"Ahhh!" Shadow shouted. He stumbled, dropping the princess and clutching his chest in pain.

"Shadow!" Esmeralda cried, rushing to his aid. Shadow put a hand up, his ruby eyes wild.

"No! Run! Get out of here! NOW!" He growled like an animal and arched his back. An awful crunching noise could be heard from him and Esmeralda cried with fright, "Run straight ahead to... the palace. Tell... Sonic... help" He managed out through gasps. He rolled over and released a deafening roar that would put Black Bull to shame. Esmeralda ran as quick as she could as Shadow rolled around in pain in the grass. He felt like he was being crushed from the inside and his blood was boiling. What was happening to him? Was he dying? He wasn't aware Gerald's experiments had expiration dates.

"Shadow," A soft voice echoed in his mind. He clenched his eyes against the pain it brought him.

"I'm sorry Maria. I failed."

"Shadow! No, Shadow!"

"It's okay Maria," He gasped out.

"No! Sit up Hun. Come on Shadow!"

Shadow groaned, "Just let me go already."

There was a sharp sting on his cheek and Shadow opened his eyes. The dim light was too much so he closed them again with a hiss.

"Damn it, Wake up! Come on Shadow, you're not doing this to me now! You're Husband's in trouble! Now get up!"

Shadow wasn't listening. He was enjoying the numbness he was beginning to feel. He didn't want to hear her. Maria hated him now. He'll see her soon so why talk to him now?

"SHADOW! GET UP!" She demanded again. There was a tugging on his arm and he groaned in protest. He just wanted to go!

"Sonic needs you! Light needs you! Doom's gonna kill her Shadow!"

Light?

Shadow opened his eyes with slits. The light still hurt like hell but he managed it. He choked out, "Light?"

"Finally got your attention. And why are you calling me Maria?"

Shadow's mind began to clear and he opened his eyes slowly. He expected a soft, innocent smile with blue eyes and a face framed with golden hair. However, he saw concerned, turquoise eyes on a white face and red lipstick.

"Rouge?" Shadow mumbled, dazed.

Rouge laughed without humor, "That's right hun. I found out what's going on but we have to be quick. Don't worry about the princess, she's fine Tails has her. But Sonic and Elise are in danger. If Eggman gets a hold of Light we're all doomed! We need to find Tails and locate Light's emerald."

Shadow nodded and stood up, swooning. Rouge placed a slender finger on her chin, "You're in no condition to do anything."

Shadow was sweating bullets and panting hard, "If you felt like this, and Knuckles was in danger. Would that stop you?"

Rouge looked at the sparkling gem on her left hand and sighed, "No."

Shadow knew she understood, "Where's Tails?"

Rouge hopped up and spread her wings, "This way!" She soared through the trees with Shadow tailing after her.

"Who are you?" Light demanded, holding a defensive stance. The whole group was tense and ready for battle, but there was nothing to fight. Only a disembodied voice.

"Do you know how long I've waited for you hedgehog?" The voice demanded. "I've waited over seventy years! And now, I will claim my prize for my patience!"

Light snarled, "Like hell!" She released her most powerful energy blast ever, practically destroying Eggman's base.

"Now now Light. There's no need for that." A dark silhouette in the distance walked closer. The shape was distorted in the smoke, but as he stepped out, Light knew who this was.

"Eggman!" She shouted, charging her lightening to full blast."

The chilling voice spoke again, "Honor our agreement Robotnick. Retrieve the girl and build my army. I have Shadow and will soon have Sonic and Elise. You take care of matters here."

Robotnick waved him off, "I'll get it done! These will all make reliable robots I assure you. Now, give me the emerald Light, and I'll ensure Shadow and Sonic live."

Light's jaw set and she clenched her fist around the emerald, "Never you creep!"

He feigned hurt, "You wound me. Now, give me the emerald!" He pulled out a strange looking gun and pointed it at Buck, "Or watch your friends die one by one."

Light turned on the lights, blinding everyone in the room, "Bet you can't shoot that thing when you can't see!"

"On the contrary," Robotnick stepped forward, still aimed at Buck, "I have invented these exquisite glasses that allow me to see in any amount or lack of light. Nice trick. Now hand it over!"

"Never!"

Robotnick shook his head and his mustache twitched, "Such a shame." He then pulled the trigger and a purple ray shot out at Buck. His skin became metal and hit eyes were little, red lights. Robotnick had robotasized him!

"No!" Husk screamed in agony, dropping her invisibility and Knuckles. Shock caught the unconscious echidna as Husk ran for her brother, "Buck no!"

The robot squirrel swatted her away as if she were a pesky mosquito and sent her flying. Light was torn. Should she accept that Buck is gone and fry is circuits, or hold off because that is Buck?

"Now, the emerald," Eggman held his hand out. Light looked around at the frightened faces. Shock shook his head with a glare.

"Don't do it Light!"

Light's head snapped to the left. What she saw was both frightening and amazing. Shadow and Rouge were standing there, both with anger and fear in their eyes. Shadow looked like he'd been beaten nearly to death then ran a thousand miles. What happened to him?

"What? How is this possible? I sent a poison drone to shoot you!" Robotnick snarled. Shadow half smiled and crossed his arms, perspiration dripping off his nose.

"You can't kill the Ultimate Life Form."

Maybe not, Light thought, But he came close.

"Well let's see what my robotasizer thinks of that!" Eggman yelled as he pointed the gun at Shadow.

"NO!" Light screamed bloody murder and she darted for the gun as quickly as she could. She was almost there when Robotnick fired. Everything seemed to slow down, the purple ray creeped along through the air as Light moved for it. She went to knock it over, but her hand missed just slightly. She only changed the ray's direction.

Towards her.

"NO!" The chilling voice bellowed as Light's finger turned very painfully to metal. She pulled back quickly so it only stopped there.

"I leave for a moment to release Solaris and you nearly ruin everything! Doom shouted. His dark figure appeared in the middle of nowhere. The second he did, Rachael jumped in.

"You!"

Doom looked at the vengeful fox and chuckled. A god awful sound, "I know you child. You're family were part of my experiment. You made all of this possible," He waved his arms at Light and Shadow, "I thank you."

Rachael's eyes widened as she looked at Light. Her eyes brimmed over with tears and she glared at the dark monster, "How could you?"

Doom ignored her, "I'm keeping Sonic busy in Soleanna, now dispose of these creatures before I dispose of you!" He threatened Robotnick.

Eggman rested his gun on his shoulder and challenged the black creature, "As if you could."

Doom growled, "You useless creature!" He swiped his arm at the Doctor, removing his gun. "I'll destroy you later! I have what I need here."

Light heard two clicks and looked to her left with her eyes. Shadow had removed his golden rings, something she had never seen him do. His eyes were literally showing flames and his teeth were bared. Rouge was holding a pink, heart- shaped object tightly in her hand. Shadow took Rouge's hand and said.

"Chaos control!"

Light blinked and they were gone!

"Where did they go?" Doom demanded, floating around.

"Woo hoo! Up here hun," He looked up only to receive a pink bomb in the face and a hard, round house kick to the chest. Rouge the swooped away just as Shadow blasts Doom from behind.

"You fool! You will neversee Maria again!"

Shadow stepped on Doom's face with anger in his eyes, "She's happy. That's all I was created for. You used the wrong ransom. Now, you will pay for trying to destroy humanity!"

An earsplitting screech interrupted them.

"What's that?" Twig cried, cowering in Rachael's leg.

Rouge placed a hand on her hip, "It's Solaris!"

Great, more trouble.