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.
[ ...they sure were but wolfwood is going to do his best to not get into the details? sort of. he'll just keep things simple especially since he doesn't want to speak for everyone. ]
Most people think it would normal to worry about others when they're hurt.
[Even the chaos at the end there has not pushed all of the mind control out of Turo's mind. Especially Void Archives - he knows at least a bit of what it must have meant to them. He'll be quick to seek them out.]
[ Between the various attempts to save him from imminent doom and the healing rain at the end, More is doing... alright. He's looking worse for wear and his clothes are a bloody mess, but the pain he's in is more like a full body ache than an imminent emergency.
So of course he comes to find Turo, as he always does, and sits beside him. After a short moment of hesitation, he'll place a hand on Turo's back, carefully avoiding the 'injury' itself, which he is also looking at with sad eyes. ]
This isn't your fault in the slightest, dear. Not even a little. You all did your best.
[...Give her a few seconds to get her crying down, but she'll at least stop holding him so tight after a bit longer, though her hand moves to card through the fur on his head a bit, openly relieved.]
We will. If he's...if he's coming to us, that must mean we've backed him into some kind of corner. We will put a stop to him, and his schemes at long last.
...You deserve nothing more than a bright future, once all is said and done. I've believed this from the start, and I will continue to fight so you can do so. You have my word.
[ wolfwood is the most exhausted healer in this entire cast. that last battle was an absolute shitshow and he's not even going to bother to ask them if they would like a heal before he does. minor, moderate, or whatever—wolfwood will patch them up as he takes a seat next to them.
he's still not saying a word even as he lights up a smoke. it's a bit obvious about what's brewing in that head of theirs but it's rude to say anything about it if they don't want to talk about it. ]
[Tails nods at that, leaning into Dorothy's hand. Affection...!!]
I wish I had more information on him or what his plans even are, but I'm afraid we don't know much. But thank you, Dorothy. That... It really means so much to me. But we aren't the only ones who should have a bright future - everyone here has fought so hard, after all.
[He keeps a hand to Viktor's shoulder, the other held out carefully should Viktor want to try and sit himself up.]
I knew you would not want someone hesitating if that nightmare had repeated for you. Besides... I have told you many times before that I would not leave you behind.
It was about time I showed that I truly meant it, yes?
[ It's funny. Void Archives has been through quite a bit since they have arrived here; yet, as infuriating or just completely terrible the nightmares or mindscapes or the mental torture it was on someone like them...
They had done well with it so far, even when in some instances it felt like it was being stretched. But this... ]
I suppose it was. Everyone else can have their laughs or judgments if they wish, however.
I can't stop them - yet, even if I wasn't the only one...I wouldn't be surprised if what they heard would have changed matters. But, it matters little to me. Nothing can be done about what happened, after all.
[ They should have said that they were fine. But they think it's pretty stupid to pretend otherwise. ]
[His hand twitched as it worked through some kind of malfunction, reaching back for Vakama's as Viktor pulled himself halfway up with a wince and arcane blue sparks.]
No--it is alright. I am grateful, despite my, er...reaction. Better to render me unable to move than the alternative.
[ They don't seem inclined to push him away when he approaches or react adversely when he gives his apology. Void Archives is a prideful being by nature, one might presume that such words would make them frustrated.
But, that isn't true. Especially when they know Turo...he would know. Though, they don't know how to respond to someone saying such words to them. ]
...I always considered it was a possibility. Ever since it was clear that 'will' had been stolen from the individuals here, it was always a possibility that any of us would become a target.
What happened...was inevitable.
[ Their words sound phrased logically, but their tone isn't anywhere near it should be. ]
It seems that domination is his focus, as well. I...he said that he copied our data, or something similar, but...
[Dorothy listens to Tails, wiping her eyes a bit as she tries to compose herself. They're alive. They're alive, they've got enough to last them a bit, but they're alive and that's what matters.
But we aren't the only ones who should have a bright future - everyone here has fought so hard, after all.]
...And we will all pursue brightly toward that future--toward our own as well. I swear this to you.
[Dorothy just kind of lets quiet settle over this for a bit--not quite separating, but...she does want to stick by, though she pauses for a moment and looks out to the sky.]
...I never thought such a thing was possible, until Sonic came and brought us here. I thought that such a thing was...trite. Something that would never happen without domination, and the plans I had in store to bring harm. If such a thing even worked, due to the invasion of the Raptures, but...
Seeing all of you now, how we've all fought for a brighter, more beautiful future...it's given me a strange feeling in my core. I believe it's hope. Hope that the future will be better for all of us, in one way or another.
And...I really do have you to thank for that. You know that, right?
[Dorothy looks to Tails at that, her expression warm.]
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