Sonic the Hedgehog

Disappointment

"So let me get this straight..." Eggman says, leaning forward in his chair. "Not only did it take you twenty-four hours to locate the ONE thing you were tasked with finding, but a piece of simple-minded islander trash and a couple of brats stopped you from acquiring it?! A professional spy, my second greatest creation, and the ultimate lifeform?!"

Standing before his high throne is Shadow and E-123 Omega, looking up at their boss with a shared stilted attitude. Neither of them wishes to vocalize their frustrations so as to not end the night with a swift resignation. Or in Omega's mind, a hailstorm of bullets. Still, it takes great restraint to not retaliate to Eggman's unreasonable expectations. Something Shadow is sure Rouge would have been more than happy to do, if she was present and not currently resting in one of the many storage rooms.

"Do you fools have any clue how pivotal this stage is? My ascension is nearly complete! The glorious Eggman empire is two gems away from coming to pass! With all seven... reality will be mine to bend."

What is he talking about? Shadow asks himself.

He'll have to await an answer another time. One of the side doors leading into the massive lair slide open. From it, Metal Sonic makes his way into the room, a dazzling, cyan emerald secured in its right hand. All of Eggman's current thoughts evaporate from his brain. His smile stretches further than human flesh should allow as he rubs his gloved hands in excitement.

"There it is!" he cheers. "I can always count on you to come through, Sonic!"

"Sonic? Or Metal?"

Eggman's brow furrows with confusion, hearing such an unexpected question. Shadow's eyes perk in curiosity as well.

"You switch between the two quite often."

The chrome-blue android launches its findings at its master. Eggman is barely able to catch the gem, nearly falling from his levitating chair to do so. From his current pose, you'd think he'd have been a Baseball catcher in another lifetime. Appropriately taking the throw as disrespect, the mad genius's hands begin to shake.

"You said I was THE Sonic. That my organic partner was some irregularity that needed immediate correction if I was to ever claim my identity as my own. Fair enough. So tell me why... WHY ISN'T HE DEAD YET?!"

"The water down at Starlight must be something else," Eggman mumbles, sitting back in his chair. "This entire evening has been a disastrous mix of incompetence and insubordination. This cannot be tolerated. Listen... SONIC, I never said eradicating your clone was going to be easy. Of anyone, I'm most aware of how much of a pain in the backside he can be. But my long overdue victory takes priority. That hedgehog is nothing but a footnote. A name that will be lost to history. We'll deal with him when it's convenient, not the other way around! Until then, you are to continue to obey your master. The end of this little easter egg hunt is near. Have a little patience."

Without another word, Metal Sonic turns from its creator, its hands balled into sharp fists, and leaves the room with the door shutting behind it.

Interesting... Eggman ponders. I coded him to believe that victory against that meddling hedgehog was a guaranteed thing. Simple logic. I guess its continuous string of failures to achieve that goal is creating contradictions within his code. His behavior is getting erratic. Unpredictable. Would it be wise to shut him down and start all over again? No, that won't work. I won't be able to build another one in time and there is too much riding on these emeralds to leave anything to chance. Maybe his increased desire to fulfill his function will prove more useful than it did before. I'll let it play out.

Eggman's attention turns back to Shadow and Omega.

"When Rouge awakes, you're all to report here immediately. EVERYONE must be present for this upcoming meeting. I expect the next emerald location to give us quite some trouble. We need a game plan. Oh, and tell that bat she can forget about her pay after tonight's performance! Dismissed."

...