Love is Infinite

Old Friends

"And, with that, the disposable of the Phantom Ruby prototypes is complete." Zero exclaimed, crushing something that had once been in his hand to bits.

"It was a defective model. ...It could only record the DNA of the one who triggered it." Eggman replied. You and Tails just seemed to tilt your heads in confusion. They were talking absolute nonsense.

Zero seemed to shake his head. "Only a being with my strength of will could ever activate it." He stated.

Eggman lowered his eyelids. "...It doesn't matter now, with the lab locked down in Mystic Jungle. Which reminds me...didn't you run into Sonic there after he escaped?"

Zero crossed his arms. "Yes. But, he was powerless against me. There is no need for concern."

"You let the little bastard LIVE!? That is a great source of concern!" Eggman growled.

"For you, perhaps. He's beaten you for years...yet I defeated him in our first encounter." Zero remarked, uncrossing his arms. Eggman just let out a huff to Zero's little remark.

Tails turned his head towards you. "What in the world are Phantom Ruby prototypes?" He whispered.

Your eyes widened. You guys couldn't make a sound that Zero's ears wouldn't pick up. "Shh! Shh!" You gasped, shoving Tails down again.

Just as you suspected, Zero heard and immediately turned his head towards you. He made direct eye contact with you, before you ducked under the bolder yourself.

"What is it?" You heard Eggman ask after a moment. Oh shit, you and Tails' cover was about to be blown!

"...Nothing." You heard Zero reply. What? Why didn't he say anything? You wondered, before you and Tails lifted your heads again to watch what was happening. "...We move forward with the plan?" Zero continued.

"Of course! When it's complete, everyone in that annoying little resistance will be erased. The world will be nothing but ashes, from which a glorious Eggman empire will rise!" Eggman boasted.

"And soon the resistance will yield to the Phantom Ruby's power. All will submit." Zero stated, the right side of his mask (where his eye would've been) turning a red shade. A humming sound filling the area.

Eggman nodded his head. "I'm heading off... You can go do whatever you please." The doctor added, before taking off in his egg mobile.

Shit. This was your cue to leave. You doubted that Zero would let you or Tails live after hearing this little conversation. As you suspected Zero slowly looked back over towards you. You and Tails ducked back behind the bolder once more. "Okay, on the count of three, we run!" You commanded.

"Wait, what!?" Tails asked.

"Fine. Worst case, I'll be a distraction and you make a run back for the base! Understand?"

"Y/n...no!" Tails whispered.

"3,2,1!" You counted, before popping your head up over the boulder. To your surprise, Zero was gone. The field was silent, as if no one had been there before. The only sound was the soft wind blowing through the grass. He let you go...?

"Y-Y/n... should we run?" You heard Tails whisper.

"...No. He's gone."

"Gone?" Tails repeated, now lifting his head above the bolder too.

"Yeah..." You said, scanning the area.

"Maybe you just thought he saw you?" Tails asked.

"No. He saw me, I'm sure of it."