Umbra Eclipse, Lord of the Black Arms, Ruler of the greatest of all Empires, stood waiting. He wasn't bored. Tonight had been enough fun. More fun than he had in a long, long time. Even more fun than playing with Loveless' emotions, and that was grand fun. The church was empty and totally lifeless. What could he expect? He had already taken this part of the city. But he wouldn't need it much longer. As soon as the Chaos emerald was in his hands, he would leave. This city had no more to offer him other than a power snack and a few human bodies to quell his blood thirst. But the intensity of tonight's escapades were amusing. Next he would head to the Ukraine and have a bonfire.
The Doors o the church slammed open. In the threshold stood, two black and red hedgehogs, a pink and red hedgehog, and a blue hedgehog. But it was the sack on the tall black hedgehogs back that made Umbra's eyes have a departed look of joy. "I see you have the item," said Umbra with the slick voice of a snake with legs.
Shadow only grunted. He stopped in the middle of the isle and looked at Umbra with a serious face. "I didn't think you were much on religion, Umbra. Enjoy playing priest?"
Umbra laughed. "Not bad for a beginner, Shadow. Your jokes could use some work though. I chose this local for the quite and the dramatic entrance you could have."
Shadow growled, "Always the thespian, eh, Robert?"
Umbra's smile vanished. "Hand over the item."
Shadow looked around. This hall was empty except for them and Umbra. No giant bubble of energy. No children trapped. "What have you done with the children?"
Another wicked smile appeared. "They are quite safe. First the item."
Shadow pulled out his gun. "Where are they?" He spoke with ultimate authority and power.
"Naughty, naughty," Umbra mocked. He snapped his fingers and the familiar flash of light appeared. "Very well, here is the merchandise; do you have the payment for this humble merchant?"
Shadow opened the bag and pulled out the blue Chaos Emerald. "Why do you want this? You don't need it to use your powers. You are full Black Arms."
"True, brother," Umbra approached them with the giant bubble in tow, "I have no reason to keep it in my personal possession, but that does not mea you can keep it, little brother. This is for the Ultimate weapon. The one that not even the 'Ultimate Life Form' can stop." He stretched out his clawed and scaled palm and awaited the Emerald.
"The children," Shadow said, his voice remaining its authority.
Umbra sighed. "The Gratitude I receive for my hard work . . ." He snapped his fingers and the bubble dissipated. The children ran past the power hungry alien and hid behind Shadow and the rest of them. "The payment."
Shadow threw the monster the Emerald. "I hope you choke on it."
The Katrina flew threw the skies of Russia silently. Even inside, there was no sound other than a cough of a sneeze. No dared to bring up the subject of tonight. Shade felt woozy, Crystal feared her mother's fury, Lucas felt guilty like it was his fault, Whirl sat only in silence his ever thought of the scaled nightmarish alien he had seen and Storm was like his cousin: fear. Emily was hugging Shade; her only thoughts were to comfort him in his confusion.
Shadow's face showed seriousness, yet calm serenity. His heart beat and his mind would show you that he was furious. His children had gone into a war zone, most of them had gotten captured by Umbra, and now that thing had two Chaos Emeralds. He was after something with those things. The only way Shadow could stop his was to get all the other Emeralds. That Journal would have field day if Tails found it had made it have the ability to talk.
Tails was very level headed when it came to his child. He was the peacemaker. The one who could solve any argument as soon as it started. Now he was angry. Yes, he had wanted to train them, to teach them how they could fight later in the war. Not now will Umbra still had the advantage of numbers. They were to go out later when they could help.
Shadow had sent a mission report that contained everything that had transpired during the mission via code. He had pressed significant almost worry like emphases on Shade' cut. On how it had healed far too fast to be normal. Even thought Tails had to point out that their definition of 'normal' was rather constrained.
When he found out that Lucas had gone up to the surface to fight in St. Petersburg, he felt the wounds he had felt of losing Cosmo in the War with the Metarex. He couldn't stand it. He took down a rifle off the wall and waited for the Katrina to return. Not that he was going to shot anyone. He had only gotten down for intimidation purposes. Cosmo stood beside him. Her face set equally grim. Tails and Lucas were her whole world.
The Katrina landed it blue and black paint being fogged by the sea water that they had cut through. They had come through an old cave in the harbor that had been long forgotten. Tails had linked a tram system that would carry the Katrina to the hanger bay with the rest of the new KAMIKAZE class. The tram was drained and the door opened to show a group of rather angry looking parents.
Sonia, Amy, Rouge, Sally, and Cosmo rushed inside while the fathers slowly walked up the stairs holding back their anger at Sonic and the kids. Each of them wore a black jacket with two black studded gloves and gold shoulder pads. Each jacket had an insignia on it with a military rank marker. Tails threw Shadow and Sonic a jacket. Shadow's insignia had the picture of a red moon and his rank was that of a full four star General. Sonic's had that of a silver shield and his rank was also a four star general.
"These jackets show your rank and the section of the newly formed Earth Protectorate that you head. Shadow is head of the Blood Moon, the section that deals solely with the eradication of the malicious alien forces, the Black Arms. Sonic's that of the Silver Knights, they are charged with the Ultimate defense of the planet. Peace Keepers. I am still head of Prower Command. The robotics division. Knuckles is head of the Red Dragons. The real bruisers of this organization. Manic is head of the Cyber-Command: the Green Lightning. Loveless is still head of GUN, it will be a primary front line fighters. We are the best in our field but the others have also received these."
Don't think that that was all that happened. Along with their parents becoming the new Earth Protectorate, all the children were grounded until they hit sixteen, and it might get extended before then. Tails and Cosmo examined Shade's body for anything out of the ordinary, but they found nothing except that his immune system was stronger. Lucas and all the other children that had been trapped inside the building were given an immediate medical checkup. Nothing was found.
Right now, Shade sat in his room that Tails had set up for him. Mercifully, Tails had set up Emily's room right next door. They weren't allowed to visit each other for a three days. They could only come out of their rooms for meal times (they had bathrooms). He had been fed dinner so it wasn't hunger that bothered him.
Why should you listen to these idiots. Go! Talk to her! You're lonely and you know it. She of course is as well. Go! Don't listen to them GO!
Shade was having a hard time to relax with these thoughts breaking into his peaceful ones. He was trying to calm himself but with each of these thought he became angrier. It reminded him of how he'd failed them all, how he was almost killed by Umbra, the look of grief, loss, anger that had littered his father's face when he thought Shade dead, Emily trapped within the bubble threatened to be killed by Umbra, and now of how he'd help give Umbra more power. Yeah he was a little ticked. Now he was grounded until he could drive. But did he really need that now? Dad had a bike but he didn't need it.
He heard a knock on the wall. He turned back and answered with two knocks. Three knocks came back on the other side. Emily! Yes! Finally some contact with his girlfriend. Wait. Is she even my girlfriend? I mean, neither of us have said anything about them being 'official.' He could feel 'those thoughts' coming back. Of course! She's yours! Who else? Get out of this cell and got to your girl! Shade just laid there not knowing what to obey: his own yearnings for Emily of to stay and make sure these thoughts would stop. He'd never been the real rebellious one. Other than this incident. He was constricted.