The ring deposits you all safely outside the base and seals up afterwards. Neo Metal Sonic doesn't chase after you, which is something of a mercy.
What's significantly less of a mercy is the sky - it's gone dark and ominously stormy, though the clouds spark not with lightning, but with that same green Chaos Energy you've been facing this entire fight. Worse still, there are now far, far too many robotic planes filling the sky - the Egg Fleet seems to go on endlessly, as far as you can see. Though perhaps it would be more accurate to call it the Neo Metal Sonic Fleet.
Sonic and friends arrive shortly, looking pretty banged up but otherwise still healthy enough to make it here, though they stare up at the sky with obvious concern.
"O...kay, this is definitely not what any of us were expecting."
"We will have to take the fight to them, it seems."
"Easier said than done, I'm afraid... I'm not sure how to pinpoint their leader's exact location to send you all with a ring..."
A jolt of green lightning flashes across the sky and Neo Metal Sonic's voice rings out.
"I expect to see you onboard my fleet in one week's time. That includes you, my loathsome copy."
It seems you don't really have much of a choice. For now, tend to your wounds and try to regroup; you've earned a break after today.
[ More hesitates for a moment. A part of him feels like he ought to chase this and double down again, because he wants to express his affections to the fullest, but... the other half of him feels like he's pushing too hard. Like no matter how much everything he says holds equally true on a platonic level, he's still putting pressure on Turo to reciprocate something he may not want to.
So he settles on simply smiling. ]
Thank you for everything, as always. And... we'll make it out of this together. I look forward to our future too much to consider another outcome.
[ Void Archives does notice he has said nothing on their other words, but the man does seem pleased that he has lent a hand. ]
Not many will necessarily manage as much, so do continue to at least be proud of that.
Among other things, of course.
[ They flash a little knowing smirk, to indicate that their own words were true, though also as further hint that more of that usual part of them has seemingly returned to the surface, but will seem to leave it at that. This is ultimately a moment for them to have obtained some sense of recovery in the midst of what happened - one of which Turo has leant an undeniably pivotal hand in that, which he has taken to heart.
[ ...Well, Void Archives seems a little more certain, because if there is something they've learned, it is those like that would certainly be left at a loss if such goals remained not achieved at all.
Therefore... ]
Oh, don't fret too much.
Such a person can be made to have them, if one is not able to achieve that rule, no? The all-encompassing despair at such plans not bearing fruit when they are on the eve of success...the sheer agony of sorrow at the opportunity stolen on the precipice of victory...
[ Their expression grows pleased at the thought. ]
[Turo smiles back, a little helplessly, and then leans in for another hug. He doesn't know what to say - despite his talk with Void Archives earlier, he still can't see any sort of conclusive correct path to take. Anyway, in front of everyone like this? He's learning that he maybe doesn't do so well in large groups.]
Even if it is not the way we would have expected, or if we come out the other end changed, we will still find a way. If he plans to try and take some of us in his grip again, then I hope today showed that there are those willing to fight just as hard to bring people back.
We just cannot falter. Especially not now. Whether Robotnik's fate becomes known or not, it doesn't change that Neo will still need to be stopped. Whatever comes after... we will deal with in whatever way our strength will allow.
[...
The tension in his shoulders lessens as he reaches to touch Viktor briefly against the arm - an unspoken request for him to stay put.]
Rest, my friend. I'll see what can be salvaged and get it to Tails' lab for safekeeping. Can you trust me with as much?
[ looks at how things are going so far in week 8……… there sure is plenty of time left. ]
Maybe.
I don’t exactly go pattin’ him on the back whenever he fucks somethin’ up or makes a mess of things. [ there’s positive feedback and then there’s positive reinforcement. both are very different and neither one of them wolfwood wants to use to encourage any of vash’s bad behavior. wolfwood pauses for a moment to consider something before shrugging. ] He might even find it weird if I did and think that somethin’ was wrong.
[ a very likely scenario, honestly. given the kind of person wolfwood is—for him to suddenly start complimenting vash or giving him praise… it would never be within the context of anything good. wolfwood will remain mildly curious about their answer even if it falls more in line with what is far more realistic to happen. ]
Never say never, but I’d hold out on the possibility of bein’ able to break yerself out of whatever hold they try. Ya never know, maybe the next time will be easier after goin’ through it once before.
My brother had the terrible idea to bring a recently deceased man back to life, assuming the man would be able to persuade me to return to my duties in Hell. He was corrupt, so his soul went where it belonged. His regrets were entirely selfish in nature. Nothing to do with his family or unfinished business.
[ Things are going totally great! Nothing terrible is going wrong or is going to happen and comedic hijinks are definitely going to potentially continue in this plenty of time left. Absolutely trustable statement. ]
Well, I would be surprised if you did. Though, it is kind of an amusing image. Have you ever considered doing it at all for fun at some point in the future? Just once?
[ Wolfwood encouraging terrible behavior? Perish the thought! Void Archives wouldn't exactly say that it's wrong or anything, either, because they'll always be something like an enabler.
Which is probably more evidence that they're a bad influence, really. ]
I suppose I just have to think it possible.
...That said, I would vastly prefer even greater being able to stop him before he tries it again, and I dare not say it is impossible, though I recognize the potential sheer difficulty of it. Yet, even that seems more plausible then whatever conclusion I came to before.
[ In other words, no, they are not happy with the possibility of a second time. Regardless of however it happens. ]
[ ...Absolutely incredible. They hadn't anticipated for him to recall an apt situation, but it suits their purposes perfectly, so who are they to complain? ]
There it is. A prime example, and one that you know of, no less!
...But, well, that certainly is a unique method to try to convince someone of something. I can't imagine how bringing back such an individual was supposed to make you decide to retake your duties.
Though, it is not just so-called geniuses or those like our enemy who can be quite short-sighted fools, hm?
No, gods forbid we let our respective heroes get all egotistical about it.
[Viktor huffed out a quiet laugh, staring up at the endless fleet of airships.]
...I'm curious. If we live through this, where are you planning to go next? Because I was thinkng--well, it might not be the worst thing, to stay here.
It was a stupid decision on my brother's part. No sooner did he revive the man, did that man start murdering teenagers pretending to be bad, thinking I would approve of it.
[It still makes him angry. At least Malcolm is back to being dead.]
But I'll admit the situation isn't a perfect analogy. He was already in Hell. Our adversary might not even know it as a concept.
...Ah, quite the murderous imbecile, I see. Age does not always equate to intelligence, nor holding any common sense.
[ Void Archives sees no reason to mince words, as always. Idiocy really seems like a commonality - not just for this brother of Lucifer's, but this other man. And who would they be if they didn't call it out?
Though, speaking of intelligence or lack thereof... ]
Well, I'm certain that as an artificial being who has been programmed well enough that he understands the concept of ruling over others, and causing as much mayhem as he has that the concept is not quite beyond him. Perhaps not in a sense of knowing the little particulars, but...knowledge of it in its basic form would be enough, yes?
[It comes down to whether or not this "Neo Metal Sonic" possesses a soul. He's seen enough here to believe the machine lifeforms among the group certainly have them.]
I suppose there's only one way to find out, isn't there?
[ ...They let out a chuckle at that, before moving to rise to their feet. They still don't quite feel like themselves; it might not be like that for awhile.
But, Void Archives knows that despite everything, they don't want to lie down and accept what has happened to them. The complexities surrounding the situation do not disperse; much the same as the simplicity of needing to give their enemy hell, so to speak. ]
...Yes, you certainly are right, Lucifer.
[ But, they don't leave it at that. Their grin turns bright and sharp, promising nothing except pain for their mutual enemy. ]
So, let us ensure we tear him down and leave him in such a state of complete and utter defeat that he will know nothing else but suffering, hm~?
[ No ifs, simply they'll do whatever they can in that 'finding out' - except Neo Metal Sonic will be the one in the finding out stage. ]
No, but that was pretty awful all on its own, too.
[He takes another drag of the cigarette, his other hand still holding the lighter clenching just a little tighter around its familiar shape.]
I mean what happened with More, an'... Bas jumpin' in to take that hit for me. I thought I was gonna have to watch 'em die right in front of me.
[He's already been through that once, and he came out the other side permanently scarred in more than just the physical sense. Another time would have been far too much for him to bear.]
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