"Ugh..my head. I was fighting Infinite and then... red? Where am I anyway? " Sonic started to feel around him, struggling to move his hands due to the limited space.
"Awake?" Infinite approached him, the one visible eye he had lit up with smugness.
Panic was settling in as Sonic's claustrophobia was put to the test. Sweat started to trickle down his face. "Oh hey! Horrible of you to drop by, but now you're here, please explain why I'm in a tiny capsule that has no AC?"
"Well if you would stop angering me to hit you unconscious, then maybe you would know."
Sonic asked curiously but also concerned. "That red, what was it?"
"A casino can't give up it's secrets, and nor shall I."
"Haha yeah, real helpful." He sighed sarcastically.
Intimidatingly, Infinite took long but slow steps to the tiny window of bullet proof glass that Sonic was peeking out of. "You will stay in this box until you learn to obey."
"That's like telling a chao not to run around! If you think this'll stop me, then have at it!"
"Oho but for how long? Not only will you not get meals, but also no drinks, and no cooling system."
"Such a classy hotel the Death Egg is! Oh boy, I wonder if this place makes any mone-"
Infinite charged up to the pod, and slammed his fist, denting the front. If the glass wasn't there then Sonic would've had a horrid blow to the face. "I have had enough with you, and your jokes. I tried to play nice, but you are unworthy of such patience." The rage covered Infinite's words in filth as he pushed a big red button on a controller.
In agony Sonic bent down as far as he could, his hands pressed hard against the glass. He glanced at the villain and saw him strolling away so casually. He was bent thirty-two degrees, one of his hands firmly gripping the bracelet leg, the other still holding on tight to the wall.
Now that he was panting, air seemed even more confined as sweat turned into droplets. "That's you being nice!?"
His chest flaring up again, he manoeuvred his right hand to hold it. "Great. No food, water, ac, air, I'm pretty banged up, and I can't even sit down, let alone sleep? This day just keeps getting better and better." How long had he even been stuffed in the pod for? An hour, five minutes?
But he wasn't worried about himself considering all those factors, his stress was focused on Tails. "I need to get out of here, or at least send him a message. I might have to ask Eggman for the wifi password..."
He was lost deep in his thoughts when another shock flowed through his body. "Agh! What was that for big bad wolf?!"
"This capsule has settings enabled for a electrocution every five minutes." An AI voice announced loudly.
"Scratch that, it'll be impossible to sleep."
Hours went by and Sonic's determination, though strong, was growing weaker by the second. Hunger started to settle in, and he felt as though he was in the summers of Australia with the air quality.
"Give up yet Rodent?" Infinite teased, checking up on his prey every twenty minutes.
"For the 'most superior being', you really do have the memory of a goldfish. I told you, I will- ack! - never listen to you. Got it?"
"Have it your way." The jackal shrugged, teleporting out of the room.
The AI boomed "Shock administration updated to every two minutes."
"Great. Oh I think I'm starting to get dizzy, someone get me some water..." Sonic's vision started to blur and he could focus on anything. The heat got to him and he eventually passed out, the shocks not having effect.
...
An hour later he awoke from his slumber, still feeling queasy, but better than before. His determination to refuse Infinite's offer was stronger than ever, and he could actually hold through the shocks. Curiously, he checked his watch to see the time.
"Ten pm.. usually I'd be asleep by now on.. Tails'.. couch, sometimes Amy's. Speaking of, she probably has invited him over to stay so he's not lonely. Ames is truly amazing. I just wish Tails' was holding up as well as her.."
"My my, Sonic The Hedgehog! You truly are persistent. But my mercy is stretched thin. I mean, either that fox boy joins you in your cell, or you give up. I really cannot choose."
"You don't touch him!" Sonic shouted, enraged.
"I won't if you come out."
"Fine. You win. Hurt him in the tiniest bit possible and we'll have even more problems. Got it?" The hedgehog's words were stern, and he really wasn't fooling around. He began to bang hard at the pod door, using all his remaining strength.
The door automatically opened, the final goodbye shock leaving him unbothered.
"AI, turn off shock administration." Infinite commanded.
"Yes, sir."
The jackal moved towards Sonic, about to say something insulting, when he was interrupted.
"I want to see him. Tails. Now."
"Oh no, I do not have him, he is back on Mobius. But I can always teleport the fox here. I may not teleport him back."
"Good. Never ever threaten Tails again."
"Psh, like you could stop me. Are you going to comply to order, or will you go back into that red capsule?"
"If Tails' life isn't at risk I'll gladly go back for round two! The shocks are pokes now!"
He stepped inside, being locked in once more. As Sonic just got comfortable, Infinite whispered a change of settings, and then the AI confirmed "Electric shock enabled. Electric Shock volts now doubled.
The hedgehog's eyes widened. "Are you kidding me!? Maybe I should watch what I say.." He tried to get comfortable, but unfortunately in a small vertical pod, it does not come easy. "I've eaten burritos worse than you! Bring it on!" He exclaimed in confidence, the smirk on his face meeting the frostbite glare of Infinite.
"Oh I thought this thing didn't have air con! Thanks!"
Infinite gave no reply, but his one visible eye changed from a death stare to cheeky. Calmly, he ambled out of the room, leaving Sonic to his thoughts.
"There has to be a catch; he wouldn't be nice all of a sudden.. how long have I even been in here anyway?" Sonic wondered as he managed to squeeze his arm ninety degrees. "Dang seriously? Only two hours? But I was knocked out a bit before. I need to get out."
Shivers and goosebumps started kicking in due to the increasing cold. He tried to use survival tactics to stay warm such as curling into a ball, but the limited space meant that he couldn't even squat. An hour later and the poor hedgehog was numb, attempting as hard as he could to fight off hypothermia. Fortunately he was able to finally curl into a ball, and even though he could feel warmer, it didn't do as much. The shocks still occured every two minutes, and he didn't know how much more he could take. But he knew he had to be strong and fight to the end. He would never be able to look at himself in a mirror ever again if he obeyed.
After a long thirty minutes, a loud and cracked voice boomed over to his pod. "Get him out Infinite!" It yelled, completely furious.
"Brrrr...Eg..Eggman?" Sonic moved his head up to meet the doctor's as the door opened.
"Can you stand Rodent?" He asked, concerned for the hedgehog's safety.
"Ye..yeah.. probably..."
"AI, turn on the surround heating! Infinite, you and me are going to have a talk after this." The room instantly reached one hundred degrees, warming Sonic back to normal temperature, the hypothermia effects starting to wear off.
"Get out of my sight." Eggman demanded as his soldier teleported away with a hiss. "What did he do? I mean, I want you to suffer, but not like this!" He turned his attention to the hedgehog.
"Your Halloween costume needs to chill out! I've only been here for like what? Not even a day!"
"Yeah, I know, I'll take care of him. But what did he do?"
Sonic sighed, and sat up against the now shut pod door. "Infinite showed me Tails, and I fought him."
"You really are an idiot, aren't you?"
"Heh, it's just how I am. Anyway, I managed to use the bracelet to shock him, and then he said something. After that all I remember was red and then I was in this thing."
"I told you not to anger him you blue gumball! If I wasn't there to stop him, he would've made you a quill flavoured Popsicle!"
"I know, I know."
You need to watch your temper rat, or else you might turn dark. But when did he turn on the air con?"
The hedgehog sighed once more, revealing the reason why. "He said I either obey him or I stay in the red coffin. Infinite used Tails as bait to get me out, but then I went back in after he said that he didn't actually have him. That's when he made it feel like Antarctica."
"Oh that pesky little jackal- did you have something to eat yet? It is half past midnight."
"Nah, that was apart of the deal. No food, and no drink until I got out." To Sonic's happiness Eggman barged out of the door and called Infinite's name like an angry mom. That left the hero smiling at the fact he had at least someone looking out for him. He knew that Eggman would never have the guts to do anything bad to his nemesis since they were more or less, frenemies. How else he do the twitter takeover this year?
But alas, Sonic, even though he was given the perfect opportunity to escape, he just couldn't bring himself to. Eggman went out of his way to save his life, so he felt like it would be taboo to just leave. And it's not like he'd even be able to run away.
"AI, turn off heaters." He asked, breaking a tiny sweat.
"Sorry, you are not authorised. State password." It replied.
"Uh.. Password123?"
"Access granted. Welcome sir."
"Huh, he has a pretty bad password for a 'genius'."
In rage, Infinite had one final yell and stormed off as Eggman re entered the room. "let's get you something to eat."
"Actual?"
"Yes well, I'm a human, not a monster."
They both walked out together, heading towards the kitchen and dining room.
"You know," Sonic began. "You are actually a pretty good host! Apart from your little employee of course."
"Psh, I am a man of high class! But I still hate you."
"Aw I hate you too Egghead!"
After some more bickering and bloating, they sat down to where a mediocre dinner was. On the table was a medium rare steak, all types of egg meals, and most importantly, one chilli dog.
"Wow!" Sonic exclaimed, shoving it all down his gob as fast as he could. "This is better than what I thought it would be!"
"I can cook better, but you don't deserve my amazing skills."
After two minutes of shoving his mouth, a question came to Sonic's mind. "Hey Eggman?"
"Yeah?"
"How did you come back so quickly?"
"That is a secret!"
Suspiciously, the hedgehog scoffed and finished of his plate. "Thanks doctor!" he exclaimed cheerfully.
"Uh no problem!" Eggman replied, hiding his smile.
After being giving some water, Sonic stood up to leave, and Infinite escorted him to his room, without saying a word. It was strange because the blue blur expected some type of reply, especially after riling him up. At this rate Sonic was questioning what Eggman said to him.
After being giving some water, Sonic stood up to leave, and Infinite escorted him to his room, without saying a word. It was strange because the blue blur expected some type of reply, especially after riling him up. At this rate Sonic was questioning what Eggman said to his lackey for him to behave that well. Five insults later by Sonic and they eventually reached the prisoner cells.
"We are repairing the flooring in your room so you will have the cell next to it instead. " Infinite's voiced sounded annoyed and angered as he shoved Sonic into his humble abode.
"There is an en-suite to your left, and the bench is for you to sleep on."
"I was expecting first class, but this will do."
Not being able to take any more tedious quips from Sonic, he grabbed his neck, and whispered menacingly into his ear. "Listen here you brat. There are no cameras in your cell, nor are there any speakers installed yet, so it is wise to not to test my patience."
Sonic's mood went from comfortable to a whole range of negative emotions as his eyes were wide and his pupils were smaller than a speck. He was going to be defiant and say something in response, but he figured out that Infinite wouldn't hold back from punching him anymore.
Once the intimidating henchman left, Sonic couldn't help but think of his fox friend. Tails had no idea if the hedgehog was even still alive, and it was probably for the better: he didn't know what situation the blue rat was in. He thought on it some more, shoved it away for now, and tried to get as much rest as he could, although it proved challenging due to the pure amount of bruising, sprains, and injuries he had sustained in general.
"I've been in worse shape." He told himself as he held on tight to his ribs. "I always bounce back, and I'm not giving up now. I will never be afraid of someone like Infinite: he's just a dork in a Halloween costume."
"Saying your thoughts aloud Hedgehog is not the best idea." A smooth voice chimed as drew closer to Sonic.
He got startled and stood up in surprise. "Wha- Infinite?! Do you want to watch me sleep? I am very interesting. I mean, why else would you be here-"
The villain approached him fast. "I know Eggman is trying to protect you from me." He stated in a semi-loud tone, annoyance in his words.
Sonic sat down on the bench and yawned. "Yeah cause you aren't exactly what I'd call 'friendly.'"
"Why? Why does that fool care so much about you? He should want to vaporise you from existence.."
"Well, uh.. you can ponder on that while I get my beauty sleep. Adios, goodbye, sayonara." Tired, Sonic lied on his makeshift bed, and rolled over to the wall, facing away from Infinite.
"You will no longer be sane by the time I am done with your fragile mind. I will rule your thoughts day and night. You will fear me."
The hedgehog waved him off. "Uh huh, go sort out your superiority complex somewhere else."
Infinite scoffed quietly, handing the tired hedgehog a death glare he couldn't see, but could feel. Those words kind of stuck to him. What did he mean 'no longer be sane'? Could the punishments get somehow worse? He didn't know. But he decided to focus on the now and sleep.