ECHO Data Recollection Files:
NAME: Robin Edge PASS CODE: *****
It has been one tough day. Everyone is trying to get used to another mouth to feed around here, especially when that mouth is from Robert Edge. He was a prototype biodroid, made five years before me. He's like my big brother, and, if my observations of human nature are correct, just as stubborn. He insists on having things his way and doing things by himself, which led me to battle "alongside him" against Exoshelleton, which later captured the wayward warrior. As I write this, his status is unknown, so Dr. O placed him on a list marked, "Missing."
End transmission.
[The Galtean Earthbase. Arachness is intrigued and astonished by Robert's decision to fight the Sonic Five.]
Arachness: So you are willing to fight the Sonic Five?
Robert: Yes. Given the opportunity.
Arachness: I shall give your opportunity. Now, what do you have in mind?
Robert: The way I see it, I was the only Biodroid that was not given, shall we say, a human conscience. I only do what I am programmed to, in a fully sentient manner.
Arachness: In other words...
Robert: I get the job done, whatever it takes.
Arachness: You are my kind of warrior. Come. We have a battle plan to discuss.
Robert: I prefer to fight them my way.
[Somewhat insulted, Arachness walks off.]
And SonicRed will be the first to go.
----------
Pixel: Rob! (hugs tightly) Thank God you're all right!
Dr. O: We saw everything. What happened to Robert?
Rob: We don't know. He was taken inside the Exoshelleton before we destroyed it. Right now, he can be anywhere.
Sydney: Maybe even destroyed.
Kevin: We should run a thermal scan of all perimeters.
Rob: Get on it. The rest of us should analyze the last battle so that we can effectively predict Arachness' next move.
Dr. O: I agree. Maybe it can help us against whatever we're fighting. Rob, I need you to come with me. Rob?
[The Sonic Five get to work on scanning the whereabouts of Vyzerman. Rob sneaks out of the bridge, but Pixel catches him in the hallway.]
Pixel: Hey Rob, aren't you going to help?
Rob: Tell me something... Is it human to feel regret after a missed possibility?
Pixel: It's human to feel anything.
Rob: That's what I thought. (walks off)
Pixel (shouting): The doc's looking for you. You better go see him.
----------
Man: I'm so glad you came to visit me. I was thinking that we could go take in a show together.
Woman: What show did you have in mind?
Man: Well, I haven't seen "Ragtime" in a while. Let's go see that.
Woman: Yeah. Let's go.
[Out of nowhere, Vyzerman appears on the ferry.]
Vyzerman: No one is going anywhere!
[Some passengers freeze in their tracks, paralyzed in fear. Others simply run for their lives.]
Where is the Android Squadron?
Woman: What are you talking about?
Vyzerman: The Sonic Five. (grabs her by the throat) Where are they?
Woman: I.. I don't know!
Vyzerman: Worthless. (throws her onto a table) You. Where are the Sonic Five?
Man: I... I don't know! Last I heard they were alive and out for Arachness' head.
Vyzerman: So it is true. I must continue my search elsewhere, then. (disappears to the Earthbase.)
----------
Robert: Android Squadron is not on Earth, my queen.
Raybin: How does he know this?
Arachness: Usually I would say that he hasn't been looking hard enough. But with the scanner I had installed in his neural net, I would say that he is right.
Divit: So where are the Sonic Five?
Synchron: I don't know, but I suggest we engage in a battle to lure them from hiding.
Robert: Yes. Chances are that the Sonic Five are hiding using a stealth module.
Argox: What makes you so certain?
Robert: You are forgetting that I am linked to Dr. O's group of warriors technically and mentally. If they so much as blink, I know about it.
Argox: Then I will attract them. You will know that they have escaped from hiding.
Robert: And I will attack them. Remember, Argox. Whatever it takes.
Argox: Listen. I take orders from Arachness only.
Arachness: His orders are mine. Now get going.
Argox (sighing): At once, your majesty. (teleports)
Arachness: You, Robert, will stay until the Sonic Five are weak enough to...
Robert: I will go when I am good and ready. Arachness: Don't get a large ego, Vyzerman. As long as you work for me...
Robert: My primary target is SonicRed. After he is eliminated, the rest of the Sonic Five will be yours.
Arachness (pauses): Well, then. Whatever it takes. It would be wise to take a fleet of Lexicons with you.
Robert: I will handle this myself.
Arachness: Did you think I was asking you?
Robert: Fine. I will comply, but only to get SonicRed.
----------
Rob: I still don't understand why I should be subject to all of these cybergenetic experiments. I thought I was built to your specifications.
Dr. O: You were, as were your siblings. However, when Robert showed up, wanting to attack, I didn't want to take any chances. You know, once he is activated, there's no stopping him.
[Dr. O watches as the drip bag empties into a rubber tube inserted into Rob's arm.]
I'm giving you this strength gene in order to fight on Vyzerman's level. I hope this will level the playing field between you and Robert. I can't deactivate him, so we might as well deal.
Rob: Well, after one night in Arachness' chambers, one would think that he is capable of anything.
Dr. O: Where did you hear that from?
Rob: I remember Pixel telling me that horrid story. Which reminds me, (gets up and puts his shirt back on) I still haven't given Pixel her present yet. AAAAHHH!!
[Rob grasps his head in pain.]
Dr. O: I see the gene's starting to take effect... Faster than usual.
Rob: Developing increased sensitivity to events in Robert's neural net. He wants to fight me.
[The rest of the team enter the lab.]
Neil: We heard the screaming.
Carter: What's going on?
Dr. O: I just inserted a new biogene in Rob's electrolytic system. Now he has increased sensitivity to events in your neural nets. He detected Robert's latest thoughts.
Kevin: I wonder if this has anything to do with the visual we picked up on the scanner.
Dr. O: What was it?
Sydney: Argox and his Lexicon friends.
Rob: No doubt they're setting up an ambush.
Dr. O: I do believe that gene is working better than I expected.
Echo: Not entirely. The increased sensitivity of the neural nets is also bringing a carnal nature into Rob's subconscious.
Dr. O: I can't reverse it now. Especially since New York is under attack.
Kevin: We better hurry then. Are you going to be all right.
Rob: I don't know. We'll have to see. Sonic Pentium Charge!
[The Sonic Five transform and head toward the Sonic Speeders. The Sonic Five race in space toward Earth.]
SonicBlue: At least it hasn't affected your biocharging program, Rob.
SonicRed: Let's hope not.
----------
Argox (shouting): I know the Sonic Five are around here! Where are you?
SonicRed (OS): Right here!
[Sonic Five flips onto the scene with their weapons in hand. They each hit a Lexicon with their weapon as they flip onto the screen.]
Hyah! Tomahatch!
SonicBlack: Kyah! SonicCannon!
SonicBlue: Yah! SonicDaggers!
SonicYellow: Ai-Yah! SonicBlade!
SonicWhite: Hyah! SonicPoles!
[The rest of the Lexicon stumble toward the Sonic Five, as the warriors engage in hand to hand combat. After a while, Lexicon disappear and Argox steps forward.]
Argox: All right, Sonic Five. Let's see how you do when the big energy is on the line!
[From a distance, behind an on-shore warehouse, Vyzerman is watching, poised to attack.]
Vyzerman (thinking): SonicRed is weakening. I can sense it. His mind is losing focus. Now is the time.
[Argox fights each of the Sonic Androids until, one by one, they all fall to defeat. Argox raises his sword in victory.]
Argox: Now, androids, the final chapter is about to be written... by ME!
[Argox prepares to decapitate SonicRed, when Vyzerman jumps into the battle, Vyzersabre in hand. He takes one slash, and Argox falls to the groung against the Sonic Five.]
SonicWhite: Robert!
SonicBlue: Vyzerman!
SonicYellow: He's all right!
Vyzerman: What did I tell you, Argox? You can destroy the rest of the Sonic Five, but SonicRed is mine!
SonicRed (getting up): What? What are you talking about?
[SonicRed stumbles toward Vyzerman.]
You're not evil! You can't destroy us!
Vyzerman: I have a new format. One that you are not a part of!
[Vyzerman punches SonicRed back to the ground.]
SonicRed: You're... fighting for.. Arachness, aren't you?
Vyzerman: I fight for no one. Except Pixel.
[In SonicRed's head, carnal instinct takes over.]
SonicRed: You listen, Vyzerman. Pixel is not yours to fight for! She never will be!
Vyzerman: You will see.
[SonicRed gains internal strength and charges Vyzerman against a warehouse wall, breaking into the warehouse inside.]
SonicWhite: What's wrong with Rob?
SonicYellow: That is one pissed-off android!
SonicBlue: It's the genome! It boosts Rob's strength in times of adversity! I know it!
----------
D'angelo: OK, Mad scientist. Something tells me that you know why Rob is so cheezed off at Supermachine over there.
Pixel: I'd also like to know.
Dr. O: It's the gene. I made it to increase the internal strength of SonicRed. Apparently, it's increased a number of other things.
Echo: SonicRed's energy and strength have increased 400 percent since the beginning of the fight.
D'angelo: That's enough to beat the living crap out of Robert, don't you think?
Dr. O: I should only hope. Vyzerman is very strong, but not as smart as the rest of the team.
Pixel: That should be an advantage, right?
Dr. O: We'll see, Pixel.
----------
Vyzerman: You know, brother... You look like a child helpless like that. I am almost tempted not to destroy you IF you decide to do the sensible thing and give up.
SonicRed: Sonic Androids... NEVER give up!
Vyzerman: Have it your way. Never forget that I gave you your final warning.
[Vyzerman charges his Vyzerblaster and aims it for SonicRed's temple. In a last-ditch effort, SonicRed catches Vyzerman by surprise and knocks the gun out of his hand.]
My Vyzerblaster! Where is it!
SonicRed (with a light New Yorker schtick): I got yer Vyzerblaster right here!
[SonicRed unsheaths his Bioblaster and shoots Vyzerman's head.]
Vyzerman: My.. head!
SonicRed: I was aiming for you hand.... I missed.
Vyzerman: I do not believe that for one second. How did you know my weakness was my hands?
SonicRed: Simple... I didn't! You just told me!
[Vyzerman acts surprised.]
You see, big brother, you forget that while my thoughts are connected to your neural net, your thoughts AND feelings are connected to mine. Those who live by the double-edged sword of sibling rivalry will eventually cease function by it.
[SonicRed, with every word, gets closer to the wounded Vyzerman.]
How dies it feel to be an inferior machine?
Vyzerman (wearily): I will... NEVER.. be inferior to you. For as long as I function, I will fight you and you will lose!
[SonicRed draws his SonicSwitcher and gets ready to slash Vyzerman's hands off. In two razor sharp slashes, Vyzerman's hands fall off. The next slice is aimed for Vyzerman's main CPU unit, located in his right temporal lobe. Vyzerman falls to the ground in defeat. SonicRed picks up Vyzerman's hands as the rest of Sonic Five enter.]
You'll get them back when you come with me.
SonicBlack: What's going on here?
SonicBlue: Vyzerman... Is he...?
SonicRed: I don't know. It sure looks like he is.
SonicWhite: How did you muster the strength?
SonicRed: This may sound strange, but it was ... carnal instinct. (takes one more look at the "corpse" on the body, then places his hand on his own Sonic Charger to remove his SPC.) Sonic Revert!
[SonicRed retroforms back into Rob Edge. He then picks his V-Pager from his pocket.]
Dr. O: Rob?
Rob: I don't know how to say this, but... Vyzerman has been eliminated.
[A bit relieved, but mostly unsettled, Dr. O responds.]
Dr. O: Well... Aren't you going to tell me what happened?
Rob (somewhat morose): Uh... I... don't know exactly how to say.
Pixel: You can tell me, Rob.
[Rob looks at the group with their disturbing gestures, and takes one more look at Vyzerman, laying there after the after-effects of the DNA experiment took hold in Rob's bodily systems. He takes a heaving breath and speaks quietly into the speaker of his V-Pager.]
(calmly) What is it?
Rob: I killed him. I killed Robert Edge.
[After a long pause of shock, the leader gives one more command before making a very terminal decision.]
Dispatch a crew from the Satellabs to clean up this mess. I have to go somewhere.
[Rob takes off his Sonic Charger.]
Kevin, give this to Pixel when she arrives.
SonicBlack: What... Why?
Rob: As a memento.
[Rob walks off onto the pier. Looking at the sky, he opens a panel in his neck and, with a heaving breath of dispair, punches in a code.]
I'm sorry, father...
[Rob finishes punching in the code, then takes a seat on one of the benches there, leaving the panel open. On a close up of his neck, we can see the following message:]
TIME LEFT UNTIL TOTAL MEMORY ERASURE: 23HRS 59MIN 59SEC |
SONIC V STAND BY
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