Shadow the Hedgehog

"Sure thing Skye. Come right in." replied Hope. "I'm sure there's something to do here. Though I'm still perplexed as to how people can sit around ogling each other. A most peculiar past-time." said Crowley.

The guards soon returned. "We can't find her. She must be in hiding." Shadow went back to the security feed and did a search. "Last place she was spotted was level 27. I'm going to head down there and apprehend her." said Shadow as he went to climb down a maintenance shaft next to the elevator outside.

"If you could try to solve this magic problem that might help us nartow things down." said Shadow. "Only a few people would know how to block it. Or even know they needed to." "This coffee's pretty nice. Certainly the best I've had in a while." said Crowley.

"Well we'll find out once we see the footage." When they reached the security room and played the footage from outside the lab, they saw no unusual activity. The footage from inside the lab was equally unhelpful, as all the science staff, including Hope, had worked on the device. That was until Hope noticed an unfamiliar scientist. "I've never seen that woman before in my life." she said. A quick check revealed she had just joined, though her file seemed too good to be true. "Find her and bring her to the interrogation room. And be careful, we don't know if she really is with us, or an enemy agent, so she might be armed." ordered Shadow.

"We have no such technology. I didn't even know that existed. And a GUN logo? Good thing the base is locked down. If the saboteur hadn't left by the time the bomb blew, they're still in the building." At that moment the team had cut through the door. Rouge rushed in and threw her arms around Shadow. "Can't you go one day without nearly getting yourself killed?" she asked. "I'll give it a shot first thing tomorrow. Now let's head to the security room. We might see our culprit on tape." he replied. As he walked out towards the security room, Hope gave him a hug. "I'm glad you're OK Shadow. And thanks for saving my lab." "Yes it is rather nice Glen. Certainly a picturesque view." said Crowley.

"Oh thank goodness. I'm gonna kill him when I see him." said a slightly tearful Rouge. "Corporal, get a cutting team to the lab and get that door open." The guard nodded and ran down the hallway. "Well I knew it'd come in handy but I never thought like this." said Hope as Rouge led them back to the lab doorway. "Right now you're both witnesses to espionage so we need your help. Can you remember anything about the bomb Skye? And Hope, did you notice anyone suspicious or new going in or out of the lab recently?"

The guard was still wary but called it in. "Get Rouge or Shadow over here. There's been an explosion nearby." A few minutes later Rouge came running along with Hope. "He's with us! He's not responsible. Skye are you ok? Where's Shadow?"

The guard aimed his rifle at Skye. "Get out from there! Control, I've caught an intruder climbing through the vents."

"A GUN logo? Must have been an inside job. Which makes it even more important we tell the others what happened." Shadow then pulled out a communicator and hit a button on it, sending the base into lockdown. "I imagine that's not exactly Shadow's field of expertise Glen. More likely that Hope girl's."

It was quite the spectacle, seeing the explosion being contained by the fire shield. As soon as it was over Shadow hit the button to turn it off. He then stuck his head into the vent. "Skye. It worked. See if you can crawl into the lobby to tell the others what happened. I'll have a look for any evidence of who did this."

"You get used to it." replied Shadow as he walked behind a large cabinet. There wasn't any place to take cover, so he just hoped the bomb wouldn't go off.

"Best to be safe." Shadow then gave Skye a boost up into the vent. "I'd imagine Ziona would like some peace, so let's go by ourselves." said Crowley.

I must admit it's surprising, especially given the design of that alien on the cover, that the Black Arms aren't in it. I'm interested in finding out who this other alien race is.

"Very well Glen. I could use a refreshing drink."

Not necessarily Locke. I doubt they would leave anything alive that they could harvest, so it's possible we might see them go after the Mobians, or perhaps even Eggman, if they're feeling confident in their battle against humanity, though personally I'm hoping it keeps a tight focus on Team Dark and G.U.N.

Party games posts don't count.

Well that's certainly peaked my interest. Looks like Shadow's taking on the (if he's in this) will be a more credible villain than in the game.

"You're right!" Shadow hurriedly grabbed the control device and activated the fire shield around the bomb. "If this goes according to plan not only should we be fine, but the lab should be saved as well. Though that still doesn't solve the mystery of who did this."

Shadow grabbed Skye and ran back to the door, which was locked shut. "What the hell? The door's sealed shut, we can't get out this way." He tried the intercom to get through to the others, but it wasn't working either. "It's obvious whoever did this wanted the lab destroyed." Shadow then glanced up at a vent above and pulled it off. "Think you can fit in there?" he asked.

"A BOMB?" yelled Shadow as he quickly pulled Hope out of the lab before shutting the door, leaving only him and Skye inside. "Are you sure you know what you're doing Skye?" he asked matter-of-factly.

"Whatever happens I'll deal with it when I have to. There's little more that can be done." replied Crowley.

"I never said I was leaving. I'm just accepting she's moved on. To a man who has a nasty habit of meddling in other people's affairs, and yet has the gall to chastise others for doing so for far more noble reasons."

"I'm not being grim, I'm being realistic. She has moved on and I can plainly see that. I managed perfectly fine for years being alone. I have no doubt I can continue to do so here. It is my way after all. Some people do not require companionship. I am one of them."

"Well I knew her professionally. Assassins tend to know of each other, at the very least. Being stuck in Skye's head for all these years, naturally we gree closer and our relationship developed from there. Until Locke came along, at which point it ceased to exist."

"Thanks Skye! With just a few more tests and tweaks it should be ready for evaluation."