Eggman's Undersea Base - Dreaded Announcement

[Jamie Lee]

Metal shot along the ocean's surface like a bullet that had been fired, the water surging up around him and cascading. He had now traveled several miles out from Mystic Ruins, land in any direction no longer visible - Only pure clear ocean.

Several more minutes passed, covering many more miles due to the metallix's blinding speed. Finally he cut his engine and began to slow until he halted entirely. He glanced around him quickly, as if half expecting someone to have somehow managed to follow him. With the coast clear he dove straight down into the water depths. Water had never been a concern for him, being waterproofed.

He didn't need to dive far, for in the increasingly darkening waters below it came into view - the massive sized submarine that was Eggman's current base. Entering the pressurized entrance meant for smaller submarines, Metal immediately contacted Eggman once inside.

"My Liege, requesting immediate audience."

[Garland]

The doctor stared at the screen before him withbloodshot eyes. Of course, they were hidden behind those mysterious shades, but bloodshot they were. He had gone over this particular section of the coding several times, but it didn't seem to make any more sense the more he looked at it. A proper emotional grid would be a difficult task to manage, even for a well-trained scientist with an IQ of 300. But something of this nature developing of its own accord? Inconceivable.

Emotions are a very dangerous thing to give a robot. A being capable of discontent will, nearly invariably, become discontented, and it is the nature of the discontented to question. There are, of course, advantages to emotions. Some things are difficult to understand through facts alone, and strictly rigid guidelines can lead to mistakes and problems in the case of unforseen occurances. However, considering Eggman's machines were constructed for the purpose of war, the advantages could be heavily outweighed by the possible disadvantages. And this-

A red light buzzed to his right. "Incoming transmission on line 36." The message from Metal Sonic was played, and a video feed opened automatically. Regarding the blackened front and chipping paint with a vague curiosity, the doctor stood, taking a microphone and activating the intercom.

"Immediate? I trust your judgment in which situations require IMMEDIATE attention, so I shall grant this request. I have some work to do, so meet me at the R&D Lab in 5 minutes."

Following the instruction, the doctor closed the link and headed to the lab.

[Jamie Lee]

Metal glided along the corridors, dreading having to explain his situation with every fiber of his being. But it had to be done, and already his mind was at swift work formulating a story that would conveniently cover certain key points he would rather not discuss. ("And then a cat beat me up" just wasn't gonna cut it).

He slowed down, touching his feet back onto the floor just before the R&D entrance, taking a moment to compose himself before entering with the canister and robot in arms.

[Garland]

The doctor was already at work by the time Metal got there. He was building some sort of chassis. He walked over to a nearby toolchest, speaking as he did so. "Glad you could make it so quickly. Tell me, what do you have to report?"

[Jamie Lee]

Metal tossed down the robot and set the cannister on a nearby work table. "Have you heard about the news regarding Emerald Coast yet, my Liege? These are artifacts I have recovered from it. Someone is trying to challenge you as a new rival."

[Garland]

"Rival?! Ha! There's no one in the WORLD that can match my expertise. You KNOW this. Although..." He glanced at the robot suspisciously. "Are you sure that thing is unable to reactivate? I don't want any of my work destroyed or stolen." In truth, Eggman was worried about his life, though he would be sure not to make any outward show of it. Taking on a voice that hid shades of something that could be amusement, smugness, or even irritation, the doctor continued, "And may I inquire about the reason for your damage?"

[Jamie Lee]

Eggman never changed it seemed, for the metallix had somehow expected this. Nevertheless, he registered his master's question with a creeping sense of dread...

"To my knowledge it is inactive. However I... admit I am not one hundred percent sure." he snapped his head up, fumbling for words for the next question. "An explosion," he answered, "Courtesy of the person I speak of. Regardless of whether or not he can truly rival you, he has rather boldly thrown the gauntlet."

[Garland]

"Hmph. And what do I care? People who think themselves geniuses and want to oppose ME are a dime a dozen." He paused a moment, seeming to reconsider. "On the other hand, it might serve as a good example to give this one a lesson. Make ALL those philistines think TWICE before they disrespect the great Dr. Eggman!" He motioned for Metal to move the cannister to a different worktable from the robot. "And what was this fool's name?"

[Jamie Lee]

"He's commonly known as Alexi Dimitrov. He later revealed to me an alter ego he refers to as Dr. Talon," he then sheepishly glanced away. "He made an attempt at stealing data from me, and then later framing me."

This was the part where his story details were getting sketchy. Hopefully Eggman wouldn't begin asking questions of how he got into that situation in the first place...

[Garland]

"Dimitrov? ...I see. I'm going to study this cannister. Metal, take the robot to the holding cells and have a small group of Badniks keep watch over it. Give them instructions to alert me immediately if it seems to activate."

[Jamie Lee]

"The cannister is merely something he tried to pollute the ocean with. Or, rather, something he tried to force me to do. I saw to it the deed was not done. And as you wish, my Liege."

Metal gave a quick bow to Eggman, then slid the robot from the workbench headed for lab exit with. "Idiotic contraption." he muttered to himself, glancing down at the ripoff he carried. "He thinks he can just use my naked blueprints schematics as he pleases..."

[Mage's Brother]

"The-The-The-The p-p-pRo0-t-t-tons-s-s ar-are ind-d-d-deed a rare ph-ph-ph eeeeeennooooommmeeeeennnnooooon-n-n--n in-the-the-thequantum huper-f-flux of he a-a-armor." A recorded message played. Built in and meant to be used for one of Talon's lectures. The robot scanned its data entries. "I have a message for Egg-Egg-Egg-Eggman, If Metal Sonic's memory data is ever recovered. Tell that lump that I'm not impressed with him or his creations. I've heard about how time and time again he has been defeated by one blue hedgehog, and in one afternoon, I have defeated a c-c-c-ity. HA HA HA! Tell him that his inventions could never equal m-m-m-mine, and that pathetic excuse for SCRAP METAL know as Metal Sonic was the greatest waste of energy he's ever s-s-s-s-s-spent. And unless he intends to prove otherwise-se-se-se-se" The robot shut off seemingly. Then with a creaky, creepy slow turn of its head, it looked back at Eggman with its eyes glowing a vibrant red. "I'll be waiting." Then it Froze completely.

[Jamie Lee]

Metal had nearly dropped the thing when it started speaking, staring down blankly at it. Did he just cause that to happen? ... Wait. Forget that. The thing has just insulted him. AGAIN.

"... Permission to rip this thing apart, my Liege..."

[Garland]

The doctor stood there, inwardly fuming. He wasn't USED to things he couldn't insult back. What could he do? He couldn't shout at the thing. But how could he let such an insult go unpunished? And Metal's question only further complicated the matter. What could he take his anger out on? There was only one reasonable outlet, even if it would be less dramatic for the moment.

"We will find this Dr. Talon and send this hunk of scrap metal BACK to him... at an extreme velocity, with explosives attached. Feel free to cause as much damage to it as you please, as long as it can still serve that purpose."

[Jamie Lee]

Metal's eyes lit up sadistically, glaring down at the likeness of the man he more so than anything else in that moment wanted to shred. He raised a talon up, bringing it down swiftly and striking it across the face. CRUNCH. Sparks flew as he embedded his hand where the robot's eyes once were. Removing it he slammed it into the lab wall and gave it a few more good beatings with his fists until the robot was full of heavy dents, the sound of the battery making an awful echoing racket off the walls. Finally Metal picked it up and slammed it onto the worktable.

"That was... satisfying," he said, stepping back to take a 'breather'. "I am leaving for maintenance now."

And with that the metallix stalked out of the lab.