Station Square Outlet Mall: Shop 'Til You Drop!

[Leedzie]

"...Also a good point."

[Jamie Lee]

Merce's quills splayed out in flustered indignation. "Shining personality?!" he sputtered in rage. "You are one to speak, you arrogant, brainless, spiky headed ball of--!"

"Oh relax, Suga," Bunnie commented, giving the android a gentle punch in the arm. "Listen everyone, I can vouch for lil ol' Merce here, okay? Ah've known 'im awhile and he's about onea the sweetest guys Ah've met. Ain't no way he could be onea Eggman's bots."

Between her earlier experiences with the now albino "Dash" and the knowledge she'd learned of another world, and Sonic's strange behavior (not to mention Tails' outright difference appearance)... it wasn't a hard conclusion to draw that these were not the people she was familiar with.

[Lans]

"Whatever, he's still got the same stick too," Sonic said with a shrug.

[Topaz Mutiny]

Antoine gave a confused look to Sonic and Merce. It didn't look like he was buying Sonic's story, which he confirmed with a contemptuous "hrmph". Head-boneded hedgehogs... didn't know when they've lost an argument.

[Leedzie]

Meanwhile, Sally's attention had drifted aside to a nearby clothing rack. She rarely maintained interest in Sonic's quarrels, and she really needed a more practical outfit. At the moment, she appeared to be examining a sky blue, sleeveless hoodie.

[Jamie Lee]

The android seethed, but mentally tried to talk himself into calming down. Pulling in a stiff breath, he turned toward away from Sonic.

"Bunnie," he began. "It would seem you are already aware of these intern-dimensional doubles. Are you aware that GUN has requested all misplaced individuals be brought to them until a gateway to their home has been constructed?"

"Hmm? First Ah've heard of it, hon," Bunnie answered, giving Merce a quizzical look-over. "Ya'll apparently know more about what's going on than Ah do."

"I see. What are you doing with them at the moment? If it is nothing too important than perhaps I could go on and escort them..."

[Lans]

"Hey, hold up!" Sonic said, making a T sign with his hands. "You said your bald, round, and ugly wanted me to bring back everyone to his place so he could send us home. What's this gun business?"

[Jamie Lee]

Bunnie learned aside, one brow migrating upward at Sonic.

Gritting his teeth, Merce quickly jammed his elbow into Sonic's arm.

"... As you can see, our counterpart belonging to Sonic here is rather confused," the android pinched at the bridge of his nose. "If it would be alright, I will take them off your hands now and bring them to where their case can be properly handled."

Looking between Merce and the group, Bunnie bit her lip. "Well, Ah s'pose.... But Ah's s'posed to be helpin' the lady here get some proper clothing."

[Leedzie]

A lout clatter filled the air as a certain squirrelmunk dove into a circular clothing rack in an attempt to hide from her escort.

[Lans]

"Ow! Hey, watch it, screw loose!"

[Jamie Lee]

Ignoring Sonic, Merce glanced over toward the rack of clothing Sally had just vanished into. "I believe I am capable of helping her select a top and pair of pants," he shrugged. "By the way, have you seen Tails? He was not at his shop and it is urgent I speak with him."

"Nope," Bunnie blinked. "Ain't seen him or Sonic. Charlie's missin' too."

"I have not seen Charles anywhere, but I spoke to Sonic earlier. He and I are working together in sorting out this problem."

"Hmm," Bunnie seemed to consider something. "Well, Ah guess iffin' ya'll are workin' together with Sugahog ya'll must know what yer doin'. Alriight, iffin it's okay with the rest of ya'll, Merce can take ya and I'll keep an out for Tails, alright?"

[Lans]

"No, its NOT. Not until 'Merce' explains what the game is!" Sonic said, getting a tad annoyed at being ignored.

[Jamie Lee]

The android ran a hand over his face in exasperation. "I am going to take you, and your friends, to meet with the Sonic of this world, and we are going to bring you back to your own world, and if I can get in contact with Tails, he is going to assist us."

He simulated a deep breath to calm himself.

"Does that sound acceptable to you?"

[Lans]

"...Maybe," Sonic said, looking at tad convinced. "But what was that about wanting to take us to go get guns or whatever?"

[Jamie Lee]

"Oh for the love of--"

Bunnie cut him off, giggling. "Sugah, 'GUN' is the shortened name for our military. It stands for Guardian Units of Nation."

"Precisely," Merce agreed. "They are currently seeking misplaced individuals for when transport back to Mobius becomes available."

[Leedzie]

Another low clatter floated by as Sally made her escape from the clothing rack and made her way to the dressing room, slamming pulling the door shut before Bunnie could follow after her.

[Lans]

"Well, it doesn't look like we're going anywhere til Sal's done," Sonic said.

[Jamie Lee]

Glancing over toward the dressing room, Bunnie opened her mouth and motioned as though she would move that direction.

"Bunnie..." Merce called. "I will handle this. Go on and see if you can find Tails or Chuck."

"I... well, I..." she paused, after which she released an exasperated sigh. "Well, alright, iffin ya'll insist..."

[Lans]

"Just get goin already..." Sonic said impatiently.

[Jamie Lee]

Pausing to shoot a hurt glance over at Sonic, Bunnie nodded. "Well, alright then. Take care, ya'll."

As Bunnie melded into another isle and vanished, Merce's faced twisted into an ugly sneer. Spinning around, he pointed a figure at Sonic's face, nearly jabbing at his nose. "If you ever try to do that in front of one of my friends again, I will maim you."

[Lans]

"Bring it on, gear brain," Sonic responded, knocking his hand aside and stepping in so that they were litterally nose to nose. "I dunno what the score is between you and other-me, but if his side's down any, I'd be more than happy to give him some bonus points..."

[Jamie Lee]

"Are you just plain stupid, or are you forgetting that I am here to HELP YOU?" Merce spat, the quills on his head bristling as he refused to back down. "Listen you, your Metal Sonic may have issues, but here, I have a life, and I will be damned if I let an ignoramus like you do anything that will take that from me!"

[Lans]

"Yeah, well this ignoramus trusts you, Buttnik-lite, AND the pod he rode in on about as far as I can spindash them!"

[Leedzie]

"Oh enough, boys." From behind, the fitting room door swung open, and Sally stepped back out dressed in a very sensible blue, sleeveless hoodie and black spandex shorts. "Tails is the only child I'm interested in looking after; I'm not about to add two more 10-year-olds."

[Lans]

"Ten and a half!" Tails protested.

[Jamie Lee]

"... I am seven, actually," Merce said, pulling himself away from Sonic and taking a moment to compose himself. Between Sally and Tails, their comments had been enough to pull the android back from doing something he... well, he wouldn't have regretted it, but it would have been more of a headache for him in the longrun.

Clearing his throat, he turned his focus away from Sonic and approached Sally. Crossing one arm over his chest, he tilted his torso forward in a formal bow. "Now if I could have a chance to make a proper introduction... Your majesty, my name is unit MX-01, code name 'Metal Sonic'. I would appreciate it if you would refer to me as Merce while in public. I apologize for misleading you earlier, but that rabbit was not aware of my true identity."

[Topaz Mutiny]

Antoine had casually backed out of the picture as the hedgehogs' arguing escalated, and now that things had calmed down, it seemed Merce had something... interesting to say. Taking a side by (more like behind) the princess, Antoine's face was riddled with confusion. This hedgehog... was Metal Sonic (and Antoine was wrong)?

... At least he had manners when addressing the princess.

[Lans]

"Probly cause she'd knock you into next week if she did..." Sonic muttered. Aloud, he said, "Are you gonna sit there and kiss butt, or were you actually gonna take us somewhere?"

[Leedzie]

Indiscreetly stomping on Sonic's foot (but then, it's hard to do that covertly), Sally ignored the hedgehog's abrasiveness and kept her eyes focused on the android. "Merce it is, then. Thank you for your honesty, however late it may be." The princess gingerly rubbed a tiny circle into her right temple; keeping up with this other world was exhausting sometimes.

[Jamie Lee]

Merce shot a glare over at Sonic, though the princess' actions weren't lost on him either, causing him to snerk. He looked away and took a moment to compose himself. "I ask that you not spread that information. It is strictly classified," he shot another glare at Sonic as he spoke that. "In any case, While I was not lying about what I said earlier, I was not fully honest either. My Liege has sent me to summon you to our capital to discuss the matter concerning your world, and more importantly Julian. Our Sonic is already there and has agreed to a truce and to work together with us in lieu of this larger threat. Will you accompany me?"