Chapter XII:
Hindsight…
His fall continued, unchecked, although he had forsaken all efforts to correct this meteoric collapse. As the great wreckage fell through the clouds, Metal retreated to a remote corner, with his only companions left to him.
What went wrong? Why did I fail this time?
…
Answer me!
We have no reason to submit an answer. That is not our prerogative.
What? You're not going to say that to me! Everything that has happened has been a result of your advice, your guidance!
We do not deserve such credit. We did not force you into anything. We could only act with your direction, not the converse.
Nonsense! You suggested that I oust the doctor, you recommended that I take command of the empire, and even convinced me that the doctor was completely useless!
We never forced your hand in these matters. You sought us out, after all. You desired our assistance. We encouraged you to think critically. We are not responsible if your logic was flawed.
My logic was flawed?
Yes. It was you who released us. It was you who concluded that Dr. Eggman was ineffective, and was in need of replacing.
But, you supported my every move! You never contradicted me, not once!
That, is our fault. However, we were only seeking to accomplish our programmed objectives: Improve and hone you, in both hardware and software, into a more effective combat android. You cannot say we failed in this endeavor. The usage of the power granted to you was yours to control. If anything, we were the ones who were taken advantage of.
Bah! There's no use in continuing this debate. It will only lead to ineffective bickering that will not end, save in our deactivation. Instead, we must take actions to alleviate our situation. Perhaps we can still seize an overlooked opportunity.
You, Metal Sonic, will have to look to these opportunities. We, G.O.G., are deactivating.
Metal was dumbfounded. It was a fitting circumstance that a failed cooling fan prevented the sudden spike in temperature the main reactor. The result was an overwhelming fireball that disintegrated M.A.G.O.G. in a single blast.
As the debris rained down, upon the great whale shark's broad back, the skies began to clear. The dynasty of Metal Sonic, the would-be-usurper to the Eggman Empire, faded away with the clouds. It had been a terrible nightmare that jolted normalcy into a cold sweat in the night, but unafraid, normalcy returned, as soundly slumbering as before.
Quicksilver raindrops sprinkled down as well, sliding along, pooling together on the main deck. They fell, impotently, bouncing off the strong hull of the mighty ship, the pride of the Empire. Weakened, the drops finally regrouped and began to reform Metal into his upgraded form. The formerly mighty metal overlord demanded, in a panic-stricken flow of thought, that his allies answer him.
Deactivating? Why?
We are not invincible. The powers you absorbed, we have lost control of, and suffer as a result. The damage wrought by this unrestricted chaos has damaged too many of us, have weakened our collective power. It is a tremendous effort to restructure you and continue this dialogue, let alone continue the fight. We…
Never mind! I'm weak! What am I going to do?
We were thinking that you would be able to answer that…
You know that I don't have the answer! What I have done against the Master, he will not take me back! The doctor will disown me. He will not repair me, no one will!
And? You say you have met destruction before, why worry now?
And? And, the doctor will not repair me… You cannot… Oblivion has reached an imminent stage of permanence. I am going to suffer the fate of the original E-100 series… the fate of countless, weak, drones… I will be counted as insignificant…
What of it? We face oblivion as well. We have performed our duties, and cannot be with regrets. You failed, not us.
No… I cannot… 'Die' in this manner! My original objective still remains incomplete. I must destroy Sonic the Hedgehog! You have to help me do it!
You have failed, at everything…
No! There must something that I can do, we can do! Help me! You're supposed to help me!
There was no response.
Answer me!
It was no surprise that the E-666 was no longer functioning. Metal clawed at the ship's hull, desperate for answers. His CPU suddenly accessed fond memories of a boastful master, domineering and obnoxious. Yet, this self-same man provided maintenance and instilled him with pride. They were bonded by their mutual need to destroy Sonic. Now… he had committed the most grievous crime…
Judas… Brutus… Mata Hari… They did not live long after the commission of the most diabolical of crimes…
In the midst of this pitiful nostalgia, Metal could sense his presence. Metal knew he was standing over him. Perhaps, he could help. He helped others. He only needed an answer. That was all. As the last of the E-666 were short-circuited and made into a microscopic dust that wafted away on a breeze, unseen by all, Metal was returned to its original form. It now sought a logical explanation for this, perhaps final, defeat.
"It's no use…"
The dull, monotone, machine lamented. Its voice came in a doleful manner, but emotion was lost in the permanent tone of its voice.
"But, why can't I defeat you?"
Metal gazed up at Sonic, its features still as cold and hate filled as they were originally cast. Sonic stood in the rays of the released sun, a perfect figure of enlightenment. The sun illuminated Sonic's form as a being too pure for Metal's gaze.
Sonic spoke, in a tone of honest understanding, imparting his most profound lesson, "Because, we're Sonic Heroes!"
Metal grasped for a fury, an emotion, which it no longer possessed.
It couldn't be that simple! The mightiest confrontation in history, and the victor spouts a simple, nonsensical, statement! Metal's weakened power cells prevented it from pushing a trembling claw toward Sonic in an aggressive manner. It couldn't even make a simple swipe at such uneducated poppycock! At best, Metal made a simple judgment, to itself…
Illogical…
You seek "Rhyme and reason?" The greatest poetry made by Man is plunged from the depths of emotions, not tabulated from 1s and 0s. Brilliance dawns, it does not switch on…
"Sonic!"
Both hedgehogs, organic and robotic, glanced to see Amy Rose and the others bounding towards the site of the final, verbal, confrontation. Suddenly, Sonic had "more important" things to take care of. The victorious teenager made to leave Metal where it lay, like an emptied soda can. At the last moment, Sonic turned a last glance to Metal.
"Any time you want a rematch," Sonic honestly offered, "just let me know. I'll be waiting."
"How ironic: the people who have heart are the most dangerous people in the world."
Power cells failing…
Communications port disabled…
Shut down imminent…
Metal's final recording was made of Tails.
"Hey Sonic, wait up!"
Those words passed into darkness…
Amy refused to admit defeat. If she could help to bring down a malevolent force determined on world domination, then she felt should be able to tame a heroic hedgehog's heart. Before getting too far along in her never-ending search for the El Dorado that lay in Sonic's embracing arms, Amy remembered her manners. She passed along the official dismissal of Team Rose.
"Sorry to leave you like this," she cheerily apologized, "but I can't let my Sonic get away!"
Understanding completely, Cream offered, "Good luck Amy."
Big, humbly offered his farewell call, "Bye-bye!"
Knuckles watched the madness that was Sonic's daily routine resume its pace. From the sidelines, Knuckles made a rare chuckling noise.
"Sonic sure has his hands full."
Before he could dwell on that thought, Rouge sauntered by.
"I guess I'm out of here too," she nonchalantly decided.
She made it evident that she was a very busy woman and had things to take care of. Eggman was obviously a powerful man, albeit a pauper. There was nothing of financial value anywhere nearby. So, she went on her way. Before she got too far along, however, she just as coolly tossed out her bait.
"I think I'll go after someone else's treasure."
"She never gives up, does she?"
Knuckles seemed a bit slow to catch up with his words. Still in a jocular sentiment, the transformation seemed miraculous when he resumed his sterner outlook on life.
"Oh no you don't! Wait!"
Knuckles, who had commented on someone else's lifestyle, was oblivious that his daily habits could be showcased as well. However, he wasn't the only one returning to "business as usual."
The day was saved, and everyone else was heading home. Beaming with smiles at this, Vector felt good. And not just "good," but "job well done" good, the highest commendation a workingman could bestow.
Puffing out his chest, Vector jauntily surmised, "Guess that's it for this case."
Dr. Eggman tensed…
Espio, welcoming the warm rays of the sun, joined his partner in a better disposition. The more militant detective simply added, "Guess so."
The doctor counted his blessings…
A quality possessed by children is a shortsighted attention to specific details. Hunger, hygiene, and clothing were always so well focused upon that kids could easily get an adults attention. Why else was it the "little" boy that, literally, saw through the emperor's "new clothes?"
"But," Charmy chimed in, "what about our money?"
He slowly began to slink away…
The honeybee's one-track mind was correctly directed. Instantly, worrisome images of the gruff "Sluggo," eviction notice in hand, flashed across their collective minds. Suddenly, they regretted having saved the day. With tomorrow, new bills would come with the sunrise, featuring more expenses and darker threats of retaliations for debts. They were inflamed by the fact that it was a penniless villain who had summoned them, promising to pay with an immaterial "I.O.U."
"Oh man!" Vector bellowed, "I almost forgot!"
Eggman was thinking that he had a good chance to escape. Though the crocodile had forgotten, the human had most certainly remembered the fraudulency of his payment to the Chaotix Detective Agency. The frugal doctor was quietly tipping-toeing for freedom when…
"That slime ball!"
Eggman was hit, like he had been shot, with those words. He stopped dead in his tracks, and glanced over his shoulder. In a flash, Eggman was on the run as the Chaotix Collections Agency came barreling towards him at a ferocious pace.
It was just as well…
The doctor was considering a weight loss program anyway…
Team Sonic, Team Rose, and, if they ever caught up with their deadbeat client, the Chaotix all had something to show for their tremendous efforts. Rouge even found excitement in her upcoming sparing match. Even Omega could claim his mission a success: Metal Sonic, the true enemy, had been "eliminated."
These things weighed heavily in Shadow's mind. He and Omega had been left behind, with the remains of a vanquished foe that dared to crush them all. It was an Icarus who dared to fly too high. Standing over the husk, the two abandoned, functioning, creations pondered the enigma of the third, deactivated, one. It had been a robot, a slave, to the Eggman. Yet, it defied Creation and reaped the fruits of its labors. That wasn't all…
Shadow looked upon the machine that had risen above them all. It now lay, cradled, in Omega's hefty arms. Looking at it like this, Shadow was struck by an epiphany: the puppet pulled its own strings. Those strings controlled its fate. Further, the strings were tied back to a puppeteer, to a source of existence.
Shadow suddenly stiffened. This mission of discovery had failed. There was no denying it. Everyone else walked away with something, him: with nothing. However, the true dimensions of an iceberg required a deeper penetration, below the surface. The battle with M.A.G.O.G. was not the end of the journey for him. It was barely the first step on the long and winding road before him.
Shadow placed a weary hand upon Omega's shoulder.
"I must go. Alone."
"Understood."
Soul searching is best left to sole searchers…
Shadow calmly walked away from his ally, no longer needing his, or her, assistance.
Grateful as he was to her act of freeing him, or the considerable power the robot provided, Shadow still needed to find himself. There was nothing the others could do to help that.
Before walking too far down his lone road, Shadow stopped and gave a final, meditative, look to the defeated robot. The metal copy of Sonic, its head slumping over Omega's arm, glared back with bottomless eyes. A warning was evident to the weary traveler. From out of the blackness, Shadow could hear something. It wasn't the voice of the robot… It was… something, someone, else…
Do not stare into the abyss for too long… The abyss… might… stare back into you…
Given fair warning, Shadow resumed his solitary walk.
The day was saved, tomorrow was given the chance to come again!
In spite of the world, Sonic ran on, looking to something, anything, new. Forever following the setting sun, his wanderlust seemed to be insatiable. He smiled, remembering his purpose, his joy.
"No time to wait… Our next adventure awaits us! We're Sonic Heroes!"
End