They brought me onto a door in another room.

Vector: "They're past here."

Vector knocks on the door.

Vector: "You guys in there!?"

No one's responding.

Vector begins knocking on the door again.

Vector: "Heeey! Come on, we gotta speak to you guys. Geez, are they still sleeping!?"

Charmy: "Step aside, Vector! I'll give this door a good knock! Super...!"

The door opens.

???: "Sorry, what do you guy--"

Charmy: "PUNCHING KNO-- ooOOH, WHOA!!"

Charmy punches the person next to the door, and he falls down the staircase. That's gotta hurt...!

Charmy: "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh, I'm SO sorry!! Are you ok!? Are you hurt!?"

???: "Ugh... It's fine, Charmy... I ended up landing on my shell."

After saying that, he slowly gets up. A voice could be heard approaching... and it was fast, too.

???: "Hey, Mighty, what was that noise!? Are you alright??"

The person comes out of another door down this room.

???: "Mighty, how are you..."

He looks at everyone, with Mighty standing up, looking at him.

Mighty: "It's fine... These guys are just a little too excited, is all."

???: "Oh, thank goodness you're fine!"

Mighty: "Come on, you know I'm not that frail. ...Literally."

???: "Heheh, you're right."

He turns to us.

???: "Hey guys! What brings you here today?"

As he asks this, I walk further down the stairs, until I come into view.

Mighty: "Oh... I didn't even notice that guy."

???: "Oh, welcome! I'm, uh... Sorry for panicking there!"

The boy leans onto Mighty and whispers.

???: "Hey, do you know that guy?"

Mighty: "Nope."

Vector: "We're sorry to barge in like this, but... we sort of need your help regarding intel. You two've been around, so we thought you might be knowledgeable regarding points of interest in this city."

Mighty: "I'd say you've come to the right duo. Who's the bulky dude over there?"

Knuckles: "My name's Knuckles the Echidna."

Mighty: "Knux, huh? Name's Mighty the Armadillo, and my little buddy here's cal--"

???: "My name's Ray the Flying Squirrel!"

He walks towards me, and frantically shakes my hand.

Ray: "Nice to meetcha, Knuckles!"

Knuckles: "Uh... Thanks. You... You can let go now."

Ray: "Oh! Right, sorry! I just really like meeting new people...!"

Charmy: "Just like me!"

Mighty: "So, what were you gonna ask us?"

Vector: "Say, do ya know about any suspicious spots we might be able to look into? This guy just got his gem stolen by a super-strong and super-fast thief."

Mighty: "A thief? Hmm... That does narrow a few things down. Try heading towards the Avenue Alley. It's one of the shadiest parts of this area of the city... I've been there."

Ray: "I still remember that... We had to be extra careful there, or else we wouldn't even be able to eat dinner that night!"

Knuckles: "...Huh?"

What did he mean by that? W-Was that supposed to be slang, or...?

Espio: "Avenue Alley... I was considering heading there tonight by myself, but I suppose we can explore it together."

Vector: "We should head there at night... We'll have better chances at finding a good lead."

Charmy: "Okie-dokie, I'll go get ready for tonight's--"

Vector: "Sorry Charmy, but you can't come with us."

Charmy: "Whaaaat?? Why noooot?"

Espio: "It is too dangerous for you to come with us, Charmy."

Ray: "Why don't you stay here in the garage and help us out?"

Mighty: "We were needing an extra pair of hands anyways."

Charmy: "Mmmm... Ok. I don't mind helping you guys out!"

Ray: "Great!"

They're all smiling at each other... I can't say I know how it feels, but they look happy together...

...Good for them. Later tonight, it's gonna be one step towards finding the Master Emerald... I can feel it!

Espio: "I shall take a few ninja stars with me... In case we might need to defend ourselves."

Vector: "I'll bring my notebook to note down intel... What about you, Knuckles?"

Knuckles: "My fists are more than enough. I don't need anything else."

Vector: "Alright then, make sure to be careful."

Espio: "Vector, perhaps we should give Knuckles a proper disguise. I have my scarf to cover my face, and you have that jacket and your headphones, but he doesn't have anything. It'd be bad if the criminals in Avenue Alley recognized his face."

Vector: "You're right... I'll go upstairs and look for something to give him. Knuckles, come with me."

I followed Vector upstairs.

Vector: "Wait here, I'll be right back."

He entered a room closed the door behind him. You could hear faint rustling and bustling, followed by a--

Vector: "Oww!! Ah-- my head!"

After Vector's cry, he comes out of the room with...

Vector: "I've got this trenchcoat and this fedora hat. Come on, put 'em on."

Knuckles: "That looks... odd... Don't you have anything else?"

Vector: "Oh, stop being nitpicky! This is the most stylish I've got! Just put them on!"

Knuckles: "Ok, ok!"

I put on this coat and this hat. They feel strange...

Vector: "...Huh. You actually look pretty stylish in that."

Knuckles: "You think so?"

I look at my reflection on a nearby mirror. I suppose this hat and this coat do fit me...

Vector: "Now that you're ready for tonight, we should rest. It's gonna be a looong night."

Knuckles: "I'm not used to sleeping during the day at all... but oh well."

Vector: "Well, you get used to it when you're a hard worker like me."

Knuckles: "I suppose..."

Vector: "Welp, sleep well."

Knuckles: "Hm."

I nod, and head off to where I woke up.

These people are very strange. They're all so chaotic, but they all get along somehow... They're gonna be helping me find my Emerald... I prefer working alone, but if it helps me find the Master Emerald, I'll work with whoever I must. I shouldn't try to think so much. I have to get ready for tomorrow... Err, I mean, tonight.