Unusual Encounters:

Chapter Nine: Metal Sonic and Espio

Suggested by guest

At last. At last Espio was back in his usual state of mind- no longer sick or on medication. He finally was able to go help with any case they had. There was only one problem. This case he had anticipated was not going well at all.

After Sonia had explained her case to the three detectives, they had been trying very hard to do something that seemed almost too easy. All they had to do was find Sonic. Yet for some reason he had been absent for several days. Well, the three decided on that particular day to do a split-and-search. After all, Sonic was one and they were three, they'd have a better chance looking in different places.

Except they weren't the only ones looking for Sonic. Metal Sonic was out searching as well, probably sent by Dr. Eggman. Espio happened to be the one to run into the raging robot.

That was his problem.

"You do know that you're just wasting your time, and taking a chance of getting destroyed, right?" Espio argued, keeping his distance, dodging a laser, and throwing a shruiiken all at once.

Metal Sonic was indifferent to this suggestion, launching another attack in response. "We are both looking for Sonic. You must have some lead for him already. You will give me this lead, and then I will leave you."

"What? No, I really don't have a lead for him yet," Espio replied, missing the next barrage just as easily.

Metal Sonic drew closer to him, despite the trees and shrubs that Espio had tried to keep between them. Apparently he'd seen that long-distance lasers weren't too effective. "Why else would you be on this trail then? I perceive better than that. I can detect falsehood on you."

Espio almost replied that his only 'lead' was the fact that Sonic sometimes visited those forests, but he quickly thought better of it. It wouldn't be wise to give Metal Sonic any hints to Sonic's whereabouts. Although it probably wouldn't make a difference- Sonic was impossible to track.

Espio went invisible for a moment, hoping to lose Metal Sonic. Metal Sonic's sensors wouldn't be so easily deceived, and continued to shoot at that area. Espio skimmed the edge of one of his lasers, doing a near flip through the air. He landed and attempted to sweep the robot off in a leaf swirl, but even that proved vain.

"What's going on over there?" the static in his radio barely allowed the words through. Somehow they were understandable. It was his boss for certain.

"Oh, just a battle," Espio spoke back, turning and making a run for it- maybe he could lose the robot in the forest's trees.

"Ya just can't stop running into trouble can ya?"

"I suppose not. It's not my fault that Metal Sonic happened along my path though."

"Eh, it's been a week for ya."

"I'll say. Look, I can't talk. I'm trying to lose him."

"Oh, okay. Good luck."

Espio flung himself up into one of the tree's branches, holding his breath for cover.

Metal Sonic scanned the forest around him, detected the chameleon's briefest move, and shot into the tree's leaves. The moment he heard rough rustling and a sudden thud, he knew he'd hit his target. He flew closer to the tree and surveyed his damage- a heavy tree limb now fallen to the forest floor. The chameleon was nowhere in sight, and this irritated him.

"Scanning area. You cannot disappear from my cameras, detective reptilian."

"And you can't escape me either, robot," a voice from behind him sounded.

The moment that Metal Sonic swiveled his head to view behind him, Espio jumped onto him from the other way. "What did I tell you?"

Metal Sonic turned his head towards his opponent again, and without another word he turned the tables and fought the chameleon off, pinning him with his laser for once.

Espio hissed at the sudden pain. His next involuntary response was to throw a katana at the machine, and this Metal Sonic caught in his metallic hands.

"Give me the information and you will be released," the robot droned.

"I'd rather not." The detective stood abruptly and took off into the forest again. He knew that the robot was made for speed, but he had to remember that he was made for disguise. He had to find a way to hide himself.

With a deep, quick breath he attempted again to lose his opponent by mazing through the trees.

This went on for what seemed an eternity. Espio never looked back for a second, but at least he didn't hear anything close by. When he climbed a tree to get a look around, he didn't see any trace of the blue machine. Of course, he suspected this was a trick of the other's. He went searching the area cautiously, but still found nothing.

That was until he saw a metallic lump lying close by to an oak tree a few feet away. Without a sound he went to the area and analyzed the evidence. Metal Sonic's head was dented, and from that he deduced that he must have run straight into a tree.

He felt amazed at his apparent luck, but he had no time to relish in it. He had a case to solve, and now that the distraction was over he needed to get straight to it.

He bowed to the damaged machine and took off into the other direction.