Chapter 5: Same Outcome, Different Day.

Metropolis Lab, 1:15 pm.

At this juncture, defeat was such a common occurrence for Eggman, he gave up being mad about it, and instead used it as a means of making marginally better machines and mechs.

Even though the routine is about the same, Eggman still took pride in the fact he was a genius. Even if he woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Quite literally. Stepped on a lego and it made him mad throughout the day.

As of right now, he was currently laying on the floor of the entrance to his lab, after having been sent back there via Sonic and Tails Double Boost, complete with the yeet and skeet treatment. He sighs as he hears someone approaching, and finds the familiar white haired, red eyes AI he made all those years ago standing over him.

Sage: Welcome back, father. Did things go well?

Dr Eggman: About as well as one might expect in this day and age, but the true goal was accomplished; I am no longer angry.

Sage: Good. Need assistance?

Dr Eggman: Please and thank you, Sage.

Sage, having a semi physical body due to Ancient tech (due to a trip to Starfall Islands) helped Eggman up, dusted him off, and then proceeded to send out a repair order for his Egg Mobile. Several Egg Pawns came into the room and took the Egg Mobile out, and soon after, the entry to the lab sealed shut, locking up with incredibly dense Unarium cylinders. Quite the surprise element, Unarium.

Dr Eggman: Status report. How are the assembly lines, and is Arsenal Pyramid up and running again?

Sage: Assembly lines are still 100% operational and are working at capacity, as instructed. Arsenal Pyramid's reactivation is behind the projected time table.

Dr Eggman: Grrr… Dammit Orbot… Put him on the line as soon as I get back to the main office. I need to make a detour first. Sage? How is your gallery?

Sage: It hasn't been updated yet. I'm still working on my latest piece.

Dr Eggman: I see. When it's finished, update me ASAP. I'm still going to check the gallery, as I admire your artistic expression, my daughter.

Sage couldn't help but smile at that, and began leading the old doctor through the lab corridors, where his machines worked tirelessly, keeping the place up and running at peak efficiency. A quick elevator trip down to the lower levels, followed by a 68 digit passcode entering, and the two wound up in an art gallery, made by Sage herself. Eggman stepped forward into it, glancing at the pictures around them. Time definitely improved her artistic skills. But Eggman still fondly remembered that crayon drawing she first made with a smile.

In fact, said drawing was the literal center piece of the gallery, and had the digits "00" on it, to mark her start as an aspiring artist.

Dr Eggman: I can never get over how fast you adapted, and how quickly you began to add extreme detail to each piece.

Sage: I simply examined the art pieces I made before and saw each flaw, using them as a basis for future pieces.

Dr Eggman: An excellent thing to do, but no art, no matter how beautiful, is objectively "perfect". None of my robots are, I most certainly am not. Many decades ago, I may have expected such an idea, but in my old age, perfection is but an idea that many seek, failing to see that it is an unobtainable thing, yet simultaneously right in front of us… This is not me saying that you are a failure, Sage. Far from it. You are, along with Metal Sonic, as well as Orbot and Cubot to an extent, my greatest creations. I can't help but be proud of what I have made in my attempts to conquer Mobius.

Sage: Thank you, father.

Dr Eggman: That being said, as always, the trip to the gallery is always worth it. But we definitely need to get back to work. Now then. How is Project Doomsday coming along?

Sage opens her hand and shows Eggman a projection of his latest project: the reconstruction and retrofitting of the Death Egg into the Death Egg MK3. A version of the original that needn't rely on the power of the Chaos Emeralds or the Master Emerald.

Sage: Reconstruction is on schedule. Retrofitting will begin in the next 4 days.

Dr Eggman: Excellent. Keep the site concealed and out of reach for now, we can't let Sonic and his friends find out about it. Not yet.

Eggman turns around and opens the door to his office, walking in and sitting in the chair, grabbing his "World's Best Villain" mug and pouring himself some hot chocolate. He had changed around some things of his diet, on Sage's recommendations, but could never part with the coco recipe Sage found on the EggNet of all things.

Dr Eggman: … To this day I still wonder how the soup was cold and the salad was hot. How IS that even possible…?

Sage: Father?

Dr Eggman: Don't mind me, Sage. Resume your usual duties. And… Give updates on your latest piece.

Sage nodded and vanished into the air, Eggman watched over the monitors within his office, catching a news update from Mobius Defense Force's GUN Division. He plays it out on the speakers, listening carefully.

News: In recent news, the Zone Cops confirmed there was a breach in the Cosmic Highway last night, and the Highway was left in shambles. The Zone Cops are currently searching for the origin point, as well as clues as to who could make such a bold move–

Eggman stops the news, leaning back in his chair. News like this didn't just pop up out of nowhere.

Someone, or rather, SOMETHING, was looking to be found…

And judging from the now blaring lab alarms, it seems he wouldn't have to wait long to find out who. Either that, or Sonic and Tails were at his doorstep. Again.

Dr Eggman: Dammit… Well. Better go see what–

With a sudden burst of green electricity, his office had been breached. Eggman managed to shield himself, but had no idea who had done it. Was it Surge?

Scourge: Hey, doc. Long time no see.

Dr Eggman: Wait… Aren't you supposed to be dead?!

\\I'm a cruel bastard, I know.