Hey guys, I decided to release chapters one and two back to back, so enjoy! I don't have a clear release schedule planned, so please keep an eye out for new, sporadic updates.
Ch. 2: What it's not
Honestly, Metal wasn't ready for that answer.
"Love?" Metal Sonic's glowing eyes widen, probably the first face of shock he's ever made.
Out of every possible word that could have exited from the Doctor's mouth, that was the last one Metal Sonic would have expected. Despite having a supercomputer for a brain, it took a full three seconds for Metal Sonic to fully process that statement. Dr. Robotnik smiles and tilts his head down at Metal Sonic, much like one would to a child.
"Truly, Metal, now that I have seen it, it is so very obvious" The doctor lays his arms on the armrests of his chair. His goggles glowed a pale blue color from the computer monitors behind him. Giving him a sinister and knowing air.
"Much like many contemporary historians believe that there was a great flood simply because most ancient cultures have stories of such an event, I am starting to believe in the fairytale power of love". The doctor's words only serve to confuse Metal Sonic further instead of properly explaining it.
Metal Sonic has little experience with the emotion of love. The very thought of valuing something above yourself is tantamount to insanity in his mind. Metal Sonic struggles to find the logic in his boss's plan, he always understood the masterful ideas weaved by the doctor, but this time he was completely at a loss.
"Please explain," Metal Sonic says, attempting to hide his complete and utter confusion.
"In popular culture, love is cited as the greatest power in the universe. Above Gravity, above all other emotions, above time. And as you know, I have used all of those against Sonic at one point or another. So what, perchance, could allow a blue Mobian who can run fast to defeat monsters, machines, and gods except the greatest power in the universe?". Eggman lifts his goggles off of his face, the blue glasses underneath covering just about exactly as much as the goggles did.
Metal Sonic knows for a fact that love is a useless thing. He couldn't think of any possible application for it. It was simply a fluke that lesser beings have. Did his creator finally lose it? Metal Sonic stares blankly, clearly not convinced.
Dr. Robotnik chuckles to himself and looks across the dim room to the bewildered robot. "Of course, I never would have reached that conclusion without a little help"
Metal Sonic knows one thing for sure about his enigmatic creator, and it's that he would never admit needing help from any living or nonliving soul.
The doctor continues, enjoying his game of confusing and teasing his supposedly smart creation. "This was of course thanks to my greatest creation, Sage"
Deep in his Metal bones, Metal Sonic feels hurt. Despite his disdain for having to work for someone, he can't help but feel betrayed and jealous. Metal Sonic has completely stopped fidgeting and is standing pretty much at attention, but with arms crossed.
"And who knew that my greatest creation would be the one that actually cares about me..." The doctor caresses his chin.
"So, Metal, what do you think? Could love be the secret weapon that we never saw? Delineated in children's stories. The weapon of choice for our enemies. Something that makes even my creations stronger?" Dr. Robotnik's glasses glint evilly in the dim light.
Metal Sonic stares at his creator, wondering if there is some method to his creator's madness. The doctor made a compelling case and even backed it up with evidence.
"But what use is love to us?" That was Metal Sonic's burning question. He didn't even know what love felt like, much less how it could be used to secure his goals.
"From my points, do you agree that love is an untapped source of potentially limitless power?" The doctor turns his seat, turning back toward his computer monitor.
Metal Sonic stays silent. He's not convinced that 'love' is this almighty source of power like The Doctor says, but he's not also totally unconvinced.
Dr. Robotnik chuckles. "I know what you must be thinking, and no, love is not very useful to us". One of his hands comes up to interact with his striking orange mustache. "But! As you know, energy can neither be created nor destroyed".
Metal Sonic wonders where this point is going. He rolls his electronic eyes but is pretty sure that The Doctor's point is finally coming to its conclusion.
"So perhaps, we can build love up and then convert it into hate!" The Doctor smirks at the genius of his plan.
"You and I, Metal, both hate Sonic for our own reasons. I because he foils my plans to conquer the world; You because you believe that you are the superior Sonic. So imagine then, the intense power of one that could love Sonic, and then turn every ounce of that power into hate. Hate that I can manipulate." The Doctor smirks at his Metal servant, knowing that his mighty machine had to wait for him to explain practically the whole plan before he understood the genius.
Metal Sonic stares at the doctor. That plan was... Actually pretty smart. Other than the philosophical crap about love. He would never admit it out loud, but he was impressed.
"Where do I come into this?" Metal Sonic asks, wondering if The Doctor brought him here just to brag. Or if, as usual, The Doctor's plan goes deeper than Metal Sonic originally thought.
"Simple, Metal, I need a copy of your base AI, as well as a copy of your copy of Chaos's ability to transform into a liquid". The Doctor gestures over to a chord on the side of his computer monitor
"And what are you going to…" Metal Sonic plugs himself into the chord at The Doctor's command. "...Make a robot like me who likes Sonic?"
Metal Sonic considers the thought. He always wanted someone he could talk to, someone like him. Any robots he could talk to were too dumb, just simple machines. Any robots who were smart enough for him to have a good conversation with he's not allowed to talk to, or they have already defected away from Dr. Robotnik. And naturally, talking to regular Mobians is beneath him.
"Indeed, Metal, since my creations seem to like betraying me so much, I've decided that this time, I'll create a robot that is already predisposed to betray me, so there will be no surprises". Dr. Robotnik is typing on his keyboard, his large fingers flying gracefully across the keys, downloading the information he needs from Metal Sonic.
"And since the betrayal is pre-planned, I can have the shiny new obedience program that I programmed into you, pre-installed, but not active". As the Doctor continues to explain the intricacies plan, the picture becomes clearer for Metal Sonic.
"So…" Metal Sonic interjects. "This robot will gain its own free-thinking programming?". Metal Sonic is only half listening to Dr. Robotnik at this point. According to Metal Sonic, all creatures are below him. So what would it be like to have someone who he can look in the eye as an equal?
The Doctor chuckles to himself. "It will think that, but actually, I will be controlling it the whole time. I will program it with a predisposed affinity for Sonic, but then, I will manipulate its environment so that it believes that it fell for Sonic on its own. Once it has gotten close to Sonic. That is when the fun will begin". The Doctor smiles evilly, the words 'Download complete' reflected in his blue glasses.
"What will this new Robot be called?" Metal Sonic unplugs himself from the computer. He cares less about the plan and more about the potential escape from the monotony that is his current life.
"I am calling this project: Cute Yet Basically Evil Robot". The Doctor pulls up a schematic sheet, grinning, as he leans back into his seat. "CYBER"
Little did either of them know, that this latest bot would have a much larger impact on both of their lives than they ever could have suspected possible.