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tenebraevesper · 1 year

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Sonic Cyber Revolution Analyzer: The Metal Irregular Arc

Sonic and his friends learn that an Irregular ARNav had been terrorizing Neos City and decide to stop him. During their investigation, they end up not only confronting the Irregular, but Sonic also fights against Metal Sonic, whose sole desire is to destroy his counterpart.

Chapters

Entry 0: Ready, Set, GO!

Entry 1: Team Up

Entry 2: Showdown At Eden

Entry 3: The Awakening

Neos City, the center of Starpoint Area, was determined to be one of the most technologically advanced cities known to mankind. Having made incredible breakthroughs in fields such as robotics, computer programming and even genetics, its main focus, however, was on the development of augmented reality.

The story of Sonic Cyber Revolution kicks off with a prologue, which explains the setting (something I went into depth in the previous post) before moving straight to the introduction of the main character, Sonic the Hedgehog.

Let's speed up! Sonic grinned as he ran even faster, the wind rushing in his ears. It was late at night and he had decided to go stretch his legs. As much as he liked to spend his days having fun with his friends, he was restless, feeling the need to just run around carefree and test his limits, especially since no one could keep up with him when it came to speed.

The story has basically started in medias res, with Sonic being in a familiar environment (how and why he found himself here will be explained later), having fun while speeding around. Unknown to him, he is observed by someone:

Quickly deciding on his next move, he leapt of the building and sped down it and towards the street, never noticing a red-eyed figure observing him from above, hovering in the sky. This figure, whose silhouette strangely resembled Sonic, remained silent as it observed the latter leaving, its eyes trained on the streak of blue light in the distance as it processed the information it had received.

'TARGET IDENTIFIED: Sonic the Hedgehog (Irregular ARNav).'

The figure's red eyes gleamed in the darkness.

'OBJECTIVE ACQUIRED: Terminate Sonic!'

That someone is none other than Metal Sonic, who wants nothing more but eliminate his counterpart.

Not only does the prologue mark the debut of both Sonic and Metal Sonic, but Metal Sonic also has the honor of being this Arc’s main villain. The beginning of the story has been heavily inspired by Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, commonly known as the Sonic OVA, focusing on Sonic and Metal Sonic’s rivalry, which will last through the whole story.

The story proper starts with the introduction of Lucas Kinomoto, Sonic’s partner, who discovers the hedgehog sleeping on the couch after he ran around the whole night. Considering how the story had been inspired by MegaMan Battle Network/Rockman.EXE, having humans play an important role in the story was a no-brainer. Note that not all of the Sonic characters will be partnered up with a human. Were the human character a must? Given the story direction, yes. However, I made it a goal to give the Sonic characters more of a spotlight than a humans, or at least have everything balanced out.

Concerning the parallels, if Sonic is the MegaMan.EXE/Rockman.EXE of this story, Lucas takes on the role of Lan Hikari/Netto Hikari. However, the inspiration for Lucas’ character has been drawn from Hiro Amanokawa (Digimon Ghost Game) and Haru Shinkai (Digimon Universe Appli Monsters). He even wears a pair of goggles, indicating his status as the leader of his team (something that is a tradition in the Digimon franchise).

''Good morning, Sonic!'' Lucas greeted him, causing the latter to open his eyes. ''What were you doing on the couch?''

''Oh, I woke up earlier this morning and then fell asleep on the couch,'' Sonic replied casually, giving Lucas an innocent grin. He suddenly vanished, reappearing instantly with a plate in his hands. ''So, when is breakfast going to be?''

Lucas crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly, obviously not buying the excuse, ''Are you sure that you weren't running around the city last night?''

''Uh, I… may have?'' Sonic said, giving his partner a sheepish look, aware that he was caught. He then added in a more relaxed and confident tone, ''But, you don't have to worry. Nothing had happened and besides, I always have my AR Visor on. Trust me, no one is ever going to know that I'm not a regular ARNav. Everything's totally fine.''

Lucas serves as a foil to Sonic personality wise, as Sonic is free-spirited, impulsive and always on the search for the next adventure, wanting to live in the moment; while Lucas is reserved, preferring to stay at home and is usually the one to worry and rationalize. So, how come these two became trusted partners when they’re complete opposites? It is something that will be explored later on.

These two hear a report on the news relayed by a recurring character, the news reporter Midorikawa Tobikomi and her frog-like ARNav partner Kero, who are based on Ribitta/Kero Midorikawa and ToadMan.EXE (MegaMan Battle Network).

''According to official reports, an Irregular ARNav had launched an attack on Cosmo Bridge, absorbing the BioEnergy of the pedestrians and releasing an explosive blast that damaged part of the bridge. At least five people are heavily injured and two are in a comatose state. The police is working with the Irregular Hunters to try and find the culprit.''

Lucas and Sonic exchanged glances, with Sonic quickly adding in a defensive tone, ''I swear, I had nothing to do with this.''

''Don't worry, I know you wouldn't do anything like this,'' Lucas assured him, returning back to the kitchen while the report continued. ''However, that doesn't mean that I'm not concerned. Aside from the fact that there is an aggressive Irregular on the loose, I'm sure that Irregular Hunters will start checking on every ARNav they come across.''

''Okay, first of all, I have faith in the AR Visor Tails had programmed and I'm sure the Hunters won't recognize me as an Irregular. Second, maybe someone had seen what the Irregular actually looks like, so they'll know whom to actually search for,'' Sonic noted, adding eagerly, ''You know what, I think we should go investigate this.''

''I don't disagree with you, but that doesn't mean that I don't worry,'' Lucas replied, tipping the sausages into Sonic's plate.

''That's fine,'' Sonic replied as he sat down. He understood well that Lucas wasn't really the most adventurous type of person, preferring to stay at home and read a book or play video games. Despite that he was still willing to go along with whatever crazy plan Sonic had. Admittedly, those plans usually consisted of getting getting into trouble and then improvise on the fly, but Lucas usually took them in stride. If a stranger observed them, they would probably wonder how these two could even get along due to their differences.

Through the report some of the SCR lore is explained, mainly regarding just how dangerous Irregular ARNavs are and posing the question to why Sonic, despite being an Irregular, isn’t as aggressive as others. This is actually an important lore point, especially for the later part of the story when the actual origins of the Irregulars are explored.

There is also mention of a device called AR Visor. The AR Visor is typically a type of eyewear, like goggles or sunglasses, that humans use to interact with the AR Fields scattered across Neos City (which explains why Lucas is wearing a pair of goggles around his neck). It also acts as a modern day smartphone, allowing users to make phone calls, send E-Mails, store data, take photos and videos, access the Internet wirelessly, etc.

ARNavs don’t need an AR Visor to interact with AR Fields due to being created for that task, yet Sonic wears an AR Visor (specifically, one in the form of the sunglasses from Sonic Riders). This AR Visor functions the same way as a normal one would, with the addition of having a program that hides Sonic’s very nature of an Irregular from the scanners used by Irregular Hunters. While he lacks the trademark aggressiveness most Irregulars have, the fact that he is an Irregular still makes him a target for the Hunters.

Lastly, one point that had been brought up is the difference between a normal ARNav and an Irregular. ARNavs are made out of pure data, being an artificial intelligence created in such way to be able to interact with the environment as long as they’re within an AR Field. They don’t need to sleep or eat, and their purpose is to serve as companions to humans, being even treated as citizens in Neos City due to their importance in society. They also cannot survive outside AR Fields for a long time else they are deleted from existence. It should be noted that ALL ARNavs have the form of anthropomorphic animals due to a specific rule that forbids the creation of human-like ARNavs.

As for Irregulars, their very nature and origins considered a mystery in-universe. Nobody knows how they came to be and the government of Starpoint Area directly forbids any research on them. Any Irregular that is seen needs to be detained and disposed off before they can do more damage. They are virtually indistinguishable from regular ARNavs, with the only way to recognize one being by using a special scanner. Irregulars are also well-known to be hyper aggressive, having an unnerving hunger for BioEnergy, which is the life force of a human, and the ability to absorb it to empower themselves. In some cases, that hunger borders on pure addiction.

Lucas’ main goal in SCR is to learn more about Irregulars, as through his interactions with Sonic, he learned that Irregulars can stay outside AR Fields indefinitely, that they need to sleep and eat, and that in general, they appear to be more biological with digital powers. Also, Sonic has no clue where he came from or how he came to be, having just awoken one day and deciding to go on an adventure until he arrived in Neos City.

With their minds set on investigating the recent Irregular attack, Sonic and Lucas decide to gather half of the current team by going to the Taylor Workshop, where they meet up with Lucas’ childhood friend, Warren Taylor, and Sonic’s little brother, Miles “Tails” Prower.

''Oh, we've been working on a new variation of the laser gun,'' Warren replied.

''We wanted it to have a greater damage output while consuming less energy,'' Tails added, holding the laser gun. ''We were just about to test it.'' He then pointed the laser gun at the far side of the workshop, where a bag of sand with a painted-on target was hanging. He then fired, smiling when he saw the bag exploding, only for his eyes to widen when the laser also blasted away the wooden wall behind it. ''Uh, oh…''

''I… I think we need to do a few more calibrations,'' Warren said, staring at the smoking hole in the wall, stunned by what had happened. Tails slowly turned to his partner, a look of guilt on his expression.

''I'm so, so sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen!'' he apologized. After all, this workshop was Warren's, who inherited it from his grandfather after the latter had passed away.

Both Warren and Tails share a love for engineering. While Tails was always a genius, Warren had worked hard alongside his deceased grandfather, Max Taylor, a renowned inventor. His character was based on Lan’s grandfather, Tadashi Hikari.

Warren wants to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, but most of his inventions were failures, which was a huge blow to his self-confidence. That is until Warren met Tails, who wanted to help him fix and improve his inventions, with Warren inviting him to stay. Tails, who by that point had been suffering from low self-esteem due to being constantly called a freak by other ARNavs, joyfully accepts, happy that he found a home where he is appreciated. Again, the details of their meeting will be explored later on.

Also, just like Sonic, Tails wears an AR Visor, which are the goggles from Sonic Riders.

Next, the four visit the Crystle Mansion, whose owners are the CEO’s of Rising Quest, an influential video game company akin to real-world Nintendo, to meet up with the two other members of their team.

The four walked around the fence, entering the path between it and the woods. So far, things were fine, at least until Warren accidentally stepped on a very thin wire, followed by clicking noises. There was a hissing sound of a rope and a second later, the four found themselves dangling in a net hanging over a tree.

''Why is this trap here?'' Sonic asked in disbelief.

''It is for intruders; a trap to prevent anyone from sneaking into the fort. Just like you.''

Sonic, Lucas, Tails and Warren looked down, realizing that they were being observed by an anthropomorphic echidna [...]

''Hello, Knucklehead,'' Sonic greeted him in a deadpan tone. Knuckles the Echidna just frowned, turning his head slightly when another person approached the group.

''If you ask me, you deserved this for sneaking around.''

[...]

''For your information, we weren't sneaking around… Well, at least, that wasn't our intention,'' Lucas said.

''Your butler wouldn't let us inside. He said that we needed to have a scheduled meeting with you,'' Warren added. ''So, we tried to find another way to contact you.''

''At least our plan worked,'' Tails added in a chipper tone. Lily just rose an eyebrow, smirking.

''Your plan worked a little bit too well,'' she said, shaking her head.

''Could you just let us down?'' Sonic asked. Lily and Knuckles exchanged glances, with Lily nodding. Knuckles then went over to the contraption that held the rope tied up and smashed it, causing Lucas and Warren to fall hard on the ground and Sonic and Tails land on top of them, cushioning their fall.

After being denied entrance by the butler that oversees the Crystle Mansion, Sonic, Lucas, Tails and Warren attempt to find a way inside, only to get trapped by Knuckles the Echidna and Lily Crystle.

Due to the fact that Angel Island nor the Master Emerald exists in the SCR Universe, Knuckles had to go through an overhaul. Make no mistake, he is still a Guardian, but he mainly protects Lily rather than a large gem. While his backstory will be explored later on in more detail, it is safe to say that he is very similar to Knuckles from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - an echidna warrior who traveled across Earth with a strong sense of duty, desiring to find something to protect. Same as Sonic and Tails, Knuckles also wears an AR Visor, that being the goggles from Sonic Riders.

As for Lily, her character has been based on Yai Ayanokoji/Yaito Ayanokoji (MegaMan NT Warrior). Similarly to Yai, Lily is a rich heiress whose family owns a video game company. Unlike Yai, she is very down-to-earth, never bragging about her wealth (albeit she is more than willing to use it to help her friends) and desires to explore Neos City due to being raised in isolation in her family’s mansion from a very young age. She is also the eldest member of the team, alongside Knuckles, at least when it comes to physical age (as there are two members who are technically older than them).

Another important note is that Knuckles and Lily are the only current members at this point of the story who have any experience in formal combat, as Knuckles has trained himself in hand-to-hand combat, while Lily practices kickboxing.

After Lily and Knuckles join them, the group goes to investigate the scene of crime, but find nothing and are left stuck with no clues regarding how to find the Irregular.

'Target sighted… Initializing Operation: Superior Hedgehog.'

[...]

This Irregular, known as Metal Sonic, had been completely obsessed with eliminating his counterpart. He had no idea why, but ever since he was awakened, he was driven by an internal drive to find his purpose and he believed that he found it when he came across Sonic – he had to eliminate his counterpart and prove himself to be the superior hedgehog. Admittedly, Sonic still had no idea of his existence and Metal Sonic decided to use this to his own advantage. He would find a way to separate him from his friends and then ambush him. Then, once his counterpart was defeated, he would finally be able to rest.

What they don’t know is that they’re observed by Metal Sonic, who already has a plan how to separate Sonic from his friends in order to fight him alone.

Amy put a finger on her lips, thinking about it. ''Well, my tarot cards told me that there is something of great importance at a place with a lot of greenery, and that there is a shadow looming over it. My first thought was Eden, but it is also possible that the prediction meant Infinity Forest.''

''We could check both. If there isn't anything at Eden, then we go to Infinity Forest,'' her partner, Minami Kusakabe, suggested. Amy nodded in agreement and followed Minami into the huge greenhouse building. Admittedly, both were aware that Amy's tarot reading was something she liked doing for fun, something that should've been treated as a harmless hobby. However, her past experience made her realize that they should not take any of the predictions lightly.

Amy felt a shiver down her spine as a memory flashed in her mind. She could see other humans and ARNavs, all furious and accusing her of cursing them, despite the fact she had no such powers. She couldn't make whatever she foretold come true. All she would do is to read their fortune and, unfortunately, some had really bad luck.

''Only because I said that doesn't mean that it's true. The future can change depending on your actions. Nothing is set in stone.''

While this is going on, we are introduced to the second half of the team, that being Amy Rose and her partner, Minami Kusakabe, who are currently trying to figure out what Amy’s latest tarot reading meant by visiting Eden Botanical Garden.

This incarnation of Amy Rose is very similar to her video game counterpart, albeit with a very stark difference - she isn’t a Sonic fangirl and doesn’t have a crush on him per se (sorry, Sonamy fans), but she does admire him and his heroics. Instead, Amy’s focus as a character is on her struggles with her fortunetelling. Any fortunetelling she does comes true no matter how vague it is and to make matters worse, the stuff she usually predicts is pretty bad, causing people to accuse her of cursing them with bad luck.

Amy notes how the future is never set in stone and that it can always change, but everyone takes her predictions seriously, leaving her with the desire to find someone who understands her views on the matter. She managed to find a companion in Minami, who didn’t care about her reputation as a cursed fortuneteller and immediately accepted her as a partner. Same as Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, Amy wears an AR Visor, with hers being sunglasses over her headband, and is also the only Sonic character who is dressed in her Sonic Riders outfit (although her outfit will change as the story progresses).

As for Minami, she is more than she appears to be. On the outside, Minami is a cheerful, innocent and sweet girl who likes cute stuff, pastel colours, collects plushies and is very energetic; best described as a tomboy with a feminine streak. However, that is only how she presents herself. In truth, she is a menace to society (something all of her friends, including Amy, agree on), with her main interests lying in the occult, conspiracy theories and exploring the supernatural. She shamelessly uses her sweet girl persona to manipulate people and while being very easy going, she will threaten anyone who dares to hurt Amy, whom she considers her little sister.

''Could we visit the rose garden next?'' Silver asked Makoto as they walked through the greenhouse, passing by other visitors, both humans and ARNavs. There was a faint shimmer, indicating that the AR Field inside the greenhouse was active and covering the surface, the digital layer being almost completely invisible. Makoto's AR Visor was on, allowing him to see the ARNavs residing purely inside the AR Field. Had he turned it off, the greenhouse would turn back to normal and he would only see the humans and whatever ARNavs decided to exit the AR Field.

''Sure, why not?'' Makoto replied. ''Once we return this, we can see how whether the new rosebushes are finally blooming.''

Silver smiled as he looked up at Makoto in excitement. Most of the flowers was already in bloom, except for the roses, as they had been planted around two weeks ago. When Silver had seen them for the first time, he wondered whether something was wrong with the rosebuds, feeling worried that the plant was damaged in some way. Makoto assured him that the roses would eventually bloom and that they just needed to keep an eye on them. He had even shown Silver pictures of roses in full bloom, with the hedgehog being excited to see them in real life.

Ever since he had arrived, he would carefully tend to the roses, awaiting the day when the buds would finally open up. Makoto would sometimes find him late in the evening, checking on the rosebushes, staring at them and hoping they would bloom right in front of him. However, he understood the hedgehog's fascination with the plants, as he had hadn't seen any in his time, having told Makoto that the land had been scorched. Makoto felt sorry for him and for what had happened to him, but Silver was confident that things would take a turn for the better.

Upon entering Eden, the two come across Silver the Hedgehog and Makoto Ryle, who help out at the botanical garden due to Makoto’s mother being the owner.

True to his video game origins, Silver is a time-traveler from 200 years into the future, having come to the past to prevent an apocalyptic event from destroying Neos City. However, unlike his counterpart, Silver is stuck in the past, as his only means of time travel had been destroyed and he was taken in by Makoto, becoming the latter’s partner. Despite this loss, Silver is still determined to protect the future by protecting the past and finding out what the trigger for the cataclysm that plagued his time was. This story will be explored as we go on, meaning that Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) will also be adapted into SCR, albeit with some differences. Just like Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy, he wears an AR Visor, that being a pair of goggles around his neck.

Silver’s partner, Makoto doesn’t really have any noticeable traits that make him stand out in the team and this is something he is quite aware of. He is very knowledgeable when it comes to plants, but aside from that, doesn’t feel like he can contribute much to anything aside from offering advice. He also has no plans for his own future, being indecisive about it, but is more than supportive of Silver’s goal, serving as a rock Silver can lean on whenever he’s in doubt. Despite his insecurities, he tries his hardest to help and has a philosophical side to him. He is also childhood friends with Minami, making it his task to prevent her from getting herself into trouble. He also has a strong fear of ghosts.

While Amy, Minami, Silver and Makoto are exploring Eden, and Sonic, Lucas, Tails, Warren, Knuckles and Lily are chasing after Metal Sonic, who made his presence known, there is one more important character who will play a bigger role later on, but appears in this Arc.

Her eyes narrowed as she saw Sonic and his friends chasing after Metal Sonic, who was flying in the direction of the Eden Botanical Garden. She was actually quite familiar with the group, even if she had only exchanged a few words with them, primarily Lucas. Admittedly, she had a mission of her own, and she certainly wouldn't waste her time with a group of strangers, but they had piqued her interest. It also helped that she was curious about why they were chasing what appeared to be a metal version of Sonic for some reason.

Grabbing her own hoverboard, she stepped on it, figuring that she should be present to witness whatever was going on. However, before she could do anything, she felt a sharp pain in her back, her arms and legs paralyzed. Her heart started to race as the world around her turned pitch-black for a moment, with a dim red light illuminating it. She feel on her knees, clutching her chest as a sense of dread washed over her. It only lasted for a moment, the daylight and city noise returning. She shuddered, getting on the hoverboard and quickly following the group, not wanting to lose them.

Why is this happening to me? They feel like memories, but they're so disconnected from reality. It's more like a dream… or a nightmare.

The scene switches back to Eden, where Silver, Makoto, Amy and Minami are attacked by the Irregular who was behind the attacks from the previous night. Silver and Amy fight back, being joined by Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, as Metal Sonic had lead them here, planning to use the Irregular to distract Sonic’s friends so he can fight Sonic by himself.

Sonic stood across of Metal Sonic, observing the latter. Despite his earlier surprise of seeing a robotic version of himself, he took the existence of Metal Sonic in stride. He may have been a metal copy of himself, but he was also just another ARNav. If he wanted to fight, Sonic was not only going to accept the challenge, but also defeat him, being confident that he could handle his metal counterpart.

Metal Sonic, on the other hand, just glared at his counterpart. He had been observing the hedgehog ever since he found him, making it his goal to personally annihilate the hedgehog. He felt that Sonic's existence was an insult to his own existence, that Sonic was just an inferior copy to himself. There could be only one Sonic and Metal Sonic would be the one to stand at the top.

''Let's see if you can keep up with me,'' Sonic said, using his super speed to charge at Metal Sonic. Metal Sonic activated his jet-engine propulsion system, dodging Sonic attack, then appeared right behind the latter just as Sonic turned around and punched him square in the chest. Sonic staggered back, but then charged back at Metal, who ducked, turning on his heel and attempting to kick Sonic. Sonic managed to block the attack this time by crossing his arms and attempted to punch back, only for Metal Sonic to hover back, crossing his arms, the inside of his chest charging up and the firing a beam of energy at Sonic, hitting the latter.

''Sonic!''

Sonic was knocked over, the ground around him cracking up. He could hear Lucas crying out for him in concern. He knew that he needed to get up and fight back, despite the fact that his whole body was aching. He got up, breathing heavily, with Metal Sonic preparing for another attack.

While Sonic fights Metal Sonic, Tails leads Knuckles, Amy and Silver into the battle with the lizard Irregular, managing to defeat the latter. However, Sonic struggles against Metal Sonic, as this is the first time he fought someone who is on the same level as him in terms of speed.

''Not bad, Metal Me, but your toy laser beam is still too slow for me,'' Sonic taunted his metallic counterpart. Metal Sonic's eyes started to glow and he took the same three-point stance as Sonic, much to the hedgehog's surprise. ''Uh, what are you doing?'' As Sonic got up, Metal Sonic also got up. Sonic put his arms on his hips, and Metal Sonic put his arms on his hips. Sonic then crossed his arms, with Metal Sonic crossing his arms as well. Sonic rose an eyebrow in confusion. ''Why are you mimicking me?''

Metal Sonic didn't answer, but he continued copying Sonic's every move. Sonic smiled, deciding to have some fun with this, and started to do several poses, including standing on the tip of his toe like a ballerina, making faces at Metal Sonic and waving his hands. As predicted, Metal Sonic followed his every move, with Sonic laughing at some of the more stupid poses Metal Sonic made, only to suddenly have to dodge another laser beam fired by Metal Sonic, managing to avoid it in the last second. Metal Sonic tilted his head, all of his earlier goofiness having vanished.

''Oh, boy… Let me guess, this was supposed to make me let my guard down,'' Sonic said, dodging another laser beam. He then leapt again, as more laser beams followed; weaker than the ones before, but faster. ''I should've figured that.''

Metal Sonic then stopped firing, switching over to his jet propulsion and charging after Sonic. The two clashed several times, spin-dashing into each other, both equal and both too fast for the naked eye to keep track of them. Every time they clashed, dust and wind swirled around them, their last clash ending up with their heads against each other, trying to push their opponent back.

''For every move you have, I will find a counter!'' Sonic told him, only for his ears to twitch when he heard Metal Sonic charging up. Before he could get away, Metal Sonic grabbed his arms and then fired a laser beam point-blank at Sonic, sending him flying, then charged once again at Sonic, knocking him down into the lake below them.

''Sonic!'' Lucas cried out, drawing everyone's attention to the battle and the fact that there were only a few bubbles on the surface of the water, Metal Sonic hovering above it and waiting for Sonic to emerge. He didn't.

Metal Sonic eventually manages to throw Sonic into a nearby lake, and due to Sonic not knowing how to swim, he ends up sinking. This forces Lucas to jump after his partner into the lake in an attempt to save him. However, he cannot pull him up, with both being in danger of drowning. That is, until a miracle happens.

''Lucas!''

''Sonic!''

Warren and Tails cried out for their friends, horrified when they realized that they weren't going resurface. They charged towards the lake, only to be stopped by a laser beam fired by Metal Sonic, who was determined to prevent anyone from helping the two. However, before the two could make another move, they saw an electric blue light coming from the lake, with something flying out of it at supersonic speed, something covered in a blue energy, and hitting Metal Sonic.

To their shock, the blue energy revealed itself to be Sonic and Lucas, both fine. Sonic was covered in blue electricity that was sparking around him, his green eyes now glowing dark blue. Lucas was covered in a sparking blue aura, his icy blue eyes having turned the same colour as Sonic's. Both were focused solely on Metal Sonic, both of them having stern looks on their expressions.

Metal Sonic was frustrated to see Sonic again, having hoped that he latter would have drowned. However, he was willing to continue this fight, charging at Sonic once again. Sonic's eyes narrowed as he stared at Metal Sonic, only to suddenly vanish just as Metal Sonic kicked the ground. Appearing right behind Metal Sonic, he grabbed the latter's shoulder, blue electricity sparking all over the robotic hedgehog, affecting his circuits. Sonic then kicked him in the torso, releasing more electricity, then threw him back into the air, spin-dashing into him and releasing all of the accumulated energy. Due to the ensuing explosion, Metal Sonic was sent flying into the horizon, disappearing from Sonic's sight. The group stared at Sonic and Lucas in shock, only for the crackling energy to disappear, with both of them falling on the ground, looking exhausted and confused.

Sonic and Lucas are enveloped in an electric blue energy, with Sonic gain a significant boost in his speed, managing to defeat Metal Sonic and sending him flying Team Rocket-style. They then de-power, having no clue what happened to them, or how they pulled it off, at least until they are approached by Touka Kageura, the aloof girl from earlier who had been spying on them.

''Isn't it obvious? Sonic absorbed Lucas' BioEnergy.''

''Touka?'' Lucas' eyes widened in surprise when he saw Touka Kageura walking up to them. Frankly, she wasn't a stranger to them, especially considering how many times she had appeared over the past two weeks, leaving Lucas to wonder whether she was deliberately following them around. However, they weren't on friendly terms with her either, as Touka wasn't exactly the type of person who would easily warm up to someone. Lucas had actually tried to talk to her a few times, but she would just leave.

''What are you talking about?'' Warren asked.

''Do I really have to repeat myself?'' Touka asked, crossing her arms and earning glares from the rest of the group.

''That's nonsense! Sonic would never do something like that!'' Tails defended his friend. However, Sonic and Lucas exchanged anxious glances, well aware that Touka had a point.

Touka's story will be explored in the following Arc, as she plays a major role in it, but the most important thing to note here is that she is quiet, cool, independent and stand-offish, if a bit smug and refusing help from others. She appears from time to time in front of Sonic, Lucas and the rest of the group, addressing whatever problem they’re dealing with in a business-like manner and leaves... her mannerism resembling that of another familiar character.

Sonic, Lucas and the rest of the team decide to go back to the Taylor Workshop, where Tails and Warren check on Sonic and Lucas, trying to figure out what the power they unleashed was.

''Well, I'm not sure either what had happened, but I do remember Lucas pulling me and trying to get me out of the lake. I could feel my body reacting to his BioEnergy, trying to absorb it without me putting any intention into it,'' Sonic explained, his eyes narrowing as he lowered his head for a moment. Admittedly, this wasn't the first time it had happened, but back then, he had better control of himself.

''It is possible that your body reacted to the BioEnergy as act of self-defense,'' Warren commented. ''You were put in a dangerous situation and your body was trying to keep you alive.''

''I guess that makes sense,'' Sonic replied. ''However, when I realized what was going on, I tried to stop it and then an orb of light appeared and everything turned into a blur. In one moment, we were in the lake and in the next one, we were back on dry land. Not that I'm complaining.''

''I think that the orb of light was the BioEnergy you had rejected,'' Tails said, looking at his device and scanning both Sonic and Lucas. ''Also, you both ended up absorbing it.''

Realizing that they can weaponize BioEnergy in a way that wouldn’t harm Lucas, the two agree to take the risk and experiment with it.

The scene then switches back to Touka, who is revealed to be struggling with severe amnesia, having flashes of memories she doesn’t recognize.

However, the memories that stood out to her were the ones were she walked through hallways, being stuck inside some kind of facility. Frankly, she hated how sterile and quiet the environment was, feeling slightly creeped out by the place. However, whenever she was walk, another pair of steps would follow her. She was never alone at that facility, having a companion who would always stay by her side. Touka rubbed her temple, sighing.

Unfortunately, I can't remember more. It feels as if I have the scene before me, but someone ripped the characters out of it. Touka frowned. Then, there is that shield I would pass by in my memories… Co-Code- Codix? Coda? She activated her hoverboard, throwing it down as it stabilized itself, hovering only slightly above the ground. No, I think it was Codex. Codex… something. She stepped on it, flying away, her expression changing to that of grim determination. I need to learn more about my past. I simply have to!

The scene then switches to Metal Sonic who, while heavily beaten, is still alive.

Metal Sonic was slowly walking, if not dragging himself, towards where he knew he'd be safe enough to recover. Sonic's last attack had really messed him up, causing him to fly all across Neos City due to the impact, breaking his arm, which was now limp, and dislocating his knee, making him unable to walk properly. He knew that he was lucky that he was a robotic ARNav rather than an animal one, as this would be complete torture. Fortunately for him, aside from being barely able to move and having his system warning him about the damages, the pain was, for the most part, minimal. Although, this may have also been because he diverted his remaining energy into numbing his pain sensors.

'WARNING: 10% Energy remaining. Activate Standby Mode? YES. NO.'

'NO.'

Metal Sonic knew that, by activating Standby Mode, he would be left lying on the street, unable to move or function at all. This would leave him exposed to anyone who passed by, making him an easy target for the Irregular Hunters. He was aware that they had scanners that would reveal him as an Irregular and his weakened state would allow the Hunters to capture him easily.

However, he wasn't afraid of the Hunters. As a matter of fact, the only emotion he felt was cold fury. He was furious that he was defeated by his counterpart, whom he saw as the inferior one. He hated the fact that the blue hedgehog had managed to damage him so much and he was determined to get his revenge on the latter. This was an insult to his own strength, to his own existence, and he would make sure that Sonic payed for his insolence.

Metal Sonic is furious at Sonic for beating him, being on the verge of shutting down. However, he is found by his partner, Ferra Ahearn, who promises Metal Sonic to fix him and supporting him in his goal of destroying Sonic. Her backstory will be elaborated on in further updates, but for now, all that needs to be known is that she plays an antagonistic role.

Another thing that should be noted is that Metal Sonic doesn’t speak, so his thoughts are usually conveyed through buzzing and beeping noises or body language. The only one who can fully understand him is Ferra, and his thoughts (as presented above) are written out for the reader’s convenience. Ferra then gets a message from an unknown person.

'''If you desire more power against your enemies, go to these coordinates and follow the instructions below.' What is this about?'' Ferra frowned, typing on the screen as she tried to track down the sender. Much to her frustration, the message was untraceable. She got up, looking around suspiciously. Someone is spying on us.

Metal Sonic is interested in the offer, with him and Ferra following the coordinates into Infinity Forest, a thick forest area at the outskirts of Neos City, where they come across an abandoned facility.

Her attention was then drawn to an old and dusty plaque on the wall. She wiped the dust off, trying to read the letters. ''Co- Codex Re- Faci-lity… Oh, Codex Research Facility.'' She rose an eyebrow. ''I've never heard of this place. What about you, Metal?''

'Negative,' Metal Sonic buzzed back, following Ferra as she started walking through the hallway.

They enter the building, eventually finding their way towards a room where Metal Sonic detects a hidden compartment. Despite being hesitant about activating anything due to not knowing what is going on, Ferra still goes along with it, hoping that this “power” would help Metal Sonic in destroying Sonic.

As they open the hidden compartment, they see a stasis pod rising from it, with Ferra recognizing the shape inside it, grabbing Metal Sonic and telling him that they need to get out and find whoever send them here, clearly fearing the “weapon” inside the stasis pod. As for the “weapon” itself...

The stasis pod was illuminated by a dim blue light, revealing a small creature inside it, his eyes closed, as if in deep sleep, his arms, legs and torso wrapped in steel shackles. He was a black-furred anthropomorphic hedgehog with a patch of white fur on his chest, a black nose, a tan muzzle, and small, triangular ears with tan canals. He also had six quills on his head, four of which curved upwards while the other two curved downwards, two spines on his back, and a short, pointy tail. He had red stripes on each of his head quills, around the edges of his eyes, and on his arms and legs. He wore white gloves with black cuffs and red tongues, and air shoes which, like his gloves, had black cuffs and red tongues. Gold rings were on his wrists and ankles. Suddenly, he opened his red eyes, which started to glow in a red-orange tint.

Shadow the Hedgehog has awakened.

This cliffhanger marks the end of The Metal Irregular Arc, which is followed by The Ultimate Life Form Arc; an adaption of Sonic Adventure 2.

Insert Themes:

Ready Set Go (Remix) by Victor McKnight ft. SquigglyDigg & Chi Chi (Sonic The Hedgehog)

Sonic Heroes by Sonic Heroes (NateWantsToBattle Cover)

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