TW: Suicidal thoughts.

Chapter 3: Scars

Another day, another failure.

Eggman had finally pulled out a draft of a plan on what to do next after yesterday's fiasco. The problem was that he knew it was nowhere near foolproof. In fact, there was a good chance he was going to fail yet again.

However, the results could be, at the very least, interesting.

Eggman stood in front of a robotic duplicate of his arch nemesis. Metal Sonic had just been reactivated yesterday. Before that, the robot had been on standby mode for over a year. Metal Sonic was held up by chains, allowing him to work at eye level with a rather small robot.

Eggman decided it was time to step it up. Metal Sonic was one of the, if not the strongest robot he'd ever created and was the closest to defeating Sonic. It should have been a no-brainer from the beginning, but he was still a bit uneasy after Metal went maverick on him and held him hostage in his own base. As a result, he'd been put in a more passive state.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Orbot inquired in concern. He watched as his creator tinkered with the blue robot's generator located in its center.

"Not entirely sure," Eggman admitted, "but I have to try something."

He really did. The faster he found something worthy of defeating the blue troublemaker the better. He wasn't going to let the ruby go to waste. It had too much potential. Other than that, rumors were starting to come out that he was planning something. In truth, he knew he had to act quickly before word reached G.U.N. and Team Dark, or worse, Sonic himself.

Metal kidnapping him aside, he was actually one of his inventions he was proudest of.

"It's not too late to call back Infinite…" Orbot muttered, holding a tiny communicator.

Eggman gave him an irritable look. From the corner of his eye, he could see Infinite's scarf hanging on a wire with two horquillas and a small fan blowing it dry. He huffed and turned back to Metal Sonic. Infinite wasn't likely to return. And for once… he didn't blame him.

He frowned and tried to focus on his work. However, his thoughts strayed back to Infinite's seething scowl when he started reading his failures and how it transitioned back into the defeated look he'd seen the moment he first came back alone from the Shadow fight. He knew what he said was awful. He just didn't think Infinite would actually get hurt from it. He was expecting him to snap back, maybe even aggressively. He was even anticipating him to raise his sword at him. None of those things happened. Infinite left angrily, but otherwise quietly. They were not in the same villainy league, after all.

He carefully fitted the Phantom Ruby prototype inside the hole in Metal Sonic's chest, and made a few adjustments so that it wouldn't fall off easily in a hit.

"Erm, well there are other inoffensive robots you could try first-" Orbot suggested, backing off as Metal Sonic's eyes flashed red.

"I tried enough, thank you." Eggman said dismissively.

A strange, crimson dark aura started surrounding the robot. Eggman raised his eyebrows impressed at how the prototype ruby seemed to mimic even the aesthetic effects of the original.

"Alright, Metal. I need you to test out your powers." Eggman said excitedly. He pulled out an old paper draft and pointed at his planners, featuring a renovated Eggmanland. "Try to create something like this!"

Metal Sonic stood still quietly for a few seconds before he jerked his head to the side to face him.

"Command rejected."

"What?" Eggman was flabbergasted. However, his surprised expression quickly transitioned into annoyance. Of course Metal would pull something like this.

Metal Sonic proceeded to bluntly repeat himself.

Cubot and Orbot exchanged nervous glances.

"Look, it doesn't have to be the whole thing, you can pick something specific." He said irritably.

"Erm, boss…" Cubot whispered. "Would this be a good time to back off? Do you want me to call your Egg walker or-?"

"We're staying put,"Eggman insisted.

"Oh okay…"

Infinite walked through the depths of Mystic Jungle, dragging his crimson blade by the handle tiredly. He was so drained he was finding it hard to remain furious.

Who does he think he is? He grit his teeth, his anger reignited all over again. I can't believe I wasted my life- and everyone else's, working for that clown.

In hindsight, it wasn't a very good idea to leave his entire life behind for some vision that he wasn't even sure was achievable in any capacity or form. He wasn't even sure if he still even wanted to achieve it at all.

Ugh, and for what? You're still just as broke and lost, more so than ever. Idiot.

He came by a lake similar to the one he had his last face-off against a living foe. His knees finally gave out, and he flopped on the ground. He stabbed his sword on the soft soil, and tried to use it to pick his weight back up, but the sword just sank further into the ground. He breathed slowly and crawled to the edge of the lake. The water was surprisingly clear. Perhaps it hasn't been touched by the doctor yet. He leaned forward and guzzled down the fresh stream.

After he was done, he fell on his back and laughed, almost hysterically. What if the doctor did dumb his toxic waste on the stream and it killed him? What a stupid way to die after surviving a beating from the Ultimate Lifeform himself. Although, he supposed no one would know about that ridiculous incident. He would just lay there and rot. No one would look for him and bother to figure out why he had a permanent smile on his otherwise sad face.

He sat up slowly and looked down at the reflection on the water. His bruises from the fight and scars had nearly healed, save for the permanent one that ran across his right eye. His favorite eye; an ocean blue shade contrasting his fierce golden one. He reached for the scar and gently brushed against it with three fingers. Some things just wouldn't heal.

The longer Infinite stared at his image, the more he grew frustrated with how he looked. His unequal eyes, his messy, wild hair, every inch of him was a chaotic mess. Shadow hadn't ruined his face, he did! His way of life, his constant fighting, and for what? He couldn't stand it. He hated how little control he had on his life. He was always at the whims of someone richer and more powerful, having to live up to every horrible atrocity and impossible demand just to survive. But what else could he do? He had no interest in anything.

He shook his head. Now that he thought about it; is that why he had that vision? Was that really his twisted idea of a better life? Just shattering everything like it didn't matter? For once, he couldn't stand his own nihilistic attitude.

And he didn't understand how his squad ever did, either. Perhaps they didn't. Maybe they were following him because they were lost, too. Maybe they were scared of that sense of no direction that he himself was growing uncomfortable with. What else? Couldn't have been his great "leadership". He was rash and stubborn, not the type of qualities anyone wants to put on their resume let alone alone look up to.

He touched his chest, realizing he was missing the soft warmth of his scarf. He let out a low sigh.

His ears began to twitch, picking up a low, distant scream. It seemed muffled. Infinite looked back and saw that his small ear communicator had fallen off and was desperately trying to talk to him. The voice on the device was robotic, but urgent. Probably Orbot. It was followed by a loud uproar.

Infinite hesitated. Probably Eggman trying out his prototype and failing badly on him. His heart slowly began to race in urgency… but why? The only thing Eggman ever did for him was tell him the uncomfortable truth; he was some nobody who wanted to feel special by clinging onto some title he knew he didn't deserve.

He sulked and gazed at the water. He didn't have to do this. If he leaned forward, he might have an excuse as to why not go.

"Why are you hurting yourself like this?" He said aloud. Fresh tears dripped down into the stream, disturbing otherwise still waters.

But the image didn't respond, just continued to weep.

No… I started this… I already lost so much…

I have to see this until the end. He got up and pulled his crimson sword out of the ground.

C'mon… we have work to do.

"ALL LIVING THINGS KNEEL BEFORE YOUR MASTER."

Orbot and Cubot shrank into their basic cube and sphere form in fear. Eggman made a mental note of how pointless fear was to a robot.

"Master? You bratty clump of metal, I am your master! I created you!"

The robot's head jerked in his direction. In a blink of an eye, he blasted a crimson energy beam directly from the phantom ruby itself. The attack just narrowly missed Eggman's mustache.

"Egad!" He hid underneath his own desk.

The ruckus was enough to stir the rest of the badniks, who came rushing into his rescue. Among them were four Shadow androids glowing in neon colors, each adorned with different weapon attachments on their left hands.

He tried to reach for the emergency button that would summon his Egg Mobile, but it was safely locked on the ceiling and way out of reach from his desk.

Are you kidding me?!

Metal Sonic swiped at them mercilessly with metallic claws. The Badniks released Chaos drives and tiny animals after being destroyed.

"ALL THIS. BELONGS. TO. ME." The robot screeched, lifting the entire desk (which was previously rooted to the floor). Eggman scrambled away as the robot locked eyes with him, with both hands still holding the desk over his head.

"YOU-" He seethed. "CLAIM TO COMMAND ME?"

Before he could retaliate, something dashed straight into the robot from behind, the collision causing him to drop the desk (and all the electronics and paperwork in it) onto its own head.

"You really have to stop giving these things a chat box."

"Infinite?!" Eggman gasped. The jackal dashed past him and slashed at Metal Sonic's head. The robot dodged swiftly.

"Enemy detected. Scanning." Metal Sonic caught Infinite by the sword as he tried to jump at him from behind. He pulled up the sword with the jackal still clinging by the handle. Infinite made eye contact with him and bared his fangs. "Threat level: weak."

Metal Sonic flung the sword (and Infinite, by extension) to the wall. The mercenary fell with a loud thud after hitting the wall. His sword landed with a raucous clang by Eggman's desk.

"Infinite!" Eggman whispered-yelled. "What are you doing?!"

"My job." He hissed. He tried to get up, but winced in pain. He clutched his ribcage and groaned.

The Shadow androids fired their weapons at Metal Sonic, distracting him from the doctor and mercenary.

Using this brief moment, Eggman ducked and reached for Infinite's sword. With the added distance, he used the tip to push the emergency button on the ceiling.

In a near instant, a distant engine roared to life and Eggman's Egg Mobile rushed to his aid. Eggman jumped into the seat and drove off. Infinite stared dumbfounded as he watched the doctor leave.

Infinite fists tightened in anger to the point he was digging his own claws into his palms. He punched the ground.

That clown just left me! He mentally screamed.

He crawled forward and grabbed his sword. He shakily got up and faced Metal Sonic, who finally noticed he was still alive.

"Such sturdiness for a pathetic meatbag." Metal Sonic said emotionlessly. The poor Shadow Android he held by the neck looked pleadingly at Infinite as Metal Sonic used his other hand to squeeze his tiny torso, releasing sparks of electricity and wires, and then tossing it aside with its robotic siblings.

Infinite was horrified at the sight, but he refused to look scared again.

"You're quite chatty for a fancy bucket of bolts." He barked.

Metal Sonic began charging his overdrive attack. Infinite closed his eyes and held his sword out in a defensive position. As the robot started boosting/ spinning his way he braced himself for the impact, but it never came.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked back. Metal Sonic was battling against multiple versions of himself.

Wait what?

Then, a lock-on sound boomed followed by mini-missiles. Infinite turned to the direction where the missiles came from and saw Eggman in his Egg-Walker, a military-styled weapon, barging in ferociously . The doctor noticed him and approached him.

Eggman reached out and handed him his scarf. Infinite looked up at him in confusion, but as always he was met with Eggman's typical smile, as if everything was fine and going according to plan.

"...I thought you left me to die." Infinite blurted out.

"Do I seem that cruel?" He laughed.

Kinda...yeah… He thought bitterly.

"...Why didn't you leave?" Infinite asked.

"And miss the chance to discipline my robotic brat? Yeah no, I'm done letting him get away with this," Eggman said sharply. Infinite chuckled at that comment.

"You're free to leave…"Eggman added. "This is family business."

"It's alright." He looked away as he took back his scarf and muttered:"I owe you one now."

Eggman raised an eyebrow, but otherwise did not object.

"You two need to start giving up." Metal Sonic warned. Eggman's heavy machine could actually jump and hover, which honestly surprised Infinite.

"How did you build those robots so fast?!"Infinite asked as he witnessed another duplicate Metal Sonic run over and attack the rampaging one.

"But I didn't." He smiled.

"Then…?"Infinite thought for a bit, then sighed. "You made another ruby."

"Duh!" He said giddily.

Infinite rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Now I'm convinced you are not as smart as you claim."

"Because I made a small goof?"

Infinite's scarred eye twitched. "Because you put yourself in danger without thinking-"

Metal defeated more doppelgangers, unable to understand why they kept coming. The prototype ruby's illusions couldn't compete with the real deal.

"I thought the illusions were supposed to be as strong as the original?" He inquired, crossing his arms and looking at the doctor expectantly like a parent being mad at their disobedient child.

"No, not always," he scratched his head and adjusted his goggles, "we're talking about a thinking robot who is able to analyze and study his surroundings. He learns. Illusions aren't alive. They don't learn."

"Uh?"

"They have the same strength, but he can adjust his strategy based on his situation," he clarified. The jackal gave no signal that he understood.

"Whatever! See what happens when you use your technology without thinking?" Infinite brought up their conversation from a few nights ago." That could've been me."

"Doubt it!" Eggman shouted back in annoyance. "Robots and organics don't react the same way."

"You don't know that!"

"I kind of do!" He defended, "I've been studying this thing for a while now!"

"Define 'a while'. To me that could be hours, a few days."

"What? You were there when I found the Ruby!" He protested. "Listen. Can we argue about this later? It's irrelevant right now!"

Metal Sonic targeted multiple ones with a single ray. Infinite could hear a lock-on sound similar to Eggman's Walker. The two villains looked at him astounded.

"He learned by just watching me!" Eggman said giddily. "That damn robot makes me so proud sometimes."

"I'm sure," Infinite raised an eyebrow and gave him an odd look.

Metal Sonic walked over to the illusion and removed its prototype from its body. He clenched the gem and it cracked under the pressure. Immediately, several other copies ceased to exist. The mercenary got into a defensive position.

"I hope you're proud of him after he finishes us too," the jackal muttered.

Eggman held the real ruby tightly in his hand. "Can you stand and fight?"

Infinite drew a weary breath. He was admittedly tired and hurt, but he wasn't about to admit that. "Yes."

"Great, because I'm gonna do something crazy," Eggman said out loud. "And I need you to follow along. If I miss, you have to hit the generator."

"What ?!No-" Before he could protest, the doctor held the ruby up and it glowed in mystic light. He had no idea what to expect. What would a madman consider crazy?

"Yooooo! METAL HEAD!" An energetic, yet mocking voice hollered. Metal Sonic stopped dead in its tracks and jerked his head slowly as if he'd heard nails scratch on a board. He immediately recognized the playful yet irritating tone.

Eggman nodded towards Infinite who just glared before saying out loud, "Not the blue rat!"

"Finally. A challenge."

Locking eyes with his target, Metal Sonic wasted no time engaging his nemesis. The Sonic copy was just as agile, and used swift, nimble movements to dodge Metal's attacks.

"Here, boy!" 'Sonic' waved at him.

Metal took the bait and ran straight into a spin dash that sent him flying back. The two boosted through the lab, knocking over prototype robots, badniks, and leaving a blue streak and whirlwind wherever they ran. Infinite lowered his ears as he saw them go head to head, a combination of envy and embarrassment as he realized he couldn't even come close to the skills and agility the fake Sonic possessed.

"Steady…" Eggman locked the target and calculated his shot to hit Metal Sonic straight in the chest.

When he finally fired, Metal thrust the Sonic illusion in front of him, letting him get hit by the ray. Instead of the shower of blood he expected, Sonic glowed in a faint, dark red aura and practically glitched out of existence.

Metal Sonic stared at the spot where Sonic had been just seconds before as he turned to look at his creator. He might lack a mouth, but Eggman knew he was furious. He had not much time to think at all, so he made his Egg Walker shove Infinite out of the way as Metal Sonic tackled down his machine. Eggman tried to hold on to his seat as Metal grabbed from the neck of his shirt and practically lifted him off his seat.

"Metal, wait!" He pleaded.

"Sonic… is that the only reason you made me for?" He demanded. "Once I finally defeat him, the real him, what were you planning to do with me? Lock me up? Throw me away? Forget about me, like the rest of your useless toys?"

"N-no, Metal, listen-"

"No, I am tired of listening," the robot's eyes glowed red, The robot hurled him back at the ground, his generator charging again as he stepped back.

"I am the one who will put an end to you. Not Sonic, me."

Eggman screamed and put his hands in front to cover himself as a blazing flash of yellow light burst from the robot's generator. The sound of it charging was scarily deafening. He could feel the full blast of the light even with his eyes tight shut, but its screeches were interrupted before the electric shockwave had finished charging. Eggman slowly opened his eyes and saw Infinite standing in front of Metal Sonic, his blood red sword had pierced right through the robot's generator, a feat he didn't have the mind to congratulate him for.

Eggman was shocked. He couldn't so much as muster a word as he stared dumbfounded at Infinite. His chest slowly puffed in and out, trying to catch his breath.

"Why did you save me?" He managed.

Infinite stared back at the doctor with surprise at his question.

"… I don't know."

Slowly, he tried to pull his sword out of the robot's chest when sudden electricity and smoke started pouring out.

"Infinite!" Eggman called.

He was tired and dizzy and Eggman's voice seemed distant. He finally caught on to what Eggman's yelling was about but it was too late. Infinite let it go and tried to run. But before he knew it, Metal Sonic's generator exploded, the force of it sending him flying back.

His ears were ringing. He couldn't feel a single bone in his body. His vision began to fade to pitch last thing he saw was a tall, fuzzy splash of red running towards him screaming for help.

When I first played the game I wondered why Eggman needed an illusion Metal Sonic when he had the real deal, then I remembered how Metal Sonic is lol.