Chapter 2: Accession & Separation.
Three weeks ago Dr Gerald Kintobor had started an experiment. He had started, for the second time, Project Shadow, after the first had proved to be not a successful as he had intended.
Three weeks ago he selected a new creature, a hedgehog, to become the Ultimate Lifeform. And though he had only begun, within days of starting this project already showed great potential.
This was three weeks ago.
* * * *
Darkness. Just like a stirring heavy sleeper, awoken from what seemed to be an eternity in darkness, he slowly wakens.
Too soon to open his eyes, he tries to identify by touch. Reaching forward he instantly knows that he is in water, or some kind of liquid at least. Feeling the occasional bubble caress his fur as it travelled upwards, he wasn't entirely shocked by what he had found so far. In fact, he felt no real emotion at all.
Continuing to reach forwards his hand was stopped as it touched a smooth surface. He ran his hand along it slowly. What was this?
It was then he heard sounds, noises, almost as faint as a whisper. He could barely make out what was being said.
"How's his vital signs?" One voice asked. It was an old voice, but almost soothing.
"I'm reading them at just above normal, Sir." A second voice replied. This one was younger than the first, that much was sure. "Is that normal?"
Normal? Where they talking about him? His eyes still closed, he decided to continue to listen.
"That is quite normal, but thank you Henry for your concern." The first voice said, to the newly appointed Henry.
"How is that possible though, Sir?" Henry asked.
There was a short silence. Then. "It's to do with energy in Shadow's blood. It gives him a higher immune system and healing factor amongst other things."
Energy in Shadow's blood. Where they talking about him again? Was he Shadow? What where they talking about?
The first voice had been speaking. He begun to listen again. "It should also allow him to do things I can't even imagine." He managed too hear, before the first voice stopped speaking again. He waited patiently for something to come next, but it didn't.
Hearing only a bubbling sound and the beating of his heart, he slowly opened his eyes.
The light hurt his eyes almost instantly, causing him to shield them with his hand. As they adjusted to the light, he was presented with his first view of the surroundings.
"Err, Sir." Came that young voice of Henry again. "He's awake."
He? They were talking about him definitely. Maybe they had been all along.
He was in a room which contained a lot of equipment. What its purpose was he could not tell, it didn't really matter. He wanted answers, and what he saw next was were his answers lay.
A tall man, wearing a long white overcoat, and glasses smiled at him.
He still felt a little groggy from the sleep. He wanted to talk, but wasn't sure if he could from inside what was now quite clearly a capsule of some kind. Instead he stared at the man.
The man walked forwards a little bit. "Your probably wondering who you are, and why your here, eh?" The old man said. "Let me enlighten you. Your name is Shadow, your the Ultimate Lifeform."
My name is Shadow. Thought Shadow, he knew it was true. I'm the Ultimate Lifeform.
"You were created to be a symbol of hope to the people of Planet Mobius. To be their hero. To use your powers to benefit the greater good of mankind."
A symbol of hope. Hero. Benefit the greater good of mankind. Shadow parroted in his head.
"And now." The old man said. "You will be born."
Shadow suddenly felt an unsettling feeling in his body as the wires that were attached to him loosened and detached. Shadow was then aware that the water around him, that had acted like a soft cushion, was being drained. A look of worry flashed across his face.
"Do not panic." The old man said. "You will be quite all right."
But Shadow knew otherwise. The unsettling feeling had increased tenfold and was making his grogginess return. Shadow met the stare of the old man, and as the water drained from around his mouth, he cleared his vocal cords and spoke. "Help me." He said.
The old man smiled again. "You will be quite all right." He repeated. "Just relax."
The water had completely drained away by now, and Shadow sat at the bottom of the capsule. His head was spinning now, and his vision was growing black. His eyes rolled backwards as he fought to stay conscience.
"By the way." The old man begun, walking a little closer. "My name is Dr Gerald."
Shadow looked at Gerald then collapsed backwards.
Gerald stood there watching the unconscious Shadow for quite some time, he then smiled very softly and gently. "We have a new arrival." He said to himself.
* * * *
That was three weeks ago. That was then. This is now. Weeks later.
After countless experiments on Shadow, testing his power, Dr Gerald's test's are finally complete.
Dr. Gerald Kintobor finished taking his readings, and examined the screen of the portable computer. "Hmm." He said thoughtfully.
Shadow slipped off the table and got to his feet, regarding the scientist curiously. "What is it?" He asked.
A casual observer would have assumed that the now striking black and red hedgehog was about eighteen years old. If they'd found out that he had emerged fully grown from a tank two weeks before, they would have been surprised.
However, if they had spoken to him, it would have been more obvious.
During development, Shadow had been implanted with basic knowledge such as language. But as of yet, he had no real experience of dealing with people. He had a basic understanding of emotions, but was still quite emotionless. Although that could still change as he was a fast learner. Perhaps too fast.
Shadow was simply a curious young hedgehog with little real knowledge of the world. He knew even little about the most important thing, and that was his own identity.
Gerald turned and picked up two golden bracelets. He had worked on them for almost as long as he had been working on Shadow. They were created to allow Shadow complete and utter control of his powers, but that wasn't the whole story. What they also were for was to make sure that if Shadow ever lost control of his powers, the two bracelets programming would override his system and give him back control.
Gerald turned and handed them to Shadow. "Here." He said, handing them over.
"What are they?" Shadow asked, taking them.
"They are called Control Rings. They will ensure that you will always be in control of your powers." Gerald said, he then looked at Shadow's puzzled look and sighed. "The cost of perfection was to high, Shadow. Though you are the Ultimate Lifeform, you still have one weakness. If you ever become to angered by pain, grief or hate your energy within you could become to negative and you could loose control of your powers. These Control Rings are here to ensure that that never happens."
"I could loose control?" Shadow asked.
"Yes." Gerald sighed. "Don't worry, nothing's wrong." Gerald reassured the hedgehog, as he stared at Control Rings he held. "Its the down side of having emotions, my small friend. My word to you would be never have any emotions at all." The Dr said jokingly, though Shadow didn't know. "Now this is important. The Rings can only be used once. So if you ever have to use them if it happens again after that it will be up to you to control yourself."
"I understand, Doctor." Shadow said, putting the rings onto his wrists.
Gerald watched Shadow fit the two bracelets into comfortable positions on his wrists. He then smiled down on the hedgehog. "Your energy level is completely stable. I was thinking that you should be able to learn to control that energy."
"Ah, that." Shadow blinked. "You mean this." Then without really thinking about it Shadow closed his eyes and did what was instinct to his system. At least it felt like instinct.
There was a bright flash of green light and Shadow disappeared.
Dr. Gerald's jaw almost hit the floor.
After a while Dr Gerald smiled to himself. Shadow was complete. He had succeeded in creating the first in a new line of Chaos Champion's as he had promised Emerald. He had created the Ultimate Lifeform, the protector of Planet Mobius. However, one thing still remained.
There was still the test subject. There was still Sonic.
Gerald sighed. He had begun work on a second pair of Control Rings for him, but they were not finished yet. He had decided that he would give Sonic the opportunity to become a hero as well, as it only seemed right. He had also decided to work a little more on Sonic. He had decided that he would make Sonic a golden yellow, that would give him control of more power than in his normal form. But it was also intended to just be a opposite to Shadow, though he would like them to be partners, instead of rivals.
The golden yellow colour of his spines, which would stand horizontally upwards since Shadows curved back and downwards from his head, would represent the day. It seemed a little poetic. Shadow was the night, and Sonic would be the day, and together there would be no one who could oppose them, and nothing they could not do.
Dr Gerald smiled as he set off for his chambers. There was so much to do, and so little time to do it.
* * * *
There was a bright flash of green light and Shadow reappeared in one of ARK's many corridors. This was one of the few places he had been before, the corridor between two of the laboratories. He hadn't warped out like that before, and hadn't really expected that would be the result of tapping into the energy that he could feel inside him.
It had been quite easy though. Shadow's control of the Chaos energy was instinctive.
"Chaos Control." He said to himself.
And now he was finally out of that lab! He expected Dr. Gerald would be surprised, maybe angry. But Shadow wanted to find out if there was anything beyond his tiny world of lab's and corridor's.
Burning with curiosity, the black hedgehog started to explore.
It didn't take long for him to run into someone. It was a girl. She was in her early teens, with blue eyes and dark blonde hair. As soon as she saw him she smiled warmly.
"Hi." She said. Shadow blinked. Not having met many people, apart from Dr Gerald and his helpers, he didn't really know how to act.
"Err - Hi-!" He replied cautiously.
Her smile was so warm. "Don't be nervous. My name's Maria."
"I'm Shadow." Said the hedgehog.
"I know." She said. "Grandpa has been going on about you for quite sometime. You're not supposed to be out here, are you?" She asked softly.
"I guess not." He responded, a bit guiltily.
"It's all right. I won't tell." She said, still smiling.
"Oh." Shadow was confused again. Everyone else he had met seemed either to be slightly scared of him, or wanted to examine him with a magnifying glass. This was. different.
"I've been waiting for you to come for quite sometime. We can be friends if you like. It can get really lonely here." She continued.
Shadow sighed. "I know." He paused. "I. I haven't had any friends before."
"Hey." Maria said unexpectedly. "Have you ever seen the view from the control room?"
He shook his head.
"You'll like it. C'mon!" She then took his hand and they ran off.
* * * *
Ovi Kintobor sat in the library of his Science College. On his lap he had a book on Quantum Physics. To his left hand side a warm cup of cocoa, and on his right a laptop. Its screen black as it was in standby.
Ovi Kintobor, grandson of Dr Gerald Kintobor, was also a genius. It ran in the family after all.
Though only 21, Ovi had already passed many courses in Advanced Science. But what he really enjoyed working on was the existence of parallel dimensions.
What no one knew was that Ovi had already found one such dimension. It was a place that was once called 'Nightmare Country' by an ancient extinct race called the Echidna.
But before Ovi showed the world his discovery, he wanted to study every last bit of it first.
His laptop suddenly begun to beep. He turned and looked at the screens monitor as the words 'Incoming Transmission' flashed on the screen in red.
Curious. He thought. Who could this be?
Picking the laptop up he placed it on top of the book on his lap. He then pressed enter. The screen instantly changed. A dark, dimly lit face stared at him.
"Who are y-?" Ovi begun, but he was then interrupted.
"I don't have time for pleasantries." The voice said, it was unsteady and worried. "But if you must know, my name is Captain Berol. Now listen to me Ovi, and listen carefully."
Ovi was not a stupid man, and he knew when to listen to important things. So instead of asking pointless questions like 'How do you know my name?' and 'How can I trust you?' he just simply listened.
"Your family is under threat. You. Your grandfather and your sister, Maria. Your all going to die. I can't tell you who, but forces are against you. Especially your Grandfather and his damned ARK colony. They're going to attack the ARK. I don't know when, but I know they are. I doubt they're leave anyone alive." He said.
The shadowed Captain Berol seemed to look a little preoccupied with something off screen. He then turned back to the camera. "If you can warn your grandfather, then do so. Get him out of there, get them all out of there. If not, then hide yourself. Find somewhere to lie low for a long time. For a very long time. If you don't your dead."
Suddenly Captain Berol looked to his left at something. When he spoke next fear was radiating from every word he said. "My God, they've found me! They're gonna kill me, but - but you can still save yourself. Get out of Metropolis City. Get away. Good luck."
The transmission was abruptly cut off, as Captain Berol lost his feed.
Ovi Kintobor sat there for a long while. Then getting up, he closed his book, folded his laptop under his arm, and ran out of the library.
A few hours later, his now cold cocoa was picked up by one of the College janitors.
* * * *
Planet Mobius turned lazily in space. White clouds swirled on its surface, and on the distant, curved horizon, the sun was beginning to set.
Those who watched this spectacle were separated from it by the airless vacuum of space, and the reinforced viewing window of ARK. In reality, the division was far greater than that.
Shadow turned his eyes away from the view, and glanced to his left. The girl standing there was as different to him as he could possibly imagine. She was human and had been born naturally. Shadow fitted into neither category.
Yet somehow, they had become friends.
She was the only one who didn't treat him like some kind of scientific curiosity.
Isn't that what I am? Shadow thought.
No, it was more than friendship. Maria was almost family.
"How could I know what that word means?" He muttered to himself. There were so many questions, and so few answers.
"I just don't know anything anymore." Shadow said a little louder. "I'm not even sure who I really am."
The question, of course, was not 'who', but 'why'. There had to be some meaning behind Shadow's existence. A purpose. Something.
Maria Kintobor turned her blue eyes towards the black hedgehog, but said nothing. She could've answered probably all of Shadow's questions if she wanted to, but she wasn't allowed to. Grandpa had been very clear on that.
She couldn't tell Shadow that he was just the better half of an experiment to create the Ultimate Lifeform. To create a hero for the Planet below them. He had no life, no real reason other than that. He had been designed and created, not born like normal people. But then he wasn't the only one.
What Maria definitely couldn't tell Shadow about was the two that came before him. He couldn't be told of either the Bio-Lizard, or of the hedgehog, Sonic.
Maria watched Shadow and sighed. What hurt the most about everything was that she had been asked to lie to him. And now that was harder, as now he was her friend.
Shadow sighed, and resumed gazing out of the window.
There was silence for a minute or so; then Maria spoke.
"Shadow, what do you think it's like down there on Mobius?" Unlike Shadow, she had been down to the planet's surface, but Maria had been too young to remember.
Perhaps. Shadow thought. They were not so different after all.
"Dr. Gerald once told me, his life's work was dedicated to helping the people on that planet." He answered hesitantly, briefly wondering if he was a part of that plan. "Perhaps if I go down there, I'll find my answers."
Thoughtfully, the pair turned and contemplated the view in silence.
* * * *
Dr Gerald Kintobor stood in his chambers hunched over a monitor screen. On the screen was the face of his grandson, Ovi Kintobor.
Their faces were almost identical, except that Gerald's bristling mustache was steel grey. Gerald stared at the screen as his Grandson spoke, behind his spectacles his eyes had a hunted look.
"You have to get off the ARK, grandfather." Ovi said, from the screen.
"I will." He said, a little distant. "I - I'll start evacuating as soon as I end this transmission. But something's have to be done first before I can leave."
"Your Project Shadow, am I right?" Ovi asked.
"Yes. Whoever they are, they come because of that. At least I hope."
"You hope?" Ovi said, surprised.
"Yes, I hope. Because if they are not coming for Shadow, then they can only be coming for one other thing." Gerald sighed.
The Eclipse Cannon. Gerald thought. I must find a way of preventing the use of the Eclipse Cannon by anyone. But how?
Gerald stared at the screen for a while. Then begun to type something into the computer. "I will get out, I promise you that. Maria will be safe. Shadow, well. he can take care of himself." Gerald smiled at the camera weakly. "Wish me luck."
Ovi Kintobor looked at his Grandfather. He opened his mouth and talked, but Gerald could not hear anything.
"Ovi?" Gerald said. "Ovi, I can't hear you."
This time the picture of his grandson begun to flicker and scroll. Then, the picture disappeared, and the monitor went black.
Gerald gasped. The transmission was being jammed. That could only mean one thing. They, whoever they were, were already coming.
Gerald initiated Red Alert, then turned on his heal and ran out of the room. He had to find Maria, and Shadow. But first, there was something else he had to do.
* * * *
Ovi Kintobor stared at his blank screen for a while, his mind overrun with fear for his family. The only family he still had left.
He was drawn back to reality as he heard the distinct sound of sirens. They begun to grow louder. They were coming towards him.
Ovi walked over to the window and peered out it to see cars, with the G.U.N logo printed on their sides, screech to a halt. Out of each car men poured out. They all had weapons. They had all come for him.
Ovi stepped back from the window instantly. He was trapped. There was no way to go. The front was covered, and the back would not doubt be within the next couple of minutes.
However, there was still a way out. A way that the fools outside could not intercept. Ovi took a small device out of his pocket and smiled as he heard movement from outside the front door.
Ovi had discovered another dimension, the 'Nightmare Country' were the Echidna once traveled to. And even though he had returned to study it further, he had had help from something he had found there.
To call it humanoid would be a vague attempt at describing it. Instead, Ovi had described it as an entity. An all powerful, all seeing entity. It had the ability to travel where ever it wanted to with great ease with only a thought. Though he had found it in this ancient dimension, he knew that it had probably come from a place far older and advanced.
The entity had also had a name. It called itself, the Omni-Viewer.
"Omni-Viewer." Ovi muttered. "Time to wake up."
As if in response there was a sudden bright light in the room as something came out of the device Ovi had been holding. The shapeless energy contorted and changed until it took on the form of a huge bright white screen. A big face then appeared on it.
"Hello Ovi." The Omni-Viewer said.
"Omni, I need you to take me away from here."
There was a thud at the door. Ovi turned to look at it, then turned back to the Omni-Viewer. They were trying to break the door down.
"Where would you like to go?" The Omni-Viewer asked.
"Look." Ovi said, filled with fear. "I don't care where you take me. Just take me anywhere, okay?" With that Ovi jumped into the big white face of the Omni-Viewer, which blinked.
Just then the door to Ovi's apartment burst open and a hoard of men came running in. However, none of the men had anticipated seeing a giant shining face.
Omni-Viewer turned to the intruders and floated back a little in shock.
Not knowing what floated in front of them, the men fired!
Omni-Viewer begun to shrink, as he attempted to escape, but wasn't quick enough. Stray laser blasts hit the shrinking entity. He screamed as red electricity crackled about him. He then vanished completely.
* * * *
Gerald walked into the room where it had all started. The room was still dark, but now shadows danced around as the red light shone into the room from the corridor outside.
The door closed behind Gerald, and the room returned to it normal state.
Dr Gerald walked over to the computer terminal and typed in something. Almost instantly gas was vented into the capsule that held Sonic the hedgehog.
The hedgehog opened his eyes.
He was awake again. He wasn't sure how long it had been since the last time he had been awake, but time was no object to him. He was just grateful that he was once again awake, and he found himself thinking that maybe this time he could stay this way.
It was then that he saw the silhouetted figure of Dr Gerald. He opened his mouth and asked the first thing that came to mind. "Who am I? Where am I?" He paused, then continued. "Who are you?"
Gerald sighed in the darkness. He wished that he had had more time to work on Sonic, as the hedgehog was still a child, even though he had more power than he realized. Gerald cleared his throat, and spoke.
"Your name is Sonic the hedgehog." Gerald said. "Where you are is not important as you will never see here again. What you need to know is this."
Gerald walked forward into the light. "You are a hero, Sonic. You will always strive to help those that are less off than you are."
"Hero?" Sonic muttered.
"Yes, Sonic. A hero. You have something good about you. Something pure. Something that may take a long time to fully surface, but never forget that you are special. You will always be special, and though you have too go now, I want you to remember this. In this world, no matter what happens, you will never be alone."
Sonic's young eyes widened. "Why do I have to go?" He asked softly.
Gerald turned back around and initiated the capsule ejection sequence. He then stared at the computer terminal. Not looking back at Sonic, Gerald spoke. "You have to go because it is no longer safe for you."
Sonic looked around from inside the capsule, his wide eyes taking in everything. He then looked below him and watched the ground begin to shift and slide.
"Did I do something wrong?" He said simply.
Gerald looked up at Sonic and met his stare. Gerald was a very emotional old man and had often been reduced to tears after watching any sad film, or reading a sad story. But this. Seeing Sonic like this, asking that question the way he did, it was beyond tears. It was tearing out his heart.
Gerald fought the tears back. "No." He whispered. "You have done nothing wrong. Your perfect just the way you are."
Gerald then walked forward, as Sonic's capsule begun to lower itself into the ground. His own eyes never once leaving Sonic's own tear filled ones. "I hope life treats you well, Sonic the hedgehog." The capsule then disappears into the ground, and the floor closed over it.
"Farewell." Gerald muttered. "My son."
A single tear rolled down his cheek, as he stood there for a long period of time.
Suddenly ARK rumbled and shock as if it was being attacked from the outside. Gerald looked upwards, and sniffed. "There here. It has begun." He said, before turning and walking out of the room.
* * * *
The lights were flashing. Sirens were blurring. The colony was in Red Alert!
Shadow was running through the corridors of ARK, by his side was Maria.
They were both confused. Neither had a clue about what was going on. Then, a hand reached out and grabbed Maria's arm.
"Maria!"
She turned, startled, but instantly smiled warmly when she recognized the person that had called her name. "Grandpa." She said. "Grandpa, what's going on?"
Gerald looked at his granddaughter, then behind her at Shadow.
"They're here for him." Gerald said. "Or their here for the Eclipse Cannon. Maybe their here for both of them, that's why we must go." Gerald turned and looked around, then turned back to Maria.
"Maria, honey. You know how to get to the Control Room, right?"
"Yes, grandpa." Maria said.
"Good. Head there, and get Shadow out of here just like I showed you how to." Gerald said.
Maria nodded. "What about you?" She asked.
Gerald smiled. "I'll be right behind you. Now go!"
Maria hugged her grandfather, then turned and ran off. Shadow, however, remained.
Shadow just stared at Dr Gerald. "Go!" Gerald said.
"What is the Eclipse Cannon?" Shadow said.
Gerald sighed and looked down on the black hedgehog. "The Eclipse Cannon is dangerous, that's all you need to know. If I see you again, then I'll tell you more. I'm going to seal off the entire area its in, but I will have to return back here to complete my plan. But you cannot help me, not now. I need you to protect Maria. Do this for me, please."
Shadow stared up at Dr Gerald. "I will." He then turned. Looking over his shoulder one last time at his creator, Shadow glided off in pursuit of Maria.
Gerald watched him disappear into the red flashing corridor and smiled. "Who would have thought." He said, turning around. "I've lost two prodical son's in one day." He then walked off towards the room which held the Eclipse Cannon.
* * * *
20 minutes later Shadow and Maria were running through the corridors of ARK, heading towards the Control Room. They knew by now that the ARK had been infiltrated, as some other members of ARK's crew had told them when they had bumped into them trying to escape.
Shadow shook his head, but the red-alert lights still flashed on and off.
Shadow turned to look behind him as he and Maria ran down yet another corridor. It was then that he saw man step into view. He wasn't one of ARK's crew, as they didn't run around with guns. The man raised his gun at the fleeing Maria and Shadow and fired.
Shadow had never seen a gun before, though he knew that no good would come of it. Suddenly there was a scream beside him. Shadow turned around filled with fear just in time to witness Maria collapse to the floor.
Shadow stood staring at Maria. What had happened? Why was she now in pain? He stood there, transfixed, and watched as a red stain appeared on her side.
"Maria?" Shadow almost whispered. "What is wrong?"
Maria looked up at Shadow through pain filled eyes. "I- I've been shot." She said.
Suddenly a gun was pressed to Shadow's head. "Freeze!" A voice ordered.
Shadow turned to face the man that had shot his only friend. "You did this." He growled.
The man stepped backwards uneasily, but then reminded himself that he had the gun. "Turn around and put your hands above your head. NOW!" He shouted.
Shadow stood there. He didn't say a word. He had never experienced any emotions, but now something was swelling up inside him. Something that seemed so dark, but felt so comfortable. Shadow didn't know it but it was hate.
His eyes suddenly begun to change. They glowed bright red. Shadow reached forward and snatched the gun from the mans hands. He then held it with both hands and snapped it in two, throwing a piece either side of him. When he looked back at the man his eyes had changed. Instead of his normal red eyes, he now looked up at the man through chaotic red swirls.
"Now I'll snap you." Shadow said, grinning evilly.
Maria steadied herself as she stood behind Shadow. She reached out and grabbed Shadow's arm. She spun him around. "Shadow! Shadow, what's wrong?"
Shadow snapped out of whatever transformation had begun. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I-I don't know." He admitted. "I'm okay now though." He lied.
Maria looked at him for a while, then sighed. "All right." She looked behind him at the man who was shaking from head to toe. "Let's get going." She said. "More will be along soon."
Shadow opened his eyes, and instantly looked at Maria's growing red stain on her side. Meeting her eyes, he then picked her up in one complete swift movement.
"Which way?" He asked. She pointed. He smiled reassuringly and ran.
Within no time they were in the control room, and Shadow knew that they were being followed. He had looked behind him a few times and had seen men with guns.
Shadow put his wounded friend down. They had been here earlier today. They had stood and stared at Planet Mobius for hours, before this chaos had started. Shadow walked into the middle of the room but did not watch as Maria determinedly typed at a control panel.
Before he knew what was happening Shadow suddenly found himself trapped in a capsule.
"Wha-?!" Shadow stared at Maria, who stared at him.
"Shadow, I beg of you." Maria gasped. She had lost a lot of blood now. She pressed a hand on the growing red stain on her side. "Do it for me. Do it for all the people on that planet."
Inside the capsule, Shadow's eyes seemed to go dead as he realized that from now on, he would be alone. Numbly, he nodded. He wasn't sure if he understood, but he nodded anyway.
"You must protect the people down there." She continued. "Give them the chance to be happy. to fulfill their wishes."
Maria broke off and hissed in pain. Her legs started to collapse under her, as she leaned against the computer console for support. After a few seconds, she continued to talk urgently.
"That is - that is why you were brought into this world."
Shadow looked away, unable to watch. "Yes. I - I promise, Maria." He whispered.
Maria smiled sadly through the pain. "Goodbye, Shadow the hedgehog."
Then she pushed a button on the keyboard; there was a slight whooshing noise, then nothing but the darkness of space and the blue planet far below. Shadow closed his eyes. Now, now he was truly alone.
Three weeks ago Dr Gerald Kintobor had started an experiment. He had started, for the second time, Project Shadow, after the first had proved to be not a successful as he had intended.
Three weeks ago he selected a new creature, a hedgehog, to become the Ultimate Lifeform. And though he had only begun, within days of starting this project already showed great potential.
This was three weeks ago.
* * * *
Darkness. Just like a stirring heavy sleeper, awoken from what seemed to be an eternity in darkness, he slowly wakens.
Too soon to open his eyes, he tries to identify by touch. Reaching forward he instantly knows that he is in water, or some kind of liquid at least. Feeling the occasional bubble caress his fur as it travelled upwards, he wasn't entirely shocked by what he had found so far. In fact, he felt no real emotion at all.
Continuing to reach forwards his hand was stopped as it touched a smooth surface. He ran his hand along it slowly. What was this?
It was then he heard sounds, noises, almost as faint as a whisper. He could barely make out what was being said.
"How's his vital signs?" One voice asked. It was an old voice, but almost soothing.
"I'm reading them at just above normal, Sir." A second voice replied. This one was younger than the first, that much was sure. "Is that normal?"
Normal? Where they talking about him? His eyes still closed, he decided to continue to listen.
"That is quite normal, but thank you Henry for your concern." The first voice said, to the newly appointed Henry.
"How is that possible though, Sir?" Henry asked.
There was a short silence. Then. "It's to do with energy in Shadow's blood. It gives him a higher immune system and healing factor amongst other things."
Energy in Shadow's blood. Where they talking about him again? Was he Shadow? What where they talking about?
The first voice had been speaking. He begun to listen again. "It should also allow him to do things I can't even imagine." He managed too hear, before the first voice stopped speaking again. He waited patiently for something to come next, but it didn't.
Hearing only a bubbling sound and the beating of his heart, he slowly opened his eyes.
The light hurt his eyes almost instantly, causing him to shield them with his hand. As they adjusted to the light, he was presented with his first view of the surroundings.
"Err, Sir." Came that young voice of Henry again. "He's awake."
He? They were talking about him definitely. Maybe they had been all along.
He was in a room which contained a lot of equipment. What its purpose was he could not tell, it didn't really matter. He wanted answers, and what he saw next was were his answers lay.
A tall man, wearing a long white overcoat, and glasses smiled at him.
He still felt a little groggy from the sleep. He wanted to talk, but wasn't sure if he could from inside what was now quite clearly a capsule of some kind. Instead he stared at the man.
The man walked forwards a little bit. "Your probably wondering who you are, and why your here, eh?" The old man said. "Let me enlighten you. Your name is Shadow, your the Ultimate Lifeform."
My name is Shadow. Thought Shadow, he knew it was true. I'm the Ultimate Lifeform.
"You were created to be a symbol of hope to the people of Planet Mobius. To be their hero. To use your powers to benefit the greater good of mankind."
A symbol of hope. Hero. Benefit the greater good of mankind. Shadow parroted in his head.
"And now." The old man said. "You will be born."
Shadow suddenly felt an unsettling feeling in his body as the wires that were attached to him loosened and detached. Shadow was then aware that the water around him, that had acted like a soft cushion, was being drained. A look of worry flashed across his face.
"Do not panic." The old man said. "You will be quite all right."
But Shadow knew otherwise. The unsettling feeling had increased tenfold and was making his grogginess return. Shadow met the stare of the old man, and as the water drained from around his mouth, he cleared his vocal cords and spoke. "Help me." He said.
The old man smiled again. "You will be quite all right." He repeated. "Just relax."
The water had completely drained away by now, and Shadow sat at the bottom of the capsule. His head was spinning now, and his vision was growing black. His eyes rolled backwards as he fought to stay conscience.
"By the way." The old man begun, walking a little closer. "My name is Dr Gerald."
Shadow looked at Gerald then collapsed backwards.
Gerald stood there watching the unconscious Shadow for quite some time, he then smiled very softly and gently. "We have a new arrival." He said to himself.
* * * *
That was three weeks ago. That was then. This is now. Weeks later.
After countless experiments on Shadow, testing his power, Dr Gerald's test's are finally complete.
Dr. Gerald Kintobor finished taking his readings, and examined the screen of the portable computer. "Hmm." He said thoughtfully.
Shadow slipped off the table and got to his feet, regarding the scientist curiously. "What is it?" He asked.
A casual observer would have assumed that the now striking black and red hedgehog was about eighteen years old. If they'd found out that he had emerged fully grown from a tank two weeks before, they would have been surprised.
However, if they had spoken to him, it would have been more obvious.
During development, Shadow had been implanted with basic knowledge such as language. But as of yet, he had no real experience of dealing with people. He had a basic understanding of emotions, but was still quite emotionless. Although that could still change as he was a fast learner. Perhaps too fast.
Shadow was simply a curious young hedgehog with little real knowledge of the world. He knew even little about the most important thing, and that was his own identity.
Gerald turned and picked up two golden bracelets. He had worked on them for almost as long as he had been working on Shadow. They were created to allow Shadow complete and utter control of his powers, but that wasn't the whole story. What they also were for was to make sure that if Shadow ever lost control of his powers, the two bracelets programming would override his system and give him back control.
Gerald turned and handed them to Shadow. "Here." He said, handing them over.
"What are they?" Shadow asked, taking them.
"They are called Control Rings. They will ensure that you will always be in control of your powers." Gerald said, he then looked at Shadow's puzzled look and sighed. "The cost of perfection was to high, Shadow. Though you are the Ultimate Lifeform, you still have one weakness. If you ever become to angered by pain, grief or hate your energy within you could become to negative and you could loose control of your powers. These Control Rings are here to ensure that that never happens."
"I could loose control?" Shadow asked.
"Yes." Gerald sighed. "Don't worry, nothing's wrong." Gerald reassured the hedgehog, as he stared at Control Rings he held. "Its the down side of having emotions, my small friend. My word to you would be never have any emotions at all." The Dr said jokingly, though Shadow didn't know. "Now this is important. The Rings can only be used once. So if you ever have to use them if it happens again after that it will be up to you to control yourself."
"I understand, Doctor." Shadow said, putting the rings onto his wrists.
Gerald watched Shadow fit the two bracelets into comfortable positions on his wrists. He then smiled down on the hedgehog. "Your energy level is completely stable. I was thinking that you should be able to learn to control that energy."
"Ah, that." Shadow blinked. "You mean this." Then without really thinking about it Shadow closed his eyes and did what was instinct to his system. At least it felt like instinct.
There was a bright flash of green light and Shadow disappeared.
Dr. Gerald's jaw almost hit the floor.
After a while Dr Gerald smiled to himself. Shadow was complete. He had succeeded in creating the first in a new line of Chaos Champion's as he had promised Emerald. He had created the Ultimate Lifeform, the protector of Planet Mobius. However, one thing still remained.
There was still the test subject. There was still Sonic.
Gerald sighed. He had begun work on a second pair of Control Rings for him, but they were not finished yet. He had decided that he would give Sonic the opportunity to become a hero as well, as it only seemed right. He had also decided to work a little more on Sonic. He had decided that he would make Sonic a golden yellow, that would give him control of more power than in his normal form. But it was also intended to just be a opposite to Shadow, though he would like them to be partners, instead of rivals.
The golden yellow colour of his spines, which would stand horizontally upwards since Shadows curved back and downwards from his head, would represent the day. It seemed a little poetic. Shadow was the night, and Sonic would be the day, and together there would be no one who could oppose them, and nothing they could not do.
Dr Gerald smiled as he set off for his chambers. There was so much to do, and so little time to do it.
* * * *
There was a bright flash of green light and Shadow reappeared in one of ARK's many corridors. This was one of the few places he had been before, the corridor between two of the laboratories. He hadn't warped out like that before, and hadn't really expected that would be the result of tapping into the energy that he could feel inside him.
It had been quite easy though. Shadow's control of the Chaos energy was instinctive.
"Chaos Control." He said to himself.
And now he was finally out of that lab! He expected Dr. Gerald would be surprised, maybe angry. But Shadow wanted to find out if there was anything beyond his tiny world of lab's and corridor's.
Burning with curiosity, the black hedgehog started to explore.
It didn't take long for him to run into someone. It was a girl. She was in her early teens, with blue eyes and dark blonde hair. As soon as she saw him she smiled warmly.
"Hi." She said. Shadow blinked. Not having met many people, apart from Dr Gerald and his helpers, he didn't really know how to act.
"Err - Hi-!" He replied cautiously.
Her smile was so warm. "Don't be nervous. My name's Maria."
"I'm Shadow." Said the hedgehog.
"I know." She said. "Grandpa has been going on about you for quite sometime. You're not supposed to be out here, are you?" She asked softly.
"I guess not." He responded, a bit guiltily.
"It's all right. I won't tell." She said, still smiling.
"Oh." Shadow was confused again. Everyone else he had met seemed either to be slightly scared of him, or wanted to examine him with a magnifying glass. This was. different.
"I've been waiting for you to come for quite sometime. We can be friends if you like. It can get really lonely here." She continued.
Shadow sighed. "I know." He paused. "I. I haven't had any friends before."
"Hey." Maria said unexpectedly. "Have you ever seen the view from the control room?"
He shook his head.
"You'll like it. C'mon!" She then took his hand and they ran off.
* * * *
Ovi Kintobor sat in the library of his Science College. On his lap he had a book on Quantum Physics. To his left hand side a warm cup of cocoa, and on his right a laptop. Its screen black as it was in standby.
Ovi Kintobor, grandson of Dr Gerald Kintobor, was also a genius. It ran in the family after all.
Though only 21, Ovi had already passed many courses in Advanced Science. But what he really enjoyed working on was the existence of parallel dimensions.
What no one knew was that Ovi had already found one such dimension. It was a place that was once called 'Nightmare Country' by an ancient extinct race called the Echidna.
But before Ovi showed the world his discovery, he wanted to study every last bit of it first.
His laptop suddenly begun to beep. He turned and looked at the screens monitor as the words 'Incoming Transmission' flashed on the screen in red.
Curious. He thought. Who could this be?
Picking the laptop up he placed it on top of the book on his lap. He then pressed enter. The screen instantly changed. A dark, dimly lit face stared at him.
"Who are y-?" Ovi begun, but he was then interrupted.
"I don't have time for pleasantries." The voice said, it was unsteady and worried. "But if you must know, my name is Captain Berol. Now listen to me Ovi, and listen carefully."
Ovi was not a stupid man, and he knew when to listen to important things. So instead of asking pointless questions like 'How do you know my name?' and 'How can I trust you?' he just simply listened.
"Your family is under threat. You. Your grandfather and your sister, Maria. Your all going to die. I can't tell you who, but forces are against you. Especially your Grandfather and his damned ARK colony. They're going to attack the ARK. I don't know when, but I know they are. I doubt they're leave anyone alive." He said.
The shadowed Captain Berol seemed to look a little preoccupied with something off screen. He then turned back to the camera. "If you can warn your grandfather, then do so. Get him out of there, get them all out of there. If not, then hide yourself. Find somewhere to lie low for a long time. For a very long time. If you don't your dead."
Suddenly Captain Berol looked to his left at something. When he spoke next fear was radiating from every word he said. "My God, they've found me! They're gonna kill me, but - but you can still save yourself. Get out of Metropolis City. Get away. Good luck."
The transmission was abruptly cut off, as Captain Berol lost his feed.
Ovi Kintobor sat there for a long while. Then getting up, he closed his book, folded his laptop under his arm, and ran out of the library.
A few hours later, his now cold cocoa was picked up by one of the College janitors.
* * * *
Planet Mobius turned lazily in space. White clouds swirled on its surface, and on the distant, curved horizon, the sun was beginning to set.
Those who watched this spectacle were separated from it by the airless vacuum of space, and the reinforced viewing window of ARK. In reality, the division was far greater than that.
Shadow turned his eyes away from the view, and glanced to his left. The girl standing there was as different to him as he could possibly imagine. She was human and had been born naturally. Shadow fitted into neither category.
Yet somehow, they had become friends.
She was the only one who didn't treat him like some kind of scientific curiosity.
Isn't that what I am? Shadow thought.
No, it was more than friendship. Maria was almost family.
"How could I know what that word means?" He muttered to himself. There were so many questions, and so few answers.
"I just don't know anything anymore." Shadow said a little louder. "I'm not even sure who I really am."
The question, of course, was not 'who', but 'why'. There had to be some meaning behind Shadow's existence. A purpose. Something.
Maria Kintobor turned her blue eyes towards the black hedgehog, but said nothing. She could've answered probably all of Shadow's questions if she wanted to, but she wasn't allowed to. Grandpa had been very clear on that.
She couldn't tell Shadow that he was just the better half of an experiment to create the Ultimate Lifeform. To create a hero for the Planet below them. He had no life, no real reason other than that. He had been designed and created, not born like normal people. But then he wasn't the only one.
What Maria definitely couldn't tell Shadow about was the two that came before him. He couldn't be told of either the Bio-Lizard, or of the hedgehog, Sonic.
Maria watched Shadow and sighed. What hurt the most about everything was that she had been asked to lie to him. And now that was harder, as now he was her friend.
Shadow sighed, and resumed gazing out of the window.
There was silence for a minute or so; then Maria spoke.
"Shadow, what do you think it's like down there on Mobius?" Unlike Shadow, she had been down to the planet's surface, but Maria had been too young to remember.
Perhaps. Shadow thought. They were not so different after all.
"Dr. Gerald once told me, his life's work was dedicated to helping the people on that planet." He answered hesitantly, briefly wondering if he was a part of that plan. "Perhaps if I go down there, I'll find my answers."
Thoughtfully, the pair turned and contemplated the view in silence.
* * * *
Dr Gerald Kintobor stood in his chambers hunched over a monitor screen. On the screen was the face of his grandson, Ovi Kintobor.
Their faces were almost identical, except that Gerald's bristling mustache was steel grey. Gerald stared at the screen as his Grandson spoke, behind his spectacles his eyes had a hunted look.
"You have to get off the ARK, grandfather." Ovi said, from the screen.
"I will." He said, a little distant. "I - I'll start evacuating as soon as I end this transmission. But something's have to be done first before I can leave."
"Your Project Shadow, am I right?" Ovi asked.
"Yes. Whoever they are, they come because of that. At least I hope."
"You hope?" Ovi said, surprised.
"Yes, I hope. Because if they are not coming for Shadow, then they can only be coming for one other thing." Gerald sighed.
The Eclipse Cannon. Gerald thought. I must find a way of preventing the use of the Eclipse Cannon by anyone. But how?
Gerald stared at the screen for a while. Then begun to type something into the computer. "I will get out, I promise you that. Maria will be safe. Shadow, well. he can take care of himself." Gerald smiled at the camera weakly. "Wish me luck."
Ovi Kintobor looked at his Grandfather. He opened his mouth and talked, but Gerald could not hear anything.
"Ovi?" Gerald said. "Ovi, I can't hear you."
This time the picture of his grandson begun to flicker and scroll. Then, the picture disappeared, and the monitor went black.
Gerald gasped. The transmission was being jammed. That could only mean one thing. They, whoever they were, were already coming.
Gerald initiated Red Alert, then turned on his heal and ran out of the room. He had to find Maria, and Shadow. But first, there was something else he had to do.
* * * *
Ovi Kintobor stared at his blank screen for a while, his mind overrun with fear for his family. The only family he still had left.
He was drawn back to reality as he heard the distinct sound of sirens. They begun to grow louder. They were coming towards him.
Ovi walked over to the window and peered out it to see cars, with the G.U.N logo printed on their sides, screech to a halt. Out of each car men poured out. They all had weapons. They had all come for him.
Ovi stepped back from the window instantly. He was trapped. There was no way to go. The front was covered, and the back would not doubt be within the next couple of minutes.
However, there was still a way out. A way that the fools outside could not intercept. Ovi took a small device out of his pocket and smiled as he heard movement from outside the front door.
Ovi had discovered another dimension, the 'Nightmare Country' were the Echidna once traveled to. And even though he had returned to study it further, he had had help from something he had found there.
To call it humanoid would be a vague attempt at describing it. Instead, Ovi had described it as an entity. An all powerful, all seeing entity. It had the ability to travel where ever it wanted to with great ease with only a thought. Though he had found it in this ancient dimension, he knew that it had probably come from a place far older and advanced.
The entity had also had a name. It called itself, the Omni-Viewer.
"Omni-Viewer." Ovi muttered. "Time to wake up."
As if in response there was a sudden bright light in the room as something came out of the device Ovi had been holding. The shapeless energy contorted and changed until it took on the form of a huge bright white screen. A big face then appeared on it.
"Hello Ovi." The Omni-Viewer said.
"Omni, I need you to take me away from here."
There was a thud at the door. Ovi turned to look at it, then turned back to the Omni-Viewer. They were trying to break the door down.
"Where would you like to go?" The Omni-Viewer asked.
"Look." Ovi said, filled with fear. "I don't care where you take me. Just take me anywhere, okay?" With that Ovi jumped into the big white face of the Omni-Viewer, which blinked.
Just then the door to Ovi's apartment burst open and a hoard of men came running in. However, none of the men had anticipated seeing a giant shining face.
Omni-Viewer turned to the intruders and floated back a little in shock.
Not knowing what floated in front of them, the men fired!
Omni-Viewer begun to shrink, as he attempted to escape, but wasn't quick enough. Stray laser blasts hit the shrinking entity. He screamed as red electricity crackled about him. He then vanished completely.
* * * *
Gerald walked into the room where it had all started. The room was still dark, but now shadows danced around as the red light shone into the room from the corridor outside.
The door closed behind Gerald, and the room returned to it normal state.
Dr Gerald walked over to the computer terminal and typed in something. Almost instantly gas was vented into the capsule that held Sonic the hedgehog.
The hedgehog opened his eyes.
He was awake again. He wasn't sure how long it had been since the last time he had been awake, but time was no object to him. He was just grateful that he was once again awake, and he found himself thinking that maybe this time he could stay this way.
It was then that he saw the silhouetted figure of Dr Gerald. He opened his mouth and asked the first thing that came to mind. "Who am I? Where am I?" He paused, then continued. "Who are you?"
Gerald sighed in the darkness. He wished that he had had more time to work on Sonic, as the hedgehog was still a child, even though he had more power than he realized. Gerald cleared his throat, and spoke.
"Your name is Sonic the hedgehog." Gerald said. "Where you are is not important as you will never see here again. What you need to know is this."
Gerald walked forward into the light. "You are a hero, Sonic. You will always strive to help those that are less off than you are."
"Hero?" Sonic muttered.
"Yes, Sonic. A hero. You have something good about you. Something pure. Something that may take a long time to fully surface, but never forget that you are special. You will always be special, and though you have too go now, I want you to remember this. In this world, no matter what happens, you will never be alone."
Sonic's young eyes widened. "Why do I have to go?" He asked softly.
Gerald turned back around and initiated the capsule ejection sequence. He then stared at the computer terminal. Not looking back at Sonic, Gerald spoke. "You have to go because it is no longer safe for you."
Sonic looked around from inside the capsule, his wide eyes taking in everything. He then looked below him and watched the ground begin to shift and slide.
"Did I do something wrong?" He said simply.
Gerald looked up at Sonic and met his stare. Gerald was a very emotional old man and had often been reduced to tears after watching any sad film, or reading a sad story. But this. Seeing Sonic like this, asking that question the way he did, it was beyond tears. It was tearing out his heart.
Gerald fought the tears back. "No." He whispered. "You have done nothing wrong. Your perfect just the way you are."
Gerald then walked forward, as Sonic's capsule begun to lower itself into the ground. His own eyes never once leaving Sonic's own tear filled ones. "I hope life treats you well, Sonic the hedgehog." The capsule then disappears into the ground, and the floor closed over it.
"Farewell." Gerald muttered. "My son."
A single tear rolled down his cheek, as he stood there for a long period of time.
Suddenly ARK rumbled and shock as if it was being attacked from the outside. Gerald looked upwards, and sniffed. "There here. It has begun." He said, before turning and walking out of the room.
* * * *
The lights were flashing. Sirens were blurring. The colony was in Red Alert!
Shadow was running through the corridors of ARK, by his side was Maria.
They were both confused. Neither had a clue about what was going on. Then, a hand reached out and grabbed Maria's arm.
"Maria!"
She turned, startled, but instantly smiled warmly when she recognized the person that had called her name. "Grandpa." She said. "Grandpa, what's going on?"
Gerald looked at his granddaughter, then behind her at Shadow.
"They're here for him." Gerald said. "Or their here for the Eclipse Cannon. Maybe their here for both of them, that's why we must go." Gerald turned and looked around, then turned back to Maria.
"Maria, honey. You know how to get to the Control Room, right?"
"Yes, grandpa." Maria said.
"Good. Head there, and get Shadow out of here just like I showed you how to." Gerald said.
Maria nodded. "What about you?" She asked.
Gerald smiled. "I'll be right behind you. Now go!"
Maria hugged her grandfather, then turned and ran off. Shadow, however, remained.
Shadow just stared at Dr Gerald. "Go!" Gerald said.
"What is the Eclipse Cannon?" Shadow said.
Gerald sighed and looked down on the black hedgehog. "The Eclipse Cannon is dangerous, that's all you need to know. If I see you again, then I'll tell you more. I'm going to seal off the entire area its in, but I will have to return back here to complete my plan. But you cannot help me, not now. I need you to protect Maria. Do this for me, please."
Shadow stared up at Dr Gerald. "I will." He then turned. Looking over his shoulder one last time at his creator, Shadow glided off in pursuit of Maria.
Gerald watched him disappear into the red flashing corridor and smiled. "Who would have thought." He said, turning around. "I've lost two prodical son's in one day." He then walked off towards the room which held the Eclipse Cannon.
* * * *
20 minutes later Shadow and Maria were running through the corridors of ARK, heading towards the Control Room. They knew by now that the ARK had been infiltrated, as some other members of ARK's crew had told them when they had bumped into them trying to escape.
Shadow shook his head, but the red-alert lights still flashed on and off.
Shadow turned to look behind him as he and Maria ran down yet another corridor. It was then that he saw man step into view. He wasn't one of ARK's crew, as they didn't run around with guns. The man raised his gun at the fleeing Maria and Shadow and fired.
Shadow had never seen a gun before, though he knew that no good would come of it. Suddenly there was a scream beside him. Shadow turned around filled with fear just in time to witness Maria collapse to the floor.
Shadow stood staring at Maria. What had happened? Why was she now in pain? He stood there, transfixed, and watched as a red stain appeared on her side.
"Maria?" Shadow almost whispered. "What is wrong?"
Maria looked up at Shadow through pain filled eyes. "I- I've been shot." She said.
Suddenly a gun was pressed to Shadow's head. "Freeze!" A voice ordered.
Shadow turned to face the man that had shot his only friend. "You did this." He growled.
The man stepped backwards uneasily, but then reminded himself that he had the gun. "Turn around and put your hands above your head. NOW!" He shouted.
Shadow stood there. He didn't say a word. He had never experienced any emotions, but now something was swelling up inside him. Something that seemed so dark, but felt so comfortable. Shadow didn't know it but it was hate.
His eyes suddenly begun to change. They glowed bright red. Shadow reached forward and snatched the gun from the mans hands. He then held it with both hands and snapped it in two, throwing a piece either side of him. When he looked back at the man his eyes had changed. Instead of his normal red eyes, he now looked up at the man through chaotic red swirls.
"Now I'll snap you." Shadow said, grinning evilly.
Maria steadied herself as she stood behind Shadow. She reached out and grabbed Shadow's arm. She spun him around. "Shadow! Shadow, what's wrong?"
Shadow snapped out of whatever transformation had begun. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I-I don't know." He admitted. "I'm okay now though." He lied.
Maria looked at him for a while, then sighed. "All right." She looked behind him at the man who was shaking from head to toe. "Let's get going." She said. "More will be along soon."
Shadow opened his eyes, and instantly looked at Maria's growing red stain on her side. Meeting her eyes, he then picked her up in one complete swift movement.
"Which way?" He asked. She pointed. He smiled reassuringly and ran.
Within no time they were in the control room, and Shadow knew that they were being followed. He had looked behind him a few times and had seen men with guns.
Shadow put his wounded friend down. They had been here earlier today. They had stood and stared at Planet Mobius for hours, before this chaos had started. Shadow walked into the middle of the room but did not watch as Maria determinedly typed at a control panel.
Before he knew what was happening Shadow suddenly found himself trapped in a capsule.
"Wha-?!" Shadow stared at Maria, who stared at him.
"Shadow, I beg of you." Maria gasped. She had lost a lot of blood now. She pressed a hand on the growing red stain on her side. "Do it for me. Do it for all the people on that planet."
Inside the capsule, Shadow's eyes seemed to go dead as he realized that from now on, he would be alone. Numbly, he nodded. He wasn't sure if he understood, but he nodded anyway.
"You must protect the people down there." She continued. "Give them the chance to be happy. to fulfill their wishes."
Maria broke off and hissed in pain. Her legs started to collapse under her, as she leaned against the computer console for support. After a few seconds, she continued to talk urgently.
"That is - that is why you were brought into this world."
Shadow looked away, unable to watch. "Yes. I - I promise, Maria." He whispered.
Maria smiled sadly through the pain. "Goodbye, Shadow the hedgehog."
Then she pushed a button on the keyboard; there was a slight whooshing noise, then nothing but the darkness of space and the blue planet far below. Shadow closed his eyes. Now, now he was truly alone.