CHAPTER 27: Return

Seven months later…

Knuckles rubbed his eyes, partly from the dust of the ancient Sandopolis library and from eye strain from looking at these scrolls for so long in the weak light. For the last several months, he had been investigating the cause of a sudden Chaos Emerald flux that knocked anyone too close to an Emerald out cold, but a few minutes later, they awoke with the ghost of a headache, but no injuries.

Except one.

During the flux, Sonic had taken off from where Tails, Knuckles and Shadow—and Knuckles found out about Rouge later—but had not returned. After the commotion, Tails went to go look for him, only to find that Sonic's tracks had ended right beside the X-Tornado. It was as if Sonic had sprouted wings and flew away. No one knew where to look.

In the hours and days to follow, Knuckles got reports from the other caretakers of the Emeralds, including some innocent bystanders—namely Amy, Cream and Cheese—and had learned that the Emeralds had fluxed in unison in some kind of electromagnetic pulse. This they determined that the X-Tornado, and any electronic equipment any nearby party had gone through power failure. The damage wasn't permanent as the machines soon came back online, but the mystery around it was ominous. What was worse was that Sonic had completely disappeared. No one had seen him since that day.

It had been seven months now, seven long months of feverish searching for some, seven long months of studying for Knuckles. At first, Knuckles had gone out in search parties all over the Island, looking for Sonic, but there was neither hide nor hair of the hedgehog. Giving up, Knuckles took to finding out if Sonic's disappearance had anything to do with the Chaos flux.

He started with what he and Sonic were talking about before the Chaos flux. They were talking about the Emeralds flickering, and then Knuckles brought up the Great Disaster of Ages, where the seven Chaos Emeralds fluxed at once and nearly wiped out the entire planet. It was thanks to the sacrifice of Gustaf the Guardian two-thousand years ago that saved Mobius completely. They all had thought the Chaos Emeralds were ushering in another Great Disaster, but since the flux, the Emeralds didn't do anything again, as if it was all just a false alarm.

Knuckles wasn't convinced. Something happened, and the more he thought about it, the less it made sense. For some strange reason, he had this gut feeling that something happened after that flux, but he couldn't recall what. What could have happened in three minutes, anyway? Maybe he was just going crazy.

Knuckles stood up and stretched his stiffening body. As he felt each muscle creak as they protested the sudden movement, he rubbed his eyes and continued to think. Why in the world did Sonic vanish? Why did the Chaos Emeralds flux to begin with?

He remembered a report the Overlander bounty hunter, Viper, had made. He had voice his concerns about the Black Chaos Emerald causing it, something about a gut feeling as well. However, when Viper dared to search the caverns of Mount Boia, the resting place of the foul Emerald, the Emerald too had disappeared. At first, everyone thought it was stolen, but there were no readings of any dark Chaos energy anywhere on the planet. If it was moved, it was buried very deep somewhere. It would be easier if it really did permanently vanish. That would be a headache taken care of.

There was a knock at the door. Knuckles jumped slightly; he wasn't expecting company. Recovering himself, he called out. "Who is it?"

"Your favorite resident crocodile!" replied a muffled voice, through the door.

Knuckles smiled in spite of his moody thoughts. "Oh,yeah? Which one?"

"The one and only!"

"Funny, I don't remember any favorite crocs of mine."

"C'mon, just let me in! I got lunch!"

Knuckles chuckled, and then undid the latches on the stone door, separating Knuckles from the rest of the world. Stepping back, Knuckles admitted a tall crocodile sporting two lunch canisters and a trademark set of headphones, music blaring through them.

Vector looked at Knuckles. "Geez, Knux, looks like you haven't seen the sun for a while. Any longer and you'll turn into a mole."

Knuckles rubbed his eyes. "I already feel like one. Let me know when my nose becomes star-shaped."

"Like it would improve anything."

"You have a big jaw to crack, Vector." Knuckles looked at Vector. "Why'd you come up here anyway?"

"Slow day at the office, but I did get charged to bring our resident book mole his daily bread and water." Vector held one lunch canister to Knuckles. "Courtesy of your girl."

Knuckles took the box from Vector and opened it. Contained inside was a peanut-butter jelly sandwich, a bunch of grapes and a human-manufactured fruit soft drink. "She knows what I like. what would I do without her?"

"Get a life?" Vector smiled.

"Remember what I said about your jaw?"

"Let me finish lunch first." Vector sat down on one chair and opened up his own box. Taking out a meat-heavy sub sandwich dripping with spicy sauces that reeked, a side of greasy fries and a soft drink of his own to consume. Judging by the label on the wrapping, Vector had a little detour at a local food mall.

As the two ate, they talked. Vector asked, "Any luck on anything yet, boss?"

Knuckles was in mid-bite of his sandwich when the croc has asked him that question. He chewed and swallowed deliberately before answering. "Not a thing. It's mostly stuff I already know. It doesn't help when I find a scroll that doesn't belong on that shelf. A couple of weeks ago, I found a scroll dictating how to correctly grow papayas."

Vector nearly choked at this. "Really?"

"Yeah. It was on the Chronicles of the Guardians' shelf. I'm guessing it was one of Floressa's documents." Knuckles took another bite of his sandwich.

"Is that the Guardian you told me that was practically a tree-kisser?"

"Eh, more or less. She just loves growing things." Knuckles chuckled. "No wonder the Island ever had very many female Guardians." Knuckles shrugged, and then changed the subject. "Anyway, I already told you that I was looking up things regarding the Great Disaster of Ages, right?"

"Yeah. I also know what happened anyway."

"You and every other creature that went to school. Well, the Floating Island was the only one that survived the catastrophe, thanks to the Master Emerald and Gustaf, but as I reread the transcripts, I found out that there's no mention of the events leading up to it."

"Wait a second," Vector said. "Didn't you say that the Nocturnus clan of Echidnas were wiped out before the Great Disaster?"

"Wiped out is a misnomer. More like vanished." Knuckles picked out one scroll and read the contents aloud. "Guardian's Log, Day 13, Month of the Sapphire, Year 726, Age of the Leviathan: At the zenith of the sun, I was greeted by one of our land-scouts who brought fearful tidings regarding our Nocturnus brethren in the Black Mountains. According to our scout, the entire capital city of the Nocturnus had vanished, and now a vast crater lay in its stead. The scout even claims that it looked like some mighty hands had grasped the earth underneath the city and lifted it away.

"The scout's testimony also told that he could find no surviving members to enquire on the dreadful happenings in the north. The Nocturnus clan is no more. Alas, despite our misgivings with that clan, I feel some kinship with them, and fear for what has become of them. I fear it is because of their dealings with the dark powers of the deep, but I cannot say for sure. For now, I must watch over this island and hope such a fate may never befall us. Gustaf, son of Baldin, Guardian of Angel Island."

"Wow," Vector said.

"You're telling me. I heard this account before, but never paid much attention to it. I thought it was basically a warning to those to not meddle in business which isn't yours. See, the Nocturnus clan manufactured the Black Chaos Emerald."

"You're kidding."

"I wish I were. That's probably why they were taken away; the darkness consumed them."

"Yikes."

"You said it. But there's more." Knuckles pulled out another dusty scroll. "According to this, the first parts of the Great Disaster occurred only a couple of years after the event with the Nocturnus. It started with the Red Emerald caused fantastic lava flows and volcanic eruptions all around the East Continents, but it wasn't until the Violet Emerald erupted, the fifth one, causing catastrophic storms and lightning outbursts when Gustaf realized what was happening. The Chaos Emeralds were unstable, thanks to some idiots who decided to force-grow the Super Emeralds into their present size. Each Emerald had to erupt to regain balance, or so they thought."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that the entire time, the Black Chaos Emerald was unaccounted for. Between the Nocturnus clan's disappearance and the Disaster, there was no knowledge upon its location. For all we know, someone used the Black Chaos Emerald to force the already unstable Emeralds into cutting loose."

"Who the heck would do that?"

Knuckles shrugged. "No idea, but it would have to be someone very powerful. Only one I know of was Sonic's description of Nazo nearly two years ago. Of course, since then, no one had seen either hide or fur of that guy."

"Do you think it was Nazo?" Vector sipped his soda.

"Hard to say. I never saw the guy, although he must have been fantastic with his power." Knuckles looked at the parchments. "But if a guy like him existed now, why couldn't another back then?"

"Good point."

"It was that idea, that someone in fact summoned the Great Disaster, is what's driving me crazy. There's nothing in these texts that I have found about any summoner. I didn't expect to find anything though. He or she would have been on the mainland, and everything there was wiped out save for some isolated areas. Mainland records are incredibly scarce on the topic."

"I guess no one wanted to remember."

"Maybe," Knuckles sighed. "I figured there would be at least one mention. Then I might have something to go on."

"Are you going at this to see if has anything to do with Sonic disappearing?"

Knuckles looked up at Vector, and the crocodile could see a flicker of apprehension in the Echidna's eyes. However, Knuckles said nothing, but that look said everything. "If something like that was to happen again, I want to make sure everyone's ready. Angel Island had survived intact, and we can do it again."

Vector looked away. He knew that Sonic's disappearance had disturbed Knuckles, and since the Nocturnus clan completely disappeared, Knuckles probably linked Sonic's disappearance and the small fluxes of the Emeralds beforehand as signals for another time of complete destruction. Vector had to admit that on the surface, it made a lot of sense, however disturbing.

There was another knock on the door. Knuckles looked up. "Who is it?"

"It's Charmy! I think you want to hear this, Knuckles!" said a voice.

Knuckles and Vector looked at each other, the opened the door. A large honeybee flew in carrying what looked like a laptop computer, and looked to be in a mild frenzy. "Boss, you gotta listen to this!"

"Chill the motors, Charmy, and tell us what's up," Vector growled.

Charmy whipped up the computer. "I just got this a couple of minutes ago from Tails and Sir Chuck." Charmy pressed a button. A garbled message started playing, mixed with static and other sound anomalies. However, there was enough to be deciphered.

"All units prep—[static]—tack on Sapphi—[static]—my command. Prepare to receive acti—[static.]—protocols. All uni—[static]—ready at 1200 hours.—[static]"

The message ended, and Charmy pressed another button, showing an accompanying message. "Look at this, it's from Chuck."

"Everyone, I just intercepted the attached message through my inbuilt audio-feeds. Only Dr. Robotnik and Metal-Sonic know about that frequency. The message is choppy as you will tell, but I think there is enough there to tell us that something rotten is afoot. I sent a tip to G.U.N. already, but I don't know if they will act on it. You can draw your own conclusions on this, but I think the general consensus is that our mutual friend has another rotten scheme going on, and we must stop him. Sir Charles."

Charmy closed the computer. "I don't know about you, but I smell a rotten egg."

"Me too," Knuckles thought. He looked at his scrolls, the up again. "I'm going to call Tails up. I'm sure Sally is rounding up the Freedom Fighters for this as well. If Eggman gets his way, we won't have to worry about another Great Disaster because we'll be robots."

Knuckles hurried out the door, and Vector and Charmy were hot on his heels. Knuckles thought in the back of his mind about Sonic. Where did he go anyway?

Earlier that day…

Tails yawned as he flew the X-Tornado as the world passed on as if it was part of some great river flowing underneath. Behind him in another seat were two sleeping chao, one blue resembling a hedgehog, the other a snow-white Nights-chao with purple-tipped limbs and head-tails. They were all going to see Sir Charles Hedgehog, whom most of the others back in Knothole affectionately called Uncle Chuck. This was one of many trips, as Tails was trying to help Uncle Chuck build a deroboticizer that would reverse the process of Robotnik's roboticizer. Originally, the roboticizer had been Uncle Chuck's invention, but Dr. Robotnik had stolen it on the twilight of his great coup against King Acorn's rule and had altered it greatly since then. Using the remains of the roboticizer, Uncle Chuck decided to reverse the process.

Tails looked down to seek out the flatland that he used as a landing pad. When he spotted it, he transformed the X-Tornado, into the colossal X-Cyclone, the large walker form. Using the jets, which now doubled as feet, he slowed to a stop and landed firmly on the ground. The shock woke both chao in the back seat.

Dash, the Sonic-chao, rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Are we there yet?"

Frosty, the Nights-chao, looked out the glass window. "Looks like it. I can see Chuckie's house across the field."

Tails unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the fuselage canopy. Out the side of the jet flew out a ladder, which descended to the ground gently. Tails rarely used this since he could simply fly, as did the two chao. It was mostly for the passengers, especially…

Tails squashed his thoughts before his eyes started to water. He missed Sonic dearly, as did everyone else. Poor Dash was devastated when Sonic did not return for over a month, and only recently showed any signs of relaxation. Dash was always up to go see Uncle Chuck since he acted like his uncle as much as Chuck was Sonic's uncle. Still, all of them wanted to see Sonic again, but there was no trace of him since that day.

Tails picked out some lunch canisters, placed him in his backpack, then he and the two chao fluttered down to the ground, and then walked the rest of the way to Uncle Chuck's house. None of them stopped by the door, for usually, Uncle Chuck could only be found in his private lab, so they instead made a beeline for the lab door.

Tails tried the door and it opened without resistance. As all three walked in, they saw a robotic hedgehog, colored a bright ashen blue, slumped over at a computer working furiously. Not for long, however, as apparently he detected their presence, and turned his head their direction. "Why, hello, you snappers!"

"Hi, Chuckie!" Dash waved.

Tails held up some lunch canisters. "I brought some lunch, Uncle Chuck."

Uncle Chuck's eyes lit up—literally—in delight. "Why, Tails, you shouldn't have!"

The four gathered around a cleared table and broke out their respective meals. Tails had brought pepperoni-salami sub sandwiches, but had wrapped toppings separately, so that everyone could make their own sandwich the way they desired. As they ate lunch, they talked. Tails usually started the conversation about any progress on the deroboticizer, and today was no exception. The reply was more or less the same.

"It seems like it sometimes, but then again I get stonewalled. Remember I told you that during Robotnik's roboticization that a small monitor chip is embedded directly into the midbrain?"

"Yeah," Tails said between mouthfuls.

"Removing it is tricky. You got to have some really deft hands to remove it or else a person's heart could stop right there on the operating table. The monitor chip isn't the chip that controls our bodies; but it's the one that monitors our bodily functions. If we were sick or were injured, then the monitor would let the network know. Of course Robotnik usually just throws us out into the nearest landfill since were a dime a dozen, or so he thinks."

"So what does cause the mind-control again."

"Mental conditioning." Uncle Chuck explained further. "The computers provoke mental pathways to be created so that we can only respond in a desired fashion. If we try hard enough, we can actually shake this off. When Sonic had me hold a Power Ring, it wasn't the ring itself that caused me to remember who I was, although the Power Ring did interfere with the interface; it was the mental jogging that spurred on existing pathways, however neglected they were."

"Cool," Dash said.

"You said it, Dashy." Uncle Chuck chuckled. "Theoretically, I could just deroboticize the person and leave the monitor chip alone inside the midbrain, however there's no telling what that chip might do given any injury up there. It might even cause a stroke."

"Have you talked to Dr. Raccoon in Knothole?" Tails asked.

"Oh yes. He thinks that the chip is small enough that it could probably be pulled out using a modified angiogram. The trick is that the chip is outside the bloodstream on the midbrain. Using an angiogram means piercing the vessel wall and dragging it in. Of course, that could cause a stroke or a hemorrhage, but Doc Raccoon thinks that once the chip is through the vessel wall, the break can be cauterized shut. Of course, there's a risk of a stroke or a clot or something else. Nasty business dealing with physiology, nasty business it is."

"Well, I guess we could leave that to the doctors. What's the problem now?" Tails took another bite of his sandwich.

"The actual deroboticization process itself. You see, the roboticizer was built to replace paralyzed limbs or gangrene-infected sites. We couldn't just simply but it off and place a prosthesis limb on it and still think it would work. The nerves in the immediate area might be dead. So, I made a way so that the roboticized limb would receive the stimuli from the nerves higher up, closer to the spinal cord. Also, the signal would be amplified to meet the power needed to move the limb. It would be a lot less painful with just removing the limb, then making an artificial limb and attaching the nerves to the mechanism one by one.

"But I couldn't just use industrial metal, for the body might in fact reject the presence of so much metal. So, instead, I came up with a carbon-fiber metallic hybrid that would still be acceptable to the body, as carbon makes up a third of the body. Then, over that, I would place industrial-grade steel. Essentially, the flesh was turned into carbon-fiber, and then metal placed over that. That way, the limb wouldn't be nearly so heavy.

"Now, things like the bone and immediate flesh around were still preserved, since the nerves still needed to be present so that motor function would not be impaired. It worked with limbs and such, but I wouldn't dream of using it on the head or body because of all the vital organs."

"But did Robotnik find some way of roboticizing the entire body without damaging the organs?"

"Yes, but right now, I have no clue how. I'm thinking that he added some kind of chassis that would contain them. This would encumber movement like bowing down or kneeling, but since on top of that would be the rest of the robotic shell, it didn't matter to Robotnik."

"That must have made going to the bathroom really hard." Dash smiled.

Uncle Chuck laughed. "Yes, it would have! Thankfully, we had to attach ourselves to dialysis every other day for a couple of hours."

"Boring…" Dash said immediately.

Uncle Chuck sighed. "I fear that to ultimately reverse the process, I may have to use some kind of amplifier that would help transmute the carbon-fiber to flesh…but it's been a long time. The flesh may come back dead."

Tails sighed as well. It must be frustrating to be trapped in a robot shell for the rest of your life. It would have drove Tails crazy. It probably has done that to others. This was why Uncle Chuck wasn't going to give up. If only they could get a hold of Dr. Robotnik's plans for the roboticizer…all they had was the roboticizer itself, but it had been severely damaged when the human military had all but destroyed Robotropolis while the Freedom Fighters were dealing with Doomsday.

The conversation drifted onto other topics. All tried to avoid asking about Sonic as it was fruitless, plus it would reopen wounds that did not need exposed again.

During a conversation regarding the transmuting process of the roboticizer, Uncle Chuck suddenly gripped his head, as if he had suddenly been slammed with a migraine. As he groaned and held his head, everyone was immediately alert.

"Uncle Chuck!" Tails cried out. "What's wrong?"

Uncle Chuck didn't seem to hear him, and continued to groan and yank his head back and forth as if there was something worming through his brain. As quickly as it had started it ended, and when it did, Uncle Chuck collapsed in his chair, apparently exhausted, his eye-lights dimmed.

"Chuckie!" Dash bounded up onto the poor hedgehog's lap. "Are you okay?"

Slowly, the lights brighted slightly, indicating that Sir Charles was coming to. Groaning, he sat up in the chair. "Oh, my."

"Are you all right?" Tails asked apprehensively.

Without a word, the robot hedgehog stood up quickly and made for the computer, while the others watch flabbergasted. Frosty barked ruefully, "Well, that was rude!"

Tails and Dash ignored her, and got up to follow Sir Charles. Frosty looked impudent briefly, but ended up following them. Before the three reached Sir Charles, he whipped out some wires and started plugging them into the computer, and to the side of his head. Frantically, he typed rapidly on the keyboard, fingers simply flying from one key to the other. Tails and the two chao watched in amazement as the hedgehog worked furiously on this new development.

Finally, Sir Charles stopped and unplugged himself from the computer. Sighing, he addressed his impatient audience. "I'm sorry about that, you three, but I had to make sure I got the data from my head to the computer."

"What data are you talking about, Uncle Chuck?" Tails asked.

"Listen and see for yourself." Sir Charles turned to the computer again, and pulled up a playback program. Loading the data, he pressed play.

"All units prep—[static]—tack on Sapphi—[static]—my command. Prepare to receive acti—[static.]—protocols. All uni—[static]—ready at 1200 hours.—[static]"

Tails' blood chilled as he heard this broadcast, for he knew that voice. "It's Eggman!"

"Exactly," Uncle Chuck affirmed. "And what's scarier is that these are activation protocols. These same protocols were used in the Mobitropolis coup, and doubtless in any other time he brought his units online, like Metal-Sonic did for the Egg Fleet. I must have picked it up since I'm still hardwired into Robotnik's network, although the signal is so weak that only once in a while do I catch anything."

"He's up to no good again," Tails gritted his teeth as he spoke. "But where is he going to attack at?"

"Let's listen to the message again."

They all played the message back and forth until they got their answer. Tails spoke first. "All I could hear was 'tack on Sapphi' before it went out again, but I have a bad feeling that means 'attack on Sapphire.'"

"Meaning that Robotnik plans to attack Sapphire City! We'd better sound the alarm. Tails, you'd best fly back to Knothole. Princess Sally will want you there."

"But what about you?" Frosty enquired.

"I'll stay here and send out the warning to the others. I'll send it to Sally, Knuckles and G.U.N. They in turn can warn whoever they need to. Now, scoot!"

"Roger!" Tails said, snatching up the two chao and running out the door. "I'll pick up the lunch later!"

Uncle Chuck heard the door slam shut behind him as he got to work composing a message with the attached playback file. After sending it out, he leaned back in his chair. His eyes caught a small framed photo on the side of his desk. Picking it up, he looked into it with a saddened expression. In the picture was a picture of him, his brother and wife, and their little son, Sonic. Sighing, he wiped away the dust that had settled on top of the frame.

Putting it back on the desk, he sighed, "Sonie…if you're out there somewhere, now would be a good time to come back."

Viper swore under his breath. Putting down the razor, he scooped up a conveniently placed towel and wiped oozing blood from his face. The cut had already been healed completely before he dabbed it, but the blood remained, so he wiped it off. After tossing the towel down in a huff, he looked coldly at the offending razor that started the problem. It seemed that he would always cut his face when shaving, but he'd rather deal with the mild annoyance of an occasional razor cut then deal with a five o'clock shadow that made his face itch and smart.

Finally, he finished and cleaned after himself. As he left the bathroom, he whipped on a solid black tee—his usual choice—and proceeded into the den. The den at one time had been a laboratory inside the Final Egg base while Dr. Robotnik had operated it, but after the events of Perfect Chaos six years prior, Dr. Robotnik had all but abandoned it, and within the last year, the current residents have taken over it as it was a worthy base of operations for the residents. The only downside was that Dr. Robotnik knew that Final Egg was being operated, even at minimal levels, so the residents had always kept an eye out for him, especially after the infiltration by Robo-Knux a year-and-a-half before.

Upon entering the den, he noted silently that Shadow was leaning against the wall in his usual posture: crossed arms, straight as an arrow, eyes closed. Viper ignored him and proceeded to a lone desk, where the only objects of attention on it were Viper's two branded handguns and a telephone, one of the two only ways that communicated to the outside world—the other was the network interface that Metal-Sonic used. Viper sat down roughly in the large chair behind it—scarred with an enormous sag in the upholstery—and swung his feet up to rest on top of the desk as he sighed contently.

It was just Viper and Shadow in the room, the other two occupants were likely somewhere else in the base, Viper reasoned, but it didn't matter. Rarely did they check up on each other as each would take care of himself. Still, it was common for each individual resident to wonder about another; they just didn't pursue the matter unless it was brought up or causing significant tension.

Viper leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head very relaxingly. This was how most days were in normal times, although it would be a while for things to settle again. For the last several months, Viper found himself restless, particularly after discovering that the Black Chaos Emerald had all but vanished from Mount Boia's inner sanctum. He had went there after learning that Sonic had disappeared from the face of the earth; after conferring with Knuckles about it, he decided to pay the dark-hearted mountain another visit. After finding the Black Chaos Emerald gone, he informed the others to stay on the alert for any Chaos signatures that reflected its usage.

Strangely though, things were very calm. Viper made frequent visits to the Northern Mountains, and found a strange development. The general atmosphere of the region had brightened, while it still as harsh thanks to its punishing weather phenomenon. Stranger yet, the traugan population was in decline. Viper and Shadow had amused themselves in slaughtering then in mass numbers, as the hunter had deemed them too much of a threat to be allowed to reproduce. Before stationing in Final Egg, he had taken refuge in an abandoned settlement so he could keep an eye on the foul beasts. But things have changed in the last seven months.

Viper passed his time mulling about the last seven months in his head. He remembered the Chaos flux that knocked all of them out cold, but the next time he awoke, he was still in Station Square near the Sunset Resort. He had this strange awareness that something had happened while he was out, but couldn't recollect what. According to the time, he was only out for a few minutes. What could have happened in those few minutes?

After that, he ended up leaving for Angel Island grudgingly—for originally going there was Rouge's idea—making the excuse to rendezvous with Shadow there. Once he got there, the Island was in busy. He found Tails, Knuckles, Rouge, Shadow and the Chaotix scouring the island searching for Sonic. Feeling completely lost, he ran into Knuckles and demanded an explanation. It was that meeting where Viper decided to return to Mount Boia in the first place.

And now here they are, no Black Chaos Emerald, and still no sign of Sonic. Viper never cared for the mouthy hedgehog—a common trait of those residing at Final Egg—but his complete disappearance was very strange. Viper couldn't help but wonder where he went.

Shadow stirred, and Viper caught it in the corner of his eye. Leaning his head towards Shadow, he watched as Shadow stood up and made his way across the room to a nearby window, which only showed a nearby vertical chamber, complete with moving gears and pistons. Unbeknownst to Viper or Shadow, Metal-Sonic had pursued a certain blue hedgehog right through the heart of that tube and adjacent ones six years prior.

Viper watched as Shadow stood stock still again with crossed arms and looked out the window. Viper could tell that Shadow was thinking or daydreaming. Shadow tended to get wrapped up in himself so much that any outside stimuli wouldn't register unless it was loud enough. Still, Viper decided to venture. "Recall anything?"

Shadow looked at Viper sharply, and then relaxed. "Nothing. Nothing since I lost it all."

Viper was able to catch something in Shadow's eyes when he looked sharply at him, and decided to pursue it. "You've been dreaming again?"

Shadow didn't turn to Viper, but kept his back to him. "It's these places I keep seeing inside my mind. Every night is the same for the last several months. I've been researching to see if any places on the planet match my dreams, but nothing."

Now Viper got curious. "What kind of places?"

"There is this city with rivers cutting through its streets, each building was built in an artistic way, almost classical. There is this snowy base in the mountains, protected by numerous robots. A city completely destroyed with fire and lava, cloaked by clouds of ash and smoke. Then I see this figure…a black hedgehog, his limbs encased in crystal, his eyes red with crystal-green cores."

"Crystal-green cores? Like Nazo?"

"I think so."

Viper exhaled sharply in a humph. "We haven't seen Nazo since the Black Arm Invasion, and he looked different then too. Not sure why you would see him in that strange form you described."

"It's these places I keep seeing. I know I never have been to those places before, but they keep flashing through my mind."

"City with rivers," Viper thought aloud. "Only place I heard about that was back on the homeworld, Earth. There's a city in a country called Italy with rivers flowing through the streets. It's called Venice. Just sayin'."

Shadow looked out the window again. "I just can't get those images out of my mind; it's muddling with already lost memories."

Viper paused before responding. "As long as you still have the accounts we and other select parties that I will remain nameless have provided. You still have the datapad with the collected accounts plus any media that we were able to find, right?"

"Yes."

"Let alone the message from Professor Gerald that the Chaotix salvaged aboard the ARK, correct?"

"Indeed."

"That's all that we can do until your memory unleashes itself. As for the dreams, that cannot be helped. Dreams pass in time, and yes, they do sometimes muddle with reality, but that's just the way it is." Viper's gaze as well went out the window, lost in his own thoughts.

Neither said a word afterwards for several minutes, when suddenly the door flew open. In stormed Metal-Sonic, his optical sensors dilated. "Viper, Shadow, I have just intercepted a transmission from Dr. Robotnik."

Viper got up from the chair and came around to the other side of the desk, closest to Metal-Sonic, while Shadow spun to face the android. Both gave Metal-Sonic their full attention.

"I have applied clean up to the transmission as the transmission was weak. Listen closely."

Viper and Shadow listened to the transmission, and when it was over, all three regarded each other. Viper finally said, "I was wondering when he would show up again."

"This incessant cycle of his rise-and-defeat is wearing thin," Shadow said, curling his fingers into fists. "I aim to break this cycle once and for all."

Viper grunted in agreement, following it up by saying, "I admit, I am tired of his numerous campaigns and would love to—"

He was interrupted when the phone on top of Viper's desk rang. All looked at it. That was Viper's private line, and when the phone rang it only meant one thing: someone had a contract for him. Viper walked to the desk, slung himself into his chair and slammed his legs down upon the desk top, making it shudder. The receiver of the phone flew up in the air and Viper caught it as it came back down.

Before he answered the phone, he noticed Shadow's and Metal-Sonic's looks at his idea of "picking up the phone." "What?" Viper gave a look back. "I saw it in a video game once." Ignoring the two of them, he spoke into the receiver. "You asked for a cook? What would you like on your plate?"

Shadow and Metal-Sonic looked at each other. Ever since Viper became a bounty hunter, he adopted a password system, where the answer to his cook question would reflect the nature of the hunt.

"Spaghetti, huh? Meatballs or no?"

Shadow and Metal-Sonic looked at Viper. That meant the contract was to hunt down a person.

"No? Well, that's a shame."

The client wants him alive.

"Where shall I deliver?" Viper paused. "Very well, I'll be on the way."

Viper tossed the receiver onto its base—landing perfectly—and got up. "That was G.U.N.; apparently, they too got Robotnik's little message, and the first thing one of the big wigs does is give me a call."

"Then would I be right to assume that the intended target is Robotnik himself?" Metal-Sonic said.

"Seems pretty clear to me," Viper said. "They never say who it is until the rendezvous. Makes things more interesting."

Viper walked to a rather inconspicuous door in the room, yanked it open then entered it. Shadow and Metal-Sonic waited outside for a short amount of time until Viper re-emerged, dawning his trademark black leather overcoat. His greatsword Bane was now resting on his back, flanking a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun just behind his left shoulder. Hanging of his belt were two objects that looked like non-chained nunchuks but were in fact lightsabres. Strapped around each of his thighs were holsters, each bearing a large handgun, Grim Reaper and Mortal Coil.

Viper popped his neck and danced briefly on the balls of his feet. "Showtime."

The door flew open again behind Metal-Sonic and Shadow, and with booming steps, a large red-and-black robot entered into the room. Its massive arms extended to well over three feet, and each one ended with a massive hand with sharp claws. Its massive body gave it a tank-like countenance, but its head appeared sunken in the body, as it was only a small dome with two red-glowing eyes. "I have intercepted activation instructions for a large army of drones, issued by Dr. Robotnik." It spoke with a harsh, deep monotone. "I also assume that is why you three are gathered here."

Viper crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "I was wondering when you were going to show up, E-123."

"I have asked that you would address me as Omega."

Viper looked away, seemingly blowing off Omega's renewed request. "Well, I suppose you all are tagging along?"

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Shadow crossed his arms.

Metal-Sonic merely nodded, while Omega droned on. "Until Dr. Robotnik is completely eradicated, I will not stand by."

Viper considered the idea that Omega's lust for seeing Robotnik's head on a pike a possible problem. However, he said nothing about it. Instead, he said. "Then let's rock."

Robotnik heaved his massive body into a large chair, overlooking the dozens of drones with him on the bridge of his new Egg Typhoon, the flagship of his now complete Egg Storm fleet. After Metal-Sonic had stolen the original Egg Fleet away from him—as well as the schematics for Operation Firestorm—the human made plans to revive Operation Firestorm, renaming it Operation Derecho and bolstering the numbers. The Egg Fleet numbered only 126 ships, while the new Egg Storm boasted well over 200 ships. Despite its premature using during the events of the Black Arm Invasion, Dr. Robotnik was quick to restore the fleet. Only he could use it how it was meant to be used.

Some time ago, he had given the green light for activation protocols to be broadcasted through the network he had used since Robotropolis, and now the Egg Storm had lifted off from his new secret location. The fleet was split when it launched, but now it had made rendezvous and was now united. Now they were descending upon Sapphire City like a tsunami.

Robotnik sighed. "Ah, it feels simply wonderful to cause this much trouble again." Like a proud pompous emperor, he stewed in his self-glorification of the Egg Storm. And better yet, there was no Sonic the Hedgehog to stop him this time. It just made him tingle all over!

Under Operation Derecho, they would sweep over Sapphire City, annihilating it, and then move onto northwards towards what used to be Robotropolis. Sure, it had been destroyed by that sickening human military and that filthy excuse of a lab rat while he was at Doomsday, but he had a soft spot for the place. Once the humans and the Freedom Fighters were out of the way, he can rebuild Robotropolis all over. Once Sapphire City was out of the way, his fleet would split into two: one to deal with the in-progress Acornopolis, and the other to deal with the shambles of Santiago City. West Mobius will fall before the sun is gone, and soon the rest of the world will follow.

A holographic virtual intelligence interface appeared on the screens on the bridge. "Alert! Long-range scans indicate a fleet in intercept trajectory. Maintaining current speeds, the fleets shall intercept in less than twenty minutes.

Robotnik fiddled with his moustache. "Show me the scan readouts."

An infrared radar image of the area ahead of the fleet came into view. Sure enough, ahead of them was an enormous fleet, indicated by a large red blotch that was dominating the edge of the radar. This showed the collective heat emissions from their thrusters; while the white spots indicated each ship's thrusters. Some of the white spots were rather large, Robotnik noticed. He had expected G.U.N. to provide a resistance, but had they really ships this size? Perhaps they had called for help to the Alliance Navy and they in turn provided ships.

Robotnik leaned back in his chair, ignoring the noise of the dozens of drones below. If the Alliance Navy was aiding G.U.N., that might post a problem. The intergalactic force was a force to be reckoned with; however, it was often hampered by politics. Perhaps that would benefit him, if he acted swiftly.

Soon, the VI alerted again that the fleet was now in visual range. Robotnik sighed again. "Very well, on screen."

The screens switched to real-time video feed of the incoming fleet. Sure enough, it was G.U.N., as many of the smaller ships were decorated with the circumscribed G that indicates G.U.N.'s involvement. Most of their ships were smaller, and many were flying drones much like the ones used during the Black Arm Invasion. Most of the larger ships were of a completely different build, and instead bore the monogram of what resembled a spearhead overshadowing three stars: the Alliance Navy. It appeared to be that it is primarily frigates they were using.

Suddenly, Robotnik spotted the flagship of the G.U.N. fleet, or more accurately, flagships. Two dreadnaughts towards the rear of the fleet, but what got Robotnik's attention was not the size…but the make.

Robotnik snarled in fury. G.U.N. had taken the wreckages of the two Egg Carriers from six years ago and had rebuilt them! How dare they steal his designs and ships to use against him! According to the scans, the Egg Carriers were to be the first of a new line of ships to be a part of the space fleets with the ARK. They were now named the GFV Sovereign—and the line would be called the Sovereign class—and the other was branded the GFV Harbinger. The names meant nothing to Robotnik, for the only thing he cared about was utterly destroying those ships to teach those worms a lesson!

"All forces, prepare to engage the fleet. Close all channels from outside contact. We will attack immediately. The Cirrus Fighters shall charge directly at the front lines, while the Stratus Frigates will flank the enemy at all sides. The Nimbus Battleships will hold off until the enemy ships are within firing range. Mobilize the Oculus drones but have them wait for my command. Arm all forward batteries." Robotnik leaned back in his chair. "I will beat their armies like a drum, and they will either beg for mercy or die. Either way, by my cold metallic heart, I will destroy them all."

Onboard the GFV Sovereign, the rear admiral of the his fleet's division was deep in discussion with General Law, the hero of the Black Arm Invasion human resistance, discussing battle plan. In a matter of minutes, they would clash with Dr. Robotnik's Egg Storm fleet.

Mere hours before, they had intercepted activation protocols over a channel that matched only one result: Dr. Robotnik's Robotropolis channel interface. Sure enough, the voice on it was their old friend, Julian. G.U.N. had not forgiven Dr. Robotnik after he squandered their already tense alliance with the Great Kingdom by staging a coup in then-Mobitropolis over ten years ago, yet they didn't seem to have the manpower to completely take him down. Despite destroying Robotropolis with the aid of the Viper, Robotnik was like a bad rash that they could not be rid of.

For the last several years, they had prepared for an immense collaborative invasion of Dr. Robotnik's bases to find and take him down. They even salvaged the old Egg Carriers to be rebuilt so that the old Doctor's tech could be used against him. With blueprints intact for further construction of the new-branded Sovereign-class dreadnaughts, all they needed now was to construct a shipyard that could build these massive vessels. Once that was done, there was further talk of sharing the plans with the Alliance Navy.

However, before all that, Dr. Robotnik needed to be dealt with. The native Mobians do not have a force to repel this fleet, however that didn't stop them from sending their best. At the head of the fleet was the X-Tornado, where the leading figures of the Knothole Freedom Fighter group were flying. Also, the Shadow Team were geared for an infiltration drop on the frigate SSV Horizon.

"I assure you, Admiral," General Law iterated. "that the Shadow Team will get the job done. One of them in particular, the Viper, is the main reason why Robotnik is not still in Robotropolis, and the one who made the Black Arms' lines melt like wax. He'll get the job done quickly."

"I can't help but bat an eye at the Shadow Team's line-up." Rear Admiral Johnson looked firmly at General Law. "An escaped prisoner? A bounty hunter? And God forbid two renegade robots of Dr. Robotnik's own creation."

General Law heaved a sigh. He had given this speech far too many times in dealing with the covert operations of the contract team. "Sir, they can do things that we cannot. While their collective methods may be questionable, they get the job done."

"I hope you're right, General. It's a dangerous game you're playing with such rogues. Do you honestly think that they are the kind of people you want protecting your colonies?"

"With all due respect, sir, but I believe you're not giving them the credit they deserve. It's not just the colonies they are fighting for. I too have my doubts, and grudges that I may never be rid of, but they'll do whatever it takes to get the job done."

The aging rear-admiral looked away. "Very well, General. You know this team more than I do."

"Sorry, sir, but I don't." The white-haired general's heterochromic eyes looked firm. "But I don't need to."

Tails, Sally, Knuckles and Bunnie were flying in the X-Tornado at the nose of the G.U.N.-Alliance Navy joint-fleet. The X-Tornado was the only thing the Mobians could offer as the Great Kingdom was still slowly rebuilding, and didn't have an army yet, let alone an air force. Despite the plane itself big enough to carry four people, it was only just a little bit bigger than the average Interceptor jet that G.U.N. had, thanks to it being scaled to Mobian-scale since the average Mobian tended to be three-foot-six—barring the obvious exceptions.

In the last seven months, Tails had been keeping his mind occupied with frequent visits with Uncle Chuck, as well as assisting G.U.N. in the restoration of the two Egg Carriers, now dubbed the Sovereign and Harbinger. Six years prior, he had collected some schematic data on the original Egg Carrier after it had been severely damaged during the events prior or Perfect Chaos. Tails actually went to G.U.N. to apply for a job for building machines and weapons, and G.U.N. landed him right on the Sovereign project. It was like living a dream for Tails, since not only he got to do what he loved, but was he was getting paid to do it too. It would at least keep him distracted from thinking about Sonic.

Now he was leading the charge in the X-Tornado. During the months between the Black Arm Invasion and now, he had been upgrading the weapon systems of the plane. He even considered adding kinetic shielding, but he couldn't get that working yet on such a small vessel just yet. His thoughts drifted to a set of blueprints that were stashed away in his hut back in Knothole.

Tails shook his head. Now was not the time to daydream. He called back behind him. "Knuckles, you all set?"

"Yep," Knuckles called up. "The two chao are also buckled down too."

"Under protest!" Dash called up. "It's no fun to sit in a place if you can't look out the freaking window!"

"Ditto!" called up Frosty.

"Take it up with the flight attendant, you hockey pucks," Knuckles growled.

While the three bickered with each other, Tails pressed a button, activating the intercom in his headset. "Sally? Bunnie? Everything fine back there?"

"Like a snail in its first shell, sugar!" came Bunnie's distinct voice through the speakers.

"We're doing fine so far, Tails." Sally said.

"Ok," Tails said. "Get ready because I'm sure we'll run into Robotnik's fleet rather quickly."

"Might be sooner than you think, sugar," Bunnie said. "Look yonder there. Looks like the cat drug in somethin'."

Tails looked straight ahead. Sure enough, the blue sky was dotted with black specks. Mental images of the Egg Fleet quickly flashed through his mind.

"My stars!" Bunnie exclaimed. "How did that one-eyed snake get so many ships?"

Sally's voice trickled through, edged with awe and dread. "Only Robotnik could come up with something that big so fast."

Tails pressed another button on the board, redirecting the channel to the rest of the fleet's. "This is X-Tornado calling Sovereign. Come in, Sovereign."

A crackle through the speakers. "This is Sovereign. What's your status, X-Tornado?"

"Green. I established visual contact with Robotnik's fleet."

"We see them too."

"Green light to engage?"

"Hold steady, son," the Admiral said. "We'll give you the green light to engage if Robotnik doesn't respond to our hailing protocols."

"That shouldn't take long," Knuckles muttered.

The Admiral continued. "You will lead the fighters on sweeps on the frigates, am I clear son?"

"Aye-aye," Tails said. Tails kept the channel open. Knuckles was probably right if Robotnik had already closed the channel. If he was gloating, sure he would have responded to the hail…but if he was ticked off, then he wouldn't talk and would attack right away.

Tails chanced to look up and saw the Egg Storm fleet arranging itself. Yep, they were gearing for battle. Knuckles looked up as well and suddenly shouted. "Heads up! I see one of the fighters heading right for us!"

Tails saw what appeared to be a white-colored eagle robot among many of its kind breaking off from the main fleet. Almost as quickly, the speakers blared. "Green light! Green light to engage!"

"Hold on, guys!" Tails said, heaving the control levers forward.

Then the sky erupted in the booming and fire of battle. The fighters cut through each other's lines while the frigates flanked the fleets to bomb the dreadnaughts and battleships. The fighters in turn slowed the frigates in counterattacks while the battleships hovered towards the rear showering devastating fire over the lines to the other.

The frigate SSV Horizon zipped through the left flank of the Egg Storm fleet, dropping kinetic bombs as it passed over the battleships, each one detonating with a fierce ringing bang. This flanking maneuver left them vulnerable to enemy fire as the battleships surely saw them coming, and even the fighters gave chase to the frigate. The SSV Horizon was on intercept course with the Egg Typhoon, the Egg Storm's flagship, but was encountering heavy resistance from enemy fire.

The captain hailed the Sovereign. "Sovereign, this is the Horizon. We have encountered massive resistance. Kinetic barriers down thirty percent. Approach of Egg Typhoon flagship is a no-go."

"Very well, Horizon. Retreat and prepare to receive new orders."

A new voice tore through the channel, one of a low-medium pitch and throaty. "Not so fast, pops. I'm going to get to that ship."

"The approach is nothing short of suicide, Shadow Team."

"To you, Sovereign, but not to us. When the door is locked, you kick the door in or make a door by smashing through the wall. I'm not without resources, pops."

"What do you suggest?"

"Fly over a battleship and drop us off…without landing."

"You intend to use the rover on an airship to get to the flagship?"

"Who said anything about a rover? Just fly over the ship, and open the cargo bay door aft and below of the bow. We'll take it from there. It will be just like the Egg Fleet."

There was a pause. "Aye-aye, Shadow Team. Green light to engage."

"Music to my ears, pops."

In the cargo bay of the Horizon, the four members of Shadow Team—Viper, Shadow, Metal-Sonic and E-123 Omega—had been waiting for the clear to take Robotnik down. Viper was sporting a one-eyed head set which granted communication to the rest of the fleet. Therefore, he had heard everything regarding the change of plans.

The original plan was to be dropped off on the flagship's massive top hull, which doubled as a runway for the fighters. All four had the impression that plan would bust so were not surprised when the admiral on the Sovereign called it off. However, they weren't survivors of several massive conflicts for nothing, so they came up with a back-up plan: storm the battleships and by one way or another get up to the flagship, just like they did with the Egg Fleet two years prior. Viper thought about that plan with a wry smile. It wasn't an original plan, but they knew it would work.

Minutes later, a voice crackled through the team members' respective comm devices. "We're coming upon the nearest battleship. Get ready for a drop."

"More than ready. In fact, we're somewhere between cabin fever and tearing down the door ourselves."

The helmsman didn't answer, but Viper was sure he was laughing. Finally, the helmsman said, "Opening cargo bay hatch."

The captain spoke next. "Mission is yours now, Shadow Team. Good luck!"

Viper saw the immense battleship flying below and aft beneath them. "See you guys in Egg Town!" Without another word, Viper leaped out of the ship in a dive, the rest following.

Seconds later, Viper came to a smashing landing on the battleships hull, Shadow following second, while Omega and Metal-Sonic were flying towards the flagship with the aid of their thrusters. Not missing a beat, Viper and Shadow took off at a run and skate respectfully towards the bridge of the ship. Quickly, resistance bombarded them with cannon and robot forces, but the two didn't slow.

The plan for each ship was the same: Shadow would overload the drive core however it pleased him, while Viper took out the bridge to prevent an override. Minutes later, the battleship's bridge exploded in a red blast of flame and smoke, something fine by Knuckles' terms who had witnessed the blast from the Tornado's cockpit.

"The Shadow Team was on that battleship," Tails said as he watched it sink towards the ocean below. "Did they make it?"

Even the admiral too was worried about the outcome as he saw the ship sink in fire and smoke, and was barking through to Shadow Team to respond over and over. However, there was no response. Tails himself was trying to concentrate of flying and shooting down the fighters to support the frigates, but his mind kept wandering to the blazing ship.

Suddenly, a voice crackled through the speakers. "Now that was a fine blast!" It was Viper.

Tails and Knuckles balked in surprise, while the admiral sounded furious. "Shadow Team! Why have you not responded to our calls?"

"Didn't feel like it at the time."

Tails and Knuckles bit their lips to keep from laughing, while the admiral merely sighed, "Son of a bitch."

Viper and Shadow had cleared the battleship before it exploded, by Shadow's Chaos Control, which had relocated them to a passing Cirrus fighter, which was on its way to refuel at the Egg Typhoon, their targeted destination. Thankfully, the fighter was as big as a typical fighter, so it could hold both of them. However, Viper was one to ride right on the nose of the fighter. Standing straight up, he opened his arms wide and spun as if he was performing in front of an audience in an arena. "Welcome to my fantasy zone!" Viper put one hand on the headset. "Get ready…"

Robotnik watched in fury as one of his battleships was destroyed mere minutes after it had been boarded. Was it the hedgehog? No, if it was the hedgehog, he would have been the first to know as no broadcast regarding the priority-one target had been made.

They were in the heat of the battle now, and both sides had taken casualties, although losing robots didn't faze Robotnik's metallic heart, but the loss of ships was concerning.

He had also received intel that Viper, Shadow, Metal-Sonic and Omega were quickly advancing upon his flagship with unprecedented speed. Good, he wanted to grind the traitor's into dust. As for Shadow and Viper…well, surely there was something profitable to analyze from their corpses later.

The VI came to life. "Dr. Robotnik, the Super Fission Missile Cannon is armed and ready to fire. Choose and confirm a target."

The doctor almost chose either the Sovereign or the Harbinger, but he checked himself. His eyes caught the feeds showing the X-Tornado as it destroyed every fighter unfortunate enough to come into its sights. Robotnik rubbed his chin in devious thought. With the hedgehog gone, he had left his friends behind. How long he wondered…

Smiling to himself, he said, "Open a channel to the X-Tornado."

"Affirmative," the VI replied.

Aboard the X-Tornado, everything was going well. The X-Tornado was more than a match to any Cirrus fighter that it encountered. Tails was itching to fly right at the Egg Typhoon's bridge and blast it with his missiles, but he had orders to cooperate with the fleet and support the frigates as they made bombing runs on the battleships and flagship. Currently, he was fighting off the fighters that were coming too close to the SSV Panama, when his channel crackled with a voice, the last one he wanted to hear.

"Very well done, foxy. I suppose congratulations are in order."

All could hear the voice, including Sally and Bunnie in the rear cockpit. "Robotnik," Sally said with gritted teeth.

"Even without the hedgehog, you still managed to make a fine mess of things." Robotnik sighed. "I guess he does rub off on you."

"What do you want, Eggman?" Knuckles shouted into the mic.

"My my, even the Echidna is here. I'll have to remember to stop by the Floating Island once I roboticize you."

"I'd like to see you try!" Knuckles waved a fist, even though he knew the human couldn't see it.

"What do you want?" Tails said.

Back on the Egg Typhoon, Robotnik called up the fire commands again for the Super Fission Missile. "Oh, just some parting words. It's been fun, but I'm afraid all good things come to end, you know." With one hand, he typed in commands to lock onto the X-Tornado. "Give the hedgehog my regards." He slammed the button.

A cannon fired on the Egg Typhoon, launching a missile nearly the size of a fighter jet out into the sky. It was dark red with a sharp nose, but the middle of the body was swollen as if it was packing something big. The head was emblazoned with Robotnik's trademark visage.

Just as it fired, the Shadow Team had made a landing on the Egg Typhoon's hull, and braced themselves as the hull shook from the launching of the missile.

Shadow watched as it tore away from them. "That missile is big enough to wipe out one of the Sovereign-class dreadnaughts!"

Viper called it in. "Heads up, pops! We just saw a missile launch from the Egg Typhoon."

"We're tracking it."

Metal-Sonic scanned the ship quickly, and found more of the same stored away. "That's Robotnik's Super Fission Missile. It has the potential of four kilotons of explosive force."

"In other words, that thing is a travel-sized nuke. You got that, pops?" Viper said.

"Yes. According to its trajectory, it's not heading towards our Sovereign ships."

That struck an odd tone within Viper. "Then where is it going?"

Aboard the X-Tornado, Robotnik's voice taunted Tails' mercilessly. "Let me give out my farewells in…" Robotnik chuckled. "…a little surprise."

Tails was about to ask what, when an alarm blared on the computers. An urgent message flashed across the screens, "Alert! Inbound missile has locked onto unit!"

"A missile?" Knuckles exclaimed, as did everyone else.

Tails immediately whipped the plane around and forced the plane into neck-breaking speeds. The others' gazes flew around like mad hornets looking for the missile. Bunnie spotted it some distance aft and on the port side. "There it is! My poor ticker, that's the biggest cigar I've ever seen!"

Robotnik's voice oozed through. "Allow me to introduce you to my new Super Fission Missile. I was originally going to use it in those fools that dared take my Egg Carriers and claim them as their own…but I changed my mind."

"Oh yeah?" Tails said defiantly. "Well, I got the X-Tornado!"

"At least it should be good sport," Robotnik laughed.

Tails looked back to see the giant red missile right on his tail, several hundred yards behind him, then jetted forward. Let's see how well that missile could keep up in Robotnik's own fleet. Tails dived into the mess of multicolored ships. The fighters and battleships opened fire on the speeding jet, so Tails was hard-pressed to avoid being hit, but at the same time, he was hoping one stray shot would hit the missile and destroy it.

Tails darted in and out of the firefight, and the missile was right on him. What kind of tracking did this missile have! Suddenly, Tails got a wild idea. "Guys, I'm going to dive right at Eggman's bridge."

Knuckles blanched, as did the others. "I hope you have a plan that doesn't involve us being hot meat."

"Leave it to me!" Tails rocketed towards the Egg Typhoon, the missile closing in from behind.

"I hope this works, sugar," Bunnie said apprehensively. "It's closing in on us so fast…"

"You can do it, Tails," Sally said.

Tails didn't respond. His eyes were locked on the superstructure above and to the rear of the Egg Typhoon, rising up high and over the whole ship. If that wasn't a bridge, then Tails was a cat. The bridge was rapidly closing in on them, as was the missile. This was a deadly game of chicken, but if it took out Eggman, the ship and the missile, then it was worth every terrible second!

The bridge was so close now that everyone could count the windows, and gripped their seats with terror. Suddenly, within one hundred yards of the bridge, Tails shot upwards in a lightning-quick turn. The Tornado's hull groaned in protest, but it held. They missed, and all braced for the explosion that would take out the bridge.

It didn't happen. All looked back and saw the missile was still on their tail!

While the four on the Egg Typhoon raced for the bridge, they saw the X-Tornado fly by for the bridge followed by the shrieking missile. "Damn!" Viper exclaimed. "It's after Tails!"

"Hurry! We have to try to disable it from the bridge!" Shadow commanded.

"Affirmative!" Omega droned, eyes lighting in the prospect of destroying this vessel.

Metal-Sonic's was trying to see if he could hack it remotely, but the missile was locked from outside interference. Either it was using a new code Robotnik was using, or Robotnik even locked himself from it and that there was no way for even him to override it.

As he continued to try to hack it as he ran along the other three, something pinged within his head. He slowed down as he investigated it, and nearly pitched over in shock. "Temporal anomalous readings have been detected above the battle, identical to the Chaos flux seven months ago," he announced.

All screeched to a halt with this announcement and scanned the skies. Did that mean what they thought it meant?

Robotnik laughed through the comm. channel in pure triumph. "You can't escape my Super Fission Missile that easily, Tails. You see, the missile is hardwired to chase only one target, the target I program into its hardware. If something cuts between it and its target, it deviates around effortlessly and resumes the chase. And for this missile…the target is you."

"It's coming closer, darlin'!" Bunnie exclaimed.

Tails' mind was blank. He had no idea what to do. No one did.

"Like I said before, foxy; give the hedgehog my regards. Once you are gone, and his fleet is out of the way, nothing will get in my way to rebuild my empire. With your destruction as my new empire's vanguard, you might say that my empire started…with a bang." Robotnik erupted with victorious evil laughter, which was cut short by Knuckles' fist on the comm device.

"What are we going to do? What are we going to do? What are we going to do?" Frosty said over and over, running on nothing but panic now.

Alarms screamed the warning that the missile was closing in, but it was mixed in the mass chaos of panic in Tails' mind. This was it. They were all going to die! In one moment, they would simply be snuffed out completely. Would it hurt? What would happen!

Everyone else had frozen, as if time itself had stopped. This was it, the final moment on this earth!

Suddenly, a flash of yellow light erupted in front of them, blinding them. At first, they thought it was the rocket hitting them, but when they dared to look again, they saw something very different. Rocketing towards them was being of light, bathed in flaming yellow light that burned around the being's shining yellow body like fire, his hair bristling like electricity.

All watched hypnotized at the appearance of this new figure…then they saw who it was…and nearly broke down. "SONIC!" they shouted in unison.

Super Sonic shot past them in a screaming beam of light. One second later, there was a colossal blast that nearly knocked them out of the sky. Tails clung to the controls as did everyone to their seats as Tails tried to regain control of the plane. Tails was amazed that the plane was not destroyed but was still in flight…and undamaged. All looked back to see a colossal fireball wreathed in its own smoke.

Bunnie said it best for all of them. "Oh my poor ticker; I think it just skipped a few ticks."

"Damn son of a bitch. Took his time, didn't he?" Viper finally said.

"Indeed," Shadow said, relaxed.

Viper shook his head. "We'll, we'd better hurry before he beats us to Eggman."

Mutually agreeing, all took off into the superstructure where the bridge rested on. Moments later, Super Sonic came to a landing on one end of the ship in a crouch. As he rose up, he looked right at the bridge as if it was looking down upon him.

"Hi, Eggman…" Super Sonic said finally. "What's up?"

Dr. Robotnik was in a state of shock. Out of nowhere, the hedgehog zoomed in and destroyed his Super Fission Missile without breaking a sweat, and now he was right here, powered by the seven Chaos Emeralds. This was basically saying he was lost…but his pride wouldn't let him.

"So, you finally return."

Super Sonic stood erect on the exterior of the Egg Typhoon, as he heard Robotnik's greeting through the broadcasting loudspeakers on the ship. He smiled, "So, I've been gone for a while and everything goes completely to pot. You haven't changed a bit, Egghead. By the way, where is the cake? I was told there would be cake at this party!"

"You've been gone for over half of a year and all you can do is jest, isn't it? Even you haven't changed my old friend."

Sonic smiled in a toothy grin. "So, are you ready to rock?"

Every missile turret and laser cannon on the Egg Typhoon aimed right at Sonic's body. Sonic stared down hundreds of cannon and turret barrels without the lease bit of fear. Over the loudspeakers oozed out, "I always liked a little struggle in the kill…makes good sport."

"Take your best shot, Eggman."

The crew of the X-Tornado came upon the Egg Typhoon just as the bow of the ship disintegrated in a flash of fire and smoke as the whole front end of the ship simply blew up. Tails had turned the X-Tornado clear round to follow the newly arrived Sonic, and was greeted by the utter destruction of the Egg Typhoon.

"He hasn't changed at all," Knuckles said dryly. "Shows up and the first thing he does is kick Eggman where it hurts. I wonder why I ever worry about that guy."

Dash however was ecstatic. He was simply clawing at the window desperate to leap into Sonic's arms again, and cheered like there was no tomorrow at the fireworks. "I knew he'd come back! I knew he would."

Tails was almost on the verge of tears. Seeing Sonic safe and unharmed felt like it was going to be his birthday and Christmas present for the next thirty years or so. It felt good to have his buddy back.

Robotnik was high-tailing it for the nearest exit pod as alarms blared through the ship. In one flash move, Super Sonic had sheared off the entire bow of the ship! Why was that dreadful little rodent always ruining his plans? How could he do it? He was just one hedgehog!

After locating the first escape pod he could find, he heaved himself aboard, not even bothering to see if it was occupied and activated the escape sequence. The pod dropped out of the underbelly of the remains of the Egg Typhoon and took off the way the fleet came. He dared not look back as the rest of his fleet would soon be decimated. All he wanted to do is seethe at his latest defeat.

"I really hate that hedgehog…I hate him…hate him. HATE HIM!" Robotnik screamed at the top of his lungs. "Hate…hate…HATE…HATE…HAAAAATE!" Robotnik slammed his fists down on the control, his rage boiling over. "Mark my words, hedgehog. You haven't seen the last of me, you pathetic little rodent. One day, I will have my revenge! Do you hear me, Sonic! I will have my revenge!"

"Yeah, yeah, we heard ya! No need to shout!" said a low voice behind the doctor.

His rage quickly faded into dread. Blanching, he looked slowly behind him to see who else was in the pod…and found himself staring down a barrel of a gleaming silver-handgun. Beyond that was a fierce visage with soul-piercing venom yellow eyes.

"Looks like we're having you over-easy today, Dr. Robotnik. Just like I said you would be…so long ago."

Nearby, a black hedgehog, a blue-hedgehog android and a large hulking black-and-red robot both bore a look of hunger.

"Do as I say, and maybe I won't be collecting your disembodied head in the next country."

Super Sonic landed on the runways of the GFV Sovereign and had to fight a wave of nostalgia since it looked virtually identical to the Egg Carrier. Instantly, his fur faded from a hot yellow to a cold dark blue, the charge in his body finally dying.

Behind him, he heard the familiar shriek of the X-Tornado and he looked to see the plane itself coming for a landing right on the runway. He watched as the bottom wings folded up and the landing gear extend from the belly of the jet. He watched it slow as it rolled past him, and at a walk he followed on afterwards.

The canopy opened and before he could even say hello, a small blue ball of spines flew out at him like a fastball in the major leagues, knocking him clear off his feet. Uncurling right on top of his chest, it was Dash the chao, looking furious.

"Where the heck have you been!" Dash shrieked in his squeaky chao voice.

Sonic sat up, and Dash slid right into his lap. Sonic rubbed the back of his head, stammering in light of the little chao's outrage. "Well…uh…I'm sorry that I just disappeared like that…and…uh…well…uh…"

Dash's face slowly changed from rage to tears. Throwing himself forward again, he clung to Sonic's chest and wept bitter tears. "Don't leave ever again, Sonic. EVER!"

The strings of Sonic's soul were strummed with the songs of compassion. From Dash's viewpoint, Sonic simply disappeared without a trace. Doubtless the poor chao had been worried sick the whole time he was gone, everyone too.

Speaking of everyone, Tails, Frosty, Knuckles, Sally and Bunnie made their way towards him, each one's face lit up with joy at seeing Sonic come back, unharmed and perfectly normal. "Hey, guys! What's up in your world?"

"Why sugar-hog! You've been gone for a month of Sundays and that's all you gotta say?" Bunnie put her hands on her hips. "Why I oughtta slap you around like a SWAT Bot."

"Everyone keeps saying that," Sonic said, standing up and still carrying Dash. "How long have I been gone?"

Everyone looked at each other. They weren't expecting that question. "You don't know?" Knuckles asked.

"It felt like a couple of days…" Sonic said, but something wasn't clicking.

Dash looked up. "You been gone forever!"

Knuckles decided to be more specific. "Sonic, you disappeared back in November when the Chaos Emeralds fluxed."

"Yeah, I remember that part."

"It's June of the next year now."

Sonic looked like someone slapped him in the face. "Dude, seven months? No wonder why everyone thought I just came back from the dead."

"It has been a long time, Sonic," Sally said. "Some of us were ready to give up, thinking you would never come back…but some of us still hoped."

"Good thing, too," Bunnie said. "And good thing you showed up when you did. I don't know about y'all, but I don't like pushing up the daisies."

Somehow, this was hilariously funny and they all broke out into a good laugh. After their good laugh, Sonic finally breathed. "Well, I'm back now, and I ain't itching to leave again."

EPILOGUE:

Two-hundred years in the future…

A white-furred hedgehog was sitting all by himself along the edge of a lake, picking up smooth flat stones with some strange unseen force and throwing them across the water in a spin. Each stone skipped across the lake before they dived into the water to sink. For the last several days, he could be found here, distracted and withdrawn.

Silver sighed as yet another stone succumbed to a watery grave; not for the stone but for his own mind. The last couple of weeks have been rough thanks to a recurring dream he was having practically each night. It was always the same without change, and it came so much and so often that Silver had no problem remembering it now as it burned itself into his brain.

He wanted to talk about it to someone, but who could he talk to about dreams? He also felt like a baby for being disturbed about dreams like some little kid too frightened to go to bed, so he hadn't told anyone since the dreams first began. Each day he tried to behave as if it was just like any other day, but he kept being distracted by the meaning of his dream. Does it have a meaning? Maybe he was just going crazy…

A shadow crept up alongside Silver, long by the morning light. Silver caught a glimpse of it and turned his head to see who it was. In the rising sunlight he saw the figure of a lean, rather regal-looking cat. The sun had washed his vision to see the details, but Silver could guess who it was.

"Oh, hi Blaze," Silver said meekly, looking away again.

"Are you okay?" Blaze asked.

"Yeah."

Blaze crossed her arms. "If you were okay, you wouldn't be sitting near the lake skipping stones."

Silver looked back at Blaze again, and knew he couldn't lie to her. Blaze knew Silver too well to know when he was disturbed, distracted and honest. Sometimes it annoyed Silver…but other times, it made him thankful that there was someone who knew him well enough to help him.

"I…" Silver started then sighed. "It's too embarrassing."

Blaze walked up and sat down beside Silver on the grassy bank, overlooking the gently lapping water of the lake, but said nothing. Despite saying nothing, Blaze's presence was making Silver uncomfortable; not because she was too close…but because she was admitting an aura that demanded to get the answer out of Silver.

Finally, Silver caved. "Well, it's this dream I keep having."

Blaze blinked, suddenly very interested. "What kind of dream?"

"Nightmare...kind of."

Blaze decided to tread lightly; nightmares were serious matters. "Can you tell it to me?"

Silver swallowed. This would be the first time he ever retold his dream to anyone, plus the feeling of reliving the dream in the daytime was unsettling in itself. "Well, it's like this: I'm walking through the city, but it's been destroyed. Parts were still on fire while the rest was sinking into lava. Then I get visited by this black hedgehog and he sends me into the past, telling me that I have to kill this blue hedgehog to fix everything. When I do, I come back, but everything is still on fire. Then I see you, fighting this demon…you killed it…by blowing yourself up." Silver inhaled before speaking again. "That's when I wake up."

Blaze sat back for a moment letting this narrative of a dream sink in. "You have this dream a lot?"

"Lately, yeah." Silver crossed his arms as if he was cold in the warm sunshine. "It's…scaring me." Silver wanted to slither under a rock like a snake for admitting he was scared, and braced himself for scorn from Blaze; however, he was in for a surprise. Blaze stood up and took Silver by the hand. Startled, Silver protested. "What? What are you doing?"

"Come with me," Blaze said, hoisting Silver to his feet. When Silver tried to splutter out questions, Blaze merely said. "Shut up and you'll see once we get there. This is better if you see it then hear it."

Silver instantly canned it, his surprise morphing into unbridled curiosity. He then felt excited. Blaze knew something about his dream…but he couldn't help wondering how. Still, he held his tongue. Blaze told him he would know once they got there. Got where?

Unfortunately for Silver, they were sure taking their time to get there and he was growing impatient. Blaze led him into the city, winding through back alley after another. Silver listened to the noise of traffic without even hearing it, wondering what kind of secret Blaze knew that would be hidden in the underbelly of urban society.

Soon, they came upon a building that looked like it was once a small hotel, except now it was a dirty shell of a place. The only thing sticking out was crude graffiti of a snake devouring its own tail circumvented by six rays above the door. Blaze opened the door and went right in as if she owned the place, and Silver followed.

The place smelled of dust, mold and alcohol, and looked like it hadn't seen a sanitation force in years. What kind of place was this?

Blaze and Silver walked slowing in, but it seemed no one was home, except for a TV that was on showing the news. Silver took a scope of the area. There was huge desk towards the back of the room with flanking couches that appeared to have seen much use on the adjacent walls. The walls themselves had crooked paintings and covered with mold, save for the back wall where a door to a back room stood. To the left was a staircase with sagging steps that led up and around to the right, flanked by many doors on the second level.

Silver studied the desk itself; on the desk were various knick-knacks, including an old-looking telephone, a pair of handguns that seemed to be the only clean thing in the place, and a notebook with indecipherable scribbles that Silver assumed was just bad handwriting.

"Where are we?" Silver finally asked.

"Oroborus," Blaze said simply. "See, Silver, I had dreams myself, a lot like the ones you had."

"What?" Silver said, astonished. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because there's more to it than just being a dream. The man here can explain it."

"I suppose that's my cue," said a voice from above.

Silver and Blaze looked up to see a tall male human looking down upon them from the second level, wearing only boots and jeans overlaid with leather chaps, and judging by the dripping hair, he had just come out of the shower. As he came down the stairs and Silver noticed one thing right away: from his elbow to hand on his left arm appeared to be a arm that belonged to an alien, black with cracks of hot orange lava underneath while the hand itself glowed the same color, curling into claws. Everything else about the human seemed normal enough, save for the addition of venom yellow eyes.

"So," said the human. "you need something else, Blaze?"

Blaze acted as if he always knew this human. "Not for me, Viper. Silver here seems to be remembering the time that never was."

"Huh?" Silver asked.

The human, Viper, exhaled sharply. "About damn time. Took you long enough, kid."

"What are you talking about?" Silver asked.

Viper walked behind the desk, opened a drawer and removed a worn notebook that somehow seemed to have escaped the decay of the place. "You should give this a read, kid, but before you do, listen to what I have to say…have a seat."

Blaze and Silver sat down on one of the sagging couches while Viper whipped on a black shirt that was draped over the seat behind the desk. Sitting down, he began to say. "That notebook was written by an old acquaintance of mine nearly two centuries ago. Apparently, according to him, something happened way back when that not only affected the past…but the present."

Silver leaned forward, all ears and was conscious that he was gripping the cushions like an eagle would its meal.

"And what supposedly happened back when changed time completely, so none of us have any actual memory that it happened at all. The only account we have that it might have happened is this notebook." Viper tossed the notebook onto the desk. "Take it with you to read…but on one condition. I expect it back."

Viper then got up and went upstairs, disappearing into a room. Silver looked at the worn notebook on the desk as if it was a rare bird in the jungle. Blaze went forward to pick it up and gave it to Silver. "Come on, you can read it on the way."

Eventually, they left the rotting building behind them and Silver opened the notebook. The handwriting was sloppy and large, but it was still readable. There was a smudge here and there, yet for two-hundred years of existing, it was still well taken care of. The grammar was horrible in places, but it didn't matter to Silver. This must be an important notebook for it to be preserved for so long.

The first page contained an introductory note, and Silver immediately began to read.

If you're reading this notebook, then read carefully. I feel kind of silly writing this all down. Never did anything like this before really. I do better telling stories at the camp fires. Oh heck. Anyway, I wanted to write this all down before I kicked the bucket. It sucks being the only guy who actually remembers this, but it happened. I know what I did erased everyone's minds from it, but I had to do it. For them, for her. I hope this makes sense to you, dude.

Sonic the Hedgehog

She was born into wealth and power. She was a natural-born leader. She was young and pretty, well known to the citizens of Soleanna and the surrounding countries.

She was Princess Elise, heiress to the throne of Soleanna, soon to be Queen Elise. At only sixteen years, leaders of other countries marveled at her ability to lead her people and her nation. The only reason she was not a queen now was by constitutional law of that country that the monarchy head could not be named king or queen until eighteen years of age. Amendments to re-ratify this age standard in favor of Elise had been drafted, but were never passed by the House of Commons of the Parliament.

Those failures did not shake the adornment or the loyalty of her people; no, a title was just a title. Elise was the people's leader as a monarch.

Tonight was the Festival of the Sun, and like all the princesses of Soleanna before her, she was the one to pray the blessing and light the flame. Elise was on front of her royal barge, showered by yellow carnations and tulips, the traditional flowers of the festival. She was dressed in the traditional white gowns of the royalty. Her pearl-white dress was ornamented with silver and diamonds. Around her auburn locks of hair, she wore a crown of silver, lined with feathers of the white eagle, the national bird. She was the image of royalty and beauty.

Smiling and waving to her people, she stood out tall as yellow-dressed dancers performed seamlessly behind her. Hooded maids stood on either side behind her, solemn but not taking away any of the festive atmosphere.

Elise was happy to see her people happy. Several times she threw bouquets of yellow and white flowers towards the people from her ship, gliding like a swan through the water canals.

Fireworks lit the sky, adding to the cheer of the Festival. The military saluted the princess with rounds of gunfire upwards to the dark, starry sky. The celebrations only intensified as the white boat approached an island with six arms, all bearing torches, non-fired. In the center was an even larger torch, as large as the buildings around it. The ship docked, and the Princess, followed by her hooded maids proceeded off the ship and towards a platform. On it was a short, elderly priest looking solemn; on either side of him were two taller robed men, arms tucked away in the folds of their robes, looking equally solemn. This was a holy night after all...to honor those who passed on before to join the ever-loving one in the eternally sunlit lands.

She barely stepped upon the stone when suddenly from behind, a blast of stiff wind ripped through the canal and into the sky. The people were so surprised they cried out, looking around to see what that wind was. Elise braced herself from that wind as it blasted through, but then it died to a soft wind. Looking up, she saw that one of the feathers from her crown had been torn off by the wind and was gliding gently away upwards towards the full moon that ruled the night.

Elise watched it in wonder as everyone else recovered themselves from the sudden anomaly of the wind. That wind had aroused a strange feeling within her, as if someone had called out to her…someone she knew once upon a time.

"Your Grace?" ventured one of her gold-cloaked maidens.

"I thought…I felt someone calling me…" Elise said mystically, watching the feather slowly disappear into the moonlight. "Someone I knew once…"

"I'm sure it's just the wind, Your Grace," the maiden said plaintively.

"Of course," Elise sighed. "Yet…it felt so…familiar somehow." Elise wondered about this for a few more seconds, and then returned to the matter at hand. Everyone fell silent as she cried the prayer of thanksgiving and lit the torch. As the citizens of Soleanna cheered for the night, Elise looked up at the moon again. "Maybe one day, I'll see you again…whoever you are…"

In the streets of Sapphire City, mere days after the utter destruction of the Egg Storm, celebrations were going on for the ultimate defeat of Dr. Robotnik, who was now awaiting trial, locked away in a high-secure cell on Prison Island. There were parades, carnivals and other levities as the greatest enemy to both Mobians and the colonists was now captured finally.

The night had settled and the full moon was rising above the city, but the festivities kept going on, showing no signs of slowing. As the levities steamed forward below, a flock of white doves took off into the night to find quieter roosts. As they flew, preening feathers worked their way off, and fluttered into the night, tossed and turned by the wind. As one feather drifted by one tall building, it was snatched out of the sky by a gloved hand.

Pulling down the captured feather, Sonic studied it, ignoring the party below, his mind drifting thousands of miles away. Sonic had been filled in at what had happened in the time he was gone—yet he still couldn't believe he was gone for over a half-year—and receives plenty of welcome backs. One in particular was from Amy Rose, who had watched the battle on the news at Vanilla's and Cream's house while she was visiting. As soon as Sonic reappeared, she took off out the door and hunted down Sonic. Upon finding him at G.U.N. HQ, she nearly smashed his skull in with her Piko Piko Hammer while giving him a tongue-lashing for disappearing like that.

Sonic smiled in spite of himself in the memory. Amy was happy she had returned, but she had to get that anger out of the way before she could welcome him home. It wasn't his fault for being gone so long, but still, no one should have gone through such a worry.

Sonic grew partied out by the festivities and quietly escaped to the roof of New City Hall, built to replace the one that had been destroyed by Perfect Chaos six—no—seven years before now. He had to let his mind settle after everything that happened the past week to him. Heck, it was still hard for him to swallow that Viper and Shadow had successfully captured Dr. Robotnik at gunpoint.

Sonic gazed at the feather again, white and soft, untouched by filth of the world. It reminded him of the feathers that were woven into a young woman's crown. Sonic was glad he could remember everything that happened in Soleanna, even though no one else has. He knew why no one else remembered, yet somehow he retained his memory.

He remembered when he and Elise had parted in the altar room of the Temple of Solaris, after blowing out the candle. He remembered flying through something like a portal, waiting to pop out the other side to home, still emblazoned in the golden light of Super-form. Yet as he went through, he hung onto those memories. He felt things that felt like little hands clawing at his brain as he passed through, yet he fought them off. He would not let go of those memories if he could help it.

He then remembered standing in a vast white space, and a great large door stood in front of him, completely featureless. He stood there wondering how to open it when some voice confronted him. "In comes the hero of two times, seeking to enter the world from which he hails, despite the fact he changed it completely."

Sonic had looked around, looking for the source of the voice, but no face could be seen. "Who are you?"

"I am everything and nothing at the same time. Many names but belonging to none. I suppose you could call me Gatekeeper if you so wish."

"Why am I here, Gatekeeper?" Super Sonic inquired.

"To give you a choice: You have eradicated the Devourer of Times in the past, present and future. The time of despair and destruction has been removed from the annals of history. Yet, a part of it remains with you, little one.

"Those memories are the last remnants of the taint of darkness. Many of the creatures of light would quickly cast it aside and return to the place and forget the whole thing as it was too dreadful to remember. Tell me, child, why do you hold on to the despair and hold on to those memories of darkness?"

Sonic looked around again. "Why should I let them go? I've been through worse than that and I still am alive. That's all that's important."

"But why? Wouldn't it be easier to just let them go and return to light without the memories of darkness and despair in your soul?"

"Life isn't easy, and I know that full well. I've lost my dad and mom to evil, and almost lost many of my friends to the same, but we got through it each and every time. Now didn't you say something about a choice?"

"Yes, I did. You have two choices: When you enter that gate, you will return to the world you call home. You can return to the time you left and not remember anything of Soleanna, or hold on to those memories, and return to a time later then when you first left."

"How long?"

"I cannot answer that."

"Why?" Sonic said.

"Because I do not know."

Sonic stood silent for a bit.

"Which is why I asked you why you would hold on to those memories. I pulled you from the gate so you could answer my question. You now know the price of holding on to those memories, child. You could be gone for many years. With that knowledge, why do you want to hold on?"

Sonic's mind flashed different directions. He saw the faces of those who had gone with him to Soleanna. Apparently, they had chosen not to remember, or just let it go unconsciously. He saw the faces of Sally, Uncle Chuck, Dash and other of his dearest friends. What would they do if he never returned while they were alive?

Then his mind flashed to Elise, who had no choice but lose her memories. That was the price she paid so that her world could now be saved from the belly of Solaris. If Sonic lost those memories, then no one would ever remember the price she paid. Sonic said in answer. "Someone I know had already given the same memories to the darkness so that her world could now exist in light. If I forgot all that, who would remember who paid the price?"

"You are willing to pay the price of time so that a woman's sacrifice could be remembered? Even if you may not return to your world until well after your friends from your home had passed on?"

Sonic grinned. "That ain't going to happen. I know my friends; if I disappear, they'll get up and walk on. Sure they may worry for a while, but they can get up and walk. I don't have time to worry about that or anything, Gatekeeper. I only got time to run."

There was a pause, but Sonic felt a radiance that felt like happiness. "That is the correct answer, child!" The gate swung open behind Sonic, showing a gate of light. "Go, return to your world and remember what was given so that you may remember. Fare thee well, Sonic the Hedgehog!"

Sonic looked at the feather again, after reflecting that time in the gate between the worlds. He had held onto his memories, and the price was seven months…because he didn't worry about what would have happened. Sonic stood up and blew the feather out of his hand. He watched it drift into the winds, towards the full moon reigning the night.

Watching it fade into the moonlight, he said quietly, "Elise, I'm not going to worry about you, for I know we'll see each other again. Take care, Princess Elise of Soleanna. I'll smile just for you."

THE END