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tenebraevesper · 1 year

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Sonic the Hedgehog Analyzer, Scrapnik Island Issue #4: Scrapnik Island (Part 4)

Welcome to the finale of Scrapnik Island! All I have to say for this is that I absolutely love it and the ending cements Scrapnik Island as my favorite Sonic IDW Miniseries.

Not to mention, the covers are absolutely amazing!

We kick off the story with Mecha Sonic preparing Sonic for the mind transfer, with Sonic wondering what the hell he’s talking about. Mecha explains how Eggman once tried to make a device that controls Badniks via his mind, but got bored and scrapped the project (I’m not surprised). Mecha used this in combination with Tails’ tablet to download his own mind into Sonic’s body, with Sonic suddenly realizing that he’s indeed serious about this.

Mecha explains that the Scrambled Egg Carrier is just a piece of junk, meaning there is no way for the Scrapniks to flee the island, so after transferring his mind into Sonic’s body, he’ll just run across the ocean and get his revenge on Eggman. Logistics aside on running across the ocean, something we saw in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie (and the fact that he could also just repair the Tornado), this sounds like a good plan.

Sonic questions him about Sigma and the other Scrapniks; y’know, his friends, but Mecha takes a moment, then tells him that friendship is weakness, a brief glitch in his software. As he talks, we can see the Scrapniks hide above them, horrified by Mecha saying they were never his friends.

Sonic calls him out on it, saying how he’s just full of it. He may have hit a nerve there, but Mecha just tells him to shut up and activates the machine and we get a really painful look of Mecha’s mind being transferred to Sonic’s. Sheesh, Sonic looks like he’s being electrocuted.

Okay, I will stop here for a moment just to note that I did speculate that, with how things were set up, Sonic would have to go through a typical “battle inside your mind” and try to expel Mecha somehow out of his mind and body, but what they did in the comic is actually much better!

The Scrapniks, witnessing this sin against nature, leap at Mecha, yelling at him to stop. Not only do they attack Mecha, but also the machine, breaking it in the process. *claps* Amazing job, guys!

Mecha is kneeling in the ashes and broken machinery, devastated. All of his hard work is gone thanks to the Scrapniks he rejected as his friends and he screams how they ruined everything. His eye glows, showing that he’s pissed.

“I’LL CRUSH YOU!”

Mecha gets up, charging at the Scrapniks (and making a reference to Super Mario Bros. Z).

While Mecha is busy, a few other Scrapniks quickly free Sonic, who is dazed and still fried from the incomplete mind transfer. He hears a voice inside his head, talking about how their plans are ruined, how they have to escape the island...

“I’m... not... trash...”

And there it is. Yeah, Sonic realizes that he’s picking up fragments of memories, thoughts and emotions, all of which belong to Mecha Sonic. Despite acting all aloof, it is clear that Mecha is still suffering from low self-esteem and just wants to prove he isn’t a piece of junk left to be abandoned.

Mecha slaps away another Scrapnik, which pisses off Sonic, who spin-dashes into Mecha, leaving the Scrapnik, who was about to be torn to shreds, surprised.

I really love the reaction Sonic has in the upper panel. It is not because he’s trying to protect them (although that’s part of it), but because he sees the Scrapniks as his friends. If you mess with his friends, you have to deal with him; and he’s furious.

During their race, it becomes clear that Sonic still can’t run properly because of his injured leg, describing it as being stabbed by thousand needles. However, he still pushes through, despite the agony he feels. Mecha then suddenly asks him what he even knows about pain, saying how what Sonic is feeling is nothing compared to what Mecha went through.

Unlike Sonic, he has been cast aside, robbed of his purpose, and while Sonic may have defeated him last time, he’s now completely alone and injured.

“You’ve reached your limits.”

“Ah. But see. That’s the thing about limits... they’re meant to be broken!”

Despite visibly sweating and being in pain, Sonic smiles through, accelerating his speed, much to Mecha’s shock and they speed right over the conveyor belts that lead to an active furnace. Honestly, I’m not surprised that this is happening. Sonic has a strong willpower and he’s determined enough to power through anything. We all saw what happened in Sonic Frontiers.

We see the two fighting, with Sonic still struggling, but he’s doing his best. Also, why is this slowly giving me Toy Story 3 vibes?

Sonic manages to catch Mecha off guard, kicking him in the face and shattering the brace the Scrapniks made for him, and Mecha falls into the scrapped metal, bested by Sonic once again. During his fall, we see a brief flashback to happier times, seen as friend and protector by the Scrapniks, shown love by those who care about him.

We also see his red eyes turn yellow as he lands. It seems as if his rage has vanished.

Sonic, seeing Mecha sinking into the pile of scraps that is going towards the furnace, calls out for him, telling to grab his hand, but Mecha swats it away.

Mecha tells Sonic that the cobalt hedgehog has the freedom to explore the world at his own leisure, unhindered by regret and and failure... and how that must be nice. He says how this is what he deserves, how he failed both of his directives to beat Sonic as Eggman’s creation and protect the Scrapniks.

“I am a failure. I am worthless. I am trash...”

Hm, who does this scene remind me of...

Scrapnik Island, DON’T YOU DARE TO PULL A SONIC OVA ON ME! DON’T YOU DARE TO KILL OF MECHA SONIC!!!

Sonic appears to share the same sentiment as I do, because look at him! He is furious!

He just yells at Mecha to cut the crap and extends his hand, giving us this amazing speech:

“You give yourself value and purpose! No one else! You gotta live for you! That’s what it really means to be free! NOW TAKE! MY! HAND!”

Mecha stares, then lifts his hand and grabs Sonic. Wow,... just, this is pure awesomeness! This is Sonic at his best, inspiring people to make choices! There is no way he’s going to let Mecha just die like that! Not to mention, his speech isn’t just directed to Mecha, but to everyone. Hell, this is what he hoped to teach Surge and Kit, but we know how that one turned out.

Not only that, but it also applies to real life. We live in a world where it is easier to accept being told by other people what you can do and what you can’t do. We just conform to the masses. Sonic tells you to screw that option and live for yourself. It doesn’t matter what others think about you, but what you think about yourself. It is a really powerful message.

Sonic attempts to pull Mecha out, only to pause, with Mecha wondering what’s wrong. Sonic grins sheepishly, admitting that he may have overdid it with his foot and now he can’t move it.

Mecha’s reaction is priceless. You can just hear the “You gotta be kidding me?!” line as he notes how there was all this big talk and Sonic can’t even get them out. Sonic replies how he’s working on it. Absolutely hilarious!

Fortunately for Sonic, someone familiar grabs him.

It is Tails! Not only did he survive the fall, but also brought along Sigma and all of the other Scrapniks to form a chain-link line and pull Sonic and Mecha out of the furnace. Awesome job, guys!

Once they’re finally safe and sound, the Scrapniks and Sigma just hug Mecha, with Sigma apologizing for being unaware of his inner turmoil. It doesn’t matter, though, as Mecha is just happy to be surrounded by his friends and family.

Sonic and Tails observe the reunion, both happy, but... is Sonic crying? Yeah, he is! He’s crying! Sonic is legit crying!

Screw you, SEGA mandates!

Tails turns to him, surprised to see Sonic smiling and crying, but Sonic replies how those aren’t his tears...

They’re Mecha’s.

Honestly, I teared up during this page, because this is so heartwarming... and a great loophole around SEGA’s mandates. Yeah, sure Sonic can’t cry, so how about we say those were Mecha’s tears thanks to their mind link. That’s okay, but let’s be honest here, fans know that Sonic probably also shed a tear of his own during this scene.

So, all that is left is Tails removing Eggman’s programming from both Mecha Sonic and Mecha Knuckles (who seems to now behave like regular Knuckles, being aloof and all that), and Sigma and Mecha are thankful for their help, with Mecha finally being free to be his own person.

Have I already said how much I love this? Because I do!

“The value of one’s existence isn’t determined by successes and failures. Both are fleeting and impermanent. What truly matters is having the courage to keep moving forward... I see that now. Thank you, Sonic.”

Okay, is it just me or does this really give off Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back vibes? Because it does!

In any case, we see Mecha thanking Sonic for making him realize how he’s the one who gives himself value, holding the sunflower as they’re called over by Tails, Sigma and the other Scrapniks to the fixed tornado. Mecha notes how he has no idea what the future holds for him, but despite the uncertainty, he’s ready to face it head-on with the help of his friends.

As Sonic and Tails depart, bidding good-bye to their new friends, we are left with Mecha’s thoughts.

“I’m done being controlled by yesterday. I’m going to live for tomorrow.”

...

Damn, just damn...

THIS WAS AMAZING! SCRAPNIK ISLAND IS AMAZING!

The premise is so simple, but the message is incredibly powerful! I really hope we get to see Mecha Sonic, Sigma, Mecha Knuckles and the Scrapniks again. As a matter of fact, their presence could be linked with Belle’s decision to help abandoned Badniks. It’s just perfect!

This story is perfect and I hope we can get more stories like this one in the future.

Links:

#Previous Issue

#Next Issue

#Sonic the Hedgehog Analyzer (Masterlist)

#Sonic the Hedgehog Analyzer #sonic idw #scrapnik island #sonic the hedgehog #mecha sonic #dr eggman #scrapniks #e-117 sigma #metal sonic #sonic ova #miles tails prower #mecha knuckles

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myymi · 1 year

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scrapnik island, but trauma has entered the chat

TW//

mentions of abandonment (robot&child)

ao3 link

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He really didn’t think this plan through. Which is not something you’d expect from Miles “Tails” Prower, is it?

But it’s true. And even now, as he and the other broken badniks stalked through the halls of the abandoned Death Egg, he didn’t he didn’t bother with trying to figure out details. Or a backup plan, for that matter.

He didn’t care for the specifics, he’d figure it out as he went. He didn’t have time to worry over it, Sonic needed help. Sonic needed him, he had to act now.

It’s ironic. He’d always chastised his big brother for acting without a plan, yet here he was. Doing exactly that.

He really was just like him.

Tails’s ear flicked, causing him to stop in his tracks. He focused on his hearing, trying to determine what he had picked up. The scrapniks had stopped too, looking at him as he listened.

Then he heard it. His tablet beeped at him, indicating there was movement up ahead.

Metal clanked against metal, a sound the fox was all too familiar with. He dashed to press against the wall, the other bots quickly following suit.

He readied the gun he had built from some of the spare parts on the island, waiting for the perfect moment to jump out and attack.

“Hold it right there!” Once the sound was close enough, Tails and the other badniks revealed themselves, weapons pointing at..

“Oh my!” Not Mecha.

They stared at each other. Awkward silence filled the air as the machine they had thought they were tracking clutched something to their chest, protecting it.

“Young Master Tails!” Tails was sure the robot would have smiled if they could, “a sight for sore optics, to be sure.”

“Oh. Hey, Sigma,” The kit inhaled, “it’s just you.” He let out a sigh of relief, allowing his body to relax since he and the scrapniks weren’t in any immediate danger.

Holding the gun with a single hand, his other moved to rest against his hip, “We’re looking for Mecha Sonic. He’s holding Sonic captive for some reason.” He explained, ears tipping down ever so slightly.

“Mind telling me what’s going on?” He tried, hoping the tall robot would know what tipped Mecha off.

“It is as I feared.” Sigma turned away, eyes downcast as they looked at the broken echidna machine in their arms.

Was that Metal Knuckles? What happened to him?

“Mecha’s systems are very,” They paused to try and think of a good word to describe it, “robust. My knowledge of his software’s nuances is limited.”

Tails frowned at the bot’s words. What were they talking about?

“When I rebuilt him, I attempted to rewrite Dr. Eggman’s original programming to the best of my ability.” Sigma continued, turning back to the kit and other machines, “but, it would seem my efforts were insufficient.”

The fox bit the inside of his lip and moved his free hand up to scratch the back of his neck. He understood the feeling of failing to program something.

“His old protocols and subroutines must have reawakened somehow,” the scrapnik concluded, “they are warping his cerebral processor.”

They looked sad once again, “This is my error, not Mecha’s. He is not thinking clearly, Tails.”

Before they could exchange any further words, a staticy noise emitted from the tablet connected to the kit’s belt. Startled, Tails snapped his head down to stare at it.

The static stopped.

“Onnn the c-c-contrary, Sigmaaaa..” A broken voice called from the Miles Electric. He slung his weapon around himself, snatching up his now beeping tablet with both hands.

He was close. Very close.

“M-m-my miiind has never be cl-clearerrrr.”

The beeping got quicker, until it eventually stopped.

Tails paled, knowing what that meant.

“Behind you.”

He didn’t waste another second.

Reflexes faster than Sonic’s speed, Tails held his gun once again and started firing in the direction of the sound.

The rest of the scrapniks quickly followed suit, shooting at the hedgehog-like machine.

Unfortunately, Mecha was based on Sonic. He was fast enough to easily dodge the onslaught of bullets that rained upon him. He curled and bounced off the walls, rolling away quicker than any normal thing could sprint.

Once Mecha had disappeared from sight, they ceased fire. Thick, black smoke escaped from the barrels of their guns, an obvious sign of overheating. Tails’s eyes were trained on the hallway, looking for any sort of movement.

Until the Miles Electric buzzed.

The kit looked down at it as the same broken voice emitted from the device’s speakers once again.

“You don’t know what it’s like,” He quirked a brow, “to be discarded.. Forgotten.” Tails’s right hand curled into a fist.

What a wild and very, very incorrect assumption.

A strained sound came from behind, causing the kit and the other scrapniks to quickly turn around.

A small gasp escaped him when he saw the hat on the floor.

He hadn’t seen the damn thing in years. But now that he had, even if a replica, he felt his heart sink.

“S-Sigma?” He called, eyes darting from here to there, desperately searching for the robot.

He wasn’t given long to dwell on his missing friend.

Electricity snapped behind them, and he understood why when he turned. Mecha was destroying one of the badniks that came with them.

With a silent promise to fix the machine when he had a chance to, He and the two that were still standing quickly fired at the violent robot, running away from their opponent.

“He’s too fast!” Much faster than he was when Tails had first encountered him, that’s for sure, “retreat!” He called before revving his tails and zipping down the hallway.

“This is bad.” This is why you don’t run into a fight without a detailed plan. Or at least a backup one. “I underestimated his speed.” He criticized himself quietly. Stupid, what was he thinking?!

He wasn’t. That’s the issue.

“I’d assume both his rust and mismatched parts had slowed him down.” He was too caught up in berating himself, oblivious to other noises around him as he tried to work out a new plan. “But he’s just about as fast as Sonic!”

“If we can hunker down in a small room somewhere and limit his movement,” He thought aloud, only slightly aware of how eerily silent his surroundings had become, “we might just stand a—“

He glanced behind him to check on the scrapniks.

Only they weren’t there.

“A chance..” He finished his sentence, even though no one was around to hear it. His tails stopped spinning, letting him gently fall to the ground.

‘Uh, guys?” He called, though a part of him knew there was no point in it.

They wouldn’t answer him.

But someone else would.

That someone was standing where the other robots had previously been. His red eye lights practically glaring at the kit.

Tails could feel his fur stick up.

He was scared.

“I was once Dr. Eggman’s most remarkable creation,” Mecha started, ready to lunge forward, “we were supposed to conquer the world together.”

The kit allowed his finger to move from the trigger of his gun, but tightened his grip on its hilt. Maybe there was a way around fighting..

“After I was rebuilt, I waited for him,” Even though there wasn’t one, Tails could hear the growl in the robot’s voice, “I was so certain he would come find me and we could try again.”

But he never did, Tails thought to himself. Which was typical of Eggman.

He couldn’t help but feel empathetic towards Mecha. He knew the feeling all too well.

“But instead, he abandoned me,” Mecha looked down at his robotic hand and claw. If he had teeth, the fox was sure he’d be grinding them together.

He couldn’t blame him.

“He left me here to rust on this forsaken junk pile,” his hand curled into a fist, clasping down with enough force to crush an apple effortlessly.

“I know the feeling,” Tails’s voice wavered, but he made sure the other heard him. Mecha’s head snapped up to stare at the fox pup, “hurts, doesn’t it?”

A wave of nervousness washed over the boy when he received no response.

“You,” The kit inhaled when the robot began speaking, “couldn’t possibly know what it’s like to be tossed out after one failure.” Even though the tone hadn’t changed, he knew venom was laced within those words.

Tails’s grip on the gun loosened.

If Mecha really wanted to play his trauma card, he’s willing to counter it with his.

“That’s an awfully bold assumption,” Tails mused, letting a hand drop from holding his weapon. “You’re sure about it?”

“You’re still with him,” Mecha was sure alright. “What do you know about abandonment.” It wasn’t a question. He was certain the kit had no idea what it was like.

Oh, how wrong he was.

“I had a life before Sonic, Mecha,” Tails released his gun fully, allowing it to hang from its strap that rested around his torso, “and trust me, it wasn’t pretty.”

The robot didn’t respond. He just stared at the fox, who took a deep breath.

He offered Mecha a sympathetic smile, “The first four years of my life were spent at an island named Westside.” He explained, gaze trained on the robot ahead of him. Waiting for the other to make a move to attack.

But he didn’t.

So the fox continued talking.

“The people living there didn’t care all too much for me.” He made sure to make eye contact with his next sentence. “Not even my parents.”

He waved a hand, “Or creators, if you’d like. The mobians who made me.” He clarified, still watching the machine’s movements.

Mecha shifted, but didn’t attack. Something in his optics changed.

Tails smiled.

“I wasn’t even given a chance,” His voice got quieter. He didn’t like talking about it, but he’s willing to if it kept the badnik from charging at him, “they took one look and decided I wasn’t worth it.”

He noticed the other’s stance slouched ever so slightly, his fist uncurling.

“You know you aren’t the only one who was left behind, Mecha,” Tails risked a step forward, his namesake twitching behind him in anticipation, “look at this island. It’s been built up by other badniks that Eggman abandoned.”

Mecha looked to the ground, so he chanced another step.

“What happened to you sucked. Believe me, I know.” His voice was thick with emotion, “but that doesn’t give you any right to hurt your friends.”

Tails flinched when the robot snapped his head up, body stiffening once again.

That.. was apparently the wrong thing to say.

“They are not my ‘friends’.” The machine hissed, causing the kit to immediately back away to the spot he was previously in. His right hand gripped the handle of his gun once again.

“How can you say that?” Tails found himself saying before he could stop it, “they helped you, fixed you! How could you do this to them?!” He threw his left hand out to the side, gesturing to their surroundings.

“Your hatred is against Eggman. Don’t forget that, Mecha.” He was still talking, not allowing Mecha to explain himself. “The other scrapniks, Sonic, and I have nothing to do with it! You have no excuse to hurt us!”

“Sonic,” The venom in the robot’s voice was back, causing the kit to grab his gun with both hands. Not yet nearing the trigger, though, “destroyed me, and you helped. You’re at fault, as well as the doctor.”

“You attacked us!” Tails yelled, before his mind drifted to the reason he was even in the Death Egg in the first place. “What did you do with Sonic, anyway?!”

“I have plans for him,” Mecha’s response was vague, and the fox didn’t like it, “they are of no concern to you.”

“Yeah right,” He scoffed, “he’s my brother! Of course it concerns me!” He snapped. His, seemingly, endless patience suddenly disappearing with the knowledge that the hedgehog he admired oh so much was currently in danger.

The robot was quiet for a few seconds before he held out his hand, “Give me the tablet, and I will spare you.”

Tails growled, his finger finally returning to rest on the trigger.

“C-Come take it.”