Maria Robotnik

Maria Robotnik was Shadow's human companion in Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow the Hedgehog. She is the cousin of well known Sonic antagonist Ivo Robotnik (Dr.Eggman) and the granddaughter of Professor Gerald Robotnik. She is the main reason for Shadow's creation. Maria was a terminally ill patient on the Space Station ARK, who had contracted the disease NIDS (Neuro-Immuno/Immunological Deficency Syndrome), which seems to be related to the real disease AIDS. Her grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik, created Shadow as a means to study immortality and to use the fruits of the project to attempt to cure Maria. After Shadow's creation, he became close friends with Maria to the end. Maria died during the invasion of the ARK by the Guardian Unit of Nations, after releasing Shadow from a cryogenic tube.

Archie continuity
Maria makes a small appearence in a SA2 related story. Otherwise there is a tounge-in cheek cameo of Maria named Hope Kintobor (Notice Kintobor is Robotnik spelled backwards), who looks very much like Maria and causes Shadow to mistaken her for Maria repeatedly.

Video games
Maria has been featured in these games:
 * Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
 * Sonic Adventure 2 Battle (2001)
 * Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)

Voice Actors

 * Bella Hudson - Sonic X (2003) Offical U.S Voice Actor, 2005-2006 Offical Voice Actor, SEGASonic games.

Cameoes
Maria makes a full appearence twice in the Sonic fan fiction series "Cy-Fox", in an alternate history where her death is prevented by a cyborg Tails, who for some unknown reason has an agenda to protect her. She is cured of NIDS as well. In the fourth story (Cy-Fox 4), immediately preceding Cy-Fox 3, Maria is engaged to Tails who is the same age (27) as her in her future/Tails immediate present. However Maria is kidnapped and used to create an entirely more powerful Cy-Fox unit, Project Serenity.