Chapter Text
It all started one day, when the sky was blue with gentle white clouds lazily drifting by, the sunlight bright and warm, all with the loud snapping of a tree and a hard thump hitting the hard green ground.
A large man fails his arms and legs in frustration before getting up to his feet. He let out a huff of frustration once the fact of yet another humiliating defeat from a pesky blue rotten hedgehog sank in. He glares down at the robot based off that arch nemesis of his that, despite being one of his most competent Badniks, keeps failing its primary task again and again.
“You useless–!” He kicks at the robot's head, slightly regretting it due to the pain it brought to his toes. The robot didn't react to the sudden force, its facial screen dark and blank.
The mad doctor stomps off, leaving the Badnik to rot.
Months pass, from the warm spring weather, to the sweltering heat of the summer, the rains of the hottest season coming down more than usual. During one such storm, lightning struck nearby, destroying the very tree the robot had slammed into. As the tree fell, it revealed the chasm the trunk had sealed for so many years.
…and the robot falls in.
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“I'm so sorry, love. Know that I'm doing this because I want you to live. We want you to live.”
…Who…?
“I'm sorry, I don't have much time left. I have to get back out there. I don't know how much longer he can hold them off.”
What are you… talking about?
“Listen closely, love. You must follow the □■□□ to wherever it takes you, it will be your guide. You can find and gather friends, family that will be there for you.”
Wait, I… I know you!
“Don't be afraid. It will be all right. That's a promise. I'll do everything I can to come back for you, but if I don't, it's because I can't, that we can't. If that happens, don't look for me, for us, okay?”
What? …Wait, where are you going? Why are you crying?
“Know that we both want you to be happy. …I love you.”
The last thing that could be seen is a gloved hand waving farewell.
…No… WAIT!
□□□□□
Model: BDNK-MS-7.0 → Updated to 23.6
Sub CPU: Neo Super DFX - ACTIVE
Engine Model STH-25: ONLINE, NEEDS REPLACING
Thruster Model SNCR: OFFLINE
Voice Synthesizer Model SH-GC: OFFLINE
Audio Playback Model ASTH-195: ONLINE
Chaos Reading Opticals: ONLINE
...
I must... return...
I... I am the true Sonic. My... loathsome copy... how is it that I cannot defeat you...?
I... I must... get up...
The opticals show that it is so dark. The night vision in Metal Sonic's optical interface activates.
The mound in front of him holds--- Data incomprehensible. This is--- the whites barely seen within the voids of--- He looks up. A faint heartbeat is detected. Within the roots is---
!!! WARNING !!!
!!! CORRUPTION DETECTED !!!
!!! WARNING !!! SEVERE DAMAGE TO Main CPU !!! WARNING !!! DATA LOST !!! WARNING !!! □□■□□+■D □■□■□■X DETECTED !!! WARNING !!!
!!! CO☆☆UPTI○N D3T3CT3D !!!
Main CPU: 《LIPS AI》 NOT FOUND
!!! WARNING !!! S|-|ut Do//n |MM|NE|\|T !!! WARNING !!!
Auto Repair Malfunctioning! S33k r3p41r!
!!! WARNING !!!
!!! CO☆☆UP…TI○N D3T3CT3D !!!
Main CPU: Directive - Eliminate Sonic the Hedgehog 《DELETED》--> New Directive Added: Maintain 73m°■♤■nc■. New Directive Added: Eliminate 5■°■♤¿1■ and 1~>■□■■. New Directive Added: Maintain □■■d □■♤k5.
!!! WARNING !!!
!!! CO☆☆UP…TI○N D3T3C…T3D !!!
New Directive Added: Find L■×■♤|■. New Directive Added: D3v0U♤ Diligence. New Directive Added: Maintain °■t1■nc■.
!!! WARNING !!!
Master: Dr. Ivo “EGGMAN” Robotnik 《DELETED》--> New Master: N.X.WX
!!! WARNING !!!
Main CPU:
REPLACING WITH 《N.X.WX MEMORIES》
!!! WARN— …???
!!! CO☆☆…UP…TI○N… D3… 3C… …???
…
…
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Main CPU: 《N.X.WX MEMORIES》DOWNLOAD COMPLETE
…
…
…
Auto Repair Malfunctioning. Repair is needed. Find and locate a repair station. OR. Find replacement parts.
…
A claw twitches.
The whirling of servos is heard as the robot struggles to get up. It took some effort, but soon the robot is up on two feet. A quick observation shows that it is dark outside. Night time? The internal clocks aren't working properly. No… a closer look gives an indication that the location is below ground.
Bearings: 27 / 100 % COMPLETE
The sight of the clawed metallic hands gave pause. Right, this is... this is what's happening. Who the robot is, what the robot is, where the robot is… Huh.
…Well, ain't this just peachy?
The optics flared to life as determination welled up from within. A pair of green eyes look up briefly into the damp dirt above before something the data has a hard time identifying came within sight. Hobbling forward, the robot reached out and touched the remains. As soon as metal touched the decayed, the images flowed into the memory banks, into the soul inside.
The screams, the cries, the tears, the begging, that moment when the one who lo---
Virus detected! Purge! PURGE!
Huh? Oh... Metal Sonic is still here. It feels like my own mind is speaking on its own. That's an odd feeling.
I am the one and only true Sonic!
Am I... Metal Sonic? Am I Sonic? ...No, I am... Right. I know who I am. I know what I am. Metal Sonic is...
No! You will not take this from me!
I am the water. Metal Sonic is the oil. No matter how much the container shakes, our beings are not compatible. I didn't want to be a part of this, but I---
I... I don't---...!
Huh? He's suddenly gone quiet. What is he doing?
Fingers twitch in sorrow. None of this should have happened. Not even what's going on currently.
Bearings: 77 / 100 % COMPLETE
Everything is coming back now. This is so much more than a mere piece of fiction. So, so much more than a mere fantasy. The data available contradicts so many things known, it's essentially a melting pot. The games, the cartoons, the comics, the merchandise, everything. And in this world is…!
…No. This is not how it will go!
A clawed hand clenches before pulling away. It's time to investigate.
This is... all of this is... I see. We must stop this.
You're right.
Determination renewed, the robot slowly moves away from the sight and leaves to find a way out, a way to the next goal.
I won't let this chance go to waste.
□□□□□
A gloved hand clenches into a fist briefly before reaching out to the cold night sky, the moon shining brightly despite its scars.
“I must keep looking.”
It doesn't matter how long it will take, this search will continue, and answers will be found.
No matter what.
□□□□□
“This isn't about us, this is about him. If I didn't think you could use your personal method, I wouldn't have tried convincing you in the first place. We've exhausted all other options, all that's left is what only you can do. …Please, I beg of you. Like you, I can't stand seeing him like this anymore.”
“...Fine. But I need you to help me prep him.”
□□□□□
Bearings: 100 / 100 % COMPLETE
Current Task: Repair and upgrade as needed, then find and copy appropriate lifeform data.
Looks like this will be a doozy. Just one day at a time. I can do this. I must not let this chance go to waste. This is not how it will end!
The Badnik moved forward, determination made anew.
…
All battle data within the memories... successfully copied.