The ground was stained black with ash as the smoke rose to the sky where only the small shimmer of flames can be seen dancing through the thick, toxic mist. The sound of gunfire in the distance echoed with the grinding of metal, the small quakes of impact tremors, and the whirring of engines across the horizon. Silver stumbled to get his bearings, his limbs badly bruised and his head throbbing from the overuse of his psychokinesis. He was supposed to have been gathering supplies, but their caravan was ambushed by Eggman's robotic forces and many of the troops were captured during their escape into the Mystic Jungle. The white hedgehog had arrived in this time shortly after Sonic's supposed death. To say he was melancholic was an understatement. He genuinely mourned the loss of the great hero, his idol, his friend, and committed himself to fighting this war to the bitter end. As he trudged through the muddy soil, brushing away the hanging vines and brush, he couldn't help but think about how everything had been spiraling downward beyond his control. How many times had he been in this position--outnumbered and outmatched, left alone? Had it not been for the Angel of the Battlefield, he would have been killed several times over by now. He wasn't a soldier, nor was he a skilled fighter. He always relied so much on his powers that while they grew, he did not. He started kicking himself for not being better. Why is it that he can move a mountain with his mind but he topples over so easily from a single punch? Eighty percent of the world now belonged to Eggman and it was only getting worse day after day. Silver traveled back in time save both worlds, the present and the future, but so far, it's been no use. 

"I can't keep thinking this way," he told himself as he wiped the dirt off his face. He was an optimist and a realist, but above all he was a believer that there had to be a chance. "Sonic wouldn't give up and neither can I" he said aloud to himself, feeling that if he heard the words, then they would become tangible and be easier to hold onto. "I promised I was going to see this through, that I'd do all I could to fix everything. If I give up now, then all the sacrifices would have been for nothing." 

"What's one more sacrifice?" An ominous voice echoed from above, catching Silver off guard as he spun around to see the red aura of the enemy levitating within the canopy of trees. They were near some temple ruins which afforded an open area to clearly see one another. The white hedgehog had never met the mercenary in person and only saw his visage on broadcasts and in war reports. It was clear he was extremely powerful as the dark red energy he emitted caused Silver to shudder where he stood. He couldn't escape the dread that was welling up within him, which was parallel to the growing rage. 

"I didn't expect to find a little hero," Infintie chimed while adjusting his mask, "even though you're a sorry excuse for one."

Silver gritted his teeth at the remark and used his telekinesis to rise up to Infinite's level. "You--You're the one who killed Sonic!" He belted as he saw his foe eye-to-eye. Being closer to the Phantom Ruby made his muscle tremble even worse. Was this fear or something else? Regardless, he held himself steady and made sure to hide his lack of composure. 

Meanwhile, the jackal laughed at the accusation and embraced it, "Indeed. He was a such a disappointment. I wonder if you'll beg for mercy as pathetically as he did." 

The white hedgehog's anger sparked at the slander, "YOU LYING BASTARD!" he shouted before charging in, fists raised as he tried to strike the opposition. Unfortunately, Infinite was much more skilled than he and was able to outmanuever each of his attempts to deal damage. "SONIC WOULD NEVER SURRENDER, MUCH LESS BEG!" The two flew circles around each other, with the jackal blocking every blow while delivering a few of his own when the opportunity arose. 

"HAHAHAHA--oh, if you only knew," he chuckled in combination with an array of punches. 

Each point of contact felt like it was hitting to the bone as even the shielding of Silver's psychokinesis was bending to the might of the mysterious ruby. "Gotta stay focused," he told himself as he felt his powers waiver from his desperation. "He keeps countering me and his movements are too fast to predict. No wonder Sonic couldn't beat him, this guy is in a league of his own." In retreating to a safe distance to catch his breath, the time traveler paused to analyze the situation. "He likes to play mind games, I have to ignore him. I know Sonic didn't go down easy and I'm not about to let him get away with what he's done!" 

"You're slowing down. Are you done already?" Infinite quipped while invading Silver's personal space. The white hedgehog immediately flew backwards again, stunned by his close proximity. This battle was a match of instinct and will rather than observation and action. There was no time to study his opponent and calculate how to proceed--if Silver stood a chance, he had to trust his gut, react accordingly, and put everything he had into his next move. It was a big gamble, but as things were, he didn't have any other choice. 

"Like I'd ever give up to the likes of you!" Silver spouted with confidence as he utilized his TK powers to rip the trees from their roots, gather rocks and materials from the ruins, and lash it all at his foe in a barrage of blinding debris. Infinite shielded himself from the onslaught before teleporting behind the white hedgehog, unknowingly into his trap. Silver quickly turned and grabbed the Phantom Ruby, using his telekinesis in a last ditch effort to crush the power source of his enemy. Even if such an action killed him, to defeat this enemy, it was worth the price! 
However, the jackal didn't give him the opportunity to assert that strength. In less than a second, the time traveler saw a vision, the same prophecy that the mercenary saw when he first encountered the mystic gem--a world of flame and disaster where chaos and dispair ruled. This ignited a strange familiarity to Silver that he couldn't comprehend, and in that moment of being distracted, Infinite kicked his stomach, grabbed him by the throat, and slammed him into the ground from their dizzing heights. 

"Th-that's...what you...want?" the defeated hedgehog uttered as the jackal lifted him from the dirt by his neck, his body dangling limply like a pendulum. 

"So, you saw it as well--the new world that I intend to create," Infinite said in a cavalier way. "How quaint for you to sample what I have in store for the future."

As darkness started encompassing his sight, Silver struggled to remain conscious, "N-no....we'll....stop you."

The mercenary could only laugh at the impudence, "For a naive pest, your spark is amusing. You defy me despite your pitiful state as if you have some hope of surviving this."

The image of Sonic smiling flashed in the defeated one's mind, making him forge a tiny smile of his own, "It's...no...use," he said as he faded into unconsciousness, "you can't...kill...h-hope."

Infinite to himself hummed as he began turning the sleeping hedgehog's face from side to side while he recalled how obstanate Sonic was when he first encountered him. Although he didn't have the same attraction to his new prize as he did for his beloved pet, he nevertheless was fascinated by him. That smile. That smile was such an intriguing thing he so rarely saw on his victims, but more so than that, those platitudinous remarks even as he fell made him a unique commodity. "You're a champion of hope? Hmmm....in that case, death doesn't suit you...at least for now," he said while stroking Silver's chin, "but we may yet have some use for you yet."




Silver never saw Infinite again after that. During his time in the Death Egg, he was always isolated in-between torture sessions where Eggman was ever present, trying to coax information of the Resistance out of him. Although the sessions were brutal, the mad scientist knew his anatomy was different than that of the blue blur and he wouldn't survive some of the grueling things the fallen hero endured. In all honesty, the white hedgehog never thought about why the one who beat him didn't join in on these inhumane interrogations since that was something the mercenary would have been very adept at executing. Maybe he was too busy with the war? Maybe questioning prisoners was beneath him? Whatever the reason, he never forgot that encounter or the words spoken when he was defeated.

After weeks had passed, standing before him on the other side of the gray bars was the one responsible for everything. The air between them was stiffling as Silver sat on the metal floor, his wrists shackled together even though he wasn't a real threat so long as his powers were inhibited. It was all part of the subjugation. Of being reminded that he was a captive and to know his place as such. However, with his new affirmation to save Sonic and find a means for them to escape, the chains meant to serve as a subconscious reminder were nothing more than mere links of iron.

"What are you doing here?" the time traveler questioned coldly, not taking his eyes off his unexpected visitor. 

Infinite stood still with his arms at his sides. His presence didn't feel as threatening as it did before. Nevertheless, there was a mysterious aura that was impossible to put into words, and though it didn't seem to impose any danger, the white hedgehog was uneasy and knew better than to let his guard down. 

"Your exchange with the little blue savior," he started with no emotion whatsoever, "what did you feel?"

Silver's eyes widened as his cheeks began feeling inexplicably hot--did he really just ask how was the sex?! "WHAT THE HELL KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?!" he exclaimed with both anger and embarrassment, "ARE YOU THAT DISGUSTING?!" There was no way Silver could explain in detail the intimacy that transpired between him and Sonic. That raw passion, the heat of their contact, and the emotions that he never felt before were something private that he had come to cherish, despite the circumstances surrounding the event.

Infinite crossed his arms, annoyed that his inquiry was misinterpreted in such a way. He was seeking answers, not insults. 
"You misunderstand, rodent" he declared calmly despite the obvious irritation at Silver's behavior, "You're aware the blue hedgehog is suffering from a terminal illness that connecting with you is somehow mitigating. I want to know why."

The time traveler was puzzled by this entire conversation. Surely, with Eggman's resources, the data they collected, and direct access to Sonic, his captors would know more about what's going on than he would...wouldn't they? Was there still something missing that they couldn't figure out--something that he might know that could help Sonic? He wasn't about to trust Infinite or give away secrets that could hurt his friends, but whatever this interrogation was, it had nothing to do with the war-- and the fact that he was asking rather than beating the information out of him had to carry some sort of meaning. 

With a deep sigh, and believing it best to be honest for the sake of his friend rather than lie to spite his enemy, he admitted "I...I really don't know. I never saw Sonic like this before..." 
His voice became melancholic as he sat back off his knees, thinking of how damaged his blue counterpart was and how it came to this point, "....but there's no question--it is all your fault" he said with a sneer.

Infinite's eye twitched under his mask. He was well aware of the part he played in his pet's anguish, and though some he felt was justified and had no remorse over, part of him still felt guilty for the suffering he endured in molding him to his liking that left him in his current state. The thought of his precious one dying was tearing him up inside. While he wasn't here to bear his soul to a prisoner, there had to be some common ground if they were to save him, and at the same time, he needed to maintain control. Silver was a tool, nothing more.

"I don't dwell on infinitesimal matters. If you want your friend to keep breathing, then you'll need to come up with something better than that."

Silver felt the pressure weighing him down, "I TOLD YOU I DON'T KNOW!!!" His insides were becoming a tangled mess of nerves as he was helpless by every definition of the word. Everything had been a whirlwind since he was captured. Although he vowed he wouldn't give up, he didn't have the answers or a plan yet either. All he had was hope, and that was something so fragile and fleeting that it took everything in him to cling to. 

"I don't have any reason to withhold what I know. No one has anything to gain from Sonic suffering like this, unless you find some sick amusement in it like Doctor Eggman..." 
He looked away for a moment, unable to keep staring at his warden without feeling ill. All Silver could think about was when he saw Eggman stomping the life out of Sonic before. The sounds of his gurgling grunts as he choked on his own blood through the pitiful whimpers burned into the white hedgehog's memory. The jackal probably did that to Sonic too, if not far worse things. However, in recalling that terrible event, he got a flash of clarity by remembering how the renowned hero he once knew had defended Infinite to him during their one-sided argument. It was so outrageous and impossible to fathom at the time, the two of them being together in any way that was consentual, but now the pieces were aligning and it was like a bolt of lightning surged in his mind as he came to a conclusion that maybe what Sonic felt wasn't one-sided. 

Glancing at the intimidating jackal from the corner of his eye, he asked with his curiosity creating a flurry of scenarios in his head, "Or...do you...actually care about him?" 

Though Infinite's stoic demeanor didn't reveal any evidence of truth, Silver could sense that something stirred in his foe at that insuation. Could this monster who has razed villages, leveled cities, torched the landscape and ruined the lives of thousands have some kind of heart? A heart that Sonic was a part of? Silver knew Sonic had a penchant for connecting with others; however, he had a difficult time wrapping his head around such a bond forming between him and the murderous mercenary. Still...was it possible?

Breaking the silence, Silver pursued the allegation he presumed was fact, "I don't understand it---you tortured him," the white hedgehog said as he tried to make sense of it all, "how could you care for someone and be so cruel at the same time?"

"It comes naturally to me." Infinite shrugged and answered the question without much thought. He wasn't going to vindicate himself to anyone, but perhaps the white hedgehog knowing at least a part of his relationship to his pet would be useful. "Now that you've figured out my purpose for being here, it's time for you to figure out how you come into play."

They were getting no where fast. Silver couldn't give Infinite the answers he wanted because he didn't understand any of it himself and Infinite was grasping at straws as Sonic's time was slipping away. Although Eggman claimed with the data he may be able to cure him, the mercenary wasn't going to put much stock into the words of a mad scientist whose leg he just shattered. He needed a backup plan and his new prisoner was the key. 
"But rather than continue with this pointless discussion, I'll offer you this. If he lives, you'll live--if he dies, you die. Sound fair?"

The time traveler nodded immediately when he noticed his warden's hand was on the door handle. Since Infinite was willing to negotiate, perhaps Silver could use this to his advantage, and if he played his cards right, maybe he'd have a window of a chance to get to Sonic. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for! Though he didn't have everything planned out yet, at least getting out of his cell was a start. 

"Very well," the mercenary continued as he opened the cell door for Silver to exit, "--don't disappoint me, vermin."

It was then that Orbot came zooming down the corridor, his small motor humming loudly as he put as much effort as he could into his throttle while shouting at the highest pitch his voice box could register, his words causing severe alarm for both the jackal and the hedgehog, "GENERAL! GENERAL!!! COME QUICKLY! IT'S SONIC!" 




Back in the lab, Eggman was fuming over recent events. His leg was set in an inflatable splint while materials were being gathered to make a proper cast. Although his pain was managed, his rage was far from controllable.
"How dare that mutt turn against me?!" he grumbled to himself with a growl in his voice, "he would have nothing--BE nothing---if it weren't for me!" He continued to run the specimens and data through the computer as his mood spiraled downward into a deeper level of hatred. "Sonic...that blue rat. I should have killed him on Day 1! All my time and resources being used to save that vermin--that mongrel's sex toy--IT'S RIDICULOUS!" 
It was then that his scans detected an anamoly and alerted him promptly, the answer they had been seeking all this time was now plain to see and it caused Eggman's mood to quickly shift from curious, to intrigued, to vindictive. 

"HOHOHO! So....you're the cause of all the trouble? Hmmm....the question now is, what shall I do with you?"