THE METALLA SERIES
All Sonic Anime Characters are © TAKI
Carlu "Kick", Metalla2, Metalla3, Akira and Seven, and Mika are © me, Masquerade
Used without permission, okay?
Now on with the show!
Sonic, Knuckles, and Knuckles girlfriend, Carlu, were sitting around the kitchen table of Sonic's house. Carlu had been picked up from Meta Jungula after Knuckles and Sonic got out of the Dark World. She was extremely upset at the news of one of her best buddies, Tails, was trapped in Eggman Land by Model2 Metalla, Sonic's newest threat. Knuckles reclined in his chair, and tipped his hat back slightly. When he tipped his hat slightly on his head, that usually meant that he had an idea.
"I have these friends back on Jade Island…" Knuckles began. "They're lowlifes, but they know about weapons, and how to use them. They're real tough, and I think they can stand up against the second Metalla."
"Are you sure?" Carlu asked, setting her coffee mug down. "Who are they, I might have heard of them if they came from Jade Island."
"My best friends: Akkar and Seven, bounty hunters." Knuckles explained.
"Oh, no." Sonic shook his head. "I want nothing to do with bounty hunters. I've had several bad encounters with those."
"These guys you'll like, you can bet on that." Knuckles assured.
"No way, Knuckelzu." Carlu shook her head as well. "I'm not going up with bounty hunting scum, even if they're your friends."
"You can trust them." Knuckles claimed, taking his coffee over to the nearest sink. "If they're my friends, then they're one of the good guys."
"Nice theory, Knux." Carlu flatly and sarcastically said, pushing back her French braid from her shoulder. "However, since you're a former agent of the Superior Service, that isn't exactly true."
"Hey, guys." Sonic stopped the conversation from heading in the wrong direction. "Let's remember that Metalla2 took Tails into Eggman Land with her. Let's concentrate on that."
"Here's what I had planned." Knuckles proposed. "We go see Akkar and Seven on Jade Island, see if they can help us, and take them with us."
"Sounds like a plan, Stan." Sonic nodded, holding out his hand for the usual high-five. Knuckles high-fived Sonic, Sonic high-fived Knuckles, and they poked each other's elbows. Carlu smiled at the friendship gesture, and got up from the table where they were sitting.
"Fine with me. Let's go see if these guys can help us." She announced.
"I'll go warm up the Speeder." Knuckles suggested, going outside.
Pt. 1 of 4: Ambush on Jade Island
Tails found himself back in the laboratory where he, Sonic, and Knuckles ventured just minutes before. He looked around, seeing that the energy beds that he had ripped the cords off were empty. The robots inside had been killed from power loss. Tails remembered how proud Sonic was of him.
Suddenly, Metalla2 stepped into the room with the bloated terror himself right behind her: Robotnic. Metalla2 appeared to have clothes on her, and they were the latest fashion in South Island. She looked pretty good in them, but what was she going to do in that? Metalla pointed at Tails, and said something quietly to Robotnic. He nodded, and stayed out of her way. Metalla looked back at Tails.
"You cute little pest..." Metalla began. "You have no idea of the danger your friends are in. Just because I was only able to capture you, I'll be nice enough to give you a preview."
"It takes more than a robot in clothes to stop Sonic." Tails defended. "He's been through worse." Metalla laughed, and her blood red eyes glowed with glee.
"Sonic is definantly going to meet his match. Watch this!" She spread out her arms to her sides, and suddenly skin appeared over her metallic covering. She grew dark gold hair, and her eyes changed from red to blue, and her body was reshaped to that of a human. Tails gasped at the hauntingly beautiful woman that the robot turned into. The disguise was absolutely flawless. Robotnic laughed triumphantly.
"As you can see, Tails." Robotnic began. "This new model of Metalla can disguise herself as a regular person, causing Sonic to believe that there is no danger present. He'll never know that it's actually the robot trying to kill him."
"Sonic is smart enough to see through that." Tails defended, outraged that they would underestimate Sonic's knowledge. "None of your tricks can fool him, even a good one."
"Ha, I laugh." Metalla doubted. "I have everything I need to fool Sonic: beauty, charm, cunning, a sparkling personality, and knowledge of his only weakness: irresistible women." Tails was absolutely outraged now.
"THAT'S NOT LIKE SONIC AT ALL, YOU JERK! HE'LL NEVER FALL FOR YOUR TRAP!"
"Oh yeah? Well, according to Sonic's memories, he went 'gaga' when he first met Sera. So, he should act no differently to me."
"Even I must admit," Robotnic said to Tails, putting a hand on Metalla's shoulder, "She has everything I want in a Metalla: loyalty and determination, unlike Metalla1, who no longer had any of that in his last moments."
"I need to go now." Metalla announced gently pushing Robotnic's hand off her shoulder with a finger. "My audience awaits." She walked off, giving Tails an evil smile and a wink before walking out of the hall.
"I think Sonic will fall for Metalla's trap, Tails." Robotnic smiled. "She is much smarter than Metalla1, and will succeed."
"NO SHE WON'T!" Tails yelled, struggling against his bindings. "SONIC WILL NEVER BE FOOLED BY THAT WITCH!"
"When Metalla drags Sonic back here, we'll see who was right, and who was wrong." Robotnic laughed, walking down the hall as well. Tails started to cry when Robotnic left. He needed to warn Sonic about Metalla, but how? Would Sonic fall for her trap?
Sonic and Carlu relaxed in the back seats of Knuckle's Speeder. Carlu watched the clouds pass by them. She had some very bad experiences in Jade Island, and she just hoped that being with Sonic and Knuckles would make the border patrol shut up and let her get on with her day. After all, she wasn't by herself now, and she wasn't coming to see her family like she always was.
"Think they'll let me on the island, Knuckelzu?" Carlu asked. "They always arrested me on sight."
"Not as long as I'm around, baby." Knuckles assured. "I used to have a position in echidna society."
Yeah, as an international spy. Carlu wanted to say, but she better keep her mouth shut if she didn't want the engagement to be called off. Oh well, if he was certain of himself then there was nothing to worry about.
"What position?" Sonic asked. "A high one? Sure sounds like it by your confidence."
"Well…" Knuckles began, looking out the windshield. "I'll explain later, there's Jade up ahead." Carlu peered through the windshield. She could barely see it through all the clouds.
"Roll the top down." Carlu insisted. "I can't see it."
"Not unless you want a face full of strong wind." Knuckles shook his head. "Keep your fingers crossed, Kick. We're landing." Carlu crossed everything she could: all her fingers, all her toes, and even her eyes. She was going back on that island, no matter what.
They're headed for Jade. Gotta catch up to them. He'll fall for my trap, I know he will.
Deep in a hidden fortress on the Dark World, a mysterious man walked into his robotics laboratory with a heavy stomp. Grrrrrr, he thought. That's the last model Robotnic will ever steal from me. This is the last straw! Metalla is coming out now!
"Metalla!" the man called to a power bed with the model in it. "Whether you like it or not, you're coming out!"
Can't make me!
"I am your master, and you will do what I say."
I keep telling you, I don't have a master.
"Smart ass robot." The man mumbled, taking the cover of the power bed off. Metalla's eyes flashed red. He was very angry.
Touch me and I'll rip your arm off!
"What is your name?" the man asked.
I am Metalla. Who the hell are you?
"Who do you work for?"
I work for just one person: me.
"That is incorrect. You work for me."
I don't work for anybody, understand?
"GET OUT OF THERE!"
OKAY, I WILL…AND MAYBE I'LL RIP YOUR THROAT OUT WHILE I'M AT IT.
Suddenly, Metalla burst from the power bed, and lunged for the man. Metalla held the man in the air by the throat for a few minutes. When the man passed out, Metalla dropped him on the ground. Then, he left the building.
Darn it! My original programming is gone! Oh well, at least I'm free, just the way I want it. Now, where is the one named Sonic? Now that I'm up and kicking again, I'm gonna start with his...
"…But she's with me!" Knuckles explained to the border patrol officer. He just shook his head.
"Sorry, but she's not authorized on this island." The officer explained. "Governor's orders."
"Hell with the Governor!" Carlu exploded. "I lived on this island for years! I can't believe you won't let me on my own island!"
"I've heard that one a million times from you, Carlu." The officer dryly said. "There is no way you are getting back on this island."
"THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! I DEMAND JUSTACE!"
"I demand you leave before you get arrested." The officer snapped.
"For what?" Sonic joined in. "Coming home?"
"Defiance. She's disobeying perfectly clear orders."
"You're orders aren't clear to me at all!" Carlu snapped back.
"Excuse me!" a new voice came in. "Is there a reason why there's a long line in customs?" It was an echidna dressed in dark, rich robes. He looked rather upset, and had his arms crossed impatiently. The officers knees knocked, then he saluted.
"Prince Mamoru!" he exclaimed. "This is…is just a minor problem."
"Not by the volume of voices I could hear all the way in the back. What is this minor problem, I wish to know?" the prince demanded.
"Your Highness," Knuckles explained, a little casual. "This young lady I'm with has been restricted from entering this island, and she doesn't deserve it. She lives here."
"Is that so?" the prince nodded. "Kind sir, I want you to see that this young lady and her party are guided through that gate." The officer's eyes widened.
"But, my prince…"
"No buts. That's an order." The Prince issued. "Now let them pass."
"Yes sir." The officer hung his head, and let each of them pass. The prince was right behind them.
"Hey, what are your names?" he asked. "This young lady has guts standing up to border patrol."
"Oh." Sonic gasped. "I'm actually the leader of the group. My name is Sonic. This is Knuckelzu, and his fiancé, Carlu." Carlu bowed as the Prince shook Sonic's hand.
"The legendary Sonic the Hedgehog, I presume." The prince smiled. "I've always wanted to meet you." He shook Carlu's hand, and looked at Knuckles for a while. Suddenly, the prince reached out and ruffled Knuckles hair. "Good to see you again, son." He said, then started to walk off. "Well, I better be on my way. Sionara." As he left, Sonic and Carlu stared at Knuckles intensely.
"Does he know you?" Sonic asked.
"Of course he knows me." Knuckles smiled. "He's my father."
"WHAT?!" Sonic and Carlu jaws dropped to the ground. Carlu made a strange face.
"Oh, you're just full of surprises today, aren't you?" she interrogated. Knuckles tipped his hat, and started walking down the street.
"Let's go." He suggested. "Akkar and Seven should be around here somewhere."
"Okay." Sonic agreed. "Let's go."
Okay, there they are. They're headed into that cantina. Time to strut my stuff.
"Pee you!" Sonic almost shouted. "What is that smell?"
"Hooka smoke." Knuckles answered. Sonic plugged his nose. "You'll get used to it in a few minutes max, Sonniku. Now come on, they're around here somewhere." Knuckles scanned the crowd for the familiar faces. Carlu did the same. Sonic just held his nose until he couldn't breathe, and had to let it go.
"Is that them over there?" Carlu asked, pointing to an echidna and a lion cub dressed in leathers. Knuckles looked over at them, and his eyes lit up.
"Yes, that's them." He nodded as Sonic was making faces after inhaling the air.
"I'm gonna puke." He moaned. Knuckles and Carlu ignored him, and walked up to the booth where the bounty hunters were sitting and talking. Knuckles walked up to them and pounded his fist on the table, smirking.
"Good afternoon, can I take your order?" Knuckles said. The echidna and the cub laughed, and patted Knuckles shoulder.
"Good to see you again, Knuckelzu." The echidna laughed.
"Whaz up, bro?" the cub smiled.
"Mind if I sit down?" Knuckles asked, sitting down anyway. Sonic and Carlu slipped past the crowd in the cantina, and up to the booth. The echidna held his hand in front of Sonic, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead.
"Wait, wait, don't tell me: Sonic the hedgehog." The echidna predicted. "Am I right, or am I right?!"
"Who are you?" Sonic raised an eyebrow.
"Sonic," Knuckles began, "these are the guys I was talking about." He pointed at the echidna, who had the deepest red skin an echidna could have, and looked about twenty-seven or older. "This is Akkar 'Sykes,' " then he pointed to the lion cub, who had a buzz cut and a healthy red scar on his face. He looked about thirteen years old. "And that's Seven 'Seits.' These are the bounty hunters I said that could help us out."
"How could we help you?" Akkar asked.
"Well," Sonic began, sitting. "You've heard about Metalla, right?"
"Yeah," Seven nodded. "They're still rebuilding South Island last I heard."
"Well," Sonic said. "Robotnic made another one." Akkar and Seven sat up much straighter.
"What?" they asked in unison.
"Yep." Carlu nodded, still standing since there wasn't any room left to sit. "That's what I heard." Seven looked strangely at her. "Sorry, my name is Carlu, and I'm…"
"I know who you are." Seven snapped. "I was just wondering what you're doing here. I thought you were forbidden to come back to this island."
"Hmph." Carlu grunted. "Nice hair." She commented Seven's mane. "It would have made a great belt."
"That knot on your head would look nice on my trophy hook." Seven snarled.
"Seven," Akkar scolded. "Leave the lady alone. She got lucky getting past the border patrol by that scowl on her face." Seven just stared at her like he was going to eat her whole. Carlu kept her hand on her two bladed axe strapped to her belt.
"Anyway," Knuckles came back to the subject, "Sonic and I were wondering if we could get your help with this second Metalla."
"Why?" Akkar asked. "Is he after one of you?"
"She, actually." Sonic corrected. "Yeah, she's out to get me. Plus, she's holding my best friend captive. He's just a kid, and I need to get him back."
"Sure." The echidna nodded. "We'll help you out."
"You bet." Seven gave Sonic a thumbs up.
"Hey, let's quit the business talk, and do something else. So, Knuckelzu, what have you been up to?" Akkar asked.
Metalla flicked a golden bang from her eyes, and looked about the cantina. Sonic and his friends were in here somewhere, they had to be. She's been looking around the city for several hours, and no go. So, they had to be in here. She stood in the doorway for a few minutes, studying the crowd. Then, she saw Sonic and his friends with a bounty-hunting duo. Smiling, Metalla made her way towards the booth. She warmed up her laser turrets, and licked her lips. This was it. 'Too bad that he just made some new friends.' Metalla thought. 'He won't ever get to see them again.' She moved in a little closer, pointing her wrist at Sonic's head, and aimed carefully. Suddenly…
BANG! Mika slammed into a human. "Hey," Mika snapped. "Watch where you're going, blondy."
"Well, excuuuuuuuuuse me!" the human snapped back. "Maybe you should watch where you were going!"
"Don't yell at me!"
"Well, you started it!"
"Don't make me mad!"
"Same here, you walking pin cushion!" Mika, who was a chocolate brown hedgehog, narrowed her eyes, and brandished a gun in her knee length boots.
"Watch you're racist tongue, or you'll miss it." She growled. Metalla snorted, and exposed her turrets from under her skin, and fired at Mika.
CHOOME! CHOOME! Both shots hit Mika square in the chest, and she fell over. By that time, Sonic was at the scene. He stopped short at the sight of the pretty blond human. Metalla quickly straitened up, and shook some extra hair back over her shoulder.
"Whoa." Sonic raised an eyebrow. He slicked his spines back, and " played it cool." "So, who may you be?"
"You're worst nightmare." Metalla sneered. She pointed her laser turret at Sonic's head, and charged it. Sonic looked rather confused. Suddenly, a laser shot zoomed inches away from Sonic's ear, and another one he just managed to dodge. Knuckles leaped into action, and grabbed Metalla's wrist.
"Oh no you don't, robot." Knuckles yelled. Metalla and Knuckles wrestled for a long while as Akkar, Seven, and Carlu helped to sneak an absolutely confused Sonic out of the cantina. "Hey, wait for me!" Knuckles called, seeing them leave. He let go of Metalla's wrists and ran outside faster than Metalla could blink. Mika watched as Metalla left calmly. Mika cocked an eyebrow, and got up off the floor.
"Hurry!" Seven yelled, looking over his shoulder as he ran. "I think she might be behind us!"
"What gave you that idea?" Knuckles asked.
CHOOME! CHOOME! CHOOME!
"That, mostly." Seven frowned, seeing that many of the shots missed them by a mile. "She really needs to work on her marksmanship." Suddenly, Metalla2 in robot form rocketed from behind them, and threw something at them. Akkar caught it, screamed, and threw it behind him.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!
"Grenade." Akkar explained. "She's got a good arm."
"If only she had better aim." Knuckles smirked, and looked up at Metalla2. She dived for Sonic, and kicked him in the head, sending him skidding to the nearest building. Akkar pulled out his handgun, and fired at Metalla's head. She dropped to the ground, and got right back up. She laughed, tracing the three bullet holes in her head.
"Just gives me character." She smirked, and launched another grenade. It flew in Sonic's direction.
"Sonic!" Seven shouted, running after the grenade. He pulled out his pocket gun, and shot the grenade in mid flight. The grenade exploded before it could hit Sonic. "So much for that." He pointed his gun at Metalla2, who was going for Sonic herself. "There's only one way to Sonic, baby, and that's through me!" Seven shouted at her. Metalla2 just kicked Seven away, and went on her way.
"Ha ha!" she laughed slightly, flexing her metal claws, fixing her eyes on Sonic's throat. "Bye bye windpipe."
Suddenly…
ZAT! ZAT! ZAT! Laser fire hit Metalla square in the rocket boosters in her boots. She skidded to a stop just a few meters away from Sonic. Sonic lifted his head to see the hedgehog girl from the cantina approaching Metalla2 slowly, with a gun in hand.
"I warned you." She said, putting her boot on Metalla2's back. "Don't make me mad, and look what you did: I'm out of breath from running after you, I had trouble with the authorities just to keep chasing you, and, of all catastrophes in the world, I broke a nail in the process. You piece of shoota, you're gonna pay."
"Who are you?" Sonic asked. The hedgehog turned to him.
"I'm Mika, a smuggler from South Island. You, my friend, must be Sonic the hedgehog."
"Yes." Sonic said, getting up slowly. "Hey, thanks for helping me out."
"Well, she shot me." Mika explained. "Besides, an enemy of Robotnic's is a friend of mine."
"You must have a lot of friends." Sonic smirked, giving her a wink. Mika giggled.
"Hey, Romeo!" Knuckles yelled to Sonic. "We gotta get Tails, remember?"
"Oh yeah, that's right." Sonic snapped his fingers. He walked up to Metalla2, who had trouble getting up, because Mika was standing on her. Sonic stooped down so that he was looking at her face. "Where's Tails, Metalla?" he interrogated. Metalla just gave him the finger. Sonic kicked her in the head. "I asked you a question."
"You dummy," Metalla snapped. "He's right where you left him: in Eggman Land. Robotnic should be keeping an eye on him, and you'll have great difficulty going back."
"Why is that?" Mika joined the interrogation.
"Hahahahahahahahaa!" Metalla laughed. "Robotnic takes precautions. Back in Eggman Land, there should be another Metalla waiting for you. I may have failed, so I've got a back up."
"NOT ANOTHER METALLA!" Sonic and Knuckles shouted.
"Oh yes; another Metalla." Metalla2 cackled. "There will be more and more until Mobius is finally rid of you."
"I can face twenty Metallas." Sonic boasted. "I'll fight as many as it takes until Mobius is free."
"Let her go, Sonic." Knuckles said. "She told us what we need to know. She can leave now." Mika nodded, and stepped off Metalla2's back.
"See you in Eggman Land!" Metalla2 winked as she warped away. Knuckles motioned with his hand that they should leave.
"Sonic, Carlu, Akkar, Seven…let's go." He insisted.
"Hey, I want to come too." Mika insisted. "I want to help."
"Okay," Sonic agreed. "You can come. Let's get to our Speeders. We don't have much time. I just hope Tails is okay."
As Sonic and his friends left Jade Island, they didn't notice the original Metalla watching them leave. He watched them fly off to the portal to the Dark World, and he warped after them.
To be continued! (Cue "Look Alike")