I Am...All of Me

The Deed

    Shadow was surprised when he received the summons to the Commander's office. He had been called upstairs only twice, and each time it was only for a top secret solo operation. He had gotten back to HQ less than a week ago from a previous mission, and it puzzled him that he should be sent back out so soon. He stopped outside of the Commander's door, his ear twitching at the sound of two voices, and pushing aside his hesitation, he knocked.

     "Come in," his employer ordered, and the ebony agent stepped inside to a shocking sight. Sitting directly across from Commander Towers was public enemy number one, Dr. Eggman. The smug look on the man's face was unsettling, and the fact that his boss was giving him an almost apologetic gaze wasn't helping.

   "Ah, Shadow! Just the hedgehog I came here to see," Eggman greeted.

   "What is he doing here outside of a holding cell?" Shadow demanded, fingers itching to create a chaos spear.

   "Negotiations," the Commander answered in a low tone, "Some...disturbing information has come to light."

   "Disturbing is in the eye of the beholder, Abraham," Eggman corrected, his shielded gaze never leaving that of the hedgehog still standing. In all honesty, Shadow didn't trust what could happen if he chose to sit down.

   "That's Commander Towers, Doctor," he snapped, "What kind of information?"

"The deed of Project Shadow."

  Ruby orbs widened as his world suddenly decided to slow down. They had found it. He had hoped it had been lost in the raid of the Ark 50 years ago, but somehow they had found them...his ownership papers. Whatever was on that paper would determine his life...and who he belonged to.

   "And?" he coughed out, cursing his voice for losing some of its confident tone, for Eggman's smirk had broadened at his response. This could only end badly.

   Commander Towers took up the conversation from that point, taking up the well-preserved pages in his hands and studied the condemning contents as he spoke, "Pro. Gerald Robotnik did not sign over the rights of the project to GUN. As the three of us know, my father, Lawrence Towers, was not the most honorable leader of the GUN, and so it makes sense that Gerald would want to keep you out of his hands. Unfortunately, this means that you go to the next of Gerald's kin, who happens to be in this room," the last phrase held enough venom to choke a cobra, but it did not have the same desired effect on the rotund man lounging in his office chair.

   Shadow's eyes locked with Eggman's, slowly processing what had just been said, before his attention snapped back up to the heterochronic man behind the desk. Red orbs were filled with an unknown, yet powerful emotion. He was being signed over like a piece of property, no as property, to the most evil man on the planet. Did he have no say in the matter of his own life?

   "But, sir! You can't let him do this! How do we even know those papers are real? Why is he coming forward with this now? How can you just sell me to the enemy of the world!?"

   "I'm sorry, Shadow, but my hands are tied. Trust me, I've had these papers triple-checked. They're authentic. The transaction is legal, and therefore, I can do nothing."

  "But this is wrong! How can you even say that!?" Shadow was desperate now, and everyone knew it. Crimson eyes stared into the bi-colored orbs of his former boss, filled with hurt, betrayal, and pleading.

   "I'm sorry, but as of this moment forward, you are no longer an agent of GUN. You are released into the custody and ownership of Dr. Ivo Robotnik, also known as Dr. Eggman," the words that left Towers's mouth tasted bitter as he said them. He hated how neither of them had a choice, and their worst enemy had gotten a victory. Shadow sighed, and he closed his eyes to steel himself.