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There was a deafening noise ringing throughout his pointed ears, as a half bloodshot view obscured his vision…
Shadow, black arms/hedgehog mobian hybrid and G.U.N. Special Agent…also tasted the exact shade of dark green blood obscuring half his vision…his own blood of course.
Smoke invaded his lungs even as he coughed it back out, only to hear another’s coughs as if they were responding to his own. “R-rouge?!” She was the only other mobian with him at the moment, but that’s only because Omega—emotions or intelligence or not—is still classified as a machine…as he a hybrid.
He heard more rough coughs from Rouge, she sounded more akin to choking on the air itself, far less than her admittedly pitiful attempts at a verbal response to his… Although given where one of her hands were placed he doubted it was just her lungs that hurt…
From what Shadow could see and currently remember they’re all stuck in a smoky enclosure, fire and debris all over, his head is absolutely pounding as many sounds of bullets rang out throughout the space the three Special Agents and…it currently resided.
They had one task, take whatever it is out without anyone else finding out, they didn’t even get a full briefing on what it was—he thinks. Everything at the moment is quite fuzzy—but besides that, what they did know was that no other mobian needed to ever see it. Per orders of course.
“Rouge…?” Shadow collapsed—again—but at Rouge’s side, one of her wings was very clearly fractured or—something—whatever it was, even with only one functioning eye he could tell that it wasn’t good and that was all that he needed to know at the given moment.
The sight of seeing Rouge injured like this filled him with an immense anger, and that was before he heard the deafening noise of a large metal object crashing into something…and the sudden absence of bullets…
He sharply turned his head, leading his good eye to spot Omega…looking more than just defeated, the proud tank like Ex-Eggbot, torn up, missing a leg, looking as if he were struggling to stay powered on…
That did it for Shadow, whatever this creature was—not that he could get a good look or memory of it now…it hurt his friends—no family. And it’s not making it to the public eye.
Not if he could help it.
Shadow slowly stood up, making Rouge raise her head. “H-hon…?” She rasped quietly, before something glinting hit her expert eyes…
Exactly one…bracelet sized golden ring…hit the floor.
Rouge’s eyes widened in shock as another joined suit. “Sh-Shadow-?”
Shadow did one last thing before he decided to lose his all against this thing…
“Prepare an extraction team, medical attention for Agents Rouge and Omega……and give me five minutes.” He growled into his communicator, then spat out the little bit of blood in his mouth before charging forward in a golden aura-d light that blinded Rouge, and even Omega…
***
Everything was a blurry messy haze…
“They’re stable!”
There was a lot of overwhelming yelling…
“He’s—stra—m-down!”
Something is holding him down, but he…he has to see if his f…..if…if alright-
“That’s not good…”
He can’t just…
“Keep him subdued—find the remaining-“
There was a pressure in his neck…it’s all so…numb now…
***
“What do you mean he’s a threat?!” Rouge was marching her way to see Shadow since she…couldn’t fly and already visited Omega in his own special repair quarters. Sadly…a certain edgehog, Linken Park enthusiast is stuck in basically solitary confinement…but with medical benefits.
He’s getting treatment sure, but also under the strict pretenses of handle with extreme caution and extreme caution means point every known super weapon at him in the case he ‘loses it.’
“He’s my roommate! If he wanted to kill me then he would’ve already! But no! What he did back there was specifically to protect me and Omega and even keep another of G.U.N.s dirty little secrets hidden!” Rouge kept yelling at the pair of armed guards guarding one door out of many to her emo companion, who they’re STILL busy treating as if he could and would turn against the world at any moment…
They didn’t say anything, they barely even acknowledged the spy’s presence after the first, “ma’am Agent Shadow is a threat and this is for your’s and everyone else’s safety.” To which Rouge knew that more than three could play at this game.
“Fine! If you’re not budging then neither am I, just wait. Once Omega is repaired, you’ll have to deal with two of us…” She crossed her arms and did exactly as she said she would.
And a few seconds after that threat, one of the guards received a transmission, sighed, and stepped aside for Rouge, the other soon following suit.
Finally…some higher up—perhaps their Commander, came to their senses…
Rouge had to wait and walk through more doors than she could count on one hand just to finally see Shadow. Alone, sitting on the side of a lone cot in the isolated heavily reinforced room, staring down at his hands clasped together against his lap…contemplating, but otherwise seemingly no worse for wear than the usual, with her seeing him for the first time in hours since the incident…
“Shadow…” She whispered just loud enough for the other in the room’s ears to raise in awareness to her presence…
“Rouge…” Shadow muttered back, to which Rouge gave a closed half smile.
“I see you’re feeling better sunshine…” She slowly approached only for Shadow to suddenly grow tense.
“Stop!” He nearly barked in alarm, causing some whirring noises that Rouge picked up from all around them more specifically pointed at Shadow… “Rouge don’t…don’t come any closer…”
Rouge of course was taken aback by this and even more so, is confused. Sure, Shadow was never an openly touchy feely type of person but something in his tone…it…wasn’t a tone that Shadow regularly or even rarely uses towards her… “Shadow…?”
“Just…keep some distance Rouge…” He avoided eye contact…
“…” Rouge blinked, “Shadow…if you weren’t you—ironically—this would be scaring me.” Shadow flinched at those words, concerning Rouge further… “Shadow…” Rouge ignored Shadow’s initial request and slowly approached once more. “What’s-“
“I SAID STAY BACK ROUGE!” Shadow yelled, chaotic chaos energy uncontrollably surging around and from him…
“stray chaos energy…?” Rouge mumbled, she’s seen it before but… Rouge then examined Shadow carefully, he hadn’t gotten up from his side of the cot but she slowly backed up and walked around to get a better side-ish front view and…
There it was…or more appropriately wasn’t.
On his left leg…the absence of his ankle limiter…
Oh…actually you’d think someone would’ve told her about this…given its importance.
Rouge suddenly understood Shadow’s sudden apprehensiveness, at least her expert eye also spotted that he still has one each back on his wrists so she…got the sinking feeling that it wasn’t neglectful reasons by other agents as to why he’s missing one on his ankle of all places…
“How’s…how’s your wing?” My oh my he changed the topic quick…and is also now deliberately avoiding eye contact…
“It’s…” Rouge turned to glance over her left shoulder…huh…a wing for a ring it seems… “It’ll heal…it probably would’ve been a faster one if it were just a tear…” As long as she doesn’t use the poor splinted up thing she’ll be back to flying in the freedom in no time… “what about your…”
Shadow immediately cut her off. “My eye? It’s fine.” Somehow Rouge didn’t even notice that one of Shadow’s eyes seemed a bit puffy…she certainly noticed the patched work above it however. “I actually have a concussion…maybe had.” It was a rather deep gash…so given the state his chaos currently is inside his body, who’s to tell.
“Oh…well you do seem fine now hon…” She murmured…forgetting to ask about news on his missing limiter for now…
“And Omega? How’s he?” At least Shadow’s still in a willing mood to talk to Rouge…then again, who knows how long he’s been awake and alone, healing only slightly slower than usual at best due to some of his own chaos now betraying him whenever it pleases to displease…
“Well, he’s upset and that’s putting it lightly that he couldn’t protect us from—project classified.” Rouge playfully put her hand up and then a single finger to her lips at that with a quick wink as Shadow simply raised a brow… “…okay he was mad that you stole his kill and that he was nearly dismantled by the thing.”
“Ah…” Yes, that seemed far more accurate.
“So anyway, the big boy’s fine and will probably also try and come visit you once he’s not likely to explode or shutdown on the way here.” Rouge subtlety hoped that Shadow would once again take the hint that the two of them will always and forever care for and about his self sacrificing ass…
However if he did take it, he didn’t acknowledge it.
In fact an awkward silence quickly filled and stifled the room, before Rouge could or Shadow but most likely Rouge could say anything else, another agent entered the secure room, “Agent Rouge, The Commander wishes to speak with you this instant…”
Rouge turned around to face the agent, of course she nodded but not without turning back to face Shadow…who…did finally make eye contact, for the first time in hours…
Even if it were just a glance before she was obligated to leave…
***
Rouge meant business when she entered her superior‘s office…not like they’d fire her anyway, she’s just that good at being bad.
“How DARE you still treat Shadow like he’s just another dangerous weapon to lock up after use! After all he’s done for us, you, this planet and its people and-“
“He consented to this Rouge.” The Commander spoke in a dare I say commanding tone. “He is very well aware that he is dangerous, as am I. And even with all my trust in him we couldn’t help but agree that this…”
Suddenly a screen on a wall of the room flickered on, it was a recording…a few hour old recording of a part of the medical wing…
It was of Shadow thrashing and lashing out against a medbay cot, chaos energy going wild as a panicked frantic Shadow attacked anything and everything around him…
“Would be for the best.” The Commander finished as Rouge gulped in silence before he stated more… “I don’t know if it was due to past trauma or thinking that there’s still a fight to be had with your latest assignment, but when he was finally conscious, one of the first things I did was ask if he were alright…and then I showed him the footage…” Rouge’s ears drooped slightly… “we…both agreed that it would be best if he was placed under quarantine…for the most part. With minimal contact if necessary until we can repair his broken limiter.”
Rouge of course understood as well, after all she’s witnessed the kind of power Shadow does possess with or without a limiter or two first hand, more than once. He tends to never go those types of lengths unless absolutely necessary due to the physical strain and lack of restraint in terms of ‘knowing one’s strength’ but… “so…you’re working on it? A team or someone you trust is currently working on fixing his…”
The Commander looked a bit uneasy, as what he was about to confirm next was… “yes we are working on it Rouge, of course we’d be…however.”
Rouge raised a brow…
“There are a few…setbacks and minor issues and difficulties or so I’ve heard.”
That’s…that’s the opposite of pleasing to her large ears. “Wait wait let me get this straight Sir, do they…not know what they’re doing?” She assumed.
The Commander still looked unsure for a moment, even in his brief pause—which is so unlike him that it made Rouge’s heart sink. “It’s a complex piece of technology, it would actually be best to have a chaos expert who’s also good at where…unique technology is involved…” He then cleared his throat slightly, “also the limiter is in…worse shape than we had anticipated…”
“Chaos expert who’s good at weird tech…” Rouge hummed for a moment, “I can maybe get you a kit genius that learned how to talk to those weird colorful alien things that suddenly appeared out of the Blue one day…” Rouge crossed her arms with a shrug as her Commander raised a brow.
“Sonic’s…little brother I believe?” He rested a hand on his chin… “Tails Miles Prowler…if you can recruit him then…”
Rouge scoffed, “if I buy him a tin of breath mints he’ll do whatever I want him to do.” The Commander made no comment to that statement.
“Hm, very well then. Agent Rouge, it is your new assignment to find and recruit Sonic’s fox friend for this task!”
“Rodger…” Rouge saluted before extending a wing an—wincing…
“Agent—are you-“
“I’m fine, I just forgot I can’t fly for the time being…” ugh…this is gonna be a challenge… “I’m still going to do my job, I just need to…find another way there.”
“Do you wish to request a helicopter lift?”
Did she have a choice?
***
A few hours prior, Shadow had woken up for the first time amidst several long hours…
His chest ached with nearly every breath, head pains galore and…he couldn’t see out of one eye…
Also, his left ankle somehow both felt scorching hot and numb, almost like a pins and needles sensation but it was just begging for him to look at it…
He’d have to give it his attention later however, for his lower half is covered up by a thin white sheet and-
“Afternoon Agent Shadow.”
Shadow blinked his single functioning eye in a mild surprise, before collecting himself the best he could for the moment, attempting to focus on the man in front of him… “C-C-Commander—?” Shadow continued to rapidly blink, the light of the room upsetting his stereotypically emo vision… “where…what…?” Either that or he’s about to have a migraine…
“You’re in medical. I know you’d rather not be agent, but you required active treatment as well.” He added once he noticed Shadow’s tenser look… “the…far back actually, to be more specific.” Shadow if under regular circumstances probably would’ve asked why he had to be placed so far away from what he could of assumed may have been others…like Rouge…but at the very least the ebony hybrid was just glad that he could only vaguely process his current surroundings given that he feels confined to this very cot… “How are you feeling agent?”
“I…” Shadow couldn’t tell if he had coughed or cleared his own throat… “I would fib about a few broken ribs but…something…doesn’t feel quite right…”
“Like?”
Shadow paused for a lot longer than he could keep track… “…I…I don’t know yet…my head’s a bit fuzzy…am I…missing an eye?” He slowly brought a bare hand up to his face as he asked this…feeling a soft gauze and bandage covering an eye and half his forehead…
“No it’s just the bandage, you have a concussion. Some blood got in your eye but it’ll recover in time.” Or so he’s been told, and it took Shadow far too long to realize that if this were under normal circumstances, then he wouldn’t even be having this conversation face to face.
Sure he was allowed to hold this man’s grandchild in his arms not admitting any type of emotions whether they were felt or not…
but…
Shadow while staring down at his own hands, now clutching the thin sheet concealing his lower half…he quietly asked… “Is…that all?”
A deeper frown plastered his higher up’s face… “No…actually…” Those two words set panic and fear into Shadow’s eyes, did he kill someone? Are Rouge and Omega-?!
Shadow’s worse for wear thoughts were cut off by an order… “Shadow…before I show you this, I order you to not panic…”
Shadow of course was only left even more confused by such an order, his tired eye blinking once more along side a confused mutter… “…wh…”
And then…he was shown it…
A clip from security of him fighting back against the medical workers.
Like a wild animal.
Like a monster.
It took many to subdue his chaos powered fit, but a number of which had clearly been injured or…worse…they-
Shadow’s body tensed up as chaos energy pulsed uncontrollably around him…
“Shadow…Agent Shadow…Shadow?”
He heard someone call out his name on some kind of loop…and they kept doing it even as he slowly checked under the sheet and—he’s missing a limiter.
Shadow despite himself had begun to panic, it wasn’t an over induced type of a panic, it was a type of panic in which one would swear his eyes went shot, as his dark fists somehow turned an unnatural white, as his lungs refused to take in proper amounts of air as his chaos cackled in it.
Armed men from behind The Commander raised their weapons in fear that their leader was in danger, however said leader signaled for them to stand down! Which they both…reluctantly obliged.
“AGENT SHADOW!” The Heterochromic leader shouted, startling Shadow into making direct eye contact even as more energy cackled around them, if any of it happened to hit either of them neither of them acknowledged it. “I command you…to breathe…” So Shadow hesitated, but shortly took in a deep breath…
After he finally steadied his breathing enough to make note that maybe he did crack a rib, he gulped in genuine fear of himself… “…how…how many…?” He rasped, but he needed to know…
However The Commander assured him, “No casualties. Yes some were injured but you took no lives, the only blood on your hands as of late was that of your classified assignment.”
That was reassuring to the very exhausted hedgehog…
“You did good, Shadow. You protected Agent Rouge and Omega and executed your mission well.” The praise so much didn’t hit Shadow’s ears as much as the confirmation that Rouge and Omega were okay, and that’s all it took for Shadow to genuinely sigh in relief…he’s too tired to be a stuck up grumpy pants…
Although now the conversation once again had to take a serious turn… “Shadow, even though I do trust you, we both know that there is a certain risk with you walking about while you’re like this…” Shadow avoided eye contact again, now staring again at his ringless ankle… “So I’m asking for your consent on what we do next…”
***
Even with a helicopter landing somewhere relatively near Tails’s workshop, the twin-tailed sidekick still couldn’t hear anything thanks to a pair of classical AirPods in his pointed lil ears, perfect for blocking out the world and getting kitnapped!
Rouge could see Tails tinkering away at something through a peek of a window, one of the only windows in fact letting any and all natural sunlight in. The curtains weren’t closed but the blinds halfway were, so she knocked on the glass only to garner no response from the kit…
Well, time for plan B.
She b-roke in.
It wasn’t exactly difficult picking the first lock, although Rouge really did expect some form of security to be turned on. Then again Sonic isn’t exactly present so maybe that somehow has something to do with it, cause it’s not like the kit would just forget…unless that’s actually the case, who knows. Not her problem.
Rouge then decided to sneak up behind said kit…she took in a deep enough breath, but instead of shouting at the top of her lungs, she tapped one of his shoulders with one hand and held her other next to her mouth to only slightly elevate her voice. “Tails!”
To which the kit’s natural reaction was of course a squeal. “GAAAAHHHH!!” Tails then fell out of his chair and curled up into a ball, leaving Rouge to stand there looking down at him unamused. She tapped the kit again, slowly making Tails unfurl himself…
“You know kid, you really should be paying more attention to your surroundings…after all, I heard it’s how little kits like you get kitnapped…” Rouge teased in a scolding tone. Tails may not be her kid, but he’s still a close friend in an irresponsible situation.
Tails quietly muttered, “you’re not my mom…” Before standing up and brushing himself off. “Wait…why are you here Rouge?”
“I’m here to ‘recruit’ you into helping with something really important Tails…” as Rouge was about to say what it was, she noticed that Tails was suddenly pointing at her broken wing.
“Y-your wing! What happened to it?” Tails knew just how much Rouge loves flying, to the point that it’s a part of her motto, so the fact that she came here while injured like this was more than concerning… “unless you think I can fix it faster…?” Could he-?
Rouge shook her head, “no it’s not that…” she then gave Tails a stern, serious look. “Tails, what I’m about to tell you—it’s something that can NOT be spread into a media wildfire and you can’t tell anyone! Not even Sonic…” no especially not Sonic! That blue hedgehog would cause a multitude of problems if he found out about this-
“Wh-what happened Rouge?” Rouge noticed Tails’s somewhat quivering tone…she knew that she needed to lessen up to calm the kit down but since the news is about Shadow that is more than difficult…
Rouge took a deep breath, “Shadow…during our latest assignment…” do not ask what it was fox “got injured and…one of his limiters was nearly obliterated.” Tails’s eyes widened in an instant.
“Wh-WHAT?!” Rouge nodded simply. “It was nearly obliterated?! Is Shadow okay? Has he hurt anyone? Where is-“
Rouge cut him off by pressing a single finger to his lips, “I will explain later. I’m here just to ask for your help in fixing what’s left of it Tails.” Rouge leaned in and tilted her head slightly, “you think you could do it sweetie?”
Tails with his mouth slightly covered by Rouge didn’t say anything more, although his expression still said a lot for him, he seemed unsure, full of questions and most of all, worried.
Eventually Rouge removed her finger from Tail’s mouth and took a step back. Resting her hands on her hips, as Tail’s mouth was left agape for a moment… “I-“
“Wait Shads is hurt?” Rouge and Tails slowly turned their heads to face a Sonic who just sped in while holding a bag of groceries… “Wait a minute! Rouge what happened to your wing?!”
Oh Dark Gaia damnit!
***
Shadow rested on his side as the room slowly felt as if it were tilting…
This isn’t right…he should be healing faster than this, not dealing with the aftermath of a horrible concussion…
The blankness of the room seemed to flicker as a growing nausea formed within him…
He didn’t want to feel this, he just wanted to go to bed…
***
Rouge with the new temporary V.I.P. of the HQ eventually arrived back at said G.U.N. HQ, greeted by her Commander, oh what a pleasant surprise…
Speaking of…
“Commander?” Rouge raised a brow, “what brings you to greeting us in person…”
“Well I simply wanted to thank Tails personally for taking time out of his day to assist in our matters.” He stood tall while his arms folded behind his back, looking downwards at his agent and the curious little fox as said fox smiled and glowingly reassured the matter.
“It’s no problem Sir! I’m always ready to help out a friend!” Tails stated confidently, the boy indeed has come a long way in terms of self confidence.
Rouge walked up to her leader and somewhat whispered with her hand blocking the side of her face Tails was standing on, “no I didn’t tell him.” To which the Commander nodded before taking note of another mobian who just happened to be a speedy blue stowaway.
“Sooo where is Shads exactly?” The uninvited guest sped up to the gray haired man. To which Tails just blinked nonchalantly, Rouge groaned with a roll of her eyes and The Commander…
“He’s secure Sonic, and not expecting many guests at the moment.” Answered, to which Sonic frowned, clearly displeased with that answer.
“Huh. I mean when is Shadow ever expecting guests? But I thought you’d at least let us see him since it’s been awhile…” He absentmindedly kicked at the ground as he commented this, folding his arms behind his head. It actually has been awhile since the two raced or got the chance to glare at one another with barely a word spoken…or call each other fakers for seemingly no reason. The usual alpha male mobian hedgehog interaction.
“I assure you Sonic that you may visit Shadow soon, preferably when he both requests and allows it after getting his limiter repaired. Which reminds me.” He then took a small tin canister out of his coat pocket, as he approached the other two mobians. And at the same time a group of G.U.N.s top technicians tailing a freshly repaired Omega—to which Rouge was glad to see him again and in much better shape—soon entered the area of the roof. “Tails, these are our trusted technicians and they will assist you if needed with the repairs to Shadow’s limiter.” The elder gestured as Tails nodded before his eyes glittered at the sight of the tiny tin, “regardless of ‘just helping a friend,’ think of this as an incentive.” Was it really that hard to say that it was a gift?
Also said incentive is of course a tin of mints that is sure to inevitably give someone a headache…
Regardless, Tails more than eagerly took the tin. Then flew off with the other technicians before even the likes of Sonic could catch up to him.
Meanwhile Rouge raised a brow at that, “huh, and here I almost thought you never listened…” The Commander gave no reply to confirm or deny that. As Sonic quickly turned to face them again, listing the sum of current events on his fingers.
“Sooo…we’re not allowed to see Shadow…and Tails is just gonna repair the broken glorified bracelet…” which just happened to only be two. “…what exactly do you people do around here when the world isn’t secretly on fire?” Sonic asked while standing idly, otherwise just barely keeping himself what he clearly considers ‘still.’
The Commander would never admit that he chuckled to that, even covering it up with a mild cough but alas, “wait for a fire.” He responded before he left, leaving a disappointed Sonic, and a Rouge and E-123 Omega finally able to freely chat free of the expense of irritating the poor technicians.
“AND THEN THEY ORDERED ME TO STOP ‘WHINING’ ABOUT MY LOSS!” Omega whined complained to Rouge who comforted him given that Omega was rather peeved and apparently can hold a grudge outside of Eggman. “I DO NOT WHINE! AND THEY ONLY WANTED ME CONSCIOUS SO THAT I MAY RUN CONSISTENT DIAGNOSTICS, EVERYONE THERE ASKED EACH OTHER ABOUT THEIR DAYS BUT NOT ME ABOUT MINE!” Is he genuinely pouting? Sure sounds like so to Rouge at least…then again she personally knows the guy.
“There there big guy.” She patted as high as she could reach without aid of her wings, meanwhile Sonic was already speeding about the place. Bored out of his little blue hedgehog mind.
“Ugh! There’s nothing to do!”
“DO YOU MIND?”
“You’re the one who wanted to come with.” Rouge rolled her eyes as Sonic rolled his back.
“Well yea, cause I wanted to see Shadow! ’m not a jerk…” Sonic tapped his foot before he quickly sped off again…and then very shortly came back, “hey out of curiosity where exactly is Shadow being kept? I’ve seen a looottttt of armed guarded doors here.”
Rouge hated how before arrival she had told Sonic that she’d be keeping him on a tight and short leash, however the leash had apparently been snapped.
**
Well actually about five minutes later
The whirling of Tails’s tails could be heard as he re-approached the two active members of Team Dark and his blue blur of an older brother again, “uhh does anyone know where Shadow’s being kept? I need to borrow…” Somehow Tails was cut off by a cat like-smirk from Sonic, as the blue one turned his head to face Rouge and Omega…even Omega seemed to be visibly annoyed which is an accomplishment.
“What is it Tails?” Sonic asked before Rouge could.
“Well I uh…I think I actually need one of Shadow’s functioning limiters as an example to go by since the um…one I’m supposed to be working on is horribly damaged and practically obliterated…” Tails murmured much to the sudden dismay of Team Dark… “I-I don’t need it for long! I just need a quick scan of it and I’ll figure out the rest from there!” Tails not immediately receiving an answer suddenly seemed quite jumpy despite currently hovering, “promise!”
Rouge at first seemed shocked to the point of displeasure before suddenly crossing her arms, “right, sorry to break it to you kit but I had to argue my way into Shadow’s room.” Rouge shook her head…
“I CAN BREAK US IN IF NECESSARY.” Can he-?
“A-are you sure we can’t just ask for access?” Tails stuttered as Rouge shrugged.
“I mean—we can try, but only because you say you need it.” Rouge assured the emphasis on the first you of the statement before glancing back at Omega looking down at her, he too wanted to see how Shadow’s doing after the last thing he saw before the ebony hybrid blinded everything in a miles radius, was that Shadow seemed to practically be missing an eye.
Sonic quickly approached Tails’s side in reassurance. “Hey don’t worry lil buddy, Shads did this willingly right? Or so I heard…can’t he just…give us permission to go in?”
Rouge silently wondered now if it were actually Shadow that gave the orders to let her in earlier… “hmm…maybe Blue…”
“THEN IT IS SETTLED, SINCE I, E-123 OMEGA ALSO HAVE NOT SEEN HIS FRIEND/COWORKER SINCE REPAIRMENT!” Rouge smiled and playfully rolled her eyes at the announcement from the dramatically bold machine.
“Agreed, we can certainly try.” Hopefully Sonic’s presence wouldn’t negatively affect Shadow’s decision on whether or not to let them in or not, not that either party hated each other it’s just that their relationship status is best described as it’s complicated…
As the group walked towards the room where Shadow’s being held, they held some regular chitchat between themselves.
“We really gotta work on your mint addiction Tails…” It would help if Sonic could say no to Tails’s kit doll eyes-
“I don’t see an issue!” Tails responded casually with a casually ungaialy amount of mints in his mouth.
“I AGREE WITH SONIC FOR ONCE. TAILS, YOUR MINT ADDICTION DOES INDEED RAISE A VALID CONCERN.” Omega boomed, but this time with an almost intentional lack of inside voice just to further push his point of view.
Tails refused to apologize or stop as he now quietly nervously crunched on some more cheap mints…
Of course Rouge silently agreed with the other two disturbingly sharing an opinion, however she wasn’t planning to openly judge the kit again today.
Once they approached the guards they pleaded their case…
however…
inside the room…
A couple minutes before the group had piled up outside, Shadow had slowly gotten up, vision wavering as his memory somewhat failed…he forgot where he was.
Upon getting out of the cot, he nearly twisted his left ankle, apparently it’s been sprained or…something like that…he doesn’t know and barely even noticed…
He stumbled out into the middle of the room, looking up all he saw was a sterile white. He looked mystified and in pain, raising a hand up at first to block out the harsh light, before resting his claw on the side of his temple, clutching it in pain as it started feeling wet again…
Was he…in Maria’s room?
No no no he…he couldn’t be here…
He turned his head slowly to look behind himself, expecting a Maira confined to the bed behind him but…he turned and saw nothing… Just an empty disheveled cot…
His vision continued to stutter and waver before he quickly covered his mouth as bile rushed up his throat, and almost as if planned he made it to a trashcan right beside his cot, heaving violently into it…
If he were in his right mind, he’d know that he still has a concussion…and a severe one at that.
He’d also know that there’s actually some medications lined up on the counter for his current symptoms, they were measured and labeled to his liking but even despite this he couldn’t notice them…
Instead concussed Shadow decided that now was a rational time to break down on the floor, cowering and clutching his pained head, and whoever is supposed to be watching the footage of him is not doing their job.
Perhaps complete isolation was not the best choice…
Meanwhile back outside the containment room, Tails showed his scanner to the guards to prove his case. “You see it’s just a minute long scan! We’ll be in and out without any trouble! Promise!” The young kit’s confidence and mild optimism was certainly adorable and almost convincing.
Too bad the guards were once again giving the group the silent treatment. To which Rouge crossed her arms and irritably tapped her foot, “really?” Honestly she couldn’t even tell if these were the same guards but she wouldn’t exactly be surprised.
It was only after what she assumed was an eye roll before they were allowed to pass through the doors again…weird they weren’t exactly given or—
Oh wow Tails’s kit eyes truly are powerful—or maybe they were given quick orders to allow Tails to quickly get this done as not to waste anymore time, but that didn’t mean the fox didn’t try.
Well the truth was that their Commander did give orders to let the fox do whatever it takes to get his temporary task done, but right after he had sent a code to Shadow to prepare for visitors with…no response. Which was eerie, no matter what mood the edgelord was in… So either way someone should probably check up on him since the security guard isn’t responding on the situation either…
At the sixth and final reenforced door Sonic irritably and rapidly tapped his foot, “ugh?! Why is this taking so long?!”
“You know that patience is a virtue right?” Rouge snipped back sarcastically.
“I WILL SIDE WITH ROUGE, YOU SHOULD LEARN SOME PATIENCE HEDGEHOG.” Sonic groaned loudly as Rouge smirked, “HOWEVER, I AGREE THAT THIS IS TAKING FAR TOO LONG.”
Rouge scoffed as Sonic snickered, “who’s side are you really on Omega?! Besides it’s only been a minute! Princess is probably just getting his flawless grumpy face ready, maybe that’s why it’s taking so long.” She’d know truly the length of this process…
Tails meanwhile posed a decent question, “okay I understand that Shadow is more likely to uh…not know his own strength right now but why do they need to lock him behind six doors? Isn’t he still our Shadow…?”
The rest of the group went silent…
Sonic scratched his quills… “Maybe…it’s because this is the only room they had ready to contain him?” Or his other theory that they’re still treating Shadow more like a weapon that needs to be locked away after use than a living breathing person…
“But would that explain all these doors?” Tails shifted a bit…
Silence again…
Even with his doubts Sonic still felt the need to reassure and comfort Tails… “Look Tails, I’m sure it’s nothing personal against-“
And then the final door opened, to a Shadow consumed by madness curled up on the floor, much to everyone’s gasping shock.
“Shad-?!” Rouge didn’t even get Shadow’s whole first name out before Sonic sped past her to Shadow’s side, much to a fool’s mistake.
“Shads?! Are you okay what’s-“ a fool’s mistake indeed, Shadow looked up at Sonic with a crazed and dilusonly dazed look in his eye before slamming Sonic against the wall with a harsh blow. Painfully rendering the opposing hedgehog immediately unconscious…
Yeah that tight leash had been snapped. “SHADOW!”
“SONIC!” Tails whined and cried out, reaching out for his brother but unable to bridge the gap between the two hogs with Shadow still on the floor glaring at the group like an energized wild deranged animal.
Of course this was all the excuse needed for the armed G.U.N. Agents to shoot Shadow, granted they were only armed with stun guns and tranqs, not that Tails knew that.
“Wait don’t shoot him! He’s still our friend!” Tails proceeded to act like a naïve mobian shield between Shadow and the other agents.
“Tails!” Rouge really did not want to be reduced to babysitter but she is NOT about to watch an eight year old get tased.
Just great, conflicting orders. They can’t exactly fix problem Shadow if Tails gets injured in any way, but also Shadow could very much breach contain-
In the short amount of time where everyone was on edge, somehow OMEGA weaseled his way into view of Shadow, who still heaved in a defensive mode…
“Omega…” Wearily…Rouge didn’t know what else to say, it’s not like the bot was shooting or doing anything…wrong.
“SHADOW…” Shadow didn’t respond… “YOU ARE VERY CLEARLY UNWELL, SUFFERING FROM A MAJOR HEAD INJURY, A CONCUSSION. IT IS RATIONAL OF YOU TO TAKE IN SOME DEEP BREATHS AND TRY TO RECALL YOUR CURRENT SURROUNDINGS.” Omega advised rather rationally…
Surprising everyone—even to Shadow’s shock—he did not even know why he listened…but he did start to breathe and calm down…vaguely coming back to some of his senses…
“where…where am I…?” Shadow deliriously asked while attempting to pick himself up off the floor, attempting to focus on seemingly impossible places of the blank room… Omega answered.
“G.U.N. HQ, YOU ARE IN CONTAINMENT BUT ONLY BECAUSE YOU FEAR HARMING OTHERS.” It’s a bit blunt and revealing of Shadow’s true nature but he is currently in no state to even attempt to deny this with actions or words…
Instead Shadow turned his vision to a blurry blue Sonic… “Did I…hurt someone…?” He couldn’t tell who it was, he only saw blue and he only knew so many people who are/wore mostly blue…either way some uncontrolled tears were brought to his eyes, which he instinctively covered in a vain attempt to still hide his emotions… He harshly rubbed at said eyes, which wasn’t helping the swollen one’s condition, especially given that there was more blood now attempting to pour back into it…
Omega approached as Shadow managed onto shaky legs… “THERE THERE SHADOW, YOU WILL NOT HARM ANYONE ELSE TODAY, WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT.” Honesty if this weren’t Omega—actually no because this IS Omega that statement sounded more so akin to a threat than reassurance—however Shadow took it as it truly is and collapsed against the side of the bot…
Rouge blinked, “wow big guy…” genuinely everyone is stunned that Omega actually handled the situation with an odd amount of grace…
And then Shadow got struck with a tranquilizer to the neck.
From Omega’s hand—claw.
Rouge rapidly blinked before exclaiming “WHY?!”
“BECAUSE ROUGE, TAILS REQUIRES A SCAN AND IN THE STATE SHADOW IS IN IT IS BETTER IF HE IS LEFT UNAWARE, I HAVE WEIGHED OUR OPTIONS ON THE SITUATION. NOW HURRY FOX CHILD WE DO NOT HAVE ALL DAY.” Omega then slowly but surely returned a now unaware Shadow to his cot.
Tails nervously turned around and stuttered, “r-right…”
The second Tails borrowed one of Shadow’s wrist limiters for the scanner, there was a greater disturbance and flow of chaos energy as everyone was forced to back up for a moment and Shadow grimaced now seemingly in more pain. Which made Rouge all too tempted, as she slowly reproached when it all died back down, placing a hand onto his forehead.
“He’s…burning up…” Is that from his energy or…
“You…said he has a concussion right…?” Tail murmured as he scanned the ring from multiple angles…
“Yea…” Rouge lightly brushed one of Shadow’s quills till it zapped her, but it was worth it to see him calm down even just slightly before that…
“IT IS NOT HIS ONLY INJURY REMAINING, HIS LEFT ANKLE STILL REQUIRES TIME FOR RECOVERY, PERHAPS EVEN TREATMENT GIVEN HIS CURRENT STATE.” Omega’s observation and now full scan of Shadow’s body was now being made, “HE IS ALSO SOMEHOW DEHYDRATED.” Is Omega making a fax machine noise…? “I AM SENDING OUR FORMAL COMPLAINT TO OUR MANAGER.”
Rouge didn’t even feel like asking, maybe it was just Omega’s attempts at lightening the mood.
“Done!” Tails suddenly exclaimed out of the blue, “it uh…actually took a little bit longer than a minute sorry…” Tails mumbled before giving the functioning limiter to Rouge to equip back onto Shadow, he then quickly flew over to Sonic—who honestly Team Dark forgot about…where are the guar-
“What happened in here?!” Oh look it’s the boss…maybe he does have a favorite. Ironic how he tried to kill him.
Some medical staff also rushed into the room to tend to the two hedgehogs, lifting Sonic away on a gurney and cleaning Shadow’s reopened wound under the judging, watchful, stare of E-123 Omega.
Rouge turned up her lip in a rather peeved manner, “well since you didn’t get the news until now, Shadow’s delirious, his concussion got worse and has now escalated to a fever. Whoever was watching him must’ve been having the time of their lives…” She sounded rightfully bitter…
Almost immediately The Commander responded to this by speaking into his fancy wristwatch. “Remind me that security is fired.” Well that escalated a bit quickly…
“I’ve never seen Shadow cry before…” Tails mumbled as he stared at his scanner’s process in processing…
“…” The Commander muttered into his watch again… “Bookmark the last…fifteen or so minutes of footage from Shadow’s containment…” Suspicious… He then cleared his throat, “Agent Rouge, Agent Omega, thank you for assessing the situation and filing a complaint.” Oh so Omega was kinda serious… “I’ll take it from here with some more medical staff an-“
Omega and Rouge both objected, Rouge starting, “I-“
“WITH ALL DUE RESPECT SIR, THERE IS A REASON THAT SHADOW’S CONDITION HAS DETERIORATED AND IT IS NOT JUST DUE TO HIS LACK OF CHAOS CONTROL.”
“S-“
“IT IS DUE TO STAFF INCOMPETENCE.”
Rouge face palmed as their Commander hummed… “I suppose that I may always count on you Omega to speak your mind…” There was an awkward silence…
“I…actually do agree with Omega.” Rouge stated out of the blue which basically encouraged Omega to continue his rant. “To an exten-“
“THESE MEATBAGS STILL TREAT SHADOW AS IF HE PLOTS TO KILL THEM ALL IN HIS SLEEP.” Rouge isn’t even going to try to stop him now. “WHEN ANY ONE WITH EVEN BASIC LEVELS OF INTELLIGENCE, E.I. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG.” Rouge don’t even snicker at that! “COULD TELL THAT SHADOW WOULD NEVER WILLINGLY HARM SOMEONE HE RESPECTS OR FOR THE SIMPLE HELL OF IT, SURE HE MAY STEAL YOUR CAR, BUT HE WILL NOT KILL YOU FOR IT.” ok maybe now isn’t exactly the best time to address Shadow’s actual crimes… “IF HE HAD BEEN PROPERLY TREATED ON TIME, HE LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE ATTACKED AT ALL.” Omega seemed to process something for a split second… “ACTUALLY, HE ONLY ATTACKED WHEN HE FELT THREATENED, EVEN I WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO HIM THROUGH SIMPLE WORDS.”
Rouge left her mouth agape, then again this entire rant 100% further proved that Omega is far more than just shoot and more shooting.
Their Commander nodded, it actually made sense that the staff under-treated in this case due to how fast and unaided Shadow typically heals, so no one else is getting fired today at least… “Understood. So what do you two suggest?” But the commander knew the look of his other two special agents, Rouge and Omega didn’t even miss a beat, well actually Omega just finally let Rouge speak with a simple signaling of just silently meeting her gaze.
“We’re going to help him of course.” The Commander raised a brow, not out of confusion but out of how much the gem huntress has grown from being a simple lone thief that only looked out for herself… “Shadow’s in this mess because he saved our lives and did his job, so…as a team, it only makes sense that we now help save his.” The Commander has never been more proud of Team Dark, who could’ve guessed that these three would’ve turned out as such a tight knit unit.
“Very well then.”
***
It took many long hours but…Shadow finally regained complete consciousness once again… Only when he sat up this time…he was back in the medbay.
Of course his first instinct was to silently panic—then check his still bare ankle now in a cast—then panic aga—wait is his ankle in a cast…?
He blinked and the answer to that is no, it’s supported in a hanging sling with a couple of bandages and presumed ointment slathered about…did they…actually bother to do this for him? The Ultimate Lifeform that could heal any injury—why does his head still hurt…
“Morning sunshine…” Rouge dabbed his head with a cool wet rag…also her hands were clothed in rather thick rubber gloves…debatable on if that completely protected her from his stray chaos energy but efforts have been made.
“Wh—Rouge? Where am I? What hap-“ He was interrupted by a cough erupting from his throat, only to immediately get a paper cup to the lips, which he too eagerly began to gulp down.
“Don’t drink too fast hon, it’s not going anywhere.” When Shadow was done, Rouge removed the cup from his lips, but of course this didn’t really stop his questions…
“Rouge—what the hell?!” He almost wished that he could sound more pissed…
Rouge already translated what he was saying/thinking it in her own head, “yeah why are you not locked up like you belong to Eggman? Because Shadow, last I checked you have a fever, and can’t do everything like a lone-wolf.”
“But…I could attack-“
“WE ASSURE YOU THAT YOU HAVE NOT ATTACKED ANYONE IN SEVERAL LONG HOURS.” It took Shadow longer than he’s willing to admit to notice that Omega is in the room as well…
“B-“
Rouge finally got her time in to interrupt someone else, “Shadow, you have a concussion! The first time you woke up in the med bay with the combination of the bright lights, sterile room, and being held down with a bunch of machines plugged into you made you panic, probably even woke up some PTSD you refuse to admit you have.”
“I do not have PTSD.” Shadow denied immediately like any normal person who requires extensive therapy.
“ROUGE HAS MADE A POINT.” Omega immediately sided.
As Shadow scowled, Rouge gestured to Omega. “See? Two against one.”
And then it somehow got worse. “Yeah just lighten up Shads, this isn’t too bad.” Shadow whipped his head to spot Sonic chilling a single cot away from him.
“That—why are you—there is no possible way that if you of all people are also confined to a bed AND that you would be okay with it!” Shadow growled at his blue nonchalant rival.
Sonic sighed and dropped the act immediately, “yeah you’re right. I was paid to say that. Being injured is the WORST! The doctors told me not to go fast and to take it slow because apparently you gave me a mild concussion.” Well he lied about half of that statement, he wasn’t really paid to do anything unless you actually count chilidogs as currency.
“…” Shadow paused for a moment…and Rouge and Omega silently panicked that Sonic had set off the no no meter in terms of Shadow not wanting to hurt any- “I can live with this.” oh
“Hey!” Sonic lightly shouted back as Shadow decided to finally relax.
“What? You’re still an annoyance in my spine, so I figured that your injury was the opposite of severe.
And suddenly Tails peaked into the room, “It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve hit your head.” Tails claimed as he flew over to the other mobians.
“I HAVE SUSPECTED THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN DROPPED AS AN INFANT, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO SELF SHAME IN SUCH EVENTS, ONLY SHAME ON YOUR CARETAKER.”
“HEY!…I think.” Sonic squinted at the notion…
“Quit teasing him.” Rouge smirked as she playfully swatted at Omega…meanwhile Shadow had a ghost of a smile plastered on his face.
“Annnnyway before I forget!” Tails optimistically handed Shadow a familiar large ring. “The materials for this took awhile to be found and molded but I managed to recreate it near identically to the original!…I think!” Tails smiled somewhat sheepishly but overall filled to the brim with potential and excitement. “But good as new! Right?”
Shadow stared at it for what seemed a solemn minute before flipping it over, rotating it, examining it, and coming to a conclusion… “If I put this on I will NOT be blowing up, correct?”
Tails nervously flicked his twin tails… “Uhh well there’s a .2% chance you do below up-“
Shadow had been kidding but now he’s mildly concerned.
“THESE ODDS ARE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE IN COMPARISON TO ETERNAL LOCK UP!” Thought they all agreed no more to that?!
“The choice is still technically your own Shadow…” Rouge assured, knowing both that one this isn’t a choice it’s an ultimatum and two, she already knew Shadow’s answer.
It was barely a brief pause before he clicked open the ring and then attempted to lean forward to place it back onto his ankle with hints of struggle.
Much to the objection of just about everyone.
“Here hon let me help you.”
“I can fly up and do it for you-“
“Uhh can you even lean forward that far without twisting your ankle again?
“SHADOW DO NOT FORCE IT, LET US ASSIST YOU.”
WOW if Shadow was ever WILLING to cry he probably would right now…again. “No I almost-“ Speaking of, Shadow if he was aware would be glad to know that a certain someone went in and deleted the footage of his breakdown from earlier…
And then, with a single click…it was all over.
Shadow finally sighed in full relief…only to remember that he still had to test it, even if he no longer felt a minor prickle of loose energy in his body…
“Hey did you know they have pretty bad coffee?” Sonic stated out of the blue—oh hey a mug, well that’s mighty convenient.
Shadow extended his hand to Sonic, “mug.” To which Sonic just blinked.
“You know I kinda had to buy this right? I almost ran into a wall to get it since I didn’t want to use a paper cup since they get all hot and eventually soggy-
“Mug.”
Sonic relented and slightly pouted, “fine…” and Tails retrieved and offered the mug to Shadow, who caught it in his hands since he still refused to willingly make direct physical contact with people. He then examined the mug in his clutches, now under normal circumstances if he were missing a limiter, such a delicate thing would’ve more than likely shattered by now… However, currently in his hands the most damage dealt to it were some small minor cracks…
“…” Shadow stared down in mild awe, sure his limiters don’t exactly work at 100% right away, it takes a bit of time before they’re in full effect but this…this is significantly better than just shattering the mug on contact. Shadow smirked slightly, “thank you fox…” He’s willing to accept that Tails has done some good and made some wonders to him today.
Sonic dramatically gasped, “oh my Gaia he thanked Tails!” To which Shadow rolled his eyes to that.
“Shouldn’t we all thank him?” Everyone turned their heads to the same gray haired man who does not have a favorite agent.
“Commander…” Shadow murmured, still feeling a bit of shame from all that occurred earlier… But the elder raised his hand.
“In the event that you wish to apologize, I’m informing you that there is no need agent.” Shadow blinked in genuine shock and surprise at his boss’s claim… “In fact, Agent Shadow, it is my apology that deserves to be voiced, apparently G.U.N. Is still rather incompetent in some areas…”
Shadow near rapidly glanced all over the room, a part of him was very much still convinced that he’s dreaming, whether fully unconscious or not… “Erm…don’t sweat it.” He muttered without much of a second thought-
“Sorry Shadow, but this is something that I will sweat.” Gross. “I shouldn’t have shown you the recording from when you first woke up back at HQ, and I sincerely apologize if I once again made you feel and seem like a monster.” Shadow raised his head again at this… “You are one of my top agents, and with everything that you have done for us, I sincerely hope that you can forgive me.”
Shadow seemed to have forgotten how to verbally respond, clever words escaping him…so he simply nodded. Truly appreciating those words, and despite him not fully showing it, it was received.
Anyway, now with that settled. Tails has a very simple and important question, “now that that’s out of the way…byyyy any chance do you have any more breath mints?” He’s already using his eyes…
“Oh brother…” Sonic groaned…
The Commander blinked, just what did grandpa here get himself into…
“MAYBE YOU SHOULD CUT BACK ON THE MINTS TAILS…” Omega’s tone actually seemed to somewhat deadpan right there.
“Hey! I don’t have a problem! It’s not that bad I swear!” Tails claimed with little evidence to support it.
Meanwhile Rouge muttered under her breath… “Well it’s better mints than some other substance…”
“Rouge!” Sonic barked.
“What?” And the white bat played coy.
As Shadow witnessed his friends and family’s bickerings over Tails’s near crippling mint addiction…he silently appreciated the noise, before calmly shutting his eyes in utter and ironic peace.
He had forgotten how horrifying and awful true isolation had been…but now…he gets to fully pretend that he hates all the disturbances in the air again…
He managed to survive an ungaialy amount of time missing a limiter, with a ton of serious injuries to boot and miraculously no casualties…
He considers that very much a win.