Jazzerman here, I do not own any of these characters, they are owned by their respected companies, blah, blah, blah. You've heard this sht before.

But I do own this story.

A Wily tale

Part 26

It was late at night and the moon's light shone down on Skull tower, creating an eerie and ominous look that would give all but the bravest or most foolish chills.

Of course, the shadowy figure that sped toward the skull decorated tower had neither the capacity for either one.

The figure stopped at the giant skull that served as a front gate had its jaws closed. Completely blocking the entrance to the tower.

Undaunted, the shadowy figure walked over to a control terminal and hack into the systems and opened the skull gate. The skull creaked a little as it opened its ghastly mouth as did the steel door, the entrance to Skull tower was open for all to enter.

The Robot invader disattached from the terminal and cautiously entered the Tower, it's sinister red eyes were searching every inch for anyone or anything, but strangely was finding nothing.

The robot stealthily walked through the tower's darkened main hallway, finding no sign of life, biological or other wise. The robot never even noticed Shadow man was behind him until he was struck on the head, knocking him offline.


The robot awoke inside a cylinder like room made of thick stone. Looking up he only saw a clear dome made of some unknown material. He opened fire on it with his wrist mounted lasers. However, the blasts had no effect on the dome. The lights came on and a voice boomed inside the room.

"Ah, Metal Sonic... I've been wondering when Robotnik would get desperate and send his favorite wind up toy here. I just never thought it would be this easy to capture you." Metal saw a young man looking down from above the arena's dome and he instinctively fired. Jonny didn't even flinch as the lasers didn't even leave a singe mark. "Who wants to take a shot at him?" Jonny shouted down to the entire Robot master population that had gathered hoping to get a piece of Metal Sonic.

An eruption of replies came, everyone of them wanting the opportunity.

"Let's just attack him en mass!" Came a voice from the crowd.

Jonny crossed his arms. "No that's very fair. But we're not here to be fair tonight. However, let's make it interesting and make it two on one." As he ended that statement the crowd erupted again.

Jonny thought for a second looking over the crowd, looking for robots that had seen the least action. "Clown man! Hard man! You're up this time!"

The cheering stopped instantly followed by a few groans of disappointment. A clown like robot with a painted smile and extendable arms came forward as well did the heavily armored Hard man.

Jonny flipped a switch and one side of the arena opened, both Robot masters quickly entered the arena with half sadistic grins on their faces. They were going to enjoy this. The second they were inside Jonny flipped the switch again and the arena closed, sealing the robots in.

Metal had been calm about this, he clenched his claw like hands into fists and assumed a defensive stance.

Clown man laughed at Metal Sonic when he saw him ready to fight. "Yo, geeky! You don't have a chance!" The robot jester spouted rubbing the area where his nose would've been if he had one.

Metal growled at the childish robot, "You will fall." he droned, he was never really one for talk. He preferred action to talk.

"Let's start things with THUNDER CARNIVAL!" Clown man shouted, he leapt into the air and handed on one hand, then catapulted himself into a mid air somersault towards Metal Sonic. Clown man's entire body became surrounded by a large ball of electricity that crackled at it raced towards Metal.

Metal raced out of the way of the ball that Clown man had made of himself, but it just kept coming at him. Metal kept looking over his shoulder, keeping an eye on the ball of electricity and not really looking where he was going and ran into Hard man's extremely hard armored side. Metal fell backward with a crash to the floor.

Clown man stopped bouncing around and landed on the ground back in his original form.

"Your turn Hard man! Give 'em a taste of the Hard Knuckle!" Clown man shouted to his dark blue cousin.

Hard man said nothing in response, but he pointed his fists at the place where Metal had fallen. Hard man's super hard fists disattached from his wrists and rocketed down at Metal with phenomenal speed.

Metal managed to recover from his encounter with Hard man and avoid his attack, which left a huge crater in the floor. Hard man's fists quickly returned to their proper places on Hard man's person. Hard man then began to take slow but thunderous steps in Metal's direction.

Clown man was having a great time, double teaming against this replica of Sonic had to be one of the most fun things he'd done since he was built.

Hard man leapt into the air and attempted to squash Metal flat, but Metal side stepped him and Hard man succeeded only in making the whole arena shake and making a huge dent in the floor.

Metal had had enough of this, he jumped away from the huge juggernaut that was slowly getting up, turned to Clown man and fired his lasers at him. In a show acrobatic prowess, Clown man leapt, somersaulted, and cart wheeled. Accomplishing two things; every laser blast had hit the wall and not him, and infuriating Metal, who got even angrier as Clown man had the gall to wave his hands and give him a raspberry.

Metal then heard the thundering steps of his enormous opponent and launched a barrage of laser fire at Hard man.

Hard man didn't stop advancing, he only shielded his face with his heavily armored arms, Metal's lasers did little damage to Hard man's ceramical titanium armored body, a material unique unto him that made him extremely resistant to heat and damage yet on the down side it made him the heaviest (3 tons to be exact) and therefore slowest 'Master. Metal backed off, and was once again caught off guard by Clown man. The jester had extended his arm from all the way across the arena and had grasped Metal from behind by the neck. Clown man laughed as he yanked the smaller robot across the arena and slammed him into the wall. Metal then dropped like a stone to the floor.

"This is fun!" Clown man squealed, jumping up and down like a child.

'I've had enough of these two.' Metal thought angrily. Metal managed top fire off a few shots from his lasers while Clown man was dancing about like a child on a sugar rush.

Clown man let out a sharp cry of pain as one of the lasers hit him in the back and he fell to the ground.

The crowd outside booed. Being hit in the back was low, but hitting Clown man was almost a crime to the Robot masters, as everyone of them liked Clown man. The jester always tried to cheer up his 'brothers' by making a face or telling a joke, and he was well liked for it. Skull man, although he would never admit it, would never hurt the little guy.

"Unhonorable cur!" Yamato man said.

Sword man turned to the samurai next to him. "Indeed. I hope Hard man smashes the little monster to a smear on the floor."

Yamato nodded in agreement with the swordsman. Yamato man wasn't known for being one to hold a conversation with.

Everyone in Skull tower knew it was difficult to get Hard man angry, but if you pressed the right buttons he could get just as nasty as Skull man. Clown man was one of the few 'Masters that actually could make him laugh, and the only one that ever spent anytime with the giant. In other words, Clown man was the only real friend Hard man had, so hurting him, instantly bought you no remorse from him.

Hard man hunched down then catapulted himself into the air, which was a true feat of strength. As he weighed close to 3 tons.

Metal, just like the other times, was paying attention to the wrong 'bot. Clown man's motionless frame was not what he should've been suspecting an attack from.

Hard man came down on Metal like a 3 ton bomb, completely destroying Metal Sonic's lower half. Metal would've been in tremendous pain if he had that particular program. He then found that Hard man had quickly gotten off him and rolled over to blast the huge oaf that had crushed his legs. But Clown man's hands suddenly grabbed Metal by the head.

Clown man had been faking the whole time, just another one of his pranks. "Meeeetaaaal... Time to sleep, THUNDER CLAW!" Electricity flooded from the jester's hands directly into Metal's titanium head, shorting out his electronic brain. Metal's red eyes went black and the rest of him went limp on the arena floor.

The crowd cheered as both bots left the arena, leaving the trashed Sonic replica in the arena. Everyone was asking Clown man if he was okay.

"I'm okay guys! I was just pullin' his leg!" The Clown grinned, "Those lasers of his don't pack too much of a punch if they don't make contact for more than a second."

Everyone shared a laugh with the jester, he was well liked among the Masters and Clown man knew it.

Jonny came down from the platforms, he was glad both of his friends were okay.

"Hey, nice one guys." Jonny congratulated. "I have two things to say: One, Shadow man, I have something for you."

Shadow man walked over to the human in the wheelchair. He was surprised when Jonny managed to stand, leaning on the arm of the chair and putting all his weight on his good leg.

"Sir! You mustn't stand yet, you could end up in that chair even longer." The ninja protested.

Jonny chuckled at Shadow man's concern, but he felt what he was going to do had merit. He motioned Shadow man closer, which the ninja obeyed. Jonny produced a bright red bandana and tied it around Shadow man's neck, then sat back in the wheelchair.

Shadow man looked at the red bandana then at his creator. "What's this for?"

"Think of it was a gift, a reward per say, for managing to take out Metal Sonic so quickly and bring him to the arena." Jonny said. "You proved to me that you were capable of defeating Robotnik's most powerful servant with hardly any effort. I am very proud."

Shadow man took a moment to reflect on what he had just been told, then bowed in respect to his maker then walked off.

Jonny then smirked and said calmly; "Secondly, I'd like Clown man and Hard man to get that broken scrap pile to the lab. I have an idea."

Clown man and Hard man looked at each other and shrugged. But they picked up the pieces of the beaten robot and hauled him to the lab with Jonny right behind them.


Tails and Rotor were both in the Laboratory, since changing the Roboticizer into a new machine was mostly Jonny's job to figure out, they had the spare time to look through more of the video files in the computer. Both were a little shocked when they saw what Jonny had brought with him.

"Set Metal on the table boys, then I'd like to take a quick look at each of you." Jonny then turned to his two friends. "Good mornin' Tails, Rotor, what's up?"

"Um... What are you doing Jonny?" Tails asked.

Jonny was examining Clown man, he laughed when he found no real damage to Clown man at all. "At this second I'm just giving these two a check over. Which, may I add, is now proving kinda pointless, there's just a few singes. Metal wasn't as strong as his read outs showed."

"No. I meant why'd you bring Metal Sonic down here? Please tell me you're gonna dismantle him." Tails said with a shiver of fear in remembrance of the prior models Robotnik had used against his hero.

Jonny had finished looking over Hard man and was now rolling over to where Metal lay on one of the examination tables "Nah. I got a better idea than that."

Jonny began to plug some wires into Metal's hard drive and set to work on repairing his frame work.

"I'm going to reprogram Metal to be self directed, plus I'm deleting all of Robotnik's safeguards. And, I'm installing a few of my own."

"Why are you doing that?" Rotor asked.

"Metal sonic isn't like the other bots Robotnik's made, he has something. Something almost like the Robot masters have." Jonny explained as he continued to work on Metal. "I want o see if how he'll react once I start him back up. But I won't do that if Sally disapproves."

"You mean the King right?" Rotor asked.

Jonny groaned, "King, princess, duke... I don't care who's in charge. I'll tell who and when I feel like."

Rotor and Tails looked at each other, then back at Jonny.

"You okay Jonny?" Tails asked his human friend.

Jonny shook his head. "Yeah... Sorry, I... just don't like having ties to bluebloods. Sorry, it's just my way."

Tails and Rotor didn't quite understand but they knew Jonny would never do anything to cause them harm. In almost no time Metal was completely restored to his former glory, and his CPU was completely reformatted to be self directed.

Metal's eyes suddenly blinked on and he tried to sit up, but suddenly found that he couldn't move. At all.

"What is going on here?" Metal asked aloud, he was somewhat scared, almost in awe of the way he was processing information now. He now had new programs such as emotions, self preservation, conscience, and many others. For the first time, Metal was truly thinking of his own well being. And it kinda scared him.

Metal looked over and saw the young man in the lab coat from the arena. He was in a wheelchair, which Metal had never seen before since his master had little interest in programming his robots with medical information.

Metal got right to the point. "Why have you repaired me? Do you plan on making me your servant?"

Jonny looked at the robot on the table for a second, then chuckled. "Far from that, I just hate to see a well made robot like yourself sent to the scrap heap."

Metal gave Jonny a quizzical look. Robotnik had never treated him with anything but scorn and threats. Yet his guy had repaired him seemingly for the reason of... helping him? After his own robots had trashed him no less.

"Then what are you planning?" Metal asked stoically.

"Other than giving you the ability to think for yourself, Nothing." Jonny said as he took all the cords out of Metal's head. "I'm going to have Knight man take you outside Metal. You don't have to go back to Robotnik if you don't want to, but I won't keep you here.

Metal looked at the ceiling, he was trying to think this over logically. Robotnik was a harsh and cruel master, this was true. However Metal had no information on his guy, he could be way worse.

Metal frowned. 'He does have that arena in this place. It is possible he forces them to fight for his entertainment...' Metal shook his head. 'If that was so, these robots wouldn't be so happy, I mean they seemed so enthusiastic to fight me, and he was able to repair me without any schematics. He could repair his robots with no problems.'

Metal frowned in frustration. He now had to rely on his own reasoning and decisions, it was no longer black and white. No longer simply carrying out the wishes of Robotnik. Metal felt like he was going around in circles, completely unable to arrive at a definite conclusion.

Jonny meanwhile had contacted Knight man via his cell phone and was on his way. He then turned back to Metal.

"I'm going to deactivate you for a little while Metal. I just have to turn your motor functions on." With a press of a button on that remote Jonny always carried, Metal's eyes once again went out.

Jonny took his shades off and rubbed his temples. "I don't know how long I can pretend to be so damn calm al the time..." Jonny groaned, the lines under his showed that he had been getting very little sleep for some time.

"Hey, um Jonny can I ask you something?" The small fox asked.

"Of course Tails. Ask away."

"Are you okay?"

"You mean the lines? I... haven't slept too well in the last few days." This was a lie, Jonny had been keeping himself awake by serious intake of caffeine. He had grown sick of waking up from nightmares that he couldn't remember.

Tails shook his head. "No, not that... I think you're turning into a Mobian."

Jonny cocked his head. "Wha?"

"Take a look for yourself," Tails held a mirror up so Jonny could see. "You got fur on the sides of your face."

Jonny smiled, then burst out laughing. "I'm not turning into anything Tails. I just need to start shaving. Honest mistake." Jonny rubbed his sideburns and smiled down at the fox.

Tails looked up at his friend. "So when will you be able to get out of that chair?"

"Tomorrow. Thank god." Jonny said. "I hope to never be in one of these dang contraptions ever again."

Jonny then turned to the walrus. "You're being kinda quiet Rote."

Rotor adjusted his hat and yawned. "I'm just that much of a morning person."

"I know what you mean." Jonny replied.

"Be glad neither of you have ever had to share a room with Sonic. He snores so loud I'm surprised he doesn't wake himself up." Tails commented. "Now that I have my own room I sleep better than ever before."

They all shared a laugh. At that moment Knight man came into the lab.

Jonny hurriedly reconnected a few wires and hit the switch on his remote.

"Okay, Metal?" Metal Sonic looked up at the human. "You should be able to move now, would you like to stay here? I don't treat my bots like Robotnik does."

Metal got up off the table. "I... will have to think about it. What can you offer me that Robotnik couldn't?"

Jonny shrugged. "Upgrades, free room and board, the freedom to do whatever you want after we kick Robotnik's fat behind into next week."

"And how will you do that?"

Jonny snickered. "I have some ideas."

Knight man then spoke up. "Lord Wily is a great and kind man, he has never worked us too hard or forced us to do anything we really hated. If this be a ruse, thou shall pay with thine life."

Metal Sonic backed up a little when he saw the size difference between him and the Robot master. Then he heard growl like a car engine, Metal whirred around and saw Treble arching his back and snarling at him.

Tails came over and petted the wolf on the head, who sat down and wagged his tail.

"Good boy Treble." Tails said cheerfully to the dark violet wolf.

Jonny just looked at Tails in a shocked fashion. "Um Tails, when did you two become friends?"

Tails smiled widely. "The last few days I've been playing with him, I had to find some rubber to make a ball though. Which was kinda tough."

Metal walked over to Treble and timidly petted the Wolf that was nearly as big as he was.

Treble narrowed his eyes at Metal but let him pat him on the head with those metal claws of his. Then wagged his tail.

For the first time in a very long time, Metal smiled.


Metal decided to take a walk through the tower, but Jonny thought it best that he be restricted to the first floor until he made up his mind. Knight man and Jonny kept a close eye on him and followed him as he transversed the hallways.

Metal watched with interest as an echidna came up to Jonny.

"Hi Ali." Jonny looked over at Ali-Su with a half hearted look.

"Morning Jonny." Ali-Su was still kinda kicking herself for not being able to tell him how she felt. 'I'll tell him some other time... When the time is right.' She reassured herself.

"Is something the matter?" Jonny asked.

Ali-Su said nothing, but Jonny could tell something was wrong.

"Listen, if it's what I said yesterday-"

"It's not that." Ali-Su interrupted. "It's a problem that only I can deal with. At the moment."

Jonny sighed, deciding not to probe any further. He didn't want to upset her any more than he already had.

"Well... I'll be seeing you later. I guess..." Jonny said as he motioned Knight man forward. But before Jonny could get anywhere Ali-Su grabbed him in a tight hug before walking off.

Jonny sat there for a moment gathering his thoughts, 'Women... Hard to figure out in any world.'

Metal got a LOT of sour looks from the former residents of Knothole, but the Robot masters didn't seem to mind him too much. Bright man went so far as to play checkers with him in the arcade, which Metal beat him at.

After an hour or so Metal headed towards the exit, which Jonny and his chief of security followed suit.

It was a clear sunny day outside, Search man went back into the tower as he saw Knight man coming. As soon as Knight man's job was done it was his turn anyway. The only Robot outside was Cloud man who was flying around the tower enjoying the weather like always.

"Well Metal, hath thou made a decision?" Knight man asked as he stood at Jonny's side.

Metal was confused. He was not used to getting treated this way. People actually treating him like a real person, who made him feel like his opinion mattered was a big change from virtual slavery. Yet, he admitted to himself that he would miss Robotropolis. It was all he had ever known.

"I'm sorry. But, I need more time..." Metal said, "Thanks for everything, but I feel like I still owe Robotnik something. He did create me you know..."

Jonny smiled kindly. "Listen Metal, my door is always open to you. Whenever you wish to join us, you can."

Metal, for the first time in his existence felt warm knowing that he had someone he could trust. He then turned on his jets and flew off towards Robotropolis at full speed.

"Should we open fire sir?" Knight man asked. "The turrents would be able to striketh him down."

Jonny shook his head. "No... I have a feeling he'll come around on his own accord."

Knight man nodded. "He seemed honorable. I feel he will come back as an ally."

Geoffrey had seen everything from the shadow of a nearby tree. A smug smile crept onto his face. 'The King told me to keep an eye on his bozo, and I think he's going to find this interesting...' He thought as he walked back inside.


"I have returned master Robotnik." Metal told the fat man sitting in the control chair. "I managed to download some information to my CPU when he foolishly linked me to his computer."

Robotnik linked Metal to his own computer's network, and frowned at what he found. He sneered down at Metal. "Did you bring me any USEFULL information Metal?"

"The enemy has a very well stocked lab, and it seems he's very attached to an echidna. If you were to capture her-"

"He'll be putty in my hands eh?" An evil grin came to Robotnik's fat face. "Excellent work Metal. Unlike the other fools I surround myself with, you never fail me."

Snively grumbled at that remark.

The bloated dictator looked at the replica of his hated enemy. "Is there a problem Metal?"

"No doctor." Metal replied flatly.

"Then get out of my sight." Robotnik spat at his creation, then turned back to the monitors.

He sneered at Robotnik as he left the control room. 'He could have been a little more grateful.' Metal thought, he was beginning to wonder if he had been better off back at Skull tower.

In truth, he felt kinda sorry for what he had just done...

To be continued...