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!
[Vakama's touch is comforting for Raven's base instincts. He lets out a gentle breath and nudges into the Matoran's hand. For the briefest of moments, he thinks this nightmare was finally coming to an end.
So much for that. No, there's a reason why his body was so desperately screaming at him to run.
He hisses and shrieks in the face of this new creature. Instinctively he knows he has absolutely no chance of fighting this thing, but...this thing has Vakama's voice. This must be the change that Vakama went through.
He holds his ground. What little ground he has, at any rate.]
So this is where that path led you, huh? [Another guttural hiss escapes him.] Yeesh, and I thought how I handled myself was embarrassing.
[It's not far off from Schwann though, is it? He got so wrapped up in his hopelessness that he stopped caring. He did horrible things in Alexei's name. He became a husk of the knight he once strove to be.
This really is poetic, then.]
I've seen the Vakama of today, so this better have just been a phase.
Raven hisses and spits and shrieks, and the predatory growl in response comes from a completely different direction than before. He's clearly being circled.]
Give me one reason it should be.
The past goes nowhere, and the present only moves when you take what you want for yourself. I choose my duty even if no one else can bother, so what matters if I must do it alone?
[You have a job to do.
--we cannot help Vakama--
You have a JOB to do.
--his visions are only right so far, you know. Often enough that we might follow his lead, even if he simply made it up--
The group pulls at your limbs.
Leave him.
--Did you make that promise when you let Lhikan get captured, or when he died saving your sorry mask???--
You HAVE TO you HAVE TO.]
We work ourselves until we're dust on the ground, and for what?? A meaningless atonement that comes far too late. Pathetic, pitying words to some empty grave. A united front that falls apart under disagreement.
Why should it be any different now than it's ever been?
[Why shouldn't one continue to HATE themselves if it keeps things in forward motion?]
[Raven feels the nearly overwhelming pull to leave, but he digs his heels in deeper and hisses back at the feral copy of Vakama. Those biting criticisms only embolden him further to not leave his friend behind.
Just from the way this version of Vakama is talking, he can't say there wasn't any merit to those criticisms. Quite honestly, Raven wouldn't want anything to do with him either. But Schwann Oltorain serves a man who grew to be very similar to this.
He's lost faith in Alexei's ability to change for the better. But Vakama is a different story. He's seen the difference for himself.]
You know, actin' like this ain't doin' you any favors. Now you're just bein' the epitome of everything yer teammates hated about ya.
[His eyes carefully follow the direction Vakama's growls are coming from, his posture defensive but prepared. He's faced down plenty of monsters in his time.]
I ain't the right person ta tell ya how ta stop hatin' yerself. That'd make me one hell of a hypocrite. But I can tell ya you're never gonna get anywhere if ya close yerself off from everyone else. You're gonna be stuck wallowin' like this fer the rest of yer days.
[He lets out a shriek.]
I'm offerin' you a hand now. [Just like those kids did for him.] You gonna take it?
[It's all that snarls out in bitterness before the strangled form of Vakama shoots out to try and tackle Raven prone, although giving his point of cover away may not do him any favors here. (4)]
[Well. It might not do him any favors but he still manages to catch Raven and bring him to the ground (3). He lets out a screech and attempts to bite at the monstrous Toa, but he's pinned down good (also 3).
He expected to be outmatched but this is just unfortunate.]
[He is indeed outmatched for the moment, the Hordika easily dodging the bite attempt (16) with a snapping motion of his own jaws in return, arm drawing back to slash across Raven's face with a clawed hand (15).
From the rubble, the Matoran has now gone missing.]
[Try as Raven might to jerk his head out of the way, Vakama's claw connects and leaves a nasty gash across his cheek (13).]
Ghh--!! [A human-sounding cry of pain turns into something like a horrific swan honk.] Not the face! I need that!
[Ugh, he's not going to be able to fight back unless he somehow manages to get Vakama off of him. He puts all of his strength into one big shove (14). It could be better, but it also could be worse.]
[For an instance, a flicker, a voice not of either of them; cocky, careless, a flash of green--
--no, no, this can't be me! I can't be ugly--
It seems to twist what remains of Vakama's expression up in contempt as he braces against the shove with his entire body (20), muscle and metal and adrenaline. He doesn't budge.
[Claw meets flesh as Vakama starts to grapple for Raven's neck with nothing but anger--
-- Only to be knocked aside as a mirror image of the creature charges, knocking Raven's captor off and to the side.
There is not much difference at first glance. Only the color of the eyes. But Vakama, the ACTUAL Vakama, stands overtop him - the Matoran newly missing, now clearly crouched overtop Raven with his teeth bared towards the double. It sinks back, a dissolving as it stalks back into the shadow, but Vakama doesn't move his position.
A beat passes, of breath and tension. His defensive posture doesn't change. But there's a softening, as his head tilts just so. Apologetic.]
...Even like this. Blinded as I was. All I ever wanted was to find a way to save them. [His eyes don't meet Raven's.]
Even if I made the wrong choice... even if I was a failure.... even if I was never understood, and only knew this angered heart for the rest of my days. If it was still for them... if it would earn them their freedom... I felt it was all that mattered.
It... frightens me. Angers me. That this could repeat, with nothing else I could do but watch what it does to those around me.
[His eyes flick back out towards the dark as it slowly evens out - a contrast to their beginning, a voided field. And as Vakama slowly removes himself from Raven, his form shifts back - not to the Matoran, but to himself. Fully, unchanging, knelt to offer him a hand up.
Raven will find his form slowly shift to himself. Normal, unfettered.
The voices protest. They always do.
What kind of Toa ARE you?]
...
My friend. I will not ask you to suffer any more of my own battles. This is not a fight to be won.
[Well, at least I can say I tried. Raven thinks to himself as his efforts amount to nothing. The Hordika is far too strong. But hopefully something in what he said was helpful to Vakama...if he's still around here somewhere.
The monster Vakama reaches for his throat and he prepares for the nightmare to come to an unfortunate end...but for once he's glad it doesn't. He breathes out a huge sigh of relief to see the Vakama he knows standing triumphantly over him.
The feathers melt away and claws retract as he reaches out for Vakama's hand.]
I think yer heart was always in the right place, even if ya ended up becomin' what ya did fer it. [...That's something he's not sure he can say about Alexei. But at this point he's not sure if that matters anymore.] But I'm glad ya seem to have figured yerself out since the, uh...creepy monster phase.
[He gives Vakama's hand a firm squeeze. As best as he can, anyway. Now his hand is the tiny one here.]
I won't fight yer battles for ya, but I'm gonna remind ya to not do it all on yer own. Got it?
I wish I could say I've had time to dwell on it more, even though I really would rather forget. It... really was not all that long ago, that we found our freedom from that. [A month or two, at best. It still feels strange to be walking back on two legs and not instinctively sticking to the shadows.]
I haven't felt quite the same since. I don't know if I ever will. And in there lies just as much worry.
Have I learned the lessons I need, or am I doomed to repeat them?
[The air grows cold and thick. Something grows large and ominous behind them, formless and horrifying. It seems to reach up into the very skies. To place out constellations in a specific pattern, twisting the heavens.
But Vakama keeps his eyes to Raven, keeps that grip firm in return. In the coldness of the space, there's a warmth - a flicker of a conversation amongst the normal voices that mock. Of Vakama himself, and one other, far older.
--And what about your friends?
...Former friends. Tch. They think being a leader is so easy? They can do it themselves.
True. But they won't get far without you. Nor you without them.
And how do you know that?
I don't. But the Great Spirit does.
Unity. Duty. Destiny. It starts with Unity.
If you are to rescue the Matoran, you must do so together.
This is something you cannot change.--
...
He exhales firmly.]
I may not always know the right answer. But I will do what I can, my friend. For this cause we face, for those I must face when this is over.
[--I am better, and stronger, alone.
I don't believe that, Vakama! And I don't think you do, either!--
At the very least you're not like that anymore, so I'd call it an improvement.
[Just a little uplifting humor.
He wishes he could give a little more insight, but he's still in the middle of his own self-discovery journey. Ever since Damuron Atomais died, he's barely felt like his own person even if he does like being Raven. He's getting better day by day since arriving here, but...
Maybe it's something they can work on alongside each other.]
Heh. No one can expect ta be right all the time. But that's okay. No one here is gonna put ya under that kinda pressure. We're a team, so we'll find the right answer together.
[...funnily enough, being asked if he can be counted on gives him pause. His smile falters for a moment.]
This old man will do what he can ta not let ya down.
[It's not an emphatic "yes", but...it's more than what he'd usually say.]
[It's subtle, the flicker of energy that snaps between their shards as Vakama nods, turning towards the towering void in front of them. Enormous wings spread, a building spiral that threatens to take the stars itself.
A fake to the end, Toa.
"You are a mask-maker, not a Toa."
"Vakama your destiny no longer lies in this, you are a Toa."
"It's time you realized that you are a Toa!"
"So? I'm a Toa. All we do is destroy--"
"If all of this was a lie, I deserve to know--!!!"
...
A rattling exhale, in and out. But his posture stays firm.]
Keep your faith, Raven.
[Fire sparks and flickers to life in his palms, spiraling in a swirling pattern against his arms, even as the mask on his face starts to glow.]
We're going to make it right.
[No matter what it takes. No matter the mistakes behind them. No matter if it was truly real or not, truly destiny.
Just one more time, before it all ended.
The Toa launches forward, body and element both vanishing completely in a shroud of intentional invisibility a split second later, the bare form of a shadow the only evidence of someone darting forward at full speed.
And Raven's vision will finally fade as though sinking backward - to the consuming black, to the warm blanket of white... and finally, to the sharp sea of red, as the dream releases him.]
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So much for that. No, there's a reason why his body was so desperately screaming at him to run.
He hisses and shrieks in the face of this new creature. Instinctively he knows he has absolutely no chance of fighting this thing, but...this thing has Vakama's voice. This must be the change that Vakama went through.
He holds his ground. What little ground he has, at any rate.]
So this is where that path led you, huh? [Another guttural hiss escapes him.] Yeesh, and I thought how I handled myself was embarrassing.
[It's not far off from Schwann though, is it? He got so wrapped up in his hopelessness that he stopped caring. He did horrible things in Alexei's name. He became a husk of the knight he once strove to be.
This really is poetic, then.]
I've seen the Vakama of today, so this better have just been a phase.
no subject
Raven hisses and spits and shrieks, and the predatory growl in response comes from a completely different direction than before. He's clearly being circled.]
Give me one reason it should be.
The past goes nowhere, and the present only moves when you take what you want for yourself. I choose my duty even if no one else can bother, so what matters if I must do it alone?
[You have a job to do.
--we cannot help Vakama--
You have a JOB to do.
--his visions are only right so far, you know. Often enough that we might follow his lead, even if he simply made it up--
The group pulls at your limbs.
Leave him.
--Did you make that promise when you let Lhikan get captured, or when he died saving your sorry mask???--
You HAVE TO you HAVE TO.]
We work ourselves until we're dust on the ground, and for what?? A meaningless atonement that comes far too late. Pathetic, pitying words to some empty grave. A united front that falls apart under disagreement.
Why should it be any different now than it's ever been?
[Why shouldn't one continue to HATE themselves if it keeps things in forward motion?]
no subject
Just from the way this version of Vakama is talking, he can't say there wasn't any merit to those criticisms. Quite honestly, Raven wouldn't want anything to do with him either. But Schwann Oltorain serves a man who grew to be very similar to this.
He's lost faith in Alexei's ability to change for the better. But Vakama is a different story. He's seen the difference for himself.]
You know, actin' like this ain't doin' you any favors. Now you're just bein' the epitome of everything yer teammates hated about ya.
[His eyes carefully follow the direction Vakama's growls are coming from, his posture defensive but prepared. He's faced down plenty of monsters in his time.]
I ain't the right person ta tell ya how ta stop hatin' yerself. That'd make me one hell of a hypocrite. But I can tell ya you're never gonna get anywhere if ya close yerself off from everyone else. You're gonna be stuck wallowin' like this fer the rest of yer days.
[He lets out a shriek.]
I'm offerin' you a hand now. [Just like those kids did for him.] You gonna take it?
no subject
[It's all that snarls out in bitterness before the strangled form of Vakama shoots out to try and tackle Raven prone, although giving his point of cover away may not do him any favors here. (4)]
no subject
He expected to be outmatched but this is just unfortunate.]
no subject
From the rubble, the Matoran has now gone missing.]
no subject
Ghh--!! [A human-sounding cry of pain turns into something like a horrific swan honk.] Not the face! I need that!
[Ugh, he's not going to be able to fight back unless he somehow manages to get Vakama off of him. He puts all of his strength into one big shove (14). It could be better, but it also could be worse.]
1/2
--no, no, this can't be me! I can't be ugly--
It seems to twist what remains of Vakama's expression up in contempt as he braces against the shove with his entire body (20), muscle and metal and adrenaline. He doesn't budge.
--your place is with US--]
I don't NEED YOU.
2/2
-- Only to be knocked aside as a mirror image of the creature charges, knocking Raven's captor off and to the side.
There is not much difference at first glance. Only the color of the eyes. But Vakama, the ACTUAL Vakama, stands overtop him - the Matoran newly missing, now clearly crouched overtop Raven with his teeth bared towards the double. It sinks back, a dissolving as it stalks back into the shadow, but Vakama doesn't move his position.
A beat passes, of breath and tension. His defensive posture doesn't change. But there's a softening, as his head tilts just so. Apologetic.]
...Even like this. Blinded as I was. All I ever wanted was to find a way to save them. [His eyes don't meet Raven's.]
Even if I made the wrong choice... even if I was a failure.... even if I was never understood, and only knew this angered heart for the rest of my days. If it was still for them... if it would earn them their freedom... I felt it was all that mattered.
It... frightens me. Angers me. That this could repeat, with nothing else I could do but watch what it does to those around me.
[His eyes flick back out towards the dark as it slowly evens out - a contrast to their beginning, a voided field. And as Vakama slowly removes himself from Raven, his form shifts back - not to the Matoran, but to himself. Fully, unchanging, knelt to offer him a hand up.
Raven will find his form slowly shift to himself. Normal, unfettered.
The voices protest. They always do.
What kind of Toa ARE you?]
...
My friend. I will not ask you to suffer any more of my own battles. This is not a fight to be won.
no subject
The monster Vakama reaches for his throat and he prepares for the nightmare to come to an unfortunate end...but for once he's glad it doesn't. He breathes out a huge sigh of relief to see the Vakama he knows standing triumphantly over him.
The feathers melt away and claws retract as he reaches out for Vakama's hand.]
I think yer heart was always in the right place, even if ya ended up becomin' what ya did fer it. [...That's something he's not sure he can say about Alexei. But at this point he's not sure if that matters anymore.] But I'm glad ya seem to have figured yerself out since the, uh...creepy monster phase.
[He gives Vakama's hand a firm squeeze. As best as he can, anyway. Now his hand is the tiny one here.]
I won't fight yer battles for ya, but I'm gonna remind ya to not do it all on yer own. Got it?
no subject
I haven't felt quite the same since. I don't know if I ever will. And in there lies just as much worry.
Have I learned the lessons I need, or am I doomed to repeat them?
[The air grows cold and thick. Something grows large and ominous behind them, formless and horrifying. It seems to reach up into the very skies. To place out constellations in a specific pattern, twisting the heavens.
But Vakama keeps his eyes to Raven, keeps that grip firm in return. In the coldness of the space, there's a warmth - a flicker of a conversation amongst the normal voices that mock. Of Vakama himself, and one other, far older.
--And what about your friends?
...Former friends. Tch. They think being a leader is so easy? They can do it themselves.
True. But they won't get far without you. Nor you without them.
And how do you know that?
I don't. But the Great Spirit does.
Unity. Duty. Destiny. It starts with Unity.
If you are to rescue the Matoran, you must do so together.
This is something you cannot change.--
...
He exhales firmly.]
I may not always know the right answer. But I will do what I can, my friend. For this cause we face, for those I must face when this is over.
[--I am better, and stronger, alone.
I don't believe that, Vakama! And I don't think you do, either!--
Another exhale.]
Together, we are strong.
So, together... may I come to count on you?
no subject
[Just a little uplifting humor.
He wishes he could give a little more insight, but he's still in the middle of his own self-discovery journey. Ever since Damuron Atomais died, he's barely felt like his own person even if he does like being Raven. He's getting better day by day since arriving here, but...
Maybe it's something they can work on alongside each other.]
Heh. No one can expect ta be right all the time. But that's okay. No one here is gonna put ya under that kinda pressure. We're a team, so we'll find the right answer together.
[...funnily enough, being asked if he can be counted on gives him pause. His smile falters for a moment.]
This old man will do what he can ta not let ya down.
[It's not an emphatic "yes", but...it's more than what he'd usually say.]
no subject
A fake to the end, Toa.
"You are a mask-maker, not a Toa."
"Vakama your destiny no longer lies in this, you are a Toa."
"It's time you realized that you are a Toa!"
"So? I'm a Toa. All we do is destroy--"
"If all of this was a lie, I deserve to know--!!!"
...
A rattling exhale, in and out. But his posture stays firm.]
Keep your faith, Raven.
[Fire sparks and flickers to life in his palms, spiraling in a swirling pattern against his arms, even as the mask on his face starts to glow.]
We're going to make it right.
[No matter what it takes. No matter the mistakes behind them. No matter if it was truly real or not, truly destiny.
Just one more time, before it all ended.
The Toa launches forward, body and element both vanishing completely in a shroud of intentional invisibility a split second later, the bare form of a shadow the only evidence of someone darting forward at full speed.
And Raven's vision will finally fade as though sinking backward - to the consuming black, to the warm blanket of white... and finally, to the sharp sea of red, as the dream releases him.]