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[shardmods]

So. That could have gone better!

With Mecha Sonic, Robo Knuckles, and Tails Doll defeated, you've successfully kept Chicago safe, and dealt a blow to Eggman's forces. Still, there's a lot that's left unexplained. Who was that mysterious voice? Why did these robots look so different from the ones you've seen before now? Why didn't Sonic and friends recognize them? There's no answers to your questions today, unfortunately.

You'll be escorted home by the trio after everyone's picked themselves up, healed off the damage, and had a moment to recover. Feel free to play out the immediate aftermath and/or the return to the base in this post!

Rest and regroup; you've earned a break.

NAVIGATION

Comments

[akademise]

It's nothing to apologize for. Even if you had told me then, I would not have been of much assistance.

[ He can barely perform first aid on someone of the eight tribes or someone human, do not ask him to fix robots. ]

[tworo]

All the same.

[It was sort of a lie of omission, if nothing else.]

[akademise]

Well, in that case, please consider your apology formally accepted.

[ And with that formality out of the way, More is actually going to stop leaning in the doorway and instead come sit with Turo.

Which does draw attention to the squirrel. ]

You made a new friend?

[tworo]

I don't believe so. Some of the Pokemon outside don't seem to have any more opinion about anything than the people.

[Yeah so maybe he hasn't encountered the concept of "animals" yet.]

I was curious about whether or not regular interaction might produce different results.

[akademise]

It's a cute little fellow, so I hope you succeed.

[ This is his cue to lean over and just kind of poke the squirrel on the head very softly. ]

'Pokémon' is how you refer to call manner of creatures, then? I had assumed it was a specific kind of hostile monster, but that seems to have been mistaken.

[tworo]

[Turo tilts his head slightly, trying to interpret that sentence. It's a little confusing to him.]

Pokemon are...creatures, yes, I suppose. Anything alive that is not a person or a plant, like this.

[akademise]

[ Well, this at least makes it click nicely to More. ]

I see. The words we use in my world are a little different here. A creature like this squirrel would be called an 'animal' while creatures that are hostile in nature and can use magic would be called 'monsters'.

[ So 'Pokémon' just seems to be a slightly larger category. It's not as much of a shock to More as finding out people here do not think 'human' describes a horrible beast beyond imagination. ]

[tworo]

How curious. This is very like the Pokemon Skwovet, but the coloration is different and the squirrel lacks the distinct cheek pouches.

[He holds the squirrel up for demonstration.]

I suppose you could say Pokemon use magic as well. But they all do, it is not related to how friendly they might be.

[akademise]

[ The poor brainwashed squirrel really is adorable. More can't help smiling a little as he gives it a closer look. It's not quite identical to squirrels in his world either, but the differences feel more minute and might be owed to climate or something. ]

Fascinating. There's been no end to the wonder of different worlds. I truly wish I had infinite time to study the way our realities intermingle and diverge.

[ He readjusts the icepack on his head slightly. ]

I would be more suitable to that than to events like today's, in any case...

[tworo]

Mmm. I suppose I would be, too. Studying alternate realities is certainly much closer to my original purpose.

[Though apparently fighting is not so far removed as he used to think.]

[akademise]

[ And there's a word that's bringing them right back to the elephant in the room. Between the glimpses of metal under skin that More had seen in battle and the... the dream... Ah, he is curious as is his nature, but this feels rough to ask nevertheless. ]

What purpose was that?

[tworo]

...to act as an assistant for Professor Turo.

[He hadn't totally meant to bring it up, but what's done is done. Turo's eyes fall back to the squirrel.]

The real Professor Turo. I am like the things we fought earlier, to him.

[Well, not really, he's a much better imitation than Mecha Sonic.]

[akademise]

[ This slots into place unfortunately well. Every unwanted thought of 'he' from the nightmare has a name now, and that name is familiar in the worst way. For just a beat More is silent, and they are simply two men staring at a squirrel rather than looking at each other. ]

He created you for that purpose...? Simply to do his bidding?

[tworo]

[The brief on his creation is a little more detailed, but...doesn't it basically just boil down to that?]

Yes. He had long since lost trust in any other person, but he could not accomplish his goals alone.

[akademise]

[ That's miserable.

More might have tried to keep an open mind about the situation had they had this conversation when they met. He doesn't understand robotics very well, and he likes to approach lifestyles other than his own without prejudice.

But they're having this conversation now, and the cold terror of that nightmare is still liable to give More goosebumps. There is nothing to be tolerant about in this situation. ]

His goals were surely doomed the moment he chose such solitude. [ ... ] Or rather, self-perceived solitude. You are not him, I have felt as much quite clearly.

[tworo]

...no. I contain his memories and knowledge, but I know they do not truly belong to me. It was important to him that I understood I was not him.

[He considers it for a moment. He hasn't really thought about that since everything happened. Before that, he'd never given thought to himself as a potential physical threat; now, he knows that the Professor had.]

I think it would have gone poorly for him, if I thought I was.

[akademise]

Memories that are not your own...

[ Due to personal bias, More had thought that lacking memories must surely be the most torturous thing in the world, but he's learning that there are equally sinister set-ups. ]

So that knowledge held you back from defying him long ago?

[tworo]

He made me. I'm not capable of meaningfully defying him. I could not even manage it after he died.

[akademise]

I... saw that, in the last week. ...no, 'saw' is the wrong word. I experienced it.

[ Some of these nightmare occurrences appear to have been shared memories, but More felt so perfectly one with Turo during this incident that he feels he can't bet on Turo being aware that he was even there. ]

What he did to you and them is cruel beyond words.

[tworo]

[HEY WOAH LET'S CIRCLE BACK]

You saw it?

[akademise]

[ Well.

Looks like his concern was entirely founded in reality. This is awkward. ]

Yes... during the merging nightmares of the last week, I was placed in your position for a bit.

[ He hadn't initially realized who it was, but it was easy to suspect and now that he's seen the crystalization in action... Well. Things are clear. ]

[tworo]

What -

[Of course he knew something odd must be happening. He doesn't typically dream at all. But he didn't know merging was a part of it!]

What did you see?

[akademise]

Nothing I would think less of you for.

[ It's not a direct answer, but the way Turo's voice seems to tighten as he questions this makes it seem like a 'promise you won't freak out, ok?' disclaimer is not not warranted. ]

If anything, I know now how much you were struggling against his control.

[tworo]

What did you see?

[yeah no he has not really calmed down!]

[akademise]

[ ... well. Don't let it be said he didn't at least attempt to cushion the blow...

Let's phrase this... neutrally. ]

He took over your body to protect the 'time machine' against a group of children.

[ AND IT SUCKED. ]