You were successful in repelling the robots attacking the city, but you've been left with far too many questions. For once, Tails doesn't have any answers for you, and a gloomy uncertainty has fallen over your three allies. It probably doesn't help that everyone had a rough time of it last week. A win is a win, but it doesn't really feel like a win when you're not even sure who this unknown threat is...
Regardless, life goes on. Things are a bit different this week in Chicago, however.
THE CITY
You'll need to be careful now more than ever when heading out into the city. Though Eggman's usual robots are still present, their numbers have been cut drastically. Far fewer drones patrol the streets, with only the occasional tank or B33 to be seen. You can still find and fight them, and they will still call for backup, but it seems like you all really have destroyed a lot of them.
But there are the new additions to Eggman's forces. Unlike the white chrome versions, these are here to cause problems. You can find them patrolling sometimes... but usually you'll find them in the city proper, destroying whatever they can. Whenever they catch sight of you, they will stop at nothing to try to pursue you and destroy you.
The city itself is still undergoing changes, with more of that white chrome spreading throughout, as if infecting the structures themselves. The Badniks will still destroy even that, though; it's more like they're mindless machines than carrying out any precise orders.
But in a stroke of good luck, occasionally you'll find that some of the humans recognize the danger they're in. It's only when confronted with a robot - but you might hear a scream, or see them try to run away, and if you save them, you may even be able to get a few words in before they simply return to their monotonous lives. You won't be able to get any truly valuable information from them, but they will thank you repeatedly for helping. They don't seem to realize that they're being controlled by someone else, even if you ask them about it.
VISIONS
If you thought last week was a lot, get ready for the madness of week 4!
You may still have nightmares. You may still be pulled into each others' nightmares (same as last week, if you'd like to play out more of these). Or maybe you'll finally be able to catch a break and get some z's, but even if you are lucky enough for that, you'll still be dealing with everything else.
You may find yourself randomly teleported into the city. This happens at random, and can happen to multiple people at the same time. One minute you may be waking up, the next you'll find yourself surrounded by robots ready to kill you. And yeah, the robots are a feature, not a bug. No matter how it happens, you will always be facing down robots whenever you're brought into the city. Enjoy!
But maybe your luck holds out and you're unaffected by that. Well, there's still the visions to deal with!
There are two different kinds of visions that may happen.
The first are the more minor ones - where you may see the people closest to you (positive or negative). They will appear for others as well, and they will gladly speak with you - though they aren't exactly behaving in the way they should. They will torment you, reminding you of past failures and imperfections, and speaking as though everything is your fault. They will follow you wherever you go, and will only fade when someone else has helped you come to terms with the horrid things they're saying. These visions are a manifestation of a character's psyche and thus are based on their own perceptions of their friends/enemies and their own faults. They're incapable of interacting with the world or the characters, but they sure can insult you!
The second are much larger in scope. No matter where you were, you may find yourself pulled into friend's memory. These memories are one-for-one versions of what exactly happened, though now you're here! Are you playing the role of someone else, or are you just a bystander in all that's happening?
The character having the vision may or may not be aware of you initially, but once they're made aware of your presence, the vision will still play out as the memory would. The only way to stop it - aside from simply letting it play out in its entirety - is to drastically alter the memory in such a way that it cannot get itself back on track. Considering the trauma some of the people in this game have, it might be a good idea to help break them free of it.
Regardless of which happens to you (the nightmares, the teleportation, or the visions), your vision will turn bright red for a moment afterwards - it vanishes quickly enough, but it leaves you with the eerie feeling that you're being watched.
SHARDS
Your powers are growing, and you'll find you're able to defend yourself with your power in some way, even if yours is a power made for support. All characters are now able to fire off a blast of energy in their shard color to defend themselves - this attack will grow stronger in time, but at least everyone should be able to defend themselves (somewhat) now?
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
Like last week, Sonic Team is still in need of rings. Rings are still annoying to get. You'll probably need help to get them, but they're worth collecting. So make sure to grab some for Tails!
You may also be tasked with tracking Chaos Energy. Like with tracking rings, Tails will give you a device that can pick up on the signature. You should be careful in approaching, especially if the signature is a large one, considering the three enemies you faced last weekend. Still, Chaos Energy may lead you to more of Eggman's fake Chaos Emeralds, which could prove useful...
Tracking the source down will lead you to one of the weekly enemies with a shard somewhere on its body. It will be much harder to kill than the regular versions of that enemy, and capable of some kind of special power (players' choice). Crushing the shard will weaken the enemy and bring it back down to its normal power level, making it fairly easy to defeat, but if you manage to defeat it without breaking the shard, you can bring it back to Tails for examination.
ENEMIES
Though you can still find the enemies from previous weeks in Chicago throughout the city, their numbers have thinned. Mostly, you'll be running into new faces - robots that don't look anything like Eggman's usuals. They are very rarely actually patrolling or idling, instead focused on destroying parts of the city or attacking any people unfortunate enough to get in their way.
Moto Bugs are... rather cute. They roll around on their singular wheel and can slash with their front claws, though primarily they deal damage by ramming into things at fairly high speeds. They're fairly weak, all things considered, especially by now. They're completely powerless when knocked over or onto their backs. Though one Moto Bug is weak, you will never find them alone - instead, you'll usually find at least 3-5 of them in a group.
Crabmeats are robotic crabs. Where does the meat come in? Unclear. Regardless, they're stronger than Moto Bugs and are capable of both bashing with their massive claws and snipping, and either way they are capable of a good deal of damage if you get hit. They're slower though, which means getting out of the way shouldn't be too hard. Like Moto Bugs, these usually are never alone, often working in pairs.
Buzzers are bees. Did you think we were done with bees? We are absolutely not done with bees. These bees function almost identically to the B33 models in that they're capable of firing lasers from their stingers, divebombing to try to sting, and generally be(e)ing a nuisance. Unlike the B33 models, they do not have a glaringly obvious weak point and are a bit harder to hit and destroy as a result. Though you may rarely encounter only one of these bees out in the wild, usually you'll run into groups of them and they will not be(e) happy to see you.
[Very much said with the energy of someone who will see that as Burdening Viktor and will just keep using a damaged leg,]
I didn't know this was the sort of thing people studied. My leg was just kind of... trial and error, because crutches didn't exactly make for a good show.
Oh, prosthetics are very common in my world. Many of them even have multiple functions; one with a false arm, for example, might have it made with the ability to contain weapons.
[ This is...a relief, in some ways, to be away from all the explicit horrors, particularly with the light. Ashley's afraid of the dark, see. So really, the light is her saving grace, particularly as it soothes her anxiety, something that does not happen often.
She looks for the source of it, almost desperately—but she finds the small creature instead. Despite their calming energy, she does jump a little—and then squeaks in worry, she doesn't want to step on it— ]
Oh- I'm sorry. I'm sorry!
[ Honestly? The next thing she plans on doing seems to be crouching down and getting a closer look at the little puffball! ]
If there is anything Void Archives doesn't doubt, it's the assertion that Ashley would be the type of individual who prioritizes self-preservation - a selfishness that is inherent in many individuals, to the detriment of others. But, they don't see anything wrong with it. Instead, they chuckle, looking back over at Emily. ]
What of it?
Is it wrong for people to prioritize their own safety above others? While it is a shame that you died, what is done has been done, hasn't it? Though, of course, it doesn't mean that she didn't care - and perhaps there was an opportunity to make another choice.
But, does it mean she should be condemned forever for it? I don't think so.
And, if there should be a time where she leaves me for dead, then she can very well do that.
[ Their words spoken, it's up to how Ashley will choose to face this ghost of regret. If she can face it at all. ]
[ don't worry! if it looks like she might step on the puffball, it'll be aware enough to move out of the way with a little crawl over using its wings. in fact, when she apologizes for coming close to it, the puffball will try to make a gesture with its wings to indicate that things were okay. —that she shouldn't have to worry.
and as she crouches down to get a better look at it, she'll see that it doesn't have much of a face other than two round circles for eyes, a solidary freckle on its left side, right under one of its eyes. she'll also notice that its left "arm" has been cut off at a point with the missing part of the limb being made up by some other material. other than that, it will continue to look up at her in wonder.
she can also get the impression that it's also worrying for her as it makes sure that there's plenty of light for her to move around in should she wander in any particular direction. the light acting as a barrier to prevent anything from approaching too close to the either of them—of which there will be glimpses of. ]
Nah; ya don't have to worry about it. The two of us could probably use a break from all of the healin' that we've done recently.
[ he'll wave it all off and just focus on something better(??) while being related. ]
Thanks for helpin' by the way. [ ... ] 'nd sorry for being a shit dancer.
[ because wolfwood would be a terrible improv dancer and no one can convince me otherwise. we're also not going to talk about (or maybe they can) how wolfwood is miserable at telling jokes because he absolutely would be. ]
[Fukuda reacts again with a frown, but this time, he actually turns his head to look at Ashley. At first his frown deepens in confusion and perhaps anger. An intruder.
But then his shardbond memories catch up to him and his eyes go wide in terror.]
Miss Ashley? You can't- you shouldn't be here-
[The woman on the table also notices her, but is much more confused given she doesn't have any context. But ironically, her move is similar to Ashley's;
"Young lady, please, you need to get out of here! This man's killed before! Don't worry about me, I can handle it!"]
[Well, he doesn't have the backbone to argue with that, so even though he's definitely frowning at Wolfwood like a kicked puppy, he'll drop it.
But He'll Remember That.]
Oh, it's nothing to thank me for. And you didn't do that badly, for... being unprepared...
[Not everyone is a natural-born performer, or has the experience of performing. Most people would be horrible at improvising a dance on the spot.
He gives Wolfwood a once-over, gaze lingering on his busted arm for a moment before he looks back at his face.]
...With your build and... demeanor, you'd probably do better with something more acrobatic, or perhaps animal taming, were we in a circus. But perhaps, if we have to use our powers together again, we can find another way to pull it off. Or be better prepared for it.
[not everyone is a slut exposing their holes for everyone to witness, okay? some people are modest and demure and cover up their scars from life-changing injuries.]
It's no more a hassle than any other mask I've had to wear.
[Metaphorical or literal? Yes. He turns the skin over in his hands for a moment, as if in deep consideration.]
[ Oh. Uh. That doesn't taste right. Despite a laundry list of reasons why he should be fine with this, the part of him that likes being alive despite everything is too strong to overcome (5). He hasn't set down his cup, but he's very obviously not drinking any more either. ]
[A beat passes, his eyes narrowing slightly as he keeps trying to place Yves in his mind. But something stops him, the bold look in his eyes breaking for something far meeker as he tries to gather his thoughts, gaze drifting to the passing shadow of a sundial set in the lone windowsill.]
I... I don't see why not. We both have places to be, I'm sure... a-and I don't want any more trouble with the Vahki than you do.
[So, y'know. Get your weirdly tall frame out of his house and he'll ignore it, he's got to get to work.]
[There is no smugness from Vakama at being told he is correct, no posturing. He has been through so much in the last few months alone, spoken to enough beings that talked in circles, that there felt no need to fuel the fire of their words. He just listens, guarded as ever, picking apart the fluff of Void Archive's many words to try and make sure what needed to be understood still stood out.
Otto Apocalypse, huh...]
A rather unfortunate name to have, when you're working towards survival.
[But even that aside... with the goal of survival and the passing explanation of his view of themselves as an "archive", something finally seems to click for Vakama in passing.
How literal did they mean?]
...If that was your purpose... then what exactly are you?
[Let's just casually forget what happened the last time the two of us were together and this body showed up (everything got super horrible! yippee!)]
Shh, hey--- hey. It's all right.
[He's careful as he tries to break the distance, extending a hand to her even as his eyes flick to the corpse that trails behind. Just as much a haunting, it seems, as the elderly figure of gold and red he knows sits around a corner somewhere or other in this same building, patient but coldly persistent. The dead, the lost, clinging to their minds.
[Joker falls silent at that, looking down at his mismatched legs. It's... an easy thing to say, but it's a hard thing to accept.
It goes against everything he's ever known, after all. If he didn't play along, he'd have no worth.]
Right.
[Right! Let's focus on things that are—less awful. He stands up, testing his weight against the new prosthetic. His movements still aren't fluid, but not all things can be fixed so easily.
He takes a few steps and does a little hop for good measure.]
It feels—good. I really can't thank you enough, sir.
[She drinks it to the last drop, only looking to him again when she's finished. There's a flicker of something - disappointment? Before she replaces it with that same confident expression from before.]
...And it looks like you were smart enough to drink so little, you wouldn't die from it.
[There's a powerful feeling of anxiety welling up in him. His heart races - he may even feel sick from the sensation.
The girl standing by his side seems dissatisfied with the results.]
That can't be right! You're supposed to kill him through cunning... but there's nothing cunning at all about a game of luck.
Was this really a fair game?
[Her words are... encouraging, somehow. She believes in you, or at least, in your role, and her belief is empowering.
Roll 1d20 to dispel the anxiety, success on 6 or higher. If successful, he will find he feels perfectly fine, albeit with a bitter taste in his mouth. If failed, he will only feel all the more sick, like he really does have a terrible poison coursing through his veins.]
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