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.
"Hard-ground entrance is blocked." It's a muttering from Matau, who looks absolutely exhausted and has to be helped to his feet by another. "We will have to use the test track emergency hatch. It's a short high-climb."
Though some take the time to check on one another in quiet tones, armors of blue and green and white and bronze and black, there is one who seems to be notedly absent. The armor of red, the Toa of Fire, who's already many paces ahead, waiting for his team to catch up, a narrowed look in his eyes that speaks mountains for what does not emerge from his mouth. Impatience.
It's an awkward trip made in silence; down the enormous ruined passageways, up a ladder that was barely hanging together, up into a tube lined with broken lights and glass, mechanisms to record speed and temperature, great fans that prop up at the distant end. A test track, for vehicles, meant to put crafts through as many hardships as possible for testing of durability.
Matau leads the way up, wrenching open the emergency hatch and crawling through, followed by Nuju. There's some distant chatter from above as Vakama tries to gesture the rest to hurry up, taking the rear.
"Look, brother - even in this dark-time, the stars keep shining. I don't think I've ever seen so many, even from Po-Metru. Isn't it beautiful?"
"---Get back inside!" It's a snap from Nuju, and forward progress is immediately halted as Matau is practically thrown back down the ladder. Those still on the ladder shout protest as they let go, sliding or tumbling back to the ground.
"Those aren't thousands of stars looking down upon us, brother," Nuju hisses, jumping back down with the hatch slamming shut behind him. "Those are eyes!"
Vakama is the first immediately scrambling back up the ladder to take a look for himself, Whenua right behind him. A long moment of tension stretches, as Whenua's mask lights up with a flicker to his eyes - a mask power, one that gives him far better vision than the rest of them.
Thousands and thousands of eyes. Thousands and thousands of legs. Chattering teeth that seem to move within the huge masses of webbing and rock with odd delicacy.
"Gukko birds?" asked Matau, hopefully. "No." "Stone rats? Ussal crabs? Really big protodites?" Whenua's expression scrunches up, looking back at Matau. "No, no, and what are you thinking?"
"Then what are they?" It's a demand more than a question from Vakama. "Why are they up there watching this place?"
Whenua's mask triggers off, but he doesn't respond, looking at the Toa of Fire and then looking away as he slides back down the ladder. Vakama lets out a sound of irritation at the move, but follows suit, crossing his arms in front of him and staring his fellow Toa down for an explanation.
"Vakama... they are Visorak. They're sitting on the webs they created. They're waiting us out, knowing we have to come out sometime."
"Visorak?" A parroting, hollow and with a brief disbelief, one that quickly turns to indignation. "Wait -- wait, no -- Onewa used that term on our journey back to the city, when his mind was controlled by that strange parasite. If you knew the name this whole time, why didn't you say so then?"
"I-I didn't make the connection." Whenua's gone quiet, backing up slightly, talking more with his hands than anything else. "It’s an obscure reference. I saw a portion of a carving once, long ago, that contained the name, but it took actually seeing them and their webs to --"
"You’re an archivist!" It's an explosive, immediate raising of voice from Vakama, advancing right up to the retreating Toa of Earth. "You are supposed to be able to identify the Rahi we run up against! Otherwise, what good are you?"
The entire group goes quiet. Whenua, stunned and hurt, says nothing.
It's Onewa whose face twists the fastest with anger in retaliation, nearly jumping to his feet to shove in front of Whenua.
"Hey. If we had turned back when the storm started, or sent a scouting party like I suggested, we wouldn't be in this mess. But you were in such a hurry to get back here so we could leave again that--"
"I am in a hurry to save the Matoran, just as you should be,” Vakama shoots back. "I made a promise to Toa Lhikan, and I, at least, intend to keep it."
"Did you make that promise when you let him get captured, or when he died saving your mask?"
Vakama stiffens immediately, and the Toa of Stone's eyes only sharpen. "I am starting to think it is not very healthy to be your friend."
"Far healthier than being my enemy." The air starts to heat, and Vakama's hands and arms start to swirl with fire, at the protest of several of the others. "If you have a problem with me or my leadership, carver, let's hear it."
Onewa doesn't even flinch at the threat, striding right up to practically spit in Vakama's face. "I have a problem with you, your leadership, your attitude, and your akilini-headed idea that only you have to live up to the legacy of Lhikan. We all do! We all have friends lying in Makuta-sleep under the Coliseum, and we all want to save them! We all know the price of failure! So get down off your Toa statue before I knock you down!”
Nokama attempts to walk forward and intervene, her own weapons drawing. But Onewa shoves himself back a step, his own weapons drawn. "I will fight alongside anyone – Toa, Rahi, Vahki, even the Dark Hunters themselves – to save the Matoran," spits out the Toa of Stone. "But Makuta take me if I will be a sidekick to a firespitter who still can't find his way out of a forge!"
If anyone else moves to break it up, it is lost within a verbal mess of noise, of Vakama advancing as Onewa follows suit with the swing of his weapon--]
[The moment is immediately lost as the memory dissolves, then snaps right back into the debris. Picking one another up, in the broken down transport hub. Vakama's expression is just as cold, just as impatient.]
Edited (NOW WITH ALL THE LINKS UNBROKEN OH NOOOOOO) 2025-02-05 16:28 (UTC)
[Well that sure was tense! Things are very uneasy around here, and not only because of the ungodly amounts of arachnids they had seen. Ed is quiet, trying not to call attention to himself -- he's not entirely sure how the visions work, and in this moment nobody needs an unexpected variant who probably would draw their ire. Weapons would get involved...more than it did already.
His immediate reaction after seeing that swing is step back, alarmed, and then the situation changed and they're in that broken transport hub. Is anyone...looking like they just got hurt? These all must be sturdy as heck, Ed is sure, but that doesn't mean being immune to harm.
Also, Vakama...my, that sure looked to Ed like you were under a lot of pressure, and in turn put way too much pressure on everyone else. No wonder things were on the verge of exploding. Now that he thinks about it, Vakama is the one likeliest to have gotten injured. That's why he's the one Ed pays attention to the most.
Vakama doesn't seem to be in any worse shape than the rest - battered, exhausted, but on his feet out of sheer drive and spite alike. If anything, Matau looks to be in the worst shape back with the rest of the group.
His eyes flick to Ed briefly, an acknowledgement of the oddity in a mere ripple, before looking back on his team.]
Get Matau back on his feet. This is his Metru, and his instructions are paramount. We're all exhausted. We'll have to get over it.
[From the clipped tone, Ed is apparently just another ghostly teammate here for the time being. But Vakama doesn't say more, evidently expecting Ed to decide whether he's going to obey or not.]
[Oh, he definitely decides right away. Without hesitation, Ed moves towards Matau there. Yup, you definitely look like you need a bit of a pick-me-up, buddy]
Seems we need you -- but is fine. You need support, you will get it. Think you can do it?
[Go on and do your duty, he means. Looks like you're needed, Matau]
[The Toa of Air rolls his eyes dramatically, but will gladly offer any help Ed can extend, a cocky air to his tone.]
Alright, alright - don't think I'm out of the count yet, little Toa-brother. I'm the one who fastmade the vacuum in the first place, remember? [He looks very proud of himself, like when your 3rd grade cousin first shows you a very bad card trick.]
Kind of glad it didn't take out any more of those windows, or we'd be really regretting it.
Wh-- hey, it was YOUR plan, Onewa. Maybe give a big thank you to the one who did all the air-swiping?
[Onewa's chuckling from where he's helping Whenua regain his bearings, but doesn't bother to answer Matau, which ruffles the Toa of Air's hypothetical feathers even further.
The camaraderie between these 5, at least, seems rather normal. But Vakama doesn't move to join them.]
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cw: arachnophobia
[The memory plays once, fully, in a firm state of uninterrupted continuity.]
[Metal and glass and stone crunches underfoot, webs of green hanging overhead in thick, messy strands that stretch to almost every building. A team of six regroups under the broken eaves of what used to be some sort of transport loading hub, trying to pick each other up off the ground.
"Let’s get out of this place." Curt, to the point, as Nuju is tend to do.
"Hard-ground entrance is blocked." It's a muttering from Matau, who looks absolutely exhausted and has to be helped to his feet by another. "We will have to use the test track emergency hatch. It's a short high-climb."
Though some take the time to check on one another in quiet tones, armors of blue and green and white and bronze and black, there is one who seems to be notedly absent. The armor of red, the Toa of Fire, who's already many paces ahead, waiting for his team to catch up, a narrowed look in his eyes that speaks mountains for what does not emerge from his mouth. Impatience.
It's an awkward trip made in silence; down the enormous ruined passageways, up a ladder that was barely hanging together, up into a tube lined with broken lights and glass, mechanisms to record speed and temperature, great fans that prop up at the distant end. A test track, for vehicles, meant to put crafts through as many hardships as possible for testing of durability.
Matau leads the way up, wrenching open the emergency hatch and crawling through, followed by Nuju. There's some distant chatter from above as Vakama tries to gesture the rest to hurry up, taking the rear.
"Look, brother - even in this dark-time, the stars keep shining. I don't think I've ever seen so many, even from Po-Metru. Isn't it beautiful?"
"---Get back inside!" It's a snap from Nuju, and forward progress is immediately halted as Matau is practically thrown back down the ladder. Those still on the ladder shout protest as they let go, sliding or tumbling back to the ground.
"Those aren't thousands of stars looking down upon us, brother," Nuju hisses, jumping back down with the hatch slamming shut behind him. "Those are eyes!"
Vakama is the first immediately scrambling back up the ladder to take a look for himself, Whenua right behind him. A long moment of tension stretches, as Whenua's mask lights up with a flicker to his eyes - a mask power, one that gives him far better vision than the rest of them.
Thousands and thousands of eyes. Thousands and thousands of legs. Chattering teeth that seem to move within the huge masses of webbing and rock with odd delicacy.
"Gukko birds?" asked Matau, hopefully.
"No."
"Stone rats? Ussal crabs? Really big protodites?"
Whenua's expression scrunches up, looking back at Matau. "No, no, and what are you thinking?"
"Then what are they?" It's a demand more than a question from Vakama. "Why are they up there watching this place?"
Whenua's mask triggers off, but he doesn't respond, looking at the Toa of Fire and then looking away as he slides back down the ladder. Vakama lets out a sound of irritation at the move, but follows suit, crossing his arms in front of him and staring his fellow Toa down for an explanation.
"Vakama... they are Visorak. They're sitting on the webs they created. They're waiting us out, knowing we have to come out sometime."
"Visorak?" A parroting, hollow and with a brief disbelief, one that quickly turns to indignation. "Wait -- wait, no -- Onewa used that term on our journey back to the city, when his mind was controlled by that strange parasite. If you knew the name this whole time, why didn't you say so then?"
"I-I didn't make the connection." Whenua's gone quiet, backing up slightly, talking more with his hands than anything else. "It’s an obscure reference. I saw a portion
of a carving once, long ago, that contained the name, but it took actually seeing them and their webs to --"
"You’re an archivist!" It's an explosive, immediate raising of voice from Vakama, advancing right up to the retreating Toa of Earth. "You are supposed to be able to identify the Rahi we run up against! Otherwise, what good are you?"
The entire group goes quiet. Whenua, stunned and hurt, says nothing.
It's Onewa whose face twists the fastest with anger in retaliation, nearly jumping to his feet to shove in front of Whenua.
"Hey. If we had turned back when the storm started, or sent a scouting party like I suggested, we wouldn't be in this mess. But you were in such a hurry to get back here so we could leave again that--"
"I am in a hurry to save the Matoran, just as you should be,” Vakama shoots back. "I made a promise to Toa Lhikan, and I, at least, intend to keep it."
"Did you make that promise when you let him get captured, or when he died saving your mask?"
Vakama stiffens immediately, and the Toa of Stone's eyes only sharpen. "I am starting to think it is not very healthy to be your friend."
"Far healthier than being my enemy." The air starts to heat, and Vakama's hands and arms start to swirl with fire, at the protest of several of the others. "If you have a problem with me or my leadership, carver, let's hear it."
Onewa doesn't even flinch at the threat, striding right up to practically spit in Vakama's face. "I have a problem with you, your leadership, your attitude, and your akilini-headed idea that only you have to live up to the legacy of Lhikan. We all do! We all have friends lying in Makuta-sleep under the Coliseum, and we all want to save them! We all know the price of failure! So get down off your Toa statue before I knock you down!”
Nokama attempts to walk forward and intervene, her own weapons drawing. But Onewa shoves himself back a step, his own weapons drawn. "I will fight alongside anyone – Toa, Rahi, Vahki, even the Dark Hunters themselves – to save the Matoran," spits out the Toa of Stone. "But Makuta take me if I will be a sidekick to a firespitter who still can't find his way out of a forge!"
If anyone else moves to break it up, it is lost within a verbal mess of noise, of Vakama advancing as Onewa follows suit with the swing of his weapon--]
[The moment is immediately lost as the memory dissolves, then snaps right back into the debris. Picking one another up, in the broken down transport hub. Vakama's expression is just as cold, just as impatient.]
no subject
His immediate reaction after seeing that swing is step back, alarmed, and then the situation changed and they're in that broken transport hub. Is anyone...looking like they just got hurt? These all must be sturdy as heck, Ed is sure, but that doesn't mean being immune to harm.
Also, Vakama...my, that sure looked to Ed like you were under a lot of pressure, and in turn put way too much pressure on everyone else. No wonder things were on the verge of exploding. Now that he thinks about it, Vakama is the one likeliest to have gotten injured. That's why he's the one Ed pays attention to the most.
You hurt, Vakama?]
no subject
Vakama doesn't seem to be in any worse shape than the rest - battered, exhausted, but on his feet out of sheer drive and spite alike. If anything, Matau looks to be in the worst shape back with the rest of the group.
His eyes flick to Ed briefly, an acknowledgement of the oddity in a mere ripple, before looking back on his team.]
Get Matau back on his feet. This is his Metru, and his instructions are paramount. We're all exhausted. We'll have to get over it.
[From the clipped tone, Ed is apparently just another ghostly teammate here for the time being. But Vakama doesn't say more, evidently expecting Ed to decide whether he's going to obey or not.]
no subject
[Oh, he definitely decides right away. Without hesitation, Ed moves towards Matau there. Yup, you definitely look like you need a bit of a pick-me-up, buddy]
Seems we need you -- but is fine. You need support, you will get it. Think you can do it?
[Go on and do your duty, he means. Looks like you're needed, Matau]
no subject
Alright, alright - don't think I'm out of the count yet, little Toa-brother. I'm the one who fastmade the vacuum in the first place, remember? [He looks very proud of himself, like when your 3rd grade cousin first shows you a very bad card trick.]
Kind of glad it didn't take out any more of those windows, or we'd be really regretting it.
Wh-- hey, it was YOUR plan, Onewa. Maybe give a big thank you to the one who did all the air-swiping?
[Onewa's chuckling from where he's helping Whenua regain his bearings, but doesn't bother to answer Matau, which ruffles the Toa of Air's hypothetical feathers even further.
The camaraderie between these 5, at least, seems rather normal. But Vakama doesn't move to join them.]