Sonic the Hedgehog and all characters and locations used in this story are trademarks and properties of Sega of America and Sega Enterprises. Used without permission. There, I said it. Now no one can sue me. Atleast I hope not... HEAVY METAL CHAPTER 1: The Ring Thing Sonic stopped behind a trash bin and looked at the scene around him. The sky is turning dark, creating an eerie translucence through the orange layer of pollution that hovers grimly over the city. Lights begin to flare up around the futuristic cityscape, highlighting the tall, purple funnels of polluting smoke that climb unbearably slowly into the dark orange-blue night sky. Few places on Mobius can capture the eerie surreality of Robotropolis at nightfall, and no words can describe the tingling feeling of being there. Sonic turned to Tails and Antoine, his two companions on the trip. SONIC: Coast looks as clear as it'll ever be. Let's jam! TAILS: Yeah, Sonic Jam! ANTOINE: Well, zis eez a fine time to be zinking about fued! We are zupposed to be upsidedownways-loading roboticizer files into Nicole! SONIC: Okay...after you, Ant! Antoine straightens out with a nervous jerk. ANTOINE: Er...uh, no I could nevair to be hogging all zee glory for myselfishness. TAILS: But you seem really pumped, Ant! You're the man! ANTOINE: But, uh... *Antoine shakes nervously* Did zomeone mention somezing about jam? I have some fresh orange marmalade in my back-to-pack, and eet zeems like a lovely time to be picnicking, oui? SONIC: Oh, but this is no time to be thinking about food! It was your idea, mon Capitan D'Coollette! Antoine nervously runs his finger around his collar while Sonic and Tails muffle giggles. The party is interrupted, however, when a Swatbot fires a laser at Sonic, which misses him but knocks off his backpack. SONIC: No! My Power Ring is in that backpack! TAILS: I'll get it, Sonic! ANTOINE: EEEP!!! Tails runs for the backpack, as a Swatbot aims his laser. Sonic buzzes off the Swatbot's arm with a Sonic Spin, as Tails grabs the backpack and flies it back to Sonic. Antoine is gulping down nerve pills right out of the bottle. SONIC: Way past cool, Big Guy! Sonic pulls the ring out of the backpack when it's grabbed by a Catakiller Jr. before he can absorb the energy. SONIC: Hey! TAILS: That thing came out of nowhere! With their attention on the Catakiller Jr. flying off with the Power Ring, the three heroes failed to notice the two Rhinobots charging from behind. Antoine glanced back and screamed, spilling his nerve pills. The noise triggers Sonic's head to turn around, and using the speed he became famous for, the blue hedgehog grabbed Tails and Antoine and sped out of Robotropolis. RHINOBOT 1: Hedgehog escaping...priority one...must pursue. SWATBOT: Negative. Mission accomplished. Power Ring has been obtained. RHINOBOT 1: Affirmative. The three bots head back into the big city. We now join Robotnik and Snively in Robotnik's main HQ, located smack in the center of Robotropolis. They've been watching the previous scene on a visual intercom. ROBOTNIK: Yes! They've got the Power Ring! Open the security gates and let them in! SNIVELY: Yes sir. *Mumbling* Fat bucket of lard... ROBOTNIK: Snively...did you say something? Snively breaks an instant sweat with a nervous smile across his face. SNIVELY: I said, "It must've been hard," sir... ROBOTNIK: Good. Now let them in. Snively types something into a computer, and the big metal door on the other side of the room lifts open. The Catakiller Jr. flies in with the ring. CATAKILLER JR: I have obtained a Power Ring from Sonic the Hedgehog, your Eggness. ROBOTNIK: Excellent! And nevermind my eggness... CATAKILLER JR: Uh...yes sir... Robotnik places the ring on a three-pronged hatch protruding from a computer board. ROBOTNIK: Key in the commands and start 'er up, Snively! SNIVELY: I don't think that's very wise, sir. The program has not completed the testing cycle, and there may still be bugs in-- ROBOTNIK: Yes, dear nephew, but this is only an experiment. The Power Ring is just a test dummy for bigger game... SNIVELY: Nonetheless, sir, we're still dealing with overwhelming power, and if something were to go wrong the results could be disastrous. ROBOTNIK: That's not all that's going to be disastrous if you don't stop back-talking me! SNIVELY: *Meekly* Yes, sir. Snively types some commands into a computer. In turn, the power- harnessing machine activates. The ring flashes and glows as the prongs holding it in place conduct the energy into the computer. After 30 seconds, the machine slows down and a compact disc is ejected through a slot into Robotnik's hands. Robotnik smiles a particularly spine-tingling grin, as he turns around and calls for his metal lackeys. ROBOTNIK: Scratch! Grounder! Get in here! In less than a minute, Scratch and Grounder are standing at attention. SNIVELY: *To self* I've always wondered how they can hear him no matter where they are in the city, and then get here in five seconds flat... SCRATCH: At your service, your roundness! Ha-ha, huh-huh! Grounder rolls up right behind Scratch, causing the robot chicken to fall flat on his back. GROUNDER: I'M at your service, Dr. Robotnik! SCRATCH: Get outta the way! He called me first! GROUNDER: Yeah, but he called me second! SCRATCH: First is better than second, you moron! GROUNDER: Nuh-uh, because second is the most recent! Scratch and Grounder continue to argue while Robotnik and Snively talk amongst themselves. ROBOTNIK: Maybe I should've called Crabmeat... SNIVELY: Well, if the program doesn't work, atleast we'll get rid of one of them. ROBOTNIK: True. Scratch, Grounder...let's not argue. I called you both. Grounder rolls right up to Robotnik with an excited smile. GROUNDER: But you called me more than you called Scratch, huh Dr. Robotnik? SCRATCH: D'oh! No he did not, Dumbot! GROUNDER: Waah! Scratch is calling me names, your blubberness! Make him go to his room without his motor oil... Robotnik grinds his teeth while pulling out the Power Ring-pumped CD program. He lifts it up and shows it to Scratch and Grounder. ROBOTNIK: Do you boys know what this is? Scratch raises his hand painfully high. SCRATCH: Ooh! Ooh! I know! Choose me! Choose me! GROUNDER: Aww, no fair! He's taller! SCRATCH: It's a-uh...uh...a computerized dog bowl! GROUNDER: An electric frizbee! SCRATCH: An autographed copy of Fighters Megamix! GROUNDER: That's what I was gonna say! Robotnik grinds his teeth again while patiently speaking... ROBOTNIK: This is my most brilliant creation to date. SNIVELY: *Mumbling* Like we haven't heard that line before... Robotnik responds to this by giving Snively a swift kick in the pants. SNIVELY: Ouch! ROBOTNIK: I have discovered a means of harnessing power from an exterior energy source, and conducting it into a computer program. When downloaded, this program - codenamed "Heavy Metal" - will supply the computer with all the power that was harnessed from the exterior energy source. In this case, a Power Ring. Understand? GROUNDER: Uh...no. SCRATCH: Grounder, you are such a numbskull! What Dr. Robotnik is saying, is that if one of us jammed that CD up our nose, we'd pass Power Rings for a week, and in the meanwhile we'd turn into gold! Uh... Robotnik patiently grinds his teeth while Snively slaps himself. ROBOTNIK: Oh, forget it. Get over here, Grounder. GROUNDER: Huh? Robotnik opens the CD tray in Grounder's back and puts the ring- pumped CD in. He then grabs a remote control and pushes a button. GROUNDER: Whoah, I feel weird! Grounder begins shaking and glowing. From the ground up, electricity flows around him. A blinding flash flares out, and when the light becomes dim enough to see again, Grounder is sream-lined mega version of his previous self. SCRATCH: Uh...heh, heh! Remember all those mean things I said, Grounder? Well, I didn't really mean them, ya know! Just kiddin' around! Heh, heh! Grounder does not respond but stands straight at attention without uttering a sound. ROBOTNIK: Grounder, locate and destroy the Catakiller Jr. that brought the Power Ring to me. SNIVELY: That's impossible...he never even saw-- Before Snively can finish, Grounder's eyes begin flashing as weird computer noises come from him. SCRATCH: Uh, oh! Look out, he's got gas again! GROUNDER: Target located. Coordinates are X40 -Y31. Location near Robotropolis sewage plant A54. Heading north-northwest at approximately 35 miles per hour. Near coordinates established. Firing missile. Grounder's chest plate opens and a single missile shoots out. The missile breaks through a nearby window and flies at an overhead angle toward said Catakiller Jr. CATAKILLER JR: ...In the nights, dream delight... Catakiller Jr. turns around and notices the missile coming straight for him. CATAKILLER JR: Huh? The missile blows Catakiller Jr. and all his parts to kingdom come. Back in Robotnik's center command HQ... GROUNDER: Target has been terminated. SCRATCH: Whoah! How did...how could...what if...GIMME ONE OF THOSE CD'S! ROBOTNIK: Relax, you metallic moron...there will be plenty enough to go around! Heh, heh, heh, heh! Snively, prepare a hover unit. It's time to go after bigger game... SNIVELY: You mean a Chaos Emerald, right sir? ROBOTNIK: Precisely... *** End of Chapter 1 ***