Three-Quarters Metal
Majin Magus
Sonic the Hedgehog took a millisecond to survey the scene. He saw Robotnik, the lined up Freedom Fighters awaiting Roboticization. He also noticed the green glow of the Roboticizer filling the tube.
One of the captured prisoners said, quickly, to Sonic, "It's too late for that guy, plus Robotnik remade the capsule out of Diamond Glass." Even though Robotnik was ordering tons of SWATbots into the room, Sonic hesitated.
The Freedom Fighter was determined to get even with the Overlander. "Think about it, Sonic. Try to deactivate it, and you'll do us all in!" he said, and the hedgehog nodded.
"Alright Ro-butt-nik, you're going down!" Sonic called to the fat man.
He curled into a ball and began attacking the SWATbots, the other Freedom Fighters, helpless because they were chained, sang Sonic's song of praise. It was the song dedicated to the blue hedgehog that they sung when they had a victory or in times of despair.
*
"G-Goddamn you, Julian!!" Kadija cried, but her yell simply bounced around the capsule. She looked down.
Everything up to her waist was robotic, and the Roboticizer was quickly infecting her arms like a virus. The pain was indescribable; it racked what parts of her weren't metal, and it burned in her head and slowed her thoughts.
She realized both her arms were non-organic now, and the Roboticizer was working up her torso. As if in tune with her rage, a hatch opened in her right forearm revealing a laser gun.
'USE IT YOU MORON!!!' her mind roared at her.
Kadija saw five things at the top of the Roboticizer. She aimed the gun with uncertainty.
'You know, the most important things are your heart and mind…so…SHOOT THE DAMN THINGS THAT ARE AIMED FOR YOUR HEART AND HEAD!!' was the cry in her head. Without thinking, she blasted the two most critical, then the other three.
Thirty seconds later, it was evident that the Roboticizer didn't like to be shot. The thingies were destroyed, by now green beams were firing wildly. One hit her left eye, and another on her forehead.
When her forehead was struck, it felt like a drill was shot into her, inching closer and closer to her brain. It stopped after just Roboticizing her mind for a half-second. A tiny voice, cold and commanding, tried to overpower her brain and make her into a robotic slave. Even though it incredibly easy to block it away, it would, apparently, strike out at times and turn her into a cold killing machine.
There was a wild explosion that completely shattered one side of the Diamond Glass tube. A thicket of smoke overtook the room.
"Aah…what the heck?!" a voice exclaimed, choking on the smoke. It was kind of smarmy, and it sounded like it belonged to someone who thought they were the best in the world.
"No! Impossible!!" Robotnik's menacing voice roared, dismayed at the cracked Roboticizer tube.
"I'm not gonna let a little dust get in the way of me beating you!" the smarmy laughed, and a blue blur suddenly started bouncing around the room.
Kadija was shaky from the Roboticizer, and she leaned against the tube, glad that no one could she her. What did she look like? She looked at her new self.
Every inch of her non-organic self was black. Her robotic legs were sleek and obviously made for hovering or great speed, maybe both. Her arms shone with a green glow. Her torso was metallic but the Roboticizer had been stopped three or four inches before the start of her neck. The eye that had been hit with the green beam was purple, save the pupil which was gold.
The robotic fingers of her left hand traced the spot where her forehead had been Roboticized. Somehow, she could still feel, even with a body that was three-quarters metal. It was a tiny little symbol…(think Dr. Robotnik's head in the Sonic games)…and it seemed to be attached to her sense of hearing, therefore it amplified it by about ten times.
The voice, Sonic's, she presumed, said, "And that'll teach ya to mess with my friends. Let's go guys." A lot of cheering erupted and the sound went down the hall, and there was a low moan from Robotnik, but Kadija could sense that Sonic hadn't left the room yet.
"Yell-o? Anybody non-Roboticized in there? Hey, it's okay. It's me, Sonic," the hedgehog called into the mist.
There was a hacking cough, then a voice spoke. "D-Don't say it's okay. It isn't…" Kadija replied, her hand absently caressing the broken Diamond Glass.
"Um…I can help you. We know there's a De-Roboticizer somewhere, and we'll use it on you if…er…when we find it," Sonic said to the unknown person.
Kadija scoffed. "When you see me, I doubt you'll want to help me. Your friends that just left sure didn't lift a finger." She stepped from the capsule, swaying slightly on her robotic legs.
"Why wouldn't we…help…" The hedgehog's voice trailed off, and his eyes suddenly became calculating and wary.
"Overlander!" he hissed, the same look in his eyes and on his face as the other Freedom Fighters. The look softened as he saw her new cold, hard metal body.
Kadija smiled grimly. "Yeah, that was the reaction I was expecting. I mean, it's not like I've done anything to you or your kind. No, no! I'm an Overlander therefore I'm evil! Right." Without preamble, she continued to mumble to herself.
"I just wake up from a stinking tree that my mother designed because she knew of Julian's plan, and I'm captured and almost turned into a robot! I've lived, what, a few days!? I've never had food or water!! Talk about unfair. Aren't people at least supposed to taste water at least once in their life?!" Kadija said. Sonic just stared at her.
"Um…that's all true? It's…well…impossible." Sonic muttered, his eyes flashing to the large, unconscious form of Robotnik.
Kadija turned to him, her face, he now noticed, haggard and gaunt. "Does it look like I'm lying? I'm not some professional liar, you know."
Sonic was about to speak, but a female squirrel poked her head into the room.
"Sonic! C'mon, we gotta g-…" She stopped when she saw Kadija.
Kadija turned her gaze to the squirrel. "You…you remind me of King Acorn. I've seen a picture back in…wait, I bet you're his daughter. Am I right?" she asked.
"Uh…yes, I'm Princess Sally Acorn. And I can see you're an Overlander, and…um…if you're Roboticized, you can't be with Robotnik, so will you come with us?" Sally asked, her wits leaving prejudice behind.
As the two Freedom Fighters waited for Kadija's response, a nasal voice was heard in the corridor outside the room.
"Sir, I've detected…um…" Snively rounded the corner to see Sonic, Sally, and Kadija all staring at him. For a moment, they all stood in silence, but then the small man's hand inched toward a button. An alarm sounded and the two Freedom Fighters knew SWATbots were coming.
"Oh, man! Sal, we gotta go, now! Er…you too…um…?" Sonic said, grabbing Sally's hand and looking at Kadija.
Kadija's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Snively. "My name is Kadija, Sonic. And even if I did go with you, you'd never really trust me. And there is one reason I will stay here…but I'm not allied with Julian." And without another word, Kadija ripped off the grate of the vent above and jumped it.
Sally watched the last of the Overlander disappear. "Go, Sonic, go! We've got to get out of here!" Sonic, carrying Sally, blasted off down the corridor.
Cursing under his breath, Snively watched them go. Robotnik was unconscious, and when he awoke, he would, of course, blame Snively for the escape of those Freedom Fighters.
"Why the hell would she stay here?" he said to himself, thinking of Kadija. She hadn't been totally Roboticized, and if she had, she'd be a powerful ally.
*
In the weeks to come, Kadija lived in secrecy in Robotropolis. She stole food and water from the places where Robotnik kept his food, and she was always hiding from SWATbots.
The Freedom Fighters were making constant attacks against Robotnik, and that was when she would go to look at Snively through a grate or something. Kadija tried to dissect her love, but could not. Though by spying on him, she fought out a great deal about his character.
One oddly quiet day in the robot city, Kadija was sneaking in the main building, being less careful that usual. As she rounded a corner, she found herself face to face with Snively.
"Damn!" she muttered, and tried to back away, but she knew she had already been seen.
An amused smile played the small man's face. "Julian's been in uproar since your escape. And…I've had this notion you haven't left the city. Those furballs would probably help you…or kill you on sight." He paused. "And what to do with you? Will you come quietly, or will you kill me and slink off again?"
Something very visible flickered in Kadija's organic eye. Snively, being a seasoned liar himself, noticed the quickly hidden emotion. After all, how many times did he have to hide blatant hatred and rage from his uncle?
"Aah…" he murmured as realization came. "So that's why you haven't left." Kadija knew her feelings had been found out, and she stood awkwardly in silence.
Snively broke down this situation quickly. She loved him, and that could be exploited. But to what use…? An assassin…yes. With that enhanced robotic body, she could take out Julian and Sonic…leaving him in charge. But…could he feign love? He'd need to…
Easy enough.
He stepped toward her. "You know, I've felt you watching me these past days. By now you must know my hatred for my uncle. So I need to ask you a favor…"
Kadija listened closely, yet kept some of her attention to her surroundings.
"I am going to be the ruler of Robotropolis, and Mobius, eventually. If you pledge allegiance to Julian and get rid of the Freedom Fighters, he'll trust you. Then…one dark night, you can get him out of my way. I will give you one-fifth of Robotropolis if you do this for me. Well?" Snively asked.
Before her mind could make sense of this arrangement, Kadija's heart spoke for her.
"I will."
Snively hid an evil grin.
"Very well then, you know what to do."
*
Two days later, Kadija was caught and dragged into Robotnik's main control room. She used a expression of anger mingled with fear, had beads of sweat on her forehead from effort and running, and her right leg was "damaged."
She had purposely wounded herself to make her capture seem more real. Kadija hoped this worked...both the plan and her love which seemed to be in control of her now.
Robotnik glowered at her, but wore a look of triumph.
"Ah, my little unfinished piece of work. How beautiful you would be if your Roboticization had been complete. Metal is so beautiful, isn't it…" Kadija rolled her eyes at this pathetic attempt at saying something intelligent and profound.
Hanging her head in defeat, something the fat man rejoiced in, Kadija spoke. "Julian, I've come to offer my services. I'll aid your…er…cause and defeat the Freedom Fighters if you don't Roboticize me further. I've been enlightened by all this…um…wonderful air." She hoped he'd buy it…he sure looked stupid enough to buy it.
"Very well."
Kadija smiled. But as she grinned, an alarm sounded. The Freedom Fighters were initiating a plan. They had usually been being secret, but security was upped a bit.
"Prove your loyalty. Capture one of the Freedom Fighters and Roboticize them. Preferably the hedgehog." Robotnik glared. "Do this or don't return."
Malicious grin on her face, Kadija said, "Trust me."
*
Sonic sped to a halt next to Sally near a junk pile. "Sal, what's with the alarm? I thought the SWATbots weren't on full alert!" he complained, waiting for her reply.
Sally was worried. "I think it's because of that Overlander's escape. Sonic, we need to get in and get out! Quickly, while Bunnie is still distracting them!" They saw Bunnie, sneaking around, drawing the attention of a hovercraft away from the junk pile.
"Shut down the Roboticizer, right Sal?"
Sally nodded. "Right Sonic," she confirmed. "And if we get separated, meet back at Knothole."
"Then let's do it!" Sonic held Sally and they blasted into the city.
*
Kadija ran down the halls openly, the SWATbots now regarding her indifferently. She used a mechanism in her robotic feet for extra speed, and tried to figure out where the Freedom Fighters would go.
"Roboticizer!" she realized, and sped down a hall to her left. Racing at top speed, as she entered the room, she hid from view. Using knowledge from her own experiences, she knew they'd look down from the duct above.
She only had to wait a few moments before she heard whispers in the duct.
"Sonic, shhh!"
"Sal, no one's here."
"Well…you're right. Let's go."
The two Freedom Fighters dropped from the duct. Sonic looked down the hallway, then sealed the door to the room. Sally began working at the computer, typing feverishly.
Stepping from the shadows, Kadija grabbed the nearer of the two – Sally. Without a word, she injected a chemical into the squirrel. She went limp. Silent, like liquid, she slid out of the door while Sonic looked for Sally.
"Sal? Sal!? Ah, man! SALLY!!!" he cried, but then tried a more intelligent approach.
" 's okay, dude. She…uh…probably headed back. Yeah, she'll be at Knothole when I get back. Alright. Let's go." And with that, Sonic sped off.
Kadija grinned at his back as he rushed off. She went back into the Roboticizer room, and put the unconscious Sally inside. Taking off a small walkie-talkie bracelet thingy, she revived the princess.
"Hey, princess. How are you?" she greeted as the squirrel stirred to life. Within two seconds Sally was aware of what was going on, but it was useless, her banging on the Diamond Glass.
Sally gulped as the machine started. "I thought you weren't on his side!" she screamed, panicking.
The Overlander smiled. "I am, but not the 'him' you're talking about. There is more than one person here, you know. Oh, and I'll tell you why I stayed, because in a minute, it won't matter."
Sally listened, though aware of her dire fate.
"I stayed for love of Snively."
The princess gasped as the green waves overtook her. Within moments, the Roboticization of Sally Acorn was complete. The tube hissed open and the robot stepped out.
Kadija surveyed Sally's new form with a grin. The princess, it seems, had been Roboticized before, long ago. She looked as she did that day.
"Robot! Come with me to meet your master!" Kadija ordered, and Sally began to walk. They both made their way to the room where Robotnik waited.
*
Robotnik surveyed the robotic Sally closely, looking for any of their little mind-freeing gizmos. Ordering it off, he turned to Kadija.
"Very well, you've proven yourself to me. Y-" Robotnik stopped as the whole building began rumbling. The floor was shaking and the SWATbots were falling over.
The angry fat man pounded on a keyboard. A picture of Snively's face appeared on the screen.
Without preamble, his nephew spoke. "S-s-sir! The Freedom Fighters have blown up the main factory and s-s-several other-" His voice shook because the floor he was on was rumbling too. The screen blipped and fizzled out.
Kadija, sensing that the room she was in was on the verge of collapse, rushed out. Moments after she got out of the room, the door was blocked by falling metallic rubble. The building, no, the whole of Robotropolis was falling apart!!
"What the hell did those little furballs blow up?!" Kadija yelled to no one a she raced out of the building. She was outside when it shook more violently, and half of it had fallen into itself.
Everything was eerily quiet, and a cloud of dust hovered over the ground. The factories were dark, and, beside herself, no robots moved. SWATbots froze where they stood.
"FREEDOM!!" Kadija heard the unanimous cry behind her. Freedom Fighters of all types and colors emerged from the junk piles behind her, and a few had a glass case on a wagon they pulled. Sonic was at the head of them.
"Where's Sally?" he yelled at Kadija. She smirked.
The girl gestured to the main building. "In the same room as Julian. Go in if you wish, but that structure is on the verge of total destruction. Even if you don't enter, her fate is the same as these lifeless SWATbots."
Sonic was dismayed. "Y-you Roboticized her?" he said, although it was more of a whimper. He didn't need the Overlander to answer.
A Mobian in the crowd cried out, "Treacherous Overlanders! They're all the same!" A murmur of agreement rose as well.
Sonic, wiping the look of sadness and shock from his face, pointed at the glass case. "That's Diamond Glass, Overlander. We made that for you." The hedgehog's voice was like acid, his eyes filled with poison.
Kadija put her hands on his hips. "Oh, yeah? How are you pathetic animals going to get me in there?"
A voice came from behind her. "Tha answer's right behind ya," a Southern-accented voice said. A hand with a piece of cloth was put in front of her face and Kadija inhaled. It was Chloroform.
*
Kadija's head was reeling but she quickly stood up. She was in that damn Diamond Glass box, and one hole was in the top for air to flow in and out. She cursed and sat down. The glass box was in the Freedom Fighters little prison and an annoying weasel was in the cell next to her.
"Heh, new here?" he asked.
She shot him a poisonous look. "No, I decided to sit in a glass box in a pathetic little jail! What do you think, idiot?!" she snapped at him.
The weasel had a large tooth that stuck out of his mouth, and he grinned. "I'm Nack. Y'know, those little wimps'll let me out before they let you, an Overlander, out," he said, and Kadija didn't correct him. She knew he was right.
Nack looked over her robotic body as Kadija sat on the floor of her cell, cursing spitefully. For a moment she stopped and a faraway look was in her eyes. Then she stood and kicked the glass.
Kadija turned to Nack. "Why are you here?"
The weasel shrugged. "Ah, just some stupid thing. Trying give Sonic over to Robotnik. Ya know, a misdemeanor."
The girl sat down again. "Those idiots. They think Julian's gone." She tapped her robotic eye. "I looked at the main building in Robotropolis. There are still two heat signatures in there."
Laughing, Kadija stood once more. "He's alive… They're both alive. Just because all the SWATbots are switched off doesn't mean Julian's dead. Just because there's no factories or anything running in that city doesn't mean Julian's dead. Those bombs just blew up the main controls. Why, I could fix that whole damn system in a split-second." She smiled and thought of her love.
"Also, their princess is gone. They think she'll regain her mind since Robotropolis is shut down? Hah! I hardwired the Roboticizer just in case of such an occurrence. She's just as lifeless as the SWATbots! I didn't fail, I didn't disappoint," Kadija murmured, her thoughts still on Snively.
Nack was mildly impressed. "You Roboticized da Princess? Wow. Heh, those FF's will be so confused, plus you're going to piss off Sonic all to hell."
Kadija wasn't surprised at his idiotic way of speaking. He was just a furball, after all. An idea pouncing on her, she activated her robotic eye. It blinked and targeted five points in the Diamond Glass.
"It took a Roboticizer to overload and explode to shatter this glass." A hatch opened in her forearm and she removed an accessory which she fixed onto her right hand. It formed an arm cannon of some kind (Think 'Mega Man').
Cocking the cannon, Kadija grinned. "I think I can duplicate the power of that explosion." She aimed at one of the five selected spots.
Nack furrowed his brow. "Eh, you're sure you're not gonna blow me to kingdom-come too? And, uh, is that lil insignia on your forehead screwing with your mind?" Kadija ignored him but lowered her arm cannon.
"No…I need to make an exit. Sneaking around is getting boring. I know…" She thought to herself, then turned to Nack. "And if you don't stop talking like an ignoramus, I'll going to hurt you very badly."
Nack smirked. "Actually, I just talk like that to piss others off. The whole idiotic grin thing is just a ploy, to fool others. I am a bounty hunter after all. Some evasion and confusion techniques come as second nature."
"Second nature, ha! You're just an idiot trying to pass yourself off as a tactical genius. So shut up," Kadija growled, then sat down and imagined the perfect escape.
The small hours passed by boringly and Kadija slept until she heard a scream.