"Emergence" A work of Sonic the Hedgehog Fan-faction by Ian Patterson A 
few technicalities... I've read enough fanfic to know what title 17 
(the copyright law) does and does not allow; you can't change the text 
in any way or charge anyone money to read this without my expressed 
written permission.  All situations and characters from the Sonic the 
Hedgehog Saturday morning cartoon series, as aired on ABC, are copyright 
SEGA, DiC, and/or Archie Comics, and are used (or at least referred to 
here) without permission.


EMERGENCE


	Welcome to planet Mobius.  The third planet in a system of nine, and 
the only one capable of supporting life.  While many parts of this wonderous 
planet still remain shrouded in mystery, its present state does not.  Not 
more than four years earlier, did this planet recover from a devastating 
war against the tyrant, Dr. Robotnik, and his nephew, Snively.  Now, once 
again, the planet is engulfed in another war against yet another tyrant.
	Welcome to planet Mobius, a new planet Mobius.
	The dead city of Mobo-Troplis stood silent.  The ashes from destroyed
buildings and other structures blew over the demolished city with the wind.
Not more than five weeks earlier was this place a prosperous, wondrous
place.  Full of life and joy, the citizens of Mobo-Tropolis were living a
time that many of them had not seen in over fifteen years, and that some
had never seen at all.
	Now, the city was gone.  The only thing wondrous about it was that
the bodies of citizens that were not lucky enough to escape the annihilation
had been buried by their families.  
	The Dark Queen had left a deep wound in the side of the planet, and it
would take much time to heal.
	Miles away from the demolished city, laid the vast desert region 
known as the Great Unknown.  So big was the place, that it had never been
totally mapped out.  Most of it was relatively unexplored and left untouched
by the wars of the past, or the current one.  
	However, on this day, amidst the dust and sandstorms, a lone figure
emerged from the desert.  Completely wrapped in a sandy brown robe, the 
figure stopped when she reached the area where the Great Forest met the
Great Unknown.  She knelt down, and touched the blades of green grass that
covered the ground.
	"Never before have I seen such wonders", she said, "The elders were
wrong.  There was never any danger beyond the mountains.  I must see more
of this place.  Perhaps I have reached the Sanctuary of the Gods."
	She plucked several pieces of grass from the ground, and put them in
her belt pouch.  She then stood up, and got a firm grip on her staff.  She
chose a direction that led straight into the Great Forest, and vanished in
the foliage.
	Several miles from there, a huge island soared over the landscape,
turning everything below it to night.  Aboard this mighty vessel, lived
several unique creatures.
	The most important ones were Knuckles the Echidna, and his friends,
the Chaotix.  Most of the time, they were all very laid back.  Their only
concern was protecting the island against invaders.  However, even that
job had gotten lax, since the defeat of Robotnik and Snivley.  Knuckles and
his friends mostly spent the days lounging around and enjoying life, until
now.
	On this particular day, Knuckles the Echidna, last of member of an
ancient race, and guardian of the Floating Island, sat on one knee at the
very edge of the island.  
	Alone, he sat, staring out at the landscape before him.  The wind
from the high altitude was blowing his red dreadlocks all around.  Something
wasn't right, and he knew it.  He didn't know what, but he knew that all was
not well.
	Knuckles raised his head up, and his eyes turned sharp to the right.
A small grin worked its way up his mouth.
	"If you're going to sneak up on me, Espio", he said, "You're going
to have to learn to be more quiet."
	Espio the Chameleon melted out of the background that he had been
hiding in.  He walked up right behind Knuckles.
	"Geez", he said, "The only way I'm ever going to catch you off guard
is if you're dead, Knux."
	"Also", added Knuckles, "Don't hide upwind next time."
	"You've been sitting here like that for almost two hours, Knux", said
Espio, sitting up against a rock, "What's up?"
	"Something's amist", said Knuckles, "There!  Do you see?"
	Espio squinted, and looked off into the distance.  He saw a pillar
of smoke rise up from the Great Forest.  After examining it for a few 
seconds, he shook his head, and leaned back against his rock.
	"It's nothing, Knux", he said, "Nothing but a little smoke.  I don't
know what you're getting so uptight about."
	"You don't get it, Espio", said Knuckles, "That's the eighth pillar
of smoke that's risen out of the Great Forest since we've entered the 
airspace."
	Espio opened his eyes, and sat back up.  He looked over at Knuckles,
who was still staring out into the distance.
	"This worries me", said Knuckles, "I don't like it."
	Espio smiled, and pointed at Knuckles.
	"Is that an emotion I detect?", he asked.
	"Perish the thought", said Knuckles, chuckling.
	"Yo, Homies!", said Vector, coming up behind them.
	"Hey, Vector", said Espio, "What's going on?"
	"Well", said Vector, "I heard you dudes going on about something
being wrong, and I think I have something else to add to it."
	"And what might that be?", asked Knuckles, not moving his head.
	Vector unhooked a gray device from his belt, and held it out.  
	"See this?", he said, "It's that funky transmitter that Princess
Sally gave us to use in case we ever needed help, or vice versa."
	"We knew what it was, Vector", said Knuckles, "Get to the point."
	"Oh, yeah", said Vector, "I wuz gettin' ta that.  I had a funny
feeling about everything, too.  So, I tried to call Sally to see if 
everything was cool, and guess what."
	"What?", asked Espio.
	"Mobo-Tropolis ain't answerin' on any frequency", said Vector, 
"That's not cool."
	"I knew something was wrong", said Knuckles, standing up, "And the
three of us are going to find out what.  Vector, go tell Mighty and Charmy
that they're in charge of guarding the island until we get back."
	"Check!", said Vector, running back into the island.
	"Get the parachutes while you're at it!", yelled Knuckles after 
Vector.
	"What do we need parachutes for?", asked Espio.
	"Guess", said Knuckles.
	"Oh, man!", said Espio, "I hate jumping!"
	Out in the Great Forest, the robed figure was continuing her walk
through this strange place.  There was so much life here.  She was still
puzzled as to why the elders had said there was nothing but death beyond
the mountains.
	A gust of wind blew across the area.  The trees and leaves all
rustled and moved with it.  The figure was amazed at it.  This was not the
hot, dry, stingy wind that blew across the desert, but a cool, moist wind.
She pulled her hood back, so that she could feel it.
	Her red dreadlocks fell to her shoulders, and the young echidna 
lifted her face up, so the wind blew against it.  
	"A world of enchantment", she said, "It is a pity that the others 
could not see this."
	She stood there, gazing around at the trees and leaves.  She knelt
down, and picked up several green leaves.  She looked at them for a few 
moments before stuffing them in her pouch.  
	Over head, she heard a strange humming noise.  She looked upward,
and saw a silver object soar overhead.  It gleamed in the sunlight.  Her
jaw dropped open when she saw it.
	"A flying beast", she said, "I must see where it nests!"
	She closed her pouch, grabbed her stick, and ran off after the flying
object.
	The object, which was actually one of the Dark Queen's attack 
cruisers, suddenly came to a stop in the air.  
	Inside, there were six occupants.  Two of them were drones, robots
constructed by the Dark Queen to do the work that was deemed too dangerous
for the cybers.  There were also four cybers in there as well.  Two of them
were merely normal cybers.  They had been created from normal Mobians, much
like the worker-bots that had been created by Robotnik.  
	The differences between the cybers and the drones were fairly 
evident.  The drones were silver in coloring, and the cybers were white and
black.  The drones were all the same size and shape, where the cybers varied
in shape and size.  Perhaps the greatest difference was that the drones were
merely robots, and sat totally unmoving in the back.  The cybers, however
machine-like they appeared, were living creatures.  They were looking out 
the windows and chattering back and forth to one another.
	The two cybers sitting in the front of the attack crusier, were very
special cybers.  The Dark Queen had constructed several enhanced cybers to
lead her forces.  Anthrax and Blizzard were two of them.
	"Why have we stopped?", said Blizzard, in his deep voice.
	"Because it's time for you to drive", said Anthrax.
	"I don't want to drive", said Blizzard, "Besides, I don't know how."
	"The Dark Queen wants all cybers to be able to pilot at least one
type of cruiser", said Anthrax, "Mist, Hurricane, and Vortex already know
how to pilot several of the more difficult ships.  This is the simplest one
to pilot, and you're going to learn how."
	Blizzard grumbled, and took the stick in front of him.  Anthrax let
go of his, and the ship started to tilt to the side.  
	"What do I do?", said Blizzard, panicked.
	"Move the stick to the opposite side to balance the ship out", said
Anthrax, folding his arms.
	Blizzard jerked the stick sharp to the other way.  The ship started
going into a 360, spinning around very fast.  In the confusion, Blizzard
hit the throttle, knocking up to full.  The ship shot forward at a very
fast speed, while still spinning.  
	"Blizzard!", yelled Anthrax, "You moron!"
	A ways ahead of the out of control ship, Knuckles, Vector, and Espio
walked into the remains of a village.  It was totally devastated.  Huts had
been burned, and were still smoking, others had been blown over or run down.
Several makeshift graves were scattered about, and were still fresh.
	"What happened here?", said Espio, looking around.
	"I knew it", said Knuckles, examining some tracks on the ground, 
"This is strange."
	"What?", asked Vector, coming up behind him.
	"I've never seen tracks like these before", said Knuckles, "As much
as they're sunk into the ground, whoever left them must weigh at least 
three hundred pounds.  However, the size of them indicates that they were
no taller than us."
	"Bots", said Vector, "What else could it be?"
	"Hey, Guys!", said Espio, coming up behind them, "The sign over there
says that this place is, er, was called Pinewood Village.  Mobo-Tropolis is
only three miles east of here.  There's no way this could have happened 
without them knowing about it."
	"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting, Espio?", asked
Knuckles.
	"Well", said Espio, "It's an unlikely possibility, but it is still a
possibility.  King Acorn may be responsible for this."
	Knuckles shook his head.  This wasn't right, not at all.
	"No", he said, "This isn't Acorn's style.  I remember hearing my 
father tell me about some of the king's maneuvers during the Great War.  
This isn't his style.  There aren't that many graves around here, either."
	"That's probably a good thing, Bro", said Vector.
	"I know that", said Knuckles, "But what I'm getting at, is that the
person who pulled this off wanted prisoners, lots of them."
	"You don't think it's Robotnik?", said Espio.
	"No", said Knuckles, "He's dead.  I watched his pod get blown up at
Doomsday."
	"You didn't start hanging around the hedgehog until after Doomsday",
said Vector.
	"I was watching, though", said Knuckles, "I watched Sonic and Sally
waste the entire place after using the Deep Power Stones.  Robotnik's escape
pod took off, but was engulfed by the explosion.  Bits and pieces of him
are probably scattered all across the Great Unknown."
	"So?", asked Vector, "What's the plan, Man?"
	"Let's head for Mobo-Tropolis", said Knuckles, "I'm betting the 
answer to all this is there."
	Just as they started walking, Knuckles heard a humming sound.  He
turned his head, and looked back at Vector.
	"Vector!", he said, "Turn that walkman off!"
	"It's off, Knux", he said, "It hasn't been on since we left the 
island."
	"Then what's that sound?", asked Knuckles, noticing the noise getting
louder.
	"LOOK OUT!!!", yelled Espio.
	Just as he said that, a silver hover-ship shot not five feet above
their heads.  All of them hit the ground just then.  There was a huge blast
of wind and noise.  After the ship had shot into the Great Forest, Knuckles
and the rest lifted their heads up.
	"What the hell was that?", said Vector, looking at Knuckles.
	"Some kinda hover-ship", said Knuckles, "Strange looking one, too.
C'mon, let's follow it.	
	They all got up, and ran into the huge hole in the foliage that the
ship had left.  Knuckles still had a bad feeling about all this.
	The girl echidna had followed the flying beast for some time.  For
some reason, it had started flying in circles, and right into the forest.
Perhaps it was doing some sort of mating ritual.
	She poked her head through some bushes, and saw it rammed up against
a tree.  There was smoke coming from the part that seemed to be injured.  
She was about to go see if it was still alive, when a part of its side fell
open.  She lowered herself to the ground.  Several creatures emerged from 
it, and began examining it.
	"Oh, this is great!", said Anthrax, kicking the side of the attack
cruiser, "This is just freaking PEACHY!!!"
	"I told you I didn't know how to pilot it", said Blizzard.
	Anthrax turned around, and stood right in front of Blizzard.  It was
quite a funny sight, since the top of Anthrax's head only came up to the 
middle of Blizzard's chest.  
	"You are in big trouble when we get back to HQ, you big, blue 
lunkhead!", yelled Anthrax, poking Blizzard's chest.
	 The yellow cyber turned from his larger partner, and looked at the
four others.
	"Did any of you take any damage?", he asked.
	"No", said one cyber.
	"I'm fine", said the other one.
	"Negative, Sir", said the two drones, in unison.
	"Geez", he said, "Maybe the Dark Queen can try programming those 
things with personalities next time."
	The girl echidna was watching from the side, when the branch she was
holding onto, snapped.
	"Oh no", she said.
	All six of the creatures that had emerged from the beast turned and
looked right at her.  They just stared at each other for a few moments.
	"Be strong, Nirobi", she said to herself.
	"GET HER!!!", yelled Anthrax.
	Nirobi hadn't had a chance to really examine the creatures, but now
she could see them very clearly, and she was not happy she could.
	"Exupi!", she gasped, moving backwards.
	The two drones started running after her, and the four cybers were
running right behind.
	Nirobi threw her robe off, revealing a small outfit made out of some
type of animal skin.  She had a black tattoo around her right arm, and a 
small knife in her belt.
	She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, but she was not used to
the geography of this new region.  She tripped over a root in the ground, 
and fell flat on her face.
	"Ouch", she said, rubbing her shoulder that she had hit.
	One of the drones ran right up behind her, and yanked her back to 
her feet.  Its red eyes stared right at her.
	"Do not move, Prisoner", it said, "Raise your hands."
	The drone aimed its right arm at her.  The arm was equipped with a
blaster built onto the back of it.  Nirobi held her staff in a defense.
	Anthrax and Blizzard came up behind them.
	"Be gone, Evil Ones!", hissed Nirobi, "I do not fear you!"
	"Don't just stand there!", he yelled, "Stun her!"
	Just as the drone was about to fire, Knuckles flew out of nowhere,
and smashed his fists right into the drone's face, punching it in.  The 
body fell to the ground, shorting out.
	"I think she's stunned enough", said Knuckles, pounding his fists
together.
	"Why, you insolent little....", growled Anthrax, "Kill him!"
	The other drone aimed its arm right at Knuckles, but it moved upward
all of a sudden and blasted a branch on a tree.
	"Error!", said the drone, "Firing arm was suddenly jerked upwards at
the moment before firing.
	"Yeah", said Espio, uncloaking, "I'd say 'jerk' is a pretty good word
for you!"
	Espio then rammed his armored forehead right into the robot's chest, 
knocking it into a tree.  It shattered upon impact.  Espio then gave 
Knuckles a thumbs-up.
	"My turn!", yelled Vector, high up in a tree.
	He wrapped a rope around one of the branches, and swung from it, and
right towards Blizzard.
	"YEEEHAAAAWWWW!!!", he yelled soaring down from the tree.
	Vector slammed right into Blizzard's massive chest.  The cyber didn't
even budge when he hit him.  Vector slid down Blizzard's chest, and fell on
the ground, rubbing his head.
	"Oh", he moaned, "That sucked."
	Blizzard grabbed Vector by his arm, and pulled him up to eye level.
His black eyes gleamed in the sunlight.
	"You think you're hot stuff, don't you?", said Blizzard, "Time to 
chill out!"
	Blizzard fired his ice-cannon at Vector, freezing him solid.  He then
pulled his fist back, getting ready to shatter the frozen crocodile, when
someone yelled from above.
	"Incoming!!", yelled the figure.
	A red foot smashed against Blizzard's face, knocking him backwards.
Vector hit the ground, and the ice broke.  He just laid there, shivering.
	Blizzard smashed against a tree, and shook his head.  He looked 
ahead, searching for what had hit him.  Then, he saw it.  Standing right 
there with his arms folded, was Khaos.
	"Having trouble there, Little Brother?", laughed Khaos.
	"The only trouble I have is deciding how I'm going to KILL you!!",
yelled Blizzard, lunging at Khaos.
	Khaos grabbed Blizzard's arm, and used the blue cyber's own momentum
to flip him over and on to his back.
	"When are you going to learn that might does not make right?", asked
Khaos.
	One of the other cybers jumped on Khaos' back, and began pounding at
his armor.  Knuckles helped Vector off the ground.  They both looked at the
two cyborgs battling each other.
	"This is getting weird", said Knuckles.
	Khaos ripped the cyber off his back, and threw it into the other,
knocking them both on the ground.  He looked over at Anthrax, who was still
standing in the background.
	"You're next!", yelled Khaos, pointing at Anthrax.
	"Not today, Traitor!", yelled Anthrax, throwing a flash-grenade into
the air.
	There was a flash of light, and when it let up, all of the cybers
had vanished into the forest.  Khaos uncovered his eyes, and looked around
at the destroyed drones.
	"Hey, nice job, Guys", he said, looking at Knuckles.
	"Who are you?", asked Knuckles, still remaining in a defensive 
stance.
	"Oh!", said Khaos, "Forgive my rudeness.  My name is Khaos.  I'm the
only nice cyber out there.  By the way, there's one more thing."
	"Which is?", asked Knuckles.
	Khaos quickly stuck his hand into a bush, and yanked out Nirobi, who
had been hiding there.
	"I think you lost this", he said, holding her up in the air.
	"Release me, you vile Exupi!", she yelled, kicking and fighting.
	"Okay", said Khaos, "But remember, you asked for it."
	He let go of her, and she crashed to the ground, her rear end 
breaking her fall.
	"Real nice bed-side manners, Pal", said Knuckles, walking over to
Nirobi, "Hello.  My name is Knuckles.  Who are you?"
	Nirobi responded to that by scooting backwards.  
	"Hey, hey!", said Knuckles, holding his hands up, "Easy.  I'm not
going to hurt you.  None of us are.  Well, I don't know about Red over 
there, but I won't."
	Knuckles held his hand out for her to take.  She seemed to consider
it for a moment, but then took it.  He helped her to her feet.
	"My name is Nirobi of the tribe, Ch'Pwek", she said.
	"Like I said", said Knuckles, "My name is Knuckles.  The purple guy
there is Espio."
	"Pleased to meet you", said Espio.
	"And the frozen reptile is Vector", said Knuckles.
	"W-W-W-Wus u-u-u-up-p-p?", chattered Vector.
	"The only one I don't know about", said Knuckles, "Is you."
	He pointed right at Khaos.
	"Well", said Khaos, "What would you like to know?"
	"For starters", said Knuckles, "What in the hell are you?"
	"I am a Type 004 Cyborg Warrior", said Khaos, "I was constructed
by the evil wretch known as the Dark Queen.  However, she couldn't keep me
under her control, and I escaped.  Now, I live only to see her destroyed
for what she made me into."
	"What about those other ones?", asked Espio.
	"The yellow one was Anthrax", said Khaos, "And the big blue one who
gave you the cold shoulder was Blizzard.  They're both Type 004's like me.
The two yutzes that I knocked over were Type 003's.  And the two ones that
you made into tin-foil were Class B Drones.  They're just robots that the
Dark Queen sends to do the dirty work."
	"Who is the Dark Queen?", asked Knuckles, "I've never heard of her
before."
	"She is the tyrant that is presently in control of Mobius", said
Khaos, "Where have you been?"
	"Never mind", said Knuckles, "We were heading to Mobo-Tropolis, and
I think this all gives us good cause to hurry it up."
	"I don't think you want to go there", said Khaos.
	"I'll decide what I do and don't want", said Knuckles, "Nirobi.  
Come with us.  We'll take you someplace safe."
	"Alright", she said.
	"Nobody ever listens to me", said Khaos, following behind the four.
	Back at the wreakage of the hover-unit, Anthrax was fixing the radio
transmitter.  
	"What are you doing?", asked Blizzard.
	"Getting new orders", he said, "Nobody screws with us and gets away
with it.  Besides, the Dark Queen wants Khaos back, intact.  She'd kick our
transistors if she found out we had him and let him get away."
	"Who said we had him?", asked Blizzard, "He kicked the crap out of
me."
	Anthrax connected two wires, and the monitor came on.
	"Bingo", he said.
	The Dark Queen's face appeared on it.
	"Where have you fools been?!", she yelled, "I've been trying to 
contact you for the last forty-five minutes!"
	"Blizzard crashed the hover-unit", said Anthrax.
	"Blizzard!!", she growled, "When I get my hands on you...."
	"Hold on, My Queen", said Blizzard, "We've located Khaos.  He is at
this moment, traveling with four other renegade biologicals."
	"Is that miserable hedgehog or that spoiled brat princess with them?",
asked the Dark Queen.
	"No", said Anthrax, "The group consists of two echidnas, a chameleon,
and a crocodile."
	"I thought that echidnas were extinct", said the Dark Queen, "Very 
well, two squads of drones will be sent to assist you.   Capture them all 
and bring them before me.  Also, bring me Khaos, intact and in perfect 
working condition.  Am I making myself clear?"
	"Very clear, My Queen", said Anthrax, "Anthrax out."
	Anthrax looked at the other two cybers.  
	"How long will it take us two get them back in running condition?", 
he asked.
	"Two hours, maybe less", said Blizzard.
	"Then let's get to work", he said, "We've just got ourselves a
mission."
	"By the Emeralds of Chaos", said Nirobi, looking around.
	None of the others could say anything.  They were standing in the
city limits of Mobo-Tropolis.  The only problem was, that there no city 
left.  There was nothing but stone, metal, and buildings that somehow 
managed to survive.  The same kind of make-shift graves and head-stones
were littered all about.
	"At least we know why they weren't answering the radio", said Vector,
holding the transmitter.
	"What on Mobius happened here?", asked Knuckles.
	"The Dark Queen happened", said Khaos, "She didn't want to conquer
this place like Robotnik did.  All she wanted was to demolish it.  Right
now, her forces are rolling across Mobius, leaving destruction like this
and the kind you saw at that village."
	"This place reeks of death", said Nirobi, "What the Exupi says is 
true."
	"Hey!", said Knuckles, "Did Princess Sally survive this?"
	"Yes", said Khaos, "I rescued her from the Dark Queen's fortress 
right after this happened.  The last I saw of her, she was heading to some 
place she knew of called 'Lower-Mobius'."
	"I've got no clue as to where that is", said Knuckles, "Oh well, if
Sally needs me, she knows where to find me."
	"Yo, Knux", said Espio, "I think we've seen all we need to.  We 
should get back to the island."
	"No", said Khaos, "The sun is setting and it is too dangerous to move
through the forest at night.  The cybers and drones can use the darkness as
cover.  It is better to wait until morning.  I will show you the safest
path out of the Great Forest and then you are on your own until then."
	"I still don't know if we should trust you", said Knuckles.
	"He is Exupi", said Nirobi, "He cannot be trusted.  He will be our
ally until it no longer serves his purpose, and then he will ingest our 
souls."
	"I told you", said Khaos, "I have no loyalty towards the Dark Queen.
You said you're a friend of Princess Sally.  I still owe her a favor I 
can't repay, but I can try to by helping you.  But you're going to have to 
trust me."
	Khaos stuck out his hand, waiting.  Knuckles shook his head, and 
pushed Khaos' hand back down.  
	"Don't worry about that", he said, "Let's just find a place to spend
the night."
	"Alright", said Khaos, "I suggest going deeper into the city.  Most
of the animals around here are afraid of this place.  Some even think that
the ghosts of the slain haunt this place."
	"It is possible, Exupi", said Nirobi.
	Khaos sighed, and started walking.
	Later that night, all of them were seated around a fire that Nirobi
had built.  Vector had finally stopped shivering.  
	"Tell me, Exupi", said Nirobi, "Why do you fight against your own
kind?"
	"Well", said Khaos, "I used to be a normal animal like you guys.  
But that was before the Dark Queen cyberized me."
	"What's 'cyberized' mean?", asked Espio.
	"It's like robotization, but worse", said Khaos, "The process strips
away any memories the subject had before.  I think the neural programmers
that the Dark Queen uses are primarily responsible for this.  They make the
cyber totally loyal to the Dark Queen.  You see, the Dark Queen used those
on me, but my resistance was so strong, they shorted out and don't work
anymore.  However, the damage was done.  I don't remember anything about
myself before my activation.  That's the main reason I want the Dark Queen
destroyed.  The other is so she can't do this to anyone else.  She's evil
in a way you've never seen."
	"You have an interesting past, Exupi", said Nirobi.
	"Why do you keep calling me, 'Exupi'?", asked Khaos.
	"In my tribe, Exupi were evil spirits", said Nirobi.
	"I think it comes from a word in Ancient Mobian", said Knuckles, 
leaning against a boulder, "That word is 'Ter'Exupis'."
	"And what, pray-tell, does that mean?", asked Espio.
	"Demon", said Knuckles, grinning.
	Khaos laughed a hearty laugh, and put his hands behind his head.  He
leaned against a huge stone, and looked over at Nirobi.
	"I am no demon, Child", he said, "I'm what they like to call a 
cyborg."
	"What is that?", asked Nirobi.
	Khaos held out his arm, and a maintenance panel opened up, revealing
complex wiring and machinery within.  
	"Man!", said Vector, "That Dark Queen broad sure knows her robots."
	"I've told you about myself, Nirobi", said Khaos, closing the panel,
"Now, what's your story?"
	"As I said before", said Nirobi, "My tribe has lived within the Deep
Desert for many centuries.  We never ventured out of the valley we lived in
becaused the elders told us that certain death lay beyond."
	"They were right", said Knuckles, "The war against Robotnik was going
on, and you would have been caught if you came out.  That superstition saved
you all.  So, if you were always taught to stay put, why did you come out?"
	"A few weeks ago", said Nirobi, "I left the tribe to go on my Journey
of Discovery.  This is a traditional time of solitude and meditation to 
discover one's own inner strengths and weaknesses.  When I returned, all
the members of my tribe had fallen ill to some fatal disease.  I stayed 
long enough to see them all to the after-life.  After I had placed their
bodies to rest, I decided to see what did lie beyond the mountains.  I was
ready to meet whatever dangers I might face.  I thought at first that I had
reached the Sanctuary of the Gods, but now I find that there is only a 
world of cruelty and death."
	"I wouldn't say that", said Knuckles, "Mobius is a pretty great place
to live.  Sure, there's always a jerk of some kind who wants to control
everything, but we deal with it.  There's a lot of wonders to behold here,
Nirobi."
	"I know that", said Nirobi, "One sits across from me."
	"Gee", said Khaos, "I'm not sure how to take that."
	"Then take THIS!!!", yelled a voice from behind them all.
	About thirty guns got stuck in their faces.  All around them stood 
drones and cybers.  Their red eyes burned in the darkness.
	"Get your hands up", said Anthrax, walking to the front, "All of 
you."
	They did as they were told, and they were all restrained.  Khaos was
placed in a special containment cylinder, and hauled to an awaiting ship.
After they were loaded, the newly arrived hover-units lifted off, and headed
towards Mt. Mobius, and Castle Acorn.  Blizzard was riding in one ship,
Anthrax in another.  
	"Amazing", said Nirobi, looking out the windows, "To think I would
actually soar above the trees like a bird."
	"Yeah", said Knuckles, not at all amused, "Wonderful."
	"If you two don't shut up", said Anthrax, "The only birds you'll be
seeing are the vultures swarming around your rotting corpses after I throw
you out of this hover-unit!"
	"You are truly Exupi", said Nirobi, "And I do not fear you."
	"Too bad for you", said Anthrax, pulling out a plasma pistol and 
aiming it right at Nirobi's head.
	"Wait a minute, Anthrax!", yelled Khaos from his containment cylinder,
"The Dark Queen won't be happy when she finds out that you're wasting her
prospective cybers!"
	"I'm sure she'll understand", said Anthrax, taking his eyes off 
Nirobi.
	"Spirits of Chaos", said Nirobi, closing her eyes, "Grant me your
mighty power."
	A glow came around Nirobi.  Anthrax looked back at her, and backed
up a few steps.  
	"What is going on?", he said, shielding his eyes.
	Nirobi suddenly snapped the tritanium binders on her wrists.  She 
stood up, and glared at Anthrax.  He pointed his plasma pistol at her.
	The young echidna did a round-house, and kicked the pistol out of
his hand.
	"Impossible!", said Anthrax.
	"Nothing is impossible", said Nirobi, "If you have faith."
	Anthrax lunged at Nirobi.  She stuck out her arm, and grabbed him 
around his neck.  She then proceeded to lift him off the ground, and let 
him dangle in the air for a few moments.
	"And you have none", she said, looking right into his eyes.
	Nirobi then threw Anthrax back against the wall, and he slid down.
A drone came up behind her, and she snapped her fist back, knocking its
head clean off its shoulders.  She then held out her hand, and her staff
appeared in it.
	"Hey, Nirobi!", called Khaos, "How's about letting the rest of us
out?"
	Nirobi picked up Anthrax's pistol, and fired it at the controls for
the containment cylinder.  They exploded, and the door opened up.  	
	"Damn!", he said, "Way ta go, Nirobi!"
	The green light in Nirobi's eyes faded, and they returned to their
normal brownish color.  Khaos then broke everyone else's binders.  Knuckles
came up behind Nirobi.
	"That was great", he said, "How did you do that?"
	"Each member of my tribe has the power to call upon the Spirits of
Chaos once in their life", she said, "This was my one time."
	Khaos hurried to the cock-pit, and dispatched with the two drones
that were up there.  He quickly pulled away from the convoy, and vanished
into the night sky.
	"Hey!", said Vector, "What do we do with home-boy, here?"
	Knuckles grabbed a parachute, and strapped it on Anthrax's back.  He
then opened the side hatch, and set the timer on the parachute.  
	"Happy trails!", he said, throwing Anthrax out of the hover-ship.
	A few moments after that, the parachute opened, and lowered Anthrax
safely to the ground.  Espio came up behind him.
	"Why'd you do that?", he asked.
	"If we stoop to his tactics", said Knuckles, "We are no better than
he."
	"You truly are a wonderous people", said Nirobi, smiling.
	"Hey, Knux!", called Khaos from the cock-pit, "Where's our next 
stop?"
	"I'm guessing the Dark Queen can trace this ship", said Knuckles, 
"So we'd better ditch it as soon as possible."
	"Take me back to the Deep Desert", said Nirobi, "I must return to 
my home."
	"You said that there's nothing left for you out there", said 
Knuckles, "Why would you want to go back?"
	"As much as this place amazes me", said Nirobi, "It is not my home.
I hope you understand."
	Knuckles smiled, and gave her a hug.  She smiled back.
	"Believe me", said Knuckles, "I know exactly what you mean."
	Out at the edge of the Great Unknown, the group of five said their
good-byes.
	"Where are you off to, now?", asked Espio.
	"Back to what I was doing before I ran across you", said Khaos, 
"Doing everything in my power to smash the Dark Queen."
	"You are not Exupi like the others", said Nirobi, "You are a very
noble creature, Khaos."
	Nirobi gave Khaos a hug, and he hugged her back.
	"You take care of yourself out there, Little Lady", he said, "And 
remember, if you ever need anything, I'll be there if you want."
	"I would have it no other way", she said.
	Nirobi turned to Espio and Vector.  She hugged each of them and 
wished both of them well.	
	"Peace to you all", said Nirobi, taking her staff, and walking into 
the darkness of the Great Unknown.
	The four just stood there, and watched Nirobi vanish into the 
darkness.  After that, Khaos turned, and began walking away.
	"Hey, Khaos!", said Knuckles, running after him.
	Khaos turned, and looked back at the echidna.
	"Yes?", he said.
	"Uh", said Knuckles, as if unsure what to say, "Good fight.  Call us
if you ever need help."
	"I will", said Khaos.
	"One more thing", said Knuckles, holding his hand out.
	Khaos looked for a moment, and squinted his eyes, which indicated he
was smiling.  He then took Knuckles' hand, and the two shook.
	"Friends?", asked Knuckles.
	"Friends", said Khaos, giving Knuckles a soft pound on the shoulder,
"Take care of yourself."
	Khaos then turned, and walked back into the Great Forest.  Knuckles
looked back at Espio and Vector.
	"Hey, Knux", said Vector, "This has been a trip and all, but could
we please go home, now?"
	"I'm with Vector on this one, Knux", said Espio.
	"That's probably a good idea", said Knuckles, "No telling what Mighty
and Charmy have done to it while we've been gone."
	The three laughed, and headed towards the Floating Island, home.
	
	This was not good.  Anthrax knelt before the Dark Queen.  Blizzard
had ordered the convoy to find the missing hover-ship, and had picked him
up on the way.  Now, he stood before the Dark Queen and all her wrath.
	"I will forgive your incompetance this time, Anthrax", she said,
glaring at him.
	"Thank you, My Queen", he said, "I will never fail you again."
	"See that you don't", said the Dark Queen, "However, I have gained
more from this encounter with the echidna than previously thought."
	"She was powerful, My Queen", said Anthrax, "I've never seen anything
like it."
	"I'm not talking about the girl!", said the Dark Queen, "Her powers
are nothing impressive.  Any one of them could be duplicated easily with
technology we have.  I speak of Knuckles.  I've heard much from some of
the prisoners about his magnificent Floating Island.  Once I find out where
it hides, it and all its powers shall be MINE!!!"

THE END