Chapter Text
" Shadow." a voice whispered in the distance as the black hedgehogs eyes opened groggily, rising on his feet. " Hello? Where am I? What is this place?" Shadow said confused, a bewildered look crossing the hedgehog's features as he looked around.
Shadows gaze slowly stopped at the view of outer space outside the ship window. " Wait what? How am I in space-" "We're in the Space Colony A.R.K silly, like we've always been." Someone approaches out of the shadows, it was… "Maria?" Shadow softly muttered. " B-But how are you- why are you-" " He needs you." Maria smiled, she sat down near the black hedgehog. " He? Who are you talking about Maria? Gerald?" Shadow confusingly replied. "Sonic." " Sonic?" Shadow scoffs with concern and annoyance.
" Yes, You need to find him at once before they find him first." Maria replied weary, her features growing stern. " They? Who's they Maria? Tell me." Shadow held Maria's hands softly in his grasp. The ship started catching on fire, everything destructing around them, and the sound of an alarm going off . Shadows face changed with fear, his eyes dilated in shock as his ears go flat. "The Arkers." a flag appears behind her, the old Ark logo with an X on the front. "Find him, Find him, Find him, you must find him." The voice gains more momentum, ringing in the hedgehogs ears. Then, the sound stops as everything goes to black leaving Shadow by himself. Shadow turns around to see Sonic right infront him; the blue hedgehogs right glove pointing to his chest. " Find me."
Shadow jolted awake, his heart pounding out of his chest. {Sigh, relax it was only a dream } The black hedgehog thought to himself. Shadow went to get up but was pulled down by a sudden force. " What the hell!? What is this?" the black hedgehog looked to the floor beneath him, seeing red cuff inhibitor rings on his wrist and down to his ankles. The rings were connected to the chains on the hard concrete floor. When he glanced up, Shadow noticed he was in a chamber cell. He also noticed he was wearing a gray uniform with the logo that says experiment number in big caps. " How am I-" " It seems you are awake Terios, welcome home! Due to protocol we had to put you here, but don't worry you'll be out in a flash!" The female voice came from the shadows outside of the hedgehogs chambers.
" Who are you?" Shadow snarled, His eyes gleaming red , his posture going tense . The figure slowly came out of the shadows. " Wow we're seeming forgetful today huh? You must of fell flat on your ass hard! Kinda entertaining to be honest. But heres something to clear that foggy memory of yours, I'm Canker. The leader of your division in Ark corp." A brown deranged dog with chopped uneven purple hair, bright purplish blue eyes gleaming in the darkness. She wore a pink tinted face visor gas mask on. Along with that, wearing a purple & blue spotted collar on top of a black suit with a sign on it, it seemed familiar- it was the flag from the dream.
" Welcome back to the Arker's, Terios! Don't worry we're going to have so MUCH fun I promise." Canker put her hand out as she blooped Shadow on the nose." Boop my nose again you won't have a finger to do so and its Shadow, SHADOW." Shadow growled in anger and warning. " Ooooh spicy now aren't we.. Terios?" " It's Shadow" " But its Terios?" " I said my NAME is Shadow, I dare you call me out my name ONE more time I DARE you.." Shadow spat. "OH okay okay… SH-ADDDDDOW I will try… " Thank you" "Terios.." " ARGHHHH!" Shadow lunged at her but the chains restraining him gives me a hurtful shocking him from doing so.
" Hehehe, remember who's in a cage in chains next time. Dumb ass bitch!" Canker evilly smirked, letting out a loud snicker. The sound of her laugh resembling an evil witch mixed with a psychos, echoing through out the chambers which sent Shadow into a spiral.She seemed early 20s from her childish demeanor.
" When I get out this cage I swear I'll beat your head in so many times you will remember! " You'll what? Kill me too? Have to pinky promise you'll go through with it." Canker rolled her eyes, turning her back towards you as she grabs something .
When she turns back towards him she was holding a remote with a big red button. " And what is THAT going to do?" Shadow scoffed. Canker pressed the button leaving shadow with a hurtful shock from the collar, " Now, with that out the way lets try again. We will do some tests on you for our boring security protocol because it is deeply required for you to get back to work. But, with your new behavior and your surprise entrance it sparks a bit of controversy with everyone in New Yoke including the counsel.
You were supposed to be back in October 31 since your expedition with your team 02/17/10 who seems to not be with you in this case.. how strange huh.." Canker adds, looking at the board across from her. " Well then, gotta get into it then… don't want to keep Riot waiting now do we?" Canker laughed with a snarl as she unlocked the cage, leading Shadow to the elevator. The two get on the elevator, Canker pressing the button to go up to the 4th floor of the ship. " Wow, that mission sure messed you up in the head didn't you? After I thought I was the crazy one in this place, even get bothered at me calling you by your own name.. but don't worry we will sort this out, in the mean time you'll go by your regular weekly routine."
" Regular schedule?" Shadow muttered confused. The deranged dog gave Shadow a clipboard of papers for the normal routine. The elevator dinged as it finally reached the fourth floor, the doors opening in front of them. " Well we arrived!" Canker shouted joyfully, pushing Shadow out the elevator as the doors close. " Hey!? what does this- how do I-ugh why the hell do I even ask." Shadow groaned out of frustration, grabbing his temples. " WAIT! COME bac- woah?" Shadow arrived at a big bright warm colored futuristic lobby full of tech ahead of it's time. He saw other mobians passing by him with the same gray suits with there experiment numbers; it turns out he wasn't the only experiment of Gerald's after all. He noticed outside of the windows that there were multiple colony ships.
" Okay, let's just see whats even on here.." Shadow started flipping through the assignments papers he was given.
Daily assignments: Shadow Terios Robotnik # Log 6767 ( follow the map)
arrive at assembly check/ get breakfast through line #27
Go to office desk for your office keycard in order to get through building/ go to floor 28 to work on mobile deck
Start guarding the mobile deck until confirmed secure\ Go to airship on 32nd floor for mission 11
Begin to get further instructions on airship RIOT!
" Well whatever seems simple enough I guess, but where the heck is the map located in this situation? How do I get to the office desk? which floor is that? how do I know which airship is the right one? I swear there are SO MANY plot holes in this whole entire summary of what I am meant to be doing… " Shadow grumbled , squinting his eyes at the instructions in bewilderment. " Jesus, after I thought Sonic was as dumb as rocks this took the cherry on to- wait a sec Sonic!? Crap that fool" Shadow scoffed, running his fingers through his quills. The memories from what happened began to flood his brain. " Guess I'll have to grab him after I find a way out this place. In the meantime, I have to get out of here.. Now where the heck is that lin-" Shadow looks around as he sees a long line in the distance. " Ah-well that a start." Shadow ran over to end of the long line.
As the line progressed, Shadow grabbed one of the lunch trays on the counter. He began looking at the options of food available and let's just say it wasn't very pleasing to the eyes. " Oh my- at least I know where the budget FAILED to go, bolts & wires.." Shadow gagged in disgust, resting his hands on his hips." Terios?" Someone called from behind him. It was .." Rouge?" Shadow muttered in shock. " Terios? I thought you went on the space mission for the project at space ark? And we don't use personal names remember?" Shadow looked down at her name tag her suit, realizing what it was for. " Right.. um.. Rebel? You know I'm often forgetful you know? Had so much work going on.." Shadow replied stern with a hint of uncertainty. {Oh this is is going to end badly} Shadow thought to himself. The air was full of silence, tension filling the atmosphere.
" Oh Terios, who does remember? At all?" Rebel bursted out laughing, leaving Shadow sighing in huge relief. " I remember I forgot my papers at my locker in admin last weekend to be honest. But since your back and all, you have to get through to the higher ups about the accident yesterday. With the whole coming here without warning disaster?" Rebel sighed, resting her hand on his shoulder. " Yeah, right… Well um that's what I was planning to do anyways so.. don't worry about it.." Shadow agreed. " Also, grabbed your keycard so you don't have to darling." Rebel passed Shadows I.D to him as she walked away to the one of the breakfast tables.
" Terios, please report to the top floor immediately to get in touch with staff at once please! Thank you!" The announcements called from the speaker. A guard went up to him. " You have to come with me." The guard called. Everyone began to whisper as Shadow got up from his seat to go with one of the guards.
The guard and Shadow walked down the hallway and got on the elevator. Then, comes a loud ding as the elevator doors fly open. " Go to the board room straight ahead down the hall, she's waiting for you." The guard grunted, pushing shadow out the elevator. The doors closing behind him.
" She?" Shadow replied confused. He began to walk down the hallway full of portraits of all the eggman establishments. Shadow finally reached the door at the end of the hall. " {Sigh} Here we go." He went through the doors to see a big bright blue office with a nice big wooden desk. All the portraits of the Eggman family on the walls until his eyes stopped on a portrait above the desk. It was a picture of Dr. robotnik, Metal, and-
Just then, a person rest their hands on on the hedgehogs shoulders; shadow turns around to see…
"Maria?"
" Hello Shadow… Welcome back to earth! Oh my we have so much to talk about."
To be continued……