Hello everyone. No, you're not crazy, yes your monitor is working fine, do not attempt to adjust your settings! I know I've been away for a while but recently a certain story of mine has gotten some attention on twitter and given recent events with a certain band, I figured why not revisit this whole thing just for kicks. So, here we are! A true sequel to my original story from over a decade ago. Some ground rules about this before you read further; don't expect any kind of update schedule, I haven't written in ages and life keeps me busy these days. If updates come they'll come sporadically. Also, I'm going to admit that I'm not taking this very seriously, this is strictly for fun. So please try not to take it too seriously yourself. If I think of anything else I'll mention it later on but for now those are the big ones. Oh yeah, enjoy it, of course! More to come (hopefully) soon! Oh also, rated M mainly for language and possible violence.

Hawrdwired...To Go Fast: Sonic Meets Metallica 2

"Ok, where the fuck are we?"

The members of the heavy metal band Metallica looked, puzzled beyond belief, at their sudden new surroundings. One second they had been unwinding backstage after their kickoff show for their new tour, then after a blinding flash of light they were in what seemed to be a baron, run down stadium.

Lars Ulrich, the drummer who had been the first to break the silence and confusion, glanced around at the crumbling building that they seemed to be in the center of.

"I've never seen a place like this, what the actual fuck."

James Hetfield was the bands frontman and rhythm guitarist. As his senses readjust to his new surroundings he stepped forward and looked around.

"It's a stadium, that much we can put together. Toured in plenty of these things."

Lars shook his head. "No fucking shit, I could gather that by the rows of seats going back to fucking Egypt. I've just never seen one designed like this, it's like...not normal."

Suddenly both men seemed to have the same thought all at once. "Last time this happened..." Lars said.

James's face went pale. "God Damn it."

James looked forward and almost tripped on the edge of the stage they were standing on. Once he had his bearings he carefully jumped down, followed by Lars, and walked along the overgrown and rubble filled floor of the stadium. It didn't take long before they found something that shook them to the core.

"Shit," James finally managed to say after some silence. Before them was a giant banner that must have once sat atop the stadium, not collapsed and broken in the center field. The giant bold letters spelled out "Welcome to Robotropolis Stadium".

All at once the memories of that crazy few days came flooding back. Being kidnapped, mind controlled, meeting a crazy blue hedgehog and his friends, and it all had ended here with the most ridiculous concert every conceived.

And now they were back.

"Why?" Lars asked. "Why and who the fuck would drag us back here?"

James nodded in silent reply. "That, and what the hell happened to it all?"

It was at that moment another revelation dawned on them. They were alone.

xxx

"You didn't get them all?"

Myles "Tails" Prower turned around from his computer screen, frustrated at the Echidna operating the other machine behind him.

Knuckles was far from frustrated, he was completely overwhelmed. "Oh sure, shout at the guy who's never used a multidimensional transportation device before! You're lucky I was able to get those two!"

Tails glanced at one of the security monitors looking out over the field and caught a glimpse of James and Lars jumping down from the ruined stage.

"Well," he said, "I guess one of us needs to go out there and explain before they start to freak too."

"Like they haven't started already," Knuckles replied. "Just who are these guys anyway and why was it so important we grab them out of their own universe?"

"No time, I'll explain later!" Tails said as he left his console and flew out towards the center of the stadium, being propelled with the aid of his two fox tails.

xxx

Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammet were too stunned to panic. James and Lars, their bandmates, had vanished right before there eyes and there was no trace of them left anywhere in the room.

Robert, the bass player who had joined Metallica in 2003, finally broke the silence.

"Any idea what just happened? Because I'm a little lost."

Kirk Hammet, the lead guitarist, shook his head. "It was like some, freaky alien abduction bullshit," he said.

"So what the hell do we do?"

Kirk did his best to think. He could improvise a decent guitar solo but this was something far beyond that.

"Well the crew is going to flip the fuck out when they hear this," he finally said.

"Screw the crew," Rob said. "James brought his kids out for these shows, how are they going to take their dad suddenly vanishing?"

"Not well I'd guess. And everyone's going to have a lot of questions since we were the last ones to seem them."

Rob shook his head, his expression drained. "I just need to sit down right now before my head implodes."

He walked into their dressing room and laid down on the couch at the back of the room. Kirk on the other hand wasn't able to relax so easily.

"Well we need to figure out something," he said. He walked over to a corner where he had stashed his duffle bag and started digging for his phone.

"Well, thank god at least that didn't go missing," Rob half joked. Kirk shot him a glare and was about to dial a number when he noticed there was a new text notification.

Now that's random, he thought. The number was unknown but the text header just read "SORRY ABOUT THIS!"

He started reading, and if he wasn't anxious before it didn't take too long for him to have a cause to be.

"Holy shit..."

"What?" Rob asked as he sat up on the couch.

"Well, I know where they are," Kirk said. He held up the phone and Rob came over to read. The text wasn't long but it was right to the point;

I'm really sorry about this, first time using this machine since...well, since you were last here. Going to grab the rest of you later, Mobius needs help, and I think we're going to need your kind of help again. Will explain more soon, I swear!

~Tails

Rob slowly handed the phone back to Kirk. "Ok...you need to explain this one, man. Who the hell is;"

"It's complicated," Kirk interrupted. "Really fucking complicated. You might want to sit back down."

xxx

"James, Lars!"

The two men turned around to see the twin-tailed fox flying their way. Their expression were far from welcoming as he landed in front of them, still fairly shorter than they were despite all the years that had passed.

"You don't know how happy I, well, we all are to see you gusy again! There's so much I need to catch you up on and;"

"Woah, woah!" Lars put his hands up. "Ok first of all the feeling isn't exactly mutual, you can't just like, hijack us and act like we're old fucking pals after it's been ten years since we had any fucking contact. You know how hard I've been trying to forget about the shit I saw here?"

"Going to have to second that one," James said. "We weren't supposed to meet again, the deal was we go home after we help you kick the ass of the big baddie and everyone goes their separate ways."

"Well, yes," Tails stammered, "That was the deal, but..."

"BUT WHAT?" James and Lars both asked almost in unison.

"Something has really changed, and I mean changed in a huge way. And it effects you guys too. We all need your help to stop it."

"What could possibly have changed that bad that you'd need to do this to us?" James asked.

"Doctor Robotnik has escaped, and;"

"Pass," James and Lars again said at the same time.

"Now wait a damn minute!"

Everyone stopped and stood in awkward silence at Tails outburst. Even Tails himself couldn't help but be a little embarrassed.

"Sorry," he said, "but I just need you guys to listen for just one second and let me explain. Then you tell me if I'm crazy for bringing you back."

"So Robotnik escaped, that's pretty common place with you people isn't it?" Lars shook his head. "The next part better be fucking interesting if that's the case."

"I think it is," Tails said. "See, the person who helped him escape, they're dangerous together and they've caused all of this to happen." He gestured at all the destruction. "And from my research I think it's someone you both know pretty well."

"So stop being dramatic and spit it out," James said. "Who's the mystery man?"

"If I'm remembering right, it's someone named Dave Mustaine."

James and Lars suddenly didn't look as livid. Their expressions because a mixture of anger and confusion at the same time.

After what seemed like an eternity Lars finally spoke up again.

"Ok kid, you've got my attention."

xxx