This takes place 50 years ago; before tragedy struck when G.U.N raided the Space Colony Ark to shut down operations on Project Shadow.
Maria sat with Shadow in the ARK's main observatory, a vast room of observational devices and windows that extended as far as one wall to another, even featuring a glass floor reinforced with steel to peer down to the void below.
Maria holds an astronomy book in her hands, looking over pages she's read hundreds of times over as she looks out to space and pointed out certain planets and stars to Shadow.
"See that, Shadow? Just beyond, over there, you can see Mars! And a bit to the left, there's Mercury...and if we use that telescope, we could even see Saturn!" Maria animatedly gestures and pointed off to the planets far beyond, a twinkle in her cobalt-blue eyes as she looked back at Shadow with a smile. You almost can't glean her terminal illness.
As the black and red hedgehog, he merely crossed his arms and looked out attentively and obediently to each planet Maria pointed out, his usually stoic expression much lighter and at ease when around what is best described as his sister. "I see."
"And there's the most beautiful one of them all..." Maria grabs Shadow's arm and presses her face and hand to the glass window in front of them. "Earth. The only planet that supports life in our entire universe..."
Maria traces abstract shapes with her pointer finger. "I do miss my family down there very much. I never got to see them since I came to the ARK at a very young age. But I know I'll get better and see them again! Don't you, Shadow?"
Unexpectely positive, Shadow nodded in response to Maria's optimistic smile. "I have no doubt," he said calmly, "I think that we'll be closer to the cure than you think."
Maria nodded resolutely, and then turned back to look at Earth and flipped to its section in her book. "So many different cultures, and foods...it's definitely got to beat the cafeteria food that they serve here, that's for sure! I wish I could eat junk food like that..."
Their conversation is broken by the sounds of a scientist walking into the observatory. He gives a kind smile to both Maria and Shadow, before focusing his gaze on the black hedgehog in specific. "Shadow, forgive my intrusion, but it's time for your physical assessment tests for this month."
Shadow turned to the scientist, and then back at Maria, before giving her a nod. "Alright. Goodbye, Maria."
Maria gave Shadow two bright thumbs up and a toothy grin. "Hee-hee, okay! Have fun, Shadow! Kick that test's butt for me!"
Shadow allowed a small smile to escape him, before he joined the side of the scientist - disproportionately small compared to the human - and exited the observatory.
Maria, now with nothing to do, decided to keep stargazing and admiring Earth, before eventually putting a finger to her chin and deciding to walk around. After all, the ARK was massive, supposedly large enough to large multiple civilizations. Even she got lost sometimes. Being somewhat adventurous, and her N.I.D.S. in good condition today, she decided to explore.
Maria passed by numerous different research facilities as she explored. Every scientist gave her a kind wave and smile, and Maria would return it in kind, causing the faculty members to seem much more brighter.
She poked her head to observed many things; exotic gardens to study space-agriculture, alternate forms of electricity studies, armories, Artificial Chaos breeding grounds...they were kind of cute creatures. Maria wondered if she could try dressing them up like she does for Shadow at times, yanking a brush through his quills.
Just then, she happens across someone she's never seen before. And it wasn't often that happened. She could remember a face pretty well, after all.
Minding her manners, she walked over to the person, her blonde hair following over her shoulders behind her, as she called out. "Hey, excuse me! Yes, you!" Maria comes to a halt in front of them. "Hello! I'm Maria, Maria Robotnik. Are you new here, by any chance? I've never seen you."