Sonic the Hedgehog Fanfiction #3
by Sonic Dust (dustinman77@hotmail.com)


Sonic, Tails, Sally, Rotor, Bunnie, etc. are © Sega, Archie Comics, and whoever else. Used by me! without permission, since I make no $$$ from this.
Damien, Simone, Homotropolis and the Powerang are my characters and/or creations; please do not use them without permission. Thanx.
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THE MECH OF MYSTERY
Ch. 3
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The skies turned black over an uninhabited section of an insignificant forest, on an otherwise unsubstantial afternoon. The event went unnoticed as a shining portal opened, the crackling energies singing the bark on the common birch tree it was flush against. A figure stepped through, more machine than Mobian. As he walked further from it, the portal slowly vanished, and the sky returned to its previous azure hue. The abomination surveyed its surroundings, then spoke, seemingly to the open air.

"Xox, scan for objective life forms." A male voice; presumably in his mid-twenties.

All was quiet for a few moments, save his footfalls as he paced forward. "It's so beautiful here... was, I suppose is more correct." A few more moments passed. "Acknowledged. Determine current location."

He took this time to further admire a tree in front of him. "This breed is long since extinct in my world. Such a pity... its beauty is striking." Then his head snapped back. "Oh, no. We're so far away! Curse our third-rate technology and its inability to pinpoint!" He nearly smashed his fist into the tree in frustration, but stopped himself short. "No... I should not vent my anger on unsuspecting vegetation."

He leapt into the sky, then fell back to the ground, cursing.

"She was right," he said, standing. "I should have had a proper systems check before I embarked... but we were so pressed for time." A deep sigh. "I suppose I shall have to travel on foot until I can find someone to assist me in the repairs."

Then he set out, moving switfly over the forest floor. The fate of the planet hung in the balance, and he had no more time to admire its splendour.

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Sally closed and locked the door. "There. Now maybe we'll get to the bottom of this."

She sat down in a big leather easy chair and looked around. Rotor was sitting in a faded blue recliner, staring off into space, and Tails was on the couch drinking some juice. Sitting next to him was the strange robot whom had helped the Freedom Fighters out twice now. The one called Damien.

She regarded their mysterious friend. He was rather strong-looking, and fairly tall, around six feet; pretty tall when comparing to your average Mobian. His face was rather handsome, but odd-looking from the roboticization; especially the new eyes, which were glowing a greenish color. Without his helmet, his "hair," which was made up of tendrills (like Knuckles had when he was temporarily roboticized), hung loosely about his head, framing his face. His body was mostly black, accented by silver. She recalled having heard about some blue and violet bits here and there, but they must've been removed when Rotor and Uncle Chuck repaired him. She could see a strange insignia on his left pectorial that resembled an "R", but it had been partially scratched and polished away, and was barely visible now. His black cape with violet trimming hung on the coatrack.

Damien noticed her staring at him and smiled. "I suppose you would like to know something about me now."

The princess blushed, having been caught; after all, staring is impolite. "Yes, actually," she replied. "I think we all would."

The robot sighed and leaned back, looking at the ceiling. "You'd better prepare yourselves, for this is a long story- one you might not even believe.

"My full name is Damien Keating. I am a robot, yes, but I was not always. I once lead a fairly normal life, played with friends in elementary school, partied in high school, you know. I was a happy person, and really couldn't want much more.

"Then, when I was in my freshman year in Homotropolis U, I was drafted into the army."

Tails started, almost spilling his juice. "You lived in Mobotropolis?"

"No, Homotropolis... oh, that's right, I nearly forgot to tell you. I came from another dimension. In that dimension, we humans rule what was once your city. We renamed it in honor of our own species, in a grand and glorious display of hubris."

"Oh, I see," Tails said, looking at a stale chili dog. "But what happened to us, the Mobians?"

"Well, I'm getting to that. Anyway, I showed up for induction into the army. What I didn't realize was that the city's new mayor, Robotnik, had some pretty radical ideas about how to run the military. My induction consisted of being marched through a door... and roboticized."

"He's a filthy tyrant no matter what dimension he's in," Rotor commented.

"Truer words were never spoken," Damien said, shaking his head. "I hated him with every circuit in my new body, but what could I do? I was trapped in this-" he banged his fist on his chest "-with no way out, unable to control my own body. All I could do was despair, and hope someday I would get blown to atoms... so my nightmare would end." He stopped talking, staring down at the carpet.

"Go on," Sally prodded.

"Oh, yes," he said, coming out of his thoughts. "Well, suffice it to say I was forced to do many horrific deeds. Then, one day, I was posted to guard a parts factory for the mayor's newest project- a Super Stealth Bot."

"Ah yes," Rotor said, gritting his teeth, "everyone's favorite flying menace."

"Yes, but these were much more sophisticated, deadlier ones. A full-power blast from one of those could probably have taken out this building.

"Well, the Freedom Fighters got wind of it, and sent some troops to take it out. I got off lucky, because Sonic was in the lead, and as usual, he had his Powerang."

"Sonic?" Sally brightened at this. Then her brow furrowed. "What's a Powerang?"

"It's a boomerang, but it's made out of a very rare substance- a power ring. He amazingly has two spares, but he doesn't really need them, as he's never lost his original."

"Power rings aren't that rare," Tails put in.

"What? Of course they are. ...well, maybe not here, but I've only seen two or three in my dimension, besides the Powerangs and my power core. Anyway, on with the story.

"Sonic leapt out of the darkness, throwing his Powerang at us. He hit the other two guards with the first throw. It returned to him, as it is somehow tuned to his person, and always returns as long as it's airborne. Then he threw it at me, and by some blessed twist of fate, I caught it."

"Is that when..." Tails said, leaving it hanging.

"The 'Rang's golden energies surrounded me, then were gone just as quickly. This gave me a jolt, and I almost toppled over. I automatically tried to balance, and was astonished to find I was in control again! Sonic was a bit irked that I had taken his weapon, and was about to attack, but I held out his golden boomer and screamed, "Take it!" Well, to save time, let's just say I went home with the Freedom Fighters, friends. Of course, they didn't trust me completely at first, but they ran a few software checks, and they accepted me into their fold."

"What kind of weapon do I have there?" Tails asked. "I hope it's a gun. I've always thought I could do well with a pistol." He imitated firing a gun at a wastebasket in the corner.

"Actually, your weapon is the allmighty Tinker Toy," Damien said with a wry grin. "You're only about two years old in my dimension."

"Oh," Tails said, frowning. "Guess I wouldn't be blasting much if I can barely talk."

"Well, that explains your condition," Sally said, still deep in thought, "but how did you come to our dimension?"

"Actually, I was forced. I was locked in a duel to the death with one of Robotnik's newest sentries... the traitor. I had gained the upperhand, when she deviously ended it by using her powers to send me here."

"She?" Sally asked.

"Well, I believe you've met her."

Tails gasped. "You mean... Simone?"

Damien nodded. "She's the worst of his minions; evil enough to fight her own kind. Worse yet, she led the entire Black Blood Clan down the same path." Then he stood. "Well, it's late... or very early, however you choose to view it. I know I need to rest. Is there a place I can stay tonight?"

"Well," Sally said, a sad expression on her face, "you could stay here. It's... Sonic's hut."

Damien put a large metal hand on her shoulder. It felt strange, but gentle. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I'm sure he's fine, wherever that witch sent him." He removed his hand and turned to face everyone. "Rest well, for tomorrow we must storm Robotropolis. I'm sure your Robotnik has a dimensional gateway somewhere, and when we find it we can find your Sonic and bring him back." He looked longingly out the window. "And I can go home."

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the end


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That's the end of The Mech of Mystery. However, our story will be continued in SonicWorlds.