OOC: Bit late, but here it is. Sorry for the wait.
No sooner than Eggman and Snively rush into to the bridge do they see what has become the planet which once belonged to Dr. Eggman.
Robotnik: Oh, my…
The entire surface of Mobius has been destroyed.
Robotnik: Snively… get me a reading…
Snively rushes over to his new station, still panting from the trip all the way to the bridge.
Snively: Sir, *pant*
readings indicate *gasp*
that the entire planet *wheeze*
has been glassed…
Eggman, whose robotic body remains unaffected from the trip, gazes upon the shiny sphere.
Robotnik: Impossible…
Impossible!
NO object is capable of such destruction, I don't care if it's powered by all 7 Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald!
Snively begins to regain his breath.
Snively: It would seem this one does, sir.
Robotnik: I CAN SEE THAT, YOU IDIOT!!!
What I'm saying is that there's no possible way for that ship to be so powerful unless its powered by all of the Emeralds.
Snively: But I thought you just said--
Robotnik: I know what I said, and don't be ridiculous! When all of the Emeralds are combined, their power is limitless!
Snively: But I--
Robotnik: Are you going to stand their objecting all day, or are you going to get to work!?
Snively: Work!? Doing what!?
Robotnik: I DON'T KNOW!!! DARN IT, EVERY TIME I GET A FOOTHOLD ON THIS BLASTED PLANET, SOMETHING ALWAYS COMES AND UNRAVELS EVERYTHING I'VE WORKED FOR!!!
Snively: Um, sir…
Robotnik: SHUT IT!!!
First, it was that stupid Kishin! I had the world in my grasp, and he blew me up! Then I came into contact with that dreaded Warpstone, which not only turned Metal Sonic against me, but also drove me to nearly destroy the planet myself!
Snively: But--
And now, when I've come so close to re-establishing the Eggman Empire, this THING comes and glasses over MY planet!!!
IT'S JUST NOT FAIR!!!
Snively: Sir!
Robotnik: WHAT?!
Snively: Look!
Robotnik: What!? What are you--
Robotnik stops mid-sentence as he looks back out to the planet, which is rapidly transforming before his eyes.
Robotnik: Impossible…
Get me another reading!
Snively, who had been awe-struck, snaps back to reality.
Snively: Y-yes, sir!
After a few more moments at his station, Snively.
Snively: … It's incredible, sir! The glass layer has been completely removed, and planet regeneration is occurring at an astonishing rate! Almost 93% of the Mobian biosphere has been regenerated, and that percentage rising.
Robotnik: I know who's behind this…
All of this…
Snively: … Sir?
Robotnik: The Crow…
Snively: Oh…
Robotnik: Indeed… the Crow has regenerated this world…
Snively notices a small chuckle from behind.
Robotnik: Oh, ho ho… Ho-ho-ho…
Suddenly, Eggman bursts into a maniacal laugh.
Robotnik: OH HO HO HO HO HO!!!
This is perfect! With the world completely restored, I can begin all over! Now, I'll be able to rebuild everything with more cities, more troops, more weapons, and more resources!
(Not to mention new subjects for roboticization!)
I'll take the planet all over again!
Snively: Sir, the other fleet has already retreated.
Robotnik walks up to the window and stares past Charity, to the point in space where the Loyalist fleet once was.
Robotnik: You have my deepest appreciation, Crow, for delivering to me a fresh world to conquer! OH HO HO HO!!!
Shadow: It seems as though I've walked in at a positive time.
Robotnik and Snively turn in surprise to face Shadow the Hedgehog, a black-and-red artificial lifeform created by Dr. Eggman's grandfather.
Robotnik: What!? How did you get in here!?
Shadow: Hmph. It was not difficult. I was searching through what little forestry remained on the planet for any signs of the Chaos Emeralds when I felt a great disturbance. I felt the ground tremble and witnessed a tower rise up into the sky.
I knew I recognized the face at the top of the tower, so I used Chaos Control to gain access to this facility. No sooner than I had entered, the entire facility began to shake, and I became determined to find out what was happening. I searched and found you here.
Robotnik: I see… and why did you come here, Shadow?
Shadow: … I've come because I can't remember my own past.
Robotnik rolls his eyes and thinks:
Robotnik: Again?
He is about to say so aloud, but Eggman stops for a moment, and smiles at a sudden realization.
Robotnik: Of course you can't remember! You were taken captive by Sonic and brainwashed to serve his sinister purposes.
Shadow: "Sonic"…?
Robotnik: Yes… He's a spiny annoying blue hedgehog… and your mortal enemy.
Shadow: … I do remember… we fought…
Robotnik: Indeed! You worked as my agent in searching for the Chaos Emeralds up until you were captured a few months ago by that miserable blue hedgehog.
Shadow: Intriguing… tell me more.
Robotnik: I will, but first I need to know something.
Shadow: Hmph. Very well. What do you wish to know?
Robotnik: You mentioned the Chaos Emeralds earlier on. Did you happen to stumble upon them during your time away?
Shadow: Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate any of the Chaos Emeralds at any point in time.
Robotnik: That is unfortunate… but no matter! I'll regather them all soon enough. And with your help, I'm certain I'll be able to gather them in no time at all!
Shadow: I am not your slave. You can locate the gems without my assistance.
Robotnik: Why, you little-- er, Shadow, my dear hedgehog, you do wish to regain your memories, don't you?
Shadow: I…
Robotnik: What about Maria? Don't you wish to know about her?
At the mention of Maria's name, Shadow's eyes widen, and he sees a vision of a female human.
Shadow: Maria--!?
Robotnik smiles.
Robotnik: I'll tell you everything once I've regained all of the Chaos Emeralds.
Robotnik steps down from his command chair and extends his hand towards Shadow, who initially glares at the doctor… reluctantly responds by reaching out and shaking the doctor's hand with a sense of defeat.
Shadow: I shall… do as you command…
Robotnik: Welcome to the Eggman Empire!
Shadow: …
Robotnik: Now, why don't you make your way to the cafeteria? I'm certain you've built up an appetite after being away for so long.
Shadow: No.
Robotnik: Very well. I'll have one of my Egg Pawns escort your quarters.
Shadow: I don't need assistance.
As soon as Shadow exits the room, Snively inquires of his uncle.
Snively: Sir, why didn't you just roboticize him?
Robotnik: Because, Snively, Shadow is more valuable to me in his flesh-and-blood state.
Robotnik smiles again.
Robotnik: For now.
Suddenly, an alarm blare over the intercom.
Robotnik: *sigh*
It's just one thing after another…
Snively rushes to his station and checks the readings.
Snively: Sir! SIR! We've got an intruder! A blue hedgehog has been spotted in--
Robotnik: A BLUE HEDGEHOG?!
Snively: Indeed, sir!
Robotnik: Send in all available troops! I want that hedgehog captured and brought to me alive!
Snively: At once, sir!
Robotnik: Oh, how glorious! Not only does this day bear witness to the rebirth of Mobius and the Eggman Empire; it will now witness my final capture of my hated nemesis!
Not to mention, now that I've added Shadow to, the Chaos Emeralds are as good as mine!
Sonic and Knuckles walk through the hallway of the Final Egg Fortress, trying to figure out what's going on.
Sonic: C'mon, Knuckles! I know Eggman's hiding around here someplace!
Knuckles: I'm more concerned about finding out where we are and what happened to this place.
Sonic: Yeah, well, I'm just itchin' to kick the scrap out of Egghead's toys for a change.
Knuckles: Is fighting all you can think about!?
Sonic: That, and chili dogs. And this coming from--
Suddenly, alarms sound, and within seconds, the hallway they are in flood with E-series robots.
Sonic: That's more like it!
Sonic gets ready to charge, but he's stopped by Knuckles.
Knuckles: Sonic, wait! We can't just--
Sonic: Eggman's probably got the Master Emerald locked away somewhere! You really wanna' just sit here and wait?
Knuckles realizes that Sonic has a point.
Knuckles: Fine; just don't get in my way.
Sonic: Alright! Time to party!