Chapter 14

A Love's Furious Defence

The atmosphere at the home of Miles Prower was tense, everyone knew what the plan was and while they trusted the fox's judgement, they were still very much unsure about the whole thing.

The signal had been sent. Neo Metal Sonic was no doubt on his way and being what he is, he'd be here any second. Whether or not Tails' plan would work, they would soon find out.

Walking over to said fox, Sonic tapped his shoulder and addressed him.

"Tails, are you sure about this? I mean, there's no telling what Neo's capable of. Not to mention the fact that we don't have the emeralds."

Tails seemed unfazed.

"Yes Sonic I'm sure. I designed the security systems with every possible skill or ability Neo could have in mind. The weapons it has could pierce the hull of Dark Oak's starship. It'll be fine."

"Okay but what about you? You've guaranteed Cosmo's safety, but you need to stay safe too bro. How can you ensure that?"

Tails didn't even look back.

"I've got some weapons hidden in my tails that should keep Neo from getting too close, and the security systems can be used as offensive measures just as much as defensive."

Tails' expression then became much more tense and angry.

"Besides, my safety isn't what's important here, Cosmo's the one he's after."

Sonic began to worry about his bro's emotions, he didn't want him doing anything reckless. Speaking carefully, Sonic attempted to calm his brother.

"Tails, your safety is just as important, especially to Cosmo. Don't do anything reckless bro, if you want to keep her safe you've got to be too"

Tails' expression faltered for a moment, but ultimately didn't change.

"Neo's threatening Cosmo, he's after her and want's to hurt her. I won't let him get anywhere near her."

Before Sonic could reply, a beeping noise was heard from beside him. Tails reached into one of his namesakes and pulled out a hand-held device. After glancing at it for only a moment, he turned to Sonic, Knuckles, Eggman, and Bokkun who were outside with him, Amy, Decoe and Bocoe having stayed inside with the former offering an added layer of protection as well as comfort, and the latter two simply staying out of the way.

"He's here" Tails said simply.

Everyone took their places, Sonic stood just a little bit from Tails, Knuckles stood closer to the house, Eggman stood against the front and Bokkun hid in one of the bushes (though Eggman had to repeatedly tell him to calm down as his fearful shaking was giving him away). And of course, Tails stood front and center, showing no signs of fear or uncertainty unlike the others.

A loud boom was heard overhead and looking up, everyone present locked their gaze on the hated metallic doppelganger, who glared down at them with a clear hatred in his digital eyes.

Now Tails and Sonic could see what Knuckles and Eggman had meant in regards to Neo's changes, he was certainly different and there was no doubt he was much more dangerous than he'd been before. They both took note of the the metarex technology integrated into his form and how the various parts invoked images of the five metarex kings. For Tails in particular, seeing the metal duplicate of his brother who was now threatening his love bearing features of Dark Oak, who had forced him to kill his love, enraged him and filled him with an even greater hatred for his mechanical enemy.

Inside the house, thanks to the security systems, Cosmo, Amy, Decoe and Bocoe could see Neo too, and while the latter three simply sat there in a tense fear, Cosmo looked upon Neo with a mixture of fear and anger. Anger at this robot for causing remnants of those who had taken her family from her and caused her and her love so much pain to once again be used for such, and fear because now her love was out there facing this abhorrent monster.

"Please be careful Tails" She spoke softly.

Outside, Neo descended to the ground just a few feet from Tails, who still showed no signs of fear or uncertainty and merely glared at him.

"I thought you were supposed to be the intelligent one Miles. If I'd known you were foolish enough to just throw your life away so easily I'd have invited you to face me days ago"

Tails' fists tightened.

"I am no fool Neo, I signaled you to come here because I know I can stop you. I know why you're after Cosmo and I don't care what you hope to achieve by unlocking that metarex tech, you will not touch her"

At this, Neo laughed "You honestly believe that? Why? Because you have Sonic and Knuckles with you? Sonic is no match for me now and I've already beaten Knuckles to a pulp. How are you bruises by the way echidna?"

"Not as bad as the dents in your scrap pile body will be!" Knuckles shot back.

"And doctor! I knew you wouldn't be able to resist crawling to the heroes once I left you. You truly are a predictable and incompetent fool"

Eggman's face became red. "How dare you! I made you you ungrateful machine! You wouldn't even exist if not for me!"

"And yet it's only when I break free of your control and act on my own that I am actually able to truly threaten Sonic and the others! Face it fool, I've come closer to besting them on my own than you ever have! Your obsolete!"

Eggman was positively fuming, but for the sake of the plan he actually managed to keep his ego and temper in check.

Turning his gaze back to Tails, Neo spoke mockingly "So what will it be pup? Give the seedrian to me so that I may acquire her bio data and gain further evolution? Or perhaps I'll simply take you instead and make you scream in agony until she gives herself up?"

"You don't make the decisions here Neo, this is my home, this is mine and Cosmo's home. You aren't in control, I am."

Tilting his head to the side in a taunting manner, Neo replied "Oh really? And just what do you think you can do to stop me boy? My speed and power matched Sonic when I was in my STANDARD form,. You can't hope to compete, your just a weak little fox"

Tails' expression changed from a glare to a confident smirk.

"I don't need speed or physical strength to stop you. And I know I will because you've never beaten us before, you can't really expect me to be scared of you when even after becoming Metal Overlord Sonic, Knuckles, and myself beat you. If you were so powerful then, why are we still here? Why should I be afraid of an Eggman flunky who could never win even on his own? "Neo" or not, you're still just Metal Sonic"

Standing to the side of Tails, Sonic couldn't help but crack a smile at his bro's fearlessness. He'd certainly learned a thing or two from him, not to mention he's doing good with the trash talk.

"Doing good little bro" he thought to himself.

Neo on the other hand, was irate. "You sure are confident for someone who's never even faced me alone, you needed Sonic in his super form as well as Knuckles with you to be able to actually fight me brat. Make no mistake: I could rip you in half"

"Big talk coming from the cheap mechanical knockoff even Eggman didn't want"

That was it.

Neo dove forward intending to grab Tails by the head and presumably crush it, however Tails was prepared and just as he had made his last remark he'd pressed a button on a device hidden in one of his tails. At that moment, all of the defensive and offensive weapon systems came online and as Neo flew towards the fox, several powerful beams of energy shot up from the ground and hit Neo from underneath, sending him flying upwards.

"WHAT!?" he yelled in rage.

Before he could come to a halt, a large spiked fist collided with his head and sent him flying downwards at an angle, followed by an uppercut from the same enraged echidna.

"That's for beating me up on my own island!" Knuckles yelled

As Neo flew upwards, he managed to catch himself and caught sight of Knuckles lunging upwards for another strike.

"Enough! I will not be mocked by you!" Neo used his superior speed to get behind Knuckles just as he had before, however, before he could attack, he was hit in the back by Sonic who used a homing attack to send him stumbling forwards which allowed Knuckles to once again punch him the face.

"RRRRAAAAAGHHH!" Neo screamed

Spinning wildly, Neo caught both heroes off guard, delivering rapid punches and kicks to the the two.

Sonic and Knuckles both fell to their knees from the onslaught, and Neo raised his clawed hands to strike.

Only to bet met with a several more blasts from hidden cannons.

"I'm still here Neo!" Tails shouted as he remotely activated several more cannons that emerged from the ground and the roof of his home.

"Then I'll kill you first!" Neo responded as he activated his his rocket and rushed towards Tails. This time, Neo was more alert and prepared as he swiftly dodged every laser and missile that came his way. However, as he once again neared the fox, he was once again caught in a trap as a massive shock came over his body, his systems desperately trying to remain online in the face of the high voltage shocks. It was apparent this was no ordinary electrical shock though, as it wouldn't have been able to even make him flinch if it was. No, there was something else about this energy. Looking down, Neo saw the machine that was producing the shocks as he was above it and noticed in it's center something familiar.

A chaos drive.

Perfect. Managing to extend his hand downward, Neo broke through the metal casing and grabbed hold of the chaos drive and draining the chaos energy from it, simultaneously ending the shocks and gaining a slight boost.

Tails had already reacted however as he activated more defenses, this time however, only one rocket flew towards Neo aimed directly at his eyes. Catching it Neo glared at the fox.

"All out of tricks?"

Suddenly the rocket's casing opened up, various cords with sharp pointed ends extending from it and jamming themselves into Neo's forearm.

"What!? What is this!?"

"I'm far from finished, this little gadget will be taking that energy now, and then some."

Neo began to feel the fox's words ring true as his systems reported loss of the added chaos energy he'd acquired, followed by alerts indicating rapid energy loss.

"NO! NO! YOU WILL NOT WIN! I AM SUPERIOR! I SURPASSED SONIC! I AM FAR BEYOND YOU! YOU'RE NOTHING!" Neo screamed as he struggled to move towards Tails and rip the draining device from his arm.

Tails said nothing and pressed another button, sending more rockets containing draining devices at the robotic hedgehog that quickly latched on and further drained him.

Neo wasn't sure how he'd been so overwhelmed, so outwitted. Of course, he'd allowed the fox to goad him, to make him lose his temper. Damn it, he'd fallen for the same trick that had felled his creator so many times. As he felt his energy reserves dwindling dangerously low, he detected something jab his shoulder just underneath the shoulder blade.

"Tails must be sending in more of these accursed machines. Damn it! It cannot end here! I won't allow it!"

His eyes glowed a hateful red as he glared at the fox before him, a clear murderous intent showing in them.

Tails felt no fear, instead returning Neo's hateful glare.

"I told you I wouldn't let you hurt her. You shouldn't have underestimated me."

Tails then entered in a series of button presses and seconds later the yard and house became covered in all manner of cannons, various chaos energy powered heavy artillery, pulse generators and rocket launchers.

All aimed at Neo Metal Sonic.

"This ends now." Tails spoke, having gotten a distance away before pressing the key sending a swarm of weapon fire at the immobilized robot.

The sound of the ensuing explosion could be heard for miles and in the immediate vicinity the ground shook from the shock waves produced by sheer force of it.

Tails stood there and watched the smoke clear, not once taking his eyes off of where Neo had been even while Eggman cheering and claiming victory could be heard some distance behind him.

As the smoke cleared however, his eyes widened as a vaguely purple shape began to come into view. It pulsed and flickered as the smoke around it dissipated and as it became fully visible it was revealed to be diamond shaped. With glowing red eyes glaring from behind it.

Neo had used his black shield.

The shield went out at that moment and before Tails could react, he was caught by the neck in Neo's cold grip and lifted off the ground.

"YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD DESTROY ME!? ME!?" Neo screamed as he dealt swift blows one after another to the captured fox's gut and head.

Tossing Tails to the ground, who was still reeling from the pain and thus unable to make a move, Neo stood over him facing him directly.

"You seem to have forgotten about my emergency energy reserves boy. All that talk as if you knew everything about me and you forgot about that? Seems it's you who got too cocky"

As he stood staring down at Tails, Neo's middle section began to glow, increasing in luminosity and sparks of energy crackling around it.

"Die you inferior mongrel"

From within the house, the occupants watched in horror as Neo prepared to blast Tails with his plasma cannon. Amy was about to jump up and run out the door to try and save him when she realized that would allow Neo access to Cosmo as well as the fact she was unlikely to reach him in time.

Cosmo on the other hand, was overcome with fear and an all too familiar feeling of helplessness. As she watched the boy she loved stare death in the eyes, she felt much the same as he once had when he had been forced witness her doing the same.

Neo's plasma cannon went from glowing yellow to deep orange, indicating it had finished charging, and Cosmo cried out to her love.

"TAILS!"

Tails saw the cannon activated and tried to brace himself for the end. However, the end never came as vines shot up from the ground and wrapping themselves over Neo's shoulder's, pulling him backwards and causing his cannon to fire harmlessly into the sky.

"W-what? What just happened?" Tails and Cosmo asked simultaneously.

"WHAT!? WHAT IS THIS!?" Neo roared as he slashed the vines off of him, attempting to face Tails once more before being knocked to the ground by a flying kick and a stone shattering punch.

"STAY DOWN!" Sonic and Knuckles yelled in unison.

As Tails stood back up, Neo noticed he was reaching for his hand held device, which would surely mean more weapons. His emergency reserves running low, he realized he wouldn't be able to use the black shield again.

With the three heroes standing over him, Eggman strode up to him in an exaggerated manner and smiled mockingly.

"Now who's obsolete?" he asked.

Growling, Neo replied.

"Impressive, most impressive. I admit I did underestimate you Tails, this has gotten a bit too out of control. I suppose I'll have to kidnap Cosmo some other time"

"There is no next time! This ends now!"

Glaring at Tails, Neo answered "Not until you and all living things lie dead at my feet"

Neo suddenly shot up, sending out a wave that pushed Tails, Sonic and Knuckles back and caused Eggman to fall over. The wave didn't hurt them, but hindered them long enough for Neo to shoot up into the sky.

As he flew off into the distance, everyone took a moment to breath before heading into the house, immediately upon which Tails was wrapped in the tearful embrace of his seedrian girlfriend.

"Tails, I thought I was going to lose you! I was so scared!" Cosmo cried as she sobbed into Tails chest.

"Hey hey, it's okay Cosmo. I'm okay, I'm here." Tails comforted softly as he held her.

While this was going on, the others stood a ways away to give the two their space, while Sonic turned to Eggman and asked "Where's Bokkun?"

"Right here" came the high pitched voice as the little messenger robo floated over.

Knuckles spoke next "So did you do it? Did you get the tracking chip on Neo?"

Bokkun nodded quickly "Yes I did! I put it just under his shoulder blade! I bet you're all pretty proud of me huh?"

"Now that we have the tracking chip on him, we can find his base right?" Amy asked

"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Bokkun whined.

"Yes, this should allow us to locate his base and find out what he's planning" Tails said walking over with Cosmo still holding onto him tightly.

"So what are we waiting for then? Let's go smash it up while he's still low on energy!" Knuckles said, bringing his fists together to indicate he was ready for another fight.

"Hold on Knuckles, we need to wait for him to get there and for the chip to hack into his systems. We still don't know what his overall plan is or what he did with the master emerald. Plus, he'll have the advantage in his base so we need all the information we can get."

"But he's nearly drained! This is the perfect time to finish him!"

"And what if he's using the master emerald to power his defense systems? Or worse, what if he has it in a chamber close to him and uses it right as we walk in? We need to be prepared for anything Knuckles" Sonic reasoned, Knuckles' only reply being irritated grumbles.

"So basically, the sum of it is that now we need to wait for your spy chip to feed us all the details and then we strike?"

"That's right Eggman, it's our best course of action"

"Well in that case, I'm returning to my base! I need to prepare some robots and design some new weapons for the big attack! Farewell!"

And with that, Eggman and his three lackeys rushed out the door, leaving everyone else somewhat perplexed.

"Think he's planning something?" Sonic asked.

"Absolutely, but that's not important right now" Tails answered.

Meanwhile…

Neo was irate as he sat in his command chair connected with various wires to a system that was slowly recharging him. He'd been careless, he'd been fooled, and it nearly cost him everything. He was supposed to be better, so how could he have been humiliated so? Perhaps that was the lesson here, his goal was to evolve to a state above all others, and part of growing and evolving was learning and adapting was it not?

Yes, he'd been bested due to his own overconfidence, but now he'd learned, now he would adapt. This would not happen again, they would all perish horribly for what they had done.

"They will all suffer" Neo growled.

And there we have the second fight scene of the story and the first major battle with Neo Metal Sonic! I hope I did well with it, I'm still trying to get a feel for writing battle scenes. Anyway the chip has been placed and Neo is regrouping from the fight. What will the data the chip sends reveal? Find out next chapter. See ya!