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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 0:24:27 GMT -5
Metal Sonic was, in every way imaginable, one pissed off robot. Though, really, it wasn't unusual for him. In fact, it was those times that he didn't have something he would have just assumed maul something over that were quite rare. And at that very moment in particular he really really desperately wished for something he could mangle. Well... something other than the now indistinguishable piece of scrap he's snatched off the ground awhile back, which he was now twisting and molding together into a wad. Sparks of electricity flew from the conductors around his body every few seconds, his anger carelessly allowing their energy output to charge and overload. Having reviewed earlier security footage before leaving the egg-shaped citadel, he had discovered that his toy was parading around with that double of him - wherever he was now - which left him with a distinct lack of someone he could take out of frustrations on. What made him angrier was the fact he could hear the sounds of the fight involving that strange robot the android had been sent off to get rid of in the distance. He wanted to at least go and observe, to at least sate part of his need for malice by baring witness to the action of something that sounded undoubtedly dazzling. But every spy eye in Robotropolis was likely to be monitoring, and quite frankly he have rather not be dragged in like common filth and yelled at again for another mistaken identity... all because he was spotted doing something other than patrol. His head tilted to one side in thought, pondering about the security footage of the other him fleeing the scene with that android corgi and Dash. Idly, he wondered if he should check over the forest, just in case he might run into them after all. Though, with the sheer size of the forest, it would have been much like a needle in a haystack. If only he had a signal he could hone in on. The only one of the three he was sure he could track was Dash, as despite their similarities he wasn't sure how well he could rely on his counterpart, but... for some reason he couldn't pick anything up. So, either Dash was out of range, he had masked it (which he highly doubted), or perhaps he had even vanished into the other world. "Hmrrrph!" he growled with umbrage, squeezing the ball together tightly.
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 0:52:40 GMT -5
"Not again!" the bat moaned as she struggled to steady herself through the cascading shapes and colours all around her. " Not again!!" Just moments earlier, Rouge had disappeared from Rob's side, and found herself experiencing the same disorienting barrage of nonsensical images as when she'd tumbled from Mobius to Earth. Does this mean I'm going home, or will I end up somewhere else entirely?? The idea was frightening, but would have to wait on the back burner until she ended up anywhere at all. All of a sudden, she did in fact arrive: a portal opened up in one of the many junkyards scattered throughout Robotropolis, dumping her forcefully into a pile of scrap metals with a thunderous crash. Rouge layed dazed and stunned in the heap, a few junk items falling on top of her as she struggled to regain her bearings. Where.... am I? Home? As her sore muscles pushed her upright, the bat's breath became paralyzed as she layed eyes on Robotnik's fortress. Just like that, Rouge realized EXACTLY where she was. She was in a city she'd not set foot in for ten years; a city that had been the scene of the most traumatic experience of her life. Letting out a determined grunt, Rouge began more diligently to dig herself out of the heap. I've got to get out of here, and FAST.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 1:37:02 GMT -5
Metal's head snapped, his talons nearly dropping the object he'd been torturing. His electrical field died and his head tilted as he studied a nearby trash heap. Just barely over its top could he make out what appeared to be the tips of two white ears moving. His eyes gleamed with malicious excitement. "Well now." he said in a slow and deliberate tone. In a flash he seemed to vanish from his spot, when in reality it was the speed at which he was traveling. In an instant he was hovering over the bat, his nose mere inches from hers. "What do we have here."
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 1:46:49 GMT -5
Rouge's already alert eyes somehow widened even further as the robot blocked her off, and the bat tripped backwards with a shrill yelp. Despite the bruises she'd inevitably get from all of the impacts with the jagged metal, the bat barely noticed the dull throbs of pain throughout her body; her eyes remained locked onto the metallic hedgehog glaring at her. She'd heard rumors about some kind of super robot that'd been built in a hedgie's likeness... Now Rouge had a morbid suspicion that this would be the one, and that she was in far more trouble than she'd originally feared. Without testing their strength, Rouge sprang into the air and began furiously beating her wings. If she was going to have any chance of escape, it'd have to be aerial. [dice=6][rand=541944740710505820297372866695418342821190229498645346577594704911]
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 2:13:21 GMT -5
[dice=6] Oh yes, this was exactly what he'd been needing. And a bat to top it off. This was going to make things slightly more interesting than normal. He hovered in place there for a few moments, calmly, and allowed enough time to pass for her to vanish from his sight. Then with a blast from his engine he shot himself up into the air after her. Within mere seconds the gap was closed, but instead of attacking her he trailed directly alongside, his eerie glowing eyes leaving a red streak of light behind him. "My, you are slow," he taunted coolly. "Answer me this, intruder; Are you from Earth?"[rand=9909666787312176908683035772036496712496473342058979592940115898]
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 9:37:49 GMT -5
Though his reappearance was absolutely terrifying, Rouge's rock-hard expression never changed. This is getting really bad, she thought furiously. Without answering Metal's question, the bat collapsed her leathery wings and plummeted back toward the ground. My only shot at this point is to find somewhere to hide before he catches me again... Her greatest hope was to be able to get underground, but finding no service covers in the area, she quickly scavenged a vent to crawl into. Despite her perilous situation, Rouge's thoughts drifted back to Rob in the midst of her frenzy. Even though she felt the sting of missing him once again, at the same time she was relieved that she'd been the only one to come through the portal; at least they were safe back in the Chaos realm.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 11:17:34 GMT -5
Metal allowed a healthy distance between the two again, receiving a grim satisfaction from playing around with his new toy. As he dropped to the ground he noticed the missing vent cover and, casually, strolled over toward it and peered inside the claustrophobic interior. Her actions had more or less answered his question. From what little he had a chance to see of the other world his guess was that the citizens there didn't exactly make a habit of crawling around inside vents. The question became, then, who was she? He had no immediate records of any white bats from any of the locally known Freedom Fighter groups or refuges. However, a quick scan through the main database quickly remedied that, and to his great surprise it seemed as though he wasn't chasing just any rat; it was Rouge the Bat. Priority One Freedom Fighter of the Mercia, far up in the northern region. Priority One, eh? Well he wasn't impressed. Let's just see what this priority one threat was capable of. "A little ways from home..." he uttered dully, allowing his voice to echo inside the vent. A spark of electricity spat from the tip of his index finger, and he placed it's down on the interior of the vent, letting its metal act as a conductor.
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 11:28:00 GMT -5
An ear-splitting scream echoed against the walls of the vent as the electricity coursed through Rouge's body. Though it only lasted for a couple of seconds, to her it felt like hours, and when it finally ceased she lay moaning with pain in the back of the duct. Rouge struggled to push herself upright and crawl further off, but the jolts lingering in her body continually made her muscles involuntarily spasm. In the end the bat could only barely roll over, and made no progress on further escape.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 12:17:47 GMT -5
Metal's eyes simply glittered with satisfaction and he burst into laughter. Leaping inside the vent he walked in the direction he'd heard his victim cry. The vents in Robotropolis were typically large; large enough an average sized mobian could easily stand upright with at least a foot over their head to spare. Rouge would hear the metallic tapping of his feet on the floor, growing louder with each sweep. Finally he was within sight, and she would feel his razor sharp talons wrapping around her as he examined her. And then upon his realization that she was still conscious, she would feel herself being slammed forcefully into the vent wall. Metal leaned himself up against her to pin her there, holding one shoulder with one talon and the other wrapping itself around her throat. His ghostly glowing eyes bore into hers. "For a priority one threat you are utterly pathetic." He hissed in disappointment. "Just what is a Mercian Freedom Fighter as yourself doing here in Robotropolis anyway? Teaming up with the Knothole or Lower Mobius groups?" Or perhaps it has something to do with those portals... His eyes narrowed, and simultaneously he tightened his grip on her neck just enough to let her know he was serious, "Tell me everything you know this instant. And I warn you; I am capable of far worse things than merely allowing you to be roboticized."
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 13:28:29 GMT -5
Rouge gasped and kicked her feet, which dangled several inches above the floor. As he drilled her for information, all that came out was choked grunt as Metal's claws wrapped around her throat. Even if her muscles hadn't been weakened from her electric shock, Rouge probably still wouldn't have been able to dislodge herself from the robot's iron grasp. The bat did everything in her power not to panic. Despite her regular role in the missions to Mercia, Rouge had actually very rarely been so up close and personal with an enemy -- let alone one that was intent on harming her, rather than capture. She gazed down into his blazing eyes, her own full of hesitation. I can't tell him anything, but I can't fight him, either! What am I ever supposed to d--All of a sudden Metal's thumb talon plunged into her shoulder, and in her pain, Rouge let out a sharp, frightened sonar screech.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 14:41:07 GMT -5
The metallix roared in surprise and what could be considered his equivalent of pain. Out in the open the screech may not have has as much effect, but in the small enclosed space of the vent it reverberated, amplified, and pummeled Metal from every angle. His armor could be hard giving a low and subtle rattle as his grip slackened, the vibrations reaching the more delicate instruments in his hard drive, disrupting their communications and momentarily disorienting him.
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 15:15:04 GMT -5
It didn't hit her right away that she had damaged him; actually she fell victim to some extent to her own screech, as the reverberations also upset her sensitive ears. But she did recognize that Metal was faultering, and took advantage of the moment to kick him backwards with both feet. "O-Ow!!" she whimpered as the robot's claw left her bleeding shoulder. Rouge absently slapped her right hand over it to minimize the bleeding, more focused on escape. Despite the assault to her ears and the electric shot before it, the bat managed to scramble past her assailant and make her way back out of the duct. Almost immediately she made her way back into the air, keeping close to the dark buildings and within as many shadows as possible to avoid detection from the Swatbots and surveillance orbs. She needed to find somewhere to rest -- somewhere where that metallic hedgehog hopefully wouldn't find her. Unfortunately for Rouge, Robotropolis did not have exactly the same layout as Mobotropolis before it, let alone the same quality of structure. There was nowhere she could go for immediate shelter. The best she would have to do was an alleyway on the other side of Robotnik's fortress. To Rouge's relief, it had started to rain lightly. The bat knelt next to what used to be the outer casing of a Swatbot's head, and patiently waited for it to fill with water. While she waited, Rouge took to tearing a long strip of cloth from the bottom of her shirt, which she wadded up and dipped in the water to clean her wound with. I'm glad it was only me that ended up here, she thought with a wince as she pressed the dressing to her bleeding gash. That was lucky enough for me to get away; I don't think a group could have managed it. As she set about tying off her bandage as best she could manage, the bat let out a long breath. I just hope no other portals open up to lead them here.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 17:01:06 GMT -5
BANG. Metal slammed into the vent floor with a loud crash. As frail as the girl looked, she had one hell of a kick on her. While it took a good minute for the robot to fully regain his bearings, it would only take seconds to realize she'd fled from the tunnel. Hopping out of another hastily removed cover his eyes darted toward a blood trail in the dirt. This was, among many things, one of the reasons why he often wounded his victims. It left him with a distinguished trail should they managed to break away and hide. Unfortunately he was dealing with a flyer, and he was painfully reminded of this as, after only a few yards, her trail seemed to vanish into the soil. His head snapped up, the freshly emerged rain beating down lightly on his face as he searched the skies for her shape. He took to the air himself, and though the bat could have flown any direction once up, he chose the direction her trail indicated. His expression glowered with rage and excitement, and he vowed privately to himself at that moment... the next victim he'd find he was going to lame them by breaking one of their legs... And that sonic frequency she'd used to attack him. Nothing of the sort had been listed in her profile, and as such he had absolutely no way of expecting it. Still scanning the ground and surrounding air for her, he sent a silent transmission back to Robotnik; <Sir, I have just encountered a Freedom Fighter from the Mercian territory: Rouge the Bat. I am currently searching for her and have as of yet not found any others from any of the northern or central groups.>
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Post by DB on Jul 24, 2007 18:54:12 GMT -5
A reply came shortly after. "Keep an eye out for any others anyway- and I want to know what a Mercian Freedom Fighter is doing so far from home."
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 19:39:50 GMT -5
Rouge panted gently, sitting with her back pressed to the dirty alley wall, her face up and eyes closed as the rain softly pelted her. She enjoyed the rain, for reasons she could never quite verbalize, and now found it especially glorious. Her shoulder still ached terribly, and screamed with pain at the slightest movement. Her spur-of-the-moment bandage had also soaked through with blood, forcing her to tear off another strip of her shirt. The bat hoped her entire garment would not eventually be victim to her injury. The familiar hum of a hovering vehicle caught her sensitive ear, which turned toward the source before the rest of her head. The security throughout the city had seemed rather tight in the first place, but now it seemed to have sharply fluctuated. Rouge's ears dipped backwards. They're looking for me.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 20:33:55 GMT -5
<Affirmative, sir> The metallix replied, continuing his sweep of the area. It was moments later as he passed over an alley that something white ended up catching his eye. He turned and looked and, sure enough, there she was. His eyes narrowed as he descended quickly. After the earlier stunt he was no longer interested in playing games. This time in confronting her he was serious, and while keeping what a deemed a safe distance, he shot off several electrical bolts at her. [dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][rand=481459710503435836116105179158736308737460351541627054317159525465]
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 20:55:07 GMT -5
[dice=6][dice=6][dice=6] Even folded backward, Rouge's ears were still sharp as a tack, and it was due to their power alone that the bat managed to dodge two of the attacks. Her heart pounding furiously in her chest, and holding her shoulder tenderly, Rouge sprang upward and attempted to flee from Metal once again. Unfortunately the robot's third shot found its target, and with a loud shriek she fell back to the ground like a brick, bouncing off of one wall and crashing into the other upon her landing. Can't stop... can't stop... I have to go!! But her body, battered and twice electricuted, could not provide her with more movement than rapid trembling, accompanied by a strained moan.[rand=82951029331066214937883359024652859326507820150544583288224559015]
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 21:33:52 GMT -5
The robot loomed from the shadows further up the alleyway, waiting patiently for her to finally hit the ground again before he closed in. She had landed on her side, so with a swift kick he sent her fully onto her stomach so her back faced up. Swinging one leg over her he crouched down to straddle her, pinning both of her wings to the ground with his legs. Pushing one hand into her backside, he reached out and grabbed the clump of hair on her forehead, pulling back her head so he could more easily speak into her ear. "You have yet to answer my question," he said calmly. "We can do this easily or hard. I am fine either way," for emphasis, he pressed his talons into the skin of her back, just shy of the pressure needed to draw blood. "If you struggle my legs will break your wings. Now for the last time; why are you here in Robotropolis?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 21:55:03 GMT -5
" Auuugh!!" the bat cried as her body was contorted. The weight of Metal's heavy body had already begun to cut off the bloodflow to the outskirts of her wings, and her neck felt ready to snap between the claws pushing down on her back and pulling up at her hair. Rouge despaired to realize that she was completely at the robot's mercy, but took solace in the fact that he had not asked for the location of her home. " Ah-I... I was..." She realized that the explanation of what actually happened sounded rather absurd, and that there was a good chance that she wouldn't be believed. Rouge paused and searched her mind for an answer that at least sounded logical. However, Metal's claws disagreed with her thinking, and began to sink into her flesh as her silence persisted. Rouge reflexively hollered and squirmed, but was only greeted with more pain from her wings, as promised. It seemed there was no choice but to answer, however ridiculous it may sound. "...I... I was... transported!"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 22:11:05 GMT -5
"Transported how?" his tone remained calm and his grip firm.
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Post by Leda on Jul 24, 2007 22:28:21 GMT -5
Looked like there was no hope in being subtle. She only hoped he would believe her. "B-By a portal!" Rouge yelped. "There've -- o-ow!! -- b-been portals... They lead t-to another world!!"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 24, 2007 23:30:21 GMT -5
"Am I to assume that you are from the other world then?" his head tilted slightly. "Tell me more about it."
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Post by Leda on Jul 25, 2007 1:35:00 GMT -5
She absolutely HATED being so cooperative, and with so little resistance. Rouge wasn't much for physical combat, but she longed to fight back in at least SOME sort of way... But really, what could she do? If she failed to cooperate, the robot would probably kill her. And the question he'd asked her wasn't one that would threaten anyone's safety, either. In fact, if he was left under the impression that she was actually from the Chaos dimension, he probably wouldn't interrogate her about Meadowood again. But still... obeying left a terrible taste in her mouth. "Hngh..." Rouge clenched her eyes and struggled to squirm for at least SOME freedom of movement, but Metal had pinned her fairly securely. Each movement was either punished with a searing pain from the robot, or the suffocating throb of her shoulder. Finally the bat let out a semi-defeated breath. " It's... It's not like here. It's a government of the people, and... it's much cleaner. People don't live in fear there." Rouge grunted in her struggle to ward off the pain. No course of action she could think of seemed to be a great one.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 25, 2007 1:47:01 GMT -5
The metallix reveled in watching his new toy struggle beneath him. After having been pinned helplessly to the floor and interrogated by Eggman, forced to his answer questions and agree to work with him (however empty his promise had been), being able to release all of that pent up fury on another intelligent being left him brimming with grim satisfaction. Metal scoffed lightly at the bat's answer. It was his inkling that she was, in fact, from this world and that she had been transported to the other and back again. There was no way he could be 100% sure at this point, but he was confident he couldn't be wrong. Thus his eyes dimmed a bit and he pulled her head back just further so that he knew she could see his glow from the corners of her own eyes. "A government of people. Then what is the name of your president."
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Post by Leda on Jul 25, 2007 2:05:04 GMT -5
" OW!!" Rouge whimpered as the tension on her neck was increased. Unable to bear the angle Metal insisted on pulling her to, the bat ignored the consequences and did her best to push her shoulders upward, quickly crying out again as Metal's talons sank into her back and the stress against her wings increased. "Ah-I.... Ah-I d-don't do politics!!" she lied, her voice choking a bit. Tears had just started to well into her eyes, but it'd be hard to notice with the rain wettening her face anyway.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 25, 2007 2:17:31 GMT -5
Metal slackened his grip a bit and was silent for several seconds, mentally digesting her words. "You... do not... do politics." Several more seconds of silence. And then, without warning, he slammed her face into the ground and began to rub it. "You are a dirty little liar and your face deserves to be with the rest of the grim!" He shouted, his eyes now had a crazed look to them as they flashed rapidly. "Do you think I am a common SWATbot?! Do you think my intelligence is that inferior?! Now tell me, before I snap your neck, where Meadowood is!"
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Post by Leda on Jul 25, 2007 11:35:42 GMT -5
Rouge gasped as Metal finally pulled her face back out of the mud, coughing and choking and wheezing for air. Thing had suddenly gone from bad to extremely perilous. I can't tell him... I've GOT to keep that secret, even if... it does kill me, she thought somberly. The tears began to trickle down her cheeks. I love you, Rob..."Hnghh.... I'm... I'm not... telling you anything!! G-Go to hell!!"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 25, 2007 12:00:18 GMT -5
CRACK. The sound was loud and sharp, like that of a baseball bat hitting a home run*. Metal never relinquished the pressure he had just put on Rouge's right wing. "You insipid little object..." he hissed quietly, his eyes coruscating in a beating rhythm "... I already am in Hell." And then his eyes flared wildly, bathing the surrounding area in a crimson glow as he, once again, slammed her face into the mud. " NOW TELL ME!"
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Post by Leda on Jul 25, 2007 12:43:47 GMT -5
Rouge let out a deafening screech as the bones in her wing were abruptly snapped, the trickling tears now flowing rapidly. The bat's sound wave probably would have continued further had Metal not forced her face back down, muffling her sobs. When at last he raised her murky face again, another screech was there to greet him, followed by a strained, " GET OFF OF ME!!" Figuring she had little more to lose at this point, Rouge began thrashing her arms and legs against the robot in a desperate attempt to throw him off.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 25, 2007 14:09:18 GMT -5
"THEN TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO KNOW!" he shrieked, struggling to keep her pinned to the ground in spite of her trashing. "Come on, hurry up! I am WAIIIIITIIIIING!"
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