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Shadow doesn’t know how fast he runs but he knows he arrives right on time.
That monster, that robot, whatever it is. It holds his creator tight, a vicious grip the kind Doctor Gerald Robotnik doesn’t deserve. It notices him, blue eyes shining with nothing but beastly rage - an unknown killing machine. What have they been hiding from the kind doctor? What has G.U.N been planning while he works to cure those with little time left?
For now, it doesn’t matter. Shadow made a promise and he intends to keep it.
The monster stops menacing Gerald, dropping him with wanton abandon, and leaps at Shadow with a speed matching his own. They turn and clash! A shockwave following the violent meeting of powerful beings.
But if Shadow is to be The Ultimate Lifeform he must also be the ultimate threat.
He won’t lose Gerald again.
Again?
A crack forms in his mind, gunshots and soldiers, and the robot easily takes advantage of it. A quick sweep of the legs and a punch that sends Shadow flying back the way he came. He’s disoriented but still stands and just in time as it makes a dent in the wall in what could have been his head.
Shadow charges the robot, a clean kick to the head smashing it to the ground, It spins, as if no damage was dealt, and tries to uppercut him but Shadow is quicker than that and a palm strike to the chest has it stumbling back.
“Shadow!” He hears the doctor cry out. “Don’t stop! It will copy your moves!”
Heeding the doctor’s advice, Shadow moves to make quick work of this copycat machine. But with a few beeps and the wiring of intelligent thought, it matches his attack with its own.
Move for move, kick for kick, punch for punch, it copies him perfectly. Even a reckless dive followed by a haymaker doesn’t work. The robot has Shadow at its mercy and it finally chooses to put the hedgehog down.
Shadow’s face cracks the ground. With a single strike, the Ultimate Lifeform has already lost.
The robot walks away, sure of its victory, and heads towards its creator. Murder must be its protocol.
Wait. Its creator?
Another crack. Another memory. What life is he living?
“Shadow! Help me!”
Yes. That’s right. He made a promise.
If the doctor dies, Maria dies. That is a fact and not one he is willing to let come to pass.
With a painful grunt, Shadow stands; furious resilience coursing through the immortal being.
A spear made of pure light strikes the robot down. Its body falls limp. Victory is his.
Shadow cradles his stomach as he stumbles towards his creator. He falls to his knees in front of the doctor, who quickly takes him by the shoulder.
“Are you alright, Shadow?”
“Yes, doctor. As long as you are.”
Gerald smiles warmly, nodding in gratitude towards his creation. “Thanks to you, yes, I am.”
Shadow grunts again, pulling himself to stand. “We must return to Maria. She is worried about you.”
Gerald looks towards the robot, “But I-”
“Doctor. Please.” Shadow’s eyes are stern. There is no argument to be had.
“Fine.” Gerald accepts. “But I must fix this soon.”
Shadow holds his arm and tugs him up. “Then that can be your second priority.”
Gerald accepts the order and stands strong. “That, I can do.”
“Good.”
They walk towards their hope; striding past the flames.
“Can we save her,” Shadow asks.
“Yes,” Gerald answers.
“Promise,” Shadow begs.
“Promise.”