Duality [INFIDGET]

Chapter Fifteen: Investigations

"Alright then! We have our plan" Knuckles addressed. "Sonic, Shadow, could you go and investigate the woods where Infinite was last seen? Report anything you see"

Sonic nodded, "I'm on my way!" he dashed off and took less than two seconds to arrive at the woods. Shadow grunted and teleported to the woods immediately.

---

An alarm blared through the base, causing Zero and Gadget to startle and Aurora to cry because of the sudden noise. Gadget comforted their scared daughter while Zero got up to check the security around their base, he found a particular blue hedgehog running around and trying to find anything out of the ordinary.

"Sonic's here" Zero spoke up and went to get his clothes on.

"Of course" Gadget sighed. "Are you gonna go up to him?" he asked as Aurora hugged his fluffy red chest.

Zero held his mask in his arm, "I have no choice, they can't keep doing this" he quickly kissed Gadget's forehead and rubbed Aurora's back. "I'll be back" he put on his mask and teleported to the ground once again.

---

"Infinite, there you are!" Sonic spoke casually and smirked. "Word has spread over your child"

Zero growled, "My child is none of your concern, nor shall you try to take her." he clenched his fist. "I may be a villain, but trust me when I say this; I am not afraid to smash you into blue jelly if you so touch her" he threatened.

"I'm not gonna touch her" Sonic held up his hands and chuckled. "Where's rookie?" he changed the subject.

"None of your concern either." Zero dodged the question. "But if you really want reassurance, he is safe with my child. I do not wish to harm him anymore" Zero looked at Sonic and noticed an earpiece like Gadgets, which can hear into this conversation.

"Now, state your real mission here." Zero demanded. "Or say bye-bye to your legs" he snapped his fingers and two red vines individually wrapped around Sonic's legs.

Sonic growled gently, "Go ahead. I didn't come alone" he smirked.

Zero was about to retaliate only for Shadow to roundhouse kick him to the ground. Shadow dusted off his arms and stared down the jackal. Sonic took this distraction to continue looking for Zero's base as Shadow kept him busy, only to not find it overground, "Huh..." Sonic huffed. "It must be underground then..." he hummed.

Clutching his head, Zero stood up, "Well, looks who's back" he chuckled. "Come for a second round, Shadow?" he hands glowed red.

"This time, you will lose." Shadow responded and skated towards him, only to be struck with a red beam from Zero, a direct chest hit. Shadow grunted and spun around as Zero teleported away to find Sonic, he was clever enough to know that Shadow was distracting him.

"Faker!" Shadow shouted. Sonic turned around but was too late to dodge as Zero punched him in the jaw. Sonic yelped and fell to the ground, "Fighting may not be my style, but speed is" he smirked and dashed circles around the jackal, giving Shadow a chance to hit him.

"Chaos SPEAR!" Shadow shouted again and threw a golden spear into Zero's back, causing the jackal to cry out. Sonic stopped his running and smirked, crossing his arms as Zero fell to the floor on his arms and knees, blood oozed from his back.

Zero had only one thing left to do, he clutched his ruby and called for Gadget.

---

Gadget noticed his ruby flashing and clutched it, he knew Zero needed help now and had to help him - but he couldn't leave Aurora on her own here, it was too dangerous. Gadget put his clothes on and held Aurora close to him as he teleported to the surface.

"ZERO!!" Gadget shouted and he ran towards the wounded jackal. Sonic and Shadow both took mental notes that they were the parents of that child.

Aurora crawled to her injured father and gently tugged on his arm, she still couldn't speak but her actions were enough for Zero as he slowly sat down, making sure his bloodied back wasn't visible to her. He hugged her, "I'm okay, sweetie" he sobbed gently. "But daddy has to go..." he pulled away and stood up.

Gadget looked in worry but snarled at the two hedgehogs watching the scene. Aurora looked into Zero's eyes pleadingly, she didn't want to be separated from her father.

Zero sighed and turned to the hedgehogs, "If you want me, you must spare my family." he growled.

Gadget picked up Aurora and held her close, he used his magic to heal his lovers back while he negotiated with the others.

"Sparing your family is out of the deal" Shadow snarled. "They must face punishment like you" he crossed his arms.

"Shadow, quit it" Sonic narrowed his eyes. "Can't you see? He has a family!" he turned to the other hedgehog. "Yes, we need justice, but if you had a family you'd take the full punishment to spare them too" he huffed.

Shadow growled, "Fine. What else do you propose, Infinite?" he opened up slightly.

"If I chose to surrender, I want my family spared of any punishment" Zero crossed his arms. "I will take full responsibility for my crimes, but they are not to be touched."

"And the phantom ruby?" Shadow narrowed his eyes.

Zero gulped, "I will give up my ruby"

"Zero, no!" Gadget intervened. Zero turned to Gadget, "I have no choice, I'm doing this for you two, you're my family and I want you to be safe" he placed his hands on Gadget's shoulders. Aurora raised her hands, wanting to be held by the jackal, Zero complied and picked up his daughter, "Stay safe, my little one" he removed his mask and kissed her small nose.

Shadow smirked. "Infinite, you are charged with terrorism and crimes against all Mobian kind. You are hereby sentenced to five years imprisonment and five years on probation"

Gadget fought back tears, Zero gave Aurora back to Gadget and kissed him deeply, "I'll be out soon, love" he stroked his cheek. Gadget sobbed softly, "I'll miss you" he returned the kiss.

"I'll miss you too, both of you" Zero smiled. "You can always visit me in prison, you know that" he wiped away Gadget's tears. Gadget nodded, "I'll visit as much as I can"

Zero nodded and willingly walked to Shadow so he could arrest him, Sonic watched the scene and sighed, he didn't want to separate this family but Zero had to face justice. Sonic reported that they didn't need to take the child as Zero willingly gave himself in.

Gadget watched as his lover, Shadow, and Sonic left in the blink of a light. He teleported back to the base, alone. Aurora was there to keep him company, but even she had an idea that her red furred father wasn't all too happy at the moment as she kept seeing him break down, but she tried her best to cheer him up.

---

Zero willingly explained the ruby and how it was physically attached to him. He was brought down for surgery to remove the ruby from him, but even then; the ruby was magically bonded with him, so it may not be physically attached anymore but there was still a bond there that no one could destroy.

He was brought to prison immediately after and changed into the orange prison suit, he got locked in his separate cell away from the others and broke down on his thin bed. He already missed his family and the bonds he built with Gadget and Aurora, but he will get out of prison...

Eventually.