Author's notes:

This was hard to write, so I'm sorry it is short and you had to wait a long time. Also, being in the hospital didn't help, but I'm glad to report that I am out and more than happy to be writing again. School starts back next week, so updates will probably be on a fortnight basis between updates unless I find myself free of the burden of coursework.

-Anomalous123.

Chapter 14- Disconnect:

Sticks always knew when she was out of her depth. Today though? She was way past it and over the cliff, plunging into the water with no hope and no escape.

She couldn't move. Couldn't speak. All she could do was lay there, hoping they would leave soon.

Her mouth tasted foul, her brain sluggish.

Did they poison her? Sedate her? Or was the exhaustion of fighting off waves of robots until she collapsed?

She could barely remember; her memory foggy and disjointed. Almost frantic.

They hovered above her, disembodied voices conversing quietly to each other as they twisted and manipulated her body, twisting and manipulating her limp body, scalpel leaving marks all over her skin.

She prayed to Chaos the others had made it out of her. Get far away with the Emerald and noticed she was missing.

But, if they did, that begs the question; would they come for her? Were they even looking for her? Would they ever find her? Rescue her?

Whatever the humans were doing, it scared her. From what her limited senses can gather, she was in a lab of some kind, strapped to a table surrounded by serval humans. Even though she was well aware of aliens' trope to probe and prod at another species, it did not prepare her for the reality of the situation.

Would they brainwash her? Turn her against her friends? Use her to lore them into a trap? She couldn't let them! She had to fight them... but she was so tired. Too beat up to do anything but lie here, powerless to thwart their schemes and evil plots. They probed and prodded, shouting incomprehensible words and phrases she only heard coming for geniuses like Tails.

She couldn't see what exactly they were doing to her, but she could feel the needles prodding around her thighs and upper arm. The odd swap in her ears, mouth, and nose. The odd devices squeezed her arms to point of aching. That pinched her fingers or flooded her nose cavity, making it hard to breathe properly.

She felt something cold settle against her upper thigh. She stiffened, body tense as she waited in anticipation.

It moved upwards, trailing along her leg and closer to her stomach.

She screamed.

The form haunted his nightmares. The black fur, those red-stripped quills, and those blood-red eyes boring into his mind. See the figure here, surrounded by a cascade of human carcasses in various degrees of dismemberment, but equally dead.

It must have followed them here. Must have been in Eggman's base when they were transported. The last he heard was that the doctor had put him under lock and eye after an unfortunate incident where it mercilessly leads an attack on a village, gunning down or capturing the inhabitants based on usefulness to Eggman's scheme. The robot seemed to malfunction after he killed a child who was protecting her grandparents, who were almost killed.

Tails were unsure of the details as was helping others escape, but the emotions that flowed from Metal Shadow were- somehow- tangible. The rage that followed was unrivaled as he attacked both allies and enemies ruthlessly without thought or reason.

The doctor had been furious by the robots' actions and coming to the scene himself. Metal Shadow had been hostile towards his presents, attacking his own creator until he brought up a name mentioned many times; Sonic. It wasn't the first time he had overheard a conversation regarding that name but, for the life of him, he couldn't visualize who it could be or how the name made Metal Shadow froze and easily submitted to his creator's will.

It had amazed Tails to learn how quickly just the mention of another can bring Metal Shadow to his knees, crimpling his resolve and doing anything to please his master. Tails wish he had the context to how important this 'Sonic' was to him and who he was to Metal Shadow, but it seemed someone important to the robot to gain such a reaction.

The scene and memories it had brought had him backtracking and cowering in fear as he pressed himself into the wall. The robot, Omega (he learned after introductions were made) turned to him questioningly. "WHY HAVE WE STOPPED?" It asks, standing in the middle of the alleyway, unaware of the fact he could have been spotted easily if someone were to look.

The sound of his voice was loud and clear, making Tails cringe. He peered around the wall to see out to the street once more, namesakes twitching nervously, and watched as Metal Shadow leered over the man, teeth pulled back in a snarl as he thrusts a gun between his eyes. The non-descript human whimpered, shaking in fear as he cowered against a lampost. Blood dripped from his legs and hands as he clutched at his wound desperately.

"Where is he! Who helped him escape! Tell me, mortal." Metal Shadow growled lowly.

The man cowered, looking up to him, dread filling his very being. "I don't know what you're talking about...?" He started to say, voice wavering and filled with panic. The gun cocked as the robot stepped forward, metal shoes stepping onto his ankle.

"I saw the camera footage you were trying so desperately to delete before I arrived. Your pitful attempts to erase your crimes will always be foiled. Your organisation can no longer spread the lies and misdirect others any longer. The downfall of G.U.N is upon us, and your loyalty means nothing to me nor the Commander. At least, if you answer, I may let you live. Now, puny speck, where is he."

"Please... don't kill me! I don't know how you're talking about... and, oh god!" The G.U.N agent pleads, tears welling in his eyes as he sobs. "Please... just tell me who you're talking about! I have a wife and two kids. You cant... I can't leave her alone again. I'll do anything to see them again, please..."

Metal Sonic rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation. This wasn't going anywhere. "Where is the blue hedgehog? The android called Sonic! Where's Sonic! Which way did they go? Tell me!" He grounded out as he lowered his gun and shot the man in the leg. A grim satisfaction welled up in him. It was the same limb that Sonic would have lost if he wasn't a robot. The man screamed from the pain, biting back his cries. "That way!" He screamed at the monster in hysterics. "They went north with some kids in a gray coat and the other in a red raincoat. I swear I don't know anything else. Please, just leave me be." 'Let me grieve in peace,' went unsaid.

His friends. His colleagues, dead, because of this physcho robot... over just removing a limb of another. They didn't deserve it. They were good people! They had families; partners, children, grandparents, cousins, aunties uncles... What was he going to tell them? That their loved ones never stood a chance! That they died for no reason! He couldn't...

"Willingly?" The robotic voice held a tint of confusion and worry behind it.

The man nodded, enthusiastic. "Yes!" He hurriedly informed. "He introduced himself and went. Said he was Metal Sonic; Sonic The Hedgehog!"

A huff of air followed the revelation as he looked up to stare at the camera in thought. "Why is GUN interested in him? What's so special? What were your specific orders?"

"Why are you so interested in...?"

Metal Shadow's head snapped down to the human, glaring. "I ask the questions here. Now speak, mortal!"

The soldier cowered again, biting his lip enough to draw blood. "A few days ago, a highly dangerous project escaped from the lab. We were dispatched to track him down and recapture it before it decides to turn on the public. The robot and our target looked similar at a distance, so we cornered it. The Commander was convinced we could get some answers out of it, even if it was by forceful means. It seemed that it had similar abilities as the Project: Chaos! I mean, the amount of energy could..."

Images and bits of information flashed behind his Metal Shadow's optics and he inwardly shuddered. His eyes tightened around the trigger unconsciously.

Bang!

"You could have lived out your pathetic life, but you choose to antagonise me," he kicked the body in the side, causing it to fall over uselessly. He snorted. "Filthy human."

Tails screamed as the man went limp. Shadow's head snapped over to where the two were hiding. His eyes narrowed as he disappeared and then reappeared in front of them. Tails backed off, eyes wide in terror. He spread his palm out, producing a Chaos spear, and threw it at Omega, sending the robot flying.

Metal Sonic knew this wasn't a good idea. The other clearly wasn't ready for the truth, yet he had to open his big mouth. His version of Shadow had always said that he talked too much and didn't know when to be quiet. In moments like this, his counterpart was proven right. Lately, it has been one bad decision after another. It seemed he couldn't do anything right anymore.

"Over 50 years, you have got to be kidding me!" Knuckles blurted out, caught between hysteria and disbelief. This robot had to be lying for his own amusement. Maybe a time in his past he would have fallen for this lie, but he had learned not to believe everything being said. The doctor had fooled him so many times that he had no choice but to be wary. "I'm not an idiot! Just look at him; does he look a day over sixteen to you? He's not immortal and definitely not like you, no matter how much Chaos energy he has!"

It was impossible. The boy aged; his quills had grown since they rescued him! Even if it was barely noticeable, he had still pricked a finger on the tip just earlier today. They hadn't done that before. In fact, they seemed to be growing back a little too fast.

"I told you the truth, or what is perceived as the truth. The doctor has been very scarce on the details, but he has put too much care into his research. He strongly believes this fact to be true, and so do I. To my great annoyance, Eggman has always been scarily right when researching that particular event," Metal Sonic huffed, crossing his arms, looking caught between annoyed and frustrated.

Wait? What! "You work for the doctor? Then why you tell me this?" Suddenly, he felt sick. This robot must be a spy... or a trap... He couldn't... He wouldn't! ...Would he?

He had to get away. To run. He should have left the android to GUN. This was a mistake! One terrible decision. He would tell the doctor their plans, take away Blue before they could get any answers, and leave them with false trails. And he fell for it, again? He was such an idiot. He growled, hands balling into fists.

His memories flashed back to Shadow, the strange hedgehog who claimed to be on their side months after the Doctor Robotnick had surfaced. He was an antisocial prick but seemed to generally want to help him. A seemingly indestructible worrier and valuable allay to have... That was until they betrayed them, selling out the coordinates of the base and took all the emeralds, including the Master Emerald, to the doctor.

He was a traitor that played off of his lack of experiences. A true spy. The reveal that he was created by Eggman and served him was the revelation that broke his trust in people and nearly got Tails killed. He couldn't let that happen again.

The robot, Metal Sonic (if that's even his real name?) flinched at his claims and ducked his head, staring at the ground as the Echidna backed away. Metal Shadow's and this Metal Sonic's circumstances were easily similar. Too much of a coincidence to be just a fluke. Why didn't he see this before?

At that moment, he wished Tails was there. He would be able to connect the dots. To find the mystery behind this bizarre case. Would be able to make sense of the madness.

But he wasn't. He was back at the base, snoring away without a care in the world while he was here, facing an improbable situation.

"Hah, working for Eggface? Never again! Not that I had the choice before, but this time is good as any to kick my feet back and go on a long vacation. He's mostly careless this day, with his pointless spat against GUN that he won't be keeping tabs on me as much. After all, he would never let me out... At least, not after what happened last time..." His expression became thoughtful as he stared at the door behind Knuckles, lost in memories.

The robot had to be lying. There was no other way around it. He couldn't accept the alternative. That begs the question; why would the robot lie? What was his goal? What was it trying to achieve? But, that look... that wistful, far away look was too real for anything else.

He blinked, realizing that he must have zoned out himself for a moment and that the robot was still walking.

"...Sometimes, I wonder if I could do more. Be more, you know? As far as I know, I was built to be a replacement. Some copy... But, that doesn't seem right. There's something more. I disobeyed orders and saved that fox who was so kind to me. Who wanted to help me." He frowned, his tone going from reminiscing to curious. "I wondered what would change if I took his hand that day. To accept his help. But, I couldn't leave him, no matter what. I promised to be by his side through thick and thin because no one else can understand the pain and suffering we're going through. The pain HE caused us. My memory may be hazy, but I can remember the promise and the kit I felt behind. I hope he's okay out there. I worry about him, wondering what would happen without someone to protect him. I'm glad he found you."

As he talked, Knuckles found it hard to keep up with what was actually being told to him until the last bits of his speech. The words 'fox' and 'kit' stood out to him, along with the sentence, 'I'm glad he found you.' His mind reeled, suddenly bringing an image of his little friend to the forefront of his mind. "Wait, you said that you knew Tails before when we first met? Where did you meet him? He never mentioned you."

The robot seemed to be generally shocked at this, snapping back to reality to stare wide-eyed at Knuckles. "You don't mean...?" They narrowed into slits as his voice tightened. "I guess everyone forgets about me."

It has happened before after he was rereleased after the incident. No one seemed to remember him as if their memories had been erased during those few months. It seemed the outside had changed slightly too back on Mobius. It was as if he was frozen in time, stuck within Eggman's base as the world moved on without him.

He would have cried if he could. Would have screamed and wailed about how unfair the world was. He wondered if Eggman had a hand in it; trying to erase him from existence by scrubbing every mention and memory of him away. It made him wonder how the man could meddle with everyone's memory, including his own. His memory banks and central processor were secured and locked away. Metal Sonic vowed never to let him near it again.

"What do you mean? Who are you... Really? From what Tails said, androids aren't meant to sound this real. There's always been a decent distinction between artificial and anthropromorph. Your body is metal underneath the fur and skin, but you don't think like a robot."

Suddenly, the smile was back in place, but Knuckles could see the sadness that lingered in his eyes. He had seen it before when people have grieved for their loved ones and were trying to keep up a facade of calmness to stop the empty promises and listless formalities.

"Who knows..." He started mysteriously, a hint of cockiness lacing his voice. He leaned casually against the collum. "How about we raid Egghead's base to find out?"

Just as he said that, the doors blast off his hinges, leaving a dust cloud as three figures entered the room.

The leader looking pissed.

TBC: