Running with the Rebels

Contempt and Contemplations

   A/N: As you probably guessed from the tags, we finally get to meet our mysterious new enemy. Thank you all so much for your patience. I was reading the comments on Bound by Music and realized how much I enjoyed writing this story.

Let's get into it!
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Eggman leaned back in his hover chair, stroking his mustache with a deep sigh. The look on that blue rat's face had definitely been worth the grand entrance.

Seeing how many heroes he'd brought with him on the other hand...well, that wouldn't do at all.

"Why didn't Sonic attack like he normally does?" Cubot asked.

"Because he's a hero, you bucket of bolts," the doctor snapped, "He can't save his people if he hurts them in the crossfire, especially since I've made certain they wouldn't be able to rebuild."

For unlike Station Square, Central City, and the other zones, Eggman had a firm grip on Robotropolis, making it impossible for his groveling subjects to escape their physical surroundings or their economic status. A battle would do more harm than good.

Eggman's gloved fingers brushed across his keypad and the image of the three—no four most troublesome hedgehogs he'd ever encountered filled the screen. He zoomed in on Shadow, eyes narrowing behind his goggles, and ...there!

A crystal medallion in the shape of a microphone.

"So it is true," he whispered, "How could I have forgotten that the Queen had four children?"

  "In the end, it is of no consequence," a different voice echoed, "By the time we are through, she will have no children at all, starting with the eldest."

    "I must ask, what is your vendetta against Shadow?"

    Golden eyes against black sclera hardened. And for the first time, Eggman's shadow-shrouded companion stepped out of the dark corner he'd claimed, revealing a mobian-shaped creature he didn't recognize. A ghostly white muzzle with viciously sharp teeth. Gray, hardened skin reminiscent of scales. Splashes of red around his eyes, wrists, ankles, as well as running up in two stripes from the eye ridge to the top of his head and tipping his narrow tail and each of what the doctor assumed to be a quill-shaped crest.

   "What are you?"

   "I am Eclipse the Darkling, last of the Black Arms, and I have come to seek an alliance. I want Shadow dead, and you wish to expand your empire unimpeded by the blue hedgehog. I can see to it that both of our problems disappear."

   A Black Arm?! I thought Shadow finished that pesky race off years ago. All the more reason to keep this one close, just in case.

   Eggman steepled his fingers. "And what you hope to gain in return?"

    "Sanctuary until my task is complete and to remain off the GUN's radar," he grumbled the last part in distaste, "Their weapons are pathetic, but they are a persistent bunch that I no longer enjoy playing with."

    "You've remained undiscovered so far," the doctor pointed out, "Why come to me now?"

    Eclipse smirked. "Recent revelations have shown that Shadow has a new family, one that you would also like to see gone. You humans have a saying: 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.' I believe we can be mutually beneficial to each other." 

    "I'm assuming you have a plan of some kind. If not, then you can move on. I have enough lackeys as it is."

    Eclipse's smirk sharpened into something dangerous. "Of course, doctor. As you know, all beings on this planet have some kind of connection to chaos energy, either a weak connection like a plant's or a strong connection like Shadow or Sonic's. But all energy has its limits. So tell me, do you know anything about the Chaos Drain?"

    "I'm listening."

    Eggman cackled as the alien presented his plan. How fortunate! The key to the Hedgehog dynasty's downfall lay right beneath their feet!

    A half-forgotten prophecy drifted into the human's mind about his downfall once the Council of Four arose, but he dismissed it. By the time he was through, there would be no council. Only the Robotnik Empire would remain.

    Eclipse hid his glee behind a smug mask. Once upon a time he would have sought to bring Shadow back into the fold and return him to his rightful family among the Black Arms. But now, he knew why Shadow never would turn. He had a family before Black Doom intervened and adopted him into the hive. And now his almost-brother had found his first family.

    Shadow was loyal to a fault, and just one look at human's screen told Eclipse that that loyalty had been extended to colorful triplets standing next to the ebony hedgehog. But in the end, it didn't matter.

   Any hope of reconciliation died on the second Black Comet when Shadow and his team destroyed his home and took the lives of Eclipse's family. He barely escaped with the remnants of his Dark Arms—Wisp, Black Arm hybrids. There would be no second chances.

   Eclipse's smirk twisted into a snarl. He would return the favor. He would take Shadow's family. Then he would deal the finishing blow, and finally rid himself of this interloper to the Black Arms race.

   Vengeance had finally come.
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A/N: I know. It's a bit of a shorter chapter, but I wanted to prove that I'm not dead!

It's been a while since I've written for the Sonic fandom, so please let me know if you spot anything that seems OOC. I do take constructive criticism.

Also, in case you didn't catch the lore. Eclipse is from the Archie comics saga "Shadow Fall," one of my favorite arcs.

  And lastly, Chaos Drain is my own idea, as you will see in later chapters. If someone else has used this name for something else, I promise that this was not intentional. Again, you'll see why I call it Chaos Drain later on, but just to cover all my bases.

Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know what you think!