"Family Feud" 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, except the characters created by yours truly, which are 
copyrighted by me.

***Rated R for profanity and violence***




PART III
FAMILY FEUD


CHAPTER I
REUNION


	In the quiet depths of space, a lone ship tore through the cosmos.  
It was a sleek silver vessel that was the shape of a needle.  The ship was 
moving faster than anything that could have originated from the third 
planet of the system.  
	It slowed just before it entered the atmosphere of the blue planet.  
The occupant began searching for something, then found it.  The ship slowly 
moved to intercept another ship that was in orbit around the planet.  
The second ship was much larger, and had the name engraved on the side.  
It was called "The Python".  
	When Vypryn went down to Mobius to fight Sonic the Hedgehog for the 
final time atop Mt. Mobius, he powered down his ship and left it sitting in orbit.  After he was 
killed, nobody thought enough to do anything about the six tons of alien 
metal floating above the sky.  Since it had a cloaking device, Robotnik 
hadn't detected it either.  So, in the four months since Vypryn's death, it 
had just sat there, waiting to be powered back up.
	The new ship got very close to the Python, and the occupant typed in 
an authorization code.  The hangar door opened, and the smaller ship guided 
itself in.  Once it landed, the hatch opened, and a figure that was covered
in a robe, exited the ship.  
	The figure walked down the dark hallways of the dormant ship, slowly 
making her way to the bridge.  She passed by the lab, and saw a pile of 
metal that had once been Vypryn's servant, Sectoid.  The pieces were 
useless, and the robotic mosquito could not be repaired.  The figure 
walked up to the table they were on, and lifted her hood off of her head.
	She was a snake-creature like Vypryn, only much younger and had long 
blonde hair that fell down to her waist when she removed her hood.  She 
curled her lips back, revealing a row of razor sharp teeth.  She let out a 
small hiss and her forked tongue danced around.
	"You stupid robot", she said, "I knew you weren't fit to serve my 
father.  However, you may still be useful to me if your CPU is still 
functional."
	She walked over to a computer console, and sat the head down on it.  
She pulled up several wires and connected to Sectoid's head.  Once the 
computer and the head were linked together, she looked up.
	"Computer!", she ordered, "Power up, authorization code 
Vypris-omega-6-delta."
	"Authorization code accepted", said the computer, "Awaiting 
instructions."
	"Supply power to the robotic head I've just attached to you", she 
said.
	There was a brief moment of delay, but then Sectoid's eyes lit up 
yellow.  He tried to look around, but couldn't, since all that was left of 
him was his head.
	"What the?", he said, shocked at his lack of substance.
	He scrolled his eyes around, trying to find whoever had hooked him 
up to the main computer.  He stopped when he saw the girl standing there.
	"Vypris!", he said, "What are you doing here?"
	"I came to find my father", she said, folding her arms, "It is time 
for him to return home.  I used the homing beacon he gave me to find the 
Python, but when I approached, no one answered.  This place looks like 
nobody's been here in months.  Where is he, Sectoid?"
	"I don't know", said Sectoid, "My body was destroyed by a bounty your 
father was hunting.  I've never seen him have more trouble with a single 
bounty."
	"Is it possible that he was killed by this bounty?", asked Vypris.
	"It is a slim chance", said Sectoid, "But certainly possible.  I've 
never seen anything as powerful as that hedgehog."
	"What is a hedgehog?", asked Vypris.
	"Here's a picture of him", said Sectoid, creating an image of Sonic 
on the monitor behind him.
	Vyrpris stared at the image for a few seconds.  She smiled, and 
eventually, began laughing.
	"What is so funny?", asked Sectoid, not getting the joke.
	"That creature could never have destroyed one so powerful as my 
father", said Vypris, between laughs, "However, he may know what happened 
to my father.  Where is he?"
	"The location of his HQ is in the Python's main computer", said 
Sectoid, "He's probably still there."
	Vypris tacked on the computer for a few moments, and then extracted 
Knothole's coordinates.  She memorized them, and then looked over at 
Sectoid's head.
	"You failed to protect my father", she said.
	"Now just a damn minute, Vypris!", objected Sectoid.
	Before he could finish, Vypris fired her shoulder cannon and 
Sectoid's head shattered into a million pieces.  She chuckled for a moment 
at what she had done, then looked back up at the monitor.
	"Sonic the Hedgehog, eh?", she said, "If you have in any way harmed 
my father, I will kill you.  Computer!  Power down and await my return!"
	"Affirmative", said the computer, and powered itself down.
	Vypris put her hood back over her head, and walked back to her ship.

CHAPTER II
REVENGE

	Vypris guided her ship over the tops of the trees.  It was the middle 
of the night on this strange planet.  That was good.  If there was one 
thing Vypris hated, it was sunlight.  This planet was strange.  There was 
not much humidity here.  She would have to turn on her moisturizer when she 
got out of the ship or her scales would dry out.  Why her father came to 
this backwards world was beyond her.  It didn't matter though, once she 
found him, she would take him back home, where he belonged.
	The readout on her control panel blinked.  She was closing in on the 
coordinates that she had gotten from Sectoid.  Vypris looked out of the 
window, and grumbled.
	"Blast", she said, "The coordinates are right under those trees."
	That's what Vypris had feared when she began flying over this massive 
forest.  She had merely planned on making a sneak-attack, which she still 
had full intention of doing.  She would have to find a clearing and land 
her ship there.  If she tried to do it here, the rustling of the trees 
would give her away.  She cursed in her native tongue, and moved her ship 
to a clearing about a klick away from the coordinates.
	"Interesting", she said, getting out of her ship.  
	The spot where she had picked to land was right next to a lake.  A 
small waterfall poured into it, keeping it full.  There was also a strange 
yellowish glow to it.  Vypris walked over to the edge of it, and knelt 
down.
	"Amazing", she said, pulling her glove off.
	She dipped her scaly, three fingered into the water.  
	"Ahhh!", she yelped, yanking her hand back out of the water.
	That water was freezing!  She immediately put her glove back on, and 
absorbed its heat.  This planet was not meant for cold-blooded creatures 
like herself.  On her planet, the temperature stayed hot all the time, 
supplying the entire population with the heat they needed to sustain 
themselves.  This planet was different.  The water was cold, and so was the 
air.  
	"Enough of this", she said, standing back up.
	She turned on her thermo-regulator, and headed towards Knothole.  
	The village looked abandoned.  However, Vypris knew that the sun was 
able to hit this planet, so she was not sure if the inhabitants evacuated 
the area in the dark.  She crept very slowly through the dusty streets.  
The wind was blowing slightly, drying out her scales.  She turned her 
moisturizer up, and looked around.  All of the structures here looked the 
same!  It would take her hours to search everyone of them for the hedgehog.  
	"I do believe it's time to go with a more direct approach", she said.
	She headed towards one of the structures.  There was no light coming 
from inside of it.  Vypris peeked in through the window, and saw a creature 
sleeping in a bed.  She slithered in through the window, and rose to her 
feet.  The creature in the bed appeared to be female, but Vypris could not 
be sure.  From a closer observation, she saw that the animal was a mammal!
	"Disgusting creatures", she said out loud.
	Sally heard the voice, and opened her eyes.  She looked up, and saw 
a dark figure standing at the foot of her bed.  
	"Who are you!?", she yelled, sitting up.
	The intruder didn't answer, and jumped on her.  Sally was still half 
asleep and was rather disoriented.  The two struggled for a few moments, 
and then Sally instinctively brought her knee up against the intruder's 
stomach.
	"Uuuugh!", groaned Vypris.
	Sally bought that second of hesitation to roll out from under Vypris.  
She hit the floor, and stood up.  Vypris caught her breath, and got off the 
bed as well.
	"I'll ask you again", said Sally, "Who are you?"
	The figure tore off her robe, revealing an armor-covered 
snake-creature.  Long blonde hair fell down from her head.
	Sally gasped when she saw what was staring at her.  This creature 
looked exactly like Vypryn!
	"Where is the hedgehog?", hissed Vypris.
	Sally didn't say anything, she just backed up.  Vypris snarled and 
showed her razor sharp teeth.
	"Tell me now, Bitch!", she said, "Or you will die!"
	Sally backed up against a wall, and felt the window right behind it.
	"I don't think so!", she said, flipping backwards and going right out 
the window.
	She hit the ground, and started running.  Vypris hissed loudly, and 
charged.  She crashed right through the wall of Sally's hut, and landed 
feet first on the ground.  The noise was enough to knock everyone in 
Knothole out of their beds.  Lights went on in almost every hut in the 
village.
	"Help me!", screamed Sally.
	Sonic was the first one to fly out of his hut and to Sally's rescue.  
Somehow, he had found the time to put his sneakers on.  He looked at Sally.
	"What's happening, Sal?", he said, stopping right beside her.
	He looked over at Vypris, who was rising to her full height.  Both 
her hands were clenched into fists.  She was breathing heavily, and her 
eyes were bloodshot.
	"Whoa", said Sonic, "Why do you look familiar?"
	"You", she hissed, pointing her finger at Sonic, "You are the one my 
father hunted."
	"Your father?", said Sonic, confused.
	"Yes", she said, "My father.  I would think you should remember one 
as powerful as he.  His name was Vypryn."
	"That dirty snake-in-the-grass is your dad?", said Sonic, "Hah!  He 
couldn't handle me, and I doubt you can either."
	"If he lives", she said, "Then I have no quarrel with you.  However, 
if he is otherwise, then you all die.  Now, where is he?"
	Sally stepped forward, her eyes blazing with fury.
	"He's dead", she said, "I killed him."
	"You?", said Vypris, surprised, "How could a weakling like you kill 
my father?"
	"It was easy", said Sally, "I used his own shoulder gun to empty his 
brains all over the street."
	Sonic nudged Sally's arm, and she looked at him.
	"Uh, Sal?", he said, "I think you're just pissing her off."
	"Don't worry, Sonic", said Sally, "I've seen her kind before.  She 
thinks that just because her father was some hot-shot bounty hunter, she's 
hot shit too."
	Sally turned her head back towards Vypris, only to see the female 
snake lunge at her, and knock her to the ground.  The two girls rolled 
around on the ground for a few moments, hitting one another.  Vypris 
wrapped her hand around Sally's neck, and pulled her right up to her face.  
The two were only inches apart.
	"When I'm through with you, Mammal", hissed Vypris, "You'll beg me to 
kill you."
	"Go to hell", choked Sally, struggling to breathe.
	Vypris tightened her grip.  Sally's eyes started to bug out of her 
head.  Sonic couldn't stand anymore.  He revved up, and charged at Vypris.  
When she saw him coming, she swatted him away like he was a fly.  He flew 
back, and slammed against a tree. 
	"What's going on out here?", said a voice from the background.
	By now, half of Knothole had woken up, due to the ruckus outside.  
They all gasped when they saw the predicament Sally was in.  Some tried to 
attack Vypris, but she kept them at bay with a round of plasma blasts 
from her shoulder cannon.  She then concentrated her attack on Sally.
	"Feeling a little out of breath, Bitch?", she hissed.
	Tails had heard the noise and came out to tell whoever it was to be 
quiet.  He was still rubbing his eyes when he staggered down the stairs 
from his hut.  They bugged out when he saw what was happening.
	"Aunt Sally!", he yelled.
	Without thinking, he wound up his tails, and charged Vypris, and 
landed on her back.  He started to beat on her armor with one hand while 
holding his other arm around her neck.
	"Get off of my back, you little twit!", yelled Vypris, shaking back 
and forth.
	"Tails......no....", gagged Sally, turning blue.
	But Tails was unrelenting.  He just kept hitting Vypris, hoping he 
could cause some harm to her.  However, through her armor, all Vypris felt 
were light 'THUDS'. 
	"I'm giving you one last chance, pip-squeak!", she hissed, still 
shaking.
	Tails realized that he would have to think of a new strategy.  He 
grabbed ahold of Vypris' long blonde hair, and yanked hard.
	"OUCH!!!!", she yelled, releasing her grip on Sally.
	Sally rolled away, sucking in huge amounts of life-giving oxygen.  
She looked up, and saw Vypris struggling with Tails.  She looked the other 
way at Sonic, who was still doubled over from Vypris' blow.
	Tails was not about to let the one who had hurt his Aunt Sally go.  
He pulled harder and harder.  He even pulled so hard that he yanked a 
handful of hair away.  Vypris let out a scream that woke up any Freedom 
Fighters who weren't already out watching the carnage.
	"That's it!!", she screamed, grabbing the arm that was around her 
neck.
	She pulled Tails' right arm out in front of her, and opened her 
mouth.  Sally looked, and saw two huge fangs drop down from the roof of her 
mouth, dripping with venom.
	"Tails!!", she screamed, "Look out!!"
	But it was too late.  Vypris bit down onto Tails' arm, and he 
screamed at the top of his lungs when her fangs penetrated his flesh.  Two 
lines of blood trickled down his arm. 
	Vypris just chuckled.  She was going to fill this little worm with 
enough venom to kill him instantly.  She bit down harder, pumping more 
poison into Tails' veins.  She was close to victory, when she saw something 
move out of the corner of her eye.
	A blur ran out from behind one of the huts.  Vypris knew instantly 
who it was, and her eyes widened with surprise.  She pulled her fangs out 
of Tails, who slumped to the ground.  She was about to fire at the blur, 
when it fired a blast at her.  She caught it right in the chest, and flew 
back into Sally, who was still standing close.	
	Vypris quickly recovered, and saw the blur walking towards her.  She 
reacted by pulling Sally on top of her, and using her as a shield.  The 
blur stopped when she did this.
	"Won't fire, eh?", chuckled Vypris, "You were always too 
sympathetic."
	Vypris fired a volley of blasts at the blur, forcing it back.  Then, 
she engaged her own cloaking device, taking Sally with her.  Sonic looked 
up, and saw Sally disappear.
	"Sally!", he yelled with his arms reaching for her.
	Then, they vanished into the foliage.  Sonic didn't have time to 
grieve for Sally, his friend was dying.  He ran over to Tails, who was 
laying on the ground.  
	"Oh no!", he shrieked, "He's not breathing!"
	All of the other Freedom Fighters crowded around, some crying, some 
shouting in outrage.  The blur shoved its way through the crowd, and knelt 
down beside Tails.
	"Who the hell are you?", yelled Sonic, grabbing the blur around its 
neck.
	The blur hit a button on its belt, and focused into another female 
snake, only with shorter red hair.  She looked right at Sonic.
	"My name is Reptilliah", she said, "Let me go if you want your friend 
to live."
	Sonic gritted his teeth, and released his grip.  Reptilliah put her 
head down on Tails' chest, and listened.  She ran her hand along the arm 
that Vypris had bitten, which was now swelling and turning purple.  She put 
her mouth onto Tails', forming a seal, and breathed air into his lungs.  
Sonic watched his little chest rise and fall as she breathed for him.  All 
of a sudden, he coughed a few times, and started breathing on his own.  
Sonic hadn't realized he had been holding his own breath.
	"The venom is traveling through his veins to his heart", she 
explained, "If it gets there, he will die."
	"Can't you do something?", said Sonic, freaking out.
	"Only one thing", she said, "But it won't last long, and you aren't 
going to like it."
	"If it saves his life", said Sonic, "Then do it."
	Reptilliah nodded, and sat Tails up.  Then, without warning, she 
clamped her own fangs down onto his shoulder.  Sonic's jaw dropped when she 
did.  He instinctively pulled her away from him.
	"What the hell do you think you're doing?", he yelled.
	"Helping him", she said, her fangs dripping with venom and Tails' 
blood, "My venom will interfere with my sister's.  It won't be able to 
spread throughout his body for at least 24 hours."
	"Pardon me", said Sonic, "Did you just say, your sister?"
	"Yes", said Reptilliah, standing up, "Vypris is my sister, and 
Vypryn is my father as well."
	Sonic just shook his head, not believing what was happening.

CHAPTER III
EXPLANATIONS

	"Would ya'll mind tellin' us why your family is so dog-gone 
determined to keep messin' with us?", asked Bunnie, cradling Tails in her 
arms.
	"I'm sorry", said Reptilliah, "This was not your fight, and my 
sister never should have come here."
	"What is her problem, anyway?", asked Sonic, folding his arms, "I 
mean, yeah, Sally killed your guys' father, but that was self-defense!  He 
was trying to kill all of us!"
	"I'm not going to excuse my sister's actions, Sonic", said 
Reptilliah, "She idolizes our father and believes that might makes right, 
just like he did.  It was that attitude that got him banished from 
Reptillan in the first place."
	"Reptillan?", asked Sonic.
	"It is our home-planet", she said, "It is many light years from here.  
After my father was dethroned, he was given a ship provided by my sister 
and I, and banished from Reptillan, never to return."
	"Did you just say, 'dethroned'", said Bunnie, listening to the 
conversation.
	"Let me start from the beginning", said Reptilliah, "My father, 
Vypryn, was once emperor of Reptillan.  He was not an absolute ruler, 
however.  The Council of Elders kept the monarchy from growing too powerful 
by checking some of their powers.  My father wanted to be total ruler of 
Reptillan, and secretly organized an army to destroy the council, and 
claim total power.  I knew what kind of world he would turn Reptillan into 
if he succeeded, and I warned the council before the plot could be carried 
out."
	"You ratted on your own family", said Sonic, "Deep."
	"I didn't have much choice in the matter, Sonic", said Reptilliah, 
"My father would have enslaved the population and I believe that slavery is 
wrong.  My father was tried and convicted of treason.  He had his title 
stripped from him and was banished from Reptillan for all eternity.  After 
he left, I was crowned empress.  I married and tried to rule as best I 
could.  My sister, however, had agreed with my father and blamed me for 
everything that had happened.  She organized an army of her own using 
forces from a neighboring planet that Reptillan is enemies with.  She has 
since started a massive civil war and has slaughtered thousands of innocent 
people.  One of them was my husband."
	A tear ran down Reptilliah's face.  She quickly wiped it away, and 
looked back at Sonic.
	"My sister is not a strategist", she said, "She relies totally on 
her generals, and most of them have been killed.  My forces are beginning 
to gain the upper-hand.  In an act of desperation, Vypris left Reptillan 
in search of our father.  I followed her out of the system and have been 
trailing her ever since.  I followed her trail to this world.  
Unfortunately, I arrived too late to save your friends."
	"On the contrary", said Bunnie, "You saved Tails' life.  We owe you."
	"My venom won't stop Vypris' forever", said Reptilliah, "Only the 
healers on Reptillan can save him now.  What about my father?  If he leads 
my sister's forces, then all is lost."
	"Sally killed him", said Sonic, "But somehow, his ghost possessed her 
body and caused some real damage.  We got him out of her, and trapped his 
soul inside the Soul Chaos Emerald.  There ain't no way he can get out of 
it."
	"Quite an interesting story", said Reptilliah, "But we must get to 
this emerald before my sister does."
	"Don't worry about it", said Sonic, "Sally would never tell Vypris 
where it is."
	"She won't have to, Sonic", said Reptilliah, "My sister has machines 
that can extract information right out a living creature's brain.  If your 
friend knows where our father is, then my sister will find it."
	"Oh crap", said Sonic, pounding his fists against the air, "We have 
to get to the Floating Island, and quick."
	"Floating Island?", said Reptilliah, "I don't even want to know."
	"What about Tails?", asked Bunnie, still holding him.
	"Bring him with", said Reptilliah, "We'll have to go immediately to 
Reptillan afterwards.  Like I said before, my venom won't keep him alive 
forever."
	"What are we going to use to get ourselves all the way up there?", 
asked Sonic, "The bi-plane only seats two and Dulcy can't carry all of us."
	"We'll use my ship", said Reptilliah, "There isn't much room in it, 
but four of us should be able to squeeze in there."
	"Alright", said Sonic, "Bunnie, you bring Tails.  We're going to 
vacation on the Floating Island."
	"Ah just hope that ol' boy, Knuckles, doesn't try an whip us up good 
for comin' back", said Bunnie, lifting Tails up, "Yah know how he gets."
	"Don't remind me", said Sonic, "Okay, Reptilliah, where's this ship 
of yours?"
	"In a clearing about a klick away from here", she said.
	"Let's jam", said Sonic.

CHAPTER III
TRESPASSERS


	It was almost dawn when Vypris' ship touched down on the Floating 
Island.  When she had come into view of the massive floating continent, 
she had thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.  This unhospitable 
world really was one of wonders and amazement.  Still, Vypris was not here 
to look at the scenery.  She had extracted the information about her 
father that she required from Sally with one of her machines.  She was 
still a little unsure about the whole idea of him possessing someone.  If 
he was still alive, though, then she had to risk this.
	She looked over at Sally, who was still strapped into her chair.
	"Alright", she hissed, "We're here.  Where is my father?"
	"I don't know", said Sally, "All I do know is that he's here 
somewhere."
	Vypris growled, and sat back in her chair.  It was always something.  
She saw a clearing near the edge of the island, and set the ship down 
there. 
	Once the ship had stopped, she unstrapped Sally, and grabbed her by 
the arm.  Vypris led her outside the ship.  There was no one out there.  
The only sounds were the leaves in the trees being moved by the breeze.  
Vypris inhaled the fresh island air, and found it rather thin.  What did 
she expect?  They were over a mile up in the air.
	"Where's this guardian of yours?", she said.
	"You've forced enough out of me", said Sally, "I won't tell you 
anymore."
	"If you don't", said Vypris, "Then you die."
	"You're going to kill me either way", said Sally, "So, I'm not going 
to cooperate."
	Vypris pushed Sally down, and aimed her shoulder cannon right at her 
head.  Sally stared right back at Vypris, almost defyingly.  Vypris watched 
her for a moment, and then turned away.
	"Fine", she said, "If you won't take me to him, then I'll make him 
come to me."
	"And how do you propose to do that?", asked Sally, crossing sitting 
indian style and putting her chin on her hands."
	As if answering, Vypris began firing bolts of plasma energy into the 
Mushroom Forest.  Huge explosions rocked the island.  Sally stood up, and 
saw that a good portion of the forest was ablaze.  The inhabitants were 
fleeing for their lives.  
	"Now we just sit back and wait for Mr. Guardian to show", said 
Vypris, admiring her handy-work.
	Something tapped her on the back, and she turned to look.  When she 
did, she got a gloved fist right in the face.
	"Aahhhh!", she yelled, falling back.
	She looked up, and wiped the green blood from her mouth.  Knuckles 
the Echidna stood there with his arms folded.
	"Mr. Guardian's here", he said, "And I'm going to teach you not to 
start trouble on my island."
	Vypris looked at the newcomer, and started laughing.  He was about 
the same height she was, red in coloring, had long red dreadlocks, had 
mitten-like gloves with spikes on the knuckles, and had green, yellow, 
and red shoes on.
	"You're a funny looking little creature, aren't you?", she said in 
between laughs.
	"Honey", said Knuckles, "You aren't exactly the most attractive 
female I've ever set my eyes on either."
	"Insulting me won't save you", she said, "Just give me my father and 
I'll let you live."
	"Your father?", said Knuckles, confused.
	"Knux!", called Sally, "She's Vypryn's daughter!  Don't give the 
emerald to her!"
	"Vypryn's daughter, hmmmmm", he said.
	"Enough!", screamed Vypris, "Give me what I came for, or I'll tear 
this island apart until I find it!"
	Knuckles pounded his knuckles against each other, and dropped into a 
fighting stance.
	"Just try it, Bitch", he said, "And I promise you, they'll be taking 
you back home in a body bag."
	Vypris aimed her shoulder cannon at Knuckles, and readied herself to 
fire.  All of a sudden, the three of them heard a yell from above.
	"CANNON-BALL!!!!", screamed Sonic, dropping out of the air.
	He drop-kicked Vypris right in the head, did a back-flip, and landed 
right on his feet.  Vypris landed over by Sally, and kicked herself back to 
her feet.  She glared right at the hedgehog.
	"You again!", she said, "Don't you ever give up?"
	Sonic just folded his arms and grinned.  This girl didn't know him 
very well, did she?
	"Sonic!!", yelled Knuckles, "How many times have I told you to keep 
your wars land-side, and stay away from my home?"
	"Not my fault this time, Knux", said Sonic, "This is Vypryn's kid 
and she want the Soul Emerald."
	"Not after all the trouble Sally and I went to get it", he said, 
"Besides, I've seen the kind of devistation Vypryn can cause!  I'm not 
letting him loose on Mobius again!"
	"Fine", said Vypris, "Give me the emerald and I'll leave Mobius 
forever."
	"No!", yelled a voice from behind them.
	Knuckles looked, and saw an older female Vypryn with shorter red hair 
come up behind them.  He rubbed his eyes.  What the hell was going on?
	"Who the hell are you?", said Knuckles.
	Reptilliah just ignored the confused echidna.  She looked right over 
at her younger sister.  
	"Let her go, Vypris", she said, "This is not these peoples' fight."
	"It is now that they've killed our father!", she said, "Not that you 
care anything about him, though.  I'm through screwing around!!  Give me 
my father, or I'm going to give her a great big smile from ear to ear!"
	"Don't do it!", yelled Sally.
	"Shut up!", yelled Vypris, tightening her grip.
	Knuckles gritted his teeth.  He walked over to a nearby oak tree, 
and pushed an unseen lever on it.  A door opened in it.  He reached his 
hand in there, and pulled out the flashing green Soul Chaos Emerald.  He 
held it up, so Vypris could see it.
	"This is what you came for", he said, "Your father's spirit is 
imprisoned inside it."
	Vypris shoved Sally towards Knuckles.
	"Get it, and bring it back to me", she said.
	Sally didn't move.  She just looked back at Vypris.  Vypris fired a 
blast from her shoulder cannon only inches away from Sally's feet.
	"MOVE!!!", she yelled.
	Sally started walking towards Knuckles very slowly.  None of them saw 
something moving in the bushes behind Vypris.  Sally got to Knuckles, and 
he just looked at her.
	"You can't let her have it", she said.
	"She'll kill you if I don't", he countered.
	"That's not important", said Sally, "Vypryn is a killer and cannot 
be released."
	"YOU are important to me, Sally", said Knuckles, "I know we're not as 
close as we once were, but I still care for you, and I will not sacrifice 
you to save this emerald."
	"Oh please", said Vypris, "Cry me a river, here, people.  Just give 
me the emerald or I'll kill you all and take it anyway."
	"What makes you think I'm going to let you do that?", yelled the 
voice from the bushes.
	Vypris looked, and Mighty the Armadillo jumped out and tackled her.  
The two rolled on the ground for a moment.  Mighty was far too strong for 
Vypris to over-come, but she wasn't about to let that stop her.  
	"You stupid mammal!", she yelled, extending her blade.
	She rammed it into Mighty's shoulder, and he howled in pain.
	"Yahhhhhhhh!!!!", he yelled, rolling off of her.
	She stood up, and kicked him in the stomach.
	"Now", she said, "Prepare to die for your interference!!"
	"Yeeehaaa!!", yelled Vector, as he swung down from a tree.
	He kicked Vypris, and she flipped over, and landed on her feet.  She 
fired a plasma blast and cut the vine he was swinging on, sending him 
crashing to the ground.  By that time, Espio uncloaked and wrapped his arms 
around her.  
	"I don't have time for this!!", she yelled, slamming her head back 
into his.
	"Ahhh!", he yelled, staggering back.
	She kicked him in the chest, sending him flying back into Vector, who 
had just gotten up.  She looked back at the rest of the crowd, who were 
about to take advantage of the Chaotix's interference.  Knowing that she 
couldn't take them all, especially with her sister's weaponary, she held 
her arms out, and released something for just such an occasion.
	"Close your eyes!!", yelled Reptilliah.
	Everyone did as they were told, just as Vypris released her anti-
matter burst.  A brilliant flash that would have blinded any onlooker 
engulfed the clearing.  Vypris, using special visors, ran through it and 
grabbed the emerald from Knuckles, and after a second's thought, grabbed 
Sally too.  She then ran back to her ship and closed the hatch.
	When the flash disappeared, everyone opened their eyes to see Vypris' 
ship lifting off the ground.  It started to fly away from the island. 
	"Hurry!", yelled Reptilliah, "We have to follow her!"
	Just as she said that, Vypris' ship turned, and fired two torpedoes 
right at Reptilliah's ship. 
	"Reptilliah!!", yelled Sonic, "Look out!!!"
	He pulled her back just as the ship exploded into red and yellow 
flames.  Vypris' ship hung in the air for a moment, as if surveying the 
damage, then turned, and shot into space.  They all looked, and saw it 
become a flash of light and streak off into deep space.
	"Is everyone alright?", said Sonic, getting to his feet.
	No one seemed to have been hurt by shrapnel.  Mighty was the only one 
wounded, but it wasn't too serious.  Everyone else got to their feet, and 
looked at the ship.  Tears started pouring out of Reptilliah's eyes.
	"How am I supposed to get home now?", she sobbed, "Without me to lead 
my army, and my father commanding Vypris', Reptillan will fall!"
	"This is great!", yelled Sonic, "That bitch took Sally!  Without 
Reptilliah's ship, we're finished!"
	Rotor walked up behind them, and looked at Sonic.
	"I have an idea", he said, "It's a long shot, but if it works, we'll 
be on our way to Reptillan within a few hours."
	"Start talkin', Rote", said Sonic.

CHAPTER IV
ESCAPE FROM GREEN MEADOW

	Back in Knothole, Uncle Chuck had come to help with Rotor's plan.  
	"This is a long shot, Rotor", said Uncle Chuck, "We're just going to 
have to hope that Vypris didn't do anything to the Python before she 
landed."
	"We know she didn't take it with her", said Reptilliah, "Because we 
all saw her jump to ultra-space just as she left Mobius."
	"She may have been in such a hurry", said Rotor, "That she completely 
forgot about it.  That's what I'm counting on.  Vypryn's ship has a...a...
what did you call it, Reptilliah?"
	"An ultra-space jumper", said Reptilliah, "It's how our ships can 
move across the galaxy so fast.  My father's ship has one of the fastest 
ones in creation."
	"Bingo!", said Uncle Chuck, looking up from the monitor, "There she 
is!"
	They all looked, and saw the Python still sitting in orbit around 
Mobius.  Reptilliah hugged Uncle Chuck and kissed him on the cheek.  If he 
could have blushed, he would have.
	"Okay", said Sonic, "Now that we know it's there, how do we get to 
it?"
	"We can access the main computer and bring down on remote control", 
said Reptilliah, "I helped program the main computer.  Can you patch in 
with this equipment?"
	"Yes", said Rotor, "Luckily, when Vypris grabbed Sally, she kicked 
Nicole out of her boot."
	"Good ol' Sal", said Sonic, "Never let's ya down."
	Rotor picked Nicole up, and handed her to Uncle Chuck.  He opened her 
up, and activated her.
	"Nicole", he said, "Activate your remote modem."
	"WORKING, SIR CHARLES", she said, "MODEM ACTIVATED, ENTER TARGET."
	Uncle Chuck punched in the coordinates for the Python.  Nicole's 
light flashed, and became green.
	"HOST COMPUTER CONTACTED", she said, "AUTHORIZATION CODE REQUIRED 
BEFORE ACCESS TO MAIN COMPUTER WILL BE GRANTED."
	"Authorization code: Reptilliah-five-four-sigma", said Reptilliah.
	"ACCESS GRANTED", said Nicole, her voice suddenly changing to the 
voice of the Python's computer.
	"Computer", said Reptilliah, "Activate remote guidance system."
	"REMOTE GUIDANCE SYSTEM ACTIVATED, EMPRESS", the computer said.
	"The Python is a Class II starcruiser", said Reptilliah.
	"Which means?", asked Sonic.
	"It's half the size of this village", she said, "We need to find a 
clearing to put it down in."
	"Put it down in Green Meadow", said Uncle Chuck, "That place is 
huge."
	"And unguarded", said Sonic, "If that thing is as big as Reptilliah 
says it is, then Robuttnik won't have any trouble seeing it."
	"Not a problem", said Reptilliah, "The Python is one of the most 
advanced ships ever created, and one of two with stealth capablilities. 
Computer, activate Stealth Mode."
	"STEALTH MODE NON-FUNCTIONAL, EMPRESS", it said, "AWAITING FURTHER 
INSTRUCTIONS."
	"Great!", said Reptilliah, pounding her fist against the table, and 
denting it, "It must have malfunctioned from neglect.  There's no way now 
that we can hide it from radar."
	"Then we'll just have to make sure we're there when it touches down", 
said Sonic, "And not give Blubber-bolts time to get there."
	"Imput the coordinates of the meadow", said Uncle Chuck, "We'll just 
move out as soon as the ship starts its decent."
	Rotor tacked in the coordinates for Green Meadow.
	"COORDINATES LOCATED", said the computer, "ACTIVATING LANDING 
THRUSTERS."
	The massive ship suddenly came to life, and began to decend through 
Mobius' atmosphere.  The Freedom Fighters watched it for a moment. 
	"Let's juice, guys", said Sonic, "Robuttnik's probably already seen 
it."
	"How are we going to get out there?", asked Rotor.
	"Everybody rides on Dulcy's back", said Sonic, "Tails can ride in 
Dulcy's pouch.  He'll be safe there.  Knux and I can follow from the 
ground.  It shouldn't take more than ten or fifteen minutes to get to Green 
Meadow."
	"Let's get a move on, then", said Knuckles.
	Running as fast as the two could possibly go, Sonic and Knuckles made
it to Green Meadow in under twenty minutes.  A few moments later, Dulcy 
landed with everyone else.
	"Where's the Python?", asked Knuckles, gazing at the sky above them.
	"There!", shouted Reptilliah, pointing at a black spot that was 
falling out of the sky.
	"Oh mah stars", said Bunnie, "That is the biggest darn thang ah've 
ever seen!"
	"Wait until you get inside", said Reptilliah, "That thing could 
probably fit about a hundred people comfortabley."
	The huge ship set down right in front of them, blowing huge gusts of 
wind at the group.  Sonic had to brace himself to keep from being blown 
backwards.  When the ship finally settled to the ground, he uncovered his 
face, and looked right at it.  It was still steaming from coming through 
Mobius' atmosphere.
	"Man", he said, "That thing sure knows how to make an entrance."
	A hatch on the side of the ship dropped open, and a ramp lowered to 
the ground.  Reptilliah waved for them to follow her, and she headed up 
the ramp.  Dulcy followed her, still cradling Tails in her pouch.  Antoine, 
Uncle Chuck, Rotor, and Bunnie followed.  Sonic and Knuckles brought up the 
rear.  Knuckles seemed hesitant to get on the ship.
	"What's up, Red?", asked Sonic.
	"I hate machines", he grumbled, "The last thing I want to do is ride 
one off the planet."
	"So you're not coming?", asked Sonic, "What about Sally?"
	"I said I didn't like it", he said, "That doesn't mean I'm not 
coming.  I swore to protect the Soul Emerald, and I'm going to get it back.  
Nobody comes to my island and steals its treasures.  I wouldn't let 
Robotnik do it.  I wouldn't let you do it.  So, I'm sure as hell not going 
to let some snake-broad do it either."
	Knuckles tromped up the ramp, and shoved past Sonic.  Sonic shrugged 
it off.  He was about to board the ship as well, when something in the 
distance caught his eye.  There were about thirty hover-units, and 
Robotnik's flagship approaching mucho fast.
	"Oh great", he said, and ran onto the ship and to the bridge.
	On the bridge, Reptilliah, Uncle Chuck, and Rotor were working the 
computers and machines.  Bunnie, Antoine, and Knuckles had found themselves 
seats and were already buckled in.  Dulcy had taken Tails to Vypryn's old 
cabin and put him to bed.  She was going to stay in the cargo bay, since 
it was bigger.
	"Hey, guys!", yelled Sonic, "We've got company!"
	Reptilliah looked up, and pushed her hair out of her face.
	"Who?", she said.
	"The big round guy", said Sonic, "He's coming in fast."
	"Can't we reason with this guy?", asked Reptilliah.
	"Yeah", said Sonic, "Maybe right before he roboticizes you."
	Reptilliah decided not to ask what Sonic meant.  
	"Sir Charles", she said, "The controls for the rear plasma cannons 
are over there.  Give us enough time to lift this thing off the ground."
	"Alright", said Uncle Chuck, running to the controls.  
	He hit a switch, and a picture of Robotnik's forces appeared on the 
monitor.  Sonic ran up beside him, watching.
	"C'mon, Unc", he said, "Blast him a good one."
	Uncle Chuck centered the targeting square on a hover unit, and hit 
the fire switch.  Several pink blasts shot toward the hover unit, 
destroying it in a flash of orange and yellow fire.  The firey remains fell 
and hit another unit, disabling it.
	"Way cool shot, Unc!", cheered Sonic.
	"We're being hailed", said Reptilliah.
	She flipped on the monitor, and Robotnik's face appeared.
	"Attention, whoever you are!", yelled Robotnik, "Firing at my 
hover-unit was not a smart choice.  I want that ship for myself, and I will 
not allow it to leave this meadow."
	"This ship is the property of the Imperial Navy of Reptillan", said 
Reptilliah, "I'm quite sure my father didn't want you to have it, or he 
wouldn't have left it in orbit."
	"Vypryn's daughter, eh?", said Robotnik, "Your late father and I had 
a business deal, my dear.  Perhaps you would be willing to fulfill it for 
me?"
	Sonic stepped up, and shoved Reptilliah out of the way.
	"Stuff it, Robuttnik!", he said, "We're takin' a little trip, but 
don't get too cozy.  Cuz we'll be back!"
	"Hedgehog!!!", screamed Robotnik, "That ship is MINE!!!!  Fire all 
weapons!!"
	The ship was smashed with a barrage of blaster bolts from Robotnik's 
fleet.  Both Sonic and Reptilliah were both knocked backwards.  
	"Computer!", she yelled, "Shields up!"
	"SHIELDS ARE FUNCTIONING AT 67% POWER, EMPRESS", said the computer, 
"IF ENEMNY ATTACK CONTINUES, SHIELDS WILL FAIL IN 5.235 MINUTES."
	"We have to get out of here", said Reptilliah, "The Python won't take 
much more of this.  Sir Charles, keep firing at them.  Rotor, you're going 
to be co-pilot.  Everybody else, buckle in!"
	Reptilliah got on the loud speaker.
	"Attention!", she said, "We're taking off now, so everybody who 
doesn't have a seat-belt, hold onto something!  It's going to get a little 
bumpy!"
	Reptilliah jumped into the pilot's chair, and throddled the giant 
ship up.  The engines roared to life, and the ship lifted off the ground.  
	In the cabin with Tails, Bunnie wrapped her arms around the cub, and 
held on tight.
	"Oh mah stars!", she said, "Ah hate flyin'!"
	In the cargo bay, Ducly had been dozing, and hadn't heard the 
warning.  She slid backwards and slammed into the rear of the ship.
	"Ouch!!", she yelled, rubbing her head.
	Back on the bridge, Reptilliah was still trying to get the Python 
away from Robotnik's barrage.  She looked in her monitor, and saw the blue 
flagship starting to pursue them.
	"Damn", she said, "That round mammal is chasing us!"
	"Can we outrun them?", asked Rotor, checking their speed.
	"No", she said, "This ship isn't designed to move fast until in 
enters ultra-space."
	"Then floor it!", yelled Sonic, from his seat.
	"Going through ultra-space isn't like running faster than sound, 
Sonic", said Reptilliah, "I have to use the navigational sensors to set a 
clear path for us.  If we don't, then there's the possibility that we'll 
hit something."
	"How fast is ultra-space, anyway?", asked Rotor, still looking at 
Robotnik's gaining flag-ship.
	"Oh", said Reptilliah, "About nine or ten times faster than the speed 
of light."
	"Yikes", said Sonic, sitting back in his chair.
	"They're gaining!", said Rotor.
	"I can't lock onto his ship!", said Uncle Chuck, "He's jamming the 
targeting system!"
	"The sensors are working", said Reptilliah, "Our only hope is that we 
can survive until it plots a course for us."
	Robotnik's ship fired several plasma blasts, and the ship rocked.
	"SHIELDS DOWN TO 47%", said the computer.
	"We're in trouble", said Sonic, "Aren't we?"
	"COURSE TO REPTILLAN PLOTTED", said the computer, "PYTHON READY TO 
JUMP TO ULTRA-SPACE."
	"Engage!!", yelled Reptilliah.
	The Python shot forward at an unimaginable speed by Mobian standards. 
The ship seemed to stretch and then disappeared into the Mobian sky.  
Robotnik's flag-ship was left behind in the dust.  
	"AAAAHHHHH!!!!!", he screamed, pounding his fists on the arms of his 
chair.

CHAPTER V
VOYAGE TO REPTILLAN

	Sally looked out the window for the first time in the last two hours. 
The blinding spiral of ultra-space had given her a head-ache.  Vypris 
hadn't said much to her since they'd left Mobius, and Sally was rather 
reluctant to start a conversation.
	"You are a princess?", asked Vypris, all of a sudden.
	Sally looked over at Vypris, who hadn't turned her head.
	"Yes", she said.
	"Do you have any siblings?", asked Vypris.
	"Not that I know of", said Sally, "My mother died suddenly about a 
year before the coup, and they never told me why or of what."
	"I never knew my mother", said Vypris, "She died shortly after laying 
my egg."
	"I'm sorry to hear that", said Sally.
	"I do have a sibling, Princess", said Vypris, "Believe me, you are 
fortunate that you do not."
	"Why is that?", asked Sally.
	Vypris turned, and looked at Sally.
	"My father was about to take control of Reptillan, as was his 
imperial right", she said, "He was betrayed by my older sister.  She is the 
one who attacked me in your village.  After she had him banished from our 
home-world forever, she stole his throne and desicrated it."
	"I don't know how well you knew your father, Vypris", said Sally, 
"But I've been closer to him than even your mother was.  He is an evil 
being.  When he possessed my body, he made me do horrible things."
	"Like what?", asked Vypris, unimpressed.
	"He made me murder dozens of innocent people before we trapped him 
in that emerald", she said, "I still have nightmares about those people 
that I murdered.  I'd hate to see what he would have done to your world if 
he had total power."
	"NO!!", yelled Vypris, slamming her fists on the console, "My father 
was a great man!  He was a strong leader, and did not deserve to be 
betrayed by his own blood!  He will reward me greatly when I bring him 
home."
	"There's no point to it", said Sally, "His spirit is trapped forever 
within the Chaos Emerald.  If you break it, he will have nothing to anchor 
him to this plane of existance and he will vanish forever."
	Vypris grabbed Sally by her neck, and pulled her face about one inch 
from hers.  She glared at Sally with her yellow repillian eyes.  Her upper 
lip curled up and revealed a row of razor sharp teeth.
	"I'm very good at getting by rules that do not please me, Princess", 
said Vypris, "Very good."
	She shoved Sally back into her seat, and looked at her monitor, which 
was flashing red.  The words "PRIORITY ONE TRANSMISSION" appeared on it.  
She punched a button, and another snake-creature appeared on the screen.  
He was black with orange stripes, and had a huge hood behind his head.
	"What is it, Cobrack?", she said.
	"Do you have Uncle?", he asked.
	She held up the green emerald, and let him stare at it for a moment.
	"More or less", she said, "I'll explain the rest to you and Spydrax 
when I return."
	"What's your ETA?", he asked.
	She looked at her chart, and made a quick calculation.
	"We shall enter the solar system in about fifteen minutes", she said, 
"Have Rattlor meet us in orbit around Koloris."
	"Done", said Cobrack, "The Arachnians want to know if you require a 
bigger escort.  Koloris isn't that far from Arachnia as it is from 
Reptillan."
	"That would be excellent", she said, "Seven fighter ships should do 
it.  Have Rattlor assemble his squadron and meet us at Koloris."
	"Very well, Cousin", said Cobrack.
	His image disappeared from the screen, and Vypris looked over at 
Sally.
	"You're lucky you don't have any cousins either", she said, "Cobrack 
is a sniveling fool, but he is loyal."
	Sally just looked forward and didn't say anything.  
	Several light years behind them, the Python shot through ultra-space.  
Reptilliah, Uncle Chuck, and Rotor kept an eye on all the systems, Dulcy 
was sleeping in the cargo bay.  Bunnie was still sitting with Tails.  Each 
of them were doing fairly well to be traveling at over one million miles 
per second.  Sonic was the only one who seemed to be having trouble.  He 
had his head back on his seat, and his complection looked a little 
greenish.
	"Ohhhh", moaned Sonic, "What was I thinking, getting on this stupid 
thing.  Ohhhhh."
	"Something wrong, Sonic?", asked Reptilliah, looking up.
	"Huh?", moaned Sonic, trying to lift his head up.
	"I think he's getting sick", said Uncle Chuck, "Sonie never did do 
well flying."
	"That happens your first time through ultra-space", said Reptilliah, 
"The most important thing is not to look out the windows at the tunnel."
	Sonic looked around, and saw that there were windows everywhere on 
the Python.  He groaned, and knew that it would be impossible to keep from 
looking out of the windows.  He tried shutting his eyes, and his stomach 
felt like somone just turned it inside out.  
	"I hate this!", he moaned, "This sucks!"	
	"Feelin' a little sick, Blue?", asked Knuckles, who was sitting 
behind Sonic.
	"Shut up, Knuckles", groaned Sonic.
	"Hah!", laughed Knuckles, kicking the back on Sonic's seat, "You 
look like you've had one too many!  I'll bet anything that you're gonna 
barf before we get there."
	"If I do", moaned Sonic, "I'm gonna make sure I hit your shoes."
	Knuckles laughed and kicked Sonic's seat one last time.  Sonic just 
took a deep breath and tried to look up at the ceiling.
	"Ah", said Antoine, who was sitting next to Sonic, "You are not 
knoweengz how to beings relaxed, Sonic."
	Sonic looked over at Antoine.
	"What are you talking about, Ant?", he managed.
	"I was beings a little space sicked when we were first startings", 
said Antoine, "But then, I beganed to be thinking about my favorite food, 
Escargo."
	"Escar-what?", said Sonic, feeling his stomach churn.
	"Escargo", said Antoine, "What you are needings, is lots of the 
juicy little snails."
	"Snails?", whimpered Sonic.
	"Yes", said Antoine, licking his lips, "Smeared in lots of butter!"
	Sonic couldn't help it.  The thought of snails smeared in butter 
invaded his mind.  He felt his last meal getting ready to make a second 
appearance.
	"Oh no", he said.
	Sonic began tugging on his belt, trying to get it off of him.  It 
finally unbuckled, and he shot towards the bathroom as fast as he could 
go.  Then, they all heard him vomitting up his last meal.
	"Man", said Knuckles, clapping his hands together and kicking his 
feet up into the air, "I love being right!!"
	Sonic staggered back to his seat, and flopped down in it.  He shut 
his eyes, and fell fast asleep.  Hopefully, this trip would be over soon.
	Across space, Vypris let her ship drop out of ultra-space.  The 
ultra-space ripple vanished and the ship was surrounded by stars again.  
Sally looked, and saw a red gas planet right in front of them.  There were 
several other ships in orbit around the planet.
	"Ah", said Vypris, smiling, "I love punctuality in my troops.  Don't 
you?"
	Sally just sat back, and looked out the window.
	Vypris' screen activated, and a pale green snake appeared on the 
screen.  She smiled, and looked at the image.
	"Rattlor", she said, "How long have you been sitting here?"
	Rattlor looked at his chronometer, and shrugged.
	"Ohhhh", he said, "About an hour."
	"That's what I love about you, Rattlor", she said, "Always there 
when I need you."
	"Just follow your present course to Reptillan", said Ratlor, "We 
shall escort you."
	"Alright", she said, and aimed the ship towards the sixth planet in 
the system.
	It took about another ten to fifteen minutes of flying to reach sight 
of the sixth planet, Reptillan.  Sally looked at the sphere, and couldn't 
believe her eyes.  
	The planet was about the same size as Mobius, and also had one moon.  
However, the moon was about half the size of the planet, and was sitting 
right in between Reptillan and the brilliant white sun that the system of 
12 planets had.  
	"That's the most unique thing about this entire system", said Vypris, 
sensing Sally's amazement, "The moon revolves around Reptillan in a way 
that it is always in between the sun and the planet, thus, causing an 
eternal eclipse.  Very little light reaches around the moon and to the 
planet.  All the better, since the sun is so bright, it would blind anyone 
who got caught unprotected in its light.  Arachnia is a little better off, 
since it is the 10th planet in the system, and is farther away from the 
sun."
	Sally just stared at the planet as the convoy made its approach.
	All of sudden, another ship shot out of ultra-space.  Vypris didn't 
seem to consider this new ship a friend, because she pushed their little 
ship as fast as it would go when she caught sight of the much larger ship.
	"That Bitch!", she yelled, "She couldn't have!  Rattlor!!!  Keep that 
ship away from me!!"
	"Copy", he said, "All wings, follow me!"
	Rattlor broke off their escort and engaged the new ship.  Vypris' 
monitor started beeping.
	"INCOMING MESSAGE", said the computer.
	Reptilliah's face appeared on the monitor, and Vypris growled.
	"Listen up, Sis", she said, "You screwed up when you forgot about 
Father's ship in orbit around Mobius!  Now, surrender and prepare to be 
boarded!"
	Vypris ignored the threat, and cut the connection.  She gunned her 
ship towards Reptillan for all it was worth.  Sally could do nothing but 
hold on.  She looked over, and saw the larger ship destroying all the 
escorts as if they were gnats.  Rattlor's ship came up beside them.
	"Princess!", he said, "We're out-matched here!  Make a run for the 
planet, and I'll cover you!"
	"What do you think I'm doing, you oaf!", hissed Vypris, pushing the 
ship even faster.
	Inside the Python, Uncle Chuck was back at the weapons array, firing 
at the attacking ships.  He didn't like killing like this, but he knew that 
Sally's life was on the line.  He looked over at his nephew, who was still 
snoring in his chair.  What was he going to do with that kid?
	"Where's Vypris?", asked Knuckles, standing right behind Reptilliah.
	"About six or seven klicks ahead of us", said Reptillah, "That other 
ship is covering her.  I don't think I can get to her before she begins 
her decent towards the planet."
	"Hey!", yelled Rotor, "There's a bunch of red dots coming up behind 
us.  Is that bad?"
	Reptilliah looked at the monitor, and swore in her native language.
	"Yes!", she said, "Those are Arachnian Combat Cruisers.  Those things 
are armored to the core.  This thing won't stand up to them.  I'm going to 
have to break off pursuit of Vypris so we can make our own landing.  The 
ACC's aren't designed for planetary flight, so once we get through the 
atmosphere, they can't follow us."
	"We can't just leave Sally!", said Knuckles.
	"We're no good to her dead", said Reptilliah, "We'll find her again, 
don't worry."
	Knuckles knew that she was right, so he moved back to his seat so 
she could get the ship down on Reptillan before those ACC's took them out.
	"Buckle in!", she yelled, "We're starting our decent through the 
atmosphere.  It's going to get a little bumpy!"
	Knuckles just put his seat-belt on, when the ship started jerking 
all over the place.  Only then, did Sonic wake up.
	"Huh?", he said, "What's goin' on?"
	All of a sudden, there was a huge explosion at the rear of the ship.  
Half of the lights on Reptilliah's console went red.  She grabbed the 
stick, and pulled back as hard as she could.	
	"What happened?", yelled Uncle Chuck.
	"One of the ACC's hit us with a proton torpedo!", she said, "We're 
gonna land.  Or to be more precise, CRASH!!"
	The giant ship tore through the atmosphere of Reptillan.  Knuckles 
looked out one of the windows and watched Vypris' ship disappear through 
the clouds.  
	"Oh, geez", said Reptilliah, "We're in trouble."
	Just as she was about to give up all hope of surviving the landing, 
her monitor started to beep.  She activated it, and a scorpion appeared on 
the screen.  She grew a giant smile on her face.
	"Scorpan!!!", she screamed.
	"Welcome back, Empress", said Scorpan, "You're tore up pretty bad on 
your engines back here."
	"We got hit by an ACC proton torpedo", she said, "Can you help us?"
	"I've got three other tow ships with me", he said, "Hold her steady 
so we can attach on to you."
	Reptilliah held the crippled Python as steady as she could.  She 
looked out, and saw the four tow ships positioning themselves around them.  
All at once, they shot their cables out and attached to the Python.  
	"We gotcha", said Scorpan, "Cut whatever power you have left in your 
engines and let us take you down."
	"Copy", said Reptilliah, slumping back in her chair and wiping the 
sweat from her forehead.
	The four tow ships decended through the atmosphere, carrying the 
injured Python between them.
	Miles away, the two small ships shot down through the murky swamps 
that made up most of Reptillan.  Sally looked out the window, and saw a 
huge fortress hidden deep within this part of the swamp.  Vypris calmly 
set her ship down as a lizard-creature outside guided her in.
	Once the ship came to a complete halt, Vypris grabbed Sally by the 
arm, and pulled her out of her seat.  
	"Move", she said.
	Sally had no choice but to follow.  The hatch on the side of the 
ship opened, and the two got out.  The air on Reptillan was extremely 
humid.  Sally could feel the hair on her head and her fur starting to mat 
up.  Rattlor's ship opened up, and he casually strutted out.  He bowed 
before Vypris in a very swauve manner.  
	"Welcome back, Princess", he said, kissing the back of her hand, "I'd 
almost thought you'd forgotten about us back here."
	Sally looked at Vypris and could tell she was trying not to blush.  
Sally knew the feeling well.  It had happened to her several times when 
Sonic had acted like that.  She couldn't help but blush.
	"It took a while to locate my father", she said.
	"Speaking of your father", said Rattlor, looking back at the ship, 
"Where is the old bean?"
	Vypris pulled the Soul Emerald out of her belt pouch, and showed it 
to Rattlor.
	"This is all that remains of my father", she said, "His spirit is 
imprisoned within this magic stone."
	Rattlor took the emerald from her and examined it.  It began flashing 
violently when separated from Vypris.  
	"Give that to me!", said Vypris, snatching the green stone from his 
hands.
	The emerald began flashing gently when Vypris got ahold of it again.  
Sally knew that Vypryn was somehow aware of who was holding the emerald.  
She didn't know how that was possible, but then again, little was known 
about the Chaos Emeralds.
	"Helloooo", said Rattlor, eyeing Sally, "And who might you be?"
	He grinned at her, and she saw his rows of razor sharp teeth glaring 
at her.  Sally took a step back, only to have Vypris grab onto her arm 
again.
	"She", said Vypris, "Is my prisoner.  Apparently, she's the one who 
murdered my father and stuck him in this rock."
	"Is she, now?", said Rattlor, "What are you planning on doing with 
her?"
	"I don't know, yet", said Vypris, "But I guarantee you, it will not 
be pleasant."
	Two lizard guards arrived, and put binders on Sally's wrists.  Vypris 
then started for the fortress, with Rattlor following right behind her.  
One of the guards shoved Sally.
	"Move", he said.
	She reluctantly walked after Vypris and Rattlor.
	Back at the Imperial Palace, the four tow ships had just landed the 
crippled Python on the main landing platform.  Reptilliah opened the hatch 
up, and walked out of the ship.  Waiting for them outside was a large 
lizard-type creature.  He had red lines all over his body, and was wearing 
a strange looking suit of armor.  On his back were two identical katana 
blades.  He dropped to his knee when Reptilliah stepped out of the ship.
	"Kamodo Dragon", she said, smiling.
	"My Empress", he said, still bowing.
	"That is loyaly, my friends", said Sonic, following Reptilliah right 
out of the ship.
	Kamodo Dragon saw Sonic, and jumped to his feet.  He pulled out his 
swords, and stood defensively.  
	"Hey!", objected Sonic, "What'd I say?"
	"Nice one, Blue", said Knuckles, "We've been here two minutes, and 
you've already got one of them tryin' to kill us."
	"Shut up, Knuckles!", said Sonic.
	"You shut up!", Knuckles snapped back.
	"Both y'all shut up!", yelled Bunnie, carrying Tails off the ship.
	Reptilliah put her hand on Kamodo Dragon's arm.
	"Kamodo", she said, "These are my friends.  As you can see, one of 
them is seriously injured.  Be a dear and summon the healers for me, would 
you?"
	Kamodo Dragon put his sword back in its holster, and bowed before 
Reptilliah.  He then walked proudly back towards the palace.
	"Doesn't talk much", said Sonic, "Does he?"
	"He is the royal guardian", said Reptilliah, "His family has served 
mine for generations.  He is a very proud and fierce warrior.  He would die 
to protect me."
	Reptilliah looked over a Scorpan, who was standing there as well.  He 
was about a head taller than shewas, had two huge claws for hands, and had 
a huge stinger tail hanging over his head.  He looked menacing, but from 
what he did to help them, she knew he wasn't.
	"Thank you for your help, Scorpan", she said.
	"Don't mention it, Empress", he said, "Now, if you'll excuse me.  I 
must be returning to Arachnia.  I have duties there I must perform.  
Spydrax won't be able to oppress my people forever."
	"Of course", said Reptilliah, "Safe journey, Scorpan."	
	Moments later, several iguanas dressed in white robes hurried up to 
where they were standing.  One of them was pulling a hovering stretcher.
	"My Empress", said one of them, "We are pleased you have returned 
safely.  Why have you summoned us?"
	"This child was bitten by my sister", she explained, "I had to bite 
him as well to keep him alive long enough to get him here.  Please help 
him."
	"A venom poisoning?", said the second iguana, "We are not used to 
dealing with those, Empress.  You know the law."
	"Yes", she said, "Unfortunately, my father paid very little attention 
to it.  Now, please help him."
	One of the iguanas gently took Tails out of Bunnie's arms.  She put 
him on the stretcher.  Sonic walked up to him, and patted his forehead.
	"Hold on just a few more minutes, Big Guy", he said.
	Sonic then backed away so the iguana healers could move the 
stretcher.  They hurried back towards the palace.  
	"What did that one mean about the law?", ased Knuckles.
	"Reptillan law states that all venom-producing citizens must have 
their venom-glands removed by age 3", said Reptilliah, "Young children with 
a deadly poison are far too dangerous to be around children who don't 
produce venom."
	"Why age 3?", asked Uncle Chuck.
	"After age 3", said Reptilliah, "The glands become permanent, and 
cannot be removed.  My father ignored the law and used his position to let 
my sister and I keep ours.  I don't like to use mine, and keep them hidden 
as much as possible.  My sister, on the other hand, views hers as a weapon.  
It was by that manner that she killed my husband.  The healers didn't get 
to him in time to save him."
	"Can they save Tails?", asked Sonic.	
	"They are the most skilled healers on the planet", said Reptilliah, 
"Your friend will be fine.  Now, come with me, please."
	Just as they were about to head towards the palace, they all heard a 
banging from inside the Python.  
	"Oh no!", said Sonic, "We forgot about Dulcy!"
	Reptilliah hurried to a control panel on the side of the Python, and 
punched in a code.  The cargo bay door groaned as it lowered to the ground.  
All of a sudden, Dulcy slid down the ramp and onto the ground.  
	"Whew!", she said, "Boy, am I ever glad to be out of that thing."
	All the soldiers that were on the landing platform stopped, and 
gasped.  Apparently, none of them had ever seen a dragon.
	"Hey!", said Dulcy, "I like it here.  Lot's of room to fly.  Oh, and 
the moisture!"
	Sonic and the others just looked at each other.  Reptilliah let out 
a small laugh.
	"Come on, everybody", she said, "Let's go."
	

CHAPTER VI
RESURRECTION

	"Where are you taking me?", demanded Sally.
	"Quiet, Mammal", said one of the lizard guards.
	They entered a huge control room with a throne at the center.  After 
looking around for a few moments, Sally noticed that it resembled 
Robotnik's control center quite a bit.  There were all types of reptiles 
bustling about from station to station.  Most, in not all, were soldiers 
in Vypris' army.  Sally did see two characters that weren't moving, but 
surveying all the activity.
	"So", said the first one, "You finally found your way back, eh 
Princess?"
	He turned around, and Sally's heart skipped a beat.  The creature was 
a giant tarantula.  He was a little taller than she was, had black and 
yellow fur on all eight of his appendages.  He only stood on two of them, 
had four digits on the two top ones.  There were three digit claws on the 
middle two.  He had a black general's uniform on.
	"I would say I was pleased to see you again, Spydrax", said Vypris, 
making her way to her throne, "But I'd be lying."
	Spydrax's mouth mandibles clacked together.  The other character 
turned, and Sally recognized him as Vypris' cousin, Cobrack.  His huge 
black and orange hood seemed to move with him as he breathed.
	"Stow it, Spydrax", he said, "Welcome home, Cousin."
	"How goes the fight?", asked Vypris, sitting down on her throne.
	"Not well", said Cobrack, "General Coral was killed last week.  
Rattlor, Spydrax, and I are your only living generals.  We have plenty of 
able troops, but lack the leader-ship qualities to command them."
	"Then it's a good thing I arrived when I did", said Vypris, taking 
the glowing stone out of her pouch. 
	Everyone just stared at the flashing rock.  
	"What the hell is that thing?", said Spydrax.
	"Say hello to your emperor", said Vypris.
	"What?", said Cobrack.
	"Are you saying that thing is Vypryn?", said Spydrax.
	"Yes", said Vypris, "This mammal killed my father and then trapped 
his spirit in this crystal."
	"You expect us to belive that?", said Spydrax.
	"It doesn't really matter what you belive, General", said Vypris, 
"Just remember, if we lose this war, then Scorpan's forces on Arachnia will 
over-throw your regime.  The one hope you have is if I retake the throne 
and then have Reptillan aid you in the battle."
	Spydrax just glared at Vypris.  Sally could tell from the way they 
talked to each other, that their alliance was rather shakey.  They would 
easily kill each other if they didn't need one another.  
	"What are you proposing we do, then?", said Rattlor, "We are in 
danger of being defeated.  Plus, your sister has returned as well.  The 
civilians like her better than us and will stand behind her."
	"Don't worry about that", said Vypris.
	She held up the emerald so they could all see it.
	"My father has spoken to me through the emerald", she said, "He has 
instructed me on what we are to do.  We shall make an attack on the 
Imperial Palace."
	"Are you insane?", said Spydrax, "There's nothing strategically 
important about the palace.  You've told us that before."
	"Silence, Spydrax", said Vypris, "There's something there my father 
wants.  If we get it for him, he shall be able to lead us to total 
victory."
	The three generals just looked at each other, dumbfounded.  Sally 
stood by, watching them all.  She knew that if Sonic had come after her, 
that he would most likely be at this palace they were speaking about.  
Sally didn't know what Vypris was planning, but did know that she had to do 
something.  If she didn't, none of them would be able to go home.
	Several hours later, in the Imperial Palace, the Freedom Fighters had 
made themselves at home.  Dulcy had taken to the sky, and was soaring 
around in the wide open spaces.  The healers had removed the venom from 
Tails, and he was recovering in his room.  Bunnie was in her room taking a 
long hot bath.  Knuckles was down in the gym, sparring against several of 
the soldiers, and beating every one of them.  Uncle Chuck and Rotor had 
found a garage with tons of parts and gizmos.  Antoine had found the 
kitchen and was showing the royal chef some of Mobius' finest dishes.  
Sonic, on the other hand, was standing on the huge balcony that gave him a 
good view of Imperial City.  He was just leaning on the railing, letting 
the breeze hit him in the face.  Reptilliah came up beside him.
	"Hello, Sonic", she said, "How are you?"
	"Lousy", he said, looking over at her, "I'm worried about Sally."
	"We'll find her, Sonic", said Reptilliah, "I promise."
	"Thanks", he said, "By the way, nice outfit."
	He was referring to the fact that Reptilliah had removed her armor 
and was wearing a light-blue gown.  She had her hair up in a bun as well.
	"Thank you", she said, "It's rare that we get a quiet day like this 
anymore."
	"That's also been bugging me ever since we set down on this planet", 
said Sonic, "How do you tell night from day here anyway?"
	"When the moon is in the sky", she said, "We are facing the sun.  
When there is no moon, then it is night."
	"I guess that makes sense", said Sonic, "It's still pretty weird to 
me."
	"You get used to it", said Reptilliah, "It's just like your world.  I 
don't think I can imagine what it would be like if the sun lit up the 
planet everyday."
	For the first time since Sally had been kidnapped, Sonic cracked a 
bit of a smile.  He looked over from Reptilliah to the sky.  The moon was 
starting to set.  He noticed something dancing around in the sky.
	"Hey, Reptilliah", he said, "What's that?"
	"What's what?", she said, looking to where he was pointing.
	"That little dot", he said, "Do you see it?"
	"Yes I do", she said, "I don't know what......oh no!!!"
	"What!!", said Sonic, worried.
	"GET DOWN!!!", she yelled.
	Sonic looked back, and saw that the little dot was actually a missile 
coming straight fot them.  He pushed Reptilliah to the ground, and fell on 
top of her.
	The missile slammed into the balcony right by the door.  The entire 
structure flew away from the palace, and began to slide like a sled down a 
hill below.  Sonic used one hand to hold onto Reptilliah, and the other to 
hold himself onto the sliding balcony.  The momentum from the blast was so 
great, that they slid deep within the marsh.
	Back at the palace, the alarm was going off.  Soldiers were running 
everywhere.  Huge explosions could be heard at the doors, and ships were 
hovering all over the palace.  Vypris' troops were invading the palace, 
and they weren't going to play nice.
	Bunnie jumped up out of the bathtub, and wrapped a towel around 
herself.  All of sudden, her door was kicked in by two huge spider-things.  
They saw her, and began firing some type of plasma weapons at her.
	"Oh mah stars!", she yelled, jumping over the blasts. 
	She quickly folded the towel around her, so it wouldn't come loose, 
did a flip, and kicked one spider in the chest with both of her feet.  He 
flew back, and hit the wall, leaving a crack in it.  The other spider fired 
at her again, but Bunnie blocked it with her robotic arm.  The blast 
ricoqued off her arm, and hit the spider right in the chest.  An electric 
charge surrounded him, and he sank to the floor.
	"That oughtta teach y'all not ta mess with a lady while she's in the 
bath!", said Bunnie.
	Just as she said that, she felt a gun barrel press against the back 
of her head.
	"Hands up, Mammal!", said the spider-soldier.
	Down in the gym, all the soldiers Knuckles had been sparring with 
had suddenly run off when the alarm sounded.  He was about to go up and 
see what all the commotion was, when three lizard soldiers slithered down 
through the door with laser rifles.
	"Surrender, Mammal", said one of the soldiers.
	Knuckles quickly punched the huge punching bag next to him, and it 
flew right into the lizard soldier, knocking him clean off his feet.  
	"Get him!!", yelled the second.
	The remaining two began firing wildly at Knuckles, who was jumping, 
running, and ducking at the shots.  Knowing that these two obviously had 
more bullets than brains, Knuckles grabbed one of the huge weights and 
threw it like a frisbee, knocking the gun out of one of the lizard's hands.
	"What the?", said the stunned lizard.
	The next thing the lizard saw was a huge fist hitting him right in 
the forhead.  He flew back into the other one, knocking him over as well.  
Unfortunately, Knuckles wasn't able to saver his victory.  The first 
lizard soldier had gotten back to his feet and hit Knuckles over the head 
with the butt of the rifle that was on the floor.
	"Ahhh!!", yelled Knuckles, falling flat on his face.
	Within a matter of about thirteen to fourteen minutes, the Imperial 
Palace had been secured.  All of Reptilliah's high-ranking generals were 
lined up, as was Kamodo Dragon and the Freedom Fighters.  Tails was there, 
but was still weak.
	Vypris came strutting in the front door, still holding the Chaos 
Emerald.  She looked at the little band of warriors that her sister had 
brought from the alien world.  Cobrack, Spydrax, and Rattlor came in 
behind her.  Vypris pointed at the six generals.
	"Take them out back and execute all of them", she said, "Since my 
sister has taken it upon herself to kill my generals, then it's only fair 
that I do the same."	
	Cobrack waved his arm, and several lizard soldiers grabbed the 
generals and pushed them outside.  Cobrack walked after them.  Vypris 
turned her attention to Rattlor, who had been over-seeing the attack.
	"Where is my sister and the blue hedgehog?", she said.
	"I don't know", he said, "My men are tearing the palace apart looking 
for them, but they haven't found them yet."
	"Grrrrrrrr", growled Vypris, "Bring her in here!"
	Two spider-soldiers came in, dragging Sally with them.  They shoved 
her over to Vypris, who grabbed a handful of her hair.
	"Where is your boy-friend?", she yelled.
	"Go to hell!", said Sally.
	Vypris pushed her back into the rest of the Freedom Fighters.  Bunnie 
hugged her after she got back to her feet.  Sally hugged Tails, relieved 
that he was still alive after being bit by Vypris back on Mobius.
	"As far as I can tell", said Vypris, "My coward sister and your boy 
toy ran away when we attacked.  Typical of her."
	"What do we do with them now, Princess?", asked Rattlor.
	"Put them down in the dungeon", said Vypris, "We'll let my father 
decide what to do with them.  Spydrax!  Bring Dr. Cornielius in here 
immediately."
	Spydrax went back outside, and came back in with an old bullfrog in 
a labcoat.  He bowed before Vypris, and looked around.
	"Well?", he said, "Where is it?"
	"Down in one of the secret labs in the sub-basement", she said, "You 
and I will go alone.  Rattlor, throw the rest of these fools in the 
dungeon!"
	Rattlor bowed, and motioned several of the soldiers to take the 
prisoners to the dungeon.  Vypris and Dr. Cornielius headed off towards 
the sub-basement.
	"What do you think happened to Sonic and Reptilliah?", asked Rotor.
	"I just hope they got away safely", said Sally.
	About a mile from the palace, Sonic opened his eyes, and saw that 
the balcony they had been riding on was laying right in the middle of a 
swamp.  He sat up, and shook his head.
	"Whew!", he said, "That was one heck of a ride!"
	He stood up, and the balcony wobbled under his feet.  
	"Man", he said, "Can't stay on this thing for long."
	He saw Reptilliah laying on her back a few feet away from him.  Ever 
so carefully, he moved over, and checked her pulse.  She was still alive.  
She must've just got conked on the head like he did.  He scooped her up in 
his arms, revved up, and jumped off the balcony, and onto dry ground.  
Sonic looked back, and saw the balcony they had just been on sink beneath 
the murky water.
	"Oh yes", he said, "I have way good timing."
	Reptilliah began to stir, and opened her eyes.  She saw that she was 
in Sonic's arms.  For a moment, she wished that he would hold on to her 
forever, but then remembered that his heart already belonged to someone 
else.
	"Oh, you're awake", he said, sitting her down on the ground, "You 
okay?"
	"Yes", she said, "I'm fine.  What happened?"
	"Some kinda missile hit the palace", said Sonic, "I'll bet my sneaks 
that your sister paid it a visit."
	"Which means that we're probably the only ones that got out", said 
Reptilliah, "What are we going to do, Sonic?"
	Sonic looked up in the sky, and saw that the moon was completely 
gone. 
	"I think it's night", he said, pointing up in the sky, "We should 
find a place to spend the night."
	"Night?", said Reptilliah, panicked, "Oh no!"
	"What's wrong?", said Sonic.
	"The temperature drops to about 60 degrees during the night", she 
said, shaking.
	"That's not that cold", said Sonic, "Actually, that's pretty warm."
	"For you!", said Reptilliah, "Sonic, I'm cold-blooded."
	"Which means?", asked Sonic.
	"I can't produce my own body heat like you can", she said, "My body 
temperature changes with the temperature outside.  I'll freeze to death!"
	"Oh man", said Sonic, understanding Reptilliah's panic, "I'd better 
build you a fire."
	He helped her to her feet, and they walked off into the marsh.
	Back in the palace, everyone was sitting in the dungeon, not knowing 
what was to become of them.  Tails had fallen asleep with his head in 
Sally's lap.  She was stroking his head.  She hadn't realized how much 
she had been worried about him until she had seen him okay.  
	"What do we do now?", asked Knuckles, banging his fist against the 
bars.
	"I think it's a fair assumption that Sonic and Reptilliah got away", 
said Uncle Chuck, "Hopefully, they'll get help."
	"There is no help", said Kamodo Dragon, "We aren't as strong as 
Vypris thought we were.  She's just executed our last remaining generals.  
I believe the war is lost.  Besides, Sonic is going to have his hands full 
trying to keep Reptilliah alive tonight."
	"What do you mean?", asked Sally.
	"She doesn't have her armor on", said Kamodo Dragon, "It has her body 
heater built in it.  Since she's cold-blooded, she'll freeze to death out 
there if Sonic doesn't do something."
	"Great", said Knuckles.
	Right outside the door to the secret lab, Cobrack, Rattlor, and 
Spydrax stood waiting.  Vypris had ordered them to wait there.  
	"What are we standing here, for anyway?", asked Spydrax.
	"Vypris says she has something to show us", said Rattlor, "It has to 
be good."
	"It had better be", said Spydrax, folding his six arms.
	Just as he said that, the door opened, and Vypris walked out.  She 
smiled when she saw them.
	"Well?", said Spydrax, "What is your great surprise?"
	"Come on in", she said, "And you'll see."
	They all followed her in the lab.  Dr. Cornielius was standing there, 
reading some data on a clipboard.  In the center of the room, there was a 
chair that was turned with its back to them.  He looked up when he saw 
them.
	"Welcome, Generals", he said, "This is a joyous occasion.  The 
entire operation went better than I expected it would.  The emerald that 
Princess Vypris brought back was perfectly compatible with the systems."
	"What are you talking about?", said Cobrack.
	"What he's talking about", said a voice from the chair, "Is the fact 
that I always prepared for every possible contingency."
	The chair turned around, and the three generals' jaws dropped.  The 
person that was sitting in the chair was none other than Vypryn!  He was 
all decked out in his armor, and even had his glowing red eye.  He was 
grinning a malicious grin at the three of them.
	"E-E-Emperor Vypryn?", said Rattlor, "Is that you?"
	"More or less", he said.
	"How is that possible, Uncle?", said Cobrack, "Vypris told us that 
you had been killed by the mammals."
	A huge panel in the center of Vypryn's chest opened up, showing a 
compartment holding the Soul Chaos Emerald.  There were all sorts of wires 
and cables running from it to the body.
	"As you can see", he said, "I anticipated that I might need another 
body one day, so I had a robotic duplicate of myself created and hidden 
down here.  It was originally designed to house my brain, but since my 
spirit is trapped in the emerald, I had Dr. Cornielius make some minor 
adjustments."
	"You're controlling the body from the emerald?", asked Rattlor.
	"Not only that", said Vypryn, rising to his feet, "The Chaos Emerald 
provides an infinate source of power to my body."		
	Vypryn looked over at Dr. Cornielius, who was looking quite pleased 
with himself.  
	"Doctor",said, grinning, "I am very pleased with your work here."
	"Thank you, Lord Vypryn", said Cornielius.
	Vypryn walked over, and put his hand on Cornielius' shoulder.
	"Just tell me one thing", he said, still grinning, "You are the only 
one who knows how to build this type of body or install the emerald, 
correct?"
	"Yes, Lord Vypryn", said Cornielius.
	"That's all I needed to know", said Vypryn.
	All of sudden, Vypryn's hand grabbed Cornielius' neck, and snapped 
it with a nice wet sound.  The body fell to the ground, and Vypryn put his 
hands on his hips, and laughed.
	"Rule one when dealing with the devil, Doctor", he laughed, "Don't."
	He looked, and saw the four others staring at him.
	"Now, no one knows quite how I work", he explained, "Cornielius was 
useful for a time, but would have become a liablity later on.  Crobrack, 
have someone come in here and get this carcass out of here before it starts
to stink."
	"Yes, Uncle", he said, looking at Vypris.
	"Now!", said Vypryn, clapping his hands togther, "To business.  
Vypris, Sweetheart, you said that you have the mammals from Mobius in the 
dungeon?"
	"Yes, Father", she said.
	"Including the one responsible for my death?", he asked.
	"I brought her here myself", said Vypris.
	"Excellent!", said Vypryn, "Rattlor, "Have your troops load them 
onto the Anaconda and set a course to these coordinates."
	He handed Rattlor a piece of paper with some numbers on it.  After 
studying the paper for a  moment, Rattlor looked up at Vypryn.
	"These coordinates are right on the moon", he said, "Are you sure 
about this?"
	"Are you questioning your emperor, Rattlor?", asked Vypryn, folding 
his arms.
	Rattlor looked over at Cornielis' body, and shook his head.
	"No, Sir", he said, "I'll have the Anaconda ready when you are 
prepared to depart."
	"Good boy", said Vypryn, "Finally, sweet revenge will be mine at 
last."
	Out in the marsh, Reptilliah was sitting against a tree, shivering.  
Sonic was doing his best to make a fire, but the moist air kept any of the 
sticks he found from being dry enough to start one.  After about an hour 
of trying, he threw them down.
	"Ah ta hell with it!", he said, "The sticks are too wet to burn.  
What do I do now?"	
	"I d-d-don't know", chattered Reptilliah, wrapping her arms around 
herself.
	Sonic knew that if he didn't get Reptilliah warmed up soon, she'd 
freeze to death.  If only he had a blanket or something to cover her up 
with.  As far as he knew, he was the warmest thing around here.   Suddenly, 
his eyes got wide.  He knew exactly how to keep Reptilliah warm, but wasn't 
too fond of the idea.  He looked over at her, freezing in 50 degree 
weather.
	"Oh man", he said.
	He sat down behind her, and wrapped his arms around her.  
	"W-W-What are y-y-you doing?", she said.
	"My body's gonna stay warm all night", he said, "If you press up 
against it, it should be enough to keep yours up enough until morning."
	Reptilliah knew that he was right.  She turned her head, and buried 
it in Sonic's chest.  It felt so good to be in a male's arms again.  Even 
though she was near Sonic, she still remembered that he was only doing 
this to keep her alive.  She knew that his heart belonged to Sally, and 
she wasn't going to try to steal him from her.  She had no right.
	In the palace, the Freedom Fighters and Kamodo Dragon were standing 
in the throne room.  It was the middle of the night, and for some reason, 
they had been brought here.  Sally stood there, with her arms crossed.  She 
saw someone sitting in the chair that was turned away from them.
	"Alright, Vypris!", she said, "I'm tired of playing around.  If 
you're going to do something, then do it!"
	"Were you talking to me?", asked Vypris, walking up from behind them.
	"Wait a minute", said Knuckles, "If you're there, then who's up 
there?"
	The chair turned, and everyone's heart stopped when they saw who was 
sitting there.  Vypryn grinned and showed his razor sharp teeth.  
	"It's impossible", said Sally, "It's just not possible."
	"Nothing is impossible, Princess", said Vypryn, standing up, 
"Improbable, yes.  Unlikely, maybe.  Never impossible."
	"That's Vypryn?", said Knuckles, "He's a lot ulgier than I had 
pictured him."
	Sally remembered that Knuckles had never actually seen Vypryn.  He 
had only battled him while he had possessed her body.  All of Vypryn 
Knuckles had seen was his reptillian eyes.  She looked back at Vypryn, and 
saw that he was ten times more frightening than she remembered.
	"How did you do this, Vypryn?", asked Rotor, "Sally blew your brains 
out the side of your head and we burned your body and buried it."
	As if an answer, Vypryn's chest opened, revealing the chest 
compartment, and the Choas Emerald in him.
	"A robot", said Sally, "I should have figured.  You're controlling 
it from the emerald, aren't you?"
	Vypryn walked right up to Sally, and wrapped his hand around her 
neck.  He then lifted her off the ground.  She grabbed onto his hand, 
struggling to breathe.
	"I should kill you right here, Bitch!", he hissed, "First you kill 
me, then you imprison me in this infernal stone, and now you expect me to 
sit down and chit chat?"
	With that, he threw Sally back to the floor.  Bunnie knelt down and 
helped her up.
	"What are yah gonna do with us?", she asked, holding Sally up.
	"You will all be witness to the unveiling and demonstration of the 
greatest weapon Reptillan has ever seen", said Vypryn, "It's a little 
something I had built on the moon right before my treacherous daughter 
betrayed me to the elders."
	"What is this 'weapon'?", asked Kamodo Dragon.
	"I call it the Doomsday Laser", said Vypryn, "It packs enough of a 
punch to vaporize an entire city.  From orbit, I can force all of 
Reptillan to submit to my rule.  Any who oppose me won't exist long enough 
to give others ideas.  There is only one problem with laser, however."
	"Which is?", asked Knuckles.
	"The energy required to power the laser beam", he said, "There is no 
energy source on Reptillan great enough to meet the Doomsday Laser's power 
requirements."
	"Then it's useless", said Sally, still holding onto Bunnie.
	"Useless", said Vypris, walking up to her father, holding Sonic's 
backpack, "Until now."
	Vypryn reached in, and pulled out the glowing power ring that Sonic 
had put in there.  Sally's jaw dropped.  She knew that the power ring could 
power the laser for quite some time until its power ran dry.  By that time, 
Vypryn would rule Reptillan.
	"I've seen the hedghog use these rings before", he said, "Their 
power is great.  He wastes their energy running, but I shall use it for 
something far greater.  Rattlor!!"
	Rattlor came running into the throne room.  He bowed before Vypryn.
	"Yes, Sir?", he said.
	"Is the Anaconda ready?", asked Vypryn.
	"We are loading the crates, as you commanded, Sir", said Rattlor.
	"Good", said Vypryn, "As soon as they are loaded, we shall leave."
	Sally just looked at the newly resurrected Vypryn and hoped beyond 
hope that Sonic and Reptilliah were okay.
	
CHAPTER VII
STOWAWAYS
	
	About a mile away from the palace, Sonic opened his eyes.  He saw 
that the sky was still dark, but the moon was rising into it.  It was also 
getting a lot warmer.  Reptilliah was still laying in his arms, sound 
asleep.  At least, Sonic hoped she was just asleep.  He saw her chest 
rising up and down, and breathed a sigh of relief.
	"Hey", he said, gently shaking her, "Reptilliah, wake up."
	She just turned onto her side, and wrapped her arms around Sonic.  
Sonic couldn't help but smile at this.  He found Reptilliah very 
attractive, but he knew better.  As he chuckled a little bit, Reptilliah's 
eyes opened.  She looked up at Sonic, smiling at her.
	"Oh!", she said, sitting up very quickly, "I'm sorry!"
	Sonic couldn't help it, he just started laughing.  Reptilliah just 
looked at him, confused.  By all rights, he should be angry with her for 
what she had done, yet he was laughing hysterically.
	"It's okay, Reptilliah", he said, wiping a tear from his eye, "You 
just looked so cute when you did that, hee hee hee."
	Reptilliah managed to smile at last.  She looked up at the moon, and 
saw that she had made it through the night, thanks to Sonic.
	"You saved my life, Sonic", she said, taking one of his hands, "I 
am in your debt."
	"Then help me save my friends' life", said Sonic, standing up.
	He helped her to her feet, and they both looked back at the way they 
had come.  Sonic guessed that they were about a mile or so from the 
Imperial Palace.  He checked his sneaks, and found that they were in 
perfect condition.
	"I think it's time for a morning jog", said Sonic, cracking his 
knuckles, "Hold onto my back."
	"What are you doing?", asked Reptilliah, wrapping her arms around his 
neck."
	"Hold on", was all he said.
	With that, he revved up, and shot off into the marsh.  Reptilliah 
tightened her grip when he took off.  She only screamed for a few seconds.  
Sonic didn't like running in this humid air.  It made him sweat more than 
it cooled him off.  
	There was a small sonic boom, and Sonic reached the top of the hill 
they had ridden the balcony over the previous day.  He looked back at 
Reptilliah, who was still clamped around his neck.
	"You can let go now", he said, "We're stopped."
	She opened her eyes, and saw that they were at the palace.  She let 
go of his neck, and grinned at him.
	"At least now I know how you got your name", she said.
	"Fastest thing alive", he commented, "Whoa, check that out."
	Reptilliah saw that he was looking at a huge loader.  It was loading 
several huge crates into Vypris' ship, the Anaconda.  
	"It looks like construction material", she said, "But I don't know 
why they're loading it onto the Anaconda instead of a hauling unit, unless."
	"Unless what?",  asked Sonic.
	"Hauling units don't travel in space", said Reptilliah, "The 
Anaconda was the twin of the Python.  It's the only ship that could carry 
all that equipment into space.  I don't know why my sister would do that, 
though."
	"Let's say we stow away and find out", said Sonic, eyeing one of the 
crates that was sitting unguarded.
	Reptilliah didn't have time to agree.  He revved up and she had to 
grab onto his neck again to keep from getting left behind.  
	He ran over to the crate.  Reptilliah punched in her access code, 
and it opened.  They saw that there was a laser drill inside the crate. 
	"What now?", asked Sonic.
	"Take it out and throw it over the hill we came up", she said, 
pulling the drill out, "Hurry, before someone sees us."
	Sonic lifted up the drill, and ran over to the hill.  He chucked it 
over as far as he could.  It landed down in the swamp, and sank to the 
bottom.  That was good, since he didn't want anyone finding it.  He ran 
back to Reptilliah.
	"The drill is history", he said, "What's next?"
	"You and I are going to fit inside this crate", she said, smiling.
	"Are you nuts?", said Sonic, "The two of us can't possibly fit in 
there!"
	Reptilliah jabbed Sonic in his stomach, and smiled.
	"Suck it in, Hedgehog", she said, and pointed towards the crate, 
"In."
	Sonic backed into the crate, and sucked his stomach in the best he 
could.  Reptilliah came in frontwards, and wrapped her arms around Sonic's 
neck.  She somehow managed to punch in the code to seal the crate, and 
the door shut behind her.  The two were pressed up against each other even 
harder.  
	Reptilliah felt a little bad about this.  She knew that they could've
found a bigger crate than this one, but for some reason, she just wanted 
to be near Sonic like this once more.  She still knew better than to hope 
for anything more than this, but in her mind, this didn't hurt anything.
	Sonic, on the other hand, was extremely uncomfortable.  He almost had 
his face buried in Reptilliah's chest.  He knew that if he didn't already 
love Sally, he would probably be enjoying this.  He knew in the back of 
his head that Reptilliah wasn't minding this in the least.  Yet, he knew 
that it was all harmless.  She didn't mean to make him uncomfortable, and 
if it made her feel better, then he would just grin and bear it.
	"Quiet", said Reptilliah, "Someone's coming."
	"Oh great", said Sonic.
	The two stood perfectly still in the crate.  All of a sudden, it 
tipped over, and Sonic fell on top of Reptilliah.
	"What the hell's goin' on?", he said.
	"They're carrying us", said Reptilliah, enjoying Sonic laying on top 
of her.
	"Geez!", said one of the lizard-soliders outside, "This stupid drill 
gets heavier everytime we carry it!"
	"You said it", said the other one.
	"Sonic", whispered Reptilliah, "When they open the crate, that 
smart-ass is mine!"
	Sonic couldn't help but smile.
	The two lizard-soliders carried the crate up onto the Anaconda and 
set it down amongst dozens of other crates.  One of them walked over to a
control panel on the wall, and punched a button.  The giant door groaned 
as it closed.  He then hit another button.
	"Everything's loaded, Sir", he said, "We're ready to go."
	"Excellent", said a voice on the other end.
	The two lizard guards fastened themselves into their seats, and felt 
the ship lift up in the air.
	On the bridge, Vypryn was sitting in the command chair, while Vypris, 
and the three generals hovered around, making sure that nothing went wrong 
on Vypryn's flight.	
	"Attention all passengers", said Vypryn, into his comm on his chair, 
"Please put your seats and tray-tables into their upright and locked 
positions.  PUNCH IT!!"
	"Aye, Sir", said the pilot.
	The chameleon pilot throddled the ship up as far as he could push 
it.  Vypryn was pushed back in his seat, and anyone who wasn't sitting 
down, was thrown to the floor.  In the cargo bay, the crate that Sonic and 
Reptilliah were in fell onto its side.	
	"Geez", said Sonic, shaking his head, "Who they got flyin' this 
thing anyway?"
	Reptilliah didn't have an answer.
 
CHAPTER VIII
THE DOOMSDAY LASER 

	It took about thirty minutes for the Anaconda to reach Reptillan's 
moon. The Doomsday Laser was presently facing towards the sun, and away 
from the planet.  Fortunately, the Anaconda had special windows that 
filtered out the blinding white light of the white star.
	"There's my baby", said Vypryn, looking at the laser complex, "Right 
where I left you so long ago."
	Vypris looked, and saw that there was a huge dome on the surface of 
the moon.  It was camoflauged perfectly so that it couldn't be seen from 
orbit.  Most likely, it had a cloaking device as well.
	"I'm home!", said Vypryn.
	A small hole opened up in the dome and the Anaconda passed through.
It docked on docking pad 1, and all its passengers departed.  The Freedom 
Fighters and Kamodo Dragon were led to the control center, where Vypryn and 
the others were already waiting.
	"Welcome, Freedom Fighters", said Vypryn, sitting on a throne in the 
center of the room, "From here you will witness the final destruction of 
my daughter's regime, and the end of her pitiful resistance.  After I have 
dominated Reptillan, as is my destiny to do so, I will assist you in your 
struggle, Spydrax."
	Spydrax bowed to Vypryn for the first time.
	"Thank you, Emperor Vypryn", he said.
	"Then", continued Vypryn, "With the combined might of Reptillan and 
Arachnia, we shall conquer a third world, Mobius."
	"You'll find that rather difficult", said Sally, "Considering that 
Dr. Robotnik rules Mobius.  After what he did to my father's government 
during the coup, I doubt he'll have any trouble mopping the floor with the 
four of you."
	Vypryn lifted his right hand up, and fired an electrical charge out 
of his fingers.  It hit Sally square in the chest, knocking her back into 
Bunnie.
	"That will be enough out of you, Princess", said Vypryn, "Besides, 
I have a score to settle with the good doctor anyhow.  In fact, I hope 
he'll put up a decent fight.  That will make his destruction ever more 
delightful."
	Vypryn looked over at a technician, who was studying the controls 
on the laser.
	"How long until we come into firing range of Reptillan?", he asked.
	"If I'm reading the read-out right", said the tech, "Twenty seven 
minutes."
	"Excellent", said Vyrpyn, "Everyone leave me.  I wish to be alone."
	Several soldiers came up and took the prisoners out.  The techs and 
three generals left, as did Vypris.
	Once he was alone, Vypryn walked over to the console, and stroked 
his hand across it.
	"Like me", he said, "You are the ultimate weapon of destruction.  
Now, it is time for you to receive your gift from me."
	He opened the backpack that was on the throne, and took the power 
ring out of it.  The yellow circle's light reflected off of Vypryn's red 
eye.  He grinned, and inserted it into the power generator.  The entire 
control room hummed to life, drawing on the power from the ring.
	"It has begun", said Vypryn, watching the screen.
	In the cargo bay, the two lizards were opening up the crates, and 
removing the machinary.  
	"Geez", said one, "I hate being on equipment detail."
	"You said it", said the other one, "C'mon.  Help me with this laser 
drill."
	They both went over to the thin box, and one punched in his access 
code.  The crate opened, and a blur of blue shot out of it and into the 
nearest guard, knocking him off his feet.  Sonic skidded to a halt, and 
folded his arms.
	"Thanks for letting me out, boys", he said, "Ready to party?"
	"It's the hedehog thing!", yelled the guard that was on the floor, 
"Blast him!"
	The other guard was about to fire, when Reptilliah stepped out of 
the crate, and grabbed the lizard by his neck.  
	"The empress!", he said.
	"We'll see who weighs a ton now, Asshole!", she said, slamming him 
face first into the crate.  
	The lizard's head left a huge crack in the side.  Reptilliah dropped 
him, and looked over at Sonic.  He was running around the guard, dodging 
all of his laser shots.  Reptilliah knew that Sonic was just toying with 
the soldier, but they had no time for that.
	She picked up the fallen guard's rifle, and shot the other guard 
right in the back.  He stiffened up, and fell flat on his face.  Sonic 
looked up at her.
	"Hey!", he objected, "It isn't enough that you flatten that guy's 
face, but you have to go and take mine too?"
	"We don't have time to fool around, Sonic", said Reptilliah, "I 
don't know what my sister is planning, but we have to stop her and free 
your friends."
	"How?", asked Sonic, "We don't even know where they are."
	Reptilliah went over to a computer terminal on the wall.  She typed 
a few commands, and the location of the brig came up on the screen.
	"That was my sister's biggest flaw", said Reptilliah, "She makes 
all of her computer systems way too user-friendly."
	"Let's juice!", said Sonic, revving up.
	Reptilliah grabbed onto his back, and they shot down the halls.
	Sally and the others were sitting in the small cell.  Tails had 
completely recovered by now, but Sally was unsure as to how long he would 
live to enjoy it.  She hated this.  They were so far from home.  On top of 
that, she had no idea what had become of Sonic.  If he was still on the 
planet, there was no way he could help them or stop Vypryn.
	All of a sudden, there was a lot of shouting.  Everyone looked up, 
and saw the guards running for their weapons.  
	"What's going on?", said Knuckles, trying to see around the corner.
	"I do not know", said Kamodo Dragon, standing next to him.
	There was a loud blast, and a guard came flying back and into the 
wall.  They all saw he had a huge blaster burn in the center of his chest.
Then, Reptilliah stepped out from around the corner.
	"Empress!", said Kamodo Dragon, "You are alive!"
	"Not for long if we don't get out of here", she said.
	"Where's Sonic?", asked Reptilliah.
	"Right here, Sal", said Sonic, coming around the corner with a 
lizard in front of him, "Alright, smart-guy!  Open the cell."
	"If I refuse?", said the lizard.
	Reptilliah jammed the barrel of her rifle into his chest.
	"Then you end up like your friend over there", she hissed, "Now, 
open the damn door!"
	The lizard punched in his access code, and the cell door opened.  
Sally ran out and hugged Sonic.  Kamodo Dragon lifted the lizard up, and 
punched him in the face.  He then threw him into the cell and shut the 
door.
	"We will have a little while until he comes to", said Kamodo Dragon.
	"Good", said Sonic, "Now let's blow this popsicle stand."
	"Sonic", said Sally, "We have to stop Vypryn first."
	Sonic just looked at Sally, not believing what he'd just heard.  
Reptilliah was evenly as dumbfounded.  
	"Did you just say 'Vypryn'?", asked Sonic, "He's dead, Sal.  There 
ain't know way he could've come back."
	"He's controlling a robotic duplicate of himself from the Chaos 
Emerald that's in the robot's chest", said Rotor.
	"My father did say something about making robotic duplicates of the 
entire family once", said Reptilliah, "But I never knew he'd actually 
constructed one."
	"It was hidden in a secret lab under the Imperial Palace", said 
Kamodo Dragon, "That is why your sister attacked it."
	"If we don't stop him now", said Sally, "He'll use this place to 
destroy any place on Reptillan that won't bow to him."
	"But this isn't our fight, Sal", said Sonic, "We've got our own 
problems back home."
	"It will our problem if Vypryn wins here, Blue", said Knuckles, 
"He'll bring this stupid gun of his right to our doorstep if we don't stop 
him."
	Sonic thought about that for a moment.  Sure, Robotnik was bad 
enough as it was, but Vypryn was probably a hell of a lot worse.  He 
looked up at the group.
	"You guys get out of here", he said, "I'll take care of Vypryn."
	"Sonic", objected Sally.
	"No, Sal", he said, "I'm gonna finish what I started on top of Mt. 
Mobius.  I'm not letting that creep get away again.  Reptilliah, get 
everybody loaded into one of those ships in the cargo bay."
	"What about you?", she asked.
	"I'm not leaving until this place is history", said Sonic, "Wait for 
me as long as you can, then jam."
	"What about the Soul Emerald?", asked Knuckles, "I came for that 
emerald.  It's my responsibility."
	"I'll try and get your stupid emerald, Knux", said Sonic.
	With that, Sonic revved up.  Before he could take off, Sally grabbed 
him and kissed him full on the lips.  He just looked at her.	
	"You come back to me, Sonic Hedgehog", she said.
	"Yes Ma'am", he said, smiling.
	Reptilliah stood there, wishing she could find room in her life for 
that kind of thing again.  She shook the thought off after Sonic took off.
She then waved her arm.
	"This way, everybody", she said.
	After everybody had scooted off, Reptilliah looked at the cooridor 
that Sonic had just run down.  
	"Be careful, Sonic", she said to herself, and then ran after 
everybody else.

CHAPTER IX
THE FINAL SHOWDOWN

	Sonic crept up to the door to the main control center.  For some 
reason, the door was sitting wide open.  He looked in, and saw the hulking 
figure of Vypryn leaning on the control panel.  
	"Geez", he said to himself, "He's even bigger than I remember."
	Sonic tip toed in, and noticed that Vypryn was still unaware of him.  
He just stood there, staring at the monitor.  It read, "FIRING RANGE IN 
15.3 MINUTES".  Sonic wasn't quite sure what this dumb laser was supposed 
to do, but he knew that if Vypryn had anything to do with it, then it 
wasn't any good.  Vypryn was still unaware of his presence.  Sonic decided 
to juice, and get the drop on the snake.  He revved up, and charged Vypryn.
	Unfortunately, Vypryn had been aware of Sonic from the second he 
poked his head into the room.  He quickly snapped his arm back, and hit 
Sonic right in the face, knocking clear across the room.
	"Greetings, Hedgehog", hissed Vypryn, "I knew you'd come."	
	Sonic got back to his feet, and wiped the blood from his lip.  He 
glared right at Vypryn.
	"Cut the BS, Vypryn", said Sonic, "I'm not gonna let you do whatever 
it is you're planning."
	"Damn", said Vypryn , "You're still as heroic as I remember.  But I 
have no time for your interference.  Let us finish what we started so long 
ago and so far away."
	Sonic revved up again and charged Vypryn.  With robotic speed, 
Vypryn jumped out of the way, and Sonic ran right into the control panel.  
Vypryn somehow appeared behind Sonic, and punched him in the back.
	"Ahhhh!", groaned Sonic.
	Vypryn grabbed him around the neck, and threw him into the wall.  
Sonic slammed against it and slid to the floor.  Sonic looked, and saw a 
metal bar laying behind him.  Just what he needed.
	"Lucky for you, Hedgehog", said Vypryn, walking towards him, "Since 
you've been such a worthy opponent, I'll kill you quickly and as 
painlessly as possible.  Your friends, on the other hand, are another 
matter entirely."
	Sonic jumped to his feet, and hit Vypryn in the face with the bar.  
The snake's head snapped back when he did.
	"YOU-WON'T-HURT-MY-FRIENDS!!!", yelled Sonic, hitting Vypryn each 
time he said a word.
	Vypryn staggered back a few feet, and Sonic swung the bar again.  
Somehow, Vypryn recovered enough to slap it out of Sonic's hands.
	"My turn", he hissed.
	Vypryn hit Sonic in the face three times, and back-handed him twice. 
He finshed off the combination of moves by round-housing Sonic in the 
chest, sending him flying back into the wall.  
	"Now you know how I felt back on Mobius, Hedgehog!", laughed Vypryn, 
"Only I won't rely on my friends to do my killing for me."
	Sonic lifted himself up, and spit out some blood.  He somehow 
managed to rev up, and ran straight at Vypryn, knocking him over.  The two 
rolled around on the ground for a moment.  Vypryn jumped to his feet, and 
grabbed Sonic in a head-lock.  
	"One!", he yelled, punching Sonic right in the face.
	Sonic tried to pull out of the head-lock, but Vypryn's grip was too 
strong.
	"Two!", yelled Vypryn, punching Sonic again.
	Sonic didn't know how much longer he could stay conscious like this.  
He felt a water-fall of blood pour out of his almost broken nose.
	"Three strikes, you're out!", laughed Vypryn, slamming him against 
the ground and putting his foot right on Sonic's neck.
	"This place is my destiny, Hedgehog", hissed Vypryn, "Do you see?"
	Sonic didn't say anything, he just tried to get Vypryn's steel boot 
off of his wind-pipe before he crushed it.  Vypryn lifted his foot up, and 
kicked Sonic in the stomach, lifting him off the ground several inches.
	"Do you see!!?", he yelled again.
	Sonic still didn't say a word.  He was struggling just to breathe.  
Vypryn kicked Sonic in the chest even harder, and sent him flying across 
the room into the main power generator.  Sonic ended up laying face-down on
the floor.
	"DO YOU SEE!!!!", screamed Vypryn.
	Sonic rolled over, and Vypryn's jaw dropped when he saw what the 
hedghog hand in his hands.  He was holding the power ring that Vypryn had 
put in the generator.  
	"Yeah", said Sonic, "I see."
	The ring glowed bright yellow as Sonic absorbed its energy.
	"NOOOOO!!!!!", screamed Vypryn.
	Sonic curled up into a ball and exploded off the ground with an 
incredible burst of speed.  He bounced off the walls and headed straight 
for Vypryn.  As fast as Vypryn's new body was, Sonic was infinately 
faster.  He hit Vypryn right in the chest, and went straight through him.  
	"YAAAAHHHHH!!!!", screamed Vypryn as the hedgehog passed through 
his body.
	Sonic skidded to a halt, and looked back at Vypryn.  The snake was 
just staring at him.  Then, Sonic held up his right hand, which contained 
the Soul Chaos Emerald.  The body just tipped forward, and fell straight 
to the ground.  
	"Gotcha", whispered Sonic.
	A blaster bolt hit the ground right where Sonic was standing.
	"Yow!", yelled Sonic, jumping up.
	He looked, and saw Vypris, and the three generals standing there.
	"Give me that stone, Mammal", hissed Vypris.
	"Love to stay and chat, guys", said Sonic, "But I've got places to 
go, and tyrants to destroy."
	He waved, and shot out of the room with the last bit of energy he 
had from the power ring.  Vypris cursed, and looked over at the body.
	"Hey!", said Cobrack, "It's still moving!"
	Cobrack was right.  The mouth on the body was speaking.  
	"SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE INITIATED", said the body, "THERMO-NUCLEAR 
DETONATION IN ONE MINUTE."
	The four just looked at each other.
	"Vypris!!!", yelled Spydrax, "Do something!!"
	Sonic reached the cargo bay, and saw that the group had loaded onto 
a small transport shuttle.  He jumped in, and fell on the floor.
	"Here", he said, tossing Knuckles the emerald, "Here's your dumb 
emerald.  Get us out of here, Reptilliah.  I heard Vypryn's body talking.  
It's gonna blow in less than a minute."
	"Everybody hold on!", she said, throddling the ship up as high as it 
would go.
	The small ship shot out of the cargo bay, and out of the dome.  
	Back on the station, Vypris was tearing wires out of the body, 
trying to shut the destruct sequence down.  She saw a red one, and yanked 
it free.
	"SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE ABORTED", said the body.
	The four of them fell to the ground, and breathed a sigh of relief.
	"Boy", said Spydrax, "I thought we were gonners there for a moment."
	All of sudden, the body's head turned to face them.
	"FOOLED YOU, HA HA HA HA!!!", it laughed, "3-2-1-DETONATION."
	None of the four said anything as the flash of white light washed 
over them all.  The station erupted in a massive shock-wave, vaporizing it.  
The only ship to escape the blast was the small transport shuttle that 
shot like a bat out of hell towards Reptillan.
	"We did it!!", yelled Reptilliah, "We won!!"
	Everyone in the ship cheered, and Reptilliah guided the shuttle back 
to the planet.

CHAPTER X
THE FINAL CHAPTER

	With all four generals dead, the enemy troops proved to be no match 
for Reptilliah's remaining forces.  In less than three hours, the planet 
Reptillan was declared liberated.  Everyone was standing at the launching 
pad outside the palace.  Reptilliah was in her finest royal gown.
	"Do you really have to go so soon?", she asked.
	"Yes", said Sally, "We have our own war to finish on our planet.  I 
am sorry about your sister, though."
	"Don't be", said Reptilliah, "Vypris chose her own fate.  
Unfortunately for her, it was the wrong one and she paid for that mistake 
with her life.  I bear none of you a grudge."
	"Oh", said Knuckles, finally speaking up, "Don't worry about this."
	He held the green emerald up, so everyone could see it.  It was 
flashing violently again, as if Vypryn was trying to escape.  Knuckles let 
them all see it for a few more seconds, and then stuffed it into a bag he 
had with him.
	"I promise you all", he continued, "It shall never leave the Floating 
Island again."
	"Well", said Reptilliah, "I wish you all the best in your struggle.  
If you should ever need our help, don't hesitate to ask."
	"We won't", said Sally.
	"Good-bye, Sonic", said Reptilliah, hugging him.
	"See ya, Empress", said Sonic, kissing her hand.
	"Don't forget me", she said, smiling.
	"After the night we went through", said Sonic, "I don't think I 
could."
	After that, they all boarded the Serpant, which was programmed to 
return them all to Mobius, and then fly on auto-pilot back to Reptillan.  
The ship lifted up in the air, and jumped into ultra-space.  Reptilliah 
watched the sky for a moment, wondering how they would do.  If they fought 
against their own enemy as bravely as they did hers, then there was no 
doubt that they would win the day.



                                   THE END