In the Metro Bar, an establishment in the poorest part of the Metropolis Zone, a hooded character has come to see resident Smirch about something he wants to buy. Sure enough, Smirch has the purple Chaos Emerald, stolen from the Floating Island under the nose of Knuckles the Echidna. The hooded character would like to buy it, but only after personally examining it. However, Sonic the Hedgehog has burst into the room, proclaiming that it is the real thing and wants to take it back. Smirch reacts quickly, releasing a cloud of poisonous gas, one breath of which would kill anyone. Sonic reacts even quicker, using his arm as a windmill to propel the gas towards a window. The window smashes and the wind takes the gas away. Smirch has escaped, but Sonic accosts the hooded man, questioning his rol