Heart to Heart, Mind to Mind.

Aboard the Black Comet..

Black Doom had been.. busy. Busy thinking about everything, about all that's occurred and catching up with everything that's happened too in his absence. Still learning about just how much occurred during the Black Arm's hibernation, his mind went back to plotting against Shadow.

Shadow.

Oh that meddlesome Black Hedgehog, if he could have just gotten him on his side the first time around this planet would be HIS! No, all worlds would be! All would bend to the unified might of him and the Hedgehog.

But that didn't happen, no it didn't happen TWICE. Both times he died, both times he failed. Both times his race went extinct.. only to be brought back.

This would be the third time, the third chance he's had. With (most) of his army intact, although weakened for sure he should be in the perfect spot for an invasion shouldn't he? No! Of course not, of course there's all these gods and multiversal issues running about. Even he knows a full invasion would be wiped out almost instantly if he attempted it, and out of all times Shadow is missing too. He has the entire world in his hands, the perfect chance but no there has to be this whole mess! All these high gods and heroes perfectly able to stop him if they united, he has to put security on constantly just in the case someone tried invading the Black Comet! All this power.. all these chances.. and still he's nowhere closer to his goal.

Ugh.

He'd lament in his organic black and ivory throne, sat upon it in thought.

Until his mind tickled.

It's happening again, that feeling. It started merely last night, and he's felt it constantly ever since. A connection of sorts, but it's not full nor is it complete. He thought it to be that Fox but.. no he senses it differently now. This is something new, or something in general he hadn't accounted for.

This time though.. he hears a faint voice.

??? : ".. hello?"

His eyes open, confused.
Someone was speaking to him? From within the hivemind! Not some mindless runt or warrior, not some hulking brute or winged elite but.. consciousness. Not a mindless informant, not simple information but an actual thought.

That hasn't happened before.

He sits up straight in his throne, is this an invasion of his domain of the mind? Who dare do this!

BD : "Who dare meddle in my web of minds! Who dare trifle with the conqueror of the stars! Who dare speaks to BLACK DOOM unprompted!"

He speaks into the void of the hivemind, waiting for a response.

??? : "Your.. you're actually him!"

"Eclipse.. I am Eclipse my master."

Black Doom could sense the lifeform kneeling physically as he says this, in reverence.

Master?
This is.. unexpected.

Eclipse : "Technically speaking I am your son in a way."

The voice says shaky, obviously estatic to be speaking to him. Excited but speaking with reverence and respect towards the conqueror.

.. what. Did.. son? What.

BD : "I beg your pardon?"

Even Black Doom is confused by this, the only person he'd call a son in a way is Shadow but.. for obvious reasons that's not entirely true. Even all his warriors, while his children in a way are mindless in the end and a means to an end. But a conscious child of his is.. new. An issue possibly but one he'd need to learn of NOW.

E : "Well.. I am Black Death's offspring but yours by extension too."

Black Death.. he doesn't know anyone of that name nor has he EVER given any of his army the moniker of Black. He's thought about it, but.. he never did.

BD : "Explain."

E : "Oh, of course my lord! I come from a different world, where you perished by the hands of the traitor a lingering remnant you left behind in the case of your death designed and made me."

"As his counter."

A counter.. to Shadow?

E : "And-"

BD : "HOLD. What is your location, child."

He interrupts Eclipse.

E : "Oh, I'm-i'm.. somewhere called Green Hill?"

BD : "Hold your position, my warriors are on the way to.. bring you to me. We can further this conversation, this development face to face."

"I wish to meet my.. kin directly."

E : "Of course. I shall wait here, master."

The connection would be severed voluntarily, Black Doom commanding a small part of his fleet to go and locate the child.

This is EXACTLY what he needed. A true devoted ally, no a next of line! What he wished from Shadow he could gain from this.. child of his. That is if this is all true, if not he'll have him executed at the slightest sign of betrayal.

But, he needs to wait till they get here. Then he'll see.

When he does, he will find out EVERYTHING this Eclipse knows. Everything about this Black Death.. and everything about him. He'll see if what he says is true, and if in fact they are a worthwhile addition to his grand fleet.

Finally, progress. Finally, steps towards domination. Finally comes now the time.

Now, shall be the promised time of the Black Arms. Arise, arise!
Let this child of theirs be the one to harken them to victory, if all is to be believed.
Let the Black Arms rise once more!

…

Well once he figures this out that is. A conscious mind added into the hivemind must be accounted for, alongside the fact there is a possibility of betrayal. But alas, he'll wait for his new kin to arrive.

And he is ever so eager after all, this exactly what he demanded for all those years ago. An edge, a weapon more than just a mindless beast. While it will be harder to control them, they seemed totally devout to his command.
And so he waits patiently for his kin, his newfound child of another world to arrive.
Eager to speak to them, eager to learn and add to his collection of knowledge.
Eager to wield a new blade.