Gadget's New Mission

Forgive and Forget

"They took everything from me. They're heartless!"

"We thrive on angst like that."

"If you won't make me suffer, I will do it to you and your friend."

"If they have to learn that with their lives, then so be it."

"GO!!! GET MORE HELP!!! HURRY!!!"

"GADGET!!!"

I thrust my head up. I'm awake and gasping for air. I see nothing but white until my vision stabilizes. I'm in bed. I try to move, but my leg is immobilized by lots and lots of bandages. I notice I'm wearing a white gown and my equipment is sitting on a table to my left. The curtains in front of me are opened by a bear in a white coat with a notepad wearing glasses.

"Hey! You're awake! Good to know your body hasn't given up on you!"

"...Uhhh. Thanks... Where am I? What happened?"

"You're in the hospital. Your leg was badly burnt and your tendon was severely cut... You're lucky it didn't cut any deeper, otherwise, you might've gone through an amputation... But let's not talk about that..."

"Yeah... I'd rather not..."

"That friend of yours certainly cared for you... He was doing all he could before the fire brigade arrived."

"What? Where is he?!"

"He's been waiting for a while now... I'll let him know you're alright."

He walks out of my room, closing the curtains behind him... An amputation... God that would have been awful... I did what I could, and it could've cost me my leg... To me, a leg is a small sacrifice to make compared to several lives... I'll still consider myself lucky, but I would've been proud either way knowing that the people I saved are alive and well...

The curtains open. A familiar looking jackal enters.

"You're alright!"

"Wesley!"

He walks up to me and gives me a handshake. He didn't go in for a hug like I was expecting. I guess even he's not too used to me yet, or perhaps he's just being mindful of how injured I am...

"Hey... I just wanted to say... thank you for... helping those guys out. You truly are the hero that the resistance needed, huh?"

"You're people were desperately in need... I did what I could. I didn't want them to die..."

"So... you've forgiven them?"

"Well, not everyone is a pure soul... Some people take it the extreme and some don't. But at the end of the day, we're all still humans... living together... I've been through a lot ever since I was separated from my friends and family. I was nothing... but then, a light of hope came into view... I joined the resistance. I fought for a better cause, for a better world... I grew... as a person. After all of that, I now firmly believe that anyone can change, no matter what. I give everyone a chance to either live a happy life or continue down a tormented road of sadness and anger... Whatever they choose I cannot decide... but I can give them that chance to do what's right..."

"That's quite noble and charitable of you, Gadget. The world can be a cruel place... I just hope people do realize how important life is to everyone... The task doesn't seem easy..."

"Someone has to do it."

"Like I said, noble..."

We sit around in silence for a bit before I question Wesley. "What's next for you?"

"...I'll help you find your parents..."

"Sure... I won't leave you... But what about the Jackal-"

"Forget them, even if they find us, I wanna go down swinging. I wanna go down doing what I should've been doing since the beginning. I'm done with this Jackal Squad nonsense. Call me one of your 'freedom fighters' or whatever, I want in..."

"Not a chance..."

Wesley turns around and I tilt my head to the side. Mighty is standing beside the wall with a look of disapproval on his face. He's not wearing his robe and mask; they're nowhere to be seen...

"Gadget? Who's that?"

"That's my friend, Mighty the Armadillo... Mighty, this is Wesley..."

"So you got under his skin... Maybe Gadget is more nice to you guys, but I'm not... Don't get comfortable with him..."

"Hey! I tried to save his life from that wreckage! You're telling me you're friends with him and you did nothing to help?!"

"Shut the hell up!"

"Make me, you discriminate wretch!"

"GUYS! Stop! ...Look, Wesley, why don't you leave us two for a while. We've got some catching up to do... I'll talk to you later."

Wesley is about to leave before he turns himself to Mighty and exclaims, "I'll help find his parents, by the way..." He walks out.

Mighty becomes less tense as he looks at me and proceeds to hug me. I stop him... "He has a point, why didn't you go after me? You knew I'd be in life-threatening danger..."

Mighty hangs his head. "I was blinded by rage... Clearly, I didn't show any care for you with what I said..." He starts crying... "My whole life, I was looking for revenge on them... I was so determined and focused. I lost my sanity going after them. Gadget... please, please forgive me... I felt hopeless like you did... My life was a wreck and all that I remembered is that they were the ones who got away with it. I got back at them, but I went out of line. I got carried away... I threw you over to the side... You! My own friend! I left you to die! I feel so ashamed! Please... forgive me, Gadget..."

I get what he means... He was depressed as I was when everyone I cared for was taken away... As he said, he took it too far, but so would any other overly emotional person. He's being sincere... and I believe him... I finally accept his hug.

"I forgive you, Mighty..."

"Thank you... Thank you, Gadget. I won't let you down ever again!"

We continue hugging. The bear comes back in and notices our reunion.

"Well, you two seem to be getting comfortable."

"Sure... you could say that..."

"I'm not sure if you noticed, but all of your stuff is here." He walks toward the table with my equipment on it. He picks up my grapple hook, looking rather broken. "I'm guessing it normally would be more functional than this..."

I take the hook and I try to shoot it. It short circuits and dies. "Yeah, definitely broken..."

"Perhaps the repair shop in town can help with that."

"Where is it?"

"Three blocks east from here. Although you're not going anywhere with your current condition."

"Oh... yeah, right. How much longer am I gonna have to stay?"

"About four days. The burns are subdued but you're tendon still has to recover. Just rest until then..."

"Sure thing..."

He leaves the room and I give Mighty my grapple hook. "Get this fixed at the repair shop for me?"

"No problem! I'll be back soon!"

"Wait!"

He stops and stares at me until my words come out...

"Give Wesley a chance... He really isn't like the ones who ruined your life..."

Mighty looks hesitant to talk... Finally, he responds as he leaves... "I'll try..."