Bound by Music

The Fourth Voice

Space Colony Ark

Shadow grunted as he sat up and rubbed his head. He couldn't even remember falling asleep, which surprised him because he didn't normally need sleep anyways. Something tapped against his chest with the movement, and he looked down at the strange medallion he had found. Seeing it brought a rush of memories from last night, and he rubbed a hand over his face. Everything he had ever been told concerning his real heritage had been a lie, and that only brought up more pressing questions.

"No! I've put my past behind me. Bringing it back up will only bring more trouble," he told himself, as he left Pro. Gerald's private study with the journal in hand. He looked down at the cover and revealed a miniscule smile.

"Don't worry, professor, you will always have my forgiveness," he whispered. The man had been his only parental figure for most of his awakened life. It would be impossible to resent him. His communicator buzzed on his wrist, and he quickly took off the microphone-shaped amulet and hid it in his quills. He pressed a button, and Rouge's face appeared.

"Where are you? I've been trying to get up with you," she stated, and he rose an eyebrow.

"Why? What's the issue?"

"Well, as it turns out, Tails said that Blue had something he wanted to share with all of us."

"This couldn't wait until a more decent hour?" he asked he stifled a yawn.

She laughed, "And I thought I slept in late. It's already half past 11."

"What!? How?" he exclaimed as he checked the time.

"Let me guess. You're on the Ark, aren't you?"

"Yeah. I didn't even mean to fall asleep. Where do you need me to meet you?"

"Sonic's house in about thirty minutes. Are you okay?" she questioned. It wasn't like Shadow to simply fall asleep. He normally had to apply a little effort and make his body rest. He nodded, although he was sure she couldn't tell from the video-cam.

'I'm fine. I'll meet you there. Shadow out," he signed off and ended the link before she could finish. He had what he needed to know, and he didn't want to hear Rouge's constant worry. As he walked back through the halls, he paused and facepalmed.

"My bike! I left it at Vanilla's!"

He swiftly pulled out his green chaos emerald and teleported back to Earth's surface.

Meanwhile, in Eggman's Lair...

"Curse that stupid hedgehog! Another one of my brilliant plans scrapped because of him and his 'team'," Eggman spat as made air quotes around the word "team." He stared at his computer screen in deep thought while he ran a finger through his mustache, "But of course he wasn't always such a team player. Why couldn't he be a stubborn loner again? That would have made things so much simpler."

Orbot and Cubot looked at each other in confusion, and Cubot decided to ask, "What do ya mean? Sonic's always been a good sport."

The mad doctor laughed at this, "Oh ho ho ho! No, he wasn't always the nice little pest he is today. He used to be quite the self-reliant pain. Back when he was part of that annoying resistance back in...say," he sneered as an idea began to form, "It has been a while. Perhaps I should call in and see how things are running."

"What do you mean?" Orbot asked. Eggman only chuckled in response as he typed in a series of numbers. The screen went static for a few seconds then cleared. A gray wolf and orange dingo appeared on the screen, and both of looked surprised.