limiterrings | (no subject)

[These reflections are...unwanted. Faces looking back, reminding him he was different. Having no where to belong, just a specimen to be used. He keeps his eyes forward the best he can, less the question of why he continues forward starts to dance in his mind again.

To find the other that looked almost like him, who had the same powers as him. Feelings that he may finally get answers rising like butterflies in his gut. That is the only thing he clings to now.

As he turns the corner, he sees them. The double staring at their own reflection up ahead. He takes one more step, but then stops. Instinct and past experience have trained him to keep his distance. Eventhough they were just working together. He's not in the best of shape if they decide to come at him again. His chest hurts, and he could feel the burns he sustained from the spears on his right side, and on one of his head quills. There's definitely some brusing on his back after getting hit a few times by those orbs.

He lets out a sigh, the silence deafening. Now that they're not forced to fight and in a space where nothing is happening at this moment, what does he even say? The answers may be right in front of him, and he's gone tight lip now?]

[ they are reflections that it seems like their expression changes when you look away, but that's simply a trick of the light. shadow remains in place as he notices that copy in the reflection, but he doesn't acknowledge them in the mirror, instead he only speaks while his eyes remain onto himself. ]

Keep moving.

[ that's all the copy can do anyway, keep moving and push ahead. the reason why shadow stops is to confirm his suspicions, not only that, he has energy to spend even if he's caught up in something again. the other one, however, seems to learn but also exhuast fuel as it comes, yes his show of destroying what they just left would have earned applause from certain individuals, but shadow doesn't know if that copy's tired.

resting here doesn't seem like a smart choice either, too out in the open, but isn't it strange they haven't seen any other monsters despite this place big enough to hold that one? ]

...

[ but he moves himself, away from the wall that reminds him of glass to start walking down the only path that they have for now. ]

[Shadow had boundless amounts of energy coursing through him, but his body has not been trained to endure the stress that longer fights would demand of it. When fights back home ended relatively quick, he never thought about conserving certain attacks over others. So that whole battle back there, did take a lot out of him, but he's keeping this fact hidden from his double the best he can. He still doesn't know if he can fully trust them just yet.

Being told to keep moving, doesn't get any complaints from him. They can't stay here or go back, they can only move forward now. He follows behind his double, still keeping some space between them. Interesting. From here, he noticed the double was short one head quill from the back. Big difference to tell them apart, besides their differing experience in combat. What else was there? He really wish he could ask, but he feels that might set them off. They seem...well, grumpier? Is that the word?

The passage gradually starts to change, smoothing out into pavement. Old dried blood from various scuffles that occured down here in the past can be seen, splattered on various parts of the floor and walls. Blood.] Your head. [He still occasionally sees fresh spots of blood on the floor coming from his double.]

[ he keeps quiet, his thoughts running a marathon on what he needs to do — find out why he's here, figure out what to do what's behind him, understand why the monsters have some relation to him, but not the other. not having an answer to most of what he's dealing with does cause him to growl under his breath, but it's not directed to his copy behind him.

footsteps brush against dried blood, the smell of the area fills his nose, but doesn't bother him at all. whatever has been down here has probably fought, died, and was eaten by another, bigger threat. luckily, shadow doesn't need to eat, it's just a luxury that he can do without so no matter how long this path goes... at least he won't grow famished. ]

...

[ initially he ignores him to see how far this cave carries their voices, there isn't much of an echo. ]

That's what happens during a battle, you aim and draw blood.

[ a common fact about fighting, but what does he want, a little more explanation on where he should have struck to kill him faster? he's not getting that, but shadow glances at the wall beside them where blood makes it hard to see their reflections. ]

It'll heal soon enough. [ the only worry they need is that nothing is attracted to the scent, but it's not like shadow's blood is normal so the chances of something appearing isn't zero. he's mindful, his eyes always shifting left then right as though waiting for something to move.

hm. ]

Do you bleed?

[ to be fair, shadow didn't do much, but that's because he was focused on something entirely different than the opponent he had. it's a question though, and if his copy wanted, it could go question for question. ]

[Well, that much he figured. He was more wondering if they were going to do something about it. If they were all right? Well if they can still walk, yes, he suppose. Just as he was about to clarify, they answered anyway. Sort of. He feels he should just leave it at that.Now a question is being returned to him. It puzzled him for a moment, mostly cause they had him thinking they were going to do something with a question like that.]

...Yes. [His ears twitch, thinking he heard something, distant. After a moment, it doesn't occur again. Picking up his pace again, he stares at some claw marks on the wall. The question comes now that they've started talking.] ...That creature back there, you fought it before? [They knew what to do, which begs to question, is the monster from the movie actually a real alien? And also, why did...whomever runs this place, specifically send that creature when one of them knew how to deal with it?]

Hmmn...

[ it's not a wrong question to ask, but isn't he too curious? though, gaining information isn't a bad thing at all, but what is obvious and what is new? it'd waste both their times if he have to speak on what they should both know, but shadow is starting to realize the hedgehog behind him doesn't run off proper data.

he continues forward, vivid memories flashing through his mind about the creation of that monster, and what it was meant to be. that monster, then another monster, and then his own creation... just a string of monsters built for a specific purpose, it's just he managed to find his before that creature could fulfill its own. ]

I have.

[ every time he comes across it, there's always something new, different, but it didn't manage to obtain that second phase it tries to do.

...at least there's no impending doom weighing on his shoulders from seeing any eggs around in the case, so it's not like the creature bonded to this cave or anything. ]

It is not familiar to you?

We- [He stops what he was going to say. Because it would bring up her into his thoughts. He doesn't want to think or talk about her right now.]

...It sort of looked like a monster in a movie I watched. Not real. [It was literally a man in a suit. But even so, that movie hit a little too close to home. About himself.] Did it mean something to you? [Remembering his double had said something to it.]

[ "we" he starts, but whoever that could entail leads to something unexpected. a movie, huh? it's the first time he's heard it described like that. to hear that monster to be called "not real" makes him click his tongue. almost like his life is both a joke and a spectacle, but he doesn't know where to place this copy of his on a scale of if he's telling the truth or lying. ]

Real as they come.

[ he pauses, it's not information he gives often. ]

My past has a way of appearing in odd places, that's all.

[ what shadow won't do is say that parts of his past haunts him, no, he won't let it be known that he can even be disturbed by it. his copy doesn't need that information. ]

[An eyebrow raise at that. It's connected to their past, how? He has a feeling he won't get an answer if asked. He can live with that for now, not particularly wanting to get into his own himself. What little that has been spoken between them at least gave him some insight about his previous thoughts. He thought before, maybe there were a group of hedgehogs that shared similiar abilities like him. That doesn't feel like the case with the one walking in front of him. They recognized same monster, yet both interpreted it differently.]

Who are you? [The inside voice ended up becoming the outside voice. Maybe he just wanted to hear how they will answer, to give himself something. Will he get the answer is another question. There were distant muffled voices. Sounded like they were in a panic. In the next, the underground shook slightly. That can't be good.]

[ this is said matter of factly, condfident in his answer. ]

I am the Ultimate Lifeform.

[ he is also a monster, he is also if said by others... a friend, even a hero, but initially he should have been a cure.

shadow has a feeling when this copy responds that he — his thoughts quickly shift to the sounds nearby, he holds his composure to prevent himself from falling from the shake.

the cave's ceiling drops a few pieces of rock around them as it breaks apart, but not enough to call for danger. they should be wary due to those panic noises being selfish concern or they're troubled that two hedgehogs are getting away and they're preparing something to find them again. ]

How annoying....

[...Ah. That's what the scientists said he was too. A title given to him that felt more like a curse placed onto him. What did a title mean, when all he ever was to everyone was a tool, a freak. His double....his other seem to hold that title differently. Like he was proud of it. Why? How?

He glances around the passage walls, frowning. The underground shakes again, more violently. He takes a few steps forward, more in line with his other.] Are they trying to bury us? [That might explain the lack of seeing any other life down here.]

[ his head turns to look at his copy, the expression he wears is telling that he isn't bothered by the statement. ]

Then so be it.

[ shadow's death wish is pretty apparent, but unlikely given his circumstances of being unable to die. he doesn't seem afraid of the risk for himself, but if the copy brought it up, is there a chance there's something about the situation he doesn't like? ]

They'll presume us dead, that gives us more freedom than we have now.

[ another shake, but he knows better than to sit there and talk about what their hunters are doing, they need to also start doing to make the aftermath easier. ]

We need to find somewhere that'll be less affected by the blast if there is one.

[A moment of confusion as his other just accepts it. But as they continue, he gets it. Pretending to be dead once more. Even wherever here is it seems. Wonder if his other has done this a few times...he doesn't really want to get into the implications of what that means right now.

He takes a few more steps ahead of them. Places like this usually have side paths, or pockets of weak points in the infracstructure. If he had a clear idea of where they actually were, maybe they could just teleport somewhere if they can't find shelter in here. If they're willing to bring this place down, does that mean there's no obstructions above?] You can teleport too, can't you?

[ that is an option, but is it a good enough one to warrant him doing anything. his skillset, to them, appears limited and that's what he wants. the less they know, the better. ]

Yes.

[ to answer the question, as to why he hasn't used it is all part of thinking six steps ahead compared to their hunters. ]

Do you have a path you want to take?

[ they have no idea where they are, they don't know if it's a bluff and they're tricking them to teleport somewhere that they can capture them.

the other did let shadow decide how to leave the shield during the arena, then shadow can allow the copy to make this call. shadow will continue walking, glancing at the split of caves that they could walk into if his copy is interested. ]

[He looks to them. Up to now, he just let the other dictate where to go, what to do. It hadn't fail them up to this point. That isn't to say he can't make his own decisions, having to figure out how to navigate the world alone. It's just being put on the spot from them was...well the confidence in his idea becomes uncertain.]

...I'm not sure, but the path must be clear above. [He looks up, frowning. Are their captors also anticipating them to escape that way? Maybe that's why his other didn't propose it initially.] It's a last resort. [The underground shakes again, more frequently. He moves closer to his other, noticing the splits along with them.] That one. [He points to an opening ahead to their right that looked large enough for them to fit into.]

You have to be sure.

[ that's the thing about leading anyone, insecurities will hold a person back and lead them into more danger. between him and sonic, the airhead runs into trouble unsure of it'll work but is confident in his actions that it should.

shadow will make it work when he chooses to do something.

however, he can't scold this copy of his, he can only add suggestions as he looks to the cave the other chooses. without hesitating, he skates, ducking a bit to slip inside. whatever's wet on the floor as he kneels down, he doesn't go out of his way to figure out what it is.

once again the cave shakes, the crystallized walls cracking then shattering onto the floor. of course, when a threat tries to put him in danger, he can't help but groan in annoyance. ]

[Have to? When he's been wandering aimlessly, not knowing what he wants to do himself, let alone capable of leading anyone. He doesn't say any of that. Not the time or place, but the expectation just feels foreign to him.

He sees his other speed off into the space without question and follows after them. It's a tight fit, but they will both be able to take shelter. Will it hold is another. He's curled up slightly in the space, feeling the other pressed against him. At this point, the underground was shaking continuously. Walls and debris falling around them. Complete collapse imminent.

He couldn't hide how terrified he was by all this, body shaking, nervous breathing. It's unnerving, when he normally fights the problem or avoids them altogether. Now he has to learn to sit through the danger itself. He survived a fall from space though, he should make it through a whole cave-in. That's what he keeps telling himself, but he can't push back that feeling of uncertainty of the unknown. He closes his eyes, hoping it would help. Just, listening and feeling all this destruction around him, still unpleasant. The noise occasionally almost sound like explosions, hits too close to an event he doesn't want to recall again.]

[ the difference where this copy visually shakes, pressed up against him is something that shadow can't ignore. if this is a clone of him, it's pathetic at best, but there's something about his circumstances compared to his own — his experiences are different or his data is corrupted. he doesn't know the biolizard, the connection that he or it should have to it.

it's like he's ... scared, afraid. it has been some time since he could ever remember such a feeling that wasn't anger and hatred, the need for revenge would drive him, his moments of disbelief that turned into malice. it's new, something he's unable to just ignore when this copy carries his face. normally eggman would only make those robots unable to make expressions, only carrying out the need to kill and destroy what's around them, but this one acts so...

...

who are you is what he wants to ask. what could they have created that this of all things becomes terrifying? shadow too hates the noise, it reminds him of a time, but there's no alarms, and there's no gunshots so he does better than the one beside him. as things crumble down, the ground splitting in various areas as the ceiling falls... something sparkles that catches his attention out in the debris that gets knocked against a piece of rock into another. ]

...You stay here.

[ as dangerous as it is to go out there, shadow's body slowly shifts away from the one next to him. ]

[It is rather pathetic, and he hates when others see him vulnerable. But nothing can be done about it. It's a new experience, overwhelming. His mind in constant battle over wanting to get out, or keep staying there. Other thoughts keep flashing in his mind. A fire, the area going bright and then...the ringing in his ears. His ears twitch, picking up something else, the other's voice. Isn't the world still coming down out there?

He curls up more tightly, easier for them to get out, but also to give himself comfort. He's going to be left on his own. He will at least open his eyes again. A look that was trying to understand what the other was doing.] Where...? [He tries to hide that bit of desperation in his voice. Whatever their thoughts are about him, they were still the only thing "familiar" in this unknown place. What will he do if he doesn't see them again? And...last thing he wants is to find a dead body that looks almost like him once this is over.

He glance pass his other, trying to occupy his mind with something else. Maybe he can see what it they're looking at out there. And that's when he notices it. It was quick, but something shines among the falling debris. But is it honestly worth going out there for that?? His other thinks so, but he can't tell from here what it is.]

[ the copy can look out there and see technically nothing but large rocks falling, glass shattering and shooting out into the ground as everything begins to crush what's below. he'll see something hit against a falling rock, a type of dull colored emerald that flashes red when turned at an angle. it's in a familiar shape that he could probably pinpoint anywhere if he recalls what it reminds him off.

this is what shadow wants. even if the energy within the gem has probably faded some, it will still be useful if it's what he thinks it is. if it even means the same thing here where it does back home, but these gems have an odd way of appearing in strange places.

that's why shadow is already crawling his way out, quick to roll onto the ground and dodge a falling rock that's able to cover half of the entrance of where the copy is.

on his hands and knees, shadow attempts to stand up, but one shape rock comes down, which he narrowly avoids by disappearing and appearing on top of the falling object that crashes to the floor and shatters upon impact. it's dangerous, sharp pointed ends fall down like rain that threaten to impale shadow, but he doesn't seem to be afraid. the look in his eyes shows determination, he's calm with every move that he makes, and wary of his surroundings as he tries to catch up to the gem that continues to be knocked against other pieces. ]

[Well, that piece of debris makes it harder for him to see what's happening. He's not too concerned about being trapped just yet. He knows he can break through all this. He'll have to unfurl though so he can shift position to see and make sure his other was still moving.

They're very much, moving. As if they've been through this obstacle course before. It was both amazing and horrifying to watch as they narrowly avoid getting skewered. He doesn't know or realize it himself, but he would react and move just as naturally when put under various situations. Even when he was at the base, there had been instances of him displaying quick reflexes just after being released from the meteor. He could not imagine this is how he looked to others though. The gap of experience between them just seems so far apart.

The emerald finally comes to it's resting place, rolling underneath some debris. A large piece of the ceiling breaks apart and starts to fall over that same area. The emerald would get further buried if his other doesn't get to it, but then, they risk getting crushed. That piece of the ceiling was far larger than anything his other had avoided previously. He feels his body react before his head catches up with him, punching the bit of debris blocking the entrance as he tries to crawl out of the space. Would he make it in time?]

[ it's risky, but his chances grow even more if it's within his possession. at first, the gem around the neck of the host called his attention, it was familiar in energy — it wouldn't surprise him if they were siphoning the power of the emeralds into it. at most, this is a dead emerald with only so much energy left or none at all, and this is what shadow risks his life for.

up onto his feet, using surrounding rocks to jump off of and the occasional spin dash to breaking it in two in order to get through. it seems easily doable until the larger rock comes through, his abilities tested at losing the emerald or being crushed upon retrieval.

he has to keep moving no matter the consequence of his actions, and if he's taken out here and they unearth his body all he can hope for is that it's unusable. death hasn't really been kind to him, his body geared towards survival no matter the circumstances and then there's his dna.

if he's unable to die then he knows what's out there won't let him die either as long as he exists. that's why shadow tries for it, running underneath the piece ready to crush him, and it's with a swift kick against the emerald in the direction of his copy.

maybe he knows, maybe he doesn't. he doesn't have the time to use it correctly because time is not on his side to harness the power, but he mouths the words "chaos control" to the copy. whether they can utilize it or not, even a weak version of it may make a difference here. ]

[He's not going to make it. The ceiling nearly on top of them that he wouldn't be able to speed in and get them out without them both getting crushed. He hears something rolling towards him though, the sound distinctly different from the crumbling of debris. An...emerald? Like the one of the seven Sonic used to power himself, only this one was larger.

He picks it up in both his hands, feeling a faint power coursing through it. Familiar, like how the power from the emeralds back home felt to him. It is made with the same energy coursing through him. He sees his other mouth something to him. Two words. Faintly, he remembers some kind of research the scientists were looking into, but it never got anywhere at the time. Those two words came up then. He has no time to ponder, he needs to act. React to whatever happens next. He lifts the emerald before him, sparks appear from his hand to give it a little more power. The emerald shines just a little more brighter. Once again, this feels natural even without the knowledge of how and why.]

Chaos...Control!

[The space around them suddenly comes to a grinding halt. Nothing was moving, or just barely by an inch. Colors have became pale and distorted, like Shadow had gain a new sight of the world around him. He's taken aback, but he can't sit there to process what he had done. Not knowing how long this will last, he understands he needs to take every opportunity given in this moment to act. Somehow he knew he could still move in this space like normal as he rushes to his other, kicking and punching aside the debris. They don't move, but once time returns, they'll have been pushed out of harm's way. He doesn't know if his other can move in this moment as well, so his priority is to make sure they can get out as well.

The surface is now open to them. There will be no glorious city waiting for them though. Just a dingy district of facilities that surround the dome they were just in. Further eventual investigation will reveal this was nothing more than a outpost of such. A space created for the sake of bringing otherworldly travelers in to entertain within the dome. Sure enough, there will be flying armed vehicles waiting for them above, ready to shoot them if they are not quick enough to react. Will time still stop long enough for them to avoid them?]

[ time stops, the world's color grows dull, almost like being underwater — sound fades out into nothing, and this is a world that shadow understands much like breathing air. his eyes glance to the side, then to the other as he can hear rock above him shatter into pieces. he made a good choice then, it seems even this individual is capable of harnessing chaos energy in the same matter as him.

if he didn't then it would have been something of the end for them, but shadow's quick to jump up, catching his footing on pieces of rock that's flat enough for him to use. he uses these to his advantage to quickly follow after where his copy is, the look in his eyes as he meets the others is one that acknowledges that he's done good. as for the emerald, he allows the other to keep it, besides with how much juice is left within it, he knows it won't have much use for himself.

as swiftly as he can, shadow makes it to the top to take in what's waiting for them, and the vehicles do not go unnoticed. rather, he glares at the one that's already shot a sort of missile and net in the direction of where they think one of them would be. jumping towards it, shadow flips upside down, kicking the missile in the other direction, and hop over to grab the edge of the net. there's some sort of sticky substance on it, and he jumps into one of the aircrafts to hook it around the driver.

whatever it does, he'll figure out once the world goes back to normal, but he isn't against turning the wheel on the vehicle to ensure it goes crashing into another. he points two fingers at another one, suggesting that his copy should follow suit with the others, because as soon as time begins and everything crashes into each other — they'll have to run while they're all distracted.

but the question is which way. ]

[The look when their eyes met, he felt some relief that the other didn't seem disappointed. Despite his moments of weakness, he can perform when asked of him, even if he doesn't fully understand the command. He had to be trained and conditioned to perform near flawlessly in his task, or else the base probably wouldn't have been standing for as long as it had been.

He comes up to the surface with his other as they've gone ahead to deal with one of the vehicles. The emerald, disappeared from his hand for the moment. Whether he's aware he did it or not, is uncertain. He's already looking at the other flying vehicle as his other instructs him to do the same. It's like dealing with G.U.N on his tail once again. He knows how to deal with that. He teleports up, appearing on the side of the pilot. He gets a clearer view of the area from up here, noting it quickly as he breaks into the cockpit. The controls were alien to him, but turning a stirring wheel is still universal apparently. He turns, then kicks it to keep it jammed in one direction.

Once completed, he jumps towards the other, looking for his double.] Here! [Soon as he spots them, he reaches for them. Expecting, hoping they grab hold so he can teleport them both out of there. He saw a building that looked abandoned in the distance while he was handling the other pilot. That's where he would take them, successfully getting them inside an old empty room, and putting quite some distance between them and all the action as time returns to normal. The sound of a distant explosion being the indication that the flying vehicles have made contact into each other.

He had landed on his feet in the new area, but after a moment, collapses onto the floor to catch his breath again. Whatever that "chaos control" was, didn't know how much it would drain him until they were finally out of danger, for now. Could be because he had made the choice to give it a little more power, lack of familiarity to properly control that power, or both.]