Sonic is in a place unknown. Don't ask me where. I really can't say. But know that he is somewhere safe from the clutches of the US government, who have placed a huge price on his head.
Sonic has a smartphone with Internet access in his hand. He opens up YouTube for a bit of entertainment and a hit of dopamine. Dr. Robotnik's apology appears on the homepage under the "trending" section.
Sonic watches the minute-long video several times. It feels like a dream. Here is his arch-nemesis shamelessly playing it up for the camera. And people would surely fall for it, he thinks. He allows himself a chuckle.
"I'm the bad guy and he's the good guy now," he thinks to himself, shaking his head, "Shadow must be behind this. Robotnik isn't clever enough to have come up with this on his own."
He puts down his phone and goes for a run.