Chapter 100; Deep talks on the other side
"And so I believe it is in our company's best interest to take on this project. What is your opinion sir?"
No response.
"Sir?"
Still nothing.
"President Maxie?"
Maxie's eyes looked up.
"Yes. It does show great promise. Leave me be for a few minutes so that I may consider it in peace".
The presenter nodded and walked outside closing the door behind him.
Maxie got up and walked to the window of his office, watching over Mauville city.
Truth was, he didn't care about that project right now. The only project that mattered was at the heart of mt Chimney, waiting for two thousand years to be awakened.
And yet somehow, problems had began spawning left and right.
"Explain yourself" he spoke calmly yet imperatively.
Shadow the hedgehog, having entered from a secret passage leading straight into Maxie's office, wasted no time.
"I was thwarted again. By that… that…"
"That loser blue hedgehog?"
"Yes".
"Excuses. You are the enforcer. You don't fail. Failure is not tolerated. The mission of team Magma demands no failure".
"It's not as simple as it sounds sir. He… I don't know how but… he has powers sir".
Maxie's eyes narrowed.
"Elaborate".
"He caught up to me with unparalleled speed. And I mean it sir. No normal individual can run so fast".
Maxie gave himself a few seconds to take the new information in.
"Living in a world where the potential of Pokemon is endless… I cannot outright deny the possibility of your claims. However, this also means that the plan now has to branch out. The parts are out of reach now, no thanks to you" he said with a hint of mocking "so we will need a new way to acquire them from elsewhere. I cannot risk the company being associated with the mission".
"What are your orders sir?" Shadow asked, slightly bowing his head.
"You are to catch the hero of Kanto. My people at Stern shipyards have reported he has not showed up yet with the parts. When he does, you subdue him and bring him to me. If he really has unique abilities, they could be of use to the cause".
"Shall I capture him before he delivers the parts?"
"… no. Mr Stone is a smart man. He will put two and two together quickly. If the hedgehog is captured before he can deliver the parts then Mr Stone could send the authorities our way. We shall not create a lead for the authorities before the completion of grand plan".
"What am I to do about his powers sir? With such speed and strength… maybe if I had some reinforcements with me to subdue his Raichu and then him…"
"No. No reinforcements. This is a task meant to be carried by you specifically. You will be joined by others if need be, but you will handle the hedgehog alone. I do not forgive failure. You will need to make right of your failure to retrieve the parts".
"With all due respect, that is not fair sir. His powers are not something I could ever have foreseen".
Maxie turned and looked at Shadow with his cold, calculating look.
"Then you should have no problem. Life hasn't been fair to you, am I wrong? Wasn't it I who pulled you out of your old life? Who gave you a purpose? You have a debt, enforcer. A debt that will only be repaid after the grand plan is successfully executed. You have your orders. So follow them".
Shadow stared back at Maxie for a few moments, wanting to object more but bowed his head in the end.
"It shall be done sir. But before I set out… I would appreciate it if you at least finally let me in on this grand plan. What is our endgame? What is at Mt Chimney?"
Maxie considered his response before turning to face the black hedgehog.
"Bring the hero of Kanto to me… and I will show you".
"Understood" Shadow bowed his head again momentarily and left through the secret passageway.
The journey to Slateport would take a while. And since he had to get there incognito so that he could capture Sonic as the enforcer, he would have to take the bus.
Buying a ticket and sitting in a corner alone so as to not attract any attention, Shadow allowed himself to process the upcoming encounter with Sonic.
The softie he was using for fun in Green Hills was not a softie anymore. If anything he was actually dangerous.
"How is he enhanced? That speed… and that jump. Salamence's wing is still not fully healed. How in all heck did he become this?"
He rubbed his left cheek. One of his teeth had cracked from that punch and he had spent 2 weeks in hiding while visiting a dentist to have it removed and replaced by a fake one.
Now inside Shadow's mind fear of Sonic's new powers and rage for him were clashing like a seviper would clash with a zangooze.
"My mission is to catch him now. Maxie never said anything about delivering that loser perfectly healthy…"
He opened and closed his fist over and over, wanting to punch something.
"I guess it will be eye for an eye when I get him. Or maybe a tooth for a…"
His train of thought was derailed when a stack of boxes fell on his head.
"Ouch! Watch where you're going you…"
He froze.
A blonde angel was standing in front of him.
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry. Are you ok?" the girl apologized as she put the rest of her boxes down next to Shadow and went to pick up the rest.
Before he could even think Shadow had already grabbed the first box and handed it back to her, not realizing how much he was blushing.
More than that, he felt like he had no control of his body.
"No worries,let me help you" he heard himself say.
Again he didn't think. His mind was working on autopilot. His thought processors had short circuited.
"Thank you very much" she smiled as she stacked the boxes back up, her smile so radiant and addictive, Shadow felt like he was being deprived of air.
"You're welcome. I'm Shadow the hedgehog" again Shadow spoke before he could hold himself. It was truly like he had gone into autopilot.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Maria. Maria Robotnik".
As Shadow gathered the rest of the boxes for her, he couldn't stop looking at her.
"Is this a dream?" he thought.
After a few moments he realized he has not been saying anything, possibly making the situation awkward.
"Say something you idiot. Anything, just don't sound stupid!" he heard a voice scream in his head.
"Are you an angel?" Shadow couldn't stop himself.
"What?" she asked him, pleasantly taken aback.
"I said NOT stupid!" the voice echoed in his head.
"No… I… I just… I didn't…" Shadow stuttered, wishing for the earth to crack open and swallow him.
Maria giggled.
"This is so cute. Your stuttering".
Shadow tried to say anything consciously but no word came out. It was like he was hypnotized.
The situation persisted for a couple of seconds until Maria noticed the ticket in Shadow's hand.
"Oh you're going to Slateport too?"
"Yes".
"What a coincidence. So am I. Want to sit with me? The drive there can be very monotonous when you have no company".
This time Shadow blanked out entirely. It was thankful his mouth wasn't hanging open otherwise saliva would probably escape.
Maria took it the wrong way.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I apologize sincerely".
"N-no you didn't… I just… it took me by surprise that's all" he scratched the side of his head, averting his gaze, wondering if he was soon to be known as Shadow the red hedgehog.
Maria giggled half-relieved.
"Oh it's ok then. The offer still stands though" she informed him with a smile gleaming like the sun.
Shadow managed to smile despite feeling the need to shut down before her smile.
"I'll take it".
The two boarded the bus after loading the boxes on the bus' side door.
"Thank you" Maria thanked Shadow again after they took their seats "carrying all those boxes was rough".
"Don't mention it. But if I may, where are you taking this many boxes?"
"I'm visiting my grandfather Gerald Robotnik in Slateport for the whole week. He works at Stern shipyards, even at his age, as a blueprint designer. He assisted captain Stern with several blueprints for sections of his Moby Dick submarine".
"Impressive" Shadow commented though the moment the word Stern shipyards was spoken was immediately reminded of his mission for a moment.
"I know" Maria answered with pride "but for that reason he is very busy and doesn't visit often. But I don't mind. When we do meet his mind is in the present and that's enough for me".
"I see" Shadow replied without relating.
As the bus left Mauville city, wild pokemon could be seen next to the road.
"Aren't Pokemon the cutest?" Maria commented as she noticed a pair of zigzagoons playing on the grass.
"Yeah, maybe" Shadow replied, having never thought about Pokemon that way. His position made him view them as tools. Even Salamence.
"Do you have any Pokemon of your own?" Maria asked him.
"… No. No I don't".
After a moment he added "do you?"
"Yes. I have a marill I adopted when I was a little girl as an azurill. She's been my best friend ever since I can remember".
"That's nice".
"So what about you? Why are you going to Slateport?"
Shadow's mind went into overdrive. He couldn't tell the truth but couldn't bring himself to lie either.
"I'm an intern at Socexp. I have to tail the project manager at Slateport as part of my internship".
Maria was visibly disturbed by this.
"Did I say something wrong?" Shadow asked her, almost panicking.
"Of course not" she rushed to calm him by placing her hand on his, sending every single one of his senses into overdrive "it's just… I'm not exactly a fan of Socexp".
"Really? How so?"
"They are known to not take Pokemon into consideration in their projects aren't they? Like a few months ago, when chairman Maxie had that factory built by the river at route 119, very close to the weather Institute".
"It is for production of paper and other writing resources. To help people".
"The river has been polluted" Maria countered "Pokemon are suffering there. Why should our gain be at their expense?"
Shadow didn't know what to reply.
"But I understand the employees are not the ones to blame. They didn't make the decision right? And by extension neither did you" Maria reassured him that his 'job' didn't make him bad.
If only she knew Shadow was literally stationed at the factory for a month to repel team Aqua scums who had tried to raid it multiple times.
"I guess" he ended up saying.
A part of him was tempting him to ask her what she thought of team Magma and team Aqua but that would be risking jeopardizing his identity no matter how small the risk.
"And you?"
"Helping my parents run their shop. Pokemon food farmers. The shop is more known as the daycare center in route 117. They expanded the business when times got hard taking a risk in the process by I digress. I usually stand at the cash register. I grew up with Pokemon all my life so I have a really soft spot for them, hence why I am so against Socexp".
"I see" Shadow nodded "do you have any other relatives in the region apart from your parents and grandfather?"
"No. I have a second cousin named Ivo who went down the science path like our grandfather but I'm not on really good terms with him, he tends to be a jerk to Pokemon".
Every time Maria mentioned her love for Pokemon and her frustration with those who mistreated them, Shadow felt a knife stab him somewhere new. What were his odds with her when he was who he was?
"You know what I notice know that I get a better look at you?" Maria asked as she observed him in deep thought.
"What?"
"Wait, wait, backtrack a bit. What did you say your last name was?"
"The hedgehog".
"Oh! Do you happen to be related to Sonic the hedgehog?"
"Who?!"
"You know, Sonic the hedgehog. The hero of Kanto".
Shadow's spot where his broken tooth was once didn't ache anymore but in the moment he felt like it did.
Him, related to that loser?
"No. No I'm not".
"Oh pity. I'd love to meet him someday. All his heroics on saving Pokemon… the world is just brighter with individuals like him out there".
Shadow didn't reply. He didn't want to show his anger.
"Yes" he lied in the end "he is an inspiration".
"I know. Oh hey look. We're almost there".
The city of Slateport appeared in the distance at last. The bus drove for another ten minutes before finally reaching the bus station.
Shadow and Maria got off the bus and once again Shadow helped her load the boxes off.
Once they were done, Maria thanked Shadow insisting he needn't help her as she would call a cab to get them to her grandfather's house.
Shadow wasn't ready to say goodbye just yet.
"Maria wait".
"Hm?"
"I… I want to… to ask you something" he said scratching his head awkwardly.
"What is it?"
"I… um… I was wondering… if you would be interested in meeting again… sometime…"
Maria was taken aback but smiled.
"Of course. I never reject great company. You know if you're ever in the neighborhood, you should come by the shop. I would love to show you all the Pokemon living on the premises as well as the ones we take care of. Who knows maybe it could help you with your projects in your future at Socexp, make them more Pokemon friendly".
"I… I will… I'll come by when I get the chance" Shadow the red hedgehog replied.
"Sweet. Oh the cab is here. I got to go. Bye bye Shadow" she waved him goodbye as the cab driver helped load the boxes on.
Shadow also left, the thought of his mission almost insignificant in front of the girl he had just met. He had never felt that way with Amy.
Sure it was fun but and after a while he did invest in Amy but his heart had never beat this way for her.
Requiring a little while to gather his composure he called out another of his pokemon.
"Find him" he ordered Absol showing him a picture of Sonic.
Absol cried out and jumped on a rooftop, racing across town.
Shadow then headed for the pier next to the boathouse. In the distance the outline of Pacifidlog town could be seen in the distance.
Shadow didn't expect Absol to find Sonic. The hedgehog had been off the grid following their clash in that cave. But if Maxie's assumption was correct – and that man rarely made mistakes – he would have to come to Slateport sooner or later. All Shadow would have to do was wait.
Or maybe not.
A cry was heard from his phone.
His phone was unique as it had been tinkered by team Magma for his missions as the enforcer. One feature was being connected to his Absol by a small tracker on its neck. Every time the tracker detected a cry from Absol, Shadow was informed with a similar cry notification.
"Already?" Shadow thought in surprise as he raced to the location.
Finding Absol on a roof as he was assisted in climbing it thanks to Salamence, he saw him in the distance.
Sonic and that green haired kid from Petalburg woods.
"Excellent Absol. Now all we need is the opportune moment. He is mine".