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A week later, Sonic and Manic were dragged into Eggman’s lab by his robots.

The chair turned to reveal… a platypus?

“Wow, Egghead, I didn’t think you’d be a furry.” Sonic said, smirking.

Manic bit his lip to keep from laughing.

The platypus snapped his fingers.

A lime green tenrec girl and an aqua fennec boy stepped out of the shadows.

“Now, I won’t sic them on you if you two just shut up so I can explain myself.” The platypus said. “I am Dr. Starline.”

“And why do we care?” Sonic asked.

Dr. Starline motioned to the tenrec, then the fennec. “This is Surge and Kit.” He replied. “They will electrocute you if you keep running your stupid mouth.”

Sonic and Manic nodded.

“I assisted Dr. Eggman in the takeover.” Dr. Starline said. “Actually, it was my genius and efforts that made this possible. I just needed his robots, lair, and lackeys he didn’t get to send out. Once I had what I needed, he ceased to be useful. May he rest in pieces.”

Manic and Sonic gulped.

“Oh, don’t worry, this will be the last time you’re tortured.” Dr. Starline said.

Sonic and Manic looked at each other and slowly nodded.

“You’re not gonna die.” Dr. Starline said.

“I don’t like the sound of that.” Manic replied.

The robot holding Sonic threw him onto the table.

Metal shackles popped out of the table and wrapped around Sonic’s legs, torso, and forehead. Another set of shackles popped up and wrapped around Sonic’s ankles and wrists.

“Manic, you’re only here to watch.” Dr. Starline said. “It won’t matter if you close your eyes. I need a messenger.”

The other robot jammed a helmet on Manic’s head while the other held him.

“The helmet will beam the images directly to your pathetic mind.” Dr. Starline said, injecting Sonic with some ice blue fluid. “You’re not worth more than a bargaining chip, unlike your powerful brother, who’s gonna make an excellent robot.”

“Wait, what?” Sonic and Manic asked.

Dr. Starline turned the machine on.

Sonic screamed in pain, his back arcing off the table as the serum and the electrical charge of the machine triggered the effects.

Manic cringed and screamed. Closing his eyes did nothing. He could still see his brother slowly turning into a robot version of himself.

Sonic’s screams suddenly died out as the process completed.

The robot removed the helmet from Manic’s head.

Manic opened his eyes as the shackles came off of Sonic.

Sonic now looked like a robotic version of himself. His eyes flashed bright cyan.

“Sonic?” Manic asked. “Please, bro, I know you’re-”

Sonic punched Manic in the face, knocking him unconscious. “Stupid punk.” He said, his natural voice mixed with a machine voice. He dragged Manic back to his cell by his legs.

Dr. Starline laughed manically.

*

Manic woke up and looked around. He figured he had a concussion and no one to treat it.

He pulled his knees to his chest. “Sonic’s a robot now, who knows if it can be cured.” He said. “Sonia may be dead. Shadow has to be dead if this has happened. Guess it’s up to me.”

Manic got up and looked around to find a way out.

“Manic.” A female voice whispered.

Manic turned around as the door opened.

Surge and Kit were standing there.

Manic stepped out of the cell. “Why are you helping me?”

“We don’t want to work for Dr. Starline.” Kit replied. “He forced us to do this.”

“And you’re cute.” Surge said, playing with his spines.

Kit unlocked the cell. “We gotta hurry.” He said. “He’s gonna send Sonic after the resistance and something about a distraction.”

The door swung open.

Manic, Surge, and Kit raced out.

*

Sonia, Knuckles, and Shadow walked through the demolished town of Mobotropolis to find the underground marketplace to buy supplies.

“Either they’ve changed locations again or something is up.” Shadow said.

An airship landed in front of them.

Shadow eased Sonia behind him as the door opened.

Dr. Starline strutted out. “Were you expecting Dr. Eggman?” He asked. “I don’t regret to inform you that he’s dead. I am Dr. Starline.”

“Things make sense now.” Shadow said.

“Oh, while that I have your attention, Sonia.” Dr. Starline said, stepping aside to let a new robot step into view. “How do you like your new and improved brother, Sonia?”

“Sonic?” Sonia asked.

“The Sonic you knew is dead.” Sonic said, clenching his fists.

“No.” Sonia whispered.

“Must be.” Shadow replied. “Our Sonic would never let this idiot control him.”

Sonic’s eyes flashed brighter.

“Shadow, go easy on him.” Knuckles said. “We might be able to save him.”

Shadow looked at Sonia. “Activate your necklace out of sight.” He mouthed to Sonia.

Sonia left to find a nearby place to transform.

As she reached an alcove, a robot grabbed her before she could spin and covered her mouth.

Another drone flew over and started a strange light that put Sonia to sleep.

*

Sonia woke up to someone patting her face.

“Sonia?” Shadow asked.

Sonia opened her eyes and sat up.

“What happened?” Shadow asked.

“You told me to step back.” Sonia replied. “I guess a bot caught me off guard and knocked me out.”

Knuckles and Shadow helped Sonia up.

“You might have a concussion.” Shadow replied. “We’ll let Tails check you out.”

“What happened to Sonic?” Sonia asked.

“He and Starline escaped.” Shadow replied. “We’ll find him.”