Authors Note: Longer chapter with insight from both groups. I might have gone overboard with the certain elements of explanation and strange additions to the actual plot so let me know what ya think. Constructive criticism/Reviews are very welcomed, I am totally willing to change some things up with any revisions anyone wants to throw at me.

Side Note: All characters in this story are owned by Sega.

Chapter 4: Chaotic World

"Okay," Vector inched behind the building. With his back against the cold brick walls he slowly sidled forward a few inches. "This is where we need ta be. Right Espio?" His words, spoken in a hushed tone.

"Right. I'll go get the brief case. Stay low." He gave a quick nod and within seconds the chameleon blended into scenery of the abandoned warehouse. His camouflaging skill was the groups best bet at object retrieval missions. That being the most important part of their newest client's current case.

When he was sure his friend had left the crocodile smiled to himself and gave a soft sigh of relief. Finally the crew had actually gotten another big paying job. And to double the excitement this one wasn't just some false lost kid alarm or another 'Geoffry Hawkson' Case.

Vector gulped at the very memory of the Hawkson case and whispered to himself, "I swear, if I have to ever put on a dress again..." He shook his head to wave the thought away and got back into Detective mode.

He surveyed his present surroundings once more until his sense of curiosity got to him and despite Espio's earlier warning to remain inconspicuous, the crocodile leaned against the corner of the wall and tilted his long snout over the side of it, trying to see if he could spot any trace of his stealthy friend.

He saw nothing. He heard nothing as well. His headphones were turned all the way down, in order for him to stay more alert. Though he could swear that through the white noise, he could almost hear a soft hum emitting from them. A hum that could only be described as some sort of James Bond theme.

He suddenly felt one with his inner spy. Sure he could never be as crafty and ninja-esque as his buddy Espio- Heck! That chameleon was born to be a ninja with a name like that.

But the thought crossed his mind- if only for a moment- that since he was such a skilled detective that he probably would not be that bad of a ninja or a spy. 'Maybe even a ninja spy.' His eyes widened at his ridiculous train of thought and he shook his head again to clear his mind. "What's a matter with me? I think I've been spending too much time with Charmy now. And look at me sneakin' around, too much time with Espio too." And off his mind wandered again.

For a short while in the past Vector was unsure if the whole Detective Agency would last very long. He knew that without it though, he and his friends would have no place to go. The very thought of anything happening to his friends- no his family- he just couldn't even bare it. He wouldn't let it happen, nor would he show his worry to them as such. Instead he would act out his worry as impatience, sometimes anger, even ignorance, but he would never let it show as fear. Not to them as his comrades that saw him as their boss and never to them as his brothers who were the only family he had and visa versa.

After a moment passed he realized he was still peeking over the side of the wall. He immediately crept back fully behind the building with full reassurance that his friend had everything handled, however, something still lingered in his mind.

Something of pure quiet wonder that he pondered for a moment. It was something of-

"HEY VECTOR!"

"WAH!" He clasped his mouth shut to prevent any more noise and quickly turned around to see the small bee hovering towards him. "Dang it Charmy. Ya gotta be quiet." His whisper, filled with pure aggravation.

In a very hushed and barely audible fashion he lowered his voice as much as he could, "Oh I forgot. I said, what's our mission again?". Which came out more like, "Ofot, whas ar miss gn?"

"You're whispering too low now. You know I can't hear ya."

With a roll of his eyes the small bee raised his hands to his mouth as a make-shift megaphone and readied himself to give a loud shout, but just as he opened his mouth he was suddenly interrupted by Espio.

"Got it." The chameleon lifted the old looking brief case. It was coated in a sepia hued layer of dust. He handed the case over to Vector with a knowing nod as his gaze shifted over to Charmy. The bee quickly let his hands fall from his lips, leaving a small sheepish grin.

"So, what's in the case?" Charmy now gleamed at it in curiosity.

"Who cares, we gotta get back to town and get it to our client before things get worse." Vector ran off, leading the group back to their destination.

Meanwhile on the other side of town...

"Okay. This is what we know so far..." Tails lifted a large red book onto the table, he had taken it with him from his workshop.

As they made their way into the city he still refused to tell Knuckles what was going on. "I'll tell you when we get there." That was his only response, one that constantly caused the echidna to look over to Sonic to see if maybe he would explain it, but all he got on that end was a big smirk and a shrug.

Within a matter of minutes the trio had arrived at the Station Square Central Library. It seemed the library was quite busy that day, leaving one spare seat a short ways away from an equally empty table. After taking the seat, Tails set the rather large book down on the table causing a small thud. His fingers laced through a few pages then finally stopped.

Knuckles, who was in no mood to wait for an answer any longer, pushed Tails out of his seat and took his place. Violet eyes were now searching the pages thoroughly.

"Hey," The young fox brushed himself off as Sonic helped him up.

"Gee Knux, don't get too excited." His tone sarcastic, with a layered hint of irritation at the treatment of his best friend.

"Tails," Knuckles voice became hesitant for a moment as he continued to turning the pages impatiently, "I don't understand a word of this!". He gave a frustrated sigh and slumped back in his chair. Only becoming aware again when his friend began to speak.

"Well," Tails smiled as he gave a much gentler push to Knuckles' head, which in turn caught him off guard- causing him to fall out of the chair which Tails reclaimed as his own, "It's not really all in English. Some of it is in Arabic, Latin, and even Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics taken straight from the walls of the pyramids. They appear to have been re-written in their original logographic form even. It's so fascinating that these stories could really date back so far as-"

"Tails!" Sonic and Knuckles shouted, not willing to keep up with another history lesson filled rant.

"Um, sorry. What I mean to say is, this is a very important book. It's filled with different variations of all sorts of myths and wonders in tons of different cultures. Some we're familiar with-"

"Like Chaos," Sonic added, "and Chip- uh I mean Light Gaia."

"Mhm, not to mention it includes the studies of the Babylonian myths and even some demons I've never heard of before like Solaris the Sun God and legends of an evil book called the Dark Prognostics."

With a whistle of surprise Sonic lingered over his friend, staring at the book. "I still can't believe all of these legends were right here under our noses. This thing sure woulda come in handy way back when." He gave a shrug at the now skeptical look Tails was giving him.

"Yeah but then where would the fun of having a little challenge and adventure have gone?" He answered as if he was summoning Sonic's own words.

"Heh, you know me too well buddy."

Knuckles shook his head as he crossed his arms impatiently, "Come on guys, enough of that brotherly love stuff and just tell me which ancient beast Eggman wants to resurrect."

Tails glanced back down at the book for a moment then turned to the 50th page. "We aren't exactly sure of the name of the beast, it seems it can't be translated from any of the ancient texts and in English the name is left blank, but something tells me that it's presence could over power half of the other creatures I've read about already." His tone seemed to lower into a sense of eery foreboding.

"What makes you think that?"

"This one is the only creature that has a passage in nearly every ancient culture, unlike most which usually stick to only three or four re-occurring legends. According to my hand held translator this beast can only be summoned by finding it's treasure..."

"Which is?"

"The Primordial Chaos Spheres."

"So this... Whatever the heck it is, is related to the Chaos Emeralds?" Knuckles looked from Tails to Sonic, disbelief in his eyes. "This is insane. This is stupid."

"Looks like we called in the right guy for help then." Sonic smiled.

Knuckles and Tails rolled there eyes. "Knuckles," The fox looked at his defiant friend, "Your going to help us find these things, right?"

The echidna sighed for what must have been the hundredth time that day then nodded his head.

"Yeah I guess so. At least now I know the what. Still not exactly sure of the why."

Sonic and Tails shared a glance as Knuckles continued.

"All I need now is the how."

"The how?" Tails questioned.

Suddenly he went from calm to manic in a split second, "How the heck do you guys expect me to find this treasure? I'm in touch with the Master Emerald, not some random other mythical type of gem."

"Knuckles, I'm sure this...deity is born directly of Chaos. With an energy- "

"Spare me the weird details. I get it. So there should be some of that energy still in those Chaos Spheres," He rolled his eyes as the very sound of it, "and from that you think I can track the them down."

"Uh huh."

"Hm," The echidna closed his eyes and seemed to be pondering something. That of which neither of his friends could tell.

"Hey Knux, you okay?" Sonic walked up to his red furred friend and trying to read the curious look on his face. "Hello?" He waved his hand before closed eyes.

Suddenly, giving a bit of a fright to the hedgehog, Knuckles eyes opened wide in unison with his sharp fanged mouth, "WHY DIDN'T YOU GUYS SAY THAT BACK ON ANGEL ISLAND!" His friend's in a somewhat comical matter feel to the floor from the force of the yell.

Sonic sat up as he rubbed his head, "What in the he-"

"In order to sense these things bringing a Chaos Emerald or two might have helped! I find Master Emerald shards not the smaller gems."

"Take it easy will ya!" Sonic took his turn to shout. "We already are pretty sure the Chaos Spheres-"

"Primordial Chaos Spheres." Tails corrected.

"That too," He gave his friend an annoyed look. "We're sure these things are somewhere buried under this city."

"On the other side of town I think." Tails added.

"What, did your translator tell you that?" Knuckles shook his head. "Look, fine whatever- long as Eggman doesn't know that then we don't have to rush. But as long as you want me to help we're getting this done as soon as we can, got it."

With a nod from both and a sudden random lecture from the librarian about proper library etiquette- mostly about keeping quiet, the three took off as soon as they could. Little did they know that where they were headed another group of three were racing to get there as well as another unseen character.