THE FIRST DATE, Part 3: IT COULD BE LOVE (I Should Have Known Better)
Writer: Ken Penders
Penciler: Chris Allan
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Colorist: Frank Gagliardo
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

Lara-Le hears the doorbell ring and finds that Knuckles has come to visit her. She gives him a hug and asks what brought him here. He tells her that he asked Julie-Su out on a date, but he doesn't know what he's supposed to do so he decided to ask her. Lara-Le tells Knuckles that you spend time getting to know one another and that Locke took her on a picnic and read poetry. Knuckles is surprised and then Lara-Le asks Knuckles when is the date. He tells her that it's Friday and Lara-Le thinks to herself that he can't go out on Friday or else that'll ruin the surprise.

Later, Lara-Le goes to see Julie-Su to talk about the date. Julie-Su tells Lara-Le that she still remembers what she told her, but Lara-Le says she's not trying to discourage their relationship. Lara-Le has an idea for what Julie-Su and Knuckles should do on Friday night (and the conspiracy begins).

The Chaotix are eating in their favorite fast food restaurant. Vector admits he and Julie-Su don't get along, but he's willing to let bygones be bygones if it'll keep the group together. Knuckles sneaks up on them again and he agrees with Vector. The two make-up and become friends again. Watching in Haven is Locke, who gets a call from Lara-Le. She asks Locke if he's doing anything Friday. Locke knows he wrote a reminder to himself about Friday, but he can't remember what it was. Lara-Le takes pity this one time and tells him that Friday is Knuckles' 16th birthday. She's inviting him to the Surprise Party that she and Wyn are giving since she knows Knuckles would like to see him there.

It's Friday and Knuckles is heading over to Julie-Su's apartment to pick her up, when Archy appears to wish him luck. Knuckles reaches Julie-Su's place and rings the bell. Julie-Su tells him that she'll be down in a minute and tells herself to calm down (note: she's wearing a low-cut, short black dress with no practically no back and spaghetti straps with a black jacket). When she meets up with Knuckles, she asks him if he wouldn't mind going to a poetry reading in the Commons' Hall instead. Knuckles is surprised, but goes along with it anyway. When Knuckles and Julie-Su reach the Commons' Hall and Knuckles opens the door, Knuckles is greeted by shouts of "SURPRISE!!" from Lara-Le, Wyn, Locke, Remington, Espio, Mighty, Vector, and the swan from Knuckles #26, who came as Vector's date. Locke and Lara-Le talk to Knuckles and tell him that while they won't get together again, they'll both always be there for him. Knuckles rejoins his party and cuts in between Remington and Julie-Su, who takes off her jacket once she starts dancing with Knuckles. Knuckles tells her that tonight is really special for him and she says to just have fun. Knuckles asks about their date and Julie-Su says that there's always next weekend. Knuckles agrees and...Knuckles and Julie-Su kiss on the lips!!


BELOW THE BELT
Writer: Ken Penders
Pencilers: Manny Galan & Andrew Pepoy (page 3)
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

Mighty opens the vault and not only is the gem that Nic wanted inside, but so is Ray. Mighty asks Ray if he's been here the whole time since they thought he disappeared. Ray says that it only seems like hours ago when he, Sonic, and Mighty went to Robotnik's lab. Mighty and Sonic engaged Robotnik's Swatbots, while he went for the power stone. Once he touched it, he felt himself disappear. Sonic grabbed Mighty and headed for Ray as fast as he could. The two went through some energy field and thought they got Ray. Mighty continues that the stone and energy field disappeared and then Mighty started to tear up the lab (literally) in anger over the loss of Ray. Robotnik sent his Swatbots after Mighty and Sonic, while he escaped with Fiona. Sonic told Mighty to have faith because strange things happen with power gems and he might see Ray again. Fiona then says that Robotnik took her to another lab and made a robot duplicate of her and then left her to rot in her cell. She dug her way out and she met Nic right outside. Fiona warned Nic about the place and the two have been friends ever since. Ray is still stuck between zones though. Nic blasts the power gem and it disappears into another zone, while Ray is returned to this one. Nic says that Ray owes her, but Mighty says that he'll handle it because she gave him back his best friend.

Next Story is in ARCHIE & FRIENDS: A HALLOWEEN TALE