Knuckles: Endangered Species Issue 3

*Previous Issue ←*

***Knuckles: Endangered Species*** Issue 3 is the third and final issue of the Knuckles: Endangered Species series.

## Story One

*Endangered Species Part Four: Preservation*
As Knuckles and Julie-Su examine their new surroundings in confusion, Thrash tells them that they’re weapons of mass destruction, failed experiment remains and torture tools, all used on him and others and proof of the echidnas' rottenness, explaining he's eliminating them so history doesn't repeat itself, adding that while Finitevus isn't gonna be part of it, he'll go after him as well. Crestfallen, Knuckles only says that while he was aware of his kind's faults, he never imagined the echidnas were capable of such things.

As Sonic and the others are surrounded by the Devil dogs, Lien-Da orders the Legionnaires to use lethal force, but Saffron stands in front of them to protect them and Sonic demands Lien-Da to hear her out. She explains that the devil dogs are actually smart and if they’re nice to them, they might listen. Saffron pleads with them to move aside to let her and her friends pass. They allow passage, and Lara-Le praises Saffron at having made such an amazing discovery, as Remington orders the group repeat Saffron's example to show compassion to the devil dogs, leaving Lien-Da annoyed that such an idea worked. With all groups reaching the docks and evacuating, Remington tells that he wishes he could make sure Knuckles is safe but that he has a duty to his people. Sonic in response says he has faith in him and Saffron reassures Remington that they’ll take care of things, leaving the constable satisfied and wishing them good luck as he leaves. With Sonic suggesting a competition for who can break the most legion equipment, while Saffron asks Team Fighters to go ahead since she needs to make sure Knuckles and Julie-Su are okay, only to realize she can’t call either of them.

Meanwhile, with Thrash attacking Julie-Su, Knuckles tries to apologize to Thrash for the problems his kind faced in the past, but he's putting his family and their home in danger and he'll do what's needed to protect them. Saffron then reunites with the two and offers to help them evacuate. Knuckles refuses, however, claiming he can’t let Thrash escape with the bomb and try it again if he leaves, so he needs to settle things now, so she volunteers to help as well.

As the trio overwhelms him, Thrash admits that he met his match, but Knuckles tries to diffuse the situation by explaining that his people would and already somewhat are atoning for what the past echidnas did, but if they're destroyed both their races would have no hope for the future. Saffron chimes in by saying that she lost her people as well but doesn’t seek revenge because she’d be no better than Eggman and instead is focused on building the world they would've wanted to live in, with Julie-su explaining that the people here today aren’t responsible for the actions of the people in the past.

Thrash remains defiant, but Knuckles says that if he stands down and tell them where the bomb is, he’ll intends to help restore the Tasmanian Devil race. Thrash, stunned by his foe's words, hits the ground, and after Knuckles promises on said help, he agrees to the echidna's demand. Leading them to an underground power station where he says he hooked the bomb. Once there, they meet with Finitevus. Claiming that he disarmed the bomb, he mockingly says he is impressed by Thrash not only finding his lab, but putting together something so complicated. Enraged, he charges at Finitevus, only for the latter to send him straight to Red Mountain with a Warp Ring, but Knuckles follows after and saves him. Holding him at gunpoint, Julie-Su asks why he's here, to which Finitevus lampshades the lack of gratitude from her and says he only came to take back what’s his, using a Warp Ring to escape with the bomb.

As the heroes head outside and let Thrash leave ithrough Warp Ring, Julie reassures Knuckles that she and his friends know he’s ready to face them. Meeting with the rest of the Echidnas, Knuckles tell them he was Enerjak, and that while he had been brainwashed by Finitevus, he did thought he was doing the right thing, even if his idea of fixing everything was short-sighted, and that he can’t ask for their forgiveness. However, his mother hugs Knuckles and forgives him. Remington agrees and explains that his ideals were also corrupted by Finitevus, and that despite doubting himself, the people still put faith in him as most will still place theirs in Knuckles.

Knuckles thanks them and Sonic says he destroyed all of the weapons of the Legion. Lien-Da lashes out at him, explaining that when Eggman finds out he destroyed their weapons he’ll destroy this city and kill everyone in it. Remington says that she deserves it. Tails suggests that if the Dark Legion sends a staged transmission where it seems like they captured Albion, Eggman will leave it alone, to which Remington says he’ll agree to it if the Legion stops causing trouble for the moment. Lien-Da starts arguing that Eggman wouldn’t be tricked so easily, only for Remington to ask if they should start fighting again to the last man. Looking at her crestfallen people, she relents and agrees to the terms, to everyone's joy.

As the rest of the Echidnas celebrate Julie-Su goes to talk to Lien-Da in private that her friends know about the memory wipes and the assassination attempt on Dimitri (which Lien-Da shows shock at his survival), while Remington adds Julie knows the truth about her father. She declares that if it was up to her, she would expose her actions, but Knuckles thought she should get one last chance to get her act together. Remington explains that they finally have a chance at peace because it should be enough that they’re echidnas, regardless of whether or not they're legionized and Julie chiming in that between Lien-Da, Lara-Le and Remington, they could all figure out what to do about Eggman. Lien-Da assumes they’re planning to bring back the "democratic" council and pointing out they not even bothered to ask her. Julie thus asks her to hand over the control chip as a gesture of good faith. When she feigns ignorance, Julie-Su threatens her at gunpoint into taking it out of her head as Remington destroys it.

### Appearances

#### Characters

* Crystal-La
* Devil Dogs
* Dr. Finitevus *(Mentioned)*
* Eggman Empire
	+ Dark Egg Legion
		- Albion Dark Egg Legion
			* Gae-Na
			* Lien-Da
	+ Dr. Eggman
* Freedom Fighters
	+ Chaotix
		- Julie-Su
		- Knuckles the Echidna
		- Saffron Bee
	+ Team Fighters
		- Amy Rose
		- Miles "Tails" Prower
		- Sonic the Hedgehog
* Knecapeon Mace
* Lara-Le
* Remington the Echidna
* Thrash the Tasmanian Devil
* Kragok *(Mentioned)*
* Luger *(Mentioned)*

## Key Events

*Sonic The Hedgehog Online Issues*

 *Sonic Universe Online* (SUO)