Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ A Tale Of Tails ❯ Crazy Cyber Deathmatch ( Chapter 3 )

Legal Stuff:

I don't own any of the characters in this story. They are the properties of their respective owners.

Author's Notes:

What happens next? Read on!

Chapter 3: Crazy Cyber Deathmatch

It was around midnight now, and everyone was asleep except for Tails, Nightingale, and of course, Metal-2. Even Billy had decided to catch some shut-eye.

Tails worked furiously on his mysterious project, and an odd look came to his eyes. By now, he was on his third mouse, and it was living longer than the first two. The fox concentrated on the helpless rodent, and it began to follow Tails's unspoken commands.

Tails: Excellent. One has survived the procedure. Now, to control it…

He moved his hand slowly, helping him focus. The mouse began to walk, and then run in the direction Tails wanted it to go. It followed his other commends, too. After a few minutes of this, Tails injected several more mice, and found he was able to control them all. However, additional mice added an almost unnoticeable weakening effect on the signals that controlled them.

Tails: Hmm…For this to work, I'm going to need more power…

The fox removed his gear, and packed it up with a canister of modified nanorobots and his laptop in a metal suitcase. Tails silently left the lab and exited the base.

Meanwhile, in the lab of Nightingale Zebedee, the echidna had finally gained access to Metal Tails's computer core. She cheered to herself, but Metal-2 noticed, and walked over to her to see the screen.

Metal-2: I see you've finally managed to get in.

Nightingale yawned, stretching her arms out.

Nightingale: It was no trouble at all…But, getting in is only half the battle. Now, we have to get that virus in there and hope it works.

She made a few mouse clicks, and with some additional typing, uploaded the virus into the core.

Metal-2: Now what?

Nightingale: Now, we wait.

After a few moments, there was a noticeable difference. However, the system did not crash, as they'd hoped. Instead, uncountable lines of code flashed across the screen. Nightingale couldn't read it since it moved so fast, but Metal-2 analyzed each and every bit. Suddenly, it stopped, and disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.

Nightingale: What was that?

Metal-2: I am not certain…Your virus has had an interesting effect. It seems that Metal Tails has manifested himself within the core. He's physically fighting your virus off. In this state, the virus doesn't stand a chance.

Nightingale: But…How?

Metal-2: I wish I knew. Perhaps…

Nightingale: What is it?

Metal-2: …<sigh> It's nothing. We need to find a way to fight him on his own terms.

Nightingale: Can't we just destroy the core?

Metal-2: No…The nanorobots are programmed to reconstruct it in such an event. We must attack the programming directly.

Nightingale: Hmm…Attack it directly…

They thought for a moment, and then, Nightingale's face suddenly brightened.

Nightingale: This is gonna sound crazy, but what if we upload the programming of something else into it.

Robin spoke up from Nightingale's pocket.

Robin: I'm not going!

Nightingale: I wasn't talking about you, silly.

Robin: But…What silicon sap would be dumb enough to face that monster?!

Metal-2: <Ahem!>

Robin: Oh…Uh, sorry…

Nightingale: Metal, we can't risk putting you in there!

Metal-2: I am the only one that stands a chance.

Nightingale: You'd have to directly connect your core to his…But we have no way of backing up your programming if you lose!

Metal-2: Then I'll just have to win.

Nightingale: Okay, but let the records show that I'm against this.

Metal-2: Hook me up.

Metal-2 sat down in a chair, and Nightingale attached some wires to the back of his head.

Nightingale: If things get rough, should I pull the plug?

Metal-2: Negative. We do not know what effect that would have.

Nightingale: Good luck. I'll try and monitor the fight, and see if I can help you out.

Metal-2: You have nothing to worry about; it's me that could get deleted here.

Nightingale nodded, and reluctantly connected the other end of the wires to Metal Tails's computer core. Metal-2's eyes went black and his body stopped moving. For him, there was a bright white light and a sense of moving at great speed, faster than anything imaginable. It lasted a few moments, and then cleared. When it did, Metal-2 looked around. He seemed to be in a city of some sort, but the buildings looked like giant computer chips. The sky was stopped a short distance above the taller buildings by a layer of metal panels that extended to a massive wall that enclosed everything. It was like an enormous room, one the size of New York.

Metal-2: This must be it.

He looked down at himself. Everything was normal, but he seemed to glow all over with a light blue color. He felt strange; as if he wasn't bound by the laws of physics. That made sense, he thought, considering what and where he was. In the distance, there was a lot of noise and flashing lights, the sounds of a battle. Metal-2 activated his jets to fly, and it came very easily now. He zipped off toward the fight, and stopped on top of a nearby building. The robot looked down at what was happening in the skies below. There he saw Metal Tails, glowing yellow, fending off several multicolored, almost cloud-like diamond-shaped entities of light.

Metal-2: The virus. That must be what it looks like here.

Metal Tails fired his blasters at the viruses, destroying them after a few hits. Metal-2 was about to move in to strike, but a few more viruses arose from the distance and attacked Metal Tails. The golden robot fought them off as well, and crashed to the top of a building, as if he were tired.

Metal Tails: Those viruses…How did they get here…And why am I stuck in my mind?!

Metal-2, seeing no more viruses, leapt down and struck Metal Tails with a fierce punch to the back of the head. The robot, undamaged somehow, stood up to face Metal-2, who was now in front of him.

Metal Tails: You! How did you get here?!

Metal-2: I have my ways.

Metal Tails: Well you're not leaving!

Metal Tails disappeared, using his cloaking device. Metal-2 couldn't lock on to him, but had a general idea of where his opponent was as they both rose to the air.

Metal Tails: I thought you were destroyed!

Metal-2: It looks like you were wrong!

They circled each other, firing their blasters. Each one landed and took several hits, and they both eventually hit the ground. Metal Tails de-cloaked, unable to hold it any longer. They both appeared to be worn out, despite not showing any signs of damage.

Metal-2: What is this?! How am I…tired?!

Metal Tails: You too, huh? I guess that just means it'll be easier for me to finish you!

Metal-2: Bring it on!

Both robots struggled to their feet.

Metal Tails: How dare you invade my mind, and try to kill my soul!!

Metal-2: What?!

Before he could think, Metal-2 was stricken by a laser blast from his opponent.

Metal Tails: Come on, big brother! Let's see what you've got!

Metal Tails rose into the air, glowing brighter, and his right arm began to shake violently before shining a brilliant yellow and changing into a large gun of some sort.

Metal-2: What the heck?!

Metal Tails: My turf. My rules!!

He pointed the laser at Metal-2 and fired a massive blue beam of energy at him. Metal-2 managed to roll out of the way, stumbling back to his feet. He ran behind a building, chased by several more shots.

Metal Tails: What's wrong? Is that all?

Metal Tails's harsh voice echoed through the city as he began to float toward his opponent. The robot's other arm changed into a weapon that was the mirror image of the first one. Both lasers ready, Metal Tails silently hovered to where Metal-2 should've been, but found nothing.

Metal Tails: So you wanna play games, huh? Well that's fine with me. I should warn you, you probably won't like MY game!

Back in the lab, Nightingale was having trouble monitoring anything.

Nightingale: Come on! Why won't it work?!

After some changes, she finally got a visual and audio feed of what was happening. At the same moment, a huge screen appeared in the virtual city, suspended in midair by an unseen force. The screen showed Nightingale looking in, and her voice could be heard emanating from it. Metal-2 saw it, and headed toward it. Looking up, he communicated with the outside world.

Metal-2: Nightingale?! Is that you?!

Nightingale: METAL?! What's going on?! Where are you?!

Before Metal-2 could answer, Metal Tails flew down the street at him. The hedgehog robot saw his opponent coming, and turned, firing his blasters. The shots had no effect on his opponent, whose appearance had changed somewhat, and looked almost like a ghost. The two robots flew up into the air, fighting in front of the screen as Nightingale watched in horror when she saw Metal-2 losing. The robot crashed to a building top, lying on his back.

Nightingale: Metal! Are you okay?!

Metal-2: Never…been…better…

Metal Tails: <to Nightingale> What's wrong? Afraid I'm going to hurt your little friend?!

Metal Tails fired at the screen, but it had no effect. Displeased, the robot turned to Metal-2, angrily. Metal-2 had stood up, shakily, and faced his adversary.

Metal-2: You have sealed your fate.

Metal Tails: That's pretty big talk for such a loser! Care to back it up?

Metal-2: You have reminded me that this fight isn't just about my own existence. I'm fighting for my friends, my…family. I cannot allow to win!

Metal-2 stopped shaking, and glowed brightly. His arms turned into missile launchers as the rest of him changed slightly as well.

Nightingale: What? How is this possible?!

Metal-2: I'll explain later.

He rose up into the air, and fired a barrage of missiles at Metal Tails. The enemy robot destroyed many of them with his lasers, but two made it through. The blasts sent metal Tails flying backwards, seemingly undamaged.

Metal Tails: So, you wanna do this with explosives, eh? Fine with me!

Metal Tails's arms turned into larger missile launchers than those of Metal-2, and he fired a volley of them. Metal-2 activated his shield, and it took each hit. The robots were both out of ammo.

Metal Tails: What say we do this old-school style?

Metal-2: Fine with me!

They both landed on a building, and their arms changed into nearly medieval style weapons. Metal Tails had a mace attached by a chain on his right and a sword on the left. Metal-2 had a large axe on the right and a metal lance on the left. They ran at each other as Nightingale watched helplessly. Metal-2 charged with his lance, but Metal Tails sidestepped it and swiped with his sword, hitting Metal-2 in the left eye. Again, there was no sign of damage, and Metal-2 made a powerful hit with his axe that knocked Metal Tails to the ground. He made another sweep of the axe, and sent Metal Tails rolling across the building top.

Metal-2: Ha! Take that!

Metal Tails stood up, near the edge of the building. Metal-2 again charged at him with the lance. This time, Metal Tails swung his mace in such a way that it wrapped around the lance. Within a split second, Metal Tails had grabbed the lance and used Metal-2's momentum to send the robot flying off the building and into the side of another building across the street. Metal-2 smashed into it, undamaged, but unable to move for a moment. He fell to toward the street far below Metal Tails looked over the ledge. Suddenly, the figure of Metal-2 appeared, rising up with intense speed. Metal Tails was hit where his jaw would be if he had one by the tip of Metal-2's lance. This sent him upwards, and he arced over the building and into the street on the other side.

Metal-2: I knew that lance would come in handy.

Down below, Metal Tails looked up after crashing. The screen with Nightingale had shifted position, looking down at him. Metal Tails could now see Metal-2's body in the chair, and thought for a moment. He flew up to the building where his opponent was, and landed on it. Metal-2 appeared tired, and so was he.

Metal Tails: It'll take more than that to get rid of me! Come on, give me your best shot!

Metal-2: Very well! You asked for it!

Metal-2's arms returned to normal as a bright glow of energy appeared in front of his jet turbine. It grew larger and brighter, and after a few moments, it erupted out at Metal Tails. The robot took the blast head on, and it forced him back against the building across the street. The laser pummeled him, trying to make him go farther into the building. It dissipated after several seconds, leaving a motionless, but still undamaged Metal Tails embedded in the building.

Metal-2: How was that?

The body of his opponent did not answer. Instead, it slowly slid and then fell to the ground below, hitting with an almost satisfying crunch. There was a long pause.

Nightingale: Is it…dead?

Metal-2: I hope so. I'm not picking up anything on my scans.

Nightingale: You look tired. Let's get you out of there.

Metal-2 peered down the chasm where his opponent had fallen. It was too dark and too far to see anything. After a moment, Metal-2 looked up at the screen.

Metal-2: Very well. I need to get back to my own core.

He took off, and flew toward the place he had first entered. It was next to the wall that enclosed the city, and he saw a large door leading outwards.

Metal-2: This must be where the wires attach.

He stepped in, and was sucked through it. He reappeared in a similar city, but this one seemed a little less dark; it had a warmer feel to it.

Metal-2: I guess this is home.

He flew up to a building in the center. It was the tallest and largest of them all. Standing on top, he could reach the ceiling of the city. A screen with Nightingale appeared near him.

Nightingale: Are you ready?

Metal-2: I guess so. Let's hope this works.

Nightingale removed the wires, and the door Metal-2 had entered through closed. Metal-2 could've sworn he saw something zip through it, but had no time to consider it as he was immediately encompassed by the light and feeling of motion again. In the chair in the real world, Metal-2's eyes glowed red once again, and he looked over to see Nightingale disconnecting the wires from Metal Tails's computer core.

Nightingale: Are you okay?

Metal-2: I believe so. My head feels a little funny, but I was just in the mind of another, so that is probably the cause.

Nightingale: What happened in there?

Metal-2: I won…I think.

Nightingale: No, I mean about your weapons and stuff. How'd that happen?

Metal-2: When I was in there, I feel the data and the evil of Metal Tails all around me. At one point, I realized something. Something that was hidden from me by all the trauma my mind underwent early on.

Nightingale: Really? What?

Metal-2: What you saw was obviously not me and Metal Tails. It was a manifestation of us, generated by…something. It was a representation of us, our desires and feelings. That's why we could change.

Nightingale: I see. But…<points to Metal Tails> How could that thing have feelings?

Metal-2: It may be sentient, like me.

Nightingale: What?! But…If it's like you, does that mean…that it could actually be a good guy?

Metal-2: No. He has been too badly corrupted to have any hope turning to our side. I could sense only evil when I was there, even in the deepest reaches of his mind.

They stood there for a moment, considering all that had happened.

Metal-2: You should get some rest. I'll lock his core up.

Nightingale: Well…All right.

Reluctantly, Nightingale went to bed while Metal-2 secured Metal Tails's computer core inside a force field so that it could not regenerate anything. None of them had noticed that the real Tails was gone…

Okay, this one was weird. Are you confused yet?

Stay tuned!