Last Boarding Call

[Amy Rose]

I looked at Sonic with surprise as he mentioned Joey and my eyes brightened. The white wolf must have been pretty tough if he had managed to rival Sonic. It was concerning though. Despite Sonic's best efforts, the emerald was still in their clutches. If they knew how to draw out the emeralds' power and use it as they willed, that would spell disaster for anyone in their path. Though Sarath's invasion might have proven fatal to their base, no doubt it had also served as a good distraction for F4 to make a getaway.

"I don't know how we'll find them now. They're probably long gone."

I looked down and frowned, considering the possibilities. It wasn't a good feeling, thinking about it.

[Shadow]

Shadow looked up at the mention of the red Chaos Emerald. His thoughts flashed back to Nail in the alleyway back in Station Square. It sounded like this F4, whoever they were, was pretty strong. They had to be to keep up with Sonic. So did that mean that Nail had beaten them? Or was the wolf in cahoots with them? It might be something to look into, Shadow thought to himself.

In the meantime, he reached behind him and produced his Chaos Emerald, it's red glow lighting up his end of the ship. "You two aren't talking about this emerald, are you?" Shadow said with a smirk, spinning the glowing gem on the tip of one finger. "I don't think you need to worry about it. It's in safe hands." He tossed it in the air and caught it again, flashing a taunting smirk at Sonic.

[Mathias 'Slick' Greyer]

[Sorry for the absence, couldn't get near the computer the last week or so.]

Shortly after Tails had taken their dropship away from the hazardous debris spewing out of the sea, Slick quietly stepped away from all the conversations going on to tap Tails on the shoulder and tell him to set course for Station Square. From there they could drop off the unxpected guests and from their he would have Tutley fly the ship back to Prison Island for examination; along with the confiscated alien weapons.

After relaying those instructions to Tails, Slick half-heartedly listened to the conversations but chose not to get involved. However, Shadow's overly smug attitude very nearly coaxed Slick into walking over to him and slugging him square in his 'oh so superior nose'. But, violence would probably only make the guy even less personable then he already was, and for now, Slick had gotten enough of chance to see how this guy acted to earn his ire; so why take things farther?

So, while the conversations wore on and while Amy relayed her recent events, Slick took out his communications package from Boomer's pack and connected with a secure frequency. Naturally, Tech, his squad's intel officer was quick to respond and expressed vivid gratitude to see everyone had made it out alright. So glad in fact Slick lost some of the conversation due to Tech slipping in and out of Spanish from talking so fast.

But, after settling him down, Slick started filling Tech in on what had happened on the mission, the rescue, Jack's rather curious (and potential) abilities, and telling him everything else Slick had picked up on by listening to the conversations between everyone else in the dropship itself. Including the hunch that Sarath was probably still alive.

A fact Tech most heartily agreed upon and would be sure to inform command and insist GUN send search and destroy parties out after him immediately. At the same time, Tech told Slick about the alarming television broadcast being aired during the attack by none other then Robotnik himself.

That shocked Slick about as much as when he'd first seen Shadow pulled aboard their ship, alive and very much in one piece despite two years in orbit and subsequent re-entry. However, he'd been strongly debating in his mind whether Shadow's miraculous return should also be mentioned in his 'after-action-report' or not. He knew all about Shadow, being in the Special Forces it payed to keep your ears open for every scrap of information you can get. He knew about how GUN originally tried to deal with Shadow and how it resulted in the deaths of several innocent civilians. What he didn't know was how GUN would react to the villain turned hero's return. He was wild card in GUN's opinion. A rogue experiment that perhaps shouldn't have ever been carried out to begin with. Slick really never expected to come across this situation, but he did know that if Shadow had been found two years ago the orders had been clear. Capture Shadow, dead or alive. But he didn't know what might happen now.

However, when Slick saw Shadow pull out a chaos emerald no less, Slick sprang up from his his console, his attention now fully on the rest of the people occupying this shared space. "Hold it! Hold it right there! You're only half right! That Emerald is coming with me. We need those emeralds in order to better do our job; just in case you hadn't noticed how many casualties our military took fighting those aliens. So, unless you want me informing GUN about your miraculous return, to which I'm sure they'd be very be VERY interested in learning about, I suggest you hand over the bobble." And just to press his point, Slick had his rifle in hand, pointing casually (not threateningly) in Shadow's general direction. Behind him, Boomer and Cutter had both grabbed their own weapons, ready to back up their squad leader if Shadow (or anyone else) tried any funny business.

[Shadow]

Shadow smirked broadly. He had expected the GUN officers to do something when he pulled out the emerald, but he wasn't particularly fazed by the gun or the threats. "I really don't see how this emerald could have helped you save casualties. It's not like they have healing properties or anything. Besides, only I know how to truly tap into their power. Giving this 'bobble' to you would be like giving a rubic's cube to a baby. You'll never figure it out. Best to leave it in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing."

Without warning Shadow dissapeared in a flash of light, reappearing in the same instant behind Boomer and Cutter in a similar flash. "Besides, I'm perfectly capable of handling myself if GUN tries to pull something," he said, his cocky, condecending tone tinged with the slightest hint of menace. "That, and I already encountered one of your platoons, and I'm sure at least one of those soldiers will report my return. What are you going to do? You guys couldn't catch me two years ago, and you won't be able to now."

[Amy Rose]

I was considerably relieved to see that the emerald was in safe hands. Ironic when you think about it. When I first met Shadow, I hadn't trusted him for as far as I could throw him. But now. Well, things change and when someone nearly kills themselves to save your home, it does make a difference.

"Hold it! Hold it right there! You're only half right! That Emerald is coming with me. We need those emeralds in order to better do our job; just in case you hadn't noticed how many casualties our military took fighting those aliens. So, unless you want me informing GUN about your miraculous return, to which I'm sure they'd be very be VERY interested in learning about, I suggest you hand over the bobble."

"What are you guys doing?"

I had a lot of respect for Slick. Despite our rough start, things had smoothed over and I'd grown to like and I guess even look up to him. Even if perhaps I didn't agree with some of the things he believed in. On the other hand, to be without respect for Shadow when he'd risked his life to stop ARK just wasn't right. He was a changed 'hog.

Shadow's retaliation didn't even hold the sharp bite it usually had. He hadn't even turned to violence or ran. Some would argue that it was because he was confined to the drop ship, but somehow I had a feeling it wasn't just that. Even so, I quickly stepped away from Sonic and into the gap between Shadow, Boomer, and Cutter.

"Please. Shouldn't we just be satisfied we escaped with our lives? What's wrong with all of you?"

[Tutley Sakamoto]

Tutley's computer was finishing up the scan, before displaying MATCH on the top of results screen, a icon of a certain blue hedgehog pointing proudly at the word. He raised his right hand up in triumph at his discovery. "I can't believe it! I really found one of the lost hammers! I'm going to get so many creds for th- huh?"

He was about to get the bracelets but aparently, in the 15 or so seconds it took for the scan, the situation changed from friendly banter to standoff. Standing up quickly, he got beside Amy much in the same manner she had, chao mimicking their pose while hovering over their heads.

"Hold it people! Is it a good idea to fight, much less shoot in this tin can?!Who knows what kind of damage this thing took from the shockwave, much less the pha-um, clouds that penetrated the hull!", he said catching himself. "Personally I'd like to hold onto it myself...", he said with his left hand under his beak thinking, remembering what the blue hedgehog could do with them. "But I'd rather not die from haveing this thing falling out the sky!", he said holding his arms out.

[Sonic]

'Well what do you know,' Sonic thought with a bit of pride for his black rival as Shadow showed of the emerald matching his stripes. That seemed to suggest to Sonic that Shadow had actually gotten it from the White Blur himself, which doubtlessly would have taken a struggle if done head-on in the hedgehog's usual manner. He couldn't be sure of course, but now Sonic was thinking perhaps Shadow has indeed been getting around: First with F4 and now against the aliens. How long had he been "alive" for anyway? All of these past two years?

And then GUN did its usual thing and ruined the mood. Sonic's opinion of them hadn't been all that high since the whole imprisoning him thing.

"Oh brother," the hero said, rolling his eyes a little at the scene as his arms crossed. The small display Shadow had done should have been enough to prove that, not only was he playing nice(For him), but that he could be completely gone in an instant if he really wanted to be, Chaos Emerald in tow. Now, the hedgehog didn't know what his "kind" planned to do with it. He didn't doubt some members of GUN's higher-ups probably had doubts about Shadow's true intentions if they thought or knew he was alive...

But this was all too much drama for a victory party.

"You guys need to lighten up. We're the victorious heroes who drove thr invaders into defeat, remember?" he asked with a wry smile at the bunch and their firearms(And the red-eyes hedgehog himself).

[Mathias 'Slick' Greyer]

Slick turned to face Shadow after he'd performed his little disappearing act and began speaking again. Really, the display did little to impress him in his abilities so much as it did display his arrogance and over-confidence by reappearing right behind his team yet again instead of 'running for it' as he could have done. "Only someone as self-centered and ego-centric as yourself would even ask such a stupid question Shadow."

Slick ignored the others' comments for calm. Shadow's attitude had been the last straw, now the gloves were off, figuratively speaking. "Times have changed Shadow. GUN is far more capable of making extraordinary use of the chaos emeralds power compared with two years ago. Had we had had the power of a spare emerald we could destroyed those alien ships easily, WITHOUT having to sacrifice so many brave men and women to do so. And since you've brought it up, how many alien ships did you destroy with your mastery of chaos control 'oh ultimate life form'? Hm? I don't think I hear an answer coming. But how many ships did GUN as a whole destroy? We destroyed or disabled just about every ship in that alien fleet ourselves. And it cost hundreds, maybe THOUSANDS of lives to do it. Those ships were destroyed in OUR blood. So don't you DARE ask me how a chaos emerald could have saved lives you bastard!" Slick was darn near enraged by the time he finished tearing a strip off Shadow. But immediately after he finished speaking, he stepped over to the dropships doorway behind him and slammed a fist on the door's controls, causing them to close shut shortly afterward.

"Face it, you're a fossil. An antique. A gross mistake that never should have happened. Anyone that thinks you're the 'Ultimate Lifeform' either has their head up their own ass," He paused for a moment to point straight at Shadow. "... like you, or is an idealist wearing rose-coloured glasses."

Slick continued, now his tone much more calm and controlled then his previous out burst, but none the less it still had all the scorn and anger there, contained, for now. "I've been fighting in the military for twelve years now. TWELVE YEARS! I'd already been fighting for ten years before you were even a bad idea or a tiny embryo in whatever god-forsaken test tube you were born in. And guess what? I'm still alive and still fighting after all those years, all those battles. And I did so without your precious powers, your so-called chaos control. And yet, I'm about as imperfect and normal as you'll ever find. So what does that say about you? I really wonder just how tough you'd be without your chaos powers."

"That emerald is far to powerful and dangerous to trusted to the likes of you. At least you can predict what someone like Sonic would do if he had the emerald. But you? You're a wild card. Arrogant, self-centered, reckless, unpredictable, and you have a whole list of other personal issues. And more importantly, you have a history. You seem to have a hard time telling right from wrong, and there is nothing to indicate you might not try and take out some personal vendetta against GUN for what they tried to do to you aboard Colony Ark or what they did do to your friend, Maria, was it? I'm not saying even I agreed with their methods in that case. But that is why I, and the rest of GUN are not willing to trust you with that chaos emerald."

"Face it Shadow, we're a few thousand feet up in the air, over the ocean no less. Where are you going to run to? A watery grave? You are not leaving this ship with that emerald. And if you do, I can guarantee, you will not have a moment's rest. GUN WILL hunt you down to ends of the earth. You can't hope to out run us forever. If you give me that emerald now, I can assure you you'll be a free 'hog and you'll probably never be bothered by GUN again."Slick tried to sound reassuring and even friendly, but given the tenseness of the situation it would most likely not be very prevalent.

[Shadow]

Shadow stood, unflinching, looking Slick right in the eyes through his entire outburst, arms crossed, not even blinking. The look on his face seemed to be devoid of all emotion, making it impossible to tell if the otter’s words had hurt him or infuriated him, or both. Shadow was silent for a good ten seconds after Slick’s outburst, the sheer tense silence filling every inch of the dropship. Finally a noise broke the silence, the most unexpected noise anyone could have imagined in that suffocating quiet. It was soft at first, but it quickly grew in volume and depth, until finally it was painfully obvious: Shadow was laughing. Laughing, out loud, right in Slick’s face.

After a second or two of this Shadow stopped, but the smirk remained on his face and he shook his head, almost sadly. “First of all, allow me to commend you on those twelve years of service,” Shadow said, his voice mockingly happy, dripping with sarcasm and scorn. “You’ve managed to survive being shot at for twelve years. Congratulations. I’ve survived the best GUN had to offer, the very best, not just some rebels with rifles. Not to mention surviving the slaughter of innocent scientists, the most powerful living weapon ever created (besides myself) and falling from space through the atmosphere.” The black hedgehog clapped his hands in mock congratulations. “Not to mention the killing. I’ve got to congratulate you for twelve years of murder in cold blood. You’ve been in combat, killing people, for twelve years, which means you were killing for ten years before I ever took a life.” Now Shadow’s mockingly jovial expression reverted to a look of cold hatred. “I was created for the sole purpose of killing and destruction. What’s your excuse? And don’t give me any of that ‘protecting the world’ bullshit. I believe the phrase is ‘the ends don’t justify the means’. At least I don’t try to hide the fact that I’m a cold blooded killer behind a screen of ‘nobility’ and ‘loyalty’, lies that you jarheads tell yourselves to justify the slaughter of anyone who they happen to tell you to kill.”

A wide, cruel sneer crossed Shadow’s face. “And as for how I’d fare without my Chaos Control, I could ask a similar question of you. How would you fare without your guns and your bombs and your planes and all those other man-made tools of death and destruction? My powers are destructive too, but they’re built into me, a part of me. I was born with them, born for the sole purpose of their use, and I had no say in the matter. Not like you. No, you weren’t forced to serve those twelve years of survival and murder you seem so proud of. You chose them. You chose to join GUN, to pick up a weapon, to kill others in cold blood. You chose it of your own free will, and after you saw the horrors of war, saw what your path had in store for you, you chose it anyway. You call that bravery, continuing to fight in the face of danger. Pah. You slime disgust me.”

Shadow grit his teeth in anger, and red energy crackled around him unbidden as his rage reached a fever pitch, held back only by sheer willpower. “No, that isn’t bravery!” Shadow roared, his anger and rage filling his voice and lending strength to his words. “No, you pathetic hypocrites don’t fight because you’re brave. You fight because you choose to, because you want to! That’s not bravery, it’s bloodlust! You whine and complain when your men are killed, men that went into battle on your orders that chose their path of their own free will. You claim you could have saved them if only you’d had a more powerful weapon, something you could kill the other guys with faster. You’re not in a war to save lives. You’re in a war to take them, so you shouldn’t be so shocked and upset when the men you ordered into battle are killed!” Shadow stopped for a moment, the silence filled only with the slight panting of his rage and the occasional crackle of energy, though that had died down for the most part as Shadow finally regained control of himself.

“You have the gall,” Shadow said quietly, so cold and quietly that only the people nearest to him, including Slick would be able to hear, “you have the gall to say that I was a mistake, that I never should have been created. You say I’m too dangerous to leave a Chaos Emerald with, too volatile, an unknown quantity with a risk factor too high for your liking. You say I have problems telling right from wrong, and you think I might go on a vendetta against GUN.” Shadow laughed again now, colder, quieter, almost menacingly. “You, who so flippantly point your gun at people when you want them to do what you want. You, a murderer by choice who condemns those who murder without choice. I was created to kill, for the sole purpose of killing, it’s in my genetics, my genes, my very DNA, the essence of my being. And yet I’m the one holding back. Have I made a single threat against either you or GUN of any kind this entire time? No. Have you made threats against me? Yes. Have I chosen to kill people for the last twelve years of my life? No. Have you? Yes. Did I choose to slaughter innocent, defenseless scientists and a little girl who had never done anything to deserve her fate? No. Did GUN? Yes. Hell, I didn’t even fight back on the ARK fifty years ago. So let me ask you this, who seems to know right from wrong better, me or you? Who seems more dangerous, more volatile? No, there’s no way I would ever willingly leave something as powerful as a Chaos Emerald in the hands of murderers and idiots like GUN. It’s far too powerful and dangerous to be trusted to the likes of you.”

Now Shadow smiled again, a grim smirk. “Alright, how about we make a little deal,” he said, flashing an overly toothy grin that bared his fangs. “I’ll just take this emerald with me,” Shadow reached behind him and put away the emerald before turning back to Slick, “and you go tell your bosses at GUN all about me, and about what happened here and what was said. Then if your bosses believe you then you can go ahead and hunt me down, ‘to the ends of the earth,’ as you put it. I’ll beat down everything you send my way, but I swear to you this. I will not kill a single man you send, not one. Unlike you, I didn’t choose to be a killer. I was never given the choice. So I’m making my own damn choice. By the end of this, when GUN has wasted their resources trying to catch me and every soldier talks of how they were spared by Shadow the Hedgehog, then we’ll see who it is people call the mistake.”
Quite finally, and without another word, Shadow pushed past Cutter, Boomer and Slick, walking silently back to where he had been standing at the back of the ship.

[Sonic]

Standing with two fists resting at his hips and eyes half-covered by his eyelids Sonic the Hedgehog looked the epitome of being let-down. These people didn't need to be so hostile towards each other anymore, but it was practically in their very natures by the looks of it. And after they'd all fought the same good fight too, even if not all of them were together for it. As Shadow walked away though he did think of one thing to say.

"... go team Earth."

Turning back towards the fox Sonic let his uncharacteristic unhappy look fade away to a more neutral one, though not exactly pleased anymore despite the relative safety of Earth compared to just a few hours ago. At least he could still be focusing on that GOOD part of the day instead of the drama in front of him.

"We over land yet, buddy?"