Prophecy

by Asher Tye

Changed name from Silver Fox! In the world of Mobius, a prophecy exist of one who will one day bring the world to a great harmony. Whether he will do it through peace or destruction is a choice as simple... as the flip of a coin.

4. Metallic

Disclaimer: The cast of crazies normally found in Archie's Sonic comic belong to their respective owners and are used without permission. Please don't sue me for using them.

Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay for this story, you would not believe the kind of problems I have been having completing this story. E- mail me if you like it.

************************************************************************ Timeline: 2 months after the events recounted by the Silver Fox trilogy ************************************************************************ Prologue ************************************************************************

He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, which was a considerable distance considering they were, much like the rest of his body, robotic. This would seem to insure his escape from whatever was chasing him, except for one small fact; his pursuers were robotic as well.
His designation was E.P. 62, Experimental Prototype number 62, but he much more preferred the name he had chosen four years before; Metallic. He was a robot fox, patterned after a full-sized adult fox, but he wasn't even sure if that had been what he originally was before Robotnik had destroyed his life. His memories of anything before he'd awoken as a robot were almost totally scrambled, and all he knew for sure was that Robotnik had horribly wronged him.
The sound of metal smashing into wood signaled the presence of the squad of five Combots that had been doggedly tailing him for the past half year, replacing the SWATbots that had previously been assigned to capture him. The SWATs had been allot easier to evade, giving him time to stop and repair anything that had been broken in the chase. The Combots, though, had proven themselves unstoppable, unshakable, and totally unrelenting, keeping him running since they'd picked up his trail.
*If I don't find some way to lose those things, my body will be too worn out to run any more,* Metallic thought to himself. The crashing sounds were getting closer all the time as the Combots began to overtake their quarry, pointing out the urgency of finding a way out of his predicament. Suddenly, the metal fox spied an unusually tall tree whose top easily broke the canopy of the forest. Running to it, Metallic began to quickly climb all the while commanding his back to open up, revealing the gliding wings he'd had installed during one of his successful evasions of the SWATbots. Just as he reached the top of the tree, the Combots broke through and spotted him. A single jump, and the mecha-fox was airborne amid a hail of laser fire, which he didn't bother to return. He knew that his wrist-mounted laser torch had neither the range nor the power to inflict any damage on the heavily armored Combots. The flyer dodged the offending laser-fire as best he could, rolling and ducking through the air, but luck can be both good and bad, as one shot finally connected, damaging Metallic and sending him tumbling towards the hard ground.

************************************************************************

From a distance, a lone figure watched the conflict with great interest. As Metallic fell through the sky into what surely would be his capture, the figure raised a hand from beneath his cloak. The hand began to glow an electric blue as a clear light-blue bubble formed around the falling robo-fox, shifting his trajectory ever so slightly until he was no longer falling to the ground, and thus the waiting arms of the Combots. With an audible splash of water, Metallic slammed into the river, which began to swiftly carry him away from danger. A quiet laugh emanated from the cloaked figure, and then, in a small flash of light he was gone.

************************************************************************

Metallic didn't know how he'd ended up in the river, but he was grateful, even as he felt the damage he'd incurred threatening to take him off-line. He quickly grabbed on to a nearby log in order to stay a float, praying he'd get out of this alive.
*If I can't get out of here soon,* metallic thought, feeling the water flowing into his damaged body, *the only thing I'll be able to do is hold down paper.*

************************************************************************ METALLIC by Cale Kuecker ************************************************************************

It was a lovely day in the Great Forest. The sky was clear, the sun shown brightly, and it was neither too hot nor too cold. Tails loved days like this, when the day made him almost forget he was in the middle of a war. The young kit found himself almost skipping as he made his way towards one of the many rivers that fed the forest, almost hitting himself with the large water bucket he carried.
When he'd asked Rosie if there was anything he could help her with today, he didn't think he would be fetching some live water lilies from the river. Nor could he guess why she needed the lilies in the first place. As the young fox began to carefully uproot the first lily, he noticed something floating down the river, covered in broken vegetation. It seemed to be barely moving, struggling to maintain a grip on the log. Not wanting to see whoever it was drown, Tails quickly flew out to the floating log, grabbing hold and towing the thing to the shore. As the kit began to tear away the vines that covered the water-logged creature, he began to notice how hard it was. When he finally uncovered the face, Tails was startled to see instead of a flesh and fur face, there was a steel faceplate. He was even more surprised when a hand grabbed his ankle, and the robot's eyes opened, glowing an eerie green color. But nothing could have prepared Tails for what happened next.
"Heeeelp, meeee..." The robot, which Tails could now recognize as a fox, pleaded in a weak metallic voice. Tails's first instinct was to run, but something stopped him. Tails looked down at the ground that was now polluted by leaking oils of every variety. Even if he was an enemy, without help this robot would die, and Tails heart screamed that he wouldn't want that to happen. And the young fox had never heard of one of Robotnik's robots pleading for help. His mind made up, Tails grabbed the robo-fox's arms and began to drag him to a safer place.

***

Sonic was bored. The Freedom Fighter meetings were often dull, but nothing could be duller than listening to Antoine go over the best ways to disable a SWATbot. What made it worse was that it was obsolete information, especially for him. Robotnik was replacing the SWATs with the Combots, and pretty soon, no one would need to remember how to disable a SWATbot.
*If something doesn't happen soon, I'm gonna start beggin' Buttnik to roboticize me.* Sonic thought to himself. He couldn't even go to sleep because Antoine's voice was too irritating. Suddenly, something else caught the blue hedgehog's attention. Someone outside was calling, and it was getting louder.
"SONIC! ROTOR! AUNT SALLY!" came the voice, which Sonic suddenly realized was his little buddy's. Running over to the hut's window, Sonic looked for the small fox, seeing him flying up the road, looking very agitated. Sonic then looked over to Rotor, and, seeing the walrus was asleep, ran out to see what Tails needed.
"Yo, big guy, what's the matter?"
"Sonic you'll never guess what I found by Green River. It looks like a robian, only its badly damaged."
"What? You didn't bring it back here did you?" Sonic asked.
"I'm not that dumb, I took him to Marble Gardens and hid him in one of the ruins there. But if we don't get him fixed soon he's not gonna make it."
"Okay, hold on a minute while I round up Sally and Rotor, and you can take us to the robot."

*****

In ten minutes all four Freedom Fighters were inside the ruin Tails had hidden Metallic. Rotor and Sally were busy looking over the now no longer leaking android, while Sonic kept an eye out for any Combots.
"Well," began Rotor, "after completing an inspection of this guy, I have an announcement. This is no roboticized Mobian."
"What are you talking about Rot?" Sonic asked, suddenly interested.
"I mean that this robot never went through the roboticizor. Robotnik built him from the ground up." Rotor motions them all other to the robot's open chest cavity, "As near as I can tell, his body mimics a living body." He points at a gizmo, "This is supposed to be his power center, and over there are his lungs. I won't know more till I get a chance to repair him back at Knothole."
"There may be a way to find out something about him. If his memory is still on-line, I can have Nicole access it. I just need to link to its CPU." So saying Sally walks over to the robot's head, pressing a small button on its neck. "This should open..."
"Access panel unlocked," drones a mechanical voice, as the top of the mecha-fox's head opens.
"Now, I just plug Nicole in heeeeee.... Aahhhhhhhhh!!" Hearing Sally scream, Sonic runs to her and sees what she sees.
"By Chaota...." By this time Tails and Rotor have also come and see that inside the robot's head, pulsing with cyberorganic attachments, under a clear dome, is a living brain.
"Nicole, please tell me that isn't what I think it is."
"I'm afraid I can't do that Sally. All scans indicate that the object is a brain, augmented with cybernetic implants. It also appears to be vulpine in nature."
"You mean that thing has a brain just like mine?" Tails asked, more than a little repulsed by this fact.
"It looks like it, sweetie," Sally replied, "Nicole, can you still interface with this robot?"
"Cursory evaluation of cybernetic implants indicate they were designed to allow communication between the brain and a computer, most likely the mainframe of Robotropolis and..."
"In common Mobian Nicole?" Sonic complained.
"I believe I can link with the robot, though it is uncertain what data can be retrieved."
"Link up Nicole," came Sally's command. Soon a long cord extended from the top of the little palmtop, connecting to a corresponding hole in the robot's cyber-brain. Quiet beeps could be heard as the two machines began communicating. Suddenly, Nicole began to rapidly project pictures, changing images too fast for the others to see.
"Nicole, please slow down, we're not able to keep up with this light- speed pace."
"I'm sorry Sally, but this robot's memory is fragmented, and I am currently searching for something that has not been damaged." Suddenly, the pictures stopped. "I have located an image that seems the least damaged of what I've seen. Shall I display it for you?"
"Do it." Soon Nicole begins to replay the scene of Metallic being attacked by the Combots. Once the scene ends, a new scene begins, starting with Robotnik behind what appears to be glass.
"Well, well 62, it appears the operation has been a success. You are the first experiment to survive." Suddenly, another voice, strange to all the Freedom Fighters is heard.
"What... What has happened? Where am I?" Robotnik smiles.
"You are in my head..." Suddenly the image stops.
"It is possible that I can reconstruct more memory if I attempt to go deeper into his mind."
"Don't go too deep Nicole, I don't want you deleting anything by accident." As Nicole begins, Rotor finishes temporarily patching the leaks all over Metallic. Suddenly, the robot begins to scream, as does Nicole, while the connection between the two begins to spark.
"They're overloading each other," Rotor yells, "If they off-line we could lose both of them."
"Nicole disengage!" Yells Sally. Nicole is unable to respond, and so Sally begins to pull the cord, which itself refuses to give.
"Stand back Sal, I'm gonna try to cut their cord." So saying, Sonic goes into a spin severing the connection between Nicole and Metallic. As the smoke clears, Sally begins to check Nicole while Rotor deals with the robot fox.
"Nicole should be all right, her circuit-breakers tripped and saved her. How is the fox Rotor?"
"It doesn't look like there is anymore damage than before, but we won't know till we fix him."
"You mean we're actually going to take this guy back with us?" Sonic asked, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"We have to, Sonic. Too many questions remain unanswered about this thing. Robotnik said it was an experiment, I want to know what he was planning before this one escaped Robotropolis," explained Rotor. "He won't survive much longer on the slipshod repairs we've made. He still needs help so if we're gonna do anything, we need to do it in the next few hours."
"Uncle Chuck'd probably know how to patch this guy up," Sonic interjected.
"Good thinking, Sonic," Sally said, "Go tell Chuck we need him, we'll get our friend here back to Rotor's workshop." With that, Sonic took off leaving the others to gather up the wounded robot.

************************************

Three hours later finds Rotor looking over pieces of the now disassembled Metallic. The robot's brain and life-support are currently hooked up to the Knothole powergrid, which is easily keeping him alive. Tails is also present, using his natural talent with machines to assist Rotor. Dr. Quack is also there, watching over the readouts on Metallic's vitals in case something goes wrong. All over the room are charts showing the different organs and bodily systems of foxes, with which Rotor seems to be comparing his patient's different parts. Suddenly, Sally walks in, minus Nicole.
"So, how is it going Rotor?" asked Sally.
"This is so fascinating, Princess. My theory about this guy's body is right. Every system seems to be a mechanical copy of an organic counterpart," Rotor said, beaming with pride, "I still don't understand some of this. Like the power core."
"What do you mean?" asked Sally, walking over to the robot's open chest for a better look.
"Look here." Rotor points to a small machine with few wires attached to it. "As near as I can tell, this is supposed to be the power source for the entire robot. From the looks of it, though its been drained for quite some time. In fact when I found it, it was totally disconnected, as if it were no longer needed."
"So where has he been getting his energy from?"
"All signs point to here." Now Rotor points to an enclosed metal box with several wires apparently running through it. Rotor points an energy meter at the box, and the needle flies across the meter. "Tails and I were just about to try to open it when you walked in. Tails, can you hand me that flat-head screwdriver." Tails complies and he and Rotor begin to fiddle with the supposed power source. "Tails, my paws are too big, see if you can get to that screw holding the box in place."
"Okay," came the young vulpine's response, and he climbed up to reach in. Soon, however, his paws slip and the screwdriver drops. Reaching in to retrieve it, his paws graze an outcropping hidden on the side of the box. Curious, Tails begins gently feeling his find, quickly discovering it to be a button. "Rotor, there's a button here on the side of the box."
"Try not to push it, Tails, for all we know it's a bomb." As Rotor leans closer for a better look though, he bumps into Tails, causing him to press the button. All three animals quickly back away, fearing the worst, until the top of the box begins to open, revealing a bright glow inside. As the lid swings open, a platform rises, revealing a large shining jewel.
"A power gem," came Sally. "No wonder his battery pack is disconnected. Why bother continually recharging when you can have a battery that doesn't run out."
"Metallic never would have a chance to recharge with those blasted Combots on his tail anyway," came a new voice from the door. The group turned and there in the doorway were Uncle Chuck and Sonic.
"Charles, it was good of you to come."
"After Sonic gave me a description of the robot Tails found, I knew it had to be old E.P. 62; Metallic. You have no idea how important it is to keep this fox out of Robotnik's hands."
"Who is he, anyway Uncle Chuck?" asked Tails.
"I don't know who he originally was, but I can tell you what I do know. Six years ago, when Robotnik was still getting started, he wanted to secure for himself immortality. Originally, he'd intended to use the roboticizor on himself, but when Sonic sent his arm into the beam, he learned first-hand how painful the process was. Because of that, Robotnik decided to use the fact that the thinking cells of the brain never really die. In a perfect system, a robotic system, the brain can live forever, or so Robotnik believed. From every village he conquered, Robotnik set aside the healthiest individuals for his experiment in transplanting the gray cells of an organic brain to a robot's body. For the most part, the transplanted Mobians just couldn't stand the strain. Many died during the operation, some couldn't survive the rigorous experimentation Robotnik put them through, while others actually destroyed themselves, unable to handle what they'd become. Finally, there was Experimental Prototype Number 62, who for some reason not only survived the operation, but was able to continue functioning. Of one-hundred thirty-seven test subjects, only one survived for a length of time. This was considered a success by Robotnik, who immediately had 62 transferred to a high security lab; the same lab he kept most of his priceless equipment, such as the power gems; where he would presumably remain."
"But if Robotnik already knew the experiment was a success, why'd he keep 62 around?" Rotor asked.
"Robotnik can't predict everything, and he refused to believe that there would not be future problems with the technology. He figured if it happened to 62 first, he would at least have advanced warning. Unfortunately, according to the files, the operation damaged the fox's brain, causing amnesia."
"Which would account for the scrambled memory Nicole encountered."
"Yes. Four years ago, though, you provided him with an escape Sonnie."
"Say wha'. I don't remember seeing him anywhere on that mission."
"The bombs you set wrecked the lab, and even destroyed the stasis cell he was imprisoned in. Before he left, he stole practically every piece of data on the closed circuit computer, and even managed to swipe the Mega Power Gem, the power gem equivalent of the Master Emerald. It has the same power as a chaos emerald, and is the only one of its kind so you can imagine how angry Robotnik was. After repaying Robotnik's hospitality, 62, who now called himself Metallic, hightailed it before anyone knew what happened. Of course, once his escape was discovered, Robotnik sent a group of SWATbots after him, and recently switched out for Combots. That's all the information I have on Metallic, but needless to say, he would be a valuable asset to the resistance."
The entire room stood in silence as Uncle Chuck finished his story. Sally was the first to come out of the shock.
"That monster. Robotnik didn't just enslave this poor fox, he stole Metallic's life." A tear ran down Tails's cheek as he looked back at the now prone Metallic, while Sonic was visibly turning red with rage over Robotnik's actions.
"Uncle Chuck," Rotor said, "since you're the most familiar with this technology, can you help us fix Metallic up. I'd hate to screw up something important."
"I think I shall," came Chuck's reply, and soon he, Tails, and Rotor, began working, while Sonic and Sally, sensing they were no longer needed, left.

************************************************************************

Meanwhile, back at the river, the squad of Combots have finally arrived. One opens a small communication pad. On its screen, Robotnik's face appears with its usual scowling visage.
"391, I assume you have some reason for contacting me so late. Spill it.
"Target's trajectory placed him in the river. Current signs indicate he exited the river at this point," the Combot replied in its monotone voice.
"Well then, where is he. From the damage you described, he could not have left the area. I presume he is in you custody even as we speak."
"No my Lord." The Combot holds up Tails's discarded lily bucket. "It appears the target has received aid from the Freedom Fighters."
"WHAAAAAAAT!!!!" Robotnik screamed, clearly incensed by this information. "You mean to tell me, that you let Metallic meet with those detestable Freedom Fighters? For four years we managed to keep him isolated, totally without any allies, and then you had to allow this to happen!!!" Robotnik suddenly begins to calm down. "391, engage function thirty-five."
"As you command Lord Robotnik." After a few seconds, Combot 391 suddenly begins to explode all over its body.
"Now that that has been taken care of; 390, you're the new commander of the squad. Find Metallic, I don't care if you have to tear apart the entire Great Forest to find him, find him!"
"Command received and acknowledged."

************************************************************************

It was noon time the next day before the work was completed, even with Uncle Chuck's ability to work round the clock.
"Now we only need to reconnect the last wire to the power gem and then we can re-implant the brain in Metallic's head," Rotor said triumphantly to Sonic and Sally, who had arrived to meet Metallic. Nicole can be seen once more adorning Sally's vest.
"Do you think those improvements might hurt him?"
"No Princess, essentially there never was a weapon system or a flight capability, and due to the inexhaustible nature of the gem, using them should not be anymore taxing to Metallic than lifting his arm." Soon, Rotor gives the signal that he's made the last connections, and Uncle Chuck lifts the protective casing of the brain. A few minutes of more work and the brain is finally placed in and the cranium closed. Almost immediately, the cyber-fox's body begins coming back on-line. The Freedom Fighters move back so as not to startle their guest. Two minutes later and Metallic finally begins moving, lifting himself from the table. Sally walks towards the robot, attempting to look as harmless as possible.
"Greetings Metallic, I, Princess Sally Alicia of the House of Acorn, welcome you to Knothole." Metallic watches Sally with a bewildered expression on his face. He looks around to see he new surroundings, stopping on Uncle Chuck.
"You won't take me back," Metallic suddenly says, drawing himself up into a defensive stance, ready to fight. Sonic also gets ready for trouble, unsure of what to expect from the robot.
"Calm down Metallic," came Rotor's voice as he approached the still tense cyborg, "No one's going to hurt..." Rotor is stopped in mid sentence as Metallic grabs the walrus, holding him close and placing a hand on Rotor's throat. Sonic begins to move but Metallic spots him.
"Not so fast, blue-boy. I don't know why you're working with Robotnik, and I don't care; but there is no way you're taking me back. I don't want to hurt anyone, but I'm not going back to Robotropolis." Sonic started moving closer, but Metallic caught him out of the corner of his eye. "Not so fast pincushion. You may think you're fast enough to hit me, but I wager you couldn't stop me from breaking the walrus's neck. I want you to move around to my front where I can keep a better eye on you." Grudgingly, Sonic moves towards the others and into Metallic's line of sight.
"Look Metallic, you're in no danger. If you'll just calm..."
"The workerbot seems to speak to the contrary squirrel-girl. As I said, I don't want any trouble, so the tusker and I are gonna just walk calmly out of here. If you don't follow us, I'll let him go, but you come after me, and I'll be forced to snap his neck like a twig."
"Look man, Uncle Chuck is a free 'bot. We're the good..."
"QUIET!!!" Metallic yells, backing towards the workshop's door. A back kick breaks the door down, and the robot starts to drag his hostage.
"Now ya'll know that's no way for a guest ta be treatin' his gracious hosts, sugar," comes a voice from behind Metallic, as a metal arm suddenly grabs the robo-fox's shoulder, breaking his hold on Rotor. Metallic turns around swinging his arm at what he believes to be a SWATbot only to have his wrist caught by the beautiful Bunnie Rabbot. The fem-bunny quickly pivots on her feet, and easily send Metallic flying over her shoulder. "Why don't we all just simmer down and talk this out real calm-like, hon." The other Freedom Fighters rush out of the hut, Sonic and Uncle Chuck in the lead with Tails, Rotor and Sally closely behind.
"Remember we don't want to hurt him," Sally commands as the group forms a circle around Metallic. For his part, Metallic gets back up to his feet, ready to defend himself from the attack.
"Be careful everyone, Rotor and I added some new features to help him keep ahead of the Combots."
"Don't worry Unc, I can handle anything he throws at me," comes Sonic's reply as he charges Metallic, only to meet the first of Metallic's new features; a rocket pack. Sonic, who has dealt with this situation more times than he can count, simply keeps running to a hut, off which he rebounds to crash into Metallic, sending them both to the ground. Metal proves superior to flesh, as Metallic is easily able to recover before Sonic. Before he is able to capitalize on this, Uncle Chuck meets Metallic in a grapple, matching Metallic in strength for a while. The cyber-fox, however, begins to overpower Charles, but is soon hit from behind by Bunnie. Remembering his mistake, this time Metallic headbutts Bunnie, easily knocking the rabbit down for the count. By this time, Sonic is back on his feet and runs to the defense of his friends. Metallic points his fist, expecting to use his wrist mounted laser torch to stop the hedgehog, when a slot in his index finger opens and a now internalized laser torch fires. Sonic easily dodges the laserfire much to the surprise of Metallic, who has just begun to clock the hedgehog.
*They're too good as a group, and the squirrel and fox haven't even tried to stop me,* Metallic thought, fending of Sonic's light-speed punches. *If I don't get out of here soon, I can kiss my tail good-bye.*
"We have to stop this Aunt Sally."
"I know Tails, but he won't listen to us."
"Sally," piped up Nicole, "allow Tails and myself to talk to him. I made contact before and Tails is the one who saved him. He may remember us and listen to us."
"I'm not putting the two of you in that much danger."
"Come on Aunt Sally, it may be our only chance to stop him without hurting him. You heard what he said, he's not mean, just scared about Robotnik."
"Well... It goes against my better judgment, but okay. I want you airborne though if he looks like he's going to attack."
"I promise." With that, Sally hands Nicole to Tails who begins to move towards where Sonic and Metallic are fighting. Metallic is able to sweep Sonic's legs out from under him, forcing the hedgehog to roll away to avoid being stepped on. Tails raises Nicole who starts a loud alarm to get Metallic's attention.
"Listen to me Metallic. I am Nicole, and it is I who made contact with you while you were comatose. The one holding me is the fox who's help you sought at the river. He is the one who brought you here."
"I remember."
"We are not your enemies. We rebuilt your badly damaged body. Had we intended to turn you over to Robotnik, we could have done so while you were catatonic. My friends merely wish to help you, but they can't if you continue to fight them." Metallic appeared to mull over this new information for a while, finally reaching a decision.
"Very well," Metallic responded, lifting his hands in a sign of surrender.

************************************************************************

The Combots have finally made it to Aquatic Ruins, following the trail left by Metallic's leaking oil.
"Trail ends here, it is no longer possible to pick up E.P. 62. Recommended courses of action?" came the droning voice of the lead Combot, number 390.
"Since quarry has joined with enemies designated Freedom Fighters, logical course is to seek them out for information regarding quarry's present location," another Combot suggested, whose number identifies it as 389.
"Incorrect. Current location of quarry is both known and unknown. A 99% probability has been calculated that quarry is presently at secret Freedom Fighter base designated Knothole, general location of which is wooded growth; nomenclature: Great Forest. Suggested course of action; begin systematic search for base through technique known as Slash and Burn," came a third Combot's voice.
"Current group make up is not equipped for search. We will return to Robotropolis; retrieve more Combots; remove the Great Forest," came the leader's final reply. Suddenly, 389 pipes in.
"Only one unit should return to Robotropolis. The rest should remain on patrol in case 62 resurfaces." Being the only one who could requisition more Combots, 390 opted to be the one to return, leaving instructions for the others to remain cloaked and undetected in its absence.

************************************************************************

Meanwhile, back at Knothole the Freedom Fighters were once more in Rotor's workshop while the walrus handyman was fixing the damage Metallic had incurred. Sally was busy making formal introductions for her friends as Metallic half listened, keeping a close eye on what Rotor did.
"That should do it, Metallic," Rotor said, putting his tools away, "Most of the damage was just superficial, but let me know if anything out of the ordinary happens."
"All right... Rotor."
"We did make some improvements, upgrading the circuitry, so you should run better than before," Uncle Chuck interjected, "I should show you some of the new functions you can perform before I leave."
"I would like that very much." Metallic hopped down from the table, gingerly testing his legs. Satisfied that nothing is wrong, Metallic begins testing his other joints.
"Ah hate ta be a big ol' party-pooper, but I do need to head over ta the guard station. Ah'm already late after our tussle with our guest." With that Bunnie leaves, though not without looking over her shoulder at Metallic one last time.
"Now Metallic," Uncle Chuck begins, "If you'll step outside I can show you the new defensive weapon we installed." Metallic, watching everyone, follows Chuck outside. "You've already seen the jets on you back, and the internalized black light laser torch, but there are two other additions to your arsenal." Uncle Chuck stops for a breath, an unusual thing for a robot to do. "Your fingers are normal now, but when given the command to do so, the tips of your fingers will turn into claws, assisting you in climbing and fighting. The claws are diamonite tipped, so you can really slash your way through almost anything. On your wrists you will see four indentions; one on top, one on bottom, and the other two on the sides. Please command them to raise." Metallic obeys, and, as a small cube rises from each indention, a small nozzle extends from the front of each cube. "I originally designed these for construction robots to use in place of jackhammers, but I think the technology converts to a weapon easily enough. Close your hands and point towards the barren ground over there, then fire." As Metallic does so, a steady beam fires from each of his wrists with a kickback that staggers the robot. Where the beams hit, a large amount of ground is kicked up. As Metallic moves his arms, a good sized trench can be seen where the lasers have been. The now impressed robot shuts down the beams.
"What are these things?"
"I call them Cyber-Punchers. The cubes utilize kinetic energy to form beams that, at its highest level, can literally reduce a city block to rubble. Point them at another robot or an offending wall, and you can guess the rest."
"We figured you could use these to keep ahead of the Combots," Rotor said, "That is if you decide to leave."
"If I decide to leave?" Metallic asked. Sally walked up to him.
"Yes. It is your option to leave and continue your life on the run. If you ever get damaged, you can return here and we'll fix you up. We can even give you some good places you can hide from your little 'entourage.' But I bet it does get lonely."
"It does."
"What I'm saying is you could be a valuable addition to the resistance. Robotnik hasn't been able to find us yet, so if you stay here, Robotnik wouldn't be able to find you. You'd be a lot safer than out in the open, and you could help us on our missions to Robotropolis."
"What do ya say, metal-man? Sal's offerin' ya a place here, with all of us. You'd be able to rest in peace, and even get some revenge on Robuttnik."
"I already did get some revenge," Metallic answered pointing at his head, "It's right here."
"We know about that Metallic." Uncle Chuck said, "Have you ever looked at the files you stole?"
"I've never had the time to look at them, I just assumed they were important."
"If you'll let me link up with you again, Metallic, we can all see what seems to be so important to Robotnik," said Nicole.
"All right, but you get too personal, and you'll see how fast I can break a link." Once more, Metallic's head opens as a cable emerges from Nicole, forming a hard-line connection between the two machines. Nicole quickly goes into hologram mode, allowing the rest of the party to see the files.
"It looks like these are blueprints." Rotor said. The room begins to fill with holographic images of blueprints and plans. Suddenly, Rotor notices something. "All these blueprints look like they were designed to use the Power Gems and Chaos Emeralds."
"What Rot?"
"Look, all the designs lack any real power source. They don't even have plugs to run off Robotropolis's powergrid. But look here." Rotor points to a diamond shaped hole in one of the machines. "This same structure keeps appearing. I think the lab Metallic broke out of was exploring alternative energy sources such as the power stones."
"This certainly warrants more study. Nicole, can you download these files from..."
"Ahem." Metallic is now looking at Sally, who realizes her mistake.
"I'm sorry Metallic. I'm used to stealing this type of information from Robotropolis. Would you mind if Nicole made a copy of these files?"
"I'm sorry too, Princess, but I don't think its a good idea for her to be messing with my memory."
"What," Sonic said, starting to get agitated, "Nicole knows what she's doing. What's the matter, don't you trust us? We put a lot of trust in you..."
"Sonic, simmer down. Metallic is new here and it is certainly his right to refuse to let Nicole copy any of his files, we are not going to force him." Turning to Metallic, Sally continued. "But, I do hope that given time, you'll reconsider. Who knows what else we might find trapped in you memory. In the meantime, please make yourself comfortable. We can set you up in a hut so you can recuperate from your ordeal."
"He can bunk with me Aunt Sally." Tails said. "I have that big hut all to myself, so he'd have enough room to relax."
"I don't really need a place to sleep. As I robot I..."
"You still possess an organic mind, and studies do show that rest is essential for a healthy mind." Sally countered. "I think you would do well with a good night's sleep. Since you offered Tails, you can lead Metallic to your hut."
"I'd like to run a few more tests on him, if you don't mind Metallic," said Rotor. "I just want to make sure he doesn't have any bugs left in him." Metallic nodded his agreement.
"Very well Rotor, just don't stay up too late. Tails, go and clean your hut for our friend's arrival. Rotor can take him over later."
"Yes ma'am," said Tails, who quickly left.
"We'll see you tomorrow Metallic, I wish you a pleasant night."
"Thank you Princess."

************************************************************************

Bunnie was starting to feel as tired as the rest of Knothole. Not only had she been chewed out by Steven for not relieving him on time, the stupid mink had used up all the coffee in the guard station and not brought in any more for her. She could feel her eyelids drooping, raising only so slightly with every rustling of the leaves, trying desperately to pay attention to her surrounding. Suddenly, she heard the leaves rustle much too loudly for a simple animal. Forcing herself to stand up to see what had made the noise, the rabbit found herself being watched by three armed Combots.
"Surrender Freedom Fighter, by order of Robotnik." In answer, Bunnie jumped forward tackling the lead robot and knocking him to the ground. Getting up as fast as she could, Bunnie only barely had time to see the other two Combots cloak themselves. Not wanting to press her luck, Bunnie began to run for cover, only to find that the Combot she had tackled was back on its feet and right in her path. Unable to correct herself in her tired state, Bunnie ran full force into the robot, knocking herself out.
"Change of plans..." 389 stated, gathering the fallen cyber-bunny into his arms. Cloaking, it joined its comrades as they trekked back to Robotropolis.

************************************************************************

Tails's hut was alive with motion as its owner feverishly worked to get it clean for his guest. He had already filled his toy chest to bursting with the bits and pieces of toys that had been lying on his floor since his arrival in Knothole. As he walked towards his closet to retrieve a sleeping bag, the kit heard a squeak, reminding him of the loose board in his floor. Stopping for a minute, Tails lifted the board to a metal box lying underneath. It was in here that Tails kept his most precious possessions. Making sure the box was still secure, Tails replaced the loose board and opened his closet, pulling out a sleeping bag. A knock was heard at the door, and the two-tailed vulpine went to answer. On the other side was Rotor and Metallic, who was barely visible against the night sky.
"Well here we are Meta. This is where you'll be staying."
"Welcome to my home Metallic won't you and Rotor please come in."
"Sorry Tails, I gotta get home. Good-night guys, don't do anything I wouldn't."
"Night Rot, pleasant dreams," Metallic said, stepping into the hut while waving good-bye to the walrus. Tails closed the door as Rotor went out of sight.
"So Metallic, I guess I should give you the grand tour of your new home." Tails motions over to his bed. "This is where you can sleep, I'll be taking the sleeping bag tonight."
"There is no need," Metallic interjected. "I feel neither comfort nor pain, so I do not require a mattress, or even a comforter. Thank you for the offer however."
"Right, well, over there is the bathroom and that's the closet next to the bookshelf. My toy chest is next to that." Metallic has crossed over to the night-stand by the bed looking at two pictures. One is a group shot of the Freedom Fighters in front of Knothole, the other was a picture of two adult foxes, one on either side of a toddler that could only be Tails.
"These your folks kid?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"The toddler's got two tails. I doubt there are any other kits that can boast the same trait." Metallic rolls up the sleeping bag, carrying it back to the closet. As he steps on the hollowed out space in the floor, it gives way allowing the robot's foot to crash through, denting the box. Quickly pulling his foot out, Metallic turns back to Tails. "Sorry, I didn't know that board was loose." Tails rushes over to the hole, examining the contents of the dented box for damage.
"It all right, nothing looks broken. I guess you were too heavy for the board." As Tails takes a closer look at each of his treasures, he feels as though someone is looking over his shoulder. He turns to see Metallic also staring into the box. Inside is a picture of Sonic, a solid gold locket, a bag of coins and a dusty old eyepiece.
"You really look up to Sonic don't you?"
"He saved me the day my village was destroyed. I can't help but love the guy."
"I take it that's the reason you're living alone now. I take it, the other stuff belonged to your folks."
"These are all I could find when I came back to the village. I guess the scavengers didn't think they were valuable enough to take. Look, I need to cover this again, please don't tell anyone about it."
"Don't worry about it, kid. I'm good at keeping secrets." Tails quickly patches up the cover, then heads over to his bed, removing his gloves, then his shoes. "I'm tired, so if you don't mind, I'm gonna turn in." Tails throws one of his pillows to his house guest, who easily catches it.
"I really don't need..."
"Just use it. If I wake up tomorrow and find you just laying on the ground, it'll just look freaky." Tails dives under his covers and turns out the lights. "Good night Metallic."
"Good-night Miles," Metallic replies, but Tails is no longer paying attention. *Miles?? Where did I come up with Miles?*
A few seconds later, Metallic has gone into sleep mode, and, for the first time in months, slept soundly.

*********

On the outskirts of the Great Forest, Combot 390 has returned to find its squad is no longer where it had left them. Behind 390 begin to decloak fifty Combots, each armed with a flame-thrower. The robot opens its wrist communicator, activating a direct communiqué to Robotnik.
"What do you want, 390?"
"Currently at rendezvous location with new contingent of troops. Squad is no longer here, and am unable to raise them on communications. Request new orders."
"They may have found something. Give them five hours, then with or without them, burn the forest to ashes."
"As you command, Lord Robotnik." With that, the line is closed, and 390 cloaks, waiting for his comrades to return.

************************************************************************

As eight o'clock arrives in Knothole, small lights flicker in its robotic guest as Metallic slowly reboots from sleep mode. At first confused at the strange surroundings he finds himself in, it takes him mere minutes to remember what has happened to him. Getting up, Metallic decided to take a tour of Knothole. Tip-toeing towards the door, Metallic silently opens the door, careful not wake the sleeping Tails. Once outside, Metallic takes a look at the village he was unable to see much of the day before. The village was beautiful in the morning light, and Metallic could see some of the village residents performing maintenance on their homes. The robot's sensors told him that it was summer, accounting for the perfect weather. Chemicals were present in the air that would have been pleasurable to a normal Mobian, but merely served to remind Metallic of what he lost. After about a half hour wandering the village, Metallic soon sees Sally and Sonic exiting a hut with a mess hall sign over its doorway. Tails was up as well, heading for breakfast no doubt. As Metallic went to meet his hosts, a small gecko ran towards the group.
"Princess. PRINCESS!!!!"
"What is it Jerry?"
"Combots!!! Fifty of 'em!!! They're burning the forest!!!!"
"What? Sonic we've got to stop them. If they burn the forest down, Knothole will be exposed."
"I'm all over it, Sal," Sonic yelled speeding off in the direction the gecko had come from.
"There anything I can do to help?" Two voices in unison asked. Sally turned to see Metallic, with Tails hovering just above him.
"Tails, you go warn the rest of Knothole, we'll need everyone to put out that fire. Metallic, please help Sonic stop the Combots. I'll be there as soon as I can with help, but we can't let them reach Knothole." Tails headed off with his instructions, as Metallic ran to catch Sonic.

***

It wasn't long before Sonic reached the Combots, who had broken up into ten groups of five robots. Jumping immediately into a spin, the blue blur sliced through three of the robots' flame spouting arms, jumping again to avoid the accompanying laser blasts. Sprinting hard, Sonic drew the fire, tricking the two uninjured robots into destroying their comrades, then themselves. As Sonic turned for the next group, he was startled to find they'd disappeared. Only when a metal fist barely missed in crushing his spine did he realize that the Combots had cloaked themselves. While it was a dangerous technology, Sonic new the limits of the prototype cloaks. The cloaks used so much energy, the Combots were unable to even strike without becoming partially uncloaked, much less shoot.
Sonic listened for the tell-tale sounds of the Combots decloaking, ready to dodge and counter-attack. Sure enough, one of the Combots threw a punch, allowing Sonic to move out of the way, then slice through the Combot's neck, severing its now sparking head.
*Can't rest or these guys'll just corral me,* were Sonic's first thoughts as he took out two more Combots, breathing hard from the exertion of being forced into constant motion. Three Combots took the first two's place each one striking at different times and changing positions too quickly for him to predict.
"Sonic to your left!" barks a command from out of nowhere which Sonic absent-mindedly obeys, barely dodging a red-hot laser that neatly cuts a formerly invisible Combot in half. The other Combots turn from Sonic to see Metallic with his new laser torch's out and ready.
"Priority One target has been identified. Proceeding to capture and restrain." SWATbot 390 decloaked near Metallic, ready for a fight.
"You mean all this was for little ol' me," Metallic says, feigning a southern accent. "I'm just flattered."
"You will surrender freely or you will be forced." Not waiting for a reply, two more Combots decloak and attempt to grab Metallic's arms, but, surprisingly, they miss as Metallic moves.
"You goons had me on the ropes for months, but now I'm fully charged and ready to rock. Your cloaks can't fool me because I can see the heat your mecha-bodies give off. You can't sneak up on me." A quick jump and Metallic is airborne, already using his cyber-punchers to literally flatten his assailants. Dropping to the ground, the robo-fox strikes out with his claws at apparently thin air, which ripples to reveal a hidden Combot, now with a hole in its waist.
"All units," 390 commands, "decloak and converge on target." As the Combots decloak, two explode as a laser hits their fuel packs. Behind them are several Freedom Fighters including Sally, Tails, Rotor, and even Antoine, each armed with a laser rifle, save for Tails. In the background, other Mobians are trying to fight the fires. "This is no concern of yours anymore Freedom Fighters," 390 once more says. "Surrender Metallic and you will be allowed to fight the fires in peace."
"Yeah right," yells a newly re-energized Sonic! 390 barely has time to turn before Sonic cuts him to pieces, terminating the robot's short reign of command. The other Combots, now exposed thanks to their previous order, are quickly being cut down by the Freedom Fighters, and soon are all destroyed. It is then that Sally focuses all her attention on putting out the flame.
"Get more buckets over there. Sonic, kick up some dirt with your Sonic Spin and try to smother the fire. Tails, use your tails and get the winds blowing away from the trees. Bunnie, you and Metallic can use you lasers to kick up dirt as well and help Sonic smother the fire."
"Aunt Sally, I couldn't find Bunnie anywhere."
"She was supposed to be on guard duty, Princess. You don't think the Combots already got her, do ya."
"Prinzess, somesing must 'ave happened to Boonie, or else she would 'ave warnened us before zey even got started."
"I agree Antoine, but we can't deal with that now. Metallic please help Sonic. Antoine, cut away the closest bush and tree limbs, we've got to keep this fire from spreading."
"Oui, my Prinzess."
"Sally, I'll go into the fire and stop it there. I can take the heat and you need someone there to blow out the flame."
"Make it so Meta."

******************************************

Four hours later the blaze is finally put out. Sonic is exhausted from all the spinning, as are the others who have been fighting the fire. Metallic's normally shiny armor is now covered in soot from his work inside the inferno. Tails lands by Sally, glad that he no longer has to fight the wind.
"All right people, do a search to make sure the fire is out. I want the injured taken back to Knothole. Rotor, take three and go to the guard station, I want to know why Bunnie didn't alert us first."
"I'm on it Sal." From behind Sally, Metallic walks up.
"I'm sorry Princess."
"For what, Metallic? Helping to put out the fire, or helping to turn the Combots into scrap?"
"For drawing them here in the first place. If I hadn't been with you, those dumb 'bots would never have felt the need to torch the Great Forest."
"It was our decision to take you in, and if we hadn't, you'd be in Robotnik's hands and we'd still be in deep trouble. The way I see it, you're more of an asset than a problem."
"You're too kind Princess, and I do promise I'll make all this up to you."
"My Prinzess. What do you want us to do with ze Combots."
"Get rid of their tracers and take 'em back to Knothole. We can always use more parts."

************************************************************************

Back in Robotropolis, Robotnik was absolutely livid.
"How could those filthy Freedom Fighters have defeated fifty of my Combots, how?!?!" Robotnik yelled at a nearby maintenance droid. "Why wasn't Mecha-Sonic among the Combots? He could have annihilated the Freedom Fighters."
"Sir, as you may recall," answered the small cylinder shaped droid, "Mecha-Sonic was severely damaged during the battle with Silver Fox. He is still being repaired." Robotnik turned an even brighter shade of red at this news, clearly angered by this display of his military's shortcomings. The droid backed away, not wishing to be near its master when he was in this state. Without something to hit, Robotnik went to his second option.
"Snively," the Lord of Lard bellowed! "You disgusting little running nose, get in here!!" When no one answered, Robotnik grew even angrier, yelling even louder. "Snively, if you're not here in a nanosecond, I will personally break off you pointed nose and roboticize it while you watch!!!" Still no answer. "Computer, where in this infernal city is that worthless nephew of mine?"
"Organic entity known as Snively Ivo has been located in roboticizor chamber. Do you wish me to put you in contact with him?"
"Yes," Robotnik commanded. Soon, the computer screen was filled with Snivley's face. "Snively, I have been calling for you! Why in Chaota's name are you in the roboticizor chamber!!"
"Well... Well sir, I was just about to roboticize the Freedom Fighter the Combots brought in last night. If you wish, I can transfer the..."
"Freedom Fighter?? Why was I not told that a Freedom Fighter had been brought in last night? Show me this Freedom Fighter." Snively quickly pressed some buttons, changing the video's view to show Bunnie inside the roboticizor tube strapped to a metal chair and struggling to get out. Next to the roboticizor stands the three Combots that had captured Bunnie.
"You were so preoccupied with destroying the Great Forest, that I endeavored to keep you from being disturbed. When these Combots came to me requesting to show you their prisoner, I refused and instead...." By this time, it had become clear to Snively that Robotnik was no longer listening to his nephew, but is instead lost in thought. "Er, shall I begin the roboticization process?" Snively asked reaching for the switch.
"Snively, if you touch that switch I swear I shall personally rip you arm off and shove it down you pencil throat."
"Sir. I thought it was your decree that all Freedom Fighters be roboticized?"
"I am amending that order, Snively. The Freedom Fighters were lucky to survive my onslaught of Combots, but these Combots' work and your own unique brand of stupidity have provided us with another avenue of attack. I will be there soon Snively, and I don't want a single hair on that hare's head harmed."
"Good one my..." But before Snively can finish his sentence, Robotnik shuts off the transmission, gets up from his chair, and heads towards his favorite room in the city.

************************************************************************

In her hut in Knothole, Sally is busy looking over the files she has managed to recover from the defeated Combots, when she hears a knock on her door. Rotor walks in, clearly worried.
"There was no sign of Bunnie at the guard station, but there was evidence of a struggle. It looks like three Combots got there, but there were some blood stains. I can't be sure if she's alive."
"Whatever else she may be, Rotor, Bunnie is a survivor. We'll find her, don't worry."
"It may be too late," came Metallic's voice from a window. "I'm sorry Princess, I couldn't help but overhear."
"It might not be too late Princess," Nicole joined in. "And I can use the Combots' communication lines to try to patch in to Robotropolis and find out."
"Are you sure that will work? You'd have to crack both computers and the Robotropolis Mainframe is hard enough to break."
"I am confident in my abilities as a hacker, Princess." Sally is unable to convince Nicole otherwise and sends Metallic to retrieve one of the damaged Combots. It is only when the robo-fox leaves the window that she notices two orange ears belonging to Metallic's unseen companion.
"You seem to be awfully interested in Metallic these days Tails? If you're not careful, Sonic might get jealous." At this, Tails slowly raised his head so he could be seen. "And you know you shouldn't be eavesdropping anyway."
"I know Aunt Sally." Tails answered. "But we wanted to know if Aunt Bunnie was all right."
"And you just happen to know the best places to stand so you can hear without looking like you want to know," Rotor said.
"And Sonic doesn't mind. Its just that Metallic seems so sad. He's been on his own since he Robotnik caught him, and it looks to me like he could just use a friend."
"That's sweet of you honey, but please don't show him where to eavesdrop anymore, I don't think the rest of Knothole would take it kindly if our guest looked like he was spying on them." A knock is heard at the door, and Rotor moves to answer it. In steps Metallic with an entire Combot torso, complete with its arms.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it Princess."
"Thank you Metallic, and please, call me Sally." Nicole's link cable slinks out, connecting to the torso as the palm-top begins to access its functions.
"Combot systems are more complex than SWATbots. I am using all my ability to keep the Combot's defense programs from tripping." Suddenly Antoine barges in screaming his head off, followed closely by Sonic who looks tired.
"Prinzess... Prinzess!! You must see zis. Robotnik, he has jest come on a wide band communiqué.
"He's right Sal, ya gotta see this."
"Nicole, disengage from Combot and display any incoming transmission from Robotropolis."
"Complying Sally." As soon as the link cable disengages from the Combot, Nicole activates her holographic display, showing a 3-D image of Robotnik.
"Attention Freedom Fighters. I know you can hear me, and I have something to say that will definitely interest you." The image changes to show Bunnie inside the roboticizor. "As you can see, I have a friend of yours and you have one of my minions." Robotnik's metal hand cups Bunnie's chin as she scowls up at him. "Unless you want this lovely little southern flower to complete her roboticization, I suggest you surrender the robot E.P. 62 to me in Robotropolis. I will give you eight standard hours to comply with my order, Robotnik, out." With that, the image fades.
"Now we have a problem," Rotor stated bluntly.

**************************************

It took nearly forty minutes for the four Freedom Fighters to assemble their friends in the war-hut. Sally stood at the podium with the core Freedom Fighters seated around her, with on seat conspicuously empty.
"Attention, attention, please," Sally said, banging a gavel. "As you've all probably heard by now, Robotnik has captured Bunnie Rabbot. He has offered a trade; her release for the surrender of the robot Metallic."
"So why don't we," came a voice from the crowd.
"Better him than one of our own," another animal called.
"First the forest fire, now a kidnapping, we can't stand this kind of treatment."
"What's the worst the fat man can do with that old junk-pile." At this last comment, Metallic seemed to disappear into the shadows he'd been standing in.
"People, people. We cannot surrender Metallic. He would become far too dangerous a weapon in Robotnik's hands."
"My Prinzess, I feel I must agree with ze crowd. While loosing Metallic would indeed be a big loss to us, we cannot simply be abandoneeng Boonie."
"I know Antoine, but you've seen the data we recovered from Metallic. If we let Robotnik build any of these machines, even without the Mega Power Gem , we could be facing the end of the resistance. I..."
"Aunt Sally..." Tails interrupted.
"Not now Tails. Besides we can't give up on Metallic simply because..."
"Aunt Sally..."
"In a moment honey," Sally said, becoming irritated at the fox's interruptions. "Sonic will you back me up here." It is then that she notices Sonic is no longer in his seat. "Has anyone seen where Sonic went off to?"
"I was sinking he was right zere, Prinzess."
"Great now we have to track him down before we can mount a rescue..." Tails, tired of waiting, cups his hands around his muzzle.
"AUNT SALLY!!!!!!"
"What is it Tails? What, what, what?"
"Metallic's gone, he left about three minutes ago when you were yelling, and then Sonic took off after him."
"I knew it," yells a pig in the crowd. "The instant things get tough that mechanical chicken takes off with..."
"I refuse to believe Metallic would desert us, Arthur."
"You are right Sally. Current trajectory indicates he is headed for Robotropolis. It is very likely he will attempt to trade himself to Robotnik for Bunnie."
"Great," Sally exclaimed, clearly frustrated. "Tails, you're the fastest next to Sonic, try to catch those two before they do something stupid. I'll try to get a team together to join you as soon as possible."
"I'm on it, Sally."

************************************************************************

Back in Robotropolis, Robotnik had already begun the second phase of his plan, while Snively was still confused about the whole thing.
"Robotnik, how can you be so sure that the Freedom Fighters will trade the E.P. for the rabbit? They're sure to have found the data in his hard-drive."
"They won't trade."
"What?"
"I said they won't trade. The Freedom Fighters would never agree to trade such a treasure as 62 to me, even for a deroboticizor, if there were such thing. I expect they'll mount an attack to try to retrieve their friend, and they'll use 62 as a premise to get into the city. What they don't know, however is that they'll be practically gift-wrapping themselves for me." Robotnik smiles an evil smile.
"I... I don't understand."
"Of course you don't Snively, but that is because you're an idiot," Robotnik punches up an old blueprint of a worker-bot. A circle appears around something in its neck, highlighting a piece of machinery. "When I roboticize a Mobian, I place a small electric generator at its brainstem, an electric generator that creates a charge roughly double the amount the Mobian's brain can produce. It is through this machine that I can subvert the Mobian's will, forcing it to do whatever I want."
"What does this have to do with that old E.P.?"
"Since I was forced to allow E.P. 62 to retain his organic brain to test whether my process for immortality would work. I implanted one of those control boxes on his brainstem as well, but when he escaped, I lost the ability to activate the box. Once E.P. is within Robotropolis's city limits however, I can activate the control mechanism, reasserting my control over that detestable fox. I will also be able to track him thanks to the tracer that will soon be activated as well. 62 will never again be able to escape me. HA HA HA HA!!"

************************************************************************

At Robotropolis's limit, Metallic soon lands, ready for anything. Just seconds behind him, a sonic-boom is heard, heralding the arrival of Sonic Hedgehog.
"I wasn't expecting you hedgehog, I thought no one saw me leave."
"These ears do more than frame my head Meta. Maybe everyone else was too wrapped up listening to themselves argue, but I heard you take off."
"Well now that you've escorted me safely here, you can return to Knothole where it's safe."
"Sorry, guy, but I can't just let ya turn yerself inta Buttnik," Sonic points to his head. "Yer forgettin' what's in that noggin of your's, not to mention the gem ya got stuck in yer chest."
"I'm not going to let Bunnie get roboticized just so I can stay free."
"Then how about we try getting her out before the deadline," came Tails's voice from above. "Sally's on her way and she's probably got a plan."

* * * * *

An hour later finds Sally, Metallic, Sonic, and Tails in Robotropolis's sewer system, sneaking up on Robotnik's command center.
"Everyone knows the plan right?" Sally asks. "Geoffrey's team is going to do a little demolition work on Robotropolis, drawing the SWATbots and Combots out and getting them to chase his team out of the city. We can handle any of them left in the center. We get in, free Bunnie, then get back to Knothole. Let's go." Metallic lifts the manhole cover, allowing everyone to creep out and into the shadows. Soon the four Mobians made it to the entryway of the Command Center and Sonic began to search for the airduct they used to enter the imposing egg-shaped structure.
"Uh," Metallic grunted as he entered the airduct, doubling over as if in pain. Sonic was the first to notice.
"Yo Meta, you okay man."
"Yes Sonic, I guess its just a reflex from being back in Robotropolis." This answer seemed to satisfy the hedgehog, who failed to notice that Metallic's eyes were beginning to look duller than they had been before. The quartet continued on their way, guided by Nicole who had downloaded a structural blueprint of the building. As they neared the roboticizor chamber, more grunts and groans issued from their robotic companion, but Metallic kept insisting that they were nothing to worry about. The group finally made it to the roboticizor chamber, where they saw Bunnie still in the roboticizor itself, still struggling to escape her bonds. Two SWATbots were directly below the Freedom Fighters, arranged perfectly.
"On three, we drop in on Buttnik," Sonic whispered. "One."
"Two."
"Three!" With that all four dropped down, Sonic going immediately into a Sonic Spin, cutting one of the SWATbots in half while Sally and Tails drag the second one down long enough for the squirrel to open the robot's neck and rip out its wires. Metallic, for his part merely stands, still as a statue.
"Very impressive, Freedom Fighters," came Robotnik's voice, clapping hollowly as he walked out from behind the Roboticizor. "You're much earlier that I expected but I can't say I'm disappointed. If you'll kindly hand over 62, I'll happily release you rabbit friend and you can be on your way."
"Forget it Eggman. We're all leavin' and you better be grateful we are."
"Oh, my naive little Sonic, heh-heh," Robotnik chuckles. "62, dear boy, please make the Princess comfortable while I explain to Sonic and his friends the difference between fantasy... and reality!"
"As you command Lord Robotnik." Before anyone can react, Metallic grabs Sally like he grabbed Rotor less than a day ago, being careful to remove Nicole from Sally's person. His eyes have become totally dull now.
"Metallic, what're you doin'?" Sonic yells, ready to free Sally at a moments notice.
"I wouldn't if I were you, Sonic. 'Metallic,' as you call him, would probably break your lady-love's spine before you could free her," Robotnik sneered. "If you and your dimwit sidekick can't tell yet, 62 is now under my control. Now, if you don't want to see your Princess get hurt, I suggest you walk over to Snively so he can fit you with those darling leg..."
"Sonic, Tails, get out of here, NOW!" screamed Sally. The result is instantaneous, with both Sonic and Tails splitting up to get out. Sonic, however, is not yet ready to abandon Sally, and runs back to make a grab for the squirrel princess. Instead of killing Sally as Robotnik promised, though, Metallic simply throws her, smacking her head against a console. The robo-fox leaps at Sonic, tackling the high-speed hedgehog in mid-air, only to find himself holding onto a living sawblade. Metallic kicks Sonic away, incurring scratches while on the other side of the room, Snively has begun to shoot at Tails, attempting to keep the young vulpine from escaping. As Sonic charges Metallic again, the robot raises his fists, firing the kinetically powered cyber-punchers at Sonic, knocking him into a waiting SWATbot, knocking all three to the ground. Sonic begins to twist into another spin, ready for another assault. Metallic's claws rip deep into the SWATbot, pulling out some still sparking wires which Metallic shoves into Sonic's chest before he can wiggle free.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaah!!" Sonic screams as he feels the electricity surge through his body overloading him. Metallic jerks away before any lasting damage is done and tosses Sonic over beside Sally. At this point Robotnik notices that Tails has opened the only window in the room.
"Snively, what are you waiting for, stop the brat!"
"I can't hit him Robotnik, he's too fast, I can't get a..." Snively is shut up as Robotnik hits him, grabbing the little overlander's gun and trying to shoot Tails himself, only to find himself pointing at empty air.
"The brat's gone. Snively, you idiot you let him leave." Realizing that Snively is now unconscious, Robotnik turns to his next option. "62, retrieve Tails and use whatever force is necessary but do not, I repeat, do not kill him. Go." Metallic quickly fires up his jets and is soon in hot pursuit, while Robotnik gathers both Sonic and Sally's bodies and places them in the roboticization chamber with Bunnie.

**********************************

Tails flew as fast as his namesakes could carry him, but a glance behind him shows him that Metallic is in close pursuit. With a skill born of years of evading Stealthbots in the forest, Tails drops altitude, using the maze of buildings to prevent Metallic from reaching top speed and overtaking him. Behind him, Metallic has begun to crash through the obstructing buildings, cutting down rapidly on distance between them. Quickly Tails changes direction, heading for the open sea.
*With any luck, that metal body of his won't let him go underwater. All I have to do is fly out farther that Robotnik's pollution.* Above him Metallic dives, smashing into Tails and driving him into the water. The foxes surface briefly before Metallic again pulls Tails under once more. The kit struggles against the cyborg's grasp even as Metallic pins his arms to his side, using his weight to sink them both. Tails opens his eyes, desperate to find some way out of his predicament, when he notices a faint blue glow, barely visible in the murky water. The two-tailed fox can feel himself getting weaker as the blue light comes closer, until he sees a shape within the glow. As he blacks out, he feels a hand on his shoulder, sending a wave of calm over his body.

*********************************

Metallic's mind begins to reel as the glowing intruder touches both Tails and himself. He tries to concentrate on his plan; forcing his quarry to loose consciousness due to lack of air, but the power of the glowing creature invades his mind swiftly. Brainwashed as he is, Metallic feels his memory beginning to reconstruct itself, clearing his mind. Images flood past him of his days with the Freedom Fighters, eliciting emotions that should have been buried by the control device. Soon the images change, showing the cyber-fox lost memories of his time as Robotnik's prisoner, winding back to the when he escaped from Robotropolis. Images of the blueprints and Power Gems he stole fly by along with something else, surprising him greatly. Soon he is back to when he first awoke as a robot, watching Robotnik stand over him and laugh, feeling the helplessness and fear he had felt then. Another emotion begins to surface; anger, which quickly gets replaced by rage. A new image flashes by, one that seems vaguely familiar. Robotnik is again standing over him, though now he is not laughing. He is in the glass tube he'd awoken before, but this time the faint reflection showing back at him is not the face of robot, but the face of a flesh-and-blood fox.
*That's my face, before Robotnik ruined my life.* Suddenly, Robotnik speaks.
"You took out six SWATbots, my friend, you should be proud. No one has ever taken down so many of my forces by themselves."
"You may have me, Robotnik, but there will be others," Metallic hears a voice he can only assume is his say.
"Now, now, Artemus, you should thank me. If this works, you'll be practically immortal, and I promise you'll receive the best of care." Comes Robotnik's sugary retort.
*Artemus... My name is Artemus.*
*Yes young one. You have a name, and a past. You must never forget this, or Robotnik will have won your soul. You cannot let him control you, or you will be destroyed.* A voice, not Metallic's, replies. Suddenly, the image of the cyborg's former face fades, revealing Tails. The blue creature is now moving away, and without it's protective influence, Tails begins to drown again. Metallic quickly surfaces, pulling Tails with him and then flying to the shore. Laying Tails down, Metallic attempts to help him, only to receive a shock from his control device, which sends electrical commands for him to return. Metallic fights, exherting his own will. The battle is short as the controller, not designed to battle for control, is overloaded, melting its circuits to slag. Free now, Metallic begins checking Tails, listening to him breathe and helping to clear his lungs. Soon Tails wakes up, a little confused, but none the worse for wear. Tails jumps when he sees Metallic, ready to leap into the air and escape.
"Hold it kid, I'm all right, Robotnik doesn't control me."
"Yeah right, I wasn't born yesterday. If you're really free, prove it."
"Robotnik has a butt the size of whale and the brain the size of a pea."
"I guess I'll believe you, no robot under his control could say that." Suddenly, a thought hits Tails. "Sonic, Sally, and Bunnie. How are we gonna get 'em out of the city?"
"That depends Tails, how good an actor are you?" Tails looks at Metallic quizzically.

************************************************************************

Ten minutes later, Metallic once more enters Robotnik's roboticization room, in his arms was Tails, unconscious.
"Good work 62, I am pleased."
"I live to serve, my Lord of Lard."
"You harm one patch of fur on his head 'Buttnik, and I swear I'll personally feed you to your own rendering plant," Sonic yelled from the roboticizor chamber.
"You insult me Sonic. I know perfectly well what will happen if I roboticize young Tails. He'll turn into that mechanical monster, Silver Fox, and I have yet to create a way to control HIM. So, for the time being, I'll just stuff him in a cryo-chamber and put that under high security." Robotnik smiled cruelly at Sonic, Sally and Bunnie. "You three, on the other hand, have no such protection." Robotnik lays his gun on a table, walking over to the roboticizor's control panel. Soon the machine begins to hum as it prepares to activate its beam. As Robotnik is about to press the initiation button, he stops. "I have a better idea. Metallic, since you're the one that set this whole thing up, you do the honors and roboticize the lot of them." Metallic moves over to the button, as Robotnik moves over to the tube, eager to watch. "You may press the button, my loyal slave."
Metallic raises his hand, then in a slow, monotonous voice answers, "Not... on... your... life,... FAT MAN." The effect is almost instantaneous. Robotnik's head slowly turns to face Metallic, eyes flaring with anger.
"What did you say?!?!" Robotnik demands, slowly approaching Metallic, who has set the unconscious Tails aside.
"I said...," at this point Metallic switches to his much more fluid real voice. "Not on your life, fat man." Metallic jumps, slamming into the surprised Robotnik, who uses his robotic arm to knock the cyber-fox away. Snively reaches for his uncle's gun only to discover it is missing. Looking farther, the large-nosed human sees the gun now being wielded by Tails.
"Don't move needlenose," Tails says, pointing the beam weapon at the human. Slowly, Snively raises his hands. Meanwhile, Metallic is swinging furiously at Robotnik, who is blocking as best as he can. Several punches do find their mark, staggering the rotund human back to the glass cylinder of the roboticizor.
"I am impressed, 62," Robotnik says through bloodied lips, "I never thought Tails was technologically proficient enough to override MY control device. Perhaps I haven't given the freak enough credit for his intelligence.
"Truth to tell Robuttnik," the kit spoke up, angered by Robotnik's insult, "Metallic was the one who overloaded your device. I guess you're not as good at this as you thought you were."
"But I am good at other things Tails, escape routes for instance are one of my specialties." So saying, Robotnik pulls a lever on the roboticizor, opening a wide trap-door beneath him, providing for the overlander's escape.
"After him, Metallic, I'll free the others," Tails yells. Metallic follows, jumping feet-first into the hole.

**************************************

As soon as the hole opens up, Metallic's jets turn on to stop his fall. He has found himself in a completely black room. His jets shut off as soon as he touches ground. No sooner has he landed as two arms; one metallic, one flesh; encircle his body, pinning his arms and locking him against a surprisingly hard surface.
"Surprise, surprise, 62," Robotnik hissed, "I've been looking forward to this since you escaped."
"If you think your blubber can hold me, you are dillusional." Metallic retorts, struggling to escape Robotnik's grasp.
"Foolish fox," Robotnik says, tightening his grip on his prey. "Contrary to popular belief, only two percent of my body mass is fat. Allow me to show what six-hundred and forty seven pounds of muscle are capable of..." With a grunt, Robotnik tightens his grip, and both man and machine feel it as steel begins to buckle. Metallic desperately tries to break Robotnik's grip, but Robotnik proves to be true to his word in this case. "You'd think a robot would be stronger than a mere organic, wouldn't you, eh 62. It's a pity the Freedom fighters didn't give you an upgrade to deal with this. And once I'm done with you, I'll return to the roboticizor and finish off your little chums."
"Has anyone told you, blubber butt..., YOU TALK TOO MUCH!!" So saying, Metallic begins slamming the back of his head against Robotnik's. Robotnik reels with each hit, but refuses to release Metallic.
"Stupid robot, my skull is harder than a rock, you can't hurt it."
"Your head may be hard, but how's your feet." So saying, Metallic lasers fire sending two beams right through Robotnik's feet.
"AAAHHHHHHHHHHH," the tyrant screams, dropping Metallic and hopping back to grab his mutilated feet. In a second, Metallic's claws are out as he races towards Robotnik, grabbing the doctor's pointed head and placing his clawed hand under Robotnik's chin.
"Now who's the fool, Robotnik. One movement of my wrist and Mobius will be a lot happier place to live."
"Will it. If you kill me, you'll never know who you were. I'm the only one who can help you find your roots."
"Not true, Buttnik. I remembered some of my past while I was setting this up with Tails. My memories are in here somewhere, and I'll find them without your help. Get ready for a one-way ride to oblivion." Suddenly, a monitor comes on, showing the roboticization room, with all the Freedom Fighters now free of the roboticizor. Unfortunately, all appear to be choking as a green mist has begun seeping out of the roboticizor itself.
"Are they coming too?" Robotnik sneers. "It seems your friends have tripped the roboticizor's fail-safe. That gas is poisonous and will kill them all very quickly. I doubt even Sonic would be able to cut his way out of the room, much less get everyone to the ground."
"You'd loose Snively too."
"A marginal loss for me. And Tails will probably turn into Silver Fox again, and I doubt you'd be able to stop him on your own. However, the tunnel we took is still here, you could get there in time to help Sonic break out. Of course, you couldn't do that and kill me, and you know that by the time you helped them, I'd be safely away. Its your choice."
"Some choice," Metallic mutters, releasing Robotnik and flying back up the tunnel.

****************************************

Back in the roboticizor chamber, the others are choking on the green mist as Sonic continually tries his spin attack on the walls. It is apparent that he has made some progress, but not enough.
"Everyone, try to get above the gas. Tails, grab Bunnie and Sally and fly."
"I got ya Sonic." Tails grabs the girls, making sure Sally can use Nicole's laser to help Sonic. The escape hatch blasts open, and out comes Metallic.
"Come on guys, we can escape through the..." Suddenly, the tunnel seals itself. "...tunnel."
"Metallic, help Sonic break us out." Sally gasped at the cyber-fox.
"Roger Sally." Activating his cyber-punchers, Metallic fires on the spot Sonic and Nicole are currently hitting. After about two minutes it becomes apparent that they will not be able to open a hole in time. "Sonic, new plan, follow my lasers." Sonic nods rather than waste his breath. Metallic points his laser torches at the wall, carefully using them to weaken the wall. As soon as the robot makes a semicircle, Sonic jumps in, following the course of the laser and cutting into the significantly weaker wall. While this is happening, Metallic's other laser makes another semicircle, which Sonic follows after completing the other path, this continues for three and a half minutes before the circle that has been cut falls out of the wall, revealing a portal to the outside.
"Tails, drop the girls and grab Sonic, I'll take the princess and Bunnie to the ground."
"What about me??" Snively pleaded.
"You can hang on if you want, but I'm not holding on to you." Soon, all six Mobians have landed outside the building. All five organic Mobians are coughing, taking in as much fresh air as their lungs can hold. Sonic is the first to catch his breath.
"Told ya, we'd all get out of Robotropolis together," Sonic said triumphantly. "Ol' 'Buttnik didn't stand a chance."
"Don't be so sure Sonic," Sally said. "Robotnik had us all on the ropes. We did survive."
"I say we head on back to Knothole, Sally-girl. I haven't had a chance to wash ma hair for two days, and I want ta wash that blob's grease outta ma fur."
"I agree, I could stand some of Rotor's repairs, Robotnik can take a lot out of you."
"NO!!" came Snively's cry.
"You gonna try to stop us Needlenose?" Sonic said, picking Snively up by the little man's shirt collar.
"As enemies, I'm not one-hundred percent sure I should tell you this, but Robotnik was willing to let me asphyxiate with all of you, and you were the ones who got me out of there. I don't like owing debts, so I'll tell you that Robotnik planted a tracer inside Metallic along with the controller. If you take Metallic back to Knothole, he'll be able to zero in on its location before you can mount a defense."
"Ha, you think we'd trust you, Sniveler."
"Whether or not you trust me is immaterial Tails, I am merely repaying you for helping me out of a jam."
"And I suppose keeping Metallic away from us isn't reason enough for you to lie to us."
"Unfortunately, he isn't lying Sonic," Rotor said, approaching the group from his hiding place, Antoine and Dulcy in tow. Snively uses this distraction to slip away from the crowd. "When you didn't meet Geoffrey at the checkpoint, we got worried, and then Nicole sent an emergency broadcast, so we headed here to see what we could do. I used my scanner to make sure we didn't run into any Combots or SWATbots, but as you can see..." Rotor shows the scanner's screen which indicates a blip labeled E.P. 62.
"Chaota help us."
"Without Knothole's resources, and more time than I can give, I'm unable remove the tracer. There is a temporary solution to your problem, though." Rotor pulls out a small flat machine.
"What's that, tusker?"
"It's a mini-scrambler. It can't stop Robotnik from tracing you, but it can stop him from pin-pointing your location. It'll increase the tracer radius to about three or four miles, randomly fitting you somewhere in that radius. With any luck, you can keep a few steps ahead of any search parties." Rotor quickly attaches the scrambler.
"So he can come back with us, right Rotor?" Tails asked, sensing where this conversation was going.
"I'm sorry kid, but Robotnik would pinpoint us all before too long." Rotor placed his paw on the cyborg's shoulder. "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do right now."
"You people have given me more help than I've gotten in a long time, and I thank whatever powers that be for putting us in touch," Metallic sighed. "But I have been on my own for more than five years."
"You still shouldn't have to go man. Buttnik's caused you as much trouble as any of us, and we've had each other ta count on."
"Ya didn't have ta come help me, but ya did anyway. Ah never thought I'd be sayin' this ta a robot, but Ah do owe ya one. If ya ever need me ta come pull your butt outta a fire..."
"I'll know who to call on Bunnie," Metallic says, smiling as best as he can.
"We may not be able to offer you a home any more Metallic, but we can offer you some help." Sally flips open Nicole.
"What is your request Sally?"
"Nicole, Metallic is leaving us so I want you to prepare to download some files for him."
"Sally no, I can't accept any information from you. If I am captured again..."
"I am well aware of what will happen, but I insist. And you'll find that as the Crown Princess of Mobius, I can order you to accept our help." A cord slinks out of Nicole, ready to insert itself. In back of his head, a small port opens, allowing the cord to enter. "I'm downloading a list of Freedom Fighters hiding places, each stocked with supplies and parts you can use. I'll send a message so that no one tries to stop ya."
"Thanks Sally, I'll try not to abuse your help." A small tug is felt on Metallic's arm.
"I hope you stay all right Metallic," Tails says.
"Don't worry kid, I'll be fine. Robotnik hasn't built the robot yet that can catch me." Metallic breaks away from the group. "Well, it won't take long for Robotnik to figure out I'm here, so I best take advantage of my head start. Sally, you have my number if you need to reach me." With that, Metallic takes off as the rest of the Freedom Fighters also prepare to leave.

************************************************************************ Epilogue: That night ************************************************************************

Sonic and Bunnie are sitting on a log bench near the dying embers of what once was a big fire in the center of Knothole, softly speaking so as not to arose those sleeping. All the reports have been given, with each Freedom Fighter giving his/her side of the missions event. A door to a hut is opened and out walks Sally, who sits beside Sonic.
"Well, Tails is finally asleep."
"He still upset over Metallic not being able to return with us?"
"It took three telling of The Hawk's Quest as well as Sir Nedry to get him to go to sleep. He'll get over it, but it will take some time."
"What d' ya'll make of what he said when he was fightin' with Metallic?"
"You mean about the blue thing that grabbed them both?"
"Yeah. If'n we believe the other stuff, then Tails was under the better parta ten minutes."
"He was being deprived of oxygen, he probably was too terrified to keep track of time."
"So ya'll think it was just some sorta hallucination?"
"Whoever heard of any..."
"Wait a minute Sal. As I recall, people said the same thing about the Floating Island, the Chaos Emeralds, and even the Master Emerald. Who knows what else is out there, I mean only a few months ago I learned Mobius has a guardian."
"It's ludicrous to believe that some mystical, magical creature came out of nowhere and helped two creatures it never met before."
"Who knows why anyone does anything these days, Sal, but answer me this, how did Metallic break Robotnik's control?"
The argument continues only for a few minutes before the three teens grow tired, drifting off for their own huts. Meanwhile, back in Tails hut, Tails' sleeping form is being hit by the light from Mobius's silver moon, which is full in the night sky. Tails' eyes immediately open, as the kit moves to the window, an expression of anger on his face that seems almost alien. A few minutes go by as the young fox stars at the silver moon. Reaching up, Tails closes the window, sending the room into complete darkness. Footsteps are heard as Tails makes his way towards his bed. He turns around, and suddenly, something new is seen. Instead of the blue eyes previously seen, the young fox's eyes have begun to flare a crimson red; a red light that bounces off the ivory teeth of his smile. If anyone were to pass by the hut at this point, they would be able to hear a soft, chuckling riding the wind at night.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..."

THE END...?