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Ch. 17: Off-Road Trip
Metal Sonic taps his foot on the ground continuously, his arms crossed sternly. He glances from side to side in this cramped elevator. He's aware of Mecha Sonic behind him, and he sees Mecha Knuckles and Silver Sonic on either side of him, and he wishes that he could be anywhere else. The elevator dings as they arrive at the single entrance/exit to the base. As Metal Sonic steps out, he looks out on the desert around him, glancing down at his shadow, the warm sun at his back. But soon, the quiet is disrupted by a loud alarm, and the entrance of the base starts to close. Each member of the team turns towards the noise and the closing doors. Suddenly, Doctor Eggman's voice rings through speakers on the outside of the base.
"You four! We have a basic security breach, but I've got it handled, so continue on with the mission," the speakers crackle off.
Metal Sonic glances briefly at Mecha Sonic, who in turn shows very little reaction.
"Whatever," Metal Sonic says, walking over to a panel in the ground
Metal Sonic slams his foot on the panel, and it swings open, revealing several large batteries. Metal pulls one out, flinging it at Mecha Sonic who catches it. Mecha Sonic fixes the battery on a latch on Silver Sonic's back. Mecha Knuckles leans down, grabs two batteries, and walks over to Mecha Sonic. Metal tucks one last battery under his arm, where it barely fits. Mecha Knuckles hands his second battery to Mecha Sonic.
Mecha Sonic looks around, "is everyone ready?"
Mecha Knuckles and Sliver Sonic stare silently, and Metal Sonic just ignores him and starts up his engine. The group starts to take off, Metal Sonic taking the lead. Silver Sonic stars his jets, rolling along the ground before finally getting enough speed to lift off. Mecha Knuckles, however, cannot fly, so he just starts running, at a comparably slow pace to Metal Sonic. Mecha Sonic starts up his powerful thrusters and flies at the back of the pack, making sure no one is left behind. The pack moves in the opposite direction of the city. Metal Sonic grumbles about how slow his teammates are, he'd already be halfway there by now if not for them.
–
24 hours later
–
Metal Sonic slowly drifts to the ground, his claws grinding into the base of his nose. Metal Sonic taps his foot rapidly as he watches Mecha Sonic pull Mecha Knuckles out of a river they had just crossed. Metal Sonic is low on battery and he can't handle this right now.
"We have successfully removed Mecha Knuckles from the river," Mecha Sonic says, placing Mecha Knuckles back on their feet.
"Put Silver Sonic on watch, and don't bother me," Metal Sonic says, sitting on the ground, finally pulling the battery out from under his arm.
Metal Sonic presses a button on the battery and a chord pops out. Metal Sonic grabs the chord, and swiftly plugs it into the back of his neck, quickly shutting down. Metal Sonic charges much faster than his allies, but he usually just stays in standby mode until activation time. But today he boots himself up early, before the sun had even risen Metal Sonic's red eyes flash to life. Meta Sonic pushes himself up, pulling out the battery chord and watching as it is quickly pulled back into the main body of the battery. At the sound, Silver Sonic snaps around raising its arms defensively. Metal Sonic glances over at Silver Sonic.
"Chill out buzzkill it's just me," Metal Sonic grumbles, walking out towards the perimeter of the camp.
Silver Sonic watches silently, his head turning smoothly to watch Metal Sonic's motion until he exits the square perimeter. As soon as Metal Sonic leaves range, Silver Sonic goes back to patrolling in straight lines. Metal Sonic gives Silver Sonic the side eye before continuing to walk towards the river bank. The mud squelches underfoot as Metal Sonic approaches the bank of the river. Metal's eyes drift slowly downstream before he starts up his engine and lifts out of the mud with a soft popping sound. Metal Sonic begins to fly, following the river downstream. He starts out slow, just dipping his toes in the water to wash off the mud, before increasing speed to the point that his wake is throwing water several feet onto the surrounding shores. Following the gentle curves of the river, Metal Sonic ends up at a sprawling lake. Metal Sonic soon cuts his forward thrust and drifts slowly to a stop in the middle of the lake. He watches as the ripples he made continue past him, spreading out until they all but disappear. Metal Sonic hovers just over the surface of the water, looking out at the forest that surrounds the lake, virtually untouched by society. The serene scene is soon interrupted by the soft scrapes of Metal Sonic crossing his arms.
"Alone at last," Metal Sonic says, looking out at the shoreline and the horizon disguised by trees.
Metal Sonic basks in the quiet, uneven sounds of nature, a stark contrast to the clunking and whirring of his teammates. He hates them, he hates all of them. What was he to do? In the security station, all he has are blank walls, and the most interesting bot to talk to, Mecha Sonic, only talks in the most basic sentences possible. He got tired of the computer a long time ago, what was he going to do? Stay online and read more fanfiction? No! Talking to Doctor Eggman isn't fun anymore, not since Metal Sonic's betrayal. He used to be the favorite! But Eggman wasn't doing enough to eliminate Sonic, so the first time Metal Sonic shows a little initiative, he gets punished! Well, Metal Sonic was going through some delusions at that point, but that doesn't excuse the Doctor's reaction! But despite that, he had worked very hard to get back in his creator's favor, he was still the favorite. But then… Sage, that tiny little, red, glitchy RUNT! She stole all of Eggman's favor, he hates her. Orbot and Cubot? Even worse, not only are their voices always grating, but they never have anything useful to say. Other than being allowed to fight Sonic again, there was only one possible cure for his ceaseless boredom, CYBER, a robot built like him, who most likely thinks like him. But tragically, after only one conversation, she was removed from his access in a twitch of the Doctor's mustache. And now he's here, on another mission that only takes him further from Sonic! Out here chasing Eggman's silver-haired doppelganger, Metal Sonic doesn't give a rusty washer about Eggman Nega or his plans. Here Metal Sonic was, on a mission he hates, with teammates he hates, given by a boss he hates. He hates his life.
"RAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Metal Sonic cries, frightening flocks of birds all around the lake.
Metal Sonic plunges into the cold water, sinking for a moment.
"I HATE YOU!" Metal Sonic screams. To Sonic? To Eggman? To himself? It's unclear.
Metal Sonic charges up his chest laser, firing a bright beam out into the dark water, sending up a torrent of bubbles.
Very slowly, Metal Sonic runs his engine, slowly emerging from the water and collecting himself. The carcasses of many perfectly cooked fish begin to rise to the surface of the lake. Metal Sonic hovers for a moment, watching as the water effortlessly slides down his frame and back into the lake, before turning and heading back to camp.
Metal Sonic's trip back to camp is mostly silent, with only the hum of his thrusters and the sloshing of water to fill the emptiness. Metal Sonic keeps his head mostly empty, he had his outburst, and now it was time to return to his normal blank face. Flying back into camp, he was greeted by the stern, unchanging glare of Silver Sonic. Metal Sonic perfectly disguises his disgust as he sits back in the dirt. His little escapade drained a little charge, so while the Mechas were still down, Metal Sonic might as well top off. Metal Sonic plugs back into his battery and powers down.
–
A few days later
–
After a series of escapades including threatening a park ranger for information, Silver Sonic accidentally rolling into a cactus, Mecha Knuckles getting shot by a big game hunter (he's fine, the hunter not so much), and following a series of forest fires of varying sizes, the group finally picks up Eggman Nega's presence on Metal Sonic's scanners.
"This way!" Metal Sonic calls to his teammates, flying between the trees.
Mecha Sonic takes off after him, but Mecha Knuckles and Silver Sonic are stuck navigating the heavy foliage of the forest floor.
Nearby, Eggman Nega sits in his version of the Eggmobile, leaning forward and watching intently as Metal Sonic 3.0(Also known as Mach 3) gathers a pile of logs and kindling. Metal Sonic 3.0 looks exactly like Metal Sonic, except he is painted completely black with yellow stripes and accents. The robot known as Johnny is lounging on the side of the Eggmobile on Eggman Nega's right. Johnny is mostly green, with smooth black hands, a red face, and two yellow eyes, and the top of his head is shaped like a green and white torpedo. Johnny watches Eggman Nega's excited expression as Metal Sonic 3.0 throws another log into the pile.
"Listen, I'm glad you took me on and all after Captain Whiskers sunk, but…" Johnny sits up on the side of the Eggmobile, "When do I get to race Sonic again instead of, you know, starting random forest fires?"
"All in time, my speedy green friend," Eggman Nega says, not bothering to look at Johnny as he does so.
Eggman Nega presses a button on his console and Metal Sonic 3.0 freezes for a moment, before raising both of his hands towards the pile of wood. Metal Sonic 3.0's hands begin to glow red hot, but before anything else happens, the sound of whipping air fills the clearing. Metal Sonic 3.0 instantly picks up something on their sensors, turning and entering a defensive stance. Metal Sonic rockets into the clearing, on the opposite side from where Nega and his crew are stationed. Metal Sonic changes his posture, slowing down to hover a safe distance from Eggman Nega. Mecha Sonic soon follows behind.
"Oho!" Eggman Nega exclaims, standing up in the Eggmobile. "Right on schedule," Eggman Nega mutters to himself.
"Who are these punks?" Johnny says, bringing his foot in towards himself to rest on the same ledge.
"Now, now Johnny, we have guests, no need to be rude," Eggman Nega gestures for Johnny to stand.
Johnny does so begrudgingly, hopping off the Eggmobile to stand in the grass. Johnny crosses his arms, his slitted yellow eyes focusing on Metal Sonic's red circles. Johnny has to lock in his features to avoid showing any surprise. Metal Sonic's form looks slightly wavy in the forest heat, Johnny almost sees him as the real Sonic for a second.
"We're here on behalf of the Eggman empire," Metal Sonic says flatly, like a jingle recited by a tired telemarketer.
Metal Sonic doesn't even notice Johnny looking at him.
"To do what?" Eggman Nega asks, leaning over his console, causing the whole Eggmobile to tip forward.
At that moment, Mecha Knuckles and Sliver Sonic burst through the treeline, Silver Sonic skids to a halt right of Metal Sonic, rotating metal spikes glinting in the sun, facing 45 away from Nega's group, his red eyes shifting to the Eggmobile. Mecha Knuckles comes out to Mecha Sonic's left. Mecha Knuckles leaps through the foliage, landing with one knee down and his knuckle spikes in the dirt, before slowly standing up, crossing his arms as he does so.
Johnny is taken aback, taking a step away in shock, "Why do they all look like Sonic!?!"
"Except for that pink one…"
"He's magenta," Metal Sonic snaps, putting Johnny back into stunned silence.
"Eggman Nega! We are here to-" Metal Sonic begins.
"Investigate your activities and assess their threat to the Eggman Empire," Mecha Sonic says, repeating protocol verbatim.
Metal Sonic casts a sideways glare at Mecha Sonic. Wonders why Metal Sonic doesn't like Mecha Sonic.
"Why, I'm not doing anything!" Eggman Nega says with fake offense, pressing a button on his console.
Metal Sonic 3.0 kicks over the pile of kindling.
"Stop setting forest fires," Mecha Sonic says, but the intensity is lost in his monotone voice.
"Woah there Smokey, I certainly meant nothing by it," Eggman Nega says, putting his hands up.
"The destruction of their habitats harms local wildlife," Mecha Sonic says, petting a small white rabbit.
The rabbit sits comfortably in Mecha Sonic's palm, ears flat against its back as Mecha Sonic pets it. The rabbit's back leg was burned in one of the fires, but its leg is now wrapped in a piece of magenta cloth. Mecha Knuckles lifts their arm and sees a piece of fabric missing, they had been wondering where that had gone.
"MECHA SONIC, I thought I told you to get rid of that thing!" Metal Sonic booms.
"Sorry," Mecha Sonic says, depositing the rabbit safely in the brush.
"Just give us the intel we want so that we can leave," Metal Sonic says, turning his gaze back towards Eggman Nega.
"Let's say, perchance, that I didn't want to…" Eggman Nega says, sitting slowly back in his seat, the Eggmobile returning to its original tilt.
"Well, then it's most likely on one of your computers," Metal Sonic says, eyeing the Eggmobile. "Or you've already yapped your entire plan to your subordinates."
"Either way…" Metal Sonic says, opening his clawed hands with a metallic scrape.
Metal Sonic's eyes snap over to Metal Sonic 3.0.
"That one dies,"