(A/N: Still steadily chipping away at this rewriting :U got two chapters of rewriting to go before I can continue the story!)

While Tails was busy getting the new voice chip, 10-961 was beginning to relax around the gang. It helped that they stopped asking things he couldn't answer like 'do you know a Doctor Eggman?' and 'What do you think your brothers do?'.

He liked Cream's questions the most.

His favorite color was yellow – like on his hand. He liked how it popped from the cooler colors.

Not to mention she related to the worry he felt over his brother. She had lost contact with her mother a while ago and didn't know if she was okay or not. Apparently she had been kidnapped by this 'Doctor Eggman' and Cream's mother Vanilla had asked Sonic and his friends to go rescue her. It made him feel a little better that someone was in a similar situation; it made him feel less alone.

Cream was gathering painting supplies at this moment; excited to show her new friend how to draw people. She said it was fun and even relaxing! He could use both at the moment.

But as she was picking out the paint brushes, someone new popped in that the metallix hadn't seen before. There were no bright colors on him and he stood straight-stiff as he walked in.

-"Master Thorndyke, I'm afraid I have to drag you away for an important matter." Mr. Tanaka said as he beckoned Chuck over.

"What's the matter?" Chuck asked as he walked over.

"I'm afraid the Paparazzi are here. They want the 'scoop' on the battle yesterday. I've been holding them off for a while now and they're growing restless." Tanaka replied.

"Urgh… How many are there?"

"All of them AND they want Sonic."

"Oh boy… hold on just a sec." Chuck sighed and then turned to the group who were listening in. "I'm afraid I have to excuse myself, I have to calm the hornet's nest. Make sure they don't see our new friend okay? Knowing them, they'd probably get everything wrong! Sonic, you coming?" Chuck told the group.

"I was actually gonna take a nap – I don't really trust most of them anyway." Sonic replied. Chuck shrugged and made his way to the front door. He suspected that, but sooner or later the news crews would get a chance to ask Sonic questions.

Metallix tilted his head in confusion. He wondered what happened yesterday that overshadowed his own arrival? He wanted to ask the question and not write it down though; it took too long to write out simple sentences! Speaking of which where was Tails with that voice chip?

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Tails was currently engrossed with putting the final touches on the voice chip. He thought he had completed it the night before, but he must have been so tired he forgot a few symbols in the code. He also realized how tired everyone else was, too. When they asked for their names – well… 10-961 had already said their names on the piece of paper Chris had read aloud; and yet they all acted so surprised by it when he told them after he woke up! Tails smacked the top of his head in a lighthearted manner. Maybe he should take one of Sonic's famous naps this afternoon?

WHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

"Ach!" The loud noise startled the fox. He whirled around to face the noise.

In the corner, 274 was shaking and puffing out smoke from his chest engine. Though Tails sighed in relief that it was white smoke; a coolant problem not a 'will probably explode' kind of problem. Still a serious and costly problem if left untreated. But he had to approach with caution. No matter how much he wanted to repair the metallix, he didn't know what this one was like.

This was the Metallix that had 'Eggman's' Logo – scratch out though it was – and seemed the most damaged out of the two. Who knows what circuits got crossed or what code got distorted. Tails took in a deep breath as the eyes flickered online and slowly lifted to look at the fox blankly. Just do this like Sonic; approach with a friendly demeanor. Maybe the bot wasn't so bad? 10-961 was pretty nice.

"H-hi!" Tails stuttered at first –curse his nerves, but continued on. "W-we found you and your brother 10-961 on Angel Island. How are you feeling?"

Tails waited for a response. 10-961 had been slow to respond in the beginning, 274 was probably having the same issues. The blank eyes cleared, truly seeing who was in front of him now…

The Eyes narrowed

The Shoulders hunched

The Claws flexed

And a dangerous voice boom out with spats of static:

"YoU KIlLeD THE-M."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

"Hey you guys hear something?" Amy asked just as Sonic jumped out the door to hang in his favorite tree.

"Sounded like a screech?" Chris said nervously. "We should go check on Tails." Everyone nodded. 10-961 was worrying if something went wrong and he wanted to check on his brother too.

Before anyone could take a single step towards the garage, a loud BANG and BOOM shook the house, and a thoroughly terrified Tails sped like Sonic away from the noise and nearly crashed into the group. He was clutching the new voice chip with an iron grip.

"Tails what the heck happened?!" Amy cried as Tails held a hand over his racing heart.

"I-I ! He- he - The other one!" Tails sputtered out, but couldn't finish as the door he just exited was blow off its hinges.

In the doorway stood 274.

He did not look as friendly as 10-961.

10-961 was meek, scared, and curious.

All that rolled off of 274 was pure unbridled WRATH. From the unhinged look in his eyes to the battle stance he took.

10-961 thought he didn't look like he was all there.

The small moment to take in all this was brief and soon the *click! whrr! click! Of his engine rang. 274 blasted towards the group. In an act of instinct, Amy swung her hammer at 274's middle and sent him crashing through the sliding glass door.

"Sorry 10-961 he startled me!" Amy cried as 274 got up dazed. But the eyes soon focused on Sonic and 274 let out a blood-curdled scream of fury.

"YOU KI-ILLED THEM! YOU KILLED THEM ALL!" 274 accused at the highest volume possible. 274 couldn't think straight, everything was blurred, and emotion was starting to seep out of his monotone voice. His failure to assure their victory had cost him and his brothers' everything. 274 had nothing left to lose.

He launched himself at Sonic with his razor-sharp claws that scored groves into the tree where Sonic had been standing a millisecond before. He ignored his internal systems warning him, he was deaf to them; all he focused on now was causing as much hurt to the enemy as possible. Before he offlined, too… He wouldn't die lying down!

He didn't ask questions like why he was in a mansion or why Amy had a hammer and not a crossbow or why there were other humans about besides Robotnik.

A different sort of clicking was being heard.

Clicking of cameras and rolling film.

And a desperate Chuck, Tanaka, and Ella trying to hide the fight from the Papparazzi.

"Look I don't understand! Killed who?" Sonic asked with hands raised out in front of him. That only seemed to anger the metallix further as he closed the distance between the two of them with the aim to maim.

"E-EVERY-YON-NE!" 274 Shouted. He slashed at Sonic, managing to nick his chest. Sonic dashed to the other side of the large yard, trying to get as much distance as possible between each other. Normally he'd have smashed the robot without a thought. But 10-961 was watching from the shattered door, paralyzed by fear and confusion. Sonic knew he cared; so he had to be careful with how he handled this.

"Okay it's obvious your upset, bu-" Sonic couldn't finish as 274's engine came alive with fire and rocketed him towards Sonic. 274 uppercutted Sonic with as much power as he had left; thankfully it was barely 10%, the only thing that hurt Sonic biting his lip from surprise –maybe a small bruise later.

Sonic ducked and dodged again –this guy didn't want to talk, but he had to stop him somehow! An idea formed in his head. Sonic made a beeline for the pool.

"Came get me you pile of bolts!" Sonic teased. The metallix was already angered enough that the comment wasn't needed. 274 sped towards Sonic with claws outstretched aiming for the throat.

As 274 flew over the pool, Sonic jumped into the air. He planned kick the robot into the water to short-circuit the robot. But 274 had fought Sonic before he knew some of his tricks. In a move that Sonic didn't expect, 274 veered off course slightly and got in a position Sonic couldn't kick him from. 274 took the opportunity for the strangle hold.

Sonic started trying to pry the hand from his throat while also trying to push himself away from 274. 274 held Sonic up – silently relishing that he might actually avenge his brothers by killing Sonic. He looked him straight in the face; he wanted to remember his look as the color drained away.

And saw green.

Emerald green eyes.

274 faltered. Sonic did not have green eyes.

"BROTHER! STOP!" a voice shouted; pleaded.

274 turned away from Sonic. He didn't recognize the voice. It was scratchy and sounded like a filtered organic voice. But he did know who was standing before his arms with his right arm outstretched.

"Please, put him down." It was 10-961. Paint scratched and a few dents. Wide-eyed in terror, Newest of the Brotherhood of Metallix bringing Hope..

A brother…

"He wants to help."

A malfunction.

Terror threatened to seize 274's engine. Memories of a brother reprogrammed into a bomb that nearly killed the Brotherhood of Metallix in the early stages of their plan. He hesitated.

10-961 wasn't sure what was going through his brother's head, but his eyes scared him. Red spirals dance off the central optic in a glitchy sporadic manner.

"please." 10-961 said one last time. This was the only brother he knew and he didn't understand why he was attacking Sonic.

Sonic was nice, Cream and Cheese were nice, everyone was nice. They didn't even know who they were!

But 274's thoughts had gone to dark places. He lowered Sonic.

"I WilL." 274 said coldly. He let go.

It would take him 30 seconds to catch his breath.

It was enough time.

"But Only BECausE I NeED to TerMINATE YOU."

He would not let this repeat. Never again.