Your success in retrieving Knuckles has brought your three colorful allies back together, thus marking it a resounding success. Still, it's highly unlikely Eggman is going to overlook the destruction of his robots at that base or Knuckles going missing... But strangely, it seems as though life goes on as usual in Chicago.
The patrolling robots have had their numbers cut; a sign that you're doing something, at least. Unfortunately, the humans of this world still don't react to your presence at all, and there's no stopping the chroma slowly overtaking the city. More buildings and wildlife have been affected this week, even though Eggman hasn't set foot here. It's not exactly the most encouraging thing even if this weekend was a success.
THE CITY
Now that you're familiar with Chicago and how to find your way back to the base, you're free to explore as you see fit. You want to venture out into the suburbs? You want to take a day trip to wander even further out? Sure thing! Just be sure to let Tails know where you're going so he doesn't have a heart attack if someone goes missing.
While you're out exploring, you'll likely run across Knuckles or Sonic - both of whom will immediately beeline into the nearest robots to smash them with extreme prejudice. Regardless, they'll gladly help you if you need a hand with anything, or will otherwise carry out their tasks for Tails.
Unfortunately, the rest of the city is as lifeless as it was last week. The humans will scarcely pay attention to you, wildlife will go about lifelessly, and Eggman's unique white chrome slowly overtakes more of the city. In fact, some buildings seem to have been entirely renovated from last week - you'll find more and more "Eggman" versions of stores, attractions, and landmarks.
NIGHTMARES
The biggest difference this week has nothing to do with the world around you at large, however. Instead, you'll find your nights are far more difficult - for absolutely no reason that anyone can pinpoint. If you're lucky, you'll have unsettling dreams that leave you feeling a little worried when you wake, but otherwise fairly well rested.
If you're unlucky, you'll have horrific nightmares.
You may dream about an unwinnable battle - is it against hordes of robots? is it against your enemies back home? - where you simply don't have any choice but to fight, even though you know you can't win. The odds are stacked too high against you, no matter what you do. Will you give in? Will you fight?
You may dream about your fears - the things that threaten to seize you in a vicegrip and never let go. Are you scared of failure? Then you will experience your greatest failures in detail. Even the simplest, most mundane fears will be wildly twisted out of control - and you're powerless to wake yourself up, trapped within the dreams until the night is over and you finally, finally wake up.
You may dream about your past - whatever horrible incidents that haunt you or frighten you to think about will return in full force. These are never perfect recreations of the past, instead twisted facsimiles that only make those thoughts worse. Reliving it is one thing, but having the experience changed on you may be even worse.
Regardless of your dreams, you may find that you're not alone. Others here can be pulled into these dreams - trapped with you until either the dream ends and you wake up... or you die in the dream. Those seem to be the only ways out, no matter what you do. Still, having a buddy with you to help fight might help, right?
When you do wake up, you'll see blood red and you'll feel tired no matter how long you slept. Perhaps a nap is in order - but these dreams are just as likely to infect your naps as well.
SHARDS
You should feel fairly comfortable with using your shard power by now. You may also find that the more you use it, the more things you're able to do with it. Starting this week, your shards' powers are more pronounced, allowing you to do more with them than you could before.
As you fight with your allies - particularly those you have a close bond with, positive or negative - you may feel the tug of something in the back of your head; it tells you that you can do more. Together, you can become more powerful. You can use your shards together. Doing so will grant you a new power, or strengthen the one you already have. The more you trust one another, the easier this power will be to use.
It might be good to experiment with these new powers; after all, you never know when you may need them.
TAILS' TASKS
As mentioned to some of you, the rings that Sonic and friends use to hop between worlds have been dwindling in number, given how many were used to visit all of you and bring you in to begin with. Your job - should you choose to accept it - is to track down more rings. Tails will grant you with a tracking device that will allow you to find the exact locations of these rings. All you have to do is figure out how to get them.
Rings, as it turns out, are not quite as easy to collect as one would expect. They can appear anywhere throughout the city or the surrounding areas, but they always appear in some sort of frustrating place. Perhaps one has manifested at the top of a tree, or on top of the bean. Maybe it's hiding behind rows and rows of items in the W*lmart. Maybe you'll have to break into an employees' only room or a restricted area for one. Regardless, no ring is going to be simple to collect, and it's up to you to figure out how to get it. Every single ring counts, after all.
ENEMIES
This week's enemies are the same as last week's, though lesser in number. Like last week, you shouldn't let them escape, but you're growing stronger: they should be easier to beat than last week.
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.
Badnik Tanks are mini... well, tanks. They stand about the size of a large dog and roll around on treads through the city. They're much rarer than the other robots, but it seems some have been sent to Chicago after the destruction of the base. These tanks are capable of shooting a large laser that deals significant damage to anyone it hits, and they're quite durable. When severely damaged, they start sparking - they'll explode when hit, and you probably don't want to be in melee range!
[What a pair the two of us are, huh? Just another nightmare we'll have to wake up from and deal with, same as every other day this week.]
Oh, don't think you're off the hook either, ███████.
[Maybe it's something of a mercy that the name doesn't come across clearly. It's not as though Yeager's forgotten it, after all.]
The two of you really have made quite the mess of things, haven't you? Do you think I'd be proud?
[Yeager sighs at that and lifts his shoulders a bit.]
You're going to have to get better material; I'm afraid I've already heard this exactly one at least three times this week.
[That doesn't stop it from stinging every single time, though. That doesn't stop it from being a far too real reminder of her, of the dream they'd once shared. That doesn't stop it from reminding him that he agreed to come here, to this world, to try to do a good thing for once in his damn life.
She looks at him as though she's aware of all those thoughts; gaze even but firm, before returning her stare to Raven.]
[Yeager glances over at Raven only at the final part - because the rest of it... he doesn't want to know what Raven's face is doing for the rest of it. It's easier to focus on the here and now, after all.]
"Saving the world", right? A wonderful goal, isn't it?
[Casey sighs and tucks a lock of her bangs behind her ear.]
But of all people, why you? Why not the people who actually care? The world would be in much safer hands were Gauche and Droite here, or the Don—
Enough. You're a figment of my mind, so do keep the insults to me, ja?
[She just gives Yeager a pointed, exasperated look like really?]
The Don's a little tied up at the moment, unfortunately.
[Raven scoffs, then turns to Yeager with a mirthless smile and shakes his head to silently say that it's okay. He doesn't say it in the moment, but he won't forget Yeager standing up for him just now.]
No one's denyin' that there are better choices. Hell, me an' Yeager even joked about it ourselves.
But Sonic chose us fer a reason. We might not've been much good fer this world in the moment, but he saw the potential in us.
[He looks the visage of Casey dead in the eye.]
Just like you saw the potential in me all those years ago.
[He catches Raven's gaze and oh, he really wishes he hadn't. It isn't okay, and that's exactly the problem. If it was okay, then Casey wouldn't be here, mentioning things better left in the past. It may have been aimed at Raven, but that doesn't mean that it was targeted solely at him.
In the same moment Yeager's gaze shifts back to Casey and he tries to stifle whatever horrid, ugly emotion that was, Casey's gaze flicks back to Raven.]
I did, yes. There was so much potential in all of you. I was really, truly happy.
[...]
And then you had to go and turn your backs on everything I ever said, everything I ever worked for.
[Are these even Casey's words anymore, he finds himself wondering, or are they his own?]
[Whoever those words are coming from, they sting like hell. More than that...they make Raven think about how this is apparently Yeager's nightmare. If they're coming from Yeager's heart, then they really have been struggling with the exact same guilt about all of this.
What would Casey think if she could see me now?]
I can't speak fer Yeager, but do ya think I don't know that? I didn't want this second shot at life. Even back then I was wonderin' why me? [His lazy style of speech begins to disappear as emotion builds in his voice.] Why me, when you and the rest of the platoon had to die? How was I supposed to go on and do good in everyone's place when I couldn't even handle losing you?
You can't possibly understand what it's like to be in these shoes. [He whips around to Yeager.] Only he can.
[Yeager doesn't look at Raven. He's not looking at Casey anymore either. This is so much more than he ever wanted to address, let alone with someone who actually understands. It hurts, more than anything else he's experienced in these past ten years and he just wants it to stop.]
Don't—
[Both of their voices answer in unison; Casey's slipping back into something more familiar, almost comforting, while Yeager's is tight and full of some emotion he can't possibly place. He shakes his head and Casey falls silent.]
You shouldn't be here. This isn't your nightmare.
[Though that hardly changes that it's still Raven's pain. Would things be similar if they were in Raven's nightmare instead?]
You shouldn't have to share any of this. You shouldn't have to explain yourself to [his eyes flick to Casey, but... that's not really right, is it?] ...to me.
[Because he already knows, because he already feels the same way, because no matter how much they talk it won't change things. It won't make anything easier. It won't make things right.
Casey remains silent, watching them both with that same gentle smile on her face.
Raven's not the only one slipping in his usual manner of speech. Yeager's accent is long gone.]
[His left hand comes up absently, resting on his chest. It's a gesture he does so frequently he doesn't even notice it.]
Of course I have. How could I feel any different?
[...]
I've been running from the moment I... woke up. I couldn't bear to face any of it. So I thought the further I ran, the easier it would be, and the more I changed myself, the less it could hurt me.
[And somewhere along the way he became the leader of Leviathan's Claw, he took in two kids who really deserved better, he created a whole new persona just for business, he did all sorts of hideous things for profit or for fun - because Yeager wasn't that scared kid clawing to escape his past. And in the end...]
[A frequent gesture, but one that Raven watches closely this time. It's exactly how he tends to bring a hand over his own blastia when he's agitated.
They really are so similar.]
I get it. If Alexei hadn't found me right after I woke up, I probably would've done the same thing. Instead, I let him craft a new identity for me and keep me around to be his tool. I pretended to bury Damuron Atomais.
[He laughs hollowly.]
You know what the Don used to say to me after he took me under his wing? That I looked like a man who lived as if he was already dead. And he was right. I was waiting for any opportunity to finally be taken out of the picture.
But those kids... Something about meeting them changed that. They made me want to keep going just a little bit longer.
I meant what I said back at the start of all this- back when we were in space. It's not too late to find something like that for yourself.
[At some point, during all of that, he ends up looking back at Raven, and this time he can't bring himself to look away.
I don't want to because it would be so much easier to die and I already found it and was willing to throw it away are the immediate thoughts, and frankly, he's not even sure which one is winning out anymore. The answer was obvious when he arrived in space.
You gotta at least last 'til we can share a drink over this madness.
It wasn't even something he recognized he was clinging so hard to until Dorothy snapped at him, Maybe I just want you to kill me, like you almost let me do to you. So I don't have to consider anything anymore, so maybe I can stop having this stupid hope that things will get better. And in that moment, the only thing he could think to do was offer her a hand, both because he could understand, at least somewhat, and because maybe he didn't want to see her walk down that same path. Would he have reacted the same if Raven hadn't reached out to him first?
What does he want?]
...You're right.
[Strangely, it isn't hard to admit that at all.]
At the very least there are a couple of people I owe a tremendous apology to. I certainly can't let anything happen to me before I have that opportunity.
["You're right." Just those simple words bring an inexplicable lightness to Raven's chest that he hasn't felt in a while. Not since he started hanging around the kids of Brave Vesperia. That he could bring Yeager just a little more hope that there's something out there for him, even after his lowest moment...
He can't help but grin back at Yeager.]
Ya hear that, Casey? There is hope fer these sad old men yet!
[He steps over to give Yeager a pat on the shoulder.]
Yeah, let's. Standards be damned, we deserve a bit of day drinkin' this time.
[Okay nightmare Casey don't listen to that part though.]
[He follows Yeager's gaze to the empty space where Casey once stood. An unreadable expression crosses his face for a moment, but he ultimately settles on a soft smile as the visage of Mount Temza begins to disappear.
Be seeing you, Casey.]
Yeah. Let's get goin'. We've got a long day ahead of us.
![[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
Oh, don't think you're off the hook either, ███████.
[Maybe it's something of a mercy that the name doesn't come across clearly. It's not as though Yeager's forgotten it, after all.]
The two of you really have made quite the mess of things, haven't you? Do you think I'd be proud?
[Yeager sighs at that and lifts his shoulders a bit.]
You're going to have to get better material; I'm afraid I've already heard this exactly one at least three times this week.
[That doesn't stop it from stinging every single time, though. That doesn't stop it from being a far too real reminder of her, of the dream they'd once shared. That doesn't stop it from reminding him that he agreed to come here, to this world, to try to do a good thing for once in his damn life.
She looks at him as though she's aware of all those thoughts; gaze even but firm, before returning her stare to Raven.]
no subject
Wow, now that's a name I haven't heard in a loooong time. Not since he died.
[And as far as Raven's been concerned, all of that man's hopes and dreams died along with him.
Which is why he's really not interested in hearing what this twisted nightmare version of Casey thinks of him.]
What, do ya want me to admit that I've been wastin' this second shot at life that I never asked for? I've known it fer years.
[His melancholy expression hardens.]
But believe it or not, I was finally startin' ta wake up. That's why I'm here.
no subject
"Saving the world", right? A wonderful goal, isn't it?
[Casey sighs and tucks a lock of her bangs behind her ear.]
But of all people, why you? Why not the people who actually care? The world would be in much safer hands were Gauche and Droite here, or the Don—
Enough. You're a figment of my mind, so do keep the insults to me, ja?
[She just gives Yeager a pointed, exasperated look like really?]
no subject
[Raven scoffs, then turns to Yeager with a mirthless smile and shakes his head to silently say that it's okay. He doesn't say it in the moment, but he won't forget Yeager standing up for him just now.]
No one's denyin' that there are better choices. Hell, me an' Yeager even joked about it ourselves.
But Sonic chose us fer a reason. We might not've been much good fer this world in the moment, but he saw the potential in us.
[He looks the visage of Casey dead in the eye.]
Just like you saw the potential in me all those years ago.
no subject
In the same moment Yeager's gaze shifts back to Casey and he tries to stifle whatever horrid, ugly emotion that was, Casey's gaze flicks back to Raven.]
I did, yes. There was so much potential in all of you. I was really, truly happy.
[...]
And then you had to go and turn your backs on everything I ever said, everything I ever worked for.
[Are these even Casey's words anymore, he finds himself wondering, or are they his own?]
cw suicidal ideation
What would Casey think if she could see me now?]
I can't speak fer Yeager, but do ya think I don't know that? I didn't want this second shot at life. Even back then I was wonderin' why me? [His lazy style of speech begins to disappear as emotion builds in his voice.] Why me, when you and the rest of the platoon had to die? How was I supposed to go on and do good in everyone's place when I couldn't even handle losing you?
You can't possibly understand what it's like to be in these shoes. [He whips around to Yeager.] Only he can.
no subject
Don't—
[Both of their voices answer in unison; Casey's slipping back into something more familiar, almost comforting, while Yeager's is tight and full of some emotion he can't possibly place. He shakes his head and Casey falls silent.]
You shouldn't be here. This isn't your nightmare.
[Though that hardly changes that it's still Raven's pain. Would things be similar if they were in Raven's nightmare instead?]
You shouldn't have to share any of this. You shouldn't have to explain yourself to [his eyes flick to Casey, but... that's not really right, is it?] ...to me.
[Because he already knows, because he already feels the same way, because no matter how much they talk it won't change things. It won't make anything easier. It won't make things right.
Casey remains silent, watching them both with that same gentle smile on her face.
Raven's not the only one slipping in his usual manner of speech. Yeager's accent is long gone.]
no subject
[That's what Raven responds with after Yeager lays the truth of this nightmare bare.]
I know this is your nightmare, and I want to help you get through it. I'll share my pain with you if I have to.
You've really felt the same way this whole time, huh?
cw: suicidal ideation
Of course I have. How could I feel any different?
[...]
I've been running from the moment I... woke up. I couldn't bear to face any of it. So I thought the further I ran, the easier it would be, and the more I changed myself, the less it could hurt me.
[And somewhere along the way he became the leader of Leviathan's Claw, he took in two kids who really deserved better, he created a whole new persona just for business, he did all sorts of hideous things for profit or for fun - because Yeager wasn't that scared kid clawing to escape his past. And in the end...]
...It wasn't enough.
[I'm supposed to stop you all in Zaude.
I don't plan on leaving that fight.]
cw: suicidal ideation
They really are so similar.]
I get it. If Alexei hadn't found me right after I woke up, I probably would've done the same thing. Instead, I let him craft a new identity for me and keep me around to be his tool. I pretended to bury Damuron Atomais.
[He laughs hollowly.]
You know what the Don used to say to me after he took me under his wing? That I looked like a man who lived as if he was already dead. And he was right. I was waiting for any opportunity to finally be taken out of the picture.
But those kids... Something about meeting them changed that. They made me want to keep going just a little bit longer.
I meant what I said back at the start of all this- back when we were in space. It's not too late to find something like that for yourself.
cw: suicidal ideation, 1/2
I don't want to because it would be so much easier to die and I already found it and was willing to throw it away are the immediate thoughts, and frankly, he's not even sure which one is winning out anymore. The answer was obvious when he arrived in space.
You gotta at least last 'til we can share a drink over this madness.
It wasn't even something he recognized he was clinging so hard to until Dorothy snapped at him, Maybe I just want you to kill me, like you almost let me do to you. So I don't have to consider anything anymore, so maybe I can stop having this stupid hope that things will get better. And in that moment, the only thing he could think to do was offer her a hand, both because he could understand, at least somewhat, and because maybe he didn't want to see her walk down that same path. Would he have reacted the same if Raven hadn't reached out to him first?
What does he want?]
...You're right.
[Strangely, it isn't hard to admit that at all.]
At the very least there are a couple of people I owe a tremendous apology to. I certainly can't let anything happen to me before I have that opportunity.
2/2
When this is all over, let's share another drink, ja?
[The accent returns and he smiles easily again, as if neither one had disappeared in the first place.
One more thing to keep him going. One more promise he can't back out of, no matter how badly he might slip.]
no subject
He can't help but grin back at Yeager.]
Ya hear that, Casey? There is hope fer these sad old men yet!
[He steps over to give Yeager a pat on the shoulder.]
Yeah, let's. Standards be damned, we deserve a bit of day drinkin' this time.
[Okay nightmare Casey don't listen to that part though.]
no subject
Agreed. We've been put through the wringer this week, haven't we? We certainly can't be judged for that!
[His gaze shifts to Casey and she's—
Gone.
There's no fancy exit, no more parting words; she's just simply vanished at some point when they were focused on one another.
...It's the first time in one of these dreams that she hasn't died.
The world begins to fade, the edges fading out into white.]
Ah, I suppose it is about time we got up.
[They can't exactly live in the past forever, now can they?]
no subject
Be seeing you, Casey.]
Yeah. Let's get goin'. We've got a long day ahead of us.
[And for once, he's looking forward to it.]
no subject
[The dream fades; it's the first time during nightmare week that it hasn't ended in death for Yeager.
Thanks, Raven. He'll remember this.]