The prison gates slid open with a great squeak, grinding to a stop. The blue hedgehog inside the cell raised his head slowly, his green eyes barely holding any spark. He looked like a shell of his former self; his body was skinny and his quills were unkempt and dirty. There were dark rings under his eyes, and his whole body seemed to cave into itself.

Regardless of these diminishing features, Sonic still managed to crack a small smile. "Ah, that time already, Zavok? I swear, time passes faster these days."

The red and black Zeti stood in the doorway, staring at him menacingly. "Yes, hedgehog. I must admit, it has certainly become easier to take you to the torture chamber ever since you stopped fighting back and accepting your fate. Makes my job quicker." He strode in and hauled Sonic up roughly by the arm, dragging him out.

Sonic raised his head when they started going past other cells. There were even fewer inmates today. Seems like one goes every day.

It was a short walk to the torture chamber, where Dr. Eggman was waiting, grinning maniacally. The gray-masked creature was there too, crossing its arms and staring at Sonic.

"Ah, my spiky friend. You look worse today! Maybe we'll get some answers this session." Eggman moved his body to reveal the large water tank behind him.

Sonic flinched and jerked away from the water, but Zavok shoved him forward until he was standing right in front of it, gazing into its watery depths.

"Now, hedgehog," Eggman said, pressing his fingertips together and staring at Sonic from across the tank. "If you cooperate from the start, I won't torture you, I promise. Just answer this question: where is the Resistance?"

Sonic bared his teeth. "My answer is the same as ever, Eggface. I don't know who the Resistance is."

Eggman nodded at Zavok. Sonic braced himself right before the Zeti shoved his face into the water.

The blue hedgehog refrained from panicking. You're used to this, he told himself. He won't kill you…hopefully.

After a few seconds, Zavok wrenched his head back up. Sonic didn't let out a cough.

Eggman leaned forward once again. "I'm getting quite tired of doing this day in and day out. Aren't you?"

Sonic grinned. "I can keep going as long as I want."

Out of nowhere, the madman slammed his hands on the sides of the tank, making the water ripple. "I've told you who is suspected of being in the Resistance. Your wife and brother. You might think you're protecting them by not telling me where they are, but you're making yourself inching closer and closer to death. In fact, I've just made an on-the-spot decision. If you don't answer this time, I will order Zavok to keep you underwater until you completely drown. How does that sound, hedgehog?"

Panic coursed through Sonic's veins, but he didn't give in. "Do what you have to do to make yourself feel better. Even if I knew where they were, I would never tell you. I would rather die."

Eggman grinned. "Suit yourself." He raised his hand, about to give the order.

Alarms started blaring.

The doctor whipped around, eyes wide. The lights were flashing red, indicating that there was an intruder in the base.

He turned back to Zavok. "I'll go investigate." He stared at Sonic, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "I wish I could stay, but I have to go take care of that pesky intruder. It was nice knowing you, hedgehog." He nodded at Zavok before exiting the room.

With more force than he's ever used before, Zavok shoved Sonic's face once again in the water, and held him down even more heavily.

In his surprise, Sonic sputtered and thrashed, water going up his nose. He attempted to kick Zavok, but the Zeti easily deflected his blow and used his other huge hand to completely turn Sonic upside down, so that he was dangling in the water.

He could feel his struggles getting weaker. Bubbles flowed through his nose and his eyes fluttered shut, the room narrowing to black.

Out of nowhere, he was dropped into the water completely. His waterlogged brain told him to swim to safety, but his muscles would not cooperate. He started to lose consciousness.

He felt someone grab his arm and haul him upward until his head broke free of the water. Instinctively he tried to suck in a deep breath of air, but his lungs weren't working.

He was dragged completely out of the water and onto the floor on his stomach. He could feel someone massaging his back until he started coughing the water up from his lungs.

"...onic?! Uncle Sonic! Are you okay?!"

Sonic blearily forced his eyes open. They were still blurry, but he managed to focus on a white figure. When his eyesight cleared, he could clearly see who it was.

"Chaos?" he rasped.

Chaos gasped in relief. "Thank Mobius you're okay! I thought I was too late!" He held out a hand, helping Sonic to his feet. The blue hedgehog stumbled unsteadily, but Chaos helped him lean against his shoulder.

Sonic looked around slowly. "...Zavok?" he whispered, still not able to talk completely.

Chaos shrugged. "I have no idea. I ran into this room because I heard weird noises and found you being held in the water by him. I hit him with my lightning whip, but he vanished completely, dropping you in the water. You…you weren't moving. I thought…"

Sonic locked eyes with his nephew. "You saved my life."

Chaos looked slightly embarrassed. "Yeah…I guess I did!" He went quiet for a second, as though he was listening to something. After a second, he straightened. "We need to get out of here…now."

In a burst of blue light, the two vanished.

Chaos gently laid his uncle across the shuttle's seats. Sonic didn't even respond to the movement, his head lolling limply to the side. After they had teleported to the ship, Sonic had lost consciousness completely, collapsing against Chaos. It must have been the near-death experience and all the events from the past six months that have clearly taken a toll on his body.

Chaos checked Sonic's pulse, alarmed to find that it was slower than normal and his body was ice cold and shaking. He looked around desperately for a blanket, and spotted a promising-looking cabinet. He opened it and shook out quite a large blanket, which he doubled up and spread across Sonic. The blue hedgehog didn't react.

I have to take him to HQ, he thought. If he weren't in a hurry, he would try to heal his uncle himself, but they could get caught at any minute. He punched in some buttons, programming the shuttle to go to a field just outside of the city that housed their bunker, Soleanna. Immediately, the shuttle's thrusters powered up and the ship flew out of the Death Egg.

Chaos snuck a look outside of the window. Nothing was chasing them. Good. They weren't onto him yet.

A weak cough grabbed his attention. He spun to Sonic and knelt at his side. "You're okay. You're safe. I'm taking you to the others."

"Others…?" Sonic mumbled.

"The Resistance," Chaos replied.

Sonic's eyes flashed open and he sat up straight. "They're real?! They're alive?!"

Chaos leapt back in surprise before easing Sonic down. "Take it easy, uncle. But…how do you know about the Resistance?"

Sonic closed his eyes slowly, as though in pain. "Eggman…he's been trying to torture the location of the Resistance out of me. I didn't think it was real and refused to give into the hope that Silver and Amy and you were still alive. Today, Eggman was finally disposing of me, seeing me as useless. I was ready to embrace it."

Chaos drew in a sharp breath. Sonic sounded so…broken. He was usually the most hopeful out of anyone the young hybrid knew, but he sounded like he had lost all hope right before accepting his death.

"Well, you're out of there now," he reassured his uncle. "We'll fix you right up and we'll kick Eggman's butt…together."

Sonic cracked a small smile. "I like the sound of that." He closed his eyes again before opening them quickly and fixing them on Chaos. "Is…is Shadow with you?"

Chaos flinched, and took a deep breath. Of course Sonic didn't know. How could he?

"The last time anyone saw…my dad…was when you were defeated. Nobody's seen him since."

Sonic squeezed his eyes shut, as though he were in pain again. "I didn't want to believe that he really conspired with Eggman and that…thing….to defeat me. I hoped he was just a spy…but…it really doesn't sound like it." He looked at Chaos again. "Sorry for bringing that up. I know that must be painful for you."

Chaos sighed. "It's fine." He straightened up and turned to the window again. "We're about to land."

Sonic slowly closed his eyes again, but this time, a small smile spread across his face. Chaos smiled sadly and braced for landing.

Silver was pacing the floor, his hands clenched behind his back. Amy was hugging herself at the table. Rouge, recently arrived, was leaning against a wall, her eyes shut. Espio, Charmy, and Vector were talking quietly in the corner. Knuckles was staring at the bunker's doors. Watching. Waiting. Listening.

Out of nowhere, the door opened.

Everyone's attention was now on the door as Chaos stepped through, holding Sonic carefully in his arms.

Silver stopped dead. Amy covered her mouth with her hands, tears falling slowly down her face. The Chaotix stared dumbfoundedly at Chaos, and Knuckles was grinning.

Amy ran to the young hybrid, followed closely by Silver and the others. "Oh my gosh…you did it! You actually did it!"

Everyone crowded around the two, all talking at the same time. Rouge ran straight to Chaos, hugging him tightly. He leaned his head against her shoulder.

Amy had grabbed Sonic's limp hand, and Silver snatched the other. They stared down at him. He wasn't moving.

"What's wrong with him?" Amy whispered.

Chaos carried Sonic to the nearest bed and laid him down on it before whipping away the blanket.

Everyone gasped at the state of Sonic's thin, weak body. Espio was the first to snap out of it. He ran into the other room and brought in an IV drip. The others watched as he fastened the line carefully to Sonic's arm and started the flow. It was like the room was holding its breath.

Sonic stirred slightly and coughed, cracking open his eyes.

The room exhaled. Amy threw herself on top of her husband. "You're okay!"

Sonic hugged her one-handedly, and stared at Silver. Sorrow passed between the two's eyes before Silver reached for his older brother's hand, which Sonic took.

Espio kept studying Sonic. "He needs plenty of water, food, and rest. He's been malnourished and dehydrated for who knows how long."

Amy looked up at Chaos, tears brimming her green eyes. "Thank you…for returning him to me."

Chaos blushed slightly and looked away.

He felt a hand brush his arm. He looked up to see Sonic, who was staring at him. The blue hedgehog's mouth slowly stretched into a smile. "Thank you…for saving my life."

Rouge squeezed his shoulder tightly. Chaos smiled wider.

Of course, while this was a happy moment, they all felt that their family was not complete. There was a big gaping hole that couldn't be filled.

To be continued…