(AN: Hey! This is a Sonic fanfiction that is written purely for fun. I apologize for any errors that come. This is a Shadow origin-ish story, ma more in depth look on how he grew in the SCA. I wanted to do this due to reading some fics as a kid and never really being satisfied- like the stories needed a little *umph* of detail. This is rated T for any scientific violence or graphic imagery. Thank you!)
The Ultimate Process: Chapter One
Wrapped in Black Arms
I suppose this is will be an even trade?
I suppose so.
When will we see progress in the project, Professor?
Soon enough. You will be greatly satisfied in the least. Let me get my dirty work done. There's a lot to do before any conclusions or theories are made on behalf of immortality's sake. After that, you are free to do whatever you want with the research.
We assure you that leading this project on will be in your favor. Imagine it. Society finding cures for cancer, diseases. It goes on. All based on your brilliant brain! The Nobel's got your name on it.
I admit, it sounds too good to be true.
Aliens used to sound that way too until they walked up to our solar system, huh?
You got me there.
What are you naming this "project", Doc?
The Ultimate Lifeform.
Hours upon hours of research passed so easily away in the lab. Science used to be wondrous and eye-opening to the professor. Now it seemed like endless data files in endless files in endless hallways that were physical layers away from endless space. The darkly-lit pulsing tones of the vertical-standing incubated tub in the middle of the room made the professor zone off into inner monologues.
All this research done. What if the specimen just died before I woke for the next day? What if it's a vegetable? I never expected to have to study the genome of an intergalactic being before. What if I was wrong? What if the government punishes me for failing on the research and casts me to become some recluse away from my family? My Maria, without my help, forced to decay in her own body...Oh Gerald stop it. They wouldn't give you this position if they didn't believe you capable in the first place.
Gerald Robotnik had these ruminating thoughts in his mind for some time now. Creating life like Frankenstein was impossible! Of course, the medical field in the Space Colony Ark with the professor didn't build their subject with used human. The fertilized zygote was made with the haploid gamete contained within an alien's blood. The race of aliens called themselves the Black Arms. Their leader, Black Doom, was tested on their body physique. So strange, it was. Like some weird Dune storyline, the Black Arms used their blood for the fertilization of the egg! Their DNA were also odd. We had to find an animal that fit their chromosome build-up…
Gerald rubbed his eyes cleaned his glasses on his lab coat. The room was dark to prevent any harm to the specimen. Recreating a womb for such an important organism was crucial for its growth. It grew so big through the months, never once moving from its position in the tub. Eyes shut tight, arms to the sides on itself like a wooden doll. Very… unhuman. It almost reminded the professor of a dead rat inside a tub of formaldehyde. The liquid even looked similar. Gross.
Robotnik played with his mustache to stay awake. He tried looking at the satellites and stars, but after so many days of seeing it… You really can get tired of a view like this.
Slowly but surely, the professor fell asleep next to an empty mug of phantom coffee. His face pressed against a pile of research papers. He was knocked out due to fatigue. Constant recording and analyzing can be exhausting.
So exhausting, you fall asleep and don't wake up to the electrocardiograph monitor on the tub beep.
Gerald awoke to the splash of incubated sludge slapping the ground and his arm. With a gasp, he stood and saw his scientific masterpiece on the ground.
The room was dim, yes, but he could see it perfectly. Fully grown, but still fragile. Long quills, sharp nails, dark in color.
I need to get assistance.
The professor thought of ringing his colleagues, or even sounding an alarm. But he just stood there, and eyed his creation. The sound of a sliding door opened to the right of him, and a young blonde girl peeped out from it.
"I heard broken glass," the young being whispered. It was obvious she was very tired. "Is everything alright, Grandfather? Do you need me to grab a new waste disposal can?" She walked in to see the being on the floor and her eyes widened. "It's finished synthetically gestating!"
Attagirl. I knew I raised you right. Gerald tried to contain his smile for his grandchild's intelligent observation but held it in for professionalism. He would soon have to wake up his colleagues. Or, he could plan something else.
"Maria, Darling. We have to be very quiet and get it cleaned up. Can you get a bath started down the hall, please?"
"Of course, grandfather!"
"Quiet, now."
"Of course, opps." She grinned and rubbed her eyes, in a fashion like his own, and walked down to her dorm's bathroom.
Maria, being the granddaughter of Gerald, had the advantage of getting a living space in the Ark near her grandfather's living quarters and lab. There was also the reason of necessary closeness, in case she grew too weak due to an immune disease she was diagnosed with at her young age. How innocent she was, how pure.
"Thank you, sweetheart." he said. She however, was probably already getting the water ready.
Gerald picked up the once wooden-like being into his arms. It was silent and almost lifeless. Sudden dread went over the doctor's body. The lifeform was not breathing oxygen, and was still covered in a coating of coagulated fluid. He quickly grabbed gloves from the lab with a sparing finger and rushed to his granddaughter.
"We need to make sure he is breathing before we clean him thoroughly. Grab me a washcloth, please."
Gerald sat down with his back resting on the filling tub. He placed the alien-earth hybrid on his lap. He was growing pale. With a quick movement of handwork, he got his gloves on and grabbed the white cloth from his granddaughter with gratitude. He gently wiped the face of his creation, cleaning the nostrils and mouth, then wiping the eyes. He dipped the corner of the cloth with warm tub water and overlaid his movements to assure he got as much fluid off of its breathing space.
"It's not breathing, is something wrong?" Maria said, worryingly.
"Not yet." Robotnik replied, setting the creature gently on the flat ground.
The creature grew more pale.
"Let me grab some tools from the lab."
Maria stood alone with the suffocating creature. She couldn't bear the sight of its color fading away. She grabbed the cloth and gently dabbed the mouth and nostrils again then around the whole face until the creature heaved its chest with a tremendous gasp. Liquid spritzed around the room as the being coughed repeatedly. Air was painful to its young lungs. The eyes opened, red and beautiful. They searched the corner of the room and sat up in a stressed frenzy.
The stiff arms and legs frantically scrambled around the bathroom, slipping and stumbling. Maria did not know what to do at that moment. She only knew what she wanted to do. She grabbed the creature in a calm yet firm and assertive hug. It clinged back to her like a magnet. She was warm and did not pose a threat.
"Shhhh. Shhhhh." She cooed, patting the lifeform gently, then continued to wipe the slimy gunk off its quills. Maria heard its heartbeat thumping like an engine, eventually slowing down.
Gerald entered back with a case of medical tools to see the ultimate lifeform breathing, awake, and alive. Clinging to its life on his granddaughter, it looked like an overlay shadow on her. He grinned. Softly, to prevent the disturbance of its first moments outside the incubation, he said "Can you make sure he stays warm after his bath?"
Maria turned to face her grandfather and gently chuckled. "Yes, grandfather."
"Good. I have to clean up the lab. I'll be back."
Maria heard the door shut gently. The quilled creation still held tight to her, gently breathing. She rocked him bath and forth, cooing him with shushes again.
She had to stop and get on with the bath, however, when she felt the overflowing tub water touch her feet.