CHAPTER 3

The next morning Maria headed to the lab and got a rather unpleasant surprise. The G.U.N. officials had already arrived, and many of them were poking around the lab suspiciously like it would be hiding something.

"Oh, uh…hello." Maria said awkwardly.

None of them acknowledged her in the slightest. They continued with their tour around the place. Maria ignored them and entered the room at the back.

"-is too dangerous!"

Maria stopped, with the door wide open. Her grandfather was apparently in a heated argument with the Commander, who was nearly nose to nose with him. His face was a deep red, proving that this shouting match had gone on for a while.

"Good morning, Maria." Her grandfather said, happy for a distraction. "Commander, this is my granddaughter."

"Hello, Commander." Maria said with a small smile.

"I don't know, Gerald. On top of conducting dangerous experiments here…you have a kid running around the place, too?" The Commander sunk into a nearby chair. "This is out of hand."

Maria cast a hopeful glance at Shadow, but he didn't return it. He had buried himself under the pillows and blankets, like he feared the Commander. Maria crossed to the table and sat next to it.

"What's going on?" She whispered.

The pillows and blankets didn't move. Maria sighed and waited for her grandfather and the Commander to finish their debate over…whatever it was.

"This…creature…you created," The Commander began slowly. "it's too powerful. Especially with kids around. Do you want your granddaughter killed? Is that it?"

Maria sat rigid, shocked by the Commander's words. Her grandfather wasn't much better off either. He leaned forward and hissed, "Now wait a second here, Commander…"

"That thing should be restrained and never let out of your sight!" The Commander shouted. "What were you thinking before you started this project? That you could create the most powerful thing in the world without consequences?"

"Maria, take Shadow and show him around here, please." The professor could barely keep from yelling himself. "It's time he got to know the ARK."

"Sure." Maria managed to get Shadow unburied and they hurried out of the lab.

"Do you know what they were talking about?" Maria asked when they were a safe distance away.

Shadow nodded and pointed to the storage room where he had hid the previous night, mimicking writing. Maria nodded, opened the door, and grabbed a flashlight. Shadow began writing in the dust that was covering a operating table.

He thinks I should be killed.

"He obviously hasn't gotten to know you yet." Maria sighed. "I didn't like him the second I saw him, but your life could rest in his hands."

He says I'm a threat to the ARK and Earth.

"Too much power can scare people like him. But I've never seen you even threaten anyone."

He wanted to bring me to Earth so they could experiment on me.

Maria could only stare at the words Shadow had written. That man was a monster. From the sound of it, he didn't even give the people in the lab a chance. He just heard the word 'power' and went nuts.

"I can guarantee that he'd have to go through everyone here before he can get to you." Maria said at last. "Grandfather would fight him to his last breath if he had to."

Shadow nodded reluctantly. He looked at what he had written and then wrote in tiny cramped writing underneath the last sentence, So can we get cake?

"You've been really looking forward to that, haven't you?" Maria facepalmed. "All right. But only a little!"

They headed towards the door with the flashlight beam lighting the way. But it wasn't enough light to see one of the three legs of an IV stand.

Maria tripped over it and toppled onto a small monitor with a soft, "Oh!" The flashlight spun in a random direction and then went out. Shadow jumped backwards at the sudden clamor but then realized something was wrong.

"S…Shadow?" Maria's voice wavered slightly. "get Grandfather! I…I can't move my ankle!"

Shadow nodded, even though he knew she couldn't see him. He began carefully making his way out of the room and to the door, where he was confronted by a G.U.N. guard in the hall.

"What are you doing?" The soldier made a lunge for him but Shadow stumbled back out of reach and darted for the lab. He threw open the first door and burst into the second.

"Shadow! What is it? Where's Maria?" the professor's shocked look was unmistakable.

"If she's harmed in any way…" The Commander hissed.

"He wouldn't do anything like that!" The professor snapped. He turned back to Shadow. "What is it?"

Shadow began coughing so hard he had to lean against the wall. The Commander made a move towards him but the professor held him back.

"Maria…she's hurt!" Shadow gasped. "In the…storage room!"

"I told you, Gerald! Guards!" The Commander shouted, but Gerald stood in front of his creation.

"If you say one more word against him, I swear I will prep an escape pod for your safe return to Earth!" He hissed. "Now put your guards to good use and have them search the lab's storage room!"

The Commander didn't know how to respond to that. With a small snarl, he stormed out of the lab, calling his men to him.

Shadow was still coughing when Gerald turned to him again. "Are you all right?"

Shadow nodded, but another fit took him and his knees nearly gave out. The professor grabbed a glass of water from the other room and offered it to him.

"I knew you would be able to speak." He said. "You just had to be up for it."

"Will Maria be fine?" Shadow downed the water, which stopped the coughing. "It was dark in the room…I couldn't see…"

"She'll be fine." The professor promised. "Now let's see that Commander turn that deed into something terrible."

XxXxXxXx

Maria had twisted her ankle and gotten a couple of bruises, but nothing was serious. When John heard that Shadow was finally speaking, he rushed in and demanded, "What took so long?"

"His throat was still healing." The professor answered for him. "I thought he would damage something from all that coughing. Luckily, everything seems fine."

"Good job anyway, Shadow." John said. "As far as I know, you really showed that Commander guy. He was off in a rage, swearing up a storm like there was no tomorrow."

"I can still walk." Maria gently put most of her weight on her injured ankle. "So we can get on with exploring!"

"Are you sure?" Shadow asked.

"I'm sure! And besides," She leaned closer to his ear. "you've been dying for cake sense…forever, haven't you?"

"Just take it easy, Maria." The professor sighed, apparently overhearing them. "And get him to like apples or something while you're at it."

"All right! Let's go!" Maria limped to the door, occasionally using Shadow as a crutch.

It took them a lot longer than usual to reach the end of the hall. Maria pointed left, saying, "That way leads to a lot of rooms I'm not allowed to go in." She pointed right. "That way leads to everything I can go to. Where first?"

"Left," Shadow decided.

"Yeah, I wanted to go there too."

It turned out the first door on the left lead to the dining hall. Maria and Shadow entered, with Shadow looking everywhere, trying to take it all in at once. Maria laughed and limped over to a small counter. "Hey, what can I do to get some cake here?"

One of the workers came to the counter and smiled, saying, "Nothing much, really. Just keep coming back to eat."

"No probablem there." Maria promised. The worker laughed and headed back into the depths of the kitchen.

Soon they had their cake. Instead of normally eating in the hall, they exited the room and ate next to one of the huge windows that overlooked Earth.

"So that's Earth?" Shadow asked, watching the big blue, green, white and brown planet turn slowly.

"I've heard it's better if you're actually on it." Maria smiled. "This cake is really good. Just don't develop an addiction to sugar, ok? Grandfather would have a fit."

Shadow ate every crumb on his plate and eyed Maria's half eaten piece, which she hid behind her back. "Oh no. You're not getting more yet."

"Please?"

"Definitely not now. That's just pitiful." Maria laughed.

She finished her cake herself, much to Shadow's annoyance. They then explored a few conference rooms (They were quite boring) the library (Maria had to threaten to leave Shadow alone because he wouldn't stop reading) one of the recreational rooms (They played Scrabble) another smaller lab (They learned more than they ever wanted to know about plants) and even a small forest-y room that would purify the air (In which they got lost in for a good half of an hour). After that they took a break in the library again.

"That's only half the ARK." Maria said, absolutely exhausted. The walking hadn't exacally done anything to help her ankle.

Shadow didn't acknowledge her. He was busy reading a book on cloning.

"Maybe it's a bad thing you're reading that." Maria sighed. "Hello, Shadow? Stop reading, ok?"

Shadow turned the page and continued on.

"Cake,"

Shadow put the book down. "Where?"

"Is that the only thing you'll actually respond to?" Maria sighed again. "Once again, just pitiful. Come on, grandfather is probably wondering where we got off to."

They made it back to the lab after about fifteen minuets and getting majorly lost twice. Once they ended up in the kitchen.

"There you are! I thought you got lost!" the professor exclaimed. "Did you explore the entire thing?"

"Only about half of it." Maria said, sinking into a chair. "Wow. My ankle's killing me!"

"I told you we didn't have to explore today," Shadow said. "but you didn't listen."

The professor picked something off Maria's shoulder. "Is this…a cake crumb?"

"No," both Shadow and Maria said at the same time.

"I thought so," The professor glared at them both. "shame on both of you."

"We went to the other lab." Maria said, not feeling ashamed any more. "They wouldn't stop talking about plants for anything."

"They tend to do that." Her grandfather chuckled.

"We got lost in the forest, too." Shadow piped up. "It was awesome."

"I bet it was." The professor sighed. "Well, I have some things I have to do concerning the Commander. I'll probably be busy through tonight, so don't get into too much trouble, all right? John and Young will both be here, doubling as guards to keep the Commander away from you two. I don't trust him at all."

"I don't either."

"Believe me, I'll find a way to send him away for good." Gerald stood and headed for the door. "See you soon."

Shadow and Maria spent the rest of the day reading and talking about Earth. They got into a pretty heated debate about how the planet could house both polar bears and flamingos, as they're both in completely different climates. The Earth didn't look so big from up where they were. They finally settled it by deciding to visit Earth and deciding for themselves.

Unknown to them, outside the door, the Commander was listening in on their now-agreed on argument.

"The girl will see Earth, but not you, you failure." He hissed. "I'll make sure of that. You're a threat to mankind."

XxXxXxXx

"Maria?"

Maria was nudged awake by someone, but she couldn't see who in the dim light. "What? Who's there…?" She yawned.

"I couldn't sleep, so I went out in the hall to look at the Earth some more. The Commander was further down the hall, talking to an entire group of soldiers and commanding them to capture me." Shadow sounded worried.

"He did what?" Maria was suddenly wide awake. "Where's Grandfather? He's got to know about this! How did you even find my room in the first place?"

"A guess." Shadow admitted. "But a very good guess at that."

"I'll say." Maria agreed. "Come on. We're going to find Grandfather and tell him about this."

They exited into the hall, which was thankfully deserted. Maria was still limping, but she could move a lot faster now. They reached the end of the hall and listened in case anyone was coming.

"All clear," Maria whispered, inching forward.

The sound of footsteps filled the air behind them. Shadow pulled Maria behind one of the arches in the hall and they held their breath as a guard walked by, carrying a gun over his shoulder. Maria paled at the sight.

The guard entered a room nearby. Once they were certain that he was gone they began heading a little faster down the hall. They were close to the lab now….close enough to see it at the end of the hallway.

"Almost there," Maria sighed with relief. "That was close. I-"

"FREEZE!"

Shadow instead jumped and began backing up, his red eyes wide with fear. The guard coming towards them had his gun aimed at his head, seeming to completely ignore Maria.

"Get on the ground." The guard commanded. "Now."

Maria stepped in-between the guard and Shadow. "You'll have to go through me first. What has he ever done to you?"

"The Commander gave us orders." The guard said. "Out of the way. He's dangerous."

"You're the more dangerous one at the moment." Maria retorted. "Leave him alone."

"Maria?"

Maria turned to see John running out of the lab, with Young and the professor close behind, shock and terror written on their faces. "What's going on?" Young demanded.

"Put that gun down!" Gerald demanded. "What do you think you're doing?"

The guard hesitated and then slowly lowered his gun. "Sir," He mumbled. "The Commander commanded us to capture that creature and bring it to him."

"He's not an it!" John hissed. "Now you better leave now before you have three very mad scientists after you."

The soldier nodded but didn't leave quite yet. "The Commander will hear about this." He said before turning and walking importantly down the hall.

" 'Three very mad scientists after you'? What terrible wording." Young started laughing.

"That's right, we're angry scientists!" John sighed. "Anyway, are you two all right?"

"We're fine." Shadow said. "We were just coming to tell you about them."

"I think you should both stay in the lab for the rest of the night." The professor said after a slight pause. "Just in case. I'm writing a complaint to G.U.N. as soon as I can."

All five of them entered the lab once again. John took a seat at his computer and began typing something very fast while Young went back to her station to test something she made the previous day. Gerald guided Maria and Shadow to the back room.

"I honestly don't think I could sleep any more after what happened." Maria admitted. "It was too close."

"I know it was." Her grandfather admitted. "That commander is the mad one."

XxXxXxXx

During the night at some point Maria reckoned she must have dozed off. She woke up in a chair near the wall with a terrible pain in her neck. Across the room Shadow was still sleeping, a pillow clutched in his arms. Maria yawned and stood up, heading for the door.

She found her grandfather at his computer, typing something up. "Good morning, Maria." He muttered.

"Did anything else happen last night?" Maria asked, heading for the final door. "Did the Commander leave?"

"Sadly, no," her grandfather stood up and glanced around like he had suddenly materialized in the room. "I need to head over to one of the other labs. Keep the door locked and only let John, Young or whoever only works here in."

Maria nodded, watching as her grandfather left, seemingly in a hurry.

Before long, boredom set in. She found herself in the back room again, sitting in a chair close to where Shadow slept. An idea came to her.

"Cake,"

Shadow's ear twitched.

"Lots and lots of cake,"

Shadow turned over and kicked a couple of pillows to the ground. Maria giggled and went on with her torment.

"Angel food cake. Carrot cake. Chocolate cake."

"Why do you do this to me?" Shadow moaned, throwing a pillow over his head. "You know I can't have any now!" His voice was a bit muffled.

"Oh, I know." Maria said evilly.

Once Shadow realized he couldn't go back to sleep again he sat up and gave Maria a hurt look. "I was dreaming before you came." He muttered. "I dreamed we were on Earth. Everyone there didn't seem to like us, but they accepted us nevertheless."

"I wonder if your dream will come true." Maria wondered. "But it's one that will only be answered in time."

"Maria?"

"Yeah?"

"What if everyone on Earth is like the Commander? Will they hate me just because of power I don't even know how to use?"

"That's why I'm with you," Maria said after a short pause. "If they don't like you, I'll make 'em."

Shadow's ears perked up a bit and he hopped down to the floor. "Thanks. Now can we get ca-I mean…"

"Grandfather told me we can't leave the lab. Just in case the Commander is lying in wait." Maria sighed. "So until he comes back, we're stuck here. Can you think of anything we could do to pass the time?"

"Not really."

"Same here."

They began to pace the room when nothing entertaining to do arose. Maria reckoned they must have paced the room at least a hundred times before a fierce pounding came from the outside lab door.

"Maria, it's me!" John's voice sounded scared. "Let me in!"

Maria quickly opened the door and John stumbled into the room. "What is it?" She demanded.

"Your grandfather wants to see you." John said hurriedly. "Just you. He says what he's working on can effect Shadow. I'll stay here with him…you go to Lab 3. It's down this hall and to the right, second door on the left."

"What is he doing?" Maria asked.

"He won't even tell me the whole story." John admitted. "Go, the Commander won't harm you."

Maria nodded and ran down the hall after closing the door loudly behind her.

John turned to Shadow. "The professor wants me to show you how to use your power now. He thought sooner would be better than later, considering the circumstances…"

XxXxXxXxXx

Maria entered into Lab 3 to find that it was mostly an observation balcony overlooking the real lab, which was large and spacious. Her grandfather was leaning over the rail, staring at something below.

"Grandfather?" Maria asked.

"Good, you're here." He motioned for her to look over the balcony.

There were what seemed to be floating blue spheres of energy floating around the room separately. Maria looked closer to see that there were about thirty five in the huge lab, but all of them seemed to have equal space.

"What are those?" She asked.

"They're Artificial Chaos." Her grandfather replied. "The Commander ordered that they be brought to the ARK from Earth in case Shadow needs to be brought down. They're attracted to Chaos energy, and that's literally what's keeping him going. They'll track him down and drain him of his energy, rendering him unconscious for long periods of time or even killing him. But they're not yet completely accomplished. They're also attracted to the electrical impulses in the human brain, drawing them to people like steel to a magnet. Most of the G.U.N. guards are equipped with a gun that can bring one of these down in a single hit…but sometimes it isn't enough. They grow on power."

"Why aren't they attacking us now?" Maria asked worriedly.

"There's a high frequency coming from one of the computers down there that can distract them from whatever they're after. Although…it can't keep emitting the pitch forever. When that happens, we evacuate this room."

"And they get destroyed?"

"No. The computer just needs time to reset and the pitch will come again sooner or later." The professor sighed. "John is at this moment teaching Shadow how to use the power of the Chaos Emeralds. The power of them can attract an Artificial Chaos, but also destroy it. Shadow should be learning the attacks Chaos Blast, Chaos Spear and Chaos Control as we speak."

"But…won't that give the Commander something to fear? He said that he wants Shadow killed because of power that you said he doesn't even know he has. But now…he'll learn the power, confirming the Commander's thoughts and therefore making Shadow a target." Maria's eyes were wide.

"It's a chance we have to take." Her grandfather admitted. "I can't have him fall prey to these failed monsters here."

Maria pursed her lips and stared down at the Artificial Chaos again. They seemed harmless enough…but the same could be said for a few of the failed Project S.H.A.D.O.W. experiments that had nearly killed some of the scientists.

"Maria, I need you to tell Shadow about these creatures and warn him that the Commander is now an official enemy. We may have to abandon the ARK."

"And go to Earth?" Maria grinned from ear to ear. "Why is that a bad thing?"

"From your perspective, it's a miracle. But from mine," the professor turned away from his granddaughter again. "it means the Commander will have unlimited access to every piece of information we've ever gathered once we're gone."

A loud voice came from below them. "Evacuate Lab no. 3! The computer's on its last sixty seconds of pitch!"

Maria and the professor turned and exited the room. The heavy steel door swung into place and latched securely. Maria watched through the small, bulletproof glass, waiting for the experiments to realize that the high-pitched noise was cut off. Before long, the Artificial Chaos were swarming the door, trying anything to get at the humans.

"Don't worry. We're safe. They can't-" One of the scientists said just before the door blew out and the monsters shot out at their prey.

XxXxXxXxXx

The power of the Chaos Emerald was intense. Shadow more than once nearly blacked out from the power…and he only had one Emerald. John successfully taught him how to use a Chaos Spear, but Chaos Blast and Chaos Control were proving difficult.

"Don't worry. You've got the basics down, and I'm sure that's all you'll need for now." John retrieved the smoking practice dummies from the back of the room and stored them in a closet. "You're a quick learner."

Shadow nodded, rather proud of himself. "I'll get those other two attacks down by tomorrow."

"We'll try again then, believe me."

That was when fierce pounding and yelling came from outside th main lab door. Shadow quickly recognized Maria and the professor's voices and rushed for the door.

They stumbled in, looking terrified. The professor began shouting something at John so quickly that Shadow didn't know where one word ended and another began. Maria ran up to him and said in little more than a whisper, "Please, Shadow, something's gone terribly wrong!"

"What?" Shadow asked, fear starting to take hold of him.

"Artificial Chaos! They've escaped…and are now roaming the ARK! Three people…three people already died! We have to stop them!"

"HOLD IT!"

The two of them turned to face the professor.

"You're not going anywhere. It's too dangerous out there. The G.U.N. soldiers can handle it."

"Professor, this will be my chance to prove that I'm not what they say I am. I can help them destroy these…these…"

"Artificial Chaos." Maria interjected.

"Yeah, that." Shadow finished lamely.

"I absolutely forbid it. You're only asking for trouble."

"I have an Emerald, Professor. I'll be fine!" Shadow turned to the door and raced down the hall.

"SHADOW!" The professor yelled. "Maria, don't you even think about following him…"

Too late. His granddaughter was already long gone.

Gerald grabbed a phone that was resting on one of the computers and shouted, "Yes, both Shadow and Maria have run off, intending to destroy the Artificial Chaos. Everyone that's still loyal to me…protect them. Bring them back to me unharmed."