"Eggman's army is unstoppable!" Vector complained as he stomped into the Resistance's hidden layer. "Without Sonic, the people are losing hope and giving into despair."
Silver frowned. "Despair is a luxury we don't have."
"I still dream that Sonic is with us." Amy sighed, placing a hand to her heart. "Do you think he might be..."
"I'm an optimist, but I'm also a realist." Silver said, pointing at himself. "Sonic is gone, Amy. And Tails and Penny...those two had just lost it. If we're going to win then we're going to have to do it without them."
"Silver is right." Espio stood up. "We've been hoping for a miracle these past six months, but I'm afraid we have to make our own miracle." The chameleon placed his hands on the table and stared at Silver.
Silver sighed. "Eggman's army has everyone terrified. If we want the people to rally, we have to show them that strength doesn't just come out from numbers."
"Not everyone is terrified." Charmy pipped up. "Isn't a new recruit joining us today?"
"Yes." Silver nodded. "A survivor from the city, right?"
Amy pulled out the Resistance' screen computer and started typing. "I'm accessing the file now."
While she did that, the door slid open, and Knuckles walked in. Silver grinned at him. "Knuckles! What's the sitrep, commander?"
"Happy to see you're all still alive." Knuckles said. "Eggman's forces have chewed through our defenses at Green Hill. And the resistance in the city is reporting that whatever had finished Sonic..." He glanced around the room. Amy sadly closed her eyes, and the rest of the team winced.
Knuckles sighed. "Sorry. I'm still not used to saying that." He glanced at the screen, his hand behind his back. "Whatever it is has got them running in fear."
The door opened, and everyone's mouth dropped open.
"Penny?!" Silver yelped, surprised that the new recruit was his close friend.
"Hey, guys." Penny smiled softly, waving her hand a little. Knuckles smiled at her, gently taking her hand in his and placed his other hand behind her back. "...All except this brave kid, who survived the battle and made it here in one piece. Meet our newest recruit."
"Knuckles, I've told you many months that I'm not a kid." Penny giggled.
"Sorry," Knuckles said. "Just trying to sound like a commander."
"And you're doing a good job at it," the human girl said.
Silver frowned. "Knuckles, are you sure? You know how much suffering she has gone through the past few months since Sonic was captured,"
"I know." Penny said, speaking before Knuckles answered the ivory hedgehog. "But I just had this feeling. I felt that he was still alive, and I had to do my part to help him."
"Okay, who are you, and what did you do to the shy, quiet girl I knew for the past six months?" Silver asked.
"I'm still me, Silver." Penny smiled. "I just want to help my best friend. And do it for Tails' sake, too. That poor guy..." Penny sadly shook her head.
Knuckles cleared his throat, and everyone turned to him. The echidna picked up a Wispon and handed it to the human girl. "Take this, Pen. We're depending on you."
"I honestly didn't do any training since Sonic was taken..." Penny said, eyeing the weapon nervously. "How will I..."
"Don't worry." Knuckles quickly interrupted, smiling at her. "Espio and Silver will teach you how to use it." He turned to the rest of the group. "Okay, let's get going, everyone! The world's not gonna save itself!"
"I'll meet up with you guys later." Penny said. "I need to check up on Tails. He's checking out on Zavok to find out what happened to get him like that."
Everyone nodded, and the girl hurried out, Wispon still in hand.