Shadow: Awakening

Shadow: A Temporary Cure

"No! No, no, and no again!" Gerald barks through the speakers. "You're not doing it right!"

"Then how am I supposed to do it?!" I yell angrily at the ceiling.

"Focus your negative energy into an attack. One hand holds it, and the energy becomes a spear. You then throw the spear at whatever you wish to hit. I've only told you the same thing a dozen times!" Focus your negative energy into an attack. Works for me, because I really want to attack something right now. Only problem is...

"That's what I've been trying to do!" I say, caught between anger and helplessness. "How am I supposed to focus my negative energy into an attack?! It's not like I can just tell the energy I supposedly have in my body where to go!"

"Yes, you can!" Gerald sighs, "I know you don't think you can, but directing your energy with your mind is the basis of your powers! Your emotions and subconscious ARE your powers. Chaos Energy bends to your will; but only if you stop trying and start DOING."

"Ugh!" I growl, frustrated at Gerald's useless advice "I don't get this! How am I supposed to tell my powers what to do?!" Raising my fist, I unclench it and stare fixedly at my tense muscles.

"Exactly how I told you to! Honestly, Shadow, you're not listening!" Gerald emphasizes, and I can tell he's groaning at my lack of ability. Well,so what?! It's not my fault this is impossible! My muscles shaking with exhaustion and rage, I throw my hand out in defeat. Agh, I can't get--?! I feel a momentary tingle in my fingers, and a flash of yellow light jumps to life between my fingers. My hand now holds a jagged, crackling spear.

"Yes! Yes, finally! It's about time!" Gerald crows from above. "Quickly, Shadow, throw your Chaos Spear at the wall!" Shaking myself, I draw my arm back and hurl the energy spear with all of my might. Crack! The spear shatters as it rebounds off the wall, leaving a black mark.

"Wonderful!" Gerald exclaims in joy, "Now, do it again!" What?! Again! Ugh...

Flop. I collapse onto my small bed with an exhausted sigh. Stupid powers. After I successfully created a Chaos Spear once, I had thought I wouldn't have to keep trying. Stars, I was wrong. I groan as I recall the grueling session that was my day. If one more "negative energy" comment tickles my ears, I am going to scream.

"Goodnight, Shadow." Maria says, looking over at me from her bed.

"Goodnight, Maria." I whisper; she's already dozing off. Closing my eyes, I slowly slip into subconsciousness...

The lights are on, and Maria is humming as she brushes out her hair. She smiles as she sees that I am awake.

"Good morning, Shadow!" she chirps. "Did you sleep alright?"

"Yeah," I say, yawning, "but I feel a little...tired." My body feels sluggish, and my stomach is dancing around drunkenly. Ugh...I don't feel good.

"Are you okay?" Maria asks, startled. "You look kind of..." She trails off, and gasps. "Oh no! You must be starting to catch NIDS! I'll tell grandfather right away!" She rushes to the screen on the wall and calls up the link to Gerald. Since the only screen is in our shared room, she rarely uses it.

Bleah...I feel really...ugh. Really ugh. Yes, that's totally a thing. I groan. I hope this is NIDS, because then Gerald will be able to cure Maria. If it isn't...well, then I don't even think I can catch anything else since we're on quarantine. In the background I can hear Gerald reassuring Maria that I will be fine. So...tired...

Shaking myself out of a semiconscious stupor, I realize that I am now back on my bed. Then I realize that there is a robot next to me stabbing a very thin metal rod into my arm.

"Agh! What the heck are you doing?!" I jump, and try to pull away, but the robot grabs my arm and holds me fast.

"It's okay, Shadow!" Maria appears to my left, opposite the robot. "The medical bot isn't going to hurt you. It's just monitoring how you're doing." Calming my heart's rate's I remember that I am sick. With this knowledge, I let my thoughts fade into sleep...

"Come on back, Shadow..." a voice like Gerald's rumbles through my head. "Come on back." Opening my eyes, I stare for a second at the person in front of me. Then reality hits me.

"Gerald?! How are YOU in here?! This is a quarantine!" I exclaim, gasping and wide-eyed.

"Was. Was a quarantine." Gerald smiles down at me. "Maria's disease, and her contagiousness have been halted. As long as she takes her cure everyday, her NIDS will not advance. Now I can once more visit my granddaughter. " Wrapping his arm around Maria's shoulder, he hugs her. "And it's all thanks to you. Shadow, you have effectively cured my daughter."

"Really?" I ask, but as soon as I look at Maria and her shining eyes I know it's true.

"Really." Gerald confirms. "Maria has been enjoying traveling the entire colony these past few days, but she never stopped waiting for you to wake up and join her."

Smiling, I hop up, feeling as normal as ever. Maria bends down and hugs me, lifting me off the ground.

"Thank you, Shadow!" She says, beaming from ear to ear.

That's when a huge Clack! shook the ship.

So, yes, Shadow learned Chaos Spear, cured NIDS, and something (I won't tell you what yet) happened to the ship, and all in one chapter! I hope this chapter doesn't seem too rushed, but I planned all along for it to be like this. I guess to find out what happened (or rather, is happening) you will have to keep reading! XD