Misconception: Realization
Ch.1
“You showed me the truth about Iblis. Now its my turn to show you the truth…about your past.”
That was what Silver, a white hedgehog, had told Shadow before jumping into a vortex created by chaos control.
Now he and Silver were in a dark, enclosed space. Silver used a bit of his power to light up the area; they were in what appeared to be a small closet. The two hedgehogs were uncomfortably close to one another; Shadow pushed Silver into the wall to make more room. Silver let the light die away and growled at Shadow, then silently grabbed the doorknob and slowly and quietly turned it. The door opened a crack, and Silver peered out.
The room was deserted, so they left the closet and took a look around. They appeared to be in a small study, which consisted of a cranberry red carpeted floor and off-white walls. Hung on the walls around the room were different awards and certificates. In the center of the room was an oak desk covered with papers and a phone. Behind the desk was a large window looking out to a turn-around at the end of a street. Silver looked outside at the scenery, allowing Shadow to look at the papers on the desk. There was nothing but forms and scientific notes. There was a picture of Maria on the desk, only she looked much younger than Shadow remembered. He glanced at it for a moment, then began to open drawers. Silver looked over at him by the window “you’re making too much noise. Quiet down before we’re discovered!” Shadow ignored him and continued to go through the drawers. Finally he stopped and held up what looked like a old, tattered book. He opened it and flipped through the few written pages, until he was at the most recent entry. Silver walked over and peered over his shoulder as they both read
Today I finally gave in to the president’s plans. I was fully against it at first, as I previously stated, yet I had a change of heart. Maria, my dearest granddaughter, has been diagnosed with Neuro Immunodeficiency Syndrome (NIDS), as to which there is no cure. Yet I will save my granddaughter.
That is why I called the president again today, and re-negotiated with him. I will help him with his search for ‘immortality’, though I personally have high doubts in what any research will uncover. I have told him before, we are crossing boundaries that man was never to have crossed (I myself have questioned his reasoning for founding such a project); yet I will go with his plans. I have a very slim hope that, if I were to make any discoveries within that field, then Maria might yet be saved. That is the only hope I have; the only reason that am I going against my better judgment.
I have planned to meet with the president and discuss the details further in a few days. I only hope that he will allow me to do some research for a cure for NIDS, in addition to the main objective.
There was no more. Shadow closed the diary and threw it on top of the desk. “Are you ready?” Silver asked. Shadow nodded. They both took out their chaos emeralds, chanted “chaos control!” and jumped into the vortex.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Shadow and Silver appeared on the ARK; yet this wasn’t the desolate space colony that Shadow remembered: it was teaming with life.
Scientists hurried about, their faces hidden behind papers and books. No one paid any heed to the two newcomers. Shadow turned to Silver, “when are we?” “Shortly after ARK was created. You have a while to go before you’re born. I’ll fill in the blanks for you. Gerald’s ‘talk’ with the president didn’t go as planned. The man was overjoyed to hear Gerald agree with the plan, but refused him to work on anything besides ‘Project: Shadow’. Gerald agreed, his mind already made up. The ARK was built shortly after that, and the professor and his crew moved in, along with Maria.” That got Shadow’s attention “Maria’s here? Now?” Silver nodded, then continued as if Shadow hadn’t interrupted, ‘they named it ‘Shadow’ because many of the colleagues thought that reaching immortality was like trying to create a shadow: it couldn’t be done. Yet the professor continues his research, and continues to secretly search for a cure for her.” Shadow didn’t have to ask who ‘her’ was.
“Well…” Silver began, “shall we take a tour?” Shadow nodded and led the way, still invisible to the pre-occupied assistants. As they walked, Shadow thought Maria was the only reason I was ever created. Professor Robotnik, he only wanted to save Maria, just like I did. He wanted to find a cure... He looked down at his hand, then back up to the long, stretching hallway that they walked upon. The hallway that, not to far in the future for this time, and still memorable many years in the past for his time, he and Maria shared their last moments together.
And he succeeded.
