Meanwhile, in orbit above Charity…
Dr. Eggman and Snively remain in the command room of the Final Egg while the Hero of Mobius and Knuckles are bound and shielded, unconscious, in the same room. Robotnik sits in the command chair, legs crossed and hands folded, surveying the planet in the same manner that a man would look over a plot of land he just bought to build a house on.
Robotnik: Give me a status report.
Snively: The Egg Robo unit currently in charge of the ground fleet reports what could possibly be several small settlements, but he hasn't detected any major forces yet. Then again, he hasn't had much time search the planet, and the whole world is foreign to us, now that it's been completely remade, sir.
Robotnik dismisses the remark with a wave of his hand.
Robotnik: Hardly an issue. Once I get down there and establish a settlement, things will progress much more quickly. What about the planet's surface?
Snively: The whole planet seems to be divided into two hemispheres. The upper hemisphere contains a far greater amount of biomass and has better weather conditions. I believe it would be preferable for establishing a settlement.
Robotnik: I'll decide that, Snively. What about the lower half?
Snively: Well, sir, the lower half seems to be largely barren, and the weather is much less docile than in the upper half.
Robotnik: Hm… and resources?
Snively: We're not sure yet, sir.
Robotnik: Give the order to descend. We'll meet up with the Egg Fleet and I'll decide what we do from there.
Snively: Yes, sir.
Robotnik hears stirring behind him.
Robotnik: I believe our guest is waking up, Snively.
Sonic opens his eyes, and everything comes into focus slowly. He comes face-to-face with his archnemesis.
Sonic: Eggman…
Robotnik: That's right, rodent. It's me, you're old enemy.
Tell me… to what do you owe the honor of boarding my ship without permission?
Sonic: Don't flatter yourself, Robuttnik. I came here to get back the Emeralds you stole. The less time I have to spend staring at your ugly face, the better.
Robotnik: Oh, my dear rodent, compliments won't save you now! Alas, you have a very short amount of time left amongst the living. Or, to be more specific, the organic.
Sonic: You can't scare me with your roboticizer, Eggface!
Robotnik: Oh, but it should. After all, once I've roboticized you, you'll be my slave, performing every task I give you with great fervor.
Sonic: Come to think of it, I am getting a little chilled. But not as chilled as you're gonna' be when I bust outta' here and kick your butt!
Robotnik: OH HO HO HO HO!!! And just how do you plan on doing that, rodent?
Sonic: I'll find a way. Can't be that hard, seeing as I always beat you in the end.
Robotnik could feel himself growing angry. If he were still organic, his face would likely be red, reflecting his seething hatred of the blue nuisance.
Robotnik: NOT THIS TIME, YOU ACCURSED HEDGEHOG!!! I'M GOING TO ESTABLISH MY CAPITAL CITY, AND THEN YOU'RE AS GOOD AS MINE!!! YOU HEAR ME, SONIC!? MINE!!!
Sonic: *yawn*
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Say why don't you go ahead and let me outta' here so we can get to the part where I take back the Emeralds and you start throwing a hissy-fit, as usual.
Eggman straightens his posture, and merely shrugs Sonic off.
Robotnik: You won't best me this time Sonic.
Robotnik turns away from Sonic, and smiles to himself.
Robotnik: You know… I always imagined our confrontation after all of this time to be spectacular. A finale which history would regard as the greatest moment of all time… the turning point for the Eggman Empire! The day the Great Dr. Robotnik vanquished his greatest enemy in the most heated battle the world has ever known!
But… it wasn't. It was too easy to defeat you. And it seems I was wrong. Rather than being my greatest enemy, you were…
Robotnik turns back to Sonic, grinning maliciously.
Robotnik: Pathetic!
Sonic: You might have gotten lucky this time, Robotnik, but I'm gonna' bust outta' here, just you wait! And then you'll be sorry you took the Master Emerald and made Angel Island crash into the sea!
Robotnik merely smiles, feeling victorious in this conversation.
Robotnik: I believe that's Knuckles' department. And that's no matter. You'll both be my slaves soon enough.
Snively: Sir, we've arrived at the destination point.
Robotnik: Good! Now I can begin searching for a location suitable for settlement!
Robotnik addresses his "guest" once more.
Robotnik: Don't worry, rodent. Once I establish my new capital city, you can consider yourself roboticized…