Shadow: Forces

Chapter 11: Rescue (A)

A/N: the A thing in the chapter title is because there's two versions of this chapter, being from rather Team Dark's POV or War wolf's. I'll be writing Warwolf's first since I got like no work done on the Team Dark version. Also Warwolf is going to become a proper three person "team" later. Although technically not in this chapter since something happens that I won't spoil. Gadget, Fuchsia and Lot are still part of the squad, but are their own "team". Also this chapter gets a bit more on the darker side later. Just you know, fair warning. Anyways let's do this!

The next day, and Shadow was ready for the rescue mission. The Scinfaxi and her sister ship were ready. "Alright Amy, we'll be back. Take care while we're gone." he said to Amy as he left HQ. Amy nodded as she typed on a computer. He got to his ship and the two lifted off. "Alright, here's the plan we've got. Warwolf, you'll go through one of the hangars and try and do as much damage as you can! We will find Sonic, and bring him home. Everyone got it? Good!" there was a small escort fleet outside the death egg. The Scinfaxi readied it's guns and fired, the escort fleet lighting up in flames as the Hrimfaxi flew by them. They quickly got into a hangar before the doors cousl shut and they got out. Warwolf split from the other three and made their way to a storage room. It was large, about the size of a large hangar. They looked around before seeing a charging station and a robot. It looked almost like Metal Sonic, except it had less curves and more rigid, straight lines. It's head also curiously resembled a wolf. It was incredibly tall too, being taller than Omega. Arnec smirked
"Uh... Nicole? Got any Intel on this thing?"
"It's name is apparently W0lff-3. I can override it and... Well..." Nicole said. The lifeless shut off eyes of W0lff-3 then switched on. UnlIke most of Eggman's machines, the eyes were a dark green. Two large pieces of metal folded out of his back, resembling wings that were flat at first before shooting upwards. "Yeah, I'mma just call him Wolffe." Arnec said as he looked around. Suddenly they heard footsteps and looked behind them. There was Infinite, staring. Arnec growled "There you stand..."
"Indeed... I do stand here. And I just watched as you stole from Eggman."
"Yeah? So what? I'll take you down!"
Infinite stayed quiet for a moment before chuckling "Well, if you think you can take me... Come at me!" Infinite yelled before drawing his sword. The battle began
(Vergil's combat - DMC HR/HM arrange)

Arnec growled before charging in and slashing, Infinite parrying flawlessly with one hand. Arnec slid across the ground, his boots gripping onto the metal floor. He looked at Dare and Wolffe "Go! I'll cover your escape!" he yelled as he deflected a blow from Infinite's sword. Dare scooted back, Wolffe going with her. The door shut and they looked at each other before running. Meanwhile, Arnec and Infinite continued their duel. Infinite went for an overhead slash and was countered when Arnec spun, his blade on his back. With his position he was able to kick Infinite's legs out from under him. Infinite had made a copy however that tried to take Arnec from behind. He swapped to Lucifer and blocked the sword before twirling, red ribbons of light surrounding him like a whirlwind. He pulled his sword back out and the two charged at each other before locking their blades, sparks flying. They twirled back and stepped slowly in a circle, like a deadly dance. They both growled before charging at each other. Their blades collided time and time again, sparks flying and fizziling out as they hit the metal floor. Arnec swung his sword back and held it backwards before slinging it forward, bright cyan energy waves shooting out of it. Infinite quickly teleported to his left, dodging the energy. Arnec growled as he jumped up and slashed, Getting deflected. He fell to the ground and slid, regaining his footing. He saw Infinite and quickly stabbed him. Infinite had no reaction and looked like he was glitching... Arnec then realized the mistake he had made. It was too late though as he felt two arms around his neck. Arnec growled before raising his sword and jamming it through his stomach, it piercing through him and Infinite. Both fell onto the ground... Dare and Wolffe meanwhile were attempting to make it out of the Death Egg, the rest of their squad joining them.
"Shadow, we're en route to the hangar... Did you find Sonic?"
"No... It was a trap..." Wolffe stayed silent as he ran with her, small rocket boosters on his back helping him keep up with the Hedgehog as he ran on all fours. They went through a few winding hallways before they saw a door. Before they could go through though, a legion of bots flooded in. Dare quickly shut the door. "There's too many for us!" Dare yelled before punching the wall in frustration. Wolffe looked at the door before punching a hole through the center and violently ripping it open. Several bots stood and fired, their lasers deflecting off of Wolffe's heavy armor plating. Suddenly two blades shot out of his forearm plating. The blades were long, going down to his feet as they grinded against the hard floor and shooting streams of sparks. The first bot took a step forward. A foolish step, as wolffe jabbed one blade into the bot's stomach before lifting it up and grabbing it's leg with his other hand, ripping the bot in two. He slung the top half at another bot, destroying it. By that time Dare pulled out her pistol and was getting a few hits in. Wolffe slashed bots left and right down, his blades going through them like a hot knife through butter. The other bots left tried fleeing, Wolffe still staying silent. Dare heard machinery and noticed two rocket launchers on Wolffe's shoulders. Several tiny missiles flew out and seeked their targets, obliterating the smaller bots. A few more hallways and they reached the hangar. The quickly found a dropship and got in. Dare sat down in the pilot's seat. They started the engines and quickly got out of there. They saw the Scinfaxi fly into the hangar, to presumably pick up Shadow and the rest of Team Dark
"Nicole pick us up."
"How's Warwolf 1?"
"Arnec's... I don't know...."
"Copy. We're on approach now."
Dare looked out the canopy and could barely see the dark red trim of the Hrimfaxi as it's black paint blended perfectly with the dark space. It swung in front of them and opened the cargo bay doors, the dropship docking as the doors closed and the area was sealed and filled with oxygen. Dare and Wolffe stayed silent as they walked through the ship, Wolffe barely able to walk through the doorways due to his height. Whiplash groaned "So we got an A.I. trying to steal my job, a missing leader, and now a tin man... And you people think I'm the crazy one!?"
Nicole only chuckled, which must've done something to Whiplash as he started twitching again. "According to his records, he was meant to be a one man army. Supposed to fight alone, he was based on Metal Sonic. However he's very different... I'm intrigued to say the least. And I'm almost certain that it's not Eggman's own design, but rather Infinite's. I can draw many cues from Infinite. Those being the sharp angles on the armor and the whole “One man army” thing. Although the green eyes still throw me off."
"So...?" Whiplash asked. Nicole sighed
"He'll be a good ally. He'll be taking your place as Warwolf 3 once Arnec's back."
Whiplash groaned loudly "Whyy!?"
"You're only the pilot."
"Do you know how important my job is you glorified text to speech program!?"
"Was that supposed to be an insult? You fly about as good as a penguin!"
"You take that back this instant!"
"Hmm... I don't really feel like it. After all, I'm only a text to speech program, which cannot change it's own programming!"
Whiplash then banged his head against the console, screeching as his feathers puffed up. Dare walked into her room and sat down on the bed, her eyes watering. She sniffled before looking over and seeing Arnec's amulet. She picked it up and suddenly, it glowed... "What the...!?"
Suddenly her comms went off
"Commander, we need you on the bridge."
She heard Nicole tell her. She got up and wiped her face with her sleeve before heading to the bridge. "What is it?" she asked weakly. "Turns out that Infinite and Eggman forgot to encrypt their comms. And... You need to hear this."
Nicole then played a recording. They heard Eggman's voice
"Is that wolf dead Infinite?"
"No. But he did manage to jab me. Nothing serious, but he's incapacitated."
"Good. He'll be good use to us."
"There is one thing... His sword, it's gone."
"Wait, what!?"
"It disappeared when he was knocked out. I could have swore he was wearing an amulet and had some other weapon too. I'm bringing him to the lab."
"Hurry it up, they'll be back for him!"
Then the recording ended. Dare's heart ached even more, and she tried not to just break down in there. She simply nodded before heading back to her room and laying down on the bed. It took a few minutes and position changes, but she eventually fell asleep. That night, she had nightmares, imagining what had happened to Arnec. Thankfully the nightmares eventually ended... But the thoughts still lingered in her mind... While Shadow considered the mission a victory, Dare considered it a failure of the worst kind...