I've returned everyone. Don't worry, I'll work on Tekken Rivals again eventually. Since i started my new job, my schedule has been iffy. So just be patient. Any of my followers that are Sonic fans, let me know what you think of my rebooted story! See you in the next one!

"Number 12…Number 12, wake up!" The blue-haired creature woke with a start, grabbing at the mysterious voice and screaming to the top of his lungs. The horned beast looked up to see his roommate within his grasp – he was a black and cyan rodent who wore a mask over his mouth.

Number 12 let the rodent go, the latter holding his throat in pain, "Number 13…My bad. Didn't realize you had played a prank on me."

Number 13 straightened out his leather jacket, the fur rustling in the wind, "What the hell do you mean? I didn't bring us out here."

"Out…here…?" #12 finally took a moment to inspect his surroundings, his blue ponytail whipping back as he jerked his head to survey the land. The two friends were outside in a forest, trees in all directions. In the center of the area was a bonfire almost out of firewood. Next to the pit was a youthful cyborg, shaking against the ground with his arms around himself. The ring on his left ear sparkled against the flame.

Number 12 pointed towards the cyborg, "Who's the porcupine? Haven't I seen him around the base before?"

Number 13 shrugged, "Beats me. I believe his designation is #9."

"What ever happened to 10 and 11?"

#13 sighed, "You sure ask a lot of questions."

Before the larger creature could respond, the cyborg rose from the ground and began screaming, holding his head in agony. #12 walked up to him and tried to grasp his shoulder. The smaller creature darted away, a blue, metallic aura surrounding him as he did so. #9 looked up at #12, his body trembling, "You…Did you bring me here!?"

#13's eyes widened, "Wow, that was so fast! I've never seen anyone move that quickly."

#9 shook his head, falling to his knees, "It's a curse. That terrible serum. It did so many terrible things…"

#12 folded his arms, "A serum, huh? I'd honestly prefer your fate over my own…Considering the fact that…" The beast looked away, his teeth gnashing, "…Dammit, grieving isn't going to change anything."

#13 sat on the ground, "Lost loved ones…Forced mutations…I yearn for something like that. It would at least relive me of the harsh reality that was my…creation…"

"All three of you have been treated horribly…" The three outcasts focused towards a dark patch of ground located underneath the shadow of a few pine trees.

#12 waked forward, his right arm alit with red energy, "Who's there?"

#13 slowly floated off the ground, crystals slowly growing along his arms, "Show yourself, coward!"

#9 stood at the ready, his right arm shifting into a chainsaw of cobalt and silver shade, "Combat preparations engaged."

The figure slowly approached, his hands full of firewood. He had silver hair, golden eyes, an wore green goggles around his neck. His black and gold coat floated in the night breeze. He smiled, "Settle down, you three. It's just me."

All three of them stepped back in horror, #12 speaking first, "M…Master Robotnik…"

#13 settled onto the ground, "Why have you brought us here?"

#9 shook his head, retracting his chainsaw, "Error. I don't understand."

The strange man moved over to the bonfire and settled the wood into the flames, "Relax, my friends. You were correct to assume that I carry the lineage of…" he paused, his fist clenched, "…that wretched man…" He slowly stood, but I assure you, I'm nothing like him."

The man pointed at #12, "I'm not here to take you from your families," he directed his attention to #13, "drain you of your energy to use for my own personal gain," he looked at #9, "Or turn you into a superweapon…"

The three experiments didn't meet the man's gaze. The latter sighed, turning his attention to the flame, "I feel like you may not trust me due to how I look and my relation to your former master…But you must trust me…" He looked back up at them, "…after all. We are in the same boat."

#12 looked back towards the man, clenching his fist, "You? The same as us? You come from the house of Robotnik, that scumbag. How could your life be anything like ours?"

The silver-haired man nodded, "I see…You need convincing…Then I propose a deal."

#13 shifted his navy facemask slightly, "What do you mean?"

The mysterious man smiled, "I can show you why I'm helping you…Why I need you to help me."

#9 shook his head, "Help you? You need our help? Illogical."

"It's true. I can't do what I need to by myself."

#12 tilted his head back slightly, "And what, pray tell, is that?"

The mysterious man smirked, his white mustache making him look ever so sinister, "Kill Robotnik…"

The three experiments all widened their eyes at this statement. It seemed they all had the same goal. They all despised Robotnik. #13 closed his eyes, "Robotnik must perish, yes. But there are other end goals the three of us have, I'm sure. Is this one of those "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" kind of operations?"

#9 nodded his head, "Affirmative. What is in it for you, stranger?"

The white-haired man shook his head, "Relax. You have to trust me on this one. If it makes you all feel more entrusting to me, I have a base of operations a few miles from here. You may all stay there for a while before we do anything. And, as you have probably noticed, I risked my life to free you from your cells."

#13 looked back towards the tall fortress behind them with blinding lights surging from all sides. Floating platforms floating amongst the buildings, "He's right. If he wanted us dead, why would he infiltrate the Final Zone and bring us out here? It seems incredibly monotonous."

#9 looked away, folding his metal arms, "I say we trust him."

#12 lifted an eyebrow and looked at the cyborg rodent, "Nine?"

Nine spoke up once more, "Maybe it's just my protocol speaking, but I feel like we would be able to trust him. There's nothing pointing towards an immediate threat from this stranger." He held his shoulder, "Besides. It's better than being submerged in a pod of battery acid every night."

Thirteen shook his head, "Or being trapped in a padded cage."

Twelve looked down, "Or chained to a wall…" He looked up towards the man, and pointed a clawed finger at him, "I am watching you, Robotnik…If you dare cross me, I'll not hesitate to rip your head off…"

The mystery man bowed, holding an arm in front of him, "Trust me, #12. Once I reveal my plan, you'll be wishing I had freed you sooner." He slowly turned on his heel, "We shouldn't waste much time. There is much to do…"

Thirteen held a hand out towards the stranger, "Wait…We don't even know who you are…Why you hate your own kin…We don't even know your name."

The silver-haired man looked back at his new allies, a sly smirk growing on his face, "The first two inquiries will be answered once we're at my base…For the last question though…" He chuckled, sending chills into the spines of the former slaves, "Just call me…Negative…"

Hypersonic Adventure