Maximus was still in shock. How was it that this Hedgehog managed to beat him? Maximus looked at the crowd as he could hear their shocked expression as well. Some were murmuring about just how legendary Sonic is.
"How did you?" Maximus asked, still shocked.
"It was the hand I was dealt," Sonic said, "Now take me to the StarPost is."
"A deal's a deal," Tails said.
"But it's impossible," Maximus said, "Giving the odds..."
"I don't care what's possible or not," Sonic said his anger rising, "I beat you now you must show me the StarPost's location, unless you want this crowd to think less highly of you.
Maximus looked at the crowd. Sonic was right. Though he loosing would change the way people saw him. He knew that if he didn't show sonic the StarPost like agreed upon they would start getting a different opinion of him, one that he did not wish to have.
"Right then," Maximus said as he stood up, "I'll show you the location as you did beat me."
Sonic crossed his arms.
"Lead the way," He said.
"Come," Maximus said as he left the area. He walked in the direction of a shower room he had placed in the casino which doubled as a bathroom. It was the men's room so Tails didn't follow.
"This way," Maximus said as he opened the door to let Sonic in. Sonic walked in. Maximus then went in as well as he closed the door. He then walked over to a sewage drain and lifted the grate up.
"It's down there," Maximus said.
Sonic walked over to the drain and looked down. There was a second covering to allow water to flow through but not other objects. Sonic removed the covering and he could see a ladder as well as a glow from below.
"It's all yours," Maximus said, "Well, if you wish to attempt the Special zone."
But Sonic wasn't listening as he was already heading down the sewage drain. As he got below he could see the active StarPost, its orb like the rest when it contained an Emerald, glowed.
Sonic walked over to the orb and grabbed it. Then in a flash of light he was whisked into its special zone.
Once inside, Sonic began to do a few stretches for he had been sitting in that chair for so long. He then proceeded down the moving orange half-pipe. One hundred and twenty rings later he made it to the end where the double wall stood. He spun dashed into it and made it through after the panels disappeared after flashing through their colors. Afterwards, Sonic collected the White Chaos Emerald. After a flash of light he was sent outside of the StarPost. Since the Emerald no longer resided in the StarPosts Special Zone, the orb's glow left.
Sonic made is way out of the sewage drain. Maximus wasn't there so Sonic went ahead and replaced the covering and the grate to the sewage drain. Sonic then left the shower area.
Outside Sonic noticed that the crowd was now gone. Some of them were now occupying the other things in the casino. Sonic saw Tails as she was still near the poker tables in the center of the room. So Sonic went up to her.
"I see you've got it," Tails remarked as she noticed the White Emerald in Sonic's hand.
"The next one's in the Ice Cap Zone," Sonic replied as he headed towards the door, "It's near the Mystic Ruins."
"You going after it tonight?" Tails asked.
Sonic gave Tails a look that read that he planned just that and she had just asked a stupid question.
So the two left Casinopolis.
"I'll take that," Said a voice.
The two looked and saw Robotnik emerging from a shaded corner.
"Robotnik!" Sonic said.
Sonic quickly dashed towards Robotnik. However, what Sonic didn't realize was what Robotnik had over his mouth. It was a kind of oxygen masked. Suddenly, Robotnik dropped something which sent a cloud of gas. The cloud hit Sonic and he stopped. Soon he fell to the ground.
"Sonic!" Tails yelled as she ran to him but was met with the same gas. She fell to the ground as well.
Robotnik gazed at the do as he admired his handy work.
All the wonders of what a simple sleeping gas can do, He thought to himself.
Sadly Robotnik knew that he only had one vile of the gas but he believed that it served its purpose.
Robotnik walked over to Sonic and took the White Chaos Emerald from his hands. He stood up and towered over Sonic. Oh how he wished that he could just end Sonic right then and there but Robotnik knew that there was one more Chaos Emerald still in a special stage. So Robotnik couldn't kill him yet.
Robotnik walked over to Tails and took her Electronic Pistol from her. Just making things that much easier for Chaos.
Robotnik then headed off. Straight to the Hotel.
As Knuckles exited the alley he noticed that it was later than he thought, as it was already dark out. The second thing he noticed was Sonic and Tails asleep by the Casino. He was thinking of how odd that was when he noticed something else that took him by surprise as he saw a lone human enter a hotel building.
Robotnik? Knuckles thought to himself, what s he doing here?
As Knuckles watched he noticed a glimmer of light coming from Robotnik's hand.
Is that? Knuckles pondered. He couldn't tell the color of the glimmer but after he saw Robotnik smash the Master Emerald he knew that it was possible that Robotnik could have one of it's shards. So Knuckles followed keeping a safe distance back.
As Knuckles entered the Hotel he saw Robotnik enter a sliding door. Knuckles walked over to the door and placed his hands on it to try and open it.
"Ummm Excuse me," Said a voice from behind him. Knuckles turned to see a Mobian bear, "If you really want to use the elevator. You can use the second one."
Knuckles looked and saw another sliding door right by the one he was trying to get into.
"But he went in the other one," Knuckles said not really sure of what an elevator is.
The Mobian scratched his head.
"They both go to the same place, I assure you," the Mobian said he then looked at something on the wall, "Looks like the one your looking for's on the top floor."
"Ok then," Knuckles looked at that other elevator and attempted to open it with his hands but the Mobian bear sighed.
"Press the up arrow button," He said.
Knuckles noticed the button and pressed it. Then the sliding door opened. Knuckles stepped inside as the doors closed behind him.
"HEY!" Knuckles said but then saw the control panel. They had numbers of the floors so Knuckles just pressed the button with the highest number.
Knuckles jumped a bit as the elevator started it's ascend.
This is one strange contraption," Knuckles thought to himself.
The elevator then jerked to a stop as it reached the top floor. When the elevator opened Knuckles could see the dining area. It practically filled the whole floor with its tables and chairs here in there. In the center there was an opening under a skylight. In the opening However, Knuckles saw Robotnik.
"Robotnik!" Knuckles called out as he exited the elevator, "Give me back the Master Emerald Shard."
Robotnik turned around. He was no longer wearing the gas mask he had been. Knuckles saw that in his hand was not a Master Emerald Shard but the white Chaos Emerald.
"Oh Knuckles," Robotnik said as he held up the Chaos Emerald, "This isn't what you're after."
Knuckles was surprised to see the Chaos Emerald. He had heard about their existence and had only seen them once before when Sonic, Tails, and Robotnik had come to Angel Island. Knuckles knew that they were very powerful.
"No, "Knuckles said as he placed his bag on the ground, "But I know that I'm not about to let you keep it."
"But that's where you're wrong Knuckles," Robotnik said, "Oh Chaos!"
Suddenly, a collection of water came up beside Robotnik. Then the water formed into the beast known as Chaos. But as Knuckles looked he noticed that it had a different shape and if he looked he could see one of the Chaos Emeralds inside his hand.
"You're giving him the Chaos emeralds?" Knuckles asked realizing that they must be the cause of its transformation.
"Correct," Robotnik said, "And I'm about to give him another one."
Robotnik tossed the white Chaos Emerald to Chaos, who absorbed it into him. Knuckles watched as the Chaos Emerald began to glow brightly. Chaos then matched the brightness. After it dimmed Knuckles could see that Chaos had changed again. This time is other arm was the same as the other only it had the White Chaos Emerald within it.
"Behold," Robotnik said, "Chaos 2."
"Changing shape doesn't scare me," Knuckles said as he got into a fighting stance.
"Oh but he's done more than change shape," Robotnik said then turning to Chaos, "Why not show him Chaos?"
Chaos walked towards Knuckles. Knuckles however, changed at the monster aiming a punch towards the creature s chest. However, Chaos simple bated away Knuckles punch and countered by slapping Knuckles which sent him flying towards a post. Knuckles hit it and slid down hitting the floor.
"You see?" Robotnik said, "With just two Chaos Emeralds he's already stronger than you. Just imagine what he'd be with all seven."
Knuckles slowly got to his feet.
"I'm not done yet," Knuckles said.
"Oh?" Robotnik said intrigued, "Well perhaps Chaos had better so you some of his power?"
Chaos stretched his arm to strike Knuckles with another blow. However, placed his hands on the creature's arm and used it to push himself out of the creature's reach. As the Creature drew is arm back Knuckles climbed up the post then pushed off as he glided towards Chaos. Chaos threw another punch at Knuckles as he glided towards him. But Knuckles angled his glide and avoided the punch. Chaos reeled in his arm as he launched another punch. However, Knuckles got above Chaos then drill dived into the head of the creature.
It struck as Knuckles noticed he hit something.
Chaos backed up as in clutched his head. Knuckles landed on the ground as he followed through with a jab followed by an uppercut to chaos' mid section. With that Chaos turned back into a puddle and left.
"Well," Robotnik said as he watched Chaos retreat, "I guess he's still got room to grow. After all he as been asleep for some time now."
Robotnik turned back to Knuckles, who was also watching Chaos escape. Then an idea came to him.
"You know knuckles," Robotnik said, "You're not the only one looking for the Master Emerald shards."
Knuckles turned to Robotnik.
"What do you mean?" Knuckles asked.
"Sonic and Tails are also searching for them," Robotnik replied.
"What!" Knuckles said, "Why would they do that?"
Robotnik shrugged, "How should I know? But after seeing what the Master Emerald did for my Death Egg I wouldn't put it past them if they wanted a piece of it for themselves."
"But they returned it..." Knuckles said.
"True, Robotnik said, "But for all you know that was simply a ruse to gain their trust."
Knuckles was still unsure. Could they be looking for the Master Emerald Shards too? If so, could what Robotnik be saying true?
Suddenly a crash from the skylight was heard. Knuckles looked as Robotnik's Eggomatic hovercraft came through the opening.
"I'll just leave you to your thoughts," Robotnik said as he bordered the hovercraft.
"Wait!" Knuckles said as he tried to stop Robotnik from leaving. But he was too late as Robotnik flew the hovercraft back through the opening in the sky light.
Knuckles watched as Robotnik's hovercraft flew out of sight but Knuckles still couldn't shake what Robotnik had said.
"Could it be true?" Knuckles asked himself, "Well, I'd better head back to Angel Island and check it for Shards."
So Knuckles left the Hotel. He left using the skylight for he didn't want to ride in the elevator again.