"Carry him in!" Espio commands, and Blaze and Shadow carry a familiar black form into Sonic's house. He is unconscious, so he cannot do much harm. Even so, I go ridged as my old nemesis is layed down on Sonic's bed.

"Number 96 Black Mist," I whisper inaudibly. "Why is he still living...?"

"You know him?" Amy asks, eyeing Black Mist closely. "He looks a lot like you. Is he your brother or something?"

I shake my head. "The answer to your second question is no. We are not brothers. To your first question, yes. Number 96 Black Mist is my enemy. We fought on multiple occasions."

Black Mist groans and starts stirring. He does not wake up, though, which I am grateful for. It is bad enough with the Barians still alive. I do not need this evil Number to fight me.

"Does he have any relationship with the Barians?" Tails asks, looking over at me. "Maybe that'll help us determine whether me might help us track them down or not."

"He worked with the Barians some years ago," I explain. "With Vector, actually. Vector ended up betraying him in the end, so I suppose he might."

Tails looks back to Black Mist, examining the Number. "Interesting." Right now would be a really bad time for Black Mist to wake up, what with Tails examining him like a specimen. "Shadow, do you mind if we leave him at your house?"

"Sure, as long as we restrain him somehow," Shadow responds, crossing his black and red arms.

"Simple rope will not do," I inform them. "You will need something stronger like..." I think for a while. Then, I summon the Dark Magician. "Do you think you can make something that will restrain a Number?"

Dark Magician thinks for a while. "I believe I can...just allow me a moment to see if it will work."

I nod, and Dark Magician goes back into the deck. After a while, he comes back with golden rope.

"This is certain to contain that Number. It is as strong as the chain that held Exodia, and he was more powerful than any other monster, so I an positive that it will work."

I take the rope, thanking the magician. He nods and goes back. I take the rope to Shadow.

"This will restrain him," I say, giving the rope to the black hedgehog.

"Okay. Knuckles! Bring that Number with you and come with me!" Shadow orders.

Grumbling, Knuckles grabs Black Mist and takes him the best he can, following Shadow. I watch as they go.

"Come on," Silver prods. "He most likely won't wake up until tomorrow."

"Espio, did you find Eggman's ship?" I ask as Silver and I are leaving.

Espio and Blaze shake their heads ruefully. "No," Espio admits.

I sigh. "Maybe next time." I follow Silver back to his house.

When we arrive, we continue the game of chess. We go at it for a while, and a few hours later at night, I have my queen, rook, and bishop surrounding his king. I move my queen, and I grin.

"Checkmate," I state, crossing my arms.

Silver sighs, putting away the pieces with his psychic powers. "Again. As expected." He laughs ruefully.

I chuckle, helping the white futuristic hedgehog put the pieces away. When we are done, we get ready to go to bed. I sleep in the room next to Silver. I go there, and I enter the room, and go to sleep.

********

The next day, Silver and I go to Shadow's house. Knuckles and Sonic wait for us there. When we get there, we are met with the roars and monstrous screams of Black Mist's struggle to get free.

Shadow greets us. "He won't shut up," he grumbles.

I push past Shadow and go in the direction of the sounds. When I enter the room, Black Mist snaps his attention to me. He is strapped to a chair with the ropes around his wrists, ankles, chest, and waist, struggling hopelessly. His tentacles wave around wildly without direction.

"You," he hisses. "You did this!"

I stare stoically at him. "What do you remember?" I ask.

Black Mist calms down somewhat. "What?"

"What do you remember?" I repeat.

Calming down completely, Black Mist thinks. "I was making my way to Don Thousand, hoping to kill that son of a bitch. Right before I was about to win, I blacked out..." He eyes me suspiciously. "Why do you wanna know?"

I go up to the evil Number and untie the ropes. Black Mist watches me with a confused look. "I want you to help us defeating the Barians," I say.