The sun rose over Angel Island, lighting the trees with it's golden light. Flickies flew through the air, and the joyful laughter of Chao could be heard as morning came. But even though the Island was bathed in rays of pure sunshine, Knuckles woke up to a dark and dreary world. One without purpose or much meaning. He woke up, purple eyes dull and lifeless, and stared at the dawn. A bitter pain pierced his heart, and memories from the day before returned.

He got up and wandered around the Island, noticing with great agony how silent the place seemed to be. He was used to waking up to an Island full of noise; not of Chao or birds, but of people. Laughing, smiling, people that would greet Knuckles and ask him what they were going to do that day. But they were gone, and only their bittersweet memories remained.

He stopped by the Master Emerald, a gem that he once swore to protect no matter what. The green rock glowed bright as the sun hit it and reflected back around the area.

Yesterday….

He thought sadly, recalling the events that had destroyed him; the events that had pushed him past the breaking point. A glimmer caught his eye, as the sunlight hit a metal object. He looked down and saw a small piece of metal in the grass. He reached down and pulled out a gun. It was some sort of laser weapon. It was cracked along the side and still had bright red traces on the handle. Knuckles dropped it quickly, hoping it would get lost among the grass. But it still sat there in plain view, almost taunting him.

"You failed Knuckles. YOU FAILED."

it seemed to say. He bent down to pick it up again, but this time he chucked it with all his strength off the near-by ledge of Angel Island. He watched with grim satisfaction as it flew out of sight. Angrily, he kicked a near-by rock, cursing his life.

Why? Why? Why wasn't I fast enough, strong enough? Why couldn't it have happened to someone else? WHY?

He sat down in the grass and let a single tear run down his cheek. His anger and sadness mixed in the big boiling pot that was his mind. Life wasn't fair, and it had taken from him everything he had cared about. And now there was nothing left. Nothing.

YESTERDAY

The Chaotix awoke as usual that morning. The same sun that would taunt Knuckles tomorrow was shining now; seemingly it hinted that today was going to be a good day. Vector awoke in his bed, and looked around. His cluttered space was a disaster zone and eventually, he would need to clean it up before someone killed themselves. Sitting up in bed, he yawned.

Nah. It can wait until tomorrow. It's not like Sonic has to run through here. It's just me.

A crash from somewhere in the room sounded and Vector watched as a huge pile of folders fell from the rickety table they were on and fell to the floor. A voice out of nowhere spoke, in a serious and low tone.

"Vector, this place is a mess. When are you planning on cleaning any of it?"

A purple chameleon slowly came into view, covered in small paper cuts and scratches from the folders.

"When I get to it."

Vector replied, rolling his eyes. Count on Espio to make a negative remark about his place. The last time he was here, he complained of the smell. Now it was about all the stuff everywhere.

What's next? That I talk too weird?

Vector threw a paper wad at Espio.

"Shut up! You don't live in here! Why don't you go critique someone else's bedroom?"

Espio shrugged.

"Knuckles wants to see everyone for a morning meeting."

Vector sighed. Knuckles called waaaaaay too many meetings. Last week, they had five status report meetings that they could have lived without. It was like the fiery Echidna just wanted to make sure they were alive everyday. He got up and swung his golden chain around his neck and snapped his headphones on. There, he was ready to face the day.

Stretching, he followed Espio outside and to the meeting place. Vector had complained about the location of their meetings numerous times.

Right next to The Master Emerald…. Now THATS not obvious at all.

He thought sarcastically. The rest of The Chaotix, However had thought that being by the Master Emerald would keep the meeting place easily accessible, easy to remember, and easily guarded if something went wrong. Knuckles was already there as always. Looking around, Vector quickly noticed that none of the other Chaotix members were there yet.

"Thanks Esp."

He muttered darkly to himself.

"Could have waited a few minutes to get me; it takes YEARS to get everyone here on time."

Espio was already sitting down next to Knuckles and appeared not to have heard him.

A few minutes of awkward silence passed. Neither Knuckles or Espio were much of the Chit-Chat sort. Vector sighed and looked out over Angel Island. At the moment, the Island was floating over water. It was only a matter of time before they were over land again. A loud crash sounded from the forest behind him. In a large crowd; Mighty, Ray, Charmy, Saffron, and Julie-Su came out of the wooded area smiling and talking. They all filtered in and sat in their usual positions.

"Sorry Knux."

Mighty said grinning.

"We were Training."

Espio, sitting next to Vector, muttered something under his breath that only Vector could hear.

"Looks like it doesn't take years for everyone to show up."

Vector glared at him. Apparently, He HAD heard him. Knuckles stood up, with a look that said that he didn't want to have this particular meeting. He glanced at all of them and began.

"I'm going to be gone for a few hours."

He started, with the expression of someone who was told their house just burned down.

"Sonic needs my help, and I promised him I would. So I'm leaving Vector in charge and you all have to watch the Master Emerald while I go help that blue bastar… I mean blur."

Vector proudly held his head up. He appreciated Knuckles putting him as second in command. It really meant a lot to him. Across the way, Julie-Su sniffed in disapproval.

"You're leaving VECTOR in charge?! Are you TRYING to get us all killed?!"

She asked sarcastically, giving Vector the evil eye.

Vector glared right back at her.

"Better me than some run-away Legionnaire who sticks her gun where her mouth is half the time."

"EXCUSE ME?! I'm not the DOPE who keeps asking women out while on mission and would rather listen to music than help."

The rest of the Chaotix sat there, waiting for the argument to come to a close. Espio rolled his eyes and started meditating and Mighty was showing Ray how to do an Origami crane. Finally Knuckles pushed his way between them and screamed.

"ENOUGH!"

Vector shut his mouth firmly and looked at his leader.

"No arguments while I'm gone, you hear? I don't want to come back to find you two duking it out."

Julie-Su nodded and sat back down, crossing her legs. Vector stared at Knuckles for a while and realized that he DID NOT want to cross the angry Echidna. He sat down too, only to look over and find Espio staring at him with an amused expression.

"And what are you looking at?"

Espio turned his head back to Knuckles.

The red Echidna was picking up a back-pack. Julie-Su was talking to him in low quiet tones. Vector couldn't help himself and listened in.

"Knuckles, are you sure you should go? You did say that it was a stupid mission and that you didn't want to go."

Knuckles sighed quietly, looking down at the ground.

"I don't really. But if I help Sonic now, maybe the stupid hog will help us the next time WE need help."

Julie-Su smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.

"We don't need Sonic, Knux. You have a team who would die for you and protect this place with everything they've got."

She replied.

"I guess…. but I already promised him I'd be there."

She rolled her eyes.

"Then go. I'll be waiting right here for when you get back. Don't suffer too much."

Knuckles smiled back at her, then looked at the rest of his team who were all pretending that they weren't listening in.

"Right. I'm off."

He said.

"Don't put a scratch on the Master Emerald."

He jumped off the edge of the Island, slowing gliding off toward distant land. Vector turned to face all of his teammates, only to find out that they all had already got up and were heading toward the Master Emerald Shrine.

"Hey guys, wait up!"

He yelled, jogging after them and holding on to his headphones so they wouldn't fall off. Espio paused and waited for him to catch up.

"Why'd you guys all leave so fast?"

Vector asked, trying to catch his breath. Espio began walking again, at a pace that Vector could mostly keep up with.

"We already knew where to go, Vector."

Espio said calmly.

"Just because you're in charge, doesn't mean we don't know what to do. Knuckles would want us surrounding the shrine and watching his Emerald. So that's what we're going to do."

Vector sighed in disgust.

"It's gonna be a long couple of hours then."

As it turns out, Vector wasn't wrong. The Chaotix were bored to tears by noon. Charmy was playing a game of tag with Saffron to pass the time.

"You can't catch me!"

He squealed happily, flying in circles above everyone's head. Saffron did her best to catch up to him but to no avail.

The young bee looked back and noticed how far back Saffron was. He purposely slowed down just a little bit so she could catch up and then took off for the near-by forest.

Espio sat below them and watched them zip around above him.

"Stay close by, Charmy."

He warned.

"Remember, our job is to watch the Emerald."

Beside him, Mighty was stretched out and relaxing.

"Oh, lighten up Espy."

He said cheerfully.

"Nothing's gonna happen. Knuckles is due back any minute now."

Charmy flew down next to Espio and smiled at him.

"The Armadillo is right! I'm just gonna play tag, Espio."

Espio shrugged his shoulders in defeat.

"Fine. But be careful.'

Charmy was gone before the chameleon had even finished the word "Fine". He streaked toward the trees where Saffron was already waiting.

"Can you be it now?"

She asked, panting heavily from having to chase Charmy everywhere. Charmy agreed and waited a few seconds while she got a head start. and then he took off, diving and ducking around trees. A slight sound to Charmy's left made him pause.

"Saffron, wait."

He called. She stopped and turned toward him.

"Listen."

They could both hear it now. The sound of something humming. Like a computer or something. Charmy didn't know what it was, but he wanted to go check it out. Saffron looked at him with wide eyes.

"Should we get Espio or something?"

Charmy shook his head.

"We're Chaotix members too. We should be able to check out a sound without having a million people here. besides, Espio would want to go alone, and we would never find out what's making the noise."

Doubtfully, Saffron nodded and Charmy led the way toward the sound. He would prove to Espio that he could be the best Chaotix member ever!