After the city had been successfully evacuated, I dropped Cream and Cheese off with the rest of the civilians. She thanked me again for rescuing her, before rushing off to help the injured. Making my way back to the base, I was exhausted from all the running and fighting. I smiled though, thinking about all the people I helped, like Cream and Cheese. As I walked into the briefing room a round of applause followed. I looked around to see everyone smiling and giving me thumbs up for a job well done.

"That was impressive, rookie!" praised Knuckles, "But we still have a lot to do."

"Great job!" smiled Sonic coming up to me, "I knew you could do it if you believed in yourself!"

"Nice moves," smiled Vector, "But if you hog all the glory, how am I going to look good?"

"That sounds like more of your problem than mine," I laughed. Then the computer screens started to glow red, saying that someone is calling in. Knuckles hushes everyone as Rouge comes through.

"Sorry to interrupt," started Rouge, "But the system is picking up a couple of strange readings. They're coming from the laboratory, the one where Sonic fought Infinite."

"It's probably another of Eggman's robots," said Silver.

"Life readings, two of them" corrected Rouge, "Definitely not robots."

"Hey, rookie," called out Knuckles, "Go to the lab and check it out!"

"I just got back," I thought, sighing to myself.

"Be careful," warned Knuckles, "Just check it out then report back. I don't want to fight something we don't know."

"Understood," I nodded, "I just hope it's nothing life-threatening. I'm too tired for that."

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As soon as I set foot in Mystic Jungle, I felt memories of my time here flow back to me. This was one of the last places I had been with Zero before everything changed. Eggman had built multiple bases here in the Mystic Jungle since it was so big and easy to get lost in. He felt it was perfect to build his laboratories.

"We picked up the two life readings near the lab ahead," explained Amy, snapping me back to reality.

"If they aren't robots, what are they?" asked Knuckles.

"If they are enemies, taking them out might be a big ask for Artemis," considered Silver.

"Guys, relax," I said, "All I'm doing is figuring out what they are. First, we figure out who they are, then we'll worry whether or not I can handle them."

"Good call rookie," agrees Amy, "I'm sending you the coordinates of those life readings. Be careful."

"Copy that Amy," I responded, then saw the coordinates appear on my wrist from my glove, "Looks like they're moving kind of fast. I don't think I'll be able to catch up to them at this pace."

Looking around I saw multiple long water canals leading towards the coordinates. The water canals also seemed to have some of Eggman's robots flowing on them as well. Realizing that if I'm going to catch up and see those life readings, taking these canals is going to be my best route. Luckily my Asteroid Wispon just got repaired so it should help.

"Here we go!" I said before jumping onto the current. The water was rushing down so fast and strong, it was hard to navigate.

"Watch out!" called Amy, "The current is pretty strong!"

"Yeah, I figured that out on my own thanks!" I snapped as I tried to gain some kind of control.

"Try to go with the current," suggested Amy, "Trust the water to take you where you need to go."

"It's worth a shot," I said, taking a deep breath to feel the current. Feeling how it moved, how fast it was flowing. Next thing I knew I was gliding on the water like I was surfing, "Yes!"

"They sure went to a lot of trouble to make this lab hard to find," said Amy.

"They must be doing experiments that don't want people to know about," added Knuckles.

"This is only one of the many places that Eggman experimented on that Phantom Ruby," I thought, "Who knows what else he's been researching here."

Then I remembered I was the only one on this canal, as a circular robot rushed over and tried to throw me off balance. I gracefully move out of the way, but I saw more coming my way.

"Alright time to see if this works," I said pulling out my wispon. Then activating its secondary power, then cubes began to surround me in a protective ring. The robots tried to attack but were pushed away thanks to the cube ring.

"Well, look at you, rookie," smirked Knuckles, "Having fun in the water?"

"What? Jealous you can't play on the slide, Knuckles?" asked Amy.

"This is no time to lose focus, that's all," Knuckles said flustered, "Uh, be sure to give it all you got, rookie!"

"I always do," I smiled then looked up ahead. The water canal was coming to an end. Looking around I noticed some small pillars sticking out of the water, "I can use those to get to land."

Just as the canal ended, I used my wire to jump from pillar to pillar, until I landed in a different part of the jungle. This area seemed to have a more temple-like appearance. It seemed older than the rest of the Jungle.

"The readings are really close now," informed Amy, "We are sending reinforcements. You should meet up with them when they arrive."

"That shouldn't be necessary Amy," I assured, "But you're the boss."

As I turned to look around, I felt something against my foot. It appeared to be some kind of rock, but once I picked it up it was a red gem with dark stripes across it.

"This looks like the Phantom Ruby!" I realized, "But there's no way, it's smaller than I remember. Maybe Eggman tried to duplicate the Ruby."

Suddenly I heard something move in the bushes nearby, quickly hiding the ruby away. Grabbing my wispon I yelled, "Whoever you are, come on out!"

That when a small familiar blue hedgehog appeared, looking at me with confusion.

"Sonic?" I asked, "What are you doing here? Are you the reinforcements Amy sent?"

Sonic said nothing but waved to someone in the sky. Looking over to see a yellow fox, flying around using his two tails.

"Have we met before?" asked the fox.

"Don't think so," I said, "I would have definitely remembered a flying fox. My turn, who are you and what are you doing here?"

"My name is Miles Prower, but everyone calls me Tails," introduced Tails, "And this is Sonic, but not our Sonic."

"What do you mean 'not our Sonic'?" I asked.

"He's Sonic, but from a different dimension," explained Tails, "He was brought here by the Phantom Ruby's power."

"Is that why he's not talking?" I stated.

Tails laughed a little, "That's right."

"Hey Knuckles," I called over the radio, "It looks like the life readings were just someone named Tails and a different Sonic."

"Tails? He's okay?" Sonic responded.

"Great job rookie," said Knuckles, "Bring Tails back to HQ as soon as possible."

"Roger that," I said before looking at Tails, "Come with me and I'll take you to Knuckles and I guess our Sonic."

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As soon as we arrived at the briefing room doors, Tails flew into the room and yelled, "SONIC!"

"Tails!" smiled Sonic as the two embraced.

"I was so worried," cried Tails, "I thought you were..."

"You worry too much," comforted Sonic, "Look, I'm perfectly fine."

I leaned against the wall closest to the door, not wanting to get in the way. The other dimension Sonic made his way over to our Sonic.

"It's been generations since I've seen you," greeted our Sonic, "You ok?"

The Sonic I decided to call Gen Sonic gave Sonic a thumbs up as if to say he was good.

"The good news is that you're safe," smiled Tails, "The bad news is Eggman said he had some plan that would destroy us all in three days."

"Three days huh?" smirked Sonic, "A lot can happen in that time!"

"Eggman said that when his plan is complete we'll all be wiped out," explained Tails.

"I don't like the sound of that," said Knuckles, "Normally I'd just laugh at an Eggman plan, but he's already conquered most of the world, so... What's this plan of his?"

"I'm not sure," said Tails, "All I know is that it has something to do with something called the Phantom Ruby."

"The Phantom Ruby?!" I thought, "Is that the source of Infinite's power? If I tell them what I know, they will be suspicious. I'll keep this to myself for now, until I know for sure."

"Hey, I hate to butt in on your important meeting," called in Vector, "But we're under attack! Shadow is tearing through our troops! We need reinforcements!"

"Shadow?!" I thought clenching my fists, "Could it be the same Shadow from before?"

"Shadow..." growled Sonic, "The last time I saw him he was fighting for Eggman."

"That doesn't make sense," said Knuckles, "Why would Shadow help the enemy?"

"Perhaps he's being controlled by that strange power?" suggested Silver.

"Whatever it is, I'll figure it out," assured Sonic.

"Alright I'll leave you to it then, Sonic," agreed Knuckles, "Okay everyone, get some rest. Tails and I will discuss Eggman's plan and see what we can do to stop it."