I've been gliding for a while now... How much time has passed since I left the island? I already went past the clouds, but I still don't see land... I need to make sure to remember the way back.

In the distance, I can see... Rectangles? It appears I'm approaching some kind of area full of these structures. I should try not to land too high up... I kept gliding until I was a safe distance away from the ground, and let myself fall. It's nighttime already... I should start my search here. There's no one in sight... I wonder if anyone lives here. I kept walking around... and walking... and walking...

Before I knew it, I was starting to feel exhausted. It was then that I saw a bright light. A light so bright, I was forced to squint. The light consumed my vision. It only got brighter and brighter, and--

HOOOOOOOONK

"WHOA!!"

I quickly rolled to the side and avoided whatever was coming my way. What was that thing...? Well, whatever it was, I have to be more cautious. I walked close to the giant structures to avoid being hit by those things.

I kept walking further into the place, and let the trail take me where it desired.

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

???: "Ugh... We have to pay them this much...? We didn't even use that much energy this entire month!"

???: "Ooooooh Veeeeectoooooor!!"

Vector: "Charmy, not so loud! It's almost 2 in the morning!! Y-- What are ya doin' outside of bed!"

Charmy: "I don't feel tiiireeeed!! I wanna help ouuuut! You could use an extra hand!"

Vector: "I don't need an extra hand, I need cases to solve so we can earn more money to survive here in this... this dump!"

Charmy: "Aw, come on, Vector, it hasn't been that long since we've had a job!"

Vector: "...All we did was find someone's pet... We didn't even earn that much, just enough to get food for a week."

Charmy: "Oh, oh, maybe we should put more posters everywhere! Can I make them this time?? Can I, can I!?"

Vector: "Charmy, this is serious! We need to show people we mean business! I want a real case to solve... One that'll net us loads o' cash! ...Although, spreading more posters doesn't sound like a bad idea. Just have them make it... I don't think anyone would be to understand your handwriting.

Charmy: "Heh... True. Not even I can read it. Ok, I'll go check in on them!"

Charmy goes out the door after he says this.

Man... I didn't expect detective life to be as sad as this.

Oh, me? The name's Vector, Vector the Crocodile. I'm basically the boss of the Chaotix Detective Agency: CDA for short. The CDA is a detective agency specializing in all sorts of cases... But, unfortunately, it's been a really long time since we've had a good one... We haven't gotten that many jobs lately, so we barely have any money to get around. That energetic yet annoying little bee is Charmy Bee. He's loud, but the kid's got a good heart. Well, I mean, so do I! And so does everyone here.

And he's probably on his usual night strolls as well. Let's see if he finds anything interesting this time... Although, he probably might not. Who knows... I think I'll stay here a few more minutes and then hit the hay.

Returning to the city...

It feels like I've been walking for an eternity... I haven't even found anything that resembles the Master Emerald... I should go sleep somewhere... Somewhere safe.

I head into some sort of dark alley, and see a mysterious orange figure. It's arms and legs look all weird.

Knuckles: "Hey, excuse me..."

I reach the person's shoulder. Before I even touch it, it turns around. I'm surprised by its looks... It has light-blue eyes... and a light-blue mouth? Suddenly, I hear metallic clanking behind me. I couldn't see very well, but it looked... the exact same as the figure I had just found in the alley.

Knuckles: "What is going on here? Who are you two?"

After I ask this, I only hear the robots say one thing in union:

"PARAMETERS MATCH. TARGET IDENTIFIED: KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA. PREPARING TO IMMOBILIZE AND CAPTURE!"

Knuckles: "What!?"

The figure pulls out a gigantic lance, and the other pulls out some sort of weapon. They've got me cornered... Or so they think! I climb up one of the structures, and eventually reach its top. But at the top, there were loads of them! Did they know I would try coming here? I tried to leave 'em be, but if they're gonna be persistent... It's time to give these guys a good beating! I ran up to the horde of weird figures and punched them! I fought against hordes of them, but eventually I realized...

Knuckles: "Grrgh... They just keep coming! What are these things...!?"

Exhaustion was catching up to me... I felt like collapsing right then and there. I couldn't stand for long... Eventually my legs gave up. They're surrounding me... What can I do now...!?

???: "Stand back, you mechanical wretches!"

Who was there...? I wanted to ask, but I could barely get the words out of my mouth. All I know is that whoever it was, the figures were disappearing one by one. I can't keep my eyes on the action... This guy's fast! Eventually, all the figures were gone, reduced to a pile of weird parts. The person approached me and asked me...

???: "Are you feeling alright? Are you capable of standing?"

I was squinting my eyes a lot by that point... I couldn't hold on for longer... I had to rest right there, if only for a while.

???: "Hey... Hey!!"