Chapter 1: Aboard the Ark

May 24, unknown year. 5:03 PM. Space colony Ark, control room.

Shadow was sleeping. And as always, he had the nightmare he had every night. He saw himself, running down the hallways with Maria. He saw the G.U.N. forces chasing them. But, recently, he had begun to see a new figure in his dreams. He only caught a glimpse of him, but, from what he could tell, he saw a black hedgehog, not unlike himself, only this one had no red markings on his body. Sometimes this hedgehog's face fur was solid black, but every few nights, this being had a long, white, crescent-moon shaped scar running down his left eye.

Shadow did not like him. He felt nothing but pure malice emanating from the strange being. But that wasn't what made Shadow feel cold shivers running down his spine. It was the scarred one's eyes. They were a deep crimson, and they had this strange piercing look, that made you think he was staring into your very soul. And when he saw Shadow, the black hedgehog would give a smile. It was an evil grin, one that held a secret. And his teeth were terrifying. He had vampiric fangs, which were stained red at the tips.

Usually the dream ended here. Today was no different, except now he awoke to the sound of alarms blaring. Shadow groaned, got off of the cot, and said, "Locate intruder."

A screen came up on the monitor and showed Dr. Eggman, along with a battalion of Egg Pawns. Shadow scowled, and said silently, I told the fat bastard to get out, and stay out! Then he saw where the Doctor was, and he was infuriated. Eggman was in Maria's old room, and he was tearing it apart.

Shadow was out of the control room faster than you could say, "pissed".

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Eggman was getting nervous. According to his grandfather's journal, the coordinates to this "ultimate weapon" were hidden in "Maria's legacy". Once the legacy was found, he would say the code-word (which Eggman hated) and the coordinates would be revealed. Eggman figured that the legacy was a holo-journal, but so far, no results had been reaped from his efforts.

"Apologies for disturbing you, your grace," an Egg pawn said, "But there is a cybernetic organism approaching at a very high velocity."

Shadow! Eggman redoubled his efforts, when suddenly a thought struck him. The genius smiled, and said, "Well then, let's welcome my dear cousin's legacy."

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Shadow moved throughout the Ark in a black rage. Disobeying a command was one thing, but when Eggman began to destroy Maria's things was something else entirely. I'm going to make you suffer, Eggman!

He turned a corner and nearly ran right into the Doctor's walker. He jumped back and growled, "Eggman."

"Hello, Shadow," the Eggman sneered.

"I told you to leave and never come back."

"So you did."

"And yet here I find you."

"So you do."

"And you are tearing Maria's room to ribbons."

"So I am."

"Do you have any last words before I send you into a world of endless pain and suffering?"

"Just one. Love."

In later years, Shadow would often think about what had happened to him that day, because the next thing he knew, he was suddenly saying, "GUN military base Sigma, level ten security level, cell block omega, cell number 9. X9104."

Eggman smiled and said, "Excellent. Activate teleporter." And in a flash of light, he vanished. Shadow stood there for a second, stunned. And then he said aloud, "What was that all abou-"

Shadow never finished his sentence, because suddenly his head erupted in pain. He screamed and clutched his head. It was as though his head had been split open. And then, he heard a voice. It was his own voice, but twisted, sinister. It was cold and cunning, the voice of a murderer.

It's not long now, brother. I'm coming for you.

And then, the voice and the pain vanished. He slowly opened his eyes. He wondered about what just happened. It was then he realized that, if the mysterious hedgehog from his dreams were to be given a voice that was what it would sound like. It was in that moment that Shadow knew, by telling Eggman that strange code, he had just set the wheels of suffering in motion.