TVA First View by Natalie Holt.
~~~

Shadow was more surprised by his Android twisting his arm to rest against his back than he'd like to admit. He snarled and squirmed, but two, worse, copies crawled with flickering optics and pulled him down. There, he watched Eggman and Sonic slip out the slim gap in the domed ceiling before his eery look-a-likes gathered.

The, apparent, first Android that the Doctor created paced behind and Shadow craned his head to watch. It seemed curious more than anything, but with his Comlink buzzing the Ultimate Lifeform decided enough was enough. He gritted his teeth and with glittering Inhibitor Rings struggled against the groaning, slithering robot pile.

Abraham Towers whacking a previously destroyed Android against the horde was not something on Shadow's checklist.

"Decided to gain some common sense, have you?" The hedgehog barked, climbing up and dusting his shoulder.

"I thought I was doing what was right. But really, I was being a coward. I'd apologise but it seems-."

"It wouldn't be the first time G.U.N has needed to apologise, especially to me."

Towers squirmed but left Shadow to the leaping Android anyway, running and dipping towards Harris and Knuckles.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't be the last time either.

"It humours me that you think you're anything like me." Shadow poked, expertly meeting a fist against a fist.

When his Comlink buzzed again, his focus was stolen for just a second too long and he was Roundhouse kicked to the floor. Vision blurring, he groaned and managed to swat an impending punch.

"Is this really the legacy of my copies?" He rolled and watched the glassy fist of the Android make a dent just where his head had been.

"To blindly follow whoever gives them the slightest incline of a purpose?" When he stood, a realisation hit Shadow harder than the AirShoe swiping across his cheek.

Even though he fell again, he rather recklessly tossed a Chaos Spear in his growing rage and clambered up with an eye twitch. Still, Shadow took a breath and lifted his hands- making quick calculations on the swiftly descending amount of Androids.

He dryly chuckled. "We really aren't that different. Even if my friends say otherwise." He stepped closer. "We both follow one promise we made, both equally determined to fulfil it. I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing that we are so similar."

When close enough, he held out a hand. "Let us put our battle behind us. Stand against Eggman together. Determine our own destiny and create our own purpose. I...we have done enough. I think that's what Maria would have really-."

The Android slipped his claws down his palm and kicked his leg beneath his ankles. Not having the chance to hit the floor, Shadow was flung across the room- instantly blinded and pulled by his quills. He hissed and held over the glove that was stained in red, yelping when his quills were given a touch tug before crushing against the steel.

"Fine." With a low snarl he stood, doing his best to ignore the agonising sting in his hand.

"I suppose that is what makes us different." He went to remove one of his rings, but acknowledged his friends still in the room.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the ability to quite master his powers yet. Still incredibly draining, he couldn't focus his Chaos Blast on a specific target either. It would simply destroy this room and probably the entire base (taking his friends with it).

So, he popped his shoulder and hopped between his legs. "Whilst Maria acts as a hindrance to you- she is what motivates me. I am the Ultimate Lifeform, created with ideals benign and dark, but ultimately out of love."

Slowly circling each other, his fingers twitched and golden static danced between. "You make look like me, but that is where our similarities end. You do not possess the determination."

In a flash he was gone and in another he dropped his fists against the Androids head.

"You do not hold the courage." And he swiped beneath the robots legs.

"Most importantly, you do not have the desire to protect the world she always adored."

Snapping to the Androids front, he didn't hesitate in driving a Chaos Spear through it's chassis. He gave it a twist and watched as the copy squeezed his arm, struggling, and oil leak out the damage. With his free, but severely wounded, hand, Shadow thrust another in the machines optics- flinching from the sparks that followed.

Meanwhile, Amy was down on a knee with nothing but her hammer between herself and Metal Sonic. Chaos, she despised those optics. It was such an insult to the original, fantastic emerald green!

"You've plagued my nightmares for years, you know that?" And he tucked his metal foot under her weapon and crushed it against her stomach.

Amy squeaked and hit the nearest wall, groaning and bringing her hammer back into Hammer-space. Above, Sonic and Eggman vanished to the island beyond and she worried if Tails, Cream and the others had made it out. Fortunately, her Comlink buzzed with Rouge's smirk to answer. But Metal wasn't done with her and he bolted, only narrowly kept back by her tremendous weapon summoning between them.

"You'll never be him, you know. You don't have the heart."

He swiped and managed to pull on some of her quills as she ducked, bringing out a pained yell. Amy's hand shook and she weaved it between one of her larger five, ears dipping at the loose ones dancing to the floor.

"If you're so hellbent on being your own person, why do you keep blindly following Eggman's orders?" She tensed and shut her eyes at Metal's lunge, but the attack never came.

Slowly, she opened her gaze and when he stepped back, lowered her hammer. "You know, I didn't actually think you were capable of listening."

When his optics darkened, Amy squeaked. "Kidding! Guess you and Sonic are pretty similar, though, huh?"

With a sigh she leaned against the pole of her hammer (had she always felt this tired?). "You're not so scary when you're not trying to kill us all the time."

Maybe there was a chance Metal could defy his instructions and just maybe, there was a possibility Badniks of all kinds could break free too. Unfortunately, Amy wouldn't get her answer- not today, for a crash, flicker of lights and burning heat brought Metal to shove by her. She whirled to find Shadow drive a pair of Chaos Spears into his closest Android copy.

What surprised her though, was the way Metal's shoulders slackened and optics fluttered. Was he bothered by this?

Shadow gave an exhausted grunt and would've dropped to his knees if it weren't for the pressure of Metal's stare. One of the remaining Androids reached for him, but with a swift kick to the head it was dismantled. He expected that blue robot to charge at him, but he merely double took between the two dark hedgehogs before his jet rumbled to life.

Amy was too close at his side. Would he take her? Would he take whatever lay inside the glass emerald? Would he-?

He merely blasted to the gap in the ceiling, disappearing amidst the storm.

It made Shadow wonder if Sonic would be this shaken by something similar too.

"Should we go after him?" Amy asked.

Shadow shook his head. "No. He won't bother us for a while, I'd suspect. It's not everyday you have an enemy change your entire perspective on things." He pointedly looked.

"Ah. Well-." And Amy's Comlink was off, so she went to answer.

———

Sonic had always hated that grin. The way it plagued his nightmares and echoed through the little downtime he did get. After every victory, it would spring up and plant unnecessary doubt into his mind. In truth, he forgot how much it riled him up in Eggman's absence.

It wasn't enough to stop him stumble when he slowed just enough to take in his birth place though.

Christmas Island had always felt...cosy. But never tight. Never small. Yet now he could see both ends of the mound left, separated by the tremendous base towering between. There were puddles of forgotten snow and ice everywhere and no remains of any villages or wildlife.

Still, he could hear the laughter and dancing and echoes of a place he once called home.

"Thrown through a loop, ay?"

He tensed and looked to the man that took everything right in arms reach. His tone lacked any malice- but it was more unnerving than comforting.

When had he stopped running?

"Are you really sick? Or was it just a trick?"

"I wish it were, but it's the truth. Well- was. When Metal showed up with Shadow's blood- I got to work straight away. With a bit of time and power, my Androids managed to reverse the effects. If it were any more developed I'm sure they couldn't have done it."

"So, it's still there? And Shadow could have done it too?"

"It's more...dormant than anything. And yes, Shadow could have. More effectively too."

Sonic's eye twitched. "Then why'd you make it out like he couldn't?"

"There's things in his past even he isn't aware of. I suppose, really, I just felt extra cruel. It's not like his secrets are kept voluntarily." Eggman's glasses slipped down for red and black eyes to give a pointed look.

"You don't get to judge me on that."

"I'm not. Just an observation. It seems to be a Hedgehog Family Special."

Sonic snarled and a swift spark of black hopped between his fingers. "You-."

Wait. What?

"What in Gaia are you-?"

His Comlink buzzed and Sonic cursed, not taking his eyes off the Doctor.

Eggman stroked his moustache. "That sounds important."

"They can handle it. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"And if they're in trouble?"

'You must keep them safe. That's the priority. Over everything- even yourself.'

Sonic's ear twitched and he raised a hand to look above, past the rain and dark clouds. A flash of brilliant red and soon the Tornado appeared- rotating in circles directly above. Cream and Vanilla (and hopefully others) must be okay then- but why stay here? Cursing again, he met a far too comfortably sitting Eggman.

"You'll have your chance, hedgehog."

"You're just gonna give this place up?"

"I know when I'm beat. I'll take you letting me go as a sign."

Sonic didn't trust that for a second, but with Tails' panicked voice breaking through his Comlink- he had his decision made. Sure, he was the Fastest Thing Alive, but Eggman always managed to escape and he couldn't risk his friends getting into further trouble.

Besides, he hoped, after this mess Eggman would probably lay low for a while again.

So, without looking back, he took for the base and tried to drown out the noise of the Eggmobile fleeing with focusing on the storm.

"This better be worth it, Tails." He grumbled with more velocity than intended.

"We got Cream, Vanilla and a couple others out- but our friends are in trouble!"

"What kind?"

The distant explosion that sounded from the top of the base did little to ease his nerves.

"I called Amy." Rouge's voice interrupted. "She said Metal...left? I couldn't ask her on it because some...Androids or something apparently were getting up for another fight. Blue, what's going on?"

Sonic frowned. "Thought they would've been dealt with by now. You guys hang around so we have a way to get outta here- I'll check it out."

With the call ended, he easily slipped up the length of the building- eyes narrowed through the brisk storm until he reached the top. With a leap he crouched over the gap. Shadow kicked aside his first copy, rushing to face the stubborn, largely dismantled, machines crawl nearer. Amy was at his side and swung her hammer and with a brief exchange they diverted towards the glass emerald.

Where, he paled, Harris was already creeping towards- Knuckles and Abraham Towers following closely behind.

———

"The hell does that mean?" Knuckles barked, shrugging off a reaching Android to his side.

"It won't matter how many times you beat these Androids down, they'll keep getting back up as long as that's still around." Harris pointed to the blindingly bright glass emerald.

"So we need to destroy it and free what's inside- but the build up and pressure it's been under has made it incredibly dangerous. You break it's shield and it kills whoever it thinks is attacking in a fit of contained power."

Knuckles swallowed and looked to where Amy hurried to Shadow's side, tussling with the latter's Androids- but they seemed to be handling it well.

"Like Shadow's immortality, huh?" He breathed.

"It's Shadows powers that keep him that way. Without them- he's no better than Sonic."

"Then why in the world would you want to do this if you know it'll kill you?"

"Call it human instinct."

Knuckles whirled to see a hunched over, exhausted Towers. "Ay?"

The Commander straightened. "It's why she warned me about him too. There's still a part of her in there."

"Like I said." Harris spoke with a chuckle. "Humans are desperate beings."

Knuckles shook his head. "I can't let you-."

"It's my choice- grant me the grace of that at least. There really isn't a better option for me otherwise- I don't exactly like my options of being Eggman's prisoner or G.U.N's. You said you'd give me an opportunity- I've decided I'll take it."

"But-."

"What's the hold up over here?"

Knuckles knew his best friend was quick, but had Sonic already dealt with Eggman? If so, where was he?

It didn't stop Sonic from hopping off the emerald where he landed and descend the stairs- meeting Amy and Shadow at the bottom.

"Do we have a plan? They keep coming." The pink hedgehog tiredly sighed.

"Even I am becoming...strained." Shadow remarked.

"It's not looking-." Knuckles started, stopping at Sonic's hand squeezing his shoulder.

Emerald eyes pulled away from Harris shaking her head and smiled. "We do what we do best- beat up a bunch of Badniks."

Amy groaned but nodded anyway. "Fine."

With the two heading back into the midst of the metallic horde, Sonic met Knuckles' disapproving gaze.

"Whatever you guys are thinkin' of, clearly is makin' you grumpy. We don't need to make everyone else the same."

"Harris has this ridiculous plan-."

"I've merely figured out how we- you can stop the Androids."

"Oh yeah?" Sonic's eyes narrowed. "What gives with the change of heart?"

Harris squeezed her tie. Even she knew the oh so 'great' Hero Of Mobius wouldn't let her go through with this if he learned of the consequences. But she had to. She refused to become a prisoner here or elsewhere. Maybe that approach was her answer.

"To shut down the Androids, we need to destroy the glass emerald. It could be damaging- but it will work."

"Damaging how?"

"She said it will-!" Knuckles tried.

"For someone like yourselves, it could kill you. But me? I'm barely even alive. Worst case scenario it fries the robot part of myself, but I...I'd be free."

Sonic glanced at his silently raging red friend and raised an eye ridge. There was something iffy about all this (and he hated the idea of someone even partly innocent endangering themselves), but the idea it could set the Doctor free was enough for him to hold onto. Harris appeared desperate enough to try, at least (and who was he to prevent her second chance?).

So, he swiped his nose with a grin. "Okay then. But be careful." And he watched her go.

Knuckles hurriedly spun the speedster around. "I know you've been off for a while, but you can't let her go through with this!"

"If it gets too bad, I'll pull her away, Knucks. I can get behind trying whatever you can to be free. I'm not letting my friends- you included- give themselves up for this. If you want I'll happily take her place and-."

"No!" Knuckles massaged his temple. "I'd really not rather that. Just...this isn't going to end well and it isn't something I expected you to be okay with having on your conscience."

"Like I said, if it goes sideways- I'll be there faster than you can blink. 'Sides, I've...I've had worse."

Knuckles couldn't delve into that, for everything stopped. The brightest, almost painful, lights flooded the room- followed by crackles and shatters. He could admit he was relieved at the lack of a scream, but it was almost more unnerving. He looked out the corner of his frozen eyes to see the glass emerald scatter. In truth, it reminded him of Shadow's Chaos Control.

Speaking of, the dark hedgehog at his other side stared directly at the brightest orb- the source of this power. He, like Amy, seemed weirdly entranced by it- like it was calling for them. Sonic was similar, but he appeared more hungry than enthralled. Knuckles couldn't deny he felt something too, but it wasn't enough to become all consumed by it. Abraham was the only one who looked away, arms up to shield himself from the light.

And then it was gone. The weird, floating sensation dropped like a tonne of bricks and Knuckles inhaled like he'd been drowning- eyes blinking to focus in the much darker space. Amy heavily rested against her hammer and Towers looked to the circling Tornado above.

Was Harris...?

Sonic, of course, was the first to rush up the stairs- sliding on his knees at the end. Pushing aside the shooting green phenomenon when it's shield was destroyed, he brought two fingers to the side of her neck.

"He...lies."

At first he thought he'd finally gone crazy, but when Shadow dropped to his side just as unnerved- he knew he had a bit more time.

Harris looked directly at the pair. "You both...have been...lied to."

"By who?" Shadow demanded.

"Working for Eggm-man...has it's...benefits. You...learn a lot."

"Like?" Sonic urged, simultaneously trying to calm his heart.

"You can't...trust...anyone."

Doctor Harris somehow seemed more frail than before- like all the energy within had been sucked right out. Her eyes were greying and her hair dangerously loose. Her veins, prominent, and dark- similar to the ones in her half robot eyes. Although she clearly still had oxygen and a pumping heart- there was evidently something missing deep within that seemed to make her like a ghost.

"You're lying." Shadow frowned.

"No. She's not. At least not about this." Sonic shook his head. "Eggman implied something similar. Who's lying to us, Harris?"

Her dead finger pointed down the stairs. "One's with us right now."

Part of Shadow crumbled when Towers was the target. G.U.N and that time of his life could never leave him, not really, could it?

"And...your...uncle and...."

Even though Amy asked, Sonic had the creeping suspicion as to who the mystery liar was. Not that Harris could say he was right, for her finger dropped and her eyes met the Tornado above.

"Oh...." Knuckles' shoulders dropped and Amy gasped- eyes watering.

"Is she...?" Towers inquired.

Before Sonic could answer, Shadow rested a hand on his shoulder. His other went to Harris' wrist, then an ear over her heart.

"Barely." The Ultimate Lifeform stood, arms crossed.

"It's something like a coma, except she doesn't seem to be...here. I can only explain it as if her mind is wondering some place else- far away."

"What's the difference?" Knuckles wondered as the two rivals picked the scientist up.

"A coma is more so a very deep, unresponsive sleep. This is...I'm not sure. But whatever was in that glass shield has severely altered her responsiveness and wakefulness. Who knows what else."

"A hospital might." Amy recommended. "And I think we've overstayed our welcome." She pointed her shaky thumb to the still, lifeless Androids behind.

"What about this place? Eggman might come back." Knuckles argued.

"We'll tear it down." Towers assured.

"And Christmas Island? Faker?" Shadow glanced at his rival.

Without looking away from Harris, Sonic replied. "Leave it. I...just make sure no one can come back here. What once was deserves the chance to finally rest."

And even though he could still feel that same nag, something profound and...chaotic calling for him, nearby, the group retreated to the landed Tornado. With Vanilla fussing over Harris (and all the group), Cream gave them all grateful, ecstatic hugs. Rouge was quick to tease Knuckles, keeping the apprehended Towers close. Cheese danced overhead and Omega conversed with Shadow- who's mind was evidently elsewhere.

Still, with Tails informing Sonic the Chaotix struck a deal with Breezie (at the expense of him giving her an interview), he was eventually left to fuss over Amy and evidently missing quills (where she tried drying him off with a towel in return).