Carefully, the trio made their way into the desert caves, toward the signal coming from the emerald. They had to be careful the deeper they went, as jagged, narrow entries to certain passageways threatened to trap them in here forever. "Gotta be a way for us to clear some of these out of the way."

"If we do that, we risk the structural integrity of the cave. It's too dangerous." Edge replied, matter of factly. "And since when did YOU get to be so safety conscious?" Spike asked. All the time she'd known Edge, he'd been a risk taker, rarely giving a thought to anyone's safety...Even his own. So to see him strip that attitude back raised some alarm bells.

"Just...Trying to keep everyone alive." Edge said, nervously rubbing the implant again. However, all Spike could see was a slight bump beneath his body suit. "Edge, what's that thing on your back?"

"It...It's nothing." The wolf replied, stumbling over his words. "You know, Edge, if you're in trouble, we can probably help you." Spike said, placing a hand on his arm. Edge sneered and scoffed at the gesture, brushing her hand off. "Yeah, 'cause that worked out SO well for me LAST time!"

"-It's here.-" Cyber called out ahead of them. The two ran over to see a mess of rock structures all gathered around the emerald, almost like a shrine born from nature itself. This entire cave, Spike realized, was like a guardian challenge for its prize. Did the emeralds often hide themselves in places like this? Or did they have a reason for protecting themselves this time? And if so, what force could scare the Chaos Emeralds?

Cyber pondered for a moment how to get it, before noticing a rolling path that led straight to the emerald. Herself and Edge had no way of fitting into that path, so Spike would have to do the job. The hedgehog handed her jacket and Wispon to Edge before curling up into a ball and, with a small push from Cyber, rolling her way easily towards the Chaos Emerald, unfurling herself to face the makeshift column the caves had made for the gem. Spike's grandmother had regaled her with a legend long ago, that the miracle gems known as the Chaos Emeralds had a consciousness of sorts. That they would only reveal and lend themselves to those with pure intentions. Not pure good or evil, mind you, just a confidence in what you're doing. So, with a sureness, she simply reached out her hand, and asked for its help.

And it answered, floating gently into her hand, and leading her back to where Edge and Cyber were waiting for her. After Spike had retrieved her stuff from Edge, Cyber held her hand out to the hedgehog. "-Give it to me.-"

"No."

"-'No?' What do you mean, 'no?'-"

"Because I can't let you do it, Cyber." Spike said, firmly. "I won't help you kill Infinite!"

"Oh, is THAT why we're here? Should've said so!" Edge quipped, before delivering a sweeping kick to Spike's legs and knocking her down, which caused the emerald to go flying from her hand and onto the ground near Cyber's feet. The wolf wandered over to Cyber's side as she picked up the emerald and dusted it off a bit.

"EDGE!" Spike sputtered out from the ground. "Why?"

"Because that masked murderer needs to DIE for what he's done! He killed Jack and Raccoon, AND he caused the war to happen! If you think about it, HE was the one that killed our comrades during all of that!"

"I seem to recall YOU having a pretty big part in that last bit, Edge!" Spike retorted, finally reaching a standing position again. Edge waved his hand dismissively. "Semantics. Point is, Infinite needs to go down, and I say WE be the ones to do it!"

"Cyber, please. Don't throw away your soul over this!" Spike begged. Cyber briefly looked down at the emerald, finally seeming to realize the insanity of what she was doing...Before a voice interrupted them.

"Ladies, gentleman. I do so hate to see you all fight over such a tiny little gem..." Infinite said as he walked out of the shadows. "So, why don't you just let ME take it instead?"

Will Cyber's better nature prevail? Or will she give in, and slay Infinite? And just what ARE Sonic and Tails doing right now, anyway?

Tune in next time to find out!