Metal returned, dragging his useless leg to the door. One of his arms also had the same treatment that Sonic had given him. His egine didn't work, so that explained why he wasn't flying. He cursed under his 'breath' and trudged on, having to return to the old base. Eggman was the only one who could repair the damage, at least, the only one who was on his side. But technically Eggman didn't do it half of the time, the robots did. There were four of them, even though one of them didn't really classify as a robot. He stood in front of the door, prepared for the speech heard many times before of how Sonic always beat him.

The door opened, and to his delight it wasn't his creator for once. It was ECHO, the frame of it was very light, no wonder she always floated. The arms weren't actually connected to the body though, along with the head. They just floated nearby by something like an invisible tether. The hands were clearly not connected, they were about five inches away from where they'd be connected to her arm. There was a light sheet of metal that served as a look for her hair, it didn't have any other purpose than that. Her engine was a diamond, there were things connected to her ears but the purpose was unknown.

"Hey Metal, I see Sonic did a number on you again?" She spoke, quite quickly as if she was excited or frantic, but Metal knew her long enough to know that this was her conversational style.

"Hey ECHO, how's it going?" He asked, ignoring ECHO's previous statement. "Did you find out what those things on your ears are for?"

"Lead and Bolt got into another fight, and yes, I did." They replied. "C's waiting for you in the repair room, I'll take you there." She grabbed his bad arm and seemed to vanish.

"ECHO wait!" They were already gone, my the time they go to the repair wad his arm was torn clean off. He glared at where it was, then at ECHO who held his arm.

"Sorry!" She yipped, but quickly turned her attention to Cyber. A kid who stood in the middle of the room. His fur was a light blue, almost white at points. His limbs were a cross of being robotic and organic, diamond plates were on his cheeks, and his ears here robotic. His eyes were a peircing sky blue and were pupiless, but he saw very clearly. 

"Metal!" He ran to the robot and glomped him, but wasn't heavy enough the pull him down. And hung around hin nech her refused to let go.

"Hey Cy." He hugged him with his remaining arm. Then broke the hug and walked to the repair table.

"Are you okay?" He asked, concerned. Metal nodded.

"Better than when I challenged Sonic to a race and crashed into a door." He replied and laid down, ECHO hovered over.

"I'm being genuine here." He said, he sighed and nodded again.

"I'm fine, I'll be fixed in no time." He said again and flickered off his eyes. It wasn't often that he needed a limb replaced so he was familiar with this.

"ECHO found out what the things on her ears are for."

"I know, she told me." Metal said. "But not what they're for."

"I can listen to your thoughts, and anything from a room with a camera!" ECHO said, excited. Metal flinched.

"Our thoughts?" He asked, ECHO nodded.

"But only five thoughts at a time." She said. "After that I can't do it again for half an hour."

"Thank Chaos." Metal muttered, he was repaired and sat up. "Can you do the camera thing right now?" She nodded.

"Sure." There was an unsettling silence, it looked like she was listening to someone in the room. The she stopped, and shuddered. "Oh no..." She fell down shuddering and having a fit.

"ECHO? ECHO!" Metal got down and shook her, Cyber shook her too.

"This didn't happen last time!" Cyber exclaimed, ECHO stopped and looked at the both of them.

"What is it?" Metal demanded, ECHO looked up shaking still.

"Eggman, he's going to dismantle Bolt and Lead, and you if you fail another mission...." She whispered, Metal didn't show much emotion, but you could see the schok in his eyes.

"Who'll take their place?" Cyber asked, ECHO looked at Cyber and herself. Silence took place and Cyber's eyes widened in fear.

"No." Metal said outright, they looked at him. "Gather Bolt and Lead into the training room. I have something." He left, saying nothing more. ECHO and Cyber just looked at each other.

It was a while, maybe an hour or so, but they were gathered in the training room. Metal stood on the tallest platform that was there, about three times his height. He ccleared out his voice box loudly to get his comrade's attention. Evryone looked at him, Lead with concern, Bolt with skeptisim, ECHO with worry,  and Cyber with hope. The idea he was about to tell them seemed ridiculous. But it had been in him for a long time, years even. Ever since he first fought Sonic, and realized what Eggamn wanted of him. Now was not the time to hold back in fear, he had to say it now.

"We are going to overthrow Eggman." He declared, everyone gasped in shock. All but Cyber, only he knew Metal well enough to expect this.

"Have you blown a curcuit!?" Bolt exclaimed, "He'll destroy us, dismantle us!"

"Yeah, why would we risk that!?" Lead shouted, enraged.

"We are going to be dismantled anyways, ECHO, tell them." He looked at the femined robot, who glanced at him. "Go on." He said, fully expecting betrayal.

"He's right, I heard Eggman say that." She said, surprising Metal and the others. "It wouldn't change much if we fail, if we defeat him now we have earned our right to live."

"And not just that." Metal added, "But to freedom and something we've never had; choice!"

"We're so afraid of failing we don't even try." Cyber joined. "But Metal has done it before, as Neo Metal Sonic." 

"Exactly!" Metal got down from his platform and landed in front of Bolt. "If you're smart enough, you'll realize that if we do this, you won't be torn apart and forgotten!"

"Can;t we work something out? We can do something other than that." Lead said, unsure of the idea of figting Eggman. "We have high powers in the empire."

"No, we don't. It was jus an illusion." Metal countered, "Tell me the time you demanded the troops to do something for your own intrests without Eggman telling you to!" Lead fell silent.

"True, but where do we begin?" Bolt said. "Do you have anything, hot-shot?" Metal whipped around.

"Where I did, but this time everyone has a hand in this. We will stay in power if we don't interfere with Sonic." Metal said. "And if you want to still be some pawn for Eggman, we won't treat you any different than we'll treat Eggman."

"We can't work ut a comprimise?" Bolt asked, showing that the loyalty wasn't going to break, yet.

"In this world, comprimise does not exist!" Metal shouted, stepping forward shovng Bolt back. "It's now or never!" He turned around, his spirit buring as much and his eyes were blazing. "Who's sick of it, raise your hand, don't hesitate!"

First nobody, then Metal rose his own hand. Then Cyber did, not just because he was close to Metal, but truly wasfed up with how Eggman treated them. ECHO did too, for her freedom and will, and to show she never will fall to anyone's power. Lead did soon afterwards, knowing that he was being played as a pawn the whole time, and now he wanted to call the shots. It seemed like it was only the trio of them, then one last hand was raised. Bolt didn't seem to have a reason for this, but he did, and it was solid. Existing forever, with those who would too.

"Lets do this!" Metal shouted, the others cheered. Then an annoucement called out for some reason, they stopped and looked around.

"[ECHO, Bolt, Lead, Cybe and Meal Sonic, please report to Lord Eggman.]" The PA said aloud, they looked at each other.

"Get weapons, all of you." Metal said, they split up and went to ther rooms. Cyber always had an upgraded pistol in his drawer, he grabbed it and went to Eggman. Bolt was always a fan of guns, he pulled out a machine gun from behind his charging port. Lead grabbed a crowbar, he already had brute strength but this would magnify it. ECHO went to the repair ward and got out the sharpest knife, often used to cut cleanly through wires and cables. Metal didn't bring a weapon with him, he was a killing machine already.

The door slid open, all stood in place with their weapons behind them. They stepped forward, it was dark in the room, contrasting the brightly lit hall. It created sillouettes of them, thin lines of light separated their forms. Metal's ruby eyes were in the front. dimly showing any facial features. Same with ECHO's green, that was in the back as she floated behind them all. Cyber's blue eyes didn't glow, but they showed in the darkness. Lead's and Bolt's were grey and didn't reveal a single detail.

"Ah, you're here!" Eggman exclaimed, they came closer. "I have good news and bad news." He began, they neared him, getting their weapons ready. "What are you doing?" He asked, noticing something was off.

"You no longer control us." Metal said, with confidence, bravery, and spirit.

"We make our own path." Cyber added, with freedom, and life.

"We're nobody's pawns." ECHO seemed to whisper, with justice, and will.

"We'll stand our ground." Lead said, with vigor, and fight.

"We are fighting for those who'll last forever." Bolt said, not revealing anything other than that.

They went to their former master, who was utterly confused. No blood was shed, but they showed what they meant. 

The reign of Eggman was over, and a new one began.

Whoo! This was inspired by many, many songs! There's a few references, lets see if you can find them! I wonder if I should make thisa book, I'll tag people I want to see this. BOI!!!!!

Justice_The_Soul

Shadow_Nightfox46