World Collide: Triple Trouble

Cosmic Origins Part 4

Amy stood in the center of the room, addressing everyone both at the Resistance base and in Shang Tu through the communication screens. "I want to thank everyone for coming together," she began. "Whether you're here at the base or in Shang Tu, we're all part of the same team now, working toward a common goal."

On the screen, the Magister gave a nod of approval. "It is good to meet the members of the Resistance," he said warmly. "And I am glad to see Lilac, Carol, and Milla safe and sound."

Lilac, Carol, and Milla smiled at the Magister's words, each of them relieved to see a familiar face from their home. "It's good to hear from you too, Magister," Lilac replied.

Carol, however, quickly glanced around and frowned. "But wait… where's Fark? He's missing."

Sonic, catching onto the concern in her voice, asked, "Who's Fark?"

Amy took a step forward, turning to face Sonic. "Fark is a sentient robot who helped Team Lilac when the world changed," she explained. "From what I've gathered, his world was attacked by a malicious AI. The entire population got trapped in a server somewhere, and now he's looking for a way to restore them."

Tails, who had been listening intently, perked up. "I might be able to trace where that server is if I can meet up with him and get some more information," he suggested.

Tangle chimed in, eager to contribute. "I saw Cream talking with Team Chaotix earlier, so we've got extra eyes on the chase. They're really good at finding things, so hopefully, they'll come up with something soon."

Neera, still standing next to the Magister, crossed her arms. "At some point, we'll need to share information on who all our allies are," she said pragmatically. "It's important that we know who we can count on."

Amy nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. We need to be on the same page. As for Fark, he went with Jewel. She left a note saying there was a situation that required a diplomatic touch in Casino Night Zone, and she asked Fark to help her out."

As Amy spoke, Tails pulled out his Miles Electric and began tapping away at the screen. Within moments, images of Casino Night Zone appeared on both screens, at the Resistance base and in Shang Tu.

Lilac, Carol, and Milla's eyes widened in unison, recognizing the location. Neera's gaze sharpened as she analyzed the images. "It appears," she began, "that the place you call Casino Night Zone has been merged with Shang Mu."

Tangle tilted her head in curiosity. "What's Shang Mu?" she asked, her brow furrowing as she tried to make sense of the unfamiliar name.

General Gong, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward to explain. "Shang Mu is another kingdom of Avalice, our world," he began. "It's led by Mayor Zao. Unlike Shang Tu, which focuses on culture and tradition, Shang Mu is a port kingdom that emphasizes tourism and excitement. It's lively and often bustling with activity."

The Magister nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "Considering the name of the place it's merged with, Casino Night Zone, I suspect that negotiations with Mayor Zao might be… challenging. He's a man who enjoys his fun and games, sometimes too much."

Lanolin chimed in with a reassuring smile, "I have faith in Jewel. Diplomacy and paperwork are her fortes. If anyone can handle tricky negotiations with Mayor Zao, it's her."

The Magister gave a slight nod. "Very well," he conceded. "We'll trust Jewel's abilities. Now, let's return to the topic at hand." He glanced around at the assembled group, his gaze serious. "What do we all collectively know so far about our situation?"

Amy stepped forward, her tone businesslike as she began to explain. "About four hours ago, Doctor Eggman broke a mythical object known as the Cosmic Beryl. From what we understand, that object was what merged the three worlds together: Earth, Avalice, and Fark's world."

The Magister, Neera, and Gong exchanged surprised glances, clearly taken aback by the speed and efficiency with which the Resistance had mobilized. The Magister voiced their shared astonishment, saying, "I must admit, I'm impressed by how quickly you've managed to organize, especially across a vast and now unknown landscape."

Amy nodded, understanding their surprise. "After the Phantom Ruby incident and the subsequent Metal Virus outbreak caused by Eggman, we realized the importance of being prepared. We quickly reorganized and set up secure lines to agents working across the world. Eggman's plans might catch us unawares, but we've learned how to mobilize fast and fight back."

The Magister nodded thoughtfully, recalling his earlier conversation with Sonic. It was clear now that none of the Resistance members were reckless in their execution; they were prepared and resilient. This was good. It meant they had a strong chance against Eggman's forces.

"If the people of this combined planet must come together to stop Eggman," the Magister said, "then I will reach out to the Kingdom of Shuigang and King Dail for assistance."

As the Magister spoke, Amy silently recalled what Team Lilac had shared about Dail. She felt a pang of sympathy for him, knowing the hardships he'd endured. But she knew there was no time to dwell on it—they needed to press on with their mission.

Turning her attention back to the group, Amy addressed the Magister, Neera, and Gong. "Are there any individuals or factions in Avalice who might actually side with Eggman?" she asked, her voice serious.

Neera immediately responded. "The Red Scarves," she said, her tone sharp. "If there's any faction on Avalice that would benefit from working with Eggman, it would be them."

Lilac chimed in, a thoughtful expression on her face. "While I don't disagree with Neera's assessment, I'd like to think that Spade wouldn't work with someone like Eggman, who's essentially another Brevon. Big payout or not, it doesn't seem like him."

Gong sighed. "I'd like to believe that as well, except the entire organization has vanished."

Lilac, Neera, and Carol turned to Gong, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion. "What do you mean, they've vanished?" Lilac asked, her voice tense.

Gong sighed, explaining further. "After the incident with Merga and her forces, I had asked some members of the Red Scarves to keep a line of communication open with Shang Tu, just in case another worldwide incident occurred. One of them did, and she reported that about an hour after the merger, all the Red Scarves were gone. The only reason she wasn't with them is that she was out on a food run at the time."

Sonic chimed in, frowning thoughtfully. "I wouldn't put it past Eggman to have kidnapped the entire organization," he said. "He's dabbled in various methods of mind control before. It wouldn't be the first time he's tried something like this."

Tails nodded in agreement. "We should definitely keep an eye out for any of the Red Scarves, just in case," he suggested, looking around the room. The others nodded, agreeing with Tails' suggestion.

The Magister then addressed the group, his tone serious. "For now, everyone should be on high alert. We need to try to quell the chaos that this merger has caused. Keep your eyes open and stay vigilant."

Sonic turned to Amy, a question on his mind. "How far is Shang Mu from here, currently?" he asked.

Amy checked a map on one of the consoles, quickly calculating the distance. "Shang Mu is actually closer to the Resistance base than we are to Shang Tu. Even at your normal speeds, it would take about thirty minutes to get there from here."

Carol, always curious and blunt, couldn't help but ask, "How fast are you, exactly?"

Tails grinned, jumping in before Sonic could answer. "Well, we haven't exactly measured how fast Sonic really goes, mainly because he casually breaks the sound barrier when he runs," Tails explained.

The Avalice team looked at Sonic in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief. Lilac, in particular, was stunned. She was known for being the fastest on her planet, and the idea that Sonic could break the sound barrier so easily sparked something within her.

As Lilac processed this revelation, she felt a competitive spark ignite in her chest. She admitted to herself that she wanted to race Sonic more than ever. The thought of testing her speed against someone who could casually break the sound barrier filled her with excitement and determination.
Sonic looked at Amy expectantly. "So, what's the plan, Amy?"

Amy nodded, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking. "I think the Magister's suggestion is our best option for now. We need to protect the citizens and start building a new network to keep an eye out for Eggman and his forces. We have to be ready for anything."

She turned to Tails next. "Tails, I'd like you to stay here in Shang Tu and help coordinate efforts. We're going to need your technical skills to keep everything running smoothly."

Tails nodded, understanding the importance of his role. "Got it, Amy. I'll make sure everything is set up here."

Amy then turned to Tangle and Whisper. "Tangle, Whisper, can you two join Lanolin here in Shang Tu to help out? We're going to need all the hands we can get to keep things under control."

Tangle immediately agreed, her enthusiasm showing. "Absolutely! We're on it!" Whisper gave a firm nod, her quiet resolve evident.

Amy then looked at Lilac. "Lilac, do you think you could meet up with Sonic in Shang Mu? It's not that I don't trust Jewel or Fark, but I have this bad feeling about them not having backup. I think it would be good to have you there just in case."

Lilac nodded, understanding Amy's concern. "Of course, Amy. I'll head to Shang Mu right away."

Sonic grinned, confident as always. "I'll push it and be back at the Resistance Base in five minutes. I trust your instincts on this, Amy."

Amy blushed slightly at Sonic's words, feeling a small flutter of pride and embarrassment. "Thanks, Sonic," she said softly.

Sonic turned to Lilac, his grin widening. "It'll be fun working with a new friend," he said, his excitement evident.

Lilac smiled back, feeling a surge of determination. "Same here, Sonic. Let's do this."

With a plan in place and everyone ready to move, the group prepared to set out on their respective missions, all with the singular thought of keeping Eggman from his plans.

Doctor Eggman sat on his ornate throne, drumming his fingers on the armrest, deep in thought. The chaotic merger of worlds had seemed like the perfect opportunity for him to capitalize on the ensuing confusion and expand his empire. But things hadn't gone as planned. Within just four hours, two of his bases had been shut down by an unknown assailant. The fact that this person was moving faster than Sonic was particularly troubling.

Eggman paused in his musings, his eyes narrowing. He stood up abruptly, frustration evident in his movements. "Sage!" he called out, his voice echoing through the cavernous room.

In a flash, Sage appeared before him, her digital form shimmering with a subtle glow. "Yes, Father?" she responded, her tone calm and obedient.

"Were there any energy signatures detected at any of the fallen bases?" Eggman demanded, his mind already working through the possibilities.

Sage closed her eyes for a moment, scanning the data streams that flowed through her consciousness. After a brief pause, she opened her eyes again. "There was an energy signature similar to the one emitted by the Cosmic Beryl, Father," she reported.

Eggman growled, his fists clenching. "I knew I should've executed that rodent," he muttered angrily.

Sitting nearby, Clutch the Opossum leaned forward, intrigued by Eggman's reaction. "Is there a problem, Doctor?" he asked, his voice smooth and calculating.

Eggman turned to glare at Clutch, his expression dark. "The Guardian of the Cosmic Beryl has been targeting my bases," he explained, irritation lacing his words.

Clutch let out a thoughtful hum, his eyes narrowing as he considered this new information. "I see. Perhaps my newest acquisition and I could be of some service," he suggested.

Eggman raised an eyebrow, turning to face Clutch fully. Beside Clutch floated a giant cephalopod-shaped drone with a green hue, its many tentacles gently waving in the air. "And what is this?" Eggman inquired, eyeing the drone with interest.

The drone responded in a smooth, mechanical voice, "I am Syntax. Master Clutch had me repaired. I possess information on this world and other worlds my previous master had conquered, as well as advanced technology that may interest you, Doctor Eggman."

Eggman's eyes gleamed with interest, a grin spreading across his face. "And what exactly do you want in return for this assistance, Clutch?"

Clutch leaned back, a confident smirk on his face. "I'm a businessman through and through, Doctor. There's a hub of commerce waiting for the right person to take over. Shang Mu is ripe for the taking, and with your help, we could establish another shared foothold on this new planet."

Eggman chuckled darkly, pleased by Clutch's ambition. "I like the way you think, Clutch. Very well, you have a deal. Let's see what this Syntax can do for us, and then we'll take Shang Mu for ourselves."

As the group continued to wait for Sonic to return, Lilac couldn't help but feel a question nagging at the back of her mind. She glanced over at Amy, who was busy coordinating with the others, and decided to approach her. "Hey, Amy," Lilac began, trying to keep her tone light, "I've got a non-serious question, but it's something that's been on my mind since I got here."

Amy looked up from her work, a friendly smile on her face. "Sure, Lilac. Ask away. I'll do my best to answer it."

Lilac hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out how to phrase her question. "I was just wondering… why don't the guys here wear clothes? I mean, aside from gloves and shoes. I've noticed it's pretty common around the base."

Amy blinked in surprise at the question, realizing that Lilac wouldn't know, given that she was from another world. After a moment of thought, Amy blushed slightly, understanding why this might seem odd to Lilac. "Oh, I guess that would be confusing," Amy said, chuckling nervously. "So, here's the thing: male Mobians do wear clothing, but in general, they emit a sort of chaos field that… well, it hides things."

Lilac tilted her head, intrigued. "A chaos field?"

Amy nodded, still blushing a bit. "Yeah, it's something male Mobians do unconsciously. This chaos field sort of acts like a barrier, making it so that they don't actually need to wear clothes for modesty. Plus, as long as they're wearing gloves and shoes, that same field tricks the brain into thinking they're fully dressed. It's just how things are here."

Lilac nodded slowly, taking in the explanation. "Interesting… I guess that makes sense in a weird way. Thanks for explaining it to me, Amy."

Amy smiled, glad to clear up the confusion. "No problem, Lilac. I'm always happy to help answer any questions you have."

Suddenly, a huge burst of wind swept across the room, knocking over papers, chairs, and anything not securely fastened. Lilac and Amy instinctively covered their eyes to shield themselves from the gust. As the wind died down, they heard a familiar voice.

"Sorry about that, everyone!" Sonic called out, standing in the middle of the room. "It's been a while since I've hit that level of speed."

Amy laughed, waving away the mess as if it were nothing. "Did you at least avoid any civilians?" she teased.

Sonic grinned, nodding confidently. "Yep, didn't run into a single one. I'm still as good as ever."

Lilac stared at Sonic, stunned. She had thought they were exaggerating about his speed, but he really did run from Shang Tu to the Resistance base in five minutes flat. "Wow, I thought you guys were just hyping up Sonic's speed," she said, still amazed. "But you really are that fast."

Sonic turned to Lilac, his grin widening. "We really do have to race sometime," she added, excitement in her voice.

"Anytime," Sonic replied with a thumbs-up, clearly thrilled at the challenge.

Amy let out a giggle, watching the two of them. "You two can flirt another time," she teased, causing Lilac's cheeks to turn a deep shade of red. Sonic shot Amy a slightly unimpressed look, but Amy knew him well enough to catch the slight hint of fluster beneath his cool demeanor. She wasn't going to call him out on it, though; they had more important things to focus on.

"Alright, let's get ready for the mission," Amy said, bringing everyone back to the task at hand.

Back in Shang Tu, the Magister and Neera stood alone on the balcony, overlooking the city. The soft glow of the evening sky reflected off the ancient stone walls, and the distant sounds of the bustling city below seemed almost peaceful compared to the chaos they were preparing for.

Neera turned to the Magister, her expression serious yet tinged with a hint of guilt. "I must apologize for thrusting you back into such a position," she began, her voice quiet. "Especially after you were so adamant about stepping down."

The Magister shook his head, a calm smile on his face. "It is of no trouble, Neera. We cannot hold an election when so many lives across many worlds are at stake. I will guide the people of Avalice for as long as they will have me."

Neera hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "Perhaps… you should continue to rule until we can resolve this situation peacefully. When the time comes, we can revisit the idea of elections. But for now, with everything going on, this could be your way of atoning for the injustices our people have caused."

The Magister let out a soft laugh, his eyes filled with warmth. "Your suggestion is wise, Neera. And it brings me peace knowing that the kingdom is in good hands with you beside me."

He paused, observing her with a thoughtful expression. "Spending time with Sash Lilac and her friends has allowed you to grow in ways I did not expect," the Magister added, his voice laced with pride.

Neera blushed, embarrassed by the praise. She turned her gaze back to the city, trying to hide her reddening cheeks. "Thank you, Magister," she mumbled, humbled by his words.

The Magister also looked out over the city of Shang Tu, his eyes thoughtful as he surveyed the bustling streets below. After a moment, he spoke again, his tone reflective. "Believe it or not, Neera, Sonic would have been the perfect choice as my replacement if he had been born on Avalice."

Neera turned to the Magister, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Sonic? But… why would you say that?"

The Magister smiled faintly and continued. "When I spoke with Sonic, I asked him two questions. The answers he gave spoke highly of his character, beyond what he shows on the surface. Despite his playful and energetic attitude, he understands when to be both a sword and a shield for the people. He knows when to fight and when to show mercy. He also has the ability to look farther ahead than one would suspect, planning for the future rather than just living in the moment."

Neera fell into thought, processing the Magister's words. She had only seen Sonic's infuriating smirk and his carefree demeanor, and it was difficult for her to reconcile that with the depth the Magister described.

Seeing her contemplative expression, the Magister added gently, "One day, Neera, you will understand what both Sonic and I know. Sometimes, true leadership is about more than just strategy and strength. It's about knowing when to fight and when to forgive, when to act and when to hold back. Sonic embodies that balance, even if it's not immediately obvious."

Neera nodded slowly, still mulling over his words. She realized she had much to learn about these new allies and the complexities of leadership.

Jewel rubbed her temples, trying to soothe the headache that was threatening to overwhelm her. She and Fark were in a hotel room in Shang Mu, and the constant noise of construction outside wasn't helping. The sounds of drills and heavy machinery filled the air as workers toiled to expand and remodel the city.

Fark watched her, worry etched on his mechanical face. "Are you okay? You look like you're about to burst a blood vessel," he said, his concern evident.

Jewel sighed, thinking about the situation they had stumbled into. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "When we arrived here in Shang Mu, Mayor Zao had already annexed the entire Casino Night Zone, claiming it as part of his territory. Now he's turning it into the largest entertainment hub on the planet. He doesn't seem to care about the merged worlds, just that his people's lives aren't interrupted. I guess that's admirable in its own way, but it's hard to take him seriously when he's more focused on building battle arenas, casinos, malls, and who knows what else."

She paused, rubbing her forehead again. "This isn't what I expected at all."

Fark nodded, absorbing her words. "Do you think we should report this back to the Resistance Base?"

Jewel considered it for a moment, the weight of the decision pressing on her. "We do need to convince Mayor Zao to join our cause, that's true," she said slowly. "But I can't shake the feeling that it's going to take something massive to make him listen. He's so set in his ways and focused on his own goals."

Fark thought about it, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Maybe we just need to stick around for a bit," he suggested. "It's not ideal, but people like Zao need a reason to listen. Maybe if we're here, we'll find a way to make it work out. And in the meantime, we can gather information, see what we can use to convince him."

Jewel glanced over at him, a hint of a smile on her lips. "You might be right," she said, feeling a little more hopeful. "But you look like you need to rest anyway," Fark added, his tone becoming amused.

Jewel flushed, embarrassed by his observation. "You're probably right," she admitted, letting out a small laugh. "I could use some sleep. What about you? I know you don't need to sleep."

Fark shrugged. "I'll do some digging around. Maybe I'll find something useful that can help with the talks. I'll keep an eye on things while you rest."

Jewel smiled, grateful for his support. "Thanks, Fark," she said as he headed for the door. Once he left the room, she sighed, feeling the weight of her responsibilities settle on her shoulders. As she got ready for bed, she reminded herself that she was the leader of the Resistance, and she needed to win this for everyone. With that thought, she lay down, hoping to find some rest before the challenges of the next day.

Edit: I don't know what's going on with the Document manager but its causing a parts of my story to just vanish. Its really concerning.