Migraine by Twenty One Pilots.
I Bet On Losing Dogs by Mitski.
~~~

Act Three

It had begun pouring. A storm was brewing and they had retreated into HQ. Delicate cups of tea warmed the room, but it did little to soothe them.

"Let me go over this again."

"Sure, hun."

"That document...belongs to Eggman's grandfather?"

Knuckles had been rather urgent for Rouge to explain herself. Without Sally and Sonic, the others felt hesitant to act without them- but hours slowly slipped by and the echidna was becoming more restless. Thus, Amy took it upon herself to listen and had N-I-C-O-L-E record it all for their leaders.

Rouge smoothly slid a leg over her other, sipping her tea. "It's his diary, so I'd think so."

"How'd you get it?"

The bat smirked, eyelids low. "Working with G.U.N has it's perks. When you're one of their higher ranking agents, you can get more access to things."

"So you hacked into their servers to access it." Tails deciphered.

"Hardly hacking when it's all practically there for you."

"Why're ya' tellin' us?" Bunnie asked.

"Because Knuckie kept up his end of the bargain."

Amy shifted. "Knuckles?"

The guardian sighed. "It would've been the Master Emerald but...well, she settled for learning more about all of you. About...him." He rested his face in his large hands.

"And if he is alive like you say, where is he?"

Rotor looked at his Comlink. "They should've been back hours ago."

"I'll check." N-I-C-O-L-E promptly vanished.

"What do you want to know?" Amy eyed the agent with suspicion.

Rouge's smirk widened. "Where you're all hiding for one. And if he is alive, and how."

"Well, none of us really know the answer to that last one." Chuck admitted.

"It's alright, I'll ask him myself."

Amy shook her head. "So, the diary. What's on it?"

"I couldn't understand it all with the time I had. G.U.N security is tight and Gerald's ramblings are-."

"Gerald?" Cream wondered.

"Eggman's grandfather. Gerald Robotnik. Anyway, he spoke of this...project G.U.N themselves entrusted him and some scientists to conduct. They had their own lab and everything."

"What waz ze project?" Antoine asked.

Rouge set her cup down. "They named it 'Project Shadow', apparently they aimed to achieve immortality with it."

Rotor's mouth dropped. "That's...."

"Phenomenal." Tails breathed. "Thought to be impossible, sure but...."

"Impossible you say?" Rouge dusted her shoulder with a grin. "Why do you think Robotnik and his nephew breached G.U.N's biggest prison complex?"

"You don't mean...."

"Oh, I do honey. They found it. They found immortality."

With a bang, thunder cracked and rain crashed- highlighting a distressed, soaking chipmunk in the doorway. Behind her a crocodile, chameleon and bee stood just as dropping wet.

"Sally-Girl!" Bunnie gasped and brought her shivering best friend inside.

"What happened?" Vanilla questioned, draping a blanket around a blushing Vector as Chuck did the same for Espio and Charmy.

"It's Sonic! Gun! It...Chaos." Sally dropped onto the living room sofa with her face in hands.

Knuckles shot up. "Is he alright? Where is he?"

"I tried to...chaos he's gonna give me a heart attack."

"Sally." N-I-C-O-L-E appeared at her side, squeezing her knee. "You're alright. But you must explain what's going on."

"Right." The Princess shook her head, then watched the bat. "Who-?"

"Rouge, your ma-."

"Sally's fine. What are-?"

"Gun agent, hun. That can be explained after."

"O...kay. Um. They think...Sweet Gaia...they think Sonic helped Eggman and Snively on Prison Island. They think he's a criminal!"

"That's ridiculous!" Amy scolded.

"Why would they think that?" Tails asked.

"Because Breezie planted it in their heads."

"You mean the CEO of Breeze Media?" Vanilla blinked.

"Yes. She had decent-ish reasons too. If you're an idiot and don't know Sonic like we do. Doesn't help there's footage of a hedgehog just like him with Robotnik and Snively too."

"I...okay." Tails pinched his nose. "Hedgehog like him?"

"Project Shadow." Rouge airily spoke. "Gerald never really gave an exact description of him, but from what was there I thought a hedgehog might be possible. But...I mean...a hedgehog with the power of immortality?"

"What...gosh, what reasons did Breezie have?" Amy inquired.

"The fact no one knows where Sonic was for those first few days. And that's when the Prison Break happened too. The fact this hedgehog is just as fast as him-."

"That's impossible." Chuck shook his head.

"I saw it. I...Shadow can go just as quickly as Sonic can. At least, if that was him- but it has to be right?"

"Unless there's another secret supernaturally fast hedgehog we don't know about, then yeah. We can assume he is." Tails replied.

"So Sonic didn't help those two- obviously. Then what, he was just laying there under the factory for days?" Rouge pondered.

"That's how we found him." Vector shrugged.

"He did mention something...odd. A few times, actually." Espio started.

"What?" Knuckles shortly asked.

"He mentioned...dying. As in, he died? We tried asking him what he meant but-."

"I'm sorry." Sally laughed in disbelief. "Died? Died? How'd he...you know...get back then? That's...it's ridiculous."

"Hey, we don't even know." Vector defended. "He mentioned how he died for three days. Maybe he was being dramatic."

Knuckles looked off at nothing in particular. "That must be the case...."

Amy watched him in brief wonderment prior to returning to the matter at hand. "Where is he now, Sally?"

"I...don't know. He seemed...odd, before taking off. Like he wasn't really there. It's hard to explain. I think he was really freaked though and he just...I mean we were surrounded and he took off."

"We gotta find 'im." Bunnie stood.

"And tell Gun that Sonic isn't a criminal." Rotor added.

"I'll find Shadow." Rouge offered.

Sally double took. "You're gonna help us?"

The bat laughed. "Not for you! But with him under Robotnik's control, no good can come from it."

Knuckles scoffed. "Dishonourable."

Amy could see Rouge's very brief surprise, but she concealed it well with a sly smile.

"Never said I wasn't, Knuckie. Good luck all of you!" She approached the door.

"Wait-!" Sally reached but the bat was gone. "That's a problem for after. Right now we need to find Sonic."

"I'm already ahead of you." N-I-C-O-L-E smiled, resting a hand on the Princess' shoulder. "I've tracked his Comlink and found him."

—————

"We're heading due south, over the city. We're on route."

'Wake up.'

"This is the control tower. We're watching over you. Give a report on the cargo's status."

'Wake up!'

He gasped and cringed from the painful banging in his head. Still, he fidgeted at sighting handcuffs strangling his wrists and slowly lifted his head. All faces were hidden behind helmets. One sat beside him and three opposite.

'Enough of this. We should leave.'

"How?" He whispered, still the agent beside him heard and he awkwardly smiled in return.

'You know how.'

"The captured hedgehog is still secure, Sir and- huh?"

There was a crash and a bang.

"What's going on back there?!"

A laugh and shouts.

"What-?"

"What's happening?! Come in, over!"

"The hedgehog! He- hey! What're you doing?! You can't-!"

The door into the pilots station ripped off and a grinning hedgehog stood in the gap. He swiped his nose and tucked the metal under his arm.

"It's cute that you thought you could keep me in here." He saluted and hurried to the side door, tearing it open.

"Talk about low budget flights! No food or movies, I'm-!"

His eyes shrank upon seeing nothing but trees below. An enormous sized building narrowly peaked from the greenery, led up by a smooth road stretching beyond the island. Prison Island.

"Better than stayin' in here. I prefer running anyway."

"Don't-!" The pilot demanded but the prisoner leapt with a sharp inhale anyway.

Cold air rushed through his quills and slithered up his limbs. He brought the sheet of metal under him and used it to stand, arms wide for balance.

"This'd been better with concrete...." He shrugged and tensed as he anticipated the landing.

It came faster than expected and he yelped as he crashed through branches. Arms covered his face and leaves entangled themselves in his quills, but he managed to come out the other side. Trees rushed for him and with a gasp he wove between them on his makeshift board.

"Can't believe this...."

'What's the plan, Sonic? The world thinks you're a criminal.'

"Breezie thinks I'm a criminal."

'She's in charge of Mobius' biggest media company.'

"I'll clear my name. Gotta get outta here first." He ducked beneath a rather large branch, frowning from the ground becoming more flat.

"Besides, my friends know that's not me. I'll tell them I've been set up."

'It's like you've forgotten how she looked at you.'

"We were both scared."

'You were scared? Pathetic.'

Sonic frowned. "I was trying to- you're really annoying to talk to."

'You wouldn't be here without me.'

"Running from the military? Gee, thanks."

'Moron. Ungrateful fool. You wouldn't be alive.'

Something came over him and Sonic lost all energy in his legs, thus he collapsed onto the muddy ground and scraped his chin. He gasped and reached for his lower limbs instantly.

"What did you do?!"

Nothing.

"I don't need you to keep moving, buddy!" He snarled and worriedly stood, exhaling in relief when his legs finally cooperated.

"Almost had me there." Nervously, he chuckled and took off. This was getting out of hand- whatever this was.

Soon, his ears began flickering upon hearing sirens ahead. Alarms perhaps. He frowned and turned left, but quickly skidded from lights sweeping the ground. He twirled and smacked his back against a tree.

"Not good." He whispered.

It was night, at least. So if he avoided the illuminations he could escape. He took off in a low sprint. Although, he mused, where exactly could he go? He was on an island with water stretching everywhere for miles. He glanced at his wrist. His Comlink! If he could find a hidden, quiet spot he could call his friends for help.

"Ack-!" A light flooded his eyes and he hissed as he stumbled back.

His heart began pounding. Oh no.

"There he is! Capture the hedgehog!"

Sonic twirled and zoomed the other way. "You've seriously got the wrong guy!"

More lights and more agents. He yelped, stumbled and pushed himself a new way but the alarms were getting louder. He pressed his hand against the muddy ground, swerved and leapt into the trees. Agents (armed) chased after him. Sonic rolled, ducked, weaved and Spindashed, but he tried for a jump too large and dropped low enough to feel a painful sting in the back of his leg.

"What...?" He swayed but shook his head and refused to stop- albeit continuing at a slower pace.

'Still able to do this yourself?'

"Absolutely." His vision swirled and he stumbled, thus looked at his leg to see a little stick with a red fluffy tip.

"Oh chilli dogs...."

'Perhaps when you wake up in a cell you won't be so dismissive.'

Sonic groaned and reached. "I'm not gonna...." He tripped and dropped to his knees- hissing from bright white lights.

"We've got him!

"...captured...sir!"

"Let's...him...."

Sonic collapsed and watched a short silhouette watching ahead. The only distinguishable thing on it were glowing, neon white eyes.

———

'Up! Get up!'

He shot up with a gasp, groaning in exhaustion. Notably, he found he'd been increasingly tired whenever he'd been...awakened. But he didn't care upon finding messy sketches and writings on the cells back wall. Surprised to see no handcuffs on him, he scrambled up and slipped a hand across the tangled notes.

"Who wrote this?"

'What is that sketch?'

Sonic's eyes were pulled towards a very peculiar, chaotic shape on the wall. They burned at the movement but the half-circle was a curious drawing. It had three sharp triangles springing off it's sides and a long pillar reaching out at it's centre. There were equations and symbols way beyond Sonic's understanding too, but his headache proved too much and he distanced himself from his narrow focus. He promptly started pacing, hands behind his back.

"Whoever wrote that definitely wasn't in their right mind."

'You would know.'

"What's that supposed to mean?" His eyes burned again, so he sat down and massaged his temple with a hiss.

'Sane people don't usually talk to themselves as much as us.'

"I'm just...very talkative." He held back a groan as his ears lowered from beeping alarms.

Wait.

"Hey!" Sonic scrambled up, swayed, and stumbled to the cell bars- gripping them tightly.

A cold grip stung his shoulder, but he found himself unable to look back. Instead he tried bending the bars, but his legs felt wobbly once more and he dropped to his knees.

"S-stop!" He held his head and shook himself, but his eyes were on fire and his teeth were stretching beyond comprehensible pain.

'I can get you out. Let me get you out!'

"Stop!" He cried and tried to conduct a Spindash, but dropped to the floor last second in excruciating torment.

It was as if something was trying to tear itself out of him. He couldn't see properly and could only hear a siren. He squeezed his stomach and kicked the cell bars, gasping and arching his head back.

'You hold yourself back. Your potential is wasted.'

And it was gone. The whispers and voice and panic. The aches and stings and cold. The stretches and burning and-

"Sonic!"

He hid half his face behind his hand as he slowly looked towards cell bars where a panicked Amy Rose stood.

"Ames?"

"Have no fear, Amy Rose is here!" Her eyes widened. "Chaos...what did they-?"

"Nothing." His voice was sharper than he'd have liked but he managed to stand and shook himself off.

Quickly, he rested his hand over Amy's that clung to one of the bars. "How'd you get here?"

"Nicole tracked you down. She and Sally then set off the alarm as a distraction so I could come get you."

"On your own? That's-."

"She wasn't by herself." A gruff voice cut in and a tense red echidna slowly met her side.

"Long time no see, Knucks." Sonic braved a grin.

"Would've seen you sooner if you hadn't gotten yourself arrested." Knuckles crossed his arms and looked to Amy.

The pink hedgehog hopped to a card reader, dug in her quills and pulled out a card- sliding it down it's thin gap. The cell door swung open and Sonic was flabbergasted when Knuckles pulled him in for a hug.

"Thought you were dead."

"Thought I was for a minute there too." Sonic admitted in a whisper.

"Then stop getting yourself into danger, idiot."

"Where's the fun in that?"

He expectantly got a smack on the head, but was freed. He looked back at the cell and shivered, tightening and almost shrinking from seeing glowing white eyes in the corner. Black mist poured from the imprisonment, yet he seemed to be the only one to see it. The silhouette rose and started to near, but with a blink it was gone.

"What's with the writing on the wall?" Amy asked.

Sonic gripped a bar to stop himself from swaying. "I couldn't really figure it out."

Knuckles eyed him with suspicion. "We should meet with the others before we're caught."

"Right." Amy nodded and took Sonic's hand, letting the guardian lead the way.

"Where are they?" The Blue Blur asked.

"Sally and Nicole should be heading back out. We were given an access card here by a friend. Tails has the Tornado X outside and-."

"Tornado X? Wait, what about the others?"

"They've gone to see Towers. Fight your case and all that." Amy smiled. "Tails named the new plane that. Gosh, Sonic, do we have a lot to tell you."

—————

Bang!

A flash. A cry and a reaching hand.

Red eyes snap open and a gasp slips from dry lips. He moves to stand, but finds himself already on his feet. Arms are tightly folded before him and he instinctively growls when a hand rests on his shoulder. A frowning perplexion meets a grinning face, the latter hidden behind blue glasses and well cared for moustache.

"You seemed distracted. Thought I'd get your attention."

"Remind me with what."

The man scoffs and gestures to the closed doors before them. "What was on your mind?"

Red eyes become downcast, expression twisting into confusion. "I'm...not sure."

"Then forget about it."

"But-."

His shoulder is squeezed tightly. "Forget. About it."

He shrugs the man off him, giving a glare (he receives a nervous chuckle). "Where's the little man?"

"Inside." Promptly, the man taps a button beside the door and watches it smoothly slide open.

Red eyes dance across well-lit surroundings. Glass cylinders line the left side of the room and shelves on the other, filled with tools and random parts. The back wall is replaced by ceiling high windows. Neon red lines guide them up to a short man with a hand neatly tucked behind his back, standing atop a low, circular stage. He steps down to greet them.

"Doctor Robotnik, Sir."

"Pah."

The long-nosed man swallows but watches red eyes suspiciously, almost looking down at them. "Shadow."

"Snively." The hedgehog responds, giving a curt nod.

"Is it ready?" Robotnik interrupts, turning to the pair.

Snively quickly nods. "Yes, Sir."

"Is what ready?" Shadow asks.

"You wondered why we awoke you, yes?"

"There's a lot I'm curious about, Doctor. I'm growing more impatient for some answers."

Robotnik gestures for him to stand at his side, resting a hand on his furthest shoulder when he does. He points towards the low stage.

"All in due time, my friend. But I need you to do me a favour."

"What is it?"

"I have some...annoyances to get rid of. Pesky little rats. I need you to make quick and easy work in finishing them off."

Shadow stiffens. "Why?"

Robotnik leans down to be eye level. "You want your memories back? How you got in that Cryopod? Do this for me, and I'll give you so much more than little memories. Trust me, after what I show you- you'll want far more than simple stories of the past."

Contemplative silence, but with a shoulder squeeze Shadow nods. "Fine. What is it you want me to do?"

Robotnik claps and snatches a small controller out of Snively's hands, smacking the side of his fist against a red button. A gleeful grin stretches on his face as the stage lowers, dust seeping from the hole remaining. Shadow takes a small step back and observes as the circle soon rises up again, but holds a slumped over robot on it's centre. It's large with dangerously sharp claws, vast enough Shadow knew they could easily wrap around his face. It's black, yellow, red, green with final silver touches (a fitting colour scheme). The hedgehog flinches a touch when it's head snaps up, red optics flickering on.

Robotnik pats his shoulder. "Shadow, I'd like you to meet-."

"I am Omega, the ultimate E-series robot!"

"E-series?"

The Doctor strokes his moustache. "Yes. My previous machines proved useless. One tried to leave if you would believe, but I gave them...other uses." He leaned down again with an unnerving smile. "That's the good thing about being home again. I have everything I need at my disposal. Broken robot? I have all the tools to repair it. Badnik tries to flee? I can reach their programming and shut them down with the flick of a switch."

"Really?"

"Well, I'll be given a warning and have to undergo a thorough process but...same thing." Robotnik waves a hand dismissively. "That's beside the point. This here, my strongest, most powerful robot to date- E-123 Omega. Unlike his predecessor's, he won't fail."

"Fail at what?"

"Protecting you on your mission of course." The Doctor goes to stand at Omega's side, the robot somehow looking stiffer than before.

"Protect?" He and Shadow ask, both sounding displeased.

"I can't lose something as special as you, Shadow. You get my very best to guard you."

"I don't need protection."

Robotnik wags a finger. "Don't be arrogant, my friend. Believe me, these little rats are more stubborn than I care to give them credit for." He clenches a fist. "Especially that blasted blue hedgehog."

"Blue hedgehog? I took care of him like you requested."

"No. You slowed him down. Not even a burning, falling building can finish him off."

"So, you want me to...finish the job, so to speak?"

Robotnik's smile fades. "He's mine. Your task, dearest Shadow-." He moves to the hedgehog's side. "Is to burn a pathetically small village called Knothole to the ground. My Badniks and EggFleet will take care of who stands in your way." He throws a fist to the ceiling. "Capturing them to turn into mindless robots once and for all! Ho ho ho! Those pesky Freedom Fighters won't know what's coming!"

He brings his hands together, joyously smiling. "First Knothole! Then the entire world will bow down on a knee as my Empire finally comes to be! Not even Sonic can stop me!"

Shadow frowns. Discomfort. He doesn't know why, but it's hard to shake. "You-?"

"And what about me?" Snively demands, marching over to his uncle.

"What about you?"

"Shadow and Omega- as new as they are- will lead the start of, perhaps, our biggest attack to date? I understand you'll be working from here, but what about me? Why can't I lead the fight against Knothole?"

Robotnik pauses, stroking his moustache. He looks over his nephew before bursting into booming laughter- a tear even forms in the corner of his black and red eye.

"Ho ho ho! That was good, Snively!"

"I'm serious! It's only fair I think that I-!"

A flick of a switch and Robotnik straightens, expression flat. Hands are behind his back and his nephew cowers, regret clutching his heart.

"Need I remind you what happened last time I entrusted you with something like this?"

"I don't-."

The round man steps, slowly, closer. Glasses shimmering and a golden tooth glistening.

"You betrayed me. You spent years in a cell as fair punishment. I graciously released you and kindly allowed you to stand at my side once again." Robotnik swiftly snatches Snively's coat collar to lift the small man up (Shadow steps closer on instinct, but stops from the look the Doctor gives him).

"Your betrayal cost me my victory! I will not have your weak minded, pathetic and stupid head get in the way of that again! Do you understand that?!"

Snively squeezed the hand holding him up with tears resting at the corners of his eyes. "I-!"

"Do you understand?" Robotnik seethes.

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes...Sir."

Shadow flinches when the long-nosed man is thrown to the floor, letting out a pathetic whimper from the impact. The hedgehog scowls at the Doctor, but he's already straightening his glove with a smile.

"Now. You'll be leaving with Omega tomorrow morning. I suggest the two of you get acquainted."

Before he can protest, Robotnik is leaving the room and Snively is getting up to follow. Shadow crouches at the latters side and offers a hand.

"You shouldn't let him push you around."

Snively swats the assistance away, straightening his coat when up. "Don't speak to me like we're on the same level, rodent."

Shadow bites back a growl. "I'm simply saying he overlooks you."

The short man scoffs. "You don't think I know that?"

"Then why stand at his side?"

There's evident fear in blue eyes. "One thing you should learn quickly Shadow, and learn it quick. It's better to stand with him than against him."

"Why?"

Snively gestures for him to follow and the pair approach ceiling high windows. A desk on a low stage looks towards the glass, but beyond is what catches Shadow's attention. A city. Grey and dull and slow. Walls as high as some of the buildings lines the edge of the city with little, bright lights sweeping the muddy ground below. Badniks march across the walls top and more push along wheelbarrows and carry tools within. The Robotnik Empire symbol is plastered practically everywhere and easily overshadows the number of trees, the latter having none for miles around. Large dark shapes of aircraft's above cast shadows on the dire city below. But most captivating, and terrifying, are the occurrences of animal-type robots circulating the same tasks within the city.

"Robians." Snively answers. "That's what he wants to do to not just the Freedom Fighters, but all of Mobius too. The humans will cower in fear and the mobians? Well, there won't be any left."

Shadow swallows. "And...he wants my help?"

"Not just yours." The pair look to Omega.

"Is this your first mission?"

"It shouldn't be." The robot strops. "I have been kept in waiting despite my power and strength. No more."

"I know that feeling." Snively hums.

Shadow double takes between the pair before watching over countless of mindless Robians. "Why would I want to help with this?"

"Because you'll become one of them otherwise."

"He would fail tremendously."

"He hasn't before."

Shadow watches Snively sit at the desk. "He hasn't captured the Freedom Fighters."

The long-nosed man stiffens. "Not a failure. Just...a long-term goal."

"Nor has he...removed Sonic from the equation."

"Sonic's a lot weaker on his own. That's where you come in."

"I still don't-."

There's an unsettling grin on Snvely's face. "My uncle refuses to tell you pretty much anything before you help him, but I think you need a push in the right direction." He stands and pulls Shadow to sit on the desks chair.

"Not everyone deserves limitless freedom and choice. They will take and destroy and kill because people, animal or not, are inherently selfish. At the end of it all, we are all just out for ourselves. We want money. Control. Power. Disguise it how you want, but when you really simplify it everyone wants the same thing. Princess Sally wants to protect her people? She wants stability and control. Sonic wants freedom for all? Chaos and the thrill of adventure. G.U.N wants to tear Robotnik down once and for all? Power and control. All of them will take and destroy and kill if they must because no matter how you look at it, we are all selfish."

Shadow fidgets. "Why tell me this?"

"Because G.U.N took something from you. They destroyed and killed something of yours. That necklace of yours? It's a locket. Open it."

Suspiciously, he removes it from around his neck and does as instructed. A click and a black and white photo of a pretty, pure young girl smiles back at him. She's incredibly familiar.

"My uncle woke you because his grandfather, your creator, left a diary behind instructing as such. You're destined to help my uncle in anyway he needs." Snively's voice softens. "You, The Ultimate Lifeform, have a power like no other. Use it to avenge her. Give her and your creator, Gerald Robotnik, peace." He arches his head to try and capture Shadow's expression, but the hedgehogs face lowers further.

"What was her name?"

"She was my uncle's cousin. Gerald's granddaughter and your closest friend. Her name was Maria Robotnik."