There was a silence in the Ark that occasionally became unbearable. On most days, it is a harmless stillness that relaxes even the most stressed out minds, intermingled with the occasional hum of engines being revved during routine checks and enhancements. On some days, a stealthy creepiness threatens to overwhelm vexed souls yearning to be distracted momentarily by any force, physical or substance.
Kyrin watched her own reflection in the glass, foregrounding the Earth, millions of miles below. Her breath makes fleeting mist on the glass, in the blink of an eye all was clear again. It is always cold on the Ark, and her grey hooded sweater never left her sight. She pulled the cream-colored shawl tighter around her neck. The mist comes and goes, slower then faster, and then slower again. Then faster. Then slower.
She gripped the edge of the window to steady herself. The erratic breathing problem escalated surely but slowly. Faster, slower, faster, slower… she felt her body tremble with its instincts to restore balance. Yet her mind, overloaded by emotions, refused to spare her physical self the torment. Faster, slower, faster, faster, faster…
A hand cupped her left elbow and held on tight just as she bent over with the effort to breathe normally. "Steady there."
She turned and saw the black and red fur, the white ruffles and the golden rings on his wrists. Shadow helped her up and watched as she caught her breath, finally. He let go but remained standing at the window. She nodded in silent gratitude.
Kyrin watched their reflections standing next to each other. They were so different, yet of all the people and heroes onboard the Ark, they both knew the same pain.
Two years ago, Kyrin was just an eighteen year old girl looking for a job. Living in Glendale City with her mother in a tiny rented apartment with only a room, a kitchen and a toilet, Kyrin slept in the living room, on the floor. There was no sofa, and they made do with duvets and sleeping bags from the Salvation Army. Kyrin's mother slept in the room in a similar fashion. Whatever little they had from her mother's ugly divorce was whittled down further to fit into this little apartment. In the corner of the living room, two suitcases and several duffel bags contained all that they had to their names.
Shadow stared at her reflection, lost in thoughts. Behind those glazed brown eyes, he sensed that she had suppressed loss and pain unarticulated. He frowned, this 20 year old girl has been appearing at his favorite spot ever since she came abroad the Ark. She seldom spoke to anyone and her smiles are always forced. It was as if joy was sucked out of her into space, like he once was.
The Eggman Laboratories, which had previously accepted her as an intern during her school days, had offered her the position of Assistant Laboratory Technician Support (ALTS). The pay was low, a measly $800/month, which she had to make do with. Being an ALTS meant that she had to clean up the labs and the equipment used. Training would given on the job, and she had to cover the janitor's duties.
Kyrin was given two pairs of ugly black sneakers and five large white lab coats, the uniform for all employees at the Labs. Being assigned to Lab 47, she was to put all the lab coats of Lab 47 Lab Techs, as well as her own, into the large washing machine at the lab after work each day, and hang them up to dry overnight in the ever-blowing air con. Usually, when this was done, it would be close to 9pm.
She was often unhappy and exhausted by having to clean the Lab 47 toilets early in the morning at 8am, then spending the day cleaning and sterilising lab equipments. Everyone at Lab 47 is highstrung and nervous. Dr. Eggman amused himself by turning up irregularly and unannounced, and would often sweep glass jars and bottles off the bench tops when he did not get the results he expected. This meant that Kyrin would have to clean up the toxic wastes left behind, while the Lab Techs grumbled at having to wait to carry out their latest experiments. Often, she worked late into the night just to ensure all was in order for the next morning.
A group of scientists scurried by, debating in low, growling voices. Shadow glanced at them unaffectedly, but the girl did not seem to notice. Her breathing was getting erratic again, and he watched her out of the corner of his eye. "There must be a reason for her condition," he thought to himself.
One night, things went exceptionally smooth. Bokkun came by to inform them that Dr. Eggman was out with Bocoe and Decoe on a secret mission. Right after, the Lab Techs achieved a breakthrough in their Project Eggalomaniac research to produce a metal alloy strong enough to counter Super Sonic attacks. The Lab Techs left work promptly at around 6.30pm, leaving Kyrin with the usual overtime cleaning and sterilization.
Instead of going ahead immediately, Kyrin decided she needed a dinner break. Taking her homepacked Nutella sandwich –Bokkun had wheedled the strawberry jam sandwich from her at lunch- she took the lift up to the 10th storey. Then she tapped her employee card, opened the stairwell door and headed for the rooftop.
Things always looked brighter here. Kyrin saw street lights and building glimmering like a million Chaos Emeralds. Everything unhappy seemed to go away, while a quiet joy and peace filled her heart. She sat on a stool, the one she had snuck up earlier when she realized how accessible the rooftop was, and ate her sandwich in silence.
The sun slipped lower, and a look at her watch showed that it was already 7pm. She gave a little start, so she had been MIA for half an hour! Rising to leave and pushing the stool back into the corner she had hidden it, she turned and faced the next building. A pair of human eyes met her gaze.
As the last rays of the sun slipped under the horizon of Glendale City, Kyrin saw the face of a young man barely older than her, dressed in black and half hidden in the shadows. A silent moment of fear and uncertainty passed, then both slipped under the cover of darkness into their respective buildings.
A sudden spasm in her chest choked her and she doubled over, knees buckling beneath her. She grabbed at the ledge before her, just as Shadow gripped her elbow with one hand and circled her waist with the other. She looked up, barely registering his face, before she blacked out.