Sonic the Hedgehog

Assistance

This is it.

Those words echo off the walls of Shadow the Hedgehog's mind as he, an equally alert Rouge, and E-123 Omega make their way through the silver corridor they've walked through time and time again. The one that leads them to the Control Room.

This time, however, will be their last. At least if this plan of theirs is going to work that is. The ebony hedgehog's exhausted body has had just barely an hour and a half to recuperate what little energy it can gain.

He seems to be walking fine, Rouge notices, occasionally eyeing her fellow mutineer. But I doubt he could manage many chaos attacks, if at all. He's right. A fight against the Doctor is something best to be avoided.

Sensing the approaching team of rebellious misfits, the circular door ahead slides open.

Noon sunlight shines through the rectangular windows, sparkling across the velvet floor and brightening up the room's contents.

At first, Rouge balls her fists, under the impression their plan to take the emerald for themselves has somehow been busted. That would certainly explain the row of posted SWATBots wrapped around the walls of the large room, kneeling before their leader who stands poised in the center of it, eyeing the three with a devilish grin.

It's a battle she and her comrades would certainly lose, but going down without a fight is just not her style. Though, to her slight surprise, no order of attack comes from Eggman's mouth. Instead, he opens his arms welcomely.

"My dear allies, our time has come at last," he says, arms still wide. "We have reached our final destination. My brilliant Egg Carrier can remain undetectable- even by GUN's sensors."

Shadow goes wide-eyed.

"Just one more emerald and those of you who wish to stick with me will be granted an acclaimed position in the Eggman Empire. An honor that isn't given to many."

"Did you say GUN?" Shadow inquires.

Eggman's arms droop to his sides, his face visibly agitated at the lack of gratitude for his offer.

"You heard right, Shadow. All of us are hovering right over Prison Island."

Rouge frowns.

What is a chaos emerald doing here? She ponders, lost as to how GUN hasn't detected it yet. Unless...

"I was surprised too, Rouge," Eggman says, picking up on her and Shadow's confusion. "I thought I was mistaken, but no, this is where the seventh emerald awaits. It turns out I'm not the only one aware of these ancient gemstones. I'm not the only one who seeks their power..."

"I believe it," Shadow finds himself mumbling on instinct.

Before all of this, raiding a GUN facility and tearing through its staff would sound like an act justified by unbiased karma. Something the ultimate lifeform would most definitely enjoy.

If only it gave him the same joy as it did. But it doesn't. And it might not ever again. Eyeing Rouge reminds him of a pivotal fact.

This isn't about me.

"What's with the toys, doc?" Rouge asks, looking around at the crazed amount of soldiers.

"Why such obvious questions?" Eggman smiles. "Why, they will be assisting us of course."

"Us?" Shadow echoes.

"Did I stutter, hedgehog? For once, I will be joining you all on the field. Helping will be my oh-so-ever obedient machines. Together, we'll teach GUN a lesson and take what's ours as Team Eggman!"

A worrisome glance is exchanged between Shadow and Rouge. Underneath his metallic exterior, both of them are sure E-123 Omega has detected the same complication. Stealing the last gem and defecting under Eggman's nose will prove more difficult with his company.

Another plan is needed. One neither of the members of Team Dark has time to plan amongst themselves. It becomes regrettably clear that a large part of this plan will be left to chance.

He isn't messing around. Rouge observes. He doesn't even trust us to see this through. I mean, I guess he's actually right to think so. Still, this is bad.

"What are we waiting for?" Eggman points a finger upward. "Let's get to the cargo bay and-"

Everyone's hands hit the floor, save for E-123 Omega and the nearby SWATBots with too sturdy of a balance to lose. The walls of the aircraft rattle long after the initial rumbling that sent everyone to the floor. A repeated flashing of red casts the room in darker lighting, accompanied by a loud siren.

Shadow drops to his knees, at a loss of breath. His lungs reject the air it's given. His pounding heart attempts to escape his chest. All around, he can hear the clamping footsteps of panicked GUN troops. A not-so-distant wall is eviscerated by an explosive, rendering it nothing but dust.

Shadow...

The voice makes the hyperventilating hedgehog feel as though he's about to die. The voice of Maria Ange-

"Shadow!"

Everything disappears except for the red light and blaring siren. Shadow looks around, reminded he's still in the control room. Next to him is Rouge, kneeling next to her friend.

"OMEGA, STATUS REPORT!" Eggman barks quickly, weary of another rumble.

"IT APPEARS WE WERE HIT BY A ACTIVE RADAR HOMING MISSILE," E-123 Omega relays.

"Impossible! Our radiation-absorbent walls should render us completely undetectable!"

"PERHAPS THEIR TECHNOLOGY HAS SURPASSED YOURS, DOCTOR."

Eggman snaps in the bulky robot's direction, a nasty grimace on his face. If it weren't for the emergency circumstances, he'd likely dismantle Omega on the spot for such an unacceptable claim. Shadow and Rouge share a different frustration.

Come on, machine, don't give away our intent just yet. Shadow thinks, gritting his teeth.

Another violent shaking interrupts Eggman's contemplative stare and nearly causes everyone to meet the floor once more.

"Come on, to the hangar bay!" Eggman yells, pointing to the circular entrance behind Team Dark. "We'll land off to the shore. If GUN wants a fight, LET'S GIVE THEM A FIGHT THEY WILL NEVER FORGET!"

On command, the surrounding SWATBots rise from their kneeled positions and swiftly follow their master as he sprints past his team of emerald finders and to the exit. Each of the machines breeze past the stationary Team Dark. Before they join the rushing metallic troops, Shadow looks to Rouge, grinning.

"What are we waiting for? Let's save the world."

...