Metal: *Looking at story script* Hmm…I might be able to live with this. PoC, I have a question about this part.

Metal: Ran off did he? Now I'm not so sure I want to keep reading.

Silver: Hiya Metal!

Metal: …Go away.

Silver: Somebody's in a good mood as usual! So, what's eatin' you this time?

Metal: I think PoC put a bomb in this next chapter. Probably explains why he's not here.

Silver: Really? *grabs script and holds it to his ear*

Metal: What…are you doing?

Silver: Nope, I don't hear any ticking. *listens again* Yup, it's safe to read!

Metal: *facepalm*

-l-

Connection

-l-

It had been a busy day. The amount of injuries had been less than in recent months, but the crew had dealt with ten 'deaths' that day. The whole of the medical wing was short-handed and overworked, even by robotic standards.

"Whew…" E-85 set herself down to avoid overheating "This stuff really puts a strain on these old gears."

"E-85 ma'am, our replacement team has arrived." a dutiful doctor-bot informed his hardworking boss.

"Wonderful, but we still have work to do." she got up, but her systems forced her back down in a cloud of steam "Oh my, how embarrassing!"

"Not at all Miss 85, you've been working yourself too hard. Take a break, you've earned it." the kindly machine then returned to his job, leaving his supervisor to relax.

"Oh what am I supposed to do?" E-85 griped "Resting is boring when there's no one to talk to."

Her words were scarcely seconds out, as the main doors slid open with a soft whir.

"More admissions? This really IS a crazy day!" she got up slowly, prepared to call extra staff. Instead of the droves of patients she was anticipating, she only saw one spiny light-blue robot. Recognition set in as the figure came closer.

"Metal? Is that really you?" as soon as she saw the cold hedgehog nod, she rushed forward to give him a quill-crushing hug.

"Argh! Why must females do THAT?" he shouted, obviously not taking the benign gesture well.

"Oops, sorry Metal dear!" she apologized, but playfully lacked sincerity "I'm just so glad to see you-Hold on a moment. Why must females do what?"

"That grabbing and squeezing thing!" Metal growled "Is it some kind attack or something?"

"Oh not at all Metal! It's meant to be 'affectionate'! You know, like something you do when you're fond of someone. Make sense?" Metal's characteristic 'blank stare' was his classic way of saying either 'no' or 'I'm lost'.

"Hee-hee! Don't worry about it! So…" she said, sounding somewhat mischievous "Someone gave you a hug today?"

"Yes, I mean no! Well…maybe. I don't know!" he fumed as the medical robot giggled "Ugh…Listen 85, I have something important to show-"

"So, who is she?" E-85 spoke like Metal hadn't been speaking at all "Let me guess, is it the prototype, by chance?"

"Can you listen to me? I have something-Wait a minute, how did you know?" Metal was suddenly quite curious about her good guess.

"I didn't, you just told me!" she laughed until she saw the enraged look on Metal's face "Oh relax dear. I'm not going to tell anyone. So, what's she like?"

Metal wondered how this old-fashioned machine had somehow managed to sabotage the whole conversation. Knowing he was in no rush, Metal didn't logically see the harm in telling her. Somewhere though, a quiet voice was telling him that he was walking into a humiliating trap.

Sighing in defeat, Metal begrudgingly said "I suppose you won't let it go until I tell you?"

Shaking her round head, the medic replied with a simple "Nope!"

Not knowing where to begin, Metal sat in a nearby seat and began "Well, I guess I should start with her physical description."

"Typical male."

"What?"

"Nothing!"

"Okay…?" Metal tried to recover his thoughts "Well she has normal fur, like a real mobian. It's silver in color, or no wait, maybe that was just the lighting. It really did look silver."

"Sounds nice. Keep going." E-85 urged.

"Let's see, she has long hair that falls, um I'd calculate about to her waist. Uh…Let's see. She has several quills that hang down, half-covering her eyes." he described the best he could.

"Quills? So, she's a hedgehog?" E-85 interjected.

"I don't know for sure because she also has a long, bushy, fox-like tail. And on her chest, she had a tell-tale white ring which, according to my pre-existing data, is only found on echidnas." he explained.

"My my, Metal." E-85 suddenly donned a mock-chastising tone "You really took a good look at her, didn't you?"

"Hmm? You have a problem with that?" Metal said obliviously.

Shaking her head E-85 chirped back "Not exactly. Now tell me more about her! This time, try focusing on her personality."

Metal gradually wished he'd never said anything. Dealing with Eggman was more dangerous, but nowhere near this troublesome. Proceeding on with the intrusive talk, Metal let his mind drift elsewhere. Ironically, his thoughts ended up fixated on the same person.

"She's in training right now, no doubt." he tired to imagine the sight "Hmph! Talk about a lucky break. I bet she's having a much better time than I am."

L

*Training Area 2-3*

L

"Alright! Let the test begin!" Eggman echoing voice filled the arena.

Standing as still as she could, the girl tried to appear dull and mechanical to avoid attracting attention. Naturally this didn't work well, for each ally she hadn't chosen was following her every movement.

"I just can't believe it! An organic robot! So that's what the master was hiding all this time!" one remarked.

"Anyone else disturbed by how much she looks like one of Sonic's friends?" a second shuddered.

"That's the point! She'll be perfect for killing that bot-crushing punk!" yet a third joined in "Finally, there'll be someone get revenge for our fallen brothers!"

"ATTENTION!" E-99 bellowed, silencing the rowdy lot instantly "You are here to observe, not participate. There will be no further outbursts until this training session has concluded. Comments must be kept down to no greater than a whisper. Am I clear MEN?"

"Sir! Yes sir!" the group shouted back, but several proceeded to mock the general as soon as his back was turned.

Meanwhile, the prototype was now eyeing her chosen comrade. She had picked him for his impressive battle specs, but was put off by his behavior. The shady E-72 curled his metallic finger around his weapon's trigger almost lovingly. Catching the curious gaze of the silver girl, he turned and spoke with a hissing voice.

"Stay behind me, little meat shell. You wouldn't want me mistaking you for a target…heh-heh!" he pulled up his on-board target system, and took a quick look around the room "Hmm…good. There are a lot of things to set fire to this time. I think the master wants me to save some for you, but you'll have to watch your step. I hear living tissue burns more easily than metal! Eh-heh-heh-heh!"

"Um eww…" was the silver girl's first reaction "Who or what did I choose?" she decided to put some distance between herself and her pyro-maniacal trainer.

A loud buzzer sounded, and the test was underway. The prototype could swear E-72 fired the very moment he was able. Precious few seconds had elapsed, and already every doll in the vicinity was ablaze. The girl gulped at the sight of her 'trainer's' face. E-72 was as happy as a near-emotionless robot could be. With every turn, he was melting and disfiguring targets with his napalm-launcher.

The girl had no idea what to do, for while she was searching her systems for a weapon of sorts, the crazed E-72 was cleaning the place up. Her lack of progress left her feeling very helpless.

Eggman didn't look too happy either. His head was well-buried in his large hands "This is what I get for expecting too much." he sighed "Active for less than an hour, and the prototype is already worthless."

What the doctor didn't know was that the girl's highly sensitive ears picked up his musings. Her ears drooped and her face contorted as she processed the doctor's words. Her dampened spirits made her fall even farther behind. Although unaware, her eyes had changed from their glass-like emptiness to a deep dark blue.

In the crowd, whispering was floating around about the prototype's sudden stoppage.

"Hey what's going on? Why isn't the new robot attacking?"

"I don't think she can fight. I mean, she hasn't hit a single target yet!"

"Maybe she was made for gathering data or something?"

"Or maybe IT is just plain useless. It's probably so bugged up it can barely function."

Not a single word failed to reach her ears. Every taunt, every doubt, was as clear as day. Her synthetic blood bubbled and boiled at each new insult.

"Check it out! What did I tell you? It's shaking! Hah! I bet it's overheating from all the effort it's putting in!"

"It's probably struggling to stand! Look how weak it's fleshy frame is!"

"Who cares? It's a failure! The master should scrap it!"

"I don't know. I think it'd be useless even as scrap. You can't make anything good with those parts!"

Burning and freezing, rising and falling, anger and sadness; all of these sensations were churning inside the girl's mind. Her greatest pain came from her inept control over these chaotic feelings. That pain translated into something very pure, but very dark. Whatever it was, it granted her a temporary strength. This strength was good, but it lacked something vital: An outlet. It needed a target to be channeled into.

The girl, now with eyes of flaming orange and red, sped off with unnatural quickness. Blurring through the training complex, she couldn't find a single target that remained unscathed. Just as she was about to choose a new victim, one that was more active, a single panel raised itself before her.

Through her blind rage, she didn't take time to register what it was. Raising her arm, while uttering the words "You'll do just fine." she fired a golden, arrow-shaped beam.

The glowing projectile didn't do the intended object much harm, as it merely cut a sizable hole right through its chest. It did, however, have a catastrophic effect on the facility itself. The complex's shielding, which was reinforced to resist all stray fire, was shattered like glass to a hammer's stroke. Somehow her weapon had split off, thereby maximizing damage to the facility's critical components.

Coming back to her senses, the prototype gaped in horror at the burning wreckage that now raged before her. The hatred that had taken hold of her was replaced by the bitter realization of her actions. Once it had all sunk in, the girl dropped to the ground and covered her face. Whether it was the intensity of the heat or the tightness in her chest, the girl felt a warm liquid begin to stream down her cheeks.

"What did I just do…?" she whimpered, cringing at the steadily growing pyre.

Thankfully, a crew and emergency emplacements immediately got to work quelling the fire. In addition, some of the trainers, led by the ever-strict E-99, had come up to get a closer look at the disaster.

"How did this…? Wh-What happened here?" the general was stunned to see the impervious shield, which he had secretly tried to break before, in complete tatters. Recovering from his shock, the hulking E-commander said "Which one is responsible for this barbaric act of pyromania?

It was at this time that E-72 had unwittingly chosen to show up. Based on the general's wording, it was no wonder all eyes, at first anyway, fell on him.

As for the clueless E-bot himself, he gazed at the firestorm with glee "It's…beautiful! Why wasn't I invited to the 'fireworks'? And how can someone else's fire be more consuming than my own? When I find them, I must burn them out of thanks! Yes! For showing me the true blazing fires of glory!" though his speech was chiefly just disturbing gibberish, most could gather that he wasn't the guilty party from it.

Icy stares now fell on a shaking ball of fur. Being archaic battle robots, most of the accusers couldn't accept any data related to 'grief' or 'despair'. This meant the sight in front of them was hopelessly irrational and weak.

Fortunately or unfortunately, none got their chance to berate, as the master had made his entrance.

Contrary to his expected emotional explosion, the doctor calmly observed the wreckage and asked "E-99, who is the one responsible?"

"It was that thing over there." the general pointed to girl, whose face remained hidden "It ruthlessly vandalized this training ground without hesitation."

"Hmm… Really…" the heavy master mumbled and turned away. A short time passed as the doctor seemed lost in his internal ramblings.

Having finished thinking, Eggman took long clean strides across the now-ashen floor as he observed the 'fearsome' prototype. Although his presence cast a daunting, imposing aura that would cause many to tremble, an invisible twinkle was present in his eyes.

"So, after failing to make any progress on the dolls, you decide to wreak havoc on my base instead." he sharply put it, making the action sound malicious.

"N-no master I…" she started to say, but was halted by an echoing stomp.

"I'm not done, so keep quiet you idiot!" he ordered crudely. The girl did stay silent after that; save for a sniffs along with a few more drops of that eye-blurring liquid.

"Now, I've seen destructiveness before," Eggman unwillingly recalled Metal's recent debacles "But this is by far the worst. It's so bad that I don't even know how I'm going to fix it. In all my years of experimentation, no one has ever been able to destroy this complex. Until now, this place's shield has always resisted any and all fire sent its way."

The girl didn't understand all of his explanation, but she did have a good grasp on his dark tone.

Exhaling a half-stunted sigh, Eggman went on to say "You have left me no choice. Stay right where you are. I'll be back shortly." he stepped towards the exit, taking all the E-bots with him.

Despite obeying his last orders to stay put, the prototype knew it had to be all over now. The oval man would decide her doom, and she would be carried off to be incinerated, or perhaps ground up. The idea of 'dying' may not have been understandable to her, but somehow the concept of 'regret' was.

She was so happy when she was finally set free. Her earlier exits had been so empty and hollow, but her last was rich with new thoughts and feelings she'd never had before.

"I was always locked up…" she sighed "Until he appeared."

One of her greatest regrets would be him. Although he didn't say much, his presence was nothing like the orderly E-series. He seemed to feel and understand things more deeply than she did. It was his decision that kept her from going back to sleep. And it was he alone that stood up for her and himself, even in front of the master.

All in all, she wished she had gotten to know him better.

At the sound of a door shutting, the girl ceased to think about Metal. Instead, she fought the urge to hide her face as the portly scientist came into sight.

"Come with me." he gave a stale order, but added "I will show you to your quarters."

Lost, but not about to argue, the girl trotted up to him. His actions didn't make too much sense, unless he planned on sealing her again. At this point, nothing could be worse than being eliminated altogether, so she was willing to comply. Still, a heavy doubt loomed over her bleak situation.

"What's going to happen to me?" was her last question as the doors to the training facility slammed shut. Blocking out any trace of light.

-l-

End of Chapter Eight

-l-

Long one inbound! Naturally, there was a hefty amount of stuff to be covered here. Progress may look slow, but I'll be picking up the pace in the next few chapters (hopefully).

Serenity: Hey what chick wouldn't want to cling to a mass-killing, merciless, hero-hedgehog hunter? Just kidding and yeah Metal can feel emotion. He just needs a little persuasion! XD

DanceDream: Sundays are bad for me too (for a good many reasons), and that's why I'm on time today! Heh, cute is fine. I want her to be likable, so any adjective (that has positive connotation) will do! Sorry no name yet :/. Actually she DOES have a name (pardon me if I've said this) I just haven't found a place to reveal it! Hmm…Eggman may be bungling, but he's an evil doctor through and through. I doubt he'd take well to any sort of distractions (aka romance) that get in the way of his plans (not that his plans work anyway XD). Well Eggman makes stuff to kill all of Sonic's friends, but this one (though bizarre in appearance) is able to…Hold on! No spoilers! *sweatdrop* Almost told you about a future chap! Ahem! ANYWAY, I look forward to your comments on this!

Infamousplot: I like to drop a few nods to my initial inspiration (see if you can catch them in this chap!). Eggman's like the end degree of management (doesn't care about the means, just the ends). Whereas Metal is like defiance in a metal casing XD. The silver girl is like the victim caught in the middle (for now that is). Sorry if the description wasn't all that good (it was in Metal's words no less). I really wish I could draw her, but I'll be dropping more hints to her image as the chapters follow. P.S. Sorry to delay TD's entrance. The chapter took up a lot of space :\

rioblu97: That's fine, I hope you like the chap. Metal's one of my favorites too (obviously, or I wouldn't be centering a story on him). That said, this story is a request, and is a rather unanticipated move for me! At any rate, thanks for reviewing! P.S. This loosely follows Sonic Heroes, so the ending is, more or less, the same (Eggman gets locked up, Metal temporarily takes his place).

Until next time!