"Yo Robuttnick!" yells Sonic, holding the head of the madman's latest Swat Bot. Tossing the head aside, Sonic looks into the monitor. "I'm waiting," he says tapping his foot in annoyance.
Within the safety of the infrastructure, Robotnik stares into the monitor with disdain. Looking over at his shoulder, a chill runs down his spine as he gazes into the cobalt eyes of his new employer. Ever since the mysterious man had arrived on Mobius, Robotnik could tell he had motives other than ridding the planet of their resident spiky blue hero.
"Let's not keep our company waiting," Robotnik says to his new boss. Nodding, the mysterioius entity points his finger in the direction of the monitor. In the distance, the sound of metal footsteps reverberates throughout the fortress. The footsteps get louder, then quiet as they reach the foyer.
Sonic watches as the door slides open and reveals the dimly illuminated corridor. Entering, Sonic notices his footsteps echo lightly throughout the hallway. The door slowly closes behind him, cutting off the little source of light available to him. Suddenly, the familiar red glow of mechanical eyes appears in the distance. Before Sonic can blink, the red glow is inches from his face. Only one thing is that fast, but he's dead. Sensing danger, he back hand springs away, just avoiding a punch or kick. Before he can fully recover, something metal strikes him in the stomach, forcing the air from his lungs for a few seconds. Staggering backwards, Sonic concentrates and initiates a quick spin dash that catches his adversary off guard. The sound of metal scraping against metal sends a shiver through Sonic's nerves as he watches the sparks shoot from the ground. Sonic quickly executes a buzz saw attack and slices through the door. Backing away from the fortress, he allows his eyes to readjust to the afternoon sun. Hearing the sound of metal footsteps, Sonic prepares to see the face of his adversary. What he sees gives him more than a little shock.
"Hyper Metal Sonic!" he exclaims, jumping back a few inches. The new and improved Metal has a more life like quality to him and except for the red glowing eyes, could pass for Sonic. He bares his perfect porcelain teeth in a sinister smile. "So, you finally learned to smile. This should be fun." He strikes a fighting pose as Metal slides his left foot forward. The two speedsters suddenly blur from view. Several yards away, two blue blurs collide into one another, sending dust clouds spiraling around them. After the last of the three more collisions, Sonic is sent flying one way and Metal the other. Sonic catches himself and slides a few more feet until he places his hands down. Metal performs a similar act, except he claws at the soil. As the smoke from Sonic's shoes begins to dissipate. Metal folds his arms over his chest and chuckles.
"So Sonic, ready for another go?" He's much stronger than last time, Sonic thinks, wiping the trickle of blood from his lips. I need to know the full extent of his strength before I go Hyper. Without hesitation, he dashes towards his doppleganger. Moments before he throws a punch, he fades away, only to appear behind Metal. Burying his elbow into Metal's titanium alloyed back, he drop kicks him in the legs as he stumbles forward. Leaping high into the air, Sonic attempts to deliver a two footed stomp. At the last moment, Metal fades away. Sonic's impact dents the ground a few inches and displaces enough dust to form a small cloud. Before his knees can finish absorbing the shock, Metal is upon him, throwing rapid fire punches. Sonic uses his forearms to ward off the blows. The titanium fist send small shockwaves of pain through his arms and into his spine. Blurring away, Sonic avoids the next punch and interlocks his fists. Blurring away again, he slams his hands down as hard as he can. Metal crashes into the ground with enough force that he crashes several feet deep into the ground. Rebounding quickly, Metal launches himself into the air and shoulder rams Sonic in the stomach. Sonic slams his elbow down on the small area of Metal's head devoid of spikes. Sonic rolls onto his hands and knees and finally attempts to catch his breath. Don't know how much more of this I can take. Metal pushes himself back to a standing position and eyes Sonic, who rubs his bruised ribs.
"If that's all you've got, then you may as well surrender."
"Don't worry about me, I'm saving the best for last."
Tails hums a tune as he makes the final repairs to their little plane. The plane had seen much better days and with the upgrades Tails had received from the old man, it would be better than new. Sonya, Sonic's long-lost sister, sits a few feet away from him and watches the gentle waves splash against the shore. Sighing,, she walks over to him and sits down. After a few moments, she pokes the young fox in his belly.
Giggling, Tails slides from underneathe the plane. "What do you want Sonya?"
"I want you to stop working and take me shopping for Sonic's gift."
"I almost forgot about that," he responds, sitting up and placing the wrench back in his tool box. Standing up, he dusts off his fur and looks at her. "Shall we go, Miss Sonya?"
"But of course," she says smiling, allowing him to pick her up. Spinning his twin tails in a similar fashion as a helicopter, he lifts off and rockets away from the island.
A few minutes later, Tails and Sonya touch down just outside of GreenGlades Shopping Center. Before Tails can ask where Sonya wants to begin, a group of teenagers of all species mobs him for his autograph. Sonya tells him to tend to his fans and she will find Sonic a gift. Just as she turns to leave, a red blur flies past her. Following the blur, she discovers it is the body of Knuckles.
The red pigmented echidna strains his muscles to pull himself away from the wall he is now imbedded in. What could have done that to Knuckles, she wonders. Her answer comes in the form of another red blur shooting past her. Hovering in front of Knuckles is Knuckles. "What the hell?" she asks in confusion.
"Sonya! Get out of here. This guy is even stronger than Hyper Metal Sonic." As he says this, the pointed glove of his double scrapes across his jaw. Tails, seeing the blood fly from his friend's mouth, flies feet first into the doppleganger. The force of the two send them through the wall and into a clothing store.
Shaking the cobwebs from his head, Tails attempts to locate Metal Knuckles. Suddenly, he is sent sprawling into a clothing rack. Metal Knuckles snickers as he lifts the check out counter from the floor and hurls it in Tails direction. Tails flies out of the way, but is sent crashing down through the counter after Knuckles kicks him down. The real Knuckles glides in and delivers a punch that sends Metal Knuckles into the next store.
"We could use Sonic's help about now," Knuckles remarks, pulling the teen-age fox from the debris. "Where is he anyway?"
"I don't know, I'll try to contact him." He finds the proper channel on his mini-communicator and contacts Sonic.
Sonic and Metal lock hands and stare eye to eye. Metal's hands begin bitting into Sonic's flesh and Sonic back somersault kicks him away. Just then, his mini-com begins beeping.
"Not now Tails, I'm a little busy."
"But Sonic," he whines, then resumes a more serious tone "we got a situation with Metal Knuckles down here in GreenGlades."
"Shit," Sonic curses softly, quickly regretting hitting Metal with his knuckles. "I'll be there as soon as possible. Sonic out." Sonic begins running top speed, burning up the ground beneath him. Metal pursues him across miles of land and bodies of water, not knowing where his opponent is leading him and not caring in the least.
In less time than it took Tails, the two Sonics arrive in GreenGlades. Simultaneously, the clouds of dust concealing them disperse.
"Oh great," Knuckle comments, as he blocks a punch from Metal Knuckles. "I suppose today was twins' day. Why don't people ever tell me these things." He delivers a well placed hook kick to his double's ribs and sends him flying back a few feet. Dropping out of the sky, Knuckles begins to pant.
"Knuckles, Tails, get over here now!" Sonic yells. Engrossed in the aerial exchange between Metal Knuckles and Tails, Metal Sonic is caught off guard and knocked back several feet by a blue and red blur striking him in the legs and head. "It's time,." Sonic says, he and Knuckles somersaulting out of their spin dashes. Tails lands next to them and Metal Knuckles lands next to Metal Sonic. The two artificial animals watch as the trio form a triangle. "On my mark. Go!"
"Hyper Knuckles!" Knuckles yells.
"Hyper Tails!" the young fox exclaims.
"Super Hyper Sonic!" the blue hedgehog screams. A gold aura encases each of the three planetary defenders and the two doubles are intrigued as to what is happening. Suddenly, Metal Knuckles' sensors detect a huge increase in power. The sudden power fluctuation throws them off balance. The fur of all three warriors turns gold. Sonic's spikes extend furthur away from his body. Electricity crackles around the three of them.
"Let's do this!" Knuckle yells and all three disappear.
Before Metal Sonic's sensors can determine where Sonic is, a huge hole appears in his mid section. Clutching at it, he watches as Sonic suddenly appears before his eyes with a sinister smile on his face. Sonic disappears and suddenly his sensors pick up the familiar hum of a buzz saw. Before he can react, his body is cut in half. Metal Knuckles sees this and attempts to understand their sudden increase in power, strength and speed. His thoughts would go unanswered as the combined power of Tails and Knuckles kicking his head shatters it beyond repair. The gold aura's subside and the three return to their normal colors. Suddenly, Sonic clutches at his chest and falls down face first onto the sidewalk.
"Sonic!" yells all three of his companions. Sonya examines her brother and finds a weak pulse.
"We have to get him to a hospital now!" Sonya orders. Without hesitation, Tails cradles his fallen mentor's body in his arms and flies quicker than he ever has. In moments, doctors are attending to Sonic as Sonya and Knuckles arrive. Sonya begins signing paper work and Knuckles joins them in the E.R.
"His condition is stable for the time being, but it will only worsen with time." The amphibious Dr. Toad double checks his charts. "Some sort of parasite is feeding off him. It's been dormant for some time. Perhaps days, even months. When he increased his powers, the parasite began feeding on him. It's only a matter of time before it devours him. Look at this." He points to the white blotches on the bio scanner's monitor. "Surgery is out of the question because the parasite has imbedded itself in his heart. I'm not completely sure, but I believe these white splotches are spawns of the parasite. We would also have to replace all of his internal organs and we can't do that."
Knuckles leans against the door frame and watches as his one time enemy and current best friend slowly dies before him. Tails walks over to the bed and leans over the most important person in his life. His mentor, surrogate father, brother, and more importantly, best friend. Holding his hand, he can feel how cold his body is growing.
"Damn it!" Knuckles yells, punching a hole through the wall. "I refuse to watch him die like this. Is there anything we can do?" He watches as the short plump toad runs his finger along the spines of several books. Retrieving a particularly thick book, he walks back over to them.
"There may be a way," the doctor interjects, placing the large book on the bedside table. Flipping through the pages he finds what he is looking for. "The power from this star can safely destroy the parasite, but the problem is finding one."
"Hold up," Tails says, looking closely at the star. "I've seen that before. In the Nintendo Galaxy, one of the planets grows these things and uses them for quick bursts of invincibility."
"The Nintendo system, eh." Knuckles scratches his head. "I haven't been there in about ten years, ever since that little Sony fiasco. So doc, if we get this star, we can save Sonic?"
"Yes, but..."
"That's all we need to know. Come on Tails, we're going to see the old man." Tails nods and follows the crimson fighter.
As they enter the waiting room, Knuckles tells Sonya to stay with Sonic and they would be back in no more than three days.
"Good luck," she tells them as the two of them fly off into the distance. "Please come back safely."
END OF EPISODE ONE
PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE
A mysterious fighter trains his body to the breaking point to aid against the evil behind Sonic's downfall. Meanwhile, Samus takes up the fight once more to understand why she is concerned about Sonic.