Infinite Sadness

Pumped to Steal

Later that night...

"Alright, let's not waste any time," Zero tells his potential squad. "The six of us will be infiltrating T.W. Barker's house tonight and retrieving my Infinite mask."

A weasel bandit raises his hand.

"Hey boss, not tryin' to say ya can't count or nothin', but there's only five of us."

"She's coming too," Zero replies, pointing to an empty corner.

"Just as I suspected, he's insane," Dave the Intern whispers fearfully to Gadget.

Tikal appears, transparent but visible. They all yelp at the sight of her.

"Dah, a ghost!" cries Willy the Walrus.

"Pipe down," Zero laughs. "Tikal is a friendly ghost."

"Like Casper or somethin'?" trembles the weasel bandit.

Zero rolls his eyes.

"Yeeees, like Casper. What's your name, prospective squad member?"

"Weasel Bandit Number Two, remember? You said at the audition I should be Weasel Bandit Number One."

"Yes yes, I know, but I want to know your actual name," Zero replies.

"Meh, that's my name. Weasel Bandit Number Two. Too bland?"

"If you're going to be on my squad you need to have a real name. What name would you have chosen for yourself?"

The weasel bandit jumps exuberantly. No one's ever thought of him as an individual before.

"Whoa, I get to pick my own name? Shoot, I dunno! I like being a weasel and I like being a bandit."

"What about being a brother?" Zero asks, "do you like being a brother?"

"Heck yeah! That's what I do best, bein' a bruddah is my specialty."

"I'll be your Lightning Bolt bruddah all day long, pal!" Willy smiles, giving the weasel a high five.

"Sweet, call me Bruddah then! Haha, hey-ya boss, Imunna make you proud."

"Of course you will," Zero grins. "I wouldn't have invited you if I didn't think it were so, Bruddah."

Bruddah squeals with glee.

"Now that that's settled, let's get started. Gadget, you'll be second in command for this mission. I will, of course, be your commander."

"As long as I don't have to be the omega," Dave the Intern thinks out loud.

"There are no omegas on my squad. Eggman creates omegas, I create jackal-warriors. We're a far superior brethren. Now, follow me!"

He raises his sword. They all bound behind him as he takes off toward Barker's house, about a mile away. Stoked, they run all the way there before he turns to them, motions them to shush, then darts behind the brush. They join him, no questions asked. Bruddah giggles.

"I'm havin' a blast already."

"I'll say, what a rush!" Willy exhales. "Phew, way to cut down on this extra layer of fat in my gut."

"What's the plan, boss?" Dave whispers.

"The plan is, Dave, that you're going to pretend to deliver a Meh Burger, enticing my back-stabbing cousin to come to the front door. Meanwhile, Willy and Bruddah are going to overtly break in via the back door. This will block the most obvious exits."

"What about the windows?" Gadget asks.

"Not a problem," Zero tells them, "there's only two. You're going to swing into one, grab the mask, then pass it to me, while I spring into the other. They'll be cornered from all angles."

"Wait? They?" asks Willy.

"Yes, they, Willy the Walrus. Barker has those two Stunt Bears, remember? They're clumsy though, easy to throw off kilter if you ambush them from all ends."

Gadget nods then spies into one of the windows using a pair of binoculars.

"Oh, you're not gonna like this, boss."

"What what? What do ya see?" Zero asks.

"Take a look for yourself," Gadget says, passing the binoculars to Zero.

Zero is dismayed to see Barker wearing the Infinite mask as he commands his Stunt Bears to mop the floors and wash the dishes.

"That buffoon! He has no idea the terrors I inflicted while wearing that mask."

"And it doesn't fit him right either," Gadget points out.

"That's no surprise," Zero scoffs. "He's only half jackal. His wolf ears are too small."

"You got a problem with wolf ears?" Gadget teases, elbowing Zero lightly.

Zero giggles, enjoying this familiar banter.

"Yes, especially when it comes to a pair of dinky, red wolf ears!" he replies, giving Gadget a harmless shove.

They all snicker a little too loudly. Zero motions them to shut up as Barker comes outside, thinking he heard something. Quickly, they compose themselves.

"Whose there? This is private property! Don't make me inflict my wrath!" Barker threatens. "See this mask, only the fiercest of tyrants are endowed with such fine accessories."

He struts back inside.

"Tyrant my ass," Bruddah scoffs. "Jackal Squad is the mother of tyranny!"

Zero radiates the brightest smile and wags his tail!

"A boost of confidence indeed! Okay fellas, you know your positions. Let's do this!"

Everyone assumes their position, leaving Zero in the brush to signal when to begin. Tikal appears beside him.

"Hello my love, don't think I forgot about you," he handsomely smiles. "You're the trick up my sleeve for when Barker and I go hand to hand... as we most certainly will. It's the code of the pack. Alpha versus alpha. I need you to dunk him into Null Space when he lunges at me."

"Zero, I don't want to fight," she tells him, "I want peace. What if you let me talk to him? Perhaps if I simply ask for the mask back..."

"It'll only be for a minute, Tikal. Long enough for us to retreat. Trust me, this is all in good fun."

He motions for Dave to knock on the door. Dave gives him a thumbs up and goes for it.