As Eggman suited up from the Eggbot Stone sent from the satalite, Knuckles was climbing up the stone cliffside, trying to get back on the highway where Eggman stood, waiting from him. Suddenly, Badniks surrounded Knuckles. Eggman could he heard, "So, my massively metacarpaled friend, you mentioned," Eggman howled suddenly. "Ow-ow-ultimate power, back at the house?" Knuckles' stoic voice could be heard. "The Master Emerald? It does not concern you. I got you off that planet and you brought me to the hedgehog. We have no more use for each other." Eggman's grin widened. "Well, I hate to the contrairian, but I think we might." By using the buttons on his glove, Eggman ordered the Badniks to circle in closer to Knuckles, making the red echidna growl softly. "You think these machines are a match for me? I was shatter them like the bones of a fallen--" Knuckles realized the Badniks were forming a staircase by floating in said formation. "Oh, they are stairs." Knuckles walked up the Badnik staircase and stood in front of Eggman, who began using some strange slang. "Ya see, Earth is my turf, G. If you don't know how to floss, you'd be lost without me." Eggman said, doing the Fortnite floss dance, making Knuckles' slightly confused face shift to utterly confused. "I understand nothing of what you just said." Knuckles stated bluntly. "I help you retrieve the Emerald," Eggman started. "And you use it to... DESTROY THE HEDGEHOG!!!" he shouted, making the confusion on Knuckles' face melt away. "You're suggesting an alliance." the red echidna said. "Around here, we grip each other's hands tightly, " Eggman held out his hand for Knuckles to shake. Knuckles took Eggman's hand, and cracking could be heard through his hand, making Eggman fall to his knee. "You... Truculent space bumpkin!! You crushed my favorite hand!!" Knuckles looked at the hand he shook Eggman's with. "Really... My hand is uninjured." You watched this from behind a bush nearby, looking at Knuckles with awe.