Chapter Text
The three of them are transported into the Space Colony ARK. Sonic’s eyes widen as he feels the familiarity of his surroundings. “Welcome Home, Sonic.” Shadow said as Sonic steps off the platform.
“So this is where I was created?” He asked,
“This is where we were created.” Shadow said as Sonic turned back to him.
“Wait… We? As in…”
“Designation: Project Shadow, the Ultimate Lifeform.” Shadow said, “I was created a little after you.”
“Oh… well that explains the resemblance.” Sonic chuckles, “Does that make us brothers?” He asked, though saying it out loud felt weird, that it didn’t sound right.
“No, we were not created the same, you were solely created using Chaos energy. I started off similarly however my DNA is contributed to… Something else…” Sonic could tell Shadow looked uncomfortable and decided not to press for more information about his creation.
“Anything triggering any memories?” Rouge asked as Sonic shakes his head.
“Let’s walk around, I think I know a place that might help.” Shadow asked, heading towards the main control room.
“So… Did I really do all those things that the Tower’s guy said I did?” Sonic asked,
“Yes.” Shadow said as Sonic lowered his head, “But everything I said was also true. G.U.N. imprisoned you illegally for fifty years…”
“FIFTY YEARS?” Sonic interrupted, looking shocked, “I look pretty good for a middle aged man.”
“You were cryogenically frozen in stasis, so you didn’t age.” Shadow said, lightly chuckling at his joke.
“That makes sense.” Sonic said as they entered the control room. Sonic's hit with a feeling of Deja vu as they entered. “I think I know this place…” Sonic said as they walked up to the center console that was deactivated.
Shadow hovers his hand over it and it lights up and the entire room comes to life. “This is the central control system.” Shadow said,
“Also where you and I had most of our meetings with Robotnik on how to proceed.” Rouge said as Sonic looks confused,
“Wait, you worked with him too?” Sonic asked,
“I was undercover. G.U.N ordered me to confirm if you were truly the Ultimate Lifeform.” Rouge explained,
“But that’s you.” Sonic said as Shadow nodded, before gesturing to them to follow him.
“Before you were imprisoned, this science facility cut its ties with the military since we no longer needed their money to sustain our energy source. It was actually thanks to you and the Chaos Drive that it was possible, and they were able to continue their research freely.” Shadow explained. Sonic softly smiles. It was nice to know his energy could be used for good.
“However… the government didn’t take kindly to being removed from the equation. Demanding to have custody of myself and any other experiments that could be considered weapons. But Gerald refused.” Shadow said,
This time Sonic saw something, a flash of a man he’s seen once before in another vision, his appearance reminiscent of Eggman. That was his creator… so it wasn’t a lie that Eggman was his grandson…
Rouge recognizes the room they were heading towards, “Are you sure we should jump in head first?” She asked,
“I’m here if it is too much.” Shadow said,
“What are you talking…” The door to the room opens. Sonic’s eyes widen as he’s flooded with a sense of familiarity. He looks around entering the room without another word. He knew what this room was… this was his room.
His head throbbed; more memories flashed in his head but broken memories of times he was experimented on. He felt overwhelmed remembering the pain, fear, and helplessness he felt…
“No… I don’t want to see this again…” Sonic grabs his head and closes his eyes. Shadow could feel his energy becoming unstable.
“Rouge you may want to take a step back.” Shadow said, approaching Sonic as sparks of energy started to come off him. The moment Shadow embraces him the sparks stop. “Easy, don’t fight the memories,” Shadow said calmly as Sonic’s body relaxed.
Shadow feels Sonic reach out, returning the embrace, he needed to help him remember the good things. “Does the name Maria sound familiar?” He asked as Sonic shook his head. “She was Gerald’s granddaughter, Ivo’s Cousin.”
“Who's Ivo?” Sonic asked.
“Eggman, Hun,” Rouge said.
“Maria had an autoimmune disease, causing her to get sick easily. So she lived up here because the low gravity helped mitigate her symptoms. She would come and play with me when I wasn’t in testing. I assumed she did the same for you,” Shadow explained.
One of the memories flashes to a girl with blonde hair asking for him to come out of hiding. Then another of them sat by the window looking at the stars. He remembers how kind and gentle she was. A relief from the constant tests.
“What happened to her?” Sonic asks as Shadow lets out a sigh before tightening his hold on Sonic. He hated reliving this… but being here with Sonic gave him a small amount of comfort.
“After we cut ties with the government, they forcefully took over the ARK… In an attempt to save me, Maria…” Shadow’s breath stopped, even after all this time her death still haunted him. “She didn’t make it…” He could feel Sonic’s energy increasing again but this time it was fueled by rage instead of fear.
“That’s how I was locked away right? After they took over?” Sonic asked.
“No… Like me, Gerald helped you escape… but your pod was recovered by GUN thinking it was me… My pod fell in a dense forest, and I woke seven years before you did due to its stasis malfunctioning.” He explained.
“So G.U.N took everything from us…” Sonic said, anger to his words.
“Not everything…” Shadow said, loosening his grip and making eye contact with him. “We have each other. We are still alive and can keep our promise to Maria…”
“Promise?” Sonic looked confused,
“Maria asked me one last thing… Give them a chance to be happy…” Shadow said,
“You’re glossing over something sweetie.” Rouge said, “The final project Gerald had planned the day the government shut this place down. The day you two were supposed to first meet.”
“Right…” Shadow said as Sonic could feel him shift uncomfortably. “You were the first prototype as the Ultimate life form, but your abilities only manifested in your speed and ability to create your own chaos energy but if you don’t run enough the stored energy begins to harm you. I was created after, using different methods and could still manipulate Chaos energy and create my own but at a severely lower pace.”
Shadow looks down at his inhibitor rings. “Another flaw was that I was leaking Chaos energy, but that was fixed by wearing the rings on my wrists,” Shadow noticed a change in Sonic’s demeanor, like there was a bit of recognition but unsure,
“What was the name of the project?” Sonic asked,
“Project: Super.” Rouge said. Sonic sees flashes of Rouge holding out the project in front of him with an image of him and Shadow next to one another.
“I think you two would be a powerful force to be reckoned with.” He heard Gerald’s voice in his head.
“We balance each other.” Sonic said as Shadow nods,
“You complete each other.” Rouge teased, quickly noticing the Hero’s face turn red as he glares at her.
“Remember, two can play at that game, Rouge.” Shadow said as Sonic looks confused,
“But why did I do all those bad things?” Sonic asked,
“After Maria’s death… The professor went mad… He altered your memories and placed an order for you to carry out. One you couldn’t refuse even when you tried. He wanted the world to pay for what the government did to her. You broke free in the end and helped me stop his plans… but you sacrificed your life to save mine…”
What?” Rouge said, looking surprised, that Shadow never told her this before.
“After we used Chaos Control to put the ARK back into orbit, it used the last of my reserves in Chaos energy and my Super form was fading…” Shadow said,
“That’s why you were crying…” Sonic said as Shadow smiles at him. “I said you had to go back… and that I was glad that I met you.”
“You used your remaining energy to warp me back to the ARK… and then you fell…” Shadow said,
“That explains the memory loss.” Sonic chuckles, “Falling from space is a pretty serious head injury.”
“Good to see you can make jokes about that.” Rouge shakes her head,
“Did any other memories spark?” Shadow asked as Sonic shakes his head,
“I had a few, but there’s still a lot of blank spots… I just gotta let them come on their own or accept that they might never come back.” Sonic said, letting out a sigh.
“I can also teach you how to channel your Chaos energy into a weapon.” Shadow said.
“I can use it as a weapon?” Sonic asks, looking excited, Shadow chuckles as he lets go of Sonic.
“Heads up boys, we gotta head back.” Rouge said looking up from her communicator,
“Why? Did something happen?” Shadow asked looking concerned,
“The President wants to meet Blue.” She grins,
“Who’s the president?” Sonic asked as they both let out a sigh with a smile as he let out a huff. “Are you two always going to do that?”
“You make it too easy, Hun, you’re just too cute.” She winks as Sonic looks away flustered.
“Let’s go, we don’t want to keep the President waiting.” Shadow said as they walked out of the room.
Sonic takes one more glance at his dusty old room. To him, this was his goodbye to who he was and him walking towards who he wanted to be.
✨
They arrive at the white house as they wait for the President to join them. Rouge watched as Sonic paced in the waiting room, “You’re stressing for no reason, Blue.” Rouge said,
“How can I not?” Sonic said, still continuing to pace. The two of them explained how important the President was to the United Nation. To receive an invitation was considered a great honor.
“Sit down hedgehog, you’re making me tired.” Shadow said with a sigh, he forgot with Sonic’s ever abundant energy and sometimes it was hard for him to keep up.
Sonic sits next to him and takes Shadow’s hand unexpectedly. “So is the transfer of energy automatic or do I need to concentrate?”
“It’s automatic but it can be amplified if either of us concentrate.” Shadow said avoiding the grin Rouge was giving him. “It will take some practice but eventually you’ll be able to materialize Chaos energy.” Shadow holds up his other hand as a small orb of green energy floats above it.
Shadow stops concentrating on the energy, hearing approaching footsteps as the door opens and they both stand up. “I apologize for making you wait so long.” A man wearing a blue suit enters with an entourage of men wearing dark suits and sunglasses, flanking him. “It is good to see you again, Shadow.” He said as Shadow lets go of Sonic's hand and shakes the president's hand.
“It’s good to see you as well, Mr. President.” Shadow smiles,
“And you must be Sonic.” He said holding out his hand, Sonic follows Shadow’s gestures and shakes his hand, “Thank you for helping stop the newest crisis.” He smiles,
“Heh… Glad I could help?” Sonic said, glancing at Shadow and Rouge uncomfortably.
“I wanted to give you my thanks and apologies about what you’ve been through this past year.” The President said,
“Luckily, I don’t really remember it so nothing to worry about.” Sonic chuckles.
“Commander Tower said that you’re considering joining G.U.N.” He said as Shadow held back a growl. He’s using his connection to the President to try to convince Sonic to join them. “I think you’d be an asset to protecting our great nation.” He smiles,
“Yeah I’m thinking about it, but I have a few conditions before I consider it.” Sonic said as Shadow turned to him surprised.
“Oh? What type of conditions? I could assist in making them happen.” The President said. Rouge smirks, she could see what he was doing. That was familiar to the sneaky Hedgehog she remembered so fondly while they worked together on the ARK.
“Well… I’d like to keep working with Rouge and Omega. We make a pretty good team.” Sonic said. “And I’d probably make sure I’m not forced to do anything I don’t want to.” Sonic said,
“I’ll have one of my legal reps get with you to discuss your terms.” They said as Sonic smiles,
“That sounds great since I don’t really know how the world works.” Sonic said,
“Excellent! We’ll schedule something. I’m sorry to make this visit so quick but I’ve got a lot of meetings to get to. Thank you again for everything.” He said starting to leave. “It was lovely to see you, Shadow, Agent Rouge.” He waves as he leaves with his guards, and they are escorted out of the white house.
“That was a sneaky trick.” Rouge grins,
“Thought it would be a good idea.” Sonic chuckles,
“Are you really considering working for them?” Shadow asked, trying to hold back the disdain in his voice.
“Yeah, it’s like Rouge said. Keep your enemies close, right?” Sonic said, putting his hands behind his head. “Besides, if that means I can keep working with Rouge and Omega, I don’t mind.”
“You can’t be serious... Rouge doesn’t even trust them, and she works for them.” Shadow said. He didn’t want Sonic anywhere near G.U.N.
“Exactly.” Sonic said as Shadow looked confused. “I’m not going to lie… a part of me hates them. For what they did to our home… to the Professor and Maria… And that’s why one of us has to.” Sonic looks at Shadow with a determination.
“I get it now,” Rouge smiles, “You want to change it,” Sonic nods,
“Like how you worked with Eggman to find out about the Ultimate Lifeform. I’ll be able to keep tabs on them. Make sure they’re not pulling any stunts like they did locking me up for fifty years.” Sonic smiles.
“You really thought this through, Hun. I’m impressed.” She smiles, patting his head. But Shadow still looked worried… He knew what Tower was capable of. He could lock Sonic up and throw away the key and make him disappear entirely like G.U.N did before.
“We can fix G.U.N. from the inside. It’ll take a while, but I’ve definitely got time.” Sonic jokes. “I think this is the best idea. It’ll give me a chance to learn how the world works and continue helping people.”
“You can help people with me and Miles… You don’t need to be in G.U.N. to do that.” Shadow said.
“What if they decide to come after you like they did me?” Sonic said looking more serious. “You and that Tower guy definitely have a history, and he looks like the kind of guy who’s just looking for an excuse to lock you up.” Shadow looks away, “With Rouge, Omega and me working together, we’ll be able to keep an eye out for you.”
“But if you work for Tower you have to follow his orders… What will you do if it’s something unethical?” Shadow asked,
“Then I won’t do it. I’ll make sure before I tell them yes that if I ever think something is trying to be pushed under the table I go to you and the President.” Sonic said. Shadow couldn’t argue… Sonic had thoroughly thought this through in a small span of time.
“Guess there’s no point arguing about it then,” Shadow said with a huff, “But I’d like you to be able to manipulate Chaos energy more before you give them an answer.”
“I can live with that, on one condition.” Sonic said as Shadow looked confused. “We race.”
“What?” Shadow asked,
“Been wondering about this ever since I saw your shoes. I want to see who is faster.” Sonic smirks.
“You boys have fun, let me know when you’re finished.” Rouge said before flying off leaving the two of them alone.
“Very well Hedgehog, I accept your terms. What’s the finish line?” Shadow asked,
“Uh…” Sonic pauses, realizing he doesn’t know any landmarks. Shadow chuckles at his contemplation as he steps closer to his blue counterpart.
“An endurance race then?” Shadow said as Sonic grins. “Very well,” They both get in position to start their race. “When that light on the street ahead of us turns green we start.” Shadow points out as they both wait, watching the light and quickly taking glances at one another.
The light turns green.
They both take off at full speed faster than any passerby could blink, weaving in and out of the streets dodging cars or running up buildings. They both fought to stay in the lead smiling and laughing as they ran. This was what Shadow wanted, more than anything. To have someone that matched him at everything but was still fundamentally different. Someone who challenged him and pushed him to be more than just a Hero.
His equal.
✨
After a few months of negotiating, a legal contract was created for Sonic to join G.U.N. His main stipulation was to be in a team formed of himself, Rouge the Bat and E-123 Omega now formally known as Team Dark. They had an open contract meaning if they were hired by other agencies at a higher price they were allowed to take the work. Any sort of legal or non-legal actions G.U.N attempts to convict them would have to be approved by the President first before any arrests are made. And if these convictions are proven false a full investigation into the accusations will be done by a third party.
Rouge couldn’t believe the lengths Sonic went through to ensure not only himself, but she and Omega were protected from G.U.N. She knew if he put his mind to it, Sonic would manage to truly fix G.U.N. from the inside and make it a better place. To make the world a better place.
“Alright you two, our mission is to infiltrate this old base of Dr. Robotnik’s and see why it’s become operational all of a sudden.” Rouge said,
“Yeah, yeah, we were at the briefing, we know.” Sonic said, stretching his legs as they were getting ready to exit the convoy.
“I’m reminding you because this is a stealth mission. No destruction unless we’re made.” Rouge said,
“WHAT IF ONE OF THE ROBOTS LOOKS AT ME FUNNY?” Omega asked, raising up their hand.
“How would they look at you if you were hidden?” Rouge asked back,
“BY EXISTING.” Omega said as Sonic bursts out laughing. Rouge facepalms letting out a long groan.
“Relax Rouge, we’re only messing with ya.” Sonic said,
“I WAS BEING SERIOUS.” Omega said as Sonic starts to laugh again,
“You two will be the death of me…” She lets out a sigh,
“You all are ready for dispatch.” Their pilot said The three of them go quiet before giving each other a nod as the side door opens. They jump out, falling down into the forest below.
“Alright Team, Let’s do it, to it!”
The End