Disclaimer: BSD and I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog or any relating characters.

A/N: I feel generous and I'm going to update two today! Chaos Xshadow did some art for this story which I might put links for in my profile.

Hands of Wrath: Chapter Nine

The sun gently warmed their bodies as they stepped outside. Sonic held the emerald in his outstretched hand, waiting for it to glow. As he moved it from side to side the emerald remained dull.

"Maybe we should try up at Lookout Point." Sally suggested. Sonic nodded in reply. But as Sonic turned around, the emerald let off a dull pulsating glow.

"Look." Sally gasped. Sonic raised his head to look to the distance. "What lies over there?" Sonic asked Sally re-entered the base, grabbed a map from the planning room and returned to Sonics side. "According to this, some old Overlander ruins are over there." Sally told him. "Then lets get over there and find our emerald." Sonic said. Folding up the map and placing it in her inside pocket, Sonic scooped up Sally and started off toward the ruins.

They weren't far and Sonic reached them in a matter of minutes. "Now where would this emerald be?" Sally questioned as Sonic placed her on the floor. The ruins were scattered all over the place. A myriad of pillars and arches stood either alone or in groups. A large shimmering lake dominated the whole scene. Within, Sally and Sonic could make out ruins below its surface. "I hope that the emerald isn't down there." Sonic muttered to Sally.

Pulling the emerald out of Sonics backpack, she pointed it at the lake. It remained dull. As she scanned the emerald over the ruins, it suddenly got bright. "Where's it pointing to?" asked Sonic. Sally raised her head and saw a large building, listing to the left and with wild ivy growing all over it. "Right there." Sally said pointing. As they were entering the old ruin, Sally was amazed at how the interior was in such good shape.

The room in which they were standing went all the way to the top of the building. Ahead lay a corridor, in which was a faint red light. Sally pointed the emerald to the light. Both grew in intensity. "That's the chaos emerald." Sally said and started toward the corridor. "Whoa, hold on Sal. I've read about old Overlander ruins. They're said to be filled with traps. I'll go first." Sonic stepped up to the entrance to the corridor. "Be careful." Sally called. Sonic gave her a wink and a cheeky smile. Then he tore down the corridor. Sally watched as two spike balls and three sets of spikes were activated. Sonic came back. "All traps deactivated." He said with a flourish. Sally smiled at him. Stepping into the passage, Sally was helped through the spikes and under the balls by Sonic as he led the way to the emerald chamber.

As Sally stepped into the high domed chamber, she gasped at the red emerald in all its radiant brilliance. Sonic had already gone up the stairs. Sally snapped out of her trance and joined him. They both stood before the emerald bathed in its soft red glow. Sonic reached up but then stopped. "I got the last one; this is your one Sal." Sonic offered. Sally thanked him and stepped up to the podium. Adrenaline ran through her every vein as she reached up for the emerald. As she grabbed it, the emerald let off a quick flash and then its glow died. Sally swore she felt a small surge of power course through her body. "You alright Sal?" Sonic asked. "I….I felt some type of power from this thing." Sally gasped. "That happened when I picked the last one up. Apparently, they hold a tremendous power. But that's just Overlander rubbish." Sonic said smiling.

As they made their way down the stairs Sally was half expecting a trap to go off. They made their way back through the passage without mishap. "I thought another trap was going to go off." Said Sally. "Overlanders can't build decent traps to save their lives." Sonic replied. "Don't be so ready to cast the Overlanders aside. They are not only taller but stronger then us as well. Also most of the technology that we have came from the Overlanders." "I guess your right. We have to thank the Overlanders for all the cool stuff they left behind." Sonic said as they stepped out in to the light.

"Now to find the next emerald." Sonic said holding up the yellow emerald he took from his backpack. It remained dim. But the red one lit up with a pale glow.
"Why's that one lighting up while this one isn't?" Sonic asked.

"I don't know." Sally answered.

"Well, we can figure it out once we return to base." Sonic told her as he placed both emeralds in his backpack and scooping up Sally. "I'm glad to be leaving this Aquatic Ruin." Sally said. "Me too." Sonic added as he took off back to Knothole.

Once they got back, Sally headed for the planning room for a sit down. She hadn't been sitting down long when Sonic rushed in carrying the red emerald that was now giving of a brighter glow. "I think I know why one emerald is responding while the other isn't." Sonic said excitedly. Sonic startled Sally so much she almost fell of the sofa. "Why, what is it?" Asked Sally. "Alright, I got the emeralds out to put them into safe storage and I found the red emerald glowing brightly. Then it occurred to me. The emeralds all lead to each other. That way no-one can find all the emeralds with one emerald." Sonic spluttered. They were then interrupted by a bleep as a message was being received. Getting up from the sofa, Sally pressed a button and the holographic head of Mongooza popped up.

"Hello Princess, I trust all is well." Mongooza spoke.

"Yes, everything is fine here." Sally replied.

"We received a large energy surge in the old ruins area to the north. Did you see or hear anything?"

"No, nothing." Sally replied.

"Well, were sending one of our men down. Now I know you'll say it's no problem but he needs to stop off for rest and he can introduce himself to you when he gets there. Mongooza out." And with that he was gone. Sally was left speechless.

"Why are they sending someone here?" Sonic asked. Almost as in answer to his question there was a loud buzz. Walking over to a monitor, Sally saw a rough cut Southerner waiting by the front door. Sally buzzed him in. And then left to go meet him. Sonic followed. In the main entry hall stood the Southerner Hedgehog. A tall thin male with brown boots, green cargo pants and a black singlet. He wore a pair of dark sunglasses and a baseball cap with 'Go Team' emblazoned on the front.
"Hi" He greeted.

"Hello." Sally replied nodding.

"Yo." Sonic added.

"So this is the beautiful Sally and the heroic Sonic." Their visitor said, trying to hide his admiration.

"Yes that's us. And who might you be?" Sally asked.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you my real name but my code mane is Chaos Xshadow."
"Nice to meet you." Sally said.

"Cool codename." Sonic added.

"Thanks." Chaos X replied.

"And what do you do in the Southern Freedom Fighters?" Sally asked.

"I'm in the black ops. Spying, espionage, that type of thing."

"Then why are you dressed like a tourist?" Sonic asked.

"Dressed like this, I can sneak around and not raise suspicion. I'm investigating the power surge that occurred a small while ago. May I see a map so then I can see what the exact location is?"

"Why of course. Follow me." Sally ushered.

Chaos followed her with Sonic bringing up the rear. "How's the transformer going?" Sonic asked. "Oh, fine. We are having problems with the power source. We are looking for a replacement power source until we can get one up and running." Chaos informed them.

As they entered the planning room, Chaos stopped and stared. "The chaos emeralds." He gasped. "When did you get them?" Sally and Sonic were silent. "With one of these then our power problem will be solved." Sally stepped up to him. "I'm afraid that we can't let anyone borrow them. We are still studying them." Sonic said.

"Well, I believe that we could make an exchange."

"What kind of exchange?" Asked Sonic.

Sally was aghast, but before she could say anything, Chaos smiled.

"I have a key card that opens Eggman's lab. I managed to filch it from a Doombot officer earlier on."

"I'm afraid that-"

"You're right. It's not enough." said Chaos, cutting off Sally mid-sentence. "I also have a file here containing not only all the names of the people that have been robotized but also an optical disk that contains all the codes to shut down Eggman's entire security system." Chaos said, producing a file and a square disk. "Please excuse me." Sally said, taking Sonic aside.

"We can't let him take one of the emeralds. Hoe do we know we'll get it back?" Sally asked Sonic.

"Well, the stuff he's offering will be pretty useful. Especially the key card to Eggman's lab. Also the file on who's been robotized. Don't you worry about a thing Sal. I'll negotiate the deal, trust me." Sonic told her. Sally was against the idea but Sonic had never steered her wrong.

"We agree to the deal, but this is only temporary mind you. Once you get your power up and running, I'll come to collect our emerald and to return your information. So do we have a deal?" Sonic asked. Chaos thought about it for a while. "Deal." He replied, shaking Sonics' hand. Sally just stood back and watched as Sonic gave the yellow emerald to Chaos. "Well, I guess that my trip to the ruins has been cut short. I need to get this back to base. Thanks a lot. I hope that the info is of use." Sonic walked with Chaos to the main door. When Sonic returned to the planning room, he found Sally with a scowl on her face and clenched fists.

"I'm not angry at you Sonic." Sally said. "It's that Southerner. Why do they always do assume that when they suggest something it's alright with everyone else. I know that we should be friendly with each other but sometimes they push their luck." Sonic walked up to Sally's side.

"Don't worry Sal. I have a plan." Sally calmed down.

"What have you got in mind?"

"Well, once they get the power online then I'll get the emerald back. But here's the clever bit. We'll copy all the stuff that they have given us. We'll have to give back the original so they don't suspect anything."

"Sonic, that's brilliant and very sneaky." Sally said smiling slyly. Sonic smiled as well.

"Well, we might as well get some sleep. We're going to find an emerald tomorrow." He said.