A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution
Ch. 21
[×]
Sitting on the table were two plates of food, two cups of liquid, and a book of a random medical subject. Ceiling lights remained calmed and gentle – mainly because there wasn't an overpowered hedgehog messing with the system. The view by the window was the ever-impressive one: the whole entirety of the planet fitted right into the frame. A perfectly climate-controlled temperature ensured comfort. An older man, roughly the age of 60, rested on one chair; the engineered miracle sat in the other. Both had their heads resting on their own palms – elbows leaned forwards on the metal surface – with a look at the stars. All in all, it was the normal, typical things.
A young girl hesitated, but only briefly. Her brother would never let himself be in close range with someone about to destroy the world, so… Small hands rubbed her face again. She had taken a look at the mirror in her bathroom after waking up nestled in the closet, and the red puffiness had already left. Still, Maria was afraid tears could come back quickly. One fist tightened: she was not afraid of Grandpa. Just a fluke. A trick. Maybe Abe's aunt insulted Shadow. That would make anyone angry.
Her brother heard her first, yet the gaze out of the window remained. "Morning, Maria."
See. Things were…
His voice was flat. Seamed into perfection. There wasn't a smile.
O-Oh, she didn't like that.
However, a glance at Grandpa didn't issue that tingle across her spine and that need to defend Shadow with every inch of her being, so… Maybe he got grounded-? Wait. The wine. The bathroom. He… He must have taken the fall for her! That lying, sneaky brother! Yes. That must be the reason behind his expression. (Right? Please tell her that's just it!) Carefully, Maria scooted closer to the hedgehog and issued a small smile. "You're too good for me." But it WAS her idea. He didn't deserve to get punished. "Ahh…, Grandpa."
The eldest (Shadow is sub a year old no matter how much ½ a century plus whatever resided beyond that he counted) Robotnik of the trio turned. Spectacles met her eyes and she saw him visibly relax into… pudding? Man, she must be hungry to be creating food references. "What is it, my dear?"
"I know lying is bad. So…," blue eyes squeezed shut, "I need to say something! It-It was me! I… I goaded Shadow to mess up the bathroom!"
Silence. The flat, emotionless expression hadn't been removed from her brother's face. Where… was it? The reaction? He should have one-
Grandpa stood up at that and paced around the room. "My dear. We… need to talk." His steps paused as he turned around to face the two others and closed the distance once more. "You're right. Hiding things only lead to suffering, and I've caused enough of that."
Her brother shifted besides her.
Larger hands, pale and slightly transparent enough to see the fairest traced outlines of blood vessels, held onto Maria's. The pit in her stomach pulled and ripped open-
"Professor did a preliminary test on my biometric signature," Shadow dropped like a sack of proverbial rocks. "It was not good news."
Okay. Yeah. That was the sort of news Grandpa would get stressed and saddened about. He's the type of man who didn't know much about rest and relaxation – why did she think that he wouldn't have taken her brother aside and started his work for a potential cure immediately? A-And Shadow being reminded of those days in his past would, of course, make him beyond pensive. He was heartbroken the last time! He had cried! Her poor sibling had thought he was useless, worthless; questioned everything until she told him it was just a small bump they'd overcome…
Maria felt dumb being jumpy about…
About something she should have seen coming.
The elder Robotnik inhaled at the admission. Shadow continued onwards despite that as he gently held her hand. "Don't worry. We'll make sure you'll get recovered. I made a vow with Professor."
If her sweet, innocent brother was involved…
Fine.
Everything was fine.
[x]
A deep Crimson scarf resided against white fluff. Then, a Cadmium one. One of Pyrrole. One of Quinacridone Rose. With all the various hues that reminded her of Shadow, the piece of fabric jostled in her hands. Made with common cotton, she felt he deserved a silk one, but… Well, the ARK did not have such insects aboard to make cocoons. Eventually, she sighed and dumped them all out next to golden colored ones… which were already next to the discarded white pile. "Oh, Shadow. This is harder than it should be."
Rubies flickered towards hers. "It doesn't matter what color it is to me, Maria. I only need it to go from your room towards the main lab."
Her gentle voice corrected him. "You mean the medical wing."
Shoulders moved as he flexed his wings in their shared space. It had been roughly three days since the 'announcement party,' and Grandpa was officially going to start doing what Project: SHADOW should be! The past few hours were nothing but her and her brother going over all the ways to be sneaky as to what would not work – alright, it was mostly her, to be fair. Shadow was still not the brightest lump of sunshine, but he did offer her his small, toothed grin when she held onto his hand. "Correct. My apologies. It's not a far distance, however, so just anything to cover Professor's hologram device would work."
"You don't get it, though! This is critical to get right! When people see you walk around, they are going to associate you with a scarf from now on! So, it's my duty, as your sister, to get you looking the coolest, cutest, most spectacular version of you you can possible be!" A young girl's arms waved back and forth.
He didn't bother to rebuttal because he knew she was correct.
Maria eventually settled on a white one, the same cool-tint as his chest. That way, the other humans would get a chance to see his natural color scheme at a fast glance. He was such a unique looking hedgehog – none of the ones pictured on her books about the planet had such vivid highlights. Grandpa had originally wanted to make him blue-grey, right? That what some of the unfinished PSULs in the lab in repeat as exterior coats? "Hey, Shadow… Think fast! 'Where does your black 'n red coloring come from?'"
"You know where."
What did he mean by-?
Oh.
OH.
Her hands waved in a blur of denial. "N-Not in THAT way, Shadow! I was…!" Her eyes squeezed shut in embarrassment and regret. "I meant from the standpoint of what you would respond with when those not aware of your truth ASK you that question!"
Black ears flicked. "Ah. Makes sense. We were discussing the scarves."
Maria gave an apologetic smile and sat down next to her brother. "Sorry."
"It's nothing. The source of them don't define me." A pause as he tilted his head. "Well, before I gained wings the size of vehicles."
A joke! He was okay. Or, at least…, better than the day after the party. His returned expression was perhaps still a bit too forced and he was rather… tense…
"I never got to ask," her voice rose in an impish quality, trying to make him feel better. "How fast are you with them, Shadow?"
"Very."
"Very-very?" she continued.
He turned his head to meet her gaze straight on. "Very-very."
[x]
The medics all crowded the hallways whenever Shadow was even rumored walking by – forget actually! A smudge of blackness? A brief gasp of red? Keep an eye out, for the owner might be the most mysterious and polite hedgehog in existence.
Because that was what her brother was to everyone: beyond over-the-top polite. She knew he could remember their faces, and based on how his touch lingered within her hand, she was aware he was promising to himself to save their lives. Just like her, he was seeing reflections of those whose only reasoning for their deaths were that they were associated with Project: SHADOW.
Today was going to be Shadow's official first Testing Day! All the other visits to the medical hall were for baselines and control: something to attach and reference against for later. Those sorts of things Maria did not bother to hint to Grandpa as a fix or bypass – they were quite needed for research! And, speaking of such intellectual knowhow, the female Robotnik had her Giant Book of Chaos (written by hers truly) in gripped fingers, as well as her copy of Dr. Robotnik's Guide to the Ancient Civilizations – One Man's True Accounts of His Daring, Yet Foolish, Adventures in the South right underneath.
There was a hum in her throat as she pranced alongside her brother, always keeping others away from his 'personal bubble that was a little too big cause he's so new and fresh.' She counted down the things Grandpa was awaiting them for-
-her leg stumbled.
Shadow, ever present, caught her.
That expression – that deeply sharp inhale – of his made it clear that he knew her NIDS was acting up again. Honestly, it was a miracle she had managed to stay relatively healthy for so long- "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah. Just the normal stuff."
His white gloved straightened her up as she ensured the scarf and the hologram remained in place. "This is going to enact a strong response…," was a suddenly much darker mutter from her brother's lips.
[x]
"Well, if it isn't the subject of massive government subterfuge and countless violations of both ethical and legal zeitgeists," icily added a dark blue hedgehog. "Don't mind me, I am leaving."
And he did. Quietly, after that.
Grandpa's voice hovered over the other room. There was a taste of distrust, and far above the levels she held for certain individuals of G.U.N. as a whole. "Ah, Shadow, if you ever see that Mobian once more, leave. The General is not usually far behind – and you must keep away from her."
That… was certainly quite a high level of anger.
The eldest Robotnik was still not in sight range. "She will try to bludgeon the soul out of you, my s-"
"Professor," Shadow growled. "Maria is here."
There was a deep pant as something clattered and clinked in the background. "I see..."
(What was THAT?)
(What was THAT!?)
"Ah. Apologies, my dear. You're… earlier than expected." The sound of leather shoes against metal. "No. On time. Hmmm…"
Her brother's words were nothing more than a whisper. "It's his new medication. Much stronger side effects, but it's Dr. Eruba's orders." There was a tight squeeze on her hand. "Don't worry. He will calm down his stress levels once… he sees you." Shadow's volume increased as he ignored the way she mouthed out 'meds?' to the open air. "Do you want me to come back later?"
"Yes, my boy. Thirty minutes should… suffice. And I'm sorry. Again. For… For…"
Maria understood that was… anguish.
And a hell of a lot of regret.
The girl turned towards her brother. "Shadow, what's going on? Why don't you stay-?"
He slowly shook his head. "He requires you, not me, in the immediate timeframe." Red eyes told her no secrets and held no emotion other than sheer and utter control. "Besides, Dr. Tower requested me to get ready for analysis in the next hour. You shouldn't be there for that. Professor is the best choice in this situation." His gloves moved her – a demand in all but words. "I will not let you see what my body has become."
… You know I don't care about your Shadow Powers… It had to deal with him thinking he was a monster again, wasn't it? He was pushing her away and not just physically – the strangest feeling and emotion ate her insides. Where did this burden heavier than a continent come from, and why did it rest upon her brother's shoulders? Embedded in his heart? She thought… they had celebrated for a good reason. He was so happy… What changed?
"Go. Please. I'm a mirror. You're a panacea."
Ominous.
And so, so sad.
She was going to pick his sadness up and away at night when they snuggled together; whisper that he was the best, the Ultimate, and that nothing was his fault even if he thought it was. This was the first time she has seen him crack through that façade in the past days, and Maria needed her old brother to return a.s.a.p..
[x]
There was a deep sigh before she asked. "What caused you and Shadow to… start fighting?"
One young girl sat next to an older man on a quite comfortable sofa. It overlooked nothing special in particular, but she was aware of the truth: it was all the beakers and test tubes and miscellaneous objects that was to begin the first series of tests. Empty, for now, soon enough they would be crafted and mixed with various creations that would save so many other people.
And, since she knew about hope, her, too.
At some point.
It was the sight that kept her Grandpa's gaze for a little bit, like he was debating on what words to speak aloud. The glare of his spectacles transferred over towards a cooling device that held various medication. Eventually, they settled onto Maria herself. "I hurt him."
E-EH!?
"It was deep."
"G-Grandpa-!" What had he done? "Did you say sorry for it!? No matter what, Shadow will forgive you-"
The response was not what she wanted. "He shouldn't. It's why I haven't asked. I don't warrant it."
She tried to pry out any nugget of information out from him, but Grandpa switched the tables to make it about her – a clear indication that he was not going to discuss about her brother anymore. (It did not do anything good to settle her stomach or crazy thoughts.) Maria was stuck with the knowledge she was going to have to ask this to Shadow tonight as well.
They kept the talk to small scoped items, at least until Maria mentioned that her NIDS was acting up again-
His hand grabbed her wrist. "It is?"
(Danger! Danger!)
The grasp turned into pulling her face closer and giving her a look over, before reaching towards Dr. Eruba's things and pulling out basic medical equipment to check her neural responses. There was the expected, dreaded, delay of the early signs of an oncoming Bad Day. Her brother was correct in his assumption that Grandpa was not going to take it very well. "With these symptoms, you have approximately three days before you'll be unable to move for at least two. How long have you known?"
The young girl felt her emotional conflictions creep up and then decline away a bit as she had to address this. "Before the party."
"… Maria…"
"I know. I know. It's just… it was super critical what Shadow and I had planned up and he was aware of the risks and-"
Instead of being berated and talked to about doing dangerous to her health things, Grandpa wrapped around her thin body and hugged. He stayed like that until there was a knock on the door.
It was Dr. Eruba, who gave a strange appearance at the scene – eyes that held knowledge of something Maria did not – before she bit the bottom of her lip. "Sorry to ruin this moment, Doctor Robotnik, but Dr. Tower requests your presence in the other section."
"Ah. Yes. Time to work. Again."
[x]
The separation between the different areas of the space station swished their normal noises. Her blue shoes touched the metal floor as she changed direction to head back towards her normal quarters, thinking about the events of the day: Shadow's pain and Grandpa's anxiety. Her brother seemed to be of the opinion that she would make her grandfather feel better, but she doubted that based on the actions earlier. How in the world was that 'better?' It was like saying she had stubbed her toe at the same time as bruising her right hand. Both were bad.
"MaRiA," a garbled sound rung.
She yelped and jumped out of her skin as an Artificial Chaos moved in its liquid shape right besides her. Blue eyes trailed up the walls to see more attached towards the ceiling – their turquoise eyes bearing down upon her. How-? How long have they been here? Isn't this the civilian side of the ARK? Weren't they only supposed to stay on the G.U.N. side?
… They could talk?
"Umm. Ah. Hi?"
The one that was closest to her bobbed and weaved its head. "MesSAgE. ReCeIVe."
They squirmed closer towards her, and she had to take a deep breath and remind herself that they were not here to shoot heat beams or attack anyone. That was back then. These AIs needed their second chance! "Sure thing, … Chaos?" she reached for a name.
"NeGAtiVe. We aRe P-1." They slithered even more, until the two were inches from one another. "TorTuREd. SoUl. DeCEaSeD."
Maria did not understand-
"MesSAgE. GiVeN."
They didn't exactly move away-
"SiCk. IlLNeSs. We. StAy."
And then they picked her up and dragged her yelping down the hallway.
[x]
Her brother's room was… weird. There was nothing but white paint and gold trimming, as if there was a sense of elegance that wanted to be maintained with as little opportunity that the ARK could give for such lifestyle. The wallpaper she and Grandpa had chosen earlier was still up, but all of the sheets and curtains and pillows were the same theme. Even the rug, although he commented earlier that he would have preferred something from Spagonia instead. He certainly had a palette of preference – and it was not the one expected.
But at least there was a table to sit and read her Giant Book of Chaos at. Which, considering there were three AIs on the ceiling, one in the room besides her giving her tea, and one doing… something in the tub off in another room… Well, it was a learning experience for them all.
Not how Maria expected her day to go.
But… Well, she guessed it was the perfect time to address.
"Thanks, P-1," came a mumble as she slurped the drink from a very fancy teacup that her brother had snuck in here somehow. The Artificial Chaos had decided earlier to increase the temperature by shooting the surface of the fluid with their lasers. Not a fun thing to had experienced at that moment – her heart was still beating fast at memories of the AIs mowing their way through the ARK in her future-past – but it was a quick way to drink the stuff Shadow had set aside for her at a warm flavor.
They truly had access to her brother's mind. Without effort, they had discovered the location of all the sweets, goodies, and miscellaneous items that the hedgehog had pulled aside for her. Wrapped in special packaging, Maria had come to realize that the items were possibly for her birthday next month…
The girl flinched at that.
Her attention flickered at the cup's liquid again. "Excuse me. Do you guys plan on staying here long?"
Their heads kept their infinite stare at her body. "YeS. It. CoMeS."
Her brother… So, they were aware that she was sick because he found out, and in the process, they'll be using her as an excuse to finally meet him. "Shadow might, umm… Be aggressive at first," she warned.
"WoRrY-fRee. DeaTH. MeAnINglESs."
Cyan shifted at that. Was that a 'meaningless' because they were artificial creations and had an inferiority complex similar to her brother's on some level? Or was it because they were aware that she, and now technically them, had cheated death in… whatever had caused-!
Curiosity nibbled at the front of her mouth.
"Do you know how…? Um. Time? How we went back?" The tea set in her hand was squeezed perhaps the most the material could handle. Her nerves were on the fritz. Guilt creeped in. This was wrong. She should be bringing up that question towards her brother, not- "You know what, on second thought… Never mind. That's not your place to tell. I-Invasion of privacy. Why don't we just drink some-?"
P-1 – or, at least, one of them – shimmered in the light. Their synthetic voices harmonized together, speaking as not individuals, but one. "DaNGeRoUS."
Maria was about to comment that that was fine. She was going to pry no more-
And then Shadow appeared in his room in a fury of cyan lines. Red eyes were already narrowed; hand spread out before his form; wings stretched out in warning. Shrill and sharp echoes filled the area: beep-beep-beep-beep-beep! Five golden, four pointed stars were on the metallic heads of the bodies. They had a burning middle, a triangle to compose each side of the compass rose, a cross hair at the peak of each triangle, and four polygons that were filled in at the tertiary, halfway locations, all aiming to the center point. It was beautiful and simplistic. The closest in computerized text that Maria could think to compare it to was:
"WAIT!" the young Robotnik cried out, tossing herself in front of her brother's dilated oculars. "You-! You got the WRONG IDEA!"
The pose did not lessen. "Maria. I heard that they kidnapped you-!"
"What k-kinda kidnapping is coming over to my brother's room to have tea?" she tried to reason with what was her incredibly defensive and cautious sibling. The fangs on his mouth were already extruded past his lips – if not for the recent exchange of words, he would probably be growling. Instead, Maria turned to face the various Artificial Chaos, trying to mentally plead with them to stay quiet and safe and-
"It." The cries were deliberate and… off-putting. They didn't move – which was good as she doubted Shadow would allow a warning shot; only straight into reaction with him – but you could tell they were just all… observing him. "SeE. ToUcH. AdMIrE," the hums continued, like nails on chalkboard. Yet, they remained as still as the space beyond the windows.
The words rose the hair on her arms and legs a little. A lot. She wondered if Shadow would remember the translated things from earlier – she hoped not! This situation was odd, but that did not mean it was hazardous in of itself! "Look! See! They just want to say hi!"
The golden symbol remained on the exact, precise location of the AIs' weakness. "Why on all of reality would you try to stand up for them, Maria? They're nothing but-"
"THEY'RE MY FRIENDS!" she squealed.
Red eyes morphed into confusion. "Come again?"
"We were having a party. They… realized I was sick and just wanted to help me not over exhaust myself on the way back from the medical wing. T-That's all!" The excuse was the lowest tiers of pathetic-ism, but it was not a lie.
Or so Maria told herself.
However weak it was, it did get her brother to angrily swipe his hand towards the side and remove each beautiful glyph from reality.
Whew.
Crisis averted.
For now.
"Scram." He reserved no room for misinterpretation: bored right into their own eyes in return – a glowing piece of lava into the one of the cold, deep oceans.
Maria was just glad the Artificial Chaos left when Shadow ordered them to, giving her brother one final look of…
Of…
(She could feel a frog form in her throat.)
The female Robotnik had half a mind to call it either obsession or devotion and, frankly, had no idea over which one was worse. However, this was her bet she had made. Everyone deserved that chance to be a better person.
[x]
A girl got quite a response the next day.
One P-1 slid besides her the second she had split apart from Shadow – the second he had to leave with Grandpa to go run more tests and had gone past detection range. It had popped out of the HVAC system in a rush of running water and encircled around her, looking down like she was a prize.
"MarIa," the voice smoothed over in a childlike wonder, "we thaNk Maria. It is just as sTrong of a mind as expecTed."
(Was it wrong to say she was incredibly creeped out? Did P-1 just insinuate that it just ripped off more stuff from Shadow!?)
She tripped backwards in her hasty reaction, or would have if not for the Artificial Chaos catching her. Immediately, she felt wet around her waist as her dress turned a shade darker.
"We would liKe more tea time. It wants MaRia to stay safe and sound. Bad Day imminent. It knows this."
"S-Sure…?"
What choice did she really have at this point?
"Maria can call tea time ChAo(s) Garden, if Maria wants. That's what It knowS in Its vocabUlary."
Her hum of agreement was… not as enthusiastic as the original idea of being friends with the AIs were. But, she was gonna still try! That was her strength – one of will and determination!
Somewhere in the ARK, Grandpa was probably going to have an aneurysm if he found out what was going on.
Shadow, too.
… She should probably take notes.