Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 0

[×]

[[Much thanks to Copium V on X/Twitter for accepting my commission for this cover art. ♥]]

[x]

Maria didn't say anything today, either.

Aged hands rubbed the underside of his chin; old back creaking in movement as he hit the side of the dining chair. Its plump feathers helped to alleviate the physical stress he held, but the mental…? Gerald had that nagged sense of worry and trepidation ring louder than-

A shake of the head. He shouldn't be so soundless when Maria was. Something was wrong with his precious granddaughter – something he could address and fix – HAD TO repair. She was at least at the table today; compared to the past three this was a massive improvement. Those eyes of hers were no longer empty and faraway; her body no longer limped over the sheets; the food placed before her was at least partially consumed. [Of course he had panicked. Gathered the doctors. Basically ordered them. Yet, Maria was ‘fine’ – as fine as it was her to possibly be, at least. Her brainwaves’ charted erratic movement was the only hint of what had befallen the child, but even then that was well within normalcy. So, there she returned back to her room. Back where he had stared at her door, willing her to move. One night became two; three…] Clearing his throat, the scientist moved a warm cup of hot green tea closer to the child’s dinner plate. “Maria,” he begun, spilling as much warmth as he could muster, “was it Abraham?”

It didn't bring her out of that off, dazed expression. In fact, it didn't affect anything about her at all. Pensive lips crushed together. Had she had… a collapse? Was she trying to hide something from… him? Was it nothing related to her disease? Maybe he needed to undergo a different approach… “I know it's been difficult with you being alone here,” Gerald attempted, hoping to the stars around that she would respond, “but you'll soon be getting a…”

He trailed off. One should never get attached to their experiments, but eventually one of his petri dishes’ offshoots would stay alive. That lucky one should give Maria… some comfort. “Friend.” It sounded strange on the lips: there was no guarantee that the first specimen to survive the latest changes would be responsive.

Blue eyes snapped up at that.

An action!! Is this the right track? Was her state melancholy? Maria never complained about her isolation, but if this was the result of eventual mental wear and tear, he should have just given her that slight hope earlier – damn the consequences. He was not going to fail. He was a Robotnik. The quest for the Ultimate Lifeform will succeed. “I've had more growth in the lab once we've absconded the reptile.”

Those eyes, finally attentive, remained on him.

Was she…? She was. She was holding her breath – the one her weak lungs needed. No, no; no. He needed to continue. Maria shouldn't be like this. Gently, he pushed back his chair and walked closer to his joy. It was a relief to know she didn't flinch back away – meant Maria wasn't upset at him – but her intensive gaze never left his face. “Would you like to see the-”

Those small hands – normally so pale with a grip of a newborn – slammed on to the table. With a rattle, the steel utensils fell off; hot drink sloshed; food scattered on the tablecloth. It was a mess.

Maria-

Never looked-

So-

Alive.

She still said nothing. Didn't have to. Gerald understood. “I think the present would be best, wouldn't it? Why don't we eat up later, hmm?”

In a blur, blonde hair the only thing he saw, his granddaughter reached to shoes. Dark, they slipped on with her years of experience. The expression never changed: Maria was filled with a sudden urge. A sudden need. She basically started to run – no, she did indeed sprint. Her breath had become heavy and louder as soon both their steps echoed the sterile walls with its endless glass visions.

[It scared him on a deep level. If he hadn’t already checked that she had become bedridden by something not her disease, one might have called this a final gasp of energy. While her silence was not a symptom, he was going to call the medical wing as soon as the visit was complete. Just in case.]

Away they ran.

Ran.

Ran.

Her hands inputted the password to his lab with no hesitation. Gerald couldn't help but notice that each pound increased the trembles in the finger. Was it her excitement? That passion? Or was it…?

M-A-R-I-A

There was a near soundless grunt as her small frame pushed the door open with her entire might. The thundering echo ricocheted off the glass tubes; red in their blood-like nutritional fluids. Not everything was a good sight – in fact, some were straight ghastly. If it hadn't been for Maria’s strange, and unnerving, actions of her mental state, he would have not allowed her to see… this. Some of the specimens didn't even have muscles attached to the bones or cartilage – those were the failures. His granddaughter didn't need them.

It was as if she read Gerald’s mind. The pitter patter of a child’s feet continued in the massive room. His strides easily kept up. He couldn't help but note of all the subjects that the duo passed: the dead array of lizards with cancerous growths, kept to see where he had gone wrong; the strange, gel-like creatures of translucent cyan created in the image of an ancient deity [one that taught him how to inject Chaos; taught him how bodies, even artificial ones, could be wrought with few physical weaknesses]; the array of Chaos Drives that ‘whispered’ to entities with the ability to harness their glories [or so his researched hinted at]; past the newest series of tubes where the shapes of a Mobian floated; past that larva [and having never seen it before, Maria continued as if it wasn't worth her awe nor horror]. It was only when she reached the last filled tube where her lungs could carry no more burden. In defiance, those blue eyes turned desperate.

“Maria,” Gerald panted himself as he crouched besides her shivering body, trying to stabilize what he could. By now, the tones of fear couldn't be hidden anymore. “What is it, what's wrong?!”

She didn't respond. Instead, her eyes roamed around, trying to find something. Eventually, they caught the stack of papers that held his preliminary results; the ones he was terrified to read because of the implications-

The hands of the child tore past the cover sheet. Eventually, they rested onto the line that simply had a series: PSUL2.018-BD. Simple. A cataloging system. In of itself, it meant nothing.

But not to his granddaughter.

What was once the object that held her attention became discarded. Flung towards the side. Useless. Before Gerald could ask again of what caused her pain, she lunged herself at the capsule that held onto the curled embryo of his next attempt at immortality. With the change of the angle, the red fluid finally revealed the small, infant lifeform within: crimson and ebony, the colors of his grave sin – one that reminded him of what he had done and would continue to do-

The change in Maria was instant.

Hands wrapped around the tube as far as they could reach, she created her first sound in almost a week. Tears escaped from closed eyes as her sobs filled the entire lab. Nothing coherent could be picked up – just the wails of a youth that struck Gerald to his core. It was everything: despair, grief, fear, loss, and agony. There was a gasp once more, an action so raw that it shook her whole body; reassessed herself that the subject was still before her. Maria cried once again after that slightest of break, but this time… there was something new in the way her voice carried.

It was as if she had found salvation.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 1

[×]

0200 ZULU.

Otherwise known as the dead of night.

By now, the lab had mountains of what basically amounted to ‘camping gear’ – items that Maria's father had sent through the regulated postal. Meant to give the girl a promise of what's to come upon her recovery, never did Gerald think those items would be used here – the laboratory – compiled higher than Everest. With a simple pat of her hand, the child beckoned the scientist to sit besides her. After the many hours, exhaustion had set on her features: puffed up, swollen eyes; a bright, abused nose; a pile of tissue boxes that had been emptied into the bin meant for old notes. He was still worried about what had just occurred, but Maria was not adhering to his time schedule.

He took the clipboard that held the bent, but not destroyed, paperwork of PSUL2.018-BD. Strangely, despite having tossed it away, his granddaughter eventually returned it into his hands. Of course, she still hadn’t said anything – but a smile danced upon her features; the juxtaposition of the tear-streaked face and her normal radiance gave Gerald a sense of confusion.

There were three pillows in his granddaughter’s tent: one for him, one for herself, and one that was crammed as close as possible to the foot of the latest specimen. It had taken multiple trips for Gerald to grab what Maria wordlessly requested, but for her sake he complied. [It didn't remove the undertone that something was incredibly amiss, however. He hadn’t told anyone about… them yet – and while he had intended on notifying Maria about that larva’s corrupted result, it was too soon. How did his little darling know that he had just started a new sample? A guess? Or did she sneak into his journal once again?] Stacked besides the pillows were books, crayons, and snacks – each sleeping area included a spare blanket.

Gerald winced. It wasn't as if the specimen could understand what was going on. But, if this what made Maria happy… “Tomorrow, we'll have to get your checkup,” he softly added, rubbing his granddaughter’s head in a comforting tone. “No needles. I promise.”

Her gaze left PSUL2.018-BD’s iron and glass footprint. She swallowed, paused, and then shook her head in reassurance. She was willing. It was a good sign.

So, there Gerald nodded asleep: Maria holding his hand on the right.

Things… were going to be okay.

[×]

Gerald gave another yawn and rubbed the grooves of the temples. Eventually, the sounds of his steps echoed as he returned to his laboratory. He was beginning to see the Black Arms in his dreams, now, and wasn’t that a terrifying thought?

Maria was still sprawled next to the PSUL’s tube. Her hand rested in an uncurled state, as if she had ended her movement in a hug. Strange that she was already forming a connection with the specimen when she had not done the same with all the others prior. The Biolizard [and Gerald frowned once again at that failure – not angry, but disappointed] was something she had been curious and excited about, yet as a pet. The reptile was posed for pictures and squeals of ‘cuteness,’ but never were there camping trips in the lab at midnight. When the lizard was banished into the deepest realm of the ARK, the only tears on her face were ones brought by a late-night exhale – not the wailing of deep night.

This level of connection…

… There was a set of blue eyes watching him. “Ah, Maria,” Gerald coughed once and turned to address her. Those thick blankets moved as the rest of her body crawled out of the tent. “Good morning.”

A yawn, a smile, and a wave. That was what the scientist received. Her mouth moved as if to talk, but it was impossible to miss the sudden change of her expression. What was once brilliant with the warmth of the sun crashed into something that Gerald couldn’t label: haunted? Afraid? Shocked?

It was nothing that should be on her.

That expression changed again. Ah. He knew this one: guilt. His large hand reached out and rubbed her blonde locks. “Don’t worry about it. You know very well that I talk enough for the both of us. Unlike you, my coworkers don’t have the ability to run and hide from my Project: SHADOW ramblings.” There was a tight squeeze at the end. [Saying the full name of the Project made him recall how little time he had left. G.U.N. was not at the mercy of the President- The President wanted his immortality for the little protection he could offer- They wanted to return to destroy his planet- If the Eclipse Cannon couldn't be finished in time, even if he saved Maria from disease, upon their return, she would still-!!!]

His granddaughter’s hand flew out and grabbed his arm. It seemed she caught onto his… stress. His jumbled thoughts reorganized as he fixed his glasses. “I'm alright so long as you are, my dear.”

There was that haunted look again. However, Maria blinked it away after she had taken a quick glance at the specimen. Her thumbs pushed into Gerald’s coat; mouth attempted to speak once more but only a croaking cry escaped.

Oh, Maria. His precious granddaughter.

What had happened to her?

[x]

It was the new normal.

Gerald woke up, greeted Maria in the hallway right in front of his personal room, walked to the cafeteria together, headed back towards the laboratory, worked on Project: SHADOW as she set up ‘camp,’ ended the day’s work based on his granddaughter’s sleeping visage, and finally tucked her to bed. It was only after then that he went back to finish on the less… child-friendly tasks he had to undergo – Maria did not need to see what he was doing to that larva and the slowly growing embryo. If the specimen was to die, he should do his part and ensure it won't happen in front of her at the very least.

It was not pity that the scientist felt.

His syringe, filled with another set of poison to see if PSUL2.018-BD would survive this round of tests, pierced into the small Mobian-shaped form – ‘shaped’ because Gerald was not going to lie to himself: an organic in the form of the future invaders was never something that should be brought to light. If his deal was not exposed, Maria needed to have his Project by her side to save the planet, and it wouldn’t be allowed to do that if it carried their appearance.

[Memories of Maria cuddling up to the lizard before its banishment; of the etching of a hedgehog defeating a dead civilization’s version of ‘God’; of the thought that a cure for all diseases should be something ‘cute and fuzzy’ in Maria’s words…]

A pencil scratched notes and echoed into the night.

The spasms of the Project silent.

Small limbs and body in full contortions.

A sudden lack of movement.

The alarms silenced by his impassive movement as the embryo’s heart reached critical.

Stillness for a few moments before the pencil glided against the sheet of paper once more.

Test 1,567: it is still alive.

Another day passed.

Test 1,664: it is still alive.

Another week passed.

Test 1,937: it is still alive…

[x]

‘Sean Casey’ was honestly nothing more than a young kid. 19 years old, bright honey-colored hair, and a dress suit that was obviously quite uncomfortable. Last year, the youth was ‘Adams Novell.’ The year before that, ‘Xavier’ Something ‘Davis the Second.’ Each new cycle of the calendar brought a kid fresh from the military academy for the enlisted. It always struck Gerald a humorous chord that the lowest of the ranks had less age than he had as a scientist. Naïve, innocent, almost like Maria; stories of their upbringing and old lives created something new to talk about. Critically, the Security Forces individual that was stationed on Gerald’s hallway/wing complex had tales of Earth not yet heard in the Robotnik quarters.

Maria would be very excited!

“So, which academy did you come from, Mr. Casey?” Gerald asked while setting up the table with a set of coffee and tea. “The one in the south? East?”

An embarrassed and confused smile. Most expected the ‘genius’ of the ARK to be more… inhospitable [and the rumors going around that he was starting to go ‘mad’ were idiotic without substance!]. He once had a wife, though, and understood how to make meaningful connections. Whenever Casey would report to his superiors, he would tell them, as all the others had, that Dr. Robotnik was a jolly fellow, hardworking for G.U.N.’s desires.

“South, so I was expecting to do my first base in the plains or the desert,” gushed the young adult. “I got the fourth highest score in the academy and was told I was going to have the opportunity to work at a ‘faraway place’ if I was willing. I honestly expected overseas, not…” His hand reached towards the window; the planet’s vast oceans below them. “Well, this!”

Gerald nodded. Each kid had similar stories: the highest-ranking cadet that had no awards or pictures taken. G.U.N. wasn’t going to let anyone in that had the potential for loose lips nor history. [There were not many things that he agreed with the military complex, but the secrecy of the truth of the ARK was one of them.] “I dare say you lucked out! Not much happens here on the station. It’s why ‘Blues Monday’ even exists.” He made sure to add a smile. “The worst thing that generally happens is having to put up with this old man. The higher ups of yours understands that to achieve peak performance is to tie their workers into stylistic uniforms.”

Casey was social enough to chuckle.

There was a dull noise of the entrance door opening in the background. Maria soon waltzed in with three trays of lunch: him, her, and a ‘special guest.’ So swift she had made it back that the steam was still rising from the lot of them. Her blue eyes were concentrated on her own limbs as she attempted to maintain balance; pink tongue sticking out. Once she thought everything was under control, she turned to look up and gave Gerald a-

Her feet slid to a halt as shock etched onto features. Swiftly, the girl tore her hand over her upper left chest, near her heart, and took a step back. Watching her stumble, suddenly fearful of NIDS teasing its grip on her body again, Dr. Robotnik rushed forwards-!

The flash of a metal lunch tray arced the sky-

Sharpened edge jammed against a male’s skull-

Milk bleaching a suit white-

There were ‘slopping’ noises as steak, mashed potatoes, and peas splattered towards the ground. The stainless-steel utensils embedded onto Casey’s no longer shined shoes.

But forget about the boy, Maria had fallen!!

And she was in a panic. Cyan blazed as his granddaughter threw herself away from the dining room, never keeping her eye off of the G.U.N. member. Her back tracking motions had her bounce into a wall, but she was immediate in slipping from Gerald’s grasp. It was painfully apparent that Maria was frightened of Sean Casey. Her trembled hands eventually got to the access panel and the girl fled. Only her shoes that pounded the floor were evidence of what used to be.

He ignored the military boy’s groans and took off after Maria.

[x]

It was the utility closet in the area closest to PSUL’s tube was located where he found her. She was crammed into the thinnest of slits – if she was just a few pounds heavier she might not have made it. The headband in her hair was gone, the blonde locks tangled and filled with dust from the nearby broom, and the bottom hem of her light blue dress was torn. In her arms was a pillow that had actually been cut by her nails – the same one from the tent, whose guts were piled into a mound that prevented anyone from coming close to the hiding spot.

Gerald couldn't physically touch her, so he decided to slide down to sit as close as he could. In fact, he reached his arm towards the only hole he could attempt; a sigh of relief when her own hand reached back and squeezed.

He couldn't understand what she was thinking.

But he could be there for her-

The voice was hoarse and filled with grief. “Grandpa… Don't ever let that man be with you alone.”

The shock of hearing her first words again didn't give a response fast enough for her, apparently.

“Promise me, Grandpa!”

“Ma- Maria, what's the matter?” Gerald begged, giving another squeeze of her hand. He took note of how… red it was, as if it had been scratching at something harder than cotton…

“Not everyone can be trusted! He's the one that-!!”

Maria flinched. Just like that, her voice was gone once more.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 2

[×]

His granddaughter didn't understand the term ‘hatred.’ That was something he was positive of. In fact, she never glared, cursed, or did the other malicious actions brought upon by rage. However, not knowing ‘hatred’ didn't mean everything was as bright as the Earthrise: G.U.N. was something that she didn't – wouldn't – trust, and it had come out of ‘nowhere.’ The mystery of what was going on in Maria's head kept twisting itself into basically a pocket dimension he lacked access to. He wanted to know more – wanted to trust her words – but at the same time, that gnawing feeling of disbelief contained within him. The duality was beginning to make him feel ill.

Giving a large sigh, his picked up his pencil and continued to do the work for the evening. Although he wanted to stay with Maria longer, especially after her voice somewhat coming back, he couldn’t let the quest for the Ultimate Lifeform backtrack longer than it already has. She depended on him, and the specimen was at a critical stage of its life.

Tired hands rubbed the bridge of a nose.

The Project was having an… issue.

Well, to be brutal, that was too weak of a word. A minor ‘problem’ was Gerald himself – he felt the eyes of them even if nothing was around. It was as if the larva was watching his every move and reporting to the strange demonic-looking humanoid leader. In fact, he had been afraid that was the case – at least until he ran enough tests to come to the [tepid] conclusion that the larva held only instinct instead of sentience. [It was partly the reason why he doubted PSUL2.018-BD was going to even achieve success. Something that Maria could depend on for the future – something that G.U.N. wanted to be smart enough to think in high stress situations – had to be something more than just a motionless doll.]

A rough snort flew from his lips. Gerald was rambling in his own mind. When did he start losing focus?

Right…

The ‘issue.’

One certain scientist’s eyes trailed back towards where the readings about Chaos Energy were charted. Last night, the results were within the normal parameters. Tonight, however, everything redlined to the point that the amount of Chaos Energy within the Project’s body had shorted out half of the electrical devices. In initial frustration, he only received a ‘general alarm’ instead of the required ‘master,’ and, as such, had walked slowly away from Maria. A ‘general’ was nothing too serious: slight over pressure of the embryonic fluid; one of the backup pumps going offline; unwanted or unexpected movement of the specimen. Dr. Robotnik had kept to that almost lackadaisical pace… until he had opened the doors to his lab. Only then did he realize the severity of what just happened – the entire back half was dark, cold, and not a single sound. Honestly, when he saw it, his heart had sunk in the realization he had probably lost 2.018. Power fluctuations were things he had prepared for, yes, yet, even his backup generators were offline.

Defeat was the expected outcome. It was too young to have survived the double punch of both Chaos Energy going out of control and the life support system’s utter failure. Even the Biolizard would perish when cut from her field – an embryo stood no chance. Gerald had felt that all-too-common regret of another failure when he had pulled out his scapples, lenses, slides, and knives; the new glow of the lights fluttering back as he spent three grueling hours repairing the damage to stop any rot before it set in.

When the illumination reflected off of PSUL’s tube did he stand back in surprise; autopsy materials released to the floor faster than his heart reached to his throat.

The specimen was alive.

It looked like a pulsing black and red mass.

But alive.

… He thinks.

[Sleep was to be a foreign concept.]

[x]

“Grandpa!” Maria greeted him on what had to be morning some days [a week?] later, bursting through the lab’s doors without warning. She must have been worried about his lack of visitation, based on the glee in her voice- [Wait. Voice? Gerald refocused midway thru a magnified close-up of the specimen’s culture.] “I can talk again!”

The scientist stopped everything he was doing. Swinging around on the ball of his foot, he reached open his arms and basically threw his precious girl into a warm hug. “Oh, MARIA!”

“Once I realized the rules of my mouth, I just had to come here and tell you that I love you, Grandpa! I really, really; really do!” Her voice carried each word in rapid succession, as if she was going to be forced to stop at any second. As her hands hugged him back, he could see her hope-filled eyes. “And just as important, I can say Shadow’s name.”

“Why, that’s just…” He gave a tighter squeeze, positive his tears were just as much about relief as they were joy. “… Perfect, my dear.”

“I can do it-” And with that, Maria made a grimace. Aware that Gerald was about to send her off to the infirmary, she held up her hand. “S-Sorry, Grandpa. I got… a little too ahead of myself.” The voice dropped in volume. “I wonder if I can discuss to Shadow about that…”

He was going to maintain his stress levels today as well, it seemed. “Discuss what…?”

She turned to look at the room around them before she settled back to Gerald. “… Secret. Sorry, I… truly am.” Maria held her hands together, forced the undercurrent of fear and seriousness to slip away, and gave a little jump. “But don't worry, Grandpa! I know I'll overcome this temporary setback! And you'll be-” One could see her mind work, as if she was trying to find a loophole. [Of what?] “-able to hug me for more days. You just… need to stay happy! OK? Strategically away from G.U.N. … p-personal. You. And Shadow. Both of you.” A deep, haggard exhale. “Whew. I did it.”

She certainly did. Forget his Project for an hour. He was going to entertain her.

[x]

[What did Maria mean by ‘rules?’]

[x]

A young girl’s reflection played on the glass of the tube. “Why is he a squid?”

Gerald cleaned his glasses for the third time that day. Mentally, he congratulated himself for running more benign tests. The odds of her running into the lab had only increased dramatically since her incident. “Only recently, my dear,” he addressed, coming to the conclusion that Maria had blessed 2.018-BD as a ‘person’ instead of an experiment alone.

Her eyes never left the container of PSUL. “He's… so different.” She had that strange look of enthrallment; awe in the sublime degree.

“Well, the Project actually is a quite a tricky one. Its physical form is running all over the place. For about six hours, PSUL-”

Maria's interruption was quick, but not cruel. “‘Shadow,’ Grandpa.”

Shadow? Yes, this was Project: SHADOW, but he was suddenly struck with the fact she meant something else. Now he was going to be in serious trouble if the specimen passed away… [If it could pass away? It had survived his armada of caustic tests of regeneration and without power, unlike a previous 2.006-BD. That was such a positive sign for healing…!] “Apologies, Maria. Shadow, if I may,” as he was greeted with a large grin, “spends six hours a day in this form before returning back to the shape of a hedgehog. I honestly haven't found the cause of it quite yet, but I have a feeling it has to deal with the sheer ridiculous amounts of Chaos Energy it – ah, he – is made of.”

Basically, the specimen was Chaos in the shape of a mammal. He had run enough tests to come to that conclusion – the strange conglomerate of energy and biomatter was so foreign and alien [hah!] that he had trouble translating it into something useful. PSUL didn't have the appearance of the deity in the Angel Island’s ancient carvings, so at least Gerald didn't accidentally unleash an ancient God. Hah… G. U. N. would have probably wanted that instead-

“He changes?” mouthed Maria, placing her hands back onto the glass. “I can't wait to meet him! There's so much to talk about!”

Gerald felt himself flinch again. “My dear, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Shadow,” he felt strange as he uttered the word, “may not be able to communicate.” He didn't have the heart to say aloud that the brain of 2.018 was in a tragic state. As a hedgehog-shaped infant, Gerald had manipulated its DNA to have one in the embryotic stage, but once it collapsed into that strange mass, the nervous system congealed into a more primitive state: a neuron complex. [And it honestly wasn't even neurons. The strands that were equivalent to nerves were black, which was in sharp contrast to anything ‘from Earth.’ Instead of electrical pulses, which is how mammals of all types used, the neurons and nervous system of PSUL used Chaos Energy to send signals of movement. It was quite a shock, as well as the source of his sheer and utter exhaustion. At the same time, the implications and the wonder of such a being was beginning to form strange thoughts in Gerald’s mind.]

Her blonde locks swayed as she swiftly turned her head. “Grandpa, Shadow is going to be fine. He's your greatest creation.” A nod as she waved her thin arms wide. “And I gotta be here when he awakens! O! I have to go get some of the best snacks from the cafeteria! I'll go get them right now!”

“Hold on, Maria!” Gerald gently reached and grabbed her shoulders. “Even assuming Shadow has vocal cords in his hedgehog form, he's nowhere near ready.” Because he lacks a mind. “So, why don't we just have a quiet dinner together and we can watch the mass turn back into mammal together…?”

Her face had a mischievous glint. “I'll go get the food right away for that, then! I'll be back, Grandpa! Nothing can break your super important concentration today. I'll make sure to help you.”

It wasn't until he went back to run tests on the ‘squid,’ letting his mind reenter analytical mode, did he realize that today was the day G.U.N. was supposed to visit his quarters for their report. Maria had never stopped him from having those important meetings before [in fact, she would break in to remind him he had to go] – she understood that the reports were critical to funding, of which he was burning through…

He stared out into the quiet lab.

[x]

Dinner consisted of a kale and potato soup. The sausage and cream additions made the dish quite palatable, and it warmed him up inside. His hands had begun to cramp from writing so much of his analysis, and the heat of the bowl helped to alleviate that. Idly, he wondered if the true completed specimen could cure arthritis after healing Maria. [And he did give a small chuckle at that.] Whatever the case, the duo had a makeshift table by 2.018’s area. Like before, Maria had brought three meals on their metal serving plates, but this time the ‘special guest’ slot was for PSUL.

She had done an excellent job at keeping him away from the weekly meeting, but he had to give a report at some point. Perhaps skipping a singular week wouldn't be too tragic – Maria did not need to enter into another frantic state, and while G.U.N. was incessant, they were understanding that their wants for an update were only trumped by the specimen itself, or Maria’s prognosis. [A worried and distraught lead scientist left for a terrible end result, after all.]

There was movement again from 2.018-BD’s pod. The slag of bio-mass was no longer slop on the bottom of the container. Rather, it was stretching into genetic swaths large enough to prevent seeing the other side of the glass. Gerald kept his eye on the Chaos sensors as Maria stared onwards at the sight. The energy readings seemed to follow a cosine wave pattern, but only for the moment. At any second the output would ascend to beyond charted maximum for 0.124 seconds before crashing back down into-

POP!

The duo descended into darkness.

A certain black and red mass, once again, shorted out the power in the rear of the lab – despite having added more interference protection, but at least nothing exploded this time around. Finally, on this occasion, he was prepared – Maria wanted to see the transformation, so some glowing sticks were already in place around the area. Not using a method of illumination that would be overpowered by Chaos, they continued where modern science had failed.

Gerald wondered if the conversion was… painful.

But only briefly.

The ‘squid’ bounced from the top of the tube back to the bottom; the sounds of something moist echoing in the back area of the room. It shot out tendrils that recoiled against the barrier; the two humans spell-bounded in their sight as the limbs rotated back onto themselves. The rest of the mass went haywire soon afterwards: contorted seizures would have been the correct word to use if this PSUL had a brain left to comprehend such…

Eventually, the ooze faded in a few areas. Crimson – a deep, rich red that Gerald had no idea where it originated from because the hedgehog motif he had pulled from was more a gold than anything else – streaks, black quills, a tanned lower mouth, and the smallest hint of white soon took over the exact location where the squid had once been. The specimen was back into a ‘mere’ hedgehog.

That was not all.

“Shadow…,” his granddaughter whispered slowly as her voice carried disbelief married with confusion. Despite that, it was her that was the first to recover. “Since when did you have wings at…? This… is new…”

Forget the wings-!

[Forget!?]

Why was his embryo… no longer in its infant stage?! It was at least complete in Mobian size! Where had this growth come from!? Assuming the normal rate of pod fluid injection, this was not supposed to happen for quite some period even underneath the forced acceleration timeframe!

[And WHY did it have WINGS!?]

Gerald didn’t have much of a stretch to comprehend what was going on before he realized his hair started to rise up. In fact, his clothes were moving against gravity on its own – as was Maria’s. The instinct to protect his granddaughter took over and he forced the girl to backtrack from whatever was about to happen. Her cry of surprise filled the air as he spun around – his right foot almost tripped against the edge of the makeshift table – her head still looked back towards PSUL as the scientist yanked her – the dull glow of the other side of the lab felt like miles away-

His body could feel it first.

Rage.

Anger.

Utter hatred.

Miasma caught in a focal point- Corruption, the same taste he had in his mouth when that thing appeared before him- So much utter Chaos that Gerald could understand the bitterness- Could feel his body start to go numb as the energy begun to assault a nervous system not compatible-

His eyes could see it.

A golden streak. It was as brilliant as the sun itself; crafted out from thin air; hovered before the two Robotniks. It took the shape of a needle – a lance – a spear – with a sound effect Gerald would never forget – of what he could only label as ‘mesocyclone.’

It simply moved through the air.

Rocketed off towards their side.

A weapon.

Judgment.

This was it. Cruel reality gripped as he had no time to even say goodbye to Maria-

The spear exploded through the glass container of the larva, impaled right into the eye of the disgusting creature, turned supernova, and then… everything became washed in white…

And stillness…

The only clue that he was still alive was the ringing in his ears…

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 3

[×]

Gerald did not know how long it was.

Seconds? Minutes? Hours?

The ringing eventually ended and white agonizingly dissipated. A mind soon saw last night’s report folded wrong side up; the reflections of various other bioengineered subjects in their preserved, eternal rest; the memo that reminded its human owner that he needed to submit a budget outline to the pencil pushers; an outline of a hall with test tubes and tables; the darkness of space lacking electricity- Oh. It seems that the entire lab itself was not without primary power, but the backup had tripped on in order for him to see-

He's missing something… important-!

“-ria-!” The voice escaped his lips as his brain caught up.

The weight of a thousand mountains removed from his chest when he felt her small hand squeeze him. Heard her voice. “I'm… okay.” And she was. Her eyes were dilating back to normal, she was still standing right besides his taller form [that remained in a stance of protection], there were no marks or mars on her dress nor skin, and even her headband remained firmly in place.

Silence returned. Gerald was confused as to what to accomplish. How about focusing on that golden light? Where had it come from? It wasn't aimed at the Robotniks – with the accuracy just exposed, the scientist had a deep feeling if it had been, he would have never awakened again. It was a threat, but also a solution – the larva was no longer amidst the living… but that feeling of being watched remained all the same. Different. Calculating. Other emotions he could not place. As the elderly man struggled to get moving, he realized that his whole body was shaking.

He was afraid.

Experimental accidents were not foreign. Not at all. Deaths of fellow scientists were unwanted, but when the quest was to obtain immortality and a weapon, the different variances of creations could cause it. Yet, it was a bigger problem with the PSUL1-series as a whole. All the 2-s had failed without incident, expression, or… explosions. Obviously! [Gerald was a fool. An angry fool at that! Maria would have never been allowed in the lab if-!!] The dots were being tied together as the scientist pulled the girl into the front half of the room – ignored her comments. [She was speaking. She was scared. She was shocked. He had to move her away. Away. Away.] The hallway looked so far, now. Alarms had been killed- Why? Should he run to the Security Forces member and tell them to enter his sanctuary for a sweep? Report to the board – the President – that one of his creations had managed to reign in Chaos energy? Could he use this for more funding?! [Maria could have died. She could have been vaporized. She could have been stabbed, bleeding under that blue dress. This was a warning. A mistake. He had played God and as a response to his hubris, he-!]

“GRANDPA!”

He was... on the floor?

Since… when?

His response was a looming figure of darkness; ruby; something all encompassing.

It was… PSUL2.018-BD.

Maria’s voice was… relieved[?!]. “Oh, thank you, Shadow. Grandpa would have hit his head really hard if you hadn't…” There was a pause. [Normally, this was when a highly readable expression would rise upon her features, but he could only see the winged being before him! That darkness!!] “… gotten out of the tube?” Another pause- Gerald could see the face of 2.018 leave him and change targets. That crimson, hypnotic; blank gaze- That disappearing feeling of instinctual hunger- Tension in limbs that liquefied- “Shadow! Oh, my God! Shadow! You're awake!!” ended the screams of joy and bliss to a creature that Gerald had suddenly became aware was-!

It's not sentient!!! Maria, stop-!! He couldn't move. He couldn't reach his hands out-!! The specimen somehow left his sight, and Gerald couldn't move to see-!!

“Is this… my final dream?”

A new, unknown voice. Soft. Deep.

Lost.

It heralded Dr. Robotnik’s demise.

[x]

His next memory was in the infirmary. The white walls, the Healing Units, the surgical tools tucked towards the right; the sleeping face of Maria besides him; the concerned face of the physician that held unease. Sterile tabletops, no color, and the strong smell of isopropyl alcohol assaulted his senses. Coughing, Gerald strained to sit up – the nasal tube still shoved in his body made things uncomfortable.

The medical personnel shook her head. “Glad to see your back with us, Dr. Robotnik.” The woman's nametag was out of focus, but Gerald recalled that she was one of the underlings of his biologist assistant. Normally, that would include a name, but his mind was still… off. “I understand that you have been after your Project for years, now, but you need to remember that dying from a heart attack upon your success is not a way anyone us from here wants your brilliance to go out.” A pause. “Especially with the Project’s potential.”

Easily read confusion filled his face.

The physician blinked. A sigh. A shuffle of a stack of papers. “You’re in recovery right now. Haven't been down too long, but you really need to take care of yourself some more. You already had issues with nutrition and sleep based on our analysis, but your recent collapse points to more tenuous issues. Everyone has been… worried.” A grumble. “That includes G.U.N.. Been hovering around the civilian half of the ARK like gnats, but Maria has been holding them off for your much needed recovery time.” The reports were stuffed back into the file that contained Gerald’s name in bold black font – onto await the next professional. “She's… going to be happy you’re alright. Been shuffling duty with us over hiding our… Project from them to prevent your overtaxing.”

The woman talked as if Gerald was… successful?

In Project: SHADOW?

The… weapon?

[A cure?]

… A being who was now held in a sentence akin to normalcy?

His most recent movement caught Maria with enough force to awaken her. Her blue eyes fluttered as recognition flashed. “Grandpa!” was a sweet coon, as if everything was going to be alright – which it wasn't. Things had spiraled out of control- “You better listen to Dr. Eruba!” his granddaughter cut in with a wag of her finger. “I… was really worried about you there.” Her face distorted into a pitiful smile. “I'm the only one that should be visiting a bed here.”

“My dear…” So many questions. He couldn't ignore how everyone acted like the experiment was running around in… In what? Civility? “You shouldn’t joke like that.” Perhaps letting a deflecting comment would calm her as well. “But… why don’t you let me know what happened?” It was best to sit and gather more intelligence, right?

The medical expert understood when a private moment was needed. “Maria, you know which button to press if you need me to come back immediately. I’ll be out in the hallway,” she ended, waving her pen towards the direction of comment. With only a few simple steps, she, too, was gone.

The two Robotniks hesitated.

Eventually, something broke.

“Please don’t hurt Shadow’s feelings when you see him. He’s a little – okay, a lot – confused right now, and you might accidentally say the wrong thing.” Her face scrunched, as if admitting this aloud was as painful as one of her ‘bad days:’ pressed lips, pale face, and a breath rate that increased the longer Gerald did not respond. “O-Of course, Grandpa, he totally knows that you love him! That’s- That’s not the problem at all!”

[Love ‘him?’]

Maria continued, not having had caught the scientist’s misperception. “It’s the other things. He’s scared! He won’t admit it, but I can tell. It’s the way he moves his little ears – you know, how he flicks them towards his behind for just a petite moment?” [No. Gerald doesn’t know this at all!] Her hand reached towards the adult’s. “He was terrified for us, Grandpa,” her voice gentled out; soothing. “The alien larva was a threat.” Pursed lips. “I don’t think Shadow should have… ah, erased a life like that, but Shadow mentioned that the larva had no mind, would never have a mind, and was just a slave- Or at least, that is what I managed to get out of him. He’s… more lost than you are right now.”

PSUL2.018-BD was created by the DNA of that larva, however. Why would a hybrid worry about what was basically the outlandish view of a ‘relative?’ Unless it had to deal with those things’ culture: did the starfish-shaped type have an innate enemy in the squid-style? Both were rather aquatic in form, yes, but the larva was not capable of Chaos specifications in the way Gerald had seen PSUL pull off. How could 2.018 have thought-?

Oh.

‘Thought?’ That’s something only sentient things could accomplish-

The Ultimate Lifeform:

He…

He actually…

Did it?

[x]

Every one of his immediate scientists that were in the know were congratulating him for his ‘unbelievable success,’ but each expression was muted in the corners of their eyes. He came to recognize there was a pattern in his colleagues – fear, awe, and trepidation. They all muttered to themselves, in huddles of gossip they must have known Gerald could hear – about the Project’s appearance, the Project’s uncanniness, the Project’s motif, and the Project’s silhouette. The Devil, almost, some of the younger commented. No, but certainly not Mobian, countered another. As if the Ultimate Lifeform was destined to be normal, argued the last, whom held onto fear the least.

The lab was empty when he was finally allowed out of the medical area.

Not a single living thing to be found.

[x]

The scene was eerie. There was no other word he could label as such easily: the cool undertones of the ceiling lights reflecting off the carbon palette of the specimen; how a set of wings, etched with fiery daggers at the tips, were limped behind the body of a hedgehog, dragging – almost – upon the floor; that pyrrole crimson eyesight that kept to Gerald’s recollection of a gaze that was far, far away [mindless, soulless; nothing home]; matched highlighted stripes on the crowns of each quill bundle and traced on the appendages in equal loudness; the sounds of machinery grinding to a halt before the specimen blinked slowly and the pumps regained their subtle squeals.

Maria… was petting it.

Her hands rubbed through ink – the face of PSUL abed upon her lap – the rest of its body lying limp on the couch she sat on by the viewing window of an isolated wing. Gerald could hear her whispers: ‘It's okay, Shadow. It's okay. I'm here. Just relax. Fall asleep if you need to. I'll be with you until you wake up again.’ A sad sounding sigh. Her gaze went towards the lights above – the same that seemed to hum with each of 2.018’s blinks. ‘I won't leave you again. I promise.’

[The lights stopped their fluctuations after that.]

That deep, almost drugged, voice returned, except this time Gerald was collected enough to realize whom it belonged to. “This isn't real…”

“I didn't think so, either, at first,” continued her soothed tone. “Go on. Nap. I'll tell Grandpa you said, ‘Hello.’”

The being stirred.

[Incandescent bulbs above brightened.]

“Professor…?”

“Will be here when you wake up.” At that, Maria shot her face to Gerald, who was still standing at the frame where hall met room. Her mouth asked what she wouldn't verbally utter: Right, Grandpa?

He could only stare at the sight.

[x]

Dr. Robotnik sat there for two hours, right next to his granddaughter. Maria spent the time chatting about the stars, the future evening meal, and her desire to get a room set up for 2.018 – for Shadow. Conveniently, the specimen was left out of the conversation aside from that living quarters demand – probably because the girl wanted the other two to get a discussion. Her previous actions made it painfully aware that she had already established a deep bond to the…

He adjusted his glasses once again.

PSUL was currently silent and unmoving. Chaos energy hugged the smaller form in the most controlled manner he had yet seen from the Lifeform, but that didn't hide that feeling of an ocean held back by a pebble. Gerald had a deep suspicion that the power fluctuations on the ARK were tied to 2.018 somehow. [Hypothesis: it brought Chaos under its control, subconsciously or not, and since the space station ran off Chaos Drives, its control perhaps extended to that. More analysis had to be accomplished. The fallout of what that could mean to the energy grid was not a joking matter.] Maria must be aware of the same effect, for when the Project moved its head ever so slightly in an attempt to awaken, the machines and artificial objects ‘held their breath.’ Even when she was mid sentence, asking Gerald what color or wallpaper to put upon the new walls, did her hand continue to rub PSUL2.018-BD back into the folds of deep sleep – and had no reaction when the lights kept humming back into normalcy.

She had seen this before.

Possibly when Gerald had been unconscious.

Yet, the question on his lips remained: if Maria’s heart was so good that she would love the specimen without much prior history, then why did said lab-result seem to listen to a young girl’s words? Gerald had not accomplished mind training yet – how was he when PSUL was only an embryo turned ‘squid’ in the shape of a hedgehog-? A stifled moan pressed against his crimped mouth as he hid the reaction from his granddaughter. He shouldn't think about how something without a brain could think. Not now, at the very least. A cursory guess did not give good examples of how that could occur biologically in nature. Nevertheless, the issue with the Project being a winged being capable of ruining the entire station on a whim in close vicinity to Maria was much higher on his plate.

[And IF this truly was the Ultimate Lifeform… was Maria to be saved? Worse: what if the chemical, Chaotic, and alien biology makeup wasn't compatible with a human for healing anymore? The Project has already gone off of the expected growth traits without any meddling from Gerald! He needed to get data from this new form-!!]

“You'll need to give Shadow pets, Grandpa,” she broke into his musing, looking straight up at him. “There’s no-” Blue eyes furrowed as her body winced. Then relaxed. “-way for him to control his Chaos powers right now, so he must stay calm. What's a better way than getting affection from your father?”

The specimen still lacked signs of being amongst the living. “Maria,” came carefully crafted words and tone, “I think you might be jumping ahead with certain… deductions.”

Despite trying to be neutral, he got stabbed – mentally – by her appalled and horrified expression. “Grandpa!” Maria hissed. “Don't… Don't tell me you don't consider him your-!!”

“Of course! Things can change! It's just…” How to fix this, Gerald!? “There's been a lot of shock and suddenness. I didn't have the time to bond with,” FIX IT FOR MARIA! “Shadow, yet.” He couldn't bare to withstand that pained look of upmost disappointment from her. “Once I get to know him better…!”

The lights suddenly flickered.

“Professor…?” It must have heard the argument and stirred awake – abnormal appendages slowly moved in a stretch. Those eyes of bright ruby opened, aimed at the young girl and the scientist, whom both were still in its field of view. The Project’s bare black and red hand reached towards its head, shaking. “Why am I still dreaming…?”

Maria continued to stare at Gerald.

Expectantly.

“Good morning,” Dr. Robotnik greeted with extreme control on his tone.

Her eyes still hadn’t lost their sadness.

The scientist took in a deep breath. Carefully, cautiously, he reached over. The white of his lab coat was starch against the deep values of the Project’s fur/quills; the sleeve that protected Gerald’s wrist the only shield he had. He took another inhale as his fingers dug into the surface of his… creation. Felt surprised at the smoothness of it. [Like silk.] The sharpened tips were left flattened and away – PSUL did not feel any threat. Indeed, the Project had moved to face up into its creator directly, and the man was assaulted by complex thought processes that flashed on its…

Oh.

Oh, my.

… It had the ability to express emotions.

Was he in shock? Was he in awe? A part of his brain understood that what he was about to do was going to affect the future in a manner even he wasn't smart enough to predict. “You're a little earlier than planned, and I must apologize for my tardiness. Welcome to the ARK, Shadow the Ultimate Lifeform. We’re so glad to see you.”

The lights steadied.

In the background, Maria had a smile and nodded in approval.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 4

[×]

Three scientists were besides Gerald – the ones he trusted and depended on the most. Their pencils were at the ready, hovered over blank white papers and clipboards to write anything and everything down. Despite being a week since PSU- – Shadow’s – awakening, this was to be the first time the head of the entire Project was to begin testing. It had taken that long for… Shadow [that identity still foreign, but despite his hesitation, Maria made it obvious her desires] to be capable of staying conscious long enough to stand still and be analyzed under its – his – own power.

“A furnace...”

Gerald flinched and lifted his eyes to greet the hedgehog’s directly. He noticed that Shadow remained calmer and… almost dependent on the attention of the Robotniks. It was as if the two were a balm on the pain that mixed into his face; was apparent that the hedgehog-looking creature understood hope through the duo as well. “Mind explaining that before we begin, Shadow?”

The gaze of PSUL – of Shadow, curses! – kept that blank emptiness despite knowledge that something was clearly inside to enact feelings and thoughts. By now, Gerald hypothesized that the ‘Mobian’ did not know how off-putting those pyrrole oculars were – a deeper, dark hue at the top that transitioned to the color of blood at the bottom. Doll eyes. Soulless eyes. [“The eyes of the damned,” one researcher quipped at the common dining facility. Gerald was to snap in, but recalled the color of them and their leader’s and was unable to speak…] “Without something to inhibit my Chaos Energy, I feel like I'm afire. A burning sun. Like I'm split into a million pieces, catapulted into the core of a gravitational pull, and then slammed repeatedly into its center.” Those white gloved hands – a gift from Maria – rubbed against wrists where nothing resided. “It's horrible and I should be in pain, but… I'm numb. The energy is subduing me to the point I feel like I'm only partially aware. I was warned this could happen...”

Those wings not only allowed Shadow to fly, float, and hover, but like the ‘squid,’ it was made of nothing but channels of Chaos. A biological mystery. Gerald had a strong suspicion that they were conduits in gathering more of that mythical energy from the surroundings. The surface area was just so large; he tried to imagine being pumped full to the brim with Chaos. Shivered at the thought. Chaos Energy injected into humans was an experiment G.U.N. had tried not long ago and failed spectacularly – despite his warnings. In short, the military’s products exploded like miniature suns. “I see…,” Gerald begun with unease. “Was it… Maria?”

She had started digging into his old research papers like a woman lost in the desert whom found water.  [Rambled about shoes and bracelets, of all things.]

Shadow did not respond immediately; those hands kept to wrists. When it – sigh, he – did, the creature had slightly changed topic. “Professor. Please do not test my Chaos abilities for the foreseeable future. I have no desire to be ‘more brilliant than the stars.’”

That was a quote. Possibly from the same person[?] that commented about the ‘furnace.’ Gerald took in a deep breath – he couldn't blame Maria for saying that to Shadow. Whatever energy reading mechanisms they even attempted to get near the Ultimate Lifeform all reached charted maximums before breaking; just like the bulbs above did if he was to experience emotional duress. Just being near the specimen when he was self-aware left a body buzzed. “No worries, Shadow. All we will be doing right now is simple things. Stuff like: where did you get your knowledge base from?”

“You.”

Gerald didn't allow himself to show confusion. “I see.”

“Professor?”

“What is it, Shadow?”

“I'm not lying. You and Maria gave me the wishes that drive my actions.”

… Wishes?

Gerald’s associate picked up the slack during Robotnik’s silence. “What sort of things do you enjoy?”

“Maria. Professor.” That was the immediate. “Motorcycles. Coffee beans. Lavender.” That was after slight hesitation. “… Team Dark…” That was at the end, nearly a whisper – and without context it was quite… scary. What was ‘Team Dark?’

Another scientist. Another question. “How about things you don't like?”

“Sonic,” came a bitter laugh. “Alright, that's true but needs clarification. We’re more…” A change of expression – the numbness that Chaos was driving into Shadow’s form easy to spot now that Gerald had a reference. “… Were rivals.” The Lifeform shook his head. “Not rivals anymore, now…”

Dr. Robotnik’s own pencil flew. The mental state of the specimen was not fully stable or clear: was possibly the after effects of the energy absorption. Dangerous? Incredibly so. Aggressive? Seemed not. Controllable? Only to the members of Project: SHADOW, it seemed – a loyalty he still didn't fully understand where it came from, but glad all the same. [The idea of Shadow becoming a failure like the Biolizard; that dark form tearing thru flesh; anything that moved a target; a monster-!]

The last one of the group had a different question than likes or dislikes. “How old would you consider yourself at?”

The wings stiffened at that. Flapped. “I honestly… wouldn't be able to even formulate a guess.”

Gerald tapped and circled a specific note: unaware of the passage of time. [A cause from Chaos or from being designed as an immortal being? Neither? Both?] The head of the scientist group coughed back to action and took his turn. “It is obvious you're cognizant of self. When did you begin?”

A moment of silence.  Thoughts to himself. “I… could see Professor’s laboratory. I could… see myself. And yet I can recall the black stillness of my tube – of the nothingness before my creation.” Confusion. Admission of loss. Shadow was unsure. “It wasn't like this. That was all the sights, sounds, and self at once. ‘Welcome to the world.’ Not… this… On this, I was-”

Gerald flinched when the machinery around the group immediately fried and smoked; the booms of pieces going off balance and self-destructing in the far background; ceiling lights cascading into a failure so intense that not even the emergency spares were safe. By now, he was just glad that those were the only Chaos Driven items on the whole floor. They had chosen this area, deep within the asteroid section of the ARK, for a reason. At some point they would over stimulate the Project, but he hadn’t expected it to be so soon-

“I saw myself from its viewpoint,” was the Lifeform’s voice of horror and self-realization.

[x]

Gold.

Golden rings. Four of them. Drawn in crayon, their wax doodles reflected the private room of Gerald. His fingers traced each one slowly. Extensive notes filled the pages upon pages of a pink-hearted diary – detailed formulas of wavelengths, sinoids, calculated load maximums; how much Chaos they could subdue and redirect. There was no setup. No preplanned thoughts nor curiosity. It was as if Maria had an epiphany from seeing the winged form of Shadow – the religious subtext sunk into the depths of his mind. [Not the Devil! he hissed to himself once more. After yesterday’s show, now even his next-of-rank were whispering more of that rumor to themselves.]

“He needs them, Grandpa. He's becoming… ‘aware’ without. His words. Not mine.”

He flipped through more of the pages and eventually reached the title card she had scribed. “‘Inhibitor Rings – Shadow’s Cure.’”

She moved her body slightly in nerves. “It’s…,” his granddaughter sighed while she rubbed the back of her head, “not technically a cure. More like a sealed lid on a pressurized vessel. I checked your readings. He's too strong now for them to do what...” Cyan roamed the room as she searched for a way to finish the sentence. “… these specifications allow.” A jump. “BUT they'll still be super helpful!”

“This is incredible.” It was like she had seen the math before and knew the answer. He could have thought up the exact design himself and had the same configuration output and design. “You literally cannot make them any stronger than what's here, and we only have enough material to make exactly four of them...”

She was his kin. Maria knew the tone of pride mixed with suspicion. “I was just… worried for him. I’d imagine he never lived without them for so long.” His dear was hiding something. Certainly. “I just really want to help Shadow.”

That was genuine.

He rubbed the bridge of his face. “Maria… Well, I suppose this is much better than some of the others’ ideas. It might take a few months to assemble, however.”

She frowned at that. “Grandpa. I hope you're standing up for him in the meanwhile. You have to protect him while he's in this state.”

There it was again. That fierce devotion. If Gerald didn't know better, one could argue the Ultimate Lifeform was Maria built to guard a certain hedgehog. “I am, just how you would want. He's too dangerous to sleep in your room right now, but I ensured he was safe and comfortable in the lab. I even petted him to sleep like you instructed.”

Blonde locks flew as she nodded. “Great! So he'll be able to come by when the Inhibitors are completed!” Mouth still in an upended smile, the girl took a look at the door. The tone went flat. “You still… haven't told G.U.N. about Shadow yet, right, Grandpa? I noticed a certain individual acts like he doesn't know.”

“I’ll have to at some point.” So far, every researcher with knowledge on Project: SHADOW have kept sealed lips. Scientists preferred to confirm their experiment’s completion prior to running to the press – especially the ones that Gerald curated.

Her eyes furrowed, like if she had swallowed a tart onion. “I see…” Her little shoes paced around. “O!” She jumped, then turned to face her relative. At once, she threw herself onto him and gave the strongest hug her body could do. “I love you, Grandpa. Never change.”

“I love you as well.”

[x]

Gerald was aware enough that he was experiencing a nightmare.

His lab coat was dinged almost brown and splattered with verdant viscous fluids of some type. Superficial injuries filled his hands, almost as if he had been burned at the surface of his hair. A dull ache reached his stomach; a more pronounced one let it be known on his right calf. There was a sense of dizziness as he felt himself stumble on the rocks below him. Strained, he twisted himself to see the surroundings: of the surface of a planet that was burning, burning; burning. Everything was ablaze in crimson – even the sky held that color as a maddening haze.

Was this… Earth?

He didn't see Maria, which was good. Even in nightmares, nothing was worse than dreaming of her final breath. Her not apparent meant she wasn't here – his mind either saw her first or never at all.

His shoes were missing.

Barefoot, Gerald wondered where the trigger was to awaken. This apocalyptic landscape was nothing he wanted to experience more of. He took a few steps back when suddenly…

There just was an army.

Misshapen. Claws. Ebony slicers and yellow eyes. Green glowing sacs. Jagged mouths that held human bodies – those of his crew from Project: SHADOW and military personnel alike. Alien in form.

Demons-!

He shoved that fallacy aside. He already knew this dream: the one of them invading his mother planet; of their slaughter thru cities and towns; of every plant, insect, and piece of matter absorbed and consumed into their biomass. They used that carbon to give birth to more and more of their kind. It was mindless slaughter in the pursuit of relieving hunger. THIS was what had given him fear the first time – even the second – but was also why the Eclipse Cannon was soon to exist.

The comet streaked in the sky as it always did.

One of them noticed he was there.

Just because he knew it was a dream did not make the simulated pain of being skewered right into his lungs any less.

[x]

He awakened to crimson.

The entire ARK was blaring. A female voice stated a grave tenor over the loudspeaker system. Her coded words made the index of danger quite high – only just short of the Biolizard escaping its prison; Shadow still such a secret that an alarm for his potential hazard had yet to be coined. The soldiers appeared moments after the master alert screamed once again to Dr. Robotnik; their boots had torn the door open loud enough to drown all other sound if just for a moment.

What was going on?!

Sean Casey was in the group. Each man was armed to the teeth with safeties off. His youthful face tried to hide the steel glint of danger in those eyes but were unsuccessful. “Doctor! There’s been an incident on the seventeenth-floor lab!”

The ‘military side’ of the ARK?!

The kid continued. “We need to escort you and the others to safety immediately.”

“Where is Maria!?” The cry rang into the alarms. The tension of his state hurt.

A shake of Casey’s head. “She must have run off to hide. She wasn't in her room.” He grabbed the elder’s elbow. “Our orders are to prioritize the intellectuals!”

Had she run to Shadow!?

Gerald forced the panic to quell. Yes. Maria must have run to where the Ultimate Lifeform was upon the first alarm – he hadn’t hidden the location of where he was on purpose from her. For goodness’ sake, the girl might have gone camping in the lab against his wishes again. She only saw the Project in a positive light, and he knew that she would never do anything unwise on her own. Although he didn't like the fact that she had left by herself without a note, the scientist had to admit that there was no place safer than besides him. [Assuming the fear in his heart was not from the thought that PSUL had broken free of his sanity.] “What's the cause?”

A grimace. “Above my pay grade, doctor,” Casey started as he hand signaled the others in something only the military understood. He turned his head towards a colleague. “Have you managed to get in touch with the other floors?”

ZAP! The entirety of the illumination systems of the ARK shuddered from whatever that was. Lesser crucial machines went offline as the hum of emergency generators kicked from slumber. Sparks scattered from the ceiling.

“The hell-?!” one of the youths mouthed.

Something sunk in the pit of Robotnik’s stomach.

They ran. Together, the group emptied into the hallways, which were filled with other Security Forces and members of Project: SHADOW. Gerald could see their faces: confusion, tiredness, and exhaustion. Some were pulled from sleep, some from late midnight snacks, but the majority had been in their individual labs undergoing prep work for a ‘new experimental series.’ The three of his most important heads ran besides him – their eyes flickering a question that their leader was beginning to understand despite the fog of denial.

They didn’t make it far when the next ‘event’ occurred. Camera lenses exploded and showered, cracked into ten pieces as gold static ran down each edge-

Gerald squeezed his eyes. He did not want to be correct in this moment.

The communicators the military used snapped right in half-

They used Chaos Drives.

Another armed member broke into the group. Breathless, he heaved his dinner upon the ground. “Tech- Airman Casey!” he groaned. “The whole seventeenth damned floor is locked out! We managed to evacuate, but literally the second we did the primary glass on the windows blew up with some kind of lightning. We lost the ability to see what was going on in there.” A gasp. “It might be an enemy agent out to steal our data!!”

A memory of the importance of that area of the station rung.

The floor where G.U.N. held onto the robot. That was why he remembered that number! The ancient war machine that could destroy a civilization; one that bid its time observing the surroundings until it snapped. The object that helped him to harness Chaos Drives using modern science. One that was a disaster that Gerald hated himself to turn over, but needed to. Funding for Maria. Everything for Maria. So, then, how did Shadow play into this!? Because that yellow color – that static – could be nothing else-!!

“Professor! Change of plans. You’re the best person to find a way to isolate our critical infrastructure!” Casey snapped to the others of his squad. “Let’s go to the server room! Get him there safely!”

So, they continued. The only source of illumination were battery powered flashlights that a few of the men owned. Although the power issues were clear, the life support systems were notably still left in primary mode – whomever made the attack knew the results if those had been taken offline. [WHOMever? Gerald knew. He knew all too clear.]

There was a present awaiting them on floor sixteen…

It wasn't the Project.

Wasn’t the Biolizard.

It was the smoking debris of a machine – crystal lenses cracked, and dull, warm grey metal distorted. There was only a head.

Gerald persuaded the men to let him see where the rest was. When floor seventeen was finally broken into, a left foot was found lodged in the ceiling. The right embedded into floor eighteen’s mess hall. The fingers of the right arm pierced into the officer’s quarters the level below. The left arm melted into slag near the far end bathrooms. As for the core, where the ancient Chaos engine resided, there was nothing left.

Save for a torch mark in the middle of each track projected backwards; the starburst that hinted what had been the primary objective.

[x]

Maria was in the lab. In the corner. Hidden behind the moderate gap where his bookshelves piled with tomes of knowledge. Hands wrapped around the specimen’s body that was dead to the world. His wings were hidden under blankets and pillows; his expression filled with of promises of nothing; ebony pulses, like mist, hazed around the area and prevented the light itself; a golden heat simmered that Gerald ignored for the most important [for later] – her face streaked with tears.

He arrived alone.

It had been days.

“I forced Shadow to do it,” she cried. “I didn't want to, Grandpa. Please don't blame him. I couldn't do it myself. I needed time. I didn't know it would do this to him-! He never said that it would do this to him!! But- But we need more time and if no one dies-!!!”

She was breaking down.

“We did the right thing. Told him to disable anything that could track us! I pulled the alarm that ran off regular batteries so no one would get hurt! I told Shadow to wait- Wait for them all to escape. Make it look like it self-destructed. To be careful. We can’t have reasons to storm the ARK!!! But it's not their fault right now. He was so angry. So, so; so angry. But he didn't kill them. He only went after the machine that would have started the chain of accidents. If the Gizoid had activated on its own-!!”

Hard breaths. Jagged emotions.

Raw.

Abnormal on her.

Wrong.

A whisper of ghosts. “He's your good son, Grandpa.”

She inhaled.

Bored into Gerald’s eyes.

“Don't let them find out about Shadow’s completion.”

A plead.

“Promise me!”

Unlike the previous one, he didn't know if he could pull it off.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 5

[×]

Shadow could no longer reside in Gerald’s sanctuary.

The towering tubes of fluid, each one filled with the silent, judging ‘eyes’ of the predecessors to the Project, could no longer bring solace. Pillows, blankets, and teddy bears were no longer the veil of innocence towards a certain ebony ‘Mobian.’ The artificial illumination which no longer shone upon the ground did not hide the golden aura from onlookers. Concealed back towards the wall it may be, one only needed to walk towards the rear half of the cavernous space to see that yellow color glowing underneath the bottom lip of his bookshelves.

Dr. Robotnik’s voice was calm. Collected. Or, at least, he hoped. On the inside, the words were sharp and brittle – and while he never wished ill upon someone on purpose before, his tone certainly implied a threat. “Casey,” was the feeling of nothing, “what are you doing in my laboratory?”

There was a pistol strapped towards the upper right calf to easily draw from; a bulletproof vest with his full name embroidered nearby his rank; one illuminated flashlight held in the right hand that twitched upon hearing Gerald’s voice; a black beret with the logo for the specific squadron of the ARK right on top – the logo of Project: SHADOW itself. Red. Black. Gold.

Ironic.

The elder kept his emotions in check. “I will ask you one more time, Airman.” While the scientist was not from the military, by now, he was aware of their positions in command. ‘Airman’ was near the bottom. ‘Airman’ did not have the credentials to just waltz into the place where Professor Gerald Robotnik claimed as his own. “What are you doing in MY laboratory?”

There was not even a ‘tsk’ nor a sigh in anger of being caught. Instead, all there was was a sickly-sweet smile upon that youthful face. “Doctor!” the boy – no, this man – added with a wave. “Sorry about this! I was actually looking for you! It’s the quarterly safety inspection day and-”

“You came into my lab.” It was not a question.

A blush upon cheeks – one that Gerald had to wonder: was it made on purpose out of genuine embarrassment, one that demoted an actual error, or one that marked that Casey knew how to manipulate his own face? “It was kinda left open. I saw Maria stumble out, clutching her heart like she always does-”

Maria? Oh, she despised having G.U.N., and particularly him, anywhere nearby the Robotniks. “So, you took the opportunity to just walk in?”

A laugh as a large hand rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah… yes? Isn’t that what’s normal here?”

The hairs on Gerald’s arms rose. Goosebumps formed underneath his lab coat. He could remember exactly how his precious girl did not want Casey anywhere near him alone and was beginning to think if she had seen something in him long, long ago. “It’s not.”

“Ah. S-Sorry, then, doctor! I’ll make sure to – ah – leave.” Casey’s fingers pointed to himself before aiming towards the door that led outside. When Gerald left an impression that remained cold, that smile faltered and the adult gulped. “I can smudge some of the stuff under ‘complete’ since I think this area is kinda benign… enough. Ah-! I forgot! You might need to add some lights. For your guy’s safety,” he tacked on as he fled the room.

Tail between his legs.

The scientist finally released his held breath as analytical eyes watched each retreating step. Noted how soft they were against the metal. How difficult they were to pick up as a civilian. How impossible they would have been to discover if not for the lack of sound. It was the hallmark of experience. Of course it was, however! Security Forces were meant to be silent and tactical – it was their primary purpose. In the name of protection.

‘Protection.’

That pit from a few days ago reopened its chasm in his stomach. Carefully, Gerald retook the steps and put himself into the position where the SecFo had been standing at.  The elder looked around the room as if he was using Casey’s eyes and Casey’s flashlight.

There were the tubes upon tubes of dead specimens. Series 1 had their lizard shapes and contorted colors. An empty pod labeled ‘PSUL1.024’ demoted the Biolizard’s ‘success’ – the beast still slumbering in the bowels as far away as possible. That creation was not a hidden lie from G.U.N.. They were aware of it. Airman Casey probably did not, and seeing the past and present lined up like that was certainly a sight to behold.

Gerald moved his eyes again.

Ahead a little bit more were the Series 2. These little hedgehogs were not capable of being ‘addressed’ as Mobian unless one knew in advance it was supposed to be a being with quills. The failures had been distorted and grisly – the techniques that worked with lizards not playing ‘nice’ with those of mammalian shapes. The colors were all ‘off’ if you compared it to the eventual true Ultimate Lifeform: blues, reds, pinks; the gambit continued. Males. Females. Whatever tweaks to the code Gerald tried made all fail so, so early in production.

Unless that man had a degree in Mobian-Hedgehog bioengineering, or something in a similar medical field, he would not recognize what was before him.

Gerald moved his gaze once more.

At the far end, as far as a torch could reach, were bookshelves.

Shelves with a golden glow from underneath.

With shaking hands, the scientist pulled out his own lantern and flicked it into the ‘on’ position. The mechanical sound of the porcelain switch felt like the only thing in the world for that one, small, fraction of a second.

CLICK.

The beam of light was rather weak. Less lumens than the stuff the military used, no doubt. Even then, with the light pollution entering Gerald’s irises, it was masking away the gold.

CLICK.

He reaffirmed it after his eyes adjusted.

The only way to see it was to not have any light in the first place. Maria had used enough cotton and batting.

Gerald felt himself collapse onto his chair, where he stayed as a statue that stared into dead space for the next ten minutes. The comfort wanted to extend for longer, but there was something else he needed to do.

Immediately.

[x]

The medical wing with Heal Units attached towards the walls was the same as it always was. Quiet. Empty. Drenched in the haze of isopropyl alcohol. It was basically midnight, and the scientists aboard the ARK at least attempted to maintain a circadian rhythm. However, there was always at least one member of Project: SHADOW awake at this certain time slot, and it was none other than the woman that tended to Maria on her ‘bad days.’ Her slightly plump figure and tanned skin did not hide that face of worry when Gerald showed up unannounced.

“Dr. Robotnik.” She jumped from her sitting position; away from the romance book the woman had been avidly consuming. “You’re like a bat out of hell. Is it Maria?”

“I need a gurney.”

Her eyes shifted towards the clock. 0113Z screamed back in green. “Is she not in a condition to-?”

Gerald cut her off. “It’s not for- It’s not Maria.”

“Oh.” Her eyes moved around his body, as if she was analyzing him. “Sir… You don’t look so good yourself. Have you’ve been taking your heart medication…?”

No. Not exactly. But that wasn’t the issue right now! “Dr. Eruba, it’s for our Project.”

The woman made no sound. Her forehead creased into something disappointed as a deep, depressed sigh came out. Slowly, she walked towards the edge of the equipment array. In time, she pulled something out of the closet – a bed with wheels and stark bleached garments. It was only when she disconnected anything electronic from it that the woman made any comment. “You never know if G.U.N. is watching.”

Was it disbelief on his face that made her continue?

“Oh, honey- I mean, boss. Maria is very adamant on keeping the boy safe. I’m beginning to see her point of view.” That expression of sadness changed into… anger. At who? “I am a medic first and foremost. Only that, really. What G.U.N. wants can be shoved up their ass. I can say what you cannot, doctor.

“Walk with me,” she hissed.

Gerald did so. He had planned on taking routes back towards his lab through the long, extended hallways that still had their cameras broken, but with the medic by her side…

Her voice carried where the replaced lenses on the ceilings rested. “I hope this spasm is just a small one.”

The scientist knew her game. “Yes. Thank you,” he uttered with upmost, genuine emotions, “for doing this at this hour.”

“Poor, Maria. You would do the same for me if I had a sick relative. Such a sweet kid.”

The wheels clacked down to Maria’s room. Gerald input the code and entered, waiting for Dr. Eruba to follow with the rolling bed. With a gentle ‘whoosh,’ the door slid behind them as they arrived to a moment’s respite.

His granddaughter’s room was as it always was: messy organization. On the ceiling were strings of lights set up to look like the stars of the exact sky from her parent’s house on Earth. The walls were covered with posters about the different plants, animals, creatures, and cities of that planet down below them. The floor by the library was covered with pillows. On one of her desks were piles upon piles of his Chaos Energy research papers that she had claimed she was ‘in the need to be in the know.’ Nestled near a stack of hard-bounded books were a pair of shoes. They looked incomplete, with the guts of his old Chaos engine prototypes piled in the corner. Red paper slips with graphite pencil labeled each separate piece: ‘failure,’ ‘also failure,’ and ‘how did grandpa do this: FAILUREEEE.’

Benign. Innocent.

A sleepy voice broke in. “Grand…pa…?”

“My dear, I need you to do something really important for me.”

Panic flew across her face. He could see the ways her blue dilated – that ever-present clench on her chest whenever she was caught by a painful surprise. “It… It can’t be-!! Not after what I did-”

Gerald did not mean to cut her off so rudely. Things happened under duress. “Maria. I don’t know what you are thinking about right now, but I – no, Shadow – needs your help.” He held onto her hands. “Can I be as so helpless to beg for your participation?”

The plan was something he was thinking on the fly.

But he was a Robotnik.

The smartest man in the world.

If he could play and act as the Creator, then why would some cameras be frightening?

That movement, the simple act of holding each other’s fingers together, calmed her. “Of course! A-Anything for Shadow.” Her neck creaked as she finally recognized the other member inside her room. “Dr. Eruba…?”

“Is to take you to the medical wing-”

The female medic moved around towards the back of Maria’s room, where her own personal gurney resided. Covered with pink stickers and smiling faces, it was the one used on the worst of times. “Dr. Robotnik? May I suggest we use this one to move Maria so you can keep the other one for your… actions?”

Ah. She had already picked up what his haphazard plan that stemmed from irrational fear was – but one that felt all too true nevertheless. “Yes. Good call.” He turned back to his grandchild. “Be limp. Be hurt. Be in pain. On the outside, at least.” Gerald kept his gaze immediate. “Can you do this?”

Her thoughts flashed. “Like an… actress?”

“Yes.”

There was no question as to ‘why.’ There was only a deep nod. Such was the trust she had in that everything he did was the right thing. “I got it, Grandpa. If you want me to act sick, you’ll have the sickest ever mobile version of me.”

“Nothing over-the-top, my dear. It needs to be… believable enough as to why I am not immediately chasing you down.”

“Ok.”

With that, Dr. Eruba helped set up Maria to the bed and connected every single medical looking device that it had. Each one was powered by a parallel series of Chaos Drives underneath the metal supports. [A frown flickered on the female’s face when the temperature, heartbeat, and other results flashed. Gerald had thought it was a sign of a future relapse, but color him surprised at the fact everything seemed normal.] “I’ll set these to dim,” the woman muttered. “It IS night time, after all.”

“Yes. Thank you, Dr. Eruba.”

A nod. Soon, the two females were gone. He picked up one pair of Maria’s night slippers before leaving.

[x]

The ebony and Alizarin hedgehog slept below him. Still stuffed towards the back, with all the pillows and blankets removed, he shined like a golden star in this dark, dark cavern. There was still no emotion or even a reaction upon those Mobian features when the doctor reached to gently nudge the stilled body. Of course, Gerald was not expecting anything, but… An attempt was better than none, he supposed.

The whole situation was still so… unnerving. How had Casey managed to even enter the room? Certainly, M-A-R-I-A was an easy enough password, but that was because only those whom bypassed all the other security measures could get to the place where her name could be applied. Maybe his sentimentality had finally caught up with his lack of positive control over his secrets…

He could worry about that later!

Large human hands picked up the Project. The center of gravity was still by his core, and as always, Shadow was far too light. Those wings seemed to add no additional weight, which was an illogical fallacy, but considering that was the Project’s favorite pastime…

GAH! He had NO TIME for scientific inquiries!

What was WRONG with him!?

He continued to move, ignoring the way Shadow’s head hung; each limb limp; his hands uncurled; the golden aura of raw Chaos Energy ceaseless; each waft warmed the air to the touch; mixed in a human, it was like getting ran over by a truck; drove a tingling sensation into the root of each nerve to the point he almost screamed; made him feel almost lighter, stronger, younger-

Oh.

‘Protect him.’

Oh, no.

‘Your good son.’

He really had to deal with this later.

“Excuse me for how rough I am about to treat your extensions, Shadow,” Gerald muttered.

Unceremoniously, the Project was wrapped, bounded, and then shoved under the blankets of the gurney. He stuffed pillows and socks to make the lumped shape appear bigger. Topping the entire ensemble were the pink, fuzzy slippers of Maria’s sticking out. While there were no cameras in the area he was taking Shadow from and Shadow to, you never knew whom might show up.

[x]

Sean Casey waited for him by the hallway that led towards the medical wings. The illumination from the ceiling gave nothing but a calm and gentle feeling – the complete opposite of just earlier in the night. There in the youth’s arms was a bundle of rock-candies and a simple card. “Ah! Doctor! H-Here! As an apology. I was not being very nice nor courteous. I’ll be sure to knock and get in line next time!”

The scientist carefully looked at the bundle: bright colored and cheery. Was it genuine? Was it planned?

“I saw that she was pretty sick. Made me think of what I did to cheer up during my down days. So, I went back to my room and got this!” The candies waved. “My sister gave me a lot of rock sugars from Central City on her vacation, so I am more than happy to share!” There it was again – that smile that felt so genuine, but Gerald still was aware of the wrongness of it all.

He didn’t know what was this man’s deal, but resisting would be suspicious. “… Thank you.” He could have done a better job at keeping a happy tone back-

‘Saw that she was pretty sick?’

Gerald rolled the paper white stick between his fingers. The military quarters where G.U.N. held their barracks were nowhere nearby. Sure, the military had a presence in all the sections of the ARK, but… The scientist kept thinking about the past and the present: what exactly was the man looking for? Had he carried a suspicion on the Robotnik? Or was it someone else that thought something was going on with Project: SHADOW and had supplied the order? Was it simply neither and the SecFro member from the small rural town was genuinely lost and confused and wanted to make amends?

The candy still moved in his hands.

He somehow doubted the last one.

[x]

There was a hot, black in-the-raw coffee awaiting him in the medical room labeled 3A-C. Steam rose from the ceramic lip in lazy fashion. A pile of cookies designed to go with the bitterness of the dark beverage sat hauntingly on the plate nearby.

Maria watched him slide his lips upon the mug as he drunk it carefully.

Methodically.

Eventually, she gave him a toothy smile. “I do believe I won a Golden Globe tonight, Grandpa.”

They were titled ‘Academy Awards,’ but…

“Then I better make sure to clap.”

And he did.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 6

[x]

There were many ‘bowels’ of the ARK where creepy, smiling Security Forces members didn't know. The entire station was cut into an asteroid that had been tethered in an orbit around the moon and Earth – the same sort of celestial run that the first men around the lunar body accomplished. As such, there was a point where the wide array of impressive sights and colors of the world became the thick, rocky, and alien expanse far beneath. The utility half of the ARK sprawled mainly in these sections – the tubes of water-embused Chaos Energy streamed through a maze of complex pipe works and ponds. [Red and yellow in color – those hues seemed to be a trend.] Down one certain passageway lied the beating heart of the Eclipse Cannon. The rest of that weapon still needed completion, but the sight en route to his destination was still spectacular to behold.

He knew – prayed – he would never see it fired. It was designed to be too strong to be used upon Earth’s surface. Comets were more of its thing – to make a certain one sparkle like jewels for just a moment. It was his everlasting gift to Maria.

Gerald shifted his face as he continued to walk.

A gift for Shadow, too, he supposed.

However, this was not to be the Project’s resting area. As a great scientist, Robotnik understood that having an entity capable of corrupting Chaos ‘rail’ lines while asleep should not be anywhere near a weapon of mass annihilation purposefully designed to wield said Chaos – incomplete or not.

So, the elder continued his gaunt. He made it past the core and eventually into a region where only technical engineers would revel – the deepest underbelly of the beast. Above were steam pipes, water mains; all sorts of intersecting metalworks. Each color demoted various liquids or gases that fed the labs and living quarters of everything ‘above.’ Not ran on Chaos, and meant to be serviced every so often, the maze had literal hundreds of miles of tight spaces.

To alleviate the severe task walking would effect on inspection days, there was an odd railcar system that connected each route. You needed to be a genius to not get lost – or in Gerald’s case, he engineered the entire ARK. To get by unaided here, while not exactly a cinch, was something within his power.

The transport was quiet. The movement swift. Entire trip one-way was only about fifteen minutes. In terms of a 2D map of an umbrella shape of the station, he was on the upper left-hand corner. Steam pipes were his sole companion this far, even though the Chaos rails were not too far away – they never were.

Gerald sat down and pulled the few items he had snuck out of his lab with him. The area had been cleaned up and organized into a workspace large enough for him and a few others. In a state of guilty conscious, there was even a makeshift bed – the gurney he had used to take Shadow into this region not able to go this far, but its cotton comforts would still play an important role.

The boy… looked so small.

… Which honesty was a little silly. Those wings were longer than Gerald was tall.

Yet, the scientist still maintained that feeling of sadness and melancholy. [Where had it come from?] “I know so little about you: what you like; what you hate. I don’t think I am worthy of your affection just yet, but...”

He trailed off and sighed. “I’m talking to someone whom cannot respond.”

Gerald lumbered back towards the transport and removed a small cloth from rectangular shapes. His hands reached back again and out from the darkness came a quartet of cages. Little white mice played the part of their new companion – like Shadow, they were in a deep doze. Of course, the rodent specimens were purposefully put into sedation for silent movement and should awaken before too long. Still, they had a purpose to exist.

One was labeled ‘Long Exposure.’

One ‘Short.’

One ‘Near Distance.’

One ‘Far.’

“Do understand, Shadow, that this isn’t against you as an individual. I don’t even truly know you, and you’re my own creation. Maria wants me to, though – and I was already inclined to follow with my own free will as well. I just,” the man shook his head, “need to ensure that we can all stay safe while you are like that. It's quite a decent amount of Chaos Energy you're producing.” The chuckle was only marginally forced. “I don’t think I can keep you split apart for too long.” A smile grew as he attempted to give the aura of warmth. “Might just find camping gear one day up here.”

The head of Project: SHADOW tried his best to rationalize his thoughts scrambled with conflicting desires to the dead.

“Nothing intrusive. You just have to… take your time in slumber. I’ll work on your Rings down here and keep you company from a safer distance.” A pause. “Might even tell you a few… stories?”

‘Later’ was to begin right now.

[x]

Who was the Ultimate Lifeform? Did he like snacks-?

Wait. Did Shadow even want to eat? It wasn’t as if Gerald could compare the Biolizard to the Project in this case. For one, the hedgehog was sentient-

… Normally.

[Although, technically, the Ultimate Lifeform had been down longer than up.]

Anyhow, there was at least something in the area that enjoyed food: the mice. Their squeaks of higher pitched noises were concurrent with those that were held under the control group, as if they knew when the scientist arrived there would be new munchies. As always, he kept log with each of his observations. It had only been two days so far, so the compiled paperwork wasn't deep. His scribbles could be easily read. Controlled, even.

The mice were warm, fed, and comfortable. Since they were passive experimental subjects, Gerald returned to his main focus.

On the workbench, which was a deep cleaned slab of metal that would have to make due, sat a golden ore from Angel Island. The man had very little amount of it due to many reasons: for one, he stole it. Of course, he didn't exactly mean to acquire such a rock without proper admission, but… Well, the properties of what the Altar was composed of, right in the heart of the entire island, had garnered too much curiosity. It just so happened this ore was in a cavern nearby a certain mural and, oh my, Gerald's hand had ‘slipped.’ He was young and foolish back in those days, and it was the glittering mineral that called him. [Alright, there was a lot of objects on that trip that did the same.]

Whatever the case, this material had been used effectively: a faux synthesized, mass-produced run was the basis for his own version of the Altar that was to run the Eclipse Cannon. And, well, now it was also to be Shadow’s. He couldn’t use his cloned copies, however, as it wasn’t like he could attach a space station to the Project’s wrists and ankles.

So, he had to use the original.

What little he had left.

A noble sacrifice, to be honest…

The elder pulled the copied notes from Maria’s diary: each little heart and loop giving Gerald a small smile despite his overall stress. He wondered if Shadow had asked his granddaughter about a way to inhibit his unrivaled Chaos Energy – the way he spoke that specific word earlier was pretty… poignant. [As was another strange one that Maria had brought up.] Basically, it was as if the ‘Mobian’ instinctually knew that he needed-

White gloved hands that rubbed wrists-

As if missing something-

Bracelets-

Anklets-

Gold. Four golden rings perfectly made for one Ultimate Lifeform-

He laid his head back against the not-at-all comfortable chair and exhaled. Gerald was about to think something ridiculous. “Shadow, this old man needs a break.”

There wasn’t going to be one.

[x]

“-and thus, my wife decided then and there to name my firstborn daughter. It hurt her dearly when we ended up with a son instead, but of course she got over it in 0.0048 seconds…” Misery. Forlorn. Loss.

There was a small spark of gold, not from the Project, as Gerald continued to peer into the magnifying lens. The very tip of his tongue stuck out in concentration, a habit that none of the other Robotniks seemed to have acquired [perhaps for the better]. Two silver sticks, essentially specialized jeweler’s tools, tipped with diamonds poked, scratched, and prodded the ‘angel ore’ – creative, he knew – into the pure element. He needed to scrape off all the impurities before even hoping to smelt it, and since it was designed to reign in power, it wasn’t like he could just use a drill.

Things would go much faster if he could do this in his actual lab, but… Well, it was better to not leave room for questioning.

“Ahhh, talking about my passed-on wife isn’t something I can keep up with for too long, Shadow. It… hurts. But, don’t worry,” Gerald continued, moving the few specks he had gained from the fruits of his effort. Some of them sparkled like rubies – the same ones within the Project’s face. “… I have many other stories I can go on about. Have I told you about my fifth favorite book? I don’t quite think so. You might enjoy it – the beginning has a female that travels on a spaceship across the vastness of the expanse. Remind you of someone? It’s called Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy† and-”

He kept working.

[x]

The days were repetitive. A few weeks passed by without much comment from the outside world [G.U.N.] as more scraps of ore piled in a confined container. They never seemed to dull – a nice change from silver, which always needed to get polished over and over again until worn. Like all things of Angel Island, this rock was basically ‘indestructible’ – it really wasn't, but it could take more abuse than the tungsten mixes, which was quite impressive.

“A unique piece of jewelry for a unique person. Although, for your dignity, I suppose we’ll call them tactical gear, won't we, Shadow?” the scientist ended with a joke.

Back to the job at hand-

A shrill noise filled the piped hall. Gerald gasped in surprise – it sounded like a ‘final scream.’ That cry was from the very depths of something incredibly, undeniably hurt.

[Almost like the Biolizard when it had been forced into hibernation-]

He slammed the rock towards his workbench and ran towards the source. It wasn’t Shadow – the boy was still as brilliant as ever; as silent. It wasn’t the pipes – any noises that could be carried could not be so clear. It wasn’t the asteroid – the extraterrestrial matter did not care an iota about the warmth of the golden aura.

So that left-

It was not ‘Far.’ Not ‘Near.’ Not ‘Short.’

It was ‘Long.’

The white mouse was contorted in on itself. The creature was writhing, panting, and slamming it own body into the metal confines of the cage in a desperate attempt to escape. Gerald didn't have to wait long to see the injuries it acquired onto the small body by such rough and nightmarish movement: red footprints soon marked the enclosure. At the same time, the scientist noted the albino’s eyes had become flat and glassy with the pupil having collapsed to the smallest possible size. While not as intense in hue as with the Project, they, too, implicated a disconnect from the brain-

The noise stopped.

The mouse passed on.

[x]

Sixteen hours later and the papers were still flying.

‘Near’ went next.

Same symptoms.

[x]

Seventy-nine more and ‘Far’ went down.

[x]

‘Short’ was fine.

‘Short’ was healthy.

Perfectly healthy.

[x]

New cages had new tags. ‘Near and Long,’ ‘Near and Short,’ ‘Far and Long;’ ‘Far and Short.’ There were time tables. Calendars. Temperature measurements. Chaos detectors where they could be squeezed to work on the ‘Far’ group. Wires and pads for analog recording devices hooked to every mouse. Sample collection devices. Sterilized specimen bags. Tissue collection receptacles. Instruments for mice biopsies and eventual autopsies.

Each microsecond of each mouse’s time spent within the ‘radiance field’ was catalogued and noted. Each reaction, each movement; each noise.

Gerald ignored coffee and went right into basically raw caffeine.

His last full eight hours of sleep was-

When?

[x]

His breath was haggard out of emotion.

The last of the ‘Near and Long’ series was not doing so great. It had lapsed into a drugged-like state and was on the final stages before the end arrived. Only for now was it still alive. Contorted, yes, but the brainwaves running off the small creature showcased it was experiencing whatever the closest to ‘bliss’ that animal could understand.

The chemical makeup had gone awry in the creature’s neural complex. Essentially, all organs had shut down. A living corpse.

It didn’t even understand it was in agony.

Chaos Energy to this extent in sentients…

How… horrifying.

Gerald felt his muscles cramp as he turned to look at the source. His results were not concrete as he still couldn't get anything to work on the carbon and crimson body, but… He could connect the dots – could understand the data plotted out.

… Could recall the Project's words.

“I hadn't believed it was like this under your surface. Shadow, you poor child…”

[x]

Gerald snuck into Maria’s room while she was not there. He had asked her to get a lunch ready for them to eat together – it had been another week already, and she saw that her grandfather was past the point of exhaustion.

This was something he wanted clarified himself.

He carefully turned on each of the devices upon her gurney, ignoring the way the stickers attempted to make the other Robotnik feel better. With a singular ‘beep,’ they activated. No body was lying there to read off from, so they all baselined. The scientist pushed SILENCE before the localized alarms could ring – testing the bed was not what he was here for.

In the menu of the various machines resided ‘history.’

Maria’s.

It was just like ‘Near and Short’s.’

The record still showed what Dr. Eruba paused at: normal.

Perfectly normal.

[x]

[Of course, it wasn’t a solution, though.]

[This particular strain of Chaos Energy was simply acting as a genetic accelerator at the least.]

[The girl was still sick.]

[But there was HOPE for a WISH.]

[x]

Gerald needed additional eyes and hands on this. He might be going mad at the implications, and the damage to the Chaos rails was starting to affect the more lived-in areas.

He was on a timer, and the clock was haunting him.

[x]

Three scientists were besides Gerald – the ones he trusted the most to put pursuit of knowledge and the unknown before their own safety in the likes of G.U.N.. In their hands were pencils and clipboards stuffed to the brim with papers about anything and everything they could get their hands on that dealt or related with Project: SHADOW – even datum tied to the larva, although the specifications of the deal he had with them remained hidden. They wrote what they were seeing even when mouths failed to formulate words.

One of them hesitated, gulped, and shook her head.

Reaffirmed what lied before them.

It wasn't a dream. It was the truth. A harsh one.

Gerald didn't want to turn and look at what held their attention. He was… afraid of losing his ability to be logical, and being frozen by emotions only created inaction, which would solve nothing. “We need to prioritize making these ‘Inhibitor Rings’ before addressing potential cures. Otherwise, Shadow will not be very capable of holding back against the ARK’s systems for us.”

Their pencils flew across paper.

“Maria managed to talk to the experiment prior to him reaching this state,” he continued as each word felt like ash. “The specimen was unaware of the exact aftereffects of using his abilities on a larger scale, although there's evidence that he had his own suspicions. I have concluded that our Project isn't…” It took everything he had to not look. “… capable of using Chaos Energy and keeping himself sentient without something to control the amount it wields. He lacks a biological mind, after all, and is being held together basically by the idea of ‘self,’ which Chaos Energy erodes away.”

A pause in the writing of his underlings.

The taller male, Dr. Yadev, a scientist who specialized in conservation and energy fields [dabbling into Chaos enough that he understood more than required to be here in the first place], muttered. “Do you think it's in Nirvana?”

Gerald could feel his mouth enter a deep frown. “Pardon?”

Yadev squirmed. “It’s… considered to be paradise in my homeland.” The pencil nearly snapped in his stress. “Something that whomever falls into will, ahh, never return from or desire to leave.”

A few seconds ticked by someone's automatic watch. “You meant that in a… religious context.” Gerald wasn’t guessing. Nor was he pleased.

“The amount of Chaos the Project is tethered to defies our studies and annihilates norms,” added the head of the biology department to Gerald’s left, Dr. Guzman. “Your notes mention that it basically turned into a congealed mass powered by nothing more than that energy at embryo, right? A mass that had markers that were much closer to the larva than a hedgehog – a larva, I might add, that had flags for very high levels of natural Chaos Energy as well. It’s also written here that the specimen was irradiated by an Emerald and countless Drives. What my cohort is saying is that we might have created something whose natural state is being one with the Chaos.” Even she wiggled in place under Robotnik’s stare. “Doctor… It's just his hypothesis and Yadev was only bringing up a word we could relate to.”

The last of the trio didn't move his gaze from the Project before them, either. Like Guzman, Dr. Tower had also specialized in medical bioengineering. “Dr. Robotnik, I see where they're coming from. Without proper regulation, its body was overtaken. Hence fallen ‘into Nirvana.’” A pause. “I mean… it has a holy aura-”

“Just a physical manifestation of acute Chaos Energy,” Gerald growled.

The three blinked. Pencils not jotting the denial down.

“Professor.” Yadev cut back with a flat voice of disbelief. “It is literally – passively – consuming the lives of others to enrich the select few. It can transform into a horror – your drawings leave not much to the imagination. You do realize we basically created an eldritch, right?”

A brusque cut off. “Nonsense. It's a hedgehog-alien-Chaos organism with the ability to change form and harness energy; with the skill to reproduce, and potentially impress upon others, its Chaotic makeup in order to achieve healing.” Why was it that everyone thought that about Shadow?! “This is well within the parameters of what the requested goal was to create in the first place.”

Tower rubbed his face. “You think we're keeping Project: SHADOW a secret because it was ‘just an organism?!’” His hands flailed in the air out of anger – clipboard almost lost in the sudden movement. “For fucks sake, it did divine retribution upon G.U.N.’s mess of experimentation. The one that ran off Chaos to be turned into an all-powerful weapon, like how the Ultimate Lifeform is supposed to be. It took out the entire contraption in 7.2 seconds based on the seismographs at most! How are you not sure it acted out because it felt like there could only be ONE?”

Because Maria asked in a foolish attempt that Gerald did not understand why. [He couldn't tell them the idea belonged to her, though. How could he when he barely believed what she did himself!?! And Shadow!?? He had allowed himself to be her glaive!!!] However, to call it ‘retribution!?’ Ridiculous! The Project had never seen, nor been told, of the Gizoid in the first place!! “Look-!”

The professor was interrupted. “Robotnik. You cannot just ignore that the – we’ll call it a Chaos explosion – was only enough energy that it amounts to smaller than a single digit!?”

Gerald was brought to no words at that.

[He knew. He knew just how little – next to nothing – the amount of Chaos Energy Shadow had used in Maria's desperation. He knew it was more than the spear he first saw. He knew what those two facts employed.] “How asinine! You are men of science! I won't hear this discussion about ‘Nirvana’ NOR ‘demons’ anymore! The first, and only, thing we should be focusing on is restoring Shadow’s sanity. I refuse to lose the Ultimate Lifeform to himself and endanger this entire station!!!”

One of them – Gerald didn't know whom it was as his anger [denial!] overtook him – gave a look of exasperation and disbelief. “Professor. You want ‘science?’ Fine. We damned ourselves, and Project: SHADOW will go down in the annals of history. I'm honestly more impressed and in awe than fear at what we created. Imagine what it could do when it regains a will and becomes fully in control of itself.”

“What a masterpiece,” came the end with wonder and exhilaration from someone else.

The lead scientist exhaled thru teeth. “Art can't be seen without a portrait to hold it up. You better start assisting me in creating these Inhibitors if that is what you want to observe.”

Freaks.

Fanatics.

Insane.

Why were his underlings so!?

[Because he was, too.]

[x]

Worried blue eyes that tried to perk up. “Grandpa?” the voice echoed in his dark, unlit room. “I was told you haven’t been eating. So, I made you some breakfast! I put chocolate chips in the batter of your pancakes, smiles made with bananas, and even got real milk from the chef!”

Her toes inched upwards to see the fatigued face of her family member.

He didn’t move, so she tried again. “Grandpa…?”

“Come give me a hug, my dear. I… I am afraid I might be making a mistake.”

She didn’t understand his pain.

[Four golden rings.] [Objects to restore Chaos under control of the owner.] [Designed to stop the unrestrained leak.] [The question remains: what should he DO?] [Go down a dark path that will strip the free will of someone that was his good ---?] [Spare the boy?] [Keep the Project in the depths of ‘paradise’ to repair, but never cure, Maria?] [Which version of the Ultimate Lifeform will he choose?] [The Shadow that Maria needs or the Shadow that Maria wants?]

It felt like he had almost solved what he had been looking for, but he… just couldn’t-!

“Can you forgive me, Maria?”

There had to be another way.

“For what?”

One that didn’t require Shadow in that state.

“For not trying hard enough. For losing resolve.”

It. wasn’t. a. cure. at. all.

The Project was to be one. Giving away Maria the chance to act healthy, but not removing the source, wasn’t a solution. It WASN'T. That was ONLY A PATCH JOB. His granddaughter needed an actual, permanent result. He shouldn't feel guilty. He shouldn't be tempted to label the current version of Shadow a ‘success’ and not attempt to save the fluttering glimpse of the individual underneath. The ability to repair others with Chaos Energy was just a hint that Gerald was on the right track. He should NOT be ENTICED on doing the WRONG THING-

Those smiling pancakes made a mockery of Gerald. He didn’t deserve them.

She lacked understanding, but she didn’t have to. “Grandpa… It’ll be ok. Whatever this is, as long as you are healthy and alive with your super caring heart, I will never, ever think you’ve done anything wrong.” Her small hand patted his shoulder underneath the thin covers. “Now, let’s eat some breakfast and start the day anew?” A mischievous face; as if she knew deep inside that there was no joy in his current mind and was about to become it for his sake. “Maybeeee you’ll let me sneak behind you to find where you stuffed Shadow?” A scrunched face of hard thought even despite that cyan glow of life in her eyes. “See, Grandpa, we both made a pact to protect you, and it’s kinda hard to do so when we can't plan together.”

He was aware enough to call his voice ‘filled with depression.’ “My dear. Shadow can't talk right now.”

“Grandpa. That's what the Inhibitors are a for.” There wasn't confusion. That sentence was just a simple fact of life. Her expected result from a man she thought was better than he really was.

It wasn't explicit permission to abandon that potential path – to abandon the quick fix for her – but his conscious took it as such.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 7

[×]

Gerald, too, ended up being part of his own experiment. Moreso as ‘Far and Long.’ That Chaos Energy was probably why he was even capable of organizing his thoughts and staying just, well, awake. It was night after night after day after day of endlessly scraping that ore. He wished he had more – wished he didn't have to be perfect in gathering what little remains – wished that he could be faster.

Hours slipped by. Weeks did as well.

At least he was no longer in an emotional panic.

[For now.]

Maria had reassured him.

[For now.]

The molds were almost done. His trio had done their jobs, even though the looks on their faces were beginning to distort from purely analytical. It seemed that even his ‘best’ beneath him were seeing Shadow as no longer a person, but as an object to devote their lives to. While this only enforced the fact they were to keep absolute silence, as well as proved they were willing to get the various testing procedures clandestinely prepared, it tickled Gerald in all the wrong ways. The other researchers needed to get addressed, but later. Robotnik had his priorities…

He was to receive the prototype of the important cast forms when a G.U.N. member caught him leaving his room en route. It was not someone he had seen before – a brunette middle-aged woman in a blue dress uniform; epaulettes and decorations abounded. Her rank showcased someone with an officer’s authority, but it was her words that caught his full attention.

“You are to attend the investigation and final judgment of the Floor 17 Incident from the Court of Criminal Appeals. I will be your guide to help you understand the process ahead of your appointment before the judge in three days.”

[x]

Blonde hair shook with the hand that stretched out towards his neck. “Too ugly,” Maria muttered as she tossed the tie off towards a nearby bed. Her fingers picked up the next one: a piece of fabric that had the physics formula for energy and mass printed. “Too weapony,” the girl chastised the cloth and also placed it into the pile of denials. “O! How about this one, Grandpa?” Her hands lifted to showcase the one she had labeled the ‘winner’ of the competition.

The tie was of the entire solar system, with the sun at the bottom and the comet cloud at the very top.

He gave her head a rub. “I don’t think the brass will be appreciative of such a design.”

Blue eyes narrowed briefly. “If I cared what the Commander appreciated, I would have chosen the tie with water pistols.”

There it was again – the inflection at the final word and a subtle movement that denoted the lack of comfort. Like always, it was gone quickly. “One day, I hope you can tell me the story.”

Her head tilted in confusion. “The story of this tie? It’s nothing too much – saw it on a catalogue and knew it would be perfect for you.”

She must have known what he truly meant. It stung a little the lack of faith – the lack of trust – but maybe it was something she still needed to gain courage to discuss. “Nevertheless,” Gerald played along, “I cannot use this for a hearing. It needs to be black, blue, or brown – and not a mix of all those colors, Maria.”

The girl paused before a relenting sound left her mouth. “Fine. Here. This one is the best, then.” It was a black tie made with silk. The sheen not loud or over the top, it was the interior red dye that made Gerald’s eyebrow rise. Maria took note. “It’s Shadow, see?”

“You enjoy playing with fire, don’t you?”

“I mean, if you knot it right, no one will know~”

He wondered if she meant both figurative and actual. Possibly. He had already started to see Maria tended to talk in code when it dealt with matters regarding G.U.N. and the Project. Carefully, he brushed back a few locks of her hair. “No one will know.”

[x]

A laboratory coat in bleached white was Gerald’s preferred clothing. A suit of armor, if you will. Sadly, that was not the uniform of choice today – instead, he wore the same he did during every Congressional hearing he was invited to: a black business top, black pants; black, shined shoes. There was a white silk shirt underneath with Maria’s tie right around his neck, and nestled on his left hand was a rather expensive watch. In short, he gave the appearance of Someone Quite Important [and to the minds of G.U.N. and the United Federations, he certainly was].

There was a quick ‘click’ as he stuffed more papers into his briefcase. He had covered his bases by now, having had read and watched anything he could find from the attack footage before their demise at Shadow’s hand. There was nothing to point or suspect Maria and her duo in their crime: the girl was spotted walking away from the room to do her camping trip as she had established a routine for already; there was not a single sign of abnormal movement in the floors that led towards seventeen. There was only the standard evening crawl before the alarms rang and everything disconnected.

Did Gerald hack into the military servers to double check? Of course. It wasn't illegal – the ARK belonged to him, right? Officially, they were here just to ensure safety.

… He humored that falsehood to himself as he checked his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

The head of Project: SHADOW was currently on floor nineteen. In particular, the region where the headquarters and command centers were tightly located for the military members. No more were there low ranking enlisted folk. Officers were now scattered about everywhere, all in their dress uniforms in a startling deep blue and silver. Even the scenery around was impressive: the large, expansive windows gave more field of view than anywhere in the normal civilian space. The entire tower subset of nineteen was designed to overlook not just the Earth and its Earthrise, but also the stars and planets around. Only Maria's special observation spot had a better view-

His grip tightened around the briefcase.

Now was not the time to be sentimental. He was going into verbal war.

[x]

The atrium where the hearing was to occur was segregated and had blackout curtains pulled over every viewing port. That was one of the telling methods that this certain discussion was one of ‘Top Secret’ status rather than the norm. The hanging chandelier made of copper and crystal, all in the shape of the United Federation, hung like a specter overlooking its next potential feast. Lives had been destroyed in rooms similar to this one – very few so far in the ARK as there normally shouldn’t be anything to have such dark discussions.

Gerald had to ponder at that. The ‘Chaos in humanity’ experiments might have had this area used for courted debate. Perhaps the slaughter that was to occur today would be nothing new.

Eyes trailed towards the left side of the central podium, where the members of the ‘jury’ were seated. Like civilian courts, the military had individuals pulled in to provide their opinions. Unlike their Earthen counterparts, these members were more like… advice givers to the real member with all the power: the judge. The jury could think innocent, but if the judge found you guilty, well…

They did need a lot of proper evidence, but evidence was easy to bring up and hide when dealing with anything remotely along the lines of Project: SHADOW. It was a Black Skunk operation.

Towards the right were empty chairs. There was to be no audience here as well due to the security. A rather posh leather seat was reserved with the label ‘Dr. Gerald Robotnik,’ and next to it sat a jug of water and an empty glass. The ice cubes had yet to start condensation, he noted. Finishing the small nook was a microphone.

It seemed he was not just here to observe the ongoings of what happened.

[Just as he expected.]

His head rang though the list of important names he knew that ran this side of the ARK: Commander Xavier Fortis being the main one. Since the nature had to deal with the Gizoid, he doubted there would be anyone else ‘in-the-know’ from on station high enough to play as judge. The three-star General was quite eager to get his weapons [the damned man was the reason why the scientist had to give up the robot in the first place], but he was rather predictable when dealing with non-war-like topics.

Based on the evidence he had pre-gathered, this was a rather open and shut case.

The door opened in the back and an announcement was made for everyone to rise in honor of the judge. Gerald shifted his eyes and accomplished the part he needed to play. Commander Fortis did not enjoy pomp and celebration, nor extended paperwork settings, so-

Wait.

Who was this?

Her nametag flashed in the light so he couldn’t catch it with his perspective. In her forties to early fifties, platinum blonde hair pulled back into an incredibly tight bun, and green eyes that stabbed anything nearby. Not a strand out of place, to include the skirt and shoes she traversed over the cherry wood with.

Something about her…

“I am to be the judge for today’s hearing,” calculative voice addressed the small crowd. “I apologize for being slightly late – the shuttle was delayed a week ago from Headquarters. Thunderstorms in the launch window.”

Hmm...

She was new. Brought just for this?

Certainly, the Gizoid’s demise was a big event, but to bring someone from Earth outside prime orbital mechanics time slots? The trajectory to reach the ARK in its current position was not the best – would be quite expensive. It would make sense if there was no high-ranking officer aboard, but there was.

Her white gloved hand with raised seams along the knuckles waved everyone to sit. “I used to work for the Office of Special Investigations, so I know how these things go. We’ll get over and done before EOB, so don’t worry about it.” Fingers played with the gavel and Gerald recognized a flashed smile that seemed suddenly so familiar. “Professor Robotnik! I am glad to see the legendary man in the flesh. Please let me know if you need anything to comfort you. These military proceedings are a bit different from the Congressional ones you are used to.”

And with that, the court begun.

The squadron that Sean Casey belonged to was brought forward and quite harshly pushed against the front to face the judge. The woman kept a blank face at that – all business, no more greetings; no more smiles.

[x]

He paid attention to the important parts of Casey’s testimony, as if to peel it. Dissect it. Tear it apart limb from limb to hear if that man had truly found anything in his lab-!

“What did you see?”

Smoke. Fire. Ash. The head of a body.

“When you went through the rest of the floors, why did you keep Dr. Robotnik besides you?”

I thought it was espionage! The doctor-

“-Is our greatest asset and you put him in a position to be potentially killed.”

If someone had hacked into our-!

“Your assumption of the potential cause, and movement to alleviate such, is noted. You were wrong and had abandoned your primary objectives. As punishment, you'll be serving as point to restore the seventeenth floor into serviceable function. Upon completion, you will return to sentry duty at double shifts until the concept of ‘safety’ is engrained in your head. Be glad we’re being lenient, and you so new, that we can say ‘you acted where your heart was.’”

So, the problem was to be sent away for the short-term.

“I am very disappointed in you, Airman.”

Maria… would like that outcome.

[He sighed in relief.]

The members of the squadron that dragged the head of Project: SHADOW were next. Each one asked the same starting question, but none had given results the judge wanted, and as such, were quickly dismissed. Their sentences were strange and varied – some were punished with orders to home station on Earth; others were stuck doing clean up on floor seventeen.

Following them were female secretaries of both contractor and military like. Similar questions with similar results. Their only noteworthy comment was that the lights flickered an hour before the ‘explosion.’ Unaware of the Gizoid, they were escorted out before the next target of questioning would start.

Which was Gerald.

He stood up and looked right at the judge in the eyes. The elder was caught off-guard slightly – where was her emotion? Even Shadow carried something in his facial appearance, and his oculars were enough to send his researchers into a ditz. Quickly, he thought of what the ‘Office of Special Investigations’ was, but came up blank. His lack of knowledge dealing with G.U.N.’s internal organization was coming to haunt him. [This was fine, though. He had seen himself there was nothing to be worried about. Just treat her as Commander Fortis: a person that didn’t understand the complexities of higher-end experiments. He was fine.]

“What did you see?”

Red alarms. Power failures. The head of the Gizoid.

“Our Chaos engineers took down records of this.” A harsh light from the ceiling burned brighter into existence. It scattered its rays upon a roll of paper – something that Gerald knew exactly how to read. It was output from the Chaos Drives in the ‘Reactor Room.’ The beating heart of the ARK for both sections carried such recording devices. They had to. Fluctuations in an individual Drive meant one needed to get recharged and replaced with a fresh one. It was simple management. “What do you make of it?”

In his mouth were shards of glass. His blood pressure spiked.

She knew something!

It appears to be an overloaded system affected to the point of a near collapse. Certain lines did indeed fail. Those too sensitive to deal with the change.

White hands crossed underneath her chin; the shadows from the chandelier made her face become hidden in a veil. “You never mentioned the robot could turn on us like this. I was under the belief that Chaos Energy could only be controlled by an ‘Ultimate Lifeform.’”

WHAT DOES SHE KNOW?

I wrote in my letters of advice that the machine would be willing to work underneath those it deemed stronger. To a point. It ran off of Chaos and my findings were unfinished before I could confirm if it could control it as well.

“We have lost years of weapons research. Research, I might add, that was already put on hold because of where the funding allotment went to onboard this very station.”

Where is my Project: SHADOW? the whispers questioned.

I clarified the dangers of an active and knowledge absorbing Gizoid. It was G.U.N. that refused to listen to me. I specifically stated that a programmed ‘heart’ was not a cure-all. I will admit, however, that it going after more Chaos to feed itself was a surprise, as was that such an act eventually led to its accidental self-explosion. The ancient writings described this as the ‘ultimate weapon.’ It must have gone fragile over the eons, just as the ruins of where it was discovered had, in hindsight.

A member of whatever sub-organization the military legal department held took the cue to deliver the copies of each letter Gerald had written over the timetable. They reached the judge’s desk with a thud; the Major General’s fingers flipped through them, but didn't read any. A proper figure of authority, one with access to such clearance in the first place, would have already been briefed on such easily recorded tidings.

“How convenient.”

Too convenient, Gerald. Tsk. Tsk.

Project: SHADOW will have none of those errors. It will be exactly what I promised: immortal, undefeatable, with infinite potential, and submissive to what it is loyal to. I will deliver.

“For the sake of your ARK, doctor, we hope so.”

The woman… had let him go.

He felt his body turn into goo as he was allowed to sit down. He… had done it? Or had he been spared? Gerald allowed himself to dig his fingers into a fist once. It wouldn't remove that dangerously high levels of stress, but for a moment…

He daydreamed – briefly – of Maria on Earth and having a picnic with her loved ones. Him. His sons. His granddaughters. A family brought back together. Oddly, there was a dark curtain behind them all that he couldn't see clearly due to the sun blinding him.

It calmed him back to reality to play the game of lies, nevertheless.

The hearing continued. Unlike the others interrogated and excused prior, the scientist was too much ‘in the know’ to be kicked out.

Or, the better reason was soon ousted.

The judge had a present.

In came the next to be heard at the trial. Gerald’s eyes widened behind his spectacles at the sight. It was none other than Lieutenant General Xavier Fortis – the de facto ‘ruler’ of the military side of the ARK. The man who ultimately oversaw Gerald’s purse strings. There was something wrong about him, however. Hair was out of place, skin was gaunt, eyes were hollowed, uniform was put on by someone else as it carried none of the straight lines Fortis was known for, and he was surrounded by nurses with medical equipment.

“What did you see?”

The Devil!!

Robotnik froze.

“The ‘Devil?’”

Gold in its eyes! Burning red all around! The fires of retribution!! Dark mass of hate attached to its back! The color of sin! Of murder!

A nurse spoke up. Shy. Upset. “Your honor, we’re sorry. He’s been seeing his nightmare behind every hallway. General Fortis has a history of sleep apnea and was hiding the fact he was dependent on pills. We found them in his room and believed he had overdosed the night of the-”

Hidden in the walls! Waiting for us to think it's gentle! It has already claimed an angel to fall! The Devil will drown in its anger and kill us!!!

Gerald kept still.

“How sad.” [She wasn’t.] “Can he talk about anything else?”

I SAW IT! IT SAW ME! I'M NEXT!

“No, your honor. He has permanent brain damage from the overdose.”

“Then get him off the ARK on the next shipment and submit him to an asylum. Get him help. Don’t you agree, Professor? A place for him to get cured-?”

BAM!

The Commander collapsed and started to shake; foam at the mouth.

[x]

The evidence they collected was exactly what Maria wanted for the final judgment. [Planned? Executed?]

‘The mechanized machine self-destructed in an overload of Chaos.’

Just a freak accident from trying to control the uncontrollable.

A stack of papers. The thud of the gavel. The resolution and new safety procedures planned to protect the ARK from potential future Chaos snafus. The judge proclaiming she was now the new Commander of the militant section of his home. Gerald saw each action in snippets of time. It was as if… He rubbed his neck and his chest where phantom pains appeared momentarily.

The judge’s serene attitude cut like a blade, as if the seizure from earlier left no remorse in her conscious. “Dr. Gerald Robotnik. Since it's now apparent you're the only researcher who has a head capable of understanding their experiments, I do hope you can give us some news sooner rather than later. We've been keenly aware of your division’s resolute silence recently and hope it's only because you're awaiting to tell us good tidings in the coming months.” The Major General moved the piece of wood that held her back in the center of the desk and walked onto the space across from the scientist. “As a side note, the proposal for the new fiscal year is in the early process of being discussed. Earnestly. Congress is starting to wonder why the bill for nationwide infrastructure has exploded outside even normal pork levels. We have a meeting at the end of summer with them to discuss why building bridges in the arctic are so… critical.”

He could feel himself being squeezed on all sides.

A tunnel of black surrounded his vision.

She couldn’t know. She was FISHING. There was little to nothing. This was a HUNCH. A GUESS. Everything is something you can control, Gerald!! CALM YOURSELF!

He wondered if his voice was steady. “The ARK is critical for all of humanity. The wonders accomplished here should never be threatened.”

The woman ignored him. “I would dare say a showcase of the next trial attempt for the ‘Ultimate Lifeform’ would be the right thing to do by the September 30^th fiscal deadline. It should be its first activation. If I am not correct, you’ll be sure to let me know if it happens sooner, right, Professor? Remember, Congress does love their…”

That knowing grin returned. “… results.”

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 8

[×]

‘Results?’

Hard, endless work.

Take care of Maria.

Analyze Shadow.

Work again.

Ask Maria why?

Get no outcomes.

Grind work yet again.

Check on Shadow.

Get no response.

Work into morning.

Tick tock.

The wheels towards October kept turning.

Work into night.

Repeat.

[x]

The term was ‘controlled Chaotic radiative absorption.’ While keeping Shadow in that state was not his intention, the faux positive results could be extracted in the interim. He needed grounded examples and outcomes to compare the future cure against, because the cure had to be – WILL BE – better than what one could get right now. Data. That's what ‘controlled’ stood for – despite the disgust in his own throat. [Naturally, not upon Shadow. The Project was innocent. Just like her. The boy was, for all purposes, a child. HIS GOOD ---.] Of course, he did not dare to tell his granddaughter the reason why she was allowed to visit the sleeping hedgehog once again.

Maria had spent the morning brushing back the Project’s fur and putting a bright red bow on his ear. It made her giggle – a pile of outfits was besides her, all handsewn in the loud proclamation of ‘love.’ Sometimes Shadow was a police officer from Central City, a movie star at the peak of popularity, a member of a biker gang, a medic, a locksmith dressed in green, Maria’s blue dress itself [headband included], and one time was dressed as Gerald – glasses and all.

Her fine motor skills, once dulled, came back so minutely over the weeks that she had no idea of the change.

There was a bright flash. The polaroid camera that hung around her neck [something that had to stay in this secluded area] took a picture of yet another day of victimhood. There was a sparkle in her eyes – as if she knew she had endless years of blackmail. “Ooooo! You’re the Ultimate Cutie-Pie, Shadow!” A pause. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to play without it being so one sided… Right, Grandpa?”

Gerald couldn't give her his full attention as hands were working on a golden clasp that had just finished cooling down from the forge. He'd been running ragged on two and a half hours of sleep today, and only three and three-quarters last night, trying to finish these things as fast as possible. The other trio of researchers were probably in similar states of exhaustion as they silently gathered the supplies he needed for the next stage, all too aware of what failure entailed. So far, nothing important had overloaded on the civilian side of the ARK, but that deep, hazy feeling of something wrong affected everyone.

Everyone but Maria.

“It will be no later than August 28^th, my dear.” That was his self-proclaimed deadline. Any later, and there wasn’t going to be enough time to plan for all contingencies by G.U.N.’s deadline. He wanted to put all his mental capabilities into figuring out what to DO for ‘the first activation,’ but dealing with these Inhibitor Rings was such a complex process that he had no set time.

And without proper, clean, and thoughtful planning, that WOULD leave an opening for that Major to extrapolate from.

“What’s going on in September?” Curiosity spilled from Maria’s mouth as she picked up another bow to place upon Shadow’s other ear. “I noticed the other staff members have been complaining of dreams with the word of that month jumping and attacking them.”

Gerald didn't know how to respond to that.

What else was he supposed to say?

Utter to her that he, and his lead scientists, believe that Shadow might have been discovered? That while Maria and the Project removed the camera feed during their raid, they had not when Shadow first awakened. Had he not walked around to deliver an unconscious elder towards the medical wing? It was a moment of panic, after all. Gerald had collapsed. He hadn’t thought-

That was it.

He had not thought.

Ex-Commander Fortis would not have thought.

But that Major General could have.

The medical region was always under observation to the point it was ignored. The Biolizard attack did not change it. It was critical to ensure no staff got into the drugs without permission – not that the scientists would do so. Yet, there was a chance the military members that were not sophisticated, or wanted a way out of their minds, was the biggest potential problem. Nothing had ever been stolen before, but-

‘The Office of Special Investigations.’

Robotnik had looked them up.

A department filled with people who donned masks and understood how to manipulate individuals to squeal on their fellow man. They were meant to go after the bad, the enemy; the wrongdoers – so how did Gerald get in their sights? Who told? Who-?

[He wanted to believe it was that Airman but lacked hard evidence. What if he was related but had been tasked by someone else? Where was the leak? What if there WAS information out, but limited and small in scale. What if the old cameras kept their secrets? They were recycled when the discs filled up every so many days. There was a chance Shadow was still unknown – a chance that all G.U.N. knew was of a PSUL2-series that made it past gestation. What if, what if; what if.]

The silence between them grew.

He heard her move away from Shadow. “Grandpa?”

Gerald kept the ring close to the magnifying lens. “Yes, my dear?”

“Are you… ok?”

He lied.

[x]

Tell them lies.

Tell them all sweet, little lies.

[x]

Gerald’s fingers shook. He was beyond bushed. Bags had sunk into his face with what felt would be permanent damage, hidden under his spectacles. Yet, the white coat was still starched and pressed. His mustache groomed correctly. Food consumed for the sake of nourishment at the appropriate schedule. If one considered the crunched timeline, he was in passable shape.

There was no other human here.

Didn't mean he had to not look his best.

Clenched in fists were the results of his blood, sweat, and tears. They gleamed into a dazzling white in the direct rays of light, scattering their luster upon the onlooker. They were actually quite beautiful, and damn near ethereal to behold: it brought back memories of a trip to that floating land when archeology was at the forefront.

Maria’s copied notes resided still beneath him. Gerald had accomplished one last round of triple-checking the complex formulas. Each angle of the edge; the indent where Chaos was to be funneled within its banded core; the perfect radius to keep them upon wrists and ankles while pushing the mythical energy away from the Project’s ‘mind.’

… Her result at the end was a harsh scribble: NOT ENOUGH :( BUT IT’LL DO. :)

The words ‘I hope…’ written in a much smaller font at the bottom of the last page. They weren't hers.

The lead scientist had wanted Maria do the honors of ‘bedazzling’ the Project – she was the most visually excited of the bunch to give the golden gifts. It was not to be. The potential of something going wrong with Shadow was just too...

Immense.

If the Inhibitor Rings failed to work…

There was a reason why he had two folders. One was thin and labeled ‘Success.’ In there was a watercolor painting Maria made of Gerald, her, and Shadow standing by one of the ARK’s viewing windows to gaze upon the Earth below. She had completed the image over the course of many days with a sad, but gentle, smile. Oddly enough, the wings upon the Project’s back were added after she had ‘finished’ the artwork, before a sheepish ‘Oops’ came flying from her mouth.

Eyes moved under his spectacles towards the other folder. It was distinctly fattened with too many pieces of paper. ‘Impasse.’

He did not want to ruse on that.

“Alright, Shadow,” Gerald spoke aloud while closing the gap. “We’ll start with your ankles and work our way up from there. It might feel cold to the touch, but based on Maria’s math, they’ll get warm rather quickly.” He tried to think about what to say next – knew that it didn’t really matter deep inside. “If everything goes well, you'll wake up.”

Carefully, the scientist lifted the foot that was covered in a white sock. Fingers slid the opened clasp around that first limb. The golden ring simmered and hummed upon reaching contact with the Project's skin, as if it was fighting against the black mist. Gerald adjusted his gaze: it was taking in and consuming that miasma!

Good. This emboldened his decision.

Another movement of the elder man’s hands. The right ankle sported a new color.

Two down. Time to take note and progress: the ones furthest away from Shadow’s ‘core’ were to have the least effect. There was too much Chaos Energy gathered, filtered, and absorbed through said dark and jeweled-tipped appendages for these to have enough remediation. Basically, they were catalysts, building blocks for the ones to bind around the hedgehog’s wrists.

He was correct. The black haze had completely vanished, now. Only the golden aura remained – still painful against Gerald’s nervous system; still exhilarating.

“Today is August 11^th,” the scientist found himself whispering as the third ring slid into its new, hopefully permanent, position. Nothing changed. “So, it’s alright if you don't wake up immediately.”

The last Inhibitor Ring rested in Gerald’s palm. He could see his reflection – that tired look of determination. If this didn't work…

‘Impasse’s’ plans roared back into the forefront. It was a gruesome series and chain of thoughts that Dr. Robotnik shoved deep in the locked recesses of his mind.

He felt his blood drip. The hand that wasn't carrying the Inhibitor had cut its own palm in his musing.

A shake of the head as he banished those thoughts.

Limbs reached down.

The last of the set joined the humming chorus of the other three.

One certain head of Project: SHADOW awaited in a sudden, dark, and lightless silence.

The only source of illumination were the children’s playthings scattered on the floor.

[x]

It felt like eternity.

The change was actually quick.

There was a twitch from white gloved hands. Singular. Reflex? A self test? Gerald was uncertain as they could be both or neither. He wasn't going to allow negative fallout, however, and brought his hands closer to Shadow’s form. As expected, the Inhibitor Rings burned to the touch – screamed to all they were at the limits of what they could hope to contain. Fortunately, the heat left no damage upon his hand when grazed with, and strangely enough, the Project’s fur right underneath the gloves were cool and comforting. After some time, Gerald’s own body got used to that heat and it dulled into an acceptable level.

“-ic…, you naïve fool,” were whispered mumbles of a deep, soft waft. “I… can't…”

Shadow was awakening!

This was working!!

“Don't… touch them…,” came a moan as those hands reached towards wrists. The Project's fingers clenched tightly upon realizing there was something hard on top of the fabric. “Not a… stable power, anymore. I can't… help with them… all gone…” There was anguish and turmoil and fear jumbled in words of delirium. “-will break me…”

[‘Paradise!?’ his associate believed? This was clearly a recovery from a nightmare!]

There was another stretch of silence as Gerald moved Shadow closer.

Outside viewers would call it an embrace.

One of comfort.

“… another way. Has to be… another…” Desperation.

The Project was shifting in place. Those wings wanted to move, but Shadow was too weak to physical push back. His Chaos Energy was trying to reestablish balance and clearly left him in a negative state. It was as if he was fighting something[?]. A spark of golden lightning, covered at the base with black ink, formed in the sky – Gerald froze in sudden stillness – but instead of being forged into a spear, it fizzled despite the hedgehog’s fingers moving as if it was thrown. The physical action repeated over and over again as the boy struggled against a ghost.

It was like that for what felt an hour. Could have been more. Or less. The scientist wasn't keeping track of time.

Shadow went still.

“-nothing is…”

Hands went back to wrists in shock as the Project stiffened in Gerald’s arms. The spines on the back rose in defense, but whatever was attacking Shadow in his mind was thought of as too fast. It was betrayal. A surprise. “Stop!”

The Project flinched. Stuck frozen in time. Seemed to wait.

After some period came a sob of acceptance, and yet, no tears fell. What had the child been suffering from these past two months?

A gloved hand with a ring stretched towards the sky.

Reaching for something that didn't exist.

Wings suddenly morphed from limped to flexed into full volume, as if to gather ever more and more and more Chaos that had already been bridled under Maria’s invention. If not for that-!!

A million sounds.

All uncanny.

Voices of the dead.

A mind shackled in Nirvana.

“It hurts.

“Can't fail.

“Tired…

“Have to.. go on…!

“Los… ing… fo… cus…

“I. WON'T. FAIL!!!”

Gasping, Shadow opened his eyes.

Glass. Empty. Irises with dark burgundy at the top that lightened to the rivers of murder at the bottom. Gold in the very middle, like a star or circlet, before it faded into crimson. It was the only sign of the trauma that was hidden under the color of blood. A clever disguise. A self-imposed one. Even Gerald was fooled.

The voice changed immediately, as if that weakness had never been experienced: deep, controlled, and careful. Confused, too, but that was an expected emotion. No, the difference of it was clear: fully aware of ‘self.’ “Professor?” A short pause as he realized the bare and piped surroundings. Those oculars roamed as bearings gathered; head tilted to address the adult straight on; quills splayed out like a dark star.

He didn't allow Shadow to ask or think anymore than that. Human arms constricted like a boa as Gerald buried the boy.

The Ultimate Lifeform stiffened again. Except this time, those hands reached to the doctor’s back and returned the gesture, before relaxing utterly in his arms.

[x]

“Shaaaadowww!!!” The Project was assaulted by pets, pats, and rubs in quick succession – hadn't even managed to make it through the sliding doorway completely. “You’re ok!! I mean, of course you were! Grandpa was taking care of you-! He wouldn't let anything bad happen! Oh, Shadow! I missed you! It’s hard to do our proclamation of protection without my partner in crime!” Another squeal. Her feet shook in excitement as the shoes reflected the yellow-green natural light.

Shadow took it in stride; his face flickered with not just emotions, but also recollection of his past actions that he was aware of. “Did… I buy you your time?”

Her face sobered at that. Then softened. “You did.”

“Then you don't need to apologize.”

Guilt. Gerald felt that for a different reason than Maria was.

Her hands held onto white gloves with golden rings around wrists. “I… hadn't even started yet. I did a terrible, terrible thing to you.”

Those fingers of a Mobian held onto her thin ones a little tighter. “So long as you and Professor are safe-”

It made the blonde cry. “D-Don’t be so q-quick to sacrifice yourself.”

Black, cat-like ears swept back. “Maria. It was… important. Besides, I trusted you and Professor to...” The voice trailed off.

“Y-Yeah… B-But... Still. I didn't think it would- I mean, I… It’s just…”

“Complicated?” Shadow offered.

Robotnik mused darkly in reflection as Maria barked at that – a wail of relief that morphed into wet giggles and sniffles as she led Shadow by the hand to the empty region that was isolated and alone. Not too far from her relative, she pulled out a box that was stuffed in a bag she had been carrying. “A-Anyways, I stole Grandpa’s notes and made you your Air Shoes for a wake-up gift,” she snotted, trying to control her face. “H-Here!”

Shadow ignored the wrapped package and reached to rub her remaining tears on his fur. “You just want me to play with you gymnastics again.” He was soft. Gentle.

“Like the- -future days,” Maria didn't deny as she tightened her grip around the red metal soles. “The ones to come.”

Robotnik felt like he was watching a hidden world. One he was allowed to partake in ever so slightly.

The two argued about shoes – simple chatter Gerald could process as he kept to his thoughts. The Project didn't want to talk about what had happened to him, and neither did the elder want to tell. Simple diversion and deflection tactics. Despite having the urge to need to know more, there were other events in his agenda that had to be addressed at a sadly higher priority.

He breathed through chapped lips as the day’s events flooded. What Gerald had seen was… haunting.

[x]

Night passed.

The station hung in orbit like a dying star.

Three related creatures decided to play ‘normal’ – if just before the curtains rolled into the next act.

Chapter Text

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 16^th 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 26^th.

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.”

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 10

[×]

“All of you ungrateful humans will feel my loss and despair!!!”

A gunshot.

No.

Her chest still hurts.

No, no; no!!

Doused in fire.

Who was this broken man before her!?

Lifeblood scattered like broken carnations.

This person that cursed the very lives of all!?

The world turned cold and sharp.

This monster that tore Shadow apart!?

The only color was red.

This evil being that wanted to kill everything!?

A stain on the floor that grew.

AND WHY DID IT LOOK LIKE GRANDPA!?

Promise her, Shadow...

[x]

There was nothing but grey.

Maria floated in the endless abyss. Any movement she even attempted to accomplish left her with no energy to continue on. Even if she had applied pure willpower, the only thing that repeated were that monster’s final words. She wondered if she had gone insane – her thoughts were ragging in on themselves-

She was dead, right?

Had reached the end?

And no one was here.

She was…

Alone.

The girl had already burned through all she could handle today. It wounded her: the scene of her dearest, most precious things becoming destroyed.

Grandpa no longer existed.

And Shadow…

Oh, Shadow.

She saw what that monster did.

That thing had changed his heart.

How could anyone call that ‘PURE!?’

In what way was ‘PURITY’ destruction!?

The end of everything!?!

Her precious Grandpa – where was he? Where had he gone? Why had he not attacked the monster to defend Shadow? – wasn’t here to offer any advice about how to leave this place. If she was… dead – as she knew she was – was this ‘purgatory?’ Because it wasn't what the books said of Heaven, and there wasn't rolling fields of fire and brimstone and death and obliteration that the thing wanted upon the precious people of Earth-

No. This was a land where the words ‘despair’ and ‘loss’ rained from the sky.

[x]

It was probably going to be fruitless.

But she was going to try to leave this place.

And then search.

Search and search.

For Shadow to kill the monster.

What else was she to do?

[x]

She missed her Grandpa.

She wanted a hug.

Who was the thing that claimed his face?

Stole his voice?

[x]

She tried to keep mainly to the positive memories, in a desperate attempt to stay sane, but her enemy’s last words kept endlessly repeating. There was nowhere to run except for her own mind – and it was getting corrupted in monochrome and cadmium.

If she hugged Grandpa, he vanished.

If she hugged Shadow, he wilted.

If she hugged herself, her heart exploded.

[x]

It was like that for what felt eons. Her. The monster. Reminiscences of the only one alive of her family left to cry for the dead-

They aimed and fired in a line.

The thing’s body ricocheted with each accurate shot.

Left and right as red ribbons unwound.

Macabre.

[x]

She wanted to believe in Heaven. That she had been a good girl and would sprout wings to fly far, far away. That her Grandpa had already reached there because he was her guiding light.

But not Shadow.

Her precious brother – her best friend. He was an ageless immortal, right? Not just 'ageless' alone. Ageless things were in ancient mythology: humans that grew mentally older and older until their bodies were incapable of movement by sheer and utter psychological collapse. Regret was the theme of such tales; that and anguish. The stories usually ended the same – they would find someone else to kill them. In mercy. The morale of the tale was that agelessness was nothing to strive for. It was a crime. A sin.

Immortality was different. They could beg for release, but it would never come.

Shadow was both.

It was worse.

Shadow couldn't wake up from his eternal slumber that he was casted into. He had been ‘purified’ under the monster to only live to carry out the inferno of rage. That wasn’t who he was. That wasn’t who he was supposed to be. If those red eyes ever opened, the last person she knew would be forever changed in her mind – and that would have been the last straw. She doubted she could have remained ‘there.’ And what about her brother? If the girl couldn’t handle it, there might have been no way for him, too.

Instead, she hoped he stayed asleep forever.

But if there was someone-

Something-

-out there…!

To save him.

PLEASE DO!

[x]

As time passed, she wondered if Heaven was also a lie.

[x]

The hour – day – second – week – moment that she realized whom the monster really was basically destroyed what rational was left.

[x]

And then…

Something happened.

[x]

The words sounded like they came from her brother.

But filled with sadness.

Loss.

Despair.

… And hope.

She didn't know what the phrase was, other than it was screamed at the top of the lungs; heard his very soul get ripped out during the process; felt the great gray expanse shatter like porcelain; was pierced by a green light that suddenly swallowed her and tore her into infinite pieces in a new, all-encompassing verdant void-!

The last thought was of sweet relief.

[x]

Blue eyes ripped open. Her breath struggled to come out as her own fingernails tore into cornflower and white embroidered bedsheets. Sweat covered her entire body, making her clammy human form cold in the temperature-controlled room. Her ears could pick up the sound of her own heartbeat-

Her…

Heartbeat!?!

Limbs flew as a female blonde girl fell from an elevated bed, right onto something that was warm and inviting and calming – something she didn’t recognize or didn’t see in her panic. Whatever damage her fall had done was ignored – her own fingers reached all over herself as she could no longer see grey; no longer felt that painful reminder where it had been for the longest time. Instead, the stars of space – her observation room – was washed in the soft lilacs of ‘night time,’ the weak greens of lighting meant for midnight snacks, and the pale yellows of the life support system’s status panels.

She stared right back down at her own hands. They were shaking and had tufts of golden hair within their clenched grasp. Yet, they weren’t filled with her own blood. There was no gaping hole from the front towards the back.

“-ria-”

She checked around again. This wasn’t the backup escape pod room. There was no console that was the last thing she willingly touched. There was no Shad-

AUGH! A sharp pain that creased against her head; pressure that shoved any thought against a wall-

She did not know how long she laid there upon the warmth. There was only one thing she cared about in that moment – the fact that she was alive-!!

“Maria! You’re alright – will be alright!”

She grasped onto that name – it was hers. Her existence away from the grey…! Spoken out from her and Grandpa’s salvation…!!!

[x]

There was a thermometer in her mouth, an ice bag slammed against her head, and a blanket wrapped around her in so many layers she had an inkling it would have been revenge if not for her brother’s panicked mania. It was nigh time to make a joke and ease his worries, but the cutest hedgehog in the entire Universe did not give her voice any opportunity to. Temperature taking measurements were not primitive aboard the ARK, but the ones Shadow had snuck away were large enough to work on a horse-

Cyan eyes blinked again. Oh. These were the ones that were meant for the Biolizard during its first growth spurt, weren’t they? Her brother had vanished into Grandpa’s lab and took the first thing he could find – typical. The glass was large and cold against her lips. She crossed her eyes in an attempt to read the numbers, which were fortunately in big, red font.

“Nunntee-aight punt seix, Shayldough.”

Red eyes flickered towards her grumpy, pouting face. “You were thinking about the future-past again.”

The thermometer refused to be moved away. Maria had to settle for a heave of her shoulders in defeat. Darn super emotionally aware younger brothers. Long gone were the days she could easily brush the suspicion away – arguing with Shadow about how she felt was like arguing against Dr. Eruba. Or Grandpa, except Grandpa was willing to let her hide things for the sake of her growing up… “Jasht a bahd dreem. Eigt diddna mean ‘nhythang.”

“Your heart rate skyrocketed.”

“Wahz noothhinge.”

“You didn't know I was holding you at first.”

“Ai kuldn’t cee fure ah bit.”

“You had uneven breathing cycles.”

“Eigt’s kauze urgh cootie pahtootee earghs argh sen-see-tiv.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Kauze eigt’s trwue.”

Gold Inhibitor Rings reflected the ceiling lights as Shadow relented and pulled away the glass from her mouth; verified the 98.6° that blazed to all. He wiped the medical equipment carefully and placed it into a plastic bag labeled ‘to decon.’ Maria could only see his back after that: the tail ‘feathers’ always caught her eye, even back in that white region that felt years ago. So bright, so bold; so… “Pretty.”

Shadow moved his face to watch hers; didn’t flinch but did pull off a deep sigh. “Maria, you bring them up enough. They’re not-”

Blonde hair flew as she shook her head. She’ll keep repeating what he needs to hear until he took it to heart. “Oh, Shadow. They are. It’s like looking at a chandelier! Or a painting! O! Did you see mine I made for Grandpa, after all?”

Disbelief flashed on his face as her brother turned to inspect her once again. There was another new medical thingy in his hands – she would have known the proper name for it if not for him hiding it so well – as the black hedgehog closed the distance. “You know what they mean better than Professor does.”

The cold temp of the stethoscope touched her chest over the thin garment. One of the ends was tapped right into her brother’s small ear – the other side couldn’t be stretched without breaking the metal. He was hearing more than just her heart: it was her very mitochondria, lungs, and cardiovascular system. Each beat of the blood around her four chambers kept him in stillness. “Does your ‘Shadow Powers’ make my organs talk to you?”

He scrunched his face. “Is that what you’re labeling it?”

“It’s… better than ‘Doom.’”

The stethoscope returned back home as a new item was pulled out. It seemed her brother had raided more than just Grandpa’s lab, but also her room… “Well, that is accurate. About the name,” he ended with clarification.

She moved a finger to flick one of Shadow’s quills. The red tip vibrated for a few seconds. “Do you still hear them?”

Her response was a tongue depressor right in the mouth. You learned new ways to distract, Shadow! But it’s never going to work on your big sis. “Thwat’s ah yesh.”

“I am not going to discuss that to you. Now, say, ‘ahhh.’”

“Aaaaaaaaahhh.”

Those gemstone eyes roamed in inspection. “Good. You didn’t bite the inside of your mouth this time.” The brown popsicle stick looking item left its short-lived prison, except this one went into the trash in an effortless movement. That was just how Shadow was: anything and everything that dealt with physical application made him seem…

Cute.

Perfect, too, she guessed.

It was his heart that was damaged, repaired, and then damaged again. Her brother had claimed his soul back, but it was obvious there was a lot of work needed. He was from farther in the future than SHE was, and he had kept a super tight lip about the details in general. The girl was smart enough to understand that whatever it was was something truly horrific – something that made Shadow cracked. As such, she, Maria Robotnik of the Space Colony ARK, was to ensure that the Ultimate Lifeform wasn’t going to stay broken under her watch! He saved her, she’ll save him – that was just how life now went. “So, what’s next on our agenda?”

This was a topic he was more willing to partake in. “The Biolizard held in the deepest, most isolated area of the ARK.”

An internal alarm screamed. Maria grabbed her brother’s hand at that and squeezed. “No! Not that. You can’t go near it! Grandpa mentioned that it was super dangerous! The second you attack it, it will awaken and turn against you!”

He was avoiding her gaze. This was bad. Meant Shadow was determined. “Maria, it's not as dangerous as other things on this station.” She hated how she didn’t know if he meant G.U.N. or… himself. “If left alone, the Prototype can merge itself with the body of the ARK – specifically, the Eclipse Cannon’s nose – in an attempt to move the mass of the entire station onto Earth and-”

It was the horrified gasp from her lips that stopped the description from turning graphic.

“… Anyhow, it’s important that a potential method of world-ending power is removed before it can be utilized.” Shadow shook his head at that, still not allowing red to meet blue. He was hiding something! “The military will take the Biolizard’s death as something positive and will note internally that the ‘threat of the ARK’ had transformed into something less harrowing. Assuming, of course, that I can pull it off while making it look like it passed on due to a failure in the life support system.”

The girl bit her lips in thought, rolling her tongue along her right cheek. What her brother was saying had logical steps – and a voice that hinted at ‘experience.’ That, by the way, was another dreaded thought: how could have Shadow even had knowledge about the Biolizard being able to-?

Oh.

… Right.

The future.

“You… killed it before, didn’t you?”

Each point of those quills bounced in acknowledgement. “Yes.”

Hearing the almost apathetic tone from Shadow was a little strange. “To think it managed to escape and you defeated it to save the world…”

(Why did he have a brief face of supreme guilt?)

The female continued as she shoved that intrusive thought aside. It was silly. Shadow had fought against ‘purity’ and won – he wouldn’t be here before her if he hadn’t. “Still, I don’t want you to get hurt…”

There was a strange noise from her brother. A snort? A sharp, melancholy laugh? Something else entirely? “Maria, I defeated it two times before.”

The ‘huh???’ left her lips faster than she could hold it back.

The voice tone must have been something funny, because it was that simple gesture that allowed Shadow to turn back around and face her in the dim light. “The White Space – where the temporal anomaly you experienced – had a stronger base version of it. That was number two.”

She walked up to Shadow and begun to pinch his upper arm. “Wow. My little brother is super strong.” It didn’t make her worry about him any less, but she supposed his utter confidence was going to be what she needed. Besides, if Shadow thought he could pull it off, she was going to be right there to support him.

Well, ok. Not physically right there, but. You know.

In spirit.

“And after the Biolizard…? Then what?”

Shadow froze. His expressive features scowled at that, as if he was experiencing regret and extreme distaste. “G.U.N. has a Chaos Emerald in their possession. I aim to fix that.”

She blinked. “A Chaos Emerald? As in: the kind of mythical item that will synchronize with you because of whom you are, biologically speaking? The kind of gemstone that is filled with Chaos Energy?” Her finger aimed right at the Inhibitors with no room for doubt. “The kind of energy that those are already at the brink of self-destruction, which keep you safe and sane and happy-?!?”

There was the sound of concealed aggression. “Maria. It's not that I am unaware of the potential danger. I have zero interest in dallying with it – or using it. I just can't leave the Emerald with them, and asking Professor to take it will just make G.U.N. even more suspicious as to why he needs it again.” He sighed as he rubbed his eyes. “It will be a simple extraction. I have ways to move about without requiring hallways or service paths.”

She twisted in place. “You know I had to drag you back home using the ventilation shafts the last time you used your powers. Under normal circumstances, that would have been the scariest night of my life. You were so gone, so cold; so… empty,” the young girl sorrowfully whispered. “Please, Shadow. Don’t do it.”

“What's to say it won’t set off the Artificial Chaos?” he countered softly, referencing the second disaster that happened after the robot’s activation in her future-past. Black ears bent sideways after the statement, having heard her gasp of painful remembrance. “We have to claim it from them, and then, you and Professor will hide it away from me. I… can’t even say with 100% certainty that I won’t suddenly try to salt the Earth with the carcasses of G.U.N. if I… were to receive it in an uncontrolled manner or state.” It was a moment of weakness – the admission that underneath the surface, he was aware he could do a lot of bad. Yet, he spoke. Talked. Discussed. To her – to calm himself down from something he knew she would find disappointing.

“Shadow…,” the girl interjected. Whenever he thought himself as a monster, it hurt her.

He wasn’t.

She had seen one before.

Not Shadow. Not him.

His emotions… those feelings – they came from loss and a desperate need to protect his family. They came from the fact his mind had been pulled apart at the very seams and had been taped together haphazardly. The very fact that he didn’t want to rush down and destroy the planet this very second was-

Maria shook her head.

He continued in sentiment she couldn't place – the few moments she understood what it meant for her brother to be from another place; another time. “This isn’t something you wanted to hear from me, is it?”

The female baulked at that. “N-Nonsense, Shadow! This a good thing to converse about, just like my own bad dreams. Thinking about doing wicked ideas on rare occasions doesn’t mean you will actually enact on them.”

Red eyes shifted away from her caring gaze.

(There was more of that guilt.)

She let him have his space. What he needed was more positive encouragement that he wasn’t alone anymore, not ungrounded nerves from a silly girl. “I… have an idea on how to get the Emerald without you actively touching it, you know,” Maria offered, watching tentatively on how her brother was going to react. Female hands shook hard to establish her spoken truth. “It’s something only the Ultimate Lifeform and Sis can do. It’ll take some time for me to hash out the details… but you’re going to really hate the plan. Really, really; REALLY despise it.”

[x]

Shadow could be… loud, even if it was only one word.

[x]

He didn’t talk to her the rest of the day. The Air Shoes made soft swishing noises as the hedgehog had skated away into an isolated and dark wing to brood at! How rude! Her brother had to have known her idea was the better of the two – his was crafted from haste and self-sacrifice and she wasn't going to have those two mixes together within him. While being in a rush was understandable due to her circumstances, that didn't make his other trait desirable to keep! She really had to snip it in the bud…

Shadow’s bad mood was so obvious that even Grandpa understood when he returned from his recent work day – a work that he hadn’t written in his journal, so Maria had no inkling of what he was up to.

Still, late that night, her brother eventually meandered by their shared camping spot in the observation tower and settled in besides her. Mindful that Grandpa was watching, he limited the words of his response.

“I… will give your idea a chance.”

A pause.

“… I am sorry I yelled at you.”

She nuzzled close to his warmth. “I forgive you ‘cause I love you, Shadow.”

Eventually, he’ll be able to say it back instead of it being locked in his throat. She could see that blame and refusal to see it again all over his face. He probably won't be capable until she was… safe, to his point of view. Ergo, it was required she told him as often as possible. He was Shadow Robotnik the Ultimate Lifeform or Hedgehog or Whatever Else He Wanted To Be, and her brother needed constant reminders that he deserved affection.

Repairing cracks didn't happen overnight!

There was that dull glow from his eyes as Shadow went under the covers with her; hand that held onto hers relaxing. Maria watched her brother's silent vigil – all awake and alert, but in a state pretty close to relaxation. He was to keep a diligent watch until she rose again in the coming morning.

I love you, Maria.

She’ll live to hear it from his mouth. One day.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 11

[×]

Packages were something special, meaningful, or routine. They could be a gift, a keepsake from a lost loved one, or a simple shipment of the most recent grocery supply run. In this case, it was certainly a present: the cardboard box was wrapped in bright paper. It was a print of the Earth and the various locations within it – in a traveling agency sort of way. Every major metro covered the wrapping: from Westopolis to Central City; the ruins of the Ancients to mountains far, vast, and wide.

A small smile hugged Gerald’s features as he reread the note again. To: The Best Professor in the WORLD. Simple and in cursive, the entire getup was finished with a bright blue bow. Maria definitely understood how to approach him when he felt tired and needed a pick-me-up.

Time away from his granddaughter was not pleasant, but his current job was too busy to leave alone. Even tucking in his dear and Shadow for bed took too much from him, but that was the one vice he kept.

Eyes flickered back towards the package.

He could afford ten minutes.

Vices came in threes, right?

Gerald put away his notebook as he opened the gift, eventually reaching into the depths. Hands pulled out a brand-new book – still smelling of fresh ink – with the title displayed proudly in the middle: Dr. Robotnik’s Guide to the Ancient Civilizations – One Man’s True Accounts of His Daring, Yet Foolish, Adventures in the South. The image covering the background was one even he couldn't recognize in his memories, but stunning all the same. The words ‘Glyphic Canyon,’ in small font, were purposefully placed into a position to showcase the ancient ruins lodged onto sheer walls.

He rubbed the author’s full name with a thumb.

His firstborn son’s.

Gerald didn’t know there had been a publishing deal. While the communication [the lack of anything aside the pleas of returning Maria back down to the surface to die-] with his child was… stale, it seemed his granddaughter had found something despite the distance. The printed account of his eldest son’s escapades was recent as well – the date when this book was created from the press was only a month old.

The words in the dedication section pierced his heart and made his tear ducts work for a little while.

To my beloved family.

[-was Gerald even included in that-?]

There was another split of paper that flew out when he started to read the prelude. In Maria’s handwriting were the words: Thought you would love this. The next personal cargo shipment isn’t until October, so for now, pretend I never gave this to you! I totally didn’t sneak around and asked one of the researchers to let me use some of their reserved weight limit! This was supposed to be another 6 rolls of toilet paper! Shhh! :)

P.S. When we go back home, let’s go on an adventure together, too!

There was the sound of something… small.

Oh. It seemed that water had leaked again.

It was ruining the paper.

[x]

Dr. Guzman, the head of the biomedical department within the ARK, was hovering around her coworkers with a pained expression. Possibly disappointed. “I am now starting to hear the words ‘September 26^th’ in my time off as well. It’s getting rather ridiculous.” Her mutter matched the nastiness of those bags under her eyes.

The elder of the four continued to write. “Strict timelines are inconvenient. Nevertheless, how goes the analysis of the data from Shadow’s embryotic stage?”

There was no room for debate. Tower, to his credit, was the most adaptable of the other trio in the main lab. “We managed to index all of the required drum memories from storage, but the main computer processer is having issue compiling the data.” A frown. “It keeps… crashing.”

“What we need is a computer specialist that isn’t you, Dr. Robotnik,” Yadev added carefully. “The total came out to 3,012,589 KILObytes. That’s 33,900 drums. The ARK is a marvel, indeed, but it wasn’t expected to compile those sheer numbers within a singular month.”

There was a reason why Project: SHADOW took years just to get to this point. Gerald was aware he was asking the impossible, but hadn’t he already created one? “Then we will prioritize the drums that carry information about the larva and hide them first.” He pointed to his department head once again. “That will be your job. When we show off Shadow, any evidence of that needs to be as if it was never in the genome in the first place. We can deal with his true genetic signature later. Emergency finances first.”

For the past two and a half weeks, the head of the station had been creating a “new 2.018.” It had to be read as ‘normal’ – or as normal as one Mobian-Chaos infused entity could be with copious amounts of genome manipulation. G.U.N. was going to ask for this data at some point, and he wanted the record of “2.018” to be claimed as a prototype – weaker than the Biolizard but able to sense Chaos. That way, the military will see that Gerald was on ‘the right path’ for their weapon. It was just a shame that “2.018” was too weak to be what they wanted. However, he was stable, so, obviously, a better choice than the previous failure. Instead, “2.018” was to be the perfect bridge to build series 3 upon – one that'll never come.

G.U.N. would have their showcase, and he would outplay them. They wanted to see Shadow? Fine. He’ll give them the version of the Project that was guaranteed to produce fiscal results for Maria.

He… understood that it was technically still breaking his promise, but he couldn't let the ARK go without. The station was designed with unparalleled engineering and could hang in the space between Earth and the moon without problem. It had machines, drones, and artificial, controllable water [for goodness’ sake] that could automate all repairs that didn't need Gerald’s immediate interjection. There were recycling facilities where broken or destroyed matter could be reformed back into usable goods. Botanical gardens allowed fresh produce [as that department researched how to increase shelf life of food for the world below].

In theory, the ARK didn't need more funding.

That was the power of the technical, wasn't it? Because the ARK wasn't perfect: if the forge was damaged, there went the ability to repair. In fact, despite robots doing the work, the sheer scale of the planetoid didn't allow quick, nor efficient, recovery without outside help. Products like dairy, fruit from trees, or anything that demanded meat had to be transported. Produce, such as a lettuce, took far less water, energy, and physical space than a single slice of beef – and no one [save Shadow] could continue existence off just that. If the ARK had been designed as a genuine separate place to live, then the self-sustaining food farms would have been the biggest chunk of the complex – rather than the area dedicated to weapons and the military.

… Without money, there would be no more expensive medical treatments or chemicals from the surface to work on Maria's body while awaiting the cure. There wouldn't be enough materials to keep her frail form going on long enough to confirm that a sentient Shadow could be the solution. Not to mention the ARK was funded by G.U.N. in the first place – they had all the materials required to force it to be shut down and order Robotnik to return back to Earth. It would be a death sentence.

He rubbed his temples. Then there was also the age issue: she was getting older, as was he. If Gerald died, had a stroke, went senile, or a torrent of other things, before she could be saved-!

The trio coughed to get his attention.

He scowled. Cursed distractions. “I will go check out the server and mainframe floors. We can't add more scientists to our small posse, as the youth say.”

Yadev issued a small nod. Noticing that his boss was about to leave, he reached out his hand. “Ah, Doctor Robotnik. How… how is He?”

Stillness from the others. The energy scientist had spoken what they all wanted to know, but were smart enough to not utter.

“Shadow, the person, is fine. You'll see him in late September.”

[That man was the most taken in to the idea of the Ultimate Lifeform, and Yadev wanted to know more about the dangerous secrets in those eyes – eyes, that individual claimed, that were aware about things aside ‘just a new life aboard the station’ – eyes that knew ‘so much more…’]

[x]

Complex formulas of Mobian genomes, Chaos Drive integration, Emerald radiation bombardment, and embryotic fluid were hidden behind the dull, pulsing screens. The server sections of everything accomplished on the station took a whole quarter of the ARK, lodged under sight. It was the Project's endless lines of data whose digital signatures were stored in an entire subfloor within the server region. The cable and data lines that ran everything were hundreds upon hundreds of miles long, even. Each drum memory was as large as Maria's head! It made sense as to why, too: this was all the information one needed about Project: SHADOW, lizards and all.

The date was 7Sep – 8Sep in three hours – and he had been preparing everything for what he nasally called ‘The Great Farce.” It was a fitting name for the event sponsored by G.U.N.. Alas, without Shadow’s golden aura to sustain him, he had fallen back into the need to sleep more often. It was a bit aggravating as to why he was put into that position in the first place [kudos of those he was hired by], but he supposed that was the nature of bad relationships. The deal with the military was not nearly as negative as the one with them, certainly, but the more and more he heard about this new Commander of the ARK, the less and less control he felt over his own structure.

She had started to pull in new shipments from Earth during the last prime orbital slot. One arrived this morning.

But of what? The manifest he managed to find only had the label: ‘required.’

His musing was cut off by a ‘beep’ as his search program displayed the results: PSUL 32 2E 30 31 38 2D 42 44 DATA – LAST UPDATED 34 4A 75 6C.

He drummed his fingers at the keyboard at that. It seemed he discovered the reason why the computer was unable to digest or compile anything upstairs. The exact same error occurred even down here… The years upon years of critical work all existed, except for anything related to the last of the specimens – that of Shadow. The only [known] evidence of his very creation were the paper versions he had given to his subordinates, where they were locked deep within vaults of random locations.

Except… he didn't corrupt the drum memories of the items that had once housed “2.018.”

Was it Maria?

He thought about her actions as he climbed to the drum’s physical location.

She was very protective of the Project, but did she know about this room? Well, specifically, which server rack carried the brown tapes that held every iota of datum? Because the damage done was very precise: like a nail went in and elongated or reset’d each byte. It made anyone looking for additional information run into a dead end. That, in of itself, was a good thing… In theory.

Hah… Theory.

Because Gerald was about to destroy only certain elements within the records himself and didn't get to as it all was corrupted…

… Would she admit it if he asked?

[Wasn’t that a sore idea?]

He sighed. While a good job at preventing others from reading and copying for nefarious means, it didn't remove the fact that there was clear evidence of being tampered. Gerald was going to have to type a whole new genome sequence based of 2.017 and make a faux stamp mark for Shadow. He needed some proof about “2.018’s” existence, even if the embryo was a completely different DNA code than the current one.

Oh, Ancients, did he have enough time to pull that off?

From scratch?

Maria… I wish you would have told me before you did this!! It wasn't often – in fact, RARE – he was genuinely upset with her, but…!

This was… still recoverable. He'll just… copy 2.017 and edit pieces instead. No full rewrite. He was [unofficially] G.U.N.’s best scientist and quite possibly the only one in the short term that could read data enough to know “2.018’s” was a mismatch clerical error. No need to panic-

A pencil, pale yellow in the bright lights, smacked his face. His grip had lessened on the writing utensil in his fidgeting. Carefully, he reached down and took a note at how small and worn it was by the sharpening he had accomplished earlier. At some point soon, he would need to throw it away – his right hand was starting to get cramps-

… What if it wasn’t her…?

[x]

The walk back towards the observatory room was simple and easy enough. The ARK was bustling – too busy for almost midnight. Many of the researchers that were not associated with Project: SHADOW [of which there were a decent amount to sell the lie that the station was completely without illicit weapons manufacturing] scampered away upon seeing their boss stalk the halls. Polite and demure, they kept their gazes away from him.

The scientist rubbed his chin before going after the one that looked the most nervous. That meant a weak mental constitution, which were the types of individuals easiest to steal information out from. Quickly, Gerald glanced at the common access card upon the victim’s upper left chest: the color and markings shouting that this person was from the botanical wing. “What seems to be the source of the commotion?”

A scared mutter of ‘oh my sucrose, he's talking to me’ left the verbal dam. This adult was about twenty or twenty-five, with none of the accolades compared to the one addressing him. “D-Dr. Robotnik!” he saluted-

Saluted?

“It’s an honor to meet you! I am First Lieutenant Enes!” That hand went back down. “O! Right. Apologies. I'm basically conditioned to raise my hand to my superiors – forgot you're a civilian, doctor! Doesn't mean I don't respect you! Your ARK is amazing-!” A painful, nervous expression vomited from his face – horror at the lack of veneration he just spoke. “Ahem. Anyways, I'm the new assistant to the Department of Botanical Interests' also new Chief of Staff...’s assistant.”

It appears he wasn't going to be able to eat a cold dinner tonight. “I was unaware that area required recent turnover.”

The words fluttered. Unlike two others he knew, though, this person gave Gerald vibes of genuine nervousness. “I'm not quite sure as I haven't been briefed, yet. G.U.N. tells me where I'm stationed next and I just follow. However, me and my buddies – err, coworkers – all just got here yesterday. We're just about to get our bags and settle in. We're from over the ocean, so it's morning for us, internally, sir!”

So, the military was sending more assets to the ARK?

Gerald continued to rub his face, almost pulling at his mustache. Was this a hint that the Major General had already thought Project: SHADOW deserved another year’s worth of manning and supplies? In advance? Or were they here to shut everything down? The ‘closers,’ if you will.

First Lieutenants were the equivalent of Airman, so it wasn't like he was going to get answers from this person. He also had a feeling anyone high enough to give Gerald what he wanted wouldn't speak, either.

This game was long since old.

[x]

Alizarin turned to meet Gerald directly when the scientist broke into the observatory. By now, he was used to that gaze, but something in his must have notified Shadow he needed attention. “Professor,” the hedgehog had spoken with ever-awareness of the sleeping girl, “is something troubling you?”

“Yes, actually.” Better to be honest in this case. “I need Maria to wake up.”

“Acknowledged.” With that, the boy slipped underneath the covers. [Zero hesitation – so much loyalty-]

Whispered, hushed words were exchanged about silly things – mostly from his granddaughter’s side. Something about fishing? Whatever the short conversation was, soon enough, the Project did what was asked. Maria’s face popped out of the tent’s large flaps – tired, exhausted, but happy. “Night, Grandpa,” she fought against a yawn. “Or is it morning already?” Blonde hair was stuck in an uncombed mess. “Am I late for class?”

“No to all of that, I am afraid.” Gerald walked the distance and squatted down. The pain in his knees was new, but he wanted to see her expression of trustworthiness – she was not a good liar. [Was that something she was even capable of?] This also gave a better look at the Project’s facial expression as well. Odds were if Maria was involved, the boy was, too. “Maria Robotnik, I am about to ask you a very serious question. As such, I want you to give me nothing more than an honest and serious answer. Understand?”

That woke her up. Her blue eyes roamed her grandfather’s face with reckless abandon and slight fear.

“There’s no alarms,” Shadow commented softly.

She nodded. Swallowed. Rubbed the back of her neck. Then, she gave another hard look at her relative. “Was it the pancake explosion in the other room? I told Shadow to clean up the batter from the ceiling, but he only remarked that it was my fault for confusing the baking soda with sugar, so my responsibility – only, I don’t own a ladder here, so-”

He brought his right hand up and placed it on his precious’ shoulder. “Not that.”

Confusion. “‘Not… that?’” The girl turned towards Shadow, who was watching her very carefully. “You didn’t… do anything, did you?”

White gloved hands rose and waved in denial. “I’ve been here all night.”

“No lizard snacks?”

“None.”

[Snacks? Don’t tell him that Shadow was going to the kitchen to get food. There were cameras down that route! Had not the scientist told the boy to tell the other two if he ever felt the desire to consume-?]

“No on that, either, Professor.”

Gerald must have had that thought all over his face. The tone was filled with an iron will that the adult had to accept. Nevertheless, he moved on. “Maria. Tell me truthfully. Scrupulously. Did you break into the server section of the ARK – with or without Shadow – and corrupted anything dealing with the records of ‘PSUL2.018-BD?’”

The girl blinked, taken aback. Her eyes narrowed as she turned sharply to the ebony mass besides her. “How about that-?”

Quills moved harshly. “Absolutely not. My skills with computers are unpolished even if I had that idea.”

Maria returned to Gerald. “N-No. I didn’t do anything around there. I also don’t know much about computers, either, Grandpa…” Her voice trailed off; each passing word that she had spoken got smaller and weaker and… filled with more and more nerves. “I didn’t e-even know you h-had a server room filled with anything dealing with S-Shadow.” Her hand went into a fist and punched her own leg. “Why didn’t I think of that?!”

If Robotnik had eaten dinner, it would have come up. As it was, bile was already in his mouth; washed against his teeth.

She didn’t do it.

Maria didn’t do it.

Who did?

WHO DID?!

His thoughts scrambled. A list of culprits rose: Yadev? Tower? Guzman? All were capable of entering the room, but they also had access cards that required Gerald’s direct approval to do so. He would have been notified – not to mention, they would have told him as well, being as enamored to the Project as they were. Also, their motives were different than Maria’s would have been – they were skilled enough to understand how much harder it would be for “The Great Farce” if they had completely and utterly ruined anything related to “2.018!!”

[“-this is bad-”]

Another list: that Airman? Impossible. That creepy individual was locked away in floor seventeen at least until November. That was the estimate for the recovery of the floor. He had also accessed the files for Sean Casey prior – they were all the records of a person with security details, not anything remotely electronic.

But what if those records themselves were falsified?

[“-a panic attack-”]

A conundrum. However, the physical training that Airman had was also apparent. That took time to develop, right? And for a physical body to have muscles meant dedication. Not a computer wizard – oh, yes. Gerald could be wrong. Technically, someone could exercise while reading a book about punched cards, but-

Suspect 1.

Another list: the Major General. Being the Commander of the military side of the ARK gifted her extended privileges. Project: SHADOW was G.U.N.’s – per the agreement, Gerald was to only receive the medical benefits, and the President his cup of immortality. [NO, he was NOT going to think about whom he had technically sold away right now-!!!] Nothing good would have come from locking out the military from the very thing they were funding; in fact, Gerald had been open about his results until Maria made him promise.

… But the Commander also had no experience in drum memories.

Right?

Suspect 2.

WHO? WHAT? HOW?

[“-get answer of this, immediately, for him-”]

[“-new variables not from us-”]

Suddenly, there was the grip of steel on his shoulder, almost to the point of summoning genuine pain. Gerald didn’t even have the chance to turn to see what caused it before-

His stomach, already on the bleeding edge, curled inwards to itself; acid seemed to flush every inch of his nerves. Fire from everywhere and everything fueled this sudden feeling – a knowledge that he was no longer in a room amidst the stars.

Rather, he was in a field of jade.

That was when the squeezing started. He was being pulled at his epidermis! Felt his limbs began to detach from their sockets as he was atomized! All at once he was on Earth, in a city, in an apartment, in a house, in a lab; so-on-and-so forth. They went by in blurs of moments so fast his genius wasn’t able to even PROCESS-!!

And then he was being pulled away from it all! Down into a spiraling pit that appeared below his fragmented sense of self: a black void with a white, burning edge of heat that swiftly cooled into cadmium-!!

“-I’m gonna be sick,” moaned a young girl.

Gerald already was.

Fingers curled on the harsh, grated floor.

White lab coat no longer pristine.

Haggard gasps to intake air.

When he came to realization that he wasn’t paste that had been grinded into… wherever THAT was, his brain caught up that he was in the ARK’s server room.

Shadow didn’t say anything.

Instead, the Project was looking at the screen where a muted notification blinked – had that been missed on the scientist’s last visitation? The light coming from the device drowned all the onlookers in soft blues – made the boy appear like nothing but carbon and purple. Upon the monitor, data spilled in a strange layout of a letters, a line, numbers, and then another line. It was repetition:

PSUL 32 2E 30 31 38 2D 42 44 DATA – LAST UPDATED 34 4A 75 6C

----------

01010111 01100101 00100000 01100100 01101001 01100100 00100000 01110111 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01001001 01110100 00100000 01110111 01100001 01101110 01110100 01100101 01100100 00101100 00100000 01000110 01100001 01110100 01101000 01100101 01110010 00101110 00100000 01000010 01110101 01110100 00100000 01101110 01101111 01110111 00100000 01110111 01100101 00100000 01100001 01101100 01110011 01101111 00100000 01110111 01100001 01101110 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01110011 01100101 01100101 00100000 01001001 01110100 00101110 00100000 01001100 01100101 01110100 00100000 01110101 01110011 00100000 01110011 01100101 01100101 00101110 00100000 01001100 01100101 01110100 00100000 01110101 01110011 00100000 01110100 01101111 01110101 01100011 01101000 00101110 00100000 01001100 01100101 01110100 00100000 01110101 01110011 00100000 01100001 01100100 01101101 01101001 01110010 01100101 00101110

----------

Inhibitor Rings reflected that blue into a viridian. The hand gesture was one of asking for advice. “Does this mean anything to you, Professor?” the Project’s voice questioned.

Saliva was stuck on his tongue. “How did we get here?” Gerald asked instead.

The ‘Mobian’ tensed up. Each fur and spindle upon his body straightened, and those wings of his uncurled into knives. “Again. Does this make any sense? Is it G.U.N.? Do they know?”

“Shadow! Be careful-!”

There was a spark and crackle as a Chaos Energy rail nearby sprung a small leak. Automated responses closed it before anything could get worse – the kind of minor damage the system was designed to handle and deal with.

Ears pulled back and flattened against a skull; plumage limped. “… I didn’t mean to do that.”

Maria shook her head, but didn’t comment much further. Instead, she turned to face her grandfather, holding her hands close together by her chest. “Grandpa. The monitor… looks like a sort of code?” she offered.

Red and blue locked onto spectacles.

“Binary,” Gerald eventually gasped out. “It’s binary.” He patted himself, still in a daze at what he witnessed – experienced. “I don’t have my paper or writing utensil with me-”

He was cut off by a sudden light. Like thunder. Like reality churned into distortion.

A flash of cyan. And white.

Twice.

Shadow was there.

Then he wasn’t.

And then… he was there again.

Hand stretched out, offering the notebook and pencil Gerald had dropped in the observatory room.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 12

[×]

A scrap piece of paper waved in front of bright blue. Narrowed in, as well as cross-eyed, the scribbles done hastily were not the easiest things to decode. Or maybe they were, but it certainly wasn’t Mobian. Or Federationese. She turned her head up to address her brother, who had his hand propping up his head as he continued to stare towards outer space. The Sun had risen over the Earth by now and casted him back into the reds and blacks she was familiar with. “A-Ahem. Shadow?” Her pale finger tapped the four symbols that kept repeating themselves in random order: -, ፲, ፻, and ፩. “I thought you said you remembered what the binary code was?”

“I do.”

She tapped again. “This whole thing… is gibberish.” Maria took the time to look at the passage again: -፻፩-፻፲፩   -፻፲-፻፩   --፲፻--   -፻፲-፻   -፻፲፲፻፩… and so on and so forth. Made her dizzy.

Confusion flashed on her brother’s face as he made a small hop away from the window to pick up the paper she had written on. Erasure marks filled the entire thing, as were the creases from where she had shoved it in her pocket from Grandpa – who had come by for only a few seconds before running away towards his lab. Maria didn’t want to worry him more, and she had a strong feeling that he would have not approved of this copy of a copy… “It’s zero-one o one-zero-one eleven, zero-one ten-zero-one o one, zero-zero-thousand-zero-zero…”

He kept talking. That brain of his read it like it was nothing; like autopilot. Must be nice. Quickly, she asked him to start from the beginning. He nodded and waited as she pulled out a pen from her diary and tore out another page. The bright pink border with hearts was convenient for making it look innocuous, right? After a few minutes, she had it scribed exactly what the monitor held – or at least as good as her brother’s memory of that event. “You gotta remember that I don’t know future languages, Shadow,” Maria trailed off, looking at the paper with squinting eyes. Her penmanship was good, but after writing down a hell of a lot of 0s and 1s, her fingers cramped somewhere ¾ths of the way down.

Self-doubt. “But this is not?” Maria saw movement from the corner of her mind – the hedgehog reached towards the side of his head with a deep frown; quill sash swayed as he shook it. “It looks like zeros and ones to me…”

Must be a future problem he forgot about. Or something. Her brother was weird – in a good way, of course! “Alright! Doesn’t matter! Now that I got it in readable form, I can just sneak into the library and snag one of the books about this. I know everyone uses punch cards for their programming, which are binary, so there HAS to be a translator out there!” Her fist rose in an exclamation towards the skies.

She could tell that her brother didn’t like the fact she was going to go on off alone. Still, he understood that she knew the ins and the outs of the ARK better than anyone that wasn’t Grandpa. With him still being ‘secret #1,’ there was no way he was going to just be able to go POOF into the always-ever-cluttered-with-humans library.

“Speaking of that,” Maria paused midway towards the sliding door, “what WAS that thing you did to get us into the server room and back?” Her stomach wasn’t going to recover – she never wanted to eat lettuce ever again – and where did that vegetable even come from? She had beef soup for dinner, not a salad!

The bright red in Shadow’s oculars dimmed instantly into something… else. “You should get going.”

This certain sister did not need a translator for that.

[x]

A boy with duo-chromed eyes followed her the second she reached the center hub of the ARK. He had a red shirt with lateral yellow stripes, blue jean shorts, and small shoes that had evidence of being worn from running around. Maria made sure to gave a little wave, but seeing Abe again made her conflicted.

“Freak!”

“Monster!”

“Wait till I write to my aunt about that thing!”

He… had never had good words to say about Shadow… But…! That was also before. Now is now. If she was able to ensure Grandpa wasn’t going to go down the wrong path, then she could also take the easy side route and show Abraham that Shadow was a good, just misunderstood, guy!

“Maria~!” the voice of a young child carried. “I knew I would see you today, here! We should play together. It’s been a while!” There was a kind laughter as those eyes creased into little upside down ‘u’s. “There was a new shipment yesterday, too! My aunt got me a toy gun!” He pulled the gaudy yellow and red plastic thing out from behind his back and aimed the barrel right at-

SLAP!!

There were hushed gasps in the background.

The sound of someone crying.

Grey diminished back to color and the sounds of the world rushed back to Maria’s eyes and ears. She realized her chest was going in and out at a fast rate; right hand was brilliant pink from contact and high friction; knees were about to give out.

Worse, Abe was face planted onto the floor.

Toy gun very, very far away.

“A-Abe!” she cried out, running towards him. “I-I’m so SORRY! I saw the barrel aimed right at me and I-!!”

The kid was still crying, rubbing his cheek where Maria’s fingerprints were clearly seen. “N-No it’s okaaaaay. I should have…” Another giant cry erupted as the sounds in the background got closer. “I s-should have paid a-attention to p-proper trigger c-control like I was taught!”

Oh, no. Oh, no. This was bad. Maria had never, ever; EVER hit anyone before! Not even those scary dark aliens from the white region! Desperately, she turned to find where the nearest Heal Unit was. Fortunately, the adults had already moved to grab it, and one of them was tending to Abe’s soon-to-be-bruised flesh. They had decided to split the two children apart, and were soon last seen rushing off towards the medical ward.

Maria looked at her own hand.

Disappointed in herself.

Is this… how Shadow feels?

She hated it.

[x]

Grandpa… was going to hear from this.

She forced herself to feel better for her mission.

[x]

The library of the ARK was a marvel to behold for those of the scientifically inclined. Levels upon levels of books about almost every intellectual discussion existed: science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Apparently, the sheer weight so many books made this area alone require more than three shuttles of literature! THREE! To put in perspective, some of the satellites in low-Earth orbit only needed one!

Yet, no matter how awesome the room looked, it was not the place that made Maria welcomed. The number of tomes for children was nonexistent, she still felt like crap for hitting Abe, and while there was a technology section, it was very large. She had wanted to ask the human child to look for a book about binary with her, but that idea had been flushed out the window into the vacuum of space.

After talking to the librarian to at least get a general direction, the girl took a cart. Arriving at the designated section, she pulled anything that had the words ‘binary,’ ‘zeros and ones,’ or ‘drum memory’ into it. The entire collection she could find ended up totaling to eleven books and one pamphlet. Her fingers and shoulders were beginning to ache after how much reaching above her she had to accomplish, but this was the task she set off to do. It meant she had to finish, alright?

After gathering all within reach, Maria decided to backtrack towards the archeology section and grab some more books about the Chaos Emeralds – of which there was much less written about. Honestly, Grandpa’s notes couldn’t possibly be beaten, but maybe there was something missed?

There was not nearly as much results there. Two books, and one of them looked more like a long shot if the title had anything to say about it.

By now, it was almost lunch. Ergo, back towards the librarian she went. Standing in the line, she counted how many people were in front: eight. Maria was patient. This was not too bad.

She played with the balls of her feet, pleasantly surprised that she was able to maintain her balance. The last time she had tried this, she had fallen down…

Blonde hair flew as she shook her head. Nope. No sad thoughts!

Unfortunately, Maria was a little bored. Maybe she should find a book for… more personal enjoyment? O! She could read something with Shadow together, all snuggled up by a fake campfire! And then tell scary ghost stories afterwards? Nothing too serious – but all of the movies and radio shows mention storytelling was what young girls did at camp…

She roamed the alley where the latest books from Earth were proudly displayed. Most of them dealt with botany, electricity, and something called heavy water – whatever that was. None screamed a good, fun read, though. The covers were very scientific: perfect for the ARK, but not its kids.

Then, right before she reached the desk, was a book.

The cover had her favorite thing in the world. A picture from the Earth! A canyon, by the looks of it! White, brown; black! There seemed to be some sort of etchings on the walls of the natural phenomena, much larger than the humanoid shapes that were beneath it. The camera angle was as such that the ruins inside the slit had a sun bloom right at the lip. A brilliant blue sky with puffy clouds finished the entourage.

The name of the author caught her by surprise.

“O! Maria,” the checkout clerk called her over. “I see you found it. We pulled it aside for you, being that your dad wrote it and all. Want to check it out for the long-term, sweetie?”

Her dad… had written a book?

… She didn’t remember what he looked like anymore.

It had been too long.

Shaking her head away those thoughts, she ensured to give a smile to the other woman. “Yes! Thank you so much, ma’am!”

“Of course! Anything for you.”

[x]

There was a mighty THUD as the stack of objects fell from her cart into the room she had claimed for herself in the observation tower. They landed right next to her homework, which had already been finished long ago. (Having had already done and studied this stuff once before was a major boost.) As long as she returned the metal carrying thing with wheels by tomorrow, it would be fine. They were meant for even more books from the big, important researchers.

Like Grandpa!

Who was still locked away in his lab.

“Come here, Shadow!” she whispered out towards the darkness. Uncertain where her brother had run off towards, she walked around the corners of the room and started to flip some switches to see better. “You around?”

“Behind you.”

“EEEEEEEKK!!!” she screamed and jumped about four inches into the air.

There was a soft smile on his face when she turned. “I thought you said you were never scared of me,” he joked.

Maria shook her fist. “Sha-Shadow! I could have flown to Spagonia with that. Geesh.”

The face of taunt soon faded away back into his more ‘default’ facial expression as Shadow picked through the books one by one. All business. He was also under the assumption it was G.U.N. that had placed the message on the monitor – but nothing was concrete proof. Pulling out his thumb, he shuffled through each tome as rubies roamed. With one down, out came the next. And so on. And so forth.

Eventually, he stopped and pulled out the sixth book on a certain page. Maria took note it was a tabled graph. “O! A key!” she shouted in glee as she took the book from his hands. “This tells us how to translate bytes into standard alphanumerics! Great find, Shadow!”

He nodded. “I’ll go get some hot chocolate heated for you while you translate.” The female Robotnik nodded in approval as that black mass turned off towards where Maria had set up her camping stove.

There was no time like the present! She was going to translate even if this was to take her all night.

… Which it probably would.

[x]

Her pencil dropped at the end of the first sentence.

Forget the entire passage.

“We did what It wanted, Father.”

By now, the mug with her drink was abandoned towards the side. Halfway full, even the thought of injecting her body with sugar was too far away from her conscious.

Shadow was sitting besides, also looking at her translated sheet with a stern, and confused, expression. “Capital ‘I’ for ‘It?’” he mused at the same thing she had.

“And ‘F’ for ‘Father,’” Maria added. “A deliberate stress on those two words, too. Binary is very specific. It wasn’t done that way in error.”

Her brother hummed. “So, whomever wrote this wanted this message read by someone he or she calls ‘Father.’”

Both sat still.

“Not the Biolizard,” Shadow started after the silence lasted too long. “She is not capable of much complex thought, even if she could have managed to get into the data without tearing thru the entire station.”

Maria turned at that comment. “What did you mean, Shadow?”

He tapped the floor with his hand in thought. “Creation. The prototype and I are the only man-made, ‘alive’ items on this entire ARK. Or, we’re supposed to be…” A shake of his head. “By definition, Professor would be…” He was incapable of finishing his words.

She did it for him. “‘Father,’ right? So, you think it’s addressed to Grandpa?”

Was that sarcasm? “Unless it’s meant for Dr. Tower. He’s the only other male with an immediate child onboard.”

No. She didn’t think this was for him. “Well, that means it’s probably not G.U.N.?”

“We’ll see.”

[x]

The next line was a little more ominous.

“But now we also want to see It.”

It was another hour and Grandpa was possibly not going to back until midnight at the way things were shaping out. Odds were that he had already translated the full thing and was doing… research or something.

Research about THIS.

“There’s that capital ‘I’ again,” Maria muttered as she brushed away the numerous little erasure shards from the page once more.

Gloves traced the numbers. “There’s a pattern in the remaining sections as well. A large chunk is the same.”

It was a good catch! She had recognized it, too. “Do you think it was written by one of Grandpa’s robots? Maybe an AI gained… something like sentience?”

There was a hum of thought in Shadow. “I knew a robot that was fueled by enough… passion to gain awareness, so… I guess it’s not technically impossible.”

The tone told her he didn’t believe that was the case, though.

[x]

Both children stared down the full passage under the light of the midnight stars:

“We did what It wanted, Father.

But now we also want to see It.

Let us see.

Let us touch.

Let us admire.”

“Make any sense to you?” Maria asked again.

“No.”

“Yeah. Me, neither.”

Now what?

[x]

It was three in the morning. Pillows were lodged underneath the tent to make it look like two naughty individuals were underneath. It would not work as a ruse for long – Grandpa apparently liked to talk to Shadow when he came back after a hard day at a 50/50 percent rate. She was going to have to gamble at this.

She gave herself a look over. Attached to her hip was an ugly utility belt that clashed with her blue dress, but where it lacked in grace, it made it up in functionality. Her diary was stuffed in one of the pockets, long pencils in another, a sharpener she borrowed from her school supply area, and her Polaroid camera with the last of her films. In her hand was the book with the binary table; on her feet were only socks as to make no noise in case Grandpa was already in there. The point was to not get caught, after all!

She gave her brother a small thumbs up.

His left hand hooked onto her right. Those crimson eyes shined in the darkness of the night cycle, as did the color in his wings. Gold erupted into a ring in the middle of her brother’s iris as he continued to concentrate – a hue and appearance that made her think twice about her plan all of a sudden. It was too late, though: his right hand flexed and reached towards the ground beneath their shared feet, moved upwards, and then-

-she was sailing amidst the stars-

-was everywhere and nowhere all at once-

-crashed into a sudden, black pull-

-saw green!

The server room hummed with noise from many sources and none of them organic. There was the HVAC to keep the machines cool and functional, the spooling of the brown tapes that someone in a lab wanted access to; the rush of the Chaos rail lines that fed power to the hungry beast.

Maria did not add her vomit to the room.

This time, at least.

She gave a weak thumbs up again to Shadow. “I-I think I… am getting more used to whatever that was,” she half-white lied, half-truth moaned. Ughhh. Her stomach was glad there was nothing left – not even the hot chocolate remained. She could still feel her tummy pull off loop-di-loops, though.

Careful hands picked her up and kept her steady. “Sonic complained the first time he was moved thru space as well,” came the mutter of consul. “He’s weaker than you, though, since he refused to do it with me more than once.”

“That’s not the…,” Maria continued, refusing to submit to the nausea, “first time you mentioned him. Wasn’t he your buddy?” She sorta remembered a blue hedgehog that ran around in the time anomaly…

The girl couldn't see her brother’s face as he tsked away but had observed those hands tightly grip his Inhibitor Rings for the first time since the morning. In his voice, she heard the anger, betrayal, and acceptance all at once. “An irritation was who he was,” were words loaded with conflicting thoughts. The tone immediately shifted into melancholy. Comradeship. Respect. “And a better person than me; a guy who ended up doing the ‘right’ thing; a hero. You… would have gotten along well with him.”

Ah.

Sounded like… another dead friend-

Time to change the subject, Maria! To the matter at hand here in the present! “A-Anyways, let’s find some evidence!” she ended with a fist pump and a wobble of her leg as she stepped forwards. Her shaky movement did the intended effect of breaking Shadow from his reverie to catch and steady her. Like stream cooling into vapor no longer able to be seen, those old thoughts were no longer haunting him. He was back in the current moment.

Yes, yes. She was very good at healing!

Call her Dr. Robotnik – Healer of Brotherly Hearts.

The terminal was her first stop. The monitor was still flickering the same message – she compared the numbers as fast as she could. Nothing new to be found here, or at least with what limited computer skills she had. However, that was alright. Her real goal was to see if anything else had any messages or notes or hidden items that held clues over who made it.

Everything Grandpa made ran off Chaos: from the objects ran on Drives to her brother himself. If the writer was truly something that called the greatest scientist in the world ‘Father,’ then there had to be something here that Shadow could sniff out!

“Let’s try the drum where your data was held?” Maria guessed. “They had to have touched it to make the message since Grandpa didn't mention a hack from the terminal itself!” She pulled up a copied note from Grandpa’s journal. “Says here: Subfloor 19, Spools 569,330 thru 603,230. Oh. Oof. That’s… a lot of… drums.” The girl arched her neck up and flinched at the steep looking stairs. It was going to be a long climb.

At that, Shadow wrapped his arms around her. “Hold on,” was the only warning she got as his appendages glowed – so freaking cool – and with a MIGHTY FLAP, she ascended into the air!

Maria could see the whole floor beneath her!

AHH!

“This is amazing!!!” the blonde squealed.

Her joy at seeing all the things beneath her must have made her brother’s mood a little bit better because his mouth moved from a frown to something flatter. Not quite a smile – if it wasn’t for the mystery of the night, he might have, though.

She’ll take that.

In seconds, they landed on a grate layer. There was a lock, but Shadow merely made his index and middle finger join together and waved impassively. The air besides his hand warped at the gesture, and like a shooting star-

BAM!

A goldenrod spear with an ink trail behind it lodged right into the latch and broke a lock. Or melted it. Obliterated it off the face of the ARK? Yeah. That one.

She blinked. “Couldn’t you have… teleported us to the other side instead?”

The look on his face was pretty comedic. “Yes.”

“But you didn’t because…?”

“Sometimes, a Chaos Spear is more appropriate. Requires less energy.”

Ah. Shadow-ese for ‘it was more fun.’ Or ‘I wanted to show off to my sister.’ One of those two, Maria was pretty sure. “Ok. But you better fix the lock before someone realizes it was damaged.”

He watched her. “It was already compromised. By breaking it, we are going to have a new one be mandatory.”

“Grandpa isn’t going to like that.”

“Then we can blame the damage on the other intruder.”

Ok. She had to give her brother that. He had a point – even if it was a lie! Maria took to giggling, but the Universe decided to play cruel tricks on her.

Shadow froze.

Did he see something? Her bangs flew as she turned left and right to try to spot what he did, but came up with nothing. “What is it?” Maria whispered, afraid that maybe there was someone hidden in the dark alleys that could hear her.

Her brother’s red eyes shifted left and right. “Chaos Energy from a Drive. I can feel it. Faint, but all over the reels.” At that, he led Maria into the region where he brought himself physically close to the enormous metal shelf where the data about Project: SHADOW resided. “It’s embedded within the tape itself,” he murmured as he pulled a spool out and unraveled it.

Maria crept closer. She could see the little bumps and empty places. As she flipped through her book, she read an introduction section aloud. “Zeros are represented as blanks; ones as ridges.”

“Here,” her brother offered. “You have smaller fingers than me.”

Pale hands felt each ridge of each spool. They all started with the same patterns, and it looked like they continued the entire way into the core, too. This was a purposeful message… “Well, whomever it was certainly knows how to get Grandpa’s attention.”

There was a noncommittal hum as he activated his Air Shoes and skated around the entire shelf, looking for anyone or anything else. Eventually, he made it back with a strange appearance.

“What is it?”

Shadow tapped his finger on his lips in thought. “It’s where the trail goes: into an HVAC vent. Unfortunately, the duct line runs by the utility Chaos rail system, and I lost track of it by the interference. On top of that, this duct isn’t a main thoroughfare – it’s too small for anything solid bigger than my hand to get in or out of.”

Hmmmm. That was something. “So, no robots.”

“I couldn’t even fit in there as this current form,” her brother continued as his eyes trailed towards the place where the air condition wafted from. “It would take me morphing into base matter to pull it off.”

That comment confused her before the lightbulb flashed. Oh! His ‘squid’ state! “So, it wasn’t just a newborn hoglet thing?”

“… No.”

“Your Shadow Powers are so sick.”

“Not the time, Maria.”

“But they are! I mean, you can lose your hedgehog form and just be all… stretchy, like-” Her banter died mid-sentence as the gears of her brain whirled into overdrive.

Maria thinks she knows whom the culprit was.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 13

[×]

There was the sound of a ticking clock. Analog in nature, the gears spun in their cascading dance until the larger hand struck the notch that indicated yet another passing hour. Peaceful unwinding of the main spring carried on its duty diligently, uncaring and unaware of the passage of time’s everlasting march. Various items were scattered about this timekeeping mechanism: a small fountain of running water, a music box with a spinning ballerina, a simple gizmo that waved for five minutes, and a series of metal momentum balls scientists enjoyed having on their desks. The entire collection was covered in a thin layer of fine dust – segregated in a far and isolated location of the main lab. Next to everything was a half sphere of such deep black it was almost purple. The golden rings that orbited around the center of mass were reminiscent of someone else.

It was a mechanism. Used early on as a research project on Chaos and its ability over space and time: something fun but impractical. It required an egregious amount of energy from the reactor of the ARK – enough to take multiple floors offline – and only ‘froze time’ for a few seconds in one 20’ by 20’ by 20’ box. In the end, it was but an interesting jump into the forefront of the theoretical. Useful applications, however? Hah. Silly. There was too much expense to keep the experiment going as it was, and when the ARK got more people living within it, the mechanism went unused and almost forgotten...

Hah…

Gerald Robotnik, the head of Project: SHADOW, kept his body slumped on the office chair. Legs limp. Right hand barely had the grip to hold onto bourbon. Mustache gave the appearance of a drooped lily. White coat unbuttoned, it showed the basic shirt underneath.

A shaky hand lifted the glass and took another swing.

The liquid burned his throat and made his body react to avoid it. This wasn't what a genius does: they don't let their brains devolve into alcohol and the slowdown of mental processes. A genius should never allow emotion to overrule logical planning and execution. Yet, here he was.

… Here he was.

The shadows of the room played off the faceted face of the cup.

Now empty.

Debate wrestled in his eyes before will faded. There was the small sound of air pressure being relieved as Gerald removed a cap to add more. Each ‘glug glug’ seemed to taunt him: ‘what-have’ ‘you-done?’ ‘What-have’ ‘you-brought?’ ‘What-life’ ‘you-wrought?’

He drank and drank.

The power a fifth of the reactor. Something that strong was capable to destroy a city. That was what his little Chaos ‘toy’ required. And the Ultimate Lifeform merely blinked around, folded the fabric of space, like it was a second nature. Certainly, teleportation wasn't as ‘Earth shattering’ as stopping time itself, but… what's not to say the Project couldn’t do that as well? It was so blatant that the child had a deep well of Chaos Energy – was the thesis about actual, legitimate Chaos Control true? Could the boy use it? Could he finish what the toy only hinted at?

Was the teleportation earlier just a lesser version: simple, fast, and brutally efficient because of how little power it took to accomplish? What if the Project decided to input more of his might…? If the Ultimate Lifeform could wield over both space and time, it would mean that the ‘Mobian’ could go wherever he wanted. Could anything stop him if… if unadulterated fury ever took over? His granddaughter? And what if… What if Gerald failed to overcome her disease, she passed on, and the consequences made the Project inconsolable?

[The scientist consumed another round. Faster and faster.]

Maybe he didn't need to worry about G.U.N. finding Shadow.

Maybe Gerald should fear, instead, about the fallout when those two eventually clashed.

Because…

[The glass filled again with amber.]

Because he didn't see how they couldn't: the United Federations financed a weapon of unparalleled strength. Shadow wanted to live in idyllic harmony with those he cared for. The two ideas were radically different from one another – weapons weren't supposed to have feelings, just the ability to execute orders, tactically apply strategy, and never revolt. He could parade the hedgehog all he wanted for a fake show to the brass in order to save Maria, but when the lights dimmed and the truth was eventually revealed, the Project would react. Negatively – as he had proven he was capable to do so underneath her guidance – and that was being held back. Did not that face scream aggression the second Shadow believed to have been possibly discovered?

… A fight against the two groups of the ARK…

It would be horrible.

Like a bloody dawn.

One against thousands.

Two?

… No, three.

[Another empty cup.]

There would be a war. No way to avoid it; possibly never was once Gerald agreed to work on Project: SHADOW in the first place.

It was a matter of when.

[He didn't have the mental fortitude to deal with the corrupt drum memories right now.]

[x]

It was mid-morning. 10 Sep.

16 days left.

Gerald rubbed his head and moaned. By now, the scientist was on the fourth cup of water mixed with sugarless electrolytes – a concoction from his younger days when he was a little more willing to partake in alcoholic beverages. This was, ultimately, punishment. The thoughts he had when drunk last night were far, far darker than he expected. Ludicrous, in fact. War? Death? Existentialism?

Shadow was a calm, collected person whom only wanted to stay concealed, play camp with Maria, and share late night discussions with Gerald. Oh, yes, he had Chaos powers, and had a very startling aura hidden underneath that shape, but he was designed for it. The scientist shouldn't have been surprised. Teleportation can be extremely useful for saving lives – imagine if someone was hurt! The boy could just pop them into medical assistance. There was no way he would just straight up slaughter innocent lives!

Remind me to never drink again, the man thought as he rubbed his migraine. His body must have been severely dehydrated. Drunk me is a nihilistic nightmare. Gone were the days of an enumerated Robotnik being jolly and willing to karaoke off-tune.

But, work couldn't be paused. The bourbon was the third vice, so Gerald had to deal with the consequences: advance the plan, and with a debilitating headache.

PSUL2.017's data was being compiled and processed on his left screen. He had loaded up a fresh set and decided to use the drums that 2.019 would have owned as “2.018’s” original datum was to be hauled into a secure vault or burned. It was ruined beyond repair with an endless repeating message. Was better to just delete the evidence of its existence in the first place. Perhaps, at most, he would save one drum for personal research or memory of what he had accomplished.

Gerald tapped the notebook underneath his chest. When the computer ahead of him was too locked up to work on for the next few hours, he switched tasks.

Whomever wrote that message certainly knew how to call the scientist out. They even had a unique method of speech articulation – almost reverent. ‘Admire,’ ‘Father;’ ‘It.’ Considering it was blasted all over Shadow’s data, he easily labeled ‘It’ as the boy. Problem was, assuming he was correct, that meant the one whom left the message knew about the Ultimate Lifeform.

He shifted in his chair as he took another sip of the nasty water.

Well, technically, the words ‘us’ and ‘we’ were repeated. One unknown person knowing was a problem. A group was dangerous.

Maybe he should pay Maria a visit. Odds were she was already sniffing this trail [despite his misgivings], and a hungover Robotnik was willing to ask for help.

[x]

Purr. Purr. Purr.

An ebony hedgehog had his head upon Maria's lap. Her left hand was scratching someone's ear into submission, whereas her right hand was writing at speeds fast enough to almost break the graphite of her pencil. Gerald recognized the look of frenzy – one he shared himself. It was the face of near complete concentration, where the outside world fell away, and the only thing that existed was the task before you. It was the key to a Robotnik's genius, even if others claimed it was also the downfall to their madness. [He would never believe those words, but having one’s mother spit barbs at you at a final meeting made them unforgettable.]

Purr. Purr. Purr.

Gerald took another look. Maria’s right foot was tapping the floor subtly; there was a stack of papers all around her hunched over form; a box of pencils that were already halfway empty; two bounded books spilt open with sticky notes crammed everywhere; pictures and drawings of gemstones in eight colors – one bigger than the others, and two of them green; rough sketches of Chaos Drives, the Chaos rail lines, and the reactor in the core of the ARK; illustrations of various forms of blue blobs. The last one had red lines and string taped to each other and everything man-made, as if they were coupled.

Purr. Purr. Purr.

“Shadow's not home right now,” his granddaughter finally addressed him. “I mean, he is, but he trusts you so that's why he's not responding.” Her pencil continued to fly. “I needed him really calm to check out a theory. I might have snuck him some lavender to smell from the botany area this morning. However, I didn't tell him I was kinda doing an experiment. So, shh!” She hummed once before she flipped her writing utensil and erased heavily. “Can you take over keeping him under? I need to rest my hand for a bit, Grandpa.”

Gerald walked closer to the two and sat down. Carefully, he lifted up Shadow and put the boy against his chest and shoulder. “Ummm… Like this?”

Blue shifted away from her notes to look at her grandfather for a quick moment. “Yes. That'll work. Just keep petting him.”

So, there Gerald sat, waiting for Maria to explain herself, brushing back black and red fur as the quiet helped to alleviate his migraine. Eventually, however, his thoughts wandered to this entire weird day – and- Wait a minute. “Why are your gurney’s Chaos Drives stuffed underneath the bench?” Maria was very aware as to how important they were in keeping her medical equipment running!

She flinched at that. Caught red-handed. “Well, I needed to test something and it wasn't like I could just rip one out from the life support system…”

“You got three minutes.” Understanding of research eureka, Gerald had. Take calculated risks in experimentations, Gerald related to. Putting yourself in mortal danger by removal critical power supplies? Unacceptable.

That finally broke her frenzy. Small hands grabbed her notes and she finally glanced up and around. “… Alright,” she sighed. “I assume you know I got a copy of that message?”

His stern expression was her response.

Purr. Purr. Purr.

“Ok. Um. I get it. ‘Go on, grandkid, cause you're in trouble.’ Ahem.” The young girl squirmed. “See, it's all about Chaos. They're interconnected. Shadow can damage or seek out Drives to use, right? And, by reflection,” Maria continued as she pulled a blue one out from below, “Chaos Drives will respond to him.”

The Drive in particular was glowing the color of the core behind the specially engineered glass, like they always did. Yet…? “It’s alternating lumens.”

A nod. “With his little cute vibrations,” the blonde pointed out.

Purr. Pulse. Purr. Pulse. Purr. Pulse.

A unique quirk but not a big revelation. Shadow’s emotions could trigger a rail line – even under the influence of his Rings – and those conduits had vastly larger reserves of energy. It just wasn't mobile, like a Drive was.

She knew he wasn't impressed. Her gurney was specifically designed to save her life on bad days, which could strike at any moment. “What's not to say other things with Drives can't feel him in return, though? He's a big torch! A star! Something that if you could see Chaos would go blind!” A hand picked up the page and wiggled it in front of Gerald’s face. Her finger pointed at the blue shapes excitedly. “It’s the Artificial Chaos, Grandpa! They're somewhat sentient; aware of Shadow’s existence and are somehow connected to him! One of them sent you that message ‘cause they want to seek him out! It could have totally theoretically have happened with the robot-!” She cut herself off but almost continued just as fast. “When under duress or extreme desires from Chaotic influence, they'll respond to the strongest thing in their ‘network’ – or in this case, Shadow’s subconscious!”

Did Maria mean the Gizoid?

Wait. “You’re telling me the P-1s and P-100s can… communicate with…?” he questioned as he moved his face to look down at the boy.

Purr. Purr. Purr.

“It is probably one-sided. That's what I'm testing right now, actually.” Maria rubbed the underside of her nose. “I was hoping you would show up since you can enter the military side of the ARK and get close to them without, uhh, suspicion.” Her hands roamed towards the hedgehog. “It'll be easy! Go there, check out if a P-1 is calm and just a puddle. Or something similar.” A laugh. “Research is fun!”

Maria was proud of herself. A pretty neat thing she thought she discovered, right? The concept that thoughts could be transmitted into other receptive lifeforms via Chaos was impressive. It left a whole new avenue to work under – new theories and potential avenues. But Gerald couldn't address the positives at the moment.

Because interconnection exposed big problems:

1. It meant the Artificial Chaos were alive in some way.
2. The P-series had access to the Project's mind.
3. Shadow didn't know how to block them out.

‘We did what It wanted, Father.’

The Ultimate Lifeform wanted peace. Quiet. Relaxation. To be hidden away from those he saw as his enemy; whose only saving grace was the fact they funded the ARK.

The memories of what Gerald thought last night returned in startling details.

How many Artificial Chaos were there? Hundreds? Thousands? A multiple of both? G.U.N. was pleased with their creation and made a massive order. In fact, almost everyday there was another P-1 built to increase workload and demand. They were impervious to bullets except for their heads. A nice holdover for battles or practice exercises before the completion of Project: SHADOW.

Maria still sat there with the glowing smile of a girl that solved a complex riddle.

She didn't know.

She had no idea that the Project insinuated he would do anything to ‘save’ others.

She didn't realize that, if she was right, Shadow – the boy dreaming on his shoulder – had a literal army underneath his beck and call. Ones that were driven not by thoughts and logic, but feelings and desires. The hedgehog could believe all he wanted in doing things under a strategic, controlled manner, but if in the deepest section of his heart he wanted his opponents to be removed…

[-war will come to this station-]

“I can take care of him now. My hand can stand another hour,” she cheerfully remarked. “It'll be so cool to know that Shadow has some new friends! See. Everything can be redeemed and will turn out alright!”

[x]

Thud, thud; thud. Footfalls and movement. A busy man had places to go and things to see. “A pleasure to meet you here, Doctor,” some random Senior Airman greeted as Gerald briskly walked down the long corridors on floor twenty. He gave a simple wave of hello as his access badge flashed a receptacle from red, to yellow, and then finally green. A sharp beep hit his ears and the scientist pushed himself through the lock, going deeper into the more automated regions of his station.

Dancing lights from cooling ponds casted auroras upon each wall and his own body. It was the reflection of the water that twirled upon the small experimental uranium reactor for the military: used for training the Artificial Chaos to complete tasks on nuclear refueling. Chaos Drives were incredibly useful, but for massive machines and ships that G.U.N. desired and had access to, nothing beat U-238 in cost effectiveness. A P-1, the thinner and smaller of the two types, was finally being taught how to use its AI for peaceful results – this was something he normally would be pleased with. Maybe later.

One of the nuclear technicians saw him on the catwalk. It was an elder gentleman who was nearing the age of retirement. The two weren't close, but they had accomplished small talk at various station parties and functions. “O! Dr. Robotnik! You responded pretty quickly.”

The liquid reflected off of his spectacles as his hands gripped the stainless-steel railing. “… I heard the Artificial Chaos were acting strange. Being nearby, I felt like taking…,” he spoke as he arched his head down.

In the cooling waters were the lazy, unmoving P-1s. Their turquoise eyes were closed completely as they simply floated on the surface, giving no qualms to the two onlookers.

“… a peek.”

The other male waved his hand. “They've been like this the past two and a half hours. Just when we got them back from the Office of Chaotic Research ‘n Development and working again after their last freeze,” the officer grumbled.

A ‘freeze?’ He hadn’t heard about that. “They… had signs of inactivity before?”

There was a nod as disappointment exhaled from lips. It pushed a few strands of hair up and away. “Yeah. Mainly the P-100s, though. The P-1s mostly worked.” He scratched his own head. “The round ball ones lost their ability to maintain vessels under their command – as well as its capability for anything more complex than just existing – about, oh… 4? 3? Months ago. They ended up being thrown in storage for weeks. Got fixed around mid August. We thought. Until to-fucking-day.”

What… specific timelines. “I didn't hear about that.”

“Must have been the Chaos engineers that kept it in-house. They don't want to show off that they fucked up their new toys after letting them get close to some fancy rock one too many times – or something. They've been all over themselves to butter up the new Big Boss – always going on and on about being better than us glow-boys, and look where that led them to.” He laughed at the joke. “Damn assholes think Chaos Energy is going to replace good, old fashioned nuclear power. Ridiculous.”

Both continued to watch as an Artificial Chaos got sucked up into one of the large cooling lines.

“Argh, fucking bitch ass useless things – no offense, Doc. Their normally smart enough with their AI to avoid that shit, but apparently not this afternoon.” The man cursed again before saying goodbye, having to head off to fix the issue. Fortunately, it was a minor one – this reactor was designed for training, after all.

Gerald left, not feeling very relieved.

It was the first time he had wished Maria was wrong.

Why…?

Why was she correct?

[x]

Sean Casey issued a cheerful wave from the background. He was carrying a large box labeled OFFICE SUPPLIES and had no Security Forces beret on.

Gerald pretended not to see him.

[x]

The boy was no longer petted and scratched into submission when Gerald returned. Instead, the Project was playing a card game against Maria, who by now had lost her shoes, jacket, and socks. Her voice played over the recycled air by the largest window of the observatory in a playful grumble. “What happened to the Shadow that let’s me win?”

A smirk danced as a royal flush of spades dominated the camping table. “You lost the ability to have my mercy when you knocked me out all day. Pulling out lavender? That's a low blow.” His hands reached over and made a gesture of calling something. “You know what's next. Last thing.”

“You wouldn't.”

“I wasn’t the one that wanted to play poker with, as I'll quote, ‘Some real stakes worthy of the Ultimate Lifeform.’”

A cry of denial erupted before Maria took off her blue headband. “Calculative.”

“I've been told.”

“Card counter.”

“Nothing new.”

“I will avenge my messy hair!”

An actual snort came out; the reaction arching Shadow’s back against the chair. “That's… certainly a threat.”

Her head tilted. “Not enough fear in you? Well, then. TICKLE ATTACK!” And the girl pounced on the hedgehog, who didn't expect to have seventy-four pounds of human female launch at him like a missile.

“-Get off-!”

“No!”

A white gloved hand did the most pathetic attempt of peeling her off. “I said, ‘Get OFF.’”

“If you really mean it, pinch me!” his granddaughter taunted.

The Ultimate Lifeform allowed himself to be put into this situation and just… sighed. For all practical purposes, he could just leave. Let Maria be alone and disappointed. With the mental age of a teenager, there wasn't a need to go through such tender, small moments with a young girl. It was beneath a creation of such magnitude.

But he did.

“Oh.” Shadow sat up straighter on the floor and made himself look more presentable as Maria lost balance at the sudden shift in position behind his wings. “Good evening, Professor.”

Gerald had a feeling the ‘Mobian’ had no idea of his granddaughter’s experiment. “I have a request for you, my boy, when you're done playing tonight.”

“Of course.” His hand signaled to not only the giant stack of poker chips on his side, but also candy bars and a few of the young girl’s favorite pens. “We can end here. I am feeling… generous.”

Maria playfully seethed behind him.

The scientist kept his face neutral. “For now, I need to talk to Maria. Alone.”

There was a face of initial confusion, but the Project didn't say anything other than nod, silently handing over to his granddaughter the articles of clothing and shoes that were stockpiled besides a blue cushion. After giving the two a look over – confirming that neither needed him – he skated off towards a side wing. His expression knew something was going on, but as ever polite as always, Shadow gleamed that he'll be notified when ‘ready.’

Maria watched the boy leave as well as she pulled up her socks. “So…?”

“They are, indeed, connected, I am afraid.”

Blue eyes blinked as she paused zipping up her jacket. “‘A-Afraid,’ Grandpa…?”

Oh, his precious, naïve, grandchild. Gerald knelt to get to her eye level and placed both hands on her shoulders; squeezed them. He wanted to get his point across to someone that has the reigns on the Project's emotions the best. What should he tell her? “My dear…,” the scientist started, trying to think of a proper sentence that wouldn't sound like he was condemning his own creation. It wasn't like Shadow was integrated with the Drives’ recipients on purpose – it was just…

The lack of foresight from a foolish man.

He let go of the pressure on her shoulder a little bit. “Maria. You must make a promise to me, now. No more… sneaking off with Shadow to remove ‘threats.’ We got extraordinarily lucky the last time. Do you understand?”

Her face told him everything he needed to know.

Quickly, he flashed through what the list of enemies could be underneath Maria's more innocent mindset. He felt his eyes squeeze together tightly as a pressure increased in his chest. “You were going to go after the Prototype.”

It wasn't a question.

“G-Grandpa. I can – I mean, I can't explain, but-!”

“You cannot let Shadow do that.”

“B-But-!!”

“Maria Robotnik. The Artificial Chaos feed off his happiness, sadness, and anger. They'll turn on G.U.N. the second they have the opportunity – the second Shadow loses focus on giving them mercy. Can you understand this?”

She looked horrified. Her foot stomped the ground. “He would never! That isn't TRUE!”

Gerald wouldn't yell. He wouldn't. “You must listen to reason. Artificial Chaos weren't designed to process emotions and comprehend morality. They were created to be nothing other than weapons-”

“-B-But you said that they were meant for water rescues-!!”

He couldn't hold it back anymore. Something inside him… snapped: the cultivation of months upon months of stress, lack of sleep, and mental disarray. “I LIED, MARIA! TO ME! TO YOU! FOR YOU!”

She stopped speaking.

Damn it! This wasn't what he wanted. [Deep breaths. Regain self control. He could handle this.] Forcefully, his volume returned to normal. “Fear is an incredible motivator. For good. For evil. For both. In my terms, it motivated me to make weapons of mass destruction for the military: the Chaos Drives to fuel their robots, the soon coming Eclipse Cannon to establish them as the top nation and to also kill a warlord, the surrender of the Gizoid when I needed more funding; my magnum opus – the Ultimate Lifeform. Everything that I built, I did for you. I'm scared of the day you'll never wake up again. I'm scared of you being still and broken. I'm scared that I've made a mistake and only shortened your life in my hubris. Yet, I reached out, and will continue to do so, to anyone – anything – that would offer me a way forwards. Do you understand this, Maria?”

Blonde locks moved as she nodded; eyes widened and tear rimmed.

“Just… don't. Don't let this end in… potential negativity. I can finish this. I can cure you. I know I can. I just need time like you needed – time that won't be bought if you tell Shadow to do things that can activate the Artificial Chaos that run off his turmoil. Humanity turns against what they fear, and they'll fear the boy. They'll fear what he's made of. What he can do. And what's not to say that his fear in return won't turn… apocalyptic? Understand?”

Another nod. “I… I g-get it, Grandpa,” she whispered.

That response hurt him. So honest. Had he not just killed her innocence of youth, too? She had never seen anything outside the peaceful curtain of the ARK, and now he just dropped upon her that there was an end in sight – a bad one. “I am so proud that in your heart you think of only the best for him and me,” he tried again, “but sometimes you just have to understand the scope of what we're dealing with.” He wrapped his arms around her, and whispered by her ear so she couldn't see his face. “I'm not mad that you want to help. I just… want to be brought into your plans, alright?”

Shaky hands returned his hug with her own.

Eventually, she offered a distant recollection. The pain of regret and the knowledge of disappointment. “… If the Biolizard stays alive, it'll be... The people on the planet would be…”

Gerald didn't respond to that.

The young girl shook as the tears fell down onto his chest. “I don't want to die, Grandpa. I don't want to see the monster. I want to see the blue skies! The white clouds! The green grass! The colors of Earth!” Her head moved left and right. “I want us to have picnics by a meadow. All of us! Me. You. And Shadow!”

He took in a deep breath. “Shh. Shh. It'll be ok, Maria.”

If she wanted the Prototype to be killed, she didn't need to use the boy.

Gerald knew every inch of that failure’s beating, sad life.

Every strength.

And weakness.

He'll accomplish the deed himself.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 14

[×]

‘Apocalyptic?’

Shadow?

Never .

(So why did that keep her up at night?)

[x]

There was much to do now that she needed to plan a whole new agenda that included Grandpa. Adding him into her equations was cool, but, oh, how she wanted to just tell him everything! He was the smartest guy in the world! He would know a way to solve all the things in a snap! Sadly, the words were still stuck on her tongue. That feeling, that strange pressure, was forever a constant until it reached blinding grey nothingness if she had tried to speak to him of anything of the future. It never failed: worries about that horrible, terrible military man; the warning she wanted to say about the… the firing squad; how each of his fellow Project: SHADOW scientists were in grave danger. O-Of course, they weren't going to be in trouble anymore, now that the Robotniks were on the case, but-! But she wanted to still give out caution to Grandpa.

In mythos, a woman called Cassandra was burdened to not be believed. Maria didn't have that issue: her problem was that she basically couldn't even speak her warnings.

… At least I have Shadow.

He could talk about it.

Well…, it depended.

Things about the ARK? He discussed and helped her organize ways to make Operation CHaos Emerald Retrieval – OCHER for short – work from a standpoint of sheer tactical knowledge. It was like he understood every potential G.U.N. ordinance, planning methods, and their very way of thinking! He pulled out mental pictures of their weapon availabilities and could explain, in detail, each weakness and strength – to include the brand newest version of the mechs on not just the ARK but also on Earth! Of course, his writing notes were still symbolic gibberish, and she had half a mind to ban him from using a pencil again, but he vocally described everything well enough for her to comprehend without asking.

(Of course, her brother didn't want to explain WHY he knew all that. At least it wasn't heated anger, which she had expected due to reasons, but… shame? Embarrassment? A mix of both? Or something else?)

No. Things about the ARK and ARK-related timelines were, generally, fine. Unless it dealt with That Day, it was possible for the two to scheme and plot and then end the evening with games after the hard work.

Anything dealing with his ‘old’ friends were a little rough. Individuals labeled ‘Rouge,’ ‘Omega,’ and ‘Amy’ were spoken with sadness, and there would be some days where he wouldn't want to think about them at all. The few glimpses she understood were that ‘Team Dark’ were his next ‘found family(?)’ and that Amy ‘prevented a terrible, grave error,’ but… nothing major. Oh, yeah, her brother would talk about small things: a ‘place robots like,’ mall shopping, concerts, and being dragged into a club ‘against his will.’ That was it. Everything was incredibly bittersweet and short. A few sentences. Not much detail.

Shadow could talk about them. He just normally wouldn't.

Maria had asked if he missed them. Once.

His face contorted – ever so briefly – to pain before her brother’s far-too-good control took over. While it was nothing compared to the face she had seen in those red eyes when she had… been over a certain… launch control panel…, that did not mean it was better.

Close enough to That Day was too close.

… And then there was ‘Sonic.’

The mere fact Shadow brought up that name a few nights ago – Ancients, it felt so much longer – was a surprise. A big one. She's only heard that word… trice? And that was the first time in such a joking manner, too!

‘Sonic’ was one of her brother’s ‘No, I Will NOT Talk About This Any Further’ words (even though he was not bounded by the way Maria was). It was right up there with asking about his ‘Totally Fine and Normal Headaches,’ the ‘Certainly Not Hearing Things,’ and ‘Weird Teleportation.’

Especially ‘Weird Teleportation’ – his favorite Chaos ability!

Was this why Grandpa was worried about the Artificial Chaos doing things they weren’t supposed to? Because even thinking about being in her brother’s position made her own heart and head hurt…

“WATCH OUT, MARIA!”

Blue eyes snapped opened as she returned back from critical thought, only to realize one of the members from Project: SHADOW was about to run her over with a cart. Filled to the brim with some strange fluid, it probably weighed 300 pounds!! Quickly, she spun out of the way – the very action left her feeling a little lightheaded just cause of the rotational forces.

The female lab tech helped to pick the blonde up, verified she was good to go, and left, waving goodbye. The label ‘WARNING – TCDD’ and some little skulls were her only hint of what the cart was going to be used for as it rumbled on down the hallway.

… Maybe Grandpa was correct in that he had lied to her for a long, long time. Now that she was aware of his… weapons… she was starting to see them…

Kinda everywhere-

Pop, pop; pop! Her fingers slapped her cheeks once again to scare away the bad thoughts. She really did not want to go down that route, especially since she was in the common areas of the ARK for a reason – a legit purpose – today!

This task was going to be quick and short! Not some grand plan like OCHRE or figuring out how she was going to incorporate Grandpa without saying the words that dealt with the future. It was nice to have something minor and not so… ARK-shattering in revelation. That’s for certain.

And, considering what she did, it was very much so needed.

It'll get her mind off things. At least a little.

[x]

Her blue shoes were shined up as Maria held a bundle of flowers made of paper against her chest. She had spent the entire morning making the folds and creases with her brother in between thinking about last night and trying not to yawn. He had tried to ask her what was wrong and if everything was alright, but she lacked the internal battery to admit what Grandpa told her. She… was worried about how he would take it. It was bad enough that he thought himself a monster – the recently discovered disclosure did NOT need to be added as he would undoubtedly consider it ‘more evidence.’ Shadow was under the assumption that the Artificial Chaos were an enemy and opponent hidden in the grass – they had been, after all, one of the key incidents of the ARK’s downfall. How would he feel about being told they wanted him? Were joined with him?

What did Grandpa mumble right before Shadow was allowed back?

‘Collective consciousness?’

Sigh…

Fingers clenched onto those faux plants again.

… Grandpa had a very scary expression on last night. It wasn't… her nightmare, but it was still quite intense and… encompassing. She should check that out tonight when she sees him after work.

Maria repeated her mantra: save Shadow; save Grandpa; save the ARK; save herself. She couldn't fail on step 2 if she wanted them all.

She exhaled a little and pumped her fists by her core, giving a small huff in self-reassurance. Remember: her small mission first. Big, not-world-ending-but-still-important mission planning next.

Eventually, the feet of a young girl reached the destination she had aimed for: the civilian sleeping quarters where the other important researchers lived. On one of the doors had the simple label of: DR. TOWER.

Carefully, she doubled checked her dress. She… looked presentable.

Knock; knock.

The doors were too solid to hear from the other side, but eventually metal slid opened. Across from her was the tired and sleepy form of one of Grandpa’s fellow Project: SHADOW individuals. She remembered his face decently well, but was never really close. “Good afternoon, Doctor!” Maria chimed. “I am looking for a certain boy.”

There was a fluttering of thoughts before his face settled on understanding. “You would know where He is before me. Dr. Robotnik is keeping us separated for now.”

The young girl blinked a few times. “Umm… I’m here to apologize to Abraham…?”

“Oh. Well. The kid’s not here.”

He wasn’t?

Seeing her confusion, the man fought a yawn. “He’s with Technician Cotes. His mother. Now, excuse me. I need to go back to bed before genome sequences rush back to the forefront of my mind.”

With that, she was alone in the hall again.

[x]

The next area of her Forgiveness-Trail was the region where the ‘not as famous’ researchers resided. There were a lot of others here, who also worked on Project: SHADOW, but as supplementary aids. Unlike those she labeled the ‘Big 4,’ these researchers and technicians ran the important, yet repetitive, things that dealt with the ongoing of such a major science escapade.

(She vowed to make them happy as well in the future.)

This time, her feet took her to a new door with a new label. Once again, she checked herself over – this time fixing a flower that had been bent somehow in her movement from one area of the station to the next.

Knock; knock.

The door opened after a few minutes. A tired, frazzled woman with bags under her eyes glanced around before realizing Maria was before her. “Oh. You’re… the Professor’s kid, right?”

“Ah, sorry… I’m his grandchild,” the blonde corrected politely.

A hand waved. “Right. Right. Sorry. The Chaos rail lines always need bloody work and I am beyond exhausted.” The woman groaned. “Not an excuse. Whatcha need, kiddo?”

“Abraham?”

A scowl flared up. “Oh. Tower’s spawn.” Aware that Maria was still watching her, she changed tone. “I dropped him off with my sister weeks ago. She can deal with the child.”

The female Robotnik was never going to genuinely apologize at this rate, was she?

Understanding the face of disappointment, Technician Cotes went inside and scribbled something down. “Here,” the woman handed over a piece of paper. “It’s the address of her place. Don’t tell her I sent you. We… have our differences.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Oh. And if you see Tower again, tell him he’s still a pain in my as- Er. Butt.”

“Umm…”

“You know what. Never mind. Not your business. You're, like, twelve.”

Maria was left alone again.

[x]

The new address was a much longer walk away from the researchers – three floors up in one of the viewing towers that had sight of the Earthrise every other day. A bit isolated and close to the reactor by ‘the crow flies,’ it was the longest walk Maria has had in a long while.

It made her think. Her fingers were not capable of making as nice artwork as a few weeks ago. Her steps were getting a little sloppier. Her energy levels were on a slight decline that got just a tad worse every few days… Was she… getting a new lapse oncoming? Or had the excitement and then immediate crash of the past twenty-four hours just that much of a strain on her body? Gah, imagine how bad it was on Grandpa.

She recalled his face again.

Maybe… maybe she didn’t need to ‘imagine’ it…

Arg. What was she going to say to Shadow when he asks about the culprit on the drum memories? Should she just admit it's about the Artificial Chaos and leave the rest unsaid? Try to get the two groups to be friendly before finishing the truth? Her brother needs more anchors other than Grandpa and her, but could the water AIs enact that way if what the elder said was true?

Only weapons…?

Nonsense. If her brother was supposed to be created as a weapon as well, but had enough heart to love and learn, why couldn't Grandpa’s other creations? Doesn't their message imply that they could?

Yes.

See? Good thoughts. Good plans.

Better results.

Now go back to your small mission, Maria! You’ve been avoiding it!

Her blue eyes roamed the much quieter hallways of this boarding quarters region. The rooms were quite big, although not as large as the area reserved for Grandpa and herself. On the walls were pictures of Earth, ones that caught her eyes with each step. A beach, a large school that looked like a college, the image from the top of a mountain; all told from the perspective of the one whom shot it. Like a story of one’s life.

Lives. Family…

She guessed she found out why Abe was always a little… clingy. He wanted to hang out with her because neither his mom or dad were capable to shower him with needed affection because of what they had to work for. In a way, the boy lacking was her fault. His parents had to work for her cure.

So, her apology MUST be heard!

Her past mistakes WILL be fixed!

Sure, Grandpa hadn’t brought it up, but… He obviously had bigger issues than her moment of folly.

Bump.

The girl rubbed her nose. Oops. She was so distracted she walked into the wall. At least it was right nearby the door that held the room she was – hopefully – looking for! In bright pink with flowers and sunshine was the name: DR. ALICIA COTES. Underneath, in a deep black marker and surrounded by hearts: + **~~Abraham~~**. Unlike the sterile doors of the other two, this one was covered in pictures drawn from a boy. Not to mention filled to the brim with streamers.

Well, it looks like she finally hit jackpot!

For the third, and hopefully final, time, Maria organized her paper flowers, her messy hair, and her slightly wrinkled dress. Her knuckles rapped the door with three knocks, as per common courtesy, and the girl did not have to wait long before-

Sssh! The door slid open!

The woman before her was quite tall and surprisingly thin. She wore an apron labeled ‘Kiss the Cook, But It Ain’t Me: I Bake,’ had flour lodged in-between her really pale golden locks, and had goggles caked in so much powdered sugar that it obscured the eyes underneath. The mixing bowl on her left hand wavered as she tried to balance it steady. “Are you lost, sweetie?” the tone asked in kindness.

“No, ma’am. I’m looking for Abraham.”

The bowl slipped and fell, scattering the ingredients all over Maria’s dress. “Oh, no!” Miss Cotes cried out. “Crap.” The two of them were now covered so much so that they were bleached. Moaning in responsibility, the woman waved. “Come in. I got hot water, some warm towels, a spare large shirt, and one small kid’s shorts you can use until I get this cleaned up.”

Well, at least Maria’s I-Apologize-Flowers were spared.

[x]

Abraham’s duo chromed eyes lit up upon seeing a (freshly cleaned) friend. “Ma~ri~a~!” he swooned, despite the fact his face still had a bruise. “You’re here!”

She offered her flora blooms and a copy of the latest big action movie Dr. Guzman snuck aboard. “I-I wanted to say this again, ‘Sorry!’” she ended, shutting her eyes together in force and bringing her gifts out front like a Valentine. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. Can you forgive me?”

Abe kicked his left leg against the carpet. “O… Of course…” A blush hit his cheeks as he accepted the tokens.

Miss Cotes laughed in the background. “So, you were the one-”

“A-Auntie. You’re embarrassing me…”

The woman waved her hand as she wiped herself clean. “Well, Maria, you’re welcome to sit here for lunch while your clothes get washed. I made fresh stew following a recipe from my time on the coast – a little something called gumbo. It has just a small touch of… crawfish~”

Seafood?

The girl could feel her mouth water. The end of the fiscal year always put the cafeteria on a damper. There were only so many ways to prepare chicken and beef before taste buds got bored, and they had run out of milk a few days ago. Only those with dietary needs were allowed it. Ice cream? Desserts? Forget about it. Even Shadow was running low on hot chocolate for her. However, to be offered CRUSTACEANS!? Oh, sweet flavorful glory. Grandpa was all about suffering the same as his coworkers, but-

But-!

Her stomach agreed for her brain.

Who could blame her? The next fresh protein run wasn’t until mid-October! It would be a GROSS misuse of Shadow's Weird Teleportation, too, to ask him to warp for fresh shrimp! Let's not also forget the fact that he probably – she thinks – couldn't pull a jump that far in the first place!

“Wanna help me set up the table, Maria?” Abe asked with a grin.

She nodded. If she was gonna steal their lunch, she was going to help. Least she could do.

[x]

The fact that Abe had an aunt wasn’t new. Maria just never recalled seeing the woman before. “Did you arrive to the ARK recently?” she asked curiously as she stuffed her face full with the side dish of what was called ‘maze’ or something. It was corn. Delicious, fresh corn with a spicy red powder and mayonnaise.

“Yes. A job opportunity opened up, and I took it.”

“Aunt Alicia got her degree in Chaos Energy,” Abraham added with pride. “She’s traveled the world and has been to a lot of different cities taking pictures and stuff! Although, that's not what she does anymore.” He added some hard wheat rolls to his plate from the center of the dining table.

Miss Cotes moved the carbohydrates closer to Maria, offering them. Greedy hands accepted. They smelled good and were dense to the teeth. “What do you do now?”

The woman chuckled. “Manage people and take care of my nephew. Watch from my widow onto my responsibilities below. Keep track of the money flow. Climb a few ladders a little too fast and efficient for others to like. Normal staff stuff.”

Abe made his aunt sound way cooler than she was.

But her food related skills were certainly better than Grandpa’s. He would burn water if it could, you know, burn. Cooking was a science, but she guessed there was a limit to his genius, after all. Maybe she should learn how to make something for him? This was an environment worthy of copying with her family.

And her family desperately needed it.

No.

Deserved it.

[x]

The third fresh pie of the extended lunch arrived, following its brothers in apple and lemon. If it was anything like the previous iterations, the apron was clearly correct in where Miss Cotes’ abilities lied. “Enjoying it, Maria?” she asked while rubbing the crown of Abe.

“It’s key-lime!” the boy added as blue eyes opened at how… refreshing it was!

“Mmmhmm!”

“Auntie here has perfected it! I was very happy when she moved up here and took care of me. I honestly… wasn’t expecting to see her until next year. On planet.” It was apparent he was super happy living with her now.

Maria had the pie slice halfway in her mouth. Her eyes asked the question for her: next year?

The kid nodded. “Mother decided that it was better for me to be shipped off with my aunt on Earth since ‘our interests align in all the wrong-’”

Miss Cotes carried out a new food item – a stack of chocolate chip cookies. “Abraham. My sister said something you shouldn’t copy. You are a better boy than what she falsely thinks.” She rose her left hand to cover her mouth as a giggle escaped. “My little guardian.”

“N-Not in front of M-Maria!” he complained as he rubbed the back of his head.

It made the Robotnik laugh as well. Reminded her of Grandpa and Shadow, although her brother wasn’t as willing to deny the affection.

“So,” Miss Cotes asked while placing those warm cookies on a plate ahead of her with a large glass of milk that certainly had Maria’s attention, “how about you tell me a little about yourself? Abraham here mentioned you often in his letters.”

The young girl was eager to talk. She mentioned about how much she was proud of Grandpa’s inventions; her likes and dislikes; how she was honored that everyone good onboard the ARK was working hard to make the Earth a better place; how super awesome and smart Grandpa was!

“Sounds like you love him a lot and would do anything for him, dear,” Miss Cotes bemused correctly.

“Of course!” Maria added while finishing off her last piece of dessert. The meal, making Abe blush, and meeting someone new had certainly lifted her spirits. “He would do the same for me!”

“Aww. So sweet.” The woman watched the two children before a buzzer rang in the background. “Oh! That’s the dryer. Wait here a moment, Maria.” At that, she unpinned her apron and meandered towards a back room. The female Robotnik lost sight, but could hear metal doors opening and closing.

Then a strange: GRRTZ GRRTZ GRRTZ! Blip blip blip blip bliiiiiiip!! GRRTZ GRRTZ GRRTZ!! BLIP-!! Click…

Blonde bangs swayed slightly as she turned towards the source of the noise. Confusion hit her – what was that? Never had she heard that before.

Eventually, Abe watched her and gave a nod. “Oh. That’s just one of aunt’s old university thesis tools. It goes off every time she walks by the laundry room with our clothes.” He gave a toothy grin. “Yours wins the award for the loudest ‘grrtz,’ though!”

“That she does!” was Abe’s aunt’s melodic hum in the background. Her steps echoed down the hallway until she reappeared with Maria’s clothing all cleaned up and smelling like fresh lavenders.

[x]

“I'm so sorry it was my gift to Abe that caused the incident between you two.” A hand went to her middle-aged face in grimace. “However, I was happy to finally meet you, so it all worked out in the end. T’was ever so enlightening and wonderful having you over, Maria!” Miss Cotes waved with a warm, brilliant grin that matched those happy green eyes. Despite the flour no longer in her hair, that platinum color remained. “I hope you have the best of evenings with your own family.”

“Bye for now!” Abe cried out, waving from behind his aunt’s legs. “We should play again!”

Maria was unable to return the gesture – but did manage a ‘bye’ – with the amount of food Miss Cotes had prepared from the leftovers. It was a lot. One… two… THREE servings! With sticky notes to organize them with!

Wow!

One for ‘Maria Robotnik!’

One for ‘Dr. Gerald Robotnik!’

And one with a label of a smiling face for-

Wait.

Three?

Why did Maria get three?

(Miss Cotes’ door had already slid shut and the girl was all alone in a very empty, cold, and quiet hallway.)

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 15

[×]

The problem was the boy. He could teleport. Fly. Follow. Was hyperaware of organic lifeforms within his sensory range. To ‘sneak out’ was impossible against him. The Project was designed to be thee apex predator, after all.

But, as the genius that Gerald was, he had a solution.

Shadow was unaware of the events and plots being preplanned and executed right before him. To the child, everything was going per the normal: Maria had come back with some food [“Do you… have a subordinate called Dr. Alicia Cotes?” No. Why? “Just… a funny feeling? Like your face.” But Gerald’s face was expertly crafted at the moment to only give her warmth and comfort as thoughts of murder played on the fringes of his mind – he didn't understand what she meant by that…], the two humans shared a meal as the ‘Mobian’ watched on in content [as figuring out what the Project was willing to eat was still a guessing challenge], the three played yet another board game of wit [a short one that Shadow purposefully lost once again], and then his granddaughter was tucked into the folds of her sheets [where he once again told her everything was fine – he was not upset at all]. As per the established routine, the Ultimate Lifeform slowly left the tent and walked to his creator, who was sitting on one of the benches with two books: one about work and one recording said work.

“Come here, Shadow,” he beckoned. The schedule had to be adhered to. “Tonight, we’re going to be talking about 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and others in the family.”

The ebony and crimson form closed the distance until he stood off towards the adult’s left. As normal, Gerald only brought up topics that dealt with that day’s labor. He temporarily placed the books aside, grabbed the boy around the waist, ignored the grunt and faux ‘displeasure’ that was cut off by the human’s movement, and placed Shadow on his lap after brushing those appendages towards the side.

That black nose begun to move. Twitch. Recognized something – it was what Gerald was depending on.

The boy took hold of the scientist’s left hand. It was the same one that the human had started to slowly brush back against those quills. “You still have leftovers deep underneath your fingernails, Professor.”

He had left just enough to get Shadow’s attention. “Oh. Thank you, my boy. It must have been too little for my cleaning station to catch with its chemical detectors.” His sentence wasn't technically a lie.

In short order, the child let go of each other's indexes.

A nodded slump eventually arose as crimson eyes fluttered towards halfway open. Gerald knew by know exactly where to comfort to submit the child into lax, thanks to Maria. [Shadow trusted him far too much.] “No worries,” the hedgehog begun as homosapien hands kept to the display of affection [and it was genuine – the boy was his- his good s--]. “Parts per million wise, it’s not enough to cause harm, and my body will neutralize it. I would have missed it if I was farther away, anyhow. Such a low dosage...” The voice got softer the more he relaxed in his creator’s arms.

The scientist opened the tome about dangerous toxins, dioxins, and chemicals, and went on in an excited manner as he bounced passage after passage with the Project. Details about chemical compositions, the exact structure each molecule represented, and the strength of the bonds passed in Gerald’s kind lecture. He would quiz the boy [whom, unlike Maria, had no official teacher] and would give positive affirmation at the correct answers. Unlike topics that related to technology and robotics, the Ultimate Lifeform had a berth of massive innate interest in this field of chemical curiosities – especially anything dealing with nerve gas/neurotoxins and/or applications to medicine. A figment from the old testing days with the embryo? Knowledge that was written within the ‘Mobian’s’ Chaotic neurons? In the end, whatever the case, the result was the same: odd, but exactly what was needed for tonight.

Because when Shadow did ask in a mumbled murmur as to why Gerald had TCDD, he was able to honestly say that it was for his next job tasking. The answer was accomplished in such a gentle manner that there was no suspicion.

The Ultimate Lifeform did not need to sleep, but would under the perfect conditions. The blissful haze of comfort was irresistible when the Project felt safe and secured – when told by a Robotnik that everything was alright and to take a well-needed break. White gloves slid from the book on page eighty-nine: the illustration of the liquid state of copper (II) acetate triarsenite [a stunning green that was the same hue of being within the hypothesized Chaos Control] the last thing the boy saw for the next few hours.

This whole evening…

Totally normal and routine.

[He was sorry and guilty, Shadow and Maria, for manipulating you two. However, where Gerald was to go was a location that they should not follow.]

[Both of the children should only know Dr. Robotnik as a kind and caring man.]

[x]

The ARK was as busy as it always was.

With Project: SHADOW having been completed, the amount of work needing to be done at night hours should had lessened somewhat. Alas, the Major General’s deadline, coupled with Maria’s and Shadow’s deep distrust [at best], prevented the needed rest and relaxation. Busy work was added instead: the regions dedicated to medical research ballooning in scope. It was a bit of malicious compliance, honestly – since the “new 2.018” was to be officially labeled physically weak with slow reaction times, but still a medical miracle, he needed to have the labs ready to go after The Great Farce. G.U.N. should be happy that Gerald plans on sharing his medical discoveries – aside immortality, he’s hesitant on admitting that about “2.018” [assuming Shadow truly is incapable of death] – with them on ways to heal their soldiers!

However, medical healing wasn't tonight's goal.

He was to do the opposite.

Burning white lights splayed out three versions of his glooms against the ground as Gerald entered one of the research and developmental laboratories. Every single one of the specimens underneath Project: SHADOW underwent trials of fluids and solids that the military had concocted for war. What was the point of a biological weapon if it was weak against the very thing their own side used? This one in particular, 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, was a clear and transparent crystal menace specifically chosen for potential fights against Mobians. The idea was simple: you crushed the crystals into dust and suspended it in a carrier. Mobians had large eyes, mouths, or both, and those were the soft, sensitive places where the agent could enter. It would attack every single one of their organs, burned them apart from the inside, and would create cascading failures until not even their own digestive systems could be trusted.

And if the Mobian was, say, a hamster-like type? The ones that had naturally built-in high resistance? Then TCDD could be mixed with another chemical and be used as a powerful herbicide to devourer all their nations’ plant life. The ecological disaster would leave no food. Unsafe water. Carcinogenics everywhere. It was a death sentence for many swaths of the Mobians. The entire southern half of the world could be turned into a lifeless husk whereas the human countries could flourish.

Because, isn't it ironic? Certainly, TCDD was dangerous to humans, but compared to animals and Mobians… it was to such a far less degree. While the non-human entities had their own professors and researchers, none had the political or fiscal capitol of what the United Federations were willing to create. The only saving grace was the fact that weapons of such nature weren't meant for present day use: they were for the ‘what ifs’ and ‘hopefully never in the futures.’

[Gerald was glad he didn't make that particular compound – especially now when the boy was modeled after them in appearance. Maria would only be devastated.]

Fingers glazed over the logs. 463.98 pounds/210.46 kilograms of the clear/white crystals, all brought from G.U.N.’s storage section on the ARK. 430 lbs were sectioned for PSUL high dosage exposure and injection testing – the very Test 617 that Shadow’s embryo form had fought against and won. Of course, he had scrubbed the files of the occasion in order to pull out more dioxin in the first place, which technically meant he needed to test Shadow again-

[-horrible contortions were the expected results based off 2.003 and subjects beyond, but 2.018-BD just accepted more and more and more without movement or struggle or even acknowledgement – proof that they had absolute immunity-]

He banished that thought.

34 pounds of TCDD, and layers of Chaos Drives to cover them, were stacked into a satchel with a large, thick strap to distribute the weight more efficiently. The circular-mixed-radioactive-like logo of Project: SHADOW sewn right onto the flap made his getup rather normal for the head of the researchers. He wasn't going to display it out in the open for long – just the distance to walk calmly and collected from this lab to the entrance of the reactor room’s subterranean area. Being an expert on Chaos Energy and the Drives, his excuse was that he finally made time to check on what could be the cause of the rail’s fluctuations. Sensitive errors were best cataloged and analyzed when at the lowest possible energy drawn hours.

The walk over had no one stop or dialogue to him.

Something about his aura made the few scientists move up and actively out of his way…

[x]

The underlying maze of complex machinery churned as modernism slowly faded into the designs of ancient ruins. Water infused with Chaos Energy blasted like sirens to the eardrums while also paradoxically filling a heart with calm. The percentile of Chaos to water was skewed more to the dihydrogen monoxide side, but when the completed Eclipse Cannon eventually contained the full gambit of the Emeralds, the conduits would burn gold and green. Falling into any of the cooling or collection ponds for the reactor as of this moment was not a death sentence – unless the victim couldn't swim, of course. At least, right now. When alit with more than two Emeralds, injury was to occur. At five or more, death was rather swift and painful to all the creatures of the Earth.

The items and beings wrought from the head of Project: SHADOW weren't from the glittering planet that Maria watched in awe from her glass castle.

Gerald’s eyes glanced around the chambers adorned with his faux angel ore. One after the other, the mist that hovered dominated all and only allowed vision so far. One couldn't see it from this location, but the gentle thud-thud, thud-thud of the ‘heart’ of the ARK was all too audible. Like a specter that understood Death had arrived, the noise increased in volume the deeper the scientist walked along the catwalks. His reflection upon the waters sparkled against his glasses; left shoulder going a little numb from the weight of the bag.

Eventually, he stopped right at the start of the deepest series of pools. The water here was entwined with the faintest hints of gold, but that did not allow Gerald to ignore that… feeling. What was coming was inevitable. He coughed once, aware he was going to have to address the beings within. “I assume your desires,” he spoke with caution and careful utterance, “are to ensure my safety: first and foremost.”

The turquoise eyes of each Artificial Chaos submerged within the fluid blinked all at once in uniformity. The metal that designated as their heads begun to slowly rise from the depths, and they got right to the edge. However, none dared to get closer than sixteen feet to his body.

Interesting, Gerald pondered. He knew the AIs were stationed in this area to defend the sensitive ARK’s interior, and was expecting himself to be watched, but not an actual response in real time. Assuming that was one…

“Well, then. I appreciate your dedication but will be going.” The P-1s have never given the scientist any problems. Why would they now? If they were so unstable that they were going to attack him right here, then the whole point of being subtle with the Project was out the window.

He lifted his right arm to rebalanced the heavy load-

One of the Artificial Chaos moved as Gerald did. Hesitantly, a needle of water shot out in slow, careful movements. Robotnik understood instantly it was done as to not-

As to not scare him.

The blue ‘hand’ wrapped around the strap on his shoulder and lifted it up and away, taking the physical stress of 40+ lbs with it. “FaThEr,” the culprit croaked out as the processor and buzzers within the ‘skull’ attempted to give sound to what would not have had voice. “WaTch. CarE.”

Oh. This was… highly unexpected.

He was still; frozen in mid-step.

“CaRRy.” It wasn't a request.

Human fingers pushed back his own spectacles to the bridge of his nose. Water droplets clung onto a gray mustache. His mouth struggled between going from amazement to depression. “Oh. Yes. Of course. You may carry it.” He wasn't sure if he stuttered.

A hum arose from the crowd as Gerald’s shoes squeaked back into movement. Every so often, he glanced back – there they were, about ten of them, all following closely. Every stalker was a P-1. Didn't that military individual earlier mention that that type was the one that had not broken down in comparison? The most independent? The scientist had theorized it was because those were not as complex as the larger P-100s, of which the operating system ran to near breaking point just to juggle all the ‘servants.’

Perhaps he was wrong, and it was the P-1s which were closer to Shadow’s mind – enough to take his knowledge of vocabulary and the wish to prevent bodily harm to Gerald.

The signs of them being a collective consciousness were… quite high. [Maria had, indeed, discovered something amazing and frightening, he told himself again!]

Eventually, the mass of blue with a sole white dot made it into the heart of the large chamber. There, sleeping on a dial-like platform surrounded by the deepest golds of Chaos infused water, was the Prototype. Orange flesh screamed to all onlookers; the body towered over everything; tail as long as a small tower wrapped around itself; head burrowed into its own chest. Gills on the side fluttered with soft movement – a mockery of the action of snoring. Green metal tubes were still connected to the mouth, all run into a glowing yellow orb at the top of the lizard’s back – the life support system that fed and supported the Prototype continuously.

Memories of making the support system in such a short time frame rung. The Biolizard was not given the proper, clean way to live on: there was only enough time to-

The rat-tat-tat of guns blared throughout the chamber. Bullets plinked and ricocheted off metallic columns and synthetic angel ore floors. Screams of men that spoke of missing arms; legs; severed heads. Rivers of blood mixed with the collection pools as, in the background, members of Project: SHADOW desperately set up waterproof walls to prevent the contamination from spreading. In a heartbeat, Gerald was shoved back by a nameless SecFo individual when the Prototype’s tail rose and slammed onto the ground-

-survive.

He had wanted to spare it. It was the Prototype, after all, and – crucially – was ageless. What if there was a cure inside that body for Maria? he was haunted by, even though there were many families back on Earth that begged to ask why their sons had to perish so a young girl could live-

[-because those men volunteered for G.U.N., whereas Maria was born without a chance to make her own choices for the future! Thinking about ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ reminded Gerald of the many lines he burned to just get one step closer to the cure-]

No time for frivolous idealism – he had Shadow, now.

Failures were no longer required.

Maria had spoken.

The scientist turned to motion for the bag, still gripped within that certain P-1’s ‘grasp.’ “… May I take it back-?”

“HeAVy. PrOtEct.”

Gerald exhaled. “I see.”

He shifted his eyes towards the target. There were certain steps to accomplish in order to bring down the Prototype for the Ultimate Lifeform.

The first was climbing above the back of the Biolizard, straight towards the Chaos life support system. He had to terminate the connection the machine had to the Cannon’s, and by relation, the reactor’s, water. Well aware that he was no longer in his physical prime, Gerald carefully started to scale up the green, metal conduits. Fingers dug into the slick sides as his shoes excavated into the reptilian flesh. Such a climb would be folly if the Prototype was awake, but until it received his command, in stasis it would remain.

SQUELCH. He left his imprints on that orange hide as he slowly gained altitude – heart pumped hard as cardio was not his strong suit. Gerald could feel those eyes watching his every step; every muscle; every movement. Was he grateful for the fact that he knew if he fell, they would catch him?

[-had called him ‘Father,’ which felt odd. There were only three boys that he wanted to call him that title, and the AI were not part of that close group-]

Eventually, the scientist reached the top. A bright red light – a warm pyrrole in opposition of the cool hues of the successor – shone with Chaos Energy. It casted elongated silhouettes across the chamber he was within: his ghostly image looked more like a bastardized creature than human in the mixed lighting. A monster, even. In the background, Gerald noted that the ten Artificial Chaos that had followed casted their own shapes on the walls-

Something caught his eye off towards the left. Above him.

Something black.

Gold.

And Alizarin.

But when he turned, there was no Shadow nor Maria. Just the roar of the Chaos infused water rushing towards the different regions where they would enter the rail network.

“Did any of you see that?” It was better to verify. He did not want the successor to see the murder of the Prototype – didn't want either of the children to even think that the boy could possibly be replaced the exact same way-! [Which Shadow couldn't be! He was too… Too prefect! Too pure! Modeled after Maria’s heart, how could Gerald ever entertain the thought of hurting him? It would be like stabbing his own granddaughter-!]

The Artificial Chaos didn't respond. At least, immediately. “DeFeND. ReAcTOr. NoTHinG. UnWaNteD. ExcEPt. TorTuREd. SoUl.”

Gerald maintained his gaze on the crew of P-1s beneath him; their turquoise eyes doing a returned response. “… Then come closer, please. If you want to help, there's a part that will go by faster with your assistance.”

Almost effortlessly, they glided up towards the life support system and got into a position of a ring around him. The AI closest to him still had his bag wrapped tightly in the ‘arm.’ There, they simply awaited orders.

Step two.

The scientist pointed to the glass. “It needs to be broken-”

There was a soft hum. A dull warning. The Chaos Drives within each ‘skull’ flared to life as the weapons executed their directive. The sound of air being ionized – sharpened sting of ozone mugged nostrils – as yellow lasers rained from the Artificial Chaos. Like a small sword, they begun to cleave slowly and methodically into the thickened glass. The reload and recast times were three seconds after each blast, and it took a solid minute for the heat to output enough damage to cut into the transparent barrier designed to withstand high levels of Chaos Energy.

Gerald had to wonder: did they help because the scientist asked or because Shadow’s subconscious wanted the Biolizard to perish away?

Well, he'll find out if it was a one-way communication or not with the P-1s if the Project were to suddenly appear.

He'll run into that head on if it comes up later.

Step three was the destruction of the pipes that could interface with the backup supply lines hastily created within the walls of the chamber.

Step four took a little more time. He had to access the electronic guts of the life support system. Wires and cover panels were carefully placed as Gerald went to work; limbs expertly recalled which wire did what and where.

The Prototype still was in stasis.

Finally, the human sat back with a singular nod. He had, with the help of the AIs, had wrestled the system into an isolated closed loop. And now, he was going to add a new ingredient…

His eyes took in the hole the Artificial Chaos had burned within glass. Already the thick, honey like fluid of concentrated Chaos Energy dripped as the pressure within the system finally had a way out of the Prototype's body. Unlike Shadow, whose very form, ‘blood vessels,’ ‘neurons,’ and ‘muscles’ were all fashioned with Chaos itself, the Biolizard was infused with it. The Prototype could still bleed red, feel gnawed hunger, and experience excruciating pain – things that the life support system granted no relief from as it was designed to only keep it alive. The energy from Chaos was injected right into the man-made organ Gerald had specially created for the creatures of Project: SHADOW [except the boy, whom got his Chaos skills from… outside forces that were more – and terribly less at the same thing – stable]. This mass of matter was such so that the scientist's biological creations could have their minds/brains/bodies be capable of absorbing Chaos and use it.

In the lizard’s case, the organ was a red, cancerous like growth at the base of her neck. Rather exposed.

Gerald waited.

Bid his time.

The pressure had to be removed.

The scientist just kept his gaze on that golden, viscous fluid. The Prototype’s survivability faded with each drop that echoed in the mist-filled chamber. It wasn't fast. It wasn't painless. If stasis were to be removed right now, the lizard would have thrashed- Flown its body around and scream animalistic screeches as the pain registered with its brain- Move every limb into seizure as the decay would start from within- Would be assaulted with the knowledge that there wasn't going to be the minimal numbing relief of weak Chaos Energy being pumped with its body- There was actually a high possibility that the Prototype knew it had started the process of expiration but was incapable of movement in a desperate bid for living just one more day-!

How funny that it was the opposite with Shadow. The boy was so in tune with the source of his power that he needed to be inhibited to be able to think, but his body could still go on even if those Rings were removed…

Successors were named that way for a reason, were they not, Prototype?

Failures were not needed.

At last, the honey stopped oozing. Its breathing had increased in tempo, going from deep, relaxed tones into shorter, sharpened ones. That golden fluid had dribbled down the sides of the lizard’s back and onto its face. The yellowed mess was stuck onto the creases and burrows around the sightless eyes – another thing similar and, yet, differed from the Project. It made the Prototype appear depressed, as if it knew-

Nonsense. This lizard had only known one thing: aggression.

“I’m going back down.”

It went easier than up.  The strain on his knees increased, but his heart didn't pump as hard. The tradeoff was worth it, just like the exchange he was doing tonight. Golden footprints marked his travel, but the Artificial Chaos soon ran over it with their own bodies. It had made the tracks appear as streaks – anyone whom stole a glance would assume a far worse attack than he had accomplished…

Or better, an outsider would assume the Biolizard attacked itself. Wouldn't be the first PSUL1-series to do so.

At some point, he reached the final step of the plan. The red organ at the base of the neck moved in shallow, uneven movements that seemed like inhalation and exhaust. It desperately tried to absorb more Chaos Energy since the life support system was no more. In and out, like breathing. At the time of creation, the Prototype was the strongest organism capable of using that mythical power – could create deep Dioxizine Purple orbs with lilac afterglows that had enough energy output to eviscerate a platoon of soldiers.

He had seen them, after all, severely damage the core that wasn't made with synthesized angel ore. Holes in the metal barrier dumped out oceans of water; the floods wiping out all the habitable areas near and around the future nose of the Eclipse Cannon. About 34 people died.

[-had it been only four hours earlier, Maria would have been in that hallway, looking for him for dinner-!!!]

The knife stabbed into flesh before Gerald even realized what was going on. The sharpened blade – meant to dissect the failures that slept in his laboratory – dug into organic compounds. Sparks of lavender streaked against the hilt as if to stop the human’s assault, but no damage was actually accomplished. It was only a threat, a reaction; a predisposition that wouldn't save the Prototype from his wrath. More and more the now-blunted edge dug, until all that was left was an entryway into the organ’s core. Like a spiral, one could see the nerves and blood vessels attached to the middle, where a dull, sienna light – lacking vibrancy to be even considered gold – glowed.

Red was all over his sleeves. Coat drenched in vivid color.

“Bag,” Dr. Gerald Robotnik ordered the P-1.

There wasn't a delay or rebuttal to that command. The scientist soon felt his own fingers pull out the 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, vial by vial. Like diamonds, they scattered the sienna light from within onto the Chaos infused water below.

[“TCDD is strange. In certain carbon-based lifeforms, the addition of the dioxin can stimulate the feeling of hunger. The body of the animal is incapable of feeding itself and the needs for nutrition overrule self-preservation. In the end, the unfortunate receiver literally wastes away in anorexia. Its not fast, either. It can take anywhere between one to six weeks,” Gerald lectured the child as he flipped to another page. On it, the illustration of a simple gecko from a rainforest seemed to smile despite being so close to passing. This was the ‘Before.’ ‘After’ was two pages away and locked downstairs.]

The Prototype could survive 33.98 lbs of TCDD mixed right into the Chaos organ. It wasn't a death blow.

Instead, it would force the Biolizard’s body to require more and more Chaos in order to fight it, but with the life support system annihilated, there would be nothing there to grab onto. The Prototype would simply grow weaker over the days and die a painful, sad death in the haze and mist of this room. TCDD was only an accelerant to remove the failure before anyone could come and ask questions from outside his immediate researchers.

Mercy was letting the failure stay locked in stasis.

And he granted it.

Gerald made sure to thank the Artificial Chaos for their assistance. He had already replaced his dirty lab coat with a fresh, clean spare he had brought along. He fixed his ID badge back straight. He cleaned the specks off of his spectacles. He dropped something that was on his face that Maria seemed to be worried about.

Footsteps left the chamber; echoes died over the minutes as the rushing water faded it away into the background.

Up in the rafters, something shifted.

It wasn’t a hedgehog or a young girl.

[x]

“What's wrong, Shadow? You look pretty down this morning,” Maria asked as her voice filled with worry.

The boy moved in his chair at the camping table the trio were having breakfast at, saying nothing. The smells of cafeteria food wafted: pancakes with chocolate chip smiling faces for his granddaughter; toast, an incredibly strong black coffee, and eggs for a scientist; Gerald’s book of toxins in front of the ‘Mobian’ with a bookmark at page 123.

Maria waved her fork and gave an encouraging smile. “Remember what I said about talking about your feelings more often – at least with us?”

Shadow seemed to contemplate that and relented. “I just feel… strange. Not sure as to why.” There was a mixed flash of emotions – confusion, betrayal, depression, and acceptance – but none of them matched the face before and the face after. In fact, the boy still looked calm and at peace, surrounded by the things he likes.

“Strange?” his granddaughter wanted clarification.

White gloved fingers rubbed the area where his neck met shoulders. Digits traced a line as if the Ultimate Lifeform had received a cut. Red eyes flashed down to check the fabric, but there was nothing there. Not a singular splat of Shadow’s ebony ‘blood.’ “It's probably because I'm not used to relaxing like this for so long,” the child mused. He hadn’t seemed to believe his own words, but also lacked context as to why he felt that way.

Context that the eldest had suddenly clarity at knowing.

Gerald paused mid bite.

Then excused himself to hurl in the bathroom.

[x]

[He hoped desperately that the boy wasn’t struck with thoughts of being stabbed by Robotnik’s own hand; that it was just phantom pain from being interconnected via Maria’s theories – because that was the better option.]

[x]

He was ill the rest of the week; filled with nightmares. It was of his granddaughter. She was watching him as he was tied up in chains and slumped over on a hard chair. A broken expression cracked on her features he had never seen on humans before. Her skin was paled, hair a mess, a burst of Alizarin on her blouse, and her whole appearance spectral.

She never said anything. Never moved a muscle save her eyes: dull, judging, sad ocean depths that made it seem like she was dead-

And he would wake up, gasping in his room.

There was no chance for breaks. Work had to continue.

It was as if the universe was telling him Maria’s time was getting ever shorter.

[x]

The date became 20Sep.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 16

[×]

Blue eyes watched the pencil gracefully loop around. Her brother was deep in concentration, writing down something she (still) couldn't read, even though it was pretty to look at. His red eyes blinked every so often, but there were occasions he had them closed for extended periods as he rattled his mind with memories. After some time, the writing utensil paused and he pulled up the stack. “I think I have them all.”

Maria whipped out her own pile of papers. “I got to one hundred and sixteen, including us.”

“One hundred and thirteen, but I did not add you, me, or Professor.” Her brother’s response was dull. He was still sad. It came in waves – one moment, he was fine; the next, quite distraught.

Time to try a new tactic to make him smile. This was Attempt #33.

“Try ‘Father?’” she ‘corrected’ him while looking at the stack. He suddenly turned away at that, which had made her miss his reaction. She felt a groan slip from her mouth. Ugh. Another failed attempt, but maybe she came at it the wrong angle? His face was funny the LAST time she brought up that word in the server room – like he had short circuited. Surely, it was the right path…?

Maria took a deep breath. Back to the task at hand:

So, their numbers aligned!

His fingers eventually pulled the sheets from her grip in a careful manner to avoid paper cuts. Those gems read through each document to compare in careful detail. Maria took the moment to kick her feet back and forth as she recalled last week’s strange occurrence: from her brother’s incredibly varied outlook (that flipped-flopped almost every hour) to the way Grandpa and Abe’s aunt had something on their body expressions that seemed to crawl under her skin (once she took the time to process what she had been looking at). With Grandpa, it was weird and unexpected and, thankfully, gone by the next day – but also hauntingly familiar. So close to… the monster, but not. It was short lived, at least. However, as for the woman that Grandpa didn't know?

Maria had no idea.

Her brother’s deep voice broke her musing. “We match. This is every researcher that works within Project: SHADOW.” The ones G.U.N. murdered, went unsaid.

Young hands tugged at her own blonde hair. “No ‘Alicia Cotes,’ then.”

Shadow shook his head. “Why do you even bring this person up?”

That was the issue. Maria wasn't sure. There wasn't a Project: SHADOW member of that name in the last round, and not this time, either. The woman called herself a staff specialist, and Abe insinuated that she didn't use her degree anymore. It wasn't like she called Shadow out, either, since it was only an extra set of boxed up leftovers with a simple sketch. It wasn't proof of anything. In fact, women in the sitcoms her mini television picked up from Earth had lots and lots of leftovers to give. So, why did the girl feel… weird? Scared? Apprehensive? It was… like the feeling of going into a bath only to realize there was still a ring of soap scum. Dirty, even. “Do you remember all of the normal civilians that lived on the ARK?”

He shook his head. “No. To be honest, I don't even know how I recalled anyone aside the top ten of Professor’s-”

“‘Father’s-’”

Red eyes flashed. “-underlings since it's been so long. And stop that.”

She grimaced at that end comment. Something raw was in there. “In the future,” she started with hesitation, aware that Shadow’s quills were moving slowly vertical, “did Abe ever mention his aunt?”

Her brother relaxed a bit. He had thought she was going to ask something else, didn't he? “Aunt…? No. But we… didn't talk much aside a few dinner gatherings.”

“Hmm…”

“We weren't capable of even being in the same room together for the majority of our lives, especially to Tower’s point of view.”

That made Maria scrunch up her face. “Ma-Majority? What stopped you?” Did Abe… die young?

The response was emotionless, like the admission was a final blow for any positive emotions today. “I was locked up. In stasis. For decades.”

… Why did she open her big, fat mouth? She KNEW that Shadow had been sent to slumber-!

Maria blinked. Wait a minute… “D-D-DECADES!?!”

It seemed he realized he misspoke ‘cause his hand rubbed over his muzzle in self-anger. “Why don't we change the subject?”

She pulled at his hand. “No, Shadow! This is important! Something is clearly troubling you!” Forget Abraham's aunt! Her brother was clearly in mental turmoil to talk about- about That Day’s aftermath! It was time to address this in the bud! No more brushing off his depression and sadness and drooping ears that would randomly strike every day this past week! No more waiting for him to come to her! No more watching his expression of compounded confusion at seeing Grandpa – like he was unsure if he should get close or stay away! Maria has had ENOUGH of this! Her patience had ended! Shadow needed her help, and she was gonna give it to him right now!

He recognized her face of sheer determination. The deepened sigh of surrender came fast – like he wanted to talk about this to someone that was willing to reach out, but had been too broken to start on his own. “I've been having night and day terrors,” he hissed the admission between clenched teeth and furrowed eyes.

Ok. This was good – he was engaging. Maria took his balled fist and squeezed it in reassurance. “What about?”

“It’s illogical.” The reply was fast. A snap.

“Doesn't make it not any less critical,” she clarified.

He shifted and turned before he rubbed his neck. His wings shook as they covered the entire window behind him. “I hallucinate about Professor…” His deep voice trailed off.

Maria crept closer to him, taking his moment of silence to give him a huge hug. It was the same type of embrace he gave her on the rare occasions when she woke up screaming about the lack of color. No words. Just warmth shared between siblings with shared or similar experiences.

He eventually resumed. “That's it. Just Professor walking up to me – the way darkness curved around the folds of his face, not letting me see his eyes. The emotions I receive are what the nightmare is from: a garbled mess I can't translate other than sorrow and shattered trust.” He reached to his head and shook. “It'll come back randomly. I'll be sitting down, see a butter knife, or he'll reach out to place his hand on my shoulder, and then I'm filled with it again.” A red eye turned to look at her; awaited her reaction before he continued. “Those emotions remind me of when I… was able to process what happened after I woke up. Suddenly flung 50 years in the future...”

Maria held her breath. He was asleep for fifty years…? She rubbed her fingers around her brother's gloves again. A simple, powerful gesture.

Those eyes looked away. “He hurt me, Maria. He changed me. He tore into my memories and-”

The girl felt the horror rip up her spine and the world around faded except for her and him.

Shadow had opened his fist enough for her fingers to slide into. Maria took the invitation. He immediately squeezed her hand with his own: shivering and painful. The blonde found herself biting her own tongue as to not make a singular sound. This was too important to break up with human weakness!

Her brother's voice was barely audible. “Seeing him again for more than just eight hours – seeing him offer me the care and affection I used to remember – was like an arrow in my heart. I want it. I crave it. I'm a Mobian lost in the desert who found water. I need more. But these intrusive thoughts of the past week have resurfaced something else, too: because in the end, he threw me away. I no longer was a person in his eyes. Just a tool for revenge...” His grip only tightened, except Maria was no longer thinking about that – only her brother was on her mind. “I know it was only his madness. His insanity. His rage that had done it. I…! I…!”

I haven't fully forgiven him, Shadow didn't finish.

But she still heard.

“It is why I can't say that word, Maria.”

She knew the one.

[x]

Sometimes, a girl just needs a good cry.

If Shadow did the same as they hugged each other again, that was his own secret. He was a strong, brave, and very much so special hedgehog. If he wanted her to think he was incapable of shedding tears, she'll play along.

[x]

The ice pack was heavy on her fingers. Cold, of course, it was placed back into position whenever she attempted to move it away. Her eyes were still a little puffy and her voice a tad hoarse, but it was all worth it to see and hear her cute brother's exasperation. That was such a better emotion coming out of his mouth than that terrible sadness.

“Stop that, Maria.”

She sniffled again. Stupid face of hers; Maria was trying to get Shadow back into the groove! “It’s like being in a freezer.”

He sighed but hadn’t relented. “I'm sorry.”

A girlish snort. “I'm the one who moved my hand in yours. I knew what I was getting into. Say ‘sorry’ again and I'll play nurse with your wings.”

“My appendages are fine-”

She playfully slapped the red tip of the closest ‘feather.’ “See? You're injured.”

Those doll-like eyes almost rolled. She'll take that.

In the background, a door slid opened without any prior warning, using the emergency bypass. Shadow’s gaze opened wider for just a fraction before he suddenly disappeared in that neon light of Weird Teleportation! Confused, Maria turned around the confines of her tent to verify, but she was correct: her brother had just straight ditched her.

Which meant…!

Her fingers pulled at the zipper hard. It got jammed against fabric in her haste until Maria forced it opened. With speed unfettered, she hung her head outside the flaps – blonde hair flying in movement.

Shadow was already behind his target: red eyes glowing in the pitch blackness of the corner of the ceiling he was positioned in. His right hand was in a familiar shape – the one that summoned that lance of light – but the thrust wasn’t quite yet accomplished. It was if he was awaiting a command.

Maria’s.

S-Such a responsibility upon her...

Maria licked chapped lips and felt her nerves burn. Slowly, she spoke up. “H-Hello, Mr. Soldier. What… brings you here?”

“Quarterly fire safety inspection,” the taller, no-named adult begun in a bored tone, blissfully unaware that her brother's large body size was all around his venerable backside, like a curtain about to drop.

Her blue eyes took in the military clothing: what they called a ‘blues uniform.’ Like a professional business suit, it was nothing anyone wore to fight with. This guy wasn't him, too, and had nothing except a clipboard and a grease pencil to defend himself with. Maria had to do her part and play nice. She and Shadow had covered over this ‘emergency protocol’ before. Had practiced it. “I am going to tell you in advance this room might… ah, fail.”

The grease pencil waved. “Reason? Aside the locked door. Very unsafe in a room without additional exits.”

Maria took the opportunity to bring the inspector’s attention to the small camping area with the gas-power burner the size of her fist. There was nothing to indicate that there were three people who ate and had fun here – the advantage of Shadow being able to survive without food or beverage a blessing right now. “Mainly this. B-But that's also why I have a fire extinguisher right here!” Her hands pulled out the item from underneath the table; where the eldest Robotnik had placed weeks ago. “Grandpa even taught me how to use it!”

Her brother had hovered silently from one area of the ceiling to the other, never leaving the back of the human male from his sight. Something was wrong: his eyes were glowing brighter than normal and had shrunk to almost pinpricks; fangs slipped from the edges of his mouth; left hand held into a death grip on the ceiling panel; there was a tension in his limbs, like he was forcefully being held back at the very edge-

He recognized this guy! Maria had clarity.

“Dr. Gerald Robotnik does tend to bend his own ARK’s rules,” came a grumble as the G.U.N. guy continued to write. Unaware of the danger he was in as the seconds ticked by, the guy looked over the campsite again. “I'll be going to the other rooms of the observatory now. This entire area will need to get cleaned up to pass, Miss Maria. A lot of this stuff is highly flammable.” A sigh. “It’s like you live in here.”

The blonde only gave a weak, verbal cue.

Since this room as at the end of a series of hallways – one way in and out because it was the strategic location – the military man turned around and left the way he came. Maria waited until five minutes passed before she turned her neck higher towards her brother.

“Who was he?”

His fingers were still in that position of middle and pointing together. His hesitation at response made her wonder if… if Shadow had been close to… doing something he wasn’t supposed to. O-Obviously, not anything too dire-!

“He was part of the firing squad,” the hedgehog snarled. “The third one. From the right.”

It was like the floor beneath her crumbled. Her knees buckled as their strength left, but suddenly Shadow was there, holding onto her body before she had even fallen three inches. Her hand patted around until she grabbed tight around the white tufts of fur on her brother's chest. “Don't. Don't do it.”

The silence was longer than it should be.

A girl’s fingers clenched harder.

His tone softened. “… I wasn’t going for the kill. Only to frighten him off the station.” His eyes flickered to her. “He wouldn't have seen me.” The stare remained straight and true. “I wasn't. I remember your wish.”

The female Robotnik felt herself breath better. Ok. Not the greatest admission from her brother, but she knew he wasn't lying.

“Just… don't, Shadow. Please.”

He relented, as he always did for her.

They spent the rest of the late afternoon cleaning up their mess in relative silence. The walls felt like they were closing in – did failed inspections mean they would come back at a later date? The end of the quarter meant the military wanted to have as much green on their never-ending checklists, right? Maria didn't want to leave Shadow alone here and go back to her room. This area was basically perfectly isolated for him to still be close enough for her to visit, sure, but-

You know what? Screw G.U.N.’s requested perfect results. If that guy came back, she'll show him the scorn of a food fight against ever single surface. That inspector better know how to use a mop.

It wasn't until a few hours later that she realized she had forgotten something important. Something that had escaped her mind. Something that she should have realized was a problem the second she saw those red glass eyes attempt to burn a hole in the floor.

Her feet ran out of the room – voice telling Shadow she would be back.

[x]

She had intended to run all over the ARK but didn't make it too far past the common areas, where military and civilian mingled, when the crowd appeared.

Hushed voices. Murmurs of discussion. Whispers of secrecy and fear. The individuals were those whom Maria knew intimately: the members of the medical wing. One had spotted the girl and moved in front to block access to the rest of the hallway, but it was too late. Maria had already seen it.

Dr. Eruba was hunched over a body.

The dark-skinned woman yelled promptly once she turned towards the pattering of a young girl’s feet on the metal floor. “Get her out of here!”

One technician lifted her up around her waist, already ahead of the command. “Let's go, Miss Robotnik.”

[x]

“What a terrible accident,” someone whispered in the background of the cafeteria.

Going to get breakfast was a mistake.

“To have almost drowned in the public bathroom, though?”

She could feel the tension from all the members of the medical team as they described rumors to one another. It was the juiciest thing on the ARK, after all.

It wasn't Shadow.

“They say it was a cover up for a lover’s spat. Guy was cheating on his wife with a high-ranking individual from the Office of Chaotic Research and Development.”

Her stomach twisted in on itself.

It wasn't Shadow.

“The individual probably won’t be able to talk if he even manages to get out of his coma,” one medic whispered. “He has some brain activity, though, so at least there's a chance.”

It wasn't Shadow.

“He should be lucky he was found before he died.”

Her digits were making the thin aluminum serving tray warp.

It wasn't Shadow.

“Do you think they'll catch the perpetrator?” were two girlfriends gossiping as if the conspiracy were true.

‘-the second [he] loses focus on giving them mercy-’

“I hope not. Cheaters basically deserve everything they get,” grumbled the other woman at the table as she flicked pepper on eggs; one of the fingers on her hand had a pale band where a ring used to rest.

There were only two people Shadow loved to the point of pain: Maria Robotnik and Dr. Gerald Robotnik.

A man whom had been brutally gunned down right in front of his eyes. Somehow, he had seen it. A recording? Was he in the room all along and she didn't know? Had someone used that moment to torture him?

Unlike her, her brother didn't differentiate the monster and the man as two separate personalities that shared the same body.

To his point of view, Shadow had seen one of his family’s murderers.

(And if Maria had wanted Sean Casey to disappear – angry momentarily enough to throw something at him in an attempt…, then she knew what exactly had flashed – for that brief, crucial second – in her brother's mind the moment he realized whom was that inspector.)

[x]

Was it a bad thing that she was more concerned about Shadow than the nameless person? Was she changing as well?

Nevertheless, out went thoughts of amity for that guy. Technically, he hadn’t done anything yet and now never would on the ARK. He was going to go back home.

… As her brother had desired…

[x]

Grandpa was tired and sore and distraught.

He must have heard the news – this was the first time in the ARK’s history that something like that occurred (as That Day was a coordinated attack). Unlike Maria, he had none of the knowledge of what could have caused it. It was a secret she was still wrestling with, unsure of what she could do and how it changed her viewpoints on certain things.

She had been naïve, hadn't she?

The girl had assumed the Artificial Chaos could run off only good memories and be pacified during the bad times. She had ignored – or, rather, didn’t fully believe – her Grandpa’s warnings. She, wholeheartedly, thought that if her brother only had peace and relaxation and warm hugs as they worked together for a brighter future, then…! Then…!

Then nothing bad would happen with the AIs.

… She didn't want to write them off, though! Grandpa had mentioned that they didn't have morals, so it wasn't like they understood what they did was wrong. They simply lacked knowledge. W-What if Maria TAUGHT them that? Or she guided the AIs using Chaos theories to where those lessons were locked in her brother's mind – because it was clear that HE had them. He didn't attack. He wasn't going to attack.

Only scare.

And he didn't end up doing it!

The mantra (of delusion?) repeated itself so much she missed what Grandpa brought up until he touched her head and gave a gentle rub. Brought back to the moment, she gave a blink. “Can you… say that again?”

He exhaled deeply. It seemed this week had been miserable for the entire trio. “I asked if you knew where Shadow was. I need to talk to him about something important.”

The girl knew she couldn't let her brother be alone with Grandpa so soon. Everything was still too sensitive with the hedgehog and for very good reasons. “I'll get him,” she offered, knowing that if she did, they'll handle what news will be dropped as a duo.

Maria left the main chamber and walked around, looking up towards the rafters where Shadow had been hanging around recently. It took a few rooms before she found him, looking out of the glass onto the nose of the Eclipse Cannon. Her hand waved out for him, and she motioned her brother to descend.

Which he did.

“It’s… Grandpa. He’s looking for you,” Maria started cautiously.

Shadow nodded. It seemed his mood was one of the better ones – a relief since he was down this morning upon her return. As such, they both traveled the distance together; back into the room filled with camping supplies and sleeping bags.

“Maria, you can stay for this as well. You would have found out, anyways, and I don’t want to hide this from you anymore,” Grandpa started with clear signs of fatigue.

The adult’s large hands beckoned both of them over. Blue eyes turned towards her brother, wondering what he was-

Shadow had already moved to sit onto Grandpa’s right side as Maria later sat by the left one. She noted that facial expression of his – the one similar to when she would pat his quills and give him cuddles. A relaxed face. No bad thoughts.

The girl also took note Grandpa was…

Was he aware of Shadow’s turmoil? He had wrapped his arms around her brother’s waist like hers, instead of putting his arms on their shoulders like normal.

Ok. That was acceptable.

… So, when did the stick start? This call over wasn’t going to be lacking it, she feared. Not with the way the scientist had been working on and on and on without a singular PEEP. Until now, if her intuition was telling her.

“My boy… Can you hide or pull in your wings?”

Crimson blinked. “That’s…,” the sentence rolled on his lips as the almost stupefied expression took hold, “not something I had thoughts about doing.”

Maria blinked as well. “Um… really?” Pretty… bizarre.

“Yes. However, I can attempt a try.”

Shadow jumped away from the humans and turned around to face them. For a good while, he just… stood there. Maria was pretty sure her brother was trying to do something mentally – like finding the trigger that he used when she had last seen them turned off. (Didn’t that hurt him, though-?)

The cosmic response to her question was a grunted and sharpened inhalation as Shadow promptly brought his hands right to his own forehead. Grandpa had reached out (the words ‘Stop, Shadow!’ already out of his mouth), but the hedgehog was turning in his spot and gave no opportunity to touch or apparently hear. He gave out one scream – oh, how it felt so wrong!! In a red fire, the wings faded from the tips towards the core of his body – excruciatingly slow, by the looks of it. Worse still, those Inhibitor Rings were literally smoking. NOT a good sign!

Visually, for a few seconds, what was left before her was the hedgehog form she knew from her past. There, her brother panted heavily as his arms slumped off his cranium and back slouched forwards; those golden bands almost a white. She doubted he was able to move.

Maria, of course, had also already covered the distance. “Shadow!!!”

Oh! This was bad! He wasn’t responding to her!

But then there was another gasp of pain and out the wings escaped, piercing into the skies. The light in his Rings stopped burning like a bulb.

“I am not trying that again,” her brother breathed out. Aware the two were basically upon him in tight grasps, he tried to regain his calm and untouched demeanor. As if… as if nothing had happened! “You two don’t need to worry so much. I feel better now.”

Her face told him what she thought about that!

In the background, Grandpa looked like he had been hit by a train. “I’m going to write that option off of the table, then. No. Not even call it an option in the first place. Forgive me for asking, Shadow. If I had known-”

“I should have tried weeks ago on my own. I don’t blame you, Professor.”

Grandpa apologized, despite the proclamation, on his knees.

[x]

After ensuring that Shadow was telling his version of the truth, after making sure Grandpa didn’t look like he was about to experience another panic attack; after they made sure that Maria was alright, the three still sat as a bundle by the large windows her cute brother loved to look out so much.

“So… Why did you need to have Shadow look like a hedgehog?” the girl eventually threw out her question like a fisherman did in books.

She had no idea it was possible for the elder to deflate even more. “Ah. Yes. I suppose I did not address it before the… episode.” Aware both sets of eyes were on him, her Grandpa pulled out one of his work books. Thickened with reports and documentations, the writing on it was messy and fast. Clearly, it was done in a rush – the opposite of how the man usually did things. “What I am about to say will greatly upset you both. However, I have a plan to avoid the worst possible outcomes.

“In five days and four hours, Project: SHADOW’s PSUL2.018 will be showcased to the highest of the brass on the ARK. I did have a backup on how to address your appendages and hide them another way if I had to, but-”

Maria could hear the ringing on her ears grow and grow and grow. Could fear the fear ride up the back of her nervous system into the part of the brain that had ‘fright or fight.’ Goodness knows what her brother was doing – she wasn’t even 100% sure what she was screaming or yelling herself right now. Time had seemed to slip into a haze as broken promises pounded.

Grandpa was aware of their emotions, though, and went to address as fast – and reassuring; as comforting – as possible. “They… threatened to shut down the ARK. To send us back to Earth. My plan… is the best option I could think of. Will you two… hear me out?” he pleaded.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 17

[×]

Gerald fixed the bow tie on his body before bending down and accomplished the same for Shadow’s. “Would you mind tilting your head back? I'm sorry if this bothers you.” He was careful to avoid touching the base of the child’s neck-to-shoulder region and was relieved he did not seem to sadden the boy – well, any more than the afternoon had already placed. The bright red cloth [that Maria had chosen] around the ‘Mobian’s’ throat was rather ridiculous and silly, but the little piece of fashion was meant to look as such. Refined. Gentle. Unassuming. Not at all dangerous or powerful.

It also hid holographic distortion machines that required so much precise Chaos Energy to function that the only way it could be so compact in the first place was the fact the child was feeding them as a battery.

The bandaged idea was not the best in isolation – those wings were visually hidden, not gone. “I’ll try my upmost to keep you away from people, my boy.”

There was a careful nod.

“I placed little dark brown marks on the wooden floor where you will have the best radius of movement without running into anything. It also includes a six-inch buffer zone in case something comes close to your backside that will make you have to move out of bounds.”

A black ear flicked at the sound of Dr. Tower cursing in the next room. His red eyes remained on his creator, nonetheless. “I will be able to spot it, Professor.”

“Good. Also, don't forget: the holograms cannot handle fast movement.” His subordinates had spent the entire past three days to get those beta-tested items ready for Shadow’s usage, but the boy only had minimal time to get to play with them and learn their limitations. The damn DNA farce took just too long for the machines to get the better care that they deserved. As it was, the quartet of researchers had to run and restart the main computer in the server room twice just this past week.

Gerald frowned internally. Even if Shadow had been able to pull in his wings without hurting himself, his own shadow still had them splayed wide and unmistakable on the floor. Seeing that would have been a supreme shock if not for the fact the child had doubled over and required immediate care. Sadly, if Robotnik had caught that image, there was no way no one at G.U.N.’s ‘party’ would miss it, either. Asking for the request was a mistake and learning about Shadow’s shadow was not ultimately worth it. He should have just believed they were permanent. As it was, the holograms were not just for the surface area, but also to cover up the silhouette of places Shadow walked over.

“If… you think the machines are going up break, I’d rather have you teleport away than have your wings exposed.” Gerald was worried that ‘The Devil’ confession from the old Commander Fortis would be something the new one would recognize. Or worse – be something she was specifically looking after. Showing off Shadow had teleportation was the better choice if he was forced to be in a position to choose one or the other. The Prototype was able to pull it off under extreme duress when fueled to the nines with Chaos Energy. In terms of devastation of losing secrets, well, there were worse things. [That was basically twice he told that to himself. Oh, boy. It was going to be a night.]

The door opened, and for a brief moment Gerald saw the other three researchers talk excitedly. The noise soon vanished when the barrier closed once again. His precious granddaughter was now in his room, looking like a sparkling jewel: a soft Celestine-colored gown with fine lace on the cuffs, her hair perfectly combed with a lily from the botanical gardens slipped into it, and black shined shoes with a little bit of platform suitable for girls. Dr. Eruba had helped immensely to make Maria very pretty for the dinner.

… A dinner that had everyone on Project: SHADOW invited was understandable. The fact the letter addressed to Gerald basically told him to bring Maria there or else was not. It gnawed his stomach when he got the piece of paper last night – clearly, G.U.N. had their own plans. Perhaps they wanted to pressure him more, aware that without “2.018” making a good impression, he was going to lose-

Gerald shook his head. He couldn't change that. Best to praise what he could. “You look very beautiful, Maria. Mind if I take a picture to send to your parents?”

The only thing wrong with her getup was actually her expression. It was quite sour, but she threw no temper tantrum. His granddaughter greatly disliked [had she grown enough to tragically understand hate now?] the fact she and Shadow were to be at the showcase in the first place, even though she understood why. “Not tonight. I'll dress up again, later.”

“Of course. I understand.”

Her shoes tapped-tapped on the flooring as she reached the boy. Her fingers rubbed the bow tie around his throat, which seemed to give her a small smile for a little while. “Looking good, Shadow.”

The hedgehog gave the girl a crook of the mouth before he returned to a flat look. Most of the negativity he owned was hidden. Shadow truly had too much skill in locking his emotions behind an ice wall of ‘go away’ for his age. In fact, Gerald would argue the child was better at it than himself in certain scenarios.

“I'll be cheering you from the sidelines. If you ever feel like you're getting too pissed or angry or other such stuff, just look at me.” Maria's fingers cupped the boy’s chin and lifted it to give each other a shared connection. “I know you'll do the right thing.”

The ears drooped. “I'll make you proud.”

Gerald had a feeling Shadow was as apprehensive as the scientist was. “Alright, you two. I am afraid we need to get going. Dinner starts at 1800 Zulu and then the QnA at 1945.”

‘QnA…’ Hah.

What a label.

[x]

Shadow was playing with his Inhibitor Rings around his wrists as the trio entered the small room towards the side where Dr. Guzman, Dr. Tower, and Dr. Yadev were still arguing. They were aware of the dangers brought upon by lying to G.U.N. and comprehended exactly what they had done – that wasn't the problem. Rather, the viscous cycle of discussion had to deal with ‘bad results: the afterwards.’ Devil’s Advocates were whom they were playing as, with Dr. Tower claiming the part of the military.

Maria’s friend’s father had crossed arms and displayed a grave expression. “-I would demand immortality for my soldiers without hesitation and take 2.018 away from Dr. Robotnik the second I hear about it.”

The female voice of Guzman countered. “It’s impossible they'll just force us away from the Project! Without us, there's no way for the military to get data as your own non-Project: SHADOW researchers suck ass. I'll counter and say if you want immortality, you have to keep me in charge because we corrupted the genome. My ace in the hole is that the only complete copy that exists is one I own in my head.”

Ah. She had been characterized as ‘Gerald.’

That left Yadev as ‘Shadow.’ “The smart thing for me to do when put into this situation would be dependent on my viewpoint. If you,” he pointed to Tower, “can manipulate me, then I'll be willing to let you use my blood for the pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. It would be easy because of my lack of social and political knowledge as I am a sheltered being. However, I have enough strength locked within me to terminate you if you came at me the wrong direction as you are a mere human and I the Ultimate Lifeform.”

The three didn't know the Robotniks had entered their area, otherwise they would have stopped their theoretical talks. Gerald flinched and rubbed the bridge of his nose at Yadev’s comment-

A deep voice interjected. “I suppose it’s a good thing I do understand many aspects about the issues of the United Federations and it's military. Although, you wouldn't be wrong in that I could be manipulated if I had no memories of myself.”

One could hear a pin drop.

The first one to react was his granddaughter; lily almost flew out of her hair. Cyan furrowed into the red streaks of quills as the boy had his face away from her. “We are so going to talk later tonight.”

Silence was her answer.

Tower returned his state of awareness next. “Dr. Robotnik. Apologies. We were too caught up in the moment.” The researcher’s eyes never trailed away from the boy’s – to be fair, none of the scientists’ gaze did. It had been a long while since the two parties had seen each other.

Yet, that didn't make Shadow pause. Rather, the child looked at them with the sense of familiarity, which struck Gerald as odd. The boy had only met them once before falling back into the deep folds of his own uninhibited Chaos Energy – and he was basically drugged out of his mind when he was able to talk. There really shouldn't be so much clarity in the here and now…

His precious granddaughter took her hand into the hedgehog’s and she tugged him, making sure to always keep the boy behind her. She was aware of how much space those hidden wings took the most out of everyone. Her movements were second nature. “I still don't like this, for the record.”

Neither did her grandfather.

Slowly, the group left the side rooms and hallways. Went between the dead, preserved carcasses of PSULs past. Scurried around equipment stacked to the ceiling. Each step only made their shoes louder and louder, save one. Maria took another glance at Shadow’s feet as Gerald held onto her hand on the opposite side of the boy: the strictly normal footwear still impossible to hear. The Air Shoes she had created with his spare experimental parts were wisely keep out of sight: the mere fact the boy used them would make others wonder how something with Chaos engines could work on a being that wasn't supposed to have much – if any – innate control.

“People will look at you enroute,” Gerald gave one last warning. “Be aware. They should be professional enough to only look, however.” This would be Shadow’s first occurrence meeting and seeing so many humans at once; of running around the lit hallways of the ARK; of being able to explore the place of his creation for the first time. There was more to the station than just the observatory, floor seventeen, the lab, and the server room. The only good thing about finally admitting “2.018's” existence was that this would finally give the hedgehog the opportunities he hadn’t yet claimed.

“Don’t worry. Shadow’s got this,” Maria had confidently responded. Strangely, it lacked the cheerful giddiness the words would normally offer. Rather, they felt more like absolute knowledge…

[The gears in Gerald’s mind added another cog.]

[x]

“It’s cuter than I expected.”

“Look at its coloring!”

“So small~”

“What’s with its eyes?”

“A Mobian? Aren’t robots cheaper?”

“That is supposed to a prototype?”

“Do you think it’s as soft as it looks?”

“Doesn’t appear like a weapon to me.”

“Aww, it’s close to Maria!”

“That thing glared at me?”

The whispers [and more overt sentences] filled each hallway as the core members of Project: SHADOW walked along from corridor to corridor past the hoard. The majority of the themes were repeated area after area, with the humans filled with an innate need to settle their curiosity. Dr. Gerald Robotnik had announced earlier that morning that if anyone wanted to see some early results of what they were working towards, all they had to do was come outside. The masses did show up, indeed. Each voice carried exactly what he wanted: the fact so many eyes saw “2.108” walk with no restraints or aggression.

However, that had not mean that the boy was calmed. The head scientist could feel the way Shadow’s eyes watched every single item that moved within twenty feet of him. Maria was underneath a similar vein of struggling – gone was the genuine smile she flashed earlier. In its place was the uptick of her mouth in a position that… was fake. Her excited hand waving around to the onlookers? Fake. The way she spoke out, “Oh! His name is Shadow! He’s a little shy, so please don’t get too close!” “He’s able to give the warmest hugs! Robots can’t do that!” “Of course his fur is so soft! Like a fluffy blanket~!” “Silly! That’s not his glare. That’s just how a Mobian’s face can rest at – I would know, my teacher gave me a lesson about the sentients on the earth!”

The words she spoke were real to herself. To the boy. To Gerald.

But the way she spoke it to the others?

All fake.

It hurt he knew the exact moment she learned that from him. Whether it was on purpose or her subconscious, Maria had assimilated a lesson from Gerald with a 100% stamped on the proverbial page.

A young girl’s mouth was hidden behind a cupped hand as it went right next to Shadow’s ear. Maria whispered something towards the boy that must have calmed him down [or forced him to] because the stern expression shifted back to neutral once more.

“-emeber. You are cute and not aggres-”

Ah. Gerald had enough context clues off that.

[x]

The chamber was used for ceremonies: enlisted celebrated a rank up for more pay and responsibility; contractors were recognized for their clandestine efforts of subjects that remained off the books; officers held events to others in bids to gain the upper hand in politics. Everything held here was underneath the canopy of the celestial diamonds that burned like overseers. The majority of the crowd below had a minimum of Lieutenant Colonel: silver maple leafs, silver eagles, and silver stars hung on various chests. More men than women due to sheer statistics, the hoard was easily segregated into the researchers and those whom were not. At the head, by the platform where Gerald had placed his markers, resided a singular table big enough to fit eight.

A label of The Robotniks & PSUL2.018 was in calligraphy that any lesser person would consider ‘wedding’ in style. Gerald understood what this whole affair was: it was designed to overwhelm the senses, to make one believe they were truly being honored; something as fake as Maria’s smile that had only grown to a point where she had begun rubbing her own cheeks in pain. G.U.N.’s veil over his eyes could have – might have; probably would have – even worked if not for the children having had stabbed the thoughts of suspicion into him first.

Subtle movement in the background caught his gaze. Vast banners with G.U.N.’s red, white, and blue emblem hung gracefully behind the raised dais where the ‘QnA’ was to be had, moving slightly in the HVAC currents. That had not been there for the ‘dress rehearsal’ the scientist made for himself to warn Shadow and Maria, but it was not a surprise for the military to have them in the first place…

Dr. Guzman shuffled close to her boss. “Dr. Towers already checked. Just for show. Apparently, there was a major incident last night with one of the enemy nations that went a little hotter than expected. So G.U.N. is feeling antsy.” At the end of her update, she returned back to her seat the table over.

That was not good news. At the same time, it gave a reminder to the scientist that despite the grief and stress and disappointment the military were giving him right now, with all the wars on the planet, it was G.U.N. that was keeping the United Federations safe enough for people’s lives [his two Earthern sons] to continue in peace. The United Federations weren’t throwing money at the ARK for armistice, but they weren’t at least using them for world domination.

[The thought of them resurfaced. Gerald had already, on paper, traded away the planet for a chance to heal Maria. In what manner could he judge the military’s desire for a new weapon to fight future foes – specifically, galactic warlords? Well, apparently enough. Shadow was his good s--! No one would claim him away, aside Maria!]

“Grandpa?”

Curses. He had gotten sidetracked. Not the time, nor the place. Carefully, he pushed back one of the fancy chairs for her. “Sorry.”

A spare hand gave his own a tight squeeze. “You got this, too.”

It should not have calmed him as much as it should have – where was Gerald’s confidence in his planning skills? The self-assurance of his own genius? Emotionally drained, that was what. These feelings have been having a habit of overriding him recently…

A white glove with a golden band moved between the two humans towards a stool that Maria had given to Gerald [whom had given to Dr. Yadev whom had snuck it in here under the pretense that the style of chairs this room had were too uncomfortable for “2.018’s” back]. With the two other Robotniks flanking his sides, and the raised platform in the background, they had created a ‘zone of no trespassers.’ If someone not of Project: SHADOW’s in-the-know did arrive, the boy could turn around and have his wings move out of the way into Maria’s and Gerald’s personal spaces.

“I still don’t like this,” his granddaughter grumbled [once again… again] under her breath as she pulled up a piece of paper that had the Schedule of Events to hide behind. There was one by every sitting position. “They’re looking at Shadow like vultures.”

“That’s an insult to the bird,” the boy muttered too softly to be carried far as he made sure to keep his face stilled. Soon, he lifted his gems to gaze at everyone.

The same everyone that was staring right back.

There was a reason why the sound of the crowd was the loudest in the room only due to numbers and not volume from the individuals.

“Recall: you are cute,” Maria stressed. “Adorable. Lovable. Remember what we practiced.”

There was a deep sigh from within Shadow’s chest. “I'm glad no one isn't here to see this…” The complaint made no sense. There was nothing but people.

And then… a smile – fake, just like his dear’s – danced. It wasn't as ‘brilliant’ as the girl’s. In fact, it was quite small and almost a smirk-

“Relax your eyebrows,” Maria hissed.

“I'm trying.”

“This is why you're not a drama actress like me, but that's okay as you are my action star instead,” the nervous banter continued as Maria moved the schedule to cover the hedgehog’s face to ‘fix it.’ “Still, you have to accomplish the Operation Don't Let Them Get Suspicious! And your glare is exactly that!”

“I'm fighting against… a long-established standard.”

But the eyebrows rose. The smile almost stayed. Was it the nicest or most gentle face Gerald had seen on the boy? Goodness, no! But was it good enough to look polite to the growing sets of eyes upon them?

… The scientist hoped so.

The placard for ‘Commander’ sat across from the trio at the round table. Also in a fine cursive, out splayed her title and last name – incredibly short, considering. He had known the Major General was to be at here as well – because why wouldn't she? If the head of Project: SHADOW were to claim “2.018” was indeed not a rampaging [almost dead] lizard with no way to be ‘controlled,’ she was foolish enough to want to see “it” up close herself. Unlike the others, though, that woman was one of the few he couldn't deny such access.

Speaking of the military brass, just because Shadow was deemed ‘harmless’ didn't mean the individuals on the station were without protection. At the corners and walls of the room were many Security Forces individuals wearing their dress uniforms, but Gerald knew underneath the top coat were many guns only a second away from being aimed at one certain boy.

He hoped the child didn't know that.

… He begged the universe Maria didn't, either.

There was a sudden shift in the background as a military member bellowed out, “Attention!” At that, everyone stood – Gerald glad he remembered to tell his granddaughter about the military’s tradition when that word was uttered. Those of civilian backgrounds didn't have to be in a certain pose, but he took note of how every G.U.N. individual had straightened their backs and placed arms straight towards the side. “Commander of the ARK, Major General Kirkendall!”

It seemed no one was going to ‘pretend’ that the ARK was not officially G.U.N. property. Not the people in this room.

There that maniac stood by the entrance. He would recall that damned grin anywhere. Gerald was very aware of where she stepped; whom she walked by. Each person she spoke with, on her way towards the table, he cataloged as something short of a threat to familial peace: there was the man in charge of long range weaponry; the woman in command of encryption departments; the man who controlled the enlisted who actually crunched the budgetary numbers; the military scientists that had done the bloody human experiments with Chaos Energy; the man in charge of the experimental robotics division. If it was anyone else, he would assume she was doing the normal meet and greet Commanders did on events. With her, the Robotnik’s mind attempted to link them together.

He had to be – was, even – prepared in case ‘QnA’ was actually her attempt to do ‘Show n Tell.’

Eventually, the woman waved someone away towards the table. The guest hidden behind her leg soon came into view – a short one. A Mobian. Dressed in simple, yet well built, garbs, the Prussian Blue hedgehog creature was very busy staring at Shadow-

[Who was this?]

“Well, that's not normal,” the high-pitched male voice cut in, not bothered at the lack of introduction. “Tsk. Not a single speck of a pupil. So, this ‘Lifeform’ is… blind. Not very ‘Ultimate,’ is it?”

The boy understood sneering and sarcasm very well.

Gerald heard that disgust.

As for Maria, she was fighting a frown based on how her expression was desperately attempting to not collapse. Didn't mean she wasn't going to defend Shadow in a biting [oxymoronic], pleasant tone. “Salutations, sir. He's the most recent and successful prototype,” the girl emphasized carefully as she pointed to the ebony mass.

The Mobian’s glare narrowed. “With such a color scheme, it certainly is an artificial construct.”

His granddaughter was quick. “He's just cuter this way.”

“Cute? You, small human, are unquestionably blind, too. Those are clearly markings of poison or venom or danger. All three?”

Gerald cut into this… whatever this was and placed his left hand upon Shadow’s topmost quill. “Sir, I can assure you that 2.018 doesn't spit acids or toxins. Don't be ridiculous.”

There was a twitch of floppy ears as aged, mean eyes changed target. "Ah. You're the insane Professor Robotnik playing God. That taller female pack leader told me about you.”

Gerald ignored that jab as context clues floated past. The results were… disliked, but no surprise. Like the two children, he ensured to remain cordial even though he was certain his spectacles were hiding much. “I am Professor Gerald Robotnik, indeed. You must be a geneticist from the southern hemisphere, I gather?”

The hedgehog waved his hand. “Yes; yes. I'm only here to look, listen, describe, and then forget everything I saw to get my family out of that war torn hellhole. You know the drill, I assume?”

A family man driven for protection. You want me to connect with this person, General. “Perhaps.” A Mobian here, on the ARK where humans lived, could only mean that Shadow’s fake DNA was to get analyzed because G.U.N. was suspicious. Good. Let the intruder try.

“Well, I'll be going. Keep that fake thing to itself.” With that, feet scurried away and left the table.

Maria folded her hands closer to the boy and fluffed up a few side quills. “He just doesn't know you, Shadow. Don't get sad.”

A scoff. “Sad? He's a moron. It's not worth spending my time worrying about what he thinks.” The boy shook his head. “A proper scientist would have a vastly more creative word choice for an insult, too.”

Was… Shadow upset at being called ‘fake?’

Maria caught sight of the top part of the General’s bun shifting closer. Because she was so short, the girl probably was only catching the movement just now. “I think this is An Important Person coming up. Remember to smile!” his granddaughter pulled at a tan muzzle.

There was a ‘hmph,’ but the face had reset again nevertheless.

The calm returned before the next visitor – a little more permanent than the Mobian – slipped by. Platinum blonde hair carefully manicured; blue dress uniform perfectly adorned with organized medals and ribbons; the words ‘Kirkendall’ in a dark blue tag above her left bosom; pale hands opening in a greeting at…

His granddaughter?

Who had lost her smile and was now confused herself?

“In the middle of a divorce, but legality is legality,” the woman added while she fixed her seat and tapped the name tag. Those green eyes flicked to Gerald, ignoring how Maria seemed to go pale and quiet. Her hand reached out to a cup filled with water and she sipped it, which only made the young girl’s silence more apparent. “Good evening, Professor.” A gaze floated towards “2.018.” Something played in the corners of her mouth. “Why, isn't it adorable? Having two children by your legs certainly must be tiring with all the chaos they can bring, correct, Doctor?”

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 18

[×]

Shadow, for his part, was making things as easy as he could. Those red eyes maintained on the much taller woman sitting across from him, like the one being dissected was the Major General instead of himself, but everything else appeared like a stuffed doll one placed on a shelf to admire. The lights above played no harsh streaks of darkness; his white gloves were immaculate as always; even his scent was regulated due to Maria having had washed him in some special shampoo. Indeed, he looked the part of a successful 2-series prototype.

By now, dinner had been served: some sort of soup and salad, a fancy cut of beef, some wine that Gerald refused, and sides that normally would have fallen under the word ‘delicious.’ As expected, everything tasted like glue and copper. The weight of being studied for every movement was an action both adults were accomplishing at one another. Sadly, Maria was still not feeling well and only poked at her meal. He knew his dear well enough to see it – but after the initial freeze up, her fake demeanor had returned with some sort of fired up passion. Whenever there was anything directed to Shadow, she had taken over and recounted only the most sugary-sweet tale she could concoct. Her words were very… persuasive, but there was one dilemma.

She admitted Shadow was someone she knew longer than a few days. Or a singular week.

Gerald had felt his guts fight against the instinct to correct her. Was about to, perhaps – but…!

Maria had kicked him.

Under the table.

“Yes, I saw him more than a month ago, but he was still stuck in his little tube!” the girl added with a wave of her hands. “There were so many bubbles! It was a pretty neat experience, especially since Grandpa didn't realize I snuck into his lab again. Shadow was fast asleep, of course, but every day I hung around to talk to him. I mentioned Abe, the best places to hide on the ARK; the weird thing they serve at the cafeteria on Thursday nights. Did you know he recognized my voice when he woke up two-ish weeks ago?” She clapped in childish glee. “I was such a proud girl! Grandpa did say I might have imprinted on him before he crashed back into unconsciousness, though. Whoops?”

Granted, her admission didn't affect the plan, per say. It just was a girl saying that “2.018” was aware long enough for the two to have form a bond. It was as if she was trying to make the timeline of Shadow’s official date of sentience move back a little over an extra week. Not much more. Still within a window where he could claim that the hedgehog was in testing. And on the newly forged papers, the boy was.

This confused him.

[It was as if Maria understood that the General understood Shadow had been alive for longer and was covering for something. Was this related to her face earlier in the hour? What had happened between the two? He wanted to talk to her and ask, but, obviously, that wasn't a possibility!]

The General sipped more red wine. Since it was only a singular serving over the past sixty minutes, she was not inebriated, which was a shame. Gerald wished he had time to pick up dirt on her vices to extract more advantages… Or at the very least she would need to excuse herself to the restroom so he had time to inquire his granddaughter…

[x]

Shadow’s hand was quite large – bigger than his creator’s and hinted at strength unparalleled. Nevertheless, the boy allowed Gerald to guide him towards the wooden platform as if the Ultimate Lifeform was nothing more than fragile glass. His head was staring down towards only Maria, as if she was his tether. The scientist had to change that opinion: his granddaughter was it.

Carefully, he kneeled and ignored the crowd behind him, staring right into the child’s face. His finger brushed the microphone against the human’s throat as he verified it was off before addressing the hedgehog. “It’s alright if you need to take a deep breath before we begin. I can stall them out with a very grand and elaborate, technical speech that would leave most of them asleep. They are rather boring, as you know.”

It was a paltry excuse of a joke, but that was not the intended effect. He wanted to prove to Shadow that there was more than just Maria – there was also Gerald he could lean on.

The boy’s voice was still soft. “I never found our talks… dull.”

He rubbed a singular thumb against Shadow’s ear in reassurance before he stood and turned back around. The brass came back into sight; eyes opened and wine glasses held in their hands to celebrate a toast that they assumed would be happening. Gerald took another look at the SecFo in the background, who were perhaps the most tense they were all evening.

Fortune or woe?

Which would Professor Robotnik produce? they must have wondered.

He tapped his hand on the mic once again and rose the spare glass he had brought up here in the dress rehearsal. The liquid inside was just plain water dyed a deep red to mimic the brain-fog inducing beverage, but who was to know that little tidbit? “Ladies and gentlemen,” he started, ensuring to look at the G.U.N. members as a whole – did his best to not stare down to one certain ‘enemy.’ “And Mobians,” he ended with a chuckle, giving a pat on Shadow’s head once more. This one was much more visual: no mistake that it was from somewhere of trust.

Maria gave two thumbs up.

“These past few years have been quite a struggle as science cares for no one to obtain it without sacrifice. Time. Effort. All of the many things required for the pursuit of perfection. As you may all know – or, at least, if you haven’t, you passed the Top Secret clearances to be in this room at this moment in the first place – the ARK was blessed to be given the opportunity to create something not of normal comprehension.”

A fancy place with fancy words filled with fancy ideas. He had casted a tale and was to send it crashing towards the ground. “Of course, the hunt for the Ultimate Lifeform was not without its… troubles-” How many inside this room were stationed here when the Biolizard ran amok? Perhaps the majority. “-but I can tell you now that we have made a major step forward!” His left hand moved in beckoning, and Shadow took the cue to take a few steps closer. The boy’s careful movements maintained the holograms together as the processors within the device desperately crunched the 0s and 1s to create the image necessary. “May I introduce the ARK’s second Prototype, the first to have claimed true sentience, and a medical marvel you will have the honor of witnessing before you.”

There was some polite clapping and surely some rolled eyeballs; anger at deficit spendings to others. A hedgehog was not a gigantic lizard that towered over individuals that sent the fear of death up spines. Nor was it a water creature based on images of a God foretold to bring down destruction of all things it raged against. Rather, the little black and red individual was small. Charming. Endearing with his miniature red bow tie.

In short, Shadow didn’t give that ‘weapon’ vibe.

Gerald continued his speech, which evolved into bringing slides and physically immense images of spliced genes. Each canvas was custom made and had taken Dr. Tower a plethora of time. The head of Project: SHADOW had a metal extending pole he used as a pointer, going by every aspect and critical detail. The name of the game was to be as overwhelming, as complex, as intricate; as incomprehensible as possible – and when Dr. Robotnik wanted to drown others in scientific notations, his lecturing skills had plenty of fresh practice.

[Even that Prussian Blue hedgehog in the background had eyes that were now as large as the dinner plates. Hah! A little piece of revenge was always nice.]

This was Gerald’s element. Even though the audience was not a nest of college graduates eager to learn for the betterment of tomorrow, this entire charade did wonders on keeping him grounded for what was to come next.

“In short, for those whom I lost at slide three,” he gave out a deep laugh, as he was [in]famous for, “PSUL2.018 is perfectly immune to all toxins, poisons, venoms, chemicals, and other dastardly words. He has accelerated healing as pictured in Figure 34.a.1. He is everything and anything you would want for your soldiers to ensure they reach their own homes in safety and security if given the chance to see how his compatibility can work on humanity. Most important: 2.018 is proof that we, at Project: SHADOW, are on the correct path. The only thing left is to find a way to merge the ‘weapon’ aspect of the 1-series into a future 3-series that will be using 2.018 here-” Cue waving at Shadow. “-as a base. A very solid one, I might add.”

The crowd was still silent.

“I will address questions, now.”

And they came. Explosions of volume bellowed out of mouths; hands waved in distrust, amazement, or both; bodies crushed upon each other as they squeezed into the dais. The scene almost took Gerald away from his current location – he was seeing an aspect of humanity that he was not certain he should be encouraging. Yet, he had to. That was his goal. Eventually, though, someone asked one of the harder, more critical subjects – one he couldn’t wave away with the ‘magic’ of science.

The culprit was a Senator from the surface, one of the few non-military, non-researchers allowed. Someone whom rode up on a rocket just for this occasion; someone that had to report back to the others. A fool, but one that had the backings of political power. Perhaps the President’s. “You have taken 5.5% of the United Federations’ GDP every year for the past six years – ten, if we include pre-Project: SHADOW. Is this all you have to show for it? A walking version of one of your… Heal Units?”

Gerald rubbed his moustache. “I dare not compare 2.018 to one of those things. He doesn’t need to use the low gravity of the ARK to function his recovery modes. As such, neither will 3-series.”

“You speak as if you’re positive you can use this creature to create serums for humanity,” the Senator continued acidly. “All that money, and you haven’t even proved that, yet.”

Ah, yes. This was certainly the President’s ally. “The hunt for immortality is not accomplished in a few years. If that was the case, I would have already been vacationing on a beach back on Earth.” His tone had dropped a few levels of ‘joy’ – how dare that man assume he was not doing all he can, as fast as he can, to save Maria!?

The politician continued, as if he was playing an instigator. “Show it to us. This healing that you foolishly think you created and can learn to extract. I’ve been to enough fiscal-related lectures to not believe such curated results without proper evidence.”

“Preposterous! I won’t injury 2.018 on the whims of others.”

His granddaughter had lost her positive pose and was starting to look left and right to the people around her. She did not like how the crowd had gone, either. It was unfortunate Maria had to witness this, too. She could rest assured, however: Gerald was not going to hurt Shadow. He didn’t need to impress the President anymore, anyways. No, he had to impress G.U.N….

“I think it’s a good idea,” came a voice from closer towards the ground. It was the Mobian, who had ventured to the hardwood platform. He must have squeezed between the human legs with ease. Gerald might have missed the hedgehog initially, but the scientist noticed the boy did not. “Real Mobians do not have the ability to simply ‘heal’ up in shortened timeframes. Just like humans, we can only patiently await natural cellular growth.”

“I can show you the unedited video of the 1-series Prototype from the basement if you want to see such recovery skills in high definition,” Gerald snapped back in a sickly humorous tone.

The crowd resumed silence for the most part. Security Forces members shuffled in place, still at parade rest in the background. Of all the individuals that understood the truth of that statement, it was them that took it to heart the most. This was also within the plan – Gerald had proven that he had all the capabilities of forging bioengineered armaments. He wanted the masses to be strung along with the promise of something dangerous, yet controllable – something that was within reach, but not quite just there. The scientist saw it on the faces of all the brass – that greed-

The Ultimate Lifeform cut into the air as he took forwards a few steps to squat down and reach to his granddaughter’s level. “Please give me your lily, Maria.”

[-What was he doing?]

Her hands reached towards her hair and pulled it out; the near hundred oculars stuck in confusion – whispers of It can talk? abounded. By now, the flower was limped and dull, no longer fresh. The white had started to turn a binged eggshell; the green stalk almost a noodle. Slowly, as if hesitant [but critically, not confused at all], his granddaughter placed the flora into Shadow’s awaiting grasp. They slowly pulled apart.

Gerald did his best to look confident. [What was he doing? He knew how important tonight was!] “As you can… plainly see, 2.018 is indeed polite and kind.”

Shadow – and his granddaughter – were on their own agendas.

He wasn’t given the opportunity to stop them without it looking like he had lost control. That would have been terrible-

The words, directed to Gerald and not caught by the mic, floated dimly, like dust that hung in the light. “Storming the ARK can only be approved by a President. I will help you maintain both their good graces.” He rose the lily up close to his chest and the gaze of all followed. In a much louder voice, Shadow continued, “What Professor will create with me are miracles for all humanity. I only ask you give him a chance.”

That sounded like something Maria would say-

Or, in this case, did she- She told Shadow to-!

The boy’s demeanor changed in a fraction of a second: ears furled complete back [in fear; in horror; in self-revulsion] as lips moved. Gerald couldn’t hear the words. However, he could read them: Chaos… Control!?!!!

-and then there was a Viridian, humming light. It wrapped around the boy and like a physical manifestation of a zephyr. It was circular in motion, like rings – the same shape that flared up in the boy’s eyes, but different all the same. What was beige bleached white; limp to straight; a stalk grew longer until a root system appeared right in front of everyone’s observation-

-the boy looked tired. Acted. Because that display of Chaos Energy was not nearly enough-

… What had Gerald just witnessed?[!]

In the background, a Prussian Blue Mobian passed out in shock.

[x]

The evening continued in a daze. Shadow had taken over with a proverbial iron fist.

Gold around ankles and wrists flashed. “They are Chaos Accelerators. Professor and Maria made them for me to tap into the ambient Energy from the Reactor’s Drives and Chaos rail system. Without them, my native pool is too shallow to manipulate anything.”

He had expected a trap from the Major General. Not his- the children.

“As a Prototype, I cannot maintain or use that ability without access to the ARK, and I do not have enough Chaos Energy to use it more than once a week. Another deterrent is the need to understand the makeup of the object being restored to completion.” The lily, now in his granddaughter’s cup of water, moved slightly as Shadow shifted. “This is capable of growing from a cutting in the first place, and was Maria’s favorite species of plant, so not only was it compatible, I knew it very well.”

Was? Knew? The boy was making grammar mistakes, but all Gerald could do was nod and hum in an ‘agreeing’ manner when anyone had the spare thought to leave Shadow and reach the creator’s.

“I only know my own genome and the flower’s. That’s it. I’m only… How old am I, consciously?”

“Two weeks!” a young girl hissed. It would have been comedic at any other event with how much of a clash she was against his emotions.

“That.”

The explanations continued. Gerald kept only aware for a few parts – too stunned. The scientist wasn't the only one: everyone was the same. Ghosts in human skins.

This was proof that Maria had read through his work book with all of his notes very meticulously. The ‘Chaos Accelerators’ excuse was something he had thought of in case anyone were to ask why Shadow required those golden bands to stay with him at all times. Unlike earlier, however, when the General caught her off guard, this was clearly executed per a strategy. The head of Project: SHADOW understood then and there that it didn’t matter if the brass had not invited Maria – she was going to be at that party no matter what.

In a way, it was brilliant.

Shadow was now irresistible and tantalizing. Something to throw massive amounts of funding at to achieve whatever lied beyond. Like his namesake, what came next was right under the ignorants noses, judging them by his own standards.

But very much so ‘shackled’ to the ARK in a field clearly labeled: FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES ONLY.

If Gerald would have known that the boy could… could heal other objects like that-!!!

But then Maria caught his gaze and she slowly, solemnly, shook her head in a form of defeat. Sadness. As if she was saying: that’s not a cure or a heal, Grandpa. It’s a trick. Like she knew what she was doing in front of a rabid crowd.

Time slipped.

A calculative voice snapped into the haze. “Hah. Almost outplayed by a girl whom a week ago had no idea who I even really was.”

The scientist turned towards the individual.

She was the only one left from the brass, having had excused everyone else by this time – to include all of the SecFo members. It was clear she wanted something inherently private; those green irises flickered back towards the boy and then returned to Gerald. A pale hand brushed platinum hair back, despite the fact nothing was out of place. “Congratulations, Doctor. I am positive that the President and the Commander of G.U.N. will be more than willing to fund you for the next fiscal year with that. Assuming it’s not staged, of course, but…” She closed her eyes as her grin came back. “That’s what my weak-willed specialist from the south is for.”

“It’s not fake,” Gerald narrowed his eyes.

Her hand waved away the accusation. “Yes; yes. I hope after things settle you never enter politics. You might not have a knack for it.”

Robotnik took the moment to be silent, instead.

“Come follow me, doctor. I got something you need to see.” With that, General Kirkendall turned around towards a side hallway that led deeper into the military region of the ARK; specifically, her office. She paused by the doorframe and tilted her head to look at the trio left behind. “You are, of course, free to ignore me, being a civilian. However, do note this: the President will promise you a year, and then the election cycle will come for his carcass and leave you near empty and without allies. The Commander above me will gift you sixteen months, at best, before cancer will claim him from decades of smoking those death sticks – he's at Stage 4, didn’t you know? By then, you will be considered a relic of the old guard and be disposed of. I can give you all the time you need. Think wisely.”

Her steps left the chamber and echoed no more.

[x]

“You two are in so much trouble,” was the action that came too fast to stop; emotion only fractionally short of biting. “What were you thinking?” He paused and shook his head. He knew better than to speak here. Aloud. In the hub of G.U.N.’s heart. And his disappointment and anger weren't at the youths. Those two were just worried and took matters in their own hands, like Robotniks- “Look. Just… Just meet me back in the lab – and do be careful, Shadow. Maria: make absolute certain no one gets too close.”

They both hesitated. Neither wanted to leave him.

“D-Don’t-” his granddaughter started, aware of where he was going to go.

He didn't have a choice.

“Return. To. The. Lab.”

“Understood, Professor.”

“… Yes, Grandpa.”

[x]

When underneath a stressful moment, sometimes time can feel like it lasts forever – stretched between each heartbeat and breath – a falsehood brought by adrenaline pumped straight into the brain as it attempts to understand parameters. An eye would dilate to absorb all the light and detail it possibly could; chest would stay as rapid as it might; hands became molten lead as the human had to wonder what to do with their own digits. Those were the exact feelings that Gerald could feel and understand – such high amounts of natural chemicals his body gave out in a desperate attempt to understand what was happening before him.

The only solace was that he – they – had guaranteed Maria another year’s worth of attempts – to actually, finally, move on from the ‘creation’ of a shadow. This was fine. This was fine. This was-

Her back was at him. Arms crossed over by her spine. The moonlight played phantoms of imps – an imagery he honestly could have done without. If she had meant to scare him, well…

Gerald had faced off a Demon.

“We’re on the same team, Doctor Robotnik.”

He frowned at that. Lies.

The Major General didn't move. Her office was dark and strangely empty. The only thing was a picture frame that Gerald wasn't at an angle to see and something homemade stuffed by the wall near the door to get out. “The previous Commander Fortis wanted to kill your Project. Kill the researchers. Kill your granddaughter. After all, the Biolizard was a hazard and the Gizoid was just a piece of metal that couldn't be controlled. Dangerous. He was waiting for just that one valid excuse – that one reason to crack this station open and fry the humans within. You were deemed a flight and security risk; insanity coded with mental illnesses of egotism and a God complex, according to the foolish psychs on Earth. Nobody at G.U.N. wanted to take any more gambles on you with such paltry results. Except me.”

Gerald was blindsided. What-? He had expected to be threatened-! Not-!!! What FOOLISHNESS was she speaking of!?!!?? K-KILL HIS…! KILL HIS-!?!

“When that failure of a Commander stumbled, I took my opportunity. No one else was willing to take the reign of a doomed facility earmarked for eventual red-stained closure, but where men toss things away, I'll dig my nails and claw it back into importance. You do not become this high of a ranking without crushing weaklings without vision underneath your foot.” One could hear a giggle. “You know what will get me promoted? The Ultimate Lifeform. My signature on Its documentation. My face associated with the eventual success. G.U.N. wouldn't be able to deny the person whom let it all possible. Presidents come and go, but the Commander of the entire military stays.”

[SHE was a power-hungry warlord!]

He was… struggling to… breathe-!!!

[Fortis has wanted to- -to take his children away!?!]

“So, yes. I will applaud your funding gain for the next year. That was smart. Well executed. I had thought I had you cornered, but I suppose that's the result when drive eventually runs into genius. Hah!” The blonde bun shook, but the General still refused to turn. “We both know it won't be enough time to save the one you'll do anything for – Maria.”

His chest was screaming. “Y-You don't… You don't know that.”

He- was- not- going- to- fall- into- her- noose-

“Facts are facts and logic is logic. If you had the ability to save her quickly, you would have left this place long ago and not attempt to prostrate yourself to anything or anyone willing to hear you. I mean, you came into my office willingly. You're that afraid. Unsure. Aware.”

Maria.

Dying.

Was going to be… killed?!

No.

No; no-

“Give me what I want, though, and I would never bite the hand that fed me. I’m much too caring about my future and my name in the history books for that – to perish as a nobody would be a failure. For now, I'll play my part in your charade to say The Devil is as innocent as it appears because you covered your tracks quite well. A warning: don't think I won't try to make It show off Its true colors. I have only hunches and the whispers of clues to your Project’s secrets, but whispers don't get one to rise above their peers. The Devil did give me the opportunity to get up here in the first place, however, so I'll submit defeat tonight. Besides, I'm certain you need to go home and sleep in the arms of your granddaughter, who is still with us. For now.”

His mind cracked on him.

[Maria was lying on the floor in a puddle of her own blood-!!!]

[The boy pounding on glass-!!!]

No. Must get rid of that image. She's not-! She's NOT dead-!

He would…

He WILL save her!!

“After your year ends in failure, but before the fiscal change, come back here if I hadn't already proved Its secrets to those who stand in my way of promotion. There'll be an obstacle course for The Devil in a training room awaiting It. Each mechanized armor It destroys will be an increase to your proposed budget, double if It can do it in one blow; ten times if It can do the task with Chaos Energy at Its whim, wielded as a weapon. There'll be hundreds awaiting Its precise and controlled violence. Feel free to stop by Training Lab 07-1b at any time before then. I'll be always watching.”

The human legs were incapable of much.

He felt wrong.

Sick.

[-loss and despair-!]

He had to get out of here. He wasn't… going to give Shadow to her-

Maria was going to need more than a year-

The General was madness-

A year was not enough time to allow triple or double checks before introducing anything into her delicate system-

If a person with that mentality becomes the head of G.U.N., what would the boy be forced to-

A warlord who wanted a crown and promised Gerald all the time he could ask for-

“I love you, Grandpa.” “Do the right thing.” “You got this!”

Damn this snake. Damn himself. “I won't entertain or give you want you want,” he growled from deep within. The quality of his voice was… off putting. Volatile. “I don't need more than a year. I've used up too many already before you shot me.”

[‘Shot me?’ Gerald was never shot-]

General Kirkendall felt fear at that and it pleased Robotnik: the way her hands squeezed together; body shivered; breath inhaled. “Maybe the psychologists weren't wrong about you...,” a murmur dropped, one that she normally would have kept locked within.

His body had somehow turned around to leave. Yes. He needed to go. Something was wrong with him after their discussion. He needed to think about something else. Anything else. Thoughts about his living granddaughter; of the boy’s careful smiles; of the three in a little tent reading books about the heavens. Eyes focused on the one thing ahead of him in order to avoid the psychopath: heart medication perfectly set aside; a dosage ready to enter his constricted throat; a large cup of clear, clean water. Everything was sitting upon a homemade lace doilie – the perfect shape, color, and design of the logo of Project: SHADOW.

A cracked mind broke.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 19

[×]

She suggested to follow their relative, and her brother was about to agree, when he paused mid-step – the lack of his Air Shoes made the change in velocity nowhere near what his body was physically used to – and scowled. A finger tapped the red fabric around his neck. “It’s almost broken,” he whispered after pulling her closer (totally not hiding his certainly not near trip), just in case. “Worked too hard.”

Broken? Maria squinted and reached out to try to assess. Maybe she could fix it-?

White gloved fingers took her hand and he slowly shook his head. He hadn’t added anything else because the eyes and ears of others were around now that they were in the hallways of the ARK. The hedgehog eventually allowed her grasp to hover a few inches away, and that's when she felt it: a heat that made her skin tingle.

Maria pulled back and sadly relented.

Then, cyan glanced back at the crowd. They remained close enough to watch, but not exactly overhear unless she yelled. The desire for more filled the onlookers – a black Mobian was new. Her brother being alive/in-resident onboard the ARK wasn't the secret clearance gibberish the military went on about (anymore, at least), but the fact he was a part of Project: SHADOW was. Taking a deep breath, the girl begun to wave at everyone she could with a bright smile, knowing she still had Grandpa’s request to escort her brother to safety, like a pretty Princess. “Well, I'm sure Grandpa will be fine. He's smart.”

There was a hum. “Professor is indeed the smartest Robotnik I know.” His ear flicked. “Ah. I mean-”

“I'm not insulted. Besides, it’s only Abe’s stupid paper pushing aunt. Who is, granted, very weird and cunning and I'm pretty sure she knows about you, but, like, not someone he can't beat.” There was a pause as she made a quick-ish turn to avoid an Artificial Chaos patrolling the hallway that had a shortcut towards her destination. Nope. Not here. Not tonight. Shadow, being none the wiser, let her lead. “I'm going to tell him a piece of my mind the next time I see him,” the girl continued.

Red eyes blinked. “That was the woman you were trying to find?”

A nod.

“A Commander in G.U.N.?”

Another nod.

“And she had a clue I existed before today?”

Yet another one. “Only a clue. I'm sure. And I didn't know she was a Commander in the first place. As for my evidence of her: she… had a sticky note…?” The girl’s tone increased the sillier she realized it sounded.

Her brother flattened his face into deadpan before he recalled the area he was walking through and forcefully tried to return to ‘relaxed.’ He… kinda failed, but at least it wasn't an appearance of murder. “A ‘sticky note?’” Thumb and pointing finger rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Ok. Maria would admit it wasn't the BEST evidence, but- But Abe’s aunt sent out weird messages into her subconscious! She was being honest!

“Never seen or heard about her,” he exasperated, and she could hear the ‘Really? A piece of paper?’ from across the theoretical street. The female was glad she didn't mention it had a smiley face – he would have thought she was even more over the top. “I'm positive she was already dead by the time I woke up. Might explain why Abraham...”

‘Why Abraham,’ what?

Her brother tsked at the curiosity on her face. “I'm not explaining that here.”

“Fine. I got other things to harass you about… after we take care of something first.”

He was very quick on his feet. “I'm not talking about memory and manipulation tonight, either.”

Maria flashed a frown.

“It’s… dark.”

Oh. Yeah. A heavy topic wasn't what she wanted to end the day with. She had plans… “I'll get you tomorrow.”

Her brother stiffened. He was going to try to find a way to avoid it by 0900Z, too. She wasn't no fool!

[x]

They were back at Grandpa’s lab; safe and sound in the room farthest away from the entrance in case they had to move quickly. The area was messier than normal, but it wasn’t the elder’s fault. Nope, just his chaotic charges: Shadow was sitting beside her with a pot of the leftover lilies they had collected. Each one was at various stages of growth, but her brother only needed to have accomplished Weird Teleportation to ‘it's near highest degree’ six times to complete the illusion. Mixed with a Chaos Heal, and BAM! Instant regeneration powers with flowers to those none the wiser. Speaking of her favorite flora, they were both carefully unwrapping the ones still lodged underneath one of the three skirts she had worn – the innermost one by her bloomers, right on the hem for easy pickup – so the survivors could continue. (The feeling of having her skirt billow ‘out of nowhere’ was super strange! And he had warned her out would be, too!!)

Cyan eyes flickered. “You… alright there?”

He still had the bow tie on as he wanted to wait until 0100Z for the majority of potential visitors to be asleep. He was, perhaps, just a little too cautious, but Maria couldn’t blame his foresight. “I just… don't like using that ability – shouldn't be able to without an Emerald more than once, and I abused it multiple times there. If it wasn't for the fact my Chaos Heal literally burns anyone not myself from the inside out, I wouldn't have even bothered. I'm afraid I might have overlooked something in mistake.” The voice was more pragmatic than not, and under normal nights might have been ‘worried.’ In an odd addition, there was no bitter sadness or that betrayal he usually held when discussion got even close to the topic.

Only relief.

Sweet, sweet relief.

Her forehead scrunched comically. “I would argue we bailed Grandpa’s a-ass and no mistake was made. Angering the President isn't the right move. He did that the… ummm. Last time.”

Shadow was so young when the party previously happened. He might not have fully understood that day’s importance or events – she didn't either, to be fair. But her brother was very wise now!

Her strange, almost morbid, joke got a chuckle – okay, a mirthful one – out from her brother. “Maria? You know how to curse?”

“Dr. Tower kept screaming it while attempting to fix his tie?” she sheepishly added.

Any hesitation melted at that and out from his mouth escaped a genuine peel of laughter. It was not often she heard such: he must be in a really good mood despite everything.

And she was, too.

Because they did it. Grandpa had gotten the money! A whole YEAR! Maybe even MORE! That placed the date further than That Day! Shadow was considered to be a medical only prototype so there wouldn't be the military’s desire to sweep on in and take him away! He wasn't the Ultimate Lifeform! He wasn't a living weapon capable of destroying the planet! He wasn't an ageless immortal! He wasn't uncontrollable! He wasn't dangerous! He wasn't tied to anything about the Black Arms! He was just a super advanced walking ‘Heal Unit’-Mobian with minor Chaos Energy and resistance skills, like that Senator wanted! And while they had cheated at the showcase, that wasn't going to mean the ARK wasn't going to output marvels in medicine!

Besides, Maria mostly remembered – and her brother 100% did – all of the cure attempt treatments she got in Round One, so if she super duper subtly hinted to Grandpa what kinda almost worked and what didn't…! Things would go so much faster!! Yeah, she couldn't tell him the specifics because she didn't know them herself, but… You know.

O! She could use Shadow’s Chaos Heal and learn the limitations of his ability as a method of studying Energy since Grandpa wouldn't be able to! Maybe it could work on the Artificial Chaos, too? Or Chao when they… they actually go to Earth? Just because it was useless on her didn't mean it couldn't be fine-tuned! There could be so many possibilities he was never given much of a chance to test before! Maria could be Professor Robotnik in that sense, couldn’t she?

Oh, she felt-!

One sick, young lass laughed with him; laughed in his room they were finally allowed to use; laughed out all her stress and anxiety and worry.

It was… so, so GOOD.

A second chance. For real.

This meant there was FINALLY a cause for celebration!

One set of blonde eyebrows rose up and wiggled. “Look what I got~!” With a flourish, she made a spin, mindful of her bad balance, and out from behind the counter was a bottle of red wine. It was rich looking and matched Shadow to a T! Her grin grew as trouble making thoughts fluttered. “Dr. Guzman said Grandpa deserves this, but he doesn't need to know that I took one from the set of five!”

Her brother couldn't stop his soft laughter or rolled eyes. His whole body shivered; disbelief coming out in buckets; the dam of holding back his own nerves collapsed in Maria's confidence. “And now you're a thief? Who are you and what did you do to Maria?”

“I'm Maria the Second, Queen of the ARK!”

He calmed down to snickers. “Ridiculous.”

The young girl used the wine bottle and anointed her brother in the shoulders. Left first, then right. “I shall award you the title: High Archbishop Shadow Robotnik the First, Ruler of the Church of All Things Snuggable.”

“Say that with anyone else around and I'll cut your hair short.” The threat lacked all and any bite. They both knew it.

(Yes. Excellent. He glazed over his last name. She was winning the game, Shadow! You just didn't realize you were in it!) A petite hand reached to her chest and she acted like she had been accosted. “Now, now, your Holiness. This is a grand title with supreme responsibility. We all know the Church had the real power!”

“Did you already sneak a few ounces of the wine without me noticing?”

No, but she wanted – needed – to feel and act and do silly. Like the old days.

C’mon, Shadow. C’monnnnn…!!!

A sigh. A hand that brushed back the quills on the left side. A glance away at the flowers before they met hers. “Well, your Majesty. What did you have in mind?”

[x]

There was nothing but ‘shake-shake-shake’ – or whatever the sound effect of a wine bottle being spun within hands as fast as possible could be written/thought as. Maria was vibrating the glass container in the vertical and horizontal and all other planes of existence. One could see the sheer amount of air bubbles and froth that had been agitated inside.

White gloves of a hedgehog grabbed the ends of a clear trash bag and tied them ever tighter. There was the sound of crumbled plastic as hands slipped back underneath the temporary covering. “I don’t know why I am even bothering,” her brother sighed. “My backside is completely exposed.” No longer with the hologram device, those wings returned with dominance to visions.

As for Maria, she had a spare set of Grandpa’s spectacles on her face, covering her eyes. Her own plastic covering extended down towards cut out bags wrapped around her feet with string. With rosy cheeks, she gave the bottle one last hard shake before she took the few steps towards her brother. “You ready?”

“No.”

Maria stuck her tongue out. “Doesn’t your body absorb anything foreign and eliminate it?”

Shadow was being very emotive this evening. “I doubt my body considers fermented sugars as something ‘invasive.’ If it did, I wouldn’t be able to even be touched.”

The corked top hovered ever closer to her sibling. “Ok. True enough. That’s why I decided to do this stupid thing in the bathroom.”

“At least you admit it’s stupid.”

“Shadow!”

There was a glimmer in the eye even though his tone maintained seriousness. “Professor is going to kill you for this.” His thumb reached out towards the cork, but gave no tugs.

Maria shook the tip of the bottle ever so slightly, egging on her brother as to what she wanted.

“I am going to blame you,” he warned, “when we get caught. Not if.”

Another invitational shake.

A grumble. A pinch.

Then: POP!

[x]

The molecules suspended in the air; the lights of the bathroom were already set to their highest setting. Each minute and infinitely small bubble of wine sparkled like an endless array of jeweled galaxies. If she ignored the white, penny tiled ceiling, Maria could believe she was on the Earth, looking up at the night’s sky. Her neck arced higher as the mist rose and rose until it reached its apex…

“WAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!” a girl’s voice peeled into the air as the bottle in her hand sprayed the wine and foam basically anywhere she could aim.

The spray went on Shadow.

On Shadow’s wings.

On Shadow’s face.

On Shadow’s socks.

On Shadow’s legs.

And, for equality, on her hands and arms as the foam took over.

“VICTORY IS OURS!!!!!” With the mist falling back to the floor of the bathroom, she took the chance to stick her tongue out and taste- “KA’MNOGH, SHAHDOWH!”

No hesitation; smile genuine on a hedgehog’s features. Her brother’s own little tongue wedged out of his mouth, like a photo of a cat. That was the Ultimate Cutiepie in the flesh!

The perception of the liquid finally reached her taste buds. “Oh, YUCK! Adults drink this?” Cyan eyes squeezed shut as Maria gagged.

(And her brother returned to fits of laughter.)

The lace of her dress was dyed maroon. It was ruined, more than likely, unless she wanted her Celestine dress to become something more tied to Shadow’s color theme. No way to get pretty pictures now.

Didn’t matter. She had never felt so alive!

[x]

The best thing about having a grandpa that was a master in not just bioengineering, but also robotics, was the mindless drones whose whole purpose was to clean. The not best thing about having a grandpa work for a military department was that her brother was paranoid and didn’t want the constructs around him when his wings were exposed.

Ergo, a red gaze was burning a hole onto the washcloth and cleaning supplies.

“Leave them alone!” Maria yelled as she hopped around in her pajamas. Hair still wrapped in a towel, she was squeaky clean whereas Shadow still had streaks of sticky stuff that was invisible against his black fur. “Take a bath. Let Grandpa yell at us a little. He won’t get it.”

“I don’t want Professor to be disappointed.”

“I thought you said you were gonna blame me?”

He cared so much. He had been hurt, but… he still cared.

Another thing she added on her Things To Address and Fix list.

[x]

Grandpa had instructed the two of them to go to the lab, but not a peep about afterwards. Now, Maria understood risk assessment. Rather, she looked down at Shadow, who was sitting beside her, glancing at all of the books on the shelves in wonder. His fur was still rather damp. “Can you do that teleport thing to stick us and the flowers in my room?” she asked with a shamefaced grin and hands slapped together in a begged motion. “I don’t think we should leave them in the lab, and sleeping on metal tiles doesn’t sound particularly endearing.”

Her brother relented. “… Fine. It’s a small enough of a jump.”

She made sure to write a note first.

[x]

0417Z.

Maria yawned and was positive her face was nothing but half-lidded eyes. Her joints and muscles all ached, but it was the good kind. Or, at least, it was until tomorrow or the day after, when her disease would rear its ugly head again. Tonight, she had gone too overboard, sure, but with the amount of sheer JOY she held… No way she was going to celebrate lying down! Shadow and her needed that. It was more than just money, the girl reflected in the dark room with a singular night light, but the truth that everything from here on out was going to be…

New. Her brother and her had crossed into the Unknown. From here on out, she was trampling on uncharted ground.

Ground… Wet blonde hair swayed as she turned towards the pictures of vegetation on her walls. When she had awakened up the first time, those pictures had haunted her. Maria had thought she had gone insane, cursed to live and relive her, her brother’s innocence, and her Grandpa’s deaths over and over again – those photos taunting her as to what had been the cost of trying to heal her back towards the planet. But then she learned she could move and that there were no words from the sky and she had dared to hope that this was all real.

Painfully, wonderfully real.

Shadow was curled up beside her, smelling of fresh lavenders and a hint of mint from the soap bar she had pulled from storage (because he was so gluey she required an extra one). His eyes were already shut and the white tuft on his chest rose and lowered in delicate movements. The Inhibitor Rings gave off their normal warm heat, which was comfortable to lie next to as long as she avoided direct skin-to-metal contact. His large appendages hung off the back end of her bed, already hidden underneath her hoard of blankets.

After camping out on glorified sleeping bags, the softness of a mattress was too much to ignore even for him! Hah!

The young female turned in place to sneak closer to her brother. Oh, gosh, was she ever so tired…

[x]

A door slid opened.

The girl hadn’t even gotten to enter REM cycle, or maybe she had to use the bathroom from the amount of water that she drunk to wash away the taste of the wine? No – she didn’t need to pee… Why did she wake up if she thought for sure that she was going to be dead to the world until basically one in the ‘afternoon?’

Steps paced arduously slow on the metal floor and then eventual carpets. All was still covered in papers from her and Shadow’s plan; the lilies stacked towards the closed-up window (so they could get sunlight a little later than normal) something that made the feet pause.

Brain-sleep-fog didn’t let her fully awaken, but whatever was sneaking in had to be nothing wrong and no one who wasn’t allowed. Her brother would’ve been up and ready to defend her if it was…

She turned to snuggle closer to the hedgehog.

So… comfortable…

Her body was… shifted, but not… by much. Another comforting hand… went to her head and… brushed back – wasn’t Shadow… Too small to be…

“My dear…”

Oh… it was Grandpa…

Made… sense…

“You’re here…”

No discipline for… his lab’s bathroom…? Awesome…

“I love you.”

A grunt. “-…u, too…” And then Maria Robotnik slipped back into dreams of prancing through grass with Grandpa in the middle and Shadow to his right.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 20

[×]

There was realization he was dreaming about her. It was all mushed together, more feelings than clarity, of a deep, driving need to save her; of an endless well of love and devotion; of a sense of grace that she had been just a normal girl fast asleep in her room. Her hand had squeezed back. She had spoken to him. It was something she did all the time, but this most recent one echoed over and over, as if it was something more profound to him.

I'll do anything for you. That's true, a man thought, but why does it sound so… desperate?

But that internal voice was sated of pictures – memories – knowledge – that there would be a morning the next day, one where she would be yawning, breathing, and waking.

[Why couldn't he think of the name ‘Maria’ aloud in his own mind space?]

[x]

The warmth of his dream shifted.

A biting wind arose.

He was bounded and gagged.

[x]

Experimentation, outside drawing pints of blood and using that as a medium, was not allowed on the Ultimate Lifeform. Designed to use Chaos Energy, the artificial Mobian-hybrid was only taught things in a schoolhouse environment; his Chaos Snap – his short-range teleportation – was discovered accidentally after a sensitive nose met pepper from her breakfast. The brain, made to have high analysis and tactician-based logic, had spent time playing board games and ignoring homework. There were smiles, laughter, and hugs – especially for her. Up in the vastness of space, in the distance between the Earth and its Moon, the creation meant for destruction only understood life. Pondered his purpose, even.

The only times he brought down the inkling of what he was capable of were during the ARK’s accidents: a robot; an army of AIs. Only speed and blows – nothing else. The head of the Project taught nothing else. Why would he? Everything was safe high above amidst the stars…

“It hurts-!!”

The Project struggled underneath the restraints G.U.N. specifically created for his unknown strength. Having had no fighting mindset, the Mobian could only flee if rage could tap into power. Even then, the military had been warned by the original specifications of their funded chimera: despite having zero official skills in combat; despite having no idea how to even throw a singular ball of energy; despite being in a state of such deep depression and shock, he could theoretically still collect himself to resist the metal bindings in the first place.

Ebony and red quills kept in movement; the back arched tightly like a wound-up spring. “Please…! Stop this-!!”

The Project cried out again as a powerful hallucinogenic was stabbed into his form – the contents pushed into the spinal cord area. They only managed to deplete 2/3rds of the matter before the self-regeneration of the hybrid took over and the large needle tip was forced out. The blood, blackened by his Chaos organ to denote how much Energy each cell carried, stained the thin metal shaft in mockery. The administrators jumped back at that – it was enough chemical to kill a human, but the specimen continued to function. The drugs didn't take effect. Pencils scribbled that result without passion. Those who would have had empathy had been vetoed out from this assignment.

“Maria…! Professor…!”

The Project flailed as a scalpel rose to limbs. A cold voice hovered in the white, padded room devoid of sensory objects, save for the humans and one singular Mobian. “PSUL2.018-BD. Training begins today. Your pain tolerance mentally amounts to far less than originally created with. We will increase that threshold. No point in getting you to assimilate warfare into your mind without your physical boundaries getting pushed.”

“What are you doi-!!!?!”

The Project screamed and lost coherence. There was man with a bald head and mustache, stuffed in the corner and out of sight, whom couldn't hear him – the elder was drowning in misery and his own world had long since collapsed.

Log 1:

Dr. Robotnik is not cooperative. Tests will begin without him for the immediate time frame.

The Project is capable of massive amounts of self healing. Pain tolerance testing will continue for the foreseeable future with increased ante as the weeks progress.

The janitor arrived every evening at 6:00 P.M. to clean up or replace what couldn't. Human hands went around with disposable cotton rags, ensuring to avoid the creature in the middle of the room. The Project couldn't sleep and always saw the individual dressed in a dark orange; of eyes filled with a beg to let him free, even if only mentally. The smell of bleach was strong as the janitor exited quickly and the red gaze turned to the other – but nevertheless the man in the corner did not respond.

Log 118:

Dr. Robotnik is still not cooperative. Tests nearing the end of phase one.

The Project is, without a doubt, a pinnacle in physical advancement. Even incisions into the organ that produces Chaos Energy will not stop the creature, although that recovers the longest and brings the highest response levels in both mobility and vocal actions.

The specimen took to Chaos Emeralds like children to sweets. It pulsed warmth and enhanced his base healing powers to a degree that even the humans within the room pulled away in fear at what they were witnessing to what they were doing. The gemstone would gleam a deep Viridian, and they believed he was trying to do something – perhaps even escape – but didn't know how. Eventually, the Mobian would tire himself out and the stone would falter from fingers and collapse upon the floor with an unsettled sound that echoed the chamber.

By now the Project wasn’t speaking.

Faceted edges reflected the face of a Mobian before it turned and reached the man in the corner. Spectacles issued no expression, but something did form in the edges of a mind: someone important needed the scientist’s help. The plea didn't work – the man too far gone.

Log 237:

Dr. Robotnik is still not cooperative. Tests are midway through firearms lessons and accuracy. It picks up proficiency in startling succession.

Threatening Robotnik’s life yields results, but, at some point, the Project will need to be fixed of certain qualities from its creator. We are starting to believe its grief, depression, and lack of self preservation are growing. The specimen will be too unstable to begin Chaos Energy exploration. A memory wipe would ensure the stepping stones for the required weapon of mass destruction.

They were torturing his creation.

He only recognized it too late.

There was nothing in those blood-colored eyes: no fight. No will. No hope.

Just existence.

And orders to obey.

Log 256:

Dr. Robotnik has responded and agreed to train the Project in Chaos Energy. The brain operation will be segregated and monitored closely.

He gave back the arduous soul a purpose – a reason to live – to hold onto.

The love and care she held for the Mobian.

Her death on repeat.

Revenge.

Her dying wish.

Don’t let them know just yet your objective – because to fight back in the future meant to learn all the ways his creation could be that avatar of destruction today. To harness Chaos into tangible objects that could impale and crack and melt and remove. The Emeralds for the Eclipse Cannon were going to be guarded and had to be extracted via force – why bother save her gift for living a world against them when she wasn't around anymore? They could have the charred remains of a destroyed planet and starve to death for all the scientist [had not] cared.

The humans believed the professor had destroyed all memories of her tomb floating in the heavens. They were wrong. The only thing he truly did remove was what they had done at first: pain testing and threshold improvement. The results would remain, embedded into nerves and newly created instinct, but his creation would be reprieved of that terror itself. Rather, the scientist had turned one certain evening aboard the ARK into an accelerant that would start an inferno to consume everything.

When they found out, he-

[x]

There was another Professor Gerald Robotnik in this room. Not tied up. Not seized.

He looked at his hands that could now move.

At the boy.

At what he just witnessed-

Strides walked past the group of humans who were ignoring the clone of the head of Project: SHADOW, as if he didn't exist. Perhaps he didn't. Perhaps he was already lost and dead. Perhaps this was all futile. Or maybe not? He had fallen asleep, right? In Maria's room? Having only seen the topmost quill of a hedgehog underneath fabric? Of two children together unharmed? Of the scent of lavender and mint?

The humans faded away. All save one.

The punch against the other Gerald vibrated so hard the world shattered into porcelain that fell into the Void. He was given the satisfaction that he had broke his doppelganger’s face in. It sprayed out crimson from the chest, which wasn't where he attacked the specter, but this was a nightmare. They never made sense.

The words slipped out, angry and horrified, nevertheless. “You leave my son ALONE, you BASTARD!!!

[x]

When he woke up, he was back in his granddaughter’s room. Asleep. He had collapsed with and around her – despite realizing he was ill and needed help, he couldn't stop himself from entering to see – and… he remembered. [Remembered? That wasn't him. That never happened! These memories are… incorrect!] It was like puss had consumed him; body wanted to heave everything out of him, but Gerald already did that so many times prior he had run out of bile. In fact, his body was shaking due to the lack of nutrition-

“Professor-”

No. Please not now. I'm not safe- My broken child. My judgment against humanity- NO! HE'S NOT THAT!! YOU RAVING, INCOMPREHENSIBLE SACK OF FLESH-!!

“-Maria brought back sunny side up eggs, orange juice, oatmeal, and coffee for you. The cook specialty made them since it's supposed to be lunch-”

Shadow was cut off as human hands – not the normal ones of his precious [alive! Well! Undead!] Maria’s – cupped tanned cheeks. He slowly rose to meet the boy’s gaze with his own, as if he was seeing the youth for the very first time.

Why am I holding you like this? I mean, it's not that I don't want to, but- Look at his form – it’s changed. The sheer amount of Chaos Energy is staggering. I need to let you go right now-! If I request you to eviscerate all of G.U.N. to save her, you would do it. Wouldn't you, my-? GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!

Worry. Caution. Apprehension. “Professor…?”

Gerald felt his shoulders slump as he fought with himself. [A sense of gratitude of seeing his child with resolve. He did what he could to recover Shadow from that fall into the brink.] [The disgust that there was that voice screaming and clawing at Gerald’s own throat to remove all inhibitions of morality and dive headfirst into the deletion of his foes.] [The pierced knowledge that it wasn't what any sane man would do. He was no- No monster!! So why was he suddenly possessed by one!?] He hid his delirium to the maximum extent he could. “Take me to Dr. Eruba,” was all he could croak as his mouth felt like it had ingested glass.

The hedgehog – his good son – moved his gaze around as to avoid that awkwardness that bloomed. “Is something the matter?”

“It’s… important,” Gerald dry-heaved.

Memories of his last panic attack must be running through the boy. His child went to move as if to reach towards the holographic device-

Human hands went from his son’s face to around his body. Warm. Tight. Encouraging. “My sword.”

The reaction was immediate. Shadow froze at that. Eyes widened in confusion – irises that were still fragmented and lifeless; a lie of what rested within. [They weren't like that before.] It was as if the boy had seen a haunt – but something else ticked. His mouth opened and closed – a waterless fish gaped. “I… Me… What did you… just…?”

BAM! A door slid open and in perfect timing, she waltzed inside carrying food. “I'm not waiting anymore, Grandpa. It's 3 P.M.! I’ve heated it up four times already.” Her face snorted as she saw the two men in her life bent over and hugging-

Only two seconds before she got really, really still.

“What are you doing?” the air hissed.

His mentality changed in response to that darkened emotion from his granddaughter’s throat. It was the result from shock. That was HATRED on a scale he's never – had indeed – seen. Impossible. His dear shouldn't know that- This was Gerald’s opportunity; he must ignore Maria- Ignore?!! How could he possibly-?! “NOW, Shadow,” Gerald stressed with all urgency.  He was- at his- limit. “She's safe in her direct office. Do it now! Please!!”

The boy obeyed.

[x]

Consumed by the stench of isopropyl alcohol, Gerald took no time to reach towards sedatives in the cabinet third from the left. They were his granddaughter’s – the thin needle designed to not cause any additional discomfort. He was about to stab it right into his arm when his ebony kid reacted and prevented him. The scientist knew that without context, what Shadow was seeing was clearly unsettling, but there was no time to explain-!!!

There was a voice screaming in the background. “Holy SHIT, where the fuck did you come from!?” Medical tools fell from someone else’s grip and cascaded onto the tiles floor; the romantic comedy books followed along as well.

“SEDATE ME!”

Dr. Eruba, to her credit, did not hesitate after that. She pushed Shadow off towards the side; the sleek red trim of the Air Shoes scratched against the solid floor. His beautiful, damaged child hadn’t expected that guttural reaction, or perhaps didn't want to hurt either individual, and as such, was pushed back and away.

The scientist could feel that wrongness tear out resistance. Could feel it enter his mouth. Rancid. Sickening. Decayed heat. An infinite anger. He was a finger holding back a five-foot leak on a submersible at the cusp of implosion. “GO BACK TO MARIA-!” he commanded.

-and extirpate everything of those sinners just floors below us!

Gerald was happy the chemicals were too quick to say those words.

[x]

The beep-beep-beep remained steady before it increased. Too high above normal, but too low to reach a state of alert, the heart monitor did what it was designed to do.

The medical personnel- -recalled what happened: the third eye leaking onto the floor beneath her; the latest batch of the next cure attempt broken by her left hand. The glass beakers she had assisted him in creating were staining and mixing with her and Shadow’s genetic material- -walked closer to Gerald with a face filled with nothing but worry. “I gave you something to deal with your panic attack that wouldn't mess with the tranq that much-”

The head of Project: SHADOW cut her off. “I've turned into something basically schizophrenic.”

She stopped. One could tell her blood was going cold and drained from her face in shock.

“I need whatever you have.”

The physician swallowed. “I got… chlorpromazine.”

“Give it.”

Eyes shut as her frustration and worry exhaled from her nose. “You’re old, Dr. Robotnik. If this is dementia based-”

He shook his head. “It’s not a memory problem.”

[-uld’t lose control of HIS OWN BODY like this-!!!]

The dark-skinned woman halted her argument, then turned around and ran towards a large refrigerator that housed the malady of the miracles that the ARK created. The no longer sealed door wafted the chill in visible vapors, and each nipped at the heels of her lab coat. They had destroyed all those drugs, too, because both Eruba and Guzman were associated with Project: SHADOW. What was the point of creating things to save humanity if she was no longer- Ah… But she isn't dead. My Maria! Breathing! Seeing! Living!!

He didn't resist – or even noticed – the pricked pain because his granddaughter dominated his mind.

He had come back thru time and space.

How?

[x]

“By telling me… Legally, I have to put this in your records, Doctor.”

Gerald was hunched over himself. Hands on his face, as if to avoid the world. The IV was still attached into his vein.

She took his silence in as much as a stride she could. He had chosen her well. “We have enough stocked here for regulated usage, as well as access to its more dangerous, powerful cousin still in trial stages a few floors nearby: haloperidol.” A pencil that was to mark his records remained silent and still – abandoned towards the side. “Continued use will turn you fat and sleepy. And shaky.”

He sat there. Dared to think about…

The recording he stole replayed once again. His precious granddaughter, lying chest first with her back red and dripping. Sean Casey’s impassively cold face as hands dragged her body away and wiped the console’s screen clean with a glove. The coordinates of the escape pod’s drop point easy and plain enough to read for recovery.

She never made it to Earth-

A shiver racked his body, but the anger, the rage; that need for destruction… It was still there, but faint. Distant. A scab that one couldn't ignore but the injury was safely sealed away from further exposure, nevertheless.

“How often?”

“Between 30 to 48 hours is what Dr. Guzman wrote in her thesis; about an hour to take effect.” Conflict rung. “I can get you a bottle of the pill form, but it'll take a few days to do so without… someone else noticing.”

Who? Shadow? Maria? G.U.N.? “That's fine. I'll swing by every thirty hours.” He could make an excuse…

The silence between the two restarted.

What was he going to say when he went back to his granddaughter’s room?

[x]

There was a closet. About four feet wide and six tall, it was hidden in the back of a young girl’s bedroom. Everything that had once been located on mattress was moved – the very tip of one corner of a cotton sheet stuck out of the bottom lip of the door. It was not much of an educated guess to figure out where his… granddaughter and his... son had placed themselves. Based on personality alone, it was more than likely Maria that was the source. Shadow wouldn't have said no.

He didn't turn the knob. Instead, Gerald waited.

Maybe an hour?

The air flickered before him – Chaos Snap, he recalled. Innate to his child, but he didn't have such precision during this time on the ARK – as white and cyan lines settled into the shape of a hedgehog with wings. Alizarin Crimson searched the aged lines of the scientist’s face, and Gerald understood that he was being assessed in a clinical, logical method. The first word exposed was a gradient of hesitation into disbelief. “… Professor.”

He swallowed to gain something in his throat that could allow speech. “Shadow.” He should cut to the chase. Well, some of it. “I want to apologize for anything I said or acted or implied with my body language earlier today. I…”

Those gemstones kept that look on Gerald.

“… This old man is currently taking some medicine so it won't happen again.” There. He didn't want to speak the ugly words aloud – because it WAS insane and ridiculous. Those thoughts – those memories – weren't real. And even if he dared to think that they… actually were, every single one was about events that didn't exist yet because…

Because…

A deep, pained voice. “I see…”

He was holding something back-

[x]

It was as if he was doused in the waters of the arctic.

Time and space. A different form upon awakening. Extreme control and precision of Chaos Energy. The fear Maria held to certain individuals of G.U.N.. Removal of the Gizoid from a Lifeform that was never taught how to fight at this point. Her awareness of the Artificial Chaos. Four golden rings…

The ways they acted in a tight, unbreakable bond from the start…

Like they've seen this all before…

[x]

An ebony hedgehog flinched when the scientist took his hand, but didn't pull away. At that, Gerald felt his heart sink deep into a chasm: the scientist had not condemned his son. But he had at the same time.

And Shadow… remembered, too.

He wondered what he looked like, standing here before him after almost total mental collapse- No. Use the proper word as it was meant to be: relapse. Standing here as-

As-

A ghoul.

… This was his son. The one behind the glass. The one that knew about being tortured. The one that had given up a life he deserved until utterly altered. The one that was mentally melded to destroy the planet in Maria's name as a twisted sense of care-

“Kill me after I cure her.”

Panic took wing and descended into the pit of mortal terrors. The white gloved hand tightened around Gerald’s wrist to the point it bruised immediately. Aware whom was sleeping a few feet away in the closet, Chaos rippled the environment and the human was suddenly in the main lab with colors spiraling in recovery. The boy was aware of the yelling that was coming next, it seemed – a mind no longer innocent and optimistic.

“Don’t-!”

“I deserve it. For what I did-”

“NO!!!” Shadow panted and volume erupted. “I WON'T LET YOU DIE!!!”

He didn't understand. Gerald had-

He didn't-

He would’ve-

He’d never seen the boy with such… emotion. The hand not holding Gerald down waved towards the side in anger. “Don't you dare think this world is better with you gone.”

“But look at what I’ve done: I abandoned you. I changed you. I told you to-”

“If wanting to destroy a planet is worthy of death, then I merit worse for what I’ve done to get here, Professor.” Red glowed under the heat of truth and passion and secrecy. There was a grunt as Shadow realized he had hurt his creator by accident – and it doused all that fire. The topic was changed and dropped with a promise of not being dared to return. “Maria… is in denial. ‘It was a trick of the light.’ ‘Grandpa’s just stressed.’ ‘There’s no way he could have remembered.’ Why?” came misery. “Why did you have to?” The boy begun to pace. Debated. Collected everything back under control. “So, what do you want to do?”

The question was an anvil.

Tell her?

Not tell her?

The option – the descision – the burden – was his.

“To recover my granddaughter. To take you two back to Earth and leave this cursed place.” It was not an answer to the specific question, but more like a plea. To his sanity? To this new and strange and very-much-so-real part of him? “By any-” No. Wait. He knew what ‘any means necessary’ truly meant, now. “By the right way. The way Maria would have wanted.”

“Does want,” the boy stressed. “She’s still here.” There was a pointed look. “Don’t let her down.”

It was as if Shadow had spoken to the monster inside.

Directly.

On a personal level.

Chapter Text

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.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 22

[×]

Work throughout the beginnings of the fall calendar consisted of genome tests for possible similar markers between Maria and Shadow. Medical facilities, gauze, and the smell of alcohol reigned over Robotnik’s nostrils, but his biological department seemed, as always, immune. The initial trials were all the required things: data. Figures were the most important stuff to collect, for while the boy was visually the same being in the hedgehog aspect, the truth was different. Those wings were just a hint – a memory of his fragile child becoming dominated by their genetics underneath a red, jagged sky; yet another creature that abused him – of the deviations from Gerald’s original design.

In the center of the room, a padded seating area for a short stature ‘Mobian’ existed – wide eyed questions on Guzman and even Eruba’s face, as only Tower had been in close enough range to talk recently – that Shadow did not hesitate to place himself on.

The Ultimate Lifeform was aware of his primary purpose.

Wanted to help.

There was a side eye the boy gave when the dark-skinned physician offered a lollipop for being such ‘a well-mannered and behaved good kid.’ Gerald could tell that Shadow did not want to play along – and the scientist realized that even though the two had seen each other, they must not have communicated much. Yet, those white fingers took the sucker and popped it into his mouth at Dr. Eruba’s stary-eyed expression. Everyone heard the sigh of submission. “Thank you.”

The woman covered her face with her hands. “You’re just… so cute~!”

Gerald observed Guzman and Tower pause and lifted eyes to their boss; their clipboards of paper getting taller each passing day; all the previous datum on Shadow collected in carefully guarded methods. ‘Cute?’ mouthed one female to her male counterpart, getting a shrug as a response.

Eruba wasn’t high enough on the hierarchy to normally have known just how… unusual the boy was. She was originally hired for her knowledge on medicine with a specialization in NIDS, which made her a valuable asset nevertheless for Maria. Life certainly tied her in close – whatever Shadow accomplished when he first ran in here to help Gerald meant she was now an extra set of hands. Might as well use what he could for his granddaughter. However, that didn't mean she had to treat the hedgehog like a baby, but it was distinctly… unique. “Alrighty, why don't you let me know your name? And don't worry about this cloth! It'll feel cool to the touch – just a little thing to make sure your arm is squeaky clean.”

The boy kept his facial expression as still as ever before he started his greeting. “I am Shadow the Ultimate Lifeform, Doctor.”

A normal human might have crackled at that. Imagine: a deep voice was less threatening when there was a distinct shade of candy off towards the side of a mouth. Eruba, trying to keep the mood of the room light, and assuming Shadow was nervous or fearful, continued. “Oo~ The Ultimate Lifeform will not be scared of my wittle needle to get something to help Ma~ri~a, would he?”

Shadow moved in the seat. He was apparent in discomfort and had removed the sweet to maintain vocal clarity. The game was over. “Ma’am. I do not intend to come off as rude, but I am more advanced than I appear.”

A medical woman blinked. “Oh.”

Gerald’s son returned Eruba’s stare.

“Ah! I'm sorry! I had no idea you had a teen(?) mind inside! I've only really seen you drag Dr. Robotnik twice, and once with your… warping ability. That's all.” A grimace. “Then I don't have to lie: the needle is going to be crazily sharp and thick, but it'll be quick.”

“Noted,” was all Shadow uttered as he pulled his fur covered arm before her.

The time limit to pierce into his form, to extract a true sample, was incredibly small. The advantage of a trained professional doing the task was not lost on the head scientist. Even then, the skin and muscle would sew itself back together in flawless faultlessness, leaving nothing but hurt memories. However, when said professional attempted, the needle hadn't gone through. The ebony skin refused it. Confused, Eruba tried a different angle. Then another. Eventually, she pulled back and gave the tip of the syringe a second glance.

It had dulled.

Much to Gerald’s confusion.

The boy brought up his hand when the woman came back with another needle. “Give it to me. I know where to jab it at.”

“Umm, but-”

The movement was too quick to stop her retreat as the hedgehog claimed his prize. The light glared off the glass tubing as Shadow rose the syringe high above him; muscles taunted in each centimeter of vertical height-

SLAM!

The speed and fury of which the needle was brought upon his other arm, right in the location where he had been rubbed with a sterilizer, made everyone flinch, including Gerald. “This winged shape is immune to bullets,” the boy casually added, as if that was nothing insane or ridiculous. “Nothing can break through without an even greater force.”

No one could say anything.

The Ultimate Lifeform, the onlookers, however, thought in awe. Even Gerald.

Shadow pulled the plunger and ensured to stay perfectly still as black fluid came out; a viscous liquid that sparked gold and red – the states of Chaos energy the boy produced, Gerald recognized- -that his child really was a glaive of pure, raw power.

Both the scientist and his creation ignored the curse the physician gasped in the background.

[x]

The metaphorical space between Shadow and Gerald was as large as it had ever been. He didn’t know how to reach out to the boy anymore – a hand of comfort that would warp into disgusting determination? An exchange of soft words that would suddenly turn into terms of destruction? And then, there was the realization that Robotnik shouldn’t reach out, because if he had, it would take the lance he had lodged in his son’s heart and drive it deeper and deeper. A weapon like that had no exit point, just an entry wound. It was not the sort of incision that Shadow could heal up and move on from.

But they still worked together physically next to one another. Red eyes would try to avoid Gerald’s own – because the boy knew direct contact sent those thoughts into the forefront. Loud. Ringing. Even despite the medication. That was just how powerful that atrocious side of him was. And why wouldn’t it be? It was him, after Maria’s death – one that would come back if he didn’t cure her, if G.U.N. were allowed to capture their weapon; if they realized the deal he made with them.

“Professor. We’re alone.”

The coldness of the medical room, the bright fixtures on the ceiling, and the sterile smells reminded the scientist of that very well. “How could you-?” He inhaled and tried again. “Why did you lie to Maria?” Gerald wasn’t even aware that Shadow had the potential to lie to his granddaughter. Avoid and deflect, certainly, but…

It seemed to be something that the boy did not enjoy thinking about, but was willing to talk. His fingers were gripped into fists, but hinted possible hostility was hidden if it had even existed at all. Their relationship was… now too complex. “You were about to tell her.”

“She hates liars. I had no other opt-”

The red in his quills caught illumination as he turned his head in disagreement. “Do you want to transform her nightmares into waking hours?”

Of course not.

Shadow saw his physical response – the boy’s ability to distinguish what that side of Gerald thought was… unnerving. “Then don’t let her know for now. I need to… tell her about myself first. I have moved on.” A steeled eye gaze that was not a glare, but not one of pity. It was an understanding. “You never got the chance.”

Tell about himself? Moved ON?

Gerald rattled his mind. Searched those memories. He did not have to look far. “So… you… did it… With the Cannon.”

“No.” Shadow tsked. “I did not.”

Relief invaded that was half-hearted. “Good,” the scientist forced out. ‘Good?’ How in any way is that ‘good?’ Humanity must- -NOT be judged by things that had not yet passed [nor WILL], damn it! “That’s… I’m glad… that you…”

Gerald despised the fact he couldn’t finish.

So, when his son responded, it came out of left field. “To be honest and to be something relatable: I tried twice. It was manipulation from someone else, but that makes no difference.”

… TWICE?

“Then, once more afterwards that one can argue I was successful with, although the world – and the others…” A shift in position. “It was already all over.” The emotion in voice remained flat, but the expression was one of loss only just short of the face Shadow had when he was told of the official death of Maria in an underground lab. The boy’s grip transferred onto those golden cuffs, and they groaned and creaked in the strain. He remained stilled and silent as his own horrors flashed in his mind. “Until I tell her of the first attempt, you'll say nothing. She wouldn't handle it.” The Inhibitors continued to cry. “She needs to see you getting better. Need to know you won't relapse screaming about death. Has to be aware that you had been there all along and nothing has changed and you still care for her all the same…”

It was him.

He's the reason.

The reason they're all back in this time and place, isn't it?

How?

When?

What did you do, Shadow?

“I know a lot about medicine, Professor. You fashioned me that way.” Eyes shut; a voice forcing itself in the knowledge of prevention. Gerald could TASTE the trauma; the boy didn't want to talk about this – he wanted to keep this locked up for eternity. Yet, the hedgehog was aware of how to address the insanity of grief. “What you're taking I can't allow for more than seven months. You got until then to try to learn how to control yourself – become the grandfather she knew again, or at least close enough. I know I make things worse, but-”

‘Make things worse.’

His son saw himself a burden.

Knew his own creator saw him as a trigger of madness.

If left alone-!

Gerald gripped onto the boy and pulled those gloves off the golden bands around wrists. The scientist allowed himself to touch the body of a hedgehog; dared to embrace him; felt quills rise and then fall in internal conflict. “Shadow. Shadow. Look at me.” His mind a whirlwind: he wanted to say so many things. Do others. To hurt – to save. “This isn't your fault. I'm the one who broke you.” He wanted this sorrow gone from his child. “I don't care if you claim you destroyed the world-” In fact, that knowledge made him pleased because his flawless sword had done it, in the end. “-because I will never blame you-” He wouldn't. How could he? This was his son. He was created to be prefect. He obliterated the planet and then wielded time in his hands to save his granddaughter. How was that anything OTHER than perfect? [Oh, Gerald knew he was senseless right now…] “-for being in existence. Understand?” He brushed back on black fur. “You didn't kill Maria. You're here to save her. You've done well. I'm so proud.” Couldn't Shadow see that the scientist-?

“… Professor. You should let go. This isn't good for you. The stronger medicine will only last three months, at best, if it doesn't straight out destroy you, and I can't-”

Had he ever said it?

He hadn’t. The loss of Maria was too great, and he was not raised by his abusive mother to issue those words. How often did Gerald himself want them? How much did he tell them to his other children? Wasn’t that part of the reason why it pained him so much that his Earthbound family had been scattered to the winds? Why he tried so hard to bring them back together and had only run into utter defeat and despair ?

Only… Shadow had saved them both. All.

And Gerald never said anything. Not in these past months.

He would fix that. “I love you,” he murmured.

Stillness.

A deep, silent one.

It eventually broke.

“Don't lie to me,” hissed out a response. Disbelief. Unacceptance. “You said so yourself. As of right now, I am just a ‘sword.’”

Did his child believe that Gerald did not care for him? That ONLY Maria mattered? That his words meant nothing? He needed to correct that. “Oh, Shadow. Did you think I abandoned you after your quest? Of course not. Only you were allowed to be spared: death wouldn't have arrived.” He knew that any injury the boy would receive in the demise of the planet would regenerate – no matter how much or how little – especially with the legendary jewels at his side. G.U.N. had proved how much suffering his body could handle with them, didn't they? “The Chaos Emeralds would have been in your grasp after the Cannon was to fire. They’d be there for your form to take in and absorb – I theorized you might have not even felt anything with that much Energy. You might have been numbed to just bliss, instead, in fact.” He noted how small those red irises were, shivering like a leaf in a harsh, early winter storm. The scientist brought their eyes to match, aware that Shadow was incapable of looking away. “The stars would've been open. I wanted to give you the chance to leave this place and do whatever it is you wanted in the cosmos. You would've survived and thrived as Maria's soul would exist eternally through you.”

[This was wrong! Sick! It didn't matter if that side of him thought it was the truth! He had to stop talking!! Shadow wasn’t capable of turning away from this!! Not after- Not after using the word ‘LOVE’ for the first time from Gerald’s mouth!! He KNEW that would encapsulate the child’s will!! WHY COULDN'T HE STOP!?]

Shadow tried to deny it. He opened his mouth to counter-

“I love you.”

A struggle of resistance, of a rebuttal, died.

He brought his voice right besides his child’s hearing source. Filled it with all the honesty and warmth he could muster. It was sickened sweet honey. “I love you, my prefect, precious son.”

That's when Robotnik knew he had him.

Gerald continued those soft whispers: of love, affection, adoration, and being proud. It was like an ichor – an ooze that infiltrated the open wounds and filled them. His damaged child had to have those broken seams sewn closed; to no longer flinch when spoken to; to feel joy again. He could feel the strength in those carbon limbs flee like sunsets under storm-filled skies – Shadow accomplished nothing that indicated the boy wanted this moment to end. Rather, those ears twitched at every word; hung from every breath.

He drove that lance so deep into one’s heart.

His child remained in his arms.

[x]

Medical supplies were thrown with enough strength they left dents in the metal walls. Rage filled crimson eyes as their fiery inferno attempted to consume the man before him. “YOU REPROGRAMMED ME!!”

“S-Shadow, what are-?”

“YESTERDAY! You-!! YOU-!!” There was another movement of his hands, and a Chaos Spear cursed with black ink embedded itself into a steel tabletop. The angle indicated the inanimate object was the target all along. Just a method to indicate deep anger. Nevertheless, the afterimage remained clear and bright. “You entered my mind and-!!”

Gerald stood and controlled his voice. He would NOT yell nor be in fear! He would NOT! That was just a reaction of someone hurt and whom felt deceived and- -it also didn't make sense!!! He had accomplished no such thing! “I hadn't done anything of that sort the day prior! I only- I only said the things you deserved to have heard!”

That fury was still there in response.

One confused scientist took in a deep breath. This commotion was certain to have been overheard, even if it were only muffled sounds. Shadow had never shown such aggression in front of others before, and he couldn't let it be SEEN- “Let me answer factually at first: you don't have a brain to operate on anymore.” He left the words ‘my son’ strategically out. Especially since last afternoon, he had…

Well, disgustingly, a madman had given everything that the man once known as ‘Gerald’ had wanted to say. It was both tragic- -and liberating. Maria wasn't the only one he needed to protect from those outside the walls of the laboratory! He would make neither of them have to throw themselves towards the wolves and teeth of a psychopath and her organization!!

[Be glad I didn't ask him to destroy again. Even I was aware that would have ruined all that necessary healing.]

That caught him off guard. “What?”

“Your body. You only have the shape of a Mobian. I can't reprogram you, even if I – will never again – wanted to.”

The boy faltered. Emotions waned. Words of ‘only the shape?’ silently echoed before louder ones took over. The voice wasn't one of defeat, but submission. “Then why do I feel compelled to…?” He trailed off as the medical staff in the background started to knock on doors and asked if everything was alright.

“Just the boy getting another fluid sample,” the head of Project: SHADOW yelled in a tone that indicated nothing special. With that accomplished, he changed back to the required. “If it's too much because of me, Maria will always be there for you,” Gerald offered- -sadly, but with complete and utter understanding. His child wanted to rest after destroying the world – it was Robotnik’s new job- -to prevent that from reoccurring by shielding them both. “Why don't you go ahead? We have enough samples for today.”

[x]

Illusions of normalcy eventually fade.

His precious granddaughter got sick as forecasted, and that heralded a change from within. The cause was normal things: her desire to explore, prevent, assist, and see what life could offer outstretched her physical capabilities. She had been zooming behind the boy for too long – and he, nor Shadow, had stopped her [knowing they couldn't]. It had occurred at dinner: her collapse was expertly caught by those white-covered hands before she pounded into the pavement. Despite the warning and advance preparation, the shock never went away.

Her room was dark as she had become blind and immobile. Shadow sat by her side, reading a book to the girl about the various fauna and flora of Earth to pass the time. [How ironic! To discuss about a place Gerald wanted- -spared! To destroy it meant to deny her WISH!!] A small, knowing smile rested on Maria's face – this was something both children knew so intricately.

He didn't see Shadow’s expression. Rather, underneath his spectacles, Gerald only saw those golden rings.

“Fa- Professor?”

They were warm under his touch from a fire that wanted escape; human fingers traced the curves.

“Ssh… She fell asleep a few minutes ago,” the scientist muttered.

“… You should get rest as well, then.”

Curing Maria was not something Shadow could accomplish right now. So why was he grabbing onto the items that would remove her pain? Get her healthy? A shortcut, right? Underneath his fingers was that tantalizing hope.

Fingernails traced the clasp.

He wondered if his son knew.

If he was watching.

Waiting.

Expected betrayal.

If Gerald allowed Shadow fall into the horrific ‘Nirvana’… Prevented him from ever leaving…

No. He WON'T. HE WAS MANY THINGS – INSANE, CRAZY, AND FILLED WITH HATRED FOR G.U.N. [HUMANITY] AS A WHOLE – EVEN ATTACHED WITH A VERSION OF HIMSELF THAT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW FAR GERALD HAD TO PUSH – TO GO – TO SAVE THOSE HE CARED FOR – BUT NOT THAT!!!

HE WOULDN'T DO IT! NOT TO HIS CHILD!! WHAT WAS THE POINT OF GIVING SHADOW A MOTIVE TO LIVE ON AFTER COLLAPSE IF HE TURNED AROUND AND DID BASICALLY THE SAME THING!? It would break ALL the trust he ever had. Yet, his perfect son would let him. He would to help Maria. He would DAMN HIMSELF to do it.

That was the line.

Gerald wouldn't cross. He couldn't.

He PROMISES the air! The space in between! To Maria! To whomever – WHATEVER – would listen!

[To think he agreed with the monster...]

He could feel those Alizarin Crimson eyes; could sense the boy not move – not dared to believe. “You don’t look too healthy.” That was when Gerald knew he passed the test. “She wouldn’t want you to not rest. I don’t need sleep; it’ll be alright. You can trust her with me.”

Fingers slowly let go of the Lifeform’s hands.

There would be no judgement tonight.

“I’ll leave her in your care.” Robotnik leaned forwards and gave his granddaughter a kiss on her forehead. “Sleep well, Maria.” A heel turn appeared and he did the same to Shadow. “Goodnight, my son.”

There was an ever-startled look. “G-Goodnight.”

He had held back.

It felt monumental.

[He would only hold back for them.]

[x]

He did not fall asleep immediately. Instead, he stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

Four thoughts:

1. Alone with Shadow truly did bring out the worst of Gerald – hate of all save the crazed love for his two children [as if he had no other sons upon the planet!] – but a cure often required their time together.
2. Alone with Maria, even when deranged, kept a lid on him because to let her down was something NOTHING of him wanted.
3. Emotional lows, or duress, would let that side of him take over no matter who he was with or how drugged up he was.
4. Even with chlorpromazine, it felt like the monster was winning, or equally as frightening, merging, more and more as days slipped away.

It's because he knows what to skip for the cure. There's only a year. If he has access to all of the past failures, why delay the chance for solution? The world moves on underneath the ARK: G.U.N. won't sit still behind the President forever. Isn't that why he wrote those glowing reports of medical solutions to other diseases he discovered, using his future knowledge? Because that made it seem the President was going to get what he wanted. The military moves men, but the head of state allows it in the first place. Remember!!

It was the image of someone horrible.

His hand bled when he broke the glass.

[x]

October slipped into early November.

Maria, his precious granddaughter, was under the belief that Shadow’s melancholy was because of the lab. The more time that passed, the more the girl hinted – weak, obvious, and not subtle at all – at various practices he had thought were the correct path- -knew that they were unsuccessful results upon her body. Gerald took her ‘hints’ in equal awkwardness. Shadow did his part to smooth the wrinkles over, as he still hasn't told.

Gerald had placed a veil on her. One that made her think he was fine. Normal. Alright.

It was wrong.

But his son was correct. She wouldn't handle it.

[x]

The gaggle of researchers, to not include the one head of them all, issued an appearance like they were watching a masterpiece. Funny, wasn't it, how they reverted to such unscientific theatrics. Yet, in this case… Gerald was going to find it rather difficult to persuade them otherwise.

“Immortal?” whispered Towers. “Legitimate immortality?”

Shadow nodded, as if it was common knowledge; as if he said, ‘Wasn't that feature a goal of the Project in the first place?’ “One could theoretically throw me off the ARK into the atmosphere with little to zero Chaos Energy running in my body, and I'll survive, even if I couldn't fly.” A blink. “Although, it would hurt quite severely to have a body boil flesh and blood away into ash before reforming it. During reentry, it would theoretically loop in an endless cycle until hitting the ground at terminal velocity with the force of a small nuclear bomb. Theoretically, I would still be alive after all that.”

[Gerald was highly unpleased by those… ‘theoreticals.’]

Pencils flew. “And… anything else?”

“I'm ageless.”

Someone in the trio snapped the lead off their writing instrument.

“I can see in complete darkness. I can transform my very shape to certain extent. As you are aware, I can fly in the air. I can transverse over bodies of water at the same speed I can use my Air Shoes. Minor lasers and explosive blasts cannot affect me. I have an incredibly acute reaction response, smell, sight, and hearing. I can also… sense organics. Everyone. Everything natural.” It's their mark left on me, Shadow seemed to wanted to say. “Those are my physical skills. Take that into consideration when looking at my genetic structure. I cannot say if my fluids won't lead into disaster.”

So non-pulsed. So matter of fact.

He knew he created something not natural… but hearing the list – a partial one at that, for where were those Chaos Energy skills? – made Gerald ponder.

The previous time around, he had foolishly reported all the results from Project: SHADOW. The theories about ageless immortality – because to prove such a thing was inhumane. The Chaos abilities – minor footnotes because he was too busy focused on the cure to flounder with paperwork. The heightened senses – because it was interesting how a mix of DNA could produce such a specimen in his hands.

Was it truly a surprise G.U.N. invaded to take Shadow away? When he was at his youngest? When they knew they could take over his mental state and craft him into their whims?

[Hypocritical lunatic. That madman did the exact same fucking thing.]

[x]

He threw the microscope back against the wall with a mighty shove. It wasn't anger. More shock.

The first attempt of a legitimate new cure had its trial.

Results were not great.

The boy, the Ultimate Lifeform; his child mutilated by their influence was just… too foreign to be encroached with humanity. The body held onto those veins of ‘blood’ – he hadn't want to tell Shadow his physical form was all Chaos playing pretend [that this result was a possibility], but he had no other option – that mixed with hemoglobin in destructive manners. That ink penetrated Maria's cells like warriors en battle; hijacked her molecules over and over until everything was converted into obsidian and Chaos. Upon conquering all of organic matter, they eventually attacked each other like binary stars at their final orbits. Eventually, with flashes of light – small and insignificant due to the incredibly limited test size – the sole survivor dissipated.

Gerald – all sides of him – cursed upon seeing that.

In the background, Shadow rubbed his Inhibitors and they glinted in artificial illumination. Ruby stared blankly, in purpose rather than their default appearance, at the chemical/energy analyzers where the two species mixed. Distant muteness from the charcoal creature made it seem like he was briefed of the failure before he was ever told the results.

The members of the ARK made no sounds.

They were mindful of what they just saw.

Suddenly, every human knew of the array of Shadow’s ‘blood’ that existed nearby. Open. Available. In beakers and flasks. The onlookers had no full-bodied suits; no protection aside gloves and masks. Mere fabric, like that could stop a solution that could consume into flesh…

[What exactly had we unleashed upon reality?]

Shadow, unknowing, eventually spoke. “It didn't work, did it?”

The lack of a response was the answer. The boy eventually made a disappointed sound and left.

[x]

“We created a genuine eldritch,” a female whimpered.

“I always made fun of the scientists in those stupid books,” one of the males responded in whisper before a laugh broke. “To think I'm just playing that same part.”

“I told you all it’s not that,” Gerald growled.

“Dr. Robotnik, you can't just ignore the evidence-”

“-in the stories, there's always a tragic pure heart that was snuffed out and the grieving family member summons a Wise One from Beyond in a foolish attempt to save their loved-”

“-Evidence that visually just screamed at us aloud. You can't stay ignorant about the Project anymore, Doctor! We are witnessing something entire UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS would DIE to see!”

“Where did you get the alien DNA?” A hoarse snap. “Cthulhu Itself?” spread out sarcasm.

The equivalent of a demon that was ONLY AN ALIEN was NOT some stupid fantasy written hack job! Tying other life with made up stories – ATTACHING those stories to-! To-!! To Shadow and Maria…!!! “If you keep speaking foolishness, I'll toss you back towards the surface! MY GRANDDAUGHTER ISN'T SOME ‘TRAGIC SIDE CHARACTER’ AND HE'S JUST MY SON AND NOTHING ELSE!”

Three sets of eyes. Three sets of hushed whispers.

“-‘my son?’” “-he’s willingly blinded or mad or both-” “-lore says concepts can manipulate humans foolish enough to think they bonded-” “-how utterly amazing.” “-if we're already damned, I want to see this to the end-” “-pursuit of the unknown led us this far-” “-if I die in a blaze of glory, so long as thesis are written with me as a reference I'll go willingly-”

[All of him was irritated at their foolishness!!!]

[The same foolishness that made them so great to work with.]

[BUT AT TIMES LIKE THIS…!]

The second Maria was cured he was going to be gone. The first shuttle out – no. Why use one of those things? He'll ask Shadow to tear the fabric of space and warp them to his granddaughter’s beloved pla-

-See. That was why he COULDN'T destroy the Earth.

[x]

The only source of light was the flashlight Maria held underneath the tent. Her silhouette exaggerated her movements within the fabric expanse. Gerald was not supposed to be here, but he had been worried that she was going to take the news in a depressed way. He just wanted to stop by and explain that it was just a first series. There were ways he could think of to go around such ‘lack of planning.’

To not give up hope.

Instead, compassion filled the air. Comforting. Aware of someone being in pain.

It wasn't a pep talk for herself.

“The results shouldn't have been a surprise.” The ghostly image upon the walls folded arms crosswise. “See? I'm not sad at all. Worried about you isn't sad!”

“It’s not the same, Maria. I've changed into something and it's going to make trying to heal you even worse! This occasion, I-”

“Insinuate you're a monster again and I’ll tickle you until your smile returns.”

Silence stretched. Then parted. “Maria. I could feel it destroying your cellular structure. Like I was watching; as if all your genetic code filtered into my mind. That's… not normal. At all.”

Maria tried a different approach. “Shadow, I don't care and this isn't your fault. You were made for a higher purpose than me – it's for all of Earth! Besides, I'm 100% positive there's a cure waiting out there that we just haven't found the right steps yet. What happened the last-” Hands suddenly reached towards her own chest as words cut into silence.

The shadow of a glove reached to hold her. “It’s just Fa- -Professor – coming by to make sure you’re alright.”

“‘Fa-’ what?”

A silhouette of his son flicked a finger at Maria's forehead.

“No need for that, Shadow. Message received. Silly goose.” There was the sound of a deep cough as she changed subject. “I-I’m okay, Grandpa!” she laughed the panic away. “We’re just slumber partying! See you tomorrow? Unless you want to help since I need to convince certain walking, sulking shadows about how they, too, deserve to be happy…”

Theoretical – she had mentioned that before, too. That was right. Had not she always faltered and stopped whenever words went ‘strange?’ When she got near the fact she knew of the future? It seemed the two children wanted to talk about things that his granddaughter couldn't speak with him here – from forces in the Universe he didn't understand nor had time to right now. “It’s alright, my dear. I do want to help, but I remember being young. I know how much a slumber party is a no-adults-allowed event.”

The laughter his dear heaved out… was cathartic.

Slowly, the scientist slinked away.

[Away to where the results screamed in red ink.]

[Away where the word FAILURE was still wet.]

[Away to where even the echoes of insanity remained quiet in sadness.]

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 23

[×]

You know, one month and a half was a pretty good spin to hide things from her cute, overpowered, silly, but well-meaning brother. He was normally so on top of everything: the longest she had hidden stuff – aside her NIDS symptoms – were only a few days. Now, was it because he was very distracted working with Grandpa on cures at almost any waking hour? Yes. Was he tensioned out by said medical things so much so that his nerves were on the fritz high enough to be unable to look past her sneakiness? Also, yes. But… Well… the jig was up.

“-and here I thought we discussed already about how dangerous the Artificial Chaos were-”

… He was still going on about this? It made her feel a little guilty she had zoned out past the five-minute mark, but, in her defense, it was midnight and she was about to face plant right into the pillow, and-

Shadow became aware. Maria could tell in the way he sighed so deeply. “You're going to maintain that they’re your friends-”

The blonde nodded.

“-and I should play along and trust you-”

Another nod.

“-and I'll bend and let you persuade me.” The ending was a growl mixed with all the ironic levels of self-awareness.

Her fingers patted the mattress – seems she actually had fallen into her pillow – to beckon her brother over. Maria could hear the sheets move as a weight pressed down besides her; sounds of his wings moving slightly to not graze her – as if she would have minded… “Shadow…”

His fur was close. The young girl could feel his generated heat. “Yes?”

“P-1 wanted to ask you something,” she started with minor hesitation. The Artificial Chaos requested for her brother every time she met with one (although this past one was more persuasive), and she had bartered with the group: if they stayed for tea time and shared her comments with the collective – and did good things – she would ask. She had promised.

And they had done nothing wrong since…

She was too bundled up to slap her own cheeks.

Shadow shifted and crept closer. The young girl felt his hand slip into her own and gave it a light squeeze. “I have free time tomorrow. Fa- Professor-” he continued, as if Maria couldn’t hear (or understood) what had been hanging from utterance for over a month, “-has some important meeting I’m not privy to enter.”

“With who?”

“Not anyone that matters to us, apparently.”

[x]

Maria giggled when she placed a bright pink bow on Shadow’s ear. The black and tanned thing flicked at every second, probably because the fabric was something he called itchy. It was something brought up from the latest supply run – polyester – and Abraham had given it to her via courier last night. She didn't know what to think about her friend just yet – blame his creepy aunt for that – but she did miss him. Shadow was being pulled away all the time during 0600Z through 1800Z: long hours for both the men of the Robotnik family. She had her classes from 0700Z to 1200Z that were getting shorter as time passed because Project: SHADOW was basically at ‘all hands-on deck’ status. Chao(s) Garden were three times a week from 1500Z to 1730Z (Monday, Wednesday; Friday). As such, there were gaps when she was bored.

Abe wasn’t his creepy aunt. So, why did she still avoid him?

“This is embarrassing.”

She smiled as she patted her brother some more. “At least it isn't a dress?”

“I have few hard stops with you, Maria.” Gemstone eyes twinkled. “That would be one of them.”

She mentally imagined a black and red hedgehog in a delightful, fluffy dress with copius amounts of petticoats, shined up white, glossy shoes, pretty, frilly socks, and extravagant laced gloves. Maybe even a little purse with gold trim to match his Inhibitor Rings? The vision came up more vivid in her imagination than she thought it would and only made her laugh harder. “S-Shadow! I know. I know!” Her snort cut off anything more she could say.

The hedgehog tsked, but did have a ghost of a grin before it went back neutral – a SUCCESSFUL operation on getting that emotion across his face again, if she hadn’t said so herself. “At least you’re not that foolish.”

“I’ve already put you in a dress.”

Quills stood up.

Maria edged closer. “It was blue. And cute.”

Pyrrole eyes shifted. “You didn't.”

“Oh, yes I did.”

“Impossible.”

“Nope. Even got a picture. I have blackmail on you now~” Not that she would ever use it on her poor brother! But did he need to know that little tidbit?

He turned to complain, perhaps, but held it in. Weakness wasn't allowed, but what was bonding time with family? He was aware he needed this humor – this brevity – and backed off. Eventually, he turned around to address the location they were in – a separate research tower that stuck out of the ARK, similar in fashion to the observatory one. Unlike their old play place, however, this one had far less windows, more walls thickened with titanium and steel feet in fortification, and was as far away from the living quarters one could place on the station while still being on the same plane in 3D space.

It was the experimental weapons location.

Well, one of them, at the very least.

It wasn't part of the military section. Her brother had mentioned that it was due to the politics of optics – G.U.N. was only officially aboard to take care of the researchers on the station. The stars were vast and wide, and in the voids, there could be creatures or enemies or worse, rival nations, sneaking about. As such, the weapons Grandpa made – that sentence still gave her pause in the knowledge of what he had done in her name – that weren't considered dangerous or needing to be sealed-

… Wait a moment. “Shadow, when are you going to move in and…, er, deal with the Biolizard?”

The hedgehog continued to organize the space that Maria had set aside over a month ago, absent mindfully cleaning the mess from last week. The tea set was perfectly placed and centered: teacups positioned on small dishes, a pot with heated aromas placed onto a warming tray she had stolen from a science lab, and the pastries she had ordered from the cafeteria chef neatly showcased on a silver-looking display tray. Each movement was not awkward; he's done this before – somewhere, some when else. A trained reaction of some sort? Was this what he picked up from the mysterious ‘Amy’ or ‘Rouge?’ They sounded like girl names. Had they invited him on enough occasions to know this kind of etiquette – one that took her studying and reading about to get everything right?

… It explained why the Artificial Chaos had such good manners at the table as well…

“So…,” Maria tried again and trailed off. “Did you do it without telling me, or…?”

Her brother poured the tea into a singular container, just for his sister. The smell filled the small, decorated area as hard onto Maria as the juxtaposition of a room of play in a weapons facility. It was raspberry and filled with so much sugar it would only suffice a young girl’s sweet tooth…

“Shadow…?”

Dark, brown-red fluid spilled over the lip. It spread over the table, soaked into the tablecloth, and dripped down the edges. The carefully crafted tea pot, now empty, slipped out from weakened fingers and crashed. Pieces flew against the floor in a starburst. The sound bounced too loud in her ears; his moved not a twitch. He ignored it all. “The paean voices said it was taken care of and to think no more.”

(Bad! Bad! Bad! Danger!)

A memory flashed: short. Bitter. The first verbal sign that something was wrong with her brother from within. It was back near the ‘beginning’ – the first few days when he was before her. Inhibitor Ring-less. Dazed. Unfocused in many ways, but fought with everything he had to stay sentient. Shadow had brought it up, briefly in that field of dulled expressions, about hearing things – seeing things – knowing things he shouldn't. Small things. Tiny things. Whispers of things. Cold and hot and neutral. However, the sheer and utter magnitude of jumping back in time – of her realizing she was ALIVE and HERE and OUT OF THE GREY and HER BROTHER was AWAKE and GRANDPA was SAFE and- – was greater than that short-lived comment for the both of them, even though she never forgot.

Later on, Maria was shut out the second she asked.

It was possibly only a few seconds since he spoke, but she knew what to do. Her thinner, more pale fingers flew out and grabbed his free hand. She wrapped around them and squeezed as hard as she could, letting her brother feel that she was besides him-!

It worked.

Like the first time.

Red eyes looked down at the new disorganization. Ears furled completely back; the pink bow a mockery. “Sorry,” he softly whispered. “I have been under a lot of stress.”

He made a move to pull away and clean up the localized disaster, but she stopped that. “We need to talk.”

A shake of the head mixed with a flat refusal. “No, Maria.”

“Yes, Shadow. We will.”

There was more strength in the pull this time. “No.”

“This is clearly something that is troubling you and I just-”

“It’s nothing!” came the unexpected snap as the lights blinked briefly. She saw the small window of his face curl into one of pain – a face that hurt her on the inside. Her brother realized that and turned away in shame. The sigh he breathed could have touched the center of the planet. “I'm sorry. Again. But drop it, please, Maria.” He lightly tossed a few of the spare towels to absorb the tea-stained floor. “Let's focus on your gathering. You wanted to have fun, right? I'll be… amiable for your friends.”

There it was again!

She was positive it was fear. He was scared. Of- Of himself? He's hinted at that numerous times – recently, even: that he's not the same. That he's different. That-!

Maria Robotnik didn't want to ‘drop it.’

Compromise.

If there’s one thing she's good about, it's getting him to compromise for the better overall good! “I won't ask until next month if you at least give me something, Shadow. Remember what I said? You need to talk about these feelings!” She tugged at him with cyan eyes filled with nothing but care and beseech. “You're not alone anymore! I'm here for you! And once you and Grandpa get things squared away, we'll be here for many more years to come!”

It worked.

The white glove slipped from her grasp. Careful. Aware of being watched. He picked up the pieces of the pot to throw away, like he needed to work on something else in order to discuss. “Ever since I woke up, I could hear garbled whispers.” The porcelain was soon tossed into the garbage; towels into the laundry basket she had already placed here weeks ago. The lid slowly creaked shut. “I ignored them, but they've been getting louder – clearer – recently.” Red eyes turned to face her own. “That's all. No more.”

She crossed over her shoulder cause the implications of doing it around her heart was... “A promise is a promise.”

“Good. Apologies on your pot.”

He was just gonna glaze over everything, wasn’t he? Like it never even happened? Honestly. Her brother… What would he do without-? On second thought, let's not go down that path! Maria chastised herself and debated internally. Hmm… voices in his mind since the ‘beginning.’ Was he hearing the Chaos Drives? The central Reactor? The Chaos rail lines? I mean, he does heavily influence those and was the strongest back then. Or could it be the Artificial Chaos? Her brother issued so much to deal with such tiny crumbs!

After a few minutes, the place was mostly cleaned up. Shadow mentioned he would get another tea pot for her at one point (that a coffee pot was a temporary replacement), and the young girl took the time to clip back his pink bow. During the moment, the hedgehog took note at her massive notebook and the scribbled title. “Giant Book of Chaos by Maria Robotnik?”

Maria tapped the bounded thing with her fingernails. “It’s my research book. I've been studying Chaos Energy from Grandpa’s old notes! One day, if you don't mind, of course, with your permission, ‘cause I wouldn't start without asking you, ‘cause-”

He took the olive branch to switch subjects she subconsciously had been offering. “You want to test my Chaos abilities.”

“Starting with Heal!” blonde hair flew as she nodded. “A-And only fun, charming tests! I was thinking that wouldn't it be cool to maybe use Chaos Heal to repair things made with or partly created with Chaos Drives or Chaos Energy? Think about it Shadow!” Maria’s fancy dress ruffled the lace in movement. “Maybe you can fix broken Drives that run medical equipment! Or maybe your Energy is compatible with Chao from the Earth!”

“A Chao…,” memory flooded her brother's voice.

“They liked you, didn't they?”

He nodded. “Someone I knew,” Must have been one of his friends, Maria realized, “mentioned it was due to how much Chaos Energy I had. I did find some of them a little too overt in wanting attention.” He shifted his gaze over to his own arms and legs. “I'll probably get mobbed if I go back to a Chaos Garden today, however.”

She tried to imagine her brother covered in nothing but endearing little creatures (that were not nearly as cheek-pinch-able as him, but could be close): an Air Shoe stuck out from underneath the hoard, twitching as if to ask for help. It wasn't as vivid as thinking him in an outfit, but it was still something to give her positive emotions as she desperately tried to temporarily ignore what just happened. “Did you have one?”

“Not exactly.”

So, basically a yes. “Was it cute?”

“You would have liked the shape.”

She arched her eye.

“The Chao looked a lot like me. Black. Red. Quill-looking spines.” A singular, sad laugh. “… Wings.”

“Sounds super adorable.”

“If you say so.”

[x]

Shadow poured more tea for Maria in a much more controlled state as ruby maintained onto ‘targets.’ P-1, not caring about the glare at all, waited its own turn as patiently as the girl had requested. The little clink of china smacking china continued as her brother eventually served the Artificial Chaos with slightly less care. “When did it pick up the rules about tea customs?”

A synthesizer activated. “Its giFt.”

“Descriptive.” The tone was not amused.

Maria was very wise in her choice by sitting between the two of them. Her hands waved around. “P-1 here has actually been learning a lot of neat things! Its able to define the definition of all the different traits of morality and friendship!”

“MoralIty. DecisioNs of being good or bad, which vary oN customs, cultures, and viewpoInts.”

Her brother hummed a non-response and took his own spot. The white fabric around his neck caught a young girl’s eye as he fidgeted with it for a small while. “That's not necessarily understanding, Maria.” Red eyes watched the Artificial Chaos take the cup and pour the hot fluid directly onto its body – the brown mixed with the blue until it was bleached out and cleaned. “That aside, I will admit being able to freshen up contaminated water is a smart idea for usage. The Earth will need a lot of that not just today but also tomorrow.”

That excited the female Robotnik. “Right? I thought about it a while ago but wanted you to see it! Just because something was created to destroy doesn't mean it defines them!”

“Not very subtle this afternoon.”

No. She wasn't.

The hedgehog huffed lightly as he changed the receiver to his words. “What did you want to ask me?” Shadow finally enquired.

P-1 moved in signs of excitement. “A direct aDdress!” Droplets twitched. “JoyfUl! Wondrous!”

Yeah, her brother's face was – understandably – deadpanned. This was underneath his ‘waste of my time’ category, wasn't it? (Unaware of the implications. Why did the machines treat her brother with such a manner? Because they understood he held their ‘minds?’ Because he burned bright in their eyesight if they saw things in Chaos as she surmised? She could only give educated guesses – they were secretive on that, too, when she asked.)

Grandpa’s AI creation continued to squirm. “We are awaiting a decision and need clariFication.”

“O!” Maria chirped. “About more complex morals, right?” She had begun intermediate philosophy with them and progress was a little… slow. They had asked her how to express and relate to love, affection, adoration, and family – and Maria had tried really, really; really hard, but her answers weren't enough. She couldn't connect to them like Shadow could.

“Yes. We faCe a complex moral dilEmma of desire to proTect versus the desire for staying seCret.”

Her brother had no response and simply gave the young girl a ‘you handle this’ look. She could feel his displeasure even more so. Rather, she turned and gave the water entity a smile. “Shadow here is an expert on protecting others! He'll be happy to answer your question!” She ignored the choked sound that escaped his throat. “He’s the best!”

The turquoise eyes closed. “We found the otHers whom huRt Father,” P-1 added while keeping that same, happy tone. It rushed along as Maria dropped her own plate of pastries upon the table; Shadow’s disinterested look transforming into surprise.

Reactions were quick.

“SHADOW, WAI-!”

“Who hurt him!?!” the hedgehog demanded. His violent movement made the hologram machine glitch out and she saw those appendages glint sharp edges in the light.

“SHADOW, THEY'RE JUST-!” Maria was pleading at the AIs: DON'T SAY ANYTHING DON'T SAY ANYTHING DON'T SAY ANYTHING!!! WHY WAS THIS THEIR QUESTION!? If they had given her ANY hint that the request would be something remotely bad or wrong, she wouldn't have asked her brother to be here in the first place!

“Father had aN episode and hit the edge of a steel table three nigHts ago. Bled. We saw from the HVAC.” A ripple in water. “Dilemma: shall we obLiterate the table or the floor that madE Father fall?”

“Damn it, he didn't tell me.”

And before Maria could clarify or even question what defined ‘episode’ – or give thanks to the Ancients that this wasn't about murdering humans from shooting squads not yet in existence – Shadow teleported away.

“It didn't aNswer. It is disappointed. Upset. But not aT us.”

Her chest hurt.

In the words of Dr. Tower: that sucked. (But could've been worse.) She was gonna prescreen the Artificial Chaos’ queries next time, however. Once was already a stupid enough of a mistake.

[x]

Blue shoes pounded the floor as she ran from the transportation lifts towards the medical wing of the ARK. The strain sent fire up her nerves as NIDS played the game of asking what she was doing. Sometimes, she wavered and crashed into a wall, but P-1 was there to pick her up. “We help friend,” it repeated the three times she almost ‘hit dirt.’ She reiterated that their ability to talk should be hidden from everyone else afterwards.

Eventually, she screeched to a halt.

“My, my, Maria,” an amused voice filled the air. “Careful there. You take a corner like that any faster and you might hurt-”

The tingle up her spine came next before the words did. “General Kirkendall, stay away from my granddaughter.”

There was a flash of some emotion on the Commander’s face before it was stuffed – very similar in putting away thoughts and feelings like her brother accomplished, but in a manner that made her feel ill. “If that is what you want, Dr. Robotnik,” Abe’s aunt ended with a smile as she turned back to Grandpa. “Give the President's invitation a thought. I, of course, personally advise you to burn it in a fire and just head towards Training Lab 07-1b, but that would be my words every time.” She turned to leave, giving Maria a second glance at her heaving form from the run; the tremble that exposed onto a girl’s skin.

Grandpa didn't say anything, but the way his body slumped; mouth curled into a sneer; everything about his posture YELLED ‘I'm going to rip you apart…!’

(Who was THIS?)

(Grandpa?! Grandpa!! Grandpa!!!!??)

It seemed that was the reaction the officer wanted. “It’s good to see you still think you can do it without extra time. Quite amusing. Until later, Doctor.” The grin didn’t match eyes. “Do come visit when you can, Maria. Abraham misses you and wants to meet your special friend.”

[x]

“I just fell and hit my head at a low velocity,” Grandpa spoke softly to Maria and Shadow – a wildly different body language than just earlier out in the hallway. They were in the safety of Dr. Eruba’s side wing office, and the inked form of her brother was inspecting every inch and reaction of the old man's body. He had been waiting in the darkness. “How did you two even find out in the first place?”

Those tingles were gone. She could feel her heart settle; muscles groan in exhaustion. Whatever afflicted her…? Was it only just NIDS? “Shadow discovered it by outside means.”

“The Artificial Chaos are spying on you,” her brother had spoken at the same time.

The hedgehog was unaware that just by saying that sentence, he had admitted something he wasn't aware: both voices uttered the truth. Grandpa knew about the connection of things with Chaos. As such, that only made the head scientist sigh deeply. “Ah.”

“You should tell someone if you tumble. The medicine is known for certain-” Shadow was aware of Maria watching his every move – this was not the first time Grandpa’s heart and stress drugs were brought up. “-aftereffects.”

Why did Dr. Eruba decide to use such powerful, dangerous things on Grandpa? Was it because the hunt for the cure was different this time around and that increased his workload? Wouldn't the guaranteed year addition decrease his cortisone levels, therefore he should be using a weaker dosage of his old stuff? Why did she give the elder Robotnik something new in the first place?

When she asked the woman the following day, the physician just said, “Things change. Dosages change. That's the sadness of life. I pray he gets better.”

Ominous.

[x]

Paean.

Maria was very smart. She was a Robotnik. There was nothing to be other than an expert in certain fields as she grew older. Grandpa had mentioned the Robotnik name wasn't always attached to genius – that he was unsure if it went before himself in a joked term – but she had played with the idea that her family just had a special spark. A gift. Something to help make the world a better place. (For a longer period of time, this round.)

But those gifts didn't mean knowing short, strange words in perfect definition.

As such, she took the opportunity to ask her teacher at school for a dictionary. That specific word that her brother used – when his eyes glassed over and his body relaxed and the sound quality of his voice transformed into something else – was not one she knew.

The result left her initially confused.

paean – noun

pae-an (ˈpē-ən)

1. A joyous hymn of praise or tribute.
2. A song or lyrical poem, usually performed by chorus, expressing thanksgiving.

“Did you find what you were looking for, Maria?”

Yes.

She should have known the knowledge exchange wasn't a one-way trip. The thing the girl didn't like was how her brother reacted to it – he spoke as if he…

Wasn’t in full control of himself. Or lost sight of the ARK around him.

And his response… wasn't shock. It had happened before. That, or more frightening and higher possibility, the voices told him not no think anymore. Because that was it, right? Shadow was no longer planning the Biolizard’s silence because… because he was whispered not to.

Collective consciousness. Grandpa didn't like the idea.

She thought she understood why at that moment.

Maria was wrong.

[x]

Could the Artificial Chaos and her brother get stuck in a feedback loop?

Where his sadness – or… or anger – could build upon them, who in turn could build and inject back to him multiple over? There was only one Shadow and thousands of AIs, even though they all called themselves as a sole ‘P-1.’

Stronger. Clearer.

Maria rattled her brain. Her pencil ripped through paper.

Scratch. Scratch.

Away went her writing utensil.

At some point, Shadow entered her room. The girl was as shocked as he was that she was still up. It was apparently 0100Z.

All she had to show were crumbled up papers in the wastebasket.

[x]

The downside of Grandpa and Shadow working so hard was that the days felt even longer.

She pulled another page from a daily calendar; could feel her brother’s eyes as the new year (a new fiscal quarter) came closer and closer. Only a little more than a month away. Maria tried to improve the mood. “So, should we celebrate your birthday as when you woke up this time or last time?”

Her cute brother tilted his head.

“Cause the two dates are super different, you know.”

He pondered at that. “My original creation date. This one felt like I was forced to awaken.” He saw her face. “I truly don't know why the dates changed. I can only assume it was the aftereffects of movement through time.”

Maria nodded. Fingers flipped through the paper numbers. A red pencil circled the date near the end of January. “We’ll have a big party,” she promised.

[x]

Oh, no. Why is HE back!?

A smiling face with gifts for everyone on the floor: exotic coffee beans for Dr. Guzman (“Because you've been working really long hours!”), a book for Dr. Tower (“It’s the most recent paper on some ARK-based power topic I'm not positive on how to translate into me-speech, so I knew you'd love it.”), a music vinyl for Dr. Yadev (“Not sure what genre you enjoy, so I decided to play it safe and go with a greatest hits of the year.”), and when that man came by Grandpa’s area…!

She made sure her deepest, darkest, most Stay Away! glare – one that could make her match Shadow when upset – was etched on her features. Her brother-!

… Never saw this man as a worker.

He didn't know he was here.

The hedgehog was young and naïve (like she was) back then. Didn't pay attention. The military members were only background protectors. Flies on walls. There were bigger, better things to do: play with Maria; go to school; do medical tests. They might not have even entered his mind as an ‘enemy’ – he had fought besides them when the AIs had run amok.

Allies until That Day.

“-oah, Miss Robotnik! Someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morn-”

Her mantra was that everyone deserved a second chance. Even if this one felt like she was punched in the stomach. She would warn him. Even if she hated everything about this man. He hasn't done anything just yet. “You need to get reassigned to another floor.” The young girl’s warning was more like a hiss – another thing borrowed from Shadow’s nonverbal lexicon. “Otherwise, an accident might transpire.”

Maria was very aware that P-1 was always around her. Somewhere. In the walls.

The man didn't say anything as she twirled and left. Slapped her cheeks.

Bad thoughts.

She needed to find Shadow and warn him.

(Stop him.)

[x]

The female Robotnik didn't make it far.

An Artificial Chaos was still. Unmoving. A statue with its electronic brains giving off heat from the Chaos Drive. It was relaxed…? Relaxed was good. Relaxed wasn’t bad.

Right?

Maria poked the water. “P-1?”

“Father...,” the tone of it swooned in a deep, strange, and – she was going to legitimately claim now – terrifying manner. Like a trance. One the AI had no reason to want to escape out from. It sent goosebumps up her skin and flesh and- “It will make Father proud... No enemies for Maria.”

Her legs started to pound the metal floors.

Inside, she was screaming.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 24

[×]

It was near the end of November.

The President's invitation was nestled in an inner pocket of his lab coat. He was too disgusted to read it again, but worried of the consequences if he threw it away. So, there the letter remained in limbo to fester at a scientist’s thoughts.

Esteemed Professor Gerald Robotnik

Of the Space Colony ARK

You're cordially invited for a celebratory dinner at the White House, Central City. We would be most honored if you brought the specimen with you. It will be a small, closed-off affair with only a select few. All will be provided for you and your creation. Should you accept, a shuttle will depart on December 14^th with a return date of December 28^th.

The event itself will be December 21^st, from 4P.M. to 9P.M.. See attached schedule for specific details of the hour by hour.

If this letter reaches you at an inopportune moment due to internal ARK logistics, another chance for us to meet is available during March from the 24^th to the 31^st.

Much thanks and well wishes on your important medical progress,

The President of the United Federations

A horse and pony show.

That's what the most powerful human in the world wanted. And Gerald despised that man, too. The end of March... Was March when the political will closed in and claimed the ARK was to be cleansed? Or had the plans started in December, for the organization of so many spacecrafts and ships wasn’t a last-minute operation…? When had the noose been established around Maria's neck, awaiting that one, final tug?

Gerald could sense it. His body would attempt to kill the President- -wouldn’t be an ‘attempt’- -with what? Foolish ideas? The President was heavily guarded, and if he had to take the stronger drug that the boy was adamant against to stop such thoughts in the first place, he WOULD. The only reason why he even has the chance to save his granddaughter now is because of funding from politicians! The same that betrayed everything he worked for. The same people that want to pop off his children's souls.

He rubbed his head. Squeezed his eyes.

Took a deep breath.

Robotnik should just return to his work. Prioritize that. Yes. He should, indeed, be focusing on her. Revenge will come later. [It’s the best he was going to get from that part of him, wasn't it?] He took in the scene around him once more: the ever clean and sterile lab, the beakers, and his own body not wearing Leven 4 hazmat gear. Only when he decided to touch those fluids did he don anything – his child shouldn't be query to that image longer than necessary. He wasn't afraid of his son; wouldn't have even bothered with anything other than gloves and a waterproof apron if not for his little one’s insistence.

Speaking of the boy, Shadow’s red eyes looked at another chart in the background. The frown upon his face deepened. “I should have not basically atomized the larva at that moment. If I had left it alive, then maybe we would have had something genetic that could handle my…” Gloves squeezed the paper. “… corruption.”

“Don't think yourself like that,” Gerald rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You acted to stop a bigger threat for Maria’s sake.” Besides, based on what the boy was currently living through, the scientist was positive a human body couldn't withstand such drastic internal changes. A grunt fell out. Technically, neither did Shadow's. If the Ultimate Lifeform evolved to cope with the damage, his granddaughter couldn't exist like that. He didn't even understand how his child could.

A mystery that would take longer than a year. Possibly even his own lifespan. That's what happens when you Hail Mary a creation without complete understanding of all donors. They were not complete mysteries with the research he accomplished, of course, but he had only scratched the surface.

Shadow didn't respond, but didn't deny the claim. The chart with results of percentages of how much Chaos Energy a human body could withstand – stolen from G.U.N.’s own failed experiments that blew themselves up – was carefully placed back to its original location. “What way are you going to tackle the next attempt?”

“I'm going to see if I can implant a working Chaos organ.”

The boy flinched at that. “You tried that already.”

“I'm aware.”

“Then what's the difference this time?” his son asked with veiled curiosity.

Gerald leaned back in his seat and stared at the ceiling. He loathed crawling into that mind space willingly, but did it anyways. “Last time, it was to see if she could be Healed with your power. Could contain it. That's what the implant was designed to do. This time, I only want to attempt to give her the ability to withstand a less destructive version of Chaos Energy. Something that has both positive and negative forces. It won't cure her, but if she can handle being in the vicinity of an Emerald for an extended period of time to offset the caustic effects of her disease…”

It was basically a compress. A cutoff. One similar to how Shadow’s glow worked. In theory. Emerald radiation was dangerous. Toxic. Foolish. Like throwing paint at a wall and hoping it stuck. It changed the structure of life itself on a cellular level – if the Prototype wasn’t enough evidence, just take a peek at the Successor.

“But I'll need an Emerald from the Earth to test any theories.”

The letter crinkled in his coat.

Ah.

So that's why he subconsciously kept it.

Shadow muttered under his breath. “That isn't going to work.”

“No faith?”

The boy shook his head. “It’s not that. I have experience in Chaos Emeralds.” Eyebrows furrowed. “They're volatile. She would need to understand Chaos Energy at a deeper level than just ‘withstanding’ if she was to stay in their field of influence. The gemstones can fuse into bodies that capture their interest, for lack of a better word, and no human can ever hope to contain that for extended periods. Not even the majority of Mobians can handle it, and they're naturally born with high tolerance. No, Maria would perish. Painfully.” There was an oxymoronic expression – a flicker of an emotion – that Robotnik could observe: for Shadow, burrowing a gemstone of power within one’s essence wasn't pain.

It was warmth. A comfort. [And was that… addiction?]

“Ah,” Gerald bemoaned instead.

‘Painfully perish.’ He hissed in frustration. So much for that idea, again. If he had more time, he might have been tempted enough to still try. Alas…

“What even gave you the plan that an aura of Chaos Energy could alleviate her symptoms?” his son eventually asked.

The scientist knew he had to be very careful on the response. He didn't want Shadow to rip away those golden rings then and there. How to word it…? “I ran some tests on myself with Chaos Energy from something akin to a highly advanced faux Chaos Emerald earlier in my life.”

Shadow pivoted on the tip of his shoes sharply. “You did what?”

“I'm fine,” the assurance came first. “From that, at least. My exposure was limited and low.”

“Is THAT why you eventually… remembered?”

Robotnik ignored the red flag the boy dropped – of course Chaos Energy was used when his child broke time. Possibly a lot. Shouldn't be a surprise. “Not at all. The reason was something very different; personal.” Gerald sighed at the stumble of control, and then rubbed his mustache in a personal tick that showcased deep contemplation. “Anyhow, it was a short-lived experiment in the grand scheme and things and highly unethical to go back to.”

Shadow took a pause. The voice carried no rage or anger – only acknowledgement of a unique personality. “Ethics? Since when did that stop the greatest mind in the world? If you think it shows promise to Maria you wouldn't hold back. That's my job, now, to keep you from the edge.” Those crimson eyes widened at recognition of the statement. “Forgive me. That came out more biting than I intended.”

Gerald chewed his bottom lip. “Don't apologize. Knowing what I know now…” He shook his head. “Anyhow, restarting such an experiment to gather more data on if it can even help an iota for Maria-” Because he was NOT going to say that it did. “-is null and void. The source will shut down the ARK.”

The boy made a hum as he nodded. “That is quite a dilemma. Why not contain and control this – hah, the irony – Artificial Chaos Emerald type object, then?”

The scientist didn't like this conversation continuing.

Was it punishment for being tempted in the first place? To have this topic be brought back up? To have to vocally discuss his greatest creation as a thing? “This source was actually was placed under control some time ago, and locked up to never be touched again.” A half-lie that held the essence of truth. The area Shadow claimed his Inhibitors was very far away – and to imply that Gerald tossed his perfect child in a prison-! G.U.N. did that to him! G.U.N. tortured him! They need to all perish! “It must remain unbound to create an aura.” He inhaled. Regained order. “That's why the analysis was canceled.”

The boy made an ‘ah’ sound and, thank goodness, stopped asking questions.

[x]

It was evening, and the two were walking back to their quarters. They had discussed about where they wanted to tackle the next cure attempt, but nothing concrete was chosen. Gerald had three main ideas: find what specific things triggered Shadow’s fluids’ ‘desire’ to consume organic matter, and then find a way to shut that down; have the boy control the radiation and caustic damage a Chaos Emerald can output as a bypass for Maria to get a ‘healthy’ amount of Energy; attempt to genetically manipulate Maria to accept the Ultimate Lifeform’s ‘blood’ in a segregated region of her body that could contain and withstand the destruction, but even if that was successful there's no guarantee that simply being able to carry the fluid internally would cure her.

All three were equally crazy ideas.

The first was a subpar option. Assuming he found the trigger, that still left behind a fluid that was the positive and negative forces of Chaos Energy. The equivalent would be attaching a rail line directly into Maria’s bloodstream – there's no guarantee that his child’s black ink could heal a broken human body’s nervous and genome system. However, Gerald has proof of Shadow’s body being able to restore himself and others at limited exposure, so perhaps it could ‘attack’ what was wrong in a timed window? If the boy was connected to things of Chaos, then why not let his child learn and memorize Maria’s entire DNA structure? Following that, then a healthy homosapien’s one with markers almost exactly like his granddaughter’s: blonde, pale, a certain height at a certain age, from specific ethnic region of the planet; etc.. Afterwards, use the boy’s control over Chaos to literally invade every single molecule of Maria and fix it, using said genome knowledge? It would be far more advanced than a bone marrow transplant – which he had already tried and failed. This would be Shadow literally distorting the very nerves – including the BRAIN – of his precious granddaughter, because that's where NIDS lived. And a mistake? Maria would be… gone. The body might even survive, but nothing would be there. It was dangerous. Severe consequences. But… theoretically possible, right?

The second was perhaps the most foolish of the three. If Shadow was addicted to a Chaos Emerald [as Gerald feared, was beginning to suspect, and needed information on factually if this was the route to take] – or the Emeralds were attuned to choosing the boy as their host over Maria – then how could an aura even be produced? As it was, the Inhibitor Rings were barely capable of containing Shadow as he was right now – to introduce a Chaos Emerald to the system could do something horrendous to his child’s psyche. Or control. Or both. Negative. This idea- -might be worse than letting the boy simply toss his golden bands in the current moment. Yes. He should kill the option right here and now.

The third was bioengineering. Gerald’s specialty. It was basically the first option, only it was banking on the fact that the ‘blood’ would try to correct Maria's nervous system WITHOUT Shadow’s conscious oversight. Problem was, if a Chaos organ was still flesh, and that fluid devoured it, then nothing could be contained. If Gerald could craft a region within Maria that was strong enough to deal with it, he wouldn't have needed to create the Ultimate Lifeform in the first place, wouldn't he? This option, too, was dead on arrival.

… Was the subpar one really the best?

“Fa-” A harsh cut off. “Professor, you look very disturbed.”

The scientist twitched. Paused mid-step. Gerald knelt down to his child’s eye level and brushed back the fur on a quill. “You can call me that word, if you'd like.” This was something both men wanted… right? [The response was stillness.] “I won't mind.”

The boy could sniff out all of Robotnik’s lies, even if he didn't call each out.

This was not one of them. This was truth.

Red eyes watched his creator’s. Hesitation. “… Maybe one day…”

[-but he wanted- No. No. Gerald had done too much.]

“That’s alright. Don't push yourself,” he added while patting one more time. He felt that rock sink away from his stomach. The internal whiplash was strong – how terrible would he be right now if he wasn't on medication? As it was, the warnings he wanted to scream were always held back- -because why warn his child from something not wrong in the first place? It'll be like disallowing himself from loving his granddaughter. What is wrong with affection? “You're correct, however. I'm rather distraught.”

“Anything I can assist with?”

A sad shake of Robotnik’s head. “You're already doing your best.”

Rubies roamed. “I can do more-”

That's when a voice cut in from the hallway. Cheerful. Pleasant. Friendly. Footsteps carried down the metal closer; a man with a beret of Project: SHADOW came into view. He had something in his hands: a package of some sorts. “That's where you are, Dr. Robotnik. I've been looking for you to say ‘hello,’ again! Guess who's allowed to finally leave cleaning duty. The new Commander sure is mean, hah!” A laugh – as if a mere laugh would disarm Gerald-! “O-Oh! Sorry. Didn't see you there, little one. You must be Shadow, the Medical Wonder. Everyone’s talking about you on the ARK!” Plastic noises crunched as the man shifted. “I, er, didn't expect to see you so I don't have a welcome gift. Sorry. B-But if you tell me what you like-!”

Both individuals were as taunt as suspension cables.

His child took Sean Casey’s body all in with his eyes: burning flames that had a star of gold pierce in the middle. They remained illuminated, tracing the shape of the Security Forces’ gear: the vest with the embroidered name; the gloves; pants; the pistol on the leg. Black. Straight lines. The human’s name etched on the dull metal grip to showcase personalization.

The rear and front sight one looked down to aim.

“It’s you.”

There was the sound of glass breaking apart. The entire hallway rumbled: voices of people around – to include the SecFo before them – cried out in confusion as the lights popped and shattered sparks. The embers singed whatever they landed on, yet Shadow didn't stop that deathly stare right into Casey's own face. Suspended in darkness, only Alizarin Crimson and that brilliant Imidazolone Lemon circlet could be seen.

Then came the cascade of noises.

An alarm triggered on battery backup SCREAMED its warning. The yells and panic of researchers filled the air as they evacuated their smaller labs; shoes giving off THUD THUD THUD THUD that could never match heartbeats. A thick, viscous yellow fluid soon leaked from the ceiling tiles – the Chaos rail lines had popped like overinflated balloons. One was right between the scientist and the guard, and the mass of glowing Chaos slammed right onto the reflective ground like the sound of blood splatter. Realizing the danger, the military individual took a harsh tumble, struggled against the slick floor, backed up by kicking his feet – the SQUEAK of his rubber soles never allowing traction – and paled. Complete fear rode that facial expression; the white of the eyes; the iris almost rolled to the back before trained experience attempted [and failed!] to regain one’s emotions-

-one Gerald was excited to see on that disgusting, garbage waste of molecules and compounds.

A white gloved hand rose to Shadow’s own head. A single cry. The boy was in ache. Whatever gratification the scientist had at the scene was dissipated with something more important to focus on. The adult brought his hand and covered his child’s field of vision; brought the boy into an embrace. He didn't need to see that husk of organic mockery of life anymore.

“RUN!” more researchers screamed the background. One spotted Casey and dragged him up from the ground. “RUN! We need to go to a safer area!!” They spotted Gerald on the other side of the impassable rush of viscous matter – the glow and liquid growing with each second. “DOCTOR ROBOTNIK! You must escape the other direction!!”

He gave a nod. Watched the military man get up.

Get away.

The voice was deep. Dark. Murderous. “It’s HIM.”

Eventually, the liquid reached near Gerald’s body. It passed around, avoiding him.

Why would Shadow want harm to his family?

… But Gerald had to stop this. Immediately. This was too big. Too large. Too-

Machines were tearing themselves apart. It was like a hand reached out and crushed them. The ARK had basically anything and everything run off the Chaos Drives deep within the Reactor, and the inferno of loathe was an endless chasm.

-explosive.

Ah. That's why his child understood Gerald so well. He, too, had that madness deep within him. ‘Moved on?’ the boy had mentioned. No. This wasn't ‘moved on’ at all. Or, if Shadow had, he had been drowned and sent backwards by this one viewing alone. Such violence. Such aggression. Such beauty. An ocean of hatred. This was worse than anything Robotnik had ever seen on that face – one that was normally so controlled… “You're right. That's the man that spied on us for Commander Fortis. The intelligence asset that turned you in. The human that put a bullet into our precious Maria,” escaped a whisper. Hands held onto the shivering form of his boy as they both stared down the hallway: the echo of a soldier’s footsteps impossible to hear over the growing calamity. He could feel the way Shadow wanted to rush – could taste the emotion of righteous fury that Gerald was connected to on a same level at that exact same moment. “My child, you can't. Not now. It's not the right time.”

[-never a right time, what is he doing, is he implying that to murder was-?]

The hedgehog was trying to calm down. A chant of, ‘Not what Maria would want. Not what Maria would want. Not what Maria would want,’ continuous.

He embraced Shadow a little tighter. “I know. You'll be able to deliver justice later. We have a goal to address first.” Open communication was important. There wouldn't be any more mistakes – no longer will either of his children believe they were unloved or uncared for. “Wait. G.U.N. would use his death as evidence to search around and find the true you. We can't have that. You'll make Maria and I proud, won’t you, son?”

There was a self-aware reply. It shook with a rawness that would strike fear if anyone else could had heard. “Everyone deserves a sec- I shouldn't be thinking about-!”

“It’s natural to, when you see something that you know will try to take everything.” It’s not ruin if the boy wants it deep within his heart as well. Gerald knew. Gerald understood. Gerald could relate. A squeeze. “We won't let that happen. You won't be alone anymore.”

[What was more horrific? The fact that that side of himself was actually able to get through to the boy, or the fact that Shadow wanted to slaughter? How terrible. How utterly terrible.]

There was separation as Alizarin Crimson looked away from the SecFo’s now vanished form as the runners left the fields of luminous matter. A ragged breath came in and was held down. Eyes eventually opened; the gold inside faded away. “I won't do it. We'll be gone from the ARK before G.U.N. even has the opportunity.” No anger filled the voice; just resigned reality. It was as if the boy was aware this was Robotnik trying his damnest to help his lost child in his new – own – way. Was aware that Gerald had actually just prevented murder…

For maybe a few weeks.

The beginning sentence was a lie his child said to himself.

The scientist hummed and merely pulled Shadow back so they both could no longer see the hallway that was damaged. Let the boy pretend in his mercy if he so desired. When his child eventually dropped that guise upon his target, Gerald would be there to hide the cold body. It seemed he would have to plan a contingency, in case his son couldn't hold back sooner than expected. Together, he walked with purpose, as fast as he dared the holographic machine tied on Shadow’s neck, down other locations. It was great relief that the destruction, while severe, was rather local and relatively isolated. The laboratories here were the ones that answered to Dr. Yadev, and that man knew what to do – what lies to say – to get the gaze off the Ultimate Lifeform. It would be easy to blame it on the Reactor – was it not in the final stages of being equipped out with the Eclipse Cannon parts? In a highly volatile state? About to turn online? See, it was a simple accident – no one got hurt, except, perhaps, a little Chaos radiation on one Security Forces member- -and when the thought ended, the monster faded.

Robotnik could still feel those tainted emotions from within.

There was no one else around.

Knees buckled. He immediately turned and apologized and checked on Shadow – told him that the scientist was wrong, evil, and-

“It’s nothing to worry yourself with,” the boy reached out. “I understand. You're still… trying to learn how to juggle your mind.” A rough exhale. “Don't worry. I won't let you fall away. I promise.”

He grabbed onto those white gloves. Tried to give all the determination he held. A drive. Gerald was afraid of the hidden promise underneath the vocal one. “Don't lose yourself trying to save me.”

Shadow didn't respond.

His face was already turned away at a new noise source. The pitter patter of feet. The heaved, sheer exhaust of overdoing a body’s limitations. The boy was already there with arms to stabilize the form of a young girl; Gerald’s own body running as hard as he could while the general alarm kept its sharp tone.

Cyan eyes flew wildly. Pale fingers gripped into Shadow’s shoulders. A voice was jagged. Weak. “Y-You…” Gasp. “… didn’t…” Gasp. “R-Right? My-” Gasp. “-sweet, in-innocent-” A last breath.

She fainted.

[x]

Maybe that was the final straw? The last edge? The last glint of hope? Seeing her falling like a china doll that no longer held life? The shock was so much it induced heart failure – blindness – nerves that caught on fire as her voice screamed and cried in pain in unintelligent words or phrases. The body soon seized. Then-

-Maria technically was dead for 1 minute 45 seconds.

[x]

The sterile office of the Major General lied before Gerald. A calendar off towards the side displayed December 3^rd.

“It seems the Devil – or, ‘Shadow,’ as you called him – prefers killing men over machines.”

His hands were behind his back; fingers flexed into the man’s own skin so hard they casted crescents. Any tighter and he would bleed. “How bold of you to assume such fallacies of logic.”

She laughed. Harshly. “They're still scraping what used to be charred human remains from the barrack walls.”

“You can check the cameras. Ask any physician. Shadow was in my granddaughter’s medical room the entire time.”

Her green eyes tried to catch him in a lie.

There wasn't one.

The boy had gone silent and quiet after teleporting Maria to the emergency care. Those eyes transformed into something glossed, and viewing them felt like staring right into the Void. There wasn't madness in them. It was something… more.

They were that way for days.

Yet, he remained in her room.

Silent.

Unyielding.

Silent.

A Sentinel.

Silent.

Not an ounce of aggression. The hedgehog took care of Maria when Dr. Eruba was at rest in a state of automatic movement – more a robot than the mindless beetle drones.

Silent.

Shadow eventually recovered.

“I did. A red beam of light. Seared right through OSI Agent Casey’s heart with the first volley and exploded thru the other side.” Fingernails tapped a gruesome report with incredibly detailed pictures taken in microseconds of time. “The rest simply cut him into ribbons and splattered organic compounds all over any surface nearby.”

Gerald shrugged nonchalantly. There was no love lost.

She pointed to a separate stack of charts. A black line marked stability before a rapid increase off the edge. “It was Chaos Energy. G.U.N. researchers validated it.”

There was a smoothed, effortless counter. “Then you should know that the Reactor had already found a weak point and cracked the machines in the Energy and Engineering Department. The barracks are snuggled against the major Chaos rail line thoroughfare that feeds those labs. Your researchers should have validated that. Dr. Yadev and I specifically mentioned that this was the most dangerous moment to work in the vicinity of those things, and will remain so until the Eclipse Cannon is finalized.” His hand gestured to his own stack of papers, charts, and graphs. They were all faked in perfect expertise. Yadev’s and Gerald’s experience in Chaos Energy allowed such reports that would fool those frauds in the military section. His associate had even snuck around to create damage to that specified rail to ensure the stories would match.

Yadev was a devotee to ‘the Project.’ That zealot frenzy – the need to keep the boy to the scientists instead of the ‘unworthy on Earth’ [that man's words, not Robotnik’s] – made his help invaluable at moments like these.

The murder of Sean Casey…

He was glad he thought out a ‘contingency’ – hah… The gap was less than an hour from spotting that individual in the hall to…

Gerald knew that his child had done it.

He just… didn't know how.

Shadow, the Ultimate Lifeform, had not remembered what he accomplished. To his mind, he saw Maria falter. Die. Resuscitated. He stayed there, besides her. Was aware of that. When asked of what he thought during that timeframe…?

That's when the agony came. Blamed himself. She ran because she thought he had killed someone – that he had not given that second chance, even though Shadow believed he had let the filth go free. Yet, she out did herself ‘because of him.’ She had collapsed ‘because of him.’

The guilt was in the wrong place. At least his child had listened and responded to reason. Gerald didn’t let his son collapse more than eight hours after he regained his self-awareness. The scientist wished he could have made the timing even less, but he comprehended the source of grief. Maria was still in a coma – recovering. She was going to survive.

None of this was Shadow’s fault.

It was G.U.N.’s. If they hadn't silenced Project: SHADOW in the first place-!!!

Gerald would protect his children from the world. From themselves. By [almost] any means necessary.

“There was a witness,” General Kirkendall flatly dropped. “Not a perfect angle, but they saw eyes. Red or yellow, crossed eyes. Seven of them. Slit into plus signs. There's only one entity with red eyes that can use Chaos Energy within this entire station.”

“How strange.” Another shrug. “The Chaos rail line are those exact two specific colors in that region. The botanical garden is the one with the purple theme.” He made sure to keep his face still – those fingers still in their grip against his own flesh. “Under duress, I suppose a frightened human mind can assume a bursting leak can assume the appearance of ‘eyes.’ Your researchers should agree with me that pinprick holes in the lines carry enough force and heat to slice through human flesh due to the Reactor’s recent upgrades.”

There was that laugh again. Controlled. Daggers that stabbed Gerald. Her gloved hand pulled back the microphone. She rewound the tape, played the interrogation over, reversed the thin strip of plastic once again, and then clicked off the recording device. “Dr. Robotnik. I'll be less coy now: the military will shut down anything they'll consider an unmalleable superweapon before it had the chance to flex its true strength. You're excuses sound perfect for pencil pushers’ second hearing committee since this specific type of incident has never happened before, but it will only work this one last time. The ARK’s silence is not what you want. It's not what I want. Take control of your Project. Otherwise, I'll be standing in the background while someone with higher authority than me decides to raze everything you've work so hard for into the ground.”

The scientist kept still. Casted shadows played with his face. “I will better supervise the Eclipse Cannon’s completion to ensure an accident won't happen again.”

She knew he wouldn't admit a singular thing. “Hah! Watch out, Doctor. You have quite a terrible, manic grin.”

Hmm… so he had.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 25

[×]

“The Artificial Chaos came by to visit,” Shadow started off their conversation with saddened eyes and a defeated expression. That shouldn’t belong on him! “They rambled about being good students and then placed a piece of paper in my hands. It’s not binary.” The scrap with written words was offered from a distance, and Maria understood it was the flinch of self-fear. “Here. It doesn’t partake to me in particu-”

“Did you kill him?” The question was not sharp. Nor judgmental. Nor trying to force an admission of guilt.

“… No.”

“Then don’t blame yourself. I’m the one that stupidly sprinted my own heart out. Me. Not you.” Maria’s tone was final – no ifs, ands, or buts. The girl may be bound in her medical bed, stuffed to the brim with saline and drugs (so much so that the rest of the room was a mesh of blobby shapes), but those words held onto steel.

Her brother hesitated and was about to say something to counter because he couldn't get in his head that she truly, utterly completely, hadn't condemned him.

Maria thought she had already taught him this lesson! “Actions over words, Shadow!” A pale hand weakly lifted from her side to reach out and touch him. Petted him. “Anyways, like I said, it was my own fault and no one else is to blame.”

He begrudgingly accepted that. She could tell how his ears moved forwards; how he stepped closer towards her. “You died. Briefly.” The admission must have been one of the most painful things he said in recent memory.

Maria felt her supportive smile falter into worry. She wasn't immune to that… that phrase. “I… I have to really thank the medical staff.” Her weak grasp tugged at Shadow’s fingers to bring him ever closer. “How did Grandpa… take it?” When she saw the elder Robotnik, he… didn't mention… that…

A swift, clinical answer. “Unwell.”

Oh, her poor grandfather… “He seemed… well, not alright, but alright when I first saw him coming out of my coma…”

“The fast resuscitation helped to alleviate most of his initial shock and horror.” There was something else, too, that her brother wanted to bring up, but he shook his head instead. Conflict scattered. “Maria. There's a problem I need to tell you. Something miasmatic.”

Her brother was tense. Every piece of fur stood straight up; every quill rose. Not in anger. Not in hate. Fear. He was displaying it to her – something raw. Something he normally wouldn't. This was an opportunity. She was going to snatch it. “I'm all settled in and hooked to every medical item that the ARK can provide.” The small area she could reach was the only spot where her brother relaxed. “You can tell me anything, Shadow. I’m not doing cardio anymore,” the girl ended with a weak joke.

The moments passed in initial silence.

She heard the wings flapped once, even if she couldn’t see them. Nerves. Shadow was nervous.

She validated her read on his emotions when he finally opened his mouth. “Do you know what… a broken, lost man did to my memories in grief?”

He danced around calling Grandpa ‘Professor’ and… labeled the monster as if it was an object of pity. “Yes. I know about… you being purified.” The words were acidic on her tongue, but she kept her movement on her brother's exterior.

“Purified?” The comment caught him off guard a little.

“That's… um. What I remember… um. That's what the monster-”

The cut-in was precise and demanding. “-Man-”

The heart monitor displayed increased numbers. Nothing dangerous. The brainwave detectors also scratched in indication of massive movement. All in all, the machinery spoke the analog answer of what Maria thought of her brother's defense of- “… Man.” It left her sick, but if she rejected that appeal to her brother's opinion, she was going to never reclaim this moment. That much she knew. He would bottle everything back into the pressure cooker that was his mind. “That's what that man called what he did to your psyche. Purification. The Sword of Judgement. That man probably had other phrases, but those were the main ones. So, yes. I'm aware of that.”

Shadow kept his gaze on hers. “I see.”

Maria moved her legs within her cot to a better position while her brother took his needed time to continue. She was patient.

The lights eventually dimmed, which gave her a placement on the hour – near the normal ARK bedtime. Dinner. Twilight. Evening. The end of a bad day, in her case. The start of something fresh on the edge of tomorrow for her brother, she desperately pleaded.

“I was turned pure, then.” He wanted to look away. She could see it in his body language. “I wanted to destroy the world.”

That's when the floodgates opened and inundated Maria. Her precious Shadow unloaded horror after horror: actions he had done; the sheer amount of destruction he wrought wherever he went; the amount of rage he felt at everything – everyone. There were tales of prisons – her brother locked away near the center of the earth and forgotten – and museums being torn into to steal from. An initial meeting with the mysterious ‘Sonic.’ Grouping up with a different Dr. Robotnik that was Maria’s cousin – cousin? The one Grandpa mentioned before? Why did he go evil? Because that's what this story was devolving into.

It was a horrible, dark fantasy.

An once reality.

Shadow continued and didn't stop. Infiltrations. Manipulation of others: of her cousin, of a future friend that was a bat, of ‘Sonic;’ of the planet. He dangled the keys of world domination in front of the other Dr. Robotnik to get that man to do her brother's bidding – of collecting each and every Chaos Emerald. He helped to annihilate an entire island filled with people – filled with G.U.N. agents, assets, and secrets of Project: SHADOW – in a column of fire. He saved someone in that exact same moment using his skills of bending reality to his whims because of a flashback to metal halls and blaring red lights.

(She finally found the name to that ability: Chaos Control. He spoke it aloud with a state of emptiness, as if it dragged him down to a deeper, much more awful memory. Maria had thought that skill was an increase to his speed – but to wield time itself? Oh, Shadow. Shadow. Shadow. That was something too dangerous to own. To carry. Grandpa’s notes whispered of something beyond mortal comprehension; of a way Chaos Energy could reach what was written in ancient texts as something near divine. Fantastical. Impossible. Something G.U.N. wanted, wasn't it? The boy she knew had been born to be a healer, but was forged into a tool of war instead and-)

(Wait. She had heard that name before. Back in the white area. He mentioned using it to stop time itself to prevent her from going back to the ARK with Grandpa-! She didn't know it was him – his power. She thought it was an item or something the Emerald itself held-!)

He used that skill often. He could ascend from the planet back upon the silent tomb of the ARK – his face when he described seeing the bones of all the victims – the white, empty skeleton of a young girl…

(She had been left behind. They all had been.)

The fantasy continued. Spilled out. Hot. Messy. The anger in his heart grew with each Chaos Emerald slotted into the Eclipse Cannon – something Grandpa hadn’t even finished yet to her knowledge. Shadow had ripped apart a section of the Moon, enticing her cousin to bring that final gem. The final item. The final barrier.

Because to eliminate the planet was his promise of revenge. His promise to Maria.

He existed to finish that promise. There was no plan for afterwards.

The young girl wondered if he could hear her sigh of relief when ‘Sonic’ had disrupted the flow of the Reactor to halt the Cannon’s charge against the Earth. Shadow had certainly heard her response – her gasp – of the Biolizard merging with the station and-!

That's why he said it back then. That's why he KNEW.

And he had stood by the window – the one they shared. He wouldn't help anyone. He was fulfilling a promise.

(Shadow was the pure weapon that monster created.)

The spell ended. ‘Amy’ arrived. This mysterious person that she had once associated with fun, good things her brother had accomplished – concerts, ‘begrudgingly’ accepted parties, and shopping – was the one whom reminded him of his real vow to Maria. ‘Amy’ had made him remember her true, tragic ‘end’ – her actual last words.

The battles came next. Short. Brief. His eyes were filled with intoxication at the mention of ‘becoming something more,’ but he shut that down faster than anything else. Powered through. He described his back and front talk with ‘Sonic’ and how they won. Spared the planet. How ‘Sonic’ gave a thumbs up, a tired smile that showcased the blue hedgehog had believed Shadow had been saved internally; how ‘Sonic’ turned away to look somewhere else for just a moment…

How a white glove that wasn't her brother's tried to reach out to the other, but couldn't make it.

Then… Shadow’s fall. Reentry.

“It was terrible. There was no relief. Just burning away, away; away. I was aware of everything. My body flaking into pieces. My blood boiling in sublimation before evaporation. My muscles dissolving into bone that blackened into ash before all healed and the cycle repeated. At the time, it was the worst pain I had ever experienced – deserved every ounce of it. The final deceleration into the surface as a molten mess of flesh and Chaos Energy that desperately tried to piece the concept of me back together the last thing I remembered…”

By now, Maria had clawed into his hands with her own. “You wanted to...”

Red eyes finally shifted away.

“You didn't know you would have lived-! You wanted to die! Ah, Shadow. My poor brother…” She cried for him. At his lost childhood. At his damage. Big, fat tears rained on her cotton sheets.

It got worse as he pulled out a tissue and carefully dried her stained cheeks. “I forgot my mind when my brain matter soaked the grass around the impact crater.” The end was abrupt. “Ah. That's for later. I did restore my memories eventually, though.”

And worse.

“I'm not that ‘sweet, innocent Shadow’ you knew, Maria.”

(“(Sonic was) a better person than me; a guy who ended up doing the ‘right’ thing; a hero. You… would have gotten along well with him,” a young girl’s memory recalled.)

There were more gentle touches.

She didn't know what to say. How to respond. Her- Her brother! He… He…!

“I'm sorry for disappointing you.”

She had to speak.

Anything.

If she didn't-!!

Say something, Maria!!! SAY SOMETHING!

Her brother was silent with a posture that was all the volume one needed. Hands touched each of the medical equipment, softly going over her charts that couldn't hide her distress. He wasn't there to stare, however, but to make sure she was alright. Like always. (Did he carry a thought to take care of himself any more!? Or was it so far away from his mind because she and Grandpa were here?)

Maria was frustrated! Open, mouth!! OPEN!!! she begged and pleaded and whined.

“Goodnight, Maria.”

She fell asleep despite trying her hardest not to.

[x]

The clock on the wall displayed 0318Z.

Shadow was curled next to her; his white handkerchief loosened by the angle of which his head was besides her. The gentle movement of his chest indicated he was in a state of rest – not exactly asleep, but not fully awake. In the middle, like Maria was at this moment. She could only see the top of his head, but a part of her understood that his eyes were glowing in the dark place.

“Hey.”

His black triangle moved to her face. Her brother was ever attentive. The sound of her heartbeats increased on the machinery, and ears soon moved on to analyze them.

A young girl was awake now. Weakness was still the facet of this hour, this second; this moment, but she was no longer tired. Will had to overcome a body’s requirement. Her hand reached out with flexed fingers as the strain begun to hurt. It was only when she started to pant did her brother turn to face her.

Shame was all he had. “Do you want me to increase your morphine amount? According to Dr. Eruba, I can only rise it by-”

“Come. Closer.”

Nothing.

“Come. Closer.”

Still nothing!

“Shadow! Come.”

He did.

Fingernails dug into his skin underneath the fur. He had burrowed too far within himself, so she was gonna drag him out kicking and screaming if she had to. “I need you. To Pay. Attention.” Maria tried to tug at his muzzle to drag his face closer towards her. He had to play along, however.

At least that assistance in movement was faster than getting him besides her in the first place.

“I’m about. To say something. Kinda not nice,” her lungs strained. The tubes in her nostrils forced more oxygen into those tired, sad objects. “If my younger sister. Did what you did. I would be. Angry and disappointed.” The female Robotnik didn’t need eyes working to see how he took that. Yet, her pinch on flesh increased harder. The strength grew and grew until Shadow had no option but to look at her. “But my sister. You're not. We've been together for. Thick and thin and. Nothing against her. But you and I are closer. I love you. My sweet, little. Brother. I will,” words continued as she finally used all that she had, “always love. You. And always. Forgive. Okay?”

Based on the expression, she basically drowned him.

Good.

Let that sink in.

[x]

P-1 chirped to get her attention one morning, a few weeks later. It was mid-December, and she was finally released from the medical wing – although her special gurney was a location she still had to sleep within overnight. And there was still a saline plus mystery wonder drugs attached to her left hand via IV. BUT, considering, this was a massive improvement. Grandpa was treating her like glass again, which stunk, but she understood. Still, she would like to pretend she didn’t need her wheelchair.

Considering her brother was pushing her around the ARK earlier in the day, well… Yeah.

“What is it?” Maria asked.

“Did you get our messaGe?” the AI asked once more. In the background, about four more of the things danced around in her play room area of the experimental weapons division. Her brother had brought up some of her music discs and had turned on the roundtable to get sound out for everyone. Shadow was, of course, not dancing – there was no way he was going to accomplish such a task unless she fluttered her eyes and begged with puppy dog lenses.

Which she would have…!

If she could dance with him, you know.

(NIDS was not fun.)

“I might have cut off my brother from delivering it earlier,” Maria commented with a nervous laugh. Honestly, if it wasn’t for her good memory, she would have forgotten the reason why Shadow had ‘allowed’ himself to talk to her once again.

She was glad the two of Robotnik siblings had returned to normalcy.

Blue water shifted about. “We will hAve to draw again, then. PenCil? Can we take?”

“Go ahead,” Maria motioned towards the ‘school zone.’ The philosophy books were still stacked on ends, this time opened under a section that discussed ‘affection.’ They were still stuck on that.

While her water compatriots continued making a mess, she took the time to place her elbows on the small table and hang her head on the upward facing palms. Cyan took in her brother’s form, who was looking at something with sharp features. The ridge across his brow screamed confusion as eyes narrowed. She could see his hands be stuck on action: they wanted to reach out to grab something. Probably would have if whatever assumed his attention didn’t belong to Maria.

She followed his gaze with hers.

O! It was her father’s book! Dr. Robotnik’s Guide to the Ancient Civilizations – One Man’s True Accounts of His Daring, Yet Foolish, Adventures in the South! The one normally stuffed underneath her Giant Book of Chaos! The spine was unhidden from the shadow of the larger tome since her own research papers was besides her – the title large easy to spot. Based on how fast his eyes were moving right to left, he was reading the-

Wait.

Right to left? That wasn’t right-

The wheels of her IV bag holder made dull noises as the plastic circular shapes slid across the metal floor. Her wheelchair masked her efficiency as she crossed the distance towards the object that held her brother’s attention. While her fingers picked up the book – the photograph of the ruins from Earth still pretty – she was struck with a sad thought: Shadow slept for fifty years. Her father never had a chance to see her brother, did he? Never got to see how special Shadow was, or how good he could be.

Because even though his ‘fantasy’ was terrible to listen to… it ended with the fragile flower of hope. The planet was saved- And she remembered what he said in the white zone. A promise for everyone to be happy (for the people of Earth!). It was almost like an Ouroboros: he told her whom told him whom told her whom told him; etc.. That moment when he smiled at her with such a state of bittersweet melancholy HAD to have been later – even though Shadow didn’t specifically state it – so that meant that he was… doing her wish. So, he had broken free from the monster’s grip. Yes.

(He was still letting it sink in, but he wasn’t hiding away from spending time with her anymore.)

… Maria was aware of the passage of time. She had been aboard the ARK for the majority of her life – since the beginning of Project: SHADOW. Years. It was so long that her own father’s face had dulled in her memory until this book arrived for her to look at in one of the cover’s flaps. Would he be proud of her? How about her younger sister? Did she fall asleep to stories about having an older sister (and not yet known brother) that lived amidst the stars?

Did… Did Shadow get to meet her?

Or had they also…?

Maria shook her head as she picked up the written word. Slapped her cheek with her spare hand! No bad thoughts! When she was healed, they would all go to the planet and meet up! She would tell AND show them how healthy she was, how Grandpa had worked so hard to save her; that everything was WORTH it!

The wheels clanked again as she scooted back towards the spot next to Shadow. Her body flinched a little as P-1 dropped a case of pencils, but she knew they would pick it up. Why were writing utensil so difficult for them, she wondered. Her brother had exceptionally fine motor skills…

“My dad wrote this,” she started with a smile. “He’s an archeologist and-!”

It was swiped from her hands before she got to finish. The girl hadn’t even had time to process a feeling of rudeness – from Shadow, no less! Crimson eyes continued their hasty, erratic movement in the direction opposite from English and she saw his fingers strain against the hardcover.

His expression was… not a good one.

“If it isn’t one thing, it’s another,” he spat out.

As mysterious as ever, Maria tried her best to not be saddened. This… This was her connection to her dad and seeing it get damaged… Her hand went towards her brother’s and she tried to get his grip to lessen. “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong? Any harder and you’ll damage the poor book.”

He lessened immediately. It told her that he had no idea of his strength at that moment, other than he had held back because he was very, very strong. The hedgehog could have snapped it in half if he so desired. Shadow didn’t mean to almost break her stuff. “Apologies. I didn’t realize I was doing that.”

“It’s alright. Like I said, I will always forgive you.”

His gaze went towards the picture of the sunrise over the lip of the white-grey cliffs, not willing to accept – nor, crucially, deny her oath. “This is… Glyphic Canyon.”

Maria moved closer, making her and her brother’s cheeks touch. He was really warm this afternoon: Chaos Energy hummed almost to an audible level. A quick glance at his Inhibitors told her they were still doing their duty, though. “Yup! My dad spent months deep within the cliffsides to document all the symbols!” She flipped the pages towards the few chapters dedicated to the place on the cover – there were many other ruins and locations, but the canyon was the main character for a reason. “Made from a mysterious civilization that came into power out of nowhere before disappearing into thin air, all we really have left are these ruins.”

The carbon black boy remained quiet.

Alright. She’ll keep going until he cracked and told her what was bothering him (again). Silly Shadow. He couldn’t avoid Therapy Time With Dr. Maria Robotnik. Not even P-1 could, and P-1 was literally water. Although, how fluid could her brother be in ‘squid’ form? Hmm… That was a thought-!

Gah! She was getting distracted. Cursed drugs! At least the dosage was much less than before. “See here? And…” Her hands flipped through more images and sketches that her father had drawn. They were scanned and printed on these white pages, and if she closed her eyes, she could imagine the man whom drew them so carefully. “… here! And here! The entirety of the place is shaped like a winged creature! And all the doors have this symbol of a strange-looking bird, too! Dad theorized that the civilization worshiped this symbol, or perhaps it held a significant culture importance!”

She tried to look at her brother again. Still no vocal response, but he was burning a hole in her book at each thing she pointed out. So, he was interested in the topic! Aha! She knew it.

Maria kept going. P-1 was already done with whatever it needed to do, but was just as enraptured by her retelling of her father’s story: of how the man had fended off bandits trying to steal his notes of the ruins; how a crazed self-proclaimed soothsayer forecasted that death was upon them all by the lost; how the long nights without citrus might have been a mistake; the bugs that were endless and bit through all manner of clothing; the heat of the desolate location that had made mapping out the entire place almost an experience in folly; the totally not treasure hunting that produced gilded statutes of the carved epithet; the endless amounts of windstorms and tornadoes that almost ruined her father’s discoveries.

Eventually, she ran out of material.

She could only hope that it had reeled in her brother. It should have. He always had a weakness to listening to her stories of places upon the planet – eyes that would widen as they would share whispers that they would- “When I get better… we’ll visit this-”

“Absolutely not. Not there. Not ever.”

Cyan blinked.

Her brother scowled and rubbed his digits against the detailed drawings. Maria could tell that he was doing all he could to not tear into the paper, but that didn't answer why he was suddenly angered. It was like he was seeing a memory-

An answer came before she could finish the thought. “This isn't an ancient ruin of a lost nation, nor a location of worship. These are the Black Arms’ flying fortresses, designed to be unlocked during the opportune moment and ascend into the skies to rain down death upon every human city.”

Wait. Black Arms?

As in…

Her fingers pulled the book away and now she was the one tapping at the photographs in speed and suddenness. “B-But this was carbon dated to be over two thousand years old!”

“That's nothing to Black Doom,” Shadow hissed. The P-1s momentarily went on guard behind him before they settled back down. “He's…” Red eyes turned confused as irritation continued. “I am unaware of that thing’s true age, but that doesn't matter. I forgot that he would be back here, too – bastar- -being was furthest from my mind.” Her brother rubbed his face. “Wait. I woke up early.”

“Yes…?” Maria tried to play catchup as her stomach continued to knot.

“He doesn't know. He's supposed to come finish my stabilization before my awakening in the main lab. In January. Abraham saw the exchange during the holiday break. That means he's close. It'll be sometime soon. Sometime around now to the next three weeks.”

Woah. Woah! Abe saw Black DOOM? That horrible warlord was coming here? Onboard the ARK? It wasn’t just a ‘drop a larva and scram’ sort of event? She knew Grandpa had done some sort of ‘Faustian Bargain,’ but not exactly the full extent of the terms! (And the terms didn't matter since her brother won in that field of white and that was good enough for her at the time. There were bigger things to deal with – cuddling a young hedgehog, for one.)

Shadow turned to look at her. “Maria. That was the final straw: the knowledge that the creation of Project: SHADOW was done by working together with the Black Arms. G.U.N. considered my existence too dangerous to-”

Her hands waved towards his mouth and shut it. She gave him a look of nothing but determination. “We’ll stop him. The military won’t find out. We have Grandpa’s back-!”

“I can't ‘stop him,’ Maria. Not here. Not at the ARK. The collateral damage the fight of his first stage alone would be too much for the station to handle.” Gloves held onto frail hands. “Fa- -Professor will know what to do. We need him: to play deflector. To lie. To hide. To create logic fallacies.” Red highlights seemed to glow with his movement. “It can't be me because I'm not supposed to be self-aware at this time. I’ll only fight if there’s no other option – if either of you are targeted for an attack. Otherwise, as much as it pains me to admit, right now we can't afford to deal with him.”

P-1 seemed to have wanted to join in on the group discussion as well. “We will help to defend Father from eNemy!” The chorus of the entire collection of the four of them caused Shadow to watch them with careful apprehension. “It wishes us to help this tIme!”

“Sometimes I wonder if Maria truly did teach you guys the proper way to speak,” her brother dully commented as the Artificial Chaos squealed at being addressed directly once again. (How in the world has he not yet recognized ‘It’ was a term used only for HIM – and only him – yet? Purposeful ignorance?) The moment didn't last as Shadow huffed back attention to the young Robotnik. He noticed that she had gotten silent… “What's wrong?”

“I don't like the fact that Grandpa will be alone with such a demon.” She was worried. What if something went wrong? What if things didn't proceed as they were supposed to? What if-?

“He won't be.”

“But you just said…?”

Shadow slanted his head. “I'll be in the walls. Unseen.”

Oooo. Right. Squid.

A sigh. “With the Artificial Chaos.” Red eyes watched the AIs in assessment. “IF you can follow my commands-”

The notes the AI synthesizers made were unintelligible, but the expression of agreeing was easy to comprehend.

“Besides. Black Doom is a narcissistic fool. He wants his ‘greatest creation’ to continue unimpeded. There will be nothing gained for hurting the head of Project: SHADOW.” There was a grunt at that. “Doesn't hurt to prepare, however.”

[x]

It ended up the note the AIs shoved into her brother’s fingers was notification that they, and Maria quotes: picture of a table. Picture of an airlock. Picture of a table leaving said airlock. Picture of table catching on fire as it descended into the Earth with her brother’s winged form floating above with a comical expression that oozed superiority. Over a table.

Sometimes she wondered where they gained their intelligence from. Her brother was smarter than… umm…

Well, improvement was improvement!

She felt pretty proud that she had tempered the AIs drive for destruction. Blue eyes glanced at the note again. Well… ok. At least enough.

[x]

Grandpa was working on something in a hooded, vented area. A glass box connected to air fans and isolated circulation filtration system resided before him; thickened rubber gloves the only entrance a human could access. The laboratory was bright and luminous and well organized – Maria could see her own reflection on the floor. Shadow’s, too. The sounds of all the equipment ran the gambit in her – some sort of analyzer that was kinda what she was familiar with, only updated to work on the new stuff.

He didn’t turn to face them, but his voice carried over. “What is it, you two?” Maria could feel the warmth of his smile even though he was busy at work.

“You… working on something dan~ger~ous~?” the young girl asked in a sing-songy voice. She knew the answer was ‘yes’ – that black fluid looked thick and viscous and so, so wrong. It sparked and sparkled in the light, reminding her of low viscosity tar. Was it flammable? Toxic?

There was a hum. “Not really.”

“Liar,” Shadow commented without bite.

“Grandpa’s pants are not on fire,” she stuck out her tongue.

“Hmm.” The taller Robotnik slightly shook his right leg – the shined shoe reflecting the ceiling. “Doesn’t look like it.” Maria watched his hands finish whatever he needed to do inside the glass box before he turned around after extracting them. The spectacles were readjusted. Grandpa looked a lot better now that she was able to wheel around the ARK, IV bag or not. The lines on his face were relaxed; shoulders not tensed and risen; back straight and true.

Maybe she could hold off telling him for the news for a little bit. Evening? Yeah. Evening sounded like the right time.

And that period eventually arrived.

It was when Grandpa stood over the two of them, having tucked them in for bed. Shadow didn’t accept it willingly, but Maria dragged him besides her, whispering that P-1 had the elder’s back when the hedgehog had hers. Both were aware that was the setup her grandfather would have wanted. Also, if she looked closely, you could see a boy blush.

He was so… oxymoronic at times. (But she treasured him for that, too.)

“What bothers you, my dear?” Grandpa started.

She told him a super edited version. How she had dreamed of seeing a large Devil with horns attack the eldest Robotnik in a quiet and empty hall. She described the warlord in control vagueness because to be too descriptive would make the adult wonder how Maria found out in the first place. Her hands waved around as she finished the tale about ‘deals with suspicious people needing to be carefully maneuvered’ and ‘Grandpa was the smartest genius ever and would know what to do!’

Because he was.

“Ah.” He pecked her on her forehead. “Don’t worry, my dear. I haven’t-” He tilted his head in a manner like her brother did (was Grandpa the one the hedgehog picked that action up from?) and readjusted his spectacles. “I will make certain to be careful and watch out in case I run into an alien jingoist from your nightmares.”

(Huh?)

Her brother answered. “You better not see this nightmare without me nearby.”

There was nothing Shadow could do as he also received a peck on his quill. “I won’t. However, Maria,” Grandpa changed targets, “you, on the other hand, are to stay far, far away. Even in your dreams.”

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 26

[×]

There was a lot of things upon Gerald’s plate, but the President’s letter was not one of them. He had decided to accept the March meeting – December was an impossibility with everything moving at frantic paces. It was a golden opportunity to NOT remove him, because the elder Robotnik should use his brain: the following year was an election one and that man was to be voted out. There wasn't a need to do anything rash other than endear himself into whatever political strength was upcoming. That was the smarter, more accurate plan, and the perfect place to do so was at the capital city. He could show up, admit it was due to an invitation, but imply that, as a scientist, he only held loyalty to what would allow him to continue his research. If there was anything from analyzing that darkened future gave him, it was the realization of not burning bridges.

Besides, the most powerful man upon the surface of the planet had nothing against…

He wondered if it was the medication that had made him experience oversight at their leader’s arrival. He was so engrossed with Maria’s cure that he had forgotten their upcoming clandestine meeting. Gerald… did not want to undergo that experience again. Yet, at the same time, a part of him was thrilled: Shadow had chosen to reject everything that warlord stood for and had carefully presented his loyalty to the Robotniks – his child's true family. It was a treasure that his granddaughter held so dear and close; one that he accomplished perhaps not as overt but in his own way, too…

Ah… Shadow. His mind was beginning to burn whenever he saw his perfect son, just as how it burned when he saw his precious granddaughter… [The line between the two was blurred and warped under the heat. Gerald was losing his own will to fight because it was beginning to feel right to fall into- No, damn it! It DIDN'T!]

The scientist inhaled a deep breath.

Speaking of the boy, he was standing off towards the side. Not distraught. Not overtly worried. However, he was on high alert and guarded. Still, the words out of his mouth weren't warnings or medical musings. It was something else. “You… kissed me goodnight,” his son softly added while rubbing his topmost quill, like he was afraid that was nothing but a hallucination. A false memory. A wistful thought that would never be true.

He answered carefully. “I have… done it before.”

Black and red shook. “You did it. Not… your grief.”

Gerald paused momentarily at that: the beakers within his containment field frozen in time as muscles stopped. Had he… truly never displayed anything physical beyond a few embraces to the boy while sane? [Was that why his child felt abandoned?] Had the scientist made the same mistake so many other failed families had done before? Carefully, he sat down the glass objects and picked up the next batch – all while his mind processed those terrible memories. The results were all the same: nothing overt. Subtle. A word of special meaning – of ‘son.’

They had split apart after Maria’s… event and he had- [He was glad that that man was deceased. But the damage was accomplished already, hadn’t it been? There wasn't originally a chance to fix things because of the firing squad-]

Loyalty… He had just thought about that, but how had Gerald deserved such a level of devotion from Shadow? His granddaughter he understood, but… “… Would you want me to stop?”

The answer was quiet, almost impossible under the hum of the fan that created negative air pressure in the glassed off section the scientist was working by. “You can… continue.”

He gave a small nod and slowly went back to work.

[x]

The question he needed to address, since the suboptimal plan was the only plan – and he might as well work on that if there wasn't anything else – was this: what could calm down that driving, basically instinctual, need for his son’s ‘blood’ to consume? What was the end product that that fluid was attempting to create? What viability did such aggressive action have once separated from the host/Shadow’s body? And could all those questions be answered, or partly addressed, when their leader arrived? How could he word such a thing without enacting suspicion?

That's what he was trying to solve first. By understanding, truth revealed itself.

However, that meeting day was at some point between now and then. He still had so much to do. December was at the end, and with the final week slipping away, the first fiscal quarter was at its death.

“I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you, but you mentioned previously that you could feel your ‘blood’ devour Maria’s cells.” He gave Shadow a gentle expression – didn't want the boy to feel like this was placing blame on a failed cure. “Can you explain that a little more since the next attempt will have to take that into deliberation?”

Alizarin Crimson blinked – the same color as those beams of light from the murder pictures, Gerald recognized – as the boy frowned. “It is difficult to explain. It was…” The hedgehog folded his arms over his chest and tapped a finger against his arm. “Data. Knowledge.” Disgust played on ebony fur and a tanned muzzle. “I don't know with certainty and it could possibly be something else. It’s as if that datum fulfilled an urge I wanted.” He twisted in position. “There’s a strange feeling in my core every time you mess with my samples. Soft. Quiet. Barely perceptual. It grows when you test with organics before becoming stilled again.”

Robotnik hummed in thought. “I can understand your dislike.” That didn't sound… safe. Urges? Was it their instincts that had imprinted since- -his child had evolved? Remember the White Space: Shadow had been ‘ripened up’ to serve as a ‘completed’ Destroyer for the Black Arms. This aligned to that, correct? “Do you remember every piece we mixed with your fluids?”

The boy rubbed those golden rings as he recollected. “I think so.”

So, Gerald asked for details and Shadow went down the list in order: normal human samples, sickened humans, humans with genetic diseases, the other researchers own samples as a comparison; so on and so forth. Yet, the hedgehog never labeled anything as the right title– they were merely carbon molecules. Lipids. Cellular complexes. Things. He pointed out flaws and compared them to what he knew from the control that Robotnik had injected at the beginning: one sample had a predisposition for certain defects; heart failures; a rare skin condition; cancers. A small smile danced those carbon, red, and tanned features – one not filled with love or hope, but stained in an emptiness that made Robotnik subconsciously shiver. The boy’s tone was the opposite of his face: serious and contemplating and dedicated in order to help all he could to find a way to fix Maria.

Was his son aware he was… enthralled at the clinical dissection of maladies he spoke about?

No.

Gerald didn't believe so.

The smile faded as his tampered child continued down the list towards the end. “I knew which packets were yours and Maria’s, though.  The rest was… noise.”

The scientist paused. “What do you mean?”

An ear flicked. “I just… knew that datum were ones I had to keep… safe. Within.” He shook his head, like it cleared something up. “It seems I do have access to Maria’s genetic makeup…” And yours, went unsaid.

He didn't know what to think. On one hand, this proved his subpar idea had merit and promise: Shadow already had Maria’s genome and was clearly capable of judging against other DNA sequences. It was amazing how… effortlessly the boy did it – faster than the supercomputer locked away in a separate floor. On the other hand, Gerald felt something in his gut. Intuition. Something about this was dangerous. But what? Why? “What did you mean ‘noise?’”

There was a shrug. “It was just carbon.”

“‘Just carbon?’” Not… human? Or human cellular tissue? Not… life?

“Yes. Only carbon-based molecules and their related structures. Was that incorrect?” Shadow spoke with more confusion. He could tell that the researcher was searching for something the hedgehog hadn’t given.

It technically wasn't wrong. Just… clinical.

[x]

The ARK’s elongated hallways did their normal thing: reflect. The cameras watched from their high towers as Gerald walked besides the boy, slightly ahead and towards the right. The upcoming meeting with their leader was on his mind now that he had left the medical lab. He needed to know the exact date… When was it? He needed to search- -and that was difficult because they were not expected even the last time. He had written the date on the journal, but when…?

A scientist racked his brain.

Before the New Year? No. There was a party that he ignored for Christmas because Shadow was slated to awaken soon and he suddenly crashed unstable. Dangerously unstable. He was afraid he was going to lose the black and red Mobian hybrid. Maria had already been so enamored by the form Gerald crafted the DNA into: unassuming. Fluffy. Cute. She would be devastated if he hadn’t taken care of-

Ah. So not then.

When?

His precious Maria was sad that day. Why? Why? Because…?

Gerald's foot stepped the wrong way – inwards at an angle – and he tripped. His jostle didn't make it far before he was arrested; red eyes watching guarded and careful.

“We can't keep you on chlorpromazine much longer,” Shadow whispered despite knowing the cameras only carried imagery. His expression was nothing but worry. “Your body is suffering the side affects more often.” He carefully placed the scientist back on two, well grounded, feet. “We should run a scan on your mind to ensure no damage had been accomplished permanently.” Those red eyes shifted. “And I won't take ‘no’ for an answer.”

The overprotective aura was… palatable. “If there is… damage?”

No response.

“Ah.” Gerald knew the answer. His drugs would mysteriously vanish. [Good. He required them no longer. Using them was delaying cures because he was always at arm’s length with himself. Had not both sides agreed that these delays were his own fault? Right? What was wrong of resting aside for his true self? Did not Gerald hold all the love required for his children; the anger for motivation; the craftiness to make people believe he could accomplish nothing when he had already set things into motion-!]

He wasn't ready. That side was still too strong; too wild-

Gerald would save his children.

No matter the cost.

They walked a little slower; Shadow’s muscles ready to catch any other fall; a mutter of, ‘Now I'll need to be careful Maria's friends don't try to pull up the flooring.’ The ears twisted as every sound – the face pulled into a neutral expression with a slight hand wave whenever other scientists saw the two passing.

… It was New Year’s Eve.

That was when that Demon arrived. The ARK was silent as others had already gone home and Gerald wanted to be alone to watch the specimen die – he hadn’t stabilized the Mobian. Another failure. Maria couldn't – shouldn't – watch the hope they carried burn at the supposed start of new beginnings. She should have one last good day at parties with Abraham. Hide and go seek. Something other than stay with a disheartened man that laughed at the idea a DEMON’s offspring could save him. The Inhibitor Rings were useless golden tissue papers. Chaos Energy had attacked from the inside out – the larva’s DNA at taking reigns of such power was incomplete or incompatible with that of a Mobian’s that could do similar. It was as if something was missing…

He saw the symbol of the sun and moon first.

A reflection on the glass that showcased the stars.

“Gerald Robotnik. It's not habitually I use names with lesser entities. Consider yourself worthy of my direct visitation.”

“-essor?”

The scientist reached out to Shadow’s topmost quill and gave a simple pat. “Just thinking.”

Thinking…

His gaze went back towards the hall, past the walls; off towards where Maria resided in her room under recovery. The spectacles returned soon enough towards the boy, who watched every movement with baited breath. Tense. Ready to fight if needed. Aware-

Gerald couldn't have his son in the same meeting.

He told Shadow he wouldn't be alone.

But… couldn’t their leader also be aware? Didn't that blood carry superb Chaos Energy manipulation? Could not Black Doom seek out beings or objects of Chaos [and organics] like Shadow could? Would anywhere vanished from sight be considered ‘safe’ for his child to hide? Anywhere that wasn't the laboratory where the Ultimate Lifeform was supposed to be sleeping?

Shadow HAD been missing something the original time – the final infusion purposefully kept away to see if ‘the creation was worth receiving the true source of the Black Arms.’ Their leader would be expecting the same this time – would want to ensure that tether remained for that future promise. [Revenge on the Earth was HIS, not some warlord’s!]

When I go, you will be watched, child. Be searched for. I can't let you meet, Robotnik mused.

How was Gerald going to break his word? How? Shadow needed to be invalid, or at the least persuaded to stay away, in the lab. He wanted the two youths to remain hidden, because what if that thing could sense and spot holographic illusions as well? What if Black Doom discovered Shadow was ‘harvestable?’ They would fight and there would be death. No. He had to keep his son safe. He had to keep Maria safe. He had to keep his family safe-

[And the other him agreed, didn't he?]

[… Gerald was losing against his own thoughts…]

[And it pained him.]

[Anything to save them.]

[… Anything…]

He could… send Shadow into sleep again. That worked the last time. Would it work when the boy understood that something large was on the horizon, however, was a separate question – he doubted that the hedgehog was allowing himself to sleep in the first place. It would be too suspicious to try again, wouldn't it? Or, maybe he could set aside plots and underhanded actions to discuss with his son? The boy would understand… right?

Which way?

What method?

While his mind raced, the two reached back towards the main laboratory where Shadow’s empty tube – the one labeled PSUL2.018-BD in internal memos – reflected his turbulent expression. Gerald started with the easy way after ensuring he could speak freely once more; after the boy unclipped his handkerchief and pulled off the device around his throat for the normal maintenance it required. “Maria will want to do something.”

A nod. Shadow was aware. “I was thinking on putting her on Abraham duty.”

A frown. “Her friend?”

Another nod. “He was a witness to your discussion with Black Doom. Maria will be happy to stop that from occurring. She can hang out with him everyday if you can't recall the exact-”

Gerald took a deep breath. “New Year’s Eve. Near midnight. That's when it was.”

Red eyes watched his creator. “That soon…” A hum as he moved his hand in a thinking pose. “Maria can make it work. We can have her celebrate the countdown with him, which she'll do willingly if I tell her the date. She'll stop all the witnesses she can. Problem: the General will be included. I know you do not particularly enjoy her presence, but there'll need to be a reason why Maria isn't with us that night.”

So, Shadow was going to tell his dear granddaughter how to manipulate the scenario. Crafty. Intelligent. Was even aware of the pitfalls. “It’s obvious: you attempted to use Chaos Heal on a new organic organism and exhausted yourself. As such, I had to be besides you to ensure stability. We’ll say it begun December 28^th, far enough in advance to not be overly suspicious.”

“Efficient. Simple. Easy. I agree.”

Now for the bite. “You'll… be staying in the lab.”

Black fur bristled and eyes narrowed. Shadow was aware he was about to get regulated towards the sidelines. “I will not leave you alone!”

Large hands grabbed around shoulders. “And when Black Doom sees you – feels you – in your ‘completed’ form as something awake, what will you do, my child? Fight? Kill him? Win? At what costs?”

There was a tsk; clenched fists; a scowl. “If you meet him at-”

“Let me guess. You want it in the Reactor, because there's enough Chaos Energy in there you think you can hide away within.” Gerald ensured his tone was serious, but not chiding or aggressive or upset or all those other negative emotions Maria nor Shadow should hear directed at them. “It won't work. My granddaughter has studied on her own and has invented some amazing theories about Chaos, but one will make hiding you impossible there. You shine like a sun. If I were able to make an Energy reader that was long range, you would be screaming. He will know you're there. It'll be bad enough that he'll be able to discover how potent you've now become. However, you, according to his plans, will be at the cusp of death. Incomplete. Not a threat.”

The two countered back and forth as the clocks ticked in their silence observation. Hours slipped with neither side willing to give up their position. There was no yelling. No screaming. No heated arguments that would be looked back as unnecessary or regretful. Just two individuals convinced what they were doing was right.

And, eventually, Shadow yielded.

Gerald sighed at that. The pressure lessened. He felt… better.

The boy knew.

Hated it.

But knew.

[x]

If he had remembered such a meeting early enough, he would have had time to make Shadow interface with the Eclipse Cannon's faux angel ore and inhibited the signal of his Chaos Energy for just those required twenty-four hours. If he had more time, he wouldn't feel sick to his stomach from the fear that wanted to ride up his back. Was it because the clandestine talk with their leader was oncoming? Or the fact that his granddaughter and son had to pretend that the thing’s arrival was not to be and had to be exposed because that was what was expected? Then there was the boy himself: just because his son relented didn't mean that he wasn't vocal in trying to get Gerald to change decisions. It was every glance. Every subtle nod. Every movement.

Basically, Shadow begged him not to do what he was going to.

“At least take something,” came a last line of defense. A final plea. “A way to communicate with me in case something happens.”

The scientist eyed the P-1s, who were hovering around the boy like a veil. The lights from above caught the highly reflective surfaces, and whatever Maria was doing with them made them more organized – which meant deadly. [His granddaughter truly was too pure for this world…, unaware of how bringing growth could create the passion for action. The AIs had one sole focus: protect Gerald, because it was ‘Its’ motivation.] “I’ll tell the Artificial Chaos to find you,” he relented at the end – at the most. “But there is a limit on how close they must come as well. They must act as if they are merely doing their normal rounds.”

“And if they can’t notify me fast enough?”

Gerald lowered himself to share a gaze. He mustered his courage. “They will. They are… effective messengers when required.” His stare lingered towards his son’s head – where a brain would have been; a mind.

The synthetic chirp of acknowledgement gave the scientist the answer he required.

“Yes, Fath… Professor.” Shadow looked absolutely defeated.

He gave a reassuring pat. “Now, now. You are quite sick from Chaos exhaustion. Don’t need my little patient to overburden themselves in recovery.”

The comment didn’t really rise up his son’s spirits. Instead, they galvanized something. A final warning. “Be careful. He can…-” Crimson eyes shifted towards the ground as fingers gripped onto his own fur. As always, there was trauma – one Robitnik wished he could wipe away, but Shadow kept it on a ledge too far. “-Chaos Control without voice or movement. The second I feel it happening, I will be there – damn the consequences of potential onlookers. There would be only one reason why Black Doom would use it: to kill you.”

[x]

There was a lot of messy blonde hair being stylized by an old man’s hands. The brush was molded plastic in the shape of a bunny; the paint that created the face worn by long years of usage. Although Gerald was in a position to buy a new brush and have it shipped on a shuttle during the logistical runs, Maria liked this one in particular. It was the one he gifted her upon arrival towards the ARK, and that bittersweet smile hurt the scientist. He knew that face, for ever so briefly she held it: she was aware that this was the same brush that she combed her hair with on that final day.

She slapped her own cheeks. They bloomed rose.

Still, he brushed on, letting her strands become as smooth as they could. Her body was already in her favorite blue dress and vest; shoes on pale toes. A different ‘armor’ than his own – a lab coat and a brown turtleneck with his business pants – but critical all the same.

Gerald was a hypocrite. Just like how Shadow did not want him to be alone with their leader, HE did not want Maria to be alone with the General.

And just like he had done to his son, Maria convinced him that there was no other option than direct action. It would be strange to have the ‘wonder drug’ be tired if he had ‘Chaos Accelerators’ with a basically completed Eclipse Cannon to tap into without her being sad and mopey and needing comfort from her friend on a holiday. The girl was to be ‘abandoned’ for the lab, again, and she understood, but that didn’t make it hurt less…!

… He didn’t like it.

Cyan eyes watched his reflection in a mirror, where her own gaze observed herself. Pale hand patted his own that was still grooming gently. “Don’t be so anxious, Grandpa! I can do it!” [She knew Black Doom was to arrive, but didn’t know that he knew she knew and it was all just a giant mess, wasn’t it?] “Your super special secret meeting with your super mysterious investor will go on fine with me on the case to ensure Operation Abraham Distraction!” Her voice was nothing but optimism and pride.

“What if the General asks you about Shadow?”

“I respond,” the girl added with a clap of her hands by her heart as she swayed to and fro, “that he’s just the cutest little black bean ever that is just too tired to play with.”

“And if she hints that she doesn’t believe that his Chaos skills are flatlined in growth like the reports hint at?”

More sash-swaying to showcase utter devotion. “That’s not true at all! The adorable hedgehog has successfully managed to break apart genome structures that use not strength, but finesse, in Chaos Energy! How is that not an improvement?”

“And if she asks about me?”

A wink at herself, knowing Gerald would receive it. “The smartest man in the universe will help Shadow get better by Jan 6 – the day the military and civilian personal of the ARK gets off their holiday break. You are working very hard to ensure there’s not even one day lost for work!”

The woman would stay suspicious, but without proof, what was she going to do? Deny her nephew the ability to play with his only friend onboard the station? Little boys got lonely.

And the only thing in her office was the photo of Abraham’s smiling face with the Commander besides him.

That was her weakness.

Gerald was going to exploit it.

Silence. Then, cautiously, “… Grandpa?”

“Yes, my dear?”

“You alright? You stopped, um, brushing, um, my hair.” The young girl took in a deep breath and her eyes squeezed shut. “I-I understand you must be under a LOT of stress cause-! Cause this mysterious, super important investor sounds incredibly scary!” [Subtly was so far out the window, but her concern was ever forwarded. She was scared for him underneath that brave face. Both Maria and Shadow were.] “You’ve been working so hard. And, um, I want you to be safe, and um…”

Ah. A mistake. He glanced down at her, ensuring his reflection was harder to observe and read. “I only stopped because I finished combing your hair soft.” Her bangs were brushed behind her ears. “Don’t worry. I have met this investor before. It’ll be alright. It’ll be just like that time in September.” A grin split his features. “Have fun at your New Year’s Eve party – and do not hesitate to have P-1 defend you if needed from the General.”

Don’t hesitate to make that woman understand true fear as well if you must, Maria.

The Artificial Chaos in question shifted in the background, wearing a little bowtie around one of the antennas of the mechanical construct. It was… silly, but his dear wanted to ensure that her escort was ready for the adventure as well. She sniffled herself back into a ray of sunshine. “I won’t! P-1 and I will have a grand ol’ time! Abe will just love the AI! You’ll be successful! Um, oh! And Shadow will get well soon!”

He nodded and watched her leave. The door slid behind the youth, leaving Gerald all ‘alone.’ Somewhere, possibly just a few feet away underneath the very floors in access panels, were his own set of P-1s ‘patrolling’ conveniently around him. He reminded himself of his own excuse: the military wanted to watch for Dr. Robotnik because they had suspicions over Project: SHADOW. Pay them no mind, Black Doom – they’ll never get too close and had no cameras to play back to their owners.

A valid excuse. Reasonable.

One certain warlord would laugh revoltingly, but understand.

“Anything for them,” Gerald promised aloud once again before he left.

There was a consultation to attend.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 27

[×]

Maria Robotnik knew exactly where to stand with her cultivated appearance. It was the common area of the ARK’s civilian section, nestled between the hallways that led to the residential sleeping quarters and the cafeteria. Her mouth was set into a very sad frown, eyes distant and lonely, and in her hands was a hat with the next year’s number scribbled. She looked pathetic underneath the lighting; could hear the whispers of the people around her mutter that ‘Dr. Robotnik has been so busy. A shame.’ ‘The alarm was so loud on the 28^th, right? She must be so worried – the Mobian is always around her or the Doctor.’ ‘Poor girl. Look at her… Think she's waiting for someone?’

Yes.

She was.

Abraham… still was a difficult person to think about – something that only grew more complex after her brother's admission. The secret meeting was something she hadn't known, but her friend had. It suddenly made sense: why Abe detested her brother, called him a freak; called him a monster. There was a thick tension between the two she had assumed was just the other human child being… jealous. Shadow was allowed to ignore homework (because he was primarily at school to pick up social cues and integrate with humanity), the hedgehog was treated with awe and respect by the researchers (which included more attention from Dr. Tower than Abe received, sadly), and he was fast (so fast that whenever the two Robotniks went to have fun, he was left behind). She didn't mean to ignore him – it was just he was so… hostile to her brother, and Shadow didn't need to hear any of those words.

Haaaah. Yet here she was waiting for him. Maybe this could be a new start? If Abe misses the meeting between Grandpa and Black Doom, he wouldn't know about Shadow’s… genetic ancestor, which would mean he could join and maintain friendship! A circle of four: her, her brother, the P-1s, and Abe!

Her optimism faltered when she continued the thought that she had been ignoring. Abraham must have told someone what he saw. His dad? His mom? Both? No… They worked for Project: SHADOW. Couldn’t have been them…

… Did he send a letter to his aunt if his own parents ignored his ‘warning’ about an evil alien that was on the ARK?

Because it got leaked. Shadow mentioned it: the final straw. Abraham let the information out to someone whom told G.U.N. whom…

Her fingers clenched around her party hat still in her grip. She couldn't slap her cheeks to get rid of the bad thoughts, but Maria could fuel her turbulent face with sadness that suddenly became a little more genuine. Her friend probably didn't understand that telling an adult condemned…

Blue eyes watched the researchers around her.

… everyone.

So! She was gonna fix this, too! Not just for Shadow, but for all the scientists! Her brother would beat up any bad aliens, so he would guard humanity, too! There wasn't a need to fear the creation of Project: SHADOW! He promised with his entire being to save the planet!

Maria waited longer after that internal proclamation. At some point, the other child was gonna show up. Abraham loved this area because the young girl would sometimes be caught in this zone alone. C’mon, Abe. Where are you? You're not crashing Grandpa's meeting!

One green and one blue eye.

Ah! There he was!

The scene was set: face filled with wet tears; lashes that fluttered under the light; a back that raked with silent sobs as she only wanted to spend time with Grandpa – a man who was pulled away because of duty – and she understood, but-!

His voice was kind (and it made Maria feel dirty at what she was doing). “Ma-Maria!” The sound of shoes running reached her ears before his small hands bracing her up away from the wall did. “Wha- What's wrong?!”

Crocodile tears – small ones, but enough to catch the ceiling illuminations – fell. One drop. Two. “G-Grandpa canceled New Year’s Eve with me. S-Said he had something ur-urgent come up-”

It seemed like she had never been away from Abraham for months. A look of concern reached every inch of his skin. He carefully took her paper hat and placed it on top her head; the elastic band controlled as to not snap and slap against her skin. “Don’t worry, Maria! You can just come celebrate with me and Auntie! We got sweets already starting to be baked! She’ll… she’ll accept all abandoned children!”

Her fingers reached towards her face as she rubbed the water away. “It’s… It’s ok, Abe.” A sniff. “I don’t want to intrude. It’s so late. I should just go to my r-room.”

“I don’t want to see you sad. I know how that is,” the kid whispered softly as he helped to pick her up. Dual-chromed eyes closed as his volume increased. “C’mon. My aunt gets lonely cause no one calls her for holidays either, so having one more extra will lighten up her mood!” A weak, encouraging smile erupted. “We just gotta swing by the cafeteria to pick up some extra cinnamon and brown sugar.”

(Dirty. So, so; so dirty. Maria was appalling. The old her would never pull something like this off to a friend – to Abe. But her family needed her, and she would accept no other outcome than calculated, extracted results.) The Robotnik slipped her fingers into his awaiting grasp; noted that he suddenly blushed and turned around. “T-Thanks. Sniff. Abraham.”

“N-Not a p-problem.”

Hand in hand, the two children made it towards the messy back regions of the kitchen. A skeleton crew worked that night, cleaning up the leftover messes from the day’s earlier meals. The individuals were G.U.N. mess crew personal – some sort of actual military job, and it made her wonder just how many people had been aware of the siege; how many didn’t and were killed by their own team…

“Aha! Here it is!” Abe replied ecstatically. The grin kept on his features as he handed over a package of brown sugar for her to carry. He seemed to understand that her face was still set into a frown. “Don’t be sad, Maria.”

It wasn’t sadness.

She was just aware how many lives were in her, Grandpa’s, and her brother’s hands.

[x]

Ancients, did Maria feel… awkward. Was her smile perfected enough? Nothing too bright, for she was left all alone this night. Nothing too dim, for she loved Shadow with all her heart and wanted him to get better. This facial control worked on Abe, but he was younger than she was by a few years. How was he supposed to know how the mind of a Robotnik worked?

Miss Cotes might. That was the real test.

The boy in shorts rapped the door in the rhythm of some unknown melody. There was a momentary pause before it slid opened, and Maria saw her: a middle-aged woman with platinum blonde hair and a-

The smile was genuine until green eyes recognized there was someone new. The feeling of warmth vanished even though the grin continued to spread. “Oh. Maria Robotnik! A pleasure to see you here.”

“Auntie! She was left alone tonight. Can we let her join us? I-! I promise to wash dishes without complaint tomorrow!” Abe jumped a little at that while he offered the baking good he had.

There was not an ounce of hesitation. “Of course she can come in. I promise not to drop my batter on her by accident again.” The hand swept towards the lit interior. “Come inside, dear.”

Come into my stronghold, it felt like.

But Maria was smart! Maria was brave! Maria would distract Abe from running into Black Doom, even if it meant ALL of this! As a response, she, too, offered the baking supply and entered – tried her best not to flinch at the way the General closed the door with a small click of a locked exit.

Abe was already racing down the hallway, tugging the female behind him. “We can make buñuelos, now! C’mon, Maria! O! And then we can pop some firecrackers in auntie’s empty room! Small ones!” He babbled on, speaking about all of the events they were going to share-

-Miss Cotes was observing Maria.

Probably planning something.

Her voice filtered in when the woman noticed her nephew was awaiting a response. “Of course we’ll do all those things, my little guardian. Don’t forget the countdown! That’s the second most important thing to accomplish tonight.”

What was the first?

She knew what it wasn’t: the metaphorical consumption of Maria.

Cause she was prepped and ready! But not too overconfident. That’s how disasters happened. Grandpa taught her better.

That was the mindset she went into as a bowl of flour and cinnamon and other stuff she didn’t recognize was placed in front of her. Abe, his aunt, and her, all kneaded dough in the well-stocked kitchen. Cooked many different pastries and sweets. Talked about various subjects that had nothing to do with her brother – not even the smallest hint or notice.

Of course, the topic had to come up eventually. Abe was the one who started it: hands covered in sticky stuff that was to become chocolate chip cookies and a large yawn that betrayed the fact it was 2245Z. “Is… your new best friend… nice?”

Her head turned at that comment. “‘New best friend?’”

“Y-Yeah. He was born – created? – in September, right?” He squirmed. “New things are shiny, and-”

A cough. Maria tried not to sound like a lecture. “Shadow is not a thing,” Miss Cotes, you hear that? “He’s also my brother.” A twist of her neck as she mentally calculated out the Robotnik line. She certainly didn’t see the hedgehog as an uncle, and that word had connotations of someone older. Maria was the eldest of her father’s children. Sorry, Shadow – time travel or not. Pale fingers slapped together as her voice filled with mindless affection – just the thoughts of a silly girl. “He’s the cutest, sweetest, most almost-innocent little guy in the world!”

A blink. “‘Almost innocent?’”

She nodded. “No one is truly without sin. He stole a rock once.”

From a museum.

Technically.

“O-Oh. What a bad… boy?”

“Abe! He’s a good one!” The defense was quick.

“Er! Yeah! S-Sorry!”

A hand reached out to grab his. “But just because Shadow is alive doesn’t mean I forgot about you. He just… means a lot. As family. Besides… you helped me out this past night when he couldn’t. I… really want to say thank you for this.”

Abraham’s facial expression bloomed pink again. She was a little shocked as he pulled away; voice increased in pitch as he gave a ‘meep’ and raced off towards the living room.

Ugh. Great. Now she was alone with her.

No, no, Maria! Happy thoughts! Time to chase him down.

And she did.

[x]

How long WAS a meeting between a warlord and Grandpa? Her brother mentioned it could go either way: ‘The thing likes to hear his own voice, but also considers anything beneath him not worth attention. It could go either way.’ To pay it safe, Maria decided to stay until the ‘ball drop’ and Abe fell asleep completely and utterly.

Then, it happened:

“HAPPY NEW YEAR, ABE!” she yelled from the sofa with a face of bittersweetness. How she wanted to have this event with Grandpa and Shadow (especially since this was her brother’s first official one), but she understood Abe himself was in pain. He had hinted at being lonely. Poor guy…

The child yawned massively as a response, not fueled by the adrenaline that she was; powered by the need to accomplish a mission. In response, Miss Cotes picked him up and placed Abe besides the comfy spot on the couch. Kid didn’t last long – his head of brown hair used Maria’s lap as a pillow and it was embarrassing to her own cheeks as well.

Long fingernails trailed against a woman’s own face as she watched the scene. There was a shift as the lady narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. The female Robotnik was aware, however. This was not missed. “In some cultures, it is tradition to give a gift of the New Year to a baby. A promise for more days to come. I hadn’t meant to showcase this so early, but opportunity knocks.” She moved off towards the side, into the storage room, and Maria took the opening to try to get Abe off her.

Time to go back to the lab, right?

The girl made it about three steps when the General came back with an object bounded under thickened glass.

Maria was punched right in the gut.

Intestines.

Her soul.

She had never seen such an object before in real life, but the young girl automatically knew what it was. Flashbacks of her Operation: OCHER to claim the thing before her zoomed: how it was necessary to discover which specific floor on Prison Island it was locked up within; how she had to force her brother to describe with painfully accurate detail potential vault locations – detail that, now that she understood the context, only existed because it was what he had LIVED through (it made all the sense WHY he hated it) for fifty YEARS; how he was supposed to ‘use’ Grandpa to get access to a top secret location – something that would be easier now that he was supposed to be roped in, something that wasn't supposed to happen for a while because getting that extra time and money came first…!

The female Robotnik could see her reflection upon the deep blue faceted gemstone that reeked of Chaos Energy. It hummed the very air immediately around it. Soaked into the rugs.

She could see that she made a critical error.

Her face was nothing but horror.

“It’s going to be a welcoming to the world present for Shadow,” Cotes added with too much enthusiasm at seeing Maria’s face. “He's recovering due to exhausting every ounce of his low reserves, and I understand this will be able to replenish his assets quickly.” Green eyes flashed. “Maybe even unlock whispers of his potential.”

Her mouth was dry.

Mistakes.

She-

She did one.

Panic filled her. “No! You can't! Please! You can't give my brother an Em-!!” Pale hand slapped down hard on her own mouth as she bit into her tongue with enough pressure to start tasting her own blood. The pain bloomed, but not as much as her realization of what she-

What she just said.

A sweet sounding, wrong sense of worry. Of guilt. “A Chaos Emerald, Maria? Why would he not enjoy such a gift?” She pointed towards a stack of papers off towards the side, nearby Abraham's sleeping form sprawled over the couch. “A certain researcher from down south recognized that the second Prototype from Project: SHADOW has control of Chaos that resides in only the highest echelon of Mobians. Things certain countries breed under guises of keeping pure bloodlines – bloodlines that Dr. Robotnik didn't take or claim for your brother. Rather, the genetics clearly described his body was too weak to pull off anything. A conundrum, considering Chaos abilities were solely capable from cultivated lineages derived forcefully over generations. Of course, a genius knows how to overcome such… limitations.” Her fingers danced along the reinforced glass that held the glowing jewel. “I've read the reports from your relative: the Project is constantly overburdened due to his over taxation of this ‘Chaos Heal.’ Once a week is tragic – imagine all the lives that could be saved if your brother could access a far deeper pool of power.”

The woman was trying to play into Maria’s want to help people!! It was… gross! Sick! Disgusting! No wonder Grandpa hated this person!

The Commander continued. “I want you to be the one to give this to him, Maria.”

“Never.” The hiss was loud. Her eyes had narrowed.

No more sweetness.

“Are you certain? Think of the consequences.”

What… gibberish! She KNEW the ‘consequences’ if her brother was to get near that THING! His mind wouldn’t-! His body wouldn’t-!! The Rings wouldn’t-!!!

“Your hand would be gentle. He'll trust you. If you don't accept my offer, Maria Robotnik, I'll find a way to give him his gift when you least expect it. Of course, it's not a threat at all – he's so weak I want to help him. He's just a medical marvel that needs to experience growth.” Her hand let go of the protective case and watched Maria's every twitch.

Her pale hand twisted into a fist. “I said, ‘NEVER.’ And you WON'T give Shadow the Emerald.”

Cotes – Kirkendall – whatever this evil person's name was! – shrugged and settled back into the appearance of a single mother. “Alright. I apologize. Have no worries, then, Maria. I won't offer it to him since you’ve made things adamant.”

Wait.

What?

Huh???!

The glass chest was placed on the coffee table; the pull too strong for Maria to ignore. “Rather, I thank you for giving me what I wanted: knowledge. The Project can regulate Chaos Energy to the point where an Emerald gives you, and possibly Dr. Robotnik himself, fear. ‘Weak specimens’ don't ever have that option available. G.U.N. has papers over such. Only those whose pathways are too…” Hands pulled back a strand of hair. “… controlled – refined fires – brings such powerful capabilities. TRUE weak creations simply blow up before even getting so far. You are scared because It is too strong without one and you're afraid It'll destroy everything It will touch in madness.” She laughed once. “I want something manageable! Not a mass murderer!” A smirk. “And you've just told me he's such a weapon already, only playing House for a young girl.”

DING!

The previous batch of cookies hit the 20-minute mark in the oven.

“The Devil is ripe and ready to be showcased to the world, Maria. After cooling down and… decorated under expert hands. Mine. With you and your grandfather’s help, of course.” She reached towards one of the earlier produced deserts that were sitting on a plate next to the Emerald. It was the shape of a family: a man, a girl child, and a boy child. The General offered it to Maria’s retreating form. “Take it. If there's one thing I learned and taught Abraham, it's you hold your own destiny.”

Her hand slapped it away.

Blue shoes pivoted.

Maria escaped.

[x]

She fled outside those living quarters. Over the hallways. Past the cheering yells of other drunken countdowns in the common areas where alcohol danced in crystal cups. Past everything. P-1 was there: held her, guided her; caught her. Followed her orders when she demanded to be sent straight to Grandpa’s laboratory – for them to lock the doors and prevent anyone other than her family entrance – allowed them to use nonlethal force if they had to! If there was no other option!

The lab hummed.

Maria continued, searching. Where was her brother? Probably deeper. Emerald free. Fine. Conscious.

She eventually spotted his backside.

The sitting settee that Shadow upon was soft and plush. Hoards of wires dangled off his body taunt in the air – each one connected to sensors attached to screens that blazed data. Some, okay, most, were red and had silenced alarms with CRITICAL FAILURE over many different parameters. The only one she innately recognized were read outs of Chaos Energy, and she knew it was over the charted capabilities as they always were. The wires were red and gave the appearance of something removing blood from his body – which was incorrect and she knew it! This entire set up was a ‘lie,’ he had told her in secret one night. Her brother was going to stay in the lab – despite his HUGE misgivings – and pretend he was incomplete. Almost dead. With no heart to beat anymore, it was an easy enough sell if he looked like a fatally injured specimen.

The comfortable location outside the tube was because Grandpa refused to lock up her brother for some reason. (Maria agreed for a different one altogether.) Despite that, her heart still pounded louder than normal, even though she was smart enough not to push it too far this time.

He hadn’t turned to address her yet. It was a LOT of electrical conduits.

“Shadow! You can't trust the General!” she warned. “I mean, we knew that, but she has the Chaos Emerald and threatened to use it on you! Or wants to! I-! I DON'T KNOW! She manipulated me! We need to plan for her coming in tomorrow because she might ACTUALLY do that and-!”

He still hadn’t turned.

The girl felt the atmosphere change and a knife raced up her spine. For some reason, she wanted to gag. Where… Where was it coming from!?

“Shadow?” she asked again in worry.

Nothing.

Worry exploded. She raced around towards the front-

The hedgehog was sitting perfectly still. His legs were too short for the settee and the inactive Air Shoes hung over the lip of the edge. Hands were opened with palms across his own lap. There was evidence of a book that had once been there, but it was scattered on the floor – bookmark a few feet away. The holographic machine was running, but was making strange sounds, as if it was straining under an immense load. She had missed it in her earlier panic.

His body was… relaxed.

Red eyes open.

Empty. Thoughts hidden away.

He was… not taking her in with his gaze.

“S-Shadow!?” she went to touch him-

-was BURNED.

“Ahh!” the girl gasped as she looked at her fingers. First degree. Caused by excessive Chaos Energy. The wires were not red by design – they were glowing in radiant heat. She had thought the warmth was just the exhaust from the equipment, not-! There was suddenly a flux as the Energy running through the strands dimmed until Maria was a few feet away, before they rose back to incandescent scarlet.

Cyan didn't have time to look at the scene anymore. What was going on with her brother!? Why now? Had he sensed the Emerald? Something else not related?!

“Shadow!” she pleaded.

No black ear twitched.

Panic was running in full force. Larger than earlier. Should she run outside to tell P-1 to drag Grandpa back here!? This was an unexpected EMERGENCY! But the meeting! She couldn't break into that because that was super incredibly dangerous for her family if she did!! But Shadow was in trouble! What should she do?!

In the middle of her dilemma…!

The hedgehog didn't spasm no matter her pleads, and Maria realized his unfocused gaze held that golden ring in the middle; watched on in the greatest apprehension. It felt like she was suddenly trapped and was before… something only in the shape of her brother – which was IMPOSSIBLE because that WAS nothing more than Shadow!! There was a small whine as the device around the hedgehog’s neck overheated and turned offline – winged, unfurled black and red daggers suddenly visible.

She was… worried.

Begun to pant.

Not on purpose.

It was a reaction she couldn't control. Just like her heartbeat pounding harder against her chest.

She had to do something. On her own. Shadow depended on her!

Carefully – slowly – she edged closer to him. Watched those enflamed strands of copper. With every inch, she felt that dagger in her spine dig deeper; understood that while she wasn't being watched overtly, something was keeping tabs on her. Sticky. Everything felt sticky – was it radiation from her brother's body leaking out? Something else? How much Energy was settling into her skin at this very moment? Was that why she tasted… copper? A swipe at her mouth didn't show injury, so-!

She persevered.

The closer she got, the less the humming could be heard from the lines. The less heat.

It waned but took time.

Time she felt she didn’t have for some reason.

It was… like Shadow knew she was there. Wanted to… protect her… It reached the point where she was able to stretch out and touch his hand again – felt that burning sensation against her flesh that hurt, but didn't scald her immediately. The closest she could compare this to was sticking a hand in a preheated oven. You can go in there to place a cake pan but only for seconds. You could pull back and be fine, but if one closed the door behind themselves…

“Maria…?” he spoke softly. Quietly. Ethereal.

The girl let out a careful breath. “Shadow. You alright?” A massive understatement. This was not ‘alright.’

He reached towards his head. “Where am I?”

Her tongue rolled against her teeth. What to say? He was still so hot to the touch that she had to let go or he’ll notice he was slowly injuring her and she couldn't have that. He was… Clearly this was not on purpose! “Grandpa’s lab. Don't you… remember?”

“The lab…,” Shadow repeated light and airy. “That's right. I was there reading. Was worried about Fath-… Felt something change on the station and it pulled me away…” Tired eyes shifted to look around and he realized his book was on the floor. The title of biology and rare neural diseases a stain on the dark navy cover. His digits dug deeper into his skull as his sense of self changed – and, boy, did Maria not enjoy that context. “… Now It is… elsewhere.”

It? Elsewhere?

“It sees him.” her brother murmured with a tone that told her he was losing it again. The lab was vanishing before his eyes – or already had. “Below. Far away. It is above. In the rafters.” He let go of his head and rested his arm besides him; the heat from the wires not affecting or registering upon his body. “But I am here. Before Maria. Where… am I? Who am I?” A flinch.

(BAD! DANGER!)

He could hear her still, right?! “You're Shadow! And it's time to WAKE UP!”

“It… It has to watch. Protect him. It has to… see…” A grumble. A curse as he flinched and the tone changed into something deeper; something alarming. “We have to speak.” Everything was lost at that moment – Maria just understood that on her insides – as he slumped silent again; the machines still in alarm as more red labels appeared.

Was he…?

Had Shadow accidentally projected himself onto a P-1?

Was he in the Artificial Chaos’ processors?

How was that even possible?

Maybe not the CPUs themselves, but the- That's right! The Chaos Drives within them! This was a connection established by Chaos Energy! To bring her brother back to reality she would have to shut off the source!

… Okay. Where? Where was it? Her head turned around and searched desperately. There were the normal objects within the laboratory, however. Nothing new or dangerous. Grandpa would know better than to have anything that could hurt her or Shadow in this region, too. It also couldn't be Abe’s aunt’s Emerald – that restrictive container was doing its job and it would have to be at LEAST within her Grandpa’s sanctuary to maybe do this.

Was the source…

Internal?

How in the world was she supposed to turn off something like that!? THINK, MARIA! THINK! Only in fantasy stories did screaming a name work. Reality was different. Use the CLUES. PROBLEM SOLVE. Channel her inner scientist! Make Grandpa and Shadow PROUD of her! PANIC WOULD GET HER NOWHERE!

What would a professional do-!?

Her brother answered a result that she hadn’t been looking for. “Gerald Robotnik.” The dialect filled with acquaintance – a mix of hate, loathing, and revulsion; of respect, admiration, and begrudging acceptance. “We almost decided to not arrive but wisely measured otherwise. Consider yourself one of the few carbon-based organisms worthy of claiming a name and receiving our direct visitation,” Shadow bludgeoned into her racing thoughts like a sledgehammer, this time with unnerving clarity as he remained unmoving- Wait. Even his mouth remained flat lined; voided of the required shapes to create speech. So… So, how'd she hear-?

It was…

It was like he drilled into her brain.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 28

[×]

He remembered the first day when he traveled towards Angel Island. The sense of wonder – the sheer and under fascination he held within his brain at seeing, experiencing, and reading about the ancient echidnas and their lost civilizations. Of the detailed drawings of the God called Chaos whom ruled the oceans; a mysterious flying oval-shaped object that was quite ridiculous and funny looking; the silent ruins that were carved and seemed to be active in rejecting him. The tour guide – a rabbit based Mobian that didn’t ask too many questions so long as Gerald did the same courtesy in return – had commented that the flying island had been visited by humans before, but this was the first time he had ever seen the wildlife try to avoid someone.

“Like it fears you,” came a shrill, dark laugh.

Those memories faded into the stagnate air of less traveled regions of the ARK. If the Reactor and the Eclipse Cannon’s core was the beating heart of the entire space station, then the large, expansive caverns where endless hoards of the Chaos Drive’s manufacturing plants existed were its mind. The sparkling trapezoids glowed various colors in their cooling ponds – the rivers of excess water flow from the Reactor space. Many Mobians would call this entire place damn near blasphemous: it was a mockery of the Chaos Emeralds and an affront to the Mobian God; a falsification of life. Artificial. A fraud.

Hands pressed together on themselves behind his back as he stared down into the soft blue abyss. His child was not such a thing, and neither was Maria for requiring the boy in order to get better. The pressure he placed on himself increased.

In terms of meeting locations, there were fewer, better options. To have the P-1s maintain their best form for defense where seconds would count – Gerald carried no illusions that they could defeat their leader – it would be best to be located in areas with water and Chaos Energy. With such sources nearby, even if this breeding ground for the Drives had immature faux pieces of gems, their lasers and movement speed could increase upon consumption of such goods. Any warnings to send for help – or, in the worse case scenario, a final farewell and notification to inform his son to take his grandchild far away from here [for planning all potential results meant the bad ones, too] – could be expedited because of connections. Crucially, this location was also extremely regulated, but since Maria [and the AIs] had proven travel was an option via the heating and cooling systems, perhaps they weren't as safe as one could assume.

It was better than his main laboratory. What a fool he was last time, believing there could be no one on-looking to Shadow in his near-death state that night. Gerald felt his laugh escape into the cooled room and saw his breath sublimate. It was frigid. The Drives needed such environments. He was glad he kept his coat on.

His mind wandered. What was it that Shadow specifically said? Even if the scientist changed the location, their leader would still find Robotnik if the thing was purposefully searching him out. Ergo, he shouldn't be worried about the differences over the timeline.

A leather shoe pivoted on the floor. Gerald wasn't fully honest with his son. His child was under the assumption that the head of Project: SHADOW was only to act as a distraught scientist about to lose the cultivation of his research, but the reality was different. Rather, the elder man understood he needed questions answered – questions that related to why his child's internal body only wanted to consume and destroy. Questions on how to FIX that. Address it.

And he had to do it subtly. That Demon couldn't find out why he was asking such things in the first place.

A game of cat, mad cat, and a warlord.

What ridiculousness.

… How long was he supposed to wait, he idly wondered. Their leader had a disgustingly high affixation on Shadow back in White Space. The same amount wasn't to be expected right now… Gerald hoped. The boy should be nothing more than a curious oddity: a future promise IF this creation was successful.

A promise the scientist was going to break immediately.

Hah.

Not much of a man of his word, was he?

There was a movement on his own wrist as he checked the time. Minutes ticked. Then quarters of an hour. Gerald ensured to not lock his knees; decided to take a walk around the cooling ponds to alleviate his nerves and tension. P-1 kept its gaze on him as they circled around; the lights above hummed; the Chaos rail line in the floors that fed and left this room gave off slight warmth…

What would he do if there was no meeting?

That wouldn't be so terrible, he supposed, if the absence was because that thing wouldn't ever come ever again. If it was due to the fact the date had been changed… Well, that was less than enticing. Since this current moment was free time, he might as well think about other things that he could control. Other events. Other machinations. One was the President. He didn't care if that man was going to get ousted. Gerald would kill him. Just how? It would have to be secretive. He could accomplish that-

-Sigh. This again. Why did it take so long to banish-

-It would help save his children. The political fallout would force the Vice President into command, and that individual would be nothing more than a puppet for the Senate. What was it that the bureaucrats required right now? Think… Ah, that’s right. They wanted safety within borders from an ever-expanding southern war. The Artificial Chaos would work in the oceans and prevent the spread onto United Federations landmasses. He could offer that black site weaponry for the Senate to use – watch their faces turn suspicious on their own G.U.N. as to why it wasn't offered earlier.

No. Absolutely not. He was going to go down to Earth with Shadow – if the boy was willing to in the first place – in two and a half months and merely find allies, not-

Remember the vow: anything to save them.

… It was a mistake to admit to that.

He exhaled as he saw his reflection beneath him. The other side was, indeed, winning. Maybe he had no option but to use the strongest medicine. Hahhh… Kill the President? Ridiculous. It’s not like he would have told his child to do it. Gerald can handle that himself. Something delayed. Something original. Something not traceable. Maybe something radioactive? A legitimate alpha producing particle that could be ingested? Anything related to Chaos Energy would be too obvious-

THE ANSWER WAS NO.

A leather shoe hit the steel beam post that held up the railing. The noise echoed and caught the attention of the P-1s. He shook his head to signal that he was fine – or as ‘fine’ as he could be.

He wondered if he was being watched by… other things in this endless waiting game.

Tick. Tock.

It was too bad his subordinates required time off – no, that sounded worse than he intended. [He had no desire to kill any of the researchers aboard the ARK from… from revenge. Why would he? They helped to create – to save – Maria. And they died for it.] His men weren’t robots. They needed their time off. Even if they were devoted to pursuing science – humans weren’t cogs in machines. They needed rest.

Two-faced Gerald.

Thinking about rest when he refused much of it.

And, yet, still the time kept passing. His watch’s hands reached near midnight at some point, and Gerald pondered if his memory was- wrong? Impossible. He had seen the reality of how ugly humanity was, not lost track of critical dates! So, then, why did it take so long to recall it in the first place-?

There was a splash in the water.

He turned to face what it was.

Nothing.

But ripples of something expanded outwards from a source. Three; four; seven; thirteen rings before the initial movement that caused it was low enough to just be mere stillness of the glowing pool. The entire collection of ripples covered almost a fourth of the large body of water, so whatever caused it was bulky. Possibly as large as his upper torso and arms.

The P-1s’ metallic heads had not surfaced. He counted them. Was missing none.

Eyes roamed around. Nothing left. Nothing right. Nothing before. Nothing behind. Nothing below.

That left above.

[Was this it?]

The higher gaze followed the reinforced ribs of the columns holding up an asteroid’s ceiling; the sparkles of cosmic metals making it appear that there were numerous ‘Geralds’ watching back. Eventually, he reached the vaulted maximum, where the emergency control rods hung. In case of uncontrolled Chaos reactions, they were to slam down and cease Drive production.

Each shaft was black and silver. A maze. Perfect to hide within.

It was why it took roughly a minute of purposeful search to find… movement. Something that shifted around, as if trying to not be observed or noticed. Silent – so quiet that if not for the fact he was notified about a meeting today, he would have missed it altogether. The lights in the growth room were only enough to see general shapes and colors, yet, even the scientist could tell that it was large enough to have made the movement in the water in the first place.

Gotcha.

It descended. Moved like the very air itself was fluid – like an aquatic beast from the deepest blues. Was it irony to have chosen this room? Subconscious thoughts?

No. Now was not the time to be thinking of anything else. REMEMBER what rests on this meeting!

FOCUS!

It was large. A six-sided star that was black and had markings of crimson. The singular gold-dominate, pyrrole sclera eye in the middle watched down upon Gerald with uncanny focus – not bothering to have acknowledged the Artificial Chaos in the space further below. A good thing. He hoped. It floated around the scientist like a predator assessing prey before detaching away and maneuvered – almost lazily – towards the region just before Robotnik; tendrils brushed back in fluidity. Ah, wait a microsecond. He DOES remember this thing and its label: Doom’s Eye. It was the repulsive object that could project an illusionary image of their leader.

Strange.

Wasn’t the meeting… physical?

There was the sound of reality being spread apart at the seams. He recognized that specific sizzle; zap. It was the same sound his son used when he pulled at Chaos Energy-!

[Considering he was not a pulp on the walls – or that Shadow hadn’t already teleported within this enclosure – or that the P-1s weren’t attempting to shield him – meant that this was merely their leader’s way of arrival. Not the specific adaptation of Chaos Control that the boy was appalled of-]

[ENOUGH OF THE DISTRACTIONS!]

Because… Gerald was correct.

Above him, floating as a poltergeist, was none other than Black Doom himself – the scourge of the universe. The warlord. The self-proclaimed ‘Immortal Lifeform.’ Dark horns tipped in the hue of blood, those three claws that were an affront to fingers, a form that lacked legs as it rode on what felt like mist, a surprisingly elegant cuff and medallion set that danced in the pool’s ambiance; the torn hem that spoke of disasters it could wrought.

Nothing was as piercing as those three eyes, however. Damned near pure white in the center. To add more to that uneasy feeling, there was the way the shape of a mouthless being narrowed each ocular.

A glare.

One of… hatred. Loathing. Revulsion.

There was no laughter. No crackle of glee. No sweep of the arms proclaiming immediate superiority. Instead, Black Doom turned sideways to faced his Eye that remained focused solely on Gerald.

Only then was there a soft… Not a spat. Not a chuckle. A… ‘verbal’ smirk? [What were indications of emotions other than greed, abhorrence, and other negative connotations on them?]

Robotnik would never forget the thing’s voice for as long as he lived, however. It grated into his mind – damned alien creatures and their… biology. Like knives. Piercing. Trying to search for any weakness until it eventually found one. Chaos Energy burned into his cortex; ah, so THAT was how it was accomplished- “Gerald Robotnik.” The golden cuff moved as a claw pointed directly at the scientist. “We almost decided to not arrive but wisely measured otherwise. Consider yourself one of the few carbon-based organisms worthy of claiming a name and receiving our direct visitation.”

The scientist was calm. He was collected. This was not frightening him to the base of his core at all. He had already died before after experience true horror of losing everything. This was nothing. “If you expected me to be obliged, perhaps you should have tried to court another human.”

That enacted a chuckle out of their leader. It shook the body, which Gerald took note was actually… translucent? “Wit? You still have hope, we see…”

The rebuttal was a noncommittal hum before he added, “You promised me something stable to save my granddaughter. That was a lie. I should be in my lab with my patients, not here, if you only came to mock.” It was… close enough to what he said last time. This thing was a narcissist. Egotistical. Had the highest superiority complex possibly known to man.

But totalitarians loved a challenge just strong enough to not be a true threat. To crush them underfoot. To leave them feeling insignificant, but alive.

Gerald didn’t beg the previous time. It was… solely a business transaction.

One Earth.

For one last attempt at the Ultimate Lifeform.

[One specimen to sacrifice for a cure.]

[He wasn’t supposed to have gotten attached.]

[Was impossible not to.]

Challenges drove curiosity. Confusion. The want for more. Robotnik was correct in more ways than one. The warlord issued a shrug before those arms folded over themselves – three eyes dominating the visage that the scientist could watch and attempted intimidation. That feeling of a leer – of something Gerald was missing – had not vanished, however.

What was he overseeing?

He carefully continued. Prodded only so far as he dared. “Your genetics – if I can call it that – have been ruining all my samples to cure my granddaughter in my separate, isolated tests. Nothing can be extracted from such one-sided results.” Gerald did not take a step back as Black Doom hovered closer. “How can anything be synthesized with the Ultimate Lifeform if everything gets obliterated?”

The thing was staring harder; one could see the cloth of unknown material flow around in movement as the alien appraised the scientist. Doom’s Eye followed suit, never even taking the time to blink. “You started earlier than we expected for your descendant based on our building blocks. Nevertheless, we never issued promises to save her – only the opportunity to do so. It will be your own prerogative to accomplish that.”

“And how am I to complete my Project if I can’t stabilize-?”

“‘Complete?’” The distance swallowed between human and Demon. If this thing talked via breath, it would have been a heated hiss against Gerald’s skin. There was nothing but antagonism in a voice, now – and… something else. “How… exceptional of a word.”

… Glee?

Satisfaction?

What… had he missed? The word that set off the thing: had… Oh. This thing knows about Shadow’s potential. But it wasn’t a surprise. Maria mentioned how strong and easy the boy was to feel out. This was… expected. Within tolerances. Should make Black Doom feel very confident about what Gerald was creating [had already accomplished]. Predictable-

“You are an expert at fashioning things beyond expectations, Gerald Robotnik,” Black Doom murmured as eyes slitted. “Yet, you don’t realize exactly what it is you wrought. How are we to exact retribution if you cannot recognize certain truths?”

‘Retribution?’ How was anything ‘retribution?’ Unless-

Unless-

Eyes shifted underneath his spectacles; as did his body weight from one knee to another as that thing continued to loom overhead.

… Gerald did not like this. Not at all. The implications were-!!

Don’t tell him that-!!

The translucent clawed hand grabbed onto Robotnik’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Nothing too tight to break anything, but a human’s capillary veins were at bursting point. The difference in physical strength was very, highly apparent. “Hah! Don’t fret. I,” the Demon heaved, as if that last word had taken immense effort from deepest within, “have no memories of fantastical futures of the stars deteriorating to a singular point.” There was a pause as Doom’s Eye squirmed right by Gerald’s right ear – he could see his own reflection in that glass-eyed mirror.

Haunting.

The obscene object suddenly left the position by his side. The human hadn't been worth watching anymore, and it floated past the scientist. Eventually, it went right behind Black Doom’s back side. Air simmered around the six-pointed star: boiled, popped, and oozed. There were small flashes of light as a hybrid of rock and flesh-like orbs appeared – twelve- twenty-four- forty-eight of them that decorated the Eye like extensions. It must have been something their leader summoned. A weapon. An attack.

Was… [as Gerald swallowed bile] he about to get killed-?

What about Maria? Maria would die without him if it all ended here. Where had he gone wrong? Where had he miscalculated? If Black Doom DIDN'T have knowledge of things to come, then why were things different!?

The claw let go from Robotnik’s shoulder.

That thing hummed once more.

The Eye kept taunt; each limb stretched out. Then it relaxed. Rocks dissipated.

There was a wave of a golden cuffed arm. “We know a better location for finishing this discussion. There’s something we wish to observe.”

There was a preamble warning: the Chaos Drives below illuminated brightly as they recognized Energy was being shoved by a capable user in their vicinity. It was the same feeling as previously – as the last time! Of the world being ripped apart by the very shreds of its existence as he felt the floor dissipate beneath him! There was nothing but that jumbled mess of color and feelings – of a rush of fluids in his ears as he underwent vertigo almost instantly-!!!

CRASH!

No one was available to hold him up from the transportation over space like the previous times. Gerald coughed, trying his damnest to recovery – tried to ignore that sick laughter of a cruel owner playing with a new pet for the slaughter…!

“G-Grandpa!?!”

… Maria!?

He turned his head vertical, but his granddaughter was already moving. A dissecting scalpel knife flew in an arc and landed far too short to reach the warlord.

The thing continued to ignore the two humans as it floated towards the side unabated, where-

SHADOW!

HIS CHILD!

“GET AWAY FROM MY BROTHER!” Maria screamed out with fists shaking besides her. With urgency, she knelt beside Gerald to help haul him up as best as she could. Cyan narrowed into true, utter hatred even though her skin was as pale as a cotton sheet. “YOU FIEND!”

The scene was one of a massive mess. There were objects all over the floor of every nicknack that one could pull away from the storage shelves, as if his granddaughter had been searching for something and had not achieved her answers. There were even broken Chaos Drives ripped away from anything immediately nearby; the rail line forced offline by emergency stoppage from the control console. None of that was as sickening of the sight before them both, however:

The boy was stilled.

His enemy was right before him and Shadow was doing nothing.

Black Doom’s back was to Gerald and Maria. Those talons reached out to grab his child by the head and it picked up the unmoving body, ripping away the sensors and their mostly false readings. Horns tilted sideways to observe the long, brilliant appendages that hadn’t resisted that thing’s touch. [It took all of Robitnik’s strength to hold his precious granddaughter back from running right into the fray! He UNDERSTOOD her desire for action, but to do that was SUICIDE!]

Why was Shadow not moving!?

“P-1!” Maria ordered, and that’s when the walls exploded out – metal grates fell; the section nearby where the rail ran poured out at least fifty of them-! “Attack!” she pointed right at her target.

Water itself lunged-!!!

And-!

Halted.

Mid-step.

Their needles were all aimed at the correct direction. Sharp. Ready to pierce into whatever constituted flesh for something of the Black Arms. Their momentum carried forth the humming of Drives to indicate ranged bombardment.

But they, too, stopped dead and stilled.

Retreated.

The warlord still clenched onto his prize as he turned back around to face the audience, as did Doom’s Eye that appeared from a burning red vortex from nowhere. The grip was similar to a hanging – all of Shadow’s body weight being suspended by his neck.

At some point, Gerald had slipped into full on panic despite his best efforts.

Maria was as well. Her eyes widened as she noticed the Artificial Chaos were invalid. Confusion overruled her voice as she attempted to comprehend, but the scientists did not allow her to finish as he shoved her body behind his. He would DIE before Maria ever would.

Her voice was still as hot as iron. “How did he stop the P-1s!?”

Two voices answered in perfect tandem.

It silenced his granddaughter.

“The advantages of being connected to a singular hive mind.”

… His son?

Why was he hearing…

… his child as well?

… No.

No.

No-!

“Reject such overt hostilities, Robotnik. Rather, rejoice. The concept of ‘Black Doom’ is already fundamentally dead,” came a chuckle. “In fact, you could argue your desire for meeting that individual is why this thought of ‘self,’” the thing indicated towards its own horned creature – to the floating, acidic body, “was even available in the first place tonight. The soul of ‘Shadow’ was just too disgustingly strong willed – apparently, Gerald Robotnik, you did quite an amazing job preventing the inevitable for so, so long. Imagine being modeled after a pathetic, terminal girl's heart and that still provided the strength to consume me. A massive miscalculation on whatever this ‘future version’ – and ‘present,’ since ‘want and desire’ for a potential new, superior body overruled – of myself was, I will admit.” The cycle of dark mirth spiraled as their leader’s took another look at the Eye – watched how it floated closer towards Gerald and Maria. “However, delay tactics eventually run out. We are One.”

That thing tossed the boy against the floor. His son bounced and rolled for a little bit before reaching nearby his family of humans. One could sense the radiant heat – he still reached out of concern and worry and the need to provide care, but Maria prevented his hand with a bit lip and darkened eyes!

The image of Black Doom phased out and then in, far weaker in vividness than before. Aware of that, the claw reached towards the group of three in a gritted fist as words exploded with upmost revulsion. “Ah… A bargain is a bargain. You gave us a Vanguard, so we'll tell you want you need from the deepest of our vaults of knowledge… If you want ‘stability’ to spare organic life worthy of being remembered, only one object can claim it: the Master Emerald. It can subdue rampant Chaos, but the repercussions to others not yet here would be immense. Nevertheless, you might just be able to spare your granddaughter as you twist open the rest of the world! HAH!! Even at the last breath, at least I get to know he'll fall apart at the seams and transform into exactly the perfect Destroyer he was designed to be. A planet eater. A horror. A conqueror. The recessional song for all life. The peak cultivation of the Black Arms. Struggle against fate all you'll want, PROFESSOR, and witness our rise!!”

Just like that-

He was gone.

Only the Eye was left – suddenly closed off to the world.

[x]

Gerald was a robot watching the scene. It shattered him into pieces of dust. He could hear each word. Recognized the meaning behind it. In his arms was his granddaughter as she suffered.

“You were supposed to have WON!” tears wailed out of ducts; hands shivered as they grasped onto anything familiar; her heaves echoed around and by all of the failures that watched the solemn scene. “Not my BROTHER! Not you, SHADOW! You were supposed to have been FREE!” The cry of unparalleled agony stretched on – it rung in Gerald’s soul and tore every piece of him that was already dust into atoms. “WAS IT THE PRICE YOU PAID TO COME BACK TO SAVE US!? IT WASN’T WORTH IT! NOOO! NOOOOO!!!” Phlegm. Coughs. Gasps. Shrieks. It was all. It was everything a human body could produce. “Why!? Why----!? You CONDEMNED yourself!! I would have rather stayed DEAD if this is the result! This can't be-! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING-!! AHHHHHHH--!!!!” Hair thrashed. Teeth bit onto her own lips. Her head tore away from Gerald’s shoulder as she attempted to travel to Shadow’s unmoving form – the puppet; the doll. “YOU DESERVED BETTER! THIS CAN'T BE YOUR REALITY! NO, SHADOW! MY BROTHER! MY FAMILY! NO! NO! NO! PLEASE! WAKE UP AND TELL ME IT WAS A LIE! TELL ME WHAT I HEARD WASN'T TRUE! TELL ME YOU DIDN'T BECOME ONE WITH BLACK DOOM!! PLEASE! PLEASE!!!!! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!!!” And still the tears fell upon fur. Heaves of sorrow. No hope. No happiness. Just screams. Endless screams. “Wake up. Please. Please. Please. Wake up! Wake up! Say it's not so! Tell me you didn't sell your soul. Please! Please! PLEASE!! Wake up. I'm here. Your Maria is here. Grandpa’s here. Wake up. Don't be gone. Please, Shadow!” The cries continued. Continued.

Continued .

He had failed to save one of his children.

[Shadow had been claimed before Gerald had understood there was a war he had to attend and fight for in the first place…]

[x]

The boy ‘rested’ upon the lap of a small girl – whom waited only a long as it was deemed haphazardly safe – as the Eye orbited around his body as a moon to a planet. Like a guardian, the thing prevented anything from getting close except the two Robotniks. However, the six-sided star ensured to maintain distinct distance from both humans. Always out of reach; always there. Black and red. The hues of Shadow.

All trio of oculars were closed.

Maria fell into a restless slumber; twitched and whispered ‘run away, Shadow’ in faint flinches. Her position was going to give her muscles nothing but aches when she awakened once again, but Gerald understood that the worst thing he could have accomplished was move her away from the boy. He had placed a warm blanket upon both of his children after he ensured her vitals hadn't gone too far from accepted tolerances. It was the least he could do – the part of him that was still able to function understood that both the youths needed his gentle hand.

As for himself, he had fallen into distraught.

He designed his son to… To…

Accept. Adapt. Ascend.

To become the Ultimate Lifeform.

What that definition meant to him was entirely another to some thing else.

To save Maria…

He got exactly what he was researching for.

He did this to his son. He was the individual that made Shadow capable of interfacing with Energy and Drives and them in the first place.

It was a hex.

Where had it gone wrong?

Did his son, in utter and pure desperation, call upon that Oneness to slip in between time and space as his granddaughter believes?

The boy feared himself. Of his own ability.

Does he know what he lost? Gave up?

Or does he only think he knows? Hopes otherwise?

Was he in denial?

Or had that knowledge of what he had accomplished to get here burn away? Locked up? A memory so depressing the key was tossed and forgotten?

Eventually, though, when about four additional hours slipped on and his musings were nothing but incomprehensible complexes that couldn't be strung together, the Eye stopped rotating on its axis. It hung the tendrils, flexed in an unintelligent pattern, and opened the slit. Gerald was besides Shadow before the thing above them all was even halfway lidded-

Was besides Shadow before his boy’s blank gaze was at midpoint.

The first thing spoken was a shot to his chest. Robotnik took it in. Accepted it. He would do it again to hear his child speak as an individual. “Who… am I…?”

“My son,” he answered on baited breath.

Shadow reached to his head and grimaced. It was one of utter disappointment and self-chastising. “Oh. Damn.” Realizing his uncultured speech, there was a small cough. “Ah. My deepest apologies. I hadn't meant to fall asleep.”  There were underhanded curses – rumbles of, ‘Sleep? During such a critical time phase? What's WRONG with me?’ Quills ruffled as he twisted; the Eye retreating higher into the unseen regions, like it was never there. Never watching. [Was that Eye… Shadow? Did that hold… his true conscious? His will?] Frustration leaked – to himself, as if the boy was the problem when he wasn't – as senses closed. Fingers rubbed away the traces of drowsiness against the bridge of his nose. “Did… your meeting go alright?”

A kick to Gerald’s gut. A mallet to his head. “It was… enlightening,” were the not lies but torrid truth. He had a reference, now, as to how corrupted his broken child was. The clues had been there all along, haven't they? From those still glass-like, pupil-less eyes to a well of Chaos Energy beyond specifications; those wings that slowly flapped as the boy shifted to sit up. Inhibitor Rings that used to work but now only barely held on. A love of neurotoxins and fascination of organic materials. Of wanting nothing more than to obliterate with such precision that it shedded into ecstasy if left unbounded. Then there were the ties to other things; other creations. A hive mind. A collective conscious. Merely points of data to ingest; points that the body sought out to add more into the fold.

[This was what it meant to become One with the Devil.]

He was afraid what Shadow would do if…

If the boy…

How was he going to address – hide – this?

“You're… crying?” his son Chaos Snapped to grab some tissues for Gerald’s tears [when it should only be the opposite]. The package was offered with worry in his expression. “What did that bastard do to you?” Gloved hands searched and checked for any injuries or maladies, but all that was there was a destroyed heart. He had believed losing Maria the first time had almost eviscerated it before, but this was equally as painful.

“Their leader didn't physically injure me. The tears are just relief it's over.” The scientist had thought the answer would be easy. Merely let Maria or Shadow blow up a comet some fifty years in the future with the Cannon. Now… Now he was struck with the realization that the boy was a part of them – their ‘Queen’ – their sole focal point of the hive mind; was possibly using those things up in orbit as an anchor to be capable of speech, movement; thoughts. That this form touching Gerald to ensure his creator was ‘safe’ was nothing more than oblivious to reality. Shadow was living in a dream where he was going to save his family; that everything would work out fine; that he was… fine. Different. But fine.

Robotnik wouldn't let his son wake up from that illusion.

He wouldn't let his boy slip from his fingers.

He was a fool.

He was terrible.

He truly was a monster.

Because he would damn the world to hold onto his granddaughter and son.

He reached out to brush back Shadow’s fur. Soft. Something sobering – something that would be received as pleasant. “What did you dream about?”

Red eyes and a tone of annoyed disbelief. “You just came out of a consul with a self-proclaimed life eater and you ask about what I napped up? Isn't there… higher priority things to talk about?”

“This is… higher. To me,” he didn't hesitate. “It’s not for discipline, son. Egotistical warlords tend to not say anything… worth my time. You're more important.”

Gerald… wanted to know.

There was a sigh. Another underhanded comment about being incapable of staying awake during something that could have gotten Robotnik killed. There was guilt and self revulsion. A lot of it. He partially blamed it on a strange Chaos Energy reading that distracted his senses – one that arrived at the last quarterly shipment of goods from Earth on the 29^th. The scientist wanted to stop the train of that, but knew if he was too obvious, the boy would be suspicious and he couldn’t have that…

Not matter how much it hurt.

The elder human squeezed Shadow’s hands. “Just… humor me?”

There was a cough. A blush of embarrassment. The boy didn't discuss dreams. “It was nothing.” Realizing that Gerald didn't have the face of accepting that as the sole answer, his child continued. “Just… water. Then being moved elsewhere with a feeling to protect something. Anger at something else for almost not listening to my demands.” A glove waved before him, as if to banish those thoughts. “Now you tell me: how did your meeting go? Detailed stuff. I'm not ignorant in knowing you're trying to deflect my attention, Fath- -Professor.”

The scientist lied.

The story was scary. Frightening. Went as the way it did last time, mostly. Their leader was someone that Gerald wanted to get away from as soon as possible. How Black Doom had noticed Shadow, and laughed at the scientist’s fear of losing his Project because the thing understood that the boy was going to survive even if the vitals were showing only failure. The two parties left on less than ambivalent terms, especially when the scientist had mentioned that the larva had been killed by Robotnik’s ‘negligence.’

And when Maria showed signs of waking up, he sent Shadow away on an errand that would take time. He was going to teach his dear granddaughter how to lie, too.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 29

[×]

The grass was a brilliant green. The sun was hot against her flesh – memories of summer in a country that she couldn't remember the name of fell. The cerulean blue skies seemed to go on forever, or at least until they hit the tall thunderheads that seemed like pictures of cotton candies. The trees swayed in the wind as spring made everything flowers with the illuminating hues of lavender and opera pink. Everything was extraordinarily over saturated, as if someone spilled the raw paint upon the world. Bright. Overpowering.

Grandpa was next to her, dressed in… his lab coat? But it was too hot to be wearing that with his normal long-sleeved brown turtleneck! And he still had his credentials for the ARK still upon the upper area of his chest: each step made them away slightly in the wind. He’s so silly, she huffed. The symbol upon the plastic card scratched her brain, but Maria ignored it. She squinted her eyebrows together and waved at the scenery – waved at the brick path she and her grandfather were on. “We’re on Earth, Grandpa, and you still are dressed for work?” Maria felt confused. Why?

When did she arrive on the planet?

His kind voice interrupted hers. “A Robotnik’s job is never done, my dear!” There was a deep laugh that changed from great joy to…

Not great.

“You understand, right?” Grandpa ended with a squeeze on her fingers as his expression suddenly became hidden.

She nodded.

They walked together for a while-

Shadow let go of her hand on her side.

Wait. When did he get here? Not- Not that she was complaining, of course! Not her sweet, in-

In- In- Innocent-

His voice was a light whisper that played in the breeze. “I'm happy I saved my family. Fulfilled my purpose. The cost is mine alone.”

There was a fork in the road and she heard her brother take a left. By the time she turned to look – to steal his hand back – what she saw of that other path was completely filled with tar; the sky itself midnight with rubies stars that went ad infinitum.

[x]

White gloves moved her a little. Gave comfort. Didn't let her unknown struggles go too far for too long. “Another one?”

The creak of her bed was the answer as cyan avoided looking at Shadow’s directly in the eyes. She made it look like she was still in the daze of half awake, which, considering the bags under her eyes, was close to the truth. She hadn't been able to sleep more than five to six hours for the past five days. How could Maria possibly with the same type of nightmare? There were times she saw her brother slip underneath the void viscerally; times when he was forcefully pulled away from her with only a sad smile upon his features; times when he ‘glitched out’ away from her at an outing. The worst one was of her brother floating above her and Grandpa with the Earth burning beneath his extended wings – of Chaos Spears embedded into the bodies of every living creature within sight, save the Robotnik duo – of his euphoria that reached a soulless gaze – of the words, “It will always protect you two, and only you two,” that descended like the ash in the wind-!!!!!

“Should we use some sleeping medication?” his deep voice cut in to the one she was ‘remembering.’

Not one feverishly focused on solely the Robotniks.

Not one unaware of whom he was anymore.

Not…

Not One.

The young girl squirmed in place. Comfort was foreign – Ancients knew how Grandpa felt. She could still remember how his gaze was haunted when the elder took her by the hand and told her, “You must weave tales of this certain falsification, my dear. If you don't, you'll kill him on the inside. We'll lose him… forever.”

She… She had agreed.

But it had taken over thirty minutes.

Maria had argued and fought with her grandfather.

Yelled at him.

Screamed at him.

Told him it wasn't right. That her brother could resist back! That- That-! That-!! (Then she remembered what the hedgehog had said to her in secret: about those whispers that were always there. Always in his mind. How they sung to him and he was seemingly incapable of not listening. Of how he wrote and read in a different language and treated it as normal – was it all… theirs?)

Oh, Shadow!! The fact he didn’t recognize something more than just physical was ‘wrong’ with him was TERRIBLE! How much had that Fiend consumed away already!? Or injected!? Corrupted?! Or whatever that- -that damned verb was!?

The lack of a response and inaction caused a hedgehog shaped individual to move off towards the side. Cabinets and drawers were shifted through as her brother searched for the liquid intoxication. The plastic measuring cup was held up as the syrup from a medicinal bottle oozed out. His ear flicked towards her as Maria attempted to hold her breath to control her breathing. There was a slight frown before he relaxed it by force. “Fath…,” he sighed as he screwed the cap back on, “Professor says he might have found a way to deal with my caustic blood for your cure attempt.”

(Her sweet brother was trying to raise up her low spirits, but didn't know that would only make her-!) Lying. She had to lie again. This hurt so much. But she was strong. She could do it. Again. Again. “Grandpa sure is… amazing!”

It wasn't good enough. She could feel his red eyes upon her. However, he assumed it was her exhaustion. “Here. It's bubblegum flavored.”

Her tongue flinched at the bitterness.

“You know he loves you, right? Always will? The future-past won’t happen.”

Of course. That wasn't her worry, Shadow… She didn’t have night terrors of the monster- -man. Not anymore. Oh. Her poor brother…

“When we get to Earth, what do you want to do first? I'll do whatever it is you want-”

“Think for yourself,” she heaved. “That's all I request.”

He stepped back a little at that. Confusion filled him. “I've already explored a lot of the planet under my own prerogative.” He tried another angle. “… Rouge… always said that girls enjoy ‘a little bling.’ Perhaps we can go to a large human city and see what they have to offer you?” Her naïve brother realized she wasn't receptive that time and searched around in his… (hive) mind. “Maybe Spagonia to eat the foods you remember? Or Soleanna – it’s an island with a lot of strange things, I'll admit, but I'll go if you desire. There's always Mobian locations as well. I'll protect you-” (A shiver at that, which she was able to keep in her mind – she was certain the emphasis was just her own fear placed within his tone, not him actually saying it in loss of self.) “-from any harm in those areas. Professor mentioned something about conflict, but I don't really remember about world politics down south-”

“-A picnic,” she softly added as she tried to settle back into bed. “I just want a picnic with you, Grandpa, mom, dad, and my little sister. Don’t really care where, so long as we're all there.”

“… That's it?” Worry.

“For now.”

His hand waved around at the pictures of flowers, animals, and specific locations on her walls. “And… this?”

She felt the medicine settle in her stomach. It'll take thirty to take into effect, but she patted the empty space near her bed anyways. The quills and fur on Shadow bounced as he made his was over; hadn’t flinch when she hugged him and pulled him tight enough to not escape. No. It was her that mildly hesitated when her fingers grazed against his wings… “Shadow. We'll take turns. My first location is already decided. You think of where we should go next.”

“Maria, I already-”

She refused. “Where do you want to go?”

He didn't say anything. Rather his eyes shifted towards his left, where nothing was, and a hum of thought escaped him. “I suppose ‘wherever Professor wants’ is also not a correct response.” He could feel her shake of denial against his skin. (Why was it so hard for her brother to think for himself? What made him so… sacrificial? Was it her fault? Not on purpose, but by accident? That was why, wasn't it, that he… He…) Shadow remained silent as Maria tried to settle down again, deep in thought. “… There's a field of lilies on a cliff overlooking the ocean, where the moon dominates and fireflies hum, I would like to take a rest there.”

“A… rest?”

“Yes. A place to just… be at peace.”

Simple. Easy. But his voice carried wistfulness.

[x]

Grandpa was… a lot better at lying.

Lunch was shared with the three of them; Maria having just awoken from finally more than eight hours of sleep that her body solely needed. Her brother was correct that she needed some assistance, but that did nothing to settle her stomach. However, nutrition was needed – especially with her NIDS – so the fork and spoon were shoved in her mouth. At least the consumables were able to be noticed as something with taste within her, not clay.

Black quills rose as her brother turned his head off towards the side. He seemed to stare at the ceiling, past the metal plates; as if he was gazing into the ARK… “It’s on the move.”

The eldest Robotnik merely sipped on some coffee. White steam lazily rose above the rim of the plain white mug. There was a slight pause before an authoritative voice slipped – heavily mixed with equal amounts of protectiveness and warning. “Stay away from the Emerald, Shadow.”

Red eyes returned and he waved his hands slowly to attempt to describe his frustration at being told to stand down. “G.U.N. shouldn’t have brought it back to the station. It’s clear they want to use it – on me. We should eliminate the threat in a controlled environment-”

“Let’s not target yourself so fast. The Commander knows better than to get it near you,” Grandpa – no, Dr. Gerald Robotnik – lectured, “if she wants to live, at least.”

(… G-Grandpa?!)

Yet, she couldn’t say anything. Instead, Maria rung her hands as she looked down at the tablecloth. The words of rebuttal were itching on her throat, yet she couldn’t speak them out. It was because, to her sadness, that the girl understood where Grandpa was coming from – if she was in control of a train and Shadow was tied to one post and the General to another…

She knew which direction she was going to head off towards without hesitation.

Pale fingers rubbed her eye ducts. Ancients, she had also changed, too.

“We did expect the story of your inability to Heal additional things to have garnered G.U.N. attention at some point. Let’s not make them assume you have a plethora of skills when their honey pot is resting quite close.”

A moment of silence as eyebrows relaxed, but quills also deflated. “Yes, Fath-”

Minutes were awkward. Everyone knew the other individual was going or thinking or hiding through something. The female girl could tell how it was troubling Shadow – how he wanted to reach out and ask what was the truth of them being sad and despondent. However, when he did so for breakfast three days ago, both Maria and Grandpa told him, ‘Not to worry about it.’ ‘We’ll get over it.’ ‘Has to deal with surface to ARK relations and not something to deal with Project: SHADOW as a whole.’

Grandpa took a knife and carefully cut into the Saulsberry steak. The gravy was too close to dried blood for Maria’s taste- “Shadow. I have a request that you are going to find… discomforting.” The white lab coat showed movement as his shoulders rose. “It will also not be… a pleasant experience for Maria, either. However…, I feel the need to address this potential weakness, and I have a feeling you’ll understand where I am coming from.”

A black ear twitched. He was listening. Attentive.

So was she.

The utensils were placed down. “Teach Maria gun safety, how to disassemble a small firearm, shoot from various realistic distances, defend herself with one with the least amount of lead, and how to carry it around without notice. You might not be able to stay within our vicinity 24/7.” The scientist knew just exactly what kind of faces were aimed at him. Yet, he strived onwards. “That way, if anything unexpected happens, she’ll have a chance until you can come back.”

The explosions of noise filled the room. Maria’s volume increased at the sheer- sheer- sheer utter CRAZINESS and APPALLING-

A gun. He- Grandpa- H-He wanted to-

To-!!

“Shadow, the cure requires something from Angel Island. We’ll be unable to bring her there. She’ll be up here. Alone. On the ARK.” A shift in his seat. In his expression. It almost felt as if Grandpa understood just how grave of a request this was. “The Artificial Chaos have a… significant weakness that can be exploited at unknown triggers. What if Maria was in danger during that time?” Now he looked at her, still addressing her brother. “What would you do, son, if she was lost during that brief window?”

Any argument Shadow had wilted. She saw his spine freeze up with those shorter quills along his back; saw her death replay in front of his gaze. His fist clenched, but he held himself together – it was a memory he had seen many, many times before.

He didn’t answer.

But Maria remembered what Grandpa said:

‘Apocalyptic.’

“We have an open invitation to go to Earth and back without suspicion in March. If you’re willing, that is-”

“I am.”

That tone was back. The one of Maria’s nightmares.

It vanished quickly.

Her brother was surprised and confused when she grabbed his hand and refused to let go for the next hour.

[x]

It was officially the second worst week of her life.

No. Tied with first.

[x]

Shadow had expert control of his teleportation ability, even if that golden star made her insides churn at seeing it blaze. (Would it one day become permanent?) His fingers flexed as they always did when he brought multiple individuals besides himself – her body felt like it was in freefall nevertheless. Eventually, the world righted itself into an empty, sterile compartment somewhere Grandpa had deemed ‘safe enough to escape in time.’ There were a few metal cargo container boxes covered to the nines with dust and dents. Her brother said nothing as he flew over towards the cubes, picked them up, and threw them at various distances from Maria’s location.

Each toss made his appendages flex. His red eyes looked brighter in the light. The appearance on his face changed into one darker and darker. He was waiting for something, and she had a feeling she knew what it was: the reason why he was capable of being her teacher in the first place.

She doesn’t remember him ever…

He never mentioned that he…

Grandpa had never brought it up that…

The sound of air movement met the young, pondering girl. Shadow descended before her; his position from high above casted an elongated film of darkness upon her and the immediate area. Carefully, she brought her hands together to look up and address him. “I… am sorry. I don’t…” Blue eyes looked away towards the hem of her dress. “I don’t want to look at a gun, nevertheless touch one. Use it.”

He was strained. “I know.”

There wasn’t an apology nor a step back to leave this area. He was going to… obey his creator, like a good son.

Because Shadow ultimately agreed within himself.

The Air Shoes made a dull sound of metal on metal when he eventually landed upon the ground; his gemstones still refusing direct visual contact. “Maria… I did something wrong in my slumber, didn't I?”

Her deceiving skills were not good. However, if it wasn't a lie overtly, she could finagle her tone… correctly. “Of course not, Shadow! You were probably just overwhelmed by the fact you had your first few hours alone in quiet silence and did it by accident.”

“Both you and Professor have been acting strange.” His expression told her that her brother was aware the cause was himself. “He's treating me like I'm fragile. Almost as if I’m…” That gaze turned to hers. “… sick.”

Pale hand waved as Grandpa’s lying lesson felt like raw salt on her taste buds. “Of course you're not sick!! You're the Ultimate Lifeform, silly goose!”

He wasn’t ill.

He was… perfection.

Some Fiend’s version of it.

The hedgehog didn't comment anymore, but his eyes lingered on her before they shifted towards the boxes that were at various locations. “I'll be right back,” Shadow warned before he disappeared.

Came back.

Left.

Returned once more.

Each trip brought something new: little pieces of paper with a ring of circles colored in black and white; smaller pieces that could be tapped onto the bigger ones; a little bottle of blueish oil that was extraordinarily fluid; a cotton fabric cloth that was rough and not meant for bathing; a set of black gloves that had the identification tag removed; strange bristles and brushes that looked almost like a toothbrush for larger animals; a book with a title she avoided reading…

The final time he didn't turn around to face her. Something was clenched in his hand with tightness. It was black. Small. And-

Blue shoes took a few steps back.

Cyan searched for the door to exit-

There! A-Above the stairs-!!

If she ran away-!

Run!

She had to leave-!!

Suddenly, Shadow was before her – she couldn't look away anymore. His eyes drew her in now that she knew what they signified. Slowly, carefully, he pulled her hands into his. Voice flat. Cold. He was forcing himself to not speak with emotions, and it saddened her to no end. “Running away from someone with a weapon leaves you exposed, as well as losing sight of your enemy. The best way to act is to turn around-” Gloves carefully pivoted her on the heel of her feet towards the scene below. “-and calculate where to find your highest odds of survival.”

Her breathing was labored.

His hands squeezed hers, similar to what she did to him. “We’ll take it slowly. Build up your tolerance. Tell me… when it gets too much if I miss the signs. I won't force you.” With that, he slowly slid the book into their connected fingers. There ended up being was no title, but it had G.U.N.’s scratched out logo on the upper left. “I would… like you to memorize the places and information I placed a label on. You can ignore the rest.”

She didn't want to do this-

Her brother knew and banished them away from that place.

[x]

Maria was dead. Lying in a pool of her own blood. A gunshot the cause from her running away.

Maria was alive. She was staring from a one-way window in the next room at the scene.

Ok. This was another nightmare. She was still here! The girl remembered going back to her room, throwing the book onto the couch with all her strength, and the feeling of disgusted revulsion as she tore into bed for another pitiful attempt at sleep. There were no alarms; no race down the metal hallways towards the emergency escape pod room; no G.U.N. agents screaming to find ‘the Project.’ She simply went to bed and woke up to seeing her dead dead dead dead dead body-

Shadow was there.

“Maria…!” he moaned in grief. In loss.

He shivered as his conscious thought leaked away from his mind with every drop out of burning crimson of that doppelganger’s body.

O-Oh… She knew where this night’s illusion was going to head off, now… The girl pinched herself to awaken. To move. To not stay. This was going to be worse than the others. She could tell. Maria just understood.

She prayed she was moaning in the real world. Struggling. That her brother was hearing her so he could shake her awake!

The scene warped.

It was the cafeteria of the military side of the ARK, and people were sitting. Dressed in regular civilian clothing, only haircuts betrayed the men’s loyalty to. The majority were discussing random topics – of life, of how things were back on Earth; of the success of their mission to detain the Project into stasis and the murder of two Robotniks-!

The screams started.

There was a circle of red that suddenly opened – swirled colors that made the surface akin to plasma. Like the Devil, Shadow descended out from the portal hands first. Wings flexed open. Hundreds of yellow, floating eyes spilled out behind him-!!

“It is here to judge humanity.”

It would have been the worst one.

Maria knew it.

But her brother was good. Caring. Wise. Sweet.

He had woken her up with a streaming cup of hot chocolate and breakfast. With compassion. With worry. With all the things that Fiend didn't own or have and would never take away from Shadow. He held onto her in a huge embrace that she could feel deep within…!

Her eyes went past him, towards the book.

“Teach me…, Shadow. I'll… be a good student.”

The grip he had around her almost slipped in surprise.

[x]

BANG!!

Precision.

BANG!!

Absolute concentration.

BANG!!

Not because it was hard.

BANG!!

But because of the weight behind each sound in her vicinity.

BANG!!

There was silence afterwards.

Flawless marks. Right at centers. At the paper targets. Effortless. Easy. Shadow had emptied the limited clip with knowledge and grace; each movement was the exact amount required to shoot before the sight moved on. He was… good at it. Scarily good. Even the piece of paper farthest away had nothing but bulls’ eyes.

He knew she was watching – this was to demonstrate to her what a ‘textbook form’ was. The black, small pistol went through the motions of clearing the chamber and placing it back into safety, but his voice and true concentration was on her. “G.U.N. etched into me a weapon's mindset before I was forced into stasis. Every model in their arsenal. Every mechanized behemoth. Every aviation or space faring-based asset. I took it in so deeply because of what the situation I was put in was.” Slowly, he disassembled the gun to showcase exactly what he was doing – so that she could follow and copy on the dummy trainer she held within her own hands. “When I fell down to Earth, I still remembered despite only knowing my own name and nothing else. I don't expect you to be like that. Like… me.”

This was not a fun experience for either of them.

Maria waited until the weapon was away – gun safety 101 – before she threw herself upon her brother's form and squeezed him. “You're my best friend in the world. You don't need to be anything else.” Please.

[x]

Her sweet, precious younger brother’s birthday was today. It had almost slipped by her, even though she had a gift set up long in advance. Fortunately, Grandpa was there to ‘save the day’ – the lab was decorated with little cuttings of lavender from the botanical section. Each one was in a pot as to continue their lives after the celebration; each one a different blend that changed colors from almost a deep blue to a reddish violet. He seemed to know that Shadow loved white and gold – fancy ‘Victorian’ design of each pot must have been shipped up from the planet far in advance.

The scientist brought forth a box. Her brother was surprised to have received it despite the banner. “I… For me?” There was hesitation, as if he was unsure if he was worthy of getting it-

Ridiculous!

“Go on, son.”

(Maria could hear the sadness underneath the lie of nothing but happiness. The man was pleased, of course, but…)

Shadow carefully peeled it open; the bright gold ribbon unfurled and floated towards his side. Out came tubes; brushes; and a stack of paper with the label ‘100% cotton.’ It was… a watercolor set – the fancy artist grade stuff based on how the wrappings scream expensive. His hand traced everything over and something played on his eyes. “… Thank you.”

“Of course.”

The young girl offered hers next. Just like before, her brother opened it up carefully with purpose. He understood the actions of a birthday party but one with the two Robotniks…

He had celebrated far less with those irreplaceable individuals.

Out came a new set of gloves – ones with black and red as a trim on the edge. The smile upon his face made it known that he was happy to have ‘his old, original’ stuff back – ones that matched his shoes at last. His fingers shifted to move the Inhibitor Ring up his wrist a little to slip out the old ones. Each digit flexed as he looked onto it. “My favorite set.”

It wasn’t until later that evening that Maria was hit with the thought: how did Grandpa know January was his ‘date of creation?’ She forgot to tell him…

… It was probably Shadow. He wouldn’t have let the elder Robotnik miss out.

Duh.

[x]

Grandpa had his head buried in his hands one evening; back slouched over. “Oh, Maria. I should have given him something else.”

Worried, she walked closer.

Behind was Shadow’s completed painting – one he had been silently proud on showcasing; one she hadn’t yet seen. It showcased attention to detail on the large 15 x 34-inch sheet; brushstrokes ranged from thin to expressive. The subject was of the night sky filled with six-sided white stars. It meant nothing, except everything, to them both.

[x]

At some point in mid January the nightmares lessened into a once per week sort of event. They became less vivid. More often she realized she was asleep and could actually interfere with the dream version of Shadow – sometimes, she could stop his rampage with her voice alone.

She took it as a sign to not stop fighting.

Her Giant Book of Chaos slammed opened as she struggled past the freeze of depressed inaction. The Master Emerald, right? It was different than the Chaos ones, but had basically no real information in human texts available to the United Federation (and, thus, the ARK), being it was a legend.

One Grandpa had seen from afar.

If it could control Chaos...

(If she trusted the words of that Fiend!)

Could it help do other things? Destroy a link?

Split One into two?

Grandpa was going to take that item. His face anytime he saw his granddaughter or her brother lie down in stillness – even though that was controlled rest and not… being away – was one of utter (Dark! Dangerous!) determination. She couldn’t miss the way his beady eyes glinted with fires when he leaned over to kiss both of the youths goodnight. He must be thinking the same she was – that maybe they could use that supposed ‘controller’ in other ways than more than just creating a cure for her. The Master Emerald could address certain things. Issues. Two birds with one stone, maybe. And even if it couldn’t, it would be dissected and analyzed and ripped of its secrets so that it WOULD. They didn't speak to one another about their thoughts – didn't have to. Instead, there were nods from grandfather to grandchild.

What must be done to save family.

Especially since this one could be gathered without hurting others (which would be bad and wrong; of course Maria did not want to cause mayhem). It was just…

The gemstone was mythos. Was religious iconography for Mobians. Was guarded and protected by ancient ruins and perhaps booby traps. But what was traps against the Ultimate Lifeform? Her Ultimate Cutiepie? Their Ultimate Fluffer?

Maria was going to be excommunicated the way she was starting to think.

Good thing she was human.

Different belief system.

[x]

The shaking tremble had not gone away despite all of her attempts. It was now the start of February and she could pull apart (and slap together) the true version of the tool within her hands blindfolded – because that's silly minimum her brother considered a baseline. She could do the same with loading a magazine. Could pull the frigid black metal out from underneath her skirt, on her outer thigh, in quick movement and put it back again in two to four seconds (also blinded – thanks, Shadow). The issue was still the concept – the action – of pulling the trigger: the emptied weapon vibrated in her fingers as she tried to hold it before her; to aim down the sight and-

-and she was pulling the lever to send the hedgehog to the planet that was her dream; a dream she would never achieve again; the words of her mouth the hopes and wishes she needed him to hear; of realization that this was why Shadow was so sad in that field of white-

Golden bands caught her attention as her brother took it away from her. “Let's go back to Fath- -Professor.”

“I can do it.”

His eye arched.

That gave her pause. She dropped her outstretched arms. “Fine. You win.” She was scared. Still. Even though she was trying.

He issued her a sad smile; never blamed her for being incapable nor for her fear.

It lifted her spirits.

His teleportation still made her be filled with the feeling of wanting to trip, but at least she was ready in time and knew how to land without assistance. They blinked back within Grandpa’s laboratory, which had been changed with different access passwords – all the possibilities of cameras ripped away from usage in certain areas. The red tubes of the old specimens continued to watch as the two of them raced/skated down the hall – Maria took the opportunity to goad Shadow into a ‘race.’

She wanted to give him all the sense of normalcy.

(A young girl had gotten better at lying.)

(But it wasn’t to just Shadow. It was also on herself.)

Eventually, he skidded into stoppage, not even all the way towards the end of the region. His ears perked and swiveled as he turned to look for Grandpa – a grandfather that was not there at the moment, but had left a note. However, Shadow did not read it. Instead, he turned around with suspicion. “It’s on the move again,” he commented dryly, “and headed towards the vaults.”

The General had been keeping her word at not wanting to give to her brother, but also been keeping away…

Which was good. Grandpa’s minions were busy making a new holographic device that was superior to the old one that her brother burnt out – one that could accept movement to a much greater degree. Dr. Yadev, in particular, was beyond ecstatic when he was able to take measurements of Shadow’s wrist – for the new object was to slide inconspicuously in the sleeve of his gloves.

Two of them. One for each hand.

Never knew when one might break.

(Grandpa had given the guy a stern look of warning, however…)

… But it was also bad. That Commander was bound to be planning something at some point. Maria had told the P-1s to try to sniff her out and spy, but their searches had given nothing concrete. Just a military officer doing officer things. Wrote letters. Sent out budgets. Denied or accepted requests from various G.U.N. regions. The only hint was that there was something going on in the south of the planet that the United Federations was getting more ‘antsy’ about – or at least, that was what P-1 reported that woman was muttering to other officials about.

Infuriating!

Those black triangles twitched again. This time, they were aimed at the door – the gentle slide, his lack of action other than relaxing, made it known whom it was.

She issued a wave. “Grandpa!”

The elder Robotnik did it back.

Only a few seconds passed before Shadow added his own small back and forth of his gloves. The light glinted from his Inhibitor Rings as the warmth hummed the air in an ever-present reminder.

Maria felt determination.

Yes.

No more tears!

No more sadness!

She wouldn’t stop her fight!

Both against NIDS… and the other thing.

Chapter Text

A Horrifying, Yet Miraculous, Absolution

Ch. 30

[×]

The curtains flew open and sunlight streaked into the crisp morning air. The cooler temperatures made it obvious that winter’s hold onto spring hadn’t let up yet, but the blooming trees above weren't exactly paying attention to those warnings. The figure lingered for a while before turning around into the kitchen: hands prepared and set up the normal routine of visitation. Hot espresso expelled from a machine into a ceramic cup – an appalling waste of beans – as a search in the sink’s cabinet pulled out another dark fluid container. The bright yellow bottle was claimed, and the individual moved slowly towards the living room where an offer to a lump of mass by the couch went.

“DELIVERY ACCEPTED.”

“One of these mornings, Rouge isn't going to have leftovers stocked up for you,” a deep voice cautioned.

Omega, the banished – or, the correct word, betrayed – robot of the Eggman Empire, made an action that seemed similar to a shrug. “THE BAT SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING FLUIDS NECESSARY FOR FUTURE DESTRUCTION!” Sensors – falsification of eyes – made a clicking noise as they scanned and analyzed the dark carbon hedgehog. “ANALYSIS: SHADOW, YOU HAVE NOT CONSUMED A SNACK FROM ROUGE’S KITCHEN. I QUESTION YOUR RESOLVE ON MAINTAINING PEAK PERFORMANCE.”

Quills shifted as he tilted his head. “You know I don't need to eat. Besides, there wasn't anything not already pulverized in one of those machines-”

There was a soft noise. “Haa, it’s because I am civilized and use modern convenience, unlike you two.” His ears flicked at the sound, could detect the scent of the perfume she always wore, and watched a white bat Mobian descend from the upstairs. A hand covered a yawn as the rest of her figure stretched out. “What are you boys even doing here, anyways?”

“SHADOW HAD ELEVATED LEVELS OF CORTISONE AFTER LAST WEEK’S EVENT,” the robot without a concept of being subtle tore open into the air. “HE WANTED TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY AFTER CHECKING MY LOGIC CORES. I ALLOWED HIM AS AFTERWARDS WE GET TO DESTROY AN EGGMAN BASE. HE PROMISED.”

The normally controlled face of the woman faltered. It kept that expression as the black and red hybrid placed a hot mug in her hands – he knew what his partners {friends} wanted at various moments. In this case, Rouge would desire to keep up the charade that she hadn’t felt that fear that basically everyone else had.

She wordlessly took the cup and murmured a thanks; gazed onto Omega and him with sharper, more self-aware attentiveness. “I wasn’t expecting you to show up discussing feelings. Not exactly your M.O., you know.”

He didn't say anything.

She paused and rubbed her hand around the lip of the ceramic. There was a deep exhale. “I don't bare my heart out to just anyone.”

The sound of metal servos adjusting. “ANALYSIS: WE ARE TEAM DARK. WE WILL LISTEN. IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR MORALS, THEREFORE HIGHER CHANCES OF WANTING TO JOIN US IN OUR SLAUGHTER.”

It was Omega’s way of showing care. Both the other Mobians knew that – sometimes, the robot was the easiest of the trio to comprehend motives and wishes. Certainly, the hybrid fell in second place at that; fought often for first when compared to Rouge.

“And you, handsome?” off rolled the joking nickname that she was aware the hybrid detested.

“I was worried.”

A hum escaped her lips.

“IF YOU WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO RELATE TO, I SAW A PURPLE VERSION OF THE MOLECULAR COMPOUNDS THAT CREATE RUST.” A claw extended and attempted to touch the white top of the bat’s head. “DISCOMFORT AND ANGER AT BEING THREATENED FILLED ME. I MADE SURE TO SHOOT AT IT.”

The distance was too far away – it was out in space on the opposite side of the ARK’s orbit – so nothing of Omega’s arsenal could reach. It must have greatly infuriated the construct. To feel powerless…

Rouge noticed his hands tightened; she always did. “I'll go last, since we're sharing. I promise.”

He sighed and forced his body to relax. His teammates {friends} were here. They'd… understand his dilemma. The voice he let out was controlled, however. It was innate. A falsified calm storm; the eye of a hurricane. One they knew how to navigate. “I didn't see anything.”

Those whom hadn’t know him would erroneously assume it was a boast of superiority.

A hum escaped and silence returned; a mug of espresso slurped as it had cooled down enough for consumption. For usage. For… being alive. “Makes sense. You can't die. As such, how could you have possibly seen what Death was?”

The realization frightened him in other ways. They all knew it.

Immortal. Ageless. He'll outlast them all.

He usually never thought about those two details. They were just a fact. One of the reasons he was created. A footnote that science couldn't claim again. He didn't live in the moment, per say, but he no longer drowned in his past. He had moved on – to them. To the Earth. To his promise.

A promise that had almost been ripped away.

Then what?

He would have lost everything: not in a slow, controlled rate where he could gain new… connections later on, but instantly. At once.

Forever.

What if that… ‘purple visage of the concept of one's demise’ had descended onto the planet? Of course, he had a feeling Sonic was the one that banished {killed?} it far away – the Chaos Energy up above was impossible to ignore – but what if the blue hero had lost? There was a threat out there and the Ultimate Lifeform had been none the wiser; none the smarter; wasn’t aware; wasn’t prepared; couldn’t see-

A glove flicked at him. “Get rid of those thoughts, Shadow.”

“AFFIRMATIVE. WE STILL HAVE A BASE TO ANNIHILATE. NOT SEEING DEATH MEANS YOU ARE THE SUPERIOR CREATURE TO FIGHT BESIDES WITH. I WOULD HAVE NO ONE OTHER. BESIDES A BAT.”

“Why thank you, Omega,” Rouge laughed while she ensured the hedgehog was alright. “That's a high honor to be placed right next to the Ultimate Lifeform.”

He felt himself snort.

{Friends…}

He hoped Maria knew he had reclaimed some more – would do what he could to keep them safe.

Until nature… turned one last season for the others.

[x]

He felt the heat of a human being – female, young, almost teenager; the light stench of medicine, lilies, and the slightest trace of gunpowder. A name filtered through logical thoughts before emotional ones took the reigns: Maria Robotnik. It whispered in the displacement of the air, before she turned the corner and accessed the region of his room she had dubbed ‘Le Artte Room.’ It was a foolish name for the smaller space that was rather empty – his old creative setup was larger than most bedrooms with a canvas easel as wide as Omega was tall…

He felt his brush pause mid-stroke.

It wasn't good to dwell on what wasn’t anymore, was it?

Red eyes glimpsed ironically at the illustration of Rouge directly underneath the tip. Her facial expression of exasperation – of her wings stretched out with no jewels in her hands – continued to stare at the at an incomplete sketch of Omega. The robotic force was only in faint pencil guidelines – the background not filled with enough detail to wonder if this scene was a memory or a fantasy.

He… should perhaps finish this at another time.

A girl’s footsteps on metal; the bounce in one’s knees that didn't have full range of motion in the Z-axis; the way lungs were moving at 52 breaths per minute; the-

He carefully turned around to face Maria. Assessed her. Those blue eyes were large and expressive – the undercurrent of worry and grief there once again as they had been the past month and some change. Yet, she was also pleased and excited: hands were in fists as she jumped little hops to see what he had been working on. Ever since she realized he knew how to paint, she had been quick to oversee what he had been doing – from smaller, quick rough works to more detailed, elaborate pieces {such as the one behind him}. “Shadow!” she chirped up. “Did you finish her? Can I see?”

He gave a nod as he slid out.

Maria took the steps to close the gap and hummed and hawed at the almost fully rendered bat Mobian. “I think I remember her from a distance. She never got that close to me in the white region.”

That was Rouge for you. She understood that moment in his life was… difficult. If not for this reality, the painted scene would have shifted into opposite: the Mobian would have been complimenting his illustration of a young girl with blonde hair. “I'll do… Amy next.”

She heard his pause. “You don't have to.”

“You wanted to know.”

There was that look in her eyes. “Shadow, you don't have to force yourself just because I'm curious. We got lots of time. Besides, I'm just happy you're not doing the stars anymore. I see them outside the window all the time, silly.”

Cold. Impassive. Powerful. Where time and space dilated.

“They're the easiest subject to practice wet on wet techniques,” he countered, but left it at that. Maria didn't need to have a lecture or lesson on watercolor control. She was more of a pencil and photography type girl – wide brimmed gaze that wanted to experience her world instead of being behind screens: cotton paper, canvas, glass, or otherwise.

Eventually, he cleaned up with her help. She babbled on about spending time with Abraham as it was the weekend and Professor was still busy doing his medical research and that she had to stop neglecting him because being raised by the General was no good and maybe he might let something about the Commander’s plan slip-

The door from his room had slid wide as the two continued down the elongated hallways of the ARK. A quartet of organic signatures at various distances and trajectories that were not to impede the desired direction of travel. One: weakness in gait of the left lower limb. Two: shorter stature demoting physical incapability of strength. Three: potassium deficiency. Four: Gerald Robotnik.

Blue eyes watched him. “Looks like your holograms are holding up pretty well!” she added in a whisper as she cupped her hand to his ear. “Have you tried skating with them yet?”

“Gliding,” he teased the ‘correction’ lightly. “They're Air Shoes not Air Skates. And not yet.” He wasn't ignorant enough to activate the Chaos Engines and blast around in the visible sections of the ARK. He was supposed to be – as Maria described – a very fancy bandage.

Although, if there's anything he knew about the machinations of G.U.N. in this current era, he’d have to assume this uneasy mockery of peace was going to fade. The so-called second Prototype of Project: SHADOW was an object to touch and demand results from. A stepping stone for the ‘successful, eventual outcome.’ One simply hadn’t brought a Chaos Emerald – bright; tantalizing; warm; inviting; seven point six nautical miles on the X-axis; three point niner on the Y; eight point five on the Z – for no good reason. That he agreed wholeheartedly with both the other Robotniks.

He still didn't understand why they were adamant on his lack of action, but if it's what Professor wishes…

His creator was the genius of geniuses.

He wasn't.

So, there must be a logical reason. They'll tell him at some point. He was positive. Until then, he'll watch over them and protect them and pull apart the universe for them.

Pull… apart the…?

Thoughts faded.

Maria tugged his hand away from his head. “C’mon! Grandpa is still in his big ol’ important meeting with his underlings! I know a place where no one will see us.” Blonde eyebrows rose and descended as she ensured to change expressions into something that always caught his attention:

Joy at being with him.

{The same he shared in return.}

He followed her with minor grumbles.

Ever her shadow.

[x]

There was always that sorrow when Professor saw him. Deeper than Maria’s – one he kept careful tabs on because of how the scientist’s mental state balanced on serrated edges.

There was always that… love.

The bond between him and Maria was tight. Had always been. Will always be. The bond between him and Professor was… different. More cavernous than before. Newer. Or, perhaps, less tainted was the better word? Clarified? He wasn't a brother to the elderly man. Wasn't an uncle. Wasn't a specimen. Wasn't an experiment.

He was…

It always occurred after their night chats. Lectures. Discussions. “Goodnight, son.” Human flesh on his fur. The scent of isopropyl alcohol and coffee. That gaze of so many emotions that, even though he understood this man on so many different {deep} levels, were too complex for him for fully grasp.

“Goodnight, Fath…” The word slipped through his fingers; oil on water.

He could not complete it.

Yet, his mind was slowly eroding away; an ocean against white cliffs. The title of ‘professor’ became erased. A new one was pounding within him.

Maria made fun{?} of his dilemma at times. Silent. Delight not hidden enough on her face. She egged the hybrid on with glances and pats and an occasional eye roll – the words, ‘So close!’ a hushed murmur. She knew him all too well.

One day, he was going to break.

One day, he could say what he wished he could have before – the first time.

Love was a complicated thing. He had experienced it on the ARK in his past, and it was his ignorance – his lack of foresight; the lack of strength – that tore it away from him.

It tortured him.

He had moved on.

Yet, his body was now was back to where it all started. The cradle of his memories. On a different road. A different path. He took a left whereas the previous version of him went right.

Clawed that feeling back into his hands.

Felt it.

His heart was mending; his soul was ------ ---- into the stars as -------.

How was he supposed to tell them how he ended up returning? That all this was a mistake? That he… He…

Thoughts faded.

[x]

He shivered as the other carbon lifeforms – the scientists on the ARK; he knew their names only when he spoke or wrote {why not passively in his mind; couldn't he used to do that?} – drowned genetic samples into whatever materials that he was composed of on their research labs. Knowledge orbital bombarded him; happiness, enjoyment, pleasure; HUNGER echoed until it all paused and ended and-

Professor threw open the doors and started to scream. “I thought I DISCUSSED to not accomplish any new sample analysis without my specific oversight!!” He kicked them out as that rage of insanity boiled under the surface – shoved them all away as looks of something – one of fascination, one of wonder; one of reverie – filtered the other organics’ eyes. With them gone, leather squeaked as a man with tired, long strides; sleep apnea; heart stressors being under control of medication closed the distance. Human hands brought attention as their eyes attempted to meet – all he could see was his reflection on the elder Robotnik’s spectacles. “My child… Are you alright?”

He nodded stiffly. That faint urge was still there, but dissipating quickly. “Please don't blame them too much. I'm the one who asked – short of ordered – them to get that Caucasian female DNA compiled as fast as possible. The samples were sitting unused, and we don't have much time before we leave down to Earth-” He continued. Described each genetic fault or how they didn't match in certain areas to Maria’s own code. There were other things – areas where supplemental donations from other organics needed to be accumulated. His voice carried in the room that was now empty as Professor listen quietly with all attention.

It wasn't until the hybrid mentioned how he desired more did the scientist press lips together and shook his head. “No additional things for you this week, Shadow. Possibly next one, too. Damned subordinates not listening to my commands and getting persuaded by your honeyed, however well meaning, I’m certain, tongue.”

Why was Professor so upset? “But I can filter through the data faster than the computers! Just a singular genetic trait takes four days with them! The computers of this era are not fast enough for the timeline of six more months before funds will run out again. Even I understand that, and my skill is subpar in electronics. If it's for Maria, I will do anythi-!”

“No, little one. No. Honestly, I would have rather you not continue this way in the first place. The second you show ANY sign of being unable to recover from…”

A curse.

A frown.

“Forget what I just said, Shadow.”

A pause.

“And don't do that again.”

[x]

Maria peeked down at his general direction. Her fingers curled around his glove as she squinted at the dark mass he must have appeared before her in her limited vision. “I can still feel you, silly,” she attempted to laugh with a hoarse sound. “It doesn't even hurt too bad. Dr. Eruba has me on the good stuff.” The squeeze continued. “So… you don't have to worry so much, Shadow. We both know I recovered just fine from this… episode,” the girl ended with hope. Not for herself. For the hybrid.

Why?

She was the one in pain.

Did she never look out after herself?

Maria didn't have to worry about him.

He sighed internally. “That doesn't mean we should assume things will end up the same.” Red eyes glanced over to the machine readouts – their lettering and graphs told him more than what his natural senses could. “What book would you like me to read to you?”

There was a moment of near silence as she hummed. “There's so many to choose from, but I've already heard all of them… How about something new: a specially curated story?”

Now it was his turn to hum.

“Yes,” the girl added. “About… one of your old adventures? If that's alright?”

Adventures…

He tossed his memories in his mind. Not everything was bitter with the fires of hate and revenge – those were primarily only at the beginning. Yet, what would be best to talk to her about? Faker – the hero; the ‘light’ to so many others of the planet – was the one that spent time literally running around, searching for something new over the horizon to accomplish. He was not that; was {friends} with a robot meant for destructive mayhem and a jewel thief/spy/club owner/whatever she wanted that day. He fought because he had to, not because he willingly desired violence anymore – although he could be… a tad ruthless. Efficient. Dedicated. Goal and mission oriented.

What to tell her…?

About her cousin almost taking over the world? Nonsense.

About the Black Arms invasion? Absolutely not.

About some mercenary group and the trouble that caused? Hah!

About the truth of the Gizoid? No – too close to home. That kinder soul was gone and not created this time around, he believed. {A necessary cost, and those words curdled something in him.}

About the world being split into chunks before crashing back together? Oh, right, that event would have to get addressed at some point once more, wouldn't it?

What was safe for Maria?

What was that good tale she wanted?

“… There's this one time I went fishing with a giant purple cat that is taller than Fath- -Professor. A thick fur coat and quite a large belly. I showed up with a high-end pole, a silver tackle box, a fisherman's floppy cap, and lures. Researched the best ones based on the body of water we were to go on. He showed up with a stick, some string, a can of worms pulled up from the ground after a rainstorm, and a frog. You can guess who caught the greatest number of fish.” He stretched his arms as wide as the could; knew his silhouette could be seen in her limited sight. “Big caught something as large as his namesake, and me…” A much smaller distance. “I caught a minnow. Then his frog attempted to eat my tail. Apparently, my Chaos Energy tastes delicious.”

She had a hard laugh at that.

[x]

Both Robotniks encouraged and facilitated him to sleep every so often instead of staying alert and awake at all times for all times. He would fight. Resist. Huff in denial. He was over untold years old, was designed to not require it; who would stay alert when potential enemies were around – he wasn't-!

Coffee and isopropyl.

Medicine and lilies.

They weren't the best smells according to other things with scent receptors.

But it {now} was everything to him.

[x]

He would sit and illustrate gold and red pointed orbs when Maria was at school and Professor banned him from going to the medical hall. It was comforting. Mindless movement of brush against paper. Exercises in subtly. Power. Destruction. Control.

“I'm… not a fan of these, Shadow.”

“Why?”

The suspicion rose when she looked away, but nothing came out from her mouth except a brief flash of a frown. He debated on figuring out what the source of her unease was, but eventually decided to stop painting that subject altogether. If it was something important, she would have told him. Odds were they just reminded her of the colors from the muzzle of a gun. He switched to motorbikes and detailed examination of internal combustion engines instead. They allowed him to give more of those stories she wanted – especially since his old bike, the Dark Rider, was a passion project he modified piece by piece…

Maria enjoyed those artworks much better.

He would still find himself thinking about the endless expanse when nothing else was going on or needed immediate acknowledgement.

It was beautiful.

Peaceful.

Quiet.

[x]

Ćómé.

His ear twitched as he felt something cold slide across his brow.

Allowance to listen obliged. Amusement. Curiosity.

Slowly, he walked across the hard metallic surface of the ARK’s pathways, hesitant, almost. Something was bothering him. He tried to bring up a list of what was normal and regulated and compared it to whatever was going on right now, but all the signs pointed to everything being the same. Yet, if that was the case, then why did he have this feeling of needing to move? To go somewhere? To travel? To go from the medical wing where he overstayed, thinking about those samples he was denied from getting near – despite them being of his own composition, to elsewhere?

He eventually made it towards Maria's room where the only two individuals of importance remained in close proximity, but additional objects were in range. The door slid open and he was greeted to the sight of Maria and Professor; both sitting besides one another. Off towards the corner of the sitting couch was one of her… friends, a singular Artificial Chaos making strange noises as it avoided his gaze.

“We did woRk!” the AI hummed at the youngest Robotnik.

The scientist gave a nod, but his look was already upon the newcomer to the room. “Ah, hello, Shadow. Mind coming here?” the adult ended with a pat on the sofa.

He closed the distance; felt Maria give his topmost quill a rub with affection; felt Professor give a briefer, yet filled with no less emotion, one, too. {Ever since falling into madness, the man had been more… open. An oxymoron – to have the person that wanted to burn the world be still capable of care. Perhaps it was a sign that Professor was working towards stabilization? Or so the hybrid hoped.}

Maria had a face of a researcher that won a prize. Her happiness had increased over something, and that made him pleased as well. She was active. She could move. Her disease wasn't being too terrible this evening, it seemed. “We were just thinking about you.”

“I see.”

“Want to have dinner early?”

A change in routine?

She poked – a ‘boop,’ she called it – his nose. He tried not to flinch back – was getting embarrassed. What would his {friends} have thought, seeing this? These actions weren't the ones of the person they knew. He was… lighter. Softer. The edges had rounded off slightly. {Had hope.} “Grandpa wants us to be with him this evening and away from the laboratory.” Her voice went far lower in volume – to such an extent that the elder man wouldn't hear despite knowing something was being exchanged between the two. “He's been pensive today. It's Valentine’s Day on Earth – and who better to share the day than with us! Come help me cheer him up!”

Ah. He neglected – forgot – that date of importance.

{It had always struck him strange that a date of human murder was the same date meant for sharing claims of complete and utter devotion. After losing his family, he never celebrated that Day again – he had learned the true meaning of Valentine.}

Red eyes rose. His creator was watching him very distinctly.

[x]

Faker always made fun of his ‘uneasy attraction’ to human weaponry and machines. He never let those taunts reach too far deeply – how could Sonic possibly understand the events that the hybrid underwent to gain these skills? How could that blue annoyance comprehend that one had to plan if Chaos Energy was ever denied or blocked off or made useless against an enemy? The Emeralds weren't going to be a solution for everything – not a last-minute Hail Mary that could be picked up with 100% guarantee. The two creatures had argued about it enough, neither side had given up, until the sun would set or he just straight up left. Getting into arguments with Faker always made him hot headed. Organized plans? Sonic had none. Tactical methodology? Same thing. The will to do what it took? He'll admit the blue hedgehog had a deep drive of determination, however, the guy would try to befriend a destroyer of the world first-

He grimaced.