Knuckles the echidna, Guardian of Angel Island, opened his eyes again.
He quickly rose to his feet and, as usual, roused the others.
In time, the map was again unrolled upon the earth, and Espio and Charmy again demarcated the group's goals for today.
And again Knuckles assigned three groups to three vertical segments of the first box on the map for today. Charmy and Espio took one, Vector and Mighty the next, and today Knuckles decided again to take the third alone.
They all set off toward their assigned areas, and Knuckles again began his intensive search.
And again he listened.
It came as he stepped over the thick root of a tree here.
"Kouken-san."
"You."
"You are troubled."
"If I am troubled, then it is your doing."
"Tell me."
"I asked you a question, and your answer was to stop talking to me."
"You, too, said nothing."
"I was imploring an answer, and in response you cut off your voice."
"I will not deny my reservations over your questions."
"And now you're so sick and annoyed of them that you'll just give up talking to me when I ask too many?"
"Ask me."
"What?"
"I said, ask me."
"Alright. What happened to the people of Angel Island?"
"You do not know how hesitant I am to answer this question, but I will."
"Really, then? Do."
"They still exist."
"Anything, Vec?"
"Nah, nuttin'."
"'Kay." Mighty, too, lacked Knuckles' temperament, but was still more disciplined than Vector.
Vector moved forward to search the next part of his area. And as he began to scan, he heard a shout, in Espio's voice, off to the right. "Hey, I found something!"
"Yes."
"I think you did well."
"Do you?"
"At least now he has something more real to be fighting for."
"But does he know he is fighting for it?"
"What do you mean?"
"So he knows they still exist now. Does he know, however, how that his search for the jewel is entwined with the restoration of the City?"
"No, perhaps not. But he may figure that out on his own."
"It is possible. But, yet, how could he fathom? How could he imagine the state of the existence of the City? How could he imagine its locus, the necessity of the Island to rise in order for it to land?"
"You say these things to me. Why not to him?"
"Oh, no. I must at least observe how he handles what he has been told. I must observe, that I might predict how he might digest so much more. And yet even so, I still think it not the time for the Truth. Have we ever worked in such a way? The Truth was not revealed to me until it was time almost for me to walk into the flames."
"You still lived in the City then. Even without knowing the Truth, you still had something to believe in lieu. You had the City to fight for. You had tangible, visible people to protect. He has nothing tangible, nothing visible. I almost think it would be beneficial to give him Truth, that, as you had told me before, he might have more drive to internalize his duty."
"You look at it from one side only. True, it could catalyze his sense of duty. But that is not the only power of the Truth. It also usurps the reality he knows. This can be very destructive, and the resulting confusion, even anger and resentment for the Wool, could overtake whatever sense of duty he now has. And I think if even the nature of the City's existence were revealed, it would necessitate the revealing of the entire Truth. And I do not think he is ready for such a usurping. He might even consider it betrayal."
And they saw what he had found.
It was the hovercraft.
It was the hovercraft Robotnik had docked in the Tower after the battle of Titans, the hovercraft which had been pinned to the Tower's catwalk in the aftermath of Sonic's unexpected planning, the hovercraft into which the emerald had fallen in the struggle between Robotnik and the two-tailed fox, the hovercraft which had malfunctioned and taken off of its own accord after the Tower had been shaken violently by the half-roboticized rabbit's pulse cannon, the hovercraft whose coordinates Sir Charles had spoofed in an effort to lead Robotnik away from it. It was the hovercraft they had been searching for. And it was also the hovercraft Robotnik had been searching for.
The Guardian wasted no time upon realizing what he was standing before. He quickly climbed into the hovercraft and scoured it for the emerald. Emerging, they all asked him with their eyes, and, swinging back out onto the earth, opened his hands, exposing his empty palms.
"It shouldn't have landed too far away from here," said Espio. "Let's comb the area and see what turns up."
"Alright," nodded Knuckles. "Let's go."
And they set out in their groups again, as three radiuses moving from the center, being the hovercraft.
And Knuckles walked tirelessly, scouring meticulously for some sign of the emerald.
And as he stared at the endless soil, it was a lot like rain, and a lot like mind. And staring at the endless soil, searching for the gem of Chaos, was like scouring his mind, scouring his reality, for answers. Because everywhere he looked there were none. And he could even have a voice in his mind, that seemed to contain everything he sought, and still be unable to find it.
And then he saw it. In the soil, half-buried, some green thing.
But he did not approach it, because it was lost as he now recalled what he had been told. They still exist. And he felt as if he knew some great secret but yet was unable to understand. And so he felt half-enlightened, but too stupid to comprehend his enlightenment. But, he realized, the voice was full of answers that were not answers. And by telling him they still exist, how much was it really revealing? So, yes, Knuckles was relieved that they still existed. But where? And how could he reach them? Could he ever reach them again?
He forgot this, and remembered the other. Some green thing half-buried in the soil.
And he stepped forward, and forward, and forward, until it was at his feet. And he squatted down with a bend of the knees, cupped his hands, and took it in them. And he uncovered it from the soil and took it in his hands. And then he knew.
He held the emerald of Chaos in his hands.
And then he said nothing, but asked himself, I have completed my mission, but what have I really accomplished?
And to that, he had no answer.
But yet he almost felt, almost as if in a great shawl or cloak of deception, that the emerald was the answer.
But it was just an emerald.
And here, with no more existence in the World, I have nothing to do but observe through the many terminals, the many eyes on the walls.
I am the Arbiter.
Time passes so slowly, so I have nothing to do but observe and to write.
And every second I exist is a second too long.
I yearn so much to die and be reunited with love. They killed her, and I am imprisoned here, unable to move, unable to exact vindicated vengeance, the reciprocation they deserve in verity. This is the most torturous existence. I am alone here and must live with the knowledge that I was not there to protect her from death. They murdered her while I sat confined in Claustrum, and I watched her die through an eye on the wall.
I resent my savior for letting her die.
I resent my savior for denying me death.
"Well, that's mission accomplished, right?" said Espio.
"Well," said Knuckles, "we still have to return it to Angel Island."
"Why don't we wait until tomorrow?"
"We shouldn't stay here, especially with the hovercraft still unhidden," said Charmy.
"And I just want to close this chapter," said Knuckles. "I want to go now."
"Alright," said Espio. "That's fine with me."
And so it was, and so they set off, back toward Angel Island.
"Yeah," said Knuckles, but then he remembered once more, and wanted to take back that statement. For now that he knew they still exist, he knew life now would not get back to normal. The Island as empty as it was was not normal.
But, he conceded, though he yearned for the answer, still, the completion of this mission would mean he could at least relax, and enjoy life with his friends back on the Island again, and that was something to be happy about, at least.
"I can't wait to get back. Let's have a feast!" said Mighty. "A great big feast! I haven't had a good meal since the robots invaded us."
"Now tha's a good idea," said Vector.
"I could go for that," said Knuckles.
"An' then when I'm done eatin' I can sleep all day," said Vector.
"Or can you?" Espio smirked.
"You ruin it, you die."
And then, off in the distance, but not so far, another voice was heard, and in succession, many more in cacophony. And immediately Knuckles turned to see what it was. And once he saw what he saw, he immediately turned back to his friends and shouted "Run!"
And what he saw were many bodies in a line, coming their way. Marching as an army. But when Knuckles began to run, they had noticed his movement. And together, they all sounded off: "Investigate potential threat, all."
"Subject found in database. Subject matched; orders are to apprehend. State five."
And they were machines, but they were not the same ones Knuckles recognized from the Island invasion. All the robots that had invaded the Island all looked the same. But these were different. Knuckles did not waste time studying them, though. He ran.
But the machines were fast enough to keep up with him, and they far outnumbered Knuckles and his companions.
"Cease movement, or prepare for fire."
And Knuckles and his friends ran.
And soon they found themselves amidst open fire.
"Protect the emerald, Kouken-san."
"Tell me how!" Knuckles yelled aloud. "Tell me how!"
There was no answer. So Knuckles shouted again, to nobody, "Tell me how to do your bidding! I cannot save it without your help!"
But the voice had no answer. And Knuckles knew then that it was hopeless; the voice had no answer, no advice to give him. So therefore there must be no way out of this. So Knuckles stopped running, and, to the army, shouted "Cease fire!"
And they did. Knuckles' friends turned around at hearing his voice behind them, and saw what he was doing. But didn't understand. "Knuckles, what are you doing?!" shouted Espio.
"We can't escape," said Knuckles. "There is no escape. Why run and just be shot down? Why run just to be shot in the back and die?"
Vector and Mighty and Espio had also halted, though a fair distance behind Knuckles, and thus the enemy did not resume fire upon them.
"Kouken-san, what foolishness is this?"
"You know there is no escape. If there was, you would have told me. Either that or you are an idiot and wouldn't tell me in order to save me. But I think you are smarter than that."
"So you will just give up?!"
"You would have me run? If I cannot outrun them, inevitably they will eventually hit me. What stupidity is that? If there is an escape, tell me now before it is too late."
"I…" for the first time, at least that Knuckles could recall, the voice hesitated, stuttered, didn't have the words ready. "I do not have an answer or a panacea, but I can tell you that this is not it."
"Then this is it."
But Knuckles did not have time to continue his conversation. The army had closed the distance to him. And now, from behind them, another figure emerged to meet the Guardian.
"You."
Indeed it was a figure Knuckles recognized. It was a beast with a great mane, and it was the general who had taken Knuckles from Angel Island to meet with Robotnik, in order to save his friends. And it was at that meeting that Robotnik had demanded the emerald. And it was that Knuckles had conceded, in order to – or so he hoped – save his friends, and given up the emerald. The emerald which he now held in his left palm, but concealed from the view of the beast that now addressed him.
"Yes, I. We meet again, echidna."
Knuckles now had a chance to inspect the robots of which the army was composed. They were not like the lean, silvery-metal robots which he had so much experience with; these were heavier robots, and it seemed they could move faster. They were not metallic in color, but were more of a dulled bronze hue.
"Tell me, echidna, do you stand against this army? The army of the world's Lord? I believe you do."
"I don't give a damn about this world. I have no qualms with the Lord of a world I am not a part of."
"Cleverly chosen words, but I have a different agenda this time. You have proven to be a strong soldier when fighting alongside those vile Freedom Fighters. As such, my orders are to either enlist you, or to destroy you. Choose sides wisely, echidna. Believe me, you do not want the wrath of this army." The beast shifted his gaze to focus behind Knuckles, and he saw Knuckles' friends. "Ah, I see your friends are with you. Then this becomes even easier. I already know you cannot resist protecting them. All I had to do last time was hold a gun to one and you were putty. Now I have so many more guns." The beast raised his right arm to gesture at the great line of machines, which all wielded firearms.
But at that moment one of the machines was thrown to the ground, by no visible force. And Knuckles tensed up, knowing of course what was happening, but fearing it was either unwise, or ill-timed.
The robots adjacent to the fallen one raised their firearms. "Target is hostile!" One of these seemed to convulse as it was thrown off its feet by no visible man. Immediately the other fired at where the robot next to it just moments ago stood. Of course, this entailed aiming its weapon, to the visible eye, at another one of its own. And it did not hit the invisible assailant; it did indeed hit another one of its own. And as this robot was downed, several robots in its vicinity all raised their weapons.
"Cease fire; return to ready position!" shouted the beast. "You who performs these attacks, cease at once or I will open fire on the echidna and those standing behind him." The machines returned to ready position, lowered their firearms, and the attacks of the wind too ceased.
"If this is your doing," the beast turned to face the Guardian again, teeth gritted, "then you are truly asking for your own death and the deaths of your friends."
"This is not my doing."
"Lie all you want; it will not avert the decision you must make."
"If you truly plan to be taken captive, first lose the jewel!"
"Where?" Knuckles asked.
"Right here, echidna," the beast answered as if Knuckles was addressing him.
The beast's answer was the only answer to that question Knuckles received.
"I do not wish to be part of this war; just leave me, and I will not interfere with your Lord's activities."
"You already have."
"From this point forward."
"I'm sorry, but that is not an option. My orders are to enlist you or destroy you. And if you refuse to be enlisted, I will also destroy your friends. All's fair in war."
And then Knuckles slipped. "Then I surrender," he said, and as he did, he raised his arms to the sky. And also, inadvertently, turned his palms forward.
"What's that?!" The beast reached out and grabbed Knuckles by the left wrist.
Knuckles, now realizing his mistake, punched the beast in the face with his right hand. This released the beast's grip, and immediately Knuckles threw the emerald in his left hand over his shoulder; it landed at Vector's feet. Knuckles at once regretted doing this, but it had been a spontaneous decision of the mind, without any thought; he had had no time to think, and what he had done had been done.
Knuckles expected the beast to return his attack, but instead it simply laughed. "Hahaha, you have served me well," it said. "It will please Lord Robotnik greatly to have the Chaos emerald returned to him!" The beast brushed past Knuckles and approached Vector, who now had the emerald in his hands. "The secret's out!" it said. "There's no way you can keep the emerald from me while I command this army, and you have only three." The beast reached and grabbed Vector by the wrist, prying the emerald from his hand, and then turned around and returned to the front of the army, facing the Guardian again. "Very well, echidna, you shall have your wish. You may go. I have no need to bring you to Lord Robotnik when I can bring the Chaos emerald instead." The beast paused, and then continued, "Of course, if this is granted, your word shall be upheld. You either will not be part of this war, and not interfere with Lord Robotnik, or you will interfere and in turn will by default introduce yourself into this war. I suspect the latter, but I suppose I owe you the benefit of the doubt."
"Silence. Though I indeed wanted desperately for him to succeed, his statements were of verity. I do not know what could have been done. He asked me for help and I could give him none because there was nothing he could do."
"He may have been correct in asserting that there was no escape, but it was his stupidity that brought about failure. He had the jewel hidden from sight, and like a fool he exposed it! Had he any brains, he could have kept it concealed, complied, and then escaped from captivity when not in the presence of an army. But now the jewel is in the hands of the enemy, and he simply walks away!"
"You expect him to fight off the entire army to get it back?"
"No, that's not what I meant. I…"
"You attacked him for simply walking away; it is indeed what you meant."
"Do not throw me into some meaningless, endless argument."
"He was given the chance to walk away, and we should be thankful for that. It would be a much thornier trial to use him in the retrieval of the jewel if he were in prison or captivity or slavery."
"Entropy reigns, and this is his fault."
"Entropy has long reigned!"
"And he perpetuates it."
"Your saying so helps nothing."
"And your words do?"
"We must focus not on the errors of Koukennin; they are to be expected given his age, after all; we must instead focus on what now must be done. The City can wait, and you lack in patience."