Chapter 8 : Back at the Beach
Emerald Beach – Seaside Ocean
"Well, it looks like Metal Knuckles hasn't been here since we left," Tails said wondering around the spot Metal Knuckles was last seen.
"But, where could he have gone," Big asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Well, we should keep looking," Amy said leaving the gang.
"Yes," Tails said.
"Maybe we should split up and look," Cream suggested.
"Good idea," Amy said.
"Big and Tails can go together, they can search around the ocean. Amy can come with me and search the boardwalk," Cream said.
"Sounds like a plan," Tails said.
"Oaky Dokey," Big said.
The two groups left in separate directions. Big, using his floatation belt, and Tails, using his propeller tails, looked above the ocean.
"I can't see anything up here," Tails shouted to Big from a distance, "Maybe you should look under. He could have sank."
Big quickly took a breath of air and sank under the ocean. He gently walked along the seafloor. He saw many beautiful fish, from Angel Fish to Flounder, but, no robotic echidnas.
"I don't see nothing," Big sighed.
"Drat," Tails said snapping his fingers, "Well, let's go see if Cream and Amy are having any luck."
Back at the boardwalk, Amy and Cream were searching every store and yard on the boardwalk. It was empty, no one could be seen for miles.
"Oh man, I don't think we'll find anything in here," Cream said to Amy.
Amy was looking over some skirts in the clothing department at a store on the boardwalk, "Oh, I wish someone was here. I'd really like to buy this."
"Amy, we have no time to be worrying about clothes."
"You're right, I'm sorry Cream."
The two left the building to search the far part of the beach. As the headed down there, they saw a strange shadow.
"Who are you," Amy asked the shadow from a distance.
The shadow moved closer. It turned out not to be a shadow at all, but a strange, tall, green, white striped, female cat.
"I am Vala," The cat said in a sophisticated accent, "I work over here. Who are you two?"
"I' am Amy Rose, the um, Girlfriend of Sonic the Hedgehog, and this is Cream the Rabbit, my best friend," Amy said.
"Nice to meet you," Vala replied.
"Um, Miss Vala, have you seen any strange metal echidnas around here?" Cream shyly asked.
"No, I cannot say I have."
"Oh, well, thanks anyway."
Cream and Amy walked away from Vala to go find the others. As they walked away, Vala pulled out a walkie-talkie.
"Vala to base, it appears that Sonic's friends are looking for the robot too. They must want the Super Emerald it holds in it's engine. Over," Vala said in the walkie-talkie.
"Ah, well, stop them at all costs. Over," A dark, deep, mans voice said from the walkie-talkie.
"Roger. Over and out," Vala said. She took off in the opposite direction of the two.
Back at the spot where Metal Knuckles was last seen, Tails, Amy, Big and Cream meet up again.
"Did you two find anything?" Tails asked.
"No, but we did meet a nice cat named Vala," Amy replied.
"I don't know Amy, she seemed suspicious," Cream said quietly.
"Oh don't be silly Cream, she was perfectly normal."
"If you say so."
"We better go back to the workshop, to tell Sonic we found nothin'," Big shouted.
"Yeah, you're right," Tails replied.
They ran off down the beach, headed towards the Mystic Ruins.