Knuckles walked over to Vector, who was lying on the ground.

"We're here!" Charmy and Espio said as they emerged from the bushes.

"Your ability to show up late is uncanny..." Knuckles said.

"Thanks... I think..." Charmy said.

"Knuckles..." Vector grabbed his shoulder. "They took the little ones... The little ones, they took them..."

"Shhhhhhhh..." Knuckles said quietly.

"Listen to me... They took the little ones... The LITTLE ONES..."

"I know..."

"No you don't know, you weren't there! They took them! THE LITTLE ONES!!!" Vector yelled.

"Vector, calm down."

"THE LITTLE ONES!!!" Knuckles smacked him in the face.

"I... uh... di..." Vector began to cry. "It's all my fault!"

"What is?" Knuckles said.

"I tried to take the emerald from Sonic..." Vector said through his tears.

"Gasp! Why you little..." Knuckles began to beat the crap out of him. Charmy and Espio ran over and pulled him off Vector. Knuckles fought back, foaming at the mouth.

"Knuckles!" Espio yelled. "Get a hold of yourself!" Espio shook his shoulders. Knuckles calmed down wiped the foam off his face.

"Thanks... I been wanting to do that since Sonic told me it awhile ago..." Knuckles said.

"Is he dead?" Charmy asked.

"I dunno..." Knuckles said. They looked at Vector from a distance, seeing if he was moving.

"Go poke him with a stick or something..." Espio grabbed a stick and poked Vector in the side.

"Yup... Dead as a doornail." Espio observed. The last three left the area and headed back to camp...