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They’re all gone. He couldn’t save them. He wasn’t strong enough.
He took them. Decimated them.
Blood drips from his face. He can’t see out of his left eye. Zero has never felt more deserving of his name.
I really am nothing, aren’t I?
He howls in the rain. Punches the dirt so hard his knuckles split.
A hand outstretched.
“I can help you,” the doctor says. “You can have your revenge, and no one will ever call you that again.”
Rage and grief move his hand forward to take the doctor’s. His grin is unnerving.
“First, I just need a small favor.”
A pain in his chest -burning, melting his flesh and bone.
And then nothing.
.
Infinite sneaks out to find where the “ultimate lifeform” is hiding. Sometimes he is alone, camping out in the wilderness doing who-knows-what. Once, Infinite stalks him for a whole day, watching from the darkness. But Shadow does nothing but sit and cook over a fire. Sometimes he is with his own crew, at an apartment, with the robot and the bat.
His face is always stone cold.
The bat saunters all around him, gesturing wildly. The robot, though monotone, has a high volume. They are both loud, and completely out of place next to a four-foot brooding hedgehog. Shadow says nothing when the bat touches his arm nonchalantly, or when the robot hands him a plate of dinner. He does not push them away, but he does not seek their presence either. If Infinite didn’t know better, he would think he was a robot himself.
“Everyone has their weakness, Shadow the hedgehog,” he growls. “Even you. and I will find it.”
He spies on Shadow for weeks against the doctors wishes. The doctor is more focused on the blue one, Sonic, but Infinite could care less.
“This is personal.”
The doctor grumbles and crosses something out on his board of diagrams and ideas. “As long as the job gets done.”
It will get done, Infinite promises in his mind. With the Phantom Ruby, he will be unstoppable. All he needs is a weakness. Something to torment Shadow with; something he can utilize to his advantage. Friends? A lover? A hidden fear he can use?
“Sonic is afraid of water!” the doctor’s yellow robot servant chirps. It brings a plate of assorted pastries to the table where Infinite sits.
“Ooh, maybe you can trick Sonic into thinking he’s out on the ocean!” the red one chimes in, bringing the doctor a mug presumably filled with coffee. “He’ll hate that.”
The doctor grins. He turns to Infinite excitedly. “Yes! He hates boats. Maybe we can trap him on one. He’ll be too scared to think straight-”
Infinite leaves when he feels he is going to throw someone through a wall if they mention Sonic again. Robotnik pays him no mind.
So, they won’t be much use.
He digs into “confidential” G.U.N. files that are really not that confidential at all. All that stood between him and the files was a single password, and even that was easy to guess. Infinite supposes that says something about the value and respect G.U.N. has towards Shadow.
“Project Shadow”. Born- huh. Infinite squints at the tablet. Over fifty years ago. But he doesn’t even look older than Infinite? Curious. He reads on. The ARK created by Gerald Robotnik, designed publicly for scientific pursuits, but privately funded by the military for advanced weaponry. Shadow was created to be the “Ultimate Lifeform” (that explains a lot) and for medical advancement. There are a few surviving pictures in the document, but only grainy photos of Project Shadow in a test tube.
The doctor has choice words about his grandfather when Infinite asks the next day.
“A stupid man, I say,” he grumbles. “He chose to waste his genius on ‘bettering mankind’ and look where that got him. My grandfather thought too small, never realized his potential. I will be a greater man than he ever was.”
Infinite does not respond. Give the man even an inch of acknowledgement and he’ll take it a mile. He chooses to ask about Maria, instead. His cousin, Gerald’s granddaughter that lived on the ARK.
“Never met her. But her and Shadow were close.”
His ears perk. Close? How close? This can be useful. He taps away at the tablet screen with renewed interest. A potential connection. A weakness that can be exploited. The doctor doesn’t say anything else, but that’s fine. How old would this girl be now? In her sixties or seventies? Maybe she has children or grandchildren herself that Shadow would feel affectionate towards. He just needs to find out where she is now and-
Oh.
She’s dead.
Infinite feels a growl of irritation building, threatening to escape his mouth, but he holds it. Continues reading every file G.U.N. has. Every log of Gerald that talked of Project Shadow’s development. Every summary from every scientist aboard the ARK, no matter how insignificant. He stares at a picture of the young girl on screen. She was sick. Very sick. But kind, apparently.
His eyes are uncomfortably dry. He removes his mask to rub at them, catching the view outside the window of his room. The sun has gone down hours ago. Had he really been pouring over files all day? He shakes his head and places the tablet away. He lays on his bed and stares up at the ceiling. The hum of electricity coming from the kitchen fridge lulls his eyes closed.
What kind of closeness did Shadow and this human have? They grew up together, surely. Did it extend to Professor Gerald as well? The doctor has gone back to his base to do who-knows-what, but even if he was here, Infinite doubts he would have much to say about anything besides Sonic. If he could just…
His chest burns.
Infinite’s eyes snap open. His room in engulfed in a soft pink light. There’s a strange sensation in his chest where the ruby is. A pull.
He focusses. Soon there is a young girl standing before him in his room. Blonde and short, her thin arms are held in front of her. She flickers. Her eyes are dead. Infinite supposes its fitting. She says no words, just stands before him.
This could work.
.
He finds recordings from aboard the ARK on the doctor’s computer. These are more personal. Audio files of Gerald confessing his worries about the government, his doubts that he can save his granddaughter, even the tears shed over the first failed prototype.
Even more digging through files awards him with some of Maria’s audio and video logs. But they are less frequent.
“My name is Maria Robotnik,” says a girl that looks far too pale and far too thin. “-and it’s my first day on the Space Colony ARK with my grandfather, Gerald Robotnik.”
She sounds soft and polite and professional. Infinite thinks these were supposed to be logs for her health, because at first Maria only talks about maintenance and any symptoms of illness she has experienced.
“I can walk around for two hours without feeling exhausted,” she tells the camera happily. Or: “Today my cough came back, but Grandfather gave me an antibiotic injection that is supposed to help.” Or: “Today the station was able to witness the passing of a meteor shower at 0300 hours. I watched with the janitor while she mopped hallway B-7.”
It quickly turns into sporadic diary entries.
“Grandfather told me that my aunt and uncle have had their baby! It’s a boy, and his name is Ivo. I wish I could see him; he looks so cute in the photographs.”
“Grandfather looks sad all the time. I wish I could make him happy. I wish I could do more. I just have to keep smiling for him.”
Her thoughts on the food they serve aboard the ship, the ones she is allowed to eat. The conversations she had with her doctor and how she sometimes plays with a younger boy that visits the station. It’s all so boring. After Maria’s fourth time going over a book that she and one of the ship’s engineers are reading, Infinite is at his wit’s end. He’s about to throw his tablet across the room.
Until finally:
“Grandfather said he was working on something that will cure me. He said it’s called ‘Project Shadow.’ He says that a lot though. He said that with the previous experiment too, but that didn’t go so well.”
Now Infinite is back on board.
A few months later, Maria is back. It’s a video log this time. “Come here!” She speaks to someone out of frame. She bends over to pick them up. Infinite can hardly believe what he sees next.
There, on Maria’s lap, though much smaller and less imposing, is Shadow the hedgehog.
“Say hello, Shadow!” the little hedgehog turns into Maria’s chest, as if he’s hiding. Maria laughs and coos. “This is Shadow, and he is my brother.”
She has such a large grin on her face.
“Shadow can walk now!”
“Shadow and I played together in the room with fauna. Grandfather was so upset.” She giggles.
Once, she cries. “They hurt him so much. And I hate seeing him hurt. It’s not fair!”
The last video log is two months before the ARK’s collapse. Maria sits in front of her camera showing off new things her family from Earth sent her.
“Auntie sent me fresh oranges, since I can digest them now. And look! They gave me a new bow!” In the background, there’s the sound of a door opening. Shadow walks into frame and sits by Maria.
“Would you like some, Shadow?”
“The professor will be serving you lunch soon. He won’t be happy if he hears you’ve spoiled your appetite.”
Shadow peels the orange and shares it with her anyway.
“Doctor Wachowski says if I keep this up, I could process straight dairy in six to eight weeks.” Maria directs the statement at both Shadow and the camera. Shadow hums and smiles.
“We are getting a new shipment of goods in about three months, so that is right on time.”
Maria says goodbye to the camera, before making Shadow do the same.
Then, Infinite is alone in the darkness.
.
Shadow seems troubled tonight. Infinite knows why. The people around him- the self-proclaimed “friends”- are concerned.
“Hey Shadow, you wanna hang out tonight?” A pink hedgehog that Infinite usually spies hanging around Sonic steps into Shadow’s path. “We’re all watching a movie and-”
“Pass.”
“Shadow!” A Mobian badger that looks like she hasn’t bathed in days stops him just a few hours later. “Listen, I think I’ve got the coordinates right for that secret mind control facility I was telling you about. I could really use some help-”
“No.” he pushes past her.
The bat flies next to him.
“Text If you need anything, alright hon?”
“I’m fine, Rouge.”
She does not seem convinced. Crosses her arms. “Have you eaten at all today?”
“I don’t need you pestering me-”
Infinite hears it all from his bugs. He knows. He’d be a fool not to.
It’s the anniversary of the day the ARK fell at the hands of soldiers following the orders of leaders more concerned with their own desires than others.
Shadow is running. Infinite follows as close as he can, but it’s tough to keep track. Sometimes he makes a sharp turn or a harsh drop off the side of a cliff that leaves him consulting the many tracking devices the doctor has scattered. He hasn’t gone far, has mainly stayed in the same grassland, going in circles and dashing through piles of rocks.
So, this is what it takes. This is his weakness.
This is the perfect time to bring out his illusions. Here, where Shadow is alone and vulnerable, he can bring forth the one thing Shadow cannot run away from. Infinite feels a shiver of excitement course through him. The power of the ruby flows from his fingertips as he casts a faint image of Maria Robotnik in Shadow’s running path. She is translucent, like most of his illusions are. The opaque ones drain his energy so much quicker, but this will do for now.
Shadow comes to an abrupt stop. He almost trips over himself in the effort.
Infinite crouches lower behind a bush and holds his breath. In this clearing, the moonlight shines on Shadow and the illusion, but leaves him in the dark. He peers through his mask. Look at your failure, he thinks. His images do not speak, he isn’t that powerful yet. But this might be good enough. To be haunted by your past.
(He knows what it’s like. Every time he closes his eyes and sees the smiles of the people that meant more to him than anything.)
“…Maria?”
Shadow steps closer. The image stands there, unmoving. It does not even blink, just regards Shadow and tilts its head. Shadow stops, raising a hand as if to reach out, only to put it down the next moment. He looks away, and Infinite relishes in the unsurety written across his face. In that moment, he dissolves the illusion. He wants Shadow to think it’s just his mind playing tricks on him. Make him think he is losing himself. Then go in for the kill.
Shadow looks around, and for the first time, Infinite sees a flash of pain on his face. It’s there for only a second, but that’s all he needs.
He casts the illusion again, this time to Shadow’s right.
“Maria!”
Shadow reaches out to touch the illusion, but his hand glides through and the image dissolves. Infinite casts another one a few feet behind Shadow.
Yes, he thinks. He grins under the mask something feral. A small taste of satisfaction. Be reminded of the one that you could not save. The one you failed, the one you-
But then Shadow stops and regards the figure.
“You’re not really here, are you? Are you just a figment of my imagination?” He shakes his head. “I suppose this is pointless then. But…”
Infinite leans closer.
“But if you are here, I want you to know, I- I’m keeping your promise and I see now what you loved about this world. I wish you could be here. I’m sorry.”
This is not shame. Infinite’s fist trembles. This is not fear or cowardice or guilt he was hoping for. There is nothing on this hedgehog’s face except determination and-
“I’m happy, Maria. Thank you.”
And just like that, Shadow is gone in a blur of yellow and red, kicking up leaves behind him.
In the cover of darkness, after he’s sure Shadow is nowhere near here, Infinite screams.
.
So, the whole dead sister schtick isn’t going to work. Not yet.
It seems he’s moved past blaming himself for dear Maria’s death. He compares footage of Shadow at Station Square to recent footage Infinite has of him on outings with his team.
Shadow’s posture is noticeably less tight. His eyes are not dull like they were years ago. Once, Infinite spots him walk into a building that Infinite knows to be a counseling center. Sometimes, Infinite even catches him smiling.
The tablet in his hands cracks.
Well. Good for this piece of shit rat for moving on from his trauma. Infinite can fix that.
.
He copies her voice and her cries for weeks until it passes, but the eyes are still dead. He supposes it works for now.
When Shadow is alone for a run, sometimes, he’ll place Maria somewhere she’s visible just in the corner of his eyes. So that he’ll double take and look around in confusion. Soon that confusion turns into something unnerved, a look that Infinite knows only appears because Shadow thinks he is alone. Sometimes, he places her and Gerald both.
The illusion of Gerald stares at him in disappointment. Sighs something heavy before leaving.
Maria’s looks sad. Shadow will stop and step forward sometimes.
The illusion cries. “I wanted to live, Shadow.”
When Shadow runs, he breaks the sound barrier.
.
He thinks he has Shadow right where he wants him.
“Yeesh, you’re getting a bit creepy with this thing.”
He glares at the doctor as hard as he can under his mask. He doesn’t know how well it works. But it probably comes across well given the way the doctor quickly turns around and continues fiddling with whatever project he’s making out of the scraps of metal in front of him.
“All I’m saying,” the doctor says, logging some specs on the tablet next to him, “is that simple mind games won’t work on him.”
“I think it will.”
“Feh, not with his little friends around all the time. I hear Amy’s is taking psychology classes.”
“They’re not his friends.”
“Whatever. As long as they’re around, you won’t stand a chance picking them off one by one. We need to attack with my plan, as a group, when you have more control over the ruby. And we need to take out Sonic first-” Robotnik grasps the pliers in his hand tightly. “He’s the key to this whole thing. The little rodent. He’s always there, always-”
“And you call me obsessed.”
He throws Infinite a dirty look. “Once Sonic’s out of the way, you can have as much fun as you want. So stay focused and leave your little grudge at the door.”
Infinite stomps out, fuming, making sure to terrify the yellow and red servant robots Robotnik keeps around.
What does he know?
.
“Hey Rouge!” There’s a distinct sound of pots and pans clanging. “What’s up?”
“Have you seen Shadow?”
“No?” the pink hedgehog answers. Hacking into their communicators was difficult; they were made by the fox. Clever boy. “How long has it been since you last saw him?”
The bat huffs. “It’s been a week now and he hasn’t made contact with any of us.”
“That’s not too bad, you know how he gets sometimes. It’s not the first time he’s left for some alone time.”
“That’s not the problem. It’s just- he’s been really on edge lately.”
“Isn’t he always?”
“Oh, can it. You know what I mean. Somethings bothering him and he’s not telling us. We’re worried.”
The robot joins the call. “Affirmative. Shadow’s sleep patterns have been disrupted. He is consuming more caffeine and before his departure he was more irritable than Rouge after a long flight.”
“We’ll keep an eye out.” Amy Rose says. “In the meantime, you two are more than welcome to stop by for cake and tea with me and Sticks.”
Infinite laughs.
Typical lonely man. Off brooding and destroying himself because he doesn’t want to reach out for help. By the time Robotnik’s war begins, he’ll be in no shape to fight. Infinite thinks he’s getting the life into the eyes now. Almost perfect. Just like he is.
Infinite looks back at the monitor displaying Shadow curled into a ball at the mouth of a cave. He’s built a fire, but it doesn’t seem to be doing him much good. Outside, the ice forms crystals illuminated by the multicolored glory of the northern lights above.
(He remembers coming here, once, long ago. He remembers robot snowmen and smartly dressed penguins that catapulted snowballs and gave them all so much amusement. Remembers laughing at his teammate when she spat out a chunk of pink ice.
“It doesn’t taste as good as it looks.”
Her name was Rumble. And they had all laughed at her. And then Vanish had tried it as well, breaking the ice with his teeth and swallowing.
“Tastes like yellow snow.”
They howled with laughter all night.)
Shadow tosses and turns in his sleep. He looks disturbed. Infinite focusses on him rather than the burning in his eyes.
Infinite is not the one consumed by his past. Shadow is. Shadow is the one that took his crew and ensured they would never have a moment in the snow again. He can feel the ruby pulsating, warming him. It’s almost a comfort. Infinite will make sure Shadow never knows peace again.
On the screen, Shadow wakes. For a second, Infinite can see how terrified his eyes are.
Infinite would love to taste that terror. Would love to invade his mind one day. Would that be possible? Dreams are a type of illusion, aren’t they? Could the ruby’s power extend that far? He would love to find out.
.
A week later, Sonic and Shadow brawl, and Infinite realizes something he should have a lot earlier.
The doctor has given him access to his hidden spy cams set up all over the globe.
“I usually use these to spy on them or get intel,” which Infinite takes to mean ‘gossip’. “But you’ll want to use them for any sparring matches these two get into. Best to stay as far away from them as possible.”
Infinite begrudgingly takes his advice, and is glad he does.
“What’s your deal, man?” Sonic calls out.
“Shut up.”
They throw each other into the dirt, spit insults and taunts. They pull each other’s quills. One minute, they’re in the lush green fields of Green Hills. The next, they’re racing down whatever’s left of the abandoned zone of Route 99. All the while they spindash into each other and dodge obstacles. Infinite can hardly keep up. He hates it.
“Would you leave-” Shadow stops at the edge of a platform to grab a badnik and toss it at Sonic.
Sonic dodges it easily. “No way dude. Something’s bothering you. Just tell me-”
Shadow punches him into a building. He holds Sonic there and raises a threatening fist. Sonic stares him down.
“Y’know, you made Cream real sad when you missed her party.” Shadow brings his fist down into his face. These cameras are old, made and planted back in the doctor’s early days against the hedgehog. The footage is grainy and the audio could be better, but Infinite sees these next moments with startling clarity. From the fire in Sonic’s green eyes to the blood he spits from his mouth. “Even when you promised you’d be there a month ago.”
“I’ve been busy.”
Sonic rolls his eyes. “Yeah right.”
“What would you know? You once blew off the president of that Earth country for a girl.”
“A sick girl that needed help.”
“Whatever. I don’t need to explain myself to you. Or anyone.”
“You can’t be mad at your friends for being concerned when you disappear for a month, Shadow.”
“I don’t have friends.” Shadow hisses.
Sonic pushes him to the ground in a blink. “Oh spare me the “Friendship is weakness” crap. I thought we were past that, Shads.”
In the minutes that follow, Infinite can only frantically switch between cameras and perspectives. A few of them break. If he thought they were rough before, it’s even worse now.
Sonic dodges a kick only to be punched through a wall seconds later. Shadow tries to catch Sonic off guard, teleporting around him and faking attacks, when Sonic suddenly catches his fist and brings a knee to his chest. Shadow puts a few feet of distance between them.
Something glows behind him, and Shadow brings out something Infinite has only heard tales about.
A Chaos Emerald.
He holds it tightly in his fist and raises his hand.
“Chaos-”
“Oh no you don’t!”
Sonic tackles him. They disappear in a flash only to reappear a few miles away, in the air. Shadow flies haphazardly and Sonic hangs onto his leg. A handful of kicks land in Sonic’s face before Sonic finally loose his grasps and lands on the ground with a harsh oof.
Shadow appears in front of Sonic when he’s trying to stand up, taking him by the shoulders and boosting them both to a cliffside.
Infinite’s stomach twists with something that might almost be a memory. His hand does not tremble on the console. His breath does not come out in pants. He is not afraid.
Shadow looks like he’s about to kill him. Infinite would compare it to the same look he had seen when Shadow first emerged from stasis. Hateful and dark and cold; almost unhinged. Infinite thinks maybe they won’t even need to kill Sonic themselves. Maybe Shadow will do it now and save them the trouble.
Moments pass and nothing is heard other than both of their harsh breaths.
But then Sonic does something unexpected. He puts hand on Shadow’s shoulder.
And Shadow does not make a move.
“Is this about-”
“Don’t.”
Sonic looks- understanding. Like this is something that happens regularly. Like this is something he’s used to.
“Talk to me,” Sonic says. He sounds winded, but firm. His quills are a mess with dust and leaves. “Shadow. Please.”
“…I keep seeing them- everywhere. In my dreams. When I’m alone and-”
“Who? Who are you seeing?”
“Maria,” Shadow rasps. “The professor, too. But mostly her.”
“She’s gone, Shadow.” Sonic tries to catch Shadow’s gaze, but Shadow seems to be looking past him, unfocussed. “They both are.”
“You don’t understand.” Shadow’s voice is barely heard over the mic. Infinite strains to hear it. “-Everywhere. They talk to me and. Say things. It’s my fault.”
“Do you see anyone right now?”
Shadow pauses. “…No. Not- not now.”
“So it’s better when other people are around?”
“Sometimes I see them in a large crowd. But no one else seems to notice.” Infinite’s ears perk. He hasn’t used the ruby when Shadow was around other people. Too risky. To hear that the effects of Infinite’s torture have extended this far is good.
“Whatever’s in your head is just that. In your head. Hey look at me-”
Shadow does.
“It’s just you and me here, Shadow. I can promise you I don’t see Maria or the professor or Black Doom or anyone else.”
Shadow’s chest heaves.
“Have you talked to your therapist?”
“I stopped seeing them about a month ago…”
Sonic frowns. “Shadow-”
“We both thought we made good progress. We agreed to end our meetings.” He looks away, seemingly ashamed. “I guess I was wrong.”
Shadow moves his hands away from Sonic’s body. Sonic flops down, sitting on the floor and Shadow follows suit with a grunt. They silence stretches on; Infinite thinks he’s never seen either one of them sit still for this long.
“I’m… sorry,” Shadow eventually says “for-” he gestures vaguely at Sonic’s face.
Sonic smiles. “What’s this? Shadow the hedgehog, apologizing?”
“I take it back. I’m not sorry at all. I wish I had knocked your teeth out,” Shadow deadpans.
Sonic laughs. “You’re forgiven. Sorry for scuffing your skates.” he nudges Shadow’s arm with his elbow. “C’mon. Let’s go show everyone we haven’t killed each other yet.”
Sonic stands and stretches, some of his bones pop loudly. Shadow stares at him while he rolls his shoulder. Sonic holds his hand out for Shadow to take.
Infinite blinks.
Did he just see that right? That look on Shadow’s face -there for less than a second before taking Sonic’s hand and speeding off. It was-
New.
.
He keeps spying on them. He’s not ashamed to admit it. He watches when the two return to their miserable pack. The worry and relief on everyone’s faces.
The bat hugs him. The echidna and badger look at them both with varying levels of barely hidden distrust. The fox runs to Sonic and asks about his injuries.
But Infinite can only focus on one thing.
The way Sonic lingers by Shadow’s side. The way Shadow lets him. The look on Shadow’s face whenever Sonic speaks.
When he laughs.
Oh.
“Hey,” Sonic turns to him after they’ve both been bandaged and cleaned by the pink hedgehog. “Call if you need anything, ‘kay?” Shadow opens his mouth, but he continues. “I mean it, seriously. I don’t know how good I am at talking but… if you need a run or a sparring partner. I can help you burn off some steam.”
Shadow nods. He stares in the direction Sonic, the fox, and the echidna run off to for a moment too long.
Pathetic.
.
“Well, well, well!” Robotnik leads Infinite through his base the next morning. He had said that he was ready to focus on Sonic, and the doctor couldn’t contain his pompous I-told-you-so attitude. “Glad to hear you’ve realized how big of a role defeating Sonic plays in our plan.”
Infinite swallows his pride. It goes down like a shard of pink ice. “Yes. I see now that he is the key to Shadow’s demise.” They step into a room full of monitors. The two robot servants are playing a game of cards in the corner. The houseplant seems to be playing as well. And winning. Infinite turns to the doctor. “Why didn’t you just tell me he and Shadow were lovers?”
Robotnik chokes and trips over air. The two robots turn to him, the red one dropping its cards, and all three of them stare at Infinite as though he’s grown a second head.
Infinite growls. “What?”
“Lovers?” the doctor sputters. “They are not lovers. What in the-”
“They’re rivals!” the red one yells, just as the yellow one yells “They hate each other!”
“Infinite, they can barely stand to be around each other. If they’re in the same room together for more than an hour, something’s going to end up broken.”
Behind Robotnik, Infinite can tell the two robots are trying to control their laughter. However that works.
“You’re wrong. Yesterday, they were-”
“In the middle of a heated battle where one of them was emotionally vulnerable. Of course they were a little softer than usual.”
“You did bring up Shadow’s repressed trauma,” the red one says, gathering up its cards. “I’m sure he would have done that for anyone.”
“Doesn’t he live with Rouge?” The yellow one is holding its cards backwards. “I bet he would’ve let her.”
“Speaking of Rouge, did you hear she’s expanded her club for robot patrons?”
“Ooh! How exciting! We should stop by-”
“You two are forbidden from fraternizing with the enemy!” The doctor turns to Infinite. “And you have got their relationship seriously twisted. Trust me, if there was anything going on, I would know about it. I’ve been Sonic’s enemy for the longest, after all.” He laughs.
Laughing at me. Like I’m an idiot. Like I’m-
“Lovers. Can you imagine?” The two robots join in, like it’s the most comical thing they’ve ever heard.
Infinite clenches his fists. He has two choices now. He can step aside, say sorry, he was wrong, he is new to this and doesn’t know the dynamics of these people or their groups. All he needs is the mountains of intel the doctor has on Sonic. He can just say that and be done with it. Say what he needs to say to get what he wants. He’s done it before, plenty of times. Patience and adaptiveness are what makes the ultimate mercenary.
Another side of him, darker and angrier and offended, rears its head.
“Are you doubting me? I know what I saw.”
The robots scramble to cower behind each other, wisely saying nothing. Robotnik takes a step back.
Make them pay. The room turns warm, boiling. The furniture turns to obsidian rock. They’re on the ledge of an active volcano, and Infinite is looking down on them all.
“Now hang on just a second. I didn’t mean it like that.” Robotnik laughs nervously. “It’s just. I’m a scientist, after all. I need proof.”
“Well, I believe him,” the yellow robot cries, trying to climb onto the red one.
“H- how about we take this somewhere less… violent. And you can have whatever info you need, hm? Infinite- Infinite! Remember!” There are beads of sweat dripping from the doctor’s forehead. “I promised revenge on Shadow, and you’ll get it! We need to work together here!”
Infinite pauses. The room glitches. Suddenly, he’s on the cold tiles of Robotnik’s lab.
He needs confirmation, of course. This could have just been a fluke. Someone looking for comfort in a time of uncertainty and instability. The doctor’s concerns were valid and sound. Why had Infinite responded so violently to it?
(He was never like this before. Never. He was a leader, open to hearing any suggestions from his crew. When Stinger took him aside and shared their doubts about one mission, he had been all ears.
“I don’t like this, Z.”
“I’ll be more careful.” He had promised. And it ended up saving them all when a deal went south.)
They mocked me. Laughed at my face. They think I’m- I’m some stray dog they took in. He remembers the taste of dirt and an uncaring voice. Weak. Pathetic. It will never happen again.
Robotnik looks at him uneasily, and Infinite realizes his ruby is glowing.
.
Infinite is led into a room with one big monitor and keypad. “Here,” Robotnik says. He’s lost all notes of flippancy and arrogance. Good. He types in some information, and digital manila folders pop up on screen. “I’ve kept record of any time Sonic or one of his friends have been involved in combat, including the one you saw yesterday.”
Infinite has already taken a seat and clicked on the first folder he sees. Immediately video footage springs of key moments in yesterday’s battle, along with specs and analysis. He closes that folder and opens another. This one is Shadow training with E-123 Omega in an abandoned parking lot. He clicks on another folder, dated years ago. This one pops open and details a much younger looking Sonic and Shadow. Pages and pages of frame-by-frame analysis on Shadow and his fighting style. On his biological make-up. So much more than anything in the G.U.N. files.
“Why do you have these?” Infinite asks.
“At the time I had planned on Shadow being a more permanent inclusion to my army.” He crosses his arms. “I’m not convinced about your theory, but you can look through my findings all you like. Whatever gets us on the same page.”
Infinite agrees.
.
Shadow’s attacks are aggressive. Infinite can admire the single-minded fight Shadow puts up. He's determined and impartial to who he hurts.
They don’t pull punches. Sonic is trying to save the world, after all. And Shadow is decidedly not. There’s a good amount of blood drawn and teeth bared.
But as time goes on, the more footage Infinite reviews and studies, the more things change. Nothing substantial. Nothing a casual viewer would notice. Little things. For example, Shadow does not go for Sonic’s throat at every opportunity. Their sparring matches, while still intense, carry a lot more humor and end before too much damage can be done. They race for no reason other than to beat each other, and most times Infinite can’t make out a clear winner.
The loathing turned admiration. The look of absolute trust when they tag team. “Go to hell”s turned “Screw you. I’ll see you for our race at six”s. And more recently, the almost pining look on Shadow’s face when he watches Sonic’s departing silhouette. Gone too quick to be noticed without slowing down the footage, but too heartfelt to be anything else.
.
In his room that night, Infinite casts an illusion of Sonic.
He knows of Sonic, sure. It’s impossible not to hear about the hero of Mobius in every town he’s gone. Always saving the day, always some type of folk story about him. Robotnik’s gone on enough rants about the blue hedgehog that Infinite half wants to kill him just so the doctor will shut up about him. He’s always striking some stupid pose or has some smirk on his face. Like he isn’t afraid of anything and hasn’t a care in the world.
And maybe he doesn’t, after facing gods and world domination on a regular basis since he was ten.
The illusion stands in front of him. The eyes are a bright green but missing the burning fire. He walks around it and studies the quills. On Earth, Infinite has heard that a hedgehog’s quills are used for defense against predators. Here, on Mobius, Infinite sees hedgehogs hugging and poking others with their quills all the time. Maybe they’re softer, he muses. He reaches out to turn its face over in his paws, studying the peach muzzle and emerald eyes.
Bright blue quills and fur. Round, trusting, determined eyes. A constant wind-swept look.
“I don’t see it,” Infinite grumbles. He takes a step back to fully appraise the illusion. “Guess you’re an acquired taste, eh? Sonic the hedgehog…”
All night, he works on perfecting the poses and the smiles and every other quirk of this blue rodent.
Infinite has a feeling that Shadow would know, the moment his eyes fall on this illusion, that this is not the real Sonic. He’ll know if even a quill is out of place. Maybe that was Infinite’s first mistake. Relying too much on someone from Shadow’s past that he likely wouldn’t remember as well. Would have moved on from.
The Sonic illusion grins at him, winks.
It’s time to focus on the present. Not just on what Shadow has lost, but on what he can still lose.
.
Manipulating mindscapes is wonderful. The power that flows from him is addictive. Dreams can reveal the most subconscious desires of a person, or their deepest fears. Sometimes both.
He practices on some townspeople first. Under the cover of night, he camps close to a village and focusses on any susceptible nearby minds. Children are the easiest; their minds are so malleable that all he has to do is place the idea of a boogeyman in their dreams. So simple, but never fails to make them quiver and cry. It’s only when he’s broken into the mind of every Mobian there with ease and created horrors or wonders alike that he decides he’s ready for Shadow.
Shadow either does not sleep as much as he needs to, or he doesn’t need much at all. Whatever the case, it’s hard to find a time where he’s out long enough to dream, but Infinite is patient.
He finds an opening when Shadow arrives with his crew at the bat’s apartment. They’re back from a week-long mission and collapse on the floor almost instantly. The robot puts them both to bed before recharging itself. He watches it all through the cameras on a tiny robot mosquito.
When he’s sure all occupants are out, he makes his move. He takes refuge in a treehouse belonging to a family of squirrels gone on vacation a few blocks down. If anyone had glanced his way, all they would see is a stray cat hopping the fence into the backyard.
Shadow is dreaming of nothing when Infinite arrives. Just endless scenery that no one would remember when they awoke.
This is where he begins. He’s thought long and hard about how he’ll go about this. He closes his eyes and projects his thoughts. His chest grows warm.
Shadow was running, alone, along an endless highway. Sonic runs next to him. It doesn’t matter if it’s not the same shade of blue, or that his eyes are black instead of green. Little details like this don’t matter to the dreamer.
“Hey Shads! Fancy a race?” Sonic points to a hill that is more than five hundred miles away -how does he even know that?- but he can see it clearly. “First one to the top!” And Sonic runs.
“Cheater,” Shadow mumbles before peeling off, leaving a yellow blur in his wake.
Shadow reaches the hilltop first. This is something Infinite does not have a hand in- this is something that Shadow’s mind created itself. Something he wanted.
“Tch. You’re getting slow,” Shadow comments when Sonic reaches the top of the hill.
Sonic laughs. “Guess that makes you the winner here, huh? Well, here’s your prize.” Sonic grabs his face. There’s an interesting sensation, one that only happens in dreams, where Shadow equally wonders and knows what’s going to happen next.
Sonic’s lips barely graze his cheek. Shadow pulls away and holds it.
Sonic grins and points to another hill, even farther. “Let’s go again. Your prize will be even better than that if you manage to beat me again.”
Infinite is back in his body not a second later. A look at the moon overhead tells him he’s been in Shadow’s mind for only a few hours.
He tries to enter back into Shadow’s mind, but he is unable to. He peeks through the spy camera and finds Shadow lying in bed, eyes wide open. He laughs.
These will not be nightmares. No. Infinite has seen the way Shadow watches his blue counterpart. The soft look when Sonic leaves, quickly followed by a tight expression and barely noticeable fidgeting.
Shadow either knows what he wants and hates it, or is completely confused by his affection.
Infinite wonders if he dreams of Sonic often; if it’s something he’s used to. He hopes not. This wouldn’t be any fun otherwise. He’ll have to pay special attention to Shadow’s habits in the days that follow.
.
This is Infinite’s schedule for the next few days. Study Sonic’s behaviors. Practice. Perfect. Spy on Shadow and invade his mind at any opportunity. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
(The days pass and it gets easier and easier to forget the ones he’s lost. There is no pain in his chest. Only the warmth of his ruby. There is no missing them. You can’t miss someone you don’t remember.
What did Eclipse look like when she smiled? What did Vanish sound like when they celebrated his birthday?
What does any of that matter now?)
.
Again, it’s endless scenery and colors and energy humming. Infinite has no body in this realm, so he can only feel the energy thrumming.
This dream is more of a memory. A sparring match that the two had years ago, in some remote jungle. They crossed paths when hunting for Robotnik with their own teams. They hadn’t seen each other in a while, and Shadow seemed to not remember anything at all, but there were no questions asked. Just an overwhelmed look of excitement from both sides.
He takes inspiration from this, only this time without their teams backing them up.
“I win,” Sonic says, pinning Shadow and grinning that signature, coy grin.
Shadow is panting. Looking up in absolute awe, unabashed, unwavering, unhidden. Infinite feels sick.
Infinite has only ever seen videos of Sonic’s super form. Has only ever heard of Shadow’s.
He gets to see them both tonight. They soar through the stars endlessly. Infinite can feel Shadow’s confusion. This isn’t how it happened. He’s not stable. How are they here?
All those thoughts are replaced with mush when Sonic laughs. The stars chime in harmony with him.
Everything. Everything. Wonderful.
Shadow loses his footing, somehow.
There’s something missing here. Something Infinite has never seen. Something dark and tragic that almost turns the dream into a nightmare.
An overwhelming sense of dread. Exhaustion. Giving up.
Sonic catches his hand. Twirls them both. They leave a trail of golden residue. “Woah! Careful! I gotcha.”
And just like that, it’s gone.
Shadow dreams that he and Sonic let their Chaos have a playdate. He dreams that Sonic and him and Maria and have a nice day out. Sonic pushes Maria’s wheelchair and they both share embarrassing stories that Shadow will get back at him for later. Shadow dreams that Sonic takes his hand in front of flashing cameras, kisses it.
“You’re going to regret this when you want to leave.”
Sonic stares at him. He’s lying on a couch that Shadow does not own. “Why would I leave you? You’re the only one that can keep up with me.”
.
Shadow has been distancing himself more since the dreams started. Infinite has front row seats to the way the hedgehog avoids everyone, especially Sonic.
“Just leave me alone,” he’ll snap to anyone that asks.
“I need to work through some things,” he’ll grit out to his roommates, like he’s forcing the words through his lips. “And I am not ready to share.”
Infinite thought the bat would push further, but she looks sad. “Take all the time you need, hon. Remember we’re here for you as your friends. You need to get your mind off it for a while? I bet Sonic would-”
“No.” The horror on Shadow’s face is enough to have Infinite doubling over with laughter.
It must be quite the conundrum, finding yourself infatuated with someone you’ve tried to murder on multiple occasions. Infinite can only imagine.
Maybe that’s why Shadow has slammed down drink after drink at the first underground bar he could find. The other patrons give him a wide berth. Drinking your troubles away, Shadow? Infinite hums. Never thought I would see it.
He stumbles out of the bar sometime around three in the morning, finishing a bottle of hard liquor Infinite can only assume the owner had been too scared to take from him before asking him to leave.
Is he allowed to drink? He’s technically over fifty years old, right? Infinite doesn’t mind the morality of this, no. He wonders how Shadow’s biology will handle the alcohol. But Shadow seems to be quite messed up. He tries to run, then keeps tripping over himself before landing in an empty forest somewhere off this town. It’s so much easier for Infinite to tail him.
Infinite decides to stay on a tree branch instead of a bush this time. His ankles are getting stiff, and it’s not like Shadow will notice him. He takes a deep breath and calls the ruby’s power. It comes to him as easily as, well, breathing at this point. He creates his best illusion yet; one with bright eyes and a clear voice and no glitches to be found.
The doctor is almost ready, and Infinite has been ready for weeks. Why shouldn’t he have a little fun?
“You’re not here,” Shadow says, more like slurs, slumped against a tree.
“‘Dunno what you’re on about, Shads,” not Sonic says.
Shadow shakes his head, then closes his eyes like that was a bad idea, head in hand. “No,” he mumbles. “No, you’re not here. You can’t be. You’re… dealing with something at Sunset Hills or whatever.”
Not Sonic shrugs. Steps closer. Shadow looks like he wants to move way, tries to, but realizes there a tree blocking his escape.
“Maybe,” it says. Closer -it gets too far in Shadow’s personal space, and Infinite knows that if it were anyone else this would not be allowed. He’s not aggressive, he’s sluggish. Eyes half-lidded. “But you want me here, don’t you?”
Not Sonic touches his muzzle. Infinite is repulsed at the way Shadow trembles at the simple gesture.
Weak. Pathetic.
I can’t believe we lost to this.
Shadow leans into the hand, swooning- swooning! Ha.
“I…” Shadow begins. “I’m… I’m drunk.”
Not Sonic hums. “Yeah, never expected you to be like this. I kinda like it though.”
Shadow looks up, confused.
“I always wondered-” not Sonic says, scratching behind Shadow’s ear. Shadow’s eyes flutter closed. “If maybe one day you wanted me to win. Like, if it was some kinda kink or somethin’.”
Shadow shivers. “That’s- of course your mind would- go t’ the gutter like that. You moron.”
“Oh? What is it then? Go on and tell me, Shadow. I wanna hear it.”
“That’s- you’re-”
Not Sonic smiles something soft and teasing -something that Infinite has seen Sonic give Shadow after a rough fight. It almost looks like the real thing. Infinite knows that in Shadows drunk state, it might as well be.
“You’re so annoying,” Shadow slurs. “Idiot. Fucking…” His hand hovers indecisively over not Sonic’s waist. Not Sonic presses it down and holds it there with the hand that is not stroking Shadow’s muzzle. Makes him stay. “Wonderful,” he sighs. “You’re-” he hiccoughs. “-everything that’s good in this world.”
“Yeah?”
“I hate you.” Infinite frowns. This isn’t what he wants. He wants to bring Shadow close to the precipice, not farther. But it’s so complicated with these two. One minute, they’re glaring and hitting and attacking, the next, they’re teasing and smiling and looking at each other like there’s no one else in the room. “Stupid. Foolish hedgehog always. Always acting first and thinking later. y’know- you’re too nice.” Infinite would never claim to understand the relationship. Doesn’t understand why Shadow sees the world in someone so polar to him. That’s not his job. He’s just here to make the most of it.
“Am I?”
“-Saved me. You tried to save me. Shouldn’t forgive me. You shouldn’t have-”
He presses his face into the illusion’s shoulder.
“Hey, easy.” Sonic is too forgiving. He is too kind. He is too cocky. Infinite will agree with Shadow on this. “How much did you drink?”
“Dunno… Enough. Never been drunk before. Feel like shit.”
“Hah! Yeah, I’ll bet.”
“Fucking…dick nips…” Shadow tries to swat the illusion. His hand ends up holding its arm instead. “You’re cold.” All of Infinite’s illusions are cold, given the lack of blood.
“And you’re warm. Who would’ve thought.”
Shadow hums.
“You’ve wanted this for a while, haven’t you?”
“I- don’t know what you’re talking about, you egotistic-”
“Sure you do. But you were too scared, huh? Were you scared of me?”
“’m not… not scared. Not afraid of anything I’m- the ultimate lifeform…”
“Don’t seem too “ultimate” now.” Shadow’s leaning his entire weight onto the illusions as it cards its hands through his quills. “S’alright, though. I’ll still be here. Even when you’re like this. Or when you’re just being a dick.” This isn’t something Sonic would say. But it’s everything Shadow wishes to hear. And he’s too drunk- on the alcohol and the feeling of finally getting what he wants- that he doesn’t question it.
“You shouldn’t-” Shadow keeps saying. He manages to lift his head off the illusions shoulder with visible effort. “You- you moron. You’re too kind. I- hate when you smile at me like that. when you- when we race and…” he trails off. “And when you make me feel all fuzzy and shit. I-” not Sonic continues to rub behind his ear. Offers him a smile and leans in closer. Shadow crumbles.
“You make everything right. It feels like everything will be… okay, when you’re around. Like…” Shadow leans in. “when we fight, I feel good. When we work together, I feel good. Just watching you and your friends I- you’re insufferable-”
The illusion shuts its eyes and grazes its muzzle against Shadow’s.
“I love you.” Shadow’s eyes slip shut, leaning in to completely close the gap.
With a snap of his fingers, Infinite calls his illusion back to himself. Without anything to lean on, Shadow falls to the dirt. His inebriated state has also affected his reflexes, it seems, because he can’t even reach out to catch himself. He falls flat on his face.
Infinite is all at once filled with disgust and glee.
“Pathetic.”
Shadow looks up and around groggily, confused. “…Sonic?”
Infinite floats down in front of him, heart racing. “As If he’d want to see you in this state. Look at you,” he says, not bothering to hide his tone of superiority. “If only people could see the ultimate lifeform brought to his knees. If only they knew why.”
“What…” Shadow tries to stand. “Who are you?”
Who is he.
Who is he?
Somewhere, Infinite hears a snap. Maybe it’s a tree branch, maybe it’s something deep inside of him. Infinite is all at once broken and furious and out of touch with the world. He floats above this drunk, smitten, hedgehog that looks like he’s going to empty his stomach any minute. Infinite searches his red eyes for any hint of regret, any fear, acknowledgement, anything-
He doesn’t remember.
You weren’t worth remembering. None of you were.
(But it’s not like he can remember anymore either.)
Infinite realizes that he’s bending the trees around them. Their branches curve inwards. How dare he. How dare this hedgehog ruin his life and not remember.
He’ll make sure he never forgets.
“I am Infinite, and I am the one that bested you. I am the one with all the power here, Shadow the hedgehog. No one can save you now. Not the bat-” He creates an illusion of her. It floats in the air next to him. “Not that robot-” the illusion transforms into that of E123-Omega. “Not even the hedgehog you hold so dearly. My power has been growing since our first encounter, Shadow. Meanwhile it seems yours has stagnated.”
“You- that was you-”
Infinite materializes another not Sonic. The horror on Shadow’s face is enough to distract his enraged mind. The not Sonic gazes at Shadow with uncaring eyes. It crosses its arms over its chest and frowns. Disgust, disappointment, and pity come off it in waves.
“Man, what a joke,” It laughs, cruel and unforgiving. It steps forward. “Like I’d ever see anything in your sorry face, Shads.”
Shadow does his best to hide his reaction, but it’s useless against him. The words hit his heart, poke at an insecurity so deep and painful, he can’t possibly keep it bottled. Shadow flinches like he was dealt a physical blow. Infinite waves it away.
Shadow staggers on his feet. He’s desperately trying to clear his head and focus his vision.
Infinite projects the laughter of Shadow’s friends into his mind, just because he can.
“My head…” Shadow grunts.
“With the ultimate power on our side, we won’t lose.”
Shadow looks up at him. He’s so much smaller than Infinite remembers.
Who is the weak one now?
“Goodbye, Shadow,” The sun is beginning to rise. Infinite needs to be ready for Robotnik’s attack. He’ll be happy to hear they have one less target to worry about. “We will meet again soon.”
They probably won’t. After what Infinite has planned, Shadow likely won’t show his face for a very long time.
.
“He was doing better-”
“We know, Rouge,” The echidna tries to placate her. “Just-”
“He hasn’t come home in days.”
“Maybe he’s been sent on a private mission.”
“Even if they did, Shadow wouldn’t accept. We’re a team! We face everything together.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about him,” comes a voice on her couch.
The bat scoffs. “Of course you wouldn’t. You wouldn’t worry about much, would you?”
“Hey, it’s not like I don’t care. I know Shadow.” Sonic brings down his hands from their relaxed place behind his head. “He’s probably off doing a little soul searching. He said he wasn’t ready to share yet? I trust him.”
They all sigh.
“Listen, why don’t we give him a few more days? Worse comes to worse I can always knock some sense back into him. But Shadow’s tough, he can handle himself.”
“Maybe…”
“That’s the spirit! I gotta meet up with Tails in a bit today, but I’ll see you guys later.”
Infinite can see now. Underneath the laid back grin and nonchalant attitude. He sees the way Sonic’s hand trembles when he opens the door. He sees the way he fidgets with his gloves instead of his usual bouncy legs. He sees the worry in his eyes; the distraction. This will be wonderful.
.
He makes his official debut that afternoon. The Mobians cower behind rubble. The fox calls for his hero, and his hero arrives, in all his blue glory and snarky attitude.
Just as they planned.
But he’s not himself today. He talks too loudly, like it’s not just the Mobians behind him that he’s trying to reassure. His enemies face him, and with each familiar face he grows more and more brash. Infinite can feel that his mind is in more places than it should be today; he’s having trouble staying focused on the battle.
When he spots Shadow- rather, Infinite’s illusion of Shadow- Infinite watches as Sonic draws his own conclusions.
Sonic hesitates, pulls his punches. Sonic takes too many hits that he could have dodged.
Sonic falls and does not get up.
Infinite lashes out at the crowd of civilians. All of them run immediately, except for the fox. He quakes in his boots, staring at his fallen savior, like he is trying to will him to get back up.
“Sonic?”
Sonic is alive because Robotnik wants him to be. Infinite is under strict orders to bruise, not kill.
But, Infinite muses, if simply seeing their hero defeated and hurt causes this much pain and commotion…
Infinite floats down to Sonic’s body, making sure he has the fox’s attention all the way.
“Sonic!”
It’s nothing too graphic; no blood needs to be spilled when snapping a neck. It’s still a life-shattering event for a child, even if it’s not real.
The real one is very much alive in his arms. So frail and weak.
“Run, run, little fox,” Infinite chuckles. “While you still have a chance.”
He trips over himself, sobbing while he flees.
He knows Robotnik is staring at him in silent judgement and disapproval. But he also knows he won’t do anything about it. They aren’t powerful enough to. No one is.
This is war, and anything is fair game.