Sonic X: Gotta Go Fast Again
Chapter 34: Shadow's Forgotten Life
The swirling vortex of colors gradually faded away, giving way to a somber reality. Shadow found himself standing in a dark corridor, the transition from the portal's chaotic energy to the stillness of the hallway jarring in its suddenness. He felt no physical discomfort from the journey, his body as steady and composed as ever. Yet, an unexpected sensation washed over him—a profound sense of isolation that seemed to permeate the very air around him.
This was the ARK, the place of his creation, his supposed home. The hallways stretched out before him. Shadows clung to every corner, broken only by the faint, ethereal glow filtering through the large windows that lined one side of the corridor. The source of this light was not the familiar, comforting presence of a full moon, but rather its damaged remnant.
"It worked!"
The sudden exclamation shattered the silence. He had almost forgotten he wasn't alone in this ghostly place. With measured control, Shadow allowed himself only the slightest movement, turning his head to see Eggman standing beside him. The doctor's face was alight with pride, his mustache twitching with barely contained excitement at the success of his creation.
"This is the ARK," Shadow stated, his voice low and even, betraying none of the complex emotions swirling beneath his stoic exterior.
Eggman's gaze shifted from his surroundings to Shadow, curiosity gleaming behind his glasses. "Remembering something?"
Shadow's head moved slowly as he surveyed the hallway once more. The metallic walls seemed to whisper of forgotten memories, the curved architecture vaguely familiar. Yet, as he searched within himself for a spark of recognition, he found only a hollow emptiness where his past should have been. The corridors held no warmth of homecoming, no flood of recollection—just the faint echo of what might have once been familiarity.
Shadow approached the window, his footsteps amplified by the silence. The vast expanse of space stretched out before him, an endless sea of stars twinkling against the inky blackness. As he gazed outward, his own reflection stared back at him from the reinforced glass. It was a strange sensation, like looking at a complete stranger. The red-streaked quills, the crimson eyes, the gold rings on his wrists—all familiar, yet somehow foreign. This was him, and yet, not him. A being without a past, searching for an identity in the very place he was created.
His attention shifted to the Moon. Half of it remained as nature intended, a pale orb of light. The other half was a mechanical construct, metal and circuitry replacing what had been destroyed.
"You did that," Shadow said. It wasn't quite a question, but not entirely a statement either.
Eggman hesitated for a moment, unsure of Shadow's intent. Clearing his throat, he decided honesty was the best approach in this situation. "Yes," he admitted. "A demonstration of the Eclipse Cannon when I sought to conquer this planet. As a show of good faith, I later offered to repair the moon."
Shadow's expression remained impassive, but inwardly he scoffed at the notion of Eggman doing anything out of "good faith." Nevertheless, they were here now, and dwelling on past actions would not help him uncover his memories. Turning away from the window, Shadow noticed that the swirling portal that had brought them here had vanished, leaving no trace of its existence.
Eggman, seemingly oblivious to Shadow's inner thoughts, had busied himself with some exposed wiring nearby. "Don't worry," he said, not looking up from his work. "Decoe and Bocoe will reactivate the gateway in exactly one hour." With a few more adjustments, the lights in the corridor flickered to life, bathing the space in a soft, artificial glow. The ARK seemed to awaken from its long slumber, humming with renewed energy.
"There!" Eggman exclaimed, straightening up with a satisfied grin. "I've only restored the basic systems and lighting. Activating everything might alert someone on Earth to our presence. We don't want any unwanted attention, do we? Now, we should probably start by—"
Eggman's words trailed off as he turned, realizing he was speaking to an empty corridor. Shadow had vanished without a sound, leaving the doctor alone with his ramblings. The hedgehog's silent departure was a clear indication of his intent—he was here for answers, not conversation.
Shadow moved through the corridors of the ARK with purposeful strides. His expression remained neutral, betraying none of the turmoil that churned beneath the surface. His arms hung loosely at his sides, ready to react at a moment's notice should the need arise. As he walked, his eyes darted from side to side, taking in every detail of his surroundings.
The state of the space station surprised him. For a facility that had supposedly been abandoned for over half a century, the ARK was remarkably well-preserved. The walls gleamed with a dull sheen, free from the stains and decay one might expect in such an old, neglected place. There were no signs of dust, no crumbling infrastructure—just an eerie, pristine emptiness that seemed to amplify the sense of isolation that permeated the air.
As Shadow rounded a corner, something extraordinary happened. In the span of a heartbeat, the world around him transformed. The abandoned hallway suddenly blazed with light, and the empty space filled with activity. People in white lab coats bustled past him, their faces a blur of motion and purpose.
But as quickly as this vision had appeared, it vanished. The bright lights faded, the phantom scientists disappeared, and Shadow found himself once again alone in the quiet corridor. The abrupt shift was so jarring that it caused him to spin around, his fist clenched tightly at his side, ready to defend against some unseen threat.
His heart raced, a rare occurrence for the dark hedgehog. What had just happened? Was it a memory, a fleeting glimpse into the ARK's past—into his past? The vivid nature of the experience left him momentarily shaken, unsure of the line between reality and recollection.
Shadow stood there, frozen in place, his eyes scanning the now-empty hallway for any trace of what he had just witnessed. The silence that enveloped him seemed heavier now, charged with the potential of hidden memories waiting to surface. As he slowly unclenched his fist, Shadow realized that his journey through the ARK might be more intense—and more revealing—than he had initially anticipated.
Still, he relished the solitude, grateful to be free from Eggman's incessant chatter. The doctor's voice grated on his nerves, and he had no desire to spend more time in his company than absolutely necessary. One hour—that was all the time he had before the portal back to their dimension would reopen. One hour to reclaim his identity, to piece together the fragments of his past.
As he traversed the empty corridors, Shadow's attention was suddenly drawn to a specific room. Something about it called to him, a faint whisper of familiarity that tugged at the edges of his consciousness. Intrigued, he pressed the panel beside the door, causing it to slide open with a soft hiss.
The room beyond was a laboratory, reminiscent of Eggman's workspace but devoid of the eccentric doctor's personal touches. No garish symbols or self-aggrandizing portraits adorned these walls. Instead, the space was clinically sterile, filled with equipment whose purpose Shadow could only guess at. At the far end of the room stood a large capsule, its presence dominating the space.
Curiosity overcame caution, and Shadow found himself drawn to the capsule. As he approached, he gently placed his hand against the cool glass surface. The moment his gloved fingers made contact, the world around him shifted dramatically, plunging him into the unknown.
Suddenly, Shadow was no longer an observer but a participant. He found himself inside the capsule, suspended in a bubbly green stasis fluid that cradled his body. The liquid filled his ears, muffling all external sounds save for his own breathing through the mask attached to his face. Despite the strange environment, he felt oddly comfortable, as if this were a natural state of being for him.
A gentle tapping on the glass drew his attention. Through the watery haze that blurred his vision, Shadow saw a figure standing before him—a young girl with golden hair and kind eyes.
Maria…
"Maria, please don't knock on the glass." An older voice, stern but not unkind, broke through the silence. Gerald. Another name that carried weight, though Shadow couldn't quite place its significance.
"We don't want to disturb Shadow while he's recovering," Gerald continued, his tone softening slightly.
Maria stepped back, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Grandpa. I'm just excited to meet him when he finally wakes up!"
Gerald approached, placing a gentle hand on Maria's shoulder. "He'll be here soon, Maria. He is the key to curing you. And after that, he'll be there for you forever. To protect you, stay with you. But it will be up to you to teach him empathy."
"I will, Grandpa," Maria reassured him.
As Gerald retreated to continue his work, Maria returned her attention to Shadow. She placed her hand against the glass once more, her eyes filled with warmth and anticipation. Shadow, whether driven by memory or instinct, raised his own hand within the capsule, pressing it against hers on the opposite side of the barrier that separated them.
"I can't wait to meet you, Shadow," Maria said softly, her voice somehow clear despite the liquid surrounding him.
The vision faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Shadow standing alone in the empty laboratory, his hand still pressed against the now-cold surface of the long-dormant capsule. The echo of Maria's words lingered in his mind, a bittersweet reminder of a past he was only beginning to reclaim.
"Maria?" Shadow spun around, his body instantly tensing as he scanned the empty laboratory. After a moment, he forced himself to relax, realizing the voice had been part of the memory. The recollection felt too real to be a mere implant. Shadow knew he was on the right path; he just had to keep searching.
His eyes fell upon a map of the ARK mounted on the wall, designed for new staff members. Swiftly scanning the layout, Shadow's gaze locked onto the next destination that stirred a faint recognition: the observation deck. With renewed determination, he dashed out of the room, his hover shoes propelling him down the hallway as he followed the directions.
Arriving at the observation deck, Shadow paused to survey the spacious room. The view was breathtaking – a perfect vista of Earth below and the star-studded expanse above. He walked slowly across the glass floor, the blue and green sphere of the planet visible beneath his feet. Above, the glass ceiling revealed a tapestry of stars. Shadow reached for the light switch but hesitated. The natural illumination from the planet and stars bathed the deck in an ethereal glow, creating an atmosphere too perfect to disrupt.
"Shadow, there you are!"
The world around him shifted once more as another memory surfaced. Maria appeared, her smile radiant as she sat, beckoning him to join her. As Shadow drew closer, the usual hardness in his expression began to soften just a fraction. He took his place beside her, both of them gazing up at the star-filled sky.
"Look, Shadow! Do you see that? That bright cluster right there? That's the Milky Way!" Maria's voice was filled with wonder.
Shadow followed her gaze. "It's... beautiful," he admitted, his tone low but sincere.
Maria's eyes sparkled with awe. "Just imagine... billions of stars, each with their own stories, their own worlds..." She paused for a moment, allowing Shadow to soak in her passion for the cosmos. Suddenly, her breath caught in her throat as she gasped with excitement. "A shooting star! Quick, Shadow, make a wish!"
A look of disbelief settled on Shadow's features. "I don't believe in that stuff."
Undeterred, Maria smiled. "It doesn't hurt to dream, Shadow."
He paused, glancing between Maria's hopeful expression and the fleeting streak of light. Her kind eyes were impossible to resist; Shadow knew she could talk him into walking into the Sun if she wanted. Silently, he made his wish.
As the shooting star faded from view, Maria turned to him. "What did you wish for?"
"I can't tell you, or it won't come true," Shadow replied, his tone serious.
Maria's face lit up with triumph. "So you do believe in wishes, after all!"
A brief smirk tugged at the corner of Shadow's mouth. "Hmph."
The world around Shadow gradually returned to its present state. As his recollections slowly pieced themselves together, Shadow remembered the wish he had made that night. A wish that had not come true. The realization weighed heavily upon him as he turned and walked out of the observation deck.
Not far down the hallway, Shadow's attention was drawn to another door. Above it, in faded lettering, was Maria's full name. Presuming these to be her living quarters, Shadow entered, his movements cautious and reverent. The room was small and sparsely furnished – a single bed, a few basic pieces of furniture, and little else. The simplicity of the space struck Shadow deeply. This tiny room had been Maria's entire world for most of her short life. Despite being isolated from the Earth below, she had maintained a joy and optimism that seemed almost inconceivable given her circumstances.
His eyes flickered to a small television set in the corner. Beneath it, covered in a thin layer of dust, sat a stack of videotapes. Curiosity overcame him, and Shadow found himself reaching for one of the tapes. He gently brushed away the dust, revealing a label written in faded ink. A video player sat just below the TV, and with the power partially restored, Shadow presumed it would still function. While he didn't consider himself particularly adept with gadgets, there was a whisper in his mind that told him he had used this device before. With careful movements, he inserted the tape and settled on the edge of the bed.
The TV screen flickered to life, and suddenly Maria's face filled the frame, her eyes wide with excitement. "It's working!" she exclaimed, her voice slightly distorted by time and technology. The camera shifted, and Shadow found himself staring at a younger version of himself. It was surreal, seeing himself on a recording from over half a century ago. His appearance hadn't changed, but there was a noticeable difference in his expression – a softness, a lack of the bitterness that now seemed etched into his features.
The Shadow on the screen raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with confusion. "Maria, what are you doing?"
Maria's voice came from behind the camera, filled with enthusiasm. "This is my diary! Since we're gonna be living on the Earth soon, I wanted to record our time together here!" There was a brief pause before she added, "Go ahead, Shadow! Say something."
"Like what?" the past Shadow asked.
"Anything!" Maria encouraged. After a moment's thought, she suggested, "Why don't you talk about your new rings?"
The Shadow on the recording glanced down at the golden bands encircling his wrists and ankles. He stood, positioning himself to give Maria a better view. "They're called Inhibitor Rings," he explained, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "Professor Gerald made them to help me control my power."
"And you can take them off?" Maria's voice was filled with curiosity.
Past Shadow nodded, his expression serious. "Yes. If there's ever a situation where I need to access my full power to protect you."
Shadow's hands clenched tightly as he forced himself to continue watching the tape. The experience of seeing these memories play out on screen was vastly different from the fleeting flashbacks he had experienced earlier. It was raw, undeniable evidence of a past he had almost forgotten.
On the screen, Maria's voice cut through his thoughts. "Shadow, you should smile more!" Her tone was light, teasing, but filled with genuine warmth.
The past Shadow turned his head curiously, his expression a mixture of confusion and mild interest. "Why?" he asked, the simplicity of the question betraying his lack of understanding.
"Because you have a nice smile!" Maria exclaimed. "But you barely use it!"
Shadow, almost unconsciously, raised a hand to touch his muzzle. He tried to remember what it felt like to smile back then, to feel the simple joy that Maria seemed to exude so effortlessly. But the sensation eluded him, lost in the years of hardship and bitterness that had followed.
Maria's voice continued from the recording, filled with excitement and hope. "I can't wait for us to go to Earth! You can be anything you want to be down there!"
"What do you mean?" the past Shadow questioned, his tone curious but uncertain.
"Grandpa says you're the Ultimate Life Form, but that doesn't mean you have to be just that!" Maria encouraged. "You can be anything you want to be!"
The present Shadow looked down at his hands, instruments of destruction that had claimed countless lives. Could he really be more than just the Ultimate Life Form? The thought seemed almost foreign to him now, a concept as distant as the Earth he had once dreamed of visiting.
On the screen, Maria set the camera down on a stand and walked into the frame. She knelt down to match Shadow's height, her light blue eyes level with his crimson ones. "When we go to Earth, what's the first thing you want to do?"
The past Shadow glanced at the wall, then back at Maria, his expression thoughtful. "I don't know," he admitted.
Maria's face lit up with excitement. "Well, I have! I want to see the ocean! I read that it stretches out as far as the eye can see. Can you imagine it?"
The younger Shadow nodded slowly, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Then... we'll go see it together."
"It's a promise!" Maria beamed, her happiness radiating even through the grainy footage.
As these words crackled through the room's speakers, the present Shadow's eyes darkened slightly. It was a promise he couldn't keep, a dream that had died along with Maria. The tape cut off abruptly, plunging the room into a heavy silence that seemed to press in on Shadow from all sides.
Shadow's movements betrayed the turmoil he was experiencing. His shoulders tensed, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, and his eyes narrowed with a mixture of anguish and determination. Unable to bear the weight of the memories any longer, he bolted from the room.
His sharp gaze fell once more on the map of the ARK. One final destination called to him: the escape pod area. Shadow returned to the hallway, his pace quickening as the world around him began to transform. The quiet, abandoned corridors suddenly burst into chaotic life. Scientists fled in panic, their lab coats fluttering as they ran. Soldiers appeared, their weapons raised and firing, filling the air with the deafening sound of gunfire.
Shadow found himself running, his arm stretched behind him as if desperately trying to lead someone to safety. His feet carried him swiftly to the escape pod area, his body now in full fight-or-flight mode. As he entered the room, his instincts screamed at him to run towards the escape pods.
Suddenly, everything clicked into place. A flood of memories rushed into his mind with such force that it caused a painful sensory overload. Shadow fell to his knees, clutching his head as the onslaught of recollections threatened to overwhelm him. In his mind's eye, he saw himself trapped alone in an escape pod, the glass barrier separating him from the chaos outside.
His eyelids tightened as he fought against the sudden rush of memories. These painful recollections were like books with chapters, deep and horrible, that belonged on a dusty shelf, never to be opened again. Yet here they were, forcing themselves into his consciousness like a pillow fashioned from glass shards, cutting deeper with every agonizing moment.
"Please, Shadow..."
He saw himself banging on the glass, desperately trying to break free, to save her.
"For everyone living on that planet... Please give them a chance for happiness."
Shadow yelled Maria's name, begging her to let him out, to allow him to protect her as he was created to do.
"Please grant everyone's wish. That's what you were born to do."
The memory shifted, and Shadow watched helplessly as a GUN soldier entered the room. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Shadow saw the soldier's finger tighten on the trigger, saw the muzzle flash, heard the deafening crack of the gunshot. He screamed Maria's name as the soldier fired, the bullet striking its innocent target. Maria fell, but even in her final moments, her eyes never left Shadow's. Her smile, though tinged with agony, remained steadfast – a final act of love and reassurance.
With trembling hands and fading strength, Maria reached for the launch lever. Shadow could see the effort it took, could almost feel the weight of it as she struggled to pull it down.
"Sayonara... Shadow the Hedgehog."
The pod lurched, and Shadow felt himself being torn away from Maria, from everything he knew. The last thing he saw was her collapsing form, her smile still etched on her face as her eyes closed for the final time.
"MARIA!"
A scream capable of rending reality itself tore from Shadow's throat, reverberating through the empty confines of the escape pod room. Pushed to his limits by the weight of memory, his anguish manifested into Chaos energy, erupting through his body with primal force.
A sphere of destructive energy exploded outward from his body, expanding rapidly to fill the entire room. The metal walls buckled and warped under the immense force. Equipment shattered, wires sparked, and debris was flung in all directions. The very air seemed to ignite with the power of Shadow's unleashed emotions.
As the echoes of the Chaos Blast faded into silence, Shadow's body sagged under the weight of his unleashed power. The destruction that lay before him was a sobering reminder of the turmoil he had caused, and as the adrenaline began to wane, a profound exhaustion washed over him. He dropped onto his hands and knees, panting heavily, the fragments of his past began to coalesce, fitting together like pieces of a long-forgotten puzzle.
Memories flooded back in a torrent of images and emotions. The corridors of the ARK, once unfamiliar, now held a bittersweet familiarity. The sound of Maria's laughter, the gentle touch of her hand, the warmth of her smile – all of it rushed back with startling clarity.
He remembered it all – his creation, his time with Maria, the tragedy that tore them apart. But it didn't stop there. The memories continued to flow, filling in the gaps of his more recent past.
He saw himself being awakened on Prison Island by Eggman, the doctor's grandiose plans for world domination. The first encounter with Sonic, their fierce battles, the eventual alliance to stop the Biolizard from destroying the planet, and the adventures that followed against the Metarex – all of it came rushing back,
Along with these cherished recollections came the pain of loss, the terror of that final day with Maria, and the crushing weight of unfulfilled promises. But alongside it came something else – love. The love he had felt for Maria, the love she had shown him, the bonds he had formed with Rouge and Omega, even the grudging respect he had developed for Sonic and his friends. It was a bittersweet realization, bringing both comfort and renewed grief.
Slowly, Shadow rose to his feet. His eyes, once filled with confusion and uncertainty, now held a different light. He was no longer a stranger in this environment. This space station, with its cold corridors and distant views of Earth, was his home. Or at least, it had been once.
The harsh reality settled over him. There was nothing he could do to bring Maria back. He had faced death numerous times since his awakening, surviving against all odds. Now, he understood that he had to live on, not for his own sake, but for the memory of Maria and the promise he had made to her.
Shadow took a deep breath, steadying himself. This place was no longer his home. His path lay elsewhere – on Mobius, the world he had come to know. Earth, the planet Maria had loved so dearly, was no longer a place for him.
With measured steps, Shadow walked out of the escape pod room. At the threshold, he paused, his hand lingering over the control panel. He turned, casting one last glance over his shoulder at the room where his life had changed forever.
"Sayonara... Maria."
Rouge prided herself on her composure, rarely allowing anything to rattle her cool demeanor. Danger was typically met with a laugh and a flippant remark. Yet, as she stood before the inactive portal, even she couldn't deny the anxiety gnawing at her insides. Her mind raced with possibilities, each worse than the last, questioning if something had gone terribly wrong on the other side.
Decoe and Bocoe hovered near the control panel, ready to reactivate the portal the moment the hour elapsed. The unease in the room was suffocating, heavy enough to be carved through with a knife.
"One minute remaining," Omega's robotic voice broke the silence, causing everyone to jump slightly.
"We know!" Decoe snapped, both he and Bocoe shooting irritated glares at the hulking robot. Their annoyance quickly turned to fear as Omega slowly rotated his head in their direction. The two smaller robots backed away, suddenly remembering just how outmatched they were.
Omega's attention shifted back to Rouge, his internal scanners whirring as he analyzed her vital signs. "Elevated heart rate detected. Increased perspiration. Pupil dilation consistent with anxiety response," he stated matter-of-factly.
Rouge turned to him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Can you blame me?" she asked, a hint of defensiveness in her tone.
"Negative," Omega responded, his simple agreement oddly comforting.
Without warning, a shrill beep from the clock shattered the tense silence, signaling that an hour had passed. Decoe and Bocoe scrambled to reactivate the portal, their movements frantic as they feared both Eggman's wrath and Omega's firepower.
The portal slowly flickered to life, energy crackling around its circular frame. Seconds that felt like an eternity passed before two familiar silhouettes stepped through the swirling vortex – Shadow and Eggman.
Rouge didn't hesitate. She rushed forward and approached Shadow. Her keen eyes quickly scanned him, immediately noticing a difference in his demeanor. Gone was the uncertainty, the sense of a stranger in his own skin. Instead, there was a quiet confidence, a sense of self that had been missing before.
A slow, knowing smirk crawled across Rouge's muzzle. "Shadow?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope and curiosity.
Shadow turned to her, acknowledging her presence with a soft grin. "Agent Rouge."
Rouge's eyes widened as realization dawned. He hadn't addressed her that way since... It could only mean one thing – Shadow remembered.
A storm of emotions raged across Rouge's face, each one battling for the chance to break free and reveal her true thoughts. Joy, relief, and a hint of mischief all flickered across her features in rapid succession. But rather than giving voice to any of these feelings, she opted for a more familiar gesture. With a playful smirk, she lightly punched Shadow on the shoulder.
"It's good to see you again, Shadow," Rouge greeted. She then held up a finger, her expression shifting to one of business-like focus. "One moment." Turning swiftly on her heel, she faced Eggman, her hand outstretched expectantly.
Eggman's brow furrowed in confusion. "What?"
"The files," Rouge clarified, her voice taking on a no-nonsense edge. "I want to check them."
Eggman scoffed, his round body shifting as he reached into his pocket. With obvious reluctance, he produced a small file drive and placed it in Rouge's waiting palm. A triumphant grin spread across her face as she turned and passed the device to Omega.
The hulking robot opened a small compartment in his chest plate, carefully inserting the drive. His red optics flickered, alternating between crimson and white as lines of code scrolled rapidly across his visual processors. In a matter of seconds, Omega completed his scan.
"Contents analyzed," Omega intoned. "Files contain personal logs of Gerald Robotnik. No plans or schematics detected. Topics include daily routines, personal reflections, and family anecdotes."
"Happy now?" Eggman grumbled, his arms crossed over his chest in a picture of impatience.
Rouge's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Ecstatic," she remarked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She turned to her teammates, her posture relaxing slightly. "I think we've outstayed our welcome. Let's go."
With a final glance, Team Dark pivoted and strode out of the room, Decoe and Bocoe's voices trailing behind them in a chorus of protest.
"Hey! Aren't you going to thank Doctor Eggman?" Decoe called indignantly.
"Yeah! Show some gratitude!" Bocoe chimed in.
Their protests were cut short by Eggman's sharp bark. "Shut up, you bolt-brains!"
After Team Dark departed, Eggman remained vigilant at his computer console, his eyes fixed on the monitors tracking their departure.
Decoe and Bocoe knelt nearby, hunched over as they sipped tea through non-existent mouths – a peculiar sight that went unquestioned in the eccentric doctor's lair. The warm, amber liquid disappeared into their chassis, defying logic but somehow fitting perfectly with the surreal nature of their existence.
After a long moment, Decoe's voice broke the silence, tinged with curiosity and a hint of suspicion. "You didn't really just grab Professor Gerald's diary, did you, Doctor?"
A low chuckle escaped Eggman's lips. "Hehe," he admitted, his tone dripping with self-satisfaction. With a dramatic flourish, he settled into his chair, crossing one leg over the other to access the sole of his boot. A soft click echoed through the room as a hidden compartment in the heel sprung open, revealing a secondary file drive – the true prize of his excursion to the ARK.
Eggman's eyes gleamed behind his dark glasses as he held up the drive, brandishing it like a conquering hero's sword. "All of my grandfather's original research and schematics. Right on this drive."
Bocoe tilted his head. "But what about Shadow, Doctor?"
Eggman waved a hand dismissively, his attention fully focused on the small device in his grasp. "Bah. Having his memories back makes no difference." As he spoke, a sickly grin spread across his face, his teeth glinting. "And with the Chaos energy I siphoned, I can now build the ultimate creation! Hahaha!"
The sound of his laughter ricocheted off the steel surfaces. Decoe and Bocoe exchanged glances. They knew all too well that when their creator laughed like this, it meant trouble was brewing - not just for Sonic and his friends, but potentially for the entire world.