I hope the cliffhanger wasn't too bad to deal with, anyway here you go.

Oh, and be sure to send me birthday wishes, as mine is tomorrow!

3rd person POV

"Why are you so concerned, doctor?" Asked the masked jackal. The older man sitting in his chair grumbled and stroked his moustache.

"It's Sonic... sooner or later he and that stupid wolf will show their ugly faces again. I'm afraid they'll do more damage to our forces." Eggman explained. Infinite just sighed and shook his head.

"This is the fourth time I've had to explain this to you. That rat was hardly a challenge when we first met in Sunset Heights, and I beat him again for the second time, and keep in mind you're also the reason he was beaten." Infinite explained, touching the finalized Phantom Ruby prototype on his chest and following up an adjustment to his metal mask.

The doctor gave an annoyed look. "I'm considering everything that's happened between him and me. He's managed to survive everything I threw at him! You should've taken that chance to end him." He slammed his first down on the armrest.

Infinite ignored Eggman's rant and looked away, crossing his arms. "You can complain all you want, Doctor. Both Sonics, that trembling child, all of the Resistance for that matter... will cease to exist soon enough." The jackal announced raising a finger. "But for now, I suppose I'll head out and choke the life out of some more who still dare to defend this world. Further implying that I am not weak!"

Infinite began to walk away and leave, but was stopped by Eggman. "Wait!" He called. The masked one turned around.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I have a question I've been meaning to ask for awhile. You wanted to abandon your past 'weak' self?" The canine nodded. "Then why haven't you changed your name yet?" The older man asked, rubbing his chin. Infinite worked up a quick answer.

"Simple. My name may be the same, but the definition and meaning behind has completely changed ever since I've become something more than a weakling, so I see no reason to change it."

Infinite's POV

I began to slowly open my eyes to a bright blinding light, that I had to shield with my hand. Am I dead? Is this actually heaven this time or no?

When my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw that the light was coming in from a window with open shutters on it. I sat up and looked around. I was in a house of some sort... but way to small to be one. It hit me that I was in one of those campers vans. The interior smelled fresh and overall looking new. It wasn't all that decorated though.

I looked at myself. I had two blankets on me and that horrid prison jumpsuit was gone. I wasn't wearing any boots either and felt something wrapped around my leg. I tried to move it, but that only brought pain to the area. I still remember getting cut by Trax's knife, and how much that began to hurt by the time I made it to the alley.

Speaking of injuries, I rubbed my head and noticed the bandage that was wrapped around my head was gone. In fact, I didn't feel a cut or injury on my forehead, indicating that whatever meds they gave me when I was out did their job perfectly.

Did my Squad finally get me? I sincerely hoped so. Who else came and got me? Gadget? No, bastard left me to die in the freezing cold. I will make sure to end him whenever I get the chance if that's what really happened. I still had that feeling of hopelessness in my mind from what I would assume the previous night, it made me shiver.

I pulled the blankets up to inspect my leg. It was covered in bandaging with a small bloodstain on it, but otherwise didn't look too bad.

I decided to man up, ignore the pain and get up. This little cut was nothing because I've had far worse injuries before, like when I nearly lost my eye sometime after I joined the squad that I now lead.

I stood up, but I had more trouble standing because of that injury. I put my hand against a counter for support and looked for some socks and shoes I could at least wear for the time being so I can leave. There were two pairs of boots, but no socks in the small room. Ah, screw it. I bit my lip answer decided to see who's here first.

Using my surroundings, I made my way to the back where a closed door was, presumably a bedroom next to a very small bathroom and closet. I reached the door and went to grab the knob, only for it to turn on it's own. I paused.

The door swung open by itself, and much to my surprise, that red wolf was there, clearly surprised to see me up. We made eye contact for what felt like a solid half an hour before either of us decided to say something.

I heard him clear his throat. "Well, you're finally up." He announced.

"You're lucky I have this injured leg, otherwise I would gut you like a fish." I said glaring. Gadget put his hands up in defence.

"Woah, what did I do to you? I've been helping!" He exclaimed, those yellow eyes behind the glasses showing a confused glow.

"You left me to die!" I shouted, pointing. I wasn't far from strangling him.

"You've got this wrong. Let me explain." He told me.

"Fine, talk!" He cleared his throat once more.

"I never left you, I just didn't expect you to break out the same day I gave you that bomb. I went out to grab food and all that when you were breaking out. When I came back I found you in that alleyway passed out and going hypothermic." The red wolf explained. I backed down off of him.

"Fine, you've bought yourself time." I growled. "So, where am I exactly?" I heard him let out a sigh of relief.

"In my RV. Probably about two hundred miles from your prison, been trying to get out of this wretched place." He said. I saw him cast a look to my injury. "I'm no doctor, but you should really stay off that. Go sit on your bed." I took his advice and sat back down onto my bed, albeit carefully.

"Well, now that I'm here, cut the shit. Tell me what's happened. Why does everyone hate me?!"

"I'll tell you, but I can't guarantee you'll believe what I have to say, but it's the truth." I saw him pause for a moment and continue. "About nine months ago, Eggman attacked Sunset Heights, the city I live in. Sonic came to stop him, but that's when you showed up. Using this prototype of a gemstone called the 'Phantom Ruby', you beat Sonic and that's when a worldwide war started between us and you and Eggman."

"Hold up, why would I be helping someone like him?" I asked. He shrugged.

"I have no idea of what happened to you, or more whatever else Eggman did to you. All I know is that the Ruby had something to do with it, and caused to to turn into that... thing, that masked monster..." Gadget stopped and caught his breath. "So anyways, you... no, that thing was Eggman's right hand man who wasn't afraid to kill, kill, and kill. We eventually stopped it six months later, where Sonic and I beat it. And then it wasn't an hour later you came down from one of Eggman's towers stumbling out confused."

Not a perfect end to a chapter, but oh well. It's midnight and I should get some sleep, and be sure to send me birthday wishes!