-Sonic-

Amy's set off to find Knuckles. She says he's got a Chaos Emerald, or she thinks he does. He's on the run, too, forced to leave Angel Island, running with his Emerald from Robotnik, just like everyone else… How has it come to this?! Of course I know the answer, but I can't help asking the question, can't help my inability to completely believe it all. Tails is working nearby; every now and then he looks up at me with a strange expression, like he's wondering what I'm thinking. The others are around somewhere, whether looking out for robots that might be headed our way, or catching some rest, I'm not sure.

It seems like a long time since she left, though I'm pretty sure it isn't. I doubt she's even halfway to where she said Knuckles was yet. I look over at the computer, which displays the time at the top of the screen – less than a minute has passed since I last checked. Time's always seemed to pass slowly for me, it has to, or I wouldn't be able to react in time for my lightning speeds, but right now it seems to be even slower, every second stretching out forever.

I can't help noticing the other things on the screen, the map with its flashing points that highlight the locations of Robotnik's last three Chaos Emeralds, the recently updated list of robots detailed to those locations… None of the robots have changed much, it would seem; I reach over and call up the details on a few of them, recognising them or a similar version from my own, past battles. None of them, I recall, were all that hard to fight…

This one I don't know, though, some kind of heavily-armoured thing, no more than an image accessible in what information Tails managed to get from Robotnik's network. Blaze and Crossfire said they fought one like that, said it was hard. I check the lists again; several of those are listed as inactive in both bases – in fact, there are no active ones, although most are ready for activation. Maybe he's not expecting anything so soon after the last time we got an Emerald – and I can fight all the others easily. I want to be doing something; now I think I've found a way to help. By the time Amy gets back, we could be in and out, and have our own Emerald to show her!

I'm not sure she'd agree to this if she knew; she's become a lot more cautious. I guess it's helped them all survive this long. But we have to take risks too, sometimes, and this looks like a great opportunity, with all of the most powerful robots inactive! How long might we have to wait for another chance like that?

I realise, still looking at the map, I've already made up my mind, I'm only going through the motions of rationalising my choice. I'm going to take some of the others, and get that Chaos Emerald while Robotnik's defences are down!

Tails is looking at me curiously; I'm grinning, he wants to know why, I think, wants to know what ideas I might have had. Well, I'll tell him, and I'll take him, too, I think, him and Shadow. We shouldn't need anyone else, they can stay and protect this place, watch out for danger, wait for Amy.

"Hey, Tails, come take a look at this!"

He stands up, leaving the half-finished piece of equipment on the floor, and walks over, expression questioning. I point to the lists, the tip of my gloved finger just brushing the screen, right at the 'inactive' listing for the only really dangerous robots there are there. He doesn't quite understand what I want at first, starts telling me what he knows about the robots.

"Those are Robotnik's newest kind of robot, and some of the most dangerous. Every time he comes up with a new idea, those robots get the first upgrade. They're a model called 'R-INTRANS' that we've never been able to find out about. I guess there are some things he won't even put on his network."

"No, Tails." I cut in almost before he's finished speaking; he looks at me questioningly, as though trying to figure out what I want to tell him, or what I want him to tell me, as if he's wondering why I'm sounding so excited. I carry on talking.

"Tails, look! They're all listed as inactive! And it looks like those robots are the only real danger in there – you know I can take on all the others! If we hurry, we should be able to get that Chaos Emerald and get out again before Robotnik knows what's hit him!"

Tails nods as he realises what I'm saying, a smile forming on his face. It looks like this will be relatively easy. He nods again as I say one last thing…

"Let's go find Shadow and get that Emerald!"