Chapter 6: The Beginning of the End
Knuckles, gliding down from Angel Island, was quietly thinking to himself about the events that transpired on the island. Still somewhat in shock, he was afraid; afraid for the planet and for his child's safety.
"I've never felt such fear before," Knuckles thought. "But if fearing this power…this evil power…was in my blood, it was for a good reason. What can I do against such an evil force?"
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Eggman and Sonic's battle. At this point, Sonic was trying to fight back, but he was slowly losing blood and consciousness. Eggman, unsympathetic towards Sonic, just sat there and laughed.
"Ho ho ho ho! Everything is going exactly as planned! Soon, my dream will finally be realized!"
"Not if I can help it, Eggman," Knuckles said. "Release him now, or I'll make you!"
Knuckles then proceeded to tear the machine apart, starting with the case that held Sonic. With one mighty punch, he deactivated the electric field and shattered the glass. However, Eggman was not deterred, for the syringes were dug too deep into Sonic's skin to be removed manually.
Eggman then proceeded to taunt Knuckles. "You don't scare me, Knucklehead; only I know the security code to release the syringes."
"Wanna bet, Eggman?" a voice called out.
Sure enough, Tails was hanging from the back of Eggman's robot. Using a special device, he managed to override the security system and released the syringes.
"No, no, NOOO! This is impossible!" Eggman shouted.
"Now it's your turn to suffer, Eggman!" said Knuckles, winding up a punch.
Knuckles jumped up to the cockpit and, with one punch, knocked it clean off the robot's shoulders. When it was knocked off, it transformed into an Eggmobile and began flying away.
"It doesn't matter if you have defeated me," Eggman said to his foes below. "I already have what I came for, and I will return in one year to destroy you all! Until we meet again, fools!"
With those last words, Eggman had escaped. However, taking Sonic's blood was not the end of his plan; it only spelled the beginning of the end.