"Used to be called weak, but she gave me back my strength"

"Public. I want everyone to see what we do to guys like him. I have to thank you for stopping our execution. If we sentence him to death, it will be a public viewing. We must protect this world by any means. No more chances." 

She starts thinking for a moment.. It's time to question him.

"... Sonic, something's wrong... This isn't you, right? What happened to "friend or foe life in important"? I don't get it."

That questioning only made her heart beat faster and harder. She's confused but determined to get an answer.

"Things have changed. I see the world differently now".  Sonic checks the jackals' cuffs before he starts to leave.

... She quickly grabs one of Sonic's wrists by impulse.. Not a very wise choice.

"... What's going on here? What are you doing?" Kory kept a firm look on her face while looking him in the eyes, demanding an answer. Even if the answer might not be the safest answer she would want to get.

For just a second his demeanor changes into anger before he calms himself. "Look I'm tired and I just want to sleep. We all have a big day tomorrow."

"Sonic this isn't you!" She replied. 
"Since when did this all start? Everything feels so off in here.. People walk around like they don't even see each other this often. Even Knuckles looks empty inside! You too!"

At the same time she was worried now she was also getting angry as well.

Sonic gives a defeated sigh and uses his speed to leave. "Watch the news, Kory. Your questions will be answered tomorrow".

Kory was upset but she had to let that slide since she felt like she had no chance on going further. 

The next day, it was almost time for Infinite's trial. People in the base were organizing everything to make the trial be broadcasted to everyone's televisions in Mobius. And with that, things felt like they were just falling down. 
Before everything was ready, Infinite was given some time to heal before the trial ensues and because of that, Kory went to visit him straight away. She went besides his bed as the other people in the nursery were busy with the data. It was a very bright morning today, things just couldn't feel any weirder.

"(.. Oy.. Infi.. Good mornin' boy..!)"  Kory whispered in an attempt to not spook him to wake him up.

Infinite wakes up and stretches as best as he can restrained. "Morning Kory. I forgot how good beds can be". 

"Yea they really are." She calmly smiled.

"Hey.. Did ya notice anythin' different on ye chest?" She pointed at him.

He looks down and is horrified to see the Ruby gone.     " What did they do to me? Where is it girl"?      

"No need ta be nervous, Infi. ((Ah got it hidden in one of mah gloves.))" She winked.

"Told you it would be possible. But tell me... How are ya feelin' without it now?"

She sighed as her smile dropped.

".. Infinite.. Can ah tell you something important?"

She asked with a sincere look on her face. It was the time to finally tell her truth.

"First I lose my power and you know got something else to say? Go speak your piece", he says looking at his chest.

"Infinite.. Ah tried all of this because honestly? At the same time i saw that you liked yer power... I saw that you sufered with it. And that sufferin' you were goin' through reminded me of me and Lolla. Ya see... Mah mama wasn't the best person. Her punishments happened whenever we did somethin' she didn't like, and even mah dad got fed up.. But instead of facin' the problem, he ran away like a coward, leavin' me and Lolla to almost get killed. When we ran away one night, we had to live tha same way you did but.. We were still children."

She took a deep breath.

"If it wasn't fo' the people who found us in the streets, we wouldn't be alive today and i wouldn't have met you. I did all of this.. Because i wanted to save ya from a fate worse than mine. I'm sorry if mah effort was useless to you, i just wanted ta let you know why i did it."

She looked at him in the eyes while trying to lift up a smile for him, even if it was a bit hard as a small tear escaped her eye.

"I am sorry to hear that Kory." For once he actually looks sad as he heard the story.  "Free me from this place and we can find the Doctor. The world we have in mind is a better one then what Sonic can do."  

"Yeea.. Speakin' of that.. (I don't think that's how Sonic's supposed ta act..)" 
She replied while trying to whisper so no one could hear it. She feared something would happen if others heard what she saw last night for some reason. It made her insecure and a bit scared.

"What do you mean? Executing enemies is a smart idea to keep their control of the world. I had the world for a few days. This might have been a wakeup call for them". he says looking at her.

"(Don't speak it out too lound will ya?? What i'm tryin' ta say is that.. Sonic doesn't kill their foes, he spares them because he thinks one day they'll become good or somethin'. "Friend or foe life is important"... It's like he changed it over night!)"
She continued whispering.

"Kory, you must know what I did during the war. Stop pretending that I didn't do anything to deserve this. I will spare you the details, but I tortured Sonic when he was in our custody. I did it for fun and I enjoyed doing it. I guess I must have done something to him if he wants me dead". he whispers harshly. "Let me ask you something. Back then were you scared of me? Did the Empire kill your friends or family?"

".. (They didn't. Ah tried my best to protect Lolla and it worked.)" She replied, being a little disappointed in herself for answering that despite being the truth.

"(But ah ain't pretendin'! I just felt like.. Ah just felt like it would be the best thing ta do! Plus.. Sonic is too stubborn to change like that.)"

Infinite is silent for a bit. "Kory, could you get me a drink of water or something? I'm parched and all this talking isn't helping. I do apologize for getting you involved in all this".

"Don't worry... I involved myself in this." She replied with a confident smile.

Kory then goes asking the others of the base and they direct her to a mini freezer in the nursery that had many water bottles. She grabs a bottle, pours some water on a plastic cup, and gives it to Infinite.

Infinite drinks it greedily. "Thanks Kor", he says as he motions for a refill. The door opens and a red wolf walks in. The Rookie. Infinite stares at his Rival from the war armed with a wispon