The Shadow Dimension is populated by alien shadow creatures, who are unable to live in the (positive) dimension of Mobius in their natural forms. They developed a plan to conquer Mobius. First, the shadow called Shayde made contact with Mobius through a temporarily split in time and space, and encountered Johnny Lightfoot. As a shadow, Shayde was able to become an exact double of Johnny by making contact with him. Johnny was sucked into the Shadow Dimension and Shayde took his place on Mobius, infiltrating the Freedom Fighters but also allying himself with Doctor Ivo Robotnik as Agent X.