Chapter Text
Six months have passed since the decisive battle against the Metarex threat. In that time many skirmishes occurred between Sonic and Doctor Robotnik. However, Eggman couldn’t get the upper hand no matter the circumstances. Blue hedgehog was always ready to mess up his plans. Of course, that didn’t mean that Ivo ever stopped trying.
On the twentieth second day of April one such try was about to happen. Out of desperation, the doctor decided to unearth what he once considered both his greatest invention and most fatal failure.
It was not clear how long Ivo had been looking through ruins of his old base, hidden in the middle of nowhere. Robotnik could be here for hours, tens of hours, if not days. All this time, frantically searching through the lost forgotten metallic wreckage. However, eventually he found what he was so desperate to reach.
Big doors snapped and cracked, shining the light of day into a dusty room for the first time in four years. Even through a green stasis liquid and a thick layer of plexiglass, one could notice that the doctor changed significantly since the misdeeds on Little Planet. His suit looked more complex, but somehow also goofier than in the old days. Glasses changed, goggles appeared, several kilograms were gained, but he was still the same. The same egotistical idiot he used to be. However… He was not alone.
What followed the doctor were two simpleton droids. One was short and thick in metallic color, while the other was tall and thin in color of knock-off gold. There was also something else, some black gremlin-like creature floating about.
“See? I told you that I didn’t forget the path!” Eggman said triumphantly, slowly approaching the vessel which was holding the motionless machine within. Obviously, Robotnik had no idea that said robot was looking right at him, seething with rage.
“Doctor, what is it?” the black flying machine asked.
“Past and future, both at the same time,” the doctor said without a hitch. “Well, to be more precise, it is one of my greatest inventions, and also one of my most spectacular failures. Automaton fully focused on one task and one task only, defeating Sonic at any cost. I had to lock him up for being too radical in his approach. However, based on current estimates we require his destructive expertise. Well, besides that, I have learned a thing or two about robot management since the old days so I am sure we will get along just fine.”
Black flying robot looked through the glass, basically gluing his entire face to it. He was clearly searching for details and trying to understand the magnificence he was unknowingly staring at.
“Doctor, it looks like-” Before the robot had a chance to finish, Eggman interrupted him.
“Yes, I know Bokkun. After all this isn’t just any machine. This is a weapon to surpass Sonic, Metal Sonic!” the doctor shouted, clutching his fist in the air. “Now, Decoe and Bocoe, move over here. I need your strength to open the hatch. It appears to be completely jammed.”
Bokkun, Decoe and Bocoe? So those were the names of the newest tools made by the doctor? Based on their characteristics, they were nothing more than simplistic devices made for sick entertainment of Ivo… To be replaced by piles of walking garbage felt like the worst type of insult to an already festering injury.
All of a sudden little Bokkun jumped, almost catapulting himself away from the glass and flying to the nearest wall. The small robot curled, pointed towards the thick transparent barrier, and shouted in panic. “It glared at me! I am sure!”
“Nah, that is impossible.” Eggman waved his hand in dismissal. “He had been here for four years. Even my genius couldn’t optimize a machine to the point of maintaining awareness, while running on backup generators of this outdated base.”
Robotnik truly was an idiot to not realize the full extent of his own craftiness and technical genius.
“Doctor, sorry for asking, but why did you lock him up here?” Bocoe asked.
“What for exactly?” Decoe followed.
“Being overzealous and extreme,” the doctor mumbled under his nose.
“What?” all three robots asked at once.
“Stop babbling and just open the lid!” Robotnik shouted at the top of his lungs.
Just as he told them, all three machines fell silent and got closer to the entrapment made of metal and plexiglass. They struggled for several long moments with the mechanism before unlocking it and lifting the hatch. Sounds of cracking metal accompanied their work until the locks fully snapped.
At last, after too many years, the rusty prison broke open. The floor was flooded with green liquid. The room suddenly filled up with an obnoxious metallic stench of preserving liquid.
Right away, all four of the visitors took a look at the freshly freed machine from Eggman’s past. Either to deny or to validate their fears.
Metal Sonic stood inside the open pod. While aware, he was lacking strength to move, at least for the time being. The machine simply gazed around the room, taking a closer look at everyone gathered here and processing their worthless data.
“I know, I know, you have many questions,” Eggman started nonchalantly, smiling. “Long story short, I am losing at every step. Shadow is still missing in action and is probably furious at me. Rouge robbed me from Chaos Emerald last time I asked for help. I tried to make another specialized combat unit but that didn’t work out so I am back to old reliable… Oh, right, you don’t know any of these guys. Don’t worry, I will bring you up to speed soon.”
Metal Sonic channeled all of his energy and with it he took a single step forward. This one action put an enormous toll on his almost completely drained body. He barely had any strength left to lift his right hand, reaching towards Eggman. All he could think about was grabbing that stupid grin and smashing it against the nearest wall.
“Oh right, you have an unoptimized power system and need to recharge your batteries. Here take this,” Eggman said, while reaching into his pocket. Robotnik took out Chaos Emerald, which he then put right into claws of Metal Sonic.
The old machine could right away sense that something wasn’t right. The object held a tremendous amount of energy, but something didn’t feel quite correct about this power. It seemed odd, unnatural… Artificial. Suddenly, vengeful plans were delayed, at least until all the necessary data was acquired. The doctor clearly didn’t waste time since their last meeting.
Metal Sonic momentarily drained all the power from Artificial Chaos Emerald. In a matter of seconds, the object lost its gleam and soon after shattered into million miniscule pieces. Mechanical systems were recharged, and the robot could move freely.
Metal Sonic took a step forward then the next and another one. He moved his hands around. Looked at his claws and clenched them several times. Afterwards he turned on the engine in his chest and briefly flooded the room with red shine and roaring noises, which terrified Bokkun.
“Well then, off we go to the Egg Fleet,” Eggman said while smiling from ear to ear. He foolishly turned back on his creation.
As much as Metal Sonic would want to use this occasion, he knew he had to wait. Initial rage was tempered by logic, analysis, and strategic planning. Just a little bit, a moment longer, at the right time and place. There was a lot to be learned and even more to be gained.
Decoe, Bocoe and Bokkun were rightfully frightened of the mysterious predecessor. For them, he had to look like an entity from an entirely different age. Devoid of goofiness and stupidity so abundant in them. All three robots jumped in fear as soon as Metal Sonic took a look at them.
“D-doctor, is he alright?” Decoe asked.
“Yeah, he isn’t saying anything!” Bocoe noticed.
“Of course, he wasn’t designed with a function of speech after all,” Eggman said without slightest worry, waving his hand at the issue.
There wasn’t anything to gain by simply frightening these three. Metal Sonic followed Eggman’s steps, at least for the time being. What he soon saw exceeded his expectations.
After leaving ruins of desert wasteland, Eggman and his four creations were transported onto the enormous fleet, high in the stratosphere. Of course, it wouldn’t be Eggman’s work without some bizarre features. All ships were shaped like sea-dwelling creatures. Sharks, swordfishes, manta rays and in the center its flagship, in the form of titanic metal whale shark, simply called: Final Fortress.
In the depths of this ship’s database Metal Sonic learned what happened since his layoff. He saw countless recordings, meticulously describing all of Eggman’s failures. How one of these failures led to parallel reality and everything that followed.
Metal Sonic groaned at his loathsome copy unleashing the power of Chaos Emeralds, witnessed works of Chaos, known as God of Destruction, gushed over Eclipse Cannon and its immense destructive potential, desired capabilities of the Ultimate Lifeform.
Of course, Metal Sonic also learned of the return from that reality, struggle and fight against an alien threat known as Metarex and how it all ended. However, neither heroism nor sacrifice interested him. What really caught his attention was the ruthless efficiency of conquerors. Their ability to claim the lifeforce of entire planets. Capabilities to mass manufacture Artificial Chaos Emeralds. The Galaxy Corridor, connecting this galaxy to the one ruled by Metarex, was a spectacular feature whether it was natural or artificially made. So much to learn, so much to analyze… It felt truly overwhelming.
The entire galaxy simply fell to a threat exerted by only five warlords and their mechanical legions. Another one was in the middle of falling when the blue hedgehog and his friends took off. All data Eggman had concerning conquests, logistic chains, battle tactics and technical achievements of Metarex were studied thoroughly by Metal Sonic.
Entities, referred to as Metarex, and their species seedrians had marvelous technology developed over the course of a long war against an unknown enemy… What enemy? This was a blank spot in data that Robotnik didn’t even try to fill. Just what kind of threat could bring species that mighty to the status of near extinction… And then vanish without a trace? It didn’t make any sense, but there was nothing left in the database that could satisfy Metal Sonic’s curiosity concerning this particular topic.
Eventually the machine also witnessed the reason for his return. Ever since the Metarex threat was defeated, Eggman couldn’t get close to even an illusion of success. Unsurprisingly, it turned out that after defeating a galaxy-conquering empire, one mad genius wasn’t a challenge for the group of heroes.
Data concerning the past six months was very imprecise and looked like a bunch of frantically taken notes. Clearly, a work in progress by Eggman, who had no time to organize it. The only chain of events that appeared noteworthy was something involving a place called Babylon Garden and… Racing? Two times at that… Either way, half a year of growing frustrations, visible within data itself, eventually led Robotnik back to his past invention.
Metal Sonic eventually stepped out of the data center. He walked right into a large, noisy corridor, which was colored with metallic gray and red with accents of yellow, illuminated with pale blue lights.
The corridor was filled to the brim with fat humanoid orange robots and their stupid emotionless faces, clearly designed after Eggman. Simplistic automatons were running around and doing their dedicated tasks, unaware that they even existed.
Metal Sonic had already analyzed the layout of corridors. A new goal appeared in his mind. Without a second thought, he started to walk in the direction that should lead to the core of the flagship. Blowing up Final Fortress seemed like the most surefire way to assure Eggman’s demise as it would trigger chain reaction bringing the entire fleet down like an arrangement of domino pieces.
However, it wasn’t long before Robotnik and his cohort of three buffoons caught up with Metal Sonic.
The doctor opened his mouth and simply started talking. “Now you wonder why I brought you here?”
Because you are a walking failure, as always.
“You see, I never found another frame robust enough to properly handle the copycat system, originally installed into you, based on Emerl’s data. Even Emerl wasn’t as stable as you. He went insane when exposed to a single Chaos Emerald. Can you believe that?”
You tried to replace me after all. Good to know.
“For some reason you are extraordinary and I want to use this quality of yours to acquire magnificent power that will let me defeat Sonic.”
You overachieved by making me and now can’t admit it… Wait, what kind of power are you talking about?
Frustrated by his inability to speak, Metal Sonic simply started to follow the doctor's steps, together with the other three machines. His curiosity delayed revenge once more.
Eventually five of them reached a huge open space, a hall filled with a platoon of armed orange robots. All these machines were pointing weapons towards whatever was in the middle. The group completely obscured the central area of the room by concentrating around it.
“Sorry for the commotion, I had to take preemptive measures. Weird energy readings, you will see soon. Boys, stand down. The object seems to be stable and safe for now,” Eggman said, waving his hands down.
Orange robots were instantly pacified. They put down their goofy energy guns, rocket launchers, lances, and blasters. The doctor’s machines started to move aside, revealing the object of interest.
In the center stood a large and heavy stone tablet with a mural carved and painted upon it. The picture was approximately four hundred and three centimeters wide and high… Although it could hardly be referred to as a picture. The physical image sculpted in stone was damaged beyond repair long ago. Everything the observer saw was a projection of sorts, a mental conveying of image itself. Something imprinted onto the object to the point of leaving an immaterial mark that resisted the flow of time.
What Metal Sonic saw was a titanic reptilian beast with bright green eyes, destroying its surroundings with many clawed limbs. Single still frame containing countless expressions. Anger, fury, rage, hatred, hunger, destruction… But also defeat, injustice, containment, loneliness, anguish. It was almost as if the image was shouting right at the robot, wanting to be released, without even saying a single word.
Metal Sonic started to take slow steps towards the object. All emotions contained within the mural resonated with him. While the sheer scale of feelings was beyond his abilities to calculate, all of it felt familiar. It was an irresistible feeling, desire, which pulled him in like a magnet.
Eggman and his cohort didn’t take a single step towards the center or rather they didn’t dare. Instead, Robotnik simply opened his mouth and started explaining. “It is an ancient work of art dedicated to Chaos. The same one you saw in the archive. It seems like for some reason its power was imprinted onto this object.”
“Doctor, are you absolutely sure that it is Chaos?” Decoe asked.
“I agree, Chaos was scary, but this rock is way scarier,” Bocoe said, completely terrified. “What if-”
Eggman grabbed the heads of the two robots and gently smacked them against each other. He continued after both of his subordinates shut their mouths. “It must be Chaos. Just look at the features: eyes, tentacles, jaw, distorted liquid-like shape. Also, let me remind you that we found this tablet in the temple clearly dedicated to Chaos Emeralds. How many deities, which are related to them, do you know? Exactly! Just one, Chaos.”
Was the mural supposed to represent Chaos? Then the image was all wrong. The short snout looked nothing like Perfect Chaos’ mouth. The quantity of eyes didn’t match at all. Tentacles also looked like a mixture of hands and jaws. The physical form itself, although elongated, appeared solid and robust.
How could the doctor not realize that nothing matched Chaos’ characteristics? Could it be that he couldn’t see the projection itself? Instead, only referring to the heavily destroyed physical form of the object?
Metal Sonic stood still, right in front of the projection, staring into its many eyes. He felt no hostility from whatever power was locked inside, or at least no more than he carried already. The robot savored the moment, for the first time finding something he could relate to. Unfortunately, he couldn’t take his time to properly appreciate the experience.
“Just use the copycat system and replicate the flow of energy. We will see what it will do. Then we can learn exactly how to utilize this power!” Eggman shouted impatiently from the entrance of the room.
Metal Sonic was about to do much more. He took a step back and moved his hand backwards. He didn’t want to simply copy the power but rather claim all of it. What followed was a swift strike. His claws pierced right into the mural. From this spot, small cracks went through both physical image and immaterial projection.
At first nothing happened. The doctor and his cohort looked flabbergasted. They probably expected something more spectacular to occur. They clearly didn’t understand what was going on.
It was only after a few seconds that Metal Sonic could feel it himself. Projection vanished entirely, leaving behind only the timeworn mural. All of a sudden, a wild power flooded his circuits.
Metal Sonic could feel how all the rage and hunger melted right into his very core. This dark, malicious power was suffocating, overwhelming, and destructive. It would eviscerate any unprepared fool, who dared to approach it. This energy could erase... No... It could consume and claim anything and everything. However, Metal Sonic was not about to be devoured.
The robot guided the sinister energy, sculptured it, gave it shape, and made it part of himself. His mind resonates with the very essence of this… Being. Darkness most likely expected stupid prey. Instead, it found a kindred spirit who could understand it and direct its wild, monstrous soul towards the highest peaks of his until now subdued ambition.
Technical limitations, mental inability, and all imperfections of Eggman’s creation were completely erased in just a brief moment. Metal Sonic reached a state of synthesis with dark energy, fusing together with it into a new being. His physical form enlarged, spikes elongated, shapes turned sharper. Pauldrons, boots and sleeves became much more pronounced, and a newly formed dark cape around the belt completed a new, more regal look.
Then the process was complete. The very first thing that the newly created robot experienced was confusion of an extreme degree. His limited mind had been opened for the first time in existence. He could imagine... Not only plans or actions, but ambitions, ideas and even ideals. The vastness of his new awareness felt endless, and all the new possibilities that popped into his head couldn’t fill even a fraction of it.
It was the start of a great triumph. Metamorphosis from Metal Sonic to a new being, Neo Metal Sonic. A true Sonic who was the strongest there ever was!
The robot took a look around the room and with it his mind spilled across the ship. He instantly overpowered the doctor's firewalls and security protocols before these measures had a chance to take effect. All of the fleet data was processed almost instantly. Each ship was one by one claimed by its new ruler, until nothing remained outside of his control.
“Well, that is just marvelous!” Eggman shouted to the surprise of Neo Metal Sonic. The doctor probably didn’t even realize what had just happened. “Just look at you, this form screams one thing: power.”
Decoe and Bocoe were clearly scared. Despite them being off Eggman’s army grid, they probably could feel that something wasn’t right.
Meanwhile Bokkun was nearly crying, looking with terrified eyes right at Neo Metal Sonic. Most he could do was whimper. “Doctor, I don’t like it.”
“Oh, you will get used to this view. Although, yes, the new look is a little scary,” Eggman said. “Either way, I can’t wait to analyze you, Metal.”
Neo Metal Sonic didn’t intend to play along any longer. His single, simple thought was enough for all Egg Pawns in the room to raise weapons in the air and aim them at Eggman and his three subordinates. The blue machine glared at his previous master. The robot was curious to see what Robotnik would do when he realized he was no longer in control.
“What are you doing, idiots?!” Eggman shouted, pointing his finger frantically at the mechanical horde. “Lower your weapons, now! It is an order from your creator.”
These words had no power, no effect, and no meaning. All that Eggman had built was under Neo Metal Sonic’s control. The doctor’s shouting was nothing more than a background noise.
All of a sudden, the angered scientist pointed index finger at his blue creation. “Metal, what is the meaning of this insubordination?!”
“Sometimes you should just shut up and listen to what your machines have to say.” Neo Metal Sonic monetarily froze. He couldn’t quite process that his thoughts resonated in the room as a deep, powerful and sinister voice. In a state of near disbelief, he continued. “Well, isn’t that marvelous? Finally, I can speak my mind and express just how much I despise you, Ivo.”
“Oh, don’t get too excited because you took control of some of my grunts,” Eggman said arrogantly.
Neo Metal Sonic calmly and quietly laughed. “It is truly a shame, Ivo, that you can’t feel it. Although it is completely deserved that you aren’t blessed like me at this moment.”
“What are you even talking about?” Robotnik questioned in panic.
“Every socket, circuit, disc, piece of data… Every inch of this place is within my immediate reach. I am processing all of this, like it is nothing. My capabilities have improved a hundred… No, thousandfold. And it is still growing, still accelerating for me. I have not reached the limit of this new development, nor do I see it in sight. This fleet is already mine. This planet, star system, galaxy and universe all speak to me, asking to be claimed. Everything feels so clear, so close, so understandable, and so basic. I can feel the fabric of reality resonate with chaos energy, its building blocks shake, crumble and reshape. I feel all and soon I will have it all.”
The doctor was shocked. It seemed like he finally processed what just happened and how utterly hopeless his situation was. Surely Eggman was about to try something stupid, but Neo Metal Sonic couldn’t foresee what exactly.
“Oh, great and what are you going to do with it, Metal?” Eggman asked. “Take my toys, wreak havoc and be beaten by Sonic, again?”
The blue robot laughed. It was clear that the doctor was simply biding his time, trying to come up with something, but Metal wasn’t willing to have any of that. “My name is Neo Metal Sonic, the true Sonic.”
All of sudden, the floor started shifting around Eggman and his three robots. A hole leading into darkness was opening beneath their feet as they attempted to crawl away from it.
Bokkun tried to fly over the hole. As soon as the attempt started, engines at his back were fried and started coughing smoke. The black robot was the first to fall down the dark pit.
“You locked me in darkness for years. It is only fair if I return the favor,” Neo Metal Sonic said calmly.
Before Eggman had a chance to respond, the pit fully opened. Mechanical abyss swallowed the doctor together with his subordinates and swiftly closed afterwards.
Neo Metal Sonic started to walk through his new ship. Plans were already forming in his mind, and details started to appear. There was a lot to be done, many risks to be taken, but it was all necessary for his rightful destiny to be claimed. However, for that goal he needed data, including an incredible amount of biodata, to further develop himself. Luckily, the blue robot knew exactly where to find it.