Its leader, Black Doom, offered to assist Gerald in his quest. Without alerting anyone, Gerald decided to plea to the stars for help, contacting the Black Arms race, an alien civilization that lived upon the Black Comet, a celestial object that passed near the planet every 50 years. Going against his worries of stepping into territory man had no business playing with, the professor immediately began work, hoping that he could apply any newly gained knowledge to find a cure to N.I.D.S.Įven with the resources at his disposal, Professor Gerald was unable to make significant progress. Suffering from the incurable disease Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Maria only had a short time left to live, and Gerald was willing to do whatever it took to save her life. While Gerald had initial misgivings to the purpose of the research he was assigned to, he realized that his results might be able to save his granddaughter, Maria. Led by Professor Gerald Robotnik, it was a government-sanctioned initiative to create 'The Ultimate Lifeform,' an immortal being that could be used for the benefit of the nation, likely in a militaristic fashion.

50 years before the events of Sonic Adventure 2, a top-secret project known as 'Project Shadow' had begun on the Space Colony ARK.