AN: This chapter was, by far, the hardest I've had to write. What a doozy.

The gang stepped through a hidden door, emerging into the icy thrall of a violent wind. They were once again outside the fortress, watching the wild flames of a burning fire smoulder in the distance. Vector could just barely make out the scorched remains of a dragon's tail, though the dragon in question was nowhere to be seen. He quickly assumed that Orbot and Cubot had fled the scene, thinking it the wisest decision they had ever made.

Creeping along the ash covered grass, the crocodile peered around the castle wall, his eyes resting upon three figures sprawled along the floor, a set of hoverboards lying nearby. The Babylon Rogues were unconscious, but the croc knew from their gently heaving chests that they were still alive. The clones, however, were nowhere to be seen.

There was a distinct puddle of murky brown liquid spreading beneath them, soaking into their clothes and dampening their feathers. It resembled dirty water, though much thicker, like a film clinging to their bodies. Glancing up to the sky, Vector saw no signs of a storm, nor had he any recollection of it having rained recently. He was baffled.

With a hushed whisper, the croc gestured for the group to follow him into the open, his shoulders tense as a chill crept down his spine. An awful sense of foreboding followed him like a dark cloud, feeling heavy upon his back. The soft crunch of trampled grass seemed to echo through the eerily empty island, making his nerves jitter and jolt.

Only after leaving the shadows did Vector realize just how exposed they all were. With nothing to hide behind, and no way of defending themselves, the crocodile found it hard to keep his concentration. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself a brief moment of composure, forcing his hands to stop trembling by curling them into fists.

There was a possibility that Eion was merely using the Rogues as bait to lure them out, though it could also have been a result of their battle with the clones. It was impossible to tell, and the croc didn't particularly want to dwell on it. Robotnik said the creature was playing a game. If he wanted them dead, surely he would have killed them by now?

'Espio, Silver, keep a look out.' He ordered, bending on one knee as he examined the strange, brown substance.

The ugly fluid clung to his fingers as he scooped up a handful of the thick, viscous concoction. Rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger, he brought it to his nose and gave it a quick sniff, surprised to find that it had no discernible smell. He found it comparable to syrup, with the slight elasticity of rubber.

'What the heck is this stuff?' He whispered, wiping his glove on the dirty grass.

A soft rustle of fabric brought the detective's attention to Eggman, who had promptly joined him on the floor, one arm balanced on his bent knee. The man seemed rather indifferent to the Rogue's plight, almost as though he were seeing something entirely unremarkable. Clearing his throat, the croc gave Robotnik a curious look, wondering how the man could remain so calm under such tremendous duress.

'Do you think the clones got them?' Silver asked, eyes roaming the landscape. The pattern on his gloves glowed a faint blue, fingers twitching slightly. He was on edge.

'This,' The doctor began, holding up a handful of the goo. 'Is the clones.'

Silver gasped, spinning round with a look of horror on his face. The chameleon also angled his head back, lips parting just a little. At first Vector merely laughed, thinking it to be nothing more than a poorly timed joke, but when Robotnik's face never changed, the croc's expression grew grim, his stomach beginning to churn as he realized what he'd been touching.

In a panic, he started to violently shake his hand in the air, trying to remove the last dregs of gunk from his fingers. Charmy, on the other hand, was fascinated by the unappealing sludge, reaching out a small hand to place his palm atop the sticky substance. Espio leaned in and smacked his hand away, scolding him for doing so.

'That stuff is the clones!?' The hedgehog choked, his voice cracking.

'Yes,' Eggman smiled, getting to his feet. 'That is what they're made of.'

'B..B..But, how is that possible!?' Silver stammered, aghast.

'They were made from a synthetic material which allowed me to mould them into whatever I saw fit. All I needed was your DNA and a test tube. The rest is History.'

The psychic's jaw hung open, his eyes blinking back his confusion. Everything about Ivo seemed to defy the laws of nature, and whenever he tried to explain himself it only seemed to convoluted matters. With a pounding head, the hedgehog turned around and went back to his post, finding it far less difficult than trying to comprehend anything Robotnik said.

Upon seeing the group's bewilderment, Eggman calmly waved a hand in the air. 'Nevermind, nevermind. Just think of it as the marvels of science!'

Vector came forward with a sour mien, scraping the muck from his glove with a leaf. Regardless of how the replicas were made, or what they were made from, it didn't change the fact that a once fully functioning creature was now nothing more than a pile of slush. The concept both frightened and disgusted him.

'What happened here?' He quizzed, nodding at the unconscious thieves. 'If those guys won the fight, why're they out cold?'

'The clones were strong but unstable. With enough force they could easily be destroyed. What you're seeing now is the result of their demise. It's likely the resulting implosion knocked the Rogues right out of the sky.'

With a grunt, the crocodile solemnly shook his head, wanting nothing more than to shut his eyes and pretend that it was all a terrible nightmare.

Tapping his toes against the grass, Vector felt the reassuring rattle of the remote slamming against his ankle. Once they'd gotten the Rogues to the safety of the lab, they could finally set about defeating Eion. It was their last chance, and they couldn't afford to waste it.

Exhaling slowly, he stooped down to scoop up Storm, tearing the Albatross from what remained of the replicas. Hurling him over his shoulder, the detective winced when Storm's foot bounced off his wounded arm, sending a jolt of agony through his body. His open cut still caused him a tremendous amount of pain.

Espio bent down to grab Wave, whilst Silver opted for Jet, squirming when the sticky fluid splattered down his shoes. It was then that he noticed the pebbles at his feet, bouncing around in an unusual manner. A heavy vibration pulsed underneath him, causing the hedgehog to stumble. Turning round, he found himself gazing upon something so repulsive that he was almost forced to look away.

Before the burning tower, floating like some harbinger of death, was Eion, that metallic, screeching laugh grazing their ears like the strings of a broken violin. He was incomplete, and it certainly showed in the creature's disfigured, grotesque appearance. There were no feathered wings, no heavenly aura, no choir of angels. It was the opposite of everything they had expected to see.

Nega's transformation had not been well received, resembling something more akin to a demon than a God. The ring which was intended as a throne had instead become a part of the creature, with sections of the deity's flesh pulled taut against the metal. A muscular body was clothed in thin cloth, hanging loose where the legs should have been. Two arms clung to the circle, pale blue veins clearly viable against the ashen skin.

When it raised it's bald head, Eion's face appeared to be missing certain elements. A pair of dark eyes were all that sat upon it's drawn skull, lacking both a nose and a mouth. Yet despite this, it was still capable of producing a sinister cackle.

Silver glanced at Vector, seeing the sheer terror reflected in the croc's eyes. Heart pounding against his chest, breath short, the psychic dashed forward with Jet dangling behind him, snapping his fingers before the croc's face. Broken from his trance, the detective took a wary step back, jaw flapping uselessly.

'RUN!'

The hedgehog screamed as loud as his lungs would allow, expelling every amount of oxygen that was inside them. Without needing to be told twice, the entire group fled towards the fortress, tripping over their own feet in a mad frenzy to escape Eion's clutches. They weren't even sure why the were heading for the castle, blindly scattering towards the place farthest from the creature.

A burst of fire erupted at Espio's legs, causing the startled chameleon to jump a few inches into the air. Flames licked at his heels, leaving a trail of smoke as he ran. Panting heavily, the ninja barely managed to evade a second attack, recoiling at the scorching ball of heat that flew past his head.

'Look out!'

Charmy flew towards Silver, his hands crashing into the hedgehog's waist to send him spiralling to the ground. Jet rolled out of his grip, coming to a stop near the shrine wall. Pushing himself into a crouch, the psychic glanced at the spot where he had previously been, staring at the black ring of burnt grass. Eion was close behind, hands outstretched as he prepared to follow-up his attack.

Grabbing the bee under an arm, Silver lurched for the hawk and launched himself into another sprint, rounding the corner of the fortress just in time to avoid being hit with another fireball. Placing his back against the cold steel, he inhaled copious amounts of oxygen, his chest stinging from exertion.

'What should we do?' He breathlessly asked. 'We can't fight with the Rogues on our back.'

Vector sat Storm against the wall, sweat dripping from his brow. Reaching a hand to his face, he used the back of his glove to wipe away the perspiration, watching as it soaked into the soil below. His nostrils flared as he tried to fill his lungs, a faint shimmer of wavering light illuminating off his naked scalp.

'Leave em'.'

'We can't do that!'

Using his index finger, the croc pointed to the slumped albatross, 'That thing don't want them, it wants us. Leave em'.'

The group were dubious, shuffling from foot to foot with uncertainty. Yet Vector remained positive that he was making the right decision, troubled only by the thought of such hesitation getting them killed. If they were to survive, his team mates would have to trust him, however crazy his plan may have been.

'We should take them to the lab!' Silver insisted, desperation in his voice. 'It's not safe here, they could be hurt, or worse!'

'There's no time!'

The croc's deep voice echoed throughout the island, but he didn't care. Their enemy had not followed them, leaving another dissonant serenity that was far from welcomed. Like a mischievous child playing hide and seek, Eion had vanished once again, taking great pleasure in the psychological torment this caused his foes. It was an unsettling trait that he shared with Nega.

'No, we gotta' end this now.' Vector continued, restlessly pacing back and forth. 'So long as he's chasin' us, the Rogues'll be okay.'

The detective was making up his plan as he went, having little clue as to how he was going to achieve his goal, but sincerely hoping that his intuition would lead them to success. First and foremost they would have to get back inside the fortress, an act that Vector knew would be far more difficult than it appeared. But he had a plan, and using the knowledge he'd gathered would allow him all the leverage he needed.

The cannons were no longer in effect, allowing them easy access to the main entrance. If that failed, they could enter through the open roof, though this was less of a valid option considering only Silver and Charmy were capable of reaching such heights. It did, however, provide them with an alternative in case things went awry.

'And what's our third option?' Silver asked, folding his arms across his chest.

'We get on our knees and pray for mercy.' The croc laughed, trying for a comic angle. When no one humoured him, he flushed a little. 'Well, uh, I guess we should get on with it.'

Using his camouflage, Espio scurried out from behind the wall, surveying his surroundings for any sign of the enemy. He was given specific instructions to play Eion at his own game, acting as bait to lure the wily God out of his hiding place. This would have been a tremendous risk, if the chameleon didn't have so much faith in his boss.

At first things ran smoothly, with the ninja successfully reaching the sturdy, wooden doors that led into the fort. It wasn't until he placed a hand upon the splintered surface that Eion struck, hurling himself at the entrance in an attempt to crush Espio with his body. Reacting quickly, the chameleon leapt into the air, kicking himself off the wall in a somersault.

It was difficult to pinpoint his target's position, as he could flawlessly move about without so much as a sound. Being able to see through the ninja's tricks made evasion twice as hard, but Espio knew that his only goal was to buy the others enough time to complete their mission. That was easy. Trying not to get killed posed the biggest challenge.

Cartwheeling to avoid a ball of flame, Espio lost his footing, letting out a yelp when he fell on his back. Rolling to the side as Eion returned, he found himself pinned to the ground by the opposing creature, it's vicious eyes alight with excitement. Like a child plucking the wings from a harmless fly, he began to slowly pull on Espio's arms with all the intent of ripping them clean off.

'Hey, ugly!'

Turning his head, the entity released a gutteral scream at the sight of Vector waving the remote in the air, a cocky smile revealing his pointed teeth. Abandoning the ninja where he lay, Eion instead chased after the croc, who immediately took off in the opposite direction. Unfortunately his legs got tangled in his own tail, bringing him to the ground and sending the remote skidding halfway along the stone path.

Using his telekinesis, the hedgehog swiped the remote from beneath Eion's grasp, using the temporary confusion to his advantage. He was fastest when flying, but despite his supernatural ability, he was no match for a God. When it grew painfully apparent that he was going to be caught, the psychic lobbed a psychic knife at him, gasping when Eion absorbed the energy without a flinch.

'Eggman!'

The teen's words were muffled by the crushing weight of Eion's shoulder pushing into his cheek like the force of unbearable gravity. Gagging, he used a powerful pulse wave to deliver the remote to Robotnik, who rushed forward to scoop it up with both hands.

For a large man, he was astonishingly spry, moving at a determined sprint as he turned the corner, almost slipping on a bit of soggy mulch. Suddenly cold, he stifled a shiver, forcing his lethargic body to go on despite it's protests. When he heard the familiar hum of buzzing wings, he whistled to attract the bee's attention, reaching back an arm as he tossed the device to a waiting Charmy.

Fumbling with the remote, the child accidentally let it slip through his fingers with a clatter, watching as it slid into the gap and down onto the shrine below. Peeking over the edge, he caught sight of the small rectangle lying just beside the Master Emerald. Inhaling, he cautiously flew down into the room, his erratic wings droning loudly in the silence.

'You can do this Charmy,' He boldly told himself, clenching his fists into tight balls. 'Just grab the remote and push the button. It's easy! Not like collecting top secret discs or anything.'

Grabbing the device with his hands, the child aimed it at the shimmering jewel and pressed his thumb down, closing his eyes as though he expected something terrible to occur. There was a faint whirring noise, followed by an Earth shattering wail that caused the boy to drop the remote with a start.

Pale fingers clasped the edge of the roof with such force that the steel was beginning to soften. An invading creak brought the bee's hands to his ears, and though he tried to run, the revelation that his feet were rooted to the spot left him helpless and afraid. He couldn't move, the fear of Eion's presence holding him hostage to his own body.

'I WILL RIP YOUR WINGS OFF!'

They were the first words the creature had spoken, and they sounded almost as terrifying as he appeared. It were as though the souls of everyone he had absorbed were crying out in fury. A haunting, torturous choir of lost spirits clawing at the very flesh and blood of their inescapable oubliette.

Thrusting himself towards the vulnerable child, Eion's furious gaze seemed to burn into Charmy's flesh, making the boy break out in a cold sweat. It wasn't until the being almost reached him that the child had a revelation. The barrier was down, but he wasn't strong enough to break the stone. The God, however, was.

Remembering Robotnik's words, the bee waited until the last possible minute to dodge the creature, flitting to the side with barely enough space to avoid being hit. With no time to slow down, Eion released one final howl before crashing into the Emerald, the subsequent eruption sending a shower of shards everywhere. Many landed in piles upon the floor, but some were swept away by the wind.

The room fell into darkness, with only a thin beam of moonlight to illuminate the carnage. Sitting down on the cool floor, Charmy let out the breath he was holding, eyeing the now empty spot where the Master Emerald had once been. It had all happened with such speed that he hadn't the time to comprehend the situation.

'Charmy, ya okay in there!?'

Vector's voice reverberated off the walls, rousing the child from his stupefied state. Jumping up, the bee shook his wings free of dirt and soil, listening to the soft, comforting sound as it crumbled at his feet. From above, there came an incessant clanging noise, followed by the crocodile's head peering in through the open ceiling. Silver was beside him, concern in both of their eyes.

'I'm fine, just a bit shook up.' The boy replied, patting his hands free of dust.

'Charmy, ya did it, ya broke the Emerald!' The croc exclaimed, glancing at the shattered gem.

'No I didn't!' The child replied, eagerly shaking his head. 'It was an accident, I didn't mean to!'

A low groan seeped out from behind the shrine, accompanied by the clink of shards tumbling to the floor. Whimpering, Nega's hand slapped against the dull stone, fingers shaking as he tried to pull himself into view. Cuts and bruises sullied the man's face, his moustache singed at the ends. His spectacles were cracked, and his coat tails torn. A thin sliver of blood dribbled down his face, dripping spots of crimson onto the floor.

Outside the sky was clear, the four beams of protective light having vanished in an instant. At last the spell was broken, Eion was finally gone, and in a moment of clarity, the crocodile smiled, feeling genuinely happy for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. They had done it, using nothing but their wits and a remote. It was almost funny.

When Eggman saw Silver descend with the dishevelled scientist, his mild smirk turned into an amused grin, that arrogant disposition returning once again. With a sorrowful mien, the broken man started to whimper, his hands held behind his back by the irate hedgehog. Both he and Vector had wanted nothing more than to smack the troublesome engineer in his face, yet a mixture of self control, relief and fatigue had prevented them from doing do.

'It wasn't me!' Nega whined, his face pleading with the croc. 'I was tricked! It was all Eggman! I'm innocent. You believe me, don't you Silver?'

The furious psychic was about to deliver his knee into the man's back, when a sudden shriek of excitement from the bee brought his head up to the horizon. Grip going slack, he released the doctor, causing him to fall forward on all fours. Just as they'd predicted, destroying the Master Emerald had provided them with everything they needed to right what had gone so terribly wrong, turning their nightmare into a pleasant dream.

As though they had never been gone, Knuckles and Tiara were gallantly walking across the island, their pace steady yet determined as they struggled against their physical impairments. Espio felt he might collapse, whilst Charmy started to sing a cheerful serenade at their arrival. The detective, meanwhile, was busy sniffling into his glove.

'How are you feeling?'

Knuckles threw the ninja a toothy grin, 'Like I had my soul ripped out.'

'Touche.' The chameleon smiled, almost afraid to touch the echidna. 'It's really you, right?'

'In the flesh.' With a sincere beam, the guardian gave his friend a cheeky thumbs up, turning to Vector with a sidelong grin. 'What's the matter, something in your eye?'

'No!' The hunched detective spurted, trying to keep his voice from wavering. 'I'm just allergic to cryin' is all.'

The detective plucked a tear from his cheek, overcome with a great elation that everything was going to be okay. The Master Emerald had shattered, Angel Island was littered with the corpses of battered droids, and he was certain many of them would need therapy after the events of that night. But on the other hand they had revived their friends, defeated a God and essentially saved the world.

Nega, too weak to stand, scrambled forward on his hands and knees in what appeared to be a futile escape attempt. This was, however, thwarted by the manx, who stomped her foot down on the man's hand with enough force to make him yelp. Cupping his fingers, the scientist gazed into the raging, blue eyes of Tiara, her fists tightly clenched.

'This,' She said, her voice tinged with a menacing wrath. 'Is for being a complete jerk!'

Bringing back her arm, the angry cat sent her fist smashing into Nega's jaw, knocking him unconscious in one fell swoop. Falling in a crumpled heap, Tiara cracked her knuckles in satisfaction, turning with a flick of the hair and storming over to Robotnik. Without bothering to flinch, the man braced himself for the oncoming slap.

I deserved that, He thought to himself, rubbing at his aching flesh.

'That. Was. Awesome!' Charmy joyfully proclaimed, thrusting his arms into the air with a light hearted chuckle.

Smoothing down her skirt, Tiara pulled back her loose hair, tying the undone ribbon around her thick locks. Once everything was back to it's pristine condition, barring a few spots of dirt and dust, the tomboy cleared her throat, bending her knees in a polite curtsey. It was something that even the Chaotix could not have predicted, making her appear rather sweet.

'Thank you very much. No words can describe how grateful I am.' Her smile soon faded when she realized someone was missing. 'Where's my dad?'

'He's safe,' The croc replied, placing a reassuring hand on her head. 'We're gonna' take you to him, just as soon as we get off this place.'

'Erm, Vector.' Espio quizzed, tapping his boss on the shoulder. 'How exactly are we going to get off this place?'

Silently cursing, the detective winced when he remembered that they had no way of actually leaving Angel Island. neither of his airborne friends were in much of a state to fly anywhere, and he saw no other method of transport. Looking to Eggman for support, the croc's hopes were once again dashed when the scientist merely shrugged in reply, a large hand print still staining his cheek.

After everything they had managed to overcome, the crocodile couldn't believe that they were about to be defeated by a floating isle. Rubbing his throbbing temples, he sighed a heavy sigh, trying to figure out something, anything, that could be of any possible help. He didn't have to think for long, however, as a powerful gust of wind blew leaves and debris at the team, forcing them to shield their eyes from the ensuing bluster.

'Hey guys, did you miss me?'

Like an angel sent from Heaven, Tails sat atop the Sky Dragon, waving enthusiastically at the group. Orbot and Cubot were riding alongside him, the sphere enjoying music from his newly acquired Walkman. Once again the croc found himself on the verge of tears, so wrought with exhilarating joy that he could have kissed the fox.

'Good job half-pint!' Silver yelled, hurrying over to the boy.

'Sorry it took me so long, but I had to take care of the Professor.' He pat the dragon's metal frame with a hand, noting the robot's missing tail. 'Hold on tight, this guy's a little unsteady.'

'Oh boy, you wouldn't believe the crazy night we've had.' Vector said, running a hand along his scalp.

'Hop on.' Miles replied. 'I want to hear all about it.'