Fast Forward

“All is in readiness.” Robotnik beamed as he studied the readouts. “The time is now.” He moved towards a perspex cylinder, his smile deepening as he studied the shadowy figure suspended in the fluid within.

Snively let out a strangled sighed. He had long ago become bored with his uncle’s need for dramatics. ‘Why can’t he just flip the switch and turn the damn thing on?’ He wondered to himself.

“And now I give you life!” He jabbed at a button on his computer bank. Electricity sparked around the cylinder, reflecting off every metallic surface. The figure began to writhe.

“Arise, my most wonderful creation!” He punched another button, the fluid draining away at his touch.

Snively rolled his eyes.

“Arise, and do my bidding!” He pressed a third and final button. The cylinder rose towards the ceiling with a hiss. A vibrant green glow emanated from the figure’s eyes, indicating that it was fully functional. Its blue and silver form glinted evilly in the laboratory’s bright lighting. Its form was frighteningly familiar.

“Arise, Metal Sonic, Mark…” He paused, turning towards his nephew. “What are we up to?”

“I really have no idea.” Snively admitted, not even bothering to keep the boredom from his voice. “Five?” He suggested.

“Yes…” Robotnik smiled. “Five will do quite nicely…”

The newly animated Metal Sonic, Mark Five, stepped down from the raised platform and quietly approached the Overlander pair. It stopped before Robotnik, its eyes apparently focused on nothing.

Snively eyed it suspiciously.

“Forgive me for asking…” he began. “But what makes you think that this version will perform any better than its predecessors?”

“All the previous versions have been antagonists…” Robotnik explained. “Designed to fight the hedgehog one on one. Metal Sonic, Mark Five, has a completely different function. It was not designed to engage the hedgehog at all.”

He looked to Snively to gauge his response to this revelation.

“So what exactly is it for?” Snively inquired.

“Metal Sonic, Mark Five, is merely a lure.” Robotnik went on. “It will lure the hedgehog here…” He jabbed a finger at a spot on a large map of the Great Forest that was displayed on one of the laboratory’s many computer screens. “Right into my grasp…and into my most diabolical, ingenious and overall brilliant trap.”

“Right…” Snively muttered under his breath.

But Robotnik was too involved in his new plan to notice. “Go now, Metal Sonic, Mark Five.” He demanded. “You have your orders. Locate the hedgehog…and bring him to me!”

~~~~~

“Now then…” Bernie began digging through the freshly packed basket. “I think you have everything you need…”

“Mom…” Sonic began.

“Sandwiches…fresh fruit…a thermos of tea…”

“What? No chilli dogs?”

Bernie eyed her son, her robotic form eerily imitating any slightly annoyed flesh and blood mother simply by the way she held her head. “Do you really believe a princess should be eating chilli dogs?”

Sonic shrugged. “She’s eaten worse…”

“Does she even like chilli dogs?” Jules asked as he strolled in from outside with a handful of flowers. He offered the bouquet to his son with as close to a smile as he could muster.

“What’s with the posies?” Sonic asked.

“You don’t take a young lady out on a date without bringing her a little something.” Jules explained.

“It’s not a date.” Sonic clarified. “It’s just a picnic.”

“Anybody else going on this picnic?” Jules asked.

“Well…” Sonic looked down at his sneakers as he twisted a toe on the floor. “No…not exactly…”

“Then it’s a date.” Jules chuckled.

“Dad…” Sonic protested.

“Well…” Bernie eyes him. “You will be eighteen in a couple of months…”

“Six weeks…” Sonic mumbled.

“You’re growing up…” Jules added. “It’s time you started thinking about your future…”

“And Sally’s a wonderful girl…” Bernie added.

Sonic’s eyes widened at his parents train of thought, the colour draining from his face. He suddenly realised just how Knuckles felt, though of course, the echidna had the entire Island pressuring him. And though he could see the Guardian settling down early, he just couldn’t picture himself in the same position.

The robotic couple chuckled at their son’s ashen expression.

“We’re just kidding with you, son.” Jules said. “You shouldn’t rush into these things.”

“You’ve got plenty of time.” Bernie said, her smile, that her face couldn’t replicate, fully evident in her voice.

~~~~~

Sally nibbled delicately on a fresh peach hoping that she wouldn’t dribble juice down her chin. It had taken such a long time for her to manage to get a moment alone with her blue paramour that she didn’t want to embarrass herself in such an undignified manner.

She stole a shy glance at Sonic, frowning as she noticed how distracted he was.

“What’s the matter?” She asked him.

“I dunno, Sal…” he sighed. “It’s just…well…we don’t really have a great track record when it comes to spending time together…you know…just the two of us…”

She raised a brow.

“If it’s not an enchanted echidna, it’s a megalomaniac mammoth…”

Sally chuckled. “Somebody sounds a little paranoid…”

“It’s the truth…”

“Sonic…” she smiled at him. “It’s a wonderful day…Antoine, Bunnie, Tails and Rotor promised that they’d hold the fort for us…”

“I know…”

She leaned forward, smiling seductively at him. “Or maybe you’re just afraid to be alone with me?”

A look of fear passed quickly across his features as he moved, ever so slightly, back from her advance. Sally frowned, moving back to study him.

“You ARE afraid.”

Sonic lowered his eyes, feeling his heart sink at the tone of grief in her voice. He sighed.

“It’s not that I’m afraid…” he said softly. “It’s just that…well…Mom and Dad were going on about how I should be thinking about my future, and about what a great girl you are…”

“So it’s commitment you’re afraid of?” She questioned, the grief replaced with just a hint of anger. Or was she just teasing him?

Sonic drew a deep breath. How could he put what he was feeling into words?

“We’re not even eighteen years old…” he began. “Should we really be thinking about stuff like that? I mean…the time will come…but…”

She sighed. “I know…but I’m royalty…”

Sonic arched a brow. “That’s supposed to make a difference?”

“I know it’s silly…but when you’re in a position of power like I am…a hereditary position of power…there are certain responsibilities that come with it…the people put certain expectations on you…

“They expect you to settle down early…produce an heir to continue the line…my Mom and Dad were about our age when they had Elias…”

“Are they putting pressure on you?” He asked with a frown.

“A little.” She admitted. “Daddy kinda wanted me to marry Antoine…”

“WHAT!?”

“Antoine’s from a respected family…the sort that the nobility would approve of…even with the latest turn of events regarding his father…” She sighed. “That sort of thing is really important to the nobles…

“I’ve stalled Daddy in regards to that…I mean Antoine’s with Bunnie…and I’m…” She looked at him with her soulful blue eyes. “But he could still order it. It’s not uncommon for arranged marriages amongst royalty after all…”

He swallowed so loudly he was sure she’d heard it. She wanted a commitment from him so that her father couldn’t force her to marry somebody else. He DID love her, he was sure of that, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready to prove it so…finally.

“Sal…” he began.

He never got to finish the thought.

A laser blast hit the blanket immediately between the pair, the impact of it forcing them away from each other as food, earth and fabric erupted in to flames. Fighting reflexes kicked in, both of them on their feet and ready for action in less than a heartbeat.

They looked up to see a sickeningly familiar robotic form.

“Oh man…” Sonic mumbled. “When I spoke of enchanted echidnas and megalomaniac mammoths I forgot to mention my own tin-platted twin…” He smiled. “Guess old Robotnik’s been busy.”

Metal Sonic, Mark Five took careful aim at its flesh and blood counterpart. It open fire, but the hedgehog was way too fast for it. It continued to track him, completely ignoring Sally.

“Looks like it’s focus is on me, Sal.” Sonic said. “I’ll lead it away…take care of it out of harm’s way…you get back to Knothole.”

“There’s no way I’m going to leave you alone with that thing aiming for your head.” She protested.

“Don’t worry about me, Sal.” Sonic smirked. “Ivo hasn’t built a ‘bot I can’t beat.”

“Yet.” She pointed out. She looked at Sonic. He was, surprisingly, grinning from ear to ear. He just loved taking Robotnik’s creations apart. But that didn’t mean he could. Each Metal Sonic got more and more sophisticated. Eventually Robotnik would build one that Sonic couldn’t defeat. “I’ll go…but I’m bringing back the others.”

Sonic didn’t hear her. He was too focused on his adversary. “C’mon, big boy.” He said to his robotic doppelganger. “Let’s see what you’ve got!”

~~~~~

In Robotropolis, Robotnik watched with an evil grin.

“And so it begins.” He chuckled. The beginning of the end. Time to get myself in position…”

~~~~~

Sonic bolted through the Great Forest at top speed, easily evading the latest model of the seemingly unending supply of Metal Sonics. ‘Man…’ he thought. ‘This one’s not even as big a challenge as the last one…’

What he didn’t realise was that he was being subtly pushed in a predetermined direction. What he didn’t realise was that Metal Sonic, Mark Five, wasn’t the only one of Robotnik’s creations in the Great Forest that day.

Sonic noticed the flash of golden eyes scant seconds before a tree came crashing down in his path. As he swerved to avoid being crushed, he saw the vibrant red Metal Knuckles, its bladed arms glinting evilly in the sun, cock its head to one side as it watched him streak by. But the felled tree forced him to take a single path.

‘Crap!’ Sonic thought as he realised just where he was headed. ‘Those damn things herded me!’ Straight ahead was a narrow path right between two very high cliffs…it was the perfect place for an ambush.

He glanced up as he entered the ravine, eyes searching for Robotnik’s trap, but he could see nothing. He felt the earth shake. He flicked his head back to see that Robotnik, in some kind of two-legged vehicle, had dropped down behind him. A huge laser cannon mounted to the front of the vehicle was aimed straight at his back.

‘Ah, man…’ Sonic thought. ‘This is gonna hurt…’

He heard it fire, and with nowhere to dodge, winced as it hit him square in the small of the back. He heard Robotnik laugh as he was enveloped in a light brighter than he could have imagined…

…and he fell flat on his face.

He could believe he’d got out of that one. His back hurt like nothing before. He could smell the awful aroma of burnt quills, could almost feel his skin blistering. He took a deep breath and started to gag.

The air burnt as it travelled down to his lungs. It tasted like every possible chemical fume all at once. He squinted, looking around as his vision began to clear. If it had been possible, his eyes would have widened with surprise.

He could see the air. It was thick and noxious. Far dirtier than the cloud that usually hung over Robotropolis. The ground he lay on, or rather, in, was a thick, oily muck.

‘What the…?’ He thought briefly before he began coughing on the noxious muck. He rolled onto his back, the oily earth seeping into the fresh laser burns. He didn’t dear scream from the pain, he didn’t want to take in the air it required.

He began to cough up blood. He knew he was dying. Nothing could survive in this.

“Gee, buddy.” A voice chided him. “You must be the most incredibly stupid being I’ve ever come across…coming out in this without some kind of protection.”

He squinted up into a young, female face that was filled with incredulous concern. Long dark tendrils fell softly around her long tapered muzzle. He recognised her species immediately, even through the tears in his eyes. He knew plenty of them after all.

An echidna.

There was some sought of strange, barely visible, blue aura that surrounded her. But there was something strangely familiar about her. Something about the expression on her face, the shape of her eyes. As she dipped her face a little closer, he managed to discern their colour.

Lavender.

It wasn’t a common colour amongst the species. Most had blue eyes. Some green or brown. But he’d only ever met one echidna with lavender eyes.

“Julie-Su?” He managed to whisper.

She raised a brow, startled as he spoke the name.

“Guess I better get you out of this.” She said, slipping her arms under him and lifting him easily. “You are in serious need of medical attention.”

As she settled him more comfortably in her arms he noticed an arch of white fur that could just be seen at the neck of her shirt. But before he could reflect on it, he slipped into unconsciousness.

~~~~~

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been out, but at least now he could breath. He could feel the breath mask over his face, the bandages that wrapped his body. She had been good to her word. She’d gotten him the medical attention he needed.

“Is he gonna be okay?” He heard her ask. He tried to look around, but he couldn’t move his head, and his eyes stung as soon as he opened them.

“Looks like it.” A second voice answered. It was a harsher voice, an older voice. A somewhat annoyed voice.

“What do you think he was doing out there?” The first voice asked.

“More to the point…” the harsh one countered. “What were YOU doing out there?”

“It’s just as well for this guy I was.” The young one pointed out. “He was nearly dead when I found him.”

“Your mother’s gonna pitch a fit when she finds out about this!” The harsh one growled.

“Well…” the young one began. “She doesn’t HAVE to know…”

“Don’t try that face on me, kiddo.” The harsh one said. “It might work on your mother but it’s not gonna work on me.”

Sonic couldn’t see what was happening, but he could imagine. Especially when he heard the harsh sigh.

“Ah…” the voice had softened. “Who am I kidding? Get out of here!”

“Thanks, Aunty Lien.” The young one said happily. “You’re the greatest!”

“You owe me, kiddo!” She yelled after the obviously departing youngster.

He sensed the other above him, could tell she was studying him.

“Guess I better go tell the others about this.” She mumbled.

~~~~~

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been left alone. He’d drifted off more than once. But he was suddenly aware that he was no longer alone.

“You’re absolutely sure about this?” He heard a voice ask. It wasn’t either of the two he’d heard previously. It was deeper, definitely masculine, and had a strangely metallic ring to it.

“Definitely. The DNA’s a perfect match.” This was a voice he did recognise. Moni-Ca. Though it seemed to have a slightly different edge to it. She didn’t sound like her usual bright and optimistic self. But then, having to treat an extremely injured friend would probably explain that.

But at least he knew where he was now. If the echidna was treating him he had to be on the Floating Island.

“It’s impossible.” The metallic voice countered. “Barring the injuries he looks exactly the same.”

“I can’t explain it.” Moni-Ca said. “I’m just telling you what the tests say. He is definitely Sonic the hedgehog.”

“Could be a clone.” The other said.

Sonic frowned slightly. There was something awfully familiar about the voice, but he couldn’t quite place it.

“Hmmmm…” the metallic voice mused. “Looks like he’s awake.”

‘Must have seen me frown…’ Sonic thought.

He heard the pair move closer as they approached the bed.

“Are his eyes healed yet?” The male asked.

“Should be okay by now.” Moni-Ca replied.

“Sonic?” The metallic voice questioned.

He could sense that the male was directly above him now, looking down at him. He opened his eyes, wincing at the brightness of the room’s light. He could make out the shape of the being above him, though it was difficult to make out much in the way of detail, thanks to his injuries and the fact that the light source was behind him leaving Sonic with little more than a silhouette. But he could make out two pointed ears that surrounded a lengthy orange cowlick. Soft white fur covered a short tapered muzzle that ended in a small, triangular black nose.

The cowlick, the orange and white fur…

He realised now why that voice had been so familiar.

“Tails?” He queried, a little confused. Why was his friend on the Island? Had they contacted him when the young female echidna had brought him in for medical attention? And what was with the metallic voice?

“It’s been a long time since anybody called me that.” He snorted.

He stepped back and Sonic could see him clearly. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he looked at his best friend in the world.

He had to be at least a foot taller, more powerfully built. And he could see straight away why nobody called him ‘Tails’ anymore, for only a single thick brush curled about his feet.

But none of this was as striking as the fact the entire right-hand side of his body was made of a smooth, highly reflective metal. It didn’t look like he’d been partially roboticized. He looked like he’d been rebuilt. Massive injuries must have lead to this.

He looked at Sonic with his vibrant blue eyes, one organic, one robotic. He didn’t seem at all bothered by his friend’s reaction. It was like he didn’t care.

Sonic tried to speak, but couldn’t find any words.

“Tails…” he began.

“Miles.” The cyborg fox corrected.

“I…uh...what…huh?” Sonic stammered.

Miles sighed. He could see Sonic’s confusion, and he was beginning to build his own theory as to just why the hedgehog looked exactly the same as he had the last time anybody had seen him. He decided to help him, to explain things as easily as he could.

“Welcome to 3255.”