The orange emergency lights were dull; some of the strips were out. Ro stood shoulder to shoulder with Sonar, with each turn they took down the uncharted halls of the base got darker. Eqlips and Finch were still ahead, flashlight in the purple dogs hand lighting a small section in front of them. “I feel like we’re going in circles.” Ro swallowed. Looking down around the doorless hallway. It’s an exact copy of the hall that they just turned out of. Sonar nodded. “I feel lost…” Edlips grumbled. She looked back to them, her ear flicking, “Are you sure he would have went down this direction?” Ro nodded. Finch muttered something under his breath. Only Eqlips heard him, and based off her expression it wasn’t something nice. Lifetimes seemed to pass by and the feeling of walking in circles no matter which direction they turned was just becoming more apparent. Just as Ro was going to suggest that they turn around a dim light came from up ahead. A green glow. As the group quickly picked up their pace to reach it Ro could make out the broken door that held most of the green light. The four stood in front of the door. Ro stepped forward, placing a hand onto the bent metal. Taking a deep breath he gripped the bent out edge of the door and pulled, using his power to peel it open just enough for them to squeeze trough. Eqlips thanked him before ducking through the opening. Ro blinked away the fog that came over him. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead and his trembling hands. Flinch entered after Eqlips nodding a thanks as he went. Sonar went after him, hesitating as his eyes scanned over Ro. After Sonar squeezed into the green light Ro followed. There in a glass case was an emerald. It’s green light filling the room with a steady, chaotic, powerful light. They all stood around the gem. Eyes wide with amazement. “A-a chaos emerald…” Finch breathed “One that Sage doesn’t have. H-how long has it been hidden here?” “Two centuries.” Sonar muttered, stepping forward, and hesitantly reaching for the glass case. After a heartbeat his fingertips pressed agents the glass. The glow of the chaos emerald brightened. Ro’s eyes glanced to the way his navy blue quills stood on end and his eyes widened in wonder but also a hint of horror before he pulled his hand away. “Should we… should we take it?” Eqlips asked. “Probably.” Sonar swallowed balling his hand into a fist. Pulling his arm back he punched the glass, braking it. The gem slowly lifted into the air, Sonars hand followed its path before the gem landed in his hand. Everything seemed to disappear as they watched it fade into nothing. Its energy seeping into Sonar, green glittering dust swirling around the navy blue hedgehog. The group was silent. A dull light coming from the liquid filled stasis chambers that uniformly lined the wall. Eqlips looked towards the dully glowing chambers. Confusion in her voice as she spoke, “Is it just me or are one of the stasis chambers missing?” She was right, a space between two of the chambers clearly had one there, the floor and wall were miss colored and toobs and wires stuck out of the ceiling and wall. “Someone moved one out of here. But why?” Ro walked over, his eyes sweeping the area. Then he spotted a piece of old paper folded behind one of the stasis chambers. Picking it up he read it ‘Sage was going to find the Ultimate Weapon. Find all the emeralds and the Master Emerald. Take Sage down using the weapon. I don’t know if you are on my side in this silent war, but if you are please. Please do what is right.’ Ro blinked hope flaring in his chest. Finally a clue. Finally something to clarify that this journey wasn’t just a fantasy and a dead end! “Whatcha looking at Ro?” Eqlips asked. Her sudden presence scaring him. Shoving the paper into his mouth and turning around he spoke, mouth muffled by the crusty paper, “ihth montphinguh!” “…” Sonar walked up to Ro, Finch beside him. Sonar blinked, his eyebrow raised and nose scrunched in confusion, “What are you eating? Spit it out!” “Noh ihmuh fohingh! Ihth mnotphinguh, puhmuths!” Ro crossed his arms turning his head and quickly chewing the paper to try and be able to swallow it, gagging at its taste. “Is… is he always this… special?” Finch whispered to Sonar. “From what I’ve seen.” Sonar nodded, “My best guess is that he was a certified neon licker when he was little.” Ro swallowed the paper. Coughing as he angrily defended himself, “LIES! I never licked neon!” Eqlips spoke over Finch who was trying to conceal his laughter, “What did you just eat?” “… um… a note from my dad.” Ro whipped his mouth, “It said to collect all the chaos emeralds and to find the ‘Master Emerald’… I’m guessing that to find him we need to find the Master Emerald and to find that we we need all the emeralds.” “Why did you eat it?” Sonar looked disappointed and majorly confused. “It said to eat it… also I got scared when Eqlips spoke behind me.” Ro’s ears flattened out.
“I guess that leaves us a map of some sort.” Finch shrugged, “If my memory is right then the closest Chaos Emerald is powering the Neon district. It would be in the control tower atop Neon Central Station. It’s risky but I think if we were able to sneak in, then stealing it would be… possible.” “Let’s rest first.” Sonar stood up straight, “Fighting three or more squads of keepers would be a whole lot easier if we were rested and at top shape.” Ro smiled gratefully at Sonar. “We can go to my place.” Finch suggested. “Is it far?” Ro tilted his head. “No, it’s actually rather close to here.” Eqlips smiled. “Ok let’s get going! Oh um, is it possible that I can take a shower there? I think my fur is two shades darker than it’s supposed to…” Ro chuckled in excitement. “Yeah, I’m fine with that.” Finch nonchalantly replied, crouching to leave the room, Eqlips following close behind.
