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shardmods ([personal profile] shardmods) wrote in [community profile] shardbond2025-03-02 12:00 pm

WEEK 8






Your defeat of "Eggman" has come at a high cost, namely the Egg Fleet in the skies and the looming threat of Neo Metal Sonic. He gave you a week to prepare; best use it wisely.


THE CITY


The massive robot on the horizon is no more - it looks like Neo Metal Sonic truly did rip the whole thing up. If you head back out there, you'll find that there are still pieces of it, and plenty of scrap left behind, but not nearly as much as one would expect.

More pressingly, there are far more robots present than even before. While you recognize all of them at this point, they're all patrolling in larger groups and will once again drop everything to attack you. Definitely don't head into the city alone for any reason, and always be prepared for an ambush. These robots are absolutely determined to kill you.

It seems that the white chroma that has spread throughout the city has reached a standstill - there isn't any more of is present than there was last week, but it hasn't receded any either. Strangely enough, it seems like the animals in the city are feeling more lively than before, though not quite back to their usual levels of being.

THE BASE


The new base is coming along nicely, and should be more or less furnished as needed by now. Still, with more and more robots coming around, you may find groups of them straying toward the base. You can't let them find it and report back to Neo Metal Sonic, so please take care of them! This is also the perfect time to practice with your shardbond powers...

You may also want to start thinking of the future as well. While it certainly isn't a sure thing, Sonic and friends have made it clear that this should be the final battle, that taking out Neo Metal Sonic should be the end of it and that you all will get to go home soon. Or if not home, then to wherever - and whenever - you'd like! Your future is up to you, though you're certainly welcome to stay here in Chicago, if you have nowhere else you want to go. May as well start thinking about what you'd like to bring back with you, or where you'd like to go.

But maybe don't get too caught up on that, as you still do have a battle to win, after all.

SHARDS


Your shard powers are fully unlocked, and with them comes a mastery of your shardbond powers as well. You really have reached the end with what you can do with these bonds - so now it's time to put them to the test.

Knuckles wants you all to practice forming even larger shardbonds and maintaining them for as long as possible - ideally you'll be able to work up to a seven person bond, as that should grant you the full extent of your power. No one knows what exactly will happen when you can achieve that... So you'd better get to work, as it may be very helpful for the final fight.

Those of you with the same color shards have mostly been able to bolster each others' powers rather than actively forming a bond, but now that you're at the very end, that's changed - shards of the same color can now activate each others' powers as well as their own! So for example, Yeager can shoot water like Dorothy, or Dorothy can draw aggro and take reduced damage like Yeager. You can utilize the others' powers alongside your own just as long as the other shard is in the same vicinity!

TAILS' TASKS


As always, rings are incredibly important, and you should collect them, especially if you'd like to bring some home with you so you can travel back to Chicago at any point, or jump to your friends' worlds. Go forth and find those obnoxiously-placed rings!

There's also Knuckles' daily lessons on shardbonds; he'll be overseeing you all while you practice to make sure that everything's going well, though you don't really need his help at this point. Activating a bond with six other shards is the goal, but every single extra shard you can add to the mix is important.

Finally, Tails is working on a teleporter that will jump you guys right up onto the ships above... but he's still fine-tuning it. Turns out that finding the right ship is a bit easier said than done. If you want to help, you can take the jump to test it! You'll be given a ring so you can get back immediately - but if you get the wrong ship, you can stay to clear out the robots. Doing so will net you experience with your shards and bonds, as well as at minimum ten rings. So really, it's a win/win unless you hate fighting.


ENEMIES


The enemies you face this week are the same as the ones you've faced in previous weeks. There are no new robots to fight, though you'll start finding knock-offs of Mecha Sonic, Robo Knuckles, and Tails Doll hanging around in the city as well. Which yes, means you can (and will) get many more rocks at you. Have fun!



hexalding: (thought I was fully prepared for)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-07 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[There was something very comforting about the process of metalworking--Viktor had never spent much time at the House Talis forge, but the smell of metal and smoke was always something that ended up lingering in the lab. It was hard not to associate it with the concept of home, something safe and familiar.]

I appreciate your help on this. Metalworking itself was never my particular skill. [The Hexclaw hovering over his shoulder fired in a razor-thin and precise burst to fix some minor details in the pieces he was currently adjusting.]

Irritating, that all my old measurements are off now. Though perhaps that's to be expected in this form.
crosswired: (118)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-07 11:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Were I to only have had my fire powers from the start, this would be far easier. But we'll make due. [There's a LOT more happening to these metals than would ever happen with protodermis, but basic principles still seemed to apply the same. If only they had more time, he could work out some of the issues with impurities and the differences in structures.]

Are you at a stopping point? We've been at this for a while, and I'd like to see if the jointwork will fit comfortably for you.
hexalding: (did i disappoint you)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-07 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
It will be fine. So long as it does not fall apart, that will be fine for the immediate future.

[Provided they lived through whatever happened next, he could make something more permanent later if it were necessary.]

I can pause for a moment, I think these pieces are usable now.
crosswired: (027)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
If I went presenting things cracking apart at the first use, I'd have been long out of a job.

[How decent he felt he was ranged wildly, of course, regardless of how far he'd come or why Makuta of all beings had singled him out for projects, but he at least had some sort of pride in his basics.

He casts his glance towards a discarded chair, dragging it over with his telekinesis as he reaches to gather the small collection of rings, gently testing their pliability in his palms.]


Take a seat. I'm not going to make you do this on your feet again.

If you have those pistons from earlier, I can pin those in as we go. They're not going to lock in place just yet, but we can test the tension, at least.
hexalding: (and run the vessels aground)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Viktor sat down and handed over the spare pieces he'd been adjusting, shifting the fabric he wore to uncover his faintly glowing right leg.]

Do whatever you have to.
crosswired: (012)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
Of course. You'll let me know if it's too uncomfortable, yes?

[He had better.

Vakama at least makes gentle work of it - it's not the first time he's made modifications that directly affected someone's ability to live and work, and he remembers Nuju's vicious specifications on far more complicated piecework. He doesn't expect as much bickering from Viktor, but he's still checking at every step - the placement of rings snug against thigh and shin, the bracing of pins and pistons and coverings of clockwork meant to support Viktor's weight while not completely breaking his range of motion, rings and straps tightened just so.]


I know it won't ever be back to the way it was, but... I'm glad you trust me to help get you back on your feet.
hexalding: (thought I was fully prepared for)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Of course.

[He watched patiently as Vakama worked, making sure he understood how it moved from design to creation--having difficulty taking it off later would be embarrassing at best, after all.]

...This is hardly your fault. It has been bothering me this entire time, albeit much less than it used to. I only want to make sure it is reinforced enough that I can keep my stability.
crosswired: (045)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
[He nods, carefully lifting from Viktor's ankle as an unspoken request for him to try and extend his leg while Vakama adjusts one of the pins. He'll keep his own body underneath for support while he works.]

Mn. I saw even in your memories of when you were younger, you required the support.

Was... this a result of the same illness you've spoken about, or something else entirely?
hexalding: (keep the memories of who i was)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
Eh...yes and no. [He stretched out his leg cautiously, faint purple lights pulsating like a heartbeat.]

I was born with my leg turned at a slight angle; such things are also common as a result of Zaun's toxicity. It worsened as I got older, and even the Hexcore's augmentation only relieved the vast majority of it.
crosswired: (077)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Ah, a fellow defect upon creation.]

I can't imagine something like that is ever an easy fix, even among those with a more fortunate upbringing. But... that you chose to adapt regardless speaks plenty to your drive.

[It explains some of the design, at least, but it still does have him uncertain in those steps that he knows force the limb out of where it wants to sit naturally - and as always, Vakama speaks that hesitation rather plainly across both face and touch as he works on sliding that main bracing bar in place, even before his words catch up.]

Bear with me for a moment--

[The pressure won't be comfortable in the slightest as everything starts to tighten snug, but the actual brace part of this needs to, in fact, do some bracing for that knee joint.]
hexalding: (if i cross the line)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
No--Undercity doctors did not have the resources to do more than replace it with a prosthetic, which we could hardly afford. And topside--well, it was not worth the risk overall, and adjusting to so major a procedure would have been a waste of time.

[But Viktor was clearly very accustomed to this, barely reacting in more than pressing his mouth into a thin line with a flicker of silver running through his eyes.]

...It's fine. This is barely a fraction of what it used to feel like. I can stand up straight and even walk unassisted for short times--that alone is something I could barely even dream of at one point.
crosswired: (026)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
[It's not something he can totally argue against. "Conceal, don't feel" was a pretty frequent staple when you'd rather just try to get on with life rather than wallow in what made it difficult.]

Still... just because it's improved doesn't mean I think you should stop talking about it. If it still bothers you, we can always try to make it better.

[As much as was within their power and time, at least.

With an exhale and the last sound of metal screwing against metal, Vakama lowers the bodily support of Viktor's leg, back down to the ground as the Toa carefully hoists himself to his feet with both hands held out for Viktor to take.]


Stand up for me, if you could.
hexalding: (sure there's nothing left to try)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
I will be alright, Vakama. Truly--I can not overstate the improvement, it barely hurts at all on a normal basis. All I need is to be sure it will not give out at a crucial moment.

[He took Vakama's hands, standing cautiously and testing his weight on his right leg--it didn't buckle underneath him, and he slowly let go to settle himself on both feet steadily.]

...It feels good for work we've had to do quickly. I'm impressed.
crosswired: (083)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
[As much as he does want to chide Viktor not to push himself, the worry caves to resignation and the briefest of nods. It was Viktor's body, after all, and Vakama had to trust him to know it the best.]

...Okay. Okay, I'll let it be.

[So long as Viktor is confidently steady, Vakama backs up a step, eyes flitting slightly to the floor at the compliment before clearing his throat and gesturing to the other side of the lab.]

I'd... like to see it in action, before we say as much. [Good, but not good enough, though he does have a little more energy in his tone at the confirmation that it's holding its own.]

Can you try a few paces? Just whatever speed comes naturally.
hexalding: (rather you not be here for)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
... [He smiled just faintly at the reaction to so minor a compliment, repressing a laugh as he walked closer to the makeshift forge in slow but mostly even steps.]

The joint is just a little too tight; good for keeping the whole frame together, but I need just a little more mobility.
crosswired: (118)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
[He'll nod, carefully following alongside with his eyes bright, trained on the clockwork even as he pulls one of his tools back from across the room into his hands with his telekinesis.]

We can adjust that easily enough. Is it just overall, or are you feeling it most at a certain point in motion? [He'll coax Viktor forward towards him with a wave of his hand.]
hexalding: (did i disappoint you)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[He wlked closer with a little more confidence, careful but not overly so.]

No, it's right about... [He bent his knee slightly as he took another step.] --there, more or less.
crosswired: (062)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
Alright... Alright, yes, I think I can see-- [The Toa will carefully take one of Viktor's wrists to place it against Vakama's shoulder as he kneels back down next to Viktor] Hang on just a second for me.

[The grip of his hands against Viktor's limb stay steady, perfectly fine supporting Viktor's weight as he feels for the strain between the metal of limb and metal of the bracework, one tool briefly left to float in midair as he works leverage to adjust one of the piston connections and straps associated with it.]

I wish we had the space to test faster speeds without getting into the range of fire from everything outside. Especially with that hoverboard of yours.
hexalding: (keep the memories of who i was)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
I do not need to move quickly--that is what the hoverboard is for in the first place.

[He balanced on Vakama's shoulder easily, picking up his right leg with only minimal wobbling.]

Do not worry overmuch about perfection, merely function. As long as I'm less likely to have it fail under strain, that will be enough.
crosswired: (047)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
You know what I mean -- there's so many variables that can't really be tested in so short of a time, and ruling at least some of them out would--

[As he rambles, his concentration definitely starts to slip as the tool floating midair wavers and then falls to the ground. Vakama jumps slightly at the noise, touch jolting against Viktor's leg, before he forces out an exhale. Then another, a little more deflated as he apologetically shakes his head.]

I... look, I know you are right. [He tries to readjust his grip, briefly, before his forehead leans to rest against Viktor's thigh.]

...I just want you to make it through this. ["As confidently as we can manage" sits on his lips, but it doesn't quite make it out.] I want to know that we've done everything we can.

That's all.
hexalding: (moving out to the country)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
I am well aware of the variables involved. But trying too hard to plan for the details will cause us to miss the wider picture and risk suffering for it.

[Concern and resolve both...he really did sound like Jayce, talking like that. The thought drew a rare and gentle smile out of Viktor, squeezing Vakama's shoulder lightly in support.]

Regardless of what outcome our efforts are ultmately met with, I trust in our work, my friend.
crosswired: (012)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
[Another exhale, before he nods against his touch to Viktor's leg, slowly lifting himself to trace his thumb down the jointwork.]

The clockwork all seems to be smooth enough. If only we had enough time for the top of this piston here to have a space for a track, or another gearset imbedded into the frame, but -- [He frowns in concentration, before using one of his tools to mark against the metal.] When we start to solder this to the frame, keeping this slightly further down should keep the angle right and still let you keep that range of motion--

[His mind is clearly working a mile a minute so he is going to keep yapping. RIP void archive doesn't get to see this.]
hexalding: (rather you not be here for)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 04:03 am (UTC)(link)
[The sincere smile did not leave Viktor's face at the continuous line of thought; prismatic eyes a soft red-tinged orange at the sheer familiarity of listening to someone ramble at length about their expertise.]

That should be fine. If it was encompassing as much space as my old one, I would have added in a few more load-bearing points and gears, but there is no need for a support that extensive anymore.
crosswired: (091)

[personal profile] crosswired 2025-03-08 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
We'll look forward to a time where you'll have the free time to modify it to your heart's content, right?

[With no time constraints or dangers looming over their heads - just a future, open and endless.

His hand lifts to take Viktor's as he lowers the man's leg back to the floor.]


There -- hopefully you should feel a difference with that much. Ah, just, follow me for a second here, I want to see how it pivots when you try to turn... [He'll walk backwards a few steps, still holding Viktor's wrist loosely.]
hexalding: (please don't let them see me)

[personal profile] hexalding 2025-03-08 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed we will. If I must go back to wearing one, I would like to at least be able to take my time with fine-tuning it.

[...How strange, he realized. For once, the idea of having to wear a brace to function properly didn't actually bother him as it used to. He didn't partcularly like the idea, certainly, but it registered as more a necessary annoyance than the deep-seated loathing of a visible weakness.]

[Beauty in imperfections, Viktor reminded himself as he followed Vakama's lead. Still a concept that was difficult to grasp, but as with all things--learning took time and experience.]

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