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"I have an assignment for you, men."

The three soldiers stiffened slightly at the statement, their limbs already beginning to ache. Since the alien invasion, it had been constant labor and an endless list of assignments for the entire military; not one hour passed that didn't include some sort of work, and to be frank, it was exhausting. For these three soldiers, it had been even moreso; their stealth and combat skills were ranked higher than most average men, so in result, they were needed for the more elaborate and difficult missions, ones that drained them of both their time and their strength. Combined, however, they worked in G.U.N. for over 12 years, and their dedication and commitment to their work showed. It pleased the head commander greatly, and so there, in the commander's office, they had been summoned.

"You've been selected to go on quite possibly the most important mission of mankind. I need you…" the G.U.N. commander closed his brown and hazel eyes, and breathed before continuing. "…to retrieve something that has been declared missing as of yet."

That particular word had been emphasized, each sound as sharp as a knife, cutting the air clean in two. The men stood frozen, uncertain of what it was that needed fetching so quickly and why its significance was so great to the human race. They resisted casting uncertain glances to one another, as the commander's disposition had greatly darkened over the past week, but maintained their upright posture and kept silent during the small pause their superior took.

"Ever since those black aliens attacked…well, let's just say that people are getting curious about other aliens' existence. And who can blame them? If it weren't for Shadow, we'd be dead now…" he trailed off, looking toward the setting sun that painted streaks of reds and violets across the sky. "Men, we're getting funds for alien research…"

The men perked at the statement, the word "alien" striking a sour note. There had been so many comrades – friends – family, lost during that painfully-recent invasion that it almost physically hurt themselves to wear their uniforms still. It was true that the two lower-ranked men had seriously considered leaving their military careers, but as they were on their way to get the necessary paperwork, they had been paged into the office for this briefing. So close, yet so far, they grumbled, but decided after this mission, they would hand their badges in most definitely.

"And I was thinking…what better way to start this research off with an alien autopsy?"

The soldiers' dispositions suddenly darkened, sinking deep into fear and sickness at the thought of a dead alien life form strapped to a cold steel table. Did the military even have the proper facilities, let alone equipment, to handle an autopsy as delicate as that? Though that same question ran through all three of the soldiers' heads, none were able to gather the courage, or the stomach, to ask.

"S…sir…?" the captain swallowed, about to ask the question himself, but grew pale instead. He let his stammering serve for an urge for his commander to continue, who turned from the window, doing so without much hesitation.

"Men, it is imperative that you listen to my every word very carefully, as we as a military – as humans – Earthlings – want no publicity or attention in this matter." The commander sat in his leather chair, folding his hands and staring at the neat stack of papers that were standing to his side. "The black aliens' leader was slain approximately a day ago, but his body was never found, nor was any clue or hint of his location. It will be your mission to find and retrieve it so we can…advance in this field of science."

It was well-known that the commander had his own reasons for fetching the late ruler and slicing him up, and it wasn't a mystery as to what they were. The commander, having witnessed Project Shadow first-hand, had also seen the aliens' leader's involvement, and abhorred him from the moment he did so. The past week gave the aged man even more support as to why he should hold fast to such a strong grudge. It was clear that the death of the alien wasn't enough for him; he wanted to see his corpse taken apart, fiber by fiber.

"I'm certain you're familiar with Black Doom by now," the commander growled, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists in long-withheld anger. "He shouldn't be hard to miss. Find him, men. Quickly. When you do, alert me and I'll send out support and transportation. Be discreet as possible. Understood?"

"Yessir, understood." The three soldiers saluted in unison, marching out the door in a hurry after receiving likely coordinates of where the deceased alien in question was.

-----

Hours later, the three armed soldiers had just about exhausted the entire area searching for any hint as to where the blood-thirsty tyrant known as Black Doom was. Beginning to lose hope, the three regrouped next to a small stream of cold water, splashing their sweat-coated faces and quenching their parched throats. Though they mostly kept silent, attempting to take a quick rest from their tireless work, every now and then they would wonder aloud just what awaited them out in space. The two lower-ranked soldiers exchanged childhood dreams of being astronauts and to see little green men, even admitting to sitting on their roofs with telescopes and gazing up at the night sky for hours.

"What a space-freak I was, I tell ya." One of them shook his head, laughing at himself. "But just think, Hank. If we could one day just fly on up there and see all the stars…man. It'd just be amazing."

There was a hearty, deep scoff in response from their captain as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it nonchalantly. "You do realize what you're saying, right?" the captain said, puffing out a cloud of smoke to the side. "You're acting like you really want to see more of those…intergalactic space bastards. If ya ask me, if I ever see one of those things again, I'd shoot its brains out faster than you can say 'we come in peace.'"

As for the other two, their spirits fell as that smoke rose, remembering the severe hostility of the Black Arms. A dense silence overtook all three, their heads falling slightly.

"Y'know, I was actually thinking for a while…that maybe we were screwed as a race when those guys came." Hank mumbled, holding his knees to his chest. "Kind of changes your whole view on living…though, I hear the commander'll be a grandpa soon. It'd definitely suck to be pregnant last week, I tell ya…"

The three gave stifled laughs, the air turning slightly chilled as a breeze whistled through the large trees. The attempt at cracking such light-hearted jokes made no lasting effect as long as they were in such an eerie environment. The thought of an alien corpse being anywhere near them sent shivers down their spines; but then again, it could have been the cold breeze doing so. The three quieted down, looking their separate directions.

Suddenly, a twig snapped, and the sound of footsteps thumping against the ground met the air, though growing distant with each passing second. The soldiers' heads snapped toward the direction of the noises, but they saw nothing. There was a gap of silence before anything was said, assuring themselves that no one truly was there.

"What the hell was that?"

"Probably a squirrel or somethin'." The other lieutenant said, taking a shaky sigh, clearly unnerved by the sudden noise and seeking to lighten the mood at least slightly once again.

"That sounded a lot larger than a squirrel, Hank…"

The captain scoffed, turning back to the lower-ranks. "You two act like you've seen a ghost! Man up a little, would ya?" Another cloud of smoke seeped from his mouth as he adjusted his chest armor. It was understandable why the others were so spooked; a week full of aliens would definitely bring some paranoia to their heads, but they were in the military. As far as the captain saw it, any fear in the line of duty shouldn't have been tolerated, nor should it ever.

Yet neither of the other soldiers spoke or budged, and the captain furrowed his brow at them, confused as to what exactly they were fearfully gazing at. Following their eyesight, he noticed a form of a figure beneath the darkness of the shadows. He stood, sticking the cigarette in his mouth and snatching his gun from his back. He heard movement, rustling of leaves, and he finally growled, resolving to investigate. He stepped over his comrades, assuming a ready stance.

"Come out now." the captain ordered, his loaded gun aimed in the area of where the rustling was. The three noticed there had been a small cave-like crevice on the side of the cliff nearby, and they began to wonder what exactly it held, or why they didn't notice it before. The other two got to their feet, guns in hand, moving quickly to the sides of their captain, they, too, aiming in the same direction.

What emerged from the dense, dark shade of the trees appeared to be a black hedgehog. From what they could see, his quills were pointed and dark, his body slender and well-built with a tuft of white upon his chest. Despite his strong looking exterior, he was steadying himself along the cliff's base, weakened and shaking slightly. Immediately at the sight, one of the soldiers gasped.

"Sh-shadow?"

Something about this darkened hedgehog was different, somehow; his posture, currently, was hunched, his breathing quick and labored. But, no…this wasn't Shadow; it couldn't have been, not even if he was in this sort of condition. At least now he would have said something to them…

As the famous black blur's name was stammered out, the captain's aim had shifted directly at the slouched, trembling hedgehog, despite what his comrade felt. "Identify yourself."

Silence was the answer, and the other two soldiers themselves began to shake at the sight. Though the captain felt a twinge of fear as well, he attempted to sort out his mind, picturing the long list of protocol that was to be followed in such a situation. He took a deep breath, stepping forward, bracing himself for any offensive attacks against him, but feeling none, his courage slowly began to climb.

"What's yer name?" he repeated in an unwavering, gruff voice. The hedgehog in question remained quiet, and the captain growled. "Hey! I'm talking to you! If you're not gonna answer, I'll shoot ya square in the stomach!"

The hedgehog hesitated, taking a weary gaze down at his feet before looking back up at his opposition. He decided to step forward, only to pathetically stumble to the ground, falling to his knees with an anguished grunt. The men watched intently at the failed approach, their weapons' aim following him down, yet uncertain of what to do next. They were certainly suspicious, as the past alien-filled week had taught them to never let their guard down, but this scene was so…pitiful. There was no way he could pose a threat.

Slowly, all three approached the fallen hedgehog, looking him over. It was apparent, from such close distance, that he was severely wounded with strange black liquid trailing and dripping from his injuries, especially his forehead. Though, upon closer investigation, it was also clear that the hedgehog looked extremely similar to Shadow; the only differences were his rough, jagged stripes. They watched his chest rise and fall, desperate for oxygen, but as they came closer to him, the hedgehog winced, looking up at them with repelling eyes. The captain didn't cease his approach, but slowed before kneeling to his level, seeing a slight bulge from the center of his forehead. He realized something was certainly amiss with the hedgehog.

"Easy, there, fella…we're not gonna hurt you," the captain said, still holding fast to his gun, but keeping it at his side. The ebony creature's breathing remained heavy and uneven, coughing lightly. He trembled, groaning softly as he attempted to hold his side with one of his gloved hands, eyes snapped shut. The captain's eyes widened as he saw black liquid begin to seep into the hedgehog's white gloves. He certainly was hurt, and he needed medical attention soon.

"Should we call for help, captain?"

"N…no." the man replied, examining the hedgehog's wounds from a safe distance. He took his cigarette from his mouth and flicked it away. "This isn't anything we can't handle; let's take him back to the base before this guy kills over."

"But, what about Black Doom…?"

The hedgehog's cut ears twitched at the name, and he swallowed a knot in his throat before wincing in pain. His heart began to race, pumping his blood faster through his veins and out every opening and gash there was in his skin. His head began to feel light and airy, his eyes trailing up at the sky and towering trees above him as if praying to the heavens above.

"We've been searching for hours and haven't found a clue, Lieutenant." He frowned, standing up again. "Better to come back with something than nothing at all. Hop to it, men, let's get him out of here."

Hoisting their guns over their shoulders, the other two leaned down and snatched the hedgehog's arms up with tightened, tense grips. The wounded animal felt cold as ice, save for his seemingly fresh wounds that were dripping with that eerie dark substance. The captain turned, leading them out of the area in the quickest route possible, fearing the wounded one's lifespan with those heavy gashes.

Beneath his breath, the hedgehog barely managed to whisper something coldly, but it never reached the soldiers' ears.

"Shadow…"

Description
"I have an assignment for you, men."

The three soldiers stiffened slightly at the statement, their limbs already beginning to ache. Since the alien invasion, it had been constant labor and an endless list of assignments for the entire military; not one hour passed that didn't include some sort of work, and to be frank, it was exhausting. For these three soldiers, it had been even moreso; their stealth and combat skills were ranked higher than most average men, so in result, they were needed for the more elaborate and difficult missions, ones that drained them of both their time and their strength. Combined, however, they worked in G.U.N. for over 12 years, and their dedication and commitment to their work showed. It pleased the head commander greatly, and so there, in the commander's office, they had been summoned.

"You've been selected to go on quite possibly the most important mission of mankind. I need you…" the G.U.N. commander closed his brown and hazel eyes, and breathed before continuing. "…to retrieve something that has been declared missing as of yet."

That particular word had been emphasized, each sound as sharp as a knife, cutting the air clean in two. The men stood frozen, uncertain of what it was that needed fetching so quickly and why its significance was so great to the human race. They resisted casting uncertain glances to one another, as the commander's disposition had greatly darkened over the past week, but maintained their upright posture and kept silent during the small pause their superior took.

"Ever since those black aliens attacked…well, let's just say that people are getting curious about other aliens' existence. And who can blame them? If it weren't for Shadow, we'd be dead now…" he trailed off, looking toward the setting sun that painted streaks of reds and violets across the sky. "Men, we're getting funds for alien research…"

The men perked at the statement, the word "alien" striking a sour note. There had been so many comrades – friends – family, lost during that painfully-recent invasion that it almost physically hurt themselves to wear their uniforms still. It was true that the two lower-ranked men had seriously considered leaving their military careers, but as they were on their way to get the necessary paperwork, they had been paged into the office for this briefing. So close, yet so far, they grumbled, but decided after this mission, they would hand their badges in most definitely.

"And I was thinking…what better way to start this research off with an alien autopsy?"

The soldiers' dispositions suddenly darkened, sinking deep into fear and sickness at the thought of a dead alien life form strapped to a cold steel table. Did the military even have the proper facilities, let alone equipment, to handle an autopsy as delicate as that? Though that same question ran through all three of the soldiers' heads, none were able to gather the courage, or the stomach, to ask.

"S…sir…?" the captain swallowed, about to ask the question himself, but grew pale instead. He let his stammering serve for an urge for his commander to continue, who turned from the window, doing so without much hesitation.

"Men, it is imperative that you listen to my every word very carefully, as we as a military – as humans – Earthlings – want no publicity or attention in this matter." The commander sat in his leather chair, folding his hands and staring at the neat stack of papers that were standing to his side. "The black aliens' leader was slain approximately a day ago, but his body was never found, nor was any clue or hint of his location. It will be your mission to find and retrieve it so we can…advance in this field of science."

It was well-known that the commander had his own reasons for fetching the late ruler and slicing him up, and it wasn't a mystery as to what they were. The commander, having witnessed Project Shadow first-hand, had also seen the aliens' leader's involvement, and abhorred him from the moment he did so. The past week gave the aged man even more support as to why he should hold fast to such a strong grudge. It was clear that the death of the alien wasn't enough for him; he wanted to see his corpse taken apart, fiber by fiber.

"I'm certain you're familiar with Black Doom by now," the commander growled, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists in long-withheld anger. "He shouldn't be hard to miss. Find him, men. Quickly. When you do, alert me and I'll send out support and transportation. Be discreet as possible. Understood?"

"Yessir, understood." The three soldiers saluted in unison, marching out the door in a hurry after receiving likely coordinates of where the deceased alien in question was.

-----

Hours later, the three armed soldiers had just about exhausted the entire area searching for any hint as to where the blood-thirsty tyrant known as Black Doom was. Beginning to lose hope, the three regrouped next to a small stream of cold water, splashing their sweat-coated faces and quenching their parched throats. Though they mostly kept silent, attempting to take a quick rest from their tireless work, every now and then they would wonder aloud just what awaited them out in space. The two lower-ranked soldiers exchanged childhood dreams of being astronauts and to see little green men, even admitting to sitting on their roofs with telescopes and gazing up at the night sky for hours.

"What a space-freak I was, I tell ya." One of them shook his head, laughing at himself. "But just think, Hank. If we could one day just fly on up there and see all the stars…man. It'd just be amazing."

There was a hearty, deep scoff in response from their captain as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it nonchalantly. "You do realize what you're saying, right?" the captain said, puffing out a cloud of smoke to the side. "You're acting like you really want to see more of those…intergalactic space bastards. If ya ask me, if I ever see one of those things again, I'd shoot its brains out faster than you can say 'we come in peace.'"

As for the other two, their spirits fell as that smoke rose, remembering the severe hostility of the Black Arms. A dense silence overtook all three, their heads falling slightly.

"Y'know, I was actually thinking for a while…that maybe we were screwed as a race when those guys came." Hank mumbled, holding his knees to his chest. "Kind of changes your whole view on living…though, I hear the commander'll be a grandpa soon. It'd definitely suck to be pregnant last week, I tell ya…"

The three gave stifled laughs, the air turning slightly chilled as a breeze whistled through the large trees. The attempt at cracking such light-hearted jokes made no lasting effect as long as they were in such an eerie environment. The thought of an alien corpse being anywhere near them sent shivers down their spines; but then again, it could have been the cold breeze doing so. The three quieted down, looking their separate directions.

Suddenly, a twig snapped, and the sound of footsteps thumping against the ground met the air, though growing distant with each passing second. The soldiers' heads snapped toward the direction of the noises, but they saw nothing. There was a gap of silence before anything was said, assuring themselves that no one truly was there.

"What the hell was that?"

"Probably a squirrel or somethin'." The other lieutenant said, taking a shaky sigh, clearly unnerved by the sudden noise and seeking to lighten the mood at least slightly once again.

"That sounded a lot larger than a squirrel, Hank…"

The captain scoffed, turning back to the lower-ranks. "You two act like you've seen a ghost! Man up a little, would ya?" Another cloud of smoke seeped from his mouth as he adjusted his chest armor. It was understandable why the others were so spooked; a week full of aliens would definitely bring some paranoia to their heads, but they were in the military. As far as the captain saw it, any fear in the line of duty shouldn't have been tolerated, nor should it ever.

Yet neither of the other soldiers spoke or budged, and the captain furrowed his brow at them, confused as to what exactly they were fearfully gazing at. Following their eyesight, he noticed a form of a figure beneath the darkness of the shadows. He stood, sticking the cigarette in his mouth and snatching his gun from his back. He heard movement, rustling of leaves, and he finally growled, resolving to investigate. He stepped over his comrades, assuming a ready stance.

"Come out now." the captain ordered, his loaded gun aimed in the area of where the rustling was. The three noticed there had been a small cave-like crevice on the side of the cliff nearby, and they began to wonder what exactly it held, or why they didn't notice it before. The other two got to their feet, guns in hand, moving quickly to the sides of their captain, they, too, aiming in the same direction.

What emerged from the dense, dark shade of the trees appeared to be a black hedgehog. From what they could see, his quills were pointed and dark, his body slender and well-built with a tuft of white upon his chest. Despite his strong looking exterior, he was steadying himself along the cliff's base, weakened and shaking slightly. Immediately at the sight, one of the soldiers gasped.

"Sh-shadow?"

Something about this darkened hedgehog was different, somehow; his posture, currently, was hunched, his breathing quick and labored. But, no…this wasn't Shadow; it couldn't have been, not even if he was in this sort of condition. At least now he would have said something to them…

As the famous black blur's name was stammered out, the captain's aim had shifted directly at the slouched, trembling hedgehog, despite what his comrade felt. "Identify yourself."

Silence was the answer, and the other two soldiers themselves began to shake at the sight. Though the captain felt a twinge of fear as well, he attempted to sort out his mind, picturing the long list of protocol that was to be followed in such a situation. He took a deep breath, stepping forward, bracing himself for any offensive attacks against him, but feeling none, his courage slowly began to climb.

"What's yer name?" he repeated in an unwavering, gruff voice. The hedgehog in question remained quiet, and the captain growled. "Hey! I'm talking to you! If you're not gonna answer, I'll shoot ya square in the stomach!"

The hedgehog hesitated, taking a weary gaze down at his feet before looking back up at his opposition. He decided to step forward, only to pathetically stumble to the ground, falling to his knees with an anguished grunt. The men watched intently at the failed approach, their weapons' aim following him down, yet uncertain of what to do next. They were certainly suspicious, as the past alien-filled week had taught them to never let their guard down, but this scene was so…pitiful. There was no way he could pose a threat.

Slowly, all three approached the fallen hedgehog, looking him over. It was apparent, from such close distance, that he was severely wounded with strange black liquid trailing and dripping from his injuries, especially his forehead. Though, upon closer investigation, it was also clear that the hedgehog looked extremely similar to Shadow; the only differences were his rough, jagged stripes. They watched his chest rise and fall, desperate for oxygen, but as they came closer to him, the hedgehog winced, looking up at them with repelling eyes. The captain didn't cease his approach, but slowed before kneeling to his level, seeing a slight bulge from the center of his forehead. He realized something was certainly amiss with the hedgehog.

"Easy, there, fella…we're not gonna hurt you," the captain said, still holding fast to his gun, but keeping it at his side. The ebony creature's breathing remained heavy and uneven, coughing lightly. He trembled, groaning softly as he attempted to hold his side with one of his gloved hands, eyes snapped shut. The captain's eyes widened as he saw black liquid begin to seep into the hedgehog's white gloves. He certainly was hurt, and he needed medical attention soon.

"Should we call for help, captain?"

"N…no." the man replied, examining the hedgehog's wounds from a safe distance. He took his cigarette from his mouth and flicked it away. "This isn't anything we can't handle; let's take him back to the base before this guy kills over."

"But, what about Black Doom…?"

The hedgehog's cut ears twitched at the name, and he swallowed a knot in his throat before wincing in pain. His heart began to race, pumping his blood faster through his veins and out every opening and gash there was in his skin. His head began to feel light and airy, his eyes trailing up at the sky and towering trees above him as if praying to the heavens above.

"We've been searching for hours and haven't found a clue, Lieutenant." He frowned, standing up again. "Better to come back with something than nothing at all. Hop to it, men, let's get him out of here."

Hoisting their guns over their shoulders, the other two leaned down and snatched the hedgehog's arms up with tightened, tense grips. The wounded animal felt cold as ice, save for his seemingly fresh wounds that were dripping with that eerie dark substance. The captain turned, leading them out of the area in the quickest route possible, fearing the wounded one's lifespan with those heavy gashes.

Beneath his breath, the hedgehog barely managed to whisper something coldly, but it never reached the soldiers' ears.

"Shadow…"