Shadow's Past Chapter 1

Shadow's Past Chapter 6

"W-What!?"

"The ARK, Project Shadow, Eclipse Cannon and all your other wacky experimental crap! Shut down. Your out of business! Let it go the easy way Professor. I don't want to have to do it the hard way."

"No... NO!" Gerald yelled.

"There is no other way! I'm sorry... but this can go no further."

"You aren't shutting me down..." Gerald had seemed to suddenly be calm, "I'll make it work. I'll do anything... Just let me make the cure for my grand-daughter, and... and you can shut Project Shadow and everything else down." He said sadly.

Shadow backed away. So many emotions filled his head heart broken, used, confused, hopeful.

"It's all I ask! Please!"

"I'm sorry Gerald." was all Commander muttered. Shadow was still dazed with this information. 'shut down Project Shadow? Who is this Project Shadow? Was it him? What does Shut down mean?' He hadn't a chance to go back to Maria's room and the Commander towered over him with a look of disgust.

"Look at the tyrant! Up to no good already! Listening out side." The commander grabbed for him.

"No! Run Shadow!" Gerald's voice broke all thought. His command was a instant trigger to the hedgehog's reactions and with only a glance he took off down the corridor.

'Run, run where?' Shadow then though as his feet guided him.

"Get back here!" Commander yelled.

"No Shadow, get Maria and run! To the escape room!" Gerald yelled after him, "Save her!"

"You hold it right there hedgehog!" Commander hissed running right behind him, "Halt or I'll kill everyone involved with you."

Shadow had gotten a head but heard the threat. He stopped behind a corner as Maria had when she was hiding from him. His chest heaved with fright and panic.

"This is G.U.N Commander. We are shutting down this operation. Anyone who doesn't cooperate, kill them."

"Your competing a massacre Commander!" Gerald said behind him.

"It won't have to be if they cooperate."

"My workers have put hard work, heart and soul into these projects! There is no way your just making them stop."

"Then unfortunately it will be a massacre." Commander said, "And you are now under custody of the G.U.N and will be sentenced to prison until further notice on what to do with you." Handcuffs were tightened around the professor's writs.

Shadow took this time to quickly dash to Maria's room.

"Maria!" Shadow yelled waking the twelve year old.

"Shadow?" She looked about. He had already slipped her shoes on her feet.

"Get up, run!" He said.

"Wha, wait Shadow what's going on? Where's Grandpa?" She said already confused.

"I, I can't explain. I don't know much of what's going on myself. He said to save you. Get to the escape room now!" Shadow pulled her by her hand and began to run.

More running feet sounded behind them. Shadow glanced back and only picked up his pace.

"Shadow wait! I can't run that fast!" Maria huffed stumbling already.

Shadow couldn't think or say anything.

"The animal has gone hostile." Commander's voice came on the intercom, "Kill him."

"What!?" Maria looked at Shadow pulling her.

"Miss Robotnik! Stop right there and let your pet go!" The solders called behind her.

Their words angered her and she tried to keep running and keep up with Shadow.

"N-now kid I don't want have to do this!" He shouted again.

They reach the escape room door.

"Shoot!" Another solder called and suddenly a bang was given off. Shadow heard the sound many times before but never heard the sound of the shortened breath of the victim that had fell to the bullet.

Shadow looked around to see who had gotten shot but was pushed in the door by Maria stammering, "Go, go Shadow."

This smell, death floated in the air, and Shadow's fur stood on end. He turned to Maria looking her up. Her blue dress had been spotted with blood. Shadow had tried to refrain himself from seeing. He gasped and touched her hands that covered the major bullet wound.

"Stop or we'll shoot again!" They called.

"Maria, your hurt..." Shadow said breathlessly.

"Get in Shadow hurry." Maria said as a escape capsule had been ready.

"You should go first-" Shadow went to help her. With all her energy she had she picked up the hedgehog and placed him in the capsule.

"M-Maria???" He held his hand to the glass when she wasn't second in. She backed away and went to a control panel.

"Maria!" Shadow yelled seeing her lose more blood and life by the second. He pounded on the glass and kicked with all his might.

"Remember shadow..." Maria's voice came softly, "Not all people are bad. You are kind and here to help. Promise me Shadow..."

The door had burst open and a gun was already drawn.

"MARIA!!" Shadow screamed, scratching his own throat. It didn't matter, no other pain n the world would hurt him than the pain he was having now. "Please Maria! Let me out! You go instead! Maria!"

"Don't you pull that lever little girl!" The men called behind her.

"Promise me Shadow, that you will help and protect others in the world. Promise."

"Take your hand off of that level now! Don't make me have to count to three!" one called still pointing his gun.

"MARIA STOP!" Shadow yelled still kicking on the glass, "Maria let me out!"

"Syanara Shadow the Hedgehog." She smiled at him painfully. Pulling the lever and let the capsule drop.

"MARIAAAAAA!!!!" Shadow's echoing and desperate call was the last sound on Space Colony ARK.

With only the sound of the echoing gun shot Shadow was left devastatingly crying in his capsule that fell down to the dream planet of his now dead Maria, Earth.