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Robotnik, being the one to always search for
a new source of power, stumbles upon an ancient
sunken ship with unknown origins. Inside the engine
of this he discovers an incredible fuel.. which is
in fact not a liquid, but a mythical stone, with
the infinite power of an Emerald but the ability
to expell it faster. Despite it being a dangerous,
nearly uncontrollable raw force, he tries his best
to harness the energy.

During the process however, the weak machine he
uses explodes violently, the roaring noise being
heard by the Freedom Fighters. Knowing that it must
be 'botnik, they rush to the site, finding the old
starship.. but no one there.

Getting even more curious, they begin to
investigate, and enter the Starship, not expecting
the many Swatbots that awaited within, with Robotnik
backing them up. Apparently, the ship was appropriate
shelter from the blast, unharmed, although the
outside was quite scorched and much of the water
evaporated.

Since there was little space, they were quickly
captured, not even Sonic being able to escape.

They, however, were not the only one to see the
explosion.. the other who did had the best view of
it all.

Knuckles the Echidna.