Knuckles

Whoa...

What is this wondrous metropolis?

This is where it's all gonna go down.

The Taj Mahal of Ten-pins.

The National Bowling Stadium.

Your battleground.

- -

Wow. This is some fancy place.

Did you see the sign?

Kevin James is headlining here!

The mall cop?

That means you know it's top-notch.

Well, well, well.

Look who it is.

We literally planned to meet here at this exact time.

It's not at all surprising.

Wow. This place is nice.

And apparently, the spa is to die for.

So what do you say, Knuchles? Wanna get a massage later?

Yes! My body is literally one giant muscle!

You know what, I'm gonna hit up a bar, dude.

Get myself a Wandarita.

Hey, Knucks. That's what I call a margarita.

- That sounds fun. I want a Wandarita! - No.

No. There will be no Wandaritas.

There will be no massages.

We're on the run. We need to keep a low profile.

Hey, Wade. That's fine

if you and Knuckles wanna just slip into this sea of dorks.

We're gonna go have some fun.

- We're not dorks. - Let's go.

- We're cool! - Yeah, we're mad cool!

- Come on, let's go drink. - Later, dorks!

Unbelievable.

Isn't it crazy that we're related?

- - It's him.

- -

- -

- Well played! Big winner! -

It's like...

It's like we could be twins.

I mean, he's so--

No, no. Can't talk to him.

What is wrong?

Look at him. My dad is so cool.

I wouldn't even know what to say to him.

Well, I do. Come, Wade Whipple.

I have an idea.

- - You sure this is gonna work?

I will not let you down, my friend.

It was known far and wide by all Echidna

that Knuckles has a way with the words.

Now, confidently approach the one they call Pistol Pete

- and say... - Father Whipple.

Hello there. So, what are we signing today?

Balls, pins, body parts?

If you want a signed photo,

I'm afraid it'll run extra.

It is I, Wade Whipple,

your long-abandoned... progeny.

Wade?

My God.

It is you.

- I know what you must be... - Thinking.

That I'm here to slay you

and take my rightful place on the throne.

But...

no.

I come here today to make peace.

To repair the paternal bond

that you so callously tore apart many decades ago.

I see.

Are you feeling alright, dear boy? You...

You seem a little...

- different. - Yes!

I have grown into a powerful adult man

with many great skills and accomplishments to my name.

Have you now?

Many human women have taken notice of my feats of strength.

Yes. Yes, I get that.

But, tell me, wh... why are you talking like this?

This is extraordinary.

It's like looking at a mirror image of myself.

Of course, I am more muscular and mighty,

and you are frail and sickly.

- But... - The resemblance is uncanny!

You truly are a stunning creature!

Oh, sick costume, bro!

Are you here for the mascot convention, too?

What team are you with?

My tribe? The Echidnas!

Oh, right. They play in...

Albuquerque, right?

Go, 'Chidnas!

- - You know what?

I'm just gonna speak for myself.

I came here 'cause I missed you, Dad.

I was hoping you'd missed me, too.

Well, of course I missed you, son.

So, what are you doing here?

Did you come to watch your dear old dad knock over some pins?

Oh, no. I'm here to roll.

In the tournament? You?

- Like father, like son, eh? -

Well, may the best man win.

- I'm just kidding. -

It's good to see you, son. I'll tell you what.

After we bowl, let's catch up on lost time, shall we?

- Yeah! Of course. Yes! - Yes?

- - W-We laugh the same!

Well done, Knuckles. You have not lost your touch.

- -

- -

- Where are we? - I don't know.

But it definitely looks like the type of place

you take people you're about to murder.

Clearly, there's been a bit of a misunderstanding here.

Um, you seem mad at us, but it's all good.

We're on the same team.

You know what? Forget I said anything.

- You failed to bring me the Echidna. -

And I don't deal well with failure.

You know,

we've got a lot in common.

You wouldn't be able to tell by the look of this place,

but not so long ago,

I used to work for GUN as well.

Though it wasn't called GUN back then.

It was a military shadow ops program,

run by a difficult... and very brilliant roboticist.

Wait, so... you worked for Robotnik.