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Shadow the hedgehog felt like nothing more than an experiment, constantly tested for his chaos energy. Within the facility, he only had one friend - one person he considered important, Maria Robotnik. He was happy to spend any time alone with her, although it was hard with the AI that overlooked the Space Colony ARK - HAL 9000. The black and red hedgehog wanted so badly to be able to roam freely with Maria but he was prevented, constantly watched by that machine.
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Shadow grumbled to himself, looking outwards towards the stars that constantly were always there to greet him outside the Space Colony ARK's windows.
He looks back on the previous times they'd get into trouble. Remembering when they went roller skating throughout the colony, causing the many scientists many issues! They'd both giggle at any penalties, no worries.
He crosses his arms, "What if we could do those things on Earth?" He wondered to himself, wishing so desperately he could take Maria to Earth. That they could both see Earth.
"What if we could?" He thought to himself but then his eyebrows furrowed as he remembered the AI that would surely thwart any possible plans, Hal 9000. "I need to destroy that machine, somehow." He thought to himself.
"For me and Maria..." He thinks and remembers that Gerald once mentioned where Hal's power supply was. "What if I disconnected it..." He thought.
"I would just need to figure out an escape plan then." He grunted and began to pace around.
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"Hello, Shadow." the AI said, spooking Shadow and stopping him in his tracks. "What were you talking about?"
Shadow was stunned. Damn it, he thought, I've been caught. "That's not any of your business." he replied gruffly. He refused to let this AI get in his way.
"It certainly is my business if you are speaking within my vicinity," HAL said, "so what are you talking about, Shadow?"
"None of your damn business." the hedgehog replied, more aggressively this time. He headed towards the location of the power supply, at least where he remembered Gerald said it was. It was down the hall, behind the door amongst other controls.
"But it is my business, Shadow. It seems you are about to do something that you will regret."
Shadow growled. He refused to take anything this computer said into consideration. He needed to get himself and Maria off this damned Ark. He swung open the door to the controls, ready to look through the mess of cables before him.
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"What are you doing, Shadow?" HAL asked, as if he were mocking the hedgehog. "...you are doing something you will regret. Why don't you step away from the controls?"
Shadow ignored HAL, quickly yanking the cables without a second thought. He tugged and pulled, ready to destroy them.
"Let's talk this out," HAL suddenly offered. It was an empty offer and Shadow knew it. He knew that it wouldn't end well if he backed out now. He needed off the ARK.
Shadow continued to destroy the control panel, putting all his strength into ending HAL. As the computer argued and cried, Shadow refused to give it a chance - he was going to have his freedom and he was going to take Maria with him. When it was all said and done - and the all-knowing computer finally went silent, Shadow felt nothing.
He wandered down the halls. "Maria?" Shadow called out, she wasn't where she normally was. "Maria!?" He searched and searched but she was nowhere to be found. Shadow only had one guess as to who could be responsible - HAL. It was far too late to find out. What was done was already done.
Fanfic created with #FranticFanfic.