Chapter six
Sugar rush
It was one of those rare quiet and boring days aboard the ARK, where all reports were finished and all tests and construction repairs were complete for the next couple of days. Maria and Shadow exited Maria's room and wondered down the metal hallways of the ARK until they reached the dining hall for lunch. They happily entered and lined up to receive their lunch. While they were queuing up Gerald entered the dining hall and joined the line behind the twelve year old girl and 3 month old hedgehog.
"So Maria, Shadow how was your morning?" Gerald asked in a cheerful tone, causing the two to turn around in slight surprise.
"Oh hello grandfather...our morning was a little dull actually but we do hope this afternoon will be much more exciting, don't we Shadow?" Maria answered in her sweet and cheerful tone, and having Shadow nodding in agreement.
"Well you never know...Shadow I have asked the chef to change your diet so you can have a taste of different kinds of foods, so for the time being you will be eating the same as everyone else...although if you start to feel different and you think something is not right you have to tell me straight away ok...just think of it as a little food experiment."
"Ok sure thing Professor...so what would you suggest I have then?" Shadow asked feeling a little clueless and lost, Shadow was way too used to having the kitchen staff hand him his nutritional meal or as Maria called it bland slop in a bowl, already served up and handed to him when he reached the counter.
"Don't you worry Shadow I'll help you pick something yummy out for you to try." Maria announced with a smile, making Shadow feel much more comfortable with this new meal thing.
The long wait for lunch was over as Maria, Shadow and Gerald reached the serving hatch all feeling hungry thanks to the nice smells coming from the kitchen. Maria picked up her tray then passed Shadow and Gerald one also in which both thanked her for. They all looked at the delicious food in front of them, both humans knew what they were going to choose but poor Shadow didn't. Shadow looked more lost then anything with so much to choose from and so many nice smells Shadow was kind of glad Maria said she would help him out. Maria and Gerald were done with choosing what they wanted and now it was Shadow's turn.
"Ok Shadow let's see...is there anything you can see that looks good to you?" Maria asked in a caring tone and smile.
"Well it all looks nice...why don't I just have the same as you." Shadow suggested with a small smile.
"That would make things a lot easier...so cheese pizza and chips with double chocolate cake and custard for Shadow please and thank you." Maria agreed then asked for the same for Shadow, thanking the kitchen assistant after placing her order for the hedgehog.
"Thank you." Shadow also thanked the kitchen assistant when he was handed his meal over.
Once they both had their meals they went to find a table to sit at but found there wasn't any where they could sit together, that was until Maria spotted two spaces on the same table Michael, Jason and Gerald were on. They walked over and placed their trays down by the empty places then sat down. Maria suddenly stood up and rushed over to the serving hatch then rushed back with some sauces and two drinks of sweet home or space-made lemonade.
"I forgot our drinks Shadow here try this it's really good...and I also picked up some different sauced in pots too. There is tomato sauce, BBQ and garlic mayonnaise, just help yourself ok." Maria announced to her friend.
"This drink is nice what is it so I know what to ask for next time?" Shadow asked then took another gulp of the sweet lemony drink.
"It's called lemonade but don't drink all of it otherwise you would be too full to eat lunch." Maria answered then warned the black and red hedgehog with a small smile.
"So Michael, Jason how has your morning been?" Maria asked then picked up a chip, dipped it in the BBQ sauce and then ate it while she listened to their answer.
"Err yeah our morning was really...relaxing actually." Michael answered in a relaxed tone.
"Yeah it's nice to have some time off once in a while, you know just to be able to relax and chill out without worrying about reports and deadlines." Jason added in a calm tone and smile.
"Well our morning was a bit boring but we hope this afternoon is going to be more exciting." Maria said as she dipped another chip.
As the five continued to eat their lunch, the kitchen assistant approached their table with a jug of lemonade.
"Anyone want a fill up?" The assistant asked kindly.
"Me and Shadow would love a re-fill please Tracy." Maria replied with a smile.
"How's your lunch Shadow? I hear this is practically your first meal...well I doubt it that you would include those high nutritional meals the Professor over here would tell us to do you." Tracy asked with a grin.
"I have never tasted such divine foods in my life even though I didn't mind the nutritional meals that looked a lot like oat meal, it tasted alright but it doesn't beat this though. I can't believe this was what I have been missing out on all this time, I knew all this food smelt good but had no idea it tasted just as good as it smelt." Shadow replied with a smile then drank some more sweet and fizzy lemonade.
"Well the cook will be very glad to hear this Shadow…well enjoy the rest of your meals." Tracy announced then rushed off into the kitchen with a now empty jug.
When the main meal was finished, it was time to move onto the best part of lunch, dessert. Shadow looked at his sticky chocolate pudding in wonder upon what it may taste like. Shadow never having chocolate before took a small amount onto his spoon and slowly emptied the contents of the spoon into his mouth, savouring the new flavour slowly. Shadow's eyes widened at the delicious new sweet taste of both chocolate and cake. A warm smile formed onto his muzzle as he swallowed the small amount in his mouth, then went to scoop up a bigger amount. Soon everyone was finished with lunch, getting up and putting their clear yet dirty plates onto the pile by the counter, ready to be taken into the kitchen for cleaning.
"I hope dinner is just a tasty." Shadow said slightly fast as he and Maria exited the dining hall followed closely by Gerald, Michael and Jason.
"Are you feeling alright Shadow?" Maria asked in a worried tone as she noticed Shadow's eye twitch every so often and his walking was a little too fast to be considered just walking.
"I'm f-fine why wouldn't I-I be...you worry too much M-Maria" Shadow replied a little shaky as he tried to slow down a bit.
"O-k if you are sure..." Maria said feeling a little sceptical about his reply.
Gerald had also noticed the little off signs in Shadow's behaviour so he had from then on decided to stay with the two children just to keep an eye on Shadow. Michael and Jason announced their leave and went to their room since they had no work to do while the other three went on in no particular direction.
"Now Shadow are you sure you are feeling alright, you seem to be very shaky and twitchy as if you have a lot of energy to burn off..." Gerald asked as he stopped Shadow from walking any further.
"I'm fine why wouldn't I be fine maybe a little restless but I'm fine stop worrying. I know I'll have a run about yeah see you later..." Shadow announced in such a fast tempo both Gerald and Maria only just managed to understand what he was saying, then both helplessly watched him rush off in a very unsafe speed.
"Maria my dear I do believe Shadow is experience a very high sugar rush...I do hope it won't take all afternoon for him to come down from it." Gerald announced with a small sigh slightly regretting the whole meal changing idea.
"It does look like it...you don't suppose he will cause any trouble do you?" Maria agreed then asked in a concerned tone as she looked up at her grandfather.
"Well he won't if we can find a way to catch him and contain him for a short period of time then allow him to realise all of that excess energy in a safe place, like the containment room." Gerald announced as he also thought on how this plan will be executed.
"How are we going to do that? We don't even know where he ran off to, all's we know is he went this way but he could be anywhere by now. Also he doesn't like that room so you do know as soon as he finds out where we are going to put him he will give us the slip." Maria questioned as the two walked in the same direction Shadow ran off in.
"True but he won't find out...come on my dear we need to hurry, we don't want anyone thinking he is on a destructive rampage, out to hurt everyone." Gerald announced in a concerned tone as the two jogged instead of walked.
Meanwhile Shadow was running at top speed down the corridors of the ARK, creating a path of destruction behind him. At least Maria and Gerald will know where Shadow went by following the scorch marks on the metal flooring of the space station created by his jet shoes. Shadow skidded to a halt when he approached a locked door at the end of this particular corridor. Shadow grinned mischievously at the locked door as his eye twitched every so often. It seems all rational thought has left Shadow's mind upon being high on sugar since he decided to spin dash at the door going all the way through creating a massive hole, bounced off the walls and crashing into every piece of equipment making more dents and holes. Eventually Shadow landed onto the ground and shot off yet again at high speeds.
"I have no idea what is happening to me but I have to admit I'm having a whole lot of fun." Shadow thought as he ran in a spiral like pattern along the corridor, making sure to dodge the lights on the ceiling, no point in having no light to have fun in is there.
Gerald was sorting out the preparations for the containment room while Maria was keeping a look out on the security cameras for Shadow. Gerald was practically about done when Maria gasped aloud at Shadow's appearance on the camera, it was a split second but Maria saw him.
"Grandpa he's almost here, we need to get the door open for him to run in?" Maria announced in a panic as she saw yet another glimpse of Shadow but much closer.
"The door is now open...let's just hope he falls for out trap, I'm pretty sure after all that running and bouncing about he is going to be thirsty." Gerald replied with a hopeful look as he eyed up the plastic cup of water on the floor in the middle of the containment room nervously.
"Yeah for some reason I don't think he is that naive." Maria stated in a whisper as Shadow zoomed inside the room, causing the door to silently shut behind him.
"Oh water, I was getting kind of thirsty..." Shadow said in a slightly fast tempo as he picked the cup up and downed the water in one gulp.
"Well then again I suppose he still has a lot to learn about ambushes and traps." Maria then added in a slightly nervous tone as she looked at her grandfather who was looking quite smug with himself.
Shadow dropped the cup onto the floor then zoomed off, only to be faced with a thick steel door. Shadow growled in annoyance to the obstacle blocking his way and began to curl up into a ball to perform a spin dash. Spin dash after spin dash the door still stayed intact, this was making Shadow flare up with high annoyance. He could feel himself coming down from his little high and it was now being replaced with anger and rage from being contained in such a smallish space.
"LET ME OUT NOW!" Shadow shouted in anger as he bashed both fists against the steel door, only managing to cause tiny dents in the metal.
"LET...ME...OUT" Shadow continued to shout in rage, banging the door a few more times with his fists.
"Grandpa I think Shadow has come down from his sugar rush."Maria announced as she watched her friend become more angered as he backed away from the door.
"Oh no...Shadow you need to calm down..." Gerald stated in a panic as he saw what Shadow was doing.
"What's he..." Maria started to say but froze in shock upon watching her hedgehog friend shot yellow energy bolts out of his hands.
"SHADOW!" Gerald shouted as loud as he could to get the hedgehogs' attention, which it worked.
"Ouch Grandfather...I think I've gone deaf..." Maria stated as she softly rubbed her ears.
"So sorry my dear...not Shadow you are not coming out of there until you have calmed down, so I suggest you sit on the floor and try to relax...that's it now maybe close your eyes and take slow yet deep breaths for a few minutes." Gerald instructed to his creation.
Shadow was now sitting on the floor with his legs and arms crossed, eyes closed and doing some deep breathing exercises. It wasn't long into the deep breathing Shadow found it was relaxing him but a little too much as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Alright Shadow how do you feel now?" Gerald asked after 5 minutes but got no answer from the hedgehog.
"Err Grandfather I think Shadow has fallen asleep." Maria said with a warm smile shooting in Shadow's direction.
"And so he should be...I think we should let him sleep a little then he can help repair the damage he has caused with all that running and bouncing around, although this probably would never have happened if I hadn't changed his dirt so suddenly." Gerald said as the two left the viewing room next door.
They both walked up to the containment room and the door opened after Gerald punched in a few numbers on the security code bar. Gerald picked up his son and carried him off to his room with Maria following closely behind. Well I guess they will be more cautious on what sugary sweet foods and drinks they'll give Shadow in the future, no need for a repeat of this afternoons performance...