Eggman's Undersea Base - The ol' switcheroo

[Garland]

Eggman was looking over a computer screen with an irritated glare as the robots arrived. There were several disturbances in energy fields occuring, but he couldn't tell exactly what was causing them. With an irritated grunt, he shifted his attention to see the robots, and almost jumped in surprise. "Robo Knuckles? Ishnt? Is that Metal?"


"Doctor! This thing is an imposter! I don't know how it got here, but-"


With a hand gesture, Eggman silenced the robot. "Put it there." He pointed to a space on the ground, and as the android complied, activated a magnetic field to restrain Metal's movements. "Is this thing still active?" He looked over it once more, waiting for a response.

[Jamie Lee]

His eyes flickered and glittered with static, but the red half circles were indeed moving to indicate he was online, albeit they sort of jumped around like a lagged mouse on a computer screen. He'd most likely need an energy supply fueled to him before he'd be functioning normally again.

[Sipp]

"... He's like a robot hobo or something, look at how dirty he is."

[Garland]

"Indeed. Such grime is certainly unusual for Metal." He turned his attention to the metallic hedgehog. "Can you speak?"

[Jamie Lee]

It took a minute or two before the robot finally responded, but finally he began to speak, albeit lagged. "Eh-eh-energ-g-g-y l-l-lowwwww..."

[Sipp]

"Yeah well, maybe if you cleaned yourself instead of rolling in dirt or whatever the hell you do - I don't want to know, you'd be in better shape."

[Garland]

Eggman motioned for an Egg Pawn- careful not to do it himself, in case it was a trap- to examine the battery, lowering the magnetic field. The Egg Pawn crouched next to Metal and opened a piece of the casing, confirming the battery in the same location as the "real" Metal. Quickly, the Egg Pawn produced a cable, and by use of its own power, generated a charge of electricity to jump-start Metal's battery.

As the Egg Pawn stepped away, Eggman put the magnetic field back up. "So now, let's try this again. Are you able to speak?"

[Jamie Lee]

The robotic hedgehog's eyes flared brightly for a moment as the energy was introduced, and immediately he took to mentally scolding himself for being so idiotic.

Then he tried to move, and the realization that, not only was he being restrained, but that his arms were missing hit him. A mechanical growl escaped him as his eyes began to glow furiously.

"Release me this instant," he hissed.

[Sipp]

"IT'S A TRAP!!! Ooh, poor baby Metal's PMSing."

[Garland]

"Now now, are we REALLY in a position to make demands?" The grin on the doctor's face was huge. There were few things he liked better than being entirely on top of a situation. "But I am a reasonable man. If you can prove that you are the real Metal Sonic, I may release you. But in the event that you are not... Who or what are you, and who do you serve?"

[Jamie Lee]

His eyes trailed up to Eggman's with a look of apathy in them. "I am under no obligation to answer, disgusting organic," and then the glowing red half circles slowly moved over until they had locked themselves on RK. "Hello. Did you enjoy that jolt?" he eyes had a smug look in them. "I know that I certainly found it entertaining."

[Sipp]

RK laughed derisively, "What? You wiping yourself out for a puny attack that barely hurt me? Yep. It was hilarious."

[Garland]

Ishnt growled at Metal's insult to Eggman, but the doctor just laughed. "Well, okay then. So you don't have to listen to me? That's just fine. I don't have to release you. But my, I would not think one such as yourself would be in any position to call someone else 'disgusting'! It looks as though you've never been cleaned in your existence."

[Jamie Lee]

If he were capable of doing so, Metal would have grinned nastily at RK as he chuckled at the metallix's comment before turning his attention back to Eggman.

"Considering where you dredged me from cleanliness is pointless." his eyes narrowed. "If you want any cooperation from me than you answer me first; who are you, why did you abduct me, and how did you transport me here? I scarcely believe the Freedom Fighters could have managed to obtain such a facility and advanced equipment."

[Sipp]

"... Wow, he really is crazy."

[Garland]

"Who am I? Who am I?! Someone copies my designs, and has the audacity not to program in knowledge of the brilliant creator of this design?!" The doctor stared at the metallic hedgehog with a steely glare. "Very well then. You listen, and listen well. My name is Dr. Ivo Robotnik, and I am the greatest scientific genius in the world. One so unworthy as you will not be permitted to speak my true name, however. To you, I shall be known as Dr. Eggman!"

Calming down, the doctor continued. "Abducted you? If anything, you invaded my base! And who are these 'Freedom Fighters'? I'm not affiliated with any group by that name." Taking a pause, he then continued. "Although I do applaud you on recognizing the genius it would take to build my creations. These machines ARE quite advanced, aren't they?"

[Jamie Lee]

"Robotnik?" the robot scoffed. "You are the Robotnik that Silver Sonic robot was referring to? And I had thought Snively to be his only relative. Hmmph." He rolled his eyes.

"I will refer to you by whatever I damn well please. Eggman? That is the most ridiculous name I have ever heard. It suits you," he paused, eyes flaring maliciously. "Therefor I will willingly accept that request. As for not being worthy..." he scoffed loudly. "I am Metal Sonic, the most superior machine ever built by Dr. Julian Robotnik, or by the hands of anyone!"

He paused for a moment, closing his eyes indignantly. If he were able to move he would have placed his nose into the air. "I also find it quite strange how I could have invaded your base when I had been standing in Robotropolis preforming my assignments when that light engulfed me and took me here!"

[Sipp]

"Told you."

[Garland]

There was a humming sound coming from the general location where Ishnt was standing, and it grew in volume. Without warning, the android suddenly activated his cannon, firing a fully charged blast at Metal's head. "Stupid whelp! Insulting the great Dr. Eggman?! You'll be lucky if you get out of this as a toaster, you oh-so-superior bootleg!"


Eggman himself was visibly angered, but kept his composure. He still had control, and planned to keep it that way. "Julian Robotnik?! There's no such person! And you won't find a 'Robotropolis' on any map in all of Earth!" Eggman growled, irritated. "What kind of madman would program a machine like this?"

[Jamie Lee]

The shot collided with his head and promptly exploded, sending tendrils of energy flying like a miniature firework. A loud and strange kind of growl suddenly resounded as Metal momentarily found his vision turning to static. As the smoke cleared away a rather large and ugly dent became visible, accompanied by the now near-entirely blackened appearance of his face and the smell of something foul burning from grime on him.

"Do you live in a hole like the other overlanders or are you simply an insipid dolt?" the robot spat in a raspy growl. "Robotnik owns this planet! It does not matter what you, what the Freedom Fighters, or what anyone else on Mobius believes or tries, all living things will kneel before their master!" his eyes narrowed until they were nothing more than slits. "And then be thrown to hell."

[Garland]

"My base is NOT a hole! It's a technological dream come true! You deluded machine, the only 'Robotnik' who will conquer the planet is ME! And even though the rest of the overlanders on Mobius-"

Eggman paused. What was that?

"Overlanders? Mobius? Are you just making up terms now, or did your creator really program you with such a ludicrous term as 'overlander'? And what does Mobius have to do with anything? Unless you're so insane that you think the planet is the shape of a Möbius strip, which I wouldn't doubt from you at this point."

[Sipp]

"Well, he seems to be programmed with the hormones of a pregnant woman."

[Jamie Lee]

At this, the robot actually fell silent, and his brow hiked up into an arch. Of course, overlanders preferred to call themselves humans after their ancestors, so that much he could at least understand. But the other part of his statement...

"Tell me what the name of this planet is. If it is not called Mobius, then what is it? Little Planet? The void?"

[Garland]

Eggman's own brow arched at this. "Hmm... Little Planet, you say... No, this planet is called Earth. And you say you are from a planet 'Mobius'? Interesting... I've never heard of such a place before."

Eggman thought quietly to himself. Given this machine's mention of Little Planet, it was possible that it came from an alien world which also came into contact with the planet, but given the number of coincidences thus far, it was more likely the machine came not from another world, but another dimension entirely.

[Jamie Lee]

"Earth." he spoke the word firmly. In the robot's mind the word had an ancient old-as-time ring to it. At some point he had picked up the passing knowledge that at one time, far in the distant past, Mobius had at one time indeed been called Earth. But the term in that form was dead now. It still may have been used to describe things such as the soil, but the fact the planet itself was even called Earth at all was uncommon knowledge.

Had he somehow been transported through time?

No... no, he couldn't have been. They were accusing him of being a copy of another Metal Sonic (Another Metal? Oh, someone would pay dearly). Which meant that, somehow, a version of him had to exist. This couldn't have been the distant past.

Perhaps this guy was just insane? It was certainly possible. He hadn't heard of Julian Robotnik, or the Freedom Fighters, or even knew what Mobius was called, not to mention his surname was apparently Robotnik.

And yet apparently he was smart enough to have built the facility he was now being restrained in.

Metal continued to stay silent. He was very, very confused.

[Garland]

"You seem perplexed." Eggman paced about for a moment, before stopping and glacing at Metal through his peripheral vision. "Yes. I will give my thoughts on this matter."

"I think that we have both approached this question from the wrong angle. We have been thinking in terms of what the world is, to our knowledge. This would work under normal circumstances... However, perhaps the question better asked would be what OUR world is." Sitting down, he looked over the machine one more time. "So, here is my hypothesis! There are two possibilities of your origin. Either you were created by an absolutely insane scientist, who for whatever reason, filled your databanks with nonsense information... Or you come from another world entirely. An alternate, but similar dimension to the one you are in now!"

The doctor grinned. If he was right, that would mean only one thing for him. Opportunities. And when your goal is world domination, you take any opportunity presented.

[Jamie Lee]

Not to say that Robotnik is not insane, the robot hissed mentally. "An alternate dimension," he muttered. "Intriguing." he glanced around, his eyes narrowing again. "I want my arms back."

[Sipp]

"Poor widdle baby Metal wants his widdle armies back!"

[Jamie Lee]

The robot's eyes flared up wildly. "How about I rip YOUR arms off and beat you with them!"

[Stoney]

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" Chanted the live studio audience.