abstract
| - Sonic presents a gift to his parents Jules and Bernadette Hedgehog: new wedding bands made from Power Rings. Nate Morgan, one of the creators, compliments his partner and student, Sir Charles Hedgehog, on his work on the Rings. Chuck is appreciative, but admits that he's uncomfortable with the fact that the creation of the Power Rings was credited to him exclusively when Nate originally conceived of them. Nate explains that King Maximillian Acorn chose to do that to keep him from being branded a traitor. Nate bids the group goodbye and Sonic is summoned to Castle Acorn by Sally. The princess herself, having contacted the other Freedom Fighters, converses with NICOLE, who questions why King Max hasn't been informed of their findings. Sally responds that she wants to be "one-hundred percent sure," and her brother Elias then questions what she wants to be so sure of. NICOLE suggests confiding in Elias, but Sally hesitates. Elias understands, as they have only recently met and neither knew of the other's existence until a short time ago. He hopes that they can have a strong relationship, particularly as their father's kingship prevent him from having much personal time with them. Sally admits that her own life has been turned upside down since Elias' arrival, especially upon learning that he would take the throne. Elias confesses that he doesn't want the throne. Meanwhile, in orbit, Snively cowers at the feet of his mysterious abductor, who proceeds to activate the last of the satellites surrounding Mobius. On the surface, Sally reveals to the assembled Freedom Fighters that she and NICOLE have discovered the existence of the satellites, and are determined to identify them. As the satellites begin to connect to each other, Sally explains the sequence in which each has activated, and the Freedom Fighters begin to see links to recent events. These include the break out from Devil's Gulag, avalanches in the Southern Tundra preceding Sonic's battle with Ixis Naugus, a Robian attack at the Lost Temple of Shazamazon, and the recent meteor shower that struck Mobotropolis. Yet another satellite activated at the time of Snively's supposed demise, and Elias-included in the meeting-wonders if the Overlander's death may have been a ruse. The activation of two more satellites coincided with the time beam that nearly destroyed reality, and with the interference in King Acorn's Telecrate broadcast. Sally immediately resolves to inform her father, just as Max himself enters the meeting. NICOLE suddenly detects the activation of the final satellite over Knothole, and the eight satellites-R, O, B, O, T, N, I, and K-unite to form the ROBOTNIK ORBITAL PLATFORM. Fearing the consequences of the satellite's activation, Sonic rushes to Knothole-and finds it deserted. Meanwhile, the platform, Sonic's shocking discovery is celebrated-by Dr. Robotnik?
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