Author's Notes: This story is set in an alternate version of the Sonic SatAM world, with the population filled out as necessary with characters from the games (yes, including chao) and occasionally the expanded world from the comics. The most important distinction is in the main villain, the creepy, threatening Robotnik from the cartoon rather than the more comical Eggman of the games. Additionally, Knuckles' backstory comes from the games rather than Archie's version (with his whole tribe still alive). Sonic, Sally, and Knuckles are 16.
I've made minor edits to the eight chapters that have been on this site for years, and have completely removed the original disclaimer chapter (per current site rules), so previous reviews may not line up perfectly with the updated story. Sorry.
Chapter 1 – "Remember"
A streak of blue through the darkened alleys, stirring up a cloud of dust behind it.
Running.
Racing ahead of the souped-up 'bots with their high-power jets and well-oiled joints.
Keeping ahead...and laughing.
Scarlet sneakers barely touched the pavement of the city's streets, only wavering in the slightest to change direction. The blue streak followed an erratic, zigzag path, avoiding gun- and laser-fire, leaping trash and low barricades easily.
A patrol 'bot burst into the alley ahead, guns raised, blocking the exit. The blue streak turned at a sharp angle as the 'bot opened fire. Through another alley he ran, out into the open thoroughfare, where more 'bots and several spy-eyes joined the chase.
He whooped in pure exhilaration as he zipped down the wide road into the scrap fields. Some of the 'bots shot a viscous green ooze at him; he dodged easily and put on speed.
He was near the gate between the scrap yards and the first of the factory docks. Would he make it through this time?
Green ooze struck his feet—right on time, part of his mind thought dryly, irrationally—and his pace immediately slowed. He struggled, like always, to pull his feet onward, but it felt like running in cement shoes. His legs were sluggish, each step labored.
He could feel the stiff gusts of engine heat on the back of his neck, stirring the blue head spines, the red laser pinpointing between his shoulders, and knew it would end like it always did. Even so, he still reached, stretching, for the gate. It moved away from his frantic, gloved fingers.
Fingers that, as he watched in mute horror, slowly turned into metal.
Remember...
Jointed metal, spreading into his arms, stiffening and gleaming.
Return...
Engulfing his body, spreading upward from metal feet and downward from metal spines, blue-black and silver and tan. Reflecting the lights of the factories above.
Become...
Enclosing his heart and mind in a robotic shell, until it encapsulated and assimilated them into one metallic, jointed whole.