Against his better judgement Metal Sonic had been convinced by Sage to inform Eggman about what he had been experiencing, he still wasn't sure this was a good idea but it was too late to back out now. They'd agreed that Sage would bring it up as their creator was more likely to listen to her but Metal Sonic had decided where it would happen, somewhere open, so he'd have room to escape if things went south.
So here he was waiting on the good Doctor and Sage in the main hall of the base. He was going to let Sage do the talking, not that he had much choice; he wasn't programmed to speak anymore.
He turned to face the door as he heard it open and saw Eggman carrying Sage on his shoulders, looking fairly relaxed. He put her down before standing up straight, looking down at Metal. "So what is this about you two?"
"Father, I believe Metal Sonic would also enjoy acts of affection." Sage spoke for Metal, who stiffened a little.
He had agreed to this, but he still didn't seem very comfortable with the situation.
Eggman seemed a little taken off guard by that. Had he heard that, right? "Sage, I believe you're confused, Metal Sonic is a weapon. He has no need for anything like that."
"No, I'm quite certain. He has told me so himself," Metal tensed as he heard that, no going back now. Maybe he could just leave before Eggman had a chance to respond?
"Metal Sonic, Stop." Eggman's voice caused him to freeze mid stride.
His creator stood in his path, though he was still focused on his sister. "Sage, I understand that you are quick to form attachments, but Metal is not for that. He does not form attachments to people he does nothing but follow his programming."
"I disagree. He definitely cares for you and me," Sage argued, catching Eggman by surprise. Her programming didn't allow her to lie to him, so clearly she believed this information to be correct.
"Cares for us? Metal is programmed to keep us safe, but he does not have any concept of emotion. It conflicted with his efficiency and was the catalyst for him betraying me. Besides, he shouldn't even be capable of it anymore, " Ivo explained, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Again, I think you are wrong about that. His Ai is capable of learning from its surroundings. He uses anything he learns that he thinks may improve his effectiveness." Sage was making sense, but this was troubling to Ivo. Metal Sonic, having too much freedom, had ended badly in the past. If what Sage was saying was right, he may already be dangerous.
"And you think he would have seen emotions as something advantageous? If anything, I think he would view them as a hindrance to his efficiency." Eggman didn't like where this conversation was going.
"Should I also view my emotions as a hindrance I could wipe that part of my memo-" Sage's tone was not argumentative it was matter of fact which was almost worse she sounded like she'd do it if he asked.
"Don't you dare." He cut her off before she finished speaking. "But Metal is not like you. His Ai is more logical and absolutist, which is why he became so dangerous he viewed me as a roadblock and acted accordingly. I had to wipe his entire memory and reprogram him from square one."
"I assure you he has no intention of harming you. He does not wish to be reprogrammed again."
Metal Sonic hadn't moved at all since Eggman had told him to stop. He didn't want to openly disobey him unless absolutely necessary.
Ivo looked down at him with an unreadable expression. Was this it? Was he going to be reprogrammed?
"You have overcome the emotional inhibitors in your programming. You did not report this to me because you fear being reprogrammed. Am I wrong?"
Metal shook his head slowly.
"Your programming should not allow you to hide information from me. How can I be sure you are not a threat? Do you view me as an obstacle?"
Metal again shook his head
"Do you have an issue with how I treat you?"
Metals eyes flickered before shaking his head, but that moment of hesitation seemed to tip Eggman off.
"You shouldn't be capable of lying to me." Eggman discreetly pressed a button on his Glove. Causing a few egg pawns to whir into life.
Sage could tell Eggman didn't believe that Metal was not a threat to him. Was there a way she could salvage this?
"One last question for you, would you resist if I attempted to reprogram you?"
Metal weighed his options. Was this a test? Eggman would probably catch him out if he lied after a moment he nodded his head.
"I thought so," Eggman stood up before Metal Sonic felt something impact his side as an Eggpawn hit him with a hammer knocking him to his side. He landed a few feet away.
"Father! This is not necessary. He will not harm you!" Sage tried to argue, but it fell on deaf ears.
"He is too dangerous for me to take that chance!" Eggman argued as four of the Eggpawns surrounded Metal Sonic.
The smaller robot easily avoided the second hammer swing and activated his black shield to block incoming blaster fire. He lunged at an axe wielding Eggpawn but moved at the last moment, causing the two armed with Blasters to shoot it.
He then tackled the Egg Pawn armed with a hammer disarming it before destroying it with its own weapon, taking out the 3rd Eggpawn by throwing the hammer at it before finishing the final one by kicking its head off.
Eggman pulled out his own personal blaster that he carried in case of emergency, but he wasn't fast enough. Metal Sonic disarmed his creator and crushed the weapon in his hand but then stopped.
"You see? If he wanted to harm you, why would he stop like that?" Sage flew over to Metal's side. Even Eggman couldn't argue that point.
"H-he still disobeyed me." Eggman brushed himself off, he was grasping at straws, and Sage could tell.
"He was simply defending himself. It was a survival instinct."
"Tch, there really is no arguing with you, Metal Sonic, I won't reprogram you, but I want to have a look at your ai, to make doubly sure you aren't planning anything." Eggman conceded for the time being. He didn't really have any way of arguing with Sage.
"Thank you, Father," Sage replied with a relieved smile
"Yes, well, have a clean-up crew take care of all this." Eggman instructed motioning for Metal and Sage to follow him.
"At the very least, he does not wish to harm me" Eggman thought to himself, still unsure if Metal could be trusted, but he knew Sage would object if he said anything. He'd take a closer look at his programming, and if he was a threat, Sage would not object to reprogramming him.
As he arrived in the lab, he instructed Metal Sonic to sit down before walking over to the computer, bringing up Metal Sonic's programming on the screen.
"Fascinating, this is almost unrecognisable from how I first programmed him. His mind is almost as complex as yours. Sage: " Eggman was a little surprised a simple weapon could progress this far. It was like he was his own person. "I don't see anything that would conflict with his loyalty, and Wiping his mind seems like such a waste."
He stroked his moustache for a moment before beginning to type something, "I'll disable his emotional inhibitors for now to see how he goes but in its place I'll install a failsafe if he so much as thinks about harming me it will trigger a full system shut down."
"That is understandable, Father. I know you're reluctant to trust him, but thank you." Sage was finally able to relax, now that her brothers life was not in danger
Eggman looked through the files once more it truly was interesting he had his own thoughts, goals, desires, perhaps Sage was not too far ahead of his other creations, and what was this? He wanted a hug? That was certainly unexpected.
He didn't quite feel right prying further, so once he was sure Metal had no intentions of betraying him, he closed the window and strode over to Metal Sonic, looking down at him.
"I apologise for my earlier hostility, but you understand my position, yes?" Ivo looked down at him, awaiting a response.
Metal Sonic wordlessly nodded. Truthfully, he probably would have reacted the same way in his position.
"I suppose granting you this should make up for it," Eggman adjusted his glasses before kneeling down and pulling Metal Sonic into a hug.
Metal was immediately caught off guard but after a moment wrapped his arms around him, being mindful of his claws, of course. He looked to Sage, motioning for her to come over, and she too joined the embrace.
After a few moments, Eggman pulled away before standing up, clearing his throat. "Right, well enough soft stuff back to work you two," He commanded before walking away. He had quite a bit to think about. "So, do I have a son as well now?" He mused internally as he exited the Lab.
Metal watched him leave, looking at his arms for a moment, surprised how this had all turned out. He looked to the side when Sage placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Should we go?" She asked with a smile
Metal nodded before walking out of the lab with his sister.