The sky shone a fierce magenta with the setting sun. Robotropolis was in silent uproar. With SWAT bots running in every direction in the streets, carting weapons of every form in a vain attempt to prepare for attack. Three red irises, one of them glowing faintly, surveyed the chaos below from the roof of a tall building.

"Metal?" came a quiet voice from the hybrid. Her scarlet eyes were downcast but pensive as she leaned over the edge of the short wall that kept her from a lengthy fall.

"Yes?" Of coarse Metal Sonic needed no introduction. He sat atop the wall next to his female counterpart, turning his head so he could see her with his good eye.

"What are we doing?" She asked, in a tone equal to what might have been used to ask what he had for dinner last night.

"You already know. We were specified orders to watch for any indication of FreedomFighter attack."

"I know that. What I meant was, why are we fighting them? Robotnik's barmy, a badnik could tell you that. He's constantly sending us on fool's errands, and that's only when we go to him and ask for something to do… other than rust."

"He has given us an imperative assignment right now, has he not? And for the record, you cannot rust, Metalla."

"Har har. So he suspected an attack and sent us up here as soon as you reached the city limits. He didn't even give you a chance for repairs. So what if Sonic shows up? He's going to send an already damaged assassin? Like that'd do any good-"

"Enough."

Metalla looked at him for the first time since the tête-à-tête began.

"Yes, I realize that Robotnik is more than a little insane. Yes, I realize he did not plan this out very well. I also realize that you need to stop talking to RK about our faction. There is only so much I can do without giving Robotnik reason to think that I was holding back, especially against that hedgehog."

"We could strike out."

"That would defeat the purpose of us staying to hinder him from within."

"Would it? I doubt that unless he saw us fighting against him FF style, he wouldn't miss us. And you do know that for as long as we've been waiting you could have had that eye fixed thirty-two and a half times by now."

Metal paused, his clawed hand lingering at the unsightly gash in his blue metal brow. "So he has convinced you too…"

"Huh?"

"RoboKnux has been trying the idea on everyone. Everyone, now including you, has also tried to persuade me. I already know that we will leave him sooner or later, never to return… I only desire to remain until the right time to disappear."

Metalla sighed. "What if the right time is too late?"

"We will see tonight, my 'Talla."

There was a long silence between the two, as a rare smile curled the corners the half-breed's mouth so slightly. The grin widened into a knowing smirk. "You little devil…"

If Metal could have laughed, he undoubtedly would have.

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woot. first chapter. Metalla is one of a few FCs that i'll use. Heck, I've messed up this verse so much that any official character could be OOC bordering on fan-made n00bishness. Oh well, I don't care. Read and be somewhat nice please?

Thank you, God bless~

-S. Elizabeth, AKA MetallixFerret