Chapter 2: Tropical Resort
The stars gleamed brilliantly against the dark, infinite canvas of space, casting a silver glow over the serene blue planet far below. Yet the real spectacle wasn't on Mobius, but above it, where a massive structure floated among the stars—Egg Planet Park. Five planets, each captured and tethered to the center of this cosmic playground. At the heart of it all was a colossal mecha-shaped centerpiece, glimmering like a jewel in the vacuum of space. Towering above the planets, the Egg Mecha gleamed with polished steel and vibrant lights, its menacing shape a strange contradiction to the inviting neon glow of its attractions.
In the distance, Tropical Resort spread out like a sprawling paradise in the stars, suspended in the void. Vibrant lights flashed from the various attractions, reflecting off the glittering stars around it, while platforms floated above and below, connected by gleaming walkways. It was a sight to behold—an amusement park that seemed plucked from the dreams of the most imaginative child, brought to life in the cold expanse of space.
Dr. Eggman's voice crackled through the air, echoing across the space station.
"Welcome to Eggman's Incredible Interstellar Amusement Park, where you can enjoy five planets for the price of one!"
Sonic and Tails walked toward the entrance of Tropical Resort, the first zone of Eggman's vast playground. The pair looked up as the message played on repeat through speakers lining the brightly lit paths.
"He loves to hear his own lips flap," Sonic smirked, as he glanced up at one of the holographic projectors displaying Eggman's grinning face. "But I gotta hand it to Eggster… He's seemingly come back from the dead, and also made this place look pretty epic. Everyone and their brother is gonna want to come here."
The duo walked onwards, the neon-lit path ahead of them was paved with colorful tiles that shimmered beneath the soft glow of distant starlight. Bright, flashing signs advertised the various zones within the amusement park—candy-coated lands, underwater attractions, and high-speed roller coasters that defied gravity. The sweet scent of artificially concocted tropical fruits wafted through the air, mixing with the fresh, cool breeze that circulated the floating platforms. The sound of cheerful music played softly in the background, barely masking the mechanical hum of the park's systems.
"Yeah, I guess," Tails nodded, his eyes scanning the seemingly harmless surroundings. The fox's twin tails twitched thoughtfully as they passed by rows of towering palm trees and synthetic greenery, each leaf perfectly sculpted as though plucked from a tropical postcard. "But I'm not sure why we're here. This place looks totally harmless. And empty."
"Because, buddy, Eggman plus 'secretly built amusement park' equals an evil plot for us to foil," Sonic remarked. "C'mon, you know the drill. The dude's been stuck in the Realm of Darkness for who knows how long. He's probably been itchin' to announce his 'grand return'."
Tails hesitated, rubbing his chin.
"True, but... maybe the Realm of Darkness changed him?" he mused in thought.
Sonic let out a short laugh before he replied.
"Yeah, right! Trust me, Tails. I've been there, and if anything, it probably just made him worse."
Both of them stopped at the edge of a balcony, staring out into the endless expanse of space. Below, Mobius spun slowly and serenely. From this height, the world they had fought so hard to protect seemed fragile yet beautiful—a delicate sphere adrift in the vast, silent cosmos.
"Wow…" they whispered together, the word escaping their lips without thought, filled with a sense of wonder they rarely allowed themselves.
The spectacle of the cosmos above them and Mobius below felt surreal.
"But…" Sonic finally broke the silence, his voice cutting through the stillness, "you can't be mad at this view." He grinned, though there was a trace of something deeper behind his usual bravado. "This place is takin' beauty to the next level. I'm just surprised it was so easy to sneak in here."
Tails, still captivated by the sight, tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Uh, I wouldn't exactly say it was easy," he replied, his tone half-amused, half-exasperated.
A flashback flickered through their minds.
Eggman's Ultra-Accelerating Space Elevator rose like a spear from the surface of Mobius, launching a single car up toward Tropical Resort. The sleek elevator cut through the clouds, reaching for the stars.
"Hello, happy people!" Eggman's voice echoed cheerfully from the elevator's speaker system. "Buckle up, as Eggman's Ultra-Accelerating Space Elevator whisks you to an interplanetary wonderland of fun!"
Inside the car, Sonic leaned back casually, while Tails clutched the sides of his seat.
"I still can't believe someone was dumb enough to leave the keys in this thing!" Sonic said, grinning from ear to ear. "It's like Eggman's begging us to sneak in and trash the place."
Tails grimaced as the elevator shot upward with insane speed.
"M-m-man, this thing's got crazy fast acceleration!"
"Hmph! You call this fast?" Sonic teased, his trademark smirk unwavering.
The elevator shot through the clouds, blasting toward the amusement park. Eggman's voice continued to play over the speakers:
"This amusement park has been constructed entirely out of a sense of remorse for my past transgressions and is in no way associated with any sort of evil plot or premeditated misdeeds."
Sonic rolled his eyes, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"Well, that's a relief! Next time, I'll invite Leon and co, after he nearly turned Traverse Town into rubble."
Back in the present, Sonic and Tails turned away from the awe-inspiring view of Mobius, the vibrant hues of their world hanging like a distant jewel beneath the amusement park. The glowing path ahead seemed to stretch infinitely into the heart of the Tropical Resort, bathed in neon lights that flickered softly against the backdrop of the starry void. Palm trees swayed gently in the artificial breeze, their leaves rustling faintly, adding to the uncanny sense of calm that hung in the air.
Tails rubbed the side of his head, his twin tails swishing in agitation.
"Just thinking about all this makes my head want to—"
But before he could finish, the tranquility was shattered by a loud crash that echoed from the entryway, followed by the unmistakable sounds of clattering and frantic shouting. Sonic and Tails whipped around, their instincts kicking in as they sprinted toward the noise.
Rounding the corner, they were greeted by a chaotic scene. Orbot and Cubot, each holding a net, were stumbling over themselves, trying desperately to capture two glowing, alien-like creatures that darted and weaved through the air like living fireflies. But they weren't alone in the chase—a swarm of Shadow Heartless, with their inky black bodies and eerie glowing eyes, slinked across the ground, their twisted limbs flailing as they attempted to corner the frightened aliens.
"Yee haw! Git along, lil' aliens!" Cubot hollered out in excitement
Orbot, dashing forward with far less enthusiasm, groaned in frustration as he side-eyed his partner.
"Your voice chip is stuck on cowboy mode again! For the last time, focus on catching those creatures!"
The glowing aliens zipped and zigzagged in erratic patterns, their luminous forms pulsing with energy, dodging Cubot's flailing net with ease. Meanwhile, the Heartless weren't much better. Their shadowy bodies collided with one another, tripping over themselves and each other in their clumsy attempt to grab the creatures. Their yellow eyes blinked in confusion as they grasped at thin air.
From their vantage point, Sonic and Tails exchanged a bewildered glance.
"So, the Heartless are here, huh?" Sonic muttered in suprise. "And chasing aliens... that's a new one."
"And Orbot and Cubot are here too?!" Tails replied in confusion, scratching the top of his head. "Hey Sonic, do you think they are working with Eggman again? They've been radio silent for weeks!"
"I don't know what those two bucketheads are up to, but I know what I'm gonna do!" Sonic remarked with a grin.
With a confident leap, Sonic launched himself off the platform. He became a streak of blue motion, zipping through the air and landing squarely between the glowing aliens and their would-be captors. In one fluid motion, he knocked Cubot's net aside just as the bumbling robot lunged, sending the net flying into a nearby palm tree.
"What in tarnation?!" Cubot yelped, stumbling backward as his net tangled in the branches overhead.
Sonic scooped up the two trembling alien creatures, skillfully dodging the slow, clumsy swipes of the Heartless with ease. Their shadowy tendrils flailed wildly but met nothing but air. One of the Heartless tried to leap at Sonic, but its gangly limbs tangled with another, sending both sprawling into a heap of limbs on the ground. Sonic couldn't help but chuckle.
The glowing creatures, now safely cradled in Sonic's arms, hummed with an animated energy, their tiny forms still trembling but clearly relieved to be out of harm's way. Sonic gave them a reassuring nod.
Orbot's eyes widened in disbelief as the realisation of who had interfered hit him.
"S-Sonic?!" he muttered.
High above, Sonic placed the two aliens down gently on a ledge. He turned back to the robots, flashing his signature grin.
"Hey, guys! Long time, no see!" he said loudly.
The Heartless struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Orbot shook his head in defeat, while Cubot let out a groan of frustration.
"Darn Heartless!" Cubot grumbled, jabbing a metal finger toward Sonic. "Get that blue varmint!"
But before the Heartless could even make another attempt, one of the glowing aliens shot toward Sonic. A brilliant flash of cyan light enveloped the hedgehog as the creature merged with him.
"Whoa!" Sonic exclaimed.
In an instant, Sonic's entire form shimmered, transforming into a streak of pure cyan energy. The air crackled with electricity as Sonic became a living beam of light, his body now a blazing bolt of power. The Heartless could do nothing but watch in confusion as Sonic shot across the amusement park like a streak of lightning.
Orbot and Cubot could only watch in stunned silence as Sonic vanished in a flash of light.
"Well… that was unexpected," Orbot muttered, blinking in disbelief.
"Bah!" Cubot groaned, crossing his arms. "The boss ain't gonna be happy about this..."
Back by the high ledge, Tails stood next to the other saved alien. The alien floated up to him, bouncing excitedly and speaking in an animated string of gibberish.
Tails blinked, trying to make sense of the rapid-fire chatter.
"Uh, hi there. I, uh, don't know what you're saying, but I'm guessing you're happy Sonic helped, right?"
The alien nodded eagerly, spinning in place and bouncing around Tails in excitement. Its movements were full of life, its strange language punctuated with chirps and hums that made Tails smile.
"Looks like your friend Sonic saved is full of energy," Tails remarked with a chuckle, watching as the alien continued to speak in its strange language.
Though Tails couldn't understand a word, he could tell the creature—Yacker, as he'd soon learn—was grateful.
"Don't worry. We'll figure out what's going on here," Tails affirmed with a smile.
High above the dazzling lights of the Tropical Resort, a figure hovered silently, her eyes narrowing as she watched the chaos unfold below. The blue streak—quick, almost too quick for the naked eye—darted through the heart of the park, leaving trails of energy in its wake. The way that glowing creature interacted with him, the power he wielded—it didn't sit right with her.
"That blue blur..." she thought, suspicion burning in her gaze. "Is he working with this Eggman?"
Her instincts told her to act fast. With a determined flicker of golden light, she shot off across the park, leaving a streak behind her as she raced to catch him.
Tropical Resort - Act 1
Music: Tropical Resort - Act 1 - Sonic Colors
Sonic materalised at the starting point of the Tropical Resort, the neon lights and flashing signs of Eggman's grand spectacle reflecting off his quills. The wide, tiled path stretched out before him, lined with palm trees swaying gently under the artificial breeze. High above, rails spiraled in impossible loops, and platforms hovered in mid-air, ready to be traversed. Even now, Sonic had to admit, Eggman sure knew how to make things look cool.
But looks were deceiving. The faint buzz of electricity hummed in the air, and in the shadows, the inky forms of Shadow Heartless and their larger, more menacing counterparts, Neoshadows, slithered into view. Their yellow eyes gleamed, locking onto Sonic.
"Heartless again?" Sonic muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, let's see what you've got."
Without wasting another second, Sonic burst forward with his signature boost, the world around him becoming a blur of motion. The ground quaked slightly beneath his shoes as he accelerated, blasting through the first wave of Shadow Heartless in one fluid motion. They scattered like shadows in the wind, dissolving into darkness as Sonic sped past them.
Up ahead, a series of platforms suspended above a reflecting pool beckoned. Sonic smirked. Time for some acrobatics. He leaped into the air, spinning into a homing attack, bouncing effortlessly from one floating platform to another. Each hit sent a Neoshadow flying back before disintegrating.
As he landed on the next platform, Eggman's voice boomed over the loudspeakers, crackling with artificial cheer.
"Please refrain from throwing coins, trash, or small children into the reflecting pools!"
"I'll keep that in mind, Egghead!" Sonic laughed, dashing forward once again.
The path ahead opened up into a massive loop, with rails crisscrossing in mid-air. Sonic launched himself onto one of the rails, grinding at breakneck speed as the neon lights of the resort whizzed by him. Below, more Heartless gathered, but they had no hope of catching him.
The lights of the resort glimmered around Sonic as he leaped off the rail and continued his sprint through the winding paths. As he ran, the glowing cyan creature zipped into view—the same one from before, still pulsing with energy. The alien hovered in front of Sonic.
"Oh, you again?" Sonic remarked in suprise.
Before he could react, the Wisp shot into him, and suddenly, a voice from nowhere shouted:
"LASER!"
Sonic stumbled for a split second, startled.
"Whoa, what the—?!"
Before he could finish, Sonic felt a surge of power coursing through his body. His entire form crackled with energy, and suddenly, he transformed into a streak of cyan light, zipping forward faster than even he expected. He shot through narrow gaps between buildings, bouncing off reflective surfaces like a beam of light.
"This is insane!" Sonic shouted as he zipped through the heart of the park, his laser form slicing through groups of Heartless like they weren't even there. Neoshadows dissolved in his wake, unable to react to the blazing speed he now possessed.
As Sonic's laser form dissipated, he found himself skidding to a stop at the base of another winding loop, grinning from ear to ear.
"Okay, that was freaky, but awesome!" he admitted, before picking up speed again and zooming through the loop.
As Sonic kept speeding along, Eggman's voice crackled to life again, clearly trying to keep our hero distracted.
"Would Sonic the Hedgehog please report to the security office? Sonic the Hedgehog, please report to the security office. We found your... uh... YOUR KEYS! Yes, that's it! Totally not a trap!"
Sonic snorted as he responded, "Yeah, sure, Eggman. That's convincing."
As he sprinted forward again, another Eggman announcement cut through the air.
"Please be aware that the Heartless are now part of our highly trained, professional security team. They are here to protect you... though, in all honesty, they're just as likely to attack you. So, good luck!"
Sonic rolled his eyes at the announcement.
"Yeah, that's a lawsuit just waiting to happen," he quipped, smirking as he sped forward.
The next stretch of the resort was packed with Heartless, but Sonic wasn't worried. He charged up his spin dash, curling into a tight ball of blue energy and plowing through a horde of Neoshadows in his path. The Heartless barely had time to react before they were sent flying in all directions.
The path opened up into a massive courtyard filled with floating platforms and spiraling rails. Sonic didn't slow down, leaping from one platform to the next, each homing attack sending a Heartless spinning off into the neon-lit sky. The sheer verticality of the area gave Sonic a chance to show off his agility, bouncing from rail to rail with fluid precision.
Above him, a massive structure loomed—Eggman's towering security building, its exterior plastered with grinning holographic images of the doctor himself. Just then, Eggman's voice crackled again over the PA system.
"The unfiltered starlight from the lovely constellations above is full of deadly radiation! Help yourself to our complimentary SPF 3000 Starblock. And by complimentary, I mean quite expensive."
Sonic shook his head as he leapt off a rail, his momentum carrying him forward with ease. The wind rushed past his face, and the neon glow of Tropical Resort lit the path ahead.
"You're really trying hard with these distractions, Eggman," Sonic muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Suddenly, the air shifted, and a large group of Neoshadows emerged from the shadows ahead, slithering across the path like dark phantoms. Their glowing eyes fixating on Sonic, ready to pounce.
"Alright, time for round two!" Sonic's grin widened as the familiar glow of the Cyan Wisp zipped up beside him, pulsing with energy.
Without hesitation, the Wisp shot into him, merging with his form. A booming voice rang out from nowhere: "LASER!"
Sonic blinked, still caught off guard by the mysterious announcer, but the surge of energy quickly took over. His body crackled with cyan light, transforming him into a streak of pure energy once more. Sonic became the living laser, zipping forward with a speed that made the world around him blur into nothingness.
The Neoshadows didn't stand a chance. Sonic ricocheted between the walls of the narrow path, bouncing from one to another in flashes of cyan brilliance. Each Neoshadow he collided with disintegrated on impact, their dark forms vanishing into clouds of smoke and shadow. Sonic's laser form cut through the Heartless like a blade, blasting through tight spaces and zipping past obstacles with effortless precision.
As the final Neoshadows disintegrated, leaving behind only a dark mist, Sonic slowed his pace. The cyan light faded from his body, and he returned to his normal form, his footsteps light as he skidded to a halt. Ahead of him, glowing with a familiar welcoming light, was the massive Goal Ring, hovering in mid-air like a rotating portal of victory.
"Man, I could get used to this power!" Sonic exclaimed. "Eggman's little theme park isn't so bad when you've got speed like this."
With the Heartless defeated and no more obstacles in sight, Sonic sprinted toward the floating Goal Ring, the vibrant lights of Tropical Resort glowing brighter as he closed in. The ring spun slowly, its aura shimmering like a prize waiting to be claimed.
Just as Sonic prepared to leap through it, Eggman's voice crackled over the park's speakers one last time:
"Would the owner of a white hovercar shaped like an egg please report to the front desk? Your car has been broken into. Wait... what the heck?!"
Sonic burst out laughing mid-stride, his momentum carrying him straight through the spinning ring. The glow of the Goal Ring washed over him as he passed through, signaling the completion of his run. He landed on the other side, skidding to a graceful stop, his laughter echoing across the park as Eggman's flustered voice faded into the distance.
"Too easy," Sonic said, still chuckling as the ring's rotation slowed behind him.
The adventure wasn't over—Sonic knew this was just the beginning. Eggman was still out there, lurking somewhere with whatever twisted scheme he was cooking up with the Heartless. Things were definitely going to get more complicated from here. But for now, Sonic allowed himself a brief moment to savour the victory. He took in the neon-lit splendor of Tropical Resort with a satisfied grin, his eyes reflecting the vibrant colors of the park.
Before Sonic could fully catch his breath, the Cyan Wisp zipped back into view, circling around him excitedly. Without warning, it surged into his body once more.
"Whoa!" Sonic exclaimed, his body lighting up as he transformed into a streak of cyan energy yet again.
In a flash, he was zipping through the air, the wind rushing past him as he darted back toward Tails and the alien he saved earlier.
"Guess I'm not done yet!" Sonic thought.
Rank: S
Meanwhile...
Tails sat on a large blue and yellow toolbox along the Tropical Resort walkway, fiddling with his Miles Electric handheld device. The warm neon lights flickered around them, casting a soft glow on the surrounding area. The alien, Yacker, floated around him, babbling in its strange, incomprehensible language while Tails worked away.
"Hmm… Now, let me see," Tails muttered, connecting wires and circuits. "Gotta link the framistatic capacitor to the maximizing modulatonzor..." He paused for a moment, glancing up at Yacker as the alien continued to chatter animatedly. "I wish I knew what you were saying, little guy. Or gal. Or whatever you are."
Yacker let out a series of excited squeaks and zips, as if trying to explain itself, but Tails could only nod sympathetically.
Suddenly, a bright cyan streak shot down the walkway, and before Tails could look up, Sonic blasted past as the Cyan Laser, coming to an abrupt stop right in front of him and Yacker. The light faded, and the Cyan Wisp exited Sonic's body, floating away with a satisfied hum.
Sonic stumbled slightly, catching his breath.
"Oh man! That... was... CRAZY!"
Tails blinked at him, completely unfazed by Sonic's dramatic entrance.
"Oh, I was just reconfiguring my handheld into a translator so I could understand this guy." He gestured to Yacker, who buzzed around Sonic with renewed energy. "Did you… go somewhere?"
Sonic grinned and waved his arms animatedly.
"Didn't you see? I absorbed those aliens and got powered up with, like, some kind of wild energy!" he exclaimed. "And after a few seconds, they'd just pop outta me!"
"I did see you zip off earlier, but I was a bit perplexed by all the chaos unfolding," Tails explained, his face somewhat skeptical.
Before Sonic could continue his story, Yacker floated closer, trying desperately to explain with a series of fast-paced chirps and zips. Sonic and Tails exchanged confused glances, neither understanding the alien's excited babbling.
"Okay, seriously," Sonic said, shaking his head. "We need to find Eggman and figure out how these aliens fit into whatever heinous plan he's hatching."
Tails nodded in agreement, "And wreck that plan, right?"
"Yep. That's pretty much how we spend our time," Sonic admitted.
Suddenly, a voice boomed from above.
"You two, hold it right there!"
Both Sonic and Tails looked up, surprised, to see a figure descending from the sky. A woman with glowing blonde hair, dressed in a striking red and blue suit, hovered just above them, surrounded by a shimmering aura of energy. Her expression was fierce as she touched down on the walkway, her boots hitting the ground with authority.
"Leave those creatures alone," the woman ordered.
The tension was palpable.
Sonic, never one to take things too seriously, smirked and crossed his arms.
"Who're you supposed to be? Head of security or something?" he teased.
The woman's expression didn't falter. Her voice was firm, unyielding.
"My name is Captain Marvel. And I'm here to stop whatever you're doing with those creatures."
Sonic blinked, caught off guard.
"Wait, what?" he asked
Tails stood up, just as confused.
"We're helping these creatures!" he affirmed.
Yacker floated nervously between them, darting behind Tails in apparent confusion. Even the alien seemed a little startled by the sudden confrontation.
"Yeah," he began, "and what even are you a captain of, anyway? Spaceships? Planets? Space Pirates?"
Captain Marvel's brow furrowed slightly, but she remained silent, her arms folded as she stared down at Sonic.
But for the newcomer, Sonic wasn't done.
"Wait, don't tell me—Captain of the 'People Who Hover and Look Dramatic' Club?" He glanced at Tails, clearly enjoying himself. "Tails, I think she's the Captain of Staring Contests. I mean, just look at that intense glare!"
Tails shifted uncomfortably, sensing the tension in the air.
"Uh, Sonic... maybe you should—"
"Hold on, one more," Sonic interrupted, grinning widely. He turned back to Captain Marvel, raising a finger as if having an epiphany. "I got it! Captain of Punching Evil Real Hard? No? How about... Captain of Hair Products, because that glow? Impressive."
Captain Marvel's eyes narrowed even further, her aura flaring slightly.
Tails was now practically sweating bullets, even Yacker looked worried.
"You done?" Captain Marvel finally interrupted, her voice cool but clearly fed up with the teasing.
Sonic chuckled, taking a step back.
"Alright, alright. I'm done… for now," he admitted.
Tails let out a sigh of relief, shaking his head.
"You really don't know when to quit, do you?" Tails said nervously, casting a cautious glance toward Captain Marvel.
Sonic winked at him, completely unfazed.
"It's part of my charm," he said teasingly.
Captain Marvel's patience was visibly thinning.
"Look, I don't have time for this," she affirmed. "I'm here to stop whatever's going on with those creatures, and if you two are involved with this Eggman and those shadowy things, we're gonna have a problem."
Sonic's playful demeanor shifted slightly, his smirk fading as he crossed his arms.
"Hold up, you think we're working with Eggman?" he questioned. "Come on, you've got it all wrong. We're trying to stop him."
Tails quickly stepped forward, his tails twitching as he nodded vigorously.
"Yeah, we've been helping! Eggman's forces are capturing these creatures it seems, and we're doing everything we can to figure out why."
Captain Marvel's stern expression softened, but just a fraction. Though her guard remained up, there was a flicker of understanding in her eyes.
"Then prove it," she said, her voice calm but firm. "If you're really here to help, you'll work with me to take him down."
Sonic's confident grin returned as he replied.
"Well, that's what we do best! Welcome to the team, Captain—"
Before he could finish, a loud crash echoed from deeper within Tropical Resort. The ground rumbled slightly beneath their feet, and a series of sharp clanks followed, signaling trouble. All three of them turned their heads toward the noise.
"Sounds like trouble," Tails muttered, his eyes wide with concern.
Yacker floated nearby, his normally energetic demeanor suddenly anxious, darting back and forth in agitation.
"I'd better go check it ou—" Sonic began, but he was quickly cut off by Captain Marvel.
"No," she interrupted, stepping forward with a commanding air. "I'll lead. You follow me." Her tone left no room for argument. "Watch how I deal with this Eggman problem."
Without waiting for a response, Captain Marvel took the lead, her boots hitting the ground with purpose as she moved toward the source of the commotion. Sonic watched her for a second, before he turned to Tails.
"Well, she's bossy," he quipped, glancing at Tails.
Tails shrugged, "She seems strong too. It might be a good idea to let her handle this commotion."
"Yeah, sure. But let's see how she handles 'Egghead' up close. This could be fun," Sonic remarked.
With that, they followed Captain Marvel into the heart of the action, the adventure only just beginning.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Captain Marvel is now part of the story. Her Act is coming in the next chapter. This version of Carol is based more on her Marvel v Capcom character and Avengers Assemble. There are some traits of the MCU Danvers in there also.
Act 2 coming up!
