A/N - Sometimes I really want to update this story more frequently. But... then I'd probably burn out my buffer.
You can find the illustration that ties in with this chapter on my Tumblr, 'deliriousabsol' (Del's Mad World).
Chapter Three
Tsunami leant back against the control deck, arms folded, as Vector fumbled with his computer. The holoscreen displayed everything backwards, but she wasn't in the mood to try and read it. Having space pirates anywhere on her ship besides the brig was never something she expected or wanted. But something about what he'd said unsettled her, and she wanted to alleviate her concerns. Or turn a blind, blissful eye.
The Chaotix had expressed their appreciation at The Raptor's size and technology, and after a brief introduction to 'remove some tension' they'd made no efforts to go back on their offer to show them what was on the disk. And given Vector was willing to use his computer, Tsunami could rest assured they weren't about to cripple her ship by plugging it into its systems.
Charmy had swiftly recovered, occupying himself at Datastream's navigation deck. Not that it was switched on, given the ship wasn't going anywhere. But that didn't stop him from fawning over its intricate controls and asking Decode half-a-million questions.
A small silver chao-android flew into the room, balancing a tea tray over its head. It paused before Tsunami and grinned.
"Here's your tea!" it chirruped.
"Thanks, Omochao." Tsunami took one of the mugs and left the android to deliver tea to the rest of her over-filled bridge.
Vector blinked at the tiny android. "You have one of them pricey Omochao and didn't even name it?"
"'Him'," Tsunami corrected. "And no. Why would I? He's perfectly happy just being called 'Omochao'."
"I wanted to call him Butters, but no," Decode muttered.
Omochao beamed at his satisfied patrons and fluttered from the room, humming to himself.
Espio stared after him, aghast. "Isn't it a little dangerous to let him handle liquids like that? I mean… he's a robot."
Tsunami didn't look up from her tea. "He wants to be a butler. Let him."
"Oh whatever. Here you go." Vector held out his computer to Tsunami. "If this don't change your mind about this GUN business, I don't know what will."
She took it and Crash and Decode appeared over each of her shoulders. The bush baby had to perch himself on the control deck to get a clear view. Being a faster reader than she was, he often tapped his foot against the deck as he waited, leaving her with no choice but to clamp it in place with her heavy tail. Much to his muttering.
What she read left a bad taste in her mouth. It confirmed the rumours and then some.
GUN were indeed confining the jackal who had appeared in Mainframe fifty seven years ago, along with Eggman. When a mysterious explosion had torn through the very fabrics of space, it had dragged three aliens with it. Eggman, a robot hedgehog, and a jackal many believed was going to actually die. But GUN took him in and he recovered alarmingly quickly. No reasons were given for this, but the report had it down to some strange alien DNA they were calling 'Dark Arms'. It gave him shocking regeneration properties, and somehow prevented him from ageing. Add this to the strange illusory power he already brought with him and the very Chaos Network running through him, he proved to be too much of an alien threat to let loose in Mainframe. He'd shown hostility to the doctors and scientists who had tried to help - fearfully - and that had left him locked up in their cells for 'questioning'. If he was a threat, then surely Eggman would be? That had proven true when Eggman took over a majority of GUN and established himself as the ruler of Mainframe. Although very little was heard from the mad doctor. It had been simple enough for him to take over. The explosion had caused an epidemic, which had many victims and casualties. The virus was coming from the rupture left in the remains of the damaged city, something that had been dubbed Null Space. Eggman created a barrier that held the virus back, and the symptoms along with any traces of it beyond the barrier vanished. He was named a hero and eventually became leader of GUN and Mainframe as a whole. Something Mainframe soon regretted. Eggman worked through his GUN soldiers, robots and quarterly motivational speeches. Riots had been a common thing long before Tsunami's time, and news had it that those fires were put out often with real fires and the appearance of Eggman's ace robot Metal Sonic. People soon learned not to retaliate against Doctor Eggman, or GUN for that matter.
As for the jackal, the GUN information elaborated greatly the more she read it. To stop him from using his powers on them, they'd had to craft a detainment collar. One that was often used for criminals who could easily overpower GUN. It wasn't unheard of for people in mainframe to have unusual skills. Fire manipulation, sonic speed, psychokinesis, or an unusual amount of physical strength. Detainment collars prevented one from using them, sapping their energy. But this one had to be modified just to stop the jackal's strange illusions and teleporting. He didn't appear to have much of a grasp over them and they could be broken easily if he lost his focus. Once the collar was in place, he'd been pumped for information, but it had proved fruitless. He refused to tell GUN's FBI agents anything. Probably because he didn't know why both he and Eggman suddenly appeared in Mainframe. And it had taken the FBI upward of twenty years to finally give up torturing him over it. That part turned Tsunami's stomach. After all that, he'd just been left. Kept alive locked in a secure enclosure. He'd gone insane, or always had been, and they didn't want to kill him. They wanted him alive. They had plans, and those plans soon evolved into something called Project Wreckingball. His powers had left them curious, but it was too dangerous to have him act them out before them. He'd turn on them, and it would take an army to stop him, force his collar back on and toss him back into his cell.
The main scientist behind Project Wreckingball had stepped down, taken over by one who signed off the reports as 'G'. The scientist 'G' had a different way of handling the jackal. It was clear from the way they spoke about him their relationship was somewhat shaky. They'd opted to keep him muzzled to prevent him from biting them after several experimental mishaps. Given he couldn't do anything else to defend himself, it had been his last line of defence. 'G' now oversaw the project as scientists slaved away to create something more potent than a detainment collar. It was some kind of harness that allowed the wearer's handler complete control through simple commands. The wearer would be as harmless as a butterfly until told otherwise. It was a foolproof means to control something with the jackal's power, allowing GUN to use his abilities for their own gain. However, its primary goal seemed to have been altered slightly, leaving a vague sense of unease. Primarily a means to remove both Eggman and the jackal from Mainframe, what would happen to him now was uncertain. Would he no longer be sent back to his own world? Did GUN plan on actually keeping him?
Tsunami lowered the computer, which was snatched up by Decode for a second speedy read. Well, she could definitely see why the Chaotix were concerned. She met Vector's eyes and he shrugged.
"Worryin', huh?" he said.
Tsunami cradled her teacup. "As much as I agree with you, I can't see what you expect to do about it. Short of killing the poor guy, who, from what I gather, hasn't even done anything to deserve all this."
"He just appeared in our world one day, half dead," said Espio. "GUN's treatment of him is nothing short of horrific."
"Can you imagine not ageing or being able to die naturally?" said Vector. "Spending an eternity locked in some kind of control harness, bowing at someone's command. No will of your own, no life… not that he's had much of a life locked up in their cells for almost six decades."
"I agree it's cruel," said Tsunami. "But we can't do anything, and I doubt GUN will listen."
"You're wrong," said Vector. "We can do somethin' and I plan to."
"And what's that?" asked Crash. "Leak this information onto every known website in the Chaos Network? Email it to every single inhabitant in Mainframe? I'm sure GUN would just love that. They'd mount your heads on their walls."
"That's a genius idea," Decode scoffed. "'Everyone would know and GUN would crumble.' They'd cover it up like they always do."
"I wasn't saying 'do it'," said Crash.
Decode waved a hand at the Chaotix. "I was aiming it at them."
"That ain't our plan," said Vector. "It'd fail, like your small primate friend insinuated. My plan is to break into those cells and bust him out. Give him a new life with his own choices."
Tsunami's jaw went slack and Decode dropped Vector's computer. The crocodile grimaced and stooped to retrieve it from the apologetic hacker. Fortunately it hadn't cracked.
"Are you crazy?!" Tsunami snapped. "Even if you did manage to get past GUN's security, who's to say that jackal won't kill you? He's insane! And we don't even know what he's capable of save for what they've included in this project report!"
"Well I think he might appreciate some freedom," said Vector. "I know I would after all that time. He might even be happy to help us get rid of Eggman."
Tsunami narrowed her eyes into slits. It took every ounce of willpower not to toss her scalding hot tea over the reptile. "So it's a plan with a hidden motive?"
"You can't deny you want him out of our world too, merc."
The pangolin twins exchanged glances and Tsunami sighed, waving the space pirates off.
"I've heard enough," she said. "You're completely nuts. I've every right mind to turn you in for your own safety, never mind my career."
"I dunno." Decode had his nose in his computer as he typed away. "I think their plan carries some weight."
Tsunami rounded on him. "You're on their side? And what are you doing?"
"Typing everything up so we don't lose it." He glanced up at her briefly. "Let's face it. If GUN plan to use this guy after removing Eggman they could do anything. The notes described him as bullet-proof. He resists lasers. He can use his power to affect multiple targets. Even create solid illusory clones of himself, or others. Once he gets full control of his powers, he'd be a one-man army. They could use him to wipe out entire cities. Even the whole of Mainframe if they wanted to."
"I don't understand why they'd want to," said Tsunami. "GUN live here as much as anyone else."
"Wars," said Vector. "They happen. Have a weapon that packs that much power, who's gonna stand against them? In that situation you just have to hope you're on the right side."
"I've always thought GUN were evil," said Decode. "This only adds fuel to that fire."
"Don't you work for them?" Espio scoffed.
"No," said the bush baby. "I work for Datastream. I don't trust GUN ever since they stuck a price on my head."
"You're the one who hacked their files," said Crash.
"And they never let it go. Just makes me think they're hiding something. And lo and behold! Project Wreckingball shows up."
"I don't think they're evil per-se," said Espio. "They're split. This group is going against Eggman, while he has most of GUN wrapped up in his own nefarious schemes. They want rid of Eggman like the rest of us do."
"Yeah but somethin' don't smell right," said Vector.
Decode made a thoughtful noise and sat back on the control deck. "Do you think this has something to do with the other guy GUN are looking for?"
The space pirates exchanged confused glances.
"What other guy?" asked Charmy. "They're looking for a lot of people, right?"
"That shady black hedgehog," said Decode. "His poster is all over Pulse City."
"Come on, that's clearly just bait." asked Espio.
Decode shrugged and returned to typing up his notes. "Well I can help you if you want."
"Over my dead body," said Tsunami. "I'm not letting you help out these pirates! That's a sure way to have GUN after your neck again!"
"I couldn't care less if GUN are after me or not," he said.
"Those facts really haven't got to you at all?" asked Crash.
She looked up at her brother. "Have they got to you?"
He shrugged his large shoulders and pushed back from the control deck. "I dunno. It's worrying, though, Nami. I'm not sure I want to risk leaving a weapon like that in their hands. Not only is it deadly, it's cruel. It's making me question their moral standards."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"If they're willing to go that far with an alien, what's to stop them blurring the line and using anyone who has over-the-top powers?"
Vector scratched beneath his headphones. "I never thought of that."
"Then there's always the chance they might try to boost someone's powers," Crash went on. "Someone might be able to create flames. GUN boosts it to have them create infernos and unleashes them in a war. They retaliate at all, then boom! Control harness. I don't like this at all, sis."
"You're over-thinking things," said Tsunami.
"Am I?"
She blinked at him, lost for words.
"Let's face it," he went on. "You've read all that's on that disk. You know the facts. But say we hadn't. If I were to tell you I was worried about this Project Wreckingball, and all I had to go on were rumours - or just my own speculation - would you tell me I was over-thinking it?"
She sighed and rubbed a hand down her muzzle. "Probably, yes."
"Then if I'm right, we have a problem. Don't we? There's no saying this jackal is nothing more than a test subject. Number One in a series of experiments of questionable morality."
"I'm with Crash," said Decode. "I was having the same worries."
"Then that cinches it," said Vector. "We really have to get that guy outta there. Slow down their progress and throw a spanner in the works."
"So you're going to rescue this man?" said Tsunami. "Knowing full well he's insane and could kill you?"
"He's muzzled and detained," said Vector. "He shows any aggression then he stays that way."
"And where are you going to put him?" she went on. "What will you do with him when he's out?"
"Try and reason with him," said Espio. "And we can always keep him locked on our ship."
"Yeah," said Charmy. "We have a pretty big and sturdy cargo bay."
"And we have a brig," said Crash. "I'd sooner take my chances with that."
Tsunami jerked her head around to stare at him. Then she sighed and slumped back into the control deck.
"Oh whatever," she said. "I can't exactly turn a blind eye knowing all this. Fine. But if things go wrong, I'm turning each and every one of you in."
Crash blinked a few times. "Erm… does that include me?"
She didn't answer. Instead she shooed Decode and his brew from the control deck then fell into her seat.
"So you want to help us?" Vector gasped.
"No. I don't want to." Tsunami fired a glare over her shoulder. "But this is a one-off. After this, we go back to our old game of cat and mouse."
Vector folded his arms and frowned. "I'm not entirely sure I want your help, merc."
The pair continued to glare at each other. Espio shifted uneasily then tapped his captain on the elbow.
"Hang on, Vector," he said. "If they did help us, it would seriously increase our chances of success."
"Yeah, and then what happens to the jackal?" Vector asked him.
"Simple," Tsunami said before Espio could open his mouth. "He stays in our brig until we know he's no danger. To us or to Mainframe."
Vector flashed his sharp teeth at the pangolin, his gold eyes narrowing dangerously. Crash looked between them then raised a hand in a shrug.
"Let's face it," he said. "We aren't exactly gonna bust him out to turn him back into the authorities again, are we? What good would that achieve?"
"Hard to say with you mercs," said Vector.
Omochao fluttered back through and the Chaotix politely returned their empty mugs to his tea tray before he bothered Datastream for theirs.
"All right," Vector went on. "We'll co-operate this once. What's your plan?"
"Already on it," said Decode.
Everyone turned to the bush baby who was busying himself at the navigation deck with his computer. Tsunami rose to peer over his shoulder, but he didn't seem to care.
"You're hacking into GUN's files?" she groaned.
"I'm getting their maps," said Decode. "Nothing confidential."
She let out a sigh of relief and leant forwards on the back of his chair.
"And their security camera locations and bot-grades," he finished.
She almost sank to the floor. Vector, however, let out a cheery raucous laugh.
"This kid's got guts!" he said. "I like it."
Espio joined Decode's side and eyed his work with fascination. "You plan to remotely shut the robots down?"
"If I can," said Decode. "Otherwise you'll have to destroy them. And we don't really want to leave any evidence."
"They already know the Chaotix stole this information in the first place," said Tsunami. "It's not as if GUN couldn't do the math."
The two reptiles grunted while Charmy looked at each of them in turn, scratching his head.
"Okay. Let me correct myself." Decode glanced back at Tsunami with one pink eye. "We don't want to leave any evidence. Excuse me for trying to be a team player."
"Enough sass." She returned to her seat and fell heavily into it. "Find us the location and let's get a move on. We can come up with a plan of action on the way."
"Hang fire," said Vector. "What about our ship? We can follow you in that."
"Two ships would double our chances of being seen," said Tsunami.
"Exactly." Crash grinned at the space pirates. "You might wanna pull up a seat."
...
The corridors of the FBI's high security cells were always dim, and there was that one light that was always flickering. A wiring problem, given the amount of bulbs that had been 'replaced' in a bid to fix it. Gadget tutted as he lowered his head, nudging his glasses up his snout before they slipped off his face. Once he was past that bulb's migraine-inducing strobe, he looked up again to scout the cells. Most of them empty. The FBI had been quiet recently, but the odd whimper came from one cell where an agent worked away to probe at a spy caught lurking outside Doctor Eggman's lair.
The red wolf followed the corridor around to the end. A large cell with a glass front. Shatterproof glass behind a second window with a door, allowing Gadget to sandwich himself between them while still being out of the prisoner's reach. Not that he could touch him anyway. Gadget pushed a button on the intercom, activating it.
"Prisoner I45724?" he said.
The black and white jackal opened his eyes, although Gadget was fairly sure he'd not been sleeping. His right eye didn't seem to notice him. Blue and disfigured by an ugly scar. His golden one, though, almost sent chills down Gadget's spine.
"I have a name you know," the prisoner growled.
"Not here you don't," said Gadget.
But it's not as if he didn't know it. The jackal had practically screamed it at him, right before locking his jaws around his left ear. Gadget resisted the urge to rub at it. The surgeons had done a good job of restoring it, but it still sported a nasty scar down the back, where his fur had yet to grow back. 'Infinite', he'd said. What kind of name was that? Then he'd laughed as the guards dragged him back to his cell, leaving the wolf nursing what remained of his ear. But Infinite hadn't laughed for long. The guards made sure of that. And the wretched jackal had never pulled such a stunt again. Gadget made sure of that.
Infinite glared back at him, his jaws straining against the chain muzzle as it cut into his snout. It was an attempt to bare his canines.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"I want to know if you're going to co-operate this time?"
Infinite narrowed his eyes and his long, bushy tail twitched. "When are you gonna get bored of running tests on me?"
"When I'm satisfied."
"I miss the old doctor. He left his weapons at the door."
"You've made it pretty clear I need them."
Infinite attempted to shrug beneath his straitjacket. "You wouldn't need them if you weren't so obsessed with how fast I regenerate."
"You bit off my ear, Infinite!" Gadget snapped.
The glass fogged under his breath and he swiped it away with the back of his glove. Infinite stared back at him, a sinister smirk spreading across his muzzle.
"Hey, would you look at that," he said. "You remembered my name. Guess it worked."
Gadget flashed a canine and reached for the door. As the lock clicked, Infinite struggled to his feet, staggering back into the cushioned wall. His eyes widened and Gadget saw a hint of fear wash over him. But it vanished just as quickly as the jackal braced himself. The door closed behind Gadget as he strolled onto the heavily padded floor. It was a lot brighter in the cell than in the corridor, and he had to squint. He clutched his taser baton at his side, keeping one eye on Infinite. The wolf hugged the wall, while Infinite crept along the opposite one, eyes trailing over Gadget and his chosen weapon. His own design. A modification on GUN's defence batons. Gadget's opinion was always that a good defence was a fantastic offence.
"I don't need to hurt you if you'll just co-operate." Gadget spoke through clenched teeth.
Infinite's hackles bristled and he sneered. "You said that last week."
"You didn't co-operate."
"What do you want with me, wolf?!"
"I want to know what the extent of your powers are," Gadget explained.
Infinite blinked at him and his lips turned down into an uncertain frown. His breathing turned loud and raspy as though his throat had suddenly closed up, and he fixed his eyes on the stun baton.
"Which ones?" he asked.
Gadget lifted the baton to point and Infinite tensed, pulling his lips back as much as the chains would allow. Gadget sighed and bobbed the baton until the jackal got the message. He strained to see the heavy blue, metal collar around his neck. Three lights blinked neon blue, almost drowned out by the fluorescent light bouncing off the white walls and floor.
Infinite grinned and let out a dry chuckle. His eyes sparkled and he leant back against the wall, visibly relaxing.
"Sure, doc," he said. "You wanna remove this collar, be my guest."
That wasn't the reaction Gadget had wanted. Or expected. He clutched the baton at his side, glaring back at the jackal.
"Oh, I won't be the one removing it," he said.
Infinite smirked at him. "Pity. Given I know how fascinated every one of you is. That's why none of you are letting me go. Even though I've made it pretty clear how I feel about Eggman."
"That's because we don't believe you're on our side."
"I'm not." Infinite shrugged. "I never said I was." He kicked himself back from the wall and strolled towards Gadget, lowering his head to look him in the eye. "After everything you lot have put me through, why would I be?"
Gadget braced himself for an attack, but Infinite stopped a couple of feet away from him and inclined his head. Waiting for an answer. Mocking him.
"If you'd co-operated, then you wouldn't-"
Infinite let out a loud laugh and shook his head. "You're all obsessed with me! This power is like nothing you've ever seen! You're too scared to let me go because of what I could do! Or is it because you'd lose it? Lose something you want to control?" He took another step towards him until Gadget could feel his breath on his face. "I know what you want with me, wolf. And I'm not gonna let you do it."
Gadget narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on his baton. "You know nothing."
"I know more than you think."
That raspy noise left Infinite's throat again and he fixed his eyes on Gadget's wounded ear. Then he rose back to his full height and grinned.
What was he getting at? Was it just mind games? Or had someone been careless, spewing out GUN's plans in the corridors? No… it couldn't be the latter. This cell was sound-proofed. So it had to be mind games. Unless his powers could allow him to read someone's thoughts? Maybe the detainment collar restricted less than they thought? His powers were an enigma. One Gadget itched to uncover.
"Let's do a little science here," said Infinite. "Many scientists and soldiers have tried to 'test' me. I've been cooped up here, and moved around, for what… forty… fifty… sixty years? I've lost count. They don't exactly give me a calendar. A long time, anyway. They've removed my collar, I've lashed out. A well-deserved lashing out as well, I might add. It was awesome. But they overpowered me. So here you are, riding on the back of the fact I've not had much practice with these powers. Surely you, a genius, can get to the bottom of what these powers can do? So you can act out your nefarious plans. Well, I've got a question for you, wolf. If a bunch of GUN security guards can't control me, then what makes you think a pathetic, weak, nasally scientist can?"
Gadget pulled his lips back and narrowed his eyes. "Watch your mouth, wretch."
Infinite laughed and shook his head. "Struck a nerve? Well… it's not like I can't relate. Let's see… high school was tough? Never had a girlfriend. Picked last in sports. University was no better. Now you abuse that doctorate to satisfy what the world wouldn't give you? By picking on someone stronger than you, no do-"
Gadget brought the baton around into the side of Infinite's head, knocking him sideways. He landed heavily on the padded floor, but he wasn't down for long. He rolled onto his back and forced himself up, shaking his head so hard his long ears flopped and his mane went everywhere. He glared up at Gadget between clumps of white fur and snarled.
"I was trying to negotiate!" he snapped.
"By picking me apart?" Gadget snarled.
"At least I was only using words." Infinite chuckled as a smirk spread across his muzzle. "Did they hurt?"
Gadget sneered down at him and flared the baton to life. Electricity sparked from the end of it and Infinite's eyes flew towards it. Then he leapt to his feet in one fluid motion. The top of his head struck Gadget in the muzzle, sending the wolf careening back into the glass. The wind flew from his lungs and he slid down it, the room blurring across his vision. Infinite's tall shape stood like a shadow among the haze. Warmth trickled from Gadget's nose and he wiped blood away on the back of his glove. But before he could gather himself, Infinite leapt towards him and swung his foot around into the side of his head. Gadget left the floor, coming down again hard on his back. Then Infinite was on him, driving his knee into his stomach and winding him further.
He crouched over Gadget, slowly coming back into focus. His lips were pulled back, his hot breath spreading over Gadget's face. The scientist could clearly make out his white fur poking between the iron chains, and small pink patches where it had been rubbed away.
"If you can't handle me like this," he said, "then you should just back down and leave me alone. I don't want to see your sorry face at my window again."
"Tough." Gadget's voice came out shockingly weak, but he hid it behind a glare. "Because you're my project."
He sat up swiftly, throwing his weight into it. His forehead struck Infinite square in the muzzle. Chains cut into Gadget's skin, but he bit back a yelp. Infinite fell back from him with a grunt, giving the wolf enough time to scramble for the baton. Abandoned at the window where he'd previously fallen. His jaw and snout pounded with every movement, but he pushed himself up. Just in time to see Infinite lunging for him. The baton sparked and he swung it into the jackal's side. The blast sent him flying away from him and a loud scream left Infinite's throat. He crashed down in the middle of the room, landing in a sprawl.
Gadget leant against the glass as he panted for breath, breathing in the smell of burning fur. The only other sound was Infinite's grunting as he struggled to roll himself over. His left side was burnt raw, but was slowly healing before Gadget's eyes. The baton had burnt right through the canvas of his straitjacket. Although the damage wasn't enough to provide a problem.
Infinite coughed a few times as he forced himself to sit up, and fixed Gadget in a glare. But the wolf had nothing more to say. He'd made his point. He turned and left the cell, giving Infinite one last leer through the glass.
...
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