Chapter IX:
An Army of Darkness
Team Sonic rushed into yet another arena. It had been tough going. Getting into a robot, ghost, and trap infested castle was a challenge all its own, but, to Sonic's delight, the "party" wasn't over yet. As a matter of fact, the host presented himself to his guests as if on cue.
"Trying to stop us now?" Sonic irreverently sneered, "What a joke!"
Eggman exploded. He pounded his fists with all his might on the sides of the Egg Mobile. "What did you say! Now I'm really mad!"
Bull's eye! Eggman was so easy. Through those little jibes, precisely aimed blows to Eggman's ego, Sonic could always draw strength when his good humor was fading from combat fatigue. With that little recharge, Sonic could weather whatever Eggman had to throw at him. The retaliation wasn't long in coming.
"Get them!"
It was as simple as that. Eggman merely had to make that direct, domineering, order and whole hordes were prepared to do battle, without regards.
An excellent performance. Better than some of your earlier ones.
Can you believe that?
What?
He's never done that before. He's always talked smartly, belligerently, and even brazenly. But, he's never insulted my abilities.
Why so inflamed? He wasn't really talking to you. You must remember who he thinks you are.
That may be. But, still, he's degrading my attacks, my strategies.
Well, then you could be doing badly. If he's never used such surly language against you before, then he certainly must respect you. And while we're on the matter he must truly revere the doctor as his greatest foe.
…
A chord was struck.
Somewhere amongst the CPU, RAM, and hard-drive… a chord was struck.
Recordings, created some time ago, began replaying in a remote part of Metal's programming. Scenes of Sonic and Metal clashing, head on, in some of the world's most removed and exotic places; scenes of Sonic making faces at Eggman; Sonic and Metal engaged in robotic/organic combat to see which "organism" could demonstrate the greatest reason for the right to continued existence; Sonic laughing his fool head off at Eggman's blundering; Sonic and Metal; Sonic and Eggman; Metal and Sonic; Eggman and Sonic…
The pictures flew at an inhuman pace.
…no.
Pardon?
Sonic has always ridiculed the doctor.
Really?
Yes. He's always made the doctor the object of continual harassment. As for me…
As for you…?
Whenever we've met, it was always a quick, decisive battle. There was never any of the quibbling as he just displayed.
Why is that?
I always came to the conclusion that it was a result of Sonic's fear. That he could never relax himself enough to sling comedic barbs at me.
Fear is often mistaken for respect.
Elaborate.
If Sonic fears, or respects, you. Then he must deem you a more worthy opponent. You have always attempted to match Sonic for speed and power, not the doctor. The doctor always used unwieldy power to crush Sonic, and failed miserably at all times. Not only that, he's never risked fighting himself.
A few days ago, E-666's logic would have sharply contrasted with Metal's. But, something was happening. Metal paused to actually watch the incredible struggle below. Team Sonic was matching the waves of egg pawns move for move. The fiercely obedient machines were flinging themselves, without second thought, at these seemingly unconquerable warriors. As for Metal, in the guise of Eggman, he was sitting, comfortably, above the fray in the Egg Mobile. As far back into his archives as Metal could scan, this was the familiar post of Eggman. Each time Eggman was relaxed in his vehicle, Metal was always, coincidentally, locked in a head on clash with Sonic.
Now that we're on the matter: What purpose does the doctor actually serve?
…None.
It was similar to a bullet to the head. Just like a diamond-tipped bullet right between the eyes, if you will. Deliberate consideration, deliberation, had carefully extracted a sincere truth: "the Master" was useless. He was without a doubt entirely, completely, utterly… useless.
The only thing that mattered to Metal, at all, was the elimination of Sonic the Hedgehog. But, to what ultimate goal of Eggman's, or at least to what extent, did this intertwine it into?
Was it to simply establish of the "Eggman Empire"? Logically, yes. If Sonic, the doctor's greatest foe was destroyed and that was the result, then the empire was not merely the doctor's goal, but Metal's as well.
Could such a mechanized state withstand the test of time?
Logically? Shortly.
If the doctor was impotent enough to fail against one, paltry, threat, then how could he resist three, or six, or nine… let alone twelve? As Metal had already experienced, the simple act of meddling in other people's affairs is enough to cause reaction, to cause rebellion. How else could the appearance of Teams Sonic, Dark, and Rose be explained? Not only them, but people who would accidentally, or intentionally, come meddling in his affairs, like the Chaotix had been actively demonstrating?
No, the doctor was useless.
The only great accomplishments were the foundation of the Eggman Empire, an orderly world where all society and nature are controlled with mechanical precision, and the creation of Metal Sonic, the perfect warrior to champion its might. He was equal to Sonic, and quickly surpassing him with every second of molecular reorganization. Only Shadow could rival that power, and even he was glaringly inferior. For Shadow, immortality only lay within surviving battle. Metal had already been in death's embrace, time after time, and still walked the land with all his memories and powers intact. As always, organics were no match for robotics.
Professor Gerald: A fool.
Doctor Eggman: Little better, but infinitely more successful.
A decision was prudently made, with plenty of logic to reinforce it.
Sonic, Tails and Knuckles fought exceptionally well. Artfully, they shuffled between speed, flight, and power formations, dealing destructive blows in all directions.
At times, their spirits would begin to fade, Tails's foremost. He would challenge himself to new heights through an optimistic defiance, but it was Sonic's upbeat attitude and Knuckles sheer-will power that pushed the heroic triumvirate from attack to attack. They all needed each other, and understood it well.
Egg pawn after egg pawn fell to their lightning quick attacks. The fanatical machines refused to let up, however. Like all Eggman robots, there was a defunct quality in them that prevented a retreat in the face of irresistible veterans. Thus the fierce pounding continued.
Blue tornadoes whirled shields into the air, thunderous shots from on high crippled airborne assailants, and powerful punches shredded naked hulls to slivers.
Then…
It was over.
As suddenly and fiercely as it began, just as suddenly and quietly, it ended. Realizing that victory was accomplished, the adrenal glands shut off their precious fluid for "fight or flight."
High fives and congratulations were in order, not to mention taunts to ruined opponents on the ground.
Without warning, however, Eggman leered at the victors.
Raising an accusative finger, he explained the quick success, "Don't get too excited boys! Those were the easy ones!"
That said, the Egg Mobile revved its hover-jets and flew away, disappearing into the murky night sky.
Smiles, natural ones, not the manufactured ones that lay on the ground, broken, trailed after the doctor. Behind the facades, however, the well remembered, threatening, letter and this recent challenge worried Team Sonic.
Just what was ahead? To whom, or what, was the doctor referring?
Continued…