Enjoy!
Chapter 9
"This ends now Metal Sonic!" Metal Sonic stood across from its foe, Sonic the Hedgehog, the one being that he was built to surpass. This time it was for certain, it WAS the most powerful version of Metal Sonic. None could surpass it. The new battle data introduced by Shelke was no doubt the push it needed in order to kill Sonic the Hedgehog.
"So it does," Metal Sonic voice was reformatted so that it nearly mirrored Sonic's. "Sonic the Hedgehog."
Sonic dashed forward but just as he reached his opponent he made a hard right and began to circle Dr. Robotnik's creation. Metal Sonic didn't move. Screens popped up in its eyes showing equation and opening files explaining Sonic's style of fighting. This style was indeed in its memory. Metal Sonic balled up a fist and brought it up, waiting, and waiting, and waiting. As fast as Sonic ran around it, Metal Sonic could vividly see where he was as if he were running in slow motion. It could see his open spot; it was to Metal Sonic right at a 65 degree angle from its position. Just as Sonic reached that spot, two cartridges on Metal Sonic's back flipped open revealing a pair of thrusters. The thrusters immediately activated and the robot burst forward and hit Sonic dead in the jaw. Sonic's revolution was interrupted, causing him to flip away. He landed on his head and dragged a few feet until he finally stopped and hit the ground; dead.
Metal Sonic unclenched its fist and approached the dead hedgehog. It was official, Sonic the Hedgehog was dead. Metal Sonic's eyesight went red indicating a threat was approaching. It was approaching from behind. Metal Sonic immediately turned around and brought his hand up to grab Sonic the Hedgehog by the neck. The blue hedgehog squirmed and coughed from the heavy pressure on his neck. The air flow was immediately shut off and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. It ended when his neck bone snapped in half, killing him instantly. Metal Sonic dropped him. Within less than a Sonic, Metal Sonic's hand were brought out in either direction catching two more Sonics by the head. It brought their heads together and let their limp bodies drop to the ground. Its' thrusters activated and it shot forward into the distance. As it continued when a blue blur appeared to its right, then another on its left. Two more Sonics were before it running ahead. The final three were behind it running in a triangle formation. Metal Sonic's eye temporarily lit up as if it were imitating excitement. The Sonic on its left made the first move by leaping to his side with his foot pointed straight down. Metal Sonic caught the foot with one hand and threw him into the other Sonic to his right. It looked over its shoulder and suddenly disappeared. The three aft Sonic's simultaneously gasped in awe and looked around while still maintain their triangle formation. Metal Sonic appeared between the three, keeping up with them. Its hand came up and a samurai sword appeared in its hand. Without giving the Sonic's time to fight back, Metal Sonic swiped its sword. The Sonics met their demise before they had even reached they stumbled to the ground. The final two Sonic's acted simultaneously by jumping backwards in spin mode. Metal Sonic clutched its weapon and brought it horizontally before it. It blocked the two hedgehogs and batted them away and then stopped in mid flight. A new threat had appeared from behind. Metal Sonic looked over its shoulder to find that an entire army of Sonics stood before it. The other two Sonics dropped down at the front of the army. Metal Sonic didn't show any signs of intimidation. It brought its' sword forward and pointed it forward, challenging his foes. The Sonics all took the challenge and began their attack. Thousands of blue blurs shot by at supersonic speed in all directions at once.
Eggman looked into a monitor with Shelke standing at his side. This new Metal Sonic was unlike anything he had ever seen. Never has a Metal Sonic lasted this long in a simulated battle. Level three was the maximum but this…this was level twenty, a level that Eggman thought he would never have needed. For this one robot to take down an army of Sonic's at once was…
"Incredible," Eggman told himself. "This is simply incredible, Shelke. You are truly amazing. For you to have utilized your own fighting skills and to incorporate it into my Metal Sonic's battle data AND to have given him a weapon is…"
"Not at all as big deal as you proclaim Doctor,"Shelke interrupted. "I have performed this a number of times in the past."
Eggman wanted nothing more than to slap the tiny girl for making such a smuck remark, but she had the ability to end him faster than Metal Sonic would and besides, he still needed her. "Yes of course, my dear."
Meanwhile, Metal Sonic continued his onslaught against the army of Sonic clones. One of the clones came in spin mode aiming for Metal Sonic's torso but Metal Sonic slowly stepped to the side, avoiding the attack. Another Sonic clone came in and threw a punch at Metal Sonic's face. Metal Sonic pulled his head back to put itself right out of Sonic's reach and immediately countered by kicking the clone away. Metal Sonic activated its thrusters and pulled itself away from the heavy crowd. It brought its sword horizontally from its face, part of its face reflected in the blade.
"Now, my Metal Sonic," Dr. Robotnik's voice came in over the communications medium built in its head. "Let us see your ultimate technique. Show these blue pests the power of your Zanbakuto."
"As you command, Lord Robotnik," Metal Sonic placed both hands on the hilt of its sword. The hilt opened up, spreading wider, then the blade surged with energy causing to immediately expand and grow to an unimaginable length. Metal Sonic shot straight up into the air. As it ascended higher and higher as it gained speed. Clouds burst as it went straight through them. It stopped suddenly, causing the air around to become displaced and the surrounding clouds to spread and dissipate. It looked down at the army of hedgehog and locked onto them as a target. "Behold!" it swung the enormous sword across it body. "The Sword of Magus!"
With that said, Metal Sonic brought its sword down. It fell down and down gaining speed with every passing second. Just as it reached the ground it activated its thrusters causing it to be propelled straight for the army of blue blurs. It's speed seemed to be beyond neck breaking and brought distortion to the robot's image. It looked almost as if the metal hedgehog had a become a beast with its fangs wide open as it went straight through his opponents. When it reached the rear of the group, Metal Sonic released its thrusters and dug its feet into the ground to lose speed. It held its swinging pose after its attack as if waiting for something, then an explosion occurred soon after.
Dr. Robotnik jumped out of his seat. "Brilliant, my dear Shelke, BRILLIANT! I never knew such power existed in the universe."
Shelke said nothing as she was lost in thought.
&
"So tell me again about this Professor Robotnickle," Yuffie asked as she and the Chaotix crept through sewers of an industrialized city.
"That's doctor," Vector corrected the young ninja. "Dr. Robotnik is the world's most powerful mind who wants nothing more than to conquer this world and destroy our planet's hero, Sonic the Hedgehog."
"So why don't we just send him off to fight this Robotic fella'?"
"Robotnik," Espio stepped in. "And because we don't need Sonic every time the Eggman is up to something fishy. Besides, we're just here on reconnaissance; if things appear to be dangerous than we will be the ones to handle it."
"And with me here," Yuffie drew her shuriken. "There's nothing you boys have to worry about."
Vector slapped his hand over his face and slowly dragged it down, "Right…"
The sky over the city was very dull, just as it was in Midgar. Machines were hard at work building other machines and most important of all…
"Where are the inhabitants of this city? I've seen plenty of machines but no people."
The Chaotix stopped but didn't turn to look at her just yet. It wasn't going to be easy for them to explain something like this to Yuffie. Vector looked over his shoulder towards Yuffie.
"Here comes one now," he said dreadfully.
Yuffie came around to the front of the group and saw that a robot baring the appearance of a male rabbit. It marched pass the group without so much as looking at them. Yuffie looked at Vector baffled. "I don't understand. It's just a robot."
"It wasn't always a robot," Charmy couldn't hover due to his sudden overflow of depression.
"Can somebody start making sense please?!" Yuffie exclaimed.
"You see," Espio looked into Yuffie's eyes; the serious look on his face sent a chill down her spine. "Robotnik has this machine, the Roboticizer. This machine does…something, what I don't know, that can somehow morph organic tissue into metal. It changes them into robots, removing all emotion and taking away their free will. The doctor uses these robots against us and he continuously expands his army."
"It's hard," Charmy said looking down. "When you're whole family has been taken away from and turned into robots. Do you know what it is like to be completely alone?"
Yuffie could completely relate.
"This is why we have to stop Robotnik from expanding his army and breaking families apart," Vector added in a serious tone. "This is why we do what we can to help Sonic in his battle against Dr. Robotnik."
Those words brought confidence into her heart. Vector was right; it was time this doctor was brought down. "Right!"
An alarm went off. Yuffie reached for her shuriken. Vector looked at his team, including their newest addition and led them deeper into the city.
&
"It appears that we have intruders Doctor," Shelke sat in her chair reviewing data from Metal Sonic's simulation. "I count four in Sector 7."
Eggman looked into a monitor that broadcasted an image of the Chaotix and a young female face that he did not recognize. He didn't want to risk another incident as much as he wanted to use his new Metal Sonic. "Shelke, it appears that we have another pest problem. Release the new E-Series robots to Sector 7."
"Roger that." Shelke began typing away at her chair.
&
The alarm continued to ring as the Chaotix, and Yuffie, went deeper and deeper into the city. Vector stopped running and placed and hand on his head, thinking. "Something isn't right."
"What do you mean?" Yuffie asked as she came to a stop.
"Where's the security? Eggman's is never this easy to maneuver through especially since we set off any alarm."
"HALT INTRUDERS!" a mechanical call came in, interrupting the group's conversation. "RESISTANCE IS FUTILE."
"Look out!" Yuffie stepped in front of a Vector and deflected a projectile attack with her shuriken. "Looks like you spoke too soon, Vector."
Vector saw that two robots with the Alpha symbol in their left shoulders were fast approaching in the distance firing their weapon. They were all blue and black with small cannons placed on their shoulders; unlike Eggman's robots which were bulky and round, these robots were slim nimble. They were obviously fit for speed.
&
"Well here we are," Sonic opened the door to his house and walked in with Cloud following him in. once again, Cloud was amazed at the inside of the small hut. It had a living room with a big screen television, there was a kitchen next to the living room and a hall that led to what appeared to be three rooms. Sonic. Cloud's only complaint was that he had to bend over to enter the house.
Sonic had been able to persuade the king and queen with the assistance of the lovely Sally Acorn. They had agreed to have Cloud and Tifa be divided amongst their living quarters; Cloud would live with Sonic while Amy would have Tifa stay with her.
"Well, Cloud, mi casa es su casa."
"Thanks," Cloud softly said and with that, the blue hedgehog exited Cloud's room and went about his business. Cloud stepped into the hall to see that Sonic had disappeared out of the house. He was alone, again. Cloud noticed two other doors in the hall. One of the door had a sign that had Sonic's name printed on the front while the other had the word 'Tails' printed on it. Perhaps this was another occupant that he was sure to meet soon enough.
&&&&
Yuffie squeezed down on her Shuriken as a red glow grew from her forearm. The weapon was immediately engulfed in flames and Yuffie threw it. The E-series robot somersaulted out of the way and placed one of its hands on its shoulder cannon and released a small ball of energy. The young ninja retreated behind her cover and the oncoming attack exploded on the nearby ground. Yuffie curled up behind her cover, a bit startled from the explosion. Just then, a cold hand grabbed her arm and threw her from. She caught herself in midair and faced her opponent who had made its way closer while Yuffie was distracted by the previous attack. The robot prepared to fire another shot from its shoulder cannon when two small shuriken came from out of nowhere, literally, and lodged themselves into the head. Then as if on cue, Yuffie's shuriken returned from its long trip and cut straight through the E-Series robot neck, beheading it.
"I was wondering where you went for a moment," Yuffie whined.
"You know more than anyone that as a ninja we are to exercise stealth," Espio said as he materialized behind Yuffie.
"Ugh, you sound like my father," Yuffie rolled her eyes and looked towards the end of the corridor to see Charmy and Vector coming towards her.
"Everyone okay?" Vector said as he came to a stop.
Yuffie and Vector replied with a nod.
The reunion was soon cut short by an evil laugh. That laugh was all too familiar to the Chaotics. It was that of Dr. Robotnik.
"For now perhaps," the doctor from an unknown location. " But that was only the beginning of what the world's greatest mind has up his sleeve."
The lights in the corridor went off only to be replaced dim, red lights that only outlined the corner along ceiling. The door on the opposite side of the corridor slowly slid up. Something was coming and Yuffie knew that it was not something that she and her new friends could handle alone.
"Looks like things are starting to get serious," Vector broke the silence. He looked over at Espio, sweat eased its' way down the side of his brow. "That's your queue Espio."
The purple chameleon's concentration was broken. "What?"
"I don't know what's waiting for us at the end of that hall, but I know it's something big. You have got to get some help. Get Sonic!"
Espio nodded and slowly began to back away from the group. With every step he took, Espio became less visible. Until, he finally disappeared from sight. Yuffie could see the smallest bit of Espio's invisible image as it ran down the hall where their adversary waited.
It didn't take Espio a second to reach the end of the hall. He may not be Sonic, but his speed definateyl something to be reckoned with. Just as he passed through the door way he saw it; standing there with a sword attached to its back was another one of Eggman's Metal Sonic models. With every passing model, Eggman's machines evolved in appearance. But this model bore an appearance that seemed to be otherworldly.
"I see you," Espio's heart stopped upon hearing this.
Mecha Sonic didn't even look at Espio as he blazed by, supposedly unseen, as he spun around and fired a blast of energy that hit its mark. Espio was engulfed in an explosion, still invisible.