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Shadow looked out the window of the Space Colony ARK. A mirage of swirling, cosmic lights danced between twinkling stars. Below him was the blue of the Earth, so large yet so far from him. From the ARK, all of the inhabitants seemed so small, so insignificant.
Black Doom’s words echoed in his mind: “What do you think vermin like you can accomplish on your own? Let me show you...those who commit mutiny against me will see no mercy...and do not defy me again!”
Vermin… Shadow thought. They may be small, but they’re not vermin.
Shadow was beginning to see how he and Black Doom were different; Black Doom saw people as small and insignificant, and Shadow knew they were worth protecting. Sure, he and Black Doom may be physically more powerful than the residents of Earth, but Shadow knew that meant he had to protect them, not conquer them.
Shadow knew all this logically, but Black Doom crept into almost every thought of his. Every lie that creature implanted into Shadow’s brain when it was at its most vulnerable. Despicable. Shadow hated himself for being manipulated by him.
Interrupting his thoughts came the chiming of a bell.
“Ah, Bio needs his breakfast,” Shadow muttered to himself. He picked up the green Chaos Emerald from his desk and headed to the elevator. He pressed a button, and the elevator glided down, depositing Shadow at the Emerald Shrine. More importantly to Shadow, it was home to the Biolizard, the closest thing Shadow had to a relative.
The Biolizard uncurled itself and yawned, its black lips stretching out. It was about 57 feet taller than Shadow, so Shadow was surprised every day that it didn’t just swallow Shadow whole. He might have deserved it, given what happened when Shadow first returned to the ARK.
The Biolizard lowered its head to Shadow, the gun turrets it had for eyes staring him down. A sign of trust.
Shadow put his gloved hand to the Biolizard’s head. “Hey there, Bio. Ready for breakfast?”
The Biolizard made a loud chirp and opened its wide mouth.
Shadow held the Chaos Emerald, feeling the power flowing within his body, and yelled, “Chaos Blast!”
The green energy shot from Shadow’s hand and into the Biolizard’s mouth. The pale light traveled from the Biolizard’s mouth to its stomach and rested in the red orb of its life support system. Shadow wasn’t sure how it all worked, but he knew that, somehow, the Chaos energy kept the Biolizard alive. That was enough for him.
For Shadow, he and the Biolizard were living warnings to mankind. This is what science will get you: a sickly monster and an alien spawn destined for evil.
Still, Shadow felt a fondness for the Biolizard. Truly, it was a sweet creature when shown some affection.
The alarms on the ARK started blaring. The Biolizard let out an ear-deafening roar.
“I’ll be right back, Bio,” Shadow said. “I’ll take care of this.”
Shadow jogged back to the elevator and ascended. He looked out the window and saw a G.U.N. space shuttle at the loading dock.
What do they want from me now?
Shadow held the Chaos Emerald close to his chest and walked down the hallway, hugging the wall. He heard the clanking of footsteps draw closer and closer…
“CHAOS—” Shadow whipped the corner, raising his hand behind his head.
“Wait, Shadow! It’s just me!” G.U.N. Commander Tower raised his hands defensively.
Shadow slowly lowered his hand, feeling the Chaos energy dissipate in his body.
“I’m unarmed, Shadow,” Tower continued. “I just wanted to see the ARK again.”
Shadow raised a brow. “Why now?”
“With everything that’s happened with the Black Comet… realizing you were a victim of circumstance, too… I wanted to come back here with a fresh perspective.”
“I see.” Shadow gestured to the doorway.
Tower walked in, his eyes going wide. “Chaos, I haven’t been here since I was a boy, but nothing has changed.”
Shadow followed behind Tower. “The doctor was no fool, Commander. He built this to last.”
Tower stopped in the office and looked around for a few silent pauses. Shadow shuffled. He felt strangely exposed, having someone else see all this.
“I see you have the green Chaos Emerald,” Tower said, his heterochromatic eyes looking at the gemstone in question.
Shadow clutched the Chaos Emerald closer to his chest.
“Relax, I’m not going to take it. I’m just surprised you found it, is all. The emeralds disperse to all parts of the world after someone goes super.”
“It was in the rubble after I destroyed the Black Comet,” Shadow replied. “I think it knew I would need it.”
“Hmm, you’ve proven yourself to be a trustworthy guardian of it.”
“Thank you.”
More unbearable silence for Shadow. It was one thing to be around someone else, but it was worse when that person wasn’t talking. Especially since this is the first person Shadow had spoken to in months.
Tower continued walking around with Shadow closely following behind him. He stopped in the living quarters. Maria’s living quarters. Tower leaned over the desk and grabbed a piece of paper, holding it to his face.
“I…” he mumbled. “I drew this for her.”
Shadow walked over and saw a crayon drawing of an angel.
“I wasn’t much of an artist, but that’s how I saw her. An angel.”
Shadow’s expression softened. He saw her that way, too.
Tower put the drawing back down. “I should head back. No one at G.U.N. knows I’m here.”
Shadow nodded.
“Have you thought about my offer some more? G.U.N. could use someone like you, and Rouge and Omega are agents now.”
Shadow thought for a few moments. Part of it was appealing— going back to Earth and helping people. Being with his friends again. But no. Someone needed to be on the ARK to make sure no one used it for nefarious means.
“No, I belong here,” Shadow responded.
“If you change your mind,” Tower said. “You know how to contact me.”
“Have a safe journey back.”
Tower walked back to the loading dock, and Shadow watched his shuttle drift away from the window. Shadow knew his place: on the ARK, where he couldn’t hurt anyone else.