The Death Egg… A mighty space station created by Ivo Robotnik in order to destroy all life on Mobius. His goal is to create a utopia full of robots which he alone would rule. The only thing he needed now was the perfect energy source… The Chaos Emeralds. The only thing standing between him and the completion of this plan was a blue hedgehog and his friends.

Sonic, Sally, and Tails stare at the screen featuring the Death Egg, its eyes piercing through them like it was soullessly glaring daggers into them. The scale compared to the Mobians being loaded into it was staggering; to it, they were nothing but ants. Maybe even less than that. But Sonic stood defiant, looking over at Jenni, who looked more annoyed than scared.

Jenni: "Of all the creations… Did he have to rip off Star Fighters? Ugh… He really is taking in his childhood creations…"

Sonic: "Childhood…?"

Jenni: "Yeah, all those robots he has and you've likely fought up till now? All from his and my childhoods. I'd show you his old drawings of them, but we should concentrate on… that for now."

Sonic: "So Robotnik wants the seven Chaos Emeralds for that thing… He's already got five of them, with one on our side and one unaccounted for."

Tails: "We got to stop him from getting that last one! Sonic, what do we do?"

Sonic: "Easy! We head out to get that last Chaos Emerald, stash it somewhere safe and burst into Eggman's base. No problem!"

Everyone: "...'Eggman'?"

Sonic freezes as all eyes are on him suddenly from mentioning the name for Ivo. Sonic starts sweating as if he did something wrong.

Sonic: "Well… Uh… That part about Ivo cooking eggs stuck with me… And so far I've seen mechs labeled 'Egg' so…"

After a moment of silence, Jenni starts laughing, crying even as she thinks the name is hilarious.

Jenni: "Eggman, huh? Hah! I like it! Fits him nicely since he did love making eggs."

Tails: "Well… It's easier to remember at least. And we don't confuse him with you, Miss Jen!"

Jenni: "What? I don't go by 'Robotnik'. I go by 'Jennifer', 'Jenni', or 'Jen'. Take your pick."

Sally: "Ahem… Naming aside… Jenni? Can you help us in our endeavor? We could use the support if you can spare it."

Jenni looks at Sally, then to her friends. She then turns on a fan that blows air outside as she pulls out a cigarette and lights it. After blowing out a puff of smoke, Jenni finally speaks.

Jenni: "I wish I could, but… I'm not the girl I used to be… Putting aside my guilt over letting a monster like Eggman loose on Mobius for a moment… That serum me and Charles created… My body's become too reliant on it… What started as a yearly dose has slowly become monthly until now… Where I need it daily… My NIDS has slowly gained resistance to the serum to the point where I fear I'm on borrowed time… By my calculation… I'm guaranteed death soon… Maybe in a few weeks… a few months… Hell, if I'm lucky, I might last two Christmas Days at least… Either way, that's if I don't stress myself out. I may seem calm now, but if I joined you in any fight, my nerves would only spike… I'd keel over as my body fights off this damned disease…"

She smokes some more before blowing out more smoke towards the fan above her.

Jenni: "I'm sorry, Sally… And to you as well, Spike… I would give anything to see my brother pay for his evils myself, but… I just can't…"

The room goes silent before Sonic walks up to Jenni and slaps her cigarette from her hand. He then gives a serious look as he speaks.

Sonic: "You're not doing yourself any favors by smoking either, Jen. Even back when I was young, I'd always tell you to stop it. I get it… You can't fight… And I'm okay with that. I'd rather know you'll still have my back than anything. But I also want you to live as long as you can manage. So… Stop it."

Sonic clenches his hands, looking up at Jenni, hoping she'd get it. The woman looks at Sonic, looking at her cigarette on the floor before smiling. She then pulls Sonic in for a hug.

Jenni: "...You always were a rebel, Sonic… No matter who it was or for what reason, you always thought of others before yourself… Never lose that part of yourself… Promise me that… And I'll quit smoking…"

Sonic looks up at Jenni before smiling and hugging back. Sally and Tails could only smile as they watch this touching scene. Sonic steps back from Jenni as he nods.

Sonic: "Hey, Jen… When we get back. How about you, me, Uncle Chuck, and everyone else throw one big party in your mansion?"

Jenni: "Just want an excuse to eat chili dogs? Oh, fine… But please do not cause a mess… That's the last thing I need."

Sonic gives a thumbs up as he, Sally, and Tails leave the lab to plan out their next move. Jenni looks at her cigarette on the floor before stomping it out, then turning to her computer to open an instant messenger to contact someone.

Elsewhere, in a hidden part of the island, the sound of a drill hitting something could be heard. Snively in a rebuilt Egg Drillster was hitting against some kind of barrier blocking passage into the vault they found where their Emerald Radar was reacting the greatest. The drill breaks, almost destroying the mech with it as it couldn't break through the barrier.

Snively: "Ugh! Again! This is the third drill replacement! Why doesn't this stupid barrier yield to my will!?"

Omelette: "Maybe shout a few insults at it! That's all you're good for, baldy!"

Nearby, Omelette, in her own mech, was drinking a can of oil through a straw, a butler dressed Egg Robo beside her offering her the refreshment.

Snively: "Listen here, you good for nothing bucket of malfunctioning hardware you call a girl's body!"

Omelette: "Could you make that insult any longer, big nose? Anyway, listen nothing. Daddy told me to 'help' you, but honestly, it's your fault that you couldn't catch even one Mobian on this cursed island."

Snively: "Oh? Like you're any better! You lost a Chaos Emerald!"

Omelette: "So did you. Your point?"

Snively jumps out of his mech to get into Omelette's, getting right into her face.

Snively: "You are supposed to help me get this Chaos Emerald! So do it! Launch some missiles! Fire a laser! Do your job!"

Omelette: "And why should I have to dirty my hands? You made the mess, so you clean it up."

Snively: "Ugh! You are so annoying! Why does Robotnik keep you around!?"

Omelette: "Because I am unquestionably loyal~ Unlike someone who gloats about being 'the true ruler of Mobius'."

Snively: "I will be! Just watch me!"

Omelette: "I'll watch you fail at it. Mwehehehe~"

Snively just growls as he jumps out of her mech to replace his drill for a new one. Omelette then thinks for a moment before an idea hits.

Omelette: "Actually… I might have a devious idea. One that might prove you to be better than my daddy~"

Snively raises an eyebrow as Omelette smiles evilly.

Back in the lower levels of Jenni's mansion, Sonic, Sally, and Tails gather around a small table as they begin their strategy meeting.

Sally: "Alright. So here's the situation as we know it… Eggman is trying to create a doomsday weapon with the Death Egg. That requires the use of the seven Chaos Emeralds to power. Five of them are already in his possession, leaving only two left. One of them is with Sonic…"

Sonic pulls out the Emerald to emphasize Sally's point.

Sally: "...leaving only one Emerald somewhere on this island. Any questions so far?"

Tails: "Sonic, isn't this one guarded by your mother in some way? Is it okay to just take it?"

Sonic: "It is guarded. I dunno by what, but it is safely tucked away somewhere on this island. But there's no guarantee that whatever is guarding the last Emerald will hold. In fact, I'd be surprised if we still found an Emerald at all…"

Sally: "Exactly right. We should expect the worst case scenario, but we still hold the one piece Eggman needs to accomplish his nefarious deeds…"

Sonic: "In other words, we can still fight back."

Tails: "Okay, assuming we do get the Chaos Emerald… What would be our next move then?"

Nicole soon materializes beside Tails, startling him as she looks at the trio.

Nicole: "If I may interject… According to my readings, Eggman has parked his warship, the Wing Fortress, on the edge of the island. It is likely waiting for the final Chaos Emeralds to be obtained and brought to this floating fortress. If you can get onboard, you would likely be en route to the Death Egg."

Sonic: "In other words, we can smash the Death Egg by hitching a ride on the big bad's joy ride and be done by supper. So far seems like a flawless plan."

Sally: "Flawless in theory, but not in execution. This hinges on us not losing our Chaos Emerald. If we do, we lose our ace in the hole."

Tails: "It's our best bet though, Sally… What do you think, Sonic?"

Sonic: "The sooner we beat Eggman to the punch, the better, right? I say we stop chitchatting and get our butts going!"

Sally: "Ugh… Fine… Um… Nicole? You wouldn't happen to know where the Chaos Emerald is being held, would you?"

Nicole: "I do in fact. Our security team found a hidden palace under the Mystic Cave where we do our mining operations. The hole leading there is restricted and blocked off, but can be opened with express permission from myself. From there, however, it will be up to you three."

Sonic: "No time like the present then. Ready or not, Eggman… Here we come!"

Sonic stands up as he cracks his knuckles, Sally and Tails join him as the trio dash towards the elevator to ascend into the Mystic Caves mining section. But what could be awaiting them in the Hidden Palace?

To be continued…