Chapter 5

Disclaimer: Same story as before.

While I was being repaired, images kept floating across my subconscious mind. Dreams, as referred to by some people, but there was an undeniable truth to them. I guess a better way to put it was that I had visions. Most of them, surprisingly to me, were of Sonic. I saw how he had been fighting Robotnik most of his life; how Knuckles had been tricked by Robotnik into thinking Sonic was an enemy, and how they straightened things out; I even saw the time when Robotnik had taken over Mobotropolis, and his reign of terror began. A terrible anger and sadness filled me, even in stasis. The final vision I had seemed so real, I could have sworn it was taking place as I had it. The Freedom Fighters were preparing for a raid in Robotropolis. Sonic was begging to go along with them, but Sally said he couldn't because his arm was still not healed. Sonic retorted that he could go as back up, and wait at the rendezvous point. Sally finally gave in, but she made him promise to stay out of the city. Sonic agreed, and they set off at once. When they reached the outskirts of the city, Sally turned to Sonic, and told him to wait there for them to return. Sonic agreed, but he had other ideas on his mind. He watched them disappear into the bowels of the city, and then he tore of into the city in a different direction. He was going to go in and get some computer parts, and get back to the rendezvous point before his teammates did, so they would never know he was gone. Sonic snuck into the main building, and began to look for equipment that he could carry back with his one good arm. He walked over to a computer, and began to yank parts out of it. He got so engaged into his job, he did not see the approaching SWAT-bot until it was too late. The SWAT-bot brought its heavy arm down onto the top of his head, and he hit the floor with a sickening thud, out cold. The 'bot tied him up, and took him to Robotnik. Robotnik seemed overjoyed that Sonic had been captured. Robotnik told the SWAT-bot to put Sonic in the roboticizer. I came out of stasis, for my repairs had been finished. Man, what a mondo weird dream that was, I thought. I moved my arm. It still hurt a bit, but other than that it was fine. No sooner had I walked out of the capsule, than my communicator beeped. I flipped up my arm, so I could peer at the tiny screen located there. "Yes?" I said. "Mecha Sonic! This is Robotnik." He sounded way too cheerful. "Come my main chamber, immediately!" "I'm on my way," I said to him. I clicked off my communicator, and I put my arm down. This is too perfect, I thought. This will be the best chance to strike back at Robotnik. I exited the room, and took off toward down the corridor, turning at the next junction. When I took the next left, my internal guiding systems indicated that the main chamber was dead ahead. I ran the last few meters separating me from the doors. I plowed into the room, screeching to a halt in the entryway. "I'm here, Robotnik," I said. He turned to me. "Good," he said. " I have finally captured my foe, Sonic the Hedgehog! And I owe it all to you, Mecha. If you hadn't injured him in battle, he could have escaped." What? "How did you capture him?" I asked, even though I had a feeling I knew what his answer would be. He grinned. "He was found trying to steal parts from one of the computers. One of my SWAT-bots came across him, knocked him out, and brought him to me. Now, he shall be roboticized, and join us! Together, you and he will destroy the other Freedom Fighters, and take over the entire planet!" HA ha ha ha!" he cackled. I could not believe what I had just heard. Then, that dream.was real? I thought. But, then, if it is, then if Sonic is roboticized, he will lose his free will and will obey Robotniks' every command. He would go and destroy everything that he holds dear, and cause even more suffering among the people of this area. I can't let that happen. Hasn't there been enough suffering among them already? "Where is his roboicization occurring?" I demanded. Then, afraid I might blow my cover, I added, "I want to watch him join us!" Saying these words made me feel ill. Robotnik smiled at me. "Over there," he pointed. I gazed in that direction, and I saw a tall machine that took up quite a bit of space on the floor. Inside, Sonic lay bound on the ground, and appeared t be just regaining consciousness. I felt his mind begin to race, as he realized where he was. I felt his anger, his hatred, his despair. But most of all, what gripped my attention was his sadness. Such awful sadness, that resonated deep inside his heart, as he knew what was about to happen. Sonic, I thought. He snapped his head up, looking for the source of the voice in his head. Stop looking around! Robotnik will think that something is up. He settled down, and glared at Robotnik. Who are you? I heard him think. It's me, Mecha, I thought back. Listen, I'm sorry about what happened between you and me. I had no idea that Robotnik was so evil. He tricked me into thinking that you were the evil one, not him. I've turned on him, but he doesn't know that yet. I'm going to get you out of there, and then what do you say we trash this joint? I felt him ponder his answer. How can I trust you? How do I know you won't turn on me? Believe me, I won't. Especially since you and I are, so to speak, alike. All right, I trust you. I felt relived. Well, let's make this look convincing, I thought. Sonic glared at Robotnik. "You won't get away with this, Butt-nik!!" he cried out. Robotnik just stood there and laughed. "Ohh, hedgehog, I just did!" he said. "Activate the roboticizer!" The machine began to glow a radioactive green. I saw Sonic struggling to break the bonds that held him captive, but with his arm not fully healed, he could not. Suddenly, Sonic cried out in pain as the roboicization began, and I was over whelmed by it, too. I felt like red-hot needles were piercing every inch of my body. "NOOOOOO!" I ran forward, curled into a spiny blade, and shattered the roboticizer, causing it to explode. Smoke filled the room, and gave me cover to search for Sonic in the debris from the machine. I removed several pieces of broken metal from the floor when I saw a piece twitch slightly. I went over and picked it up, and I let out a startled cry. I had been too late! Sonic was mostly roboticized, only parts of his spines were not encased in metal. I bent down, and ran a schematics scan on him. He seemed to be okay, but he was out like a light. I picked him up gently, easily handling his new body weight. The smoke was parting, exposing us to everyone else in the room. Robotnik spotted us, and was beside himself. "What have you done?!" he shrieked. I glared at him coldly, my anger blazing for what he had accomplished. "You." I growled at him. "You are an evil man.causing turmoil and destruction in your wake. Well, I will no longer help you to spread your tyranny and fear among the peaceful inhabitants of this planet. From this day forth, I am your enemy, and I will make you pay for your crimes." Robotnik was outraged. "Argh!" he cried. "I thought this would happen! Sonic's DNA gave you your abilities and appearance, but it also somehow gave you a free will, tied in with his emotions and morals. You are pathetic! You will rue this day that you defied me! SWAT-bots! Attack him on my mark!" Instantly, hundreds of SWAT-bots filled the room. This was looking bad. "Unnhh." I gazed down at Sonic. He appeared to be rejoining reality, and his eyes fluttered open. "What happened?" I stared into his now-crimson eyes. "You were knocked out when I shattered the roboticizer," I told him. "I found you in the debris, and you were, well." I faltered, and I tore my gaze from Sonics' eyes. I couldn't bring myself to say that I had failed to save him from being roboticized. He noticed that I was unable to continue. He looked down at himself, and immediately knew why. "I was roboticized," he finished. I nodded, still not looking him in the eye. "Yeah. I tried to stop it, but I was too late. When I found you, I didn't know if you were still yourself, or if you had a new allegiance to Robotnik, or you were even still alive." I paused, for at that moment, Robotnik ordered his SWAT-bots to open fire.