*Unlocks barred windows and breathes in the fresh air*

YES! I HAVE RETURNED! ON HALLOWEEN, NO LESS! MWAHAHAHAHA!

I am so very sorry, everyone, for leaving you hanging for the last... month? Dang, I'm really sorry about that. School and work have been whooping my butt for the past few weeks, and I haven't been able to update this story in that time. It was difficult enough writing this chapter, let alone edit it! Oh, and btw, this chapter is unbetaed, so please let me know if you see something wonky in the pacing or writing. Both me and my betareader are very busy right now, so I can't say for sure when the next chapter will come out. Definitely before November ends, but I really don't know.

On another note, I named all the chapters! Be sure to look at these carefully thought-up name for the chapters, I may or may not keep this up, so please let me know if you like this.

Anyway, enough of my excuses and rambling...

Project: Chaos Control

Chapter 6

Found

Shadow watched the computer screens with calm interest, finally earning a quiet moment after he sent the other two Supers to rest in one of the many rooms of the former Eggman base.

News of the Resistance traveled fast. Almost as soon as that first message ended, EVE reported a slew of support coming in from all around the globe. Some were spreading the word, some were sending donations, and some even volunteered their services toward the cause. Amy Rose and Tails were busy conducting the outpouring of support, trying to organize all the volunteers, while EVE recorded all the financial aspects.

Shadow merely shook his head in wonderment, at a loss for words. He remembered at one point he believed it was him against the world, everyone out to get him. He could still recall that one instance where Mephiles had told him his fate in an alternate future, where he was hunted down for unleashing chaos around the world and promptly sealed away. He had believed the shade then, even secretly anticipated the day it came true.

But now, he knew that little demon was wrong. Here was the proof, proof that not all people were bad, proof that not everyone was against him.

If that demon were here now, Shadow wouldn't hesitate to rub it in his mouthless face…

...

The trees passed by in a blur, the early morning light too faint yet to illuminate the shadows of the dying night. The ground underfoot crunched beneath his rocket-soled shoes with fallen leaves and twigs, doing little to hide his fleeing presence. He made little to no sound, but his grey black chest heaved up and down with the exertion of running as far away from his adversary as he could, pausing only to take great chestfuls of air into his protesting lungs. He leaned against a tree now, quivering from quills to tail from his mad dash away from the place of torment-and from the fear that came with being hunted like prey. He bore the cuts and bruises of his adversary's wrath, and had no doubts that worse would come if he let himself get caught again.

He turned his dark grey and teal head wildly, searching for any sign of his pursuer. At first, it seemed like all was normal. Then, he cringed and shuddered as glowing white eyes pierced the darkness to his left, staring him down with something akin to evil excitement. With no other options, he turned and ran in the opposite direction.

...

A four-note ringtone snapped Shadow out of his reverie as EVE's monotone voice filled the silence.

"Incoming call from GUN communication device. Signal coming from: Club Rouge. Would you like to-"

"Yes, patch it through!"

A moment of silence, then…

"Ebony, do you read me?"

"Loud and clear, Ivory. What's your status?"

"On call. GUN sent me to investigate an explosion in one of their secret research facilities, and I'm on my way there now."

"Do you think…" Shadow didn't dare finish. If he had to retell the story of his failure one more time tonight…

"Who knows? I'll inform you in case anything related to… the Project… comes up."

"Very well," Shadow nodded once, then cut off the transmission. He hated not being out there with his partner, investigating something potentially important to the Resistance's cause. But he had a responsibility to the other two Supers, and until Amy and Tails finished organizing the support, it would be up to him to protect them. There was no one else to fill that role.

The Ultimate Lifeform sighed and held his head in his hands, ears laid back.

Rouge, please stay safe…

...

The fleeing hedgehog stumbled on a root, cursing to himself as the morning chill seeped into his grey-black pelt, sending fresh shudders down his spines.

He's coming for me, his harried thoughts echoed from within his exhausted and terrified mind. He killed Brother, he's going to kill me, too. He killed Brother…

So wrapped up in his fear, he barely recognized the ground giving way underneath his feet before he tumbled down a steep hill, grunting as twigs and branches cut into his already wounded body. His poison green eyes widened as one especially wicked-looking branch seemed to reach out of the blackness, slicing into his eyebrows and blinding him with his own blood. He cried out as he finally landed with a dull thump, all the wind knocked out of him and his right leg throbbing painfully. He curled up out of instinct, quills bristling as he tried desperately to recover from his fall-and knew it was in vain.

I can't see, he realized with a shudder. My leg hurts, and I can't hide in the shadows like I should be able to do. The inhibitor collar is still working, meaning I can't fight back or disguise myself… Oh Iblis, what do I do?!

He curled up tighter into his ball as despair washed over him, waiting with baited breath for whatever torture was about to-

"M-Mephiles?"

He stiffened at the sound of his name, caught off guard at the concern and shock in the voice that hovered over his terrified form. He vaguely felt a gloved hand light itself on his forehead as he realized the voice was female.

...

A shadowy figure watched the scene below him with a glare, his blue-black quills bristling with rage. This was certainly not the turn of events he had been expecting. The little whelp was supposed to be alone, whimpering like the cowardly dog he was. He wasn't supposed to be found, nevermind by the Resistance he had heard rumors of through the comlink he had stolen from GUN. He knew Rouge was close to Shadow, so it would come to no surprise if she-

Yup, he thought, suspicions confirmed, as the bat turned on her comlink and requested for help, never taking her hand off of the shade. Typical of Team Dark. Always calling the shots. If only I had steered him back towards the facility, then maybe I could've had a little more time to enjoy throwing him around…

A sudden idea struck the hedgehog, the brilliance behind such a thought causing his once heroic smirk to widen into a predator's grin.

No, he won't be the only one, he chuckled softly as a flash of light briefly illuminated the surrounding trees, announcing the arrival of a certain Ultimate Lifeform. He watched as the two agents argued with one another, gesturing to the quivering whelp a few times, before Shadow finally grumbled defeat and carefully lifted the wounded hedgehog by his legs and shoulders.

Let them have my pet. He will be my messenger, and when the time is right…

A deep rumbling voice, followed by another flash of light, and it was as if the three had never been there.

… I will strike.

...

The shade lay still, groaning as he finally regained consciousness. He was lying on something soft and comfortable, so different from the metal bench he had been forced to sleep on during his captivity in GUN. He vaguely recognized a blanket had been thrown over his battered body up to his chest, and his arms were exposed to the cold air. He tried to blink, but quickly realized that bandages covered his eyes and forehead, effectively blindfolding him. Panicking at his vulnerability, he reached up to remove them- only to have gloved hands clasp his wrists suddenly, firmly but gently bringing them down.

"Hey, calm down," a gruff voice said, and Mephiles winced when he recognized it as Shadow's. "Those need to stay on for a few days."

His ears flattened themselves to his head, a growl resounding in his throat despite his uncertainty.

"Where am I?"

"In a secret bunker belonging to the Resistance."

The demigod cocked an ear, curiosity perking. "A Resistance… against GUN, I presume?"

"No," came the curt reply. "Against Project: Chaos Control. I have no qualms with the soldiers, only the initiative."

Typical of the Ultimate Lifeform...

He grunted and turned his head away, absorbing this new information. He did vaguely recall someone had picked him up (he presumed it was Shadow, remembering the reluctance in his movements), saying something about a base, before he had passed out from exhaustion. He gently ran his hand along the bandages, following its path behind his head-

His thumb came into contact with the inhibitor collar.

He hissed vehemently when he realized he was still collared, and wrapped his fingers around the metal band, fully intending on ripping it off. Before he could do so, however, Shadow once again grabbed his wrists and roughly pinned them down, a growl rumbling from his own throat.

"Stop," he barked, only gripping tighter as the shade tried to pull his hands free. "I'm not going to tolerate this anymore! If I have to restrain you to that bed, I will!"

"N-no," Mephiles gasped, remembering the pain and humiliation the dreaded collar had brought during his captivity. Then, in his mind's eye, he saw the glowing white eyes, staring at him with an evil smirk. He shuddered as he recalled the hate, the pain, and the death. So much death…

Brother…

"Snap out of it!" Shadow yelled, effectively bringing the shade out of his nightmare. He flinched and seemed to grow smaller, quivering uncontrollably as the fear lingered. He felt his arch enemy's gloved hand on his shoulder, trying in vain to shake him.

"You were too late."

Shadow narrowed his gaze, fists tightening their grip on the shade. "What?!"

"You were too late. I talked with him, before they took him for his procedure. He's gone now. You failed-"

The shade felt his arch rival lean in closer, almost literally feeling the rage coming off of the Ultimate Lifeform in waves.

"What. Happened?!" The Ultimate Lifeform demanded, his already-thin patience threatening to shatter. After taking the demon to the clinic, Rouge had demanded she go back to the ruined facility to finish her investigation. She had yet to return, and if she came back, only to tell him that they had committed the ultimate failure to save the world's hero...

"Dark…" the shade gasped, snapping Shadow back to the present. He turned his attention back to Mephiles, realizing with shock that his most hated enemy was failing to hide his fear as he whispered three ominous words.

"Dark is coming."

...

I am so mean! Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long to get up.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter and pretty please leave a review. You don't know how meaningful each new review is!

Well, until next time, hope you have a happy Halloween!