Chapter 1 - Locked Vessels

Located out of the way in an isolated spot of Mobius was a small Earth Alliance base. The base wasn't that important either and was just another outpost for the most part. An excavation operation had been started after a number of unusual and powerful energy signatures had been detected deep below the surface. The power signals were unknown and didn't seem to match any known source of energy. For the base's commander it wasn't the assignment he had hoped for. When he had joined the Mobian expedition he had expected to be in charge or a large base or maybe even a fleet ship but instead had been stuck out of the way in the middle of nowhere. His name was Andrew Pierce and was young and enthusiastic. To say the least this type of assignment was not to his character. Since arriving on Mobius several months ago he had been bored out of his mind. Every day the drills dug a little deeper revealing yet more stone and earth below. Sure in the beginning it had been exciting, the chance to visit a new planet was not a common thing after all, but now he found himself watching the hours tick slowly by hoping something would happen.

He slowly got up and walked to the door of his office. As he opened it the Mobian sun shone in and filled a bit of the room with light. Andrew took a pair of sunglasses from his pocket and put them on before stepping out fully. His office was located on a raised section just above where the drilling was taking place. Leaning on the railings at the front of the gangway that passed his office he looked down at the equipment. The drills weren't running right now as a number of men were in the whole checking readings and making sure the tunnel was still secure. The tunnel sloped downwards slightly into the side of a hill and had been lined with reinforced concrete to stop it from caving in as they continued. All around the area were the ruins of some old buildings. They looked like pyramids, if a little crumbled and worn, the biggest of which was directly above the drilling site. Andrew had puzzled about this for a while, what exactly was down there? They had already drilled about five hundred meters worth of tunnel and the tunnel was wide enough to fly a transport into. Along the way they had passed through a couple of small chambers. They had been elegantly decorated and odd symbols were had been painted all over the walls. The chambers themselves hadn't had much in them. A few had contained gems and other treasures, a few others had contained jars and containers, but all of them had one thing in common. All the chambers had had large rectangular boxes in them. They were even more elegantly decorated than the walls and had the symbols painted all over them. Upon opening them they had found them to be coffins, all the chambers were burial chambers of some old civilisation. This had interested Andrew even less and he had ordered his men to press on regardless. Maybe if he found this energy source he could use it to obtain a transfer to a better location. After all anything would be better than this!

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"Another sandwich honey?" asked Bunnie.

"I swear if I eat any more I'm gonna burst….but alright." replied Knuckles.

Bunnie gave a small laugh and handed him the sandwich in her hand. The pair sat in the moonlit Tidal Tempest Zone of Little Planet. The time had already gone midnight and the sky was clear of clouds. Stars twinkled above and the three surviving moons of Mobius gleaned brightly in the dark. The waters around them lapped happily at the shore but apart from that there was no other sound apart from their breathing.

Knuckles himself was glowing lightly with an odd multicoloured display of colours. The Master and Chaos Emeralds imbedded in his body not only kept him alive but also gave him this glow. Bunnie placed her hand on Knuckles free hand as he ate and watched as the glow slowly spread to her hand and then up her arm. Knuckles lowered his sandwich and turned to look at her. He brought his other hand to Bunnie's face and tilted it towards him. The pair looked at each other for a moment before they both leaned forwards and kissed gently. As they did the glow fully surrounded both of them and started to pulse in the moonlight. Bunnie could fell it washing over her. The immense power of the Chaos Emeralds, a force so commonly used for destruction, here being used for love. However many times she felt it she couldn't help but loose herself in it.

They slowly broke the kiss and looked at each other again. Bunnie slowly closed her eyes and relaxed as she felt the glow fade away again. She released her grip on Knuckles hand and lay back on the ground. Knuckles picked up his sandwich again and resumed his eating, staring out over the waters.

"Knuckles?" said Bunnie.

"Yeah Bunie?" replied Knuckles.

"Thanks for that."

Knuckles gave a small chuckle and took another bite of his sandwich. He leaned over and started to rummage through the hamper they had brought.

"Say Bunnie, do we have and fruit in here?"

"Yeah, somewhere near the left side by the sandwiches."

"Ah got it."

"Ah thought you said you were full."

"You know me, can't resist a good bit of fruit."

"Yes ah know."

Bunnie looked up at the sky from her lying position. The stars glinted silently as they hung in space. Since the incident many years ago with the ancient echidna space station and the Sarath clone, she had become very interested in stargazing like Amy.

"Hard to imagine that somewhere out there, amongst all those bright points of light, is a planet like ours." she said.

"You mean Earth yes?" asked Knuckles.

"Yes that place. A planet with its own sun and moons where people live out their daily lives just like us."

"Yes but I bet their daily lives don't include fending of groups of rampant furries intent on sucking their world dry."

Bunnie sat up and looked at Knuckles. He was now eating a large mango and had a kinda grumpy kinda annoyed look on his face. Bunnie sighed slowly.

"Yes it's true. I doubt many of their people know what's going on out here." she said.

"Or maybe they do and just don't care." replied Knuckles.

"Will you stop being so darn pessimistic? You're spoiling the atmosphere."

"Ah sorry Bunnie. Just gets behind my teeth sometimes."

"A lot of things get behind your teeth…"

"…you mean like this darn fruit seed?"

Bunnie pushed herself up on her arms and looked at Knuckles. He had a finger in his mouth trying to shift a fruit seed from behind one of his canines. Bunnie's face contorted slightly before she burst into laughter and collapsed back onto the ground.

"Oh you think this is funny eh?" asked Knuckles.

"Oh yeah!" replied Bunnie through her laughing.

"Where are the toothpicks?"

Bunnie just continued to laugh and Knuckles leaned towards her.

"Tell me where the toothpicks are!" he said starting to laugh slightly.

"Nope." replied Bunnie.

"Tell me!"

Knuckles leapt at Bunnie grabbing hold of her shoulders and rolling over her. Bunnie in turn rolled over Knuckles and he rolled again. The pair rolled along the ground for a few moments before they stopped. Knuckles ended up on top with Bunnie below him. They had both picked up a few leaves and bits of sand on their travels and looked a bit scruffy. Bunnie blew her hair out of her eyes and chuckled.

"Now sugah would you get of me please?" she asked.

Knuckles chuckled and sat back allowing Bunnie to sit up.

"Is that any way to treat ah lady?" asked Bunnie.

"Well if you'd told me where the toothpicks were…" joked Knuckles.

Bunnie gave a large grin and chuckled.

"True sugah. Aaaaah it's nice to relax." she said.

"Sure is. Back to it tomorrow but for now it is nice to relax." replied Knuckles.

The pair lay back in the sand holding each others hand and listening to the waves lapping the shore.

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Jet sat stewing in a chair. Pieces of paper and notes lay scattered around the room making almost a sea of it. Amongst this 'sea' was the rest of the room which included a small computer, a table, a couple of chairs and a few boxes of junk. The room itself was actually the garage attached to Patrick and Marian's house. After their car had been lost when New Washington had been destroyed they had no use for it, other than storage, and so had decided to let Jet use it as a sort of base to crack the codes they had received a few months back. However, Jet wasn't having much luck. Even with Nicole's help he just couldn't work them out. Himself, Lavender and Miles had been trying to crack them for five months now with the help of Sally, Links and Manic but time was now running short. If what they had been told was true they only had another five months left to crack the codes and follow the instructions inside.

Jet just couldn't believe it was so hard. Surely if they wanted the group to help them these new Earth people would have given them a simpler job? Why make it so difficult to do? He pushed the pile of papers of his knees and onto the floor and slumped even further into his seat. Just then he heard a call.

"Jet? Jet sweetie?"

Jet sat up and watched as Alindel walked into the room. She picked her way through the mass of papers and stuff on the floor and approached his chair.

"Jet deary, what are you doing up at this hour?" she asked.

"Dunno." replied Jet.

Alindel stopped and sighed.

"Stewing over a problem won't make it easier you know." she said.

"Yeah but….these codes are impossible." replied Jet with a sigh.

"Nothing is impossible Jet. Things can seem it but there is always a way to solve any puzzle."

"I don't see how this applies here. We have three hackers, an expert on EA tech a computer genius and Links all working on this and none of us can crack it."

"Maybe you just need a fresh direction. But in any case you need to get some sleep. The others have been in bed for hours, it's after midnight you know."

"Doubt I'd get any sleep anyway."

Alindel stopped and put her hands on her hips.

"Jet Prower! Get your little feline tail into that bedroom or I'll carry you there myself….by the scruff of your neck." she said.

"Ah mooooooooom!" moaned Jet.

"Don't think I won't."

"Fine."

Jet slipped out of his chair and walked past Alindel and out of the room. Alindel stood and watched him leave. After he had gone she sighed and slumped into Jet's chair.

"That child gets more and more awkward by the day. Must be his father…"

Jet walked from the garage into the kitchen and continued on into the hallway. Patrick and Marian's house was certainly huge. He still hadn't figured out why it was so big. The maximum occupancy before now had been three, Patrick, Marian and Amy, so why it was so big was a mystery. Saying that he was also glad it was so big. He made his way up the stairs to the second floor and made his way towards the room he slept in. Lavender, Miles and Alicia also slept in the same room and it was a bit crowded, but then it was better than sleeping outside. He entered quietly and made his way over to his sleeping bag on the floor. He took off his jacket and shoes and put them away before climbing in. As he did Lavender next to him rolled over and propped herself up on one arm.

"I was wondering when you'd get here." she said sleepily.

Jet looked over at Lavender and nodded at her. Lavender shuddered slightly and wrapped her own sleeping bag around herself.

"So anything new?" she asked.

"Nope, my mother told me to go to bed." replied Jet.

"Well we'll try tomorrow."

Lavender let out a huge yawn that lasted a good ten or so seconds.

"Right now though I'm going back to sleep, night Jet."

"Night Lav."

Lavender rolled over and settled down again. Jet rolled the opposite way and tried to settle down too but he couldn't. Something was attracting his attention. The something was Alicia next to him sleeping peacefully. Jet couldn't help but watch her, Alicia really did look pretty in her sleep. Her crimson hair was undone and bits of it had fallen down in front of her face. As she slept her breathe was gently pushing her hair out of the way only for it to fall back again. Her breathing came in long slow breathes with virtually no sound at all. Occasionally she 'hmm' or 'huh' in her sleep, each sound accompanied by a small smile on her face.

Since getting to know Alicia well, Jet had found himself staring at her like this in her sleep a lot. He sighed himself and reluctantly rolled onto his back. He liked Alicia a lot, he knew that much, but had his feeling grown lately? He shrugged to himself and closed his eye, trying to force himself asleep.

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"Your deal." said Sonic.

"Ok let's see now. Aces high, jacks are wild and no draw." said Amy taking the cards from Sonic's hand.

"Same as always then?" asked Sally.

"Yup." replied Amy dealing the cards.

Sonic sat back in his chair and took hold of a wine bottle sitting on the table. He quickly poured himself another glass full.

"Anyone for some more?" he asked.

"No thanks Sonic." replied Amy, "If I have any more I will definitely fall asleep."

"Maybe that the plan, you're winning too much." teased Sally, "Yes I'll have a drop more Sonic."

Sonic filled Sally's glass and put the bottle down before picking up his hand.

"So what ya been up to lately Amy? I haven't seen you around much." he said, "I'm in."

"Oh I've been camped out in the shrine for a while. Just going over some old stuff. Raise you ten." she replied.

"I hope it doesn't have anything to do with um…you know. Forty." said Sally.

"Well actually it does. But it's not like you think." she replied.

"Ah hah." nodded Sonic, "I'm in again, raise you thirty."

"I'm not lying. I've just been going over a few things from our past. I thought I'd best confront it and get it over with or I'll be mourning forever." argued Amy throwing a number of chips in, "See you thirty and raise you another fifty."

"Oh I fold." said Sally putting her cards down, "What kind of old stuff?"

"Oh just old memories and the sort. When he first asked my out, when he proposed, our marriage, the birth of Lavender. Stuff like that." replied Amy with a sigh, "Sonia was right all those months back. I have to move on, there are more important things abroad."

"So true Amy, and I think Tails would be proud to hear you say that." chuckled Sonic slowly, "Ok then Amy lets see your hand."

"You first Sonic." she replied.

"Ok, two pairs backed by a queen. I think I win." he smiled.

"Nope." chuckled Amy putting her cards down, "Full house."

 Sonic's shoulders slumped and he sighed.

"Sometimes Amy I puzzle about where your hands come from." he groaned.

"As I keep telling people don't play cards with me! But does anyone listen? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" she teased.

"Alright alright already." smiled Sonic.

"I think we should stop playing now though, it's nearly one in the morning." said Sally.

"It what?" replied Sonic slightly surprised, "Jeez where does the time go?"

"Don't get me started." muttered Amy.

All three of them chuckled slightly and then sat back. Sonic and Sally were both sipping their glasses and Amy had decided to pack up the game. As she placed the cards away in their case she spoke.

"So are we planning on moving again or not?" she asked.

"Against the Alliance?" asked Sonic, "Not sure, after what happened in New Washington I'm reluctant to risk anyone else."

"True but if we don't do something the Alliance will suck Mobius dry." commented Sally, "I know you don't want to have another incident like the one involving myself but shouldn't we do something?"

"We are, if we can break those codes we might be able to get some help." answered Sonic casually.

"Yes but none of us are having any luck with them." said Amy, "I know I'm no computer genius but everyone that I've talked to who's tried has failed."

"Maybe we just need a new direction then?" replied Sonic.

"A new direction? How are we supposed to do that if we're cooped up here?" asked Sally.

"Jeez lay off the questions will you? It's too late for me to think straight. Besides our new direction might visit us." groaned Sonic.

"Oh come off it Sonic. Who in their right mind would try and come here? I could erase whole battle squadrons if I had to." replied Amy giving Sonic an odd look.

"Yes I know but….ah I dunno. I'll have to think about it…in the morning." said Sonic.

"Yes in the morning." agreed Sally, "I think we all need some sleep."

"Oh yeah." yawned Amy sleepily, "Definitely."

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Evening was deepening and night drawing in quickly as Andrew Pierce sat back in his chair with a glass of whiskey. The night drilling team had just arrived and taken over the operation and Andrew was considering turning in for the night. The days drilling had turn up no new finds but the rock they were drilling through was getting denser as they went on. If it got much harder they'd be going through a drill bit every few hours but they did have plenty to spare. They were extremely close to the power source now and Andrew had authorised the use of explosives to blast out the remaining rock. Looking at his watch he nodded to himself.

"Should be just about set." he said to himself.

He took a sip of his whisky and set the glass down. He looked at his watch again and then tapped his fingers on the desktop. He waited a moment and then downed his remaining whisky and walked to the door. Opening it, he stepped out into the night. The drilling site was lit up with flood lights but you could tell it was night by the chill in the wind. He looked down at the ground and yelled.

"What's the hold up?" he cried.

A couple of workers looked up and one answered.

"We're just checking the setup sir. If it's not right the tunnel could collapse at the end." cried the man.

"Well make it quick. I want this blasted before I leave."

Andrew remained on the gantry to watch but first retrieved a thick coat from his office. The men below went about their work bustling around. Some entered the tunnel and other left it using a trolley system that ran on rails. It must have been a good half hour later that all the men had finally left the tunnel. Andrew gave the order to proceed and the explosives were set off. There was a dull boom and then a plume of dust and smoke shot from the tunnel entrance. It took a further ten minutes for the tunnel to clear even with the extractor fans running at full power. When the dust had settled and everything was calm again, Andrew made his way down to the drilling area to inspect the site. Workmen were already moving into the tunnel to inspect the blasted area and it wasn't long before Andrew had the status. A man came running up to him looking frantic.

"SIR! SIR! We're through! The blast must have weakened the rock formation more than we thought it would." he yelled.

"What? You mean we're through to the source?" asked Andrew.

"Yes sir!"

Andrew hadn't even waited for the reply. He was already charging at full sprint into the tunnel. He hadn't gone far before a train passed by him operated by the man from before.

"Sir!" he said quickly.

Andrew understood and grabbed a hand hold on the side of the train pulling himself onto it as it continued on. The trip took all but a few minutes once the train reached it top speed. Andrew had dismounted before the train had even stopped and raced along the last bit of the tunnel which didn't have a train line through it. All around the tunnel was covered in fallen rocks and debris from the blast but a few lights had been set up filling the gloom with light. Andrew finally stopped near to a group of workers. They saw him approach and all saluted him.

"So what's going on?" asked Andrew.

"We're just clearing the last bit of debris sir. The blast must have hit a fault or crack in the rock that were unaware of and so the area opened was a lot larger than predicted." replied one of the men.

"I don't care about specifics. Can we reach the source of these power readings?"

"Yes sir, but it's still not fully cleared, it's a bit of a rough walk."

"I don't care, show me."

The man nodded and gave a few orders to the rest of the men before leading Andrew towards the fallen rock. He led him through a thin crack between a few rocks and then down a small enclosed tunnel. The trip was rough as the man had stated but Andrew wasn't all that worried, he had gone through worse at military training school. The downward climb soon ended and Andrew found himself in a perfectly rectangular shaped passageway. The walls were made of a black marble and was as smooth as silk. Andrew raised an eyebrow.

"This isn't a natural formation." he said.

"No sir, our guess is that it is some sort of old passage way left over from hundreds of years ago. We don't know how far it goes in that direction but it's only about a hundred yards to the source of the power reading in that direction." replied the man.

"You have a team in there already?"

"Yes sir. I tell you some of them were too eager to get in. I wouldn't have found this way in without one of them, talk about a keen eye. But anyway yes we have a team in the chamber already."

"That was fast."

"We moved in with breathing apparatus as soon as the blast was done sir."

"I see, well show me to this chamber."

The man led Andrew down the passageway. A couple of neon strip lights had been laid down either side of the passage to provide light and just ahead there was a bright light. Andrew soon reached the light and passed into the chamber the light was coming from. He stood rigid just staring in awe for a few minutes at what he saw. The room was at least twice as big as all the previous rooms they had found and was even more lavishly decorated. The walls were made of a mix or black and white marble slabs, which were highly polished, and were engraved with symbols like the ones they had previously found. In the centre of the room was a large stone alter surrounded by four small pillars that looked like they once held torches. On each far wall sat a small altar. These altars were glowing brightly with different coloured glows. One was black and the other white and both had a group of men clustered around them staring at what was on them. Andrew quickly snapped back to reality and walked over to the altar that was glowing black. He pushed his way through the men around it and stopped dead. Sitting in a small indentation in the altars top was a black coloured gem. It was small but would easily fill your hand in size and was sort of hypnotic to watch.

"What the hell is that?" he said slowly.

"Unknown sir but this one and the one in the other altar are the things we were detecting. Their power levels are off the chart." replied a man standing nearby.

Andrew stepped back and crossed his arms.

"I want these things analysed and then taken back to the base for further tests. Oh and check the rest of the room too, never know if we'll find anything interesting." he said.

"Yes sir."