Chapter 16 – A Machine's Family
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POWER RESTORED.
INITIATING POWER CYCLE.
RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC OF SYSTEMS.
ACCESSING LAST RECORDED MEMORY.
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Metal Sonic fired a plasma pulse laser from the hole in the center of his chest. It pierced the wall where he'd thrown his opponent and exploded in a brilliant display of light and debris.
Metal honed in on the area, ignoring the smoke and grit surrounding him. His sensors scanned the area, flipping through different visions. The colors of the environment shifted rapidly between a rich purple ultraviolet view, a chalky gray biosignature scan, and a deep sea blue thermal vision. He lingered on the last, studying the environment closely. Old Eggtech sat abandoned and dark here and there.
The monitors for the central computer behind him glowed a bright white, displaying all the secrets of the Egg Network. Metal couldn't let that fall into the enemy hands. His number one objective of this mission was to prevent that at all costs.
He couldn't afford to turn his back and purge all data and connection to the network though. Not if enemies were still around. As he swept the room, locked in a battle stance, he brought up records of previous battles with his inferior counterpart. The one he was meant to replace.
A column of information scrolled rapidly on the left side of his screen. He highlighted certain sections and, as he suspected, the hedgehog had survived attacks like this before. He ran a calculation. Chances his enemy survived the blast…ninety-five percent. Chance of flanking maneuver, ninety-eight percent.
All the data retrieval and calculations occurred in the span of a few seconds. By the time Metal turned, Sonic was racing around behind him. No time to purge the data cleanly from the computer. Metal fired another plasma pulse at the computer. The large console and nearest monitors exploded in a shower of sparks and glass. Then he raised his claws, preparing to rip the approaching hedgehog asunder.
"Chaos Spear!" a voice yelled from to the side.
A crackling shaft of energy tore through Metal's chassis. One of his limbs dropped to his side, completely useless. Warnings flashed across his vision, indicating power output was dropping rapidly. He swiveled his head, looking for the surprise enemy, and caught a glimpse of Shadow.
That was when Sonic curled into a ball and smashed into Metal. The robot sailed backwards, crashing into a wall. A jagged piece of rebar impaled him through the chest, destroying his pulse laser and hanging him like a portrait. Then the piece of wall broke off and collapsed onto the floor, crushing Metal underneath. The flashing warnings grew dire, pointing to failures throughout his body. His vision shook, breaking up every few seconds with red static.
"Is he down?" Sonic asked, lifting the wall with a grunt.
Shadow helped him flip it over and they stood over Metal. "He's down," he said as Metal's systems shut down.
END RECORDING.
DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETE.
ERROR. MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OFFLINE. FLIGHT OFFLINE. BOOST SYSTEM OFFLINE. WEAPONS AND COMBAT OFFLINE. SHIELDS OFFLINE. MOTOR FUNCTIONS OFFLINE.
ERRORS ACKNOWLEDGED. OCCIPITAL AND AUDITORY SYSTEMS ONLINE.
ACCESSING OCCIPITAL AND AUDITORY FUNCTIONS.
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"So you guys got nothing from the base?" Tails asked. Metal's vision slowly came into focus as the kitsune straightened up.
"Not nothing," Sonic said. "We salvaged a few things." Then he jerked his head at Metal. "And him."
Metal looked between them and immediately red circles appeared over Sonic and Tails, registering each as an "ENEMY" and providing a threat level indicator. He examined the rest of the room. They were in a workshop of some sort and he was propped up on a stainless-steel table with several blinding examination lamps overhead. No one else was around. The urge to attack and strangle both of them made his processors surge powerfully. He ran diagnostic after diagnostic on his systems, checking for the slim possibility that his limbs might actually be functioning.
"He doesn't look to be in bad shape. Considering." Tails held up a finger, moving it around in front of the robot. "Follow my finger. I need to check your eyes for adjustments."
Metal reluctantly complied, tracking the finger as Tails ran a few tests on his eyes. "Seems good. I'll check his arms."
He perked up at that. His odds of escape were improving. If he could at least move his arms, he could crawl to freedom if need be. If nothing else, he might be able to end that hedgehog once and for all.
Sonic watched closely as Tails ducked out of sight. "Just give me one second," the younger said. Tools clinked together and tremors reverberated up Metal's right arm and along his chest. He waited silently, staring Sonic down, his vision blood red with hate.
"That should about do it," Tails said. "There!"
Metal lunged forward, arm outstretched, claws snapping and swiping at Sonic's chest. A heavy chain-linked restraint held him back and he swiveled to it. It was hooked to the ceiling, keeping his arm in place. A curved steel restraint wrapped around his chest, pinning him to the table. Metal examined the chain, the restraint, then Sonic.
Remove the restraint. Tear the chain. Kill Sonic.
Settled on that course, he dug his claws under the restraint, bending and crushing it slowly. "Shut him down!" Sonic yelled. "Shut him down!"
Metal snapped his head to Tails. The kitsune fumbled with his tools and a box beside him. A power source, with wires that trailed up to the table. Tails reached for the power source, intending to shut him off. Metal swiped at him, catching a tuft of Tails' shoulder. The boy leaped back with a yelp.
"Hey, Metalhead!" Sonic called. Metal turned back to his rival, who was mere feet from him. The order of his priorities changed and he reached for Sonic. His claws were almost there. Almost at his chest. He was going to do it this time. He was going to-
POWER LOST. SYSTEM SHUTDOWN.
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…
POWER RESTORED.
INITIATING POWER CYCLE.
RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC OF SYSTEMS.
ERROR. MULTIPLE SYSTEMS STILL OFFLINE.
OCCIPITAL AND AUDITORY SYSTEMS ONLINE. MOTOR FUNCTIONS ONLINE. WARNING, LIMITED FUNCTIONALITY.
ACCESSING OCCIPITAL AND AUDITORY FUNCTIONS.
…
"I still don't think this is a good idea," Tails said.
A newcomer, a short beetle in a pink blazer and skirt, peered at the robot. "I have my concerns too." He didn't know her, but she was talking casually with Tails. Therefore, he deemed her an enemy as well and reserved a threat assessment.
"It was all Amy's idea, Jewel," Sonic said, chuckling from somewhere outside Metal's view. Was he strapped down again? It didn't feel like it. Yet he also couldn't move in the slightest.
The pink hedgehog appeared in a corner and scoffed. "It was not! Jewel, all I said was that rehabilitation might be the answer. If he can get used to not trying to attack everyone all the time, maybe it will override his programming."
"Relax. I vouched for it too." She mumbled as Sonic leaned into view and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Metal immediately ran another test of his system. He still had the desire to serve Eggman, still had the goal to beat and kill Sonic. So no, nothing had changed. However, all this talk of overriding his programming was concerning and he listened closely. Not that they had a chance of undoing Eggman's work, but maybe he might learn something interesting about his enemies.
"What do you think?" Jewel asked Tails.
"It's an interesting theory." He looked down at Metal. "That's all it is so far though: a theory. One I have yet to test fully."
"But the inhibitors are working?"
Inhibitors? That explained the results from his systems about limited functionality.
"Yes. We can test them now." Tails walked over to a laptop and tapped a few keys. Then he turned to Metal. "Can you stand up?"
The robot slowly stood up straight. He raised his hands, flexing his claws. No hinderance in the joints. Legs seemed fine too. He glanced at the people around him. Without his weapons, he was at a disadvantage. First, he needed to disable these inhibitors. Then escape and report back to Eggman.
Sonic held the largest threat in the room, followed by Amy, then Tails, although his was questionable given whatever inventions he had up his sleeve. The unknown Jewel didn't appear very strong. No weapons either from a brief scan. He dashed over to her, ready to take her hostage and demand Tails remove the inhibitors. Jewel raised her arms, cowering away from him.
However, when he was a foot from her, he stopped, frozen in place. He swiveled his head back to Tails, but the boy had stepped away from the computer. He hadn't restrained him.
Jewel scooted around the robot and hurried back to join Tails. Once she was far enough away, Metal's limbs resumed functioning and he took a couple of steps forward. He spun around, reassessing her. Did she have some type of shield surrounding her?
"Looks like the inhibitors work," Tails said. He approached Metal, who attempted to swipe him. While his arm wound-up though, he couldn't lash out as Tails stood next to him. Again, he locked up, like a statue of a pitcher always on the verge of striking out a batter.
"They stop him from actually attacking anyone," Tails explained and pointed to one of Metal's elbow joints. "They're installed throughout in select places. Once they detect anything hostile, they hold him in place until the victim is safely away. Or until he stops trying to attack the person."
"And they can hold him in place?" Jewel asked as Metal struggled and shook against the infernal restraints.
"Yes," he said. "Still, I'm not sure about auctioning him off. Even for a day."
"That's why I'll be watching him," Sonic said.
Metal replayed what Tails had mentioned. If he stopped attacking, he could move. It went against his programming and his desire to maim them all, but he halted all attack processes. Immediately, he could move again. Everyone in the room flinched as Metal put his limbs at his side, reconsidering his options.
"S-See? Like I said. They'll hold him until the victim is away or he stops." Still, Tails quickly rejoined the others.
The robot glanced at the door. No chance to get the inhibitors off for now. Maybe they had a limited range though. If he could get away, maybe he could get to Eggman and have them removed. Re-routing all power to his legs, he ran towards the door, crashing through it before the others reacted.
"He's escaping! Shut him down again!" someone shouted.
Metal leapt over sofa, chairs, and other furniture in a living room and threw open the front door. He was out and away from them. He examined the city around him, then the woods nearby. It'd be better to go that way. He turned in that direction and—
Fell flat on his face.
POWER LOST. SYSTEM SHUTDOWN.
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…
POWER RESTORED.
INITIATING POWER CYCLE.
MULTIPLE SYSTEMS STILL LIMITED. ACCESSING OCCIPITAL AND AUDITORY FUNCTIONS.
A large spotlight flashed in his eyes. Metal immediately adjusted his vision, darkening it until he could see where he was. A stage of some sort, alongside Jewel, who held an auctioneer's mallet. So they had gone through with auctioning him off for a day.
He looked down at his body. He wasn't restrained, but he could feel the inhibitors keeping him from moving. Off to the side behind a curtain, Tails sat with his laptop, constantly checking between it and the robot.
Metal scanned the crowd. Most of the faces were unknowns. Civilians. Likely people who fought against Eggman or supported those who did. He quickly marked them as enemies and the room was filled with dozens upon dozens of red circles in his vision, including those for Sonic, Amy, Tangle, and others.
Except one. One lone green circle stood out among the rest, with a line pointing to the circle and reading "ALLY." He zoomed in on the person. They wore a cloak, shielding most of their features. He enhanced his vision and caught a shock of white hair and a ghostly child's face. Sage. His processors flared up and he scanned the crowd again. She seemed to be the only one in attendance on his side.
"Let's start the bidding for a day with this robot buddy," Jewel said the last two words uncertainly. "Do we have any offers? Oh, yes? You in the back."
Sage stood on her seat and called in a monotone voice, "Thirty rings."
"Thirty rings. Do we have any more? Yes, you?" she pointed to the other side.
"Fifty rings."
"Sixty rings," Sage said immediately.
"Eighty!" another bidder called.
Sage waved her arm high. "Ninety."
However, the bidding refused to stop and she was soon outpaced.
"One hundred!"
"One twenty!"
She looked helplessly at Metal. She didn't have the rings to win him and from his scans, she'd come here alone. He appreciated the gesture, but it was a hopeless case. He readied himself for an all-day torment with one of the buffoons in the audience.
"Sage! What are you doing here?" A new voice and one he recognized as well. Metal focused on Sage again and the new person, who wore a heavy coat, kept a wide-brimmed hat pulled down over his face, and was outlined in a friendly green circle in Metal's scan too. The robot boosted the power to his auditory systems and listened closely.
"Father." Sage was surprised and stood up. "What are you doing here?"
"I tracked you down once I discovered you were missing. Now what are you doing here?" Then Eggman looked up and noticed Metal on stage. Immediately, he seemed to calm down and understand the situation.
"I noticed that Metal hadn't reported in in over forty-eight hours," she said. "So I came out to find him. He's being sold off in this terrible auction." Off to the side, another person raised the bidding to two hundred rings. "I apologize, Father," she bowed her head. "I couldn't abandon my brother to them."
"That's quite alright," Eggman said. "However, you must not do this again. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes."
"And don't bother with these pointless events. Nothing can be gained from participating in them and playing by their rules." He grinned and tipped his hat up. "Come with me and I'll show you how to bid."
She hopped off her seat and they made their way to the stage. When they were a few feet away, Jewel noticed them and asked, "Oh? Yes, sir? Did you want to make an offer?"
"Indeed I did," he said boisterously, circling around to the steps and climbing them slowly. "In fact, I think it's the best offer you'll receive all day." With that, he pulled off his hat, exposing his bald pate in all its shiny brilliance and strode over to Jewel. Dozens of gasps and screams echoed through the audience and Jewel backed away from the podium.
In a flash, Sonic was up on stage, between Eggman and his friend. He spread his legs, poised to fight, as Eggman took the podium. "Easy there, rodent. You haven't heard my offer yet. You give me back my creation. In exchange, I'll give you a guarantee."
"What's that?" Sonic asked, clenching his fists.
Several explosions shuddered the roof at different points. Bits and pieces tumbled down the walls, cratering into the carpeted floor. The audience members grew hysterical, running to and fro, ducking under tables, or cramming the doors, unable to escape due to the mass of people all vying for the exit.
However, the roof didn't fall. Rather, it stayed in place, then slowly, slowly lifted into the air. The outer edge was shrouded in a translucent green glow, which originated from a flying ship. One of several flying battle fortresses, all with guns trained at the auction hall. The Egg Fleet.
In the air closest to the building, at least a hundred Egg Pawns hovered in the air. All armed, all aiming, all ready to fire on Eggman's orders.
"I'll guarantee not to flatten this building and this city to the ground. For today, that is." Eggman grinned at Sonic and Jewel. "Do we have a deal?"
The auctioneer nodded rapidly until it looked like her head would pop right off with the force. Sonic glanced at Metal, his friends rushing to the stage, then the army hovering in the air overhead. Metal saw his foe doing the calculations in his eyes, wondering if there was anyway to beat Eggman and prevent civilian casualties. There wasn't. It was futile.
"Tick-tock, Sonic," Eggman said.
"Fine. Take him," he said.
"Sage. If you would. And I'll take that," Eggman snatched the laptop from Tails. He peered at the screen and muttered to himself. "What did you imbeciles do to him? No matter. I'll shut him down and run a scan on him." He tapped a few commands and Metal sensed his power start to fade again.
Sage walked over to Metal as two Egg Pawns landed on either side of him. The Egg Pawns each took one of his arms and lifted him into the air. Sage leaned in close. "Come. It's time to go home."
POWER LOST. SYSTEM SHUTDOWN.
…
…
POWER RESTORED.
INITIATING POWER CYCLE.
MOTOR FUNCTION RESTORED. MULTIPLE SYSTEMS STILL LIMITED.
ACCESSING OCCIPITAL AND AUDITORY FUNCTIONS.
"Honestly. This is ridiculous," Eggman said, picking through a tray of tools held out obediently by an Egg Pawn. He lifted a small laser welding torch and adjusted his goggles over his eyes. "Inhibitors! On my robot!"
Metal looked around the room. They were in one of Eggman's numerous small workshops aboard one of his ships. No enemies in sight. Only Eggman and Sage, both outlined in green circles. He quietly diverted any power from weapons and shields to his motor functions.
"At least they didn't harm him in any permanent manner," Sage said, floating him.
"I suppose. There." He sat back and held up a tiny electronic device the size of a fingernail. "One down. Try attacking with your left arm."
Metal punched a hole deep in the Egg Pawn's chest and ripped out a handful of wires. The Egg Pawn wobbled on its heels for a moment, then toppled over, dumping the tray of tools and shutting down. Metal threw the handful of wires aside. No more impediments, no more stopping short. Everything was as it should be.
"Good." Eggman pushed his chair around to the other side.
"It is nice to have you back," Sage said. "I'm sure you were homesick."
The doctor laughed. "He is beyond such weaknesses. He's perfectly capable of being away for a few days."
Sage descended closer to Metal and whispered, "Do not let Father fool you. He was very worried when you were away."
"That's enough, Sage," he said with a rumble. She hung back as he removed another of the inhibitors from Metal's arm. "There's another one. How's that?" Metal punched the air again with the other arm and the doctor nodded. "Alright. Let's get the rest off. And Metal?" He pursed his lips thoughtfully for a moment. "Don't disappear like that again."
The robot looked over at Eggman, but he was already busy in his task, head down and laser torch peeling off another inhibitor. However, Sage floated closer, a smile playing at her lips. Her gaze shifted back and forth between watching their father work and her brother, her eyes bright and twinkling.
Inside his core, Metal's processors flared up briefly in response and he raised a thumbs up to her.