It was nighttime, and Rouge was hanging upside down in a tree a distance from the museum. She looked through her jewel scope before taking off in the direction of the museum.

There was a rare jewel inside and three security officers sitting inside the security office playing blackjack, while the third read a magazine.

"This time..." security officer 1 said.

"Okay." officer 2 said and flipped a card over, revealing a jack of clubs. "Blackjack!" he said and leaped up. "Hooray! I won five times in a row!"

"I lost again!"

"Anybody hungry?" officer 3 asked then glanced at the security footage, and saw Rouge approaching the jewel. "Hey!" he said and an alarm went off as the other two officers rush to the screen.

"What's goin' on?" officer 2 asked.

"What's wrong?" officer 1 asked.

"How could anybody get in there?"

Rouge sliced the glass casing with a swift kick, then picked up the jewel.

"Hello, gorgeous..." she said.

"We'll lock down the place!" officer 3 said and pressed a few buttons on a control panel, and all doors, windows, and passageways in the museum sealed off. "Nobody's gettin' outta here now!" he said and chuckled.

The three officers headed to the room Rouge was in, carrying pistols and billy clubs.

"Hands up in the air!" an officer said.

"She's not here." another officer said.

"Where is she?"

"Search over there."

"Okay."

"No one's there."

"What?"

Security Officer 3 picked up a card on the ground. It depicted a silhouette of Rouge, along with the words "Thank you."

""Thank you"? ... What? Is this a gag?"

In Station Square Rouge was flying through the air, looking at her newest find.

"You may not be a Chaos Emerald, but you'll do... for now." she said.

At Thorndyke mansion Chuck's lab Cream and Cheese were watching Scarlet Garcia on the news who was reporting from the National Museum.

"I'm coming to you live from the National Museum, where the world's largest diamond was stolen late last night. Law enforcement authorities are baffled by the outbreak of precious gem robberies, but private sources tell SSTV that this was clearly the biggest in a series of jewel thefts that have plagued Station Square in recent days." she said.

"Sonic?" someone said.

"This is Scarlet Garcia at SSTV news."

Cream and Cheese turned to see Amy in the entrance to the lab. She was carrying a pizza pie.

"Hey Cream, have you seen Sonic?" Amy asked.

"The last time we saw him, he was with Chris and Tails, but I'm not sure where they went." Cream said.

"Chao!" Cheese said.

"That's too bad... Hey, would you like having some pizza?" Amy asked and Cream and Cheese immediately brightened up.

"Yes! Are you sure it's okay?" Cream said.

"You bet it is! Sonic's loss is your gain!"

Cream and Cheese cheered.

"Yaaay!" Cream said.

"Chaaaoo!" Cheese said.

At Station Square Sonic, Tails, and Chris were flying in the X-Tornado and Sonic was sitting outside of it, twirling a baseball on his index finger.

"Tails, you see anything down there?" Chris said.

"No..." Tails said easing the controls a little, causing Sonic to lose his balance and the former checked the monitor. "Nothing there." Tails said.

"Don't worry. We're gonna find those Emeralds!" Chris aid and looked behind him. "And Sonic will help, right? ... Uh, Sonic... Uh... Wha... Where... Where are you?"

But Sonic was clinging to the undercarriage of the X-Tornado for dear life.

At the White House the President was seated in the Oval Office with two chairmen, Jerome Wise, and then his Third Aide.

"Something has to be done, gentlemen. We must take action. Eggman is a threat to our nation's security. We have no choice but to launch an attack." the president said.

"Mr. President, I want to stop this Eggman as much as you do, but it's not so simple." chairman 1 said while Chairman 2 looked at a book.

"I'm afraid the chairman is right, sir." he said.

A few government scientists were analyzing a damaged E-23 Missile Wrist.

"After examining the remnants of one of Eggman's robots, we've determined that his technical capabilities and military hardware far surpass our current weapon system." he said.

"That may be so, but it doesn't change the fact that something must be done." Jerome said.

"Would you consider asking Sonic to assist with this mission?" P.T.A. asked and Jerome looked at him.

"Sonic?" the president said.

"Eggman's an unusual enemy, sir, and that calls for an unusual ally. With this in mind, sir, I think Sonic's got what it takes to get the best of him. He just might be the only hope we have, Mr. President."

The president walked to the window.

"That's true. But how do we know we can even communicate with a hedgehog?" he said.

"Our operatives have observed him speaking with the young boy he's staying with. He understands the language."

"Fine, then we'll do it."

"Sir, I think you've made the right decision."

At Chris' school the text on the chalkboard reads "Theme: Things that I want". The children were painting images of objects. Notably, Chris was painting a picture of a red Chaos Emerald and Danny and Frances noticed.

"I'm gonna draw a star!" students said.

"Hey, I bet it's that Chaos Emerald you and Sonic have been trying to find, right, Chris?" Frances said.

"Kinda!" Chris said.

"It looks like that." Danny said.

"Let's keep the chatting to a minimum and focus on the painting." Mr. Stewart standing nearby.

"Uh, right!" Chris and Danny said and they got back to painting.

Mr. Stewart then noticed Chris' painting.

"What's that you're painting, Chris?" he asked.

"Uh... an Emerald." Chris said.

"But I thought all emeralds were supposed to be green."

"Uh... You're right! Funny, huh?! I'll just start over!"

"No, Chris, your emerald can be any color you want it to be. Matter of fact, I heard a red Emerald was found somewhere recently around Silky Heights."

Chris leapt up in excitement, knocking his chair over and the other students looked up.

"Uh, sorry." he said.

"In fact, if I'm not mistaken, they found that Emerald in an old dilapidated factory not too long ago."

No one saw Rouge listening from outside.

"Hm... Who knows what interesting little tidbits you can pick up if you hang around long enough." she said and disappeared into the tree she was in.

School was soon out, and Chris and Danny ran out of the school.

"Hey, Chris! Wait for me!" Danny said and Mr. Stewart sipped his coffee and watched them run down the street.

Later Danny was at Chuck's lab shaking hands with Amy. Chris and Tails were also present.

"Hi, I'm Danny. Nice to meet you." he said.

"Hi there! I'm Amy. This is my friend Tails." Amy said.

"Hi!" Tails said.

"Hey!" Danny said.

Chris looked around.

"Uh... Where's Sonic?" he asked.

"He left already, and it's about time I head out too!" Tails said.

Outside everyone piled into the X-Tornado, and it taxis down the runway.

"Let's take off." Tails said and took off.

At Station Square after running through the city, Sonic stopped at a sign. There was a sign that reads "Factory", and an arrow pointing to the right.

"That way..." he said and looked up to see the X-Tornado.

"All right! Yeah! This is the coolest thing ever!" Danny said.

"Okay! Cool it, will ya, Danny?" Chris asked.

"Look! There's Sonic!" Amy said.

Sonic darted off in the direction the arrow was pointing in, and the X-Tornado followed, causing the arrow to fall off of the sign. Rouge poked her head out of a nearby bush.

"Ha. They fell for it." she said and flew away.

At Silky Heights Rouge landed outside the gates of the abandoned factory. A sign on the front reads "Keep out."

"That's it. Now, to see if I can find another Emerald..." she said and flew over to a broken window, looked around, then entered.

Crossing a catwalk, she stopped when she saw something shiny on the floor below and flew down and picked up the object.

"Well, what's this?" she said.

Suddenly, several spotlights shone on her and GUN soldiers pointed their guns at her.

"My, my. Trying to trap me?" she said.

The soldiers looked shocked and a female soldier stepped forward.

"Don't make a move!" she said.

"Whatever you like." Rouge said then the female soldier pulled out a pair of handcuffs and took Rouge's arm. "You know, you're pretty tough for an old lady."

All the other soldiers except the female soldier laughed.

"What?" she said and turned to the other soldiers. "What are you clowns laughing at?!"

Even the GUN Commander was laughing.

"Commander!" she said.

GUN Commander coughed.

"I'm not going anywhere. Matter of fact, I kinda like being in the spotlight." Rouge said.

"Forget the cuffs." the commander said and approached Rouge. "What's your name?"

"I'm Rouge. That's Rouge the Bat."

"Hey, I've seen you somewhere before... That's right. You're the one that snuck into the National Museum and stole that diamond, aren't ya?"

"Who, me?"

"We set up a trap to catch Sonic and who do we wind up with but a jewel thief! Funny how things work out that way."

Rouge smirked.

It was now sunset Sonic was running along a road in a forest while the X-Tornado followed.

"Man, I'm starving..." Danny said.

"Me too..." Chris said.

At the White House Rouge was sitting in a seat facing the President's desk. The G.U.N. Commander and the female soldier were standing behind her.

"Boy, I could really go for a cup of coffee." Rouge said.

"What?! Listen, missy, this isn't a country club. You're in deep trouble." the female soldier said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, so I've heard. But all I want's a cup of coffee. Don't be such a nag."

"A wha-? A nag, huh?!"

"Hey. Get her a coffee, Topaz." the commander said.

"Hmph. Aye aye." said and Topaz headed to the espresso machine and poured a cup of coffee. "She doesn't deserve it if you ask me."

"My, my. Topaz, eh? Isn't that the name of a gem?"

An aide opened the door, and the President and Jerome entered. Topaz turned to look, but accidentally scalded herself with the coffee and dropped the mug, breaking it. The President took his seat, and Jerome and the aide stands next to him.

"Case of the jitters, Topaz?" he asked her.

"I... I'm sorry, Mr. President, sir." she said wiping up the spilled coffee.

"So, you're Rouge." Jerome said.

"Hi!" she said.

"Well, Rouge, I imagine you must be wondering why we brought you here today."

"Uh-huh."

"Listen, Rouge, We'd like to make a deal." P.T.A. said.

"A deal, huh?"

"We are willing to offer you complete immunity from your crimes. That is, of course, if you decide to join our team." the president said.

"Join your team? As what?"

"You'll work as an undercover agent for the President." P.T.A. said.

"Wow! Imagine me, a real live secret agent! Tell me, why would you want a naughty little jewel thief like me on your team?"

"That is none of your business, young lady! Do we have a deal?" the president said.

"Uummm..." she said. "Who knows. Working as an agent, I just might get close to the Chaos Emerald." she said to herself. "Mr. Prez, you've got yourself a deal." She said out loud.

"Congratulations, agent. Welcome aboard."

The President reached his hand out to shake Rouge's hand, but she hesitated.

"Uh... Does this mean I can't keep my diamond?" she asked and chuckled.

"Uh... Ah, right." he said. "Well, what do you think?" he asked Jermone.

"Well, the case is still considered unsolved as long as she promises not to talk." Jerome said.

"There you have it."

Rouge smirked.

On the road it was sunset now, and Sonic returned to the signpost for the factory, picked up the fallen arrow, and looked both ways.

"I'll have to take my chances." he said and ran left, and the X-Tornado followed.

At G.U.N. carrier aircraft it was now nighttime and Rouge was sitting between Topaz and the GUN commander. A gaudy bracelet-like object was being strapped to Rouge's left arm.

"What's this thing?" Rouge asked.

"That is a bomb." commander said.

"A bomb?"

"If we push this remote control here, it's bye-bye batty. See, we don't exactly trust you, so you be a good little girl and maybe we don't have to use it."

"Huh. Just think of it as a bracelet." Topaz said.

"A bracelet that explodes." Rouge said.

"It's supposed to be functional, not fashionable."

"Looks like something an old lady would wear. Why don't you try it on?"

"What does that mean?!" Topaz asked angry.

"Just what you think it does, grandma."

"Want me to push the switch?"

"Ladies, please." commander said.

"Approaching drop point, commander, straight ahead." pilot said.

"Yup. Roger. Get ready."

Topaz, Rouge, the G.U.N. Commander, and two soldiers leapt out of the plane, then activated their parachutes.

At the abandoned factory Sonic, Tails, Amy, Chris, and Danny are looking around at the factory.

Huh. What is this place? It gives me the creeps." Amy said and shrugged. "Well, now what? There's nothing here.

"Something seems strange here, Sonic. Who would have moved that sign?" Tails asked.

"Beats me." Sonic said.

Chris and Danny were exhausted. Danny yawned, and Chris was even asleep on his feet.

'Looks like they're getting tired.' Sonic thought and remembered how exhausted they would be after a fight and when he was a Freedom Fighter.

He still remembered the day he found out about Sonia and Manic and that he was a prince.

Outside Eggman's base Topaz, Rouge, the G.U.N. Commander, and the two soldiers were gathered outside. The G.U.N. commander was looking for an entrance through a pair of binoculars.

"Where's the entrance?" Topaz asked.

"I don't see an entrance anywhere. Come on, where is it?" commander asked.

"Ugh, do I have to do everything?" Rouge said and grabbed a coil of rope from the GUN commander and flew toward the base.

"Oh yeah?"

The GUN commander is about to detonate the bomb, but Topaz stops him.

"Hold on! ... Follow me." Topaz said and signaled the soldiers to follow her.

Rouge hooked the rope to a door handle, dropped the other end of the rope, and gave Topaz a wink and thumbs-up. Topaz returned the signal.

Inside Eggman's base the group progressed through the base, stopping in front of a door labeled E-17.

"This way." Rouge said.

But before she could go anywhere, the GUN commander grabbed her arm.

"Hold on! Where are you going?" he asked.

"Don't be so jumpy. You want me to help you out or don't you?" Rouge asked.

"No funny stuff?"

Rouge shook loose from the GUN Commander's grasp.

"I'm on your team now!" she said.

"All right. Just checking." he said and pulled out a device and activated it showing a map of the surrounding areas.

"Okay, let's move in."

They ran through the base, and the device created a map for them as they go.

At Eggman's base Command center Eggman was asleep in his chair.

Inside Eggman's base.

"We don't have much farther. Now if we could just find the power output sector..." GUN Commander said.

"Any idea where that might be?" Topaz asked Rouge.

"I guess I must've left my map at home." Rouge said.

Topaz checked her watch.

Well, it's almost dawn. What do you think we should do, Commander?"

"We don't have much time. Let's keep looking." commander said.

Everyone else started to leave, but Rouge spotted what looks like the door to the power station.

"Commander..." Rouge started and the others stopped. "Mind if I have myself a little look around?"

"Are you kidding? How do you know I can trust you?" he said.

"You can. I'll be right back."

"I'll go with her just in case." Topaz said.

"Ugh, whatever..."

"All right, then." commander said and handed the detonator to Topaz. "Remember, don't do anything reckless."

Topaz and Rouge saluted.

"Yes, sir!" Topaz said.

"Aye-aye!" Rouge said.

Topaz looked at Rouge, annoyed.

As the GUN Commander and the other soldiers rappelled themselves down the fortress, Topaz and Rouge arrived at the door.

"This could get messy. 'Specially for an old gal like you." Rouge said and slashed the door with a few kicks, and it crumbles.

Then they stepped inside.

"Is this the power station?" Topaz asked.

Then Rouge spotted the cyan Chaos Emerald.

"My, my...!" she said and flew over to the Chaos Emerald. "Well, hello... It's beautiful."

Unknown to her, a door opened, revealing E-70 Noizi.

"I have the strangest feeling we're bein' watched..." Topaz said.

Suddenly Noizi's claw hand shot out and grabbed Topaz. Rouge turned around and leapt out of the way as Noizi's other claw slammed down right where she was standing.

"Please help me, Rouge!" she said. "Please help me!"

"Hang in, girl." Rouge said and Noizi extended a massive speaker from its top. "Screw Kick!"

Then se dove toward Noizi feet first, then spun at high speeds. Noizi reacted by activating its speaker. It produced a noise so loud that it caused Rouge's Screw Kick to fail and Topaz was forced to cover her ears.

Outside even the GUN commander and the soldiers heard the sound.

"What is that?" commander asked.

In the command canter Eggman was woken up by the sound, causing him to fall out of his chair.

"It must be... intruders!" he said.

In the power station Rouge covered her ears, trying to block out the sound.

"Aah, that sound... It hurts my ears..." she said and Noizi started to turn a dial on itself.

"No! I'm afraid! Don't…" Noizi said and Rouge screamed as the sound was amplified even more.

"I can't take it! Help me please!" Topaz said.

At the Command center.

"That scream is coming from Noizi! Someone's trying to make off with my Chaos Emerald, and we can't have that now, can we?" he said and pressed a button labeled 14. Go get them, Sneezer!" he said and got out of his chair and headed to the middle of the room while covering his ears. "Gah, blast that infernal noise!"

The platform he was standing on was an elevator, which moved down.

In the power station.

"I'm scared!" Noizi said.

"Ah... I'll go insane!" Rouge said.

Noizi stopped producing its sound when three robots appeared in the doorway - E-12 Behemoth, E-13 Guardbot, and E-14 Sneezer. Guardbot fired at Rouge, who ran and dodged the lasers. Sneezer then fired several missiles at her, but she leapt out of the way. They exploded, showering Topaz with debris. She shielded herself.

"Rouge!" Topaz said and saw that the missiles had destroyed part of the floor, revealing a room beneath the one she is in. "The power generator!"

Rouge leapt off of the wall.

"Screw Kick!" she said and attempted another Screw Kick, but Noizi turned up its dial again, making its sound even louder.

"I'm scared!" Noizi said as Rouge collapsed onto the ground, then stood up.

"I've had enough of this." she said.

Guardbot shot at her again, but she leapt, Olympic gymnast style, to the other side of Sneezer. Guardbot's lasers hit Sneezer, causing it to spark and fire missiles at both Behemoth and the power station. A massive explosion ensued, raining debris everywhere.

"Oh no! I've lost the Chaos Emerald!"

Suddenly Noizi produced its sound again.

"Aahh!" Rouge said.

"I hate this!" Noizi said.

"All right, you're fooling with the wrong girl!" she said and had an idea. "That's right." she said and kicked the bracelet off of her arm and threw it into Noizi's speaker. "Push that button!"

As Noizi tried to fish the bracelet out of its speaker with its free hand, Topaz detonated the bomb, destroying the speaker causing Noizi to drop her.

Eggman was in the hallway running toward the power station.

At the power station.

"Screw Kick!" Rouge said and finally executed a Screw Kick right through what's left of Noizi then picked up Topaz. "Hang on tight." she said and flew out of the room with Topaz as the power station started to explode.

At the halls base Eggman was just arriving at the power station when Rouge flew right past him.

"Move it!" she said.

"Excuse me!" Eggman said then was confused when he sees Topaz. "Who's that?"

Suddenly he saw the explosion heading right toward him. It engulfed him, and Rouge and Topaz were just able to stay in front of it.

Outside it was now morning, and Rouge escaped the base with Topaz. The GUN Commander and the soldiers watched from the ground.

"Rouge, I don't know how to thank you." Topaz said.

"I do." Rouge said and started to tire. "Lose some weight."

Inside Eggman was completely charred.

"Help... Mommy..." he said.

At school Chris and Danny were sleeping in class so Mr. Stewart gently shook them awake.

"Uh, Chris? Danny..." he said and the both bolted awake.

"Aah!" they said together and the other students stared. "Uh... we're sorry."

"Now Chris, I get the feeling you and Danny didn't get enough sleep last night. It's okay to have adventures. Just make sure to get to bed on time." Mr. Steward said aside to Chris.

"Huh? But how did you know, sir?" Chris said.

"Just a wild guess..."

"Thanks, Mr. Stewart." Chris said and laughed.