You've been walking around all day, and it's starting to take its toll on you. Plus, given all the recent events and everything else going on around the city, you decide you need to rest before you all make your next move. So you retreat to your bunker and take a long, well-earned nap.

"Sonic, wake up!"

You open your eyes to find Tails right in front of you, shaking you awake. " Eugh… " you moan, trying to push him away, "Cut it out… I'm awake… How long was I asleep for?"

"Just a few hours," Tails replied, "Sorry to disturb your nap, but Silver's calling a new meeting, and he wants us all there."

You yawn, stretch, and suddenly are up and at it. "Okay then," you grin, "Let's go!"

You and Tails make your way through Rebellion HQ and to the Meeting Room, where Silver, Tech, and Oydax, along with a few other Rebellion members await, as well as your whole team. The Rebellion members applaud wildly at your appearance.

You give a half-hearted wave. "Thank you, thank you…" you mumble, then look over at Silver, standing at the head of the table. "Good to see you up there again, buddy."

Silver smiles and nods. "Thank you." He motions for you and Tails to take a seat. The two of you sit down with your team.

"Well, everyone, I never thought this day would happen," Silver announces aloud, "Eggman Nega is gone, and Metropolis is ours for the taking, as well as the rest of the planet. According to Tech, Rebellion hideouts around the world are reporting drawbacks from Nega's supporters and sub-bosses, and stationed Badniks working to help them instead of hurting them."

The room applauses with approval.

"However…"

It suddenly dies down.

"According to reports from the last battle, Eggman Nega wasn't necessarily killed in action. He disappeared through what's known as 'Chaos Control.' Shadow, would you be so kind as to explain what that is again?"

Shadow huffs but stands up. "Chaos Control is a technique that allows a person to warp through time and space," he explains, "In order to perform it, you need chaos energy, such as that from the emeralds. You can go as far as you like with as many people as you can, depending how much energy is available. With Nega's case, he used his own man-made Chaos Emeralds to perform it. However, when I attacked with my own Chaos Powers, there's a chance I might've disrupted his destined location."

"Meaning Nega was warped to who-knows-where," Silver finishes, "This could either be good or bad."

"How so?" a teal-colored female peacock asks, "If Nega's gone, isn't that good?"

"For us, maybe," Silver replies, "But for how long? We don't know what might've happened to the emeralds after Nega was teleported away. But wherever he is, what's to stop him from trying to come back?"

"Don't you think he would've come back by now?" asks Tech.

"He could come back in 500 years," says Silver, "Or he could come back tomorrow. Or he could be forever stuck in a new dimension… causing that world havoc like he did to us."

"So… how is that our problem?" a red and white dog barks.

"It's our problem because he's the one we're warring against," Silver replies sternly, "He came from our world, and we sent him away. It would be wrong of us to just pass him off to someone else and let them deal with him. Besides, we don't want to get TOO cozy in our new, Eggman-free world. If we let our guards down just assuming he's gone forever, what will happen if he were to find a way to return? Maybe as a bigger threat?"

"What are you suggesting then?" Oydax asks.

"We waged a war against the Eggman Empire two hundred years ago," says Silver, "Our goal wasn't JUST to free our world, but to make sure Eggman or any more of his successors wouldn't bother us ever again. If Eggman Nega truly is gone, I want to make sure of it!"

"And how do you propose to do that?" asks Shadow.

Silver looks over with a smirk. "You're the one that knows Chaos Control, right?"

Shadow lowers his head. "I see," he mumbles, "So you want me to do the work for you, is that it?"

"Not at all," Silver responds, "If you can just set me towards the right direction where Nega would've gone, I can take care of the rest."

"But you're forgetting something, sweetie," Rouge speaks up, "Eggman Nega zapped up all the Chaos Emeralds' powers. How can we use them again?"

Silver nods towards Knuckles. "Care to answer?"

Knuckles grins. "You can thank the Master Emerald for that," he replies, "Well, Shadow helped too, I suppose."

Shadow crossed his arms and huffed once more.

"We tapped in enough chaos energy to restore the Chaos Emeralds to their former glory," Knuckles finishes.

"Ah…" Rouge smiles sweetly, "I guess you did something right with that emerald for a change."

Knuckles growls, narrowing his eyes at the bat… but surprisingly, suddenly lets it go and turns away from her. Needless to say, even Rouge was surprised by his actions.

"So that's that," Silver says, "All I need is for you to help me follow Eggman Nega. Then you guys can go to Little Planet and head home to your rightful timeline."

"But what about you, Silver?" Amy asks, "You're not going to face Eggman Nega alone, are you?"

"Assuming you're even able to find him at all," Tails adds.

"He won't have to," says Tech as he and Oydax stand up, "We're going with him. Right Silver?"

The silver-furred hedgehog holds up his hand. "Sorry," he replies, "But you two are the best members the Resistance has to offer. Oydax, you're the strong man. You can keep everything in line. And Tech, you're needed to keep everything online, and make sure every robot and Badnik stays on our side."

"But you can't do this alone!" the peacock cries, and looks over to you, "Sonic, aren't you going to help him?"

Silver turns his head to you as well. "Sonic, you and your friends have done more than enough to help us," he tells you, "You don't have to come along if you don't want to."

Your team looks at you too. "Sonic," Tails says, "Do you really want to leave Silver to do this by himself?"

"No way, Tails," you reply, and stand from your seat, "Silver, you're nuts if you think we're gonna leave you behind after all we've been through. Like it or not, we're a part of this war too, and we're on your side!"

"Are… are you sure?" Silver asks.

You cross your arms with confidence. "When am I never?"

Silver smiles appreciatively. "Thank you, Sonic," he says, "Now that I think about it, I think I am going to need all the help I can get. After all, since you came, this war completely did a 180 in our favor. Maybe you should come with me."

"Well, you got us!" you flash a thumbs up, and look to your team, "Right guys?"

Knuckles clenched his fist and grinned. "You got it."

Amy nods enthusiastically, "Of course!"

"I'm more than happy to help," Shade speaks up.

Rouge stretches her arms. "I've got nothing better to do."

"May as well," Shadow huffs, "You'd get nowhere without me."

"To-Destroy-Eggman-And-All-Associated-Is-My-Top-Priority," Omega drones, "I-Shall-Join-You-In-Your-Quest."

Tails smiles. "Looks like it's decided."

Silver nods. "Thanks everybody."

After taking a while to gather supplies and belongings, you and your team meet up in the center of Metropolis, near Nega's original HQ. Shadow figured he could probably trace the trail of energy that sent Nega away. Plus, you figure you need all the space you can get as a crowd of Resistance Members, and their family and friends, come by to wish you well.

Your team stands by the Master Emerald, being stood up right. Knuckles presents the Chaos Emeralds, newly restored. He places them in front of the Master Emerald. Shadow is about to use his famous technique, but Silver holds him up, as a few Resistance Members step up to say their farewells.

"It's been such an honor to meet you all, and fight alongside you," Tech commends, shaking your hand.

"Same here, partner," you grin, "Good luck in this Brave New World."

Tech nods his thanks and moves on to say his goodbyes to everyone else.

Oydax approaches you next, giving you a salute. "Godspeed, Sonic the Hedgehog! You're a true hero in history, and so on."

You salute back. "Keep everyone safe here," you say.

"I will. Oh, and one last thing…" Oydax steps to the side, revealing a familiar female rabbit standing behind him.

"Janae...?"

Janae glances to the side in shame. "Hi…"

"What are you doing here?" you ask.

"Silver said I could come out of solitary confinement, IF I had in fact learned my lesson… Though I've still got a ton of punishment coming my way," Janae looked up at you, "Look at this. We won the war, and you're all STILL going after Eggman Nega. If I wasn't grounded here, I would've been glad to come along."

"So you can be the hero?" you snark.

"So I can fight with the heroes," she replies, "All you've done… That's what being a real hero is. That's what I'm going to strive for. I can see now… it's not about having a status. It's a real job, something you earn, not handed to you. I've seen all you've done firsthand, and now I understand."

You smile. "Cream would be proud."

Janae shakes her head. "No… not yet anyway. I've got to prove myself, especially after that crazy stunt I pulled." She nervously holds out her hand, "Sonic… I'm sorry about what I did."

You look at her hand for a moment… then take a hold of it. "No worries."

Janae smiles. "Thanks. Good luck out there. Keep Silver safe for us, okay?"

"We will," you reply, "Though Silver's a tough guy. I'm sure he'll be keeping us safe too."

"Are we ready yet?" Shadow barks.

You groan. Shadow can be just as impatient as you… "Okay, okay," you mutter, "We're coming."

"Be careful, son," Serena kisses Silver's forehead, "Remember, come back safe to me!"

"I will, Mother," Silver squeezes her hands assuringly, "I love you."

"I love you too, son."

"Let's go! " Shadow nearly shouts.

You and everybody gather around the emeralds, with Shadow taking center. He clenches his fists, summoning the powers. "Chaos Control!"

A bright flashing light surrounds you and your group, and you feel yourselves being teleported from the world you're familiar with, to a completely new location…

HEAD OVER TO CHAPTER 50