A/N: Hello all! We're back!

Pen: Like a irritable scab.

Sword: That you can't wait to pick and dig into!

Okay, that comparison is getting weird. Let's move on, shall we?

Sword: Yup! Sonic and all related material belong to Sega. The story, me, and Pen belong to the author. Please do not use without permission. Thankoo!

And please enjoy.

Chapter 7- Robotnik's Estate

Most of the Hydrocity Dam and Water Resevoir was surrounded by warning signs, deeming the area unsafe and not yet finished. Several construction vehicles and piles of equipment sat on the sides, untouched for the day. Sonic and Tails ignored them and examined the place, driving along the top to begin with. The two-lane road across the top overlooked the water surrounding Station Square on one side and the river outlet to the ocean on the other. Water poured out of the dam's pipes, cascading down to the short river.

The dam cut a small forest in two, causing the trees to race down the sloping hills to the river's end. When they were satisfied with the top, Sonic drove to a lower road, entering a tunnel behind the dam itself. The road inside was wet and water leaked from the roof. "Looks like it could collapse at any minute," Tails said.

"Let's hope not," Sonic said, speeding up.

In the middle, two rows of windows displayed the dam's pipes below them. Streams of water entered through pipes on one end, ran through ditches carved into stone, and into pipes carrying them outside. Construction equipment lay scattered about, as did boxes stencil-marked PROPERTY OF STATION SQUARE- HYDROCITY DAM AND WATER RESEVOIR.

When they exited the tunnel and headed back to the city, Tails turned to him. "Feel confident?"

"I always do," he said. "Shouldn't be too hard. A few laps and we're good." They pulled up to Emerl's and Sonic parked the car inside. Amy waited for them at the office, standing beside Emerl. She looked concerned and despite the nearly featureless blue robotic eyes, Emerl seemed more upset and disappointed than Tails had ever seen him.

"Hey, guys," Sonic said, hopping out. "What's up?"

As Tails followed him, he spotted Cream behind Amy. Her downcast, guilty expression told him all he needed. He panicked as Amy opened her mouth. "Tails." He made a mad dash for the junkyard. When he opened the rear door, he crashed into a hard body. A homeless beggar stood before him, glaring and attacking his nose with a foul odor. Tails scrambled backwards and Sonic lifted him to his feet, pushing him towards Amy. The beggar entered, keeping a careful watch on Tails.

"Tails," Amy said again. He stood next Cream, feeling safer beside her. She touched his hand and he held hers. They faced Amy and Emerl.

"We know all about the bank and the Master Emerald theft," she said, crossing her arms. Amy nodded at the beggar. "This is Knuckles. He's one of the security guards at the Station Square Bank. The guard accused of stealing the emerald." Knuckles bristled and his gaze grew severe. Tails and Cream shied away from him.

"Tails, Cream," Emerl said. "How could you do such a thing? Why would you?" That disappointment in his tone was even worse and Tails couldn't take it. He looked to Sonic, but his let-down eyes crushed him.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"It's not his fault," Cream said, stepping up. "I pushed him into it."

"No, Cream." He shook his head. "It was my fault. I wanted to help out with the expenses around here." Emerl dropped his head and heaved a scratchy sigh. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

"Well, you did," Knuckles said, baring his teeth. Amy looked over her shoulder and raised her hand. He growled and settled down, closing his eyes.

"If I had known we would be working for Robotnik, I never would've done it." Cream agreed.

"Robotnik?" Amy bent down to his height. "Was that who Rouge was working with?"

"Rouge?"

"The bat."

"Yes," Tails said. "I think so. The robots she had with her looked like Robotnik's."

Amy turned to Knuckles. "There you have it. See how easy that is without threats?"

Emerl took Tails and Cream aside and asked for a moment alone with them in his office. Amy shut the door on her way out and the pair awaited their punishment. "I expected more from you. Both of you," he said, pointing to their school desks. They sat down, heads bowed. He stood before them, exhaling and appearing run-down. "What am I going to do with you two?"

"I was only trying to," Tails began, but Emerl silenced him.

"I know what you were trying to do," he said. "I may be an old model, but my mind has not shorted yet. Look, I appreciate your desire to help." He patted Tails' shoulder. "Really, I do. Things are hard around here, what with the protection money due soon and all the other bills, but we will find some way through it. It does not give you permission to turn to crime. I did not raise you like that." Eyeing Cream, he added, "And your mother did not raise you like that either. This has gone too far. Both of you are good kids and I do not want you to end up like the thugs on the street."

Tails sighed and nodded. "Sorry," he mumbled. Cream did the same and they stared at their desks.

"Consider yourselves grounded indefinitely." Neither protested. "Now, this money you earned, Tails. Do you still have it?"

"Yes."

"Good. Because you're going to give it the Chao Garden's Children's Home, okay?"

Tails accepted that. Cream piped up. "I still have some of mine after the rent. I'll donate that, too."

Emerl's eyes lit up brighter. "Thank you, Cream. For the time being, I want you two to stay here and finish your homework. I will be back after I talk to the others and think of an appropriate punishment." They grabbed their textbooks from inside their desks, as well as paper and pencils and set to work after he left.

Cream hissed for Tails. "Hey, sorry about all this."

He shook his head. "I agreed to it." However, he vowed then and there to never accept any job like that again.


After Knuckles had his information, he left rather hurriedly. Amy tried to persuade him to stay. "Instead of attacking his estate head-on, why not wait for the tournament? If Sonic wins, we'll have easy access when he presents the prize to him. And it's likely that the big prize is the Master Emerald."

"If? Likely?" Knuckles said, scoffing. "I can't put my faith in a street racer."

"Your plan doesn't sound much better, Knucklehead," Sonic said teasingly.

Knuckles growled. "And what if the Master Emerald isn't the prize?" He headed for the door. "I'll do this my way. That's it." Then he was gone before anyone else could argue further.

"Should I go stop him?" Sonic asked.

"No, he's stubborn," she said. "He'll learn how foolish his plan is when he gets to Robotnik's." There was no changing his mind at the moment. Still, she wondered how foolhardy he would be. He wouldn't actually charge headfirst in there. Would he?

When Emerl exited his office, Amy turned to the matter of the tournament. "We're going to have to double our efforts on winning this thing," she said. "Robotnik will have invited the best racers and he allows almost full-range vehicle customization. We're going to have to outfit yours to level the playing field." She leaned on Sonic's car.

He warily touched the hood. "I don't know. Fixing it is one thing, but not just anyone can add on to this baby."

"Relax." She slapped Emerl's back. "Emerl can work on any car, no matter what it is."

Sonic rolled his eyes. "No offense, but this isn't a stock car."

"And he isn't a stock robot. He's very good with customized cars." Amy stepped back, allowing Emerl to open the hood. He checked over it for a minute or two and shut it. Then he rolled underneath the car on a creeper and examined the bottom.

"It would be possible to add nitrous oxide," Emerl said, coming out. "Put in a new engine as well. Give you a little more speed."

"Really?" Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow. He looked to Amy, who nodded. "How soon would you have it done?"

"Tomorrow morning," he said.

"Tomorrow?" Again, Amy confirmed that. "What about taking it apart, seeing how it all fits together? That takes at least a couple of days."

"I do not need to do that," Emerl said. "I already know how it works."

"How could you know?"

Emerl tapped his temple. "I have a learning chip that allows me to acquire new vehicle knowledge by studying it. Once I do, I understand the engine completely."

"That's pretty amazing," Sonic said. "Surprised more people don't come here."

"Well, I am old," Emerl said, gathering his tools together. He opened the hood again and set to work unscrewing a few bolts. "And I do not have the energy to work on cars as much as I used to. Or would like to. Tails does more of the work these days than I do."

"Does he have a learning chip, too?" Sonic asked, chuckling.

"No, but he is extremely gifted with machines," Amy said. "You should see some of the stuff he invents." Emerl struggled to lift a part out of the engine and Sonic helped him.

"Thanks," Emerl said. "I think I will need Tails to help me with this. Oh," he stopped, "please do not discuss the bank with them, nor let this incident color your view. They are both good kids. And I think Tails looks up to you a little." He stepped closer to Sonic. "Better you than some others around here."

Sonic scratched his head and looked elsewhere. "Uh, I'm not really role model material."

"Nobody is perfect," Emerl said, smiling. "Street racing aside, you seem like a good person." He called Tails out of the office. "Now, the tournament begins in a couple of days. What should we start on first?"

"How about some kind of defense?" Amy suggested. "Make sure you finish the race in one piece."

"Hey," Sonic said as Tails and Emerl grabbed a few parts from the back. "My car was fine in the last race."

"On the surface," Emerl said. "Underneath it looks like you drove through a forest. Tore it up a lot on the bottom."

"Arm chair racers. All of you," he said, sighing.

"Besides," Amy said, "his tournaments allow extensive customization, remember? They also have a reputation for being ruthless. Best get some defense."

Tails tapped the car's side. "And I have a few things in mind."


Robotnik's estate sat at the far side of town, past the city limits. A large, imposing mansion on a hill, its only entrance a thick gate closing off the single, winding road. The grounds were completely surrounded by a tall brick wall, all kept under surveillance by security cameras and robotic guards. Knuckles wondered if Robotnik's former enemies were inside the robots, forced to serve as the first line of defense.

Knuckles watched the cameras in the corner of the wall for hours in the night, memorizing their swiveling pattern. He spotted one brief window, but it required dashing to the wall and clearing it in seconds. Going before meant being spotted and it was likely the cameras had night vision. But if he stayed at the wall and waited for the next opportunity, he couldn't see any of the cameras or patrolling guards.

He rested on one knee, waiting, waiting, his legs cramping and fingers twitching in his gloves. Almost time. The cameras started their final swivel before—

He ran forward and jumped for the wall. He dug his spikes in and climbed. The motors in the cameras whined. They turned towards him. In a few seconds, he would be in their sight.

Knuckles threw himself over the wall, landed on his back, and rolled into the shadows against the bricks. He waited, holding his breath and looking up. The cameras continued their pattern, noticing nothing amiss. No guards came running and no alarms sounded. He was in the clear.

Collapsing onto his stomach, Knuckles took a moment to catch his breath. Now, the house. He sprinted across the grounds, keeping a sharp eye out for the guards. When any appeared close by, he dropped into the grass, staying perfectly still. Fortunately, none of the robots ever noticed him or searched nearby.

Several minutes later, he reached the mansion. The front door was out of the question. Robots stood posted there and two cameras were placed in the top corners, aimed at the doorstep. The windows were locked and had iron bars across them. Knuckles figured they may have alarms wired to them as well.

As he considered his options, the smell of oil and gas flooded his nostrils. He glanced up and noticed smoke pouring out of the roof. A chimney! That will do nicely. He found a drainpipe that lead to the second floor. From there, he clung to bits of outside decorations and verandas or jammed his fists into the stone wall where no holds were available.

The roof had not one, but several chimneys, all gushing thick smoke into the sky until the estate was covered in smog. Knuckles held covered his mouth and shook his head. What could Robotnik be doing in there? Running a factory? Fixing a feast for the whole city? Or himself? Knuckles inwardly grinned.

He headed back to the edge, ready to search for another entrance not blocked by smoke. But on a veranda to the side, the doors opened and two people stepped out. Rouge and a fat, bald man. The man kept his back turned to him. He stroked his bushy mustache and wiped his sunglasses. His skinny legs baffled the mind as to how they held up his large girth. Robotnik. Knuckles fell onto his stomach and crawled over.

"I'm asking you to consider it," Robotnik said, tugging on his dress jacket. His black slacks seemed a little too tight on him and ready to explode at the next wobble of his stomach. "I could use someone with your talents."

"Depends on if you can afford me," Rouge said, a glass in one hand and a diamond in the other. She held the diamond up to the light, admiring it.

"Money is no object."

"I'm more of a jewel girl myself." She tucked the diamond into her jacket and faced him.

"I can arrange that," he said, sipping on his own glass. "There are several companion pieces to the one you brought me. They're called the Chaos Emeralds."

Chaos Emeralds? Knuckles crept closer until he was right above them.

Robotnik swirled his glass. "Vanilla! Come top me off!" A rabbit in a maroon maid's outfit and apron approached with a jug of wine. She bore a striking resemblance to Cream, down to the same sad eyes and sagging shoulders. She refilled his glass and dismissed her.

"The Chaos Emeralds are capable of focusing energy and outputting it at a highly amplified degree, these emeralds are quite valuable. I've collected a few for myself over the years, but I might be willing to part with one." Robotnik raised his glass. "What do you say? Stay until the deal is finished and you'll have one of these emeralds. I'll even let you pick the color."

"Sounds tempting." She drained her glass and set it aside. "How big are we talking here?"

"The size of your fist," he said. "And in the light, they shimmer like a hundred diamonds."

Rouge hummed and rested her chin on her fist. "Guess you've got yourself a new employee."

"Excellent," Robotnik said. He pulled back his jacket and there were a few clicks. "And for your first assignment, I want you to take care of a pest who's found his way in." He spun around, scowling and fired a pistol at Knuckles. The echidna rolled away, but a bullet caught his shoulder. He hissed and ran across the roof, keeping his head down.

Robotnik shouted orders to the guards below. Suddenly, lights shined on the rooftop. Gunfire and lasers flew past him. The guards are armed?! Down below, all of the robots had exchanged their hands for gun barrels that fired intense lasers or rounds of bullets.

Knuckles collapsed on the roof, searching for a way out. There had to be a way out. Before he could run, Rouge appeared and blocked him, aiming a pistol at his head. "Don't think about it." Her eyes widened when he looked up. "You."

He slowly stood, holding his shoulder. "Glad you remember me," he spat. "Too bad you didn't remember to return my ID."

She sighed and shook her head. "I can't allow myself to get caught up in a manhunt. It's nothing personal."

He snorted. The gunfire died down and heavy footsteps rumbled underneath the roof. Guards were on their way. He turned, but Rouge cocked her gun. "Ah, ah, ah. Stay right where you are."

"Why? So I can be caught and used again?"

"As I recall," she said, a grin playing at her lips, "you didn't complain last night."

"I barely even remember last night," he said. The blood was oozing through his glove.

"Guess I really blew your mind then."

"Or it wasn't worth remembering."

Her eyes narrowed and she stepped to him. "You should really be more polite."

"And why's that? You'll shoot me otherwise?" The footsteps were closer. Behind him, a trapdoor to the attic jiggled.

"No," she said, leaning closer until the barrel was inches from his forehead. "It's because in ten seconds, you're going to feint to your right, hit me in my ribs, then run for the corner behind me to your left and keep going in that direction."

He cocked his eyebrow. "What?"

She straightened up. "Five."

"What are you playing at?" The trapdoor burst open and she squeezed the trigger. He dodged right and the bullet struck a robot's arm. Rouge turned the gun to Knuckles, but he was already at her side. He struck her exposed ribs, knocking her over.

"Didn't have to hit so hard," she muttered.

"I held back." He ran for the corner of the roof and found a drain pipe. He slid down it, narrowly avoiding the gunfire whizzing by him. He dropped several feet near the end to the grass and sprinted in the same direction. All the while, he zigzagged, hoping that would throw off the guards' aim. Yet they always seemed to be right on his tail.

One laser singed his dreadlocks. He kept his head low and reached the fence. Once there, he dug his fists in the wall, ignoring the pain in his shoulder. He jumped over the top and crashed onto the other side, rolling into some brush. But Knuckles was back on his feet in seconds and hobbled away, down the road and toward the city.

A dozen robots gave chase. They were gaining on him, so he tossed himself into a ditch by the road. There was a sewer drain nearby. He crawled into it and covered the entrance with the tall grass around it. The drain reeked of foul water and unmentionable trash. Knuckles dragged himself along his belly as far in as possible until it ended in a set of metal bars.

Outside, the robots swept the area, their red eyes slowly going over every bit of grass. One peered into the drain and Knuckles stayed still, hidden behind a small column inside. A crackled emitted from the robot's chest. "Any sign of the intruder?"

"No, Mr. Robotnik," it replied.

"Do one more search and then return to the mansion. Double the security."

"Yes, Mr. Robotnik."

The robot was too large for the drain, so it broke apart the entrance, crawling in further. Knuckles tightened his fist, ready for a fight. His shoulder throbbed.

Suddenly, a car screeched past. The next thing he knew, machine gun fire peppered the robots, destroying all of them. Knuckles waited until it stopped and the car left. He exited the drain, surveying the damaged robots. None had any occupants, no roboticized victims. Knuckles was relieved for that. He didn't want to have to fight another and kill them himself.

One robot was still operating and it reached for Knuckles' leg. He stomped its head, crunching it underfoot. More robots were approaching in the distance. Knuckles set off for the city, wondering why Rouge helped him and who the shooter could be.

A/N: Whew, this one took a bit longer than usual. Sorry about that.

Sword: Hope you enjoyed it! Please let us know what you thought of it!

Pen: Or don't. Not like I read them.

Sword: I do! Don't listen to him!