Disclaimer: I do not own any of Sega's characters
Author's Note: Sorry for the late update of All the Stars, I have been in school, but I have had knee surgery, which means I'll have plenty of time to get chapters posted!

P.S.: The sections with dialogue will be slightly longer.


All the Stars

Chapter 4: Ultimatum

Shadow's eyes widened as Eggman's battleship seemed to sprout a smaller version of the Eclipse Cannon from its bow. The cannon began to glow as though it was charging up, before releasing a powerful bolt of energy that screamed towards Station Square. The energy impacted the ocean near the shore, sending a geyser 100 metres in the air.
"Hello there, Station Square!" Eggman's voice sounded from the ship, obviously amplified. "That shot was a modicum of the power this cannon can produce! And unless my demands are met, I shall raze Station Square and every person who resists! G.U.N., this is your one chance to send up your commander and Shadow to discuss my terms. You have one hour, or I shoot anyways!" Eggman's voice departed, and an ominous silence filled the city.

The conference room in G.U.N.'s HQ was buzzing with activity, the president taking questions from the media on one screen, techs trying to identify the cannon and its full power, and communications from G.U.N. troops to the G.U.N. Commander's helicopter. Shadow and the G.U.N. Commander, Commander Tower, were on the helicopter, flying up to the black battleship in the sky, the doors on the side of the ship opening for the helicopter to enter. As Shadow left stepped from the helicopter after it had settled, coming face-to-face with Metal Sonic.

Shadow was tempted to take a swing, but he stayed his hand, Standing in front of the commander, the two walked down to the bridge, flanked by Egg Pawns and Metal Sonic. As Shadow stepped into the control room, he cast his eyes about the room, trying to find the broken sceptre he thought he had seen. His eyes landed on a shard of black glass on the floor, but the window he had shattered when he had been throw through it was also made of black glass.

"Ah, welcome commander, Shadow, you've been here before," Eggman spoke, turning towards the pair he was addressing, away from a monitor displaying the power levels of Eggman's cannon. "I do hope the flight was comfortable."
"Let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point. What do you want, Robotnik?" The commander of G.U.N. asked, not bothering to mask his distaste for Dr. Robotnik.
"As you wish, commander. Please, sit," Eggman responded smoothly motioning over to a pair of chairs stationed around a table, which had been installed after Shadow had been thrown from the ship, as Shadow had no recollection of it. The commander sat at the end of the table, Shadow sat down to his right, and Eggman sat down at the other end of the table, flanked by Metal Sonic.
"Down to business, then. I will fire on your beloved Station Square, unless you surrender the city to me," Eggman stated, receiving stares from the commander and from Shadow.
"Have you lost all sense, Robotnik? You think we're just going to hand you the city, no questions asked?"
"Unless you'd prefer that I open fire on Station Square, yes, I expect you to do just that."

Shadow leaned back in his chair, watching the commander consider Eggman's demands, obviously searching for a loophole, something he could use to leverage their way out of this critical situation. Shadow had listened as Eggman had made it quite clear that G.U.N. was to pull all of it's troops from Station Square, including the fighters like Sonic, Rouge, and the rest of the mobians that had caused Eggman quite a lot of trouble throughout the years. Any attempt to re enter the city would result in Eggman firing in the city. Turning to Shadow, the commander spoke.
"Shadow, I don't think we have any other choice."
"Agreed, sir. I don't see a way out that will keep Eggman from firing on Station Square."
"So we agree there is no other way out that will guarantee the relative safety of the people of Station Square."
"I know how Eggman thinks, sir. He fancies himself a higher-tech Julius Caesar, and he understands how empires fall. There's a good chance that he will either release the ones that want to leave, and repopulate the city with robots, or he'll keep the people safe, giving us no reason to intervene because of inhumane treatment. Either way, the people will be safe."
"Okay Shadow. I will discuss the safety of the people with Robotnik. Don't let your guard down."
"Wouldn't dream of it."

The commander and Shadow re-entered the control room, Shadow running a hand through his quills, locating his handgun and Chaos Emerald.
"Robotnik, we will agree to your conditions, as long as you can prove that the civilians will be kept safe or released." Eggman turned as the commander spoke, twirling a glass of amber liquid he had produced from somewhere, though the bottom panel of the control console was slightly ajar.
"I can guarantee, commander, that the civilians will be safe as long as they do not put themselves in danger by trying to attack me."
"That seems reasonable, as long as you allow the people that wish to leave the opportunity to do so before you take control of Station Square."
"Consider it done, commander. You will have 48 hours to do so."
"Very well. It would seem we have ourselves a deal. Good day, Robotnik." The commander turned and began striding back towards the docking bay, Shadow following suit. As the doors of the control room slid shut, Eggman chuckled darkly, and a pair of yellow eyes in the darkness joined him.


Author's Note: some of you may come after me for making Eggman a little too humanitarian, but c'mon. He's a human too. Anyways, Stay tuned for Chapter 5!

-Spartan39