DARK ALLIANCE, Part 2: ELECTION NIGHT
Writer: Ken Penders
Penciler: Jim Valentino
Inker: Harvey "Harvo" Mercadoocasio
Colorist: Frank Gagliardo
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

During a special news bulletin, Pravda announces that he's not going to run for High Councilor anymore and that he'll endorse his own candidate during his rally tomorrow. Stryker sees this as "echidna treachery." Remington sees this and decides that he's going to need extra troops. Knuckles, who's with Vector, Espio, and Mighty, doesn't see to be interested in the least.

However, at the rally, Knuckles, Julie-Su, and the Chaotix are there because Remington called them in. Remington sees them and walks over, while Knuckles asks him if he knows what has changed the "status quo." Remington doesn't know as Pravda arrives in a limo and is followed by another echidna (note: it's an echidna that was with the DL at the end of last issue). Remington says that he doesn't know that person, who Pravda introduces to be the "next High Councilor, Benedict!" Most of the audience applauds. Benedict begins talking and it becomes obvious during his speech that he's a DL. While he talks, DL start appearing all over the place. Benedict ends his speech with "Technology now!! Technology Forever!!! HAIL DIMITRI!"

Watching in Haven is Sabre, Thunderhawk, and Sojourner. Sojourner semi-agrees with what Benedict said about them being "hypocrites" but Sabre disagrees. Before the discussion can be carried any further, an alarm goes off as DL storm in and knock the three out with knock out darts. Kommisar calls the main base to tell them that Haven now belongs to the DL.

At the park, Remington confronts Benedict, who he isn't supporting but is telling him that he could arrest him. Pravda says that Remington can't do that under his order and tells Remington to come with him and Benedict so that they can talk in private. Espio asks Knuckles why didn't he say anything to the High Councilor. Knuckles thinks that something is wrong here because the DL is allowed to just walk around as if nothing's ever happened before. Mighty tells Knuckles that it's best to "live and let live," but Knuckles says he prefers "live and let die!" Vector says that Julie-Su knows what's going on, which Knuckles tells him to cut it out becuase she knows as much as they do. Knuckles and present company start walking the streets, since Knuckles thinks he knows someone who might know something.

Elsewhere, in the slums of Echidnaopolis, Stryker is leading a small group of dingoes and is trying to figure out a way to exploit the current situation to his advantage. He doesn't get to think long before an echidna cyborg comes up from behind and cleans his clock. He tells the rest of the troops present to take Styker to the command center and to put the rest in "the sewers."

Not too far away, Knuckles tells Espio and Mighty that he's never thought about wishing things were like they used to be before Echidnaopolis. Vector notices a truck load of dingoes being driven somewhere just as the echidna cyborg makes his presence known to the group. The cyborg says that Dimitri wants Julie-Su back in the DL, to which she says "no." As a reply, the cyborg fires at Julie-Su and Knuckles takes offence to that as he soars into the air. Knuckles hits the cyborg with a powerful punch, but it has no effect, except to hurt Knuckles' hand. Unfortunately, the cyborg proceeds to knock Knuckles out with one punch and the whole group is in trouble.

In Haven, Moritori Rex enters the command room, where Thunderhawk, Sojourner, and Sabre have been restrained. Moritori calls the DL base to tell them that everyone is accounted for except for Locke and Spectre, who calls a "wild card." After the conversation ends, Knuckles, who's hanging upside down along with Julie-Su and Styker, tells the leader that Benedict is going down once he tells everyone what's going on (note: Knux doesn't know that the leader is Dimitri). Dimitri tells Knuckles that he's more like his descendent than Edmund's, to which Knuckles tells him not to flatter himself and "If this is the worst you can do, wake me when it's over!" Dimitri says that this is only the beginning.

To Be Continued in KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA #24