megaspampert - Tumblr blog

megaspampert · 20 days

Text

Sonic Stellar - Intro

What if you could catch the impossible?

What if you could obtain the unobtainable?

What if you could go beyond yourself?

It's a thought we have all shared from time to time. The allure is tempting, tantalizing, but some have more drive than others, and we have seen it across generations. Times change, societies change, but opportunity has always been there. Always waiting for the right person to seize it.

...

What?

The Emeralds?

No. Not this time. This is something else. Something more.

Surprised? Yes, you would be. I assure you, this is no fairytale. Let me explain.

Somewhere in this world lies a place like no other. It has its communities and landmarks like anywhere else on the planet, but not many people on the outside know about it. Those who do have been curious... and fearful. And you know what? They're right to be.

Beyond it hides a force. A force like nothing else that has been documented. Despite overwhelming evidence of its existence, it has never been witnessed by any living person, and it cannot be found through conventional means. Not without reason: the barrier is not designed to be broken. Should it ever make contact with our plane of existence, reality would dissolve into sludge before you could even blink. It is not a being... but it is alive.

The few who learned, who weren't dissuaded by the consequences, have tried to exploit it. Oh, they've tried... and none of them succeeded. For all their efforts, the prize would always elude them. Some of them counted their losses. Others lost their minds... or paid with their lives. It did not want to be found. And so it remains that way.

It's a lesson of caution, to be sure. To not tamper with what you can never hope to comprehend. If anyone were to try again, they would need to be serious. They would need to plan to the very last detail. They would need to be quick, and ruthless.

And above all else, they would require a very special kind of genius.

Like, say...

MINE.

------

It was over before it could even begin.

What was once a day of hope, a declaration of strength and unity, had swiftly escaped their grasp before they knew it. To think so much effort could have went down the drain in an instant, after all they had learned. Yet this was the fate that befell the Guardian Units of Nations. They couldn't have predicted it. They were simply no match for it.

G.U.N. had spent the past year recovering. Their wounds had left a lasting mark, and they knew better than to assume otherwise. They certainly had more work to do before they could restore their former glory, but ever since the rest of the world started healing, they too had made significant progress. They had come so close to marching onward, with no more weakness to shackle them. And today, the Commander had given one of his most passionate speeches to date, one that was sure to inspire these brave people for decades to come.

Was.

All of that seemed like a distant memory now, as the Commander collapsed onto his knees, his uniform tattered and dirtied. As he looked on helplessly at the blazing ruin that was formerly their headquarters mere minutes ago, the sweat dried up on his hands, and dripped down his forehead. His breathing was slow, and deliberate. He couldn't tell if anyone else was alive. How did this happen? How could this happen?

He didn't need to guess who was responsible for the mayhem. They were standing right there, staring him dead in the eye.

It was true that they had been taken by surprise, as uneasy as it would be to admit such a thing. Yet it was far from a whole army that they had been forced to take an unforseen stand against. With their training, and their experience, this would have been in their favor. A single, miniature entity should have been quick business, even if it were a robot of that very same description.

But this was no ordinary robot, was it?

Its speed was firmly its power. Throughout G.U.N's history, they had only known a select few who could match it. One of them even worked for them. However, it should be noted that they were also people. This, on the other hand, was a monstrosity whose sheer lack of respite flipped the scales beyond what they could have imagined. Many of them were not given the chance to open fire, and those who did had aimed at where it no longer was. Their weapons meant nothing. Their armor meant nothing. Their legacy, memories, camaraderie... meant nothing. It was no concern for this creature, if you would call it one. It reduced them to square one all over again, and somehow even further if that were possible.

It was a threat in the past. The Commander knew that. This was not a new face, they had seen it before. They should have stood a chance with that fact in mind, even without the benefit of adequate preparation. Yet, as he looked up at the azure automation, in its familiar, angular form... there was something different in the air. He couldn't estimate what it was, and he suspected this would not differ even if he weren't overcome with a raging inferno of inner turmoil, but whatever it was... it wasn't there before. It wasn't with it before.

Metal Sonic held its gaze for what felt like an eternity, as its left hand gripped the Commander's collar so tightly that it had partially torn a hole through it. Though he glared right back at the machine for the sake of his fallen comrades, as his hands curled into fists at the reminder of this injustice... it simply continued to stare. The Commander's breathing grew, and his anger followed suit, but it could sense the fear sealed within, and the vacant visage made it all the more unclear as to whether it was holding off from finishing right away so that it could savor this private moment of despair.

All of these competing debates in his head would soon subside, as he noticed the robot's right hand had slowly begun to rise. He knew what he was in for, yet his composure held on, despite the confusion, fury, and shame he had felt simultaneously. As it prepared for the killing blow, the Commander closed his eyes, for the dignity of not himself, but for his crew.

It was at this point, however, that a voice finally spoke up from afar.

"Don't finish him off just yet, Metal!" The merriment was unmistakable. Painfully unmistakable. "Let me have a man-to-man with him for a precious moment!"

It held onto his collar for a couple of seconds longer, as if it were reluctant to let go... but eventually, it complied without a word. Slowly, the robot released its grip... and threw him to the ground as if he were garbage. As it coldly stepped aside, allowing for its superior to take center stage, its gaze never left the Commander. It continued to stare right at him, like a preying vulture. After recovering from the sudden and heavy blow, the man took a moment to open his eyes, and in spite of knowing full well what he would see, he braced himself all the same. Sure enough, as if by magic, the disgust immediately began to overwhelm his senses as he saw...

Him.

The deranged mind who brought Metal Sonic and countless other tools of destruction into existence.

The elusive maniac who had been a blight on the world at large for so, so long.

That round body. That wild moustache. That devilish grin. It was him alright, no doubt about that. It was all too familiar... except for a single, yet incredibly significant detail: it would appear that the good doctor had decided a change of wardrobe was in order. As he proudly strutted his way towards the two, with his common toothy smile, the Commander was able to get a better look... and it didn't take long for sheer puzzlement to set in.

The goggles he had been accustomed to resting atop his head were not present this time around. Instead, his characteristic round glasses seemed to be mildly thicker than they were during past endeavors. Covering his upper body was a simple black shirt, buttoned all the way to the top, and tucked into his matching pants. Covering further was a bright red waistcoat, more than a little reminiscent of his more recognizable jacket: fancy to say the least, yet it remained conspicuously unzipped, revealing a small amount of the golden yellow lining from within. Fitting his outrageously sized feet were a pair of what looked to be comfortable dinner shoes, which had pointed black tips as normal for his taste in fashion, but were otherwise completely white.

Among all this, what really got the Commander's urgent attention - not necessarily for the better - were the doctor's hands. They were colored white, as usual, but not because he was wearing gloves. Rather, they looked to be... gauntlets? Perhaps that was not the right word to use, as they looked too compact to be sufficiently clunky for the description, so much so that they could tuck into his black cuffs without much cluttered space... However you would choose to name them, they were visibly made of metal, and they were clenched fiercely, in sharp contrast to his jovial mannerisms. The same mannerisms that had already stood above the Commander before he knew it, his shadow having consumed the other man's entire being.

"Sorry for the check in on such short notice," Eggman began, and not even a second in, he had betrayed his apology with an intoxicating glee that failed to match with the utter carnage that surrounded them. "I would have notified you in advance, but I'm afraid my plans have went along a little faster than expected!" He couldn't help but wiggle his eyebrows, as a not-too-subtle nod to his cruel joke.

"Wha..." The Commander had to let out a strained cough before he could start over. "What... what is the meaning of all this? What are you here for?"

"What am I here for?" Eggman shook his head, as if the answer should have been apparent from the very start, even to such lesser intellects. "To check everything's good, of course! Metal and myself have booked a much deserved holiday for... myself! We couldn't head off without doing a teensy little test run beforehand! Just in case, you know?" Eggman stretched his arms without a care in the world, as if he hadn't just sicced Metal onto the entire military. "No use going straight to Viridonia without a clue, after all!"

"Test run...? Viridonia...?" The Commander could barely choke out his words, as the after effects of Metal Sonic's prior assault had started to take their toll on his weakened body and mind. "What are you talking about? For what reason did you attack us this time?"

The scientist did not respond at first. Instead, after a pause, he began to walk clockwise around the other man. One hand was clasped behind his back, while the other opened up in front of him, revealing more detail of his brand new gauntlets in the process. Their fingertips, painted with the same coat of white as the rest of the device, were ever so slightly pointed, where you could mistake them for small claws if you were further away. It seemed excessive to the Commander, though for all the doctor's notoriety when it came to design, he suspected it had a purpose beyond merely looking intimidating. It was also noted that the palms appeared to have a small selection of buttons on them, though their purpose remained unknown. Perhaps that was for the better.

"Oh, nothing," he shrugged, and glanced at Metal, who predictably maintained his stone cold glare at their mutual enemy. He flexed his shoulders casually, as if daring for someone to put him in his place. "You did absolutely nothing, ho ho! There's no personal strife between us, your little band of merry men didn't cause any trouble for me this time! But between you and me..."

As Eggman continued to monologue, a rookie soldier had slowly crawled into sight, careful to not attract the doctor's attention. He had suffered some damage from earlier, but held on tightly to his semi-automatic rifle, determined to avenge his comrades. Eggman kept at it all the while, even as he stopped in front of the Commander once more. He knelt down, and clasped the man's head with one hand, to which the wounded individual slightly jolted from how icy the gauntlet's touch was.

"I couldn't let you interfere," he said matter of factly. He remained casual, but there was an edge in his voice. The soldier was creeping closer to him from behind. "I've experienced a lot in my lifetime, and now I'm putting all of that experience to use. As I should."

"You won't win," the G.U.N. leader muttered, only half conscious by this point. "You're just a lunatic, a disgrace to humanity..."

This would be the part where Eggman's anger took over. The part where Eggman would get offended by such a dismissal of his unparalleled prestige. Yet it never came. Eggman's smile did not disappear, though the corner tip of his mouth might have twitched. He took a moment to continue.

"Things are going to be very different this time, Commander." He talked as cheerfully as ever, yet it also sounded as though he gritted his teeth towards the end. "This time, there won't be any miscalculations. Allow me to demonstrate with..."

Without warning, the scientist leaped back onto his feet, swerved in the opposite direction at frightening speed for an ordinary human being, and unhesitantly aimed his left gauntlet with a sneer. Before the rookie could fire his rifle, a surge of electricity was unleashed upon him, courtesy of the gauntlet's clawed tips. The assault was swift, though the agonized scream that followed was not friendly company. Even Metal Sonic had taken time off from its intense staring to look to its right at this pitiful sight. Within seconds, the rookie had collapsed.

"Worm," Eggman growled, insulted by the brazen stunt he had just thwarted. For a chump to believe it would really be that simple... the great Ivo Robotnik would never be put down so easily. Not then, and definitely not now. People really ought to know better. He'll make sure of that when they bow before him.

"He thought he could get the drop on me? What a load of..." As he returned his direction to that of the Commander's, he was quick to notice that the veteran had collapsed onto the scorched ground himself. It would seem that the injuries were finally too much for him to persevere through. This actually seemed to disappoint Eggman, as his moustache promptly drooped in acccordance with the frown on his face.

"Are you kidding me? He didn't see that awesome move I just did?" He placed his hands on his hips in annoyance. "I didn't even get to finish my speech! Couldn't he have let me finish BEFORE he passed out on me? Bah!" He raised an eyebrow at Metal, who stared back in return, waiting dutifully for any further orders, preferably of the cutthroat variety.

"I guess we were too much for this geriatric to handle," he lightly nudged the body with his foot in frustration. "Ah well, them's the brakes. I know another audience that's out there waiting for me. I'm sure THEY'LL be much more willing to hear me discuss the important things in life."

"Did you... kill him?"

Metal's vision turned to its left, and Eggman quickly looked up and straight ahead, as a new voice called out to him. It was not a voice that would have been recognized by the Commander, had he still been conscious, but Eggman's knowing raise of the chin indicated this was far from the case with him. This voice was a lot smoother than Eggman's, a lot younger than his... maybe a little effeminate as well, yet no less decisively masculine.

"Normally I would," the rotund one mused, as he looked back down at the fallen leader. "Less pests to spray, the better. But with this one..." His smile slowly returned. The idea was just too good to pass up on.

"Leave him," he insisted. "If he dies, then I won't care, meaning no one important will care. If he doesn't, he'll undoubtedly tell all that he saw, and then..."

"You know their best agents will come after you if they find out about this, sir."

The person who the voice belonged to emerged from the shadows. Whether he had been there the whole time was a mystery that only he and his conversation partner knew, but what was arguably more surprising, however, was that he was neither a human like Eggman, or a robot like what he was famous for. Rather, he was a platypus.

A white platypus, to be exact, albeit with a grey beak, as well as grey streaks that ran through his curls, which as it turned out, were slicked all the way to the side of his head. He wore a waistcoat similar to Eggman's, though unlike the taller specimen, his was buttoned tightly shut, and it was colored a disarming deep pink, in contrast to his pointed shoes. The sleeves of the shirt that he wore underneath were purple and puffy, and a single black glove was on his right hand, complete with a slot that remained empty... currently.

"Of course they will, Starline," Eggman replied, as he smugly crossed his arms. "Exactly what I'm counting on."

"I see. My apologies," the platypus bowed out of respect. "It was not my intention to doubt your... magnificence, sir." He seemed to have had some minor trouble completing his sentence, as he focused perhaps too intently on the subject of his field of vision.

Eggman simply grinned back at him, not dismayed in the slightest. Not openly, anyway, which was rather unlike him. For anyone else, his jolly countenance would be a sign of misery to come. For this new recruit, it was an honor to see in person... though he was less keen on being judged by Metal's frozen scowl.

"You still have a lot to prove yet," he started, as he clasped his hands in front of his chest. "It's not often I employ someone, not when my own insight is all I ever need, but I brought you along because I could tell you've got a talent! Let it be known that in this great wide world of ours, out of all the drooling imbeciles that run rampant within it, your knowledge and devotion elevates you so far above them that you can be confidently described as... average... so your contributions will serve my audacious and brilliant plan well! I'm sure you understand what a privilege it is to be recruited by the greatest genius who has ever lived, yes?"

"Absolutely."

"And you'll make sure to obey my every command, exactly as I wish for them to be carried out?"

"Indubitably."

"And what else?"

"...Destroy anyone who opposes you."

"And pray tell, mister Starline... who shall dare to oppose me?"

To the untrained ear, this would seem like a downright foolish question for a man with a history as his to ponder. Surely he would never need to ask, for he should know the answer before it could even register in his memory banks, nevermind all of the relevant associates that have only multiplied over the years.

However, as the doctor's roaring cackle echoed throughout the freshly decimated G.U.N. headquarters, it was all too clear that he was no fool. He said it with full intent. He knew exactly what he was doing. And Starline knew it too.

He didn't forget about him. On the contrary, he had him specifically in mind. And as the three of them finally began to walk away, with Metal throwing one last hateful glare at the now-unconscious Commander, the doctor's laugh never slowed down, and continued to echo in the distance even as the crackling of fire took over.

It was time to pay Viridonia a visit.

#sth #ivo #eggman #wonderful evil bastard

36 notes · View notes