Chapter Sixteen:
Prophecies and Energy Spikes
Sonic took a step back, filled with shock, and caution. He looked at Tails, and back at the man calling himself "Robotnik". Even Classic Sonic, Boom Sonic, Blaze, Classic Tails, and Boom Tails were a little uncertain. This man didn't look much like Eggman, Eggman was usually fat, and had a big mustache.
And their visitor who'd just introduced himself; he was skinny, and the mustache was the size of a small hair comb. Then again, anything was probable in the multiverse; and people could appear differently.
"No wonder G.U.N won't hire you, and why people are laughing." Sonic remarked.
The Robotnik variant nodded. "Quite so."
"Wait..." Tails said, "You said something about a monster."
"I did..."
"Can you tell us about that one, Doc?" Boom Sonic asked.
Robotnik chuckled. "Well, as you know, I ran into a fortune teller after I arrived in this universe. He was a... very special being, capable of magic, and his skill at seeing the future is beyond anything that is possible. He said, that when all the Eggmen are gathered, and the seven emeralds join with the dark emerald, one will betray the alliance and take control.
"With his power, and the power of the emeralds, all the beings will merge into one, bringing forth a monster of destruction. With the raw power of the Black Emerald, and the intelligence of all the beings that make up the beast, the Great Eggnikbrid will unleash untold destruction upon the universe, and will threaten all realities beyond..."
"We've certainly had our share of world-destroying monsters over the years." Sonic commented, "And this sounds like a worser version of Perfect Chaos mixed with the ARK and Dark Gaia, but throw the multiverse into the mix, and you got a huge multi-apocalypse event on the horizon."
"The seer told me that if I went to join the alliance, I will become part of the monster, and will be able to do nothing while my mind is merged with the others." Skinny Robotnik said urgently, "And when the fella spoke of that monster, I had serious 'Ghostbusters' vibes. Only, this isn't a movie and the supernatural isn't involved."
"I like Ghostbusters."
Movie Sonic entered the kitchen, and Robotnik yelped, surprised to see him.
"Okay, Eggman." The blue-armed hedgehog said; "I've heard enough talk, and you're not going to be trying to pull anything else. We know the memo, you're here to cause trouble, and you're trying to lure us into a false sense of security!"
"I don't even know YOU!" Robotnik cried, "And I haven't caused any trouble here!"
"Ah, yeah?" Movie Sonic said with a serious facial expression, "You tried to take out my stepdad Tom "Donut Lord" Wachowski with one of your drones, sent robots after me, and wrecked our car, endangered Tom and my stepmom Maddie before I banished you to the Mushroom Planet, wrecked the house with Knuckles, and tried to destroy us with the Master Emerald.
"And now, you're breaking and entering into Tails' place. You want power, I know you want to enslave humanity, and you're likely in league with the Council of Eggmans. You think I'm gonna go easy on you, after you tried to seriously hurt my adopted family, AND use my powers for your evil gains?! You're not gonna be pulling anything..."
"Dude, dude!" Sonic stepped in front of Movie Sonic, "He's not causing trouble. And he said he's working for the government, with no indication that he knows someone like you on his world. And he just told us why he's not in league with Eggman."
"Out of the way, Sonic!" Movie Sonic told him, "You know how dangerous a Robotnik is."
"Uh, hi?" Robotnik said nervously, "My dentist calls me Rob, but you can either call me 'doc' or 'Jim'. Honestly, I like 'Jim', 'Jim Truman' would be a good alias to make sure nobody has to know that I'm a Robotnik."
"Okay, do you know anyone named Sonic on your world?" Tails inquired.
"No." Jim Robotnik replied.
"Probably because he hasn't met Sonic yet." Classic Sonic rolled his eyes, "I think this is all an act unless some form of time-travel is also involved in the multiverse. C'mon, Sonic, Eggman has my timeline's Eggman on his side. And look at blue-armed Sonic here, not you, Bandana Sonic. He's already dealt with his version of Eggman twice, but that Eggman doesn't know him."
"But I know plenty about you in the short time I've been here." Jim said with a smile.
"Okay, tell us something else we don't know." Boom Sonic quipped.
Jim Robotnik looked around, he activated his advanced scanner, which picked up the signature of the other Sonics, many of whom had just entered the room. It likely picked up the other Tails' as well. He then looked at the group, and the scanner beeped slowly.
"I'm tracking a strange blue creature." He then said.
"Well, you're seeing me." Movie Sonic remarked, "And a whole lot of Sonics."
"No, no. Uh, allow me to clarify. Not long after I got here, I heard some people talking about a strange, blue creature with spikes and humanoid proportions. The description said he had human eyes, white hands, and big legs. And regarding this blue creature, he... apparently looks like you, but it isn't you at the same time."
"Another Sonic, but a Sonic who doesn't look like Sonic?" Tails remarked, "Either it's an Eggman robot, likely Metal Sonic, or, since we're dealing with alternate realities, we got ourselves a funny-looking creature running around."
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
Jim Robotnik raised his scanner; a red light was flashing on a city map, and the red light was moving around at a quick pace. It blinked, and then it settled. The group looked at the reading, and they all saw the name of the city area on the scanner; Central City.
"It's in Central City!" Classic Sonic exclaimed.
"You fellas mind a trip?" Jim Robotnik asked, "Even though it's kinda late?"
Sonic shrugged. Since he was the fastest thing alive, and he had all the time in the world while Eggman and his allies planned their next attack, it wouldn't hurt to go make contact with another one of his alternate variants. Besides, that weird hedgehog creature business did sound important since Jim Robotnik heard people talking about it...
