EPISODE 33 "The Mysterious Project Shadow" The new story arc begins with a recap of last Episodes destruction of Station Square by PERFECT CH@OS, Sonic going Super with the Chaos Emeralds, and the monsters defeat by the heroic hedgehog. Station Square is in need of a few new windows and ceilings. Sonic zips around town, surveying the clean-up efforts and checking ruins for any missing people. Fire crews dislodge rubble, friends and neighbors upright their cars, volunteer work crews remove and replace wreaked furniture. Sonic halts at a totaled building, hearing a child crying. He runs inside to investigate. At the Thorndyke Mansion, renovations are in effect, even the stately house was inundated by Chaos flood. Chris's mother is busy spraying off the soiled cabinets, directing movers and telling them to be careful with the furniture. At Chris's Elementary, a Chinook helicopter has landed with relief supplies. The hatch swings open, revealing Chris's father, Nelson. As the children gather around, he hails his son in greeting. Inside the school, injured people are being attended too. Stacking boxes of medical goods, Francis wipes her brow from the monotonous work. The friends overhear a young mother asking a relief worker if her son has been located. When she finds that her boy hasn't been found, she breaks down in anguish. Just then, Sonic arrives, handing over Tim to his delighted parents. As the husband and wife profusely thanks him, Sonic can only rub his head in embarrassment. At the White House, the President is applying his John Hancock to a number of bills. He is not very interested in this task, he is far too busy acting moody over Sonic's single-handed victory over Perfect Chaos. As his new aide dutifully helps her boss with his work, the President happens upon an application by Sam Speed for the position of his personal driver. Back in Station Square, the Thorndyke's are splitting up. Chris's mother hugs her son goodbye, while Cream and Cheese bid a tearful farewell to Tails and Amy. Standing by the trailer home, Nelson and Chuck have some guy talk. Francis, Danny, and Helen are also present to see Chris off. Helen tells Chris that they haven't seen Stuart, their teacher, since earlier that day. On a desert highway, Stuart is driving along in his sedan, a pair of suitcases tied to the roof of his car. The road stretches off into the hazy distance. Chris wonders what became of Sonic, Amy replying that he'll be around if he ever needs him. Tails and the others wave goodbye, Cream having a sniffle on Ella's lap in the trailer, while Tanaka bows his head in slumber next to Chuck in the towing car. At Area 99, GUN scientists and technicians are putting the finishing touches on their latest works: a Rhino Cannon, GUN Beatles, GUN Hawks, and a trio of Hunter droids. One tech muses about their use of Dr. Eggman's stolen mechanical designs for these projects, as another brags that GUN can now beat the mad scientist at his own game. Above the unsuspecting heads of the technicians, a small spider-bot is espying their works. In his new base, Dr. Eggman gripes about GUN creating robots similar to his own. Eggman decides to hack into GUN's main computer, to find if anything of interest lies in the data banks. Typing away, Eggman soon gains access to the data library of Area 99. Eggman peruses files on the Hunter program, as well as the new Blue Eagle fighter jet being designed. Eggman suddenly stumbles on a familiar name in the midst of the files. Scrolling down, Eggman is shocked to have found the diary of his grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik! Eggman racks his brains, trying to figure out how his grandpappy's life's work ended up inside the GUN mainframe. Bringing up a password entry, the Doc tries to gain access, but the password is not correct. He tries a second time, and a third, but to no avail. Digging into his memories, the Doc recalls a picture of Gerald sitting next to another relation of his: Maria Robotnik. Entering Maria's name, Eggman opens up Gerald's Top Secret Projects. In the GUN control center, alarms blare as the master computer is hacked. A GUN manager orders the computer programmers to activate the defensive measures. Decoe and Bocoe work on downloading the files before the anti-virus programming can lock them out. The GUN programmers give it their best, but are no match against Eggman's technical genius. Wiping his brow, Eggman scans the work of his ancestor, finally opening an entry under the title "Project SHADOW". After a quick flashback with Gerald in prison, Dr. Eggman decides to retrieve SHADOW. In Washington DC, Rouge and Topaz are being briefed in the President's limo on Project SHADOW. Rouge asks the boss if anything more on this operation can be found in GUN's database, information that might be useful to use against Dr. Eggman. The President's aide tells the bat that GUN cannot access Project SHADOW because they did not discover the password. Topaz asks what Project SHADOW exactly is, but the President ignores the question, telling the agents they need a large power source to activate SHADOW. The President's aide informs the limo driver to stop, Sam Speed giving a thumbs-up in acknowledgement. Rouge and Topaz depart the limousine, the she-bat making a plan with her partner on how to obtain enough power to revive the dormant weapon. Chris and the others have set up a temporary home in a penthouse suite in the downtown of a different city. As Ella makes lunch, Cream tries to cheer Chris up, who is acting dejected from being separated from his friends. On the rooftop of the building, Chuck is beginning to set up his satellite equipment when his grandson appears shows up, still feeling blue. The pair talk downstairs in Chuck's apartment, the rooftop room a spitting image of his garage pad, complete with the Chaos Emerald scanner. Chuck goes on a dialogue with the boy, explaining that even though they might not be around Sonic, they can still help him by trying to piece together the mystery of the Chaos Control. Chris thinks hard about his furry friends, then decides to also help his granddad with his studies. In Station Square, Sonic's observing the recovery continues. Screeching to a stop at the sound of some raucous bawling, the Blue Blur decimates a pile of debris, releasing a thankful Bokkun from a flattening fate. The pyromaniac is thankful for all of two seconds, until he recognizes his savior. Berating the disinterested Sonic, the robot asks for Sonic to hear him out. Some more angry words spill past the little demon's month, Sonic finally having enough and juices into the distance. Calling the disappearing Sonic an idiot, Bokkun also frightens off the President's former aide with his tirade. On Angel Island, Rouge and Topaz are trekking through the silent forests of the paradise. Rouge babbles on about getting a Chaos Emerald from the Island in order to put the clamp on Eggman. Topaz looks a little suspicious at her partners enthusiasm for this mission. Pulling out an energy tracker, the girls find a large power signature on a hilltop near their position. Above the foliage, the ruins of the Master Emerald Altar is clearly visible. At the offices of NNT News in Station Square, Scarlet Garcia is having a discussion with her crew on the Perfect Chaos disaster ratings. She doesn't seem very enthused by the excitement of coworkers. Scarlet enters her office with her editor, surprised to find a blonde-haired man inside. The man turns out to be Stuart. The editor introduces the pair, as they shake hands themselves. Later, Stuart has handed a book over to Scarlet for her to scan over, titled: "The Secret of the Project Shadow". Stuart is asking her to do a story on the report. The reporter doesn't seem to buy Stuart's story, but the GUN agent relies that it truly exists. When Garcia balks, Stuart gets in her face, demanding that the famous Scarlet Garcia blow the lid off the story. On the Floating Island, a disguised Rouge has hitched up the Master Emerald in a series of ropes, barely able to keep airborne with the load. Behind her, Knuckles screams halt to the thief. Rouge refuses to obey, so Knuckles gets serious, smashing a nearby boulder with his massive fist, a shard of rock smacking the bat in the jaw and forcing her to ground. Topaz starts to hurry over to her partner, but stumbles upon the Dark Blue Chaos Emerald. Rouge groans in pain, as Topaz holds up the Emerald. Rouge doesn't just want any old Chaos Emerald, she wants the real prize. Leaping to her feet, she takes up the ropes again. Knuckles warns the treasure hunter to put down the lines. Topaz smacks her brow at her partners stubbornness. Knuckles tells Rouge that she can take the Chaos Emerald, but the Master Emerald is staying on the Island. Rouge ignores the echidna, and tries to make a run for it. Knux tires of the chase, and shoulders her with his immense strength. Rouge goes flying into a tree, her hood falling away. The Guardian looks a little shocked at finding it was Rouge trying to steal his gem, but Rouge is done playing around. Taking to the sky, she snags the ropes and wings into the air, leaving her partner behind with the steamed Knuckles. On GUN operated Prison Island, an explosion flares in the night. Alarms sound, spotlights course the grounds, searching for the source of the commotion. An intruder alert is issued through the intercoms, blast doors hiss close. GUN forces comprised of men and the new robotic soldiers are dispatched. A hallway door is blasted, Dr. Eggman chuckling away evilly in the Egg Mobile. Decoe and Bocoe plead for their master to wait up, as they are still on foot. Floating ahead, the unlucky duo rush along behind the Doctor. A hidden ceiling door opens before them, a Laser Hunter droid dropping down to give battle. Eggman scans the bot as Decoe and Bocoe tremble in terror. The robot fires, the laser defecting off of the Egg Mobile's shield. Eggman cuts loose a missile barrage, destroying the robot in an instant. Eggman laughs in amusement at these pitiful attempts to detour him from his goal. In Washington DC, the President's aide informs her boss that Dr. Eggman is storming Prison Island. The President and the GUN Secretary sit back in dejected spirits. Back on the island, a GUN Beatle pumps lead at Decoe and Bocoe. Scrambling out of the field of fire, the lackeys give Dr. Eggman a chance to blow away the enemy with his laser cannon. Berating his underlings, Eggman continues onward. A GUN Hawk waits in ambush for the approaching baddies. Listening for the sound of their footsteps, the robot sits quietly, then bursts into the open, spewing bullets. The ammunition hits thin air, the trio have disappeared! Or not, as Eggman lands the Egg Mobile on the hapless droid. Bocoe and Decoe lead the way, searching the final room for any more surprises. In the back of the chamber sits a cryo-stasis tube and a series of advanced technology. Giving their boss the all clear, the bad'niks step forward to study the frozen tube. Entering the password "Maria" into the computer, a small panel clicks open, into which Eggman inserts the Grey Chaos Emerald. The machine roars to life, venting gasses and warming the stasis pod. As the process grinds to a halt, the pod opens wide, Eggman and toadies crying out in total shock. A dark, hedgehog-shaped creature is enshrouded by the gaseous fog, it's rasping breath echoing loudly... To Be Continued! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This review was written by Eli Sheldon aka 'SHADOWBOT' - used with her general permission.