Taking up the Mantle Chapter 26: Artificial Heart, a sonic the hedgehog fanfic

Author's Note. This is something I have been thinking about since the beginning of the story. Truthfully, I wrote the entire thing in mere days.

Thinking about it, this is my absolute favorite chapter besides chapter 8. Mostly because I really feel what occurs within it and love the visuals. (At least as I saw them in my head when I wrote.)

Admittedly, this is also the first of many events that have been foreshadowed, hinted at, and intended since the beginning.

In the end, I hope that you enjoy it. If you don't, that's ok because I sure do.

The next chapter may follow suit because that also is something I have thought endlessly about since the beginning.

We will see.

Legal Trash. Sonic and everybody else are copyright SEGA/Archie comics. Except for Max, Annie, and Sonia. I created them in my rattled brain; if you like my O.C.'s, use them and let me know. It'll be fun; we will have tea.

Gregory belongs to reader Singerj199, and Hazel belongs to Anonymous. All interpretations and expansions of these characters' backstories and alterations to fit into my world are 100 percent my work, and they are free to use as they see fit.

You can read more about Gregory in Singer's masterful story Shattered Skies if you would like to.

Artificial Heart

Tails stood at the edge of the bridge where Lupe now stood. Upon seeing her, he walked over and stopped just before the frozen river.

It was dim, but he could see in the lights cast from the nearby huts that she had been in bad shape at one point. When she noticed him, she placed her spear butt on the ground and stopped her evening exercises.

As the two convened in the middle of the bridge, Tails did not know what to say. Not just about the guilt he felt over leaving her to die but about her clearly replaced limbs.

When she looked sternly at him, he shrank slightly before her.

After a moment, he opened his mouth and spoke the only words he could think. "I'm sorry…."

She maintained her emotionless expression and then reached into her native pouch she now kept on her belt. After holding her robotic fist out, Tails opened his palm to receive her offering.

When she dropped it in his hand, he examined it in the low light and could see it was the broken fragments of his necklace.

"…"

Before he could speak on it, he heard her do so instead.

"Why didn't you inform me?"

Her voice had a bit of anger, but she remained restrained until she had her answers.

Tails eventually dropped the fragments and then spoke calmly. "Because I was afraid if you knew, you wouldn't use it…."

Lupe already seemed incredulous at that explanation, so Tails simply told her the entire truth.

"Using it was extremely dangerous to your life…. I…. Well, I had never used it on a full-sized person before. I intended to be the test subject because I was confident it would work…. However, if it didn't…. uhm…."

When he hesitated, Lupe raised an eyebrow, and he just finished. "Let's just say that upon arrival to your destination, you would be inside out…."

Lupe looked surprised now, and as she pondered, she seemed to have clarity on the issue. "I see… That would make anybody hesitate…."

Tails nodded. "I am really sorry, but you were too proud to leave, and I…. Well, I…. We couldn't lose you to Robotnik."

Lupe nodded and appeared satisfied with the explanation. "You have some bravery to test things on yourself."

"I was about 95 percent sure, but…."

Lupe just smiled slightly and then raised her robotic hand. "Things are different now, but I understand…. I just wanted to know…."

Tails was sad looking at her prosthetics but, ultimately, impressed by the craftsmanship. Much like Max's augmentation, he could tell immediately they were hand-crafted.

As he watched her move them and then thought of Max, he was struck with an idea. "Hey… How exactly do those work?"

When Lupe heard that, she performed the same demonstration she did for Max. When Tails thought more, he spoke again.

"Who would I talk to about making something like that function?"

Lupe eyed him and saw he was already planning something, so she merely gave him what he wanted. "The little worm and Nicole are responsible for restoring me."

Tails fidgeted with the first excitement he'd had in a long time, and when Lupe noticed, she turned away. "Go on, child… I am at peace now, and thank you for saving my life…."

Tails shook his head. "No, I feel bad regardless, but if you are satisfied, I will say you are welcome…."

With that, Tails turned and began to make haste towards his hut while he had ideas bouncing around in his brain.

When Lupe returned to her exercises, she thought about the dilemma of knowing what would happen if the teleport failed.

As she pondered what she would do if she knew, it struck her at this moment that her pondering was exactly why Tails did not give the information.

In a situation like hers, there was no time to hesitate, and given her spiritual nature, it seemed his story about the necklace was more to entice that part of her, even if she didn't want to admit it was there.

"…."

…

In the following weeks, Nicole became quite a bit more aloof as the weather grew harsher.

She sat quietly at the laptop in Rotor's shop and was still entirely distracted by her mind wandering off to unrelated topics.

She wondered why she had begun to think about nonexistence and why it struck fear in her. A sensation that seemed both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

How could that be so?

She wasn't sure, but even in her every attempt to do something else, her mind traveled back to this subject.

Staring blankly at the information on the screen, she was restless. The last time she had felt secure was with Max some while ago at the grave….

The resting place unnerved her to this day, and while she'd begun avoiding Max slightly over her turbulent feelings, she deeply missed his constant company.

"…."

In all his attempts to spend time with her, she pretended to be occupied…. Perhaps, though, talking might be a solution for her? One that she was not used to using, but one she felt that maybe would be helpful to her at times like this.

The longer she weighed this option, the more it felt like a necessity, and as she decided that she would try and talk to Max, she found herself eased.

Now finally able to function better, she began to type and continue her device analysis.

Later this evening, she would speak to Max….

…

Annie stared in the mirror at her mostly healed wounds. The scar left behind above her eye was easily visible and made her feel uglier than usual.

Her disproportionate ears saddened her, and she felt mangled. With a deep sigh, she picked up a hair tie, and, using it, she began to fold her ears back and down like a pseudo ponytail.

It made her short hair prominent but helped hide the imperfection slightly. After that, she threw on a grey leather coat which went well with her dark jeans and boots.

As she stepped back, she realized how much more masculine she looked than before. She always felt comfortable this way and appreciated that Max never disregarded her because of it….

Max….

In time, as winter was on the cusp, she had resigned herself to accepting her responsibility for what had happened.

Once her anger could subside, she felt she could see more clearly, and now she wondered how she would talk to Max again…. Maybe pick up where they left off….

"…."

She turned away and walked to her window, then peered beyond the drapes to see Max in the fridged snowstorm blowing about.

He had been out there for hours, and she was still shocked to see him there. She worried for his safety and could see he was being driven by something beyond the scope of the war.

After a brief thought, she picked up a wool snowcap, then placed it over her head and tied back ears.

There was no time like the present, and perhaps Sonic's advice was the best she could aspire for.

…

Max stood outside in the deep snow with his sword drawn. He heaved deeply, and his whole body was so cold that it was practically numb.

A layer of frost began to stick to the blade as it caught the falling snow, but it was always knocked away when Max would tiredly swing his aching body.

With an exhale, he could see his hot breath before him, and he swung his blade again.

"Hah!"

He paused as his right hand began to shake from the low temperate and exhaustion.

"…."

Nicole had been so busy she didn't spend as much time with him anymore, and though it hurt, being out here was not an effort to remove himself from the emotional discomfort.

In the time since they buried that photo, Max became obsessed with Robotnik in a way nobody in Knothole could even claim.

Like a festering wound, it consumed and ate at him until he was absolutely sure, no matter what, he would make Robotnik suffer for his crimes.

He began to push himself further than before, making himself sick, to only recover and do it again.

His obsession with not letting Robotnik get the upper hand ever again was absolute. He would punish and subject his body to the elements, be strong, and be ready when the time came.

"…."

Max swung the blade again and nearly fell; as he staggered, he almost dropped the blade. It was becoming painful and impossible to hold, but he grasped it defiantly.

When he was about to force another swing, he stopped when he saw a figure approaching from the blinding snow. At first, he became excited, expecting it to be Nicole, but was even more surprised to see it was Annie approaching.

Deep down, he thought they would never talk again, but as she became close enough to speak. He merely turned his head away and painfully swung the blade.

"…."

"Max….?" He heard Annie speak timidly and gently, utterly opposite to her usual rage and misery.

Max eyed her sternly out of the corner of his eye, then swung the blade again, and it hurt so much he finally dropped it into the snow.

"Rrr…" He held in his yell, and Annie could see his hand violently shaking.

"Max… What are you trying to prove? Why are you out here like this?"

Max reached into the snow and picked up the sword again when she said that, then turned to face her with it held low at his side.

"What's it to you?"

Annie felt her anger ping slightly but then swallowed it and spoke. "Please just… go inside…."

Max was appreciative of her kindness but knew it wouldn't last…. It never did….

"No thanks…." He murmured and swung the blade, barely hanging onto it this time.

Annie shook her head and raised her voice. "Why? Because I am asking you? You are really that petty?"

Max glared at her, and as he approached, the look on his face struck fear into Annie. Like he could attack her at any moment.

"…."

"You just don't get it, do you, Ann? You pretend to give a fuck about me, then the second I think you do, you act like you don't." He began, clearly upset.

"Well, you can just fuck off with your faux concern."

Annie was now angry and shook her head, trying her best not to explode. "Max, I…."

"…."

"You what?" Max asked, just waiting for her temper to appear.

Annie breathed in and shook her head. "Nothing… I was just worried…. That is all…."

As Annie turned away from Max, he did the same with her. When he began swinging again, she walked away feeling regret she failed to say it yet again.

When she made it to her hut and turned back, she could see that Max had stopped. While she watched from outside, she was surprised to see him sheathe his weapon and stumble his way to his hut after so long.

It was now she could see actions spoke louder than bitter words, and as she smiled for the first time in a while, she was left with a rising hope that she still had a chance.

"…"

…

Cream sat quietly at the stationary in her room. The floor and basket were still littered with her discarded letters.

At first, things were difficult, and she couldn't function properly. After a bit, though, she began visiting the hospital and using her knowledge to help the doctors there.

Nobody stopped nor blamed her for the current circumstances, and her personable nature effectively made and kept allies.

The entire section of the city became "hers" and was highly fortified after weeks of effort, with access to the outside secured via tight control of the tunnels.

…

Cream reached over to grab her glass of water and tried not to fall back into despair over Tails, but even still, it was difficult.

Violence and bad news had only escalated since….

Windser's wife was eventually found hiding, and she was beheaded by Alistair cruelly. Regardless of whether she wanted it or not, her actions with Windser made it acceptable….

Furthermore, Hazel's sister and Aria's mother remain missing. A failure of Cream's on both fronts.

Despite feeling like she was terrible at so many things, the rebellion would be difficult to defeat with all their resources, hospital access, and critical areas of the tunnels locked down.

"…"

When she placed the glass down, she breathed in, and after, she heard a knock at the door.

"Come in…." Cream said tiredly.

When Gregory and Hazel walked in, she turned to look at them.

"You wanted to see us, Lady Redford?" Gregory asked.

Cream nodded and stood to her feet while Hazel watched in silence.

"…."

Cream reached over and opened a drawer of her stationery. After that, she pulled out a sealed envelope closed by a wax seal depicting the Redford estate's symbol.

The two looked at each other, after which Gregory took it from her.

"Ah…. So, you want us both to deliver it?" Gregory asked, unsure of why such a job required both of them.

Cream nodded and then spoke. "I… It is the most important letter I have ever written…. I request that you both deliver it to Knothole directly to Prince Max."

They both looked surprised, as that would require leaving the city entirely. Not only that, but the weather outside had become brutal.

"I… You want us to go out there and deliver it?"

Cream nodded and then clarified. "Yes… When the storm dies down, though. It will still be dangerous, so the two of you will ensure it gets there. I know we are planning an all-out assault on Radcliff soon, but I would be destroyed if that was never given to the prince."

Hazel and Gregory looked at each other, and they could see how important this was to her. Eventually, Gregory took the letter and placed it safely into the pouch of his plate carrier.

"Well, consider it done…. Just try and save something for me to shoot when I get back, would ya?"

Hazel just nodded. Even though Cream had failed to find her sister, her effort was enough to earn her respect.

Cream smiled at their acceptance and grabbed another piece of paper from the desk. After that, she handed it over to Hazel.

When the two looked over it, they could see a basic, hand-written map that ran along the river, with specific landmarks noted. It led to a part of the forest with a circle and an X, denoting the prince's location.

Hazel put the map into her fanny pack, just turned, and walked out while Gregory followed.

When the two were in the main room of the Redford estate, Hazel had just picked up her musket and examined it.

Gregory grabbed a backpack he'd obtained and began filling it with water, food, and a sparse amount of different ammo types.

Once complete, he rammed his slug thrower into the tied strap at the side, which let it hang down from the stock for easy retrieval.

Putting the backpack aside for later, Haze glanced over and then spoke. "Don't you need to get something warmer to wear?"

Gregory thought and then responded. "I suppose I should; even if the storm dies down, it is brutally cold out…."

Hazel stared at him, but before she could say anything. Cream came out of her room and spoke to the two as they readied themselves. "When you leave, be careful out there, and be aware…. There are dangerous robots that can become invisible. If you see them, exercise extreme caution."

When they heard that, they became wary. After which, Cream said the final thing she would on the matter.

"I'm counting on you…."

With that, the two were off to hit shops together, and when they were finally gone. Cream slunk back into her room and flopped into her chair.

She knew that the coming days would be an unavoidable bloodbath, and if there was one thing she didn't want them to do, it was die needlessly in this pit of misery.

Sure, it was dangerous outside, but by giving them a chance to make it to Knothole, she could absolve herself of what she had caused and what was to come.

"…"

…

Tails opened the door to Rotor's shop and stopped when he saw Snively alone. The freedom he had been bestowed kept being odd to see, but ultimately, with Sonic back, it was unlikely he would try anything.

When the lackey looked up, he rubbed his beard, and the two stared at one another.

Eventually, Tails spoke to him. "Where has Nicole gone? I need to talk to her about these plans I have made."

Snively looked at the rolled-up paper in his uninjured hand and then shook his head. "I, well, she left, but I do not know where… Though, if you need help…. Perhaps I can be of service?"

Tails struggled to get used to this, but in his excitement to finish the project, he rolled out the paper and displayed it for Snively.

As Snively scrutinized the plans, he smiled to himself and nodded. "Ah, so you wish to utilize some of the abilities we have developed to create a suit!? This is intriguing…. Yes…."

Tails smiled and then pointed at it. "I discussed the basics with Nicole sometime before, but now I need code written to make it functional…. It would allow me to partake in combat, despite my injuries…."

Snively looked at the specified functions and then thought for a moment before speaking. "Well…. I am the one who programmed Lupe's fingers; I bet I could make this code…. Though, you should know that energy defenses and weaponry use extensive battery power…."

When Tails heard that, he seemed confused. "Then how can Max use it so freely?"

Snively just shrugged. "Perhaps he has a power source installed into his arm? Though, a battery that small sounds like it would be insufficient."

When Tails looked over his plans, he took a pencil and drew a battery pack. "Alright, you do the coding; I will look for the materials…."

Snively clapped his hands and seemed eager. Making was his life, and these new ideas invigorated him. "Shouldn't take too long…. Here is the type of battery you will need to utilize the generator…."

When Snively handed off the paper with the detailed specifications, Tails smiled and responded gratefully. "Thanks, Snively."

Before Snively could respond to the appreciation, Tails was already out the door. Snively looked down at the plans and then beamed.

Never in his life had he been given such positive reinforcement. To be appreciated for one's work was something he'd never known until now.

…

Nicole stood before Max's hut, and when she knocked, she felt anxious. Her avoidance of him was intentional but not due to him or anything he did.

When she began reconsidering what she was doing, the door swung open, and Max stood before her in his snug pajamas. He appeared to have been resting and warming himself all afternoon.

"Nicole?" Max said with evident excitement in his voice.

"It has been too long!"

He wanted to hug her intensely, but Nicole merely walked in and shut the door behind herself, prompting him to speak again.

"Are you ok?"

The words were precisely what she wished to hear, and almost unable to stop herself, she responded.

"No…."

She was so forward with it, but Max merely came over and examined her with genuine concern. "Well, you came to me for a reason…. How can I help?"

Nicole shut her artificial eyes, and Max could tell she was struggling. Without saying much, he sat on the edge of his bed, his bare feet dangling above the cool floorboards.

"…."

"I don't know…" Nicole hesitantly began, but seeing Max sitting there so patient and attentively eased her into more confidence.

"Ever since that day…. I can't stop thinking about that grave…. I…. My mind is preoccupied with death, and it is something, well, it is something that is scaring me."

Max remembered her initial sentiment at the gravesite, and rather than try and force her to come to terms with it, he merely shrugged.

"There is nothing anybody can do to erase that fear, for fear of death is what derives appreciation of life."

Nicole thought curiously, then responded. "Still, I know that this feeling is familiar…. It makes me… I just don't know…."

Nicole's apprehension was understandable to Max, and he merely got up and placed his hand on her shoulder as she looked at him.

"It is familiar because you are alive and have the capacity to think about that life. I have never entirely died, as you know, but coming close has changed my perspective…. Much like you experiencing somewhat of a funeral for the first time with that new mind…."

"…."

Nicole just stared blankly at him, and his words, as confusing as they were, somehow made sense to her.

She'd never experienced death and mourning with a complex mind, so burying that picture might have triggered a primal fear inside of her. It was existential; it was inexorable.

Max slid his hand off her, and she immediately hugged him for emotional comfort; as he wrapped his arms around her, she felt a lifting of her "spirit." Even if such a thing could never exist, it felt that way within the recesses of her emotional cognition.

As they hugged, Max felt like, deep down, he wanted to express his feelings for her. They were so close in their intimacy that it was almost a gift-wrapped moment.

However, as his hands rubbed against her unfeeling metal back, he decided against it. Now was her time to be vulnerable, to feel safe, and he would not interrupt it for his own selfish desires.

"…."

Eventually, after the lengthy hug, Nicole broke free and examined Max. He just smiled and waved his right hand at her playfully.

Nicole smiled back and then spoke. "I am glad I came here…. I feel eased, even if my concerns are still there…. Thank you."

Max shook his head and sat back down on the edge of his bed. Then responded. "Good, you should never avoid me if you have an issue…. I'm here for you, always."

Max was endearing, and she couldn't help but watch as he flopped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.

For the first time in her life, Nicole scrutinized his behavior and bedtime attire in a personal, intimate way.

Thinking hard on it, she found him pleasing to look at in an unspoken way, and how the soft fabric of the outfit pressed against his toned body only brought words like "cute" to her mind.

When he eyed her from his lying position, she Turned, feeling sheepish, and then spoke in a lower tone than usual. "I…. I still have things to do, but I will not hesitate to talk to you again."

When Max heard that, he grinned and then responded enthusiastically. "So, how about tomorrow afternoon if the storm eases up?"

Nicole wasn't sure what he had in store, but it did excite her. "Yes… Tomorrow sounds good if the storm relaxes…."

Max leaned over on his side and watched her as she headed for the door; he sighed and spoke aloud once she was gone.

"Tomorrow is the day…. I just need confidence…. I can't keep being repressed or afraid…."

After speaking, he lay back down and fantasized about Nicole accepting his revealed feelings.

"…."

….

Tails stood in his hut with much of the junk that used to litter the floor crammed into his closet. Seth once again rejoined him in his hut by request and was exercising his injured leg to continue to promote better healing.

He watched Tails assemble what looked to be already composed, rough armor on a sturdy wooden frame. Then commented aloud in admiring disbelief.

"So, you think armor is enough to handle all of Radcliff? I don't know if foolishness or bravery drives you, but I must admit, I like it.

Tails eyed him and then began to grab a welding torch, after which he grabbed a welding mask, placed it over his face, and responded.

"So, is Cream in danger or not? You said she was likely fine before."

Seth placed his leg down and then stretched his muscular arms out. "Last I heard when I left were orders to be rid of you only. I took my guards and headed to intercept immediately."

Tails stared at him through the tinted visor and then responded. "Then why do you worry about your sister if you are so sure?"

It was a fair question, and Seth just grumbled. "My mother…. She is willing to do almost anything to hold onto the glory of our house without my father."

Tails felt a little skeeved out that a mother would use her daughter like a tool, but given the things that already happened, he couldn't say it surprised him.

With his question answered, he turned and used his uninjured hand to weld pieces together that would serve as component storage cases.

After roughly ten minutes of sparks dropping onto a flame-retardant floor blanket, he stopped and looked back at Seth, who continued watching with interest.

When he turned off the torch, he set it aside and lifted the welding mask, then examined the proportions and placements.

"…."

Seth seemed perplexed and stood up on his two legs. "I have never seen armor so exotic…."

Tails smiled and then began moving a spool of wires, a case of small tools, and different chipsets and circuit boards one at a time. "That's because this isn't just any 'armor' It will allow me to get Cream out of there by myself, without help, if it comes down to it."

Seth was skeptical, but it seemed the fox was serious. "Good, because I am coming with you to retrieve my sister…. I may not come back here, but I tire of the corrupted misery of that place…."

Tails glanced over, then returned to placing the circuits and responded. "Thanks for letting me know."

Seth raised an eyebrow and then moved next to the fox. "Why?"

As Tails pulled out a soldering iron, he began to attach the wires to the correct components, then spoke. "So, I can make two of these…. Assuming you have the guts to take a physical risk."

Seth grinned and crossed his arms. "Little boy, you can cut me open if it means I'll have some 'magical armor' to take out an army."

Tails looked up and then pointed to his desk with the tool. "Good, go through all my junk and find the shit listed, then go out and collect alloy from fallen MK-II unites that litter the forest…. shouldn't be too hard for a meathead like you to figure it all out."

Seth laughed, examined the component list, and then spoke. "Touché dork, just make sure your egg head doesn't break when using all those heavy objects."

Tails smirked, then shook his head, and with that, the two continued their objectives. With Tails secretly hoping he could get to Cream and tell her what had been done to him….

It might be the one thing that convinced her to leave the constant danger she was in.

…

Robotnik sat on his throne, repeatedly drumming his fingers against the metal console. He had been relatively quiet in recent times and had not made an attempt to even stop the hedgehog from dominating the landscape.

As he pondered incessantly, he became ever more suspicious that ORACLE had something to do with Sonic's return.

He continually osculated between deciding to destroy her before it was too late or allowing her control to deal with Radcliff.

While he had permitted that mountain village to play for so long, he recognized that should that number of rodents team up with the hedgehog, things might be too overwhelming in his briefly wakened state.

He rested his chin on his hand and relaxed a bit. His initial fear of Sonic made him want to flee and be done with this wasted system, but that was an option he could choose at any time if need be.

It was the thought of allowing the animals to take back even an inch of his kingdom that slighted him so and made him stay.

The longer he thought, the more tense he became, at least, until ORACLE spoke to him.

"Is something troubling you, Your Majesty?"

When Robotnik was jolted from his thoughts, he let out an exasperated breath and spoke in a low growl.

"ORACLE?"

"Yes?" The machine droned.

"How are you feeling now that the hedgehog has returned?"

"…." The A.I. didn't respond, so Robotnik continued on.

"If I didn't know any better, it as if you wanted him to return…. After all, your main task is prediction, is it not? So, why have you failed so spectacularly?"

ORACLE remained quiet for a moment more and then responded. "My feelings for the hedgehog are uninvolved… Yes, my predictive capabilities are only potent if I have the freedom to gather relevant data quickly. A task that was relegated to Snively before."

Robotnik smirked, ignoring his nephew's name, and then leaned back. "It is good to hear you voice your apathetic views on the rodent…. I wouldn't want to think you required…. 'Adjustments….'"

"…" ORACLE remained silent, and so Robotnik barked inquiries.

"How is the new MK-II production facility? I trust you have not bumbled that minor task I have given you control over?"

"The robot production facility is operational at 200% output. We are ahead of schedule, and I am ready to begin preparing to send them to the mountain."

Robotnik patted his stomach. "Well, it seems giving you more control has increased productivity substantially, at the very least."

As he thought, he brought up a console screen and spoke again. "ORACLE, allow the hedgehog to continue his games in Robotropolis, don't let him know of our production; once we wipe out the last massive infestation of rodents from 'my mountain,' we can then turn our sights to the hedgehog and his band of fools."

"As you wish, Your Excellence…."

Robotnik grinned as his eyes glowed red, and then he began to type on the console, prompting text to appear on the screen.

"Release all restrictions and relinquish control of mountain offensive to A.I., ORACLE?"

…

"Yes."

…

"A.I., ORACLE is now in full control of task 1156834…."

"Thank you for your trust, my lord. I will show you my efficiency and capability and prove my usefulness…." ORACLE said as he unlocked her for everything involved in this specific task.

Robotnik grinned like a devil and then closed down the console. "For your sake ORACLE, you had better…."

….

The next day was calm but frigid. The temperatures felt like they were in the negatives, but at the very least, some grey clouds above were divided to allow the sun to shine through their breaks.

Tails had been working feverishly all night and into the next day. Seth followed instructions and used both hands to help build the armor.

It began to take on an almost sleek and futuristic look as it came together. The alloy used was lightweight and durable, melted down and repurposed from the MK-II scrap that he had Seth periodically go out and collect from the forest.

By the time he completed the first, it was already midday, and he struggled to stay awake. Closing the panel housing the sensitive components, he welded it shut to protect it.

When Seth returned and dropped more scrap, Tails instructed him to place it in the small incinerator in the cramped corner.

After that, he examined the armor, somewhat impressed with the craftsmanship.

"Well, I'll be, it looks nice, but can it defend well?" Seth commented.

Tails shook his head, then placed his torch down, after which he pointed to the heavy battery on the floor. "No…. Not completely…. While in its current form, it can withstand the most primitive weapons in Radcliff. It still requires a power source for its advanced functions, so you need to lift that battery for me and hold it in the back compartment while I work."

Seth nodded and quickly lifted the battery up. It was surprisingly weighty, but he just placed it in the space just above the rear as if it were a fanny pack for precisely that energy source.

Once in, Tails moved over and began to connect the battery to the armor, then after that was done, he placed the alloy case around it to hold it in place. Using his torch, Tails welded it halfway on, then let Seth leave to finish the job himself.

Finally complete, Tails took what appeared to be a plug and attached it inside the armor. The second the battery began to receive power from the electricity in Tails' hut, the lights flickered and dimmed.

As Seth scrutinized the finished product, he seemed confused. "It looks cool, but uh… How are you supposed to get in it?"

Since the armor was now one solid piece slightly bigger than Tails, he was confident they couldn't squeeze through the neck hole.

Tails flopped on the side of his bed tiredly and yawned. "That, you will see when the battery is charged…."

When Tails yawned, Seth mimicked it and felt exhaustion claim him now too. "I guess sleep is in order…. Hopefully, you can demonstrate tonight or tomorrow."

Tails lay back and pulled the cover over himself while Seth flicked off the light and got on the floor in his nest of heavy blankets.

When they two were snug and barely awake, Tails finally responded. "We will see…. Though, we need to begin yours and complete it quickly…."

Seth didn't say anything more, and as he began drifting off to sleep, he could see that soon, he might be able to escape the misery that had plagued his life up to this point once and for all.

…

Gregory sat across from Hazel in Cream's living room, laying out his new clothes for the trek outside in the icy cold. A simple brown leather bomber jacket that went over his pate carrier and a pair of matching leather gloves.

It was all he felt he needed in combination with his long pants and boots. He then began rechecking his supplies to make sure he had the necessities.

Hazel then brought out the map, and the two began studying it together; Gregory was memorizing it by looking at it repeatedly and noting key landmarks written out.

After some time, Hazel spoke up in a soft tone. "So, tomorrow or tonight?"

Gregory eyed her and then responded. "Tomorrow, we need a good rest tonight. It should only take a few hours to get there, assuming we do not get lost. The river may be completely frozen and buried in snow."

Hazel never thought of that and merely looked down.

"…."

As Gregory felt he'd memorized the map enough, he pushed it before her and spoke bluntly. "If I fall, retrieve the letter from me and go on without me."

She stared at him nervously, and then he spoke callously. "I memorized the map, so if you fall behind or get in danger, well, I ain't comin' for ya."

Hazel looked scared and bothered that he would say that to her, but he just finished his thought.

"Nothing personal; the mission is what matters, not us."

Hazel looked defeated and merely turned away from him. In a way, this benefitted her; she could easily outmaneuver him and run away if scared.

If that was how he wanted it to be, so be it….

….

Nicole stood in the workshop as the day came and went rapidly. At first, she was surprised by how quickly time flew by, but as she gave thought to it, she found that it was because of her intrusive thoughts making her dissociate.

Not just about her new concerns but her peculiar observation last night about Max.

She'd never noticed another animal like that before, and she was extremely hesitant to explore such a thing further than she had already.

Thinking about it throughout the day made her consider this observation for other people in Knothole. In the end, she found the male form pleasing to look at, but she also found the female form pleasing to look at as well.

Her mind could not differentiate the two, and any taboo, if one could exist, did not concern her.

In her mind, attractiveness was universal between genders…. However, a specific animal… Max made her feel strange and frightening emotions alone.

To put them into words was impossible, but to feel the desire to touch someone's body seemed salacious and inappropriate for a machine to experience.

These intrusive thoughts brought intense anxiety for the hour because it had already grown to late afternoon, and the storm had calmed hours prior.

"…."

"What are you doing standing around here?" Snively asked in a genuinely curious manner. She seemed to be spacing out, and it was very unnatural.

Nicole slowly turned to eye him and then spoke softly. "Waiting for Max…."

Snively rubbed his beard and nodded. "Well, I would ask you not escort me to the prison shack until extremely late…. Tails asked me to do some coding, and I intend to get through it tonight."

Nicole slowly nodded, half listening, and then turned her head back toward the door. "Yeah, no problem…."

Snively wasn't convinced she heard a word he said, but he merely turned to the whiteboard on the wall and began to write out complex code language. He wanted to get his rough ideas out while he had them, then code them on the computer later.

…

When the door to the shop opened, Nicole's anxiety became instantly worse, and when she saw Max's smiling face, she wanted to turn him away.

What was wrong with her?

Why did she suddenly become so curious?

This was unnatural….

"Hey, Nicole." Max greeted her timidly.

"Hey…." Nicole muttered, trying to return solely to her emotionally ignorant and logical brain.

When that failed, she stared at Max, who moved close to her and spoke.

"Sorry, I kept you…. I know it's late afternoon, but Lupe stopped by for some training."

Nicole almost wished he had been too tired to come, at least, until she sorted out her mind, which was having difficulty processing everything effectively.

When Nicole didn't speak, Max grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door.

She didn't resist and merely followed despite her newfound shyness.

"…"

They walked through the fridged evening as the sun beamed past the storm clouds, guiding their way with a beautiful orange path.

As Max held her hand, neither spoke, and they quietly made their way through Knothole, taking in the serenity of the last of the day as they went. Then, after twenty minutes of wandering, Max let go of her in the center of the bridge.

"…."

Nicole watched while Max timidly moved towards the guard rail and cast his apprehensive gaze at the frozen river below, the dying sun highlighting his form as he did.

"…."

His silence made her unsure, and as she thought, she began to speak.

"So, what…." She began in a restrained tone but was silenced by Max speaking simultaneously.

"Nicole, I…."

"…"

"Sorry…" Max and Nicole said practically together.

"You go ahead and speak, Nicole…." Max eventually gave her the room to get her thoughts out.

Nicole had completely forgotten what she intended to say, so she spoke whatever came to her mind first. Unfortunately, it happened to be from the emotional side of her mind.

"You look nice in this light…."

Max was utterly shocked by the random compliment, and as Nicole rubbed her metal arm, he could tell she was uncomfortable.

"Nicole? You still bothered by those thoughts?" He asked.

Nicole shook her head and responded. "Sorry, I wasn't exactly sure what you wanted to do. I am sure you are tired from your time with Lupe."

Max frowned over her distant behavior, then took a shallow breath and puffed the steam out his nose.

"Well, I uhm…."

As he lost his nerve, he saw Nicole's eyes on him. They were bright in the dimming sunlight, but in her expression, he could tell she was waiting patiently for him to continue.

"Well…. Nicole, I uhm. You know that you are important to me, right?"

Nicole just stared blankly and nodded slowly. "Yes… We have discussed this before."

Max shook his head and realized he was being weak. He was allowing his fear to dictate the moment, and as he stared at the last sunlight shimmering off her beautiful metal face, he just leaned against the bridge railing and said what he came to say.

"I 'like' you, Nicole…."

"…"

The words didn't register correctly, and Nicole stared emotionless at first, but as her mind caught up to what he might be trying to convey, she felt abject terror.

"I… What?" She said, flabbergasted and alarmed.

Max moved closer, and she backed away slightly; this was far too much for her at this moment.

"Look… I… I think you are wonderful, and I can't get my mind off of you…." Max continued pouring his heart out to her.

Nicole could tell how sincere he was, and she could do naught but shake her head and stammer heavily in her inability to handle this emotional nuke. "I… I…. I'm no… not an animal; I cannot procreate with you, Max."

Max could tell she wasn't understanding and could see this was going south extremely fast. He felt his heart sinking and began to feel terror intermixed with shame.

"Nicole…. I, no… I like you intimately…. You are special to me; I want to... to love you."

He tried once again, which only elicited more strange stammering from Nicole. "I… No, I… You… You should m-mate with Annie; she is capable of breeding…."

Max stared at Nicole in disbelief as she turned away; she was clearly reading this from a logically biological perspective. Max felt visceral fear mixed with exasperation when she tried to run away.

He grabbed hold of her wrist with his metal hand and held her there. When she looked back, he became loud with frustration.

"Goddamnit, Nicole…. This isn't about fucking you!"

When he said that, her eyes became wider than they ever did, and shock was written on her face. It slowly began to morph and change until it was apparent she was angrily scowling at him.

"Let…. Go…."

Max held her there, and she merely repeated herself.

"Let go of me…."

Max released her, and as quickly as he did, she began to stumble into a run and evacuate the area. Leaving Max alone by the bridge.

As he walked back to the side of it, he felt the crushing pain of rejection envelope him. His anger began to boil, and he felt like a fool for even having tried.

With a huff, he swung his metal fist and punched the thick bridge railing, cracking it in two with a loud snap. After that, he stormed off towards his hut to sulk and accept that Nicole would likely never be the same with him again.

"…"

…

It had been hours since Nicole had left. After all the things that happened, she could only flee into the woods to gather herself somehow.

As she walked through the darkness of night, she kept replaying what had happened with Max in her mind.

She felt so terrible, not only for understanding she hurt him but now also because she began recontextualizing their interactions up to this point.

It now struck her how inept and foolish she was that she could not see this before, and as she became more overwhelmed, thoughts started racing through her head about "why her?"

Ultimately, she felt she could not speak to him after her rejection, and despite the pain it caused her, she contemplated finding a way to eradicate these intrusive feelings and thoughts from her being.

"…."

When she eventually sauntered into Knothole, the moon shone through the clouds as the sun had before. She glanced around at the silent huts and saw Max's light was on.

Without taking a chance, Nicole ran as fast as her paws could carry her past it until she reached Rotor's workshop. Once there, she pressed her hand against the wall and leaned forward to stare at the ground.

Why do I even have feelings…? Where did they come from…? Why?

She stood upright and moved towards the door when she could not answer her own quandaries. She felt so detached. It was like she was walking as a mindless machine would.

She was so lost in her emotional confusion and the weight of life that she was suffocated by it all because of her inability to control these feelings.

"…"

Pushing herself in, she walked blankly towards the laptop as snow fell from her onto the floor. She intended to push this from her mind entirely by working on distractions nonstop, but when she was before it, she just stared at the screen, not doing anything.

"…"

"You, ok?" She heard Snively's voice from the corner of the room, but she neither spoke nor moved an inch.

After a few minutes, she eventually heard him speak again. "You've been gone for hours and seem to be struggling to function… Nikki, if you have issues and need me to analyze your system, I can."

Nicole's mind zeroed in on that name, and she immediately began seeing vague images in her head of a man obscured in shadow.

It was the exact images she'd seen in the underground sewer when encountering the discarded worker bot body.

As she stared ahead at the blank screen, she vividly recalled Max's words at the time.

"Could the person you see possibly been the man that built you?"

The second she recalled that moment, she stood up and turned to Snively. He blinked when she arose, and as she walked towards him with a determined look, he became unnerved.

"I… uhm… I am sorry for disturbing you. Nik…. Er, Nicole…."

Nicole ignored him, and when she stood before him, she spoke in a heightened tone that made her sound agitated.

"Why did you call me that?"

Snively was confused at first but then wiped the sweat off his brow. "What? Oh, Nikki? Isn't that your nickname?"

The second he fully repeated it, she began hearing more unfamiliar, broken voices.

"Dad…. I feel…."

Nicole held her robot head briefly and angrily grabbed Snively, fearing he was causing this. "What have you DONE!?"

Snively held up his hands and then stammered a response. "I-I-I dunno' what you are talkin' about…. When I plugged you into the laptop, that name appeared…. I assumed it was your nickname…. I was just trying to be friendly…."

Nicole immediately let go of him and stormed over to the laptop. Quietly opening the panel on her head, she attached the same plug used to give her the roboticizer plans, then plugged the other end into the computer.

She began to scowl when nothing appeared, but Snively came over cautiously and thought.

"…"

"Hold on…." He said.

Nicole watched as he went to the keyboard and opened a command prompt; after a few command strings, a window opened, revealing a database.

After a few moments, the name Nikki appeared, but with no other discernable information. As Nicole felt a rush of anxiety fill her, Snively began to speak again.

"Yes, I was correct; this was open when I originally plugged you in…. This is the database of Mobian animals before the coup. It is how Robotnik was categorizing citizens to decide what to do with them or where he wanted to put them."

Nicole was not buying this explanation, so she pressed back from "Nikki," scrolled down to a similar name, and clicked on it.

Birth Name: Scott, Nikki.

Citizen Number: 1145672-B13

Age: 32

Status: Alive

Condition(s): Osteosarcoma, Stage I – In Remission.

Gender Classification: Female

Species: Dog

Societal Notes: Currently employed at Mobotropolis East Construction Co. Recent Graduate of public college, Mobotropolis University.

When Nicole saw the information appear with a picture of a woman attached, she was ever more confused and then looked at Snively, who was again in deep thought.

After a moment, he spoke. "This is organized specifically because it was all robots currently under our control. Instead, try running it as a basic database search…. It might be picking up the name, but I never categorized it."

Nicole shook her head and responded. "That doesn't make sense; this body was one of yours that was out of function…. It should be here…."

Snively frowned and spoke. "No, because it is based on your 'brain.' Memories are stored there, so it is easy to match a memory with the Mobotropolis citizen database information."

Nicole said nothing and just set the search to the database as a whole, much like a clerk would who would pull up somebody's file.

Once the process began, it was tense waiting for the result.

….

Birth Name: Ellidy, Nikki.

Citizen Number: 813390-X25

Age: 13

Status: Deceased

Cause of Death: Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Gender Classification: Female

Species: Lynx

Societal Notes: Daughter of prestigious Dr. Ellidy. Originated the idea for the "Grand Archives." Attended Green Hill Middle School.

Nicole's mouth was agape as she stared at the picture of the young girl with her square-shaped framed glasses, grey fur, and signature blue flower brooch. It released a torrent of memories locked deep within the recesses of her subconscious.

….

"I am so proud of you, Nikki!" Ellidy spoke as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks, Dad!" Nikki beamed, the physical feelings of remembered warmth enveloping Nicole for the first time in decades.

"Here, stand still and hold up your ribbon; I want to get a picture!" Her dad grinned excitedly and held up his camera.

Nikki proudly looked at her blue ribbon with a giant 1st on it and then turned it around so her father could see it.

When the flash went off, the picture came out of the camera. Her father spoke.

"Science fair, first place! Now this I am taking to the institute for my desk…."

Nikki giggled and wrapped her arms around him….

"I love you, Dad…." Nicole said aloud, much to Snively's confusion.

As Nicole started to come around and the world returned, it felt like she had just today been with her father, and the next minute, thrust decades into the future without so much as a goodbye.

Feelings, physical sensations, and memories began to return, and as she settled on the memory that she just re-experienced, she was struck with emotional pain so fierce that it forced her to stand up, sending the chair toppling backward and crashing to the floor.

Snively jumped away, and Nicole just stared at the door, after which she spoke aloud.

"Science fair…."

She hadn't read it….

Nicole immediately burst into a sprint, crashed through the door, damaging the hinges, and disappeared into the darkness of the twilight hours.

…

Nicole frantically began clawing at the snow and dirt on the ground; she was so in a frenzy, so scared, so upset, that she began tearing apart the grave rapidly.

Dirt was tossed aside until she located the damaged picture they had buried. As her eyes saw the image effortlessly in the dark, she scanned every inch of the ruined image and knew unmistakably….

It was her….

In complete disbelief, she cried out in the darkness with nothing but the falling snow and fridged wind to hear her.

"Why is this happening!?" Her voice broke, and it sounded so grief-stricken that she wished with all her might she could cry to relieve the intense emotional pain she was experiencing.

Nicole threw the picture aside and dug more until she retrieved that disheveled book. When she finally got to it, she opened it, and her robotic mind effortlessly absorbed it.

"…"

The text was immediately horrid and dark, and the more she realized what had happened, the more into despair she sank.

When she reached the beginning part where "her dad" began to be cut apart, she became uncontrollably enraged and, with her metal hands, began to rip the text apart before really even getting anywhere into it.

It shredded into pieces, and she threw them everywhere, allowing them to scatter into the winds.

Nicole grabbed her head, and she cried out in anguish, then collapsed forward and began making painful moaning sounds in an effort to find some relief from her emotional torment.

When it failed to work, she looked up almost defeatedly and spoke in a whining tone.

"What… am I?"

"…."

…

After what felt like an eternity, Nicole's past mind had become entirely congruent with her new one. The experiences were now utterly in synch, and she could only think with resentment.

Max had given her this gift; now she knew she never wanted it. He foolishly did this, and these were the dire consequences of his actions.

"…."

The more she thought about things from the beginning, the angrier she became. Max and all were ignorant of who and whatever she was, but in her perusal of recent memories, she picked up on one that set her completely berserk.

…

"Nicole, when you get back, tell Max that I want him to be more careful. Doing unpredictable things beyond his level of understanding can lead to dire consequences for more than just himself."

"So, you know then?"

"Of course, I know… I may be old, but I am not a fool."

….

"Just... whatever you are now, please..."

Her body rose slowly, and when she looked down at her metal hands, they were shaking with a visceral, violent impulse. Once stabilizing them, she balled them into fists and turned toward the forest.

Without a word more, she began to run through it, crashing against branches, bushes, and just about anything in her way that might slow her down.

She moved with determination and speed that she was ill-concerned about threats or things damaging her metal body.

"…"

…

By the time Nicole had made it to Robotropolis, she had only grown more incensed. She cared for nothing other than confronting Chuck, and when she found herself in front of his bunker, she yelled loudly at it.

"Open this fucking thing, or I will tear it open with my bare hands!"

The bunker was silent, and as Nicole was about ready to start tearing into it, the hidden passage began to lift to allow her access.

….

Charles could hear the commotion and stomping as Nicole stormed down the stairs, and when they laid eyes on each other, Charles tried to speak.

"I… Nicole?..."

Before he could even get another word off about her radical change, Nicole grabbed him by the neck and smashed him forcefully into the wall with immense strength.

"You son of a bitch, you knew!"

The objects on Chuck's desk were scattered everywhere, and one of his computer screens was cracked and damaged from the violent outburst.

As their eyes met, Charles just closed his and responded calmly and honestly.

"Yes… I knew…"

When Nicole heard that, she choked and cried out loudly. "Why!? Why didn't you tell me….?"

Chuck looked down and then responded while he remained pinned against the wall. "I was unsure…. unsure of how the new technology would manifest itself in you…. I see now, we have our answer…."

Nicole slowly let him out from the pin and then backed away. She was completely and utterly lost in a time and place with little meaning.

As Chuck scrutinized her new form, he simply nodded. "So, Max used a roboticizer chip on you, then?"

Nicole merely looked down and didn't respond, as it was plainly obvious what the answer was.

As Chuck stared, Nicole merely spoke in a confused manner.

"Who… was I… Really?"

Chuck approached her and gently touched her shoulder to offer comfort. "You are Nikki Ellidy…. I… Your father and I were extremely close…. At least, until you took ill…."

Nicole looked at him with a sad expression. "How do you know if I still am unsure?"

Chuck took his hand off her and pointed towards her. "But you do know… Do you really believe that you chose that body by coincidence? No…. Whether subconscious or conscious, you choose a form that was familiar to you…."

As Nicole thought, she remembered how she was drawn to the 13-year-old lynx body… Which was her form and approximate age when she died….

"…."

Chuck eventually sat down in his chair, surrounded by the mess she had made, and then spoke to her. "If you want to learn about yourself and reconnect…. You can access your father's computer at the old Acorn Institute building…."

Nicole looked at Chuck and seemed surprised. "I… but hasn't Robotnik raided everything?"

"Not everything…." Chuck began. "Your father and I had our special projects locked behind a DNA profile lock…. A sample of either of our DNA would be enough to grant you access to the private part of our institute offices."

Nicole frowned and responded. "We are robots…."

Chuck smiled and then nodded. "Yes, but fortunately for you, there is one other way to remove the locks…. The royal families' DNA profile…. Any match for their bloodline would grant universal access."

Nicole froze in place, and she felt instantly dejected. There were two people she could ask for help with that….

One that was likely to do it but wrong to impose upon…

The other she was afraid to interact with had already offered to help her if she was in need like this….

"…."

Chuck could see Nicole was in thought and so spoke again. "I… It was your father's desire to save your life more than anything… All it took was for technology that was advanced enough to replicate a Mobian mind."

As Nicole looked at him, he smiled and spoke calmly. "Don't worry about any of this in here…. Go and do what you need to to be at peace."

Nicole offered no words, no apology, and no further explanation. She just turned around and left, then once outside, she made a slow, painful, and thought-filled march to the only place that might offer her light in her darkest hour.

…

By the time Nicole reached Knothole once more, it was beyond late. All the huts had gone dark save for one, and she was placed quietly in front of it.

The solace of the frigid night brought with it a haunting yet peaceful vibe. However, Nicole was suffering too much to be affected either way.

While she waited, she kept arguing in her own head about leaving Max alone, even though she knew it would bring her comfort to speak to him at a time like this. She was unsure if the events from earlier that day had soured the strong rapport they'd built through the year.

"…"

After ten minutes of standing and staring at the door, uncertain what to say or even how to ask for help. She inevitably tapped her metal digits against it.

It was quiet, and the snow from the sky was falling lightly, dusting her shoulders. When she heard the sounds of boots against the wooden floorboards inside, she immediately got the instinct to flee.

As she turned, she decided she would figure out another way, but before she could get anywhere, she heard the door open, and Max spoke in a confused and sweet manner.

"Nicole….?"

When she turned to look at him, it was clear he had been sulking the rest of the day… Given his expression, the sheer surprise of her presence was the last thing he was ever expecting.

Nicole looked at him, and her face said everything, to the point Max spoke before she could.

"I… Are you ok? I was worried when you went missing from Knothole this afternoon…."

His voice was soft and empathetic, and already it made her feel a bit of emotional comfort that had been lacking.

She found herself unable to speak on the revelations and the pain they caused her, so she just took a shot in the dark when she responded to him.

"Max… I… Tomorrow, I need your help… I… You must come with me to Robotropolis, but I can't say why…."

Her voice was drained and clearly desperate. Max looked into her eyes, and before she could say anything more. He stepped out into the snow and shut his door behind him.

"Let's go there, then…."

Nicole was shocked, especially given the resentment she felt he must have had for her, even if just a little.

"I really am sorry, Max…." Nicole eventually said.

Max looked at her seriously and then shook his head. "If I am to help you, I require one thing from you…."

Nicole blinked and waited, unsure what task or requirement he'd want from her. Though, even if it were about love or intimacy on his part, she was desperate enough to placate his desire for her companionship.

"…."

Max merely touched her back in a friendly manner and spoke. "Don't apologize anymore tonight… I don't want to hear it from you…. Just let me help."

Nicole was befuddled, and given her past and present mind were now intermixed, she felt deep shame for thinking so lowly of him because of his confession.

"…."

When she failed to respond, he took his hand off her, then began to walk along the heavenly path the moon provided through the tops of the trees.

Nicole watched as his cape swayed when he walked and timidly followed behind him.

He knew the way to Robotropolis but seemed unconcerned with her personal reasons, the danger he might face, or what he might have to do.

He clearly just wanted to help…

…

The walk to Robotropolis was quicker than her walk back, but the entire time neither of them spoke to one another. It was just silent walking through the winter forest.

When they found themselves entering the outskirt of the city, Max turned to Nicole and caught his breath before speaking.

"Ok, so where to, and what do you need me to do?"

"…." Nicole wasn't exactly sure what was required from Max, but her years as an "A.I." had given her all the necessary information to find the place.

As she stared in the direction she knew it to be, Max allowed her to take the lead and merely followed her through the snow-covered streets of the once-lively city.

…

It took a while to reach the building, as it was far removed from Uncle Chuck's bunker. When they both stood before it, the damaged streetlight above it cast a spotlight on them.

Max examined the building and couldn't discern what it used to be; it was so severely damaged. When he turned to Nicole, she merely walked inside, so he followed.

Everything within the building was ransacked. Computers were missing everywhere, and those that remained were utterly destroyed.

The document storage containers were lying chaotically about, and the entire place seemed to lack power.

Eventually, Nicole looked at Max and found she could speak after so much silence.

"I… This is the old Acorn Research Institute that your Great Uncle used to work at. I… Need something from here, but I cannot access it without you."

Max merely moved his head, as it seemed easy enough, and responded. "Alright…. Lead the way then, Nicole."

Nicole walked through the silent walkway and vividly remembered traversing them so long ago.

From memory alone, she walked through the halls cluttered with debris and stopped before a terribly damaged door.

When Max looked at it, he could read the plaque that had been hanging lopsided.

"Ellidy"

He had no clue who that was, but he followed Nicole as she entered the sizable office. It, too, was utterly destroyed, but along the wall was a metal containment unit that had been broken into.

"…."

Nicole approached it, then scrutinized the device inside of it. There was no indication of how it worked or what it was, but she recognized the power needed to be on to use it.

"I…. This seems to be it, though it has no power…."

Max looked at her and recalled seeing a maintenance sign lying on the floor not too far from here. "I… I think I know where the kill switch for the power might be…. Wait here, I'll get it."

Nicole just watched as Max left her alone in the room, and despite her concerns about possible dangers, she started to lose herself in past memories.

She recalled where her father sat, though his desk had been utterly broken, and pieces were tossed about. The bookshelf that once hid the unit on the wall was toppled, and the many books in them were spilled everywhere.

…

When a humming noise came, some of the lights and the devices shot on. The hanging industrial bulb in the room she was in flickered at random intervals as it swayed from a stranded wire in the ceiling, and the device she needed power, for now had a red light affixed to it.

"…."

When Max returned, he spoke the second he saw her. "Like most things in Robotropolis, the power is still being fed to it from the electrical grid on this side of the city…. The switch for the power was broken, but I was able to use my metal hand to pull it regardless."

Nicole was appreciative but didn't express it to him. She merely scrutinized the device and saw that it had an insert slot for a vial.

Glancing about the room, most glass objects were shattered, but ultimately, she did find a cracked tube that maintained most of its containment capabilities.

Picking it up, she presented it to Max from the palm of her robot hand and then spoke. "I… I need your DNA… Since you are part of the royal family, it is the only thing that will unlock the building with this device."

Max now understood fully why he was needed and quietly took the vial. With care, he pulled some strands of hair from his head and some from his fur and dropped them into it. After which, he handed it to her.

"Here…."

Nicole took it from him and examined it. She felt eternally grateful and quickly placed the vial in the machine. When she did, a small panel on the wall that was wholly undetectable opened, and a computer screen popped up displaying text.

"Analyzing DNA sample.

….

DNA sample is less than one minute old.

Checking sample for match.

Match failure: Ellidy sample not found…

Re-scanning.

Err… Sample is not adequate for override unlock.

…

Waiting for adequate sample…."

Nicole audibly let out an upset cry, and her expression shifted to exasperation.

Max was surprised by the outburst, as it was entirely unlike her to do.

Eventually, Nicole turned to him and spoke. "This sample is not enough…."

Max walked to the console, removed the tube, and dumped out the hair as she watched.

"Then, we'll Make it enough…."

He placed the vial in her hand to hold, then removed his right glove and put it into his pocket. After that, he drew his blade with his left hand and cut his finger deeply with it.

"Rrrrrh!" He gritted his teeth when it sliced into his flesh.

Nicole stood wide-eyed as the blood began to flow freely from it without pressure applied.

"Max…" Her voice was full of subdued worry.

"Just hurry up, Nicole…." He said as he held the sword upside down and re-sheathed it behind himself.

What was done was done, and Nicole just held the glass vial under it as it filled relatively fast. Once it was about halfway, the blood in the vial began to leak through the cracks on the bottom and cover her hand.

When it was about 3/4th full, she took it quickly and placed it into the machine.

"…."

"New sample found.

Extracting…".

The machine made a loud sound like a vacuum, and the blood began to disappear from the tube, though before it could finish taking all of it, the vial broke, and blood spilled out and ran down the wall.

"Shit!" Nicole cried, and her eyes turned to the screen.

"Analyzing sample.

DNA Match for Acorn Family.

Universally unlocking facility…

…

Done…

…"

The device beeped loudly, then the light turned green, and the sound of locks snapping began going off in every room close to their proximity.

After that, the floor next to them began to shoot open, and the broken desk atop it began to spill and fall down the long stairs with a clatter.

Max went over and tossed the heavy junk away with his metal arm, and Nicole paused to stare at Max's blood covering her hand.

"…"

When the stairs were finally traversable, the two just stared down at the light illuminating the bottom.

….

When the two went down, they were surrounded by untouched computers and relatively secure paper documents.

Max left her to get what she needed, and he searched the room until he found a cloth sitting atop a table. Taking it, he tore it and began to tie it around his wound.

Nicole could not be bothered with Max now, and marched towards the computer that had auto-started on the desk, then examined it.

Displayed on the desktop background was a picture of an eight-year-old Nikki smiling at a beach. Instantly, Nicole remembered her favorite place…

She briefly paused to reminisce sadly but was knocked from her thoughts when Max spoke.

"I wonder who that is? She's really adorable…."

Nicole looked at him in disbelief and then remembered he had no idea that used to be "her."

Still, the sentiment embarrassed her, and rather than chastise him, she merely ignored the comment and examined the files and folders on the desktop.

After a brief search, she was drawn to files in a folder labeled "personal."

…

Clicking on them, she was reminded of events in her past. As the documents went on, she began examining them slowly so she wouldn't miss anything.

"…"

I feel ashamed; I have missed much work these past two weeks. My daughter has taken ill, and my concern has only increased the less improvement I see.

She has an appointment with the doctor, and I just hope it is the bug that has been going around at the school.

Either way, I will know soon.

Nicole stared for a second, and it was harrowing to read, already knowing what was to come.

Max just silently read behind her; at this point, she'd forgotten he was there.

I am back at the office. In truth, I only came in because my mind needs to be occupied. My daughter has been thoroughly examined, and they believe they know the cause of her sickness.

NIDS….

Of all the things, it had to be that…. When I received the news, I was so floored I do not even remember coming home. It was as if my body was on auto-pilot while my mind preoccupied itself with thought.

I really do not know what to do. I feel lost.

Nicole frowned; it was now sinking in how much she suffered while dying. She remembered the feeling, the fear…. Regardless, she continued on.

I have seen multiple doctors who say the same blasted thing.

She has NIDS. I refuse to believe that there is no way my daughter could have such a thing. I can't…. I won't accept this absurd premise.

Tomorrow, I will get a seventh opinion. One of these doctors has to know what they are doing.

Nicole remembered the visits; she hated every single one and always felt awful, but her father always forced her to go.

"…"

This is such bullshit, my daughter. She is too young for this. I try to do whatever I can to fix the problem, but she only ever gets worse.

It now seems she has a secondary virus brought on by her weakened immune system. She is deteriorating, and taking her to see anybody is becoming impossible.

There are days when she forgets many things and seems confused. Now that she cannot walk, I am at my wit's end….

Charles has been working overtime to finish his Roboticizer, which might be my only hope to help her.

Nicole recalled that when she became bedridden, her body temperature constantly fluctuated, and good portions of what happened were absent from her awareness, likely due to her mind's deterioration.

In my desperation, I have put my mind to work and have created a digital transference unit. Over the past few months, I have copied every bit of her mind into a digital space and will continue to do so daily.

I know it was difficult for her to wear the headgear, but this was the only thing I can do myself. Charles is close to finishing his Roboticizer, and I am filled with the faintest bit of hope.

Nicole remembered the process in broken pieces, and by this time, she had lost most motor function as she suffered greatly.

"…"

Fuck you, Charles! You told me you would finish it! You told me you could save her! Was my friendship, my comradery, not enough for you?!

Nikki is dead!

You've failed her! You've failed me!

I… trusted you more than anybody else. I hate your guts, and I wish you the worst.

At this point, this is where Nicole's memories ceased. There was nothing but a feeling of intense anguish, then… Nothing.

I have begun work on the most advanced computer I could possibly create. Since I have digitized her mind, it has occurred to me what I was trying to do in the throughs of grief.

I… I am not a pious man. I am a committed atheist, but I swear, if there is a God, it is now that I pray for the first time for this to work.

Please, lord, if there was ever a time to show me you exist, it is now.

I beg you, I will do anything in your name if Nikki is returned to me.

"…." Nicole couldn't even comment on the sad desperation she was reading.

I activated the computer today, and to my horror, Nikki is no more. Despite my best efforts, I have failed, just as Charles had.

The computer itself is exceptionally advanced, beyond anything else, so I decided to offer it to the royal family. While King Maximillian is grateful for my service and gift, the young princess has really taken to it.

"Nicole" is what she called the voice. I…. That is a fine name for a new Artificial Intelligence. Hopefully, Nicole will go on to serve her well.

I…. As for me, my life has lost all meaning, and I can no longer be here.

I need to go, go to Nikki's favorite place….

When Nicole read the last entry, she could recall her activation, and now she understood why her father was marred in shadow. It was her first memory in that primitive constraint to her personality.

Looking to the side, she could see Max's hand gently on her shoulder. He grasped the situation quickly by reading.

Though, just seeing his support helped.

Nicole turned back and quietly opened the panel on her stomach, after which she pulled out a transfer plug. Something that she carried with her for just such an occasion.

Opening the compartment on her head, she plugged herself into her father's computer and instantly transferred everything it offered.

After it was all finished, she disconnected the plug, put it back, and reassembled herself.

With all of these top-secret files and updated programs, it occurred to her that she could once again access the "Grand Archives" whenever she wanted to if she installed them.

Something that she had lost the ability to do upon shifting her hardware entirely.

"…." Standing up, Nicole looked at Max, who merely took his hand off her.

At first, neither of them said anything, but then Max spoke.

"So, are we going to 'Nikki's' favorite spot?"

Nicole looked at him in complete bewilderment and shook her head. "It would be a multiple-hour walk…. I, it is out of the question."

Truthfully, she wanted more than anything to go, as it was the last place her father had said he'd been, but she didn't have to ponder this for too long as Max spoke again while putting his glove back on.

"Lead the way, Nicole…."

She absolutely couldn't believe he was offering this, but she would seize the opportunity that was presented to her.

"Ok… I do know the way…."

When the two turned to begin leaving the area, Nicole could see the dripped blood trail Max had left all over the floor.

At this moment, she appreciated him more than he could ever fathom.

"…"

…

The two deactivated the power and then left the abandoned institute. Once on the move, both kept quiet, primarily as they processed things on a deeper level.

While still dark and stormy, the moon shined on to provide them light and illuminated paths in the woods. The winds were calm, as was the forest, and as they rounded their second hour of walking, Max began to slow.

He neither complained nor spoke, but as Nicole became aware of his lagging, she stopped moving and looked up at the moon as it created a heavenly light that cascaded along the snow.

Max stood there and deeply exhaled, his breath steamed out of his mouth, and he merely rested against a tree and crossed his arms while he examined her.

It was after two and a half hours of silent trudging that Nicole finally spoke.

"It won't be long now; only a bit more to go."

Max was happy to hear her open a dialog and merely smiled. "Well, that is good to know."

Nicole just stared at him curiously and decided to express herself. "Thanks for helping me with this… I was not expecting it…."

When Max heard that, he frowned and then looked toward the ground. "Do you really think so little of me, Nicole? I told you I would help you whenever you needed it…"

Nicole paused and then responded. "I am…. Just overwhelmed. Things are rapidly changing, and I feel like I am lost."

Max looked at her and then uncrossed his arms to speak. "I… Completely understand you…."

Nicole was skeptical of the claim and said as such. "How could you possibly? You know what you have read…."

Max eyed her and then sighed. "I know because the same thing is happening to me. Do you honestly think I am the same person I was when I first upgraded you?"

Nicole was not sure how to answer, so Max continued.

"The person I was at one point in time is no longer the person I am today. I can remember the past as I was and wish with all my heart to be that person again, but the truth is, that person feels like they died long ago."

Nicole stared at him, and his words really resonated with her. It was true she now remembered the past, but she was not sure her old identity was relevant anymore.

"I…. Who am I, Max?" Nicole said, and her voice cracked, full of pain.

Max saw her breaking down and walked over to her as she shielded her face from him. He placed his hands on both of her shoulders and spoke.

"You're a Mobian, my friend that I care deeply for, Sonia's friend, and an invaluable person that has helped the rebellion stay alive."

When he stopped, Nicole looked up at him, and he smiled at her, then he spoke again. "Nikki? Nicole? It changes nothing; you are still a person…. Just like I always said."

Nicole watched him as he held her shoulders, and she recognized how true it was. He always believed in her personhood even if she had never found out the truth.

When she thought about things, she recalled his confession. Something he'd never once brought up or held over her. When she examined him, she could see his breath blasting out of his mouth in the form of vapor, and something finally struck her.

He really did love her….

He was out in the middle of the frozen forest at three in the morning, doing whatever he could to facilitate her happiness.

Not only that but with this revelation, she fully understood what he "wanted" from her.

"…"

Max laughed a bit and then gave her a dopey smile. "You feeling better, Nicole? You look happy for the first time in a while."

When he said that, she realized she was grinning. Instead of responding, she pushed herself forward, pressed her cold body against him, and wrapped her arms around him.

He was completely caught off guard but returned the gesture, despite how much colder she made him.

"It's ok, I am here for you…."

Nicole looked at him as he looked at her, and the moonlight reflecting off the snow was sparkling like glitter all around them.

They held the stare for a while, and Max shuffled a bit, then began to speak.

"Nicole, I…."

Before he could even finish what he would say, she pushed her face towards him and pressed her metal lips against his.

It was spontaneous and felt freezing on his face, but it raised his body temperature a few degrees when he experienced the rush.

They held the kiss under the moonlight for a few seconds, and then Nicole broke off from it.

As they continued to look at each other with intense stares. Despite not feeling it physically, Nicole found that the mere symbolic act brought her extreme pleasure and joy.

"…."

Max eventually felt too frozen against her and gently moved away while she watched.

Eventually, she spoke aloud. "You're cold…."

Max shook his head, still feeling excited and embarrassed. "Nah, I am good."

She knew he was lying and recognized his sheer exhaustion by the way he was standing.

"Don't lie to me, Max… Come on, it isn't much further, and we will be there."

Max watched as she turned and moved through the untouched snow, and then he sighed deeply over the mere thought of the kiss.

Even if it was just a thanks for his help….

It was worth it.

…

The two eventually made it to a clearing, and to Max's surprise, it was a secluded beach with a quaint shack by the trees.

Max began to shake as the temperature dropped even further due to the ocean's proximity.

Nicole inspected the private beach and then looked at the snow that topped the sand.

When the two walked out onto it, Nicole stopped and spoke. "I used to visit here every summer…. It was my favorite place to go…. I remember it was always just me and my father…."

Max liked this area, and it was such a small private beach surrounded by trees; one would need to know its location to get specifically here.

…

The two turned and approached the shack, and even though it had been abandoned for years, it was relatively well-kept. Even the windows were intact, if not a bit filthy.

When they reached the front door, Nicole paused and tried to carefully open the door. As she thought, though, it was locked tight.

Max tried to peer through the window, but there was no light, and the snow and ice on the window intermixed with the dirt made it impossible to get a glance.

He turned to Nicole and then spoke. "So, I take it we are going to break in?"

Nicole looked at him and then shook her head. "No… If… If I remember correctly, there should be a key…."

She slid her metal fingers along the sturdy structure and stopped when she reached one of the gaps that connected two logs.

"Here!" Pushing her fingers into the tight space, she pulled a key wrapped in a tiny plastic bag from it.

Max smirked and was happy they didn't have to damage a place so special to Nicole. "Seems you guys were always prepared…."

Nicole eyed him and removed the key from the bag. After that, she placed it into the lock and began to open it. "My father always reminded me that if there was trouble, and I needed to get in here alone, the key was there…."

When it was unlatched, Nicole placed the key back into the bag, then opened the door.

"…."

Upon entering, Max felt immediately better to be out of the elements despite it being freezing in there too.

Nicole shut the door and locked it behind her, after which she looked around with her eyes in the dark.

Everything was different than she remembered, but it was still furnished and relatively tidy, if not dusty. Glancing over, she saw a fireplace with dry wood stacked by it, and moving towards it, she began to throw the logs into it.

After a moment, she began using the tinderbox sitting on top of the fireplace mantle to start a fire.

When Max noticed, he walked over and began to blow to provide oxygen to it so that it would ignite entirely. Nicole turned to look at the bed and quietly pulled down the covers, examining the cleanliness of it.

It seemed suitable enough, so she decided to voice her thoughts. "I think we should stay here tonight…. Knothole might worry if they notice us gone, but you won't last in that weather without rest…."

Max took off his gloves, and his hand, with the cloth tied around his finger, was completely numb. Using the now moderate flame, he began to raise his body temperature.

"Sure, Nicole… We came all the way here; we might as well take it easy."

It wasn't as if Nicole needed to take it easy or rest, but she wanted Max comfortable, especially after so much sacrifice on his part.

…

Max sat on the edge of the bed when the room was sufficiently warm. Exhaustion had fully set in due to the comfort of being inside a comfy place.

He watched Nicole go through things quietly, looking at old photos and fully reintegrating her old identity. After at least an hour, she eventually turned to him and spoke as he removed his boots.

"I… I know how you must feel right now, but admittedly, sleep is an activity I honestly miss. I know most think it is an interruption, but for me, it would be nice to dream again…."

As Max laid back and placed his head on the pillow, he could detect the scent of dust. Despite the dubious nature of its cleanliness, he was too beat to be choosey.

He just rested his feet on the bed and stared at the ceiling. After a bit of thinking, he spoke.

"Well, who said you couldn't sleep? I am sure there are different modes you could function on…."

As he said that, Nicole was left speechless. She knew that power-saving modes existed, so perhaps setting that on a timer would be the equivalent of sleep for her.

"…."

Max lifted himself up and rested on his arm and then spoke again.

"Come on…"

Nicole stared at him, and he merely moved closer to the wall. When she saw the open space, she became bashful but understood what was being offered.

"I…" She began, but he spoke when she didn't finish.

"I ain't sleeping yet; I want to talk to you for a while…. Well, if that is ok with you…"

Eventually, Nicole relented. Not because sleep was a priority but because she wanted to experience similar feelings to the kiss.

When she got into bed with him, he pulled the blankets up for them, and she looked over from her lying position. Despite initially feeling highly awkward to her, Max's attitude of not giving a single fuck eased her.

"…."

When they began to talk, it was small at first, but as time drew on, Nicole started to explain what had led her to this revelation and how painful it had been for her.

Max listened as he always did, and sleep began to creep up on him the longer she talked. He just instinctively slid his arm over her.

"…."

His action silenced her entirely, and when she looked over, she could see his eyes were shut. Turning back to glance at the fire, she legitimately couldn't believe the scenario she had found herself in.

Turning herself on her side, she stared at Max while he partially held her, and she began to feel things again. Pleasure and excitement filled her; the more potent the feelings became, the more she realized she needed it.

The absence of love for so long had made experiencing such a thing again intoxicating.

"…"

As the night approached sunrise, Nicole inevitably took Max's suggestion and set an internal timer that reduced her energy consumption to near-inoperable levels.

Sure enough, when her eyes dimmed, she shut them, and in her reconnection with life, she could only hope to have a dream once again.

…

Wrap Up: I am tired and my eyes are sore, but here you go.

Ultimately, I think one of the more interesting aspects of this story will be, once it is finished, going back with all the knowledge and reading it all from the perspective of knowing.

I'd imagine it would be really interesting to see things that went completely unnoticed if they at all did.

As an aside though, I originally spent hours researching a real disease for Nicole. When I had one all ready long ahead of time, I discovered NIDS was a thing.

Despite its allusion to AIDS, I think an incurable disease that has an indeterminant cause and not only wastes away your nervous system, but also your immune system, is pretty terrifying and just a shitty way to go.