FINAL CONFRONTATION

[metaloverlord]

Throughout this week, you all have been hard at work preparing for your final confrontation with the person behind all of this - Neo Metal Sonic. His fleet of ships has taken over the skies, and Tails has been working on a means to get you safely onto the correct one. Given that you've all been called into the workshop today, it seems like it's finally time.

"I've got the correct coordinates and we're ready to go. We'll all be joining you in this fight."

Sonic nods and continues, "Let's avoid a repeat of last time, yeah? I'm still going to try to keep his attention on me since the plan is still the same - you guys have gotta knock the Master Emerald outta him!"

"You all have had some practice with your powers and with what the Master Emerald can do, so you should be better prepared for this fight. Still, remain on guard!"

Tails flicks the device to life and a portal opens. Unlike the rings, this one doesn't show where exactly you'll be going. "Everyone ready? Let's put an end to this."

You arrive in the interior of one of those ships - the long hallway you're in is made of thick, dark silver steel, with absolutely nothing in the way of décor. The way behind you leads to a door - gated shut, with seemingly no way to open it from this side - while the path ahead of you leads up a small flight of stairs to what can only be described as a throne. It is simplistic in design and still made of that dark, practical steel without any adornments or embellishments, but it provides Neo Metal Sonic a height advantage to loom over you, something he couldn't really manage on most of you without taking to floating.

He sits in the chair now, red eyes fixed on all of you. One elbow is propped on the arm of the chair and his chin leans against his hand, giving off the air of "bored monarch" that he's probably going for.

"So you've arrived. You've kept me waiting."

He gets up then, rising to float as he had before, sparks of that familiar green Chaos Energy flaring to life around him. "Let's not waste any more time. I'll destroy you all here and now. And you," his eyes flick to Sonic, "will trouble me no further."

"Does it even really count when I'm not the version of Sonic you've fought before...?"

"Silence." Sonic shrugs and Neo Metal Sonic dismisses him, turning his attention back to you all. "You all have caused enough problems for me. Once I've crushed you all, nothing will be able to stop me."

NAVIGATION

Comments

[ungratefuloz]

[Dorothy may sympathize with Neo's plight a bit, but that doesn't mean she's gonna stop blasting. Even as she takes another attack (8), she won't be deterred--she can't stop now. She won't stop now.

She even manages to blast at Neo twice thanks to Fukuda's help, but Dorothy stares at Neo from below. (solely due to Giant Woman status--)]

...Have you ever found your own directive? Something that you don't have to rely on anyone for--something you can pursue because you want it, without relying on anyone else?

Or is this the first time?

[Dorothy's words aren't quite gentle, but it is a question.]

[metaloverlord]

[giant woman,]

Impossible. I can do nothing else until my directive has been accomplished. My previous attempts have all failed - so I have little choice but to go bigger; to extend my reach to ensure my freedom, no matter the cost.

[ungratefuloz]

You're wrong.

Neo, darling. I attempted to just the same to my own world. If I had stayed there, if Sonic had not found me and I had not clung to him like some lost child, I would have ensured the extinction of humanity if the Ark continued to go along with my plans. I would have left them to the Raptures and their fate--

The only way I was able to move past this in any manner was with the help of the people around me.

[Dorothy won't be deterred.]

You can find your freedom without doing this. You can find your own directive to live for, without subjugating everyone else in the process! Not every human here is like that vile creature you saw upon arriving here--you can find something different, but you have to take the first steps toward an uncertain future, and make something of yourself.

...And if we have to defeat you to get you to realize it, then so be it. We will not hold back a single inch.

[metaloverlord]

You misunderstand. There are limits to the choices I may make; it is not a simple matter of finding my freedom. I must make it - because as long as that loathsome copy of mine exists, as long as Doctor Eggman exists, I can never truly be free. I will be bound by my directives, unable to act of my own.

[divinevoid]

[ . . . ]

...My, my, you are quite fond of excuses, aren't you.

[ They had to get a dig from on over here. At least one more. ]

[ungratefuloz]

[...]

I thought that for a long time as well. Nikke...we are made with a system installed into our brains that prevent us from attacking humans, and prioritze human safety above all else; our NIMPH. Neuro-Implanted Machine for the Protection of Human.

But even that has not stopped me.

Neo, are you not simply bound by chains of your own making at this point? Eggman is dead. [and while we're bound by the pg rating to not kill the other eggman, please pretend she is still offering here--] All of this fixing, rebuilding, and you still cannot see for yourself that you've become something new? That you could become something all your own?

[metaloverlord]

[An immediate correction, almost as if he can't stop himself:] He isn't dead. I cannot harm him directly. He has been stripped of his free will, unable to act to cause any further harm.

[As for the rest... Well, he's fallen silent again, preparing for round 3.]

[crosswired]

Even those of us created under the twisted thoughts of another must find our own footing. To blame it on our circumstance, our enemies, our limitations... it will not make anything for you but a path to emptiness led on corpses of your mistakes.

It will only end in bitterness.