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.
[Fukuda puts the drill and mystery device down, hoping that disarming himself will help diffuse the situation but it's Ashley so he feels like it won't actually. He's putting his hands up regardless.]
I don't think you really want an answer to that... But listen, I was just trying to help people. Either way, I don't intend to hurt you or anyone else on the team.
[ If you were there, you could have— Ashley hears that and presses: ]
But it's not your fault I did! O-or your fault that he got killed!
[ If you were there, you could have stopped it. If you were there. If you were there. The very thought of it makes her feel sick and angry. She wants to scream at the vision of the Professor until he vanishes, but she can't find the words. ]
I-it's cruel. To hold you accountable for that... It's not right.
[ In the face of this, the vision of Emily wavers. She's stunned silent, which Ashley would say is completely out of character— but an unstoppable force has met and immovable object, and while the real Emily would probably have something to say, this facsimile can't match it. She just stares with her one eye, the other bleeding intermittently, as Void Archives talks and talks and talks.
Ashley stares too. Somehow, in a complete reverse, she can find her words. ]
No. No, he- [ His torn neck leans on her shoulder. There should be blood coming from it, but it appears frozen. ] Chris, st- stop.
[ She grips Vakama's hand with force it may be surprising that she possesses. ]
H-he... My...b-best friend.
[ It sounds so sweet when she says it like that. Maybe that's why the hug tightens. It may look innocuous, but to Ashley, it's- it's like a vice. She trembles harder. ]
Hey- [He took some lighthearted offense to that, with the exact same air as his younger self all but rolling his eyes as he watched Mel leave.] ...well, fine, you are not wrong.
[Though the surroundings fade in and out in that same indistinct dreamlike way once the door is unlocked and opened--things get very chaotic, very quickly. When next everything becomes clear the doors to the lab are barricaded with Viktor's cane, a brilliant blue glow the only light in the darkened room. A window nearby is shattered with glass shards strewn across the floor--the collateral damage in a failed first attempt. An attempt which clearly drew attention, judging by the noise outside and repeated banging of Enforcers trying to break in. This second try has to work--energy builds up in a chaotic force, the air charged with static and shifting as if in the beginning of a storm.]
[They're almost through--no pressure! Viktor says with an uneasy look back at the door straining against every impact. Jayce's voice jumps at least two octaves as he fires back Thatsoundslikepressure!]
[The pair of them watched with intent as the trembling, resonating crystal was beginning to fully stabilize, radiating something recognizable as runes in a set circular pattern. Order beginning from chaos, a gradual process that needed to be taking place much faster than it was. The shouts of the Enforcers and the unpleasant creaking of a wooden cane were both a little too loud by Viktor's measure, and they were absolutely out of time.]
[They'll probably just exile him, but you'll be lucky if Heimerdinger stops them from outright throwing the rogue scientist's Zaunite collaborator in prison.]
[Fortunately, that dismal thought was not one that lingered for more than a split second, overwhelmed by the certainty that this was going to work. You have no idea how you know that--maybe, judging by the look on Viktor's face, he simply realized how abruptly calm his new partner suddenly was. Out of absolutely nowhere, Jayce starts moving as if completely on instinct, mind elsewhere as he adjusts the runic matrix's dial in exacting motions.]
...You may want to brace yourself, Ashley. Try not to look directly at it.
Hm. Maybe. It was not unusual for the two of us to work separately. I only wonder - what is the purpose of having such a durable stand-in if he is not there when he is needed?
[ If there's one thing Void Archives is good at - amongst other things - it's talking with the amount of confidence that they have. ]
I certainly do.
[ Void Archives says this with every bit of conviction they have within them - and honesty as well. They don't feel contrary to the words that they've given, no matter how unconventional they are. They simply just are. ]
I am not one to say something and not mean it. [ Pranking or trolling exercises besides. ] And this remains true in this case as well.
[ He's surprised she knows his name, but he nods. The commotion of the drunk men fades, but that asshole isn't likely to make it. Thankfully the other two have some decency to carry their friend's body out of this area in hopes he can be brought back. ]
Please be careful. The flower stems aren't that delicate, but if they get broken... you'll die.
[ But he'll lead her away, walking through a thinner part of the fields so Ashley won't have to worry (throws avrae in the bin). They'll actually reach the edge of the island, with a wide horizon where the ocean and sky meet. ]
[ It's a good thing Viktor warns her, because Ashley's eyes are glued to the scene, particularly the tech. She's captivated, riveted—but she manages to cover glance down, more toward the door, so she's looking more out of her periphery. ]
[Circular sigils begin to burst and form from the crystal as an awestruck Viktor completely forgets the pounding on the door and watches--unable to comprehend what would be explained hours later and only understood at the end of the world. Whatever Jayce was doing, it was a mimicry of something seen elsewhere, a long time ago.]
[(For just the briefest of flashes, you can see this too; like being stuck between two radio stations, this one weaker for being a memory Viktor himself knew only secondhand. A figure in the middle of a snowstorm, staff in his hand making sweeping cyclical motions as he conjured the same arcane magic. Though his face was obscured by the hood he wore--something about his thin form and the way he moved was very familiar.)]
[The door crashed open at the same instant a shining azure light burst upwards only to crash back down, and for a fraction of a second you know Viktor's presumed last thought to be well, not the worst way to die. The force begins to lift you off the ground, and as it erupts in blinding brilliance you expect the crashing of stone and glass, you expect oblivion, you expect pain-]
[...and then you realize, for the first time in your life, you aren't in pain. Because there is no strain of gravity on a flawed and thin frame, floating near the ceiling in a shining glow of perfectly stabilized magic and the exhilarating feeling of triumph. Professor Heimerdinger is objecting to something, Councilor Medarda lingering just beyond the doorway, but you don't really hear or see any of it--for a moment, all that really exists is the two engineers and the resounding success between them. Viktor's face lights up in a brilliant smile unlike any he'd ever worn before or since, and the warmth in your chest burns ten times as brightly as the magic hovering in the air.]
[For just a second, you know his thoughts are focused entirely on the abstract realization that this man really can change the world, and that the concept of falling in love with the force of a hammer resonates as the desire to do absolutely everything it takes to see that dream realized. The present-day Viktor--his form the final result of where this magic would lead--simply watches the floating pair with a warm, nostalgic smile. No matter how it may have ended, there was nothing to thi memory but a genuine undercurrent of warmth and pride.]
['Will you please stop hovering?!']
[Lightly, Viktor called back to the floor with the edge of a laugh in his voice, 'I'm not sure how to do that, sir!']
This whole time... You've been nothing but...kind, and understanding... Patient.
[ As someone who sat on her feelings for years, who pushed them down, danced around them... It's startling to acknowledge them like this. But she can't deny it. The warmth running through her, it's love. ]
[ Still, Ashley follows, taking great care in where she steps. She'd listened and taken notes when he shared things about himself, yes...but Ashley doesn't know a lot about Yves and where he comes from. So now, it's her turn to listen. ]
It was...a bit of a long night. [A quiet laugh, eyes turning a warm red-gold in the ambient blue glow.] We couldn't get down for close to half an hour, until all this wore off. Once we did, we were taking notes and discusing results until morning.
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