NOTE: The following is based loosely on characters created by Yuji Naka of SEGA and
are copyrighted and all that legal stuff .Cyber is the intellectual property of Donald J. Hafner Jr.
Email at: SpeedyOtter@aol.com




                      The Cyber Chronicles
                             Part 1
                                
                                
                                
     Robotropolis was a city of steel, smoke and broken ambitions. Residence of one, if not the most,
evil being Mobius has ever seen, Dr. Ivo Robotnik.  A madman, tyrant, dictator and evil genius all rolled into one
bulbous package.  Today the doctor paced inside his control room as a young hedgehog looked with fear in his eyes
at the bloated madman.  Not so much afraid of the man in front of him but the machine Robotnik had placed him into. 
It was called the Roboticizer.  A vile contraption that transformed a living being into a robot version of itself.  It also
striped away the free will of the being and forced it to obey the madman.

     "I have big plans for you my little hedgehog friend. For years I've tried to kill, capture or roboticize
Sonic and every time he has eluded me well no more! You will be the instrument of his destruction! I will roboticize
you and you will kill my most hated enemy.  Of course simply roboticizing you alone wont lead to his demise. 
Something must be added."

     With a few quick buttons pressing a grey gem no bigger then an apple descended into the
Roboticizer chamber.  The gem glowed with a strange inner light that bathed the entire room with its radiance.  Small
sparks of energy jumped from the gem as it got closer to the hedgehog somehow reacting to him.  The young
hedgehog's spines prickled with a strange sensation in the midst of this ancient and most powerful of items in the
cosmos. He looked at it with a mixture of awe, fascination and abject terror.

     "You know what this is don't you? It's a Chaos Emerald, a gemstone that holds unfathomable
power.  With this you will be my most powerful weapon who will destroy that blasted Sonic.  The Roboticizer is
programmed to outfit you with weaponry using your body as an outline.  You will emerge a walking weapon born
from a nightmare!" Robotnik laughed out loud as he finished speaking and flipped the switch that would turn the
innocent young hedgehog into a metal clad terror.



     "I GOT IT.  I GOT IT!" Tails said as he lunged for the volleyball soaring overhead.  The two tailed
fox flew up and spiked the ball back over the net and onto the ground.

     "Way to go Tails," Sonic yelled as he high fived his best friend, "Were leading by five points!"

     The other team moaned in defeat. Their salvation, more or less, came in the form of Princess Sally,
defacto leader of the Freedom Fighters who opposed Robotnik and his schemes for world domination.  She was
running toward them with her personal wrist computer open.

     "We have a serious problem Sonic, very serious!"

     "Chill Sally," replied Sonic, "im sure we can take care of anything wrong, right Tails?"

     "You bet Sonic," the over anxious fox replied.

     "You guys don't understand!  The computers picked up a massive energy spike in Robotropolis just
a few minutes ago.  It was enormous!" Sally said frantically.
     Sonic tapped his foot like he always did when he was impatient or, in this case, didn't know what
Sally was saying and trying to play it off in a cool manner. "In English please, Sally."

     Sally sighed "Something big is going down in Robotropolis.  The energy seems to be that given off
by a Chaos Emerald.  If Robotnik has one . . . well im sure even you know that's not," she paused, "cool."

     "Definitely not cool," he replied. "I guess I should go check it out." And with that said he sped off
leaving the Great Forest and causing the people who were standing around him to be windswept by the vacuum he
had created in his departure.

     Tails recovered first and began to lift off to follow his best friend when Sally grabbed his arm and
pulled him back.  "Oh no you don't young man.  Unlike Sonic and his recklessness we are going to come up with a
plan,"  She said as she dragged the protesting fox with her into the control center for the Freedom Fighters.

     Sonic ran out of the Great Forest and headed to Robotropolis leaving his customary trail of fire
behind him.  The large steel city was fast approaching over the horizon until it was suddenly right there.  Sonic darted
around in some deserted alleyways looking for any patrols and seeing none blasted towards the center of the city. 
Here and there he encountered minor resistance which he easily took out.  He ran into the central building and up into
the nerve center of Robotnik's empire, his massive control chamber.  The madman sat in a oversized mechanical chair
that swivelled around to face the hedgehog. Robotnik's smile was anything but pleasant as he tapped his steepled
fingers together on top of his fat body.

     "Ah my esteemed Sonic, so glad you could make it all the way to visit poor lonely me."

     "Shut up, a lard belly, what is you up to and where is the Chaos Emerald," Sonic demanded.

     "Ah yes that, well you're free to take it if you want but that might be difficult you see you have to
get it from him."

     Out of the darkness a pair of baleful red eyes shone bright and malevolently. As they drew closer,
the vague figure of a hedgehog could be made out until finally the steel gray robotic hedgehog was fully visible, his
spines glistening in the light his visage filled with hate.

     "You made another robotic me?  Your slipping Robuttnik how many times does this plan have to
fail in order for you to know it wont work?" Sonic laughed.

     The metallic hedgehog, after hearing Sonic call his master Robuttnik, seemed to spark something
inside of him. He couldn't help but smile briefly, but then his cruel visage returned as he looked at Sonic with renewed
intensity.

     Robotnik laughed evilly and loud.  "This is not a robot built by me Sonic. Oh no..this is, or rather
was, a flesh and blood hedgehog that I roboticized but I added something new into the equation."

     With that the steel hedgehog's chest plate opened up revealing the glowing grey chaos gem
mounted into a power matrix giving untold energy to this creation.  It quickly closed up tight once Sonic saw it
though.

     "It is now a part of him Sonic, to remove it would kill him therefor negating any attempt to return
him to his normal form.  And I don't think he's going to let you do that now will you Cyber?"

     Cyber, never taking his eyes off the blue hedgehog in front of him nodded and replied, "That is
correct Doctor but if Sonic believes that he can well then I invite him to try," he sneered, "It will give me the perfect
reason for me to tear him apart!"

     "Definitely way past not cool," was Sonic's reply as he backed up a slight amount of true fear
creeping into his usually calm face.  It turned to terror as Cyber raised both his hands and eight sharp spikes protruded
out of his knuckles.

     "Run Sonic run as fast as you can. I can see the fear on you and it does my heart glad to finally see
it," laughed Robotnik.

     Sonic did run but not away. Instead he ran to Cyber in a attempt to bowl him over but much to
Sonic's surprise Cyber mearly moved to the side leaving a afterimage of himself that quickly disappeared.  Cyber's left
forearm opened up underneath to reveal a small missile launcher that fired a small warhead at Sonic.  Sonic dodged it
of course and the missile blew a wide hole to the outside.  Sonic immediately took the new avenue of escape and ran
down the side of the building.

     "You fool you allowed him to escape and ruined my control center" Robotnik fumed.
     Cyber stood at the edge of the hole looking at the fleeing Sonic while Robotnik continued to yell
and again something sparked within him.  A feeling crept into his mind, a feeling of extreme dislike, not for the blue
hedgehog now surly out of the city but for the tub of lard that he called master now.  Sure, he still wanted Sonic dead
but why in the world was he putting up with Robotnik.  Cyber knew he couldn't disobey him but that didn't mean he
had to put up with his abuse.  He turned around, his eyes flaring in intensity as he growled.

     "I don't see you getting your fat lazy butt up and doing anything about it. Besides it doesn't matter
that Sonic got away, I let him go, he'll be back soon enough because he knows im a threat. Now shut up and make up
whatever traps you think will work while I go and learn more about him." Robotnik gasped as Cyber leapt out of the
hole and much like Sonic, ran along the side of it and down into the sprawling city.  

     Sonic ran back to Knothole in the Great Forest to the center of the village.  Sally and the rest of the
Freedom Fighters were there all in their fighting garb ready to storm Robotropolis en mass.  "I see your back Sonic"
Sally said, "were all ready to go and take out Robotnik."

     "To bad were not going after Robotnik this time Sally we got a bigger problem the Robotnik now."

     "A problem bigger then Robotnik, that's pretty big I mean you've seen him haven't you?" Tails
commented chuckling."

     "Very funny Tails," Sally said, "Well what is the problem?"

     "He's roboticized a hedgehog but this one is made for war.  It's got missiles and well I only saw
the missiles but im sure it's got more surprises.  Now here is the problem he's also powered by a chaos emerald.  I
saw it in his chest."

     Sally stood there, her eyes open wide as the facts Sonic had told her finally sank in. "This is not
good, this robotic hedgehog is now powered by the most powerful item that we know of."  Sally paced obviously
thinking of the next move they should make.

     "His name's Cyber by the way and kinda handsome in a hedgehog kind of way." Sonic commented.

     "Oh please Sonic, can you lose the vanity for just a few minutes and help me devise a way to fight
this thing?"

     "Oh right sure, sorry Sally."  Sonic tapped his foot obviously trying to think of something.

     Sally paced some more then turned to the others. "Friends, the only logical thing we can do right
now is gather as much info on this Cyber that we can.  Find a weakness, something we can use against him.  Form
your squads and report to me in one hour"

     The rest of the Freedom Fighters dispersed to carry out their objectives.  Sally turned to Sonic. "I
want you to tell me everything you saw and heard.  Oh and Sonic leave out the bravado you no doubt did."

     Sonic huffed and began. ":Well I guess he's not like other roboticized people.  He's smart and
doesn't mindlessly seek out his targets.  He spoke to me briefly but it wasn't like a robot talking."

     Sally nodded, "No doubt the emerald improves certain aspects, go on."

     Sonic continued, "He's fast I would say almost if not faster then me.  I ran at him and he just
stepped to the side.  I thought I had got him but I didn't feel anything when I ran into him.  Sort of like running into a
hologram, I guess.  Then he pointed his fists at me and a missile fired out of his arm.  I thought for sure it would hit
me but it blasted a hole clean through Robuttnik's fortress.  I made a hasty exit and expected him to follow me like all
the others do.  When I looked back however he was standing in the hold and just looked at me."

     Sally processed all she had heard "He sounds smart, a lot smarter then the roboticized citizens act
like.  We might be in serious trouble here.  We need to find out more."

     Cyber stopped in one of Robotropolis' northern most area.  A beat down area where Robotnik had
not built any factories, yet.  It was very much like a slum and Cyber looked around and smiled. "This is perfect." He
said as he leapt from a crumbling building to a rooftop and surveyed the area.  "Yes, this will do nicely."  He spotted
a swatbot patrol nearby and went to investigate.  "Let's see how well they fight."  He raced along using only a quarter
of his speed and rushed through them landing a hit with his fists on two of them and going straight through their
chests.  He turned around and the top of his right forearm opened up to reveal a small but powerful laser blaster.  He
opened fire on the remaining swatbots.  The grey beam lanced out and cleanly went through the metal skin of the bots
laying them low.  With lightning quickness he fired a single warhead into the midst of the patrol causing their bodies
to fly apart and lay scattered on the ground.  His weapons retracted as he walked to a swatbot head and picked it up. 
It was in mid broadcast still. "Attack . . . bzzt . . . unknown assailants . . . bzzt . . . bzzt . . . reinforcements needed." 
It then died.

     "What a pile of junk no wonder the fat man can't capture Sonic with soldiers like this."  He tossed
the head away and began to collect the scattered pieces. "Still they might prove useful in their current state."  Over
the course of about five minutes he had wiped out nearly fifty swatbots and had piled up their remains.  He then took
to run around all of Robotropolis memorizing the lay of the land and practicing his maneuvering skills.  After half a
day he began to work on the pieces of the swatbots he had destroyed and made them into figures of his enemy's. 
Using his laser he cut and sculpted the crude bodies and placed them around the city.  Using them as targets he
practiced for the urban combat he would doubtlessly have to engage in.

     It wasn't long before Robotnik came down from his tower along with a escort to see what the
commotion was.  He saw Cyber taking pot shots at some of the still targets.

     "What do you think you are doing? I ordered you to kill Sonic! And where did all these targets
come from? They look like pieces of my swatbots."  Cyber took a few more shots before turning to face the evil
tyrant.

     "That's because they are, or rather were, swatbots.  They make more useful targets then soldiers
though.  It's simply amazing Sonic hasn't routed you out yet but I guess the sheer amount of them does count for
something."  He waved his hand at the pieces assembled.  "These fifty or so wont matter though." He chuckled as
Robotnik fumed.

     "What exactly are you doing with them?" Robotnik asked.

     "Practicing of course, you sorry excuse for a evil genius." Cyber replied.

     Why you insolent little . . . ill tear you apart!"
     Cyber looked at Robotnik and sneered. "You wouldn't even if you could, besides im your best
weapon against Sonic and you know it.  You created me doctor now you have to live with me.  Now if you don't
mind I have more target practice to do. Oh and could you leave a couple of swatbots behind I need some moving
targets to work with."

     Robotnik turned and stomped off to his personal carrier.  He fumed as he entered it and sat down
but he knew that Cyber was right.  "Oh well," he said to himself, "as long as he kills Sonic."
     As the carrier lifted off and took Robotnik away, Cyber grinned as ten swatbots milled around for
him to destroy.  It was at that moment that the chaos emerald inside his chest surged with power.  Cyber clutched his
head and screamed as a corona of chaos energy engulfed him.  Grey energy shot out of his mouth and eyes as he fell
to the ground his body wracked with pain.  He screamed again and fell forward twitching in agony.  Soon the pain
subsided and the light dimmed.  He lay there his eyes closed tight and his hand clutching his chest. He opened them
slowly and tried to stand up but he felt drained.

     "What happened? Where am I?"  He looked around as the memories of his younger days as a
normal hedgehog flashed before him.  His new programming fought to push them away and succeeded. He could feel
his strength returning back to him.  He clenched his teeth, "I have a mission and I will carry it out."

     Sally sat in the control center of Knothole Village.  Reports were coming in from all over.  The
operatives, disguised as various worker bots, observed the actions of Cyber.  She couldn't believe what she was
hearing.  This roboticized hedgehog was actively working on improving his skills.  He was dangerous unlike any foe
they had encountered.  Bunny Rabbot, a half-roboticized bunny rescued by Sonic some time ago, looked over Sally's
shoulder and whistled softly as she watched the video feed.

     "He sure moves fast Sally girl and he's smart too," she said.

     "Yes he is and that's not good for us," Sally replied.

     "What do you make of his conversation with Robotnik, Sally?  He sure sounded insolent to him,"
Bunny commented.

     "Yes he did, no doubt because of his intelligence.  We have to be very careful with him because it
looks like he's going to learn from any mistakes he makes.  Find Rotor and Dulce and have them go out and do some
areal reconnaissance.  Rotor can try out that new camera of his."

     Bunny nodded and went to Rotor's workshop and told the walrus engineer about the plan to take
some areal photos.  Rotor got to work fast and pretty soon was ready with his camera and hooked it up to Dulce the
dragon.  They took off and flew to Robotropolis well above Robotnik's radar.

     "Were commencing our sweep.  So far I don't see our quarry," Rotor said into his radio
mouthpiece.

     Sally, back at Knothole HQ replied back, "Keep looking, Rotor, he's gotta be there somewhere."

     Dulce looked around on her own trying to see anything that even remotely could me the metallic
hedgehog.  "Do you hear something Rotor?" she asked as she soared slightly below the cloud cover. 

     "Yeah I do," Rotor replied, "sounds like jet engines or something."  He looked around and gasped. 
Behind them Cyber was flying slightly above them about three hundred meters away.  The robotic hedgehog had two
small jet like wings that seemed to be able to retract themselves into his back.  On the tips of each of the wings a small
rocket could be seen as well.  Cyber grinned at his targets s he flew behind them opening up with blasts of laser fire. 
Dulce attempted to out maneuver him but could only manage to avoid the laser blasts.

     "He's got us tailed, and we can't shake him!" Rotor cried into the radio.  Sally replied back telling
them to get themselves out of there as fast as they could.  unexpectedly the laser blasts subsided to only a few shots
every few minutes or so.  Cyber flew in close only to retreat back again.  Finally he dived down into the city and
disappeared.  Rotor and Dulce looked at each other baffled that they hadn't been taken down.

     "Lets go back Dulce," Rotor said, "I think I've had enough excitement for one day."

     "Me too," she replied as she banked left and headed towards Knothole.

     They arrived back to find a small crowd had gathered in the village proper.  Standing beside Sonic
was a pink hedgehog who was talking to the residents.  Rotor and Dulce, after taking the camera off, proceeded to
where Sonic and the others were.  Sonic's voice was the first they could hear.

     Sonic was addressing the pink hedgehog. "So your saying that Cyber might have a weakness
Amy?"

     Amy nodded, "I stayed behind to see if Cyber did anything after Robotnik spoke to him.  He was
fine and all of a sudden he was bathed in a brilliant display of grey energy.  He seemed to really be in pain.  He then
collapsed and he laid still for quite a while."

     Sally commented, "the chaos emerald energy might not be stable enough for his systems."

     Amy nodded then went on. "When he did open his eyes again he looked confused and tried to stand
up but wasn't able too.  He laid there for a bit still looking dazed but he finally got back up eventually.  I left then." 
Amy looked at Sonic.  "I hope that helps." She smiled.

     "It helps a lot Amy," Sonic smiled back, "thanks."  Amy blushed.

     "Well at least he's vulnerable during those times," Sally said.  "Oh Rotor, Dulce, im glad you two
are ok.  What happened out there?"

     Rotor replied, "I'm not really sure.  One minute he's chasing and firing at us the next he's just
tailing us matching our movements.  Then he dived down to the city and was gone."

     "We got the whole thing on tape Sally." Dulce chimed in.

     "Good," Sally said as she took the camera.  "You and Dulce take a breather while Sonic and I take
a look at this."

     Dulce and Rotor smiled as they rushed off to do whatever they could before they were called again.

     Sally and Sonic entered the Control Center.  Sally popped the tape into the large machine and
watched as the screen lit up.  Sally and Sonic watched the film until its end.  Sonic tapped his foot while Sally looked
worried.

     "What's wrong Sally?" he asked.

     "Did you see what he was doing?  He was toying with them, testing their abilities, learning how
they maneuvered in combat.  He's to smart Sonic!  We have to hit him hard and fast before he can learn anything
more about us."

     Sonic nodded, "You give the word Sally and we'll go."

     Sally thought for a moment. "Perhaps we should get Geoffrey and his team together.  We might
need him."
     Sonic shrugged, not caring for Geoffrey at all. "If you think it's best Sally, I won't argue."

     Cyber was at a terminal inside a large factory that produced Robotnik's hover vehicles.  He
reviewed what he had learned from his encounter with Dulce and Rotor.  His eyes were partially closed as he went
though the data in his mind.  "Alone the dragon might be formidable in the air but with a rider her maneuverability is
limited."  He snarled as the image of Robotnik appeared on the monitor.

     "I see you let the dragon and walrus escape you.  I'm beginning to think you're not capable of
handling these Freedom Fighters." Robotnik's image commented.

     Cyber looked at the monitor and replied in a angry low tone.  "Haven't you ever heard of the
phrase, know thy enemy?  You don't know half of anything about them.  So far I've collected data on Sonic, the
dragon and some of the others that believed I hadn't seen them when they were spying on me.  I've monitored their
actions and their response to different situations.  I know more about them then you could learn in a year."

     Robotnik's face glowered from the screen. "So when exactly are you going to act on this
information you gathered?"

     "Patience my good doctor, patience.  Oh and don't think that I've only been watching the Freedom
Fighters.  I've been watching you as well.  The more I see the more I wonder how your still in power.  Now if you
don't mind I have work to do."  With that he raised his launcher to the screen and blew up the terminal and the image
of Robotnik.  "Pompous windbag," he said as he walked away.

     It wasn't long before the building he was in was rocked by an explosion.  Cyber grabbed a railway
to steady himself and smiled.  "Wow.  I never expected them to attack so soon.  Well I guess im going to have a bit of
fun after all."

     Instead of going down to the ground floor, he went up onto the rooftop.  Fortunately he knew that
Robotnik had made his factories well.  It would take several explosives in just the right places to bring one down. 
Cyber surveyed the area beneath him.  Sonic and the Freedom Fighters were being kept occupied by a legion of
swatbots.  Cyber saw that the explosion earlier was caused by a small tank like machine that the rebels had built.  It
launched small bombs and was doing quite well against the swatbots.

     Cyber wasn't surprised however as he watched on.  He considered the swatbots to be little more
then cannon fodder. A role they seemed to be doing preforming quite well at the moment. He chuckled to himself as
the band of rebels picked off any stragglers the tank had missed.  He then saw Sonic who rolled into a tight ball and
began mowing down a large number of swatbots.  Cyber found this to be particularly interesting and wondered if he
could achieve the same results.  He leapt up and rolled into a ball letting gravity and the force of his spinning carry
him across the ranks of the swatbots.  He went through them like a buzz saw cuts through wood. The sparking holes
he left in them caused them to explode moments later.  It wasn't long before all the swatbots were destroyed.

     Cyber unrolled himself and gazed about at his handiwork.  Sonic and the others looked at him
mostly in shock.  "He stole my move!" Sonic said with a tinge of jealousy and anger.  "Although I have to give him
credit, he looked good while doing it."

     Cyber smiled. "They really are useless aren't they?" he said.  "Well now that the playing field has
been leveled what do you say we have a bit of fun now?"  

     The tank gunner turned the muzzle of the vehicle towards Cyber and fired.  Cyber stood his ground
and caught the projectile only to throw it up, catch it again and throw it back down the muzzle of the cannon.  The
occupants of the tank, a skunk and two squirrels with berets on, clambered out of the smoking vehicle and away
moments before it blew itself sky high.  The skunk looked at the wreckage.  "That was the strongest vehicle we had
and he didn't even bat an eye!"  Sally grabbed the skunk and pulled him away before a thin beam of laser fire could hit
him.  "Worry about it later Geoffrey we need a plan because this guy is tougher then we thought."

     Cyber advanced on the Freedom Fighters with a evil grin and hate in his robotic eyes.  Then the
worst thing that could happen did happen.  The chaos emerald in his chest surged again with power.  Cyber stopped
in his tracks and fell to his knees.  "Not . . . not agin . . . nooooo!" Grey energy surrounded him as the power of the
emerald shot out of his chest, eyes and mouth.  He screamed as the pain wracked his otherwise powerful body.  Cyber
collapsed onto the ground writhing in agony until he could take no more.  His world became darkness as he lost
consciousness.
     Amy pointed at the fallen Cyber.  "That's exactly what I saw happen before."  Geoffrey and his two
elite soldiers cautiously approached the powerless Cyber and, as best they could, bound him with energy cuffs.  Sally
and sonic looked at the unconscious hedgehog.

     "That didn't look very pleasant whatever it was.  I kinda feel sorry for him." Sonic said as he
touched Cyber's shoulder.  Sally shook her head and kneeled down beside Sonic.  "We better bring him with us,
under heavy guard though.  We have just the place to hold him in Knothole." Sally offered.  "Besides . . . we don't
want to be here in case you know who shows up.

     Cyber didn't know where he was.  He was surrounded by lush greenery and grass under his feet. 
He was a normal hedgehog again playing in the forest as his mother and father watched him with pride.  Everything
was bright and peaceful.  He sighed with contentment.  A flash of bright light and he was now in a dark, smelly city
polluted by smoke and garbage.  He was under a old run down building in a torn and moth-eaten blanket trying to
stay warm.  He was a teenager now and very hungry.  Another bright flash of light and he looked up at a fat man
behind a wall of reinforced glass.  He was horror-struck as the evil man flipped a switch and Cyber's body began to
change.  Screaming loudly, he once again fell into the cool abyss of unconsciousness.

     "This is amazing," Sally said as he studied the readout on her wrist computer.  "I've never seen
anything like it.  His metal body is composed of a very strong alloy that is almost impossible to damage."

     Sally and Sonic along with Geoffrey and a fox named Antoine stood looking at Cyber inside a room
made of metal with bars of energy between them and the robotic hedgehog.  Cyber was leaning against the back wall
his head down and his eyes closed still unconscious.  Antoine, the son of a one time royal guard, looked with
contempt at the captive.

     "He is not so scary to me," he said in a French sounding accent.  Geoffrey looked at Antoine.  "You
didn't see him earlier. He scared me to death."

     "I think he's coming around," Sonic said.

     Cyber lifted his head and moaned softly.  He looked up slowly and at those assembled before him. 
Confusion, pain and a feeling of loss were clear in his eyes.  His head hurt badly and he struggled to clear his mind. 
He looked at Sonic a silent plea in his eyes. "Help me," he said softly.  His head burst with images and once again his
diabolical programming reasserted itself, shoving the peaceful side of him away.  His eyes glowed with fury as he
stood up and looked around.

     "So, I see you managed to capture me.  Well now that you have me what do you intend to do with
me?"

     Sally was the first to speak up.  "You will tell us what your plans are."

     Cyber sneered then began to laugh.  "I would think you would know that better then anyone
princess.  Im here to kill Sonic and all the Freedom Fighters.  Cyber looked confused for a second then replied, "then
maybe ill kill Robotnik cause I sure don't need that tub of lard bossing me around."

     Geoffrey interrogated him further.  "How can you say that?  Isn't he your master?"

     Cyber leaned against one of the walls his arms crossed over his chest and a large smile on his face. 
"Oh sure I guess you could call him that but recently I've begun to wonder why I serve him myself.  Frankly, to me he
is outliving his usefulness."

     Sonic chimed in next. "So if you don't like him why are you working for him?"

     Cyber tapped his head.  "Information Sonic.  His databases are full of information.  While he lives I
learn all I can from him and once I've learned all I need to, then ill get rid of him."

     "Why did you ask for help" Sonic added. 

     "Help? I don't know what your talking about.  I don't need any help from anyone especially you."

     "Fine," Sonic said as he stormed out of the room.  Sally and Geoffrey looked at each other and
shrugged.  Sally turned to Antoine and told him to guard the prisoner while she decided to what to do with him. 
Antoine saluted her and began to pace in front of the cell.  Sally and Geoffrey began to walk out when Sally turned to
Antoine.

     "Make sure he doesn't try anything," she warned.  She then left the prisoner and Antoine and
followed Geoffrey.

     The robotic hedgehog followed the movements of Antoine with his eyes.  He calculated the threat
of this person and concluded that he would be easily taken out.  He prepared himself for his plan and then moved
closer to the bars.  "Hey there hot shot." he said mockingly.  Antoine mearly ignored him and continued to pace back
and forth in front of the cell.  Cyber continued with his plan.  "You really are a sorry excuse for a guard you know
that don't you?"

     Antoine turned in mid stride to face Cyber.  "You will take that back this instant you silly
hedgehog."

     Cyber grinned and continued, "you probably can't even hold that sword you carry with you. I bet
it's just there to make you feel important."  Antoine drew the sword and held it properly grinning from ear to ear. 
"Well I guess you showed me, still its one thing to be able to hold one and another to use it."

     Antoine swung the sword around grinning proudly.  "Impressive," Cyber said, "but you couldn't hit
the broad side of a building even if you tried."

     Antoine's face reddened with rage and he lunged the sword to impale the metal hedgehog upon it. 
Cyber's plan had worked.  He dodged effortlessly and grabbed the fox by his cuff as he came within range.  He pulled
him into the bars and the energy began to electrocute the fox.  Cyber's forearm opened up revealing his laser and fired
into the shaking guard.  After peppering his body with laser holes he grabbed the key and shut off the bars.  He tossed
the smoking corpse of Antoine down into the cell a look of surprise on his frozen face.  Cyber looked at the body in
contempt as he readied his missile launcher.  "Stupid, very stupid" he then made his way to destroy the village of
Knothole.

     Bunny sat in her home her robotic legs up on a stool as she read a book.  She had been dozing off
for a bit now and contemplated going to bed.  She reached for a glass of water and grabbed it.  She quickly released it
though sending ti crashing to the floor.  A large robotic hand was grabbing her wrist.  She looked up and saw the cold
gaze of Cyber.

     "It's simply amazing how complacent everyone gets when they think the enemy is safely locked
away."  He lifted her up a evil grin plastered onto his face.  Bunny kicked him with her powerful legs but against this
hedgehog it was like trying to kick down a mountain.  Grabbing her one normal shoulder, he pulled at her robotic
limb until the metal began to groan and then snap off her body.  Bunny's face was awash with pain, tears streaming
down her face.  Cyber's red eyes flared as he took the limb and began to beat her with it over and over again.  Blood
splattered over the walls and pooled below her mixing with the oil from her robotic appendage.  Her mouth broken so
she couldn't scream.  He continued this until there was nothing left of her but a pile of broken metal and pulpy flesh
that had once been her face.

     Outside, Rotor came up to Bunny's hut all excited about his new invention he had for her.  He
opened the door and dropped the part he was carrying.  His jaw was slack as he took in the scene.  His insides lurched
inside him as he viewed the scene, horror in his wide eyes.  Cyber turned his head quickly to the walrus and pointed
his missile launcher at him.  He fired and Rotor exploded into tiny fragments of flesh and bone.  Cyber growled
knowing that the element of surprise was now gone.  The rest of the village will have been alerted by that explosion.

     Geoffrey's ears perked up as he heard the loud noise outside.  He quickly got his wrist crossbow
with their explosive bolts and met up with his elite squad.  They rushed into the chaos in the village.  Geoffrey skidded
to a stop as he beheld the destruction.  Huts wee on fire and Freedom Fighters rushed around everywhere.  Some of
them fell as laser fire blasted them killing them instantly.  It was right then that he saw the cause of the carnage.  Out
of the fire Cyber casually walked his gaze firmly on the skunk.  Geoffrey fumbled around for a crossbow bolt from his
quiver and shakingly placed it into the crossbow.  Leveling it to the advancing metal monster he fired.  The bolt
screamed as it went through the air and scored a direct hit into Cyber and exploded.  Cyber recoiled from the shock
taking a step back as the explosion washed over him.  Geoffrey grinned but soon the grin faded into a grimace of fear. 
Cyber was still up and didn't even have a scratch on him.  Cyber kept on advancing a confident smile on his face.

     Geoffrey fired bolt after bolt into Cyber while the rest of his troops fired their guns hoping to at
least slow him down but the bullets only pinged and bounced off of Cyber's metal skin.  The bolts had little effect on
him either.  Soon the metallic hedgehog was standing face to face with him and his eyes looked directly into
Geoffrey's own terror-stricken  ones.  Geoffrey gulped as Cyber reached out and grabbed him by his neck.  His laser
blaster focused the beam into a pencil fine one that sliced off both of the skunk's arms.  Geoffrey cried in agony as
Cyber continued to amputate the skunk's legs as well.  The beam cauterized the wounds leaving Geoffrey still very
much alive.  Still holding the quadriplegic skunk Cyber knelt down his wings popping out from his back and igniting. 
He rose to a height of about 20 feet and grabbed the bolts inside Geoffrey's quiver.  Arming them all he stuck them
back into the quiver and proceeded to spike the still screaming skunk down to the ground.  He threw him into the
midst of his elite guard still frozen stiff by the sight they had witnessed.  Geoffrey's bolts exploded when he hit the
ground blowing him and his troops to pieces.

     Dulce had heard the commotion from her cave not to far from the village.  When she finally reached
Knothole she was shocked to see it in flames.  She noticed Cyber hovering above the burning village and then the
dead and dying Freedom Fighters.  Her anger rose up within her as she reared and breathed a stream of super-cooled
vapor onto the hovering hedgehog.  Cyber was surprised as he was encased within a solid block of ice and fell to the
ground with a thud.  Dulce grinned proudly at her work.  She didn't have time to relish in her triumph though.  With a
roar of primal fury, Cyber shattered his frigid prison.  He knelt again his rockets firing again and took off towards the
dragon.  Murder was in his eyes and Dulce knew that if he caught her she would wind up like the rest of the dead.

     Cyber used what he observed when he viewed her a couple days ago to his benefit.  No matter what
the dragon did or how good she could fly she could not outmaneuver the speedy hedgehog.  Cyber landed on her
back of her neck and grabbed the nose ring she wore.  Flipping over onto her underside using the nose ring to keep
him with her he fired a laser blast into her large body, letting out a menacing growl.  She shuddered as the laser
punctured her cleanly but still hung onto life.  Cyber ended any hope for her as his laser once again focused into a
pencil thin beam and he moved it across her neck severing it from her body.  Her body fell and he held her head still
by the ring in her nose.  He threw it up and launched a small warhead into it causing it to explode and shower down
upon the doomed village.

     Sonic, along with Tails, Sally and Amy, where sitting around the lake near the village discussing
things over.  The sound of the explosions and the bright orange glow of the fires alerted them that all was not right
with the village.  Sonic raced to the village only to watch in blind horror as his friends were butchered by Cyber.  The
body of Dulce landed a few feet in front of him, the neck smoking from the place where the head should have been. 
Amy, Tails and Sally caught up to him and were equally horror stricken.  Cyber hovered above the burning village
gazing at the destruction.  He was covered in the blood of the various people he had killed.  His haughty sneer was
visible from below.

     "Sonic, we need to get out of here before it's too late!" Sally screamed over the noise from the
screaming Freedom Fighters who ran around in panic.

     "Im going to tear him apart with my bare hands," Sonic yelled.

     Cyber flew a bit away from the village but could still be seen by its inhabitants.  He crunched up
only to straighten out again as the panels covering the chaos emerald in his chest began to reveal the grey gem.  The
emerald began to pulse a audible powering up of it could be heard down below as the emerald seemed to displace the
air with its energy drawing it into itself.

     "Is he having another power surge?" Tails asked

     "I don't thinks so honey," Sally replied.  "I think he's powering up a weapon of some sort and
judging by the amount of power is being channeled by the emerald I think we want to be very far away from here
now!"

     Sonic shook his head in anger as he grabbed both Sally and Amy by their hands.  He began to run
with them faster then he had ever run in his life.  Tails couldn't hope of keeping up but he did have the power of flight
as he lifted off and flew above the village and away from it following his best friend.

     The Chaos Emerald hummed inside Cyber's chest and finally all hell broke loose.  A giant swirling
beam of pure chaos energy was propelled forward and struck the center of Knothole.  The grey energy expanded and
the very earth itself turned against every low of nature.  Whoever was still alive in the village screamed in pain and
anguish as their bodies filled with untold power and burst into grey flames.  Their collected screams reached the ears
of Sonic and the ones with him as they all winced in agony but continued to flee.  A shock wave spread out from the
epicenter of the blast and traveled for miles in all direction breaking apart rocks and smashing trees for miles.  Cyber's
chest plates closed up and he fell to the ground.  He kneeled amidst the desolation as his body was covered by arcs of
chaos energy.  Drained of most of his power he could do little more then look at the destruction and carnage he had
brought about.  It was at least fifteen minutes before he could stand and begin walking back to Robotropolis.

     Sonic and the rest of the survivors were now deep within the Great Forest.  They had managed too
just barely escape the shockwave.  Sonic and Tails panted as Amy and Sally looked after the exhausted two fetching
water from a nearby stream to cool their thirst.  Sally and Amy were silent, still recovering from the shock.  Sonic was
the first to speak.

     "I can't believe he destroyed Knothole single handedly.  Robotnik has finally won."

     Sally shook her head. "No Sonic Robotnik hasn't won yet.  Were still around and we'll find a way
to beat him and Cyber."

     Sonic stood up and grimaced.  "I have to see it for myself.  I can't believe Knothole is gone.  There
still might be survivors, come on."  He grabbed the two girls again and began to head back to the village with Tails in
hot pursuit.  Their fears however were realized as they saw the broken landscape.  Finally they made it to a large
clearing that was once Knothole Village.  Nothing was left of the once quaint village only a desolate wasteland. 
Large residual chaos energy arcs erupted from the scorched ground.  Sonic and the rest stared in awe at the
completeness of the destruction.

     "It's gone . . . the village and our friends, all gone." Tails said as he broke down and cried over the
lives that had been lost.  Amy was standing next to Sonic tears steaming down her face as she held Sonic's hand
tightly.  Sally kept as straight a face as she could muster and scooped up Tails in her arms trying to comfort him.

     "Its going to be okay Tails, well manage somehow won't we Sonic?" Sally asked.

     "Yeah Sally, whatever you say," he replied half-heartedly.

     "What about Knuckles, Sonic?  And the Choatix?  Will they help us?" Sally asked.

     "Maybe," he replied, "but I know he wont like it.  You know that most of the time he dost care
what happens unless it directly involves the floating island."

     "Exactly Sonic!" Sally exclaimed.  "Eventually Cyber will learn about the Master Emerald and he's
going to come after it for its power.  Robotnik tried to get it but failed but now that he's got Cyber im sure he will try
again."
     "You might be right Sally.  If we can convince Knuckles that the floating island and the Master
Emerald are in danger he might help us out."  Sonic grinned, "well guys I guess it's off to the floating island."

     Cyber had regained all of his power by the time he reached the city of Robotropolis.  He knew
Robotnik had seen or heard about what he had done so there was no use in avoiding the bulbous man.  He walked
into Robotnik's control room.  Robotnik was laughing and pacing around the room proudly.

     "I knew I did the right thing by roboticizing you.  Now Knothole is destroyed and the Freedom
Fighters are no more.  Tell me did you manage to kill Sonic?"

     "If you mean personally, no I did not.  Nor do I know if he escaped.  If he did im sure he will turn
up eventually." Cyber told him.

     "Yes I suppose that's true, very well Cyber, you may go.  I want to savor this victory I made
possible."

     Robotnik giggled like a little girl as Cyber walked out and down to the ground level.  "It was my
victory you pathetic tyrant."  Cyber kneeled down, that feeling his emerald was going to surge up again hit him hard. 
"Please, not again . . . no!"  Once again the corona appeared around him and he screamed as the pain overtook his
body.

     It had been two weeks after the destruction of Knothole.  Robotnik was still gloating over the
Freedom Fighters demise.  Cyber had gotten fed up with it.  Ever since that last power surge he felt sorry for killing
all those people.  He couldn't shake the feeling of remorse.  His programming tried to push it back but only succeeded
in dulling the pain this time.

     Cyber decided to occupy himself with learning more about the planet.  With Robotnik occupied
Cyber could have a lot more time to view his data files.  He was particularly interested in ancient Mobian legends. 
Especially those concerning the Chaos Emeralds.  He learned there were seven of them including his and one Master
Emerald.  Legends said it held the power to control the others and spoke of a consciousness dwelling within the large
emerald.

     Robotnik was getting on his nerves after three weeks.  He vowed he would harness the unlimited
power of the Master Emerald. He knew full well he could easily take out Robotnik himself but he wanted to do a
complete job.  He wasn't content to just kill the evil madman he wanted to wipe his creations and everything he held
dear to him.  With the exception of himself of course.  He especially wanted to destroy his precious city.  He had
grown tired of the blackened smoke-filled place and found a new liking to the warm and natural colors of the Great
Forest.  In fact he had journeyed there at times to relax and just get away from the noise and foulness of
Robotropolis.  The city was a blight on this earth, one that he was determined to get rid of.

     Cyber looked up the data that Robotnik had on the Master Emerald.  He found that its last recorded
dwelling was inside the center of Angel Island.  Angel Island was once part of the mainland but a race of echidnas had
used it to break away from the land and float above the surface of the planet.  He grinned as he prepared to fly to
Angel Island and claim the power of the Master Emerald for his own.  While Robotnik plotted to eventual domination
of the planet, Cyber flew to the floating island and the large emerald in its rocky heart.

     Sonic couldn't believe it.  Knuckles had agreed to help them out.  He didn't even have to resort to
threatening the red echidna like he normally had to.  Knuckles was actually eager to lend them a hand claiming he had
a large score to settle with Robotnik himself for having been used by the madman in one of his schemes. When he
found out that it was all a ruse to get the Master Emerald he fought back and drove Robotnik off.  However there
was still rage within his heart and he wanted to have his revenge of the fat tyrant.

     Sally, Amy and Tails were very relieved after hearing this.  Knuckles introduced them to the
Choatix team.  A group who, along with Knuckles, vowed to protect the floating island and the Master Emerald from
harm.  The team consisted of Espeo the Chameleon whose specialty was the art of stealth.  Mighty the Armadillo,
whose strength was so great it surpassed even Knuckles' own.  There was Vector the Crocodile, who had the special
knack for retrieving hard to find items.  Vector was a easy-going person who always had a pair of headphones on
with his tape player blasting rap music out of it.  Last but not least was Charmy the Honeybee, who's ability to fly
afforded him access to the most remote of places that the others couldn't get to.

     Sonic and Knuckles went below to view the Master Emerald.  Sonic had never seen an emerald so
massive before.  He touched the gem and a voice spoke into his mind.  It told him that he could use some of its power
to help him in his fight against Cyber.  It was not long after when sonic returned to the surface that Cyber made his
appearance.  The Chaotix went to work in dealing with the intruder.

     Cyber, being made for war, began to analyze his enemies and the best approach to take them down. 
A small part of him reminded that he need not kill the these people, only disable.  The evil programming colored this
notion so that while he wouldn't kill the Chaotix, he would definitely wish he had killed them.  Espeo, he figured,
would be the first example.

     Espeo was skilled in blending in with his surroundings and moving silently.  Cyber knew this from
data Robotnik had gathered on the Chaotix team.  Cyber switched to his infrared sensors and now could easily spot
the chameleon who was slowly creeping up to him.  Cyber pointed a fist at Espeo, his spiked knuckles shone in the
sun.  One spike fired from him at Espeo.  The spike struck Espeo's knee breaking it and causing it to bend at a odd
angle.  The chameleon cried out in pain his concentration broken and his camouflage failing.  Cyber walked over to
him and looked at the squirming Espeo.

     "I've just broken your knee and torn your Alcalvical Tendon.  While your leg will heal if properly
set your knee will make a clicking sound as long as you live.  You will never sneak up on anybody ever again."

     Next on his list was Mighty who rushed Cyber from behind.  Cyber's ears picked up the sound of
his feet and turned around to see the armadillo raise both fists to pound him.  Cyber quickly grabbed both fists holding
Mighty back.  He glared at the armadillo and began to exert his extreme robotic strength against him.  Mighty's teeth
clenched as he tried to resist but the hedgehog was just too strong.  Mighty went to his knees as his wrists snapped
under the strain.  Cyber then let go and kicked him hard in the gut sending him into the ground.  Mighty's face was
twisted in pain as he tried to nurse his broken bones.

     Vector was the next victim.  The headphone wearing crocodile snapped his jaws menacingly as he
rushed from the side.  His plan was to bite the metallic hedgehog using his powerful jaws until only pieces of him
were left.  Cyber kicked on his speed and zipped past the crocodile.  Before Vector could turn Cyber had come back
and ripped Vector's headphones off of him.  Still holding onto them he ran around and around the startled crocodile. 
The line from his headphones twisted around his neck, choking him.  Cyber stopped in front of the croc and let the
headphones go.  He reached for the tape player at Vectors side and with the helpless crocodile watching, opened the
tape player and removed the tape.  With a quick flick the tape was airborne and Cyber fired his laser to it blowing it
into hundreds of plastic pieces.  Tears welled up in Vector's eyes as he fell to his knees bending over at the small pile
of plastic shards that had formed.  The wire around his neck had loosened but all the fight was out of the heartbroken
Vector.

     There was only one more Chaotix member to deal with.  Charmy wasn't much of a threat but Cyber
was mad now and wouldn't spare anyone their humiliation.  Charmy buzzed around Cyber's head annoying the metal
hedgehog.  A quick swipe of his hand and he had Charmy.  Cyber scowled at the bee and taking his fingers ripped
both wings off of the honeybee.  He tossed Charmy away and proceeded to the cave that led to the Master Emeralds
inner sanctum.  Sonic however bared his way.

     "Sonic Hedgehog, finally it comes down to us two," Cyber said as he took a fighting stance, "I plan
to make this quick."

     "I'll show you quick.  You cheap knock off!" Sonic exclaimed.  "This is for all my friends you
slaughtered."

     Sonic leaped into the air.  He drew upon the portion of power the Master Emerald had given to
him.  With a yell of rage Sonic Hedgehog became Super Sonic.  His quills glowed with a golden light and raw power
emanated from all around him.  He floated several inches above the ground and his normally green eyes now burned a
fierce red.  He grinned at Cyber and pointed to him.

     "Now lets see who the better hedgehog is," he said.

     "Yes lets, but it ends here Sonic."  Cyber's laser fired once into the golden Sonic but mearly
bounced off of him harmlessly.  Cyber's eyes grew a bit wide but quickly fired up with a missile to Sonic's chest.  The
explosion washed over Super Sonic but didn't do any damage whatsoever.

     Sonic shook his head.  "Sorry Cyber, but in this form im invincible.  Your weapons won't have any
effect on me."

     Cyber took a step back his spikes protruding from his knuckles. "Very well then I guess I'll just
have to beat you with my bare hands."

     He rushed Sonic drawing back his fist and aiming for Sonic's face.  Sonic mearly dodged and
quickly kicked Cyber hard in the side.  Cyber couldn't react fast enough and flew into the ground.  He grunted and
stood up only to see a gold blur crash into him sending him flying head over heels.  He managed to stabilize himself
but no sooner then he did the golden hedgehog was on top of him and smashed his fist into Cyber's jaw.  Cyber flew
down again and crashed into the ground.  He rolled to the side to face his attacker and as soon as that gold blur was
near him, punched it with all the strength he had.

     Sonic reeled from the blow. He shook his head clearing it and looked at his enemy.  Cyber didn't
look to good as he struggled to get up.  Some of his joints sparked, obviously damaged by his beating.  Sonic wasn't
going to give him the luxury of being able to ready himself.  He rushed over and grabbed Cyber by the arm and kicked
his legs out from under him.  Cyber fell face up and laid there as Super Sonic wailed on him. Punch after punch hit
Cyber over and over again.

     Cyber had never been beaten before.  This was completely unexpected and his mind reeled as Sonic
kept on hitting him.  His systems were taking massive damage and he winced as each blow fell.  Cyber knew he was
done for.  One more hit and it would be over for him.  Both he and Sonic knew it.
     "This will teach you to steal my style you copycat.  I'll make sure you never hurt anyone I care for
again!" Sonic raised his fist to deliver the final blow.

     By some strange twist of fate Super Sonic's golden hue began to diminish and Sonic was back to
his normal blue self.  "Oh no, I used up all the power the Master Emerald gave me."

     Cyber clenched his teeth and with everything he could muster, punched the hedgehog off of him. 
Sonic saw a burst of light before he saw Cyber's fist again.  This blow caused him to spin around and fall face first
into the ground unconscious.  Cyber walked laboriously over to the fallen Sonic and crouched down beside him.  He
turned Sonic face up and looked at the young hedgehog, his mouth trickling a bit of blood down his cheek.

     "You nearly had me there Sonic, I guess im just lucky."  He got up and began to walk to the cave. 
Before he went into the darkness he turned his head and looked at Sonic.  His programming screamed for him to hill
the blue hedgehog.  His normal persona was content with just besting him.

     "Robotnik hates him and so therefore im going to let him live to be a thorn in his side."  He turned
again and continued forward down to the chamber of the Master Emerald.

     Cyber's systems had fully repaired themselves with the help of the grey Chaos Emerald and his self
repair program.  He entered the inner chamber and grinned as he saw the huge green gem.  He took a step inside and
noticed the red echidna standing there as well, a scowl on his face.

     "You must be Knuckles.  I'd ask you to stand aside but I doubt you would." he said.

     "Then your right tin head!"  Knuckles lunged with his spiked fist and hit Cyber square in the chest. 
The impact made a nice "tink" sound against Cyber's metal skin.  Cyber looked down at the fist on his chest and
smirked.

     "And what exactly were you trying to do?" Cyber asked.

     Cyber grabbed the echidna's wrist and lifted him up off the ground.  He then threw Knuckles into a
cave wall dazing him.  Rushing to the echidna he punched Knuckles in the gut and again in the face.  Cyber grabbed
his throat and dragged the struggling Knuckles to the Master Emerald.

     "Your going to watch me drain every last bit of power from this emerald Knuckles.  Watch and
know you can do nothing to stop me!"

     Placing his hand on the enormous emerald Cyber began to draw its power into himself.  Green
chaos energy glowed out and began to surround Cyber's body.  He could feel himself getting stronger as the Master
Emerald's power became his own.  Then it happened.  Cyber could feel his own emerald flare in response to the
Master Emeralds power.  He screamed as his head burst with a thousand images both from his past and what he had
done as a robot.

     Cyber recoiled and dropped Knuckles.  He clutched his head screaming as the green aura around
him intensified.  His robotic program was rapidly being diminished to the point where his normal persona could finally
take control once again.  He fell as the things he had done bore down on his conscience.

     "What have I done?" he cried as he slowly got to his feet.  What . . . have I DONE!?"  The sorrow
and blind rage within him overpowered any other emotion he might have felt at the time.

     "Robotnik!" he growled as his wings shot out of his back.  The green aura around him flared again
in response to his unbridled anger.  Cyber shot out of the cavern ceiling vaporizing the rock as he exited the chamber
and flew into the sky.  He continued on leaving a trail of green chaos energy behind him.  Knuckles got to his feet and
managed to rush out and meet Sonic, who had regained consciousness.  They both saw and heard Cyber blast out
from the island and fly away.  Tails, Amy and Sally had also seen him blast off and came running to where Sonic and
Knuckles were.

     "What's going on?" Tails asked, "were is Cyber going?"

     "I think he's going to Robotropolis," Knuckles offered.  "When he touched the emerald he
changed.  I don't think Robotnik has control over him anymore."

     "We have to follow him," Sally said, "he might do something rash."

     "I don't think we could stop him even if we tried Sally, but we should at least see what he's going
to do." Knuckles said.

     "Come on then I have the Tornado prepped and ready."  Tails said.  They all nodded and Tails
along with the girls rushed over to the biplane they had used to get to the floating island.  Sonic and Knuckles
followed and climbed onto the top wings of the plane strapping their feet to it.  Tails started up the engine and soon
they were off following the trail of energy left by Cyber.

     Cyber flew at breakneck speed to Robotropolis.  His unfathomable rage drove him faster and faster. 
Soon the city appeared over the horizon.  He stopped as soon as he was a mile from the city.  He yelled at the top of
his voice.

     "This is for the life you stole from me Robotnik!"

     The chest panels concealing the grey Chaos Emerald opened fully.  The emerald began to once
again pulse with power gathering the energy necessary to fire Cyber's ultimate weapon.  Cyber poured his anger and
sorrow into the emerald and released the huge beam of energy.  The green aura around him flowed into the beam
swirling around the grey energy as it headed to the city.

     Robotnik's sensors had detected the large power signature coming towards the city.  His satellite
cameras showed him Cyber as he flew to the city.  The look of rage on his face was unmistakable.  Robotnik knew he
would not survive the attack and so entered the special escape pod he had made for just such a emergency.  He
stepped into the cylindrical  pod.  It closed and dropped into a escape tube and sped down and away from the city to a
island far from Robotropolis.  Stepping out of the pod he went to a large docked submarine and climbed inside. 
Started up the power sequence it began to dive deep into the Mobian ocean.

     "I will return and Mobius will be mine again, its just a matter of time." he said as the sub went
deeper and deeper.

     Back at the city, the large beam had struck the center of Robotropolis.  At its impact site a large
orb of raw chaos power appeared.  The grey sphere crackled with power as green arcs of energy surrounded it and
lanced into the orb.  Everything began to be pulled into it and as any bit of matter touched the orb it was instantly
obliterated.  A massive wave of energy emanated out of the orb and traveled to the city's outer edge.  The energy ring
then began to collapse back to the center drawing everything in its return path with it, even the very ground itself. 
Soon the whole of the city was gone as it gravitated to the orb.  The sphere of chaos began to implode and then
exploded leaving a crater as large as the city had once been.

     Cyber was now on the ground kneeling beside the lip of the crater.  Sonic and the others had seen
most of the destruction as it happened.  Tails landed the Tornado as Sonic and Knuckles leaped off and raced to
Cyber.  Cyber did not lift his head to them.  They were soon joined by Tails and the girls who looked at the crater that
had once been Robotropolis.
     "I'm sorry," Cyber said in a low sad tone, "I'm so sorry."

     Knuckles looked at Sonic who mearly nodded.  Knuckles put a hand onto Cyber's shoulder.  "You
were being controlled by Robotnik, you shouldn't blame yourself.  I was used much like you were once."

     "Did you kill anybody?" Cyber asked.

     "No, I didn't but I might of if Robotnik had his way."

     "Well I have killed people and I can hear their screams still in my mind.  I have to live with that for
the rest of my life.  Which is going to be a very long time given my robotic state." Cyber said softly.

     Sally approached Cyber. "We might be able to change you back to normal Cyber." She said.

     Cyber shook his head and got up slowly.  "No, I don't think I could take the pain as a normal
hedgehog.  This body gives me strength in more ways then just physical might.  I have to learn to live like this.  I need
tome to reconcile with what I've done."

     Cyber started to walk away but stopped and turned his head to look at them.  A sad smile was on
his face.

     "I don't think we will meet again but hopefully you can tell your kids that I did something good for
Mobius.  Goodbye."  With those words he blasted off and was soon out of sight.

     Sonic began to run to chase him but Knuckles stopped him.  "Let him go Sonic, he needs to get
through this on his own."

     Sonic started to protest but Sally grabbed his hand and smiled softly at him.  "Come on Sonic, we
have a lot to do in order to rebuild our world.  We might meet up with him in the future."

     Sonic looked to the fading vapor trail that Cyber's rockets had left behind.  He nodded and turned
to face them all.  "I wish we could help him, but your right.  Lets get started then, but first I really could use a chili
dog!"



                           END PART 1