A/N To whom it may concern, NO! I do NOT want to buy your commissions! If you are inspired and draw something GREAT! If I want a commission, I will reach out to YOU! If you leave a spam message in my reviews, you WILL be blocked and reported! THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING!

Chapter 1: An Empty Chest

To say Dr. Eggman was angry to have lost Dark Gaia was an understatement.

He was furious!

Orbot and Cubot had long since hidden as their creator threw what could only be described as a temper tantrum. Metal Sonic stood by and watched, and occasionally cocked his head to avoid a spare part or wrench thrown his way.

"Oh, that miserable rat! How dare he spoil my plans! And how dare Dark Gaia! I go through all the trouble to wake him up and gather his energy and this is the thanks I get! And then he has the nerve to let Sonic beat him!" Dr. Eggman ranted, still spitting mad.

"Think we should remind him that much of what went wrong was due to his own hasty actions?" Orbot asked Cubot.

"You can, your funeral," Cubot replied.

"GRRRR! SONIC IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!" Dr. Eggman roared, his hands twitching in front of him like he wanted to strangle something.

Orbot shrank back. "Perhaps another time," he said.

As the doctor paused for a moment to breathe heavily after that rant, Metal Sonic stepped forward and got the doctor's attention. Once he was looking, the robot held out a clenched fist, offering to go find Sonic and destroy him once and for all.

Dr. Eggman heaved a deep breath, and sighed, patting Metal on top of his head for the offer. "No, Metal, while you fighting Sonic would be great, but it just doesn't have the kind of oomph I need right now. I don't care if I win or lose, I just want him to hurt!"

Metal Sonic lowered his fist and looked disappointed, but followed his command.

But as Dr. Eggman looked at the robot, the start of an idea began to spark in his mind.

A whole other timeline ago, another robotic hedgehog had obeyed a different Dr. Robotnik's every order, and though not technically built by him, he'd had an undeniable hand in his metallic creation. Even after that Robotnik's defeat and subsequent death, that metal hedgehog had remained, a constant reminder of his former tyranny.

A nasty grin began to spread across Dr. Eggman's face.

Now there's an idea.

And win or lose that confrontation, the pain it would cause Sonic would be catastrophic.

Cracking his knuckles, Dr. Eggman made his way back to his drawing board. "I'm feeling nostalgic," he said as he began sketching out what he remembered of the robotic hedgehog's visage. "Time for Sonic to have a little family reunion."

Metal Sonic, Orbot, and Cubot exchanged glances.

From anyone else, those words would have seemed benign.

But from Eggman, well, Sonic had better watch out.

Even with Dark Gaia defeated and the world back in one piece, the Freedom Fighters still traveled in the Sky Patrol in order to track the Genesis Portals and hopefully seal them up for good.

"Happy as I would be to see Silver or anyone from his time again, there's too many unfriendly things coming through to be safe," Sally once explained to her father when asked why they were doing so.

"And we can't leave Silver and Shard to do all the work to clean them up," added Sonic.

But despite their frequent trips, they were still hanging around the Acorn Kingdom far more, enjoying the chance to be home. And many were glad to see them returned.

"Thanks for letting us come over for dinner, Vanilla," said Amy, the kind rabbit having invited all the Freedom Fighters to have dinner in her backyard garden in thanks for looking after Cream during the Dark Gaia incident.

"It is my pleasure," Vanilla the Rabbit assured them. "It's the least I can do after you looked after Cream for so long."

"She was a big help," Sally assured her.

"Would you like a drink, Mister Shard," Cream offered, holding up her tea set.

Shard, who had been surprised to even be invited (he had become a package deal with Silver, and as a Freedom Fighter, Silver was invited too), tactfully avoided mentioning that as a robot he couldn't drink anything and took a teacup. "Thank you," he said as he pretended to drink from it.

Cream beamed sunnily at him, and moved away, missing how Shard dumped the rest of the tea out in a bush once her back was turned.

"Smooth," Sonic teased him.

"Shut up, cuz," Shard replied, pretending to sip from his empty teacup when he saw Cream glance his way.

"Cuz?" Sonic asked with a quirked brow.

"Well, yeah," said Shard. "I was built by your uncle twice over, that makes me your cousin."

"Pretty sure that's not how it works," said Sonic. "And I don't even know if Uncle Chuck is still my uncle or it's a 'he's everyone's uncle' kind of thing."

"That's totally how it works," Shard said with a roll of his electric eyes. "And you just invalidated your own argument. If he's everyone's uncle, then that means I'm everyone's cousin, Cuz."

Sonic rolled his own eyes and decided it wasn't worth arguing about. If his formerly-antagonistic-robot-double-turned-ally wanted to declare them cousins, who was he to argue?

Vanilla was just bringing out dessert when suddenly-

BOOM!

An explosion a good distance away echoed through the kingdom, and disturbed their peaceful evening.

"What now?" asked Rotor, more irritated than worried. The explosion didn't sound nearly big enough to cause too much damage.

"Eggman is currently attacking the Acorn Kingdom's defenses," Nichole reported, having extended her digital reach to check the source of the noise.

"So soon? We only just defeated him," said Antoine.

"Normally he has ta' lick his wounds at least a little longer," agreed Bunnie.

Tails flew up to stand on Vanilla's rooftop and squinted in the distance of the explosion. "Looks like it's just a small force. Not enough for an invasion, but enough to make trouble," he said.

"Then it's not some grand scheme, it's just revenge he's after, plain and simple," said Sally, her expression annoyed.

"Well if it's a quick butt-kicking he wants, I can give that to him," Sonic said with a smirk. "Back in a sec!" And then he was off.

The rest of them joined Tails on the roof to watch and see if Sonic needed any backup, with Silver helping lift those who couldn't fly up onto it.

"Is that Metal Sonic?" asked Rotor, straining his eyes to see what was happening in the distance.

They were too far to really see clearly, but the sight of a blue robot with a distinctly hedgehog shape wreaking havoc on Eggman's command painted a pretty clear picture.

Still…

"Doesn't Metal look different to you?" asked Silver as he squinted. From all his fights with Metal, he'd gotten very familiar with the robot's design.

Shard used his thrusters to fly even higher and zoom his eyes in on what was happening. Being a robot with specialized visual sensors to see distance and plan routes at his top speeds, Shard's eyes were better than any of the Freedom Fighters, giving him the best view of Dr. Eggman's new right-hand bot.

But even his processing speeds needed a moment to comprehend just what he was seeing, and the horror of it to sink in. "Oh! Oh no!" Shard said when he saw what Eggman had in store. "No, no, no, Eggman's sunk to an all-new low!"

"What's wrong?" asked Silver in concern.

Sally stopped squinting at the distant machine and looked up at him. "What's up? Is it a new Metal Sonic design?"

"Why does it have a horn like on ze unicorn?" asked Antoine in confusion as he pulled out a pair of binoculars to peer at the attack.

"Call Sonic back!" Shard yelled sharply, startling the Freedom Fighters.

"Why? He can take that ol' bot in his sleep," said Bunny.

"It's not that he can't take it, it's how it looks!" Shard insisted.

"It's a Metal Sonic. It looks like Sonic," said Tails, not seeing the problem.

"That's just it!" Shard shouted. "It doesn't look like Sonic! It looks like his father! That's Jules the Hedgehog! Eggman made that robot just so Sonic would have to fight his own dad!"

The Freedom Fighters paled when they heard that.

"Call! Sonic! Back!" Shard repeated urgently.

Sally reached for her coms, then stopped and grimaced at what she saw. "Too late."

In the distance, they saw the blue streak that was Sonic stop short right in front of Eggman's attack, and then, for once, stand stock still.

Shard cursed internally and wished not for the first time Sonic wasn't so fast, and immediately activated his thrusters to take off after him.

This fight was going to hurt, and not in the way fights usually were.

Seeing Shard burst into action spurred the other Freedom Fighters to do the same. While none of them could match the speed of Sonic or Shard, they just had to get there. Sonic needed them.

Only one Freedom Fighter broke off from the others in a different direction.

"Tails, where ya goin', Sugah?" Bunnie asked as she used the jets in her feet to fly off.

"I have to get the prototype from my lab!" he called back.

Rotor almost stumbled in mid-run, and shouted, "But that hasn't been tested yet!"

"No time like the present! Try and stall until I get there!" Tails replied as he shot away.

There was some relief to be had in knowing Tails had something of a plan, but that relief evaporated fast when they finally reached Sonic, and saw the state he was in, the look on his face, and who Eggman had initially attacked to start this mess.

Eggman would pay for this.

And Sonic had been having such a good day too.

The world was back together, everyone was safe, and he no longer turned into a Werehog every night (though he might miss the strength and stretchy arms). Really the only downside had been that Chip had to return to sleep as Light Gaia, but he'd recovered his memories and was content. Everyone was happy, that was all Sonic could ask for.

So when he heard he needed to fight Eggman, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Sure, this attack was a little soon after his latest defeat, but that just meant it wasn't well thought out and should be an easy win.

Then Sonic arrived at the scene of the attack.

The first thing he saw was the target of the attack, and any good feelings he had from dinner were erased and anger took its place when he saw a bruised Uncle Chuck crouching protectively over his apprentice, Muttski.

Then… he saw who was attacking them…

In all the ways Sonic thought he'd see his father's face again, this was the one out of his very worst nightmares.

"Dad!" Sonic said breathlessly.

The splitting image of Jules loomed above Uncle Chuck on the attack until Sonic arrived on the scene. He turned to face the blue hedgehog, and if his actions weren't proof enough this was not Sonic's father in control, the long-hated utterance of, "Priority One: Hedgehog!" being spoken in his father's voice made it clear.

Sonic was frozen.

Internally he knew.

He knew that wasn't really his father.

He knew his real dad was gone.

He knew this was just another Badnik attacking his uncle.

He knew Jules the Hedgehog would never do this!

This wasn't his father.

This wasn't his father!

… But it had his face!

"Hohohoho!" cackled a laugh above him, and Sonic vaguely registered a drone with a screen showing Eggman's face above him. It was clear the doctor was streaming the whole thing from the comfort of his base to enjoy the spectacle he had created. "What's the matter, Sonic? Haven't you missed your dear old dad? Jules, my dear friend, why don't you give your son a hug!"

The Badnik instantly forgot about Chuck and Muttski and shot for Sonic.

Sonic had never felt so frozen.

It had his dad's face…

"Watch out!" came a shout, and Shard tackled Sonic out of the way a split-second before the Badnik (Because he couldn't think of that thing as Jules! He couldn't!) could reach him.

The force jolted Sonic mostly out of his stupor but did not reignite any will to fight.

The Badnik, however, recovered from its miss and launched itself at them again. Shard quickly blocked it with a diamond-shaped forcefield to keep the two of them safe.

"I've got this," Shard said. "Get Uncle Chuck and Muttski out of here."

Sonic shook his head to clear it, and tried to protest, "No, I can-"

"Sonic!" Shard said firmly. "I'm a robot who's still getting the hang of empathy, and even I know this is not a fight you should have to face. Focus on Uncle Chuck, I've got this. Go!"

Sonic cast one last look at the Badnik, before nodding.

The second Shard dropped his shield the Badnik charged for Sonic again, but Shard held it back. Sonic resolutely did not look at the robot-on-robot fight as he raced for Uncle Chuck and Muttski.

"You okay?" he asked when he reached them.

"We're fine, Sonic," Uncle Chuck assured him, allowing Sonic to pull him to his feet.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Muttski replied. He then frowned and asked, "Why did Eggman call that robot your dad?"

"Uh-" Sonic said, unsure how to reply.

"What's this?" asked Eggman, seeing the three of them together, and having fun twisting the knife. "A family reunion? But not a complete one. Really, Charles, how could you leave out your dear brother."

At his words, the Badnik managed to blast Shard hard enough that he went flying, and then launched itself at them again, forcing Sonic to grab Chuck and Muttski and dodge.

"Brother?" asked Uncle Chuck in Sonic's ear as they raced away.

"It's a long story, Uncle Chuck," Sonic said. "I- WHOA!"

He was cut off when the Badnik proved to have Metal Sonic-level speed, which quickly overtook Sonic. Slowed down as he was with passengers, Sonic was unable to dodge as the robot's clawed hands came straight for them.

The blue hedgehog barely managed to throw Uncle Chuck and Muttski out of the way before the robot's metal nails cut into his leg and made him skid into the ground. He then only had time to roll onto his back before the Badnik was on top of him again, its claws bared for a second strike.

That was the sight that greeted the other Freedom Fighters when they arrived. Chuck, Muttski, and Shard tossed about, and the blue robot clawing at Sonic trapped beneath him.

"Get it away from Sonic, and stall for whatever Tails has planned," Sally ordered as she and the other Freedom Fighters leaped into action.

"You got it!" Amy called, smacking the Badnik off of Sonic with her hammer.

It was then caught by Rotor, who lifted it above his head and tossed it farther away.

"Okay, big boy let's tussle!" shouted Bunnie as she and Antoine jumped forward to engage the machine. The married couple were a deadly duo between her arm cannon and his swords and were able to keep the robot busy.

"Sonic, are you okay?" asked Amy, as she helped him up.

Sonic, between the pain his leg was in and the mess going on in his mind, didn't really have an answer for that. "How's Uncle Chuck? Muttski?" he asked instead.

"They're fine," said Sally as she helped Uncle Chuck to his feet.

"We'll help you defend them," Rotor promised him, positioning himself between the Badnik and Muttski.

Despite that, while they were quick to defend, none of their hearts were really in the fight.

Robotic copy or not, none of them wanted to destroy Sonic's dad right in front of him.

Silver was quick to fly over to Shard's side and help his robotic friend to his feet. "You okay?"

"A bit embarrassed he got that one over me," Shard replied. He then called to the others, "He's fast but not strong! And see those scratches on him already! Eggman built him to be destroyed!"

"Ohhh, you got me. Yes, this machine was a rush job. Not well built, and not intended to survive this fight. But how will it go down? Will we get to see your friends kill your father for you, Sonic?" asked Eggman, greatly enjoying this, as evident from the bowl of popcorn he was munching on through the screen. "How will you look them in the eye after this?"

Sonic flinched and Sally scowled. "Bunnie, Antoine, switch with me!" she called. The couple fell back, and Sally activated her arm blades to battle the Badnik just enough to hold it back, but not enough to damage it. Silver hovered nearby her, ready to shut the robot off with his powers, but hesitant to do so if that went against Tails' plans.

This did well to buy time, but it quickly made Dr. Eggman grow bored.

"Urgh, the one time I actually want to see you destroy one of my robots," he complained. He then grinned nastily. "Jules, kill Charles the Hedgehog, and if any of them stop you, self-destruct."

Three things then happened all at once.

First, the Badnik bolted away from Sally and directly for Uncle Chuck.

Second, Silver reacted in kind by reaching out with his powers to shut it down.

And third, Tails suddenly flew in out of left field with a high-tech dart gun and shot at the robot with one of the darts.

The result was the dart hitting the robot a second before Silver caught it and shut it down, which happened milliseconds before the Badnik could reach Uncle Chuck. The mustachioed hedgehog stood frozen with a clawed hand ghosting his face before the red lights in the Badnik's eyes went dark as it shut down.

"DAD!" Sonic couldn't help but yell as the Badnik crumbled to the ground at Chuck's feet, and Amy had to hold him back running over to it and injuring his leg further.

Eggman laughed at the sight of Sonic's distress. "Not as much bloodshed as I was hoping for, but ah, I needed that!" he cackled.

Shard shot the drone recording them out of the sky, cutting Eggman off mid-laugh. "Why did we let him talk?" he asked.

"So we know what orders he would send, without audio he'd just send them directly where we couldn't hear," Nichole replied, agreeing with the sentiment, but knowing strategically keeping things going was the better option.

With the fight over, they all gathered around the downed Badnik.

"Sonic?" asked Sally as she and Amy helped support him on his scratched leg. "You know it's not-"

"I know, I know," Sonic said, trying to avoid looking at it. "I know it's not really my dad."

"Um… Actually…" Tails said hesitantly, drawing everyone's eyes.

Seeing he was now the center of attention, Tails fiddled with his dart gun before he held it up and said, "This is my latest invention Rotor, Professor Von Schlemmer and I have been working on," he said, holding it up. "I've been calling it the G-Recollector. The darts in it contain that Genesis Wave energy that helped us remember the old timeline, and theoretically on a more permanent basis without the need for constant exposure to a Genesis Portal."

"It's only a prototype, and we haven't tested it yet," said Rotor, crouching down to examine the downed Badnik. "We were worried what exposure could do to a person, or if the memories of the Pre-Genesis Wave events could overwrite the ones of this timeline completely. Or worse, scramble their memories and make someone go insane."

"It… can feel like that," agreed Silver, who'd gotten his memories back slowly from Genesis Portal exposure, and when they finally all hit it had given him a mental breakdown. The effects on his mind possibly could have been worse for him if he wasn't already so separate from the timeline due to all his time traveling.

"I can imagine. Honestly, we were all lucky that our brief or permanent recollections of the old timeline didn't do any lasting damage to our brains," Rotor concluded, gesturing at Silver as an example.

Silver blinked, then glanced at Shard. "Did he just say something was wrong with my brain?" he asked.

"Dunno, but I've often wondered the same thing," Shard quipped back, earning a deadpan look from Silver.

"No, I just meant how it caused your breakdown, clearly you were able to recover," Rotor quickly amended when he realized how that sounded. "We all went through some mental gymnastics when we had those memories and came out fine."

"Well, aside from acting somewhat strange while having those memories," said Antoine, remembering how Sonic and Tails had reacted when they first saw him after the new timeline's start, even if he could no longer recall why that was, nor why he'd had the insistent urge to go find his wife while he had those memories.

"But this robot won't have that risk," Tails said. "There was no mind in it that could be damaged, and if the Genesis Portal energy overtakes it completely, then it's no real loss. In fact, it might even be a gain."

Sonic's eyes widened as it sunk in what Tails and Rotor were saying. "Then… you mean he's… did it work?" he asked, looking down at the Badnik who could possibly be…

Tails and Rotor exchanged an uneasy look. "We… won't actually know until we, ya know… turn him back on," Tails said slowly.

Sonic stared at them for a long moment, then turned to stare at the downed robot.

The Badnik (his father) just lay there motionless. All the answers were locked away inside its programming. Not to be revealed until they dared to activate it once again.

A/N This is one I wanted to do for a while. Maybe I'm bringing too many people back, but it's my fic, let me do this.

Like with Shard, Jules was a robot when the Genesis Wave hit. Maybe he wasn't always a robot, but there is some wiggle room one could work with. Like with Shard coming back as a Bit, if there was enough similarities to their creation it could work. For example, the Bits are (in this fic at least) based off Metal Sonic's old design, so that was how Shard awakened in one.

Jules' story is that he trusted Dr. Robotnik, and Robotnik used him and took advantage of him to hurt the people he loved most, and I think I remember Robotnik's sabotage was part of the reason Jules' robotization left him a mindless machine for years. Dr. Eggman built this mindless Badnik in Jules image to take advantage of the memory of him and hurt the people Jules loved most. There may be just enough parallels.