone and everything would be okay. Amy continued to gently rub Sonic's back as they hugged. Silent tears fell onto Amy's shoulders and back.
"I don't know if I'll ever be as fast as I once was or if I'll be able to run around at the speed of sound like I used to. If I can't even run like the wind, who… who am I?"
"You'd still be Sonic the Hedgehog. A kind, brave, unstoppable force that fights to protect others. You would be the same hero I fell in love with so many years ago. The only possible difference being it might be a little harder to keep me away."
Sonic chuckled painfully, "Thanks Amy. That's why you're the best. If the worst does come to pass, maybe this can be a fresh start on life. Maybe it's time I stopped to smell the flowers."
"I'll follow you always, till the end of time, if you'll let me."
Sonic held Amy a little tighter then parted from their brief embrace. Both felt a small pain inside their heart of hearts. Sonic and Amy still held onto one another's hand, just barely, as Sonic's thumb gently rubbed across the back of Amy's hand.
The two hedgehogs stared at one another. Rarely were they ever able to be alone together. It was in these brief moments of silence and solitude that they felt just how important the other was to them. How wrong it felt for them to separate.
They found themselves learning forward. Sonic's breathing picked up, despite the pain, he scarcely noticed it as he felt Amy's warm breath splash against his face.
Amy gasped, pleasantly surprised as she felt Sonic's gentle and strong hands wrap around her waist and pull her closer towards him.
Both suddenly felt incredibly warm, as if the only relief to be found was to share in the heat of passion that washed over their bodies, to engage in a futile attempt to extinguish the blazing fires that threatened to set their soul and body ablaze.
Sonic leaned his head forward, mere inches away from Amy's face.
Neither knew who made the first move nor did either care.
They greedily inhaled the other's scent as they kissed. Each felt that the other had been made only for them. That this is what life was ultimately all about… love.
Inexperienced as they were eager, they showed their love, at first with wholesome kisses on the lips, then as their passion overflowed they tightly grabbed hold of each other.
They took turns lying atop of the other. Their fur mingling and sharing in the warmth of their bodies. Their heartbeat was felt beating through their chest, and soon synchronized as they became one in not word but in deed as they expressed the love they had built for the other over the many years they had shared as friends.
Rolling off the couch and onto the table, a near full glass of milk spilled onto the table and carpet.
Again, and again, they demonstrated the depth of their love for one another, holding the other in a tight embrace, never wanting to let go.
Again and again, they kissed.
Each time they exchanged a silent vow to one another that was quickly renewed once more, in an unceasing repetition of passion.
The door slammed open, "Guess who bought mint ice cream!"
Tails looked forward and saw Sonic and Amy lying on the ground, their arms and legs entangled, their bodies pressed against one another. As they mentally came down from their lovers high they had no choice but to conclude a deep and passionate kiss. A string of spittle connected them together even after they had parted in shock due to Tails' abrupt entrance.
"Whatcha got there buddy?"Sonic managed to say in a panic.
A flustered Tails looked at an even more embarrassed Sonic and Amy then smirked, revealing the biggest, as Shadow would say, shit eating grin, plastered across his face. "I have mint chocolate chip ice cream. Whatcha got there Sonic?"
With his free hand, Sonic grabbed the first thing he could find then raised it in offering to Tails.
"A plate of cookies. Want one?"