“Let’s see here,” Eggman said to himself as he was looking at the computer screen. “The building of my Eclipse Cannon is only 25 percent complete.” He shook his head. “Not good enough. I need the cannon ready by the time I receive all seven Chaos Emeralds.”
The sound of a sliding door caught Eggman’s attention. He turned around in his chair to see Shadow standing at the entrance.
“I’m back, doctor,” said Shadow.
“Ah, Shadow. You came back just in time. So, did you bring what I asked for?”
“Here it is.” Shadow handed Eggman the computer disk. “That disk contains the blueprints of G.U.N.’s new military headquarters.”
“Excellent.” Eggman placed the disk into his computer and uploaded the blueprints. “This makes the plan a whole lot easier.”
“Then let’s go before we waste anymore time.”
“Not yet, Shadow. First, let me introduce my newest creation.” Eggman pressed a button that brought a black robotic hedgehog with red streaks on its arms, legs and the ends of its quills. “This is your metal counterpart, Metal Shadow.”
Shadow gave the new robot a look through. “This is suppose to look like me? It hardly looks helpful.”
“That’s because it’s just the prototype. If it’s successful, then I will create the real thing. I’ve also added a few special features to it.”
“Like what?”
“Well. For one, I placed a few dynamite packs into it. And if you look closely at the right ear, you can see an antenna sticking out.”
“What’s it for?”
“That is for disabling the security cameras. Now, we must get ready.” Eggman pressed a button next to the speaker box. “Metal!”
“Yes, master.”
“Get ready to head out toward the mountainous region where the new G.U.N.’s military headquarters is located.”
“Right away, master.”
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The group was now in the mountainous region, about a few feet away from the headquarters.
“Now that we’re here, I’ll go over the plan,” said Eggman. He uploaded the blueprints of the headquarters which resembled more of an X. “From what I understand, the Security Vault should be located at the northeast quadrant of the headquarters, where the three Chaos Emeralds are located. First, Metal Shadow will go to the main sector to distract the military. Once that happens, Metal Sonic and myself will go to the south side quadrants and plant a few dynamite packs while Shadow goes to the Security Vault and get the Chaos Emeralds. Once Shadow gets them and heads back here, I’ll detonate the dynamite packs, as well as Metal Shadow, and destroy the headquarters, and G.U.N. will be no more. The moment for attack is now. Go, Metal Shadow!”
Shadow stood there with his arms crossed as he watched Metal Shadow skate toward the headquarters.
“There’s one question that I’ve been meaning to ask you, doctor,” said Shadow.
“And that is?”
“Why did you agree to do this?”
“Taking out G.U.N. you mean? Well, just like you Shadow, Maria and Prof. Gerald are my family. I just can’t sit here after what they did to my cousin and my grandfather. I’m gonna make them realize to not mess with the Robotnik family.”
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Two security guards were standing out in front of the entrance as Metal Shadow was approaching.
“Man, this duty is really boring,” said the first guard.
“Yeah. Wouldn’t it be fun if something interesting happened just now?” asked the second guard.
“Yeah, it wo…wait! Look at that!”
The second guard was looking at where the first guard was pointing and saw a black figure quickly approaching them.
“What is that?” asked the second guard.
“I don’t know, but it looks like we get to have some fun after all.” Then the guards were shocked as the figure stopped in front of them. “It’s that black hedgehog!”
“Get your gun ready!”
Just as they were about to fire, Metal Shadow ran through them, knocking them down.
“This is security guard one to Central Control. Do you read me?”
“This is Central Control. We read you loud and clear. What’s the problem?”
“We just had a run in with Project: Shadow.”
“What!? Did you get him?”
“Negative. The Project ran by us before we had the chance to fire and is now in the main sector.”
“Copy that. We’ll send the troops right after him.”
“What’s that about Project: Shadow?” asked the commander.
“Sir! The security guards have just made contact with the Project.”
“Hmmm. I knew this day would come when Shadow finally decided to show up. Track him down with the security cameras.”
“Yes, sir.” The assistant tried to get the cameras to work, but they only showed up fuzzy. “Sir, I can’t get the cameras to work. It looks like they’re jammed.”
“Great! Then send the Hunter and Beetle robots to every sector and quadrant in this building.”
“I’m on it, sir.”
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“Shoot!” shouted the second security guard. “And I was hoping for some real action.”
“Maybe we can help with that,” said a voice.
The guards turned around to see Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic.
“Dr. Eggman!” shouted the first security guard.
“That’s me, and it’ll be the last name that you’ll remember! Fire, Metal!”
Both Metal Sonic and Eggman fired their laser weapons at the guards. They both dodged them but the laser combination caused an explosion at the entrance.
“Bwahahaha! If this is what we have to expect, then this mission should be over in no time. Hurry, Shadow. We don’t have much time left.”
Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic went to the south side quadrants as Shadow headed for the Security Vault.
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As Shadow made it to the Security Vault, he noticed that a guard was sitting in his chair, asleep. Then he noticed a card key hanging from his belt.
‘That must be what I need to get in there,’ Shadow thought to himself.
Shadow slowly reached for the card key, and when he did, the slight movement caused the sleeping guard to wake up.
“Huh? What’s going on?” the guard asked. Then he looked around and saw Shadow. “Hey! What do you think you’re do…”
Before the guard had the chance to finish that sentence, Shadow did a Homing Attack, knocking the guard out. Then, Shadow ripped the card key from his belt and opened the Vault’s door.
“There has to be some sort of alert system installed in this vault,” Shadow said to himself, “but I better make the most of it.”
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When Shadow entered inside the Security Vault, the northeast quadrant on the computer screen at the Central Control began to flash.
“Sir, I’m picking up an intruder at the Security Vault,” said the assistant.
“So, Shadow wants his hands on the Chaos Emeralds, eh? He probably wants to use them against us, but I won’t allow that to happen. Send all the troops over to the Security Vault, immediately!” The commander ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
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Shadow reached for his headset as he took the last Chaos Emerald.
“Doctor, I’ve got all three Chaos Emeralds.”
“Excellent work, Shadow,” said Eggman. “Metal and myself are already outside waiting for you to return.”
“Then it shouldn’t take me lo…”
“Freeze! Hedgehog!” shouted a guard.
Shadow looked at the entrance to see a large group of guards standing there with their guns pointing at him.
“This is not my day,” said Shadow.
“What is it, Shadow?” asked Eggman.
“I’ve just been found out. The guards are already over here.”
“You have to get outta here fast! I can’t detonate the dynamite packs with you in the building!”
Shadow thought about it, looked at the three Chaos Emeralds and smirked.
“Go ahead and detonate, doctor.” Shadow held up the red Chaos Emerald. “Sayonara, you ungrateful humans! Chaos Control!”
As Shadow disappeared in the light, the whole military headquarters was caught in a huge explosion.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it Metal?” asked Eggman as he watched the building being engulfed in flames.
“It’s quite a sight to behold and enjoy, master,” said Metal Sonic.
Then Shadow appeared in front of Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic.
“Now let’s head back to the base before we’re detected,” said Eggman.
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Once back at Eggman’s base, Shadow handed him the three Chaos Emeralds, which he laid on the table.
“Now I got four of the seven Chaos Emeralds. I only need the other three for my plan to succeed,” said Eggman. Then he turned toward Shadow. “Thank you Shadow, for helping me. Your revenge for Maria has been fulfilled, and you’re also a free hedgehog might I add. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do. You know your way out.”
As Eggman headed for his lab, Shadow looked at the four Chaos Emeralds.
“I guess the doctor really has changed,” Shadow said to himself, “but just in case he goes back, I’ll take one of these with me.”
Shadow took the red Chaos Emerald and left the base.
To be continued…