Sonic Forces: Forbearance


Gadget's nose flicked as he whiffed the air for Infinite's faint scent; his heart skipped a beat when he picked up on it.

He froze in place, boots anchored into the metal platform.
The thought of him wounded flooded his mind. He lowered his head, clenching his fist. Gadget extended his left arm out, aiming it at a jutting bar. His grappling hook hummed as it whizzed by and wrapped around the steel bar of the towering structure's debris.

He swung himself across the rubble's jaw, plummeting into the belly of the canyon.
Gadget landed on a slope of sand with his hands and knee before he rolled himself into a ball and tumbled deeper into the pit.
He shut his eyes and covered his mouth as he coughed from the agitated dust and sand.
Gadget's fur shot up and he winced when sparks hummed and shot out from loose wiring from the severed parts of the Death Egg.

His eyes scanned the dim area, the rays of light filtered through the cracks of the encapsulating carcass.

Muffled voices carried from deeper within the cave of the rubble.
Two sets of blue orbs like spotlights breached the darkness, heading towards Gadget.

His heart pounded in his fluttering chest as his breathing hastened.
Sweat formed in his wavering leather gloves.
His wide eyes scurried as he faced every direction before he ran to his left and flattened his body against the searing metal.

Boots rapped against the sand.

Eggman's voice carried throughout the cage, "Dammit, again and again, I just...can't beat him."

A slow voice dragged, "Boss, don't say that! We were winning, so that counts!" They paused, lowering their tone, "Until we made some poor choices."

"POOR CHOICES? I don't make poor choices, you heap of metal!"

A sophisticated voice chimed in, "Right you are sir! All of your plans are great...even when you tell them to everyone..."

Silence, the heavy footfalls ceased. Metal clanked against each other as the two voices spoke in unison.

"Ow!"

"Did I ever ask for your opinions?"

"No...sir, you did not," the sophisticated one said.

"Sorry boss, our opinion program must've acted up."

Gadget brows came together while he scratched the side of his head.
Is...this really what Eggman is?

Eggman sighed, his outstretched, spindly leg extended from the shadows as he stepped into the dim rays of light.

He held his breath when Eggman stepped by and proceeded into the center of the rubble with his duo of dinky robots as Eggman crossed his arms.

Silence.

"Sir, may I ask a paramount query?" The red one extended their finger in the air.

No reply.

"OOOOOooo, the boss is in big thinking mode! Cooking up another plan?"

"Shut it!"

They saluted him as they spoke in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Sweat trickled down Gadget's forehead as he edged the heavy wispon towards himself.

His gut gnarled. Chest tightened. He aimed down the weapon's sight.
Searing air lacerated his lungs. He held his breath.
Finger tapping the trigger. His heart pounded.
His legs lightened and head spun.
He shut his eyes.
Blood ran cold.

"Oh, hey doggy!"

The mechanism clicked, ringing in his erect ears, blistering heat discharged as the fire roared.

"Ow, hot! Fire, me on fire! Help!"

"Oh dear, oh my!"

"What the hel-" Eggman shrilled like a little girl, "Ahhhhh, Cubebot, Orbot, save me!" His boots rapped against the sand.

Scorched metal assaulted Gadget's nose while he crept his eyes half open.

Eggman rolled up into a ball behind Orbot. "Save me you imbeciles!"

Cubebot floated in circles, flailing his arms out and pleading for help.

"Right, sir, I...will protect you." Orbot raised his fist in the air as he hovered towards Gadget, but collapsed onto the sand when Cubepot collided into him.

A cloud of dust erupted as the crackling fire on Cubebot died down.

Eggman shrilled, he covered his face with his wavering arms.
"Please don't kill me!"

Is...this...really the man...who's killed thousands.

Gadget's heart sunk as his fist tightened around the weapon.
He murdered them! It's a facade.
Eggman's sobs racked his ears.
He...was the one...wasn't he...? It couldn't have...been. He shook his head. No, it's him!
His body numbed, tears welled at the edge of his blistering eyes.
This is the man who manipulated him! I know him, he isn't like that.
Gadget's temples throbbed.
He's under his control, it's why he tried to kill me! It's...why he...forgot about me...
He aimed down the wavering sight, pointing it directly at Eggman.

Silence.

His finger rested against the trigger.

None of them moved as the stabbing silence settled.

Gadget clenched his teeth, turned away, and sighed.
He lowered the weapon.

"W-well...ahem." Eggman lifted himself upright and dusted off his tattered clothes. "I knew you wouldn't do it."

He scrunched up his face and glared.

Well...I might as well ask...somehow.

Sweat trickled by Eggman's twitching brow. "Orbot, Cubebot. Let's mo-"

Extending his splayed hand out, Gadget caught Eggman's attention.

"What...now." His brows knitted.

Gadget raised his free hand by his face, moving his fingers encircles.
Can't believe I'm doing this...but it's for him.
He clasped his lips and clenched his teeth as his brows wavered.
Gadget's ears pinned to his head. His tail curled between his legs.
How...do I ask for Infinite?
He rested his palm on his chest, tapping it against it.

Eggman raised a brow.

He ran his fingers by the back of his head like he had hair but Eggman shrugged.
Gadget shook his head and sighed.

"O-O-O! Charades! Umm..." Cubebot narrowed his eyes and tapped his finger against his chin. "Tentacles?"

Gadget's shoulders plummeted as his eyes squinted and his lips pursed.
He shook his head and repeated the process.

Orbot nudged Cubebot off of himself. "Hair?"

He nodded.

"Yes!" Orbot raised his fist in the air and swung it downward towards his round chest like thing.

"Lousy robot! Who said you could be happy?" Eggman slapped the back of Orbot's head.

Gadget rapped his finger against his chin.
His eyes widen as he snapped his fingers.
He tiptoed on one foot and extended his arms out, mimicking Infinite's posture.

Eggman scratched the back of his head. "Ballerina?"

"Go-go dancer!"

Orbot tapped his finger against his chin. "Egomaniac hellbent on destruction while having an inferiority complex?"

Gadget's mouth hanged agape, the edge of his lip twitched.
He extended his splayed palm out, acting like he's shooting lasers from it.

He blinked. " Pathological serial killer, who can't be redeemed because he's murdered countless innocents, yet everyone ignores that because they like him?"

Lowering his poster while his lips receded, Gadget's heart plunged into despair while the truth stabbed it. He's not like that.

"Oh, Ooooooo!" Cubebot whirled his hands in the air. "Is it Shadow?"

Gadget shook his head.

Eggman sighed. "Infinite."

His tail wagged and ears shot up as he smiled and vigorously nodded.
Gadget pointed at Eggman, his own eyes, and waved his arms around.

"No, I haven't seen him. Probably dead."

Gadget's aching heart froze as the strings snapped.
His knees bent from the weight of the truth.
Crippling dread snaked through his veins.
Blistering tears welled in his eyes.

"What? He's just some random jackal." Eggman shrugged. "Who cares?"

He stomped his foot forward, clenching his fangs as his fur bristles.
Blinding rage clutched his racked mind.
Each heavy breath clawed his throat.

"H-hey now, what's with the look?" Eggman raised his quivering palms by his face. He stepped back. "Isn't that what you wanted? He tried to kill you!" He stumbled against a jutting rod of metal and collapsed onto his rump. "I used up the rubies power, so he's gone! Isn't that good!" He winced when Gadget stepped in front of him.

He's not gone, I know it. I can sense him.

Gadget's bleary eyes seared. He blinked the moisture away and sniffled.
He pointed at Eggman and slid his finger towards the two robots and back to Eggman before he shot it towards the cavern.

"Ha! There's nothing ba-" He flinched and yelped when Gadget pointed the weapon at him.
"Okay, okay! I'll go!"

Is it bad that...I'm doing this to them? He blinked. Well...it shouldn't be? I'm...sparing him...the man who murdered everyone... Gadget's temples throbbed. Am...I doing the wrong thing? His eyes widened when he snapped out of his thoughts from Eggman's crass voice.

"Well?"

Gadget nodded, he waved them ahead as he waited for them to enter the cave before him.

. . .

Orbot and Cubebot eyes illuminated the area, scanning the wreckage as their spotlights trailed along the walls and sand. Their lights lit the front of Eggman as he strolled ahead of Gadget with his arms behind his back.

The nauseous scent of charred metal and stuffy, arid air invaded Gadget's twitching nose, cloaking Infinite's scent. Each creek of steel stabbed at his skin as his fur stood on its ends.
His head recoiled back when Eggman spoke.

"Kinda wasting our time. He's dead." Eggman threw his lax hands in the air.

Gadget's eyes narrowed as he observed the surrounding area.
The volley of sparks shot out from the humming loose wiring as his eyes rounded.
He fixated on it, jolting back while tensing his legs.

"I mean, That's a good thing for you guys, right?" Eggman shrugged while Gadget caught up to him. "One less problem in the world."

He clenched his fist. And you'll be one less too if he is. The thought ran a frigid chill down his spine. Don't think that...

"Err, not much of a talkative one are you?" Eggman crossed his arms. "Strong brooding type?"

Gadget narrowed his eyes. Wonder how long it's going to take him to get it.

"T-that's cool, I mean! It's awesome, ahem..." Eggman paused. "Taking after Shadow?"

A beam of orange light gleamed in the corner of Gadget's eye. He whistled as he seized their attention and pointed at the compact cave like exit with jutting fangs of steel.

"You're kidding." The robot's eyes illuminated Eggman's back.
"I'm not going through there."

Gadget bared a sliver of his fangs as the bridge of his muzzle wrinkled.

"It's my favorite suit!" He rested his hands on his chest. "And it's impossible to get the grim out of my boots!"

"I thought your pajama onesies were your favorite suit?"

"Shut it or I'll have you dismantled!" He grumbled.

Gadget whistled again and pointed at the exit. His brows furrowed.

"How about you first?" Eggman smirked.

His eyes slanted.

"And if I don't?" Eggman rested fist on his hips.

Gadget raised his wispon by his chest.

"Ugh, Fine." Eggman sagged his shoulders. "But if I pull a muscle, it's your fault."
He stood before the notch, rubbing his finger below his nose.
"Cubebot, Orbot, open it up!"

They both talked in unison, "Yes sir!" They strolled up to the metal and nudged it. Loose bits rattled as the roofing creaked, but the bars didn't budge.

Flecks of dust of sand descended from the ceiling.

Gadget's eyes scurried from one part to another as his fur bristled and eyes widened.
He placed a foot back before he held his breath. His ears twitched from each rattling steel.

"Forget it, I'll just go." Eggman nudged them aside as he rested his hand on the metal.
His body spasm, reeling back and plummeting onto the ground. He groaned while his splayed fingers twitched. He wiggled his disheveled mustache.

Is it wrong to find it funny? Gadget rested his palm over his mouth while he bit his curling lip.

"Sir, are you okay?' Orbot reached out towards him.

"I'm dandy, just absolutely-fucking-dandy!" Eggman lifted his chest upright as he extended his arms behind him for support.

"I think my sarcasm module isn't working, are you?"

"No you useless automation!" He threw sand in Orbot's face.

"May I say a superb throw of silicon dioxide! If I had eyes I'd be in immense amount of pain." Orbot lurched forward when Eggman grabbed his arm and yanked him into the sand as he used his head for leverage.

"Well, what now?" Eggman dusted himself off and slanted his eyes at Gadget.
He grumbled when Gadget aimed his wispon at him.
"Look, I may be a genius, but I'm not a miracle worker."

Gadget snorted like a bull.

"Ugh..." He groaned. "Okay, okay...I'll...go."
Eggman stepped up to the rubble, rotating his shoulders and hopping in place.
He huffed. "You got this, You are the man."

"Wait, Boss, you aren't a man? I thought you were human."

"Shut it you!" Eggman sucked air through his clenched teeth. He opened and closed his fist.
He exhaled a drawn-out breath before he rested his foot forward, edging himself next to the bars.

A bit...dramatic... Gadget's ears slanted as the side of his lip crooked down.

Eggman bolted past him as Gadget reached for him.
He slipped through the bars while the electricity hummed and popped when his limbs touched the bars. He squealed, "Ah! OOOoof. Whoa!" His body faded into the beaming light.

Gadget's brows parted and eyes rounded before he turned to the robots.

"Well, I guess that's our cue!" Orbot darted through the rubble but scurried back to grab Cubebot by his arm and yanked him away with him.

There's no way...he caused the war...
Gadget blinked, scratching the side of his head.

He lowered his head and bowed his chest inward as he slipped between the jutting bars and stormed after them.

Ducking through the walls' claws, darting past rubble that collapsed, and turned his head to the side while he shielded his eyes from the rays of light which painted the world in white.
Gadget's retinas seared while he blinked the moisture back into them.

Gadget lurched forward. His feet missed the ground. He flailed his arms aloft.

He spun himself around and clutched onto the end of the cliffside with one hand.
Blinking, his bleary vision adjusted while small rings of color mottled it.
The wispon clanked against rocks before he glanced below, tensing up.

A glimmer of purple sheened from a crater in the ravine ahead of him.

I knew it!

Gadget smiled while his heart skipped a beat.
He swung his other arm onto the edge, nudging his chest halfway above cliffside.
His eyes widened when a rugged boot pressed against his sweaty forehead.

...Oh...

He gulped. His body numbed.

"Any last words?"

Gadget furrowed his brows and the bridge of his nose as he bared his fangs.

Eggman sighed. "Well, at least your screams will be pleasant."
He cocked his boot back, aiming it above Gadget's head.
Shooting it forward, it collided against his skull.

He bashed his heel against his forehead again: bruising Gadget's flesh.
He bashed his heel against the left lens of his glasses: cracking it.
He bashed his heel against his nose: breaking it.

A dull twing shot through his throbbing forehead; his gut gnarled from the putrid dread before a numb liquid poured along his face as it intruded into his mouth while he inhaled the blistering air, clutching onto life, Gadget's quivering, aching arms collapsed and he flailed his legs: Eggman's heel thrashed against his skull, cratering it.
His body lurched under but his fingers anchored into the sand.
Gadget blinked, the world blurred.
He pressed his fangs together.
His left hand slipped.
His body dangled.

Gadget's half-lidded fluttering eyes fixated on the blurry pit below.
His jaw hung, blood oozed out of his quivering muzzle.
Gadget's wavering arm gave out.

The wind howled in his ears, buffeted his fur, and carried droplets of blood.

Blotches of black spattered in the edges of his vision.

Guess...I'll be joining you...Finn...

He shook his head, raising his numb, heavy left hand. He discharged his grappling hook; it clanged as it wrapped around something, but it plummeted with him.

"Boss help! Get it off of me!"

I...mis...

Gadget's heavy eyes collapsed. The world hushed. The thought of Finn latched onto his mind.