In the beginning, Gerald and his colleges researched the Chaos Emeralds, resulting in the creation of the Chaos Drives, during tests to apply chaos energy to living beings. Research and prototypeĪt first, everyone thought that Project Shadow was far too reckless and far-fetched to have ever been fabricated by Gerald's gifted mind. The project codename "Project Shadow" was derived from the attempt to create a being which did not exist, making it as intangible as a shadow. There, all advanced research on the project was strictly confidential. As such, Gerald eventually accepted the request and agreed to led the project on the Space Colony ARK, an orbiting facility isolated from earth. However, Gerald realized that he could co-opt the program in order to find a cure for Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome, an incurable and fatal disease afflicting his beloved granddaughter, Maria.
![sonic project x flash sonic project x flash](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/8e49b85b-7ad9-4444-bd0f-734574094bda.54c1f5527288f84d0e9eb248c8563c58.jpeg)
Initially, Gerald refused, believing that they were crossing the limits that man should not tamper with and that they would use his research for war. The President personally requested Professor Gerald Robotnik, the most brilliant mind of his time, for assistance.
![sonic project x flash sonic project x flash](https://i.redd.it/uxk0elz47yi71.jpg)
However, the true intent for the project was to discover an "immortality formula" which could be used to develop weapons.
![sonic project x flash sonic project x flash](https://t.furaffinity.net/8683031@200-1345442787.jpg)
Project Shadow was conceived over fifty years before the Black Arms' arrival on earth by the President of the United Federation at that time (13 presidents ago from the current one) under the premise of achieving "mankind's ultimate eternal dream: researching for immortality."