Chapter 3

Knuckles was completely inconsolable. He spent three whole days in his room, refusing to come out. When he finally did come out, he had dark tearstains on his cheeks. He never strayed far, as he kept Julie's body in his room until the funeral. He guarded it closely, and wouldn't let anyone near it. For the funeral, he cleaned and dressed the body himself and carried it to the funeral. After the funeral, he wouldn't talk to anyone, not even Sonic or Tails, and stayed completely holed up in his room for the rest of the day.

The next day, however, he was determined to make a fresh start. He rose early, and worked hard to keep his mind off things. As he watched the sunrise, a tear came to his eye. He shook it off and carried on running.

Sonic was briefed for their next mission later that morning. A very uptight looking hedgehog presided.

"We suspect there is a large long term base being set up in one of the outer villages. We need you to infiltrate and explore it, and to try and destroy the base if possible."

"But sir," a very edgy Shadow interrupted. "Those villages are at the edge of radio range, and if we need support, it'll take hours to get there! It's suicide!"

"That's why there are three teams on the job. Sonic's team will lead, provided Knuckles is up to the task,"

"He's trying to cope," Sonic answered.

"Shadow's and Jet's teams will be in support, and if things get really messy, dig in and call back for help. If it gets too bad, Jet will have your extraction chopper. And watch out, this is also mercenary country. If Robotnik has hired the Chaotix you're as good as dead if anything goes wrong."

Sonic caught up with Knuckles when he was sitting at the top of a hill with a small cliff which he hung his legs over. It overlooked the whole forest. That's not exactly hard, considering it covers all of sixteen square miles. He sat down next to him.

"This was our favourite view." Knuckles said longingly. He looked at Sonic. "This was where we first… we… we lost our virginity."

"I know you miss Julie, but…" he paused awkwardly. "…but… we all have to move on in life, people come and go…" Knuckles seemed slightly upset at this. "I was four when my dad died. I was devastated. I just couldn't take it. But I had to move on… we can't live in the past all the time." Knuckles thought a while.

"You're right. I have to get over it." He got up and walked away. Sonic gazed out over the forest. It was quite a view. He remembered when he was 16, Amy had an obsession with him, but then the hormones kicked in and she got embarrassed talking to him. About the same time, he suddenly matured and found himself admiring her and her developing body. A couple of years later and they were both quietly in love with each other, but were both too embarrassed to say anything. It came close when Sonic went on his first mission when he was 18, but it stopped at a hug and a 'good luck' from the 14-year-old Amy. It also happened again when she went on her first mission, on the same team as Sonic. He thought… no, should I? Would I?

Could I?

No. Maybe… no. Or would she… no, she… maybe she would… naah.

He was about to get up when Amy arrived.

"Sonic! I've been looking all over for you."

"Amy… eh, what a surprise…" She sat down beside him.

"Some view, eh?"

"Yeah,"

"D'you… wait, no…" She started.

"What?"

"I was thinking… well, kind of… no…"

"Was it… well, um…"

Both of them continued to converse in fits and starts, not actually getting anywhere. They paused.

He lifted his hand to put it somewhere more comfortable, and it landed on Amy's by accident.

"Oh, sorry I…"

"No, it was my…

"Wait…" Sonic took Amy by the shoulders. "There's been something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time…"

"Well it'll have to wait a little longer!" Knuckles called from the bottom of the cliff. They looked down. They looked back at each other.

"I'll tell you later."

Tails & Wave were working on a broken air-bike, raised up on a platform.

"Hi, guys!" They heard from below them. Tails looked over the edge. He rolled his eyes to see Chris. He turned back to the table and pulled a small toolbox off the table. It fell off the platform and down to the ground with a crash. "Ow!" It hit Chris square in the head.

"Oh, sorry about that!" Tails turned back to Wave. "Got him!" He whispered with a thumbs-up and a smile. Wave laughed into her arm.