Warp Ring/Pre-SGW

Warp Rings are a highly-advanced technology crafted with magical aid and Chaos energy. The device appears as a gold ring large enough to be held on a person's wrists, and are used for inter-continental travel or quick escapes from enemies. If charged with enough Chaos energy, Warp Rings can allow transportation between alternate zones and Mobius and even become capable of time travel.

Development and Usage
The Warp Rings were invented by Dr. Finitevus following his mutation when he drained power from Chaos Knuckles using the Chaos Siphon Suit. The technology remained exclusive to Albion until its downfall at the hands the Eggman Empire, after which it moved to Angel Island with its creator. One of his earliest uses of the technology there was to access the Twilight Cage so as to banish most of the surviving Brotherhood of Guardians and Moritori Rex. Since then, a number of other individuals have obtained-temporarily or otherwise-Warp Rings, usually receiving them from Finitevus willingly or taking them from him. Rouge the Bat stole one from Dr. Finitevus when she left his forces, but was later forced to return it. Scourge the Hedgehog was given one by Finitevus, and he super-charged it using the Master Emerald so it would enable him to escape to Moebius, and it is unknown what became of it after he used it. Similarly unknown is the fate of the Warp Ring used by the Destructix to escape Angel Island during the battle between Enerjak and Super Sonic. Locke was also given one by the doctor; after his death, Knuckles took possession of it, using it to transport himself and the Chaotix between New Mobotropolis and Angel Island. Silver the Hedgehog had a Super Warp Ring which he used to travel time as well as hop Zones, though it's unknown how he came to possess it. Similarly unknown is where the Zone Cops obtained technology for their own Warp Rings. (StH: #160, #165, #182, #195, #197, SU: #11)

Finitevus loaned Warp Ring technology to the Downunda Dark Egg Legion, which enabled them to create grapple chains capable of holding Angel Island in place. As a result of this, the Eggman Empire-including the Mercia Dark Egg Legion-became aware of the technology. Around this time, Knuckles also attempted rescue the Brotherhood from the Twilight Cage, but was unable to. The Chaotix obtained another Warp Ring at some point, which was eventually taken by Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel when they left to search for Mighty's long-lost sister. It later returned to the Chaotix with no explanation, leading half their remaining membership to take it in search of the pair. They nearly lost it in Mercia, but along with the Mercian Freedom Fighters were able to use it to liberate many of the Legion's prisoners. Thrash the Devil also obtained a Warp Ring left in Downunda by Finitevus, which he used to locate the doctor's Angel Island hideout. He learned how to super-charge it using the Master Emerald, and after defeating the Chaotix members left to guard the gemstone did so before using it to banish all the Echidnas of Albion to parts unknown. Fiona Fox and the Destructix, were also given one by Finitevus for use in their attempt to free Scourge from Zone Jail, on the condition that they travel to Moebius and complete a task for him in return. Using the ring, the gang of criminals-now led by Scourge-made their way to Moebius, but Scourge chose not to honor Fiona's agreement with Finitevus. (StH: #232, #244, SU: #11, #32, #46, #47)

In the altered reality created by the second Genesis Wave, Warp Rings existed and were employed by Dr. Eggman and Dr. Wily, despite Eggman's previous lack of access to the technology. After being used by the Roboticized Masters and Metal Sonic to travel to Mobius, it was copied by Dr. Light to create a portal to allow Mega Man, who had followed them, back to his own world.(StH: #248, SU: Issue 51)

Properties
Warp Rings can be operated easily by merely thinking of the place the user wants to be and then touching the ring, the interior creating a portal to the destination. Finitevus himself, as their creator, has been shown to use the rings in unusual ways, primarily to allow for unpredictable attacks in battle. However, despite their power, they apparently have limitations when it comes to traveling to other Zones and dimensions. Scourge was only able to travel to Moebius with one after charging it with energy from the Master Emerald, and the Chaotix were unable to use another ring-this one without such a charge-to penetrate the Twilight Zone. Finitevus had previously succeeded in doing this, indicating that he possesses greater capacities with the Warp Rings than other individuals. Furthermore, the ring's user has to know exactly where they are going in order to utilize the ring.

Background Information

 * The Warp Ring's design and main ability seems to be influenced by the Special Zone portals of the Sonic the Hedgehog games.
 * In the question section of Sonic Universe #15, Mari G. from California questioned as to what happens when someone is only halfway through a Warp Ring when it turns off. The response was, "The same thing when a toad gets struck by lightning. It ain't pretty." This response is likely a nod to the first X-Men film, in which the villain character Toad is taken out by Storm, who strikes him with a bolt of lightning after asking what happens to a toad when its struck by lightning.