Your fight against Infinite didn't go as expected. You've now seen what the false Chaos Emeralds are capable of and how their powers can be used by someone accustomed to that power. Though Infinite is no longer a threat, Eggman certainly is - and you're in no position to return to Chicago to try to take him down right now.
Focus on recovering and regrouping; you're going to need a plan to oppose Eggman from here on out.
THE VOID
Maybe you've grown complacent over your time in Chicago. You won't be seeing the city this week. Tails is adamant that it isn't safe to go back and insists that you remain here, within the Void between worlds. It is a still, silent abyss of nothingness, broken up only by gemstone-like shards that serve as platforms or obstacles, with very little else to see.
Gravity doesn't work properly within the Void, meaning you can float and even zip around at high speeds once you've figured out how it works. You can also stick yourself to shards no matter what angle you're at, resulting in walking upside down or otherwise getting stuck to one without being able to escape. Thankfully, this wonky gravity only applies to the Void itself, and you'll naturally come to master it as you spend more time here.
There are some shards that are shaped differently from the ones you can use as platforms, however. These are almost hexagonal, with a dark center that may flicker whenever you approach one. If you're lucky, the surface will flicker like water and show you images of another world - usually you will see Chicago and the robots rampaging through the city streets - but occasionally you may see glimpses of your home world or of other worlds. No matter what you do, you cannot interact with these visions. Since they do seem to be water, punching them will do no good; your hand won't even get wet, as it will go through and dispel the image entirely.
Settle in, it seems like you'll be here for awhile. Oh, and try to ignore that unnerving feeling of being watched - there's no escaping it when you're in the Void, after all.
RINGS
There is one bright spot in being stuck within the Void, and that's that your colorful little pals have rings. If you've been diligent about collecting them from whatever ridiculous places they've ended up in, you may even have a good amount! Though it will take a day or so for the rings to actually work, as the week goes on, you'll be able to world hop to your heart's content.
Which yes, means you could absolutely go home. Be mindful of your mission and just how long you spend there, because you will need to return eventually, right? Though time may work differently in the Void, it mostly works the same between worlds. Try not to spend more than a week back home.
But there is something a bit strange about world hopping; you can't really control where or when you'll end up.
You may arrive back in your home world at the wrong point in time entirely, either in the past or the future. You may end up in an alternate reality of your world (canon AU or fanmade AU) or you may even end up in someone else's world entirely! You all aren't used to using rings just yet, so it makes sense that there's some confusion.
Two of you attempting to use a ring together will have more success... but even then, failures can still happen and you can still be sent to the wrong places.
You may visit any world to exist except any Sonic worlds. Worlds where Sonic shows up as a cameo (Super Smash Bros, for example) are fine. Which yes, means I am barring you from visiting Sonic Underground, you'll have to forgive me.
SHARDS
Though you're stronger now than ever before, your power pales in comparison to Infinite's, let alone Eggman's. You're going to need to be much, much stronger if you want to stand a chance of fighting back. Maybe it would be worth it to visit a world full of monsters to practice using your shards.
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
Rings can only be found in certain worlds, which means your worlds are safe from them. This does mean there are only a limited number of rings, however... so please keep this in mind when world hopping! This week, Tails does not have any tasks for you aside from continuing to train and develop your shard powers. Oh, and to stay safe, of course. Please don't get yourselves killed in some other world.
ENEMIES
Surprisingly, you will encounter none of Eggman's robots this week. The Void remains still and silent for the whole week and your worlds are free from Eggman's influence. You're welcome to beat up any enemies native to your own worlds, of course.
[Early on in the week, Viktor managed to get a notebook from some world or another; for a couple days he could be found floating aimlessly in the void, focused entirely on writing with a look of concentration on his face. It probably wasn't blueprints or designs for once, considering he kept stoppng and starting again. Occasionally he'd scowl to himself and turn to a new page, starting over.]
[He also still seems completely unfazed by the amount of floating going on.]
[ii; piltover, night]
[If you're particularly close and generally inconspicuous, maybe Viktor asked for your help with something. Specifically, a stealth mission of sorts--retrieving tools and resources from Viktor's home. Why does that require stealth? Don't worry about it!]
[The resulting ring portal lead to the dead of night in a beautiful city, albeit a strangely quiet one. Ducking into the shadows of an alleyway, Viktor pulled up the hood of his outfit to better hide his face--which did nothing to conceal the rest of his cybernetics or the staff, but it was a start.]
...It is not too far from here. With any luck, we will not take long.
[iii; wildcard]
[Apart from that, Viktor would spend most of his time in the void unless asked to come along somewhere else; making small adjustments to his own hoverboard and repairing the others if asked, or generally staring out into literal space in quiet contemplation.]
My, isn't someone working quite hard over there? I would argue that it's well within your best interests to consider taking a break, but...I can't say I know how long you've been at it.
[ They shrug. Though out of curiosity, they do ask: ]
So, what exactly are you working so fervently on? Battle plans of some sort...?
But, you looked like you were concentrating on something at the least, no? It doesn't quite look like a rare moment of indulgement on some leisurely subjects. Or, you can feel free to correct me if I am wrong...?
[ They didn't miss how much he seems laser focused on ... page flipping, to the point of his environment seeming very far away. But, they also doubt it's blank-page flipping! ]
[ They sure would have leapt in surprise if they were the type to. But instead, they casually just fold their arms. ]
You can consider it just...idle curiosity.
Is it really so terrible to ask? And you know, it is certainly far more interesting than walking up to someone and asking, 'oh, how do you do, fellow ally in the void', is it not?
[ A thoughtful expression comes over their face. Then, a eureka moment. ]
How about...
"This is Viktor. It was imperative I make like a tree and leaf you all shortly to grab some items, but I will return swiftly."
Short and sweet! It absolves concerns by the sheer lighthearted essence of the message while being straight to the point, and not leaving much confusion.
[ They merely chuckle at this response; if they had seen even a smidgen of cringe, they may not exactly let anyone live it down. So, not a wrong response. ]
Oh, what a pity! I am truly saddened by such words.
[ A dramatic sigh, as if it were so, but obviously that is not the case. ]
...What is it you're looking to hope to retrieve, anyway? Is it personal, or is it some kind of useful material in our fight against that fool of a man?
Come with me--we'll keep a little closer to the alleyways, the lab is only a block or two north of here.
[Letting out a short andd sharp breath as if trying to dispel his own nerves, Viktor adjusted his grip on the staff at his side and started walking. Fortunately, the city was quiet...maybe a little too much so, for its size. Kind of like the quiet that immediately followed abject chaos, when things were still being picked up and repaired.]
[Rio doesn't seem too fussed, keeping her calm from the word "go" as they begin to walk. Even her steps are strangely silent. Was she always so quiet...?
As they walk, however, she continues to look all about them, taking in every little detail she can.]
[Fortunately, Rio wasn't the one out of place here; the scant few people that sw her as they passed by took no significant notice of her past a second glance at seeing a child roaming the city after dark, and Viktor kept nervously to the shadows.]
[The city itself was a little strange; antiquated enough to be lit by streetlamps along narrow cobblestone roads, the occasional cable car and even airship passing by overhead. But judging by the work Viktor did and the kind of machinery he was made out of, the technological level was likely all over the place.]
[She does note that technological disparity, generally keeping her head down otherwise. No need to make eye contact with anyone who would take it the wrong way. Occasionally her eyes flit to Viktor ever so briefly, confirming she's still walking in the right direction.]
[Eventually they came to a building practically in the shadow of a far more opulent one nearby; Viktor cast the latter a nervous look before gesturing for Rio to follow him around the corner of the smaller building, relaxing slightly once they were definitely out of sight.]
This may prove difficult; I have never had to sneak into my own lab before. ...I should have asked Jinx which way she got in from.
[She follows as directed! Once they're hidden in the shadows, she tips her head down slightly in thought, her soft voice almost at odds with her short, professional tone.]
[Look, Tails impressed upon them all the value of passing unnoticed if they returned to their own worlds - sure, the chatter of messing with the timeline if they arrived in the past, or learning things they ought not to know yet if they arrived in the future was all a bit above him, but he could definitely recognize the value in being careful.
He could also see that they all had good reasons for choosing to pop back - or not, as the case may be - so a stealth mission back to Viktor's home isn't worthy of judgement.
Hell, the world itself doesn't even feel that strange - at least not compared to Chicago.]
...Yeah, but d'ya want to take longer?
[Like. This is home, after all. You have the means to cut and run at any time. You could linger a bit, if you're feeling sentimental.]
Ideally yes, but without getting into troubling details it is...unwise, if anyone were to see me here.
[he is Potentially a wanted criminal and being a robot makes him a little easy to pick out.]
[Either way, the city's practically normal by Basilio's metric; not too far off from the royal capital all things considered.]
But...well. I did request a spare ring just in case a personal venture was possible. We should be able to travel from the lab to the Undercity once I procure what I came here for. If you have any interest in that, of course.
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[Early on in the week, Viktor managed to get a notebook from some world or another; for a couple days he could be found floating aimlessly in the void, focused entirely on writing with a look of concentration on his face. It probably wasn't blueprints or designs for once, considering he kept stoppng and starting again. Occasionally he'd scowl to himself and turn to a new page, starting over.]
[He also still seems completely unfazed by the amount of floating going on.]
[ii; piltover, night]
[If you're particularly close and generally inconspicuous, maybe Viktor asked for your help with something. Specifically, a stealth mission of sorts--retrieving tools and resources from Viktor's home. Why does that require stealth? Don't worry about it!]
[The resulting ring portal lead to the dead of night in a beautiful city, albeit a strangely quiet one. Ducking into the shadows of an alleyway, Viktor pulled up the hood of his outfit to better hide his face--which did nothing to conceal the rest of his cybernetics or the staff, but it was a start.]
...It is not too far from here. With any luck, we will not take long.
[iii; wildcard]
[Apart from that, Viktor would spend most of his time in the void unless asked to come along somewhere else; making small adjustments to his own hoverboard and repairing the others if asked, or generally staring out into literal space in quiet contemplation.]
[Last week was a lot.]
void;
[ They shrug. Though out of curiosity, they do ask: ]
So, what exactly are you working so fervently on? Battle plans of some sort...?
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[sir(neutral) do you MIND]
It is not as if I have any materials here.
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But, you looked like you were concentrating on something at the least, no? It doesn't quite look like a rare moment of indulgement on some leisurely subjects. Or, you can feel free to correct me if I am wrong...?
[ They didn't miss how much he seems laser focused on ... page flipping, to the point of his environment seeming very far away. But, they also doubt it's blank-page flipping! ]
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You can consider it just...idle curiosity.
Is it really so terrible to ask? And you know, it is certainly far more interesting than walking up to someone and asking, 'oh, how do you do, fellow ally in the void', is it not?
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I was planning to return home briefly in order to retrieve a few things. Doing so without leaving a message felt careless.
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Either way, Void Archives seems to give a little considering hum at this despite the usual everpresent smile on their face. ]
I see! Leaving to go home should be something simple with these rings...ideally, anyway.
I suppose you've already experienced the chaotic nature of them? Is that the basis behind your concern in coming up with a proper message?
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How about...
"This is Viktor. It was imperative I make like a tree and leaf you all shortly to grab some items, but I will return swiftly."
Short and sweet! It absolves concerns by the sheer lighthearted essence of the message while being straight to the point, and not leaving much confusion.
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[Not impressed.]
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[ They don't even sound ashamed, but give a small pause in consideration. ]
Have you written down a few considerations? If you're warring between those, I can always offer a helpful little vote~
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[bad enough he's posting cringe, he doesn't need Jackass Archives knowing about it too???]
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Oh, what a pity! I am truly saddened by such words.
[ A dramatic sigh, as if it were so, but obviously that is not the case. ]
...What is it you're looking to hope to retrieve, anyway? Is it personal, or is it some kind of useful material in our fight against that fool of a man?
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ii
[She's been a bit subdued since the fight with Infinite, but she's still got the energy for that cute, doe-eyed clueless look, apparently.]
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[Nervously turning a ring over in his hand, like he was already prepared to escape at a moment's notice.]
We will have to leave very quickly if noticed by the wrong people. Enforcers, primarily--officers in blue uniforms.
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Alright. Just tell me where to go, then.
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[Letting out a short andd sharp breath as if trying to dispel his own nerves, Viktor adjusted his grip on the staff at his side and started walking. Fortunately, the city was quiet...maybe a little too much so, for its size. Kind of like the quiet that immediately followed abject chaos, when things were still being picked up and repaired.]
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As they walk, however, she continues to look all about them, taking in every little detail she can.]
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[The city itself was a little strange; antiquated enough to be lit by streetlamps along narrow cobblestone roads, the occasional cable car and even airship passing by overhead. But judging by the work Viktor did and the kind of machinery he was made out of, the technological level was likely all over the place.]
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This may prove difficult; I have never had to sneak into my own lab before. ...I should have asked Jinx which way she got in from.
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Did you have any defense systems set up?
ii
He could also see that they all had good reasons for choosing to pop back - or not, as the case may be - so a stealth mission back to Viktor's home isn't worthy of judgement.
Hell, the world itself doesn't even feel that strange - at least not compared to Chicago.]
...Yeah, but d'ya want to take longer?
[Like. This is home, after all. You have the means to cut and run at any time. You could linger a bit, if you're feeling sentimental.]
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[he is Potentially a wanted criminal and being a robot makes him a little easy to pick out.]
[Either way, the city's practically normal by Basilio's metric; not too far off from the royal capital all things considered.]
But...well. I did request a spare ring just in case a personal venture was possible. We should be able to travel from the lab to the Undercity once I procure what I came here for. If you have any interest in that, of course.