A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution
Ch. 9
[×]
The head of Project: SHADOW decided to take an educated gamble. It was clear that he was making too many uncharacteristic mistakes over the growing mental turmoil and needed to recollect. He would feel better if he treated his life as a thesis rather than the rolling ball of disillusion trying to claw into his mind.
He hatched the plan: five business days – Monday thru Friday – of locking themselves away from reality's expectations. That'll place the date at August 16th as the last R&R before slogging another run. It was too easy to claim his absence as deep research for G.U.N.'s Ultimate Lifeform, and his underlings were more than willing to sell the tale. It wasn't as if Gerald was lying, either. Nevertheless, just in case temptation rung to keep him away too long, the scientist had a couriered letter submitted in the intra-postal. A 'present,' irony blazed, for one certain Major General.
On it was the date for a Project's reveal. [PSUL2.017? 2.016? The true result? He didn't know yet.]
September 26th.
There would be no more distractions after his first break in over sixty days.
[x]
The bedsheets were piled onto each other as Gerald noted two lumps underneath. Upon his entrance, he took note that one of them moved, and popped out like a daisy was Shadow's face. The high-weave counted fabric, dyed a cornflower blue, wrapped around his entire body/quills. It gave a humorous imagery to the scientist: what others saw as 'fearful' [or 'artistic'] was nothing more than a youth – albeit, with carnelian eyes. No, rather, the boy was a baby, chronologically speaking, but he was aware the Project's mental age was already past that.
"Sorry to bother you, Shadow," Gerald whispered to prevent Maria from waking up. "I was just making sure you two were comfortable. It was a busy and strenuous yesterday, so I was expecting you to stay in bed a little longer."
Those eyes shifted to the other form before reaching back to his creator's. Words spilled out carefully; each syllable crafted with purpose. "This is… one of the more content moments in my existence."
"Why, Shadow, there'll be a lot more to come." Gerald softly laughed as he made his way over towards the hedgehog. Carefully, he brought his hands underneath a wrapped form and moved the stiffened body upon the scientist's crook of the arm. [As always, the 'Mobian' was light. Couldn't be more than thirty pounds. Chaos was strange.] Silently, the elder walked into an adjacent room where various snacks filtered the table. The sheet was not large enough to cover the full extent of the Project's wings, and the tips dragged against the floor. "What do you feel like doing today? There's a lot we can accomplish: a game, listen to music, or we can get some toys…?"
Three times did Shadow blink in silence as he was being manhandled. It was as if he was… shocked? Surprised?
If Gerald didn't know any better, he would have assumed it was as close to disbelief one could get without being insulted! A silly concept! These questions were quite important, you know. The doctor needed to understand if Shadow's no-longer-'drugged' state of 'self' had basic knowledge in living. Did the boy understand what 'bath time' was? [It didn't matter that the Ultimate Lifeform's physically body destroyed bacteria upon extended touch – and thus, did not smell. Dirt and dust were not allowed. After two months, it was going to be time to remove the stragglers!] How about the concept of 'timekeeping?' [24 hours were long for a human, but what about a potentially immortal 'Mobian?'] Could Shadow read and think critically in non-action-based events with empathy? [Board games were excellent in discovering such skills, and if Gerald was being honest, he wanted to spend some time with the boy. Maria, too, obviously!]
Eventually, the face turned into capitulation. "I'll do whatever you desire, Professor."
"Do you… not like," he squeezed the child in his arms a little warmer, "this?"
Shadow's mouth flat lined. Ripples in the cotton showed that his ears twitched but weren't swept back. [Gerald was beginning to understand what Maria meant by how expressive they were. Quite different than humans' body language!] "I… am not used to being the recipient of such actions."
The scientist took one hand to rub his mustache. "Ohoho, my boy! Tis isn't a denial!"
That was undoubtedly a sigh of submission from one certain Project.
Quite a funny sound.
Gerald relented as he placed Shadow on an elevated stool, still wrapped in the blanket, although with freed hands. [It must have been Maria's handiwork with how tight the folds were.] The seating arrangement allowed Shadow to choose what to snack on as Gerald sat across to watch. Since this was supposed to be a resting sabbatical, there wasn't any note taking, but any movement towards things that would draw the Project's glassed gaze was good to know. The scientist could easily commit things into memory – the advantages of genius-
[-a foolish genius that had made a deal with them in order to-]
Gerald shook his head. Now was NOT the time.
There was a despondent chuckle from Shadow. Upon realizing that the scientist was looking at him, the hedgehog's cranium fully unfolded from the blue depths. "It's nothing. Just… remembering something."
"'Something?'" Was it from that nightmare? Before it had transformed into one, obviously.
Another movement indicating denial. "I appreciate your array of Maria's favorite calories, but I…" The cloth still upon the wings moved as they indicated a singular flap. "… I don't need to eat."
Ah. So, the Project was aware that his body required no substance. "Well, if you ever want to munch on anything, would you let Maria and I know?"
"Of course, Professor," Shadow ended with a faint tone.
[Such… multifaceted emotions, too. It sounded like a smile, so then why did the hedgehog look so sad? What was Gerald doing wrong?]
[x]
"Shadow!" Laughter filled the air. "You can relax for this. I want to hear your little purrs again!"
"M-Maria-! This is-!"
Soap suds were covering basically anything that was once tile. It was on the walls. Over the counter. Covered the mirrors. Slopped onto the sinks. In both Robotnik's hair. Even the ceiling, which was unquestionably a feat.
His granddaughter had her fingers rubbing the base of carbon quills on a pseudo-resisting Project. The shriek she gave when she exclaimed, "It's your first ever bubble bath!" was something Gerald should have paid more attention to if he had known this crazy room was the result, ahhh…
Was still such an endearing sight.
[To think the boy had something this advanced locked away! The fully aware of 'self' Ultimate Lifeform was still loyal to his purpose without memory injection! There was no need to teach language, reading, writing, or basic communicational skills! Just how had Gerald accomplished this?]
SPLASH.
The scientist took another memo at how those wings twitched away from Maria's fingers. There was a new expression – a darker one that clashed against the cozy scene – upon Shadow's drenched face. Maria noticed it as well, and she was quick to respond as she ever was. "Don't think about it, Shadow. They don't change who you are inside."
Silence. Or as silent as one could get with the splat of suds as the blonde continued. Gerald took the moment to change position as he brought himself to deal with the right-sided wing while his granddaughter took left. "Maria is right. They are made completely out of the same things your body is – which needs ample cleaning for the ARK's sake."
The phrase was meant to be reassurance.
A twist of emotional duress. "… The same thing-"
Whatever Shadow was going to think got cut off by Maria dousing the ebony figure with a bottle labeled X-tra Foamy Bubbles. "I think they're as delightful as the last time I saw them!"
The response was certainly different. "'Delightful?'"
"Yes." Dead serious cyan eyes drills into the Project's cognizance.
"You flinched at them."
A girl's hands rose in the air; bath bottle flung towards the side. "A flinch in surprise, not fear! You know I would never be afraid of you!" She took Shadow's moment of silence to begin scrubbing. Gerald followed suit, aware that the appendages no longer tried to avoid the Robotniks. The wings were such a strange thing to feel with his own hands: warm to the touch, but not nearly as initially painful as those Inhibitors; the shifting nature of the conduits that held the 'feathers' a wonder in Chaos; the red tips looked dangerously sharpened, but it seemed Shadow could control the blade subconsciously to not pierce delicate human skin…
Maria continued. "I thought it was really cool when you flew up and away…" Her smile went large. "Like an angel!"
Those red eyes meandered.
Shadow sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
[When did Maria see him fly upwards? In the lab?]
[x]
The Ultimate Lifeform recognized Gerald was staring at him underneath a bright yellow colored towel. "For the record," the deep voice begun, "you and Maria are the only ones I'll tolerate this for." There wasn't malice, but it was strange. Did the boy have pride that was being crumbled before his crimson eyes? How could he have even formed the idea of 'ego?' It was only twenty-seven hours since his proper awakening without Chaos subduction!
Any response was cut off by his granddaughter rushing back into the room with a blow dryer.
Black eyelids closed in resolute acceptance.
Hmm…
Shadow's core form can apparently puff up into a ball.
Gerald came to the belief that 'tolerate' was a word the Project didn't know the actual definition of. There wasn't hatred in that body language, although there was a silly amount of exasperation as 'Mobian' hands styled quills back into shape. That sentiment grew when the girl brought out a comb screaming vibrant pink in the shape of a heart. Yet, there was a smile – a real, tiny one.
[x]
"We need to tag team against Grandpa, Shadow. He's really good at puzzles and money and trivia!" Maria warned too loudly to be a secret; her hand cupped by the Project's ears as she leaned closer. "He is tricky! Will manipulate you to give him Broadway!"
White gloves carried the pieces of cardboard that his granddaughter had stuffed into his hands. The hedgehog was clearly defeated by this point in the day and had given up all forms of resistance long ago. "I'm so lost."
"Of course! You think I would pull out something…" A flinch. "I have played before with totally, one hundred percent, imaginary friends-?" She clapped her hands. "O! That worked!"
The facial expressions of Shadow were a sight to behold. By now, Gerald had a rough guess that the mental age was highly above six. Certainly, above twelve. The 'Mobian' was basically an adult, and the scientist would have believed so…. if not for the way the boy truly did purr when brushed, did play when asked to by Maria; did rest for an afternoon nap.
"C'mon, Shadow! It'll be a quick one!"
"Maria..."
"Won't take 'no' or 'I don't need sleep' for an answer!"
A sigh.
"When did you become such a grumpy pants?"
"I think-"
"Nope. No sad thoughts allowed this week! Only naps and fun times with your big sister and Grandpa."
Subtle and restrained, as if the opposite of Maria, but Shadow seemed to have just as good of a- [A what? 'Moral compass?' Did you just forget what these two are willing to do when they feel cornered? But was it a corner if Maria said-?!]
[Now was NOT the time-!]
There was a metal money bag the size of his index nail hovering before him. Gerald refocused and saw the two children looking up. Maria stole a glance to the Project before she placed the icon into his palm. "Here, Grandpa. I thought you would like this one."
Robotnik rubbed the back of his scalp. "Hmm, yes. This specimen would do nicely to acquire funding-"
Ah. Curses.
Gerald was going to have an issue playing this game in ignorance anymore. He didn't mean to make the sentence sound like a reference to the Project and G.U.N. – it was just a coincidence! Honestly! He bit hit bottom lip and reattacked his response better. Maria wanted to play this board game, and as such, so shall he. "So, which pieces did you two choose?"
His dear held up the icon of a boot, claiming that it was to signify her desire to walk upon a real boardwalk by the sea one day. As for Shadow, those gloves eventually held a boat after being cajoled to select something that wasn't 'at random.'
[-it was the representation to carnage of a world war, and the dirty money it took to get products there-]
[Not. The. Time. What was wrong with him?]
"There wasn't a hedgehog," the boy admitted with deadpan, "so I went with the one with pointed ends."
Maria slapped her forehead and groaned.
[x]
Analysis: the Project had tendencies of self-annihilation to those he was devoted to. If he thought that he was going to be in a position to win outright against Maria or Gerald, there was a sudden bad roll that would place his token just badly enough to go back into last place and not make it a blowout.
Analysis: the Project had superb physical mechanics. To obtain 'perfect' rolls in order to lose, the Ultimate Lifeform had to calculate momentum, pitch, yaw, and roll of dice in his hands on the fly. It was if the 'Mobian' understood what each twitch or flick of his wrists would accomplish upon the plastic pieces. Eerily accurate when need arrived.
Analysis: the Project had a photographic-like memory coupled with tremendously sharp eyesight. He was able to take in the smallest of imperfections upon a set of cards and align them mentally to which suit/number was on the other side. Since the concept of the game was matching cards by pulling pairs, it was Maria and Shadow teamed up against Gerald that allowed this particular skill to be seen. Otherwise, the elder knew the boy would lose out of principle.
Analysis: the Project could see without light via Chaos or other means. Those eyes of his emitted a dull cadmium on the entirety of the iris in the darkest of depths. Maria, having collapsed in sleep on a couch in a bad position, was moved carefully. Gerald didn't even have opportunity to flick the switch 'on' when Shadow turned to face his creator and asked what the problem was. They were on the backside of the moon – the Sun was not there to help.
It had taken four game nights to realize what Shadow was doing. Everything the boy did seemed to be in Maria's or Gerald's benefit.
It was the fifth night that hinted at the level of devotion.
[x]
Due to the sensitivity of Project: SHADOW being completed when all the official documentation showcased that it distinctly was not, the 'Mobian' was not allowed to leave the confines of the secluded observatory tower. It was large enough to have many hidden areas in case an unexpected visitor was to arrive and was not important enough to receive camera replacement parts yet. A few sub-rooms could be locked altogether, which was what Gerald had set up for his granddaughter to allow her extended camping trip during the 'summer holiday break' from her teacher. She had been all too excited for the three, and despite being a whole five days since the start, that joy had yet to sublimate.
Gerald had spent the day trying to ignore tomorrow. He was happy, though, and wished he could stop time in this seemingly flawless moment.
[Chaos' control over spacetime was what the Project was originally designed to do. Did this version also hold onto that?]
[No. Bad scientific thoughts. Just wait six more hours.]
Maria's passed out form was next to Shadow. Her left hand was resting in his open palm as her smile maintained in the folds of sleep. As for the Ultimate Lifeform himself, he was sitting and staring out into the stars. Sunrise over the Earth wasn't to occur for a few more hours as the ARK lumbered on its elliptical orbit. The lack of exterior lighting made the array of the entire galaxy stream like cream in the midnight sky; the nose of the incomplete gift the only spear of manmade might. Overall, it was a very nice view.
He rested his tired knees besides the ebony hedgehog and reached out to rub the area between ears. Even though this was not an uncommon feat, the way Shadow twitched… "A penny for your thoughts?"
The boy didn't respond immediately – it was almost as if he didn't realize Gerald had even spoken, at first. There was a strange look in Alizarin that the scientist understood was pure 'soulless.' He was afraid that Shadow had dropped 'away' again and had managed to briefly touch the Inhibitors when there was a sudden acknowledgement to the elder. "Sorry, Professor. I was just reaffirming to myself that this is real. I still… sometimes reflect it's all a dream. It's too…" The volume dropped significantly. "… much."
The elder felt a sad frown form. It seemed like five days wasn't long enough – couldn't be. Despite that, Shadow had turned to Gerald for help. He should try his best. "Does what… happened give you night terrors that this might not be?"
The quills rose slightly. "'What happened?' May you… clarify that question?"
He had to be careful at this topic. "I have no desire to continue this tonight if you don't want to, Shadow-"
"No." The boy nodded in disagreement as fingers dug into his own legs. "I want to know what you meant."
Gerald slowly pulled his hand back. It was good that the Project wanted to talk, even if the topic was unfriendly. He would do his best to calm the boy and make sure to establish this was his home. "I believe you are suffering from your post-floor seventeen escapade." ['Escapade' – when the words he wanted to use – annihilation, destruction; eradication – were too cold and cruel to this specific Shadow.] "Your sentience is unique, strange, and not fully understood – even with my years of experience." The scientist took a finger and tapped the surface of Shadow's topmost spine. "It's all within here. But here can be lost with too much Chaos Energy. As such, I have theorized when you recover from being disassociated, what had happened in the interim can be confused as your reality. Although, it's not."
There was a rustle of crimson and black as the 'Mobian' lowered the taunt in his body. "Oh." Such a simple word. There was no emotion attached to it – shouldn't there be? "I see." The Project turned to face back towards the vastness. "Thank you." The appreciation was heartfelt, but weirdly strained… Did the scientist guess incorrectly at what bothered the boy?
"Is something else troubling you? I'm here to listen to your worries," the scientist offered.
There was nothing but stillness and stress. The adult could basically taste it oozing off of Shadow with each passing second. Yet, no words were shared.
Gerald decided to respond to the inaction the same way he did when Maria had a not-as-great day: he pulled himself to sit nearby the troubled individual. Sometimes, all what one person needed was something warm to face the oncoming challenges. There he sat. Thought. Reminisced of the last day he had with his two sons on Earth before the arguments had latched hold… [Two? Didn't he now have -?]
"G.U.N. is blessed that they control the money to keep the ARK's medical research alive."
The proclamation blindsided the scientist. "W-What brought this up?"
The Project still refused to move his head away from the glass. Gerald couldn't even see the reflection, but he did hear the continuation that cut into his mind. A gloved hand that wasn't holding onto Maria's reached towards the glass, as if the hedgehog could touch the Earth thru time and distance. "I must upkeep a promise to you. Her. To everyone." There was a sudden movement as he turned his head into profile. It was as if the veil of innocent naivety dropped away from Gerald's creation: the Eclipse Cannon illuminated behind and casted all of Shadow into nothing but a silhouette; pyrrole glowed within twin orbs that burned brighter, swirling into a single point as if to drown the damned. Each word was quiet, but no mere whisper. It was ambition. Determination. A warning of things to come. "I will save you all, Professor."