PoC: I am not the creator or owner of the Teddy Roosevelt concept (a.k.a. Eggman) or his spiny blue right-hand (Sega's patented Metal Sonic).

Metal: I've never heard of this "Sega" you refer to, but no one but NO ONE owns Metal Sonic!

PoC: Oh helz yeah! Metal is up and running! Good job 'Silvers'!

Silver 1 & 2: *Cough* Ugh…don't mention it…

PoC: Geez… Did you guys get into a fight while fixing Met or what?

Metal: Fixing me? These fools locked me up in a sort of test tube, which I recently demolished, forcing me to teach them a…gruesome lesson.

PoC: Okay so… I guess you don't remember what happened then. Ah who cares? As long as you're back with us that's all that mat-

Metal: There you are! I've been waiting for you, my loathsome copy!

Metal…2?: What's this; a cheap replica? Pssh… Not even as good-looking as the real thing.

PoC: … Right, so I'm almost afraid to ask but uh… WHY ARE THERE TWO METALS NOW?

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Affection

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"That's all I have to do? Swoop in and take a baby from his candy?" or so was E-38's summary of his/her mission. Hearing it's feeble grasp of the basics, Orbot gave the mantis-drone clearance to act accodingly, though he wasn't entirely sure 38 understood the plan. However, Eggman did say that so long as the target comes back half-alive and barely breathing, he would be satisfied. The spherical housekeeper dared not volunteer such specifics, given how hard it had been to get 38 to see the 'do not kill' concept. In all, Orbot really did pity the poor fur-ball that would soon be forced into THIS robot's clutches.

Soon after this short 'talk', the two parted ways, leaving 38 to frolic all the way to his/her flight. Evidently the thought of capturing a child had the spastic machine tickled pink. Either that or the dancing fool was merely pleased to be active and useful again, though a combination of the two was most probable. Whatever it's reasoning, it remained difficult to explain 38's peculiar locomotion.

Out on the Sky-port, a small team was standing dutifully at attention when 38 made his/her questionable entrance. The mission operator did his best to take no visible notice of 38's 'excitement' by instead addressing his superior properly.

"E-38, is it? It's a pleasure to be working with you sir err…ma'am…" the crew members groaned at the operator's failed introduction, but weren't without sympathy, as by and large the higher ranking E-bots normally had a rather obvious gender assigned, mostly for aided identification purposes. But this E-38, contrariwise, was about as androgynous as could be. In any case, whether the crewman was well-fated or maybe just too quiet, E-38 seemingly didn't notice his remark, or even that he/she had been spoken to at all. More curious still, 38 had stopped dancing around and was currently shooting a vacant stare to the team's left.

"Is something amiss sir?" the crew's pilot cut the silence, but didn't break 38's concentration. All decided to stare as well to see what he/she was so fascinated with. The trouble was there were too many things in that general direction! So many events were happening at once that it seemed impossible to fully discern 38's distraction. Among these events was an air-freighter's crew unloading large amounts of cargo, supply units delivering various kinds of equipment and gear to mission-ready crafts, E-99 overseeing a unit preparing to reclaim the fumbled Gerald project, Metal walking hand-in-hand with a living toy, and multiple mechanic's servicing grounded ships.

Regardless, 38's enlarged eyes abruptly narrowed very intently on something in the distance before commenting "Do you see it too?" It's question was likely addressing everyone in earshot, so all shook their heads in bewilderment. 38 made no move at first, but little by little it turned around ominously and flashed them a gigantic…smile?

"The sky is lovely today, no?" was all it's drama amounted to.

The kidnapper had, if nothing else, succeeded in giving it's hapless fellow shipmates a scare, causing a momentary but unsubstantial delay in their time table. Afterwards, the five ship-hands and passenger entered the prepped vessel. One member however, the transmission operator specifically, lingered slightly longer before following the others.

"Strange…why was it eyeing E-99's unit?" he mused, but dwelt on it no longer.

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*With Silvia*

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It was official; one word could safely be used to describe every 'male' type robot in existence: Gross.

An hour, she had begun her search with a whole hour to spend looking for a partner, and these were the highest prospects she could scrape together? Their exalted Master Eggman must like making bots as disgusting as he looks, or at a minimum excel in designing oil-soaked spit-balls with too much ego. Not that any explanation could justify THIS trash heap. Despite these thoughts, Silvia remained as modest and kindly as ever, but this turned out to be a mistake as several of these 'half-soldered-circuits' took that to mean she found favor with them. Tempting as it was, she didn't want to lose her cool and…wind up with a horrible repeat of the training center incident. Noble as this thought may've been, the mere touch of their infected hands still sent nauseating shudders down her falsified spine.

Bringing up her onboard clock, the hybrid was mortified to see she was now ten minutes late for her assignment! If Eggman found out about this, it'd be back to scrubbing this airport for her! Willing to have her mission coordinator choose an aid for her as opposed to suffer any further indignity, Silvia bade the scum-pots farewell and took her leave.

Her exit was suddenly cut short, however, when something harsh and solid took hold of her arm. Twisting her head around, the girl noticed one of the more disturbed-looking bots had her pinned in a death grip.

"A mighty interesting…specimen she is. Mmm…yes I wonder if she even squeals like a real mobian rat!" the sadistic lumber-cutting machine cried out in lunacy. Silvia knew well how most robots, chiefly the archaic ones, hated mobians with a passion, and had been repeatedly warned to never get on their bad side.

But what had she done so far to deserve such threats?

These 'threats' as she called them took shape too fast to be harmless hot air, for the hateful machine had drawn out a portable saw and switched it on.

"W-What is this old fool doing? He can't be serious!" She gulped. Feeling the emotion of terror beating through her veins like a festering disease, Silvia was stunned to see how many robots condoned and even cheered the sadistic act on, whilst silencing those few that protested. Imagining the edge of that awful blade cutting into her arm long before it touched, the hybrid's eyes shone a golden yellow as her free hand rose up.

"Let go…LET GO OF ME!" her words pierced the air, followed swiftly by a cracking sound; like thunder echoing through the sky. When her irises returned to their normal, colorless selves, Silvia could see the crazy-bot's hand still barely clinging to her forearm, but it now lacked an owner. Where the dangerous machine once stood was now an ashen hovel of metal and smoke.

The crowd/riot fell into dead silence. They appeared to be too confused, shocked, or afraid to utter a single word. Silvia didn't have any response for the longest time either, but when she did, she aimed a finger threateningly at the group causing them to jump backwards in fear.

"T-That… That's right! A-Anyone else want to m-mess with me?" she struggled to sound fearsome, which would've been a dismal failure had it not been for her recent show of tremendous force. Seeing that she had no takers for her 'challenge' the girl put her hand back down and finished "Yeah I-I didn't think so." Then turning on her heel, she walked away, hoping that would suffice in keeping them off her back.

Her true feelings were far different from her words of course. Silvia may've wanted them to leave her alone, but she hadn't intended to do the crazy old guy any harm. Staring at her own hands, the hybrid chastised her weakness and lack of self-control.

"E-85 would be so ashamed." She mumbled in bitterness. Ever since 85 and her loyal mechanic, E-33, started adding some simple enhancements to 'give life' to her favorite doll, she'd warned Silvia that a terrible power lurked within her systems, and that if uncontained, would turn her into a senseless killer. Though perhaps that would make Eggman quite happy, the hybrid herself hated the thought of losing all sense of self, for how could she control who she attacked if she lost her mind?

"I…I might even end up hurting him…" she whispered, letting her ears droop and eye color shift to a depressing blue.

"Might end up hurting who?" Silvia squeaked when she heard the voice. In her lax musing, she had carelessly spoken her thoughts aloud. Forgetting her error for now, she knew that she'd best get as far away from this person as possible, before they started interrogating or getting violent on her. Bad luck sadly always seems to come in droves, as the hybrid felt a hand clamp once again down on her arm, with the grip feeling less aggressive but far more powerful. Scared of losing her head a second time, the girl let out a number of distressed shouts in the vain hope that this person might release her of their own accord.

"Let go! LET GO AND LEAVE ME ALONE! W-What did I ever do to you?" she yelled and sobbed. However, her horror didn't last much longer once the strong, callous, but oddly soothing, reply fell on her ears.

"Silvia, control yourself! What's gotten into you?" hearing her not so well-known name made her comply rather quickly. Putting two and two together, she concluded that that voice must belong to…him. Her eyes shot back to see that it was indeed Metal Sonic. This realization helped her frayed nerves to even out significantly, knowing she need not fear further harm with him around.

"That's more like it. I was starting to worry about you." He said those words with such…ease, and to her amazement, he didn't take them back. She couldn't have been more surprised to see Metal, the Metal she thought she had all figured out, showing unflinching concern for her well-being. Beyond that, she was further amazed by how his iron grip had shifted to a gentle touch, without the tiniest hint of him recoiling.

Metal was being…sensitive? Not evasive or spiteful, but rather affectionate?

Though it might've bothered her on any other day, the girl chose to ignore the finer details for now. In the heat of the moment, Silvia decided to act rashly in repaying his genuine, but uncharacteristic, kindness with…

A great big hug.

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*Metal's POV*

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What the heck was this? Who gave her permission to touch him? This was it. This was why, by his logic, women didn't make a lick of sense at all. One minute they act like something's really bugging them, then the next they glomp you with no shame! It was unsavory enough that he told her how worried he was…JUST for her sake and NOT because he was actually concerned. But why was she so sad and scared a second ago? Someone had better not have hurt her or there would be HELL to pay! Not that he cared that much, but still someone was going to die if she was so much as scratched!

Wait…that didn't make any sense at all, did it? These two-way thoughts were nothing but an immense headache. But where were they coming from? Last he checked he'd been able to think straight before she hugged him… Wait, that's it! By grabbing hold of him she was employing some kind of trickery that was forcing him to worry about her! Of course, that's the only logical explanation. Ah yes! And that also explained why he was now hugging her back! Cunning woman! How could he have been so easily ensnared?

"Yay! Metal found Mama!" the little doll cried out joyously whilst giving both Metal and Silvia his own short-reaching hug. Great, now the kid had gone and pinned him in this uncomfortable spot. Sighing mentally, the copy supposed he could let his pride go for a moment, if only for the shrimp's sake. Metal regretted these thoughts as the minute Silvia laid eyes on the doll; she smothered the little guy and Metal with an even stronger embrace.

"So cuddly, so precious, so…what's the word? CUTE!" she softly squealed as she squeezed the kid lovingly "I'll have to thank E-85 later." Needless to say the doll was ecstatic finally meet who E-85 referred to as his 'Mama'.

In all this excitement however, only Metal caught sight of a soldier approaching their happy trio, wearing a look of contained panic. Why he decided it was safe to literally push the three apart was most perplexing. Moreover, he didn't seem to see who he had dared to move aside, specifically an annoyed Metal.

"There you are! Ma'am, need I remind you that we are now twenty minutes behind our designated launch time? Have you even found a suitable supervisor for your reconnaissance?" The troop clearly didn't pay the daunting Sonic clone any mind or he would've shut his trap sooner. Though oblivious to who's shadow he was standing in, he was given small warnings when Silvia motioned her head and eyes towards the figure behind him.

He may not have taken these 'subtle' hints, but he at least had the sense to turn around while he spoke "Seeing how pressed we are for time, I've decided that Met… Oh never mind, I see you've found him. Good, then let's not waste another second. Silvia, we'll have the ship fired and ready upon your arrival. Don't delay us any longer." The grunt excused himself as promptly as he'd intruded. Metal rolled his red eyes, choosing not to punish the 'fleeing' troop's ignorance. Anyway, the soldier's words had been somewhat interesting in that the copy hedgehog now knew that Silvia had received a mission of her own, and that she'd been looking for an elite status comrade to go along with her.

Wait so…did this mean she going to ask him to join her? He…secretly hoped so…

Self-questioning time: Should he wait for her to say something, or would it be better to ask her straight up if she wanted him to come along? Then there was the problem with the doll. Who would watch him if they did go together? It's not as though they could just take him with. True, the mission only involved boring recon, but based on past experience Metal knew things never stayed that simple.

Metal had to shake himself free of thoughts; for Silvia looked as though she had something to say.

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*Silvia's POV*

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Unexpected, that's what this whole turnabout was. Minutes ago she had been stubbornly trying to search for someone, anyone, to replace Metal, and now here they were, both bumping into each other at the last second. Not that she really…minded though. He HAD shown real compassion, and without his usual reluctance to boot. By confession she had been a little overly-sensitive about his attitude, for even on his worst day, Metal had never said half the crude or cruel things she'd heard from those brutish bots minutes ago. In retrospect, he had always been the better choice.

Stepping in closer, a sudden feeling of shyness had tinted her cheeks slightly as Silvia asked with meek smile "Metal, would you be willing to supervise my first mission?"

-l-

End of Chapter Nineteen

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Limited story progress is limited :\. But since there's not a single apology I can make that hasn't been made before, I simply hope you all liked this nearly-featureless chapter.

Serenity: Not long at all! Welcome back :). Yep they sure are. It's nice to finally write one of Metal's interactions as something other than dark or moody. Time is unkind to us all, just look at how wonky this update was! On a Monday? Really PoC?

DanceDream: No cookie for me then DX. Nah, no god-chasing for him this time. He's ready to pull off something more direct if you must know ;). Welp don't forget that Silvia is very organic for an…inorganic being (!Oxymoron Alert! XD). It's not 'all better' between them yet, but at least Metal is being less of an ass (thank TD for that). Really? Awesome! I've looked and looked for good Metal and TD art before, and almost never find the two together, at least in a non-creepy way -_-'. XD Glad you caught that! I definitely need to make more time for this story, but I did like the opportunity to keep the romance aspect involved in this chapter.

Super Shadix 520: It's about time if you asked me. People watch too much anime these days, and very often forget that a TD-type character doesn't need soul-stealing qualities to be memorable or even likable. 1. Working with Met as you have read. There's too much angst going around already XD. 2. What Metal don't know, can't hurt him.

Mewone: Hey I kinda liked it. Then again, I tend to be a little too easy to please, in the puns department anyways XD. Eggman is indeed, and it's pretty cruel that he's selected Silvia for his plot. Orbot is a whipping boy err…bot, but even he deserves some appreciation. I actually could see their 'living counterparts' freaked out to see Metal and TD teamed up. P.S. Metal's back, and twice the machine he used to be! A bad pun for a gun equals more fun XD.

Until next time.