A creation and more

Curiosity

It has been just under a week since Shadow was created and his and Maria's bond grew stronger with every second that passed. Shadow was given his own room next to Maria's but most nights he would fall asleep with Maria in her room.

Shadow's mind was that of a young child so naturally he become curious about the world around him, constantly asking questions and more questions from the answers he was given. Shadow craved knowledge on what things were and how things worked.

It was early morning aboard the ARK and Shadow was just waking up in his room. He sat up on his bed, rubbed the sleep out his eyes then stretched his still developing muscles while yarning. After a good stretch Shadow slowly climbed out of his bed and dragged his feet to the inbuilt bathroom to freshen up for the long day ahead.

After showering and emptying his bladder, Shadow exited his room and wondered down the many hallways of the ARK in no particular direction. It being early it was quirt along the hallways Shadow was wondering down since most of the residence were asleep or busy in the labs on the far side of the space station.

Shadow found he wondered to a part of the ARK he has not been before so he decided to keep a mental note of the layout on the way he was going to avoid getting lost. Shadow pauses and turned to his side slightly to his left and noticed a partly opened door with light shining through the crack.

"I wonder what's inside there. Guess it wouldn't hurt to take a little peek." Shadow thought as he approached the door.

He opened it a little more taking caution doing so and peeped inside. Shadow lent to far forward and was unable to stop himself from falling. He fell in an almost slow motion into the door causing him to go straight through the room with a thud. Shadow looked up from where he laid and quickly got to his feet, silently thanking to himself that the room was empty and no one saw him fall.

Seeing the room unoccupied Shadow took it upon himself to do a little exploring something he couldn't resist doing. He walked slowly towards what he thought was some kind of research table that had all different kinds of chemicals in tubes. They came in an arrange of colours from bright yellow to off black.

Shadow reached the table that was located in the middle of the room and reached out for one of the tubes that had blue liquid inside. Not knowing what they were, he put it up to his nose and inhaled deeply. After smelling the substance, Shadow started to feel a little dizzy from the strong sent and almost dropped the chemical on the floor. He quickly but carefully put it back where it belonged.

When the dizziness subsided, Shadow moved along the table and picked up another tube which held a red coloured liquid inside. Doing what he did with the blue one he sniffed but not so much. The sent wasn't pleasant but it didn't cause him any an unwanted feelings.

Still holding onto the red chemical safely contained inside the tube, Shadow returned to the blue one. He looked at both in some kind of thought then his curiosity got the better of him.

"I wonder what would happen if I mix the two together." Shadow whispered now holding both the tubes in each hand.

Shadow lifted the red one up and started to slowly but carefully tip the liquid into the other tube containing the blue chemical. He stopped just as the red chemical was about to enter the other tube. He heard noise coming towards him and froze as a few scientists entered the room.

The scientists stopped and all shocked looking eyes went on Shadow and those tubes of chemicals he was holding.

"S-Shadow…don't move. I'm going to slowly take those dangerous chemicals out of your hands and gently put them back onto the table, ok." A young looking male scientist said in a slow passé as he approached Shadow.

"They're dangerous! I'm sorry I didn't know they were dangerous." Shadow said in a panicky tone as the male scientist took the chemicals out of Shadow's hands.

The chemicals were put safely back in their place and Shadow was checked over to make sure he wasn't affected by the fumes he admitted to inhaling when he was questioned. The questions were basically, did any of the chemicals spill onto your body? Did you put any into your mouth? Did you inhale any of the fumes? And so on…

"Ok it seems you've been lucky this time…Since no harm was done and you do seem to have learned something this morning about messing with unknown chemicals, I don't think it will be necessary to inform Professor Gerald on this incident or reporting it. Just please don't do it again ok Shadow." A scientist called Matthew announced to Shadow in a calm tone.

"Ok and I am sorry…I didn't know they were dangerous chemicals." Shadow apologised in a low tone and his ears folded back to show he was sorry and wouldn't do it again.

Matthew smiled which caused Shadow to cheer up a little but now Shadow started to form questions of his own to ask the scientist.

"What are those chemicals for?" Shadow asked perking up his ears as he asked.

"I'm sorry but that's classified Shadow, which means on a need to know basis." Matthew answered then added "and so is the next question your about to ask."

Shadow left his mouth opened slightly after hearing this. He closed his mouth then crossed his arms over his chest with a frown.

"How do you know what I was going to ask without me even saying anything?" Shadow asked feeling slightly frustrated at the scientist in front of him.

"You always ask the same old why whenever your question is answered…" Matthew replied with a sigh

"Is that so…maybe I should just stop asking questions and just find out the answers myself no matter what the outcome is." Shadow said an annoyed tone then added "like those chemicals for instance…I should of mixed them together to find out what would of happened instead of asking you or anyone else…"

"Shadow I'm not saying you cant ask any of us questions, just to stop why when someone tells you that your not allowed to know certain things. Like the chemicals for example your not allowed to know what they are for…" Matthew explained in a calm and soft tone.

Shadow uncrossed his arms and sighed heavily, knowing he has been defeated in this matter and decided not to press it any further…for the time being that is.

"Fine…you win this round but the next will be my victory." Shadow announced in a determined tone before leaving the research lab to continue his wondering.

"I'm sure you will Shadow I'm sure you will…" Matthew said watching Shadow walk out of the lab slowly then turning the corner going out of sight.

Meanwhile in Maria's room, Maria was just waking up for the day ahead. She yarned and slowly removed the covers off of her and walked to her bathroom to get washed and dressed. When she exited the bathroom she was dressed in her usual light blue dress and plain white flat shoes. Her golden yellow hair gracefully flowed down away from her face and a smile was plastered upon her lips as she thought of what her and Shadow were going to get up to today.

On that thought she quickly made an exit out of her room and walked a very short distance next door to Shadows room. Maria knocked on his bedroom door three times before opening it while calling his name.

"Shadow are you up yet?" Maria asked as she approached the bed slowly.

Maria noticed that the bed was empty so she walked over to the bathroom. That door was open all the way so she peeped inside calling his name but didn't get a reply. Maria started to panic slightly on the fact Shadow wasn't in his room.

"Where is he? He never goes off with out me…maybe he's with grandfather, I'll check if they're in grandfathers room on the way to the lab Shadow was born in." Maria concluded in a whisper to herself.

So Maria left Shadow's bedroom and wondered in a semi quick passé down the corridor towards her grandfather's room.

Maria stopped out side her grandfathers door. She knocked on the door a couple of times then entered slowly.

"Grandfather are you in here?" Maria whispered as she stepped through the room.

"I'm in the bathroom Maria please take a seat I shunt be too long now." Gerald called from his bathroom.

Maria sat on the end of the bed and as soon as she did Gerald exited the bathroom and looked over to Maria with a concerned look.

"Maria what's wrong you look worried is there something bothering you?" Gerald asked as he approached his granddaughter.

He sat on the bed next to her and waited for her to reply.

"I woke up and went to get Shadow but he wasn't in his room. I don't know where he is gone. I thought he might have been here with you but he isn't. I just worries he's got himself lost or he might be hurt somewhere..." Maria answered with silent tears running down her cheeks.

Gerald hugged his granddaughter in an attempted to cheer her up.

"Don't worry my dear we will find him, he couldn't have gone far." Gerald comfortingly said as Maria calmed down.

They both got up off the bed and left the room in search for Shadow both hoping Maria's fears weren't correct.

Shadow continued to curiously wondering through the hallways of the ARK until he stumbled upon a huge abandoned room. He walked towards a huge window that filled one side of the room. He looked out of the window and froze on the spot with his mouth open slightly at the sight. He was looking at a huge planet of blue and green with patches of white here and there.

"I wonder what that is?" Shadow whispered to himself. He made a mental note to ask someone about this huge ball that was suspended in space.

Gerald and Maria was on there way to the lab Shadow was created in to see if he was there and they bumped into Michael. Gerald told him about Shadow's disappearance and he came with the two.

"I'll just give Jason the heads up, he might come across Shadow on his way to the lab" Michael said getting his phone out.

The trio made it to the lab only to find it empty they began to look around in places that Shadow could hide in but no luck.

"Where is he…I think when we do find him I will have to have a talk with him about some ground rules." Gerald muttered to himself as he stood up from crouching under the examining table…

Shadow was still in the observation room looking out the window in deep thought so much so he didn't notice Jason enter and approach him. Jason stood next to Shadow and looked out as well.

"Beautiful isn't it Shadow?" Jason whispered loud enough for Shadow to hear him but not to startle him. Shadow broke from his thoughts and looked at Jason.

"Yes it is…what exactly is it?" Shadow asked in a soft tone. Jason turned his head and looked at Shadow and then gave him a caring smile.

"That Shadow is called Earth, it's a planet inhabited by humans and animals but not like you though. You Shadow are unique in every way." Shadow nodded to show that he understood what Jason was saying and gave a light smile.

The two stayed looking out at the planet until Jason's phone went off causing Shadow to look at him with curiosity and slight fear upon the new noise. Jason smiled at him and took his phone out of his pocket and read the text that he received.

"What is that Jason?" Shadow asked with a slight hint of fear.

"This is called a phone and its used to communicate to others that are in another place from you." Jason answered giving Shadow a reassuring smile to let him know its safe and wont hurt you.

Shadow gave a small smile back and watched Jason reply to the text he had just received from Michael.

"What are you doing with it?" Shadow asked as he watched Jason push the small buttons.

"I'm replying to the message I received from Michael. Before you ask I'm just telling him where we are…would you like to press the send button?" Jason answered then asked with a smile.

Shadow nodded a yes and reached up to press the send button. There was a beeping sound to signify that the message was sent and on its way to the recipient.

In the lab Michael's phone went off with a loud beep. He read it and sighed in relieve.

"Professor I text Jason again and he replied back this time and he's with Shadow in the observation room down the hallway from here." Michael announced in a semi serious tone.

There were sighs of relieve from all as they made there way to Jason and Shadow.

It didn't take too long for the three to make it to the observation room. They casually walked towards Jason and Shadow who were still in front of the window looking out towards the planet earth.

"Jason do you think I will get a chance to go down there?" Shadow asked with a smile and hands behind his back as he rocked too and fro on the balls of his feet like an innocent child.

They were so distracted by the view and with each other they didn't notice the others joining them.

"You will differently get a chance to go down to earth one day my son." Gerald said in a soft tone.

Shadow and Jason jumped a little at the sudden announcement of the professor. They both turned around to face the new arrivals.

"Do you really think so Professor." Shadow asked with a huge smile upon his tanned muzzle and bright shiny eyes of hope at the reply he heard.

Gerald smiled back and nodded yes.

"And I will be right there with you Shadow." Maria added with a smile in which made Shadow smile at her.

"I do hope you will" Shadow replied then added "It wouldn't be the same otherwise."

If only they all knew that they would never get to go together…