ECHO Data Recollection Files:
NAME: Ramona Brayman PASS CODE: *********Vyzerman's posing more of a threat that any of us realized. First, he comes off as being good. Then he comes off as being evil. Now, thnaks to the Sonic Five, he comes off as being dead. It's all a bit too confusing to me. I wonder what the next step is... I mean, we could rebuild him, but what would be the end result? And if it was a good one, is it still possible that Arachness and the Galteans still have him under control? My guess is that we'll get more questions before we finally get an answer.
End transmission
[O Satellab. The Sonic Five -- sans Rob -- as well as a team of technicians bring the beaten carcass of Vyzerman into the lab. Vyzerman is rolled on a stretcher, with his front panel ripped into pieces. Dr. O comes into the corridor to join them.]
Dr. O: It's a good thing that you called when you did.
D'angelo: We'll take it from here. (rushes off)
Dr. O: Good. I'll be in the lab shortly.
Sydney: So what are you going to do with him?
Carter: Yeah, I mean, it's obvious that you don't want him around.
Neil: Him and the rest of us.
[Dr. O thinks for a second.]
Dr. O: Maybe I would have, about five years ago. But I've learned a lot since then. There may be a chance I can reprogram him back to his normal self. So to speak.
Kevin: You do that.
Dr. O: Wait a minute... Where's Rob?
Carter: That was our next order of business. He gave us his Sonic Charger and walked off.
Dr. O: Have you tried locking onto his neural net?
Sydney: We were on our way to do just that. Let's go, guys.
[The androids head to the bridge, leaving Dr. O to head to the lab to fix Vyzerman.]
----------
Cop: Sir, you've been here since 4. I think it's time you headed home.
Rob (after a long pause): Yes sir.
[Rob begins to walk to a secluded place to call for Red Speeder.]
Red Speeder!
[The domed motorcycle opens to let Rob in, then closes again. Together, they head for the Satellab. Meanwhile, his timer is slowly diminishing. From the looks of it, he has less than twenty hours left.]
On second thought, let's go to Ottawa for a second.
----------
Argox: Vyzerman has been defeated.
Arachness: I know. Where is his body?
Argox: It was taken for repairs by the Sonic Five.
Arachness: Then we will have to wait until it is repaired to implement plan B.
Raybin: Wait a minute. What's plan B?
Arachness (turning to Raybin): Don't you understand yet? (holds up a remote) I always get what I want. As soon as Robert has been reactivated, I will regain control of him.
Divit: That's right. When we boosted his strength programming, we also gave him a subservance chip. If He tries anything, Arachness can just call him back here.
Arachness: Yes. Unfortunately, I do not know when the man is returning. So we must wait.
----------
Pixel: Have you found out where he was yet?
Kevin: Not yet. I mean, it's taking a while, but... hey... I think I found him.
Sydney: Where is he?
Kevin: He appears to be heading towards Ottawa, but for what?
Carter: Try locking onto his neural net, like Dr. O said.
Kevin: All right... Let's see...
[Kevin has a fix on Rob's neural net and physical status.]
This is bad.
Pixel: What is it?
Kevin: He's rigged a program within himself that will erase his entire memory interface with no possibility of returning.
Pixel: Meaning...
Carter (seriously): He's slowly killing himself.
Sydney: And according to his timer, he has about 19 hours left.
Kevin: We've got to tell Dad.
Sydney: But he's busy with Vyzerman now!
Kevin: Vyzerman can wait. Now we have to save Rob!
Pixel: He's right.
[After looking at each other for a while, the Sonic Five hurry out of the bridge and towards the lab.]
----------
Rob (to himself): This is where Pixel and I first met. She still hasn't gotten my birthday present. From the looks of it, she may never get it.
[Suddenly, his V-Pager goes off.]
Hello?
Dr. O: Robin! Thank goodness!
Rob: Father! I never expected you to...
Dr. O: Never mind that. What's this about you initiating your memory write?
[Silence]
Robin, tell me!
[Rob hangs up.]
----------
Well, at least we know where he is now. Only thing is, since Robin's a fully sentient being, I have no power to override his program.
Pixel: Which means there's no stopping the program once it is activated?
Dr. O: Not exactly, Pixel. It can be stopped, but Rob has to stop it himself. The question is, how do we get him back here?
Kevin: All we know is wherever he is, he has Red Speeder with him.. Maybe if you can control it.
Dr. O: Red's programming I can override. Let's see if it'll work.
[Dr. O proceeds to bring the Red Speeder back from Earth, when D'angelo returns with some news.]
D'angelo: Your reprogramming techniques worWe've got Robert back on line.
[Robert comes in, escorted by two more techs.]
Carter: So what are the extents of his reprogramming. (edges closer to Robert)
Robert: Keep your distance.
Neil: Apparently not much.
Robert (perverse): Pixel...
[Disgusted at Robert's pervertedness, she walks back to her room.]
Pixel, wait!
[Robert runs after her. He manages to catch up to her.]
Robert: I just want to talk to you.
Pixel: Well, that makes one of us.
Robert: No. You will hear what I have to say. I am still confident that I will win you over. And I will not give up until I have.
Pixel: You might as well give up now. I'll never be yours.
Robert: You say that now...
Pixel (cutting in): And I mean it now! You just don't understand, do you? (starts to almost cry) How can I expect you to? It's your fault that Rob is dying.
Robert: The last thing that I remember was Robin killing me out of his free will.
Pixel: He wouldn't have to if you didn't attack!
Robert: Just because I was subservant to Arachness.
Pixel: That's another thing you don't understand. If Arachness gets her way, then you, me, everyone loses.
[Pixel starts to get angrily saddened.]
But like I said before, you wouldn't understand (walks off).
----------
Synchron: According to the scanners, Robert is now fully operational. The only thing is... he is also no longer on Earth.
Zenos: Could there be a possibility of a stealth program in his subconscious?
Arachness: Don't be such a fool... But if there was, even it would not hide from this...
[Arachness raises her remote control and flips the switch. A red light blinks. On the Satellab, Robert sits on a diagnosic table thinking of what Pixel said. Suddenly, he grasps his head and winces in pain as he suddenly disappears from the room, only to reappear at the Earthbase.]
Welcome back, Robert.
Robert: What do you want with me?
Arachness: I'm just reminding you where your loyalties lay.
Robert: Last time I checked, I had no such loyalties.
Arachness: You were just fighting the Sonic Five.
Robert: No. I was fighting Robin Edge. The rest of the Sonic Five could wait.
Arachness: But you ARE going to destroy them, right?
Robert: That is for me to decide. But you...
[Robert edges closer to the alien monarchess.]
I know your plan. So why not tell me what my true use is for.
Arachness (getting scared): Now listen. My reasons are my own.
Robert: You tell me, of I will reduce this Earthbase to the earth where it came from.
Arachness: You wouldn't.
[Robert gets out his Vyzer Charger.]
Robert: Try me.
Arachness: All I can say is... Argox! Synchron! Lexicons! Get this... outsider out of my sight.
[Argox and Synchron order a troop of Lexicons to battle Robert, but he battles back. Instantly, some karate moves send the foot soldiers to the ground.
Robert: Is that the best that you can do?
Argox: I'll show you the best!
[Argox unsheaths his sword and begins to fight the svengali warrior. Robert manages to run up a wall and backflip onto Argox's back, throwing him off. Robert then takes Argox's sword and points it at Synchron.]
Robert: Do you wish to be next?
Synchron: Gladly!
[Robert and Synchron sword battle. Robert takes two slashes to Synchron's chest.]
Robert: I will not tolerate being lied to, Arachness. Tell me how to get out of here.
Arachness: This is what I had in mind when I said that once you are here, you're here for life. There is no escape.
Robert: There is one way. (raises Vyzer Charger) Engage Vyzer Program... Vyzer Charge!
[Robert transforms into Vyzerman and flies like a comet through the ceiling.]
Arachness: Synchron, follow him.
Synchron: At once, my mistress. (teleports out)
----------
Rob: Speeder, what's going on?
[Rob then notices that the light marked "Control Override" is lit.]
Dr. O...
[Speaking of which, Dr. O enters the hangar and gives Rob a rather stern look.]
Dr. O: Welcome back, Robin.
Rob: I have a lot of explaining to do, don't I?
Dr. O: And you can start with your total memory erasure.
Rob: Well, when I first killed Vyzerman, it was like killing a little part of myself. Although I hate to admit it, I need him around now. We're part of each other now. That's why I engaged my memory write procedure. Right now, I have less than an hour left.
Dr. O: I know how you feel. I wasn't ready for Robert Edge to surface. But now with sufficient programming, I have managed to increase his likelihood of making his own decisions.
Rob: So now he's a fully-sentient being, like us.
Dr. O: Let's hope so. But what you're doing is not the right answer. You have to come to grips with the mistake you made. Then, with time, you can forgive yourself.
Rob: I understand... This is all so human to me...
[Dr. O cracks a smile. Sydney rushes in from the lab.]
Sydney: Guys, Echo's picking something up on radar. It looks like a chase of some sort. The guys and I are going to check it out.
Dr. O: You do that. Meanwhile, I have to do something about Rob's...
Rob: No need, father.
[Rob opens his neck panel and enters another code. Where the time was previously, now were the words "MEMORY WRITE OVERRIDDEN."]
Dr. O: Good choice, Rob. You'll be needing this, though.
[Dr. O hands Rob his Sonic Charger. Rob places it back on his belt.]
Rob: Now, let's go, guys. Sonic Pentium Charge!
----------
SonicBlack: It's Synchron, all right.
SonicRed: And he's after Vyzerman!
SonicBlue: It looks like he needs our help. Guys?
SonicWhite: I'm on it. Speeder cannons fire!
[White Speeder's cannons fire off at Synchron. They hit and he lands on Earth... hard.]
Vyzerman: What the... Do not tell me that the Sonic Five are after me again.
SonicYellow: Hey bro... Little help?
Vyzerman: I do not require your assistance!
SonicYellow: Sure didn't look like it.
Vyzerman: I just want to know one thing. Arachness... her intentions... are they for her only?
SonicBlue: You're quick.
Vyzerman: I thought so. She tried to use me.
[They all land on Earth as Synchron, angered, begins to hold a GalteaOrb.]
Synchron: I won't be defeated so easily!
[Synchron takes a bite and grows into a large version of himself. The Sonic Five bear witness of this.]
Vyzerman: I have fought him before. Synchron is a formidable opponent. Unless I had a little help, I could be fighting him all day.
SonicRed: That's what being brothers is about right?
Vyzerman: That is such a ... human term.
SonicYellow: Well, so is "I'm going to murder you," but that didn't seem to stop you.
SonicBlue: We can talk later. Synchron is heading to town.
Vyzerman: SonicBlue is right. I can head him off ... with Super Macrodroid Charge!
[Vyzerman grows into SuperVyzerman and begins to charge toward Synchron. SuperVyzerman has him in a grapple before throwing him to the ground.]
SonicBlack: He wasn't kidding.
SonicWhite: He needs our help.
SonicRed: Let's give it to him then... Macrodroid Pentium Charge!
[The Sonic Five transform into the MacroFive and advance to the battle scene.]
MacroBlue (posing): Time to ring in some pain! MacroBlue!
MacroWhite (posing): MacroWhite!
MacroBlack (posing): MacroBlack!
MacroYellow (posing): MacroYellow!
MacroRed (posing): MacroRed!
Macros (posing): Macro Five!
SuperVyzerman (posing): I am Vyzerman! You are in trouble.
Synchron: Tough talk for a group of tin cans... Let's see you back it up!
[Each Macro pulls out their weapon of choice and fights Synchron, one after another. Each one falls.]
SuperVyzerman: Let me handle this. He cannot take sudden moves. I have an idea, but I...
MacroRed: You need my help?
SuperVyzerman: Easy for you to say.
MacroRed: Let's do this.
[MacroRed flips behind Synchron, getting his attention. In his distraction, Synchron gets kicked in the head by SuperVyzerman. Synchron then rolls to the ground. Each Macrodroid takes one slash at the fallen alien.]
Synchron: This can't be...
SuperVyzerman: It is, Synchron. Tell Arachness that her days are numbered. Now get out of here.
[Synchron teleports back to the Earthbase, where Arachness is waiting.]
Arachness (furiously): How come you aren't fighting Vyzerman?
Synchron: I was. It seems that he has once again sided with the Sonic Five. They aided in my defeat.
Arachness: I swear one of these days I will harness the secrets of Dr. Watson Oppenheimer... and use them to destroy him and his superhero troupe once and for all! And I'll begin immediately... Divit!
Divit: Yes, my queen?
Arachness: Give me every resource you have. We will finally defeat the Sonic Five the way they should be defeated. The way that I intended...
----------
Pixel (mumbling): Rob... What time is it?
Rob: I have to show you something...
Pixel: All of a sudden I'm interested.
Rob: Come on. Let's go for a walk.
[Pixel hops out of bed and puts a sweater on. Then she and Rob go down a long tunnel leading up to the bridge.]
Pixel: I was afraid that I'd lose you after what happened.
Rob: So was everyone else. But then I realized that if I did shut myself down, I would probably ensue the same felling of grief that Vyzerman's death ensued in me. I couldn't have that.
Pixel: Well, I'm glad that you're all right. So where are we going?
[They come up to the holosseum doors.]
Rob?
Rob: Just open it.
[Pixel opens the door to pitch blackness.]
Pixel: What's going on here?
Rob: Activate program...
[In an almost predictable move, the holosseum lights up and displays the entire Satellab crew with presents and a cake.]
All: Surprise!
Pixel (almost speechless): Oh, my god! What the?
[The rest of Sonic Five join Rob and Pixel as Pixel begins to hug Rob tight.]
Neil: Happy birthday, Pixel! Better late than never, eh?
Pixel: You'll have to excuse me; I'm still in shock. Thanks, guys! You know, I'm so happy right now, I'd even talk to Robert.
Sydney: Where exactly is Robert?
Kevin: Good question. I haven't seen him since the battle against Synchron.
Dr. O: You're looking for Robert?
Carter: Well.. yeah.
Dr. O: Well, you're not going to find him here.
[A mutter of "huhs" and "Whats" and blank faces scatter the room.]
It's true... He left me this recording.
[The team gathers around to hear the recording.]
Robert's voice (sarcastically): You bury me in the ground for five years. You try and destroy me. Then you go and save my life after all this. I guess I am now in your debt. Do not misunderstand this as a team up, because, as much as I want to get ARachness for using me, I have to do it myself. That is why I left the Satellab. Besides, I would not want to have you change the name of the team because of me. See ya!
Echo: End transmission.
Kevin: That was pretty nice of him... as nice as he gets anyway.
Sydney: You know what? I miss him already.
Neil: I guess you're right. I mean, who else is going to tell me if my "Mortal Enemies of Fred" fan-fic sucks?
Rob: I hate to tell you this, but NO ONE likes your fan fic. (laughs) That reminds me. I have a special gift. Carter, if you please?
Carter (taking Rob's guitar out of his case and giving it to him): Here you go!
Rob: Thank you.
[Pixel, not ready to take any more excitement, buries her head in her hands, only to lift it up again.]
Pixel: What's this? You wrote a song for me?
Rob: That's right. It's not much, and it's hardly like anything I would normally play, but I was saving it for a special occasion.
Pixel: Well, don't talk, play!
[Rob complies with the orders, and starts strumming a moderately slow, ballad-type guitar rift. After a few bars, he begins to sing.]
I guess it was chance, that made me the man that I am today,
I guess it was fear that brought you into my world.
But I never guessed for one second that you would be my whole,
And now I see the truth, and I would not ask for more...
The gifts of one could never compare to the gift,
The gift you give every single day,
A gift so warm, so precious, and so pure,
The gift of life... Hope you never take it away...
SONIC V STAND BY
Questions and comments are always welcomed to either Chris or myself.
NEXT WEEK:
Neil gets lucky.
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