Written by Ian Flynn, art by Tracy Yardley and Jim Amash, cover by Yardley

"Metal and Mettle, Part One"
The Council of Acorn is dragging its feet to take back Freedom HQ, and Sonic's not the kind of guy to wait! Our hero is ready to rumble -- but is he ready for King Scourge and the newest Metal Sonic? Meanwhile, Kuckles is still haunted by his time as Enerjak. Can his bond with Julie-Su take the strain? All this, plus a surprise newcomer joins the fray!