Awakening

~Narrator's POV~

"Professor! Take a look at this!"

"What's the matter?"

"Her brainwaves are off the scale!"

"She must be dreaming about something!"

Those voices...

"We cannot lose her!"

"Her mind is racing!"

They're outside...

"What do we do, Professor?"

"Let this run its course. She will be fine."

"How can you be so calm?"

Where I must be...

I felt something build up inside me. I opened my eyes and let this power out of its cage. The liquid inside my pod bubbled as the glass began to crack. I must be outside to know what is going on. My power grew in strength, and the pod I was inside exploded into shards of glass and pieces of mechanical wires and other bits and pieces.

Catching the attention of numerous humans in lab coats, the humans turned and saw me escape from my pod. A loud alarm went off and I sat in what remains of my pod, soaked in the liquid.

"I'm gonna get a new pod prepared. She's not ready to come into the world yet." A young scientist shouted, as he ran to the other side of the room.

"Quiet!" The older scientist told him. The older scientist was slightly rounder with a bald head and a white mustache. He wore spectacles, so I couldn't see his eyes. He wore a white lab coat over a grey sweater and black pants and shoes. He smiled gently at me, "I want to hear what she has to say."

I lifted my head in confusion, "You... Want me... To... Talk?"

The scientist nodded in confirmation, "Yes. For years of research and practice, we struggled to create the Ultimate Lifeform to save humanity from the most deadly of threats." He smiled, "You are the second to survive the process." He gestured to a young, but strangely familiar, black and red, anthropomorphic hedgehog standing in front of the other scientists, "This is Shadow, your older twin brother. From your awakening, I welcome you to the Space Colony, ARK... Echo Maria the Hedgehog."

I looked at the black and red hedgehog, as he walked forward, closer toward me. I felt like I know this hedgehog. Long before my awakening. He stopped just two feet in front of me and extended his hand to me, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Echo."

I looked at Shadow with confusion, then at the older scientist. He smiled and nodded his head. I looked back at Shadow and raised my right hand. I looked at my hand and found that I too was covered in black and red fur. I too was an anthropomorphic hedgehog. Just like Shadow.

I extended my hand, took a gentle, but firm grip of Shadow's hand and shook it, "The pleasure is all mine, Shadow."

The older scientist smiled and bowed his head, "And I am the head scientist of the ARK. You may call me Professor Gerald Robotnik."

I looked at the scientist with a slightly raised brow. Gerald Robotnik... Where have I heard that name before? It haunts my mind... And that other name... Maria... It's not just in my name... It's someone else's name. But who do I know named Maria as well? I placed my hands over my head as it pulsed with pain. My confusion was causing this pain. Why am I feeling so confused? Why does my head hurt so much?

"Echo, are you alright?" I heard Shadow ask me.

"Fret not, Shadow. This is normal." The Professor assured, "You were confused when you awakened as well."

After a minute, the confusion and pain subsided and I could think more clearly. I removed my hands and looked at the group of scientists, Professor Gerald and Shadow, "I'm alright now." I looked at Professor Gerald, "I am curious, Professor. Now that you have successful awakenings, what becomes of Shadow and I? Just to live here before coming to Earth?"

Professor Gerald shook his head, "Oh, our progress is just beginning, Echo. We must test you of your abilities." A kind smile grew on his face, "And then we will reach our final program, which will allow you to go to Earth at last."

I nodded in understanding. Then another scientist spoke up, "But first, we need to get you cleaned up and dressed."

I tilted my head in confusion, but looked myself over. The scientist was right. My fur was covered in liquid and I was wearing nothing but a drenched, white dress. I lightly smiled with a small blush appearing across my cheeks. This is really embarrassing... Professor Gerald chuckled and put his hand over my back.

With that, I leaped off what remained of my capsule and followed Shadow and the scientists to another room, where I took a shower and got dressed into a grey turtleneck shirt under a dark bluish-grey jacket. Black khaki pants and a dark grey belt.

Now, it is time to begin the programs Professor Gerald and the scientists have planned for me...