"…And that's basically the whole story," Sally had finished telling the ordeal to Knuckles once everyone was outside of the Chaos Chamber and on the grounds of Angel Island.
The echidna rubbed his chin. "So the Xorda have returned," he murmured, "Not to mention brought the Black Arms with them. The last Xorda attack nearly wiped us all out. I can't imagine a way to beat both them AND Black Doom."
"Since this is a worldwide threat, m'boy," spoke Archimedes, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to leave Angel Island for a little bit like you wanted."
"Gee thanks, teach," said Knuckles, "But what good would that do, just running out like that?"
"Agreed," Sally nodded, "We need to band together once more."
Rouge walked up to the group. "Yes… but even the entire planet working as a team wasn't enough to go against the Xorda's major weapon defenses. Remember?"
"That's because we didn't have the proper resources," Sally smiled as she reached inside her vest pocket and pulled out a yellow-colored Chaos Emerald. "Remember this?"
"You went to the Special Zone?" Knuckles blinked, "How'd you fare against Fiest?"
Rouge placed a hand on her face and sighed. "You're not going to believe how…"
Sally smiled in response. "Well, I DID say I wanted to keep on good terms with Fiest. I simply offered him oolong tea and shared our history with him. After he told me his story, and how he came to be, I calmly assessed the situation with him, and he agreed to give it to me."
Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "You had a tea party..?"
"Yeah sure," Rouge grunted, "Shadow and I nearly got our hides burnt off, and all the princess had to do was play it sweet."
"Fine and dandy," said Knuckles, "But it's still only one emerald. It's not going to be enough."
"You're right…" Sally turned away, "If only we knew what happened to Sonic and the others… There has to be a way to locate the rest."
Knuckles looked to the ground. There was one way to find the emeralds. Being around Chaos Emeralds all his life, heck being mutated at birth from the power of a Chaos Emerald, he knew how to sense them out.
And the whole mutated thing? Remembering that suddenly gave him an idea.
"Leave it to me," Knuckles took Sally by the hand, "They don't call me the world's greatest treasure hunter for nothing."
Rouge raised an eyebrow. "They don't. They call ME that."
"What are you getting at, boy?" asked Archimedes.
"I'll let you know when I'm finished in the Chaos Chamber. Right now, Archy, I need you to assemble the Chaotix and be ready to defend the island in case any aliens show up."
The fire ant gave a thumbs up and teleported away.
"What about you, Knuckles?" asked Sally, noticing her old friend was leading her back to the teleporter.
"Still got that Chaos Emerald?" said Knuckles, "Because I've got a crazy idea… Crazy enough to work!"
It's been awhile since anybody had paid attention to the prisoners, so Doom sent one of his grunts to go down and make sure they hadn't tried to escape. It would soon be feasting time, after all…
Sure enough, there they were, just as frightened and helpless as before. It was funny how they all looked the same. Green skin, yellow eyes, four arms, blue shirts…
One stood out though. That must be the seedrian a fellow-grunt brought in. This Black Arms soldier in particular happened to be a vegetarian. The attack on Green Gate was a delicious one… Maybe there was a way he could persuade Black Doom to let him have her all to himself.
Wait… what's that she's holding?
A plant? Are those roses?
The seedrian noticed she was being eyed in a not-so subtle way and backed up into a corner as the other Bem were trying to shield her. He wanted that plant! He loved roses! Give me that plant, he would have shouted if he knew the Mobian language. He opened the cell block, shoved aside most of the Bem prisoners, and made a bee line to where the Seedrian stood, snatching the plant from her grasp. She pleaded for the monster to return the plant, but he simply held her down as he opened his wide mouth and-
BLAM!
A bloody mess as Black Doom shoved a claw through his chest. You idiotic fool… Do not allow the prisoners a chance to escape because of your eating habits….
"INSIDE!" Black Doom roared, scaring the would-be escapees back inside the cell block. Before he could close it, Doom took notice on the body of his former soldier, and the plant he was holding. "What's this now that was so important..?"
"Let her go!" Earthia screamed, "She's my daughter!"
"Daughter..?" Doom scooped up the plant and studied it. Was this really the remains of a seedrian?
He stepped back and closed the cell. "What are you doing?" cried Earthia, trying to reach outside the bars, "Give Cosmo back to me!"
Doom chuckled in response. "In a moment…" he murmured, "I'm going to borrow the Amplification Chamber of the Xorda's…"
Elsewhere inside the ship, there was a door, with a picture of what looked like a squid. Inside was squishy, splooshy noises, and the door slammed open. There stood Sonic and Tails, covered head to toe in a slimy, sticky substance.
"PLEASE say this is slime!" Sonic complained aloud, "If this is anything BUT slime, then I will NOT be a happy hedgehog!"
Tails shook his fur and did his best to pull the goop off himself. "Keep your voice down!" he said, "I know it's gross, but it was the only way inside! Come on, we need to find Earthia and the others."
The duo made their way down the corridors, quickly yet stealthily. Incredible how something so much could fit through a warp ring, even though it did rip through the roof of Castle Acorn. Occasionally, they had to duck behind the wall or a décor, but luckily didn't run into too much trouble.
Until they reached a large, open room. Black Arms alike stood all over, and Sonic and Tails couldn't find a way to move forward. They couldn't risk being seen. Funny though… where were all the Xorda?
"That must be the ring leader," Sonic whispered to Tails, nodding towards the large alien with no legs and red markings all over his black body.
"Right… Black Doom…"
Doom was in the center, placing what looked like a green plant with red roses in the center of a cylinder-shaped machine. Tails squinted for a better look, and suddenly gasped. "C-!" Before he could shout a single syllable, Sonic had clamped a hand over the fox's mouth and hushed at him.
A black arms soldier activated the chamber. It once again hummed to life, and shone a bright light, enhancing the plant and transforming it into a body.
Sonic had to grab Tails and hold him in place as the smoke from the chamber cleared. Luckily the machine had made enough of a commotion that nobody noticed the two by the doorway. Sonic pulled Tails away and down a few steps in the hallway.
"Tails, get a hold of yourself!" Sonic whispered harshly.
"Sonic, it's Cosmo!" Tails cried, "For real! The real Cosmo! Not just a plant! She's Cosmo again! Sonic-!"
"Shh, sh, sh!" Sonic continued hushing, "You're gonna get us caught if you don't calm down!"
Tails finally settled down, but was still breathing hard. "Sonic..! We can't leave her here! We have to save her!"
"We can't save anybody if they catch us," responded Sonic, "Now come on…"
"Why, you ask?" the two heard Black Doom say aloud to his goons. Curiously, Sonic and Tails stepped closer to the doorway to listen. "Simple. Why should she be a simple plant? It only seems fair to give her life once again… so that she may witness firsthand the total destruction of her race, AFTER of course we destroy this planet, along with the Xorda as well. THEN she'll get the honor of dying all over again!" Black Doom was overcome with laughter.
Sonic and Tails looked over to each other in contemplation.
Knuckles placed the Chaos Emerald near the Master Emerald and told Sally to stand back. He then raised his hands, closed his eyes, and concentrated hard. "The servers are the seven chaos…" he recited, "Chaos is power, power that is enriched by the heart… The server is the one that unifies the chaos. We need all the power we can get!"
His eyes snapped open. "Give us the charge that we need! Give more power to the Chaos Emerald!"
The Master Emerald glowed brightly, and shot out energy strikes. One strike hit the Chaos Emerald, raising it to the air. Another strike hit it, and the Chaos Emerald began to grow twice in size. Sally watched, amazed. The Chaos Emerald was actually becoming stronger!
It had become a Super Emerald!
The strikes lightened up, and the Master Emerald dimmed. Knuckles lowered his arms, and picked up the newly made Super Emerald.
"Nice job, Knuckles," said Sally, "I see what you're getting at. Still…" she glowered, "One emerald, super or not, still won't be enough to fight the enemies."
"I'm aware," Knuckles hoisted the emerald over his shoulder, "That's why I'm going to reunite it with the rest of the emeralds!"
Sally's eyes widened. "That IS crazy!" she cried, "I don't know if I can permit you to go along with that."
"Well, have you any better ideas?"
For once, Sally had nothing. The emeralds were their only chance at saving the world. She hated to see her friends put in danger, but what else could she do? This was Knuckles' decision, and he could take care of himself.
All she could offer was a kiss for good luck.