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!
[ 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. ]
[ 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?
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.
...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.
[ 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?
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.
[ 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.
It appears that this happened to all of us. If this were my world, I would ascribe it to the intermingling of our magla, but I am not certain such a thing even exists here. Maybe the commander who's voice we heard today is simply exploiting something about our shards.
Whatever the truth may be, it has tied our souls together for just a brief moment. Though I had no choice in the matter, I do find it regretful that I had to trespass in your mind like this.
[ It's probably the last thing Turo ever wanted anybody to witness. ]
[ More has been trying to keep this at arm's length for the whole conversation. Focus on Turo and keep his own emotions about it at bay. But... More touches his forehead, as if willing a headache to disappear. ]
I do not need to explain to you that it was horrifying. That boy... You think of him as your own son?
[It's immediate, almost frightened. Turo stops himself and tries again, calmer.]
No. He is the Professor's son. I have the Professor's memories, so...but that doesn't make him my son, of course. He did not even know I existed before we met down there.
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[Though apparently fighting is not so far removed as he used to think.]
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What purpose was that?
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[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.]
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He created you for that purpose...? Simply to do his bidding?
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Yes. He had long since lost trust in any other person, but he could not accomplish his goals alone.
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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.
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[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.
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[ 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?
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[ 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.
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You saw it?
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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. ]
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[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?
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[ 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.
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[yeah no he has not really calmed down!]
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Let's phrase this... neutrally. ]
He took over your body to protect the 'time machine' against a group of children.
[ AND IT SUCKED. ]
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You saw that?
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[ He wants to believe that this isn't how it went in reality as well, but he doesn't believe it enough to state anything about it out loud. ]
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[Turo doesn't seem to know how to respond to this. He turns to face forward again, no longer even focused on the squirrel anymore.]
I knew something strange was happening. I do not typically have dreams at all. But I did not think it would affect others as well.
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Whatever the truth may be, it has tied our souls together for just a brief moment. Though I had no choice in the matter, I do find it regretful that I had to trespass in your mind like this.
[ It's probably the last thing Turo ever wanted anybody to witness. ]
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[He doesn't seem pleased that it happened, though Turo is quick as ever to suppress any facial expressions that seem about to break through.]
I'm sorry you had to see something like that.
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[ More has been trying to keep this at arm's length for the whole conversation. Focus on Turo and keep his own emotions about it at bay. But... More touches his forehead, as if willing a headache to disappear. ]
I do not need to explain to you that it was horrifying. That boy... You think of him as your own son?
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[It's immediate, almost frightened. Turo stops himself and tries again, calmer.]
No. He is the Professor's son. I have the Professor's memories, so...but that doesn't make him my son, of course. He did not even know I existed before we met down there.
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[ 'Think of' was fairly deliberate wording, at least. ]
The way it felt to see him in the nightmare... I cannot quite tell why, but it resonated with me.
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