Chapter 7: "To Smile"
Air rushed in a familiar roar to the resistance fighters, and Bunnie led the group of them running out to meet Sonic, hoping for the best. Tails, who had been updated in the interim, was very anxious for his dear Aunt Sally, and flew in, landing just behind Bunnie, near Rotor and Antoine with a larger crowd behind them. What came up to stop in front of them was both a relief and a horrid shock.
Sally quickly hopped out of Sonic's arms, and raised her hands to her friends allies. "Wait, wait… It's alright."
Everyone was reaching for some kind of weapon, others had started to run for explosives near the workshop, but they paused, waiting after Sally's calming words. Sonic stood by with her… and they both turned to look at Metic, who had simply halted behind them. The ominously forged machine let his red optics glide across the tensed resistance fighters. Their smiles meant much less to him, but they all added to the difficulty in making Sally smile. Then he focused on Bunnie, his optics tightening.
Bunnie herself stared at the robot with a mixture of a grimace and horror, knowing from the others that it was the monster that had torn her limbs off.
Sally spoke again when the silence after her starting comment proved painfully awkward. "Please calm down. He's loyal to me now. He's obsessed with seeing me smile, so he's going to work for us. I promise you, everyone, he is not a threat to us."
Sonic stood up at her side. "She's right, guys. He won't do anything that'd upset Sal. It's weird, we know, but it's true, too." He smirked back at the robot. "Isn't it, Metic?"
The robot looked at him. "Correct."
Rotor, grave, finally replied, "I'll buy it if you two say so, but I don't like this, Sally. He's a killing machine, and this could all just be a trick from Robotnik. I mean after what he did to…" The walrus wisely shut his mouth before he said his friend's name.
This caused everyone, even the young, but shrewd Tails to focus on the cyborg woman. The mood of the moment turned decidedly wary, as it was clear Bunnie was near to either screaming, diving at the machine, or just snapping completely, her fists both clenched.
Sally exhaled tensely, and stepped toward her friend. "Bunnie… You're the one he hurt the most. If you can't stand him, I'll… send him away or something."
The rabbit woman focused on her friend at last, and slowly shook her head, going calm and firm. "No, Sally-girl. I understand. If he's really workin' for you, he's a big advantage…" She looked down flatly, her arms shaking. "But… But I ain't gonna work with him any time soon, if that's alright?"
Compared to how she could have reacted, it was amazing consideration from the incredibly strong young woman. Sally put a hand on her shoulder, nodding slowly. "Absolutely, Bunnie. Thank you so much for understanding. I really think he'll help us."
"Help you, darlin', not us."
The princess nodded. "True."
It was probably best that Bunnie wasn't looking ahead at that moment. Metic was staring at her intently, his systems recording her vitals, body-language, tone of voice, muscle-motion, and the overall manner it all created. Indeed, Bunnie's smile would be the greatest obstacle to Sally's, and Metic added more priority than he already had.
Rotor, however, saw what the robot was doing, and his expression turned surprisingly dark for the normally warm-mannered walrus. Antoine, for his part, was glaring at the robot, remembering all too clearly exactly what it had done to Bunnie and Sally each.
Surprisingly, Tails stepped out from the group, past his two favorites aunts, Dulcy looking on anxiously from the back of the crowd, and approached Sonic and Metic both. "So you're on our side now?" he asked of the tall, black, silver, and glass machine.
Metic focused down on the child, lacking any specific data. He simply blinked.
Sonic stepped closer to Tails, keeping the boy from straying too close. Sally turned, a bit wary as well, but Bunnie gawked in alarm. "Tails! Stay away from it, darlin'!"
The little fox jerked, looking back at her as Sonic and Sally shared a grave look. Bunnie motioned to Tails. "Come back here, Tails. That thing's a weapon, not a new friend."
Sonic let go of the fox, but wanted to see how this exchange finished. Sally was also observant, not exactly disagreeing with Bunnie, but doubtful of the need for such obvious fear. Tails was still confused. "But doesn't he listen to Aunt Sally? Isn't he okay now?"
Bunnie looked at the boy fretfully, giving the robot a few dismissively fearful glances. She did not want him near it.
Metic observed her manner again, and finally addressed the young boy. "Listen to Bunnie, Tails."
Everyone blinked, even Bunnie momentarily startled by his support. She locked her eyes on the glowing red dots, which carefully focused on her as well. Tails looked back the robot, nodded mildly, and trotted back to hug Bunnie's right leg. The cyborg patted his head, but was staring at Metic with a firm curiosity in her green eyes.
"And are you thinking zis changes anything, robot?" Antoine finally snapped, getting Metic's (and the crowd's) attention. "We all know what you are! If ze prinzess is willing to overlook what you 'ave done, it eez to 'er credeet, but you will nevur be trusted 'ere!"
"Trust?" Metic queried, an optic-ridge rising.
Antoine was given pause by the sincerely uncertain tone in the robot's synthetic, low voice. It was as if the robot had never considered the idea before.
Metic looked to Sally. "What do you want me to do, Princess?"
Sally focused on him seriously, thinking over what had just happened, and not sure yet what she wanted of him.
Bunnie firmed. "Can you do anything other than wreck stuff, rust-bucket?"
The princess winced. She wanted to tell Bunnie to ease off, but couldn't bring herself to correct the justified cyborg.
Metic looked to the rabbit himself. "I can manipulate machinery. The resistance requires new devices and weaponry, if my current data is still accurate."
"Rotor's got us covered, thanks," Bunnie retorted, dangerously short-tempered.
The walrus in question didn't have a big desire to work with the robot himself.
Sally closed her eyes, exhaling firmly. "Please stop, Bunnie…"
"What?" the rabbit blinked at her friend.
Sally lowered her head, not meeting the other woman's eyes. "You are completely justified in being so angry with him, but please let him help. If he can help us make better weapons or equipment, it will save lives."
It was clear Bunnie wanted to retort sharply, but stopped herself, frowning. "…Sorry, Sally-girl. I'm getting' too hot-headed. I'll go cool off." She carefully pulled Tails from her leg, and then marched off.
Sally turned to Metic, Sonic just not sure what to do to help. "Rotor is our chief engineer. If you're going to work with machines, you obey his orders, understood? As if they were coming straight from me."
Metic nodded calmly. "Understood, princess."
Rotor cringed a bit, but stepped forward, hesitating before offering his hand. "…I'm Rotor."
Metic blinked down at the offered hand, and then put his own out. Rotor blinked as the robot completely missed his hand, and then chuckled a bit, grasping the metal claw, and shaking it. Metic finally understood, and his talons curled around Rotor's paw before their hands pulled apart.
In the gap, Tails had trotted back up to the robot. Sally spotted him, and reached back to Sonic, who looked down to the fox as well. He looked to Sally, but she just gave him a calm glance as well. They were going to see how it went.
The fox tapped Metic's knee. Rotor glanced down, and Metic did likewise… slowly.
Looking up at the dark robot's face, Tails asked, "Are you really a copy of Sonic?"
"That was my original design model, correct."
"But you're also the one that hurt Aunt Bunnie and Aunt Sally aren't you?"
"Correct."
"Why…?"
"I was programmed to."
"But you really hurt them. Why?"
Metic paused. "I did not understand that was counter to my goals."
Sally was watching intently at this point.
"But why did you want to hurt them in the first place? Aunt Bunnie is so nice and sweet, and she was in so much pain."
"I didn't want Bunnie to smile then," Metic answered, but his expression was turning more uncomfortably flat. He did not want to talk with the child.
Tails blinked. "But her smile is so happy! Why wouldn't you want to see her smile?"
"I do now."
Rotor blinked at the robot, and looked to Sally, who gave a faint shrug, her expression lighter than before.
Tails smiled a bit. "Well that's better, I guess. And you should thank Aunt Sally, too. If she didn't want you to stay, everybody would be really mean to you after what you did. You should be in big trouble, but she's letting you help out."
Metic's optics tightened in confusion, but Tails just trotted off, wandering after Bunnie to make sure she was okay. Sonic shared an interested look with Sally, only for both of them to focus on Metic when he stepped up to them.
"Thank you."
The princess blinked. "Excuse me…?"
"Thank you for letting me stay."
"Oh…" Sally was quite uncomfortable. "No… problem… Metic. Please, go with Rotor now. We need to get moving for more missions, soon."
He nodded, and turned to Rotor, who tipped his own head, and led the robot off toward the workshop.
Sonic smirked. "You've got him wrapped around your little finger, don't you, Sal?"
The princess shrugged awkwardly. "Apparently… I have to admit… he's more pitiful than terrifying to me right now… He was almost afraid of Tails…"
"Good. He deserves to be on the bottom rung until we sort him out more. So come on, let's get planning again!"
She giggled at him, and they started off. Metic heard her, of course, and his optics dimmed. He had to help Bunnie smile…
(Later…)
With Dulcy, Sonic, Bunnie, Antoine, and even Tails, the young leader of the resistance talked them through a plan to get into the belly of the Doomsday beast. She was just tracing her finger over a few areas of the schematic when a robot messenger bird fluttered down into view.
"Sally," Dulcy muttered, seeing it first with her peripheral vision so much higher than her friends'.
The princess looked up to the dragon, and then raised her hand out for the messenger-bot. It landed gently, and the message popped up. Letting the robot fly off, Sally unrolled the message. "It's from Uncle Chuck…" she trailed off, her eyes rapidly blazing down the piece of paper.
"From Unc? Well what's the deal, Sal?" Sonic quickly asked in his usual impatience.
The expression on the squirrel woman's face made everyone focus on her more intently. She felt sick to her stomach, and her grim façade made that much clear to her concerned allies. "…We have a serious problem," she more breathed than spoke.
Her mind whirling, she just handed the paper to Sonic, and leaned her hands on the tree-stump they were using as a table. Sonic blurred his eyes down the page, then leaned back. "No… no way…"
Bunnie stamped a foot finally. "Would one a-y'all tell us just what's goin' on?"
"It's Doomsday," Sally managed, her eyes shutting. "Robotnik created an underground… supply route. He's been completely remodeling it from the inside out. If he wasn't, we'd already be under attack by death-pods…"
Dulcy just stared, Bunnie's mouth falling open from the horror of the revelation, Antoine breaking out in a cold sweat the others could well-relate to, and even Tails realized how terrible the information really was, falling back on his tails, staring down at the grass. Aunt Bunnie, Aunt Sally, the forest, everything…
Suddenly Sally's hands clenched the map off the stump, and she gritted her teeth. With a sudden roar that startled her friends, especially Sonic, the young woman threw the map to the side, and slammed her fists down onto the smoothed wood. "I can't believe I was this blind! We could all be dead already! I didn't even see it coming! All because I was just a co…" She stopped herself, breathing firmly down at the stump between her fists.
Easing closer, Sonic rested a hand on her shoulder. Her face snapped toward him, but she eased sadly, seeing his concern. Her dear hedgehog said, "It isn't your fault, Sal. Robotnik took us all for a loop on this one. Now come on. We need to get in gear, and juice a plan before that thing is up and running."
Pulling herself back upright, Sally nodded to him, and gripped the hand on her shoulder with an affectionate squeeze. "You're right. Sorry." Then she turned to her friends. "Alright, everyone. This is it. I'm sure Uncle Chuck is already working on a way to confirm the interior design of the Doomsday facility, but we need to grind this out right now. Bunnie?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Tell Rotor we need that chemical of his ready to go, and in large numbers, by tomorrow night."
The cyborg ran off.
"Dulcy?"
She had the dragon's full attention.
"I don't mean to embarrass you, but please practice your landings. We need multiple teams in rapid succession. If you take yourself down, people will get hurt."
Dulcy did blush, but nodded seriously, and actually ran off, taking flight that moment.
And the leader of the resistance turned to her hero, Antoine, and little Tails. "This is a demolition mission. Tails, before you even ask, you can't come. This is the most dangerous mission yet, we can't watch out for you the way adults should for kids. Antoine?"
"Yes, ma Prinzess?"
"I need everyone available on this one. Can you handle placing explosives on your own?"
He paled, but clenched his jaw as he remembered the attack on Bunnie, and how helpless he had been for her and Sally each. "You may be counting on me, ma Prinzess."
Sally nodded to him in sincere appreciation, and focused on Sonic. Tails had taken his news surprisingly well, understanding how serious it all was this time. The blue-wonder, however, raised his eyebrows, not sure what she would tell him directly. "You'll be our front line, Sonic. Even if Robotnik's machines don't just go after you, you're the best fighter we've got."
He smirked. "Don't worry, Sal. I'll have any swat-bots falling apart before they even spot you."
She nodded, smiling at him.
Antoine risked speaking up. "…And what about ze robot? Is 'e going to be helping us, or no?"
Caught in uncertainty, Sally glanced at him, and then down. Sonic was grim, but didn't hesitate in saying, "He'll do anything you ask, Sal. He and I should be the front-line together."
It clearly surprised his dear friend, the young woman blinking up at him, a glimmer of relief in her beautiful blue eyes. "That wouldn't be a problem for you?"
"This is way past any of us. I'm not gonna blow this just because that stupid chrome-dome creeps me out. You didn't let it stop you."
He would never know how deeply she was touched by his choice of words in that very moment. In fact, the only thing keeping her from kissing him again, just to say thank you, were Tails and the nervous presence of Antoine just to either side. Sally opted for a meaningful smile and another nod to the blue hedgehog, which he understood well enough, and then turned to Tails. "You want to sit in on more planning?" There was soft humor in her voice this time.
The boy hopped into flight with excitement. "Thanks, Aunt Sally!"
She winked, and waved for the two men to follow them. "Let's get to work."
Sonic grinned at her back, and nudged Antoine in the ribs as they walked beside each other. Though Antoine remained a nervous, jittery fox, he'd toughed up for the princess and Bunnie, and Sonic saw it. They followed their commander as respectful allies if nothing else.
(Elsewhere…)
If air could be cut by a blade, it would have needed it between Rotor and the robotic copy of the blue hero as they both worked in the workshop. The walrus man kept checking over his shoulder, afraid that any second would bring the revelation that it was all a big trap, and he'd be dead too fast to warn anyone.
That moment never came as he walked into the main chamber of the workshop, and faced his odd companion. "Alright, Metic, I've shown you around, and Bunnie told me the latest from the Princess. Sally wants us to build a delivery system for the corrosive gas."
Metic locked his glowing eyes on the walrus. "Any and all weaponry capable of being constructed with current equipment, especially devices aiding in demolition of the Doomsday facility."
Rotor blinked. "Yeah… You just… guess?"
"Estimations based on previous records and behavior of the resistance." Metic turned, his optics scanning the room again, matching it with the data of the rest of the workshop. "There is need of a de-roboticizing device as well."
"Always, but it won't do any good if we're all dead first."
Only the memory of Sally telling him to obey Rotor as herself made Metic focus back on the walrus. "Weapons first, sir."
Rotor nodded, controlling his anxiety. "Weapons first, right." He walked over, pulled out some large scrolls of paper, and laid them out on the main table for Metic to see. "These are my current ideas. Pick out what you can build plenty of in about a day, and get to it."
Metic looked across all the little images, lines, dots, comments, and statistics Rotor had carefully drafted over his time with the resistance. "What supplies are available?"
"Everything in the store room. This is the end-game. If we don't take down Doomsday, we're cooked."
Logging the odd metaphor into his ever-growing memory, Metic nodded slowly, and, without looking, pointed to his left, to the raised platform at the back of the main workshop room. "Are those supplies accessible?"
Rotor nodded. "Yep, that too."
The robot turned, and walked up onto the platform, sitting himself on a stool. "Please begin to pull supplies closer to me."
Now annoyed, the walrus set his hands on his hips. "Hey, I'm the one in charge, robot. If anyone's going to be a gofer, it'll be--What the--?" He leapt clear across the workshop with fright, his arms snapping up.
Metic was suddenly engulfed in sparking, arcing white energy, his claws coming up, his optics glowing and razor-fins revving… and all of the metal, scrap, and junk parts suddenly rushed down onto the floor in front of him, and began to warp and snap together on their own, crackling in the white energy emanating from his mechanical body.
"To obey your original command, I will need a constant line of fresh supplies. If they run out, I will acquire them myself as-needed," Metic explained without breaking his flat tone, as if unfazed the sheer power rushing out of his body.
Rotor watched for a moment more, and gasped. Already, dozens of his project ideas were coming to life in front of him, all at the same time. Even the rapid-loading, elastic-balloon grenade pack for the chemicals he'd imagined, and briefly sketched up that morning. Realizing that Metic could simply craft machinery with his powers, his hands starting to reach down and aid the power in doing so, the walrus ran out of this workshop to get a bunch of workers together.
(Later…)
Already, the walls of the workshop were filling with completed bombs, weapons, armor, melee weapons, and several of the bomb-making chemical-packs for the new gas. Resistance fighters were forming a relay line most of the afternoon and on into the evening. Soon the store-room was running low, and Metic had enough supplies to keep going on his own. He was surrounded by partially completed machines, his hands blurring over devices in front of him, his powers fusing larger parts together at his sides and behind him.
Not wasting time, Rotor had started to work on smaller projects himself, just to have that one extra bomb that might save someone's life in a fight. Sally and Sonic had each stopped by before evening fell, and Rotor answered as many questions as he could. It was quite clear how the robot had gotten his body back, it was simply where the power itself came from that mystified them all.
Aside from answering any direct questions with simple answers, all Metic did was work on machinery. He had a temporary priority: weapons first.
That evening, however, there was just one last collection of parts to bring to the robot, and the most unlikely person offered to do it, to give the other hard workers a rest. Unable to fight on the front-lines, Bunnie Rabot had kept herself going the whole day, helping everywhere, because, by Mobius, she wouldn't leave a task undone if she could do it.
She walked into the workshop carrying a bin-full of parts and metal under her mechanical arm. Already, her green, made-up eyes were locked sourly on the robot on the other side, and she stomped up in front of him, just beyond the crackling energy that was building gear all around him. Pouring the parts onto a large pile to his forward left, she tossed the bin to the side, and then started to move away. Metic actually looked up, his true priorities awakening in her presence.
"The Princess will only smile when you smile," he said, his energy calming a bit, fading back below his head.
Bunnie stopped just before stepping off the platform, glancing over her shoulder darkly. "What are you talkin' about, anyway?"
"Because I attacked you." He remembered Sally's words. "Because I tore you apart."
She rounded on him, her eyes shivering with a violent mixture of emotions. Was it rage? Horror? Simple shock at his calm voice and morbid topic? Her ears snapped back as she rushed closer to him, her entire frame shaking with fury. "What the flippin' stars are you talkin' about, you blasted machine?"
"You do not smile at me because I tore your limbs off," he answered as calmly as before.
Bunnie was livid. "You expect me to smile at you? You tried to kill her! The one you're so obsessed with protectin'! Smilin'! You tried to kill her, and when I stopped you, you cut me apart like a heap of scrap!" she emphasized by slamming her furry hand down into her upper-arm in a cutting motion. "And now I'm stuck like this! For the rest of my life! You've always been metal, all your cold, hard life! I had a chance! A small one, but I had it! I coulda been normal again! I don't regret savin' my friends life from your cuttin' edges, but you did this ta me. YOU did! Look at it!" she snapped her metal and plastic hand up in front of his face. "Now I'm like you! Most of me is a robot! And if I want to move around, have any kind of life, it'll stay that way!"
Metic seemed vaguely overwhelmed, his optics broadening as she roared and raged at him, his sensors trying to keep up with all of the data she was pouring on him.
Bunnie clenched her metal fist, pulling it away from him slowly. Her jaw clenched, and she continued through gritted teeth. "You better do what you promised, robot, or I swear by all the stars in heaven and trees on Mobius, I will break you apart and use you for scrap metal with my own two hands!"
An optic-ridge quirked, but not in incredulity. In fact, the robot was quite certain she would succeed in doing exactly that given her offered criteria. There was a focus and determination in her manner, in her blazing emerald eyes that no programming or prime directive could match.
But then she changed. Bunnie's face fell ever-so-faintly, and her eyes shivered as she held herself upright. "Do you know how it felt?"
"I do not understand."
Her lips firmed, but tears started to drip slowly from her eyes. "Do you have… any idea… how much pain you… caused me…? How much it burned? …How much it felt like I was splitting apart from the inside out? And even that…" her voice gave out, and she dipped her head. Firm rage pulled her face back up to him. "Even that," she ground out through her teeth, "wasn't nothin' compared to what it was like inside. When I found out… I'd never… get my old body back… after all that." The hatred returned, and this time it blazed in full glory. She didn't have to hide it from her friends, or worry about snapping at an innocent person. Her attacker was there, in front of her, no doubt, no denial, only certainty. "And you did it. You ruined my life. Robotnik just changed it. You ruined it."
Bunnie raised her left hand up at him, clawing it as the entire limb shivered. "I'll never be able to hold my children in my hands without them feelin' cold metal. I'll never be able to run without a can of oil in my pack. I have to let one of my friends look at me like some kind a-machine to tinker on when my arm hurts, or my legs feel funny. I can't even be bashful about my legs!" A deep blush, from all the embarrassments she could remember, rushed over her bristling cheeks, but there was too much anger to let her shrink away in shame this time. And it was a machine anyway, what did it care of privacy? Of intimacy?
Metic was silent with her for a long, tense moment. His faceplate vented subtly, and then he simply said, "Understood, ma'am."
How she longed to crush his head in, use her metal limbs to do something organic limbs never could, just to make her feel like they'd been needed for something. For what he did, the fear in Sally's eyes, the excruciating pain, the loss of hope… But she just shook her head at him, and twisted, marching away.
"Do you want your arm and legs back?"
She froze, actually twitching as she faced away from him. Was it just the sheer stupidity of the thing? Making sure it understood why she was so angry? Suddenly everything spiraled down into a broiling rage in her chest, and it all snapped apart. Bunnie just wrenched around, actually snarling at him as her left arm reeled back…
A loud, metallic crack filled the air, Metic's head snapping down to his left, with Bunnie leaned into a full-body smack across his face with her robotic hand, almost falling over the pile of half-finished devices between them.
Two things happened in the same instant. Metic's optics flared as his razor-fins roared, and Bunnie's face fell with horrified shock. Her mind fell back into place, remembering how easily he had just ripped her body to pieces. It didn't matter how angry she was, he was just better built. And those blades…
Bunnie started to yank herself back, Metic actually starting to move toward her. No thoughts could form quickly enough, only the instinctive fear that this killing machine would crush her life faster than she could blink as an auto-response to a direct attack.
Just as she crashed onto her back, yelping with fright, Metic froze in mid-lunge. Bunnie hesitated, gaping at him awkwardly as the robot shivered in place.
He finally spoke, his voice blank. "Defense response… Over… ride…"
The blades halted, the optics dimmed, and Metic slowly sat back down, keeping his optics down on the--now still--pile of incomplete weapons in front of him.
Easing slowly herself, Bunnie looked at the robot with new eyes. Startled out of her anger, she had just watched a killing machine stop itself from responding to a direct assault. And she had hit him hard. Her hand still felt loose from the power of the blow, possibly knocking a few parts out of place.
Gently propping herself up on her elbows, she looked at him askance, uneasy, but calmer. "…Why… didn't you attack me?"
Metic was silent for longer than usual before answering, "You hit me for the same reason you do not smile at me. Repeating the cause of this state will not change this state."
Her brow creased, but she started to pick herself up, and when she stepped backward off the platform, only then did Metic re-start his energy-field and mass-construction process. Bunnie quickly left the workshop, almost fleeing out into the moonlight. For some reason, she started to hold her mechanical arm, almost remembering the pain of losing the last one. He did it, but… He's not lyin' either. …Oh stars, I just hope he doesn't realize he wants to kill us all again…
Closing herself in her cottage, she slumped against the door. After a moment of vague thought, she pulled her left hand up in her right, and remembered the robot's callous question. "Do you want your arm and legs back?"… She sighed quietly, her face falling into sorrow. "Yeah… I really do…"
(Later…)
The next morning, Sally, Sonic, Tails, and the whole crew were gathered together during a short break in preparation as Dulcy flew overhead. While everyone was a bit hesitant for their reason for gathering, Sally used the chance, with them all looking warily up at flying woman, to steal a kiss on Sonic's cheek. He was surprised, but smiled at her, and squeezed her hand.
"Aunt Sally?"
She looked up, Sonic relaxing his grip on her hand if she wanted to pull it away. She didn't, and smiled at the little boy standing hopefully in front of her. "What is it, Tails?"
"Can I sit with you while Dulcy shows us her landing?"
The squirrel grinned mischievously, and grabbed the little fox in a combination of a hug and tickles. Tails squealed and laughed, falling into her lap as she smiled happily herself, finally showing mercy with her tickles, and squeezing him affectionately. "You're such a good little freedom fighter, Tails. You know I think that, even when I'm being hard on you, right?"
He grinned, nodding with childish certainty. "Definitely, Aunt Sally!"
Sonic smirked as his beloved squirrel giggled again, and kissed Tails' nose, making him giggle as well, and hug her. She was so good with kids… Sonic abruptly blushed, a vision of her holding their young son in her arms, smiling and laughing filling his mind.
Looking up from her young ball of fluff, Sally saw the startled and embarrassed look on Sonic's face, blinking. "Sonic, are you alright?"
He blustered. "O-oh, fine! Yeah! Just… ah… yeah!" His hand was scratching at his spines so rapidly the limb was mildly blurred.
Amusement mixed with confusion on her lovely face, and she finally just smiled happily, shaking her head at him. No more could be said before Dulcy gave a shout from high to the left, drawing their collective eyes up.
The dragon firmed with almost comical seriousness, and shot down toward the clearing in front of the crowd of friends. Muttering to herself, she swept down, and slammed her wings out, slowing herself drastically while still in the air… and dropped down onto her feet with a loud thump.
"She did it!" Tails proclaimed first, hopping into the air with his cheer. Dulcy was blushing already, a bit surprised she'd actually pulled it off.
Sally was stunned and pleased as well, but quickly got herself on her feet, clapping. "That was perfect, Dulcy!"
Everyone was cheering a moment later, and Dulcy laughed, smiling bashfully. "Thanks guys. I just wanted to show off all that practicing I've been doing."
Bunnie was still smiling as she came over to Sally, Sonic, and Tails. "Hey Sally-girl. I think Rotor wanted to talk to ya about a few things in the workshop. Want me to make sure Tails gets some lunch in that little tummy of his?" she grinned mischievously down at the little fox, who tried to hide before she grabbed him and tickled his stomach. He was giggling and gasping for air a moment later.
Both the princess and her blue hero were controlling laughs of their own as Sally replied, "That'd be great, Bunnie, thanks. See you guys later. If all goes well, we'll be hitting Doomsday within the next two days."
Everybody waved her off, Bunnie already moving Tails toward the dining hall, but Sonic paused his love with a grip of her hand, and made sure to smile warmly at her before she was out of sight. It meant a great deal to her, he could tell by the soft smile she returned, and then they finally parted.
(In the dark city…)
Far away from the beautiful Great Forest, under the perpetual smog of Robotropolis, Uncle Chuck was working busily in his hideout. Thanking the hallowed ones of Mobius, he had found a loophole in Robotnik's over-the-top security. There was a highly secured file in the main fortress' data-banks that contained rougher designs for the modifications to the Doomsday's interior. It had taken him all the hours since sending the message to Sally to find and crack it, but he finally had.
While not enough to make him confident, the information at least gave a much better idea of the facility's design on the inside. The modifications to the weapon-pods themselves, and any information on numbers of patrols, however, were absent. All Uncle Chuck could identify were completely different launch-systems for whatever had replaced the weapon-pods. Small, more numerous tubes, that would be spread over a wider area.
And then he found it. With the schematics rotating and zooming on his console-screen, Uncle Chuck's brow creased, and he slowly nodded. The most extensive changes to Doomsday were made in a sequence of massive chambers near the core of the facility itself. These chambers, which would obviously be heavily defended, contained the power-system for the entire structure. Taking it out with well-placed explosives would destroy Doomsday. They just had to get to it.
Adding in all the data he could, especially regarding subterranean entry-points, and started copying it all down to a data-disc for the resistance. When it popped out of the console, he plucked it up in his hand, and started for the exit himself. "And I always thought Robotnik would be the last person to put all his eggs in one basket…"
(Later…)
Walking into the workshop, Sally eyed the veritable storm of energy and working metal that was Metic at the far side. She'd never seen so many completed bombs, pieces of armor, even energy rifles cobbled together from any power-systems they didn't need. Rotor, however, was working at the bench near the door, and waved her over. She focused on the walrus, and stepped up beside him. Though it would not be difficult to notice, the princess didn't catch Metic's optics following her the moment she came into view.
"So what's the deal, Rotor? Any problems?"
He looked up from tinkering with another chemical-launcher. "Not really. As you can see, Metic's really gotten us rolling on the weapons department."
Not wanting to look at the robot particularly, Sally nodded. "It looks like it. So what's going on?"
Rotor calmed, and said, "The reason I called you in is Bunnie."
The rebel-leader became concerned. "What is it?"
Exhaling heavily, the walrus leaned back in his chair. "I was hoping Uncle Chuck was just mistaken, that there was some loop-hole I might be able to find for Bunnie when we get de-roboticizer up and running, but the more I learn, the more I wonder why Uncle Chuck is even saying he'll bother. I mean… the roboticizer itself is light-years beyond anything I can do, only Uncle Chuck really understands how it works."
Sally looked down sorrowfully. "Yes, I understand. I don't think even Bunnie is holding out too much hope for getting her original arm and legs back. …Not anymore…" She couldn't help a faint glance in Metic's direction, but she never focused on him.
"Well, I guess that's a good thing at the end of the day," Rotor replied a similar tone to her own. "At least she's prepared to cope, and won't get disappointed again. I just… wish I could help her."
The princess put a hand on his shoulder, offering a kind smile. "We all do, Rotor. It's not your fault. You and Uncle Chuck got her back on her feet, that means the world to her."
It helped him, and he smiled, tipping his head to her. "You're right. Thanks, Princess."
She winked lightly, and then nodded to the door. "I'm going to go make sure we're set for the mission soon."
"You got it. I'll be workin' away on the side here, while Metic does his thing."
They shared a light wave, and Sally glanced over to Metic, who was looking down at his work at that point, and waved hesitantly. "Thank you, Metic… You're really helping us out." She smiled a bit.
He looked up at her, and only tipped his head. He knew she wanted to leave quickly.
And she did, her manner eased a bit at his nod.
Neither she nor Rotor realized Metic had heard their entire conversation quite clearly. They weren't particularly concerned about it, it just didn't cross their minds. Looking down, he calculated how much longer he would need, and then let his priorities mold around the connection between Sally's smile, Bunnie's, and Bunnie's damaged body. Sally did smile at him, but it was not the same smile. It was… sad.
"Sir?"
Rotor blinked, and looked back at the robot. "Yeah, Metic?"
"I will have completed all possible fully-functional components in two hours. May I see to another matter at that time?"
The walrus smirked. "You earned a break, Metic, just be careful."
"Understood, sir."
Looking down at the parts and devices in front of him, Metic's systems continued to analyze his priorities and how to acquire them. To make Bunnie smile… His memory supplied all of her expressions, tones, and body-language from their 'conversation' the previous night. Her intensity, the clear fear overwhelmed by blinding rage, and something else… not so obvious, but as real as… the look in Sally's eyes when she smiled at him. Sadness.
It was possible that Bunnie's rage and sadness would be repaired by attaining her original limbs. To attain her original limbs, she needed the first set of robotic limbs to be de-roboticized. Sally would smile if Bunnie smiled.. and so the true priority was… Bunnie's smile… She must have her original body. He continued to work in that moment, but a plan was forming in his mechanical mind.
(Later…)
At a calm knock on her door, Bunnie yawned at her desk, stretching with a content little moan. Even her mechanical arm clicked and whirred as if it were relieving pent up tension. She stood up from her chair, and walked to the door, pulling it open without bothering to check who it was. She wished she had, her entire frame jerking taut.
Metic stood in front of her, his optics calmly focused into her eyes. "I can repair your limbs."
There was a firmness in his manner, a determination that got under her remaining skin. "…I figure you could, yeah… They're fine right now."
His head shook. "No, the original set. I can replace your limbs." His hands reached out toward her arm, and he started to step toward her.
It was an instinct, she just jerked her hands into his chest, knocking the robot back onto the grass as she let out a shout of focused panic. Metic never resisted her push, which was why he actually rolled back and stopped nearly two meters from her door.
But her shout had been loud enough, and as Bunnie stepped through the threshold of her own door, Metic just getting up to his knees, half of Knothole was running out onto the grass.
"Is it attacking?" someone shouted urgently.
Bunnie and Metic both glanced in the direction of the voice in alarm, Metic staying on his knees to avoid alarming anyone further. It wasn't until Sonic blazed up into view, dropping Sally to her feet, that everyone calmed enough to watch rather than reach for a weapon.
For her part, Bunnie was starting to blush. The robot had startled her, and she didn't regret making him leave her be, but this situation was not what she'd had in mind. Sally, however, stepped right up to the robot. "Did you attack her?"
Metic kept his head ducked down and away from Sally. "No, Princess."
The squirrel looked to Bunnie instantly. "Did he, Bunnie?"
The rabbit winced fractionally. "N-no… Sally-girl. He just startled me… I pushed him when he tried to step too close for my likin'."
A dark look settled over Sally's face, and she focused it on the robot. "You approached her without permission?"
It was a bit disturbing to see Metic actually fall onto his side and crawl a bit away from Sally as he answered, "I was mistaken." Indeed, his calculations had completely failed. He had caused the opposite response to that intended. Now the situation was worse.
Sally exhaled, looking down. "Please, Metic. Only approach a person if they invite you."
He froze his motion. "Understood, Princess, but I am currently unable to move without approaching someone." He was surrounded by freedom fighters in a broad circle.
A bit of frustration made the princess growl quietly. "I mean to interact with them. Go where you need to go, Metic. Just make sure… people aren't in your way when you move."
He got onto his feet and quickly retreated from the area, apparently returning to Rotor's workshop. Seeing that the situation was not so serious, the crowd began to scatter anyway, but Sally and Sonic walked over to Bunnie, who leaned wearily against her door frame.
"I'm very sorry, Bunnie. I didn't know he would just approach you like that. I'll tell him not to more specifically."
The rabbit shook her head. "It's alright, Sally-girl. I over-reacted. He let me hit him pretty hard, poor tin-can practically flew off. I… ah… I'm sorry 'bout makin' a scene. I wasn't thinkin'."
Sonic chuckled. "It's good to keep that thing on his toes, Bunnie. I wouldn't worry about it."
The princess nodded her agreement, smiling. "Definitely. Metic is still dangerous, he just seems to obey me. If he makes you uncomfortable, you're justified in taking care of it as you see fit, Bunnie. I can't be watching him all the time with this mission-plan as it is."
Bunnie just shook her head. "It's not a problem, Sally-girl, Sugar-hog, but thank you kindly. If y'all don't mind, I'm gonna take a little rest here."
Her friends were quite happy to hear the idea for her, and hurried off to continue preparing. The cyborg retreated into her cottage, and fell back on her bed. What'd he mean? Replace my arm and legs? Doesn't he know that won't make a bit of difference? She shook her head, and started to doze off into sleep.
(Later…)
Waking up with a soft start, a nightmare about losing her limbs to Metic back in the canyon, Bunnie groaned, and rubbed her eyes with her soft hand. A few nasty bruises had taught her not to use her left hand for such things. Sitting up in the bed, she exhaled, and rested her elbows on her knees. Glancing outside, she realized it was just a little later the same afternoon. Or she'd slept much longer than she'd expected to.
And then her thoughts turned to the surprise visit by the robot, and his odd words. He was really helping the resistance, and it was clear to Bunnie that his desire to see Sally smile was sincere, if… disturbing. And he'd appeared so… pathetic after she'd knocked him out on the grass, even cowering away from Sally. Probably to avoid seeing the squirrel's dark expression.
Bunnie groaned in vexation. "Now I feel bad for the stupid rust-bucket… Just great. I guess I better go apologize. I don't want that hauntin' my conscience."
Picking herself up, she left her cottage. Walking past the main edifice of Knothole, she saw Rotor and the others reviewing how to use the chemical-bomb packs, which filled volleys of balloons with the chemicals, which could be easily thrown, and then released the gas on contact with the air.
Not finding Metic near the briefing, which seemed a little odd to her, Bunnie realized he was probably finishing up some work at the workshop. She trotted in that direction, feeling less and less desire to actually apologize the closer the reality became, and nodded to herself when she spotted the flickers of white light from inside the workshop through the door.
Reaching the doorway, she held mechanical hand to the edge, and swung around with casual lightness from habit. "Hey, rust-bucket, we need ta--?"
She froze, stunned completely silent, and not entirely sure what she was looking at.
Up on the platform where he had constructed so many of the weapons and devices, Metic indeed sat with his storm of metal-working energy around him, but his body was coming apart. Small pieces were breaking off, ripping out of his inner workings, and rushing together down beneath his hands, his optics firmly focused down on his work. His body had gaping holes in the head, flanks, and parts of the limbs were missing already.
Finally, Bunnie ran into the workshop. "Metic! What are you doin'?"
His optics focused up at her calmly, as if he was doing nothing out of the ordinary for his own purposes. "…I will see you smile."
Confusion etched through her horrified expression… and then she looked down at what he was doing. "…My stars…"
Almost completely re-constructed already, her original three limbs were floating in the glowing air beneath Metic's hands. Back in the ruined canyon-cave, when his shattered body had fused back together, part of the new pieces had come from a very unlikely source. Bunnie's original metallic limbs. And he'd taken all of them. The three limbs were almost completely restored up to the point he'd cut from her body himself, even the little pieces that had shattered off were floating down into place and fusing back into the armor.
Thrown for a loop by this point, Bunnie was dumbfounded, her mouth agape… but then she looked back up at his body. It was still coming apart, and more pieces were snapping out of his innards, flitting down to join the robotic limbs under construction. "M-Metic… wait… Stop, Metic! You're pullin' yourself apart!" Her hands were out, but she didn't know what effect the energy around him would have on her.
Metic just looked at her, his body starting to shake faintly, losing structural stability as he remained active. "The components of your limbs were incorporated deeply into my super-structure. A temporary state of disrepair is needed. Should I shut-down, enough of the limbs should exist for proper de-roboticization."
Bunnie blinked, faltering back a step. "Y-you mean… you're… You're doin' all this just so I can be de-roboticized?"
"I will see you smile." And his optics focused back down on the limbs.
The machine was tearing himself apart, literally, and he was too valuable to the resistance. And how could these be the right limbs? She'd heard Uncle Chuck and Rotor's warning, Sally had told her… Sally! Bunnie twisted, and dashed out of the workshop. She just ran, sprinting across the grass, and finally skidding into the midst of her friends at the meeting, panting and sweating.
Sally blinked up at her, Sonic, Dulcy, Rotor, Antoine, and even Tails startled by her abrupt arrival.
Bunnie was holding a hand to her side. "It's Metic! He's gone crazy and he's tearin' himself apart to make me new limbs! Sally-girl, you've gotta stop 'im, he'll only listen to you!"
Shock pulsed through the crowd, but Sally was still stunned. "W-what? He's attacking or…?"
"No! He's rippin' himself to pieces to build me new limbs! You have to stop him before he shuts down completely!"
Sonic was picking Sally up the second she met his eyes with her own. He blurred off, everyone resisting the wind of his departure, and Bunnie ran after them. Antoine, Rotor, and Tails joined her, all of them rushing back to the workshop.
The blue hero skidded to a stop outside the workshop, and Sally ran in ahead of him. There was no more bright light, but when she looked across the calm, quiet chamber, she didn't panic, she simply stared in mild, morbid fascination.
There stood Metic, his body splotchy, battered, and half-dismantled from the inside out. His optics, however, were glowing as brightly as usual, and he still had all four limbs, though they were wheedled down to skeletal remains. Then Sally's eyes drifted down to his feet. Lying in front of him, were three perfect replicas of Bunnie's shattered limbs, right down to the pieces at the break-point that had flown off, and the direction of the bent metal at the edges.
Sonic stepped in behind her, blinking at the sight himself. Sally was troubled by the limbs, but couldn't accept the hope they promised. It was too unlikely. She focused back on the robot himself, and spoke, "Metic, are you going to shut down?"
Before the robot could respond, Sonic gripped Sally's shoulder.
"Sal! Look! In his chest!"
She focused, and then her eyes widened. Embedded deep inside the robot's torso, just visible thanks to the huge hole that was the left side of his chest, was the power ring. It was still glowing with immense power, and had wiring and metal fused into it. "A power-ring…" Sally whispered in shock, and then focused on Metic's optics. "You got all of this power from the power-ring?"
"Correct, Princess." He then gestured down at the limbs on the floor, just as Bunnie, Rotor, Antoine, and Tails reached the workshop themselves, moving in behind Sonic and Sally, Bunnie watching warily. They all spotted the power-ring as well.
Metic glanced to Bunnie, and then said, "These are the limbs I tore from Bunnie's body. If you saved any removed parts from the pieces still connected to her, a full repair should be possible, and future de-roboticization made likely again."
Rotor rushed forward, crashing to his knees near the three re-made limbs, quickly checking them over.
Bunnie winced at the robot. "Metic, ya can't just rebuild 'em… They have to be the original--?" she blinked as Rotor cut her off.
"They are!" the walrus looked back to his friends in shock and elation. "These are Bunnie's old robotic limbs! All the parts match up! I can't tell any differences!" He lifted the arm up. "It even matches the cut-line on your shoulder-joint, Bunnie!"
The rabbit gaped. "Rotor… sugar, are you sayin' I actually get my old limbs back?"
Finally, even Sally could start to feel a glimmer of hope. "Truly, Rotor?"
The walrus nodded instantly. "We just need to repair the cuts, re-attach them!"
Metic spoke again. "I assumed my presence would be unwelcome. I can re-attach the limbs as well. While you decide, however, may I access the junk-piles outside?"
He was quickly given permission, everyone locked on the limbs he'd re-forged. As he walked out, slowly, however, two sets of eyes followed him. Bunnie, her manner softened by what he might have done for her, if proved accurate, and Tails, who started to follow the robot curiously out the door.
Antoine hopped up and down. "Surely we are repairing mademoiselle's limbs, yes? There eez no time to be wasting!"
Everyone looked to the woman herself. Bunnie was too stunned to speak first. "I-I… I mean we can't be sure they're the right ones, right?"
Rotor cringed. "That's true. I would have to do extensive tests to figure out more, and even then there would be doubt."
Sally smiled gently. "It's up to you, Bunnie."
Sonic gave his thumbs up.
The rabbit looked back to the limbs around Rotor, her eyes tightening. "Sugar… can they work like the old ones did, same or not?"
Not having any doubt, the walrus nodded. "That's certain. These are exactly matched to the design of your original limbs. Full functional capacity."
Bunnie raised her left arm calmly. "I sure prefer these new one's for just livin'… but I want to fight with y'all. Mind helpin' me get 'em on?" she asked with an old battle-smirk.
Rotor grinned. "I'm ready and waiting."
"And I'll help," Sally offered immediately.
Bunnie gave her a happy smile, and then Sally shooed Sonic and Antoine out of the workshop for Bunnie's sake. Rotor and Sally helped Bunnie onto a table, and they got to work, making sure the cyborg wouldn't feel any pain while they went about connecting the original limbs to the damaged stumps her new limbs hid.
(Junkheap…)
Outside, around the back of the workshop, Tails eased around the last bit of the round building's outer wall. Metic walked up to the pile of scraps that had been unnecessary for the rest of the devices, and hold his hands toward them. The white light returned, and Tails blinked as the bits and pieces of metal started to fly back into Metic's body, rapidly filling up the gaps and holes in his frame, even taking on the color of his original parts.
In just a few minutes, the energy faded, and a fully restored robot turned around. His optics quickly caught Tails. "I was given permission to use the extra supplies."
With a start, Tails meekly stepped out into full view. "I was just curious… So you're all fixed now?"
The robot looked down at his hands, as if appraising them. "The parts and metals were of lesser quality, but the durability loss is minimal when reinforced by the rest of my original super-structure."
Again, the little fox blinked in confusion.
Metic's faceplate vented mildly. "I'm more or less all fixed now, yes."
Tails grinned. "Great! I know you'll really help out on this big mission coming up!"
"If it will make her smile." Metic started to walk back around the workshop, and Tails followed him like a little shadow.
"Aunt Sally, you mean?"
"Correct."
Tails was still smiling. "It was really nice of you to make Bunnie's original metal limbs again."
"It was to make her smile. I am uncertain of the results."
Giggling, the little fox asked, "Aunt Sally or Aunt Bunnie this time?"
Metic paused, his optics twitching faintly. "Both." And he kept walking.
As they came to the front of the workshop again, a familiar voice called out. "Well look at that. You fix up fast all the time, don't you?" Sonic finished with a light smirk, setting his hands on his hips beside Antoine, who still had a troubled (but more relaxed) look on his face as he looked at the robot.
Metic raised an optic ridge. "My repair process is efficient compared to others, yes."
It was clear to Tails that Sonic was much more relaxed with the robot this time. Tails knew the blue hedgehog was very impressed with Metic for re-making Bunnie's limbs. Snarky as ever, Sonic replied, "I'd tell ya to stop talking like a robot, but then you might start copying me again, and we can't have that."
"Oh dear. Two Soneeks? Most worrisome, yes," Antoine muttered, quite sincere in his dismal manner.
Sonic glared at him, but Metic replied in the faint, dry humor he'd showed before. "No… we wouldn't want that, would we?"
Looking back to the robot, still smirking, Sonic finally crossed his arms over his chest, and nodded at him. "So it was the power-ring, wasn't it? That's what let you build yourself back together?"
Metic nodded. "My original design and the energy of the power-ring were fused by your efforts to destroy me. Now each keeps the other functional, with a danger of over-exertion leading to permanent shut-down."
"So you're charging the ring, but you could still drain it dry and kick the bucket yourself?"
"Correct."
Sonic grinned. "See, I knew ya weren't perfect."
"Who claimed I was?"
The organic hedgehog 'hid' how well the robot caught him by sourly frowning off to the side.
Tails giggled. "You two fight like kids!"
Metic gave the fox a dark, downward glance. "Unlikely…"
"No way!" Sonic added almost at the same time.
Antoine and Tails started to laugh, making the two hedgehogs glare at each other again.
Then the door of the workshop clicked, starting to open. Metic twisted on his heel, but then backed up, pulling the farthest away from the opening door as Sonic, Tails, and Antoine stepped a bit closer, waiting with wary excitement. Sally came out first, then Rotor, and both smiled knowingly at their friends, moving to either side.
Bunnie stepped out into the sunlight, showing her old, confident battle-smirk as her apparently original metal feet pressed down into the grass, and her bulky left arm shifted smoothly at her side. "Now who'da thought I'd be glad to get these clunky old things back, huh?"
A happy cheer rose up from her friends, and she grinned, hugging Sonic, Antoine, Tails, messing Tails hair happily. Of course, she'd already thanked Rotor and Sally inside, and when she could let poor Tails away from her tickles, she looked up, past them all, to see Metic standing back in the shade of the nearest tree, his optics looking down.
"Metic?"
Only then did he meet her eyes. "Yes, ma'am?"
A calm smile appeared on her lips, and she raised her left fist. "These 'll let me fight with my friends, help 'em. Thank you."
It was a subtle smile, but the sadness in her eyes was greatly lessened. Metic slowly bowed his head to her. However, it was still hard for her, to look at him, and push away all the horrible memories. And she couldn't be sure these limbs promised her original ones eventually. But she could fight. So the rabbit tipped her head to him one last time, and turned back to Sally and the others. "So help me catch up. I need to know what I'm doin' with y'all so I don't screw it up!"
They shared a laugh, and hurried back to the main area of Knothole. Metic watched them go, and started to walk back into the workshop. Progress had been made. It was enough. He moved across the main room, and sat back down on his little chair on the platform, simply waiting for another task while he processed all the data of their responses.
(Later…)
Metic looked up when the door to the workshop opened, and his optics widened a bit when they registered Bunnie looking around the edge of the doorway. He quickly looked down, but as soon as she spotted him, the cyborg trotted up to his platform, and stepped onto it with him. "Can we talk for a minute, Metic?"
His optics focused back on her face. "As you wish."
Looking at him in that moment, she realized the robot was actually afraid of her, worried he had done something wrong. With a casual smile, she raised her left hand. "I just have to ask you if these are really my old limbs. Are these the ones that roboticizer gave me?" She let the limb down, shrugging. "I just need to know, Metic. I need to be prepared."
He looked at her directly, and said, "I am absolutely certain. When a de-roboticizer can be constructed, any failure to restore your organic limbs will not be because of the current robotic ones you have."
In a weird way, it was nice to have a robot's absolute certainty on the issue. Bunnie tipped her head down, smiling gently, hope igniting softly in her heart again. Metic saw it, and his head tilted, processing her mannerisms, realizing she was really smiling. Then Bunnie stood straight, and waved for him. "Stand up for a second, would ya?"
His optic-ridges rose, but he stood immediately, waiting in front of her. Nothing had prepared him for her response, his optics giving a soft flash of shock as she just leaned close and embraced him, holding him tightly for a moment. The poor robot was too stunned to really respond, just standing there, optics bright until she pulled back, smiling softly at him, looking into his glowing red dots.
"I just wanted you to know I appreciate it… I know Sally-girl does, too. She'll probably smile at ya next time you see her." She actually sniffed a bit, pressing her lips between her teeth, and nodded to herself, starting to move away.
There was so much data it actually took the computerized mind a few real seconds to process it all. A smile, a real smile, and she had embraced him. All of the data that had inspired his priorities cycled through his mind, showing the smiles Sally shared with Sonic, how he'd placed himself in Sonic's position. It was to acquire that contact, that connection between each other. Sally and Sonic had it, he lacked it. And Bunnie, the one he had hurt the most directly, attacked viciously, had come close enough to embrace him, and actually smile at him.
She was just at the middle of the workshop when his voice managed, "Bunnie."
Pausing, she turned, blinking at him.
"I'm sorry I hurt you."
Normally she would have blown it off, said 'no problem', and nervously laughed, but the combination of her very real hurt, and the strange look in his mechanical face stopped her from reacting instantly. His optics were… soft? With some kind of pain. And he wasn't moving closer, or sitting down. He was exactly where she'd left him, as if still stunned from her embrace. He actually meant it.
Finally, she eased physically, and smiled her lovely, soft smile at him, her green eyes twinkling with a little touch of humor. "Don't worry 'bout it, sugar. You made your amends with me." She raised her left hand to him, winked, and walked out of view.
Metic slowly sat down, his hard face softer than before, pensive, as if truly in emotional shock. His programming was changing and whirling in his mind, but he felt calm, as if he already knew where it would end up. And, as soon as he thought of it, his programming snapped into place, new priorities forming. "I will never hurt you again, Bunnie… Not if I have any power left to prevent it…" His optics drifted down, the ridges rising. "…She smiled…"
(Author's Note)
And here we are. Again, thank you for all of the positive reviews, I'm glad you're enjoying the story. By this point, what I intend for Metic is rather obvious, all that's left is Robotnik himself. The next chapter contains the final confrontation, whatever the outcome.
I hope this chapter was enjoyable. Please do let me know of any things that bothered you, and if anything got your attention in a particularly good way, please point it out as well.
Thank you,
Cy