Meanwhile, at Eggman's base, there was a commotion. "EGGMAN!" a hissing voice rang throughout the tunnels.
Eggman sighed. What did the queen want THIS time? Regardless, he hurried off down the tunnels leading to the center of his base. He came to the final tunnel, and approached the huge chamber cautiously. It was not wise, even for him, to cross E-151c. He was beginning to wonder if he had not made a mistake with this particular project. Over the time he had spent training the soldiers and workers, he had somehow, gradually, become slightly subservient to E-151c's whims. He would have to rectify that, once the Plan was completed… "Yes, Lady Queen?"
"Eggman…" the hissing voice came from a huge form, shrouded in shadows. "I have experienced something most disturbing… it could be important…"
"Hmm?" despite himself, Eggman was interested. "Yes? What is it that you found disturbing?"
"I awoke… a second soul of mine awoke… and I saw a place, where time did not pass. In that place were seven Powers, and an eighth Power, that was different from the others. And then, another came, that was not a Power. It seemed to be like myself, a Stranger in that… Fractured Time. It spoke with one of the Powers, and with the eighth Power, for a very long time. And in all that time, I could not move, I could not speak, I could not even breathe. And yet I did not die… a blessing that was. Then, they began to watch something, something similar to the eighth Power, yet slightly different still. And then, the Stranger left, and my first soul awoke as the second slept. That is when I called for you…"
Of course, this got Eggman's attention. Of course the seven Powers would have to be the Chaos Emeralds, and the eighth Power would be the Master Emerald… but they were ALIVE? It didn't seem entirely possible… but it made sense. How else could they keep their power out of his hands, time and again? But that raised even more questions. Such as the false Emerald that Tails had created… had he created life? Or had he simply created a conduit to the Power of the Chaos Emerald it was emulating? A puzzle… one that, when he solved it, he could use to his advantage…
