I will update as I write more. I have the storyline mostly planned, but I am writing it as I go along, so writers block may kick in sometime. Enjoy the next chapter!

Sonic woke up in a large glass container. His first sane thought was where am I? Suddenly, he realized he was submersed in water. The hero started flailing around, hitting the glass walls of his prison. Water! Water!-Wait. Why aren't I drowning? Sonic shook his head, trying to clear it. This must've been what Shadow felt like, waking up. This is worse, I suppose, because he'd never been outside his tank. Back to this-why am I in here? Peering out of the glass, he caught an image of Robotnick grinning at him.

"So Rodent, you're awake. It's been almost 2 days. Why haven't your friends come yet? Oh, and there is one interesting side effect of this…improvement. It seems you can breathe underwater." The doctor would have continued, but Sonic had started pounding on the glass again. "That's a new unbreakable glass I developed in case the experiment wiped your memory and you came with me willingly. Don't blame me… You're the one who asked me to do this." Sonic bowed his glowing midnight head as he remembered what had happened.

So it was real… Sonic knew why the others hadn't come after him. After particularly successful missions-or deep failures-he often went on a long run, of 3 days or more, just visiting Mobius hotspots. He attempted to speak to Robotnick, but all that came out was bubbles. The doctor chuckled.

"If only you could realize how much this satisfies me…to see you trapped…having turned yourself over…I know it won't last forever, so I'm taking in as much as I can."

Still happy, with that jerk teasing you? I could've taken him… The demon voice had returned. Now, there was no escape.

Get out of my head!

If you insist….but you can't get rid of me…I AM you… the voice faded, but Sonic knew it would be back.

"Now, you wanted me to keep you contained. A dose of tranquilizer should do it…"Sonic began pounding fiercely on his prison walls, his hands heating the water around them with the strange glowing essence surrounding his entire midnight black body. Suddenly he saw the water near the bottom of his tank begin bubbling. Sonic could feel his legs starting to go numb, followed by his arms, his hands falling limply to his side. The tranquilizer flowed to the top of the tank, making Sonic feel lightheaded.

When this is over….I will obliterate you, Robotnick… Sonic barely had time to realize he had never stooped so low as to want to kill someone before he sank into nothingness.

Back in Mobius

Sonic usually comes by after his run to tell everyone he's alright…Where could he be? Tails thought, starting to get worried about his adopted brother. It's been two weeks already…maybe he's at Manic's? Worrying will get me nowhere…might as well call Manic. Tails crossed his messy workshop, using his two tails to float above-and sweep away-the junk. Tails picked up silver phone, an old gift from Manic from when the two had first met. I was so jealous of him, being related to Sonic, but he treated me like a little brother. He's a pretty cool guy…but I still don't know whether this phone was actually bought…that was before Sonic reformed his stealing ways…oh well. That's all in the past. Now I just want to know if Sonics' all right. Tails dialed the now familiar number quickly, and it was answered on the third ring.

"Manic's house…Who is it?"

"Its Tails…how's it going?" No need to worry Manic right away if Sonic is missing.

"Oh, hey buddy! Nothing much…Sonia dropped by the other day, nagging me about cleaning my house. As if…by the way, have you seen Sonic? I kind of assumed it was him, 'cause he's always over there."

Tails felt his heart drop into his shoes. "That's kind of why I called…I thought he was with you. It's been almost two weeks-I'm worried something bad might've happened to him-last I heard, he was trashing the newest Egg Carrier…Do you think Robotnick..." Tails trailed off. Both of the boys knew what that could mean.

"Last time, the 'werehog' disaster happened-I knew it could've been worse…what if…" Manic left his sentence open.

"Manic, come over to my house. I'll call Amy, Sonia, and Knuckles, but if nobody else has seen him, we need to assume the worst. Bring any tech gear you're ripped off Robotnick lately. It might help hacking into his security system. Got it?" Tails murmured, the fox's nervous, shaking tone apparent even to Manic over the phone.

13 minutes later, Manic arrived at Tail's workshop.

"Geez, your place is as messy as mine! Sorry it took so long, had to track down the frequency harmonizer…any luck?" The look on Tails' pale face was answer enough.

"Oh…so, how are we going to get into 'Buttnick's security system?" Manic said, instantly taking charge.

"I hacked his system a week ago-I only hope he hasn't found the virus yet…" Tails flew over to his computer, and began typing so fast his fingers became a blur. Manic maneuvered around the experiments on the floor to stand behind Tails. Both boys held their breath, hoping for luck, and…

"Yes! I'm still in! Let me just sort through this, try to find a good entrance…" Manic shifted from foot to foot, anxious to get going.

"Well?" the green hedgehog said nervously, anticipation and excitement betrayed through his voice.

"You're just like Sonic-you both hate waiting…just a second…there! That vent in the back only had one camera, and it's off now. You ready?"

Manic grinned. "Is Robotnick Ugly?"

8 ½ minutes later, the two boys stood at the bottom of the newest Egg Fort. Manic whistled at the sheer size of the compound.

"No matter how much I hate the guy, you gotta admire his skills. He threw this up in, like, 3 months!"

"I know it's cool, but keep your mind on the mission. Sonic, remember?" Tails replied, as amazed as the other, but worry for his adopted brother was stronger than wonder at the moment. "I'll fly up to the vent, then toss the rope down after I attach it to the shaft."

Manic nodded, his green quills rustling in the breeze. "Got it. Go on up. Remember every second could be essential…Sonics' life may be on the line." Tails shivered, realizing how right Manic was. His tails began spinning, taking a second to get to flight speed. When the fox became airborne, he quickly shot up to the shaft. However, when he tried to get the vent open, his gloves caught resistance.

"What the…oh man-it's locked!"

Manic, still on the ground, was confused about was happening. "WHAT?" he yelled up, trying to figure out what was going on.

"THE VENT'S LOCKED!" Tails called back down, lowering his altitude until he was face to face with Manic again.

"Oh, that's no problem. I had a hunch we'd need the frequency harmonizer…this baby saved our butts countless times back when the Underground was just starting…here you go." Manic handed Tails the small silver beaten up device. Tails flew back up to the vent and attached the harmonizer to the metal, activating the device. The metal behind it went slack for a moment before the shaft clicked open. Yes, we're in… Tails attached the rope to the shaft using an electrical super-suction cup. Manic, seeing the rope was secure, scurried up instantly.

Once inside, the crawl along the shaft was uneventful, except when Tails' foot dangled out of the vent and he kicked, knocking out a guard swatbot. After a time, they arrived at the main lab. Tails dropped out of the vent first, ducking into a ball and rolling into a corner before giving Manic the okay. Both boys peered in the window, and twin gasps were heard as their eyes took in the awful sight. Someone was floating in a tall glass container, breathing, but despite being in water no bubbles were coming out. The creature was surrounded by a glowing substance, black as its fur.

"Could that-is that…Sonic?" Manic managed to choke out.

"I…don't know…."Tails responded, his mind not believing what his eyes were telling him. "But no matter what he looks like, he's still Sonic. We need to rescue him…"But Tails was having doubts. Is he even still Sonic? And how did Robotnick finally catch him? The boys silently agreed on saving Sonic, used the frequency harmonizer on the steel lab door, and slowly creaked the door open…

That's all for now…heh heh, I'm evil leaving it like that…Please rate and review!