This chapter will be a wee bit shorter than usual. However, you'll get other perspectives. Yippee! How's Tails doing? What about Stone? Did Sonic find the last emerald?

Find out RIGHT NOW BABY WOOOOO!

"Death Egg"

Tails' little glass cell has dents in it. Seems like his escape attempts have failed. If he had his backpack in there with him, he'd get out of this nightmare. Unfortunately, his reality is worse than the fiction in his head.

"Where are you?…"

He doesn't know where this prisons going, or why it's going to it's next location. All he knows is that greasy doctor's slimy intentions. He doesn't have a friendly bone in his body. Before he can contemplate further, a little ring makes the kid wince, clutching his ears as a voice pops over the intercom.

"Greetings from my own special world."

Tails swings his head side to side. Nobody comes.

"Seems your friend hasn't came yet. Who needs friends when you have enemies like him? Ho-ho-ho.."

Tails clenches his fists. Sonic would never abandon him..right? He let Tails come with him. He chose to stay at his garage. Is it possible he—no. "He promised.."

"Sonic's coming…" Tails says quietly.

"What was that? You'll have to speak up, boy!"

"I SAID he'll come.." Tails answers, curling himself up again.

"Oooh, some fire from the fox! If you had more of that, I wouldn't be celebrating my inevitable victory..but alas, i deal with children every day. Some of them come senile with an outdated mentality. Others just never found their purpose. It's a shame we have to come to this, Prower."

Tails, although dirty and trapped, moves an ear closer to the glass.

"Instead of finding yours under my all-powerful empire, you stand by the rodent. Even if he betrays my trust, you'll put him on a pedestal. What does he have that I cannot provide for you? Power? Respect? If he can't keep his word, you'll lose all of that.."

Oof. Seems like Sonic's bruised the doctor's ego in a spot.

"You don't have respect for anyone…but..Y-YOURSELF!"

"…."

Did he finally break through to him?

"Shiver me timbers. I've heard that one before, fox boy. I thought we were close in intelligence..but it's clear I'm the smarter lifeform. Find some new material and maybe you'll have a SLIVER of a chance to stop this. It's already beneath zero."

Nevermind.

"You can put that hope in the blue rat all you want..but that's the thing about hope. Not everybody gets what they want. Life will come in and smack you down to the reality of it all! You will lose your friends. You will lose your family. Those bonds never last..but when I change this world, my name will live forever!"

Chills shoot through Tails spine. The possibility of getting stuffed in the robot has shot from 100%, to 1,000! Not because of Sonic's negligence, but this man's high on his own supply. His ego gets bruised easy. Someone THIS unpredictable simply can't be trusted. Tails is well aware of that, but powerless to fight back at the moment.

If he gets ONE second of freedom, though..he doesn't have a choice. The Fox is scared of the situation. He never asked to be removed from his only friend, and put into this isolating chamber..but what other choice does he have? Lay down and die?

Sonic wouldn't do that, so Tails rules that out.

"Enjoy what could be the last moments in that fluffy skin of yours. My machines may not have fluff, but they work much better! Later, Hater!"

The intercom goes down, leaving Tails alone with his thoughts for longer.

Southside Island

Chemical Plant

Those clear skies have been covered by smoke, turning the sunny habitat into a dim one. A few retreating birds cough just to get the disgust out of their systems. Southside has been desecrated, and the effects of the Chemical Plant are textbook.

HONEY, I'M HOME!"

The titan known as the Death Egg Robot touches land, scaring the little insects below away. Unfortunately, some don't even make it. It's a disregard for wildlife all too prevalent with the Doctor.

Robotnik opens the mouth of the robot. A metal tongue reveals itself, stretching from the custom lot. All the way to the top of the Chemical Plant. Out steps Robotnik, being greeted by the sight of his Stone with a controller.

The Doctor gets a good whiff of the smog in the air. "I love the fresh smell of oil in the morning!"

"Repairs up to par?"

Robotnik smacks him on the back. "Give me the tour!"

"You'll see it all from the comfort here." Stone says, pointing out the railing. The pair leans on it. It's like a factory, with all the Badniks looking like mere ants down there. The blue and yellow colors stick out to the doctor's eyes. There's no greens, flowers, or any flaws like that.

Robotnik witnesses one Motobug shoot down a tunnel, and come out a level below unscathed. "All the paths. The design..perfect to lead our little devil here."

"Do you need me to take the—"

Robotnik sets a finger on his lips. "Not necessary. I've already built one just incase you were occupied."

Stone tilts his head. "You have a backup for everything. That's what I admire about you.."

"I love me too."

A black little bot with red boots, and yellow eyes comes flying over with those engines in their boots. It gives them a little salute, and Robotnik gives one back. Stone just stands perplexed. "This is your messenger?"

It shoots him a glare. "Don't judge, water boy!"

Stone balls his fist, but Robotnik steps in his path. "This is Bokkun. Don't mind him. He's even given JR attitude the day I built him. Must be the sass gene." The Doctor turns back to his new messenger. "

"You got it, Doc!"

His boots wire up, and he takes off! Stone leans towards his boss' ear. "Your most obnoxious creation yet."

"Nonsense! Bear with him.."

Westside Island

Canyon

Sonic's taking in the orange mountains ahead. In his hand..the last Emerald. He found it rather quickly, it was just laying there. Unfortunately for the Chaotix, they just couldn't keep up with him. Something about these gems still bothered the hedgehog. Why was a shooting star involved? More importantly, how do these emeralds get where they are?

First, the two portals.

Next, the Sky Sanctuary.

Then, an innocent family's home.

Now there's just one laying around on a Canyon.

It's not adding up to him. Despite the fact he's wielded them, the events behind this have yet to be uncovered. He doesn't have his genius with him to explain anything, so he's left in the dark. Before he can ponder any more, egghead's new messenger flies in, looking like a black dot to Sonic. When Bokkun gets closer, he can see that the machine's holding a cube.

"Sorry kid, got no time for cartoons right now."

Bokkun throws the TV into his hands. A screen switches on, revealing Robotnik close up, in all his twisted glory.

"How's our rod—rambunctious hunter doing?"

Sonic shoots him a smirk, revealing the two emeralds. "Gotcha covered."

The Doctor rubs his hands together. "Perfect. For an annoying speedball, you are ever so reliable. You deserve a reward.."

Sonic cocks his head. "Don't spoil me, oh great one."

Robotnik glares at the sarcasm. "Mock me to my orphan face, motor mouth. Meet me at Southside. You can't miss me." The screen zaps to black, leaving Sonic to focus on Bokkun. "When'd he make you?"

"Yesterday!" :D

A few small blinks brings Sonic's attention back to the TV. There's numbers, decreasing gradually. "Huh?"

"3.."

"2.."

"1.."

"OH F—"

KA-BOOM!

The TV bursts, sending smoke and black stains onto Sonic's quills. The hedgehog has a little coughing fit just to breathe good air again. The first thing he sees after the blowup is a cackling Bokkun, evading him!

Sonic raises a fist at the blindside!

"THAT'S JUST CHEAP!"

Southside Island

Chemical Plant

Robotnik and his trusty simp return to the Death Egg. Stone makes a b-line for the cage holding Tails prisoner. "Doctor.."

"You're gonna ask why I kept him alive? Didn't I already tell you?"

"..sorry sir. I must have forgotten."

"Ya sure did!" The Doctor berates, setting his focus on the Fox. "I know you were supposed to be kept fleshy for a while longer, but..that blue menace scored an "F" on the test of loyalty."

The cage opens up, and Stone gets his grubby hands on his tails! The Fox spins them around, planting Stone on his back! He robs Stone of his pistol, and points it at Robotnik! "Let's not make any drastic decisions here! I did some things, you did some things, there are good people on both sides.."

Tails, shaking and all, keeps the gun pointed. "I've..I've got a gun!" He fires it at the side, causing a loud bang that startles the holder! Robotnik takes a step forward, but Tails doesn't take the gun off him this time. "W-why did you have to do this to me? TO US?" His hands trembling, the adrenaline running through his veins.

"Umm…" Robotnik glances behind him, spotting a recovering Stone. "..Because I felt like it?"

Before Tails can make a decision, Stone tackles him from behind, tugging for the gun! While he's vulnerable, Robotnik opens a cabinet and whips out a shock collar. Tails is delivering some heavy blows to Stones nose, getting the agent off him..

Robotnik immediately slips that shock collar on!

"BOOYAH!"

ZAP!

Tails fur poofs out, all fizzy as the pain shoots through his body. The poor fox is down yet again. Robotnik takes a second to catch his breathe. "Everything's under control.." His eyes direct themselves to Stone's broken nose. Yeesh…that's needs fixed immediately.

"I didn't think a kid could hit this hard…they are so rude." Stone whines, feeling the blood on his nose.

Robotnik grabs his shoulders for assurance. "Get the chair."

The fox can barely fight what they're doing, strapping him to the chair, and forcing him to face his dead, steely counterpart. Robotnik sets both hands on his shoulders. "Don't worry. Give the hedgehog thirty minutes to arrive and this will all be over."

The fox tries to wiggle free, but gets another zap! He's never felt this much pain in his life. He needs a hero stat.

.

.

After that scuffle with the Fox, Robotnik and Stone leave the machine again, awaiting their visitor. The Doctor adjusts his mustache. Stone tries to get a hand in to help, but his boss blocks it. "We aren't there yet."

"My apologies."

Robotnik does his sassy little walk on top of the Plant, counting on that blasted hedgehog to show up, and fall before him.

"Count your days, HEDGEHOG.."

The inevitable confrontation between Sonic and Robotnik will surely go well. Especially when neither one trusts each other. Tails' freedom hangs in the balance, all falling on HOW Sonic approaches the Doctor. All the emeralds are in one place..what's going down?

Find out next chapter! :D we're almost at the end!