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.
[Tails is trying very hard not to look a little sad. He is trying so hard, Ashley.]
I can send you home whenever you'd like. I've got the coordinates and know how to get you back as though no time passed at all. Unless you'd like a week to have passed? I can do that too. Either way, I'm ready whenever you are.
It's something I've been looking into, but I don't know exactly how that would work. Technically speaking, if it would mess up the timeline, then that would mean that we didn't bring you in the first place, which just loops into a whole bunch of other issues.
[timelines,,,,]
I wish I could, but trying to do that would likely just cause a lot of issues with your world.
Um. I mean. It would be great if you'd like to stay and help. But I can return you at any time, so if you ever feel like you'd be happier going home, I can do it whenever.
No, no, it's okay! Just being here really does help a lot, I promise.
[But he nods at that, lifting a hand to his chin.]
I wish I had an answer for that, but Sonic didn't really tell me why he picked any of you. We didn't have much time to talk before he needed to run off again. But when he's back, he can answer that for you!
I appreciate the offer. I'm trying to pinpoint his last location so I can go after him myself or... or send someone, maybe, but...
[Tails glances back over his shoulder at the string of numbers and sighs.]
But he's Sonic. He's gotten through all sorts of really bad situations, and I trust he'll be able to get back here safely. So... I'll let you know if I need you guys to help, okay?
[Tails spins back around in his chair to face her again.]
It's... well, yeah, it's been a lot. But just having you guys here means that things are a little more consolidated, so that'll make things easier on me. So we'll work things out; just gotta take it one step at a time.
[He sounds confident and Tails immediately launches into an explanation.]
The Master Emerald is made up of the Chaos Emeralds. Without those, it can't exist and its powers would be gone. The Chaos Emeralds are all within the Master Emerald, so they can't be used... but these are similar enough that they'll be able to counteract the Master Emerald's power. It keeps you all safe from his control and allows you to fight back.
[Tails rubs the back of his head as he tries to figure out an easy explanation. There is none. Because I don't know how the fuck it works.]
Sonic had to help me with the research though. All we had to go on were Knuckles' stories, so we looked into worlds similar to our own - worlds with the Chaos Emeralds. I based my research off of those, so there are some slight differences.
[the risk that i took was calculated, but man am i bad at math]
No, that's a little easier! The fake Chaos Emeralds can't form together to create a fake Master Emerald, for one. For another, I did specifically make sure that they'd help with your guys' transition into this world. So they'll keep you safe from illness while you're here! They also grant you a power - which isn't how it usually works, from what Sonic's told me. All seven Chaos Emeralds can grant someone immense strength, but it isn't the same as the Master Emerald here, and it isn't like your powers at all.
So long story short, because I created them myself, they work a little differently from the real things, but that can work to our advantage, since it'll give you guys a fighting chance against Eggman.
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Oh, of course! Hi, Ashley.
[Come on in! Tails spins around in his chair to face her, smiling.]
What can I do for you?
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W-well. I sort of wanted to talk to you about...what we'd talked about before?
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[Tails is trying very hard not to look a little sad. He is trying so hard, Ashley.]
I can send you home whenever you'd like. I've got the coordinates and know how to get you back as though no time passed at all. Unless you'd like a week to have passed? I can do that too. Either way, I'm ready whenever you are.
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...No time? Really? That's just...something you can do?
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Can you go further back- no, that would probably cause some sort of paradox, wouldn't it?
[ Chris would probably— ]
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[timelines,,,,]
I wish I could, but trying to do that would likely just cause a lot of issues with your world.
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She nods to herself. ] It's alright. That's kind of what I thought you'd say.
What you can do already makes all of this so much easier. [ Lets out a breath. ] I changed my mind. I- I'd like to stay. At least, um, for now
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[try not to look too excited, tails...]
Um. I mean. It would be great if you'd like to stay and help. But I can return you at any time, so if you ever feel like you'd be happier going home, I can do it whenever.
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I-I can't promise I'll be able to do a lot to help. Really, I'm- still kind of interested in why your friend even thought to ask me.
But... Yeah. Really.
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[But he nods at that, lifting a hand to his chin.]
I wish I had an answer for that, but Sonic didn't really tell me why he picked any of you. We didn't have much time to talk before he needed to run off again. But when he's back, he can answer that for you!
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[ She kinda glances about the room. Little dude's got so many monitors. ]
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[But he doesn't know that for sure.]
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[ The problem that comes with wanting to help is now not knowing how. ]
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[Tails glances back over his shoulder at the string of numbers and sighs.]
But he's Sonic. He's gotten through all sorts of really bad situations, and I trust he'll be able to get back here safely. So... I'll let you know if I need you guys to help, okay?
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[ She's not about to volunteer too early, or too fast, just. Like. Someone should go help the literal child Sonic the Hedgehog. ]
...I-I hope I can...do something to help you. It sounds like...you've been struggling a lot.
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It's... well, yeah, it's been a lot. But just having you guys here means that things are a little more consolidated, so that'll make things easier on me. So we'll work things out; just gotta take it one step at a time.
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[ She holds up her right hand, and- ah, right, her gloves. She taps the small bulge in it where the shard is. ]
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[He sounds confident and Tails immediately launches into an explanation.]
The Master Emerald is made up of the Chaos Emeralds. Without those, it can't exist and its powers would be gone. The Chaos Emeralds are all within the Master Emerald, so they can't be used... but these are similar enough that they'll be able to counteract the Master Emerald's power. It keeps you all safe from his control and allows you to fight back.
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[ Ultimately, he knows more about this than she does, so! ]
...How...did you make them? Is that something you can give an easy explanation for, or...?
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[Tails rubs the back of his head as he tries to figure out an easy explanation. There is none. Because I don't know how the fuck it works.]
Sonic had to help me with the research though. All we had to go on were Knuckles' stories, so we looked into worlds similar to our own - worlds with the Chaos Emeralds. I based my research off of those, so there are some slight differences.
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What kinds of differences? ...Are those hard to explain too? Sorry.
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No, that's a little easier! The fake Chaos Emeralds can't form together to create a fake Master Emerald, for one. For another, I did specifically make sure that they'd help with your guys' transition into this world. So they'll keep you safe from illness while you're here! They also grant you a power - which isn't how it usually works, from what Sonic's told me. All seven Chaos Emeralds can grant someone immense strength, but it isn't the same as the Master Emerald here, and it isn't like your powers at all.
So long story short, because I created them myself, they work a little differently from the real things, but that can work to our advantage, since it'll give you guys a fighting chance against Eggman.
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