"Action trumps depression. Confronted with a situation in which our feelings of powerlessness are more than just feelings, we choose to fight the odds, as an existential statement. We bellow our savage war cry in the face of the Roman Legions. We swim against the tidal wave. We attack Goliath with a slingshot, and throw stones at a Sherman tank, and ravage ICBMs with our ball peen hammer. We actively reject the reality of our helplessness; and as we assert defiance, we fan the embers of humanity wherever they live within ourselves and our brothers and sisters."

Josh Mitteldorf

"At last, after many years of research and effort, I have finally gathered all seven of the chaos emeralds to power my dimension portal."

Dr. Robotnik tweaked the last two nobs on his machine, and stepped back to behold the most sophisticated machinery he has ever assembled. It took his entire interior of his space carrier to store this machine. The Chaos Emeralds were statistically inserted on the outer rims of the gaping oval, in order to channel its energy to the portal. His robot assistant slowly rolled right beside him, holding a power button in its claws.

"I should warn you, master. There is a chance that the energy from the portal could rupture, annihilating the ship and create a vortex that can destroy existence as we know it."

Robotnik smiled slightly, "Every great expedition has its chance of failure, my little friend. Activate the machine, unit 021."

"As you command, Lord Robotnik"

The robot clamped the button down. Blinding white light blasted from the machine's inner oval and hurled small bolts of white lighting through the room. The carrier trembled greatly when the emeralds began to glow. After minutes of anticipation the shaking stopped, and the vortex forming in the oval began illuminating dark colors mixing with white. The bolts stopped forming as well. The robot stored the button in its inner compartment.

"Sir, the machine is stabilized." It reported.

The robot looked up at its master and noticed a tear running down his cheek. Realizing what has been achieved, Robotnik opened his arms as wide as he could, smiling from cheek to cheek.

"I have opened a path into a new future. I can finally create a world where suffering no longer holds a meaning, and I will be standing as their sole leader. No longer do we have to fight diseases or wage wars…I will be held as a god!"

Just then the large metal door that sealed them in slammed opened behind him. A robotic soldier stumbled into the large room, with his cannon-like arm smoking and a sparking-gaping hole on its stomach.

"C-Commander…bzzzzz…They're here…bzzzzz…It's Son-."

Its beaming red eyes dimmed as it toppled to the floor. A flash of blue appeared over the metal corps, with four other figures appearing behind it.

"Sonic!" Robotnik yelled with anger, "I won't let you stop me, not this time!"

"That's what you always say before I send you packing, Eggman!" Sonic boasted as Tails, Knuckles, and Amy ran beside their longtime friend.

Robotnik began to slowly back away, laughing menacingly, "I'm afraid you're too late. My machine is completed, and there is nothing you can do to stop me once I step inside my portal. Unit 021, annihilate Sonic; I want his blood sprinkled all over the floor when you slash his throat."

"AS YOU COMMAND!"

The robot began shifting its own body wildly into an undefinable shape. Sharp metal points swirled within the robot. The only parts of the robot that Sonic and the others could make out are its deformed legs and arms. Tails began to step back when he saw its head form, its teeth sticking out; longer than half its head. A small metal dagger shot from its arm, dripping oil from its sharp tip. It screeched a bone-chilling shrill and charged. Before Sonic had time to react it jumped on him, if he didn't put his hands in front of himself it would have stuck it's dagger through his skull right then. Sonic felt pain shot from his hands when he held it.

"Somebody get this thing off of me!" He pleaded.

Amy thought quickly and swung her giant hammer at it, knocking it back several feet. It quickly recovered though, and Sonic began side stepping to avoid being chopped.

"Shadow, grab an emerald! We have to shut it down before he steps into the portal!" Sonic shouted just dodging a swing.

Robotnik looked to his left and saw Shadow mysteriously appearing at the side of the machine. He grabbed the emerald farthest away from the portal, yanking it with all of his might. It popped out; the Carrier trembled wildly, jerking in all directions, small pieces of metal began sheering from the sides of the room, exposing the very vacuum of space.

"You Imbecile!" Robotnik shouted at him, just inches from the machine, "You've doomed us all!"

Robotnik began running from the machine as the portal hurled white lightning all over the room, heavy duty cranes and small high-tech air fighters came crashing down. The emeralds ceased shining, and the portal began changing colors.

"We have to get out of here!" Knuckles shouted.

Loud, chronic noises roared from the machine. The portal expanded, engulfing the machine. The next thing Sonic knew is being blinded by a bright light…Before blacking out.

---

AUTHOR'S NOTES

I know this chapter is a little short, but read on. I have a lot more in store than just this. I also noticed on my charts that a lot of my readers are dropping when they first read the prologue.

I am urging you, please give this a chance.