Knuckles and the Chaotix
After setting up the Chaotix to keep an eye on the master emerald, Knuckles and Athair began to discuss the recent theft attempt on the master emerald.
"Grandfather, how in the world did this happen?!" Knuckles asked in shock. "I thought the Nocturnus clan had gone extinct generations ago!"
"No, not extinct, it turns out. Just quiet, and biding their time." Athair replied sadly. "Although I believe your parents knew, Pakal and Aluicron chose to keep such knowledge to themselves,"
"After the Nocturnus learned the Angel Island tribe had been wiped out, they decided to try to take the master emerald for themselves." Athair explained. "I believe they desire to unleash the powerful evil creature trapped within that gemstone, and use it's power to destroy the world."
"The Chaos monster!?" Knuckles asked in disbelief. "That beast is a destroyer of Ehidnas! Why in the name of mobuis would they want to revive that creature?!"
"Ix desires power, my boy. That is all he cares about." The sage shook his head. "He believes he can control everything, in his arrogance."
"Those vicious monsters." Knuckles snarled. "Have they no echidna honor?"
"The Nocturnus are worse than you think. Ix is actually the one who sent those warriors who killed the owl, Longclaw, when his warriors attempted to seize power." The sage sighed. "Our tribe merely wanted Sonic and Longclaw brought in for questioning, not wanting them being slain. And none of our warriors would have made that mistake."
"But my father said he was the one that sent those warriors!" Knuckles replied in shock. "He told me that they disobeyed his orders, and killed her by mistake!"
"That was your father's stubborn pride, he didn't want anyone else to know the Nocturnus were still a threat." Athair explained. "It was easier to take credit, than to admit our ancient enemies were still around."
"Madness, simply madness..." Knuckles shook his head."I will have to set up shifts with the Chaotix guarding the master emerald. Do not worry, great-grandfather... the gemstone shall never be taken from us!"
...
And so, the shifts came and went, each member of the Chaotix taking a turn with Knuckles protecting the emerald. This gave the echidna the opportunity to get to know each one of them, and it was here that Knuckles learned a lot about his new friends.
"Noble echidna, I wish to truly apologize for what had occurred the other day." Espio bowed politely to Knuckles, before they both sat down on the steps of the master emerald altar. "Being detectives, we should have investigated the situation when you showed up, instead of attacking."
"Awww, that's all right, don't worry about it." Knux just shrugged it off. "I do gotta say though, your Ninjaskills are top-notch, you almost defeated me the other day, all by yourself."
"I am honored by your words, noble warrior." The chameleon inclined his head. "I am always striving to improve my skills, and become both a better warrior, and better person."
"I can see that." Knuckles replied. "Tell me, how did you end up with those other two?"
"I was travelling with a fellow student, named Grasshopper, who journeyed with me to the western lands." Espio explained. "I was tricked by a con man-named Wes Weasley- and stood accused of a crime. Vector, who was already a detective, took my case. He cleared my name, and I've been a member of his Chaotix ever since."
"Impressive, you seem like quite a team." The echidna added. "Since you are detectives, have you solved many cases together?"
"Oh yes, we have stopped many criminals. Like the time we busted up a mob racket in the Casino Night Zone." Espio replied. "Or when we stopped several pirate raids on the emerald coast, by the nefarious pirates, Captain Plunder and Captain Memo."
"Whoa, seems like your team is a formidable force." The echidna nodded his head with approval. "You are a great ninja, my friend, who possesses much honor."
Later on, Knuckles was put on a watch with Charmy Bee, who was so talkative, Knuckles wonders if he even needed to take a breath.
"...So yeah, vector took me in and adopted me after my whole hive got wiped out by a whole nest of wasps!" Charmy told him, buzzing around the master emerald altar excitedly. "With all of my family gone, the Chaotix are my hive now!"
"Well... that's one way of looking at it." The bewildered echidna replied. "Did they help you to avenge the death of your old hive?"
"Oh yeah! That mean old wasp warlord, Count Vesper, we kicked his butt, real good!" Charmy replied excitedly, doing several punches in the air. "We beat em' up, and turned em' over to the cops on south island! They got tried for -uh-uh- I can't' think what Vector called it..."
"Crimes of war?" Knuckles offered, scratching his head.
"Yeah, that's it! War crimes!" Charmy agreed, buzzing around excitedly again. "They made em' pay for what happened to my mom, the queen..." Charmy's antenna drooped. "...I try not to think about it, if I don't have to."
"Sorry for bringing up such bad memories." Knuckles apologized, looking at the upset little kid beside him. "Hey, want to play hide and go seek?"
"Yaaay, that sounds like a whole lot of fun!" Charmy buzzed around, excited again. "Vector and Espio never have time for games! You're the best, Mister Knuckles!"
BY the early hours of Dawn, the Echidna found himself on watch with Vector, whom he had a lot to say to.
"So, the other two seemed to speak highly of you." Knuckles told the crocdile, who was listening to the echidna with one ear hole, and jamming to his headphone music with the other. "You seem to have done a lot for both of them."
"Yeah, what can I say? I am a sucker for hard luck cases." Vector shrugged. "I guess it's because I grew up on the street, by myself, after my old man and old woman ditched me, ya know? I don't wanna see anyone else thrown away."
"Your parents abandoned you?!" Knuckles stared at the crocodile, astonished. "That's terrible!"
"Eh, mom and pop said they had one too many eggs in the clutch, they said, too many mouths to feed." Vector gestured towards his gold chains, and his headphones. "I survived by joining the gangs, and learning that money and violence are what keep you alive. I just listen to my music, and try to forget the horrible things I saw my fellow gang members do to innocent people while I was growing up."
"Then... that's why you took in Charmy and Espio, isn't it?" Knuckles asked, understanding and sympathy in his voice. "So they would not end up cast out as you were."
"Hey, it'snot all charity! The three of us still focus mainly on getting cash!" Vector pointed out, pointing his index finger into his palm. "Besides, I've assembled a versatile team, for any type of case; Charmy can fly, I can swim, and Espio is a stealth and fighting machine on land! I saved them because they are useful to me!"
"Uh huh, suuuure..." Knuckles chuckled, not believing Vector's bluster for a second.
As the two continued to talk, they did not hear the soft sound of flapping wings approaching them from behind. Suddenly, Knuckles got hit by a surprise flying spin kick to the back of his head. The blow sent the echidna flying.
"Sorry, handsome, but I need that emerald." Rouge stated, landing next to the giant gemstone. "My employer is going to give me a million shining jewels for this one oversized one... not a bad deal!"
Spinning to face Knux's attacker, Vector reached up and touched a button on his headset. "Charmy, Espio... wake up and get to the emerald altar, quick! We have a- UGH!"
The crocodile was cut off, as a kick from Shade sent him flying, as well. As Knuckles and vector quickly pulled themselves back to their feet, the two ladies and a dozen Nocturnus warriors closed in on the master emerald.
"Emperor Ix will be very pleased..." The female echidna smiled. "The master emerald is ours..."
Next: The great emerald robbery.
