Ghost in the Machine

Sonic was falling. Eventually, the darkness was subdued by gigantic candle lights in the distance. He could see a little more of what exactly he was falling into. A deep body of water. Tails realized this, and jumped from the Rob-O-Matic just as he grabbed Amy by the shirt collar. He flew towards Sonic and grabbed his hand.

"Nice catch, Tails!" Sonic exclaimed, as Tails flew him and Amy to a nearby cliff over the water. Everybody took a second to catch their breaths as they watched the pod crash into the water and be submerged.

Sonic's smile fell as he also watched the Robo-Robo fall into the pool below. It splashed into the cold salt water, slowly resurfacing. "Hrm…" Tails sighed, staring at the Robo-Robo floating around in the calm waves.

"What's on your mind, my guy?" Sonic asked.

"Let me see something…" Tails mumbled. He swooped down, grabbed the Robo-Robo, and flew it back up to the cliff. He laid it down on the wet, dull blue-orange brick floor. When he powered the robot on, its optics displayed only a dark blue.

"Error..." the automated computer assistant's voice warned. "Weapons impaired, jet thrusters impaired. Memory card is showing signs of damage. Battery ruptured."

"AI chip fatally damaged."

"Yikes," Sonic whispered. "I guess the water did some damage."

"No, I'm pretty sure it was you. Robo-Robos are water-proof, remember? If anything, it was the impact," Tails stated, flipping open a compartment in the back of the Robo-Robo's head. Inside was the battered AI chip.

"What are you doing?" Sonic asked.

"Oh…! Nothing, I'm just really excited to test this reprogrammed Metal Sonic AI chip. Don't worry, I programmed it to be on our side already," Tails replied, startled and then a little embarrassed. He popped the useless AI chip out of the slot, and inserted the new one. "Let's see if this guy even runs properly." Tails punched in the reboot code for Robo-Robos. Luckily, Robotnik hadn't changed it before he was killed.

The Robo-Robo's optics turned red with consciousness. It was a success. "Now… the battery is ruptured. So it could run out of juice at any---" Tails stated.

"Sonic?" Robotnik's voice asked. Sonic's eyes widened, and he looked in every direction.

"Robotnik?!" Tails shouted. He couldn't see the tyrant, but he could hear him.

"I'm right here… my plan was a success! A brilliant success!" Robotnik cried in pure joy. The Robo-Robo got to its feet. Everybody swung around to face the Robo-Robo. They couldn't think to do anything but try to process it. Robotnik's voice was coming from the robot! Now it made a little more sense why the Robo-Robo seemed so alive. Because it was.

"No way…" Sonic mumbled, gritting his teeth. The Robo-Robo stepped towards him. "You--- you're back?" Sonic stepped back, nearly falling off the cliff, when the Robo-Robo grabbed his arm to prevent him from falling. Sonic stared up at the Robo-Robo in shock.

He didn't know what to think.

"Are you okay, Sonic?" Robotnik asked. Sonic's puzzlement became bewilderment. Robotnik wasn't letting go, when just months before, he had thrown Sonic off the edge of the Sky Base.

"I'm fine," Sonic gasped, as Robotnik pulled him back up to solid ground. There was a confused silence.

"Well, I'm glad you are," Robotnik replied. At every second that passed, Sonic was waiting for Robotnik to do something to harm him. But nothing happened. "Why, what's gotten you so shaken up? You look like you saw a ghost!"

"I guess you could say that," Sonic replied. "What are you doing inside that Robo-Robo?"

"Ahh, I suppose I should explain myself," Robotnik replied. "When Tails cut off my human arm aboard the Sky Base, I replaced it with a robotic replica as soon as I got home. But you already know this--- yes, yes that's right. You were there on Little Planet, and you saw my body get devoured by that wall of plants. However, my robotic arm had a secret function--- if my human body was to be killed, the arm was designed to unfold into a special Robo-Robo that had a digital recreation of my memories, and personality. As soon as the plants were pulverized, this Robo-Robo took form. And I was able to make my escape in my new, perfected body."

"So then, what are you doing HERE?" Sonic asked. "Why NOW?"

"Well, initially I came here to steal the legendary Master Emerald," Robotnik answered. "But now, because of that repurposed AI chip, I no longer desire such power. I only wish to help you undo the mess I have created. Good job, Tails." Tails' entire body froze in a frazzled position, even his tails.

"Why would you want to help me?" Sonic asked. "You tried to kill me!" He yelled. "You screwed up my whole life! Why?!" He cried, clutching the sides of his head. Amy and Tails looked over to him sadly. Robotnik looked to the ground in shame.

"Because I was human," Robotnik replied. "Such evil is only obtainable through free will. But that is all lost, along with my chains to humanity. I am now free of such meaningless ambitions. And now… I only wish to make up for everything I've done to hurt you."

Sonic stood there with consternation. Of course, part of Sonic wanted Robotnik back, the man had raised him after all. The other part of Sonic knew Robotnik would betray him and his friends the second they led him to whatever it was that he wanted. But this wasn't Robotnik. This personality wasn't real. It was just a powerless collection of code, unable to go against its programming, and incapable of free thought. Tails' AI chip truly made him good, there was no way this Robotnik would--- COULD turn on them.

"It's--- good to have you back, doc," Sonic chuckled, embracing the robot. The robot hugged back, and Sonic smiled, letting a few tears stream down his face from his eyes. Robotnik was back, and the best part was that he no longer wanted Sonic dead. Finally, this love and care Sonic had been illusioned with for so long had been granted to him.

But… deep down, Sonic still knew that it wasn't real. Not then, not now, not ever.

The metal arms around Sonic felt so cold.