Chapter Text
"... what is it?"
"I'm sorry. Y-you weren't suppose to see this. It's not your responsibility. It's my own. The monster to my Frankenstein."
"Grandpa what do you...
Wade approached slowly, considering with everything in him whether or not to draw his gun.
Tom had already given him an earful numerous times about the appropriateness of pulling out his gun in situations which really did not call for it.
"The last thing we want is to escalate a situation to the point that pulling that trigger is a necessity."
The sheriff's words were fair enough he supposed. There was no reason to draw his gun if it could be helped. And Green Hills was such a small town that it could almost always be helped, given that there seemed to be such a stiff routine in the town that hardly anyone seemed willing to break.
The arrival of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles was really the only exception to that rule.
The large, mysterious pod he was faced with seemed to be another exception, given that it had apparently arrived overnight in a field in the middle of nowhere and was glowing with enough of a strange and inexplicable energy that he at last decided it would in fact be reasonable to draw his gun before getting any closer.
What exactly this possible threat was, Wade did not know. It resembled something from a sci-fi movie more than any piece of modern technology he had ever seen. There was shattered glass around it, which he could not avoif stepping in on his way through the crater it had formed.
Three feet away from the unidentified object, Wade kicked himself, remembering that he had not radioed in to Tom or the station. That was breaking protocol and practically asking for trouble given that no one knew he was out there.
Whatever this thing was could take him out in a matter of seconds for all that he knew.
Just as Wade turned around to head back to his patrol car where he had left his radio—another break of protocol—the screen attached to the pod came to life with a voice that nearly made him jump out of his pants.
Welcome to The Ark™!
It gave way to the image of a sleek, black-and-white image of a massive space station orbiting the Earth.
Humanity's first major foray into the realm of space! Built to be the pinnacle of human achievement, this magnificent structure promises boundless scientific discovery and endless possibilities for a brighter tomorrow.
The screen cut to footage of smiling scientists in lab coats working on cutting-edge experiments, astronauts floating gracefully in zero-gravity, and families looking out of the observation windows at the stars.
On The Ark™, our top scientists are working on cures for the world's greatest illnesses. Join us as we reach new heights in space exploration and human innovation. Designed for the brightest minds, this orbital paradise will be the cornerstone of human progress for generations to come!
It cut again, this time to a clean, modern room with children playing in a zero-gravity playground, laughter filling the air.
Not only a place for discovery, The Ark™ is also a haven for families. With world-class living spaces and entertainment, you can experience the future while enjoying the comforts of home. Here, everyone has a role to play in shaping the destiny of mankind!
The camera zoomed out, showing The Ark spinning peacefully in the vastness of space, the Earth shining below.
So why wait? Reserve your place aboard The Ark™ today, and help usher in a new era for all humanity! This is the future we've been dreaming of. Together, we will reach the stars!
The screen transitioned one last time to a dazzling logo of The Ark with stars twinkling around it.
The Ark!
We’ll take you far!
Beyond the stars,
Where dreams are born!
Adventure’s waiting, come aboard!
The Ark™! Humanity’s future starts today!
It faded out to a tagline on the screen: "The Ark™ – Boldly Building Tomorrow."
"Weird," Wade muttered as he took a step back still intent on getting to his radio when the pod emitted a loud, mechanical hiss. Wade froze in his tracks, hand tightening around the grip of his gun. The screen flickered off, leaving only the unsettling hum of the pod behind.
Slowly, a hatch on the side of the pod began to open, steam pouring out into the cool morning air. Wade's heart raced. He had no idea what was about to emerge, but every nerve in his body screamed that he should run back to the car. Yet, for some reason—maybe curiosity or sheer disbelief—his feet remained glued to the ground.
The door creaked wider, revealing a dark interior. At first, nothing moved and Wade presumed that he may have been lucky enough for it to be empty, but then a dark figure fell from out of the pod and onto the cratered ground below.
"Shit."
In the light, Wade could tell just how similar to Sonic it looked. Quills bunched up and gloves secured around it's hands. But where Sonic was a brilliant shade of blue, the hedgehog laying motionless at his feet was entirely dark, a darkness interrupted only by sharp streaks of red.
Instincts took over as he rushed over and crouched down, hesitantly reaching out with one hand to check for any sign of life. Before his fingers got close, the figure’s eyes shot open, glowing a deep, piercing red. Wade leapt back, his finger instinctively tightening on the trigger but stopping just short of pulling it.
The dark hedgehog—still on the ground—turned its head slowly toward Wade. Its eyes narrowed, and in a low, almost mechanical voice, it spoke.
"Who... are you?"
Wade’s heart pounded in his chest. He raised his gun again, his mouth dry. "Uh, I-I’m Officer Wade of Green Hills... and, uh, who are you?"
The hedgehog pushed itself to a standing position with an almost effortless grace. "I am Shadow. The Ultimate Lifeform."