Robotnik's Citadel: Salty Wounds

[Leda]

As his pastey, near-bald reflection bounced back up to greet him, Snively let out a miniscule growl and scrubbed the monitor harder. Typically, this was a robot's job; as Robotnik's personal assistant, Snively's responsibilities usually revolved around more managerial work: overseeing worksites, organizing schedules, crunching numbers, etc.

But cleaning? CLEANING?! He received insults on a regular basis, but this felt especially degrading.

I just KNEW this was going to happen, Snively crossly and silently grumbled to himself, spritzing the next monitor with cleaner. Julian's been in a rotten mood ever since that fiasco at Never Lake. And I called every inch of it! I TOLD him we should've taken the extra time to transport extra generators so we could run a roboticizer!!

"But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" the small human huffed, hopping briefly from foot to foot. " 'My plan is flawless!' he says! 'My Metal Sonic robot will be more than enough to defeat the hedgehog!' he says!! You know what else is more than enough to defeat him?! A ROBOTICIZER!!

"..."

Snively paused and glanced about the control room. Robotnik may not have been present at that exact moment, but the surveilance never blinked its watchful eye. The overlander gulped; could he have been listening to his little temper tantrum? Snively stood stark still and waited, listening for either the tyrant's bellowing call or the heavy thunder of his footsteps. To his relief, neither came. The little man let out a sigh of relief.

That wasn't going to cease his grumbling, however; he would simply continue in his mind, as he tended to do continuously throughout the day anyway. With another frustrated glower at his own reflection, Snively resumed his sanitary detail.

[Jamie Lee]

The control room door did open suddenly, shortly after the small human resumed his duty, however the figure who entered wasn't who Snively may have expected. Metal Sonic stiffly walked into the room, glancing around when he noticed no sign of his master anywhere in sight. Unsure of what to do until Robotnik returned, the metallix just stood there completely still.

[Leda]

The sound of an approaching figure had caused the wee overlander to whip to attention, but upon seeing it was just another walking scrap of metal, Snively's posture quickly slouched, and a disinterested expression overtook his features. In fact, there was a tinge of resentment in his eyes. It wasn't often that Robotnik gave his robots a second chance; most of the time if they failed to complete their objectives, they were sent to the factories and broken down for parts. As it was, Snively could only count the number of robots that had actually seen repair on one hand. He set aside the bottle and rag, opting to deviate from his task and approach the metallix.

"Hmmmmmm..." he hummed quietly, folding his stubby arms and giving Metal a good look-over. Not only had this thing failed, but it was modeled after that incessant rodent. If anything, I'd think that'd give Julian even MORE reason to destroy it. Why give this one in particular another shot? It's just a constant reminder of our wasted time and effort, and failed plans.

Snively let out a disenchanted snort. "What makes you so special?" he asked rhetorically.

[Jamie Lee]

Metal had ignored the small human as he scrutinized over him. His sensors had indicated him as Robotnik's assistant and second in command, therefor registering him as a non-threat, and so saw no need to react. However, at being addressed, the metallix did something Snively quite likely would have found very... unexpected.

He looked him straight in the eyes and stared at him.

What made him so special. Metal began to search his databanks for a way to answer that question, running comparisons of his design against other known robot models.

"Unit MX-01: Metal Sonic, designed in the likeness of Sonic the Hedgehog. This unit has been enhanced using biological data, capable of superior speed and versatility over average patrol units on par with Priority Hedgehog. This unit is additionally enhanced by flight capabilities, electric force field and lightening projectiles."

The robot paused for the briefest of moments, finding something in his recent memory files that seemed important enough to warrant mention in his assessment.

"I am not Priority One Hedgehog in roboticized form."

[Leda]

Snively had quite noticibly flinched when the metallix actually reacted. For the most part, robots didn't react to comments, only commands. So when Metal had turned to make eye contact, Snively found himself incredibly unnerved, and even moreso when he received a reply.

However, the last sentence recalled the overlander's snarky attitude. "I know that!!" he sneered, turning and making his way back to the awaiting cleaning supplies. "If the hedgehog WAS roboticized, you wouldn't even exist!!"

[Jamie Lee]

Metal continued to keep his eyes locked on Snively, even as the human turned and resumed working. As Snively was soon about to learn, this metallix was decidedly not like most other robots, and that statement, which most would have simply ignored, seemed to... trigger something in the robohog. An uneasy niggling somewhere way in the back as he actually began attempting to decipher him.

...

As he wondered that, he began to walk up behind Snively, idly studying the assistant's activity.

[Leda]

"We HAD him, we had him completely in custody, but did we roboticize him? NOOOO we just copied his life data. If Julian would have just LISTENED to me, both the hedgehog AND the princess would've been out of our way for good and we'd probably have Knothole wiped out by now!!" The low-breathed complaints continued on for quite some time as Snively continued along his path down the row of monitors, his mood darkening with each screen he dusted. Eventually the overlander made his way to the end of the control board and glanced up at the main display monitors. Even if he hadn't been unusually short, they still would've been way out of reach.

Yet another reason why this is DROID work, not mine!! With the bitter realization that he'd need a ladder, Snively grimaced and turned to hunt one down... and smacked straight into Metal Sonic. The two were so close that Snively's considerable nose had scrunched up against the metallix's faceplate.

"*SHRIEK*"[/size]

[Jamie Lee]

Metal on the other hand didn't so much as flinch, staring at Snively who stumbled back onto his behind. Though that strange uneasy feeling continued to persist in the back of the his mind, it was momentarily drowned by an air of confusion and curiosity.

[Leda]

"..." Snively sucked in a few startled breaths as he stared up at the robot...

...but eventually regained his composure and rose to his feet again. As he dusted off, he eyed Metal with grim uncertainty. Why had that robot followed him? He'd given no order for anything close to that. Maybe it was trying to be protective? Actually, why had he even engaged it in what felt like conversation? This wasn't a robian; even if it had been, he still wouldn't have spoken to it that way -- not normally, anyway. This was just another one of Julian's failed creations. Why give it more than a glance?

"Hmph," Snively snorted, planting his fists against his hips. At least Julian didn't see me make a fool of myself. In what was probably an affirmation of his authority, the overlander snatched his cleaning rag and flung it into the metallix's face. "Clean those display monitors!" he ordered starkly, pointing a stubby finger at the LCD screens towering overhead. "And be quick about it!!"

[Jamie Lee]

[dice=2] (1: Obeys, 2: Protests)

The rag smacked him square in the eyes and slid down. Metal glanced at the rag as it found a new spot hanging from the end of his spiked nose, then back up at Snively, flashing his eyes briefly.

"This unit was designed for combat."[rand=793841570278147325856101283081834773624370179832222571280804712557]

[Leda]

"Mmmmm we all pitch in with jobs that aren't our own," Snively lowly uttered at the disobedient robot. "NOW, before I reformat your hard drive!"

Of course, it was an empty threat; Snively would never willingly bring on Robotnik's wrath. But this was just a hunk of metal, what did it know?

[Jamie Lee]

Apparently enough to be stubborn. "Negative."

[Leda]

Snively glared with frustration at the metallix. This thing's trying my patience. Maybe I should give it a warning to keep it in line. Without another word to Metal, the overlander reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a remote with a single button. He'd jammed his grubby thumb over it a second later. "MMMM NOW I'LL SHOW YOU!"

[Jamie Lee]

The metallix's eyes frizzed with static and began to roll around in opposite directions. Metal physically jolted in surprise as his vision spun, a warning error accompanying it, and likely did something Snively might have found unusual; bowed his head down and made a squinting animation. Inwardly, he ran a quick diagnostic scan over his optic software and began making necessary repairs.

When he finally straightened back up his (still somewhat frizzy) eyes shot to the device still in the assistant's hand. With a quick flash he identified it as the threatening device, and quickly snatched it from Snively's hand; crushing it in his talon.

[Leda]

Snively let out a short squawk as his little toy was stolen clean out of his own hand, his features falling a bit more with intimidated shock as he saw it destroyed.

...Great, now I have to build another one. It was troublesome enough to make THAT one! However, there were greater concerns at the moment -- such as the fact that this robot was not only disobeying him, but had apparently stopped just short of accosting him. It actually weirded him out, but if he'd learned anything from Robotnik, it was not to tip your hand to your subordinates if it could be avoided. The human steeled his expression into looking less shocked and more angry. "Y-You can't do that!! Dr. Robotnik will NOT be happy to hear about your insubordination!!"

[Jamie Lee]

Looking at the now crushed device in his talon, the metallix's eyes began to glow slightly brighter. A sense of anger filled him that drowned out the other emotions.

"What is this." he asked in his monotone voice, holding the device up.

[Leda]

For a split second, Snively opened his mouth to answer, then stopped himself. I don't owe this thing any explanation, he silently asserted to himself, a scowl overtaking the assistant's face. Seriously, WHY did he keep having urges to talk with this robot as though it were a person? A robot wasn't a person! Even the robians weren't people! But then, Snively didn't really think mobians were people, either.

"Broken," he finally said, "no thanks to you. Now get that screen cleaned!!"

[Jamie Lee]

The metallix looked down at the device again, then back up, very much unsatisfied with that answer. His eyes dimmed a bit in frustration. This person was extremely annoying, he thought vaguely. Though his programming argued and insisted he obey, something inside him made him feel increasingly spiteful and rebellious. Why did he have to? This wasn't what he was designed for. He was designed to eliminate Priority Hedgehog. He had been ordered by Lord Robotnik to act as a patrol unit. Robotnik's orders were top priority!

That spiteful feeling persisted however, and after a long thoughtful silence over what to do Metal finally answered. "Affirmative."

Advancing on Snively, the metallix snatched him by the back of the shirt, airlifting him up toward the monitors in question.

[Leda]

A long shriek resonated against the control room's metallic walls until the tiny overlander regained enough sense to speak. "WHAT THE BLAZES DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Snively screeched, his eyes going wide and all limbs flailing about. "PUT ME DOWN!! NOW!!!"

[Jamie Lee]

"Clean monitors." was all Metal said, holding Snively out toward them.

[Leda]

However the assistant continued to wave about frantically in the metallix's claw. "I SAID PUT ME DOWN, YOU INSOLENT HUNK OF SCRAP!!"

[Jamie Lee]

To which he ignored, seeming to get a morbid satisfaction from this. "Negative," he stated. "Lieutenant's orders are to assist in sanitation duty." he gave the pint sized human a shake in emphasis.

[Leda]

Snively let out a strange noise that seemed to fall somewhere between a yelp and a whimper as his body was rattled, sweat pouring profusely down his pale face. There was something very, VERY wrong with this robot!! How could it not only disobey his orders, but actually manhandle him?! Regardless, he wasn't about to push the envelope when he felt the presence of danger -- he'd learned well enough when to back off from years of living with his uncle. "I d-d-don't h-have the r-rag!" Snively awkwardly squawked. His throat had suddenly become very, very dry.

[Jamie Lee]

The metallix paused as he processed this, then went cross-eyed as he looked down his snout at where the rag had, comically, managed to remain hanging from the tip of his nose the entire time. Repositioning his hold on Snively to one hand, he snatched the rag off and held it out for him.

[Leda]

Seriously, if Snively didn't have bad luck, he'd have no luck at all. Why did that stupid robot's nose have to be so long and pointy?! If it hadn't been, that cloth would've just rolled off and fallen to the ground! But then, Snively tended to spend lots of time lamenting long, pointy noses, anyway.

With a frightened gulp, the human's trembling hand closed around the rag and received it, when suddenly another hiccup in the process came to mind. "I d-don't have any c-cleaner!!" he shrilly protested. It wasn't clear why he bothered to point this out, as it wasn't likely to change his situation other than slightly prolonging the inevitable... but Snively doesn't always think clearly when cornered.

[Jamie Lee]

Metal's eyes flared slightly, then dimmed in frustration. He was seriously starting to get annoyed with this bossy little organic as he looked down toward the bottle of cleaning solution, remembering how Snively had used it to spray each monitor before wiping it down. Looking between it and the assistant he quickly debated with himself. Rather than simply lower him to the floor like his programming knew he should have, he... simply relinquished his grip right there.

[Leda]

"AH-HA-HA-HA-HOOOW!!" Snively moaned as he crashed back onto the unforgivingly firm floor. The petite overlander whimpered lowly and rubbed his tender bum, slowly rising back to his feet.

His wrathful eyes turned skyward at the metallix still hovering overhead. Why you... What makes you think you can do that to me?! What makes you think you can even THINK?! Stupid piece of... "Mmmmm you appear to be malfunctioninnng..." Snively sneered slowly and deliberately. "Head down to maintenance for a diagnostic."

[Jamie Lee]

This only garnered another thoughtful pause from Metal, inwardly arguing with himself over something. "Negative," he answered. "This unit has run several diagnostic scans in response to irregular functions. All systems are optimal; no anomalies have been detected," he paused again. "I do not see the purpose in checking again."

[Leda]

"I would call failure to obey orders an anomaly!" Snively spat angrily. "Go to maintenance immediately!"

[Jamie Lee]

"No anomalies have been detected in recent scans. Energy and time required to preform task in excess is inefficient."