One Day Later…
Dr. Eggman walked through the doors to his base's command hub, a triumphant grin on his face. In his hand was some kind of cube that constantly shifted colors between purple and green. With surprising gentleness, he set it down on the command console before pulling up several holographic screens, most of it statistics and information on his newest invention.
He turned around to look at the only other three inhabitants of the room.
"I've done it! Another brilliant success from this world's greatest genius!" Eggman boasted boisterously, heard only by Orbot, Cubot, and Sage.
Orbot and Cubot politely clapped, while Sage immediately went to inspect the newest invention. Strangely, she couldn't ascertain what it did, even with the statistics plastered. Either it was purely nonsensical, or her father invented something so dissimilar to his past projects, nothing in the Eggnet could give her information on what it could do. Sage turned to her father with a confused glance, only to see him with a somehow even larger smile on his face looking at his daughters.
"I see the look on your face dear daughter, and to answer the question I'm sure you currently have, no, this invention is completely new! In fact, I'm sure I've never made anything similar to it in the past. Nothing in my database would help you ascertain what it did, and using chaos energy for my inventions always gives strange statistics, although still reliable." Eggman said, gesturing at the information, which on second glance did seem to make less sense than what most of Father's inventions did normally.
"While I would try to walk you through the process normally, I just can't contain my excitement, so I think I'll just tell you what it does, hm?" Eggman said, in a similar tone to what he would mock Sonic within a similar situation, although the tone this time sounded far more genuine.
Eggman turned to the cube, stepping up to it and slowly bringing it up to his face. He then turned back to Sage, completely ignoring the two other robots.
"You see; after realizing I needed 'help' as you so put it, I realized that I couldn't just trust someone… Let's just say as morally grey as I am. I can admit my own mistakes, and one of those was burning too many bridges with anyone who wouldn't stab me in the back. But what if… I turned Sonic's friends into my allies? It kills two birds with one stone! Leave Sonic to fight alone and simultaneously get soldiers to throw into the fray! Genius If I say so myself." Eggman said, while turning back to the console to pull up some different screens.
At that exact moment, Metal Sonic walked into the command hub holding the White Chaos Emerald he stole from Tails Yesterday. Eggman glanced over at Metal Sonic, before smiling once again. After he finished pulling up the screens, which seemed to be paused video recordings, he went over and grabbed the Chaos Emerald from Metal Sonic's hands. He then went over to Sage to continue his explanation.
"Ah yes, thank you Metal. Where was I? Oh yes!" Eggman cleared his throat, before striking a knowledgeable pose.
"After that genius idea, I had to figure out how to put it into practice. The obvious answer was something similar to the metal virus again, but turning his compatriots into robots would just be a waste of effort when I could more easily make robotic copies of them. Besides, I felt that to truly beat the rodent, mindless machines wouldn't work, as evidenced by my badniks. As much as I hate to admit it, Biological ingenuity is what usually beats me, not just raw power." Although the raw power aspect certainly doesn't help my chances was left unsaid, although everyone in that room knew that was what Eggman was thinking.
"Regardless, I needed actual self-aware help, not more robots. I thought of hypnotism like Starline tried, but to truly get it to stick would take weeks of effort, weeks I don't have the patience to spend trying to convert a single ally of that rat. Besides, trying the Overzealous Buffoon's way would more than likely garner the attention of those experiments of his, and I already have one Sonic to deal with, I don't want to bother with another one who would be more than happy to finish me off." Eggman said, thinking back on a certain Tenrec and Fennec. Last he heard, they were hiding out in one of Starline's old bases, and he was content to let them stay there.
"So, after some minor brainstorming, I realized the perfect invention." Eggman said, smiling widely. He quickly picked up the cube again, holding it aloft like a trophy. "This cube, when plugged into one of my ranged weapons, has the power to completely swap the morality of whoever it hits! Why try to control, when I can convert?" Eggman said, laughing maniacally.
After almost a full minute of laughing, Eggman calmed down before looking at his daughter. To his surprise, Sage actually looked more apprehensive than impressed, which sent some red flags through Eggman's mind.
"Father… While this invention is grand and may be effective, I ascertain that there is a 78.9% chance that it will backfire on you, with a 65% chance that the effects of said backfire would be irreversible." Sage stated quietly, glancing away from her father for a moment.
When Sage was met with silence, she slowly looked back over to her father before looking at his face in stunned silence. Instead of the ego-driven anger or even a contemplative look, she saw a wide and cheerful grin split his face.
"Right you are my dear daughter! Or at least, that would be the case if I didn't set some precautions. Before we get to those however, let me explain how this invention even works." Eggman said, getting right back into his presentation mode. Sage could feel a frown tug at her virtual face, but successfully kept her face neutral.
"Contrary to what others may think, this invention barely affects personality at all. It doesn't make you a completely different person, just makes it so what you think is wrong becomes right, and vice-versa. So, if I were to shoot, let's say, Miles Prower with this invention, he would still be a childish inventor, although maybe his inhibitions to what he would invent would no longer exist, or maybe his inventions would start to look something like my own! This way, I can keep the personalities of Sonic's friends that make them so frustrating and turn them towards my own ends! Truly, my genius astonishes myself sometimes!" Eggman said boisterously, before turning back to the video screens he pulled up earlier.
He quickly started up one of the videos, which was simply titled Morality Test 001. On the screen was a scared looking cat islander, with long black hair, blue eyes, and light grey fur. She was wearing grey pants and a red long-sleeved shirt. Physically, she was fine, she wasn't even tied up, just sitting on a chair shivering with fear in a long room.
When Sage saw the islander, she got a strange feeling. She didn't know what this new emotion was, but it was decidedly not good. She shook her head, remembering this was merely a video of events that already happened, but she took no pleasure from it.
A voice cut into the video, which the Islander also seemed to hear, looking around widely. Morality Switch commencing in 3… 2… 1…
Suddenly, an almost blindingly bright purple-green beam of energy shot out from somewhere, hitting the cat square in the chest. After the light was gone, the cat slowly opened her eyes, which were no longer blue, but yellow. Her grey fur darkened significantly, and it seemed her teeth sharpened considerably. Otherwise, no changes seemed to happen. The cat was still terrified, (even more so after that bright light) and hadn't seemed to notice the changes. Suddenly, the robotic voice from earlier returned. Test Inconclusive. You may return to your 'quarters', Subject A. Then the video suddenly ended, but not before the islander began to silently cry.
Sage stared at the still image of the islander in clear distress, and once again that unknown emotion returned, but in greater force. It was an extremely uncomfortable feeling. Sage was nearly glad when her father played the next video, this one titled Subject A Feed 001.
The feed seemed to show a living quarters of a sort, with a red colored bed and a wardrobe, with a door titled 'bathroom' on the other side of the room. In the room also hung a mirror where the same islander from the past video stood looking at herself. She was in obvious shock, looking at her new form. She slowly opened her mouth and scratched her newly sharpened teeth a bit. She was obviously still distressed about her new appearance, but slowly sat down on her bed, most likely coming to the realization that a change in look wasn't something to get worked up about.
The feed changed views to look directly at what had to be the room's doorway. Under the door slid an envelope with the words First Payment scrawled on front. Subject A quickly went over and looked over the envelope, staring in what could be mute surprise. She picked up the envelope and looked at the contents, which seemed to contain Islander currency. She looked at the currency in shock, before shaking her head and putting the envelope under her bed covers. She then once again sat down on her bed, before her distressed look slowly dissipated. She looked over at the mirror again, and once again looked at her new look. Slowly, a small smile appeared on her face.
The video suddenly ended right at that moment. Sage looked at her father in confusion. Eggman seemed to immediately interpret that look.
"Ah yes. I forgot to mention. Subject A is an Islander that saw an advertisement I posted, under a false alias of course, to help with a science experiment for cash. Of course, no specifics. She went to the fake lab I had set up, and then was forcefully moved here to this facility, all while unconscious. Of course, despite my darker endeavors, I am a man of my word, at least when it comes to something as simple as money. Besides, I needed accurate data, and having the Subject be terrified the whole time wouldn't help with the data at all. So, it was to also put her at ease." Eggman said, before starting the next video, seemingly satisfied with the explanation.
The uncomfortable feeling in Sage lessened somewhat, after realizing that this Islander was compensated and that she volunteered, albeit unknowingly, to be the subject for the testing of Father's newest invention. It was still there, especially when Sage looked over at the first screen, still showing the islander's tear-stricken face, but it was much less prominent.
The next video started, showing the cat once again in the same room as the first video, much more relaxed, although still obviously on edge. The voice once again announced the testing morality switch, and the cat was hit with it again. After the flash disappeared, the cat seemed to have turned back into her original self. This time however, a mirror was deposited in the room to showcase the effects. The Islander seemed to turn to the mirror to observe the effects, and looked strangely… disappointed?
The video cut itself short there.
The next video was played, this time in the long room again instead of the islander's quarters. This time, the islander looked almost cheerful, sitting in the chair with a slight smile on her lips. It seemed all anxiousness was washed away with repeated tests that caused no harm and all the money she most likely was paid. She was once again hit with the ray, and her look once again changed to what Sage mentally dubbed as 'dark form', with her eyes changing back to yellow, her teeth sharpening, and her fur darkening. This time though, a different effect could be seen, as the cat immediately straightened her posture in surprise, before a dark look started shining in her eyes. She immediately relaxed into the chair she was situated in, a smug grin filtering in on her face, a smile full of sharp teeth.
The video was cut there. Sage was expecting another video to play, but to her mild surprise that was the last one. Sage looked over to her father, who looked back at Sage with a knowing smile. Instead of answering Sage's obvious question, he brought up a communicator on his sleeve and called into it.
"It's time. You may enter" Eggman said mysteriously.
A sudden opening of the room's doorway caused everyone to turn towards the sound. In the now open doorway stood the same Cat islander that was in the videos with her darker look. Her hands were on the back of her head, and she looked downright relaxed. Instead of the clothes she was seen wearing in the videos, she was wearing a red and yellow suit with the Eggman Empire insignia embroidered on the front. She looked around at those gathered, before looking at the floating virtual girl and then Eggman.
"How's it goin boss man?" She said cheerfully.
Sage's eyes widened in shock. She turned over to her father, who was wearing a wide grin.
"HA! Oh, nothing exciting. Merely showing how you used to be." Eggman said, gesturing to the floating holographic screens, specifically the first video with her crying.
She looked at the first screen for a moment, before laughing. "Man, was I ever that pathetic? Getting hit with the whatchamacallit thing was the best thing to ever happen to me!" she finished, still quietly laughing to herself.
Eggman turned over to his daughter, who was still in clear shock. He smiled mischievously. "As you can see, the Cube worked like a charm. The genius is making it so that the recipients of its ray would actually like being evil. This way, they wouldn't ever want to change back willingly. Stuff that free will morality into that rodent's face! Oh, and as for your backfire concerns? I've specifically designed it so that it is reversible. No more Metal Virus repeats. I've also hardcoded specific commands so that it can't affect me or Sonic. Myself, for obvious reasons, and Sonic because I don't want to deal with an outright evil Sonic. It also can't affect inorganics, so metal Sonic can't be made good, for example. Just imagine, watching Sonic's own friends help destroy him, and being happy to do so! It's brilliant!" Eggman said, before laughing loudly.
Sage ignored her father's laughing, and floated towards the cat islander, who was looking at Eggman with a relaxed, and slightly indulgent, smile. Sage made her presence known to the islander and greeted her.
"Greetings, I am SAGE, an AI created by the genius inventor and my father, Dr. Eggman. Who are you?" Sage stated, looking at the islander curiously.
The Islander looked at her with a slightly less wide smile. "My name is Alcurine. My name has always confused people though, so you can call me A. or maybe just Subject, that's what the Doctor calls me." She said, looking less cheerful, although still relaxed.
Sage looked at her calculatedly, "does that not bother you?" she asked.
Alcurine looked away for a moment. "I mean, sure. It kinda pisses me off. But I chose to work for Eggman, and as long as he lets me have my fun beating up people, I couldn't care less." She said, not quite meeting Sage's eyes.
"Could you elaborate-" Sage started, before a loud klaxon started wailing, the lights going from normal to red.
Eggman immediately stopped laughing, before looking out at the live base feed. It showed Sonic with the Diamond Cutters tearing through his base's egg pawns. Despite what looked like a dire situation outside, he never stopped smiling.
He quickly turned to Alcurine. "Well well, the heroes have arrived. Want to show them what my new invention can do, Subject?" Eggman said cheerfully, before handing the Cube over to Alcurine.
Alcurine looked at the Cube for just a moment, before a wide grin broke through her face. "Will do boss! Hey, can I use one of the base's guns? I've been practicing!" she said excitedly.
Eggman looked at her closely, before agreeing. He tasked Metal Sonic to watch her as she ran out of the room with a crazy laugh. Metal Sonic did a form of salute before following the Islander out.
Eggman turned over at the screens, sitting comfortably. Sage disappeared, most likely focusing more of her processing power on the intruders then having a body at the moment.
Eggman saw that one of his faster guns was hooked onto the Cube, before aiming at the intruders. He smiled.
"Time to watch my genius in action."