Shadow was aboard the Space Colony ARK. He and Maria were with her grandfather and his creator, Gerald Robotnik, who was talking to them about the planet, Earth.

"It is a marvelous planet. There are billions of people and all of them lived together in peace. There are giant cities and small town where people can live and be happy."

Maria smiled happily, "Do you think we can go to Earth soon, Grandpa?"

Gerald's smile faded for a brief moment, but it was back too quick for Maria to notice.

"Of course we can, Maria. After you get better. I'll take you and Shadow to Earth."

Shadow noticed though and he knew why the doctor seemed to become sadden by his granddaughter's wish to see Earth. Because of her disease, called Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome or N.I.D.S. for short

It was a disease that left it's victims to grow physically weak and it only got worse over time. It was both incurable and fatal. Gerald spent thousands of dollars in researching a cure to help save his granddaughter, even going so far to create Shadow, in hopes of saving Maria.

"Oh, grandpa. I can't wait. I hope I get better soon."

A single near-invisible tear trailed down Gerald's face as he smiled to mask his despair, knowing his granddaughter probably wouldn't survive to see next month if he couldn't find a cure in time.

"You'll get better soon, my dear Maria. I promise."

Maria let out a squeal of joy and hugged the old doctor, who held her tightly. Shadow locked eyes with the doctor and they both knew time was running out. Neither knew how quickly though.

Suddenly screams were heard and then gunfire sounded somewhere in the facility. Gerald looked towards the door where they faintly heard the sound of boots stomping on the metal floors of the ARK. Then the door to the room burst open and several G.U.N. agents, rushed in, guns raised and aimed at them.

"There's the project. Kill it and then kill the witnesses!"

Gerald held up his hands in surrender, "Wait, don't shoot. I'll come with you. You can kill me, throw me in jail. Do whatever! Just don't hurt my granddaughter."

The men ignored him. One raised his weapon and let loose a shot towards Shadow. Then before anyone could blink, he was taken down by the hedgehog, who seem to teleport next to him and slammed his fist into the man's unprotected throat. He crumbled and the others turned on Shadow, firing their guns at him. He quickly took them all out, but one was able to shoot Gerald in the shoulder, who fell to the ground. Maria rushed to her grandfather's side.

"No! Don't hurt my grandpa!"

Shadow was just finishing off the last man before he turned to Gerald and Maria. The doctor was still alive but wounded. He gritted his teeth as he pressed a hand against his bullet wound. Then Shadow heard a faint click and his heart stopped. He turned around a second too late as the gun went off, the bullet catching Maria in the chest, who had been standing in front of Gerald. Both Shadow and Gerald watched as Maria fell to the ground and didn't get back up.

The G.U.N. agents were back on their feet and started to beat at Shadow with the butts of their guns. Shadow fell to his knees, to stunned at Maria's death to fight back. They all stopped hitting him and Shadow felt a cold barrel of a gun pressed into the back of his head. He locked eyes with the doctor one last time and whispered.

"I'm sorry, doctor."

Bang!

X X X

Shadow woke with a start, still very much alive and in his house, lying in his bed. He just had another nightmare that seemed almost too real. Shadow's heart slowed from a thundering to a faint thumping as he threw the blankets off of him and checked the clock. It was 6:30 am exactly.

Right on time. Quite the wake-up call to a day Shadow always hated when it came, no matter how many years went by.

The day Maria Robotnik died.