While Tails was out flying, someone else was also taking to the air: a white bat who wore a black bodysuit. That someone was Rouge the Bat, treasure hunter extraordinaire. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of light from the ground: A shiny object of some sort.

"Well…hello there!" said Rouge, who swooped down to pick up the object. It turned out to be a simple metal spike. She was disappointed with her catch, but she kept it anyways.

As for Tails, that missile just barely missed him. He only had one hope for dealing with that stealthbot now, and that was to go up. However, doing so caused the Tornado 2 to stall and plummet back towards the ground. That was exactly what Tails needed, though. Heading nose-first, he opened fire on the incoming stealthbot and blew it out of the sky.

"Come on, come on!" said Tails as he attempted to restart the Tornado 2. Luckily, he got it going again, straightened out and headed for home.

"Yes!"

Back in Knothole, Sally was attending to Sonic, who was now hooked up to an IV bag. Then, she heard someone knock on the door.

"Come in!" said Sally. It was Rouge the Bat who entered.

"Yes, what do you want, Rouge?" asked Sally.

"I was flying around when I mistook this for a gem," replied Rouge, who held the spike in her palm. "I have no use for it, but I figured that you people might."

"Yes, thank you." Sally took the spike from Rouge and set it aside.

"By the way…how's Big Blue doing?" asked Rouge.

"He's very sick right now. He hasn't woken up since this morning."

"Really? That's terrible! Do send him my condolences, OK?"

"We will." Rouge exited the infirmary and continued her flying. Sally was about to attend to Sonic when she had an idea. She rushed out of the infirmary and went to Rotor, who was cleaning his hut.

"Rotor, what did you do with the spike that we removed from Sonic's foot?" asked Sally.

"Well, I was going to throw it out today," replied Rotor. "Why?"

"I have an idea." The two located the spike from Sonic's foot, which was kept in a sealed container along with some refuse. Sally took this spike plus the one Rouge gave to her.

"NICOLE, analyze these two spikes," said Sally. "Check for any traces of Sodium Barboxide!"

"Analyzing," said NICOLE. Then: "Analysis complete. Match found. Both spikes have been coated with Sodium Barboxide. However, in this form, the toxin will not enter one's system unless the skin is punctured."

"Well, I guess that solves the mystery of how Sonic got sick," said Rotor.

"Yes, but that still won't help Sonic much!" said Sally. "We need Tails back here! NICOLE, patch me through to the Tornado 2!"

"Communications initiated…" said NICOLE. After a few moments: "Target located. Patching through now."

"Tornado 2, what is your status? Over!" said Sally.

"I'm almost there!" replied Tails. "I ran into some trouble on the way, but I'm fine! Out!"

"Understood. Base out."

Soon enough, Tails arrived with the Mobian Dragonflowers.

"Here, is this enough, Aunt Sally?" asked Tails.

"Yes, that should be more than enough!" replied Sally. "Thank you so much, Tails!"

"Oh, it's no problem! When Sonic's in trouble, you can count on me!"

"I appreciate it!" Sally went to Rotor and handed him the flowers.

"Rotor, get the antidote ready!" ordered Sally.

"You got it!" said Rotor.

A few moments later, the antidote was ready. Rotor applied some rubbing alcohol to Sonic's arm and injected him with the antidote.

"I hope this works" said Rotor.

Sonic's next dream was in a dark city at night. He was running down the street, trying to get away from an unseen terror. The street seemed to go on forever.

"Come on, where's the exit!?" wondered Sonic.

"There is none!" said the disembodied voice of Nightmare Sonic. "YOU CAN NEVER LEEEEAAAAAAAAVE! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

Suddenly, Sonic was struck in the left arm by a dart.

"Aw, not this jive again!" exclaimed Sonic. "How much longer do I gotta…keep…juicin'…" Sonic slowed down before collapsing into a deep sleep.

Back in the real world, Sonic still had not woken up.

"Come on! Wake up, Sonic!" begged Sally.

"He'll wake up soon," assured Tails. "I'm sure of it!"

"He'd better wake up soon!" said Sally. "Otherwise, there won't be any of us left!"

Sonic slowly woke up, only to find himself in a gigantic, darkened room. He was strapped to a chair, with a block of C-4 strapped to his chest.

"Huh…where am I…?" wondered Sonic. "OH NO! HELP, GET ME OUTTA HERE! SOMEBODY HELP! HELP!" No matter how much Sonic struggled, though, he couldn't break free of his restraints.

Then, a nearby television set turned on. The TV showed the image of a ventriloquist's dummy, whose skin was a pale white. The dummy had protruding cheeks with red spirals, red lips, menacing black eyes with red irises, and messy black hair with a receding hairline. The dummy's head slowly turned to face Sonic.

"Hello Sonic, I want to play a game," said the dummy in a deep, menacing voice. "For the past several years, people have been playing your games. However, in more recent years, the very same people that once loved and adored you watched as the quality of your games went into a decline. It appears that a hero of your caliber has been strangely unable to cope with that third dimension. Also, it looks like not all of your new tricks were as successful as you'd hoped. And what's with all those new 'friends' you brought along? Was that little orange fox not good enough for you? Truly, I am disappointed in you Sonic, as are many of your former fans.

However, I am a generous man, and tonight, I offer you a chance for redemption. Right now, you have a bomb strapped to you. When the restraints on your chair are released, the bomb will be armed. Naturally, when the timer goes off, it will explode and kill you. The rules are simple: There is a key at the other end of this room that will disarm the bomb. However, in order to reach it, you must only travel in a straight line. If you attempt to travel in any other directions, you will fall into a pit of spikes. I'm sure I don't need to remind you how deadly they can be. What will you sacrifice to stay alive? Live or die, make your choice. Let the game begin."

With that, Sonic's restraints were released, arming the bomb.

"All right, gotta go fast!" exclaimed Sonic, who sped off in a straight line as he'd been instructed.

"You don't gotta do NOTHING!" taunted the familiar, disembodied voice of Nightmare Sonic. "YOU CAN NEVERRRR LEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAVE! There will be BLOOD!"

Suddenly, a gap appeared in Sonic's path – something that he never Saw coming. Sonic attempted to jump over it, but the gap expanded, preventing the Blue Blur from reaching the other platform.

"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Sonic as he plunged towards the pit of spikes.