D-005

2 days before launch.

The weekend had finally arrived, and the first ever week of college was over. Most people either hung around with their new classmates or decided to get a good head start and stay in to study, but Icarus started it the same way he started the last few days: Aimlessly staring at the ceiling. A part of him really wished he had someone who he can call a friend and talk to throughout this rather-confusing week, but for whatever reason, he never really trusted anyone enough to do that. Not for a lack of trying, and plenty of people do know him and somewhat care…but…none of them felt close enough. He goes through a list of names in his head to no avail. His mind then goes to people in college…all three of them, and those consist of three girls who only saw him tripping all over himself. Since when did he care about that, anyway? What about Miles? No…the other day was plenty awkward already, and besides, he is probably far too busy preparing for the launch in 2 days. Two days, huh? Icarus still hasn't made a call regarding if he wants to go or not. Something as vile and evil as the Metarix surely needs to be stopped…but his parents are far more experienced than him anyway. If they couldn't do it, who is he to do it?

"We did. I promise you. We did."

Did that have anything to do with that Sonic he keeps hearing about? Miles did say Icarus shared a resemblance…well, maybe it's-

Someone suddenly enters Icarus' room without bothering to knock.

Icarus: "H-hey! Who's-"

He turns around while laying on his bed to see Shadow is the one to enter, rolling his eyes as a reaction.

Icarus: "Come on, can you knock?"

Shadow: "I did!"

"No, you didn't."

"Maybe if you stopped using your damn headphones so much, you would actually hear me."

"But I wasn't even- whatever…just…what do you want?"

"That someone we were going to meet, it's time."

"Now?!"

"Well if you are going to be bratty about it, I can cancel-"

Icarus tosses away his blanket and gets up

"Alright, alright, I'm up…geez."

"You got five minutes, if i don't find you at the door by then-"

"You will ditch me, yeah yeah I know."

Shadow smiles as he leaves, closing the door behind him.

The ultimate life form stands right outside of the house, leaving the door wide open as he taps his legs with his arms folded.

He waits for around 3 minutes before Icarus comes by his side.

Icarus: "Hey."

Shadow: "You're late." Doesn't even look in Icarus' direction.

Icarus looks visibly puzzled.

Icarus: "No I'm not…what are you…"

Shadow: "Come on, let's get moving already."

Shadow unfolds his arms and starts walking to the stone walkway without saying another word. Icarus shrugs and follows suit.

Shadow: "So, how's college? You find any friends yet?"

"Not really…the first day is usually the best one for meeting folks, but I spent that one getting flung around by Kujo, the 2nd one was the one when you…you know…"

"And the rest?"

"I…didn't really connect with anyone. Small talk, sure, but I didn't really see someone who…who seems like me, you know? Which seems odd, the place seemingly has every type of people appearance wise, and they are all in the same class-grade…but…"

"I see."

…

Icarus: "Hey, I have a question, you always had these…supernatural things, right?"

Shadow: "Since the day I opened my eyes, yeah"

"How did it go? Did you ever…you know…find your people or whatever they say these days?"

"Well, I didn't really choose who my people were…not sure if Miles told you, but I was raised in a lab. Not a cruel lab, mind you. It was for a good reason, a good cause…"

"But why?"

They reach the crosswalk leading into the city. Red light, so they wait. Icarus doesn't dare speed through it like he previously did.

Shadow: "In the reports, we said it was to reach immortality. The president of the United Federations at the time wanted an army of super-powered immortal war machines…however, the scientist in charge believed it was nonsense. Despite that, he needed the funding, so he pretended to work on it under the name 'Project: Shadow'."

Icarus: "That's where your name comes from?"

The light turns green, and they continue walking through the bustling streets of Central City.

Shadow: "Actually, no. See, the scientist had a granddaughter. The sweetest little human girl you can imagine. Unfortunately, she fell ill to a disease with no known cure at the time. That's when he got an idea, to properly pursue the immortality project…"

Icarus: "In hopes of finding a cure…"

Shadow: "Yes. I was made for no other reason than to cure her…but that girl, for some reason…she saw something else in me. She treated me like I was a visitor in her home. I was made to be a walking vaccine essentially…and she saw me as a person. She was the one who named me."

Although Icarus noticed an unfamiliar vulnerability in his father's eyes, Shadow refused to look at Icarus directly, and so it was anyone's guess how he was feeling while revealing all of this to Icarus.

Icarus: "You said she was a little girl, right? Did she name you that because of your appearance?"

Shadow: "I thought so too for as long as I can remember. It turns out, she used that name because while light cannot exist in darkness, a mere shadow can tell you where to find the light."

Icarus: "In other words, you, Shadow, would be the key to finding her light."

"Yeah."

"She was your first friend?"

"The greatest one I could ever ask for."

"Can I ask…what happened to her?"

Shadow pauses for a moment. Icarus thinks he messed up, clearly he's poking around too much.

Shadow: "Honestly? I forgot most of the details. When I look back on her, I only remember the precious things she gave me. What happened to her is irrelevant."

Icarus breathes a sigh of relief. He notices that they are walking out of the other side of the city, but pays no mind to it. Surely his father knows where they are going, right?

Icarus: "Well…did you find anyone afterwards?"

Shadow: "Yes. It wasn't long before I met your mother and Miles for the first time. This might shock you, but I was NOT on the best of terms when we first met." A genuine laugh escapes from Shadow, seemingly reminiscing about the adventures of days past "Those guys clicked for me later…but before them, there was a pair that stuck with me. One of which was a robot bodyguard who thought he should be a lot more than a mere bodyguard…let's just say he accomplished that goal one way or the other."

Icarus: "What about the other?"

Shadow: "Well…"

Shadow stops in his tracks, Icarus doing the same right after. He notices they are standing in the middle of literal nowhere. Nothing but brownish-yellow dust and sand as far as the eye can see.

Icarus: "Where are we-"

"SURPRISE!"

Icarus jumps back in shock while Shadow bursts into laughter as his son realises who surprised him.

A female, middle-aged adult, anthropomorphic female bat with white fur, long and dark eyelashes, wearing white gloves and a black, tight front-zip leather suit paired with a pink heart piece on each of her purple-coloured high-heels as well as on her golden necklace. All whilst sporting pink lipstick. Two short dark wings spout from her upper back.

"Hey there. Icarus, was it?" her voice filled with confident sass, quite charming.

Icarus drops his guard before asking "Who are you?"

Shadow: "This is Rouge the Bat, the other person I was telling you about."

Rouge: "Oh, you told young Icarus about me? I'm flattered, Shads."

Rouge turns to face the perplexed Icarus.

Rouge: "How are you doing, young man? You sure have grown since the last time I saw you…"

Icarus: "I…don't recall seeing each other before."

Rouge: "Hmph, see Shadow? All this time covering your babysitting shifts when Rose wasn't available was allllll for nothing."

Shadow: "You're pretending like you weren't paid for every minute."

Rouge: "Yeah…well…"

Icarus: "Sorry to interrupt you guys' reunion, but why am I here?"

Shadow: "Well, miss Rouge over here is a GUN agent, which means she will be the first one to turn to in your quests to find the 2 emeralds here on Earth."

Rouge: "Miss Rouge? Oh, you really are making me feel flattered."

Shadow: "...you are saying this crap so that Icarus brings it up at home and I get in trouble with Rose, aren't you?"

Rouge instantly drops the sass, speaking way more clearly.

Rouge: "I was too obvious, huh?"

Shadow gives her an upward nod towards Icarus: "Not really, look at poor Icarus."

Icarus wipes a sweat off his forehead, looking a lot less tense.

Rouge: "Wow, maybe I overdid it a little bit."

Shadow: "Hmph"

Rouge: "Anyways, Icarus, all jokes aside, I will be with you every step of the way. There is a lot to go over…but, I think I have time to do you a quick solid on the first day."

Icarus: "Really?"

Rouge: "Yeah, the commander will be free, good chance to meet her…if that's okay with your old man."

She glances at Shadow, who gives her a nod of approval.

Rouge: "Then, it's settled! I apologise for coming and leaving so soon, but a lady's day is quite full these days."

Icarus: "It was…nice to meet you!"

Rouge: "It was nice to meet you too, Icarus."

With parting words, she flies up using her winds and waves goodbye. Only Icarus waves her back.

Icarus: "She was nice."

Shadow: "Yeah, and almost a homewrecker."

Icarus: "I…don't mean to be ungrateful, but what was the point of this?"

Shadow: "What did you think of Rouge? Did you think she was anything like me?"

Icarus is a bit taken aback by the sudden change of topic, but decides to roll with it.

Icarus: "Not really, no. I mean…dark appearances aside, you guys act nothing alike."

"And yet, you notice how we were comfortable around each other?"

"Well yeah, you guys are friends, no? Maybe you are trying to tell me something here, but I ain't getting it."

"Well, I figured you would struggle making friends because you would want someone who understands your natural gifts, so I was trying to show you that you do not need for those around you to be copies of you. The first friend I made was nothing like me. Same goes for Rouge. What I am trying to convey here is…your path is a unique one, but it doesn't have to be a lonely one, Icarus."

Icarus lets his father's words sink in for a moment.

Shadow: "Come now, I am sure your mother is worried sick about us. Besides, I don't like eating cold breakfast.'

Icarus nods as he follows Shadow back home.

And with that, the rest of the day unremarkably passes as the world sleeps in peace once more…

1 Day to go….