Chapter ten
The gravity of the situation.
"Maria, wake up" Shadow softly called as he shook the young girl from her sleep.
"Five more minutes…" Maria whispered and turned to her other side, facing away from Shadow.
"Oh no there's a spider on the wall, it must have got out of the animal testing labs." Shadow shouted out in a fake fearful tone.
"Ahha, where? Get it out Shadow, get it out!" Maria screamed out in actual fear, jumping out of bed and hiding behind Shadow.
"Haha-hahaha…there's no spider. You are so easy to scare." Shadow laughed with tears of joy in the corners of his eyes.
"That wasn't very nice Shadow. How would you like it if I chucked you in an enclosed space?" Maria pointed out with a devious grin.
"I have no idea what you are talking about? Anyway I found something very interesting and since I don't need to be tested on this morning, I thought I'll show you." Shadow denied his fear then changed the subject.
Maria rolled her eyes then entered her bathroom after grabbing her clothes from the back of her chair by the desk. Shadow sat at the end of Maria's bed and patiently waited, for about half a minute.
"Maria hurry up." Shadow called out in a whiny voice then flopped down on the bed, looking up at the metal ceiling.
"Give me a minute Shadow…you are so impatient, I feel sorry for your future mate." Maria called out with slight irritation in her tone.
"I have you know Maria, I don't have a future mate unless I get with a human or the professor creates me one." Shadow matter-of-fact said as he stared up in boredom.
After another few minutes Maria walked out of the bathroom all washed and dressed. She looked over at Shadow with a raised brow for he was laying on the bed with his head dangling over the edge.
"You look weird upside down, it's like your walking on the ceiling." Shadow said with amusement as he smirked at Maria.
"You are such a child sometimes Shadow." Maria shook her head as Shadow sat up and got off the bed.
"Well technically I am only six months old, no wait that would make me a baby…forget I said anything. Come on I really need to show you this thing I found." Shadow said then changed the subject with an eager look.
"Oh alright, lead the way." Maria smiled happily as she rolled her eyes.
Shadow smiled brightly then took Maria's hand and pulled her out of the room. He was all to eager to show Maria this thing he found and was also hoping she would know what it was and what it did. They moved in a slightly fast pace down corridors, thanks to Shadow pulling, and soon came to a special room with no door.
"It's in here, come on." Shadow excitedly said as he gently pulled Maria inside with him.
"Shadow we are not allowed to be in here. This is the gravity control room and that machine stops us all from floating into the air and keeps us on the ground." Maria explained when they both stopped in front of a big complicated looking machine.
"Gravity? Oh right I get you so if I were to press any buttons then it will allow us to fly?" Shadow asked as he moved his head to look at Maria, an innocent smile on his muzzle.
"Yes in a manner of speaking…you know I've always wanted to know what it would be like to be weightless." Maria sighed with a dreamy look.
"Do you think it is possible to just turn one section of the gravity off?" Shadow smirked with a mischievous tone and look in his eyes.
"I'm not sure and I don't want to find out, who knows what grandpa will do when he finds out we are in here." Maria replied as she looked at the many buttons and levers.
"Well I say we do. The professor is always saying, to find out things you don't know you should experiment and see what works." Shadow pointed out as he moved his hand towards a button.
"You just made that up, he doesn't say that." Maria shook her head as she stopped Shadows hand from moving.
"Ok fine I did but it's true though and it will only be for like a minute or two." Shadow smirked playfully as his hand was let go of.
"Just a minute right?" Maria asked with an unsure tone.
"Yeah besides I doubt it anyone will notice." Shadow smiled brightly up at Maria, not really understanding correctly how this gravity thing would effect all aboard the ARK.
"Shadow yes they…Ahha!" Maria began to reply but cried out in surprise as Shadow had pressed the big red button on the machine.
Maria was floating into the air seconds after Shadow pressed that button and Shadow looked up at her with crossed arms and a pout. He didn't know why he wasn't floating like his human sister and that frustrated him.
"Does this gravity thing only effect humans or something?" Shadow unhappily asked with a frown.
"Take your skates off Shadow, they have inbuilt gravity engines and are stopping you from floating…this is so fun." Maria giggled with amusement as she flew in the air.
"Oh right." Shadow smiled then slipped his skates off.
Everywhere aboard the ARK the scientists were crying out in a panic as they became weightless and was floating about in the air in random directions. Gerald was in the middle of a very important test when he suddenly started to float up. His chemical tests joined him and slowly left the tubes they were in. It was a very good job they weren't dangerous like acid and wouldn't cause too much harm.
"SHADOW! MARIA!" Gerald shouted out in anger as this was clearly the work of two curious children.
Gerald moved his hands and legs through the air as if he was under water and swimming. He needed to get to the gravity machine before something dreadful happens. He wasn't the only one up here doing chemical testing and some were even working on highly dangerous substances. If the chemicals mixed together in the air then everyone was in grave danger. Not only that but some of the test animals were meat eaters and wouldn't think twice in picking an air meal or two. Then there was the Ultimate Life-form prototype that could move very easily in conditions that had no gravity.
"When I get to them two they are in so much trouble." Gerald though as he slowly made his way to the gravity room.
Meanwhile…
"Look at this Shadow, a loop-de-loop." Maria happily called then demonstrated the move.
"Cool let me try." Shadow laughed out with joy then tried to do the same.
The move wasn't as graceful as Maria's and Shadow almost crashed into a wall. Maria laughed as she watched him curl into a ball and lightly bounce off the wall. Shadow uncurled himself and locked eyes with Maria with a devious look.
"How about we have a gravity free race down the hall? Just think it will be a fair race since I can't run on the ground." Shadow said with a slightly pleading look.
"Yeah you are so going to lose Shadow and this time you can eat my dust." Maria grinned with amusement, finally having a one up on the Ultimate Life-form for once.
Elsewhere…
"Gerald, what is going on? The gravity ha been turned off." Dr Stine complained as he tried to keep still by holding onto a door frame outside the room he was working in.
"Way to state the obvious." Gerald thought with a forced smile.
"I am on my way to investigate the situation, please stay calm and I will find out why it suddenly switched off." Gerald seriously said then began to 'swim' through the air once more.
"Oh they are so in for it this time, they have put everyone in danger. It is very lucky those who are supposed to be testing dangerous chemicals didn't get a chance to get them out of the containers in the locked cabinets." Gerald thought as he tried to push himself to move faster, assuring all those he passed that he was on his way to investigate the problem and to stay calm.
With Shadow and Maria.
"Ok to the end of the corridor and back to the gravity machine. After this race we are turning the gravity back on ok Shadow." Maria explained with a half serious tone.
"Yeah, yeah Maria…1-2-3-go." Shadow rolled his eyes then shouted out that last part fast.
"Cheater!" Maria called out then followed him down the hall.
Shadow was struggling to keep in first place and somehow managed to get himself into a spinning motion, rolling around and around in the air. This gave Maria the opportunity to race passed him and gain first place. She laughed as she 'swam' passed him and started to get further away. Shadow was trying to figure out how to stop spinning then unintentionally bumped into the wall on the side. That did the trick and now he pushed himself to catch up with Maria, doggy paddling through the air as he tried to get a more steady rhythm going.
"Can't catch up with me now Shadow bye." Maria laughed as she was now heading back to the starting line, Shadow still on his way to the end of the corridor.
"Oh yeah, just you wait and see Maria." Shadow said with a smirk as he watched Maria go passed him and in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile Gerald was almost to the gravity room and was turning the corner when he crashed into someone. The two tried to untangle themselves in the air and when they did they locked eyes.
"Erm I can explain." Shadow nervously said as he was given a very cross look.
"Oh you will be, where is Maria?" Gerald firmly said with an angered tone.
"Maria is…Maria is." Shadow began as he tried to think of a way to get Maria out of trouble.
"Don't you lie to me Shadow, so tell me where she is now!" Gerald shouted out with more anger as he knew Shadow was going to give some bogus lie to him that Maria was not involved in this.
"Fine she has won the race and back in the room with that gravity thingy. I just want you to know this was all my fault and she tried to stop me. I was the one who did not listen and pressed that big red button." Shadow seriously explained as he and Gerald moved through the air and towards the room.
Gerald didn't say a word to that for he didn't know if it was true or not. He knew Shadow would keep his granddaughters involvement out of this and take all the blame. In truth he admired that but just couldn't stand being lied to by Shadow, especially putting into account who help greatly with giving Shadow life. They floated into the gravity control room and Maria turned a little pale at seeing her grandfather next to Shadow.
"G-grandpa, we can explain." Maria fearfully said as Gerald and Shadow stopped by the machine and in front of her.
"I already told the professor this was not your fault and you tried to talk me out of it." Shadow smiled reassuringly at his very best and only friend.
"You are both in trouble for this, do you have any idea how much trouble you have caused? You put everyone aboard the ARK in mortal danger, chemicals were out and being worked on, dangerous man-eating animals are floating in the animal lab un-caged and I'm sure you are aware of your prototype Shadow. It doesn't need gravity to keep on the ground and for all we know it could have broken free." Gerald seriously said as he tried to get to the controls to the machine.
"It was all my fault, I already told you that. Maria tried to stop me but before she could I had already pressed the button. Just look at the damn CCTV footage and you will know I'm telling the truth." Shadow growled out in frustration as he crossed his arms while floating in one spot.
"Do not use that tone on me Shadow and I heard you the first time…there." Gerald firmly said then pressed the button to turn the machine back on.
Everyone aboard the ARK dropped to the ground with a light thud, some even landed on their heads. Gerald narrowed his eyes in anger at Shadow and Maria, crossing his arms and waiting for the truth. Even if what Shadow said was true, Gerald didn't believe him.
"We are sorry Grandpa." Maria sadly said as she looked down to the ground.
"You shouldn't be apologising Maria, this is not your fault but mine. I pressed the button and you tried to stop me from doing it. Not your fault." Shadow said as he narrowed his eyes at his creator.
"Yes but I should have tried harder and I never turned the gravity back on either. I'm just as much guilty than you are Shadow." Maria softly said as she looked over at Shadow, who was not looking happy as he glared at Gerald.
"So you were telling me the truth Shadow. Maria please can you go to your room, I need to punish Shadow for messing with the gravity machine and causing a huge panic while endangering many lives here." Gerald firmly said as he broke eye contact with Shadow to look at his upset granddaughter instead.
"But Grandpa, Shadow didn't understand what was going to happen to everyone. He thought only this section would be effected, not the whole ARK." Maria said with watery eyes as she tried to reason with her grandfather.
"Is this true Shadow?" Gerald raised a brow at his creation.
"Yes, I didn't know it turned this gravity thing off everywhere and I am deeply sorry for causing a huge panic. I had no idea I would be endangering the lives of others when I pressed that button. If I would have known I wouldn't have pressed it and left the machine alone." Shadow seriously said with a sorry look.
"Maria can you please go to your room so I can have a word with Shadow alone." Gerald ordered in a much calmer tone then gave Maria a slightly firm look when he saw she was about to protest.
"Ok Grandpa, I'll see you later Shadow." Maria sighed out in defeat then made her way to her room.
Gerald waited a few more seconds until he was sure Maria was long gone before clearing his throat to speak to Shadow.
"I want you to put your skates back on then follow me to my office. I don't want any complaints understand, you are in enough trouble so don't make more for yourself." Gerald firmly ordered then watched his creation do as he was told.
The two walked out side by side and towards Gerald's personal office. On the way Shadow could see just how much damage his little stunt did and instantly felt terrible and guilty for his actions. Gerald, every now and again, looked down at Shadow and saw Shadows expressions change from a serious one to a much more guilty look. This was apart of his punishment for Shadow, to make Shadow see the damage he had caused. The second part was a firm telling in his office and lastly part was going to put Shadow through the obstacle course gravity free since the arena had its own gravity machine for such a purpose in training Shadow with little or a lot of gravity.
"If he wants to mess with gravity then who am I to step in and stop him." Gerald thought as they were almost at his office.
(There we are another one-shot and I know haven't don't much in a long time but I finally got an idea for one. Please tell me what you think and I will have a little brain-storm for another chap.)