Authors Notes: Ok, this chapter is one of the best I have written so far. Mainly because of the idea I have cooked up next, but I won't spoil it for you. Fair to warn you though, it might be better to read my Tails' Fatal Choice and Vixette's Revenge pure fics before reading the next few chapters. If you do get confused about this chapter (I don't see how you won't) then write any questions you have in your reviews and I will send you a message explaining what is going on. All right, now back to the story.

Negative Effects

Chapter Seven: Technical Difficulties

A week had passed by since Trey stayed with the Sly family. He formed a small bond with Carmen and they quickly became friends. But he never forgot about his family back in Knothole. Every day, he hated himself for not going back, but he didn't know if the Eclipse Force was still looking for him. He woke up in the guestroom and was covered in cold sweat. He had another nightmare about everyone he loved and knew going into a contraption that turned them into robots. Not even Sonic could escape from the machine. But what scared him the most was the fact that in the background, he could see a fat man with a cone head and someone by his side laughing. That someone was the closest person to Trey's heart than any other friend he cared about. It was Ashley. As he looked around, he saw that sunlight was beginning to pour into the window. 'I guess it's morning now.' Trey thought.

He got up and walked to the bathroom. He looked into the mirror and saw that he looked like hell. He was tired, he was homesick, and he missed his girlfriend. He was a complete mess. "Morning." a girly voice said behind him. Trey turned around to find Carmen smiling at him. The innocent smile almost made him feel like that everything was going to be ok. He smiled back and washed his face. He went into the kitchen and got himself a piece of toast. Rebecca was already up and she had already made breakfast. "Don't look so glum, try to cheer up." she said. "I can't, I will never cheer up knowing that I'm not in Knothole trying to help my family out right when they probably need me the most." Trey said. Rebecca opened the refrigerator and got out a gallon of orange juice. "Well, maybe it's time you go back and help them out then. It's no use in crying over spilled milk. Who knows, you could make a difference. Trust me when I say this, every second counts. One second too late could cause someone's death, and one second too soon could cause your own death. Being right on time is the key." she said, pouring the orange juice into three glasses.

Carmen walked into the kitchen and seemed to be much happier than usual. Her mother instantly knew the action and began to eye her daughter now and again. They all sat down at the table after fixing a plate of grits, eggs, bacon, and jelly toast. "So… when are you leaving?" Carmen asked. Trey thought about it for a second, "Well, I might leave after breakfast. I'm not usually the guy who waits for something." Trey said. Carmen lowered her head in disappointment, "Oh, well… I hope you can get there in time before something bad happens." she said. Trey began to think hard and then he realized something. "Why have I been getting these warnings lately? I mean, first there was this disturbing dream I had. Then, Mrs. Sly says to be right on time, not too late and not too early. Finally, you tell me that you hope nothing bad happens." Trey said after putting down his fork. "It all depends on what you interpret Trey." Rebecca said seriously. Trey took this very deeply and then he finished eating his breakfast.

Trey walked into the guestroom and got out his radio. He then tried to get into contact with his dad once again. It was nothing but static like the other fifty times before. 'What was I thinking anyway, if it wasn't going to work before, why will it work now?' he thought. Suddenly he picked up a signal. "Trey, is that you? Did you finally tap into a radio and change its frequency? That's good, but now we have a problem, there seems to be… type of machine… that turns… into robots. I'm afraid… nik… returned after all." Tails began to say. Trey began to panic and he shook the radio violently. "Dad are you there? You didn't come in quite clear, it's still some static on this thing." Trey said. But nothing answered back, just static. 'I have to go help them.' he thought and began to get dressed. He put on a pair of blue jeans and a striped green shirt that his mom made.

After he got properly dressed, he bid the Sly family goodbye. "I'll come by and see you some time. I promise." Trey said and ran off onto the path to Mobotropolis. Rebecca looked on as he saw the vulpine run down the path. "C'mon Carmen, we have a village to save." she said. She grabbed her shotgun and looked at the portrait she drew of Desert Fox from so long ago. Rebecca chuckled, "Maybe I'll get to see my hero after all." she said and walked out of the door. Carmen grabbed her sword and walked out the door as well. 'Maybe I can impress him with my new moves. Some guys like girls who can protect themselves.' she thought. They both began to walk down the path where Trey had ran down. Rebecca smirked at what Trey had said earlier. 'You will see us sooner than you think.' she thought.

Trey ran faster down the path. 'This is going to take too long.' he thought. He then began to use his metal tail. 'I haven't used you in awhile.' Trey thought as he propelled into the air and took off towards Knothole. "Don't worry father, I'm coming." he whispered. He arrived in Knothole in about twenty minutes. He saw many of the huts on fire and others broken. "Hello, is anyone here?" Trey asked. Suddenly he saw a Piko Piko Hammer coming straight to his face. Trey dodged the mallet and got into a fighting position. He thought it was Midnight, which meant the Eclipse Force wasn't too far behind. But he looked again and saw it was only Amy. Trey sighed with relief, "Amy it's only you, thank Ancient Walkers. What happened here?" he asked. Amy put down the mallet and looked at Trey with searching eyes.

"Were you not here! Almost everyone was taken prisoner from the original Dr. Robotnik!" she yelled. "Whoa, what do you mean, the original?" Trey asked. Amy sighed, "Well, at first your father thought it was one of Dr. Ivo Robotnik's tricks, that he was trying to make himself seem like there was three different versions of him. But he soon found out that when the Eclipse Force attacked the Shadow bots, there was no way he could pull that off to make it that way. He also found out that the other Dr. Eggman was not him either." Amy said. Trey seemed even more confused, "Wait a sec, so are you saying that Dr. Eggman and Dr. Ivo Robotnik are two different people?" he asked. Amy gave him an irritated glance, "Yes. There is also another Dr. Robotnik as well. He had released this robot that seemed too advanced than any other robot that he would usually make. He called him Metal and this robot resembled Sonic in many ways. He was fast, he had his personality, and he would never stay still. He said that he not only controls Metal, but the Elite Squad as well. But we don't know who they are." she said.

Trey shivered, "But I do." he whispered. Amy looked at him shocked look on her face. "What do you mean?" she asked. "When I first left, I ran into these raccoons and they seemed to have had some past trouble with the Elite Squad. Well, when the leader came to mess with them, I stepped in to help. I barely got out of it alive much less beat them." he said. "Well I'm glad you're alive, because we could use your help." Amy suggested. Trey looked around and began to panic. "Where's Ashley?" he asked. Amy looked down at the ground in shame. Trey grabbed her arms and shook her. "I said where is Ashley?" he asked again. Amy looked back at Trey with tears rolling down her face. "We were fighting the Shadow bots and Ashley had tried to take of the Eclipse Force on her own, when a crossfire bullet hit her in the back and she fell to the ground. Then one of the Shadow bots carried her to Dr. Ivo Robotnik's new headquarters." Amy said.

Trey was about to say something, when a gust of wind caused him to raise his arms in front of him as a reaction. When the wind calmed down, he opened his eyes to see what it was and saw a metallic blue version of Sonic two inches from his face. Trey jumped back and almost had a heart attack. 'Is he really that fast? Sonic is faster, but man, not by much.' Trey thought. Suddenly an egg-shaped chair floated above all three of them. "Aha, I see you have met Metal. So you are Tails' son aye? Doesn't matter where you're going though, Metal, destroy him!" he ordered. Metal's booster began to slowly move. Then a big gust of wind came from behind Metal like he had caused a hurricane. Metal's after image began to fade out of Trey's view before he could realize that Metal wasn't there anymore. When he turned around, Metal was yet again two inches from his face. But Metal kicked him in his stomach.

Trey didn't have a chance to gasp for air before Metal kicked him in his face. Trey flew towards a hut and collided with the wall. Trey spat out blood before he got back up. "How did they get this thing to go away the first time?" Trey asked himself. As he saw Metal gliding towards him, he thought that this could be the end. Suddenly he saw the Piko Piko Hammer hit Metal in the face. Since he couldn't stop his body from moving while his head stayed in one spot, it caused his whole body to flip backwards and hit the ground. His body began to twist onto the ground before sliding to a stop. Metal was beginning to get up, when a shotgun blew Metal's face apart. The robot's eyes went dead before Trey could sigh with relief. He looked at the person who helped and saw it was none other than Rebecca Sly. He saw Carmen with her as well. "Thanks for saving me." Trey said. Rebecca smiled, "Just paying you back." she said. Dr. Robotnik became furious, "I'll get you back for this Trey Prower!" he yelled and floated away in his Eggmobile.

Amy walked up to the group and pointed at Rebecca and Carmen. "Friends of yours?" she asked. Trey smiled, "Yep, and I'm glad for that." he said. They began to introduce each other and they became acquainted, but Trey knew that there was no time for playing around. "C'mon, let's go save the others." he said and they all left towards the one person he thought he would never meet, Dr. Ivo Robotnik.

To Be Continued