"Ugh…that was disturbing..."

As he made his way to his laboratory, the doctor shook his head and huffed. "Bah! Super villain team ups never work anyways. If you want something done RIGHT, you do it yourself…"

After working on a few little distractions here and there, Eggman sighed and adjusted his glasses while stroking his mustache, deeply in thought as to what to do.

The problem wasn't what or how to do something; there were many different schemes he could ressurect from the archives of his mind and "upgrade" for a newfound diabolical deed... No the problem at hand was that he didn't want to risk that chance. The rules villainy stated that when making a new plan: You NEVER bring up another death machine or plan or...whatever... that your nemesis has beaten. And the reasons for that were obvious: WHY make the same mistake TWICE?

Sure, not a lot of people in the growing league that is evil actually follow the rules...but the rules are good guidelines to follow.

Eventually he gave up thinking so hard about the subject; ideas of genius never show themselves in one day after all. Sometimes it takes time...patience...a Dimensional Warp Ring...

The doctor stopped in his tracks and backtracked to the device he had laid his eyes on while on his way out the door. Millions of thoughts and ideas coursed through his brain, mathematicla formulas and equations soared across his mental eye.

"OF COURSE! IT'S BRILLIANT! THIS IS JUST WHAT I NEED!"

Sprinting to the communicator button on the workspace computer console in the lab, Eggman went to quickly press the button to where his lackeys were usually stationed and accidently slipped, falling on his face. Growling from annoyance, he shot up and pressed his finger into the button.

"Bocoe, Decoe! This is Doctor Eggman, are you there?!"

A second later, an image popped up on the monitor and there stood Eggman's right-hand robots, both dressed in aprons and hair covers while holding mops in their hands.

"Oh, Doctor Eggman! You are back from your vacation early!" Bocoe exclaimed happily.

Eggman stared blankly at his cohorts' attire, his mustache drooping. "...Why are you wearing those ridiculous outfits...?"

"We were just in the middle of cleaning up the Egg Carrrier," Decoe's tall form seemed to slump slightly from dissappointment. "It was going to be a surprise for your return.."

"Yes, yes that's very thoughtful of you two," Eggman didn't show any signs of appreciation, however the two robots knew he was touched by their thoughtfulness. "But that doesn't matter now: come into the lab, I need you two for something. And hurry!"

"Yes Doctor!" The two robots saluted and Bocoe was hit in the face by Decoe's mop before the screen went dark.

As soon as his communication was over, Eggman merrily hopped to the construct where the giant Dimensional Warp Ring was set up, beginning to tinker and fumble around like an excited child on Christmas. A few minutes later, Decoe and Bocoe were heard running into the room, somehow out of breath.

"You...called for us, doctor...?"

Looking up from behind a console next to the ring, Eggman seemed to be in a jollier mood than usual. "What took you two so long?"

"Well we had to run from one end of the carrier to-," Decoe was beginning to explain, but he was cut off by Eggman waving a hand as if to shush him.

"Nevermind, just get over here. Tell me, is the Warp Ring in working order yet?"

Both robots pondered for a bit before Bocoe piped up, "I believe we got everything set up to MAKE it work, sir!"

Seeing Dr. Eggman's exprssion of both annoyance and anger made Decoe quickly rush in for a save, "The problem is finding a power source to make it run again. We tried using the Egg Carrier's backup power but it just ended up with us almost crashing into the ocean."

"Even the Chaos Emerald we have didn't work..."

Suddenly, Eggman's entire expression blanked, as if a mental lightbulb seemed to turn on in his brain.

"...Chaos Emerald..."

"Indeed," Bocoe looked at Eggman curiously. "It was the Chaos Emerald we retrieved for you after that last encounter with Sonic and his friends..."

Silently, like a machine, Eggman began to pace back and forth, a hand to his chin as if he was thinking.

The two lackeys watched their creator, standing in place so they didn't break his concentration...more than they already were.

"Um...sir? Maybe you should get some rest before attempting another encounter with any goody two-shoes," Bocoe seemed to take a "frowning" expression with his eyes.

"Bocoe is right, sir, you did just get back," Decoe made an attempt to snap Eggman out of his trance-like pacing. "We could make you some food, you can get a good night's sleep-"

The sound of Eggman stomping his foot made the two robots yelp from surpise. But where once was a look of triumph on Eggman's face was now replaced with the doctor beginning to laugh and victory dance around the room.

Decoe and Bocoe watched the spectacle and looked at each other worriedly, yet somewhat unfazed by his actions.

"I believe the good doctor finaly flipped his lid..." Decoe whispered.

"Indeed..." Bocoe sighed, "Maybe rest would suit him better than we thought. Let's just...escort him to his room..."

"Don't you two realize how glorious the idea you just popped into the equation is?!" Eggman was in front of them now, a crazed look of insane glee on his face.

Bocoe and Decoe looked at each other for a second before looking in his direction again, both answering at the same time. "N..Noooo?"

Eggman rolled his eyes and sighed, turning a full one-eighty back to the console while dragging the two robots behind him.

"The Chaos Emeralds are the answer to our problem!"

"...Aren't they ALWAYS...?" Bocoe mumbled just enough so Eggman wouldn't hear.

Stopping at the console's controls, Eggman began to lay out his plan in the form as diagrams and numbers. "The Warp Rings of old were not just made to act as a state of the art teleportation device. These beauties were actually designed to act as gateways between different planets...different galaxies...even so far as to travel between time and space!"

The two henchbots stayed silent, intrigued as to what the doctor was saying.

"As of right now, the ring is inactive...silent and sleeping. But with enough power..."

"Oh I see what you are saying, doctor!" Decoe nodded leaning in to better view the plans. "The Chaos Emeralds would give us enough power to search all over time and space for others who may join your quest for world domination!"

"Precisely," Eggman sneered, his eyes narrowed to slits behind his glasses. "Think of the possibilities: numerous Eggmans all wanting the same goal of complete dominance over Mobius; all pooling their genius into one major plan of conquest!"

"Do you think there would be numerous Bocoes and Decoes too?" The robots in question jumped up and down excitedly at the idea of meeting other versions of themselves.

Dr. Eggman ignored their idea but smiled evily at the mere thought of his plan working. Turning to his henchmen, he pointed to the door and smiled evily. "You two, go alert all squads in the Eggman Empire! We are going to hunt for the emeralds and we will not stop until they are found, understood?!"

"Yes sir!" Bocoe and Decoe saluted and ran out the door, equally as excited as Eggman was for the chance to peer into other worlds and time periods.

As they left, Eggman sat back in the chair he was in and gazed out the window to the city below him, the sinister grin still on his face.

"Everything is going according to plan...prepare to face my wrath, Sonic the Hedgehog! For once my plan is a success, no one will be able to stop me!"