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 scoffs, a sound that's derisive and disbelieving and desperate. Of all people to see him in the grip of a vision and decide they wouldn't leave well enough alone...]
What does it matter? Why do you care?
[It's practically spit out. His weapon is yanked up, practically slammed onto his back. Nerves are quickly twisting into anger, undeserved but lapping, like the flames he had become so comfortable with.]
[ Their lips press into a thin line. They have crossed boundaries before; they're willing to do it again, and shatter everything. They just can't let this go.
They're not examining the fact that they're sincerely bothered - this is just simply logic driving their motivation. Except even that reasoning seems tenuous - and there's genuine frustration boiling underneath the surface. What does he think he is, some kind of martyr? One who is intent on suffering a psychological death? ]
Tsk, tsk. Wouldn't it be wrong for me to abandon an ally in need? [ ... ] Unfortunately for you, I'm not in the habit of committing such wretched betrayals.
I already said that I wouldn't.
...And, regardless of how our little discussion ends, I won't be forgetting this any time soon.
[ That's a little hint to let him know that they're not the type to brush issues under the rug. They merely fold their arms and shoot Vakama a hard look; he can do whatever he chooses, but they've decided on their course of action. ]
[He can feel himself physically shaking. Just run. Just leave. Disengage and let them decide whatever they wished. It wouldn't change what he had seen. What they had seen of him. No explanation he could give would satisfy this.
And even more so, his chest beats raw, at the idea of once more being torn from a duty here that he wants so badly to complete. A sense of belonging he does not believe he deserves but still strives for anyway, ripped apart every time someone sees him like this.
Cross-wired. Incorrect.]
What do you think you gain by this? What do you think you could possibly help me with by standing in my way?
[Empty words. Angry words. Like an animal snapping its jaws and baring its teeth.
This person. This thing. It doesn't care. He does not want to give them space to make him think otherwise. Not again. He will not fall for that again.]
It is not your concern. I am not your concern.
All your concern should be is the people of this world. What we have to do for them, and what we agreed to do to rescue them.
Spare me the rest.
[He won't wait for an answer. They can follow if they like, but Vakama will turn straight back and start a ferocious pace back to the warehouse.
Leave him alone. Leave him. These haunting thoughts of death and destruction, the ache of his heart and body at the recollections... they were his burden. His "blessing". His, and only his, to bear. He would not have them picked apart under the microscopic gaze of this ego.]
[ They roll their eyes during the tirade, because they are equally frustrated, yet unwilling to scale themselves down completely.
They do as they please; only they know they can't force anyone to stay and they know following is not going to net them much in return, so they don't. Only to raise their voice, tossing words aimed like a dagger at Vakama's back. ]
Tch. You are unbelievably foolish and childish.
How do you hope to help this world if you don't attend properly to this problem?
[ They suspect that he hardly has addressed this with anyone; based on what? How much of a nuisance the Bionicle was during this and nothing else. They let a gun slip into their hand and idly shoot into the air at some joke of target practice.
Unfortunate, then, that he's bound to react this way in an upcoming battle. What will he do, when he's a liability to those he will strive to protect? Probably foolishly tear himself apart.
...
They need time to consider their next course of action, if there is one to take at all, and to instead allow the forces of nature be one itself. All in due time. ]
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no subject
What does it matter? Why do you care?
[It's practically spit out. His weapon is yanked up, practically slammed onto his back. Nerves are quickly twisting into anger, undeserved but lapping, like the flames he had become so comfortable with.]
I told you to get away from me. So leave.
[If they won't? He will.
To run. Like he always did.]
no subject
They're not examining the fact that they're sincerely bothered - this is just simply logic driving their motivation. Except even that reasoning seems tenuous - and there's genuine frustration boiling underneath the surface. What does he think he is, some kind of martyr? One who is intent on suffering a psychological death? ]
Tsk, tsk. Wouldn't it be wrong for me to abandon an ally in need? [ ... ] Unfortunately for you, I'm not in the habit of committing such wretched betrayals.
I already said that I wouldn't.
...And, regardless of how our little discussion ends, I won't be forgetting this any time soon.
[ That's a little hint to let him know that they're not the type to brush issues under the rug. They merely fold their arms and shoot Vakama a hard look; he can do whatever he chooses, but they've decided on their course of action. ]
no subject
[He can feel himself physically shaking. Just run. Just leave. Disengage and let them decide whatever they wished. It wouldn't change what he had seen. What they had seen of him. No explanation he could give would satisfy this.
And even more so, his chest beats raw, at the idea of once more being torn from a duty here that he wants so badly to complete. A sense of belonging he does not believe he deserves but still strives for anyway, ripped apart every time someone sees him like this.
Cross-wired. Incorrect.]
What do you think you gain by this? What do you think you could possibly help me with by standing in my way?
[Empty words. Angry words. Like an animal snapping its jaws and baring its teeth.
This person. This thing. It doesn't care. He does not want to give them space to make him think otherwise. Not again. He will not fall for that again.]
It is not your concern. I am not your concern.
All your concern should be is the people of this world. What we have to do for them, and what we agreed to do to rescue them.
Spare me the rest.
[He won't wait for an answer. They can follow if they like, but Vakama will turn straight back and start a ferocious pace back to the warehouse.
Leave him alone. Leave him. These haunting thoughts of death and destruction, the ache of his heart and body at the recollections... they were his burden. His "blessing". His, and only his, to bear. He would not have them picked apart under the microscopic gaze of this ego.]
no subject
They do as they please; only they know they can't force anyone to stay and they know following is not going to net them much in return, so they don't. Only to raise their voice, tossing words aimed like a dagger at Vakama's back. ]
Tch. You are unbelievably foolish and childish.
How do you hope to help this world if you don't attend properly to this problem?
[ They suspect that he hardly has addressed this with anyone; based on what? How much of a nuisance the Bionicle was during this and nothing else. They let a gun slip into their hand and idly shoot into the air at some joke of target practice.
Unfortunate, then, that he's bound to react this way in an upcoming battle. What will he do, when he's a liability to those he will strive to protect? Probably foolishly tear himself apart.
...
They need time to consider their next course of action, if there is one to take at all, and to instead allow the forces of nature be one itself. All in due time. ]