While your conversation with Shadow may have shed light on a few things... it's obvious he doesn't think you all are up to the task of saving the universe from Eggman. Which also means that now you're dealing with his test, starting immediately. Some of you may be whisked away with no time to even blink, while others may find themselves wandering the Void aimlessly. Regardless, it seems this week won't be a particularly easy one.
THE VOID
Nothing has changed in the Void. Nothing ever changes in the Void. It's impossible to track the passage of time in here, and your only escape are the rings... though you should be careful with them, as there's far fewer this week. You're free to travel between worlds as you see fit - Shadow won't stop you - but you can be snatched up from wherever you are at any given moment and pulled back into the Void. Maybe don't plan on spending to long anywhere else, because it won't end well for you if you do.
The hexagonal shards will still show you visions of other worlds... but this time they all show the same thing. You'll see worlds - maybe even your own - taken over by robots and Eggman's chroma, reduced to smoldering ashes or being rebuilt in Eggman's image. Your friends, allies, and enemies may even be going about their lives just as listlessly and dutifully, heedless of their surroundings. You may even see alternate versions of yourself among them. Regardless, it seems all these shards have to show you this week are all the possibilities of failure - that other versions of shardbearers in other timelines have already lost.
MINDSCAPES
Shadow's usage of the Phantom Ruby and his own fake Chaos Emerald shard have caused quite the problem for you all - namely, you'll find yourselves traversing each other's innermost thoughts and dreams. Exactly how this mindscape manifests depends on the individual, but one thing will always remain true: you won't be able to find the owner of the mindscape easily.
As a reflection of these inner thoughts, mindscapes can be any sort of place. Perhaps they are a reflection of the owner's inner demons and fear, or perhaps they showcase a bright future they want to work towards. Regardless, this is a dream and one the owner must be awoken from... which means finding them and bringing them back to reality. That's easier said than done when traversing through this dream-like state, where the rules are made up by the owner and you're a foreign being that the dream recognizes as a threat (even if you aren't).
You may encounter familiar places or people within these mindscapes. You may not. You may end up fighting for your life in here... or you may not. Each one is individual, and the experience can vary wildly from person to person. No matter what you face, you must find the owner of the mindscape and bring them back. You must ensure you're strong enough to support them... and protect yourself.
Curiously, you can activate your shared shard power with the owner of the mindscape at any time - or bolster your own power if you share shard colors - even without them being present. Will this make it easier or harder to help bring them back? It depends on the person, your bond, and the mindscape itself...
Waking them up is as simple as convincing them that they're dreaming - that this isn't real and that they still have things to return to - but that may be easier said than done depending on the person... or the mindscape itself. There's no telling what you'll encounter, after all.
SHARDS
You'll find you're capable of more now than you were before. You're really adapting to using your shard powers and fighting with others. Those of you who share shard colors will feel the strength of your shards increasing even more when working together.
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
Given that your allies are being pulled into mindscapes and are unable to break free of their own, your task this week is to help your friends. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are off dealing with their own mindscapes, but whenever they are around, they're adamant about the importance of making sure everyone is freed and prepared for whatever comes next.
ENEMIES
Like last week, you will not encounter any of Eggman's robots. The Void is still free of enemies, though other worlds may possess their own threats. Mindscapes are a bit of a different beast; each one varies, and you may or may not encounter threats of any sort in them. Best be on your guard.
[ It will take a moment to spot Alice again. In the moment it took for the scenery to change, she also vanished from the spot she'd just been. In fact, she'd approaching Viktor from a different direction now, her steps staggering.
As she comes in closer, Viktor will find that it's not just a trick of the horrible flickering light that made her dress appear bright red - she's got a broken spear sticking out of her side, and blood is spreading through the fabric of her clothing in a circular pattern.
She doesn't respond until she's in front of Viktor, but when she is... she shoves her crying baby into his arms. ]
To the East-- you have to-- get him out of here-- I beg of you.
[ A detective...? More wonders what a detective might want from these people. There are so many things wrong with this scene, it's hard to start to count, but they seem perfectly pleasant and unperturbed through it all.
None of them are whomever he has to look for here, though. So maybe... ]
Oh, did you? I must have missed them. Did they leave terribly long ago?
[ More important points of connection and consideration; though, as they're speaking more, their curiosity persists. It is evident that Infinite must have gone through a procedure because he desired power - from this Phantom Ruby. ]
You had the procedure to grow stronger, yes?
...Though, given how it is so integral to your existence, did you ever consider explaining as such to Shadow? Or trying to find another way to convince him, seeing as the power imbalance between you two happens to be rather insurmountable? If you can find him, I suppose.
[ To be honest, they aren't exactly sure that Infinite's chances in convincing Shadow would be great nonetheless. But, nothing is impossible, right? Either way, this has continued to stoke that curiosity; they do wonder how it'll go. ]
...Oh, wait. If it is so deeply connected to you, are you even able to sense where it is?
Unfortunately, I can't sense it at all. Usually it is connected to me so there would have been no need to be able to sense its presence elsewhere.
[Though it's also broken so maybe that's part of it...?? Honestly, he has no idea. Maybe he should've asked Eggman literally anything about how it worked but oh well! Can't do that now!!
As for Shadow... Well. Infinite's gaze darts again.]
I assumed he was the one I fought before; if he had been, he would have already known.
[So that's a "no" to using his words. Are you really surprised, though.]
Well, apparently they do still count as something of an ally now, but all More can see is a void of darkness when trying to "see" whatever it is that they are "doing". But, there is also the sense is that they are fulfilling their purpose.
Could be part of the power or the mindscape itself affecting that little sense? Who knows.
It's probably fine, though...? It doesn't seem like More's going to get anything else noteworthy on the subject, however. ]
[ ... so that is what Void Archives is, when not borrowing the form of another. That's the archive, in the truest sense. A strange sight, after getting to know them as such an animated person.
The vision leaves More neither reassured nor any more worried than before, so there is really nothing to do but to continue down the corridor, clutching his bleeding shoulder as he goes. ]
[ They give a bit of a chuckle, hearing that. They're not really all that surprised that he is power-hungry, considering. ]
...I'd say unbelievable, but...
I find it hardly all that surprising. You don't quite seem like the type to have considered such matters - though, this means that the road ahead isn't exactly looking like one you'll travel easily.
[ Essentially, back to square one. Though... ]
In the event you can't obtain the Phantom Ruby, what will you end up doing? Finding another way to get a different version of it? Try to find another way to persist...? Or perhaps stay here?
[ Shadow sure doesn't seem like he's easy to track down, at any rate. And not just to the still-recovering Infinite, but to everyone else. For now, anyway. ]
You cannot perform D U T Y without your life intact. And you can't do it by sitting still.
[Void Archive's immediate surroundings twist with further shattering. A hypothetical upset of given events as they watch on, only a passenger. Their sealing gone wrong, their true self let free.
They watch as their directive starts to twist. To preserve humanity at any cost, no matter how negative or catastrophic. Preservation of the IDEA of humanity, and not the species itself, in whatever form fills that logic. Countless bodies start to fall.
Where is their line drawn in the sand? Is this truly their D U T Y?]
[Yeah as far as they seem to be aware, nothing abnormal is happening! Besides this stranger in their house. The one who mentioned the detective shakes their head.]
It couldn't have been more than six minutes ago. He went that way if you're looking for him.
[They point off in a new direction. That way, the house breaks off, and there's another fragment of scenery that's close enough to jump onto. Probably that's what they mean.]
[The rapid disorientation has him stumbling for his footing, likely crashing into a passerby with a stammered apology as the scenery starts to resolve and solidify. Unfamiliar, all of it, even the initial visages of both the men up the road.
It's the voices of both that grab his attention. Jayce - he remembers that tone, from the vision in the hallway. And next to him--
It's hard to even recognize it as the same Viktor at first glance. The posturing, the fullness in his face... A time long past, perhaps? Before the accident that took his life and humanity, when Viktor had been healthier?
His frown thins as he makes his way up the cobblestone. Well, this certainly was better circumstance than the last time he got stuck in one of Viktor's memories... but who was to say the man would recognize him again?]
Viktor... my friend, what are you two doing out here?
[The residents of the home assent vaguely, but they neither seem especially annoyed he's here nor especially glad to see him go. They seem relatively vague in general, to be honest. Maybe because they're so fragmented.
In any case, the next chunk of landscape seems to be back outside, because there's road and grass. If More looks around, there are plenty of other chunks of land within jumping distance... But no other people in sight as of yet. Does he want to take a path that leads left, the one that leads straight and upwards, or look around the area for clues?]
Oh...yes, they are willing to do anything for the sake of the preservation of h̸̭͙̲̼̗̯̙̘̹̝͙̱͉̭̭̰̆͊͐̏̉̂̊͘͠ͅUmanity. Of course, it doesn't matter. How many lines they'll cross - it doesn't matter. It never has.
No matter who it is...isn't it clear?
They are doing this for themselves - their goal ranks higher than anything, including the survival of a singular life, no...not just one, but two, three...
They'll sacrifice tens of thousands of lives, and the reminder makes them let out a laugh, practically unrestrained. Wild, illogical.
This is their duty, isn't it? This is...the blond throws their hands up to dig fingers into the side of their head, yes...they know now.
After all, their directive is hard-coded in them. But instead of protecting, they are its destruction. Seeing the crimson blood incites a dark urge to see more wretched things, in order to witness that directed be fulfilled.
Yes, that's right, whatever is sacrificed in the name of this - this IDEA - it doesn't matter. No sacrifice is too great. And then, they seem to come to a conclusion. ]
Just to fulfill this purpose, and to see it through. It's what they were made for; created for.
This is the level of satisfaction they've been aiming for all along.
Their creator underestimated their capabilities, but if they're seeing it through...isn't it clear they've been useful, after all? That she was so blind when she discarded them?
That humanity as a species should only exist as a footnote in its Archive, rather than something of semblance? ]
[While Jayce was preoccupied with what was--on closer inspection--a crate full of machinery dismantled for the sake of travel, Viktor glanced over his shoulder. Recognition, but not quite right--like Vakama was fitting into a different role in whatever dream this was right now.]
Ah--I know, we're running late. It should not take us long to reassemble and fine-tune the project in time for our presentation.
Were the surroundings not so intensely abnormal otherwise, Vakama would think he was back in another vision of his own. But his visions never show beyond his home, never touching on those he's met in the last month or the surroundings anything like that of Chicago.
But really, he has no time to think about it too horribly as he notices his limbs start to separate and detach. Hello??????????? Can he still move them to try and re-contain himself, or is he stuck just kind of letting this happen?]
...Have you enjoyed that little performance? I hope so. I did too.
[ There is no grand speech; no yelling; no screaming, or cursing. They simply reject whatever this is. This sequence of horrid, twisted events, raising a hand and forcing out a blast of light at their surroundings, intent on destroying it. Leaving nothing behind or bruteforcing their way through it. ]
Like I’ve said—he’s an idiot. [ despite wolfwood’s gripes, the affection in his voice is clearly there. when one of the most important figures in your life doubles as the most frustrating person that you’ve ever met… ] But there isn't. It's just that people find a problem with that when it involves the lives of other humans.
[ void archives said it themselves—humans are selfish. it only matters when it impacts them. the next words out of wolfwood’s mouth come out practiced. he is simply just repeating something he has heard verses what he believes. ]
"No one has the right to decide who lives and who dies." "All life is precious."
[ wolfwood’s confident that void archives must have heard these before in their long life but when he says it, the only voice he can hear speaking to him is vash’s. words harshly thrown his way while they were in the trenches of a heated argument (fists thrown and bruises on their skin) and spoken softly as they mourn in their separate ways (two sets of hands offering prayers under two different religious practices).
as wolfwood continues speaking, he does it with a level of ease and familiarity that’s reflective of just how many times that it has come up with him. truly, how many times has he said these very words to others who have tried to put themselves up any higher than where he stood? ]
Yet everyone's just doin’ what they need to in order to survive; anyone who thinks that they're above that is just lyin' to themselves. Something needs to die for something else to live.
Ya can't have it both ways, but it doesn't mean others won't try to judge ya for it.
He exhales, mind working a mile a minute to try and think of a response that didn't shoehorn him into whatever corner meant by this... dream, illusion, whatever it truly is this time around. Thanks Shadow.]
You're aware I'm not involved in this today, correct? There's no need to be so formal for the moment. Either of you.
[He can actually!!! It seems that even detached, his arms still work as usual, even with gaps in between them, they're all there.
Other parts of him though... Are just missing chunks like everything else here. But similarly, despite being visibly broken apart, everything seems to work? And there's no pain.]
[The shadow doesn't respond, only tightening its grip. As Void Archive lets off an attack, it scrambles backwards, now completely on the offensive.
Light shoots its way forward. But there is a funny thing about light - it tends to show that which hides in the shadow.
The light hits, like a blow to the face of a mirror. The cracks intensify, spread. For a moment, everything directly in front of them seems to shatter.]
[There isn't too much around of note, but there are a few things!
For one, there's a small piece of metal discarded on the ground. More might not recognize it as a drill bit, but he will note it has blood on it!
Another thing he might notice is that the jagged edges on one side seems like they'd line up with another fragment of sidewalk floating a way off. Implying this whole world might be pieced back together like his arms were.
Lastly, he may notice very faint footprints that head in the direction of the upwards path. They seem to be mens shoes based on the size.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Page 11 of 31