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.
[He took the staff in the hand that did not already hold his own, steadier but hesitant. Too vividly he remembered coming within inches of smashing the Hexcore, how its compulsion had stayed his hand and how it had lashed out at him in retribution. Like a living creature, capable of being vindictive. Capable of too much, were it just given the vessel it had so often whispered to, twisting and corrupting it into the monster that had worn smooth expressionless metal and the split mockery of humanity.]
[...If he'd just had the strength to destroy it back then, none of this would ever have happened. Though this lacked the present and active threat he had faced down then, it was still a reminder of the power of a god and the will of a devil. He had to be rid of it, Viktor had to destroy the Herald if he was ever going to actually help a world rather than ruin it.]
[Violet light flickered from within him like sparks between wires as his grip on the staff tightened, arm brought down with all the strength he had in a thin body of steel.]
[The staff comes down with a resounding clang and a crack that resonates.
Vakama can't hide the full body flinch at the noise, fingers tightening against the smaller of the masks as he starts removing the cases from the pillows. Even pulled away from his forge for these last long years, the sound of a mask's destruction still sent a pit of dismay straight into his gut. The echo of days, weeks, months of hard work, ruined in a single blow and destined for the reclamation yards.
He pauses, not letting his eyes drift as he waits to see if Viktor will repeat the blow again. But when that doesn't happen right away, he'll chance a look - first to the mask, now cleanly cracked against the bed; then to Viktor, brow furrowed.]
...
I hope there is freedom in this for you. [It's a quiet statement as he wraps the dulled orange metal in his hands, moving over to the empty chest on his side of the room.] Take a moment if you need it.
[It was only once; Viktor was not a particularly violent person, his anger ever focused inward rather than upon the world around him. As if to underline that fact he gently set the staff down on the bed, slowly picking up the broken mask in pensive silence. He didn't actually know who it was that shattered it before this, the Undercity child with the impossible machine--silently he made a note to ask Jinx about him, maybe she would be able to answer that question.]
[The colors in his eyes shifted as they always did; now silvery white edged with a harsh yellow, head lowered and his back to Vakama as he spoke at length:]
...Freedom is a terrifying thing. Variables beyond calculation, impossible to quantify the number of paths one can take and no way to calculate the correct one. There was a time when I would have said choice itself was a falsehood, but that was the delusion of one who had gone too far to turn back.
Mn. There is always a choice, even if we have backed ourselves too far into a corner to see it clearly.
[He circles back around the bed to wrap up the second of the masks, pausing significantly once again at the reflection that haunts him.]
To trust in that choice, and to be okay with the possibilities... as well as the consequences... I do not think there is any escaping the fear. [He exhales, a little slowly.] But in like measure, there is no need to draw it down into absolutes.
Can you be alright with that, my friend? Stepping forward with faith, without an absolute to guide you?
[His own sharp words echoed back at him now, as if the universe decided to mock his foolishness just a little bit more, then twist the knife with the mention of a guiding absolute. Like he had been blindly led and not the absolute force himself. Guilt stung somewhere in his chest where a heart was supposed to be, sharpening from the dull ache it had so consistently been lately.]
I am a scientist--we do not deal in faith, but objective facts. And the fact is that I have done something I must atone for. The fact is that I exist when I should not, find myself in a world nearly lost as my own almost was, and am tasked with true salvation rather than a pale mockery of the idea. The equation must be calculated to its result, and when the experiment is complete that result will need to be evaluated as a success or failure.
[Whatever that meant, Viktor didn't explain; he seemed to be speaking half to himself, reasoning out some elaborate lines of thought that tangled into chaos in his head.]
He thinks carefully, on whether he should speak. How he should speak, as he listens to Viktor reason with himself in logic mired with guilt.
...]
It... is different. Difficult. To find belief that is inward, rather than outward.
For the longest time, I sought only that which I believed those ahead of me would have wanted. The path of those successful and revered. Out of duty. Out of atonement. Out of failure. Even when things felt so dark and without an end, my heart yearned for the salvation of my people. But the paths I chose were never truly my own.
And when those paths grew so brittle that I felt they might crumble, I had no absolutes to hold myself up. Every decision felt... plagued with doubt. And I found myself like a cornered animal, feeling as though my choices had run out.
[There was nothing left. None of the immeasurable power, none of the dulled and quieted emotions that ensured he never truly questioned anything he was doing, none of the clear purpose in bringing forth what was seen as humanity's salvation. No purpose, no partner...and no time limit, which was actually quite strange now that he stopped to examine it. All that work to cure himself, and now the idea of being able to live seemed like a curse in itself.]
The world seemed so bitter, and my role in it a cruel one. My heart wanted only for a solution no matter the cost.
["Our friendships, our homes, our city... all just rubble. We save no one. Not even ourselves."
...]
Had someone not been there to show faith in me... to remind me of the faith I had to have in myself... I do not know what path I would have found myself taking.
[Gods, did he understand that. The world was cruel, the circumstances ever-worsening, and hands that only ever wanted to create seemed to exist only to cast down further and further ruin. So he had simply left, abandoned the lab, abandoned his partner, abandoned Piltover, just to try and do something of value. And how had that ended? Again, destruction where there had only ever been desire to help.]
['Am I interrupting?']
[...He was still running, wasn't he? Coming here of his own will, leaving everything behind again in some attempt to help someone, somewhere, without making things worse.]
...I think this--here and now--is the only path left to me now. And I am not certain it is one I can walk without stumbling.
With the second mask in his hands firmly wrapped, he sets it down. Looking over Viktor carefully, letting the silence sit.
With an exhale, he quietly crosses the space between them, a hand gently clasped to the thin shape of Viktor's shoulder.]
...Then let us walk alongside you, my friend.
We may not be able to make the choices your heart needs. But if we can be here to help pick you up, to be there as you find new footing, and to help you welcome the bravery it takes to make mistakes along with successes... please allow us that much.
No one can be better left on their own. There is strength that only comes through unity.
[The hand on his shoulder felt painfully nostalgic, as though he'd been struck by a sudden wave of homesickness for reasons that defied proper explanation. But...it was reassuring in some small amount. They would detest him when the truth fully emerged, this was a certainty in Viktor's mind--but right now, their common problem was much larger than that of any individual's.]
Perhaps you are right. I...have never particularly been one to accept help in any regard, but the necessity is rapidly outweighing what little pride I had left to me.
It's a hard thing to let go of... especially if we have grown to feel powerful in seclusion. But there is just as much pride to be had in the company of others.
[He'll give a firm squeeze, before dropping the touch of his hand, reaching back out to pluck the firestaff back up from the bedspread.]
Here.
If you would trust me to dispose of those remnants as I said I would, I will trust you to look into whether this tool can be restored.
[He collected himself slowly, deep breaths coming in the quiet whir of a clockwork doll's functions. Viktor was calm when he finally turned, delicate hand of unyielding steel handing over the broken mask.]
There are...things about me I do not doubt I will have to admit to before long, and when that time comes I believe such camaraderie will be lost to me. Until then, I would wish to return to acting as Viktor, instead of what once wore this mask. At least then I will be able to aaccept whatever judgment I am met with as being from people who know me as I am now.
All that to say...I would like to help, however I am capable.
[A hand wrapped of metal reaches out to meet it and take the shards from Viktor's grip, turning them inwards and away. Fragments. Nothing more.]
...I understand, my friend. I really do, beyond what I could ever explain.
[What things he had failed to do, what he had caused, no matter how it had turned out in the end... he knows that he is only a short time away from having to make a choice of whether anything will ever be shared. Would his people ever know? Would his teammates? Or would it be best for all if he let the past slowly die with what remained of his power, a lock placed on the regrets of his heart, for some feeble but earnest attempt to move on?
If they ever went back... how could he even begin to weave a story that would make sense?
...]
I wish you the bravery to speak of it plainly, if that is the path you find.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
[He took the staff in the hand that did not already hold his own, steadier but hesitant. Too vividly he remembered coming within inches of smashing the Hexcore, how its compulsion had stayed his hand and how it had lashed out at him in retribution. Like a living creature, capable of being vindictive. Capable of too much, were it just given the vessel it had so often whispered to, twisting and corrupting it into the monster that had worn smooth expressionless metal and the split mockery of humanity.]
[...If he'd just had the strength to destroy it back then, none of this would ever have happened. Though this lacked the present and active threat he had faced down then, it was still a reminder of the power of a god and the will of a devil. He had to be rid of it, Viktor had to destroy the Herald if he was ever going to actually help a world rather than ruin it.]
[Violet light flickered from within him like sparks between wires as his grip on the staff tightened, arm brought down with all the strength he had in a thin body of steel.]
no subject
Vakama can't hide the full body flinch at the noise, fingers tightening against the smaller of the masks as he starts removing the cases from the pillows. Even pulled away from his forge for these last long years, the sound of a mask's destruction still sent a pit of dismay straight into his gut. The echo of days, weeks, months of hard work, ruined in a single blow and destined for the reclamation yards.
He pauses, not letting his eyes drift as he waits to see if Viktor will repeat the blow again. But when that doesn't happen right away, he'll chance a look - first to the mask, now cleanly cracked against the bed; then to Viktor, brow furrowed.]
...
I hope there is freedom in this for you. [It's a quiet statement as he wraps the dulled orange metal in his hands, moving over to the empty chest on his side of the room.] Take a moment if you need it.
no subject
[The colors in his eyes shifted as they always did; now silvery white edged with a harsh yellow, head lowered and his back to Vakama as he spoke at length:]
...Freedom is a terrifying thing. Variables beyond calculation, impossible to quantify the number of paths one can take and no way to calculate the correct one. There was a time when I would have said choice itself was a falsehood, but that was the delusion of one who had gone too far to turn back.
no subject
[He circles back around the bed to wrap up the second of the masks, pausing significantly once again at the reflection that haunts him.]
To trust in that choice, and to be okay with the possibilities... as well as the consequences... I do not think there is any escaping the fear. [He exhales, a little slowly.] But in like measure, there is no need to draw it down into absolutes.
Can you be alright with that, my friend? Stepping forward with faith, without an absolute to guide you?
no subject
[His own sharp words echoed back at him now, as if the universe decided to mock his foolishness just a little bit more, then twist the knife with the mention of a guiding absolute. Like he had been blindly led and not the absolute force himself. Guilt stung somewhere in his chest where a heart was supposed to be, sharpening from the dull ache it had so consistently been lately.]
I am a scientist--we do not deal in faith, but objective facts. And the fact is that I have done something I must atone for. The fact is that I exist when I should not, find myself in a world nearly lost as my own almost was, and am tasked with true salvation rather than a pale mockery of the idea. The equation must be calculated to its result, and when the experiment is complete that result will need to be evaluated as a success or failure.
[Whatever that meant, Viktor didn't explain; he seemed to be speaking half to himself, reasoning out some elaborate lines of thought that tangled into chaos in his head.]
...You speak as if from experience, Vakama.
no subject
He thinks carefully, on whether he should speak. How he should speak, as he listens to Viktor reason with himself in logic mired with guilt.
...]
It... is different. Difficult. To find belief that is inward, rather than outward.
For the longest time, I sought only that which I believed those ahead of me would have wanted. The path of those successful and revered. Out of duty. Out of atonement. Out of failure. Even when things felt so dark and without an end, my heart yearned for the salvation of my people. But the paths I chose were never truly my own.
And when those paths grew so brittle that I felt they might crumble, I had no absolutes to hold myself up. Every decision felt... plagued with doubt. And I found myself like a cornered animal, feeling as though my choices had run out.
no subject
[There was nothing left. None of the immeasurable power, none of the dulled and quieted emotions that ensured he never truly questioned anything he was doing, none of the clear purpose in bringing forth what was seen as humanity's salvation. No purpose, no partner...and no time limit, which was actually quite strange now that he stopped to examine it. All that work to cure himself, and now the idea of being able to live seemed like a curse in itself.]
What...did you do then?
no subject
I ran.
["So? I'm a Toa.
All we do is destroy, didn't you know that?"]
The world seemed so bitter, and my role in it a cruel one. My heart wanted only for a solution no matter the cost.
["Our friendships, our homes, our city... all just rubble. We save no one. Not even ourselves."
...]
Had someone not been there to show faith in me... to remind me of the faith I had to have in myself... I do not know what path I would have found myself taking.
no subject
['Am I interrupting?']
[...He was still running, wasn't he? Coming here of his own will, leaving everything behind again in some attempt to help someone, somewhere, without making things worse.]
...I think this--here and now--is the only path left to me now. And I am not certain it is one I can walk without stumbling.
no subject
With the second mask in his hands firmly wrapped, he sets it down. Looking over Viktor carefully, letting the silence sit.
With an exhale, he quietly crosses the space between them, a hand gently clasped to the thin shape of Viktor's shoulder.]
...Then let us walk alongside you, my friend.
We may not be able to make the choices your heart needs. But if we can be here to help pick you up, to be there as you find new footing, and to help you welcome the bravery it takes to make mistakes along with successes... please allow us that much.
No one can be better left on their own. There is strength that only comes through unity.
no subject
[The hand on his shoulder felt painfully nostalgic, as though he'd been struck by a sudden wave of homesickness for reasons that defied proper explanation. But...it was reassuring in some small amount. They would detest him when the truth fully emerged, this was a certainty in Viktor's mind--but right now, their common problem was much larger than that of any individual's.]
Perhaps you are right. I...have never particularly been one to accept help in any regard, but the necessity is rapidly outweighing what little pride I had left to me.
no subject
[He'll give a firm squeeze, before dropping the touch of his hand, reaching back out to pluck the firestaff back up from the bedspread.]
Here.
If you would trust me to dispose of those remnants as I said I would, I will trust you to look into whether this tool can be restored.
no subject
There are...things about me I do not doubt I will have to admit to before long, and when that time comes I believe such camaraderie will be lost to me. Until then, I would wish to return to acting as Viktor, instead of what once wore this mask. At least then I will be able to aaccept whatever judgment I am met with as being from people who know me as I am now.
All that to say...I would like to help, however I am capable.
no subject
[A hand wrapped of metal reaches out to meet it and take the shards from Viktor's grip, turning them inwards and away. Fragments. Nothing more.]
...I understand, my friend. I really do, beyond what I could ever explain.
[What things he had failed to do, what he had caused, no matter how it had turned out in the end... he knows that he is only a short time away from having to make a choice of whether anything will ever be shared. Would his people ever know? Would his teammates? Or would it be best for all if he let the past slowly die with what remained of his power, a lock placed on the regrets of his heart, for some feeble but earnest attempt to move on?
If they ever went back... how could he even begin to weave a story that would make sense?
...]
I wish you the bravery to speak of it plainly, if that is the path you find.