The words keep flowing. :D

-Chapter 3: Breakfast Not-Rush-

"Look at allll these happy faces," Sonic said sarcastically as he took note of all the hungover patrons at Meh Burger the morning after.

"That's why I don't drink," Sticks said, "When your brain is in a weakened state, that's when the mind control takes over. They're not sick, they're being controlled! YOU'RE ALL PAWNS!"

"Sticks, please," Sonic said and pointed at Dave the intern covering his head and ears. "Let's order our food before you make everyone's head explode."

"Oops, my bad," Sticks said then looked over her shoulder at the rest of the patrons doing the same thing, "Maybe you're right. No one can control this many minds in such a short amount of time. Not without me noticing."

The four friends took a seat after ordering. "This is gonna be a wait and a half I bet," Tails said.

"Probably," Sonic concurred, "I hope not though. Amy's been working on the town's commercial for the last couple hours, giving it the old 'heave ho' approach and she's probably starving."

As they sat and chatted for a few minutes, Eggman appeared at the front door.

"Eggman! Yo," Sonic said with a wave, "How come you missed the party?" He knew full well an invitation was sent out to the man.

"I've got better things to do than drink away my brain cells. Besides...I watched from afar and got Orbot and Cubot to steal food for me." He walked past them and up to the counter to see Dave resting his forehead on the cash register. "Look alive scrub."

Sonic brought his attention back to the table. "Not the same."

"He's just not evil anymore," Knuckles said, "It's like he's," and trailed off.

"Bored?" Tails suggested. "Oh, our food's up."

A slow Dave began his journey from the kitchen to the table. It was going to be a few minutes till he arrived.

Eggman butted in, "I'm not bored. I just don't care. I've built up my base and staked my claim as a genius. Apart from not having a protege to pass all of it down to, I'm doing just fine. Besides, cyber crimes are the hot new thing; I'm making a killing off of Bit-Ring," he said as he brushed by Sonic with his tray of food.

He watched Eggman sit down at a table across him. "How did you get your food so quickly?" he asked.

"I called ahead," Eggman said and began eating his lasagna with a knife and fork, being sure he scraped the plate every inch of the way. The whole restaurant cringed. "Heh, delicious." He didn't stop to take a bite, he just kept cutting the pasta.

Sonic's crew got up and headed for the door.

Sonic ran to Dave, "Thanks for the food, take er easy," and then ran out of Meh Burger to join the others, bags in hand.

"He's still evil alright," Sticks said, "Only, evil in a different way."

All nodded except for Knuckles, "Does protege mean 'kid'?" he questioned.

"No," Tails informed him. "It's like a student who's being guided to be just like the one who's teaching them."

"Hopefully someone like him never has kids," Sticks pretended to gag herself with a finger.

"Who would want to?" Tails added and they laughed.

Except for one, "Oh, I see," Knuckles acknowledged what was said but looked like he was getting lost in thought. His arms were folded and he walked behind everyone to stare off in the distance.

Sonic pieced it together pretty quickly, 'He started acting funny when I mentioned I was going to live with Amy; now he's being distant after we bring up having kids. Not good.' Sonic knew Knuckles was alone in the world when it came to his species. He'd talk to Tails about it later to see if they could help Knuckles feel a little less hopeless. 'Now I definitely can't break the news to everyone. Not till we get Knucks sorted.' He clasped the paper bag in his hand, hoping it would make Amy feel better.

The plot thickens. :P