It had been...maybe two days since Andy came online and was welcomed into the family by Maria Robotnik herself. It was strange.

Technically, they hardly knew each other, yet...she seemed to cherish every moment they had together and Andy couldn't help but feel protective over the yellow hedgehog. He wanted to make her proud. He wanted to show she was right in rebuilding him.

Especially since he had quickly learned of this 'Dr. Eggman'. His true creator. His 'kind', so to speak, were made for the sole purpose of replicating Shadow The Hedgehog's power in his pathetic quest to conquer the world.

...Shadow...that was another reason Andy felt a little strange. It wasn't exactly Shadow's stoic attitude, it was more or less that they shared a face.

Other than the colors and powers? There really wasn't much of a difference between them...and that bothered him for some reason.

Andy closed his eyes for a moment, or rather his digital eyes simply disappeared from the black visor that formed his eyes, as he continued to go deep into thought.

Shadow was just staring at him from afar, still a tad hesitant about continuing to let an Android of himself living in his house.

"...you know, I may not have eyes on the back of my head, but I can practically feel you staring at me." Andy said, opening his eyes.

Shadow huffed. "Forgive me if it's simply a little strange to have someone with my face right across from me."

"You wanted to call me 'faker' just now, didn't you?"

Shadow walked over. "Yes."

"You aren't exactly wrong though." Andy said, looking at his hand. "And I don't blame you for not trusting me considering who created me..."

Shadow sighed, crossing his arms. "If there's anything I have learned, you are defined by who you are. Not by who or what you were created by. If Maria trusts you, then so do I..."

"...that's the thing though...I'm not sure who I am yet." Andy said, standing up. "But thank you."

Shadow nodded. "It may take time, but-"

Then, Shadow's communicator began beeping again. He sighed and tapped it, answering the call. "This is Shadow."

"Shadow The Hedgehog. Designation: Maria's brother. This is Gemerl calling from The Rabbit Household."

Shadow's eyes narrowed. "And why exactly are you calling me? Is someone in danger?"

"Negative. Maria requested you be called."

"Is that where she's been this whole time? I thought she said she was going to Amy's..." Andy said.

"Negative. She came to the house, emotionally distressed. She is...upset."

Shadow and Andy didn't need another word and dashed right out the door at super speed, two golden blurs trailing behind them.

Hardly any time passed before they arrived at The Rabbit Household, with Shadow quickly opening the door and looking inside. "Maria?!"

Maria slowly looked up from Vanilla's arms, sniffling. "...S-Shadow? Andy?"

Andy quickly rushed over. "What happened?! Who did this to you?!"

Shadow went over as well, looking like he was ready to completely destroy someone. "Consider them obliterated-"

"Boys." Vanilla said gently. "Give her a moment. She hasn't even told me the full story just yet..."

Maria wiped her eyes and then pulled both hedgehogs into a hug, not answering their questions just yet. She just seemed happy they were there.

Shadow's eyes softened and he hugged back. "...it's okay, Maria...it's okay..."

Andy nodded. "Just...'let it out'."

Then, precisely three minutes later, the door opened yet again and a familiar human woman rushed inside. "Where's my sister?!"

Maria looked up from her brothers' arms and didn't even get to speak before she was suddenly in her now older sister's tight hug.

"Oh, thank Chaos you're okay..." Samantha whispered before looking her over. "Physically anyway...Ria, what happened?"

Maria didn't answer, she just tightened her grip.

Vanilla's eyes softened and she looked back at Gemerl. "Thank you for calling them, dear. You should rest for the night."

"I do not require recharging." Gemerl replied.

Vanilla laughed softly. "Maybe not, but you've worked so hard today. You deserve a bit of relaxation. I think we have it handled from here."

"Request...acknowledged." Gemerl said with a nod before he walked away.

Vanilla then looked back, her eyes soft at the yellow hedgehog. The poor girl had clearly been through a lot...it was a miracle she smiled as much as she did.

After a while, Maria had properly calmed down and took a seat on the couch while everyone stayed by her side. She took a deep breath. "...I...I went to Ivo's base."

Shadow's eyes widened. "What?!"

"I-I know, I know...I didn't want to lie to you, but I just...I wanted to get through to him. I've just been hearing about all the awful things he's done that I...I wanted to understand why. And I also wanted to get to know Sage a little better." Maria said, looking down. "But I knew you wouldn't approve..."

Samantha sighed. "Maria, that idiot isn't worth talking to. All he cares about is himself-"

"That's not true." Maria said. "He cares about Sage and I can tell he cares about Metal Sonic too...even if it's in his own way. I could see it, Sam! There's some good in him! And...and I was hoping I could reach it by asking him why he hurts people...a-and...and I got my answer..."

Andy's eyes softened. "...and what was it...?"

Maria looked down. "...he hates me..."

Shadow's fist secretly clenched, but he didn't say anything as he let his sister speak.

"...my aunt and uncle, my parents, my grandfather...the entire family would keep telling him about me." Maria said. "And after he heard so much, he began to feel neglected. Like no matter what he did, they would always find a way to make it about me. I-I could see it in his eyes...the sheer resentment for our family and...and for me...maybe if they had given him more attention a-and love, Ivo would've turned into a better person...but that's not what happened."

"Maria..." Samantha said, her eyes soft.

"...he told me that I had done more for the family gone than he ever did alive..." Maria said, lightly hugging herself. "I...I-I didn't want them to mourn me t-that way...I don't want anyone to completely forget everyone else exists just because I'm gone...h-he deserved so much better...but I ruined his life without even being there..."

Vanilla then held Maria's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Maria...that couldn't be farther from the truth."

"B...but I-"

"Maria, child neglect isn't something to just brush off, I get it." Samantha said. "But that doesn't give him any excuse to blame it all on you when you're not only barely a teenager, but you weren't there."

"You said it yourself. You didn't want your family to mourn you that way." Andy said. "You had no control over how they coped with their grief."

Shadow then sighed. "Ivo still chose to be the way he is today. He decided that because he suffered, everyone else should as well. You had no part in any of this...you shouldn't blame yourself for something you had no control over."

Maria took a deep breath. "I...I just...I wish that I could've helped him...m-maybe if I had lived...he wouldn't be like this..."

Vanilla gently pet her quills. "Maybe. Maybe not. But we can't change the past, sweetie...and what happened to you and Ivo is not your fault."

"You have a good heart, Maria." Samantha said with a soft smile. "You've helped out others for so long...so let us help you this time."

And then...Maria's smile returned, even if there was still a small aura of melancholy. "Thank you all...I couldn't have asked for better family and friends to return to..."

Andy hummed softly. "You ready to head home then?"

"I...I think so..." Maria said...before she then tapped her fingers together. "And umm...Vanilla?"

"Yes?" Vanilla asked.

"I...I-I'm sorry for calling you 'Mom' out of nowhere." Maria said timidly. "I-I just...I really wasn't thinking straight...and you just remind me so much of my own...and when you let me in, I guess I just couldn't help myself."

Vanilla just smiled. "I don't mind one bit, dear. You aren't the first to accidentally call me 'Mom' and you probably won't be the last either. If it provides you any form of comfort? You can call me that if you'd like."

Maria's eyes widened at that before she gave a nervous smile. "T-thank you..."

"Speaking of comfort..." Samantha began. "Shadow, I think we need to talk about maybe getting Maria into...well...therapy?"

Shadow turned, tilting his head.

"Think about it. The discoveries she's been making recently aren't helping her mental health. And even with us as her support system, it's probably still taking a bit of time for her to completely adjust to a brand new future." Samantha explained. "She may be fine right now, but who knows what could happen in the long run? Besides, it might help her out even more to talk to a professional about these things."

Shadow was quiet in thought for a minute before turning to Maria. "I agree with your sister, Maria...but how do you feel about it?"

Maria laughed sheepishly. "I think it might help me...but, umm, will cost be an issue?"

"No." Shadow said, shaking his head. "I'm sure I can ask Commander Tower for another favor."

"And even if he refuses, I'm sure we can pitch in a little." Andy said.

Maria's smile only grew before she nodded. "Okay...thank you all again so much."

"Of course, my child. Maybe stop by a little more?" Vanilla asked.

"I will...and under less emotional circumstances this time." Maria giggled before facing her brothers. "Let's go home."

Andy then walked with Maria outside, but just as Shadow was about to follow? Vanilla put a hand on his shoulder.

"...I didn't exactly want to say this in front of her, but...you do know where Eggman's base is, yes?" Vanilla asked.

Shadow nodded. "And it won't be there for much longer once I am done..."

"Good...would you mind if I tag along this time?"

Samantha's eyes widened a bit and she adjusted her glasses. "Miss Vanilla, I don't believe it would be safe-"

"If my little girl can survive encounters with that man? I'll be just fine."

What usually kept the mind of the great and powerful Dr. Ivo Robotnik at ease while Metal Sonic, Orbot, and Cubot took Sage to the park? Building robots and weapons of mass destruction at ease, of course!

"Hmmm...this one would only need a single Emerald to be a capable threat." Eggman hummed as he drew up the blueprints, but then stroked his mustache. "Come to think of it...none of the bots or even Metal have managed to find any as of late. Almost as if someone else is hunting them down...and given our large history, it's either that blue rat or a third party."

But as the mad doctor theorized...the alarms suddenly began blaring. Eggman's eyes widened and he stood up. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me!!! How many times are people going to try and break in?!?"

He then slammed his hand on a button, which quickly launched a massive armada of Badniks all across his fortress. He then sat down and pulled up security footage...and what did he see?

Traitors.

E-123 Omega and Gemerl standing back to back, with Omega firing bullets into Egg Pawns while Gemerl launched a barrage of missiles at an Egg Hammer.

"FEAR ME, INFERIOR MODELS!!!" Omega boomed as he blasted off into the air and then switched from his gattling guns to energy blasters, shooting all across the walls of the fortress and into what remained of the Egg Pawns.

Gemerl quickly dodged the swing of the massive hammer before flying into the air towards the giant robot. He then shot his fist forward at full force, his robotic fist going through the Egg Hammer's face as it exploded shortly after.

The black and yellow robot then landed, even striking a 'superhero pose'.

Omega looked back at him. "According to my databases on 'witty banter'...you are a poser."

"I am not the one who went for the easy targets." Gemerl said, standing tall.

Before Omega could retort with a threat and or comeback, a titanic Badnik landed behind Omega and quickly aimed a large laser cannon at the last of the E-Series.

Gemerl flew over, his eyes glowing a bright blue as he and Omega lightly fist-bumped before charging at the giant mecha at the same time.

Eggman snarled as he switched to another camera...which showed none other than Rouge dodging and flying over an Egg Samurai, which was missing with every single sword swing it made.

Rouge smirked and then suddenly kicked the massive sword out of its hands before she leapt into the air, catching the sword and then swinging with all her might, effortlessly slicing the bot in half.

She then hummed as she looked at the sword. "Maybe I should get myself one of these...might need a bit more decorative jewels."

Eggman growled as he stood from his seat and then just as quickly kicked away his chair in anger.

"A full on invasion, eh?" Eggman scoffed. "Fine. This base needs better security anyway!!!"

He then quickly started running towards his Eggmobile...until someone suddenly smashed through the wall and slid right in front of Eggman.

Eggman yelped, leaping back. "SHADOW?!?"

Shadow slowly rose and his eyes glowed red as he dashed forward, grabbing Eggman by his jacket. "YOU...YOU'RE COMING WITH ME."

Eggman thrashed in Shadow's grip, only for the black hedgehog to dash right out the hole he made in the walls and then outside. Then, the two suddenly teleported to the very front of the fortress, with Shadow suddenly tossing Eggman right onto the ground.

Eggman cried out with a grunt of pain, but already began thinking of an escape plan as he pressed a button on one of his gloves, secretly signaling Metal Sonic and Sage that the base was under attack.

"Dr. Robotnik..." A voice said suddenly.

Eggman looked up and then quickly became puzzled at the sight of a rabbit Mobian he remembered kidnapping years ago.

Vanilla crossed her arms as she stared down the mustached doctor. "I'd like to have a few words with you..."

While the alarms constantly blared throughout the fortress, Andy skated through the dark halls, kicking or even slicing his way through any opposing Badniks.

He then located a door up ahead. Grinning to himself, he shifted his arms into blades and then suddenly curled up into a ball in mid-air, spin-dashing through the door and bursting it open.

Andy uncurled and slid to a stop, his arms shifting back to normal in the process...before he froze when he saw the room he was in.

Surrounding the walls of the room were giant tubes...and each and every single one of them contained an Android Shadow.

Andy was deathly quiet as he stared at the tubes containing his...kind in a way. His brethren. His mindless and soulless brethren who only had the singular purpose of serving an egotistical maniac.

All of them were deactivated, which surprised him. They either weren't finished or something was preventing them from activating, even during a case of a fortress-wide invasion.

Andy then slowly walked over to one of the tubes, staring at the android inside in complete silence. And all Andy could see was...himself.

The exact same quills. The exact same face. The exact same gloves. The exact same shoes. The exact same...everything.

Andy gently placed his hand on one of the tubes, just staring at the lifeless android in silence until he could only see his own reflection. And the only singular difference was that his eyes were online.

He then looked at all of the other tubes. Each android was the exact same way, with the only difference being color. Blue, pink, orange, green, it didn't matter. There was no difference between any of them.

Andy then looked down at his own hand. "...do I just have a name...? Is that the only thing that makes me different from you all...?"

He then looked up at some of the monitors, which showed off the designs of the androids. How they were built, what they could do, and a few more unimportant details.

"...and even if I am different, I was created off the image of someone else...is that a way to live?" Andy asked. "Living your life with someone else's face? Someone else's...appearance? With little to no difference? I...I don't know...maybe I shouldn't be in here-"

"Andy?" Rouge's voice suddenly called through the coms. "That's your name, yeah? You there? We're about to hightail it cause I have a feeling the doc's called for some backup."

Andy sighed and answered. "Yeah. I'll be right out. Thanks."

He then looked around the room one last time before he gently shook his head. "I've only been online for three days and I'm already questioning everything...get a grip, Andy. Focus on the mission."

The android then kicked open the other door and quickly dashed out at super speed.

"...you?" Eggman asked as he stood up. "Wait...did you plan this invasion?!?"

Vanilla's eyes just narrowed. "No, I'm just the one who insisted Shadow here bring along his friends."

"You have a lot of nerve, rabbit!!!" Eggman snarled. "Do you know who I-?!"

Vanilla then suddenly yanked at the doctor's mustache, gritting her teeth. "You will not say another word! You are lucky that we only came here to give you the earful you so desperately deserve!!!"

Then, she let go, with Eggman slowly backing away. He could feel the rage practically radiating off of this rabbit...

Wait...was he actually scared?

"Yesterday, a young lady by the name of Maria came to this very fortress." Vanilla said. "And according to her, you said some truly awful things straight to her face."

Eggman's eyes widened, but then quickly narrowed under his glasses. "Oh, of course she'd run and tattle to-"

"Talk again and your fortress won't be the only thing that detonates." Shadow threatened.

Eggman quickly shut up.

Vanilla then stepped forward. "She told us that you had a horrible upbringing. That your family never gave you the attention you needed...and that you blamed that all on her when she had nothing to do with any of it! She hadn't even met you! What kind of man would be so horrible to throw all of his problems on a child?! Let alone one who tried to show you kindness!!! Treating you like a decent person even after everything you have done!!!"

Eggman slowly took another step back, even looking from side to side as he tried to look for an exit.

"That girl came to my home, crying her poor eyes out and blaming herself for something that wasn't even her fault! But you made her believe it was!!! You are a grown man, Dr. Robotnik!!! Did it make you feel better to make a 12 year old girl cry?!?" Vanilla sneered. "My baby is more mature than you could ever hope to be and she's only 7 years old!!!"

Shadow then stood behind Eggman, his fists glowing a bright yellow as a warning to let him know there was no escaping this.

"Defend yourself with your past all you want, it's no excuse for what you choose to be now! You have done awful things to my family, my home, and good people! No one in their right mind should forgive you!!! Yet, Maria still tried to see the good in you!!!" Vanilla huffed. "If I recall correctly, she's basically the only biological family you have left that doesn't gag at the thought of being related to you!!! And you treat her like this?!?"

She then shot her arms forward, grabbing Eggman by his jacket and practically growling right in his face like some kind of terrifying beast. "So listen up! You are not going to bother that sweet child ever again unless it's to apologize!!! Or so help me, you'll wish it was Shadow or Sonic dealing with you!!! IS. THAT. CLEAR?!?"

"...y...y-yes, ma'am..." Eggman gulped.

Vanilla huffed and then let him go...before she suddenly rolled up her sleeve. "Oh. And before I forget..."

Then, with an amount of strength that even left Shadow flabbergasted, she smacked Eggman across the face and sent him tumbling across the dirt.

The mother of Cream then let out a 'hmph'. "That was for making both of my girls upset and for using my boy as your own personal weapon!!!"

Then, on cue, Andy skated right over. Followed by Rouge, Gemerl, and Omega.

"My scanners are detecting four signals on the way. We should get going." Gemerl said.

Rouge then looked at Eggman and her eyes widened. She then slowly leaned over to Shadow. "...was that Vanilla's doing?"

Shadow just slowly nodded.

"Remind me not to tick her off..." The thief whispered.

Omega then gave the 'I'm watching you' gesture to Eggman. "Normally, I would insist on eliminating you...but you living with this humiliation is much more gratifying."

Vanilla then looked at Shadow and Andy. "Boys, would you mind Chaos Controlling us out of here?"

Shadow and Andy looked at each other before nodding, realizing that their combined Chaos Energy should be able to make a large scale teleport even without an Emerald.

"CHAOS...CONTROL!!!" The two hedgehogs cried as the group disappeared in a flash.

Eggman just laid there in the dirt, his cheek red from the smack and overall his entire face hurting. It felt like Knuckles himself had just punched him.

Then, four familiar faces quickly dashed in. Metal Sonic, Sage, Orbot, and Cubot.

"Father! We're here- Father?!" Sage cried as she rushed over to him. "Are you okay?!"

"OH NO, HE'S DEAD!!! AND HE WAS ONLY NEVER GONNA RETIRE!!!" Cubot cried, but Orbot quickly hit him in the arm.

Metal then scanned his creator and stood tall. "Designation 'Father' is conscious and not severely harmed."

Eggman slowly sat up, rubbing his cheek. "Y...yes, I am...fine..."

Sage then suddenly hugged her father. "I...I am sorry we did not arrive sooner! We were-"

"It's...alright, Sage." Eggman sighed. "I was going to move from this fortress anyway. Its security is clearly incredibly flawed..."

Orbot then tilted his head. "Ummm, sir? What exactly happened?"

"...I'm not telling."