Shadow The Hedgehog

Epithet: The Ultimate Lifeform Race: Artificially-processed transgenic Black Arm resembling an Efrikan pygmy hedgehog Gender: Male Age: literally doesn't age, technically over 50, physically 15 Date Of Birth: Unknown Birthplace: Bernoulli spherical Space Colony ARK Height: 3'3" Weight: 77.2 pounds Ability Type: Speed Alignment: Lawful Neutral Affiliation: Team Dark

(1). Spin Attack Description: While in locomotion, Shadow can curl down and take on a fetal position, rolling along the ground at a very high speed and rate of torque, using his natural speed and the sharpness of his quills to his advantage. This is meant primarily for breaking through barriers or destroying enemies. In-game debut: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001 Last known use: Sonic Runners, Mobile, 2015 (2). Spin Jump Description: Shadow is able to leap into the air and curl into a spinning, tightly compacted ball of sharpness and destruction which can destroy enemies and break barriers. In-game debut: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001 Last known use: Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, Mobile, 2017 (3). Spin Dash Description: Shadow is able to curl down and begin revving up, taking on a diagonally pivoted, ovular shape. Once unleashed, Shadow blasts forward in an acceleration roll of high speeds with limited airborne capability, meant to break barriers or mow down enemies. In-game debut: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001 Last known use: Sonic Rivals 2, Sony PlayStation Portable, 2007 (4). Jump Dash/Homing Attack Description: While airborne in spinball form, Shadow can burst forward in a sudden jolt of speed in a linear path enveloped in a yellow aura, and when an enemy or object is near, the jump can be used to home right into the nearby enemy or object with extreme impact power. In-game debut: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001 Last known use: Sonic Forces, Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, 2017 (5). Light Dash Description: When a trail or pattern of rings is in close proximity, Shadow is able to zoom across the trajectory of the ring path at light speed, defying gravity and collecting all of them in a flash. In-game debut: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001 Last known use: Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic Next), Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, 2006

(6). Light Speed Attack Description: After gaining enough power, Shadow dashes into a powerful and fast attack on all enemies in the vicinity. Its accuracy is questionable, however, and Shadow has to be careful not to end up somewhere he shouldn't when coming out of the attack. In-game debut: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001 (7). Chaos Spear Description: Shadow raises his hand and can throw down a large array of highly destructive yellow streams of chaos energy at his opponent. This attack either damages the opponent or stuns them, depending how it is used. In his Super form, Shadow is able to charge up and shoot a single, yet more powerful Spear. In-game debut: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001 Last known use: Sonic Generations, Microsoft Xbox 360/Sony PlayStation 3/PC, Nintendo 3DS, 2011 (8). Chaos Control Description: With the use of a single Chaos Emerald and, at times, a mind set on justice, Shadow is able to warp time and space and teleport to a desired destination, as well as manipulate time by freezing it, speeding it up, or slowing it down. He can also damage his enemies by ramming them whilst teleporting. If Shadow uses Chaos Control at the same time as another, he can use the resulting tear in space-time continuum to travel through time. Whilst in super form, Chaos Control is more potent, to the point that he can teleport massively sized objects. In-game debut: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001 Last known use: Sonic Forces, Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, 2017 (9). Black Tornado Description: When in mid-air, Shadow can assume spinball form and repeatedly follow the trajectory of a perfect circle, stirring up a substantially powerful vortex of black colored winds, sending anything caught in it flying up into the air and ultimately helpless. In-game debut: Sonic Heroes, Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2004

(10). Triangle Jump Description: Shadow basically Jump Dashes between walls. He can also run on them for a very limited amount of time after instigating a jump as well, but he can only remain rooted on a wall for a short period of time when still. In-game debut: Sonic Heroes, Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2004 Last known use: Shadow the Hedgehog, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2005 (11). Chaos Blast Description: When the darkness of his psyche is in control, Shadow is able to unleash a highly destructive ball of energy around him with the use of a single Chaos Emerald. This blast spreads and eliminates nearly everything in a 20-yard radius. Appearance: Shadow the Hedgehog, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2005 Last known use: Sonic and the Black Knight, Nintendo Wii, 2009 (as Sir Lancelot, Knight of the Lake) (12). Chaos Attack Description: As if the Homing Attack wasn't good enough on its own, Shadow uses Chaos energy to enhance the amount of damage dealt, even taking out multiple enemies at once. However, it can only be used five times, regardless of the number of targets. Only used in: Sonic the Hedgehog (aka Sonic Next), Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, 2006 (13). Spin Kick Description: Shadow basically performs a spinning kick whether moving or still that resembles break-dancing somewhat. If he is still when performing this attack, it can create a small tornado that can suck enemies in and damage them. Only used in: Sonic the Hedgehog: Next Gens, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, 2006 (14). Chaos Lance Description: Shadow creates a single red lance of chaos energy that strikes his enemy, stunning them as well as damaging them. Only used in: Sonic the Hedgehog: Next Gens, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, 2006

(15). Chaos Rift Description: Shadow tears the space-time continuum a new one and tosses the resulting hole at his foe, trapping them in limbo. Should the attack fail, the experience can still make the victim dazed and distracted. Only used in: Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Nintendo DS, 2008 (16). Chaos Punishment Description: Using an unknown power, Sir Lancelot of Camelot had the ability to stop time and quickly warp from one enemy to another, vanquishing each one, provided he had enough energy in his Soul Gauge to do so. When all his foes had been put down, Lancelot simply dashed forth in a blaze of speed. Only used in: Sonic and the Black Knight, Nintendo Wii, 2009 (17). Chaos Boost Description: Quite possibly Shadow's greatest acceleration move: at will, Shadow is able to burst forward in a blaze of reddish-yellow energy and instantly achieve supersonic speeds upon lifting his feet off the ground without virtually any acceleration delay. Annoyingly, it is unknown if this fatigues him, however, since it would seem that he uses his Air Shoes to do this, rather than his own natural speed. Appearance: Sonic Generations, Sony PlayStation 3/Microsoft Xbox 360/PC/Nintendo 3DS, 2011 Last known use: Sonic Forces, Sony PlayStation 4/Microsoft Xbox One/Nintendo Switch/PC, 2017

(1). Thanks to his air shoes, Shadow is able to hoverskate at supersonic speeds, nearly matching Sonic's right down to the last mile per hour. Alternatively, Shadow doesn't necessarily need the shoes' jets to be as fast as his rival but prefers them anyway. Unlike Sonic, however, Shadow has yet to break the sound barrier. (2). Needless to say, his natural speed gives him awesome agility, acrobatic skills, and reaction time. (3). Though he can't compare with Knuckles, Shadow has enormous physical strength, capable of lifting objects many times his weight and size such as buses and large slabs of rock/concrete and flipping/tossing them with relative ease. (4). Shadow has an incredible resilience to damage as it takes a LOT of major punishment for him to go down for the count. Even then, he recovers rather fast indeed. Given his ultimate life-form status, he may also be completely immune to disease, and he does not physically age. (5). By removing the golden rings on each of his wrists, Shadow can release tremendous amounts of energy that were held back by the inhibitor rings in a speedy dash that appears to be able to obliterate almost anything in his path.

(1). Shadow has the ability to use the power of the 7 Chaos Emeralds and transform into Super Shadow, where Shadow's fur turns to a glossy, light beige color, he is impervious to damage, and is many times as fast and powerful along with the ability to fly. Super Shadow is reliant on rings to sustain this form and, in some cases, even activate it. Maintaining this form even with rings consumes extreme amounts of energy and Shadow can only sustain it for relatively short periods of time. When this form was first activated, Shadow found it difficult to stay in the form, due to his inexperience.

(1). Seems to be the most talented when tapping into the powers of the Chaos Emeralds, since he is most adept with Chaos Control and possesses an extensive array of Chaos Energy-related supernatural powers and abilities.

(2). Experienced athlete, particularly in fields such as boarding and grinding.

(3). Shadow knows how to use a VERY wide variety of weapons and vehicles.

(4). Also talented with many types of Extreme Gear.

Despite being somewhat easily influenced when set on a goal, naturally, when you've got this much power, you're probably a cocky dick! Yes, Shadow is overconfident in his abilities. Also, he has a terrible habit of losing his memory. This guy's spent most of his life wondering who he is & even when he does remember, he usually winds up losing his memories later anyway! Also, we can't forget that Shadow's Super form only lasts so long. Then again, when you move at lightspeed & have control over time & space, who cares about time limits? Not usually a problem for The Ultimate Lifeform.

• Coarse and close-lying black fur with a light grayish colored extremely thin undercoat. Appears very suede like in texture. -Long and thin, black-furred legs that broaden below the knees. Capable of allowing Shadow to perform some extremely impressive jumps and leaps and very powerful kicks.
• Red highlights on several parts of his body including his quills, arms, legs, and on the upper corners of his eyes. This coloration is implied to be an inherited trait from the Black Arms.
• Tan skin muzzle and inner ears
• Thin and wiry, black-furred arms that have MUCH more strength than they appear to have at first glance
• Large, very serious looking eyes with ruby red irises, black pupils and glassy white sclera.
• Black eyelids with a thickish black lash that extends among the bottom of the top eyelid.
• 6 elongated quills coming out from the back of his head (the outer four are bent upwards) that appear to be consisted of many thousands of smaller spines, and two much less pliable arching quills on his back.
• Triangular, constantly alert and perked ears with a slightly forward slant. They have some degree of movement and are known to slant sideways when Shadow is particularly upset...well, more upset than usual, anyway.
• Long, shiny black nose with no apparent nostrils
• Small, slightly arched tail
• Triangular patch of tufted white fur on his chest.

Standard Attire:

• A pair of white gloves backed by black, red-tongued cuffs and golden Inhibitor Rings which, as the name suggests, seem to limit his power somewhat. The rings click into place on the cuffs when placed back on after being taken off.
• A pair of white, black, red and yellow air shoes installed with five jets that enable Shadow to hoverskate
• Collars and Inhibitor Rings similar to his glove cuffs and rings are situated above his shoes.

Extreme Gear:

• A pair of sunglasses with one large teal lens and a gray frame. Curiously, they're never seen over his eyes.
• A pair of shoes that is a bit similar in appearance to his usual kicks but with laces.
• Once wore an Ark of the Cosmos on one of his wrists which enabled Shadow to manipulate gravity as he pleased. From utilizing gravity to make sharp turns, repelling enemies and slowing his rate of descent to even utilizing gravity in order to perform long and fast burst of acceleration whilst levitating.

(1). Air Shoes Description: They look like Shadow's regular kicks but adorned with a special attachment. At first, these shoes were required to perform the Light Dash. Nowadays, Shadow has learned to perform the maneuver regardless. Appearance: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001

(2). Ancient Light Description: A very mysterious ball of light with smaller orbs of light orbiting it that was absorbed into Shadow's body when he gained it. This lets Shadow perform the Light Attack. Appearance: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001

(3). Flame Ring Description: A gold bracelet with a vermillion-colored gem embedded into It that rhythmically glows orange. This let Shadow perform the Fire Somersault, shrouding his somersaulting form in a fiery aura and allowing him to bust open steel containers. This item is now in Rouge's possession, given to her by Sonic. Appearance: Sonic Adventure 2, Sega Dreamcast, 2001

(4). A red and black Five-Seven.

(5). Samurai Blade Description: A standard katana with a black hilt. Shadow uses this for close range combat, but it is capable of generating slashes of purple energy of some sort that travel in a straight line. Appearance: Shadow the Hedgehog, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2005

(6). Satellite Laser Description: A small remote. Shadow uses this to lock-on to a target, which is soon shot down by a mysterious laser from above. Appearance: Shadow the Hedgehog, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2005

(7). Vacuum Egg Description: A polka dot egg shaped gun with a chicken for a mouth. This unusual weapon can suck up about 20 (30 when upgraded) objects before bursting. Once it bursts, it bestows items to Shadow. Appearance: Shadow the Hedgehog, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2005

(8). Omochao Gun Description: An Omochao shaped gun. This gun's surprisingly powerful ammunition (Omochao heads) bounces off its target (and others) repeatedly. Appearance: Shadow the Hedgehog, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2005

(9). Heal Cannon Description: One of Gerald Robotnik's prototypes mass produced by GUN. This "weapon" can heal anything in its crosshairs by shooting heal units at the target. Appearance: Shadow the Hedgehog, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2005

(10). Shadow Rifle Description: This rifle bears Shadow's likeness somewhat, hence the name. The most powerful of his special weapons, this baby can take out almost any type of enemy in one shot with ammunition that closely resembles a Chaos Spear. Appearance: Shadow the Hedgehog, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2005

(11). Blue Memory Shard. Description: An item of unknown appearance, the blue memory shard allows Shadow to use his Chaos Snap ability. Only used in: Sonic the Hedgehog: Next Gens, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, 2006

(12). Red Memory Shard Description: An item of unknown appearance, the red memory shard allows Shadow to use his Chaos Lance attack. Only used in: Sonic the Hedgehog: Next Gens, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, 2006

(13). Black Memory Shard Description: An item of unknown appearance, the black memory shard allows Shadow's usage of Chaos Blast. Only used in: Sonic the Hedgehog (aka Sonic Next), Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, 2006

(14). Arondight Description: One of the sacred swords of Camelot, Sir Lancelot wielded this weapon with brutal distinction, displaying his strength for all to witness. He only had access to the Knight style of swordsmanship. Only used in: Sonic and the Black Knight, Nintendo Wii, 2009

(1). Dark Rider Description: A custom-made motorcycle with a red and black color scheme. This was given to him by GUN for unknown reasons. Shadow has since upgraded it to suit his preferences. In-game debut: Shadow the Hedgehog, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2006

(2). Darkness Description: A pair of Extreme Gear skates that have a black, red and white color scheme. They are economic on air as they burn less than any other Extreme Gear and have a good speed statistic but weak cornering ability. Appearance: Sonic Riders, Nintendo GameCube/Sony PlayStation 2/Microsoft Xbox, 2006

(3). Black Shot Description: A custom Extreme Gear board pared down for maximum velocity to suit only Shadow's touch. The Black Shot has good speed but poor cornering ability. It can transform into a grinding gear. Appearance: Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, Nintendo Wii/Sony PlayStation 2, 2008

Shadow is a hedgehog with ambition, to put it simply. With a wit and conduct as crude, sharp, and fast as his physical ability, he is definitely not an individual whose buttons are to be pressed. He is as serious as a heart attack and is usually very quiet and reserved, but, when necessary, he is quick to throw in his 2 cents, no matter how coldly honest it is. He is not often the type to make a quick yarn or is very jocular. In many ways, he is the polar opposite of Sonic (except for the ego; they can both be rather full of themselves). If anything, only physically is he similar to the Blue Blur.

Shadow is as smart as a whip and quick to trot, remaining ever somber and vigilant in the face of danger. Such a personality may give him off as a villain or one with bad intentions, when that is not really the case (though he will be one, if that's what it takes). He is just a hedgehog who concentrates on his motives and when Shadow is determined, he is quite literally unstoppable. He is also a loyal ally, determined to protect those he cares about from danger. He has been discovered alive since his supposed death and was stricken with amnesia for a while. Shadow maintained his serious, motivated demeanor, though he couldn't remember his past or what was of it. When he did find out, in the end, it didn't matter. He's still the same, and no cursed past will change that.

Whoever decides to become his enemy, be it an outside force or the very people he's promised to protect, Shadow the Hedgehog will fight like he always has.

50 years ago, the president (13 presidents ago from the current one) began to form a large interest in what was known as mankind's eternal dream: researching immortality. This drove the president into confidentially requesting Professor Gerald Robotnik (Dr. Ivo Robotnik's grandfather) to scrutinize such a farfetched illusion of grandeur.

Gerald Robotnik stubbornly refused this request, since it had crossed Man's limits. Besides, he had a hunch that such research would, eventually, be used as a weapon of some sort, something he did not condone under any circumstances. He was a man of ethical standards (unlike his grandson). However, ironically, Gerald's beloved granddaughter Maria had been diagnosed with a lethal sickness known as NIDS (Neuro Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Medical treatment for this illness at the time was unavailable. This eventually resulted in Gerald Robotnik's approval of the president's request, thus research for immortality begun aboard the ARK, a spherical space research facility. Research on Maria's illness was being conducted thoroughly, but Gerald's newly unveiled research on immortality brought in a new ray of hope. Could something so absurd have been fabricated within the mind of Gerald Robotnik? Soon, the project underwent research and was codenamed Project: Shadow, named because of the sarcasm involved in not actually being able to create a shadow (which didn't exist in the world).

At the beginning stages, Chaos Emeralds were researched and soon resulted in the creation of Chaos Drives. These Chaos Drives were the objects in which the infinite powers of the Chaos Emeralds were utilized upon a living being. They were meant primarily for the prototype, which had to be nearly perfect before toil on the main project would commence. The prototype of the Ultimate Life-form bore fruit. It was modeled after a lizard's shape and seemed to meet many of their standards: it could self-regenerate, self-restore, and self-reproduce. This thrilled the researchers. However, in their moment of glory, things began to look bad. The prototype was unruly and hard to control. This caused many problems for the researchers and those aboard the Space Colony ARK as a whole. More than likely, because of the threat this posed, the confidential research had been leaked into the Guardian Units of the Nation military organization back on Earth. The Professor had given them his side project, the "Gizoid", in order to buy some time, but when the prototype's scary habits became known, everything changed, and the Gizoid's highly dangerous and destructive behavior (trashing a great deal of the ARK itself) did next to nothing to help matters.

GUN's top ranking officials had developed a strong disliking for the researchers aboard the ARK (and Gerald in particular) and thus planned to take advantage of the ARK's situation and form a plan to shut the ARK down. This secret plan was named "ARK's Indestructible Seal." The plan included the evacuation of all citizens of the ARK back to Earth, while all research facilities involved with Project: Shadow were frozen and shut down, and all of those involved with the project were to be killed. This entire plan was released to the public under the premise that a bio-hazardous accident had occurred that GUN knew nothing about, and those who were killed (namely the researchers) were victims of the accident. This was to cover GUN's true motives of shutting the ARK down, erasing Project: Shadow, and put the blame on Professor Gerald Robotnik as the person responsible for the accident. The plan was completed in 7 days and the prototype of the Ultimate Lifeform was found and sealed within the deepest part of the colony.

However, there was a miscalculation in their plan. Unbeknownst to GUN (except to their future commander who spied on the awakening process as a child), Gerald was putting the finishing touches on the final Ultimate Life-form project, codenamed "Shadow," using a much more desirable interface and physique for the creature. For this one, Gerald, still unwilling to turn "Shadow" into a weapon, imparted the creature with a heart and personality similar to his ailing granddaughter, in the hopes that he would not fight. During all this, however, the professor had made the desperate (and unfortunate) mistake of looking to the alien race known as the Black Arms for help. The experimentation period just happened to be the time when the creatures' HQ of sorts, the Black Comet, was supposed to pass the Earth. During that time, their leader, Black Doom, and Gerald collaborated on "Shadow", using some of Black Doom's blood for the project. In exchange, Gerald was supposed to give Black Doom the Chaos Emeralds they were using when finished with them. At the time, it seemed like a perfectly fine plan. Sadly, this wasn't the case.

The Professor eventually discovered the Black Arms' real plan to destroy the planet and enslave the humans on it. Of course, Maria and the others were safe on the ARK, but in the end, Gerald just couldn't sacrifice the Earth. To stop the Black Arms, Gerald recorded a video telling Shadow to use the Eclipse Cannon on the Black Comet 50 years later, ending the threat the Black Arms posed for good. However, GUN wanted to end the "threat" Shadow and the research related to him posed and enacted "Operation: ARK's Indestructible Seal." As they stormed into the space colony, evacuating the civilians they could and killing the researchers, Gerald escaped and entrusted Shadow to his granddaughter Maria (whom Shadow had gotten to know and love as a sister), expecting her to release the project and herself in an escape pod towards the planet. Together, they raced to the research lab, avoiding most of the soldiers, taking down GUN's Heavy Dog mech and saving as many researchers as they could. Although they managed to make it to the escape pods, Maria was shot and murdered by a GUN officer before she could escape. Before dying, she was able to release the pod Shadow was in.

Gerald Robotnik was jailed at Prison Island back on Earth and when he saw Maria's name upon the list of casualties from the "accident," he was grief-stricken. At some point during his mourning period, he'd managed to regain possession of the Gizoid. He took this opportunity to attempt to reprogram its AI to give it a "heart" similar to Shadow, so that the robot would not be used as a weapon. This was his final sane act before the pain of loss slowly warped his mind.

In the end, the thought of his dead granddaughter proved to be too much for the gifted professor to bear. Without her, Gerald had nothing more to live for. As his train of thought became darker, uncontrollable and more twisted, he was scared. It also happened that GUN managed to retrieve the Project: Shadow that was released via Escape Pod. With that, came an opportunity Professor Robotnik could no longer resist. Gerald somehow managed to alter the Ultimate Life-form once again with a new motive. Gerald was now insane, his mind was set totally on revenge, and he programmed Shadow with those same intentions, completely forgetting about the Black Arms. It can be assumed that this unauthorized act was the last straw for GUN, as Gerald was eventually executed by firing squad soon after.

50 years later, after performing extensive research on his grandfather's legacy, Dr. Ivo Robotnik then decides to use this Ultimate Life-form for his own biddings, hoping it would do better than Chaos did. It was only a matter of time before the lunatic Eggman managed to penetrate into the GUN Prison Island and release what he had sought out for: Shadow the Hedgehog. However, Eggman (originally shocked at the diminutive size of the WMD and his resemblance to his greatest rival/enemy) seemed to have freed a whooole lot more than what he had bargained for.

Shadow was re-programmed to bring chaos to mankind and avenge Gerald's, his colleagues', and most of all, Maria's death. He stuck by this vow for vengeance quite vigilantly by joining Dr. Robotnik and a rather suspicious treasure hunter by the name of Rouge the Bat to take over the world, threatening to destroy Earth with the Eclipse Cannon on the ARK if they wouldn't surrender. What a better way to have revenge than that? But here is the mystery: the creation process of the supposed Shadow the Hedgehog only took a week, according to the excerpt written by Rouge the Bat (who was actually a spy for the military and joined Shadow and Eggman as a double agent so she can gather information on Project: Shadow). If Shadow's creation process only took a week, how could those memories he has of the time he spent with Maria even exist? He knew and became best friends with this girl inside of a week? To Rouge, these "memories" could quite possibly be what Gerald programmed into Shadow to justify his motives for wanting to avenge her death when he went insane. Whether or not that is true is unknown for sure.

The Eclipse Cannon was soon after powered by the required 7 Chaos Emeralds, but its activation triggered an unknown function programmed secretly by Gerald Robotnik. The Space Colony ARK automatically went on a crash course towards Earth. All of our heroes, including Sonic & Eggman, joined forces to save the Earth; all but Shadow. Shadow believed all was going according to planned. But then, thanks to a desperate plea by one Amy Rose, another memory came up in his head, a memory that seemed more sensible since it is related to fact. He remembered Maria dying before his eyes, he was trapped in a capsule, and before she released him, she told him to do whatever he can to make mankind happy and flourish. That was his original purpose: to bring hope to humanity. This memory caused him to eventually help Sonic & company as well.

After a confrontation with the prototype of the Ultimate Lifeform deep within the heart of the ARK, our heroes were so close to their goal to stop the 7 Chaos Emeralds by using the Master Emerald, and thus aborting the collision. But by surprise, the prototype made a return and merged itself with the space colony, determined to keep it on the collision course. Sonic & Shadow used the power of the Chaos Emeralds to enter Super form and stop the prototype and use Chaos Control to transport the ARK back into its original orbit around Earth. However, Shadow used up all his strength in the process, saving mankind at the cost of his own life (intentional or otherwise).

'Maria… this is what you wanted, right? This is my promise I made to you…' These were were his last thoughts before he fell towards Earth and as far as he knew, his death.

Luckily, Eggman managed to use one of his robots to save Shadow. Since then, he was secretly cloned and kept in suspended animation inside of a capsule in one of Dr. Robotnik's old bases. He was discovered by Rouge the Bat, who was looking for a rumored treasure trove. Realizing that it was Shadow, she quickly released him. But soon after he was awoken (with amnesia, no less) and teamed up with Rouge and a rebellious robot of Eggman's named E-123 "Omega," they (Rouge and Omega) found a room full of cloned Shadow Androids, and Rouge mentioned to Omega that Shadow is probably a robot. Is he?

Shadow himself had no clue. All he had to go on was his name…and the gruesome memory of the murder of someone named "Maria." Three months after that incident, as he was pondering this, the Black Arms made their presence known and attacked the Earth. In the midst of their invasion, Black Doom remembered Shadow and the "contract" he and Gerald made. So, he promptly assigned Shadow with a number of missions, with the promise of answers. Between Doom, GUN, Eggman and even Sonic and the gang, Shadow didn't know who to trust. He was only sure of one thing: the only way to find the truth, whatever it may be, was to get the Chaos Emeralds. As he embarked on this journey it seemed as if he was being pulled in three different directions and had gone through 326 possibilities…

In the end, though, Shadow managed to regain his memories and procure all seven Emeralds. It was at that moment that Black Doom revealed the truth of Shadow's creation and the Black Arms true intentions for the Emeralds: to warp down to Earth with Chaos Control and take over. All seven emeralds were required to enable this feat, for only the seven emeralds combined powers could amplify the powers of Black Doom's Chaos Control to the strength that it could warp the vastly sized comet to the earth's surface. The paralyzing gas that swept over the planet was also inside the comet, which successfully kept Sonic and the others out of commission. Shadow, however, wasn't affected, being part Black Arm and all. Moreover, he was way past tired of being told what to do and decided to finally discard his past and focus on the here and now...starting with Black Doom's death.

With guidance and pleas from his true allies, he chased the sick dictator down to the heart of the comet. Black Doom tried to use his blood link to Shadow to control his mind, but with the unknowing help of Team Chaotix (you GOTTA love their timing), Professor Gerald's secondary secret video was played, revealing all about the mishap on the ARK and his plans against the Black Arms (including the true purpose of the Eclipse Cannon) and Shadow was able to break free. Angered by all this, Black Doom attained his ultimate form, Devil Doom, and proceeded to speed up the comet's process.

Unfortunately for the monster, he didn't bother to keep the Chaos Emeralds, allowing Super Shadow to show up. It was during the heated battle that followed that Eggman (being the last one conscious; everyone else was knocked out due to the comet's overflow of gas) revealed that he saved our (anti)hero with a robot and that Shadow had merely lost his memory due to the immense trauma of near re-entry into the atmosphere that day. Shadow took this into account and finished Devil Doom. He then sent the comet back into space and destroyed it with the Eclipse Cannon, saving the world once again…and finally putting his past behind him. At last he was free to live his life the way he wanted.

That is exactly what he has done since then. While he still clashes with Sonic and the others every now and again, when all is said and done, they know that they can depend on the Ultimate Lifeform to defend the planet against evil...and he on them, whether he admits it or not.

Family: Maria Robotnik, Prof. Gerald Robotnik, and Black Doom (by blood only).

Greatest Friend(s): Rouge the Bat and E-123 "Omega".

Other Friend(s): Knuckles the Echidna, Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon, Amy Rose, Miles "Tails" Prower, Silver the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog (but just barely).

Love Interest(s): None.

Rival(s): Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, and Silver the Hedgehog (the latter two in a loose sense).

Foe(s): Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik (when necessary), "Infinite" the Jackal, ANYONE who gets in the way of his objectives.

Likes: Shadow enjoys silence, one-upping Sonic and just inspecting things without uttering a vowel. He also likes hanging around Space Colony ARK and has the utmost respect and loyalty for Professor Gerald Robotnik, as well as brotherly love for Maria.

Dislikes: People with a show-offy attitude (Sonic) or who get in his way tend to piss him off. Being constantly compared to or mistaken for Sonic is most likely an additional annoyance. He has a general dislike of mankind as well, but this doesn't seem to prevent him jumping to their full, unshakable defense when/if he sees fit. Lastly, the only thing he fears more than anything else...is his own power.

Favorite Food(s): Coffee, water. (He can survive on just that & doesn't eat anything solid.)

Favorite Color(s): Unknown. Probably black or red. Definitely not blue.

Favorite Music Genre(s): Heavy Metal, Rock, Techno Pop

Occupation: Freelance secret agent for the Guardian Units of Nations (GUN).

Place of Residence: Wherever he deems necessary to reside. He is a wanderer much like his blue rival.

Shadow often carries the green Chaos Emerald. The power of the green Chaos Emerald allows Shadow to use Ivy. Ivy allows the user to grow upward vines, which is helpful in reaching higher areas & can also be utilized to help teammates.

FROM: Archival & Requisitions Department

TO: CMD. Abraham Tower

Your request for tangible evidence of the ARK incident fifty years ago produced very little results. Your predecessor was quite thorough in erasing the cover-up operation. However, Prof. Gerald Robotnik's personal diary managed to survive. Ironically, we have Dr. Eggman to thank for finding it at all. This journal was recovered during the investigation of Dr. Eggman's stronghold following the latest incident with the ARK.

Unfortunately, time and tragedy have not been kind to the journal. What you're holding now is all that remains of the original book. I'm afraid there is no way of recovering the missing pages, nor can I restore the damaged or redacted elements. It's a pity, as I would have very much liked to have greater insight into Gerald and Maria's lives too.

Regards, -T

[ATTACHED PHOTO OF GERALD & HIS TWO SONS] [ATTACHED PHOTO OF NEWBORN MARIA] I take great pride in my research & discoveries. Few men are labeled a "genius" in their own time. But nothing compares to my pride in my boys, [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]. They both graduated summa cum laude, and in record time no less! They'll have their doctorates in no time. It seems my passions for archaeology and robotics are split between them, but I guess that's what makes them "chips" off the old block — ho ho! I can not wait to see what boons they bring to the world.

I can't believe how much time has passed. It feels like yesterday I was celebrating my boys becoming men, and now I'm a grandfather! Her name is Maria and she is perfect in every way. She brings a smile to everyone's face and everyone falls in love with her the moment they lay eyes on her. If nothing else, she is my legacy. Everything I do from this day forward, I do for her.

I deciphered the engravings on an ancient ring I found on a previous dig in the [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Jungle and calculated the location of a fabled flying paradise. I went alone to veriry my findings and was rewarded with the spectacle of an angelic island. [ILLUSTRATED IMAGE OF ANGEL ISLAND AMONG THE CLOUDS] [ILLUSTRATED IMAGE OF ALTAR EMERALD] The land was vast, lush, and hosted a number of biomes in close proximity to each other. I believe I could an entire floating city at one point. Most majestic of all was a shrine devoted to what appeared to be a massive glowing gem. Could this be the legendary "Master Emerald?" I dared not approach or overstay my welcome. As much as I wanted to explore every inch of the island, I felt it was a sacred land; just setting foot on its soil felt taboo. I don't know if any civilization remains — the land is vast and my stay was brief. But the majesty of that emerald and shrine will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I am about to embark on the most ambitious project of my life. The Earth's first orbital space colony will be the ninth wonder of the world! It will be a place of science researching all manner of ways to improve our home below. Seeing as it is a vessel meant to preserve life amid the harshness of space, I have christened it the "ARK". It shall be a vessel to pass on the value of life and peace to the next generation. (And while most of the megastructure will be hidden within the base planetoid, I may have gone a little self-indulgent in the design, ho-ho!) [ILLUSTRATED IMAGE OF SPACE COLONY ARK] [ATTACHED PHOTO OF GERALD & HIS FELLOW RESEARCHERS] The only real concern is the source of the funding. While the United Federation supports us, most of the financing is coming from G.U.N. I have no illusions about what they'll want, but I'm building the ARK to preserve life, not end it. While I have my concerns, I am a genius, so I'm sure I'll figure something out when the time comes.

Life and work aboard the ARK has been exciting, for good and for ill. As a positive, we've acquired one of the legendary Chaos Emeralds for our research! They're said to hold unlimited power, and preliminary tests suggest some effect on space-time. Bending reality to one's will...imagine the possibilities! Sadly, G.U.N. is doing just that, but in all the wrong ways. Their desire for weapons research is becoming increasingly overt and decreasingly polite. I used my clout to get a direct line to the President to ask for him to intervene. He said he would, but then asked me for something equally obscene. He wants me to discover a means to immortality! I aim to improve life, not pervert it. Everything gives way to entropy. The concept is laughable; as intangible as a shadow. I refused him outright. In retrospect, perhaps I could've been more diplomatic about it. I find myself on edge. Political pressures aside, I'm told Maria is sick with no clear diagnosis. I wish I could look into it myself, but I'm needed aboard the ARK. Hopefully this will pass and she'll recover soon. She is too precious to be left to suffer. [ATTACHED PHOTO OF A CHAOS EMERALD BEING RESEARCHED]

[ATTACHED PHOTO OF THE IFRIT, CROSSED OUT] THE ALL-POWERFUL IFRIT… THE IFRIT HELD THE POWER TO BIND A SOUL... THE IFRIT DESTROYED THE ENTIRE WORLD…

I have uncovered a most interesting specimen from the warehouse. It was first recovered by my son, [REDACTED] who became quite the archaeologist. I believe it to be some sort of puppet or robot made by an ancient people. At first, I didn't think anything of it, but when I was experimenting on the Chaos Emerald, it began to move. This suggests the possibility that even the ancient civilizations could harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds. When I was researching various papers related to the [REDACTED] and this robot, I discovered that there was a possibility that this robot was something incredible. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but this robot may be the cause of the destruction of the Fourth Great Civilization. I'm not sure I believe it just yet, though.

I am no longer able to ignore the possibility that this robot did in fact destroy the Fourth Great Civilization. I have discovered a stone tablet that explains as much. According to the tablet, "When the figure falls from the heavens, and the Stone of the Gods is joined, all that exists will become one again. Though it is difficult to believe, this robot has been watching my movements, and mimicking all that I do. I was amazed by my scans of this being. Surprisingly, reams and reams of data scrolled and caused my most powerful computer to crash. More intriguing was that the data was all about melee combat and weapons of that age. Eventually, if this being is ever restored to its former state, it will put all that data to use, and recreate all the weaponry and combat abilities that it once had. …And that's not all. If my guesses are correct, it will also have the ability to absorb modern weaponry as well. What have I done? I have uncovered a horrible weapon… [ATTACHED PHOTO OF THE GIZOID LATER NAMED EMERL]

It has been a...trying time, to say the least. Maria was diagnosed with Neuro-Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome. There is no cure. Yet. I pulled some strings & had her brought aboard the ARK for treatment and assessment. The low gravity environment should help keep her symptoms manageable. Her family has been...less than enthusiastic with my decision. Despite everything, she remains the most positive person in the room. Most of the staff here eft their families back on Earth, so I worried she'd feel lonely. Instead, she's become the adoptive daughter of every researcher on the ARK! Moreover, she's become like a big sister to little Abraham, the ARK's "happy little accident" over the past few years. [ATTACHED PHOTO OF ABRAHAM TOWER AS A CHILD, MARIA BESIDE HIM, READING HIM A CHILDREN'S BOOK] [ATTACHED PHOTO OF MARIA IN A WHEELCHAIR NEXT TO AN IV RACK, SMILING, SHOWING HER CAPACITY FOR A SENSE OF HUMOR] The President keeps prompting me with his quest to unock the mysteries of life. Perhaps with his funding and cout, I can find a means to cure Maria while chasing that shadow.

[ILLUSTRATED CONCEPT IMAGE OF ARTIFICIAL CHAOS] [ATTACHED PHOTO OF GERALD WORKING ON AN ARTIFICIAL CHAOS] G.U.N. has dropped all pretense and is demanding weapons research in exchange for continued funding. I promised the President I'd begin work on "Project: Shadow," but even he can't get them to back down. It appears I have a "gun" to my head on the matter — ho-ho. Years ago, I discovered records of an ancient god of destruction called "Chaos." It was said to command the fury and force of the ocean — or something to that effect. I've begun developing a basic A.I.-driven apparatus that can generate cohesion in water and produce controlled shapesfor basic actions. I've told the top brass these can turn any body of water into an autonomous weapon. Deep down, I'm hoping it can be used as easily deployed search-and-rescue units. Imagine: a flood turned back on itself to aid those in the rubble!

Research into "Project: Shadow" is in full swing. The first step has been learning how to siphon Chaos Emerald energy and apply it to living tissue. To that end, I've developed the "Chaos Drives." Direct application seems too harsh. Any organism that coud directly interface with an Emerald would be fearsome indeed! [ILLUSTRATED IMAGE OF A CHAOS EMERALD, AN ARROW POINTING TO A CHAOS DRIVE] The initial tests were promising, so we're now moving on to the next stage in trials. I will be using salamanders for their regenerative abilities and manageable size. We will begin applying Chaos Drives to the test subject and see hw iymts vitas respond. And to keep G.U.N. from breathing down my neck, I'm supplying them with Chaos Drives as batteries for their mechanized division. I loathe poweting engines of war, but sacrifices have to be made if I'm to save Maria. I'll figure something out in the long run. I am a genius after all. [ATTACHED PHOTO OF MARIA PLAYING WITH A BABY SALAMANDER]

[ATTACHED PHOTO OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE BIOLIZARD, THE PROTOTYPE OF THE ULTIMATE LIFEFORM] "Project: Shadow" has reached an impasse. The subject exhibits accelerated cellular growth, to the point it can not support its own biological systems. I've developed an external life-support system to compensate, but it will need to be upgraded and redesigned as the subject continues to grow. The way it thrashes and roars...it seems to be in pain. It is uncontrollable. Furthermore it is generating unexplained energetic reactions. Is this an expression of the Chaos Emeralds' power? Can a living thing produce such energy? Can it be controlled? There are too many questions, and unfortunately, the answers lie in this "biolizard's" life. I will keep it alive and as comfortable as I can until I have the answers I need. I've found a region in the ARK that should be able to safey house it while we continue our experiments. I'm...not sure what I will tell Maria. I do not want to lie to her, but I think the truth is too cruel.

Maria is growing into a lovely young woman. It breaks my heart that someone as bright and energetic as her is diminished by disease. There are no visible effects, and I've caught my fellow researchers muttering to each other, avanting her illness. It is infuriating. I find all my reason and restraint vanishes when she's slighted. And yet she remains an unending font of positivity. Even on her worst days, when the fear and the pain take hold, she tells me she endures for the day when she can return home. She has total faith in me, and that "Project: Shadow" will cure her. Her family back on Earth has no such faith. It's been so long...some of the researchers actually think she was born here. Her family either wants her better or wants her home. I can do neither. Somehow their scorn is hardher than the government or the military's increasing pressure for more weapons research. [ATTACHED PHOTO OF GERALD & MARIA]

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I am a desperate man. [ATTACHED PHOTO OF GERALD & BLACK DOOM BESIDE SHADOW IN CRYOSTASIS] The Black Comet returned to Earth on its fifty-year orbit. I had no idea it actually harbored [REDACTED]. Aboard it was [REDACTED]. Somehow he knew about the [REDACTED] and seemed impressed with my work. He offered me a Faustian deal. I accepted. Using his DMA, I was abe to overcome every hurdle "Project: Shadow" had put before me. The small, sturdy biped I developed can perfectly interact with Chaos Emerald energy. Black Doom wanted me to craft a herald for his future invasion. G.U.N. wants "Project: Shadow" to generate undying soldiers for them. I will play them both for fools.

When I launched "Project: Shadow," initially, I named it with scorn and mockery. I was trying to grab hod to an intangible goal. Later it sounded appropriately villainous as I was toying with the fundamentals of life itself. But then Maria looked upon the unfinished specimen and put things into a whole new perspective. "A shadow tells you which way to go to find the light." In an instant she cut through all my pessimism and doubt and filled me with hope. Shadow, as she's come to call him, will not be some dark creature but a champion of life and hope. I would not have seen that if not for Maria. She is truly a remarkable person who can do great and wondrous things for the world. [ATTACHED PHOTO OF MARIA LOOKING INTO SHADOW'S CRYOSTASIS POD] I must save her — no matter the costs.

I now understand why this being was named "Gizoid." In the ancient tongue, it means "everything." According to the stone tablet, if the Gizoid establishes a "Link" with someone, the Gizoid will swear loyalty to that person. Perhas it still lacks Chaos Emerald energy, but it has been saying the word "Link" to me in broken tones. It went on to explain: "Show me your true strength, and I shall obey. I am all things, and all shall belong to me." So, as it suggested, I brought before it my collection of model guns, and fired them all. Then, suddenly, it said, "I shall follow your every command, and never leave your side." And since then, it refuses to listen to anyone but me. While it still is a fearsome weapon of destruction, while it remains undermy control, at least it won't be used for evil. However, if someone with evil intentions ever forms a "Link" with the Gizoid...I don't even want to think about what will happen. I must research how one can re-establish a "Link" with the Gizoid... [ATTACHED PHOTO OF GERALD WITH THE GIZOID NAMED EMERL]

The upper echelon is going crazy. Perhaps they aim to freeze "Project: Shadow." Soon, The Ultimate Lifeform, "Shadow," will be completed. The application to my granddaughter is also imminent. I can not just let them stop my study at this point. Because I am the only one who can save my granddaughter's life.

The higher ups are threatening to shut down this research facility. I had no choice but to hand them the Gizoid to buy more time for my research. I tried to be careful and commanded it to never absorb any dangerous technologies. However, I have heard that the other researchers have been making the Gizoid absorb weapons. Apparently, the way to cause the Gizoid to form a new "Link" is to show it power that surpasses that of its former master. While this poses immense danger, I can not risk losing Maria.

[ILLUSTRATED BLUEPRINT OF THE ARK'S CENTRAL REACTOR & THE ECLIPSE CANNON] The top brass still aren't satisfied. The Gizoid isn't big enough or flash enough for them. Fine. I've developed a weapon I'm calling the "Eclipse Cannon." It taps directly into the ARK's central reactor to produce an unethical degree of fire-power. They'll love it. However, to use it on any target on Earth would destroy the world. They'll never be able to fire it. Checkmate. It will, however, be the perfect tool to deal with the Black Arms when they return. Eclipse means "shadow." This is Shadow's cannon. Ny gift to him in a battle he never asked for. I'm so sorry.

Maria doesn't know the full scope of what Shadow has been designed for, but she understands he will be under tremendous strain. She's helped me conceptualize a number of accessories that will help focus his power and aid in his mobility. [ATTACHED PHOTO OF GERALD & MARIA SKETCHING TRANSPORT MECHANISMS FOR THE ARK ON A CANVAS] [ILLUSTRATED DESIGNS FOR NEW TRANSPORT MECHANISMS FOR THE ARK] I'm also researching "Chaos Control" to see if I can gain an understanding of it before Shadow awakens. The power to stop time and space is incredible, and I don't want him to have to try to learn its intricacies on his own. [ATTACHED CONCEPT DRAWINGS MARIA MADE OF SHADOW'S AIR SHOES FROM TWO ANGLES & LIMITER RINGS] Deep down I know this progress is superficial; tangential at best. The larger issues remain — G.U.N., the President, the aliens...my family. I've gleaned there's a rift growing between my sons. My love them shouldn't be a divisive issue. I'm running out of time.

It has been a whirlwind of events as of late! [ATTACHED PHOTO OF GERALD & MARIA AWAKENING SHADOW FROM CRYOSTASIS] "Project: Shadow" is complete, and Shadow has awakened. I pre-programmed a great deal of data into his mind, but his abiity to purse it out and apply it to his situation is remarkable. All of his vitals are strong and there seems to be no signs of instability or mutation. He stands in stark contrast to the monster we have sealed below decks. [ILLUSTRATED PICTURE OF SHADOW & MARIA WATCHING THE AURORA BOREALIS THE WINDOW FROM THE ARK] [ILLUSTRATED DETAILED IMAGE OF SHADOW & MARIA IN A CLASSROOM AS GERALD TEACHES THEM HIS CONCEPT OF THE HEAL CAPSULES] But all successes of the physical and mental prowess comes second to his relationship to Maria. I had hoped they'd get along, but it's far better than that. She is his guide to the world, and he is her stalwart companion. Never have I seen such instant, mutual friendship and trust between two beings. I am truly moved. They remind me why I've been working so hard. They bring me hope. Back on Earth, Maria's parents have been blessed with another little girl. They've already run tests and she has none of the genetic markers linked to Maria's condition. While this was welcomed news, the unspoken commentary was received loud and clear. I must save Maria. I must get my family back. Shadow. You are the key to it all.

My worst fears have come true. The Gizoid has absorbed enough weaponry and technology that it has started to get out of control. The resulting rampage destroyed most of the ARK. I have deciphered the rest of the stone tablet. It says, "When the Gizoid had learned all that it could, it became a god of wrath, and all was destroyed." The researchers somehow managed to subdue the Gizoid and sealed it away. Luckily, it only had one Chaos Emerald installed. If it were to have all seven Emeralds installed, it might destroy the whole planet. The Gizoid is too much of a liability. I tried destroying its core, but nothing I did worked. I understand too little of the technology that built him. My best hope is to try and reprogram its A.I. into a free-willed, emotions-based A.I. [ATTACHED PHOTO OF THE GIZOID'S RAMPAGE]

I've...lost track of the days. Not very scientific of me. I'm...strained. Something has to give. The Gizoid's rampage caused the "Artificial Chaos" to behave erratically. I attempted to regain control by inverting the polarity of the [TEXT SMEARS, ILLEGIBLE]. Instead, they became violent. Shadow raced across the ARK, pacifying them quite expertly...but the damage was done. An S.O.S. was sent to G.U.N. automatically. I dread the litigious reprimanding I'll have to endure next. A heritage of the past I dug out, "Gizoid..." And The Ultimate Lifeform I created with my own hand, "Shadow." I equipped both weapons with "heart." If all powers are not what is to be obtained for oneself, but what is to be born from hearts that yearn for someone, I believe all unfit should cease to exist. Please...if there is anyone who is listening to my prayers...bring hope to humanity. I don't quite know what happened or what went wrong. Was it a mistake to create The Ultimate Lifeform? I thought it would be something that would benefit mankind. But then the military guards landed on the colony that day. They were sent to destroy the research project that I had worked on. My colleagues at the research facility, my granddaughter Maria. I hope you are all safe. The colony was completely shut down probably to keep the prototype from falling into the wrong hands. The ARK was shut down under the premise that there had been an accident.

I found Maria's name among those who died when the ARK was shut down. She meant everything to me and I couldn't bear the thought that she died because of my research. I lost everything. I had nothing more to live for...I went insane. All I could think about was to avenge her...somehow, someway. I got scared as I was no longer able to control my thoughts. All I could think about was that I wanted it all to end. Based on my original projections, I was able to complete my project, Shadow. I designed its mind to be perfect, pure. I will leave everything to him. If you wish, release and awaken it to the world. If you wish to fill the world with destruction... [ATTACHED PHOTO OF SHADOW, MARIA & GERALD]