~Protection~

Sniper grunted, staggering back up to his aluminium feet. "Hey… I wasn't ready!" he snapped at Metal Sonic 3.0.

The black and yellow hedgebot did not respond to what he just said, approaching him.

The chrome hedgebot whipped out his gun, aiming at Metal 3.0. "Ha! Betcha won't do much at gunpoint, will ya?"

In response, Metal 3.0 stopped in his tracks, but since the smaller robot was within arm's reach, he snatched the pistol from his grip, tossing it aside as he kept his eyes locked on Sniper.

Sniper backed off a little, shaking. For a former-servant robot, Metal 3.0 did prove to be quite strong. Not even Metal could tear a door from its hinges!

The gun which Metal 3.0 had thrown aside had slid close to the bars of Cheryl's cell. Upon realising this, the young girl reached her arm through the bars, stretching it as far as she could. Although she still lacked on knowing much about advanced technology, she knew that guns were fatal weapons which could kill somebody. Why Sniper would carry such things we would never know, but right now the weapon's wielder was in great peril.

Cheryl's fingertips were just touching the butt of the gun, continuing to break her stretching limits. Her arm was feeling painful now, as if someone was trying to rip it off, but she kept pushing herself, until she managed to just flick the gun closer to her cell. Cheryl eased herself, now managing to grab the gun, pulling it back into her small room and standing up, aiming at the black and yellow threat.

Sniper noticed that Cheryl was holding his silver gun. "Cheryl, shoot him! The bullets are made out of a thicker and denser metal which can penetrate robots, disabling their systems if hit in the right place!" he yelled to her. "The best place to shoot is his head! Aim for his head! It will destroy his main computer!"

"…What does that all mean!" Cheryl reacted, panicking. She didn't understand robotic dialect.

"I don't know, I'm just copying what Eggman told me!" Sniper responded. "Just shoot for his bloody head!"

"Right!" Cheryl agreed, trying to aim for Metal 3.0's head. Her hand was shaking a little.

Metal 3.0 glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He wasn't stupid, considering that he understood English. Of course he knew their plan, thanks to Sniper yelling it obviously, deciding to make himself a moving target which would be much harder to shoot. The future-Metal grabbed Sniper in a firm grip, punching him where his gut would be. Sniper felt the equal pain of an organic, leaning forwards and grunting painfully. Metal 3.0 then used his knee, kneeing Sniper in the chin, causing him to flip backwards and land on his back engine.

Bolt was watching from the corner he hid in. He hated seeing Sniper being hurt this way, also hating to see his brother behave this way. However, he knew that he was the only one besides Cheryl that could do something. The younger 'bot knew that he could free the others from their imprisonment at last while the other two machines fought. So, hesitantly and cautiously, he crept out of his open cell, sneaking to the neighbouring cell, which contained Techno-Matter. Bolt began to try picking the lock using his sharp finger, but it didn't work. He tried to tear the door from its hinges like his brother had done, but failed miserably.

Techno scanned Bolt, seeing that he didn't have much strength to use to try opening the door. "Your level of maximum energy is lower than Metal Sonic 3.0's energy. You cannot compare to his strength," he confirmed, still with that robotic voice of his.

Metal 3.0 heard Techno talking, turning his head to get a good look at what was happening. Seeing that it was Bolt, he just decided to pay no attention and return to beating up Sniper. After all, Bolt was no match for him, and Bolt would never try to fight him, for if he did, it was an instant trip to the scrap-yard for the smaller robot.

As Sniper lay on the floor, he saw Metal 3.0 walk towards him, keeping him pinned down using his foot. Sniper looked up at him, hiding his fear, then quickly glancing at Cheryl. "Cheryl! Now!" he yelled.

Cheryl nodded, looking away as she pulled the trigger, hearing the gun fire.

However, before Cheryl had fired the gun, Metal 3.0 had grabbed Sniper by his neck with one hand, so quick and unpredicted that nobody was ready for it, using the silver hedgebot as a shield. Although the type of bullets which Sniper used could easily go through a robot, once it came out of the other side, it was harmless since it would slow down, though it could inflict harm on humans and Mobians.

Sniper let out a crooked gasp when he felt the bullet from his own gun pierce through his back and out of his chest, simply bouncing of Metal 3.0 when it got to him, falling to the floor.

Cheryl looked, seeing what she had just done. She dropped the gun in utter horror, her green eyes widening as she could only stare at a suddenly-harmed Sniper in Metal 3.0's grasp. "S-Sn-Sniper…" she stuttered in a whisper, sounding as if she was freezing in cold weather.

Metal 3.0 dropped Sniper as if he was just nothing, kicking him away from his feet once he was on the ground. In fact, he had kicked Sniper to the barred door of Cheryl's cell, and he landed on his front.

Cheryl slowly crouched down onto all-fours so she was at Sniper's level. She jittered as her hand reached for his. Her organic hand was placed upon Sniper's metallic one, her thumb gently rubbing along the smooth metal. She saw Sniper's orange, pixel eyes look into hers, shaking her head slowly as she couldn't help but cry softly. Feeling extremely guilty for what she had just done, she told Sniper that it was all her fault.

Bolt saw his new friend and distant relative fatally wounded, a terrified look on his face as he looked at his older brother, trembling with pure fear. Metal 3.0 looked back at him over his shoulder, almost as if waiting for him to make some kind of choice. A choice to fight or to give in, a choice to go back to his side or to just run up to Sniper and try to help him like he would always do. In the end, Bolt just bowed his head in shame and sadness, returning to his cell and sitting on the "bed". He was silent for some time, deciding not to speak.

…

Metal and Alice had returned to the base. The silent atmosphere from the prison room seemed to have seeped around the entire base, since now the whole base seemed awkwardly quiet. Probably because Eggman Nega wasn't there, but for some reason Metal just had this eerie feeling.

Without warning, since now Metal was back to base and neither Nega or Metal Sonic 3.0 were in sight, the titanium blue grabbed Alice, covering her mouth firmly while using his other arm to keep her in a strong and tight grip. Alice tried to shout out for help, but it was no use. She sweated as she tried to glance over her shoulder to face Metal, afraid of what he might do and confused about why he had suddenly changed.

Metal just flared his scarlet eyes, almost as if telling her that if she resisted, her punishment would probably be a severely brutal beating or a horrid death. He began forcing her down towards the prison room, himself going with her, using her as a hostage. Metal knew that Metal 3.0 was down there guarding the prisoners which were his friends, and if he wasn't, then he'd just lock Alice in a cell with a bandana or something around her mouth to keep her quiet and free the others.

Arriving, Metal marched through the automatic doors, but irises turned a lime green when he saw Sniper lying on the ground, letting out a saddened bleep.

Everyone in the room turned their attention to Metal.

"Metal! Please tell us that this is you! You have to get us out of here!" EMMI shouted. She felt that now she could talk since he was there, and considering he held Alice in a violent way, it must have been him. "We have to help Sniper now!"

Metal 3.0 folded his arms, staring at Metal angrily. He was no longer focused on anyone else but him.

Metal stared back at his counterpart from the future, his irises bright red again.

Metal 3.0 did a motion with his hand, as if calling someone over or saying something like "pay up" or "come here". He did this to tell Metal to get away from Alice, and if Metal did want a fight, Alice had to be out of the way.

Metal pushed Alice over to Metal 3.0, causing her to stumble over, but Metal 3.0 caught her before she fell. Before he decided to fight, the future one brought Alice into one of the cells which was empty, shutting her in to protect her from the fight. He then returned to facing his opponent.

Metal got ready to fight Metal Sonic 3.0.

Metal Sonic 3.0 got ready to fight Metal.

Bolt shivered nervously, worried about his brother and Sniper, along with Metal, in a way.

Alice clasped onto the bars of the cell she was shut in, hoping that Metal 3.0 would win the fight.

EMMI stood in a worried way as she observed. "Come on, Metal…" she whispered, clenching her fists.

Techno-Matter just watched blankly to see what would happen.

Cheryl held onto Sniper's hand as she looked up at the fight while Sniper just lay there. 'You can do it, Metal…' she thought to herself in a determined way. 'But please be quick… I don't want Sniper to die…'

…

Bah! Done! I didn't do character comments last time, did I? Let's see! :D

Metal: Hmm… Well, I've come back to my senses, but I would appreciate if I got my voice back. Then again, Sniper lost his voice, too.

Cheryl: No, I shot Sniper! I hope Metal teaches that other version of himself a lesson!

Sniper: …WHAT THE HELL! :( Why are you killing me! DON'T YOU DARE! I WANNA LIVE! *Still clinging to Purest of Hearts, now sad*

Techno-Matter: It appears that we will be being freed soon. Metal Sniper is currently down.

Silver: Grr… Even when Sonic Rivals is passing – the game I'm in – I STILL get no say! No fair! I demand to be brought back into the plot!

EMMI: We need Silver. Oh, and I need to re-design myself. I look like Sonic! But still… I hope both Metal and Sniper are alright… and Silver… *sighs*

Bolt: I-I don't know whose side to be on! Metal Sniper just got hurt because of my big brother, but I love my big brother!

Alice: Metal 3.0 will win. Just you wait and see, all of you! He's more powerful than that outdated machine that deserves to go back to the scrap-yard.

…Well, decent reactions. Hey, Sniper's okay down here! :3 But he's still clinging to Purest of Hearts…

Sniper: :D

I guess I'll see you next chapter, guys – and I really need to work on Sonic OVA 3. TTFN!