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[evilgrows]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, DR. ROBOTNIK. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 905.77.247.37 *** DOCTORROBOTNIK has joined 905.77.247.37 <DOCTORROBOTNIK> You've reached Doctor Robotnik. Leave only one message, and I'll get back to you if I find it necessary.

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[endlesspastability]

[Sonic always looks like death warmed over when he comes to the lab and today is no exception. His skin is pale and sweaty, and his torso looks a little bloated, or perhaps swollen. He's actually got a duffle bag over his shoulder -- he doesn't know how long this is gonna take, but he's not gonna get stuck without a fresh change of clothes ever again]

Nothing exploded... [he steps inside, changing the conformation of his feet from running to walking by folding up the blades] Yet.

[evilgrows]

You look terrible, [he says conversationally as he wastes no time in heading towards their destination. When your "patient" looks like he's about to either blow up or do something else that's potentially destructive, you don't want to waste a second in figuring out how to troubleshoot it.]

Any newly developed symptoms? I'm suspecting your body's preparing to make one final push based on all available data. Definitely need to get that on tape.

[endlesspastability]

Gee, thanks, bugbreath. [he steps inside and in the artificial light, he looks even worse off - waxy and almost corpse-like.] Ugh. Whatever. Just don't post it on the internet.

[he speaks as they make their way up to the lab] Skin feels gross. I'm hot and cold at the same time... Tingly. My chest hurts. Nnnhnngh. I thought I was gonna be done with this after nothing happened during the fog earlier in the month...

[evilgrows]

Like I'd allow other people to see my important research before I do anything with it. That's my scoop.

[Once they get to the lab, he's already got a number of machines ready in various sizes and shapes in addition to whatever else he's been working on. He's prepared to catch some very important information. As he talks, he picks up and moves different tools, fiddles with settings on one machine or another, and generally just multitasks.]

Rule one: never suspect it's over. Some people get it all instantly, others get it all dragged out. Looks like you have at least one more mess prepared. Sitting or standing?

[endlesspastability]

How about you don't post it, like... ever. Please.

[his agony is enough. He doesn't need other people to see it!!

Sonic grumbles when he gets to the lab and sets his bag down away from the machines and equipment]

Lucky, lucky me. Sitting. Please for the love of puppies, I want to sit.

[evilgrows]

I could just let you go through your latest issue in a ditch somewhere. Be more grateful.

[He flits over to a wheeled stool and pushes it in Sonic's direction, then points towards something large, complicated, and unwieldy.]

Here you go. Now scoot on over to that machine on your right and we'll get started.

[endlesspastability]

Callin' your bluff, Bugnik -- you'd never let a chance like this slip by.

[He takes a seat on the stool, scoots, and just... goes ahead and takes off his shirt because he knows that's probably next. He balls it up and throws it at his bag by the door. With more skin visible, it looks even worse. Parts look devitalized, and the sections that abut his existing mechanical parts are very inflamed. The contour of his ribs are gone, and there's a pit covered by a thin layer of skin in the center of his chest where his sternum should be -- it's the only part of his chest that still rises and falls when he breathes. Breaths which are much more infrequent than normal. In fact, he can go minutes without taking one.

The last hurrah of his organic vestiges.]

[evilgrows]

I didn't say I would. Just that I could.

[Specifics are important. No point in spending too much time arguing semantics, though, when there's so much else that needs to be done. It isn't too long after Sonic sits down that Robotnik gets busy scanning, taking pictures, and doing as many possible readings as his various devices can manage, all arms busy with something. This is important information and it needs to be documented.]

Ohohoho. It's like you're just barely clinging to the whole flesh-and-bone thing. Organic life tries to hold on, but can't stop evolution. Wonderful.

[...Okay, he's mostly talking to himself, but he's definitely doing it out loud.]

[endlesspastability]

[Sonic doesn't have any more snarky comments. Instead, he just rests against the machine he's closest to and closes his eyes. His breathing gets even slower. Sometimes five, ten minutes pass between shallow breaths and he looks like he might actually be dead.

Robotnik will have a lot of waiting to do, because Sonic just falls asleep for about an hour. At least he'll have front row seats when the show does start]

[evilgrows]

[Okay, whatever's happening is taking its sweet old time, but at least it gives Robotnik a chance to make sure everything's set up just precisely for the main event. Everything can be calibrated and ready to go at a moment's notice.

He just needs that moment to happen.

It's clear Sonic's still functioning based on the readouts even if he's barely breathing, so he doesn't have to be too concerned about his potential survivability. Just watch and wait and record.]

Let's see what shows up...

[endlesspastability]

[there is something resembling a heartbeat at least! It seems that even fully mechanized, his body can't give up the concept of a central pump and seat of the soul.

After all, it has to keep that hydraulic fluid pressurized somehow.

Regardless, after an hour and some change of rest, Sonic suddenly starts awake]

I DIDN'T EAT THE MARBLES.

[blink. Oh. Right. Lab. He must have fallen asleep. But why is he awake now?

He notices a tingling sensation around his hips.... and as he stares down at the skin just above his pants, he notices the skin is starting to... liquefy?

It doesn't hurt, which is a nice change. But it IS a very strange sensation]

Yo, look at this.

[the liquefying skin takes on a shiny silver hue, like quicksilver. And it starts creeping up like an amoeba, changing the decaying skin into liquid metal as it goes]

That's... different. [he touches the silver liquid and it moves around his finger as if repelled by a magnet. It's then that a message appears on one of the machines with a visual readout attached to Sonic, accompanied by a robotic voice;

"RECONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS. INTERFERENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED"]

........... Oh.

[evilgrows]

[Sonic waking up is enough to startle Robotnik, since he'd shifted his focus to some of the readouts rather than staring directly at him, but he shakes the mild surprise off and turns to look at him.]

Ah, you're conscious. I was wondering how soon you'd wake up. Did you know your breathing's been slowing down to a rate near death? Isn't that interesting?

[He's certainly talking about it like it's the most fascinating thing in the world and not even a little bit horrifying. And, of course, the first thing he says when he sees what's happening to Sonic's skin is:]

I need a sample of that material.

[Like, immediately. Who knows what he could do with a substance that turns organic tissue to metal. If he studies a sample, reverse engineers it, then manufactures more of it... ah, the possibilities. He moves to grab a small container he can put it in, but before he can bring it over, the voice sounds.]

...Huh. Looks like it's sensitive.

[endlesspastability]

No. It's not interesting. It's kind of terrifying actually!!

[but what's happening to his hips and now his abdomen is ALSO terrifying... but he can't take his eyes away. As the metal creeps upwards, a few inches behind it starts, for lack of a better word, solidifying. Bright shiny blue metal to create a pelvic girdle, then into the rubbery cables at his midsection that make up the flexible parts of his body.

He makes a face and looks at Robotnik and his little vial. Sorry, doc, but no zombot virus for you today, it seems]

I wouldn't touch it if I were you. I'm not sure what will happen, but when I think about it, I feel an impending sense of extreme and infinite doom. Besides, the robot voice said not to.

[and indeed, if Robotnik does push his luck, he'll get a warning zap, like a cattle prod, from the liquid itself]

[evilgrows]

You don't accomplish anything by listening to the naysayers, robot voice or otherwise.

[So, of course he leans over and tries to get some of the liquid into the vial. Unsurprisingly, he's promptly zapped, and immediately pulls his hand away with a loud shout and then a sneer.]

It's not like I'm trying to stop it. Ugh. [He throws a pair of hands up.] Whatever. It was worth a try.

[Maybe studying the readouts later will provide enough information to try and recreate it. He shakes the zapped hand off and works with the other ones for the time being.]

How's it feeling, other than the doom?

[endlesspastability]

[The screen flashes red and the same voice speaks in a monotone that is nevertheless quite threatening;

"ATTENTION. Future attempts at disrupting the process will incur voltage and amperage increase of 500 fold."]

Oh. That sounds bad.

[And as if to answer, the robotic voice responds. "AFFIRMATIVE"]

[Sonic makes a face and points to the monitor] Well, you heard the man. ... Who is that anyway? Did you make an AI or something? [Sonic has not yet figured out that the robotic voice is actually his.]

Mmmm... it feels... weird. Like. I can't describe it. Suffocating, a little? But I'm not panicking. Hot, but cold. Tingly, for sure! Sort of-- HHRRK--!

[He doubles over as the metal line reaches the depression in his chest, sinking down and revealing a hole straight through his chest. But not just any hole -- it seems to be the intake of a jet engine, and his back pushes out to contain the mechanisms, forming fin-shaped spines on either side of the jet's output as well. Sonic puts his hand to his chest, gasping]

O...ok.... N-now it hurts...!

[evilgrows]

I've done some rudimentary AI work here, but that definitely isn't it. That one's got nothing to do with me.

[So, logically, if anything AI-related has shown up spontaneously, it'd only make sense if it has something to do with Sonic. Despite the obvious implications of that, he still turns to the monitor to grumble about things for a second.]

I'm not trying to disrupt, the process, I'm trying to study it!

[He turns back towards Sonic, a finger tapping on his chin.]

Interestingly enough, a while back an acquaintance of mine spent a month as a machine, and I did have to work with his programming at first to keep it from overriding his personality, so that particular voice might very well be a part of yours. I--

[He's about to say something else, but it's a little hard to when he can see that something's going on with Sonic's chest. He'd noticed something in there when doing his original scans, of course, so seeing the change makes perfect sense. He's definitely way too cheerful about this one.]

Oh, there we go! I was wondering when that thing was going to come out.

[endlesspastability]

[Robot voice doesn't care what you say you're doing, Robotnik. It's busy. It does not want to be disturbed. You are lucky it is letting you watch.

Sonic groans as the transformation seems to stall for now, or at least get held up with the complicated matter of the jet in his chest. He puts his hands on it, then inside of it, and he starts to panic a little]

Wh.... what...?! A hole?! Why is there a hole?! What is this thing?

[evilgrows]

Looks like you've got a whole jet engine in there. Exciting, huh?

[Robotnik's probably the only person to find it that exciting, but c'mon. Some people just can't appreciate what they've got.]

You should relax. If it hasn't killed you yet, then it's probably unlikely to.

[King of reassurance, he's not.]

[endlesspastability]

A wh-- [he is stricken by a coughing fit, though the sound is rattly and coarse. It sounds a lot less like a cough and more like an engine trying to turn over. And it finally does, and the jet in Sonic's chest sputters to life, beginning to spin and throw some sparks.

Which makes Sonic panic a little more. It's an incredibly strange sensation, and while not painful, it is unpleasant.]

O.... ok that's enough.... we can stop now...!

[The computerized voice chimes in again.

"NEGATIVE. CONVERSION 89.3% COMPLETE. 10.7% REMAINS. WE FINISH THIS. QUICKLY."

And that's when the last part of Sonic's robotization kicks into high gear. His body throws sparks and spasms as the liquid engulfs his shoulders and neck, no longer creeping but gushing. There's a moment where Sonic's scream is echoed -- part from his mouth and part from the new speaker that just materialized at the base of his neck. But both screams abruptly stop as the liquid fills his mouth and nose, then pushes into his eyes, up over his head and hair.

The hardening process can't quite keep up, and for a moment, from the shoulders up, there's a vaguely head shaped blob of quicksilver. It vibrates, ripples like ferrous fluid exposed to a magnet, and new features coalesce from the fluid. A sleek, mouthless muzzle. A pointed spike of a nose. Large, dark, glassy eyes. Pointed ears on rubber gaskets. And bundles and bundles of cables, crackling with energy.

There's a last burst of energy and a convulsion in Sonic's body that causes the machines in the lab to flicker, glitch, and blip off for just a moment.

Then the newly minted robot's body relaxes, slumping on the stool, the wild cables coming from the back of his head looking like a tangle of yarn in no particular order. Everything is still. No sparks, no hums, no engines sputtering.

There are no life signs. The screen that had been giving readouts is black.]

[evilgrows]

[So much is happening all at once all of a sudden that it's a little difficult to keep track, but Robotnik watches with clear excitement. Big kid in a candy store energy. And it's all happening precisely in his lab! What a great place for it. The rest of the change goes so quickly that his machines are also struggling to record everything, but they dutifully continue their work.

That is, at least, until everything flickers and they stop in their tracks. Sure, they go right back on, but that kind of interruption is never a good sign.]

Oh come on--

[Good thing he'd been keeping backups, terrible as the local tech is. At worst, his wrist computer is wireless and the only piece of good tech he actually has here, so that should be able to keep track of all of the most important information.

In the meantime, there are other things at hand, such as the observation subject being, y'know, off. He waves a hand in front of Sonic's face.]

Do I have to get out the jumper cables?

[Hey, it worked with Slade that one time. Despite the shock from earlier and potential risk for more, he still moves to gently shove his shoulder to see if that'll get him up.]

[endlesspastability]

[It's all on camera. He can watch the footage slowed down, later!

Robotnik waves his hand, and nothing happens. The robot seems to be completely off, some smoke rising from the inside of the jet engine and a few of his seams.

The shove, however, does cause a reaction. Sonic's arm shoots out, striking with deadly accuracy, grabbing the offending wrist in a tight, strong grip and not letting go.

The robot shudders, and there's the sound of mechanical parts engaging and the jet engine beginning to spin slowly. The robot raises his head in a smooth motion, black eyes dark. They flicker to life like old computer screens -- bright red with glitchy yellow irises -- staring Robotnik down. Keeping his iron grip, the robot stands from the stool and swipes away any connections to the machine with his free hand with precise motions.

There's a bit of static, followed that same robotic voice -- Sonic's voice, but cold, metallic, and monotonous -- coming from the speaker on his chest]

Target acquired. Feeding protocol activated.

[from the base of the robot's spine, four thin cables spool out, then coil like snakes ready to strike, or the tails of some horrid mechanical scorpion. Their tips crackle with electricity and small claws open wide]

[evilgrows]

[This would be the most interesting thing to happen in a long time if it wasn't for this whole being in danger thing. Now, he actually can hold his own in a fight by himself, especially now that he's a monster, but against a machine? Maybe not so much.

He's not too concerned just yet, though.]

Oh no you don't. Don't forget, you're in my lab.

[The only problem is getting his security systems to function fast enough. They're not exactly designed to easily reach into things in here; this place is hard to access compared to the whole building, after all. If only he'd managed to restore the security bots that had already been in here to something better than just movable.

He'll just have to stall for time. So, what's a faerie's best defense? He shrinks down until he can pull his wrist out of Sonic's grip and flutter away from him.]

Which means, of course, my rules. No feeding, unless you're me.

[endlesspastability]

[The faerie slips from Sonic's grip, and he regards his now empty hand. He opens and closes it, then begins to swipe at the air where the little bug doctor is fluttering. Meanwhile, two of his feeding cables attach themselves to the machine nearby, and run a charge through it. There's a loud boom and blue electricity sparks from the machine, leaving it nonfunctional and smoking. At the same time, the robot's eyes glow brighter, and he moves faster. He strikes with both hands and all four cables, arms stretching an extra foot or so when needed.

Though in the end, he's still a teenager-sized robot tenaciously grabbing for a bug in midair. But at least his focus is entirely on the faerie. Any security bots are being ignored in favor of a more energetic prize]

[evilgrows]

[At first he's glad to have escaped Sonic's grip, but then he blows up the diagnostic machine and he shouts at him.]

HEY! You're paying for that!

[While he's zipping around angrily, a few rudimentary machines finally wheel in. The hard part's going to be precision, keeping his other machines from damage while focusing only on the target.

If only he had the kids from back home. This place is the worst.]

Grab him! Apply security measure 0032-B!

[Hopefully they'll distract him by trying to grab at him with their janky robot arms while he zips behind him.]

[endlesspastability]

[the robot's eyes flash and glitch dangerously, but his voice is as even as before. Matter of fact.]

Negative. I will use every inferior machine in this room for power, and then I will take yours.

[Machines directly attacking him changes his focus, and he grabs one of the machines and attaches two of his feeding cables to it, ready to drain it of it's electricity. The other security bots should probably grab a hold of the other two cables before they face the same fate]