Episode 30: The Phantom Ruby Part 1
Somewhere in the jungle area of Angel Island, Dr. Eggman is watching his two digging robots digging deep into the earth. Dr. Eggman types on his computer and on the computer shows the underground where the digger moles are digging. Then it shows the reading that the robots are finding underground.
"Ahh… the readings are much stronger here. If I'm correct, I should be able to find more data or maybe even…" Dr. Eggman says, but stops to hear beeping sound.
Dr. Eggman looks at his computer to see it beeping and show strong energy readings. Eggman chuckles with a sinister smile.
Then he says, "Yes… I've finally found it."
One of his robots brings out a crane and places it underground. Then it lifts back up to reveal a strange looking gem. The gem is shaped like an icosahedron that has curved up points. The stone is a magenta color with black ripple pattern along the surface.
"At last, I have found a stone that has the same energy as the Chaos Emerald and the key to putting an end to Sonic and Eve once and for all… the Phantom Ruby," Eggman says.
Meanwhile, in Haven, Knuckles and Eve explain to Locke and the other guardians about Moritori Rex's true identity and their reason for coming here. Locke and the guardians find the news to be shocking.
"I must admit, I find this shocking. To think there's a Dark Legionnaire right under our noses," Locke says.
"It's shocking to us when the real Tobor told us his story. However, he's dealing with Kragok in Twilight Zone," Knuckles says.
"And with him having infiltrated you for all these decades, he has a pretty idea of how this place is run. He can easily have the Dark Legion launch an attack," Eve says.
"I believe you're right. This is just the thing they do," Locke replies.
"Must admit sis, you got some guts facing Kragok," Sonic says.
"That is true, but still…" Eve says.
She sighs and says, "It feels that every time I'm learning more about my family's history, especially from my dad's."
"Seems understandable, giving how your parent's couldn't tell you when you were younger," Sojourner says.
"Yeah. But now that the Dark Legion knows I'm part of Dimitri's bloodline, they'll stop at nothing until I join them," Eve says.
"You mean when Black Doom and the Black Arms want you and Shadow to join them because you're related by blood?" Sonic asks.
"Yes. But what they're doing seems to be worse," Eve says.
"That will not happen," Knuckles says, slamming his fist on the tale.
Julie-Su says, "That won't be easy. The Dark Legion are persistent. For now, let's focus on what Dr. Eggman is up to."
"You're right, Dr. Eggman is still on the island somewhere," Tails says.
"Yes, and he appears to be searching for something," Sabre says.
"What do you mean?" Eve asks.
Thunderhawk says, "We've been monitoring Dr. Eggman for two days now and he appears to be using some robots to dig around the island. He seems to be searching for something."
"He's looking for something. Now that sounds like trouble," Sonic says.
"If Dr. Eggman is searching for something then it must have a purpose to whatever he's planning," Eve says.
"You're right. Knowing Eggman, he had to be sure no one was around to see him, Question is: Where is the Egghead now?" Sonic adds.
Eve turns to Thunderhawk, "Thunderhawk, you said that you've been monitoring Dr. Eggman. Do you think you can figure out where he is now?"
"Hmm, we'll see what we can do," Thunderhawk says.
Locke and Thunderhawk walk to the monitors and type in the coordinates. Knuckles, Sonic, Eve, and Tails look at the screen to see the jungle area of the island. Soon, they see Dr. Eggman on the screen. They also see robots digging into the ground. Then a crane raises some kind of strange magenta colors stone.
"There he is. He is digging for something," Eve says.
"But what's that the robot is holding?" Sonic asks.
"Some kind of stone?" Knuckles says, confused.
"All this trouble for a rock?" Sonic says, confused.
Eve turns to Sonic, "I don't think that stone is an ordinary one. What if that's the one that gives off the strange readings."
"I'm willing to bet it is. Question is: Why is Dr. Eggman searching for that particular stone?" Remington replies.
"Our only option is to go to the Jungle Zone of the Island and find out for ourselves," Eve says.
"Then let's go stop Dr. Eggman and whatever he's cooking up," Sonic says.
He then begins to head off to the airship, but Eve says, "Hold on Sonic!"
Suddenly, Sonic stops and speeds back to Eve, "What is it, sis? We got Dr. Eggman and his annoying robots to stop."
"I know, but what about Haven. We need to take precautions here as well," Eve says.
"She's right. The Dark Legion could attack this place while we're gone and we still need to find Moritori Rex," Knuckles says.
"How do we plan on finding him around Angel Island when he knows we're on to him?" Sonic asks.
"Sonic right. For all we know, he could have joined up with the Dark Legion by now," Tails says.
"There's two major problems we need to deal with and it seems that any one of those problems can be severe if they're not taken care of," Remington says.
"Then our best bet is to split up the ground. Sonic, Tails, and I can take Care of Eggman. Locke and the Guardians can stay here and put high security in Haven in case any of the Legion comes. Lara-Le, Remington, you two should stay here and help Locke. Knuckles, Julie-Su, you're with is to stop Dr. Eggman," Eve says.
"Seems fair," Remington says.
Sonic laughs, "Way to take charge sis."
"Chao Chao," Jazz replies with a smile.
"Thanks," Eve says.
At the hanger, Sonic, Eve, Tails, Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Jazz gather at the airship and are ready to take off.
Lara-Le waves goodbye, "Bye, make sure you're safe."
"We will," Julie-Su says.
Knuckles says, "Alright, we're ready to take off."
Tails sits at the driver seat and starts the engine. Then the airship flies right out of Haven and through the blizzard. Locke then turns to the guardians, Lara-Le, and Remington.
"I guess we should get working on the security system," Locke says.
The previous guardians nod their heads and head off to take care of the situation at hand. Locke, Lara-Le, and Remington follow them to Haven.
Lara-Le asks, "Locke, do you think Moritori Rex will hurt Eve."
"Judging by the present, I highly doubt it," Locke says.
"I have to agree. It seems that Moritori Rex seems to know something about her and that would explain why he asked about her from time to time," Locke says.
"What?" Lara-Le asks.
Locke sighs, "I didn't want to say it in front of Eve, but when I thought Moritori was Tobor, he kept asking about Eve. He can tell she is a hedgehog because of her long quills on the back of her head and two quills on her back, but also noticed dreadlocks Eve close to her face."
"Seems that there's more huh?" Lara-Le replies.
Locke nods his head, "Yes. I'll explain it to you when we begin construction. It's a rather long story."
On the airship, Eve looks at the small present she has received from her grandfather from her father's side of the family. Eve touches the quills from the back of her head and then touches the two dreadlocks on both sides of her head.
Knuckles sits next to Eve and asks, "You okay there?"
"I'm okay, just thinking," Eve says.
"Thinking about what happened in Haven?" Knuckles asks.
Eve sighs, "It's more than that. Do you think I'm weird?"
"Why'd you think that?" Knuckles asks.
Sonic sighs, "You haven't been worried about your uh, appearance in years."
"Huh?" Knuckles says, confused.
Before Sonic can speak, Eve says, "I'll tell him Sonic."
Then turns to Knuckles, "I guess I sometimes feel a bit… different, and not just because of my powers. I have quills on the back of my head and on my back that I got from my mom, but I have two dreadlocks from my dad, not to mention the Chaos Control from the Black Arms."
Eve then sighs, "I sometimes feel so different. And now remember who I am and who D.N.A I have. I… I feel more different."
"I kind of understand, but that's all part of what makes you who you are. You have traits of both your parents and well, the Black Arms, so you have to look different in your way," Eve says.
"I see what you man. I remember that Shadow has my mom's hedgehog appearance, and our mom's eyes. I think he has dad's stripes. However, he also has sharp claws from Black Doom, apparently," Eve says.
"Claws?" Knuckles says, confused.
Eve rolls her eyes, and says, "Well, one of us has to have physical traits of Black Arms."
"Make sense," Sonic says.
Tails says, "We're closing in on the Jungle Zone."
"And that where we'll find Dr. Eggman," Julie-Su says.
"Let's hope we know what he's doing before he does something else crazy," Eve says.
Sonic rolls his eyes, "What else is new?"
Tails continues to fly the plane through the jungles of the Jungle Zone of the island. The group hope they can figure out what he's up too and what they need to do to stop him.
Time has gone by and Tails land the plane in the clearing of the Jungle Zone of the Island. Everyone is outside the ship and looking around to see the deep jungle area of the Island. Tails holds out a small yellow computer pad that has two antennas on it.
"Yo Tails, how is your device coming?" Sonic asks.
"It's coming clear. This strange energy is nothing I've ever seen," Tails says.
"I have to wonder why Eggman would go through the trouble for a rock," Eve replies.
"We need to find Eggman and see if that stone and the strange energy is connected to what plot he got in mind," Sonic says.
"And wreck that plan," Eve adds.
Knuckles says, "That seems how we're all spending our time these days."
The group begins to walk through the trees, bushes, and vines in the area. They walk down a path to see the plant life surrounding the area. Since Knuckles knows almost every inch of the island, he knows safe paths to get where they need to go.
Sonic says, "It's good that you're here Knuckles. I think we would get lost in this thick jungle."
"Yeah. The Jungle Zone is a very thick area. It will be hard to find your way around without someone to help out. Luckily, we have someone else who is willing to help us," Knuckles says.
"Who's that?" Tails asks.
"Other here mate," A voice calls out.
Sonic, Eve, and the others look down to see a fire ant on the ground, and is actually a friend of theirs, Archimedes the Fire ant.
"Hi Archimedes, it's good to see you again," Eve says.
"Glad to see you mate," Archimedes says.
Knuckles lowers his hand down and Archimedes hop on it. He echidna then lifts his hand up and the fire ant hopes on Knuckles' shoulder.
"What are you doing around here?" Archimedes asks.
"Archimedes, Dr. Eggman is here on the island and he's supposed to be around here somewhere. Do you know where he is right now?" Julie-Su says.
"Dr. Eggman? I just saw him not long ago. He was digging a magenta gem of something. I got a bad feeling from it, so I came to find you," Archimedes says.
"Is Eggman still around? We think he's responsible for the strange energy wave Angel Island is experiencing," Tails asks.
"He's right over there," Archimedes answers, pointing to the bushes.
The group secretly walk towards the bushes and Knuckles gently move them out of the way. When they look through the bushes, they see Dr. Eggman holding the strange magenta stone in his hand and he is accompanied by six robots. The first one is Metal Sonic. The there is a blue robot that looks like a police car, a green one wearing a cape and hold shurikens, an orange one that wears a orange cape and magician hat, a purple one holing a spike ball on a chain and attached on a stick, and it's riding a badnik. Finally, a red one that has a staff, a red cape, and larger than the rest. Of course, Bokkun is there as well.
Dr. Eggman maniacally laughs and says, "At last, I have found the Phantom Ruby. Of course, it took a little longer than I thought to find it on this island."
Metal Sonic turns to Eggman to make his robot sound.
"Yes. My tracking device has been sending out a lot of weird signals when trying to find the Phantom Ruby underground, but it will be worth it once I take this back to my base," Eggman says.
"What about Sonic and Eve? Not to mention Knuckles? If they find out we're here, our plan will be flat," Bokkun says.
"Like they know I'm on the island anyhow. Once I get the Phantom Ruby in my lair and uncover its secrets. I'll be able to gain the power to manipulate time and space, and I will finally have my Eggman Empire," Eggman says and maniacally laughs that he is going to win this battle as long as he has the ruby.
However, he is unaware that the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix have been listening to the conversation. They all duck behind the bushes to figure out what they need to do.
"So Dr. Eggman is behind the strange readings and he's been using that weird gem," Julie-Su suspects.
However, Eve says, "I think it's this Phantom Ruby Dr. Eggman mentioned. The strange energy must have been the Phantom Ruby when Dr. Eggman was trying to find it."
"I think you're right. We need to get that Phantom Ruby away from him," Sonic says.
Tails says, "If what he's saying is true, he can cause a lot of trouble on the island and on Mobius."
"How are we going to get past Metal Sonic and his new crew of robots?" Julie-Su asks.
Eve thinks as she places her hand under her chin, "Hmm."
She then whispers, "Knuckles, you, Archimedes, Sonic, and I will keep Dr. Eggman distracted while Tails and Archimedes try to get that stone away from Dr. Eggman."
"Great idea. Let's do it, to it!" Sonic says.
Sonic, Eve, and Tails perform their special Freedom Fighter handshake. Eve, Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Sonic head off to distract Eggman and his robots. Tails and Archimedes remain hidden.
Eggman turns to his robots, "With the Phantom Ruby, no one will stop me from taking over Mobius and making it my Eggman Empire. I know, I say that everytime, but this time, no one will stop me."
"Who are you calling nothing, Egg breath?!" Sonic's voice calls out.
Eggman turns his head to see the two hedgehog and echidna.
"Drats! Not those meddling Hedgehogs again!" Eggman angrily says.
"That's right. And we brought our friends with us," Eve says with a grin.
"I see you brought the echidna Guardian and his girlfriend. However, there's no way you're going to stop me with my plans to make Mobius my empire," Eggman says.
"We won't let you do such a thing. Your stupid stone is causing strange waves and now it's starting to effect the equipment," Knuckles says.
"Cry me a river, Knuckles. You and your meddling echidna friends won't stop me this time hedgehogs," Eggman says.
"We will after take out Metal sonic and his new friends," Sonic says.
"Yes. Meet the Hard Boiled Heavies. Heavy Gunner, Heavy Shinobi, Heavy Magician, Heavy Rider, and finally their leader, Heavy King. Metal Sonic! Hard Boiled Heavies! Get rid of these intruders!" Eggman commands.
The knight robot known as the Heavy Rider, speed right at Sonic, Eve, Knuckles, and JulieSu. They all move out of the way before they are hit. Sonic then spin dashes the knight robot on the back. Eve senses danger and uses her sword to block metal stars. She looks up to see the green robot, Heavy Shinobi.
Eve holds her sword, "It's a good thing my mother and Espio has been teaching me ninjitsu."
Eve jumps in the air and Egg Shinobi brings out his sword. They both clash their swords with each other. Knuckles jumps out of the way as the orange robot, Egg Magician uses some strange ability to create bombs and throws them. Knuckles hits one of the bombs that sends it flying at the Magician.
Julie-Su and the blue police robot, known as the Heavy Gunner, fire their blasters at each other. Julie-Su quickly runs and dodge away from the robot and fires back.
Eggman sees the two hedgehogs and the two echidnas have their hands full with the Hard Boiled Heavies. He then sees Metal Sonic and Heavy King are the only ones not fighting.
"Metal Sonic! Heavy King! Fight off Sonic and that annoying sister of his," Eggman commands.
Then holds out the Ruby as he evilly smirks, "I got a little Ruby to test out."
Sonic spin dashes at the Heavy Rider and knocks him off his Badnik. Just then, Metal Sonic grabs Sonic and pins him to the tree.
Sonic smirks, "I was wondering when you're going to start fighting."
Metal Sonic makes some strange sounds. Sonic then spins around like a ball and hits Metal Sonic. Eve and Knuckles dodge a blast and look up to see the Heavy King. Knuckles flies up and punches the Heavy King in the face. Then it attacks Knuckles with the blast of his staff. Eve jumps up and uses her sword to attack. Heavy Shinobi throws metal stars at Eve. Eve then uses her Chaos spears to repel the attack. She jumps up and spin dashes the Heavy King.
Julie-Su continues to fire at the Heavy Gunner and the robot does it back. Just then, her blaster stops firing and instead makes clicking sounds.
She looks at her blaster, "I'm out of ammo."
Eggman lifts the Phantom Ruby into the air and suddenly it begins to glow. The bright glow cause the mobians and the robots to stop and turn to see Eggman. The Phantom Ruby glows a magenta color and sends a strange wave across the island.
Soon, Echidnaopolis and Have feel the strange powerful wave. The citizens Echidna, Dingoes, and other Mobians grow concerned. In Haven, Locke and the other Guardians sense something wrong.
Lara-Le asks, "What is it Lock?"
"I'm not sure. I'm getting a bad feeling all of the sudden. And… I think there's something wrong with the Master Emerald. Something's wrong with its power," Locke answers.
Then he narrows his eyes, "It means that some strange energy affected the Master Emerald, and it could lead to disaster if it's not stopped.
Back where the fight has come to a stop, Sonic, Eve, Knuckles and Julie-Su join up together as Tails and Archimedes come together.
"What happened just now?" Eve asks.
"I'm not sure. Eggman used that strange ruby and I felt this strange energy," Tails says.
He holds his device and says, "It's going off the charts."
"Eggman, what did you do?" Sonic asks.
"I just simply use the power of the Phantom Ruby," Eggman says.
He then hold the bag that has the Seven Chaos Emeralds, "And it got me this."
Sonic, Eve, and the others gasp in shock.
"He got all the Seven Chaos Emeralds," Sonic says, shocked.
"But that's impossible!" Knuckles eclaims.
Suddenly, they hear a loud rumbling sound. Then Knuckles senses something.
"It's the island. Something's wrong," Knuckles says.
"But how? The Master Emerald is still at the Altar," Julie-Su asks.
Eve turns to see the Heavy King having the Phantom Ruby, "I think it has something to do with the Phantom Ruby."
"I think so too, the Phantom Robot must be having some kind of strange side effect on the Master Emerald. I think… I think it's losing its powers," Knuckles says.
"Losing its power?! How is that possible?" Sonic asks.
Eve takes out her Master Emerald Sword and notices flashing a green aura and it's slowly fading away.
"I think Knuckles' right. Something is wrong with my sword," Eve says.
"I think your sword is starting to lose its power. Since It's connected to the Master Emerald it's having the same effect," Knuckles says.
"I think we better hold on to something," Tails says.
"You're right. I think the island is going to fall," Knuckles adds.
Eggman laughs and says, "Well as much as I like to see you all get crushed, but I have better plans.
Metal Sonic and the Hard Boiled Heavies begin to fly off.
Eggman flies off in his Eggmobile as he says, "Have a nice fall!"
Just then, the island begins to shake and soon it begins to fall to the ground. Luckily, the island is over the ocean so it won't crush any land of anything populated. However, now the Island is again floating on the sea.
Sometime later, Sonic, Eve, and the others hurry to the Master Emerald Altar to see the Chaotix looking confused and the Master Emerald isn't glowing much anymore. The Chaotix turns to see Knuckles and the others hurrying to them,
"Knuckles, guys! Thank goodness you're back!" Vector says.
Charmy flies over in a panic, "It's so weird! The Master Emerald is still here, and yet the Island fell out of the sky."
"It must have been that weird rock Dr. Eggman found," Julie-Su says.
"What rock?" Saffron asks.
"Dr. Eggman has this weird rock called the Phantom Ruby and he somehow is able to use it to collect all the seven Chaos Emeralds," Tails says.
The Chaotix are soon shocked.
"Y-you m-mean, h-he g-g-got all of t-them?" Ray asks.
"And what's more, it somehow affected the Master Emerald's power," Knuckles says in rage.
Eve then brings out her sword, "And my sword since it's connected to the Master Emerald."
"We have to do something. If not, Dr. Eggman will use it to take over Mobius for sure," Sonic says.
"Did you say Phantom Ruby?" A voice asks.
The group turns to see Athair walking towards them.
"Athair, we didn't know you were here," Sonic says.
"Yes. I learned about the situation and I'm afraid it is worse than I feared," Athair says.
"What do you mean?" Knuckles asks.
Athair says, "If we don't stop Dr. Eggman from perfecting the Phantom Ruby's power, then space and time might be spinned into Chaos."
The Freedom Fighters and Chaotix are shocked to hear what Athair is saying and it seems that the time and space of their world might be at stake.
