The story's taking a bit of a twist here, so sorry if it's confusing. And for those of you who are wondering, there is a point to me not concentrating on just one group of characters. It all ties together, somehow...(but I'm not saying yet)

Everything was blurry. What was going on? It was hard to focus. Everything was gradually becoming clearer, revealing a set of iron bars from floor to ceiling.

"Gemini, you're awake!" Gemini looked up at Tikal as everything came into focus. a wave of nausea overcame him, almost making him throw up. He and Tikal were both in a cage, most likely inside Eggman's base. But where was Eggman? And what was making him feel so sick?

A large, rotund figure came into the room, but it was not Eggman. This man look older (and possibly larger?) than the mad doctor. He had even less hair on his head, and a rapidly thinning grey moustache. He also wore a standard white labcoet, tailored to fit his massive size. In a way, he looked like an older Professor Gerald.

"Hello there, Project Gemini." the man said. "I am knon as Doctor James Q. Robotnik, father of Doctor Ivo Robotnik." Gemini cast a glare at Dr. James.

"Didn't you die in the explosion at your base?" Gemini asked. "There was only one reported survivor, and it was not you."

"Oh, that. I didn't have much use for it anymore, since I completed this. So I simply blew it up."

"You blew it up? But there were innocent people in there, scientists who practically worshipped you like a god!"

"What is a god that does not punish it's followers from time to time? Faith is a risky thing."

"You'll pay for what you did," Gemini growled, starting to get on his feet, supporting himself with Tikal. Another wave of nausea hit, but not as bad as his anger, which had quickly risen towards the deranged scientist.. He began to chant the spell of fire, one of the simplist spells created. But nothing happened. No flame, no spark, not even a puff or smoke.

"I see you had to much confidence in your powers, Project." The words were like daggers to his flesh. What was going on? The fire spell was his first spell, one he had learned six years after his creation. It was near impossible for it to suddenly not work. Almost as if he were just another hedgehog.

"What did you do?" Gemini growled, clenching his teeth.

"I needed a large amount of dark magic for my project. So I simply extracted yours while you were unconcious." The feeling of daggers became piercing blades, as if he was being ripped apart from the inside out. His magic, gone. The one thing he had held on to, even though he had almost killed his brother twice with it. The power he had used to revive Ciel. Almost his whole life had been centered around this sacred art. And now it was gone. He heard a voice, but it sounded so far away. Was that Tikal?

"You monster!" Tikal was talking to their captor. "First you kill innocent people, then you take away his powers? What are you planning to do?"

"Most villians make the mistake of telling their prisoners their plans. But I know for certain ther is nothing you can do about it, so I'll tell you. After my dear father was put in jail for his work on Space Colony Ark, I wanted to help in his plot for revenge. After he died, I came up with my own plan, one requiring the powers of science and magic." The wall behind James came down, revealing a collection of machinery and robots.

"With the dark magic I have gathered around the world, I have gathered enough energy for the spell of eternal night. Did you ever hear of that one, Gemini?"

"It's a complex spell, requiring the powers of multiple magicians. It's a spell to blot out all existing light, bringing darkness and blindness. It's only been used a few times in history, being undone by light mages. Of course, thoses mages generally died in the process, and there aren't many light mages in the world anymore."

"Exactly, so I can ensure a permanent night."

"But if it's that dark, you wouldn't be able to see!" Tikal protested," so it would hurt you also!"

"Oh, I've thought of that," James said, a tone of joyful pride in his voice. "Like my son, I have also built various machines. And I have come up with the perfect robots. Meet the Midnight Assasins."

In came a squadron of robots, each black with retractable blades attached to their limbs. Unlike the bulky creations of Eggman, these were long and skinny, their movement silent. They had no eyes on them anywhere, raising the question of how they could find anything.

"The Midnight Assasins are literally killing machines, silently murdering their prey. Except for me, they are programmed to kill anyone they hear, feel, or smell. When the time is right, I will unleash them all over the planet, causing the death of millions-no, billions of people, until there is nothing left. And then, the revenge my grandfather intended will be complete. As for you, I will keep you here a while. See how you react when the creatures you held dear die away, and you are all that's left. Farewell." With that, James marched out of the room, his robots following behind.

"Damn him," Gemini said, allowing himself to fall on the floor. Today had begun so nicely, and now almost everything was taken away from him.

"It's not over," Tikal said hopefully. "They'll find a way to stop this. Besides, your brothers are immortal, right?"

"Wrong," Gemini said solemnly. "Ciel was revived by magic, but he can't sustain a lifeforce unless he takes some from others. As for Shadow..." Gemini seemed to stare into space. "As I said before, he was born without a soul. None of us know why. Even with his copysoul, he still doesn't have a full soul. It will eventually break, and his essence will fade away, leaving only an empty shell of a body."

"Even so you still have me," she said quietly. "And also, I think I have a way to contact the others."

Never suspected that, did you? Will Tikal warn the others? Will Amy kill Sonic? All that and more, next chapter!