EPISODE VI: Revelations & Messages
After dropping off Uncle Chuck and explaining the situation, Knuckles felt it best to be on his way— he still had a Master Emerald and an island to find, after all. His friend Julie-Su insisted she come with him, but the Guardian declined. Who knew how long it would take to track them down? Especially considering he… really kind of didn't know where to look.
Tails offered to upgrade his Miles Electric to detect the Master Emerald too. Knuckles allowed that much, since he was just kind of wandering aimlessly. That didn't mean he had to stick around though. Tails gave him a wristwatch walkie talkie in case he was able to find something. Its range was so wide that he could be on the other side of the planet and still be able to reach Tails and vice versa.
Knuckles sat down on an upside-down trash can, feeling the need to take a moment to rest. A cold gust of wind blew down the street, sending a sharp shiver running through his body (weather really didn't like him at all, it seemed) and a random newspaper tumbling down the street and colliding with and tangling around his leg. It blew away before he could grab it.
If anyone saw Knuckles nearly jump out of his skin when Eggman suddenly burst from the shadows, then they needed their eyes checked because they were obviously seeing things!
Still recovering from his shock, Knuckles could only stare at the egg-shaped man kneeling on the ground in front of him, a sobbing incoherent mess. If there was one thing one tended to learn after being lied to by the same despicable person on more than one occasion, it was to be able to smell bull-crap from a mile away.
The bull-crap was there, and it smelled like it was a lot closer than a mile away.
"Please help me, Knuckles!" Eggman wailed.
It took everything in Knuckles power to not cringe at the man or himself for that matter. A few years ago, he probably would've fallen for whatever Eggman was about to spew next. But he learned, he was smarter about trusting people now, and he knew not to believe a word of what this man said.
"Eggman," Knuckles started, not even bothering to hide his exasperation. "Do you really expect me to fall for whatever it is you want me to fall for this time?"
"I'm not lying!"
Knuckles raised an eyebrow. For a split-second there, he saw a crack in Eggman's act. It vanished as quickly as it came.
"Metal Sonic is out of my control!" Eggman whined, sniffling.
For Chaos' sake, Knuckles thought. "Yeah, I kind of noticed," he said with a smirk, crossing his arms over his chest. "And you know what? I'm pretty cool with it. So long as he doesn't turn into a giant dragon and try to kill everyone again, why not let the guy let off a little steam?"
Knuckles didn't necessarily like, or even trust Metal Sonic, but he knew all too well what it was like to be used by Eggman. Several times over, even. Yeah, he'd never know exactly what it was like for Metal, but he at least had a bit of a picture. And if Metal finally decided enough was enough and to fight back against his former master, then who was Knuckles to stand in his way? In fact, the badnik could be an asset.
"That's exactly it! I think he's planning to use your friends to find the Chaos Emeralds and take over the world for himself!"
It took everything in Knuckles' power not to facepalm.
"Well, good luck stopping Metal's imaginary plot to take over the planet," Knuckles said lightly, trying hard not to burst out laughing. "Imma go grab a tuna melt and get back to work. The sooner I find my island, the better." He turned away, only to hear Eggman hurling himself to the ground and feeling two hands grabbing his ankles.
Do I need to get a restraining order now?
"Please, Knuckles! If you help me stop Metal Sonic—" Oh here we go. "— I'll help you find your island!"
Knuckles slowly turned, a dangerous glint in his eyes, fists balled. "Eggman," he said in a low growl. "If you don't let go of my ankle in the next five seconds, I'm going to pummel you into the pavement so hard you won't be able to tell your face apart from your butt!"
Eggman let go, scrambling back a bit for good measure.
"Thank you." Knuckles turned away and walked to the end of the street— leaving Eggman there to wallow in the misery of his failed deceit.
Eggman pulled on his mustache, screaming in rage. Knuckles stopped when he reached the crosswalk, and looked over, an unimpressed frown working its way across his muzzle. "The guy's got some problems…"
Still, he might have a point about Metal Sonic. That didn't mean for even a second that he would help Eggman with anything.
No, Knuckles would keep an eye on Metal himself.
. . . .
When did Knuckles stop being gullible?
Eggman had no clue, but it was rather inconvenient. Because now that meant he had to account for the lack of an echidna Guardian with spiky knuckles. It was very inconvenient.
No matter. He was Doctor Ivo Robotnik Eggman! The greatest technological genius any world will ever see! Who needed that twerp of an echidna anyway? Not him!
Eggman grinned, turning to face his fruit machine. "Ohh, Decoe? The cards?"
. . . .
"Christopher!"
Ella's voice rang from underneath the trap door.
"I know you're in there! You haven't let me clean your room in so long I'm issuing a dirt alert!"
"Quick, Tails!" Chris hissed. "Hide!"
Tails freaked out for a moment before hurling himself onto a beanie and going completely limp, eyes staring blankly at the wall. Metal Sonic pinched the bridge of its nose.
Honestly—
Ella opened the trap door and stepped into the room, vacuum cleaner in hand. She plugged it in and started vacuuming, tsk-ing at all the dust. "Trying to vacuum this room is like vacuuming a dirt road," she commented, shaking her head slowly. She glanced over at Tails for a second, and Metal Sonic detected a slight change in her expression and a rise in endorphins and dopamine, among other biological chemicals.
She was about to laugh. But she did not.
Metal Sonic wondered why she was about to in the first place. Did she know? Did she find amusement in the absurdity of Tails' attempt to resemble a stuffed toy? Ella merely continued vacuuming. Chris moved over to Tails and picked him up, treating him as if he were actually a stuffed toy.
"Well, I'm gonna go play outside!" Chris told her, a fake smile on his face. "See you later, Ella!"
With that, he ran down the loft stairs, Tails in his arms. Grandpa was the next person to go. "You know, I actually have some things I gotta work on in the lab," he said. "Bye Ella!" He ran down the stairs too.
Ella turned off the vacuum and looked directly at Metal Sonic. "Are you going to abandon me next, hmm?" Metal Sonic merely stared. Ella seemed slightly unnerved and gave a gentle wave. "Go. I have a war to wage with all this dust anyway."
Metal Sonic regarded her for a moment longer as she turned the vacuum back on and resumed her motions through the room. Then it turned away and walked down the stairs. Soon, the unit found itself in the living room, where the newly repaired Uncle Chuck sat on the couch next to Mr. Tanaka, the latter of whom was sipping coffee.
Grandpa used the same explanation as before, claiming he'd built Uncle Chuck too, even if it was clear neither employee believed him.
"So you're trained in nearly every type of hand-to-hand combat imaginable," Uncle Chuck started, the incredulity shining clear in his voice, "you have extensive experience in swordsmanship, and you can… drive boats and tanks?"
"That is what I said," Mr. Tanaka told him, sounding a little offended by Uncle Chuck's questioning and tone. "I am just doing my job."
"And… your job as a butler… requires you to drive… tanks?"
"Expect the unexpected," Mr. Tanaka said. "Prepare for anything and everything. You never know what might happen on the job."
Uncle Chuck blinked, skepticism lingering in his green optics. "Uhm. Okay. I'll take your word for it." He finally seemed to notice Metal Sonic's presence, as his eyes then fell on the robot in question. "Ah. Metal Sonic."
Both robots stared at each other for a long, uncomfortable moment. As though sensing the tension in the room, Mr. Tanaka stood, setting down his mug. "If you will both excuse me, I must return to my duties."
With that, he stepped out, and Uncle Chuck called after him, "Please don't drive any tanks!"
"I can't make any promises!" Mr. Tanaka called back.
And then silence. Metal Sonic and Uncle Chuck were back to staring at each other.
Finally, the Robian spoke. "Well, you might as well sit down."
Metal Sonic remained still, and then hesitantly stepped around the coffee table. It slowly sat down on the couch, sinking slightly into the cushion. Uncle Chuck stared for a long time.
"Why do you have to look like him?" Uncle Chuck murmured.
Metal Sonic started to sign, "Doctor Eggman built me—"
"No, no, I know he built you to be Sonic's robotic counterpart," Uncle Chuck interrupted. "After Sonic… after we lost him, Eggman built you to match him in every way. Speed, strength, intellect. And your… physical resemblance." Uncle Chuck released a mirthless, staticky laugh. "I suppose he did that to mock us. Remind us of what we lost." A pause. "It worked. It stings. It really stings."
Metal Sonic was still, and then started to sign when Uncle Chuck was watching. "I am sorry—"
"No, don't," Uncle Chuck said, firmness overpowering the grief in his voice. "Don't. You didn't show up until after we lost Sonic. You are not responsible for whatever happened to him. You are responsible for what you've actually done— the pain and suffering you brought us all as the Doctor's attack dog—"
Metal Sonic visibly bristled at that last bit. It was most certainly not an "attack dog."
"— but you seem to be making up for it now," Uncle Chuck finished, now looking somewhat amused at the unit's reaction. Amused! Amused! " You risked your life for me, after all. And… well, my hands aren't exactly clean either."
Life? Metal Sonic tilted its head, a beep of confusion escaping. Metal Sonic was not alive. Therefore it had no life to give. Uncle Chuck must have a few wires crossed somewhere—
"Oh no," Uncle Chuck bemoaned, facepalming. "Don't tell me you're having an existential crisis right now?"
Metal Sonic signed, "Then I will not."
Uncle Chuck let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Look at me." He pointed to his chest. "Look at me. I'm metal too. I'm metal, wires, gears, all of that good stuff. I also think and feel. I still make decisions for myself now, just like I did when I used to be flesh and blood. I still feel happiness, sadness, anger, hate." He then pressed a finger to Metal Sonic's chest, the unit watching him warily. "You think. And I've seen the way you are around that Chris kid. You feel too. We're both machines, yes, but that's only a facet of who we are, not all of who we are."
Metal Sonic blinked slowly.
"I think and feel, therefore I am alive," Uncle Chuck declared with no uncertainty in his voice. "You think and feel too. Therefore, you're alive." He paused, still looking at Metal Sonic. "Say it. Say 'I'm alive.'"
Metal Sonic remained still for a full three seconds, and then lifted its hands, hesitantly signing, "I… am… alive."
Uncle Chuck's optics lit up. "Thank you." Something stirred in Metal Sonic's circuits at the words, at the way Uncle Chuck literally lit up with joy. The Robian gave the unit a knowing look. "You're feeling something right now, aren't you?"
Metal Sonic nodded slowly.
"I rest my case," Uncle Chuck said.
Metal Sonic merely looked at him. Part of him— the logical part of him— continued to argue that he was not alive, but said part could not explain the strange feeling still running through his wires.
. . . .
"We should all have a picnic!" Amy declared suddenly. She, Chris, Cream, Cheese, and Grandpa were all sitting out in the garden, talking, enjoying the flowers, and commenting on Chris' sketches. Most of them were butterflies. Specifically monarchs, Amy noted. She pulled a small map out of her pocket and spread it out on the ground for all to see. "There's a lake not too far from here— it's in Silver Valley! I think it'll be fun! We can all use a break from Eggman anyway." She looked up at them, smiling. "What do you guys say?"
"I'm in," Grandpa said.
"Chao-chao-chao!" Cheese cheerily replied.
Cream smiled, nodding in agreement. "I can pack the picnic basket! We can have sandwiches, cookies!— Maybe some juice?"
"That sounds great!" Chris grinned, setting down his sketchbook.
"It's settled then!" Amy picked up the map and folded it, before slipping it back into her pocket. "I'll go help you, Cream. C'mon!" Both girls skipped away, hand in hand, excited for this little activity.
. . . .
The drive to Silver Valley only took about half an hour. It took about half that to get out of the city, and after that it was winding roads and beautiful scenery the rest of the way. Grandpa pulled into the empty gravel parking lot and shut the car off. The group had to hike the rest of the way, but thankfully it was only under a mile, and soon they came upon the lake.
"Whoa…" Amy's eyes lit up with awe. "It's so pretty!"
Cream smiled as she skipped on ahead, humming. The others quickly followed after her and set about getting everything ready. In a few minutes, a checkered blanket was spread out across the ground, and sandwiches passed out. Grandpa, unwrapping the plastic from around his, looked out at the lake.
The sun was out, the birds were chirping, squirrels and other animals chattering.
"This was really a good idea, Amy," he said.
It was so peaceful.
In the shadowy outskirts of the woods surrounding, a pair of blue-tinted glasses glinted in the light. Beside them, two red pupils flickered to life and then steadied.
Eggman lifted his hand, pulling back his sleeve to reveal a wristwatch. "Messenger Robo, I think it's almost time to deliver that package to a certain traitor. I'll notify you when the little miscreants are in my grasp!" He lowered his hand. "So they may not have seen the news report, but no matter." He smirked, chuckling darkly. "They've still fallen into my trap."
. . . .
Metal Sonic and Uncle Chuck were in the backyard. Uncle Chuck was attempting to show the unit how to water the plants, for… well, Metal Sonic was still lost on the other robot's reasons. Nevertheless, this was where he found himself. Watering vegetables and flowers. He supposed the activity was not… too unpleasant. But he did not see the purpose of him learning this. The gardener, wherever he was, was perfectly capable of doing this job himself.
Uncle Chuck kept a firm grip on his wrist, slowly tilting the watering can in Metal Sonic's hand. "You want to tilt it just a little," Uncle Chuck explained. "Slowly, and carefully, until a trickle comes out. You don't want to go too fast because otherwise it'll all come gushing out like earlier. And that's not good for the plants."
Suddenly Uncle Chuck let go of his wrist. At first Metal Sonic thought it was because he was now trusting him to not dump the water everywhere— which he did not, this time— but, as he then felt the Robian's hand on his arm, he realized it was something else.
Metal Sonic turned, and looked to where Uncle Chuck was pointing. "It's Messenger Robo!" the Robian exclaimed.
Metal Sonic eyed the small, blue robot with an unimpressed glare. This "Messenger Robo" was a tiny thing, clearly not armed, and— honestly, what is this thing? His head was too large for his body (how he managed to stay upright when he touched the ground was a mystery to the unit), he had disproportionately small green eyes, weird horn-like things on his head, and a giant, gold "M" belt buckle.
"My name is Bokkun!" the little robot shouted indignantly, crossing his arms. "Why does no one seem to remember that?!"
"What does Eggman want now?" Uncle Chuck asked wearily.
So this robot was sent by Doctor Eggman then? Unsurprising. Metal Sonic felt a wave of concern crash through his circuitry at the realization that Eggman knew exactly where they were.
As the unit was left to his internal panic over this information, the robot who wished to be called "Bokkun" pulled from the satchel slung around his shoulder a large, eyestrain-y yellow television that, according to the laws of physics, should not have even been able to fit in the bag in the first place.
Bokkun pressed the play button, yelling, "Message for you!"
Eggman's face fizzled onto the screen. "Ohhh, Metal Sonic! I think I have something that belongs to you!"
He turned the camera, and Metal Sonic beeped sharply as he saw it. Chris, Grandpa, Amy, Cream, and Cheese trapped behind the glass-like cylinder surrounding the giant purple mech's abdomen. Amy was trying to smash the glass with her hammer, Chris was huddled with Cream and Cheese, trying to comfort them, and Grandpa was kicking at the crystal clear barrier to no avail.
"I know you care about the little brat with the weird hair cut, so listen to my next words very closely." Eggman's voice was dripping venom and slime with each word. "Come to the Silver Valley Lake. Alone. Bring the Chaos Emerald. And surrender both it and yourself to me. You have three hours." His already sick smile widened. "After that, I can't promise any of your little friends will still be taking in oxygen by the time I'm done with them!"
The screen faded to black.
Bokkun smiled, holding the television out to Metal Sonic. "Here, you can keep it." Metal Sonic didn't even have to sign— his glare said everything, and Bokkun sighed in clear disappointment. "You're no fun!" He stuffed the television back into his satchel and pointed at Metal Sonic. "Remember, you have three hours!" The little jetpack on his back roared to life and he waved as he blasted off. "Buh-byyyyye!"
Uncle Chuck turned to Metal Sonic, who quickly signed, "I must go."
The Robian shook his head. "No, once Eggman has what he wants, he'll have no reason to keep them alive any longer."
Metal Sonic replied, "Yes. But I do not know what else to do."
"You're forgetting something," Uncle Chuck told him.
Metal Sonic stared blankly, crossing his arms and tilting his head. He beeped quietly.
Uncle Chuck's optics lit up slightly. "You're not alone."
Metal Sonic tilted his head further. Of course he was not alone, Uncle Chuck was standing right here in front of him. That was obvious.
Uncle Chuck laughed at the other robot's apparent confusion. "Come on," he said gently, taking Metal Sonic's arm and leading him out of the garden and to the garage. "Let's see if we can't come up with a plan."
