A few minutes later, once Clara's recovered enough to walk without falling over, she and Sonic exit the temple to find Tails waiting for them by the Tornado.

"What happened in there?" Tails asks, concerned. "Is Sparky OK?"

"They're just tired, that's all," Clara assures, cradling the snoozing Sparky in her arms. "If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have made it out."

"Egghead had the place infested with his badniks," Sonic explains. "Not seen that many in one place since Metropolis. Saw no sigh of the doc himself though."

"Hopefully, it won't get any worse," Tails replies, shuddering slightly as memories of Metropolis Zone surface in his mind. "Break for lunch?"

Sonic and Clara nod in agreement.


Meanwhile, in his command room in his fortress in Lava Mountain, Eggman has grown impatient. "How much longer is that fat oaf going to take?" he demands of Zavok.

"Zomom will succeed, of that I am confident," Zavok assures. "Also, I do not appreciate the manner in which you describe my kin," he adds with a threatening growl.

"And I don't appreciate minions talking back to me!" Eggman snaps, brandishing the Cacophonic Conch. "Do you want me to use this again?"

Zavok remains silent.

"Thought so," Eggman grins smugly. "I'm going to fly to Desert Ruins and watch that fat oaf crush Sonic like the annoying little parasite he is, and you're coming with me."

"As you wish," Zavok acquiesces. Soon you will make a fatal error, and I will be there to capitalise on it.


As Sonic and Clara prepare lunch, Tails fires up his MilesElectric and establishes a connection to Sky Patrol. "Sally, Nicole, you there?"

"Hey Tails," Sally greets as the image of her and Nicole appears on the screen. "Got any updates?"

"Sure do," Tails replies. "Clara took notes and photos on her way through the temple; I'm uploading them now."

The transfer takes several seconds before it completes. "Got them," Nicole reports. "I'll start a background task to analyse them while we tell you about what we've found."

"Anything useful?" Tails asks.

"We're not sure," Sally admits. "But at least we now understand why Wendy Naugus was involved."

"Not many records survive from the time, but those that do hint at the Lost Hex being created as a result of the fall of Pancardina, and that the catastrophe that fragmented the landmass and almost wiped out the trolls was triggered by a race of ogres that specialised in direct manipulation of the electromagnetic force," Nicole explains. "Unless my analysis is erroneous, those ogres were called the Zeti."

"So, it's not a legend after all," Tails thinks aloud. "Thanks for the update."

"No problem, and good luck," Sally replies before closing the connection.

"Yo Tails!" Sonic calls. "Food's ready!"

Tails jogs over to where Sonic and Clara are preparing to eat. "Sally and Nicole just told me a bit more about the Zeti," he informs.

"What did they find?" Sonic asks.

"According to the records they found, it was the Zeti who almost wiped out the trolls around the time of the fall of Pancardina, the event that created the Lost Hex," Tails explains.

"Interesting," Clara remarks. "There's some truth to the old legends after all. Makes you wonder what else has been lost."

"Maybe there's more clues in those notes and photos you took," Tails replies. "We'll know for sure once Nicole's finished her analysis."


In their quarters on Sky Patrol, Sally and Nicole find themselves with nothing to do but wait for the analysis of Clara's notes and photos to finish.

"What do you want to do?" Sally asks. "We could do some more training."

"Hm…"

Sally can sense something's bugging Nicole. "What's the matter?"

"Hm? Oh, nothing, just… wondering why I told you I think you're cute earlier," Nicole admits.

"Because an interrupt didn't trigger in time?" Sally quips.

"Maybe," Nicole replies, smiling slightly. "It's just… I've never really thought that way about anyone before. Maybe some of my subroutines are corrupted?"

"Or maybe you've developed new subroutines that allow you to feel a wider range of emotions," Sally guesses.

"I should run a diagnostic, just in case," Nicole decides.


After lunch is finished, Sonic, Tails, Clara, and Sparky resume their search for Eggman's base, Sonic on the ground and Tails, Clara, and Sparky in the Tornado. However, it's not long before they enter an area of the vast desert constantly beset with violent sandstorms that would quickly tear the Tornado to pieces.

Moments after the sandstorms come into view, Sonic's communicator beeps. "What's up, bud?" he asks after answering the call.

"The Tornado won't make it through those sandstorms, so I'm going to find a way around them," Tails answers. "I guess you're going right through them."

"It's more fun that way," Sonic smirks.

"Typical," Tails sighs in amusement. "Just make sure you get through, OK?"

"Always do, bud." Sonic closes the communication and accelerates, grinning in anticipation of the thrill of dodging the sandstorms.


"Is he really going to run through those storms?" Clara asks in disbelief.

"Well, around and between, but yeah, he is," Tails confirms.

"He's mad, completely mad," Clara sighs, shaking her head.

"And yet it's far from the craziest thing he's done," Tails comments. "Then again, he did have the Chaos Emeralds protecting him both times he attempted atmospheric re‑entry after taking down the Death Egg, and it was the only way to get back home."

"I assume stealing a shuttlecraft was not an option then?" Clara asks.

"…now you mention it, I never asked," Tails admits.


After a thrilling ten minutes of racing between and around numerous sandstorms, Sonic emerges the other side, brushes the sand from his fur, and sighs happily. "That was a lot of fun; gotta do it again sometime."

A quick check of the skies shows no sign of the Tornado. "Huh, guess they're still flying around the area… I suppose I could go for another run."

A second later, Sonic sprints back into the collection of sandstorms.


Another ten thrilling minutes later, Sonic re‑emerges, brushes the sand from his fur, and looks up to again see no sign of the Tornado. "What's taking them so long?" he thinks out loud.

A moment later, dozens of green and pink cubes slam down around Sonic, trapping him in a tall and very narrow space.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Sonic calls out.

The answer comes in a series of heavy footfalls that shake the ground.

I don't like where this is going. Sonic charges up a full‑power Peel Out and unleashes it, fortunately having enough room to allow him to carry the speed up the walls and out of the trap just in time to avoid being crushed to death by a belly slam from Zomom.

Sonic lands just as Zomom picks himself up. "You gotta be quicker than that to get the better of me!" he smirks. "Of course, you're gonna need to lose a lotta weight to even stand a chance!"

"Are you making fun of my size‽" Zomom demands, growling angrily.

"Maybe, maybe not," Sonic answers cheekily. "Now, we gonna fight, or can I just distract you with the promise of free chilli dogs?"

"…free chilli dogs?" Zomom asks calmly. "Well, maybe I could‑ Hey, you're tryin' a trick me!" he growls angrily, charging at Sonic. "Imma squeeze the life outta ya and eat ya!"

Sonic's not impressed by Zomom's lumbering lack of speed, tapping his foot and faking a yawn as the enraged Zeti closes in on him. And Zomom's rage is only boosted when he leaps at Sonic, only to slam hard into the ground face‑first, Sonic having dodged at the last second.

"Is that all ya got?" Sonic teases as Zomom gets to his feet.

"You'll regret making as fool outta me!" Zomom snaps, leaping high and landing hard enough to send Sonic flying skywards.

Sonic counters by curling into a ball and firing a Homing Attack at Zomom, but the Zeti is anticipating this counter. Spinning rapidly on the spot, Zomom extends his arms out to his sides, his fists moving at incredible pace and slamming into Sonic with almost enough force to break bones.

Badly dazed and winded by the brutal impact, Sonic hits the ground hard and tumbles a few dozen feet before coming to a rest. "Anyone get the number of that truck?" he mutters semi‑incoherently before blacking out.

Zomom stomps over to Sonic and picks him up in one hand. "I was gonna eat you raw, but now I'm gonna make you suffer first," he cackles as he walks over to where his Totem Head Mech is reassembling itself from the pink and green cubes.


Several minutes later, Sonic stirs awake. …what hit me? Feels like I got slammed by the Egg Dragoon… Oh, wait, I remember now. Sonic slowly opens his eyes to find the world at an odd angle. Confused, he tries to move, only to find his wrists and ankles securely bound to a metal pole, the bindings proving too strong for him to break.

Then he notices Zomom has built a fire pit and two stands the perfect distance apart to suspend the pole he's bound to. "Uh‑oh."

"About time you woke up," Zomom replies, moving into Sonic's field of vision.

"Hey big guy," Sonic greets. "So, uh, what ya cookin'? If you like, I know a great recipe for chilli dogs. Came up with it myself. Wanna hear it?"

"My name is Zomom, and I already know what I wanna eat," Zomom answers, picking up the pole and placing it on the stands, leaving Sonic suspended over the fire pit.

"I had a feeling you'd say that," Sonic sighs, wondering how he's going to get out of this situation. "You sure you don't want a chilli dog?"

"I'm sure," Zomom replies, sitting down and preparing to light the fire.

"But you don't really want to eat me, do you?" Sonic continues, trying to buy some time. "I'd be all chewy and stringy, and you'd only be hungry again ten minutes later."

"Are you making fun of my appetite?" Zomom growls.

"What? No!" Sonic answers hastily. "It's just I wouldn't be a satisfying meal, that's all."

"You're just the starter," Zomom explains. "When your friends come to save you, I'll capture and eat them too."

"They won't go down easily," Sonic promises. "Besides, I can get myself outta this," he adds, straining unsuccessfully at his bonds. "…I might need a few more minutes."

"Struggle all you want, it won't do any good," Zomom replies, finally lighting the fire after several failed attempts.

Desperate for more time, Sonic blows on the flames to try and extinguish them, only to feed them more oxygen and help them grow instead. "…OK, that's not gonna work."

"Enjoy your last moments being roasted alive," Zomom grins malevolently, salivating a little.


In the skies, the Tornado has finally circumnavigated the sandstorms and is approaching where Zomom is slowly roasting Sonic. As they approach, Sparky is the first to notice, squeaking loudly in alarm.

"I see them Sparky," Clara acknowledges, not quite sure what she's seeing, but certain that it's bad. "Tails, looks like Sonic's in trouble."

"I see them," Tails replies. "Looks like another one of those Zeti. Bringing her in to land."

Sparky squeaks urgently, gesturing to try and help Clara understand.

"Just a moment," Clara replies. "Tails, can I borrow the MilesElectric?"

"Sure," Tails agrees, fetching the handheld computer from its storage pocket and handing it to Clara. "Just don't drop it."

"I won't," Clara assures, passing her hand through the wrist strap before taking firm hold of the device and starting the translator program. "OK Sparky, what were you trying to tell me?"

Sparky repeats their urgent squeaks and gestures, the words appearing on the screen of the MilesElectric.

"Oh… Are you sure you want to try that?" Clara asks, concerned.

Sparky squeaks a determined affirmative so obvious Clara doesn't need the computer.

"We only get one shot at this," Clara warns.

"One shot at what?" Tails asks.

"Sparky wants to power me up like they did in the temple and attack the Zeti directly," Clara answers.

Sparky emits another series of determined squeaks.

"…and they want us to do so without landing," Clara adds.

"I can get us close enough to make aiming trivial," Tails assures.

"It's not that I'm worried about," Clara replies. "I don't want Sparky to get hurt."

Sparky squeaks reassuringly.

"You promise?"

Sparky squeaks a confident affirmative.

Clara takes a deep breath. "Tails, take us in."


As Zomom adds a little more fuel to the fire, he hears something approaching. Curious, he looks up to see the Tornado flying directly at him. "Oh goody, the main course!" he exclaims, getting into position to grab hold of the biplane as soon as it's within reach.

What he isn't expecting is to be violently struck by a dense ball of lightning. The impact gives Zomom a brief but intense electric shock and catapults him backwards, smashing Sonic away from the fire as he flies a hundred feet towards a heavy landing that leaves him half‑buried in the sand.

A moment later, Sparky's energy is expended, and they emerge from Clara. But this time she's ready, quickly curling into a ball and rolling along the ground a short distance before uncurling onto her feet and sliding to a halt, catching the exhausted Sparky a moment later and slipping them into their rubberised carrier to rest. "Sleep well Sparky; you've earned it."

Sparky squeaks contentedly before settling down and falling asleep.