*Gadget 3rd person POV

“Okay team. You know the drill. Operation Big Wave is a go! Let’s move out!” Knuckles shouted as everyone headed into position.

Heading to the city, Gadget couldn’t help but feel that maybe this was a bit rushed, but, he hoped for the best regardless and went on towards the mission.

————-

The city of Metropolis was always so beautiful to the wolf as he ran his way through the skyscrapers. The site from the tops of those buildings was breathtaking, but he had to focus on the mission at hand. Operation Big Wave, the mission to seek and destroy what anyone could of Eggman’s army. There might be more than that, but that was what Gadget was tasked in helping with, and he planned to deliver.

As he ran, he jumped off one building, flying through the air to get to his next destination, only, he heard a familiar sound along with a chuckle. Looking to his side, what Gadget saw caused him to pale. Infinite flew alongside him, and though going straight, his one showing yellow eye stared at him; amusement clear in his tone.

“We meet again.”

That voice? Was that the voice from the jungle?...The red wolf gulped nervously, causing somehow a more intense stare after, as if Infinite could see right through him and sense his fear.

“Infinite, activate the Phantom Ruby.”

As if on cue, the jackal flew ahead, and everything changed. That noise again resounded along with Gadget finding his body turning. He suddenly found himself upside down, and then to the left, and after, the right. He was being forced to run in different directions on various sides of the buildings and the streets.

Despite that he was somehow holding his own, chaos erupted for the rest of the Resistance. It wasn’t long before a retreat was enforced; all alive hoping to live another day. 

Gadget found himself still running along the walls until finally finding solid ground. All those twists and turns, it felt as if they were being toyed with. However, that thought paused as he looked around. Feet were planted safely on a bridge high above the ground, at least for now.

Steps were taken as his gaze looked in every direction; realizing he was one of the only Resistance members left, if not the only one remaining. It seemed he’d been able to distract Infinite while many escaped. He wasn’t sure why, but if felt as if he’d been targeted specifically during this. Maybe it was all in his head, but he felt like he had seen Infinite a lot when running around.

As Gadget kept walking, he suddenly heard a voice, and froze from the source.

“More ants to crush. I wonder if this world can offer me a real challenge.” After those words were spoken, he turned to see the frightened wolf standing there, as if knowing he was there all along. The jackal gave an unseen smirk as he continued, “And as if to answer, the world sends me a trembling child.”

A stroke of terror ran through Gadget as a gasp left him while also taking a step back. It wasn’t a second later that Infinite was next to him. His body shivered at the close proximity, knowing he could very well die in the next moment if the jackal wished it.

“Are you going to fight and die here? Or, run away in fear again?”

The wolf took several steps away from his foe now, fear gripping him at his core. However, a familiar voice rang in his mind from not too long ago. Sonic had given him some encouragement when first starting out in the Resistance.

“Don’t be scared. This is your moment to shine!” 

Those golden eyes stared straight on at Infinite, a resolve forming in his mind. 

“Keep going. Don’t let your fear own you!”

Those were the words of Sonic, but, they actually reminded Gadget of someone else, from a long time ago. Thinking of the past, the red hero came to a conclusion. Bringing up a fist, he showed he was ready to fight.

“Fine,” Infinite began, a slight bitterness was felt in his mouth from the one he was so sure would be afraid of him. “I will teach you fear, then pain, and then… well, at least the pain and fear will end.”

*Infinite 3rd person 

He’d been so sure the little wolf would’ve ran away again in terror as he had in the city. Displeasure was felt, but also a small sense of a thrill as the jackal did enjoy crushing another’s resolve and hope, just as his had been squashed all those years ago.

Infinite sneered at the wolf as he remarked, “You must be a straggler who got left behind. The strong will always vanquish the weak.”

As that was said, he brought out his powers and they appeared in a room that turned red. The battle was on. Gadget dodged the red cubes and rockets that appeared. Using his Wispon, blows of his own were delivered, though making little effect on the overpowered being.

Still, despite the Rookie’s best efforts, a dark chuckle left the jackal. “Well, well. It seems behind that fear is a spark of defiance.” Pausing, Infinite’s thoughts reverted to the time in the jungle, thinking of what had been bothering him then. 

“And those eyes… I feel like we’ve met before.”

That comment confused the rebel, causing him to get distracted before being smacked by a line of those red cubes. 

‘Met before?’ Gadget wondered, ‘Only time I met him was in the city, and he mentioned that earlier when taunting me about running away.’

Ignoring those thoughts, the two continued to fight. More robots came out after the rockets were launched. Though the wolf had been frightened before, Infinite was impressed with his will to fight, despite his small chance of survival. Still, he planned to destroy every part of the Resistance, even this little one.

Those yellow eyes still bothered the jackal. He couldn’t get it out if his head. What was it about those eyes with that bright red fur of his? He reminded Infinite of…

A hit was given that pushed Infinite back a bit. “Heh, you put up quite a fight. I underestimated just how desperately the feeble cling to life.”

The masked one floated above before throwing a few of his cubes at the Rookie. The first two were dodged but the third hit the wolf right in the abdomen, causing him to fall harshly on the ground. Glasses flew across the floor during his rough landing. 

Regardless of his impaired vision, the Resistance member stood and readied his hands for another attack. However, he couldn’t see, so he hadn’t caught the jackal’s fists clenching.

It seemed time stood still as Infinite gazed upon the glass-less wolf who stood several feet away from him. Those lenses should not have been able to hide anything, but, a scar was seen around one of those golden orbs. The mark was just small enough to hide underneath glasses, especially ones made to cover up imperfections with special technology. However, with the lenses gone, it was as clear as day.

Confusion filtered across the wolf’s face when no attack came. He couldn’t see details, just shapes, and knew Infinite was still there, but hadn’t moved. That made him more nervous than he already was, given that he was at a huge disadvantage right now because of his impaired vision.

One step back, two. Infinite was in front of him a moment later before grabbing one of the wolf’s arms, preventing him from escape.

“Where do you think you’re going…Gadget?”

Eyes widened as resistance ceased in surprise. “H-how do you know my name?”

“I know exactly who you are, just like you know me. You just have not realized it yet.”

“Huh?”

Before anything else could be asked, and with a flick of Infinite’s wrist, a dark purple and black portal opened before the two Mobians.

“Now get in.”

Gadget had no chance as the jackal shoved him through the portal to who knows where.