When I stepped foot into the dilapidated base, Metal Sonic’s body tensed up. It was strange, feeling his body do that. He was just a robot, although he did so many things that regular people did. Even stranger, he never used body language in the past, although after all these years, appears more life-like than ever.

“There are computers up ahead. I’ll try using my Chaos energy to turn them on.”

I pried the door open and slid Metal under, then teleported through the door. It hit the ground hard with a slap!

“That was close!”

I wasn’t used to talking to anyone, much less someone who couldn’t talk back, but I figured it might cheer him up to have someone making stupid quips. I know it used to cheer me up all the time when Sonic did it.

I located the power cord, which was plugged into the forest wall from the entrance, and grasped it in one hand. I held my emerald in the other. I focused on the energy and moved it into the power cord. Opening my eyes, I noticed a faint glow coming from my hand. Good. It was working.

The computer screen flickered on, giving everything an ominous blue glow. Good. I sat my emerald down, since I mainly used it to help boost my power, although I continued to hold the cord in my other hand, draining my energy to keep the computer on.

Metal was leaned up against a wall, facing toward me. The computer’s light made Metal even more sinister. His malicious-looking red gaze did not help him in the slightest.

“I can’t wait until you get a voice. I won’t be stuck talking to myself like this!” I tried to laugh, although it had been so long that it came out more like a wheeze. “Now… to look at every file on his PC…”

I spent the next few hours going through every file he had. Eventually, I got to a group of files pertaining to Metal.

“Do you… know anything about yourself? Like what parts of you are important or what can be replaced?”

Metal nodded.

“Good. I don’t want to hurt you at all.”

He made a sharp vrrrzzz! Sound.

“Oh… yeah, I guess it will still hurt.” I finally found the file containing Metal’s schematics.  “Hold on, how did Eggman ever make repairs or anything like that if it all hurt?”

Metal looked away. He must have powered Metal off so that he didn’t feel anything, although judging by that gaze…

“I’ll turn you off, if you want.” I inspected the schematics closer. Everything important seemed to be kept in the head.

Metal shook his head vigorously.

“Oh? Are you afraid that you won’t power back on?”

Metal nodded. Good. He cared about his well-being.

“Makes sense. Now, judging by these plans, it appears that I can just replace your entire exterior, since your ‘brain’ is all in your head–although I’d have to power you down for that.”

Metal didn’t move. I continued.

“He had a secret underground vault where all your parts are. They should probably still be fine, judging by how deep this thing is and how it’s completely sealed shut.”

Metal still didn’t move.

“This will actually be much easier than I thought. I’m glad he cared about you at least a little, more than he ever cared about anyone else.”

Metal’s motor hummed loudly. I could hear a few pieces of metal internally grind inside him. After a few more moments of looking the schematics, I turned to leave, although the sight before me took me off-guard.

Metal had crawled halfway to the computer, his damaged leg dragging behind him. He looked utterly exhausted as he clawed his way towards the computer.

“Woah there, buddy! Be careful!”

I picked him up gently and held him up to face the computer.

That was the first time I had ever called anyone “buddy,” ever. I was kinda happy to hear that word uttered after centuries of it unspoken. Sonic used to call Tails his buddy, although no one else, not even me. It was a word that always reminded me of true friendship.

Was Metal my friend now?

I focused back up on the screen when I heard a whirl from Metal’s motors. He had up a document and was typing something

<Taking out my internal processing units is very risky, and I am already very damaged. My internal components are very brittle from age. My storage disks where my personality and such are kept is past their life expectancies. I fear that it will be wiped completely if you try to tamper with my “brain,” or even worse, may become a husk of myself that will endlessly try to kill you.>

I was stunned by his elegance and complexity.

“I’m immortal. I can’t die.”

<Even worse for you, then. You will be chased forever.> Metal typed.

My smile dropped. He had a point. I was trying to forget about my endless eternity and laugh everything off, as Sonic did, although my mask was beginning to slip.

“Yeah, you have a point. I’ll replace the rest of you but leave the head.”

Metal began typing again. My throat began to clamp shut at his words. I had to clench my jaw tightly to keep myself from crying.

<I don’t care how much I live after this or how long my body lasts. I just want to have a voice.>