Infinite POV- 3rd person

Seething beneath the surface, the jackal felt half tempted to break his promise from the game, kill Sonic, and take Gadget anyway. But, he planned to keep his word, for today. Tomorrow would hold something new for them, and he wouldn't let anyone get in the way next time.

Honestly, he didn't think Gadget would be able to beat his game. He had made it to where it was possible to win, but more like a Sonic the Hedgehog possible. Such speeds as to what Gadget had reached today, he had no idea the little wolf had been so capable. Granted, it's been around ten years since they had last seen each other, but how much he has changed and improved, Infinite couldn't help the heat that rose to his cheeks at the thought. Gadget truly had become someone physically admirable.

His personality was almost the same, as he still had a kind heart, thinking the best of everyone, and wanting to do the right thing. The only difference is he grew more of a backbone than before. Infinite didn't mind. It was quite a turn on if he was being completely honest, as he remembered all the times Gadget yelled at him and tried to punch him, both before and after finding out who Infinite really was.

After disappearing from the battlefield, the jackal returned to the base Eggman was at, and saw a very angry doctor waiting for him.

"Hello Doctor."

"What the hell are you doing?!" he yelled out, before fake exasperating, "Why would you go to war without me!?"

"Cause I was pissed off at the Resistance and wanted something fun and relaxing to do."

"Relaxing?" The red, more intelligent of the two robots Eggman kept inquired.

"Yeah, how's that relaxing?" the yellow robot chipped in, "Relaxing to me is a nice oil bath with extra toxins and bubbles…"

"No one asked you!" Both Eggman and Infinite shouted at the robot at the same time.

Looking at one another briefly, they then cracked up. The doctor responding, "I knew I liked you for a reason."

Clearing his throat, he became more serious as he spoke again, "Next time, please let me know when you plan to go to war anywhere. It'd be nice to not be left in the dark if you catch my drift."

"...Sorry Doctor."

"Well, can't do anything about it now. Besides, I can't complain too much considering how much of a mess you made that city. It's like one huge dump pile now. I love it!" This made Zero cackle a bit. "Anyway, did you find your plaything or whatever Sonic took?"

"Yes," Infinite answered, voice turning darker, "I challenged him to a game of chase. He was lucky as he managed to win. It won't happen next time."

"I suggest you just take him the next time you see him."

"What do you mean Doctor?"

"I have an ingenious plan that will whip out the entire Resistance. It's still in the works, but unless you want your little wolf friend to fall with the rest of the Resistance, I'd nab him ASAP."

"Alright, I will get him tomorrow."

"Excellent. The backup room is still available and ready if you wish to use it."

"I'd greatly appreciate it Doctor… Thank you."

"Thank you for bringing me good service," Eggman complimented, "Now, let's go to my office and discuss this plan further. It won't be right away so you do have time to get the wolf. I just wouldn't wait to long."

Walking through the halls, Infinite couldn't help but to wonder what this plan was, and how best to kidnap Gadget. He wasn't going to come willingly. Infinite had hoped Gadget would lose and keep his end of the bargain, as he knows the wolf well enough to know he would, and therefore coming willingly enough, and would not try to escape.

He needed to think of something so Gadget would have no reason to refuse him. But, he supposed it didn't matter as he could just as easily take him away against his will. That thought didn't settle well with the jackal, but he refused to lose Gadget again, and if he had to force him into a prison until the war was over, he'd do it. He'd lost everything, but then realized Gadget was still alive. He wouldn't lose the precious wolf. Never again.

-Infinite's Past Thoughts- POV 3rd person

Heat radiated from the sun and spread all through the air, and made the sand feel like lava to the touch. Sweat was instantaneous for anyone who dared to venture into the desert's summer.

Scorching temperatures did nothing to a jackal with mismatched eyes who stared over the paperwork in front of him, completely focused on the task at hand.

"Yo, anyone know if we've got water left?"

"I dunno sis."

Groaning, the female then asked two other males which neither had a reply. The first one to answer sighed before going into the room where the concentrated jackal sat.

"Ey boss?"

Looking up, the one hard at work was Zero, and the jackal he saw who entered was another male jackal wearing a green headband.

"I wish you'd quit calling me that Ben," he sighed out, "What'd you need?"

"My sis is asking if we have water."

"Kia's the one making a fuss out there?" Ben snorted while giving an answering nod.

"Did she check the two fridges? Or the mini freezer?"

"No, but she made Kevin look. Apparently he couldn't find any bottles."

Sighing out again, Zero glanced back down at the papers in his hand before having his thumb point to a side door located in the rundown office.

"There should be a few in there. They won't be cold, but it's water." Gaze then settled on something on the sheet in front of him, "About time to head to town anyway."

Not missing the change of tone, Ben skidded around the desk to look over Zero's shoulder. "Find somethin' boss?"

"For the love of… ugh." Zero gave up arguing for now. A claw pointed towards a list of jobs. "Look at this one."

Reading through what the leader suggested, Ben whistled. "That's alotta cash for that one. What'd they want?"

"Hired hands to help make sure a series of paintings get delivered safely from one location to another."

"Heh," a chuckle left Ben, "You think it's legal?"

"Who cares?"

Both males looking up to see a female jackal ina green sleeveless jacket and brown pants leaning against the doorway to the office; no door on the hinges. This was Ben's older sister Kia.

"Been awhile since we found a decent job," she continued, "Can't hurt to try. Right boss?"

"Why do you all keep calling me that?" He inquired, impatience thick in his tone.

"Cause you broke us out of that hellhole prison in the jackal village," the boy in green answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And every band of jackals need a leader."

"I never asked to be your damn leader," he snarled out, "I helped you cause all those jackals were assholes!"

"I hate to admit it, but we all make a pretty good team," Kia chimed in, agreeing with her brother.

"Waz goin on? Team meeting?" A new jackal in a red handkerchief by the name of Kevin joined in.

The last and youngest jackal of the group who followed Kevin and wore a red hat by the name of Gervais spoke up, "Did we find a job suitable? It would be nice to know so I can see if I can get or make the necessary tools for it."

"..." Silent, Zero finally asked, "Why did you all follow me out here?"

All members looked at him in confusion. He pressed on, "I know I helped you guys escape and we've worked together to get this far, but you're free now. You can do whatever you want. No rules or regulations to tie you down."

Seeming unsure how to answer, everyone remained silent, except for Gervais. "I suppose it is because we all grew up around other jackals. It is natural for us."

"It's all we've ever known," the female of the group replied, "Jackals are always in a pack, and always stick together."

"Is that really how those jackals in the village made you feel after stuffing you behind bars for one wrong move?"

"No, but…" it was now Ben who answered, "But you came back for us."

Kevin, last of the group to speak, did, "You had freedom. You found a way to escape Jastar after he took you on that day long trip. Only you came back, and you freed us. Why wouldn't we chose you to lead?"

His gaze glanced at each individual. They didn't know the truth; what Jastar had done to Zero, and what happened after. And, they didn't seem to care, never once asking, but just blindly following.

"I have a deeper mission then to just do dirty work like what normal jackals tend to do, or be a famous mercenary, like more trained of our kind can become."

"We don't care," Ben argued.

"You sure about that?" Zero retorted, "You don't even know what it is."

"Then, how about telling us, and we can be the judges, if you're that concerned," stated Gervais.

Kevin grinned wickedly, "I doubt it'd scare me away. Not like I got anywhere else to go."

Hearing that made Zero pause. That statement seemed to ring true for all of them, including Zero himself. Only difference is Zero had a secret mission of his own he'd never planned on sharing. While being a mercenary was his job goal, it wasn't his primary.

"Well, do what you want," he scoffed before eyes returned to the paper in his hand once more, "I doubt any of you would wanna be a part of my personal goals, but I was planning to be a mercenary so I could pay for food."

"Yay!" Ben shouted while fist bumping the air.

Shaking her head at her brother, Kia asked, "You gonna tell us your 'personal goals'?"

"Not planning on it," Zero bluntly answered, "You'd probably change your mind about hanging with me if you knew."

"Doubt it," Kevin spoke up, sounding his honest thoughts, "What you have planned can't be worse than what they did to us at the village."

"Not for you guys, no. For others, that's debatable."

"You may as well tell us," Gervais reasoned, "I don't think anyone will let it go until you do."

All eyes fell on Zero, and he silently debated the best route from here.