LOST PARADISE, Part 3: ZERO HOUR...AND COUNTING
Writer: Ken Penders
Penciler: Manny Galán
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

On the Floating Island, the Chaotix are waiting for Knuckles to get back. Vector thinks Julie-Su is going to do something to Knuckles, then a quake rocks the entire island. The Chaotix wonder what is going on, but figure that Knuckles knows.

Knuckles and Archimedes appear in Lara-Le's bedroom and Knuckles is prepared to "kick some dingo butt." They remain in the room because a dingo heard a noise and decides to check out the room. Knuckles beats up that dingo and sends him flying into another. He proceeds to KO the dingo holding his mother while an echidna that was supposed to be a hostage joins in and takes out another dingo. Archimedes states that there are more on the way and that its time to get out. When the dingoes' reinforcements arrive, all the see are their unconscious friends. Outside the housing complex, Remington is told by one of his officers that he's been ordered back to base. He and Julie-Su reach the van and the passengers inside surprise them.

In Hawking's inner sanctum, Hawking is visited by a fire-ant named Deo Volente. Hawking receives a transmission from Locke that explains that Robotnik's Ultimate Annihilator destroyed all life for an instant and is causing barriers between zones to break down. That's why the Dark Legion was able to get free from their zone and Echidnaopolis is returning. However, the dingoes' city and Echidnaopolis are trying to return to the same exact spot and one city will be destroyed while the other one survives.

Knuckles, Remington, Archimedes, Julie-Su, Lara-Le, and Wynmacher are riding back to the police station and Knuckles says that they didn't rescue everyone. Remington tells him that it's all right and leaves to attend "matters needing immediate attention." Knuckles sends Archimedes to find out what's going on, while he and his mother have a little talk. Lara-Le explains that she learned that she wouldn't have a say in Knuckles' upbringing and couldn't live with that and left. Remington returns, but before he can discuss the plan, another quake rocks the city. This time, however, some dingoes are transported to Echidnaopolis and some echidnas are transported to the dingoes city.

Stryker has the echidnas taken prisoner and has Field Commander (FC) Rat put them on display. One echidna says to FC Rat that they would rather die than follow his orders. FC Rat tells his men, "ready--aim--fire." However, that was FC Rat's version of a joke and tells the echidnas that they don't know when it'll be real. The party ends as Knuckles and Julie-Su arrive and easily take out the dingoes. The outspoken echidna leads Knuckles and Julie-Su to the dingoes headquarters. Another quake rocks the area, and when Julie-Su falls down, Knuckles tries to help her, but she tells him that she doesn't need his help. Meanwhile, the buildings of both cities are starting to fall apart.

Finally, Knuckles, Julie-Su, and the former hostages reach Stryker's room. Knuckles and Stryker start fighting and Julie-Su tells everyone to get out like Knuckles said. Simultaneously, Hawking tells Remington to get everyone to safety while Hawking prepares to use his Hyper Zone Projector again. Knuckles and Julie-Su knock Stryker senseless, while everyone in both cities get to their underground bunkers and are safe. Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Stryker are saved from the collapsing building by Archimedes who teleports them to the dingoes' bunkers. Once the last and biggest quake ends, Archimedes teleports everyone in the dingoes' bunkers to Echidnaopolis' bunkers. Remington and Stryker are about to fight, but Knuckles steps in and says, "Right about now, I figure cool thinking is called for." Stryker promises to be peaceful and as everyone leaves the bunkers, everyone realizes the dingoes city has been destroyed, while Echidnaopolis is back on the Floating Island. Knuckles and Archimedes go to Hawking's inner sanctum and find the place trashed and only Deo Volente is there. Deo gives the hat Hawking wore when Hawking was the acting Guardian to Knuckles and disappears. Knuckles is upset that he still isn't getting his questions answered, but tries on the hat anyway. Archimedes says, "Definitely you, m'boy! Definitely you!"

Next Story is in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #52