Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ Lab Rats ❯ Two years later ( Chapter 2 )

Manic had endured yet more injections as well as fight training alongside Shadow.

 His only comfort was Maria. She’d bring in his and Shadow’s favorite foods, play music or videos on her phone for them, and make sure they were clean and had blankets.

 Until she died. 

 Manic learned that Maria had been terminally ill the entire time he knew her.

 Shadow and Manic weren’t even allowed to go to her funeral. At the very least, the two hedgehogs reasoned, they were allowed to have an extra hour outside of their cells to talk about their grief.

 “I can’t believe Maria is gone.” Manic said.

 “She was an angel.” Shadow replied. He laid his arms on his knees. “She was the only family I had. I don’t remember life before being taken here.”

 Manic dipped his chin to his chest. “I had a Ma, brother, and sister.” He said. “I know they’re worried.”

 Shadow rubbed his arm. “Maria and I haven’t been able to figure out what they were doing.”

 “I wonder if Tails can find us.” Manic said. “He’s my brother’s best friend and is like a brother to me, Sonic, and Sonia. I’m sure he’d help them and Ma find me.”

 “He has his work cut out for him.” Shadow replied. “GUN files are hard to get into.”

 ~meanwhile~

 Tails sighed. “All I could find is three project names.” He said, sitting down at the hedgehog family’s kitchen table. “Project: Nikós, Project: Surge, and Project: Shadow. No details about the subjects; no pictures. It’s just the names and that it’s a super soldier project. I thought Nikós might be him because of the Greek word Manikós, which means Manic, but I don’t have proof.”

 Sonic sighed. “Maybe that was really a conspiracy theory.”

 Tails shrugged. “I’m still checking in as much as I can and Sticks has been an enormous help.” He said. “I… I really hate to say this, but it’s possible he’s dead. I have a friend who’s in GUN. She said that she’s done cases about trafficking while she was a detective. She never saw Manic’s photo anywhere in all her investigations. A serial killer could’ve easily found him.”

 Aleena buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

 “Maybe he’ll turn up one day.” Sonic said, hugging Aleena.

 “I’m really sorry, Aleena.” Tails said, handing Aleena a handkerchief. “I haven’t given up hope Manic’s still out there and I didn’t say I believed that theory. He really could be alive somewhere.”

 “Thanks for your help, Tails.” Sonia said. “Thank your friend for us.”

 “Thank you.” Aleena said, voice shaking.

 “I will.” Tails replied. “Maybe I should try to ask her about it.” 

 Manic was placed back into his cell for the day. He settled in the corner, pressing his back against the wall and pulling his knees to his chest.

 Gerald Robotnik, the project leader and Maria’s grandfather, walked over to Manic’s cell with a lime green female tenrec. 

 Manic smirked at her. “She is so beautiful.” He thought as he got up and walked over to the door.

 The cell door whooshed open.

 Gerald nudged the girl inside Manic’s cell. “Nikós, this is Surge.”

 “Hey.” Surge said, grinning.

 Manic brushed back his long spines. “Hi.”

 “I’ll let you two get acquainted.” Gerald said. He closed the door behind them and walked away.

 Surge and Manic glanced at Gerald as he walked away, then shrugged.

 Manic sat down on the floor. “My name is actually Manic.” He said. “What was yours?”

 Surge sat down across from Manic. “If I had a different name, I don’t remember it.”

 “Neither does Shadow.” Manic replied.

 “Oh, the hedgehog that sounds like Keanu Reeves?” Surge asked.

 Manic snapped his fingers. “Yes, that’s who he sounds like.” He replied. “It’s been driving me crazy. Should’ve guessed it. My big bro is a huge Keanu Reeves fan.”

 “So is Shadow the other guy here?” Surge asked.

 “Yeah.” Manic replied. “I’m sorry.”

 Surge chuckled. “It’s cool,” She said. She looked around. “So are they moving me in with you?”

 Manic shrugged. “Maybe.”

 “I really don’t want to be alone anyway.” Surge said, sliding closer to Manic. “This place gives me the creeps.”

 Manic put his arm around Surge. “Me too.”

 Surge laid her head on his chest.

 Manic sang softly as he stroked her spines.