Knuckles and Shadow took a few steps back as The Eclipse slowly descended from the sky. The smooth metal of the ship opened up under its belly and equally smooth landing gear activated and the ship landed. Knuckles still couldn't believe how the black ship could work. Its engines were a simple blue exhaust that flowed out of a vent at the back of the ship. Its smooth wings were curved forward so the tips pointed forward. Each tip sported a powerful pulse cannon that also were imposable to tell were they were. A section of armor slid into the hull and a metal door was reviled. The door slid open and several hovering steps floated out and formed a staircase. Speed poked his head out and waved, "Miss me?" The green hedgehog stepped out. He just wore his black and blue sneakers, white gloves, and his sunglasses. Speed walked up to the pair, "Did I miss much?"

Knuckles grinned, "Figured you'd be back."

Shadow managed to force a smile, "Leda was worried. She is on her way. Frankly we didn't really believe it was you."

"Gee thanks." Speed motioned toward the ship, "And I brought friends."

Sonic jumped out of the ship and ran up, "Hey!"

"Sonic!" Shadow backed up, "How?"

"Hey, I die-hard!"

Shadow turned his head, "I'm sorry!"

Sonic slapped him on the shoulder, "Forget it. You weren't yourself. And as for me standing here. Lazar was nice enough to send his guardian to stop us from killing each other. He was late, but he managed to get me to a healing chamber before it was to late. I've been floating in a big tub of red goo this entire time."

Speed slapped both of them on the back and wrapped his arm around Knuckles's neck, "Come on guys. Were all back together. Let's celebrate!"

Several hours later, Sally and Leda managed to drag Sonic and Speed away from the party. Speed argued, but Sally managed to convince him to tell Sonic and Leda about what happened.

2 years earlier

Deep in the eastern part of Robotropolis, a small unremarkable building sits in between two factories that throw tons of pollutants into the air everyday. This building while seems ordinary it hides a hidden secret. Deep under it Robotnik's secret lab lays. Deep in the heart of the lab, the hedgehog awakens. His head throbbed, but he managed to focus his vision. He was in a glass tube filled with some sort of green liquid. He starts to panic a little, but realizes he is breathing through a mask connected to the top of the tube. He calms down a little, "Drowning isn't the best way to go." He thought to himself. As he tried to think of something to do. A short man stared into the tube at him. The man had a large pointed nose and was bald except for a few pointed hairs.

The man looked away and yelled, "He is awake, sir." The hedgehog looked up to see a fat man walk toward the tube.

He put his robotic left hand on the tube and slowly stroked it, "You are still alive my pet. Good."

The hedgehog stared at the fat man's glowing red eyes, "What do you want with me Robotnik?"

The fat stroked his orange mustache. "You know me?" "

Who doesn't know the fat self proclaimed ruler of this planet?" Robotnik laughed. "Defiant? Good!"

He waved his nonrobotic hand around. "Feel privileged rodent. You are the subject of my greatest experiment."

The hedgehog looked around. It was kind of dark. Computer screens with unreadable numbers on them. Lab equipment was everywhere. "What experiment?"

Robotnik couldn't help chuckling at the hedgehog's stupidity and short sight ness. "Look at you knuckles."

The hedgehog gave Robotnik a puzzled look then looked down at his hands. A sharp knuckle had grown on the fore finger and pinky knuckles on each hand. The hedgehog stared horrified at his hands. "What are you doing to me?"

"I am infusing you the DNA of my worst enemies, Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna and Shadow the Hedgehog"

"Why?"

Robotnik turned to the hedgehog in the tube, "When I am done you will destroy them with their own abilities."

"I will not help you."

Robotnik smiled a very evil smile, "When I am done with your physical upgrade, I will work on you mental upgrade." The hedgehog tried to move but he couldn't summon enough strength to do much. Robotnik reached for a small leaver, "Sleep well rodent." Robotnik threw the leaver. Electricity filled the tube. Pain racked his body as the energy was increased. His mind filled with rage and crimson energy started to erupted around his body. Robotnik backed away, "Snively you fool. Did you already implant The Berserker System?"

"Yes Sir!" The small man ran out of the room. Robotnik cursed and ran as fast as his legs would. The energy surrounded the tube and arched to the computers. The building started to crumble and eventually exploded. A crimson light shot into the sky and out of sight.

Present

"I managed to get back home, but you weren't there." Speed leaned back against the rock he was sitting on, "After awhile, I just decided to wander around. My rage kept building when I was around other people, so I decided to stay clear of anyone and everyone."

"I'm sorry!" Tears started to form in her eyes.

Speed smiled, "I was gone for almost a year. It wasn't your fault. I might have left too."

Sonic shook his head, "Sorry bro! I had no idea that Robotnik put you through that nightmare."

"I lived!"

"I guess! So Sally!"

The squirrel took a few breaths, "I was getting tired of being ignored by everyone and having all the burdens of the world being dumped on my shoulders. I know that as princess, it is my job, but my work was all I had. I need some time to myself, since someone wouldn't stay put long enough for me to justify free time."

Sonic grinned nervously, "Sorry!"

1 year earlier

Deep in the southern part of Mobius stood a large town. Filled with creatures and people of all kinds, a woman wrapped in a red cloak and hood went unnoticed. Well almost unnoticed, several guys in the shadows saw her walk by and started to follow. The town was called, Domino. It was a place of merchants and thieves. Almost anything could be found here for a price. It was quite a weird place for Princess Sally Acorn to have snuck off to, but she had no set destination and had to rest somewhere. She had been traveling for a week now and was glad to finally enjoy some measure of peace. Sally walked around passed stands, stores, and a few jerks that whistled at her. She drew the hood forward to make sure no one would see her face. As she reached an alley, she accidentally tripped over a man sitting on the ground. She managed to hop and keep her balance. The man wrapped up in a brown dirty robe. Only his mouth could be seen and he was busy sucking down a bottle of some kind of blue alcohol. Sally was going to say sorry, but the man just waved her off. The squirrel quickly walked away, "Never seen that in Knothole. I guess the world has other problems than just Robotnik. I must try and fix this when I get back."

A strong hand grabbed her shoulder, "Hey! Want a good time?"

The squirrel spun around and delivered a kick to the wolf's groin, "No thanks."

The wolf fell over and yelled out in pain, "Why you little..." A croc and a bear ran up, "Guess we have to teach you some manners."

Sally turned and ran down the alley, she hoped to run out the other side, but a beaver blocked her path, "I don't think so."

Sally quickly found herself surrounded. The wolf she had kicked walked up, very slowly, "Your gonna pay for that little stunt."

Sally stood ready in the circle, "I am not such easy prey." She leapt up high and landed with her foot into the bear's face. The large bear fell back and hit the ground. Sally ditched her robe and started to run. The croc whipped his tail around and tripped Sally.

She fell to the ground and the beaver grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up, "Your going to learn some respect."

Sally kicked him hard in the chin and he dropped her, "You first!" The croc lunged at her and she ducked down. The croc flew over her and smashed into a merchant's stand. The merchant ran as the small wooden stand collapsed and pots and pans fell onto the croc. Sally didn't take time out to celebrate. She took off running.

The wolf cursed and pulled out his pistol, "Damn you!" He aimed carefully and shot Sally in the left shoulder. Sally fell to the ground and gripped her shoulder. The wolf chuckled and ran to her. He slammed his foot into her wounded shoulder and enjoyed her cries of pain, "Your going to wish you submitted to me." He spun his pistol on his finger, "Too bad for you, I am a crack shot." He took aim and blasted the bottle of the drunk man she had tripped over, "After I am done with you, I will use you as target practice." He started to laugh, but what remained of the bottle crashed into his face. The wolf roared as he brushed the glass off him, "You dare attack me."

The man stood up, "I was enjoying that!" His voice was cold and firm.

The wolf took aim, "Die!" Before the wolf could even pull the trigger, the man closed the ten-foot distance in a flash and crushed the wolf's hand with his. The wolf jumped back and held his broken hand, "Who are you?"

The man let the dirty robe fall away and reviled himself as a green hedgehog. He wore worn traveling clothes. His crimson eyes narrowed, "Your going to pay for wasting perfectly good wine." He shot forward and smashed his fist into the wolf's face. The wolf fell down and stayed down. The green hedgehog proceeded to grab the wolf's wallet and pulled out some money, "That should cover the cost of my wine." He dropped the wallet on the wolf's chest and started to walk away.

Sally managed to sit up, "Thank you! Any chance I can get your name?"

"Speed! Yours?"

"Alicia!" Sally decided to use her middle name instead of her real one.

Speed nodded, "You need a doctor!"

"It would be nice. I could buy you a drink in exchange."

"Sounds fair!"