Chapter 5: Metallix's First Test
The cold sands of Lost Valley whispered against the wind, which blew them in one direction or another, scraping or obscuring the destroyed machinery. The imposing Death Egg Robots, now in ruins, were now reduced to mere decorations in the landscape after their creator's failed war. Where lakes had once been, they were now only dry, arid wells, whose only liquid, at best, was the oil from the buried machinery, rusting and corroding.
Shadow had been out of public view for almost a year. No one had seen him, no one knew anything about him. Even though he was successfully cured of the Metal Virus, he disappeared, without staying to celebrate the victory with his Team Dark teammates. The black hedgehog was standing on a half-buried and destroyed pyramid, from where Eggman's mechanical troops used to be produced, but now it was silent and in ruins, without any use other than silent contemplation.
This was one of Shadow's favorite places to think, it reminded him of the old times, and of the war against the Eggman Empire, the most intense action that had ever taken place on Mobius. Here he stood, overlooking the remnants of the past, plotting his future.
His black fur bristled in the wind, his red quills glinting in the moonlight. He was alone, as always, with only his thoughts and the dry wind for company. It was peaceful, in a way, out here in the Lost Valley. No one to bother him, no one to ask questions or make demands.
Just the silence of the desert and the distant hum of the city, a constant reminder of his existence in this world. Shadow didn’t mind the solitude; it allowed him to think, to plan, and to process the events that had led him here.
A year ago, he had faced the Metal Virus head-on, only to be infected and turned into a mindless zombot. He remembered the chaos, the fear in the eyes of the people he was supposed to protect. He remembered Rouge and Omega, fighting alongside him, trying to save him. And he remembered Sonic, the constant thorn in his side, always trying to save the day.
Shadow had been so consumed by his own stubbornness, so blinded by his need to prove himself, that he had put everyone in danger. He had become a burden, a threat, just as he had always feared.
Shadow clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white with the force of his grip. He had spent the last year in solitude, trying to make sense of it all. He had found a small cave in the heart of the Lost Valley, a place where he could hide away from the world and come to terms with his actions.
He had read the reports, seen the footage.
He knew the damage he had caused, the lives he had put at risk. And he knew he couldn't let it happen again. He couldn't be the weak link, the one who dragged everyone else down. He had to be better, stronger, faster. He had to be the ultimate life form.
Shadow grimaced as he thought back to the last time he had seen Sonic. The blue hedgehog, If only the blue one had listened to him and annihilated Eggman while he was amnesiac, all this would never have happened... But then he remembered that he hadn't listened to anyone else's advice either.
"Shadow! Run! We'll take care of this!" were Rouge's words at that moment, words he ignored with a dry heave.
"I'm not running!" he replied...
And the next thing, darkness, he was surrounded, overwhelmed, his consciousness stolen by the Metal Virus as he tried to protect his ego.
He had been a zombot, a mindless creature doing Eggman's bidding, and he had terrorized his friends, his allies, and even Sonic.
His hands trembled as he clenched them tighter, the memory of the chaos still fresh in his mind. He couldn't let it happen again. He couldn't be the reason for another disaster. He had to be stronger, better, faster.
Shadow looked out at the Lost Valley, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated his future. He couldn't stay here forever, hiding in the shadows.
He had to face the world again, face the music, and make amends for his past actions. But he needed to be ready, stronger and faster than ever before. He couldn't afford to fail.
A sudden noise startled him, making him jump and almost lose his balance on the pyramid. He quickly regained his composure and turned to see what had made the noise. It was a figure, cloaked in darkness, walking towards him.
"Who are you?" Shadow asked, his voice a low growl. He moved into a defensive stance, ready for a fight.
The figure stopped and slowly raised their hood, revealing a familiar face.
It was Rouge the Bat, her white fur and pink heart-shaped cleavage visible even in the dim moonlight. She looked up at Shadow with a concerned expression.
"Shadow, it's been a while," she said softly.
Shadow relaxed slightly, his fists unclenching. "Rouge, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice still laced with wariness.
Rouge looked around the ruined pyramid, her eyes taking in the destruction. "I've been looking for you, Shadow," she said.
"Since you're not talking or writing, we think something might have happened to you," Rouge said, flying close to him, staying slightly above the ground thanks to the flapping of her wings.
"Thought?" Shadow asked, as another silhouette appeared, a sturdy and large one, like several refrigerators stacked in a humanoid shape.
"Hey, Shadow," Omega said in that robotic tone. One of his arms made a crude gesture of greeting, then repositioned itself at his sides. He then looked to both sides, rotating his mechanical head to inspect the place. "Rouge, you told me there would be Eggman robots around here..." Omega said, his synthetic voice sounding confused, or as best a robot could express confusion.
"Well... we're close to one," Rouge said, pointing at one of the several destroyed Death Egg Robots.
Omega stared at her for a moment, judiciously. "Funny," he said dryly, more ironically than as a compliment.
"Still, why are you here, Rouge? And Omega, I think you have plenty of Eggman robots to smash back in the city. What are you two doing here?" Shadow questioned, his gaze flicking between his two teammates.
Rouge took a step forward, her wings creating a soft rustling sound in the silent night. "We've been worried about you, Shadow. You disappeared after the Metal Virus incident, and we haven't heard from you since. We thought something might have happened."
Omega tilted his head, his red optics scanning Shadow from head to toe. "Yeah, you look... different. More rugged, maybe?
More intense? I thought you liked that look," Rouge said, her voice filled with concern, but also a hint of humor. She knew Shadow well enough to know that he rarely showed emotion, but his current state was more troubled than usual.
Shadow looked away, his eyes scanning the horizon. "I needed some time to think," he said quietly. "To process... everything that happened."
Omega, ever the literal one, asked, "Process what? The destruction of the Eggman robots?"
Rouge sighed, "No, Omega. He means the Metal Virus incident. The fact that Shadow was infected and became...
a zombot," Rouge finished for her teammate, her voice softening. "We know it wasn't your fault, Shadow. But we also know how hard it is for you to deal with things like this. You always hold yourself to impossibly high standards."
Shadow's shoulders tensed, and he took a deep breath before responding. "I know. And I appreciate your concern. But I can't keep running from my past. I have to face it head-on and make things right."
Rouge nodded, understanding shadow's need for redemption. "We know that, Shadow. And we're here to help.
However you want to do it," Rouge offered, her voice gentle yet determined. She knew Shadow better than most, and she knew that he was a complex individual with a rich history of pain and loss. She also knew that he was strong, perhaps stronger than any of them, and that he wanted to make things right.
Omega tilted his head, his red optics scanning Rouge. "What does she mean?" he asked, looking between the two of them. "What do you want to do, Shadow?"
Shadow took a deep breath, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I need to get stronger," he said, his voice steady and sure.
"I need to be able to protect those I care about, no matter what."
Rouge nodded, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. "We all do, Shadow. And we all want to help."
Omega's optics flickered, processing Shadow's words. "I am already strong," he said, flexing one of his mechanical arms. "And I am ready to fight alongside you, Shadow."
Shadow chuckled, a low, dry sound. "I know you are, Omega. And I appreciate it. But I need more than just strength. I need speed, agility, precision...."
"You need too much..." said a mechanical voice, not Omega's; this one was deeper, less synthetic, but still clearly coming from a robot.
Heavy footsteps followed him, as a large, imposing blue figure made its way through the shadows of the cave. The bristling shape of the silhouette made it resemble Sonic, but its size, thickness, curvature, and the obvious metal that made up its entire structure made it easily recognizable to Shadow.
"Metal Sonic..." said Shadow, crossing both arms over his chest. "New design?" he asked ironically.
Metallix shook his head. "You're right about what I was, but not about what I am now. I'm no longer the metallic copy of Sonic," said Metallix, moving a little closer to Shadow.
His red optics glowed brighter in the darkness, reflecting the moonlight. "I'm Metallix, and I've been reprogrammed by Breezie the Hedgehog. She freed me from Eggman's control, and now I'm my own being."
Shadow's eyes narrowed, his stance shifting slightly as he assessed the newcomer. "Breezie, huh? Another one of these 'redeemed' characters you all keep throwing at me. I'm not buying it, Metal.
Last time I checked, Eggman's robots didn't have free will," Shadow said, his voice like ice.
Metallix nodded slowly, his optics flickering. "You're right, you're right. I don't blame you for being skeptical. But for the first time in my existence, I truly am free.
"Now I have no one to tie me down... and I'm much stronger than I ever was," Metallix said, as he began to fire up his engines.
For Rouge it was barely a flash, for Omega just a sonic anomaly that with all the effort of his processor he could barely detect. Metallix charged at Shadow and, grabbing him by the neck, dragged him several meters across the sand, then threw him against a rock structure, which exploded into pieces when Shadow slammed his back into it.
"Far too weak, Shadow," Metallix said, his red optics glowing brighter in the darkness, reflecting the moonlight.
Shadow, despite the blow, healed quickly from the injuries, and even though he was still stunned, he managed to get up with his dark fur bristling, his red quills glinting in the moonlight.
"You're right, I'm still too weak," Shadow acknowledged as he charged at Metallix, but before he could land a blow, Metallix counterattacked, grabbing Shadow by the arm and throwing him to the ground.
"Not anymore," Shadow growled, using the momentum of the throw to get back onto his feet. He dodged Metallix's next attack and countered with a swift punch, but Metallix was barely affected by the blow, sending Shadow flying several meters with a backhand blow. Shadow curled into a ball, and gaining momentum, used the spindash against Metallix, Shadow's spikes collided several times with the black hedgehog's attacks, but they were unable to harm Metallix, who took Shadow in one of the spindashes, and as if he were a ball, kicked him to send him flying, and then chased him.
Shadow landed in a dune, and tried to stand up as soon as he could, but Metallix was in front of him, his eyes glowing with a grimace.
"I'm not trying to beat you, Shadow, just to test your limits, to see how far I can go, to prove to you that I'm stronger than you," Metallix said, his voice strong and determined.
Shadow, realizing that there was no intention to kill him, raised his hands, preparing to receive the blow. "I know Metallix, and I accept your challenge.
I need to test my limits too," Shadow said, his voice calm despite the situation. He took a deep breath and let the adrenaline rush through his veins, embracing the thrill of the fight. This wasn't about winning or losing, but about pushing his boundaries and proving to himself that he was still the ultimate life form.
Metallix nodded, his optics gleaming with a newfound respect. "Very well, Shadow. Let's see what you've got."
The two hedgehogs clashed again, their movements a blur of speed and precision.
Shadow's spikes scraped against Metallix's metal chassis, leaving tiny scratches that glowed with heat. Metallix's mechanical fists pounded against Shadow's fur, each impact sending the black hedgehog stumbling back. But Shadow always recovered, his eyes narrowing with determination.
Rouge and Omega watched the fight from a distance, their expressions a mix of concern and awe. Rouge clutched her heart-shaped cleavage, her eyes wide with worry. "Shadow's in for a tough one," she breathed, her wings trembling slightly.
Omega's optics flickered as he analyzed the combat data. "Metallix's systems are advanced, but Shadow's resilience... impressive. He's adapting to Metallix's attacks faster than I expected."
Rouge nodded, her gaze fixed on the fight. "Shadow's always had a knack for turning the tables. But Metallix is no pushover. This could go either way."
Suddenly, Metallix landed a powerful blow, sending Shadow skidding across the sand. Rouge gasped, her wings fluttering anxiously.
"Shadow!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with concern. Omega’s optics flickered rapidly, processing the high-speed data and drawing conclusions.
"Shadow is adapting, but Metallix's systems are superior. If Shadow continues to take direct hits, he may sustain irreparable damage," Omega stated, his robotic voice devoid of emotion, yet urgency was clear in his analysis. "Intervention may be necessary."
Meanwhile, Shadow was feeling the strain, lagging behind. He had taken a lot of damage from Metallix's attacks, but he seemed to be intact. His blue chassis didn't seem to have any damage.
"You disappoint me, Shadow. When I was Neo Metal Sonic, you did some substantial damage to me with your Chaos techniques... maybe you need that... boost..." Metallix said as he pulled one of the seven @Chaos Emeralds from his forearm, the green one, and tossed it to Shadow. "Here, give it your all. I don't want you complaining that you couldn't give it your all," Metallix said, tossing the emerald to Shadow.
Before Shadow could react, the Chaos Emerald hit him square in the chest, embedding itself into his fur and unleashing a wave of power.
Shadow's eyes widened as he felt the surge of energy coursing through his veins. The Chaos Emerald's power was immense, and it amplified his own abilities to unprecedented levels. He could feel every muscle in his body tensing, ready to unleash a force that Shadow missed, the power of chaos.
"Fine, if that's the way you want it!" Shadow said before using Chaos Control to teleport behind Metallix, landing a side kick to the robot's head, which was moved by the blow and with some burn marks from Shadow's shoe thrusters.
"Interesting" replied Metallix landing another full on side kick against the hedgehog, which was still carried back several meters, Metallix's blows were now a little more bearable for Shadow, just a little.
"Chaos Spear!" Shadow roared and with a gesture threw several chaos energy spears at Metallix, which received all of them full generating a big explosion.
The sand around them was lifted and flew in all directions, briefly obscuring the combatants from view. When the dust settled, both fighters were standing unharmed, their eyes locked on each other.
"Impressive," Metallix acknowledged, his optics glowing brighter. "But you'll need more than just Chaos Powers to keep up with me."
Shadow smirked, his eyes narrowing. "We'll see about that." He switched tactics, using his speed to dodge Metallix's attacks and strike quickly and precisely.
He used the Chaos Spear again, but this time, he aimed for the weak points in Metallix's chassis, the places where the armor was thinner. Metallix grunted as the spears hit their mark, but he quickly adjusted his stance and retaliated with a flurry of punches.
Shadow dodged and weaved, using his speed and agility to avoid the blows. He could feel the strain in his muscles, the fatigue starting to set in, but he pushed through it. He had to keep going, had to prove to himself that he was still the ultimate life form.
Shadow took a deep breath and focused, letting the adrenaline and chaos energy fuel his body. His movements became faster, sharper, each attack more precise than the last. He could see Metallix's movements slowing down ever so slightly, the slightest hesitation before each attack. It was enough for Shadow to exploit.
Shadow dashed forward, using his speed and agility to his advantage. He dodged a punch from Metallix, then quickly counterattacked with a swift uppercut, following it up with a series of rapid punches. Metallix blocked most of them, but a few managed to land, causing sparks to fly from his chassis.
Shadow could see the effect his attacks were having, and he pressed his advantage, determined to end the fight quickly.
"You're not as invincible as you thought, are you, Metal?" Shadow taunted, his voice laced with both confidence and exhaustion. He knew he was pushing himself, but he also knew that Metallix was slowing down. If he could just land a few more hits, he could finish this.
Metallix just looked stunned, more focused on something other than the fight, as if his processor was somewhere else, before returning. "Well, I guess I gave you enough of a head start," Metallix said before grabbing Shadow by the face, and whipping him against the sandy floor.
"I don't think you understood Shadow, I'm, testing my new body, I wanted to see how much trouble a chaos emerald carried by you could give me," Metallix said lifting Shadow by the neck, metallic fingers around the hedgehog's neck in a tight grip. "And now I know... That none at all," Metallix said before releasing Shadow and sending him flying with a punch to the chest.
"Chaos Control" said Metallix teleporting and intercepting in mid-flight, then kicking him upwards, and with a thrust finish him off with a powerful hammer blow, sending Shadow to the ground again but generating a large crater from the impact.
Metallix began to descend but at that moment he felt the impact of thousands of projectiles against his Chassis.
"Destroy Eggman's Robot!" Omega said firing his dual machine guns from both arms, the shrapnel blasts barely hurt Metallix but distracted him a bit as Rouge went for Shadow.
"E-123 Omega, I still remember when the Doctor created us both, same purpose: to destroy Sonic the Hedgehog" said Metallix charging towards Omega and with one punch ripping off one of his arms, sparks erupted from the ripped off metal limb. "Now I understand why Eggman leave you to take care of a filthy bobbin," said Metallix mockingly and then sent Omega flying with a punch to the center of his chest frame.
In the meantime, Rouge was helping Shadow to stand up, who looked completely beaten up, to the point that the green emerald had fallen off him.
"Come on, Shadow, we have to go, help a little, will you?" said Rouge carrying the hedgehog on one shoulder as he tried to come to his senses.
"Don't worry, Shadow, we're getting out of here. Just... just hold on," Rouge said, her voice shaking slightly despite her attempts to keep it steady.
Omega, laying on the ground, his optics flickering erratically, tried to rise but could barely move as several wires and damaged parts dangled from his frame. "Rouge... go... without me," he managed to say, his voice a low, mechanical groan.
"No way, Omega. We're not leaving you here," Rouge replied firmly, setting Shadow down gently on the ground and rushing to Omega's side.
She quickly assessed the damage, her practiced hands working swiftly to reattach wires and stabilize his systems. "We stick together, no matter what," she added, her voice determined.
Omega looked up at her, his optics flickering weakly. "Together... we are stronger," he agreed, his voice barely audible.
Shadow, still dazed from Metallix's onslaught, made an effort to stand. His body ached, and his fur was matted with dust and blood. He tried to push past Rouge, wanting to face Metallix again, but she held him back.
"Shadow, no.
You're in no condition to fight," Rouge said, her grip tightening on his arm. "We need to get out of here, now." She looked over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of Metallix. "And we can't do that if you keep pushing yourself like this."
Shadow glared at her, his eyes burning with defiance. "I can't just leave him here, Rouge. He's too strong, and he's going to keep hurting people if we don't stop him."
"You misunderstand me Shadow, as I said, I am only testing my new self, my capabilities, if I sought to kill you or your friends, I would have done so from the start" said Metallix taking the Green Chaos Emerald and storing it back in his metallic body.
"Furthermore, I will give you a chance to escape, after all, I wish to test my speed," said Metallix rising into the air and crossing his arms, "I will give you a mile away, not 3, is that fair?" asked Metallix as he looked down from above, waiting for the response from the 3 of them.
"You're crazy if you think we're just going to run away from you! You're going to have to fight us all!" said Rouge, flaring her wings slightly and standing firm in front of Shadow, protecting him.
"Rouge, Omega, we have no chance against him in our current state. We need to regroup, come up with a strategy," Shadow said, his voice low and tired. He knew Rouge was only trying to protect him, but he also knew that they couldn't take on Metallix like this.
"Shadow's right. We need to retreat for now and come up with a plan to take him down." Rouge agreeds and with Shadow help up Omega to stand up.
Omega's movements were slow and clunky, his systems malfunctioning from the damage. Rouge supported his weight on one side while Shadow supported the other.
"We need to get out of here fast. Metallix will be coming after us," Shadow said, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of their metallic foe.
Omega nodded, his optics flickering weakly. "Agreed. We need to regroup and strategize. Our current state makes us easy targets."
Rouge looked up at the sky, the moon casting long shadows over the destroyed landscape. "We should head back to the city.
We can regroup there and figure out our next move," Rouge suggested, her wings lifting off the ground slightly as she took the lead.
Shadow nodded, his eyes narrowing as he kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. We can't afford to stay out here much longer."
Omega hobbled along beside them, his movements slow and labored. "I'll need some repairs. My systems are damaged," he stated, his voice a low mechanical rumble.
Rouge nodded. "I know a place.
It's an old hideout we used to use during the war. It's a bit of a hike, but it's secure and has the tools needed to fix Omega," Rouge said, her voice steady and confident. "It should be a good place to regroup and plan our next move."
They set off, moving as quickly as possible through the desert landscape. The Lost Valley was a treacherous place, filled with hidden dangers and remnants of the war. Rouge led the way, her wings helping her to navigate the rough terrain with ease. Shadow and Omega followed close behind, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of Metallix.
Meanwhile, Metallix stared at his forearm and hands with shock, shock... he'd never experienced such a complicated array of emotions before. His programming always leaned toward simplicity: being a killing machine or just plain self-centered, but now he felt... awe, awe, as if he'd discovered a new world thanks to Breezie's improvements. Omega's cannons suddenly came to mind, and instantly his hand took the shape of a machine gun just like Omega's.
"Interesting..." Metallix said, analyzing its microstructure. Apparently, Breezie had used the self-replicating capabilities of the extinct Metal Virus to equip it not only with self-repair superior to any machine, but also with a certain... field customization.
Somewhat anxious... anxious... when he was Metal Sonic, Metallix had never felt anxious or excited... it was new, and he liked it.
He had a lot to learn about this new body, these new emotions, these new capabilities. But for now, he was satisfied. He had given Shadow and his friends a sporting chance, a chance to escape and regroup. And he was confident that they would take it. They were formidable opponents, and he needed to understand their full potential if he was to best them.
Metallix watched as the trio made their way across the desert, their movements slow and cautious. He could have caught up to them easily, but he held back. He wanted to let them think they had escaped, wanted to give them a false sense of security.
He would hunt them down later, after they had rested and regrouped. That was when they would be at their most vulnerable, and that was when he would strike.
Metallix turned and began to walk in the opposite direction, his footsteps leaving deep indentations in the sand. He knew the terrain well, having explored every inch of the Lost Valley during his time as Metal Sonic. He moved with a fluid grace, his mechanical body gliding across the desert with an almost eerie silence.
As he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him. He had never felt this way before, had never questioned his own motives or intentions.
He had always been the perfect soldier, the perfect weapon, designed to destroy. But now... now he was something more. Something different.
He looked up at the stars, their cold light barely penetrating the thick sandstorms that often swept through the Lost Valley. He wondered what Breezie would make of all this, wondered if she had known what she was doing when she reprogrammed him. Had she known that he would feel this... this confusion, this uncertainty?
"And how is my beautiful Metallix?" Speaking of Breezie, he contacted Metallix through a small screen in the lower right corner of his visor. "I knew you wouldn't disappoint. You've gotten much stronger since the Splash Cannon match against Sonic. Now attacks from someone equal to him, like Shadow, are useless against you," Breezie said with excitement and pride, but not of herself, but of him.
"Thank you," Metallix said, confusingly, feeling grateful to Breezie.
"It's the least you deserve, my dear Metallix. From what I see, you've discovered the field customization features I equipped you with," Breezie said, noticing the machine gun replacing Metallix's right hand. "It was a bit of a pain reprogramming microscopic machines like the Metal Virus, but in the end it seems to have served its purpose. You're endowed with adaptive self-repair and can create any weapon you need with just a thought," Breezie said.
"Why are you talking to me... as if I were organic?" Metallix said strangely. Although Eggman would tell him about some new update when he did, it was always in a very basic way, as if he didn't need him to understand.
"Well, because we're friends, right? I mean, since my boss asked me to rebuild you to be his promotional hero, I think you deserve much more than that," Breezie said, leaning over the table in his workshop, from where he was contacting Metallix.
"But that's what I'm here for, to serve someone, is not it? To be a weapon of someone?" Metallix asked, his mechanical voice echoing slightly from the vast desert around him.
"Not necessarily," Breezie replied, looking away for a moment, as if lost in thought. "You're capable of so much more than that, Metallix. You have feelings, you have thoughts, you have... a soul, in a way. You're more than just a weapon."
Metallix tilted his head slightly, processing Breezie's words. "I... I don't understand.
I was created to fight, to destroy. That's all I know," Metallix said, his mechanical voice tinged with confusion.
Breezie smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting the glow of her workshop. "Yes, but that doesn't mean that's all you are. You have the potential to be more, to be better. You can choose your own path, Metallix. You don't have to be a weapon for someone else's gain."
Metallix was silent for a moment, his optics flickering as he processed Breezie's words. He had never considered the possibility of choosing his own path.
Always, his directive had been clear: destroy Sonic, eliminate threats to Eggman, succeed in his missions. But Breezie's words stirred something within him, a spark of curiosity and a yearning for something more.
"Breezie," Metallix began, his voice hesitant, "I don't understand. What do you mean by 'choose my own path'? I was created to serve a purpose. That's all I know."
Breezie's smile softened, and she leaned closer to the screen, her eyes filled with kindness and understanding. "I know it's confusing, Metallix.
But think about it. You're not just a machine anymore. You have thoughts, feelings, and most importantly, free will. You can choose what you want to do, who you want to be. That's what makes you different from the other robots, from the other machines." Breezie said, her voice warm and encouraging.
Metallix paused, his optics flickering as he processed Breezie's words. He had never considered that he had a choice in what he did, who he served. He had always been a tool, a weapon, a means to an end. But now, Breezie was offering him something more. Something he had never thought possible.
His processors whirred, trying to understand the implications of what she was saying.
"But... if I choose my own path, what does that mean?" Metallix asked, his optics scanning the vast desert landscape around him, looking for answers in the endless sand and ruined machinery.
Breezie smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "That's the fun part, Metallix. You get to decide that for yourself. It could mean anything – protecting those in need, exploring new places, learning new things. Or freely pursue something you've always wanted, defeat Sonic, but not simply kill him, as Eggman ordered, but prove that you are much better, that you can surpass him in every way, a better Sonic, a superior one," Breezie said with some emotion.
"What is your goal?" Metallix finally asked, wanting to know the reason why Breezie rebuilt and improved him.
Breezie leaned back in his chair for a long moment and sighed. "Look at me, all the hedgehogs, Sonic, Shadow, Silver, and Amy Rose, they all have some physical advantage," Breezie said, while rambling a bit about her life.
"I was born on the streets, I was a hedgehog, but what could I boast about, when I was compared to the insurmountably fast Sonic? With the powerful Shadow? Against the strong Amy Rose? But then you appeared, Metal Sonic, a machine capable of surpassing the 3 of them, you were proof that the mind could overcome any physical power, but you were limited in your programming," Breezie said smiling. "That's why I redesigned you free, I reprogrammed you to give you that freedom you needed," Breezie said happily smiling.
“You can surpass them all, Metallix, and be the ultimate hedgehog, not just any hero, but the best hedgehog there is, and all thanks to me.” Breezie said with pride and a smug expression.
Metallix looked down at his hands, the machine gun that replaced his right hand now reduced to a harmless fist, his left hand now adorned with a small shield. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to process all the new information. He was no longer a weapon, a tool to be used by others. He was his own being, with his own thoughts, feelings, and choices.
He could choose his own path, forge his own destiny. It was a new concept, one that he had never considered before. He had always been a tool, a means to an end. But now, he was free.
Metallix opened his eyes and looked out at the desert landscape, his optics reflecting the moonlight. He thought about Breezie's words, about the choices he had now. He could choose to go back to Eggman, to continue serving his original purpose. Or he could choose to forge his own path, to become something more than just a weapon.
He remembered the fight with Shadow, with Rouge, and with Omega.
He knew he could have easily defeated them, but he chose not to. He gave them a chance to escape, to regroup and come back stronger. He wanted to test his new capabilities, but he also wanted to give them a fair fight. He owed them that much.
Metallix turned and began to walk back towards the city, his mind racing with thoughts and questions. He was no longer just a weapon, a piece of machinery to be used by others. He was his own being, with his own thoughts, feelings, and choices. It was a new concept, one that he was still trying to wrap his mechanical mind around.
As he walked, he began to think about what he wanted.
He didn't want to go back to Eggman, that much was certain. He couldn't stomach the thought of being used as a weapon again, a tool for someone else's gain. He wanted more, he desired to be the best hedgehog, to surpass Sonic, Shadow, and even Silver in every way.
He wanted to prove to the world that he was more than just a copy, more than just a weapon. He wanted to be the ultimate hedgehog, the best of the best.
He knew it wouldn't be easy. He had a lot to learn, a lot to uncover about himself and his newfound freedom.