Chapter 19: Emerl The Gizord
The Professor and Shadow remained in silence as the repair work on Emerl continued. Neither said a word after their last converation as Shadow was still resonating with the Professor's words. It was his job to save Maria. That's why he was born. To Shadow, that just seemed right. After all he had grown pretty close to the blond hair'd girl. So close that even if the Professor hadn't just told him what his destiney was, he still would of done anything in his power to protect her. Maybe that's just how he was. After all he felt simiarly towards the Professor, yet, it wasn't exactly the same. Shadow wasn't really sure how to explain it but his feelings towards Maria weren't the same as the ones he had for the Professor. To him, the Professor was a almost like a father figure. Not that Shadow knew what it was like to have an actual father. Besides, he felt close to the Professor but their bond wasn't the same as him and Maria. There was just something between him and Maria that he just couldn't quiet grasp. She was probably the only one who he'd follow without question, she'd even got him to change his plans on various occations. Just thinking of those instances made a small smile itch into the corner's of Shadow's lips. Maria cared for just about every living creature. She was strong willed and was willing to see the good in just about everyone. Shadow couldn't help but like that about her. There was that feeling again.
"This isn't good."
Shadow was taking away from his thoughts as he glanced towards the Professor, who was looking at some analytics from a monitor Emerl was hooked up too.
"Hmm?" Shadow inquired.
"I can't fix him," The Professor said, "The damage to his body is too great. His mind's intact but it will only be a matter of time before the damage done will cause that to go as well."
Shadow frowned. This wasn't good.
"Can't you just build him a new body?" Shadow asked and the Professor just shook his head.
"I don't have time for that," The Professor said, "He'll be gone before I ever finish it."
"And you don't have any other bodies?" Shadow asked.
"No," The Professor said, "We haven't developed any more Artificial Chaos since the incident. We also build the brain first anyways. What I would need is one that's already built, that doesn't already have... a... hmm..."
The Professor trailed off in his thinking. Seemed he had an idea that may save Emerl's life.
"Go on," Shadow Incouraged.
"I have something," The Professor said having finished his calculations in his head, "It may be a bit of a long shot, but it's worth trying anyways. I'll be right back."
The Professor left the lab leaving Shadow there alone with his thoughts. Shadow decided to wait for the Professor to return. His gaze went to Emerl as his eyes were closed with so many wires sticking out of him. A state that he didn't think Maria would want to see as he just look in such bad shape. To think, it wasn't that long ago that he had looked at this creature and had deemed it no longer worthy of living, now thanks to Maria, here he was, with a chance at new life. All thanks to Maria... there's that feeling again.
Eventually, Professor Robotnik returned as he was carrying a black android in his arms.
"Isn't that the Gizord?" Shadow asked seeing The Professor place the robot onto the table.
"It is," Gerald replied, "I've been wanting to create an AI for it but I've never gotten around to it. The AI in Emerl should be combatible with it as I've based serveral notes I could find from the old thing in creating the AI for the Artificial Chaos. Seems it may have worked a little too well, considering, as Maria has said, they've taken on a bit of a soul of their own."
Shadow nods as he understood what The Professor was saying. Not that he knew about engineering or programming, but he understood the logic on what The Professor was saying.
"So, will it still be, Emerl?" Shadow asked and the Professor nodded.
"It will," He said, "I'm doing a transplant, but all his memories and what makes Emerl, Emerl, will still be intact."
Again Shadow nodded. As he decided to go back to being silent so the Professor could conscentrate on what he was doing. So Shadow watched as The Professor worked on opening the Gizord to prepare him to accept Emerl's brain. Once that was done he began the deligent work on removing Emerl's brain from the old damaged robotic body before transfering it to the Gizord. He began making adjustments and Shadow could only assume he was working on attaching the brain to work with the Gizord. Finally, The professor closed the Gizord up and after making sure it was secured he turned to Shadow.
"That should do it," He said wiping his brow.
"When will he awake?" Shadow asked seeing the Emerl had yet to open his eyes.
"Give him a moment," The Professor said, "It will take a moment for his system to sync with that of his new body."
Shadow nodded as he kept his eyes on Emerl. After what a moment or two, the eyes of the Gizord slowly opened revealing it's eyes underneath. At first they seemed to be a bit confused. Like it was trying to figure out what was going on. Before it uttered a single word.
"...Shadow..."
It spoke? Shadow hadn't thought about Emerl doing that, considering the most he had done was let off a squeeling noise when it got excited. Yet, he actually said his name? Shadow nods as to him.
"Yes," He said, "I'm Shadow."
Emerl beamed with delight as it jumped right off the table as it dashed over and tackle hugged Shadow, but Shadow kept on his feet.
"Shadow!" He said in his happiness," Shadow! Shadow!"
Shadow gave Emerl a pat on the back as he hugged him. His eyes then gazed to the Professor looking at the two of them with a warm smile on his face.
Finally, Shadow broke the hug as Emerl just stood there, wanting to do a little dance.
"Can we see Maria now?" He said in child like enthusiasm. Shadow looked to the Professor who gave a nod.
"Maria should be up and about by now," The Professor said causing Emerl to again do a small jump of happiness.
"Yay, let's go See Maria!"
Emerl dash to the door before opening it, and walking out. Shadow didn't think Emerl even knew where he was going so he went to go after him. But, he stopped just as he put his hand on the door as a question entered his mind.
"Professor?"
"Yes?"
Shadow glanced back to the Professor, "The Gizord was just a lifeless robot until now, so... why didn't you have any extra security guarding the Real Chaos Emerald?"
"Oh, that," The Professor said before his warm smile only increased, "I put that into the most capable hands I know of."
That didn't exactly answer Shadow's question.
"I don't understand," He said. Only causing the Professor to beam.
"It's simple," He said, "Why else do you think I made that your room?"
That's when it hit him. Seems The Professor was having Shadow protect the real Emerald even without him realizing it. Shadow gave a slight smirk with a nod at that before heading off after Emerl.
A lone GUN solider walked down a corridoor aboard the Space Colony ARK. His posture looked like it was just buisness as usual but inside his head was a different story. His mind was going over the events of what had just transpired. He was ordered to take out that Artificial Chaos. It would of been his pleasure too after what those monsters did to him and his fellow comrades. But then the Professor's own Granddaughter had stopped him and now Gerald was planning on fixing that creature? Things were getting out of hand. After all he just spoke with the other kids in there as he was so spooked he had decided to go back home. Yet, he couldn't believe that they were hiding that thing all this time. Not to mention just what kinds of things that Shadow was capable of. He took out those monsters and then, what was the thing he did back there? They were saying he teleported? Just what was Shadow anyways?
Things, were getting out of hand as he finally reached his destination, an inclosed room with a phone on the inside. He knew all to well the number he needed to dial as he punched it in before waiting for the other end to pick up. Once it was, he began his report letting him know of all the things that's been happening.
"So he's even gave the Gizord a brain huh?" Said the voice on the other end as the GUN soldier nodded as The Professor had passed by him on the way back to his lab with it, "I think that the Professor has had long enough. If he's going to turn those war machines into a child's play thing then his services are no longer required."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" The Soldier asked making sure to be absolutly clear in what his supperior was telling him.
"That's right," The voice replied, "Operation: Lost Impact is offiically over, commence Operation: The Doom."
Shadow had eventually caught up to Emerl as the two of them made their way to the Infirmary. It was the last place they knew she was at so that's where they were heading. The two of them soon arrived as they entered, seeing Maria was just now getting up out of their bed.
"Maria!" Emerl shouted in his excitement towards the girl causing her to quickly turn around with confusion from not recignizing the voice. Ofcourse, upon seeing who it was she was even more confused when suddenly Emerl gave her a hug.
"Maria! Maria!"
"Uh... Hi... there," Maria said un-sure of what to say. She glanced at Shadow with a puzzled look, hoping that he'd be able to tell her what was happening.
"The Professor fixed Emerl," Shadow replied, "That's his new body."
"Really?!" Maria said as she seemed to be happy about the news as well, "That's Amazing!"
She finally returned the hug as Emerl continued to beam with excitment.
"I'm fixed!" He said after finally breaking the hug and spreading his arms wide.
"You sure are!" Maria beamed back at him as she was glad that her Grandfather was able to fix him. She was more worried about what had happened to him after she regained consciousness and was actually about to go and check up on him.
"Let's play, let's play!" Emerl said grabbing ahold of Maria's hand and giving it a playfull tug.
"Ok ok," Maria said, "Let's go play." Maria smiled as she let him lead her to the door. She glanced at Shadow, "You coming?"
"Sure," Shadow said with a trace of that smile itched into the corner of his lips. He was glad she was feeling alright. He couldn't bare the thought about something bad happening... there was that feeling again yet, he didn't seem to mind at all. This feeling, it was a good feeling and he wanted to enjoy it. Just as they about to the door the GUN soldier who was stationed at the door suddenly got an incoming radio call.
"Operation: Lost Impact is over, Commence Operation: The Doom. I repeat, Operation Lost Impact is Over, Commence Operation: The Doom."
The Doom? Shadow had only had the thought when suddenly, the GUN soldier stepped in front of the door, blocking their exit.
"What's going on?" Maria asked a little concerned. But then to her horror, the GUN Soldier pulled out his pistol and fired a round, hitting the medic who had just been attending her falling to the ground.
