Now that Tails has spoken with you about your mission, the state of the world, and the threat you're facing, you're free to settle in to life here. While the warehouse isn't exactly the most thrilling place to set up a base, it's clean and well-maintained (despite the only one here being a kid fox?) and Tails encourages you to make it your own as best you can. You're going to be here for awhile, after all. This world needs to be saved, and you're the ones to do it.
The warehouse is thankfully quite large, so there's plenty of space. Aside from the ground floor containing Tails' workshop, there's a room for Tails, Knuckles, and Sonic, as well as your rooms. There's a large bathroom and several nice showers - this time with actual hot water! Though it may not be fancy, it's certainly acceptable accommodations for your time here. Exploring further through the warehouse reveals that there's an upper floor, with several other rooms that have already been furnished for varying purposes; after all, it seems your friendly neighborhood talking animals have been living here for quite a bit themselves.
But outside the walls of the warehouse are where things get particularly dismal. Though life goes on in the city of Chicago, it's without any sort of passion or thought at all. The humans go about their day-to-day lives in monotony, acting as though nothing is wrong or out of the ordinary. They don't acknowledge you, even if you try to talk to them. They don't recognize you as weird, even if you aren't human (or a talking animal). They simply move about, drone-like, heedless of the robots that patrol the streets.
Eggman's robots are high-tech, white chrome and smooth; these are almost a work of art as they are technology. They all come equipped with laser beams regardless of the shape or size of them, and they all seem to be set on keeping an eye on the people. There are robots watching everywhere. You can't turn a street corner without seeing one or two, and they follow pre-determined surveillance paths as they watch over the humans.
Lingering in the distance, you can see a massive robot that takes up the horizon. That seems to be Eggman's base of operations, at least as far as Tails has been able to determine. Though it poses no threat to you right now, it's a looming reminder of what awaits you.
Welcome to Eggman's utopia.
THE BASE
Though he's apologized for the base not being particularly lively, Tails has promised you the freedom to make the place your own. He's even directed you to a "crafts room" if you'd like to decorate! This art studio is surprisingly robust for something put together in an abandoned, worn-down warehouse on the outskirts of the city. You'll find plenty of markers in every color you can think of, sketchbooks and paper and papercrafts, string and glue and everything you could need for your second grade arts and crafts project. Though it may all be a little kiddy, it's here for you to do with as you wish.
The crafts room isn't the only odd one on the upper floors, you'll also find a gymnasium. It's more of a home gym than anything else, with only a couple of beat-up old treadmills, a few exercise bikes, and some weight lifting stations, as well as plenty of weights. It's not exactly the best room in the base, but it's here if you'd like to make use of it.
Next door is an open room with several soft mats - an open room for sparring and training. This one doesn't really have much in it, but you're welcome to make use of it however you'd like.
And next to that is the requisite first aid room! This one is well-stocked and even has a few cots in case of more serious injuries. You'll find plenty of first aid kits, painkillers, and other various medical supplies, though nothing that will allow you to perform home surgery or anything of the sort. Hopefully you don't need to do that, though?
Finally, the last large room is one that a lot of love and care has been put into - an entertainment room! There's a large screen TV mounted on the wall, with many couches and plush chairs. You'll find that you've access to any and all modern day media you could find on a TV, from streaming services (who is paying for these, anyway?) and knock-off YouTube, to your favorite anime and even Twitch. It seems that our three allies have quite the varied interests, given their search history and "previously watched" shows and movies. There's enough seating in here for everyone, so why not have a movie night?
Oh, and you'll find the kitchen on the ground floor behind Tails' workshop is suitable for all your needs - it's not particularly well-furnished, as your pals here aren't exactly master chefs, but you're always welcome to talk to Tails about obtaining something more for the kitchen or any room in the warehouse.
All of the items you had on you at your canon point can be found in one of the storerooms as well. This includes weapons, though anything magical will unfortunately not work properly. Please ask me about anything gamebreaking!
THE CITY
Chicago itself is exactly what you'd expect of a typical American city. Well, apart from the robots patrolling and the lifeless people going about their days endlessly, that is. Anything you'd want to find in a city, you can find here! But be mindful - those robots can and will notice you, unlike the people. Most robots will engage in combat on sight, as you're someone unfamiliar and could possibly pose a threat, but some will try to flee - you probably don't want them getting away and reporting sightings of an unfamiliar person!
While the city may have undergone some major changes in its population, the infrastructure is about what you'd expect. The people clean and maintain everything just as they always have, leaving it to almost seem as though everything's fine... were it not for the construction. Unlike most construction sites, these are clearly being maintained and built by the robots - there are buildings that have been completely taken over by Eggman's white chrome finish, leaving to odd sights of mish-mashed buildings and structures that are half-advanced technology, half-old school building materials. Though it may look like a normal city at first glance, it would seem that Eggman is quite literally transforming everything into his very image. You'll even find a statue in a local park that has been replaced with an Eggman statue.
Sadly, it seems as though the people are not the only ones trapped under Eggman's thumb. Animals - be they pets or wild ones - also go about their usual business, with absolutely none of their usual livelihood. You won't see many people playing at the dog park, just passing through taking their dog on a needed walk and returning home. Squirrels and birds likewise carry on as if nothing is wrong, even if they're perched on something that is clearly Eggman's technology rather than a proper tree. Which yes, means that even some of the trees are being taken over by Eggman's chroma, transforming the very living world around you as well.
Though businesses are still running as usual, the people aren't exactly in any state of mind to notice if you steal something from them - as long as you're careful about it, anyway. While security cameras and the like may still exist, it doesn't seem like anyone's checking them. In fact, it seems like no one's committing crimes either, as the city is remarkably peaceful at all times of the day or night.
SHARDS
You may feel as though you have more control of your powers this week... or you may not. Regardless, things are still prone to going haywire, which could pose a problem if you get into a fight with a robot. Tails has asked you very nicely not to hurt any of the people, so maybe lead the robots somewhere that won't risk causing injury? Or don't, I'm not your mom.
Starting this week, you may attempt to use your shards together with someone you have a strong relationship with, good or bad. Once this has been used for the first time, a page will be opened to explain the mechanic. Regardless, that's going to take even more work than mastering your own power... so perhaps fighting those robots isn't a bad idea after all.
And you do want to fight those robots - Tails has warned you that the robots are searching for the rebels' base. You don't want to let a robot escape to bring information about you and possibly the base back to Eggman, do you? Should you let a robot escape, let me know.
TAILS' TASKS
For those of you willing to help - or if you're just particularly bored - Tails will offer some tasks for you all to help around the base. He can always use help with organizing and gathering supplies, keeping the base clean and in good condition, or even keeping track of the security cameras and communications networks. He'll gladly teach anyone who would like to learn technology as well!
For more specific tasks, this week he will grant you a small, rectangular box with an antennae on top. It's kind of cutesy, but it has a radar function built in and it is tracking some kind of signature. Tails says that it's tracking the Chaos Emeralds, and that some sort of Chaos Energy was detected not too far from the city about a week ago, when Knuckles vanished.
Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to see if you can find this Chaos Energy reading and determine the direction it's coming from. You are to go in pairs, but you are not to try to track the readings to the source, just determine where they're located and what direction they lead to. Of course, nothing's stopping you from going off on a wild adventure if you really want to...
ENEMIES
This week's enemies are Badniks, Eggman's robots. Specifically, you'll find yourself facing the Badnik Surveillance Unit, the Badnik Drones, and the Badnik Transformer Model B33.
Badnik Surveillance Units are primarily made for reconnaissance. They can be found flying overhead, observing the people go about their lives and following scheduled flight paths and patterns to ensure every inch of the city is being observed. Well, mostly. You can find some back alleys and hidden spots here and there, and these Badniks usually won't go into buildings or out into the woods. They will immediately try to flee upon spotting you. They're easy to take down, though a bit more durable than one would expect, given Eggman's designs. If cornered, they are capable of shooting a simple laser beam that will hurt and possibly leave a burn.
Badnik Drones are the most common combat robot you will find. Small chrome white orbs with red eyes, they are capable of scanning and detecting abnormalities. They are not quite as common as the Badnik Surveillance Units, but you'll still spot several of them floating through the city at any given point in time. Unlike the Badnik Surveillance Units, these come ready for combat. They can fire lasers as well as shoot small homing missiles. The homing missiles thankfully aren't very fast and can be outrun or otherwise blocked, but they pack a punch if they do hit! These robots will stand their ground and fight if they spot you, but they will call for backup - if you aren't fast enough, you'll find yourself facing many of them!
The Badnik Transformer Model B33, more affectionately called Buzz Bombers by Tails and friends, is... well, it looks like a bee. A hornet, rather, as that stinger is actually a precision laser that moves fast. These robots typically look like Badnik Drones, but are capable of shifting and uncoiling themselves to become the B33 units. They are fast, they hit hard, and they are relentless, pursuing you nonstop until they've been destroyed. They will not call for backup, which is possibly the only saving grace about fighting them. Unfortunately, it's impossible to tell if a Badnik is a Drone or a B33 until you're actually in combat - and by then it may be(e) too late.
[Dorothy doesn't know what to expect. She's more than here to force the door open if necessary, though she'd like to not give Tails or Sonic anymore reason for concern, but she hears things being adjusted and takes that plan out of her head immediately once she actually sees Vakama.
...He looks bad, she'll get in as soon as she can--]
...For what little it's worth, I do apologize for intruding. But this is our space, you know. At least let me know if you're going to lock me out.
[Huff.]
What's wrong? I take it something must have happened for you to do this...
Her side of the room, at least, is untouched. But the floor is now scattered with loosed paper, the chair from Vakama's side of the room discarded to the side and the obvious source of the blockage for the door. While there's writing here and there, almost every page is covered with imagery, dark and obscure, very obviously scribbled in haste rather than any sort of artistic effort. Mountains and forests and dark expanses of sky, crashing waves, crumbling buildings. The shapes of figures unfamiliar, abandoned, grotesque. The notebook that had been holding them sits askew in a corner - the culprit for what had been thrown around, given its condition.
Vakama does not respond at first, a numb effort to try and collect the mess from the flooring.]
I'm sorry, I know. I would.... I would have written a note if I'd had more time.
[She pries again, and he visibly flinches.]
No. No, that's... [It's nothing, hadn't he said it was nothing--]
Void Archive and I nearly came to blows, and I -- I wasn't about to have them just barge in. I panicked.
[ Ashley looks up and startles slightly, as she hasn't placed Gyles voice with Gyles appearance yet, having only really met him at the meeting and not seeking him out on her end, either. Ed, she's slowly getting used to, but it's still a novelty, to be talking to little humanoid animals.
...even though, apparently, she was recruited here by one. Tangents. Anyway— ]
Oh- um... I'm trying to understand more about my shard, uh, Mr. Gyle- Hune, was it?
[ ...Yeah tragically she seems him and startles a little. Mostly it's from expecting to find an empty room, but, like. It's probably obvious it's a little not. ]
Fukuda. How- how long- never mind. [ Right to the stove to make some tea. In and out!! ] You're never going to stop calling me miss, are you?
[Dorothy looks around the room in slight shock, though her eyes narrow briefly like she's about to be irritated for a moment--but she sees her side is untouched, despite the floor being quite the mess. Almost on instinct, she starts to try and pick up the floor a bit, fastidiously neat as ever, but...
The very second Vakama says that name, any anger at him has dissipated entirely.]
Is that a worry now? Curious. It seems that idiot is still quite fond of running their mouth and acting as if they own the place.
No. I haven't even heard of any place like this so...so dedicated to excess.
[fuck w*lliford mart. all my homies hate w*lmart.]
Anything we had that was like this was delivered to us on trucks from supplies that were leftover from areas attacked by the Raptures. The idea of a...store, you called it--it's completely alien to me.
I do not like it. It's far too big and easy to get lost in...
[Honestly, Raven at the very least deserves it for how much of a jackass he's been today. But he doesn't say it aloud. He doesn't want to ruin the mood more than he already has.
He puts his arms behind his head and winks.]
Don'tcha worry, I'll be on my best behavior.
[...okay, he should probably say more than that considering who he is as a person.]
I mean it. I already promised Percy I would be. So now I've got two people ta not let down.
Well...I had originally come in here to find some more alcohol, but I suppose most importantly of all, I was looking for where one might find tea, honey, and some snacks for it.
[...]
Not entirely for me. Tails is quite fond of these things, and I thought having some variety in our tea visits would be welcome for him.
[Raven sees Dorothy tense up, and immediately figures that he said something wrong. It's never easy to hear condolences, especially from a relative stranger. But to him, it simply felt like the right thing to say. He won't say anything further on it, at the very least.
...and especially not after Dorothy turns the subject onto him. A person like Pinne...someone who meant the world to him but is no longer around.
Of course he's had someone like that. As much as he's tried to not think about her, there isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't.
He draws in a breath and lowers his gaze for a moment.]
Yeah. Her name was Casey. Like you and Pinne, we were soldiers at war. She died in combat.
[It's more than he's ever let anybody back home know. But Dorothy's not from his world, and Yeager already knows. He doesn't have to hide as much. Doesn't stop the pain from talking about it though.]
It will be now. They built a knock-off portal, but it's been destroyed. That really shouldn't happen anymore. Jeff's got the real door.
[Jeff can handle it! He didn't handle it with Michael, granted, but that's Michael's fault!]
Anyway, yeah, we don't usually go to Earth. It's very against the normal rules. I was on a special assignment, to begin with, and then...I just had stuff to do there.
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