Note: italicized words = thoughts and /or to make an emphasis
Chapter 7: Last, but not least….
Back in class….again….
"Ahem," Mrs. Thomkins began to call attention to the students. "I think we have time for one or two more today, so whoever owns the cart in the back, you can bring you and that behemoth to the front. You're next."
Luis the Chinchilla stood up and made his way towards his project. The class watched intently as the chinchilla seemed to disappear when he stood behind the cart to grab at the handle, poor kid's body was literally drowned out by the size of the structure! As he pushed the cart towards the front of the class grunting from the exertion, the class erupted in laughter and even Mrs. Thomkins couldn't help but chuckle at the miniscule chinchilla's efforts. How he was able to bring the project that hardly fit through the entryway to the class is a mystery in itself. Well, not for long…..
"Luis? How….tell me you didn't lug that volcano to class on your own."
"No Mrs. Thomkins. My dad and one of the NTA's (non-teaching assistants) helped me bring it inside the school and I pushed it in here."
"Ok Luis, hehehe, whenever you're ready."
"Alright guys. This is my volcano my dad helped me make. I wanted a really big one so it looked like those volcanoes in Hawaii and all, so we used a lot of clay to form this and put a hole at the top that goes down to the bottom of the volcano. Because the volcano is so big, I put a lot of baking soda and red and yellow food coloring inside already. When I pour vinegar into the baking soda, it will create lava flow."
"In other words class, by mixing baking soda and vinegar together, it produces carbon dioxide gas that will propel the mixture upwards through the hole in the volcano simulating erupting lava. The food coloring gives the mixture that lava color" Mrs. Thomkins explained.
Yes. Luis' volcano is quite impressive in size and visual effect for its decorated to look like an actual volcano surrounded by 'forest' and small 'lakes' placed around its base. The students marvel at the size and question the chinchilla about how long it took to construct the volcano; six hours to be exact plus hours of drying time.
It is apparent that trials to ensure successful eruption from the volcano were not performed after Luis constructed his project because one critical error was made in the project's construction….the hole for which the 'lava' mixture would spew from the top is too small. This can't be good…..
"Now for the lava flow….." Luis poured a large amount of vinegar to the baking soda and food coloring already inside of the volcano. After a moment of waiting, the volcano starts to shake from the volatile mixture trying to work its way to the top through its too small hole. Cracks start to appear and some of the 'volcanic' mixture starts shooting out all over due to the pressure of the mixture being contained in such a small space and as a result, the students in the front row are showered with the mixture and are making sure none of it gets into their eyes by putting their heads down on their desks and using their arms as shields for them.
"Sorry guys, this wasn't supposed to happen!" Luis said nervously.
"Luis, I think you put too much baking soda inside and the hole is too small! This doesn't look good for…" KABOOM!
Mrs. Thomkins' explanation for the volcano's failure is interrupted when the massive volcano suddenly explodes sending its pieces and the remaining mixture flying in all directions while the students try their best to shield themselves with some putting their heads on their desks and covering them with their arms and others running to the back of the class, all screaming with fright.
"Now would be a great time to use that shield thing of yours Shayla!" Jessica shouted while ducking from flying pieces of the volcano.
"Right….." Shayla immediately stood up and shot her arms up above her head and shouted out her command, "CHAOS!" then brought them to her sides in an arch, "SHIELD!" A bright orange shield materialized large enough to engulf the entire class leaving only the pieces of the volcano to harmlessly bounce off of it.
Many of the students were baffled by what they witnessed from Shayla and started bombarding her with question after question about it. Shayla tried her best to 'beat around the bush' with her answers to the point of frustration, which Mrs. Thomkins picked up on and finally, the teacher interjected, "Alright class, settle down! Shayla's gift spared us from a lot of sticky clothes and hair. However, it's important that we respect her and realize how hard it must be for her to live normally with such a unique trait. So with that, let's move on."
Satisfied with the students' silence, Mrs. Thomkins surveyed the mess left by the volcano and decided to let the custodial staff handle cleanup and is now ready to move on to the final project of show and tell.
"Thanks Shayla. Now that the disaster with Luis' volcano is over, we can safely move on to the last project of the day." Mrs. Thomkins announced with relief. "I now call our heroine forth with her presentation. Shayla?"
"Mrs. Thomkins? I will need the TV that's inside of the closet, please?"
"Of course." Mrs. Thomkins goes for the TV in the closet and replaces the table with said unit. The students are filled with curiosity as to Shayla's intentions for the TV. Shayla pops in a DVD that features her father in action for G.U.N. She then distributes a pair of sunglasses to each member of the class and instructs them to put them on immediately. The students comply and the questions come flying…
"Did you make a 3D movie?"
"Will you do some magic trick or something?"
"Will you beam us outside?"
"Can we keep 'em?"
…..and one comment from you-know-who…
"These are crap! You could have gotten us some cooler sunglasses than these!"
"Then don't wear them Ryley! I hope you go blind from the light, you douche!"
"Ok class. To answer your questions, no, no, no, and sure. I'm sure you're all wondering what's up with the TV. Well, I'm no artist or builder and trying to come up with the perfect project was really tough so instead, I found an awesome documentary on contributions to science and I have something written up that I want to read to you all and…" Shayla reaches into her pocket searching for the paper as part of her act and pulls out her cell phone. "I think I left it home. I'm gonna call to see if someone at home can bring it to me cause it goes with my presentation."
"Wow Shay…..well, it's larger than you and a complete package alright; a whole TV/DVD combo on a cart. This is an epic fail for you." Jessica thought sarcastically with a look of disappointment for her best friend.
"Shayla? Are you unprepared for this assignment? You had plenty of time to have everything together for this."
"I'm sorry Mrs. Thomkins, I'll have it in a few minutes, I promise."
A moment later,
"Hello?...I need you to bring something to me…..the….yeah, I forgot it…as soon as you can….in a few minutes? Ok, thanks." Shayla hangs up and continues her act.
G.U.N Headquarters
"That was Shayla. Well? This is it, wish me luck." Shadow announced.
"You'll do great honey. I'm so proud of you for setting aside your personal anguish to do this for Shay. She appreciates this AND you more than you'll know."
"Hmph." Shadow replied with a smirk and a wink.
"CHAOS CONTROL!" With that command, Shadow is but mere moments from his destination, Shayla's science classroom.
"Sorry about that. As I said a few minutes ago, I found this great video on people who are on the forefront of scientific research and those who benefit from these people. One in particular, is someone who you may know for using science to better the lives of the people of Mobius. He's the ultimate living, breathing, marvel of modern science. Often imitated, but could never be duplicated….." As Shayla's last word was spoken, as if on cue (wait, it was….hehe) Shadow the Hedgehog, with a blinding white aura of chaos energy surrounding him, appears before the class.
The class erupted into cheers at the hero's amazing entrance with the boys showering him with compliments like he's 'awesome', 'cool', 'amazing', etc. Mrs. Thomkins stood awe-stricken with her mouth agape at the sight. Shadow strikes his signature pose which includes crossing his arms about his chest and smirking. The girls are smitten and stare at the handsome hedgehog with starry-eyed expressions and sighing.
"I should have known you'd use your dad, duh!" Jessica exclaimed with excitement.
Shayla throws a wink to Jessica then continues her presentation.
"I present to you all, the most awesome show and tell project ever, a TRUE hero; my dad, the Ultimate Lifeform Shadow the Hedgehog!"
Shayla turns her back to start the video when suddenly, Ryley rushed up to his idol with a gleam in his tear-filled eyes. "I can't believe it! Mr. Shadow, you're my hero! Thank you for saving us from those monsters! You're so awesome!
Shadow is taken by surprise with Ryley's sudden embrace and adoration that he stiffens up for a moment to process what's happened before loosening up and giving a hearty chuckle resulting in a class-wide response which included taunts of Ryley showing uncharacteristic behavior by calling him soft, wimpy, suck-up, etc.
Shayla turns around to hear her father's cry for help with prying Ryley's arms from around his waist.
"Uh Ryles?" Shayla says while attempting to get the kid off of her dad.
"This is a dream come true Mr. Shadow! I had a dream about you once, you know, me and you were beating up bad guys and since then, I've always wanted to meet you in person!" Ryley's hold on Shadow is quite firm now….
"Ryley? You can let go now….." Attempt two, no dice. (Can you see the steam rising up from Shayla's head at this point?)
"RYLEY! GET THE HECK OFF, YOU'RE EMBARRASSING HIM!" Third time's the charm. Ryley is shoved off and he's pushed back to his seat which he's none too happy about. Once he sits down, Shayla once again goes into her presentation.
"Shadow the Hedgehog's story begins on a space station called Space Colony ARK, which after its closure many years ago, can still be viewed hovering in space via a high powered telescope.
The Guardian Unit of Nations funded research performed by scientists of the ARK to build various weapons, some biological for their military. Lead scientist, Professor Gerald Robotnik however, had other plans for the research. He was on a personal mission to find a cure for his granddaughter's terminal illness and to unlock the secrets to immortality. He named this personal research 'Project Shadow'. After months of hits and misses with various test subjects, Professor Robotnik began to think Project Shadow would fail miserably and he'd scrap the project altogether, until one fateful encounter with an alien called Black Doom who would give the scientist a vital component that would lead to the creation of the man who you see before you, his blood."
The students express how amazed they are at what they're hearing so far about the Ultimate Lifeform,
"Whoa!"
"Really?"
"He's really an experiment? He looks so real….."
"Cool!"
"How?"
"AHEM! As I was saying, months pass and Project Shadow is a successful creation."
"Were you created too Shayla?" asked Patrick, a porcupine who's missing a few screws and the object of many of the class' 'You're so Stupid…..' jokes.
"YEAH! The same way you were, idiot!" Shayla snapped.
"SHAY!" "Uh, Shayla?" cried Shadow and Mrs. Thomkins after Shayla's remark.
"Sorry. Anyway, tests on Project Shadow lead to the discovery of his agelessness, his manipulation of chaos energy, and an inherited ability in which Shadow calls upon chaos energy pulsing throughout his body to teleport short and long distances, bending time and space at will as demonstrated by his entrance later to be known as Chaos Control.
Today, he works as one of G.U.N's top agents performing various assignments including, but not limited to: leading reconnaissance, search and rescue, and combat missions throughout the world and beyond.
Although he prefers military grade weaponry during his missions, there's those times when he must rely on his natural weapons such as Chaos Spears," Shadow produces a spear shaped projectile of blinding white chaos energy. "Chaos Lance," Shadow then produces a much larger version of the Chaos Spear. "And his most devastating weapon, one which cannot be shown because it will level the school and the next few blocks to the left and right of it because of its high magnitude of force, the Chaos Blast." Shayla fast forwards the video to show Shadow using Chaos Blast to destroy training mechs at the G.U.N training facility.
Well, that's about it for a general overview of my project. I know you all have questions for my dad, so?" Shayla ended leaving the floor for a few students to ask questions to the Ultimate One.
"I know you were created and all, but do you have a mother and father?"
"None that I'm aware of. The DNA of a hedgehog was used as a base for my design, so as peculiar as this sounds, I guess you can say that I have one or the other."
"Do you have sisters and brothers?"
"I may if the hedgehog DNA is anything to go by."
"What other powers do you have?"
"I wouldn't necessarily say these are powers, but I have the capability of supersonic speed, extraordinary memory, heightened senses, and flight obtained with my super and hyper forms."
"Can you transform at any time to those forms?"
"There are requirements to be met in order to achieve the forms. One is fueled by certain emotions; the other is when I draw chaos energy from seven special gems called Chaos Emeralds like this one…." Shadow reaches inside his pocket to show the class an impressively sized green Chaos Emerald and 'ooohs' and aaaahs' can be heard from the spellbound class.
"Shayla put up this shield when Luis' volcano blew up so, can you make a shield too?"
"Honestly, I was never put into a situation where a shield was needed, so I cannot say that I am or not capable of producing a shield."
"I wish my dad was cool like you Mr. Shadow!"
"Your parents are very special in their own right. The greatest power one can possess is love and your parents have that in abundance for you all and that supersedes even the greatest weapons whether they are manufactured or in mine and Shayla's case, inbred. Remember that always." Father and daughter share a lighthearted glance before turning back to their audience.
"Hey Dad, you may want to dumb down your speech for some of the students who don't have a clue about what you said just then." Shayla joked, but not everyone took it in stride…..
"Shayla, who're you calling dumb? I have you know that on the last quiz, I aced it and got a better grade than you! HAH! Take that even in front of your dad!"
"You know what Ryley you pain in….." Shayla was cut off by Shadow who stepped in front of her to address Ryley.
"Really now?" Shadow calls attention to the class. "I think Ryley here has another presentation to deliver to the class."
"What're you talking about Mr. Shadow?"
"Yeah Ryles, you have a lower grade than I for this assignment. A bet's a bet. Come forward and own it!"
"But, we didn't really shake on it….."
"DO IT!" Shadow growled putting the fear of Perfect Chaos into Ryley.
Ryley hurried to the front of the class and commenced his embarrassing chant of 'I'm not worthy!' by repeatedly chanting the phrase and bowing before Shayla earning hysterical laughter from the class, even Mrs. Thomkins while the father and daughter team stood with smirks on their faces and arms crossed about their chests.
"Ok Ryley you can stop now, we're satisfied." chuckled Shadow.
Relieved, Ryley stopped and hung his head in embarrassment causing Shadow to feel a pinch of empathy for him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for being a good sport about this, albeit a reluctant one. Shayla's told me about you and hopefully this'll show you a lesson on humility; showing consideration for those who come from meager lifestyles apart from yours." Shadow stuck out his hand to Ryley who looked up with a warm smile and humbly took his idol's hand in a handshake.
After the much needed humiliation for Ryley, Mrs. Thomkins stepped forward to give her evaluation on Shayla's show and tell project.
"Shayla, what can I say? I speak for myself and on behalf of the class that you by far have given us not only an amazing organic project, but a treat and a glimpse of the bond between a father and his daughter. I'm very proud of you, Shayla."
"Thank you, Mrs. Thomkins."
"And Mr. Shadow, sir? Not only are you a marvel of modern science, you are a hero who should be heralded as world savior and should be treasured. Professor Robotnik would be so proud of all you've accomplished. He was indeed a very brilliant man."
"Indeed he was. I owe my life and all I do from this moment on to his honor…..and Maria's."
"Maria? Mr. Shadow?"
"Uh, Mrs. Thomkins?" Shayla interrupts while shaking her head and putting a finger to her mouth hinting to the teacher not to inquire any further about Maria. Mrs. Thomkins nods unsurey to the silent request and decides not to push the issue.
"Ok, that about wraps up show and tell for today. Thank you students for taking this seriously and thank you to our brave presenters, I will definitely consider that when determining your overall grades. Let's give a warm thanks to Mr. Shadow who took time out from his busy schedule to amaze us with his presence and share with us a peek into what makes him so special."
The class cheers loudly again for their hero. While that's going on, Shadow whispers into his daughter's sensitive ears that he must return to base and they will see each other to recap on the day at family time. The two share one last hug before Shadow wows the class one last time with his blinding white chaos energy charged exit.
Shayla stares at the spot which was occupied by her father and tears begin to fall. She mouths, "Thanks Daddow, I love you…"
After school with Shayla and company (schoolyard)
"You know you're never gonna top this one using your dad, Shay!"
"I know Jess, but did you hear when the class went nuts and did you see Ryley's face? He totally went from spoiled brat to Shadow fanboy in like three seconds! It was so worth it to go big using my dad!"
One of the students of their class, Philip, ran over to the girls to speak with Shayla specifically.
"Shayla, your dad is so awesome! The way he just appeared from the bright light out of nowhere was sic!"
"I know. I mean, not to brag or anything, but I can do that as well Phil. Aren't you glad I gave you guys those sunglasses?"
Yeah. I don't think Mr. Shadow could afford medical care for the whole class who went blind from all that light. Oh, these sunglasses are kind of cool." Philip answered.
"Yeah, right?" replied Jessica.
Shayla gave her friends a look to say, 'They don't know my daddy very well, do they?'
