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.
I hate myself plenty without adding the guilt of murdering more people to my conscious.
["More people", implying he's done it before, and that whoever he killed wasn't human. He also doesn't seem to care that he's admitted something so intimate.]
Besides, I already have overseen Hell for thousands of years. There's little I haven't seen.
[ They're tempted to ask when the man hates himself, but perhaps they should at least be something approaching tactful in their questioning. ]
I'd say that murdering people doesn't have to cause guilt, but it does depend on the personality - there are some out there who don't quite shake the feeling. Though, I wonder if you always felt guilt if there was someone particularly bad enough.
[ Ah well. That being said.. ]
Is that something you still do back home? Oversee Hell?
I haven't for a few years. But "a few years" versus hundreds of thousands isn't long at all.
[He's pretty done with Hell, though. It's far easier punishing people while they're still alive. It's why he joined the police force as a consultant to begin with.]
Thus far, it's run itself quite fine without my need to oversee it.
Interesting...I presume someone else is running it in your place.
[ Like, they can't imagine such a place not having someone at its head? Then again, they haven't been to Hell, so what would they know? Though they've heard enough scripture about it that they can very well imagine it. ]
And, I presume you no longer run it because you hated it? Which I also assume that is why you said such things of yourself a moment ago?
[ Then, he's not running it...and if he isn't, who is? First, though: ]
How did you even get out of doing it, then?
I doubt it could have been that easy. But, you clearly seem to have been embracing the change, no?
[ Lucifer's taste of a new direction in his life ever since somehow bypassing his rule of Hell and leaving it behind seems to have taken off, from what they can tell. But has he really been able to discard it completely? ]
And if that's not why, then did it have anything to do with your new path of life, at the least? Or would you say another element of your past?
I left. There have been those who noticed, of course. But Amenadiel saw things my way; he's living on Earth, too.
[There's an implication that there was more than one, though he doesn't elaborate. It doesn't seem like he's being avoidant so much as he's just talking about what's immediately relevant.]
I haven't completely forgotten my roots. I joined the police as a consultant to punish the wicked while they yet live. It's not enough for them to be punished once they're dead.
They just let you leave? [ They doubt it was as easy as he makes it sounds! ] I also do wonder what made Amenadiel see matters your own way?
[ In general, they have been noticing that things seem hardly embellished, but Void Archives is a very patient AI. Perhaps more than some people might expect; they will see fit to try to poke at things, when and as their curiosity is at a high. ]
Hmm...I believe I understand your angle a bit more. While sending them to death isn't in your interests, exacting other means of retribution upon them are not beyond your consideration, correct? Or does the sense of it being a mystery draw you into it as well?
I wouldn't say it's for the mystery. It's merely that it started after a rotten man murdered a former worker of mine after she had the good sense to reject his sorry arse.
I merely want to assure the killers get their comeuppance.
[ Really! They'd think if someone so important scuttled off from a duty like that it'd be immediately noticeable. Surely he had a way to make it hardly seem like it's the case? Or maybe...no one simply paid attention. But, that sounds illogical. Unbelievable. ]
...Truly retribution in every sense of the word, then. Really, humans can be such pitiful creatures, to go to such lengths.
Though, since you're a powerful being, I do wonder if there has ever been such a challenge in bringing those killers to comeuppance...?
Amenadiel had noticed eventually. But Amenadiel had also ended up living on Earth, the same as Lucifer.]
The idea is to ensure they are punished while they are still alive. Unfortunately that involves following human laws. It's not as simple as it used to be.
[ That does explain it, doesn't it. They know he didn't even want to bother attacking her in the first place. ]
Ah, that lady who seemed rather important to you. I suppose you must have tried at least quite a number of times before the disapproval from her convinced you otherwise, hm?
[ ... ]
Though, it seems you managed to make quite fast friends with others beyond her, hm? Was it simply being in the same profession that made you inclined to respect them so?
Immortal beings having friends in humans is a tale told as old as time; many epics construct gods befriending mortal humans on the basic circumstances as simply being a passerby or making the right action at the right time. Or wrong, in some cases.
It is not so unusual as merely a likely possibility and considering the information you've presented thus far...considered someone like myself quite unsurprised. I suppose the most difficulty I had in grappling with is the reluctance to kill such beings, but. Well, you did address that well, didn't you?
[ They chuckle, as if amused at the thought. ]
What keeps that friendship strong, would you say? Your bonds with each and every single one of them.
[ Maybe that's what really convinced him to take a permanent vacation! ]
...Very well. I always assumed that there was some kind of initial moment that allowed such friendships to easily foster. But, perhaps I should be aware that everyone's experience with such matters is not alike.
One's freedom is truly more refreshing than the chains that nearly bound it to an inespecable prison.
[ They chuckle, but the question directs upon them makes them crack a little smile. Definitely somewhere amused at the sudden question; though, they never mind speaking of themselves. ]
I assume you mean my background or my name. Which, if I have to put it simply, are one and the same. The Void Archives is a title, to start with - though, I presume that you must have noticed it was hardly a name for any real person. To start with, I had been constructed by the hands of men, rather than having the birth organic lifeforms had. I am an artificial existence that serves as an information archive of humanity's history on the planet Earth. I presume you are following well thus far?
The next point of explanation, then - as an information archive of humanity's history, I am tasked with also the preservation of it as well. Consider my creation as a result of both a precautionary and reactionary thought to ensure that the knowledge never should be lost should a cataclysm come and go. But also, to provide a boon to anyone who wishes to weaponize it against the threats that may, have, or will visit themselves upon the Earth.
[ Which, between the Honkai, the Sky People, and god knows what else, there are no limitations...sadly. ]
Therefore, it makes sense as to why I had been granted "the Void Archives" because that archive is neverending, and shall update itself constantly when encountering new data which can be stored for use or informative purposes.
[He does not see. At all. No angel would try to keep track of all of that information, even with their lives going back billions of years. It's simply not possible.]
It sounds like an impossible undertaking, to be frank. Not to mention never ending.
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no subject
["More people", implying he's done it before, and that whoever he killed wasn't human. He also doesn't seem to care that he's admitted something so intimate.]
Besides, I already have overseen Hell for thousands of years. There's little I haven't seen.
no subject
[ They're tempted to ask when the man hates himself, but perhaps they should at least be something approaching tactful in their questioning. ]
I'd say that murdering people doesn't have to cause guilt, but it does depend on the personality - there are some out there who don't quite shake the feeling. Though, I wonder if you always felt guilt if there was someone particularly bad enough.
[ Ah well. That being said.. ]
Is that something you still do back home? Oversee Hell?
no subject
[He's pretty done with Hell, though. It's far easier punishing people while they're still alive. It's why he joined the police force as a consultant to begin with.]
Thus far, it's run itself quite fine without my need to oversee it.
no subject
[ Like, they can't imagine such a place not having someone at its head? Then again, they haven't been to Hell, so what would they know? Though they've heard enough scripture about it that they can very well imagine it. ]
And, I presume you no longer run it because you hated it? Which I also assume that is why you said such things of yourself a moment ago?
no subject
[It's a job nobody wanted. And it was forced on Lucifer.]
...No. That's not why I said what I did.
no subject
How did you even get out of doing it, then?
I doubt it could have been that easy. But, you clearly seem to have been embracing the change, no?
[ Lucifer's taste of a new direction in his life ever since somehow bypassing his rule of Hell and leaving it behind seems to have taken off, from what they can tell. But has he really been able to discard it completely? ]
And if that's not why, then did it have anything to do with your new path of life, at the least? Or would you say another element of your past?
no subject
[There's an implication that there was more than one, though he doesn't elaborate. It doesn't seem like he's being avoidant so much as he's just talking about what's immediately relevant.]
I haven't completely forgotten my roots. I joined the police as a consultant to punish the wicked while they yet live. It's not enough for them to be punished once they're dead.
no subject
[ In general, they have been noticing that things seem hardly embellished, but Void Archives is a very patient AI. Perhaps more than some people might expect; they will see fit to try to poke at things, when and as their curiosity is at a high. ]
Hmm...I believe I understand your angle a bit more. While sending them to death isn't in your interests, exacting other means of retribution upon them are not beyond your consideration, correct? Or does the sense of it being a mystery draw you into it as well?
no subject
[He's quite proud of this.]
I wouldn't say it's for the mystery. It's merely that it started after a rotten man murdered a former worker of mine after she had the good sense to reject his sorry arse.
I merely want to assure the killers get their comeuppance.
no subject
[ Really! They'd think if someone so important scuttled off from a duty like that it'd be immediately noticeable. Surely he had a way to make it hardly seem like it's the case? Or maybe...no one simply paid attention. But, that sounds illogical. Unbelievable. ]
...Truly retribution in every sense of the word, then. Really, humans can be such pitiful creatures, to go to such lengths.
Though, since you're a powerful being, I do wonder if there has ever been such a challenge in bringing those killers to comeuppance...?
no subject
Amenadiel had noticed eventually. But Amenadiel had also ended up living on Earth, the same as Lucifer.]
The idea is to ensure they are punished while they are still alive. Unfortunately that involves following human laws. It's not as simple as it used to be.
no subject
Oh those pesky little human laws...tell me, what is the point in following them?
no subject
[Yes, it's that simple.]
Besides, I rather like my human co-workers; I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize them.
no subject
Ah, that lady who seemed rather important to you. I suppose you must have tried at least quite a number of times before the disapproval from her convinced you otherwise, hm?
[ ... ]
Though, it seems you managed to make quite fast friends with others beyond her, hm? Was it simply being in the same profession that made you inclined to respect them so?
no subject
They're my friends. Perhaps that's an odd thing. An immortal being, and a group of humans. But they are.
no subject
It is not so unusual as merely a likely possibility and considering the information you've presented thus far...considered someone like myself quite unsurprised. I suppose the most difficulty I had in grappling with is the reluctance to kill such beings, but. Well, you did address that well, didn't you?
[ They chuckle, as if amused at the thought. ]
What keeps that friendship strong, would you say? Your bonds with each and every single one of them.
no subject
[He's clearly proud of this.]
I'm not sure it's something I could put into words. It's not any different than humans who befriend each other, surely.
no subject
[ Maybe that's what really convinced him to take a permanent vacation! ]
...Very well. I always assumed that there was some kind of initial moment that allowed such friendships to easily foster. But, perhaps I should be aware that everyone's experience with such matters is not alike.
no subject
[Because you had better believe he did this every chance he could get even before he left for good.]
I'm quite curious as to what your story is.
[Because "Void Archives" sounds more like a strange title than a name.]
no subject
[ They chuckle, but the question directs upon them makes them crack a little smile. Definitely somewhere amused at the sudden question; though, they never mind speaking of themselves. ]
I assume you mean my background or my name. Which, if I have to put it simply, are one and the same. The Void Archives is a title, to start with - though, I presume that you must have noticed it was hardly a name for any real person. To start with, I had been constructed by the hands of men, rather than having the birth organic lifeforms had. I am an artificial existence that serves as an information archive of humanity's history on the planet Earth. I presume you are following well thus far?
no subject
[Which he finds endlessly fascinating. He really is learning all sorts of new things in regard to how the multiverse works.]
no subject
[ Which, between the Honkai, the Sky People, and god knows what else, there are no limitations...sadly. ]
Therefore, it makes sense as to why I had been granted "the Void Archives" because that archive is neverending, and shall update itself constantly when encountering new data which can be stored for use or informative purposes.
no subject
[He does not see. At all. No angel would try to keep track of all of that information, even with their lives going back billions of years. It's simply not possible.]
It sounds like an impossible undertaking, to be frank. Not to mention never ending.