-Amy-

Chess seems pretty much dumbstruck by our short meeting with Tikal. I've met her before, so I knew what to expect, but maybe I should have mentioned her earlier. Ah well, too late for that now. After a few more minutes of walking through these corridors, we should find Knuckles. I think the sooner we get out of here after that, the happier Chess will be. Maybe I shouldn't have picked her to accompany me, but I didn't really want to bring anyone else.

There's a junction up ahead. I almost walk past the little entrance, but something catches my eye and I turn. It's like a narrow doorway, and through it, one to either side, stand Knuckles and Rouge. They seem ready for battle, as though half-expecting robots, no matter what Tikal may have said to them. Behind them both, just out of sight, something casts a gentle green radiance into the room. It must be the Master Emerald, but I'm not interested in that; I'm more concerned with something else they're supposed to have. As far as we've been able to determine, Knuckles has one of the Chaos Emeralds, and I'm here to ask for it from him.

"Knuckles?"

He looks straight at me, and then at Chess, behind me. I don't think he's changed as much as some of us, he still seems much the same as I remember, but his eyes are warier than before. He was always exactly who he was, I guess, still is, but he's more… more ready to suspect us of something, less likely to believe anyone's story - not just mine, anyone's. But I wasn't expecting his next question.

"What they're saying about Sonic - is it true?"

Chess jumps in before I've a chance to think.

"Yes! Isn't it wonderful?!"

He takes half a step back and looks at her like she's gone mad. So does Rouge, for that matter. Chess looks back at them both, not quite sure what to think, I'd say.

"What are they saying about Sonic?" I cut in before they've a chance to go any further. This looks like Chess is thinking one thing, but they'd quite a different idea in mind when Knuckles spoke. This time it's Rouge who answers me, voice soft.

"Rumour has it that Sonic… is dead."

"No. No, he's not dead." Can I trust them? I'd better be able to. I'm going to have to. I know they aren't with Robotnik, or the Master Emerald would be in his hands by now, but if either one says something, and the news spreads… there are always those who'd try and be spared from Robotnik's rule. All it would take would be one person who thought that they'd be safe in return for information like that, and we'd lose our main advantage - surprise. But I have to trust these two, and I don't think it's likely that either one will talk about it to others.

"Sonic's back with us. He's awake, and alive, and he thinks he can defeat Robotnik. But we need your Chaos Emerald to do it. Please..."

For a moment they look shocked, then Rouge produces the Emerald and holds it out to me.

"Please? You don't need to ask. If you can stop this, I think you can have anything short of the Master Emerald itself." And in her eyes is the same knowledge that has been in all ours so long. Running, because they have no choice, and every time they run it leads to running again, until before anyone knew it seemed as if there was no other way but to run. How much of everyone's defeat has been in our own minds?