-- Knuckles

"Master Emerald. Master Emerald," said Knuckles.

"Hello, Sweetie," Goldine said with a wicked smile.

"Master Emerald. Master Emerald."

"Heeey, I'm talking to you," said Goldine.

("Master Emerald. Master Emerald,") thought Knuckles.

"HEY RED!" yelled Goldine.

"Huh, wha...emerald?" said Knuckles. He noticed Goldine, "Fish can talk now?"

"I also can swallow a whole walrus," said Goldine, "but that's not the point. The point is you need to work for me, Knuckles."

"Are you the Master Emerald?" asked Knuckles.

Goldine glanced at the Master Emerald on Knuckles's right. ("Does this guy have a thought process?") Goldine responded, "Yes!"

"Okay then, Master Emerald," said Knuckles. "I love you."

"Knuckles, I need your strength," said Goldine.

("I don't get how the Master Emerald turned into a fish,") thought Knuckles. ("I better not think about it too hard.")

"Listen, Knuckles," said Goldine. "I'll need you to persuade some special people to come to my fishlair."

"I can break stuff," said Knuckles, "like rocks...or rocks."

"Just roundup the people I tell you to, and bring them to my fishlair!"

"Where is that?"

-At the dumpster behind McDonald's-

"Okay," said Knuckles, holding up a pile of various people in his hand. "I brought the people you asked for." He dropped them.

"Good," said Goldine smiling evilly, "now get me a Mcfish. Your Master Emerald commands it!"

"Right away, Master Emerald," said Knuckles as he went into McDonald's.

"Why are we here?!" said a woman from the pile. "Is this because I prefer Hardees?!"

Goldine smirked. "You shall all be my subordinates. You will all gather gossip from every person under you. That is why I have selected you all, since you're all bosses and executives."

"I don't listen to fish," said Bob from marketing.

"Well, Bob," said Goldine, "then would you listen to a 3-page essay that would be read on the 5 'O clock news talking about your issue with clowns?"

"What?!" Bob said nervously.

"It would be a shame if your employees or competitors found out you break down with the tiniest bit of clownage..."

"No, don't air it!" screamed Bob as he sobbed.

"Then you shall work for me," smiled Goldine.

"I won't," said Betty, chief of the Police Department.

"Gambling addictions plus husband finding out equals a lonely Betty," said Goldine.

Betty backed down.

"I know everything about all of you," announced Goldine. "From Ted's 'How to be a Girly Girl' magazines..."

Ted gulped.

"To Rachel's unusual taste for cats," finished Goldine.

("In my world, cat-eaters aren't frowned upon,") thought Rachel.

"I'm scared," said Ronald McDonald.

"I would be too if I was the spokesman for McDonald's yet preferred Rally's," said Goldine. "Now to get down to business. You shall all report back here daily. You will find out the potential gossip of your subordinates, and threaten them with it. You shall then return here with them as your captives, and the circle will grow."

"HEY! What are you all doing out here!?" yelled a McDonald's worker.

"Yikes!" said Goldine. "Scatter!"

END

"It's all coming together," said Goldine, hidden in the dumpster. "Bwahaha...where's my McFish!?"