LOST PARADISE, Part 1: THE PHANTOM CITY
Writer: Ken Penders
Penciler: Manny Galán
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

Vector is swimming when he spots a Dark Legionnaire walking by his pond, and he decides to attack the Legionnaire. Unfortunately, this one can fight and knocks out Vector and comments "I've got other echidna to fry."

Meanwhile, Archimedes is trying to teach Knuckles how to meditate, which Knuckles thinks is "mystic mumbo-jumbo." Fortunately, Archimedes sees the Legionnaire sneaking up on Knuckles. Knuckles takes the warning and ends up knocking down the Legionnaire to the ground. When he takes off the hood, he discovers that it's a girl. She uses his surprise to punch Knuckles, but before she can use her electric gun on Knuckles, Archimedes burns her hand. The girl tells them her name is Julie-Su and that Kragok activated the self-destruct sequence. Julie-Su was going to leave, but she saw Knuckles run by. She tried to follow him because she knew that she had to, but she doesn't know why.

Suddenly, the Chaotix appear, and Vector wants a rematch. However, Mighty and Knuckles keep Julie-Su and Vector away from each other. Espio and Vector tell Knuckles that the ground was shaking in the Marble Zone. Julie-Su mentions that it could be her "former comrades" testing a weapon, to which Vector responds that she's still wearing their uniform. Julie-Su takes it off, and Knuckles tells Vector to give her a chance. Knuckles decides that everyone should watch the island while he and Archimedes check out the problem. Julie-Su insists that she comes along, and Knuckles gives in and lets her come. Meanwhile, Knuckles' father is watching the whole thing from Haven and is joined by another echidna, who refers to him as "Locke."

Hours later, Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Archimedes are searching around the ruins. Knuckles and Julie-Su are about to have their zillionth verbal fight, when the ground shakes and a city appears. However, the city disappears just as quickly. Locke and the other echidna remark that "all our careful planning--up in smoke--just like that." The city reappears again and Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Archimedes go through a portal and enter the city. The city turns out to be Echidnaopolis. No one seems to acknowledge their presence until a woman shouts, "Knuckles!" The woman turns out to be Knuckles' mother, who Knuckles thought was dead. Before they can really talk, the city and everyone disappears from the Floating Island, leaving Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Archimedes in the ruins.

Knuckles is angry because he knows that he's been lied to and thinks Archimedes knows why he's kept in the dark about everything. Archimedes isn't forced to answer because the ground shakes again. The ground opens up underneath Knuckles, but he doesn't fall far, because Julie-Su grabs his leg. Knuckles pulls himself up and tells her that he didn't need her help and could've saved himself. Echidnaopolis appears again, and the three go into the city, but all the echidnas are in a panic. Echidnas believe that the quakes mean the end has come for them. Knuckles decides that they need to find his mother because she'll tell them what's going on. Julie-Su finds a statue of Guardian Hawking, which says that he is responsible for the salvation of their civilization with his Hyper-Zone Projector. Knuckles figures that would explain things, but that reflection is short-lived as five echidnas dressed in police uniforms confront the trio.

To Be Continued in KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA #5