CHILDHOOD'S END
Writer: Ken Penders
Penciler: Manny Galan
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Colorist: Mark Bernardo
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

Knuckles and Julie-Su are checking out what remains of the DL latest base. While Knuckles holds up Benedict's head, he notices someone's reflection and without saying anything takes off after the person. When Knuckles gets outside he asks the person to stop. The person does and when the person turns around, Knuckles discovers that it's his father. Knuckles runs up to him and gives him a hug, which Locke returns. Locke says that they have a lot to talk about, but not here. By the time Julie-Su makes it outside, Knuckles and Locke are nowhere in site. Julie-Su is upset that Knuckles has run off again without saying anything and calls Knuckles a "jerk" as not far away we see a shuttle taking off.

In the shuttle, Locke is taking Knuckles to Haven, which Knuckles asks Locke to explain. Locke begins the story by saying Haven was built by the fire-ants for Steppenwolf to carry out his duties. Soon Steppenwolf noticed that to protect the chaos emerald, he'd have to pay attention to the outside world as well. The first visitors to the Floating Island were overlanders led by Brutus Kintobor of the House of Ivo. They pretended to come in peace, but before they could attack Steppenwolf, their brains were attacked. Steppenwolf promised to cease their pain as long as they promised not to set foot on the Floating Island again, which they promised. According to Locke, Steppenwolf's allies, the fire-ants, caused the pain by using their telepathic powers together. Christopheles had an idea for Steppenwolf.

There's a pause in the story as the shuttle lands in Haven and Locke tells Knuckles that Haven wasn't always a secret to the current Guardian and then continues the tale. Christopheles told Steppenwolf that more than one Guardian is needed, so Steppenwolf brought his son Moonwatcher to Haven. Steppenwolf told Moonwatcher that it was Moonwatcher's duty to protect the island while he made sure the natives on the Mobian mainland were friendly or not. They switched duties every once in a while. Moonwatcher's son Harlan joined the group later on. So did Harlan's son, Rembrandt, who named the group "The Brotherhood." Everything was fine, until Rembrandt's oldest son Aaron joined the group. On Aaron's third scouting trip of Mobius, he ran into an overlander squadron. He ran away only to find out Menniker and the DL had escaped the zone Steppenwolf exiled them to and that there's a missle aimed at the Floating Island. The overlanders' leader doesn't want their plans to go to waste so he fires the missle. Aaron grabs on and attempts to damage the guidance controls. Menniker jumps on top of Aaron to stop him and let's slip that one of the controls is the detonator. Aaron says "Thanks for telling me!" as he pulls the switch and the missle blows up killing Aaron and Menniker. The Brotherhood was saddened by Aaron's death and decided to make sure nothing like that happened again. Jordan, Aaron's younger brother, asked Rembrandt to train him to be "the Guardian that Aaron can never be." As a result, the Brotherhood decided to have Rembrandt train Jordan by himself and keep the rest of the family a secret (note: how Locke raised Knuckles).

Locke tells Knuckles that the only way Knuckles could've learned self-reliance was to provide an environment where Knuckles thought he was alone, even though he never was. Locke says that it's very important for Knuckles more so than any other Guardian. Knuckles asks why and that Locke has his undivided attention if he'll tell him. Locke had a dream that was more like a nightmare that was either induced by the Ancient Walkers or a vision of the future. In the dream, an older Knuckles is alone and facing off against an enormous Robotnik-like robot. However, before Locke can find out who wins, the dream ends in a flash of light. The dreams were so persistent that he asked Athair for advice. Athair told Locke that he saw the future, which might have some hope if he prepares for it. After a moment of silence, Knuckles asks Locke what did Athair tell Locke to do. Locke tells Knuckles that Athair told him "to reconcile the past with present into the next generation," which meant that Locke used forbidden technological and biological enhancements on himself so that Knuckles would be more than just a normal child. Also, after Knuckles was born (in an egg since echidnas lay eggs), Knuckles' egg was given a radiation bath by the full power of the chaos emerald. Locke knew everything worked out once Knuckles was hatched. Knuckles wants to know how. Locke takes off his gloves and his hands are "normal" while Knuckles' hands have the protruding knuckles. Knuckles wants to know why is it him. Locke tells Knuckles what Athair told him, "Though the Brotherhood cannot fight the future, you can create its Savior!" Knuckles is incredibly surprised and says that he'd just be happier being Locke's son. Locke tells Knuckles that he had to choose "between sacrificing a world or siring a son to save it." Knuckles admits that would be tough decision, too. The two walk off together deciding to spend sometime together as they each exchange "I love you!"

Next Story is in KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA #26