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!
[Void Archive Hordika fits right at home with that design, look at them :')
Vakama doesn't flinch at the question, a flicker of slight relief that Void Archive even responds at all. There's no concern at the change of pitch, the change of attitude, still them but slightly askew.
He knows this well, after all. What the venom changed. How... different it made it, to feel, to process.]
...Even the most logical of minds can. Yours is not an exception.
I'm sorry... out of anything, this is... this is not what I ever wanted to see repeated.
But it's going to be all right.
[--how are we supposed to--
--you call THIS all right???--
The sounds of others crawling to unsteady feet seems to echo. In pain. Confused. Horrified.
Furious.
Moving away, further and further.
Not from Void Archive, for Void Archive will find that foreign hands twist against their foreign, twisted frame, urging them backwards. Stay with the group. Stay together.
It is Vakama that is left to stand alone.
As the Matoran realizes what's starting to happen, his expression grows firm, reaching a hand out to try and break the distance, attempting to grab for Void Archive's arm.]
No. No, not again. We are not doing this again, I won't--
[The hold reaches. But something gets to Vakama first.
You know that isn't how this works.
The pain flashes. A twist of the space, the light, and a disformed figure drops down from the webs with frightening speed, snapping gnarled fingers onto the Matoran's skull, hoisting him up off the ground as he yelps.
[It's almost incredulous. So incredibly bitter. Animosity building, amplified.] Towering, mocking, like all that matters to those mortal beings underneath you is nothing but a plaything.
Perhaps this will come to suit you. It is the kind of "hero" we are, after all. You and I.
The ones who will always find ourselves separate. The ones who destroy all we touch.
[--who have you been TALKING to, Vakama, who's put these thoughts into your head--
A breath rolls out, a rolling growl. Ignoring the voices. Uncaring.]
Or would you call that all a trick as well? The way you speak. Your refusal to care.
What clarity do you even think you find, when all you provide is pointless noise?
They stare at Vakama blankly as he says that. Is...he trying to comfort them? Ah, well, they hadn't expected that.
Maybe he has a point. They're not feeling all that well for obvious reasons, but they refuse to be deadweight. They don't feel as strong as they thought they were (were they ever? They could never overpower Otto, could not stop their creator from shutting them down or sealing them. They may have an intelligent mind, may be stubborn, but their will is nowhere near as powerful as Welt Yang's.
Still...)
For a moment, they huff. Forcing themselves to clash against the foothold that has been deeply entranced in their mind, Void Archives tries to quickly start speaking faster than the intrusive thoughts can disrupt their programming: ]
Please. I don't need such assurances. Hmph, do you want to know why I said all of those things before? I'll tell you...despite everything, I did actually personally believe that you co—
[ This is where they're about to say something else within that. Who knows, only God does especially since suddenly everything begins to fall flat. It seems that the universe is completely against any semblance of good - or rather...the nightmare. Is that much of a surprise, in a place that twists one's fears, their emotions, their entire beings?
[ ...Something unfamiliar stands before their very eyes. Except that this unfamiliarity has some semblance of familiarity.
But, it doesn't matter now. Especially when it - Vakama? - starts to speak these words unbidden, harsher than anything than before.
Void Archives gives pause.
Then, they just start to laugh hard and long in 'Vakama's face. The distortion increases the volume and harshness by it by far instead of the light sound of their usual vocalized amusement.
...Finally, after a bit of time, they stop. ]
Really? Is that all that you have?
[ Of course we couldn't understand each other, comes the bitter thought. They had thought it possible in that training courtyard because their being had been poisoned by the idea of trying to consider the idea. Whenever they tried to open up, every time without fail they found themselves realizing that they were better off keeping that distance from others. Where had they gotten the idea that anyone would wish to truly reach that level of knowing?
To even potentially bridge the scorched earth that they themselves had made in lack of their initial desire to reach out to others. This feeling...that idea of wanting to never be alone again...
They will discard it. And destroy everything in the way. ]
Ah, well. I will grant you one thing...
Yes, I am the type of individual to destroy everything I touch. [ The image of the Sky People's invasion to the world come to mind. ] Though, I see no reason to change that.
I suppose you must be desperate, aren't you? To think that you can hurl such words at me and have them mean anything.
[ Then, they say something encouraged by that normally absent animal instinct to hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt, and rip it all apart: ]
You are as foolish as this place has deemed you. A failure trying to lecture someone who is your better.
[The Matoran lays still, even as the air grows that much colder with their words.
The mangled form of Vakama crashes down from above with all sense lost for any sort of surprise (1)(3), a FURIOUS roar ripping out as he dives at Void Archive. To pin, to choke, to kill - unclear, unplanned, an attack out of rage and nothing else.
Very well. Then let him be the monster, if he cannot be anything else.]
[ Vakama is the one who has decided to strike first - but, given his rage his moves are indeed easy to be telegraphed and avoided. They scoff in the face of this, leaping nimbly as they are accustomed to doing in the heat of battle. Their voice unfortunately rumbles with distortion; with the changes done to them. ]
This is your choice? To embrace the nature of the beast?
Tsk. You no longer look like the Toa you claim to be. Is that how you will end it? How can I be surprised that this is the limit of your own will?
[ The blond themselves are not going to play nice. They slash swiftly and painfully at Vakama (17, 18), metal claws aiming to hit him rather hard. It is just the beginning of this conflict, though, and no one can tell where it truly will go. ]
Though Vakama still has an obvious advantage of experience in this form with how comfortable and eerily natural every motion falls, the blind fury is not doing him any favors here. Void Archive lashes out, and though Vakama tries to dodge, both blows hit full-on (14, 14), metal catching metal with a shower of sparks and an agonizing screech. His yell is tight, cut off into something much closer to a hiss, a snap of his jaw at the limbs on their follow through.
There is no blood, no oil, no smoke. There is only a void, a husk, leaking out from the wounds left behind on his limb and chest.
It is a shade. A deep echo of what once was, only, if not a familiar one.
With a white-hot burst of flame from the twisted mix of tool and limb fused to him, Vakama rushes forward again directly, intent for the jet of flame to be jammed straight into Void Archive's stomach. (12)]
[ Vakama's flames burn, without a doubt, like poisoned, hot ichor turned against their metallic body - the blond doesn't seem to bother to dodge. Is it because their mind deems it unnecessary, losing a good amount of the prized logic that they clutch so ardently? It matters little, because they can't think to bother. They're not quite a low person even with the debilitating effects in mind, and there's a motivation deeper than animalistic that encourages them to hold back inadvertent growls - the subconscious mind's persistent programming. The last hold out.
(Such that they detect through the chaos of their own mind, or rather remember, the faint stirrings of...something?) ]
Nothing more to say? Vakama, how deeply have you surrendered?
Perhaps it is I who had overestimated you in the end.
[ Yes, in the end, instead of avoidance they turn the bulk of their attentions towards playing out something close to a second act of their initial onslaught (19, 10), especially when Vakama comes so close, one claw missing him already. The other claw harshly aiming a swipe that is more aimed for something like an uppercut slice towards the other creature's face. ]
[The air starts to smoke with the smell of burning metal and flesh, the fire only burning hotter as Void Archive continues to pick him apart - body language speaking for the lack of verbal response.
Perhaps it's why he's far faster when Void Archive tries to lash out again (20, 18), snaking his way past the writhing limbs and even snapping his own claws out to dig into Void Archive's arm as it follows through.
With his tool still jammed into Void Archive's abdomen, he twists that pinned arm as hard as he can manage in the wrong direction, forcing Void Archive backward with sheer strength - both to try and pin Void Archive down completely, as well as to force them away. (16) Back, back, towards open, dark, poisonous air.
A freefall. An end.
If Void Archive manages to check his peripheral, the discarded Matoran is now missing, though the rubble looks to be disturbed.]
What do you find so strange about honesty? Though, then again, considering some of these words being echoed back at you may be painted as lies told unto the self thanks to the darkness of the soul being brought to the surface...
...Is that not one of the greatest enemies towards the mind? Such grand self-sabotage constructed undoubtedly, and persistently? Oh, is it myself you find still such criticism with, when you denied the point of when I even said something resembling reason?
Ah, but what does it matter now? After all, you have lost yourself completely now...
[ Void Archives seemingly speaks such words without a single thought, words aimed to pierce, like perhaps the way the other creature strikes and strikes at them (11, 9), and really, against all logic it appears they are hardly putting up much of a fight. Or is it just Vakama's enraged speed that makes it difficult to counter? With the other's mind of a mess, as their own, does it matter?
Vakama manages to force them all the way down in a pin, and they don't seem to be able to do much about that, either (11); they don't even bother to make any last attempt at a strike (1)
If anything, they laugh in the face of this all; would they do this under normal circumstances? It's hard to say. There is only so much control they could abide; so much lack of control at all, when they feel hardly like themselves. ]
...I'll grant you some praise that you will finally enjoy:
[They are dragged - back, back, as their laugh chokes out, as Vakama lifts them fully to drop.
--They fear me, and therefore do not threaten to question my authority. THAT is leadership, Vakama. Maybe then you would get the respect you actually deserve.
Remember. You don't need them anymore.--
And as Vakama's grip lets go, as Void Archive's weight starts to drop -- the monster is slammed to the side, by a duplicate. Whole, with eyes that glow the same color as the Matoran, snarling and snapping even as it tries to scramble to the edge--
--I'm sorry. For doubting you.
W-we all make mistakes, Vakama--
--That's just what happens when you're brave enough to make the decisions you've had to make--
Hordika shifts to Toa, hand outstretched. But it's too little. Too late.
I'm a Toa. All we do is destroy.
We save no one, Rahaga.
Not even ourselves.
Black swallows them up.
And with a flash of red, Void Archive will snap awake.]
[ They remember hearing those words reverberate in their own mind.
Yet, the scenario proves how futile their struggle was.
Somehow, they can't even bring themselves to feel frustrated for long.
But, despite their frustration - despite their words, and the clashes that have come between them, Void Archives isn't the type of person (thing?) who hates easily. It's not impossible; hardly improbable.
So when they look up and see that Vakama is far too slow, they don't react adversely. Nor do they blame him on this matter.
They only wake up, staring at the ceiling, remembering the nightmare. Unlike the last ones, despite the calmness, they're in a cold sweat.
(When that young man in the meeting asked that question and they answered, "Free will", there had been a reason for it.
For that reason, they don't get up and go anywhere for quite awhile.) ]
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no subject
Vakama doesn't flinch at the question, a flicker of slight relief that Void Archive even responds at all. There's no concern at the change of pitch, the change of attitude, still them but slightly askew.
He knows this well, after all. What the venom changed. How... different it made it, to feel, to process.]
...Even the most logical of minds can. Yours is not an exception.
I'm sorry... out of anything, this is... this is not what I ever wanted to see repeated.
But it's going to be all right.
[--how are we supposed to--
--you call THIS all right???--
The sounds of others crawling to unsteady feet seems to echo. In pain. Confused. Horrified.
Furious.
Moving away, further and further.
Not from Void Archive, for Void Archive will find that foreign hands twist against their foreign, twisted frame, urging them backwards. Stay with the group. Stay together.
It is Vakama that is left to stand alone.
As the Matoran realizes what's starting to happen, his expression grows firm, reaching a hand out to try and break the distance, attempting to grab for Void Archive's arm.]
No. No, not again. We are not doing this again, I won't--
[The hold reaches. But something gets to Vakama first.
You know that isn't how this works.
The pain flashes. A twist of the space, the light, and a disformed figure drops down from the webs with frightening speed, snapping gnarled fingers onto the Matoran's skull, hoisting him up off the ground as he yelps.
Familiar enough, and yet not - twisted painfully, stalking like some great cat against the ground.
With incredible violence, the Matoran is tossed aside past rock and web, rolling to an unresponsive stop against the ground. And the voice that rolls out falls heavy on unnatural breath and predatory rumbling under every syllable, slipping right back into cover.]
You think yourself above it?
[It's almost incredulous. So incredibly bitter. Animosity building, amplified.] Towering, mocking, like all that matters to those mortal beings underneath you is nothing but a plaything.
Perhaps this will come to suit you. It is the kind of "hero" we are, after all. You and I.
The ones who will always find ourselves separate. The ones who destroy all we touch.
[--who have you been TALKING to, Vakama, who's put these thoughts into your head--
A breath rolls out, a rolling growl. Ignoring the voices. Uncaring.]
Or would you call that all a trick as well? The way you speak. Your refusal to care.
What clarity do you even think you find, when all you provide is pointless noise?
1/2
They stare at Vakama blankly as he says that. Is...he trying to comfort them? Ah, well, they hadn't expected that.
Maybe he has a point. They're not feeling all that well for obvious reasons, but they refuse to be deadweight. They don't feel as strong as they thought they were (were they ever? They could never overpower Otto, could not stop their creator from shutting them down or sealing them. They may have an intelligent mind, may be stubborn, but their will is nowhere near as powerful as Welt Yang's.
Still...)
For a moment, they huff. Forcing themselves to clash against the foothold that has been deeply entranced in their mind, Void Archives tries to quickly start speaking faster than the intrusive thoughts can disrupt their programming: ]
Please. I don't need such assurances. Hmph, do you want to know why I said all of those things before? I'll tell you...despite everything, I did actually personally believe that you co—
[ This is where they're about to say something else within that. Who knows, only God does especially since suddenly everything begins to fall flat. It seems that the universe is completely against any semblance of good - or rather...the nightmare. Is that much of a surprise, in a place that twists one's fears, their emotions, their entire beings?
They step back. ]
2/2
But, it doesn't matter now. Especially when it - Vakama? - starts to speak these words unbidden, harsher than anything than before.
Void Archives gives pause.
Then, they just start to laugh hard and long in 'Vakama's face. The distortion increases the volume and harshness by it by far instead of the light sound of their usual vocalized amusement.
...Finally, after a bit of time, they stop. ]
Really? Is that all that you have?
[ Of course we couldn't understand each other, comes the bitter thought. They had thought it possible in that training courtyard because their being had been poisoned by the idea of trying to consider the idea. Whenever they tried to open up, every time without fail they found themselves realizing that they were better off keeping that distance from others. Where had they gotten the idea that anyone would wish to truly reach that level of knowing?
To even potentially bridge the scorched earth that they themselves had made in lack of their initial desire to reach out to others. This feeling...that idea of wanting to never be alone again...
They will discard it. And destroy everything in the way. ]
Ah, well. I will grant you one thing...
Yes, I am the type of individual to destroy everything I touch. [ The image of the Sky People's invasion to the world come to mind. ] Though, I see no reason to change that.
I suppose you must be desperate, aren't you? To think that you can hurl such words at me and have them mean anything.
[ Then, they say something encouraged by that normally absent animal instinct to hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt, and rip it all apart: ]
You are as foolish as this place has deemed you. A failure trying to lecture someone who is your better.
You...are truly pathetic.
no subject
The mangled form of Vakama crashes down from above with all sense lost for any sort of surprise (1)(3), a FURIOUS roar ripping out as he dives at Void Archive. To pin, to choke, to kill - unclear, unplanned, an attack out of rage and nothing else.
Very well. Then let him be the monster, if he cannot be anything else.]
no subject
This is your choice? To embrace the nature of the beast?
Tsk. You no longer look like the Toa you claim to be. Is that how you will end it? How can I be surprised that this is the limit of your own will?
[ The blond themselves are not going to play nice. They slash swiftly and painfully at Vakama (17, 18), metal claws aiming to hit him rather hard. It is just the beginning of this conflict, though, and no one can tell where it truly will go. ]
no subject
Though Vakama still has an obvious advantage of experience in this form with how comfortable and eerily natural every motion falls, the blind fury is not doing him any favors here. Void Archive lashes out, and though Vakama tries to dodge, both blows hit full-on (14, 14), metal catching metal with a shower of sparks and an agonizing screech. His yell is tight, cut off into something much closer to a hiss, a snap of his jaw at the limbs on their follow through.
There is no blood, no oil, no smoke. There is only a void, a husk, leaking out from the wounds left behind on his limb and chest.
It is a shade. A deep echo of what once was, only, if not a familiar one.
With a white-hot burst of flame from the twisted mix of tool and limb fused to him, Vakama rushes forward again directly, intent for the jet of flame to be jammed straight into Void Archive's stomach. (12)]
no subject
(Such that they detect through the chaos of their own mind, or rather remember, the faint stirrings of...something?) ]
Nothing more to say? Vakama, how deeply have you surrendered?
Perhaps it is I who had overestimated you in the end.
[ Yes, in the end, instead of avoidance they turn the bulk of their attentions towards playing out something close to a second act of their initial onslaught (19, 10), especially when Vakama comes so close, one claw missing him already. The other claw harshly aiming a swipe that is more aimed for something like an uppercut slice towards the other creature's face. ]
no subject
[The air starts to smoke with the smell of burning metal and flesh, the fire only burning hotter as Void Archive continues to pick him apart - body language speaking for the lack of verbal response.
Perhaps it's why he's far faster when Void Archive tries to lash out again (20, 18), snaking his way past the writhing limbs and even snapping his own claws out to dig into Void Archive's arm as it follows through.
With his tool still jammed into Void Archive's abdomen, he twists that pinned arm as hard as he can manage in the wrong direction, forcing Void Archive backward with sheer strength - both to try and pin Void Archive down completely, as well as to force them away. (16) Back, back, towards open, dark, poisonous air.
A freefall. An end.
If Void Archive manages to check his peripheral, the discarded Matoran is now missing, though the rubble looks to be disturbed.]
no subject
What do you find so strange about honesty? Though, then again, considering some of these words being echoed back at you may be painted as lies told unto the self thanks to the darkness of the soul being brought to the surface...
...Is that not one of the greatest enemies towards the mind? Such grand self-sabotage constructed undoubtedly, and persistently? Oh, is it myself you find still such criticism with, when you denied the point of when I even said something resembling reason?
Ah, but what does it matter now? After all, you have lost yourself completely now...
[ Void Archives seemingly speaks such words without a single thought, words aimed to pierce, like perhaps the way the other creature strikes and strikes at them (11, 9), and really, against all logic it appears they are hardly putting up much of a fight. Or is it just Vakama's enraged speed that makes it difficult to counter? With the other's mind of a mess, as their own, does it matter?
Vakama manages to force them all the way down in a pin, and they don't seem to be able to do much about that, either (11); they don't even bother to make any last attempt at a strike (1)
If anything, they laugh in the face of this all; would they do this under normal circumstances? It's hard to say. There is only so much control they could abide; so much lack of control at all, when they feel hardly like themselves. ]
...I'll grant you some praise that you will finally enjoy:
Congratulations on your victory, Vakama.
You've earned it.
[ And then they fall. ]
no subject
--They fear me, and therefore do not threaten to question my authority. THAT is leadership, Vakama. Maybe then you would get the respect you actually deserve.
Remember. You don't need them anymore.--
And as Vakama's grip lets go, as Void Archive's weight starts to drop -- the monster is slammed to the side, by a duplicate. Whole, with eyes that glow the same color as the Matoran, snarling and snapping even as it tries to scramble to the edge--
--I'm sorry. For doubting you.
W-we all make mistakes, Vakama--
--That's just what happens when you're brave enough to make the decisions you've had to make--
Hordika shifts to Toa, hand outstretched. But it's too little. Too late.
I'm a Toa. All we do is destroy.
We save no one, Rahaga.
Not even ourselves.
Black swallows them up.
And with a flash of red, Void Archive will snap awake.]
no subject
Yet, the scenario proves how futile their struggle was.
Somehow, they can't even bring themselves to feel frustrated for long.
But, despite their frustration - despite their words, and the clashes that have come between them, Void Archives isn't the type of person (thing?) who hates easily. It's not impossible; hardly improbable.
So when they look up and see that Vakama is far too slow, they don't react adversely. Nor do they blame him on this matter.
They only wake up, staring at the ceiling, remembering the nightmare. Unlike the last ones, despite the calmness, they're in a cold sweat.
(When that young man in the meeting asked that question and they answered, "Free will", there had been a reason for it.
For that reason, they don't get up and go anywhere for quite awhile.) ]