Chapter Text
In an unknown location, the Destructix are relaxing, while Fang holds the Black Emerald.
Fang: Wait, so this is actually a Chaos Emerald?
Simian: Indeed. When the Chaos Emeralds came to this world, one of them embedded itself in Mogul’s chest, granting him immortality and incredible power.
Fang: Ha! I knew it! I knew there was an eighth Emerald! Suck it, fleet-feet!
Just then, smoak begins to emerge from the Black Emerald, before it forms into Mammoth Mogul.
Simian: Master!
Fang: So this is the big man on campus…
Mogul: My loyal followers, I know that things have been… difficult, in no small part thanks to my entrapment. But now, the hour of my liberation is nearly at hand! Go now, to Angel Island, and seek out its Guardian, for he is the one who holds the key to my prison.
With that, Mogul disappears into the Emerald again.
Fang: Knucklehead? How’s he gonna help bust the big guy out?
Simian: It doesn’t matter. We have our orders, and now we must follow through on them.
Fang: Alright, if you say so…
On Angel Island, Knuckles is hanging out with the Chaotix near the Master Emerald shrine.
Knuckles: And then, when he tried to run, I chased after him and showed him I meant business! Wam!
Charmy: Wow, you’re awesome, Knuckles!
Ray: I can;t believe you actually fought a ghost!
Knuckles: Eh, I deal with ghosts all the time. They’re not so scary if you know what you’re doing. So, what’s been going on here?
Mighty: Eh, not much. It’s been real peaceful here while you’ve been gone.
Knuckles: Really? Nothing at all?
Vector: Well… there is one thing.
Knuckles: What?
Vector: Not long after you took off, this guy in a cloak showed up asking for you. We told him you weren’t here, so he’s just been waiting for you ever since.
Knuckles: Really? Where is he?
Espio: Currently, he’s taken up residence in Albion. We sent Julie-Su and Saffron to fetch him when we heard you were returning.
Just then, the two in question arrive, with the cloaked figure in tow.
Knuckles: Speak of the devil… Alright, you wanted to speak with me?
Zachary: Indeed I did, Knuckles. For what Uncle would not want to see his nephew?
With that, Zachary takes off his hood, revealing his face to Knuckles.
Knuckles: Uncle Zach?
Zachary: Hello, Knuckles. It’s been far too long, hasn’t it?
After a moment, Knuckles wraps his uncle up in a hug.
Knuckles: You’re here! I can’t believe it! Where have you been?
Zachary: After I set out to find your parents, I became aware of the dark past of our people. Afterwards, I became dedicated to finding a way to unearth the secrets of the past. I’m sorry I couldn’t come back sooner-
Knuckles: Ah, don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you're here! Hey, why don’t I give you a tour of the island? Things have changed a lot since you were gone.
Zachary: That sounds… nice.
Knuckles: Well, come on!
With that, Knuckles and Zachary walk off, with Vector looking at Zachary suspiciously.
Espio: Something on your mind?
Vector: Something about this doesn’t add up. If he’s been around this whole time, how come he’s just showing up now?
Charmy: Maybe he was just really busy?
Vector: I don’t buy that. Something stinks here, and I’m gonna find out what!
With that, Knuckles and Zachary make their way around the island, taking time to bond with each other. As they do, Vector and the rest keep an eye on them. Eventually, the Chaotix regroup at their detective agency.
Vector: Alright, you guys find anything?
Espio: I did. And I think you’ll find it interesting.
Later, the group arrives outside of Zachary’s cave.
Espio: From what I’ve seen so far, it appears that our guest has been staying here for a while.
Vector: Alright then, let’s go see what he’s been working on.
Mighty: Vector, are you sure about this? I mean, doesn't this feel like a breach of privacy to you?
Vector: Hey, he showed up to our home without telling us, I say fair’s fair. Now c’mon!
With that, the group enter the cave, coming across Zachary’s lab, along with a bed and some food.
Vector: Geez, not much of a bachelor pad… Alright, let’s split up. If you find anything suspicious, let us know!
With that, the group begins searching around the cave. Eventually, Julie-Su looks through a drawer, where she finds something shocking.
Julie-Su: Uh, guys? You might wanna see this.
The others come over, and Julie-Su shows them what she found: A series of stone tablets, depicting Chaos.
Vector: Guys… are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Espio: We need to tell Knuckles, immediately.
Elsewhere, Knuckles and Zachary sit by a lake and talk.
Knuckles: Wait, so you’re the one who built that gear for me?
Zachary: I did! I’ve learned quite a bit about building things while I’ve been away.
Vector: That’s not the only thing he’s learned about!
The two turn to see Vector and the other Chaotix approaching them.
Knuckles: What are you talking about, Vector?
Vector: Take a look at this!
Vector hands the stone tablets to Knuckles, who reviews them.
Knuckles: What… where did you get these?
Vector: We found them in Zachs man cave!
Zachary: You invaded my home?!
Vector: That’s not the point! Knuckles, ain’t you curious about how Robotnik learned about that Chaos guy in the first place? Maybe you oughta ask your uncle over there.
Knuckles turns back to Zachary.
Knuckles: Uncle Zach, tell me they’ve got it wrong. Robotnik must’ve stolen these from you, right?
Zachary is quiet for a moment, before replying.
Zachary: I’m sorry, Knuckles. They’ve got it exactly right. I… I led Robotnik to Chaos.
Knuckles: What…?
Zachary: I never intended for Chaos to rampage as he did. I just wanted the demons of the past to be revealed, so that you could move past them. I also knew that you and the Freedom Fighters would be capable of defeating Chaos when the time came. Still, that doesn’t excuse what I’ve done. I’m sorry, Knuckles.
Knuckles is shocked, unable to speak. Vector, on the other hand, is livid, rushing forward and grabbing Zachary, holding him in the air.
Vector: You no good lousy creep! Why, I oughta-
Knuckles: Vector, stop! Let him go!
Vector: Oh, I’ll let him go… right into the sea!
Knuckles: He’s still my uncle, Vector! Now put him down!
After a moment, Vector drops Zachary.
Zachary: Knuckles, listen to me. I know you don’t have any reason to trust me, but I want to help you. That’s why I came back to the island. I know that your body has been undergoing changes due to your father’s experiments. I designed that coller to slow down the transformation, but it was never intended to be a permanent solution. But I’ve done some research, and now I know how to stop the transformation. I’m not asking you to trust me, but please, just… give me a chance.
Knuckles is silent for a moment, thinking it over, before answering.
Knuckles: …Alright. We’ll give it a shot.
Vector: You serious, Knux?
Knuckles: Despite what he did, he’s still my Uncle, Vector. I know he’d never try to hurt me on purpose. And if whatever he’s got in mind can stop me turning into that form again, we need to chance it. But I want you guys to keep an eye on him, alright?
Vector: With pleasure. C’mon, pal.
Vector grabs Zachary and begins dragging him away, with Knuckles watching as he does.
Later, Zachary works in his cave, overseen by the Chaotix.
Zachary: You know, I never wanted to hurt anyone. I only ever wanted to unburden Knuckles from our family’s role as Guardian of the island. I suspect that, despite being the eldest in the family next to Locke, he would have made Knuckles the Guardian anyway due to his power. I would do anything to give my nephew a good life. That said… I wanted to thank you for being there for him all these years. I’m glad to see that Knuckles has people he can rely on. It’s good to know that he hasn’t been completely alone all these years…
Vector: Yeah, don’t mention it.
Later, Knuckles stands before Zachary, who wears a special suit.
Knuckles: You think this’ll work?
Zachary: In theory, it should. This suit essentially functions as a Chaos Syphon, drawing the Chaos Energy out of you and into it, harmlessly containing it. The collar should serve as a conduit. Ready?
Knuckles: As I can be.
Zachary: Very well. Activating the Syphon… now!
Zachary presses a button on the suit, causing the Chaos Energy within Knuckles to be drawn out and pulled into the suit. The process is a painful one, with both Knuckles and Zachary yelling and groaning in pain. Things only escalate when Knuckles turns into his green Chaos form, causing the suit to go into overtime.
Julie-Su: Knuckles! Are you alright?!
Knuckles: N-Never give up… never surrender…
Vector: Maybe we oughta shut this down!
Zachary: No! This can work! I just need… a little more time!
In the skies above, the Destructix watches this spectacle from the Marvelous Queen, curious.
Fang: What the heck is going on down there?
Simian: Such power… I’ve never felt anything like it!
Suddenly, the two get an idea, with Simian pulling out Mogul’s Black Emerald.
Fang: You thinking what I’m thinking, banana-breath?
Simian: It’s risky… but it just might work!
With that, Fang flies the Queen, just high enough so nobody notices them, and Simian throws the Black Emerald between Knuckles and Zachary, causing it to be caught in the Chaos Energy being pulled into the suit. This causes a massive explosion that knocks the two Echidnas back, with the Emerald vanishing at the same time. When the dust settles, everyone runs to check on Knuckles, still in his Chaos form.
Vector: Knux! You good, man?
Knuckles: I’m not sure! It’s like someone flipped a switch, and now everythigs… different…
With that, Knuckles disappears in a flash of light.
Julie-Su: Where’d he go?
Just then, Vector notices Zachary, lying unconscious on the ground.
Vector: We can worry about him later! Right now, we’ve gotta get this guy some medical attention, stat!
Back at the Destructix’s hideout, the group has returned.
Fang: Well, great. Just perfect! Not only did we not free the big man, we also lost the bloody Emerald too! What a waste.
Mogul: On the contrary, my hunter friend. Everything has gone exactly as I have foreseen it!
Just then, from the entrance of the base, a familiar figure emerges.
Mogul: It is ironic, isn’t it? It was a Chaos Syphon that trapped me in my own Emerald, and now it was a Chaos Syphon that has led to my liberation! And now, thanks to the limitless Chaos Energy of the Guardian, Mammoth Mogul is free once again!