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What made Surge different? She was a creation of Starline, yet she chose her path. She defied what she was made for.
Why couldn't he?
Metal had thought about what Sonic had said to him during those final hours of the Metal Virus.
Eggman had said it was because of his code. That he didn't have the capability to change his mind. Metal had believed that explanation at the time, but Surge made him question it. Sonic was...right. Why couldn't he be like Omega? Omega had the same destructive programming but had managed to choose how to use it.
When was the last time he chose something for himself? It was hard to remember...
Metal tried and tried to remember, but only minor details could be recalled. It wasn't right. He was a machine; machines don't just forget.
Had Eggman... No way! He wouldn’t do something like that, right? But what if…
Metal thought about what Eggman had told Sonic. His software...
He thought about the documents they found on Surge and Kit along with what he later overheard. Starline had used brainwashing to make them forget their prior selves. It must be easier to edit software than that…