PoC: The big day has come. Any last words, Metal?
Metal: …
PoC: Okay…? PenFullofChaos819 owns Metal's despair and angst over having a partner…but not characters owned by Sega.
Metal: …Actually, PoC?
PoC: ? What's up?
Metal: Do you think she'll like me?
PoC: Getting a little nervous, are we? Why don't you find out by reading?
Metal: But! What if she-
PoC: Damn it Metal! You and I are both men here! Start acting like it!
Metal: …You're right…Yes! I'm ready for anything! Lay it on me!
PoC: Heck yeah! That's more like it! Now, let's get this public humiliation underway!
Metal: Let's do it! Let's get this…h-humiliation? Wait STOP!
PoC: Here we…GOOOO!
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Mistake
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Where he lay, Metal couldn't make much out of the figure. It did have a peculiarly silver-ish hue around its ears and head, but that wasn't much to go on.
Quick to get his bearings, Metal pulled himself up. As he did, he finally got a good look at the speaker. It was…certainly not what he was expecting. Instead of the cold metal plating and armor he wore, this…thing had, what appeared to be, live fur covering it head to toe. Metal couldn't help noticing how slick and shiny it was. Although the color was likely a pale grey, the lighting of the room gave the figure's coat a certain sparkle or luster.
"There's no reason to stare." Metal thought grumpily, thus breaking his own trance "Right now, I should be wondering where this thing came from." his red eyes then caught something frightening; the capsule, that had been sealed when he arrived, was wide open.
"Uh-oh…" Metal would've gulped if he'd had a throat. Hadn't Orbot warned him to stay out of trouble? Normally, Metal wouldn't have cared, but this time he was actually concerned.
"The master wouldn't even let me so much as look at the sleeping prototype. What would he do if he found it wide awake, thanks to me?" Metal instinctually sealed the smaller capsule shut.
"I guess I better fix my mistake." staring back to the prototype, he motioned it to get inside the larger tank. Surprisingly, the fuzzy machine shook its head. The doppelganger then took it by the arm, but it still resisted.
"What is wrong with this thing?" Metal snarled "Why…Won't…It…Listen…To…ME?" now fairly mad, the hedgehog was about ready to knock the stubborn thing out and throw it back where it came from.
"You'll regret fighting me." he said in an intimidating voice. But before he could try anything rash, the prototype's pupils seemed to grow in size, like it was begging him. Metal shook it off at first, but kept hesitating when he saw that sad look.
"Can you just…cover your eyes or something?" Metal was thankful to see the prototype nod. Once it did what he asked though, Metal found it even harder to make his move. The pitiful thing shivered slightly as a pair of petite hands concealed its face.
It wasn't too long after this display that Metal groaned "This thing can't weigh more than a flimsy human, and yet I can't find it in me to toss it back inside?" giving the prototype one final stare was all it took to prompt Metal do the stupidest thing he'd done since his awakening.
He stretched out his metallic claw, and pulled a lever to close the capsule.
Realizing he'd just thrown himself under the bus for someone he didn't even know, made the cold hedgehog disgusted with himself. To make matters worse, the mystery creation was still shaking like a leaf in autumn. Metal debated leaving it there; after all, it wasn't the one in trouble. Still, something told the merciless killer that he should at least say something.
"You can stop that now." he told it bluntly "I'm not going to make you go back." he said pointing towards the now-sealed cell. Slowly, those same scared eyes peeked out to see what Metal was gesturing at. It seemed to take a moment for it make the connection, but once it did, the prototype only made things worse for the grouchy Metal,
By smothering him with a big hug.
"Argh! Stop that!" he thrashed in the thing's death grip "Do you know who I am? Get off at once!" leaving the embrace gently, the prototype smiled brightly at the offended machine.
'Dusting' his light-blue shoulders off, Metal pointed a jagged finger at the silly-headed creature "I hope you're happy. You've just ruined my already infuriating job, and put me in deeper garbage with the master. What do you have to say for yourself?"
With its head half-tilted down, the prototype smiled sheepishly and said "Thank you."
That answer, if given by anyone else, would've been taken as an insult, and meant death for the speaker. But in this case, Metal felt his anger temporarily fade upon hearing those words. He was mildly intrigued by the small, childlike voice she had.
"Hold on, it's a SHE?" Metal realized in shock. Thinking about it, it was fairly obvious in hindsight. How he hadn't noticed it when she first spoke was somewhat distressing for the 'holier than thou' Metal.
While he was still preoccupied, the prototype aimlessly walked around the room; staring intently at every idle object that caught her eye.
Metal observed her with a baffled stare "What could she be looking at? Nothing in this room can be that interesting, can it?" just as he thought this, the girl trotted over to her own capsule terminal. The hedgehog-copy was about to ask what she was doing, when the cell suddenly powered down, seemingly on its own.
Giving a sort of defiant nod, the mystery machine trotted back over to Metal and spoke "Now they can't lock me up here again." despite her actions, her speech wasn't very resolute.
"The master locked you up?" the copy asked her, but didn't wait for an answer "Did he ever tell you why?"
The girl either didn't trust Metal, or was simply unwilling to answer. One thing was for sure, he knew she was hiding something from him. Obviously not the patient type, the fearsome hedgehog grabbed her and made her face him "When I ask a question, I expect a response. Now tell me, why does the doctor hide you?"
"I…don't know." the girl mumbled, clearly not aware of the danger she was in "Every time I escape, he has these two large metal-men come by and throw me back in my cell." she explained very passively "And whenever I ask the master why, he strikes me and calls me 'failure'." the girl didn't seem saddened or upset by anything she said. Her words came out blank and dry.
Metal seemed more impacted by her statement than she was "Did you ever fight back?" he asked, no doubt voicing what he would've done, or at least considered doing.
The silver girl's wide eyes and shaking head gave Metal his answer before her words could. Her jittery reaction made Metal wonder if he was the only one who'd even dare to cross the 'master'. What was it that made the master so special anyway? Moreover, why was every machine so content to do his will and take his abuse?
"They're all subservient cowards with not even a shroud of free-will." Metal mused, while leaning against a wall "Hmph! That's what I call 'lame programming'."
Laying his aggravation aside for now, the cold robot knew he had bigger things to consider; like how to get out this mess he was in. Telling the doctor the truth was, in the best way he could put it, a moronic idea. Thanks to his impulsiveness earlier, he couldn't just wrap her back up (in a manner of speaking), like nothing had happened, either. This 'what to do' was making the proverbial gears in Metal's head spin with a vengeance. He knew he was as good as dead if he didn't get an idea soon.
"Metal!" a voice over the intercom said "I'll be stopping by shortly. I have someone I'd like you to meet."
It was too little, too late now. If that voice had been anyone else's, even Orbot's, he would've been fine. But as unkind fate would have it, that lumbering set of vocals belonged to none other than the 'master'. Metal thankfully didn't comprehend 'fear' or 'panic', so he retained a level head. Now that the big cell was sealed, he had no way to hide the unique robot from the furious doctor.
"I knew I shouldn't have stepped in that other cell for a rest-Wait!" he turned to see that same cell still active. With good haste, the copy shoved the small glass barrier open. Metal looked back at the prototype, and beckoned it to come over.
"Get inside." Metal demanded "If the doctor sees you, we're both finished." the girl stopped and cringed at the tiny prison. Seeing they were nearly out of time, Metal got her attention with a strong shoulder grip.
"I'll let you out once the doctor leaves." Metal spoke firmly, but then added in a gentler tone "You can trust me."
The silver girl shifted between the dark cell and Metal's red eyes for a few precious seconds. At last she hopped in the cell. Instantly, Metal slammed the lever down and sealed her within.
"Good, that should fool the doctor for now." giving a devious laugh, Metal backed up. In doing so, he felt his quills rebound off of something large and rubbery.
"And just what do you think you're doing Metal?" that dreaded voice rang through Metal's head.
As he rotated around to face the music, all Metal could do was shrug and think of a fitting word for his position:
"Busted."
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End of Chapter Six
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There you have it! It's a bit short, but still complete. Yes, I made another OC. To be honest, I got tired of seeing Metal get paired up with living things, so I thought I'd try this instead (besides, it better fits this story's conclusion).
Serenity: I'm praying you can bear with an OC partner. I think you'll like her as the story goes on (or at least I'm hoping). The prototype is kind of a mix of two characters (both inspiration, and story-wise). All I've revealed so far about her is her fur color, but more will come! P.S. Yup, cliffhangers are good stuff XD.
DanceDream: Sorry to disappoint last chapter :(, but this will hopefully make it up XD. I wanted to give our Metal a partner he can relate with (that is, having them both made as unique copies of real characters). P.S. Holy stuff and nonsense! Do I spy a VeggieTales reference in your review (more specifically, Silly Songs with Larry)? :D My four-year-old nephew loves that show! Back on topic, glad you like the E.G.G.M.A.N. and Orbot! This chapter may not include them, but I hope it gets your approval none the less!
Infamousplot: That's why I made that joke at the beginning (between Metal and myself). I had to make sure people didn't see E-85 like that XD. Good to know that Orbot turned out okay! I always thought they could've portrayed him better (that said, the guy is still pretty funny in the games). As for Metal's fall, well it'll take a guy like him some time (he IS the best [in his opinion] after all). And I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't have him falling for a 'living' character (it's necessary for my conclusion). Hopefully you'll learn to like this OC! P.S. Tails Doll will be making his important entrance soon (he plays a higher role in this tale). But wait 'til you see how he comes in!
Until next time!
