Chapter Text
Once, long ago, there was a secret research facility hidden deep within a desert canyon. Which sounded strange, as such a metallic facility would be easy to spot in such a desolate location. However, the base was guarded by a shield that reflected the surrounding environment and prevented any sensors from reading any sort of heat signatures, making the base impossible to detect. Such a device kept intruders out and more importantly, the occupants of the base hidden.
The base was a smooth, shiny gray multi-storied square composed of multiple chrome and steel halls, a single inner courtyard with a pitiful attempt at a garden, and several fences and cameras designed to watch movements, even in the ventilation system. Guns and lasers were placed every five feet and rotated around in case someone was stupid enough to find the place. Security cameras followed a similar programming, jerking from left to right appropriately. Square buildings dotted every corner except for one, which was more circular in shape capped off by a dome and had windows around almost every surface.
Inside this room, a black hedgehog with red streaks in his quills stood before an easel, a palette in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. A dingy gray apron covered his front and most notably his fluffy white chest fur peeking through his long-sleeved frilled white shirt and black sleeveless leather waistcoat embroidered with stars. His dark charcoal pants were rolled up past his ankles, a leftover from the mopping he’d done earlier in the day. He was painting a scene of a castle on a beach, the sand a soft rose gold and the waves the shade of the prettiest turquoise. The painted sky was a sunset with a few stars poking out, matching the ones on the bottom of the waistcoat and on the red sash tied above the black hedgehog’s waist under the apron. The painting was one of many that decorated the walls of this room from ceiling to floor and on several canvases leaning against it; the subjects ranging from various still-lifes and his friends to stars and beaches.
Heavy metal footsteps echoed behind him. “OBSERVATION: THIS IMAGE IS STUNNING, BUT IT NEEDS MORE FIRE AND GUNS.” His arms spun about to reveal two machine-gun like attachments. “I WILL BE HAPPY TO MODEL FOR YOU, COMRADE SHADOW.”
The hedgehog chuckled briefly. “That won’t be necessary, Omega. Besides, I’m almost done. I’ll paint you some guns later.”
“YOUR PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE,” Omega beeped happily, running an inventory of his arsenal to figure out which guns would be the best ones.
“I’m glad,” Shadow replied. He added a few more strokes, deepening the sky on his canvas. His masterpiece needed one more touch, but he couldn't quite think of it, so he decided to touch up some of the other elements while he pondered.
A white bat fluttered down on Shadow’s right and smiled brightly, gloved hands finding ebony shoulders. “Well, hon. I think this is definitely one of your finest pieces ever. It’s like I could walk there and feel the mist, the warm setting sun, the gentle sand, hear the waves crash against that beautiful coast, and smell the salt water. Which will do wonders for my fur, trust me.”
“And a fruity drink, right?” Shadow asked, giving the bat a knowing look. “Topped with soft serve?”
“You got me, hon,” Rouge laughed, hands lifted defensively. “But seriously, you owe me a painting of that.”
“As soon as I’m done with this one and Omega’s gun painting,” Shadow chuckled. “I have to get this out there. I’ve seen this beach so many times in my head, Rouge. But one day, I’m going to walk on a beach just like this one and see nothing but sky and stars in all directions for miles and miles.” He glanced at his friends, the bat and robot nodding enthusiastically and supportively. It had been Shadow’s dream since he was young to be on a beach and to see the stars. They were so beautiful, so freeing, and so amazingly familiar in a way he couldn’t place. Watching them from the base’s dingy area only made the black hedgehog’s dream that much stronger, like a siren summoning him beyond the shield.
Abruptly, Omega screeched, red eyes blinking rapidly. “WARNING! WARNING! IVO IS COMING! ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL IN FIVE MINUTES! CURRENT STATUS IS UNKNOWN, BUT HIS ASSOCIATES ARE WITH HIM! SATISFACTION LEVELS DECREASED BY 95% AND DROPPING!” Shadow immediately sprang into action, tossing his brushes into the jars for cleaning, sending water splashing, and peeling off his apron.
“Go, Shadow, go! I’ll put your stuff away!” Rouge quickly handed Shadow his white gloves with red cuffs and black trim in exchange for the crumpled apron. Omega switched his guns for hands and delicately moved the easel and artwork, careful not to smudge it.
Shadow slipped off the apron and tossed it at Rouge, tucking his rings over the gloves and unrolling any clothing that was bunched (he had to look presentable). “Thank you, Rouge.” Then he rushed out of the room, the door sighing behind him.
Arriving in the kitchen, Shadow quickly set up the tea tray. The teapot as well as the cup and saucer were already on the tray, but Shadow added the sugar bowl, a plate of frosted sugar cookie bars, and the plate of freshly sliced fruit. He contemplated adding proper cookies, but decided against it, since he was running late. Then he hurried to the foyer, trimmed with garish carnival-colored rugs and countless video screens with egg-covered screensavers and neon lights (just because the exterior was drab and clinical didn’t mean that the interior had to be the same), dusting himself off the best he could and smoothing out his quills. Rouge and Omega waited further down the equally garish-colored hall, watching carefully.
Shadow skidded to a stop just as the doors swung open, revealing the master of the base. “Mi’lord,” he greeted neutrally as he held out a hand. “How was your trip?”
“Invigorating,” the man remarked succinctly, depositing his leather gloves into Shadow’s hands as the light gleamed off his bald head and he combed out his luxurious brown mustache. His red, black, and yellow flight suit smelled of fresh leather and fabric and didn’t have a speck of dirt on it, indicating that not only was the trip highly successful, but also very profitable if it meant Ivo was buying new clothes. Behind him, two robots, one red and spherical and the other yellow and cubical, glided into the room with a friendly wave.
“Hello, Shadow,” the red one greeted, electric blue optics blinking brightly. He held out a bag of gourmet coffee beans. “We got you a treat. Or, at the least, Cubot and I did.”
“Hello Orbot,” Shadow replied, accepting the bag. “Thank you.” The black hedgehog never thought much of Orbot and Cubot as anything other than servants like himself, but every now and then, they proved to be kind.
“Hey Shadow!” The yellow one echoed. “Glad to see the place is still standing!”
“It sure is, Cubot,” Shadow agreed.
“Orbot, Cubot, shut up and go clean off my desk,” Ivo snapped, jerking the conversation to a halt. “I have to talk to Shadow alone.”
“Right away, boss!” Orbot chirped and darted off down the hall, Cubot hot on his mechanical heels.
“I swear, I’ll tear out their voice chips.” Brown eyes peered menacingly out from behind black sunglasses. “I’ll expect tea and coffee in about twenty minutes.”
“Of course,” Shadow answered politely, snapping to attention.
Those eyes sharpened sternly. “Don’t even think about repeating yesterday’s mistakes. You steep that tea for exactly six and a half minutes, no more and no less, and you see to it that there’s fresh biscotti to dip into my latte. Am I clear?”
“Yeah!” Cubot chimed in. “You don’t want to disappoint the boss!”
It’s almost like the doctor knew Shadow had debated adding real cookies earlier. “Of course,” Shadow stated hesitantly as he recalled the event. He hadn’t meant to forgo either of those things, but he was rushing so he could have more time to paint while Ivo took a nap.
Black boots crossed the floor, slugging Shadow on the arm. “And see to it I have a snack this time,” the aggressor, a black jackal with a white mane and a silver mask, scoffed. “Your robot friend knows how violent I get when I’m hungry.” Omega let out a slew of angry beeping in reply before Rouge pulled him down the hall in the opposite direction, her hand firmly on the wires connected to Omega’s voicebox.
“Infinite, step aside,” the man barked, crouching to their heights in the way he did when he wanted to really get under Shadow’s skin.
“Yes, Lord Ivo,” the jackal acquiesced, stalking off to freshen up.
Satisfied, Ivo turned to Shadow, a frown pursing his lips. “What’s that on your cheek?”
Shadow blinked, reaching for a royal blue stripe across his tan cheek (crap, he didn’t know it was there). “Uh-”
“Painting, again,” Ivo groaned like this was a major inconvenience on his end. “I told Stone he was to stop bringing you paint so you could take care of your duties.”
“But I finished them,” Shadow protested. “I had them all done this morning.”
Ivo gave Shadow a look that would’ve frozen somebody in record time. “Really now? Are the beds made? Dishes done?Kitchen cleaned and organized? Sweeping and mopping?”
“Yes,” Shadow answered.
“Weed the garden? Beat the rugs? Wax the tables? Silver polished? Screens cleaned? Keyboards dusted?” Ivo continued.
“Yes,” Shadow answered, secretly growing weary of the ten thousand questions Ivo peppered him with.
Ivo smirked in that way he did when he thought he put Shadow in checkmate. “Wash and mend my entire wardrobe?”
“Folded, ironed, and put away,” Shadow smirked back, almost daring Ivo to challenge his claim. Seemingly satisfied, Ivo straightened up and headed for the hall. To his right was the door that led to his private wing. His fingers dotted against the keys, putting in his password on the shiny keypad. As the door slid open, it let out a sharp squeak and groaned in protest.
Shadow winced at the sound that certainly wasn’t there yesterday.
“Now, isn’t that something?” Ivo remarked, a triumphant smirk blooming across his features. “It appears you’re shirking your duties after all.”
“I didn’t know-” Shadow started to protest.
“It’s your job to know!” Ivo barked as he punched in the code for the door. “I’ve taken care of you since you were a hoglet and this is how you thank me? By wasting your time painting? Such a disgrace.” The door squeaked shut behind him.
Shadow’s ears folded back briefly. It was never good enough for Ivo. Nothing was.
Well, he supposed he had to go make tea and coffee lest Ivo kevetch at him again. He started to move when another voice caught his ears. “Shadow!”
He turned around just as another man, this one with dark hair, warm brown eyes, and an entirely black suit entered the base. His arms were laden with several parcels. It was Stone and he always treated Shadow well despite Ivo’s insistence otherwise.
“Stone, I need to-” Shadow started.
“No, no, hang on. The doctor can wait a few minutes, can’t he?” Stone cut in. “Here. It’s for you.” He handed Shadow a beautiful white box with waves cut into it. “Open it up,” he grinned.
Shadow did so and gasped. “New paints?” He asked.
“It’s a special kind,” Stone grinned. “Made from white shells plucked right off a beach in Soleanna. I thought you’d love this given your recent muse.” Stone was really the only person outside of Rouge and Omega who really knew what Shadow wanted most of all (and only because he’d barged in while Shadow was painting a beach sunset).
Shadow carefully examined the glass jars of rich paint in beautiful colors, every shade of the rainbow. He couldn’t begin to imagine the beach paintings he’d craft with it. He closed the box and nodded approvingly. “Thank you, Stone.” He tilted his head at the rest of the parcels in Stone’s hands. “Groceries, I assume?”
“Some of it, yes, but there’s some things for the base as well, like some tools and what not. But yes, the bulk of these boxes are groceries.” Stone shrugged. “The doctor’s gotta have his lattes with steamed goat milk after all.” He shifted the packages again and put a hand on Shadow’s shoulder. “Come on, Shadow. I brought fresh avocados. We’ll make guac.”
“Guac doesn’t go well with tea and coffee,” Shadow remarked, tucking the paints under his arm with a furrowed brow.
“No, but it does with painting,” Stone remarked with a playful smile. “What do you say we make chips and guac for later?”
Shadow allowed himself to smile. “Okay.”
“That’s the spirit.” Stone straightened up and brushed off his jacket. “Now, let’s go make that tea and coffee. And you can tell me all about your new painting on the way.” Shadow nodded and zipped off to the kitchen, Stone following close behind him.