Zavok and Luger were walking through a warehouse with the latter carrying a file "Let me emphasise that what I'm about to share with you is tremendously sensitive, both to me personally and the Army. You're aware that we've got an Infantry Weapons Development programme. Well, in the Dark legion War they initiated a subprogram for Bio-Tech Force Enhancement". Zavok nodded "Yeah, Super Soldier" "Yes. An oversimplification, but yes. And I dusted it off, got them doing serious work again, bold work. Across the hall, they were trying to arm you better. We were trying to make you better". Luger sat down "Knuckles' work was very early phase. It wasn't even weapons application. He thought he was working on resistance to Chaos energy. Allowing us to work on more than just shards. I never would have told him what the project really was. But he was so sure of what he was onto, that he tested it on himself. And something went very wrong". He smiled "Or it went very right. As far as I'm concerned, that man's whole body is property of the UF army". Zavok was listening intently "You said he wasn't working on weapons, right? But you were, weren't you? You were trying other things". Luger nodded "One serum we developed was very promising" "So why did he run?" "He's a scientist. He's not one of us". He stood back up and crossed his arms "Zavok, how old are you? 45?" "39" "It takes a toll, doesn't it?". Zavok sarcastically smirked "Yes, it does" "So get out of the trenches. You should be a Colonel by now, with your record" "No, I'm a fighter. I'll be one for as long as I can. You know, if I could take what I know now, put it in the body I had ten years ago, that would be someone I would want to fight". Luger nodded "I could probably arrange something like that".


It's been 17 days since Knuckles left Emerald Town. He was back in the UF at Angel University in Albion. He was sitting on a bench wearing a new hat and pretending to read a newspaper when he saw students beginning to leave the buildings. Once there wasn't too many people around Knuckles entered the university but saw new security. He stopped and decided to go back out. He walked across the park when he saw someone he recognised exiting the science building. It was Julie-Su. Knuckles put his hat down lower before following her while keeping out of sight. He stood behind a tree and watched her sit at a bench drinking a cup of coffee. She suddenly looked in his direction. Knuckles quickly moved behind the tree but then realised she was looking at a blue rabbit in a yellow shirt who walked up to her. Julie-Su smiled and kissed the rabbit before they walked off. Knuckles watched them regretfully.


That night Knuckles arrived at a café with a large red sign saying Dreier's. The owner of the café, a middle-aged human man was closing up for the night when Knuckles knocked on the door. The owner pointed to the closed sign. Knuckles knocked again and the owner stared at him. Knuckles lifted his hat slightly and smirked. Shock came over the owners face before he opened the door.


The two of them were in the kitchen, the owner had given Knuckles some food before he spoke "Scott, I give you my word, whatever you heard about me, it's not true" "Oh, I know it. I always knew about it. I mean you know how I felt about you two". Knuckles just nodded, "Have you talked to her?" "No. She doesn't know that I'm here". Scott nodded understandably, "She's with somebody?" "Yeah, his name's Ron. He's a head shrink. They say he's one of the best. He's a nice guy". Knuckles nodded unconvincingly "Good. That's good" "Knuckles, what can I do to help you?" "I could use a bed for a few nights". Scott smiled "You can have the spare room upstairs" "That'd be great". Knuckles then gave an awkward laugh "There is one other thing".


Knuckles was on a bike with a basket of pizza, he was still wearing his hat and was now also wearing a red jacket with it. He entered the university with the pizza and spoke to the security guard who was a large, bearded human. Knuckles got his attention "Hey, pal. Got a delivery on five" "I don't think there's anybody up there". Knuckles sighed "Oh, man. I'm gonna catch hell if I don't collect. You got to let me try. I'll tell you what. I got an extra medium. Take it on the house". He handed it to the security guard who opened the box and smirked. Knuckles shook his hand and read his name tag "Thanks, Dan. You're a lifesaver". Knuckles took the remaining pizza boxes up the stairs and entered the computer room. Walking through the university again brought back memories of the experiment that day. He tried to ignore it and sat down at one of the computers, he was thankful that he was alone. He used Julie-Su's username. He then tried to think of a password, he typed an eight-letter word which worked which pleased Knuckles. He searched through the files searching for one called Chaos Pulse but there were no matches. He then searched his own name but again there was nothing. Knuckles sighed but then used an encrypted channel to call Mr Blue. He waited when "Mr Red! How goes the search?" "The data is gone" "Without it I cannot help. So, what now". Knuckles paused then "I've got to keep moving".


Knuckles was back in the kitchen with Scott "It wasn't even just the data. They made it look like the whole program never even existed. It's all gone" "Well, they closed the whole building for a year after the explosion. There were military guys all over the place". Knuckles sighed in frustration "I don't know what I was thinking. It was stupid to risk coming back here" "What will you do now?" "I've got to move on". Scott didn't like this "Where?" "Scott, it's best if I don't tell you". They heard the door to the café open "Scott, I'm gonna pack my things and go" "You're not going anywhere right now. It's about to rain like hell. I'll close up and we'll have some food". Scott headed for the door as Knuckles went upstairs to his room. Scott entered the café not looking at who entered "We're pretty well closed here, folks. I'm sorry". He then saw that it was Julie-Su and Ron "Oh, come on, Scott. It's Friday night" the former said with a friendly smile. Scott stopped and sighed "Kids. Staffs gone out. All I can make you is a coffee" "That'd be nice". Scott went over to the machine but kept glancing at the door he came through worryingly.


Knuckles was in his room packing his bags. He put it on his back and took a look in the mirror before turning the light off and going back downstairs.