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.
[Thee man with the twisted hammer looked like he'd walked through hell and back several times over, walking steadily despite favoring his left leg with the makeshift brace constructed around it. He has a sharpness to him, something resigned--as though he came here to commit a horrible but necesary act. He drew the occasional second glance as he passed by members of this too-perfect commune, though that same immaterial whisper speaks in subconcious reassurances; do not be concerned, this is a friend, he is no danger.]
[And you believe this, with the hollow husk that was once a heart. The other man has been touched by the arcane, has been changed in a way you do not yet understand, but he is still your partner. Without any doubt, you knew he would return to you. You know the two of you will change the world together, just as you both always dreamed you would. You can heal him, if he desires it, and then the two of you will be of one mind in more than the metaphorical.]
[He, and therefore Jasper, are led through this twisted Eden to a central structure, resembling a massive insectoid cocoon in construction and yet not made of any identifiable material. As if it ws simply willed into existence from nothing. Stepping in cutiously--almost as if he does not know what to expect--the pair of you find a simple empty chamber.]
[Slowly, you Viktor pulls himself from the absolute omnipresence of the minds of your followers; a hundred lines of consciousness withdraw and you he begins to wake up, seeing your partner standing below you a stunned man with a massive wepon standing in front of you.]
No, he doesn't want to be here. How does he get out of this memory? He doesn't want to think about this. Anything like this. He doesn't want to watch this, whatever it is. Why is he here.
...well, alright, it was because he followed some himbo with a big weapon, which is the cause of many of his problems, but despite his attempts to disengage he feels the inexorable pull to stay here and. Observe. Witness some memory of a teammate who is a near-stranger and have feelings about it.
[The hammer is pointed directly at you Viktor, its massive head unfolding to a torrent of wild and uncontrollable magic in the gem at its center. It's beautiful, says a thought flickering through your mind, fascinated with something that twists and shines with the concept you named 'wild runes'. Primal magic, sheer force rather than the controllable factor the two of you so often worked with.]
[The ragged sentinel's form flickers with the same chaotic arcane magic--(you sense ssomething even you do not comprehend, some force beyond your understanding guiding his path, seeking one outcome amidst hundreds), and as you stare in a state frozen between awe and concern in your quieted emotions, you think-]
[...Jayce? Stop, what are you doing-]
[Your Viktor's partner screams in heartrending pain, and the hammer fires a tremendous burst of power--straight through your chest, through the roof of your shelter in the middle of your undercity sanctuary, and for a moment all you know is pain.]
[The next, you are Viktor is on the floor; flickers of arcane magic and firing biomechanical synapses spark from the massive hole in his chest in place of blood. You are not angry (not at him, never at him, there could never be hatred in your heart for him) because you can no longer feel anger, or fear, or much of anything. The Hexcore freed you from that.]
[And as you struggle to keep your fading eyes on your grief-stricken partner, you know it can do more than that. You know it can save him and you alike from this senseless pain. With its power, you can save everyone from ever feeling the agony of this heartbreak.]
[(You did not understand then what you know now. He broke his own heart to save you from yourself.)]
yeah what the fuck. maybe viktor can't feel things. even if he's pretty sure viktor, as he knows him, seems to feel things. jasper sure feels a lot about this, though. namely that this sounds like it sucks, honestly.
...does it suck? maybe it wouldn't suck. it feels like it should suck. but then again, if he didn't have to give a shit....
...
well anyway he is not going to punch a hole through viktor's chest when he's done with this but he IS going to give him the equivalent of a strongly worded email.
...viktor's not dead, anyway. how the hell did he survive that. did sonic also keep him from eating shit.]
[good question. thankfully(?), there's just a little more to this.]
[Darkness closes in, and you linger in an empty void of distant stars. You are nowhere, and you are alone.]
[And you understand...this is the failing of humanity. Why this singular peaceful commune was always going to collapse; emotion. The final obstacle for humanity to adapt and evolve to overcome. And you know, just as you know your name, that you can--that you must save mankind from themselves. To begin a glorious evolution, bringing all mankind past the need for such agonizing pain as the betrayal and heartbreak that twists in your chest now. You can save him. You can save this world from themselves. Give everyone better lives, just like the pair of you always dreamed.]
[From somewhere outside of yourself, outside this void and the broken shell of a mechanical body, burning white-hot blood courses through you with a primal scream of pain and rage echoed by its source. With it comes an unbelievable power, and you feel yourself able to take every one of those immaterial strings of consciousnes and pull. The arcane courses through them, replacing flesh and blood with elegant, flawless white metal edged in gold.]
[They call you their Herald, and that is what you will be. As humanity's Machine Herald, you will forge them unbreakable hearts of metal impervious to pain or fear.]
[If you take this path, they will despise you. says a harsh voice in your memories. Now as then, your answer to that is the same:]
[Jayce will understand.]
[Your own body is in relentless burning pain; twisting, regenerating, forming itself into a shell that can better contain the power you now hold. Something burns and claws at your head as if it wants to escape, and with a soundless crack the only part of you that was human splits apart to featureless metal--and then you no longer feel pain.]
[Then, as the dream breaks apart in a flash of red, you no longer feel much of anything at all.]
Edited (i was still asleep when i wrote half of this) 2025-02-05 14:47 (UTC)
[i can't believe viktor's fucked up memory killed jasper.
well okay he's fine when he awakens, aside from just. having to endure someone else's fucked up memory. he groans a bit as he pulls himself out of bed and goes... to do something, he guesses. he doesn't feel like going back to sleep after that whole business, because he feels like transcending your humanity should be fun, actually.
maybe he'll. i don't know. head to the kitchen area and get a donut. mmm, donut.]
[you will never believe who is in the kitchen. There were a bunch of notes and designs for some kind of skateboard on the table, Viktor himself looking a little dazed like he'd been asleep (or whatever he did instead) but standing at the counter making coffee.]
Of course I regret it. I only wished to help people. But I was blinded to what I was truly doing, and what you witnessed...only caused my delusions to worsen as I lost what remained of my humanity.
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[And you believe this, with the hollow husk that was once a heart. The other man has been touched by the arcane, has been changed in a way you do not yet understand, but he is still your partner. Without any doubt, you knew he would return to you. You know the two of you will change the world together, just as you both always dreamed you would. You can heal him, if he desires it, and then the two of you will be of one mind in more than the metaphorical.]
[He, and therefore Jasper, are led through this twisted Eden to a central structure, resembling a massive insectoid cocoon in construction and yet not made of any identifiable material. As if it ws simply willed into existence from nothing. Stepping in cutiously--almost as if he does not know what to expect--the pair of you find a simple empty chamber.]
[And you find the Herald in a meditative trance.]
[Slowly,
youViktor pulls himself from the absolute omnipresence of the minds of your followers; a hundred lines of consciousness withdraw andyouhe begins to wake up, seeingyour partner standing below youa stunned man with a massive wepon standing in front of you.]no subject
No, he doesn't want to be here. How does he get out of this memory? He doesn't want to think about this. Anything like this. He doesn't want to watch this, whatever it is. Why is he here.
...well, alright, it was because he followed some himbo with a big weapon, which is the cause of many of his problems, but despite his attempts to disengage he feels the inexorable pull to stay here and. Observe. Witness some memory of a teammate who is a near-stranger and have feelings about it.
He hates this.]
no subject
youViktor, its massive head unfolding to a torrent of wild and uncontrollable magic in the gem at its center. It's beautiful, says a thought flickering through your mind, fascinated with something that twists and shines with the concept you named 'wild runes'. Primal magic, sheer force rather than the controllable factor the two of you so often worked with.][The ragged sentinel's form flickers with the same chaotic arcane magic--(you sense ssomething even you do not comprehend, some force beyond your understanding guiding his path, seeking one outcome amidst hundreds), and as you stare in a state frozen between awe and concern in your quieted emotions, you think-]
[...Jayce? Stop, what are you doing-]
[
YourViktor's partner screams in heartrending pain, and the hammer fires a tremendous burst of power--straight through your chest, through the roof of your shelter in the middle of your undercity sanctuary, and for a moment all you know is pain.][The next,
you areViktor is on the floor; flickers of arcane magic and firing biomechanical synapses spark from the massive hole in his chest in place of blood. You are not angry (not at him, never at him, there could never be hatred in your heart for him) because you can no longer feel anger, or fear, or much of anything. The Hexcore freed you from that.][And as you struggle to keep your fading eyes on your grief-stricken partner, you know it can do more than that. You know it can save him and you alike from this senseless pain. With its power, you can save everyone from ever feeling the agony of this heartbreak.]
[(You did not understand then what you know now. He broke his own heart to save you from yourself.)]
no subject
yeah what the fuck. maybe viktor can't feel things. even if he's pretty sure viktor, as he knows him, seems to feel things. jasper sure feels a lot about this, though. namely that this sounds like it sucks, honestly.
...does it suck? maybe it wouldn't suck. it feels like it should suck. but then again, if he didn't have to give a shit....
...
well anyway he is not going to punch a hole through viktor's chest when he's done with this but he IS going to give him the equivalent of a strongly worded email.
...viktor's not dead, anyway. how the hell did he survive that. did sonic also keep him from eating shit.]
cw: mild body horror
[Darkness closes in, and you linger in an empty void of distant stars. You are nowhere, and you are alone.]
[And you understand...this is the failing of humanity. Why this singular peaceful commune was always going to collapse; emotion. The final obstacle for humanity to adapt and evolve to overcome. And you know, just as you know your name, that you can--that you must save mankind from themselves. To begin a glorious evolution, bringing all mankind past the need for such agonizing pain as the betrayal and heartbreak that twists in your chest now. You can save him. You can save this world from themselves. Give everyone better lives, just like the pair of you always dreamed.]
[From somewhere outside of yourself, outside this void and the broken shell of a mechanical body, burning white-hot blood courses through you with a primal scream of pain and rage echoed by its source. With it comes an unbelievable power, and you feel yourself able to take every one of those immaterial strings of consciousnes and pull. The arcane courses through them, replacing flesh and blood with elegant, flawless white metal edged in gold.]
[They call you their Herald, and that is what you will be. As humanity's Machine Herald, you will forge them unbreakable hearts of metal impervious to pain or fear.]
[If you take this path, they will despise you. says a harsh voice in your memories. Now as then, your answer to that is the same:]
[Jayce will understand.]
[Your own body is in relentless burning pain; twisting, regenerating, forming itself into a shell that can better contain the power you now hold. Something burns and claws at your head as if it wants to escape, and with a soundless crack the only part of you that was human splits apart to featureless metal--and then you no longer feel pain.]
[Then, as the dream breaks apart in a flash of red, you no longer feel much of anything at all.]
no subject
well okay he's fine when he awakens, aside from just. having to endure someone else's fucked up memory. he groans a bit as he pulls himself out of bed and goes... to do something, he guesses. he doesn't feel like going back to sleep after that whole business, because he feels like transcending your humanity should be fun, actually.
maybe he'll. i don't know. head to the kitchen area and get a donut. mmm, donut.]
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[good. he's fucking glad. get woken up idiot.]
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[Ah, shit.]
...Oh.
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[...honestly, he's saying it to himself more than anything so he doesn't start something...]
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[he bites into a donut.]
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[He didn't correct the misunderstanding yet, mostly because how do you even approach that.]
[Except to pour two cups of coffee and set one on the counter a little closer to Jasper.]
...It was a mistake, one I was blind to. He was right to put an end to it. [Or try to.]
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[...he gets sugar and milk and begins adding those to the coffee in significant quantities.]
It seems as though you actually have free will at this point, so I presume that end of things was rectified.
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It was. [long story] Even if I did still have that power, the corruption that led me to misuse it is gone.
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[...]
Still, at the very least, you seem to regret it.
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