"The latest new on the floating Island; even though the temperature say it's too cold for anyone to survive, we have been informed there are survivors on the island, their numbers over thirty. Rescue teams will be launching a mission tomorrow morning to go and rescue them." The news reporter on the television screen explained. Sonic sighed with relief, at least they were going to rescue them. Shadow must have gotten through their thick skulls at some point during the conversation. If Knuckles survived the night, then he could be bought over here for care and then he could help them work out the mystery of the meteorite. Sonic soon turned the television off, not caring for any of the other news. All he cared about was his friend getting here, safe and sound.
Knuckles opened his eyes to find it was almost pitch black except for the light the fire was giving off. He looked beside him to see Julie-Su was no longer resting against him, however she hadn't wondered off. She was just sitting up and poking at the fire with a metal rod. She hadn't put her shirt back on, so she was still in her bra. Knuckles slowly sat up, groaning in pain as a sudden sharp feeling appeared in his back. Julie-Su's head instantly turned to look at him.
"You alright?" She asked. He nodded and eventually got into a seated position.
"I've never seen you on Echidnaopolis before, you new here or...?" Knuckles asked.
"I came here after the meteors went through the atmosphere. You see, most people study the terrain, or the meteorites, or forces, but not me, I study the weather and I'd noticed the weather had changed considerably after the meteorites had landed. We were having far more storms and the weather was more like what the opposite of what it should have been." Julie-Su explained.
"So, you came here to study the weather here?" Knuckles asked.
"No. When the Island was floating, it was the best place to scan weather conditions all over Mobius. I thought I could get better results from here than anywhere else." Julie-Su added.
"Oh. Well, in a way were colleges. I study magnetic forces." Knuckles stated.
"Really. Anything you notice about those that have changed?" Julie-Su asked.
"I couldn't tell without my scanner, but, one thing I do know is the meteorite that landed here, it was magnetic. I sent it off to my friend Shadow who specialises in meteors and meteorites." Knuckles explained. Julie-Su's expression went from a casual one to a shocked one.
"Did you say it was magnetic?" She asked.
"Yeah, why does that have anything to do with it?" Knuckles asked.
"If it was magnetic, then that could be why the weather has been the way it has." Julie-Su stated.
"Well, I have a feeling when we're rescued from this place, Shadow will want me in." Knuckles sighed. For a little while, the two continued to talk about the meteorite that fell to Angel Island. The two soon began to get tired and laid down to go to sleep. Knuckles noticed Julie-Su resumed her position of laying against his chest. He looked down at her, noticing how peaceful she looked.
"I'm not cold any more, Julie-Su, why are you still laying on me?" Knuckles asked, smirking.
"Well, you're a lot more comfortable than the stone floor." Julie-Su shrugged.
"I'll take that as a complement." Knuckles chuckled and closed his eyes to go to sleep.
Much to the protests of the rescue team, Sonic had accompanied them to help find Knuckles. After all, Shadow had told him Knuckles had been in the E.S.T centre when he called. Sonic figured he couldn't have gone to far from there being as cold as he was. When he arrived at the E.S.T centre, he found two sets of footprints leading towards and away from it. He decided to follow the ones that were leading away from it. Soon, he came to a small building that looked like a restaurant. Cautiously, Sonic went inside. He could smell the faint scent of smoke, like it was coming from a recently extinguished fire. He could then feel the warmth in the air, the warmth the fire must have created. He walked through the tables in the dining room area until he found the Echidna he was looking for, however, his friend was not alone. There was another Echidna sleeping beside him, a pink female and she had her head resting against his chest. Sonic realised she must have been with him when he answered the call from Shadow, she must have been the second set of footprints, she must have used her body heat to save his life. Just then, Knuckles groaned and opened his eyes.
"Morning sleeping beauty." Sonic smirked, chuckling as Knuckles shot him a sour look.