Aside from Knuckles, this isn't the Mobians' first time on an awkward elevator ride. Though, it certainly takes the cake as the most uncomfortable. Here they are, cramped in a tight space, descending down what everyone originally thought was a one-story building. Neither of them needs it spelled out, despite its bizarreness. This elevator leads underground. Its shiny, glistening walls reflect each of its passengers in their clearness.
The Mobian adjusts his suit, waits for a few moments, and finally says:
"You may be wondering where we're going."
"You think?" Sonic retorts.
"I apologize for the abruptness of the situation. But you must understand, we couldn't risk exposing our operation so soon."
"Operation?" Amy questions. "What is this? Who are you? And why are we in here instead of out there getting that emerald?!"
"Because that emerald is a fake, my dear," the bear answers, causing the entire elevator to go wide-eyed. "Merely a counterfeit meant to distract those who'd seek it. And also a way to hopefully draw you here to the real thing."
"You mean…?" Tails catches on.
"We received reports of some sort of attack on Grand Metropolis. Eye-witnesses claimed to have seen explosions, robots, multiple Sonics of varying colors- all of which would sound like nonsense if not for the clear destruction left from the battle. We were left puzzled and concerned for our OWN security before we received contact from GUN."
"Wait… GUN contacted you?!" Sonic double-checks, taken back.
The agent looks over at him.
"He may be a menace, war hero, but Eggman has a certain talent for bringing even the most unlikely of allies together during the most dire of circumstances," he says before turning away.
"We were told the object Eggman was in search of was somewhere in our city. It took a full search party and a unionized effort, but we were able to locate it stuck at the bottom of Azure Lake. After brainstorming some ideas, we conceived a way for you to discreetly make it here."
"And where is 'here'?" Tails asks.
To answer the boy's question, the two doors in front of the group slide open, revealing a linear, dimly lit, grey hallway. The lack of grime or any real specks on the walls tells of their young age. Directly ahead is a steel vault, easily weighing at one-hundred-thousand pounds.
"This secret tunnel was constructed for the sole intent of masking the emerald's presence," the bear says, approaching the vault, with the others following behind. "Above these walls are an intricately built electrical system that creates an electromagnetic barrier undetectable from any and all enemy radars. I, and I alone hold the key to the vault. The emerald you're searching for is right through there."
"You built all of this in two days?" Tails asks, looking around.
"Technically, the foundation was already underway due to a future money laundering scheme from the club's owner," the bear says with a proud smile. "But all we did was speed up the process and add a way to mask the emerald's energy. It was a huge collaborative effort that cost millions. Might I say, an impressive feat, wouldn't you agree, boy?"
"I mean… kinda," Tails says, scratching his head, making the smile on the agent's face vanish. "But wouldn't it have been more cost-effective and less resource heavy to jam all electrical systems in the surrounding area? That way, even if Eggman has his aircraft, the radar would be rendered useless. I mean, you did a great job and all! But personally-"
"It worked," he interrupts. "That's what matters."
A sound behind the five Mobians makes them all turn around, watching as the elevator doors slide closed.
"Must be my backup," the agent concludes before turning back around to the vault. "They were instructed to wait outside and ensure the building is emptied. They should be on their way now."
"Three of Eggman's henchmen were there," Knuckles says. "Are you sure it was wise to leave the fake emerald in the hands of someone unknowing of its dangers?"
"A separate team has been tasked with monitoring her for the next three days to prevent any potential attacks," the bear answers. "Besides, I think we've all seen she can handle herself. Rest assured- um… what species are you again?"
Amy clears her throat loudly.
"Right, the emerald," the bear says, once again facing the vault.
He retrieves a silver key from his right pocket, and carefully, with no delay, inserts it into its designated slot in the center of the vault. After a small CLICK, the vault slowly winds open, revealing a small, circular, dark opening. Glistening in the center, on a pedestal, sure enough, is the real thing. A cyan gem, whose ancient glow gives the surrounding darkness a light blue tint.
Handling it with care, the agent leans into the large opening and grabs hold of the emerald. He pulls it out for the rest to see, who are equally as enamored by it as he is. Even Amy, who truly never got used to the beauty of the one she wore for years. This one almost compares. Almost.
Delicately, the agent hands it to Sonic, who accepts it, realizing this is the first time he's gotten a chance to properly look at one.
"Even with our fastest vehicles, a trip to Station Square would take about a week. And we couldn't risk detection from Eggman. But with someone of your speed, Sonic, I bet it'll be a relaxing run. Get it to Station Square and in GUN's possession. That's the safest possible place for it now."
Sonic looks up from the emerald with a big smile.
"You bet!" he says.
"I don't think so," Knuckles says, making everyone turn to him. "You remember our agreement, Sonic? Those are MY people's emeralds. They belong back home. With me."
"You don't have the authority-"
The agent quickly zips his lips upon receiving a death glare from the no-nonsense echidna.
"I hear ya, Knux," Sonic says. "And a hedgehog stays true to their word. But remember, right now, all we need to do is just keep ONE away from Eggman. I know you haven't spent much time here, but Station Square is the only place Eggman wouldn't dare attack. I'll drop this one off, come back, we'll get the other six, and restore your home! I promise."
Knuckles eyes the hedgehog in front of him up and down, very clearly unhappy with the current circumstances. However, he sighs and waves his hand.
"You better make it fast. And I mean it."
"Will do," Sonic nods smiling.
Finally, the elevator doors slide open.
"Ah, lizuka's team, is it?" the agent says as he looks at the now open elevator. "Perfect ti-"
"GET DOWN!" Knuckles screams, tackling the bear to the floor.
Everyone else barely has time to get to the floor themselves, barely avoiding an incoming rocket that whizzes past them and explodes in the now vacant vault, lighting it in flames. Standing in the elevator, over a now unconscious and weakened squadron of Starlight agents, is Team Dark. E-123 Omega lowers its smoking arm canon.
Sonic's grip on the emerald tightens once he lays eyes on the unwelcome intruders.
"I believe you have something of ours," Rouge says, leaning on the left-side wall of the elevator for support. "I can recognize a fake when I see one."
"Did you really believe we'd be tricked so easily?" Shadow adds. "No more of this. Make the smart decision, war hero. Or your friends will suffer for your ignorance."
"Don't you worry about us!" Amy grunts, her hands tightening on the handle of her massive hammer. "We'll be just fine! It's you who should be worried!"
Sonic backs up a little, surprised to see this new side to Amy, He wasn't even sure if it were possible for her to get so mad. She breathes heavily, with a look of bloodlust in her eyes.
"REASSESSING THREAT LEVEL OF TARGETS... PRIORITIZE PINK HEDGEHOG."
Once more, everyone is reminded of just how fast Knuckles can really be. He makes it from the vault to the elevator in a matter of seconds, his fist reeled back with the word 'Shadow' etched onto each of his fingers. Having only a few seconds to see and process the threat, Shadow teleports right as Knuckles's fist would've come into contact, instead striking E-123 Omega which sends him crashing into a wall. He turns around and sees Shadow staring at him in the middle of the hallway, arms crossed.
"YOU MESS WITH ONE OF US, YOU MESS WITH ALL OF US!" Knuckles barks.
Shadow responds with a subtle eye roll as he reels his hand back-
The impact of Amy's hammer on the back of his head sends him soaring through the tight space. Realizing the opportunity Amy just gave him, Sonic curls up and spin-dashes along the ceiling, only uncurling to give Shadow a long-deserved kick to the back, leaving him crashing onto the clear floor.
"You may look like Sonic, but you're nothing like him!" Amy yells before making another charge at the black hedgehog.
This time he's ready. Right as Amy begins to strike, he rises and swipes at her hands, making her only means of attack fly from her grasp. Its mid-air adventure comes to a stop once it lands in Tails's hands, who hovers above the two hedgehogs. Unfortunately, for someone of his intellect, he made the miscalculation of just how heavy the weapon was, and the hammer quickly pulls him down to Shadow's current position. He speeds back, just dodging what could've been a very embarrassing way to go, as the hammer crashes onto the floor, leaving behind a sizable hole.
"Thanks, Tails!" Amy says, retrieving her weapon and swinging it over her shoulder.
"Uh, no sweat!" Tails says, standing up. The smile on his face fades as he turns back to Shadow, watching the pair with his fists clenched.
"I won't let you hurt anyone else!" the boy declares, doing his best to imitate a fighting stance.
"I don't have time for this," Shadow says, turning around, only to find his blue look-a-like nowhere in sight. "THE HEDGEHOG... WHERE DID HE GO?!"
Shadow realizes his question is falling on deaf ears. E-123 Omega, a being constructed out of pure titanium, is being held three feet in the air by Knuckles's left arm, while he uses his right to hold Rouge against a wall. He looks up at the elevator's now open hatch and yells out:
"KEEP GOING, SONIC! WE'LL KEEP THEM AT BAY!"
"Easier said than done," Rouge replies, kneeing the distracted echidna in the chest. He stumbles back, losing his grip on his two opponents.
"That was a nice maneuver you did back there," Rouge says, with E-123 Omega transforming its right arm into a built-in Gatling gun. "Allow me to return the favor."
Amid the chaos, the Mobian bear sits at the end of the hallway, watching the chaos unfold before him. Finally gathering the strength to snap his eyes away from the hectic battle, he pulls out his radio and turns the device on.
"We have a situation!"
...