Chapter 2 Four down, Three to go

Sonic made his way to Metropolis. For he knew of a prior there that'd take Mobians to Casino Street Zone. So Sonic made his way down to the prior. There he saw a group of Mobians as they waited to board the ship, the SS Casino. Sonic made his way down to the group.

Normally, Sonic would have just traveled over the water by himself but the Sonic didn't know the exact location of South Island so he had to take the SS casino.

It didn't take long as the SS Casino pulled up to the dock. It let down a draw bridge and a group of people got off. After that group left the group on Sonic was in then boarded. Sonic followed as he did his best to stay unnoticeable as any Mobian could who was wearing a cloak could.

"That's unusual attire, a voice said.

Sonic turned around to see who was talking to him. In fact, three Mobians were now walking up. The one who spoke was a green crocodile who wore a pair of head phones as well as a gold chain around his neck. The second was a purple chameleon wore had some kind of extension on his gloves. The third wasn't actually walking up for he was a Mobian Bee that was wearing a helmet.

"Well? The crocodile asked, "It's strange for someone to go to a theme park and wear a cloak when it's not raining and there's no forecast for it either."

"Didn't know it was against the law to wear a cloak just to wear a cloak, Sonic said.

"No, it's not, "The crocodile said, "But it makes you suspicious. So why don't you take down that hood and let us know who you are, unless you've something to hide?"

"I don't have to show you anything," Sonic told them.

"Oh, I think you do, the crocodile said. He turned his chain around to revile a badge. This badge was different from the Guardian badges. It was a Bounty Hunter Badge. A Bounty Hunter work for those who will hire them and are they normally are very good detectives.

"So you're a bounty hunter, Sonic said, "But that still doesn't mean I'm going to take down my hood."

"You won't eh?" The crocodile looks at Espio, "Espio."

Suddenly the chameleon vanishes. Suddenly, something begins to tug on Sonic's hood. However, Sonic swipes the invisible hand off of his cloak. Then Sonic vanishes as he uses his Super speed to take him to another part of the ship.

"Did you see that, Vector?" The bee asked in surprise.

"Yeah, The crocodile responded as Espio returned to the visible spectrum, "There's only one Mobian who can move that fast."

Espio nodded he knew exactly who Vector was referring to.

The rest of the Boat ride went smoothly for Sonic. He had found a nice spot to stay out of other people s way. So when the boat arrived Sonic quickly got off as his speed kept people from seeing him. Sonic passed under the park's huge opening sign. As Sonic continued through he noticed a few signs that showed the locations of the active star posts.

The signs said that three of them where in the main part of the park right by each other. The fourth was said to be in Splash Hill Zone, the park's water park.

Sonic changed his course to head to Splash Hill zone. Sonic made it to Splash Hill Zone's entrance in no time at all. He then began to follow the signs that lead to the Active Star post. Eventually, Sonic made it to the active star post. However, there was a big crowd. But Sonic didn't let that stop him as he just ran through the crowed. There were a few shouts and complaints but there couldn't see him anyways. He then reached the Star Post and grabbed the orb on top with both hands. There was a flash and SOnic found himself in the special Zone.

So it really was an active Star Post, Sonic thought to himself.

Sonic got onto the moving orange half pipe and proceeded down it. He ran down it as he began to collect the necessary rings. Three gates and a hundred and forty rings later, Sonic made it to the dual wall at the end of the moving half pipe. To save more time Sonic spun strait into the middle of the double wall as the panels flashed through it's assortment of colors before disappearing all together.

Once through Sonic grabbed the green Chaos Emerald that awaited him. Then, in a flash, Sonic was transported back outside of the special Zone, right next to the now inactive Star post.

There was a slight mummer as the crowd who came to see the active Star Post. Sonic even thought he heard someone gripe about not getting their money's worth.

Sonic didn't wait for the crowd to start closing in on him, as he dashed through them. There were a few more complaints but Sonic couldn t help but noticed a few people in awe.

That's four down, Sonic thought to himself, three more to go.

In truth, Sonic thought that it was a little too easy. It wasn't really the easiness of the Special Zones because Sonic has gone through them so many times is not even a challenge any more. True each Special Zone had a different amount of Rings that had to be collected. Plus the placement of them and the Spike balls were never the same. But still, Sonic just didn't find them challenging anymore.

The thing that really struck Sonic as being to easy was the fact that there were 4 Active Start posts so close together. Of course, it was also possible that it was just a gimmick to lure in Mobians to the Theme Park. But even that wasn't the real strangeness for Sonic. You see both of the other times Sonic went after the Chaos Emeralds there was always something he had to deal with. Of course, it was the same human, Robotnik. Of course, Sonic knew that Robotnik was gone. Unless, he some how managed to escape the Death Egg before it exploded but Sonic didn't notice anything come out of the Death Egg.

Sonic shook his head. It was not his concern rather the doctor lived or not, as long as he didn't mess with him collecting the Chaos Emeralds again. So Sonic put Robotnik out of his mind and continued with his quest.

Meanwhile, back in the docks, The Chaotix, Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon, and Charmy the Bee, were the last ones to get off the ship for they had been looking for any signs of the cloaked Mobian they had seen.

"Didn't think he'd stay, Vector said as him and his team headed for the front gate of Casino Night Zone, "But I wonder, what's the Blue Blur doing here anyways?"

"Maybe he needs a vacation, Charmy suggested with a smile.

"Well..." Vector began but never got to finish has an Explosion went off not far behind them. The Chaotix then turned to see burning wreckage where the SS Casino once was.

The Chaotix watched as a group of paramedics rushed to the scene.

"The captain of the ship was the only one left on board, Vector told them as they went by.

One of the Paramedics nodded to vector. The paramedics then went to the side of a building where a hose was attached curled around a metal wheel. They unwrapped, the hose, from the wheel. They brought the one end of the hose towards the burning wreckage as one stayed behind. Once they were close enough they signaled the Mobian by the pump and he turned it on. White foam began to spray out of the hose and the Paramedics began to spray the fire with the foam. In no time at all the fire was put out.

Then the lead paramedic walked up to vector.

"Did you see what happened?" He asked.

"No sir, Vector said, "We were heading into the park when it suddenly exploded."

"I see, The paramedic said, and then he noticed the badge on Vector's chain, "You're a Bounty Hunter, Correct?"

"Yes we are, Vector said as he indicated his team.

"Well, We won't be needing your help right now, The paramedic said and he went back to his team.

Vector turned towards Espio and Charmy.

"You know boys, Vector said, "Something tells me that this is just the beginning."

"Why do you say that Vector?" Charmy asked.

"Just a hunch, Vector said, "But if my hunch is correct, the next place we should go talk to the Mad Gear Corporation.

So Vector set off as Espio followed. Charmy just floated there and sighed.

"So much for our vacation, He said then caught up with the other two.