Greetings Sonic fans, how have you all been. Well things have been busy, especially around the holidays. It's taken time to make and work a few things out here and there, but will surely be rewarding. I got another chapter here, and this one has got something special. A sorta mystery theme adventure, and it stars some old Sonic cast we know very well – Team Chaotix! If you're a fan that loves the funny detective trio, then you'll enjoy this. And just wait for the extra surprise 'guest' of who else is appearing that may blow your mind. Or rather, there's more then just one surprise guest to watch out for. I won't spoil too much, you'll have to see for yourself, but until then….enjoy…


Chapter 05: Chaotix Detectives!

ABOARD THE LEO CARRIER

MEDICAL CHAMBER

The scene opens to an advance medical chamber bay with a white and silver theme. There were sections where an operation room was located, several beds for patients with many equipment to help. And then there was a role of special capsule chamber pods, where a special blue liquid filled inside the pod with a small window from the front door. And inside was a breathing tech helmet mask with a visor to help someone inside deal with the liquid. And the patient for this one was none other than Leo the Lion himself. And working outside was Nicole, as the AI Holo-Lynx used a digital holo keypad to input some commands. Then from one of the holo-projectors displayed a blue digital image of Leo's head. Soon the image of Leo began to awaken before noticing his surroundings.

"Where…am I? Nicole, I feel…strange?" The holographic head of Leo spoke a bit weakly when noticing his situation.

"Forgive the suddenness, I just hook your consciousness to make it easier for you since your body…" Nicole briefly apologized while explaining what she had to do.

"My body…that's right, what happen to me?" Leo replied while trying to recall exactly what happen to him.

"You were injected with something called Chaos Toxin, I immediately got you here to help stop its process." Nicole revealed the nature of the unknown force harming Leo.

"Any luck dealing with it?" Leo raised an eyebrow, hoping for a positive feedback but…

"No…the system is helping your body heal to counter it, but unless I triangulate the cause…it will keep trying to destroy you." Nicole check the holo-screens to review the readouts; which were balancing one's health against the strange virus into a stalemate position.

"Ugh, if I knew this would happen, I should have thought of getting a fast regeneration skill or at least a poison resistance." Leo moans to feel like he should have thought about such underhanded attacks and build a protection against them. "How long have I been in here?" He asked the next question that puzzled his mind.

"About a week…" Nicole revealed the date she kept the lion man inside a healing pod.

"A week!? But the ship…?" Leo was surprised and last remembered how badly battle the warship was…

"Do not worry, even after that battle against Argos Krudza, we managed to repair the engines to escape GUN from following us." Nicole smiled to assure Leo that they safe and got away in the nick of time.

"That's good to hear." Leo signs to say on hearing some good news.

"Yes, however, that is not the only thing I must report." Nicole looked a bit down from her smile turn to a concern expression. "You may want to brace yourself of what I have to show." She issued as she tap a few holo-screens to prepare something.

Then Nicole had a holo-screen display video footage of those being active on the warship. The footage of the Evolveons show they are perfectly fine and enjoying themselves…until they started to cringe and fall over hurting. The next scene shows Spada trying to train with Panja and Ouja to help improve their skills. But then they each showed signs of aching when they didn't go to such measurements. The image faded into static where Nicole looked to Leo's digital head and looked at the other rows. In the other medical chamber pods, many of the living organic crew members were breathing through mask and submerge in liquids.

"This thing has affected the whole crew?" Leo asked in shock by what has happened.

"Only those that apparently are Ultimate Lifeforms? I've discovered it attacks the DNA coding of what makes you all unique." Nicole explained from checking the holo-screen that had results of test proving a theory.

"So only you and the mechanical members are running the ship?" Leo asked from understanding that all living members are rest while the warship is ran by the machines. "Nicole, there has to be something to help us beat this?" The guy asked from knowing they can't stay locked up to prevent this Chaos Toxin from destroying them.

"I'm afraid this is rather difficult even by my skills? I would need to hack GUN's main servers to find the original formula and create an antidote to this treatment." Nicole scratch her head from reviewing the data and can only come up with one solution. "But sadly there are trillions of military coding, it may take me over 2 weeks to a month to research and figure out password protections to get anywhere?" The Holo-Lynx was troubled by the overwhelming obstacles: after all, GUN has the support of many folks around the world and may have untold experts to keep even a genius like Doctor Eggman from hacking their systems.

Leo heard all of this and tries to close his eyes to think. Nicole maybe good, but there are some areas even she can handle by herself. With most of the crew sick and unable to act, only some mechanical members can fill in the empty spots. But against GUN to infiltrate, learn what is going on, why they are targeting Leo, and learn a cure for the virus only affecting Ultimate Lifeforms. This was one tough case to crack. But then Leo shot his eyes open upon realizing…what they need.

"I may know who can help us." Leo muttered forth when it finally dawn to him.

"You do? Who?" Nicole raised an eyebrow, puzzled but curious at the same time.

"In the Sonic Universe, I recall there was a trio of detectives that were good at solving cases. They are the Chaotix, if we acquire their assistance, they may help what we lack." Leo explained who he was referring to, some Sonic world characters with detective skills to solve this puzzling mystery.

"Are you certain? I ran the data, they're well known, but their methods seem a bit…?" Nicole asked from finding that asking the Chaotix for help, well…they have an unusual reputation.

"We have no choice. Even if I thought about making a new Ultimate Lifeform with some detective or spy skills would require certain materials and items I'm not sure we even have? Not to mention they might fall under the effects of the Chaos Toxin like we all did?" Leo regretfully shook his head to know that they have no choice but to request outside help.

"I see your point?" Nicole looked down from knowing that Leo was not mistake.

"Besides what others may say about the Chaotix Detectives…they live by a policy - they never turn down work that pays." Leo slightly smiled from knowing this key element can help them: sometimes in RPG Games, you can gain a new helper or crewmember if you have enough payment to purchase their services. "Sadly I need to be there to have them hear my case?" Leo looked to the ceiling to ponder how he can convince such detectives to accept his case with the odds against him.

"I must object! The Chaos Toxin will spread faster if you leave the chamber." Nicole protest from not wanting Leo to endanger himself.

"Then who else can negotiate with the detectives? I doubt I could send the Leo Hunters and Leo Bandits, they're like drones. And Loader Lio and Heavy Leo, they're loyal and can communicate, but they attract too much attention with their sizes alone." Leo questions who else can go forth and strike up communications without alarming or getting unwanted attention.

"Well what if maybe…I could go?" Nicole spoke forth which made Leo raise an eyebrow, surprised by such an idea. "I have the Ring Handheld Device to help maintain my form by a device, I can be capable of interacting." She revealed the handheld device which had a golden ring fitted to it: Leo recalls that device can help Nicole be solid outside the warship's systems and interact with folks in other places.

"Hmmm…?" Leo raised an eyebrow and hums under his breath while taking in the suggestion. "It's true, no one has seen your form, they will likely only watch out for something more…lion-theme?" All the times Leo has been the center of attention, along with his robot and living crew members that were all lion types to attract a theme. "But Nicole, sending you alone…you need protection?" The guy felt that even if Nicole was once the system that helped him out, she might not handle things so new to her…at least not without some aid.

"But you and the others can't go?" Nicole stated on knowing what will happen if Leo or the others step out of the pods, the virus will cause them more harm.

"Well…maybe one of the robot members could provide protection…?" Leo suggest having Nicole pair with some extra robot security.

"Though Heavy Leo and Loader Lio could protect me, they stick out. I'll have to at least handle with one or two drones instead. The question is, should it be a Leo Bandit or a Leo Hunter?" Nicole held her chin to eliminate those she can't bring and who is left to help instead.

"Or maybe…create something unique?" Leo slowly replied when something dawn to him which made Nicole look to him surprised. "Nicole, can I still access the robot facility if I'm connected to the system?" The holographic lion head asked this very strange question.

"Well yes, but what do you have in mind?" Nicole asked from being curious of what's going on.

"I'm going to create you a perfect bodyguard, and we can use this one that's been hanging around aboard the ship." Leo issued on what he's gonna do and who would be the perfect mechanical subject.

Then a projection appeared resembling a strange container case holding what bares a very strong resemblance to a hedgehog like Sonic but was under the name Mecha Sonic. Was taller then the real Sonic and had wheels on the heels of red metal shoe wear, plus had a more dark grey-blue them color with silver limbs, hands, mouth guard and ears, plus square pattern yellow optic eyes.

Mecha Sonic Mark III

"I remember this robot, apparently he was created during the day Dr. Eggman was using Chaos and constructed the Egg Carrier." Nicole stated on recalling an old event stored in the memory banks when Dr. Eggman was plotting the use of Chaos, the Guardian Of The Chao, to dominate the world.

"Correct, I remember the game of Sonic Adventure, this one only had one appearance, but it was left unused. At first I thought it was left at the base where the Egg Carrier took off from, but when we used materials from the Egg Carrier 2…apparently the good doctor had it aboard." Leo explained to anyone's surprise on discovering such a hidden addition aboard a warship they used to construct the Leo Carrier. "He may have thought to have it fight Sonic later, but never had the chance." The guy theorized what Dr. Eggman originally plan to do, but when Perfect Chaos shot down the Egg Carrier 2, well...such a plan never came into action.

"So you plan to active it to help me?" Nicole raised an eyebrow to study the mechanical Sonic figure.

"Not yet, it needs to undergo a little change and be upgraded to be stronger. Probably to be almost on pair with even the newest versions of Metal Sonic." Leo addressed the matter of what's needed first is upgrade this old model into something stronger. "And I think a new name might do it wonders then what it's being called now, plus a little personality. One I think you might like." Leo explained while having a little sly smile on his holographic face.

"If you say so, I shall get ready." Nicole nods her head to accept what the plan is and will get ready for departure.

"Oh and Nicole." Leo spoke up before the Holo-Lynx almost turns to leave. "Perhaps research detective and noir related subjects, it may help you out." Leo brought up a little advice, something to maybe tip the scale when dealing with detective types.

"Understood." Nicole nods her head to fully understand what to do.

"Hmmm, perhaps I can even use my Commander In Chief job to perform my Great Order to help empower the both of you? That would tip the scales in any emergency, time I get to work." Leo pondered these matters of what skills he has to offer aid even when he won't be there in person.

After Nicole vanished into digital particles to get herself ready, Leo was currently making plans while examining the Mecha Sonic III to use the mind to display a digital blueprint of the bot. Then scrolling through other design and using his jobs like High Mechanic and King of Alchemist to provide upgrades. There was much to do, select parts, adjusting and replace some components, and give a new color theme. Leo even decided to place in a Replicated Chaos Emerald in the bot's center chest area. After that the scene goes completely dark but not before a pop-up screen appeared:

-UPDATE-

High Mechanic Lv.7-8.


SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT

IN SEASIDE CITY

The scene focuses to show what looks like a little shack that looks like it's gone through much struggle. There were some crack lines on the tan walls, some bricks on the bottom on top of a wooden deckboard with some steps leading to the door, some close shutters for the windows, and tile rooftop. There was a sign above the door that read 'Chaotix Detective Agency' as a business with a light bulb on one side and a bell on the other to ring it to call the owner for any visitors.

And inside we see was kinda setup like an office: a water gallon, lockers, a brown cushion lounge chair, a table, and there was even a front desk with an office chair. There was a board with different clips and pin papers on the back of the wall behind the office desk. Another thing was seeing some cardboard boxes a bit around the office. On the office desk had a few things from an old dial phone, a lamp, and a small portable stereo. But the real focus was who sat in the chair.

A large, green-skinned male crocodile with spiky red scales down the tail and goldenrod eyes. Sports a thick body that resembles an S-shape, with the broad upper body getting slimmer towards the tail and legs. By contrast, the arms start out thin and thicken closer to the wrist. The belly, snout and arms are light green, while the rest of the body is dark green. For attire, wears small, black shoulder pads, white gloves with black-and-orange cuffs, embellished with gold buckles as well as black shoes figured with white and orange colors. Wears a gold chain around the neck, serving as a trademark accessory alongside a pair of black-and-gray wireless noise-cancelling headphones. This figure was well known in the Sonic theme series:

TEAM CHAOTIX – LEADER

VECTOR THE CROCODILE

The second was someone calmly standing by the lockers with arms cross while in a peaceful meditated state. A purple anthropomorphic chameleon with a yellow horn between the gold eyes. The muzzle and the heart-shaped pattern on the torso are peach in color. Has a ridge of three black spikes going down the spine and a coiled tail. For attire, wears dark purple shoes with black accents, metal-reinforced arm bracers, and white gloves with dark purple pads on the backs. Around the wrists and ankles are bandage-wrapped cuffs with gold studs on the lower bands. This character of silence and grace was another character of the Sonic theme series:

TEAM CHAOTIX – INTELLIGENT NINJA

ESPIO THE CHAMELEON

"Yawn…another day is over, and it's another day without any business?" Vector let loose a yawn from sounding tired from a uneventful day.

"What do you expect Vector, business has been slow." Espio raised an eyebrow to look at the gator who's complaining.

"Yeah, but with all the weird things we heard lately, it's driving me crazy. Look at the latest stuff piling up here?" Vector issued from grabbing some newspapers and threw them on the table which scatter to show different headlines.

"GUN's Robot hacked and gone on a rampage in Station City? Metro Tech under attack by untold weather storm? Huge explosion of a military missile out in space?" Espio examined to read all the big headlines that have one thing in common: trouble. "Hmm, these things do sound suspicious that they occurred almost a week or two apart from when they were released to the public?" The chameleon noticed a major detail which raises more questions then answers.

"Yeah, and all we been doing is looking for liter bugs, misplace house keys, and lost cats. And that last one left my snot needing crème ointment from scratches." Vector remarked from rubbing his poor nose from having just finished recovering from an injury…nothing serious, but still pretty bad.

"It's not like our next big case will come through the door just because you wish for it?" Espio firmly shook his head to remind Vector that in the real world nothing comes from wishing it.

Then the doors bust open as something was seen buzzing and flying at fast speed. It was heading straight for Vector without warning until he noticed too late…

"Woaaaah!?" Vector yelped from being tackled as they both fell on the floor and made a mess of the office.

That's when during a recovery, we spot the troublemaker in question. An anthropomorphic black-and-yellow striped bee with yellow-and-black striped antennae, translucent sky-blue wings on the back, and honey brown eyes. Has exposed peach skin on the muzzle and arms, a tiny black nose, and a silver stinger. For attire, wears an orange vest with a bee emblem on the left, a small yellow zipper, and a white collar resembling that of a polo shirt. Also wears white and orange shoes cuffed with black rings and topped with yellow zippers, white gloves with similar cuffs, and a black pilot's helmet with a raspberry and two orange-circulated trim, alongside orange and silver flight goggles with light blue lenses. And finally this little buzzing character of trouble is also from the Sonic theme series:

TEAM CHAOTIX – YOUNG FLIER

CHARMY THE BEE

"CHARMY! What's the big idea!?" Vector snapped from standing up to lecture the bee for knocking him off.

"Sorry! But I was out buzzing around, remember? Finding anyone who need our skills as detectives." Charmy issued to explain what he's been doing lately upon a request by Vector.

"Yeah, and…?" Vector looked with hope on what he wanted to hear.

"Well I was asking a lot of folks and then…said they didn't need anything?" Charmy sheepishly apologized from delivering news which was not good to hear.

"Wah…then why were you in a rush and bumped into me!?" Vector yelped and then asked why the bee was flying so fast that the accident happen.

"Duh, it was getting late, I didn't want to be out by myself. Remember, you gave me a curfew to be back around this time before we close up shop?" Charmy rolled his eyes to remind Vector of not being out so late at night and without adults around.

"Urrrgh?!" Vector groans to slap his forehead from what he heard.

"Maybe we should close up for the night Vector, it's getting late." Espio spoke forth in being the voice of reason of this group.

"Yeah, but at this rate we're way behind on bills? I'm just hoping they don't get our office?" Vector exclaimed from looking over the papers that had taxes which showed the group are behind.

"Oh one guy did ask me to give you this?" Charmy smiled to pull out an envelop to give to Vector.

"What's this, a mystery client?" Vector asked as he opened the envelop; only to stare in shock.

"Naw, guy said he's a bill collector and wanted it delivered to our office." Charmy shrug off his shoulders to reveal who the guy was and what the delivery was actually about.

"Doh!" Vector slapped his forehead, really sounding unhappy here. "Just what we need, MORE BILLS!?" Vector complained to throw the bill letter into the large stack of other bills and tax papers; which they are behind on.

"Maybe we can start a business collecting other people's bills?" Charmy asked what they should do in the future.

"We're Detectives, Not Bill Collectors!?" Vector lectures Charmy of what their profession does is solve cases.

"But don't they make more money then we do?" Charmy asked puzzled from noticing which job makes the most money.

"Charmy, sometimes…I swear…you…" Vector rubs his eyebrows, trying to not lose his patients with this little bee.

"Hmmm?" Espio raised an eyebrow to turn his attention to the front door. "Charmy, were you followed by someone?" The chameleon asked the little bee this important question.

"Hugh, I don't think so, why? Charmy looked back with a puzzled and confused expression: which Vector showed a firm concern if this might lead to trouble.

"Excuse me, is this the Chaotix Detective Agency?" A lady's voice was heard gently calling from outside. "My I come in?" She politely asked if she may venture into the detective's office home.

"Holy Smokes! A Client!? A REAL ONE!?" Vector yelps in surprise of what they heard, this could be their lucky break. "Quickly boys, get into positions!" He pointed his fingers to instruct those to make themselves ready.

"What positions?" Charmy asked, uncertain what was going on.

"JUST LOOK PROFESSIONAL!" Vector shouted from wanting the little bee to be ready: this might be the lucky break the group needs now.

"Hugh, sometimes I wonder about our situations?" Espio signs under his breath, knowing how Vector behaves at times.

After that it was pretty much becoming chaotic. The trio were quickly trying to spruce up the entire office to not look like a shabby place, but a more professional business office. There were moments when Vector carried large stashes of bills that Charmy had the trash bin and bumped into each other. But they didn't have time for arguments and just quickly stuff the bills in the trash can to hid it. Espio was using his ninja skills to put the finished touches on organizing the area and setups to make the place look neat and tidy. When it was over, the entire office was very much more professional organized then it was earlier.

"Please enter miss, we're ready." Vector sat in his chair to be the center man while Espio and Charmy stood beside the gator from left and right.

Then coming through the doors slowly was someone who would leave many surprised; it would make the Chaotix feel like they are reliving a detective noir film scene right in their home. The character in question seems to resemble Nicole the Holo-Lynx, but has undergone much change in appearance. A brown anthropomorphic female lynx with the ends of the ears, hands, and feet are black excluding the toes, and the face features a stripe along the bridge of the nose as well as one under each eye. The eyes are green and the black hair features longer sections adorned with purple and orange beads. Wears a single-shoulder purple wrap dress that flares out about knee-length. This one's presence would show she's a beautiful lady with a concern and careful expression of worry, and she was carrying a purse while pulling small cart with two suitcases.

"I knew when she enter, she seem like a fresh face out on the town. A pretty lady with a way to attract any guy's attention. There was no doubt she was in need of help, and she came dress to impress." Vector's voice was heard within his mind, giving the whole speech with a noir touch effect.

"Wow, you look pretty?" Charmy smiled to praise the guest until Vector quickly moved his hand to the bee's mouth. "Gulp!?" Charmy yelped from suddenly being kept quiet.

"Pay no attention to him, the kid doesn't see much pass his age?" Vector apologized with an excuse for Charmy's misbehavior.

"Hmm-hmm, it's alright." The female Lynx politely nods her head with a smile to Charmy's little spirit which Vector released his mouth and the bee laughed innocently.

"What can we do for you miss?" Espio asked from firmly studying what the person here wished for them.

"My name…is Nicole." Nicole spoke to introduce herself to the trio.

"Nicole, that's a pretty name. So what can we do for you?" Vector complimented while getting down to business.

"I need help…my friend is being hunted down for reasons unknown. There's even a bounty place on him." Nicole spoke to express her concerns of someone she knew was in trouble: it's almost like something out of a movie.

"A bounty?" Espio raised an eyebrow to find this intel…puzzling.

"Well isn't that just like the lowlife scums way of making it harder for anyone to make a living." Vector exclaimed from knowing that's just how the crooked criminal world works. "Now I'm gonna need a description of what your friend looks like and who's hunting him." He pulled out a notebook, pen and some reading glasses to take notes to help in their investigation.

"I've obtain a bounty poster, you might need to brace yourselves." Nicole stated as she reaches to pull something out of her purse.

"Come on now, how much they going for? 200? 300? Maybe a 1000 bucks?" Vector asked from thinking they seen some shares of bounties.

That's when the Chaotix were given a bounty poster that Nicole had and displayed in on the office desk. The detectives saw Leo the Lion's latest new bounty picture with his new tech-gear and a shot of the warship called the Leo Carrier. But what really was eye catching was the new words 'Wanted: Dangerous Lion Man', and underneath it was read 'Powerful Tech Warrior' to describe his character. But the real notice was the price which read 'Bounty - $10,000,000,000' of the lion man's worth.

"10 BILLION DOLLARS!" Vector screamed from clutching and eyes popping and jaw dropping with pure shock: that's so much money that the Chaotix were thrown in disarray.

"Woah! That's a lot of zeroes?" Charmy examines the bounty poster that had room for many zeroes on the bottom. "Hey, you sure we shouldn't be bounty hunters with cash rolling in like this?" The little bee asked Vector if maybe this was the career they should think of going into.

"Ahahah…sorry, we got a little off our game?" Vector sheepishly laughs and pushed Charmy out of the way to not let their unprofessional behavior cause Nicole to lose faith in them. "We're not use to seeing that much in our career work?" The gator explained the logical point of having been taken by surprise, especially by a bounty THIS big seems almost impossible to believe.

"Especially when we never get paid that much even when we help play parts to save the world." Charmy flew back up to make a statement on what they done which involved saving the world…which they were apart of with Sonic of course.

"Vector, you should see who's having this bounty be official." Espio narrow his eyes to notice something important on the bounty poster that's overlooked: Vector and Charmy see what the chameleon wish to show them, and it surprised them.

"GUN? Why would they do that?" Vector raised an eyebrow, surprised that GUN was offering bounties, doesn't sound much like them.

"That's what we can't figure out. They even resorted to measures to hunt him down by extreme uses." Nicole explained that something about this doesn't seem to add up. "If you need more proof, he was involved in those latest news reports." Then Nicole pulled out the newspapers of the three events that made headlines.

"Woah, you mean this Leo guy was there in all of them?" Charmy asked from taking the newspapers for the trio to look over carefully.

"Many others were there on the scene, he even help save those because they got involved." Nicole explained how Leo was trying to help save others that were caught up in those chasing the lion man with zero regards of other innocent folks safety. "He even helped kept a rabbit child safe in Station City and saved her mother from an enemy who took her hostage." She mentions the other important factors which were not made public.

"WHAT!?" Vector yelled from looking shock and upset; Nicole didn't mean who he thinks she means…right?

"We're their names Cream and Vanilla?" Charmy asked from thinking it involves two rabbits they know very well.

"Yes." Nicole slowly nods to comfort it: which set in motion the Chaotix to absorb and process what they have heard.

"If you say he's good then we believe you, and whoever is hunting him, they crossed a line!" Vector firmly issued on accepting what Nicole has told them. "Harming Vanilla and her family, I'll make them pay!" Vector narrow his eyes and crack his knuckles, wanting to release some stress on those that harm such sweet and innocent folks he feels close to.

"But GUN is the good guys, right?" Charmy asked from not sure how they can go against such a group organization.

"Maybe someone corrupted is calling the shots?" Espio firmly nods his head to state a serious matter to look into.

"I know I'm asking a lot, my friend and others he's helping to find a place to call home are endanger. They been injected with a toxin and I need to get in to find an antidote or their lives are lost." Nicole explained the next serious problem which time is ticking for those suffering from a poison. "He's given me a means to pay for your assistance, hoping you will take the case." She stated from now bringing up a business suitcase to the table.

"Ma'am, have no fear. We shall help out!" Vector proclaimed with a heroic moment to a damsel in need.

"Yeah, but first…how much did your friend give you?" Charmy asked from being curious about the money amount.

"Charmy, you know we shouldn't snoop before the job is done?" Vector raised an eyebrow to lecture the little bee on speaking about payment before they completed the job.

"He's actually given me these cases." Nicole stated on the two suitcases that will hold some money amount. "In total, knowing you are taking on a risky case, does 500k sound alright?" She asked from being upfront if the amount of pay will be enough to hire the detectives.

"Ehhh, we're getting paid with 500 'K' letters?" Charmy raised an eyebrow, confused about what they were offered.

"Charmy, the 'k' is suppose to represent the thousand in money terms. Which means she's paying us…" Vector suddenly stopped himself to shake his head and then looked back at the customer. "FIVE-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!?" Vector screamed with widen shock and gasping mouth in realizing just HOW Much Nicole was offering them.

"Is the price not enough?" Nicole asked as she opened the case to reveal it was filled with apparently jewels, gold and silver items worth 500k: the Chaotix were left utterly stun.

"Ahaha, no-no, it just surprised me is all?" Vector nervously chuckled from looking like he was sweating up a storm.

"Vector, I got a bad feeling about this? You do know if we get in trouble with GUN, it may hurt our imagine." Espio looked to Vector from knowing the guy is gonna accept the case, but they may make enemies with those fighting against Dr. Eggman.

"Relax Espio, she needs help and this guy doesn't sound bad if he helped out our pals." Vector issued from knowing what they learn is actually worth more then one realizes. "Besides, you know our policy - We Never Turn Down Work That Pays!" He issued to tap his open palm about how once they been paid to do a job, they get it done and get their payment.

"Thank you, I look forward to us working together." Nicole humble bows to gracefully thank those for accepting her request.

While Nicole was chatting to help get the Chaotix involve, the Holo-Lynx shifted her eyes to something outside…watching them. The figure was a mechanical bot, watching with its glowing red eyes. Nicole gave a silent nod to her head, as if sending a signal to the one watching. The scene goes dark from this moment…


LATER THAT NIGHT

A GUN ABANDONED SITE

LOCATION – PRISIN ISLAND

The scene opens to a strange location which was actual a large jungle island. There were several facilities, including a port for military vessels and an armory within the jungle. However much things appear to have suffered from an explosion and strange toxic waste flooding the rivers in the area, and plant life growing on many of the structures. We find the Chaotix along with Nicole in the area which the males carefully watch their step to approach the main base.

"Careful miss, this place is not only dangerous, but creepy too!" Vector warns Nicole to not have the delicate lady be harm.

"Really? I was under the impression this place was a research facility as well as a prison for that held Shadow the Hedgehog?" Nicole raised an eyebrow to recall what she remembers Prison Island was known for.

"It was, until it suffered damage when Dr. Eggman set off bombs. The explosion destroyed the base and spilled toxic waste into the river." Espio revealed what happened that this base has become what it is now. "It's become overgrown with plant-life due to a lack of maintaining this area." The chameleon was very well inform of what's left of the prison base GUN used in the past.

"I even came here to find some hidden data disks for Vector when the planet was being invaded by the Black Arms!" Charmy issued on recalling an adventure they experienced.

"I see, you must have been very brave and prepared to handle an assignment on your own." Nicole stated on praising Charmy for being so young, but eager to help in such times.

"Well Shadow helped me out a little bit, but thanks to getting those disk, we helped give our pals a push to save the world." Charmy sheepishly rub his back head to admit this fact while trying to make them sound like they helped in the important stuff.

"Was it wise of you to join us?" Espio asked this important question of Nicole tagging along.

"You each have your own skills, and I wish to provide my own to help." Nicole stated on what she wishes to offer and so she tag along to assist.

"So are we really breaking into this place again?" Charmy asked to buzz around the main door to the building.

"We got to Charmy! According to the clues we assembled that Nicole brought us, this place seems to hold something we missed?" Vector issued on a matter that's important for any detective, always reexamine an area for clues they missed.

"But according to the intel Nicole gathered for us, a lot of money has gone into this building project as a means to repair for future use again. But not once has there been any signs of changes or anyone working on the island." Espio explained the details of what they learn which only raises more suspicions. "It is impressive you helped to hack GUN to help narrow down our search on things that were perform but kept off official records?" The chameleon turns to Nicole on having done such excellent work in that field.

"Thank you, truth be told, I was not having anticipate that illegal funds would be used in a place like this?" Nicole replied while also being curious that the source was directed on Prison Island.

"It's all about being a good detective." Vector smiled to inform the lynx on how it comes with the perks of solving cases. "So let's get to knocking!" He issued to crack his knuckles a bit.

"Yeah, let's break on in!" Charmy pump his fist up, raring to get started here.

"Bash-Bash…" Inside the steel doors, dent marks were seen "Smash!" Then another fist punch by Vector knock the steel doors down, allowing the group a place to enter.

"Best you wait for me here! I'll scoop the place." Espio stops the others from entering: then without warning, the chameleon used his ability to become invisible to slip inside.

"That is a very impressive ability!?" Nicole stated on what Espio can do, especially since chameleons have such a unique trait.

"Yeah, he's our ninja expert we can depend on in such cases. Especially for intelligence and recon missions." Vector shrug off the shoulders to proudly praise Espio's gift and skills best in the ninja field.

"So you each have a role to offer to the team?" Nicole asked from liking to hear more while making conversation.

"Yeah, I'm the buzzing flier and Vector smashes stuff!" Charmy flies up to boast about what he and Vector can do.

"Hey I do more the smash things!" Vector protest from not being label as some muscle of the group. "It's just in some line of work it takes more then brains to solve cases, need a little force to help get results." The crocodile issued on how one needs both brains and brawn to help.

"Well I can provide you with insight on your friend's progress." Nicole smiled to offer some more aid to the group's mission.

Then Nicole used her Ring Handheld device to project a digital hologram of the base's structure. There was even digital images of GUN Robots on the path as Espio was making it pass them unseen. It was alarming that there were robots at a place that was suppose to not have anyone around, but for now the main focus was the objective…

"Wow, you really are good with tech?" Vector exclaimed on seeing what kind of gadgets the lynx girl had brought. "Tails may have some competition." The crocodile smiled from knowing who be impressed by such tech skills.

"How did you find Espio when he's invisible?" Charmy asked a good question, Espio should be invisible right now.

"I used a little method on picking up his body heat and vibration movement through the air, it help pinpoint his location through the bases security cameras I hacked." Nicole explained the scientific method to help locate someone with a unique ability for stealth. "If he connects the drive I've given him earlier, I can do a little more then from my end here." She explained the next few steps she's already taken of what comes after this.

"Don't threat, Espio is the champ of being unseen." Vector smirks to boast about his companion being untraceable.

"But what about those times he was discovered?" Charmy asked this which threw off Vector's cool air moment.

"Okay, so most of the times he's the champ?" Vector sheepishly rub his back head to admit there were times…things didn't work well on Espio being unseen all the time.

Then on the digital map showed Espio having encounter the GUN Robots but used his stealth ability to either slip pass them, or place explosives kunai on their expose sides to blow up to destroy them. After making it through the rigged paths and distract some bots with explosives, the chameleon reach a control room and place the drive into an input. That gave Nicole time to deactivate more security and shut down more robots that were still standing.

"Is it done?" Charmy asked from not sure if they're given the all clear.

"Yes, we're in the clear." Nicole smiled to the group on assuring them it's safe to progress.

"Okay then, ladies first." Vector waved his hands forth to allow Nicole to walk ahead which she kindly accepted.

"Vector, do you read me!" Espio's voice was coming in on a walky-talky device Vector had on him.

"We're on our way Espio, good job sneaking in." Vector smiled to report their progress to join the chameleon pal.

"Naturally, but I discovered something else here base on footprints leading behind a wall area that disappear?" Espio's voice

"Foot prints disappearing by a wall, you don't think it's…ghost, do you?"

"No! It appears to be a holographic protection of a wall." The scene changes to show Espio walking to the wall…and appear on the other side. "There's even a secret elevator here not included in the old blueprints? You better get here to see for yourselves." Espio informs the others when having discovered a strange newly installed elevator hatch.

"Okay, sit tight!" Vector nods on his head before putting away the walky-talky. "Nicole, did your map say anything of an elevator where Espio is?"

"No, but I'm decoding a lot of firewalls. It maybe related to the unknown events happening here that aren't made to the public. Perhaps we're closer to our goal then anticipated?" Nicole replied back while she was continuing to work on breaking through a number of firewalls on her handheld device.

"Is that a good thing then?" Charmy asked from not sure with all the secrecy they are finding.

"We'll find out when we get there." Vector shrug off to let the young bee know it's gonna be one of those kinda situations.

The group of Vector and Charmy continue to follow Nicole until they reach where Espio waited for them.


PRISON ISLAND

HIDDEN DEPARTMENT

The scene opens to reveal the elevator hatch doors opening to show the Chaotix and Nicole exiting out. And what they find appears to be a newly structured facility with the roofing almost 100 feet tall. They were in an circle chamber with monitor windows for the circular walls, but also two open tunnel pass the front and back sides of the elevator hatch leading to dark corridors. Around the right side of the elevator was a large terminal device for one to access the system.

"Woah, looks like a secret base within a secret base?" Charmy exclaimed from looking around the area with excitement.

"I know GUN is secretive, but this secretive seems too much even to keep things dark with no light?" Vector raised an eyebrow from having a bad feeling of this. "What are they even working on?" Vector asked of what was so important to not have anyone know of these things.

"It could be countermeasures against Eggman or other threats." Espio suggest what was likely a possible answer to the question. "What do you think Nicole?" The chameleon turns to the lynx for any thoughts.

"Hmm?" Nicole was watching the secret elevator close before looking at the others. "Sorry, I think the answers lie somewhere here." She apologized while trying to focus on the now.

"Is something wrong?" Vector asked from knowing something has Nicole on alert.

"No, nothing I just…" Nicole tried to not let her action distract them too much. "I'm just worried about my friend and the others, truth is…I feel at home with them." She admits this open feeling which concerns those Nicole ahs come to know closely.

"Really, where was your home before?" Charmy flew around to ask from sensing there was a problem even for the youngest detective to catch on.

"I don't know, but since I found a place with them, I feel at peace wanting to help Leo achieve his dream." Nicole smiled a bit from wanting to talk about this with others.

"Oh really, what dream is that? Win the lottery?" Vector raised an eyebrow to ask to make small talk.

"Haha, I think that's YOUR dream Vector." Charmy laughs a bit from how silly Vector was to compare his dream to others.

"Hey! It can happen…maybe…someday…?" Vector snapped at the bee while muttering a bit with his arms crossed: Nicole couldn't help but let loose a giggle at the funny humor these two put on.

"I found a terminal!" Espio was heard from having wondered over to the large terminal controls.

"Let me see here?" Nicole approaches the terminal, and began to start typing on the keyboards to access it: it worked and the monitor was turn on. "Searching for anything related to a potent virus affecting one type of lifeform…" The lynx was working fast to bring up data files and open them to read through them. "Huuuugh!?" She gasped upon something she had found…

"What is it? Is the stuff that knock your pal not there?" Vector asked from not sure if Nicole found what she wanted but…

"It's here, it's all here. The development of the Chaos Toxin virus! But there's something else?" Nicole stated on having discovered something else, and pulled up the GUN logo but with an X mark on it. "There's a separate faction in the organization, they call themselves GUNX!?" She informs the others about something else that was shrouded behind GUN, another organization faction.

"Woah, GUNX, that sounds so cool!" Charmy sounded excited but then saw the frown faces of Vector and Espio. "Ugh, that is if they weren't trying to hunt and poison people!?" The young eager bee quickly corrects himself of what he said earlier.

"Why would GUN have a separate faction?" Espio crossed his arms to raise an eyebrow at this troubling intel they have learned.

"How should I know, to cut off who handles the stuff nobody else wants?" Vector shrug off the shoulders to make a guess of how there's only so much one part of GUN can handle things.

"This is strange, what could they want by hunting Leo?" Nicole held her chin, trying to understand this whole troubling matter of why another faction of GUN is looking to capture Leo in the first place.

Suddenly as Nicole was exploring the data, something was seen moving in the darkness in the dark corridor behind the elevator. It made low breathing sounds and light steps when watching the group. It was watching them, studying them, and it's eyes flared from what it saw was…prey…But then Espio with his sharp ninja skills, sense a strange 'kill instinct' near them.

"We're not alone here? Something is in this room with us?" Espio alerts those with a firm and serious expression.

"What, a GUN Robot? I thought we shut them all down?" Vector yelps from not knowing how that was possible.

"No, it makes a breathing sound…it's alive." Espio firmly hushed his friend from having listen with his ninja sense to determine the foe.

"Hey! What's that!?" Charmy points at something that was hiding by one of the corridors.

That's when something was seen approaching from the darkness of the back corridor hallway and approaches the lit light chamber area. A muscular lion-man that it's entire body was purple, dark grey color mane and tail, a black nose, and glowing red eyes with black sclera. It had stitches on the skin, four spikes on the shoulders, bolts on the shoulders with spikes facing crescent upwards and metal plates on top of each hand and under the elbows. Had crimson red claws and sharp fang teeth, bones sticking out of the chest and back, exposal spinal column under the mane. The clothing worn was tan dark grey pants, a black waist drape with a skull head for a front belt buckle, black belts with silver metal beads wrapped around the wrist and tail portion. Nicole was shocked to see this creature the most out of the Chaotix, because it resembles Leo the Lion but more like some Frankenstein Zombie Lion-Man: no one noticed her eyes made static when secretly scanning to gain data:

-ENEMY IDENTIFIED-

MAD LEO Lv.95

TYPE: UNDEAD LIONMAN

RANK: BOSS

POWER LEVEL: 60,000

Information: A secret project by GUNX after obtaining a blood sample of Project X when it was injured in battle. This Ultimate Lifeform is similar to the BioLizard but becoming a berserker that lost its intelligence and enhanced it's combat instinct. Heaps of modification upon modification arrive at its current appearance. From the process, the consciousness vanished to become nothing more than a puppet that defeats those standing before it, as it is commanded. Since it doesn't act or think according to its natural instincts, exhibits headlong assaults, heedless even of any traps or gadgets. While fundamentally high-powered, the patterns are meager, with nothing but primitive attacks such as hitting and kicking. Nevertheless, caution is necessary because of the sharp claws bearing a deadly poison which can cause anything to rot away. Fallen Beast Fist: Fires a purple energy in the shape of a lion's face, which bites the flesh off of those standing in it's way as it flies through them. Poison Claw: Attacks with it's claws that when coming into contact, causes things to rot away due to emitting poison.

"What is that thing!?" Charmy yelps to fly and take cover behind Vector's head. "It looks really scary? And Ugly Too!" Charmy exclaimed from describing what the freaky thing was.

"Mad Leo?!" Nicole muttered the name from what her ability to scan and read off enemy data revealed to her.

"Hmm, how do you know its name?" Espio raised an eyebrow, surprised that Nicole react like she knew this creature.

"I…I found it's data here, and it matches the description." Nicole quickly came up with an excuse since she was by the terminal computer without going into much detail. "It's some kind of Ultimate Lifeform but…it's an Undead type?" She revealed another piece of information that would earn loads of attention.

"You-you-you, you mean like a Z-Z—Z-ZOMBIE!?" Charmy muttered from starting to panic from fearing what they are facing is not even alive.

"In-truders…Des-troy…" The Mad Leo spoke with a ruff gargle male voice

"Well boys, until Nicole gets what she wants. Let's treat this guy to our hospitality!" Vector crack his knuckles from knowing it's time for Team Chaotix to get to work.

The Chaotic dives in to fight against this undead enemy. First up was Espio and Charmy a cross-split of going left and right, causing the enemy to be puzzled while noticing Vector going in for the punch. Mad Leo roared as it threw a punch that Vector tried to block but knock him across the room to hit the wall side hard.

"Vector!?" Espio shouted with wide eyes with Charmy looked scared: the zombie lion-man

"Ugh, I'm okay? Guy packs a mean sucker punch?" Vectors groans to get himself unstuck from the wall.

"Take this you BAD Zombie!" Charmy shouted as he prepares to deliver some pain – the BEE way!

"JAB!" Then Charmy flies up high and dives to land a bee stinger into the chest of the enemy. "Grrrrrr?" But Mad Leo only let off a low growl, as if it didn't feel it but was annoyed: this alarm Charmy very much.

"Ugh guys, I just remembered something scary just now!? Zombies don't feel PAIN!?" Charmy exclaimed from flying off the enemy's chest and evaded some claw attacks.

"Charmy - Dodge!" Espio shouted for the little bee to move away.

Then Charmy flew backwards before the kunai wrapped with a bomb made contact. "KABOOM!" An explosion erupted to cover the enemy behind smoke cloud.

"Did you get it?" Vector asked to approach Espio, hoping that explosive stunt did the trick.

"FALLEN BEAST FIST!" Then Mad Leo's voice was heard from behind the smokescreen.

Something was shot out that wiped out the smoke, and was seen as Mad Leo throwing a punch…which released a purple energy shape of a lion's face. The Chaotix yelped as they dodged away in the nick of time. When the attack hit the side of the monitor circle wall, it bitten off a chunk of it while vanishing.

"It shots out lion heads that BITE!?" Charmy panicked with fear on never seeing something that terrifying and creepy at the same time.

"Well it ain't the only one who fights with its teeth!" Vector issued from showing off his jaws, ready to demonstrate a gator's powerful crunch strength.

"Ewww, you wanna take a bite out of that thing? Gross?" Charmy yelps from feeling disgusted by what Vector was gonna to with a zombie.

"Can it while I hold it down!" Vector snapped off at Charmy cracking wise jokes when they gotta focus on the fight.

Then Vector charges in before using his powerful jaws to grip the enemy's left arm. Mad Leo tried to remove the crocodile but was attacked by ninja stars and buzzing bee with sting puncture attacks. The Chaotix were fully making use to use power and speed to damage this enemy.

"Rrroooarrrr!" Mad Leo roared from feeling bothered to wave the free arm at the flying attacks but his other arm was restrain by Vector.

"Keep it up guys, we nearly won!" Vector spoke with his mouth gritting tightly on the enemy's arm.

"Hugh…?" Espio noticed something strange around the enemy's free hand: glowing purple stuff. "Vector! Get out of there!? It's got something else!" The chameleon warns Vector of something more dangerous on the way.

"Wha?" Vector yelps from noticing Mad Leo raised it's free arm upwards.

"Grrrrr…POISON CLAW!" Mad Lee growls as it emits a purple glow around the nails: preparing a poison attack.

"I gotcha Vector!" Charmy shouted from seeing his friend endanger.

Then in an instant, Charmy used his stinger to block the purple glowing nails of the enemy from touching Vector as the gator held it in place. But Mad Leo was powerful to knock Charmy away to bang against the wall.

"CHARMY!?" Vector cried out from seeing what happen to the little bee. "That's it, no more mister Nice Croc!" He glares at the enemy as if deciding to stop pulling punches.

Then Vector haul the surprised Mad Leo in the air before slamming him hard against the floor. Vector was tossing the enemy with ever fiber of strength and even threw in some punches without a care. And then tossed the enemy over to Espio who had another batch of bombs ready and threw them upwards. Vector soon released a Flame Breath that impacted the target.

"GROOoAaarrrr!?" Mad Leo roared as it was suffering pain before falling to the bombs setup. "KABLAM!" Then a mighty explosion erupted that blind everyone.

Soon Mad Leo dropped to the ground, completely covered in black ashes and little flames still lit. Vector and Espio stood ready for more attacks from the undead lion-man. Mad Leo roared again as if about to go crazy until…it's voice was dying out. Then the undead lion man began to turn into dark particles scattering to the air. Soon Mad Leo was gone, cease to exist which left the Chaotix in a stump state of what they saw…

"That was…strange?" Espio raised an eyebrow, finding that very perplexing to explain…

"Oh no, Charmy!?" Vector yelps to remember one of their own was still down: both he and Espio ran to check up on Charmy lying on the ground. "Speak to me kid, say something? Does it hurt?" The crocodile asked from sitting Charmy up straight, wanting to hear his voice.

"Ugh, I think I'm dying?" Charmy moans to ache from not feeling well: Vector was worried the poison got to the bee. "Please, do me this one favor…" He tried to reach out a hand, pleading for a wish to be granted.

"Anything, just name it?" Vector grabbed hold of Charmy's hand, he was about to break out the tears.

"If this is the end, tell my wife and kids I love them." Charmy held his other hand over his face to give this message to his family.

"I will! I will tell your…" Vector suddenly stopped himself upon realizing something strange. "Hugh!? What wife and kids? You're not even married?" Vector asked from finding that last request super strange.

"Oh, right? Heh, guess I forgot?" Charmy sheepishly smiled to rub the back of his head.

"Is this the time to joke, you've been POISON!? That's no JOKE!" Vector protest that this was hardly the time to be funny.

"You don't have to worry, the poison Charmy blocked never came in contact. He's only pulling your leg Vector." Espio firmly explained the case from having studied the whole thing: he even saw that when Charmy fell the poison on the stinger slipped off and never reach his flesh skin.

"Hahah, really!? Guess I was never in any danger at all?" Charmy happily laughs off as he flies off the ground being carefree. "At least I know how much you care for me Vector." He soon gave Vector a hug in a playful manner to tease him.

"Charmy, you…" Vector looked ready to lose his temper for that sneaky stunt the little bee pulled.

"Waaahhh…another undead!?" Charmy screamed from pointing at what was before them.

"Nice try, I ain't falling for..." Vector was not about to get played by another joke by Charmy like before.

Just then the entire lights were coming online as the Chaotix saw Nicole having activated a light system. But then the corridor hallways began to reveal they were glass walls and something was behind them. They were glass capsule pods, line up and one on top of another by almost 3 or 4 each and inside them contain strange green ooze color liquid. But what was even more terrifying, was seeing that what was inside those pods in breathing mask were lookalikes of Mad Leo from earlier.

"Sweet Baby Chaos!?" Vector gasped to look around at this terrible sight. "What is this place?" Everywhere he looks, there are more of the enemy they just defeated.

"It appears to be a lab to create Ultimate Lifeforms and weaponized them?" Nicole was heard by the terminal that alerted the Chaotix that she was still working: despite the danger that happen earlier. "They must have obtain Leo's DNA and created these things? The one you fought was probably an early prototype?" The lynx girl was fast at work, trying to get any information on what was going on here.

"Wait a second, you said these things were Ultimate Lifeforms made as clones of one's DNA, does that mean your friend is also…?" Espio stops Nicole from putting the new evidence and pieces together as a whole.

"Yes, he and the others are Ultimate Lifeforms, and they seek a place to live in peace." Nicole nods to confirm that she withheld some vital information.

"So they are like Shadow?" Vector asked from having recall meeting an Ultimate Lifeform before.

"Are they kinda moody too?" Charmy asked from knowing that Shadow is kinda like the opposite when compared to Sonic.

"No, but Leo was made to be the second attempt to be close to Shadow, but was deem a failure. But by a miracle he awoke and has undergone changes and wants to not lose his life." Nicole shook her head while explaining the details of who Leo was. "But something about Leo has those hidden in GUN want him, he maybe more valuable then Shadow. And they want that power…enough to make a powerful army." Nicole spoke with concern from looking at the zombie lion clones in their capsule chambers.

"If one was tough, an army made of these things could cause mass panic?" Espio narrows his eyes from recognizing the potent danger they may face.

"Brother, they probably give Doctor Eggman a run for his money. And that's probably with just one or ten that are almost near Shadow's level. Imagine if it's a thousand or more!?" Vector stated on just picturing the true horror of an army so powerful, Eggman would lose as fast as when he and Sonic battle it out.

"Then how about we destroy this place before they get the chance." Charmy flies around to boast morale on stopping a disaster from happening.

"Smart thinking Charmy." Vector grins to give a thumbs up to the positive bee's thinking. "Espio, how many explosive ninja tools you got lying around?" The crocodile asked the chameleon, knowing they will need a lot to help them out.

"Not many left, I need a little time to prepare more explosives. I can make the basic without applying them on my ninja tools, but the process might be a little after an hour." Espio explained what he can do, but the problem lies in how much time he needs: and time is something they can't afford to waste.

"Here, you can use some of these." Nicole brings up her purse to open and reveal to the Chaotix…some military grade explosive bombs and grenades.

"Woah!? Where did you get some of these bad boys?" Charmy asked excited that such a nice lady was hauling some dangerous explosives.

"I…found them along the way to the elevator. I didn't know if they could be helpful or not?" Nicole pretends to make up an excuse to fit the situation: truth be told she brought half the amount from what was made aboard the Leo Carrier.

"Nice Nicole! We'll setup some explosives, think you'll be done getting what you need to cure your pals?" Vector gave the lynx girl a thumbs up on helping them out.

"I can try." Nicole nods her head, then gives her purse filled with explosives to the detectives.

"Alright boys, let's get to work!" Vector grins to turn to the group on what time it is.

The Chaotix immediately split off to use some of the explosive ninja bombs that Espio had on hand. Where the purple chameleon kept them is beyond anyone's imagination. Not to mention the extra bombs that Nicole had to provide the extra damage control needed for anything they were short on. Nicole continued to research any data of what GUNX had to get a leg up of whatever it is they were scheming. After a few minutes, the Chaotix had about finished placing bombs in specific areas.

"There, that's the last one! Think this will do the trick?" Vector wipes the sweat off from finishing up on his side.

"I studied the weak points, besides destroying the equipment, it will cause much of the structure to come down on its self." Espio explained what the key points were to help not just destroy this cloning facility, but further cause a setback to those that want to repair the damage.

"Wow, you know if we get bored playing detective, maybe we can go into a demolition crew. We have a blast! Get it?" Charmy smiled to chat about how they can be pretty good in another field.

"We get it Charmy, real cute." Vector rolled his eyes at the young bee trying to be funny. "You about finished Nicole?" Vector turns to see how far Nicole was at wrapping up her side.

"Almost, I…" Nicole stated from trying to study many files and break through firewalls on the terminal monitor. "There! I found it!" She smiled from having come across something good.

"What?" Vector asked from seeing how happy the lynx girl was.

"A way to cure the Chaos Toxin virus they created. But it seems highly classified?" Nicole stated from having found what she wants but has to bypass several more system defenses "I'll begin digging through it?" Nicole spared no time to waste, and immediately was hacking to access the information kept specially tight.

"WARNING! UNREGISTERED ACCESS DETECTED!" Suddenly a male voice was heard with alarms going off: alerting Nicole and the Chaotix that what the lynx girl did triggered something. "SEAL ARMED ROOM OPENING!" The male voice announced what protocol was to be perform if such unregistered access occurred.

"That don't sound good? What could it be?" Charmy questioned from having a bad feeling about this.

"Whatever it is, we should go before we find out." Espio firmly suggest they leave: the explosives are set, they can getaway before something comes for them.

"Just a little more time, this might help everyone…" Nicole request they stay, she is close to getting the cure but needs more time to do it.

"You heard the lady boys, whatever is coming…we can take it!" Vector issued to not have them call it quits when Nicole is not showing any fear so they shouldn't either.

Then at the end of the opposite hallway there was a large vault which after lighting up, the hatch rotated to open. And as steam escape from the open vault, something was seen that was attached to cables which began to pop off as something awoken to move. The heavy stomp pressure and loud screeching sounds of something metallic made contact with the floor. That's when the Chaotix saw what was like another Mad Leo, but this one seem way more different. This zombie lion man was larger, bigger then what was only 20 or so in height. It was 60 feet tall with the body covered in armor by ankles, legs, chestplate, shoulder pads and a large left gauntlet hand along with chains dangling around like a necklace. There was a red chainsaw device with a silver saw and dark grey blades that was apart of the right hand. The weaponized version of a Vintage Chainsaw was the size, length and width to handle large tree trunks in seconds. Everyone was shock at what they saw, Nicole's eyes had a static effect when secretly scanning the new creature which made her gasp at the data:

-ENEMY IDENTIFIED-

ARMED MAD LEO Lv.120

TYPE: UNDEAD CYBORG LIONMAN

RANK: BOSS

POWER LEVEL: 100,000

Information: After having completed the Mad Leo designs, GUNX went a bit further to evolve the zombie soldiers by weaponizing them. Turning this experimental Ultimate Lifeform into something with a chainsaw as well as even more modifications. But due to repeated modifications and the unbalanced chainsaw, intense pain is always running through the body, enraging the creature. Unable to stay still due to the pain, sees anything reflected in the eyes as an enemy and attacks which some describe this creation as a Weapon-Frenzy Mode version of Mad Leo. Sleeping Lion: When trying to completely shake off the arm and detach the chainsaw, chops things up without caring whether they are alive or inanimated. Lion Heart: Destructive impulses come to the surface, runs wild and pierces the ground with the chainsaw, creating fissures which swallow the opponent.

"ROOOOAAAARRRRR!" Armed Mad Leo roared with such heavy beastly tone, it was enough to shake the entire area and cause some to almost lose balance.

"Ugh, you sure we can take it Vector?!" Charmy asked from looking a little more scared to fly backwards to hid behind Vector.

"Ugh, yeah…I think so?" Vector replied with a hesitated concern tone in his voice when seeing something like this.

"Even when it wields a CHAINSAW!?" Charmy panics from seeing the giant chainsaw buzzing.

"Um, maybe?" Vector sheepishly spoke with a nervous expression and sweat drop on the face.

"Is this one of those weaponized types?" Espio looked to Nicole for answers on facing an enemy of this scale.

"It's called Armed Mad Leo." Nicole address the enemy on what the Chaotix must be ready to face. "An Undead type fully supported by machines. Please be careful, it's far stronger then what was released earlier." She explained that this type of enemy was truly more dangerous especially with new mods and upgrades.

"LION HEART!" Armed Mad Leo spoke with a deep monstrous roar when announcing it's move.

That's when Armed Mad Leo slammed it's left hand to the ground, as destructive impulses came from the surface. The Chaotix were force to scatter but yelped when the enemy came running wild and piercing the ground with it's chainsaw. The very action was creating fissures that made Vector yelp to almost get swallowed in if not for Espio and Charmy pulling him out.

"He's splitting the ground like it's nothing!?" Charmy yelps from being both shock and terrified at such a powerful move. "Vector, can you stop those choppers with yours?" The little bee asked from thinking the strong jaws of a crocodile can help like before.

"You KIDDING Me!? My teeth might be strong, but that thing is about as dangerous as a croc going to the dentist!?" Vector protest from fearing how dangerous it would be if he made a small mistake, it won't be pretty.

"You're scared to see the dentist?" Charmy raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear Vector admit such a thing.

"NOWS NOT THE TIME TO ASK!?" Vector yelled at Charmy for digging into such things he rather not talk about.

"Watch it!" Espio shouted to warn the others when seeing the enemy's movement.

The Chaotix dodged another chainsaw move that almost cut them off. But then problems grew when Armed Mad Leo used its heavy gauntlet hand to pin Vector down before attacking him. Espio tried to throw more ninja stars and Charmy tried to distract it, but the undead cared not for them. Nicole was working quickly but saw her friends were endanger.

"They can't handle this on their own? This enemy is too strong?" Nicole exclaimed her analysis telling her the Chaotix will lose if nothing is done to help them. "It's time! Can you get here?" She used an unseen comlink device to contact someone.

"I thought you never ask?" A male voice was heard sounding a bit over confident.

Vector was struggling to get free while hearing the buzzing sound of a chainsaw near. Espio used ninja strings on the enemy's chainsaw device as he and Charmy tried to pull to keep it away from Vector….but Armed Mad Leo was far stronger and the struggle was pointless. The crocodile screams in terror as if thinking this was the end. But then the elevator was heard arriving with the doors opening, and something shot across super fast. And ram tackle the large heavy weapon armor undead lion off to fall backwards on the ground hard.

"Vector, you okay?" Espio approaches to check on Vector's condition.

"Yeah, but how?" Vector held his head with relief, but was completely lost on how he survived that.

"I think he did something!" Charmy points to someone that came to help them out.

Then the hero of the hour lands on the ground in a cool pose before the extra dust cloud. The way the guy moved so fast and acted, the others thought Sonic must have shown up. But when the dust cloud cleared, what was revealed was something entirely different. At first it almost seem like the figure was a hedgehog, the Chaotix thought maybe the fast hero was Sonic, but saw it was black and then thought maybe Shadow: but it was neither of them. Truth was it was a robotic model hedgehog but different from a previous model of the Metal Sonic many have seen. It had a black and yellow color scheme, with full spiked quills, silver sleeves, ears, mouth, and chest compartment. The only major differences were a strange diamond-shape gem located in the chest compartment, and had a cannon replacing the left hand. The gem piece was red and so were the optic eyes that glowed.

"Wait, is that suppose to be Metal Sonic?" Charmy raised an eyebrow in surprise of who saved them, another enemy.

"Is Eggman involved in this too?" Vector narrow his eyes from finding this case getting more complicated by the minute.

"But why would it attack and help us?" Espio was on guard, suspicious of what this robot's motives were.

"Everyone, don't be alarm." Nicole called out which made the Chaoitix look to her puzzled. "I called him here, he's here to help." She calmly addresses the situation to those who are confused. "Shard, can you handle this?" She turns to address the Metal Sonic but under a different name.

"Ask and you shall receive, been itching to get into action." The black hedgehog robot named Shard replied with the characteristics somewhat similar to Sonic.

"IT TALKS?!" Vector gasped from seeing this version of a Metal Sonic can speak.

"Apparently so?" Espio replied from recalling how rare they encounter a Metal Sonic that can perform speech.

"Yeah, last time a Metal Sonic spoke, we beat him and never heard him speak after that?" Charmy recalled an adventure which Nicole believed was during the Metal Overlord event.

"Just sit tight and I'll show you something cool." Shard issued off with a cocky attitude to tease a bit to lighten the mood.

Then Shard used its back thrusters to zip over Armed Mad Leon as it tried to get up. But Shard switch its left hand into some arm hammer to knock bang an unguarded knee. That slowed Armed Mad Leo down but then Shard switch the left hand into a cannon arm, and blasted a ray beam dealing damage near the enemy's face.

"Grrrr….ROOOAAArrrrrrr!" Armed Mad Leo roared with rage to get up to attack with the chainsaw but missed the fast speedy hedgehog bot. "SLEEPING LIONS!" The enemy roared forth this next attack it was gonna unleash.

Then Armed Mad Leo began to chop things up without a care. Shard was watching out as the beast was attacking anything in the way. Be it alive or an inanimate object, even destroy some cases containing more Mad Leo clones behind the glass wall frames. Shard had to change his arm cannon to a drill to just counter the blows while the destruction of the berserk killer clone machine wrecks things and causes the Chaotix to dodge and evade the madness.

"Yikes!" Charmy yelps from watching out for the destructive debris flying all over. "This guy is going crazy?" The little bee issued from seeing someone destroy things without a care.

"Looks like the task of destroying this place might be accomplished without our help?" Espio raised an eyebrow from seeing the battle going all over the area.

"Nicole, I think your buddy won't last too long at this rate?" Vector called to the lynx girl working on the terminal computer, everyone saw that even with Shard it might not be enough.

"I know, which is why I also been working on something to help about even and overcome the odds." Nicole stated from having finished doing a little something: which was connecting her Ring Handheld device to the system while obtaining a vital update. "It's untested, but if it works, we might all get out of here." She sounded concern, but took a deep breath on what to do.

That's when Nicole pulled out many Power Rings and let her device channel the energy of the base into them. Sparks began to form as the rings were suddenly merging and the Chaos Energy began to release greater force. When it was over, a unique red colored Power Ring with a star in the middle was created. Nicole reach to prepare to take the new ring which the Chaotix noticed…

"What are you…?" Vector was about to ask a strange question when seeing a bizarre ring.

"The Red Star Ring is ready, now to see if this can help me further…" Nicole stated as she began to slowly retake her handheld device… "Begin - Overclock Mode!" She announced when placing the Red Star Ring onto her Ring Handheld device which emitted a brighter glow.

Then suddenly without warning, Nicole's entire body flashed and her dress reverted back to her casual outfit. But then flashing forth was a sphere of white that attracted everyone's attention. When it was over, Nicole was standing but something had changed. While the handheld device it's self was unchanged from the action, Nicole's lynx avatar undergone a somewhat drastic change. The fur and black face markings turn pink and white respectively, the hair became white with hints of pink and the eyes turn red. Nicole's attire also changed, becoming entirely pink and white. Additionally, the hair and fur stand slightly on end while the tips of the ears became larger and spikier, spiky fringes appear on the gloves and socks' cuffs, and gains Red Star Ring-shaped buttons, with another taking the place of the jewel on the necklace.

"Woah! What happened to her?" Charmy was staring with wide eyes at Nicole's transformation.

"It's like a Super Form, but different?" Espio raised an eyebrow in surprise, how does a normal lynx girl have such a capable like others the detectives know can unlock Super Form modes.

"That is correct, I am now…Overclocked Nicole!" Nicole spoke with a heighten voice, as if having surge of energy empower her entire being.

"Rrrooaarrrr!" Armed Mad Leo roared from his attention fell upon the brightness that was Nicole's glowing form.

"Hacking into defensive weapons!" Overclocked Nicole issued from waving her hand against the system's controls. "Lock on - Fire!" She held her right hand up and waved down to launch her attack.

That's when the laser system began to appear from compartments in the ceiling and open fire. They were all aimed and attacking Armed Mad Leo as it was being bombarded with attacks that were state-of-the-art. Not to mention, they were design to handle if any Ultimate Lifeform experiments got out of control.

"ROOOoaaaarrrr!" Armed Mad Leo roared in rage before it ignored the pain and charged pass the Chaotix and went for someone else…

"WATCH OUT!" Vector screamed from seeing danger was coming at Nicole.

But then the attack from the chainsaw simply went through, as Overclocked Nicole's digital energy imagine reacted in a static reaction for a bit. This left Armed Mad Leo somewhat disturbed and confused, and tried to attack again and again, but the target was not physically there.

"Hugh!?" Vector gasped with wide eyes and jaw at what he witness was happening. "It went right 'Through' her?! And nothing is making physical contact with her?" There was no problem as he rub his eyes, Vector saw it but doesn't believe it.

"Is she a ninja too?" Charmy asked from thinking how that trick may have been done.

"No, I'm not sure what she is?" Espio raised an eyebrow, finding out there's more secrets to Nicole they never knew from the start.

The Chaotix watched as Overclocked Nicole hacked more systems to attack, but Armed Mad Leo became wise to destroy the security weapons that popped out. That's when the enemy performed it's Lion Heart move to create another fissure with the chainsaw in the ground. But when the ground split over the lynx, she continued to hover while leaving many spellbound.

"Nice work Nicole!" Shard flies near the transformed lynx girl with a smirky expression. "Care to give me a boast?" He held his right hand in requesting some aid in the fight.

"Of course." Overclocked Nicole replied before taking the hand, and she was transforming Chaos Energy into Shard.

"Grrrrrrr…." Armed Mad Leo growls in preparing to attacking with it's Sleeping Lion move.

"Sorry gruesome, looks like we hit…" Shard smirks as he aims his transform arm cannon channeling a large surge of energy. "Jackpot!" The guy announced a final victory cry on the spot.

Then Shard fired an even more powerful blast from the arm cannon that was almost like a Chaos Blast technique. That attack swallowed Armed Mad Leo's entire being, as the creature in pain never realized it's defenses were being destroyed. When the event was over and the attack vanished down the hallway, Armed Mad Leo was seen still for a moment until it silently was falling forward to hit the ground hard. Soon dark particles were vanishing from its body into the air until the enemy was completely gone. When it was over, Nicole de-transformed while dropping to her knees…and began to phase a bit: almost like her image was losing its projection. Shard was there to grab her handheld device so it didn't fall into the open fissure hole, and then his jewel turn green along with his optic eyes when the battle was over.

"Um, what was all that?" Vector was the first to break the silence of what they witnessed.

"What happen Nicole, why are you all…glitchy like when Vector tries to fix the TV?" Charmy asked from seeing how Nicole was fizzling a bit to almost disappear.

"Are you…possibly a hologram? But how were you solid before?" Espio raised an eyebrow from recalling they had contact with the lynx, this seem hard to answer.

"Thanks to this Ring Handheld Device, she can have her image be solid when traveling to places away from her home." Shard showed the device in question that helped Nicole maintain her physical form.

"But why do all that then come in person? This is really confusing me?" Charmy tries to make sense of this, but couldn't make heads or tails.

"Cause she isn't a flesh person, ain't'cha?" Vector stated on knowing that if this girl needed a device to be solid, then she was not flesh to begin with.

"No, I'm actually an AI. I am sorry for keeping a few things a secret." Nicole apologized while her fizzling form was slowly repaired. "I was afraid you wouldn't help if you knew? I had to help save everyone…" She admits this with a much heavy burden on these 'feelings' one was adjusting to.

"Yeah, you even tried to use this thing? I know the Red Star Ring is capable of empowering machines…" Shard explained the potential the red ring can do. "But if you continued fighting with this red ring for too long, the energies would have overwhelm you, cause physical strain and not to mention…Overheat your handheld device?" The guy explained while the Chaotix saw evidence of Nicole recovering and her device steam a bit.

"I know, but what else could be done. The others were endanger, I just….couldn't watch them suffer." Nicole admits that after witnessing what happen to Leo and the others on the Leo Carrier, seeing that action repeat…she didn't want it. "Leo taught us to help our friends, and…it just seem like the right thing to do." She concludes her statement for the others to know what she wanted to say.

"Well, can't argue there? Now we just gotta wait to see how these guys accept us? A Metal Sonic replica and a holo-Lynx?" Shard shrug off while just awaiting how things play out.

"Geee, they're not really bad guy types, they did help us?" Charmy felt like a lost puzzled kid, unsure if they should be mad at these guys.

"What do we do now Vector?" Espio raised an eyebrow on how they handle this case.

Then loud cracks were heard as everyone saw the few surviving clone pods. Then they started to show signs of activation, and began to pound to break the glass cases. Apparently the battle against Armed Mad Leo caused some malfunction and right now they may end up having a battalion of undead Ultimate Lifeforms to deal with.

"Save the questions for later, right now we gotta get outta here!" Vector issued from knowing it's time to get going. "Espio, get ready to have your ninja bombs go boom! Charmy, check if Nicole is alright. And you…" Vector gave instructs to his teammates before looking to the black Metal Sonic guy. "Can you secure our escape route?" The crocodile asked a very simple question here.

"No problem, I'll even get you some rope to hold on tight and I'll pull." Shard smiled to boast about what he can do in the main time.

Soon everyone was getting ready while Shard used his jet busters to zip through to the other side of the hallway. And then came back in under a minute with some rope to tie around the Chaotix. Then Shard blasted the elevator ceiling and blast off pulling the detective team and Nicole held on tight. The ticking timer was going off around the explosives as many Mad Leos were about to be free when…

"KABOOM!" A huge explosion covered the entire area and a bright flash erupted. And just outside of Prison Island, we see Shard flying in the air with his towing passengers before the bright firework explosive show occurred. The scene fads out as multiple explosions occurred around the island…


SOMETIME LATER

CHAOTIX OFFICE

The scene reopens around the Chaotix Detective Agency right around after everyone got back from a grueling investigation…The scene opens to show Shard and Nicole sat in front of the desk as Vector sat in his office chair with Espio and Charmy beside him. They heard about all they needed to know what was the 411 situation. Especially the shocking discovers that a faction called GUNX, might be doing things as the dark shady business of GUN the public is not aware of. There were so many questions, the mystery just felt like it got bigger then smaller.

"Well, this has been about as exciting as Saving the World?" Vector signs from having felt so tired from the crazy adventure they just got home from.

"Really, ohh….you mean because we destroyed a government base's secret cloning facility!?" Charmy asked from sounding curious of what Vector meant.

"Yeah, but on that note, our business my just go under." Vector held his forehead on what's about to happen to them. "GUN or whoever is the slimebag running his own outfit musta seen us on security camera when tripping that alarm and we may become wanted ourselves." The crocodile explained what happen to which their sneaking mission just became known.

"Um, is that good for business?" Charmy asked from thinking they want folks to know more about them.

"No, by wanted, I mean place heavy bounties on us." Vector raised an eyebrow to correct his phrase by another meaning.

"You don't have to worry about that." Nicole smiled to assure those of their worries. "While connected, I erased all footage of our presence." When the others heard this, they couldn't believe it.

"So you can relax, nobody knows that a gator, a lizard, a bee, a black metal hedgehog and a lynx were there at all." Shard smiled to speak with confidence and a relax personality on not getting distracted by such things. "Not to mention, the media would question and then reports would snoop to discover that some illegal funds were used and never made public. And GUN wants to keep it's imagine clean." Shard explained a bonus statement on how a big organization needs to keep a certain imagine so to keep the public in order.

"GUN perhaps, but GUNX is another story." Espio stated with a firm expression on his face. "Those clones of Ultimate Lifeforms and weaponing them, if Shadow knew he would not be very pleased by such an act." Espio explained the topic on who would be furious by such action.

"Um, how mad would he get?" Charmy asked from not sure what scale of anger to imagine Shadow would show.

"From when he saw the BioLizard, it was an early prototype of folks creating to get close to his stature. But robbing the intellect to be a weapon, I hope we never find out." Vector stated on knowing it's one thing if such a thing was a failed experiment, but transforming an intelligent life into a weapon is a new low. "But onto the main issue, you weren't completely open with us about who you are?" Vector then shifts the discussion towards their business with Nicole.

"I'm sorry about that…" Nicole looked down, knowing she did not reveal much truth and hid important facts.

"Well you should be…" Vector gave a little lecture at first… "After all, if you wanted friends who you can trust, should have been honest from the start." Vector then was being more easy going with a smile on his friendly expression.

"Hugh? So you're not bothered by what she had to do?" Shard raised an eyebrow, surprised by this action.

"Buddy, we all have secrets. Even secrets to keep our friends safe from those that wanna do them harm." Vector explained the subject as if knowing how some folks act in such a way. "And since we accepted the job, we already know what kind of folks you are. The kind to risk your lives to save others even when almost the whole world could be against you." Vector was certain that Nicole and Shard were not working for some evil villain base on what lengths they were going through, just to find a cure to a virus harming a target and other innocent beings.

"I…don't know what to say except…thank you for understanding…" Nicole humbly bows a bit to thank Vector and the group for being so understanding.

"Well now that we took care of that, next is the payment." Vector went ahead to cut things and change the subject. "You are paying us, right?" He raised an eyebrow, hoping that after their service, they can be rewarded.

"Oh yeah! The 500,000 Dollars!" Charmy exclaimed from knowing they can get a boatload of money here.

"Here you go!" Shard brought forth one of the two cases to help the Chaotix.

"Woah…." Vector and Charmy opened the case to see the payment from before: they are loaded now.

"Vector, we may have another problem?" Espio spoke up from looking at the paperwork of overdue tax payments.

"What is it Espio?" Vector asked from not turning his head away from the suitcase of their reward.

"I ran over the numbers of how much we owe." Espio stated on having reviewed how much they owe.

"No problem, we're rich now!" Charmy smiled to comment on having bills paid easily with this amount of riches.

"Yes, but here's the bill in total…" Espio handed the paper of a final calculation.

"Let me see that?" Vector took the paper from Espio to look it over. "House Taxes…Property Taxes…Light Taxes…Phone Taxes…Business Taxes…Food Taxes…More Taxes etc.-etc…." Vector was going over a long list of what the trio have been doing and how much they gotta pay off. "Shesh, Damage Taxes…really? Well let's see now…the total comes down to…" Vector was looking at the numbers before reaching the bottom. "NINE-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!?" Vector had super wide shock eyes and gasping jaw of how much they REALLY Owe!?

"Wait, isn't that a little over what we just been paid?" Charmy asked from knowing the math of which number was bigger. "How much does that leave us after paying them what we got?" Charmy asked from feeling like the answer won't be pleasant.

"Zero….it leaves us with zero…" Vector exclaimed with a quiet muttered voice in realizing their dream was shot down of having been out of debt. "And we're still gonna owe folks a LOT of money of what we haven't got?" The guy drops back in his seat, looking ready to drop from the shock of their poor state.

"Wait, why are you upset?" Shard asked from seeing how Vector was taking this pretty hard.

"We're back to being penniless…AND still need to pay off or else it'll grow bigger of what we still owe!?" Vector exclaimed from knowing they are in the doghouse on short payment.

"Hugh, but didn't you see the other payment?" Shard asked from finding this all very puzzling.

"What other payment?" Vector asked from recovering a bit while looking confused.

"You do realize she came here with two suitcases, right?" Shard asked from knowing these guys didn't the payment for hiring them was just in one case.

"I thought that was her travel bag?" Charmy scratch his head from what he thought the first time.

"But knowing she's a holographic image, that wouldn't make any sense?" Espio held his chin from recalling what Nicole is, but raises the question of what she brought along but never showed.

"Oh, I suppose in all the excitement, I did bring two cases, but only one had the 500K worth of valuable materials." Nicole sheepishly blushed from realizing the major error from the payment misunderstanding. "Here you go…another $500,000 as the closing payment." Nicole picks up the second suitcase to present it to the trio.

Then the second suitcase opened to reveal the same kind of valuable stuff as the first suitcase. The Chaotix were literally so stun, they were gasping or their eyes were glued. They were paid $500K up front, and now again for the after work. When doing the math, it's likely they were paid up to $1,000,000 but received half now and the last half after. Boy, never in the Chaotix's wildest dreams would they have a million dollars under their roof.

"Leo research that you were going to have a hard time with taxes, so he wanted to offer you this bonus." Nicole smiled to reveal this little detail on knowing how much payment the Chaotix's debt was. "After all, you did risk your lives, it's the least we can do." She smiled from wanting to help compensate and clear the last payments for their friends.

"After that, you'll have at least 100K left. Try to not spend it all at once." Shard made a sly comment on what the Chaotix will have.

"Yippee! We're not gonna lose our current job!" Charmy cheered to happily buzz around the ceiling.

"Vector, are you okay?" Espio looked to the crocodile from seeing him shed tears.

"Sniff…yeah, I just never felt so happy to not be dealing with debts now…" Vector wipes the loose tears while being all emotional.

"Enough to cry?" Charmy flews by to poke and tease Vector.

"I AIN'T CRYING!?" Vector yelled at the bee for taunting him.

"Well it's been fun, but it's about time we get back." Shard shrug off his shoulders from knowing they need to leave.

"We hope we can see you all again, Leo and the others would certainly enjoy your company." Nicole smiled to offer this farewell message on behalf of the others waiting for them.

Then Shard and Nicole stood up to walk outside the office…only to be bathed in a bright green light. The Chaotix were puzzled and ran out to see what's happening. Only to see Nicole and Shard lifted upwards to a large warship above the agency. After picking up the passengers, the Leo Carrier ignited it's engines and flew off upwards into the skies. Leaving the Chaotix to absorb what occurred that left them truly surprised.

"Woah! Did they disappear…in THAT SHIP!?" Charmy asked from what they witness was beyond one's imagination.

"Talk about traveling in style!?" Vector smiled form finding that way to travel pretty impressive. "Well boys, tonight we can celebrate!" Vector cheered from knowing it's time to party.

"Yeah!" Charmy pump his arms out to cheer, they got money which they can spend on something other then paying bills.

"And tomorrow, it's back to work!" Vector proclaimed on what they do the next day.

"Boo!" Charmy pouts to be the buzzkill of the moment.

"Really Charmy, really?" Vector raised an eyebrow at seeing what he received from the youngest member.

"What sort of work do you mean Vector, has another client requested our help?" Espio asked from getting to the point of what their next case is.

"More like digging a little deeper into this whole GUNX thing we found." Vector issued from knowing they gotta work around the mystery of some unknown organization in hiding. "But we better be careful on who we tell this too." He issued firmly on wanting to be super secretive.

"Why not report it to GUN?" Charmy raised an eyebrow, confused why they can't just call this into the authorities to handle.

"Cause we don't know who's secretly in on the GUNX group, that's why!" Vector lectures Charmy that in an organization, split factions can mean one isn't sure who's side they might really be on. "We'll have to contact some pals of ours to help snoop a bit. Especially two somebodies who are perfect for the job." Vector explained on getting some help to dig deeper into this whole undercover stuff.

"Ohhh, Team Dark! And you probably mean everyone except Omega, he's more destroy then sneaky." Charmy replied in knowing who Vector was talking about now.

"Rouge I can understand, but what about Shadow?" Espio asked from knowing one member of Team Dark is a good spy.

"The dude's probably focus on finding this Ultimate Lifeform lion guy first." Vector issued on what Shadow was more focus on when he encounter Leo the first time. "Plus if he learns about GUNX right now before we know more, ain't no telling what will happen." Vector issued on needing to be prepared so nobody jumps into untold danger.

Espio and Charmy had to agree on Vector's logic. Sure they may have helped solve a case to help those get a cure from enemies trying to do them harm, but it only made the mystery that much more puzzling. And it would question if even G.U.N. it's self knows about what is happening within. Looks like the Chaotix will be busy trying to find some more clues to help solve an even greater mystery that will be an adventure to remember…


MEANWHILE

AT A GUNX SECRET BASE

The scene began to open within the dark room with the monitors where Jack Hoarder sat to observe different operations being done. Then entering from the door entrance was Milo the GUN Soldier with something urgent to report.

"Mister Hoarder, we just received a report?" Milo saluted to give a soldier response on a major issue at hand. "The Prison Island that was secretly conducting experiments…was destroyed by a large and unexpected explosion." The guy announced to reveal the harsh problem especially when it involved GUNX doing some illegal means.

"Oh, is that all? And here I thought you had bad news to report?" Jack Hoarder asked with a not so bothered response but was rather bored.

"Um, that was the bad news…sir?" Milo replied a bit lost and confused.

"Is it?" Jack Hoarder replied to turn his chair around to face Milo. "Ohohohoh, apparently you're very far in the times Miles." The guy teased while not speaking the guy's proper name.

"It's Milo, sir." Milo corrects his boss on his name.

"Ehhh, don't quit your day job." Jack Hoarder shrug off his arms from not being bothered by small minor issues.

"This is my day job?" Milo replied more confused then the first time.

"You know what I mean!" Jack Hoarder rolled his eyes at what he has to work with. "Besides, so we lost like what….100…200?" The guy asked on how many dark clone versions of Leo the Lion they lost.

"2000 Mad Leos were destroyed including the Armed Mad Leo prototype." Milo reports the lose of the number is pretty bad.

"Ohohohoooo….you never forget your first prototype models." Jack Hoarder laughs off from thinking it's funny that the first prototypes they made were destroyed; well that's why they were prototypes. "So we lost two prototypes we left along with those that were being made but haven't been perfected." The guy exclaimed on how this all sounds bad when he says it out loud. "You ask why I'm not worried? Hmph, let me show you." The guy lets off a light chuckle at Milo's dumbfound expression.

Suddenly the monitors on the wall behind Jack Hoarder changed to reveal several capsule chambers. Each of them housing what appears to be many Mad Leos and even the number of Armed Mad Leos being tested to help make them be more perfect weapons.

"That there is why!" Jack Hoarder points with a cocky attitude on showing the results. "We already started making Weaponized Ultimate Lifeforms off that island weeks ago after that Replica Master Core: Abyss failed at it's job." Jack Hoarder explained that they already have a large amount of clone Ultimate Lifeforms at their disposal.

"Si-si-sir….to make this many and spread them to different bases, how is that possible?" Milo was utterly stun, not sure how to explain all this.

"GUN has the resources, and we provide the means of where the extra tax paying dollars are spent." Jack Hoarder smiled on how they can use one system to benefit other agendas; including outside notices. "Still, knowing that Prison Island was destroyed DOES make me think? Was anything salvage, including what else we left there?" The guy took a moment to ask this particular question that had some concern.

"Um, the reports say nothing was salvage?" Milo looked at the printed reports to say there was nothing.

"Not even the area of where we had a power source for that base?" Jack Hoarder asked from wanting even the tiniest detail not slipped pass him.

"Um, nothing here in the reports say anything? Was there something important?" Milo shook his head to sadly inform the guy.

"Ugh, if it's not there then it's obvious! And you know what this means?" Jack Hoarder slapped his forehead from realizing what may have happen under their noses.

"Um, sorry…I don't know?" Milo replied from not certain what this guy was saying.

"Whatever destroyed that base was no accident. I'm betting my money…this act has something to do with Project X!" Jack Hoarder declared on believing the accident was a ruse to fool them. "I mean it makes sense, we poisoned him, and the only data to find a cure was just lying in a place nobody goes!? And there was something else there of great value. It's all fitting so perfectly." The guy labels all the clear evidence that explains everything on what their target's side was attempting to do.

"So then, what now?" Milo asked on what they do afterwards.

"Now….we call our partner?" Jack Hoarder grins wickedly on knowing the guy to reach on these difficult times.

Then Jack Hoarder had his monitors change to reveal a research center of robotics being developed. And as the camera zooms in, it was revealed to be a hover GUN Beetle with a monitor screen. And the bot was in front of someone working but stopped to turn to the attach monitor robot and reveal one's self in the light. It was a short, yet streamlined and lean male human at the size of most animal types apart of Sonic's group, though the most distinguishing feature is the long beak-like nose. Was completely bald with a long reddish-brown beard and had green color eyes. The outfit consists of a white G.U.N. lab coat with a green shirt underneath, and sports a red eyepiece tech device used for communication and scan functions.

"May I help you?" The short man replied with a snobbish remark tone.

"Yes, Doctor Julian Snively…we had a small hiccup. Nothing big mind you, but…" Jack Hoarder smiled to lightly say while twiddling his thumbs together. "It seems Project X is truly becoming restless and maybe on the way to find the only cure towards the virus my boys injected him with." He reports the latest findings to the man who can help them out.

"I see, well…I suppose that means it's time to move out?" Doctor Snively exclaimed firmly on knowing the deal of the case.

"Move out, where?" Milo asked from not sure what's happening now.

"That's the best part Milano!" Jack Hoarder smiled with confidence and pride.

"Again, it's just Milo sir." Milo corrects his boss on once more, getting his name wrong.

"The cure to the Chaos Toxin just also happens to be the spot where another emerald was reported found." Jack Hoarder revealed a little surprise on what else was at such a location to find a cure. "What better mouse trap to spring and get all the emeralds in one basket." He clutch his right hand to declare a plan to obtain all 7 Chaos Emeralds in one swoop.

"But sir, if it's indeed that Ultimate Lifeform, how can we win?" Milo asked from not certain if they can beat Project X when it already defeated some tough opponents sent after it.

"Professor Snively, how many of our little weapons are ready?" Jack Hoarder turns to face the man with a calm and smirky expression.

"500 Mad Leos and 200 Armed Mad Leos are ready to be deployed." Doctor Snively answered with the basic number of ready weaponized creatures. "Since this operation is crucial to help in our endeavors, should I bring out the 'other' project that's waiting on standby?" He asked if Jack Hoarder wants to have something else brought in.

"Ohhhh, you know me so well." Jack Hoarder was all jolly and giggled like a happy school boy receiving a goodie. "Let's do it!" He narrow his eyes to give the order to proceed.

"Very well, this will be a good test to see how much further advance it performs to be even better then the Armed Mad Leo models performance." Doctor Snively nods upon having heard what he needed to hear to begin the next move.

"Sir, what other project did he mean by?" Milo asked from having a bad feeling that there's something more dangerous then what was the stronger version of a Mad Leo.

"Oh it's something that might haunt you in your dreams." Jack Hoarder grins widely on what they have to show is terrifying to believe. "And I for one can't wait to see how well it performs." The guy was literally all excited on when they get to reveal another secret project to change the world. "They say cats have nine lives, let's see how many our runaway project deals with something REAL dangerous." The guy made an evil smirk when the monitors revealed Leo the Lion and how he fought to just barely win against GUN Emperor and the Replica Master Core: Abyss.

"Like what happen when you secretly infected Dr. Eggman's creation to turn on him?" Milo mentions this part on knowing what was done when Leo encounter Dr. Eggman.

"Oh yes, what did it go calling it's self…Argos Krudza?" Jack Hoarder tap his chin to ponder a moment on their underhanded action in sabotaging Dr. Eggman's little moment.

"Yes sir, but were we actually in control of that thing?"

"Ehhh, I leave that stuff to Doctor Snively. Didn't bother me if that guy was gonna wreck havoc a bit, in the end WE would be the planet's saviors." Jack Hoarder shrug off to not care while stating they had a plan in reserve to make GUN the heroes when the time called it. "Course that was spoiled by Project X, and sure maybe the act was going too far, but hey…You gotta admit, when you wanna make a big impression, you go BIG…or you go home…Or just can't go home in the end!?" When he said these things, the last stuff sounded more menacing then one could believe.

"Gulp!?" Milo swallowed hard with a nervous expression.

"Any other questions?" Jack Hoarder asked from trying to get to work but wants to make sure he's not distracted.

"Um, well now that you mention it...why did we change our name from XGUN to GUNX?" Milo asked a surprise question on the changing of their faction.

"Oh that, well a lot of you folks seem to mix things up so much, that I decided to change it for something so simple even simpletons like you can remember it without getting lost and ask such questions." Jack Hoarder rolled his eyes to brush the topic off on making it simple for the men to not be confusing things.

"But can you do that on a whim?" Milo asked from thinking that seems too easy to change an organization's name on a whim.

"If I feel like it, then yes. Besides, throws a little monkey wretch on the case anyone tries to follow behind our trail. You happy now?" Jack Hoarder leans over the trooper as if not wanting to hear another complain: so Milo yelps to silently nod in agreement. "Good! Now let's get this party started!" Jack Hoarder clapped his hands, wanting to be ready for the big event to come.

Now Milo was a little concern, but he was only a soldier to do what all troops do: follow orders. And soon Jack Hoarder presses a few buttons to prepare some things, as he awaits with a wicked smile on what's about to occur very soon. The scene goes dark while slowly zooming out of the chamber as the faction GUNX prepares it's own agendas for the future…


ELSEWHERE

ABOARD THE LEO CARRIER

The scene opens to where the Leo Carrier was in the sky. Zooming in one finds the medical chamber and the holographic head frame of Leo. And then entering the room was none other then the returning heroes of the hour – Nicole the Holo-Lynx and Shard the Metal Sonic.

"Well done both of you performed well." Leo smiled to welcome those back and having known the mission went well.

"Ah, you saw everything, hugh?" Shard replied from thinking the surprise to report was ruined.

"I'm still linked to the warship, and Shard….you're directly showing things that happen through your eyes to the main computer, remember?" Nicole reminds Shard of their connection to the main servers on the Leo Carrier to transmit what they see back here.

"Oh right, forgot about that?" Shard sheepishly rubs his back head on forgetting that detail.

"Not to mention, were you not receiving Leo's commands on how to perform…including when in battle?" Nicole raised an eyebrow to remind the black version Metal Sonic guy of another fact he can do to receive orders.

"Yeah-yeah, new bot online needed help. Which I gotta say, they were pretty cool to help me perform." Shard shrug off the shoulders to admit this, thanks to those instructions he performed excellently.

"In any case Leo, we accomplished our mission." Nicole smiled to return their focus on what they wish to say.

"Gotta say, it was a new experience. I am grateful that you programmed my AI to be what I am." Shard issued on also wanting to give thanks for this given opportunity.

"Yes, well Nicole was also surprised by what I had plan to do with that Mecha Sonic." Leo smiled to lightly state a topic when he created Shard from the leftover unused Mecha Sonic body. "Truth be told, I was puzzled about creating my own version of a Metal Sonic?" He revealed this from how the thought had crossed his mind.

"Ouch, now I don't know if I should be happy or not?" Shard slightly cringed from what he just heard.

"Just as I thought about creating Nicole's Avatar body and gave her a name, they were all from a show and comic series within a Sonic Universe. I choose'd the system that helped me gain a form of something to my knowledge, doesn't exist in this current universe." Leo explained how when creating the character Nicole, she was base on another character but does not likely have a counterpart in this current universe.

"Wow, then I wonder what happens if you meet your twin?" Shard exclaimed on how funny to have two Nicole types in the same room. "Course, that's unlikely, me…well I be fine if I encounter the actual Metal Sonic?" The guy admits that there's no problem if he meets the actual Metal Sonic.

"Indeed, you are a different case Shard." Leo nods his head to confirm that statement he heard. "I remember from the Sonic Archie Comics, there were many different Metal Sonic versions up to Version 2.5 until certain things occurred and soon a newer version came along with a new name and to be good." Leo explained tales of what he base Shard off of from a related Sonic subject.

"So…you used the Mecha Sonic left behind to help finish and complete me?" Shard asked from liking to know if that's the case.

"Correct, even if you meet Dr. Eggman's Metal Sonic, you are both different." Leo nods to confirm while making a stated point. "And truth be told, it feels nice to have a familiar character before me." Leo smiled while being honest on having another Sonic character he knows is apart of his crew.

"Awe shucks, you're making me blush." Shard smiled to look away as if acting all bashful. "Well okay, can't precisely blush…?" The guy corrects a statement about being a robot and being unable to blush his cheeks.

"I've ran the data we brought back from Prison Island, apparently this separate faction of GUN who's after us goes by GUNX." Nicole explained who were the people that were coming after Leo were GUN, but of a different name. "I looked over the creation for the Chaos Toxin, and I found several shocking discoveries." She stated as she ran a holographic screen to display the information they got.

"What are they?" Leo asked with concern, knowing whatever it is…can't be good.

"There appears to be some kind of dark essence, like a negative Chaos Energy type." Nicole points out a different element from an energy wave pattern: one of a dark matrix. "Because Ultimate Lifeforms are more specially connected to Chaos then most others that learn the technique or need aid from a Chaos Emerald. The effect is more harmful in that area." Nicole explained the theory of what was used for the virus to only cause harm to a specific type of lifeform.

"So they figured a way to harness the darkness of Chaos Energy, could that be what made those things you faced?" Leo ponders if such dark chaos energy was also the source in creating evil dark clone versions of himself.

"The Mad Leos and Armed Mad Leo, yeah they're bad. But it's a good thing we toasted them." Shard smiled to boast that such worries are behind them.

"Sadly, I learn there are many outside facilities that were in the same project. Which means GUNX must have them on standby?" Nicole sadly shook her head to regretfully inform that the enemy has more weaponized Ultimate Lifeforms. "But they used the DNA of the first time you evolved Leo. The studies on any blood you lost in battle, they been studying to further create the perfect weapon version of Ultimate Lifeforms. And besides Shadow, Leo is another element to help further the research." Nicole explained how the enemy is wanting to use whatever kind of completed Ultimate Lifeform there are to then produce others of a more dangerous nature.

"That's all nice and everything, but how's about the cure for this virus?" Shard asked from recalling why they went through all this in the first place.

"I'm about to display the info in just a moment…" Nicole stated as she finished tapping the holo-screen.

Suddenly while Nicole was working on that, Leo's holographic head saw the pop-up screen with an updated message:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

SEPARATE GROUP CHALLENGE – 'FIND A CURE'

Info: For trusting others to handle a solo mission without being there and making decisions to help perform well. For helping them from afar to insure the mission was accomplished, unlock special rewards.

REWARDS:

15 BONUS LEVEL-UPS

SP 300,000

Items Obtain: 1500 Metal Materials, 17 Chaos Battery Chargers, 500,000 Coins

Rare Items Obtain: Element Fragment Pieces (50-Fire, 50-Water, 50-Lightning, 50-Ice, 50 Dark, 50-Metal)

SPECIAL REWARDS:

UNLOCK NEW JOBS:

Enchanter & Philosopher

Soon another screen pops up to reveal the data on these new jobs that Leo has obtain by some chance:

*Enchanter Lv.1: A low rank caster job focusing on using buffs.

*Philosopher Lv.1: A low rank job that specializes in accelerating the user's thinking speed. The status growth of this Job focuses on SP.

Leo took extra notice of what he received, and could understand the reasons behind it. Apparently he has been casting Great Order on Nicole and Shard in a repeated manner, because he was worried for their safety. And that unlocked new jobs related to him trying to do things by thinking them through and giving buffs constantly. And thus obtain Enchanter for him to study different types of buffs to strengthen his side along with Philosopher to help in his progress to think plus gives him a boast on more SP to help further his abilities. And apparently got back having spent a million to receive at least half the amount back for paying the Chaotix to help.

"It seems the update still works even when I have not been out but had my own members perform a task alone?" Leo was simply amazed that even when he was not on the mission, he received the experience: it's kinda like those other RPG Games that ally teammates to help one grow strong. "Well, at least leveling up can help me get closer towards my goal." He shrug off to feel that this will help in the long run.

"You mean to help you evolve into something close to Super Form, well looks like Nicole beat you too it." Shard comment on having mention the cool stunt Nicole did which was transform into a powerful form.

"Yes, I also witness such a feat. It was a good thing to update and unlock that function during the free time and even while in this state." Leo nods to compliment how knowing about Overclocked Mode that aided Nicole.

"I admit, it does hold much promise. But it also carries some risk?" Nicole replied with both a smile and a concern expression: after all, to wield that kind of power means an equal risk involvement.

"Well I'm sure we can work out the bugs in due time, right?" Shard shrug off the shoulders to not sweat the details.

"Let us first review the cure, according to this…The only way to undo the Chaos Toxin, is through this!" Nicole changes the subject while preparing the digital screen on what to display.

Then an imagine appeared above the chamber before a digital layout form a holographic object. A massive green and brilliant cut jewel that could almost resemble a Chaos Emerald, but as a large diamond cut emerald. It didn't take Leo long before he instantly knew what this was, and it was not the small green emerald they have but…

"The Master Emerald!?" Leo gasped upon recognizing the very large emerald in question. "Nicole, this data…?" He turns to Nicole, wondering if this was true…

"From what I've discovered, the Master Emerald is tied to the Chaos Emeralds. If it can channel them, it can even cancel their performance. As put in reports in different history records of their use." Nicole explained this subject which involved how one can channel the use of Chaos Emeralds and even how to connect with them. "If we use it to cancel the dark negative chaos energy inside you, it should cure you and the others." Nicole explained the method that may just be the cure they been looking for.

"Well then, mystery solved. Looks like our luck is turning to getting emeralds today. Which speaking of…" Shard stated at first before stepping out of the chamber with his jet-fast speed. "I brought us a victory prize…" Then Shard returned, but in his right hand was…a Silver Chaos Emerald.

"A CHAOS EMERALD!?" Leo exclaimed surprised by something he did not see coming.

"I know that we all been Super, and I was almost hoping to get into the whole Super Gold thing, but Silver is nice too." Shard lightly jokes about how what he could have gotten was a golden yellow emerald for a Super Form, but he'll settle for a silver color too.

"Where did you find it?" Nicole asked how Shard even found another emerald.

"When I went to get rope for pulling everyone to safety, found it in some generator room. Talk about free electricity if you tap into one of these." Shard explained where and how he obtain the emerald which was used as a power source. "And at that time, I did notice my video feedback here was off so…wanted to surprise our majestic leader here." Shard made a little joke on wanting to surprise everyone without spoiling it.

Soon Shard walks over to place the Silver Chaos Emerald with the other five. And then they glowed a bit before calming down. But to Leo's eyes, they were just one more away from having all seven.

"So now we have 6 Chaos Emeralds, I wonder…?" Leo muttered from becoming curious here.

"What is it Leo?" Nicole asked from noticing Leo was in a deep thought moment.

"Nicole, was there anyway the enemy has kept tracks on finding the emeralds like what we're doing?" Leo asked from wanting to know the answer straight away.

"While I was unaware of there being a Chaos Emerald, perhaps GUNX made the structure block the signal until they could gather more." Nicole explained things as best she could given the current situation. "And they know where the last one is if we had the other five before including the sixth emerald." She explained with more shocking news that GUNX was a step ahead.

"So, where is it?" Shard asked of where the final Chaos Emerald is at.

"On an island which is…floating." Nicole issued as a digital image of an island not on the water…was floating above the seas and land. "It's Angel Island!? This feels too much a coincidence that the final emerald is beside the Master Emerald?" The lynx girl was truly surprised that instead of one small emerald, it's location is next to the largest emerald of all.

"Yes, and there is one other problem to look into." Leo muttered from having a more serious expression. "The Guardian of the Master Emerald." Leo issued on knowing full well who has that title.

"Oh…you mean…" Shard was about to say, but was cut off…

"Knuckles the Echidna…" Leo issued on revealing the name of someone he knows. "Among Sonic characters, the hedgehog was Speed…the fox was Smart, and the echidna was Strong…Super Strength level to say the least." Leo knew very much each of the characters from the Sonic series and where their strength lies.

"How strong is he?" Shard asked from liking to know more.

"Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, they were the center main cast of the Sonic series." Leo revealed this intel that was old gamer knowledge he had about the characters. "Knuckles was rival to Sonic long before Shadow, they were each capable of such feats when introduced in the third Sonic game." Leo recalls those days, when he played Sonic and encountered Knuckles, it was a challenge to compete of one's speed against strength. "Well, I suppose it's high time to plot our next destination." He signs from knowing how this will go.

"To Angel Island?" Nicole asked if that is the next course.

"Yes, I suppose if it is fate…." Leo nods to confirm things with a serious expression. "Then I hope we meet as friends, then as enemies. I'm not even sure if I can properly fight Knuckles even after I'm healed. So, we just have to take the chance…" Leo explained firmly to take cautious steps, even one wrong move and just like when he saw Shadow's level, Knuckles' strength might be higher then the lion man's own.

Now the scene changes to show the Leo Carrier changing it's flight direction. And as it flew through the skies, the camera's angle changes to zoom to another location. And that location was so fast we skip through lands and oceans, pass an island to reach a temple structure…And there was the Master Emerald it's self as it shines brightly. But from the forest trees, a shadowy figure was hidden, and glowing red eyes were revealed: but it appears there were more then one pair. That's when the entire scene went dark, as another event is about to begin…


Notes: The holographic head scene was inspired from a Beast Wars episode when Optimus Primal was being repaired, and using technology allowed one to communicate as a holographic image.

Mecha Sonic III did appear in Sonic Adventure but played no important role.

The scene of Charmy crashing into Vector was a reference from Sonic Heroes.

Prison Island is a known GUN Base from Sonic Adventure 2 and from it's mention in Shadow The Hedgehog game. Decided to use it as a location since it had a role with the Chaotix that obtain data which was useful in the events for the true ending with the Black Arms.

Shard is a character who appeared in the Sonic Archie series. A Metal Sonic with both a good personality and is friendly to be around. There may also be evidence of the relationship he and Nicole formed during the time Shard was still active in the comics.

The new version Shard resembles having the Mecha Sonic III with the advance armor and a morph hand gun (kinda like Mega Man). So the abilities are the same but may have some new surprises in future chapters.

The final act when the hero says 'Jackpot' is a reference from Devil May Cry 3 when Dante and Vergil worked together to defeat a powerful enemy together.

Doctor Julian Snively is pretty much a character everyone knows from the Sonic series. Course he was also known as Snively Robotnik from both Sonic SatAM cartoon show and from the Archie Comics being Doctor Eggman's nephew. But in the new spin-off Archie Sonic series, the character was changed after the Super Genesis Wave and wouldn't be Eggman's nephew, and would be a human GUN scientist instead with his own plans for world conquest.

*So I decided to bring in such a character for this new series. And fits out well of another villain within GUN who can compete and is a rival genius to Doctor Eggman himself.

Decided to change the evil faction to GUNX to help make things a little easier on remembering the name. Plus, it helps to picture the Sonic X series that has a theme of ending a name with an X letter.

Well at long last, I managed to get this chapter made. And boy what an exciting one at that, especially when not staring the main star, but it's certainly a change of paste. Now in the next chapter, Leo's group approach Angel Island with a plan to find and use the Master Emerald to cure the crew members that fell victim to the Chaos Toxin. But then a surprise encounter with Knuckles the Echidna may delay the progress. And if that wasn't bad enough, the island is being invaded by GUNX warships along with endless troops of the weaponized Mad Leos. Even when facing off against them, an even bigger problem appears in the form of a gigantic foe even more dangerous then the Armed Mad Leos. Why is it more dangerous? Maybe it's because it's an undead weaponized lion man…with almost 8 SERPENT HEADS for the limbs and other parts of the body. Can anyone handle something so nightmarish that it's threat level is almost like facing BioLizard, but 8 times more worse!? That remains to be seen, until then enjoy…