Archie Sonic Universe Issue 3


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 * This issue takes place during Sonic the Hedgehog #199

Archie Sonic Universe Issue 3 was the third issue of the spin off Sonic Universe comic series.

Story

 * "Old Soldiers"

The story opens with Commander Abraham Tower in the briefing room of G.U.N. HQ with Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat, explaining the situation regarding E-102 Gamma while Dr. Eggman does the same in his Eggdome with E-123 Omega. They explain to their respective viewers that E-102 Gamma was originally an elite fighting robot that served and was built by Eggman, until he went rogue after the Egg Carrier crashed and destroyed as many of the other E-100 Series as he could. Once he had destroyed the last known E-100, he travelled all over Mobius fighting the Eggman Empire and performing good deeds such as secretly helping the Downunda Freedom Fighters, but has never openly helped or allied with anyone.

Commander Tower wishes to change that by recruiting Gamma and offering the failing robot asylum and sends out Shadow to find him, but Eggman has other plans. He orders Omega to find and destroy Gamma. At first the robot refuses, saying that Eggman had put him in storage for over a year and that he was made to destroy Sonic the Hedgehog, not to perform this lower task. Eggman then threatens Omega that he'll put him into storage for another decade if he doesn't do as he's ordered.

Feeling distraught about not being able to turn Metal Sonic to his side, Shadow sets off alone at once to find Gamma in a GUN helicopter, as does Omega with his jet boosters. After Omega is gone, Snively questions whether or not sending Omega to destroy Gamma was a wise idea as he was so powerful, but Eggman says that he doesn't want anything interrupting his rematch with Sonic. Snively then says that Lien-Da and the Dark Egg Legion are ready to engage the advancing Freedom Fighters and Chaotix, giving Eggman just enough time to press his scarf.

Shadow is dropped off at the mountains and finds Gamma, who explains he didn't shoot Shadow, being an enemy of Dr. Eggman. Shadow notices that Gamma is rusty and damaged, and tries to send him to GUN's extraction point, but is blindsided by Omega. Gamma flees to the extraction point while Shadow holds off Omega. Suddenly, Shadow is catapulted into the sky, after getting stuck in Omega's cannon blasters.

While Shadow is gone, the two robots threaten each other over their radios, but Gamma blasts Omega and sends him to the ground. Gamma tries to calm his brash brother and explain how robots can have souls, but Omega has little care for his weaker brother's words. Shadow rushes back to rescue Gamma, but Omega blasts a full barrage of ammo at Gamma, destroying him. However, despite his brother's destruction, Gamma's soul has merged with Omega turning him into a kinder robot, with no intent on destroying the world.

Shadow explains to Omega to turn against the doctor for making him a killing machine and helps him build a grave for Gamma. The duo are taken back to GUN, with Omega joining the team. Later, Shadow is in the GUN rec room with Hope Kintobor and Rouge talking about the recent events. Finally, Rouge explains to Shadow that they will be heading to the Special Zone to retrieve another Chaos Emerald.

Quotes

 * Eggman: Your mission is to find that traitor and reduce it to slag! That should prove simple enough for you.
 * E-123 Omega: I refuse!
 * Eggman: You can't turn traitor already! You haven't even been active for twenty-four hours!
 * E-123 Omega: Exactly. I have been in storage for over a year. I was designed to destroy Sonic the Hedgehog. Why is my first mission not to destroy Sonic the Hedgehog?
 * Eggman: Because the rodent is mine! Now do as you're told or I'll put you back in storage for another decade!


 * Commander Abraham Tower: You deploy as soon as you're prepared.
 * Shadow the Hedgehog: I'm on my way to the hangar, then.
 * Commander Tower: You don't want any support?
 * Shadow: Please. I am the ultimate lifeform. I can handle this alone. (thinks to himself) That, and after failing to save Metal Sonic, I need to prove to myself that I can do this. I will not let another living weapon be lost.


 * Snively: Are you sure this is wise, sir? E-123 has more firepower than all of the old Badnik horde combined.
 * Eggman: I don't want anything distracting me or my new weapon from my much-needed rematch with the rodent.
 * Snively: Of course. In that case, Lein-Da reports that the Dark Egg Legion is about to engage the advancing Freedom Fighters.
 * Eggman: Perfect! That will give me just enough time to press my scarf!


 * E-123 Omega: Surrender, brother. Do not embarrass yourself further. A single one of my shots would tear through that old armor of yours. I detect smoke. Is that your grav-linked jet disc? Pathetic. You would not get far with it, even if it were in perfect condition. You are outdated, brother. Slower, weaker. You cannot outrun me... ...and that pitiful gun of yours cannot harm me.
 * E-102 Gamma: E-123, codename Omega. The last of my line. I downloaded your file. Your armor is heavy-- but so are you. Your speed is great-- but you're unwieldy. Your jets are stronger-- but you're louder. I do not have such limitations. I am nimble. I cover ground more easily. As for weaponry... (takes three precise shots at Omega, toppling him to the ground) You are a walking arsenal. I am an assassin.


 * E-123 Omega: (to Shadow) If you tell anyone in G.U.N. I made a grave marker, or whined about my place in the world, I will turn you into linked sausage.

Key Events

 * E-102 Gamma is revealed to be alive after rescuing Amy Rose and leaving the Egg Carrier.
 * E-123 Omega is unleashed after being left in storage for a year.
 * Shadow is dispatched by GUN to find Gamma in the remote mountains.
 * E-102 Gamma is destroyed.
 * E-123 Omega joins GUN in place of Gamma.

Background Information

 * This marks Gamma's first appearance since SSS: #13.
 * This marks the first appearance of E-123 Omega in the comic, after writers have been trying to get him in for some time.
 * Lien-Da's name was again mistakenly spelled "Lein-Da", the second time after StH: #198.
 * This issue takes place just prior to the events of StH: #199.
 * In the game the flicky bird that was traped inside Gamma was pink, however here it is brown.