AN: Well, here's something. Why do I have so many storys as unfinished? I loose interest. School + having another non-fanfiction story in progress = fanfiction tends to get forgotten.

"Bravery is not a function of firepower." J.C. Denton, Deus Ex

Chapter Five: No more heroes

(Tails' car, approaching Ground Zero)

Tails tuned the radio in on a news station. "We have reports that Eggman's mech is attempting to destroy Station square. The military is advising a total evacuation of the city."

I'm not gonna let Eggman do this… not without a fight!

Tails flicked on his car's turbo mode, and the car shot towards the outskirts of the city. He could already see Eggman's mech looming over the city, smashing its way though buildings. Tails saw some Eggrobos up ahead; he took out a 6-gauge shotgun and fired, devastating the only one he couldn't run over. Gears and other parts sprayed his windshield as he rammed through several 'bots, leaving a few pedestrians nearly speechless.

Metal Sonic scouted the situation:

Target acquired. ID: Miles Prower. Normal power level: Medium. Anger level: Extreme. Weaponry: Colt 1911, Mossberg 6 gauge special. Chaos energy abnormality detected. Current danger level: above maximum. Consider primary target, divert from intercept with Sonic.

Metal Sonic jumped down on Tails' windshield, expecting to crash through; instead, he ended up on the receiving end of a load of 6-gauge supermagnum buckshot. Tails jammed the breaks, sending Metal Sonic flying. He stepped out of his car, snapping his wrist to cock his shotgun, an angry scowl on his face. There was one thing every bystander knew:

Tails was PISSED.

Metal Sonic stood up, took a better look at Tails, and noticed one key difference: Tails had no fear of him this time. "So, we meet again."

"Cut the crap, Metal. You know my reasons for being here; stand aside, and I won't turn you into scrap."

Metal Sonic was surprised by Tails' choice of words. "I have a duty to destroy all threats to Eggman's master plan. You are a fool to oppose me."

Tails had a sudden feeling of extreme power. "I think YOU are."

Metal Sonic dashed toward Tails, but his charge was side-stepped. A blast of buckshot tore into his back, knocking him forward. "Do you think that hurt?!"

"If that didn't, this WILL!" Tails yelled, firing a crackling ball of energy from his hand. It hit, sending Metal Sonic a few feet forward. He fired off another blast from his Mossberg, damaging Metal Sonic even more.

Metal Sonic managed to get back up. "You couldn't have done that… It's imposable…" He managed to knock down Tails with another one of his dash attacks, but ended up with two shells worth of buckshot in his face. He had forgotten: Mossberg 6-gauge specials had a 'double-blast' feature.

Tails stood back up. "I'm done screwing around, Metal…" Tails jumped the distance between him and Metal Sonic in an impossibly short time… one that reminded Shadow, who had been watching the whole time, of something that he thought impossible for Tails to do…

"Was that… Chaos Control?"

Tails smashed Metal Sonic's stomach with an incredibly hard punch. A kick knocked Metal Sonic to the pavement, spread-eagled. "Impossible!" he yelled, his circuits failing…

ERROR: Extreme outer shell damage.

ERROR: Repair systems destroyed.

ERROR: CPU damage exceeds operational capacity.

ERROR: Power system destroyed.

Metal Sonic's cracked chest plate started billowing smoke, just before he exploded.

Shadow cursed under his breath. Eggman would not be happy…

GLI-BANG!

A .50 caliber bullet lodged itself in a large air conditioning unit, less than an inch from Shadow's skull.

"Got your attention, didn't I?"

Shadow turned around… and his jaw nearly came unhinged. Frost was wielding a modified AR-15, loaded with .50 Beowulf and set to full auto. "WHAT THE HELL?!"

GLI-BANGBANGBANGBANG.

Shadow dodged the bullets as they blew a chunk out of the air conditioner he dodged behind. Oh CHIRST, she's using explosive ammo! he thought, pulling out a Colt 1911. "Do you know who you're fighting for?!" Shadow yelled, blind firing several rounds in Frost's general direction.

Frost didn't even dodge; the bullets all missed. "Good, bad, I'm the one with the firepower."

"CHAOS… SPEAR!"

"PHASE SHEILD!" Frost yelled, absorbing Shadow's attack. A glowing aura of energy surrounded her…

"Oh SHIT."

"PHASE BLASTER!" A massive bolt of pure chaos energy sent Shadow flying down to the street. Frost jumped down, landing on both feet.

"Going around, thinking you're being a hero, only causing more damage… Who do you think you are?" Shadow said, dragging himself up.

"There are no more heroes," Frost said, pulling out her Browning HP.

BAM!

Shadow looked down; the bullet had hit him in the stomach. "Damn… you…"

Frost grabbed a pair of handcuffs that where sitting on the sidewalk, dropped by a policeman making an arrest just before Eggman's advance toward the city was announced. She clipped them around Shadow's wrists, locking them closed and breaking the key in half.

"What… *COUGH* … I don't get my rights?"

"Your rights will be read at your funeral."