The Gang of Five
Role Play => Random Role Play => Topic started by: Nick22 on April 17, 2020, 11:59:48 PM
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Dulcy flew through the leafy stretch of a forest, glancing back with a smirk as her best friend Samia slowly caught up to her ' Come on Samia, lets see that flying ability at that got you tops marks at vesuvio Academy!" Dulcy chuckled. The Golden dragon soon drew level. " at least i didnt almost get robotized duting this mission.' Samia said, as they flew together ' We need to tell sonic and Sally what we saw. Most of the planet has been robotized. theres hardly any green areas left, so that means Eggman has a pretty good idea where we are. They are expecting us, right?' Dulcy asked. "We said they would be back by noon, or thereabouts, so yeah they are expecting us.' Samia said. "After all, we're really the only ones who can fly up high enough to escape radar. or fly at all, for that matter."
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sally was pacing to and fro in the main chamber of the Freedom fighters hideaway, which was hidden underground beneath a large , innocent looking tree.. the recent weeks and months had been one unremitting wave of bad news, as Eggman conquered more and more of the planet and turned what was once a vibrant and lush world into a soulless metallic montrosity. the freedom fighters were shrinking in number by the day as one ny one they were captured and robotized. Only sonic , herself and an band of allies were left.' the girls should be back by now' Sally said as she made another lap in her pcing ' Sally, RELAX. This is Dulcy and samia we are talking about " rouge said' As she sat at a table , doing her nails, even in these tough times the bat still wanted to look good. " They're the best we have. truth be told they're just about the ONLY ones we have for flying scout missions." " i still worry " Sally said. " I sent them out on the mission after all."
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Inside Rotor’s Lab, a massive tube tank was suspended in the white titled room. insidw the tube was a figure. It had black spines instead of hair with copper stripes on each spine, two ruby eyes were missing in u-shaped eye socket. A metallic spike for a nose and upon its chest was a black hole with wires sticking out like needles. Cords like webs were fastened to the figure, and great flows of energy poured into the being. Standing by was another spine shaped headed figure who at the top of of his bar shaped mouth was a white mustache. His colbalt eyes fixed on a data pad, and then on the figure in the tube. A purple Walrus with a baseball hat entered the lab, he approached the tube. Peering into the glass of the tube, the Walrus sighed. “The power imput doesn’t seem to be working Prof. Chuck.” The Mustache Hedgehog nodded his topaz head, and said “His reserves were totally drained, I have had to use auxiliary power nodes. The damage to his core from magma was extensive.” The Walrus titled his head and rubbed his two ivory tusks. “There is only one energy sources that would work..” The Senior Hedgehog turned to the Walrus, “Rotor, You mean.. a Chaos emerald.” Rotor, “There are only two places left that contain chaos emeralds..” Uncle Chuck placed his datapad down on kiosk of obsidian metal. “And both have guardians..”
Uncle Chuck left Rotor and stepped outside the white cubic bulding. He stood in the square of Knothole. All around where huts of sienna color, blending in landscape of dirt and beneath massive oak trees, some of which contained in their branches suspended hive shaped huts with plateforms. In these trees stood sentries, hawks with binoculars who with their eyes scanned the blue sky. Chuck made haste down a tan rocky dirt road, his red shoes kicking up dust and white pebbles as he came to a hillside. The green blades of grass seemed to dance in the wind, as Uncle Chuck approached a figure sitting on a tree stump. He had red dreadlocks, a red tail and head, his hands were encased in two white mitten gloves with two pronged claws on each. His eyes were closed as he sat with his legs crossed. Chuck hestitated to break his mediation. “Uncle Chuck..” The voice of Echidna broke the silence in a gruff bass tone. “Knuckles, I am sorry to disturb you. I wouldn’t have unless it was of great importance.” The Echidna opened his red lids to reveal a white eye and purple pupils. “I know.. what is on your mind?” Chuck bruahes his mustache and tried to steady his nerves. “The prototype is losing power.. it needs a sustainable energy source.” Chuck wiped the sweat like dew from his brow beneath the bright sun. “There is only one possibility. A chaos emerald.” Knuckles rose to his feet, his yellow and red shoes rustling the dead bark. “So you’ve come to me, Guardian of the Great Emerald.” Chuck lowered his head, “Yes..” The Echidna stroked a dreadlock and then cracked his two knuckles. “As you know, Eggman has harvested most of choas emeralds, and Floating Island has been mined tell now there are few emeralds left save the Master Emerald.” Chuck nodded. Knuckles pressed his two gloves and claws together. “With such scarcity, I am inclined to discourage you from using one of the last free emeralds on this mechanical monstrosity.” Chuck raised his head, his forehead pinching as he said, “he is part of our hope to turn the tide of this war.” The Echidna shook his head, his dreadlocks fanning like vines. “He is the enemy Uncle Chuck, and I will not continence using an emerald to power one of Botnik’s assassins.” Chuck squinted his eyes and retorted, “He saved Sonic and Tails, sacrificing his life.” The Echidna raised one first upward and said, “That maybe, but Botnik is slippery, he maybe still using it as means to gather intell and later betray us.” Chuck made a fist, and said “You were once Dr. Eggman’s servant, and we took a chance on you, will you not afford the same to him?” Knuckles turned his head towards the sun and shook his head, “He is machine, they can never be trusted.” Uncle Chuck sighed and took a step back. “You force me to approach another guardian..” The Echidna turned, his purple eyes ablaze from the light. “He is worse than any machine.”
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sonic was pouring over a hologram of a map that showcased all the planet. Blue areas where areas that were either controlled by his side, or safe to use as hideaways. REd areas were controlled by Robotnik and his armies. Black areas were disputed, gray were neutral. It would be updated after Samia and Dulcyy reported in. Forest cover had been dramatically reduced from the beginning of the war. the planet had been 40% forested, 24 million sq miles of lush, life sustaining green. Much of that was now gone, Estimates ranged from 10% left to 15, to as high as 20%, they would get a better reading from the girls once they reported.
Sonic spun the globe around absentmindedly. the team had been suffering blow after blow recently, and it was impossible not to notice how much that was weighing on everyone. There wasn't a Freedom fighter left who hadnt had a family member, boyfriend, girlfriend, or relative captured or missing. "We cant afford to lose anyone else ' Sonic said to himself. " If anything happens to dulcy and Samia, we dont have anyone else who can fly. We'll lose the air entirely."the blue hedgehog said, mostly to himself.
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“The Ultimate Lifeform”
Uncle Chuck climbed a rocky mountain side, his red backpack swinging on his back in the wind gusts. He grabbed on to indents in rock like a ladder hewen in the grey stone. The old timer huffed as he housted Himself onto a ledge with black cave enterance. Chuck slung his bag to the front and took out a flash light. The golden light illuminated a dark cave with massive spikes hanging from the ceiling. Chuck felt his shoes become moist by the puddles on the rock hewn floor. He waved the light to see, when a bright light of green fliooded the darkness. Chuck dropped the flashlight as a figure emerged from the shadows. Two glowing red eyes pierced the darkness, and great green light bathed the Hedgehog in emerald light. Uncle Chuck kept on his knees. The emerald light faded and now only the two red eyes could be seen. “Why have you come Old Timer?” Chuck bowed his head, “Ultimate Life form, I beseech your help.” Shadow took a few steps, his curved spines rustling in shadow. “Help? Why should I help anyone, least of all you?” Chuck clasped his hands in a plea posture. “I have need of your power.. of chaos.” Shadow emerged from darkness into a light coming from hole in the rocky ceiling. “Chaos is not for mortals, it can only be controlled by superior lifeforms.” Chuck bowed his head lower, “please, without it our resistance will fail.”
Shadow scoffed. “Resistance.. you Freedom Fighters and your cause. I have seen the future.. and your efforts are in vain.” Chuck’s voice strained, “We need hope, without it we are lost.” Shadow scoffed again, “hope.. the comfort of lesser beings.. who need emotional gratification.” Chuck choked, “You are our hope Shadow, Maria knew that.” Shadow’s eye flared like embers and he reached out his hand and a emerald light surrounded Chuck, levitating him. “Maria.. do not speak her name! I promised her.. revenge!” Chuck felt his neck begin to tighten. Gasping he said, “Shadow.. please.. *cough* your revenge.. *cough* is why.. I’ve come.” Shadow released his Chaos hold on Chuck who gasped. After taking some breaths, Chuck cleared his throat and spoke again. “Eggman is who deserves your wrath. It was his grandfather who was responsible for her death.” Shadow crossed his arms, two red stripes on his arms tangling like serpents. Chuck rose to his feet. “If we can stop Botnik, we can avenge your Maria.” Shadow blinked. “How? How does hurting Eggman avenge her?” Chuck took out a datapad from his bag. Chuck, “I found this in Eggman server.. Maria D.N.A. Sample, Prop. Of Gerald Robotnik.” Shadow levitated the datapad to his hand. “She’s alive!” Chuck stepped towards Shadow. “yes her DNA is preserved.”
Shadow dropped the datapad which hurled in air via levitation. “I will retrieve it!” Chuck took the data pad and said “Yes, but you need help.” Shadow scoffed, “Me the Ultimate Lifeform need help?” Chuck, “Yes, because finding the sample won’t be easy, and there is only one who can access it.” Shadow, “Who?” Chuck, “Come with me.”
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Chucks visit to Shadow was not known to the main Freedom Fighters, for several reasons, most of them being that Sonic and Sally would have strongly disapproved of the effort had they known. Sonic and Shadow had crossed paths before, and were decidedly not on good terms, as Shadow had pointedly refused to help the freedom fighters. Shadow had also insulted Sally on more than one occasion, particularly taking shots at her father King Nigel, as well as her mother, whose name Sally didn't know. These insults against royalty were very galling for a princess like Sally to take, and had led to the current distance between the freedom fighters and Shadow. The only thing that could be said for Shadow, from their point of view , was that he was not in league with Robotnik. Not an ally, by any stretch, but not an enemy either.
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Dulcy and samia entered the hideout and landed in the main area, and took off their backpacks which were full of pictures and notes they had taken. ' We're back.' Samia called out, as Sally, rogue and Sonic gathered around them. ' We just completed our patrol' Dulcy said ' they are getting harder and harder to do without being detected by the enemy. . More and more of Mobious is being turned into a metallic wasteland." We need a head count ' Sonic said. Sally pulled out a clipboard with the list of the names of the fighters ' Roll call!' She called out in a strong voice ' Shout ' here!' when your name is called. We'll start Alphabetically."
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(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/93492613_130813008533864_3547020057324290048_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_sid=110474&efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&_nc_ohc=fY81ET_mfsAAX-76kS6&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&_nc_tp=14&oh=36ac529266e0ac59190c0cf423630d18&oe=5EC1802D)
“Awakening”
Uncle Chuck lead the Ultimate Lifeform from his citdel of stone to the green hills of Knothole. As Shadow caste his shadow among the locals, many sentries gave the Red Striped Hedgehog a glare. One even stepped in the path between Uncle Chuck and Shadow. The Sentrie was a Hawkeye, and he spouted,”what are you doing here?!” Uncle Chuck took point and said, “He’s with me.” The ruffled bird continued his retorts, “We don’t need the likes of him here! When the Princess learns he has come back, heads will roll!” Shadow glinched his white glove and stepped forward. “Get out of the way inferior being..” Hawkeye cawed, and said, “Inferior?! Listen you pathetic exuse for a Hedgehog! I..ought..” Shadow snapped his finger and suddenly he was at the Bird’s neck and holding him by the throat. “You test my patience mortal! Now you shall feel my real power!” Uncle Chuck shouted, “Shadow! Shadow stop! Please!” A green light that smokes like flame engulfed Shadow’s hand that held Hawkeye’s throat.
The door to the laboratory flew open as Shadow entered, his globe smoking. Uncle Chuck followed him with a grimace. They came to Rotor who was at the kiosk. Rotor turned, “Professor Chuck.. and.. you!” Shadow walked uo to tube that contained Metal Sonic’s body, and with his fist he smashed the glass, shards flying everywhere. Uncle Chuck ran to Shadow’s side, “take it easy!” Shadow then held a green emerald in hand, and broke it in half, a surge of green light filled the room. He placed the shard of emerald in open chest of Metal Sonic. The cords that had been limp like noodles now rose and latched on to the emerald shard, pulling it into the core. There was a burst if white light that filled the room then all went dark. Rotor turned the back up generator on and as a light flickered on above the tube, they saw Metal was gone.
Rotor blinked, and said, “where did he go?” Shadow was suddenly thrown threw a glass wall, through some circuits and into another wall. Uncle Chuck gasped. The Obsidian Metal Hedgehog had two bright red eyes and began repeating, “eliminate primary target! Eliminate primary target!” Chuck shouted to Rotor, “He’s resorting to his default programming! Shadow! Look out!” The Ultimate Lifeform rose to his feet and brushed off some dust from his shoulders and then rolled his body into a ball at high speed, creating a spin dash. He collided with Metal Sonic, and the two went through the exterior wall into a large oak. Metal was pinned to the trunk, and was now held by the neck by Shadow. Uncle Chuck came running with Rotor, “Shadow! Please! He had no control. He’s operating on a default program. Let me shut him down and run some tests.”
Shadow held Metal in place, and then dropped him. “He better remember or he’s scrap metal!” Uncle Chuck plugged a kit into Metal and began a shutdown command. Rotor helped hold Metal down until his red eyes disappeared. Rotor, “we should move him back to the lab..” Chuck nodded and said, “I might have made a mistake.. Knuckles may have been right.”
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Antoine De’Coolete took several steps and asjysted his blue uniform with its shoulder tassels and medals at the breast. He straighted his saber at the side and prepared to take another step when he felt a tug on hus right arm. Holding it was robotic arm, which turned him around to face a tan bunny with emerald eyes and half her body being roboticised crome. Her head was untouched, her neck and breasts only covered in disgnal by the metal encasing. She smiked and saif, “Hey sugar, you weren’t gonna check in without me?” Antoine winkled his fox nose and replied, “I am zgaurde of her royal highnezz.” Bunny chuckled and said, “Antoine, you crack me up sugar.” Antoine freed his hsnd and straightnesd his uniform. “Wez needz to Reporte inz at once!” Bunny winked her left eye, “Lets do it sugar!” The pair entered the hideout and approached the hideout. Antoine approached Sally and drew hus sword and bowed his head low saying, “Yourz Highnezz!” Bunny chuckled again, and said to Sonic, “Reporting in.”
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sally wrote diwn that Bunny and antoine were present as tails flew in, folowed shortly by Amy. " we're here ' the p[nk hedgehog said ' Just doing an inventory of the library.. again. Tails you do realize that we have had exactly 187 pieces of literature for the past month, right ? We havent had anything new inawhile. " i thought samia and Dulcy had a subscription to Dragoness Daily? Tails replied. ' We do' Samia said as she entered. . " Problem is, the maildragon stopped delivering them when the war started. We've got all the magazines in a box waiting for us when the war is over" " and I was so looking forward to Far Far Away Fashion. Dragon always has the best tips for claw maintenance and scale cleaning. ' Dulcy sighed. " how bad is it out there?' Sally asked ' Bad, princess. real bad. We estimate forest cover on the planet is down to 13%. Nearly all of the 27% has been turned into metal-covered monstrosity . the more that gets converted, the tighter robotnik will squeeze us. We have only 10 outposts left, down from 45 at the star t of the war. To put it bluntly,.. we're getting our tails kicked. ' Samia said.
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We knew that already ' Sonic said ' but your report just means that time is now against us. How long before Eggman finds us?" A month, at best given how quickly the planet is being converted. i could try and go to Vesuvio to get help , but thats a long journey, and theres no guarantee Eggman wont send robot dragons after me to find it. " Dulcy said. " You and I are it Dulcy, the time for getting dragon help was weeks ago, before Eggman conquered more than half the planet. vesusvio is an island unto itself these days. Same for us here." Samia said.
- You girls made it!" Sally said reliefd spreadsing acriss her face. " We had a couple closes calls.' Dulcy scratched her chin
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Antoine shouted in a french accent, “sacred blue!” At the news Dulcy and Samia divulged. Bunny ratched her robo arm and said, “Oh no.. our home!” As they processed the grim news, a red figure emrged beneath the trees, hus dreadlocks swaying in the wind. Knuckles approached the assembly, “Guardian of the Floating Island reporting in.” Knux saw Antoine faint on the ground and Bunny running to help prop up hus head. Knuckles sighed, “the news is that hood eh? Well I have some more, Botnik has been sending Swat Ships to Floating Island airspace. His troopers get bolder by the day. I am going to have to throw my knuckle into this fight. Make it count.”
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Meanwhile Uncle Chuck was back at the lab working on the deactivated Metal Sonic. He opened his back top spine and revealed a cortex in shape of cube, with green wires. The cube glowed a yellow hue and lit up as he took a technical amplifer and screwdriver to it. Rotor stood by with a metal tray with tools on it. Chuck dug his tool into the membrane, and a port opened up, with a sqaure chip and red glowing stripes on it in a maze pattern. Chuck chucked the chip to the tray and said to Rotor, “destroy it.” Chuck then reached for a identical chip with green swirls glowing on it. He placed it in the port and resealed the membrane. He then stepped away from the Metallic Hedgehog. Rotor having taken a hammer to the old red chip, turned his attention to Metal Sonic. “Is he rebooting?” Chuck nodded, “Yes..” Chuck’s gamble now hinged on this moment, he had risked so much to restore hope.
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" well knuckles, we';re not going to turn down anyone who offers to help, at least those we can trust. ' Sally said as she took notes. sonic updated the map with the new info Dulcy and samia had provided. red spread across the map, and blue retreated. he sighed as he looked at the new map. ' of the 10 outposts left. 6 were almost entirely surrounds by enemy territory. ' we need to send word to those outposts- pull back to the main hideaway" snic said. ' their positions are untenable." " agreed ' sally said. ' i'll call the outpost leaders and give the evacuation order."
_ Did you bring any new books for us to read?" Tails asked. ' And dulcy pulled out 6 books. ' here.. they're books written by vector, Espio and Charmy> found them in a abandoned car garage." Dulcy said and miles gleefully took them ' at last! something new to read!"he shouted with glee.
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Metal Sonic activated, the emerald in his chest port lit up and two matching emerald eyes appeared in the void of his black eye socket. Uncle Chuck took out a datapad and began to scan him. Metal raises his left arm which had cannon instead of a hand. Uncle Chuck retorted, “I was unable to salvage your old hand, so I retrofitted it with a weapon. It is powered by the chaos emerald in your chest port.” Metal turned his attention to Chuck. “Do you know who you are and what your objective is?” Metal’s eyes shifted from emerald to ruby as he replied, “I am Metal Sonic, and my objective is to terminate Sonic!” Chuck shouted, “No! That’s your old objective!” Metal suddenly boosted into ceiling, tearing a hole in it as he ascended into sky blue. Chuck, “Chili Dogs!” Just then Shadow entered the lab. Shadow looked at the crator in the ceiling and empty glass tube. “Where is he? And what has he said about Maria?” Chuck turned to Shadow, “He’s gone..” “Where?! Tell me you weak old fool!” Chuck, “He’s gone to destroy Sonic..” Shadow turned his curved red and black spines as he crosses his arms, “That matters not, what matters is Maria.” Chuck grabbed his datapad, “maybe I can locate him with..” Shadow barked, “You're wasting time! I have the other half of the emerald, we’ll warp to his position. Chaos Control!” A green light engulfed Shadow and Uncle Chuck as they dissapeared. Rotor entered the lab to find it empty and damaged. “Prof Chuck?” He then noticed the hole in cieling and Metal gone. “Oh this is bad..”
Metal flew in sky blue and scanned the outposts, his sight saw green and info appeared on corner of his vision. Suddenly he was struck and crashes into a tree line, entire oaks tottered and splintered. Metal lay among logs. Emerging from the shade was Shadow, who held a half emerald in his hand. Metal sat up and scanned him. “Primary target.. Negative.” Shadow using the emerald created a spear like blade and approached Metal. “Tell me where Eggman keeps Maria!” Metal made a buzzing sound, “invalid command.” Shadow threw the spear, “Chaos Spear!” The yellow shaft struck Metal and pinned him against a tree. Shadow then grabbed Metal by the neck, “Tell me where Maria is!” A red aura began to surround Shadow. Chuck who had landed in a bush rose to his feet and shouted, “Shadow stop!” Shadow squeezed Metal’s neck causing a crunching sound, “Tell me where she is!” Chuck ran and tried to intervene but shadow waves his free hand sending Chuck hurling backward. Metal’s eyes shiftes back to green as he said, “Shadow.. promise me..” Shadow loosened his grip, as he heard a girl’s voice. “Maria?!” Metal raised his Cannon and said, “Shadow..” Then a bright green beam came out of canon and blasted Shadow sending him into several trees. Metal then flew upward back into the sky blue. Chuck ran to Shadow’s side, his body burnt and unconcious. Chuck, “What have I done?!”
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Sonid stretched his fingers togeher ' well, sally, i'm going to go for a short walk. clear my head and think about our next move>" Don;t go too far Sonic. the woods arent safe these days ' Sally Said. ' I've got to finish roll call. DUlcy and Samia. you gir;s can go get freshened up. you've earned it after your patrol. Just try and avoid using up all the soup, alright? Its not as if we can just go down to the nearest store and buy them in bulk. ' Thats what Scale-spray is for ' Dulcy chuckled. ' plus it makes our scales sparkle like a new coin. '
Tails and Amy began reading two of the books Dulcy had found. They were- how to make a kart instructions. But given how starved they both were for new reading material, they didnt care that most of it was vectoor bragging about how good a racer he was.
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Uncle Chuck tended to Shadow’s wounds. The chaos blast had marked his body in more red stripes. Chuck held out his datapad with a scanner trying to assess if there was internal injuries, he detected surge of heat energy. Shadow’s body began to turn red in hue like blood, his eyes popped open, which instead of being red were white making the eye socket appear empty. Shadow levitatd into the air. Out of his mouth came a blast of energy that splintered nearby trees. Chuck tried to get his sttention, “Shadow.. please, don’t go Chaos! Remeber What happened last time!” Shadow turned, his spines floating upward like strands of hair, he pointed his hand at Chuck. “You! Liar!” Chuck pleaded on his knees, “Please.. Shadow power down, we can fix this.” Shadow emitted a red energy in his palm. “I am done with waiting! You promised me Maria!” Uncle Chuck put his hands together in a plea. “We will find her I promise.. we need Metal alive or she is lost!” Shadow shouted, “I am bringing back his head!” Uncle Chuck entreated, “No! Shadow!” Shadow shot a red beam at Chuck striking him in the abdomen and throwing him to the ground. The Furious Hedgehog then flew away in a rage.
Metal Sonic made a boom in the air, trees rustling beneath his jet engine as he scanned the forest for his target. He came to a groove of trees when his eye caught sight of the Blue Blur. “Primary target.. located!” Metal came out of flight landing on his black metal shoes behind Sonic. He aimed his hand canon at the target and prepared to fire, when he was knocked into a tree. Standing where Metal had been was Knuckles the Echidna. “Sonic! Eyes on me! Its Metal!”
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Metal?' Sonic stopped his run ans turned to see the metal doppleganger climbing out of the wreckage of a tree. " how did that guy get out? someone must not have been going proper oversiuight.." he sighed anbd balled up his fists ' Hey. Thanks for the headsup up Knuckles. Whats do you think? We take him on together. Old right lift-left right combo?" Sonic started moving towards the metal version of himself, whio seemed taking in the situation then raised his rocket cabnnon at Sonic " Sonic dashed out of the way the blastg missing him by inches and leavoing a big hole in the ground where he stood. ' Lets pull the plug on this guy.." Sonic called out.
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Knuckles cracked his white gloves and said, “lets combo bro!” Knux saw Metal fire a blast at Sonic and miss, Knuckles glided and two fisted Metal in the head, knocking him back into the splintered tree which was now a stump. Knux pinned him and gave several punches, his sharp spikes on his gloves digging into the head of the mecha imposter. Then Knux noticed the emerald. “Sonic! He’s got a chaos emerald in his.. agh!” Knuckles was blasted by the chest core of Metal by green energy, and thrown on to his back. Knux’s body was smoking.
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a choas emerald? Great! Where in blazes did he find that?' solonic said jumping and dashing to avoid repeaed blasts from the magic artifact in metal Sonics tests. trees were reduced to splinters. dust flew up in the air from the impacts i the ground. " Sonic took a brief break to look at the carnage " geez this place looks like the golf course after Amy and rogue finish playing. ' He cracked . His moment of levity was cut short as Metal Sonic continued blasting at him. sonic curved in to get a punch in to metal Sonics face, his fist caught in one of the hales knuckles had made in the robots left cheek. " Ah crud ' Sonic said .
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Metal had Sonic now clinging to him and with his canon he pointed at the Target. “There can only be one Sonic.” His voice buzzed. When suddenly a red beam blasted Metal and tore Sonic’s glove loose. Hovering in the sky was Shadow. Shadow lowered himself to the ground. Knux had recovered and saw the Black Hedgehog shrouded in red light. Knux, “Oh boy.. this party just got complicated.” Shadow passed Sonic without a glance, and grabbed Metal from the ground, his hand around Metal’s neck. Shadow, “Maria! Tell me where to find her! Tell me now!” Shadow squeezed, but then felt his power weaken, the core emerald began to invert its energy output and Shadow felt the chaos power in his body be pulled into Metal. Shadow fell down, “What?! Impossible!” Metal’s dents closed and his body was now shrouded in a red hue. Metal plucked the half emerald from Shadow and put it in his core, the two incomplete emerald shards came together in his chest, it was now whole. Metal’s red eyes flickered green. He turned his canon at Sonic, when his head began to twitch. “New Intel.. computing.. primary target, Sonic.. eliminate.. order cancelled.” Metal lowered his arm canon. Knuckles rubbed his chin, “Hmm.. interesting.” Shadow tried to rise to his feet, his legs wobbling like jelly. “Impossible.. I am.. The Ultimate..lifeform.” Knuckles, “This day has gotten rad and ridiclous fast.” Metal stepped towards Sonic, “Bra.. brother?” Knux gasped, “Woah.. first you try to knock his block off and now brother? What in the Floating Island is going on?!” Uncle Chuck arrived limping with Rotor holding his arm. Chuck, “I have much to explain. Please, Sonic, take me to her highness.” Shadow began to walk away from the group when Knux stopped him, “You alright?” Shadow scoffed, “Alright? I am the Ultimate Lifeform.” Knuckles shook his dreds, “Yeah, but you sure got drained. I haven’t seen anything like it since Enerjack.” Shadow shook his head, “It is impossible.. I am..” Knux, “The Ultinate Lifeform.. we know, but you better stick around for the next party. Sally is bound to have some stern words about this mess.” Shadow, “I only care about my promise to Maria..” uncle Chuck turned, “Maria, remember her DNA can only be found by Metal.” Shadow crosses his arms, and reluctantly stayed with Sonic, Knuckles, Uncle Chuck, and Rotor.
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you are going to have a lot of explaining to do chuck ' sonic said as he took off his rippec up glove, which was now pretty much useless excepting as burning material for a fire ' Sally isnt to going to like this at all. We havev enough issues on our plate, we dont need more. half the planet has been robotized, and k now we find oiut you're messing around with Metal Sonic and Shadow/" sonic fixed his eyes on chuck. " you had better have a darn good explanation, if not, being fired will be the least of your concerns. ' Sonic said. " Lets get going." his gaze briefly turned to Shadow. " how long has Chuck worked with you?"
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Chuck held his head low as he recieved a rebuke from Sonic. He knew that he must make a case for his actions, explain himself to her Highness. The Aged Hedgehog limped on with Rotor’s help.
Metal Sonic followed Sonic as he enagged Shadow in conversation. The Mecha was taking in his surroundings, his eyes scanning the trees, adjusting to thw sunlight’s rays and his ears taking in bird song. He had been a weapon for so long, revived in many interations to accomplish only one thing, destroy Sonic The Hedgehog. Now he found himself amused by all around him, free of his old programming he felt the need to savor all he saw. A yellow butterfly descended and landed on his metal finger, Metal starred at it and smiled, even nature knew he was different.
Shadow walked in his usual sauntering gate, Sonic’s query was for a moment lost in his mind that now was fixated on Maria. He had trusted Uncle Chuck to deliver a guide, but so far he had recieved nothing but malfunctioning machine who somehow drained his chaos reserves. How had this happened, he was “The Ultimate Lifeform,” how could one of Botnik’s slaves best him? What was more alarming is Chuck had made the modifications to Metal, what was the Old Koot crafting? A weapon against Chaos Power?! Shadow finally acknowledge Sonic’s question, “He came to me, hoping for a power source to revive that hunk of junk. He better deliver on his promise.”
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i see. well, he may not get the opportunity, as it would be hard to do anything while locked up, in Deep Caves. " sonic said. ' when we get back, you three will need to wait outside while I talk to Sally, it wuldnty do to just stoll in after all. sally doubtless will have questions for you all. thanks for the assist Knuckles, by the by. metal was goping to rip me pretty hard, otherwise ' he said to the large echidna.
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Shadow wiped his black nose with his white glove. “All I need is that piece of junk. Then I will keep my promise. I could care less what happens to the old man.” Shadow said this in his usual surly tone, but the truth is he didn't trust the Blue Hedgehog, nor did he trust any of the other Freedom Fighters.
Knuckles smashing his two gloves together said, “No prob, we’ve had our share of Mecha Madness in the past haven’t we?” The Echidna smirked as his dreds swayed in the wind. As Guardian if the Master Emerald he had learned to put on a brave face, but he couldn’t lie to himself, he was worried about this Mecha Sonic which had the pour to drain Chaos. The Red Echidna woyld keep his ete on this version of Botnik’s assassin.
Metal kept taking in all the sights as they neared an outpost with wood look outs and houses. A little bunny child with brown hair and blue eyes saw his metallic face and green lighted eyes and hopped away screaming. Metal didn’t understand why the child was so frightened.
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sonic lead the group inside then moved ahead to the throne room where sally was seated on a chair befittiung her rank. other fredom fighters were busy keeping the hideout tidy and didnt pay much attention to the newcomers. a guard asked chuck knuckled and the otyers to wait ' the sounds coming from the room indicated that sally was NOT pleased with what Sonic was telling her ' Get Chuck in here NOW!' sally shouted.
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Chuck entered the throne room with his head held low. He took a knee before Sally, his eyes closed. “Your Highness, I come to face your justice and to make my case for my actions.” The mustache hedgehog. “I wish to make one short statement, that everything I did was for the good of Mobius and for the protection of all Freedom Fighters. ‘Here I stand, I can do no other.”
Outside Metal was examining the hideout, his eyes piercing walls. He could see into the throne room and hear Uncle Chuck making his plea. He didn’t understand what was transpiring. Shadow approached the Mecha, and looked into his innocent robotic face. “Maria, where is she?” Metal looked at the red and black hedgehog with puzzled expression. Shadow shook his head. “This stupid bag of bolts is but a child.. I am wasting my time.” Shadow started walking away when Metal involuntarily spoke in a girl’s voice, “Shadow!” Shadow turned, “Maria?!” Metal continued to look innocent and dull. Then Metal said, “Maria Robotnik.. file locked.” Shadow looked at the Bronze and Black Mecha Hedgehog and said, “I will find a key.. Chuck..”
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Sally gave Chuck a withering look as she began to speak."Chuck , I gave you no permission or authority to do this. We cannot rely on or trust Shadow, he is not on our side. Any help we get from him is completely inadvertent and unintentional. You have been in cahoots with him for weeks if not months , for reasons known only to the two of you. Trying to justify your actions as being for the greater good fails on three grounds: First, the secrecy. Second , the lack of permission. Third, the danger we are facing, which is steadily growing as we lose more and more ground. You should have known the state of our situation was too precarious to allow for reaching out to Shadow, our situation was bad when you started this ' project ' it has only gotten worse since then. I trusted you Chuck, and you have betrayed that trust completely. The consequences for that must be severe and the damage you have done must be mitigated to the degree possible. So , my verdict on you Chuck is threefold. Firstly, and most obviously, you are fired, effective immediately. You are stripped of your clearance and access to our facilities, permanently. Second, you will be imprisoned for a term of at least one year or until your trial, whichever is longer. Third I am putting you on trial for treason against the Freedom Fighters, with penalties ranging from life in exile to life imprisonment to death by execution, depending on how the tribunal rules . We will be going through your belongings and notes to see how much of our secrets you have divulged to Shadow, and we will tighten our security as a result. For now Chuck I hope you take the time you will be given in prison to reflect on your actions and the harm that you have caused. What you have done can only be mitigated, not atoned for. As for trusting you after this, that's not happening. I can never trust you with anything of importance ever again Chunk." Sally said, motioned to the two guards" Take him away and lock him up. He is to be fed regularly and must be under constant guard and observation. Give him paper and pen for him to write with, any notes he gives you, bring them to me as soon as possible " Sally finished
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The two guards escorted Unlce Chuck to the prison, it began to rain heavily, the Old Hedgehog’s head hung low as his arms were gripped by two hawk talons. The main entrance had two hounds armed with rifles and their eyes obscured by black glasses. Chuck was taken into the cell block, there he was placed on a metal bench and a force field of pink was activated. The guards positioned themsleves on either side of the energy door.
Outside in the rain, a hedgehog stood in the shadows outside the lamps, rain drops rolling down its gnarled black and red spines, and black nose. His red eyes squinted at the two hound guards. The two guards exchanged some banter, “This weather is awful,” “Yeah, at least it makes us harder to find.” The two guards heard a snapping sound, like a twig. They turned and aimed their rifles. “What was that?” There was another snap and then the two hounds were knocked to the ground, Shadow kicking them from above with his white and red light shoes. The two guards were neautralized. The prison cell block doors opened, the two guards looked at each other. The Hawk approached the opening and was grabbed by a white glove and pulled into blackness. The final guard ained his rifle and prepared to fire, when suddenly a bent rifle flew at him and hit him in the head.
Uncle Chuck raised his head in the commotion. The energy field dropped and standing there was Shadow. “You made a promise Professor.” Chuck lowered his head, “It’s pointless.. I am beanded a traitor. My life’s work and all I have done to help our cause is now undone.” Shadow stepped into the cell block. “You promised me Maria. You will help me or you will die.” Uncle Chuck shook his head. “Death.. is of little concern to me now. I am an outcast.” Shadow’s patience for this self pity grew thin. “You said the Mecha knew where Maria’s DNA was held, does it possibly know other secrets of Eggman?” Chuck’s ears perked up, and he raised his head.”Yes! Of course! That could be my way to exonerate myself! To show the Princess my methods are for the good of Knothole.” Shadow clutched his fist. “Very well, lets retrieve the machine and head to Robotropolis.”
Metal Sonic had been aiezed by guards and shocked into a stasis state. He was back at the lab, where he was being examined by Rotor who had orders to terminate the assassin. Rotor read the computer screen, as cords fed info to the screen from Metal’s CPU. More hound guards stood outside the lab, work wolves were repairing the roof. Suddenly there was a boom and the main lab dood blew open. Hounds flew backwards, into debrs and wolves on the roof tottered over, hanging on for dear life. Emerging from the flames was Shadow, who walked up to Rotor and threw him agaunst the screen. Uncle Chuck ran into the room and removed the cords and activated Metal who looked at Chuck qnd smiled, “Uncle!” Chuck helped Metal to his feet. “Come.. we must go at once!” An alarm sounded as thw three hedgehog made their escape, heading deep into the woods.
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An alarm image appeared on Sally's computer and images of the carnage at the prison flashed across her screen , a black blur visible throughout the images " There's only one being who can move like that besides Sonic- Shadow " Sally said to herself . " What could Chuck have to offer him, that he would intervene like this? Especially since escaping prison immediately after sentencing means that executing him becomes basically the courts only choice? Shadow just made things worse for Chuck , much worse." Sally said going through the security images. Shadow had quickly overpowered the guards and had grabbed not only Chuck but Mecha as well." We'll have to go through Chucks notes, perhaps something will pop up."
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Antoine D’Coolette approached Sally in his dress blues and saber at his side . “Miladyz, I have assembled trackers and a contigent of soldats (soldiers) to sieze de traitors! I awaitz your orders.”
Rotor the Walrus entered, a great lump on his head was obscured by a yellow baseball cap. Rotor approached Princess Sally, “Princess, I have knowledge that you need to know. About Chuck, Shadow, and the Mecha Sonic.”
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Go after them Antoine. Find them if you can. But I have my doubts on your chances of success. Only Sonic can run as fast as Shadow, and they have a head start." Sally dismissed him with a wave of her hand.? She then turned to Rotor whose hat only partly obscured a huge welt on his head" Tell me what you know Rotor. The better informed we are, the better
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Antoine bowed his head and gripped hus saber hikt. He stepped backward three times and turned, his medals swaying with gold tassels on his shoulder guards. Outside Antoine met a group of twenty Hounds and Hawks. “Weez have thez orde to huntz down the traitors! Into the woods!” Antoine led the contingent into the forest.
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Rotor took off his hat and adjusted the rim so it was at the back to help conceal the lump. “Uncle Chuck used a chaos emerald to reactivate Mecha Sonic, he acquired the emerald from Shadow who he promised to help retrieve Mara Robotnik’s DNA. My concern your Highness is they intend to break into Robotropolis to retrieve the DNA. Eggman could then capture Mecha and learn all he has learned scanning Knothole and its facilities. I do wish to state for the record Chuck’s intentions were for the greater good, but I fear his methods will lead us into greater peril. I am sorry I did not come forth sooner about this, I never thought it would get this far. Please I ask your pardon Princess.”
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When did you first find out about your uncles intentions? If it was only very recently, that is one thing, if you knew from the outset, quite another. " Sally said as Samia and Dulcy stepped forward " We can help track Shadow, if you want Sally " Dulcy offered " No , girls, you are too valuable to spare. You two are literally our only flying capabilities, we need you here."Sally said
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Rotor wiped his brow. “I knew of his intentions early on, but I never thought he’d be in league with Shadow.”
Knuckles stepped into the roon. “Sally, I heard the sirans. I volunteer my services to help track Shadow and Uncle Chuck.” The Echidna put a cowboy hat on his red head. “I know chaos energy, and can track it. As you know I am Guardian of the Master Emerald, and so have been around chaos emeralds my whole life. I can find them.”
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Antoine and the Trackers were scouring the woods, they found footprints. “Onward Findz the traitors!”
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Uncle Chuck, Mecha and Shadow made their way through the forest to a trail and what looked like wood pipes and vines. Mecha’s sensors strobed. “Movement detected. We are being prusued.” Uncle Chuck breathed heavily, not use to the brisk pace. Shadow looked at the wood half pipes ans vines. “We have to pick up the pace. Play time is over!” Shadow leapt and begab to grind down the half pipe edges. Mecha activated his engine that hummed to life, leavitating him just above the mossy ground. “Hop on Uncle!” Chuck shook his head. “I am going to regret this.” Mecha took off like a shot, Uncle Chuck griping around his under belly and grabbing in to the jet black spines. The hogs were airborne, in prusuit of black and red blur they called The Ultimate Lifeform.
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You still should have told me about this earlier " Sally sighed." Still this is your uncles fault, not yours." She turned to Knuckles " Go. Hunt them down, bring Chuck back, by whatever means necessary. I want him alive Knuckles, which means you refrain from your usual tactic of punch first second third and fourth, and ask questions later once your foe is missing all of their teeth." Sally said
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Rotor frowned. “I was remiss. Please forgive me. Let me make it yp to you by working on tech in the lab. Perhaps I can find more details on Mecha Sonic and exploit weaknesses.”
Knuckled nodded. “I shall bring him back with a black eye and nothing more. I must depart immediately, they will be far away by now.” Knux bowed his head and left. He took a brown oack fyll of items, one of which was a red chaos emerald which he held and used to track chaos energy.
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Very well Rotor. Get to work immediately, we need to know how to handle Mecha Sonic " Sally said. A buzz on her computer revealed that her order to abandon the outposts had been received and were being carried out.
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Antoine and hus trackers had lost the trail. He stood over a cliff and began to mutter in French. Gliding overhead was Knuckles who could sense chaos energy imminating from Mecha Sonic and Shadow. He aunk his knuckle gloves ijto a tree and leap to glide once more, as he followed the half pipe and signs of Shadow grinding rails of vines.
Uncle Chuck, Mecha, and Shadow came to the end of the forest. Before them was massive iron wall with spikes protruding out and cameras. Shadow did a spin dash, and destroyed the closest camera. “Hurry up old koot.” Mecha flew up the scale of the wall, Chuck held on as they ascend to a scene of a city. There were grey skyscrapers and domes everywhere. Shuttles in the shape of eggs patrolled the skies, with fumes of power factories clouding the horizon. Chuck gasped, “Robotropolis.”
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Sonic was resting against a wall , he had watched without comment as Sally had fired Chuck and sentenced him to prison. " Shadow is definitely up to something. He never gets involved in our affairs " Sonic said to Sally as she sat down in her seat " " We need to find out why Chuck got involved with him. Why he crossed us." Sally said " Have Tails go over Chucks notes
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Shadow climbed unto the wall and saw the city, he was unmoved. He turned to Mecha and eyed him with his red irises. “Now as promised, where is Maria?” Mecha turned, hus green wyes blipping. “Access denied. Keycode needed.” Shadow grabbed Mecha by the throat. “You said nothing about a keycode! Where is she you bucket if bolts or I will swear to melt you down as you once were found!” Chuck tried to intervene. When a voice echoed. “Shadow.. the Hedgehog. Welcome to Robotropolis. Come find me Ultimate Lifeform. I have the answers you seek.” Shadow looked and saw a screen in the shape of egg with mustache piping a gruff tone. “Eggman.. how did he know that I.. am here.” Shadow then tigjtened his grip around Mecha’s throat. “Was this a trap? Huh! Tell me you pathetic piece of scrap metal!” Shadow then tossed Mecha off the wall into the city streets. The Ultimate Lifeform then turned to Chuck. “You promised me Maria. If you were wrong, I will preform your execution myself!”
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sonic took the notes retrieved From Chuck and headed over to the library where Tails was reading. " Hey, pal. got some material for you to go over. All of Chuck's notes. We need to find out what he was doing these past few months. maybve he left clues in his notes. Give me or Sally a shout, if you find anything. For now i need to go debrief the returning commanders from the outposts. Sally's pulling nearly all of them back."
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Knuckles followed the trail and clues to the walls of Robotropolis. He kept his head down as he surveyed the security sentries and skyscrapers that had lights strobing, illuminating parts of the lower city. Knux saw a entersnce to the sewers. Below ground was the safest way forward.
Meanwhile Shadow, Mecha, and Chuck were on their way into the belly of the cyberbeast. Swatbots, six foot tall aoldiers of iron metal with red horizontal visors paid them no heed. Eggman was welcoming them in.
Mecha scanned the area and recognized things, suddenly his memory began to fill with a voice. “My creation.. you know why I made you. Lead them to me.” Mecha eyes had shifted in the moment from emerald green to ruby red. Shadow paid no notice, he was determined to find His Maria. Driven by his own memory. Chuck was out of breath, his body ached and he struggled to keep up with Shadow’s pace. They all three came to a great gate leading to a tower in a egg shape. The structure shimmered silver with green lights. The gate opened. Inside the turrents were deactivated, and Swatbots stood at attention, motionless. “Strange,” remaked Uncle Chuck, “Everything is in a dormant state.” Shadow turned to Mecha, “where now?” Mecha accessed his memory and pointed towards a tube, an elevator. Mecha was confused, the files on Maria Robotnik were now no longer sealed.
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samia and Dulcy decided to check in on Wave who was one ofd the rebels chief weapons engineers. the purple swallow hadnt had much to work with , of course. buts of junk salvaged from wrecked ships and weapons. It was a testament to her skills that they were effective weapons at all. ' not now girls," Wave said looking up at the two dragonesses briefly. I'm trying to make this grappler weapons into parts for the new grinder weapon i designed. firs out a grapple but with a sharp blade on the end ' She said as she fiddled with a weapon. " We were just dripping off some parts we scavanged from our latest recon " Samia said ' Thanks , just put it in the parts box over there. say, if you're about , could you grab me a drink from the break room? Just a soda, or something?. I've been too busy working on this stuff to get anything to eat or drink. the fact that i'm reduced to working on stiuff this low grade doesnt exactl help my morale either ' Wave said. " Sure thing' Dulcy said.' any preference?' No, just grab me a Diet Rebel, or something. I'm not really particular' wave eaved her wing.