Unbeknownst to Dr. Robotnik, somebody was in his city, unseen, watching all the SWATbot activity there. That somebody was Espio the Chameleon, a purple chameleon. At the moment, though, he looked practically invisible. Espio called in somebody on his wrist communicator:

"Purple Phantom to base; I've sighted increased troop activity in the city, over."

"Well, what's goin' on? Let me have it!" That someone was Vector the Crocodile, a large green crocodile. Vector & Espio were part of the Chaotix, a private detective agency that served as a front for other operations.

"I do not know yet. However, I shall investigate Robotnik's headquarters. Inform the others about this, too. Purple Phantom out."

"You got it, man! Base…"

"HIII!" Charmy Bee, another member of the Chaotix, took the radio mike from Vector.

"Hey, don't mess around with that!" exclaimed Vector. "Give it back!"

"Hey, what's going on?" asked Charmy over the radio. "What's that about troop activity? Are we gonna fight a war!? I've always wanted to fight a war! I could be GI Charmy, and you can be…"

"ENOUGH! Give that back, buzz-brain!" While Vector & Charmy were trying to grab the mike from each other, Espio simply ignored their squabbling and moved further into the city. Despite the fact that movement rendered him visible, he went unseen. However, he had to freeze up and remain still for a bit because a Hoverbot came by, apparently looking for something…

"No heat signatures detected," said the SWATbot who was piloting the Hoverbot. "Resume patrol patterns." The Hoverbot continued on its way, as did Espio.

Unbeknownst to Espio, someone else had been watching him this whole time, too…

Meanwhile, back in Knothole, Sally was making plans for another mission when NICOLE informed her "Incoming call." NICOLE was a portable computer that resembled a tan flip-top cell phone. In this case, though, she actually did behave almost like one.

Sally answered the call. It was Vector, calling her by video.

"Yes, what is it, Vector?" asked Sally.

"We got some news for ya:" said Vector, "They're movin' a lotta troops around in Eggopolis. We don't know what's goin' on yet, but Espio & I will keep ya posted, OK?"

"Thanks for the information. We'll be ready!"

Suddenly, Charmy interrupted:

"Hi Sally!" exclaimed Charmy. "How's it going? Hey, you want to hear a song? John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith…"

"ENOUGH!" shouted Vector. "You're wastin' all our minutes, kid!" Charmy kept singing, but Vector ended the call.

As for Espio, he made it into Robotnik's headquarters. No alarms had been raised, so whoever had been watching him before had something else on their mind. After navigating a few more ventilation ducts, he learned the reason for the influx of troops: The Atomic Decoupler, which was about ready to be activated, except for a few parts. He called Vector on his wrist communicator again:

"This is the Purple Phantom; I believe I've located the reason for that increased troop activity. I'm not sure what it is, but it looks like Dr. Robotnik has a weapon of some kind. Over."

"A weapon, huh?" said Vector. "Oh, our friends are gonna love that! Now get your duff back here before those robots…"

Charmy interrupted again: "Hey, wanna hear a song?" However, Vector unplugged the microphone before Charmy could fill the airwaves with his unnecessary crooning.

"I'll wait until I'm back at the base to listen to your singing," replied Espio. "In the meantime, do inform our friends about this. Purple Phantom out." With that, Espio went back to headquarters.

In Knothole, Sally was contemplating the intelligence she'd received when Antoine came by.

"Good morning, my princess," said Antoine. "How are the goings today?"

"I don't know," replied Sally. "I got word that there's been a lot of troop movements over in Eggopolis, but they don't know anything else about it. Also, Sonic still hasn't woken up yet. He doesn't usually sleep this late!"

"Do not be worrying; I am sure that Sonic is taking the beauty sleep, n'est pas?"

"Beauty sleep? Ugh…of course. He's always doing…" Sally was interrupted with another "Incoming call" from NICOLE, so she answered. It was Vector again.

"What's the situation, Vector?" asked Sally.

"Not good," replied Vector. "Turns out Robotnik's buildin' some weapon or somethin', I dunno."

"A weapon? What kind?"

"Dunno. All Espio told me was that the Doc was buildin' a weapon. Well…at least that's what he told me. Still, you guys oughta get over there before he fries us all!"

"We'd get over there as quickly as we can, but there's one problem…"

"Uh-oh, what is it this time?"

"It's Sonic. He's sleeping right now."

"Sleeping!? At this hour!? Man, that hedgehog's always livin' behind a wall o' daydreams & illusions! Won't he open his door!? I mean, come on!"

"Vector, we'll try to wake him up. Don't worry too much, OK?"

"Worry? Why should I worry!? You're the ones with the sleepin' hedgehog!"

"Look, we'll get there as soon as possible!"

"OK then…" Charmy interrupted again with one of his songs:

"Eggman has only got one…" Vector hung up.

Sally, meanwhile, rushed to the infirmary to try to wake Sonic.

"Sonic, wake up!" begged Sally.

"No…can't catch me…" said Sonic, who was still sleeping.

"Sonic, please wake up!" Sally shook Sonic.

"Help…get me outta here…"

"No…Sonic, please wake up!" Sally kept shaking Sonic, but it was no use. Sonic was deep into sleep.

"Sonic! SONIC!"

As for Sonic, he was lying on the ground during a fierce blizzard. Suddenly, he heard a voice:

"SONEEK! SONEEK!" Sonic awoke and slowly got up. He wasn't too sure, but he thought he was in Ice Cap Zone. Thing is, Ice Cap Zone had never had a blizzard this tough while he was there. Still, he thought this might be the place.

"SONEEK! SONEEK!" That voice called out to him again. He went towards the direction that he thought it was coming from. However, the wind & snow made it tough for him to go very fast. Still, he struggled to survive against the harsh snowstorm. The voice kept calling, "SONEEK! SONEEK!"

All of a sudden, Sonic plunged right through the snow! He ended up in a cavern below ground. Down here, he saw Tails, Sally, Knuckles, Bunnie, Antoine & Rotor, all in a circle. However, they were all frozen in blocks of ice.

"OH NO!" exclaimed Sonic. "I gotta get 'em outta there! I gotta do somethin'!" He was going to go find a way to unfreeze them, when suddenly…

"YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE!" Sonic turned around to find Nightmare Sonic waiting for him.

"You again!?" exclaimed Sonic. "I've had enough of you! Juice time!" Sonic did a spin dash and attempted to attack Nightmare Sonic, but he went through his evil doppelganger as though he were a hologram.

"YOU CAN'T BEAT ME!" boasted Nightmare Sonic. "The fire of Heaven will strike you down!" Then, a stream of blue fire shot down from the ceiling at Sonic.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Sonic screamed as the freezing flames consumed him.

In a certain hut in another part of the Great Forest, Amy Rose was conducting a tarot reading. Amy was a pink hedgehog with a red dress, red headband & matching red shoes. Her hut was decorated with items that were pink and/or had a heart motif. As she turned over each card, she became more and more concerned. When she turned over that last card and analyzed the worlds lain out before her, the answer soon revealed itself to her…

"Uh-oh!" said Amy. "Time to get going!" She rushed out the front door, running like somebody's life depended upon it.