(The cover took like 3 hours to make... my gwad. Anyways, there is a character on it that hasn't been introduced yet. They will come WAY later in the story, sadly. And there has been some design changes. Especially on Finch, so just pretend he's always had heterochromia.) Finch's apartment was quiet as everybody was turning in for the night. Ro stared at the slowly spinning ceiling fan. Sleep wasn't coming. He felt dumb just lying on his back, being unable to sleep, but he didn't want to disturb anybody by tossing and turning. Screw it. Ro turned to his side. Than the other. He tried different positions. None of them got him closer to sleep. Giving up, he lay on his back once again. It's not that he wasn't comfortable; he had some blankets, and the floor was quite cozy compared to other rest places he'd been in. Ro froze as he heard Sonar get up. Looking over, he watched as the Hedgehog ducked through the fire escape to stand outside. Slowly and silently getting up, Ro followed suit. Standing beside the hedgehog, he spoke quietly. "Can't sleep?" Sonar nodded. After a moment of silence, he looked over his shoulder towards the others. In a hushed voice, he spoke. "What do you think of those two?" "Eqlips and Finch? They seem nice. Why?" "Hm... I don't trust them." "How come? They helped us get the second emerald, didn't they?" Ro tilted his head. Sonar frowned. "They could be biding their time..." Ro rolled his eyes. "You just have trouble trusting others." Sonar stared down at Ro. "What would give you that idea?" He couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not. Ro responded anyway. "Well, first of all, you didn't believe me when I told you I had powers-" "Because that's a stupid thing to admit to a stranger." Ro chuckled. Sonar looked back out to the city, dim lights reflecting on his quills. Ro sighed, "I trust them. If they really were against us, they would have already done something. And probably wouldn't let you, of all people, keep hold of the emeralds." Sonar grumbled. "Oh, by the way, how do you do that?" "Do what?" "Do the-the uhh." Ro made a few gestures at the confused hedgehog. "The emerald absorby thingy" Sonar put out one of his hands, palm up, and looked at it. "I'm not sure. They kind of just do it on their own." "They didn't absorb into me when I grabbed them." Ro looked down at Sonar's hand. "Can you, like... summon them also?" "Um... Maybe?" So focused on his palm. After a few seconds, a green glow resonated from his hand. The two watched, one more excited than the other, as the first emerald formed. Its green light was bright. The gem hovered over his open hand. "WOW! That's so cool!" Ro leaned in, eyes glued to the bright green. The gem faded back into Sonar as he spoke, "Do we even know if this 'ultimate weapon' is worth it? What if it's broken?" "We don't know that. We have to keep hoping, or else we'll just end up giving in to her control." Ro looked Sonar in the eyes while giving a small hopeful smile. Sonar shook his head and sighed. "Let's get some sleep." -+-+-+- Silver looked around desperately through Green Hills. It's been over a week since he was thrown back into the past. Something was wrong, but WHAT. It was driving him mad! Landing on a grassy cliff, he let out an exasperated groan. "What's wrong?" Silver looked over to Sonic, who had zoomed over. Knowing the fate of the hedgehog stung his chest. Silver looked back to the bright blue sky and responded, "The fact that I've been here for a week and haven't been able to figure out what triggered my future's outcome..." The memory of the conversation that Espio had with him rang through him. But it was hard to take that advice when the future was so messed up. Sonic walked to his side. "What's wrong with it this time? Let me guess, is it Eggman's doing?" "NO! Maybe, I don't KNOW!" Silver ran his hands down his face. "It's like a worldwide dictatorship where Sage rules! And no matter what I change here, nothing changes there! Yet every other week I get sent back to this timeline!" "Huh?" Sonic tilted his head. "Every other week? You've been here for a consecutive amount of time, Silver." "To you guys. But there's been like a week's length between when I go and come back, but I always return like two minutes after the time that I left!" Silver felt like pulling his quills out. Silver nodded along, but it was clear that he wasn't fully understanding. Silver didn't blame him. Even he was confused, and HE'S the time-travel guy. "SONIC! SILVER!" The two hedgehogs spun around as Tails came flying over. He landed and spoke. "I've been looking for you guys. Vanilla wanted to invite you two to dinner." "Thanks, little buddy." Silver watched as Sonic ruffled the giggling fox's fur. "Ok, let's not keep her waiting." Vanilla's home was warm and very welcoming. The food was mouth-watering, and nearly everybody from the group was there.
Cream turned to Silver and smiled. "I've been meaning to ask you, Mr Silver, do you have any friends back home? Like in the future?" Silver swallowed his food. He's always tried not to get too attached to anybody in his timeline since every time he returns, so many people are so different than when he knew them. It was just easier. Silver finally responded after thinking for a little bit. "I do kind of have a son-" "WHAT!?" Everyone said in unison. Espio was staring at him with his jaw dropped. "L-Let me explain! I found him in a blown-up building, and I kind of just adopted him." Silver said, his gaze kept on going back to the chameleon. "Aren't you pretty young, though?" Vanilla blinked. "I'm glad you adopted the little guy, but still-" "WAIT- You've just left him alone for the whole three months you've been here!? How old is he!? Did you just abandon him!?" Amy looked horrified. Silver quickly responded. "Guys! He's fine! I've only left him for at most two weeks! I swear! He knows not to get into trouble and how to take care of himself!" Hopefully... "What's his name?" Espio questioned, still looking taken aback by Silver's earlier confession. "Ro." Silver scratched the back of his head. "...Ro? That's a..." Sonic tried to think of a compliment, but Shadow finished his sentence for him. "Horrible name." "It's not that bad! Also, I wasn't the one who named him!" Silver snapped. The group fell into some laughter. A feeling of guilt washed over Silver. It's not like he chose to disappear for weeks on end. The portals showed up at random times. -+-+-+- It was morning, but the thick clouds of smog blocked any morning sunlight. So, the only indication was the clock on Finch's bare wall. The group stood in a circle, debating which emerald they should get next. "The one powering the Ivo district will be best! The security there is as good as the security in the under city." Eqlips argued. "But the Stone district is closer. Plus, we know that it's being used as a museum exhibit there." Sonar interjected. "But everybody with half a brain knows that that would be the hardest one to get!" Eqlips snapped. "And anybody with a singular brain cell knows that the emerald powering the Ivo district would be in the mines powering a drill! It would be one of the harder ones to find because of the lack of maps!" Sonar snarled. "We can just wander!" "And starve!? Be crushed because the mine shafts aren't up to code? Get lost and die down there? I'd rather not!" Ro and Finch watched as the two fought. After a bit, it became less about which one to go after and more about who was correct. Ro looked up to Finch. "Are there any other Emeralds that we know the location of?" "I know that there's a ship that has one as decoration, but It's currently overseas..." Finch scratched the side of his head. "But it might be getting back in a few days. We'd have to check." Ro nodded. "Ok and I'm assuming the others are in other abandoned Eggman bases?" Finch shrugged. "Probably." "Finch! Tell this dumb hog that the Ivo districts would be easier to find!" Finch stammered. Sonar looked down at Ro. "Tell this damn mutt that the Chaos Emerald in the Stone Musume would be a better one to get next!" Ro put his hands up. "Don't bring me into this. You are the one who has to absorb them!" It was amusing to see this side of him. Angry and so childish as he argued with Eqlips. It was also borderline pathetic at times... "FINCH! You decide!" The two yelled at the same time. Finch weighed the options for a second before speaking, "I think the Ivo district would be better for now. There MUST be a map we can find. People and machines go down there all the time. Plus, if there is only one emerald and it's powering a drill, then logically only one drill can go down at a time, so that would be theoretically easy." "I hate you." Sonar frowned while Eqlips cheered. "YES! TAKE THAT!" Eqlips cheered, punching Sonar in the shoulder. "I was right, you were wrong~ Nye-hehehe!" She sing-songed before breaking out into evil giggling.
