Continued from Part One: https://blogs.neoseeker.com/ShadowNc/5602-cracker-chronicle-8-amethyst-part-one-ace-in-hole/

I wish to point out that you should leave all your comments for part three, which may or may not be up tomorrow. Write them down. Seriously, people. Anyway, this particular part is rated PG-13 because it has a bit more graphic violence than usual, plus a decent amount more swearing. You have been warned.

***

June 17th, 1915. 1:45 PM
Prague.
Nick beamed as Scott stared at the black hedgehog, his mouth agape. He swallowed and nervously turned to Nick, “Hey, relay me all of the Sonic characters you know.”
Nick’s smile faded, “What, at a time like this? Okay: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Big (who should really find a nice cliff and jump off it), Blaze, Jet, Wave, Storm, and Eggman.”
“Is that it?”
Nick scratched his chin, deep in thought. After a short pause, he snapped his fingers, “Metal Sonic!”
“And...?”
Nick frowned and thought hard, “Oh, yeah, Silver! Can’t forget Silver! Why your asking? Did I miss one?”
Scott nervously looked at Shadow from the corners of his eyes, “Uh, yeah...Charmy.”
Nick threw up his hands, “Aw, man! I can’t believe I forgot about the bee...”
“Hey, what’s your policy on Sega games again?”
“‘Never played one, never will’”
“Have you ever broken that?”
“No,” Nick said cautiously, “Why do you-”
“Enough!” Shadow yelled bitterly, “Are we going to get the Chaos Emeralds and destroy MechaSonic or are we just going to stand around doing nothing? Or are we going shopping? Should I get the nail polish so you two can get dolled up?”
Nick turned to Scott. He explained apologetically, “He’s very...emotional. It can’t be explained why, it just happens from time to time.” He turned back to the hedgehog, “Now, Shadow. That was a bad stereotype against women, and you know how I feel-”
“Stop lecturing me!” Shadow screamed. He jumped into the air, holding his head and shouting, “Chaos Control!” He disappeared.
Scott turned back to Nick, despair clear on his face, “Okay, now what?”
Nick sighed and shrugged, “We could always go back to that first thing.”
Scott grinned and unhooked a metal plate attached to his back. He dropped it, and it expanded so that it could hold both of them. It also hovered about a foot off the ground.
Nick nodded in approval, “Nice hoverboard. And they said we wouldn’t get hover technology for another one hundred years, in 2015!”
Scott chuckled lightly, “Strap yourself in, McFly.

***

The hoverboard zoomed through the streets of Prague, Scott steering with his feet and Nick in the back, watching for any sign of MechaSonic. He held an old-fashioned shotgun that had been bought totally legally.
They turned the corner, and there it was, ravaging a sidewalk as it floated down its path. Scott brought the hoverboard up next to MechaSonic and Nick loaded his shotgun.
At the sound, MechaSonic turned and grunted mechanically. The android raised its forearm, and it flipped, pointing the barrel of a machine gun at them at pointblank range.
Nick cried out in surprise and swerved the board away as MechaSonic open fired. “Machine guns?” Nick shouted incredulously, “Are you serious?”
“I did say I packed some surprises in!” Scott shouted over the roar of bullets, “It had to have some way to defend itself!” He ducked and a stream of bullets flew over his head. He clenched his teeth, “Be glad I couldn’t find any uranium. It’d be pretty bad if MechaSonic had nukes.”
As the machine gun stopped firing, Nick looked over his shoulder. MechaSonic loaded a small but deadly missile – marked by its purple tip – into its firearm and aimed it straight at them.
Nick turned back to Scott, anger flashing in his eyes, “Pretty damn close, though.” His eyes abruptly widened in a panic and he pointed ahead, “Look out!”
Scott turned forward just as they smashed into the capitol building. They had crashed into a supporting pillar, and now debris was raining down on them. They quickly got to their feet and dodged out of the way as a concrete slab fell and crushed the hoverboard. Scott’s face fell as he turned to see the flickering remains of his invention, “Da-”
MechaSonic’s missile whizzed past them, exploding part of the capitol building and throwing them both off their feet. MechaSonic then flew into the mess and looked around. Not finding what he was looking for, it looked to the sky. Nick and Scott followed suit.
There, flying amongst the clutter thrown up by the explosion, was the first Chaos Emerald, a blazing red crystal, glinting in the light.
MechaSonic activated the boosters on its back and feet, flying up to catch the Emerald. Nick and Scott leaped to their feet, but by then MechaSonic was already reaching out, about to pluck its prize from the air.
Shadow suddenly materialized, grabbing the Emerald. He disappeared and MechaSonic flew right through where he had just been. The android released an annoyed shout and stopped, hovering in place. Shadow reappeared and fired a Chaos Spear at MechaSonic’s head, sending the android spinning.
By now, Nick and Scott had gotten over their shock and flew up to join them. MechaSonic lunged for Shadow, but was merely met with a fist that smashed into the android’s face. Shadow quickly followed up with another Chaos Spear, dazing the incoherent MechaSonic. Shadow teleported in front of the android, ready to end the threat, “Chaos...”
Nick suddenly realized what Shadow was doing and lunged through the air, shouting, “No!”
“Bla-” Shadow started, but was interrupted by Nick’s elbow, slamming into the top of his head and sending the hedgehog hurtling to the ground. Scott warped behind MechaSonic, unloading a Chaos Spear into the android’s back and sending it soaring towards Nick. He kneed MechaSonic, launching it out of Prague.
Nick and Scott landed on their feet, and Shadow crashed into the ground near them. Shadow stood up and brushed himself off, all while angrily cursing under his breath. He heatedly turned to Nick, “What the hell was that? I was just about to-”
“Destroy half the city,” Nick interrupted decisively, “Shadow; we’re in a populated area. Here, we have rules. And those rules state that you can’t use Chaos Blast where there are people that can be...what’s that word I’m looking for...incinerated!”
Shadow scowled.
Scott shook his head and stepped in between them, “The important thing is that we have the Chaos Emerald and MechaSonic doesn’t, right?”
Shadow bitterly muttered to himself, “It won’t matter if MechaSonic gets the others...”
Scott glared at him, “Right?”
“Right,” Nick and Shadow simultaneously agreed.
“Now,” Scott said softly, “Shadow, are you going to stick with us, or be a pain and leave us behind? Are you going to follow us or endanger humans everywhere?”
“Better to end at our hands than MechaSonic’s...”
“What was that?”
“I’ll follow you.”
“That’s what I thought you said. Now can you point us in the direction of the next Emerald?”

***

June 17th, 1915. 4:12 PM
Aegean Sea.
Nick and Scott ran on top of the water of the Aegean Sea, with Shadow perched on Nick’s shoulder. Shadow cringed and pointed ahead, “Turn fourteen degrees north-by-northeast!”
Nick and Scott adjusted to meet these requirements and Shadow pointed to a spot on the horizon, “Dead ahead. On that island there.”
Nick rubbed his temple and squinted out to sea, “Ah, Santorini Island. Popular in Greek myths for its deathly steep cliffs,” his lip curled into a smile briefly before disappearing, “Keep an eye out for MechaSonic.”
Scott grunted, “Android at two of the clock.” He snarled, “I’m nipping this flower in the bud. Chaos Control!”
Scott teleported directly behind MechaSonic, still running on top of the water. He leaped up and smashed both of his fists into MechaSonic’s head. The android vanished beneath the waves, issuing forth a cry of triumph from Scott, “Yes! Hey, guys! Guess what? I nipped the-”
MechaSonic burst under his feet, knocking him into a large boulder sticking up out of the water. As the android flew towards Nick and Shadow, Scott groaned in pain and irritation, “Water-proof. Did I give you any flaws?”
MechaSonic jumped up, spinning into a spiked ball. The android slammed into Nick, knocking Shadow off his perch and sending Nick hurtling into the water.
MechaSonic unfurled from the ball and turned to the cliffs of Santorini. The android rose up to the top and stopped only a few feet away from a dark blue Chaos Emerald resting on the ledge. MechaSonic reached out to claim the second Emerald.
Scott abruptly appeared on the cliff, scooping up the Emerald, spinning on his heel, and sending a Chaos Spear straight into MechaSonic’s face.
MechaSonic fell from the cliffs but was quickly stopped by two more Chaos Spears, connecting devastatingly. The android hurtled directly towards where Scott was still standing. Scott flipped and in midair smashed his heel into MechaSonic, sending it crashing down to the rocks below. The android released an angry pained noise as it splattered against a stone, unfortunately staying completely intact.
MechaSonic got to its feet and screamed in defiance over two losses in a row. Nick and Shadow materialized at Scott’s side on the cliff. “Hey, I have an idea,” Nick said nervously, looking at MechaSonic with a panicked expression.
“What’s that?” Scott said, equally panicked.
“Chaos Control.”
“Oh, I like that idea. Chaos Control!” They disappeared and seconds later, a missile exploded the very spot where they had just been standing.

***

June 17th, 1915. 6:45 PM
Somewhere in the Ural Mountains.
The third Chaos Emerald fell into their grasp rather easily. The gold crystal simply rested on the roof of a house in the middle of the Ural Mountain range. MechaSonic didn’t even show up to fight, so there was no problem taking the Emerald.
It turned out that the house belonged to Scott when he had lived in Russia, and now they were using an amplifier hooked up to a computer to find the Emeralds long range. Shadow, who was hooked up to the amplifier in order for it to work, scowled, “We’re wasting time, you know.”
Nick stood up and paced the room, “We are not. We’ll find the Emeralds faster this way.”
“Okay, Shadow,” Scott said, looking up from the computer screen, “You can detach yourself, but we’ll find the Emeralds’ locations faster if-”
Shadow brutally ripped off the wires attached to his face. He strode across the room and crossed his arms.
“...you stay attached,” Scott finished, narrowing his eyes.
“There’d be a lot less stress if we just destroyed MechaSonic instead of running away every time he shows up. If a few humans are killed in the struggle, what does it matter?”
Nick glared at him, “We are to protect humans, not treat them like they’re disposable. We’re protecting more of them by not fighting MechaSonic.”
Shadow slammed his fist into a table, “And does the android share this policy of leaving them out of it? The moment that damned machine touches an Emerald, it has access to all of the powers they possess. If we didn’t even have MechaSonic around, there wouldn’t be any form of conflict!”
Nick sighed and closed his eyes, “I see I cannot persuade you with mere words. But what if I were to offer an agreement?”
Shadow raised an eyebrow, “Continue.”
“You think your way – of destroying MechaSonic – is right. I think my way – of collecting the Emeralds first – is right. We fight each other. We follow the victor. Agreed?”
Scott raised his hand, “And where do I stand in all of this?”
Nick waved at him, “Nowhere, you’re not important in this situation.”
Shadow mulled over his decision, “I accept. When do we start?”
Nick lunged forward and grabbed Shadow by the arm, chucking him through the wall of the house. He called to Shadow through the newly formed hole, “I think now would suffice!”
Nick leaped out of Scott’s house and Shadow cut him from the side with a waylay punch. Nick instinctively lashed out, smacking Shadow across the face with the back of his hand.
Shadow scowled and leaped, fist raised, coming down hard directly above Nick. The elf caught his fist in midair, twisting his wrist only enough to cause pain. Nick threw the hedgehog far and ran to him, kicking the beaten animal like a soccer ball.
Shadow hesitantly got to his feet, breathing heavily. Nick stood some distance away, not looking hurt at all. Angered by this sight, Shadow drew in a short breath of air and shouted piercingly, “Chaos Blast!”
A fiery explosion erupted around the hedgehog, enveloping everything in a 50-meter radius in one destructive blast.
Shadow laughed, and then gasped. Standing exactly where he had been previously standing, was Nick, unfazed as ever. Flames licked his feet and Shadow noticed that his shoes, socks, and shirt had burned away, but his pants and watch remained intact.
A smile creepily trembled upon Nick’s face as he gestured to his legs, “It’s quite intriguing; Chaos energy has no effect on magic or magical items, such as my pants. Although that’s probably not why you’re so surprised.”
Shadow swallowed and leaped forward, his body angled to kick Nick square in the chest. Nick intercepted the attack with ease, grabbing Shadow’s leg and spinning on his heel before throwing him into a nearby mountain.
Shadow collapsed at the base, but Nick was there in an instant, picking him up and repeatedly smashing the hedgehog into the rock for several brutal moments. Nick tossed Shadow into a pile of boulders, firing off a Chaos Spear milliseconds later. Shadow was buried under a cascade of stone, and everything was quiet for a brief period of time.
Then the pile of rock started to rumble, and Nick held up a hand, counting down on his fingers and speaking, “Three, two one!” A Chaos Spear formed in his still-raised hand and fired into seemingly empty space. At the last possible second, Shadow burst from the ground, connecting painfully with the orb of Chaos energy.
Shadow ricocheted off the side of the mountain limply. Nick leaped straight up into him, grabbing the hedgehog’s leg and throwing him back towards Scott’s house. Shadow’s face scraped along the ground, and Nick landed beside him, grabbing his arm and throwing him through the wall of Scott’s house, sensibly making a second hole instead of using the first right next to it.
Shadow crashed into a table, and grunted in pain, defeated.
Scott turned around in his chair, “How was your loss?”
Shadow rubbed his head and sat up, “How did-”
“You never stood a chance, man. I would have put money against you, except...” he gestured around the room, “no one else is here.”
Nick entered through one of the holes in the wall, “That settles it, then?”
Shadow sighed, “Fine. We do things your way.”
Nick nodded and turned to Scott, “Any progress? Any lead?”
The computer beeped and Scott turned back towards it, “Yeah, just now. The next Chaos Emerald is in the Sahara Desert.”

***

June 17th, 1915. 9:30 PM
Africa
Nick and Shadow zoomed through the sands, only barely breaking the silence of night with their footsteps. “Scott couldn’t make it,” Nick said, “He has to lock himself up on the full moon so he doesn’t hurt anybody.”
Shadow only stared straight ahead, “I’ve noticed.”
There was silence between them as they ran on. Shadow’s ears perked up and he jerked his head, eyes widening, “There!” He pointed to a dune which had a cap that sparkled with an unnatural orange light. As they drew closer, they saw the spark of light belonged to an orange Chaos Emerald resting in the sand.
There came a rumbling underfoot and a spiked ball burst up through the sand between them. The ball uncurled to form MechaSonic, who flew beside them. “Hello, inferior life forms,” the android said menacingly, “I presume you have the Chaos Emeralds you stole from me? Or did you lose them already?”
“As a matter of fact,” Nick said, nodding his head north, “We have three now. Just not with us. Scott has them.”
MechaSonic laughed, “Then you have no advantage over me. I shall enjoy the sight of your carcasses burning.”
As MechaSonic zoomed ahead, Nick’s eyes enlarged, “What kind of android says stuff like that?”
Shadow grunted in agreement, and then teleported to the Chaos Emerald, “Too late, MechaSonic! You’re too-”
The ground beneath his feet exploded, throwing him and the Emerald up into the air. MechaSonic leaped and caught the Chaos Emerald. “Now!” MechaSonic screamed as it landed on top of the dune, “The time has come! Chaos...”
“Shadow!” Nick yelled.
The hedgehog, who was still flying through the air, whispered, “Damn it...” A tear streaked down his cheek and he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Chaos Control!”
“Blast!”
Nick and Shadow warped, and a gigantesque explosion threw up sand for miles. The sand burned, whatever life was in the area was dead, and yet Nick and Shadow had escaped.
MechaSonic smiled. They had escaped for now, but they wouldn’t elude his grasp for long. The android picked up a burnt lizard body, feeling pleasure at the destruction he had wrought. MechaSonic laughed. Soon, the whole world would be like this, and if Ace was indeed dead, MechaSonic would rule in his place.
The android stopped laughing and stared at the dead lizard in its hands. “No, Shadow,” MechaSonic said spitefully, “You are too late.”
The android crushed the lizard’s remains in its hand into a fist.

***

June 18th, 1915. 6:50 AM
The Amazon, near Rio de Janeiro.
“What happened?”
“You’ve been asking us the same question since you woke up in Russia, and no matter how many times you ask, we’re not going to tell you, Scott,” Nick said irritably.
“I just want to-”
Shadow jumped up, grabbing Scott by his shirt collar and bringing him down to his eye level, “Stop asking, because we’re not going to tell you what effing happened.”
He let go and walked away while Scott stood up and brushed himself off, “Fine. I’ll just stop, then.”
They walked through the rainforest in silence, searching for the next Chaos Emerald. After a while, Scott spoke up, his curiosity momentarily forgotten, “Ace sure picked diverse places to put the Emeralds. At first I thought they were just in Europe, but then one was in Africa, and now one’s here, in South America.”
“Three Emeralds and four other continents,” Nick chuckled, “It’s amazing how the world can be so big and yet so small.” Nick punched Scott and continued, “Remember when they installed the first holographic billboards in Rio?”
Scott’s lips curled into a sly grin, “You mean in a hundred years or so?”
Nick chuckled, “Exactly.”
Shadow’s ears perked up and he growled, “MechaSonic’s here. The Chaos Emerald isn’t too far away. We must hurry or else lose another Emerald to it. Now!”
They took off in a run through the forest, Shadow in the lead, twisting and turning through the network of vegetation. At last, he stopped and they looked up, the top of a tall tree holding the gray Chaos Emerald, monotonously shining in the rising sun. Shadow leapt up, flying towards the Emerald without waiting for Nick or Scott.
“Chaos Spear!”
An orb of Chaos energy slammed into Shadow’s back, smashing him through the tree and sending the Chaos Emerald plummeting towards Earth. MechaSonic materialized in front of Nick and Scott, catching the Emerald without breaking its gaze on them.
“I will ask politely for the final time,” the android said emotionlessly, “Hand over the Chaos Emeralds and I won’t crush your skulls.”
Scott scoffed and slightly smiled, “I have learned a lot about you in the past seventeen hours alone, MechaSonic, and I know that’s a filthy lie.”
Behind him, Nick did some quick calculations in the air, astonished. He thought it over and then said, “Wow. He’s right; we’ve only been in 1915 for seventeen hours. Seems longer for some reason.”
As if Nick hadn’t spoken at all, Scott continued, “So I offer this as a rebuttal: Never, you robotic bastard!”
“Have it your way,” MechaSonic said as he hovered above the ground, backing away a bit, “But I cannot be dissuaded from my objectives. Prepare to die!”
Shadow fell into MechaSonic’s upturned hand and was launched into Scott’s chest face-first. MechaSonic switched the arm that wasn’t holding the Chaos Emerald into a machine gun, aiming at Nick.
Nick fired a Chaos Spear at the gun, disabling it, before running up to the android and punching at its head. The android caught his fist and swung him around, smashing him into a tree.
As Nick slumped down, MechaSonic turned to the other two and flew over to them. Shadow leaped to his feet at the android’s approach, but MechaSonic simply smacked him aside. Shadow flew into a tree headfirst, cracks forming on the bark where he struck.
MechaSonic turned back to Scott, who had gotten to his feet. The android raised his hand and shot a Chaos Spear at his chest, knocking him over once more. MechaSonic grandly walked up to him, acknowledging Scott’s limp form. After a moment, the android kicked at his ribs.
Scott groaned and coughed up blood. MechaSonic delivered another kick, and many more, speaking a single phrase with each blow: “Pathetic, worthless, waste of space! Why...how...could...you...possibly...be...the one...who...created me?”
Scott grunted and rolled onto his back, “You were never supposed to be this way. You were...corrupted. I am not weak; I just...do not want to hurt you, my creation.”
A spark seemed to flash in MechaSonic’s eye. The android turned away, “Then maybe you should start trying.” MechaSonic turned and kicked Scott in the ribs one last time. Scott rolled over, clutching his side, and the android bent over, retrieving the Chaos Emeralds in Scott’s pocket. The five Emeralds swirled around MechaSonic momentarily as the android took one last look at Scott.
“Chaos Control!” it said, and then it was gone.
Nick groaned in pain and hesitantly got to his feet. As Shadow did likewise, Nick walked over to Scott and helped him up.
“I couldn’t...I couldn’t stop it...” Scott said brokenheartedly, “It’s grown too powerful. It’s grown...into more than just an android. It’s...”
“Don’t say it, Scott,” Nick said, wrapping his arm around his shoulders, “Emeralds first, android later.”
Scott shook his head, “If we had three Emeralds, and MechaSonic two, what difference does it make if we have the other two while it has five? I can’t imagine what will happen if it gets seven...”
“Then don’t. The difference is that we’re not going to let it happen; MechaSonic won’t get the last two Emeralds before us.”
Shadow, who had been observing the entire conversation, looked to the ground. He sighed, and then said quietly to himself, “Damn.” The hedgehog shook his head and looked straight at the two elves, “The next Chaos Emerald is in Dublin.”
“What?” Nick said, turning to him, “How could you have known that from way out here, in South America?”
“I’ve known since I met Scott that Emerald was in Dublin. I never mentioned it because I wanted a failsafe. A fallback plan. We’ve lost five Emeralds to MechaSonic, so it’s time to get it.”
Scott frowned, “Why are you telling us this, instead of just keeping your old plan to yourself and just pointing us in the right direction?”
Shadow sighed, “I still don’t agree with your ways of doing things. But I do care for the humans. I think more will survive if MechaSonic is out of the way. There are only two Emeralds left, and I can’t let the android get them. I can’t continue on with you. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. You go to Dublin and get that Emerald, and I’ll find the last Emerald and use it to finish MechaSonic.” He looked away, “I’m sorry. For everything.”
Nick held out his hand, “Shadow, wait!”
Shadow shook his head, teleporting in the process.
Nick dropped his arm and sighed. Scott put a hand on his shoulder, “He made his choice. Let’s not dwell on the past.”
Nick scoffed and threw off the sympathetic hand, “You dare offer your hypocrisy upon me? You are a terrible actor, Scott. You’ve never even attempted to destroy MechaSonic, because deep down, you hope that MechaSonic is still good. You try and hide it, but me and Shadow both saw it. Newsflash: it’s an android, and androids don’t have emotions that curb their judgment.”
“But not any further,” Scott said, stopping Nick from ranting on, “I’m done being merciful on MechaSonic. The next time we fight will be the last, I promise you that. MechaSonic chose not to change sides. Shadow chose to work alone. I chose not to let my emotions blind my judgment. Now it’s your turn to make a choice.”
Nick closed his eyes and lowered his head. After a few minutes of thought, he looked to the sky valiantly, “I have made it.”
“Our destination?”
“Dublin.”

***

June 18th, 1915. 1:10 PM
Dublin, Ireland.
“Ah, I love the Irish,” Scott said merrily as they walked the streets of the capital, “They invented so many useful things: torture, beer, soap. I think I might even have a wee bit o’ Irish blood in me, I do.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Nick mumbled, “Of the three things you mentioned, you only like the first two.”
Scott frowned. He unfolded a map he had been carrying and looked it over, “Maybe we should check the capitol building.”
“Why?”
“Remember; the red Chaos Emerald was in Prague’s capitol. This way it’s efficient. Ace did seem like that kind of person. Plus it’s coming up on the next corner.” As he gestured down the street in the general direction of the capitol, there came an explosion from that same street. Nick and Scott looked at each other, eyes widening. Scott said the first thing that popped into his head: “I swear, it wasn’t me this time.”
Nick shook his head, “There’s no...this time?”
Scott turned away quickly, “Don’t change the subject!”
They took off down the street, dodging the natives that ran in the opposite direction. They turned the corner and gasped in shock.
MechaSonic stood on a ledge in front of a clock on the capitol. The building itself was largely intact, but the rest of the street wasn’t. The structures crumbled away and almost everything was on fire. Dozens of dead or dieing humans lay in the street. One was impaled with a stop sign. Another had a missile fragment stuck in their back. Down the street, it just got worse. Despite the variable suffering, they were all hurt the same way: mercilessly, by an android’s cold hands.
The hands that now held a purple Chaos Emerald, sickly yet tantalizingly shining with a royal, majestic glow.
“We’re too late,” Nick gasped.
“This crosses the line!” Scott yelled, addressing MechaSonic, “You’ve gone too far this time! It’s one thing to kill those in your way, and another entirely to kill innocent people!”
The android laughed, “If you think about it, they were in my way. They didn’t flee fast enough, and that makes them disposable.”
MechaSonic abruptly turned his attention elsewhere; a human who had lost an arm and appeared to be unable to use his legs was desperately trying to crawl away using one arm. Determination was clear on his face, as sweat beaded either from the flames, the loss of blood, and/or the tremendous effort.
The android turned and ripped one of the clock’s hands from its face. MechaSonic swiftly thrust the large, sharp iron hand directly at the defenseless human. Nick and Scott regretfully tore their gazes away, but didn’t have the time to block the sound of the man’s skull shattering from their ears.
Tears streamed down Scott’s face as he turned back to look at the android, “How could you do such acts? What kind of monster have I created?”
“Monster?” MechaSonic questioned unthinkingly, “I’m no monster.” It laughed, “I’m a deity!”
Scott screamed at his creation, “Do you find...” he paused, hating the very accusation he was about to make, “Do you find pleasure at this? Destruction, death, suffering...all of it? Do you enjoy causing such misery?”
MechaSonic laughed, “How can you not? That is the only way to be truly powerful; you two are prime examples of the extreme opposite! Only the truly powerful can rise from the ashes of their enemies, and if they show mercy, will they be shown it in return? No! Never! When you are above everyone else, that is true pleasure! When you crush your enemies between your fingers, that is true enjoyment! When you avenge the deaths of those you care about...” the android made an elaborate gesticulation towards them, a purple orb of Chaos energy forming in its hand, “That is true happiness! Chaos Death!”
The orb shot towards them like a bullet. They tried to run, but found their feet stuck to the ground. The two elves squeezed their eyes shut and held each other.
“Bye, buddy,” Scott whispered.
“See ya,” Nick agreed.
MechaSonic laughed triumphantly at their impending doom. As the orb drew closer, Nick and Scott each opened a single eye to watch it approach.
Suddenly, a black hedgehog appeared in the air in front of them and faced the orb, taking the full force of the attack. The orb partially enveloped him, but was partially held back with open palms.
“Shadow?” Nick shouted incredulously as Scott pushed him away and brushed himself off, after seeing that he wasn’t going to die and there was no need to hug Nick.
“Hey guys,” Shadow grunted, “You’re welcome for saving your asses, by the way. What is this, the fifth time? Heh...”
Nick frowned, utterly conflicted, “Why-”
“No time to explain! I have the last Emerald!” He held up a Chaos Emerald greener than a pine tree, “It’s the only thing keeping me alive right now. Take it, and defeat MechaSonic once and for all.” He groaned in pain, “Don’t worry about me. It’s better this way.”
Nick held out his hand, “Shad-”
Shadow turned and threw the Chaos Emerald into Nick’s hand, immediately releasing a scream of pain. There was a final flash of light, and Shadow the Hedgehog fell to the ground, dead.

***
End of Part Two.
***

Well, wasn't that pleasent? I do realize the deadline for part three is tomorrow, but since I'm in a writing mood, I think it will get done. You know, if NSK work doesn't get in my way. Anyway...actually, that's it...

Contiued in Part Three: https://blogs.neoseeker.com/ShadowNc/5622-cracker-chronicle-8-amethyst-part-three-legacy-of-shadow/

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