Shadow shot up, breathing hard as he looked around, sweat beading down his face. As he calmed down, he scanned his surroundings and realized he was still in the truck. For a moment, he closed his eyes, trying to brush off the lingering remnants of his nightmare. Maria's face was etched into his mind, delicate and radiant even through the haze of his subconscious fear. But her voice twisted in his dreams with words of destruction and distrust. Maria wouldn't say that. She was always too kind and trusting of others; after all, she put so much trust in him and the professor to cure her. So much trust that humanity would accept him as a person and not just a weapon.
What was he thinking? Humanity was the cause of her death. Maybe she finally realized that humanity wasn't as kind as she once thought. He had to accomplish her wish. Every dream was a reminder of the singular purpose he had bound himself to since her death: revenge, not justice. But against whom? Humanity as a whole? Those who were guilty of sin? Or even those he had aligned with? He clenched his fists tightly until his knuckles turned white. They were all the same. He would use the Doctor and Rouge, manipulate them to achieve his goals, and then eradicate them along with the rest of this miserable world. Yet, a sliver of doubt remained, whispering questions he desperately tried to ignore. Was this truly what Maria would have wanted? Could he truly condemn the entire world for the sins of a few?
A low chuckle broke the tension in the air. Shadow blinked and turned his head to see Rouge lounging casually against the compartment's wall "Rough night? I've heard you have problems, but you really seem to have one hell of a time with them," she commented, her tone teasing yet oddly sympathetic.
"It's none of your concern," Shadow replied curtly, his voice an icy whisper that seemed to float like a shadow in the truck. "How long have I been out?"
"You've been asleep for a few hours now. We tried waking you several times, but nothing." Rouge frowned at Shadow. He rubbed the back of his neck; he was still drowsy.
"I see?" he muttered, trying to come to terms with just how long he had been unconscious. "What's going on?"
"Well, we just made landfall in the Arctic, and we're just preparing for the cold weather," Rouge commented. Shadow finally realized Rouge was wearing a thick insulated jacket lined with fur, designed specifically for the frigid temperatures they were about to face. She had even donned a pair of snow boots and thermal gloves, but one of them looked way more advanced, still prepared for the harsh environment of Antarctica and oddly enough she keeped her wind visible.
"The Doctor said that you shouldn't be affected by this weather because of your unique biology. But just in case, it's better to have some extra clothing," Rouge said and Shadow noded standing up and stretching a few of his joints popping.
"How did we get here so quickly?" Shadow questioned. When he was on the ARK he was taught about the earth's countries and cities. Antarctica had to be a few days away from Texas.
"Well apparently what the doctor told me this truck doubles as a boat not to mention the Doctor used the Chaos Emeralds to increase the truck's speed to cut that time down."Rouge explains tapping on the side of the truck where the red and purple Chaos Emeralds sat. The green emerald was keeped by Shadow at all times just in case.
"Will the Doctor be following us?" Shadow asked.
"Of course not, you imbecile! Where we are going has our biggest threat to our plans." Ivo said as a screen displayed his face.
"And who is so powerful that you cower in fear?" Shadow asked while Rouge also wanted an answer.
"Oh please, I'm not afraid. And of course, you don't know about the boy scout after all; you've been locked away for 50 years," Ivo commented, and Rouge finally understood what was going on.
"And how do you propose we go up against the Man of Steel?" Rouge asked while Shadow continued to look at her with narrowed eyes.
"He calls himself Superman," she continued, "The last son of Krypton. He's currently one of the strongest beings on the planet."
"So he's a threat. Why not wait until he comes to us? We could be gathering the Chaos Emeralds right now, and if he even dares to challenge our plans, I will deal with him," Shadow responded and Rouge shook her head with a chuckle.
"It's not that simple. He's known as the Man of Steel for a reason. He's near-indestructible. I can count on my hands how many times I've seen him bleed, and even then he only bleeds when something or someone from another world decides that Earth is their new playground," Rouge said.
Shadow watched Rouge closely, narrowing his eyes. "Are you afraid of him?" he asked.
"Afraid? Hardly," she replied, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall. "My line of work makes it so I never have to deal with him. But I'm smart enough to know that a direct confrontation isn't our best option."
"Well, too bad, because a direct confrontation is exactly what you two are doing," Ivo said, laughing as Rouge eyebrow rose in shock like he suggested they dance in the middle of a heist.
"What do you mean!?" Rouge snapped, glaring at the screen where Ivo's face was displayed.
"Let's just say, I've done my research on Superman, hell every genius alive has." Ivo replied. "He's not just invincible; he's also incredibly predictable. He's too noble to ever consider going all out on an enemy unless they give him a reason to. He's also vulnerable to two things—one we don't have, but the other we have plenty to spare." Ivo said as one of the egg-shaped bots floated up to them and hatched, revealing a mechanical orb that glowed a soft green.
Shadow's brow furrowed as he studied the glowing orb, its vibrancy pulling at his attention. "What is that?" he inquired, intrigued by the unfamiliar sight.
"Ah! I'm glad you asked! This little beauty is a Kryptonite containment sphere," Ivo explained, his smirk widening as he reveled in Shadow's intrigue. "Kryptonite is Superman's greatest weakness. It can render him vulnerable to the point it's nearly impossible for him to fight back, and give us just the edge we need to execute our plans without him interfering. This is a plan B if Shadow here can't handle the situation. Just put Chaos Energy into the orb, and it will expand."
"Why can't we just kill him when he's vulnerable?" Shadow asked.
"Unless you want every single human and hero on Earth after us for killing their favorite little boy scout, I suggest you leave him alive," Ivo stated while drinking coffee.
"Hmp, I see. He's too powerful to be left unchecked but too valuable to Earth to just kill without causing people to go after us," Shadow said.
Ivo grinned. "Exactly! If we can incapacitate Superman, we can use this to gather the other Chaos Emeralds and hold the world hostage, forcing compliance in line with our goals."
"Tch, fine. We will handle this your way, Robotnik." Shadow said, rubbing his head in annoyance.
"Excellent. Now I suggest you two get moving. His Fortress of Solitude is a few miles away. I will keep in contact with you when you are finished—just use the comms because they have trackers. Don't lose your comms, or you're on your own. Once you're done, use the gauntlet I gave Rouge to show you the way to a meeting point," Ivo said, opening the back of the truck to the freezing Arctic air.
With the biting cold flooding in, Shadow glanced at Rouge who had her normal smirk on her face. "Let's get this over with," he muttered, bracing himself against the chill as he stepped out of the truck. The landscape stretched before them; an expanse of white snow and ice glistening under the pale light of the sun hovering low in the sky.
"Just stay close," Rouge instructed, adjusting the collar of her thick jacket as they began to trek through the snow. "This area is treacherous, and we don't want to get lost." Shadow just huffed and followed, the weather seeming to get worse the further they traveled into the tundra.
"Why so quiet, Shadow? Are you brooding over bad thoughts about humanity again?" Rouge teased, glancing back at him with a playful smile. "You know, being all gloomy doesn't suit you. You might want to consider lightening up a bit, especially since we're about to commit some pretty grand heists together!"
Shadow shot her a look, one that could sever steel. "I'm not here to make small talk or crack jokes, Rouge. We have a mission, and I intend to see it through."
"Ah, still brooding, I see," she replied, unfazed by his tone. "It's honestly quite attractive. But trust me, a little wit goes a long way, especially when you're planning to take on Superman and potentially the entire Justice League at some point."
"Focus on the task at hand, and can't you fly?" Shadow tightening his grip on the glowing emerald nestled in his pocket.
"Well the high winds are rather troublesome" Rouge replied, rolling her eyes playfully. But underneath her demeanor, she honestly kept wondering why G.U.N wanted this guy gone so badly when he acted like a normal brooding guy… well, one that had the ability to incapacitate the Teen Titans for sometime and Ivo did have faith that he would fight Superman on equal footing. Oh well after this those emeralds will be her's for the taking. But she had a mission to keep tabs on Shadow and if possible capture him which she really doubted she could do alone.
"So you can but you chose not to." Shadow asked and Rouge nodded, making him sigh heavily he was probably going to sigh way more if Rouge continued to be like this.
"Now let's try to enjoy the journey a bit, shall we?" Shadow shot her another sidelong glance but said nothing. Their path stretched endlessly ahead, nothing but a white horizon stretching as far as the eye could see, only interrupted occasionally by jagged peaks of ice or the distant shimmer of frozen lakes.
Shadow stopped on a hill of snow, and Rouge stopped as well. They both saw a group of G.U.N soldiers in high winter gear with a truck and two snowmobiles.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Rouge asked with a smirk. Shadow turned to her and gave her a grin. Rouge spread the wings on her back and disappeared into the air. The soldiers looked around the area, but the wind rushed, and Rouge swooped in, drop-kicking one of the soldiers and using him as a snowboard before jumping off of him. Two more soldiers pointed their guns at Rouge, but in a split second, Shadow teleported in between the two and did a split kick, taking both out. The other soldiers pointed their guns, but Shadow ran forward, dodging their fire, grabbing one by the neck, and slamming him into one of the trucks.
Rouge rushed at another, grabbing the gun and using it like a bat slamming it into the guy's head before kicking him away. A commotion erupted as the remaining G.U.N. soldiers scrambled to regain focus. They weren't just any soldiers; these were elite operatives trained to neutralize threats. But they were woefully outmatched.
"Shadow, on your left!" Rouge shouted just as a soldier took aim from a nearby ridge. Shadow reacts instantaneously, teleporting out of harm's way as bullets whizz past him. He appeared behind the soldier, delivering a powerful kick that sent the soldier tumbling off the ridge and into the snow below.
Rouge flipped over the hood of one of the trucks to confront a soldier attempting to flank Shadow. "You really need to do research before you face me," she taunted, catching him off guard with a swift jab to the gut before sending him sprawling with a roundhouse kick.
"Spare me your theatrics!" Shadow growled as he kicked a soldier into one of the trucks. He surged forward, teleporting among the remaining soldiers with a precision and speed they couldn't counter. Each punch and kick left a trail of incapacitated foes in his wake.
"Maybe a little flair wouldn't hurt," Rouge yelled, grinning as she flipped over a soldier's shoulder, effortlessly dispatching him with a spinning elbow strike. "But hey, teamwork makes the dream work!"
"Less talk, more action," Shadow replied curtly before slamming his fist into a soldier's face, the impact echoing across the icy landscape. Rouge had managed to subdue one of the soldiers by the collar and knocked him out.
As the last soldier fell, silence enveloped the area, save for the gentle drift of snowflakes settling on the bodies below. Shadow paused, his breathing steadying as he surveyed the scene. "Are there more incoming?"
Rouge wiped her brow, slightly out of breath but clearly enjoyed the skirmish. "It's possible, but I'd like to think we made a statement," she remarked, and noticed keys in the truck. She picked them up and tossed one to Shadow "Now, let's steal their gear. We'll need it if we want to get through this tundra."
"Do we have to steal? Can't we just leave?" Shadow asked, and Rouge smirked.
"Want to continue walking around this landscape? I, for one, am getting tired of walking," Rouge said, getting on one of the snowmobiles.
"Fine," Shadow conceded, not feeling like trudging through the snow for another few hours. He hopped onto the other snowmobile with a reluctant huff. They started the engines, the machines roaring to life as they cut through the thick blanket of snow.
"Hold on tight!" Rouge called over her shoulder. Without waiting for a response, she shot forward, the snowmobile skimming across the icy surface. Shadow, following closely behind, felt the cold air biting at his cheeks..
The two sped across the frozen land, the wind whipping around them as they navigated through outcroppings of ice and along ridges. Shadow's mind was sharp; he remained vigilant, eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of pursuit.
"Do you ever slow down?" Rouge asked over her shoulder, expertly maneuvering her snowmobile down a steep slope.
"Focus, Rouge," Shadow replied, the wind knifing through his hair as he expertly followed her lead. "We need to reach Superman's location before any of the other heroes does. The faster we get there, the better our chances of catching him off guard."
"Alright, Mr. Serious," she replied sticking out her tongue. "But you have to admit, this is a lot more fun than talking about your feelings."
Shadow just stared at her blankly, annoyance bubbling within him, yet he couldn't suppress a half-smirk. "You're insufferable."
As they soared over snowdrifts and sped past jagged icicles, a flash of red and blue flickered momentarily in the distance. Shadow narrowed his eyes, his instincts sharpening. "What was that?"
"That's him, alright; you two, it's showtime," Ivo said over the comms.
The landscape shifted beneath them, the majestic, crystalline structure of the fortress appearing through the haze of swirling snowflakes. Its grandeur struck a contrast against the desolation that surrounded it. Towering ice fortress glistening under the pale sun—a fortress built to withstand anything. Or was it made of Crystal Shadow didn't know or care.
They got off the snowmobiles and walked up to the fortress and the massive keyhole. As they stared, Rouge smirked and spread her wings to fly up and enter the massive keyhole, and a few minutes later there was a surprisingly small click for such a massive door.
"It's unlocked!" Rouge called down, her smile infectious as she descended gracefully from above. Shadow felt the tension in the air shift; this was their chance.
"Let's move," Shadow walked in and Rouge followed. She rolled her eyes playfully but complied, leading the way as they ventured into the grand entrance. The inside of the fortress exuded an otherworldly aura, with shimmering crystal structures lining the walls, creating an ethereal glow against the backdrop of white.
"Wow, I wonder how much these crystals are worth," Rouge commented while walking through the fortress while Shadow stayed quiet. Rouge looked at him with a smile. "What, you aren't mesmerized by this beautiful fortress?" Rouge asked, and Shadow sighed.
"Even if I was, it won't last for long," Shadow said, but another voice spoke up.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Superman questioned, floating there in the main room as he looked down at the two.
Shadow looked at Rouge. "Do all of these heroes wear stupid clothing?" Rouge laughed at Shadow's comment.
"Batman did warn me that someone was looking for mystical emeralds of some type. Didn't expect for you to think one is here now. I suggest you leave my fortress," Superman said, landing a few feet away from the two. But Shadow walked forward and glared at the Man of Steel.
"We know that there are no Chaos Emeralds here. What we came here for is to stop you from interfering with our plans." Superman narrowed his eyes as they slowly glowed red, and Shadow's hands sparked with Chaos energy.
"You know I can't allow you to continue your plans. I don't want to hurt you, so please surrender, and we can talk this through," Superman requested.
Shadow scoffed, his expression hardening as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Talk? You think this is some kind of negotiation? You think I'm just going to stand down because you ask politely? You heroes really underestimate people."
Superman's gaze was steely and unwavering. "I'm not underestimating you. I'm trying to save you from making a mistake you'll regret. There's no reason for the chaos you're planning."
Rouge stepped forward, an amused smirk on her lips. "You seem to genuinely think you can talk sense into this stubborn mess of a man, Superman. But I think you're a bit out of touch."
"Out of touch?" Superman echoed, confusion flickering across his face. "What do you mean?" Superman got his answer when Shadow rushed forward and landed a kick into Superman's side, sending him flying into the side of the fortress, making a massive dent. Superman groaned; even for him, it felt like being hit by a truck. Shadow ran forward and grabbed Superman by the neck and slammed him back into the massive dent. Shadow went to slam a punch that was blocked by Superman, who then threw Shadow back to the ground. Shadow flipped out of the way of Superman's punch and landed on his feet, but immediately put his hands up to block a punch from Superman, sending him to the opposite side of the fortress, smashing into the wall. As Superman went for a follow-up, Shadow teleported out of the way. Meanwhile, Rouge watched knowing she was useless in this fight, so she grabbed a few of the crystals that fell, but tried to look for an opening as the two continued to brawl. Superman had Shadow by the arm in the air but Shadow kicked Superman off and used his Air shoes to hover. Superman goes for a punch and Shadow dodges then parries two more punches but gets a kick to the stomach. Superman goes for another punch but Shadow teleports behind Superman and kicks him in the back sending him into the ground.
Superman regains his footing and flies back up blocking another attack. With a swift movement, he grabbed Shadow's foot and hurled him to the ground. Shadow did a handstand and bounced off the ground, but Superman already landed and slammed Shadow to the ground, grabbing the back of his coat and throwing him into a wall. Shadow groaned in pain. Shadow dodged the next attack and slammed a punch into Superman mid section. Superman retorted with a head butt causing Shadow to bleed from his nose. Shadow immediately used Chaos Control to pause time for a few seconds and surrounded Superman with Chaos Spears. Superman doubled out in pain but recovered and punched Shadow's stomach and fired his laser vision. Shadow was sent back and slammed into a wall, his coat burnt in multiple areas. Superman immediately slammed Shadow back into the wall, pinning him by the neck.
"I'm not going to let you complete your plan," he said, locking eyes with Shadow. "Deep down, you must understand that this path leads to nothing but destruction. You can't just take innocent lives!"
"Excuse me?" Shadow echoed, his voice thick with disdain. "You think you understand me? You think your heroics can change who I am or what I've been through!? No one on this planet is innocent!" With those words, Shadow's body started glowing, and suddenly a pulse of Chaos energy sent Superman a few feet back. But Shadow wasn't done; he threw a Chaos Spear, and Superman shot his heat vision, causing a bright light, forcing Superman to close his eyes and stagger back. In that brief moment, Shadow rushed forward, his hand glowing , and he slammed it into Superman's face. Superman was sent flying across his fortress and groaned as he got up grabbing his head as a little blood trickled down it.
"Rouge!" he called, and Rouge tossed the containment sphere. Shadow infused Chaos energy into the orb and threw it at Superman's feet. The containment sphere expanded, and Superman was contained in a balloon-like substance. Superman felt weak and realized that the sphere was aligned with kryptonite. Shadow looked at Superman in the sphere and scoffed before looking at Rouge and being unimpressed by her collecting pieces of the fortress.
"Really? You're just going to loot while I did the heavy lifting?" Shadow said, somewhat incredulous, crossing his arms.
Rouge, standing amidst the scattered crystals, turned with a cheeky grin. "Can you blame me? These treasures could be worth a fortune! And besides," she continued, shrugging playfully, "I'm not just going to let something beautiful go to waste."
Shadow pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a mix of annoyance and the faintest hint of amusement. "We should be focused on getting the Chaos Emeralds and finishing our main plan. We're not here for pretty rocks," he stated as they started to walk out.
"Don't… do this… you… can still change… for the… better," Superman said his voice tired, and Shadow scoffed.
"Be grateful you're alive." Shadow and Rouge walked out of the fortress, and Shadow kicked the massive door shut.
(8:45pm || Commander Walter's Office – G.U.N Headquarters)
Commander Walter leaned over a holographic display, monitoring the changing situation gleaned from multiple intel feeds streaming into his command center. His brow was furrowed in concentration as the recent skirmish in Shinjuku and hiring Rouge to keep tabs on Shadow's activities weighed heavily on his mind.
"Sir, we're tracking the residual energy signatures from Shadow and Rouge's tracker. They appear to be moving through the Arctic," one of his aides reported, her fingers dancing over the keyboard in front of her.
Walter frowned. Why would Shadow want to go to the Arctic? It could be for one of the Chaos Emeralds. No, they made sure that no Chaos Emeralds were in the Arctic. This didn't make sense unless something was powerful for him to use. Or someone powerful enough to stop his plans. He gritted his teeth as he finally figured out why he was in Antarctica. "Shadow is going after Superman," he muttered bitterly. This wasn't just a setback; it was a disaster. The implications of Superman being incapacitated while Shadow was on the loose sent shivers down his spine. "Activate all available resources and deploy a second containment team to the Arctic immediately. We cannot allow Shadow to gain further leverage in this situation."
"Understood, sir!" the aide replied, her voice laced with urgency. She activated the emergency protocols, sending alerts throughout the headquarters as soldiers prepared for an immediate mission. Walter sighed and rubbed his head. He couldn't ask for the League's help. All of them were dealing with problems on and off the planet, but the Teen Titans were still on the hunt for Shadow. He will fortify defenses at the Space shuttle to the ARK. The Teen Titans on the other hand will keep looking for Shadow and might be able to subdue him and they will place him back into status.
(8:52pm || Fortress of Solitude)
Shadow and Rouge stood at the base of the massive, freestanding door to the Fortress of Solitude, Rouge already locked it once again.
"It feels good to take down a hero like that, but what do we do next?" Rouge asked, her mischievous grin refusing to waver. She inspected the jewels and crystalline structures nestled in her pockets, excitement welling in her chest despite the grim surroundings.
"Now we gather the Chaos Emeralds," Shadow responded, his gaze distancing into an icy horizon as he silently mulled over the next steps. "We need to find where the remaining Emeralds are hidden."
Rouge, nudging Shadow slightly, tilted her head, mischief lighting up her eyes. "But first, we have a little bit of time to play before G.U.N realizes what's happened. And I suspect they're going to be quite furious."
"Furious?" Shadow echoed, his voice like ice. "They'll be desperate. From what you told me, Superman isn't just some man to them; he's a critical asset, a beacon of hope." He rubbed his temples, the weight of urgency brewing in his thoughts. "We can't stay here long. G.U.N isn't going to let this slide. Not to mention the other heroes will most likely wonder where Superman is." Shadow tapped his comms.
"Shadow to Ivo: we have dealt with Superman. Where should we meet up?"
"Ivo here," came the response over the comms. "Good work on incapacitating the Kryptonian. I honestly thought you couldn't pull it off so fast. Meet me at the meeting point I previously marked on Rouge's map—it's a secure location away from prying eyes."
Shadow nodded, turning to Rouge. "We've got our orders. Let's move," he said, the weight of the moment settling heavily upon him. Together, they hurried towards the designated meeting point. The howling wind outside masked their footsteps as Shadow and Rouge approached the warehouse, its rusty exterior blending seamlessly with the decaying landscape around them. Shadow rubbed his nose. It had healed from the headbutt he got from Superman. He understood why Superman "This place is not exactly welcoming, is it?" Rouge remarked, surveying their surroundings. "I almost expected it to have a nice neon sign or lounge chairs."
"Funny," Shadow replied dryly, his gaze scanning the dimly lit expanse ahead. "Let's focus on the task at hand."
As they entered, the flickering lights of the warehouse revealed a series of complex machinery and scattered crates. In the center stood Ivo Robotnik, tapping away on a holographic console, the glow illuminating his smug face. Behind him, various surveillance devices monitored every corner of the warehouse.
"You're here!" Ivo exclaimed, spinning around with fake enthusiasm, his glasses glinting under the dull light. "I trust the trip to the Fortress went… smoothly?"
"Superman won't be causing any more problems for a while," Shadow stated. "Now, let's talk about the Chaos Emeralds."
"Ah, yes! Our prized collection!" Ivo replied, rubbing his hands together in excitement. "As I said before we already have three of the seven emeralds and one of the Emeralds is already on the ARK. I know the location of the other two missing emeralds, the last one we will deal with later."He said, swiping through data on his console until two markers filled the screen once again.
"Start spilling," Shadow crossed his arm while Rouge sat down in one of the chairs.
Ivo paused dramatically before revealing, "The first emerald we are going after is sealed within a hidden laboratory, off the coast of Central city that's under constant surveillance by a tech firm developing advanced defense systems."
Rouge interjected. "Sounds like a delightful challenge. Been a while since I visited Central City." She said.
Shadow's brow furrowed. "And what about the other one?"
"The other emerald is currently hidden in the Amazon Rainforest, although its location isn't completely clear so we will have to find it through your senses Shadow," Ivo finishes and claps his hands twice as the base lights up showing a Private Jet.
"Was that just there?"Shadow asked and Rouge just shrugged.
"I thought you already noticed it. I mean I could see it because I'm part bat. Having night vision really is a blessing." Rouge said, taking off the massive jacket she wore and flapped her wings.
"Indeed, it's quite inconspicuous and definitely stylish," Ivo remarked sarcastically, barely containing his amusement as he walked toward the sleek, black aircraft gleaming under the muted lights of the warehouse.
Shadow sighed, shaking his head at the distraction. "We don't have time for jokes, Robotnik. Let's go." He moved toward the jet, stepping over obstacles that cluttered the floor while Rouge rolled her eyes following.
The interior of the jet was surprisingly luxurious, comfortably fitted with high-tech controls and plush seating.
"Alright and here we go."Ivo said as they heard the roar of the jet as the front of the warehouse opened. The jet flew off into the night sky as the northern lights appeared.
As the private jet soared through the night sky, cutting through the clouds towards Central City, a tense calm settled over the cabin. Shadow stared out of the window, the northern lights. It was so different compared to seeing it on the ARK but just as beautiful. Rouge, however, couldn't resist needling him.
"So, Antarctica was great! I got to kick a few G.U.N soldier's asses, watch you fight superman and now we are on route to Central City! It's just missing one small detail!" She said teasingly, looking at Shadow with a wide smile.
"And what would that be?" Shadow replied, though barely looking in her direction, his eyes still fixed on the darkness beyond the glass.
"A team name is silly."Rouge said with a smile.Shadow remained silent, his gaze still locked on the swirling lights outside. The idea of a team name, of any kind of camaraderie, felt alien and unwelcome. He wasn't interested in games or frivolous distractions. His purpose was singular, and any deviation from it felt like a betrayal of Maria's memory.
Rouge, however, was undeterred. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Come on, Shadow, it'll be fun! We could be the 'Chaos Crew,' or maybe the 'Emerald Enforcers.' 'Team Robotnik' is pretty much the most cringe-worthy thing I've ever heard in my life." She said poking his cheek making Shadow glare.
Ivo, who had been diligently checking coordinates on a holographic display, chuckled from his seat. "Don't listen to her, Shadow. 'Team Robotnik' has a certain ring to it, don't you think? It's got that touch of evil genius flair."
"It sounds like a discount villain group from a low-budget superhero movie," Shadow retorted, his voice flat. "And I'm not interested in joining any group." Shadow said, pushing away Rouge hand.
Rouge rolled her eyes, but a glint of something akin to respect flickered in her eyes. She knew pushing him too hard would be counterproductive. He was driven by a singular, powerful purpose, one that overshadowed any potential for light-hearted camaraderie.
Ivo, ever the pragmatist, decided to change tactics. "Fine, no team names. But we need to strategize for Central City. That tech firm isn't just some fly-by-night operation. They have state-of-the-art security systems, possibly even more advanced than G.U.N.'s."
Shadow finally turned his attention to Ivo, his expression serious. "What kind of security are we talking about?"
Ivo tapped his console, bringing up a schematic of Star Labs. "They have a multi-layered defense system, including laser grids, automated drones, and advanced surveillance technology. They also employ a private security force that's rumored to be highly skilled and well-equipped to deal with meta-humans. Not to mention the Power dampening barriers surrounding the base. "
"Sounds… challenging," Rouge said, a flicker of excitement in her tone. "And I love a challenge."
"We'll have to be silent. In and out as fast as possible," Ivo finally announced, his voice low and decisive. "Shadow, you'll handle any hero or backup that tries to make it to the area. I will disable the main security systems remotely and Rouge will acquire the emerald."
Shadow nodded."Consider it done." Shadow said making Ivo grin
"I've already mapped the facility's network vulnerabilities. It's a cakewalk, as long as you do your parts."Ivo said but Shadow narrowed his eyes as he looked out the Window. He just wanted to get this over with it's finally time to acquire the emeralds.
"Soon Maria… Very soon."