It hadn't been more then a few minutes before Dust and I had run into more trouble. Ahead of us, a group of enemies were blocking the river bank in the distance.

"That's weird," I muttered as I hide behind a tree, Dust not too far behind me, "Those aren't Robotnik's men,"

"What do you mean?" Dust asked

"When last I looked, Dust," I pointed to one of them, "Robotnik's troops don't wear armor like that."

That about when Dust noticed that they were wearing what looked like Roman armor. In the center of the group was what looked like a commander of sorts, this guy wore very ornate armor. His left shoulder plate was spiked on the outward edge. The forearm plating was jagged and reminded me of a game I'd played once.

"They..." Dust said, "Th...those are Giaus' men!"

I gave Dust a look, "You've got some explaining to do once were out of this little hellhole."

I leveled my M416 and took a single shot at the leader. his head snapped back and he crumpled like a sack of potatoes. The rest of them turned and for some reason, be it preference or a regulation, they drew swords. I fired three more times before the other six or so men realize what was happening and rushed me.

Have you ever been rushed by an angry swordsman before? It's scary. Yes, as the Ultimate Life-form I shall admit to my fear of being rushed by a raging Mobian with a sword that's four feet long as for some reason glowing red. I dodged a swing as Dust came in and slapped him aside with his stick. The male flew back leaving his sword to fall to the forest floor. I drew my knife, this wasn't really a time for guns.

"Moonblood, this is Titan 1-1, what's your situation over?" my comns blared as I stopped a blade from gutting my by deflecting it to my left.

"Titan 1-1, I'm currently engaged with enemy forces roughly two hundred yards from secondary extraction. It's a knife fight out here I recommend bringing the pain!" I replied parrying another slash. Dust then slapped my opponent into the air slashed him three times before grabbing his shirt collar and slamming him head first into the dirt. I heard bones break.

"Holy shit..." I cursed, though I was relieved.

"I wouldn't let my guard down just yet." Dust told me pointing the katana he now held towards the road. There was another truck coming this way.

I flipped my rifle into my arms and unleashed a hail of bullets. Robotnik's men quickly shook it off and took cover. I managed to somehow miss every last one of them.

"Moonblood we're at your location, grab some cover!" I heard. I flash-stepped grabbing Dust and forcing him to the ground as the roar of a boat motor screamed into my ears. This was followed by the low buzzing of fifty caliber machine guns which stiched the ground just ahead of us with lead. I motioned Dust to follow me and the two of us crawled towards the guns. I felt another blast of heat pinprick across my back; the truck must've exploded because I don't remember loosing any Chaos Spears in their direction. I dove into the river's rushing current and ice may as well have been soaking my skin. I tried to ignore the nearly frozen river but my ACU wasn't rated to keep me warm when it was saturated with icy river water. I could only imagine how Dust felt in the freezing torrent.

"Get 'em aboard!" I heard someone shout. Dust and I were hauled out of the water by our shoulders. I sat back as the guns continued to spin up and spit rounds down at the enemies we'd just left behind.

"Package retrieved! Titain 1-1 falling back." I heard over the comns.

The boat shifted and peeled out of there taking fire from the enemy as it did. That was nothing though when the thing was shielded with bullet proof sidings.

"So you want to know what's going on?" I asked Dust.

"Yes, I believe I asked that while we were in your flying machine." Dust replied.

"Well let's put it this way, kid, it's September 22, 2169. I'm a member of the United States Army, and you've just stumbled into the middle of a war against a terrorist."

"This 'Robotnik' you keep talking about?"

"Yeah, where the hell have you been for the passed twenty years?" one of the gun operators asked

Dust sighed

"You alright?" I asked.

Silence save the buzzing of the engines as we made our way out ot sea.

"Dust?" I said though I was kinda worried that I'd said too much.

"The last thing I remember was fighting General Giaus in a volcano as it was erupting. He called me Cassius before asking if that was who I was. I'm neither him nor Jin. Giaus told me though don't forsake the world we live in. Afterwords he fell into a lava flow. I looked up...and...I..."-he started to sob.

"Hey," I said placing a hand on his back, "It's alright now. You won that fight I'm sure."

"Yes I won...we won. Because of my actions, the Moonbloods are saved from extinction. But...I lost a great deal. My friends, my weapon which guided me..."

"Look, kid, war isn't a pretty thing as you saw back there."

Dust nodded burying his face into the fold of his elbow.

"Tell you what, I don't usually do this, but how about you come back wtih me. I don't think my wife would mind you staying with us until you get back on your feet."

"That's just it."

I tilted my head to the side.

"I don't want to get on my feet here," Dust went on, "I want to find a way back to my world. I want to see Ginger and Fidget and Ahrah again all of the smiling faces back in Aurora Village..."

"I think I could help you there." I told him

"How so?"

"It's called Chaos Control, but in oder for it to wrok I need a few thing. Mostly just information."


It was about twenty or so minutes later before Dust and I found ourselves on the USS Mighty Mo II. In about 2099, the US decided to revive the Mighty Mo as well as other World War II ships. The Might Mo II was still your standard battleship but heavily modified with modern weapons and armor, it would take an assload of firepower to knock this ship to the bottom of the ocean.

"So how do you propose to get me home?" he asked

"As I said, I just need some information." I told him, "First though, is the worst part of a post mission..."

I headed into the ships lower decks,towards a sealed hatch with a sign on it that said 'Top secret clearance required' Dust was still following me.

"Um...you'll have to wait out here." I told him as I stepped inside.

It was dark on the inside of that door. Things said behind this door were supposed to be locked away and never revealed. So I con't exactly say what was said. That's what stinks about having done stuff that's supposed to be top secret, that's no recalling it because technically it never happened. A head of me there was a desk that had a panel of higher up brass. We spoke about the mission and about Dust's sudden appearence. Again, I wish I could say more, but it's top secret so I can't. I came out of there about maybe an hour later. Dust was standing idle by the door, he looked nervous but otherwise he was fine.

"So what went on?" he inquired.

"I'm not allowed to discuss that, what's improtant is that we find a way to get you back to Elysium."

"Do your people not want me here?"

I shook my head, "It isn't like that, but think about it, Dust, you don't exist in my world. One day, out of no where, some kid shows up exuding as much power as this planets hero with no birth record no parents no family and no known origins? It's clear to me Dust, we have to get you home. I've got a feeling that if we don't do this fast something terrible will happen."

Dust sighed, "Okay."

"It's nothing personal, kid, it's orders from the top plus my own concerns."

"Where do we start with this...Chaos Control thing?"

"I'll have to get in touch with a friend of mine; he'll be able to help us more then if we were to just go running off as a certain 'hero' I know would."

I then walked from the debrief deck with Dust up to the mail room. Here we had what was basically the biggest floating post office on the planet plus a bunch of phones and other means of communication. I walked to one of the open phones and punched in the numbers.

"So this is some kind of communication hub?" Dust asked looking around still somewhat nervous.

I shushed him as the reciever started buzzing.

"Hello?" was the next thing I heard after about thirty seconds, that was Tails' voice.

"Hey kid, its Shadow." I told him.

"Oh...I guess you want to speak with Sonic right?"

"No I was actually hoping you would answer. Listen I'm in a bit of a jam right now."

"Whats up?"

"Promise you won't tell anyone you know about this first."

"Shadow, c'mon, I can keep a secret."

"I was investigating one of Robotnik's bases and I sorta picked up a person who's not from here."

"Like space-travel not from around here or interdimensional not from around here?"

"Interdimensional."

"Ooh."

"I need that emerald locater you built, it'd be easier them me trying to spread my senses across the planet."

"The Emerald locater isn't exactly in working order..."

My eyes half shut, "What's wrong with it this time?"

"Well...you see...it's really a funny story when you think about it..."

"Sonic dropped it off a cliff again didn't he?"

"Um...well...he..."

I crossed my arms, "Tails..."

"Yeah, but it wasn't his fault!"

"I don't care whose fault it was. Just get the dang thing fixed. I'll be be back in town in a couple of days."

"I'll work as fast as I can."

"Alright, and make sure Sonic doesn't get a hold of it this time."

"Right."

"Okay, I'll see you in a couple of days. Bye."

I heard a click on the other end then sighed, "Damn it faker..."

Dust hadn't interupted me which was good, "What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing," I said turning to face Dust, "This worlds greatest hero just screwed up again and got our only means of finding a couple of Chaos Emeralds destroyed. So you'll have to stay here a couple of days."'

Dust nodded, "That's fine I suppose. I can't expect things to be done instantly."

I looked at the phone again, it was now hung up and I was contemplating calling Amy or Silver to see about a place for Dust to stay once we got back to the States. It wasn't like the Army to be deployed with the Navy but I and a few other memebers of Charlie Company were the acception to that rule, for we would deploy with whoever the higher ups told us to. When you're the only Army guy in a sea of Sailors on a Navy vessel in the middle of the Chaos forsaken ocean, you can sometimes have...problems. I thanked Chaos though that I was a higher rank then just about every person on this ship. Dust however was probably going tobecome the subject of ridicule here being the only civilian...or rather I think he's a civilian. I stood, I could call them later.

"I'm going to head to the Galley to get something to eat. You hungry?" I asked the blue clad vulpine whom was recieving looks from some of the sailors.

"Those people in the blue keep staring at me." Dust commented avoiding my question.

I chuckled a bit, "If I didn't know what the hell happened to you I'd stare too."

"Is it something about my appearence?"

I nodded, "You look like some grunt that was just spit out of the Feudal Era, Dust. You could use a shower and a change of clothes."

Dust, who was still covered in the much and scum of your typical ground mission (Grass stains, dirt, mud, blood etc), gave me a look.

"C'mon I'll direct you." I told him.

It took us a couple of minutes to get to the crew quarters but once we had, showed Dust to the showers in the back. From there, I walked to the gift shop to try and find some more modern clothes for him. The shop had a few sets of blue jeans which I got and a black T-shirt that said 'Mighty Mo' in Navy Camo on the front and US Navy on the back. I paid for the items, getting a laugh out of the cashier as I did, and flash-stepped back to the crew quarters. I could hear the water still running in the shower so I made it quick.

"Dust, I'm going to set the clothes on the counter." I told him.

"Okay." he said the gave a relaxed sigh, "Man this water feels good."

I smiled and shook my head, "I'll be in the Galley if you need me."

"Where's that?"

"Just follow the signs over head when you get into the hallway."

I then left the crew quarters, I could wash off after a nice hot meal.