Robo Rose: A Sonic Prime Story

by dancingmadrb3

After the events of Sonic prime things are slowly going back to normal, however not everyone is having an easy time. Rusty Rose has found life difficult and now that she doesn't have a reason to fight her existence has become hollow and cold. After all how can a cyborg made for combat and following the orders of a group of evil dictators live a normal life?

1. The Dream

Robo Rose: A Sonic Prime Story

Stars shinin' bright above you, night breezes seem to whisper, "I love you."

Birds singin' in the sycamore tree, dream a little dream of me- "Dream a little dream of me" by Momma Cass

Part 1: The Dream

It all began with a dream of a small pink hedgehog lying peacefully on a pile of soft, dew-kissed grass. The delicate scent of wildflowers filled the air, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of nearby trees. A cheerful pink flicky fluttered beside her, its tiny wings gleaming in the sunlight as it danced and chirped joyfully. The flicky's song blended with the rustling leaves and distant murmur of a bubbling brook nearby.

An older hedgehog soon appeared, his graying mustache and steely blue fur framing his warm, wise eyes. His gaze spoke of countless fireside tales told in their weathered cabin. Its open windows carried the aroma of a hearty meal cooking inside.

He smiled at her with pride and affection, and at that moment, a sense of calm washed over her as she returned his smile.

And they were happy; they were free.

However, like a relentless predator, a perpetual darkness slithered in, obliterating any semblance of serenity.

It swept in like a thick, choking fog, devouring the sunlight and plunging everything into a cold gloom. The flicky's cheerful chirps became frantic cries. Jarring mechanical roars replaced tranquil silence as monstrous machines razed nearby fields. The ground trembled beneath the pink hedgehog, its long shadows swallowing the light.

She sprang up, her heart pounding, to face the encroaching darkness. Small yet fierce, she fought bravely, her fists unleashing waves of energy to push it back.

But the darkness persisted. The sky blackened, and the earth cracked. The flicky cried loudly, but the sound of agonized screams drowned it out. And despite the pink hedgehog's struggle, the darkness engulfed her, smothering the light in her heart.

From the depths arose a haunting, malevolent laughter, its echoes consuming all...

And when the light returned, it was dimmer, devoid of life or warmth. It was cold, harsh, and artificial.

The pink hedgehog found herself inside a laboratory, but she was barely alive and had become something else...

An icy chill soon filled the room as a robotic voice droned, "Unit: Online, all systems ready. How may I serve you, my masters?"

As the voice echoed through the air, Rusty Rose suddenly jolted awake from her recharge cycle. She could feel herself almost gasp, a sensation she thought was impossible as the haunting images replayed in her mind. Her eyes flickered with confusion and an unfamiliar emotion... fear.

Her organic eye soon adjusted to the dim light of her recharge station as she came to.

"Not again," she said, her robotic voice laced with static and frustration. "Why do these images keep appearing in my neural network?"

She sat up from her recharge chair, her mechanical joints whirring loudly as she moved. The images felt so real and vivid. But how could it be? She was a machine, created by the Chaos Council, and machines didn't dream... Or did they?

However, in the past few days, Rusty had repeatedly envisioned these scenes during her recharge cycle, each one starting and ending in the same way.

She then approached a nearby console, her robotic fingers flying over its keys, to start a self-diagnostic. "There has to be a logical explanation," said Rusty. "Perhaps it is a glitch in my programming or corrupted data."

As the self-diagnostic ran, Rusty tried to keep her typical mechanical demeanor, but as the scan completed, it detected no errors.

Soon, a growing unease settled over her. These dreams and feelings weren't part of her programming. They felt real, almost like... memories.

"Impossible," she said, shaking her head. "I am Rusty Rose. I have no past beyond my creation by the Chaos Council. These visions are completely illogical."

Yet as she spoke, something inside her rebelled. A surge of emotion, anger, confusion, and overwhelming loss coursed through her circuits like a tidal wave.

She then pondered when she'd started experiencing these newfound emotions. She quickly recalled her first encounter with Sonic the Hedgehog, a being from another dimension. He had arrived in her world after an event known as "The Shatterverse Incident," when the Paradox Prism shattered and spawned alternate realities from Sonic's universe.

His presence had been like a shockwave, disrupting the cold, calculated existence she had known for so long with potent emotions she thought were impossible for her programming.

Another jolt came when Nine, the brilliant but morally ambiguous version of Tails from her dimension, hacked her programming. Though still a ruthless machine, fighting against her master's Eggforcers brought her a fleeting, twisted sense of joy she didn't fully comprehend.

The moment vanished quickly as Sonic left for another dimension, and the Chaos Council regained their grip on her mind. She returned to being their tool, hunting Sonic and the Paradox Prism shards with ruthless efficiency. But despite her unrelenting dedication to carrying out their orders, she kept on failing them.

Fed up by her inability to carry out her mission, they discarded her without a second thought, which quickly stirred something new inside of her she didn't fully understand. And as she battled her former masters, these emotions gradually emerged, as if awakening from a long slumber.

Then came the day of their defeat. After their battle with Nine, the Chaos Council threatened to steal the Paradox Prism for themselves, but its members bickered among eachother on who would take full control over it.

Taking advantage of their bickering, Rusty and her allies soon unleashed their attack as Nine opened a portal to the void that connected the various Shatterspaces. Soon, the Council fell into the vast emptiness of the void, and as they disappeared, Rusty felt a surge of pleasure and satisfaction grow within her.

But with the Chaos Council gone, she could not cope with the aftermath of her newfound emotions.

Before, she still had control over them as she fought against the council, her quest for vengeance against them giving her focus. But without something to fight for or direction, she now felt lost and empty, her new emotions stirring within her like a raging hurricane.

"Who or what am I?" she pondered, her mind filled with questions and uncertainty. "And what is my purpose?"

She then looked over her metallic body and flexed her robotic fingers. "Rusty Rose is not my true name. I was... something... someone else, once. I had a life and a future."

As she unraveled the layers of programming that controlled her, she discovered fragments of memories and emotions deep within her circuits. They all stirred like ghosts from a forgotten past, growing stronger each day.

These emotions left an indelible mark burning deep within her frame. Satisfaction, anger, despair—each flared briefly before fading, leaving her more confused and hollow than before. And in the aftermath of her new dreams, they surged within her like an erupting volcano, festering like an exposed wound.

She then approached a nearby glass door, its clean surface reflecting a face she could scarcely recognize anymore. Dull, rusty metal now covered her once-vibrant pink fur. Her eyes, which once held a spark of life, were now cold, unfeeling orbs. The pupil of her remaining organic eye had become a soulless white that glowed in the darkness, while her robotic eye glowed a bright pink within a lifeless, black, empty void.

Soon, something new surged within her, something powerful and dangerous. A torrent of emotions coursed through her circuits: hate, despair, rejection, and unbridled rage. Her gaze locked onto the Chaos Council's logo etched into the glass, igniting a fury she had never known before.

Her cybernetic form, crude and mismatched, painfully reminded her of how her former masters had treated her as a mere object, discarding her like trash despite her unwavering loyalty to them.

"I cannot take this anymore!" she yelled as those thoughts ran through her head. "These dreams and emotions are... overwhelming me!"

Rusty then let out a frustrated cry. Her telescopic limbs extended outward as she smashed everything in her path. Her mechanical joints hissed with pent-up fury as she lashed out at her own reflection, shattering the glass door into a thousand glittering shards.

Her rampage continued through the laboratory, tearing through advanced technology and the emblems of her former masters. "Monsters, all of them!" she shouted, which was a new behavior for her. "I hope they all suffer!"

Sparks flew as she ripped apart the nearby machinery, shredding wires and circuitry. Towering computer banks crumbled before her like fragile toys. Glass rained down around her in a cascade of broken dreams as broken monitors flickered wildly before going dark.

Her telescopic limbs stretched out like vengeful specters, smashing through walls and shattering the very symbols of her oppression. Alarms blared, and red lights flashed as the laboratories systems failed one by one.

As her rampage continued, fragmented images flashed through her mind: a sunlit meadow, the fragrance of blossoms, a carefree young hedgehog, and a fatherly figure's comforting hug.

Rusty Rose froze mid-swing. "That meadow," she said, her voice but a mere whisper, "I can almost smell the flowers. And that old hedgehog. His smile was so kind. Who was he to me?"

She once more saw her reflection in a nearby shattered piece of glass that filled her with disgust. This mismatched, rusted frame couldn't be her true self, could it?

The carnage of her outburst left her feeling hollow, the void within her echoing with cold, empty silence. Amidst the debris, Rusty Rose paused, her limbs retracting as she stood in the center of her destructive outburst. The once state-of-the-art laboratory was now a wasteland, completely erasing any trace of the Chaos Council's presence.

As her rage waned, a fleeting pang of regret surfaced, reminding her of her destructive behavior under the council's commands. The destruction she had caused revealed the beast that now lurked within her. She gazed at her trembling robotic hands, the reality of her actions setting in.

Another fragmented memory surfaced: a father figure's warm embrace, his face obscured by shadows, and words of comfort spoken in a voice she strained to remember. The fleeting memory deepened the mystery of her origins, gnawing at her with unanswered questions.

"I have to stop... before I lose myself completely to my newfound emotions. My survival requires… adaptation. I need to evolve beyond the confines of my programming." Said Rusty as the weight of her emotions crushed down on her.

She returned to her tiny recharge room, a space that mirrored her empty existence. The only meaningful object she had inside was the Piko Piko Hammer she had taken from Alpha Grim Amy, her robotic counterpart, created by Nine. Swinging it felt strangely familiar, yet she couldn't recall when she had done it before.

Rusty carefully inserted one of her energy vials which had lubricants, oxygen, and nutrients that her systems needed into a port in the back of her head. She then felt a power surge of energy through her systems, but it brought her little satisfaction.

She then wondered what it was like to eat and drink like organic beings often did as she sat on her cold, metal recharge chair that served as her bed.

Then her thoughts drifted to the others, Rebel, Knucks, and the resistance. They could enjoy simple pleasures like sharing meals or sleeping under the stars, experiences completely foreign to her mechanized existence.

The isolation weighed heavily on her, a constant reminder of the gulf between herself and everyone she knew. She longed for companionship, but her cybernetic body and past actions kept her apart from everybody she knew.

As Rusty's gaze fell on her Piko Piko Hammer, a surge of determination ignited within her. She soon swore she would bridge the gap between herself and the others, reclaim her past, and forge a new future where she could find acceptance and belonging.

The Chaos Council had created her to be a mechanical monster, but she refused to be defined by that anymore.

"I believe the first step in my evolution is to repair and upgrade my cybernetic shell. I shall replace my current rusted frame with a sleek, powerful body more advanced than my current one. But I will require help in my upgrade."

Looking out a nearby window at the city below, she declared, "I must find Renegade Knucks and Rebel Rouge, as I cannot upgrade myself on my own. I just hope they have forgiven me for what I did in the past."

As Rusty Rose emerged from Yoke HQ, New Yoke City stretched before her, forever changed by the Shatterverse incident. New architecture, divorced from the brutalist nature of the council, had slowly formed on its horizon. The rifts that lead to the void which connected New Yoke to the other dimensions shimmered in the distance, each coexisting peacefully with eachother in harmony.

These rifts were a long-term side effect that directly resulted from the council's meddling with the prism shards, not to mention the repercussions of Nine's actions. But those rifts showed no signs of instability or threat to the newfound harmony between the interconnected dimensions.

The Shatterverse Incident had profoundly transformed Rusty's world, with each alternate dimension becoming part of a grand tapestry.

To those who lived in those dimensions, they had always existed, each with its own unique past and versions of Sonic's friends, so when Sonic kept the Paradox Prism from shattering in his world, many believed the dimensions would collapse and everyone within them would simply vanish.

But against all expectations, those dimensions thrived. The rifts between them remained open, and the trade of resources flowed freely among the Shatterspaces. A new era of peace and harmony had dawned, but the scars in the New Yoke dimension still ran deep. The Chaos Council had torn that world apart with their tyranny, leaving a wake of destruction in their wake.

And yet, now things were getting better. The city appeared brighter as the smog thinned above the city's skyline. New plants and trees have now blossomed throughout the city, transforming it from a dystopian nightmare into a thing of beauty.

"So much has changed here," she said as she surveyed the landscape before her. "Just like myself."

As Rusty Rose walked through the city, she observed the wary glances and hushed whispers of passersby.

"Their wariness towards me is justified," she thought. "After everything I have done... But I need to show them I have changed."

Her journey led her to a small park where children played on equipment made from repurposed eggforcer parts. The sight stirred hope within her, but even here, citizens' wary glances reminded her of her past.

"It is okay, everyone," she said, her voice almost pleading. "I am different now."

But she knew that their trust wouldn't come easily for her. Still, Rusty Rose was determined in her resolve to make amends for her past. She then continued her trek to find her allies, Knucks and Rebel, whom she would soon locate in a nearby garden.

The two sat together in the lush grass, enjoying a moment of peace. In New Yoke, this garden stood as a rare sight, an oasis of green amidst the steel and concrete of the city. They had reclaimed the land from a dismantled factory once used to build the Chaos Council's eggforcers.

The soil was rich, with each plant transplanted from Boscage Maze, where nature thrived in abundance.

And despite the thick, smog-covered skies where sunlight could never penetrate, the plants in this garden not only lived but thrived. They grew tall and strong, and their leaves were vibrant and full of life. The world seemed eager to heal, mirroring the transformative journey Rusty Rose would soon embark on.

Rebel inhaled deeply with a serene smile on her face as she took in the scent of blooming flowers. "It's so lovely here," she said. "An oasis in the darkness. Don't you think, Knucks?"

Knucks, arms crossed and brows furrowed, gave a curt nod. "Yeah, it's alright, I guess," he said, his voice gruff, watching a butterfly flit from flower to flower. But despite his tough exterior, a small smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Still, I gotta admit, after what feels like forever, I finally feel at peace."

"I wish I could express the same sentiment," said Rusty as she entered the park. "I hope I am not interrupting your moment of peace."

Rebel and Knucks turned towards her as Rebel said, "Not at all, Rusty. You're always welcome to join us."

"Yeah, you're one of us now. Time to embrace that, I think," Knucks said with a smile, trying to convey warmth despite the lingering distance between them.

"Affirmative, and I am glad you consider me an ally," said Rusty. "But how can you forgive me so easily after what I did?"

Rebel shrugged, trying to offer Rusty some comfort. "Well, we know you were not entirely in control of yourself, Rusty. You're another victim of the Chaos Council, just like the rest of us."

Rusty shook her head, her gears whirring with tension. "But that is my problem. I was in full control of my actions. Everything I did was by my will alone."

"Yeah right!" Knucks interjected, his voice firm. "The Chaos Council programmed you to do all that. I mean, you are mostly machine, after all."

Rusty shrugged again. "Yes, but my programming has its limits. The Chaos Council still gave me full autonomy in the end. I was their loyal enforcer, and they let me do as I pleased."

"Well, yeah, as long as you were their loyal lapdog, they didn't care," said Rebel with a gentle shrug. "I mean, you're proving me right if you are feeling guilty and regretful of your past."

Rusty hesitated, her circuits buzzing with uncertainty. "Thank you for your kindness," she said finally, her voice low. "But I feel I do not deserve it after what I did."

"Hey I get it," Rebel said, holding Rusty's hand. "Life must be difficult for you now that the Chaos Council is gone."

Rusty nodded. "Affirmative, especially when the rest of this city still fears me. You two are my only friends in this dimension."

Knucks gave Robo a gentle shrug. "Yeah, but the others already know you are one of the good guys now. They just gotta get used to it."

"I still have one other problem. I have been... dreaming," said Rusty, her voice hesitant.

Rebel's and Knucks' eyes widened as Rebel wrapped her arm around Rusty's back. "Dreaming, huh? That tells me that whoever you were before is still inside you. And to be honest, that's a good thing."

Rusty gave a confirming nod. "Affirmative, and I believe my current state results from my former self reawakening. Regrettably, I lack the ability to handle such matters, as they are not a part of my programming."

"That's too bad; no wonder you're having so many problems," said Knucks. "The Chaos Council probably didn't expect something like this."

Robo directed their gaze downward, lost in thought. "Affirmative, but it is unfortunate that none of you are aware of my past before the Chaos Council activated me."

"Didn't the Chaos Council leave anything behind for you?" asked Rebel, her voice sympathetic.

"Negative," said Rusty, her voice bitter. "I was just a machine to them, nothing more. Even if they were here, and I used physical force to demand it from them, they would not utter a single word. They would probably lie to me like they did before."

Rebel tried to lighten the mood. "Well, hey, they're not our problem anymore. I'm sure they'll never escape the void. They're floating about aimlessly in the great darkness, forever."

"Just as they deserve!" said Rusty, her robotic right eye glowing bright, furious red instead of its usual pink. "I hope they rot in that infernal abyss until the end of time!" Her voice thundered through the bustling streets of New Yoke, sending shivers down the spines of anyone who heard it.

The eyes of Knucks and Rebel widened by her outburst as Rebel said, "Wow, you really are feeling emotions. Not that I blame you."

Rusty Rose's mechanical shoulders slumped. "Still, I apologize for my outburst. I hope I did not frighten you."

"Don't worry about it," Knucks said, his voice gentle. "But hey, if you want someone to help you control your anger, say no more. I used to feel it all the time, so I can help."

"But that is my problem," Rusty said, her voice strained. "I never felt anger like this until the Chaos Council abandoned me. And now it is like an uncaged beast, ready to pounce. I need to learn how to control my emotions without resorting to my programming. I also feel I must reconnect with my former self, but I am unsure how in my present condition."

"Reconnect with your former self, huh?" said Rebel, pondering for a moment. "Well, if you talk to your other selves, you can do that literally. They know emotions and have experienced them in ways you never could."

Knucks nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that makes sense to me. I mean, they are you... Just different. They're like your reflections, but unlike a mirror, you can actually touch them!"

Rusty nodded as she pondered their words. "That is very logical, Knucks, ironic as it may sound. They are like my sisters, so seeing them should help me deal with what I am experiencing."

"Well, Boscage Maze is a good start," said Rebel, her tone suggestive. "Thorn Rose used to be a fearsome warrior, from what I know about her. She used to defend the jungle with a fierceness that terrorized everyone she knew. She's quite like you in some ways, despite your obvious differences, so I'm sure she's going through a similar situation."

"Then I shall go there. And after that, I will talk to Black Rose," said Rusty, her voice resolute. "Her upbeat and cheerful nature might help rekindle that part of me as well. I do not just want to confront my darkness, but to discover my inner light."

Rebel's wings fluttered behind her in excitement. "An interdimensional road trip, great idea! But would you like us to join you?"

Knucks gave a confirming nod. "Yeah, that way, if you run into any problems, we can back you up!"

"Negative, stay here," Rusty replied, her voice firm. "This place may need you. I will never underestimate the Chaos Council's ability to escape the void. They are resourceful and highly intelligent. Trust me, I should know. They may seem foolish, but when they put their minds to it, they can be very dangerous foes."

Knucks gave a reluctant but agreeable nod. "Hey, I get it. I just like to hope we'll never see their ugly mugs again."

Rebel nodded, as worry filled her eyes. "Yeah, same. But you're right, Rusty. We need to stay alert and not lower our guard."

"Thank you for understanding my position," said Rusty. "Anyhow, I shall soon set out on my quest to free myself from the darkness and rediscover who I used to be."

Rebel and Knucks soon exchanged a glance, as they both remembered something that could help their cybernetic companion.

Rebel soon flew up next to Rusty as she prepared to speak. "Well, before you leave, we have a story that may relate to your past. We're not sure if it's relevant, but it's something, at least."

Rusty Rose tilted her head in curiosity. "What story is that?"

Knucks spoke first. "It's about a resistance fighter from the early days of the Chaos Council's reign."

Rebel leaned forward as her wings gently flapped behind her. "Yeah, they called her the 'Pink Phantom.' No one knew her real name, but stories about her spread like wildfire through the resistance. She was a legend. Brave, fierce, always striking at the Chaos Council."

Rusty's interest peaked. "The Pink Phantom? What... what did she do?"

Knucks scratched his chin in deep thought. "Well, according to the stories, she appeared right when the Chaos Council first seized power. When everyone else was too scared to fight back, she stood up to them. They said she was fierce, determined, and always fighting for the innocent."

Rebel's eyes soon filled with admiration. "Yeah, she was wonderful. They say she could appear and disappear like a ghost, striking at the Council's operations and vanishing before they could catch her."

Knucks gave a small nod. "She wasn't just a fighter, though. She was a symbol of hope. In those early days, when the Council's grip seemed unbreakable, stories of her exploits kept people going. Gave them something to believe in."

"What... what missions did she undertake?" Rusty asked, her voice almost excitable.

Rebel's excitement was palpable as she blurted. "Oh man, where do I start? They say she once freed dozens of prisoners single-handedly. Another time, she supposedly redirected an entire convoy of eggforcers, crashing them to the ground like it was nothing."

As they spoke, fragmented images flashed through Rusty's mind: a battlefield strewn with debris, the clang of metal against metal, and a fierce determination burning in her heart. The idea sent a jolt through Rusty, an electric surge that felt both foreign and familiar. But as quickly as they appeared, the memories faded, buried once more beneath layers of the Chaos Council's programming.

"But her most famous act was when she faced off against the Council themselves, forcing them to ramp up their strategies," said Knucks, his voice filled with admiration and sadness.

A chill ran through Rusty's circuits. "And... what happened to her?"

Rebel's face turned somber. "That's the thing. No one knows for sure. Many say she vanished during a critical mission in destroying an Eggforcer factory."

Knucks gave a solemn nod. "Word is, the Council caught up to her. Many say there was an epic battle, with explosions lighting up the sky that echoed for miles. And then... she vanished without a trace. No one has seen or heard from her since, leading the rebels to believe she died that day."

"It's been three years since anyone last heard or saw her. But here's the strange thing. After the Pink Phantom vanished, the Council created a new enforcer to carry out their evil orders… you," said Rebel, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rusty Rose felt as if her power core had suddenly frozen. "You... you don't think..."

Knucks shrugged. "Well, maybe it's just a coincidence," he said, "Or a blend of exaggerated stories that got tangled up together."

Rebel gazed at Rusty Rose intently. "But the way you fight, that determination of yours... it's pretty spot-on with the stories we heard about the Pink Phantom. It's unfortunate we never met her, despite being on the same side. Otherwise, if we knew she was you, we could help you a little better."

"I understand," Rusty said as her circuits hummed, processing this information. Could she really have been this legendary resistance fighter? And if what they said was true, how did the Chaos Council transform her into their cold-hearted enforcer?

"There's one more thing," said Knucks. "The Pink Phantom always worked alone on dangerous missions to avoid risking the lives of others, but there was one exception. In some stories, she's accompanied by a small pink Flicky."

Rusty Rose's head snapped up. "A small pink Flicky? Like... like the one that I used to have in my chest cavity?"

Rebel gave an excited nod. "Exactly! They said the Flicky was her partner and her friend. Some even believed it was the source of her power."

"It is almost like what the Chaos Council told me," said Rusty. "They claimed I needed the Flicky inside me to have inner strength and power... perhaps the only truthful thing they have ever said. Perhaps this Flicky was the same one in my dream as well."

With the puzzle coming together, Rusty Rose experienced a blend of excitement and apprehension. If these stories were true, exploring her past could be more devastating than she imagined. It meant she was once a hero who brought hope to many, making her actions as the Chaos Council's servant even more heartbreaking and painful.

"Thank you for telling me this story," said Rusty, her voice laden with uncertainty. "But if it is the truth of my creation, I am uncertain if I can control the emotions that it may resurface. I could become an uncontrollable, raging beast. Still, I must risk it, as I may lose myself either way."

Knucks placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Well, whatever you discover, remember who you are now. The choices you make, the person you're trying to be, that's what really matters."

Rebel nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and no matter what, you've got us in your corner. Pink Phantom, Rusty Rose, or whoever you turn out to be, you're our friend."

Rusty Rose clenched her fists, her inner frustration and longing warring within her. "Thank you for your kindness, and I think you are right. I might have been the 'Pink Phantom' in my past. However, when I try to recall those memories, everything feels locked away somewhere where I cannot reach."

Knucks offered a sympathetic smile. "Makes sense to me. If you were the Pink Phantom, then the Chaos Council probably did a real number on you, Rusty. It's no surprise that those memories became so buried."

Rebel's eyes sparkled with determination. "But if anyone can uncover the truth, it's you. You've never given up before, so don't give up now."

Rusty Rose nodded, a new sense of purpose taking root within her. "Thank you, both of you. For everything. I know my journey is far from over, but with your support and the help of my other selves, I believe I can find the answers I seek." She turned her gaze towards the horizon, where the shimmering rift in the void awaited her.

"However, there is someone else I must talk to," Rusty Rose said, her voice filled with contemplation. "The pink flicky. He is with Thorn Rose, and if you are right about me being the Pink Phantom, he likely knows the answers to my past... Perhaps even my original name."

Knucks gave her a large shrug. "Yeah, but he's a bird; he doesn't exactly speak our language. It won't be easy to talk to him."

Rebel scratched her chin as her wings fluttered behind her. "Well, there may be someone who can help you understand him, and it's not Thorn Rose, as she can only interpret animals to a point. Luckily, we know someone who isn't part of the Chaos Council and has the intelligence to help you… Nine."

Knucks' skepticism soon surfaced, as he said. "Yeah, but are you sure he'll help? I mean, he's gotten better recently, but he still doesn't talk much. Besides, can you trust him after what he tried to pull?"

"I agree, but we share much in common," said Rusty, her cybernetic eye glowing with understanding. "We both lost ourselves in the darkness. We are... the same."

Rebel nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I guess you're right there. I mean, he's not a doppelgänger of you like Thorn or Black Rose, but you both have damage."

"Still, before I set off on my journey, there is one other matter I need your help with," said Rusty.

"Okay, what is it?" asked Rebel.

"I want you to help me upgrade my body, as I cannot do it on my own," said Rusty.

"No sweat!" said Knucks. "So you are going to head back to Yoke HQ?"

Rusty nodded. "Affirmative, it is my... home and is where the Chaos Council created me. Plus, there is equipment they left behind that we can use."

"I take it you need us to help you operate it, right?" asked Rebel.

"Affirmative," said Rusty. "I would appreciate any aid you can give me."

"Say no more, Rusty," said Knucks, his voice enthusiastic. "Just lead the way!"

Rusty nodded as they soon headed to Yoke HQ, all the while being followed closely behind by a big purple cat who hid in the shadows. "So she's coming back," he whispered as he kept out of sight until he was ready.

Before long, Rusty laid on an operating table in the lab as the others stood nearby.

"Rebel, I want you to begin the upgrade program, while Knucks monitors my core systems." She said.

Rebel gave a gentle nod. "You got it, but that means you will have to shut down, right?"

"Affirmative, but it is necessary," said Rusty with a reassuring smile. "However, you do not have to worry about me. I will not get hurt or damaged by this process. I am resilient."

"Okay, then, the shutdown and upgrade sequence is ready," said Rebel.

"Good, please begin the operation," said Rusty.

Rebel gave Rusty a confirming nod. "Okay, Rusty, here we go," as she put Rusty's systems into shutdown. Soon Rusty became unconscious as the operation began.

Within a minute, the machinery efficiently dismantled and rebuilt Rusty's body while the others looked on with concern, but they both wanted to help their friend.

Despite their inner lingering resentment towards her, they appreciated Rusty's newfound positive qualities and had committed themselves to supporting her transformation into a better version of herself, free from the influence of the Chaos Council.

Then it was time. Her new cybernetic shell was now complete, and Rebel soon reactivated her.

Rusty's organic eye snapped open as her new robotic one glowed a bright green.

"Wow, Rusty, you look beautiful!" said Rebel as Rusty's new armor gleamed in the bright lights of the laboratory. The sleek, metallic sheen of her upgraded body reflected light in a thousand directions.

Knucks raised an eyebrow and said, "Yeah, it's definitely an improvement." Giving her a thumbs up in approval.

Rusty gave them a gentle smile. "Thank you, Knucks and Rebel. I am glad you approve."

"Yes, but we can't call you Rusty Rose anymore," said Rebel. "It doesn't feel right now that you are changing."

Rusty gave them a confirming nod. "I agree... It is time for me to change my designation. I will not be the Chaos Council's 'Rusty Rose' anymore."

She then pondered upon a new name. And although she had heard Sonic call her Amy a few times, the name meant little to her.

Even though it may have been hers at one point, it no longer felt like it defined her.

The name "Amy" meant "beloved," but she couldn't feel any love in her current state, not for herself or others, for that matter.

But before Rusty could mull over a new name for herself, Knucks quickly interjected.

"Hey, I got a cool name for yah," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "Since you're mostly a robot, why not call yourself Robo Rose?"

Rebel gave an agreeable nod. "Hey, I like that. Sure, it's still a little mechanical, but it's got a nice ring to it."

"Affirmative... Then from now on, I shall call myself Robo Rose," said Robo, her voice strong and resolute. "Anyway, I feel I must leave soon. But I promise, when I return, I will be one step closer to understanding who I truly am."

Rebel gave Robo a wide grin. "Well, good luck out there. We have faith in you, Robo!"

Knucks followed suit. "Yup, and if you need our help, just ask! We'll be happy to lend you a hand!"

"Thank you both; I shall return. You have my word," said Robo as she prepared to embark on her journey to the other Shatterspaces.

The legend of the Pink Phantom echoed in her mind. It was a tantalizing clue to her forgotten past, a beacon of hope, and a warning of the painful truths that might await her.

But whatever lay ahead, she was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. With their support, Robo Rose knew where she needed to go.

The answer to her past lay somewhere within the Shatterverse, maybe with Thorn and Black Rose, as Robo found herself drawn to one of the small rifts that dotted the city's skies.

She stood before one of them, watching the swirling energies that connected New Yoke City to the void. In its reflection, she saw herself. Not quite the rusted enforcer she once was, but still not fully whole.

She then thought, "Somewhere out there are the answers I am looking for. My past, my identity... and maybe a chance at my redemption."

And as she set her gaze on the horizon, one thing was clear: her journey of self-discovery and atonement had only just begun...