With your battle complete, and your injuries sort of patched up, you're finally free to catch your breath... at least until the terminal flares to life again. Your brief conversation with the person on the other end may have left you with more questions than answers, but they are true to their world. Next to the terminal, a glowing golden portal suddenly appears - blinding in its light and large enough for only a couple of you to enter at a time. Regardless, it remains open, showcasing a strange, warehouse-looking building on the other side, with a long hallway and several closed doors. It's not entirely clear where this new location will be, but at least it doesn't seem to have spider robots or be out in space.
/// L O A D I N G . . .
I've got everything ready on my end.
I'll explain everything to you once you're here.
No more secrets, I promise.
Please watch your step, and make sure everyone comes along!
Staying behind is not an option. Whether you trust the person on the other end of the terminal or not, it seems this is your only path forward. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and step through the portal.
THE BASE
The light begins to clear as the last of you enter the portal and come out unharmed on the other side. You'll notice immediately that the portal displayed the exact place you've ended up - a fairly run-down warehouse, with you all standing in a hallway that extends in front of you, lined with doors that are shut. Before you go wandering off, you might want to turn around - after all, you can hear the whirring of machinery behind you.
You'll find that there's another set of doors there - one that is closed and another that leads into a larger room that seems to be a makeshift lab and control room all rolled into one. There are monitors carefully (but a bit haphazardly) strewn across the room, the wiring capably done but rather unprofessional. One of the screens shows a diagram of a gemstone, another shows a list of coordinates that don't make any sense, a third seems to be showing security cameras... basically exactly what you'd expect for someone's base of operations.
And that base of operations is staffed by... well, you'll have to look down, as he's not exactly human height.
Standing before you is someone unfamiliar to all of you. He's not very tall, but he stands out from the crowd with his yellow fur, bright blue eyes, and twin tails. He's an anthropomorphic fox and he's looking at you all a bit nervously, waving a hand in greeting.
"Um, hi." He says. "I'm really sorry about the confusion. And the robots. And your missing memories. And your injuries. I really didn't expect things to turn out like this..." He trails off nervously, scratching his cheek before forcing a smile again. "But thank you so much for agreeing to help us. My name is Tails. I'm one of the members of the resistance.
"There are medical supplies here, for you guys to use. I'm sorry, I'm not a medic..." Sure enough, you have access to quite a few medical supplies present in this room! Go right ahead and patch up your friends with the good stuff. You've even got painkillers here!
He clears his throat and continues. "Like I said, no more secrets. I couldn't tell you everything while you were in that other world, because I was afraid of my transmissions being picked up by the Doctor. You guys are the only hope for this world, because the three of us can't beat him alone. So we had to turn to help elsewhere.
"Doctor Robotnik - or Eggman, as we call him - is a genius scientist. He's made a lot of robots and gadgets, but that's not the reason why we need your help. He's got an item of immense power - the Master Emerald. With it, anything he thinks and desires can become reality. He made a giant robot from pieces of cars, trucks, trains, you name it! And that giant robot alone is enough to pose a huge threat to the city, but he didn't stop there.
"The entire world is controlled by him. He even controls the minds of all the people native to this world. They can't fight against him. They act like mindless drones, going about their daily tasks with no way to fight back. And he's created a lot of robots - they might even outnumber the people, at this point! Everything and everyone is under his control."
A brief pause as Tails breathes and steadies himself. "But my friends and I are able to fight back. We have to fight back. And you guys agreed to help us. I'm sorry that you don't remember it, but my friend Sonic spoke with each one of you. He told you about what's going on here and he asked for your help. And all of you said you'd come help us.
"I'll do my best to answer any questions you have. But right now, I'm the only one here. I lost contact with Knuckles at the start of this week, and I've been trying to figure out what happened. Sonic's been trying to find help in other worlds, so communication with him has been spotty. But I'll let him know that you guys are here now, so he should return soon!"
Tails exhales and forces a smile. "Together, we can defeat Eggman."
THE AFTERMATH
Though it's a lot of information to take in, Tails will happily answer any questions you all may have. He tells you that this warehouse is their base of operations, hidden right under the nose of Eggman's forces. Unfortunately, they need to be very careful because robots are always on patrol - and are specifically looking for the three of them. For now, it's best for you all to remain near the warehouse and travel in pairs, if you do go out into the city for any reason.
You'll find that those closed doors lead to rooms that have been set up for all of you. They're a little lacking, with only two beds, two desks and chairs, and two trunks for you to store your belongings in. Though you do have some changes of clothes in the closets, the designs may not be to your liking. They were picked out for you by three animals who only wear shoes and gloves, so...
Get ready, because it looks like you've a lot of work ahead of you.
[It comes out harsh, but Dorothy breathes after that. Seems Vakama hit it right on the head.]
...We've been fighting the same war at home for at least a century. Maybe even more. And I've watched it destroy lesser people over time.
All this reminds me of right now is that this is probably what the Raptures want for us, and while I'm not certain of why I was called here, I'm quite sure I jumped at the chance to be literally anywhere else but home.
[He flinches slightly at the ferocity of the answer. But it's deserved. The hurt, the anger, the fear of it all.
He wonders if it's how Lhikan's team had felt, watching everything be ripped away bit by bit so long ago. How long had those schemes upon schemes been in motion? Every avenue slowly closed off under blind eyes, life after life vanishing beyond the silver seas, until nothing could be done but to watch as the innocent started to be herded like wildlife, disappearing beneath rubble and shadow, living every moment hoping it would someday be normal again.
After all that, and still...
...]
...Perhaps that's exactly why some of us were chosen.
Not because we come from places where a great evil was conquered.... but because we have seen the footprints that those forces leave behind.
That maybe... this world need not turn into a shadow of our own.
...I would not be surprised if that was actually the case.
[Dorothy chuckles at that, but it comes out hollow sounding more than anything. She's had plenty of assumptions why she decided to do this, and it's becoming all the more clear that she must have absolutely jumped into this without thinking. Would she have done this, otherwise?
...
What...does it say about her, that she doesn't know?]
The mission--it remains. It stays the same no matter what shape this world has apparently taken. I want to give that sweet boy back his peaceful days, because I...
[I know I can't get mine back.]
...This can't possibly take a century or more to fix. Can it, Vakama?
[What whiplash his heart feels, to have this woman who he felt so guarded around start to crack like glass and show true colors. So much like Roodaka in shades at the surface, but here in vulnerability, in open wants and fears and pleading requests, he sees the echoes of a friend rather than a foe.
It's like hearing Nokama, in that complicated timber of fear and need for reassurance, when they laid paralyzed on the city streets. And just as before, Vakama feels his chest tighten at not knowing the answer to provide.
Would that it be an easy one. To place a time limit on an unknown, even if it was just to keep forward motion... it felt cruel.]
I wish I knew.
[...
With a firm exhale, he lifts from the bed, the pillow still in his hands as he quietly crosses over to her, kneeling at her bedside.]
What I do know is... we take it one day at a time. We find a way to make this right, and we do it together.
[Together. Not throwing one's self into the fire meaninglessly, not lashing out on one's own.]
For those that cannot, and for those that could not see the end whose steps we now follow. We will find a way, Dorothy.
If the past falls too dark with the scars of failure, then at least be willing to look for the light that a future could bring.
[Dorothy's quiet as she attempts to take all of that in. It reminds her of those few talks she'd have with the freshly mind switched Snow White, from time to time during their missions. After Liliweiss fell, she became so serious in a similar manner. Objective.
Everything she wishes she could be. Vakama's words do get Dorothy to look at him, and though her gaze looks startlingly empty...she forces herself to nod.]
...I shall try. It is...as I've said. The mission remains the same, and if we can see it through...then we have a chance.
[Dorothy doesn't know how much she actually believes that, but the words exit her, and she wants so badly to believe in them. That's the way it always was, when the world made sense.
(But how long, the doubtful part of her mind wonders, how long until we're abandoned like all the rest, until we fail again?]
...My apologies for the display, Vakama. I will not allow it to happen again.
...There's no need to apologize. You did not ask for any of this.
[The tone comes quietly, carefully. Not as some leader trying to instruct her what to do, but with a flair of concern and empathy for her state.
The pillow she'd thrown at him is handed out to her cautiously.]
Just promise me you will allow yourself to live. [A repeat of the words more harshly spoken in the heat of battle, with her pulled back into his arms.] To keep living, so that you can see that peace with your own eyes.
You may be as scared and angry as you need. Just do not let it turn this fire of yours into nothing but embers.
[Dorothy chuckles, and it's humorless. It reminds her. It reminds her of Snow White, trying so futilely hard to convince Dorothy that she needed to keep fighting for people who didn't deserve it. Who's to say that the people here will appreciate what they do, the sacrifices they'll have to make?
But...]
...I shall try, however. But you needn't concern yourself overmuch for me. [Dorothy will take that pillow, thank you.] I won't hesitate to put my all into this mission, but I know that I don't have to fight alone, now.
...I don't mean to be overbearing to you, after everything that happened tonight. But... I've found that it is those that pour their hearts into their duty with everything they have that many overlook for their strength.
Even the strong must have their moments.
[What smile he offers is a tired one. His head still splits from fatigue and overstress, and he doesn't want to extend this much further for her sake.]
So long as you know we are here, I have no complaint. You are not the only one who wishes for one young one to see things for the better.
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no subject
[It comes out harsh, but Dorothy breathes after that. Seems Vakama hit it right on the head.]
...We've been fighting the same war at home for at least a century. Maybe even more. And I've watched it destroy lesser people over time.
All this reminds me of right now is that this is probably what the Raptures want for us, and while I'm not certain of why I was called here, I'm quite sure I jumped at the chance to be literally anywhere else but home.
And yet, I may as well have not left.
no subject
He wonders if it's how Lhikan's team had felt, watching everything be ripped away bit by bit so long ago. How long had those schemes upon schemes been in motion? Every avenue slowly closed off under blind eyes, life after life vanishing beyond the silver seas, until nothing could be done but to watch as the innocent started to be herded like wildlife, disappearing beneath rubble and shadow, living every moment hoping it would someday be normal again.
After all that, and still...
...]
...Perhaps that's exactly why some of us were chosen.
Not because we come from places where a great evil was conquered.... but because we have seen the footprints that those forces leave behind.
That maybe... this world need not turn into a shadow of our own.
no subject
[Dorothy chuckles at that, but it comes out hollow sounding more than anything. She's had plenty of assumptions why she decided to do this, and it's becoming all the more clear that she must have absolutely jumped into this without thinking. Would she have done this, otherwise?
...
What...does it say about her, that she doesn't know?]
The mission--it remains. It stays the same no matter what shape this world has apparently taken. I want to give that sweet boy back his peaceful days, because I...
[I know I can't get mine back.]
...This can't possibly take a century or more to fix. Can it, Vakama?
no subject
It's like hearing Nokama, in that complicated timber of fear and need for reassurance, when they laid paralyzed on the city streets. And just as before, Vakama feels his chest tighten at not knowing the answer to provide.
Would that it be an easy one. To place a time limit on an unknown, even if it was just to keep forward motion... it felt cruel.]
I wish I knew.
[...
With a firm exhale, he lifts from the bed, the pillow still in his hands as he quietly crosses over to her, kneeling at her bedside.]
What I do know is... we take it one day at a time. We find a way to make this right, and we do it together.
[Together. Not throwing one's self into the fire meaninglessly, not lashing out on one's own.]
For those that cannot, and for those that could not see the end whose steps we now follow. We will find a way, Dorothy.
If the past falls too dark with the scars of failure, then at least be willing to look for the light that a future could bring.
no subject
Everything she wishes she could be. Vakama's words do get Dorothy to look at him, and though her gaze looks startlingly empty...she forces herself to nod.]
...I shall try. It is...as I've said. The mission remains the same, and if we can see it through...then we have a chance.
[Dorothy doesn't know how much she actually believes that, but the words exit her, and she wants so badly to believe in them. That's the way it always was, when the world made sense.
(But how long, the doubtful part of her mind wonders, how long until we're abandoned like all the rest, until we fail again?]
...My apologies for the display, Vakama. I will not allow it to happen again.
no subject
[The tone comes quietly, carefully. Not as some leader trying to instruct her what to do, but with a flair of concern and empathy for her state.
The pillow she'd thrown at him is handed out to her cautiously.]
Just promise me you will allow yourself to live. [A repeat of the words more harshly spoken in the heat of battle, with her pulled back into his arms.] To keep living, so that you can see that peace with your own eyes.
You may be as scared and angry as you need. Just do not let it turn this fire of yours into nothing but embers.
no subject
[Dorothy chuckles, and it's humorless. It reminds her. It reminds her of Snow White, trying so futilely hard to convince Dorothy that she needed to keep fighting for people who didn't deserve it. Who's to say that the people here will appreciate what they do, the sacrifices they'll have to make?
But...]
...I shall try, however. But you needn't concern yourself overmuch for me. [Dorothy will take that pillow, thank you.] I won't hesitate to put my all into this mission, but I know that I don't have to fight alone, now.
no subject
Even the strong must have their moments.
[What smile he offers is a tired one. His head still splits from fatigue and overstress, and he doesn't want to extend this much further for her sake.]
So long as you know we are here, I have no complaint. You are not the only one who wishes for one young one to see things for the better.