THE CHAOTIX CAPER, Part 3: PICKING UP THE PIECES
Writer: Ken Penders
Penciler: Manny Galan
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

In the hospital, Dr. Loony, who's telling jokes to keep himself from vomitting, performs the transfusion which saves Charmy life.

Meanwhile, Julie-Su decides she doesn't plan on dying yet and takes out her gun and a grappling hook from her boots (that's where she stores them just in case you don't know). She loads the grappling hook and then fires it. She stops falling and begins to swing toward a window, which she crashes through. Julie-Su lands on the bed of a married couple and wakes up the wife, who tries to wake her husband yelling "There's a stranger in our bed!" Julie-Su leaves the apartment, but before she can run down the stairs, she's grabbed by Remington, who has a safer way out. The safer way only has one guard, who is knocked out by Remington, instead of "everyone." They get in Harry's cab and Remington instructs Harry to follow the limo to which Harry replies, "Is that all? Hang on to your seats!" In the limo, which goes into the Axis Chemical Plant, Ebony doesn't realize that he's being followed and calls someone called "Professor" and tells him to shut down the operation and prepare to move.

Back in the hospital, Mighty says that Charmy will be all right and asks Vector "Where's Espio?" Vector isn't concerned since he's trying to fix his walkman. Espio shouts "Boo" startling Mighty and then materializes behind him. Vector announces that his walkman is fixed and that he "zeroed in on the police band" and he heard that "Dudley Do-Right and Julielocks are going medieval in the Southtowns."

Remington and Julie-Su climb up a ladder on a tower across from the Axis Chemical Plant. Remington knocks out the guard who was watching a soccer game, while Julie-Su fires her grappling hook across to the factory. They go across the rope to the factory, while two guards decide that they're going to get "some zee's" if it gets any quieter. Remington and Julie-Su enter the building through a window a couple of floors up. Ebony is conversing with the Professor, who is finishing another batch of "secret sauce" instead of closing down shop like Ebony ordered.

Meanwhile, the Chaotix (minus Charmy) have reached the Southtowns. Mighty asks Vector if he's sure he heard Remington broadcasting from here, to which Vector assures him. Espio spots Harry's cab and goes in "stealth" mode before opening the door and finds himself staring at a gun. Harry tells him that they shouldn't sneak up on people, while Espio re-materializes. Then Harry tells them that Remington and Julie-Su went into the chemical plant and no one has come out since. The Chaotix decide that they're going to check out things for themselves.

In the plant, the Professor is pleading with Ebony to let him finish his work, while Ebony has Blackjack shut down the plant. Everyone hears a "k-kling!" Ebony pulls out a gun and shouts that the person better come out to die easy, or the person can die the hard way. Blackjack starts seaching for the possible intruder and Remington comes from behind and hits him with a plank of wood. Unfortunately, it has absolutely no effect on Blackjack (except the wood breaks) and Blackjack slams Remington into some crates, which bury him. Ebony starts firing shots at Remington, but is surprised to see, swinging toward him, Julie-Su, who becomes his new target. When Julie-Su lands, she finds Ebony with his gun aimed at her head. However, just as he fires he gets punched by a ghost and the shot goes wild. The "ghost" turns out to be Espio, who takes away the gun, while Julie-Su clocks Ebony. Meanwhile, Blackjack tries to get Remington, and is surprised to find himself lifted in the air by Mighty. Mighty sends Blackjack flying and Blackjack is seeing "birdies" when he lands. Foxy tries to run away, but is grabbed by Vector, who was hiding in the shadows. A little later, Harry is in his cab watching EST cars head into the plant. Mighty is surprised something like this could happen in Echidnaopolis, but Remington tells him that there are "predators" in all societies. Julie-Su asks him if this is it, and Remington says that there's "one loose end to take care off." In the morning, Remington is in Happyland confiscating all the sauce, which Renfield agrees to because if he didn't Remington would have him arrested.

Meanwhile, Knuckles (being watched by Locke and Sabre) wants to go home and somehow creates a tunnel that he walks into and then disappears. Sabre believes that they should discuss Knuckles' powers before the entire Brotherhood, which Locke doesn't think is necessary. Sabre is concerned because Knuckles' powers seem similar to Enerjak's abilities. End discussion.

The Chaotix and Julie-Su arrive in Goldenhive Colony. Charmy first says hi to his family while hugging his mother. Charmy then speaks to Mello's parents, who are crying over Mello's coffin. During Mello's funeral, Charmy says that Mello's parents have forgiven him, but Charmy hasn't forgiven himself. While dropping a rose on Mello's coffin, which is now in the ground, Charmy says "My best friend and I would never share the sun ever again. But he would be in my heart always." After the funeral, Charmy thanks Espio, Mighty, Julie-Su, and Vector for being there for him. The next day, Charmy accepts his crown as Prince and future King of the Goldenhive Colony, to the delight of the Chaotix, Julie-Su, the bees, and Mello, who's face you can see watching in the clouds.

"I had left home not wanting to grow up, only to learn that I had no choice in the matter. I thought I would always have fun with my friends, and found in my family something more meaningful instead. Funny how things work out in the end." --Charmy

Next Story is in KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA #16