Gerald leads research on the ARK
Professor Gerald Robotnik designed the Space Colony ARK. His research into immortality was tied to finding a treatment for his granddaughter Maria's incurable illness.
Project
Shadow
The history of Shadow's creation, the Space Colony ARK, Maria Robotnik, Gerald Robotnik, Black Doom, the G.U.N. raid, and the consequences that echo through Shadow's later story.
Fifty years
before the games.
Maria lives aboard the ARK
Maria Robotnik moves to the ARK for treatment, where she lives with Shadow and becomes one of the most important figures in his life.
Black Doom makes a deal with Gerald
Black Doom provides his DNA in exchange for help with a planned invasion of Earth fifty years later. That DNA becomes part of the research that produces Shadow.
Shadow is created
Gerald creates Shadow aboard the ARK as the Ultimate Life Form.
The Gizoid incident
An ancient combat robot runs out of control and causes major damage aboard the colony, becoming one factor behind G.U.N.'s intervention.
G.U.N. raids the colony
Maria is killed during the incident. Her final wish and memory become central to Shadow's identity and later choices.
Gerald prepares revenge
Driven by grief, Gerald prepares a revenge plan involving the ARK's systems and Shadow. G.U.N. imprisons Gerald and later executes him.
Shadow remains sealed
Shadow is held in a G.U.N. facility until Dr. Eggman awakens him in Sonic Adventure 2.
Black Doom returns
The Black Arms invasion forces Shadow to confront his connection to Black Doom and Project Shadow before rejecting the forces trying to define him by his past.
The ARK returns to Shadow's story
Shadow returns to the ARK and encounters Black Doom again. Maria and Gerald appear through the distorted time-space events.
Why was Project Shadow created?
Gerald's work on immortality was connected to his desire to cure Maria's illness. The project later became entangled with Black Doom's bargain and G.U.N.'s intervention.
Gerald Robotnik created Shadow. Black Doom's DNA was part of the process, but Gerald is identified as the scientist who created the Ultimate Life Form.
