It was a casual night, nothing special to Chris. It wasn't really boring, or entertaining. He'd say it was just, ordinary, that's all. Nothing really seemed to light him up, despite being from a rich family, having his own mind and butler. But his parents were almost always never there, but they loved him, he knew. He could feel it from their phone calls in the longing for him. He was ready for another night, he laid down in bed and imagined is mom and dad there, tucking him in.

"Goodnight Mom, goodnight Dad." He imagined their replies.

"Good night dear, sweet dreams."

He always dozed off a few minutes afterwards, nothing stopped him, he didn't have anything to do. We was just about to drift off until he heard a splash in the back yard and screaming.

Plenty of horrified screams.

This didn't sound exactly... human, but he found himself in his pajamas running to the pool. Someone in there was panicking and desperately was trying to stay afloat. He took a deep breath and jumped in, he heard shouts from behind, they must've heard the chaos too. Chris grabbed who - or what - ever it was and dragged him out. It was difficult, due to the person flailing their limbs around and scratching and clawing, probably unintentionally.

He was out, and so was what he got out.

It whirred, the panic eventually fading from the bright red eyes. They were soaked, no covering that up, and frightened. Chris walked over to it even though they shouted for him to stay back. Curiosity was stronger, he held out his hand.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Chris."

He didn't expect anything, for it to run off, or it was just a crazy dream and he'd wake up, who knew? But it shocked him when he felt the cold metal hand shake his.

"Metal, Metal Sonic, but my friends call me Sonic for short, or--" He was cut off.

"CHRIS!!!" She ran to him, scolding Neo for scratching him up a little, the robot looked down and apologized on the spot. The butler came over and inspected the new friend, intrigued.

"I can hardly understand how this happened!" She admitted. "What - how - are you here!?"

"I'll explain later, right now I'm freezing my wires and wearing down my energy, I will tell you what you desire in return for a place to stay tonight." He did sound tired, and some panic still lingered in his speech. Chris saw that Neo's eyes darted around looking out for something. Or someone.

"What will we tell your parents?" He realized she was scolding him when he dazed off a little.

"That there was an animal in the pool and I saved it." He smiled as Neo glared at him, but rolled his optics at he smiled a little, showing a few of his pointed teeth. Chris didn't see the reason for them, maybe it was just for show. They were on the phone telling his parents about the predicament.

"He saved a..." The butler stared and Neo for a few good moments still trailing his voice. "A cat, yes, a cat."

"I'm a replica of a hedgehog." Neo corrected, but it was too late, in Chris's parents' eyes he would be seen as a cat.

"Chris, honey, are you okay? Did it hurt you?" His mom asked over the phone frantic.

"Yeah. I only got a few light scratches, and the cat seems very happy!" He told over the phone, he pat Neo's head who flinched away at that.

"My AI is like your mind, I'm not some pet." He muttered before taking a few steps back.

'So you're a stubborn type to befriend, I can work with that.' Chris though at Neo sat at the doorway, looking at the night sky.

"Yes. We will get him dried up and to bed, we'll check that cat and to scratches, okay bye!"

"Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" He yelled to the phone second before it was hung up.

"I wish I had something like that." He thought he hear Neo say when he walked past him inside, Neo didn't enter until the butler wedged his foot in the way of the closing door and told Neo to get in.

Most of that night was a blur, he needed sleep, but he wanted answers. But they ushered him upstairs after his shower to ensure he wouldn't stay up too late. He only went down a few steps and hid for a few minutes when the two adults had Neo sit down. Questions were going to be asked.

"So the elephant in the room..." The Butler began. "What are you?"

"An advanced AI meant to learn and copy, to find the best and quickest solution, and programmed to protect Mobius." Neo stated, but that only added more questions, they ticketed about what is next they would ask, then continued.

"Where are you from?"

"A different Dimension, a.k.a universe." Neo replied, they still seemed to want a little more. "I was created by my former master, Dr. Ivo Robotnik. He wanted to destroy and rule Mobius, I betrayed him only a few years after my creation though and fight him with my two brothers."

Again they argued on the next question.

"How did you get here?"

"..." He looked down as if he were ashamed and did a robots c equivalent of a sigh. "I honestly don't know, there was just Chaos Control and--" He snapped his fingers "--I'm gone and in here."

There was silence, it was obvious they were all tired, it wouldn't last much longer.

"We have plenty of questions for your but I think we all can agree we're all tired." Chris yawned as if on cue and walked back upstairs, understanding a little about his new friend, he heard them still talking a little.

"So we'll have many questions for you tomorrow."

"Thank you, I will answer to the best of my ability." Neo went to a chair and powered off there after they left.

Chris had one question he desperately wanted an answer to, he would have to wait for tomorrow though, it was what stayed when he fell asleep.

'Who are your brothers?'