Chapter 2
Above the clouds lies a floating island known as Angel Island. It was mostly covered in snow. As usual, Knuckles is sitting at the shrine, guarding the Master Emerald. Even in the winter, Knuckles manages to keep warm thanks to the green and white quilted wristbands he wears on his quills.
"Nothing's been happening since I chased that bat-girl from getting the emerald, at Eggman's air base."
Now that he was thinking it, Knuckles was wondering if Eggman was up to no good again. He was also curious to know what Rouge was doing. Then suddenly the ground started to shake, like there was an earthquake.
"What the hell...?" Knuckles said. Then he sensed the Master Emerald's energy. He went to it to see what was happening. Knuckles gazed into the emerald, and it glittered, he could see what has happened, his eyes grew wide. A robot was running through the forest, and what was most surprising was that the robot looked like Knuckles.
'But why is it here?' Knuckles thought. 'One of Eggman's robots, no doubt.'
Then Knuckles heard bushes moving behind him. He went towards them and got to a fighting position. He was surprised to see who was there.
"Rouge!" Knuckles cried out.
Rouge was in bad shape. She was struggling to run, she could barely stand. Her wings were injured and her legs were badly bruised.
"Kn...uc...kles..." Rouge could hardly speak. She was about to fall when Knuckles caught her. He brought Rouge to the shrine and had her lying against the wall. Her eyes were barely open.
"...Behind you." She said weakly.
As Knuckles turned around, he saw that the robot was just a few feet away from him. The robot walked towards Knuckles.
"This is none of your concern, echidna," the robot said. "Leave the bat-girl to me."
Knuckles really did want someone else to handle Rouge, but at the corner of his eye, he could see that she was having trouble breathing. He had to fight the robot.
"I don't know what you want with her," Knuckles said. "but now you're gonna have to leave my island." He put up his fists.
"I'm not leaving without her give her to me."
"What if I say 'no'?"
"Then I'll have to destroy you."
The robot began to attack Knuckles. He could fell the robot's power as they were fighting, and all Knuckles was doing was defending himself until he ha figured out the robot's fighting pattern. When Knuckles was sure of himself, he distanced himself and performed his 'drill claw' attack in the snow underground. At this point, the robot couldn't detect Knuckles; he got confused. Knuckles then sprung from under the robot and attacked from below. As the robot flew upwards, Knuckles grinded his fists and they were surrounded in glowing red fire. He was about to use his 'meteor punch' attack. As the robot descended, Knuckles threw him his punch and the robot was knocked hard in the snow. Knuckles kept his guard up as the robot struggled to stand.
"Right arm 100% damaged." It said. "Left leg disabled."
"You're not as strong I thought." Knuckles said to it.
"I'll need to retreat. I'll let both of you go for now, but the next time we meet, you won't be so lucky."
"I'm looking forward to it."
The robot then flew off the island. Knuckles walked back towards Rouge, who seemed to be breathing a little easier.
"I guess you want me to stay out of your business, right?" He said coldly. Rouge's eyes met his.
"Thank you." She said. Knuckles was surprised.
"You thought that I would save you from that robot. That's why you came here?"
"Don't be stupid, knucklehead! I was running blindly for my life when I happen to come across you!" Rouge became very irritated.
Knuckles stood there silently as he was looking at Rouge's wounds. He then turned his back to her and said, "Stay here, I'll be back."
Then Knuckles ran and flew off the island.
Meanwhile in an unknown location..."You stupid piece of junk!!" A man cried out. Kneeling in front of Dr. Eggman was the same robot that fought Knuckles.
"Subject Knuckles the echidna interfered." It said.
"Then you should have dealt with him then!!"
"...."
"I want you out of my sight NOW!!!"
The robot marched into the darkness. Eggman was furious and kept stomping the ground and biting his lip until he cried out, "ZERO!!!"
Suddenly a pair of glowing, red eyes appeared and the rest of the body followed.
"What is your wish, Dr. Eggman?" Zero said as it stood stiffly.
"I rebuilt you from your remains on the Egg Carrier. Your new assignment is easy," Eggman made an evil grin. "I need you to retrieve the Chaos Emerald from the Capital City's safe. And remember, if Sonic and his friends get in your way, terminate them."
"As you wish, master." Zero's eyes then disappeared, and the rest of his body went into the darkness.
