Gadget's New Mission

Compassion

"So, what are we exactly doing again?"

"I know that my colleagues mentioned stowaways near the chemical plant. There's a chance that his parents will be there..."

"And if they aren't?"

"Then we look somewhere else, what did you expect?"

"Well, duh... Of course, I'll keep looking for his parents! My job's done, my next job is to help my friend."

"And you helped to free me, and I appreciate it... So in return, I'm helping you two..."

"Just don't give me a reason to do nasty things to you..."

"You won't find one from me... I don't know if Gadget told you already, but I wasn't on the same page as my colleagues. I would've become a mercenary or a member of the resistance if they would have just let me go... but no... I was forced to submit to their heinous actions with no intentions of betraying them. Thanks to you, Mighty the Armadillo, I can start my new life... just don't ruin it for me... please."

... ... ...

Four days have passed. I lag behind Mighty and Wesley as they guide me to the chemical plant. I'm healthy enough to walk on my own, despite still having a huge lot of bandages on my leg. I'm not letting any injury get my way... Mom... Dad... I'm gonna find you both. Just hang in there...

Mighty slows down and starts walking by my side. It's nice to see him without the robe and mask anymore. I suppose because he finished his 'errand,' he no longer needs a second identity to hide behind...

"You trust Wesley?"

"If he was as evil as the others, assuming their all evil, then he would've killed me, or taken me in as a prisoner. So yes, I do trust him..."

"I'll try to take your word for it. It's not easy letting go of old habits... If I get carried away, feel free to stop me. After what happened several days ago, I don't want to do something I might regret and not notice it..."

"...Sure thing, Mighty..."

"Thanks, Gadget."

"By the way, thanks for getting my grapple hook fixed while I was in the ER!"

"No problem!"

We continue on for a few more minutes. I catch up with Wesley to talk to him. "Hey... you... gonna be alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"The... Jackal Squad... are you...?"

"I'll value my freedom while I still have it. If they come to bring me back, I'll stand by you and put up one hell of a fight. As for the few there I call friends, I don't know... They haven't expressed freedom as much as I have, so if they're content with staying there, I won't stop them. They make their own decisions and I make my own, and this is what I want to do."

"What about Jace? The one we saved from the thugs. You two seemed awfully friendly to each other... What do you think he'll do?"

"He shares some aspects that I have. He was always kind of on that grey line between joining me and staying with what he has. If word gets by that he wants to be with me, with you guys, then I'll find him, and he'll find me... We both know where we'd go during desperate times. We were like brothers, even if we didn't share anything biologically other than the fact that we're both jackals. He's got heart, just like me. I'm sure he'll make the right decision later on in life."

"And what would that right decision be?"

"...Doing what he thinks is right..."

"For your sake, I hope he comes around."