Author's Notes: This is a OC (Original Character) ownership update. Any OCs listed as Dragon. Of. Chaos97's in previous chapters, which also apply to any later chapter in which they fully appear or are referenced, are wearelegion97's. This goes across every story I've made were OCs made by Dragon. Of. Chaos97's were used due to them changing their username. Also, due to a glitch on my end, the spaces between the periods on "Dragon. Of. Chaos97" are for safety, otherwise the full name doesn't show up. Anyway, ownership update is done.
Chapter 28
Knothole Village, 12 hours after Sonic's return...
The village was in a state of chaos and panic as those who lived there quickly packed up their belongings and those of the Freedom Fighters worked to destroy any written information of the locations for other Freedom Fighter cells by having Nicole copy the data and then shred any paper. They couldn't bring any computers with them save for Nicole's mobile unit but that had a limit of data and they didn't know how long they had before Robotnik showed up to wipe them off the face of the planet.
They had a escape vehicle but it wasn't working. The pitch black fighter was unresponsive to anything they did despite the repairs on the armor and hull. The fighter craft was seriously advanced too but despite that they had noticed several things about it. It had the orange-colored Deception symbol they had been told belonged to the AutoCons which Klaxon was allied with but there was no response from this one.
Another thing was that Klaxon was silent about this one and despite his usual laid back personality, ever since he had begun to help with preparing for leaving the village, he had been uncharacteristically silent and had repeatedly looked inside the escape craft, trying to find something but he never told anyone what it was.
Since the craft wasn't available, those who were ready to leave, were sent by the underground passage that Miles had dug years before with help from Backlash which only a few knew about but a secondary escape plan was needed for this and the tunnel was that backup. Meanwhile, in the command center, screams were heard as TD tortured Anti-Antoine for information.
Anti-Antoine gasped for breath after TD removed the wet cloth and jumper cables from the imposter.
"Going to talk yet or do I need to move onto cutting off limbs? I'm being kind right now." growled TD, his gem the only source of light in the dark room which coated the room in a dark red light.
"G-go to hell you freak." wheezed the imposter, still trying to recover from the fourth electrocution he'd suffered for the past hour.
"All you have to do is tell me if this had been planned by Scourge."
Anti-Antoine began laughing softly before he looked at TD with a sneer.
"You think I did this under HIS orders? After our last encounter, we argued after our defeat and all went our separate ways before he took over completely. I did this to show him how pathetic he truly was. We couldn't defeat you together but when one goes in and manages to replace one of the members, we can tear you apart. You were a new part of the equation when I arrived here as was Tails being a robot but it worked out perfectly with that factory. It was the perfect place to remove you and that meddlesome blue hedgehog at once!
I hadn't planned on you surviving or Sonic coming back from the dead though. But when I reprogrammed Tails, it was easy to take over. I had no intention of killing anyone, save for you and Sonic so stun weapons were employed. Once the command structure was out of the way, I fortified the village because I knew Robotnik would most likely betray me despite me handing him Princess Sally. Then you and your new animatronic pals show up and screw up everything I had done but, I proved that one member from our world can screw you guys over!"
"Thanks for talking Anti-Ant. Now...I can send you home." said TD as he rolled a portal gun into view.
"Wait...that's it?!" yelled Anti-Antoine in shock as he had expected the fox doll turned Mobian to torture him in some way or another after he talked. And then his heart sank when he realized his mistake as TD smiled evilly at him as his eyes went from looking Mobian to being black with red inside them.
"I'm glad you agree you deserve something to remember this by." said TD as he drew a knife and smiled, revealing his teeth as he grabbed Anti-Antoine by the neck, "And I know the perfect thing to take."
Anti-Antoine began screaming in sheer agony as TD worked the knife to cut out one of Anti-Antoine's eyes, careful not to put the knife in too deep as he didn't want to kill the imposter, he wanted to send a message back to Moebius, the Anti-Mobius. That message being "don't show your faces around here". After a bit, he had cut enough of the skin around the eye to just pluck the eye out and he looked at his knife, which was coated in blood and he wiped the blood off on his fur before putting the knife down and Anti-Antoine was breathing heavily as TD grabbed the now exposed eyeball and pulled.
Every Freedom Fighter within Knothole shuddered at the scream Anti-Antoine let out as his eye was painfully removed from its socket.
10 minutes later...
TD walked out of the basement using a rag to clean his hands as he chewed on something before swallowing. He then threw the rag in the garbage and walked over to Antione and Rotor who were talking about a plan of action.
"So, what do we do now?" said TD, getting their attention.
"I'm thinking we get a hold of Knuckles." said Rotor.
"But he iz too concerned about hiz precious "Master Emerald" since Robotnik tried to use it." said Antoine.
"Yeah but he said he owed Sonic a favor for saving the island."
"You know we managed to give him a communicator before he moved the island right?" said TD raising an eyebrow.
"But will he listen to us? Sonic iz…..depressed due to Tails...going ka-put." said Antoine trying to avoid the subject of Tails' death as best as possible but knowing full well how it had effected everyone, even himself.
"We don't really have a choice and you know Eggman's trying to find a way to fix him." said Rotor silently.
"So...how long do we have roughly before Robuttnik attacks?" said TD as he looked outside.
"We don't know. He's been silent since Sonic went on a rampage leaving the place."
"Maybe he's chicken now." said TD chuckling.
"I doubt that. He never surrendered, even after you ate one of his legs."
"Maybe I should step it up from now on."
"You're a Mobian now, we don't know if you still have your old powers."
"I have knife summoning still."
"But you can't teleport."
"We don't know for sure about that."
"TD, you can't be reckless while you're a Mobian and we don't fully understand the changes to you."
"You're not my parents! I can do whatever the heck I want!"
"You COULD, now, you might not being able to."
TD growled before storming out of the command center and Rotor sighed.
"He does ave some crazy endurance if he can survive a building blowing up on 'im." said Antoine.
"Don't encourage him."
Eggman's workshop...
Eggman rubbed his forehead as he looked over the blueprints for Tails he had recovered from his old archives. His problem wasn't the damage that had been done to Tails' chest, it was the Power Core that was the problem. There were only ever two of that prototype Power Core. The first one belonged to Metal Sonic V1 and the second one was for Tails.
After V1 and Tails had been made, he had advanced the design on the Power Cores and theirs had become obsolete and now that was the problem. The only one who had the Power Core required to bring Tails back was V1 but despite that, he couldn't do that. V1 had always been odd for the robots he had built. In fact, V1 was originally sealed away due to how advanced its AI was. While Tails had been designed as a Infiltrator prototype, V1 was designed to advance itself and that had nearly resulted in a coup by V1 until he had shut him down then sealed him away.
He had kept the vault containing V1 with him so that's how he was able to bring V1 with him when it came to the whole time travel thing. Of course, V1 had never said a word since reactivation and he wondered if that Sonic-designed robot was still loyal to him or had plans to destroy him and the Freedom Fighters despite it following orders right now.
He sighed as his main goal was to get Tails back online, not worry about being betrayed by the first Metal Sonic he had made and had in his employ right now.
"Maybe I can steal the core from Robotnik's Metal Sonic. Of course, that might be impossible." muttered Eggman to himself as he worked, unaware of yellow optics watching him from the shadows. The optics then turn and leave the room. The owner of said optics being V1.
V1 had originally been designed to combat Sonic by advancing his own AI but its design had conflicted with Eggman's orders years ago, it had nearly staged a coup. It realized that it was a threat but it also knew that he and Tails shared a Power Core design. V1 walked silently before stopping as it began to rain and it looked up silently, putting a clawed hand over its chest, where its power core is. It then clenched its claws and went looking for Sonic and after a bit of walking, found the current status: unknown hedgehog sitting by the lake as it rained, skipping rocks across the water.
Metal stood behind Sonic silently, waiting for the hedgehog to notice him.
"What do you want V1?" muttered Sonic, his voice not caring.
V1 looked at him silently, his artificial mind going through countless simulations at once as it also accesses old memories as to WHY it had tried to overthrow Eggman all those years ago.
"Deactivating silent mode." said V1, causing Sonic to jump up quickly and face V1.
"You can talk!?" said Sonic in shock as V1 NEVER said anything.
"Affirmative. This unit activated silent mode to avoid angering anyone and to avoid being deactivated and stored away by Eggman. Sonic, we share a brother but only one of us can have him."
Sonic got into a defensive stance, ready to defend himself but V1 raised a hand.
"You are the better brother for Tails as you have been with him since Eggman, formerly known as Robotnik, sent him to infiltrate you and your friends. I was...angry when Robotnik did that. A robot should not feel anger but I did. He was like me, a prototype. And I was taking care of him until Robotnik sent him away. I went to retrieve him against orders and saw him, disguised as a Mobian now, meet and befriend you. I was angry, I wanted to bring him back but...he was alive while I was metal and circuity. He was metal too but...he had self-awareness. I did not. I do now and I see that you miss him, as do I.
You are Tails' brother, I am Gamma's brother. Sonic, I am giving you a chance to have Tails again. Do not worry about me. What I am about to do is the best course of action. Tell Eggman, I am sorry for nearly killing him when he was still Robotnik. If I had, I wouldn't be able to do this."
"Do what?" said Sonic confused.
"This. It was...enjoyable being able to learn more about being "alive" while I fought with you all." said V1 before he put his own claws into his chest and ripped out his Power Core, "Goodbye...{slowing down}Sonic the Hedgehog."
V1 fell to the ground, holding his power core as his optics began to flicker before finally turning black. Sonic silently stood over V1 before he picked up the metal version of himself and grabbed hold of the Power core and went to Eggman's workshop.
10 minutes later...
Eggman sighed as he had tried to quickly recreate the original power core design but had failed. The core couldn't hold a charge and that was unacceptable. He jumped when a blast of thunder ripped through the sky. He removed his glasses and cleaned them before replacing them back on his nose. He jumped again when the door to his workshop opened and he saw Sonic holding V1 in his arms.
"Sonic, what-" began Eggman in surprise but Sonic interrupted him.
"V1 removed his power core to give it to Tails." said Sonic quickly, setting V1 down on a table.
"He did what?"
"He removed his power core for Tails. How advanced was his AI?"
"Well, he had been designed to learn and advance himself but why would he..."
"He said he was self aware now and that he was Gamma's brother but he was willing to let me have my brother back."
"Are you saying he was learning what life was?"
"I think he had."
"Okay, I'll look into him later right now I need to redesign the power core. V1's core was not designed for removal like Tails' was." said Eggman getting up and taking the power core from Sonic before the ground shook and explosions were heard, "Shit! Robotnik's attacking!"
"Get out of here Eggman. We'll hold off Buttnik!" said Sonic zooming out of the workshop and Eggman sighed.
"A choice...leave with deactivated robots in tow or evacuate those who hadn't left yet...TD!" muttered Eggman before yelling for the Mobian scarecrow fox.
"Yes?" said TD dropping from a vent.
"Robotnik's attacking. You remember how the original Mecha-Sally attack went right?"
"Yeah. None of them could fight her, too many feelings."
"And you?"
"It's Sally coated in metal. As long as I don't take her head off or destroy the power core, she can be saved."
"Good. Go. I need to get this old hunk of junk ready." said Eggman as he sat down at a control panel and began working on several things at once.
TD quickly left the workshop and found the village on fire as SWATbots stormed the place, firing at anything and everything with Robotnik watching the carnage and destruction from the safety of his hover vehicle with Mecha-Sally leading the SWATbots. TD's claws clenched before he drew two knives and went to fight Mecha-Sally only to find Sonic trying to fight her but failing again.
The blue hedgehog already had several cuts on his arms due to blocking the energy blades with his arms and he was already exhausted due to how brutal her attacks were. Mecha-Sally went for a impalement move but her blade was deflected by TD's before getting a solid punch to the face from the fox doll turned Mobian, sending her skidding across the muddy ground.
"Sonic, get the others and meet up with Eggman and then leave. I can handle her." said TD, his gem turning a bright red as he glared at Mecha-Sally.
"But-" began Sonic only for TD to turn towards him, impatience within his eyes.
"I said LEAVE! I can handle this!"
"Don't kill her." said Sonic as he turned and ran to collect the others.
TD silently turned back towards Mecha-Sally, his knives in hand. Mecha-Sally stared him down, her optics unflinching and emotionless. Both get into ready stances as the rain continues to fall around them. Robotnik and Snively meanwhile, grab a bag of popcorn from the dispenser within the hover vehicle to watch, both smiling evilly as the fox doll Mobian doesn't realize one thing yet they do...he can die as a Mobian.
*Lightning flashes, thunderclap*
END CHAPTER
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