Thunder, rain and lightning. A simple way to describe that night at Angel Island. It could be an omen, lurking above the recently forgotten 'trash' that Eggman left here not too long before venturing after Sonic The Reformed Hedgehog. The 'trash' lay at the top of an alter, it's metal, blue shell reflected the eerie green glow emitted from the Master Emerald. The 'trash' stirred, stood and spoke.
"Self orientation in progress," Said the cold, robotic voice. It's glowing red eyes flickered against the jet black where there should be white. "Metal Sonic. Location: Mystic Ruin...Angel Island...Alter...Master Emerald." Metal Sonic turned to the gem equal his size. "Master Emerald...the power source that revived me from deactivation." He touched it, and felt it's warm, brotherly energy surge through Metal Sonic's cold, steel body. He used it's power to retrieve the lost data that made him invincible to all, but Super Sonic, Semi-Tails and Semi-Knuckles. This time, Metal Sonic wouldn't let anyone match that power, because those Chaos Emeralds had his name on them!
"Where do we start?" Shadow enquired, as he and Knuckles wandered aimlessly around the old castle town of Soleanna. Neither of them spoke much, still unsure whether they were doing the right thing. Knuckles shrugged.
"White Acropolis?" Was his reply. He hadn't invested much thought in his answer, and Shadow could tell.
"That was a guess, and they won't get us anywhere! If we're going to successfully kill Sonic, we need to be focused. Now give me an intelligent answer!" Shadow was aggitated, and wasn't afraid to show it. Still, Knuckles remained unaffected by Shadows annoyance. Then, he turned and made eye contact with Shadow, saw his purple eyes as a hellish javelin of spite. Shadow actually flinched slightly.
"I'm sorry that I'm not very enthusiastic about killing a friend!" Knuckles was gritting his teeth, towering above Shadow. His outburst made his fists clench, protruding his pointed knuckles. He's been known to get mad before, but not at this standard. He could very easily kill an innocent man (at a push, a child). If this was the case, why couldn't he kill Sonic?
"I'll contact Rouge at G.U.N. If they're monitoring Eggman, they'll know where to find him." Shadow ignored Knuckles, whether it was understanding, or ingnorance, neither had a clue. Either way, no-one could deny that Knuckles' face softened when Shadow said Rouge's name. She was a treasure hunter, like Knuckles, and a part time government spy at G.U.N. She was a bat with white fur, and she had many missions with Shadow. She has a small rivalry with Knuckles, with whom she flirts. She also teases Shadow, but he is never affected.
"Oh...batgirl. The thief," Knuckles said turning away. He only insulted her through his confusion. He still gets flashes of when he saved her life at the ARK. There seemed to be a moment where they connected through their eyes. Love had always confused him, and thought it only hindered and clouded. He saw what happens when love turns nasty. The image of Amy collapsing in the sea washed over him. He wondered how she hoped to save Sonic. Damn love.