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Non-Pokémon The Mainframe Saga (Temporary Hiatus)

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Twelve​

The morning news was barely more than a drone in the background while Amy ate her cereal. Not at her bar, as had become the norm, but instead lounging on the sofa. It had been an odd night. She’d barely slept, too busy lying awake listening to Infinite muttering to himself in the living room. She’d decided not to say anything about it, and had also decided not to get up and investigate for fear she’d find him in a similar trance to the night she’d walked in on him building that tower block.

The jackal sat beside her, spooning his odd breakfast into his mouth. A cacophony of sandwich fillings and bran cereal. Well, at least it was a little bit healthy?

Infinite jerked his head up towards the TV and gave Amy a nudge with his elbow. The pink hedgehog lowered her spoon to follow his gaze, tuning in on the words of the news reporter.

‘… has finally left the Beatdrop Capital’s streets! Last night, people reported seeing a battle unfold just outside the business district. Late night workers were scattered as the monster fought against a space pirate, the wanted fugitive Gadget, and someone onlookers believe may actually be Mainframe’s Guardian Angel!’

A photo appeared on the screen, oddly clear. But the identity of the ‘Guardian Angel’ was obscured behind a mask. Amy gave a sideways glance towards Infinite, who nodded at the screen with approval while continuing his odd breakfast.

As Amy returned to the news report, the door burst open and Tangle marched in, cradling two heaving bags of groceries.

“Look who I found wandering the streets like a lost lamb!” she said.

Whisper wandered in behind her, giving the room’s occupants a weak smile.

“Goodness!” Amy lowered her bowl to her lap. “Whisper? We’ve not seen you in two days! That must have been some big journalist report!”

“Nah! She clearly got lost!” Tangle unloaded the bags onto the breakfast bar.

“Don’t be silly!” Amy turned back to Whisper. “So what was it?”

“Big report.” Whisper turned to join Tangle in unpacking the bags. “Found apartment, too.”

“Nice!” Infinite licked jam off his spoon. “Does that mean we’re losing the big-mouth, now?”

Tangle chuckled and waved her tail. “Ahh, you know you love me.”

Infinite let out a snort and stuffed his spoon back into his bowl.

“Hey, hang on!” Tangle leapt from the bar and landed right between Amy and Infinite on the sofa. “They got a photo?!”

All eyes went back on the television. The report was still ongoing, although it was less about the monster and more about the ‘Guardian Angel’ as they compared the photo with others taken over the past year. The photo had been zoomed in, and as a result had lost a lot of its crispness.

“Hey, her fashion looks a lot like yours, Whisper!” Tangle crooned. “I guess you’ve got somethin’ in common then, eh? Unless there’s somethin’ you’re not telling me?” She laughed and slapped herself on the knee.

Infinite looked over his shoulder at the wolf and raised an eyebrow.

‘The monster’s body has yet to be found,’ the reporter announced as the photo finally left the screen to be replaced by the rabbit’s head. ‘But it is safe to say that both the monster, and Gadget, are no longer a threat to Mainframe’s citizens.’

Infinite almost dropped his spoon. “They… they caught Gadget?”

“Yes.” It was Whisper who answered. She stood behind them with a fresh mug of coffee. “All over the news. Was arrested last night.”

The group fell silent, save for Whisper sipping her coffee.

“Well… what now?” Amy’s voice was oddly small. “Are they going to execute him?”

“No idea,” said Whisper.

Amy looked at her other two friends. Tangle shrugged, while Infinite’s eye grew distant.

“Then that’s good, right?” Amy went on. “That monster and Gadget are both off the streets. All that’s left now is the killer, and they think they know who that is. So if they’re right and Shadow is caught, Mainframe will be safe again.”

“Yeah, until the next problem rears its ugly head,” said Tangle. “There’s always gonna be bad people out there.”

Infinite let out a grunt and placed his empty bowl on the table. “Your annoying friend is right. Evil people are everywhere, and just because one - or two - are caught, it doesn’t make the world perfect.”

“I didn’t say it was perfect,” said Amy. “I said Mainframe will be safe again.”

“Safer, maybe. But not safe.” Infinite pushed himself up and beat crumbs off his fur. “I’m gonna take a shower, and I might be a while. I have some thinking to do, and I can’t very well do it around certain primates.”

Tangle snorted laughter. “I didn’t think I distracted ya that much!”

Infinite’s muzzle creased and he turned his tail on them to head towards the bathroom.

Tangle tucked her arms behind her head as she watched him go. “So, what d’ya suppose he’s thinking about?”

Amy let out a small sigh and placed her bowl on the table to join the jackal’s. “He thinks the killer might be trying to frame him.”

“I don’t get it, though,” Tangle scoffed. “Why would some fugitive experiment try to frame Infinite?”

“Makes a lot of sense,” said Whisper.

Tangle turned to her, aghast, while Amy merely raised an eyebrow.

Whisper shrugged. “Hunted for years. Infinite escapes. Why not create a distraction?”

“Infinite thinks Shadow came from his world,” said Amy. “And they’re enemies. So if he’s right, and Shadow is the killer, then it could be personal. Not a distraction.”

“But he said there’s a Sonic back in his world too,” said Tangle. “So this Shadow could just as easily be a doppelganger. I mean, I read tons of conspiracy theories about this guy, and not one of them had him pegged as an alien.”

Amy rubbed her face with her hands and slumped forwards. “There’s merit to both theories.”

“And we don’t know if this Shadow guy is the killer yet, either.” Tangle leant forward on her knees. “So somethin’ else might crop up!”

Amy shook her head at her friend. “You’re a little too excited about this.”

Whisper inclined her head on one side, gazing off towards the bathroom. “It might be him.”

Amy stiffened and Tangle looked between the two.

“Hang on, Whisper,” said Tangle, jaw dropping. “You think Infinite’s the killer?”

Whisper shrugged again, and Amy lowered her hands to stare at the TV. The news article had changed to updates on The Heartbreaker. Theories as to when he might strike again, and cementing the facts that every single person involved with the school had been evacuated to the surrounding towns and cities.

Tangle turned towards her. “Amy, what do you…?” She broke off, taking in the hedgehog’s dour expression. “You think it’s Infinite, too?”

The lemur’s words were quiet enough not to be picked up in the bathroom.

Amy rubbed the bridge of her muzzle. It wasn’t as if she believed Infinite was the murderer. At least, not completely. The Phantom Ruby possessed some level of sentience, he’d told her that himself. But she couldn’t tell her friends that. It would be breaching his confidence. If it was acting out like she worried it might be, then it was down to the two of them to figure it out. So what could she really say?

Amy sighed and wound her fingers together. “I honestly don’t know. But… I really don’t want it to be him.”

...​

“Urgh, I didn’t think this was going to be easy.” Sonic leant his head in his hands, taking a much needed break from his computer.

A soft whimper came from beside him as T-Pup nuzzled his leg. Tails, on the other hand, continued to browse his own computer while sipping away at his coffee.

“No joy?” asked Rouge.

It was a pointless question. They’d been looking for Amy’s new address for ages, but it was becoming more and more apparent that she’d not updated it yet. That meant she was either still in a hotel, or had only recently moved. Neither of which settled well with Sonic.

“She could be anywhere in Mainframe.” Tails’ voice cemented his fears.

Sonic groaned and rubbed his temples. “Then that means Infinite could also be anywhere in Mainframe.”

“Wouldn’t that rule him out as the murderer?” asked Rouge.

“Not necessarily,” said Shadow. “If he can teleport like I can, then he could travel far distances in seconds.”

“Seconds, eh?” Sonic lifted his head and leant back in his seat. “How does that work with time zones?”

Shadow narrowed his eyes at him, not taking the bait of the hedgehog’s joke at all.

“We’re only left with one choice,” said Tails. “We’ll need to wait at the school, day in day out, until the murderer makes an appearance.”

“So ‘catch him in the act’?” Sonic grimaced. “I don’t like the sound of that, Tails. Someone could die.”

“It would be for a greater cause,” said Tails. “Catch the killer, and no more lives get lost.”

“I don’t know about you, bud, but I’d rather do this without losing any lives.”

A loud thud shook the table, causing all eyes to snap onto Shadow.

“This is pointless!” he roared. “We’re wasting time! We should be out there searching for him! Killer or not, I want answers as to where these powers have come from!”

“I understand that, but it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Sonic explained. “Let’s face it, Shadz, how hard have you made it for GUN to find you all these years? It’s no different.”

“Except there’s less people looking for Infinite,” said Tails.

“Exactly,” said Sonic. “That’s less people to cover more ground.”

Tails sipped his coffee. “I actually meant that would mean Infinite would be less inclined to hide.”

“Oh…”

“If he’s even in the Beatdrop Capital, that is,” Tails went on. “He’s not exactly a media sensation anymore, so there’s no photos more recent than two weeks old. He was last sighted in the park. If Amy has decided to set up residence here, then he shouldn’t be too hard to find.”

“If he’s even still with her,” said Sonic.

Shadow clenched his teeth and dug his claws into the table.

Rouge looked between all three of them. “Well, I can cover more ground from the sky. I can have a good search, while you two speedy ‘hogs race up and down the streets.”

“I can also cover the sky,” said Tails. “T-Pup, too. If it goes off on its own, it can record things for us.”

T-Pup gave an affirmative bark.

“And once we’ve scouted out the area,” Tails went on, “we’ll meet back here before dark. I’ll head back first to make sure Eggman hasn’t sent more drones into the alley. The last thing we need right now are mindless spies recording our every movement.”

“That settles it then!” Sonic pushed himself back from the table. “This has been a slow slog so far, so let’s get this ball rolling!”

“Roger.” Tails rose and reached for his rifle.

“And remember!” Sonic lifted a finger, freezing everyone in their tracks. “We don’t know for certain Infinite is the killer, so we’re only bringing him in for questioning.”

“I was only planning on taking tranquilizers,” said Tails. “I advise we all take that precaution. Past experiences confirm that this alien is hostile.”

Rouge puffed air between her lips and examined her nails. “There goes using my charm, then.”

Shadow rolled his eyes and made for the door. “Let’s just get this over with? The sooner we get answers, the sooner we can part ways.”

Sonic stared at his back then glanced at Rouge. “Not a people person, is he?”

Rouge winked. “Can you blame him?” Then she trotted after Shadow. “Wait up, hon! You’re not leaving without little me.”

Sonic pushed himself up and followed after her, calling over his shoulder. “Come on, Tails! T-Pup! At this rate, he’ll catch the killer before we- Oof!”

His nose collided with Rouge’s back, but she didn’t appear to notice, or care. Instead, the bat let out a disgruntled growl and tapped her foot rapidly on the tiles.

“What’s the problem?” Sonic asked, rubbing his snout.

The shutter rattled open, letting light in from outside. Tails joined his side clutching his rifle, while T-Pup looked up and down the alley, slowly wagging its tail.

“He vanished,” Rouge spat. “No patience at all! You know, sometimes I really feel he does things like this to spite me.”

Sonic and Tails exchanged glances, and the former let out a sigh.

“Then I guess we’ll just have to look for him too, then?” he said. “Before someone else finds him first.”

Rouge paled and stepped out into the alley. “I think I’d rather prove his innocence first. We might have to split up. I’ll take the western district.”

...​

Shadow was growing exhausted. He’d been searching for hours, and had covered the east and north parts of the Beatdrop Capital. It had been fruitless. No sign of Infinite or that pink hedgehog he’d befriended anywhere. What was he even looking for? No address, no recent clues… Even if Infinite was the killer, there was no guarantee he was even in the city. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Where would Shadow even begin to look?

The unearthly exhaustion that had been gradually plaguing him for weeks was seriously taking its toll. Running, teleporting… it was draining. The sheer concept of spreading his search out into the surrounding towns and cities was tiring. If he encountered Infinite in this state, there’d be no way he could fight back.

Where was the tiredness even coming from? Those powers?

The black hedgehog paused on the roof of a casino, ducking behind the block leading into the stairwell. The blue probing eye of a Strider Drone lit up the darkening rooftop before the robot lumbered on its path through the streets.

A strange pink hue caught Shadow’s eye and he realised it was radiating off his body. A pink mist, rapidly fading away. Had he been about to randomly port himself without even realising it?! He could have ended up anywhere! He clenched his hands into fists and steadied himself against the wall. Answers… he wanted answers. And not just to the killings. Those were becoming less of a priority the more those weird powers manifested. If Infinite was the killer or not, he was finding him. And if he was, he’d be keeping him from arrest until Shadow had the answers he wanted. Infinite could control his powers. Surely he could teach Shadow how to do the same? Of course, there was the question of how willing he’d be to do so…

Shadow took a few deep breaths as he tried to regain enough strength to move on. But the little picnic tables spread across the rooftop garden were growing more and more enticing. Big enough to provide shelter and a hiding spot if he curled up small enough. Surely a little nap wouldn’t hurt? Then he could continue on his search for the jackal, and maybe beat some answers out of him about those strange powers while he was at it…

...​

Everything had fallen silent. Since every student and teacher had been evacuated to the surrounding towns and cities, the school had been desolate. No sign of the killer. Every day, Silver and Blaze had waited by the school, taking up lurking in the local coffee and deli shops from seven-thirty in the morning until midnight. That covered both eight in the morning and evening, and also quarter-past-eleven in the morning and night.

Nothing.

Silver was beginning to question whether he’d show at all. With his potential target outside the Beatdrop Capital, his murderous plan had been turned upside-down. If he was going to strike at all, he’d probably need a new target. Although the likelihood he was running scared was growing more and more possible.

That was, if it even was the black hedgehog.

The more Silver read about Shadow, the more he began to think he was innocent. A science experiment, running for his life. What if he’d only shown up in that house because he’d believed it would be empty for a while, and therefore a good place to hide? He’d merely been startled and fled. An unfortunate accident.

Blaze cleared her throat and Silver looked up from his computer. Not that he’d been paying it much attention, instead lost in his own exhausted thoughts. Unlike him, the lavender cat looked alert and healthy. In contrast, he had heavy rings around his eyes and quills that looked like they hadn’t met a brush in days.

“It’s almost eight o clock,” she said. “I think we need to patrol the school again.”

Silver grunted and nodded stiffly. Patrol… The school was massive, and he was still not comfortable letting Blaze out of his sight. Not just because he desperately wanted her to be innocent, but also because the killer might be lurking somewhere, looking for a target. And Silver was adamant the only way they’d be getting to Blaze would be over his dead body.

“Where shall we patrol first then?” Silver asked, stifling a yawn.

“I think this time we’ll start at the college,” she said. “Work our way around to kindergarten.”

Silver flashed her a playful grin. “You really want to go to that pasta place again, don’t you?”

“What can I say? They do good sauce.”

As they stepped out into twilight, Silver fired a glance up and down the street. Silent. No one wanted to be out around the school at this hour. Just a few commuters rushing home after work, and the probing eyes of two Strider Drones strutting their way through the western district.

...​

Slap. Slap. Slap.

Black fur reflected the dim light leaking in through the blinds as a pair of hands worked meticulously over the white wall. Tidy. Accurate. Organising everything down to the smallest detail. Small sheets of paper, slapped one after the other in an obsessive fashion. It was the only sound beside the near-inaudible whisper that seemed to be carried on the draft that managed to worm its way through a gap beside the window.

Slap. Slap. Slap.

‘… want to do this…’

A quick twist. A boot catching on a tub of glue, sending the adhesive to the floor. Not even a mutter of protest was given as it was promptly cleared up, peeling from the ground and spiraling back into the container it had spilled from.

‘Listen to… don’t… to do this…’

Slap. Slap. Slap.

The last sheet of paper was in place. A quick search around the room, and everything was in place. The last thing left was the victim.

A soft glow reflected off the chrome table leg beside the deer’s head. A speck of gold, almost sun-like in shape.

‘… up. Wake up! … not you!’

...​

Amy rubbed sleep from her eyes, not quite convinced of what she’d seen. Infinite stood facing the living room wall, slapping post-it after post-it over the painted surface.

Sleep-walking again? It hadn’t been that long since she’d turned in for the night, leaving the dozing jackal on the sofa. Infinite had managed to rouse her, as he’d opened and closed various drawers before finding the stack of post-it notes in her studio.

She stood watching him for a moment. The mural was quite advanced, forming the unmistakable silhouette of a head.

“Infinite?” The fog of sleep now truly dispelled, she stepped into the living room.

He didn’t respond. Muttering to himself as his hands worked quickly to place each and every post-it exactly where he wanted it.

Amy wasn’t sure what to do. Did she shake him awake, or leave him to it? She clenched her hands at her sides as the quills along her back stood on end.

“Infinite, please?” she said. “You’re frightening me…”

...​

Rouge was convinced it was Shadow she’d seen. That run was unmistakable. And filled with purpose. Like he knew exactly where he was going. That meant he was either being chased, or doing the chasing. The lack of a drone or helicopter taking after him told her it was more than likely the latter.

The bat landed on the roof of the school and let out a small sigh. Typical. The very place that had been evacuated. What on earth was he playing at? Mainframe already believed he was the killer. If he was spotted lurking around the school then it would only serve to add more fuel to the fire.

“At least come here with someone who can vouch for you, Shadow,” she groaned.

With a little hop, she landed on the path, ears trained for the slightest sound. Nothing. She tutted and moved along the path, glancing in at every window. Dark, but it was no problem for her night vision. Each classroom was as tidy as one would expect at the end of the day. Each tiny chair tucked beneath its tiny table. No one would have suspected it had once been filled with pre-school age children, making a mess with paints and glue and crayons. The room had been meticulously cleaned and arranged by the janitors to prepare it for the next school day.

Her eye wandered over the rows of windows ahead of her, following them up to the roof. Three floors. Unlike the kindergarten block, the rest of the building had to cater to various classes for the school and college-age students. Massive. If either Shadow or the killer was in there, then she’d have a hard time finding them. The tall school clock rose from the roof, its digital face lit up with the image of an old, traditional clock-face. Twenty-to-midnight.

She shook her head and rushed around the edge of the school, checking all the ground floor windows first. Nothing. She stopped beside the double doors to catch her breath and gave the building one last glance. She was going to have to get inside.

A quick crescent-kick to the control panel, and the entire thing exploded into sparks. Of course, that wasn’t enough to open the doors. It would need a little hot-wiring for that.

In a matter of seconds, the doors opened, letting the bat inside. A set of wide stairs greeted her in the hallway, along with an empty reception desk and a long corridor that led towards the assembly hall.

She bit back the urge to call Shadow’s name and instead turned her attention on the stairs. She’d seen all the ground floor windows, so she could rule that out. Taking steps two at a time, she raced up towards the second floor.

Various chemical smells assaulted her senses, causing her nose to crinkle. The science department. It was enough to drive her swiftly away from it, but not without glancing in at each window she passed. Empty classrooms, neatly tidied, with its intricate science equipment arranged for the next set of lessons.

Once she was away from the offending smells, she slowed down enough to have a good peek into every room. Her heart was racing, expecting at any second to encounter the killer, or the authorities. What would she even say? ‘Sorry, I was looking for a friend.’ What reason would either of them have to be in that school?

She grit her teeth together, turning randomly down a right bend. ‘Literature and Media’. Muttering to herself, she raised herself up to peek through a door’s frosted window. It was tough to make out, but it looked like a movie room. She shook it off and braced herself to continue down the corridor, but froze as the sound of rustling reached her ears.

A repetitive slap. Heavy breathing, like someone in a deep sleep.

She turned back towards the corridor she’d come from and turned her head towards the sound. The longer she listened, the more obvious it became. Someone, or something, was inside one of the classrooms.

Her heart hammered in her throat as she crept towards the door. Almost willing it to be Shadow. She didn’t want to encounter the killer. She’d only come here to find her friend and scold him for taking off without her.

She stopped by the door, straining her ears to hear beyond it. That deep breathing. A flash of crimson light lit up the glass, dazzling her slightly. She blinked to clear it away, bringing the dark room into focus.

A figure straightened up, standing over a fallen body. Blood dripped from his claws, splattering the body’s clothes.

He had his back to her, but she recognized him instantly. Black quills, streaked with red.

Rouge took a step back from the door, eyes wide like saucers. It couldn’t be…

She shook her head, large ears flapping around. Then, in one quick motion, she was out of the window, leaving it wide open as she took off across the Beatdrop Capital, barely seeing it as the scene played over and over in her mind, stinging her eyes with tears.

...​

Warm blood seeped through his fur and pads, leaving them sticky. He stood back from the fallen deer and flicked his claws a couple of times.

It needed cleaning. All of it.

That sparkle of light caught his eye again, spreading across the chrome table leg and onto the white tiles.

‘Wake up!’

The whisper jolted through his head like electricity. Odd strings of code flashed across his vision, marred with glitches and errors. Amid it all, that speck of light unfolded like the petals on a daffodil.

‘This isn’t you!’

Shadow shook his head sharply and the world snapped into focus around him. He took in a sharp breath and jerked his head around. A classroom? He was pretty certain he’d fallen asleep beneath a picnic table on the rooftop of a casino.

He twitched his nose as he picked up a sharp, metallic smell. He flexed his fingers, sticky with something thick and unwelcome.

Blood?

He took a step back as if it would get him further away from his hand. Then his eyes fell on a fallen body. The lifeless eyes of an old deer stared back at him, wide and accusing. Blood marred the creamy fur on his chest and soaked through his waistcoat.

“What am I doing here?” Shadow’s voice came out uncharacteristically wobbly.

Had he encountered the killer? Had he tried to stop him?

As he took in the room, his heart seemed to freeze in his chest. The body, the blood on his hands, the odd mural on the wall. A series of post-it notes arranged to resemble a canine’s head.

The killer wasn’t Infinite. That much was clear.

He couldn’t stay there.

Shadow turned and rushed from the room, vaulting the open window. He landed in a squat on the floor, the impact jolting his joints. But it was only brief. In a matter of seconds, all pain was gone and he raced from the school, leaving a streak of flames behind him.

Two figures rounded the corner, right as the bell for the school rang out its haunting tune to mark ‘quarter to the hour’. Shadow froze, meeting the golden eyes of a grey hedgehog. Their expressions of surprise were almost identical, the detective’s eyes widening further as they trailed over Shadow’s blood-stained hands.

“Well, what do you know,” said the grey hedgehog. “A quarter to the hour. I guess you were right?”

The question had been aimed at the lavender cat beside him. She clutched the hedgehog’s trench coat sleeve, but flames erupted around her hands as her eyes flashed with rage.

The grey hedgehog whipped his sleeve from her grip then reached inside his coat for his weapon.

Shadow didn’t wait around to see what happened next. He screwed his eyes shut and willed himself into the Chaos Network.

...​

It didn’t matter how many times Amy cried his name. Infinite was not for stopping. The post-it pad had run empty, leaving him to forage for another. One she didn’t even know she had. It had kittens on it.

One after the other, they joined his growing mural, and all Amy could do was sit back and watch, helpless. There was no way she was returning to bed and leaving him like that, muttering to himself as he set each one in place. She couldn’t work out what he said. Part of her wondered if it was some other language, maybe his home tongue.

Finally, the pad of kitten notes was set on the coffee table. Neatly, to match the corner. Then, Infinite crumpled to the floor, causing Amy to let out a squeal as his head landed too close to the table leg.

She leapt from the sofa to his side and grabbed his shoulder, shaking him gently.

“Infinite, please,” she pleaded. “Wake up!”

The one eye she could see fluttered open and fixed on her. For a brief moment it almost seemed to sparkle, and she felt his hand fasten over hers. She jerked her head towards it, where it was still placed on his shoulder.

She cleared her throat, glancing aside to avoid his gaze. “You were… sleep walking again.”

He pushed himself up, following her gaze towards the wall. She hadn’t really paid much attention to the mural, given it was mostly blocked out by his body. She’d been much more inclined to watch him, and when he’d collapsed she’d not had much chance to view the wall. But each post-it was set in place to form the perfect silhouette of a hedgehog’s head.

The fur along Infinite’s spine bristled and a low growl rumbled from his throat.

“He’s framing me!” he roared, launching himself across the room towards the mural.

He lashed out at it with his claws, tearing the paper from the wall and shredding it with his claws and teeth. It fluttered around the room like confetti as he screamed.

“Why?! What do you want from me?! Why can’t you just leave me alone?! Haven’t you taken enough from me?!”

Amy placed a hand on his shoulder. “Infinite, calm down! You don’t know for-”

He rounded on her, teeth bared. “What do you know, Pink Fr-” He cut off and his eye widened.

Amy jerked her hand back and he looked between it and her frightened face. A look of regret melted away his rage and he looked away from her, letting the tattered paper fall to the floor. Then he sank to his bottom.

“I’m sorry…” he said.

Amy shuffled closer to him and placed her hand back on his shoulder. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what. All she could do was stare at the tattered paper on her floor and wall, and speculate over what on earth it meant.

“What’s happening?” he muttered.

“I don’t know,” she said.

Infinite shook his head and took in a trembling breath. “Why…? Why can’t he just leave me alone?”

...​

Shadow popped back out of the Chaos Network outside Tails’ workshop. Corrupted code spread out around him, vanishing into the air like steam. His heart hammered in his chest, and his mind fogged over as his vision narrowed. It all felt like a dream, but the blood on his hands maintained it definitely wasn’t.

Water. He needed to find water.

The shutter was open, but only just. He ducked beneath it, careful not to touch anything. Something moved in the darkness and he met the wide, frightened eyes of Rouge. Terrified. A weapon clutched in her hand, hanging at her side. Something she’d managed to pilfer from Tails’ collection. Probably the first thing she’d reached for.

He didn’t care. If she shot him now, it would be mercy. For him, and for Mainframe. He steadied himself against the wall, clenching his teeth together as his mind whirled.

“Please help me,” he gasped.

Rouge didn’t move, but he could still feel her eyes on him. He sank down against the wall, leaving a bloody streak where his hand had rested. She knew. It was obvious she knew.

“It’s me,” he croaked. “It was me all along… I…” He took in a trembling breath. “What’s happening to me?”

A clatter as Rouge dropped her weapon. Before he could even take another breath she was at his side, clutching him. He lifted his arms to return her embrace, but froze, his wide crimson eyes fixed on his sticky, offending fur.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m scared, Shadow.”

He closed his eyes and flinched. “So am I…”

“But… I want to help you.” She paused, shifting slightly. “I was looking for you.”

His spine stiffened. She’d seen him? The thought made his blood turn cold. What must she think of him? That certainly explained the weapon. Tears threatened to leak from his eyes so he screwed them shut to stop them.

“I don’t understand.” His voice came out muffled and stuffy. “Why am I doing this? I don’t… even have any memory of it.”

“I don’t understand either. But I’m with you, and we’ll get to the bottom of it, okay?” Her voice wavered and she dug her fingers into his quills. “Please. Get us out of here. Before those GUN soldiers come back.”

He nuzzled her neck, letting his arms fall over her shoulders, silently thanking her. Once again, he reached out to the Chaos Network. All that remained behind was a fleeting flurry of corrupted code, and a smear of blood over the stone wall.
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Part Two - Judge

Chapter Thirteen​

Twelve-thirty in the morning. The chime from the school’s florescent clock rang it out across the eastern district of the Beatdrop Capital.

Silver leant out of the open window outside the school room, the cool night air washing over his quills. His fingers itched. The whole endeavor had made him long for a cigarette, but he’d given those things up more than a year ago.

The window had been wide open the moment they’d arrived. Either an entry point, or the exit, for the killer. Something had startled the black hedgehog, but the puzzle as to what left Silver scratching his head.

It was clearly that hedgehog. Blood had caked his hands. Caught in the act, shocked enough to vanish on the spot. He was definitely not your average Mainframer.

“There’s no clear clue as to when he might strike again.” Blaze’s voice dragged Silver out of his reverie.

He turned his head to see her standing in the doorway to the classroom, her coat pristine. No sign she’d been poking around the body. Her gloves had been removed to avoid staining them, yet there wasn’t a trace of it on her fur.

“Just that odd mural of a canine’s head,” she went on. “Maybe that’s his next target?”

“It can’t be that vague,” said Silver. “There are millions of canines all across Mainframe.”

“If he was caught in the act then he wouldn’t have had the time to narrow it down too much. So far, that is all we have to go on.”

Silver cast a defeated look into the room. Well, they had their killer. It was unmistakable. Not just some copy-cat-criminal trying to grab attention.

Blood pooled on the floor around the deer’s body and caked his chest fur, but there was no sign of any damage. An autopsy would undoubtedly confirm the method as being the exact same one as the other victims. The mural was odd. A glaring clue. Yet the previous crime scene had tin cans and other kitchen equipment laid out like a replica of the east and north districts of the city. Not to mention the hands of a clock.

As soon as the ‘suicides’ were revealed to be murders, the killer had grown more creative. Deliberately setting up clues as if he were merely messing with them. Yet the terror was clear on that black hedgehog’s face. Terror at being caught? Or was there more to this than could be seen without digging deeper than the surface?

Silver moved back into the classroom and leant back against a table near the front. The canine face stared back at him. Only one eye. The right one was left blank, almost as if the mural were incomplete.

“Can you think of any canines that might be a potential target?” Silver didn’t expect a response from Blaze.

She perched beside him, her nose buried in her phone. Thumbs tapping at the touch-screen, and the glow from the screen lighting up her face.

“Off the top of my head,” she said, “the only one I can think of is that jackal that got away from GUN.”

Silver’s ear quirked towards her and he gave her a sideways glance. “Why him? He’s a maniac, right?”

“I’ve no idea,” said Blaze. “But the first recorded ‘suicide’ we managed to trace back happened only a matter of days after he was broken free.”

“How did you work that one out?”

“I’ve been looking for a pattern,” she explained. “Something that could have happened that would turn a person to madness, or to act on such extremes to vent their frustrations. The ones that came up that coincided with this killer? The revelation to how GUN treat their employees. Gadget’s ‘Project Wreckingball’ war threat. And Infinite escaping his clutches. There’s been smaller, less significant news since then, but nothing I feel would merit a mad man clearly clamoring for attention.”

Silver rubbed his chin as he stared at the mural. “Now that you mention it, Gadget is also a canine.”

“Mhm. But he was locked up yesterday.”

Silver let out a sigh and Blaze shifted beside him, setting her phone back in her pocket.

“As for the victim,” she said, “I’ve managed to trace him back to this school using the ID I found in his wallet. He was a teacher here.”

Silver lowered his head into his hand and pinched his nose. “I thought we evacuated everyone linked to this school.”

“We evacuated everyone currently linked to this school,” she said. “He was long retired. Taught every age from kindergarten to college. He was actually very well respected.”

Silver grimaced. “We should have considered retirees.”

“’Handle your rambunctious class of students throughout their various years, from kindergarten all the way to their masters degree.’” Blaze nodded and pushed herself back from the table. “We should have. The clue was right there on that video game. The problem was, we just thought it was hinting at the school.”

Silver glanced up at her, catching her eye. Silent as she looked back at him. A small smirk teased the corner of her mouth and she let out a dry, single laugh.

“I guess I’m off the hook now?” she said.

He pushed himself from the table and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I think the evidence speaks for itself. I’ll call the police station. Let them know they can send someone down here now to have a second look at all this.”

“And I’ll contact his family.” Blaze let out a bitter sigh as she followed Silver from the room. “I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight.”

“Me neither.” He paused as she caught up to him. “I think the drinks are on me.”

“Is that your way of apologizing for suspecting me?”

He shrugged and cleared his throat. “Maybe. Is it working?”

She fired him a playful grin. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

...​

Computer code glitched and swirled into the air as Shadow and Rouge slipped out of the Chaos Network. The black hedgehog doubled over with his hands on his knees, gasping to catch his breath. Rouge stood trembling beside him, rotating her ears and flitting her eyes left and right. He found himself straining his ears also. No sound of any chopper blades. Just water splashing over rocks and stone.

Shadow straightened and looked out at the River Binary. Its bridge arched overhead, dripping with green algae-infested water. A rat squeaked in the shadows, snuffling around whatever garbage had been dropped that day.

“We’re still in the Beatdrop Capital?” Rouge asked.

Shadow let out a sigh and leant back against the cold stone wall. He didn’t have an answer. Not one that made sense. His claws still felt sticky. The fur along his fingers stood out at odd angles, and that metallic tang of blood rose off them. Less than before. He’d washed them at an outdoor tap off some alley cafe in haste. Clearly it wasn’t enough. He kicked himself back from the wall to finish rinsing them off in the river.

“Why are we still in the Beatdrop Capital?” Rouge pressed.

He dragged his claws over his fur, scraping away until small tufts of it were washed downstream. It would never be enough. Nothing would. He’d never be clean.

“Shadow, answer me!”

The fine quills along Shadow’s spine stood on end and he paused with his hands still in the water.

“I don’t know.” He stood and flicked his hands a few times in a bid to dry them. “I just feel… it’s safer if we stay here.”

“Safer?! They’re looking for you!” Her voice wasn’t much more than a hiss, but each word was like an alarm blaring.

Shadow flinched, casting a glance to each tunnel mouth. No drones. He shook his head and returned to leaning against the wall.

“They’ve seen me,” he said. “They’ll expect me to run, not stay here.”

“What, so you think you’re safer hiding in plain sight?” Rouge stood before him and folded her arms. “Gotta admit, it makes sense. But still, Shadow, that’s a huge risk. We should bail, lie low in a sewer in Cipher or something.”

Shadow dragged his hand down his face as he stared at the dripping wall across the river. Hiding… he was no stranger to that.

“It’s not the right move,” he said. “If I want answers, they’re in this city.”

“Seriously, Shadow? You’re talking about finding Infinite while the whole of Mainframe are looking for you?”

“Yes,” he said flatly, meeting her gaze. “What if these powers are the reason I’m doing this? I’m tired all the time, Rouge, that’s not normal! I fell asleep on the roof of a casino, and the next thing I know I’m standing next to a dead body with blood on my hands!”

Rouge’s jaw dropped and she stood there, speechless.

“This isn’t me,” he went on. “I don’t kill people! What’s happening to me? Unless… unless I was made to be a weapon like GUN were trying to do to him?”

“No.” Rouge shook her head slowly. “Your records clearly state you were created for medical science.”

“What if that was all some elaborate cover-up? What if I was made to be some mindless killer and that’s only showing now?” His crimson eyes widened and he flashed a canine. “What if I put you in danger?!”

“Shadow!”

Her voice was soft yet firm, silencing him. She placed a hand on his chest and moved closer. He took a few deep breaths, trying to quell the anxiety flooding through him. In his mind he was back in that classroom again. His heart flew into overdrive. He just wanted to run.

“I won’t deny I’m terrified,” she said. “But you’re right. It’s not you. I know you, and something is very wrong. I want to help you.”

“I know…”

Always there. Ever the idiot. Why could she never just run? Leave him. Look after herself. His fingers twitched at his sides as he considered pulling her into him. But his hands still felt dirty. Dirty and wet.

As if she’d read his thoughts, she trailed her hand up to his cheek and inched closer to him. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, okay?”

Each soft word tickled the fur on his muzzle. He became oddly aware of the warmth from her body warring with the cold, damp tunnel. His claws trailed up her back to rest between her wings, and he lowered his head to hers. Her tiny nose almost brushed his, and he paused, taking in a sharp breath. It wasn’t what he’d been going for, but did it really matter?

He closed his eyes as she trailed her fingers through his quills. But his heart lurched. All he could see was that deer, fixing him with a lifeless stare. Questioning. Accusing. It turned his blood to ice.

She pulled back, eyes no longer on him. His heart lurched again as he looked down at himself. A deep, red glow radiated from his body, casting eerie shadows throughout the tunnel. Everything looked threatening. Even the rat’s squeaks seemed oddly loud, almost rhythmic.

‘Run.’

He found his eye drawn to the mouth of the tunnel, where the river poured its way in. A lanky shadow bobbed along the wall, drawing closer, a probing spotlight scanning over the grass. No… the squeaking wasn’t from the rat.

Shadow grabbed Rouge’s arm and pulled her back into him. Pink mist flooded from his body, surrounding them both. What appeared in the tunnel wasn’t entirely dissimilar to a Strider Drone. Smaller, and with long, clawed arms. Its spotlight fell on them both as the pink mist swallowed them up, throwing them both back out on the outskirts of the Beatdrop Capital.

...​

The hospital ward was filled with repetitive beeping and chimes from various different machines. Each one pushed Rough’s fur on end, causing his heart to race faster. He’d never liked hospitals.

He cast a glance to the larger skunk tucked under a clean, white sheet. Stable, but still unconscious. The doctors had wound electrical tape around the fraying wires to stop them damaging the linen. At least, that’s what they’d said. The amount of fussing over it told Rough they had other concerns they weren’t yet willing to reveal to him.

Despite Pulse City’s reputation, the health care was fantastic. Given the lifestyle of the abundant space pirates and mercenaries filling the city, it had to be.

Rough twiddled this thumbs as he stared anxiously across the ward. The doctor was due to be back soon to tell him what the situation was. What they could do for Tumble. A shrill chime came from his left and he jerked his head around towards it. The drip. Its little song to let one know it had finished. Water. That was all it was. Apparently Tumble had been somewhat dehydrated, unable to drink with that helmet on. A large gap at the base of his chin made the doctors wonder if he was fed and watered through a large straw so the helmet could be left in place. Rough felt his hackles bristle at the reminder and he turned once again to see if he could spy the doctor.

There he was. A mink, chatting to a mouse nurse by the door. It wasn’t for long. The nurse nodded and left the ward, and the doctor turned to make his way back to the space pirates. The dour look that crossed his face caused Rough’s mouth to turn down in a frown.

“Don’t like that look you’re givin’ me, doc,” he said.

“I really wish I had better news.” The mink tapped his digital ClipBoard and sighed. “All in all, Tumble is healthy. But we can’t risk removing the helmet.”

“Why not?” Rough scoffed.

“Because it’s intricately wired into a socket in the back of his skull.” The doctor pulled a chair over to perch on it. “Whatever Gadget has done, he’s made sure that removing the helmet will be detrimental. It’s almost sadistic in design. The scans show that the wiring goes into his brain, which allows the helmet to control his mind. It also spreads across every part of the helmet, powering the lights and the aids to his vision. If I were to guess, I’d say thermal imaging, night vision, telescopic… whatever he’s programmed into it. The helmet is basically one massive computer powered by living tissue. None of us have ever seen anything like it.”

Rough clenched his teeth together, more in a bid to stop his eyes filling with tears. “So what? You’re tellin’ me he’s stuck like this?”

“Until we can find a safe means to remove it, I’m afraid so. Otherwise we risk serious brain damage.” The doctor paused as a small grimace crossed his features. “He’s fortunate enough the impact from your attack didn’t do any internal damage.”

Rough flinched and screwed his eyes shut. “So what’s gonna happen to him then?”

He dreaded the answer. ‘Remain a monster’. ‘Mind-controlled forever.’ ‘A vegetable.’

“There are some computer experts in this hospital,” the doctor explained. “Those who deal with bio-enhancements and robot limbs. They’ve offered to have a look at it and see if there’s any way they can de-activate the mind-control elements, which will allow him to have a better quality of life.”

Rough looked up at that. “So there’s hope?”

A smile graced the mink’s muzzle. “Yes. But… he’ll unfortunately be stuck with the helmet until we find some way to remove it. That might turn out to be a life sentence, I’m afraid.”

Rough looked over at his brother, feeling a knot tighten in his chest. So he may never see his brother’s face again. The poor skunk sentenced to a life of feeding through a tube. But it was better than the thought of losing him completely.

“I know it doesn’t sound nice,” said the doctor. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But it’s the best option we have so far. The tech team who have offered to help are fantastic, so he has the best chance at a good life, even if he is restricted to that helmet.” He paused and gave a weak smile. “He’ll still be himself.”

“I guess.” Rough couldn’t look at the mink.

“I’m sorry it’s not better news.”

“Don’t worry ‘bout it.” Rough tried to force a smile, but his eyes glistened with the threat of tears. “So long as he’s okay…”

As he trailed off, the doctor stood up. “I’ll be back soon with further information. Unless the tech doctor arrives before I do?”

“Thanks, doc.” Rough watched him go then sank into his seat, dragging a hand down his face. “I seriously wanna punch that wolf…”

...​

Mainframe was in an uproar, and not just the Beatdrop Capital. Citizens were bailing on the large city, fleeing to the surrounding towns and villages. Striders and Fliers fed the commotion back to Eggman’s lair, spreading it across the abundant screens.

Starline leant on the control deck, beak agape as he took it all in. They were fleeing The Heartbreaker. The murderer, rampant in the Beatdrop Capital. Shadow the Hedgehog, caught red handed. Literally.

“Is there nothing we can do about this, Doctor Eggman?”

He turned to face the large human, sat twirling his mustache. His brow furrowed as he silently seethed. The whole of Mainframe knew about Shadow now. He’d be hunted, most likely killed. But as things stood, Shadow was a huge threat.

“My Stalkers are on it,” Eggman muttered.

One of the solitary clawed robots plodded across one of the screens that was trained on an empty side street.

“We could send more robots after him?” Starline suggested. “Or more GUN forces?”

“I want less attention on that hedgehog,” said Eggman. “I know what I’m going to do, Starline. Don’t you worry about it. You focus on getting those cameras into Pulse City like you promised you would.”

Starline gave a nervous laugh and adjusted his tie. “Of course, sir.”

He turned to leave the computer room, casting one last glance back at the mad doctor. He’d risen himself, following the platypus from the room.

Starline cleared his throat and paused in the hallway. “What do you have planned, if I may be so bold as to ask?”

“Damage control.”

Starline raised an eyebrow at that, but Eggman didn’t elaborate. He marched down the corridor, his beetle robots flocking around him.

Starline’s fingers twitched as he watched him go. Then he tutted.

“Damage control,” he scoffed under his breath. “I know a thing or two about that. Probably more than you do.”

He turned on the spot, marching towards the main doors. It was still dark, but the sun had begun to push its way up through the clouds. The crimson eyes of the sentry robot cut through the shadows, fixing on Starline.

“Where are you going at this hour?” it asked.

“I have business to attend to.” Starline looked back at it over his shoulder. “As you were.”

The robot straightened, but didn’t salute. Starline felt its eyes on his back as he strolled away from its probing sight. Once comfortably hidden from view, he flicked the hand baring his Warp Topaz. A wormhole spread open before him, leading into a pristine white corridor. He stepped through it, closing it up again behind him.

GUN facilities were all the same. Clean, white tiles with robots moseying back and forth. The sheer lack of soldiers was down to the hour alone. Once the day had begun, the place would be teeming with them.

Starline’s boots clinked rhythmically as he marched through the corridor with an educated stride. He paid the signs no heed, turning to follow the corridor to the heart of the facility. He finally came to a stop at a door marked ‘Judge Program’.

He knocked politely then pushed the door open. Two large, wide eyes fixed on him from behind a desk. He gave the chinchilla a small bow.

“Pardon the intrusion,” he said. “My name is Doctor Starline. I am here on behalf of Doctor Eggman.”

“Really?” The receptionist didn’t look convinced. “He usually sends a robot.”

“This time he has sent me.” Starline held out a small ID card. “I need to discuss a dire matter with whoever is in charge of the Judge Program.”

The chinchilla checked over his ID and nodded. She handed it back and waved a hand.

“Go on through,” she said. “Only Sergent Faust is on duty at the moment.”

“He’ll do just fine.” Starline flashed her a grin then marched on past.

A loud click came from the double doors as the receptionist released the lock. Two sets of doors, the other locked from the inside. Sergent Faust must have released the lock, because the look the large badger gave him told him he’d been informed of Starline’s visit.

“Since when did Eggman start hirin’ flesh and blood to do his dirty work?” Faust asked.

“Since one showed promise.”

Starline leant against the wall, taking in the room. The machinery. The stench of oil and grease. In the far corner stood a towering robot. Red and black, with an Omega symbol painted on its shoulder. A hulking, powerful mass. The thick chains and double locks wouldn’t have kept it confined if it had been active. And the soldiers themselves would have been like wet newspaper to those claws.

“Is that the Judge Robot?” Starline asked, nodding towards it.

“Aye. Only one we have in our facility.” Faust pushed himself from his seat to join Starline’s side. “That one’s had some problems, but we think we’ve ironed out the kinks. Eggman interested now then, is he?”

“He is.” Starline rubbed beneath his beak. “What problems did it have, exactly?”

“Robocidal tendencies,” said Faust. “Trashed a load of Egg Pawns durin’ trainin’. They weren’t even its targets. It just went nuts.”

“That could be an issue if it were to encounter drones in the streets,” said Starline.

“Exactly. That’s why we fixed it. Can’t say for certain, yet, but it shouldn’t be an issue no more.”

“In that case, colour me interested.” Starline looked the Judge up and down. “What separates it from the other Judge-grade robots?”

“Drive,” said Faust.

Starline moved over to the robot and circled it as Faust went on, keeping a watchful eye on the doctor.

“No moral programming. Kinda the same as the others, but this one is programmed to get the job done, no questions asked. You tell it what to hunt and it’ll do it.”

“Fantastic.” Starline placed a hand on the robot’s oversized arm. “I have just the target for it.”

“Oh?” Faust raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. You’ve heard of Beatdrop’s serial killer, I presume?” Starline met the badger’s wide, surprised eyes. “He needs to be stopped. But ordinary means will not be enough.”

“You kiddin’ me? He’s one man!”

“One man or not, this is no ordinary Mainframer,” said Starline. “Shadow can regenerate. He’s almost entirely bullet proof, and he’s intimately linked to the Chaos Network. We can’t rely on GUN soldiers and the police force to get that hedgehog under control. We need something bigger. Something merciless. Something that cannot be stopped.”

“So you want a Judge-grade ‘bot to take him out?” Faust’s eyes narrowed on the robot. “One question, doc. Why that one?”

“You answered that question for me,” said Starline. “And as for worrying about the citizens? Beatdrop is practically evacuating itself.”

“Not everyone.”

“There will be significantly less casualties. And we can always issue an evacuation plan. We need to act now.”

“Now?! Evacuation could take days! Weeks, even!”

“It’ll take much less time once this robot is released into the city. Do you want Shadow to strike again? For all you know, you could be his next target.” Starline tapped the robot on the arm. “Unleash him.”

Faust rolled his eyes, his entire body twitching with nerves. “All right. Who am I to question Eggman?”

“Yes. You should never question his genius.” Starline released the robot to straighten his tie. “I expect results before the day is out.”

As Starline left the second set of doors, he heard an engine whir to life. A small chuckle escaped his throat, and he activated another wormhole just outside the reception area. Soon, Shadow would be easy to catch, and Eggman’s regenerative technology would be put into motion. He just needed to keep a close eye on that Judge.
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Fourteen​

It wasn’t a matter of simply unleashing the Judge. That would have spelled ‘disaster’ for Mainframe. No, such matters needed preparation. Care. A laying-down of ground rules to avoid unnecessary lives being lost. The Judge program wasn’t new, but it wasn’t one that GUN often leapt to, either.

Starline wanted to see results before the day was out. That left them with very little time to prepare the Judge for its mission.

Faust sat on the other side of a controlled forcefield screen where the robot had been guided to. Bullet proof, shatter proof… to an extent. Despite it being set to its highest power level, the badger questioned its effectiveness should the robot fly into a rampage. The Judge program might not have been new, but this robot was definitely new to the program.

A huge holoscreen hung on the wall behind Faust, and he cleared his throat before addressing the Judge.

“I’m gonna need to run some tests before I send you out on your first mission,” he explained.

“Affirmative,” said the robot.

Manners, just like every other EggTech robot. So far so good…

Faust turned his head to see the screen as he brought up the first picture. A black hedgehog with red highlights in his quills.

“Is this hedgehog familiar to you?”

The Judge blinked its red eyes. “Negative. I have never seen that hedgehog before.”

Faust let out a small breath and turned back to his computer. “How about this one?”

A white bat appeared on the screen, winking, holding one finger near her face.

The Judge blinked again then shook its yellow head. “Negative.”

Faust wanted to say ‘excellent’ but bit his tongue. After all the work that had been put into the robot, letting anything slip could be detrimental.

“Well, the first Mainframer is your target.” He brought the hedgehog back up onto the holoscreen. “His name is Shadow. He’s proven to be a massive threat to Mainframe.”

“How is this hedgehog a threat?” the Judge asked.

“He’s a serial killer,” Faust explained. “In the past few weeks, he’s murdered at least seven people.”

The Judge lowered one eyelid in a somewhat bemused expression. “’Few’ translates to ‘five’. The numbers you have given me dictate that he has killed on average one and a half Mainframers a week.”

“The numbers were growin’ closer together,” said Faust.

“Threat level is medium. Awareness suggested to local vicinities while this Shadow is apprehended.”

“Actually, Eggman wants this murderer brought in quickly. By any means necessary.”

The Judge’s eyes lit up at that, and Faust felt like he was being scrutinized and assessed. He idly checked the power level of the control screen was still set to its highest.

“That’s why we’re sendin’ you,” he went on. “He was last sighted in the Beatdrop Capital, the location of his murderous rampage. Eggman wants him dealt with before anyone else falls victim to him.”

“Affirmative.” The Judge groped at his side then fixed his glowing red eyes on Faust’s. “I have verified that I am currently without a weapon.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll get you kit out.” Faust forced a grin. “First, I have to lay down some ground rules. The city is in the process of bein’ evacuated. We don’t want any unnecessary casualties. Shadow is your target. Not citizens.”

“Affirmative. I shall eliminate the destruction of any targets that are unnecessary to remove for the effectiveness of this mission.”

“Fantastic.” Faust pushed a button on his desk and the control screen vanished. “If you could follow me? We shall kit you out with the appropriate tools. One thing you should know about Shadow is that he has strange regeneration properties. He’s also bullet proof, and can access the Chaos Network to teleport to other areas of Mainframe, so he might vanish on you.”

“Threat level reassessment,” said the Judge. “Reassessing to ‘high’. This new information suggests I am in want of a rocket launcher.”

A chill ran down the badger’s spine. “A rocket launcher would wreck the city. You’d knock down buildin’s and cause a massacre!”

“By any means necessary, I am to apprehend this Shadow. That is my assignment.”

Faust rubbed the back of his head and glanced away. “You’re right. I did say that. Well, if you could keep it to a minimum, that would be appreciated.”

“The target, Shadow, could prove problematic. If he is bullet proof, then mere bullets will do very little. He can also regenerate, rendering a bladed item moot. A rocket would reduce him to small, little meaty bits. He would have a hard time regenerating from that.”

A chill ran down the badger’s spine. That was a mental image he really didn’t need. “That sounds a bit extreme.”

“’Extreme’ is a form of ‘any means necessary’.”

“Very well…” Faust grimaced and returned to his task.

He led the massive robot to the adjoining room. He scanned his hand print on the panel then stood still as the camera scanned over his right eye. The heavy doors parted with a hiss and he led the Judge into the room.

Racks upon racks of weapons adorned the walls, from shotguns to missile launchers. The Judge’s glowing eyes took in each and every one, and for a fleeting moment Faust thought the robot looked ecstatic. But that was impossible. It wasn’t programmed with emotions.

“You have your pick,” said Faust. “Whichever weapons would be the most effective to capture Shadow.”

“Capturing is irrelevant.” The Judge approached the rack of heavy duty firearms and pulled down a machine gun. It turned it in its huge hands and examined it. “Shadow’s threat level is too high to simply apprehend. I shall remove this threat from Mainframe ‘by any means necessary’.” The final sentence had been said in Faust’s voice.

The badger’s spine stiffened and he took a step back towards the wall. “All right then. I’ll leave the hedgehog in your capable hands.”

“Affirmative.” The Judge fastened the machine gun to its back then pulled down a rocket launcher. “Requesting a drop in the Beatdrop Capital. Estimates that I shall arrive by this evening at the latest.”

“There’s a ship waitin’ already.” Faust waved a hand towards the doors. “I’ll take you to it.”

He turned from the weapons room, visibly trembling. Yet the Judge had no comment on that. He heard the soft click of metal against metal as the Judge holstered the rocket launcher, then its heavy footsteps as they echoed across the metal floor. The whine of its mechanical joints cut through the silence as each one moved fluidly, like… well… a well-oiled machine.

Despite his fears, it had all gone very well. So far. But the badger’s heart was still racing. Deep down, he felt this might be the single most ridiculous extreme Eggman had ever suggested in his rule over Mainframe.

...​

Amy switched the vacuum cleaner off and tucked it away in the corner of the room. Well, that was the last of the little bits of torn paper. She swiped her hand across her brow and turned back to the living room. Much better, save for the aftermath.

“Wow, you really did a number on the wall, huh?” Tangle turned from the tattered plaster to address Infinite.

“I’ll fix it later,” he muttered.

He lay on his back on the sofa, gazing at the kitten-themed post-it pad in his hands. Whisper leant on the back of the sofa, looking between the jackal and the wall.

“Really got a beef with that hedgehog, huh?” said Tangle.

Infinite fixed a narrowed eye on her then returned to the kittens.

Amy rejoined them and smoothed out her dress. “It doesn’t matter about the wall. I’m just glad they found out who the killer is. For definite, this time. Let’s just hope they catch him before they start evacuating this part of the city. I really don’t want to have to move again.”

“Let’s hope they’ve definitely found the right guy, too!” said Tangle.

Amy looked up with a start. “You don’t think it’s Shadow? With all that evidence?”

“Yeah, sure! Unless he’s just mimicking.” Tangle looked much too happy for someone who had just come up with that idea. “I mean, the real Heartbreaker could still be out there.”

“It’s Shadow,” Infinite spat. “Drop it.”

Tangle rounded on the jackal. “All right, grumpy guts. So your dreams are givin’ us all the answers we need, now, huh?”

Infinite sneered at her and tossed the post-it pad to the end of the sofa. “Put the pieces together, genius! You saw the news! How’s that a co-incidence?!”

“He’s right.” Amy perched on the end of the sofa, and Infinite moved his feet up to allow her space. “That mural at the crime scene was of a canine. Infinite’s was of a hedgehog. I… can’t understand it, but it does seem like Shadow is trying to frame Infinite.”

“But why?” Tangle folded her arms and frowned. “I mean, it’d make sense if it is the same Shadow from your world, Niffy, but we’ve always understood he was created here. It might not even be the same guy.”

“Then how else do you explain it?” Infinite snapped. “And I warned you not to use that name…”

“Maybe it is the same guy,” said Amy. “Maybe there’s two Shadows.”

“I doubt that, Amy,” said Tangle.

“It might be possible,” said Amy. “He could have come through when Infinite and Eggman did, like Infinite suggested.”

“Unless he was hiding, there’d be no reason for us not to know,” Tangle went on.

“I’ve an idea.” Whisper’s soft voice drew their attention. She remained leaning over the back of the sofa, but her eyes were on the tattered plaster. “What if it is our Shadow, and he’s trying to get your attention?”

Infinite scoffed. “Why would he want my attention?”

“News describes a pink mist,” Whisper explained. “Like yours. Sounds like you have the same powers.”

Infinite quirked an eyebrow. “What?”

“Dude, you missed that?” Tangle offered him her computer and he took it. “It says it right here. When he showed up in DotMatrix’s apartment, he vanished into a pink mist. Although not all news sites have that little bit. They kinda dusted over it.”

Infinite’s canines poked between his lips and his arm visibly trembled. Tangle swooped in to grab her computer before it met an unfortunate fate against the wall.

“So he’s using my powers now?!” Infinite roared.

Tangle and Whisper exchanged glances, and the former tucked her computer away.

“Well, I’m late to work,” said Tangle. “I’ll catch up on all this later, okay?”

Before anyone could interject, she was out the door. A silence washed over them, while Amy sat feeling increasingly awkward. Whisper watched Infinite for a moment, then pushed herself back from the sofa.

“Have to go out,” she said. “Need anything?”

Amy gave her a small smile. “No, thank you, Whisper.”

“Shadow’s head on a platter,” Infinite said plainly.

Whisper let out a small laugh. “They’ll find him.”

“I want to find him first.”

Infinite looked up at the wolf, catching her eye. It was as if some unspoken message passed between them, before Whisper finally abandoned the sofa.

“Maybe you will,” she said.

Infinite grunted at that as he watched her open the door. She left the apartment with a soft ‘bye!’

Amy wound her fingers together as the sudden onset of silence pressed upon her like tar. That recent discovery nagged at her, and she let out a small breath as she braced herself to say it.

“So he’s using your powers?”

Infinite fixed his red-tinted eye on her. “Sounds like it.”

She parted her hands in a weak shrug. “How?”

“How should I know?” he scoffed, waving at the jewel in his chest. “It’s not like I handed a piece to him.” He sighed and pressed an arm over his face. “It explains why I’m so freaking tired all the time. If he’s using it, then he’s draining me. A leech on my very existence.”

“It looks like everyone has their answers now.” Amy screwed her eyes shut and dug her fingers into the sofa cushion. “I’m sorry I thought it was you.”

He removed his arm to look at her, but she couldn’t see him. Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes and a soft sob escaped her throat. Something soft brushed her legs and she opened her eyes again to find his tail sprawled across them. She looked up at him, meeting his eye. Soft. Forgiving.

She leant back into the sofa, letting her hands rest on his tail. “I shouldn’t have leapt to conclusions like that.”

“You had your reasons,” he said flatly.

“Thank you. But still-”

“’But’ nothing. Forget it.”

Amy nodded stiffly and trailed her fingers over his tail, watching the long fur part between them. “So are you going to go looking for him?”

When he didn’t answer, she looked up at him again. He nibbled on the end of a claw, his eye wide behind his mask. She retracted her hands, muttering an apology. The worry on his face melted slightly and he swiped her hands with his tail. Taking the hint, she returned to combing her fingers through it and relaxed back into the sofa.

“I’m thinking about looking for him.” Infinite paused to let out a sigh. “I’m just wondering what to do with you.”

She looked up at him with a start. “What about me?”

“I can’t exactly take you with me, can I?” he said. “It’s too dangerous. And if he really is after me, then I can’t exactly leave you here unprotected either.”

“What? You think he’d come for me?”

“Probably. He’s killed my friends already. Why not you, too?”

Amy’s shoulders slumped. “We don’t know it’s the same Shadow, though, do we?” She paused as she thought over her next words carefully, smoothing his soft fur between two fingers. “What if Whisper’s right and he’s trying to communicate with you?”

“By murdering people?!”

She flinched back and closed her eyes.

“I know I’m not a good person, Amy. I’ve killed people myself. Sometimes in self defense, sometimes because I was paid. But to use my powers for that?!” He covered his face with his hands. “If he is trying to give me a message, what if it’s just torment? There’s been hints at who might be next laced in there. What if each one is left for me? Messing with my head, worrying me, drawing one step closer to making this personal?”

“I think you’re over-thinking things,” said Amy.

“Am I?” He lowered his hands to his stomach. “I know you don’t want to move again, but I want you out of this city. Just take your friends and go. You’re safe with them.”

“What?” she gasped. “I’m not leaving you!”

“I know what I’m doing,” he growled. “You’re pretty handy with a hammer, and as for your friends, I trust them. But none of you would be able to fight someone with my powers. If he were to disarm you, you’d be nothing short of useless! A dead weight! Literally!”

Amy’s eyes flashed and her quills bristled. “I can handle myself!”

“I know!” He groaned and covered his face again. “But this… Just leave, Amy. Run away! Leave this fight to me!”

“Are you serious?! I can’t leave you like this! You’re exhausted! You need me!”

“I need you safe!”

Her heart jolted and she almost left her seat. They stared at each other for a moment in the sudden silence, Amy slack-jawed and Infinite breathing heavily.

He sank back against the arm of the chair and closed his eyes. “Please, Amy…”

She huddled in her seat and looked away from him, winding her fingers into his tail. “I don’t want to lose you…”

“I don’t want to lose you either.” He pinched the bridge of his muzzle and closed his eyes. “I can’t go through that again.”

A silence passed between them, heavy on the air. Amy buckled over slightly, clutching Infinite’s tail in both hands.

“We’d be cities apart.” Despite the silence, her voice sounded weak and quiet. “How would we even contact each other? You don’t have a computer, or a phone. I wouldn’t even know if you were okay.” Pause. “It works both ways.”

“We’d find a way.”

She screwed her eyes shut. “Just please… Can you think about this before rushing into anything?”

“I have been thinking about it.”

So he’d already been warring with this? How long for? She shook her head as tears began to break forth. His tail slipped from her hands as the entire sofa shifted, and she felt him loop an arm over her shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ve tried to come up with something else, but this really is the only way.” He paused as he let his head rest on hers. “I don’t like it.”

She let herself lean into him and wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. “Neither do I.”

The room fell into silence again. Another heavy silence, weighing down on them, broken only by their soft breathing and the steady pulse of Infinite’s heart against her ear. Amy finished clearing tears from her eyes and stared across at the tattered wall. The mural… she frowned at the peeling plaster as she searched her mind for why that suddenly seemed significant.

A hedgehog’s head… a canine… it all swirled together in her mind mixed with the soft heartbeat against her ear. Her own picked up as it all made sense to her. She barely even noticed Infinite’s claws brushing up and down her arm.

“Infinite?”

“Hmm?” The noise was barely more than the breathy response of someone who’d been drifting off to sleep.

“What if… what if you’re his next target?”

Infinite released her as he pushed himself up. His expression was unreadable as he frowned at the far wall.

“Huh,” he said. “I hadn’t considered that.”

“It makes sense,” she said. “You’re pretty difficult to kill. Shadow’s method would… well…”

“Oh, it’d kill me with bells on.”

Amy grimaced as she tried to dispel the awful image forming in her mind. “Well, Shadow left a mural of a canine’s head… yours was of a hedgehog.” Her voice began to waver and she brushed her quills back from her face. “Whisper’s idea might be partly right. It might be a way of communicating, but not what she thought it was. Your powers are clearly linked. So what if the Phantom Ruby is trying to warn you?”

He tilted his head to scratch his cheek, letting out a thoughtful grunt. “It’s always a possibility. If I die, then it’ll fade from existence.” He paused and let out a dry chuckle. “I guess I’ll just have to get one up on him then, won’t I?”

“Then if I’m not his target, I can help you track him down, right?” She gave the jackal a hopeful smile.

“Oh, no.” Infinite looked down at her and shook his head, causing her smile to melt into a frown. “My plan’s not going to change. You’re still leaving this city, and I’m still gonna look for him.” A sly smirk twisted his lips. “But I’ll find him first.”

...​

The shutter was still open when the two soldiers returned to the workshop. After two hours, Sonic had finally managed to scrub the blood stain from the wall, although it was still clear it had been there. A quick DNA check had confirmed it didn’t belong to either Shadow or Rouge, but the gentleman who’d been murdered in the school earlier that night.

Tails rummaged about around his workshop, occasionally glancing at his computer as he took note of all his inventions and weapons. Sonic leant against the wall beside T-Pup, tapping his foot as they watched the fox move back and forth along the weapon rack.

“I hate to rush you, bud,” said Sonic. “But the longer we spend here, the less chance we have of tracking down Shadow and Rouge.”

“I need to check if they’ve taken anything first,” Tails explained. “That way we know what to prepare ourselves for.”

“Noticed anything?”

Tails looked down at his computer again and nodded. “A laser pistol is missing. I’m going to guess one of them has taken it.”

“Probably the bat.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Tails scratched behind his ear as he took in the massive row of weapons. “So far that’s all I’ve noticed, and I’ve checked over this thing twice now.”

“Then I think it’s safe to say that’s all they’ve taken.” Sonic grinned down at T-Pup who returned it with a happy pant. “At least they’ve not taken your Tornado, eh?”

“They don’t need it.”

Tails pocketed his computer and grabbed his tranquilizer rifle from where it lay propped against the wall. Much to Sonic’s surprise, he exchanged it for a much larger weapon. One formed up of two long shafts with an electromagnetic coil between them.

Sonic’s eyes widened and he pushed himself back from the wall. “You’re takin’ a railgun?! We’re not shooting down battle planes, Tails!”

“We know that Shadow can regenerate, and is almost entirely bullet proof,” Tails explained. “Sure, he isn’t immune to projectiles, but he can take some hefty punishment. A railgun packs enough power to take him out of action before he causes any more damage than he already has.”

Sonic brushed his quills back from his face. “I get you, bud, but you met Shadow. He was convinced Infinite was the killer. Until now, we’ve had zero indication it was Shadow at all.”

“He could have been putting on a front.”

“I dunno…” Sonic dragged his hand over his muzzle as he stared at the wall in thought. “Something makes me think there’s more to this than meets the eye.”

T-Pup gave an affirmative yap.

“We did agree that once Shadow and Rouge left here, we’d be tracking them down again,” said Tails. “It is our job after all.”

“I know that,” said Sonic. “But now a massive spanner has been thrown in the works, and it doesn’t settle well with me to hand someone over who might actually be innocent. The whole of Mainframe would believe he was a cold blooded killer, and there’d be no solid facts to back that story.”

Tails lowered his railgun and narrowed his eyes at Sonic. “So you don’t believe Shadow is the murderer? Even though he was found at the scene of the crime, and trailed that deer’s blood back here into my workshop?”

“Oh, I believe he killed the guy,” said Sonic. “I just don’t understand why. I mean, what if he’s not aware he’s doing it? He said himself those powers he shares with Infinite are completely new and unpredictable. Isn’t it possible he’s being used as some kind of puppet?”

Tails stared at him for a moment longer as he thought over Sonic’s words. The hedgehog shifted against the wall, forcing himself to maintain eye contact.

Finally, Tails spoke. “You think Infinite’s controlling him? That he’s the real murderer behind all this?”

“I’m not saying that at all. That’s entirely speculative. I’m wondering if the powers have something to do with it.”

“That’s also speculative.”

“Yes, but that way no one else dies!”

“Until he strikes again.”

Sonic clenched his teeth and snapped his glare off Tails to the open shutter. “Look, let’s not do anything hasty. We’ll round up Shadow and question him, okay? Rouge too. No one gets killed until someone is proven guilty of murder with intent.”

“And what about Infinite?”

“We leave him.” Sonic shrugged. “He’s not shown himself for weeks. We can’t just assume he’s controlling Shadow. We don’t know for a fact that Shadow’s isn’t doing this consciously. He might be a blood thirsty serial killer for all we know, but the fact is we don’t.” He paused and ruffled his quills between his ears. “I just don’t want to kill him, Tails. Not if he’s actually innocent.”

Tails nodded and propped the railgun against his workbench. “And what about the ‘clues’ left at the crime scene? I still think they’re pointing to his next target.”

“A canine?” Sonic inclined his head on one side in thought.

“Canine. Vulpine. We’re all pretty similar.”

Sonic’s ears pricked up and he nodded slowly as he watched Tails strap the railgun over his back. He didn’t look scared, or worried. Sonic had to wonder, without all those emotions warring for centre stage, Tails was probably thinking quite rationally.

“All right,” said Sonic. “We’ll take precautions. But we are not going to shoot on sight. Are you understanding me?”

“I understand you perfectly.” Tails reached for a tranquilizer gun and tossed it to Sonic, who caught it flawlessly. “It just makes sense to go in armed to the gills.”

“We don’t have gills,” Sonic joked.

Tails ignored that statement and reached for a second tranquilizer gun. Then he fastened a few grenades over the strap holding his railgun.

Sonic sighed and holstered his weapon. “You might wanna make sure you’re also carrying the GUN emblem before we get stopped by drones and GUN solders.”

Tails didn’t look up, too occupied with his explosives. “Noted.”
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Fifteen​

The sky was rapidly darkening. Heavy black clouds spread across it, bringing with them the threat of rain. The air was heavy and humid, enough so to cause Sonic to stop by a vending machine for a quick drink.

The blue hedgehog downed an iced tea with one thirsty gulp after the other, then swiped his glove across his muzzle as he turned towards his twin-tailed friend.

“Want some?” he offered.

Tails glanced back at him over his shoulder then checked over his weapons. “I think we need a higher vantage point.”

“That’s a ‘no’,” Sonic muttered as he sipped more of his drink. He joined Tails’ side and scanned the busy street. “I think you’re right. A better view of the city might give us a good starting point.”

“And we might see Shadow among the crowd,” said Tails. “Although I doubt he’d remain in such plain sight. It would be suicide. I think we should aim for the evacuated areas.”

“Agreed.”

Sonic didn’t need telling twice. He tossed the empty bottle into the nearest trash can, eliciting a small beep from it. It opened up and swallowed the bottle as Sonic zipped past it. He raced up the side of a skyscraper and came to an abrupt stop on its garden rooftop. From his new perch on the top of the safety rail surrounding it he could see across most of the business district.

The familiar thrum of a propeller reached his ears as Tails descended beside him with T-Pup in tow. The fox perched beside Sonic and peered out at the city.

“A little higher than I’d been thinking,” said Tails.

“Yeah, but look at that view.”

Sonic waved across the city. Rising up from the midst of all the towering buildings was the blinking antenna of the Beatdrop Capital’s Chaos Node. Well below them, cars raced back and forth like little beetles along narrow tracks, ignoring the hundreds of colourful Mainframers as they went about their day.

“You’re right though,” said Sonic. “It would be impossible to see Shadow from way up here. But over there looks pretty evacuated.”

Tails followed his eye towards the Western district. It was the first area to be evacuated. Few people wanted to stick around after the murderer had been sighted in that very area, lurking around the school almost every child in the Beatdrop Capital attended.

The fox made a thoughtful noise. “It’s entirely possible he’s still there. If he’s wanting to hide out of sight, then return to the scene of the crime. What better place to hide than in plain view, when everyone else would assume you’d have fled elsewhere?”

“You’re almost echoing my thoughts there, bud.” Sonic gave his friend a playful grin. “Race ya!”

With that, Sonic kicked off from the edge of the skyscraper and rushed down the vertical drop. A few squeals of surprise rose up from the street as the blue blur took off at the speed of sound down the busy main street.

Within seconds he was by the school, casting his eye up and down the empty street as he tapped his foot impatiently. Before too long, Tails descended beside him, his weapon ready.

“See anything from up there?” Sonic asked.

Tails gave a curt nod. “I spied a suspicious individual two streets from here.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow. “Shadow?”

“No. Infinite.”

“Really?” Sonic didn’t mask his surprise. “Which way?”

Tails pointed his gun towards the small street leading off beside a bistro, its neon ‘open’ light as dull as its empty windows.

Sonic dashed away from Tails, leaving the fox coughing in his dust cloud.

...​

The quiet street lay cast in murky light from the street lamps as they cut through the stormy air. Infinite’s footsteps echoed in an eerie way, sounding oddly loud in the ghost town of a city. At least, that’s how it seemed. Not a Mainframer in sight. All the windows of the houses and tower blocks were dark, not so much as a flutter of a curtain to signal any life. On his right, the digital face of the school’s clock rose over the low rooftops of the terraced houses. Bright and clean, ringing out the hour for five in the afternoon. Its chime, clearly meant to be jovial, was haunting. It sent a chill down the jackal’s spine and he fought the urge to hug his arms around himself. After the fifth and final bong, the street was plunged back into silence.

Infinite turned away from the clock and scanned the street. A lone crisp packet fluttered along the gutter, whipped up by the gentle breeze.

He tutted. “It’s going to take me a long time to check all these empty buildings.”

“Looking for something?”

Infinite almost leapt out of his skin. Canines bared, he spun around to face the speaker. A blue hedgehog leant against the wall of a news shop, dusting down his GUN jacket. Infinite let out a low growl. He recognized that hedgehog.

“I mean, you must be, right?” Sonic went on. “Either that or you’re lost. This is a pretty strange place to go for a walk.”

The jackal’s fur bristled down his spine and he balled his hands into fists. Sonic didn’t seem to care. He pushed himself back from the wall and took a couple of steps towards Infinite.

“How’s Amy?” he asked. “I haven’t seen her since I left you in her care. Kinda expected you two to stick together.”

Infinite met his eyes, his lip twitching as he braced himself for the hedgehog to reach for the weapon strapped to his back. The air filled with a dull, repetitive thrum and Sonic’s fox companion slowly descended beside him. Unlike Sonic, however, Tails had his weapon at the ready. Grenades adorned the strap crossing the fox’s body. The weapon in his hands was one Infinite was unfamiliar with. Electricity hummed between two round shafts of metal, and he held it level with his eye. The tin dog accompanying him yapped away, stopping only when Sonic shushed it.

“So where is she?” he asked Infinite.

“Safe.” It was all Infinite had to say. Sonic didn’t need to know any more details.

He didn’t. No one did.

“Well, so long as she’s safe.” Sonic took a step towards him and raised his hands. “Look, I know we’ve not got off on the right foot-”

A deep hum filled Infinite’s ears as the Phantom Ruby flared to life, surrounding his body in a red haze.

Sonic’s eyes widened and he froze, lifting his hands higher. “Whoa, whoa! I’m not here to start a fight!”

Infinite nodded towards the fox soldier. “Tell that to your friend.”

Sonic looked over his shoulder and sighed. “Tails, put the railgun away.”

“That would be unwise,” said Tails. “We know he’s volatile.”

Infinite growled as the Phantom Ruby intensified. He’d show that fox the true meaning of ‘volatile’. Glitched pixels flickered across Infinite’s body, and he raised his hand, creating a deep thrumming noise in the air. The railgun sparked with electricity as its own hum joined that of the Phantom Ruby. A buzzing, static, whirring noise that grew with intensity as the weapon charged.

Sonic’s entire body tensed as he braced himself to lunge at Infinite. The jackal looked between the soldiers and their pet. The concern and determination in Sonic’s green eyes. The concentration on the fox’s face. The whine from the robot dog as it paced back and forth along the wall.

Amy’s friends. All three of them.

“Look, Infinite! We’re not here to fight!” shouted Sonic.

It wasn’t the hedgehog’s words that did it. Infinite sighed and lowered his hand, letting the Phantom Ruby fizzle out. The electrical hum died out with it and Tails lowered the railgun slightly.

Sonic let out his own sigh and visibly relaxed. “Thank goodness for that. I thought this city was about to witness yet another bloodbath.”

“What do you two want?” Infinite growled.

“We came here looking for Shadow,” Sonic explained. “My guess is that’s why you’re here, too?”

“You could say that…”

Tails propped his weapon on his shoulder so it was still pointed in the jackal’s direction. “Vague answers are not going to help your case right now.”

“What case?” Infinite spat.

“It’ll take a long time to explain,” said Sonic. “But let me make one thing clear - no one here is accusing you of these murders, but you’re not exactly off the hook just yet.”

Infinite’s eye flashed with Phantom Ruby energy. “Shadow is the murderer!”

“Let me explain!” Sonic raised his hands again and let out a flustered sigh. “Shadow was with us for a while before we discovered he killed that retired teacher. Prior to that he was demonstrating powers very similar to yours. It won’t be long now before people realise that and link the two of you together.” Sonic paused as Infinite’s muzzle twisted in a sneer. “So let me guess. You’ve already realised this, and you’re out looking for him?”

Infinite snorted. “You’re a smart hedgehog for a mindless GUN drone.”

“I’ll take that as a back-handed compliment.” Sonic flashed him a boyish grin. “Now the awkward ice is broken, what do you say we pool our skills and look for Shadow together? More ground covered.”

Infinite opened his mouth to explain to Sonic how that would not be happening even if he begged, but was cut off as a helicopter’s chopper blades reached his ears. A primal response deeply trained into him from his escape from GUN took over as he visibly tensed and jerked his head towards it. But the helicopter wasn’t interested in him. It hovered several streets away, stationary as it dropped a hulking robot on a long chain. It swung back and forth like a pendulum, risking clipping the billboards off the rooftops surrounding it.

“What in the world is that?” Infinite gasped, moreso to himself.

Tails lowered his railgun and moved over to Sonic. “If it’s what I think it is, I’d say it’s a massive overreaction.”

Sonic gave his friend a sideways glance. “And what exactly do you think it is?”

“A Judge.”

The fox’s lack of emotion in his reply carried enough sinister air to chill the entire street. Infinite and Sonic stared down at him for a moment before turning back towards the dangling robot.

Tails holstered his weapon over his back. “If it is, then it looks like this city is going to see a bloodbath like never before.”

“What exactly is a Judge?” Infinite asked.

“The last straw,” said Sonic. “Killing machines. Eggman keeps them handy for when he needs to apprehend a wildly dangerous criminal.”

“Plural,” added Tails. “They’re used to deal with gangs or terrorist groups. Not lone serial killers.”

“Eh.” Sonic shrugged at Infinite. “He might have sent one after you if you’d caused much more damage.”

Infinite tutted at that, keeping his lone eye on the hedgehog.

“But I don’t get it!” Sonic waved at the helicopter. “Why not wait until the entire city is evacuated first before dropping a merciless machine right into the thick of it?”

“Like I said. Massive overreaction,” said Tails. “Let’s just hope they can evacuate it in time.”

Infinite watched as the robot was lowered into the streets, eventually vanishing behind the towering skyscrapers. So it had been unleashed to search for Shadow? Then he and that robot had something in common. However, if it got to Shadow first, and it was as deadly as Tails said it was, then it would inevitably kill the black hedgehog. Then Infinite would never get his answers - how he was using his power, why he was trying to frame him… Infinite balled his hands tightly into fists. Then he tapped into the Chaos Network, keeping his sights on where the helicopter was still lowering its murderous cargo. Strings of binary swirled around him and in a flash he was standing atop one of the skyscrapers.

Wind from the helicopter’s blades whipped up his fur, sending loose strands from his dreadlocks into his face. He swiped them aside, frowning down at the massive robot. It clutched onto the chain with one set of massive metal claws, each one glinting in the streetlight. The other was clutching a machine gun. Its glowing eyes were on the street below, masked behind a yellow head that looked almost out of place on its red and black body. Infinite could just make out the ‘omega’ symbol on its left shoulder, slightly obscured by what he hoped wasn’t a rocket launcher.

Everything about the robot felt familiar. Like he’d seen it before. His lips pulled back from his canines, and he felt an odd tremble deep inside his body. He had seen it before. It was, yet again, another similarity to Mobius. Yet it was hunting Shadow… so it couldn’t be his ally, could it?

“Whew!” Sonic appeared behind him, coming to an abrupt halt on the lip of the building, and almost eliciting a yelp of surprise from the jackal. “I never thought I’d say this to anyone, but wow, you’re fast!”

Infinite let out a low growl and turned his sights back on the Judge. “You just can’t leave me alone, can you?”

“Well, the tables have turned a little.” Sonic folded his arms and shifted his weight to one leg as he watched the robot swinging mere feet above the road’s surface. “If that robot is hunting Shadow, then I’d personally like to get to him before it does.”

“Likewise.”

“So it makes sense to team up, eh?” Sonic flashed him a grin. “It’ll take at least three of us to stop that thing. I mean, I’m fast, sure, but I don’t really want to take my chances fighting that guy solo.”

“Well I could handle that guy solo just fine,” Infinite growled. “I have no intention of teaming up with you or your barking tin can.”

As if on cue, the fox and his robot dog descended behind them. Infinite fired them a glare over his shoulder then turned back to the events below.

The robot released the chain and dropped onto the tarmac with a mighty clang. Small cracks shot across the surface of the street, but it didn’t care in the slightest. It turned its head left and right a couple of times, then, holding its machine gun high, it marched away. One clanging footstep after the other, along the wide road towards the heart of the city.

Infinite watched it go, then lifted his head towards the direction it was headed. If it weren’t for his mask, his ears would have drooped to the sides of his head.

“Oh man,” said Sonic. “It’s heading into residential territory. Tails, is that area evacuated?”

“Negative,” said Tails.

Infinite’s fur bristled and it took all his willpower not to leap off the skyscraper after the robot. Amy was fine. He’d packed her suitcase himself, much to her arguments. Then he’d seen her out of the door. She was clear of that area of the city. Wasn’t she?

He flicked his tail and, without so much as a glance back at the two GUN soldiers, he leapt from the building. Crimson energy flared around him and he leveled out, soaring after the Judge. He swerved to the side as a Strider Drone emerged from a narrow side street, its blue eye taking in the Judge and Infinite before turning towards the residential district.

The jackal swooped down after it, and landed on all-fours between the Judge and the Strider. The Judge’s red eyes fixed on Infinite, emotionless.

“Citizens must clear a path,” it said.

“Oh, I’ll clear a path, all right,” Infinite scoffed. “You’ll wait until everyone has left this city, or I’ll remove you from it!”

Sonic, Tails and T-Pup landed behind the Judge, but its attention remained on Infinite. Its eyes narrowed and it adjusted its grip on its weapon.

“A barrier of soft warm lifeforms cannot stop me,” it said. “If you will not move, then I shall have to move you.”

It lifted its machine gun and it whirred to life, spraying out a flurry of bullets. Infinite zipped to the side, flinching as several of the bullets struck his left arm and tail. He shook it off as his regeneration kicked in, and he leapt at the Judge, claws raised. Crimson energy surrounded his hands and he lashed at the robot. It stepped aside, swinging its arm in a wide arc towards his jaw. Infinite grunted as his head snapped back from the force and he careened backwards into a concrete wall. The bullets left his body, bouncing off the sidewalk and into the gutter.

The Judge leveled its weapon at the dazed jackal and its ominous whirring cut through the air. It let fire, arcing away from Infinite and into the air as a blue swirling blur bounced off the underside of the robot’s arm. It swung it back down, keeping the gun firing. Concrete and tarmac exploded as it was torn up by the machine gun, and several feet away the Strider Drone crumpled to the floor. Its bulb shattered with the sound of a thunderclap, drawing the Judge’s eye.

“Other robots are judged inferior,” it said as it turned back to its assailants. “As are soft, squishy lifeforms.”

The Judge aimed its machine gun back at Infinite, but jerked its head to the side as an electrical hum filled the air. Tails stood in the middle of the road, aiming his railgun at the robot.

“Lifeform judged as hostile. Calculating appropriate detainment methods.”

It strafed to the side as Tails’ weapon fired. A huge beam of electricity propelling a small projectile. Glass shattered around them as it cut through the ground floor window of a lawyer’s office. The Judge doubled back, swinging its arm around towards Tails. He wasn’t fast enough to dodge it. Blood and spittle flew from his mouth as he was sent soaring into a brick wall.

“Tails!” Sonic screeched.

T-Pup bounded away from him, barking and whimpering, to join its handler’s side.

“You shall not keep me from my mission.” The robot straightened and turned towards the two still standing. “The Judge reigns superior.”

Infinite threw up a shield as more bullets rained across the street. They bounced back, pelting the Judge’s shiny metal hide. There seemed to be no end to its bullets. Surely the ammunition belt would run out soon enough?

Glitched pixels fluttered around Infinite’s body and across the shield, causing it to falter. A few stray bullets got through, hitting the wall and clipping his whiskers. He let out a hiss and keeled over slightly, straining to keep the barrier up. The blue hedgehog wasn’t faring much better. Sonic struggled to find a way in as the robot fired its weapon left and right, keeping him at bay.

Infinite narrowed his eyes at the robot as he tried to work out some means to disable it. Unable to get in close, he wasn’t left with very many options. The bullets were firing out at such a speed he wouldn’t even have time to slip into the Chaos Network to warp himself into striking range. The belt whizzed across the robot’s torso, feeding each bullet into the machine in a blur that rivaled Sonic’s spin dash attacks.

Infinite started slightly as an idea struck him. Of course. The ammunition belt. With a flick of his hand, the belt began to warp, turning each bullet into a fat slug. The machine sputtered as the slimy creatures jammed up the gears and clogged the feed holes. The robot glared down at its weapon and the slugs trailing slime over its metallic coat, then tossed the weapon aside.

It was all the opening Infinite needed. A smirk spread across his muzzle and he flashed towards the Judge in a spray of binary. He raised his hand, forming a crimson scimitar.

“I used to make a fine living selling robot scraps!” He raised the blade and brought it down towards the Judge’s yellow head.

It raised its right hand, catching Infinite’s wrist. The jackal cursed loudly and tugged his arm back, but it was held firmly in the Judge’s metal claws. As he tried to boost his physical strength with the Phantom Ruby, the scimitar vanished in a pink haze. Infinite found himself beginning to pant, but not just out of exhaustion. His heart pounded like a jackhammer. His strength was failing, and there was nothing he could do. Without it, he was just a weak, pathetic jackal hanging from a killer robot’s fist like a fish out of water.

He met the Judge’s narrowed eyes. Unyielding. Fearless. It had its prey. It didn’t care about anything else. The barking tin can. The hedgehog it swatted away like a pesky fly. Then that same arm came around and struck Infinite so hard in his chest he flew from its grasp with an agonized yowl. Pain exploded along his arm and through his ribcage. His entire body seemed to shatter like glass as he struck the concrete wall. The last thing he saw was the enraged eyes of the Judge and its gigantic fist as it smashed into the side of his head.

...​

The Judge took a step back, its heavy boots splashing in the puddle of blood forming on the sidewalk. It turned its head from side to side, looking over the three fallen lifeforms. All motionless, save for the small robot dog.

It leapt before the Judge, barking in an enraged frenzy, its lamp-like eyes cutting through the stormy haze forming on the air. Harmless.

The Judge stooped to retrieve its weapon. Bullets lay scattered across the street where the slugs had fallen. It collected each and every one, fastening them back to the ammunition belt. Then it gave the machine gun a once-over. Unharmed. Not a gastropod in sight.

The large robot turned its sights back onto its target destination. Another skulking robot crept across its path in the distance on lanky legs, claws tucked beneath it like a primitive reptile. The Judge narrowed its eyes.

Yap yap yap!

The dog was at its feet. The Judge glared down at it, watching the pathetic thing as it hopped back and forth, barking as if it were desperately trying to convey something. Mainframe had no space for such a feeble creation. The Judge aimed its machine gun and fired, silencing the robotic canine permanently. Then it turned and marched towards the residential district.

...​

“I can’t believe he’s making you leave!” Tangle leant over the suitcase she’d taken charge of, her violet eyes wide. “I mean, why?! The serial killer’s been found! You don’t need to leave!”

Amy looked between her two friends and shrugged. “What else am I meant to do?”

“Stay! We’ve already helped you move once!” Tangle turned to the wolf beside her. “Say something, Whisper!”

Whisper leant against the wall beside the train station door, her mouth turned down in a frown. She opened one eye to fix on her friends, but said nothing.

Tangle let out an exasperated roar and threw her hands in the air. “I’d just gotten used to this city!”

“You don’t need to come with me,” said Amy. “Besides, it’s not permanent. We’ll come back once the Heartbreaker is caught.”

“Yeah, but-”

“They’re also evacuating the city.” Whisper’s voice was barely audible, but Tangle and Amy just made it out.

“I guess,” said Tangle.

“Think of it as a vacation.” Amy looked over her shoulder, back towards the street leading up to her apartment. “Although… I can’t say I’m looking forward to it.”

“I still don’t understand why he won’t just let us help,” said Tangle. “It’s way more exciting being in the thick of it all. I hate waiting on the sidelines!”

Amy frowned down at her feet for a moment. Tangle wasn’t the only one who couldn’t stand being on the sidelines. Helpless. But none of them would be watching it. They’d be left in the dark, not knowing what was going on. Not knowing which team was winning. She pulled her phone from her pocket. Her train ticket was still on the screen, booked only an hour before. Right before she’d asked her friends to meet her at the station. Destination - North Cipher. Another city. Miles away from the Beatdrop Capital. Miles outside where Infinite would be searching for a hedgehog that probably wanted to kill him. Ordinarily she wouldn’t be worried, but in the state he was in, could he actually fight Shadow, someone who had demonstrated similar powers to him?

“I mean, you’re great with a mallet!” Tangle waved a hand towards Amy, dragging her back into the conversation she’d accidentally tuned out. “And I can fight! I’m agile! I can get a few punches and kicks in, maybe even bounce you guys off my tail like a slingshot! I dunno what Whisper will do, though, I’ve never seen her fight.” The lemur nudged Whisper, causing her to crack a blue eye open again. “Maybe you could document it all, eh? A fight for the ages! I bet that would sell to a few mainstream papers! It’d even get you on the news!”

Whisper tugged the collar of her coat up, hiding a smile. “I guess…”

“See?! She’s up for it!” Tangle waved an arm at her friend as she turned back to Amy. “I say we ditch this suitcase back at your apartment and go find our jackal friend! I’m sure he’d appreciate-”

“Tangle…” Amy wound her hands together and forced herself to look the lemur in the eye.

Tangle blinked back at her and inclined her head on one side. Then she deflated and let out a sigh.

“You’re gonna say ‘no’, aren’t ya?” she said.

Amy stared back at her, biting her lip. Tangle opened her mouth to speak again, but was cut off as Amy finally gave her answer.

“Tangle, I’m worried sick!”

Tangle blinked a few times. “Eh?”

“That killer is still out there,” Amy went on, “and here I am, running away, while Infinite tries to find him. Infinite isn’t even at his full strength right now!”

Whisper shifted against the wall to look at her friend, both eyes partially open while her mouth formed an ‘o’.

“I want to help him,” said Amy. “But I’m worried I’ll just get in the way… and I can’t put you two in danger either. I’m stuck! What do I do? Let you two go to North Cipher without me so I can try and help him… or just get on that train and leave him to it?”

Tangle leant on the suitcase again and spread her hands. “Well, that train leaves in, like, five minutes. So you don’t have very long to decide.”

“Urgh!” Amy stamped her foot so hard it sent shockwaves up her leg. She shook it out and joined Whisper leaning against the wall. “I just wish this would all blow over…”

“It will,” said Whisper softly.

Tangle flopped back against the wall beside them. “Easy for you to say, you live for stuff like this.”

Whisper shrugged her shoulders and lowered her muzzle behind her collar.

Amy rubbed a hand down her face, letting out a groan. “What do I do?”

“Put it this way,” said Tangle. “If you don’t grab that suitcase and run for the train in the next thirty seconds, you’re gonna miss it. And sure, you can catch another one. But that’s another twenty-five credit ticket one way to North Cipher, and you’ll probably be late to check in at your hotel.”

“And you’ll lose your deposit,” Whisper added.

Tangle nodded at that. “So that kinda decides for you.”

“Urgh, you’re right.” Amy grabbed her suitcase and moved it onto its wheels.

“So we’re getting the train?” Tangle’s voice was thick with disappointment.

“Nope.” Amy turned from the station and began to wheel her suitcase towards the crossing.

“What? Are you serious?”

Whisper trotted to her side. “Amy, think about this.”

“I am.” Amy smiled up at her, but it failed to mask her nerves. “I’m going back to my apartment, and then I’m going to try and track down Infinite. You two are going to catch that train. I know you can make it.”

Tangle’s jaw dropped and she shook her head. “Na-ah! If you’re puttin’ your life at risk, then so are we!” She gestured between herself and Whisper.

Amy opened her mouth to retort then stopped herself. “You’re just going to come along anyway, regardless of what I say, aren’t you?”

“You can hammer me with your mallet, I’ll still fight.” Tangle folded her arms. “I’ll be concussed, but I’ll fight.”

Amy shook her head and sighed, but a smile still spread across her muzzle. At the end of the day, wasn’t that exactly what she was doing? Showing up at a fight after being told to flee?

“All right.” She stood up straight and beamed. “Do what you do best then, Tangle. Search for all reports of Shadow’s last known sightings. We’ll track him down that way. You too, Whisper.”

The lemur lifted her hand in a salute, while Whisper merely nodded.

Amy turned and headed back to her apartment, wheeling her suitcase behind her, while Tangle rambled on about a ‘plan of action’. Amy didn’t even look back towards the station. She felt a lot lighter, but a sense of dread welled up in her stomach. Sooner or later, if things went as she hoped, they’d be facing off against another version of the Phantom Ruby, and she’d already seen what it was capable of…
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Sixteen​

Rain hammered against a thin metal sheet, a constant static hum like white noise, interrupted every now and then by scrapes and thuds. Scrapes of claws over metal, and the thud of heavy footsteps. Every now and then, two glowing lamps would cut through the darkness. A challenge, or a threat. Whatever it was, every little noise, every movement, every light, caused pain to explode through Infinite’s head to the rhythm of his racing heart. His fur was sopping wet as the rain pooled around him on its journey to the gutter, snaking around the rubble, whisking away dust and grime and pasting it over every inch of his body it could reach. Yet he couldn’t move. His limbs were like lead, and something heavy pressed down on his torso. All he could do was watch the hulking shadow as it marched towards the city. Gun raised. Rockets at the ready. Smoke swirled up from the wreckage left in its wake. A ruin of brick, mortar and steel.

He couldn’t leave it like that. He had to do something. Stop that maniac robot before it caused any more damage. Infinite flailed as he tried to sit up, but that heavy weight shoved him right back down into the rubble. His good eye snapped away from the smoking city to fix on his assailant. Where he expected to find something akin to an iron beam he instead found a boot. A red and black shoe attached to a red and black leg. His eye narrowed as it trailed up towards the glaring crimson eyes of a black hedgehog.

Emotions swirled in Infinite’s mind from anger to fear to blind rage.

“You…” Infinite growled.

No words came from Shadow, but his expression said enough.

“So what?” Infinite spat. “Have you decided to finish what you started?”

Silence.

“You took everything else from me,” Infinite went on. “Everything I had left. Why did you bother to let me live? Why not just send me with them?!” More silence. Infinite’s fur bristled down his spine and he flashed his canines as he bellowed, “Answer me!”

Rain continued to fall, hammering off the lopsided metal sheet beside the jackal. Drops trickled down Shadow’s spines and face, but he didn’t care. Stoic and silent as ever.

“That thing is looking for you,” Infinite said, firing a glance towards the robot. “It’ll turn that entire city upside down until it finds you. People will die. Don’t you care?” A dry chuckle escaped his throat and he narrowed his eye at the hedgehog. “Of course you don’t care. You’re a heartless murderer! But I’m not about to let you destroy what I’ve tried to build up here in Mainframe!”

Shadow shifted, pressing his heel into Infinite’s ribs. The jackal grimaced, but he didn’t take his eye off the hedgehog. Shadow lifted a hand as red smoke surrounded his body, flaring up with the intensity of a roaring fire.

Infinite’s heart leapt and his ear flicked towards the city. A deep whistling noise, fading off into the horizon. Then screams. An explosion. He jerked his head towards it, flailing as he tried to force himself upright against Shadow’s weight. His heart sank as the entire city erupted into flames, screams rising into the air as the killer robot fired one missile after the other.

“No…”

The jackal shoved both arms into the ground with all his strength until he managed to shove the hedgehog off him. He propelled forwards, eyes fixed on the blazing city.

“Amy!”

The inferno and terrible screams faded away to be replaced by the white noise of rain hammering against a metal sheet. Infinite sat gasping, dripping with sweat, on a leather sofa. No fire. No robot. No Shadow. Just rain and a thumping migraine that complained with every tiny movement. He placed a hand to the left side of his head where the pain was at its worst. Sticky clumps of fur congealed over his jaw and temple, and the light touch only served to make his head complain even more. He ran his fingers through his disheveled dreads and sank back against the arm of the chair with a groan.

“Nightmares, huh?”

He quirked an ear behind him as Sonic strolled over to him, sporting a black eye. Yet he looked as cheery as ever. He stopped beside the sofa, clutching a steaming mug of coffee in his hands.

“It’s good to see you awake!” Sonic smiled and handed Infinite the coffee. “I honestly thought you were a goner.”

The jackal took the mug cautiously, muttering a thanks. His throat was parched, and as sore and exhausted as the rest of his body. A hot coffee was more than welcome. The steam licked over his muzzle and he flinched back from it. Wait a minute… He twitched his ear again. Free. No restriction. That meant…

His hands flew to his face, sending the steaming coffee cascading onto the floor. “Where is it?!”

“Whoa, whoa!” Sonic raised his hands and stepped back from the jackal. “Calm down, man! Your mask got shattered by that Judge guy!”

Infinite’s heart plummeted into his gut and he cracked his fingers open to look at Sonic. “What?”

“I have it right here.” The blue hedgehog held out the remains of Infinite’s mask. “I was gonna ask Tails to fix it for ya, but he’s suffering from a major case of whiplash right now.”

Infinite took his mask carefully and set it on his lap. Three jagged piece of black and white plastic. The red plexiglass had cracked and splintered, and was missing a huge chunk where it had crumbled away. He let out a sigh and placed his hand over it. A red haze spread out from his hand, shrouding the mask, and for a fleeting moment it looked as good as new. A fleeting moment. It fell apart just as quickly in his lap.

That little trick had taken almost all his remaining energy, leaving him feeling weak and pathetic. He pinched his muzzle and took a few deep breaths as he tried to gather himself.

“Don’t push yourself, pal!” Sonic lifted his hands and took a cautious step towards Infinite. “You took a lot of damage back there!”

Infinite flashed his canines at Sonic and snarled, freezing the hedgehog in his tracks. Then he turned back to his task.

One more try.

He placed his hand back over the mask and tried again. It lit up red, only the haze was a lot weaker this time. No change. The mask lay in three shattered pieces, useless. Tears pricked Infinite’s eyes, and he fell back against the arm of the chair, letting his right arm flop across his face.

Sonic picked up one the larger of the broken pieces, and Infinite slammed his hand down on his.

“Don’t touch it!” he barked.

Sonic flinched and turned to meet Infinite’s glaring yellow eye, peering at him from beneath his arm.

“Relax, pal.” Sonic let out a nervous chuckle. “I’m just moving them somewhere safe, okay? You can try to fix it again later when you’ve got your strength back.”

Infinite stared back at him for a moment, relaxing slightly. He retracted his hand and settled against the arm of the sofa, letting the hedgehog collect the broken fragments.

“It’s a shame it got so badly damaged,” said Sonic. “But why do you even need it? You act like it’s some kind of life-line.”

Infinite puffed air from his nose and twitched his head back towards Sonic. Pain hammered his head and he screwed his eyes shut, sinking further into the sofa cushion. Somewhere deep in the workshop, a faucet started running.

“I mean, what are you trying to hide exactly?” Sonic went on. “I don’t understand why anyone would want to hide their face unless they were up to no good.”

“I might be up to no good for all you know,” Infinite grunted.

“I find that hard to believe. If you were as much a threat as people thought you were, you’d have destroyed Mainframe by now. Here.”

Infinite opened his eye to see a basin of water and a washcloth propped on a small table beside him.

“I thought you might want to clean all that blood off,” Sonic explained. He’d taken up refuge on a stool beside the worktop. “I daren’t do it myself earlier in case I hurt you. I’m actually surprised you even survived that attack.”

“So am I…”

Infinite pushed himself up slowly. His head spun with every movement, thudding with pain and sending waves of nausea throughout his entire body. He grabbed the washcloth and squeezed out some of the hot water before pressing it to his face. He let the warmth soothe away some of the pain, closing his eyes and letting out a small sigh.

“I gotta say, I’m relieved,” said Sonic. “My first thought was to call in the cleaners and let Amy know. But when I saw you regenerating, I decided to take a chance and bring you back here.”

Infinite rinsed the cloth off in the basin, turning the water an unsettling shade of pink. “What state is the city in?”

“It’s fine, for now.” Sonic paused and scratched behind his ear, his eyes drifting towards the remains of Infinite’s mask in thought. “This is more than just a mask, isn’t it?”

Infinite glanced towards him as he wiped more blood off his jaw. “What are you getting at?”

“Amy made it, right?” Sonic asked. “So I guess it’s sentimental. I heard you shout her name earlier.”

Infinite froze, feeling his face heat up. He bared a canine in warning.

“You’re clearly worried about her,” Sonic went on. “That’s why you’re asking about the city, right? And why you intersected the Judge? You’re worried she won’t actually have left. We practically grew up together, so I know how you feel. Her nickname in junior school was Rosy the Rascal! She was always getting into scrapes, not taking advise and doing what she thought was best.”

Infinite lowered the rag back into the water. “So you’re telling me she won’t have left this city, even though I told her to?”

Sonic’s smile fell and he shook his head slowly. “If she cares about you at all, then no. She won’t have left the city. Not knowing you’re still in it.”

“I made her book that ticket! I packed her suitcase and told her to leave! Why would she…” Infinite took a few deep breaths and clasped his ears as his headache worsened. “Why…?”

Sonic leant forward on his knees and wound his hands together. “There was one time in high school I got into trouble with a bunch of goons.”

Infinite fixed him with his golden eye, meeting Sonic’s smile.

“They had me surrounded, knives drawn, with every intention to seriously hurt me and my friends. So I told all my friends to run and I’d deal with them,” he went on. “All of them did, except Amy. She stood by, hammer and all, knowing full well I could handle them. She insisted she was there as backup, and she did a good job too. Took down a guy twice her size.” Sonic straightened and flashed Infinite a grin. “So your ‘backup’ is out there wanting to help you. And she’ll find you. She’s good at finding people, trust me, I know.”

Infinite’s racing heart slowed and he turned back to the basin of water. Amy could handle herself. He knew that. Sonic’s words had served as a good reminder. Infinite combed his claws through his fur and whiskers, checking for any more blood. When they came away clean, he sank back into the sofa.

“I can’t just leave her out there,” he mumbled, rubbing his hands over his face.

“I know.” Sonic lifted the basin to clear it away. “But you can’t go out looking for her in the state you’re in now.”

Infinite sighed and lowered his hands to his stomach. He couldn’t deny he was worried sick, but the blue hedgehog was right. He’d be no use to Amy in the state he was in. He’d just have to trust that she would know when to run.

Sonic gave him a boyish smile. “Looks like I made the right decision leaving you with her. You’ve clearly got each other’s backs.”

Infinite’s jaw dropped slightly and he watched the hedgehog carry the basin off into an adjoining room, letting the door close behind him.

...​

Eggman growled as yet another camera flickered out. It was becoming a common occurrence, but this time it wasn’t because of some gangster wanting to mask his little hidey hole. Eggman had watched as the drone’s camera fixed on a massive, hulking robot, following its every move as it lumbered down the streets of the Beatdrop Capital. The robot hadn’t taken kindly to being followed. A spray of bullets from a machine gun lay waste to the drone, shattering its lens before it hit solid ground.

But Eggman had recognized that robot. One that had been apprehended over a year prior. One that had been proven unruly, and needed ‘special treatment’ before it could be released back into the public to do the doctor’s bidding.

He tugged his mustache and relaxed back into his seat, eyes still fixed on the footage playing out before him. Metal Sonic twitched beside him, spraying out a series of beeps and clangs.

“Hmm, you can say that again,” said Eggman. “Starline?!”

The platypus appeared in the doorway, carrying a tea tray. “Yes, Your Geniusness?”

Eggman quirked an eye over his shoulder then nodded at the screens. “Have you any idea why a Judge might be patrolling the streets of Mainframe’s capital?”

Starline pottered over to him and placed a china cup on the control deck. “Well, if I were to guess, I’d say it was a fear reaction to apprehend Shadow quickly.”

“My thoughts exactly,” said Eggman. “But whoever has done it hasn’t exactly asked for my permission. And to release that one, of all Judges. That particular model has had some severe behavioral issues. It’s already laid waste to three of my drone Fliers, and at least one Strider.” He paused, trailing his eyes over the platypus. Not an ounce of fear in his eyes, not a single hair on end. Yet his bill was tightly clenched. “I don’t suppose anyone came to you, did they?”

“What? You think I authorized this?” Starline waved a hand at the screen as the Judge plodded by, glowing eyes scanning the street. “Clearly this is the work of someone who is very much aware of your desire to capture Shadow, sir. An intended ‘good deed’ to apprehend a target who is now deemed too dangerous to be freely running around Mainframe.”

Eggman grunted and turned back to the footage. Another Flier’s camera turned black, leaving an unsightly hole in the myriad of CCTV screens.

“The Omega model was wrought with robocidal tendencies,” Eggman explained. “Something I exploited, using it to deal with rogue robots. A problem at the time of its creation. Some hooligan decided to tamper with the programming of Grade Three robots, sending them into a murderous frenzy. Such flawed robots would mar the perfect image I am trying to portray to the denizens of this world to keep their trust, while I ultimately work on my plan to bend it entirely to my will.”

“An abhorrent desire of that particular individual, sir,” said Starline. “I trust he was promptly and aptly dealt with?”

“Oh, severely so, I can assure you,” said Eggman. “Once that situation was under control, the Omega model was recruited into GUN… then went rogue itself. I wanted to iron out the creases before allowing it to roam free again as a Judge. A punishment on the robot, and a means to shock fear into the hearts of all Mainframe. The last I checked, it was not ready. So whoever authorized this is very much in the wrong, Starline.” He paused and stroked his mustache. “Very much in the wrong.”

Starline cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. “I believe the one behind this particular Judge project is one badger by the name of Faust, sir?”

“Oh, I know that badger. Impolite. Rude. Brash. Yet more than willing to cooperate on this project. I can’t see why he’d go against my wishes.”

“Rebellion, perhaps?”

Eggman grunted again as he twirled his mustache around his fingers. Someone, or something, was at work here. It was unlikely the Judge robot malfunctioned and broke free. Its movements were too meticulous, too calculating, for that. No. Someone had definitely released it. A few beeps came from Metal Sonic, interrupting the doctor’s train of thought. The robot hedgehog’s crimson eyes were fixed on Starline. The platypus stared up at Eggman, clearly awaiting an answer.

“Did you say something?” Eggman asked.

“I said someone could have got to him. GUN are divided.”

“Oh, I’m very aware of that. But it’s unlikely. All emails to that department are intersected to make sure there are no traitors.” Eggman narrowed his eyes. “Do you know something, Starline? Because you’re beginning to give off a vile mammalian smell.”

Starline let out a sigh and smoothed out his suit jacket. “There’s no hiding anything from you, is there, Doctor?” He paused, shrinking slightly under the doctor’s probing stare.

Metal Sonic flexed his claws and took a step towards the platypus. Eggman stretched out a hand, barring the robot’s path and receiving a glare and confused beep in return.

“Hold it, Metal,” he said. “Let the vermin speak. I don’t want to make any unnecessary mess. The last stain was a darn nuisance to get out.”

Starline made an audible gulp. “A-a-allow me to explain, sir. You see, I have been in contact with Faust. But I didn’t want to say anything for fear of his safety.”

“I expect you to explain, Starline, for the sake of your own safety.”

“Of course, sir! You see… he wanted to release the Judge robot to apprehend Shadow. He contacted you to ask, but I was the one to answer. Of course, I know enough about that particular project of yours as I’ve been avidly following your genius creations for years. I told him it wouldn’t be safe, that it would put people at risk. He did back down but… I guess the message didn’t fully get through to him.” Starline straightened and a small smile spread across his beak. He nodded to the screen where the Judge had appeared outside a closed night club in an evacuated part of the Beatdrop Capital. “I mean, the evidence clearly speaks for itself.”

Eggman’s eyes narrowed, and he spoke in a low growl. “You had better be telling the truth, Starline.”

“Oh I wouldn’t lie, sir! Especially not since you’ve just threatened my life! I mean, I’ve almost died once already and I have no desire to experience that again!” The platypus shuddered, although Eggman was fairly certain it was faked.

He turned his chair back towards the screens and waved a hand at Starline. “Very well. I shall deal with Faust accordingly. You’re dismissed. And take this dishwater with you.”

Starline collected the untouched tea and scampered from the room. Metal Sonic watched him go then turned back to Eggman, letting out a long, deep clang.

“I’ve no idea if he’s telling the truth. But someone let that robot out. And Faust knew full well it wasn’t ready. Either way, someone has to pay.”

He pressed a button on his control deck and the screen before him changed from footage of North Cipher to a GUN database. He scrolled through until he found the relevant file for Faust.

The badger’s face appeared in the top right corner, along with a list of qualifications, emergency contacts and all known relatives. But most importantly of all was his current location - his home in Neon village, just outside Node City.

“All right, Metal,” said Eggman. “You know what to do.”

With that, Metal Sonic turned and dashed from the room.

...​

Starline didn’t have much choice. Metal Sonic had insisted, until Starline finally twigged that the spiky robot wanted to use his Warp Topaz. Despite the robot’s speed, wormholes were certainly a faster means of transport. Especially when apprehending a criminal.

The pair stepped out into a dark room, dragging a frightened badger between them. No one knew the true location for The Executioner. Most criminals were taken to it tranquilized, coming to in a cell. But since the Warp Topaz could create wormholes, such means were excessive and unnecessary.

A high pitched whine came from Faust, and Starline followed his rapidly paling gaze towards a mahogany desk. A robot sat behind it, donned in a curly white wig reminiscent of the judges of old.

“Doctor Eggman alerted me of this individual’s arrival,” said the robot. “I believe the word he used for his execution was ‘prompt’.”

“Execution?!” Faust stammered. “But… what for?!”

“Releasing the Judge.”

“What?!” Faust turned his terrified eyes onto Starline. “But… but you…! You told me to release the wretched thing!”

“When you phoned,” said Starline slowly, “I made Eggman’s feelings on the matter very clear.”

“Phoned?!” Faust parroted. “Are you kiddin’ me, duck?! You came into the facility and demanded it!”

“I did no such thing!” Starline gasped.

“You said Eggman instructed it! To apprehend that Shadow character!” Faust struggled against Starline’s grip. “Let me go, liar! You can’t kill me for this! I’ve got a family!”

Metal Sonic secured his grasp on the flailing badger, but the robot’s eyes were on Starline. A few clangs and beeps came from it, laced with suspicion.

“If anyone’s gonna die for this, it’s you!” Faust shrieked. “You forced me to release the Judge! I told you that one weren’t ready, and now you’re makin’ me pay for it?!”

Metal Sonic’s digital eyes pierced into Starline’s very being. He narrowed his eyes at the soldier and tutted a few times.

“You’re the one who was in charge of the program, Faust. If it wasn’t ready, then it shouldn’t have been released.”

“But you-!”

“Enough!” The robot behind the mahogany table brought down a small hammer, creating a bang that far exceeded its size. “I shall be the one to deal with this situation. Your arguments are irrelevant.”

“Irrelevant?!” Faust gasped. “I’m being accused of somethin’ I ain’t done!”

“I shall be the judge of that,” said the robot. “Now answer me truthfully. Did you, or did you not, release the Judge robot?”

“Yeah, but-”

“Then I judge you as guilty!” The robot clanked his hammer down again.

“I ain’t guilty!” Faust shrieked. “This platypus made me do it! He insisted-”

The hammer rapped loudly three times, forcing the badger into silence. The judge’s glowing eyes narrowed.

“I have heard enough,” it said. “Doctor Eggman has demanded the death of the badger soldier, Faust, on account of releasing a dangerous robot into Mainframe’s busiest and most densely populated city. The repercussions of this are extensive. The evidence that you unleashed the Judge robot against Eggman’s wishes is clear. This case is now closed. Take him away.”

The wigged robot’s eyes dimmed and it sagged forward over its desk. No longer listening. Its job was done.

“Wha…?” Faust jerked his head from left to right as he looked between the robot and his two captors. “Enough evidence?! I was tricked into this! Listen to me! Wake up and listen to me! I was-”

A loud creak drowned out his voice as a door opened in the far side of the room. Heavy footsteps came from it, and Faust struggled against his captors’ grip. His fur was slick with sweat, almost sliding out of Starline’s hands. He was breathing too heavily to keep pleading his case. The skin beneath his dark fur had turned a ghastly white, and his pupils contracted into pinpricks.

A hulking mass emerged from the shadows, towering over them. Its face was hidden behind a black hood, and in its metal claws hung an axe. But it was all for show. Its free hand grabbed Faust by the scruff and the badger let out a blood curdling scream. The Executioner turned to carry him away. Shrieks and pleas beat on Starline’s eardrums, and once the door had closed his cries were silenced.

A brief pause passed, then Starline cleared his throat.

“Well,” he said. “That’s that dealt with then. Shall we return?”

He turned to Metal Sonic, but the robot’s expression was far from friendly. It beeped a few times and flexed its claws. Starline inclined his head on one side and let out a thoughtful ‘hmm’. The robot certainly didn’t trust him. Nor did he trust it. Despite its inability to speak, it must possess some way to commune with Eggman?

Starline sighed and flicked his Warp Topaz, forming a wormhole. They stepped into it, marching out onto warm sunkissed sand. Metal Sonic clanged with frustration, staring over at the towering sand dunes and spread of cacti. Starline feigned surprise, scratching the top of his head.

“Well, that was unexpected,” he said, reaching into his coat. “I guess something’s come loose. Please excuse me, I’ll give it another shot, hmm?”

He flicked the Warp Topaz again, and Metal turned his back on him to face where he expected the wormhole to manifest. Starline whipped a tazer from his inside pocket and fired, striking Metal Sonic in the back of the head. Sparks exploded across his glossy body, shorting his circuits, and he crumpled to the sand face first.

Starline tucked his weapon away and crouched beside the robot, reaching for the panel at the base of its head. A small data chip was tucked away inside, identical to the EggTech Starline was familiar with. On it would be all of Metal Sonic’s memories. All Starline needed to do was to erase the most recent ones to cover up his ruse. As for the robot judge at the Executioner’s, well that wouldn’t say anything. It had no need to. All it was meant to do was find the truth in the case presented to it, and it had done just that. Faust had released the Judge. Starline’s part in the matter had nothing to do with it as far as that robot was concerned.

Metal, however, was a different story. He was closer to Eggman than any other robot in Mainframe, and he had already picked up on Starline’s trickery. So long as Metal didn’t show any peculiar behavior, then Eggman wouldn’t feel any desire to check his memories. And if he did, the blank space left would be seen as nothing more than a glitch in the robot’s programming. A simple error to iron out.

Starline grinned from ear to ear as he popped the data chip into his pocket computer and set to work.
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Seventeen​

Amy sat outside the coffee shop near the train station, sheltered under the gazebo from the rain. She’d stayed at home with her friends that night, chasing conspiracy theories that all turned out to be fake until the three of them conked out in the living room. Earlier that morning, they returned to the station to steer clear of the residential district. No unpacking her suitcase. Evacuation was under way, and she didn’t want to be caught up in the sweep of it all. Especially since no trains would be dropping anyone off in the Beatdrop Capital for a while.

The only idea any of them could come up with that made an ounce of sense was to start by tracking down Shadow.

She sipped her coffee as she watched Tangle tap away at her Pineapple. “Any joy?”

“Oh yeah, tons,” said the lemur. “But a lot of them are probably hoaxes.”

“Most likely,” said Whisper. “People are scared. Fear sells.”

Tangle nodded then turned back to her computer. “Apparently he was sighted in the park last night around three in the morning, but also right at the northern end of the city, fleeing towards the mountains. I mean, yeah, the guy can vanish into thin air, but how likely is it he was in both places at the same time?”

“Very unlikely.” Amy sighed into her coffee. “It’s going to be harder to find him than I first thought.”

“Of course,” said Whisper. “GUN have been after him for years. No success.”

“Aye, twenty five years at least!” said Tangle. “But we’ve got this in the bag! He’s all stirred up now he’s been found guilty. He’s gotta put a foot wrong at some point, right?”

Whisper grimaced and turned away, clutching a green mug of coffee to her chest.

Amy watched the wolf for a moment then returned to her drink. Tangle continued raving on, but it was just noise to the hedgehog. Whisper’s reaction alone was a perfect description to how dire the situation was. Shadow could be anywhere. Infinite could be anywhere. And not a single person looking for Shadow knew where he was. If he hadn’t been successfully captured in two decades, then what joy did any of them have? What joy did Infinite have?

It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Shadow could be anywhere, above and below ground. There was every possibility he’d left the city. Wherever he was, he was a threat. Throw a Judge robot into the mix, and the Beatdrop Capital was not a safe place to be. Maybe she should just retrieve her suitcase and stick to the original plan. Book another train and beat it, and hope Infinite wasn’t far behind.

No… no, she wasn’t going to quit just because things were looking a little tough. She came back to reality, meeting Tangle’s questioning gaze. Whisper was also staring at her, although significantly more tense than her friend.

“Huh?” Amy shook her head to clear the fog away. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”

“I said I might have found a lead.” Tangle grinned as Amy’s emerald eyes widened. “Turns out the park is the most legit option. Three reports of a black hedgehog fleeing through the park from a pair of EggPawns. He vanished in one of the little side streets, sending those robots into confusion. One of them malfunctioned, and was collected this morning. Several news articles have reported that robot, but only three mention the rumored sighting of Shadow. One of which says he’s responsible for the EggPawn goin’ nuts and breaking down by hitting its own self-destruct button. So it’s either a rumor to explain the malfunctioning robot, or there’s some truth behind this.”

“So he’s still in the city?” Amy asked. “Or could he have fled to the mountains once he vanished?”

“I’m more inclined to say he’s in this city,” said Tangle. “I mean, they’re evacuatin’ it. Where’s the safest place to hide? Right under everyone’s nose, while the city is in a panic. The more people leave, the less there are to spot him.”

“And he won’t be swept up with the rest of us?”

Tangle shook her head then looked over to Whisper for confirmation. The wolf made a little grunt of discomfort and nodded her agreement.

“Probably stay out of sight,” she said.

“Yup.” Tangle tapped at her computer screen. “There’s enough reports of a black hedgehog boarding the train. Apparently he’s boarded it seventeen times this day alone.”

“Well sure, how many black hedgehogs are there?” Amy scoffed. “Or wolves, or porcupines? People are seeing what they want to see. You have black quills or fur, immediately you’re Shadow.”

“Like Whisper said. ‘Fear sells’. The more riled up a rumor can get people, the more it spreads and sets others on edge.”

“Like a disease,” said Amy.

Tangle burst into laughter and wiped a tear from her eye. “Aye! Just like a disease.”

Even Whisper cracked a smile.

“Well, now we have a lead,” said Tangle, “maybe we can get more solid evidence.”

“What do you suggest?” asked Amy.

“Hey, Whisper?” Tangle looked up at the wolf. “Can you get us some drone footage from the park?”

Whisper’s fur bristled and her blue eyes opened wide. “What?”

“Your Dad works for GUN, right? So he can get us some footage.”

Whisper bit her lip and sank into her seat. “Not possible.”

“Aww, come on! Surely you’ve got GUN privileges? We’re tryin’ to find a dangerous killer here.”

“We’re not GUN,” said Whisper flatly. “Meant to be evacuated. This isn’t a game.”

Tangle gasped. “I never said it was a game!”

“I think what Whisper’s trying to say,” said Amy, “is that her Dad will tell her just that. We’re not qualified, so why would GUN give us information that could put us in danger? We can’t go asking him for that. It could get him into trouble.”

“Exactly,” said Whisper.

Tangle nodded and a frown tugged at her muzzle. “Fine, I get it.” Then she perked up and beamed at the wolf. “So why don’t you get it for us?”

Whisper’s jaw dropped. “I can’t!”

“Sure you can! I’ve seen ya play on your Dad’s computer! Do some spyin’ and let’s see what we can find!”

Whisper grimaced again and set her coffee down on the table. “You’re impossible.”

“Are you sayin’ you’re not going to do it?”

Whisper pulled her phone out from her pocket and set a visor by her ear. Amy and Tangle watched her, slack-jawed.

“What is this?” Tangle waved a hand at the wolf’s new apparel. “Some kinda journalist thing?”

Whisper shrugged and said nothing as she occupied herself with her computer.

Tangle turned to Amy and nodded in the wolf’s direction. “I think it’s a journalist thing. Friends in high places ‘n’ all that jazz.”

“They have to get their information from somewhere,” said Amy.

But still… she had no idea Whisper had a GUN visor. The little silver disk hung by her ear, and the green flash of a holoscreen hovered before her left eye. Usually you could see the display of what they were looking at in reverse, but Whisper had done something to blank out prying eyes. All that greeted Amy was the dancing avatar of a cartoon wolf, oddly reminiscent of Whisper herself.

Tangle returned to her conspiracy browsing, while Amy sipped her coffee. She cringed. Tepid. The mug found itself on the table beside the napkin dispenser, while Amy pulled out her own phone.

It was an idle habit, really. Both friends she regularly communed with were sat with her, trying to help her track down the one friend she desperately wished she had contact with. She sighed and tucked her phone back into her dress pocket.

“Where are you, Infinite?” she muttered.

“Found something.” Whisper’s voice drew the attention of her friends.

Amy stood to join Tangle looking over the wolf’s shoulder. A short snippet of footage played out on her computer. A black and white shadowy blur rushing through long grass to vanish into thin air.

“What is that?” Tangle asked.

“Believed to be Shadow,” said Whisper. “But he didn’t disappear into that alley.”

“Nor is he being pursued by EggPawns.” Tangle scratched behind her ear and made a thoughtful noise. “Conspiracy theories are interestin’ ‘n’ all but man do they bend the truth.”

“I think that’s the nature of the game.” Amy returned to Whisper’s computer. “Then what is he running from?”

“This.” Whisper rotated the footage as Shadow flew across the screen again. Then she paused it.

A blue robot hedgehog graced the screen, with red eyes and razor sharp claws.

“Oh, I’ve heard of him!” said Tangle. “Metal Sonic, right? That robot has been doggin’ our Shadow for years. I think it scores pretty high on the list of those who’ve nearly caught the slippery ‘hog.”

“And there it is again, trying to catch him,” said Amy. “So what caused the EggPawn to malfunction?”

“Glitch?” Whisper shrugged and tucked her phone away. “Robots are machines, not living creatures. They break.”

Tangle tucked her hands behind her head. “We break pretty easily, too, if I’m honest.”

“Well, we’re none the wiser.” Amy smiled up at her friend. “But at least we know he’s been sighted in the city. Thank you, Whisper.”

The wolf shrugged again. “’S fine.”

“Hey, we know where to start lookin’ now,” said Tangle. “I say we head to the park and start lookin’ for clues!”

Amy let out a small chuckle and folded her arms. “That actually sounds like fun. Are you in?”

She turned to Whisper, receiving a smile. “I’m in.”

...​

“I’m out.” Blaze shook her head and leant back in her seat.

“Huh?” Silver looked up from his case notes. “What do you mean ‘your out’?”

The scenery outside whizzed by as the train rattled along its tracks. He cast a glance at the back of the carriage where the greying head of a purple cat sat nattering to the Beatdrop Capital’s pudgy mayor. Neither of them had heard his outburst, and he was fairly certain they’d agree with Blaze on this one.

He turned back to the delicate feline and cleared his throat. “We’ve almost cracked it.”

“Correction. We have cracked it.” Blaze shrugged. “We found out who the killer is. Now it’s up to Eggman to clean up the mess. Not us.”

Silver snorted and looked back down at his computer. “Fantastic job he’s doing, too, unleashing that Judge on the city.”

“At least he’s evacuating us.”

“GUN are doing that. The Judge is just ransacking everything. There’s already been casualties.” The silver hedgehog scratched his quills and sighed. “I’d much rather be in there, beating him to Shadow.”

“Why on earth would you want to do that? Shadow has demonstrated unusual powers, and I doubt that Judge would let you get in its way. You wouldn’t stand a chance against either of them.”

Silver bristled, but brushed her comment off. At the end of the day, Shadow would be facing punishment whoever caught him. He was a murderer. As far as Silver and Blaze were concerned, their part was done.

So why was he unwilling to let go?

“I just can’t help feeling like we’re missing something,” he said quietly. “I mean, Shadow has a next target. A canine. Can we really just let that go?”

“Given the entire city is being evacuated, I think his chances of reaching his next target are fairly slim,” said Blaze.

Silver nodded at that and shut off his computer. “I guess you’re right. It’s no use stressing over it. But still…”

Blaze inclined her head on one side. “You feel like you’ve not solved the case?”

“You could say that.”

She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her muzzle. “Okay. I’ll level with you. Once the Judge incident has blown over and it’s safe to come back to the city, then if anything is left uncovered I’ll help you uncover it.” She met his eyes and slammed her hand on the table, causing his computer to leap into the air. “But only if you agree not to come rushing back here as soon as my back is turned!”

Silver straightened his computer and placed one hand on it. A nervous smile tugged at his lips.

“Okay!” he said. “Okay, you have my word.”

Blaze smiled and gave him a single nod. “Good. Now, if you want to join our table, you can. We’ll be ordering some dinner soon, and after all you’ve done to shed some light on my brother’s case…” She trailed off, diverting her gaze to the window. Tears glistened in her eyes and one broke free to trickle down her cheek.

Silver reached across the table and placed his hand on hers, drawing her golden eyes back onto his. He gave her a warm smile, receiving one in return.

“That’s really nice of you,” he said. “Thank you. I accept.”

“It’s the least we can do.” She stood and nodded towards her parents’ table. “Shall we?”

...​

Sonic strolled into Tails’ workshop, toweling off his quills. The fox stood hunched over his bench, and the shrill whine of an electric screwdriver cut through the silence. Sonic joined his friend’s side, and once Tails had finished with the drill, he set it aside and lifted up his mask’s protective screen.

“How’s it coming along?” Sonic nodded to the robot canine sprawled out on the bench. “Managed to save it all?”

“It wasn’t destroyed to begin with,” said Tails.

“So it’ll have all its memories?” Sonic let out a sigh of relief as Tails gave a curt nod. “Oh thank goodness.”

“That behemoth turned your barking tin can into swiss cheese. I’m surprised there’s even anything left.”

Sonic looked up at Infinite sitting on the leather couch. The jackal had finished demolishing the peanut butter Sonic had scavenged from the kitchen, and licked what was left of it off his fingers with the meticulous intensity of a domestic cat.

“Tails does good work,” said Sonic. “It’s a shame you won’t let him touch your mask.”

Infinite scoffed and looked away from them.

Sonic watched him for a moment then let out a sigh. Try all he might, he couldn’t work out that jackal. Somehow, Amy had got through to him. But Sonic felt if she hadn’t, he’d be a raging tornado of threat and destruction. It was hard to believe the alien penned up in Gadget’s cell was the wounded and worn-out canine moping on Tails’ leather sofa.

“Are you feeling any better?” Sonic ventured.

After a brief delay, Infinite looked up and his mismatched eyes widened with surprise.

“Who, me?” He looked between the workstation and Sonic then grinned. “Sorry, I thought you were talking to your mechanical pet.”

Sonic felt his quills prickle but he took a deep breath and repressed the urge to lay into the jackal. He clenched his fists, hidden out of sight from Infinite’s position.

“No, I meant you,” he said. “I was wondering how your head is.”

“Fine.” Infinite finished cleaning his hand and sank back in his seat.

Sonic waited for him to elaborate, but that was it. Nothing else. How did Amy deal with this man? Sonic ran his fingers through his quills and shook his head, turning back to Tails.

The fox was equally as quiet, but Sonic was used to that. T-Pup’s foreleg twitched and a small whimper came from it.

“Is it okay?” he asked.

“It’s a robot, Sonic,” said Tails.

Sonic bit his lip in favor of laying into Tails about how T-Pup was more than just a robot. The fox had suffered enough as it was, and it was amazing he was even working with two cracked ribs.

“It’ll be fine,” Tails went on. “It’ll be up and running again before lunch time.”

Sonic nodded and turned back to the sitting area. He flopped into the arm chair opposite Infinite, finding himself under his intense gaze. The familiarity to the dangerous patient Sonic had once known was chilling. The jackal had since showered, and removed all his apparel from his mane. It hung about his face, flopping down around his scarred eye, making him look more like the man detained in the mental ward than the vibrant jackal in Amy’s company. All that was missing was the straight jacket and muzzle.

“Why are you so concerned about a robot dog?” he asked.

Sonic looked up at him and smirked. “Why are you so concerned about a mask?”

“I’m not especially concerned about it, I just don’t want anyone to see my face.” Infinite paused, and his expression turned unreadable. “If you weren’t Amy’s friend, I’d have to kill you.”

“Why? Because I’ve seen your face?”

Infinite shrugged and idly toyed with the fractured pieces of his mask.

“You know,” said Sonic, “you stand out a lot more wearing that mask than you do without.”

Infinite continued to stare at him, causing a chill to race through the hedgehog’s body. He tried his best not to let it show, but a small smirk tugged at Infinite’s lips.

“Why don’t you want anyone to see your face?” Sonic asked. “I don’t see any problem.”

The smirk vanished and Infinite huffed. “I don’t need to tell you anything.”

He set the broken mask on his lap like a child putting together a jigsaw, and that red haze appeared around his hand. A deep pulsing sound reverberated around the room as the glow spread across his mask, sealing up all the cracks. When he retracted his hand, the mask sat there, pristine. Not a scratch in sight.

“Huh!” Sonic raised an eyebrow. “Useful skill!”

Infinite merely looked at him as he set his mask back in place. No exhaustion on his face this time. That sleep and peanut butter had done a world of good. Or it was his regeneration. One or the other.

“This whole ordeal has been a massive setback, huh?” Sonic let out a chuckle, but it did nothing to lift the ice. “Shadow could be anywhere by now.”

“With the way he can vanish and reappear at will,” Infinite said slowly, “then it really doesn’t matter how much time passes, does it?”

Sonic’s shoulders sagged and his ears drooped. “I guess. Thanks for the downer, bud.”

“I’m not your ‘bud’.” Infinite mimed air quotes. “Remember that before I’m forced to remind you myself.”

The electric screwdriver fizzled out and Tails quirked an ear towards them. If Infinite noticed, he didn’t care. Sonic was willing to bet that was the case - arrogant and sure of his strength even after all he’d just been through.

“So about Shadow,” Sonic went on. “If he’s got the same powers as you, then you know how to deal with him. Right? What to expect and all that?”

“Not necessarily,” said Infinite.

“Care to elaborate?”

A grin spread across the jackal’s muzzle. “This kind of power can be used in infinite ways.”

Sonic chuckled again. “I’m gonna guess that pun was intended?”

Infinite’s grinning face didn’t falter as he tugged his gloves back onto his hands, shuffling about to make sure the red and green belts remained crossed over his back.

“I just wanna say though, if Shadow is the murderer, he didn’t come across as such.” Sonic drew the jackal’s attention back on him. “He was desperate to find that serial killer. There was no inkling at all that it was him.”

“Let me tell you a little something.” Infinite sank back into his seat and spread one arm over the back of it. “There are two types of killer in this world. Those that relish in it, and those that like to cover their trail.”

Sonic blinked as he tried to absorb that statement. “What are you getting at?”

“Come on, you’re not that dense? Shadow was pulling your leg, Blue Freak. Trying to throw you off the trail so he could keep doing what he was doing.” Infinite leant forward, causing Sonic to flinch back into the arm chair. “Of course he was going to lie. You think he’d just come out and say it? It’s how psychopaths like him don’t get caught! He has a plan, and he didn’t want your spiny ass getting in the way. So he won you over so he could keep at it, working his way up to his main target. You saw that mural, right? A canine’s head?”

“Of course we did,” said Sonic. “It could be any canine - or fox - he’s had an encounter with.”

“Fox?” Infinite spat. He looked over at Tails who was working busily on his robot, but his ear was trained on their conversation. “Hmm. I suppose so. But I think it’s pretty clear that message was meant for me.”

Sonic’s brow furrowed. “What makes you so sure of that?”

“He has his own Phantom Ruby,” Infinite said, counting off on his claws. “Every step he’s taken has mimicked my own personal way of living - tidy, organized, and his victims probably don’t even see him coming. Everything has been a message leading to the next victim, and his clue that time was a canine. Either he was trying to throw GUN off his scent and onto mine, or this is personal. And I’m pretty certain it’s the latter.”

“But you’ve never met!”

“Haven’t we?”

Infinite’s expression turned unreadable again, and Sonic shifted in his seat under the jackal’s intense gaze.

“I don’t think I understand,” said Sonic.

“Of course you don’t.”

Infinite stood, and Sonic copied him on impulse, bracing himself for any potential threat Infinite might pose.

“I’m leaving,” he said.

“Really?” Sonic cut before him and spread his arms in a shrug. “But we’ve not finished forming a plan!”

“We never agreed to form a plan. Now I have a hedgehog to catch. Step aside before I add another one to my list.”

Sonic strafed to the side, letting the jackal pass. “It isn’t safe, Infinite. That Judge robot is still out there. If your paths cross again-”

“So?” Infinite kept his back on him as he marched towards the shutter. “I can handle that little problem.”

“Are you serious?!” Sonic gasped. “That guy smashed your head in! Literally!”

“I let my guard down, that was all.” Infinite looked back at him over his shoulder. “Something I won’t be allowing to happen again.”

He stopped before the shutter, and a deep hum filled the workshop as his powers activated. The shutter rose up, letting in the stormy air.

“I thought we were looking for Shadow together?” said Sonic.

“If you believe I agreed to that, you’re deluded.”

The shutter fell back into place, leaving Sonic and Tails alone in the workshop. Sonic’s shoulders fell and he let out a long sigh.

“Leave him,” said Tails. “It’s not as if he agreed to work together.”

“I know but… at least say ‘thanks’ or something?” Sonic sank against the work bench beside his friend and folded his arms. “I just hope he doesn’t try to take on that Judge again.”

“I hope he does.”

Sonic snapped his head around towards Tails. The fox turned a screw in his fingers in the light then discarded it into a trash can.

“Someone’s got to stop it,” he went on. “And Infinite stands a better chance than we do.”

...​

Hovering over the city was a non-starter. Using the Phantom Ruby would only serve to weaken Infinite, and also draw the Judge’s attention. So the jackal resorted to warping himself through the Chaos Network, perching on various rooftops to survey the city.

He dropped onto the massive logo of Beatdrop Casino in a crouch, clutching the edge of the massive ‘C’ to steady himself, and gazed out at the Beatdrop Capital. The casino wasn’t as tall as the skyscrapers, but the daylight made it clear there was no-one lurking about on the roofs. The streets were equally devoid of life. GUN soldiers were the only ones occupying it, searching for stragglers as they dashed in and out of doors and milled about the alleyways. It made it a whole lot easier to spot a black hedgehog, although Infinite had had no joy so far.

A GUN squirrel soldier stopped opposite the casino and his eye flitted towards the sign. He did a double take, but by the time he’d realised someone was there, Infinite had vanished. He reappeared again a few blocks down from the casino and dropped down onto the empty street. Despite having grown up in a desert, the barrenness of the city was unnerving. Eerie. Not even a footstep echoing in the distance.

Infinite paced down the street, keeping his ears trained on his surroundings. As he passed by the apartment blocks he kept expecting the blinds to twitch or a door to open. A siren cut through the air miles away and he turned his head instinctively towards it. It was very far away, and wouldn’t ordinarily have been heard over the din of the city life.

He came to a stop and tucked his hands behind his back, tapping his foot as he looked up and down the street.

“Now if I were a wanted criminal,” he said to himself, “where would I hide?”

A flicker of sunlight reflected off the floor, catching Infinite’s eye. He looked down at his right and cocked an eyebrow at the manhole cover. The little light speck on its rim was almost flower-like, adding a bit of beauty to an otherwise unsightly item.

It would be unlikely that Shadow would just be waltzing around the streets. And with GUN soldiers rushing in and out of buildings searching for stragglers, he’d be risking himself hiding indoors. So the only other places he could hide… were the sky… or underground. In the sewers. Where all of Mainframe’s filth coalesced.

Infinite’s nose crinkled at the thought and he let out a sigh, rolling his eyes towards the sky. “Why me?”

He grit his teeth and reached for the slab of metal. His fingers twitched mere inches from it and the desire to not touch it began to take over as the hum of the Phantom Ruby reverberated in his ears. He let out another sigh and shunted the idea aside, grasping the lid in his claws and yanking it off the street. It was oddly heavy and he grunted as he shoved it to the side.

Putrid air slammed into his face like water breaking a dam and he coughed, wafting his hand before his muzzle. His fur bristled as he could practically feel the germs crawling around over his skin. He stared down into the dark void, eyeing the rusty ladder caked with goodness knows what, and shuddered.

“Okay, Infinite,” he told himself. “You’ve been in worse places. Can’t think of any off the top of my head that can trump this, but… you’ve got this.”

He took a deep breath, swiftly regretted it, then swung himself onto the ladder. He tugged the manhole cover back in place, plunging the sewer into darkness. He had to feel his way down towards the bottom as his eyes adjusted, and the soft clang of metal rang out as his boot struck the metal grate that served as a walkway.

Water gurgled on his left as it rushed beneath the metal bridge that served as a landing point for workers. It was probably partly psychological, knowing that the putrid water was so close, but it smelled even worse in the sewer than it had above ground when he’d removed the cover. Infinite forced himself to breathe and pressed on, sticking close to the wall away from the mucky water, and trying his best not to catch his fur on the smooth, slick and damp wall.

Damp…

Infinite grimaced, then froze as his ears twitched. Something moved ahead of him, tiny feet scampering over the iron grate. Then squeaking.

Just rats.

He closed his eyes briefly and moved on. The iron grate forked off to his right, and dim light came from the tunnel. A maintenance tunnel. The iron grate merged into a concrete path through the tunnel, a quick way to get from A to B. The stone archway had various grooves along it, which the rats had gnawed holes into in order to build their nests. The mortar had rotted in parts, and was in dire need of some maintenance itself.

Infinite ventured through it to the other side, but it didn’t end in an iron grate. The concrete path continued on along a flow of cleaner looking, yet still foul smelling, water.

It really was like looking for a needle in a haystack. The jackal followed the walkway along for a good stretch, occasionally glancing up at the world above. A few storm drains allowed light to leak down, telling him it was still daylight, but it was easy to lose track of time this far underground. Rats scurried along the walls on narrow ledges, uncaring of Infinite’s presence. Not the slightest bit vicious. Just going about their day. He was in their world now, after all. If anything happened to him down here, they’d probably clean up the mess and no one would ever know…

He quickly filed that thought away and picked up his pace, humming to himself if only to remain sane.

The path finally ended at another iron grate, crossing over the water to allow access to another ladder. A way out of the sewer. But beyond that was yet another tunnel, which the water cascaded along as it parted. Curiosity got the better of Infinite, and he trotted towards it to peer into the faintly illuminated passageway.

In one of the grooves was a mound of cloth. He ventured towards it, discovering it to be part of a little nest, discarded beside empty coffee cans and sandwich packaging. What little of the leftovers hadn’t yet been picked clean by rats still looked fresh, too. His tongue poked out in disgust. Who on earth would eat down here? He made a little grunt and straightened. Only someone desperately hiding, of course.

There weren’t many answers to this little clue. The nest was cold, and probably abandoned, but it certainly wasn’t old. Either someone was living in the sewers, or he’d discovered Shadow’s hiding place. One he hoped desperately wasn’t temporary. He turned his head towards the manhole cover and an amused grin spread across his muzzle. Not too far from prying eyes, either.

Infinite leapt towards the ladder and hoisted himself back up onto the surface. The second fresh air greeted him, he gulped it down, taking deep, steady breaths of it as he shoved the cover back in place, stemming the flow of filthy air.

He rubbed at his arms and straightened, turning to look down the street.

Empty.

And not too far away, he could see the school’s clock.

He grunted again and inclined his head on one side. Typical. He’d been hot on the trail the night before, and given the empty nest, it had likely run cold. Especially if Shadow didn’t want to be caught. If Infinite was in his position, he’d want to keep moving.

He just had to hope Shadow wasn’t the cautious type, and would return to it later.
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Eighteen​

The park was eerily silent. Usually buzzing with the shouts and laughter of children, it was now only buzzing with bees as they drifted from plant to plant. Amy often found such things tranquil. Peaceful. But instead it chilled her.

The park, like many other parts of the Beatdrop Capital, had been thoroughly evacuated. The trio had made their way into the park out of the sights of EggPawns. Eggman’s robot soldiers paraded the streets looking for stragglers, their beady eyes scanning left and right. Each one with a javelin strapped across its broad back. Mixed in with them were GUN soldiers, also armed, but a lot friendlier-looking than the sinister robots.

“All clear.” Whisper’s quiet voice came from the lowest branch of a sturdy oak tree.

Amy poked her head out from behind a rose bush as a pair of EggPawns vanished out of sight.

“Well, at least we now know what they were doing,” she said. “If they weren’t chasing Shadow, that is.”

She looked up as Tangle strolled towards her with her arms tucked behind her head.

“Find anything?” Amy asked.

The lemur shook her head. “Na’da. It’s as if someone waltzed over afterwards and cleaned up any sign a broken robot had even been lying there. I can’t find so much as a nut!”

Whisper ducked her muzzle down behind her collar and continued watching the soldiers. They had no interest in the park. They were more occupied with checking the apartment buildings that surrounded it, and were very much done and dusted. The soldiers that remained were mopping up the remains before moving out to other areas of the city.

“So do you think we’re safe to check for clues?” Amy asked.

“I don’t know what we’ll find,” said Tangle. “On my way back over here, I checked some bushes, but there was no sign of a nest back that way.” She nodded the way she’d come. “If I were to guess, Shadow would wanna stay outta sight, right?”

“Like… underground?” Amy ventured.

“I was thinkin’ more like lurkin’ in some thorny thicket. But sure, we can go with your idea!”

“Makes a lotta sense he’d be underground,” said Whisper.

Tangle’s face split in a wide grin. “So we’re lookin’ for an old burrow or something?”

“… Sure.” Whisper smiled down at them.

“I don’t know.” Amy sighed and scratched her quills. “It doesn’t make much sense to me that he’d hide outside. Why not use a boarded up building, or a vacant one, for that matter! The city is being evacuated. He has his choice of anywhere right now.”

“That makes sense too.” Tangle gave a frustrated sigh. “How are we gonna search everywhere with just three of us?”

Whisper swung her feet back and forth as she gazed over the street. “Cameras.”

Amy and Tangle looked up at her, mouths agape.

“You’re thinkin’ of hackin’ into the drones again?” Tangle asked.

Whisper shrugged. “Sure.”

“Hah!” Tangle slapped herself on the leg. “And just a couple of hours ago you were dead set against that.”

Whisper pulled her computer out of her jacket pocket. “I’ll stay here. You two search the park. Look for quills. Debris. Any sign of a nest or struggle.”

Tangle fixed Amy with a raised eyebrow. “Shall we split up?”

“We’d cover more ground that way.” Amy straightened and drew her mallet. “You take the area back over there. I’ll search this side.”

Tangle saluted and took off back the way she’d come, her long tail waving behind her.

Amy looked back up into the tree. “If you need us, Whisper…”

The wolf waved without looking down. Amy smiled and turned to follow the path winding through the park. Tangle had a point. Shadow would want to hide out of sight. So she searched inside every bush, placing her hammer beside her to drag her torso inside. There was enough space in most of the bushes for children to play inside, and evidence some did turn them into little dens. But discarded sweet wrappers and the forgotten foam bullets to toy weapons didn’t exactly scream ‘Shadow’.

It was beginning to feel like a lost cause. Why would he hide outside, in the open? Sure there was more space to run, but wouldn’t an old building provide better shelter? Not just from prying eyes, but also the elements?

There wasn’t even any evidence a homeless person had set up refuge in the park. GUN often did sweeps to move them on. If that was the case, then it was growing ever more unlikely that Shadow would be hiding out in the open.

Amy paused beneath a tree. A sycamore with wide sturdy branches. A squirrel drey nestled between the topmost branches, decked out with leaves to keep the light at bay. The lower boughs were sturdy and low enough to climb, covered in scuffs to support that theory. The leaves were also dense enough to hide in. Amy dropped her hammer at the base of the tree and leapt onto the lowest branch, working her way up higher. It didn’t take too long for her to reach the hidden branches.

She perched on the branch, happy that it was more than sturdy enough to hold her weight. It could hold two or three people easily. A sticky patch caught her eye, right where the branch joined the trunk. Sap oozed out, pooling in a little crevice. Her nose crinkled at it. Not exactly something she’d want to sit in. But something else caught her eye. Sticking out of the sap was a white tuft of fur.

She reached out to pluck it free and turned it in her fingers. From what she’d seen, Shadow did have white fur. Not a lot of it, but still. If it was his, then he may very well had hidden in this tree at some point.

A shrill yell cut across the park, and Amy had to clutch the branch to steady herself, losing the fur in the process. She jerked her head around towards the cry, spotting Tangle rushing towards Whisper. Heavy footsteps echoed across the park and she followed the lemur’s frantic pointing towards a hulking mass of a robot.

Its red and black hull glistened in the faint sunlight. It hoisted a machine gun in its right hand and set off a chain of fire. Not at Tangle or Whisper, but at the sky. Something creaked ominously, and Amy turned her head towards it. One of the Strider Drones. Its legs buckled as it tumbled to the floor, its camera bulb shattered from the robot’s assault.

She shook herself and dropped to the lower branches, working her way back down the tree. With the drone gone, the Mainframers were suddenly a lot more interesting to the robot. Amy grabbed her hammer and backed away, waiting for her friends.

“Analyzing.” The robot’s emotionless voice rang out through the silent park. “Lifeforms are not Shadow. Threat level, low. Nuisance factor, medium.”

Whisper joined Amy’s side, but Tangle’s interest was consumed by the robot.

“Wait!” She pointed a finger at the robot. “You’re lookin’ for Shadow?”

“Tangle!” Amy screeched. “Get out of there! You saw what it did to that drone!”

“Shadow is this Judge Robot’s target.” The robot’s eyes narrowed. “All lifeforms should have been evacuated. Assessment says you three lifeforms are rebelling against protocol.”

“Kinda.” Tangle folded her arms. “We’re helpin’ to find that black hedgehog!”

“Re-assessment. Lifeforms are after the same target. That means these lifeforms are in the way of this Judge Robot’s assignment. Nuisance factor raised to high. I shall eradicate these lifeforms.”

It hoisted its gun, and Tangle’s jaw dropped. She leapt aside as a spray of bullets narrowly skimmed her tail.

“Tangle!” Amy screamed.

She raised her hammer and rushed to her friend’s aide. The lemur sat in a crouch. Her long tail curled into a fist and she swung it towards the robot. It extended like a piece of elastic. The Judge swatted it aside with the back of its free hand, sending Tangle raising from the floor to tumble into a thorn bush.

Amy brought her hammer down onto the robot’s foot with a clang. It didn’t so much as flinch. Her ears drooped and she looked up at it, right into the glowing barrels of its machine gun. All wind was sent flying from her lungs as someone crashed into her, rolling her out of the way of a hot spray of bullets. She looked up into Whisper’s frantic face, then back at the robot.

“What do we do?” Amy squeaked.

“We run.” Whisper grabbed her hand and dragged her through the park.

“What about Tangle?” Amy gasped, turning her head back towards the robot.

The lemur had swiftly recovered. While the Judge was distracted by Amy and Whisper, Tangle had managed to clamber onto its back. It swung its arm to shake her off, but she held on tight, fastening her tail around its neck. Her fingers clutched onto its helmet as it twisted back and forth, whipping up her fur with the momentum. Tangle squealed and cheered, and waved one arm like a rodeo girl riding a crazed bull at a carnival.

“Think she’s fine,” said Whisper.

“She’s not fine!” Amy skidded to a halt and whipped out her hammer. “We have to do something! She’s going to get herself killed!”

Whisper’s lip twitched and she turned to look back at Tangle. Amy made to run back towards the Judge, but the wolf grabbed her arm.

“Go!” she said.

“But… Whisper! She’s our friend!”

“I’ll help her. Now go. Hide.” Whisper stepped in front of her, facing the Judge and barricading Amy’s path.

The Judge twisted and turned as Tangle leapt along its flailing arms. Surrounding trees lost their branches in an explosion of splinters as bullets cleaved through them. Tangle was fast, but she couldn’t keep it up indefinitely. Sooner or later, the Judge would catch her and squish her like a flea.

Amy’s heart sank and she lowered her hammer. “But you might end up hurt, too, Whisper. Please. Let me help, I’m not useless.”

“I know.” Whisper balled her hands into fists then sighed. “Fine. Strike that tree.” She pointed a claw towards a broad oak, only a quick jog from where they stood.

“Towards the robot?” Amy asked.

“Yes.”

Amy rushed towards the oak tree, raising her hammer. She brought it down against its base with a ‘pop!’ Hearts sprayed out from it, betraying the hammer’s power. The tree creaked and groaned for a moment, then toppled away from them.

The Judge had its back turned, but Tangle had heard the creaking. She leapt into the air as the tree crashed down onto the Judge. She landed in its branches and rolled along its trunk, performing a somersault as she landed before Amy and Whisper.

The Judge swatted at the tree, struggling to deal with the vast number of spindly branches. “Assessing… Tree is hindering the mission. Tree must be eradicated.”

“Did you see me?!” Tangle squealed, clasping her hands before her face.

“We saw you all right,” said Amy. “What were you think-”

“Move!” Whisper nudged the hedgehog, and thrust Tangle ahead of her. “It’ll find its way out of that tree before too long.”

Amy rushed off ahead of her, keeping her ears trained on the robot. The sick sound of cracking wood rose over the roar of its machine gun. Then the trunk exploded, raining down splinters across the park. The whir of its machine gun faded out, then its voice reached them.

“Nuisance lifeforms are fleeing. They must be eradicated before they return to further hinder the mission.”

Whisper leapt past Amy and skidded into the street. She stooped to grab a manhole cover and grunted under its weight. Once it was aside, she nodded towards it.

“Go.”

“Are you kidding?” Amy clasped a hand over her nose.

Whisper pulled her down onto the street as bullets scattered over them, striking the brick wall of the building opposite. Amy’s heart was racing. Before she could say anything, she found herself pushed into the sewer. The ladder slipped from her fingers, and her mallet tumbled into the darkness, striking the metal floor with a clang. Amy squealed as she tumbled after it, but was stopped short of the bottom. She looked up into Tangle’s grinning face.

“Gotcha!” she said.

Her tail was fastened firmly around Amy’s left arm. She swung the hedgehog back towards the ladder, and Amy grabbed on. They were plunged back into darkness as Whisper joined them, and the soft grating of the manhole cover sliding back into place echoed through the tunnels. The Judge’s voice faded into a muffle, but its heavy footsteps echoed chillingly through the underground.

Amy clambered down the ladder, choking on the putrid air. She covered her muzzle with one hand, and scooped up her mallet and tucked it away. Then changed her mind. Anything could be in the sewer, and not just rats. Hadn’t they only just considered the presence of Shadow beneath Mainframe’s surface? Hiding… lurking… waiting for everything to blow over before he struck again.

Amy clutched her hammer tight and stood waiting for her eyes to adjust.

“Where are all the robots?” she asked. “I expected to see cleaning drones at least.”

“Pretty rare,” said Whisper.

“Really?” Amy cocked an eyebrow and adjusted her grip on her hammer. “Seems a bit of an oversight…”

Light flooded the tunnel and Whisper moved to her side, clutching a torch in her hand. She ushered her along, staying a little ahead of Amy and Tangle.

“So where are we going?” Amy asked. “It’s completely alien down here.”

“Station,” said Whisper flatly. “It’s far. Need to lose the Judge.”

Whisper paused at the fork ahead of them, then turned left, crossing the filthy water over a narrow iron grate that Amy found with some disappointment lacked any barrier to keep one from toppling in.

She hugged her arms around herself and crossed it slowly. Tangle had no problem, walking along behind her with perfect balance.

“How on earth do you know the way?” Amy asked Whisper. “Have you been down here?”

Whisper quirked an ear back towards her but said nothing.

When they reached the other side, Tangle appeared beside Amy and beamed.

“The answer’s obvious!” she said. “Whisper’s from the Beatdrop Capital. She’s clearly been down here.”

“But why?” Amy squeaked.

“Seriously?” Tangle asked. “You never played in the sewers before?”

“Ew! No! Gross!” Amy hugged herself tightly. “It’s where everyone’s toilet water goes!”

“I wasn’t asking if you went swimming in it! I’m talkin’ adventure! Playin’ underground! You go far enough, you find old and forgotten subway stations and other areas of times long past. It’s pretty awesome, actually.”

“Secret GUN bases, too,” said Whisper. “So be careful, and keep your voice down.”

Amy snapped her mouth shut and cast a glance down a narrow tunnel. A rat peered back at her before scurrying off into the shadows.

“Secret GUN bases?” Tangle’s whisper was oddly shrill.

Whisper glanced back at her.

“So what?” Tangle went on. “We could find, like, some top secret information down here?”

Whisper sighed and shook her head, dismissing the lemur.

Amy narrowed her eyes at Tangle. “Seriously? You’ve already risked losing your life once today. Please don’t make a habit of it.”

Tangle tucked her hands behind her head and grinned. “Live a little, girl!”

“I plan to.” Amy hoisted her hammer onto her shoulder. “That’s why we’re not throwing ourselves voluntarily into danger. Now keep your voice down.”

Whisper came to a sudden stop and let out a long ‘shh!’

Amy froze behind her and strained her ears. “What is-”

“Shh!”

Then she heard it. Two voices, muttering. Too faint to pick out precisely. A narrow tunnel forked off on their left across the gurgling black water. Whisper turned her ears towards it, then raised a hand. A silent message for Amy and Tangle to stay where they were. She handed Amy her torch and dimmed the light. Enough to see by, but not enough to leak into the little tunnel.

Amy watched the wolf creep across the narrow bridge, each step silent. She paused beside the tunnel, peering into it with one eye. Her mouth fell open and her blue eyes widened. Then the voices abruptly halted. After a brief pause, a stray string of zeroes and ones flowed out from the tunnel, interspersed with other symbols. The sight of it alone was chilling and uncanny, and for a brief moment Amy thought she’d imagined it.

Whisper turned back towards her friends and mouthed one word silently.

‘Shadow’.

...​

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, Shadow,” said Rouge. “But we can’t stay down here forever.”

The bat paused in a little alcove and watched Shadow as he continued along the narrow iron grate. He kicked out at a soda can, sending it into the sewage where it was washed away downstream.

“We can’t go back up there either,” he said. “It’s safer down here.”

“They’re evacuating the city,” said Rouge. “There’ll be less people to see us.”

“Yeah, and a whole army looking for us!” Shadow threw his hands in the air and turned back towards her. “Down here has always been safest. I only ever surfaced to see daylight, but now there’s no point. At least down here there are no prying eyes!”

“So, what? You want to become a sewer monster?”

He bared a canine and flopped back against the wall in a strop. He ruffled his quills and sighed.

“I don’t know, Rouge. Things are just messy right now. I don’t know what to do. At least down here I’m no threat.”

Her heart began to ache and she stared at him for a moment. “You’re not a threat to me. I know whatever is going on with you isn’t you.”

He lowered his hand and shrugged. “Until I get it under control, I’m a threat to everyone. Even you.”

“I disagree.” She nudged a rat that had got too close away with her boot, and it scurried off into the shadows. “But I do understand why you want to stay out of sight. And as much as I agree with you there, there isn’t much for us in this damp and stinky mire. Just rats and whatever that is.” She nodded to the black water. “And I don’t know about you, but I’m not partial to raw vermin.”

Shadow scratched behind his ear. “Then if you have any better suggestions, let’s hear them.”

“Well we could start by-” Rouge’s ears twitched and she looked up past Shadow towards the tunnel mouth.

Something moved beyond it. Or someone. Dim light penetrated the faint shadows. Almost unnoticeable to someone unfamiliar with the sewers. But both herself and Shadow were not unfamiliar with them.

“Someone’s there,” she whispered.

Shadow pushed himself back from the wall and turned his head towards the tunnel. No more movement, but the air was still thick with an ominous presence.

“We should go,” said Rouge. “It might be GUN.”

Shadow didn’t need telling twice. He pulled Rouge into himself and the Chaos Network warped around him. He grimaced as the code corrupted and warped them out of the sewer. They emerged again on soft green grass surrounded by rustling trees.

He released Rouge and she stepped back from him, looking around at their surroundings.

“The park?” she asked.

Shadow rubbed his head and sank back against a tree.

She took a step towards him and raised her hand. “Are you okay?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but a loud crash cut him off. The pair looked up, wide-eyed, as a robot tossed a shattered tree trunk aside. Its red eyes narrowed onto them and it raised a hand towards a weapon strapped to its back.

“Target has been spotted,” it said. “Target must be neutralized.”

“Omega?!” Rouge gasped.

“Incorrect tag.” It hoisted a rocket launcher on its shoulder. “I am The Judge, and you, Shadow the Hedgehog, have been judged ‘guilty’.”

A loud, sharp hiss came from the gun, and a huge rocket was propelled towards them. Shadow barreled Rouge to the side, then warped her through the Chaos Network into the branches of a nearby tree. The one where they’d been standing erupted in an explosion of splinters and turf.

The black hedgehog glared down at the robot as it turned to try and spot them, its rocket launcher spewing smoke into the air. It wouldn’t be wise to leave such a robot to continue wrecking havoc on Mainframe. And if Eggman really had sent out a Judge to exterminate him, then so long as it was functioning, Shadow was as good as dead.

Exterminated for murder.

Murders Shadow didn’t even remember committing.

Lives he’d never even considered taking, consciously.

But a Judge robot wouldn’t listen to reason. It didn’t care if Shadow had no memories of his crimes. It didn’t care if he was used as a puppet by some invisible entity pulling the strings. So long as the victims had died at Shadow’s hands, he was judged guilty. And it would stop at nothing to exact its judgment upon him.

A walking flaw. A pure example of the open, oozing welt of Eggman’s disease on Mainframe. And no one else could see it.

The robot’s crimson eyes locked on him, glowing like flames in the dark of night.

“You will not escape,” it said. “Stand still and be slaughtered.”

The rocket launcher fired again. Shadow had no time to tap into the Chaos Network. He grabbed Rouge and leapt from the tree as it exploded behind him. Sharp splinters snagged his fur, and Rouge winced in his arms. He released her and she fluttered free, hovering several feet from the robot.

“Omega!” she pleaded. “Please, listen to me!”

The Judge ignored her, turning its weapon onto Shadow. Another rocket whistled across the park, gliding through the glowing aura left behind from Shadow’s Chaos Control. He appeared behind the robot and twisted in the air, landing a blazing kick against its back. It lurched forwards and sparks flew as Shadow’s air skates scuffed up its paintwork.

The Judge twisted, swinging its free arm at the hedgehog. It stuck his side, knocking the wind out of him and sending him careening across the park.

“Shadow!” Rouge shrieked.

The Judge turned its glare onto her and aimed its machine gun. Without a word, it pulled the trigger. Hot bullets skimmed Rouge as she veered to the side.

“Omega! Please! I know you’re still in there-ah!”

She grunted as a bullet cleaved through her wing’s membrane, and she crumpled to the ground. It brought its fist down towards her and she screwed her eyes shut.

A flash of flames exploded off the robot’s arm, knocking it off balance. Shadow stood over her, clenching his fists at his sides.

“Move!” he barked at Rouge.

“Bat judged as an accomplice,” the Judge said as it readied its weapon once more. “You both must be exterminated.”

The pair scattered as the weapon was brought crashing towards the ground. Rouge cowered behind an oak and poked her head out to see Shadow.

“We can’t beat this!” she said.

Shadow watched the robot as it turned its rocket launcher back onto him. No. They couldn’t beat this. He glanced around the park, and his eyes landed on something glittering in the moonlight.

The lake.

He vanished into the Chaos Network, wincing again as the code corrupted. The rocket struck the ground, creating a geyser of turf and shattered wood. Shadow appeared behind the robot and landed in a sprawl on its back. He tapped into the Chaos Network again, feeling the strain as he dragged the robot with him. It reached up its arm to dislodge him, but he was off its back and leaping to safety before it could even open its hand.

The Judge landed with a mighty splash in the lake, vanishing beneath the surface. Shadow beat his hands together and turned away from it, a smug smile forming on his face.

Rouge ran towards him and he held out his hands to stop her. Her eyes weren’t on him, but the lake.

“We have to help him,” she said.

“No. We have to run.” He retracted his hand as a trickle of blood dripped from her wounded wing. “It hurt you…”

“Don’t you recognize him?” Rouge snapped. “It’s Omega! He helped us! Remember?”

“I remember Omega,” he said. “But that robot is not Omega.”

“It is!”

“Not anymore!” Shadow snapped. “Now come on, before we find out it can swim or something.”

Before Rouge could retaliate, Shadow pulled her into him and warped them from the park. Anywhere. Anywhere but there.

The Casino roof. Shadow grimaced when he spotted the table. The one he’d napped under before he’d gone and killed that poor deer. He sank back against a trash can and closed his eyes.

Rouge stood before him and folded her arms. “Shadow… look at me.”

He cracked a crimson eye open, meeting her frown.

“We have to go back and help him,” she said. “He needs us.”

“He wants to kill us.”

“But it’s not him! He’s been… reprogrammed. We might be able to salvage the old Omega. Wake him up. Help him to remember who he is.”

“It’s pointless.”

“It’s not! I know the old Omega, and he would never have behaved like this.”

“It’s not Omega anymore, Rouge. He’s a robot! Robots can be reprogrammed. It’s just an old shell with a new AI. Now drop it.”

He closed his eye again and massaged his forehead. All that warping had done a number on him. It never used to be that hard. Whatever those powers were, they clearly had something to do with it.

Rouge tapped her foot, bringing him back to the present. But he didn’t look at her. He didn’t want to.

“You know,” she said quietly. “I thought you’d understand.”

“Huh?”

“You’re alike,” she said. “Same body, but performing actions outside your control. Brainwashed, to put it bluntly.”

He opened his eyes then, and stared at her, aghast.

“Just like you didn’t ask for those weird crimson powers,” she said, “Omega didn’t ask for this. You’re not a murderer, despite what Mainframe thinks. The real Omega would see right past that to the real Shadow underneath. And I believe our Omega is still in there.”

She turned her back and slid away beneath one of the tables to nurse her wounded wing, leaving Shadow to think over everything she’d just said. It was bitter.

...​

Starline had watched the footage play out several times already. The Judge robot had managed to find Shadow, but the slippery hedgehog had lost it. Dumping it in the lake was a genius idea, but that wasn’t enough to stop it.

The little spy drone broadcast the footage back to the Egg Base from its hiding hole in a tree. The droning buzz from its bee-like wings drowned out most of the commotion, but the splash as the Judge hit the water had been like a thunder clap.

Beside that footage played the battle between the Judge and Infinite. If Starline didn’t know better, he’d have believed the jackal was dead. But it would take more than that to destroy him.

Starline twirled his hair and leant back in his seat, hitting play once again. He was missing something. Something critical.

Shadow vanished again, leaving behind a spray of binary. Starline leant forward and paused the footage, zooming in for a closer look.

There. He narrowed his eyes at it. Something peculiar in that coding…

The door hissed open, and he swiftly minimized the footage in favor of a book he’d kept open. He turned in his seat, clutching the arm of the chair. He relaxed when he saw the robot hedgehog and turned back to his personal computer, pretending to read the dull detective novel. It wasn’t exactly unusual for the robot to come into his room and spy on him.

“Is there a problem?” he asked, expecting no reply.

Metal Sonic flexed his claws and made a grating, beeping noise. His eyes weren’t fierce, but they were demanding. Starline took it as a hint that Eggman wished to see him. He closed his computer and pushed himself from his seat to follow the robot.

All issues surrounding Faust had vanished. Not surprisingly, Eggman had discovered missing data from Metal Sonic, along with frazzled wires from the tazer. What was surprising was that the Doctor had dropped the issue entirely. Whether or not he’d believed Starline’s ruse about a stray electrical current from the wormhole, Starline was uncertain. Robots could short circuit. Data could be lost. It was as simple as that. But he couldn’t help but think the Doctor was onto something.

Eggman sat in his usual seat surrounded by his computer monitors. He brushed his mustache with his fingers and glanced over his shoulder at the platypus. Starline adjusted his tie and took a step into the room.

“You wanted to see me, Sir?”

“I’ve been thinking, Starline,” Eggman said slowly, “Since you authorized that phone call with Faust, I’m going to need you to clean up the mess.”

Starline’s beak went slack. “That’s… rather sudden, if you pardon me saying so.”

“That robot is causing problems. Taking Faust out of the picture doesn’t fix things. All it does is remind GUN where they stand, and what happens when someone threatens my position. When a robot goes out of control, it costs me trust. Trust I need if I’m going to set the ball in motion for plans I’ve had for the past four decades. Might I remind you, Starline, that Mainframe never used to trust robots.” Eggman turned so he could face Starline and jammed his thumb into one of the monitors. Frozen footage of the Judge launching a rocket across the rooftops of Beatdrop’s apartment buildings. “Seeing one like this… how do you think they’re going to react?”

“I guess quite frightfully, Sir.”

“Precisely.” Eggman swiveled his seat back around. “Now, ordinarily when a Judge is released, they deal with the task at hand. This one is out of control. It needs to be brought back under control, and I’m going to need you to deal with it.”

Starline spread his hands. “Why me? I’m not equipped to deal with robots.”

“Do you really think I believed you when you told me this was Faust’s idea?”

Starline froze, his beak flapping open and closed as he tried to find words.

Eggman turned his chair back towards him again. “I don’t know if you were telling the truth or not, Starline. I don’t read people, I read books. For all I know, you could be trying to cover up your mangy hide.”

“Sir! Believe me, I have not once stepped foot out of line. I obeyed your rules down to the letter when I was in charge of the Infinite Project. Anyone who jeopardized your rules was promptly dealt with.”

“Yes, by soldiers. They weren’t exactly sent to the Executioner, were they? Many lives were lost that I have no record of. People I could have dragged information out of to get a look into those rogue sections of GUN. I know you worked against me, Starline. The evidence is all there.”

“I worked undercover, Sir! I told you everything that section was working on.”

Eggman waved a hand. “Irrelevant. Something has gone down here that has thrown shade on your position. My evidence? A rogue robot tries to apprehend Shadow shortly after I tell you I’m trying to catch him for his DNA. Faust is executed, and I have no record of that in Metal’s memory. It’s conveniently erased from the second the pair of you stepped into one of your wormholes. Stray current, indeed!” A grin spread across the doctor’s face. “If you want to prove your innocence, Starline, then you’ll get that robot under control. Otherwise it’s your neck the Executioner will be cleaving.”

Starline gulped and took a step back. “Of course, Sir.”

“I don’t know why exactly you’ve come here, but you intrigue me. Enough for me to keep you alive, for now. But understand this. If you’re planning to leak information concerning my plans for Mainframe, I will find out. Working against me is treason. If that’s your scheme, then believe me, Mainframe will learn what happens to those guilty of treason and slander. I’ll make sure of that by making your execution public.”

...​

The Judge’s claws dug into the soft bank of the lake. The water parted as it hoisted itself free, cascading off its glistening shell. Its fierce, red eyes leered into the darkness, and it tossed its machine gun ahead of it onto the grass. It struck the side of the rocket launcher, creating a clang that echoed out into the park.

The Judge pulled itself free of the lake, and water pooled around it on the grass. A few dozing ducks leapt from the reeds and swam off in a panic, quacking and flapping. The robot paid them no heed.

It stooped to retrieve its weapons and shook water from the nozzle of the rocket launcher. It aimed it into the sky and fired, sending a rocket whistling into the air. At least it still worked.

It fastened it to its back and then retrieved its machine gun.

“Shadow’s threat level increased to critical,” it said. “Mission priority elevated. Shadow must be stopped, and every obstacle eliminated. Other lifeforms’ status moved to ‘irrelevant’, and any in my path will be destroyed.”

It stared off across the park then, flicking water from its claws, it marched across the grass towards the exit.
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Nineteen​

Infinite shook water from his fur as he strolled from the bathroom. A much needed shower after that walk around the sewers. It had taken over an hour to get the stink out of his fur, and he still felt like he’d never be clean.

Amy’s apartment was quiet and dark, only the faint streetlights leaking in between the curtains. The eerie silence only added to the loneliness. He didn’t want to stay here. The whole place smelled like her, a constant reminder that she was out there somewhere while both Shadow and that robot roamed loose. A quick snack and a rest, and Infinite would be back out on the streets to put an end to it all. He flicked on the TV, and a sheep’s voice immediately began broadcasting Mainframe’s news. All the way back in Central City, if the view from her window of Twinkle Park was anything to go by. Infinite stopped by the kitchen to grab a jar of peanut butter and stuffed his hand into it to scoop some out. The taste and texture of it was oddly relaxing.

He went over to the window and shunted the curtain aside to see out into the street. Empty. Not even a GUN soldier. Going off the news broadcast, all the soldiers were congregating around the Judge, keeping the streets free of pedestrians. Rounding up each and every last straggler to get them to safety.

He glanced over to the holoscreen as he licked peanut butter off his fingers. No live footage now. All stills and short videos caught by onlookers. A missile had been launched, taking out a a chunk of a skyscraper as the Judge took down a GUN chopper. The helicopter lay in a smoldering scrap heap in the middle of a small side street.

More stills. This time the park. Craters and smoking trees lay scattered throughout. More evidence of the Judge’s rampage.

Shadow had been a problem, sure, but that robot was a massive threat. Tails hadn’t been wrong when he’d labeled it as ‘a massive overreaction’.

Infinite snorted and turned back to the window. If it had been roaming anywhere else, he’d leave GUN to deal with it. But as things stood, if it got to Shadow before he did, then there’d be nothing left. Infinite would never get his answers. Never find out why exactly the hedgehog had tried to frame him. And as for Amy… she was still in the city, with her friends no doubt.

He removed his fingers from his mouth and sighed, leaning against the windowsill. His appetite retreated back inside him like a frightened mouse.

What could he do? His powers were failing him. Like this, he was weak. Weak and pathetic. He couldn’t protect anyone. That robot had almost killed him. Smashed him like a fly.

What could it do to an ordinary Mainframer?

A vivid image of it filled his mind, rampaging after the citizens. After Amy. Snatching up her and her friends in its massive, clawed, deadly hands.

Infinite screwed his eyes shut and clenched his fist. No… no, he didn’t need to think about that! Something soft coated his hand and he opened his eyes again. His claws had cut into the jar, and peanut butter leaked out over his fur and onto the windowsill. He released it and tried to lick himself clean.

His ear twitched as a strange sound filled the room. A deep whir that pulsed almost like the Phantom Ruby.

Phantom Ruby?!

He dropped the peanut butter and turned to face it, baring his canines. Reality swirled inside a small pocket, revealing a pristine white room beyond it. Starline strolled out of the wormhole and smoothed out his suit, then flicked his wrist and closed up the distorted air.

Infinite’s breathing turned erratic and his breath grated and rattled in his throat. His shoulders tensed and he dug his claws into his pads.

“What are you doing here?” he spat.

“Now, now.” Starline smiled. If it was meant to be friendly, he needed a lot of practice. “Is that any way to greet an old friend?”

“Friend?!” Infinite’s fur spiked along his spine. “We are not friends!”

“Really?” Starline widened his eyes, a pathetic feigned attempt at disappointment. “After all we’ve been through?”

“You mean ‘after all you put me through’? I am not your toy, Doctor!” Infinite spat the last word as if it were poison.

Starline chuckled and clasped his hands behind his back. “I thought we’d put all that behind us after I saved you from Gadget?”

Infinite let out a low growl and swished his tail. His ears had pulled back flat against his head, and he had to will them to stand upright. Threatening, not fearful. The mad doctor couldn’t do anything to him now. Not anymore.

Starline sighed and shrugged. “But I guess you’re not one to so easily forgive? I mean, surely you understand? I’m a doctor, after all. I was curious about you.”

“You almost killed me. You tortured me… you laughed!”

“Like I said.” Starline met his eyes. “I was curious.”

Curious?! Infinite’s eyes flashed with fury and the Phantom Ruby’s familiar hum thrummed in his ears. Its crimson haze surrounded his body, gaining a raised eyebrow from the platypus.

“You are not taking me back!” Infinite roared.

Starline closed his eyes and raised a hand. “I wouldn’t dream of it. No… I have more pressing matters to deal with right now.”

Infinite glared at Starline as he tried to steady his breathing. Every muscle was tense, a stark contrast to the doctor’s casual posture.

“I actually need your help,” said Starline.

Infinite blinked, his jaw hanging open. Was that platypus serious?

Infinite looked him up and down then snorted. “If you think I’m going to help you after all you’ve done to me, then you’re crazier than I thought.”

The crimson haze faded out and he sank back against the window. That alone had done a number on him. He grabbed the mangled jar of peanut butter and licked what was left of it off his hands as he made his way to the sofa.

Starline watched him curiously before following him. He perched on the arm of the chair, gaining a livid glare from the jackal.

“I thought I made myself clear,” he growled. “I am not helping you.”

“You haven’t let me tell you what it is yet,” said Starline. “You might actually want to help me.”

Infinite narrowed his eyes. Just one swat. One swat from his Phantom Ruby and Starline would be dust. Literally. Then Infinite would vacuum him up and that would be the end of that. He lifted his sticky hand but froze as Starline scooped up a folded piece of card from the table and flicked it open. A roller coaster ride, back from when he dragged Amy to Twinkle Park.

Starline made a thoughtful ‘hmm’.

“Give that back!” Infinite barked, snatching for it.

Starline held it out of reach and slid from the sofa. “I did wonder if you two were still hanging around together. This house does go a little against your tastes.” He set the photo back down on the coffee table and fixed Infinite with another smile. “Is she still in the Beatdrop Capital? Or was she evacuated?”

“I’m not telling you anything.”

Infinite’s voice was laced with warning, yet each word washed over Starline like snow melt.

“You might want to,” Starline explained. “That Judge robot is stopping at nothing to get what it wants. If you value her life, you’ll make sure she’s safe.”

Infinite rose from the sofa and deposited the peanut butter beside him. “Are you blackmailing me?!”

“Not at all!” Starline gasped. “Infinite, listen to me. I came here to ask if you will help stop that robot. No other reason but that.”

The room suddenly fell silent, save for the news article still covering the Judge. Infinite blinked at Starline and let his arms fall to his sides.

Starline shrugged. “It’s true. Releasing it was a fatal error. In many senses of the term. It was unleashed to apprehend Shadow, but its programming is flawed. It believes every single thing that gets in its way - robot, Mainframer, building, vehicle - everything is a threat to its mission. A Judge robot is meant to be particular. Focused. But this? Liken it to an out of control child, if you will. Then put that child in an unruly robot body. It’s chaos!” He threw his hands in the air, then shook his head and tutted. “Such a mistake setting it loose. And no one can seem to stop it.”

Infinite flexed his claws, but his breathing had finally settled. “So why come to me?”

“Because unlike us, you can stop it. Your powers-”

“I can’t stop it.” Infinite slumped back into his seat again and ran his hands down his face. “It almost killed me.”

“I know.”

He looked up at Starline and raised an eyebrow. “How do you-”

Starline raised a hand to silence him. “Irrelevant. The thing is, you now know what it’s capable of. And I know what you’re capable of. If you can warp reality, then you can put a stop to the Judge. Destroy it! Turn it into a snail and crush it! Anything. That’s what your powers do, right? Alter reality?”

Infinite snorted and reached across the table for his mask. “When they work.”

Starline inclined his head on one side. “Whatever do you mean?”

“I need to sort out Shadow first. Something is going on, and I believe he has something to do with it.”

“Shadow?” Starline nodded and clicked his tongue. “Oh yes. I believe he’s been demonstrating similar powers to you.”

Infinite stared at his mask, trailing a finger along its muzzle. Shadow… His lips curled back and he repressed a snarl.

“I think I understand,” Starline went on. “You’re useless to me right now.”

Infinite jerked his head up to look at him, canines bared. “Useless?!”

“You just told me your powers aren’t working.” Starline shrugged and shook his head. “That makes you completely useless to me.” Starline tapped his chin and gazed up at the ceiling. “Unless I use you as bait?”

Infinite’s body trembled with rage. Useless?

“I mean, if they’re not working, then you can’t exactly deal with that robot. Can you?”

“Let me make one thing very clear, Doc.” Infinite rose from his seat and set his mask in place, fastening it around his ears. “I’m not working for you. Don’t you get the wrong idea. I already have a plan, and I’m sticking to it.”

“Oh?” Starline inclined his head on one side.

“I’m going to deal with Shadow.” Infinite met his eye and finished licking peanut butter off his fur. “And once he’s dealt with, my powers will be back under my control. Then I’ll reduce that Judge to scrap metal.”

Starline tutted, but a smile spread across his bill. “I much preferred the idea of transforming it into a snail to crush it. It rang with a poetic justice.”

Infinite glared at him. “I do things my way.”

“Of course.” Starline waved his left hand, and a wormhole opened behind him. “It was lovely to catch up again. I suppose I’ll see you when all this has blown over, hmm?”

Infinite flicked his tail. “If I see you again, it’ll be too soon.”

Starline grinned and closed the wormhole up behind him.

...​

“Urgh, this place is vile.” Amy’s nose crinkled as she followed Whisper up the ladder towards the surface. “I feel like I’ll need a super long shower after this.”

Tangle laughed behind her. “Oh, you are such a sewer rookie, Amy.”

Amy shook her head and focused her attention on reaching the manhole cover. “I can’t believe people actually want to play in somewhere like this.”

“Well, Shadow clearly thinks it’s a good place to hide,” said Tangle.

“Because no normal person would dream of venturing down here on a whim!” Amy jibed, flashing the lemur a smile.

“Yup! Got me there!” Tangle grinned up at her. “I am far from normal!”

Metal grated along concrete as Whisper shunted the manhole cover aside. The sewer lit up with a dim dusky light. Whisper clambered out onto the street and offered a hand to Amy. As the pink hedgehog reached the top of the ladder, she stretched out a hand and froze as a shadow loomed over her. A shadow with quills. A chill ran down her spine and she looked up at Whisper, who was now distracted by the newcomer.

“Y’all right up there, sisters?” Tangle asked.

Amy turned her head to see behind her, then let out a sigh of relief. Sonic stood there with one hand on his rifle, but he gave her a relaxed smile. Tails stood against the wall nearby with his trusty robot canine.

“Sonic?” She blinked her large eyes in surprise. What was he doing in the Beatdrop Capital?

“Didn’t expect to see you coming out of a sewer!” he said. “You looking for sewer monsters?”

“You could say that.” Amy pulled herself out onto the ground and stood aside to make room for Tangle.

“GUN soldiers?!” Tangle leapt onto the sidewalk and fist-pumped the air. “So cool!”

Whisper shook her head and looked away.

“Trying to help Infinite, huh?” Sonic shifted his weight to one leg and folded his arms. “I’m not really sure you should be looking for Shadow, though.”

Amy’s quills stood on end and she turned to face him. “How do you know about that?!”

“Shadow?” Sonic lifted his hands in a shrug. “Guy’s all over the news, Amy. It’s not exactly a secret.”

“I meant how did you know that Infinite’s looking for him?”

“He told me.” Sonic grinned. “Our path’s kinda crossed a couple of days ago. Poor guy had a near death experience.”

“What?” Amy gasped, grabbing Sonic by the collar. “How?! Is he okay?!”

Sonic laughed and prised her hands from his jacket. “Relax, Amy, he’s fine!”

Amy let out a sigh of relief and stood back from him. “So he ran into Shadow then?”

“Nope!” Sonic nodded towards the buildings behind him, but she couldn’t see anything there. “The Judge. That crazy robot is looking for Shadow, too, and doesn’t exactly like anyone getting in its way.”

“What, so he had a fight with that Judge?” asked Tangle. She exchanged glances with her friends and raised an eyebrow. “Voluntarily? Man, that guy really is nuts! We fought that thing out of self defense!”

“You fought that Judge?!” Sonic’s brow furrowed with worry.

Tails looked up with a start, and T-Pup let out a long whine.

Amy opened her mouth to speak, but Whisper silenced her with a hand on her shoulder. The wolf stared at Sonic, taking in his weapon and GUN uniform.

“Didn’t exactly leave us much choice,” she said quietly.

Sonic ran a hand across his forehead and sighed. “I guess I should just be glad you’re all okay? But seriously, what were you thinking?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Whisper went on. “So where is he now?”

“Who, Infinite?” Sonic shrugged again. “No clue. We kinda lost him. But he’s looking for Shadow, and I reckon if we find Shadow then we find Infinite. But… as for you three… you really shouldn’t be lurking around in this city. It’s been evacuated, yanno.”

T-Pup gave an affirmative bark, then let its tongue loll out of its mouth in a happy pant.

Amy looked up from the dog to the twin-tailed fox beside it. Tails gave her a glance, but was more occupied with searching the shadows for any sign of a threat. Not a single hint of emotion on his face. It was only the second time she’d seen him like this, and it unsettled her greatly. It was almost as if he radiated cold, turning things to ice around him.

He pushed himself from the wall and adjusted his rifle around his shoulders. “Sonic’s right. You three shouldn’t be here. Allow us to escort you to the station.”

“There are no more trains leaving here now, bud,” said Sonic.

“Then we shall take them in the Tornado.” Tails scanned his eyes over the three girls. “I can make three trips.”

“No! Please.” Amy held up her hands. “We can’t leave. He needs me! He’s exhausted, he can’t handle Shadow alone!”

“Yeah, I kinda got that impression,” said Sonic. “But he turned down the offer from us, and I know for a fact he wants you out of this city.”

“He told you?” she squeaked.

“Yeah.” Sonic gave a single nod. “But I know how stubborn you are! I think I managed to convince him you’d be okay. But I think it’s time you three headed to North Cipher, where it’s safe.”

“No, I can’t! I’m not leaving him here alone!” She turned and ushered her friends ahead of her. “Come on, girls.”

A hand fastened around hers and she looked back into Tails’ icy blue eyes. “You don’t really have much choice.”

T-Pup whimpered and looked between his handler and Amy.

Amy tried to yank her hand back, but he held it firmly. “Let me go, Tails!”

“Come on, bro,” said Sonic as he joined his side. “You don’t need to use force. Let her go.”

“If I let her go, she won’t comply,” said Tails. “And will end up doing something foolish again.”

“I’m not just going to run blindly into danger!” Amy protested.

“That’s what you say,” said Tails. “But you’re the one searching a sewer for a deadly criminal.”

Sonic pushed between them, but Tails narrowed his eyes at the hedgehog.

Tangle inched closer to Amy’s back and said in a voice barely more than a whisper, “Keep them distracted. I’ll grab his weapon.”

Amy ignored her, more occupied with freeing herself. “Come on, Tails! I know you remember me!”

Tails pushed Sonic aside with his free hand. “Of course I remember you.”

“Then you must know I can defend myself! Just because I don’t work for GUN doesn’t make me any less capable!”

“GUN has specific intense training to deal with situations such as this.”

“Seriously?” Sonic grabbed Amy’s hand in a bid to free it from Tails’ death-grip. “Even we didn’t train to deal with people possessing such powers, bro.”

“We were trained to deal with catastrophic events,” said Tails. “This qualifies as one.”

Amy blinked as a stripy black tail stretched out behind Sonic and Tails like a giant hand. The blue hedgehog made a quick ‘hm?’ and followed her gaze. Tangle snatched Tails’ gun and yanked it back, causing the fox to stumble and release Amy.

Sonic leapt away from them in a blur and stood on the other side of the road with his fists clenched. He stared up at Tangle, perched on a street lamp and brandishing Tails’ rifle as if she’d acquired the spoils of victory.

The blue hedgehog laughed and shook his head. “What are you guys playing at?”

Amy whipped out her mallet, drawing Tails’ blank stare from Tangle onto herself. “We’re not playing anything. We’re going to help Infinite find Shadow, and you can either help us or work against us.”

Tails straightened and flicked both his tails, a sign Amy knew full well meant he was bracing himself to charge into them.

Sonic strolled across the road and placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. But his eyes were on Amy.

“You wanna team up?” He sounded surprised. “You shoulda said that sooner, rather than going about things yourself.”

Amy blinked in surprise. “Wha…?”

Tangle slid down the street lamp with Tails’ rifle now strapped across her back. “You seriously gonna help us? GUN?!”

Whisper looked between each of them, silently.

Sonic shrugged and folded his hands behind his head. “Sure! I’d be iffy to let you guys go off on your own, but I know what you’re capable of as a team. Amy, at least. And let’s face it, if you can take Tails by surprise then you’ve got skill!” He winked at Tangle.

Tangle beamed from ear to ear and clenched her fist. “So I’m gonna be workin’ with GUN soldiers? This day just got a whole lot more awesome!”

Sonic folded his arms and winked again. “Just what I was thinking!”

Tails stared at the excitable lemur and held out his hand. “Gun.”

...​

The wind whistled through Rouge’s wing with every beat, each one forcing air through the tiny bullet hole in her membrane. It hurt like crazy, but compared to her mission, it was nothing. She followed the trail of robot wreckage from the park and through the winding streets. Strider Drones, fliers, Stalkers, EggPawns… anything that had got in Omega’s way. Cleaners were mopping up the mess, busying around the streets in an emotionless frenzy. The city was a state. She desperately needed to find Omega before Shadow woke up.

She’d warred with the decision to leave him there on the Casino rooftop. Both he and Omega needed her, but the black hedgehog was being stubborn. Unwilling to listen to her reasoning. As far as he was concerned, Omega was now a ruthless killing machine, and their top priority was to get as far away from ‘it’ as possible.

He didn’t believe for a second that Omega’s original programming could be restored. Rouge, however… she didn’t know. GUN would likely have extracted it, wiping it entirely from his memory in favor of the Judge programming. No memories. But GUN also valued their robot staff. Would erasing it be classed as an execution? Omega had gone rogue, after all, turning against GUN by abandoning their mission to capture Shadow.

Omega hadn’t wanted to. He’d been confused by Rouge’s sudden change of heart. Robots didn’t understand emotions. They didn’t have them. Just a vague programming that caused them to react to certain situations, but there was no feeling in it.

But they did understand loyalty. And reason. Once he’d seen what Shadow was truly like - innocent, not the monster GUN had made him out to be - Omega also had a change of heart. He’d stuck by their sides to protect both Shadow and Rouge, spotting and disabling any spy drones that GUN sent after them. Well… disabling was a nice way of wording it. To be more precise, each one was reduced to jagged shrapnel. When it came to other robots, Omega had an unusual rivalry. He’d never bat an eyelid about destroying another robot. Mainframers, however…

Rouge perched daintily on a street lamp and tucked her wings in, wincing at a stab of pain. It was fleeting. It didn’t matter. What did matter was the robot only a few feet away. His glowing red eyes misted in the stormy air, trained on Beatdrop City Station. A sentinel, silent and towering over the overturned hover-cars.

“What are you waiting for, Omega?” Her voice was barely even a whisper.

She scanned the silent streets around him. What she’d dismissed as rain water glistened in the dim street lights. Blood, and lots of it. The corpses of hundreds of GUN soldiers littered the street, sprawled over their weapons.

Rouge’s tiny tail curled tightly beneath her, and her ears pulled flat against her head. Her heart hammered in her chest and she shook her head slowly. No. This wasn’t Omega. He wasn’t some merciless killing machine.

He turned his head left, then right. Rouge clutched the street lamp, her entire body rigid. But he didn’t look in her direction. He fixed his weapon across his back then turned, marching away from the station. To where, she hadn’t a clue.

She couldn’t move. Her entire body was unwilling. She watched him go, a sense of dread washing over her. She was probably going to lose him once he vanished beyond the buildings. But if she approached him now, she’d be joining those poor soldiers.

No empathy. No remorse. Just an empty killing machine trying to find its target, and clearing every obstacle from its path in order to do so.

How on earth was she going to get through to him?
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Twenty​

Pitch black. The streets were pitch black, and empty. Shards of glass littered the floor from the dead lamps above, crunching under heavy boots.

‘Shadow…’

The black hedgehog trailed his fingers along the cold wall, blank eyes fixed on the road ahead. A few cleaning drones crossed his path, oblivious, too intent on cleaning up the rubble that littered the sidewalk. He paid them no heed, they weren’t his targets.

He paused at a fork in the road and turned his head towards the left. The residential district.

‘Shadow…’

That’s where his target was waiting.

...​

Amy marched on ahead of her friends, with her mallet still clutched at her side. On high alert, but she had one goal in mind.

“Do we really need to stop by your apartment first?” Sonic asked. “It’s seriously slowing us down.”

“Yes,” she said. “Like I said before, I want to change out of this dress! It smells like a toilet!”

“Well you will go waltzing around in the sewer.” Sonic flashed her a playful grin.

Amy sighed at him and shook her head. “We found evidence that Shadow is lurking down there, didn’t we? But it doesn’t mean I want the smell clinging to my dress and quills.”

“Shower too, then, eh?” Sonic shrugged and exchanged glances with Tails. “We’re gonna be a while.”

“I can shower fast,” said Amy. Then added, under her breath, “But I don’t think I’ll ever be clean.”

Tangle laughed and smacked her on the back. “Oh man, you’re seriously not an experienced Sewer Adventurer.”

“It has a name now?” Amy grunted.

“Yup! Just made it up!”

Whisper shook her head and continued on beside Amy, silently.

The pink hedgehog slowed as she reached her apartment block and rummaged in her pocket for her card key.

“We’re all going to get cleaned up,” she said, “and then we can continue looking for Infinite and Shadow. Okay?”

“Okay.” Sonic rolled his eyes. “It’s not as if both of them are just gonna drop outta the sky any time soon, right? What’s an extra five minutes.”

Tails fixed his friend in an icy blue stare. “You think this is only going to take five minutes?”

Amy ignored them, and held the door open for her friends to go ahead of her. She joined them all in the elevator and the group was silent - save for T-Pup’s panting - as it carried them up to her floor. When she reached her door, she found to some surprise that it was unlocked.

She looked up at Tangle and Whisper. “Did one of you forget to lock it up after you left?”

Tangle shook her head rapidly while Whisper frowned at the door. The wolf scooted Amy aside and went in ahead of her, reaching inside her coat. Then she relaxed, and Amy peered over her shoulder. Her heart did a somersault when she spotted a familiar jackal, still kitted out in his mask.

Infinite stood beside the sofa, braced to attack. When he spotted the three girls, his expression softened into one of relief. But it was only fleeting as his muzzle creased and he flashed his canines.

“What are you still doing here?!” he barked.

Amy opened her mouth to speak, but he didn’t give her the chance. In a flash he was before her, and she couldn’t decide if he was happy to see her or wanted to warp her right out of her own apartment.

“You should be in North Cipher by now!” he snapped.

“Relax, bro!” Sonic pushed his way into the room. “They’re with us! We won’t let anything happen to them, right Tails?”

Infinite glared down at the two soldiers. “Oh, because you two are perfectly fit to handle that Judge!” He threw his arms into the air and turned back towards the sofa. “I am so relieved!”

Tangle placed an arm around Amy’s shoulders. “Well, isn’t this a lovely reunion!” She gave her friend a squeeze then pointed towards the corridor. “I guess I’ll go grab a shower! Better get this ball rollin’, eh?”

Infinte watched her go, seething. Sonic took a step towards him and lifted his hands.

“There’s no need for the sarcasm, bro!” he said. “None of us knew what we were dealing with when we encountered that robot. If we can figure out a way to defeat it, then it’s totally possible! Either that, or we get to Shadow first and render its mission moot.”

“Exactly!” said Amy, drawing the jackal’s eye. “That’s all the more reason for me to stay! If there’s more of us looking, then-”

“Absolutely not!” Infinite’s yell dragged the whole room back into silence. He sank into the sofa and placed his head in his hands. “I can’t have you here, Amy. You need to get somewhere safe, miles away from that murderous robot.”

Amy balled her hands into fists. “What? And leave you alone to fight it like this?!”

“I can handle it!” he snapped. “I just… need to figure out how…”

Sonic inclined his head on one side and made a thoughtful noise. Then he turned to Tails. “What do you think, bro? Any ideas?”

The fox had pulled out his computer and was mulling over it, while his robot dog watched obediently beside him.

“It’s certainly a priority,” said Tails. “Casualties are mounting up by the day. Mostly GUN soldiers and robots given there are hardly any citizens left in the city now. It clearly wants every distraction out of its way.”

Sonic grimaced, and Amy slumped against the wall.

“It attacked us in the park,” said Whisper. “It’s relentless. Almost unstoppable.”

“Exactly. It’s only ‘almost’ unstoppable,” Tails explained. “All EggTech can be stopped. The question is ‘how’? A solid solution would be to zap it with enough electricity to short its circuits, but most high grade robots are equipped to deal with such attacks. That way, they can’t be so easily swatted aside by the criminals they’re sent to detain.” Tails looked up from his computer to meet Sonic’s eyes. “There will be somewhere on the Judge’s body that’s not immune to electricity, but only those who created it will know its weak spot. It will take a lot of research to narrow down, so I suggest another method entirely to put an end to its warpath.”

“I could tear it apart from the inside out,” said Infinite. “But I’ll need the strength to do it. Even a short fight is wearing me down at the moment.”

Tails turned towards the jackal. “If I could obtain its data chip, I could reprogram it. So long as it’s distracted, I could get onto its back and locate it.”

Infinite narrowed his eyes at the fox. “You wanna use me as bait?”

“No. A distraction.”

“It’s the same thing!”

“On the contrary. A ‘distraction’ survives.”

“Not necessarily,” said Whisper.

Tails stared blankly at Whisper, and she shifted under his gaze, diverting her eyes to the tattered wall.

As the silence spread over them, the shower hissed into silence and Tangle’s voice echoed from the hallway;

“Shower’s free!”

Whisper looked at Amy and she shook her head, nudging the wolf towards the corridor. Whisper went with some reluctance, casting Tail’s a nervous glance.

Amy looked around the room at those remaining then cleared her throat.

“May I suggest something?” she said.

All eyes fixed on her, but Infinite’s unimpressed glare stood out from the rest. She did her best to ignore it.

“If any of us are going to be a distraction, they have to be able to keep out of its way. Give it a real run for its money. If we’re going to stand any chance of survival - and I mean all of us - there can be no foolish sacrifices. The ‘distraction’ will need to have a lot of stamina.”

Sonic laughed and shook his head. “Oh, I’ve got that by the bucket! All right. I’ll be the distraction.”

Amy’s jaw dropped. “That’s not what I… I was going to suggest-”

Infinite stood up quickly before she could finish her sentence. He narrowed his eyes at her, and it was clear he knew exactly what she was going to say. “I’m with the Blue Freak. That guy’s fast. He can keep out of the way of its bullets.”

Sonic threw his arm around Infinite, causing him to flinch. “And you can help Tails locate the Judge’s data chip.”

Infinite muttered under his breath and shrugged the hedgehog off.

Sonic was unfazed. He flashed everyone a grin and folded his arms. “So what’s the plan then? Grab a bite to eat and speed off to find that thing?”

Amy opened her mouth to remind him she still desperately wanted to get freshened up, but T-Pup leapt to its feet, ears pricked and swiveling. Its usually happy expression had stiffened, and its eyes lit up, probing the far corners of the room. It let out a worried whine. Then a growl, standing firm before its handler.

The air beneath the window wobbled and distorted, and a pink mist spread out across the carpet like fog. A black form appeared in the middle of it, expanding out into the form of a hedgehog.

Amy let out a small squeak of fear and she ducked closer to the GUN soldiers.

Sonic blinked a few times. “Shadow?”

Tails reached for his weapon and gave Sonic a nudge, prompting him to reach for his own.

“You!” Infinite roared and leapt over the back of the sofa, dropping onto all-fours before Tails. “Back off! He’s mine!”

The black hedgehog’s crimson eyes were like empty voids, and his very presence made the room feel cold and unwelcoming. He turned his blank stare towards Infinite, and his claws began to glow red. The ground wobbled beneath Infinite and crimson spikes erupted from the carpet. He vanished into thin air before they gored him, and reappeared behind Shadow. He launched a kick into his back, but Shadow vanished in a poof of pink smoke. A black cannonball dropped from the ceiling, smashing into Infinite’s shoulders. He crumpled to the ground, and Shadow leapt from him, skidding across the floor. The carpet turned black beneath his feet from hidden flames on the soles of his boots.

Sonic and Tails cut before Amy, firing their rifles at the hedgehog. But the bullets glided through him into the wall as he vanished into thin air once more.

Infinite snarled at the soldiers. “I told you! He’s m-!”

He flew sideways as bloody spittle left his mouth. Shadow stood where Infinite had been crouching, his fist clenched at his side. Infinite scrambled onto all-fours again and bared his canines at Shadow. The ground lit up beneath his hands and the carpet warped, forming ripples like an unruly ocean. The black hedgehog teetered, then rose into the air in a crimson bubble.

“Whoa! What’s all the commotion?!” Tangle raced back into the living room, wrapped in a pink dressing gown. She skidded to a halt when she spotted Shadow and the warped carpet. “Wow! Is that-?”

The waves began to spread further into the living room, bouncing the sofa and coffee table. Amy and her friends staggered backwards away from the battleground. Her mallet had found itself in her hands, but with the floor wobbling and swaying as it was, she couldn’t get anywhere near the warring duo.

Infinite stood, leaving the floor as it was. He’d noticed it had put them off.

He fired a glance in their direction and snarled. “Go!”

Amy clutched her mallet tighter. “We’re not leaving you!”

“I said go!”

No sooner had the words left Infinite’s mouth, the front door vanished, leaving behind a seamless wall. He turned his glare back onto Shadow. The hedgehog lowered his hand and narrowed his eyes at Infinite.

“Leave them out of this!” Infinite roared, launching himself towards Shadow.

The hedgehog blinked out like a light, sending Infinite careening into the wall beneath the window. Shadow reappeared behind him and lunged forwards, his claws extending into daggers.

“Is that Shadow?!” Tangle squeaked, her eyes sparkling.

Sonic backed her into the wall. “Not the time, Tangle. Can you get a good aim, Tails?”

The fox aimed his gun and fired, sending a spray of bullets directly between Infinite and Shadow.

Shadow came to a sudden stop as the bullets skimmed his nose. He snapped his head around towards Sonic, his eyes empty and chilling. Then he raised his hand and sent the five crimson daggers towards the group.

Sonic and Tails scattered, and Amy turned to avoid it. But one caught her dress shoulder and snagged, dragging her back into the wall and pinning her there. She screamed as she tried to tug herself free.

“Amy!” Infinite roared.

He leapt before Shadow, barring him from the living room. But the hedgehog made no attempt to enter it. His attention was back on the jackal.

“I said leave them out of this!” Infinite screamed.

His right arm morphed and stretched into a deadly blade resembling a halberd. He cleaved it through the air, smashing it down onto where Shadow had been standing. Infinite turned, spotting the hedgehog, and leapt at him, hacking and cleaving away. But each strike missed. Shadow didn’t appear to be fighting back, just throwing himself around like a false target. Infinite let out a frustrated roar and spun, cleaving sideways as Shadow appeared behind him. The hedgehog vanished again, and Infinite’s halberd found itself buried deep in the wall. He struggled to tug it free, then froze. A deep hum filled the air, growing louder and louder and more shrill until it reached a crescendo.

Amy gasped and pointed her free hand. “There!”

A small red cube hovered by the jackal’s ear. He ducked away, letting his arm return to normal, then rolled. The screech stopped, followed by an almighty bang. The entire room shook with the impact, and Amy clutched her hands over her ears.

Tangle appeared beside her and yanked the red dagger free with her tail. The hedgehog muttered a thanks, nursing a scratch on her shoulder.

“I think we need to bail,” said Tangle. “We’re no use here.”

Sonic joined them, keeping his eyes on the battlefield. “I think your friend is right.”

What was left of the kitchenette was in a frenzy, crimson light flickering through it like a sinister disco. Infinite could barely keep up with Shadow, and the toll his powers were taking on him showed. Every time he landed he was almost gasping for breath, but Shadow wasn’t tiring at all.

“Okay,” Amy said weakly. “But how?”

Her eye wandered to where the door had been. Their only other options were the window, which was an impossibility given the state of the room, or to rush to the bedroom and climb out there.

Infinite let out a pained grunt and struck the floor on his back. Whatever had happened, he was incapacitated. Shadow stood over him, his entire body glowing red, yet every inch of him seemed black. Except for his eyes.

Infinite lay beneath his feet, panting heavily. The glow from his Phantom Ruby had faded, but his will to fight was still with him. He bared his canines and wrapped his fingers around the hedgehog’s ankle. Shadow didn’t even flinch.

“You’re gonna tell me exactly what your problem is,” Infinite gasped. “Or I’m gonna beat it out of you.”

Shadow’s right hand lit up brighter than the rest of him, and a long spear appeared in it. He aimed at the jackal’s throat.

“No!” Amy brandished her mallet and lunged towards them, vaulting the sofa.

Another bang echoed across the room and she flinched, flying blindly across the room.

Shadow flew back from Infinite, crashing into the far wall beside where the door would have been. He slid down it in a daze.

Infinite caught Amy mid fall and settled her on the ground, then he glared at the hedgehog. But Amy’s eyes were on the window.

Perched on the windowsill was a wolf wearing a black and white mask. They clutched a smoking pistol in one hand, still aimed at Shadow.

The black hedgehog shifted, running a hand through his quills. The bullet wound in his chest shrank down until it faded away into his fur. When he opened his eyes, Amy stifled a gasp.

No longer lifeless and cold.

They widened, flicking around the room until they finally landed on Infinite.

The jackal grunted and rose to his feet, releasing Amy. “Talk!”

Shadow’s wide, fearful eyes remained locked on Infinite. Then he vanished, leaving behind nothing more than a string of corrupted binary.

A momentary silence washed over the room, then Tangle broke it with a squeal. She clasped her hands beneath her chin, jogging from foot to foot as she looked between the spot Shadow had vanished and the now empty window. She leapt across the room, landing beside Infinite.

“Oh man! That was awesome!” she said. “First Shadow shows up, then you’re all in there with the bam pow! And then the Guardian Angel appears?! This has got to be the best day ever!”

Tails holstered his weapon and joined Tangle. “I seriously question your idea of ‘fun’.”

T-Pup gave a whine of agreement, then let its tongue lol out in a worried pant.

“I’m with Tails on this one.” Sonic folded his arms and looked around at what was left of the room. “As awesome as it was to see those powers in action, I don’t think Infinite, or this apartment, will agree. Besides, I think we need to get everyone out of here pronto. We don’t know if Shadow is going to come back.”

Amy leant forward on her mallet and brushed back her quills. “About Shadow… did you guys notice anything after the Guardian Angel shot him?”

“Yes,” said Infinite bluntly. “He vanished. Via the Chaos Network, if I’ve sussed him out correctly.”

“Okay, then that’s the second weird thing.” Amy shook her head. “It was his eyes. They… looked different. When he was attacking Infinite, they were empty. But after he was shot, it was like he’d woken up from a nightmare.”

“Hmm, yeah.” Sonic scratched his muzzle. “I thought that, too. I don’t think that guy is fully in control of his faculties.”

“Exactly,” said Amy. “What if he’s not committed these murders at all? What if something is controlling him?”

Infinite stiffened. “What, so you’re on his side now?!”

“No!” Amy retorted. “I’m not on anyone’s side! If he’s innocent, and he’s doing these things out of his control, then he needs help!”

“Well that complicates things then, doesn’t it!” Infinite snapped. “Conscious or not, he’s murdering people with my powers!”

“We don’t know this for certain,” said Amy. “I’m just going off what I saw. He panicked when he came to.”

Infinite folded his arms and frowned down at her. “So what’s controlling him then?”

“I…”

Amy blinked as she looked around her apartment. Sonic cocked an eyebrow at the Phantom Ruby and Amy followed his gaze. Her jaw stiffened and she dodged Infinite’s eye.

He bared a canine. “You think it’s me?”

“No! Just…” She took a steadying breath. “Why does he even have your powers?”

Infinite threw his arms in the air. “I don’t know!”

“Then I guess we need to find out, don’t we?” said Sonic.

“So now we have a puzzle to solve?” Tangle fist pumped. “Yes! This day just got even more awesome!” She caught everyone’s confused gaze. “What? I like puzzles!”

“I see it as yet another hurdle,” said Sonic. “First thing’s first, we need to find somewhere safe to lay low before we investigate this thing. My theories have been confirmed here. Shadow is clearly not in control of himself, and he needs help. We need to find a way to help him get those powers under control - or stop them entirely - and prove his innocence not just to Mainframe but himself, too.”

Everyone, except Infinite, nodded their agreement. Amy looked up at him and he snorted, turning his gaze away.

He shook his head and brushed his mane back from his face. “Things were so much more simple when I thought he was just trying to frame me…”

Whisper shuffled into the room, shaking out her damp jacket as she took in the mess, then stopping beside Tangle.

Tangle placed her hand on one hip and grinned. “Oh boy did you miss a lot!” She caught the wolf’s eye and winked. “Don’t worry! I’ll fill ya in on everythin’!”

...​

Shadow staggered to a stop, placing his hand on the cool damp wall to steady himself. Gasping for breath, he doubled over, putting his other hand on his knee.

Exhausted.

What had he been doing? The last thing he remembered, he was sleeping on a roof hidden out of sight. The next, he was waking up in an apartment that looked like it had been hit by a bomb.

Was he that bomb?

He didn’t even know what had woken him up in the first place. The fight, the brief pain that exploded across his chest, or the disembodied voice calling to him, telling him to stop.

His entire body trembled, and not just from the fatigue. His heart was racing, and he kept one ear turned back towards the street he’d come from. He wasn’t sure how much distance he’d put between himself and that apartment. He’d fled blindly, not even giving it much thought. All he’d wanted was to get away, and he’d warped himself into a hydrangea bush on the edge of the city park.

Shadow peered through the stormy mist, squinting at the other side of the road. The neon sign for a coffee shop glared back at him, left on when everyone fled during the evacuation. He was definitely heading away from the residential district, but there was no saying for certain that apartment was actually in it. It could have been over that very coffee shop for all he knew.

He ducked into the alleyway and slumped against the side of a skip, letting his head fall into his hands. At least there wasn’t blood on them this time.

That apartment… he recognized some of those people. Sonic, Tails… that jackal. He was fairly certain he’d been fighting that jackal. His lip had been bloody, and his mane in complete disarray. Why?

He peered through his fingers at the wall, dripping with damp and algae. He definitely recognized that jackal. It was hazy, but he was fairly certain it was Infinite. The black fur, white mane… Hadn’t Sonic said they shared similar powers?

Shadow wracked his mind. All those murders had clues behind them, pointing to his next target. He hadn’t known who any of the victims were besides DotMatrix, but all of them were linked by complex puzzles. So if those powers had led him to that apartment, then could that be where his next victim was? And if so, who?

He tapped his head with his claws, almost digging them into his skull. He’d come around much too early at the more recent crime scene. Had he even set up a clue there?

His eyes widened and the wall turned blurry. The mural! A canine’s head…

There were two canines in that room. Well… one canine and one fox. But they looked similar. It could have been either. Unless those powers were deliberately leading him to Infinite? Was that jackal his next target? And if so, why? Why would those dormant powers want to kill him?

Why would they want to kill anyone?

There was every possibility it was nothing to do with his powers moving towards Infinite’s like a magnet. At the end of the day, none of those other victims had powers like his. He knew for a fact DotMatrix was rather unspectacular in that regard, so he could rule that out straight away. Infinite was likely ‘just another number’.

Just another target on Shadow’s radar. Another life he was about to take. But unlike the others, Infinite had fought back.

Why? Why was he any different? Why hadn’t anyone else fought back? Or had they, and they’d just failed miserably at the hands of something they had no idea how to deal with?

Too many questions, and it was giving him a headache. He just wanted it all to be over. To return to normal. To stop these mindless killings. After he’d woken up in that school, part of him had deeply hoped it was over. That he’d not do it again. But here he was, fleeing another attempted murder.

At least this time the victim had got away with his life.

Tears pricked Shadow’s eyes. He groaned and rolled his head back against the wall. “What’s happening to me?”
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Twenty One​

Infinite muttered to himself as he marched down the street. The evening’s events played over and over in his mind like a stuck record. No where was safe. Shadow had proved that. There was no reason the hedgehog should know where he was hiding, so to just show up in Amy’s apartment like that… was he actually drawn to the Phantom Ruby?

If that was the case, then he wasn’t a safe person for her to be around. So why was he dragging her across the Beatdrop Capital?

He glanced back at the pink hedgehog as she trotted reluctantly behind him, her small hand clasped in his. Unwillingly. He’d considered using a chain, but he’d said he wouldn’t do that again. She wasn’t a prisoner. He was getting her to safety, while Sonic and Tails dealt with her friends. Splitting them up was probably a mistake, but together they had proved to be a stubborn force. Once Amy was out of the Beatdrop Capital then she would be safe. There were no trains running back to the station, so returning would be nigh impossible until the evacuation was lifted.

She pouted out her bottom lip as she struggled to keep up with his long stride. She’d put up a fight, but had been silent for the past five minutes realizing arguing was getting her nowhere. Her silence was beginning to upset Infinite greatly, but if he started her off talking again he’d only have to listen to her protests a second time. He didn’t enjoy this. He was much happier believing she’d left the city, but no. She had to stick around because of him.

Because of him…

He closed his eyes briefly and looked back towards the street. She wasn’t safe. With the way he was, his ability to keep her safe was very unreliable.

His boot struck metal, causing a clang to ring out in the empty streets. He froze, fur on end, as he strained to hear beyond the echo. The remains of a Strider Drone lay across the street, its long legs splayed out at an uncomfortable angle. Its head lay in the mouth of an alley amid a spill of trash from an upturned skip. Bullet shells lay scattered around it along with shattered blue glass from its probing eye.

“Is that-”

Infinite shushed Amy, cutting her off. He turned his head slowly towards the alley, straining his ears beneath his mask.

A shadow bobbed along the wall as metal scraped against stone. Banging. The whir of a machine gun. Then the red glowing eyes of the Judge penetrated through the stormy mist.

Infinite’s heart leapt in his chest. He shoved Amy ahead of him towards the other side of the street and between the buildings. Then he fired a glance behind him. The Judge had seen them. It lumbered through the narrow alley, crushing trash and the remains of the Strider beneath its heavy feet.

“Targets recognized,” it said. “Both targets are a threat to the mission and must be eliminated.”

Amy broke into a sprint, and Infinite raced to keep up with her. The whir of the Judge’s machine gun sliced through the air, followed by a spray of bullets. Infinite threw up a barrier. A fraction later and the bullets would have torn through him and his friend. Instead, they bounced off the crimson shield to lie harmlessly on the damp ground. The barrier faded and he followed Amy around the sharp bend.

The pink hedgehog stood with her back to him and her fingers wound in the wire of a fence. A dead end. She turned her head back towards him, staring wide-eyed over his shoulder. The Judge’s footsteps echoed through the silence as it marched towards them.

“Calculating targets’ ability to escape at one percent.” Its gun whirred to life again.

Infinite stared up at the fence. Too high to climb. They’d be shot down like ducks. But beyond it was a wide industrial park, filled with office blocks and storehouses. Enough space to hide and hopefully lose the Judge.

He pulled Amy into him and rose into the air. The Phantom Ruby hummed away in his ears and echoed throughout the buildings. Each rhythmic pulse sapping away what was left of his strength. He landed on the other side, forming a bubble shield around the both of them as the Judge rounded the corner.

Another round of bullets. They clattered off the fence and bounced harmlessly off his bubble. Once the machine gun had whirred to silence, he dropped it and took in a few deep breaths. He nudged Amy ahead of him and raced after her, bracing himself to throw up another shield.

Amy glanced back at him to make sure he was following, then turned sharply towards the office blocks. A small gap offered shelter between them and a warehouse. Deep gashes covered the walls where Project Wreckingball had run rampant. Unsettling, despite it no longer being a threat.

The iron fence rattled and clattered in the distance. Was the Judge climbing it, or dismantling it?

He stopped and turned back towards the opening between the buildings. His shoulders heaved as he tried to catch his breath. A faint hum rang in his ears as he tried to tap into what little was left of the Phantom Ruby’s powers.

“Infinite,” Amy said quietly. “We have to keep going.”

He snapped his head back towards her and bared his canines. “Then go!”

Her emerald eyes shone with tears. “Not without you.”

He opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off as the clattering grew more frantic. He glanced back towards the fence, but he could no longer see it through all the buildings.

“You can’t fight it like this,” she said. “Infinite, please-”

“I’m fine!” he snapped. “Now go!”

“You’re not fine! If you were fine, you’d just warp me out of this city! But you can’t, can you? So how can you expect to fight this thing?!” Amy reached behind her for her hammer.

Infinite’s lip twitched and he let out a low growl. “Don’t you dare!”

A loud clang tore through the air, followed by an unsettling clatter as the fence fell away. He took a step back, ushering Amy behind him.

“Go!”

She grabbed his hand and his spine stiffened, pushing his fur on end.

He snapped his head back towards her. “You are seriously starting to-”

Something shone on the edge of his vision and he lifted his head to look over her shoulder. His heart picked up as he spotted a manhole cover, a small speck of light reflecting off its rim.

Again?

The high-pitched whir of the Judge’s machine gun reached his ears, driving a sense of urgency. He shoved Amy towards the manhole and pointed. She didn’t need instructing. She hoisted the heavy cover away and began the descent, her muzzle creased with disgust.

Infinite threw up another barrier, blocking a barrage of bullets. They bounced off it, and cracks spread across its glassy surface. It was enough to allow Infinite to drop down into the sewer after Amy. The manhole cover blocked out the light and with it the sound of the Judge reloading its weapon.

Infinite landed beside Amy on the metal grate and hugged his arms around himself, panting. That last barrier had done a number on him.

“I was right, wasn’t I?” Amy’s small voice drew his eye. “You’re not fine at all.”

She leant back against the wall, hugging her arms as she tried to read his expression in the dark.

“We should have just gone with Sonic and the others,” she went on. “It would be a lot safer than trying to escape through this city.”

Infinite flinched and turned away. The Judge’s footsteps echoed above them, and its metal feet scraped across the manhole cover.

“What if it comes down here?” Amy whispered.

“It won’t fit,” he replied flatly.

It paced back and forth for a moment, before abandoning the manhole and marching away across the industrial estate. Infinite let out a held breath and ran his hand over his muzzle.

“I think the station is this way.” He moved on ahead of her, against the flow of filthy water.

“You’re still insisting on that? Doesn’t Shadow hide in these sewers?”

Infinite froze and balled his hands into fists. Of course. Shadow. From the frying pan right into the fire…

He took in a steadying breath. “That’s all the more reason to make haste, now, isn’t it?”

“And what if we run into him?” She pushed herself back from the wall, and he noticed her mallet had found itself in her hands. “You can’t fight him off with the way you are now. You’re exhausted.”

Well… she was right about that.

“Get some rest,” she said. “At least here we’re right by an escape hatch.”

“I’ll rest when you’re safe.” He turned his back on her again. “Now come on.”

“Infinite, please! You’re actually making things more dangerous by pushing yourself like this!”

He froze, bristling.

“If we run into Shadow or that Judge again, you won’t be able to fight them off!” she went on. “You’re driving yourself to exhaustion, and if you really believe that I can’t fight them then why-”

He spun towards her, baring his canines. “Because I need you safe!”

Her green eyes widened, reflecting the dim light.

He placed his hand against the wall to steady himself. “I can’t… bare… knowing that you’re still in this city while those two are running rampant. Something in that hedgehog wants to kill me! You saw it! If he got to you…” Infinite paused and ran a hand down his face, letting himself flop against the wall. “You’re a weakness.”

“Infinite…”

He screwed his eyes shut and jerked his head away.

Amy lowered her mallet and took a step towards him. “If you’re that worried, there’s safety in numbers… we can go back and join the others.”

“Forget it. Shadow’s powerful.” Infinite dropped his hand but kept his eyes closed. “He can kill five people in one fight without breaking a sweat.”

Amy was silent for a moment, but he could feel her eyes on him. “Why do I feel like you’re speaking from experience?”

Infinite kicked himself back from the wall. “Come on. We’re moving.

Amy trotted to keep up with him and placed a hand on his elbow. He jerked his arm back from her, taking her by surprise.

“Listen to me,” she said. “You’re exhausted. If you’re going to drag me to the train station, then at least get some rest first so you’re in fighting form!”

He blinked at her, bewildered. Had she actually just had the audacity to suggest that, after he’d made it very clear the city wasn’t safe?!

As if she’d read his mind, she waved a hand towards the manhole cover. “You said it yourself the Judge can’t get down here. If we find somewhere quiet and dark to hide, somewhere out of the way, then you can get rested up and I’ll keep watch in case Shadow shows up.”

His lip twitched back and he trailed his eyes over her. She clutched her mallet before her in both hands, stoic, unmoving, and not a hint of fear in her eyes.

“It’s clear to anyone how worn out you are,” she went on. “You’re practically doubled over. I hate to say this, Infinite, but with you like this, dragging me through the city, I was actually safer in my apartment with my friends!”

Each word was like a hot dagger stabbing him in the gut. His fur stood on end down his neck as fury flared inside him, and he slammed his fist into the wall. A flash of crimson lit up the corridor, and small cracks shot out across the wet stone.

“I’m not weak!” he snapped.

Amy did flinch back then, and her eyes widened. “I never said you were!” She took in a breath and moved closer to him. “Infinite, you’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. But you know yourself something is wrong with your powers. If we were to run into Shadow right now, he’d kill us both!”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “I won’t let him touch you.”

Amy blinked back tears from her eyes and shook her head. “Please… You’re scaring me.”

Infinite sighed and flopped back against the wall. He dragged his hand over his mask and let out a small groan.

“Fine,” he said. “Find somewhere quiet and hidden away, and I’ll get that rest you so desperately want me to have.”

Amy shook her head and marched past him, carrying her mallet in her right hand as if it were nothing but a feather. Infinite fell into step behind her, hugging his arms around himself. The fact he was becoming used to the stench of the sewer worried him. He’d only just washed the horrid smell off, and the longer he spent down there made him fear it might be forever ingrained in his fur.

Amy was about to turn off the grate into a dark tunnel. He leapt forward and grabbed her shoulder, freezing her to the spot. He ushered her behind him and took the lead, squinting into the darkness. A faint light leaked in from the other side, and the gurgle of water suggested the tunnel lead into another part of the sewer.

A few small squeaks reached his ears, and a rat scurried away along the wall away from them to vanish into a narrow pipe. Nothing flowed from it, but the green residue crusting over it suggested it was used periodically. For what, Infinite didn’t want to know.

Amy stopped beside the wall and nodded to a small alcove. “How about here?”

Infinite frowned at her and glanced towards where the rat had vanished.

“We’re not too far from the manhole,” she said. “And we’re not trapped in a dead end either.”

Before he could reply, she settled down on the floor and propped her mallet against the wall. He rolled his eyes and flopped down beside her.

“Ten minutes,” he said. “That’s all.”

“If you only need ten minutes, then that’s what we’ll take,” she said.

He glanced up at her from behind his loose mane then brushed it back from his mask. Then he shuffled sideways until he was almost lying down. Amy let out a squeal when she realized he was planning to use her lap as a pillow.

“What are you doing?” she hissed.

“Making sure you wake me up,” he said, making himself comfortable. “If Shadow does show up and you plan to fight him, you’ll have no choice but to wake me.”

“Oh, you’re impossible…”

He grunted a noncommittal reply and curled his tail around himself. Amy took in a sharp breath and shifted beneath him. He cracked his eye back open then let out a frustrated sigh.

His mask.

He unclipped it and slipped it over his ears. His entire body was trembling, and he wasn’t sure if it was just down to exhaustion.

“Don’t look at me,” he muttered as he set his mask on the grate beside her.

“I wasn’t planning on it.” She sighed and placed her hand on his shoulder. “You know… I do appreciate you wanting to look out for me. But you have to look out for yourself sometimes, too.”

“I am doing.”

“Really? Because it doesn’t seem like it.”

“Amy… when I watched you walk out of that hotel room, thinking I’d lost you, it really hurt.”

“Ouch.” She flinched and retracted her hand from his shoulder. “Why are you digging that up all of a sudden?”

“Because if Shadow or Gadget got to you, I could lose you for good. And that would hurt a lot more.” He sighed and brushed his mane over his face. “I’m trying to avoid that.”

Amy relaxed again and let her hand rest back on his shoulder.

“I already know what it feels like,” he went on. “It hurts. One blow after the next. And no matter how many times you experience it, it never gets easier. In fact… it just gets harder.” He took in a trembling breath. “That’s why I need you safe.”

She brushed her fingers over the back of his ear a few times, tickling his fur with her claws. He let out a small sigh, and she took hold of it gently, letting her thumb trace circles over the back. His eyes closed and he relaxed into her lap. No longer trembling.

“I need you safe, too,” she said quietly.

Those words stirred something inside him, and he wasn’t sure he liked it. It wasn’t just a sentiment. Instead it was something that told him she was definitely not going to go willingly.

“I told myself I’d never let myself care for anyone ever again,” he said. “Then you burst into my life.”

“I believe you burst into mine,” she said with some amusement. “Through the window, actually.”

He chuckled. “If someone as pink as you can weasel your way in, then I must have been doing something wrong.”

“I guess I’m stronger than I look?”

He grunted at that, and she moved her thumb down to the base of his ear. An involuntary purr left his throat.

“It must be pretty lonely,” she went on, “I don’t imagine it’s that easy to shut your heart off to everyone.”

He opened his eyes and stared across at the dark wall. “It’s impossible.”

They sat in silence for a while, and his eyes kept drifting shut as her gentle hand lulled him to sleep. His mind wandered back to those awful days locked away from civilization. Tormented by scientists. Even that hadn’t been enough to turn him off from needing contact with others. Even there, he needed it.

“When I was locked in that cell,” he found himself saying, “sometimes some of the Phantom Ruby leaked from that detainment collar… Not a lot, but it was enough to make something small. So I’d make myself a little chao to talk to.”

Amy shifted and tried to brush his mane back from his face. He jerked his head, letting it flop back over his eyes.

He took in a trembling breath and his voice wavered. “No one wants to be alone forever. Not even a monster like me.”

“You’re not a monster.”

He let out a lone laugh. “I could have been, the way my mind was warping… Those few minutes that chao lasted kept me grounded in reality.”

She returned to his ear and settled back against the wall. “Why are you telling me all this?”

“So you know how much it means to me to keep you safe. You’re not an imaginary chao. I can’t just bring you back.” He hugged his arms around himself as his body started shaking again. “You’re the first person who’s ever got through to me since…” He took in a trembling breath.

“Since…?”

Words wouldn’t form. He shook his head, curling up tight until his tail covered his nose. It was as if a dark black cloud had descended on him, suffocating him. His entire body shook uncontrollably as he stared, wide-eyed at the far wall.

Distant screaming echoed in his mind. Frantic and hysterical. Laughing. Mocking. Rage burned through his body, scorching away the panic that had taken over him. Hot tears stung his eyes and a low growl rose in his throat.

‘Infinite…’

Those terrible screams faded. His ears twitched, trying to pinpoint the whisper. His entire body heaved as he tried to catch his breath and reel himself back in.

Amy brushed her fingers through his mane, repeating his name until it finally registered. He blinked and took in another trembling breath. He licked his lips, tasting blood where his teeth had dug in.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He gave another glance around the tunnel until he was satisfied no one else was there, then nodded. It wasn’t honest, but it saved worrying her further and digging all those memories back up again, triggering another attack. That hadn’t happened in many, many years. He flopped onto her lap and closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“What for?” he mumbled.

She shook her head and leant back against the wall. “For worrying you like this. I didn’t realize-”

“Drop it.”

She traced her fingers over his ear again. “Infinite… Why don’t you come with me? Let the Judge deal with Shadow.”

“Because the Judge is tearing up the Beatdrop Capital and killing citizens,” he growled. “It’s a malfunctioning robot, and it’s not doing its job. Besides… I need to deal with Shadow myself.” He rubbed his fingers over his muzzle and grimaced. That black cloud was still hovering over him, threatening to descend again. “You’re right. I need some rest. I’m exhausted. We’ll talk about this later.”

...​

Each step was becoming wearisome, and each use of the Chaos Network was severely sapping Shadow’s strength. He’d returned to the Casino roof, but Rouge hadn’t been there.

Shadow’s heart galloped. Where on earth was she?

The mental image of the Judge firing its machine gun at her emerged in his mind, blinding him. He shook his head to dispel it and continued running, searching each and every shadow he passed. Every building appeared empty. The windows untouched, the doors locked shut and needing a card key to enter. Sure, Rouge could hack her way in. She could be in any of them. But why would she hide and not tell him?

Shadow’s foot faltered and he stumbled to a halt. He’d scared her, hadn’t he? She’d fled.

A deep, repetitive thrum reached his hears and he pawed at them, trying to stop it. As it grew louder and more persistent, he realized it wasn’t all in his head. The familiar noise froze his heart in his chest, and he jerked his head towards the rooftops.

Helicopters. Three of them.

He instinctively ducked into the nearest doorway, but their lamps weren’t on him. They cleaved through the darkness towards the streets beyond the skyscrapers.

“Lower your weapons!” A loud voice echoed over a speaker. “You are to be apprehended and returned to Eggman.”

Bullets tore through the air, causing the helicopters to swerve dangerously to avoid them. A few clipped the rotors of one, disfiguring it. The chopper struggled to stay airborne, and the tiny form of its pilot leapt from the door. Within seconds he was reduced to a bloody smear in the air as he fell to yet another cruel wave of bullets.

Shadow grimaced. He wouldn’t be taking that road.

The pilot’s pleas and demands to the Judge fell on deaf ears. Shadow turned and bolted, leaving the helicopters to the mercy of the Judge.

No…

He skidded to a halt and looked back at the helicopters. One of them was torn to shreds as the Judge’s machine gun sliced through it like cheese.

If he helped… he could redeem himself. Show them he’s no heartless killer.

The lone remaining helicopter fired its rockets. But a larger one was fired in return. The helicopter exploded into shrapnel.

Shadow screwed his eyes shut. Such a waste of life. That Judge had to be stopped.

He turned and shot down the street towards it, vaulting over the remains of the fallen helicopters. The judge’s eyes trailed a crimson haze in the stormy air as they locked onto him, and he came to a stop before it.

“Target spotted.” It leveled its machine gun at him. “You shall be destroyed.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

Shadow curled and leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding a spray of hot bullets. He brought his blazing foot down towards its head, bouncing off it harmlessly.

The robot turned on the spot, bringing up its gun as a bludgeon. “You are to be judged for murder.”

“Me?!” Shadow leapt off the Judge, landing in a crouch in the road. “I think you’ve taken more lives than I have.”

The Judge said nothing. Just the deep whir of its machine gun flaring to life.

And the clatter of metal.

Both Shadow and the Judge turned their heads towards it. A lime green squirrel struggled out from beneath a sheet of metal, pinned in place by the warped rotor of one of the helicopters.

Shadow’s heart skipped a beat. “No…”

“Nuisance has not been neutralized.” The Judge aimed its gun at the pilot.

Fear flashed in the squirrel’s blue eyes. Shadow leapt before them and effortlessly kicked the shrapnel from their body. He snatched them up and dived, wincing as bullets peppered his body. The squirrel shrieked and kicked out. Shadow ignored him, and curled into a protective ball as best he could, keeping the small pilot close to his chest. Then he tapped into the Chaos Network.

His mind was a blank…

He looked up, finding himself no further than the other side of the street. A rocket whistled, lunging straight at them.

Shadow leapt, propelled by the explosion. Rubble rained down around them, pelting his body. A grunt came from the injured pilot, drawing Shadow’s eye. Still conscious, but clearly in pain.

The Chaos Network… why hadn’t it worked?

Shadow gave one last glance back towards the Judge. Its red eyes cleaved through the swirling dust, and small shards of brick and mortar clinked off its metal hide. A circle of red dots lit up, and another deep whir sliced the air.

“Nowhere to hide,” it said.

Shadow turned and bolted, his skate shoes burning the dust beneath his feet. The small squirrel clung to his chest, his screams deafening.

Bullets rained down around them, tearing up the tarmac. Shadow picked up speed and screwed his eyes shut, desperately reaching out to the Chaos Network.

Warped code fluttered through his mind, coiling and curling. But it wouldn’t take hold. Panic flooded his body, and his breath came in heavy bursts.

No looking back. Looking back would only slow him down. Only blind him to what lay ahead.

He tried once more, focusing on that code. Nothing. Instead, crimson energy lit up around his body. The machine gun fired again.

Shadow’s feet left the floor as he leapt to safety. The world vanished around him. He landed with one toe on the edge of a precarious wall. He teetered forwards, almost dropping the squirrel pilot. His charge screamed, stunning Shadow’s ears.

Below them, the empty road snaked and twisted between the buildings. Street lamps lit up the dingy streets, blurred by the stormy mist.

Shadow kicked himself backwards, landing flat on his back on the rooftop of the skyscraper. He released the squirrel, letting him scramble to safety. Warm blood coated Shadow’s chest and dyed his white ruff an unsettling red. Memories of the school room haunted him, and he desperately rubbed at his chest with his hands.

Small whimpers came from beneath a picnic table. The blue eyes of the lime green pilot stared back at him, wet with tears. His GUN uniform was tattered and marred with blood, which puddled around him at an unsettling rate.

Shadow crept towards him, but the squirrel ducked further under the table.

“Get away from me!” he squeaked.

Shadow ignored him, reaching beneath the table for the back of his jacket.

The squirrel screamed again. “What do you want from me?!”

“I’m trying to help you!” Shadow snapped. “Now stay still!”

He scanned his eyes over the frantic pilot. The squirrel wasn’t going anywhere fast. Shadow couldn’t even pinpoint the wound through the mess of his uniform. Shadow stared down at his hands. That strange crimson power could kill. But how? Infinite was believed to be able to warp reality. Did that mean Shadow could use those powers to heal, too?

He focused, trying to bring up that crimson energy.

Nothing.

“What…” the squirrel gasped. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know!” Shadow groaned, turning to look down at him. “I don’t know how these powers work! Just… just stop bleeding!”

The squirrel either grimaced, or laughed. Shadow didn’t know which.

“Can you call for help?” Shadow asked.

The squirrel shifted, reaching into his coat pocket. A small computer fell out, its screen shattered. Ruined.

Shadow flinched and looked out at the skyscrapers. No more helicopters. No sign of any soldiers. If he left this soldier as he was, he’d surely die. Another life on his hands. All because that Judge wanted him. How was he meant to help this pilot?

He stared down at him, trailing his eyes over his small body. What would Rouge do? She’d dealt with her own wounds many times. Shadow’s eyes fell on the squirrel’s ruined jacket.

“Remove it,” he said.

“What?”

Shadow let out a sigh and reached for the squirrel’s uniform. Somehow he managed to remove it, or what was left of it. Although not without some discontent from his ‘patient’. It revealed a nasty wound across the squirrel’s side, where he’d met with the wreckage from the helicopter. Either the explosion, or how he’d landed.

Shadow yanked the sleeve from the jacket and began wrapping it around the pilot’s waist. It wasn’t easy. Especially given the length of the sleeve. But he managed to secure it tightly in place. It was soiled immediately.

No use. What else could he do? Shadow sighed as he realized he was this squirrel’s only source of contact with GUN. That is, if he could actually access the Chaos Network.

Shadow sat back, trying to let his mind relax. This time, he actually managed to find a way in. One name stood out to him in his mind. One person he could potentially trust. Although the message would have to remain anonymous. Otherwise he might find himself targeted by yet another hunter.

Once the message was out, he shook off the Chaos Network.

“Someone will be here.” He pushed himself to his feet.

“Wait.” The squirrel’s voice was faint. “Where are you going?”

“Away. I’m not waiting around here for GUN to show up.”

“… You saved me?”

Shadow narrowed his crimson eyes at him. “You’re questioning why?”

The squirrel grimaced, curling into a ball. “You’re not really a murderer, are you?”

Shadow stared at him blankly as the squirrel struggled to maintain eye contact.

“They’ve got it wrong,” the soldier said.

Shadow couldn’t answer that. Instead, he turned away and leapt over the side of the skyscraper, vanishing into a swirl of warped and corrupted code.

...​

“Huh.” Sonic blinked at his visor.

The message was as clear as day. ‘Wounded soldier on the roof of Maxx Finance.’ No sender. And as for the email address, it was just a random string of digits.

It had to be from Shadow.

He called back his visor. “Sorry, Tails. I need to head off and help someone. Can you take these girls out of the city?”

Tails looked back at him from between Tangle and Whisper. “Of course.”

Tangle’s eyes widened and a huge grin spread across her muzzle. “You’re rescuin’ someone?!”

“Yes,” said Sonic. “So you two-”

“Please let me come with you?!” Tangle grabbed his arm, halting him in his tracks. “Please please please?!”

Sonic let out a nervous laugh. “I’m supposed to be getting you two out of this city, not leading you straight into danger.”

“But it might be too much for one person!”

“She’s right there,” said Tails. “GUN always send paramedics in pairs, and given I need to get them to the station, that leaves you on your own.”

Sonic rolled his eyes. “All right, fine.”

Tangle clenched her fists. “Yes!”

“But only because your tail could be handy.” Sonic wagged at finger at her.

Tangle formed her tail into a ‘thumb’s up’. “Roger! But I have you know, I also know first-aid.”

Before she could blink, Sonic grabbed her in his arms bridal-style and took off along the winding roads. It wasn’t too far to the finance tower, not for him anyway. He was there in a matter of seconds. And he didn’t stop.

Tangle let out a squeal of delight as he ran straight up the skyscraper’s wall. He kicked off the wall surrounding the roof, and landed in a squat.

Tangle leapt out of his arms and bounced around on her tail, whooping.

Sonic stood and the sound of whimpering reached his ears. Huddled beneath a table was a lime green squirrel. The remains of his jacket lay beside him, while a sleeve served as a make-shift bandage.

Tangle stopped beside him, and a small grimace twisted her features.

“Oh boy.” Sonic rubbed his hand over his quills. “I was not prepared for this.”
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Chapter Twenty Two​

Rouge had seen everything. The Judge launching it’s attack. The exploding helicopters. Even Shadow taking that pilot to safety. If it weren’t for her, they wouldn’t have made it. She’d thrown off it’s aim. She’d become the bait. Now it pursued her through the streets of the Beatdrop Capital’s business district, completely ignoring any pleas she made to get through to it.

To say she was scared would be an understatement. The hulking killer robot rampaging after her had once been her friend. They’d joked together. Even played together. Shared banter and had each other’s backs. Now it was out for her blood.

The fact she once knew him made it all the more terrifying. A familiar face that no longer knew who she was. A friend turned enemy.

She corkscrewed out of the way of its flailing arm to land a kick against the exposed wires of its shoulder. The impact caused its fingers to uncurl and drop its weapon. Those fingers instead went for her leg, fastening around it. She slipped it free before its grip could lock, and zipped upwards, wing whistling, towards the rooftops.

Bullets followed her. She twisted, spinning her way through the spiral of weapon-fire. She’d grown familiar with its attacks. Dodging them involved precise timing and knowing which way they were coming from. A combination of sights and sounds, and small disturbances in the air.

That didn’t mean she’d come out of it unscathed. Raw welts ran along her limbs where bullets had skimmed her, and her right ear pulsed as fresh blood trickled down her cheek. She swiped a hand across her eye, then turned to dodge yet more machine gun fire.

“Nuisance is proving to be a challenge,” said the Judge. “Requesting homing missiles.”

Rouge didn’t want to wait around to find out if that comment was a joke. The Judge was rampaging. Surely GUN wouldn’t adhere to its request? Of course, she was one of their targets. If they knew it was for her, then maybe they’d give in?

She zipped between the lamp-posts, making her way towards the cross roads. Hopefully she’d find an open window to cut through, and lose the robot?

Two mainframers emerged from one of the forks, and a pair of blue eyes locked onto her. The twin-tailed fox reached for his gun as he looked past her.

“Turn back!” she shrieked.

A missile whistled overhead and she twisted, dragged slightly after it as she was caught in its slipstream. It struck the corner building with a mighty boom, blowing the trio and T-Pup into the road towards the Judge. Rubble clattered down before them, creating a barrier between them and safety.

Tails clambered off the wolf, swiftly satisfied she was unharmed. Although not a hint of concern was etched on his young face. Instead, T-Pup sniffed around her and helped her to her feet.

Rouge followed Tail’s blank stare towards the oncoming Judge. He then nudged the wolf and pointed towards one of the buildings, now vacated of its door.

“Go,” he said, reaching for his weapon. “Take T-Pup.”

A railgun. Rouge remembered those, not that she’d ever been trained to use one. If that struck home, Omega would be reduced to nothing but scrap.

He followed after the wolf and T-Pup, keeping his back to them and his aim on the Judge. A shrill screech rose like a crescendo, and Rouge realized with horror that his weapon was activating.

She shot down towards him, bracing herself to shout, but her ‘don’t!’ was cut off as hot bullets tore through her tail and skimmed her legs.

Tails leapt and rolled, firing his railgun. A blinding flash lit up the road, followed by the sound of something small slicing effortlessly through metal. Rouge blinked to clear her vision, and she spotted the Judge staggering backwards. Its right hand was crippled, missing two of its fingers. One, she was somewhat relieved to see, being its trigger finger. Its machine gun lay on the ground beneath its feet.

“Tails!” Rouge fluttered towards the fox, wincing with the effort. “Don’t destroy him, he’s my friend.”

Tails glanced sideways at her, and leveled his railgun for another attack. “You’re wounded. You should join Whisper.”

Rouge tutted at that. “Please! Listen to me. He was once on my team. He doesn’t remember who he is! If we can-”

“I said go and join Whisper.”

“No!” Rouge folded her arms. “Distract him, and I’ll grab his AI chip. I know where it is!”

“So do I. Get out of the way.”

The railgun fired again.

The Judge had retrieved its weapon in its crippled hand. It used it as a shield, meeting the railgun’s projectile. The impact set off the weapon, creating a spray of bullets as the Judge turned. They rained down haphazard around the wide road, scattering Tails and Rouge. The whir from its weapon intensified, and the entire thing exploded, spraying shrapnel. The Judge tossed it aside and reached with its good hand to grab its rocket launcher.

A flash of blue struck its hand, searing the surface. It turned its head towards the rooftops. Perched on a small cafe roof was a dainty wolf, but her face was hidden behind a black and white mask. She fired again, but the robot shrugged her off.

“Nuisances will be eradicated.” It stepped over Tails, who was waiting for his railgun to ready itself. “Calculation - one missile. Target - chemical warehouse.”

“Chemical warehouse?” Rouge’s ears swiveled back and forth and she sniffed the air.

Then her heart sank.

The warehouse was right beside them, where Tails was arming his gun. He abandoned his railgun, and dived across the road. He caught Rouge, barreling her through the window of a small factory.

The missile fired, striking the warehouse. The explosion was followed by a flash of flames that engulfed that building and the cafe beside it. Explosion after explosion shook the foundations of the factory, and cracks leapt across the ceiling.

Rouge’s ears drooped as she watched them. Small puffs of dust leaked between them, and bits of plaster rained down, bouncing off her head.

She pushed herself painfully to her feet. “I don’t think we’re safe in here, hon.”

“Affirmative.”

Tails’ twin-tails twirled together, and he rose into the air. The pair made their way to the back of the factory, where another window waited. It was already cracked due to the explosion. Tails reached into the back of his coat and pulled out a sharp knife. He smashed the handle against the glass, shattering it. Then he smoothed out the jagged edges.

He stood aside for Rouge to evacuate, then followed her through. The ceiling caved behind them, followed by a massive loom. Rouge flinched. It had been close.

She quickly surveyed the battlefield, now shrouded in dust and flames. The small wolf that had aided them leapt across the lower rooftops, firing her laser at the Judge. How she’d missed being caught in that, Rouge had no idea. But her weapon was having little effect.

“I think she’s trying to distract it.” Tails hovered beside Rouge, watching the wolf’s antics. He brandished the deadly-looking blade. “Join her. I’ll remove its AI chip.”

“Are you serious?” Rouge asked.

“Of course. You’re in no fit state to do it.”

A smile spread across Rouge’s muzzle. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.”

She chuckled. “What? You have doubts?”

“I’ve calculated a fifty-seven percent chance of success.”

“Then let’s try and get that closer to one hundred, eh?”

Rouge fluttered her wings and shot down towards the road to join the wolf. The Judge spotted her instantly. It brandished its missile launcher, but as a bludgeon. Rouge narrowly dodged it, pirouetting in the air before landing beside the wolf.

“Out of ammo,” the wolf said quietly.

Rouge nodded. “Then let’s keep him busy while Tails tries to disable him?”

The wolf nodded once and fired. The laser bounced off the wires between the joints of its good hand. It brought the missile launcher down toward them, and the pair scattered. Rouge looked back and yelped, curling into the air to avoid the missile launcher. It bounced off the concrete and smacked into the crumbling wall of the factory.

Without a weapon, the Judge was reduced to using its hands alone. It flailed, swiping at Tails as he tried to gain access to its back. The wolf’s lasers bounced off its scuffed hide, doing little to draw its attention to her.

She was no threat. Tails with his metal cleaver, however, was.

Rouge flew into action, joining the wolf’s side once more. The Judge ignored her, instead swatting at Tails like one would a pesky fly.

“What can we do to distract it?” Rouge asked.

The wolf fired off another string of lasers. They struck it in the elbow joint, and the wires frayed. Its crippled hand went limp as its arm bent at an unnatural angle.

Rouge’s jaw dropped. “You disabled it!”

The Judge’s red eyes narrowed on them. “Nuisances must be eradicated!”

It swung its good arm down, swiping at the floor. Rouge and the wolf tried to flee, but it caught the both of them in its fingers. Rouge flailed, kicking out with her wounded legs. The wolf grimaced, her sharp teeth showing around the edge of her mask. She tried to tug her arms free, but both were pinned to her sides.

The pair turned to look at Tails, but there was no sign of him. The Judge’s grip tightened, and Rouge took in a sharp breath. It was a mistake. Pain shot through her ribs and she coughed. They were lifted high above it’s head, then its entire body went limp. Its fist unclenched, and Rouge and her ally were dropped towards the ground.

Rouge beat her wings frantically, and grabbed hold of the wolf, lowering them both onto the tarmac.

The Judge had sagged, sat in a crouch. Tails leapt from its back, twirling his metal cleaver in one hand. In the other, he held a small black disk.

He leant against the Judge and glanced up at it. “Told you I knew how to deactivate these things.”

Rouge gave him a small smile and stepped towards him. “Thanks, hon.”

He held out his hand to stop her before she could shower him with sentiments. “You should find Shadow now, and get your wounds looked at.”

Rouge blinked. “Wait… what?”

“You and Shadow need to get far away from here. You’re both wanted.”

“Aren’t you and Sonic looking for us?”

“We were. But then we encountered Shadow. He tried to kill Infinite, but it was pretty clear that it wasn’t actually him.”

Rouge raised an eyebrow. “What are you getting at?”

“He’s a puppet with something pulling his strings. When he came to his senses, he panicked and fled.” Tails sheathed his blade and pushed himself back from the robot. “I’m not going to arrest an innocent man. If I turn him over now, GUN will kill him. And they’ll kill you, too, for being an accomplice.”

“So what… you’re telling us to leave the Beatdrop Capital?”

“And tell no one where you are going, yes.”

“All right.” She nodded towards the robot. “But what about Omega?”

“The cleaners will come for it.”

She shook her head, eyes widening. “No! That’s unacceptable. He’s my friend. I thought he was gone for good. If we can save him-”

Tails stared at her, unmoved.

Rouge sighed and her shoulders sagged. “He gave his life to save mine and Shadow’s. The least I can do is save his, right?”

“It’s a robot.”

“Maybe to you. He’s more than just a robot to me.”

Tails’ arm fell at his side and he shrugged. “Fine. I’ll take it back to my warehouse and see if I can find any data that can be redeemed, that is no threat to Mainframe. But I’m promising nothing.”

“I believe something of him is still on there.” Rouge nodded to the data chip.

“GUN usually erase all personality data for rebellious robots.”

Rouge smirked and folded her arms, meeting the fox’s eyes. “Why do I feel like there was going to be a ‘but’ following that sentence?”

“GUN robots don’t usually malfunction.” Tails twirled the data chip in his fingers as though he were examining it. “This whole thing suggests conflicting personality data.”

“Okay. Well if you’re a genius, then I have faith you can restore him.” She winked. “And Shadow and I will return to collect him.”

“If I can restore it, it will find you itself.”

“The Chaos Network will be the safest way to get him out of the Beatdrop Capital unseen. I mean, people are gonna recognize this guy.”

“I know what I’m doing. Now go.”

Rouge pouted playfully. “No need to be so cold.”

She laughed and took off, waving farewell.

Tails watched her go, then pocketed the AI chip. Sonic landed beside him and dropped a grinning Tangle onto the floor. The hedgehog let out a long whistle as he eyed the disabled Judge.

“How did you manage to take this guy down?” he asked.

“I had some help,” said Tails.

“Oh?”

“Rouge and the Guardian Angel.”

Tangle let out a loud squeal and grabbed Tails by both hands. “She was here?!”

Tails removed himself from her and brushed her off. He pulled his computer from his pocket and summoned the Tornado. Strapping Omega to his plane was the only way to feasibly carry it back to his workshop.

“What about Whisper?” Tangle went on. “Wasn’t she with you?”

“I’m here…” Whisper poked her head out from the building she’d been hiding in. T-Pup stood at her feet, tail wagging.

Tangle bounced over to her. “Did you see her?!”

Whisper looked away and shook her head.

“Oh man!” Tangle threw her arms in the air. “Both times she’s shown up you’ve missed her!” She turned her grinning face to Tails. “So tell me! How cool was she this time?”

Tails ignored her, and the lemur’s grin fell. She shook her head and went off in a huff, ranting. Tails looked up as Whisper moved over to him, looking up at Omega with fake curiosity. She caught Tails’ stare and grimaced, turning her face from him.

“You know?” she whispered.

He nodded and returned to tracking his plane.

“Please don’t tell anyone?” Whisper pleaded.

“Why would I?” he said flatly.

At her feet, T-Pup beamed up at her, tongue lolling, and his tail turning into a blur behind him.

...​

Rouge zipped through the underground tunnels, lit faintly by the lights leaking in from the maintenance tunnels. Shadow was just ahead of her, sprawled on the steps of a derelict subway station. He looked up when he heard her wing whistling, and she landed beside him, glancing around at the crumbling platform and weeds sprouting around the train tracks.

“It’s been a long time since we hid out here,” she said.

Shadow grunted and ran his hands over his face.

“After this place got stormed by GUN soldiers, I thought we’d never see it again,” Rouge went on. “It still feels a little eerie. Why here of all places?”

“Because GUN are too preoccupied with events above ground.” Shadow’s voice was muffled by his hands. “And I don’t think they’d ever expect us to return here after last time.”

“Well, if that’s the case, you were on a track record to proving them right.” She flopped down on the stairs beside him. “You look rattled. What’s happened?”

Shadow lowered his hands and sighed. “I ran into the Judge. I probably would have beaten it too if I hadn’t got distracted by some wounded fighter pilot.”

Rouge’s jaw went slack. “You saved someone?”

“I wasn’t just gonna let him die, was I?” Shadow jammed his thumb into his chest. “I’m the reason that Judge is here in the first place!”

Rouge shook her head. “But Shadow, he could have tagged you.”

“You don’t think I didn’t check?” Shadow shook his head and leant back on his hands. “That would have been some thanks for saving his life.”

Rouge smiled and let out a small laugh. “Let’s hope that little act of kindness swings things in your favor?”

Shadow tutted and looked away from her.

“Anyway.” She shuffled around on the step to face him. “You don’t need to worry about the Judge anymore. Tails and I took care of it, with the help of some mysterious wolf. It’s gone.”

Shadow stiffened and looked over his shoulder at her. “You destroyed it?”

“Kinda.” Rouge shrugged. “Tails is gonna take it back to his workshop and try to restore Omega’s memories.”

“I thought Sonic and Tails were against us!”

“They were, until they saw you fighting Infinite,” Rouge explained. “They know it’s not you, Shadow. They’re our allies.”

Shadow scoffed. “Sure, for now. What if they decide to program Omega to work for them and turn us in? Then we’ll have a massive robot on our tails again!”

Rouge opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. She’d nothing to say to that. Perhaps he was right?

He waved towards the tunnel exit. “I say we grab Omega and reprogram him ourselves. Leave this city, find somewhere quiet. The mountains or something.”

“Sure, that sounds great, Shadow. But what do you know about repairing and reprogramming a robot?”

“I spend a lot of time in the Chaos Network.” He leant back against the stairs. “I can read up on it and learn something.”

Rouge shook her head at that. “Really, Shadow-”

“I don’t trust them.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “They said themselves once I was proved innocent they’ll be after us again.”

Rouge stared back at him, letting his words sink in. Then she nodded. “Fine. We’ll retrieve Omega. Then we’ll put this city behind us.”

...​

Infinite yawned again, stretching so his back popped. It had been a good nap. He was no longer slumping along. No longer wildly irritable. Yet Amy still tutted at his behavior.

He looked back at her over his shoulder and paused. “Is there a problem?”

“I just think you could have rested for longer,” she said. “We were safe where we were. Goodness knows where this tunnel leads.”

“It’s away from the sewer.” He turned to continue on. “And I saw train tracks leading along it a few meters back.”

Amy glanced back down the tunnel. “Well they’re gone now.”

“Wrong.” Infinite paused beside the edge of the platform and crouched, peering over the edge into the darkness. “They’re right there.”

Amy tensed, ready to drop her hammer and grab him perchance he fell. But she didn’t voice her worries. Instead, she inched closer to try and spot what he was looking at. He gave her a playful grin and stood back up.

“Bad night vision?” he teased. “Come on. If we keep following them, we might reach Beatdrop Station.”

Amy huffed and adjusted her grip on her mallet before trotting after him. “I love how you’re so sure this is going to get us there.”

“I don’t appreciate the sarcasm, sugar.”

“You clearly don’t know where you’re going.”

“Following train tracks.” He flashed a canine at her. “Now keep it down. We might not be alone down here.”

“Well there’s no maintenance drones,” she muttered, glancing over the cracked flooring and long-expired lights.

“That doesn’t mean there’s nothing lurking,” he said.

They went on a bit longer, following the path until a faint light appeared ahead of them. It twinkled off the ancient metal tracks, almost leading a trail ahead of them. Infinite froze, sniffing at the air. Musty. It definitely didn’t lead outside. He hugged the wall, following it until shapes emerged from the shadows. The platform widened out, rising up into a flight of stairs. They led to a bricked-up entrance that at some time or another would have led into a subway station. Stringy plants sprouted between oily gravel, clambering over the iron train tracks.

“This looks like an abandoned station,” said Amy. “I didn’t think any still existed-”

Infinite reached out and pressed his hand over her mouth. His eyes remained on the stairs, leering. Two figures sat there, silently. Ears pricked. Eyes searching. Infinite didn’t recognize both of them, but he definitely recognized the black hedgehog.

Shadow.

The very hedgehog who had killed his friends, tried to frame him, and tried to take his life. This time, he wasn’t going to get away.

Crimson energy lit up Infinite’s body and he released Amy, clenching his hand into a fist. “Get back into that tunnel.”

Shadow leapt from his perch and turned to face Infinite, arms spread defensively.

The bat moved to stand behind him, ready to leap into action if needed. Not that she was n any fit state to do so. Her legs were crusted with blood, some of which still dripped freely.

She blinked with surprise. “Is that-?”

“Get out of here, Rouge,” Shadow told her. “I don’t like that look in his eye.”

The black hedgehog took a step back, keeping his focus on Infinite. The jackal advanced, rage bubbling inside him with each slow step.

“Planning to run, are you?” he sneered. “You’re not getting away from me this time, hedgehog. Not until I drag some answers out of you!”

The Phantom Ruby pulsed in Infinite’s ears as crimson cubes formed around his right hand.

“Answers?” Shadow’s ears twitched and his eyes went to the cubes. “I don’t have any. I was hoping you could tell me what’s going on!”

“Oh were you?” Infinite let out a sadistic chuckle. “Was that what you were doing when you tried to kill me earlier?! When you killed my friends?!”

Infinite launched the cubes towards Shadow. They warped and twisted into a corkscrew spear, spinning towards him. He leapt aside, letting it glide past him to crash into the floor. Rouge let out a squeak and fluttered away from the debris, her wing whistling in the musty air.

“Rouge!” Shadow barked. “I told you to get out of here!” He looked up at Infinite as the jackal advanced. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! What friends?”

“Don’t make me laugh,” Infinite spat. “I’ve worked it out, Shadow. All this started after I got out of that cell! You’re from the same world I am, and you’re just trying to finish the job!”

He brought up another spear and slammed it down onto Shadow. It narrowly missed as the hedgehog rolled to the side and vanished over the edge of the station platform.

“Infinite, please!” Amy pleaded. “You don’t need to fight him!”

“Go!” Infinite shouted over his shoulder.

He spread his arms, engulfing Amy in a pink mist. She flew backwards into the tunnel, squealing and flailing her limbs. Shadow leapt from the tracks in a spinning ball of black spikes. He struck Infinite in the side of the head, sending him sprawling over the platform. The wind whistled overhead as Rouge shot over them towards where Amy had vanished. Infinite followed her with his eye, but a punch to his jaw blurred his vision. He snapped his eye back onto Shadow’s sneering face.

Infinite brought his knee up into the hedgehog’s gut, causing him to keel over. Infinite threw him off himself then channeled the Phantom Ruby into a kick, sending Shadow whirling into the concrete steps. He charged after him, aiming to catch the hedgehog before he landed. Corrupt code swirled out around Shadow, but it vanished and he struck the steps hard on his back. Infinite stood over him, surrounded by crimson energy. A look of panic crossed the hedgehog’s face.

Fear.

Once, Shadow had stood over him after decimating his entire troops. Now, the tables had turned.

“What?” Infinite nudged his mask back into place and chuckled. “Can’t escape? Good.” He picked Shadow up by his neck and glared into his eyes. The hedgehog flailed, clawing at Infinite’s gloves. “Now you know how my friends felt.” He tossed him aside like a ragdoll towards the train tracks.

“Stop!”

Amy raced across the platform and cut between Infinite and Shadow. She stood with her arms spread, no longer holding her mallet.

Infinite stared down at her. “Move.”

“No!” She shook her head and met his eyes. “You’re like a cat with a mouse! Stop this! There’s nothing here that can’t be sorted out with words!”

Infinite’s fur bristled and he clenched his fists. “You weren’t there!”

“Neither was he!”

Amy’s shoulders heaved as she tried to catch her breath. Infinite glared down at her, his canines poking from his lips on instinct. Shadow slowly sat up behind her, grimacing and rubbing his shoulder.

“Your little friend’s right, hon.” Rouge landed beside Infinite and folded her arms. “He’s not from your world. Whoever you think you’re fighting, it’s not him.”

Infinite lifted his head and leered at the two girls. “You don’t know that.”

Shadow stood up and placed a hand on Amy’s shoulder, scooting her aside. But his eyes never left Infinite.

“Forget it,” said Shadow. “He won’t listen to reason, so I might as well fight him.”

Rouge shook her head. “But Shadow…”

“If I don’t, he’ll just be another hound on my trail,” Shadow explained. “Besides, I want to know what’s happening to me.” He glanced at the bat. “Take his friend and hide. There’s no sense in more lives being lost.”

Infinite’s lips curled back and he growled at Shadow. A bad choice of words.

Rouge grabbed Amy and dragged the reluctant hedgehog back towards the tunnel. Once she’d moved, Infinite noticed Shadow’s left hand was glowing red. Before the jackal could blink, Shadow flicked it towards him.

“Chaos Spear!”

A crimson spear struck the ground at Infinite’s feet, and it erupted beneath him. He flew back from Shadow with a grunt, landing hard on his back. When he opened his eyes, Shadow was above him, feet blazing. He struck Infinite hard in the chest, and sparks bounced off the Phantom Ruby.

Infinite grabbed Shadow’s ankle and spun him away from him. The hedgehog landed in a crouch, steadying himself with one hand on the floor. He doubled back, charging towards Infinite.

The jackal rolled, letting Shadow glide past him. Infinite raised his hand, and crimson spikes leapt from the floor, spearing Shadow as he shot through them.

Shadow flinched and froze, vanishing into thin air. Wisps of computer code faded away where he’d stood. He appeared again above Infinite and struck him in the back. Then he vanished again. Over and over. Each time he reappeared, Infinite took another blow. Too quick to keep an eye on. Too quick to retaliate. Infinite had to think fast, and his strength was rapidly fading. He had to get that hedgehog to keep still.

Shadow’s boot collided with Infinite’s jaw, sending bloody spittle flying. Then he vanished. Infinite growled and crouched, rolling away. Shadow reappeared again where he’d been standing. Chains shot up from the ground, curling around Shadow’s limbs and fastening him in place. Wisps of computer code curled from him like steam, but this time he didn’t vanish. His eyes widened, fear and irritation plain on his face.

A grin split Infinite’s muzzle and he charged his Phantom Ruby into his fist. He struck Shadow hard in the stomach, and he flew back from him. The chains held, and dragged him back towards Infinite like a boomerang. He struck him again with his other fist. Then with a kick. The third time, he let the chains drop.

Shadow soared across the platform, readying his Chaos Control. A swirling crimson vortex appeared behind him, and he was sucked into it. It expelled him back out behind Infinite. The jackal was waiting. He struck Shadow with a back-hand, and he crashed into the wall right beside the tunnel.

Infinite warped towards him and grabbed him by the neck, pinning him to the wall. He leant into him until they were almost nose to nose.

“You’re going to tell me why you’re trying to frame me,” Infinite told him.

Shadow choked but he didn’t back down. “Not until you tell me why I suddenly have your powers.”

“Yes, and you’re abusing them.”

“They’re controlling me!” Shadow lashed out, clawing Infinite’s arms. “Or is it just you… pulling the strings?”

“You dare…?” Infinite pulled his head back, glaring into Shadow’s eyes. “The way you’ve been taking lives isn’t exactly my style, Fake!”

He tightened his grip, and Shadow flailed, struggling as Infinite raised him from the floor. Infinite leered up at him, and a low growl rose in his throat. His free hand lit up with crimson energy and he clenched it into a fist.

‘Infinite…’

His eyes widened, that faint voice snapping him out of his blinded rage. Shadow flailed in his grip, clawing at his gloved hand and raising bloody welts along his forearm. The world turned hazy as Infinite saw a black hedgehog fleeing from soldiers, guns firing; racing through the sewers with a white bat in tow; watching Mainframers from the mouth of an alley with a deep longing to join them. Each flash was filled with fear. Fear as soldiers, robots, mercenaries and space pirates dogged him along the streets, through the sewers and over the rooftops. But through it all was the ringing desire for it all to stop. To be left alone. To live.

The haze faded and Infinite found himself staring up at Shadow, slack-jawed. He was still clutching him by the neck, but his grip loosened. Shadow’s eyes snapped open and he lashed out, tearing at Infinite’s arms, shoulders, face. His claws struck the Phantom Ruby, and Infinite’s breath shot from his lungs. An equal look of surprise crossed Shadow’s face as time almost seemed to stop. Infinite was blown back from him as if caught in an explosion. A huge flash lit up the platform, spanning out between them like the petals of a flower. Smaller versions of it danced across Infinite’s vision, but beyond them he saw Shadow pressed into the wall by the invisible force. Then he slid down it to land hard on his bottom.

The pair stared at each other, panting, trying to work out what had just happened. Then Shadow’s eyes narrowed. Crimson energy surrounded his body, and small red cubes rose around him like a swarm of bees. They turned into deadly darts and fired towards Infinite.

The jackal threw up a barrier, letting them ping off it. Each one vanished with a pop. Infinite stood, watching Shadow carefully. The constant drain he’d felt on his energy was gone. And Shadow’s attack had done nothing to worsen it, either. It had definitely been the Phantom Ruby. He’d not demonstrated any attacks like that during their fight, yet it was clear he could use his powers prior. Had it really only been subconsciously? Had that contact - that explosion - done something?

Shadow seemed to be thinking the same thing. He stared down at his hands, still surrounded by crimson energy. Not like the Chaos Energy he’d used before, but the strange glowing force Infinite used on a daily basis.

Shadow looked up at him and sneered. “What? Don’t want to fight anymore?”

Infinite snorted and raised his fists. Defensively. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to fight. He just didn’t know who he was fighting anymore. Those flashes the Phantom Ruby had shown him… this wasn’t the Shadow he knew. Infinite had neither seen nor felt any vehemence towards him from those memories.

Infinite’s breaths came in heavy gasps, and his eye never left the hedgehog. Shadow circled to the side, backing Infinite to the edge of the platform. No longer blinded by rage, Infinite just wanted to leave and sleep off the fight. He was feeling the toll of it now. But Shadow clearly wasn’t done. Oh well. Even when backed into a corner, a terrified and exhausted animal would still fight to the death, and Infinite had always had a pretty strong survival instinct.

Shadow stopped and threw his arms out to the sides. Identical clones flew out from him, surrounding Infinite. Each one wore an identical smile. Relief? Confidence? Infinite wasn’t sure.

The jackal turned on the spot, eyes widening, as he tried to keep each one in his sights. They lunged towards him, throwing blazing kicks and rapid punches. Infinite threw up a shield, but it was swiftly overpowered. He found himself keeling over the edge of the platform to land flat on his back. He let out a pained hiss as the bent metal track jabbed into his spine.

One of the Shadow clones leapt down after him, aiming a kick right at his chest. Infinite rolled, letting the clone strike the floor. Infinite swiped at it, wiping it from reality.

Interesting…

He jumped back onto the platform, cutting through two of the clones. They vanished like vapor. Hundreds of red cubes formed around the jackal and he fired them off in all directions, training them like homing darts onto the remaining Shadows. The darts picked them off, but they were quick. Infinite rolled to dodge a flying kick from one, and when he leapt back to his feet, he received a crescent kick to the chin. He went keeling backwards, back onto the train tracks. But not before cushioning his fall by turning the ground into a springy trampoline.

Infinite landed back on the platform in a crouch, just as the last dart struck the last clone.

Shadow stood panting before him, scratched up from the deadly darts.

Infinite grinned a sinister grin. “Had enough?”

Shadow sneered and lunged towards him. Infinite let out a sigh and snapped his fingers. The station flipped, leaving him stood in the same position on the ceiling. Shadow flailed his arms as he tried to regain his balance on the platform edge above him. The tunnel twisted off at either side, coiling away from the hedgehog into the ground. He staggered back from it gingerly, as if worried he was going to drop off the floor at any second. His crimson eyes were fixed warily on the tunnels.

Infinite smirked and stood up straight, lifting his arm. A deep rumble came from the tunnel, and a huge snake exploded from it. Its jaws snapped at Shadow, causing him to leap back. The gravity around him altered, making each step a sluggish effort. The snake inched closer, its venomous fangs nipping at Shadow’s shoes.

Infinite laughed and shook his head. The illusion sucked away at what remaining strength he had, but it ended much sooner than he expected. The snake vanished, and the station snapped back into place around him. He dropped, landing at Shadow’s feet. Infinite opened his eyes, groaning, and met Shadow’s livid glare. Before Infinite could push himself up, Shadow’s blazing boot struck his ribs, launching Infinite across the platform. He struck the steps, sprawling over them, and their jagged stone edges jabbed into his body. Shadow flew towards him in a blazing fury, flames engulfing his fists. Infinite lifted his arms to create a shield, but it crumpled like butter. Each punch seared away his fur, and he roared his retaliation. Roars turned into screams and yelps. He could do nothing. The Phantom Ruby’s energy ebbed away with each attempt to get the hedgehog off him.

Once again he’d lost. Lost to that black hedgehog.

“Stop it!”

A loud ‘pop!’ cut through Infinite’s frantic screams, and Shadow keeled back from him. Infinite tried to open his swollen eye, which rapidly healed back enough to see a pink blur standing over him. It wasn’t easy to see beyond the blood smearing the inside of his mask, but he knew that blur.

Amy clutched her mallet in both hands, glaring down Shadow.

“Stop this right now!” she demanded.

“Get out of the way!” Shadow took a step towards her, his right hand warping into a matching mallet. Black, with crimson ornaments along its handle.

Amy lifted her mallet beside her head, ready to swing it if she needed to. “If you kill him, you’ll just be proving yourself a murderer!”

Shadow’s eyes flashed with rage. “He tried to kill me! Now move, before I make you move!”

“Easy there, handsome.” Rouge appeared behind Shadow, pulling him aside. “I hate to say this, but Pinkie’s right.”

Amy lowered her mallet. “Pinkie?”

Shadow’s muzzle creased and the mallet vanished. He stamped his foot, hard, kicking up sparks. Then slumped onto the steps with his head in his hands. Rouge sat beside him, placing an arm over his shoulders. But he shrugged her off.

“What am I supposed to do?!” he spat. “Let him wale on me?!”

Infinite flinched with the effort of sitting up, and wiped blood from his muzzle.

“The way I see it,” said Rouge, “you’re both in the wrong.”

Infinite spat at that, along with Shadow. But neither of them really noticed.

Amy crouched down beside Infinite and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Infinite glanced down at his body. The burns were healing up, and fur had regenerated in most places. He nodded stiffly and adjusted his mask. The eye piece had cracked, and a huge break had appeared along the nose, uncannily in the same place it had broken when the Judge had struck him.

Shadow fixed Infinite in a crimson glare. “How can I be in the wrong when he’s clearly trying to kill me?”

Infinite narrowed his eye. “You’re the one trying to frame me as the murderer, hog.”

“It’s your powers that are the murderer!”

“Wrong!” Infinite closed his eyes and lifted a claw. “It’s definitely you.”

“Infinite!” Amy gasped.

Shadow’s eyes turned livid and he bared his canines. The Phantom Ruby’s energy surrounded him again, and Infinite met his glare. Not so much as a tug on his energy. It had definitely been rectified.

“It’s not me!” Shadow roared. “Those murders happen when I’m asleep! Something is controlling me!”

“Exactly.” Infinite shrugged. “What’s controlling you is your desire to get the heat off you, even for a little while. You want to fit in, to belong in this world. But GUN, Eggman, space pirates… no one will give you that chance.”

The crimson energy faded and Shadow sat back against the stairs, watching the jackal dumbfounded. “How do you…?”

“The Phantom Ruby showed me,” Infinite said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You want some respite, so you act out in your sleep. Why you have your own Phantom Ruby powers, I haven’t a clue. But they were linked to mine, which is probably why you were unconsciously trying to pin the blame on me.” He narrowed his eye. “Unconscious or not, I don’t appreciate that.”

Shadow clenched his fist and let out a small noise, but no words followed.

“’Were’?” Amy looked up at Infinite, confused. “Are you saying it’s not draining you anymore?”

Infinite shrugged again. “Something happened. I can’t explain it.” He frowned at Shadow. “It’s like the Phantom Ruby cloned itself, or something.” He turned back to Amy. “I’m beginning to think your little wolf friend was right. I think they were trying to communicate to sort things out between themselves.”

“Drawing you together like a magnet?” Amy looked between the two. “It makes sense, I guess. But why would it clone itself?”

“No idea.” Infinite pushed himself up, groaning with the effort. “Let’s leave. I can’t stand to look at his face any longer.”

Shadow snorted and dug his claws into the stone. “The feeling’s mutual.”

Infinite bared his canines at the hedgehog, but Amy’s hand on his shoulder drew his eye away.

“All this doesn’t worry you?” she asked.

“I’m too exhausted to be worried. Let’s get out of here, I need a shower and a snack.”

“You’re just leaving?!” Shadow snapped. “After all that?! You’re not even going to apologize?!”

Apologize?

Infinite’s jaw stiffened and he failed to bite back a growl. “What for, exactly?”

“For all the aggro you’ve just put me through!”

So he wanted an apology…

Infinite turned his head towards him slowly. “I’m sorry I thought you were framing me.”

Shadow tutted and balled his hands into fists. “That’s it? You also accused me of killing your friends. That appeared to be your main motive for all this, not just some set-up.”

Infinite snorted out air.

“Shadow’s right,” said Rouge. “I heard it, too.”

Infinite’s lips curled back in a sneer. “You might have killed my friends, but you clearly have no memory of it. Whether or not you’re from my world-”

“I’m not from your world,” Shadow explained. “I was made in Mainframe. I wasn’t even born. I’m… just some science experiment.” He spat those last words and looked away. “That’s why they won’t leave me alone.”

Rouge placed a hand on his shoulder. “Shadow…”

“And now you…” He fixed Infinite in another glare. “With some kind of baggage, pinning it all on me! You just show up here, and- and-”

Crimson energy surrounded him again and the ground began to tremble. Infinite pulled Amy into him and eyed the ceiling as small rocks rained down from it.

“You’ve given me some weird powers that are only making me act out in my sleep!” Shadow went on. “Why?! What do you want with me?!”

Infinite raised a hand, and the rumbling stopped. Shadow stood panting and relaxed his fists.

“I didn’t give you those powers,” he said. “I also don’t know why you have them, and believe me, I’d rather you didn’t. They’ve caused a whole host of problems, and not just for me. Besides.” He shrugged. “At least you can control it now, and that means no more murders.”

He took Amy by the arm and began to walk away, but Shadow’s voice froze him. “How can you be so sure?”

Infinite paused at the bottom of the stairs. “I’m not. But they’re not bothering me anymore, so something’s changed. Now let’s not cross paths again. Hmm?”

He marched across the platform, keeping Amy close beside him.

“Was that a threat?” Shadow asked quietly.

Infinite froze in the mouth of the tunnel. A threat… Maybe it had been. He took in a deep breath and placed a hand on the cool stone wall.

“I’m not the one who killed your friends, Infinite,” said Shadow.

“Like I said. Whether you are or not, you don’t remember it.” Infinite glanced back over his shoulder. Shadow wasn’t looking at him. “I don’t kill innocent men.”

Shadow turned surprised eyes on his.

Infinite nodded once and turned from the platform. After two steps, he caught Amy’s probing stare. The kind a parent might give a child who hadn’t quite finished being scolded. He took in a long, steadying breath and bit his lip.

“I’m sorry,” he said bluntly, drawing a surprised grunt from Shadow. “I guess I jumped to conclusions.”

He picked up his pace, moving swiftly through the tunnel towards the nearest exit.
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
A/N - This will be the last chapter for a while, and I have no idea how long it will be. I'm picking up another project to hopefully see out the current Covid19 outbreak, which all being well will also be posted here. (I don't like not having a current project! It makes me antsy!) Please keep an eye open for Mainframe's third book 'Outbreak'. But until then, this project will be on hiatus.


Chapter Twenty Three​

It wasn’t long before citizens were allowed back into the Beatdrop Capital. The Judge had been stopped, leaving the streets somewhat safe. But citizens remained on edge. The Heartbreaker still hadn’t been apprehended, and repeated stories still dominated news headlines.

The intercom echoed out the train’s arrival at the Beatdrop Capital, and Silver tucked away his computer in favor of grabbing his bag from the luggage rail. He spotted Blaze through the window, and the lavender cat gave him a cheerful wave. A huge smile split Silver’s tired muzzle, and he joined the crowd as the cabin emptied out onto the platform.

Blaze joined his side, still clutching her own small suitcase. “You made it.”

Silver shrugged and popped the wheels out of his bag to drag it behind him. “I had no reason to stay in North Cipher.”

Blaze smiled at that and they followed the crowd out of the station.

“I’m surprised they’re letting us back,” she said. “They’ve not found Shadow yet. He could be anywhere.”

“’Anywhere’ is his official location at present,” Silver explained. “The last I read, GUN don’t believe he’s even in the Beatdrop Capital anymore.”

Blaze raised an eyebrow. “So he’s fled?”

“Would you stick around with a mad robot trying to kill you?”

She chuckled, drawing a warm smile from the hedgehog. It was a lame joke. Even those the out-of-control Judge hadn’t been trying to kill had fled.

“So are we still looking for him?” she asked.

Silver sighed and ran a hand through his quills. “I don’t even know where to start. I think I’m just going to put a pin in this case, if I’m honest.”

Blaze’s ears drooped. “Oh…”

“We solved it. We found out who the killer is.” He paused beside a small pastry stand that had just re-opened that morning, and quickly exchanged his credits for a bag of fresh, piping-hot donuts. “It’s up to GUN now to arrest him. I’m not exactly equipped to deal with a freak experiment that can manipulate the very Chaos Network.”

Blaze took an offered donut, unbothered by the heat. “I suppose. You struggled enough with Metal Sonic.”

“Exactly.”

“So… I guess that’s it?” She stared at the donut, dodging Silver’s gaze.

“I guess so.” He paused, then gave a weak shrug. “I’m sorry I accused you, Blaze.”

“Don’t be. It could easily have been me, you can’t pick favourites in this situation. I mean… you had your reasons, and they were all legit.” She met his gaze. “If I were in your shoes, I would have probably thought the same thing.”

Silver closed his eyes and laughed. “You were singing a whole different song at the time.”

“I’ve had time to think about it.”

They stopped at the lights, and she took a bite of her donut, bringing an end to that conversation. The lights changed, ringing out to allow the masses to cross over on their way back to their homes and places of work.

“I’ll walk you home.” He said it without really thinking about it.

The lavender cat’s ears perked up and she gave him a sideways glance. “I was actually thinking… if you have need of an assistant?”

“Really?” His eyes widened and he almost stopped in the middle of the road. “Wow, Blaze… I would if I could, believe me. But I can barely afford my own rent.”

She rubbed the back of her ears. “Well… word has now got out that you’re the detective who uncovered the murderer. Dad’s really happy about it, since you revealed Ember’s death wasn’t actually down to illegal drugs. He’s offered to pay you five times what you usually ask, as a thank you.” She took in a breath. “And I don’t really want to be the future Mayor of Beatdrop, either.”

Silver had to lean against a lamp post. It had all been a lot to take in. He looked down at the cat, a look of concern crossing his face.

“Do you really have a say in that?” he asked.

“They can’t force me. It’s a huge responsibility, filled with loads of boring paperwork. I’d much rather be doing something more productive, and interesting. And not alone, either.”

“I hate to burst your bubble, but detective work has its own fair share of boring paperwork.” He punctuated that with a grin, which she returned.

“Think about it,” she said. “Please?”

He mock-rolled his eyes and retrieved his luggage. “All right, I’ll think about it. You do make a fantastic coffee, after all.”

She gave him a playful nudge, then joined his side as they wound their way though the city streets.

...​

A few soft grunts came from the sofa, and Amy stopped what she was doing to look past her two friends at the dozing jackal. Infinite rubbed his eyes beneath his mask and gave a wide yawn.

“Good morning, sunshine!” said Tangle. The lemur returned to her web browsing. “Can’t believe you sleep with that thing on.”

Infinite said nothing, but the glare on his face spoke louder than words.

“You’re looking more rested,” said Amy. “I guess it’s all stopped now, huh?”

Infinite stretched, causing his spine to pop. “Yup! It feels good to be back to my old self again.”

“So what’s that like exactly?” Tangle swiveled around on her stool, and grabbed her coffee in her tail. “All I know is that tired old grump. Are ya much more fun than all that? Ya finally gonna take me out for coffee?”

Infinite’s fur bristled along his spine and his sneer turned into a confused frown. “It worries me that I can’t tell if you’re joking…”

Tangle’s muzzle split into a playful grin and she leant her head on one hand, gazing at the jackal.

Infinite looked up at Amy and Whisper. “Please tell me she’s joking…”

Amy looked between the lemur and Infinite. “Sometimes… even I can’t tell.”

Whisper chuckled silently into her coffee.

“Can we talk about something else?” Infinite turned his back on them. “I feel like I’m about to live a nightmare, here… Alone time with that loud Jack-in-the-Box.”

“I actually did that once.” Tangle vaulted the gap between the living room and the breakfast bar, landing next to Infinite on the sofa. “Leapt out of a cake dressed as a clown for Whisper’s twenty-first.”

“It was not okay…” said Whisper.

She followed Amy into the living room, and Tangle looked up at them, grinning.

“Oh come on! You had fun!” she said.

Whisper perched in the arm chair and glanced away from her. “The cake was good…”

Infinite muttered something under his breath, then added, “When I said to change the subject, this was not what I had in mind.”

He grabbed the TV remote and flicked it on, bringing up the news. The Heartbreaker was all over it.

Amy clutched her pink mug of tea in both hands, almost hiding behind it. “Sorry. I guess after all that stuff with Shadow and the Judge, we just want to forget about it.”

“Well I want to know he’s not gonna come waltzing into this apartment again to exact his revenge,” said Infinite.

“He didn’t seem to want anything to do with you in the first place,” said Amy. “You said yourself the Phantom Ruby has fixed itself now.”

“What I said was I wasn’t being drained anymore. We’re still to discover if his is still playing up in his sleep. And if he’s anything like me, he won’t need to sleep often.” Infinite paused, then added, “Usually.”

“I wanna know how that happened, anyway,” said Tangle. “Did it like… clone itself or something?”

Infinite shrugged a shoulder. “Seems like it.”

“So if yours is the parent ruby,” said Tangle, “then that makes you technically his Dad, right?”

Infinite’s head snapped around towards Tangle, who burst out laughing, sinking into the sofa. Infinite practically trembled, and Amy feared for a moment that the lemur was about to find herself tossed from the window.

“Never… ever… say that again!” Infinite’s voice was almost nothing more than a growl.

Tangle lifted her hands in surrender, gasping out between laughs, “Okay! Okay. Just trying to lighten the mood.”

Infinite muttered under his breath and turned back towards the news.

“I think things will be okay,” said Whisper after a brief silence. “GUN believe Shadow’s left the city now.”

“Yeah, and Tails and the Guardian Angel trashed that Judge!” Tangle flopped back into the sofa and spread her arms along the back rest. Infinite inched away from her. “I still can’t believe I missed that, but still. I think things are gonna return to normal now.”

The news cut out, replaced instead by Eggman’s face. The words ‘Urgent Bulletin’ drifted across the bottom. Infinite snorted and bared his canines, a low growl rising in his throat.

‘I’m here to address Mainframe regarding the dire situation that has spread throughout the Beatdrop Capital,’ said Eggman. ‘First, the murderer going by Heartbreaker has seemingly vanished, but my drones and soldiers are keeping a watchful eye open. I know citizens are worrying about this Shadow the Hedgehog, but I assure you he will be apprehended. As for the Judge, it was taken out by soldiers not under my employ. My robots do not usually malfunction, and its release went against my wishes. That particular Judge robot was riddled with errors, and the individual responsible has been dealt with. But the Judge has not been recovered. Its remains have been stolen, most likely by those who destroyed it. If you happen to see it, be it alone or with another Mainframer, I expect you to report this to me immediately. That robot is dangerous, and is to be scrapped to avoid any such issues arising in the future.

‘I do hope this mishap does not sully your opinion of EggTech. Robots are your friendly helpers in this society, from Strider Drones keeping the streets safe to the Omochao that assist you in your everyday lives. If any robot should show signs of malfunction, get to a safe place and report it. But I shall strive to avoid such issues arising in the future.’

He cut out as abruptly as he arrived, returning to the news program.

“Amazing, isn’t he?”

Amy dropped her mug, sending coffee sloshing over herself and Infinite. The jackal leapt up, snapping his head around towards the speaker. Amy followed his gaze, meeting the amused bespectacled eyes of a white platypus.

“Starline?!” Infinite roared.

“Pardon the intrusion.” Starline gave them a small bow. “I let myself in.”

Tangle’s muzzle twisted. “You can’t just go lettin’ yourself into someone’s house! That’s breakin’ and enterin’.”

“I didn’t want to disturb your program.” Starline waved towards the TV. “Besides, I’m here to talk with Infinite.”

He made his way around the sofa, placing a hand on Infinite’s shoulder as he passed. The jackal shrugged him off, baring his sharp teeth. Then sank back into the sofa. He flinched slightly, and Starline waved his hand.

“Sorry about that,” he said with a smile. “Your ruff got snagged on my glove.”

“What do you want?” Infinite growled.

“I wanted to thank you for your assistance,” Starline explained. “I know it wasn’t you who brought a stop to that Judge, but you did manage to neutralize Shadow, bringing an end to the murders.”

“We don’t know that for certain,” said Amy. “It’s only been two days.”

“Thirty seven hours, actually,” said Starline.

Tangle raised an eyebrow that and exchanged glances with Whisper. But Infinite didn’t appear remotely fazed.

“Were you spying on me?” he growled slowly.

Starline raised his hands in a shrug. “I have cameras everywhere. They were lurking in that abandoned station, recording your every move.”

Amy looked up at him with a start. “So that means Eggman-”

“Knows nothing,” said Starline. “I was the one who set those cameras there, and their feed came only to me.” A sinister smile spread across his beak. “The battle was… interesting, to say the least. A spectacular display of powers I’d wanted to see unfold for years!” He met Infinite’s enraged leer with a smirk. “And now I know that Shadow can use them too. How very interesting.”

Crimson energy lit up around Infinite’s right hand. “Stand still for long enough and you can see them again!”

Amy placed a hand on his shoulder, but it did little to placate him. “Please… don’t.”

“Yeah,” said Tangle, not taking her eyes off Starline. “Otherwise you’ll have a lot more to clean up than a few scratches on the wall.”

Starline chuckled and raised his hands, taking a step back. “I only came here to thank you, Infinite. Not to agitate you. You’ve given me more than I could have dreamed. Now… I must return to finding out what happened to that Judge.”

Tangle clicked her tongue. “Didn’t have any spy cameras lurking around the streets, then?”

“I can’t be in more than one place at any one time, my dear.” Starline tucked his hands behind his back. “Now. I must be going. I have a lot on my to-do list.”

He waved his hand and a wormhole opened up behind him. Tangle let out a surprised gasp and leapt from her seat, but what was on the other side remained obscured by Starline’s figure. He stepped back into it, closing it up as quickly as it had appeared.

Tangle flopped back into her seat, exchanging glances with her friends. “What the… that was so awesome!”

“He’s not that awesome,” Infinite scoffed. He pushed himself from his seat and made his way towards the kitchen. “I wanna know why he’s working for that rotten egg.”

Tangle flipped onto her knees and folded her arms over the back of the sofa, resting her chin on them. “Not a fan of Eggman, then?”

Infinite snorted, and occupied himself by rummaging through the cupboards.

‘…I woke up in some alien world where the man who created me - his best experiment ever! One with phenomenal, alien power! - left me to die!’

Amy watched him sadly, biting back the urge to tell her friends what Infinite had told her weeks prior. She took in a breath and retrieved her pink beaker from the floor.

“I’m going to put on a fresh pot of coffee,” she said. “Does anyone want one?”

“What, after that?” Tangle swished her tail gleefully. “Nah! I’m so wired, if I drink any coffee now I’ll be bouncin’ off the walls!”

Whisper caught Amy’s glance and nodded, handing over her mug.

The apartment felt very odd after Starline’s presence. Perhaps after their coffee, they could go somewhere for a while. Amy glanced from the window on her way to the kitchen. A city, ruined by a robot, threatened by a serial killer, now trying to return to normal.

As hard as it sounded, her and her friends should also try to do the same.

...​

Sonic sighed and slumped back against the wall, folding his arms. “I don’t get it, bud. How do you lose an entire robot?”

Tails stared at the spot the Judge had previously occupied. All that remained was a streak of oil, and two sets of footprints. The question had an obvious answer, if one knew what to look for.

“I mean, we were just in here five minutes ago,” Sonic went on. “And it was right there.” He waved his hand to emphasize his point.

“I know all that, Sonic.” Tails’ voice was void of any irritation, but T-Pup silently seethed beside him. “It’s pretty clear that Shadow showed up and took the Judge away. It was his friend, after all.”

Sonic rubbed the back of his quills. “Yeah, I guessed as much. But still, we would have heard them? Argh, they could be anywhere now.”

Tails shrugged and went to grab a mop and bucket from the cleaning closet.

“I mean, it wasn’t as if we were gonna just turn them in once we’d returned it, right?” Sonic asked.

“It’s our job, Sonic. That robot was bait, and they knew it.”

Sonic sighed again and looked down at T-Pup. The robot dog returned his look and lowered its head, letting out a whimper.

Tails scooted it aside with his boot and began to mop up the mess.

“Very well,” said Sonic. “I hadn’t realized you were setting some elaborate trap.”

“It’s what we’re being paid for. I agreed when we believed he was innocent. But the fact is if we’d turned him in when we had the chance, we wouldn’t be in this situation. We’d have had no Judge to lose.”

“That’s… probably true. Whoever sent it wouldn’t have felt the need to, but still! We didn’t know, we believed he was innocent.”

“And our mistake means they’ve now they’ve got their hands on a killer robot.”

“You believe they’ll reactivate it again?” Sonic scoffed. “Come on, Tails. Even you should know that’s just some random hypothetical scenario! We did the right thing helping them.”

Tails said nothing, occupying himself with the stubborn oil stain on the tiled floor.

Sonic shook his head and turned his attention back on T-Pup. He pushed himself from the wall and tapped his leg. “Come on, bud. Let’s leave him to it. I could do with a break anyway.”

T-Pup yapped and rose to its feet, following Sonic into the break room.

...​

Shadow dropped out of the Chaos Network and leapt off Omega’s shell. Rouge landed beside him, flinching at the pain in her legs. It didn’t go unnoticed by Shadow. He gave her a quick look, and a fleeting expression of worry crossed his features. He said nothing, busying himself by checking over their surroundings.

It wasn’t exactly an unfamiliar place. They’d retreated to an old abandoned factory on the outside of Backlink Town. It had been closed down due to the amount of landslides from the Backbone Mountain, sending repair costs through the roof. Rather than secure it in the town’s protective wall, it had been left to decay and the factory was built anew further from the mountain.

It was in worse shape than when they’d last seen it. Part of the ceiling had broken away where a hefty rock had shattered the window on the floor above, letting the boulder inside. A muddy trail marred the wall, and a pile of mud and rubble lay beneath the crack. The large rock threatened to plummet through the floor at any second, but the dried soil and small stringy plants emerging from it suggested it had been threatening that for some time.

“It’ll do for now,” said Rouge.

She limped towards the wall and settled down against it to check over her wounds. Shadow watched her silently, his intense gaze trailing over her body. She looked up and gave him a warm smile.

“What?” she asked.

“You should get those looked at.”

She inclined her head on one side. “Really? I go into a hospital, GUN will find me in a heartbeat. I’m a fugitive, Shadow.”

“Not if you’re smart about it,” he scoffed. “You can’t leave them unchecked, they’ll get infected.”

“Then it’s a good job I have some antiseptic on me, isn’t it?” She pulled a bottle from her bag to make her point. “I’m not leaving you, Shadow. Not just over some bullet wounds.”

He glanced down at her bloodied and bandaged legs and his fingers twitched. He wanted to say something else. Perhaps how, unlike him, she couldn’t regenerate. But she’d had the lecture several times already. Instead, he dropped down next to her and took the antiseptic from her hands.

Rouge thought about retaliating, but instead just brushed it off and left him to it. She stifled a hiss as he dabbed the stuff on one of her worse wounds, and he glanced up at her and muttered an apology.

“I don’t see any bullets or fragments,” he said. “That’s a relief.”

“Most of them just skimmed me,” she said. “And I removed any that I saw.”

He tensed at that, but said nothing else, working silently. If it wasn’t for the stinging, Rouge would have just pulled out a book and read it. When he’d finished with one leg, she wrapped fresh bandages around it and let him move onto the other. All of them had stopped bleeding, but some decided to give it a second attempt after being dabbed at.

Once Shadow was done, he checked over her arms and wing, the right one of which still sported a neat little hole. Then he stood up and wiped his hands on his fur.

“I still think you should get them looked at,” he said.

“But you’re reassured after checking yourself, right?”

She smirked up at him, but he didn’t return it. His eyes glistened as if he might cry, and Rouge’s smirk swiftly melted away.

“Maybe a little,” he muttered.

“Shadow…” Rouge pushed herself up, wincing with the effort. “I’m not silly. If I think I need to get them looked at, I will. GUN train in first aid, I know what I’m doing.”

“Well I think you’re an idiot.” He flopped against the wall and folded his arms, dodging her gaze. “Unlike me, you don’t regenerate. You didn’t need to get yourself mangled for me.”

“I’m not mangled,” she said. “And it wasn’t for you. It was for Omega.” She nodded towards the robot.

Shadow glanced over her shoulder at the motionless robot and scoffed.

“Oh come on,” she said. “He gave himself up to save both of us, what’s a few bullets? Besides, if we can restore him, our defense goes right up! He doesn’t need to sleep. Neither of us will need to worry about keeping watch, and you won’t need to be on edge all the time listening for footsteps. He’ll be there! Our first line of defense. Besides, you liked his jokes.”

Shadow met her gaze, but there was no hint of a smile. He actually looked tired. Ragged, and unkempt.

“Then maybe he can keep me at bay if those powers start playing up again,” he said.

Rouge felt her heart sink. “Shadow… I honestly don’t think that-”

He raised a hand, cutting her off. “I don’t care what that jackal said. Until I see proof, I still think I’m a risk.”

“Risk or not, I don’t believe for a minute you would have targeted me.”

“And what if I had?”

She shook her head and moved into him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We need to put this behind us, Shadow. You can control them now. You couldn’t before. That’s a start, right?”

He placed his hand over hers. “You didn’t answer me.”

“I’m not going to answer a hypothetical question.”

He sighed and lowered his head to hers. His other hand looped around her side, pulling her closer to him. Her nose almost vanished in his white chest fur.

“Why do you have to do foolish things?” His breath tickled between her ears.

She chuckled, more to stifle a gasp. He wasn’t usually one to initiate contact. “I don’t make a habit of it, handsome.”

He scoffed, but he didn’t relinquish her. She lifted her head to ask a playful ‘would you really have me any other way?’ but the words vanished from her mind. His claws trailed up between her wings, and his other hand brushed the side of her cheek. She met his eyes, warm and no longer glistening with unshed tears. He brushed his lips against hers, and her breath froze in her chest.

It was only brief, but enough to send her heart aflutter.

“You’ve been doing foolish things since you threw your life away for me,” he said.

“Really?” She reached up and trailed her fingers through his quills. Her nose brushed his and her voice wavered. “Because I think that’s the most sensible thing I’ve ever done.”

She pulled him back into her, catching him in a kiss. He fastened both arms around her, holding her close. He was the first to break it. He buried his face in her neck, not willing to relinquish her.

“Thank you…” His voice was thick with tears. “For not giving up on me.”

Rouge closed her eyes, blinking back tears of her own. “Of course.”

...​

Starline strolled through the corridor, checking the various rooms. Eggman hadn’t been at his usual spot by the cameras, and there was no sign of Metal Sonic either. The sound of a tinny drill echoed from one of the far rooms. Starline made a little ‘aha!’ and picked up pace, following the noise. A few curious beetle-like robots watched him pass, their eyes boring into him with suspicion.

Starline found Eggman standing over a table, working on the robotic hedgehog. He looked up when Starline entered, then tutted, returning to his work.

“What do you want?” he scoffed.

“I have something that might interest you, sir.”

“Really? Is it the remains of that Judge?”

“Oh, it’s better than that.” Starline held out his hand.

Eggman frowned at the white fluffy tuft clenched between the platypus’ fingers. “What is that?”

“Some of Infinite’s fur, sir.” Starline’s beak turned up in a smirk. “I thought it might help to jump-start your regeneration project.”

Eggman dropped the drill beside Metal Sonic in favor of the fluffy white fur. Metal Sonic gave a few beeps of protest and waved at his missing arm. Eggman took no notice. He turned the fur in his fingers, watching the light bounce off its glossy sheen.

“How did you get this?” he asked Starline with some suspicion.

Starline waved his Warp Topaz. “I have my means. Besides, you wanted the Judge stopping, so I thought I’d call in the big guns. However, it appears it wasn’t Infinite that ended the Judge. But…” He nodded to the fur. “Consider this a token of my loyalty.”

Eggman narrowed his eyes at him. “I’m more inclined to call it a guilt offering.”

Starline’s beak went slack. “I am only trying to aide your research! It could hugely benefit someone like me, who relies on your technology. It could rule out years of necessary scheduled maintenance.”

Eggman chuckled and popped the tuft into a small plastic container. “Well, I appreciate the effort, Starline. But of course, I’m going to need a test subject.”

Starline stiffened and stuttered over his next sentence. It failed to form.

Eggman laughed again and waved him off. “Forget it. I’m not wasting my time cutting you open. I just wanted to watch you squirm for a moment. No… I think there’s someone here who’d benefit hugely from becoming my prototype.”

Metal Sonic gave an ear-splitting screech and looked up at Eggman. If Starline didn’t know any better, he’d have mistaken it for fear, but the robot was merely surprised.

“Aye.” Eggman jammed the robot’s arm back in place and began soldering the wires. “No more missing limbs! How about that, Metal Sonic?”

The robot lifted its working arm in a thumbs-up.

“Then we can get my project in motion!” Eggman laughed and fired Starline a glare. “You want to secure your position as my lackey, you can get some tea.”

“Of course, sir!” Starline saluted and rushed from the room.

One of the many beetle robots rolled its way along it, sweeping the floor clean. It vanished around the bend, leaving Starline alone in the hallway.

He paused, casting a glance back at the door to Eggman’s lab. A frown formed on his beak and he muttered under his breath.

“Your plan in motion, huh?” He adjusted his tie and turned to head towards the kitchen. “Well, so is mine.”
 
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