“Shadow is a nazi? What? How? Why?” Tails didn’t know that sentence could exist and was very shocked. Sonic accepted this information as if he had heard how the weather is outside and waited for Vector to continue.
Vector pulled out his phone and read off of it the information. “We found his social media account. He obviously isn’t using his real name, the account is called ambivalence2387469837497389023092193. I have no idea why he used so many numbers, I guess there were a lot of accounts named ambivalence. What is that number? Is that his social security number or something?
“Anyways, his account is full of posts of holocaust denial, anti-Semitism, why the Axis weren’t actually that bad, pictures of Japanese war criminals… You get the point. He shares videos other people made that promote conspiracy theories and that deny war crimes. He also posts a comic book that he makes all by himself and lives off contributions from fans. That comic book is his main source of income.”
“None of this is relevant. I want to know where he lives. That’s what I paid for.” Sonic stopped Vector.
“Hold on!” Tails jumped at Sonic. “This is very relevant. Do you want to work together with a literal neo nazi?”
Sonic responded, “I don’t care if he is a Nazi or whatever. The important thing is to get him to agree to the game.”
“Ahem”, Vector stopped a potential argument between the two and continued, “You ask where he lives? Well, Shadow is actually your neighbor. He is a 10-minute car ride from your apartment building. He lives in the residential area the mayor of Kowareta Yume plans to tear down to build casinos and hotels. You probably heard about it on the news.”
“To think he lived so close to us all this time yet we had no idea,” Sonic said.
“Shadow has lived a very isolated life.” Vector said. “Since ‘Sonic 06’ he has rarely left his home, he couldn’t take the ridicule. He has almost no friends except a few online ones. He practically lives on the internet. That maybe explains his current views. I think he is in his home right now so if you want to see him knock on the doorbell.”
“Thank you for the information Team Chaotix. Can't say it was a pleasure doing business with you but you did get me all the information I need.” Sonic stood up to shake Vector’s hand and was about to leave.
“You haven’t told me why you wanted to find out where Shadow lives?”
“I have to get him to agree to be in a video game with me.”
The two groups parted ways, Sonic and Tails were now walking through Kamurocho on their way to the car. Sonic was bursting with excitement, he felt like he was just on the cusp of his big break. Tails was wary of the situation and said to Sonic:
“Are you sure you want to do this with Shadow he is a Nazi after all?”
Sonic scoffed. “I really don’t care what he is. I am not going to drop this just because he is an idiot. He is my ticket to success and I will do whatever it takes to get him to agree.”
“How are you going to get him to agree anyway?”
“I will think of something.”
Sonic and Tails drove back to Kowareta Yume in silence. Tails drove to the address Vector gave them. They had passed through that street countless times and never once saw Shadow. They arrived and parked the red Saab close to Shadow’s home.
Sonic and Tails exited and Sonic noticed Tails wasn’t planning on coming with him. “You’re going to stay here?”
“I understand why you want to do this but I don’t want any part in it. He is a Nazi, I don’t even want to talk to him. You go do your thing and will wait here.”
Sonic shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
Sonic approached Shadow’s house. The entire neighborhood was a row of samey-looking houses. Shadow’s home didn’t look any different than any other house in the area, it looked completely ordinary. Sonic noticed lights flickering inside the house and he could hear sounds from the TV, Shadow must be home!
Sonic rang the doorbell but no answer came. He rang the doorbell once again and nothing happened. Sonic kept ringing the doorbell, he knew Shadow was in there and he wasn’t going to give up. He kept ringing until finally Shadow’s voice was heard from the inside:
“Go away!”
“Shadow is that you?”
“I said go away!”
“I came to talk to you. It’s me Sonic the Hedgehog, remember me? We used to work together on video games”
Shadow had a slight panic in his voice. “I don’t want to see you! I am busy, my toilet broke and I am dealing with the mess”
“Is it because of the sewer system?” Sonic said and Shadow replied with a yes. Sonic continued with confidence, “I am pretty good at fixing that problem. Let me in, I can help you out.”
A beat of silence passed where Sonic almost thought Shadow wasn’t going to respond.
“You promise you know how to fix toilets?” Shadow said.
“I wouldn’t lie about something like that”
Shadow opened the door and Sonic came inside. They avoided a handshake since Shadow’s hands were dirty.
“Fix the toilet and we can talk afterward about anything you want,” Shadow said and pointed Sonic to the problem.
Despite the outward appearance, the house inside looked anything but ordinary. It was a total mess. Clothes were in piles on the floor or on furniture, there were knocked-over trash cans with trash on the floor, and the entire place had a kind of unpleasant smell. It was the most disorderly home Sonic had ever seen in his life.
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Sonic made his way to the bathroom and like a professional in no time fixed the problem. He was a natural at this, he had to do this every day at work and every so often in Tails’ home. Due to the nature of the sewer system of Kowareta Yume, his fixes could only be temporary, some places had the problem more often than others but there was nothing Sonic or anyone else could do but delay the next time it happens. A complete overhaul of the entire sewer system was necessary for the problem to go away, there is only so much an individual could do.
After finishing up in the bathroom, Sonic made his way into the living room where Shadow was waiting for him. The living room had outdated furniture from the 70s and everything was dusty and dirty.
“I got some soda in the fridge if you want? Sorry, I wasn’t expecting guests so there isn’t anything else I can offer you.” Shadow said.
“Soda is fine.” Sonic finally got a good look at Shadow, they haven’t seen each other in more than a decade. Shadow looked pale and unhealthy. One look at him and you knew he never gets out of the house.
Shadow poured Sonic a glass of soda and grabbed a pack of cigarettes. “Want one?”
Sonic shook his head. “No thanks, I quit.”
Shadow lit his cigarette and sat across from Sonic, “How did you find me? I made myself untraceable”
“I have my ways. The truth can run but not hide.” Sonic said in an elusive tone trying to impress Shadow.
“That the Team Chaotix motto? They were at my house a year ago. I made the website for their detective agency. How are they doing?”
“Wait!” Sonic grabbed his head in frustration. “They know where you live?”
Shadow was taken aback, “Yeah like I said they were here a year ago. I helped them with their website. We are still in touch whenever they need some assistance with anything computer related.”
“I will strangle those motherfucking scammers next time I see them. I paid them so much money for them to ‘find’ you and you’re telling me they already knew where you were. They kept me on the edge for days as if they were searching for you. I can't believe I got scammed so hard and that stupid code of honor.”
“Hey don’t hate them 'cause of the code. I think it's admirable they have a principle they stick to and they didn’t make up the code.”
Sonic made a glare of death towards Shadow but Shadow was unfazed and continued. “You have no right to be mad, they are information traders. You bought information from them, simple as that.”
As much as Sonic wanted to argue with Shadow about this he calmed himself down and ignored talking about the Chaotix any further.
Shadow puffed on his cigarette and said: “So what did you want to talk about with me”
Sonic proceeded to tell Shadow about the video game contract offers, Shadow’s role, and the money they would receive. Sonic made a huge effort to pitch this idea as enthusiastically as possible and he made the offer sound really good. Shadow merely listened and smoked his cigarette. Once Sonic was done with his pitch Shadow said:
“Thanks but no thanks. I’m not interested.” Shadow crushed his cigarette in the ashtray.
“But why” Sonic was soul crushed. “The money we’d be getting is incredible. I can’t do this without you, Shadow, please. I bet you need some financial help.” Sonic didn’t about lose all hope. He was going to try to push Shadow as much as he could.
“Let me tell you what kind of help I need.” Shadow took out another cigarette and lit it. “I need a new home. As you may have heard the news this neighborhood is getting torn down. The local government has appropriated the land and is redeveloping it. All of us folk who live here have to leave. Fuck you if you want to keep living here. You are out and you have no say in it.”
“Will you get compensation for your house getting appropriated?”
“Of course. They can’t just take away something that’s yours without paying. However, the catch is I get that money in several years. The money isn’t the pressing issue right now though. Where the hell am I going to live, there are no more places to rent in Kowareta Yume and that’s the only part of Tokyo that I can afford.”
“Why not move out to a different, less expensive city?”
Shadow hit the table “NEVER! I know what this land appropriation is about! It’s the Jews. They want to replace us. They want to kick us out. It’s all a Jewish conspiracy. They saw me posting on the internet and they want to silence me! You think it’s an accident out of all the places in the world I have to move out! Well, I won’t let the Jews win. If I move out of Tokyo that would be capitulation. I won’t give them that victory, I will fight as long as I live. That’s why I have to keep on living in Tokyo.”
Sonic thought to himself, Maybe Tails was right. Working with someone so brain-dead seems awful. I don’t know much about politics but I doubt some group of Jews is out there chasing the shut-in loser Shadow the Hedgehog. However, I have to get him to agree to make the game with me, I need him for my own sake. He said he needed a place to live. I have an idea.
“Listen Shadow, I have an offer for you. I am living with Tails maybe 10 minutes away by car from where you live right now. I could ask him for you to live with us for a while, I think we have an empty room you could use. In return, you have to agree to do this video game deal with me. I get what I want and you get to keep fighting the Jewish world order or whatever.”
Shadow thought about the offer, he knew wasn’t going to get a better deal than this. While he wasn’t enthusiastic about the prospect of making another video game considering how badly it went the last two times. This time Sonic would have his hand on the wheel and he would have more of a supporting role, he realized he wasn’t going to take the blame if the game ends up being horrible. He would have a short gameplay segment so the main director is still Sonic. Not only that but the money offered was no small amount.
With the restitution, Shadow would receive from getting his home appropriated and the money he would make from the video game, he had a great financial situation looking at him. And most importantly in his mind, he gets to keep on living in Tokyo. In the end, Shadow agreed, the only thing left was for Sonic to convince Tails to agree. It was Tails’ apartment so without his approval this deal is dead on arrival.
“Wait just a second. Tails is waiting outside, I need to ask him first if he is okay with you moving in with us.” Sonic made his way confidently to Tails. Tails was sitting in the car watching the news on his phone. The mayor of Kowareta Yume making a speech about the land appropriation and Tails kept cursing at the screen.
Sonic knocked on his window and Tails got out of the car. The two stood outside and Sonic told Tails about everything he and Shadow talked about. He told Tails about the offer he made to Shadow and asked Tails if it was okay for Shadow to temporarily move in with them.
“Absolutely not” Tails gave a firm answer.
“Oh come on why not?” Sonic replied frustrated. He had to bargain with him too now. Can one thing just work out for me?
“He is a fucking Nazi and a crazy conspiracy theorist. I don’t want someone like that sharing the same living space with me.”
“Buddy, please. I really need this. Can you do this for me” Sonic pleaded and made a pressed his palms as if he was praying.
“I am sorry but no. You know I am always there to support you when you need it. This crosses the line for me. I don’t want a neo-Nazi in the house. End of discussion. Find another way.”
Sonic felt betrayed. Everything was crashing down on him. There was no other way unless Tails agrees. He expected Tails to have his back no matter what and that he would help. Sonic selfishly believed that his desires supersede everyone else’s, including his best friend. Just as he was about to lose all hope he saw Tails’ phone in the car. The phone was on the driver's seat and the news was still on the screen, Tails forgot to lock his phone. On the screen, the mayor of Kowareta Yume was still giving his speech. As Sonic looked at the mayor an idea came to him.
“Don’t you think you are betraying your principles?” Sonic crossed his arms.
“What are you talking about?”
“I thought you cared about the land appropriation the mayor of Kowareta Yume has signed. Here we have a victim of this policy and you are turning your back on him. Why? Because you disagree with his beliefs! So what if he has stupid and crazy opinions. He is still a victim of the mayor, he will have no place to live. If you truly cared about this issue you would help Shadow.”
“You’re saying if I cared about the land appropriation I would need to help everyone? What a dumb thing to say.”
“I’m not saying you have to help everyone. You are in a position to help one person, you have the space to house him, it's someone we both know personally. I think if you are truly against the mayor’s policies you should help his victims regardless of their beliefs. If you really are serious about your beliefs then practice them.”
“You’re only saying this cause you want that video game deal.”
“Doesn’t matter what I say in this situation. It matters what you do and whether are you truly principled.”
Sonic’s words hit Tails like a train. It made him completely reconsider everything he said before. Sonic knew exactly which buttons to push and Tails was ready to agree for Shadow to move in with them. Tails knew that Sonic is only thinking about the video game but his words had an air of truth to them in Tails’ mind. What kind of person am I if I don’t practice what I preach. I am no better than the thousands of hypocrites out there if I reject to help Shadow.
Sonic knew he playing dirty. He couldn’t care less about the mayor or the people of Kowareta Yume that had to move out. He knew this was something Tails cared about because he was so outspoken about it and even attended a protest. Sonic consciously manipulated his friend.
A small part of Sonic felt bad that he pulled something like this on his best friend, it didn’t feel right. However, a bigger part of Sonic was prepared to get his video game deal by any means necessary. It was his ticket to a new life and he wasn’t going to let anything or anyone stop him.
“Okay,” Tails took a deep breath. “You’re right. I should help him. I don’t want him to have to leave Tokyo because of the mayor and that I was able to prevent that. Regardless of what he thinks and if he blames the Jews he doesn’t deserve to be thrown out of his home. You can go tell him that he can move in with us.”
“Excellent!” Sonic grinned. He went to the car and took the necessary paperwork given to him by Polanzo that Shadow needs to sign. He gleefully walked towards Shadow’s home. As he was walking Tails shouted to him:
“I can’t promise I will get along with Shadow though.”
“You don’t need to be friends with him or ever talk to him. The only thing he needs is a place to stay.”
Sonic sat back in Shadow’s living room where Shadow was waiting for him smoking cigarettes. He told Shadow that Tails agreed for him to move in with them and that he needed to sign contracts for the video game deal. Shadow nodded, he signed the necessary papers and with that, they parted ways. Shadow said he will move in with them in a week.
Sonic and Tails drove back to their home, they didn’t speak for the rest of the day. Sonic sat on the terrace alone, looking at the endless Tokyo skyline. In one hand he held the contracts Shadow signed and felt a sense of pride, mission accomplished. He grabbed his phone and called Polanzo.
“Talk to me Sonic baby. Bring the good news?” Polanzo said on the other side of the line.
“Shadow has been found and has signed the paperwork agreeing to do the video game with me.”
“Oh amazin’ I knew you could do it. All I have to say is congratulations and welcome back. You are working for SEGA as a video game director again.”
Sonic was overjoyed hearing those words. He was on his way to stardom once again. Everything was going to change now. However, he couldn’t shake this empty feeling he had in his stomach. The victory felt a bit hollow. Was it really worth emotionally manipulating my best friend for this?