AFTERLIFE, Part 1
Writer: Ken Penders
Penciler: Art Mawhinney
Inker: Ken Penders
Colorist: Jason Jensen
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

Mitre Kali-Ca is speaking at Knuckles' funeral. At the funeral are Julie-Su, Simon, Floren-Ca, Mighty, Vector, Espio, Komi-Ko, Remington, Lara-Le, Wyn, Locke, and away from the others, Sabre and Thunderhawk (no Sojourner or Spectre). While Kali-Ca speaks about Knuckles' devotion and sacrifice (we also learn that legal age for echidnas is 16), everyone above is shown to be in mourning--particularly Vec, Julie, Remington, Lara-Le, & Espio who get their own panels devoted to them.

Meanwhile, Knuckles in a more ghostly, but still green, state is able to watch his own funeral and finds that to be weird. He's greeted by Steppenwolf who tells him that they don't die but evolve to a higher plan. Moonwatcher, Rembrandt, Jordan, Harlan, Tobor, Janelle-Li, Hawking, and Aaron appear with Steppenwolf. Harlan explains that this is because they are tied to the chaos force. Knuckles waves his hand in front of Sabre and wonders why Sabre can't see him doing it. Hawking explains that Sabre is on a lower plane of existence and that no one can see above the plane existence that they are on--but they can observe things from planes below them. The plane of existence above the one Knux is currently on is the Chaos Force itself, and currently Athair and the Ancient Walkers are on that one. Tobor explains that at the center of the Chaos Force is Aurora, "mother of all that lives." Her heralds come to take someone to "claim their final reward." Knuckles says that this sounds like something Lara-Le tried to teach him. Janelle-Li said that Locke would have, but Locke prefered that Knuckles come up with his own beliefs instead of necessarily believing things just because Locke did. She also tells Knuckles that while Locke may know about Knux evolving, that doesn't mean that he was ready for it and that it's not painful.

Kali-Ca is still talking while a blinding light appears. Steppenwolf sees the heralds (they look like normal chao, but redish with yellow eyes) and says that they've come to take someone to the Chaos Force. Moonwatcher figures that they've come for Steppenwolf, but the heralds go toward Knuckles and tell him that "The Chaos Force has chosen you!" Just as the funeral ends, Knuckles begins being transported to another plane.

To Be Continued in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #122