Shadow the Hedgehog

"I see. That still doesn't improve my opinion of that wretch," said Shadow. Hope R looked up from her microscope to the vial of blood, mixing in the upscaled ratio of substances she added to the blood on the slides to compensate for the increased volume.

"Well yes. Call it selfish, but I want to know what she's doing with my blood. And don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you all. Least I can do for you releasing us," said Shadow.

"The way she's acted.... well I at least know she won't do anything to me and Crowley, she seems to revere us. Let's just hope she let's su go when it's done."

"Well we'll just have to wait and see. I doubt she intends to kill us, so it could be worse."

"I'm not sure. It's not like I had a look at what she's mixing in there," said Shadow.

Hope R snickered at Locke. "You truly are an imbecile if you think I'm going to give up when I'm so close to the next step in my life's work." "I'm not sure. But it obviously has something to do with mine and Crowley's blood. Maybe she's trying to become immortal, though I doub it'd end just there," said Shadow.

"I can imagine," replied Rouge Hope R went over to her microscope and had another look. "Almost there..."

"Very well. You've piqued my interest," said Shadow as Rouge dropped down behind him. "Glad I'm not the only one who knows how to sneak around," she said to Melody. "Yes I'd like to know what these are as well," said Crowley. Hope R glared at Glen. "So that deprave creature showed up as well. And to further add to your idiocy you thought a glorified popgun could penetrate this bubble."

"Glad to hear you're on board. I just hope Anna is as well," said Shadow as he got the circulation back in his hands. Hope R turned to see them. "Free at least. Again I apilogise for your inconvenience Shadow(s). But you might want to stick around a little longer. My results might interest you as well," she said.

"Thanks, and I thought you'd know where he is. And allow me to be clear Melody: once we're free Miles is going back to Zone Jail," whispered Shadow. "Well I don't condone or agree with your methods. But then again that's not surprising." "True, we are in essence opposites, though I'm glad we can at least be civil. Which reminds me, once these tests are done feel free to take the ULs back with you. I never intended to harm them, they are superior to even myself after all," replied Hope R.

Hope K looked over the data. "These are some... impressive findings you've drawn from this." "Thank you. Most people don't understand that I act with no maliciousness. I merely wish to observe the world, unrestrained by petty morality or 'ethics', with a key goal in mind of course. But that is for another day."

Zamy tried her radio. "Mine's jammed too." ---- Hope K and Hope R both had the same shocked expression on their faces, two doppelgangers face to face, until Hope R stepped forward and yanked Hope K into her bubble with a hug. "It's so nice to finally meet an equal," she said happily. Hope K was taken aback by her friendly demeaneaur, but soon spoke up confidently. "Yes, it is. A remarkable device you have here." "Yes it is. The only reason you managed to pass through is that we are the same. Otjerwise you would have received a nasty shock. I'll give you the blueprints some time." "Erm thank you. But I'm here to collect my friends." "I gathered. Unfortunately the chains are under the control of that wretch over there," replied Hope R, pointing to Miles. "But in the meantime I have something you might be interested in," she continued before handing Hope K her notes on the blood. Shadow and Crowley stayed silent. No use interrupting her captor, though both were inwardly iverjoyed to see friendly faces

"Good idea Melody," said Hope, grabbing on to her. Inside the complex the drugged guards moved to attack the intruders.

"Any time. And I think I might be able to talk to me. Doubt it'd get us far though," said Hope. ---- "I can't. I have research to do and could not even release you if I wanted to; he made those chains to disappear at his commandl."

(OOC I said 'the others' as it was easier than listing everyone i meant for you to be teleported as well) Hope put herself between Melody and Skye. "Will you stop fighting? You run in there Skye, and you're gonna accomplish nothing. We need to do this carefully." --- "For a 'friend' he doesn't seem to do much listening to you," she replied.

"Looks like the others are already going," said Zamy as Rouge took flight and headed in the same direction as the others. ---- "Because that's what Mina was. Stealing abilities from a superior being is not something I approve of. I also fail to understand your concern for Miles. He's kidnapped you and wants to alter your behaviour as he sees fit," said Hope.

"You bet," said Zamy before teleporting the rest of the group to Dylan's zone. --- Hope looked at Anna. "I guess the leech never left after all," she said plainly.

Zamy nodded and teleported them back to the hotel. Rouge walked up to them. "They're in Dylan's Zone. We need to move quickly," she said. ------ "A simple neuro-toxin with a delayed effect. I can think of only two people who might be able to cure it, they're both me," said Hope.

"That's our intention," said Zamy. ----- "They'll never stop until you're captured or dead. Neither we will we," said Shadow. "I suppose the real question is, what would you rather do? Remain Anna and try to get over these 'teething problems', or become Mina once more, a good-for-nothing leech, but a familiar, confident one in your eyes? And before you think about running away Miles, you might want to remember that delightful concoction coursing through your veins," said Hope.

"Yes. Apparently with the involvement of the Hope from Moebius," added Zamy. "What!? Where are they?" asked Hope ----- "Let me be blunt with you. If you go back to Moebius with Miles, there is nothing there for you. You'd ruin Skye and Melody's lives along with your own. Not to mention you'd be a dead woman. But in the end I'm not in control here," said Shadow as he glanced at Hope, who was back at her microscope, smiling as she noted the results of introducing a nerve agent to the blood. "Just as I thought," she muttered to herself. Crowley sighed. "Perhaps I will end up fulfilling my contract much earlier this time, if things continue their present course," he thought to himself.

Hope had a girm look on her face. "Ok. What's happened?" ---- "Your confidence was broken, but it will gradually rebuild. It hasn't even been a month since you reformed. You can't expect to instantly be confident in a world you don't know. And to be blunt, most people would struggle to cope with some delusional maniac constantly hounding them, going so far as to abduct them twice. Don't sell yourself short," said Shadow.

"I'm not sure, we'll have to check the-" Hope then heard Ziona and spotted her and Zamy. "It's the Zone Cops. And they look serious. What's happened now?" she asked herself as she brought Melody with her to them. "Something wrong?" she asked. ------ Shadow looked to Anna. "What? So has this been another charade?"

"They're places where you go to watch films on a big screen, with varying amounts of other people there depending ont he time and popularity of the film. A film usually goes there first before any kind of home release," explained Hope, oblivious to a small message on screen which slowly faded. ------ Zamy followed Ziona. ----- Rouge waited but got not response from Hope. ----- "I don't know. The fact you can think about abstract concepts like that only further solidifies my view that you act by your own free will."

"Good point. Any spots on the map taking your fancy?" asked Hope. ----- "Ok. Did you see where they went Ziona?" ----- Rouge got up. "I'll see if I can reach Hope," she said before tuning a radio in her glove. ----- "I see. I knew there was a far more logical explanation than his ridiculous idea of you being brainwashed. People are programmed for a variety of reasons, but to live a seemingly mundane existence is not one of them."

"True, but you don't want to run around this city at high speed because otherwise you might go straight into a car," joked Hope. ------ "Literally just as we left, I noticed a flash around him, different from what it usually is when he teleports around," explained Zamy. ------ Hope groaned. "Very well, stand in the corner over there, and do not offer your 'divine wisdom'. The last thing this process needs is your input," she said to Miles before turning to Anna. "Now then, let's start with the basics to see whether this is a case of 'brainwashing' or not. Your current name is Anna, yet you used to be known as Mina, correct? Describe to me the events surrounding your name change."