Initiative Island, Act 1

[mach_n_roll]

[Video]

Hey guys! Anyone got a clue what's going on with training? Ever since that VR stuff went down I haven't been able to do anything over at the training center! C'mon! I'm gettin' antsy!

[Action]

[And what does Sonic do when he gets antsy? He runs. Although to call what he does "running" is accurate, it barely does it justice. He speeds through the roads and marketplace, springs off of awnings, swings on rebar and throws himself ever higher to the rooftops, flipping, sliding, bouncing, grinding on disused power lines and jumping from one wall to the other... In fact, he spends as much time in the air as on the ground.]

[Maybe you catch him while he's on the ground between runs. Maybe you find him on the rooftops. Or maybe... well, people make mistakes, even someone who's been doing this forever like Sonic. A sudden gust of wind, a missed trajectory, and next thing you know he's crashing through your apartment window by accident while your in the middle of something. Whups.]

Comments

[hornedomen]

[He could understand that. He had to explain several times to others what would be common knowledge in his world.]

I think it’s the same for everyone. We’re all from different worlds so there’s not much we understand about each other.

[The store he went to was one he worked in before. He only did minor cleaning but he was familiar with the wares sold here. He gathered a few supplies, tools, and a new window. It came out to just under 200 Marques but Ico was not bothered by it. Besides, Koltira could likely use these tools after he was done with it.]

Sonic, could you hold onto this? [This meaning the supplies and tools.] I’ll carry the window.

[mach_n_roll]

Sure! You got that window? Looks heavy.

[He moves ahead, fast even with the weight of the tools, and gets the door for him.]

[hornedomen]

Thank you, I’ll be fine.

[It was not heavy for him but it was bulky and awkward. He had to walk slower to be careful he did not drop it.]

When we get back, I’ll take out the broken window but I’ll need your help to put in the new one.

[mach_n_roll]

[Sonic alternates between scurrying ahead to speak to him and falling behind as one thing or another along the way catches his eye....]

So where're you from? I think I should get to know you a little at least.

[hornedomen]

I’m from Toksa. It’s a small village, but there’s lots of forest and the lakes are clean.

[The city did not compare. Everything here felt dirty, even the air. When he approached the stairs, he ascended one step at a time.]

What about you? Where are you from?

[mach_n_roll]

One of the Earths.

[Wow, that's a weird thing to say. "One of the Earths."]

Things're cleaner there too. And there are a lot more animals and plants around. I actually wonder what people did HERE to get rid of 'em all, to tell the truth... I didn't think it was possible.

[hornedomen]

[Somehow, it was not that weird when he heard it from a gigantic blue hedgehog.]

I didn’t think so either.

[He reached the apartment and placed the window in his room. Luckily, his room was rather bare so he did not need to clean anything. He started by removing the parts of the broken window until only the frame was left.]

I need the screwdriver.

[mach_n_roll]

Hereyago.

[Screwdriver!]

So... You think we can clean this world up?

[hornedomen]

Thank you. How will we do that?

[He glanced at Sonic before unscrewing the frame. Once that was out, he took the chisel and hammer to loosen it up. It was simple enough and he took it out the frame and cleaned up the residue.]

I’ll help you if you know a way. I’ve seen some of the animals here, they look sick.

[mach_n_roll]

Same way we're supposed to fight the UE guys!

[He'll help lift and set the frame where he can.]

If we can swap out whatever caused all this smoke and damage way back when it was still being developed, then we should be able to change things! Now I dunno anything about technology... but I know someone who does who might just be willing to help!

[hornedomen]

[Ico pushed a chair over first before he took the new frame. Both of them were rather small so he had to stand on it.]

Who is it?

[While he was not too keen about going to the Initiative, this world was in bad shape and something needed to be done.]

[mach_n_roll]

My buddy Tails! He's an engineering genius! If anyone who can figure out alternatives that won't smoke up or require a bunch of forests cut down, he can!

[hornedomen]

I’d like to meet him sometime. How far have you gone with this plan? Have you told the Initiative about this?

[After he prepared, he waved Sonic over and grabbed one end of the frame.]

Help me put this in, please.

[mach_n_roll]

Actually I just thought of it! You're the one that gave me the idea!

[He takes the other end and works to wedge the window into place.]

I dunno if I'll tell the Initiative or not. Probably. Thing is, they're used to this place being all dirty and tapped out, so they may not know what they're missing.

[hornedomen]

[While he did not like the Initiative, it seemed foolish to go without their guidance.]

But they will probably know when it all started and how else will we go back in time?

[The window fit without a problem and Ico put the chair away. Once he checked that everything was level, he took the screwdriver and began fastening it.]

[mach_n_roll]

There's that too! So yeah, I'll talk to Tails and then, I dunno, go over there and tell the idea to the first guy I can find.

[Solid plan, Sonic. That just might NOT fail.]

This world deserves to be in better shape than this! Or at the very least, Exsilium does. I guess the rest of the world will follow if we can stop the other guys from takin' over like we're trying to do.

[hornedomen]

[At least he had something of a plan to fix this.]

Just don’t stop until you find the answers. I’ll go with you if you need it. This will be good for everyone or else we might all become sick.

[He put in the last screw and stepped back.]

That’s it for now; I’ll seal it later. Thanks, Sonic.