Between the mysteries of last weekend, the increasing number of visions and unexplained phenomena, and the attack on Vakama yesterday, everyone is likely on edge. When Tails calls you into his lab around noon, you all are likely already aware of how this is going to go.
Once again, a surge of Chaos Energy in the city is what draws you in, though this time it is a much larger burst than before. Sonic and Knuckles are here with you as usual, with Tails remaining behind to look after Vakama and the base. Unlike before, you aren't met with robots or destruction. In fact, this city block looks remarkably peaceful, aside from where Eggman's chroma has overtaken most of the buildings.
"So good of you all to finally arrive."
The voice comes from up above. You recognize it as the one you heard last week, through that gemstone the Tails Doll had. Perched on one of the buildings is a... fox? No, he's larger than Tails, and wearing a large silver mask that obscures most of his features. In one hand he holds Vakama's missing mask; his other is extended with six gemstones floating around it, a soft teal glow from beneath his black glove marking the seventh. There's a different gemstone on the center of his chest as well, though it doesn't look like the fake Chaos Emeralds you've seen before.
"You all have the pleasure of fighting me, Infinite. I am the Doctor's trusted ally... and I have been watching you all. Your struggles with my nightmares and illusions were so... delicious. You have my thanks for the show."
He kicks off the building, floating towards you all and the ground, though stopping high enough up, still out of reach. And for those of you getting any bright ideas, a deep red begins to fill your vision, tinting the corners of it as the very world itself begins to warp around you - this isn't exactly Chicago anymore, you see. The buildings still exist, wrapped in white chroma, though they bend and twist in ways they shouldn't, making it hard to tell what's real and what isn't.
"I'll snuff out your lives here and now for the Doctor's ambitions! Let's see what you're made of!"
[It's not much. It's really not much - he can't summon a shield or anything like that, after all - but he still drops his axe immediately so he can grab Lark with that good arm and hold him tight against his chest, turning them so he can shield him from... the sun...]
[There's no room for suicidal ideation in this house, my guy!!
So, yeah, sure, his arm got fucked, but Wolfwood did heal him, and that's just enough to let him scruff Oscar, too. Dragging him to be shielded isn't quite possible at the moment, but hey, he can at least make him go halvsies here for Lark instead of just letting Oscar take the brunt of it for him, too.]
[It says something that he doesn't try to fight that yank, at least, instead just allowing himself to be tugged slightly back. He feels their power activating too, and this time? This time he doesn't cut the bond the way he had earlier.
They're in this together, for better or for worse.]
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Big Bros gonna Big Bro till the very end.]
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[Bro??? He doesn't need shielding??? (He probably does but will not admit it.)]
cw: slight suicidal ideation
[...]
I've already lived more than long enough.
["Hey, if you meet him up there in the sky, say hi to him for me. He's a great guy, so I'm sure the two of you will get along."]
cw: slight suicidal ideation
[There's no room for suicidal ideation in this house, my guy!!
So, yeah, sure, his arm got fucked, but Wolfwood did heal him, and that's just enough to let him scruff Oscar, too. Dragging him to be shielded isn't quite possible at the moment, but hey, he can at least make him go halvsies here for Lark instead of just letting Oscar take the brunt of it for him, too.]
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They're in this together, for better or for worse.]
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But between everything that's happened earlier and the exchange with Oscar, Lark into hugs Basilio back tighter. ]
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But he has to try. It's all he can do.
He wouldn't be able to live with himself if, somehow, he made it through and Lark didn't, if he didn't try protecting him.]