"Wake up and bask and the glory of the stars, Shadow," Black Doom said.
Shadow was curled up in the corner of… whatever new place they were in. He kept his eyes shut tight… trying to prolong the time he spent asleep. He felt a hint of vertigo… they were moving?
Shadow jumped into action, standing in the defensive position and looking around him.
"Make the most of it, Shadow. Our first stop is in 2 years," Black Doom said. Shadow wasn't taking all of this in, still groggy from just waking up from his deep unconsciousness. Then it hit him. He ran over to where Black Doom was looking out of...
A thick, purple tinted window, fragmented and strong to keep out the vacuum of space. There they were, travelling.
"How… long did you say?" Shadow asked. "2… y-"
Surely that was wrong.
"2 years," Black Doom said. "The comet would be faster than this vehicle. If you hadn't lost the emeralds…"
Shadow's eyes were wide with concern. He turned on his heels and made a run for the door. He rushed frantically around the corridors. With his speed, he'd explored the ship in its entirety within two seconds. He skidded to a halt back at the door of the control room Black Doom was in.
"I know what you're thinking, Shadow," Black Doom looked at Shadow with disdain.
Shadow's fists tightened.
"No, there are none of those… facilities you grew accustomed to back on Earth. And do not think about desecrating-"
"I can't hold it in for 2 years! You have to give me another option!" Shadow exclaimed, muzzle warming up with embarrassment.
"Why? You need to already?" Black Doom scorned. "I think you are overreacting."
Shadow grit his teeth.
"Over-?" he spat, then shook his head and began to outburst with rage. "You try going just one day without exhaling that… rancid breath of yours. You may not 'expel' in the same way my kind does but… you still have to get rid of waste somehow!"
"By respiring… air. That is nothing compared to the filthy way your… disgusting Earth kind do it," Black Doom hissed.
"Ugh, no wonder the Black Comet smells like a sewer," Shadow spat. "Here too," Shadow glared at Black Doom with a piercing gaze.
There was a moment of quiet, only the hum of the alien ship could be heard, and Shadow's heavy breaths, seething between his grit teeth.
Black Doom lifted his arm, hovering Shadow along with it. The hedgehog dangled helplessly. He felt his chest constrict and the air leave his lungs.
"What has gotten into you? A little rest has given you the energy to become insubordinate?"
Shadow was flung back at the wall. His body hung there, fighting the pain.
"I told you about that hope, Shadow. It has to go, there is no escape from this!" Black Doom's hand was slowly closing into a shut fist. With each second, Shadow felt a pain in his chest, tighter and tighter. His ribs… crushing his lungs.
"Sssss….tt…" Shadow heaved and choked. "...oooo …. P"
Black Doom dropped his arm. Shadow struck the floor; he felt like heap of tortured bones
"M-my ribs… you… almost broke…" Shadow was gasping for air. It came to him thin, but he was slowly getting his breath back.
"You would heal within a day," Black Doom. Shadow sat up, and leaned against the wall. He sighed… tired once again. "If I let you heal."
Shadow winced and closed his eyes.
"What do you want from me?" he heaved, still catching his breath.
"To be seen and not heard. Do not contend with me again!" Black Doom bellowed. "Understood?"
"Whatever…" Shadow sighed and hugged his torso. "Whatever you want… just… give me one thing in return."
"You do not understand… pathetic hedgehog. You are a PART of me, you do not get to bargain with me!"
"Please… kill me at the end of this," Shadow said, hunching over in despair. "I'll get you your Chaos Emeralds… if you just let me die."
"No," Black Doom growled. Shadow's eyes were wide and desperate.
"I have nothing to live for… every second I exist is just… pain." His voice lost its strength at the end.
"I will consider it," Black Doom said, then swung around to turn his back. "We will discuss this again in 2 years. Now, go to your room."
Shadow's eyes widened as he stood up against his will and walked over to the door again. Down the corridor was a small door, the perfect size for Shadow to walk through. The door shut behind him with a click, which suggested he was locked up again.
Shadow fell to his knees in relief when he felt Black Doom's control leave him; the hivemind scream inside of his head quietened. The room was a small square meter hole. In the wall was a small fountain that trickled slowly.
WATER
Shadow's heart fluttered with elation and he threw himself at it. He lapped up every drop and shivered in delight; his parched mouth finally had something to drink. And it tasted fresh enough. Dehydration was one form of discomfort that Shadow could cross off of his list of suffering.
Then, when Shadow was satisfied, he sat down, leaning into a corner. His belly was full of water, which would satisfy the growling hunger for now. He shut his eyes and hoped he would die of starvation before they got to their first destination.
oooooooooo
The door finally opened, Shadow leapt out of his little hole.
"Get me away from it!" he cried out as he stumbled away from the door. Then, he planted his hands between his legs and shivered. "... that was a bright idea… to put trickling water in there."
"I thought you would appreciate it," Black Doom.
"Yeah… for a day, but two years-" Shadow was cut off by the need to bend over. "Please, just get me out of here!" He squeaked.
"2 years?" Black Doom questioned. "Shadow, it has been 2 weeks."
Shadow whimpered and curled up in pain.
"I'm going to explode if you don't let me…" Shadow shuddered.
"I know. So we are making a stop," Black Doom said. "I could feel your mental cries of desperation. I tried not to exhale for a while and… I think I understand."
Shadow nodded thankfully. Tears were forming at the ridges of his eyes, which were scrunched shut.
"Please…" Shadow groaned.
"1 more day and we reach the nearest planet, and land," Black Doom said, with a voice of assurance. Shadow let out a feeble squeak, ran to a secluded corner and tried to pee.
"Oh NO you do NOT!" Black Doom bellowed and held out his hand. Shadow tensed up… the pain pulsed through his abdomen at the denial of relief. "If you desecrate this ship I will…"
Black Doom trailed off. Shadow was hunched over, clutching his swollen belly, going pale in the face.
"Kill me," Shadow rasped. "I'd rather a physical torture to this… humiliation."
"Shadow…" Black Doom said softly. He turned his back and floated into another room, to leave Shadow alone. "Do as you wish… but do it inside of your room."
Shadow inhaled sharply, shuddering from the pain in his abdomen. The hedgehog felt control return to his limbs. He leapt into the small hole that was his 'room'. Then, Shadow made a long sigh of release.
Soon, Shadow stumbled out of his room until his legs collapsed under him. His torso tensed and curled into itself. Shadow hunched over, still hurting inside of his exhausted belly.
"Shadow," Black Doom was waiting for Shadow outside.
"I told you… about violating my basic needs…" Shadow spat, sounding exhausted. Then, he chuckled to himself with sorrow. "I remember when I was the ultimate life form…"
"You are," Black Doom interrupted.
"No, not anymore," Shadow whispered in sorrow. "I'm barely even a lifeform. I'm just your weapon." Shadow's muzzle wrinkled in disgust. "Please, kill me." Shadow buried his face in his hands.
"Shadow, you're not a weapon, you are my Son," Black Doom said softly.
"Like the rest of your offspring… which you treat like soldiers… I… I get it now. You really think you're doing the right thing by toughening me up but… no. This is not how it works on Earth." Shadow sounded feeble, sorrowful, and exhausted. "Please…" He huffed, then he grit his teeth. "Kill. Me."
"We're nearing the next planet. Only 23 hours and 30 minutes," Black Doom said. Shadow's eyes narrowed; he tried to ignore Black Doom.
"I can feel how famished you are." Black Doom added. "The planet has plant life. We can… stop to refuel for as long as you need."
"There's only so much my stomach can take after starving for so long… it's pointless…" Shadow sighed.
"We can take some with us," Black Doom said.
"If it's edible," Shadow pushed himself to his feet, forcing a stoic expression.
"You take after the mammalian side of your DNA in that regard… we can go fifty years between meals but you…"
Shadow continued to glare at Black Doom.
"I will train you to become more resilient to your hunger… but at a later date," Black Doom said. Shadow's soul piercing glare got stronger. "Do not push it… hedgehog."
They were locked into a glaring match, until a loud, ravenous growl vibrated from the hedgehog's stomach. Shadow spat a 'tch' of animosity, turned his back, then went for a convenient stroll around the ship to get away from his alien overlord father.