Project "Shadow"

[Epodemus]

Text is based on the game universe of "Sonic the Hedgehog" (c), and particulary - on the story of Shadow the Hedgehog and two video-games, dedicated to his biography - "Sonic Adventure 2" and "Shadow the Hedgehog". His official authors left a lot of gaps in his story though, so I decided to gather the information about Shadow, the ARK, Jerald and Maria Robotnik, project "Shadow" and other details in order to unite them into a one logical order. The biography of the character was seriously changed though, as I do not accept the official version of Shadow`s birth - so don`t look for any Black Doom or Black Arms or any other Black shit. All i wanted was not just making a fanfic - I wanted to see a clear and whole picture of the character I like, whose authors just appeared to be lazy. I used simple logic and common sense, so I don`t think the whole text is a pure fan-made.
Writing this text was also caused by numerous discussions with other sonic-fans, and the main idea was inspired by Tei-Neko and her works. I also adopted some episodes.

The text is available in the comments below. The music associations from other franchises and the illustrations from my own gallery are included,

Comments

[Epodemus]

Vague Vocies (from "Half-Life" the game)

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[Diary of Dr. Jerald H. Robotnik, record #793 ― “Recollection of the -Shadow Project-”]

Originally, there are always only two reasons which usually cause great achievements ― a human`s sloth and an animal fear. As long as human being is sure of his prosperity, he sees no point in trying to improve his life. Therefore he does nothing to improve it. To tell the truth, I consider that quite logical. Any action calls for motive, but a special feature of human`s society is that it mostly acts without any motives, any logic, any order. Probably that is why it acts destructively as a rule. However, there is no place for spare philocophy in this topic. I`ll just try to state some facts about the most grandiose and prolonged achievement of mine ― the -Shadow Project-. Still I have a reason to mention motives in the beginning. I had my own motives for performing such a daring enterprise. Selfish motives indeed...

Frailty and scanty physical abilities, in compare to other animal kinds, are typical for human. However an outstanding human`s mind has been searching the most effective methods of survival throughout its whole history. Human learned how to preserve themselves ― starting from creating clothes and ending with advanced medicine ― but his body still remains weak and frail. Desired for overcoming the death within, the greatest masterminds of humanity wasted themselves for desperate and absurd thoughts, such as Eternal Life and Ultimate Perfection.

Not a single man, who works for common good, will manage to gain the same success, as a person, who selfishly pursues only his own objects. Even if a new invention helps humanity, it may be not originally caused by pure virtue. Like any clear-eyed person I denied any possibility for a human`s body to reach the peak of perfection. I had never even tried to think about making up a miracle cure ― the pipe dream of the mankind. That was before I have got a strong need in miracle. I don`t mean myself ― even the scientist`s egoism would never let me think about such an insolence. The only person I mean is the dearest creature in my whole life ― my precious granddaughter, Mary.

As being an infant, she had already showed the symptoms of some incurable disease, which was an inherited ailment of her father`s generation. Of course, I could not blame anyone ― that was just a tragic accident. But the cruel fate kept trying my limits. Shortly after my grandchild`s birth her parents perished in a crash ― including my poor daughter as well. I was left alone with an orphaned baby in my arms, which was doomed to die slowly on my eyes. An ill fate indeed... That completely exasperated my heart. So I, a respected noble scientist with a solid reputation, became a desperate mad old man, who was searching myths and legends for the panacea, just like ancient alchemists. Even if the modern medicine could not save a life of a one single child, I was ready to reject the science, to believe in miracle, to find a Philosopher`s Stone, to create an Elixir of Life, to turn the whole world upside down... anything!

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In my search for any clues I referred to history of the most advanced civilizations of the past. Eventually I faced the history of Red Folk and its mysterious religion ― the Chaos Cult. According to legends, which were repeatedly confirmed by numerous finds among the ancient ruins, this folk possessed such a powerful source of energy, which has no analogues even nowadays ― just like the mythical people of Atlas. That probably could be the so called Chaos Emeralds. I shall waste no words for explanation ― I think the one who is reading this should be aware of the subject. I would only add that scant information about this subject gave me hope for the most surprising results. After all, the legends of the Red Folk mentioned some of their members, who outlived several generations and did not know any even primitive deseases. I decided that this particular civilization, forgotten in the abyss of times, could potentially help me.

During the prolonged examination my eyes many times were caught by mentioning some mystic force and idol, both named as Chaos. That was the force which Reds were using, theoretically. And that was the idol, which had an indissoluble connection to water ― I faced numerous associations among the pictures, texts or ancient legends. I surely would not pay so much attention to the illustrated myths, if this substance ― Chaos Emeralds ― did not exist in fact. One fragment of this substance was even available to some restricted groups. Also it appears that the last area of the Reds` locality had been completely flooded in the distant past and never was inhabited subsequently. Finally, there are some material evidence of real existence of Water Cult, the features of which were only characteristic for this Folk. The connection between mystic substance, phenomenal health and water became obvious, so I managed to persuade the higher states to lend me the fragment of the substance (or so called Chaos Emerald) for my further research. The price of contract was appropriate ― I had to live through transportation on the restricted orbital scientific station known as ARK, to sign a non-disclosure agreement, to became an actual prisoner on the station, as I had no more rights to live it, and I even had to take my granddaughter with me ― the progressing decease required my constant presence by her side. Her fate was poor enough as it was, and on top of everything I doomed her to spend childhood in the open space, in the odour-free air, by the artificial floodlight, surrounded by cold metal walls, in an unhealthy atmosphere of fanatical grown-ups, deprived of any hope to see the Earth for God know how long, able to watch it only from the window ― not really a true grandparent indeed. But this way was easier for us both. At least we were together here. And here with the help of high technologies and my dear colleagues I could at least slow down the damned illness in order to gain time, so valuable for us both. And I must say, in spite of all the hardships, Maria grew into a charming, calm, obedient and cheerful child. Her smile helped me numerously at the times of fear and confusion and encouraged me proceeding the research.

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I`ll pass the details of amazing nature of the Fragment. The point is that its power really was unlimited. Unpredictable and discrepant as well. Anyway, only its medicinal properties concerned me (although those who lent me the Fragment, of course, expected much more information). The further analysis of properties of the substance surprised me pleasingly ― the Chaos power could not only serve as a source of energy for machinery, but it could also interact with organic elements and even possibly with living creatures.

The results of water tests were quite astonishing. In fact, after interacting with Chaos energy any volume of water revealed capability to assume a soft and resilient shape inclined to straining and retention of self ― the features of the “charged” water showed resemblance to the spider`s web. I got carried away by the water tricks, I must say ― they gave me no answers to my direct questions and aroused the interest of the army furthermore. As I said before, according to the contract I should give a report on the results of my research regularly, and they should be useful to the military sphere first of all. And high-rank officers have been crazy about the formula of the universal soldier throughout the whole history of wars. So I was ordered to consider a possibility of creating an artificial body, which would consist of the “charged water” and could be controlled. This surely distracted me from my own goals, but there was nothing I could do. But I would not mention this experiment for no reason.

I received the evidence, that water and consequently the other liquids could be easily shaped by use of Chaos energy, taken from the Fragment. The next question was ― how to retain this energy within the liquid. When I tried to find connection between the phenomenal health of the Red Folks, the Water Cult and the Chaos energy, I suddenly came to conclusion ― maybe they just drank the “charged” water? I carried out some tests and found out, that the energy of the Fragment remains within the water elements only during the direct contact of this energy with water. After breaking the circuit the energy perished out of the water elements immediately. Here is how it was: I tried to give the “charged” water to some living beings ― but as I`ve already said, after breaking the process of “charging” the water became just a simple water again, without any supernatural features; I also tried to give them the “charged” water from the reservoir with constant Chaos power supply, or just dip them in it ― but it was equal to taking a bath with a toaster plugged in. Grand total ― I could not manage to exert any influence on living creatures by the means of “charged” water. And the water itself lost all its amazing features, like flexibility and tensility, without the invariable contact with the Chaos Energy. I should find a way to make this energy remain and circulate within the water elements independently of the Fragment. Eventually, the way was found in a form of so called “magnet-module” ― my own invention. This device included a specific magnet, which could let us close the circuit of Chaos Energy in a given volume of water and disconnect the Fragment itself, at last.

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Space Ocean (from "Half-Life" the game)

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The result seemed to be more than positive to the Military Department ― they got a sort of artificial body, which consisted of the “charged” water, was independent of the Fragment and retained all its above-listed features. It was also provided with a “magnet module”, radio and some other units. I decided to give some symbolism to this weird aggregate and shaped its “head” in the likeness of Chaos ― that very idol of the Red Folks, whose numerous images I found in the ancient manuscripts. After all, it was supposed to be a god of water, chaos and destruction. And the aggregate, invented by me, turned out to look creepy enough to resemble such god. Afterwards, it was improved by some other versions and set into a mass production. The project itself was named “Artificial Chaos”. Its further fate is unknown to me. I just know that some more experiments were held within the station, but were the aggregates transported to the Earth ― it seems to be a military secret.

I should admit that this experiment was not a complete waste. A new module deprived the Chaos energy within the liquid of any need at contact with the Fragment and made it circulate. Moreover, the energy retained its charge and even revived after the partial consumption. Actually, I invented the perpetuum mobile ― the aggregate did not need a power supply. So I arrived at an idea ― if such an effect became possible to be produced with water, could it be possible to be produced with blood? The human`s organism, for instance, more than consist of water ― could it be possible to make the Chaos energy circulate in this water the same way, as I managed to do it before? What result could it give? To answer these questions, I had to proceed a set of new experiments with the Fragment. This time ― on the living creatures. I would like to pass the discussion of the ethical part ― as I had already said, that time I was desperate. At last, a gleam of hope appeared in my gloomy life ― a hope for me and poor ill Maria as well. Besides, I would have no chances for good deeds on the Earth. I would just keep producing the means of its demolition. And here, in the open space, I got a chance and hope to save a life ― a single one, at least. That is why I called my new project “The Shadow of Hope”. Later it was shortened to just “Project Shadow”.

So, after a whole number of some bureaucratic procedures I managed to get a permission and get down to my work. I divided the subjects into three groups ― animals, humans and furrians (the second dominating race on the Earth after humans, as you know). Each group received the direct contact of their blood with the Chaos energy, which exerted a quite various influence on each group. Animals suffered a typical blow by current without any following physical changes. Humans just felt no effect. The reaction of the furrians appeared to be much more interesting. First of all, it was completely unpredictable ― some of the subjects felt nothing, like humans, some of them were also hurt by electricity, and only a few experienced a sharp surge in all their physical characteristic and catalyse of inherent mutations. The reaction slumped soon after breaking the contact with the Fragment. Thereby, “charging” the animals` blood failed, the humans` and furrians` reaction still needed a further exploration. We decided to increase the charge of Chaos energy and its duration.

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Adrenaline Horror (from "Half-Life" the game)

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Reaction of humans remained the same ― no effect. In order to evade the complications, humans were eliminate from the project. Furrians kept surprising. Some of those who had felt some effect after the first session suddenly lost any sensitivity to “charging”. On the other hand, those who had felt nothing the previous time experienced a sudden and strong reaction.
And just a single one of them turned the whole experiment upside down.
On of subjects got into a deep contact with the Fragment. During the absorbing of the Chaos energy he initiated a chain reaction. That moment all operating systems in the laboratory malfunctioned ― so did the systems of the whole station, as it was found out later. The subject itself suffered an uncontrollable mutation as he developed his muscles tenfold, accelerated the metabolism and totally lost any control over his own mind. Although the connection between the subject and the Fragment was managed to be broken at the critical moment, the whole station and its staff suffer great losses. The project was nearly shut down, but thanks to the Military Department ― real thanks indeed ― their personal interest in the project helped me to resume my research. The subject who experienced such an excessive absorption of the Chaos energy was subsequently examined. His body was overdosed with the Chaos energy, which soon started to waste. However, the subject`s former look was not restored eventually. Such a distinguished sensitivity to the Fragment, which caused such a reaction and such destruction, remained unclear.
One fact is remarkable ― the Chaos energy did not leave the living creatures` blood, unlike the water. The energy kept circulating in the blood for some time after braking the connection to the Fragment. Did that mean, that Chaos energy could really positively influence on living creatures? But why the nature of this energy was so discrepant and uncontrollable? What did the reaction depend on, so as the quantity of energy, enable to be absorbed by each furrian? If it depended on some initial physical characteristics, so why humans and animals felt completely different effects? Even if depends on mental level of subjects, why humans dropped out so unconditionally? And why even the reaction of the furrians themselves was such various? Maybe the Red Folk distinguished perfectly not only from the humans, but from the furrians as well? After all, how did they initiate the contact with the Chaos energy? In my lab I do by the means of the equipment. But among the remains of the Reds there are no reference to high technologies left.

Meanwhile, the fate of the subject had to be considered ― his body did not go through any futher changes, however, his vital power was fading gradually. The Chaos Energy was leaving him, and a soon death seemed to be the obvious outcome. It would surely satisfied everyone except me and my sponsors, as the subject showed extreme aggression, expose the staff to danger of death and put a lot of trouble in general. As if what had already happened was not enough. Any last remains of mind had also left him alongside with his former look, so he was decided to be quarantined. In other words, he was caged like a wild animal. That noticeably undermined the morale of the other furrian subjects. Anyway, I had a choice: to put the subject down or to keep testing him ― the last one I liked the best. But in order to save the subject`s life it was necessary to keep a defined miminum of Chaos Power. Of course a contact with the Fragment was out of the question, so I decided to place a “magnet-module”. Or to be more precise ― I decided to test the module on the living creature for the first time.
Our task was tricky. The subject was constantly conscious and furious. All the attempts to quiet him down failed ― by the means of drug as well. Besides, his organs of sight had to be replaced by the implants, as his eyes had just burn out during the tragic contact with the Fragment. Maybe it should be better to give the subject as less opportunity to orientate himself as it was possible.

Anyway, the module was implanted and the energy level required for the further existence was restored. At last I could thoroughly explore the creature, which was named “Biolizard”, with all its new features acquired. The analysis surpass my expectations ― the subject had no need in food, sleep or rest; the Chaos Energy, which now was the only type of energy he needed, circulated in his body and had been restored constantly, so there was no need in “charging”. Actually, this creature became immortal. As I have already said, the subjects organism opposed any foreign chemical elements, which were not a part of his structure. I mean, medicine, drugs, viruses or even toxins. The immune system of the subject reached the ultimate perfection ― the cells of any illnesses known to the medical science were dying instantly after penetration into the organism. There was an ultimate life form before my eyes ― sounds too impressive, maybe, but what other arguments should be offered? Finally I had found what I had been searching for with such diligence. Each new day my confidence increased.

It was still too early for joy though. Unexpectedly I managed to create a perfect being ― that was an undoubted fact. But in my personal case this perfection would be useless if there was no way to share it perfect with other creatures. I was to test an interaction of the subject`s “perfect blood” with the organism of another living being. However, I hardly even had a chance ― like in the case with the “charged” water, the blood taken from its constantly “charged” medium lost its “perfect” features immediately. Something I had expected and feared of happened ― Biolizard was perfect only as an individual. And even then it was a merit of the “module” ― if I removed it, the subject would become a mean beast of flash and blood and dye in a couple of days. I draw a hasty conclusion due to my premature delight ― I still had not reached the real perfection. The mythical panacea, as well as the cure for Mary`s illness, was still a cherished fancy. One moment I had lost my firm scientific spirit. I turned back into a weak and pallid old man, deprived of any hope and enthusiasm. I had no more idea for what to do with my grandiose project, which gave me false hope and which I failed ignominiously. I had almost accepted my utter defeat and inevitable fate, when a new hope suddenly dawned upon me, like a sunbeam from the sky (though I had not seen the sky for ages). I reviewed the course of the whole project: first, I tried to endow a simple being with perfect features; then after an accidental creating of the perfect being, I tried vainly to endow another creature with its individual perfection. Then I wondered if a nearly perfect creature (which was actually in my disposal) could sire a purely perfect posterity, according to the method of simple natural evolution?

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That was also a tricky question. Biolizard could hardly even be artificially inseminated ― as I said, his organism rejected any foreign elements. Then another idea occurred to me ― to “charge” an already pregnant furrian with a Chaos energy. As success of a new experiment could not be individually prognosticated, we brought a wide number of participants into a play. In order to prevent new incidents, the session of the “charging” was considered to be carried out without a direct connection to the Fragment ― the subjects had been tested in the special tubes, filled with ”charged” water. The quantity of Chaos energy in these tubes was limited, and their “recharging” needed a lot of time ― so the possibility of chain reaction was ruled out. After a set of such sessions each subject was implanted by a “magnet-module” (which had successfully passed a test over Biolizard) for keeping the Chaos energy within the blood. All we had to do was just waiting and analyzing.

Here is the essence of this stage. Each participants (all of which were furrian females) was bearing a child, and they should become pregnant before the “charging” sessions, otherwise the conception would be impossible, like in the case with Biolizard; as opposed to a grown-up furrian, whose organism lived through a sharp and violent mutation while having a contact with the Chaos Energy, the embryo should go through all these changes by degrees. The grown-up`s body appears to be totally developed, so it suffered an intense shock which caused unpredictable consequences. And the embryo`s one should be developing in the “charged” medium even long before birth. I could not guarantee or at least suppose that this very method should bring us an ultimate life form. I just had to wait passively for a final result, which ought to be whether something absolutely new, whether just another failure. After all, it was simply interesting to me and my colleagues ― at least something should happen in the end. At least the hypothesis was intriguing.

The process of bearing was quite stable, the embryo did not display any noticeable signs of mutation. Finally, the last stage ― the childbirth. I should prepare for the worst ― it would be quite logical if the foetus, which had been developed in the “charged” womb, lost his Chaos energy soon after birth, like a drop of water after separating from the “charged” lump. Actually it turned out to be much more dramatic. The cubs were not just losing energy ― they were dying after a complete exhaustion, one by one. Of course we could try to save their lives by putting into the “charged water” or implanting “magnet-modules”, but that would finally and prematurely confirm our failure. I started to believe, that it was ill fate mocking at me by taking the luck right out of my hands again and again. It was not just a scientific failure ― like in the incident with Biolizard, the innocent living beings were suffering because of my whim. The death of each newborn infant was on my personal conscience. I was depressed like never.

Unexpectedly, the fortune rewarded me for all the works and sufferings. One single baby survived the critical stage after the birth. Showing very weak, but stable signs of life, he was put into the “charged” water further stabilization of the metabolism. Afterwards this subjects was developing under my intent observation. The analyses gave positive results, and could no more doubt that I finally got what I had been expected for so long. The subjects had the same features as his predecessor, Biolizard, but his symbiosis ― both physical and mental ― was perfect. Later the subject managed to do periodically without support of the module, although he needed rather long sessions of “charging” from time to time. However, the frequency of sessions decreases from year to year, and that is a good reason for optimism ― it seems that synchronization of the Chaos energy with the vitality takes some time and resembles pubescence. By the way, the subject matures (from the standpoint of his physiology) much faster than a normal furrian ― I`m not pretty sure if that shows signs of premature aging, but considering his organic likeness with Biolizard I may assume that he also possesses “hypothetic immortality”.

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Ave Maria (Geoff Zanelli)

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I must say that I ventured to neglect the given directions and get into close contact with the subject. All the participants, who served as “charged” bearers of the embryos, were disconnected from the modules, removed from the project and deprived of any information of its further results (according to the volunteers` degree), but nevertheless, we were still dealing with a living intelligent creature. He had to be imposed a false biography and to be given rather wide freedom of movement. As his mind had been developing, I had to take him under my own guardianship. I even tried to get him into contact with my granddaughter, and the experience turned out to be successful. In due course they became really much attached to each other. I think that`s for the better. I would not wish Mary to consider this creature a test animal. Besides, it relaxed a strong tension in my privacy, as Maria suffered not only from her progressing illness, but also from a deaf loneliness ― she still remained an only child on the whole station. In my turn I became carried so far away by the search of the means of her salvation, that I gradually started to drift apart from my own little grandchild. Now she has got a friend, who suddenly united us all and reminded me, what all this project had started from in the first place ― the shadow of hope. That`s because I called the subject “Shadow” ― as an embodiment of all my dearest hopes.

Nor Mary nor Shadow himself do not even suspect of his real essence. For them both Shadow is just an orphaned furrian, who also suffers from an incurable disease (in this way it was easier to explain to the subject such a frequency of medical tests over him without revealing the truth of his own nature to himself). Until I finish the experiment completely ― and it won`t happen until Shadow reaches a complete pubescence ― I must be troubled only by trying to prolong Mary`s life and to ease her sufferings. These both should be troubled by nothing at all. Shadow was getting enough stress besides, especially from the military.

I must say, my relationships with the Military Department are getting really tight ― they demand for results, and I know how they are going to use it, so I think of some unconvincing excuses, trying to hold it up, and “feed” something like “Gisoid” or “Artificial Chaos” projects to them periodically. But their appetite is insatiable and patience is not infinite. Of course, it was impossible to keep Shadow from them endlessly. And the reports of researches over him impressed the Military a lot. Their reaction was predictable ― my department gained a new order to held more tests over Shadow. The higher stakes were not interested in the panacea ― they were discussing the most effective ways of killing, as usual. The problem is that Shadow perfectly combines both. He does not understand the meaning of these tests yet, but his ignorance does not ease his lot at all ― he will be tired out to the point of exhaustion.

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After a while I noticed that Shadow`s need for the “charging” ceased. I wondered if that meant him reaching the pubescence, but my search was interrupted by another mad experiment, which was ordered by the Military. The essence of the matter terrified me ― they were going to put the subject to the extreme overload and cause the critical energy consumption. They were going to find out his limits by this way. Such a tyrannical plan at least threatened Shadow`s life. My arguments convinced no one though. The consequences did not take long to appear.
The experiment was broken off by a new incident which turned out to be even more destructive than Biolizard`s one. Due to the excessive overloads Shadow was strongly shocked, got into an uncontrollable resonance with the Chaos energy within his own body and disrupted the operation of the electronics throughout the whole station, like it was done by Biolizard earlier. The test-tube was destroyed ― so was the whole laboratory ― several staff members were severely injured, and Shadow lost any control over self. Fortunately, the subject quickly ran out of energy ― if that didn`t happen, we station would be doomed this time for sure. My sponsors were so shocked themselves, that they left us all in piece for some time at once.

As I foretold, Shadow got completely exhausted. I presume his body was going through some progressive changes before the incident. His organism had stored enough energy ― that`s why he felt no need in “charging” any more. And then those dumb martinets just wore him down. Therefore Shadow`s body stopped developing and drove him so hard that he got a second wind, which caused an uncontrollable reaction. Shadow was trying to survive that moment, and afterwards he had to struggle for his life by restoring his power slowly. My breathless expectation was reduce to zero ― here we stepped back to the starting point again. But I could not help it. I could just hope that Shadow would recover before the Military Department comes up with a new torture for him.

My hopes came true ― Shadow`s recovering did not take much time. However, Shadow suffered from the same sharp paroxysm of energy, like during the accident, from time to time ever since, and these times there were no actual reasons. The effect was restrained by the special “limiter-ring” ― my new invention, formed like four ringed bangles for his four limbs. I started to worry that damned test caused some kind of pathology in the Shadow`s organism. The physical stress was often followed by some mental disorders ― Shadow had sharp drops of attitude, he became unpredictable, aggressive, melancholic, depressive, he even revealed some bent for creativity. Maybe I should not be so worried ― all these symptoms reminded me a typical transitional age, which occurs to any youngster.

Besides, Shadow began to come into frequent conflicts with staff members ― my colleagues and other station workers. It was hard to argue with them ― Shadow showed too much activity and curiosity, which disturbed others. That was understandable though. In contrast to my calm and shy granddaughter, a young male furrian was incredibly hard to be controlled. Nothing unnatural at all ― Shadow was just growing up, like any child. However, it did not spare us troubles. One of them I would even mention.
As I said, Shadow was very curious boy so he enjoyed walking throughout the station by self. Usually it ended up with him getting lost somewhere in the labyrinths of sections and monorails. Luckily, every time he was returned to me by someone from the staff before getting into serious troubles. But that time troubles got him faster.
Once Shadow wandered to a very dangerous zone. It was the place, where Biolizard was held. As they both were self-restoring Chaos energy carriers and living sources, no wonder their proximity caused a bond following by chain reaction. Shadows discharge was limited by his bangles, but Biolisard was not limited at all. For a mindless monster Shadow became just a battery, which was powerful enough to let Biolisard destroy the station completely. But fortune saved us the third time. Afterwards me and Shadow got a severe reprimand. Biolisard finally was decided to be put down, disconnected from the “magnet-module” and shut down once and for all. This time I had no right or reasons to argue.

Shadow`s getting into troubles caused me having troubles as well. Our relationships were also far from perfect. Unexpectedly, but it was Mary ̶ such a calm, soft and delicate girl ― who managed to pacify the furrian`s hot temper. Well, so much the easier and happier for me. The both of my loveliest creatures managed to establish an impalpable, but yet so strong and steady link, which was full of care and kindness ― something which they both were lacking. So much the worse the thought was, that I could loose them both. I was afraid of loosing Shadow, who could be taken by the Military anytime, and I was afraid to loose Maria, who could just live not long enough to get the cure. Double or nothing ― so was the stake of this experiment, which has been lasting more than ten years already...

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4000 Degrees Kelvin (from "Portal" the game)

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For the last birthday I prepared a special gift for Shadow. Here on the station such things claim for a practical approach, as there was not too much space for rich fantasy left. Nevertheless, I managed to combine business with pleasure.
I invented one more original device specially for Shadow. It looked like a footgear of a slightly extravagant style, but in reality it was an exceptional work of high technologies. The sole was corresponded with a set of mini-turbines, and the inner sole ― with a flexible touchpad. The construction of these devices implied only Shadow`s ability to use it, and even then ― just in theory. An attempt should cost nothing, though.
However, it appeared to cost a lot of effort. Now here is the point. Shadow lives at the expense of the Chaos energy, which circulates and regenerates within his own body. By the use of willpower he could concentrate his energy in his feet and activate the touchpad, which should recognize this energy, absorb and transform it into exhaust ― that should let the owner to take off the ground. Sounds like some kind of jet-skating. And it should be fueled by Shadow`s vital energy. That was the theory. The practice turned out to be much harder.
But it was not a shallow amusement. I would rather say, it was a source of special skill ― Shadow was to learn how to control his own energy. Of course, these bangle which I made for him, secured him and the whole station against the casual discharges. Nevertheless, he had to learn how to control himself sooner or later. In our case, sooner was better.
As I said, teaching Shadow to use this skill was tiresome. On my part it was quite difficult to explain Shadow how to do something, that only Shadow was able to do, considering the fact, that he had no idea how to do it. From Shadow`s part it was difficult to understand anything. Mary saved the situation again. She taught Shadow to associate the training with roller-skating, showing how to ride herself, in spite of physical weakness, caused by her disease. With a slight spontaneity she managed to achieve the result, which seemed unattainable to me, an old scientist.

... That was one of those infrequent moments of life on the station, when I could call myself quite happy. I was watching two most darling creatures to me ― they were as happy as me, holding each other`s hand, like siblings, and nothing ― nor on the Earth, nor in the whole space ― could separate them that moment. That moment our life seemed to be so light and simple...

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I must say, we have became very much attached to each other during this whole vague project. Although I can rightfully call Shadow my creation, he is not just a product of chemical reaction to me, but a full member of my family. His relations with Mary are quite brilliant. Any time when Mary is awake and Shadow is not being hold in the laboratory, they stick together. I thought they had no idea about what they were to each other ― they were ready to answer this question themselves. And let Shadow have no idea, that the purpose of his existence and even birth was to create a cure for Maria ― he is prolonging her life anyway, filling it with sense.
No doubt, this closeness hurts him as well. Once he witnessed Mary`s being suddenly attacked by nervous fit. The poor lad got considerably frightened, but even so I was glad that he was by her side at that terrible moment. And he always will until she is alive ― I am sure of that.
He asked me several times, if I will ever manage to cure her. What a mad irony ― my only hope for saving Mary was looking into my eyes and asking a question, which could be answered only by itself...
Of course, I believe that all these years do not pass in waste. Watching the two little flowers trying to grow up in the cold and empty rooms, leaning on each other`s stalk, I can`t help cherishing a hope in my soul ― that I will see the moment when Shadow reaches his perfection. Then just a single drop of his blood will probably breathe life into the fading body of my grandchild. And then we will finally get back down to the Earth and see the sky, sun and stars from the ground ― like they should be seen. And none of us will ever have to bear the deathly silence of the metal walls.
My project is not finished yet, and I won`t give it up while even a slight shadow of hope is trembling in my heart ― His shadow.

[Epodemus]

Schubert − Ellens dritter Gesang (Ave Maria)