-1Chapter 20: An Unexpected Challenger

The next day, Espio burned Vector's body to honor his sacrifice. Without him, nobody would have survived that night. After they left the Mystic Caverns, they started making their way back to Westopolis when a helicopter flew down and a figure jumped out.
"It's time!" the fighter said, in the shape of Tick of the Arcane Renegades.
Sonic clenched his fists, "You're one of them aren't you!?!"
Tick grinned, "Yeah, and you killed my brother! I'll never forgive you for that! NOW PREPARE TO DIE!"
Espio came forward, "You're not fighting for Eggman, are you? You're fighting for your brother's death, and for that, we have no reason to oppose you. Your brother died following orders, don't die the same way," he tried to reason.
"What do you mean?" Tick asked, getting into a fighting stance.
"Your brother died because he was trying to obey the orders of his superiors, you have no superiors, don't fight us because they said so…fight us because you want too," Espio continued to explain, and Tick got out of his fighting stance.
Sonic looked at Espio, "What are you doing? He's the enemy!" he said, approaching Espio angrily.
Espio calmly looked at Sonic, "Look," he said, "your quarrel isn't with him…he never killed anybody, he was being controlled by a friend and his brother. He had no say in the matter, he's too young to be completely consumed by evil."
Sonic stopped in his tracks and sighed, "I guess you're right," he agreed, "Your name is Tick, isn't it?" Sonic asked.
Tick slowly nodded, "I'm not going to deny it," Sonic started back up again, "I killed your brother…but it was in a state of rage and hatred that I never should've had. I apologize for your loss, but we've had losses of ourselves, and that's what comes of war."
Tick started to sniff, and rubbed his eyes, "Why'd he have to die? I loved him, he was my brother! I have nobody now, what am I supposed to do?" he asked, now crying.
Wave comforted him, "You can travel with us, and help us stop Dr. Eggman!" she said, looking for support from the others, which she got none.
"Fine," Sonic finally said.

Back at Dr. Eggman's laboratory, Eggman along with his two top warriors: Lunar and Zephyr were personally overseeing the development of the updated version of Eggman's machine. Now called the Rejuvenation Chamber version 2.0, this would put Eggman in top physical form, as well as mental form, and return him to his youth.
"How long until the development phase it complete doctor?" Lunar asked.
"Let's see…" Eggman thought for a while, doing the math in his head, "I would say about two more days should do it with this new development team, and when it is I will be unstoppable!" he laughed.
Lunar smiled, his tail wagging back and fourth, "Now, I have a job for you, Zephyr," Dr. Eggman said, and Zephyr immediately gave Eggman his attention, "I've gotten reports that Tick has betrayed our causes, and now travels with Sonic and his friends, who have also escaped from the Mystic Caverns alive with the final Chaos Emerald. I want you to stop them and bring me the emerald."
"An entire group of bandits wasn't enough to bring them down, what makes you think Zephyr can do it alone?" Lunar growled.
"Because," Eggman started, "You two are the finest warriors alive, finding you was perhaps the single greatest achievement in my life, just then, the doors opened and a familiar face walked in.
"Spike? You're alive? But how?" Eggman asked in an amazed voice.
Spike was bleeding all over his body, and it appeared that every bone in his body was broken, he collapsed as he entered the room, "P-please E-Eggman, give me one-one more chance…" the porcupine pleaded.
Lunar and Zephyr looked disgusted at the failure, "Well," Dr. Eggman thought, "I guess I could put you at my first line of defenses."
"What do you mean?" Lunar asked.
"You mean you don't get it Lunar? Well, let me explain," Dr. Eggman said, "At the front of the laboratory, Spike will greet Sonic and his friends at put them in their place once and for all in order to finally complete his contract," he said as Spike lay sprawled out on the floor.
"You're going to allow that fool to fight in your lab?" Zephyr asked, the first words he'd spoken in a while.
"Not in my lab, right outside it," Eggman explained, "and I have something special planned for Spike's new training program as well!" he laughed.

Meanwhile, Sonic and his friends were traveling as fast as they could to Eggman's laboratory to finally put an end to this feud once and for all.