He'd noticeably been on edge, she could tell. She could always tell. Informing him Tails and Rotor will learn of Snively's familiar traversal pattern only eased him slightly. Still, he let her lead the way towards the purple walrus' workshop, hand in hand. She'd watch his distant gaze through the water as they crossed the bridge and squeeze his hand, but despite his smiles he continuously appeared spooked.

It was unnerving. Compared to his grins and snarks and unwavering optimism his ghostly eyes were a stark contrast. The idea Snively had been following him for Chaos knows how long was no doubt unsettling, but it was usually her who would spiral and panic. Sonic would-

They entered Rotors workshop to be swarmed by clatters, chatter and whirs. Sonic released her hand, waved and beamed as he swaggered over to the pair of inventors. Past robot scrap, boxes, a hammock and multiple work desks sat Rotor and Tails in the back. On small stalls, a delicate grey devise sat on the desk between them. It was wired to a neighbouring computer and tools lay scattered across the table's surface.

Sonic appeared impressed, but Sally was more familiar with the scene. However, she wasn't so used to the apparent flick of a switch emotions that came from her blue companion. He squeezed Rotors shoulders and ruffled Tails' head fur prior to watching the two from behind. Swiftly changing the inventors' rather confused expressions to joyous grinning, which he always had a knack of doing.

"Made any progress?" Sonic asked, gesturing towards N-I-C-O-L-E's small computer upon the desk.

Tails hummed and smiled as Sally neared. "It's curious. Nicole's Nanotech' looks like it's been tampered with, but everything is in place. Nothing was taken- they have all the same information and features they always had."

Rotor lifted the Tails Electric, also connected to the same computer that ran code Sonic didn't bother to understand. "This, you'll be happy to know Sonic, also seems to have been messed with. However, it's much clearer it's from an alien source. Something unfamiliar."

"Ay?"

Sally leaned forward, examining the computer screen. "Nicole is familiar with it, but the Electric isn't?"

"The data suggests it's from the same source." Tails gulped.

Sonic and Sally exchanged silent words as they watched each other, soon returning to the waiting inventors. "So Vanilla is right, it's Robotnik?" The latter questioned.

"Appears so."

"Well, what does the round oaf want with Nicole?" Sonic's foot began drumming against the floor.

Rotor looked at the small grey device. "That's what we're still trying to figure out. He didn't remove anything, or add anything. Maybe observation?"

"Nicole said they wouldn't have anything of value for him though." Sally reminded.

Tails hummed again, finger tapping his chin. "Yeah, everything they could access at least. Robotnik still has some of his web on their system. That's what we're trying to get into now."

Sonic flicked his nose. "Well, if anyone's gonna figure it out it's you guys."

Rotor smiled. "Thanks, sorry we don't have anything more."

"Eh, we'll get there. At least I know I'm right." The speedster grinned with a wink.

"In the meantime, we have something to tell you two." Sally brought her hands together before her.

"What's up?" Tails swivelled on his small blue stall to pay all his attention.

"Me and Sonic talked last night and discovered something...unnerving. We don't even know if it's entirely true but, comparing his adventure's timeline against radio updates it sounds like Snively...well, we think Snively's been following Sonic. At least, copying what locations he's visited."

The two intelligent mobians paled, causing Sonic to awkwardly smile and massage the back of his neck.

"How long?" Tails asked.

"We don't know. It can't be too long. The radio, and I'm sure other media, has been trying to guess where Sonic'll next go. Meaning Snively surely would've began his...pattern when Sonic's identity gained more popularity."

"Why wouldn't he just face Sonic if he's doing this then?" Rotor questioned prior to turning to the computer when further code slipped through.

"Because he always goes after Sonic's been."

"Why bother going at all?" Tails frowned and stood, soon beginning to pace.

"Whatcha thinkin' there pal?" The blue blur inquired.

"That perhaps he doesn't know exactly when you were there. He has a vague idea, somehow, hence the order- but only knows you've been there at some point. You're on Robotnik's radar, both of you, so it makes sense he'd want a thorough search to try and find you. What I'm stuck on is how accurate he is every time. It's almost like he's...like he can see it somehow."

"Who'd put cameras in a place like Green Hill?" Sonic scratched his head.

"Not like that." The fox spun and marched over to his brother, observing the others head carefully enough it made the older one squirm.

"On the radio, did it ever say when he was at those locations?"

"Well, a report came in about some disruption in Emerald Hill- where Snively was spotted a year or so after. Then more people claimed to see a flying blue thing in the sky, which we now know is Metal, followed by Snively not even a day after. This was around Central City a month or so ago?"

"I'm guessin' that's where I met Amy." Sonic leaned against one of the cluttered desks.

And coincidentally, the bright eyed, wide smiling pink hedgehog made her entrance with a plate of scrumptious smelling chilli dogs. "Hiiiii~!"

"I brought you two lunch like you- oh! Sonikku, you're here! I would've made more if I knew."

"That's fine, Amy. Thanks though- smells great!"

Amy beamed and set them beside a muttering Rotor before hopping to the blue speedsters side. "Thank you! So, whatcha guys up to?"

Sally cleared her throat. "We're discussing something a little bit private. But, we'll tell you all when we know for certain about this." She offered a gracious smile.

Amy had the faintest frown. "I can help."

"Oh, that's not necessary-."

"Are you okay with talking about Metal?" Tails gently asked as his brother retrieved a pair of chilli dogs.

Amy squeezed her arm, quills stiffening. "Oh um...."

"It's okay if you don't want to."

"I don't think that's necessary." Sonic chimed in, doing the only thing he could think of and offered Amy his second chilli dog in an attempt to cheer her up.

The pink hedgehog giggled, then shook her head. "If it'll help, I can. Why?"

"Sally and Sonic have a theory Snively has been following the latter. For how long?"

"All Snively sightings are suggested to have started a few months or so ago." Sally replied.

"What's that gotta do with Metal?" Sonic asked.

"Oh! Is this about the headaches?" Amy inquired.

"Headaches?" Sally and Tails both appeared perplexed.

"You guys didn't know?" The pink hedgehog turned to Sonic, who massaged his head with a slight cringe.

"Another one?"

"Beginning to yeah, but not him."

"O-oh."

Tails sighed and dragged a chair over to his brother, patting the seat. "You had one after being, well, sorta Robotisized. It was more like a migraine though. I didn't think it was a frequent thing."

Sonic plopped on the chair. "It's not. I've only had a few since."

"When?"

"Geez, when Metal's around- I've noticed. But they happen when he's not too. I think." He shook his head. "It's confusing. It feels more like my brains being stretched or somethin'. Like I'm in two places at once."

"That's unsettling." Sally crouched at his side and took a hand between both of hers.

"W-well it doesn't happen often. It's fine, really."

"I want to run a scan on your brain." Tails stated, abruptly so, with a box presumably holding the necessary equipment.

"Come again?"

"Maybe it really is like you're in two places at once. Almost. More so, it's been split subconsciously."

"You're not suggesting...." Sally swallowed.

"What? What's bein' suggested?"

"I think when Robotnik did...that to you, he didn't just copy some of your physical data onto Metal. I think he mimicked part of your brain's functions. I think you're connected to Metal in a much more complex way than just speed. You did say you were angry when he was created, and he copies that emotion almost to a T. I also think he's what's updating Snively on where you are. But I don't know what extent this connection goes to, hence the brain scan."

Silence followed for a moment. Sonic watched his and Sally's hands, N-I-C-O-L-E's computer device, the steamy chilli dogs and Tails' kind blue eyes. "I'm not...I'm okay though right? It's not like he can cause actual damage to my brain."

"Oh Chaos, course not! I didn't mean to scare you. We don't have the technology for something like that yet, although Robotnik's advancements are impressive."

Sonic paled.

"But I really doubt he can create something to indirectly damage your brain from a mere robot connection. In the same breath though, if he can view your memories in some way, knowledgeable or not, it's best for us to know what else he could possibly do so we're prepared."

"Right, makes sense."

"If anyone can handle a few headaches Sonic, it's definitely you!" Amy cheered.

"Heh, thanks Ames."

"So, you up for it?" Tails asked, waving a few wired electrodes in hand.

———

It was dark. Dingy. Long and thin. But oddly familiar, and lacked any smell at all. In fact he barely acknowledged he was walking, in a choppy and slow manner too. Smooth stone stretched across the floor, as did the ceiling. For a short distance the walls did too, until they twisted and whirled and suddenly he was standing between two sides of metal bars.

Red lights lowly flashed every now and again, shoved into the gaps between ceiling and metal bars. Still, he moved, but with what he could only describe as purpose. There came a whimper, but for some reason he didn't move to see who caused it. Then, one of the red lights brightened so much that when it vanished he was confusingly in a different location.

He didn't seem bothered though, for he continued moving. It was a room with many puddles and neon green lines slithering across the walls. It was noticeably bare too, so for a moment he watched himself through one of the puddles. At red eyes, no mouth and claws powerful enough to break through steel. He was still, something akin to sadness, but moved forward.

And only briefly, just briefly, did he see cells that he could count on one hand if he had more time before a blinding headache crashed against his head.

———

His glazed green eyes rolled forward and his head dropped, just for a moment. Sally reached but Sonic burst as if underwater and swung all his limbs, eyes wide in a panic. He pulled and yanked at the electrodes and flung back so much he fell with the chair, continuing to flail. His exhaustion was more apparent than it had been and Rotor's attention was finally snagged by the commotion. He stood, but Sally was faster and with Tails' assistance removed the last of the electrodes before trying to calm the spooked speedster.

"The hell was that?!" Sonic yelled, squeezing his chest and staring almost through his brother.

"I-I don't-! Are you okay?"

"Okay? I'm-." He shook Sally's hands from his shoulders and scrambled up, watching the electrodes wired to a secondary, older computer.

"When did you do that?"

"Huh?" Tails hurried to stand.

"Plugged 'em in. When?"

"We- about twenty minutes ago I think."

Sonic massaged his head, finding the headache easily diminishing. "What? But I was...it wasn't that long."

"What was?" Sally stepped closer, eyes swimming with worry.

"You were talking with us for a bit." Amy chimed in. "Tails put those on and started the scan. You were fine for a while but then...just minutes ago your eyes rolled up and you didn't...it was like you were somewhere else."

"I think I was." Sonic airily chuckled.

"Come again?" Sally's expression twisted into confusion.

"I saw...it was all blurry and weird. But I...or something, was walking. Just walking. It was all dark and...." Sonic watched his hands. "I had claws. Red eyes and a sunken yellow chest. I was...."

"Metal." Amy shivered.

"Chaos...." Tails chuckled in disbelief. "Robotnik's created a subconscious connection between living beings and ones built from scrap. That's...I mean that's...."

"I think it's my memories that keeps us connected like this. Or like, that's how we stay involved. That's why he could see where I've been. That's why I could...." Sonic pinched the bridge of his nose. "I saw his. A-actually I think I saw what he's currently seein' too. I dunno...it felt more present or something. More consistent."

"What was it?"

"Cells. Hallways and lights and cells. Then a room with more cells and-."

'Quiet.'

Like he'd seen a ghost, he paled; eyes widening and ears swivelling rapidly.

'Speak and they won't understand.'

"A-and yeah. Bunch of cells." Sonic shivered, feeling abruptly cold and rubbed his arms. He'd heard that voice before, with Vanilla.

"You okay pal?" Tails wondered.

"Fine. Um, what did you guys get?"

"We er...." Sally's eyes lingered on him for a moment prior to switching to the second computer.

"It's interesting, actually." Tails flew to the same spot. "Your brains energy is...powerful. It's such a unique, strong pattern that I was curious and examined on a wider scale. Turns out your entire body is practically overflowing with this...this unknown energy."

"My speed?"

"That's what I thought. Your blood flows much quicker than us, like your heartbeat. That makes sense, but that's more so exterior. This energy is deeper within, heavier almost. But then you, I believe, began seeing what Metal is and your mind's pattern became thin. Doubled but stretched. It's something I've never seen before."

Sonic approached and rested his hands on the fox's shoulders, watching the screen from behind. "This can't be good can it?"

"Well, Robotnik knows about this. Clearly." Amy chimed in. "And if Metal can show him places you've been...."

"It's only a matter of time until he figures out where we are." Sally finished, yellowing.