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The ARK was the first space colony created by mankind. Not many people know that the ARK contained a top-secret research facility where weapons of mass destruction were being created.


Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Adventure 2[1]

The Space Colony ARK (スペースコロニー・アーク Supēsu Koronī Āku?) is a location that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a space station built over fifty years ago by Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of Doctor Eggman. It was the first space colony created by humanity.

Envisioned by its creator as a space settlement and a scientific facility, the ARK was one of the largest projects in Gerald's career. However, mounting pressure from G.U.N., the armed forces of the United Federation, caused it to also be where weapons of mass destruction, such as the Eclipse Cannon, would be clandestinely created. The ARK is best known as the site of Project Shadow, a military program aimed at creating and weaponizing an immortal lifeform. This project led to the birth of Shadow the Hedgehog and the Biolizard. However, due to fears over the risks posed by these experiments, the government ordered a military raid, resulting in the ARK's shutdown. Today, the ARK remains in orbit around Earth, abandoned since the aftermath of Project Shadow.

Description[]

Appearance[]

SA2 ARK map

A map of the ARK, from Sonic Adventure 2.

The Space Colony ARK is a hemispherical, gray-colored, Bernal sphere-type[note 1] space station that vaguely resembles the face of Gerald Robotnik (and by extension, that of Doctor Eggman). It features two concave eye sockets and a sharp nose which houses the Eclipse Cannon. Each side of the ARK is adorned with three spikes.

Surrounding the ARK are several astronomical bodies like meteorites, asteroids and planetoids. Among these are the "Capsule Planet", the "Spherical Planet", and the "Holy Planet", which house their own research centers. One such body even has a massive tower surrounded by laboratories and machines.

The exact dimensions of the ARK are unspecified, though its diameter is described as "several kilometers".[2] Its gargantuan size is sufficient to exterminate all life on Earth if it were to collide with the planet.[3][4] The space station was designed to accommodate a population of 100,000 people,[2] making it vast enough to easily get lost within.[5] At the heart of the colony lies the Cannon's Core, a heavily fortified area with a shrine resembling the Altar of Emerald.[6]

Features and abilities[]

When it was still operational, the ARK was the most advanced research center of its time,[7][2] even capable of surviving partial destruction.[8] Nearly all of its systems remain functional to this day. The colony has its own gravity, both inside and outside, which can be adjusted using Gravity Control Switches. Additionally, devices called Defense Units provide a defensive barrier to protect the ARK from invaders. However, navigating the station today is very dangerous due to the presence of G.U.N. robots and malfunctioning Artificial Chaos that guard many areas.

The ARK is equipped with extensive weaponry and technology, including Gun Lifts, Ark Missile Turrets, weights, laser fields, and a green energy fluid. As a research center, it also houses various devices created there, such as Bomb Units, Heal Units, and Time Switches. Its most powerful weapon is the Eclipse Cannon, a weapon of mass destruction capable of piercing through planets and stars when powered with enough Chaos Emerald energy.[9] Due to its immense power, the cannon is heavily fortified, being virtually impenetrable from the outside and possessing a very strong defense system.[10]

Following G.U.N.'s raid on the ARK, an insane Gerald implemented a doomsday program that would force the colony into a collision course with Earth and amplify the Eclipse Cannon when powered by the seven Chaos Emeralds. Disabling this program is nearly impossible; the only known method to stop it is by using the Master Emerald at the Cannon's Core to neutralize the Chaos Emeralds.[4]

History[]

Past[]

Launching and early projects[]

ShadowGensARKResearchTeam

A photo of Gerald Robotnik (center) and his research team posing in front the ARK, from Shadow Generations.

The ARK was designed by Professor Gerald Robotnik,[11] the grandfather of Doctor Eggman. One of the largest projects in his career, Gerald named the colony "ARK" due to his vision that it would research ways to preserve and improve life. Much of the structure was hidden within a hollow planet.[12]

Backed by the government of the United Federation and financed by G.U.N.,[12] the ARK was launched into orbit over fifty years ago, and Gerald took residence there soon thereafter, joined by a team of researchers. Abraham Tower, the future commander of G.U.N., was also born in the colony and spent his childhood there. The ARK was the first successful space station made by humanity, and it soon gained a reputation as the most advanced research center of its kind.[1][7][2] However, due to increasing demands from G.U.N.,[13] it also became a place for clandestine projects that involved the development and research of weapons for war.[1]

Project Shadow[]

Main article: Project Shadow

With G.U.N. intensifying their demands for weapons research, Gerald requested the then-United Federation president to intervene. In return, the president asked Gerald to discover a means to immortality.[13] The professor initially found this request unfeasible and unethical, but his stance changed when his granddaughter, Maria Robotnik, was diagnosed with Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome (NIDS), an incurable and deadly disease. Believing that this research could potentially lead to a cure for Maria's illness, Gerald ultimately accepted the president's request.[14][15][13] Despite resistance from her family, Maria was relocated to the ARK to help manage her condition.[16]

Biolizard file 2

The twenty-third Project Shadow report, detailing the end result of the Biolizard's creation, from Sonic Adventure 2.

The project, considered far-fetched at the outset, was ironically titled "Project Shadow", as a shadow cannot be created. Early experiments involved using a Chaos Emerald to develop Chaos Drives, aiming to apply Chaos Emerald energy to sustain life functions.[14][17] After this phase proved successful, the team began developing a prototype of the "Ultimate Lifeform". Modeled after a salamander due to its regenerative abilities and manageable size, the prototype was dubbed the "Biolizard".[17] Initially, the Biolizard exhibited signs of phenomenal growth, as well as self-recovery and self-replication. The team was initially overjoyed by these results, but their excitement was short-lived as the creature's accelerated cellular growth became unsustainable.[14][18] It needed a life support system, and its primitive traits became evident: it was unable to walk on its own, was sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, and exhibited low intelligence. Upon Gerald's request, research on the prototype continued in the ARK's Central Dome, under reinforced control.[18][19] Meanwhile, Gerald created a radically different, hedgehog-like model of the Ultimate Lifeform.[14] Voices of doubt began to arise within the research team, who questioned the safety of the project.[14]

Despite the president's intervention, G.U.N. continued to pressure Gerald for weapons research in exchange for continued funding. Drawing from records of Chaos, an ancient god of destruction, Gerald created the Artificial Chaos. He showcased this creation to the military as a machine capable of weaponizing water, although he hoped it could also be utilized for search-and-rescue operations following floods.[20]

The Gizoid[]

In the midst of Project Shadow, Gerald uncovered an ancient robot at a warehouse and took it to the ARK. At first he did not think much about it, but then found out that the automaton would react to his experiments with Chaos Emerald energy. After some research, the professor was horrified when he discovered that the robot in question was the Gizoid, an ancient weapon of mass destruction created by the Fourth Great Civilization that was the cause of the destruction of said society. After some experiments, Gerald found out that the Gizoid would copy his moves and its data was so complex that it would cause even his most powerful computer to crash. Following further research, the professor discovered that the robot would swear loyalty to, or establish a "Link" with anyone who demonstrates overwhelming power. Fearing what would happen if someone with evil intentions formed a Link with the Gizoid, Gerald began researching a way to reestablish a Link with the weapon.[21][22][23]

Contact with the Black Arms and aftermath[]

His Creation

Black Doom and Gerald Robotnik overseeing the creation of Shadow the Hedgehog onboard the ARK, from Shadow the Hedgehog.

Some time after the completion of the Biolizard, the Black Comet, a comet that housed the Black Arms, passed by Earth as it would every fifty years. However, it was unable to land on the planet, as it would not be able to withstand atmospheric entry. The ARK contacted the aliens, as Gerald sought help from the Black Arms' leader, Black Doom, to further advance research on Project Shadow. The two then made a deal: Doom would hand over a supply of his blood as DNA for the project, and in return, the professor would have the end result deliver the Black Arms the seven Chaos Emeralds to allow the aliens when the time came so they could use its spacetime-warping powers of Chaos Control to safely transport the Black Comet to the surface of the Earth.[24][25][26][27]

Eventually, word of the results of Project Shadow was leaked to G.U.N., with the military's upper branches seeing that the project was hostile and would endanger humanity. As the relations between the ARK and the United Federation were further strained due to the former's interactions with the Black Arms, the government officials froze funding of Project Shadow and threatened to shut down the colony.[28] To gain some more time to complete the project, Gerald offered the government the Gizoid as a bribe. However, other researchers were making the robot absorb more and more weaponry, resulting in the automaton going haywire and destroying much of the ARK. Seeing the Gizoid as a liability, Gerald tried to destroy its core, but he had no success due to his lack of knowledge on the technology that created the robot.[29][8]

Sonic Channel Tanabata 2020

Shadow and Maria living together onboard the Space Colony ARK, from Sonic Channel.

Years of research would finally bear fruit when the end result of Project Shadow and the Ultimate Lifeform, Shadow the Hedgehog, was created. The newly born creature proved to be everything the researchers were hoping for: he possessed immortality, high intelligence, and independence. Shortly after his birth, the hedgehog would develop a close bond with Maria, and both dreamed of visiting Earth. Meanwhile, Gerald learned of the true intentions of the Black Arms, and thus armed the ARK with the Eclipse Cannon to destroy the Black Comet upon its return. He also created an ability within Shadow's body that would allow him to resist Black Doom's control, and prepared a contingency video for the hedgehog explaining the outcome of his creation and how he was meant to destroy the Black Arms upon their return.[27]

G.U.N. raid and aftermath[]

Vlc 2016-09-11 23-24-43-141

G.U.N. troops raiding the Space Colony ARK, from Shadow the Hedgehog.

Eventually, having had enough, the armed forces of G.U.N. planned the "ARK Seal Operation", where they would raid the ARK and kill everyone involved with Project Shadow while escorting the inhabitants back to the Earth. The plan was carried out at an unprecedented scale, the likes of which had not been seen since G.U.N.'s foundation, and within only seven days, all of the ARK's inhabitants were transferred back to Earth. The space station's facilities were promptly frozen and all of Project Shadow's staff, with the exception of Gerald himself, were forthwith killed.[14] The operation was completed when both the Gizoid and the Biolizard were sealed, but the encapsulation of the latter cost the lives of many G.U.N. soldiers. Publicly, the military made the false premise that the operation was to seal the colony due to the outbreak of a biological hazard, with the killed researchers being deemed victims.[14]

During the raid, Gerald completed a replica of Shadow, and when G.U.N. troops infiltrated his laboratory, he entrusted Shadow and Maria with running towards a escape pod that would safely take them to the Earth.[14] However, while the two were running towards this capsule, a soldier shot Maria, fatally wounding her. With her last remaining strengths, the young girl asked Shadow to give everyone on Earth a chance to be happy, just as the black hedgehog was jettisoned from the ARK. It is presumed that the military soon found this escape pod and froze Shadow in a facility onboard Prison Island.[14]

Since Maria was killed during the raid, the news of her death caused her grandfather to go insane. Gerald plotted revenge against the entire human race. He reprogrammed several of his old experiments, including the Eclipse Cannon and the Biolizard, with the intention of destroying the Earth. With the former, he also reprogrammed the ARK to collide into the Earth within half an hour after having all seven Chaos Emeralds installed into the cannon.[30] He also programmed Shadow to bring the Chaos Emeralds to the ARK, having presumably recovered Shadow's escape pod before being caught and executed by the government. G.U.N. attempted to shut down all of Gerald's projects, locking up Shadow's stasis tube and sealing away the Biolizard, which had nearly decimated the G.U.N. invaders. The Space Colony ARK was forgotten for fifty years. Presumably during this time, G.U.N. also sealed the flaps of the colony and constructed a second hemisphere around it, making it appear as a simple asteroid to ensure it would not be rediscovered.

Sonic Adventure 2[]

During Sonic Adventure 2, a reawakened Shadow the Hedgehog led Dr. Eggman and Rouge the Bat to the ARK as part of his own plans to get vengeance for the death of Maria. They planned to activate the Eclipse Cannon, a powerful weapon that, when powered by Chaos Emeralds, could destroy a planet or even a star. When six of the seven emeralds were connected to the power supply, Eggman demonstrated the power of the Eclipse Cannon by blowing up half of the moon.

When Sonic the Hedgehog (along with his friends Tails, Knuckles and Amy) tried to intervene, Eggman stole the seventh Chaos Emerald from them. However, when he inserted the final emerald, rather than activating the full power of the weapon, a recording made by Gerald Robotnik as a last act of revenge appeared on several monitors, and the ARK itself began hurtling towards Earth. This was Robotnik's revenge plan: when warmongering humans attempted to activate the Eclipse Cannon, the energy from the Chaos Emeralds would be transferred to the engines and the colony would crash into the Earth, destroying all life on the planet.

In an attempt to stop it, Sonic and Knuckles made their way to the core. However, they were waylaid by the Biolizard, which had also been awoken when the seventh emerald had been connected to the Eclipse Cannon, remembering its creator's lust for revenge against the Earth. At the same time, Amy Rose convinced Shadow that Maria's final wish was that he should protect humanity, not destroy it, and Shadow realized that his memories had been tampered with. Shadow quickly went to help by distracting the Biolizard. This allowed Knuckles enough time to deactivate the power of the Chaos Emeralds by using the Master Emerald. However, they were not safe for long, as the Biolizard used Chaos Control to merge with the Colony itself, becoming the Finalhazard, and continued its descent to the planet.

Sonic2app 2015-10-22 15-08-55-814

Super Sonic and Super Shadow using Chaos Control on the ARK, from the 2012 remaster of Sonic Adventure 2.

Sonic and Shadow used the power of the Chaos Emeralds to become Super Sonic and Super Shadow, respectively. The two fought and defeated the Final Hazard, but the colony still continued its fall. However the two used Chaos Control to teleport the entire colony into a stable orbit around the planet. However, this used the last of Shadow's strength, and he disappeared falling towards Earth, happy to have fulfilled Maria's final wish. He was believed dead afterwards, but this would later be dis-proven.

Shadow the Hedgehog[]

GUPE8P-304

The Space Colony ARK, from Shadow the Hedgehog.

In Shadow the Hedgehog, the ARK is featured as an old deserted station since the events of Sonic Adventure 2. When the Black Arms attacked Earth, they quickly gained control of the ARK by using Shadow to destroy all the defense systems. Once the ARK was taken over, the Black Arms used the five Emeralds they had to destroy the White House to terrify the humans. It is also here that Shadow remembers the incident in which Maria was killed and a flashback when the Artificial Chaos went on a rampage, and he and Maria had to stop them. Shadow was also confronted here by the Commander of G.U.N., only to discover that he hates Shadow because he blames Shadow for the death of Maria, his childhood friend. Despite that, he lets Shadow go after realizing Shadow remembers nothing. During the true ending, Team Chaotix had arrived on the ARK, with Espio's terminal system. It is revealed that they were sent to the ARK's main computer room, by an unknown agent to recover some data using five secret disks. However, Espio was having problems until Charmy did what Shadow had done earlier in the game; whack the terminal, which proceeds to activate a hologram of the professor, before he went insane. It reveals to Shadow that he had needed help with Shadow's creation, and Black Doom had agreed to help him with his research, but only if, in the future, when he returns, Shadow would find the seven Chaos Emeralds, and give them to him. However, when he discovered Doom's evil intentions to rule the world, he later built the Eclipse Cannon to destroy the Black Comet. The video gave Shadow confidence in confronting Black Doom, the leader of the Black Arms. The Eclipse Cannon was later used by Shadow to destroy the Black Comet, after Devil Doom was defeated. The game closes with Shadow on board the ARK, with a picture of him, Maria, and Professor Gerald.

Sonic X Shadow Generations[]

Sonic Generations[]

Sonic v Shadow Boss ARK Race

Modern Sonic and Shadow on the ARK, from the console/PC version of Sonic Generations.

In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, a version of the Space Colony ARK from during its incident was transported to White Space as a side-effect of the Time Eater's traveling through time. Eventually, the area around the ARK was where Modern Sonic had a duel against Shadow. After a close battle, the blue hedgehog gained the upper hand and emerged victorious. Afterwards, Shadow tricked Sonic by giving him a Fake Emerald instead of a real one. When the Time Eater later got destroyed, the ARK was seemingly returned to its rightful place.

Shadow Generations[]

ShadowGenScr2

Shadow grinding through Space Colony ARK, from Shadow Generations.

In Shadow Generations, Space Colony ARK appears as the first Stage. After landing on the ARK from the rocket he had stolen from G.U.N., Shadow looked around for strange anomalies. He encountered Black Doom, through Doom's Eye, once more and discovered that he is the reason for these strange results. He would later find and acquire the Fake Emerald that Tails crafted during the ARK's incident. Before he could leave, he would later be transported to White Space due to the Time Eater's emergence. Shadow later ended up racing Sonic at Space Colony ARK for a Chaos Emerald at the latter's urging, with Shadow ultimately being defeated after deciding against using his newfound Doom Powers, though it's revealed shortly afterward that he left Sonic with the Fake Emerald instead.

Other game appearances[]

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood[]

In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, the Space Colony ARK is mentioned in the codex files.

Sonic Frontiers[]

In Sonic Frontiers, Sage mentions the ARK while telling Dr. Eggman that he and Sonic worked together many times to stop threats, such as the former itself and Neo Metal Sonic.[31]

Points of interest[]

Known creations on the ARK[]

According to Shadow when he introduced the Eclipse Cannon to Eggman, the ARK was a top-secret research facility for weapons of mass destruction, a piece of information that very few knew of.[1] However, as Shadow was using Eggman to exact his own vengeance against humanity for killing Maria, it could easily have been a lie to gain Eggman's trust, with the Eclipse Cannon being the only creation to back up that statement.

Eclipse Cannon[]

Main article: Eclipse Cannon

The Eclipse Cannon (エクリプスキャノン Ekuripusu Kyanon?) is the signature weapon of the space colony, which is built onto the front of the colony itself. It projects a humongous laser (blue in Sonic Adventure 2, green in Shadow the Hedgehog) that is capable of destroying an entire planet when it is fully charged and powered by all seven Chaos Emeralds. The cannon takes longer to charge with fewer Emeralds, and the emitted energy is less powerful than with all the seven emeralds in charge.[32]

The main room that assists in powering the cannon is called "The Core". It is a complex system flooded by yellow fluid (safe enough for swimming, as demonstrated by Knuckles), and the fluid leads into a room large enough to well fit the Biolizard. This room contains an architectural copy of the Master Emerald altar, designed for maximum Chaos Emerald energy extraction, complete with an apparatus above it that functions akin to a beating heart.[6]

In other media[]

Animation[]

Sonic X[]

SpaceColonyARKX

The Space Colony ARK, from Sonic X.

In the Sonic X anime series, the Space Colony ARK was a space station orbiting around the Earth, in which researches were directed by genius scientists to create weapons for the United States government. Amongst these researches, one in particular stood out, namely "Project Shadow", which was carried out by Gerald Robotnik, the talented grandfather of Dr. Eggman, to experiment with immortality and the creation of an "Ultimate Life Form". However, after the project was finished and resulted in the birth of Shadow the Hedgehog, the military feared that the creature would be a threat and shut down the ARK. Fifty years later, Eggman attempted to use the space station in a failed attempt to subjugate the Earth under his Eggman Empire, blowing up the moon with its Eclipse Cannon in the process.

Books and comics[]

Archie Comics[]

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Space Colony ARK was a space station in orbit around Mobius. At some point it was built by the Overlanders as part of their Hundred Moons of Mobius project, but it eventually ended up under control of G.U.N.. It was here where Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of Dr. Ivo Robotnik, carried out "Project Shadow" to research a potential cure for Neuro-Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, a deadly disease his granddaughter Maria Robotnik had. This ended up with the creation of the Biolizard and Shadow the Hedgehog. However, his project came to an end when G.U.N. raided the ARK, killed Maria and arrested the professor.

After the Super Genesis Wave re-wrote history, the Space Colony ARK became virtually indistinguishable from its video game counterpart.

IDW Publishing[]

Space Colony Ark Flashback (IDW)

Sonic and co. onboard the ARK, from Sonic the Hedgehog #6.

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by IDW Publishing, Sonic recalls several events that happened on the Space Colony ARK.[33][34]

Films[]

Paramount[]

Trivia[]

  • For one night every year, one can see the ARK directly above the moon; due to this yearly phenomenon, the spaceship has been referred to as the Earth's second moon.[35]
  • The ARK is mentioned by Shadow in LEGO Dimensions during his quest. He specifically mentions that the colony never had flowers in it.[36]

Gallery[]

Concept artwork[]

Gallery

Artwork[]

Gallery

Sprites[]

Screenshots[]

Gallery

Notes[]

  1. The English version of Sonic Adventure 2 incorrectly describes the ARK as a "Bernoulli spherical space colony", possibly a mistranslation of the Japanese version, in which it is described as a Bernal sphere. "Bernoulli" is related to several mathematical concepts but is unrelated to space colonies.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Sonic Team USA (June 23, 2001). Sonic Adventure 2. Dreamcast. Sega. Cutscene: Gathering of the Dark. "Shadow: The ARK was the first space colony created by mankind. Not many people know that the ARK contained a top-secret research facility, where weapons of mass destruction were being created. This is one of them; a weapon capable of destroying an entire planet. Codenamed: 'The Eclipse Cannon.'"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Friends & Rivals: Non-Playable" (in Japanese). Sonic Adventure 2 Perfect Guide. Enterbrain. October 29, 2001. p. 14. ISBN 4-7577-0625-1. "The first Bernal sphere-type space colony created by humans. Its diameter spans several kilometers, and it was a colony capable of supporting a population of 100,000 people, as well as a leading research facility of its time. However, due to an unforeseen accident, it was shut down 50 years ago. It is now an uninhabited ruin. [人類初のベルナル球型スペースコロニー。その直径は数キロに及び、10万人規模の新たな植民地であるとともに当代随一の研究施設でもあった。しかし、不慮の事故により50年前に閉鎖。現在は無人の廃墟となっている。]"
  3. Sonic Team (June 23, 2001). Sonic Adventure 2. Dreamcast. Sega. Cutscene: Gerald's Diary and Mission to Save the World. "Gerald (video): I plan to give you a taste of my revenge, once all the seven Chaos Emeralds are collected. Once I initiate this program, it cannot be disabled. All of you ungrateful humans, who took everything away from me... will feel my loss, and despair!"
  4. 4.0 4.1 Sonic Team (June 23, 2001). Sonic Adventure 2. Dreamcast. Sega. Cutscene: Gerald's Diary and Mission to Save the World. "Eggman: The core of the Eclipse Cannon is now highly reactive and explosive. This is because of the energy of the Chaos Emeralds is overpowering it. If the colony collides with earth, it will shatter into pieces like my grandfather predicted! That mad scientist! [...] The Space Colony ARK's position may have shifted due to the amount of energy given off by the Emeralds. We have to stop the energy! / Tails: But... how? / Rouge: Hmm, that's it. There is a way to stop the energy! We have to use your Emerald! You're the one who told me that the Master Emerald has the power to stop the Chaos Emeralds! / Knuckles: That's right. If I use this, I just might be able to stop the Chaos Emeralds!"
  5. Sonic Team (December 8, 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog. Nintendo GameCube. Sega. Area/level: The Doom. "Maria: Isn't this place huge? Even I still get lost in here sometimes."
  6. 6.0 6.1 Sonic Team (June 23, 2001). Sonic Adventure 2. Dreamcast. Sega. Cutscene: The Biolizard Attacks. "Knuckles: What's that? It looks just like the shrine of the Master Emerald! / Sonic: They probably designed the core like the shrine to harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds."
  7. 7.0 7.1 Sonic Team (June 23, 2001). Sonic Adventure 2. Dreamcast. Sega. Cutscene: The Space Colony "ARK". "Tails: This place was shut down about 50 years ago because of a terrible accident. The first Bernoulli[sic] spherical space colony called, ARK. When it was operational, it was the most advanced research center of its kind, but looking at it now..."
  8. 8.0 8.1 Sonic Team (February 27, 2004). Sonic Battle. Game Boy Advance. Sega. Area/level: Ending sequence (Cream's Episode). "Prof. Gerald's Journal 6: My worst fears have come true. The Gizoid has absorbed enough weaponry and technology that it has started to go out of control. The resulting rampage resulted in the destruction of most of the 'Ark.0 ... 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 7 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 AI into a free-willed, emotions-based AI..."
  9. Sonic Team (December 8, 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog. Nintendo GameCube. Sega. Cutscene: Before The ARK. "Black Doom: Hidden inside that space colony ARK is the most powerful weapon, able to pierce stars... the Eclipse Cannon. / Shadow: Piercing... the stars... / Black Doom: That's right. The SEVEN Chaos Emeralds are needed to demonstrate its full power or tomorrow's prosperity ritual will all be for nothing."
  10. Sonic Team (June 23, 2001). Sonic Adventure 2. Dreamcast. Sega. Cutscene: The Space Colony "ARK". "Tails: Someone designed that weapon to be impenetrable from outside attacks. Its defense system are[sic] super strong so we have to find a way to destroy it from the inside!"
  11. Sonic Adventure 2 (Dreamcast) United States instruction booklet, pg. 12.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Sonic Team (October 25, 2024). Shadow Generations. Area/level: Collection Room. "Gerald Robotnik's Journal, Entry #185: I [Gerald] 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 vastness of space, I have christened it the "ARK." It shall be a vessel for the value of life and place for the next generation. (And while most of the megastructure will be hidden within the base planet, I may have gone a little self-indulgent in the design, ho-ho!) The real concern is the source of the funding. While the United Federation supports us, most of the financing is coming from [REDACTED]. 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."
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Sonic Team (October 25, 2024). Shadow Generations. Area/level: Collection Room. "Gerald Robotnik's Journal, Entry #389: Life and work aboard the ARK has been exciting, for good and for ill. As a positive, we've acquired one of the legendary [REDACTED] 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, [REDACTED] 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 [REDACTED] 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's too precious to be left to suffer."
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 Famitsu (October 10, 2001). "50年前の真実". ソニックアドベンチャー2パーフェクトガイド. Enterbrain. ISBN 978-4757706255https://pastebin.com/hudavzXH. Retrieved on February 2, 2022.
  15. Sonic Team (February 27, 2004). Sonic Battle. Game Boy Advance. Sega. Area/level: Gimme Shelter (Shadow's Episode). "Rouge: He [Gerald] was not interested in researching weapons. He was researching a way to bring happiness and hope to all people. But, he was forced by the government and by the military to use his research for war. That's why he gave you [Shadow] and Gizoid a 'soul.' A soul identical to his beloved granddaughter, Maria."
  16. Sonic Team (October 25, 2024). Shadow Generations. Area/level: Collection Room. "Gerald Robotnik's Journal, Entry #428: It has been a... trying time, to say the least. [REDACTED] was diagnosed with neuro-immuno deficiency syndrome. There is no cure. Yet, I [Gerald] pulled some strings and 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. [...] The president keeps prompting me with his request to unlock the mysteries of life. Perhaps with his funding and clout, I can find a means to cure [REDACTED] while chasing that shadow."
  17. 17.0 17.1 Sonic Team (October 25, 2024). Shadow Generations. Area/level: Collection Room. "Gerald Robotnik's Journal, Entry #530: Research into "Project: Shadow" is in full swing. The first step has been learning how to siphon [REDACTED] 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 could directly interface with an emerald would be fearsome indeed. The initial tests were promising, so we're now moving on 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 how its vitals respond."
  18. 18.0 18.1 Media:Biolizard_file_2.png
  19. Sonic Team (October 25, 2024). Shadow Generations. Area/level: Collection Room. "Gerald Robotnik's Journal, Entry #568: "Project: Shadow" has reached an impasse. The subject exhibits accelerated cellular growth, to the point it cannot 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's uncontrollable. Furthermore, it is generating unexplained energetic reactions. Is this an expression of the [REDACTED] 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 safely house it while we continue our experiments. I'm... not sure what I will tell [REDACTED]. I do not want to lie to her, but I think the truth is too cruel."
  20. Sonic Team (October 25, 2024). Shadow Generations. Area/level: Collection Room. "Gerald Robotnik's Journal, Entry #515: [REDACTED] 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 shapes for 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!"
  21. Sonic Team (February 27, 2004). Sonic Battle. Game Boy Advance. Sega. Area/level: Ending sequence (Sonic's Episode). "Prof. Gerald's Journal 1: I have uncovered a most interesting specimen from the warehouse. 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 "Chaos Emeralds," 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 "Chaos Emeralds" 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."
  22. Sonic Team (February 27, 2004). Sonic Battle. Game Boy Advance. Sega. Area/level: Ending sequence (Tails' Episode). "Prof. Gerald's Journal 2: 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..."
  23. Sonic Team (February 27, 2004). Sonic Battle. Game Boy Advance. Sega. Area/level: Ending sequence (Rouge's Episode). "Prof. Gerald's Journal 3: 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. Perhaps 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 under my control, at least it won't be used for evil. However, if someone with evil intention 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..."
  24. Sonic Team (December 8, 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog. Nintendo GameCube. Sega. Area/level: Last Story. "Black Doom: Hahahaha... precisely. The comet's velocity isn't powerful enough to pass through another planet's atmosphere. The Emeralds amplify the space-time control powers of Chaos Control. We need them to charge to full power. It's the perfect plan. That's why I needed the professor to help me..."
  25. Sonic Team (December 8, 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog. Nintendo GameCube. Sega. Area/level: Last Story. "Black Doom: The professor was in development of the ultimate life force but he needed my help. So we made a deal... I helped him and he promised to deliver me the SEVEN Chaos Emeralds. That's how you were created, Shadow. You would help us do both!"
  26. Sonic Team (December 8, 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog. Nintendo GameCube. Sega. Area/level: Last Story. "Black Doom: Such bravado for a little hedgehog! I thought you were different from the rest... but maybe not. We are more alike than you think... the same blood runs through our veins. / Shadow: This can't be... Uugghh... Just... who are YOU? / Black Doom: Don't you know? You were created from my blood... / Shadow: Wha... what!? / Black Doom: That's right... You are a part of me... do you feel that? I can control you... You cannot escape me... nor can you escape your past! Hahahahaha..."
  27. 27.0 27.1 Sonic Team (December 8, 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog. Nintendo GameCube. Sega. Area/level: Last Story. "Gerald (video): Shadow, my son. If you're listening to this then the worst has happened... you need to know the truth. The government plans to shut down this research facility. The government plans to cease all of our research... and imprison all who know about you. I made a terrible mistake, Shadow. It's all my fault... making contact with that comet. Now, listen very carefully... In 50 years, the Black Comet will return... they plan to harness its powers to destroy this planet! The only way to stop them... was to develop a way to use the very power they intended to use against them. Shadow... it's up to YOU and only YOU can stop them! I developed the Eclipse Cannon... It's the only weapon that can destroy that Black Comet. Shadow, you are the only hope... to save mankind as we know it. The future of this planet depends on... YOU!"
  28. Sonic Team (February 27, 2004). Sonic Battle. Game Boy Advance. Sega. Area/level: Ending sequence (Knuckles' Episode). "Prof. Gerald's Journal 4: The upper echelon is going crazy. Perhaps, they aim to freeze Project 'Shadow'. Soon, the ultimate life form, 'Shadow' will be completed... The application to my granddaughter is also imminent. I cannot just let them stop my study at this point. Because I am the only one who can save my granddaughter's life."
  29. Sonic Team (February 27, 2004). Sonic Battle. Game Boy Advance. Sega. Area/level: Ending sequence (Amy's Episode). "Prof. Gerald's Journal 5: 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 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 cannot risk losing Maria."
  30. Sonic Team (June 23, 2001). Sonic Adventure 2. Dreamcast. Sega. Cutscene: Gerald's Revenge. "Gerald (video): This is a death sentence for every human being on earth. If my calculations are correct, the Space Colony ARK will impact the earth in 27 minutes, 23 seconds. All of you will be destroyed, along with your beloved planet earth."
  31. Sonic Team (November 8, 2022). Sonic Frontiers. PlayStation 5. Sega. Area/level: Cyber Space. Cutscene: Sage and Eggman interaction #4. "Sage: B-But together you stopped the 'ARK!' Overcame Neo Metal! You...!"
  32. Sonic Team USA (June 23, 2001). Sonic Adventure 2. Dreamcast. Sega. Cutscene: Before Route 280. "Shadow: At this rate, the cannon will take too much time to charge up. If you want to unleash its full potential, you'll need all seven Chaos Emeralds."
  33. Sonic the Hedgehog #5, "The Fate of Dr. Eggman, Part 1"
  34. Sonic the Hedgehog #6, "The Fate of Dr. Eggman, Part 2"
  35. Sega (June 28, 2021). ソニック & シャドウ (Japanese). Sonic Channel. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved on June 28, 2021.
  36. Lego, Traveller's Tales (September 27, 2015). LEGO Dimensions. Wii U. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "Shadow: We didn't really have flowers aboard the space colony... Is this kind of object their preferred habitat?"

Main article · Scripts (Hero, Dark, Last) · Staff · Manuals · Glitches · Beta elements · Gallery · Pre-releases (The Trial, Preview, TRIAL Version) · Re-releases (Battle, 2012)


Main article · Script (Original, Rewritten^) · Staff · Glitches · Beta elements · Gallery · Re-releases (Sonic X Shadow)

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