Project ART

Mobius, Marble Zone ruins; deep beneath the planet's surface…

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Three figures stood around a table, a holographic projection of Mobius flickering above them.

"I thought they'd died out a long time ago." said the larger one of the three. "Long before Eggman took over."

"Almost." corrected another, shorter one; his blue eyes glued to the holoprojection. "According to legend, he was the only one to have survived their 'extinction', along with the island."

"Yeah, according to LEGEND." said the third angrily, his beak shifting into a scowl. "My teammates didn't die for a slim chance this 'Angel Island' or 'Guardian' exists!"

"Bean and Wave knew the risks, Jet." said the large one. "They knew what might happen. You need to calm down."

"Calm down!" Jet yelled. "Rotor, I know that until you joined the Resistance, you didn't have any team, any family or friends. I lost Storm in Eggman's initial attack. Now, I've lost Wave and Bean. They were my team, family and my friends!"

He paused for a moment to catch his breath. "…and now they're gone."

The shorter one put a hand on Jet's shoulder. "I know." He said. "I miss them to. But we continue, so they did not die in vain." He turned back to the hologram. "Now, we know if Angel Island did exist, Eggman would've found it and taken it over by now. To prevent it, the Guardian must have put up some type of defense." He pointed to a location on the holo-globe. "I've already sent some drones to this spot, to scavenge any supplies, but I lost contact with them as soon as they entered the area."

Rotor scratched his chin. "So you're suggesting…"

The shorter one nodded. "That's right." He said. "I theorize that the Guardian has a shield that deactivates any Electronics in the area."

Rotor smiled. "Miles, you're a genius!"

Jet scratched his head. "I don't get how Eggman hadn't come to that then." He said. "If there is a giant floating utopia of an Island, how would Eggman not have taken over?"

"He probably thought it was us." Miles said plainly. "We've been a pain in his backside for so long; he probably thought we were just breaking any bots he sent there."

"And even if he did know about it." Rotor said. "All his offensive options are using robots, computers or otherwise electronic. Even if wanted to attack the island, he couldn't get near it."

Miles turned back to the globe. "Now, the real problem is getting there. Extreme gear won't bypass a shield like that, and I doubt teleporting in would work, even if the teleporter was ready."

Rotor pondered for a second. "What about that project you've been working on?" he asked after a few seconds. "If it reaches the standards you say it would, it might work."

"Her?" Miles asked, his eyes widening. "I doubt she would be ready for something like that, besides; I have a better plan." He pushed the part of his glove covering his wrist away, revealing his wrist communicator. He pressed a button, a section of the wall opening shortly after; revealing a weaponized Biplane.

"This is the Tornado-X." Miles said, gesturing to the plane. "I've been working on her ever since our formation five years ago."

Jet stood in awe at the plane. "Where did you get the materials to build this thing?"

"Remember I said I discovered the Electronic Dead-Zone when I sent some of my drones to scavenge for supplies?" Miles asked. "I never said what I was scavenging for. I wasn't looking for food or fresh water; I was looking for broken robots or other machines to upgrade this!"

He walked over to the wings, which had three large missiles attached to them. "I had Cannon and Inkwell recommision these from some old Egg-Robo Rockets." He said, patting the massive warheads. "If we're going to a tech-proof island, you should gather some weapons and tools from them."

"Who are you bringing with you?" asked Rotor. His eyebrow rose when he got some weird looks from Jet and Miles. "No, before you ask; I'm not coming. I have some talking to do with the new recruits."

"You mean the hedgehogs?" asked Miles. He put his hand to his chin. "…Sonia, Manic and Charles, was it?"

"Yeah, apparently they're not getting along will with Amy, Volt and Scorcher." Rotor said. "So I'm gonna need the recruits, Amy, Volt and Scorcher to stay here."

"Ok…" Jet said. "We could bring Sarah, Blaze and Zero. Sarah's good with her sword, and Blaze and Zero's fire power might be handy in a pinch.

"Well… I guess so." Miles said. He thought on this for a moment. "Ok, I think it's good. We should get Cannon and Inkwell to start working on some weapons for us."

"I'll do that." Rotor said. "Their workshop is on the way to the recruits' rooms, so I may as well." He turned to leave. "Hope you find what you're looking for."

Miles pat Jet on the shoulder. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll make sure Eggman pays for what he did to us, to Mobius as a whole."

Miles turned to leave, but was stopped by Jet. "Miles, I need to speak with you in private."

Miles opened his mouth to object, but the distressed look on Jet's face swayed him against it. "Meet me in my quarters in a few hours." He said. "We'll talk then."

Jet nodded silently. Both Miles and Jet left the room, unaware of the red eye following their every move.

Two hours later…

Jet knocked on the door to Miles' room. "Come in." Miles said on the other side. "It's unlocked, just open it."

Jet opened the door, striding into Miles' personal living quarters. "Thanks for agreeing to talk with me, Miles." He said. "I really need to get this off my chest."

Miles smiled. "Of course." He said. "I know what you're going through, after all. I lost my closest friend Cream when Eggman attacked Knothole. I've been losing friends ever since." There was a moment of silence before he snapped back to reality. "So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"It's about Wave and Bean." Jet said. "And this isn't me feeling bad about them dying, it's what killed them."

Miles visibly became more interested. "What do you mean?" he asked curiously.

"It wasn't some badnik or guard taking us by surprise," Jet continued. "It was a Mobian, or at least part-mobian."

"And what did this 'Cyborg' look like?" Miles asked.

"He was a hedgehog." Jet said. "He had the same, curled up spike style as Volt, and had red accents all over his jet-black fur like tattoos. He wore these… rings around his wrists and had a soul-piercing set of crimson eyes. He was covered in robotic parts and armor, but it was defiantly a Mobian."

Jet looked up, surprised to see Miles typing into a computer. Miles' eyes widened. "Jet, is this the one who attacked you?" he asked, pointing warily at the screen.

Jet walked around the table. On the monitor was a picture of a blueprint with a Mobian on it, exactly matching the Cyber-hedgehog from before, minus the armor. "That's him." Jet said angrily. "Who is it?"

"His name is Shadow the Hedgehog." Miles said. "You've heard of the Space Colony ARK, correct?"

"Yeah, but I always thought it was another myth." Jet said.

"Well, here's the proof otherwise." Miles continued. "He was created by Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of the old Royal general; Julian Robotnik. He was created as a way to cure any illness, but it went wrong. Shadow broke loose of his bonds, murdering everybody on the ark, including Gerald and his granddaughter; Maria Robotnik."

"Rumor has it that the old human government; G.U.N., heard that Shadow was a danger to Mobius, but too valuable to kill." Miles explained. "They were said to have somehow captured Shadow and put him into Hibernation."

"So you're saying…"

"Excatly." Miles said. "Eggman must have found Shadow while he was still in Hibernation, reprogrammed Shadow's mind and roboticized his body."

"So, what do we do about it?" Jet asked.

"There's not much to do." Miles stated plainly. "We shouldn't think too far ahead, that's how mistakes happen."

Jet sighed. "So, I guess that's it then?" he asked. "Look for an Island that likely doesn't exist, and use the power within to stop Eggman?"

Miles nodded. "As stupid as it may sound like that, yes." Miles said. "We really don't have that much of a choice."

Jet turned to the door. "Well, I guess I'll see you when we're leaving." He said, slowly walking to the door.

"Jet, wait." Miles said. Jet turned back to the fox. "Why don't you take a break?" Miles said. "You really could need it."

Jet nodded silently. "Thanks, Miles." Jet said after a while, before turning again and leaving the quarters. Miles sat down at his desk, thinking deeply, not even noticing the glowing red eye watching him.

Eggman watched the screens floating around his throne silently, almost hoping that the resistance would attack, just so he could have something to do.

He was snapped out of his trance when Elite waltzed in unannounced. "Ah, Elite." Eggman said happily. "I hope you have news to report?"

"Yes, Doctor." Elite said. "I am displeased to report that the prisoner died in the torture process."

"Well, I intended to kill her if she survived anyway." Eggman said. "She just saved me time and energy."

Elite cleared his throat, a gesture Eggman didn't know Elite could do. "I am pleased, however, to report that I have discovered the location of the Resistance's Headquarters."

"Really?" Eggman asked in disbelief. "How did you do that?"

Elite lifted his lefthand, a projection of another mobian appearing in the air. "I scanned the other rebel." Elite explained. "His name is Jet the Hawk, another one of the old Babylon Rogues." Another hologram appeared, this one having Jet riding on an Extreme Gear. "He fled on an Extreme Gear board. Previously mentioned board left a traceable energy signature. I sent one of our Spy-drones to follow him."

Eggman was on the edge of his seat now, finally about to learn the location of the resistance. "And?" he asked excitedly.

"They are hiding deep in the Marble Zone ruins," Elite said, "a few hundred feet below the surface."

Eggman smiled. He pressed a button on the side of his throne. "Cubot!" Ordered Eggman

"Yes sir?" said an annoying-sounding voice.

"Gather the Metal Squad." Eggman said. "We're heading to the Marble Zone."

"Yes sir, Mister Eggman, sir!" Cubot said before hanging up.

Eggman looked up, noticing that Elite had not moved. "Why are still standing there?" he asked the Cyborg.

"There is more to the information I have gathered." Elite said. "They claim that I am some type of Cyborg-Mobian named Shadow the Hedgehog. Is this true?"

Eggman pondered on that for a moment, unsure of how to respond. "Yes, you were Shadow the Hedgehog at one point." Eggman admitted. His expression immediately turned angry. "But what you were no longer matters! You are now Elite; my greatest weapon. Now, if you know what's good for you, you will wipe what you heard from your memory banks!"

Elite reeled back at Eggman's sudden outburst. "Yes, sir." He said angrily after regaining his composure.

Eggman stood up from his throne, walking over to Elite. "If you ever question your position or loyalty again," Eggman said, jabbing Elite with this cane. "I will personally disassemble any robotic parts of you, and then throw the rest into space."

"Yes sir, Eggman, sir." Elite said distastefully, turning around and walking out the door.

Eggman collapsed onto his throne once the door closed behind his creation. "He's starting to question himself." He said to himself. "If he turns against me, there's no telling what that blood-crazed maniac will do to me! I've got to have a backup in case he goes rogue like last time."

He pondered on the fact for a while. Suddenly, an idea came to his head. A genius idea, an evil; awful idea. He smiled. "Perfect." He said evilly, letting out a stream of evil cackles as the disgusting plan ran through his head. His cackling turned to full fledged maniacal laughter soon after; laughter that could be heard for miles around.

If you don't know what the Marble Zone is, it's the second zone in the original Sonic the Hedgehog. And, even though Sonic is basically the same, I decided to put my own darker spin on Shadow's backstory. So yeah, Angel Island and it's 'Guardian'; I wonder who that could be...