Sonic remained still as the scientists entered the room again, glaring at them. "Hello, creeps...!" he hissed.

"Ah, it's good to see you're awake." One murmured with a grin. "Good... That'll make it much more sweet."

And once again, INHUMANE!!!! Sandy shouted to the point that Sonic almost worried the scientists could hear him.

"Good luck trying to end me, I'm stronger than you guys think."

"Oh, we'll end you, alright." another replied, putting a finger in Sonic's face. "After all... We can't go through with Phase two until you're out of the way..."

Sonic swallowed. "Phase two...!?" he hissed.

"Yes... Originally, killing you was going to be Phase two, but it was moved up to Phase one when you refused to complete the previous Phase one."

Sonic stiffened, tugging on the chains holding him hostage. "You lay a finger on Shadow, and I swear you'll all pay dearly!"

"Hence why we moved removing you to Priority One, hedgehog..."

"Once we have you two out of the way, there will be nobody strong enough to keep us from taking over GUN and bringing it back to the way it should be!"

Sonic growled. "You'll do that over my dead body... And I find your lack of faith in my friends disturbing."

"Oh please..."

Sonic yelped as a needle was stabbed into his shoulder, struggling to get away. "Everyone knows it was you and Shadow that took Eggman out, not any of your pathetic little posse!"

Sonic gasped for air as his airways began to close off, falling onto his side with a wheezing gasp.

I'll try to burn out the venom, Sonic! Sandy shouted frantically from inside his head.

D-Do it...! Sonic replied silently, feeling the Chaos energy's warmth beginning to spread into the rest of his body as darkness threatened to take over. Have to stay awake... Have to stay awake...!

He could hear the scientists' confused and angry shouts as he felt Sandy's energy healing him, and he took in deep breaths of air as his airways cleared again. He was still weak and unable to sit up, but at least he could breathe again.

"That's not possible...!"

Sonic looked up, glaring murderously. "...You made me too well, you fools...!" he hissed, unaware that his eyes were a murky mix of green and red.

"Fools, are we!?"

Sonic gave a cry as one grabbed him by the neck. "If the poison won't kill you, then crushing your throat will...!"

______________________________________________________________________________

"...Entry was much too easy." Shadow murmured. "Where is all the security you mentioned...?"

Manic shrugged, still wringing water out of his quills. "I was expecting them to be patrolling the island nonstop... But it has been years since Sonia and I escaped the island... If they don't think anybody would suspect this place-"

Shadow paused as he heard voices, then gasped as he heard a familiar pained cry from down the hall. "Stay behind me, Manic!" he ordered, then he dashed down the hall and into a large, but dingy room. "Hold it!"

His grip on the gun tightened as he saw five scientists in the room, one of them holding a limp Sonic by the neck.

"Put him down, or I swear I'll shoot your brains out!" Shadow shouted, pointing his weapon towards them.

The scientist smirked. "Want him all to yourself, Project Shadow...? Sorry, but a deal's a deal."

"D-Don't, Shadz...!" Sonic gasped. "They're gonna get you once they're done with-Awk!" his voice cut off as the scientist's grip on his throat tightened. "P-Please...!"

Shadow glared. "I'm not fooling around... You have til the count of three. One...Two-"

A disc of green light whizzed past and smacked into the scientist's head, knocking him out. As both he and Sonic dropped to the floor, the other scientists fired at them, and they ducked behind the wall. "Manic!" Shadow growled.

"Sorry, I got impatient!" Manic hissed, twirling more energy rings on his fingers.

A flash of light then filled the room, and Shadow winced at it's brightness before looking to see the cause.

Sonic's Super form stood in front of Sonic, his body golden and glittering like stardust, but red fringing the tips of his quills and limbs. "Sandy...!"

"What is this!?" one of the scientists shouted.

Sandy's glow brightened even more, turning more red. "Foolish humans... Did you really think that Sonic was all alone in here!?"

Shadow looked away again as his light flashed again, and this time, when he looked back, the scientists were all down on the ground, covering their eyes that had been flash-bombed. "Secure them." he ordered to the other soldiers. "Sonic never told me that Sandy could project himself physically..."

"You could've told me that my brother had another person in his head, you know... " Manic replied, then he ran past to his brother. "Sonic! ...Sonic, can you hear me...?"

Sonic's eyes opened a little, and Shadow saw tears in them as they focused on Manic. "...Manic...!?" he rasped.

"Yeah, dude... Don't worry, we're gonna get you help."

Sonic sat up further, grabbing Manic's arm tighter. "They didn't get you too, did they...!?"

"No no no! I came with Shadow."

Sonic gave a sigh of relief. "Thank Chaos."

Manic wrapped an arm around his brother, fighting back tears. "I was so scared we'd never see you again, bro..."

"Yeah... Me neither..." Sonic whispered.

Shadow watched the hedgehog's eyes close and he went limp. Sandy gave a sigh, then faded away, probably back into Sonic's mind, and Shadow stepped forward. "We'll take him back to GUN. He'll be guarded from these heathens and get the help he needs."

Manic looked uncertain at the word "GUN," but then gave a nod, allowing Shadow to take his brother up in his arms. "Let's get him home..."

_____________________________________________________________________________

Over the next few hours, GUN located all of the scientists who were involved in the attempted murders of Sonic and Tails, and had them in cells across the world within twenty-four hours.

Sonic was taken to Empire City's GUN medical station, where his room was guarded and unaccessable other than the solitary door.

Shadow allowed Manic to remain by his side at all times, so when they heard anything, he was there to relay the information to Sonia. He'd pulled a glass bottle out of the garbage can, cleaned it, and was now using it as his target in a game of ring toss with his energy discs, which faded once they hit the floor.

Shadow didn't mind...much.

It was nearly midnight when a familiar face peeked into Shadow's office. "Hey, Shadow..." she greeted.

"Maria." Shadow got up from his chair, signaling to Manic to cease his game. "How's Sonic?"

Maria took in a deep breath, then sighed. "He's going to make it... His Chaos Aura was healing him all the while... However..."

"However what?" Manic asked. "What's wrong with him?"

Maria looked down at her clipboard, adjusting her glasses. "We were... Unable to determine the exact cause, we're assuming it was the venom they injected him with... But his legs... They're paralyzed."

"No...!" Shadow shook his head. "He can't feel them at all?"

"He can feel them... The nerves are sending messages to his brain just fine, but his brain's messages back are failing to reach their destination. It's possible that the nerves will heal themselves... But it's uncertain at this point."

"Poor guy..." Manic sighed. "...does he know?"

"Yes... He's taking it rather well, or so it would seem... It's quite an adjustment for him, but he's strong."

Shadow nodded. "I'll inform the others..."

"How do you think his girlfriend will take it?" Manic asked.

Shadow sighed. "Amy... I don't know."

"He's asleep right now... His sleep patterns are incredibly rare for someone his age." Maria replied.

"Rare?"

"Yes... He's sleeping in such a deep state that is usually lost as we grow up and begin to have responsibilities and worries that keep us up at night... This tells me that for the first time in a very long time... Sonic feels completely safe."

Shadow smiled a little. "Safe... That's how it should be."