Chapter 26

“Thanks for all your help, Shadow.” Tails said as he hopped up onto the wing of their jet, “We couldn't have done it without you!”

Lark looked over the side of the jet as well and smiled down at the hedgehog, “He's right. I owe you a huge debt.”

Shadow folded his arms across his chest as he looked up at the two, “Shouldn't you two be going?” he mumbled.

“He's right.” Lark said looking over at Tails, “Let's get a move on.” Tails nodded and jumped into the back of the jet.

“Hey Shadow,” Tails said looking over the side again, “Could you just let Sonic and the others know I'm okay? I don't want them to worry about me.”

Shadow nodded, “Sure.” he said simply, and with that he turned and ran back down the road towards the city.

Tails smiled after him as the glass cockpit closed, then looked forward as Lark began to prepare the jet for take off and reached over to fasten his seatbelt, but drew his hand back and grasped his side in pain.

“Are you going to be alright to fly?” Tails asked leaning forward, “I could pilot if you want.”

Lark quickly grabbed ahold of the controls, “No offense Miles, but this isn't kid stuff.” he replied, “Just because Cree flies one of these doesn't mean it doesn't take some sort of skill.”

“But I fly all the time!” Tails argued, “I've even built my own jets before. Let me fly, you shouldn't strain yourself.”

Lark glanced back at Tails doubtfully for a moment and then pressed the button to open the cockpit and stood up carefully, “Alright, I'll trust you.” he said, “But remember, we have to get back as quickly as we possibly can so... fly carefully, but not too carefully.”

“Don't worry,” Tails said as he stood up to switch places, “I saw what Cree did on the way to Akillian so I know just how to handle these sort of jets.”

“Somehow that doesn't make me feel any better...”

Shadow glanced back over his shoulder and saw the blue jet flying off into the distance. He couldn't hold back the trace of a smile as he continued along through the city and back up to the palace. It didn't take him long to get there with his speed and soon enough he found himself back in the courtyard before the palace where he found Amy, Cosmo, and Cream standing on the white marble stairs talking.

Amy looked up at him with a smile, “Shadow!” she called as she waved to him, “I was wondering where you'd gone off to in such a hurry... but anyway, Levee said she was waiting for you.”

Shadow raised an eyebrow in puzzlement, “Waiting... for me?” he repeated.

“Yeah, she didn't really tell us why though.” she continued with a shrug, “I do remember it had something to do with somebody named Lark.”

Shadow's eyes widened; Levee must've known what he did to help the rebel general back in the ghettos! He was going to be in a load of trouble when she found him.

Then he remembered what Tails had asked him to do, “Actually Amy, I saw Tails not too long ago.” he said.

The three girls quickly ran up to him in excitement, “You did?!” Amy cried, “Is he alright?”

“Where did you see him?” Cosmo demanded.

“I saw him just outside the city and he's fine.” Shadow replied, “He said to tell you not to worry and-”

“Shadow! There you are!”

Shadow spun around quickly to see Levee coming towards him across the grass with another squirrel in uniform trailing close behind her. She approached Shadow and smiled at him in a friendly way, “I'm so glad I found you!” she said placing a hand on his shoulder, “Would you mind following us for a moment, we'd like to speak to you in private for a moment.” her grip on his shoulder tightened painfully as she spoke.

Shadow glared at her for a moment but then thought it would just be best to play along for the time being, he looked over to the three girls, “I'll tell you more later.” he said.

“But Shadow-!” Amy cried, but he was already heading off somewhere with Levee. She stomped her foot angrily, “What's up with him?” she demanded, “If he found Tails why didn't he bring him back...? And what could Levee possibly want with him?” she continued looking over at Cream and Cosmo.

“We should tell Sonic and the others about what Mr. Shadow said.” Cream said with a nod.

“Good idea. We wouldn't want them to be worrying too.” Cosmo added. Then the three headed off in the opposite direction to find Sonic, Knuckles, and Chris.

“What do you want?” Shadow demanded as the soldier slammed the door shut behind him. The room she had led him to was small and uninviting. TV screens covered the wall to the left showing various parts of the palace and flat computer screens lined the wall to the right, “And why did you bring me to a security center?” he added after glancing around.

Levee turned about with a wide smile on her face, “Why so angry, Shadow?” she asked, “You did a great job! I just wanted to show you how well you did back there in the ghettos.”

“What are you talking about? I helped them get away! You should be angry with me.” Shadow mumbled in confusion.

“Of course!” Levee said clapping her hands together, “It all went according to my plan, and you and Tails are doing just a great job of helping it along.”

“What?!” Shadow still didn't understand what she was going on about.

Levee laughed cheerfully, “Come take a look.” she said pointing to the computer next to her. Shadow approached her cautiously and looked down at the screen where a small red dot was blinking on a map.

“What exactly are you showing me?” Shadow asked.

“Why that's your friend,” Levee said with a smile, “in his jet on his way back to Akillian.”

Shadow's eyes widened with realization, it was no wonder she seemed so happy! The tracking dot the soldier had slipped into Lark's pocket was going to lead her right into Akillian.

I was going to end it here but that would just be mean, wouldn't it?

Later back at Akillian...

Discordia sat in her corner chair tapping her foot against the floor nervously. It had been a little over an hour since the episode with Celsia and she had disappeared somewhere. Discordia might have gone to search for her but she reasoned that she could do that later. She was needed here more.

She continued to stare across the room at Cree lying on the bed. His eyes were closed but his face still wore a pained expression and every once in awhile he would groan and shift his position, but other than that there didn't seem to be much life left in him.

Then she heard a sigh next to her and she looked around to find Akeii hovering in a sitting position next to her, “You know...” he mumbled, “I did want Cree to tell Celsia to back off a little but... that wasn't quite the way I wanted him to do it.”

Discordia looked back at Cree, “I want to be angry with him...” she said, “but I can't. It's not his fault, it's the poison affecting his brain. He probably won't even remember that he said those things to her later... if Lark gets back in time that is.”

Akeii glanced over at her, “You don't think he will?” he asked.

“Cree's deteriorating fast.” she replied sadly, “If Lark doesn't get back soon then it'll be too late. Earlier he started calling some nurse his mother.”

“It can't end this way.” Akeii mumbled while looking at the floor. Discordia didn't say anything in response but just continued to stare across the room.

“Discordia!” the pair of them looked towards the door as it was flung open by a doctor, “The general's jet is coming into the air hangar!”

Discordia stood up quickly and pulled on her hood, “Keep an eye on Cree, I'm going up there.” she said to Akeii. (Of course the doctor only saw that she was talking to a wall and so was a bit puzzled.)

“Slow down! We're going to land not ram through the mountain!” Lark cried.

Tails looked back at him, “This was how Cree landed his jet when we arrived here the first time.”

“Yeah, but Cree's a horrible pilot!” Lark shouted, “We're in a rush but that doesn't mean we want to crash into the hangar wall!”

Tails smiled weakly, “Sorry, the jets I fly are different than these ones. I just assumed what he did was normal.” Tails slowed the jet down as they approached secret entrance in the mountainside. The rock door slid aside for them to enter and Tails landed the jet easily, rolling forward slowly into the hangar where a small group of soldiers stood waiting for them.

Tails quickly pressed the button to open the cockpit and stood up, “We're not too late, are we?” he asked.

“No, but you will be soon if you don't hand over that antidote!” Tails looked over and saw Discordia emerge from the door to the stairwell.

“Yeah... I have it.” Lark said standing up slowly, clutching his side. He swung his legs over the side of the cockpit and slid down the side of the jet, as he landed he collapsed to his knees from the jolt of hitting the ground.

“Sir! Are you alright?” a few of the soldiers rushed forward to help him up.

“He was attacked!” Tails said jumping down as well, “Cree was right, there was an ambush waiting for us in the ghettos.”

Discordia approached Lark, who was now being supported by one of the soldiers, “Where's the antidote?” she demanded, “There isn't much time left.”

Lark reached into his front pocket and pulled out the small vial and held it out for her. She swiped it out of his hand and swept out of the hangar and down the stairs.

“You're welcome.” Lark mumbled angrily.

“Come on, Sir.” the soldier he was leaning on said, “We should get you to the hospital as well.”

“Yeah, that would be best.” Lark replied. The group headed towards the elevator with Tails close behind, all of them completely unaware of the tracking dot blinking away in Lark's back pocket.