"Isolated room? Why do we need to be isolated?" Knuckles asked.

"Nothing… never mind. Shadow… please bring Rouge in here…" Tails said.

A few minutes later, they were both wearing the helmets and were sitting in the isolated room. Although no one was watching them face-to-face, Tails had a 2-way receiving system in the room. Video and audio.

"Okay…" Tails said through the microphone. It leads to the mini-speakers in the room.

Knuckles sighed.

"So… do you have an idea, why we're here?" Rouge asked without looking at him. She stared out the 2nd floor window looking onto a beautiful forest.

"No… not at all…" Knuckles said.

"Knucklehead…" she whispered.

"Tails, this isn't working at all… just let me out!" Knuckles said.

"No! I'm sorry… but my plan-"

"Our plan…" Sonic interrupted.

"We need you to know each other more… what could possibly go wrong?" Tails said.

That thing again… it's calling to me. Rouge thought.

But I can't get out of here or anything… Knuckles thought.

What am I going to do? Rouge thought to herself.

Work together! They both thought the same time.

"Tails… what's that? Zoom cam. 2 in a bit." Sonic said.

Rouge was standing up. She was looking at the cameras, while Knuckles looked at the mini-microphones. At the same time, almost synchronized, they both destroyed the targets.

"Cameras and mics have been damaged!" Tails exclaimed.

"What the hell are they doing? I knew that a relationship would kill me someday… and it didn't have to be mine…"Shadow said.

Rouge and Knuckles ran out the front door without being noticed.

I gotta find out what this voice is!

I have to see what's controlling me!

They both ran to a museum with plenty of guard robots… and a kickass security system.

Of course, being 2 of the best treasure hunters… they got in and out of there in no time with the Emerald.

When they were heading out, Eggman stopped them both. "So… you finally got my first emerald." He said. Knuckles and Rouge's eyes turned gray.

"Aha! Eggman! So you're behind this!" Tails said behind him.

"Pretty brave for someone who's going to die… plus… it's just you…" Eggman said.

Shadow jumped out of the shadows. "Eggman…" was the only thing he said.

Sonic fell from the sky, surprising Eggman.

"That's it… Rouge, Knuckles… kill them!" Eggman yelled.

Shadow took out his gun. Sonic started for Rouge. "I got it this time!" Tails said.

He pointed his finger at Eggman, "You didn't just release gas from those robots… you also released small bacteria-like robots that you used to control them!" Tails screamed.

Eggman stood up, right in front of Tails. "Wrong! Those robots, when fought can-" he was cut off.

"They can discharge small electrical waves that may make the host to faint for a few seconds… but what I said caused their headaches!" Tails said.

"Tails? Instead of a science challenge… can't you help us?" Sonic screamed.

"What? Sonic can't even fight Rouge? I told you that you were a faker… Knuckles fell unconscious way before! I didn't even need to shoot him…" Shadow said.

Shadow aimed his gun at Eggman. Because of his exceptional aim, death stare, and dangerous personality… he made the perfect gunperson.

He shot at Eggman. But it went right through him. "Didn't you know? It's a mirage… I will finally be able to blow this world up!" he said.

"I don't give a damn if the world does blow up…" Shadow said.

"Aha!" Tails said. "Shadow! Sonic! Watch their eyes!" he continued.

Knuckles and Rouge's eyes turned back into their natural colors. Since the helmets were damaged in the fight…

"Aaaahh! I can't believe this!" Knuckles screamed, dropping to his knees and holding onto his head.

"Shadow… thank you for helping me…" Rouge said. "Augh! But it wasn't enough… promise me you'll help Knuckles… sayonara Shadow the Hedgehog…" she whispered.

"That reminds me of… Maria…" Shadow whispered.

For Rouge, everything went completely dark.