The Creatures Neon

Chapter 2

Knuckles had been awake for an hour before he opened his door and made his way to the kitchen. He found Amy already awake and eating a bowl of fruit and granola at the counter. He had his back to her when he spoke.

"I'm going to Jaipur"

Amy creased her brow. "Jaipur? What's in Jaipur?"

Knuckles took a deep breath in. "Something you aren't going to like."

Amy put down her spoon and it clinked loudly on the counter-top. She said nothing.

Knuckles turned and looked her in the eye. "Something that will help us." He paused. She stared. "I have to go alone."

Amy couldn't believe what she was hearing. Now, of all times, when they had to stick together to stay strong, here was Knuckles suggesting they split up.

"You figure this Basswood thing out," Knuckles continued, "meet up with the Rogues, and get them to help us. I'll do what I have to do in India, and with any luck we'll end up with a team that can challenge Robotnik. We'll rendezvous at the Paris safe house in 2 days."

Amy continued to watch Knuckles but then turned her eyes to the summertime alpine scene outside. After a long interval, she spoke.

"Yeah, do what you want."

Knuckles knitted his brow but knew better than to continue talking. He hated to upset Amy, but this had to be done. He left the kitchen and grabbed his bags. He ventured out into the garage and decided he would leave Amy Tail's Phantom, and take his own red Lamborghini Aventador.

He threw his travel bag on the seat next to him and ignited the vehicles massive engine. It barked and howled into life, vibrations and energy humming up and down the frame. He cranked the accelerator and flew onto the road, the villa, and Amy with it, disappearing quickly in his rear-view mirror.

Now was the time for speed, and not for caution. Robotnik had essentially limitless power with all the Chaos Emeralds and nothing stood between him and total world domination. Not yet anyway. Knuckles played the accelerator as the turbos spooled and whined sending all the V12's colossal firepower to the driveshaft and the wheels. He raced across the mountains at a frankly irresponsible speed, and not even half an hour later had arrived at the Geneva international airport.

A quick security check later and he had pulled up to Sonic Teams private Learjet – The Matchless. He climbed aboard and set his destination for Jaipur, India. Again, Tails had customized this vehicle so that it operated autonomously. Knuckles buckled himself into the lounge seat at the rear of the aircraft, and in moments, he was away.

Seven hours later The Matchless touched down at Jaipur International. Knuckles rented a modest vehicle and sped away into the city. He spent a night at a small motel before continuing his journey into the countryside. The sun beat down mercilessly and Knuckles had to be careful to stay hydrated. It was a few hours later, in the mountains outside Achrol, that he arrived at his final destination.

Before him stood a leaning cabin. The windows were dark and cracked, crawling vines edged their way along the walls - dried to a crisp in the merciless heat of the sun. The door was of blistering green paint and the handle solid brass. Knuckles cautiously approached the dwelling, his great body slightly tensed. He knocked on the door. No response. He leaned to look through one of the windows but could make out nothing of the dark interior. He knocked once more and, after not receiving an answer, pushed hard against it.

The door gave way, but not after a surprising amount of effort on Knuckles' part. No sooner had he crossed the threshold than he felt his fur stand on end. The pressure in the room seemed to drop and the air was sucked past him deep into the darkness. He squinted his eyes and slowly raised his fists. He figured this was the way things would play out.