Chapter 3: The Timeless One

Eggman's Laboratory

"Progress?" Eggman raised his voice, echoing across the confined room. His eyes, covered by his goggles, remained glued to a disk-shaped device he was welding together. The device was wired into a small laptop where Tails calibrated lines of code.

"I'm almost done. I just have to figure out the right operator and we'll be set from there." Tails bites his tongue as his fingers go into overdrive, concentrating entirely on the coding. It was almost scary how well Tails and Eggman worked together if willing to cooperate. Two natural geniuses like them would be unstoppable if they found the means to operate in tandem. Sonic was just glad that he found Tails first before Eggman ever did. As for what they were working on now. Well, Sonic hadn't the faintest idea. "Are you almost done?" Tails asked the doctor.

"Just about." Eggman put together a case around the device. He removes both his goggles and the wires attached to the computer. Both he and the fox closely inspect the small monitor at the front of the device and watch as it flickers to life with a grid and a dot in the middle. They both sigh a soothing exhale.

"So… What does it do?" Sonic walked up to them and hovered his head above the little gadget.

"It's a radar." Tails said. "I've uploaded all of the data Eggman and I have collected over the years about the Chaos Emeralds and their energy reads. This little gizmo that Eggman helped make will look for those readings across the globe and locate them for us." Tails presses a minus button on the device and it zooms out on the grid, revealing the layout for their world. Scattered throughout the image were seven blinking dots. "And it's working as intended." Knuckles took a look at the radar himself and saw where all the locations of the emeralds were. They were pretty far and it would take a while to collect them all, even if Sonic went at full speed.

"That's still a lot of ground to cover." The echidna mentioned. "This scavenger hunt will take time. Time where Infinite can rain havoc over as many people as he pleases." There was a hint of unease layered in his voice. He was worried that too much damage would be dealt when they were gone. Damage that they could maybe have prevented. "Someone has to slow him down while we search for the emeralds."

"Leave that to me." Silver proclaimed. "You three look for the emeralds while I try to buy us some time." It was a big risk putting himself on the line alone. The first duel Silver and Infinite had together resulted in Silver's near demise. Now he is stronger than ever, but Silver wouldn't let that stop him from trying. He didn't have to beat him. He just had to waste time. Sonic understood the decision and grabbed the radar. He looked Silver dead in the eye, and with his expression alone, he asked Silver if he was sure. The white hedgehog nodded.

"Alright, sounds like a plan. Tails, Knuckles, with me!" Sonic tightly holds onto the radar and zooms out of the lab, followed by Tails and Knuckles after a brief moment of confusion at Sonic's abrupt exit. Doubtfulness and caution wash over Silver's face. It was a tough pill to swallow, now that he was about to be the only thing standing in Infinite's way at the moment. He clenches his fist, trying to get a hold of himself. Why was he so nervous now? Was it because of Infinite's newfound power that intimidated him? No… it wasn't that. It was that Murmur. It always has been. Even if it wasn't some sort of paradox being born, something bigger was pulling the strings, and Silver felt helpless to stop it. His mind clouds his perception long enough for Eggman to walk up behind him and smack him on the back, knocking him out of his trance.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" He waited for Silver's response but was surprised once the white hedgehog turned to face him and asked for a favor.

"Actually, I have something to ask. Something I hope you can fix." Silver pulls out a Time Stone and shows it to Eggman. It rested firmly within his soft palm. "Something is preventing this gem from working. With you being the only other person I know who utilized time travel, I want you to find out why they've stopped working." Eggman was inquisitive, rubbing his chin as he looked at the Time Stone.

"And you trust me of all people to look into this with honest intentions?"

"If this was any other time, I would count on you slithering away when you got the chance to. But now, I think something larger than us is wanting to divide us. If it succeeds at beating us, it'll come for you next. And the world you want to conquer will be in ruin." It wasn't a fate Silver was certain would happen, but his gut told him otherwise, and so did Eggman's. The doctor reached out to grab the Time Stone. He sifted through it with his goggles back on. Sure enough, it was the real thing.

"Alright, I'll look into it. But you owe me after this little truce is over." Silver wanted to thank him for going out of his way to help him, but it was probably best not to inflate the doctor's ego anymore. Silver smiled with his back turned to Eggman, waving as he headed toward the exit.

The President's Office

It was chaos inside. The phones were flooded with incoming calls on each line, and the president tried to answer each one thoroughly. But it was all too much for him to handle. Reports of Infinite reappearing broke out across the world, causing mass panic in every country and city. Everyone thought Eggman was about to launch another attack on the world. The president sweated from his face, with each droplet pittering across the moist wooden desk. It had been a long day. He had GUN at his disposal, but his top agents had been radio silent for hours. Team Dark wasn't responding to anything. He was just as kept in the dark as the everyday civilian.

A looming shadow casts itself through the paned window behind the president. But before he could process the shift in light in time, the glass breaks and shatters across the entire room. The president ducks his head but remains seated as he cowers below his desk. His eyes inch behind him, looking upon the horrors intruding on his safety. Infinite elegantly floats inside the office with The Murmur trailing not too far from him. The president leans back in fear, his mouth wide open, and eyes devoid of bravery and pride. Infinite can't hold in his laughter. "This is who represents power, leadership, and control? A frail and craven man. How did the weak lurk up and claim their right beside us: The ones who truly hold destiny?"

"Guards!" The president cried. His voice vibrated till it cracked. "Guards! Get in here!" His pleas were almost too pathetic for Infinite to enjoy. There was no amusement in watching brittle prey whimper itself to death.

"No one is coming to save you. No one is going to save them." The falling silence outside the office soon broke as screams of anguish and gunfire rang through, followed by a malicious laugh and a gustful shockwave. The lights outside in the hallway surge and die. And as the deafening quietness grew, footsteps approached the office door. The door slowly opened as the three Apostles entered. The lynx looked enamored to be inside the office, as she took a cushioned rolling chair and spun around and across the room like a child on a playground. The two brother deer kept to themselves and politely waited for The Murmur's instructions.

"Who the hell are you people? What do you want?" The president yelled. Infinite grabbed the president's face and scrunched it up as the jackal stared deeply into his barren eyes.

"The Chaos Emerald. We know you have one. Surrender it to us, and you get to keep your mock power." Infinite threatened with a deep rumble in his voice.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" He defended. But it wasn't good enough for Infinite, as he squeezed harder on the president's face, ready to pop him like a pimple. However, it wasn't the vision that The Murmur had planned.

"Give him some room, Infinite" It whispered into his ear. "Let's try a different approach." Infinite let go and complied with his new master's orders, although he didn't get why The Murmur didn't trust him to pry the information out of the president himself. "Elvira, you're up." The lynx stopped spinning in the chair. Her interest now peaked as she frolics over with a smile on her face. Infinite backs up to give her room as she kneels down next to the president.

"It's an honor to finally meet you, Mr. President!" Elvira takes his hand with both of hers and starts to shake it. The president's heart is racing, and he leans further back as to distance himself from her. "I'm so glad we get to interact face-to-face this time. You may not remember me, but you were the one who approved my incarceration for life! Locked away forever. Never to see the sun again. At least that was your plan." The president widened his eyes as he started to recognize the one holding his hand. The fear spreads even further into places that can't be physically described.

"You… you're The Warlock!" Elvira tightened her grip around the president's hand while maintaining her direct smile.

"You do remember!" She giggles as her hands clamp even tighter. "I'm so happy you didn't forget."

"How could I forget? Your work… what was left of those people you got your hands on… I still get nightmares to this day about it." Suddenly, a cold sensation pierces through the president's hand. The chilling feeling immediately causes concern as the president tries to scoot away from her but to no avail.

"Don't flatter my old work, Mr. President. I was just a novice back then." Her innocent face subtly changes as her eyes narrow and her mouth twitches with malice. "Why don't you ask my children how much I've changed?" Shuffling and stumbling arise from the hallway. Groaning and distorted wails of anguish approach. The president can't help but turn to face the noises as 'they' arrive. His bodyguards, his staff, all hallowed and decayed into mindless husks. Their skin was blackened and frozen like frostbite. "Aw, and they've already learned to walk on their own. How cute!" Even the deer brothers looked a little bit disturbed. The cold pain shoots further into the president's hand as he recoils in agony. The skin around his hand shrivels and compresses down to his bone. Frostbite envelopes over his fingers, decaying flesh and nerve. If this went on for any longer, he'd turn out just like his staff.

"Alright, I'll tell!" He screamed his last resort into the air. Elvira ceases the decay and intently listens. "There's a secret compartment under my desk… It's in there." The president sobs, begging to be released. The deer brothers head to the desk and flip it over on its side. They find a slim seam at the bottom that slides perfectly open. There, they found the red chaos emerald. Elvira lets go of the president's hand, leaving it barely functional.

"Excellent work. Three more to go." The Murmur says. Such a statement bewilders the deer brothers. They knew little about the emeralds as a whole, but they did know that it required seven of them to perform miracles. So stopping at four was a strange objective.

"Three more?" The right antler deer spoke up. "Why aren't we going for all seven?"

"Merging with my fragments only calls for a catalyst of great chaotic power. Two emeralds per brother is more than enough to get the job done. To go further will only waste our time." The Murmur explained. "Cain, you and your brother Blair have been obedient, but restrained in your voices. What is it that you two want?" The right antler deer, now known as Cain, hesitates to speak, but his brother, Blair, finds the courage to answer.

"Me and my brother wish for a world where we can live in peace. A world where governments gifted unearned power can shove it. We earn our right to survive and fight. And we do so to protect family."

"Family… a noble cause." The Murmur stated. "We are much alike than. I can say for certainty that my faith can safely reside with you." Infinite found the sentiment foul and wanted to throw up in his mouth, but he knew he couldn't talk back to his master, despite his disapproval of some of its decisions. "We are a step further to reshaping the world. This is not the time to falter now. You three continue to track down the remaining emeralds, while Infinite and I tie up a few loose ends in this city."

Wave Ocean

It was a long way from Central City, and the decision to go this far was an interesting resolve, but Sonic felt like this was the right call. If they went for the farthest emerald first, they could trace their steps back to where they started from at the beginning of the day, and hopefully Infinite was still around said area. It was a risk but would pay off in the long term if done correctly. Sonic sprinted across the ocean's surface like it was just another floor, with Tails and Knuckles closely flying behind. Sonic turned to Tails, whose focus was cemented on the emerald radar in his hands. "We still headed in the right direction, pal?" Tails nodded.

"Straight ahead!" Tails pointed to an island not too far from them. "The radar says it's in the middle of that islet. Don't wait for us, go on ahead and find it." Tails told Sonic, which was exactly what the hedgehog wanted to hear. His legs kick harder as he boosts at a ludicrous speed, leaving a massive white wave that flurries in the air like snow, splashing at Tails and Knuckles. Sonic leaps onto the sand and travels down the beach. He looks for an opening in the coastal rocks. Sure enough, he finds a slim section trailing into the middle. Sonic changes his course and darts toward the opening.

He hurdles over small boulders and logs before he reaches inside. As he does, he finds a steep wall in front of him, but it was never an obstacle in the first place, as Sonic scales the slanted wall to his side and lands perfectly on the edge of the elevated ground. The way his feet were maneuvering, it all felt like something he'd experienced before. Not in a general sense, but specifically the landscape of this island. He's felt as though he's been here before. Which was strange, because he had no memory of this place. It had to come later though, as he had a job to do. He needed to find that emerald.

Sliding through narrow gaps, swinging across branches to reach further heights, and rail-grinding down thick vines lead Sonic down a linear path towards the center of the island. He was sure he didn't pass the Chaos Emerald at this point. They're not well known for their subtlety, and could even glow right under the sunlight. Sonic just hoped that he wouldn't lose concentration and miss the emerald entirely. He couldn't stop pondering about how this whole coast triggered something deep inside his subconscious. Almost like… deja vu. He was lost in thought, and wasn't paying attention to what was in front of him, and was instead spacing out at the ground below. He sure got a rude awakening to reality as he noticed that he was headed straight into a stone wall. Sonic dug his feet in, trying to halt his momentum, but he was too far in to back out now. He smashes right through the wall, which was weird. It was oddly thin enough for him to end up on the other side of a chasm.

He wasn't necessarily complaining, as once the dust settled from the debris of rock, the cyan Chaos Emerald was right in the middle of a grass bed, waiting for him. Sonic looked up where light was leaking in, seeing a small hole through the roof of the chasm. The emerald must've crashed through after the last time he went super. The whole fiasco at the Starfall Islands was only a few weeks ago, but it was quite spectacular with the distance the emeralds travel after being used.

Later, Sonic nonchalantly walks back onto the shore, twirling the emerald in the air and catching it. He stood still, looking into the horizon across the calm ocean. Crystals reflect off the surface of the bright blue water. Somewhere further out, Sonic saw docks and sailboats leading into a city. Bridges made from glossy white marble and well-organized brick houses. There it was again, Sonic couldn't shake that feeling of familiarity. It was like another life was battling his mind in a game of tug-of-war. Fighting for what was truth and what wasn't. Something about the city was enticing him to go. "Sonic? Are you ok?" Sonic had to be snapped out of his daydreaming again. He jolted his head around to see his friends glide down next to him on the blazing sand.

Sonic smirked and presented the emerald to them both trying to change the subject. "That was a piece of cake. Looks like the radar is working fine." Sonic is quickly captivated again by the city. He wanted to go. Something was calling him there. He knew that they had a mission, but he just wanted to sneak this in for just a moment. "Hey, if we pass through that city, will we still be en route for the next emerald?" Tails raised his eyebrow. Neither he nor Knuckles had a clue what possessed Sonic to ask. The fox zoomed out on the radar and did a quick check regarding the next emerald ping and the city. Everything seemed to line up nicely, so there were no complaints on his end. But Knuckles was definitely skeptical.

"Wait a minute. Why do you suddenly want to switch up our path? What's in that city that we don't know?" Knuckles inquired.

"I don't know." Sonic faintly responded. "I can't explain it. But it feels like I'm missing something, and in that city is where it lies." Sonic's friends both looked at the city as well. While they also had a similar impression that Sonic had, it wasn't nearly as strong. Although, Tails did recognize some of the architecture.

"It sure looks ancient. But I think I've heard of that place before. If I remember correctly, it was called…Soleanna? The City of Water."

Eggman's Laboratory

The extent Eggman was putting himself through just to get any reaction from the Time Stones was well above his pay grade. Not that he ever got paid, of course, but that's what it felt like to him. He tried everything to activate the stone's abilities. From certain electrical outputs to using old technology he had stored away from the Time Eater. Yet it refused to work. He was about to throw in the towel at any moment. What did he really have to gain from all this? What was Silver willing to owe him? If Eggman asked him to help take over the world, he'd have better luck making Orbot and Cubot competent assistants, which reminded him. Those two poor bots of his never made it out of the base that Infinite leveled.

It was all just a drag. There was nothing significant he could do right now. He could try to flee and prepare an army to clean up the mess after the skirmish between the heroes and Infinite. He's tried before with not-so-good results, but it wasn't a long shot. However, with how much Infinite wanted him dead, exposing himself now was no longer looking so enticing.

The doctor groans and steps away from the Time Stone, which is connected to numerous cords and cables. "Why do I even bother?" He rubs his face, muffling his words. "Time theory was never really my strong suit. I like it better when I focus on weapons of mass destruction than gimmicky rocks and gems."

"You're giving up?" A part of Sage's physical form started to flicker into existence. She was recovering, albeit she still was in a bad state. "But Silver still needs your help solving this."

Eggman cracks open a steel container, letting thick vapor ascend into his nose. He presses the lid on his lips and chugs the cool liquid. It was just water in an overly complex water bottle. "Why should I help him? We're not friends."

"But they're doing everything they can to help us with our mess. We're not their enemy right now. They trust us." Sage tried to convince her father to listen, but the man was too caught up in his own pride to admit humility.

"That was their first mistake." Eggman doubled down on his argument. Trusting him was a fool's choice. He would never be caught up in promises or vows of repayment. He dictated his actions and eventually, everyone else's once he took over the world. "No one should ever trust me."

"Including me?" Eggman's heart sank, but he tried his best not to show what he thought was weakness to his daughter.

"That's not what I meant…" Eggman took another drink of his water, hoping that the silence would move this conversation to something else.

"Father, there's nothing I want more than to help you make this world your empire. To go anywhere and call it home with you. Being with my friends… and brothers…" The red grids in her clothing and hair started to blink rapidly into a blue hue and white clothes. Eventually, she fully returns back to her original color pallet. "We can't always do it all alone. And even if you can't trust Sonic and the others, I'm always with you." Eggman wipes his hand across his face, getting rid of any moisture falling from his eyes. He still didn't want her to see.

"Thank you, Sage." The ghost child smiled. She knew she reached out to him. "Can you help me with this gemstone then?" Sage compliantly nods and floats close to Eggman as he examines the Time Stone once more. The doctor checked to see if everything was working properly with the conduits, which were gathering energy from old remains of technology from a prototype of the Time Eater's shell. Eggman pondered why he hadn't gotten a response from this, considering that both of their powers shared similar properties. It puzzled him more as he took another look at the wires that were all perfectly intact.

"Father?" Sage tugged on his shoulder, capturing his glance. She pointed to the wall next to them where there was a level facing down. The bottom label reads: OFF. "I think I found the issue." Eggman's mustache drooped. Embarrassment is but a tame word to describe his mood. This whole time, nothing had been working.

Eggman fixes his lens and reaches his arm out to flip the switch up. "Excellent work, Sage." He said with a bit of a quiver in his throat. "You're always carrying such insight." Sage moved her hand up to her mouth to hide her tiny giggle. With the lever now facing up, electricity surges through the cables.

The energy from the Time Eater's shell transfers into the Time Stone, causing it to slightly warp the edges of reality around it. Eggman and Sage back up as it starts to vibrate and glow, dethroning the brightest light in the room, even though all the lights were pitiful and dim to begin with. The distortions grow and the fabric of reality starts to split open as a gateway leading into a white void forms in front of the two. Even when there was nothing inside the gateway. Eggman still recognized what he was peering into. "What's going on? What is that place?" Sage asked.

"I've been there before." Eggman claimed. "That's where I was stranded after I used the Time Eater."

Edge of the Universe

Somewhere, beyond the stars, a drifting platform of glossy stone and gold railings sat at the threshold of everything. A throne made from sullied metal sat there by itself on the lonely stage, surrounded by the frigid emptiness of space. The throne was occupied by a person kept out of view. They donned a white suit with golden buttons and pins. In their right hand, they continuously spun an amber pocket watch around. Thousands of small oval mirrors face the throne, reflecting innumerable locations throughout the planet.

One mirror shows Team Sonic running across the ocean, and another shows Team Dark fighting against The Tormentor. Someone was watching every event on that tiny little planet. The mirrors suddenly change perspective, with some reflecting The Murmur, and the rest on The Tormentor. A keen interest in these entities plagued each mirror. "So…you're back, old friend." The person stood up, sustaining the spin of the pocket watch. "Let's see if they have what it takes to stop you." The reflection changes back to the heroes of the world. Sonic, Shadow, and Silver. "Let's see if they can change fate."

To be continued…

Next up: The Clash of Destiny!