RED DAWN

Prelude:

In the fire of darkness burned a dark and terrible light.  It shimmered red
for all the evil that could exists.  The dark forces had tried to reach it
for eons.  The ever vigilant guardians kept close watch and never allowed its
power to beheld one individual.  Their time came to an end and the red light
was forgotten.  Now the dark light is about to de rediscovered.

Floating Island
        Knuckles surveyed the destroyed citadel of Enerjak.(destroyed in the
Knuckles solo series.)  Knuckles had only two weeks earlier defeated Enerjak.
 Knuckles had returned since Archimedes, the fire ant, had summoned him very
hurriedly.  Knuckles had returned from a meeting with the Freedom Fighters at
Knothole.  They had been discussing Knuckles joining them on a permanent
basis.  Knuckles felt he still had a duty to protect the Chaos Emerald.  He
did promise that he would respond to any help they needed from then on.  Now
Archimdes should show up at any time.
"So there you are Knuckles, I have been waiting for you," said Archimedes.
"What do you mean I’ve been here for some time, like ten minutes," replied
Knuckles.
"Well no time to argue my fellow fire ants have discovered a hidden chamber
under Enerjak’s citadel."
"You mean rubble pile!" stated Knuckles.
"Well anyway there is a large door we have not been able to open and we need
your fists to open it for us."
"When Enerjak is concerned I’m always available to help." said Knuckles with
force.
They both walked towards a large hole that extend under the remnants of
Enerjak’s citadel.  Knuckles was taken back by the large chamber he and
Archimedes entered.
"There are the doors, could you now smash them open?" asked Archimedes.
"No problem, stand back."
With everything he had Knuckles smashed the door open and the room beyond was
only six inches thick and within it was a scroll.  Knuckles picked the scroll
up and noticed it was written by Enerjak.  "What does it say Knuckles?" asked
Archimedes.
" It says: I have now determined the location of the Red Chaos Emerald.  The
power of the emerald is said to be the darkest on Mobius.  If I manage to
retrieve it my power will be increased a hundred fold.  I narrowed its
location to the Cave of Ruin at the northwest corner of the floating island.
 I have yet to determine the traps set by the former guardians of the
emerald.  It will be mine."
"We must get that emerald back and fast if it fell into the wrong hands all
the universe could be in danger!" cried Archimedes.
" I’ve never heard of the Red Chaos Emerald, but if Enerjak had interest in
it we must find it." said Knuckles.  They then set off for the Cave of Ruin.
 On the way Knuckles and Archimedes joined up with the Chaotix.  All the
travelers journeyed to the cave and stopped at the entrance.  "You guys stay
here I better do this alone.  I’ll go in and tell you what I find" said
Knuckles
" Allright, but watch yourself from what my ancestors said do not touch the
Red Chaos Emerald and be careful for any traps the ancient echidnas placed
many traps in the cave." Warned Archimedes."
        Knuckles felt bushed as he had several near brushes with destruction.
 Already he had nearly fell into a bottomless pit, had a boulder roll at him
and had punched out a giant reobospider.  Knuckles walked over a suspicious
looking floor until he heard a creek and began to run like hell to get to the
door entrance at the end of the tunnel.  Knuckles felt the ground giving way
underneath him.  He made a judgment call and leapt forward and fell through
the doorway.  He looked back and saw a huge row of spikes had been under the
collapsible floor.  Then a reddish glow caught Knuckles attention.  It was
the Red Chaos Emerald.  Knuckles moved forward cautiously and being watchful
for any other traps.  He reached the podium which held the emerald above the
floor.  Knuckles felt drawn to the crystal and moved to touch the Emerald,
while his mind screamed at him to stop.  He touched and was then suddenly
blinded by a red light.  Running through his mind was the thought what will
the consequences be for his actions.

Knothole
        It was another peaceful day in Knothole.  Sonic was enjoying his favorite
thing in the world, chili dogs.  He then noticed Sally coming towards him and
then thought O.K. maybe my second favorite thing. "Hey Sal how you doing?"
"Pretty good, what you up to." asked Sally.
" Nothing much just enjoying my favorite thing…" Sonic never finished his
sentence.  In front of  them a red rip in air appeared and was growing.
 "Nicole what is current object in front of us." Sally asked as she pulled
out her computer.
"It is a ripple in the space-time continuum." Nicole responded.
" A space what, Nicole?" Sonic asked dumbfounded.
"The ripple is expanding and will explode in 10, 9…" 
"Get down!" Sally yelled at Sonic.  
        Sonic understood this statement and hit the dirt.  The ripple then filled
Knothole with red light and was gone.  Bunny and Rotor came running to Sonic
and Sally.   Bunny asked "Sally girl are you O.K."
" Yes! What came through the ripple?" Sally asked.
"Look over there." Rotor responded wile helping Sonic up.  They looked up and
saw a human standing before them.
"Hey what’s going on and where am I?"
Sonic grunted," Not another human, oooh."

Robotropolis    
"Sir we have detected a large energy fluctuation in the Great Forest and on
the Floating Island." Snively stated.
"Good, keep me informed on all data and send out Swat bots to try and track
the source of the energy."  Dr. Robotnick said smugly.  Yet deep in his iron
heart he felt something was not right.

Floating Island
Archimedes and the Chaotix entered the chamber and were confounded by the Red
Chaos Emerald.  "Well there is the emerald and now we have it, but what do we
do with it?" asked Archimedes.
"We can’t protect it ourselves we need help." said Knuckles.
Archimedes responded, "Who do you propose we ask to help us?"
"I have an idea." Knuckles stated with a smile and a small red glow came from
his eyes.