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.
[Oscar pauses mid-swing, hefting his saber up to settle it onto his shoulder as he looks at the two of them, eyebrows raised. Okay, color him intrigued.]
Depends on what you mean by "try something," but sure, I'll consider it. So, what'd you guys have in mind?
[Is this going to be another Walmart booze heist, is that what this is--]
We would like to see what sort of effect trying to combine abilities between three people instead of just two may have. Surely it should be possible, should it not?
We are looking forward to enabling a more extensive and incredible version of the combined abilities we had managed thus far.
See, I would usually go about adding more light so that Sir Jasper has more shadow to use to his advantage. But, can you imagine if there was more to it? How many would tremble in the face of such power stretching from end to end in a vicious battlefield? Does it not excite you?
[ ...anyway, theatrics are a go. As usual, with them, but they are completely unapologetic about that as well. ]
[... sir you're kind of reminding him of Rose here and that is most assuredly not a compliment. These are definite Mad Scientist vibes...
At least he's used to it? The look on his face right now is probably fairly similar to this, though.]
Well, if that's what you're after, it's probably a good thing that my power has to do with boostin' other people's. It's pretty useless on its own, but when I combine it with someone else's, it makes whatever they can do that much more powerful. So if you're lookin' to make your combined ability stronger, I'm probably the right person to be comin' to for that.
[he will honestly just ignore any potential reluctance.]
I suppose that may suggest it will not result in anything unexpectedly flashy, but it should make it better, which is the ultimate point of what we are aiming for.
[ They are pretty much also hardly concerned about the reaction in kind...sorry that they're like this, Oscar. ]
Indeed. What matters is the execution, rather than simply the nature of the appearance of such abilities on their own.
Now, where shall we give it a try? Still in the void? Or do we wish to go to a different space entirely?
[ It'd be nice to be able to test it in a short battle of some kind, but just getting the combination down right seems like a good idea for obvious reasons. ]
Imagine all of the fights we could pick! Hah, no, I jest. For practical reasons, I do have to admit I would prefer in the end that we do it here. Therefore, it sounds to me we have our decision, no?
[ They raise a singular hand up, showing the one with the emerald shard embedded. Though, Void Archives also wiggles their fingers playfully, just for the hell of it. ]
[ By which Oscar means "thanks", right? Anyway, jokes aside, here we go with the powers combination...!
It results in this from all of them combining all of their powers at once! Oscar and Jasper can take to the shadows plus one extra...along with all of those benefits!
As well as some other fancy details. Void Archives will keep up the concentration on their end, for their part. ]
...Well? What do you both think~?
[ They sound proud on their end. But, is that much of a surprise? ]
[Shadows, huh... it's so ironic it almost hurts. But he can't say it doesn't suit him perfectly... he supposes there are some things he can't escape even here, where Isaac is nowhere to be found.]
... not bad at all. I won't lie, this is gonna make not gettin' hit by things a hell of a lot easier.
[Which is honestly an incredibly good thing after the conversation he and Wolfwood had the other day about how this entire group would probably be kind of screwed without the two of them and Bas...]
...I'd say there should be a toast to the amount of enemies we will be destroying summarily with the skill, but I'd unfortunately need to grab a drink first for that~
[ As per the usual, they have no problems in displaying the amount of confidence in wherever they're involved.
But, are they wrong in assuming that it will go well? ]
[ It's at this point that they sound very thoughtful to consider this particular situation... ]
Well, I have worked hard in going on those missions to collect those rings. Therefore, it stands to reason that we should go ahead in heading to another world to stock up in the first place~
There's something practical in it, yes? Who knows what might happen in the upcoming days? It can be relatively short and painless if we're quick about it too, right?
[ Therefore, clearly there's logic to it, isn't there? The bit of excitement in their tone is also very reasonable and logical. ]
In other words, you're sayin' we're gonna steal it.
[Says the man who participated in the Walmart booze heist. Still, he doesn't think the citizens of other worlds are going to be quite so chill about alcohol theft?]
[ I'm...screaming that I lost this tag notif...rip.
But, they definitely pouted for a second at hearing this. ]
You two are so up-tight about it! But, very well.
...Let's go and buy them instead, hm?
[ Also, they "act" to have been put out, but there is that telltale spark of excitement there; if they all do/did make a short trip there will be eyes needed to be kept on them. Otherwise, they may cause trouble. ]
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no subject
Depends on what you mean by "try something," but sure, I'll consider it. So, what'd you guys have in mind?
[Is this going to be another Walmart booze heist, is that what this is--]
no subject
[at least, he thinks so...!]
no subject
We are looking forward to enabling a more extensive and incredible version of the combined abilities we had managed thus far.
See, I would usually go about adding more light so that Sir Jasper has more shadow to use to his advantage. But, can you imagine if there was more to it? How many would tremble in the face of such power stretching from end to end in a vicious battlefield? Does it not excite you?
[ ...anyway, theatrics are a go. As usual, with them, but they are completely unapologetic about that as well. ]
no subject
At least he's used to it? The look on his face right now is probably fairly similar to this, though.]
Well, if that's what you're after, it's probably a good thing that my power has to do with boostin' other people's. It's pretty useless on its own, but when I combine it with someone else's, it makes whatever they can do that much more powerful. So if you're lookin' to make your combined ability stronger, I'm probably the right person to be comin' to for that.
no subject
[he will honestly just ignore any potential reluctance.]
I suppose that may suggest it will not result in anything unexpectedly flashy, but it should make it better, which is the ultimate point of what we are aiming for.
no subject
Indeed. What matters is the execution, rather than simply the nature of the appearance of such abilities on their own.
Now, where shall we give it a try? Still in the void? Or do we wish to go to a different space entirely?
[ It'd be nice to be able to test it in a short battle of some kind, but just getting the combination down right seems like a good idea for obvious reasons. ]
no subject
Here or there doesn't really matter to me since I'm just gonna be ampin' you two up, so pick whatever you think would make it easiest.
But if you're after flashy, then I'll see what I can do on that front. No promises, though.
no subject
[like. theoretically... they could go to his world and fight some monsters. but he likes monsters.]
no subject
Imagine all of the fights we could pick! Hah, no, I jest. For practical reasons, I do have to admit I would prefer in the end that we do it here. Therefore, it sounds to me we have our decision, no?
[ They raise a singular hand up, showing the one with the emerald shard embedded. Though, Void Archives also wiggles their fingers playfully, just for the hell of it. ]
Now...shall we?
no subject
He'll lift up his hand with the shard as well, though, reaching it out to hover near VA's without actually making contact just yet.]
Guess we might as well.
no subject
[BY OUR POWERS COMBINED...!]
no subject
It results in this from all of them combining all of their powers at once! Oscar and Jasper can take to the shadows plus one extra...along with all of those benefits!
As well as some other fancy details. Void Archives will keep up the concentration on their end, for their part. ]
...Well? What do you both think~?
[ They sound proud on their end. But, is that much of a surprise? ]
no subject
... not bad at all. I won't lie, this is gonna make not gettin' hit by things a hell of a lot easier.
[Which is honestly an incredibly good thing after the conversation he and Wolfwood had the other day about how this entire group would probably be kind of screwed without the two of them and Bas...]
no subject
[yeah this is fucking sick. he loves it.]
I am quite excited to use it properly in combat. I will try to make sure we are in close proximity whenever that time comes around.
no subject
...I'd say there should be a toast to the amount of enemies we will be destroying summarily with the skill, but I'd unfortunately need to grab a drink first for that~
[ As per the usual, they have no problems in displaying the amount of confidence in wherever they're involved.
But, are they wrong in assuming that it will go well? ]
no subject
[Well. Enough said. No booze. :(]
Let's just hope we get outta here sooner rather than later so we can make good on that toast. I'll be holdin' you to it.
no subject
[...
He doesn't want to be responsible...]
no subject
[ It's at this point that they sound very thoughtful to consider this particular situation... ]
Well, I have worked hard in going on those missions to collect those rings. Therefore, it stands to reason that we should go ahead in heading to another world to stock up in the first place~
There's something practical in it, yes? Who knows what might happen in the upcoming days? It can be relatively short and painless if we're quick about it too, right?
[ Therefore, clearly there's logic to it, isn't there? The bit of excitement in their tone is also very reasonable and logical. ]
no subject
[Says the man who participated in the Walmart booze heist. Still, he doesn't think the citizens of other worlds are going to be quite so chill about alcohol theft?]
no subject
I do have a bit of gold left, you know.
[STEALING IS UNSEEMLY]
no subject
But, they definitely pouted for a second at hearing this. ]
You two are so up-tight about it! But, very well.
...Let's go and buy them instead, hm?
[ Also, they "act" to have been put out, but there is that telltale spark of excitement there; if they all do/did make a short trip there will be eyes needed to be kept on them. Otherwise, they may cause trouble. ]