Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

RECAP

INT. CHUN-NAN WAREHOUSE

Lights come on as the Hooligans (ERASMUS FANG, ARGO BARK, and MALGIORE BEAN) enter the warehouse. From all walls echoes the voice of WALTER NAUGUS.

NAUGUS: Welcome back. Were you successful?

FANG: Surprisingly yes. Quite successful in fact.

NAUGUS: How much did it cost?

FANG: That's the beauty of it. Nothing! Aside from some property damage to part of a large casino.

NAUGUS: So you stole it.

FANG: Yes. From some strange characters I hadn't seen before.

They claimed to be from Northamer. They were carrying about 10 million in gold bullion.

NAUGUS: Northamer...

A look of fear covers Naugus' face.

NAUGUS: Was one of them...a chipmunk?

BARK: No. They were a fox, a dragon, and a hedge...

NAUGUS: HEDGEHOG! Was it blue?!?

FANG: Yeah. Does he have anything to do with the Red Hunter?

NAUGUS: The Red Hunter?

BEAN: Yeah, Knuckles The Echidna! The guy who Downunda sends to weed out all us Emerald dealers!

Naugus realizes he's now made even MORE enemies.

NAUGUS: So that's who that was!

FANG: Well, I don't know who your hedgehog is, but if you upset Knuckles we're screwed.

NAUGUS: I disagree. Last time I held back. Next time I won't.

CUT TO:

INT. CHAOTIX VAN

KNUCKLES SITS DEEP IN THOUGHT.

NAUGUS: (V.O.)Next time he'll feel like how he would have if he ended up like the rest in Echin-Dor!

KNUCKLES OPENS HIS EYES, HIS EXPRESSION ALERT AND AWARE.

CAPTION: “PREVIOUSLY...”

INT. CHAOTIX SAFE HOUSE, CHUN-NAN - NIGHT

The Chaotix (N.A. KNUCKLES, VECTOR DERK, MIGHTY ROLLER, RAYMOND ESQUIVEL, CHARMINGTON BHEE, and DARIO ESPIONOLA) enters their safe house followed by SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, MILES "TAILS" PROWER, and DULCY HERRANGER.

SONIC: So do you like...live here?

KNUCKLES: No we're based out of Wallamaloo, but we have safe houses all over Southeast Yurashia.

VECTOR: Yeah this is where all the crime is! Heh heh!

CAPTION: “THE CHAOTIX – KNUCKLES, VECTOR, ESPIO, CHARMY, MIGHTY, and RAY”

TAILS: So where do you think this Fang guy is headed next?

MIGHTY: Probably the warehouse district to wait for their buyer.

SONIC: Well lets go!

CUT TO:

INT. WAREHOUSE, CHUN-NAN

ERASMUS FANG paces around the place nervously. WALTER NAUGUS sits in a meditative pose. ARGO BARK and MALGIORE BEAN enter.

BARK: No sign of the Red Hunter or the Chaotix anywhere.

FANG: Great, why are we still here?

NAUGUS: Because I need to hear from my comrades. And I WANT to speak to this Echidna again.

CAPTION: “WALTER NAUGUS – ORDER OF IXIS LEADER”

CUT TO:

EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, CHUN-NAN - NIGHT

Espio slinks around the rooftops of the warehouses looking for signs of the Fang Gang. Eventually he is forced to cling to the sides of buildings to achieve his task. Eventually he spots them through a window. Espio puts his hand to his ear.

ESPIO: Knux, I found them.

KNUCKLES: (V.O.) Good. Where are they?

ESPIO: Northeast quadrant. Warehouse 12

KNUCKLES: (V.O.) Roger.

CUT TO:

EXT. WAREHOUSE 12, FRONT

Back to Knuckles.

KNUCKLES: Commence Operation Defanged.

Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails approach the main door. Knuckles pulls out an explosive charge and puts it on the door.

KNUCKLES: Get back!

The three take cover. The explosive charge ticks down to zero and blows a hole through the door.

CUT TO:

INT. WAREHOUSE, CHUN-NAN

The Hooligans and Naugus react to the large hole punched through the door. Knuckles emerges through the hole.

KNUCKLES: Hello again, Naugus.

NAUGUS: Hello to you too Echidna. It appears I didn't do a good enough job trying to murder you last time.

KNUCKLES: I suppose not. That's why I've brought along some old friends of yours.

Sonic and Tails emerge through the hole.

NAUGUS: Well, well, Sonic Hedgehog and Miles Prower. What a surprise!

KNUCKLES: So you hired the worlds worst thief to do your bidding huh?

FANG: Hello to you too Red Hunter.

FANG: Hey Walter, you got a plan for getting us out?

NAUGUS: Yes for you to beat these gentlemen up of course.

BARK: With pleasure!

The Hooligans approach the three others.

SONIC: Knuckles...

KNUCKLES: Right.

Knuckles touches his earpiece.

KNUCKLES: NOW!

All the doors blow off from the sides of the building. The other four members of the Chaotix plow through them. Espio breaks through the sky window and joins them.

KNUCKLES: Last time it was just me Naugus! Now its the entire Chaotix! You want a rumble? Lets rumble!

Suddenly Dulcy crashes through the roof.

DULCY: Hi Naugus! Remember me?

Dulcy's nose ring glows red. Fang turns to Naugus.

FANG: I think its time to high tail it.

NAUGUS: Yes. It is.

The four scatter as Dulcy breathes fire on them. Sonic and Knuckles flank Dulcy.

KNUCKLES: They're gone! After them!

CUT TO:

EXT. JUNK, UPPER DECK - NIGHT

Naugus begins to raise the gang plank when he is stopped by a familiar voice.

SONIC: (O.S.) Leaving so soon?

Naugus turns to see that Sonic is already there leaning against the mast.

CAPTION: “SONIC THE HEDGEHOG – HERO OF MOBIUS”

SONIC: So what exactly do you want Walter? Besides another opportunity to chain us all to your little wheel?

NAUGUS: Oh that? The wheel's too good for Mobotropolis now. I want the world the way it was. A return to a time when dogs were dogs and cats were cats.

SONIC: The Chaos Era...

NAUGUS: Exactly!

Naugus pulls out his staff and blasts a lightning bolt at Sonic. Sonic dodges it swiftly.

SONIC: Nice try! My turn!

Sonic charges Naugus but is stopped just short of delivering a blow to him by being suspended in midair, caught in Naugus' magic. Naugus grins.

NAUGUS: Tsk, tsk, Hedgehog!

Naugus flings Sonic backwards towards the portside of the junk. Before he can crash into it though, Sonic lands on it feet first and jumps right back at Naugus like a yoyo, this time making contact and knocking Naugus over.

NAUGUS: AAACK!

Naugus crashes into the aft of the Junk. Sonic stands over him.

SONIC: Now...as I was saying...

NAUGUS: Oh but Sonic...what would dear little Sally if you were to murder poor little me?

Sonic thinks for a second and then he begins to shake.

SONIC: H--h--h--

Naugus smiles.

NAUGUS: You know its very easy to...trigger...one's sense of the...Fever.

Sonic falls to the ground. Naugus gets up and approaches him.

NAUGUS: Oh I see its the most special kind isn't it? You do love her don't you?

Sonic grits his teeth at Naugus before he begins to writhe in pain again. Images of Sally flashing in his mind, getting stronger and stronger.

NAUGUS: You love her so much but there's a problem isn't there? The problem is you. The boy with no home and no family.

Sonic writhes even more. Naugus' grin becomes even more unhinged as he watches.

NAUGUS: And now...you won't even have a life to live anymore either. Farewell Hedgehog, its been illuminating.

Naugus raises his staff. Green energy begins to emerge from it. The staff fires but something hits Naugus as it happens. The green bolt of crashes into the base of the Junk, making it take on water. Naugus looks at what might have cause it and sees Tails standing.

NAUGUS: YOU!

TAILS: Yeah forgot me about huh?

CAPTION: “MILES 'TAILS' PROWER – SONIC'S BEST FRIEND”

NAUGUS: For someone quite cute and fluffy, you hit pretty hard Prower.

TAILS: What can I say? I learned from the pros!

NAUGUS: I'm sure you did!

The Junk begins to tip into the bay.

NAUGUS: And now it appears I'm not going to be able to finish either of you off! Goodbye Sonic! Next time I'll be sure to make it the last time for you AND Sally!

Naugus jumps off the boat and into the bay. Tails rushes over and sees Naugus has landed in a speedboat. He drives away

TAILS: Darn it!

Tails rushes over to Sonic.

TAILS: Sonic, are you alright?

SONIC: I--iiiiii----IIII'm get-get-ing bet-bet-better

TAILS: Come on, we gotta go.

The boat begins to tip over. Tails looks at Sonic and grabs him by the arms. He jumps and lifts off draging him to the dock. The boat sinks to the bottom of the bay.

CUT TO:

EXT. DOCKS

Tails manages to get Sonic to the ground. He runs out of stamina right at that moment. Knuckles and the others run over to them.

KNUCKLES: Prower!

TAILS: Yeah Mr. Knuckles?

KNUCKLES: What happened? We saw that green lightning!

SONIC: Naugus. He...he...he...

Vector comes forward.

VECTOR: Oh no, is that what I think it is?

SONIC: It...is. I...I just recently turned...

KNUCKLES: Seventeen.

CHARMY: The fever...

TAILS: You know what it is?

KNUCKLES: Its happened to all of us.

Sonic is able to take a deep breath and shake off the attack. He gets up and faces the rest.

SONIC: Naugus, he was able to switch it on for me. Just by mentioning Sally.

KNUCKLES: And Naugus?

TAILS: He got away.

CUT TO:

EXT. NAUGUS' BOAT

Naugus smiles as he flees from Chun-nan. He closes his eyes and talks to someone without opening his mouth.

NAUGUS: (V.O.) My brothers!

RODO: (V.O.) Master Walter!

HEISS: (V.O.) Were yew ssssuck sess full?

NAUGUS: (V.O.) Very. We now have a purple to go along with the red.

SCALA: (V.O.) Not only that. Shermin and Ago have managed to procure a blud and white.

NAUGUS: (V.O.) Good! All we need now is the yellow, turquoise, and green ones.

GOROX: (V.O.) And then master?

NAUGUS: (V.O.)We take our revenge on them. ALL OF THEM!

CUT TO BLACK.

Chapter Text

TEASER

EXT. CHUN-NAN DOCKS, NIGHT

Erasmus Fang, Argo Bark, and Malgiore Bean are taken away in a paddy wagon. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, MILES "TAILS" PROWER, and N.A. KNUCKLES watch as the paddy wagon drives off.

TAILS: Well what do we do now?

SONIC: Guess we go home.

KNUCKLES: I'm coming with you.

Sonic turns to Knuckles with a nervous expression.

SONIC: Uhh, Knux...you know where we live right?

KNUCKLES: Yes I do. And I know the risks. But its my job to keep Chaos Emeralds out of the wrong hands. And this Naugus guy seems like the worst kind of hands.

SONIC: Not THE worst but close.

KNUCKLES: I know. But HE is dead happily.

SONIC: Its funny. Meeting an Echidna whose happy to see the leader of his people is gone.

KNUCKLES: My people are dead. He led them to that. I'm happy to be alive. No thanks to him.

SONIC: You're a real interesting guy, Knux.

KNUCKLES: Same to you Hedgehog. Come on, lets go back to the Safe House and regroup.

TAILS: Fine by me.

CUT TO:

INT. CHAOTIX SAFE HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

The room is dark, VECTOR DERK switches on the light and the Chaotix is stunned to see somebody in the room.

THRASH: (O.S.) Well, well...

Knuckles, MIGHTY ROLLER, RAY ESQUIVEL, DARIO ESPIONOLA, and CHARMY BHEE all groan at the sight of a large purple dog like creature, ROYSTON THRASH, and a small koala, DAVID PAVEL.

THRASH: You just had to make a big ol' mess for us, Echidna!

Knuckles rolls his eyes.

KNUCKLES: Thrash...what are you doing here?

GRUNDY: (O.S.) They're here because I'm here.

Thrash and Pavel step away to reveal a small blue dog sitting at their desk, WALDEMAR GRUNDY. Knuckles bows before him,

KNUCKLES: Prime Minister...

GRUNDY: The last thing I wanted to hear this evening Knuckles was that you had caused a major brawl at an open market in Chun-Nan!

KNUCKLES: It was an accident. I made a mistake. We were chasing after Fang but I thought some unknown individuals might be working for him.

Sonic, Tails, and DULCY HERRANGER enter the room. Sonic turns to Knuckles.

SONIC: Knuckles, who are these guys?

Knuckles sighs and turns to Sonic.

KNUCKLES: Hedgehog, this is Royston Thrash and David Pavel. The man at the desk is the prime minister of my country and my sponsor, Waldemar Grundy.

Tails waves.

TAILS: Uhh hello!

KNUCKLES: Prime Minister, may I introduce you to Dulcy Herranger, Miles Prower and...

GRUNDY: Sonic Hedgehog! At last we meet.

Sonic's eyes widen.

SONIC: You...you know who we are?

GRUNDY: Yes. Come here.

Sonic, Tails, and Dulcy approach Grundy at the desk. Grundy pulls out a manilla file folder and drops it on the desk. From it, he removes a photo. The photo is of the Knothole Freedom Fighters about a year before the events of BOOK I: "SONIC & SALLY" (AKA Original SATAM Season 1).

GRUNDY: Look familiar?

SONIC: Yeah that's us.

DULCY: Sonic, why am I not in this photo?

SONIC: You weren't with us yet Dulce.

DULCY: Oh. Yeah I guess that makes sense.

GRUNDY: Remember her?

Grundy taps a specific person in the photo. A kangaroo.

TAILS: Yeah that's Aunt Kinga.

GRUNDY: She works for me now. As my chief of staff.

SONIC: I see.

Grundy leans into the desk.

GRUNDY: How did you get out of Northamer, Hedgehog?

SONIC: We didn't know we were trapped there. Aside from your Ms. Rosewall, we've had no contact with the outside world for twelve years.

GRUNDY: Yes I know.

SONIC: Whose idea was that? Yours?

GRUNDY: No. It was entirely Duchess Marais and Princess Etranzi. As the ranking decedents of the Ancient Dynasties on the Alliance of Independent Nations, they hold the most authority.

SONIC: I see.

GRUNDY: Also, as the low man on the totem pole I'm not very loyal to them. That's why I'm here. To take you back to Northamer.

THRASH: Or at least close enough to avoid breaking the quarantine.

PAVEL: Does your country have any communication at all?

Tails looks up.

TAILS: We have shortwave set up in the capitol.

GRUNDY: Good. We leave in the morning.

KNUCKLES: I'm going with them. The job isn't finished.

Grundy raises his eyebrow.

GRUNDY: What do you mean?

KNUCKLES: The bat who hired Fang is the leader of a group of wizards. They're the one buying up all those Chaos Emeralds.

GRUNDY: Yes we hear reports of a fox and chimp wearing hoods holding up a bazaar and a back alley arms dealer respectively.

Dulcy turns to Sonic and Tails.

DULCY: Sounds like Shermin and Ago.

Sonic turns to Knuckles.

SONIC: Alright but don't expect a warm welcome.

Vector comes forward.

VECTOR: We're coming too. We'll watch out for him.

SONIC: Fine.

Sonic turns to Tails.

SONIC: Tails, I'm going to need your help to keep your Mom from killing Knuckles, Ok?

TAILS: I'll try.

TITLES

ACT I

INT. ACORN PALACE, SALLY'S CHAMBER - THE NEXT DAY

SALLY LYRA ALISIA ACORN sits at her desk, writing.

SFX: *Knock, knock*

Sally looks to the door.

SALLY: Come in.

PETER ENGERT enters.

PETER: Your Highness.

SALLY: Yes, what can I do for you, Chief Engert?

Peter pulls out a print out and hands it to Sally.

PETER: Message from Sonic. They're coming home.

SALLY: Oh good. Tell Cat to keep a lookout for Dulcy.

PETER: Uh...that's the thing.

Sally's eyes widen.

SALLY: What?

PETER: They're not coming back here directly.

SALLY: They aren't?

Sally looks at the print out.

SALLY: ...the Corridor?!?

PETER: Apparently there's some reason why they can't.

SALLY: Yes, it appears he, Miles, and Dulcy are being escorted by...Downunda?!?

PETER: What do you want me to tell them?

SALLY: Tell them we'll meet them in Sambasa. Then go contact Chief Shearmur and tell him to rally up whatever the SF can provide along with Ham and Sir Depardieu

Peter salutes his queen.

PETER: My life is here to serve your will, Your Highness.

Peter leaves. Sally rolls her eyes over hearing that directed towards her.

CUT TO:

EXT. DOWNUNDA BOAT

GRUNDY'S BOAT IS A STEAMSHIP THAT HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS. IT CUTS THROUGH THE GREAT WESTERN SEA BACK TO NORTHAMER.

CUT TO:

EXT. DOWNUNDA BOAT, DECK

Sonic looks at the sea. Grundy walks up to him.

GRUNDY: Lovely view isn't it?

SONIC: I've never been this far out to the Western Sea before. I've seen it from the beach in the Domain but never expected to be on it.

GRUNDY: You see it a lot when your capitol is right on the water.

SONIC: Your capitol?

GRUNDY: Billenberg. It used to be Echin-Tot but after we drove the Echidnas out of Downunda, we turned it into a much nicer city. Unfortunately it drained my coiffeurs dry and as such we owe Soleanna a lot of money. Perpetual recession and all that. But at least our beaches are lovely to look at. I take my kids out there often when Mrs. Grundy is too busy with domestic affairs of state.

SONIC: Oh you're married Prime Minister?

GRUNDY: Seven long happy years. We met after my party elected me to my first term as Prime Minister. The Great War hero, Grundy. Do you have anybody in your life, Hedgehog?

SONIC: Me? Well...I WAS the consort to Her Highness Queen Acorn.

GRUNDY: Queen? Is Aristotle's daughter the Sovereign now?

SONIC: You know Aristotle Acorn?

GRUNDY: Yes, we fought together at Echin-Tot. I was with him when Echin-Dor blew.

SONIC: I see...

GRUNDY: How is Aristotle? Kinga said he was missing.

SONIC: He was. We did find him and rescue him, however he sadly passed away last year. That's why Sally is Queen now.

GRUNDY: Sorry to hear. He was a good man.

SONIC: He was.

Pavel comes to them.

PAVEL: Prime Minister!

GRUNDY: Yes David?

PAVEL: Communications from Northamer, a delegation will be meeting us in Sambasa.

GRUNDY: Good. Redirect course.

PAVEL: Yes sir!

CUT TO:

EXT. SAMBASA - A FEW DAYS LATER

CAPTION: "SAMBASA"

THE PORT TOWN OF SAMBASA LIES ON THE RIVIERA OF THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR. BOATS SAIL IN AND OUT OF IT.

CUT TO:

EXT. SAMBASA, DOCKS - AFTERNOON

A couple of jeeps pull up to the docks, emerging from them are ANTOINE DEPARDIEU, ROTOR GREYBELLY, RAHM SHEARMUR, HAMILTON YAUCH, LIONEL BOWSER, FRED ROGITZ, and Peter. Shearmur opens a door with a tinted window to reveal Sally. They watch as the boat docks. Sally turns to the others. They all look nervous. The boat docks and a gangplank is lowered. Descending it is Sonic. Sally has to restrain herself as she sees him.

SALLY: H-h-how did it go?

SONIC: Not well. We won the auction but Naugus had some goons steal the emerald off of us. He got away. I'm sorry.

Sally nods sadly. Tails and Dulcy have now gotten off the boat.

TAILS: Mom!

SALLY: Miles!

Tails rushes into his mother's embrace. Sally kisses him on the forehead.

SALLY: I'm so happy to see you safe.

SONIC: Sal, Tails saved my life.

Sally looks up.

SALLY: He did?

SONIC: Naugus was able to use my love for you against me. Just forcing me to think about you made me seize up.

SALLY: (SHOCKED) Oh Great Light...he can weaponize Spring Fever!

DULCY: Yeah, its really scary.

SALLY: I know. Oh! Hello to you as well, Dulcy.

DULCY: Your Highness.

SALLY: But I don't understand, why are you with Downunda?

GRUNDY: (O.S.) Because I brought them here. That's why.

Sally sees Grundy descend along with Thrash and Pavel.

GRUNDY: Hello Your Highness, you probably don't remember me.

Grundy extends his palm and puts it halfway down his body.

GRUNDY: You were only this tall at the time.

Sally thinks and remembers.

SALLY: Grundy? Waldemar Grundy?

Grundy smiles.

GRUNDY: You do remember.

SALLY: Yes, you fought with my father. At Echin-Dor.

Grundy nods.

GRUNDY: Now I'm Prime Minister of Downunda. I've been that for over a decade now.

SALLY: I see.

GRUNDY: Allow me to introduce my minister of foreign affairs, David Pavel

Pavel bows.

PAVEL: Your Highness.

GRUNDY: And my personal security and enforcer, Royston Thrash.

Thrash just grunts.

SALLY: Well its a pleasure. This is Rotor Greybelly, Lord of Northern Reach.

ROTOR: Heyo!

SALLY: Sir Antoine Depardieu.

ANTOINE: Teez en honore!

SALLY: UFN Security Force Regional Chief Rahm Shearmur.

Shearmur nods.

SALLY: Peter Engert, who runs my own personal detail in Mobotropolis.

PETER: Hey!

SALLY: And three of my best forcemen: Ham Yauch, Fred Rogitz, and Lionel Bowser.

HAMILTON: Welcome to the Corridor.

ROGITZ: Greetings.

BOWSER: Hello!

SALLY: So that brings me to the question, why are you with my son and consort and why did we have to come here instead of you bringing them to the domain?

GRUNDY: The later is complicated. The former is easy.

The members of the Chaotix descend from the boat.

GRUNDY: Alow me to introduce you to the Chaotix. Downunda's special Crisis Management Team and their leader.

The Chaotix members back away to reveal Knuckles. Sally is shocked and horrified.

SALLY: No...no it can't be!

The UFN SF forces pull out crossbows and train them on Knuckles. Knuckles begins to sweat. Grundy turns to Sally.

GRUNDY: Your Highness, it may be hard to believe but this man works for me!

SALLY: (STUNNED) What?!?

KNUCKLES: Your Highness, if you would allow me to explain myself...

Sally is shocked.

SALLY: You...you speak...

KNUCKLES: Common. I know. Its my second language but my primary tongue is now dead so its taken over.

Tails grabs his mother's arm.

TAILS: Please don't hurt him, Mom. He's not a bad guy, I swear.

Sally looks bewildered at her son. She takes a deep breath and settles down.

SALLY: Take him into custody.

Ham and Bowser take Knuckles by the arms.

KNUCKLES: Careful. Those things on my hands are sharp.

BOWSER: So are these arrows.

HAMILTON: No funny business, Echidna.

KNUCKLES: I wouldn't dare...

They lead him away. Sally turns to Sonic.

SALLY: Sonic you have ten seconds to explain what's going on?

SONIC: His name is Knuckles. He's the last Echidna alive. He works for Prime Minister Grundy as a kind of fixer/destroyer of Chaos Emeralds. We got into a fight in Chun-Nan. And because he got beat up by Walter too, our enemy is mutual.

SALLY: And these men?

Vector comes forward.

VECTOR: My name's Vector. This is Espio.

ESPIO: Hello.

VECTOR: Charmy.

CHARMY: Hi!

VECTOR: Mighty.

MIGHTY: Hey!

VECTOR: And Ray.

RAY: Its a pleasure Your Highness!

VECTOR: Its our job to smoke out Chaos Emerald merchants and intercept their Emeralds for disposal.

SALLY: To keep them out of the wrong hands?

RAY: Exactly.

DULCY: We kinda screwed up their sting, Sal.

SONIC: So now we're working together.

Sally looks down.

SALLY: Fine. So what about the first question? Why am I in the Corridor and not Seaside City?

Grundy turns to Thrash and Pavel.

GRUNDY: That's a question that needs a different location to answer.

SALLY: Very well. Come.

The group leaves with Sally. Unbeknownst to them, they are being watched...by a fox wearing a hood, IXIS SHERMIN.

END OF ACT I

Chapter Text

ACT II

INT. HOTEL ROOM, SAMBASA - LATER

Sally sits at a table with Grundy. Sonic, Rotor, Rogitz and Shearmur stand behind her. Thrash and Pavel are standing to Grundy's sides. Sally looks quite shocked at the news she's been just told.

SALLY: Quarantined?!?

GRUNDY: Yes. It is the reason why I'm here instead of Mobotropolis. I am not allowed to step one foot in your country or else face major ramifications.

SALLY: By whose authority?!?

GRUNDY: The Alliance of Independent Nations, an organization founded in the aftermath the Dominar War, of which my country is a member of.

SALLY: What was this in response to?

GRUNDY: After all contact with your nation was lost in 3224, several fact finding expeditions were sent to determine the status of your nation. They never returned.

ROTOR: They probably got roboticized.

GRUNDY: Probably.

Sally's eyes widen.

SALLY: You're familiar with roboticization?

GRUNDY: Yes.

SALLY: How?

Grundy takes out a manilla folder and puts it on a table in the room.

GRUNDY: In there. Careful with it though, its a collector's item.

Sally opens the folder and sees the cover of a magazine titled "Mobians Weekly". On it is the face of a tired, angry, malnourished looking girl in her early teens. Sally recognizes it immediately: its herself.

SALLY: Oh Great Light!

Sally reads the caption on the cover.

SALLY: "The Secret War: Inside Northamer's Long Dark Struggle" A Major Report One Year in the Making by Kinga Rosewall.

Sally thumbs through the magazine. There are many pictures of the Freedom Fighters five years ago. They're younger and Rotor's wearing a red hat instead of a yellow one. Sally signals to come and take a look.

SONIC: Wow, look how young we are!

ROTOR: I remember that hat. I hated it. Made me look stupid!

Sally closes the magazine.

SALLY: She said she'd tell our story, and she did.

GRUNDY: She did...

Grundy's expression sours.

GRUNDY: ...but noone saw it.

Sally's eyes widen.

SALLY: ...what?!?

Grundy closes the folder.

GRUNDY: This issue never hit newsstands. There are only five copies of it in the world.

The four former Freedom Fighters look with shock in their faces.

SALLY: But...but why?

GRUNDY: Fear. Panic. Mobians Weekly is owned by a Alliance controlled ruling body. The heads of the Alliance member nations have final say about what goes in and what goes out. As the youngest nation in that alliance, I don't have much say in that matter. So instead on the third week of 3233...

Grundy pulls out another folder.

GRUNDY: This...is what the world beyond your borders saw instead.

Sally opens the folder and is greeted by the picture of a smiling bear and her three cats. Sally stares at it. Anger begins to grow in her as she reads the text on the cover.

SALLY: "Why My Pets Give Me Comfort: A Candid Conversation with...Lisolette...Marase?"

GRUNDY: Ma-ray. She's the Duchess of Spagonia and the heir of one of the four remaining dynasties.

SONIC: Like Sal...

GRUNDY: Yes. She and Princess Etranzi of Soleanna are the ones personally responsible for covering you up. They were terrified. Terrified your war would come to them. And as Kinga Rosewall entered your country illegally, that's all the excuse they needed.

Sally's face is buried in her palms. Tears cover her face.

SALLY: Their fathers...they did the same thing to mine, in the war against the Dominar.

GRUNDY: Yes. They thought the reason you'd gone dark was out of revenge for that. It was only when Kinga came back that we learned the truth that your father had been overthrown and this...Julian had enslaved you. And then, the war came anyway.

SALLY: It did?

GRUNDY: Yes. Don't feel anger towards Duchess Marais, Your Highness. She's already paid a terrible price for it.

Grundy pulls out another manilla folder. Sally opens it and sees a far more recent issue of Mobians Weekly. Its cover shows Lisolette Marais from behind looking at a pile of rubble. On it reads "ONE DAY OF HELL: What Destroyed Spagonia?".

GRUNDY: Because two years later, strange flying machines came out of the ground in Spagonia. Many cities were destroyed and several thousands either lost their homes or were killed.

Everyone on Sally's side of the table's mouths drop.

SALLY: Oh Great Light.

ROTOR: I don't believe it...

ROGITZ: Project Doomsday...

GRUNDY: Is that what it was called?

SONIC: Yeah. Robuttnik's master plan to destroy us all since he couldn't just Roboticize us all.

SALLY: We stopped it. We destroyed the command center for those machines, the Doomsday Pods. If we hadn't, Robotnik would have kept producing them and they would have been everywhere. In the end these two women may have cast us...to the shadows...but we saved their lives anyway. It would have been much worse.

GRUNDY: I'll let them know.

Sally takes Grundy's hand.

SALLY: Grundy...tell them. Tell them its over. Tell them I would like to meet them. I'm actually not Queen yet, I'm just Queen Designate. My coronation is not for a few weeks. But I would love to see them if they came and we could bury this hatchet.

GRUNDY: I'll try.

ROTOR: Those fact finders. If they weren't scrapped they might be in our refugee camps recovering..

GRUNDY: You developed a way to reverse the process?

SONIC: Yeah but its difficult for the ones we've deprogrammed.

ROGITZ: These people lost control of their bodily functions for over a decade. Once they started feeling basic biological needs again it was really painful for them. We witnessed it first hand in Knothole last year.

SHEARMUR: And once you get passed that there's the psychological strain. You see you don't age when you're roboticized. I have a sister. Her name's Lanolin. She was five years older than me when Robotnik took over. Now she's five years younger and having to see a therapist about it.

GRUNDY: Great Light...

SALLY: Its been hard for us. I don't know if our nation will ever fully be normal. Even once you get back to the fact we're only a small fraction of what we had before the Dominar came.

GRUNDY: I see... Well anyway, if the delegation is able to call Soleanna that might help grease the wheels as it were.

SALLY: It probably would. Now...the Echidna.

GRUNDY: Yes. Mr. Knuckles. He's an endangered species under my custodianship and direct employment.

SALLY: How did he get involved?

GRUNDY: According to him, a strange bat creature crashed near the house we've provided him in the town of Wallamaloo. The bat used abilities beyond his comprehension to attack Knuckles after he wouldn't tell him about the Chaos Emeralds.

SALLY: Yes the bat's name is Walter Naugus. He's the reason why my father is dead.

GRUNDY: I heard, I'm sorry for your loss Your Highness.

SALLY: Thank you Prime Minister. Please continue.

GRUNDY: Along with being my personal troubleshooter, Knuckles runs Chaotix Investigations. They monitor the underworld for any trace of activity in regards to Chaos Emeralds. That led them to Chun-Nan.

SONIC: Then we got into a fight. I just saw an Echidna. He thought I was one of Naugus' accomplices because we won that auction.

THRASH: Shoulda had me around! I would ripped those dreads right out of his skull!

Sally is shocked by the rather rough conduct of Thrash.

SALLY: I thought you said you all worked together!

Grundy turns to Thrash with a sneer on his face and back to Sally.

GRUNDY: Mr. Thrash here is one of the last surviving examples of a race that used to live in my nation called Devil Dogs. The Dominar, during his occupation of Downunda, used them as slave labor in Echin-Tot. They rebelled and were nearly wiped out. He's held a grudge ever since.

SONIC: I'm sorry Thrash.

THRASH: Its not your problem. Its HIS.

GRUNDY: Anyway, my Embassy in Chun-Nan contacts me that one of my employees was arrested causing a brawl with a blue hedgehog. One whom my chief of staff is very familiar with.

SALLY: Chief of Staff?

GRUNDY: Kinga. She quit Mobians after the fiasco. I hired her as my chief of staff as a consolation prize for all her services to investigative journalism. The reason I brought them back here is because I owe her A LOT of favors.

SALLY: Well you must understand I don't trust him for obvious reasons. What does he know about the war?

GRUNDY: Hardly anything. He lost his memory. Other than his ability to speak Panza, he doesn't know anything about the Dominar or Chaos other than the bare minimum of what I've told him.

PAVEL: That's why he's been granted the status of Endangered/Protected. Our supreme tribunal convened to put Knuckles to death but PM Grundy here decided to stay that execution because he's not a threat to anyone anymore.

SALLY: And you believe that?

THRASH: Well if he ever does turn out to be one of those psychos, the Parliament revokes his status and I get to shove his head where their eggs come out. Happily for him and sadly for me that still hasn't happened yet.

Sally rolls her eyes.

SALLY: Bring him in.

Rotor opens the door. Knuckles, whose hands are still bound, is shoved in by Peter and Hamilton.

SALLY: Mr. Knuckles.

KNUCKLES: Yes Your Highness?

SALLY: I'm going to say several words. I want to know how you react to them. Give me the first words that come to your mind.

Knuckles clear his throat.

KNUCKLES: Very well.

SALLY: Echin-Dor.

KNUCKLES: City...Crater...

SALLY: Dominar.

KNUCKLES: Leader...

Knuckles pauses.

KNUCKLES: Monster...Murderer

SALLY: Chaos.

KNUCKLES: Emeralds.

Sally is perplexed. She turns to Sonic who gives the same expression.

SALLY: God.

KNUCKLES: None.

SALLY: Beliefs?

KNUCKLES: Uhhh...Great Light?

SALLY: War.

KNUCKLES: Terrible.

SALLY: Bear Mountain.

KNUCKLES: Hyenas.

SALLY: Sunshine Coast.

KNUCKLES: Dunno.

SALLY: Mobisport.

KNUCKLES: Failure.

SALLY: Echin-Tot.

KNUCKLES: Billenberg.

SALLY: Furville.

Knuckles pauses.

SALLY: Furville, Mr. Knuckles.

KNUCKLES: Tragedy...atrocity...

Knuckles covers his face.

KNUCKLES: Shame.

Sally's expression changes to a small smile.

SALLY: Unbind him.

PETER: What?!?

HAMILTON: Sally are you crazy?

SALLY: No I'm not.

Sally turns back to Knuckles.

SALLY: Mr. Knuckles, when I was younger, I was given many great tutors because I couldn't go anywhere as long as your kind ruined my country. One of them, whom I dearly miss, taught me something very important.

KNUCKLES: What?

SALLY: That to truly understand someone's character you have to look at them with clear, soft eyes. Its a lesson I've kept all my life and for the most part its served me well. And these eyes show me a man who is desperately trying to escape what he is and never will. A man who is racked by guilt for crimes he did not commit. How old were you anyway?

GRUNDY: Based on what we've determined, he would have been almost four years old when the Dominar invaded your land, Your Highness.

SALLY: I see...

KNUCKLES: Your Highness, I'm the last Echidna. I've been given a chance to live when my kind has been chosen to die. I'm free of that history, and yet I'm still bound by it.

Knuckles looks down.

KNUCKLES: (PANZA, SUBTITLED) My blessing, and my curse.

SALLY: Do you know why your kind died?

KNUCKLES: The Dominar blew us all up. Except me. I was found wandering The Veldt a few weeks later confused and speaking a language noone understood.

SALLY: Interesting. Now as I was saying...Chief Engert...

Peter rolls his eyes and undoes Knuckles' bindings.

KNUCKLES: Thank you.

Knuckles walks over to Sonic.

SFX: KNOCK, KNOCK.

Everyone's attention is drected towards the door.

SALLY: Come in!

Antoine Depardieu enters.

SALLY: Sir Depardieu!

SONIC: Hey Ant!

ANTOINE: Sonique! Madame, Brozere Jan-a-sek haz arrived.

SALLY: Show him in.

Antoine moves out of the way and enters an older possum in robes of a monk, the Drood BROTHER JANACEK who we last saw in a flashback the previous season. Janacek is startled by the sight of Knuckles.

JANACEK: Oh Great Light...

SALLY: Yes I know. Hello Brother.

JANACEK: The last time I saw one of those, your father beheaded it Your Highness.

SALLY: Yes he told me about that.

KNUCKLES: You're a Drood right? You speak Panza.

JANACEK: (PANZA, SUBTITLED) You speak Common?!?

KNUCKLES: Yes. Can't do much without it these days.

JANACEK: Very well.

Janacek turns to Sally.

JANACEK: Your Highness, I brought what you requested.

Janacek puts on their table a large leather book held together by a large brass clasp. He takes out a small key and unlocks the clasp.

JANACEK: This is one of the few surviving texts of the Chaos Era. We Droods have kept it safe for millennia. Even during the dark times of Robotnik's occupation.

Janacek flips to a page in the book next to an illuminated image of eight emerald like objects.

JANACEK: There are seven chaos emeralds. Red, Green, Yellow, Blue, Cyan, White, and Purple. But...there is also an eighth.

The Drood taps a drawing of a large Green Emerald.

JANACEK: The Master Emerald.

SALLY: The Master Emerald?

JANACEK: Yes.

CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL HALL, SAMBASA

A cleaning lady walks down the hall. She hears the conversation going on in Sally's room and puts her ear to it.

JANACEK: (O.S.) (MUFFLED)The emerald that unlocks the powers of all other emeralds. Without it they're good as weapons...

CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL ROOM, SAMBASA

JANACEK: But not much else.

Knuckles looks at the drawing. His attention drawn to a blue creature in the center.

KNUCKLES: Brother, what is this?

Janacek is a bit surprised to hear that.

JANACEK: You...you don't know?

KNUCKLES: No I don't.

Sally turns to Knuckles.

SALLY: That, Mr. Knuckles, is your god. The god of your people. The god that told your Dominar to slaughter mine in order to eliminate all blasphemers. Chaos.

Knuckles is shocked. He turns back to the image.

KNUCKLES: This...thing...told the Dominar to exterminate your country?

JANACEK: To purify the world for the new age of Chaos.

SONIC: What Naugus is trying to do now.

JANACEK: The first Dominar was the son of a tribal leader named Pachacamac. He rebelled against his father after Pachacamac sacrificed his sister Tikal to the Master Emerald. Killing his father meant the end of their tribal barbarism. The Dominion would instead use their religion of Chaos as a means to bring about a new civilized society where those who follow the teachings of their spiritual guide rule the world. That's why the sons of the Dominar are the first of the Ancient Dynasties and the only ones who did NOT believe in the Light.

KNUCKLES: And the reason we slaughtered Northamer was because they didn't believe in Chaos?

GRUNDY: They were the strongest power. Showing the rest of Mobius what would happen to them if they didn't bend to your will was the end goal.

KNUCKLES: Did you know Prime Minister?

GRUNDY: Yes. I'm sorry Knuckles. We kept that secret from you for our own safety.

KNUCKLES: You should have told me. It just makes me feel worse.

GRUNDY: Very well...

SALLY: So what is Naugus trying to do anyway?

JANACEK: Well the Chaos Emeralds are for the most part are not eternal. They do deteriorate over time. However the Master Emerald does not. And eventually the Dominar was able to figure out a way to create new ones with it.

SONIC: That's why there are so many out there huh?

GRUNDY: That's why we keep destroying them, yes.

JANACEK: The point is combining a complete set of Emeralds with the Master Emerald unlocks its power. With it, the bearer could become a superbeing, a monster, or...

SONIC: Or in the case of Naugus...

CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL HALL, SAMBASA

The cleaning lady reacts in surprise to what she's hearing.

SONIC: (O.S.) (MUFFLED) ...put himself back together again!

CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL ROOM, SAMBASA

The others are horrified by what Sonic has just said.

SALLY: Knuckles is this true?

KNUCKLES: I don't know for certain but, potentially yes.

SALLY: Does the Master Emerald still survive?

Knuckles looks worried.

KNUCKLES: I...don't know.

Knuckles turns to Grundy.

KNUCKLES: Prime Minister...

GRUNDY: Yes?

KNUCKLES: I'd like to stay here, to eliminate this threat.

SONIC: Can he do that?

KNUCKLES: I'd be working off the books. And by the time this is over your quarantine might be over as well.

GRUNDY: Its possible, yes. Very well. Your Highness, would you accept a loan of the Chaotix?

Sally thinks and nods.

GRUNDY: Very well. I must return home.

SALLY: Thank you for everything Prime Minister.

Grundy nods, gets out of his chair, and shakes Knuckles hand.

GRUNDY: Good luck.

KNUCKLES: Thank you Prime Minister. Pavel?

Pavel nods. Thrash just sneers at Knuckles and the three exit.

SALLY: Forceman Yauch, show him to his room.

HAMILTON: Yes Your Highness.

Knuckles is escorted out. Sally turns to the others.

SALLY: We have got to prevent Naugus from becoming one again. And if we don't there may be no way to stop him next time.

ROTOR: Plasma bomb?

SONIC: That trick won't work twice Rote.

ROTOR: Yeah I guess you're right, Sonic.

CUT TO:

EXT. SAMBASA, ALLEY

THE CLEANING LADY FROM THE HOTEL WALKS DOWN A DANK DIRTY ALLEY. SHE TURNS AND SEES SEVERAL SHADOWY FIGURES. SHE NODS TO THEM.

CUT TO:

INT. KNUCKLES' ROOM, SAMBASA

Hamilton opens the door and switches on the light to show a mostly spartan one bed room. Knuckles enters.

HAMILTON: Key is on the counter.

KNUCKLES: Thank you Yauch.

HAMILTON: See you in the morning.

Hamilton leaves. Knuckles sits in a chair and covers his face. He's had a hell of a day. But then... he hears something.

NAUGUS: (O.S.)You...don't...know...?

Knuckles is shocked to hear the voice.

KNUCKLES: What...how...?

NAUGUS: (V.O.)Oh my dear Knuckles. You didn't think we'd let you go that easily.

From under the bed emerges a large crab (Balto). From out of a closet comes a fox (Shermin). Walking out from the bathroom is a rhinocerous (Gorox). And climbing through a window is a gorilla (Koga)

NAUGUS: (V.O.)Allow me to introduce you to my fellow Ixees, Balto, Shermin, Gorox, and Koga.

KNUCKLES: What do you want Naugus?

NAUGUS: (V.O.) Information Knuckles.

Suddenly from behind the chair rises WALTER NAUGUS.

NAUGUS: Because you know exactly where the Master Emerald is. And you're going to tell us. By hook or by crook!

Naugus begins to laugh and the other Ixis members join with him. Knuckles grits his teeth in fear.

CREDITS (CARPENTER BRUT: "RUN, SALLY, RUN!")

PREVIEW

KNUCKLES: You honestly think you'll get something out of me Naugus? You're sadly mistaken!

NAUGUS: Who says I need you to TELL where it is? I can rip it out of your head!

CAPTION: “HOW DID kNUCKLES SURVIVE?”

SALLY: Knuckles! Why are they here?

KNUCKLES: Because obviously they need to know where the Master Emerald is!

SONIC: But you don't know that right? I mean you just said...

SALLY: Don't tell me you do!

CAPTION: “ONE LAST CHANCE...”

JANACEK: The ancient texts say the only way the Master Emerald can be used to its full potential is if its on a piece of land where there is great energy.

SONIC: Brother Janacek...

JANACEK: Yes Sonic?

SONIC: Could an area that has...lots...of Deep Power Stones give off that energy?

CAPTION: “RETURN TO DROOD HENGE...”

NAUGUS: Truly one of the great wonders of the world! Drood Henge!

SHERMIN: It is such a pity it was buried under ground by years of disuse and then Julian.

KOGA: Fat Man...total pig.

CAPTION: “IS IT ALREADY TOO LATE?”

SALLY: Walter...as long as I live you'll never rule Northamer or any part of Mobius.

NAUGUS: Good thing you won't be alive for much longer then!

SONIC: (V.O) Next Time on Sonic The Hedgehog SatAM Re-Genesis: "The Power of Chaos!" Where will it lead us?