Chapter Text
Shadow had never held mastery over feelings.
Not by a long shot.
They eluded him as shadows elude any real physical grasp—pun partially intended. Yet he always worked to take them by the hand anyway. Take them right at the throat and drive them snivelling into the dirt, where he could remain victorious and on top. Perhaps that was why the feelings all ended up pooling into a cool pit of anger, sizzling deep in his gut. Always simmering, the softest ember enough to set it off into a flame.
Though, to most, that anger wasn't nearly as frequently seen. His reputation preceded him, as did his anger, but there was truly not much that would genuinely set him off. If anything, he lived life more irate than angry.
His ever more frequent calls to aid with Sonic and his crowd of friends, for example, was a particularly instance of his irritation.
"I truly can't understand your objection to this, agent,"
Shadow's ear flickered backwards as he tuned back into the mundane office surrounding him, Tower's monotone inflection catching his attention. It held there, hovering in the air at the point between being back in the room, and at the forefront of the hedgehog's mind. Shadow simply glowered out the window, arms folded across his chest as a forefinger tapped a meandering rhythm.
"Shadow,"
He waited a beat, and only after a moment slowly turned his head to meet Tower's gaze with his fiery glare. The signature simmering flame buried deep within him, showing the slight flicker. Shadow's superior sighed, turning to his laptop to type away at something likely unrelated to their current discussion.
"Why you decide to now throw a fuss, I would implore to know,"
Another click between their gazes, which ignited a sizzling and ice cold flame in the air of the dingy office. Shadow internally weighed his options as his finger tapping stopped, a chill stealing his chest at the reminder.
"I simply find it a waste of resources in aiding a perfectly capable team," Shadow replied, carefully choosing his words that punched out like a hammer through metal.
"As fitting of an explanation as that may be in a vacuum," Tower emphasised, fully turning his body back to Shadow to lean elbows against the top of his table. "I fail to take it as face value considering that was all you have been doing for months on end,"
Shadow stared, feeling the ember rise and wane with the irritating truth of the statement. The hedgehog pried his eyes away from Tower, leg raising to hook onto his opposing knee, the limb bouncing once.
"He was alone, and required back up," was all the agent offered Tower, drawing a frustrated note from the Commander.
"Do you take me a fool? Even with his backup, you continued to attend those missions. Need I remind you," at this Tower's eyes narrowed, his hands raising up to clasp in beneath his chin as he pinned Shadow with an intensity only known by an employer at their wits end, "that you were the one to request such missions,"
Shadow's jaw clenched, the briefest hint of emotion flicking past his eyes as he held Tower's gaze.
"What is required,"
If Tower was relieved by the agent's compliance, he didn't show it, instead turning back to his laptop to start pulling up the mission information. Shadow kept his arms firmly gripped around himself, his leg bouncing once more as he watched. This was the last task he wished to be completing at the moment, yet even he was reasonable enough to see his own hypocrisy.
Though it wasn't the sole reason for him letting go and complying; for as Tower kept tapping away, finally starting to give the necessary information, that sour taste started creeping into Shadow's mouth. A bitter feeling rising like bile, knotting a deep rut in his chest.
"Surveillance on the new possible weapon has shown a greater likelihood that Robotnik wishes to carry something out on the 17th," Tower explained, oblivious to Shadow's internal riot.
"Sonic and the fox are already aware of the possibility," the Commander said, fixing Shadow with a challenging gaze at the other hedgehog's name. Shadow gave nothing aware, levelling his gaze to hold with an air of indifference.
"I expect you to aid and report back on this weapon. Normally we would leave it be, complete clean up and analysis after which," Tower turned back to his laptop, clicking open a file with the flick of his mouse before a projector begun whirring. A hologram fizzled up between the two of them, a meticulously labelled digital map taking up the majority of the projection. Shadow's eyes widened a margin, his grip on his arms tightening as Tower pointed out a specific area highlighted by an indigo dot.
"However, this one leads us to be far more concerned. It does not appear to be like any other robot,"
The point Tower was gesturing to was housed in a mountain range just a week's journey from central city; far away enough to not be overly conspicuous, close enough for a quick attack via robot. A sickening familiarity circled Shadow like a thick cloud, his apprehension blooming into something far worse than before. One of Eggman's many bases, this particularly fort had not been in use for nearly over a year. Something must be up for him to be returning to it.
The doctor must be feeling confident.
"We have been picking up an energy signature, not unlike yours," Shadow tuned back in, this last statement a chilling breeze. The hedgehog locked eyes with Tower through the hologram.
"How so," Shadow prompted, eyes flicking back to analyse the blueprint of the fort that G.U.N had constructed.
"It isn't as it is with yours, in the case that it doesn't harbour a biological component to the signal," Tower explained, face grim with the seriousness of the matter, "Yet it does show very similar anomalies as we see whenever you warp reality for your own teleportation,"
Shadow hummed, brow furrowing as he looked at the space the supposed device was being hidden.
"We fear he is attempting to mould reality, or warp something in relation to his weapons. Enhance their intensity, or unlock his own ability for transportation," Tower said, swiping a hand to dissolve the map between them, replacing it with several graphs—the largest of which showing an oscillatory pattern that swerved in uneven intervals. A chaos signature.
"If he were to be able to travel at his own leisure, wherever he so desired, then G.U.N is at a significant risk and compromise," Tower ended, allowing Shadow to take in the statistics of the signature they had discovered.
The brooding hedgehog didn't bother stating that the doctor would rarely have an actual interest in G.U.N, mainly due to his own ego and constant denial that anyone could supersede his intelligence.
He kept his mouth shut, scanning the data at the graphs side which highlighted the trends and maximum spikes. The power behind the bursts certainly mirrored his own when he called Chaos control, showing a staggering strength that explained G.U.N's concern. Still, Shadow felt the pull to back out, call the entire mission as he knew the company he would be keeping.
Yet if G.U.N was correct in fearing the strength of this new weapon, the risk would be great. Could he leave it be?
"The 17th is a Wednesday, is it not," Shadow asked, though his question lacked the typical lilt many had when asking. It carried the note of a demand, the embodiment of his practicality and serious nature.
"It is. We would normally send back up, however given your capabilities, not to mention Omega and Rouge being occupied with disassembling the other main bases," Tower said, earning a stiff nod of acknowledgement from the hedgehog.
"They will try convene, however are still in the process of identifying the specific co-ordinates of,"
"Yes, noted. I need no back up for this," Shadow cut in, waving off the excessive explanation. Tower gave him a tired look, waiting what was clearly pushing at the hedgehog, fighting to be said.
"Must I involve others in this case," he growled out, finally setting his bouncing leg back down to the floor, leaning forward to rest his elbows at his knees with his arms hanging limp between them.
"Sonic has—in a rare instance of compliance—agreed to take on an agent for us to keep track of the matter," Tower's reply was clipped, growing rigid in order to shut down Shadow's budding irritation, "Evidently, it will be easier to cooperate with the vigilantes, than be impeded by them. Especially in a matter this significant,"
And the likelihood he's expecting any other agent is also significant, the thought pinged in Shadow's mind before being swallowed up by that bitter feeling, pulled into its murky depths to bleed and grow the emotions.
"Sure," Shadow replied, tone measured as best he could; though it failed as his voice was dripping with the displeasure. Tower nodded, clearly over this discussion as much as the hedgehog before him.
"I expect a clean extraction, no unnecessary risks or… events," the Commander chose the last word with the care of a pre-school teacher speaking to their students, and the inflection caused Shadow to bristle. He wasn't a child to be mindful of; he was a goddamn adult and fledged G.U.N agent, not to mention the Ultimate Lifeform.
"If there isn't anything else, you are dismissed," Tower brushed off, one button press dissipating the hologram that was still flickering in and out.
Shadow's nose crinkled as he stood, turning without a word to pad out of the stifling office and into G.U.N's building. It was teeming with agents and staff alike, and despite the large number of people around, the hedgehog felt himself yearning for the company of his closest coworkers.
Yet as he passed their shared office, Shadow knew it would be a while before he would see them. With Robotnik's growing plans, the pair had been sent out to the major lair hotspots to disarm and protect neighbouring villages. Evidently, the doctor was vying to take attention off of the mountain range hideout and redirect as much attention on places halfway across the world. Despite the obvious mask, G.U.N wouldn't risk being double-thrown, on the off-chance the attacks yonder were a part of the plan in the long-run.
Shadow couldn't be sure, though he also couldn't be pulled to give it much extra thought. His upcoming mission in three days was at the forefront of his mind, pressing itself right in the driver's seat as he started down the stairs to the reception area of G.U.N's main building.
"Have a good one Shadow!"
The hedgehog offered their receptionist a half-hearted raise of his hand that masqueraded as a wave. To her credit, Maeve simply smiled, returning to the endless paperwork and organising she did daily.
Shadow left the building, blinking at the sheer onslaught from the sun as he walked down the sidewalk into the busy street.
He would need to prep for the mission coming up. It took a few resources, and whilst Shadow didn't eat or rest nearly as much as the average mortal, planning was always necessary. Ensuring his plants were stocked with some self-watering ceramics, packing suitable rations in the off-chance he was delayed, a proper medical kit in case there was a casualty or things got out of hand.
The last item painted a shiver down his spine, spearing right between the quills at his back. Shadow huffed, shaking the feeling and memory that teetered on the edge of falling into his conscious.
Not now.
A quick mission he would make it. Uneventful, straight forward. See if he could swipe this new weapon right from under Eggman if possible. The other hedgehog and his crowd would be nothing but white noise in the background.
This is what he told himself as the days droned on. Shadow got busy preparing himself, stocking the necessary items and leaving the small flat prepared for a few days of absence.
Shadow couldn't be sure if Rouge would be back before or after he. Best leave their shared space prepped in case things went south, as unlikely as it was. Yet the hedgehog couldn't shake the feeling of unease crawling through him. It had been set deep within him soon as he had laid eyes on the map of the base he was set to raid, and had clung as stubbornly as a bur to his hide.
That feeling sat beside him as the days finally passed, each one as slow with dragging its feet as the last, and the 17th was finally upon him.
For such a short amount of time, Shadow felt as if he had aged a lifetime. None of it showed, however, as when he opened his eyes to the soft crawl of light through the gaps in his window, it felt like any other day.
The light glow brushed against his eyelids, causing them to snap open.
Shadow sat upright, reaching over to turn off his awaiting alarm before it even beeped. The hedgehog dove into his morning routine, the early rays of the sun not even getting a chance to yawn fully over the horizon before Shadow had made a fitting yet light breakfast. He buttered a toast, indulging in something nice before the inevitable journey.
Typically, Shadow would have set out far earlier, however this time he had clearance to take his Chaos emerald in order for a speedy journey over. G.U.N had deemed it unlikely the doctor wished to take the precious gem considering his latest weapon seemed to host power far greater and seemingly self-powered.
Not to mention he much preferred the ability to leave as quick as he arrived, without needing to tag along with the others.
They were likely already there, Shadow couldn't help but think. He felt a string of betrayal tug through him as he couldn't help but feel a dimly lit curiosity push him to consider the band of heroes. Instead of dwelling on it, he hastily pushed the thought away, finishing off his cooled down eggs and haloumi with a hastened bite.
Shadow changed course, planning the measures he would take to avoid putting the Chaos emerald in jeopardy. Specifically keeping it hidden, using Chaos control sparingly and focusing on gathering intel before recklessly diving in.
Of course, only once he was entirely sure of the situation and a clear escape would Shadow extract the item and then himself.
Cleaning up his dish, Shadow went down the list of items he needed with him to tuck away. He had some food provisions, his small medical kit, and most importantly, his Chaos emerald. Shadow tucked away his plate as he cleaned off the last utensils, leaving the kitchen gleaming and just as he had found it. Taking a breath, the G.U.N agent readied himself, casting his eyes over his home briefly taking in the opening to the living room space, just south of his bedroom door and the hallway that lead to their spare.
Missions could go from the better part of one day to several, so as a creature of habit Shadow was always sure to mentally prepare himself for the change of pace. One last look at his closed bedroom, and the hedgehog was reaching within his quills.
Procuring the Chaos emerald, Shadow muttered the phrase quick under his breath, eyes closing in concentration as he pictured that map from the hologram.
"Chaos control,"
His familiar surroundings dwindled into forest and sweeping mountains, the couches replaced by dense shrubs and trunks thick as a car. Shadow blinked, a ray of light piercing the canopy blinding him in one eye. Placing the Chaos emerald back into the safety of his quills, the obsidian hedgehog started taking in the woodland scene, immediately activating his air shoes to rocket forward once he had gathered his bearings.
Nice and quick was a mantra ticking within him as he skated, a steady rhythm as he approached the meeting point Tower had designated the team.
Shadow steeled himself, vowing that this would be a cordial at best—apathetic at worst—meeting with the heroes of Earth. He wouldn't lose himself, refused to give an inch of emotion that could be misconstrued into another emotion. A rock. Solid and unyielding. That was what he would be.
The distance fell away, as were the trees as they begun opening up, opening to show the dipping height of the mountain Shadow was climbing. The valley yawned out, mimicking a fluffy green rug as the trees below seemed impossibly small.
His gaze tore away, pushing himself until he started turning up the rough mountain path. Upon the turn, Shadow found himself slowly, air shoes whirring down as his apprehension begun eating up his resolve.
Gaia not again, Shadow moaned internally, shaking his head as he came to a stop.
A low growl reverberated deep within his chest, its crescendo growing with his frustration. Shadow the Hedgehog did not keel over to needless emotion. He didn't bow to his own whims; he was stronger than that, stronger than his aversions. If he were to give in now, he would be forfeiting the commitment and resilience he had forged throughout his years.
What was one more instance of pain?
Gathering himself in the blink of an eye, Shadow pressed forward, albeit slower in movement than his previous speed.
Trekking the last distance, voices started threading through the shrubs and distant bird song flitting in and out. Shadow squared his shoulders, adjusting the communicator at plastered to his wrist. It hummed, a brief reminder of his mission buzzing before he silenced it with a click.
Shadow exited the safety of the trees, emerging into a small clearing with a lookout viewing the sweeping valley below them.
He immediately caught sight of the others. First Amy, leaning against the handle of her hammer as she chatted. Shadow blinked, taking in her new outfit that was reminiscent of her old dress with its puffy pink skirt. That was where the similarity ended, as she now donned a new crop jacket that was a soothing red. Matching her shoes that were the same red, yet now sporting more of a heel fit for hiking boots.
Knuckles chuckled at something she said, and Shadow's gaze slipped to him. The echidna warrior was very much the same, save for the piercing he had gotten a few months back. His quills were also clipped with gold jewellery that glinted in the sunlight, winking out at Shadow as if they knew his secrets.
Shadow's eyes skimmed, subconsciously searching. Before his mind caught up with him, a brush of orange grabbed his attention.
Tails stood just a way off, chatting with someone.
Shadow elected to ignore that someone, instead taking in Tails' outfit. It hadn't changed much since when he had last seen him, though the hedgehog took in how the young fox seemed to have grown into his goggles and new technical gloves a lot more. The deep brown colour at his palms complimented his fur, with the roughened leather clearly useful in a practical context.
His speculation was cut through as Amy eventually blew his cover, catching sight of him hovering at the perimeter of the lookout. The young woman called out happily, giving a friendly wave as she stayed leaning against her hammer.
The others looked over at her call, causing Shadow to bristle in indignation. He hated being put on the spot, yet purposefully brushed a shoulder and strode into the clearing, tipping his head in greeting to Amy and Knuckles.
"Shadow, how have you been?" Amy asked, tuning down her normal bubbly nature. Likely in consideration of the quiet hedgehog before her.
Shadow appreciated it.
"Well enough," came the gruff response, before a pause and continued question, "Yourself?"
"Quite well too," Amy giggled, her attention turning to Tails and the other unnamed menace walking up to them. Shadow folded his arms, taking a second after Amy and Knuckles to properly turn as a presence arrived at his back.
Nice and quick.
"Hey Shadow, how are you?" Tails asked, looking to the hedgehog with all the ease of a newly grown fox. Shadow nodded, lips pursed as he looked at Tails. The kit—though it was getting harder to call him such—had sprouted to the point he was practically level with Shadow's gaze. It was a blaring sign of the time that had passed, and even in just over a year showed a lot could change.
"Alright," Shadow finally replied, his hackles raising as the figure behind Tails leaned forward.Shadow supposed he could only ignore someone for so long.
"Surprised you agreed to this mission,"
Sonic had slung an arm over Tails' shoulders, head dipping to cut between Shadow's and Tails' gazes in an entirely purposeful motion. Shadow stared him down, cooly crossing his arms after a moment as a chill stole through the clearing. Everyone seemed to sense it, their postures growing just a touch too tense, with their feet shifting uncomfortably.
Shadow finally allowed himself to take in the hedgehog before him, jaw tightening as he thought of simply not replying. Yet if this mission were to be as fast as he wanted, he would need to be compliant; not ignoring Sonic's existence, for that would make things rather difficult in battle.
"It is my job," Shadow replied stiffly, glowering at the comment. Sonic eyed him, scoffing after a moment before straightening up from Tails, who was looking entirely uncomfortable being sandwiched between the two.
And I know how to uphold my responsibilities.
The thought flickered in the wind before promptly catching on fire, fighting behind his teeth to slip out. Locking eyes with Sonic, though, he seemed to not need to say it out loud. A flash of emotion crossed the cerulean hedgehog's eyes, and his spine stiffened a bit more, hand finding his hip in a pointed pose. Sonic's gaze immediately morphed, something uncanny crossing as it seemed so unlike the hero; yet Shadow couldn't quite place what it was.
"Well now we're all here!" Tails piped up, clapping the awkward air away and drawing everyone's attention. The energy dissipated, though not entirely as there was still some lingering uncomfortableness.
"As you may have been told, Shadow, Eggman has been acting off in the past year or so," Tails continued, gesturing over to Shadow in a bid to include him.
"Him and others,"
Amy swatted Knuckles, who had only grumbled the statement briefly under his breath. Still, it was enough to introduce that awkwardness back into the group, and everyone turned to give him a glare. The warrior held up his hands in mock surrender, allowing Tails to continue.
"I've been tracking and cross referencing this new signal, and we've reason to believe it is a large enough threat to try break into for,"
Shadow nodded, fighting the urge to whirl on Sonic and engage as he felt the other hedgehog's flitting stares every so often. Must certainly be a concern if the group were planning an attack first; usually they would leave the doctor up to his own devices. It was one of the many thoughts playing in Shadow's mind as he had awaited this mission.
"We were planning on diversion, then infiltration," Amy continued on, leaving her hammer on the ground behind her to grab a stray stick.
The others followed her as she stepped over to a stray patch of dirt in the clearing, squatting down to begin sketching. Sonic was oddly quiet, hand still at his hip as his eyes followed the others to the ground, with Knuckles kneeling on one knee to make adjustments as Amy sketched a crude map.
"This fort is a dense one, deep within the mountain,"
"I am familiar," Shadow replied to the fox, his tone a bit more clipped than he had intended for it to be. Tails shifted, yet quickly recovered, nodding as he gestured to the map Amy was finishing up.
"Since you're here, we can capitalise on the element of surprise! While Sonic, Amy, and Knuckles distract Eggman, we can sneak inside through the robot's dispatch doors when he releases more," Tails explained, gesturing to two doors that were circled, both on either side of the base's main entrance. The whole thing was fairly hidden, and likely a little way from their meeting point to avoid suspicion.
Déjà vu swirled the air like a thick smoke, beginning to claw at Shadow's throat as he swallowed. Blinking it away, the tell-tale signs of the present day peeked through, and the obsidian hedgehog found himself focusing on the goggles atop Tails' forehead.
"Solid enough," Shadow replied, looking away from the map to the dipping mountain ranges. The sun was still reaching its peak, blazing down on them, "I appreciate a plan upfront. You've improved,"
Tails chuckled, scratching behind his ear bashfully as Amy and Knuckles discussed the best distraction for the operation.
"Well, it wasn't fully mine, Sonic put a lot into it too!"
Shadow stayed silent, though the cobalt hero grew into focus in his periphery.
"Forgive me if that's difficult to believe,"
The seconds ticked by, and it felt as if Tails would simply walk off and leave the two to bicker it out. Yet strangely, Sonic was silent for a moment, before the inevitable reply hit.
"Y'know I am still right here, dude,"
Maybe the lack of bite was just as eerie as an angry or cutting response, but Shadow felt the fire within him dip and grow. Not an out of control forest fire, but a steady burning glow that heated the depths of his gut.
"So,"
Tails heaved in a sigh, eyeing his older brother with a wariness only found in those with an intimate knowledge of the person in question. Sonic held Shadow in his gaze, expression a mask, until a second ticked by and a nonchalant smirk rose. It was subtle, but Shadow could read something entirely different on the other's face that no one else would be able to see at a glance.
"Ever the charmer," Sonic drawled, stepping up to Amy and Knuckles who were still bickering, shoving his shoulder against Shadow's.
The contact sparked between them, only serving as more ammunition in Shadow's murky irritation. He glared after the other hedgehog's back, but before he could walk forward and escalate the matter, Tails placed a hesitant hand on his arm.
It was a soft gesture, one that was slow and wary of the outburst bubbling beneath the surface. Shadow's gaze sliced to the fox's face, though to give Tails credit he didn't shy away from being caught in the crossfire.
"I don't know what… has gone on with you two," Tails started, dropping his arm before it lingered for too long. He spared a glance after Sonic who was chatting with Amy and Knuckles, putting on a laugh that was a decibel too much for the context of their chatter.
"But we can't afford it to interfere with this," the fox ended, turning back to Shadow. The G.U.N agent pried his eyes away from the group, back to Tails.
"With that, we can agree," Shadow affirmed, crossing his arms as he willed himself to cool down.
Tails offered a tentative smile, nodding before walking back up to the crew. Shadow stayed on the fringes, watching as the young fox started directing and formulating their next move.
The discussion grew and finally clicked into place, all the while the atmosphere feeling a touch more fragile than before. Amy and Knuckles finally finalised the distraction they wanted to adhere to, with Sonic just happy to go along with whatever they landed on. Tails discussed with Shadow on their method for isolating and taking the latest weapon out of the base, with the agent bringing up the need to keep the Chaos emerald hidden.
"It is likely he has software installed in certain robots to pick up the energy signature of any Chaos emerald," Tails said, humming to himself in thought.
"Yes, however if the distraction is sufficient, he will not be searching for one," Shadow added slowly, looking to the mountain. A gust of wind blew the yellowing leaves of the trees to sweep past them, brushing on to the now discarded map in the dirt.
"Hence the reason to keep the emerald hidden until the location of the device is certain. Not to mention, if he is unaware of my presence, even less of a risk,"
Tails' nodding grew in confidence as Shadow's reasoning relaxed him a notch. It was sound enough, if still a bit risky. Though what plan that involved breaking into the main base of a genius mad man wouldn't be? All things considered, they were being adequately cautious.
"Alright, we have our game plan then," Tails fished out a device from a little pack at his waist, closing it with a satisfying zip.
"I developed this tracker when the signal was first received," Tails explained, pointing at a screen at the centre of a little rectangular device.
"It looks like a multimeter," Shadow observed, taking in the similar dials and repurposed buttons. The young fox chuckled sheepishly, gesturing the end of the device that had its cord replaced with a new piece.
"It was! Though I've taken some liberties by installing a new sensor I manufactured from one of our bots that can be powered on Chaos energy," Tails explained, turning the device on with a telling power up beep. Shadow watched as Tails fiddled around with the device, adjusting the dials and thinking before pressing the necessary buttons. The screen flickered to life, showing multiple energy signatures and waves in the corner of the screen; not unlike the ones G.U.N had boasted in his meeting with Tower.
"Once we're in, I'll locate the device using this," Tails said, a satisfied smile blooming, "Then we can take the device from underneath him,"
Shadow nodded once, gaze and mind far away from the current conversation. Sonic and the others laughed once more, the hero's own volume still way too loud for the menial discussion they were having. Shadow's ear twitched as he gestured to the mountain with a jut of his chin, dropping his folded arms to start walking towards it.
"Best get to it, instead of wasting daylight," the G.U.N agent called, purposefully ignoring Sonic who sputtered in surprise when Shadow shoved him by the shoulder.
Shadow sensed more than saw the expression and posture of the hero shift, already breaching the perimeter of the trees and stealthily flicking between the shadows of the trees. He felt Tails catch up to him, with the other three splitting off to their left to start making their way to the distraction point. Tails shot him a questioning if unimpressed glance, clearly non-verballing making a comment from his pettiness.
Shadow shrugged a shoulder, already staring ahead as they finally lost sight and sound of the others. After some minutes of silent motion and subtle signals, he saw they were approaching the mountain in question.
Similar trees and a landmark he had seen in Amy's crude sketch appeared to their left, hidden by the trees and boulders scattering the base of the mountain. Tails nodded in confirmation, whipping out his communicator and the repurposed multimeter.
"Soon," was all the fox murmured, not risking being overzealous in his communication considering how close they were to the base.
They couldn’t risk Robotnik picking up through some hidden microphone or camera in the forest.
As if on cue, a large crash to the west felt as if it shook the entire mountain range. Shadow and Tails shared a look, before creeping forward to continue their part of the plan.
The hidden doors that released the robots were both bordering the main entrance. It was hidden well, set in the mountain boulders and crevasses whilst being topped with the necessary vines and lichen to hide it. Not too far off were two eerily matching rocks on either side, of which started to whir upon that gargantuan crash.
Shadow and Tails crouched behind some dense foliage and tree trunks, the earthy scent floating up as they watched multiple robots emerge from the hidden doors behind the boulders. Off in the distance, they heard a mirroring sound and saw other robots join from the other side of the door.
Positioning himself as close as he could, Tails raised a glove to pull and click a hidden button from the back of his hand. A mechanism whined, until something thin flashed from within and towards the hidden door.
Shadow blinked as the fox gestured for them to hurry once the robots stopped filing out, and the two darted over to the door.
The G.U.N agent watched as Tails peeked behind the boulder, seeing the hidden trapdoor craning against something. Gesturing for Shadow to follow, the young fox ducked inside. The hedgehog followed, sparing a glance at the thin metal rod that had grown to jam within the trapdoor, sparking under the strain.
They slipped inside, navigating the metal chute that housed the escape tunnel for the doctor's robots.
"Will the obstruction not raise suspicion?" Shadow queried as they made it to the main quarters that housed the robots. Tails smiled, shrugging nonchalantly as he looked to the device and followed a flashing dot on what looked like a map of the place.
"Not with the distraction the others are creating. Though if you're that worried, just know there's a brief pulse that sent a short circuit along the rest of the doors, so it won't be the only one acting up," Tails assured, ears perking up as the small dot seemed to grow in intensity.
"This way!" he called over his shoulder, already hurrying down the broad hallway they had found themselves in.
Shadow hummed, chasing after the young fox and keeping his ears perked. The smothering base had started whining, a distant alarm likely triggered after the distraction Amy and Knuckles had cooked up had started.
Tails' brow furrowed as he followed the blinking dot, though over his shoulder Shadow could tell it was playing up.
The closer the pair drew, the more the tracker distorted and flickered, to the point where Tails slowed all together to give a tentative hit to the side of the device. A sharp sound and the muffled motion of battle in the distance droned into the base, likely amplified by the entrance door properly opening. Possibly the doctor leaving to meet the attack head on.
"This shouldn't be happening," Tails murmured, looking to the door they had found themselves outside of. Shadow remained silent, however found himself kneeling to start fiddling with the security pad at the side of the door.
"I've got a bad feeling about this. There's no reason the signal would be flickering like this when we're inside the base," Tails continued as Shadow finally got the door to pop open with an airy puff.
The two peered inside, and while Shadow snuck into the darkened room, Tails properly looked down at the screen of his device.
What was his intense scarlet dot gave one last sputter, before fizzling out in all the glory of a withered sigh. Tails eyes widened as they both heard a whine coming from the front of the base, and Shadow's gaze met the other's in synchronous understanding.
"He knew we were coming!" Tails cried out, twin tails already sweeping him into the air and taking him speeding down the hall.
The empty room Shadow had found himself in only confirmed the fact, and not even a millisecond later the hybrid found himself careening down the abandoned hall after his mission partner.
Stupid, too damn sloppy, Shadow mentally tore into himself, utterly infuriated at not being more careful, or being duped so easily.
This is what happened when you took a backseat to the plan.
"The energy signature was a dupe! He lured us here and,"
Tails was cut off by a large explosion, sending dirt and debris showering the two as they rounded the corner to take in the scene before them. Knuckles and Amy were keeled over, shaking off debris from their position right outside the base's entrance. Sonic was a way ahead of them, spin dashing and whipping around the doctor, was manically laughing and taunting them.
It appeared they were all injured from the explosion, and a suspicious device fixed to the bottom of Robotnik's eggmobile seemed to be the likely culprit. Sonic glared up at the doctor, clutching at his shoulder as the fur turned crimson.
"You all still underestimate my greatness! For shame, Sonic, I thought you would be over this after you and that,"
"Oh shut your yap, Eggface," Sonic snapped back up, cutting off the taunt before letting his arm fall to raise up his fists, "forgive us for not bothering to expect much of you. After failure 13 000 what can anyone expect?"
Eggman appeared to puff up, moustache fluffing as if it were an irritated squirrel.
"I'll show you not to disrespect my intelligence, rodent!" the doctor roared, signalling his robot hoard to re-engage.
The obsidian hedgehog cursed, with Tails already on the move to help Amy relocate a knocked out Knuckles.
"Help him!" Tails yelled over his shoulder, haphazardly pointing to Sonic before intercepting a swarm of new robots coming to their master's aid. Shadow watched for a beat before turning to see Sonic throw himself at Robotnik from the wall. He froze as the hero was grabbed by the leg before being hurled by one of the many bots helping Eggman.
Sonic groaned as he slid down the wall to the ground, clutching at his shoulder and glaring up at Eggman with a ferocity Shadow was taken aback by.
"Low, Eggman, so low,"
"Oh, I can go lower just you wait," the doctor sneered, pressing another button that started up a familiar whirring. The same sound that Shadow and Tails had heard earlier.
Time slowed down as multiple things became apparent in hectic flashing in Shadow's mind's eye.
Sonic slowly stood, the movement looking clunky in the stillness of Shadow's realisation.
One; the weapon Eggman had currently was the one they had been tasked to retrieve. Duped or unfortunate luck, he had taken it outside with him upon the others attacking the entrance of the base.
The energy signature and strange shift in atmosphere was telling to one who had wielded the Chaos emeralds, not to mention the one within his quills felt as if it were humming along the same tune.
Two; as Sonic steeled himself, Shadow came to the realisation the idiot was about to launch himself at the weapon. Likely to try take it out before it exploded.
And finally, three; he was the only one with the ability to change the outcome right now, and save this mission. Tails was still turning after getting Knuckles and Amy to safety, far too far away to be of aid.
With that final realisation, time snapped up their movements as if someone had hit skip on a DVD player. The spell was broken as Sonic stood, smoothly tucking into a spin-dash and bouncing off the wall to launch himself in the blink of an eye, towards the still revving weapon. Shadow cried out, though the warning fell on deaf ears, as he felt himself reaching deep into his quills, hands clasping the firm edges of the emerald.
"Chaos control!"
The phrase felt far away, out of someone else's lips as Shadow blinked. Then he was colliding with Sonic, shoulder digging forward in to break his spin dash. His senses exploded with colour and sticky sound, everything too much and too soon as they dug into his eyes, his ears, his nose. The weapon's whining had erupted, and one of the last things that screamed in Shadow's mind before he slipped into a dark pool of nothing flickered in and then extinguished in his mind.
Too late.
Something swallowed them both, before he was plunged into the depths of his subconscious.