2

Sonic, Shadow and Knuckles were back at Tails' laboratory, where Tails, Amy and Cream were waiting. "Sonic! Have you heard what Eggman's planning next?" asked Tails. "Yeah, Knuckles told me, he's created Metal Versions of you Shadow and Knuckles to go with Metal Sonic and take over the world. Knuckles told me," replied Sonic. "Well, what're we gonna do about him?" queried Amy. "We? I don't think so. This time it's too dangerous. Me, Sonic, Shadow and Tails will go after him. We'll be able to handle it," said Knuckles. "Wha? But we... me, Cream and Big took care of Metal Sonic once before!" "No. Besides, that was only when he wasn't at full power, and this time there are four Metals to deal with. Sorry Amy, but it's for your own good," Sonic said firmly. "Awww..." "Come on guys, let's go. If we catch Eggman off his guard when he's not expecting us we'll have a better chance of defeating him," said Tails. "I'll get the Tornado ready." Tails left the room. "I know that this is gonna be hard. We... we might not all make it..." murmured Knuckles. "Hey, relax, Knux, it'll be easy. And look at it this way; we've got two sets of Chaos Emeralds with us. It'll be a blast," Sonic said convincingly. "You know we always beat Eggman."
***

Tails was piloting the Tornado over the Scrap Brain Zone, since it was the quickest way to Eggman's last known whereabouts. Soon, an Egg-Base came into sight, and Tails descended to a patch of land near the entrance. "This place looks deserted," stated Shadow. "Yeah," answered Sonic. "But you know Eggman. When he leaves a base, he always leaves his Eggbots back with it to guard it. We'll probably have to deal with some."

"Heh, not a problem," grinned Knuckles. "Oh, I see you're back to your usual self, then, Knux," yawned Sonic. Knuckles chuckled. "Hey, shut up. Concentrate on what we're doing," Shadow said maliciously. "Ooh, someone's got up on the wrong side of the bed," laughed Sonic. Shadow turned around, and punched Sonic on his jaw. "OWW!" yelled Sonic. "Shut up! Now! You're giving me a darn headache!" cried Knuckles. Sonic and Shadow became silent. "What? What..." Knuckles turned his head back around. And gasped. In front of them, on top of the roof of the Egg-Base, stood a metal replica of none other than Knuckles. Below him were hundreds of red, pointed robots, some standing, some floating. Metal Knuckles laughed menacingly. "Behold! The first battalion of Master Eggman's Robo-Empire! Commanded by me! Mowahahahahaha!" "No way..." gasped Shadow. "There's... so many of them..." Metal Knuckles leapt into the air, and glided South, towards the Mountain Peak Zone. He stopped, turned, and cried, "Red Battalion! Attack!" With that, he activated thrusters in his boots, and propelled his way out of sight. "Oh hell..." muttered Sonic. "Shut it. Come on, let's get them!" shouted Shadow. He leapt out of the Tornado, and towards the nearest set of Eggbots to attack. Sonic, Tails and Knuckles shrugged, and followed him.