You hop through the ring portals, barely escaping Eggman's forces and making it through (mostly) unscathed. On the plus side, you're all here - in fact, you'll find Tails and Vakama nearby, with the fox having brought your pal here too.
But unfortunately, "here" is not exactly the best place to be.
"Back here again...? Sheesh, I really can't catch a break.
"What is this place, Sonic?"
"This is the space between worlds. The void, I guess you could call it."
Everywhere you look there's a whole lot of nothing. Gemstone-like shards litter this reality in all sorts of shapes and sizes, serving as obstacles or platforms; they're sturdy enough to walk and stand on, but this world's rules are a little different from what you're used to. For one, gravity doesn't really work properly - you may find yourself floating or walking upside-down on a shard you didn't mean to end up on, and it's going to take some getting used to.
There's not really much to do or see here either - at least, not for now. You're welcome to explore this strange place, but you won't find anything particularly interesting... with one notable exception as seen in the comment below.
No matter where you go, no matter what you do, you'll feel like you're being watched.
[Ah, this fellow. Vakama hasn't had the space to introduce himself to poor Turo yet, but he remembers seeing that jawpiece fly off in a shattering of sparks. A sacrificial one of the mechanical sort by action alone.
Vakama has found the energy to at least get himself into a seated position by the time Turo swings around, though he's not making much effort to move further other than to occasionally test his limbs. What slash wounds he had from the previous day have been at least partially healed, though the most superficial damages to both metal and muscular connections remains.
He'll give a little nod of greeting. Hello, sir.]
I cannot say this is the best I have been, but... I am alive, and in debt to those of you who made such an effort.
[...]
We have not spoken much at all, my friend. What was your name?
[Hey, acquaintance is about as close to friend as Vakama usually has, he'll take it.]
Ah, you're safe as well... it's good to see you, Lucifer.
[He's at least sitting himself up! Groggy, perhaps, but aware and able to move.]
I'm not sure how long I was out, to be perfectly fair. But I'd like to not entertain what could have been when the rest of you clearly worked hard to make sure it did not happen.
I suppose I can understand all of that, really. Given how much time you have spent poking around in our heads, I am certain you would know that I would.
[Turo can answer that pretty definitively. He has the Professor's memories, after all; he's fairly used to where they don't map.]
I wouldn't say it's pleasant - usually it's a mix of alerts, errors, and damage reports. They're...distracting. But I likely would not ever become debilitated by that alone, the way a person might be if they were in extreme pain.
[He's quiet for a moment longer. That's all true enough, but...the memories do blur things. After a moment, he adds in a strange tone:]
...sometimes I think it does hurt. But that's only some out-of-place code.
[His eyes narrow slightly as he glances over to the jackal, frowning.]
Our local illusionist, right? If he was that much of a threat, why is he still roaming around here?
[It's guarded. He wants to trust that there is a reason Knuckles in particular is not pounding this guy to a pulp if it truly is an enemy they need to get off their radar, but also HELLO WHY IS HE HERE IF HE TRIED TO KILL US...
At her statement about himself, however, he simply nods, a gentle raise of his hand to clank the back of it against her arm gently. A silent thanks.]
Up until I lost consciousness, yes. I think I remember most of it.
I had been asleep, and woke up to find I had been transported again to that... store that everyone is so obsessed over. Again. [He doesn't have the energy to keep himself from sounding exasperated. The random teleportation was the most aggravating part of the last week for him.] A robot I had not seen before attacked me the moment I stepped outside.
Fukuda believes it was another robot version of Sonic, from the description I gave.
My name is...Turo. [It's been worse and worse to be Turo, the more that the real deal has been hanging around this past week, but it's not like he has any other name.]
Until recently, I will admit "pain" was a new experience to me. I am invulnerable, in normal circumstances. At most it would be a slight pinch. But I bled.
It was an odd feeling. A little thrilling, if I'm being honest. "What else about me will change", I asked.
[He hesitates at the final statement.]
Perhaps so. But I spent a very, very long time thinking of myself as unchanging. And yet I have.
Like I have been hit by a herd of Kikanalo, perhaps, but I'm just glad to be awake again.
Viktor already repaired the worst with my leg after last week, and it seems someone has... I don't know, at least attempted to take care of what attacks I took before I lost consciousness. I remember these being much deeper...
[He looks to the giant gashes still present in parts of the metal protecting his body, sighing.]
I can't say I had anywhere near enough material to try and think about repairing this for right now, though, even if we weren't cut off from our base. The superficial will have to wait.
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