Time Heals All Things

"Is it me or is this place creepier without the Egghead present?" Sonic's green eyes looked shrewdly upwards at the imposing thick metal doors of the doctor's island lair. Going inside the former home of his arch nemesis was not exactly top of his list of things to do on the eve of his forty first birthday but Shadow had apparently needed his help to pick up his stasis chamber before Snively took control of the lair so he agreed. He had never really bothered to take in the outward appearance of any of Dr Eggman's many bases of operations, why would he? His goal had always been to destroy them. He hadn't destroyed this one though. Mostly because stopping Dr Eggman's Final Solution had involved sacrificing his own life for the good of the world. He had died in that final explosive battle and even though he could not remember exactly how or when, he could recall hearing the distant agonised yell of Shadow and feel his grip as he slipped away. Even now this was not a moment that he liked to remember and he had never discussed it with Shadow, who was the only one who had witnessed his death. He was also the one who had brought him back with all seven Chaos Emeralds. Sonic had awakened dazed, confused weeks later resting inside Shadow's stasis chamber to find the dark hedgehog looking somewhat pleased to see he was alright..

"Could you not call Ivo names? The devil you know is far better than the devil you don't." Shadow's voice drew the blue hedgehog out of his grim thoughts.

"Sorry, I forget he's like family to you." Sonic replied with a slight dip of his ears as Shadow unfolded the slip of paper and punched in the pass code that would open the main doors. The doors to the island lair immediately opened and instantly a deep wailing alarm filled their eardrums which came with the sliding of concealed doors and a flurry of metal robots that were obviously programmed to attack any intruder that got in.

"Shad, you better do something.. I am way too old to be kickin' badniks.." The blue hedgehog called over the noise of the alarm bending slightly and covering his ears, his green eyes narrowed at the approach of the robots.

"Just one second.." Shadow responded as he pulled out a golden keycard from the hidden location Dr Eggman had written down and then swiped it in the key lock on the other side of the doors. The swarm of robots had almost reached them when the override took affect making them instantly cease then reverse into retreat, returning automatically to their start positions behind the concealed sliding doors.

"Phew! That was a close one.." Sonic exhaled as he straightened and swept the fingers of one hand over his blue furred brow in relief. "The ol' —doctor can still surprise us, that's for sure." The blue hedgehog had faltered under a stern look from Shadow who's expression softened at his instant correction.

"Indeed he can.." Shadow said in his usual neutral tone beckoning his boyfriend to follow. "Come on, my chamber is on the sub level in storage. We can take the elevator down." He then lead Sonic over to a sealed door as swiped the keycard in the slot making the door open to reveal an elevator with four stops.

"I thought he was done with keycards?" Sonic asked in surprise as he looked at the golden card in Shadow's fingers.

"No. He now only ever makes one copy which he kept on his person at all times until he knew he was being committed then he hid it. I never knew where it was until now." The black hedgehog with red stripes replied as the door closed and he pressed the button that would lead him to sub-level storage.

"Oh." Was the only thing Sonic uttered in response and they stood in silence as the elevator descended smoothly. "Hey Shad.." He finally broke the silence after few minutes.

"Hm?"

"Where are you planning to put the stasis chamber when we take it out of here?" Sonic queried, this was something that he had been wondering for a while now.