Ch.5: Black Chaos

" I can't believe it" said Eggman to Dark Oak " how in the world did Knuckles ever become a Metarex?"

" When he refused to join our cause willingly" said Dark Oak " we were forced to plant a seed in skull to brainwash him into being one of us. Now with your chaos emerald Doctor will be able to complete our mission. The elimination of all organic life,"

" Elimination?" Rouge whispered to Shadow " won't that include us too?"

" The Metarex can't be trusted" Shadow responded back " I'm just not sure how Sonic and the others are going to react when they realize that thier friend has just turned into thier greatest enemey,"

-------------------------------------

At that time Sonic and the others were busy following Tails through the ever twisting corridors of the Metarex ship to find the way to the power core where the Master Emerald was likely being kept. While Sonic would check the East Wing prison cells in search for Knuckles Tails and the others were to retrieve the Master emerald and any chaos emeralds they found.

When they finally reached the power core the first emotion they all expressed was surprise. The power core room looked like a mechanical version of the Matser Emerald's alter back on Angel Island. It was an amazing sight to see, yet at the same time very strange.

The Master Emerald was in its proper place at the center of the alter with seven pillars surrounding it. On top of six of those pillars was the glittering force of six chaos emeralds. But still something wasn't right according to Sonic's mind, how did the Metarex know what the alter on Angel Island looked like?

While Sonic pondered this question Tails approached the alter, but was stopped imediately by an invisble force field. as soon as the force field had been touched it started to glow blue and soon became charged with electricity so that if Tails tried to walk through it a second time it would fry him to a crisp.

" We need to shut the force field down somehow" said Tails " otherwise we'll never get the emeralds,"

" Get busy then" said Sonic " I'm going to check out the cells to see if Knuckles is in there,"

" If you find him" said Cosmo pressing a pouch into Sonic's hands " he may need this. It's a medicine that grew on my home planet and is known for its vast healing powers. I do not know what the Metarex have done to Knuckles, but I have a feeling he may need it,"

" I will thanks," said Sonic and ran off without saying another word.

" Hey Tails" said Amy as soon as sonic disappeared " I think I found the controls for the force field,"

Moments later the two-tailed fox moved to the panel that the pink hedgehog was pointing to with Chris following behind. Tails quickly put all his hacking skills to use in order to bring down the shield. He had almost figured out the code when Cream's chao friend Cheese accidently bumped into him making the fox's arms bang into the keyboard.

It didn't take long for the alarm to sound or Sonic from figuring out that their cover had been blown. In the meeting chamber the Metarex and Eggman's crew could clearly hear the alert. Shadow grumbled in frustration.

" Those fools, now the Metarex will know they escaped,"

"Someone is trying to break into the power core" said Green Bay Leaf " it looks like Sonic and his pals,"

"We can't let them get away with emeralds" said Yellow Zelkova turning to Dark Oak " Master, allow me to put a stop to these intruders,"

" No" said Dark Oak " it will be more fun to see Sonic and his friends getting crushed by one of thier own allies. Scarlet Snapdragon, destroy them,"

" Yes Master Dark Oak," said Knuckles, donning the armor of scarlet Snapdragon before he walked out of the room.

" Now watch Doctor" said Dark Oak to Eggman " and witness the true power of the Metarex,"

---------------------------------------------------

The alarm was still blaring and blue bolts were seperating from the energy field flying off in random directions. Tails was working frantically to shut down the system but it was taking to long which was making Amy irritated.

" Oh just let me handle it," said Amy bringing out her Piko Piko Hammer.

Before anyone could stop her the pink hedgehog let loose a rebel yell and smashed the force field controls. Five seconds later the alarm and the electrified force field dissappeared.

" Well that's one way to bring it down," said Chris.

" It just needed a women's touch," said Amy blowing wind across her knuckles.

" That alarm no doubt warned the Metarex" said Sonic seriously " let's grab the emeralds and get out of here,"

" You're not going anywhere," came a unexpected voice.

Sonic and the crew turned around to see Scarlet Snapdragon shilouted in the doorway to the power core room. His yellow eyes aglow in order to fill Sonic and the others with fear at his superior nature.

" Alright" said Sonic " I've been waiting all day for a rematch. Bring it on,"