Sonic SatAM: Ghost in the Machine

by Cyrex

A deadly new weapon takes the brave heroes of Knothole by surprise. When one of their own pays too high a price, the weapon itself begins to act strangely. Are they stuck between Doomsday and a hard copy? [Slightly AU]

5. Mirror of Metal

Chapter 5: "Mirror of Metal"

Laughter filled Bunnie's cottage. She was still in her bed, the covers tucked in around her waist, with a bit of cloth wrapped around her left shoulder to make it less unseemly. A raised tray held breakfast for her, complete with a little flower in a bottle (which was intended to be anonymous, but Sally shared that Rotor had placed it on the tray with a wink of her own). Bunnie was laughing, however, because of the little bundle of orange and white fur nestled in her arm, snuggling with her in the bed. Sally, sitting on the foot of the bed on the same side as the little ball of happiness beside her friend, laughed as well, finding Tails' giggling and squirming adorable as Bunnie tickled him around the side.

"Stop, stop!" Tails cried through his giggles.

Bunnie was merciless however, and the little fox was crying with laughter. Finally she ended her assault, and the little boy panted, grinning up at her. They were hugging the next second, and the lady in bed gave him a wiggling squeeze. "You're just too adorable, darlin'!"

The boy grinned again, and Sally was moderating her humor to a gentle smile as she watched. "You two are like peas in a pod these days."

Bunnie winked at her friend. "That's because he's my little trooper. Isn't that right, Tails?"

He raised his fist playfully. "That's right!"

Giving up her attempts at decorum, Sally just giggled like a little girl herself.

The door knocking distracted the three from their happy reverie, and Sally hopped up to get it. Bunnie winked down at Tails, and he scooted off the bed, hurrying around to get the door for the princess before she could reach it. The resistance leader laughed happily, and looked back to Bunnie before returning to the bed herself.

Tails pulled the door open. "Hi Rotor, hi Uncle Chuck!"

The two ladies looked over, already smiling for their old friends, but when it was clear the two men were pushing something into the cottage, they became quite curious. It was large, covered by a red cloth at the moment, and Rotor was pushing it from behind, with Sir Charles walking along behind him, smiling over at Bunnie in particular.

"Good morning, young Bunnie. I must say you look particularly lovely this morning."

Bunnie blushed bashfully, giggling. "Uncle Chuck, you're just an old charmer, aren't ya?"

He winked, and Rotor finally rolled whatever it was up on the left side of the bed. The walrus stood up, smiling happily at Bunnie. "Since your replacement arm and legs are gonna take a while, we decided to build you this, so you can still get around."

Sally and Tails watched with calm curiosity from the foot of the bed, Sally holding the boy in her lap. Bunnie just blinked, her eyebrows up. "My stars, I don't mean to be givin' y'all so much extra work…"

"We're glad to, Bunnie," Rotor offered kindly, Uncle Chuck winking again behind the walrus.

The rabbit blushed gently again, and nodded to Rotor. "Well show me what ya been workin' on, sugar. I'm sure it's great."

Rotor grinned, and yanked the cloth off the contraption. Bunnie's eyes widened at it. At first, it looked like a simple wheel-chair, but it was quite a bit more. The right arm-rest had a control system on the end, and the wheels were clearly motorized. Further, the entire leg area was covered in a smooth cloth sheath that would hide her body from the waist down, as well as support her sitting upright without the legs to push back. Last, up on the left side of the back of the chair, a large drape of the same color waited, to keep her damaged shoulder from being too obvious.

"…Rotor… sugar, this musta used up so much equipment…" Bunnie breathed, but tears were coming to her eyes at the sentiment.

Rotor shook his head. "We had tons of all the parts we used for this, Bunnie. I knew you'd feel bad if it took away any important parts."

Uncle Chuck smirked. "We spent most of the time picking out the parts that would work."

Bunnie blushed again, pouting for them, but Rotor winked. "And it's charged through a solar panel on the back here. The more time you spend rollin' around outside, the more it can do!"

The lucky woman laughed warmly, and reached her arm out. "Gimme a hug, you wonderful walrus."

Rotor blushed, but leaned close to her, and they embraced warmly for a few moments. When he pulled back, Bunnie reached for Uncle Chuck, and he came in close for a hug himself. "You're more than welcome, Bunnie."

Sally was grinning as well. "Can she try it out?"

Rotor waved to the wheelchair. "It's ready to go!"

Bunnie's face lit up. "Really?"

The walrus smiled happily. "Ready and waiting, Bunnie."

Sally was pressing her lips between her teeth to avoid giggling at how like Tails her dear friend had just become. Bunnie reached out. "Oh, please help me into it!"

Rotor, Uncle Chuck, and the little orange blur of Tails all rushed to do exactly that for the injured rebel. Bunnie laughed warmly as they gently pulled her out of the bed, and eased her down into the chair. With her mouth softly agape as she adjusted the cloth covers more comfortably, Bunnie looked around with a smile of happiness they'd not seen in her eyes for a long, long time.

Rotor grinned, gesturing to the controls at her hand. "Just push the stick in the direction you want."

Bunnie nodded, and pushed the stick to the left. The chair smoothly and quickly spun around. She laughed, and rolled around the room almost immediately. "Sugar, this is amazin'!"

Rotor just smiled for her.

Sally, however, hurried to the door, and pushed it open. "Well, come on, Bunnie! What are you waiting for?"

With mischievous glee, Bunnie sped for the door, giving Sally a start. The squirrel playfully yelped, giggling as Bunnie shot past her, and sped out onto the grass, swerving around almost with second nature. Tails, Uncle Chuck, and Rotor hurried out to see, and everyone was relieved to see Bunnie so happy. It was just a stepping stone, but it obviously meant a great deal to her.

(Later…)

Rotor blinked his eyes powerfully a few times, continuing to adjust some small parts inside a pale, narrow device on his work-table. It was mostly covered by a work-cloth, except for the small part he was adjusting. Uncle Chuck stepped up behind the walrus, softly clearing his throat to avoid startling the focused resistance fighter.

"Hey, Uncle Chuck. How's it going on your end?"

The roboticized hedgehog was smiling mischievously. "Just fine, Rotor. Now are you going to take a break and sleep, or is this going to be the second night you don't get enough?"

Rotor sunk his head down a bit, pausing his work, and looked up at the older engineer. "I can't just… relax, Uncle Chuck. Even when I'm trying to sleep, I just think I could be finishing up these replacements."

"That's why we built her the chair, Rotor. She can get around, and you saw how happy she was." He rested a metal hand on the younger rebel's shoulder. "Go sleep, Rotor. We've got enough done to run the shell-designs past her tomorrow."

The walrus sighed, but nodded, and set his tools down. "You're right. Thanks, Uncle Chuck." He stood, the robotic hedgehog patting his back before he left the workshop.

Sir Charles himself replaced some of the plating over what Rotor had been adjusting, and secured I in place. His own face fell sullen. "Even if we make the deroboticizer now…" He shook his head. "We'll think of something. She needs to be informed, though…" A sigh escaped his metal lips. "Why Bunnie?"

The workshop didn't answer his question, but he'd not expected one. He knew the truth. Bad things simply happened, what mattered was how you faced them. So he stretched his stiff joints, some of them creaking, and marched out into the moonlight himself.

(Later…)

It was early the next morning, with Rotor and Uncle Chuck back in the workshop, that Bunnie softly rolled through the door in her new chair. The two men stopped talking abruptly, and grinned for her as she rolled up to them, standing in front of a table with a cover over it, obviously hiding long, narrow objects.

"Now I know you two couldn't 'ave finished those things for me already, so what's goin' on?" Bunnie asked with a knowing smile.

Uncle Chuck stood aside, gesturing to the table, and Rotor gripped the cloth. "We wanted to run the designs by you. They're not ready yet," he was quick to add, "but the shells are."

And he whipped the cloth off. Bunnie blinked, and then her eyes widened gently, her chair rolling quietly up to the side of the table. "…My stars, y'all… Why those are almost fashionable!" she giggled, clearly very happy.

On the table lay her three replacement parts. They were crafted almost entirely of white metals and plastics, with silver hints and hydraulic tubing just visible in the major joints. More directly, they were sleek, slim, and almost the size of Bunnie's original arm and legs.

"They look lovely," the injured rabbit said fondly, looking from one of her friends to the other. "Thank y'all so much!"

Rotor grinned for her, but the shrewd young woman saw something in both of their eyes. She raised an eyebrow. "Fellas, I know they have to have limits. Just talk to me."

Uncle Chuck exhaled softly, thinking how best to prepare her for what he had to say. Rotor spoke in the interim. "They won't be as strong as your original… I mean the first roboticized set."

Bunnie smiled. "Will I be able to walk on two of my own feet?"

The walrus nodded instantly. "Oh yes! Absolutely!"

She winked. "I can't complain about much after that, sugar."

Unsure of himself, Uncle Chuck flashed a big smile, and kept quiet. Rotor, still smiling himself, waved to the new limbs. "So you're happy with the look?"

"Completely, sugar. I really appreciate seeing 'em early and everything."

Both of the hard-working engineers playfully dismissed their work, and she just giggled, backing her chair up. "Well I promised Tails I'd come watch his trainin' with the ole Sugar-hog today, so I don't wanna disappoint the little darlin'."

"Take care, Bunnie," Uncle Chuck said with a nod and wave. Rotor just waved happily, letting her roll out of the workshop. Once he was sure she was out of ear-shot, Uncle Chuck looked to his co-worker. "Rotor, would you do me a favor?"

"Sure, Uncle Chuck."

"Fetch Princess Sally for me, please? I need to speak with her. I'll be in the planning room."

The walrus blinked, but nodded, and hurried out of the workshop. Uncle Chuck exhaled again, and walked into a smaller room, closing the door.

(At the workshop…)

The small door knocked, and Sir Charles pulled back from his desk. "Come in."

Sally peeked her head through, gave him a warm smile, and then entered, closing the door behind her. As she walked up to him, however, she realized he seemed grim. "…What's wrong, Sir Charles?"

The roboticized hedgehog exhaled slowly. "There are a couple of things we need to prepare Bunnie for, and I'm not sure how best to bring them up."

The princess' brow creased. "Go on."

"The replacement limbs will work, though we might need to fine-tune them later. They will, however, never be as strong as her original three. She shouldn't be on front-line duty anymore."

Sally frowned thoughtfully, looking down as she crossed her arms. "Bunnie won't like the sound of that, but I see what you mean."

Charles waited a moment more, and then said, "You know that creating a functional, permanent de-roboticizer will be tricky, right?"

She looked up at him. "Of course. In order to re-compose the organic parts properly, it requires even more detail and precision than the roboticizer itself."

The hedgehog nodded. "It also requires the original base-line matter. What was turned to metal, can be turned back, but only if it's the same metal. It's a bit like pouring a glass of water into a jug, and trying to get the exact same water back out in the glass."

While her mind almost immediately caught on, Sally's heart refused to accept it. Her face went flat, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "No… Don't tell me this…"

Sir Charles looked down sadly.

Sally stumbled up to him, her hand gripping his shoulder to make him look up into her eyes, which were blazing with intensity. "Please, Uncle Chuck. No… She's been through too much."

But her dear Uncle Chuck couldn't lie to her. "She'll be able to walk, but she'll never get her original arm and legs back without her original mechanical limbs."

Tears welled up in the squirrel woman's eyes, and she clamped her jaw shut… but sank to her knees in front of him. Charles leaned over her, and hugged her around the shoulders. "I'll try, Princess. Until Bunnie has the body she was born with, I'll try, but we can't give her false hope…"

"Have you seen it…?" Sally whispered tightly in his arms.

His brow creased. "…Seen what, Princess?"

"Her heart breaking with shame…"

Uncle Chuck let his own sadness show through more fully on his metal face.

Sally continued in a heart-felt, rasping whisper, "She smiles and laughs because she's so strong, but it's always behind her eyes. Even though she knows we don't care, she still feels ashamed. The hope… the hope of getting her own body back has kept her going, Uncle Chuck… If we tell her this…" She started to shake her head, her voice all but gone, "I can't… I can't…"

Sir Charles closed his optics slowly. "…You won't have to, Sally. I'll speak to her myself."

Slender hands clenched around the ridges on his back. "…I'm such a coward…"

"It's not cowardice to want to avoid breaking someone's heart, Sally. She'll learn the truth, you can trust that. I know you'd find the courage if you had to… but you don't have to."

The princess stopped shaking inside his arms, and exhaled slowly… regaining control. "You're so kind, Sir Charles, but I can't back away from this. She's my best friend."

Uncle Chuck let her stand up, sniffing slowly, and blinking her wet eyes as she looked at him seriously. "I'll go talk to her now."

"Such a brave young woman you've grown up to be." He smiled at her.

"Not as much as some…"

He just nodded his agreement to appease her guilt for the moment, and she turned, walking out of the room, and the workshop with focused discipline. Sir Charles turned back to his desk, and pulled out the schematics for a massive device. They were old, but had new markings all over them. He grabbed a marker off the desk as well, and started adding to the newer marks.

He would try.

(Later…)

Sally knocked on Bunnie's door, swallowing. She felt mildly numb, having no doubt she would tell her friend the truth… but after that?

"Sally-girl, that you? Well come on in anyway!" Bunnie's happy voice sang through the air from inside.

The squirrel shut her eyes against the thought of how her friend would sound differently after the news, and pushed inside. She forced a calm smile, and walked up to the bed, where Bunnie was resting, the new chair over against the windowsill to the right of the bed.

Despite the princess' best efforts, it was clear something was wrong. Bunnie's brow creased the moment she laid her green eyes on the squirrel. "…Hey, what's wrong?"

Sally tried to smile again, and come up on the far side of the bed, taking hold of Bunnie's hand. The rabbit woman realized it was very serious. "Bunnie… I have to tell you a couple of things…"

Her friend slowly nodded. "Yeah, alright…"

"…The new limbs will be weaker than the old set… You shouldn't be on the front lines with them."

Bunnie smiled calmly. "I figured that much, darlin'. Being able to walk will be enough for me, I can help out around Knothole more."

Sally desperately wished she could relax with how well her friend took the news. Seeing the remaining guilt and… was it fear? in the squirrel's eyes made Bunnie turn quite serious this time. "…My stars, Sally-girl, you look like you've seen a ghost. Well tell me quick before you drop on me!"

Mobius, how she wished she could laugh at her friend's lovely, happy manner in that moment. Sally swallowed, and spoke with a calm, almost mechanical voice, "Your old metal limbs had the basic components of your original body. Without them, the ability to de-roboticize your arm and legs is… practically non-existent."

Bunnie seemed to slow down for a moment, her hand twitching in Sally's pair. "…What…?"

Sally couldn't hold it any longer. Tears were dripping down her cheeks as she said, "Without the original metal, we can't bring your original body back…"

An angry outburst, outright weeping, furious blaming of all of them for failing her… any of them would have been better than what happened. Bunnie just stared at her, going more numb as the seconds ticked by. Sally adjusted her jaw, trying to avoid sobbing when her friend had the far greater justification for sorrow. "B… Bunnie…"

The injured rabbit woman spoke slowly, her voice soft, but flat. "Sally-girl… would ya mind givin' me some time alone?"

Sally's mouth fell softly agape, her sorrow filling her eyes. You don't have to be alone!

"Please…" Bunnie repeated with the same horrible calm.

The squirrel woman had to shut her eyes, and abruptly flee from the room, letting Bunnie's hand fall to the bed and rush through the door, which cracked shut behind her. If she hadn't run, if she hadn't just sprinted for the exit, she never could have done as her friend asked. As it was, the leader of the resistance fled to her own house, her hand clamping over her mouth as she started to sob uncontrollably.

The lights went off in Bunnie's cottage early that night, and no one dared knock on the door. No one knew what they would even say to her, the rest, who didn't know what was happening, didn't want to disturb the house.

(Later…)

Rotor sat back, wiping sweat from his forehead. Uncle Chuck nodded, standing up from leaning over the table. "What do you say, Rotor?"

"There as good as they're gonna get without a test run."

The robotic engineer nodded. "Agreed."

Rotor turned grave. "She hasn't left her cottage since last night." It was late afternoon the next day.

"Hey now. I left it a good half-hour ago, sugar."

Both men gawked at the workshop entrance, seeing a bright, smiling Bunnie in her new chair. Rolling up to them, her ears perky and floppy as usual, the rabbit woman stopped near the work-table. "It's alright, y'all. Sally told me what's goin' on. Did I hear somethin' about a test run?" he finished with a sincere grin.

Sir Charles was stunned silent, but Rotor grinned, and shot up from his chair. "Of course! Are you ready for us to hook them up?"

Bunnie nodded. "Ready to try and walk on my own feet again? Help me out, sugar!"

Rotor started for the arm, lifting it off the table, and coming over to her with it. Bunnie leaned forward, pulling her damaged shoulder out of the little cover on the chair, and leaned closer to him as he knelt down at her side. Rotor lifted the arm into place, and Uncle Chuck handed him a few key tools. Bunnie waited, smiling down at the new limb absent-mindedly, and then raised her eyebrows when Rotor leaned back, and waved at it for her. "Try moving it. The systems should engage and activate once you start."

Grinning, the rabbit leaned back, and concentrated a bit. The hand twitched, and then the limb gave a soft whir before springing to life. It startled all three of them at first, but then Bunnie laughed, swinging it around lightly, and then admiring her new hand. "My stars… y'all, this beauty is perfect! It's not half as hard to lift as that last one."

Rotor winced a bit. "I'm afraid that's because it doesn't have as much armor on it…"

The woman smiled for him to relax. "Don't worry, sugar. I don't expect to be fightin' any time soon." She flexed the white hand, made a fist, and then patted her face and front gently. "Yeah, I can feel it, too. Solid, darlin', but too bad a hit, and it'll break like anythin' else."

Both men in the room nodded to her assessment. At this point, however, Rotor blushed a bit. "Ah… Bunnie, how do you want us to attach the legs?"

She blinked up at him. "…Why blushin', sugar?"

Rotor tried to relax with a smile. "Because of the link-ups, I need to… reach around a few places… that… might be bad…"

Bunnie's cheeks bristled with a very powerful blush of her own. "O-oh… ah…" She sank a bit. "I think y'all are the only ones who could do it right, ain'tcha?"

Rotor looked to Uncle Chuck. "Maybe Sally…?"

Sir Charles shrugged. "She'd be my bet, Rotor."

Bunnie exhaled firmly, sitting back up. "None of this nonsense, now, y'all. Just do what you need to do. You're both gentleman. I'd just appreciate it if you got it done as quick as you could."

Rotor nodded seriously. "Of course, Bunnie."

She smiled appreciatively, and lifted her arms up. They helped her out of the chair, and carefully lay her down on the work-table. There, she propped herself up on her elbows, and watched as Rotor moved the left leg into place, and then started to link into her hip. At one point, Rotor needed to reach to the inside of the hip, but gawked. Bunnie did blush, but was sympathetic to his situation. A gentle pout formed on her lips when he finally leaned his hand as far back on the thigh as he could, and reached the tool in from the distance, finishing the last link up. He almost seemed to yank himself away before he grinned up at her eyes. "Try moving this one."

Again, she had to concentrate the first time, but after the toes twitched, her leg jerked up at the slender, sleek knee, and then the leg moved quite naturally with soft clicks and muffled hissing from the hydraulics. "Perfect, sugar. Y'all did an amazin' job on these."

Both of them smiled at her, Uncle Chuck standing back at his point. Rotor waved to the remaining limb. "Ready for the last one?"

Bunnie nodded, relaxing her new leg down to the side, propping herself up a bit more, onto her palms. Rotor pushed the last leg into place, and linked it up, using the same, leaning technique to get at the most awkwardly placed one. Hopping back from the table, he waved to the limb. "Give it a whirl."

The cyborg giggled, and then focused. Again, the foot twitched, and then the leg rushed to her commands. Bunnie smiled brightly, flexing both legs back and forth, and then shoving off the table. She landed to a crouch, stood up, spun around, and waved her arms smoothly through the air.

Rotor was smiling fondly, Uncle Chuck relieved to see them functioning so well for her.

Bunnie laughed, hopping to a stand-still in front of them, her hands on her hips. "I can't thank y'all enough for this. It's just too good to be back on my own two feet, even if they are all new and shiny!" she finished with a playful wink.

Rotor laughed, and so did Sir Charles, but the roboticized hedgehog found himself wondering if Sally actually had told the young rabbit woman about the price of the new limbs.

"Unless you gentleman need anything, I'd like to go talk to a friend of mine," Bunnie said vaguely, smiling still.

Rotor just waved out the door. "Go right ahead. Run laps if you like!"

The rabbit giggled, and then hopped over to him, hugging him tightly. Rotor blushed, but smiled, hugging her back. He was left silent and stunned when she kissed his cheek, and then hugged Sir Charles, kissing him on the cool metal forehead. With that, she was out of sight.

Uncle Chuck looked over at his coworker, and chuckled, starting to walk off before Rotor fainted back into a pile of hay.

(Sally's cottage…)

A holo-map of Robotropolis, generated by Nicole on the small wooden table in her cottage, had Sally's full attention until her door knocked lightly. The princess and rebel leader blinked with a start, and then hurried to the door, pulling it open. There she froze, seeing Bunnie standing in front of her… smiling. The squirrel was adorably stuck, a little smile trying to grow on her lips, but fear in her eyes.

Bunnie's smile softened, and she embraced her friend, her new arm clicking quietly. Sally gasped, and held her tightly. "I'm so sorry, Bunnie. For all of this horrible mess."

The cyborg woman just patted her friend's hair soothingly. "Calm down now, darlin'. I came to apologize for askin' ya to leave last night. That was awful cruel of me."

Sally shook her head. "No, no, Bunnie. You had every right. This is all my fault anyway, if you wanted to be alone…"

Bunnie's head was shaking softly as she tried to finish, so Sally quieted herself. Then the green-eyed young woman replied, "I just had to sort myself out before I faced anyone, Sally-girl. You know me real well, and it was mighty brave of you to come tell me all that. I'm glad ya did sooner rather than later, too. At least I'm prepared now."

"Oh Bunnie…"

The rabbit finally leaned away, smirking. "Now, don't go givin' me none of this 'oh Bunnie' nonsense. I'm darn lucky to have such amazin' friends who can give me new limbs when I've had most of 'em cut off by some mechanical nightmare. 'Sides… I kinda got used to not having my furry arm and legs. I'm okay, I promise."

Sally smiled warmly, patting her friend's cheek. "That's because you're the strongest woman I've ever met."

Bunnie winked. "Next to you, Sally-girl."

They both laughed, and hugged again.

(The dark city…)

The old, cold cackle filled the command center in the central fortress of Robotropolis. Snively dismally stared at the large green control-chair until it started to turn around, and promptly swallowed his dignity, snapping to attention before Robotnik's gaze fell on him. "Report, Snively."

"Recent rebel activities have depleted our swat-bot manufacturing capacity by 35, Dr. Robotnik. Judging by the rates of assault, it seems they have become more aggressive since the last Metal Sonic unit was destroyed."

Robotnik was smiling with dark relish still. "Of course they are. We hurt them, Snively. Now they're getting fierce. But things are falling into place quite nicely. Oh, very nicely, indeed." His finger strummed together, as they did quite frequently in recent weeks, and then he turned his chair back to the large collection of data-screens.

Considering they hadn't suffered such severe losses over a consistent period of time since the start of the resistance, Snively was incredulous at Robotnik's back. "May I ask… what is falling into place, sah?"

"I'm glad you asked, Snively." The chair spun back around, and the smaller man was quite startled by the sincere pleasure written on the mustached face. "You see, these recent changes in tactics have made me notice more and more. The hedgehog, a devious nuisance, is the answer to all the equations. Or rather… his speed. Yes, you see, now that I have had a chance to experiment with the Metal Sonic robots, I've been inspired. Doomsday is going to undergo some modifications soon…" he grinned at nothing. "But first!" he spun his chair back around, his expression turning serious. "We have another trap to lay for our dear Princess Acorn and her speedy, blue hero."

"Yes, sah…" Snively turned back to his console, still utterly lost regarding Robotnik's reasons for being so pleased.

"Oh, and Snively?" the mad scientist continued nonchalantly.

"Sah?"

"Activate protocol zero-zero-four."

The smaller man's brow creased, not recognizing the protocol, but inputted the commands for activation. What resulted made him fall on his rear and gasp. The entire complex shook violently… in fact, most of Robotropolis felt a sharp quake from far below.

On the view-screens inside the command-center, Snively was staring at video-feeds from recording spheres, showing a vast army of already-built swat-bots, complete with drilling machines, air-support, and more advanced weaponry.

Robotnik sneered. "See them, Snively?" The army started to move toward a solid wall of rock deep under the city.

"Y-yes, sah…"

"They're going to tunnel all the way to the Doomsday device, and continue construction. Unless the rebels want to fight through this fortress, or dig half a kilometer through solid granite, they won't even see it happening."

Snively's eyes grew wider.

Robotnik simply pushed another button, and his screens showed a new wire-frame model of a hedgehog-like shape. This one, however, was tall, lanky, with long limbs, and large structures coming off on narrow supports all over its frame. "Those rebels won't survive this one… no…"

(Meanwhile…)

Back at Knothole, Bunnie was helping Sally iron out some more mission plans, Tails looking on curiously, when a welcome and familiar rush of air reached their ears. Both women and the young boy looked up to see Sonic skid to a halt, and let Antoine down from the rushing streak of a journey. Antoine lovingly kissed the grass while Sonic stopped-short. He'd been out, zipping through Robotropolis, and hadn't seen Bunnie's new limbs yet.

The rabbit woman giggled, blushing gently at his obviously pleased, stunned stare, and then waved him down. "Now stop it, Sugar-hog. You're makin' me blush!"

He jerked, grinning, and then blurred over into a hug of the startled cyborg. Bunnie laughed it off, and hugged him in return.

"It's great to see ya on your feet, Bunnie," Sonic admitted, finally pulling back.

The rabbit winked one sparkling emerald eye. "Imagine how I feel?"

They both laughed, and Sally stepped up with a smile of her own. "How'd it go, Sonic?"

Antoine actually spoke next, kneeling on the ground. "Monsieur Soneek placed many of the charges around one of the factories. I was not seeing much of the point for the looking out with him zipping everywhere, but at least we are 'ome!"

Sonic gave a thumbs up. "Exactly. Sooner done, sooner home." To Sally's firm look, he sunk his head, but defended himself with, "I made sure it all went off as planned. I'm not a rookie, ya know, Sal?"

She smirked, laughing mildly. "I suppose so, Sonic. Good news on that front. Just a scouting mission to the Northwest of the city and you can rest for a couple of days… Well, not worry about missions for a few days anyway. I don't think you ever rest."

Sonic grinned. "So where am I headed?"

She pulled a map off the table, and started to speak to him about what they needed. Meanwhile, Antoine came up to Bunnie, smiling gently. "Mademoiselle Bunnie, it is most relieving to be seeing you up and about, as they are saying! I can not put words to my feelings!"

Bunnie grinned, Tails trotting over to get a hug and ruffle of his fur from Sonic. "Thank you kindly, Antoine. I actually kinda like these new ones. Slimmer for my figure," she finished with a wink and a playfully alluring pose, one hand up, fluffing her ears, the other on her outer hip.

Antoine actually blushed a bit, and giggled nervously. "Oh-ho-ho! So I see, Mademoiselle!"

She was a bit surprised (and privately quite pleased) that he was actually struck by the silly gesture, and smiled more kindly at him. "Thanks again, Antoine."

He just shook his head, smiling, and trotted over to the other three, only to hold his jacket and hair as Sonic shot off with a fresh laugh. Bunnie walked up as Sally tried to clean her hair up, the squirrel half-smiling despite her irritation.

"Why Sally-girl, you look mighty happy all of a shot. Been missin' a certain Sugar-hog the last few days?"

The princess jerked, blushing a bit. "B-Bunnie, don't be silly. It's… just a beautiful day."

Tails laughed. "You're blushing, Aunt Sally."

The resistance leader sputtered a bit, and started to shoo the boy off, mumbling something about a good lunch and him not eating enough at breakfast. Bunnie stood back with Antoine, smirking in a knowing, happy manner.

(Later…)

Skidding to a halt on ashen-gray rocks, Sonic peeked over a large boulder, and focused on an isolated landing in a small mountain less than half-a-kilometer away. It was about half-way up the mountain-side, with three sides of near vertical rock cutting it off from easy access other than the front. At the back, nestled into the crags, was a small security station, with swat-bots patrolling around it.

He was about to return to Knothole to report the location of the minor outpost, when he stopped, and watched as four swat-bots abruptly turned and opened fire at something. He blinked, and realized they had just obliterated a small rodent that had happened to scamper within a certain radius of the little tower.

"Whoa! Talk about tight security… Something must be up…" Intrigued, the blue hedgehog revved his legs, and shot off. The streak of his path rushed down to the foot of the mountain, up the face, and right through the patrol on the landing. All of the swat-bots went into a frenzy, firing and charging him.

Ripping into a buzz-saw near the outpost itself, Sonic found it surprisingly resistant to his attack, and bounced off, speeding away. His brow creased with further concern when he looked back, only to see the swat-bots returning to their patrols rather than chasing him off. "Shoot, it must be important for all this weirdness… Time to tell Sal." And he blazed for the horizon.

(Back again…)

As he only did when he had passengers of his own, Sonic eased down on his speed long before stopping. Going from high speed to dead-stop in a few feet didn't do well for people clinging to him. His report had been fast and to the point, like everything he did, and not much convincing was required to get Sally behind a demolition mission. It had been tough leaving Bunnie behind on the first major mission after she got her limbs back, but she'd smiled and wished them well.

So Sonic finally stopped near the same outcropping of rocks from which he had first spied the new base, and Sally and Antoine could finally let go. The fox was strangely stoic this time, though a cold sweat was visible on his brow. Sally and he had backpacks full of Rotor-made bombs ready to set and ignite by controller.

Having already explained the odd behavior of the defending swat-bots, Sonic looked back to Sally calmly. "I'm sticking with you guys and playing defense this time around. This place is too weird anyway."

For once, Sally didn't push him on a suggestion. She nodded. "I agree. Lead the way?"

He winked at her, and the princess couldn't resist a subtle smile before he shot off with a boom and rush. Sally nodded to Antoine, and they clambered over the rock, controlling their slides down the hill-side, and then ran for the mountain themselves. Sonic was already buzz-sawing through swat-bots up near the base as they reached the middle of the small mountain, but that didn't bother either of them.

Helping Antoine up onto the landing with the outpost tower, Sally paused for a moment to watch Sonic work. She was rarely up-close when he battled swat-bots, and it was an impressive sight. He just took them apart. Even the reinforcements rushing out of the outpost were being mowed down by a blue rush arcing and coiling around the landing like a crazed yo-yo.

Sally nudged Antoine's side to make sure she had his attention, and then nodded up to the tower itself. "Let's wait for another opening, and get inside, Antoine."

"I am with you, ma prinzess."

She offered the unusually serious fox a kind smile, nodded, and led him along the right-hand wall of the landing as Sonic ripped another squadron of hover-heads apart.

Unbeknownst to the three freedom fighters, Robotnik was watching all three of them on his security orbs around the mountain. The rotund tyrant smiled darkly. "Excellent, the princess herself. Snively, you may activate the weapon at any time…" He sounded genuinely casual, giving a blithe toss of his non-mechanical hand.

At the large console, as always, Snively cringed and pressed the waiting command key. A screen on his interface activated, and showed a wire-frame of the lanky, boxy Metal Sonic design previously on Robotnik's main screens. It flashed, and a bar appeared on the screen saying 'Activated'.

Back on the mountain, Sally and Antoine were just reaching the tower when both they and Sonic realized something was wrong… again. Sonic had just torn the last swat-bot apart, landing near the middle of the flat expanse around the tower, and the entire place had gone strangely quiet. The tower itself seemed dead.

Sally pressed a hand back into Antoine's front, and then briskly turned, hurrying toward Sonic. Antoine followed without hesitation, and Sonic agreed, rushing up to them.

"Wait or go, Sal?" Sonic checked quietly, feeling the need to whisper for some reason. He just felt like they were being listened to.

Sally eyed the crags around the tower warily. "I'm not sure. Maybe we should just retreat…"

Antoine remained quiet, but his face was firm, tightened.

And then the tower gate started to open again. As it started to creep up to the top, their eyes locked on the two metal feet it first revealed.

"Not again… not already…" Sally breathed, she and Antoine both stepping behind Sonic, the hero of the resistance spreading his feet forward and back, ready to shoot off instantly.

This one was surprisingly… tall. It was easily three times Sonic's height as the door finally pulled over its head. The optics flashed, and vents gushed mist from the narrow flanks. The robot stood erect, with long, thin, but subtly armored black and silver legs. The torso was wide and thin, with armored shoulders. The head was simply sleeker than the previous model, more proportioned. It was the arms that were the most intimidating. While spindly in their own mass, like the legs, they featured gauntlets of thicker black armor, long, clawed hands, and large, hydraulic frames held huge, blocky chunks of silver and black metal out and off from the robot's main body. It was a war machine more than a speed demon.

"Priority 1, resistance fighters. Target present. Prioritizing group. Sally Acorn."

Sonic bared his teeth.

Sally's face changed this time. Remembering what had happened to her dear friend, her own cowardice, a cold anger flared in her chest. "Sonic, go!"

The blue wonder flickered, the air exploding around Sally and Antoine, but neither reacted. Antoine had a similar cold anger in his eyes to the princess.

Metal Sonic snapped his arms up, the large blocks suddenly snapping forward, revealing missiles, building energy in cannon-barrels, and even blade launchers.

But before even Sonic could reach the machine, something just happened. There was a subtle rush, a flash of white light raining down from high above, and then the tower and a good chunk of the landing erupted in a geyser of force , rock, and dust. Sonic was halted instantly, and sent flying back under a wave of rubble. Sally and Antoine cried out in shock, Sonic slamming onto his back near their feet.

Robotnik lost his video feed in the same blink. "WHAT? Snively!"

On the mountain, Sally and Antoine helped Sonic back onto his feet, all three of them staring at the huge crater that had formed out of nowhere. And then they heard it. The Metal Sonic that had just appeared to them had never moved his razor-fin, it hadn't been flexible, but they heard that horrible, ripping, rushing roar. And this time it was a chorus.

With the dust still settling, they heard something moving up crater from the inside, toward them. Sonic braced again, but needed a target first. What he got was a shock.

Metal Sonic appeared on the crest of the crater, but it was not the weapon-crazed war-machine they had just faced. It was the monstrosity from the canyon cave, which the three resistance fighters could not recognize yet. Three razor-fins on the black and silver head, diamond-glass tubes and plating glowing with white light, red optics glimmering ominously. The unusually detailed arms and legs were limp as it stood, the hands just hanging.

And then the three fins, the largest in the center, small ones behind where ears would have rested, ripped again, filling the air with that horrible, mouthless roar. The optics flashed. Metal Sonic focused on the three, his purpose for coming standing just behind Sonic, to his left. Sally was staring in controlled shock, not sure what to make of this new robot, or why it had so violently and suddenly appeared. Then Metal spoke, the vented face-plate gushing mist just before his low, smooth voice filtered out. "I'm here, Sal."

She actually twitched. "W-what did it just…?"

Sonic glowered. "Alright, chrome-dome, using' my nick-name for Sally is way past the line!" He revved, and burst to ram the black, silver, and white-glowing machine.

The robot focused on Sonic calmly as he sped up to him. The warped programming in the machine's mind flickered through images of Sally smiling at Sonic, and then overlapping its own data with the blue hedgehog. Seeing the hedgehog actually approaching only triggered the defense systems. These were bypassed as the machine looked back up at Sally. All of this occurred in a split-second.

Sonic skidded to a halt, his eyes flaring. A flash of light had startled him, and then it streaked down the crater-edge, across the landing, and ended at Sally. Metal Sonic appeared there, the light fading into his diamond-glass details. Antoine snarled, actually leaping onto the robot as Sally stumbled back from fright. "Sonic!" she cried out.

Metal ignored Antoine as the fox clung to his right arm, bit, and scratched it, and stepped closer to Sally, his left hand reaching toward her face. Sonic was just twisting around on the crater-edge, about to zip back, when the machine spoke. "I'm here, Sal."

Sally hesitated, her eyes tightening at the robot's optics. "…Sonic?" she repeated her friend's name strangely this time, as if testing it for the robot.

"Yes," the machine answered, easing closer, the metal fingers just reaching to her furry cheek.

Of course the princess recoiled, her mouth shivering open as she jerked away from the thing's touch. "You're not Sonic! You're…" her eyes hollowed, "the one from the canyon…"

Sonic's eyes flared, Antoine falling off the thing's arm as he realized she was right.

Memory files clicked into place, and tried to relate to Sally's presence. He saw the battle in the canyon-cave, her rising up and shouting at his view-point. "From the canyon, yes."

"You shoulda stayed there!"

Metal pitched violently down to Sally's right, crashing away from her as Sonic rammed into the robot's side in full buzz-saw fury. Most disturbingly, Sonic just bounced off with a sharp ping, and the robot planted one foot further away to prevent from losing balance. Sonic landed, grabbed Sally and Antoine by their arms, and zipped back, just getting them away from the machine to give time to think up a plan. He stopped near the far side of the landing, near the edge, on the mountainside, keeping Sally and Antoine behind him.

"It eez the monstroceety that harmed mademoiselle Bunnie! But how?"

Metal picked himself up to full standing position, and locked his optics sidelong on Sally again, the three fins ripping. It suddenly rushed toward them, Sonic blitzing to meet it. Sally and Antoine watched as the two blazed for a collision, but just before it could happen, Metal was suddenly engulfed in a sphere of white energy, and blasted forward and all the way around Sonic, reappearing on the hedgehog's right, back-handing him violently.

Sonic grunted, and flew into the air, flipping around like a rag-doll, and slamming into the side of the crater.

"Sonic?" Sally cried out, her hands snapping to her mouth.

Metal looked up at her, reacting to the dismay in her voice, and flashed with power again. He was suddenly there, in front of her, the light fading. Antoine fell back from the wind-blast, and Sally would have if not caught around the waist by the machine's right arm. It was trying to embrace her in some way. Sally's heart and stomach lurched unpleasantly at the combination of proximity, memory, and identity of the thing trying to hold onto her, and she rammed her palms into its chest, starting to struggle violently out of the arm.

Seeming to ignore her struggling, Metal's left hand reached up again. Sally assumed it was just taking a malicious pleasure in starting to strangle her again, so she tried more frantically to get free, Antoine just rising up, kicking at the robot's legs and side, but to no avail. What actually happened made Sally almost wish the thing had wanted to strangle her.

It caressed her. The cold, sharp metal of his thumb just ran down her cheek, the fingers running back along her jaw-line. It was holding her close, the cold of his stomach against her own, and was trying to caress her face.

Sally's eyes flared over his touch, her body shivering from an unexpected rage and overwhelming sense of violation. "Get away from me!"

The optics tightened, confused. "…Not smiling…"

She was so disturbed at this point that Sally actually had tears in her eyes, just from the sheer confusion of emotions in her system. "Of course I'm not smiling! Get OFF ME!" It was nonsensical, but the words just rushed out of her mouth. She started to wrench her head away from his hand, squirming violently in his arm, kicking and scratching him. "No! No! Let go! You hurt Bunnie! You tore HER APART! GET AWAY FROM ME!"

Her rage, screaming, and obvious hatred were shaking his confused programming to their warped foundations. Metal's eyes tightened, his frame twitching faintly. Trying to adapt, his interface systems started to accept her unexpected reaction as new data for comparison. Trying to analyze and solve an algorithm that it didn't realize was too complex for any mind to solve.

"Comin' Sal!"

This time it was real.

Metal's head twisted, Sonic arcing through the air as a buzz-saw, coming down on him again. This time it triggered something. The impact of the power-ring, Sonic's dark satisfaction at finally nailing the robot, it all played through Metal's memories and programming. Metal released Sally that instant, the woman gasping and scrambling backward, shivering and moaning from deep disgust, as if she'd been dumped in a pit full of crawling insects. Antoine fell back with her, not even looking as the robot responded to Sonic instantly.

Sonic came down, only to get knocked clean out of his spin by a snapping ram of Metal's right hand… clamping around Sonic's jaw. The hedgehog groaned in very serious pain, his neck almost breaking as his body lashed out of the spin. Sally yelped, but Antoine fell down at her side as she sagged with a minute bit of relief. Sonic was alive.

Metal, however, looked as ominously vicious as when he'd first appeared in the canyon cave at last. Holding Sonic up in the air as he was, his voice uttered one phrase. "…Full stop." The optics flickered, and the three fins roared.

Sonic grimaced, and his legs burst with speed, ramming into Metal's elbow with super-sonic ferocity. Beyond causing the entire arm to vibrate, however, it did little to affect the robot. Metal pulled Sonic down into his face, not actually remembering that it was exactly what he'd done to Sally before, when strangling her with the other arm. "You took Sal."

This time Sonic stared at the machine in similarly disgusted confusion as the princess herself had when being embraced and caressed by the dark metal construct. He would have responded sharply if his mouth hadn't been held shut. Metal, however, just flung the hedgehog away, and turned back to the princess.

Not even looking, Sonic put his feet below his body, revved to full speed, and landed blazing. Sally cowered back from Metal, not just from fear, but real disgust, not even wanting to think about what it wanted to do with her if it got a hold of her, and then saw the machine burst in white light again. Sonic appeared, because he was skidding to a halt, shock flashing across his face. He'd tried to ram Metal off the edge of the landing, but the robot had dodged somehow, and now the hedgehog was skidding right to the edge himself.

"No! Sonic!" Sally dove to help him, Antoine falling right after her.

Metal appeared behind Sonic, and simply palmed him in the back. Sonic dove off the edge, but Sally got a hold of his ankle. It yanked her over the edge, Antoine stumbling onto her legs, sliding off with her in a rush. Sonic got twisted into the mountainside, slowing his tumble, and Sally flew off, actually in the open air, and falling toward a very dangerous landing on jagged rocks near the foot of the mountain. Sonic snapped up, blazing through the shale on the side of the short mountain. "Sal!"

A white flash beat him to her. Sally grunted, slowed from her fall, and looked down with widened eyes to see Metal Sonic holding her in his arms, slowing to a stop on the mountainside after catching her. She was too stunned to resist as he kept her in his arms, looking at her with… softness? In his optics. "I'm here, Sal."

His arms were so cold, digging into her back and legs. "Let go of me," she breathed tightly, tears in her eyes. "Please let go of me!" she suddenly cried out.

The new data was starting to be incorporated now. He twitched. "Want. Sally. Release… Command. Not smiling. Priority. Want. Release."

In a jerking, stuttering manner, the robot let her drop. Sally hit the ground crouching, Sonic skidding to a stop in shock at seeing the robot save her. Antoine watched from higher up on the mountainside, all of them staring at the robot as he continued to twitch and flicker, even his blade-fins shifting up and down rapidly.

He started to stumble back from her, up the mountain side, looking at his hands as he continued to jerk and twitch. "Not… smiling. Can not process. System conflict. Override. Repair. Unable." Finally he grabbed his head, and his blades started to rev violently, almost like a scream of frustration. "Not smiling. NOT SMILING!" emotion suddenly burst into his voice. "Data invalid. Want. Smile. Not smiling. I want smile," he suddenly shifted again, breathing the last phrase out weakly, his face-plate venting a soft rush of mist. All the new images, her anger and disgust, her blending into the smiles with Sonic, the overlap of his data.

And then…

"Bunnie," he voiced in the monotone analysis manner, going very still. "Hurt. Bunnie. Not smiling."

His optics slowly focused on Sally again, the woman's disgust tempered by a morbid fascination, along with Sonic and Antoine, as they all watched the machine war with itself.

When it looked at her again, though, Sally's anger surged back to life. "That's right! You tore her apart! You tried to kill me!" His optics twitched at this. "You fought Sonic, you fought Antoine. You were going to kill all of my friends, you wretched machine! Now Bunnie will never get her arm and legs back! NO I'M NOT SMILING!"

Sonic's eyes locked on Sally this time, concern washing across his otherwise angry features. She was just raging at the machine, it wasn't like her at all.

Memories clicked as she screamed at him, though. Metal suddenly went still. "Priority 1, resistance fighters…"

Sally froze, fearing she had woken up the assassin's programming rather than turned his disturbing new behavior against him. She'd just snapped, too disgusted not to scream, too sad for Bunnie not to lash out.

But Metal Sonic was just remembering it. His old programming. Then the old programming registered the memories, of Sally smiling at…

He rounded on Sonic, his entire body bracing with animalistic fury all of a sudden. Sonic braced as well, the two disturbingly alike, but Metal slowly narrowed his optics, and then looked back at Sally, his optics widening with… confusion?

Suddenly he stumbled again, holding a hand to his metal face. "S-Sonic… I am… Sonic… Not… Sonic. Not smiling. Not Sonic. Resistance fighters. Tore apart…" the images of Bunnie, remembering the sound of her scream.

Metal's back arched, his body flaring with power through all the diamond-glass and trace-lines, his optics blazing, his blade-fins roaring violently. He screamed, the voice distorting into a horrible, electronic screech. He writhed and contorted, then became engulfed in the white sphere of energy again… and it ripped off into the air, arcing high and away from the three resistance fighters, all but gone in an instant.

Sonic blurred up to Sally, the woman shaking from her raging emotions. He gently put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey… Sal? Talk to me…"

She looked in his eyes, her own tearing up. "H-he… touched me… He…"

Sonic winced in deep sympathy and guilt. "I… I'm sorry, Sal. I wasn't…"

The princess suddenly contorted, snapping her arms around herself, shaking. "I can't get that feeling out of my head! Ugh…" she seriously moaned in disgust, and she was looking deathly pale. Abruptly she lurched, and Sonic helped her stay upright as she vomited on the rocks.

Antoine had been stumbling down toward them, but stopped when he realized how seriously upset she was.

Sonic was totally lost at this point, mildly horrified at Sally's state, and having no idea how to help her. "S-Sal… calm down. It was just metal, Sal. He didn't do anything… Luckily…"

"He touched me!" Sally suddenly rasped back at Sonic, tears in her eyes. "He was all over me! The thing that hurt Bunnie, was holding me in his arms, caressing my face!"

Sonic suddenly grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Hey! It's just a robot, alright? Metal and gears! Calm down, Sal! You need to calm down…"

She did, slowly… but then her face tightened as tears welled up more powerfully in her eyes. Finally, she burst into sobs. Sonic was near tears himself, from sheer confusion, seeing Sally so hurt, being unable to help her, being too slow for that horrible robot, and being just completely lost as to how to help her. He just reached around her, and she sobbed into his shoulder, her trembling hands clenching into the fur on his front.

"Forgive moi," Antoine hesitantly said, "but we must be going, Monsieur Soneek. Robotneek's forces must be coming to investeegate the strange happenings…"

Sonic nodded, and simply picked Sally up in his arms. That she just curled up, still crying, worried the two men more than anything else. "…Grab hold, Ant."

The fox did so, and Sonic took off. Indeed, they were under the ever-watchful eyes of fresh security orbs.

Robotnik glowered in his throne, but his eyes glimmered with thought. Snively had fled from the room already. The tyrant, however, sat back in his throne, and laced his fingers together. "…Unexpected… but useful." He hit a few keys on his armrest, and it brought up the schematics for the second Metal Sonic. "I always give myself a back-door…"

(Author's Note)

Again, thank you all for the positive reviews. I'm glad the story is enjoyable. Hopefully, with this chapter, the title of this fan-fic is starting to make more sense. Don't worry, you haven't seen the last of the resurrected robot. I want his progression, to whatever end, to be believable, so it will take a while longer.

Reviews/critique always welcome.