A/N - This is a bit of a filler chapter after the intensity of the previous one. I hope you enjoy it =D
Thanks for all reads, reviews, faves and follows!
Chapter Sixteen
Rain hammered against a thin metal sheet, a constant static hum like white noise, interrupted every now and then by scrapes and thuds. Scrapes of claws over metal, and the thud of heavy footsteps. Every now and then, two glowing lamps would cut through the darkness. A challenge, or a threat. Whatever it was, every little noise, every movement, every light, caused pain to explode through Infinite's head to the rhythm of his racing heart. His fur was sopping wet as the rain pooled around him on its journey to the gutter, snaking around the rubble, whisking away dust and grime and pasting it over every inch of his body it could reach. Yet he couldn't move. His limbs were like lead, and something heavy pressed down on his torso. All he could do was watch the hulking shadow as it marched towards the city. Gun raised. Rockets at the ready. Smoke swirled up from the wreckage left in its wake. A ruin of brick, mortar and steel.
He couldn't leave it like that. He had to do something. Stop that maniac robot before it caused any more damage. Infinite flailed as he tried to sit up, but that heavy weight shoved him right back down into the rubble. His good eye snapped away from the smoking city to fix on his assailant. Where he expected to find something akin to an iron beam he instead found a boot. A red and black shoe attached to a red and black leg. His eye narrowed as it trailed up towards the glaring crimson eyes of a black hedgehog.
Emotions swirled in Infinite's mind from anger to fear to blind rage.
"You…" Infinite growled.
No words came from Shadow, but his expression said enough.
"So what?" Infinite spat. "Have you decided to finish what you started?"
Silence.
"You took everything else from me," Infinite went on. "Everything I had left. Why did you bother to let me live? Why not just send me with them?!" More silence. Infinite's fur bristled down his spine and he flashed his canines as he bellowed, "Answer me!"
Rain continued to fall, hammering off the lopsided metal sheet beside the jackal. Drops trickled down Shadow's spines and face, but he didn't care. Stoic and silent as ever.
"That thing is looking for you," Infinite said, firing a glance towards the robot. "It'll turn that entire city upside down until it finds you. People will die. Don't you care?" A dry chuckle escaped his throat and he narrowed his eye at the hedgehog. "Of course you don't care. You're a heartless murderer! But I'm not about to let you destroy what I've tried to build up here in Mainframe!"
Shadow shifted, pressing his heel into Infinite's ribs. The jackal grimaced, but he didn't take his eye off the hedgehog. Shadow lifted a hand as red smoke surrounded his body, flaring up with the intensity of a roaring fire.
Infinite's heart leapt and his ear flicked towards the city. A deep whistling noise, fading off into the horizon. Then screams. An explosion. He jerked his head towards it, flailing as he tried to force himself upright against Shadow's weight. His heart sank as the entire city erupted into flames, screams rising into the air as the killer robot fired one missile after the other.
"No…"
The jackal shoved both arms into the ground with all his strength until he managed to shove the hedgehog off him. He propelled forwards, eyes fixed on the blazing city.
"Amy!"
The inferno and terrible screams faded away to be replaced by the white noise of rain hammering against a metal sheet. Infinite sat gasping, dripping with sweat, on a leather sofa. No fire. No robot. No Shadow. Just rain and a thumping migraine that complained with every tiny movement. He placed a hand to the left side of his head where the pain was at its worst. Sticky clumps of fur congealed over his jaw and temple, and the light touch only served to make his head complain even more. He ran his fingers through his disheveled dreads and sank back against the arm of the chair with a groan.
"Nightmares, huh?"
He quirked an ear behind him as Sonic strolled over to him, sporting a black eye. Yet he looked as cheery as ever. He stopped beside the sofa, clutching a steaming mug of coffee in his hands.
"It's good to see you awake!" Sonic smiled and handed Infinite the coffee. "I honestly thought you were a goner."
The jackal took the mug cautiously, muttering a thanks. His throat was parched, and as sore and exhausted as the rest of his body. A hot coffee was more than welcome. The steam licked over his muzzle and he flinched back from it. Wait a minute… He twitched his ear again. Free. No restriction. That meant…
His hands flew to his face, sending the steaming coffee cascading onto the floor. "Where is it?!"
"Whoa, whoa!" Sonic raised his hands and stepped back from the jackal. "Calm down, man! Your mask got shattered by that Judge guy!"
Infinite's heart plummeted into his gut and he cracked his fingers open to look at Sonic. "What?"
"I have it right here." The blue hedgehog held out the remains of Infinite's mask. "I was gonna ask Tails to fix it for ya, but he's suffering from a major case of whiplash right now."
Infinite took his mask carefully and set it on his lap. Three jagged piece of black and white plastic. The red plexiglass had cracked and splintered, and was missing a huge chunk where it had crumbled away. He let out a sigh and placed his hand over it. A red haze spread out from his hand, shrouding the mask, and for a fleeting moment it looked as good as new. A fleeting moment. It fell apart just as quickly in his lap.
That little trick had taken almost all his remaining energy, leaving him feeling weak and pathetic. He pinched his muzzle and took a few deep breaths as he tried to gather himself.
"Don't push yourself, pal!" Sonic lifted his hands and took a cautious step towards Infinite. "You took a lot of damage back there!"
Infinite flashed his canines at Sonic and snarled, freezing the hedgehog in his tracks. Then he turned back to his task.
One more try.
He placed his hand back over the mask and tried again. It lit up red, only the haze was a lot weaker this time. No change. The mask lay in three shattered pieces, useless. Tears pricked Infinite's eyes, and he fell back against the arm of the chair, letting his right arm flop across his face.
Sonic picked up one the larger of the broken pieces, and Infinite slammed his hand down on his.
"Don't touch it!" he barked.
Sonic flinched and turned to meet Infinite's glaring yellow eye, peering at him from beneath his arm.
"Relax, pal." Sonic let out a nervous chuckle. "I'm just moving them somewhere safe, okay? You can try to fix it again later when you've got your strength back."
Infinite stared back at him for a moment, relaxing slightly. He retracted his hand and settled against the arm of the sofa, letting the hedgehog collect the broken fragments.
"It's a shame it got so badly damaged," said Sonic. "But why do you even need it? You act like it's some kind of life-line."
Infinite puffed air from his nose and twitched his head back towards Sonic. Pain hammered his head and he screwed his eyes shut, sinking further into the sofa cushion. Somewhere deep in the workshop, a faucet started running.
"I mean, what are you trying to hide exactly?" Sonic went on. "I don't understand why anyone would want to hide their face unless they were up to no good."
"I might be up to no good for all you know," Infinite grunted.
"I find that hard to believe. If you were as much a threat as people thought you were, you'd have destroyed Mainframe by now. Here."
Infinite opened his eye to see a basin of water and a washcloth propped on a small table beside him.
"I thought you might want to clean all that blood off," Sonic explained. He'd taken up refuge on a stool beside the worktop. "I daren't do it myself earlier in case I hurt you. I'm actually surprised you even survived that attack."
"So am I…"
Infinite pushed himself up slowly. His head spun with every movement, thudding with pain and sending waves of nausea throughout his entire body. He grabbed the washcloth and squeezed out some of the hot water before pressing it to his face. He let the warmth soothe away some of the pain, closing his eyes and letting out a small sigh.
"I gotta say, I'm relieved," said Sonic. "My first thought was to call in the cleaners and let Amy know. But when I saw you regenerating, I decided to take a chance and bring you back here."
Infinite rinsed the cloth off in the basin, turning the water an unsettling shade of pink. "What state is the city in?"
"It's fine, for now." Sonic paused and scratched behind his ear, his eyes drifting towards the remains of Infinite's mask in thought. "This is more than just a mask, isn't it?"
Infinite glanced towards him as he wiped more blood off his jaw. "What are you getting at?"
"Amy made it, right?" Sonic asked. "So I guess it's sentimental. I heard you shout her name earlier."
Infinite froze, feeling his face heat up. He bared a canine in warning.
"You're clearly worried about her," Sonic went on. "That's why you're asking about the city, right? And why you intersected the Judge? You're worried she won't actually have left. We practically grew up together, so I know how you feel. Her nickname in junior school was Rosy the Rascal! She was always getting into scrapes, not taking advise and doing what she thought was best."
Infinite lowered the rag back into the water. "So you're telling me she won't have left this city, even though I told her to?"
Sonic's smile fell and he shook his head slowly. "If she cares about you at all, then no. She won't have left the city. Not knowing you're still in it."
"I made her book that ticket! I packed her suitcase and told her to leave! Why would she…" Infinite took a few deep breaths and clasped his ears as his headache worsened. "Why…?"
Sonic leant forward on his knees and wound his hands together. "There was one time in high school I got into trouble with a bunch of goons."
Infinite fixed him with his golden eye, meeting Sonic's smile.
"They had me surrounded, knives drawn, with every intention to seriously hurt me and my friends. So I told all my friends to run and I'd deal with them," he went on. "All of them did, except Amy. She stood by, hammer and all, knowing full well I could handle them. She insisted she was there as backup, and she did a good job too. Took down a guy twice her size." Sonic straightened and flashed Infinite a grin. "So your 'backup' is out there wanting to help you. And she'll find you. She's good at finding people, trust me, I know."
Infinite's racing heart slowed and he turned back to the basin of water. Amy could handle herself. He knew that. Sonic's words had served as a good reminder. Infinite combed his claws through his fur and whiskers, checking for any more blood. When they came away clean, he sank back into the sofa.
"I can't just leave her out there," he mumbled, rubbing his hands over his face.
"I know." Sonic lifted the basin to clear it away. "But you can't go out looking for her in the state you're in now."
Infinite sighed and lowered his hands to his stomach. He couldn't deny he was worried sick, but the blue hedgehog was right. He'd be no use to Amy in the state he was in. He'd just have to trust that she would know when to run.
Sonic gave him a boyish smile. "Looks like I made the right decision leaving you with her. You've clearly got each other's backs."
Infinite's jaw dropped slightly and he watched the hedgehog carry the basin off into an adjoining room, letting the door close behind him.
...
Eggman growled as yet another camera flickered out. It was becoming a common occurrence, but this time it wasn't because of some gangster wanting to mask his little hidey hole. Eggman had watched as the drone's camera fixed on a massive, hulking robot, following its every move as it lumbered down the streets of the Beatdrop Capital. The robot hadn't taken kindly to being followed. A spray of bullets from a machine gun lay waste to the drone, shattering its lens before it hit solid ground.
But Eggman had recognized that robot. One that had been apprehended over a year prior. One that had been proven unruly, and needed 'special treatment' before it could be released back into the public to do the doctor's bidding.
He tugged his mustache and relaxed back into his seat, eyes still fixed on the footage playing out before him. Metal Sonic twitched beside him, spraying out a series of beeps and clangs.
"Hmm, you can say that again," said Eggman. "Starline?!"
The platypus appeared in the doorway, carrying a tea tray. "Yes, Your Geniusness?"
Eggman quirked an eye over his shoulder then nodded at the screens. "Have you any idea why a Judge might be patrolling the streets of Mainframe's capital?"
Starline pottered over to him and placed a china cup on the control deck. "Well, if I were to guess, I'd say it was a fear reaction to apprehend Shadow quickly."
"My thoughts exactly," said Eggman. "But whoever has done it hasn't exactly asked for my permission. And to release that one, of all Judges. That particular model has had some severe behavioral issues. It's already laid waste to three of my drone Fliers, and at least one Strider." He paused, trailing his eyes over the platypus. Not an ounce of fear in his eyes, not a single hair on end. Yet his bill was tightly clenched. "I don't suppose anyone came to you, did they?"
"What? You think I authorized this?" Starline waved a hand at the screen as the Judge plodded by, glowing eyes scanning the street. "Clearly this is the work of someone who is very much aware of your desire to capture Shadow, sir. An intended 'good deed' to apprehend a target who is now deemed too dangerous to be freely running around Mainframe."
Eggman grunted and turned back to the footage. Another Flier's camera turned black, leaving an unsightly hole in the myriad of CCTV screens.
"The Omega model was wrought with robocidal tendencies," Eggman explained. "Something I exploited, using it to deal with rogue robots. A problem at the time of its creation. Some hooligan decided to tamper with the programming of Grade Three robots, sending them into a murderous frenzy. Such flawed robots would mar the perfect image I am trying to portray to the denizens of this world to keep their trust, while I ultimately work on my plan to bend it entirely to my will."
"An abhorrent desire of that particular individual, sir," said Starline. "I trust he was promptly and aptly dealt with?"
"Oh, severely so, I can assure you," said Eggman. "Once that situation was under control, the Omega model was recruited into GUN… then went rogue itself. I wanted to iron out the creases before allowing it to roam free again as a Judge. A punishment on the robot, and a means to shock fear into the hearts of all Mainframe. The last I checked, it was not ready. So whoever authorized this is very much in the wrong, Starline." He paused and stroked his mustache. "Very much in the wrong."
Starline cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. "I believe the one behind this particular Judge project is one badger by the name of Faust, sir?"
"Oh, I know that badger. Impolite. Rude. Brash. Yet more than willing to cooperate on this project. I can't see why he'd go against my wishes."
"Rebellion, perhaps?"
Eggman grunted again as he twirled his mustache around his fingers. Someone, or something, was at work here. It was unlikely the Judge robot malfunctioned and broke free. Its movements were too meticulous, too calculating, for that. No. Someone had definitely released it. A few beeps came from Metal Sonic, interrupting the doctor's train of thought. The robot hedgehog's crimson eyes were fixed on Starline. The platypus stared up at Eggman, clearly awaiting an answer.
"Did you say something?" Eggman asked.
"I said someone could have got to him. GUN are divided."
"Oh, I'm very aware of that. But it's unlikely. All emails to that department are intersected to make sure there are no traitors." Eggman narrowed his eyes. "Do you know something, Starline? Because you're beginning to give off a vile mammalian smell."
Starline let out a sigh and smoothed out his suit jacket. "There's no hiding anything from you, is there, Doctor?" He paused, shrinking slightly under the doctor's probing stare.
Metal Sonic flexed his claws and took a step towards the platypus. Eggman stretched out a hand, barring the robot's path and receiving a glare and confused beep in return.
"Hold it, Metal," he said. "Let the vermin speak. I don't want to make any unnecessary mess. The last stain was a darn nuisance to get out."
Starline made an audible gulp. "A-a-allow me to explain, sir. You see, I have been in contact with Faust. But I didn't want to say anything for fear of his safety."
"I expect you to explain, Starline, for the sake of your own safety."
"Of course, sir! You see… he wanted to release the Judge robot to apprehend Shadow. He contacted you to ask, but I was the one to answer. Of course, I know enough about that particular project of yours as I've been avidly following your genius creations for years. I told him it wouldn't be safe, that it would put people at risk. He did back down but… I guess the message didn't fully get through to him." Starline straightened and a small smile spread across his beak. He nodded to the screen where the Judge had appeared outside a closed night club in an evacuated part of the Beatdrop Capital. "I mean, the evidence clearly speaks for itself."
Eggman's eyes narrowed, and he spoke in a low growl. "You had better be telling the truth, Starline."
"Oh I wouldn't lie, sir! Especially not since you've just threatened my life! I mean, I've almost died once already and I have no desire to experience that again!" The platypus shuddered, although Eggman was fairly certain it was faked.
He turned his chair back towards the screens and waved a hand at Starline. "Very well. I shall deal with Faust accordingly. You're dismissed. And take this dishwater with you."
Starline collected the untouched tea and scampered from the room. Metal Sonic watched him go then turned back to Eggman, letting out a long, deep clang.
"I've no idea if he's telling the truth. But someone let that robot out. And Faust knew full well it wasn't ready. Either way, someone has to pay."
He pressed a button on his control deck and the screen before him changed from footage of North Cipher to a GUN database. He scrolled through until he found the relevant file for Faust.
The badger's face appeared in the top right corner, along with a list of qualifications, emergency contacts and all known relatives. But most importantly of all was his current location - his home in Neon village, just outside Node City.
"All right, Metal," said Eggman. "You know what to do."
With that, Metal Sonic turned and dashed from the room.
...
Starline didn't have much choice. Metal Sonic had insisted, until Starline finally twigged that the spiky robot wanted to use his Warp Topaz. Despite the robot's speed, wormholes were certainly a faster means of transport. Especially when apprehending a criminal.
The pair stepped out into a dark room, dragging a frightened badger between them. No one knew the true location for The Executioner. Most criminals were taken to it tranquilized, coming to in a cell. But since the Warp Topaz could create wormholes, such means were excessive and unnecessary.
A high pitched whine came from Faust, and Starline followed his rapidly paling gaze towards a mahogany desk. A robot sat behind it, donned in a curly white wig reminiscent of the judges of old.
"Doctor Eggman alerted me of this individual's arrival," said the robot. "I believe the word he used for his execution was 'prompt'."
"Execution?!" Faust stammered. "But… what for?!"
"Releasing the Judge."
"What?!" Faust turned his terrified eyes onto Starline. "But… but you…! You told me to release the wretched thing!"
"When you phoned," said Starline slowly, "I made Eggman's feelings on the matter very clear."
"Phoned?!" Faust parroted. "Are you kiddin' me, duck?! You came into the facility and demanded it!"
"I did no such thing!" Starline gasped.
"You said Eggman instructed it! To apprehend that Shadow character!" Faust struggled against Starline's grip. "Let me go, liar! You can't kill me for this! I've got a family!"
Metal Sonic secured his grasp on the flailing badger, but the robot's eyes were on Starline. A few clangs and beeps came from it, laced with suspicion.
"If anyone's gonna die for this, it's you!" Faust shrieked. "You forced me to release the Judge! I told you that one weren't ready, and now you're makin' me pay for it?!"
Metal Sonic's digital eyes pierced into Starline's very being. He narrowed his eyes at the soldier and tutted a few times.
"You're the one who was in charge of the program, Faust. If it wasn't ready, then it shouldn't have been released."
"But you-!"
"Enough!" The robot behind the mahogany table brought down a small hammer, creating a bang that far exceeded its size. "I shall be the one to deal with this situation. Your arguments are irrelevant."
"Irrelevant?!" Faust gasped. "I'm being accused of somethin' I ain't done!"
"I shall be the judge of that," said the robot. "Now answer me truthfully. Did you, or did you not, release the Judge robot?"
"Yeah, but-"
"Then I judge you as guilty!" The robot clanked his hammer down again.
"I ain't guilty!" Faust shrieked. "This platypus made me do it! He insisted-"
The hammer rapped loudly three times, forcing the badger into silence. The judge's glowing eyes narrowed.
"I have heard enough," it said. "Doctor Eggman has demanded the death of the badger soldier, Faust, on account of releasing a dangerous robot into Mainframe's busiest and most densely populated city. The repercussions of this are extensive. The evidence that you unleashed the Judge robot against Eggman's wishes is clear. This case is now closed. Take him away."
The wigged robot's eyes dimmed and it sagged forward over its desk. No longer listening. Its job was done.
"Wha…?" Faust jerked his head from left to right as he looked between the robot and his two captors. "Enough evidence?! I was tricked into this! Listen to me! Wake up and listen to me! I was-"
A loud creak drowned out his voice as a door opened in the far side of the room. Heavy footsteps came from it, and Faust struggled against his captors' grip. His fur was slick with sweat, almost sliding out of Starline's hands. He was breathing too heavily to keep pleading his case. The skin beneath his dark fur had turned a ghastly white, and his pupils contracted into pinpricks.
A hulking mass emerged from the shadows, towering over them. Its face was hidden behind a black hood, and in its metal claws hung an axe. But it was all for show. Its free hand grabbed Faust by the scruff and the badger let out a blood curdling scream. The Executioner turned to carry him away. Shrieks and pleas beat on Starline's eardrums, and once the door had closed his cries were silenced.
A brief pause passed, then Starline cleared his throat.
"Well," he said. "That's that dealt with then. Shall we return?"
He turned to Metal Sonic, but the robot's expression was far from friendly. It beeped a few times and flexed its claws. Starline inclined his head on one side and let out a thoughtful 'hmm'. The robot certainly didn't trust him. Nor did he trust it. Despite its inability to speak, it must possess some way to commune with Eggman?
Starline sighed and flicked his Warp Topaz, forming a wormhole. They stepped into it, marching out onto warm sunkissed sand. Metal Sonic clanged with frustration, staring over at the towering sand dunes and spread of cacti. Starline feigned surprise, scratching the top of his head.
"Well, that was unexpected," he said, reaching into his coat. "I guess something's come loose. Please excuse me, I'll give it another shot, hmm?"
He flicked the Warp Topaz again, and Metal turned his back on him to face where he expected the wormhole to manifest. Starline whipped a tazer from his inside pocket and fired, striking Metal Sonic in the back of the head. Sparks exploded across his glossy body, shorting his circuits, and he crumpled to the sand face first.
Starline tucked his weapon away and crouched beside the robot, reaching for the panel at the base of its head. A small data chip was tucked away inside, identical to the EggTech Starline was familiar with. On it would be all of Metal Sonic's memories. All Starline needed to do was to erase the most recent ones to cover up his ruse. As for the robot judge at the Executioner's, well that wouldn't say anything. It had no need to. All it was meant to do was find the truth in the case presented to it, and it had done just that. Faust had released the Judge. Starline's part in the matter had nothing to do with it as far as that robot was concerned.
Metal, however, was a different story. He was closer to Eggman than any other robot in Mainframe, and he had already picked up on Starline's trickery. So long as Metal didn't show any peculiar behavior, then Eggman wouldn't feel any desire to check his memories. And if he did, the blank space left would be seen as nothing more than a glitch in the robot's programming. A simple error to iron out.
Starline grinned from ear to ear as he popped the data chip into his pocket computer and set to work.
...
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