Gloved hands splayed across a peach chest, locked together securely as brilliant blue eyes scanned the stone ceiling above. A light blue ear flickered repetitively at the sound of water dripping, creating a small and shallow pool of water on the stone floor. The mobian's glazed expression twisted into a grimace every now and again from his sensitive hearing catching the screams an unsure distance away. Screams. Pleas. Begging.

With a grunt, the pale blue hedgehog decided he had heard enough and slowly lifted himself off the (what his "host" had called) bed. He first pinched the bridge of his nose prior to stroking his moustache, letting his cautious eyes drown in his dull surroundings yet again. The so called "bed" he currently sat on was nothing more than a rectangular piece of metal hung by thick, black chains. A bucket stored in the corner beside such bed with a window (a square hole in the wall complete with steel bars) in the centre of the back wall. His cell, of course, was complete with the expected bars that gave him access to see another small dungeon opposite.

But there were far more than just two cells. How many exactly was difficult to tell, but the blue eyed hedgehog knew it had to be easily over a hundred. He brought his focus towards the apparent window and watched the spectacular moon beyond, shining brightly with countless of stars to accompany it in brilliance. Not wanting to hear the desperate cries any further, he approached the window and gripped the bars.

As the owls "hooted" and metal against metal clashed outside, the hedgehog couldn't help but wonder if his family were watching the moon too.

However his pondering and brief feeling of peace vanished when ears shot upright, twisting to the sounds of a door far down the hallway creaking open. Light flooded down the corridor for a mere couple of seconds before it was swallowed in darkness, allowing one pair of footsteps to traipse down the stone floor.

The light blue hedgehog's grip on the bars tightened as his head navigated to his side, listening carefully as the taps of boots came closer and closer. Quills raised and sharpened when a chuckle sounded from the other side of his cell.

"Enjoying the view? It's rather astonishing isn't it, Charles?"

The hedgehog forcefully smirked prior to looking out the window again. Though no longer focusing on the moon, a dangerously large army of robots patrolled the ground below. A courtyard barricaded by towering, sturdy walls, wide enough to have huge cannon like guns (much more modernised and fit for such an emperor) set atop them. Deadly machines marched or stood with the closest thing possible to pride, though what was far more ghastly was what was assisting the robots in protecting the horrid base.

"Decorative perhaps." Charles remarked, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "But don't you think waving Robians around like that is a bit too much?" He turned to face the large man beyond his cell, who stroked his moustache with a toothy grin.

"Not at all. In fact I think it adds something...organic to my base. Ironic really isn't it? Considering they're not exactly...mobian anymore." The emperor's grin grew to an unnatural length at seeing the hedgehog's eye twitch and the brief sight of his canine.

Chaos, did he revel in it.

"Why are you visiting me, Robotnik? I'm surprised to not see you cowering behind some of your goons." Charles crossed his arms as he watched black and red eyes flash with anger.

"Rather chatty tonight aren't we? With this kind of talk you'd think I'd be speaking with your brother."

The light blue hedgehog chose to ignore the tug in his chest, pushing his concern aside for now. Though it became more challenging to hide from the sadistic emperors next comment.

"He didn't take losing you very well. Nor the rest of your puny family."

Charles opened his mouth to respond, however confusion quickly clouded his thoughts. His shoulders slumped and his head turned to the side as eyes squinted- attempting to decipher his apparent foggy memories. He could recall Knothole and the destruction that took place there, followed by this blinding flash of light and his brother's haunting expression of desperation and rage. The other four members of his family following right behind.

And then he woke up here, in this cell, staring at the ceiling above. Soon greeted by Robotnik himself (accompanied with a couple large badniks). The screams had seized then and no longer echoed down the hall now. Which brought Charles back to his question, memories could wait.

"Why are you here?" He returned to watching the evil doctor opposing him, who no longer grinned and merely stroked his moustache.

"I wanted to ask about your nephew."

The uncle's body stiffened and his hands became clenched fists, teeth grinding as he glared (only wishing his stare could melt the man right then).

"...Manic? Wh-?"

Robotnik cackled and shook his head. "No." He brought his arms behind his back as all cheeriness seemed to disappear. Now far more capricious (it made Charles' stomach churn). "The other one." He slurred.

Charles gulped, "You mean...Olgilvie-?"

"That's the one!" A triumphant smile shot on the emperor's face. "Olgilvie."

"What about him?" The uncle swallowed the fear brewing within and returned to glaring.

"Quite a fascinating thing isn't he?" Robotnik mused, seemingly more to himself. "I've never seen anything like it. Not when we sparred at Christmas Island. Nor Green Hills. To be fair, he was younger then. So I can assume this has developed over time...."

He twirled a finger around his facial hair, gaze growing distant as a more sadistic grin appeared. If that were true, if this had developed over the years, then it could become much stronger- much more powerful in future years to come. And he could be the one to utilise it.

"Don't you dare touch him."

The growl shook Robotnik from his thoughts and he returned back to Charles, who looked like he was ready to explode. Such a rare thing to see considering he was the calmer brother of the two.

"What if I do? It's not like you can stop me." He teased.

"I have before. With my brother's help. You can bet your rotten butt we will again."

"Ah yes, Jules. Your annoyance of a sibling." Robotnik brought his hand to hide behind his back again.

"Yeah, and we both know he won't let you touch any of our family."

"I caught you didn't I? How hard can it be to catch a few more stinky hedgehogs?"

"You knew where we were then." Charles spat, gulping down a growl. "But you don't have a clue now."

A maniacal laugh erupted from the mad emperor then, arms briefly stretched out at his side prior to him collecting himself.

"No Charles. I do know where they are. I searched and found you on Christmas Island. Then Green Hills. Then Knothole. I've been gifted some intel now and I've hit the jackpot." He leaned closer to the bars. "I know exactly where they're hiding. You're the one who doesn't have a clue."

The uncle sweat dropped as his arms fell to his sides. "Whe-?"

"HO HO! Like I'd tell you." Robotnik took a step back. "Don't look so glum Charles. You'll be able to ask them soon enough."

Charles was stricken with terror and on instinct charged towards the bars, not even getting a jump out of the emperor as the latter waved- marching away. The uncle reached out despite that and stretched his hand, merely being filled with dread from Robotnik's last words.

"We're setting out in the morning! You'll get your family reunion soon!"