#tag: base raid

[eggman. Dead.]

[of course, it isn't actually eggman, but sonic doesn't need to know that yet :)]

*Sonic bounces between beams, hitting a perfect landing*

Nice! Knees didn't even hurt! Looks like I still got—what the heck is that?

*he dashes to "Eggman"*

I should probably head out soon...

You can stay as long as you like!

I know. Thanks, Big. But I'd better get to this base.

Are you sure you're ready?

My leg's all fine so I'm good to go!

... Hey, why don't you make this your safe point? Go off and have your adventures, but come home here every now and again to rest?

So Sonic says he saw Eggman in the base and when he went to touch him, he wasn't really there, and he disappeared when the base came down. Everyone is saying hologram or illusion. But... What if it's all in Sonic's head?

You said he saw Big on Starfall when he wasn't really there, right? Do you think maybe Sonic is just hallucinating...?

We've talked about the possibility, yeah.

I'm not concerned. After Sonic claimed to have spent time with Big on the Starfall Islands, I reached out to Tails. It seems the technology of the Ancients allowed all of them to see and interact with things that were individual to them, taken from their memories. While Big didn't appear to anyone else on the island, it's likely that Sonic conjured him as a way to deal with the trauma he was experiencing.

I'll bet he was pretty scared for his friends.

We don't have any reason to believe he's been having hallucinations.

*Sonic looks anxious at breakfast, foot tapping like he's ready to dash off*

Why don'cha call Amy? Ask if she knows about the other base?

Yeah, you guys are on the same side. She'll probably check it out with you if you ask.

Yeah. I guess. I just... That's the kinda thing I wanna do solo, y'know?

Then ask her to hold off on blowing the place up. Easy.

Are you SURE eggman's really retired and isn't just trying to pull one over on you?...

I mean I've been saying all along there's no way Eggman's really retired. It's everybody else who doesn't believe me.

Yeah, what's this about a hologram?

If you remember anything about it, maybe we can do some research while you do your thing!

*Sonic takes a tiny bite of lemon square. It's so good he feels a tear forming in his eye*

I don't know. It was dark down there and I was kinda thrown off by, y'know, seeing the ol' Doc dead.

Any projection source you could see? Strange devices nearby?

*Sonic finishes the lemon square and reaches for another*

Nope. Not that I saw. But, again, I was a little preoccupied. I couldn't touch it, though; my hand went straight through. Pretty sure it flickered and died out when the base started collapsing, so if there was tech nearby, it probably just got crushed.

You're not thinking Infinite, then?

*Sonic shakes his head, brushing crumbs off his lap*

If it was, he's lost his touch. His illusions were way more real. But I guess we can't all maintain perfection into our 20s...

*Shadow takes two more lemon squares. He places one in front of Sonic*

So we're looking for tech. If you find anything in the next base, take it to Tails.

You... You're not gonna stop me from checking out more bases?

Heh. Would you listen if we tried?

... No.

We know we can't stop you from sticking your nose in danger.

We have no interest in changing who you are.

All we wanna do is give you a safe place to come home to!

*Sonic tries to swallow past the tightness in his throat*

I don't wanna think about it, I wanna run straight in there!

How have you survived this long..?