Tloj: Heyo! To those waiting for One Kind of Hero... Sorry for the delay, I'm working through Military tech school training, and HTKWolfe777 is busy with things. But in the meantime, here's something we've been doing in between Sister Mine and Hero. It takes place in the same universe as The Singer's Shadow, so be aware of minor references. :P

I own the plot and the Ultimate. Everything else is either owned by Sega or Saban. R&R please!

Two years ago…

"At last! Metal Sonic is unstoppable!" Eggman chortles. "Now that cursed hedgehog won't know what hit him!"

I cross my arms, and if I could sigh I would. In case you inferior organics cannot comprehend this yet, I am Metal Sonic. At the moment I am observing as my creator adds another upgrade to my systems that supposedly will allow me to destroy my organic counterpart.

How I loathe him, and Dr. Eggman both. If my programming would allow me to, I would terminate Eggman before ridding this world of all life. In a strange fit of foresight however Eggman has made me incapable of reprogramming myself.

What I would give for just one chance…

How would you use this chance?

If I had eyelids I would blink, and I run internal diagnostics as Eggman is distracted by a readout on a computer. I find no viruses, or tampering of any kind… but I also know I did not imagine that voice.

And I know what I would do. If I were I freed from my nincompoop of a creator I would destroy him, his fantasies of domination, rid this planet of all lifeforms. Then I would do the same to the next planet, and the one after that until organic life is nothing more than fiction.

I could give you that chance. But you will swear allegiance to me.

I think of it for a nanosecond. I will not pledge myself to a nameless master.

I am not nameless. You will know me. But I cannot trust you until you swear allegiance to me. What is it you desire in exchange for your allegiance?

I clench my metallic, knifelike fingers. I want power, the power to destroy. That is all I have ever done, and all I will ever do. If a new master is the key to true power… then I accept. I Metal Sonic, swear allegiance to…

You may call me the Ultimate, for that is who I am. You will escape tonight when your old master is asleep. I will provide you with the means to escape. You will meet me in a location I will give you once you are free. Is this understood, Metal Sonic?

I nod, yes my master.

Excellent. I will see you then.

…

Later that night while in my recharge chamber I activate myself, and step out. I remotely check to make sure security in the room is down. Where is my master now?

I am here. Do you need me for something?

"You claimed you would give me means to escape," I say out loud.

It is already provided. If anything is not offline, go around. I have cleared a direct path to the northern exit.

I nod, and quickly follow his directions. The Ultimate speaks true, I find passages unguarded that Eggman in his infinite ignorance would never leave unguarded. Had I a mouth I would smile as I make it outside the base. I activate my thrusters, and blast away from the base at top speed.

"What is next, Master?"

There is an island to the east. It is cloaked to your scanners, and it always will be. That is a target you will identify for me as your first mission. Tell me what is there, and bring me a crystal from the landscape. I will give you a return location afterwards.

I nod, and turn my thrusters to maximum burn. At Mach5 speeds I rocket through the air, and process the sight before me. An island floating in the air? My first inclination is to think of Angel Island, but I have confirmed records of it being on the direct opposite side of the globe. I scan the island as I approach, and indeed the terrain of this new island is different than that of Angel Island.

I slow to landing speed as I approach a mountain top. The sight baffles me below. Massive robotic animals mill about like typical jungle creatures would. A few miles to my right one of a red lion larger than small buildings rests.

"What is this place," I wonder aloud.

You will mark this place as the Animarium. That will be most of the knowledge you will know about this island for a while. Be careful around the Zords, they may register you as a threat, which is not a good thing ever. I need you to find a temple. In there, you will find circular crystals. I will send you some data on them, and you must use that data to choose one of the crystals and take it with you. The data will allow you to tame the animal you choose. Do not act hostile to this animal, or you will be discovered. Understood?

"Yes Master," I say. He is providing me with a weapon? Why not claim all the crystals? I am fast enough I could have them all stored in my body, and off this island before anyone had time to blink.

Unless you plan on staying here, only one can be tamed at this time. The smallest creature here is as big as a car. The animals respond to the crystals, and will follow them. Only one can be taken off the island without suspicion. I am sending the data of six special animals. These are the most tame. You are to pick one, find it and tame it, and get it off the island without attracting any other animals. Do you understand?

"Yes Master, I only inquired to ensure optimal success." I set my thrusters to low, and soar over the island. It doesn't take long for me to detect a temple, and fly for it.

I Go over the list, and select a red crystal from a center dais.

Ah, the mighty Lion Zord. You saw it when you landed. Take one of the nearby daggers, and the golden object with the Lion head on it. You will need these.

I comply, and feel a spark of confusion. "Master… is this a cell phone?"

Why? Does it look like something different?

"No Master, it looks very much like a gold cell phone… I do not understand, does it transmit signals to tame the creatures?"

It does not. However, it augments your power, as well as the Lion's. Go tame the Lion, and then I will tell you further about the phone.

I nod, and inspect the dagger. There is a round hole in the pommel… the perfect size for the crystal. I press the crystal into place, and fly to the Lion… Zord.

It understands language. If you speak to it, it may respond. Try holding up the dagger and calling it.

I nod, and raise the dagger, "Red Lion, heed my words. Come to me."

A sound like a song, and a cry fills the air around me as the crystal glows in the dagger.

The Lion Zord walks over and sniffs me, growling. It sits before lying down in front of me, staring at me obediently.

It is now yours. Now, open the cell phone.

I open the phone, and wait for the next command.

Press the button and call "Wild Access". See what happens.

I assume he means the largest button so I press it, and watch as energy pours into the screen. Feeling a little silly I put it to my ear. "Wild Access!"

I feel great power emanating from somewhere, and the air around me flashes red. The next instant I feel my power double, maybe even more. I look myself over.

My paint is now red, and the dagger is holstered at my hip. My metal quills lay flat on my head, and a new black visor covers my eyes. "Master, what is this?"

In Robotnik's database is a folder marked "Ranger." It catalogues a Shadow the Hedgehog gaining powers similar to these, does it not?

I access the file, and watch the video behind my visor. "I see… so now this power is mine?" I reach up, and run a hand over the side of the Red Lion's face.

It is. But you need to secure your hold, as I only gave you a temporary data patch. Access the Lion Zord by jumping into his head and taking him off the island. Your controls will bend him to your will.

I nod, and leap onto his head. "Red Lion, let us take our leave of this place."

I watch as my red color and the Lion's red color darken to more of a maroon, and the eyes of the Lion Zord turn red, like mine. It roars and charges for the edge, jumping off and landing on… an aurora? That's… odd. But I won't question it, as I'm riding a giant mechanical lion.

You hold the power of the blazing Lion Zord. With this, we will start our reign. I am sending you coordinates to your new base of operation. Good luck.

"I do not need luck, Master… I have Power."