Chapter 2

"Brothers to the... Circuit?"

A long year has passed since our hero's journey began and all he loved was lost...at the age of 15 now, and his fur slowly changing from a bright shade of brown to a dark brown, he wondered into the nearest town named "Wolice" one of Xak’s kingdom's main food suppliers into the castle. And wondering in the outskirts of the grass field, and entering the desert, Xak was exhausted and worn from his journey. As he was about to collapse in the street he raised his ear to hear a stranger speak.
"Oh, did you see? Shadow is here, let's go say hi." the boy cried to his older brother. 
"Nah, I heard shadow isn't the type for friends let's just leave him be…"
Hearing about shadow, Xak quickly rushed to the brothers and grabbed them by the chest and held them up close. "Where is the shadow?" he growled.
"O-over there man," the older boy pointed further down the road from where they were standing, "... but I wouldn't talk to him, he isn’t really the kind of guy for talking..." he whimpered to Xak.
"Don't worry... Neither am I!" Xak said in anger.
With that being said, Xak charged down the road until he saw this Shadow walking. He started to run faster and tackled Shadow to the ground. And began to punch him in face, mistaking Shadow the Hedgehog for the so called the Shadow man that had attacked and took away Ophilia, and each punch was pissing shadow off more till he threw a punch right back.
The blow knocked Xak off of him and on his butt. Xak groaned in pain as he rubbed his cheek feeling soreness already rising; he looked up and noticed it wasn't the same shadow he was looking for.
"Hey sorry I mistook--" before Xak could even hardly began to apologize for his mistaken outbreak, Shadow punched him again in the face with enough force to send Xak rolling backwards and into a wall of a nearby building along the street.
“HEY!” Xak shouted, “I'm trying to apologize for me hitting you, damnit!" 
"Hmph, maybe you should pay more attention about your actions and think them through before you start something, you can't finish!" Shadow said, walking slowly towards Xak in a hostile manner. 
Xak stood up quickly and got into a fighting stance "Alright, fine, you wanna fight, let's go!" Xak shouted again... "You’re not even worth my spit...” Shadow turned around and walked away leaving Xak alone. Xak watched him leave as he hocked a loogie at the ground next to him and walked the other way, “Pfft, wimp...” he quietly spoke, leaving the town to continue his journey onward...

Meanwhile...
Shadow was strolling along the town, "hmph... kids..." he muttered as he kept walking, when suddenly a little grey hedgehog stepped in front of him. He stopped and looked down on him, the child was cheery and giggly as he went by and following behind the young hedgehog was a black fox... half of his body was machine and the other half was organic with blood red eyes as sharp as Shadow's were. Shadow watched the fox pass feeling some strange connecting with him. The black fox turned his head to Shadow, catching shadow watching him and he stared back as they locked eyes for a split moment.
"Hey, Cyborg! Over here, come check this out!" Spark shouted out, as Cyborg turned his eyes on Spark.
"Alright, I'll be right there!” Cyborg said with smile, as he walked past Shadow. He turned around and watched the black hedgehog walk on by, "Spark... I want you to stay at that stand till I get back, you understand me?" Cyborg said to Spark.
"Umm okay? But why… is everything alright?" Spark asked in curiosity. 
"Yes everything is fine... just stand right there 'till I get back alright." He said again 
"Yeah, alright whatever you say big bro!" with that security Cyborg felt, he quickly and quietly followed after Shadow.
Cyborg felt that connection again as did Shadow. "Who is this creature and why does he feel... Familiar?" Cyborg whispered to himself as he tossed a rock at Shadow, hitting him in the head then quickly stepping into the shadows of the dark alley way hoping to lure Shadow to follow him. 
"Who threw that?!" Shadow shouted angrily. He noticed another rock was tossed from the dark alley there, Shadow frowned and marched into the dark alley only to find nothing.
Shadow quickly turned around and pulled out his pistol, to find Cyborg aiming his arm that was shaped as a Gatling gun, right into Shadow's face just as Shadow has his pistol aimed at Cyborg's face and both wearing a smug confidence on their faces. 
"Who are you and why do you seem so familiar to me?" Cyborg demanded.
"Hmhm... I was about to ask you the same question..." they locked eyes for a moment, and suddenly Shadow pulled the trigger, but cyborg swept to the side in time to dodge the bullet. 
Cyborg started shoot back with his arm gun, firing rapidly bullet after bullet at Shadow. Shadow ran too fast for the bullets to touch him, he then leaped on to a wall and used his hover skates to launch himself at Cyborg, aiming his pistol and shooting at Cyborg, just the same Cyborg was to shifting to fast to the left and right, dodging every bullet; he then Launched his arm at Shadow like a grappling hook that grabbed him by the throat, he then used his jetpack to lift himself into the sky trailing shadow with him, still by the throat, as Shadow gasped for air below him.
Cyborg started to fly downward towards the ground and stopped for a moment to reactivate his jetpack going the opposite way while his arm was still follow the old path. Launching shadow at a building like a slingshot, Shadow gained his bearings and positioned himself up, as he grew even angrier. Shadow ran at full speed and used his skates to launch himself into the sky after him like a super jump, and grabbed Cyborg by the leg and as they travel back down with gravity pulling them down, gained speed downward. Shadow held Cyborg out in front of him like fall breaker. They collided into the ground, making a huge crash and racket, dust all around them. They both stood from the fierce fall, brutally injured.
"Hmhmhm... So I was right...” Cyborg said out loud but calmly.
Shadow looked to Cyborg in uncertainty and asked, "What do you mean?" 
"I mean you and I are connected... we both share the same kind of combat tactics...” Cyborg deemed, “who are you black hedgehog?" Cyborg asked.
"I'm Shadow, Shadow the Hedgehog..." Shadow said in confidence."And who might you be?” Shadow asked in return 
“My name is Cyborg... At least that’s what my little brother calls me... my real identity is gone.. For I know not who I once was..."
"Hmph, sounds like you and I have more in common then just battle tactics..." Shadow exclaimed.
"Indee--" 
Suddenly a loud high pitched scream entered both shadow and cyborg's ears, interrupting them from the end of the road, ”CCYYYBBBOOOORRRRGGGGGGG!!!!!!!" Spark screamed out racing towards Cyborg, "What in the heck do you think you're doing? You know you're upgrades can't handle heavy wear and tear...” Spark leaned over seeing Shadow, “And who is that!?" spark shouted again at cyborg upset.
"Spark... I need you to examine Shadow... and me..." Cyborg blurted out without thinking about what Spark just said.
"Wait a minute I didn't agree to any tests!" Shadow said, confused.
"Please, you are just as curious about the two of us as I am and I promise I won’t attack you again..." Cyborg pleaded to Shadow.
"Hmph... fine... but this better lead somewhere..." Shadow said, as they left to Sparks hidden base...
“Wait a minute... DID I EVEN SAY WE COULD DO THIS!!??? I DIDN'T AGREE, YOU KNOW!" Spark shouted as Cyborg and Shadow kept walking.
"Don't worry I'll make you some pizza alright?" Cyborg said as he kept walking and turned his head back at Spark.
"Mmm yeah Pizza..! Fine but I get the biggest slice!!" Spark announced
"Of course, little bro, now come on” Cyborg agreed happily

Minutes later

The three arrived at Spark's base; Shadow's face was in daze as he was looking at all the high tech equipment surrounding the room. 
"So Shadow... who exactly built you--"  Cyborg asked
"How do you know I was built?" Shadow interrupted.
"Please it's quite simple to tell, you and I have the same style, and plus nothing could have moved that fast..." Cyborg replied quickly 
"I think you're wrong about that but I suppose that makes sense... well from what I can recall my creator was ... Dr. Gerald, Robotnik..." Shadow said
Spark's face turned pale in fear, "You mean... you were built by that psycho!?"  Spark said
"Psycho?  Spark how do you know about this... Robotnik?"  Cyborg asked worried
"Oh you know, I'm a genius so I was just good at predicting... heheh." Spark said trying to cover his tracks.
"Predicting, there was no guessing... tell me!" Cyborg demanded in a prying shout.
"Alright!” Spark sighed, “ I was hoping I would never have to show you this... but a few years back when I first found you... which was in this very lab by the way, I stumbled onto some... videos that were recorded decades ago..." Spark confessed 
"Do you still have these videos, Spark?" Cyborg asked
"Yeah... I kept them just in case there was some secrets I could learn to help with your upgrades... but I'm afraid to show you..." Spark said shyly.
"What do you mean? Is there something I should know?" Cyborg asked
"Well, when I found you and activated you... you were completely insane, and hell bent on destruction... So…I deactivated you and wiped your mind clean, erasing your memories, to clean your slate..." Spark once again confessing 
Shadow's brow rose in curiosity "So again, you and I share some more similar traits... when I was created I was built for taking over the world but I was stopped and next thing I knew I wasn't evil anymore..." Shadow explained.
"Hmmm..." Cyborg thinking about what Shadow said for a moment. He looked to Spark, "I need to see these videos...!" 
Spark sighed dejectedly, “Alright... I’ll show you but the first sign I see of you going nuts, I will deactivate you, and re erase your mind, you got me!?" Spark stated with all seriousness.
Cyborg shook his head in agreement, "Fine. Now let’s see these videos!"
Spark turned and walked to the super computer and opened a secret compartment, holding the data discs. He took one last look at the two, then inserted the first disc in...

Recording:
"Hello? Is this recording? ... good, hehehaaa Data 1 of my experiment: I'm Doctor, Gerald Robotnik, here working on my latest Creation. I managed to capture the general of the freedom fighters', Cyrus Coth, the fox! Dead but I captured him... and my plans are to reanimate his lifeless corpse. And turn him to my side, and aid in my struggle in the war against the freedom fighters Woohohohohoowaahahahahaaaa!"
Recording stopped...

"Wait so my name is Cyrus Coth?" Cyborg asked, "No wonder that name seem so familiar, in my head... play more!" Cyborg said excited to learn about himself.
"And you were also the previous leader of the freedom fighters; decades ago... hmmm looks like the egg didn't fall far from the hen Doctor.... like grandfather like grandson..." Shadow stated, in curiosity wanting to learn more as well.
"Alright disc 2..." Spark said inserting the disc

Recording 2:
“Hmhm! Day 10, I'm working Cyrus's machine parts that will bring him back to life... but this is the most stubborn corpse I've ever dealt with. Well the only one... but still stubborn... I will get him to life again... and once I do, this war is as good as over! Wooohohohooo!"

Recoding stopped...

Spark inserted the next disc without hesitation...

Recording 3
"Day 35... Those pesky Freedom fighters have pulled the last hair from my Mustache...! If only I had some help building Cyrus... doing it alone is a pain... but I refuse to give up this machine will be the most fierce I've ever built, and the best one they'll fear hmhmmm HAHAHAAA!!..."
Recording stopped...

"This Doctor, is very twisted... to reanimate a dead body is completely morbid... I... I can't believe this..." Cyborg said in shock, finding out whom we was, and once was a shock.
"Do you want me to stop?" Spark asked.
"No I’m fine... keep going..." Cyborg said.

Recording 4
Crashing sounds surrounded the audio in this recording, but the Doctor’s voice was heard, "Damn those Freedom fighters! ... But no worries... day 100, and my plan is a success! Say hello, Cyrus..." the room was dark in the background of the recording and all that was visible was Cyborg's red eyes glowing eerily.
"What are my Orders, Doctor?" Cyborg said in the recording, but his voice sounded wrong with such a lifeless and cold tone of voice.
“Go and remove though freedom fighters from my breathing air!" The doctor exclaimed. Cyborg nodded to the doctor and walked out of the room...
Recording stopped...

"Hurry play the next!" Shadow shouted, but reconsidered himself a little embarrassed, "Sorry..."
Spark inserted the next and final disc

Recording 5
This was a recording of the battle field; of Cyborg slaughtering all his once called friends and allies. Creating body piles of freedom fighters, one after the other, narrowing their numbers in rapid speed, "Cyrus, stop! We are your friends!" One of the freedom fighters cried out but shortly after the voice uttered their last words, Cyborg shot them all, burned them, blasted them and ripped them.

Recording stopped...

"I...I.....I'm a murderer! All those... people... murdered.... taken... by my lifeless hands..." Cyborg said dropping to his knees, in horror of himself, "I’m a monster!" he cried out.
"Snap out of it!" Spark shouted, hurrying to comfort him and to knock him out of his hysterics, “that was the old you, from years ago... like I said I erased your past so you could have a clean slate a new life... Cyborg, you're not monster... you're my Big Brother... and nothing will change that! Please, don't take this so hard on yourself... I wish I didn't have to show you those clips... but I knew that one day I would have to... but now you know...--" 
"Hey what’s that!?" Shadow pointed out another disc hidden in the back of the compartment; he pulled it out, looked over it then passed it on to Spark.
"Wait... one more? But I only found 5..." Spark looked at Cyborg, as he was a wreck on his knees, feeling terribly mortified of himself.
"Do... do you want to see the last clip?" Spark asked Cyborg.
"Might as well...." Cyborg sighed as Spark put the disc in.

Recording 6
"RROOOOBBBOOOOOTTTNNNNIIIIIKKKK!” as the first word shouted in this recording .
"oh! Hoho this back fired badly.... so damn badly!" Bullets were being fired at Robotnik, as he ran in fear.
"Hey! This is no way to replay the man who gave you a second chance at life--" 
A bullet shot through Robotnik's mustache as he spoke, “Heheh! Screw this!" Robotnik, Jumped into an escape pod that launched up into space, "where to now?” he asked himself, “Maybe the moon... yes heheh I’ll built a space station on the moon! no.. A weapon on the moon! WUUAAHAHAHAHAHAAA!"
Cyborg watched Robotnik fly off into space... as the camera showed Cyborg... tattered and beaten... "All my friends... gone.... I'm the only one left...and I'm reduced to this... Abomination..." Cyborg said as tears flowed from his Organic eye, "...Robotnik... you bastard!" Cyborg... started to fall down from his injuries... he looked at the camera he just noticed, as he lied on the floor blinking on and off about to shut down... “Good night..., Sweet... dreams." he said as his system's failed. And his voice dropped tone as he the last word came from his mouth.
Recoding stopped...

"Wow... Cyborg. I don't know what happened but it looked like you regains your senses and fought back, see I told you, you're not a machine at all because you’re a living person!" Spark explained at Cyborg, knocking him out of his depression.
“You’re right... so I guess I am a good guy... but still those lives I took..." 
"Those lives you took where not done on your part... but you machine's self... you... your living half... did not take those lives!" Shadow exclaimed raising Cyborg’s confidence. 
"You’re right... well I guess we figured out this mystery.”
“So, Shadow the hedgehog... I guess this makes you and me half-brothers..." Spark smiled at Cyborg’s sureness, as Shadow and Cyborg, nodded heads to each other in agreement, "Now,” Spark piped up, “that’s fine and dandy now let’s eats some pizza! I'm starving" Spark said aloud, Cyborg smiled. 
"Alright, let’s have that Pizza shall we!, shadow will you join us?" Cyborg asked
"No... As fun as this was, I'm currently in the middle of something... I’ll have to take a rain check, Brother..." and with that Shadow, took off, leaving the base and on his way.
"So do you feel better, now that you know who you are, big bro?" Spark asked with a smiled on his cute little face.
"Yes... yes actually I do... thank you Spark for helping me, all this time...” Cyborg smiled and turned his head to the door where Shadow had left from..." and thank you, brother, Shadow..."
"Pizza, Pizza, Pizza!!!" 
"Alright I'll make it right away, chill out, Spark! haha!" Cyborg said in happy chuckles.

Mean while
Back to our Hero Xak, on his Journey, now walking across the desert! The vast, empty desert!
"Ugh!.. i'm so tired.. So thirsty.... who in the hell invented the desert anyway? I HATE THE DESERT!!!" Xak shouted out, at the top of his lungs.

(To be continued)