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.
[He starts a bit at the voice, head snapping upwards to try and see--]
...Fukuda???
[Is it? It... SOUNDS like Fukuda, but the hair is slightly different, the face is slightly different... is he wearing his stupid coat with the three lapels]
Of course I'm not a detective. What are you talking about???
Was this... him from the past, then? Then what was with the--
I couldn't think clearly a lot of the time. I had to count things. Tiles on the floor, blades of grass on the lawn, stars in the sky. I'd have to do things over and over. Write things down, pointless things. But always the numbers.
Trying to ignore it.... I just couldn't.
...]
Kaeru?
[He glances down at the body.]
Ah... no, Fuku--- Anaido, no, I only just now saw what happened to her.
[A past version of Fukuda would make sense, wouldn't it? Given the lack of hole. Anaido does look like he could be a few years younger than Fukuda, too.]
Well.... I can't really discuss details of the case if you're just a civilian. Those are the rules.
[Dang it - okay, okay, think, what would Matau do here?]
Whoa, whoa, easy -- Do I look like a civilian?
[He certainly hopes not. It's taken him who knows how long to not FEEL like a civilian playing dress-up in a big tall body, running away from the police constantly.
Aw fuck what was it the damaged vahki patrols called themselves again uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]
My, uh... my squad might not be detectives, but they'll understand if I have to take a detour to help one. I can't exactly ignore this with how recently it looks to have happened.
[He seems surprised by this, perhaps there aren't usually police in this world which... given the everything about it.... understandable. For a second it seems like this isn't going to work as Anaido examines him in silence for a moment.]
Well, in that case, can you make it up here? I'm following a lead, an extra pair of hands would be nice.
[He'll nod his agreement, starting to glance around for if there even IS a pathway up there to be seen. He would rather not test about un-spiraling his limbs to travel unless he absolutely has to.]
There's not much left on her. What sort of lead are you talking about?
[There sort of is, a series of other debris he can use as steps to jump up there. Some of the footbolds are a little small though. But maybe Vakama wouldn't fall in the first place if he missed a step in the first place given how gravity seems to be a suggestion for all these blocks ]
Well that's because I took it with me! Obviously that's an unorthodox tactic, but I didn't know there were actual police dispatched to the scene who'd have the means to properly handle evidence!
[Have a fun time! It's easier than it looks, somehow. Then he'll be face to face with Anaido, who looks and sounds similar to Fukuda but apparently isn't him.]
Ah, but at the end of the day, as long as the Brilliant Detective splves the case, people will overlook that sort of thing, you know?
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no subject
...Fukuda???
[Is it? It... SOUNDS like Fukuda, but the hair is slightly different, the face is slightly different...
is he wearing his stupid coat with the three lapels]Of course I'm not a detective. What are you talking about???
no subject
You must be mistaking me for someone else. I'm the Brilliant Detective, Anaido.
[In any case;]
Well, you're inspecting Kaeru's body, so I figured you were here to solve her murder too.
no subject
Was this... him from the past, then? Then what was with the--
I couldn't think clearly a lot of the time. I had to count things. Tiles on the floor, blades of grass on the lawn, stars in the sky. I'd have to do things over and over. Write things down, pointless things. But always the numbers.
Trying to ignore it.... I just couldn't.
...]
Kaeru?
[He glances down at the body.]
Ah... no, Fuku--- Anaido, no, I only just now saw what happened to her.
How does one get murdered in a place like this?
no subject
Well.... I can't really discuss details of the case if you're just a civilian. Those are the rules.
[Better backtrack fast, Vakama.]
no subject
Whoa, whoa, easy -- Do I look like a civilian?
[He certainly hopes not. It's taken him who knows how long to not FEEL like a civilian playing dress-up in a big tall body, running away from the police constantly.
Aw fuck what was it the damaged vahki patrols called themselves again uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]
My, uh... my squad might not be detectives, but they'll understand if I have to take a detour to help one. I can't exactly ignore this with how recently it looks to have happened.
no subject
[He seems surprised by this, perhaps there aren't usually police in this world which... given the everything about it.... understandable. For a second it seems like this isn't going to work as Anaido examines him in silence for a moment.]
Well, in that case, can you make it up here? I'm following a lead, an extra pair of hands would be nice.
no subject
There's not much left on her. What sort of lead are you talking about?
no subject
Well that's because I took it with me! Obviously that's an unorthodox tactic, but I didn't know there were actual police dispatched to the scene who'd have the means to properly handle evidence!
no subject
You're... not worried that might look like some sort of tampering, my friend?
no subject
Ah, but at the end of the day, as long as the Brilliant Detective splves the case, people will overlook that sort of thing, you know?
no subject
That is dangerous levels of confidence, Detective.
Well? Let's see it, then. Where's your lead?
no subject
This way! Follow me!
[Evasive... This really is Fukuda.]
no subject
HE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE so he's following after a moment's hesitation.]
You can't just tell me? I thought you removed something from the body.