Two hours later they were well into the woods.

"Ow!" Rouge complained as a branch whacked her in the face. Everyone was covered head to toe with scratches.

Finally they reached a clearing. It was empty... except for a small hill and a cave entering into it.

"Perfect!" exclaimed Knuckles. They took a few steps nearer to the cave. Suddenly a blue and black blur crashed into Sonic, who was in the lead. Sonic instinctively fought back, and no one could tell who was fighting who.

"Stop!" cried Knuckles. Knuckles leapt into the fray. He managed to pull apart the two hedgehogs after many scrapes and bruises. Sonic got up and looked at his attacker, who was standing up looking furious.

He was a hedgehog, a lot like Sonic, in fact, except he had green stripes on various parts of his body. And now he was scowling deeply.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. His voice was deep.

"WE were looking for a base when YOU attacked Sonic," said Knuckles, glaring at him and dusting Sonic off absently.

"A base?" the hedgehog asked suspiciously. "What kind of base?"

Sonic looked at the others, and his look said, should we trust him? Harry, Rouge, and Tails nodded at Sonic. Knuckles scowled. Sonic turned back to the young hedgehog.

"All right, you'll have to keep this a secret," Sonic informed him. "We're looking for a base to start a metiya revolution. We were sent by Gabriel and Alene," he added, hoping the hedgehog would recognize the names.

Instantly the hedgehog's manner changed. "Gabriel! Why didn't you say so in the first place?" He motioned them inside the cave. "By the way, my name is Saermore."

The group followed him inside the cave. Saermore called into the depths, "Retiosanti, we've got visitors! Sent by Gabriel!"

After a minute or two, a shadow detached itself from the cave walls. As it came into the light, it transformed into a black cat with one white left paw.

"Hello," said Retiosanti. "If my name is too difficult to pronounce, just call me Retio."
He took a lantern that was hanging on the wall and led them further into the deep cave, leaving the entrance far behind. They reached an intersection with three tunnels.
Retio confidently headed into the center path. As he led them deeper in, lanterns begin to light the walls, more frequently as they went further. Finally they came out into a wide cavern with a ceiling about forty feet high. The walls glimmered with streaks of hidden gems. Around the walls there were millions of perfectly and imperfectly formed stalactites and stalagmites, all forming a glittering wall. It was almost like stepping into a dream.

Retio saw them staring around in awe and grinned. "I chose this place because of this," he said, gesturing around at the cavern. "And the best part is, the crystal won't break. It's impenetrable to any weapons that we know of."

He led them over to a long, crude, wooden table which looked out of place in the majestic cave. They all took seats.

Retio motioned to them. "Explain why Gabriel sent you."

Sonic talked for about an hour, telling him their story and how they had gotten here. When he finished, Saermore nodded.

"Yes, he told us he'd join us soon. At last, we will begin!"

"How many of you are there?" asked Tails.

"About... ten, twelve. They're all off in various parts of the cave or doing assigned tasks. We're pretty well organized," said Retio.

"We need more," said Alene. "That's your job," she informed Sonic. He nodded.

Saermore was glaring at something behind Knuckles. Knuckles turned and saw Harry, a bit uncomfortable under Saermore's stare.

"Is there a problem?" Knuckles asked.

"Why did you bring a human?" he asked.

"Oh... don't worry, he's a friend. He's never owned a metiya in his life, right Harry?"
Harry nodded quickly. Saermore frowned, but stopped staring.

"Okay, here's the plan for invading Hashlar's fortress," said Retio. They all leaned toward him as he spread out maps.

"First, we're going to use the secret metiya passage to send small groups in at a time. These will infiltrate Hashlar's metiyas and plant bombs in various places. They'll also be ready to help us when needed. Next, we're going to send the bulk of our army to charge up to Hashlar's gates and challenge him. This will be the distraction for the other group, the main one, which will fly over the walls of Hashlar's fortress and use the metiya passage to set off the bombs. Hopefully this will cause Hashlar's fortress to collapse, and with it, Hashlar. Thus ends the metiya enslavement!"

Retio leaned forward. "I know this will take a while, but I think it will work! What do you think, Sonic?"

Sonic considered. "It sounds like a good plan!" said Sonic. "It just needs a little work!"

"Like how? Tell me!" Retio leaned forward eagerly.

"First... where are you going to get explosive? And second, how are you going to fly over Hashlar's walls? I'd think that would be pretty easy to see... and third, we don't have an army."

"Not yet!" said Tails excitedly. "Just give us a few weeks, and we'll have an army grand enough to raise the countryside!"

Retio nodded. "I'll give you some time. The flying machines have not yet been built yet, but if they don't work, we can always scale the walls.

"I can get the explosive from these caves here!" he continued. "There is a certain mineral within some cave walls. When mined and combined with a certain liquid, it produces an explosion powerful enough to topple one of these crystal stalagmites here. We have only just recently discovered this. I call it... rakk." He held up a little piece of rock. It seemed ordinary except that it was glowing neon orange. "If I combine it with this..." He held up a small bottle full of a black liquid. "It will explode!"

He placed a small drop of liquid on the rock and flung it away as far as he could. After ten seconds, there was a large explosion at the far end of the cave. A few rocks came rattling down.

"Like that!" Saermore said. He looked at Sonic and the others. All were nodding their heads in appreciation.

Retio turned back to them. "So, now that you know what we're doing, go out and do your part!"

"All right!" they cheered. Retio led the group out of the cave and escorted them to the entrance.

Two hours later they were back in the city.

"All right Sonic, what should we do now?" asked Tails.

Sonic considered.

"Let's go tell Gabriel and Alene how we've done," suggested Rouge. Everyone thought this was a good idea so they headed back to the Stalking Lion.

As they went through the streets Knuckles noticed some people staring at them. If he looked at the starers directly, they would turn quickly back to their groups and whisper to their companions. Knuckles didn't like it, but there was nothing he could do about it.
As they entered the Stalking Lion they heard raised voices in the common room. One was the innkeeper, but the other voice was Thayne! Sonic and the others drew closer to the door to hear what Thayne and the innkeeper were shouting about.

"...I don't care, you ought to kill them off!" shouted Thayne.

"But they're my best metiyas!" protested the innkeeper.

The others went cold. What metiyas were they talking about?

"They are spies, I tell you! They will upset the balance of power between metiyas and humans!" Thayne continued.

"Where's your proof?" challenged the innkeeper.

"Just last night, they took away two of your customers! Yes, the very same ones you gave free lodging to! And they came back and refused my services, and took off to that forest! The metiyas told them something that made them change their minds!"

"But..." the innkeeper objected feebly.

"NO BUTS!" thundered Thayne. Then his voice became very quiet, so quiet Sonic had to lean almost into the door to hear. "So you won't, eh? Then will you face the wrath of the High Lord?"

The innkeeper's voice shook, no doubt as much as he himself was shaking. "Y-You w-wouldn't!"

"Oh yes," said Thayne softly, "I would."

There was a long silence. Then the innkeeper said in a resigned voice, "All... right." Then he called, "Gabriel! Alene!"

Sonic blanched. They were going to kill Gabriel and Alene! Sonic knocked down the door despite the fact that it was locked. They all burst into the room, surprising the innkeeper, Thayne, and Gabriel and Alene, who had just arrived.

"What the..." started the innkeeper. Thayne was quicker. He snatched up Alene, who was right next to him, and put to her throat a knife that appeared in his hand. It dripped with a clear liquid.

"No one move!" he shouted. "If I just scratch her with this, she'll die!" Sonic and the others froze - but not because of Thayne's death threat. The innkeeper and Thayne were standing with their backs to Gabriel - a mistake, as it turned out. Gabriel was silently sneaking up behind Thayne, and he had a metal candlestick holder in his hand.

Thayne looked satisfied and was unaware of the impending danger. "Now, I want you all to back away, slowly, and put your hands were I can see them."

They complied.

"Now, tell me, how much did you hear?" asked Thayne softly, dangerously. Gabriel crept closer. Sonic and the others said nothing, stalling for time.

"TELL ME!" roared Thayne, and his knife went closer to Alene's neck.

Sonic saw he had to keep delaying. "Well, we were coming back here, and the innkeeper wasn't there, you see, and we heard his voice from the common room. We knocked because it was locked, but you didn't hear because you were shouting. So we hit the door - a little too hard, I guess - and it came crashing down, as you can see. I'd hate to see anyone killed because of a misunderstanding."

Thayne was not convinced. "You lie. You are avoiding the question. I asked HOW MUCH DID YOU HEAR!"

Sonic said nothing. Gabriel was within striking distance.

"Fine, if you refuse to tell me, then I have no choice."

Thayne brought the knife back to strike - and there was a loud thud. His eyes rolled up into his head and he, very slowly, folded over and toppled forward like a mannequin. The knife slipped from his hands and lay on the floor. No one seemed to want to touch it.

Gabriel quickly turned around and hit the innkeeper as well, who was staring in shock and had not realized his peril.

"Let's get rid of them," said Rouge disgustedly, staring at the unconscious forms. Gabriel laughed suddenly.

"See? We will prevail. And, Sonic... I thank you. You have saved both of our lives... all of you." He smiled gratefully at everyone and bent to help Alene to her feet. Tails rushed over to help her as well.

Harry and Knuckles tied and gagged Thayne and the innkeeper.

"You know," said Harry, "these two are too dangerous to be let loose. They know too much."

"Thayne didn't know what hit him. The innkeeper didn't know either," pointed out Gabriel.

"But they will be able to guess..." objected Rouge.

"Take them both," Sonic decided. "I don't care about the innkeeper, but he might blab to someone and we don't want that. Thayne we might get some useful information out of. Make sure they stay unconscious." Harry and Knuckles nodded. They stood over the men with the metal candlestick holder at the ready.

"You've done a good job," said Gabriel. "I take it you've already met Retio and Saermore?"

"Yep," said Tails, who was hovering anxiously around Alene in case she needed something.

"Good. Well, this saves us the trouble of faking our deaths. These two are the only ones who would have noticed our absence."

Gabriel stood up. "It looks like you don't need my help. Alene and I will take these men back to our base and secure them."

"You won't go alone," pointed out Harry. "It'll look pretty strange, two metiyas dragging two unconscious humans through the streets. I'll help."

"And one more person," said Sonic.

"I'll go!" volunteered Rouge. No one else asked so they headed out the door, Harry carrying Thayne, and the others half carrying, half dragging the innkeeper.

"All right, what's the plan now?" asked Tails.

"Um... Let's split up and look for metiyas, it'll go faster that way!" decided Sonic.

"All right," said Knuckles. They walked to the door of the Stalking Lion and split up. Sonic went left, Knuckles went right, and Tails headed straight down the three way street.