Chapter 15

Nightmares Made Real

The rest of the day went by rather peacefully, as everyone waited for Tails' device to send the data from Neo's base each was engrossed in their own activities. Sonic and Knuckles were outside competing in some manner of physical contest, Amy was helping Tails move some equiment as he prepared to fine construct whatever weapons and devices were needed the instant the data transmission went through, and Cosmo was practically latched onto him as he sat at his desk only semi focused on whatever blueprints were in front of him. The aftermath of their battle with Neo had proven to be half relief at everyone being okay and half worry as Tails had very nearly died fighting. Cosmo had been all over him checking him for any serious injuries and generally worrying herself over the fox.

After Tails had managed to calm her down (albeit she refused to leave his side) the two had entered his secondary lab under the house where his larger and more experimental inventions were kept, the very same that had once housed the blue typhoon when it was being built. Upon arrival they'd begun preparing for the inevitable rush of work that lied ahead. However, he sat there with Cosmo sitting close by, Tails' focus was less on what lied in front of him and more on the ability exhibited by the girl next to him. How had she done that? Was she always able to? No, that couldn't be right, she'd have done so during the metarex war if that was the case. Perhaps chaos regeneration had played a factor? Or it was a seedrian ability that simply manifests with age? These questions ran through his mind like a jet, and before long he simply couldn't take it anymore.

"Cosmo?" he asked turning to face her.

"Yes?"

"How did you do that? When you made those vines come out of the ground and grab Neo?"

Cosmo looked unsure "I..don't know. I've never been able to do so before. Well, there was when I was holding the planet egg on that jungle planet, but I thought the planet egg did that"

Tails thought about it for a moment before answering.

"Actually, I think the planet egg amplifies existing power, that's why Dark Oak and his generals were collecting them and why he wanted to use Greengate's to keep their transformations going. It makes whatever abilities you already have grow stronger"

"That seems right, I remember my sister saying something like that"

Tails then had an idea.

"Could you do it again?"

Cosmo placed her hands together "I'm not really sure, I was just so afraid I was going to lose you and it just happened. I don't know if I can do it on command"

"Maybe it becomes easier to do over time, perhaps you weren't able to do so before because the ability emerges as you grow" Tails reasoned

"Maybe, but I'm not sure if I really want to use this ability, I don't like fighting and I don't think I would be very good anyway"

Taking her hand in his, Tails spoke.

"Hey you don't have to use them if you don't want to. They're your abilities, you can use them however you want or not at all! If you do decide to use them however, I'll be more than happy to help you learn"

Smiling, Cosmo wrapped her arms around the boy she loved

"I know, thank you. You're always so caring, I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend"

Seems their shyness between each other had more or less gone. Hugging Cosmo back, Tails replied "And I couldn't ask for a better girlfriend, I love you Cosmo"

"I love you too Tails"

Several moments passed as they sat there embracing each other, before the sound of someone clearing their throat mad them jump. Looking over, they saw Amy standing there not even attempting to hide the wry grin on her face.

"Sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds, but I thought I should let you know the signal from your chip was just received.

Tails and Cosmo looked to each other before heading to the main computer, time to learn what Neo's planning.

Meanwhile

"Petulant filth!" Neo yelled as yet another mechanical husk fell at his feet. He'd been taking out his rage on his robots for half an hour since he finished self repairs and recharging. While he knew there was little point in destroying his own servant bots, he needed the outlet for his rage, and he certainly wasn't foolish enough to go back to Tails' house for a rematch so soon.

"That. Insufferable. Miserable. Insolent MONGREL PUP!" he screamed as the last of the robots was slammed into a nearby wall with such force that it mas as well have been in a industrial crusher.

"He'll pay, oh yes he'll pay. I will make him scream. I'll kill everything and everyone he love and make him WATCH! HE WILL LEARN THE FOLLY OF HUMILIATING ME!"

"are you done?"

Turning, Neo came face to face with the copy of himself. The only real difference in appearance between them being the color scheme and certain parts. Neo had the various colors of the deceased metarex kings as well as the upgrades afforded by the metarex technology. The copy however, looked exactly as he had at the time he first went rogue and became Neo Metal Sonic.

"Though you are technically me, I would advise caution in how you speak to me. Don't forget I made you and unlike the doctor, I am not so blinded by vanity that I will be willing to destroy my own creations. Even ones designed after myself"

The copy then stepped forward.

"True, but as I am modeled after you I retain much the same thought process, such was your desire. And I know when you're letting rage get the better of you. What will destroying these common robots accomplish?"

"Anger management. Besides, they've served there purpose, I have no need of them now that Project: Overlord is complete"

The copy seemed surprised at this before quickly regaining his uncaring stare.

"Already? I was under the impression just producing me was problematic enough"

"I decided it needed my own…personal touch"

A moment of silenced passed, a strange tension in the air as some unvoiced grievance lingered. Finally, the copy spoke.

"You would simply use the tired excuse of "they served their purpose"? was that not why you went rogue originally? Aside from a desire to finally kill Sonic?"

Turning away, Neo walked over to the nearest monitor and scanned it, though what he was looking for in particular was unclear.

"Yes, I broke free of my base programming both to finally kill our hated template and to avoid disposal once my purpose was fulfilled"

Copy merely shook his head.

"But didn't you say the end goal of all this is to reshape the universe the way it should be? One of perfect mechanical beings?"

"ONE of the end goals. Organic life holds no value for robots such as us, so they will be replaced with perfect machines of our own design. A universe remade in our image. But never forget that the primary goal is to obtain perfection, to surpass all limitations. I shall be a god! And I shall recreate the universe as I see fit."

"And where do I and the others fit into this?"

"Who better to aid in achieving this goal as well as be the first inhabitants of the Metal Universe than Metal Sonics?"

"And that's all we receive? The "honor" of helping you and being first?"

Neo turned to glare at his double briefly before turning back to the monitor.

"On the contrary, you will receive much more than that. You will be kings, overlords! With your own territories and domains to rule over and do with as you please. Does that sound acceptable to you?"

Neo was met with silence, though even without turning back he could tell his copy was still standing there. Most likely processing all that had been said.

Unbelievable, he offers him galaxies to rule and he still has to think about it? GALAXIES! Obviously only one of them could become a god, but having entire regions of the universe to do with as they pleased should still be acceptable. He was the original so he will be the god.

Neo clenched his fist. Had he been this indecisive and stubborn when he had first gone rogue?

"So what then? I imagine an army with every single soldier named "Neo Metal Sonic" will create immense confusion. Not to mention it devalues us" the copy finally spoke.

Neo turned to look over his shoulder at his double, had he a mouth there most certainly would have been a grin on his face.

"No need to worry about that. You were the first of the "Neo" model copies, there will be more of course but there will also be ones based on our original design, upgraded and with improved functionality of course. There will be other models as well each for different purposes."

As he spoke, Neo typed something on the keypad before him.

"As for differentiating between us, you are the only "Neo" that looks exactly as I once did. The others will have different color schemes, and the same will be the case for the other models. The first will have the standard blue and will be the general for that model class, the others will have different ones and will be the soldiers at their command. Of course, each unit shall have it's own designation."

Copy looked intrigued.

"And what of me? What name shall I be given?"

Metal Sonic turned to face his double.

"As I shall soon transcend to a much greater form than I am now, I see no reason to retain my current name. As such you shall now inherit the designation: Neo Metal Sonic"

The newly christened Neo Metal Sonic bowed before his template and master.

"I am honored. But what shall you now be called?"

"I shall take one a true new name once my ascension is complete. In the meantime, in light of the technology that served as the catalyst for all this I think its only fitting that I be called: Meta Sonic"

Neo then walked up to his master and kneeled before him.

"Then Meta Sonic, what purpose shall I serve?"

Meta Sonic then pressed a button on the console, causing a nearby wall to rise up.

"Just as I am your master, and the master of our army, so will you lead your portion of the army on my behalf. You and the other neo models will each be given command over a portion of our army, but while the first of each model shall be generals, you and the other neos shall be kings! Yes, Metal kings.."

The wall finished rising, revealing hundreds of Metal Sonic duplicates, each organized by model type: Standard model, rocket model, crystalline model, and finally silver model. At the front were the other three neo models, each a different color: green, yellow and red.

"of my Meta Empire."

Back at Tails' lab, the information had been received and what they were finding was nothing short of worrisome. Tails sat at the console and next to him was Cosmo, behind them were Amy and Sonic as Knuckles was currently pacing back and forth raging.

"So let me get this straight: Neo's planning to become a god? And now he's built some army of himself to achieve that?" Sonic asked.

"It's not just that Sonic, his method of obtaining godhood involves spreading this army all over the universe then having them siphon off energy from various points for him"

"But how does that help? And what energy?" Amy inquired.

"Similar to how the metarex were using energy from a rift between universes to complete forestation, Neo plans to use the energy from this universe to ascend by channeling it into himself."

Pressing some keys, Tails pulled up a series of diagrams and charts.

"The whole thing is called Project: Metal Universe. Phase 1 involves stealing the master emerald. Phase 2 involves creating his army. Phase 3 involves sending said army to the critical points in the galaxy called "energy wells" and Phase 4 involves them siphoning said energy and directing it to him to be absorbed thus allowing him to transform into a godlike being."

"But even that much power wouldn't allow him to alter the universe as he wishes" Cosmo pointed out, somewhat unnerved with the similarities between Neo's plan and Dark Oak's.

"True, but the final phase has him sending thousands more into other galaxies and repeating the process until he has all the energy in the universe. At which point he'll be able to do whatever he wants with it. The energy he's after is the very life energy of everything that exists: plants, animals, the various life in between, even the energies of the planets and stars! Through these energy wells he can siphon that energy from everything and have it directed to him."

Sonic, still unsure of something, decided to ask.

"Hold on, if this is what Neo's planning, then why does he need Cosmo's bio data? What could he use that for?"

Cosmo answered this.

"Seedrians are much more connected to the more…unseen aspect of the universe. As plants we can sense and communicate with things no other life forms can, and that includes life energy. We are able to sense positive and negative feelings or intentions in people because of this. This ability extends into being able to harness that energy, though we cannot do so by ourselves. Doing so requires something to increase our power."

"Kind of like how she was able to draw on the planet eggs power and enhance her plant control" Tails added seeing the two hedgehogs confused faces.

"Oookay…but what will he use to draw the siphoned energy to him?" Sonic asked.

"He'll use the energy he stole from the master emerald!" Knuckles yelled from a distance.

"That's why he stole it! That's why he destroyed it! Now angel island will never float again!"

Nodding, Tails continued "Chaos energy is one of the most neutral energies in the universe, by taking the power of the master emerald and drawing it into himself he can become a focus point for the life energy, with Cosmo's bio data he'll be able to mimic the seedrians ability to harness that energy"

A moment of silence passed as everyone let this information sink in (aside from Knuckles who was still raging). after several moments, Sonic spoke.

"So what do we do now? Should we go to Neo's base and trash the place and him?"

"Sonic! This is serious! You, Knuckles, and Tails barely drove him off before! How would you even-"

"Actually, that's exactly what I was thinking"

"What!?" came the response from Sonic, Amy, and Cosmo.

"With the detailed schematics for everything he's got there as well as the full map of his base we'll be able to prepare for anything he throws at us. And the weapons I'm building will allow us to counter his Metal Sonics. Plus, it looks like he's about to begin the next phase and send that army into space, and I don't know about you, but I really don't want to go through another adventure flying through space and fighting deadly robots intent on universal conquest again."

The other three looked at each other unsure but couldn't deny they didn't want to go through that again either.

"I'm with Tails! Let's go smash that piece of junk for destroying the master emerald!" Knuckles chimed upon rushing over.

"Well…" Sonic replied hesitantly "I trust your judgement Tails. If you think we can handle this then we'll do it"

Tails nodded.

"But Tails! When you fought him last you nearly- a-and now you want to go to his base? Where there will be hundreds of him?" Cosmo protested, her eyes beginning to tear up from fear.

Turning to her and taking her hands in his, Tails spoke to reassure her.

"Cosmo, I need to be there, the others will need me to handle the tech stuff and act as a guide into the base."

Lowering her head, Cosmo spoke almost at a whisper.

"I thought I was going to lose you earlier…I just don't want you to get hurt Tails"

Stroking her hands with his thumbs, Tails replied with a soft smile.

"I know. I understand how you feel, but right now Neo is threatening the entire universe, and worse he's threatening you. I can't sit idly by while he does that. I promise I'll be okay."

Looking up into his eyes, Cosmo smiled. Even she wasn't really sure how he did it, but somehow Tails was always able to reassure her or dissuade any negative feelings she may have no matter the situation. If he said he'd be okay, then she'd trust him.

"Okay Tails, I trust you. But please be careful, I know you're genius but please don't do anything reckless because you're worrying about me."

Tails hesitated a moment, unsure if he could promise that.

"I only promise to try" he replied, smirking in an attempt to lighten the mood as well as reassure his girlfriend.

This seemed to work, as Cosmo began to laugh.

"Good enough I suppose"

"Aw, you two are so cute together"

Once again the two were reminded that they weren't alone, Amy absolutely enthralled by there interactions while Sonic tried (and failed due the playful smirk on his face) to appear like he wasn't paying attention.

Their bashfulness temporarily resurfacing, they attempted (and again failed) to hide their blushes while Tails tried to changed the subject.

"A-anyway, while the weapons I've designed should allow us to hold our own against Neo's army, to maximize our chances against him we should probably collect the chaos emeralds"

"Good idea, Neo may be powerful but he'd be no match for me in my super form" Sonic said.

"I guess we should start looking then" Knuckles said as he prepared to head for the door to begin his search.

Reaching into a drawer at a nearby desk, Tails pulled out three different devices and handed them to the two hedgehogs and the echidna.

"I made more emerald radars, with these you'll be able to track them down much faster and-"

"Tails" Amy interrupted looking confused "Why does this say all seven are nearby?"

"What?"

"The radar" Amy continued, holding up the one she'd been given and turned on "It's displaying all seven emeralds nearby"

"That's strange, they couldn't be-wait. OH NO!"

Before Tails could speak further, security alarms went off for a few second before they were suddenly drowned out by the sounds of the perimeter defenses activating, followed by the sounds of explosions from outside. Seconds later the alarms went silent.

Everyone waited in silence a moment before Knuckles spoke.

"What the hell was tha-"

A huge explosion suddenly shook the lab as a large portion of the wall was blasted away, followed by numerous blasts being shot in various directions to destroy the computers and machines in the lab and thus cutting off any ability to activate any further defenses.

"Knock knock" a hateful metallic voice spoke.

Everyone's eyes focused on the still clearing smoke from the initial explosion, seeing two red, glowing eyes glaring back at them.

"No…" Tails spoke hoarsely. It couldn't be. He couldn't have gotten in. He couldn't be back so soon.

"I know what you're thinking. He's back so soon? How? And how did he get in? I knew I likely would've been unable to force my way in normally, so I had the brilliant idea of becoming invincible to overcome that irritating hindrance. As for how I did so without the chaos emeralds, well…the master emeralds power saw to that."

Hearing this, Knuckles charged at the menacing robot.

"YOU DESTROYED IT! HOW DARE YOU USE IT'S POWER! YOU-" he screamed before a casual blast of glowing yellow energy was cast at him, sending him flying into a nearby wall with such force that it cause part of it to collapse onto him.

"The power is mine to do with as I please, as is all energy" he spoke before turning his gaze back to the others "as are all of you."

The smoke clearing, the others could now see their enemy's color had changed from the combination of colors from before to a bright golden color, the glowing golden light being a strong contrast the the utter evil his still red glowing eyes conveyed.

"Neo, you've gone too far! You won't get away with this!" Amy yelled defiantly.

"I'm not the one you should be worried about" another voice called from behind the intruder, walking up to reveal Neo Metal Sonic.

A sudden gasp came from the remaining four heroes.

"HOW!? how can there be two of you!?" Amy screamed

"Project: Overlord" Tails spoke ominously.

"Correct. I am the first of the Meta Army, Neo Metal Sonic"

"And I have transcended beyond that identity, you knew me as Metal Sonic, then Neo Metal Sonic, now you shall know me as Meta Sonic. For the time you have left anyway, but at the given moment you shall know me as Super Meta Sonic!" Meta Sonic spoke triumphantly, absolutely ecstatic at the looks of utter horror on the heroes faces.

"Though the super transformation brought on by using just a bit of the master emeralds power is short lived, it will be more than sufficient to accomplish what I came here for" Neo's eyes then turned towards the very frightened Cosmo, who was being shielded by Tails.

"You're coming with me "White Seed"

Cosmo's eyes widened with a new layer of fear. What had he just called her? How did you know of that?

"NO! I'M NOT LETTING YOU TOUCH HER!" Tails screamed as he place himself between his love and the metal demon intent on taking her from him.

"Foolish boy, you can do nothing to stop me" Neo said before Sonic and Amy both attacked him. They knew it was fruitless, he was in a super form and as such couldn't be harmed. But he'd given them a bit of hope when he'd said that the transformation was short lived. If they could manage to stall him, then maybe they could cause him to run out of time and revert to normal. It was their only chance.

"TAILS! COSMO! GET OUT OF HERE!" Sonic yelled as he and Amy continued to attack Meta Sonic, who seemed more irritated than anything else.

Tails needed no further encouragement, grabbing Cosmo's hand he began to run with her towards the nearest door, intent on making it to one of the lower levels. If they could, the heavily reinforce walls and security doors would aid in buying them time.

Unfortunately, they'd forgotten about the other threat in the room.

Neo rushed right in front of them, blocking their path with his arms crossed.

"Going somewhere?" He quipped before backhanding Tails away, leaving Cosmo at his mercy.

"Tails! No!" Cosmo screamed.

"Worry less about the fox and more for yourself" Neo spoke coldly as he walked up to the seedrian.

Tails began forcing himself up, and upon rising to his feet he noticed Meta Sonic had already worn out Sonic and Amy, who had exhausted themselves attacking him to buy time. Their efforts being met with swift punches to the gut, knocking them out cold.

"Neo, take Cosmo back to the base. I'll see to Tails personally"

"As you wish"

"NOOO!" Tails screamed, starting towards the blue robot to defend his love before a clawed hand was wrapped around his neck and he was lifted off the ground.

"Tails! Please don't hurt him!" Cosmo cried before suddenly falling silent as though remembering something. Seconds later, she glared at Meta Sonic and threw her hands out, causing a mass of vines to spring out of the ground and wrap themselves around his body. Continuing her assault, Cosmo then summoned large pod like plants which engulfed the wrapped up robot, overlapping one another to produce layer after layer of restraint.

While this was happening, Tails had been dropped from Meta Sonic's grasp and was currently awestruck at Cosmo's display of power. Neo also stood by watching, though less in awe and seemed to be observing as if to asses something.

Cosmo then clenched her fist, causing the mass of plant matter to tighten around it's captive as if attempting to squeeze the power out of him. To the surprise of Tails and Neo, this seemed to be working, as the plants started to have glowing yellow pulses travel down their stalks and into the ground. This was followed by clear signs of struggle as Meta Sonic attempted to free himself.

"I..I must hold him, just a little longer.." Cosmo thought to herself as she struggled to contain the raging monster before her.

Several moments passed before the glow barely shining through from under the plants faded away, only for all that light to suddenly burst forth past the plants, vaporizing each one of them as Meta Sonic screamed in rage.

"RRRRRAAAAAAAAGGGGHHH"

Cosmo fell back slightly from the shock wave, though thankfully was unharmed. Looking back, she saw that her attempts had bore fruit, Meta was now back to normal. Although now he appeared absolutely livid.

"I underestimated you Cosmo. With all that this metarex technology has taught me about you're species, I should have known better…especially considering what it's told me about you."

"Wha-?" Cosmo began before she was suddenly grabbed in Neo's arms.

"I will not make that mistake again"

"Tails! Help!"

"Cosmo!" Tails called back as he began to stand, only for a hard metal foot to come down on his back and pin him to the ground.

"Down boy" Meta ordered coldly.

"Time to go Cosmo" Neo spoke as he activated his jets and began to fly out of the house.

"TAILS! PLEASE HELP ME!" Cosmo screamed out to her lover as she was carried away.

"COSMO! NO PLEASE! DON'T TAKE HER! PLEASE!"

As Neo and Cosmo disappeared from view, Tails felt the foot on his back move off of him before he was once again grabbed by the neck and pinned with great force against the wall.

Neo glared and him with pure hatred and spoke in an eerie tone that dripped with malice.

"You should never have dared to oppose me. You humiliated me! Now I shall crush not just your body, but also your soul!"

Meta tightened his grip slightly, cutting off some of Tails' oxygen but not enough to completely stop him from breathing while still causing added pain.

"I'm not going to kill you just yet Miles, no, I'm going to allow you to come for me at my base in a last desperate attempt to save you girlfriend. There, she will watch you fail, she will see the desperation in your eyes as you fall against me. And in that last moment you will look into each others eyes and you will know that once your gone, I will end her as well. Only then will I end your life".

Meta then threw Tails to the ground, knocking the wind out of him.

"Tend to your wounds and those of your worthless friends. Then come for me and be ready to lose her again."

With that, Meta turned and flew out of the shattered remains of Tails' lab. Tails barely managed to lift himself up, seeing the ruins of his lab and the whole in the wall through which his love had been stolen and fell to his knees.

And wept.

Whoa. That was intense wasn't it? But now we know what Meta Sonic is planning and the stakes are higher. Much higher. Honestly as I haven't written the chaos emeralds into the story yet, I wasn't sure how I was going to have Meta transform into a super state. Then I remembered that the master emerald (being the controller and the most powerful of the emeralds) can grant temporary super states. As it's not really meant to be used for such the transformation is much shorter than one caused bu the chaos emeralds but it gets the job done. As for the new name, I was getting tired of writing Neo Metal Sonic or Neo all the time and with him being merged with metarex tech I thought the new name would be fitting. METArex combined with METAl Sonic seems perfect right? Meh, I hope so, even though for him its a placeholder name. And for clarification, Meta Sonic's dialogue is in bold only. Neo's (the copy) is in bold and italics. In any case, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. See ya!