Chapter Text
Sonic felt sluggish , his speed feeling just out of reach, and ultimately very clumsy. He didn’t have his usual stride, and it felt awful. It was as if he suddenly had two left feet! A dance out of rhythm or a game of tic tac toe having half the boxes blocked; he wasn't working at full capacity. After long spances of running he would have to stop and catch his breath; his lungs on fire, and his knees aching.
It felt worse than the past few times he had been sick, but he always was dramatic with falling ill.
He always made a mountain out of a mole hill when he felt off; this is definitely nothing.
It was only after almost tripping over a flicky that he decided enough was enough. A talk with Tails was much needed- His lil bro was smart! Best engineer this side of the Earth! Illness wasn't his specialty by any means, but he didn’t have another easy bet to pull from to his memory.
He would have an answer; he has to.
“You have a cold, Sonic.”
Tails stated, barely looking up from his current adjustments to the Tornado.
“I- What? How could you tell?? You haven't checked!”
“You always get this way when you catch it. Probably just need to take it easy, the next few days is all, plenty of rest!”
Sonic crossed his arms, tapping his foot impatiently, as his friend turned to face him.
Tails sighed,
“You really need to rest, Sonic! Please-”
“But Eggman-”
Sonic cut off Tails again, very intent to argue, before he was also cut off by another of their allies. Amy had entered the hanger; very interested in the blue blur avoiding taking yet another sick day.
“He can wait a day! You need to rest and that's final! I'll have others check up on you.”
The hedgehog's face turned sour further, but he wouldn’t argue. His friends would win here, and deep down he knows they're right. They always take good care of him! He just hates admitting he needs it in this way.
Rely on your friends, of course he can rely on them, but he likes being able to protect himself. Take the assist when needed, but take the brunt of it all- Sure, he carried the world on his shoulders usually, but he liked it that way. Gave him a purpose for him on this blue marble. At least he says he likes it that way… was exhausting.
How much of a hero is he if a cold puts him out of work for the day? For a week? For a year??
No matter. He can't argue with his nose running as fast as he does, and the constant near migraine; he has to rest. He has to sleep off the near head splitting pain.
His vision felt odd.
Sonic sighed, nodding to Amy and Tails.
“Fiiiinee, I'll go rest. Thank you both!”
He gave them a tired smile, and his usual thumbs up. Tails tried to catch his attention one last time before he skated off, but he zipped off too quickly.
He didn't get to hear what Tails had to say.
Sonic had his own little hole in the ground to call home; it felt like his own piece of angel island. Floating above the clouds without a worry- Knowing how often that island got threatened, that was an awful analogy, but the point is he felt at home. A safe spot he could escape the world's woes, but never his clouded mind. That always made the relaxing part difficult, but he tried his best not to linger.
He had to keep moving.
Zipping into his room he kicked off his shoes and fell face first into his bed. Squirming and wriggling his way under the covers; felt nice being off his feet.
His legs felt like jelly, mushy, and unstable.
Facing up at his ceiling he could see all the little glow in the dark stars Tails had made for him, hundreds, with his head swimming they looked almost like the real thing. Made him wonder what Earth looked like from the stars.
A blue marble in the black void of the world; hopeful, he'd like to think.
Space wasn't so cold after all.
He started to shiver under his blanket; beads of sweat forming on his brow, he turned over to face the right wall, but it wasn't a helpful distraction. His vision was wrong? He couldn't see the wall properly; it looked duplicated?
“Sonic?”
A female voice spoke from the end of his bed, and he suddenly sat up, his 4 eyes wide. He rubbed his face, blinking rapidly, and his vision returned back to normal.
He wasn't seeing double; how could he see double?
“Sonic, please.”
The voice was there again, she sounded young, it made his breathing hitch in his chest.
“It's not true; you have a big heart.”
Tears started to well up, threatening to spill over, and he fell backwards in bed. The mattress collapsed; giving way for him to sink further into the thought.
Why, why was he like this? Why couldn't he be better-
The blue orb was a sign of hope amongst the stars.
The brilliant hue didn't match where he had come from, dark strains with corrupted roots, but cascaded in a brilliant symphony all the same. A change for a yet brighter future.
He was told that.
He would save her.
He swore to save her.
How could he save the world if she was dead?
Shadow wasn't one to take up random missions offered to him, but Tails insisted, and after being pressured by Rouge? He ultimately agreed. It wasn't everyday Eggman claimed to have a new ‘toy’ at his disposal, a project in the making, and they needed to cut it off at the source. It was especially concerning that he tried to keep this news under wraps- Eggman was always early to brag.
Capture the hedgehog this, end the world that, it was all the same.
Except for that secrecy; they needed this sorted out quickly.
And if the resistance needed speed for such an occasion? Of course Shadow was the first to be called.
He just hated answering to Tails of all people.
A little brother to him, yes, he cared about the fox absolutely, but showing it wasn't the dark hedgehog's strong suit. Everyone knew that though, and patience was appreciated. Even if he never outright said it; his friends understood.
“Are you nearing the base, Shadow?”
Tails spoke over an earpiece, he could find his own way in, but they needed the leg up.
Eggman had this current project under lock and key.
“Yes, I see 2 armed guards.”
“Alright, there should be another entrance farther up the east side of the building. I should be able to give you remote access.”
“Understood.”
“From there; be cautious of cameras. I can intercept ones in the main hallways, but the containment chamber is a no go. You will be spotted.”
Shadow muttered a reply Tails didn't understand, but they both got the gist. They had worked together plenty over the years since they met; this was just a routine operation; and one he knew he'd be dragged into sibling bonding time after it was done.
Deep down he enjoyed it, Tails didn't have bad taste in media anyhow, he could stomach a few shows together just to make the fox happy.
On cue the east side door opened as promised, and Shadow slid through the opening. Running through the corridors, he made quick work at examining the base; feeding all the new intel he gathered to Tails. It wasn't everyday they had an excuse to do a mission like this, and hopefully; it would make the next one easier, but that wasn't the point.
He eventually came across a heavily barricaded entrance, 3 doors thick of solid steel, but nothing they couldn't get through. With some ‘manual persuasion’ and Tails' computer knowledge the doors opened one after another.
“Eggman will be alerted by this; you have to work fast.”
“I know.”
Shadow stepped into the room; not knowing what to expect, but he was still stunned all the same.
A blue hedgehog suspended in a cryostasis tube.
Sonic just wanted the cold sweats to stop, his eyes to focus proper, and his mind to feel in one piece. To just go back to what he knew, the friends he had created, and call it a day. He had heard of these people for so long, little muffled comments, and phrases that made him wish he was there. Wish he had friends for a change, and live on Earth as she wanted.
That's all he wanted for them both, to feel better, to feel normal, but that wasn't happening.
She didn't get a good life; why would he?
He didn't save her.
He tossed in his bed, back and forth, but ultimately neither side was comfy. Laying on his back in the middle however? It felt right somehow as if he had been in this spot for some years.
Had he been in this spot for years?
He couldn’t remember the last day he wasn't sick; it made sense this was his favorite spot. The thought made his head swimmy- Gazing up at the stars, and letting the time tick by.
She'll feel better.
They almost sparkled and glimmered- He shook his head, closing his eyes shut tight, those aren't real stars. Why did they… Even with his eyes shut he could still see them, see her, but that image grew cloudy. A dark figure reached for him, an open gloved palm, but he couldn't intercept it.
He couldn’t move.
Then the pod opened.
Shadow's expression grew confused seeing not a thing, but a person inside the cryostasis chamber. He had expected, bare minimum a robot akin to omega, a new badnik, anything. Was this blue hedgehog really Eggman's ultimate weapon?... He'll find out soon enough; they'll have company shortly.
Once it fully opened the unconscious hedgehog tumbled forward; Shadow quickly moved to brace the poor guy. How long had he been like this?
“Are you alright?”
His ears twitched.
“Can you walk? Or run?”
The hedgehog shook his head slightly, leaning into the other's touch for warmth. It was clear he needed to thaw after being trapped so long. His joints popped and his skin felt stiff; almost as if the cold was slowly killing him. Preserved, but not at full capacity.
“Shadow! You Need to leave NOW- Eggman knows you're there!”
Tails suddenly interjected, stress starting to show through his tone.
“Understood.”
He muttered, then focusing back on Sonic. Hearing the clank of the badniks approaching; Shadow didn’t wait for an answer. Picking up the other bridal, he sprinted out the door, making a break for the exit.
“DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!”
Screamed Eggman over the intercoms.
Immediately the blue hedgehog snapped awake fully, a terrified expression, as he stared in bewilderment between Shadow and the robots chasing them. The mechanisms of the mad doctor's creation streamed out of every possible door, lasers catching the tips of Shadow's quills as he suddenly dashed through a different corridor.
“We're almost out.”
He muttered quietly, giving the best lopsided small smile he could muster to try and reassure. It looked strained, but he tried.
Sonic, judging by his conflicted expression, didn't take any of this well. He started wriggling; trying to break free.
“What are you doi-”
He suddenly kicked, jostling himself free from the other's grasp, and followed by a short teleport to land on his feet. As soon as he got his footing; his shoes clicked on with a wirr and he zipped ahead.
“Goddamnit- Tails, can you get a read on him? I'm going after our target.”
Shadow huffed, running after the blue trail and broken badniks left in the hedgehog's wake.
“You lost him??”
Eggman?
I remember him talking.
Sonic suddenly started tossing and turning in his bed- No, none of that was real; he was in cryostasis.
Where was he?
All he knew was he left the Ark some time ago; locked up some time ago.
When was he?
“......... me, Dr.Eggman ……….. project complete-”
He can remember a large fuzzy shape in front of the glass, round, and 2 shiny circles. Wait, goggles, he could make out the face when he leaned forward towards the tube. Familiar, but far too muddled for him to make true sense of it. A large mustache decorated the face adorned with a wider mischievous grin, he laughed.
“Perfect! I shall …….. that rat ……. and for all!”
Another voice spoke, critical.
The doctor scoffed,
“You …….. my genius?! …… ……. Ultimate Lifeform!”
Ultimate Lifeform?
Ah, right. His failure; he could remember now.
Sonic didn't think beyond simply running, he wanted no needed answers, but he required time for that. Being chased doesn't give him much to work with, and so he gave his all. Only problem was he didn't know the way out, but the other hedgehog gave him a head start. After one or two wrong turns; he was in the fresh air again.
It felt surreal feeling the cold air; his shoes sliding and melting snow below each foot fall. Sure, cryostasis by definition is cold, but this cold had a different quality to it. Almost warm by comparison, and only surpassed by the familiar stars overhead. He could watch them glimmer, and streak across the sky for infinity.
“Where are you going?!”
He heard a yell, looking over his shoulder his eyes went wide.
With a blip he teleported; just barely missing Shadow taking a swing to grab him. The dark hedgehog immediately stopped, turned on his heels, and redirected course.
“Fuck-”
Was all Sonic could mutter before they collided, exchanging a few blows between the two, before they started to give chase again.
He needed a better way out of here.
“CATCH THAT HEDGEHOG!!”
A louder scream made them both stop; Eggman had caught up, equipped with a giant mech in tow, and a swarm of smaller bots streaming out of every door.
“I know I know, Tails- We need to work together.”
Tails?
“Did you hear me?! We don't have time?!”
Sonic's breathing was panicked, looking between the dark hedgehog yelling at him and the giant robot. He didn't really have a choice, but- Maybe. Maybe he could make good on his mission? Do right by Maria for once in his life.
He nodded,
“Yeah! Let's blow this rust bucket to bits!”
Shadow looked surprised by the sudden agreement, but quickly didn't pay it any mind.
They had no time.
Eggman was here.