Ibis Island - Part 4
Sora, Sonic, and Regina finally arrived at the Control Room, the door hissing open with a metallic groan that echoed through the corridor behind them. As they stepped inside, the dim, sterile atmosphere enveloped them. The room was illuminated by the cold, blue glow of overhead panels and the flickering light from a wall of monitors. The air felt heavy, humming faintly with the energy of machines still stubbornly running despite the facility's clear state of decay.
The room was cluttered with consoles, their surfaces buzzing with static screens, blinking indicators, and a mess of cables hastily plugged in by Rick. On the far end of the room, several large monitors were split between static-filled chaos and live feeds of dimly lit hallways, the eerie glow casting jagged shadows along the walls. Two smaller screens displayed schematic maps of the facility, though parts of them flickered offline.
Rick sat at a terminal, his fingers dancing across a battered keyboard, while Donald and Goofy stood nearby, peering over his shoulder. The glow of the monitors reflected off their faces. Donald's expression was one of mild frustration, arms crossed, while Goofy's was all smiles, relief evident in his wide-eyed gaze.
At the sound of the door, Donald and Goofy spun around.
"Sora, Sonic, Regina!" Goofy called out, his cheerful voice breaking the room's mechanical hum.
Donald flapped his arms in exaggerated annoyance.
"You sure took your time getting here!" he moaned.
"Donald's right," Rick chimed in, not even turning away from his console as his hands moved briskly across the keys. "Did you guys stop to get coffee or something?"
"Coffee?" Sora blinked, confusion plastered across his face.
Regina sighed, folding her arms as she took in the room with sharp amber eyes.
"Well, you'd have seen us if we did," he remarked sarcastically.
"Yeah, you'd have seen us on the cameras," Sonic added, sauntering forward with his usual confident stride. He placed his hands on his hips and tapped his foot in mock impatience. "We were on display the whole time, right?"
Rick smirked, his gaze still glued to the screens.
"Oh, I saw you. But you still took your sweet time," he teased.
The playful jab earned an eye-roll from Regina, though she didn't argue. Her focus had already shifted to the mission at hand. She stepped closer to Rick, her boots clinking softly against the steel floor.
"What's our status?" she asked.
"This security system is a joke," Rick muttered, his tone both confident and unimpressed. "Real amateur stuff. I've already cracked the main feed, but the underground levels? Those are a different story. Whole section's offline."
Regina frowned, narrowing her gaze at the static-filled screens.
"Figures. For now, our priority is completing the mission. Kirk is somewhere in this place."
"I'm working on trying to locate him," Rick confirmed, returning his attention to his console. Lines of code scrolled across the screen as he typed, punctuated by a series of low beeps.
Goofy tilted his head, stepping forward slightly.
"So, uh… what happened with that Nobody Dinosaur? Y'all okay?" Goofy asked, his voice carrying a mix of concern and curiosity as he adjusted his hat.
"Yeah, what happened?" Donald echoed, arms crossed, though his tone softened into curiosity rather than irritation.
Sora glanced at Sonic and Regina, then back at Goofy.
"Well, it appeared out of nowhere," he began, gripping his Keyblade thoughtfully. "It was like nothing we've seen before. We fought it off for a while, until…"
"Until I hit the Light Speed Dash," Sonic finished with a smirk.
"And nearly brought the entire facility down," Regina cut in sharply, shooting Sonic a glare. "It was reckless and dangerous."
Sonic shrugged, unbothered by her tone.
"But it did the job, didn't it? You're standing here, I'm standing here, and that Dino-Nobody? Not so much."
Regina rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.
"Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.
Choosing to ignore Sonic's smug grin, she reached into her pocket, pulling out the Keycard they'd found earlier. Without ceremony, she slapped it down next to Rick on the console.
"I found this after Sonic sent that Nobody flying through a wall," she explained, the faintest edge of irritation still in her tone. "Think you can find out what it's for?"
Rick, still typing with rapid precision, paused momentarily. He glanced down at the keycard, picked it up.
"Huh. Nice find. Let's see what this bad boy unlocks," he remarked.
Balancing the card in one hand, Rick continued to type with the other, his focus intense. The rhythmic clatter of keys filled the room as green lines of text flashed across one of the smaller monitors.
Sonic tilted his head, watching Rick's hands blur over the console.
"You're multitasking like a pro, Rick. Would you ever consider joining Team Sonic?" he teased. "You and Tails would be best buds for sure."
Rick snorted, eyes fixed on the screen.
"Nah. You guys sound like you'd need way too much babysitting," he admitted.
Before Sonic could fire back, Regina turned sharply, her gaze narrowing at the static-filled monitors lining the far wall. The screens crackled ominously, an unsettling hum vibrating through the room. Each flicker seemed oddly deliberate, almost like the screens were alive—or worse, hiding something.
"Hey," Regina called, her voice cutting through the room's background noise. "What's wrong with these monitors?"
Rick glanced up from his typing, clearly juggling more tasks than he cared to admit.
"Those? That's the underground feed," he replied, flicking a finger toward the static. "Whole network's fried. Could be a power issue, some wiring damage, or… something else."
"Something else?" Sora echoed, stepping closer to the screens. His blue eyes narrowed as the static pulsed faintly, each burst of visual noise carrying an eerie rhythm, like a heartbeat.
"Oh, like Doctor Kirk not wanting to be found?" Goofy chimed in, his voice thoughtful as he scratched his chin.
Rick stopped typing momentarily and glanced over, eyebrows raised.
"You know what? That's actually not a bad theory," he admitted.
"Nice going, Captain Goof," Sonic added.
Regina blinked, turning toward Goofy with a mix of surprise and intrigue.
"I hate to say it, but Goofy might be onto something here," she admitted.
"Goofy's right. I bet you Kirk is not wanting to be found," Sora remarked.
"That's our Goofy!" Donald chimed in proudly.
"Always one step ahead," Sora added, flashing Goofy an encouraging smile.
"Way to go, pal!" Sonic exclaimed, giving the King's Captain a thumbs up.
Goofy tilted his head with a modest chuckle, adjusting his hat.
"Aw, shucks, I just figured if I was a sneaky scientist, I wouldn't wanna be found neither."
Rick spun his chair slightly, the wheels creaking softly as he turned to face the group. Holding up the Keycard like a teacher presenting an overdue homework assignment, he gestured toward the static-filled monitors.
"Well, Goofy's onto something," he began, his tone a mix of explanation and frustration. "If Kirk's been tampering with the underground feeds, it explains why we're flying blind. He's shutting us out—deliberately."
"Clever," Regina muttered through gritted teeth. "Too clever."
Rick spun back to the console, setting the keycard down with a deliberate clack before resuming his typing. His fingers danced across the keys with a determined rhythm, the sound echoing faintly through the quiet room.
"But here's the kicker," Rick continued, his voice picking up with renewed focus. "He can scramble the cameras all he wants, play all the tricks in the book—but this Keycard? This little guy here?" He tapped the card for emphasis. "This'll still get us through the doors in the lower levels. Access overrides interference. He can't block everything."
Regina stepped closer, her brow furrowing as she leaned over Rick's shoulder slightly to look at the flashing screens.
"You're sure about that?" she asked.
Rick didn't even glance back as he nodded confidently.
"Positive. Security overrides like this Keycard are hardwired into the facility. Unless Kirk dismantled the entire system—and I'd bet he hasn't—this card gives us the golden ticket to get where we need to go."
"So, it'll get us into the lower levels?" Regina pressed, the hint of skepticism lingering in her tone as she picked up the keycard.
"Yep," Rick confirmed without missing a beat, leaning back in his chair with a self-assured grin. "Doors, labs, maintenance corridors—you name it. If Kirk's hiding down there, this'll get you face-to-face with him."
Regina straightened, her expression hardening with renewed resolve.
"Good. Then we're not wasting any more time," she declared.
Rick gave a small, satisfied smirk as he returned to his screens.
"Glad to see you're catching up, Red," he said with a playful tone.
Regina shot him a glare that could melt glass.
"Don't start with me, Rick," she moaned.
Sonic, who had been leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed, chimed in with his usual smirk.
"He's not wrong, though. That's my nickname for you."
"I swear, you two are going to give me a migraine before this mission's over," Regina moaned.
Rick chuckled softly, his fingers typing out one last sequence of commands before he spun his chair to face the group.
"Migraine or not, you've got your way forward. Now let's move before Kirk gets any more ideas."
"Then we should get moving," Sora said firmly. "We don't know what Kirk could be doing down there."
"Yeah," Goofy added, his tone thoughtful but uneasy. "And I betcha those Dinosaurs have somethin' to do with him, too."
"Most likely," Regina agreed, her arms crossed. "It all connects, one way or another."
But before anyone could take another step, Rick's eyes suddenly darted back to the monitors. Something had caught his attention—a small movement on one of the active cameras. His face creased into a look of surprise and confusion.
"Hey, Regina," Rick called out, his voice more serious now.
Regina turned toward him immediately.
"What is it?" she asked.
Rick pointed to one of the screens, the faint flicker of a camera feed catching everyone's attention. On the monitor, a dimly lit room appeared—an office cluttered with papers, overturned chairs, and shattered glass. Slumped against a table was a figure, motionless but unmistakably familiar.
"The guy looking not so hot in that room," Rick said, his tone grave. "Doesn't that look like Tom to you?"
Regina's eyes narrowed, snapping to the screen. The rest of the group followed suit, their expressions shifting from confusion to shock as they stared at the image.
"It is Tom!" Regina exclaimed, her voice sharp with a mix of surprise and concern. She leaned closer, as if doing so would make the image clearer.
"Wait, what?!" Donald quacked loudly.
"You mean the same guy who sent that transmission?" Goofy asked
"Yes," Regina replied.
"Where the heck is he?" Sonic asked in suprise.
"The camera's showing one of the offices on the higher levels—nowhere near the lower levels where Kirk is supposed to be," Rick explained.
"Great..." Sora groaned.
"So, Kirk's underground, and Tom's… what, stuck upstairs?" Sonic questioned.
Rick nodded grimly as he replied.
"Looks like it. And judging by how rough Tom looks, I'd say he's not just napping."
"Great," Regina muttered under her breath, running a hand through her hair. "We've got Kirk holed up in the lower levels doing God knows what, and now Tom's somewhere upstairs, barely holding it together."
Sora stepped forward, his expression resolute.
"Then we need to split up," he declared.
"Sora's right," Donald chimed in. "It's the only way."
"Split up?" Regina countered, clearly not a fan of the suggestion.
"It's the best way," Sora insisted. "If we go after Tom first, we risk giving Kirk more time to do whatever he's planning."
"And if we ignore your pal Tom… we don't know what condition he's in," Goofy added with a worrying expression.
Sonic chimed in, his voice unusually serious as he crossed his arms.
"They are right. If he needs help, we can't ignore him," he said.
Regina's jaw tightened, but she didn't argue. She glanced back at Rick.
"How sure are you about that camera feed?" she probed.
"Positive," Rick replied, gesturing to the screen. "That office is upstairs. Tom's not far away, and you've got that keycard for the lower levels. The choice is yours, but we've got to move fast."
"Okay," Regina said, exhaling sharply. "Then we split up."
"I'll go with Donald and Goofy to the lower levels," Sora volunteered, stepping forward. "We can stop Kirk before he causes any more damage."
Regina's gaze flicked to Sonic, standing with his arms crossed, his usual smirk nowhere in sight. His green eyes were sharper now, a rare edge of seriousness in his expression.
"And you want me to team up with the hedgehog?" Regina muttered, as though testing the idea aloud.
Sonic didn't immediately retort with a joke. Instead, he locked eyes with Regina, his tone steady and firm.
"If it were my team—my friends—I'd tear through walls to get to them. You know that, right?" he said, his voice uncharacteristically low and resolute. "Tom's one of yours. He needs us, Regina. We don't leave teammates behind."
Regina froze for just a moment, studying him. The playful quips, the cocky attitude—they were gone. This was something else. Something real. She flicked her gaze to Sora, Donald, and Goofy, who all nodded in agreement with Sonic. Even Sora, smiling gently, seemed to reinforce the sentiment with his usual calm resolve.
Regina sighed softly, shaking her head in faint disbelief.
"Wow," she muttered under her breath, her tone almost teasing but laced with sincerity. "Maybe you can be serious when it counts, hedgehog."
Sonic's lip twitched into a small, confident grin.
"What can I say? I'm full of surprises," he admitted.
"Fine," Regina said, finally relenting. She turned to Sora, holding the Keycard between two fingers and extending it toward him. "Here—this'll get you into the lower levels. Find Kirk and stop him. Knock him out if you have to. Got it?"
Sora took the card with a nod, his grip firm.
"Got it. Don't worry, we'll handle it," he said with confidence.
"Also take this," Regina added, handing Sora a spare communicator. "This will help us keep in contact if we need to talk."
"Got it," Sora remarked, attaching the comms device to his wrist.
Donald piped up, flapping his arms slightly.
"Wait a second!" he quacked, pulling out a potion. He tossed it towards Sonic with surprising precision.
"You'll need this to heal Tom!" Donald declared, his voice both firm and concerned.
Sonic snatched the potion out of the air, holding it up with a small nod of appreciation.
"Good call, Donnie," Sonic exclaimed. "I'd say Regina and I are more the 'punch and kick' type, not the 'curing spells' type."
"You've got that right," Regina muttered, though there was the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Be careful, you two. We'll see you soon," Sora said.
"You too, kid," Regina replied, her tone softer than usual.
Sonic pointed toward the office camera feed.
"Don't worry about us—we'll grab Tom and meet back with you before you know it."
As the two groups exchanged brief nods, the tension in the room seemed to lift, replaced with a steady sense of purpose. Rick spun back in his chair to monitor the feeds.
"Alright," Rick said over his shoulder. "Both teams know what to do. I'll keep eyes on you and call out anything suspicious. Good luck."
With the plan set, the teams split up, determination etched across their faces as they left the Control Room and headed into the uncertain darkness of the facility.
The Search Begins
Sonic & Regina
The two moved quickly through the dim hallways, the only sounds their echoing footsteps and the faint hum of malfunctioning lights overhead. They had left Sora, Donald, and Goofy to handle the lower levels, but now the responsibility of saving Tom fell squarely on their shoulders.
Sonic led the way at first, his pace naturally faster. He darted ahead, stopping now and then to glance over his shoulder, only to find Regina steadily catching up with an unshakable focus.
"Y'know, you keep up with me surprisingly well," Sonic quipped, his trademark grin flashing.
Regina barely spared him a glance, her Glock 34 held close to her side.
"Don't flatter yourself, hedgehog. I've chased worse."
"Worse than me? I'm offended," Sonic replied with sarcasm.
"Don't be. You're alive. So far," Regina countered.
The banter was cut short as a low, gurgling noise echoed down the corridor. Sonic's ears perked up, his green eyes narrowing in the dim light.
"Loos like we got company," he muttered.
From the flickering shadows, Neoshadows slinked into view, their glowing yellow eyes locking onto the duo. Following close behind, a pair of Dark Talons hissed menacingly, their sharp claws clicking against the metal floor.
Regina didn't hesitate. She raised her Glock, squeezing off two precise shots that struck a Neoshadow square in the chest. The creature staggered backward, black mist curling off its wound.
"You're up, Speedy," she instructed.
"Gladly!" Sonic shot forward in a blur of motion, spinning into a Spin Dash.
Flames barely flickered on his fire ring, a conscious choice to keep things more controlled this time. He barreled straight through one Dark Talon, sending it sprawling into the wall with a metallic clang. The dinosaur of darkness broke into a dark mist on impact.
"See? I'm learning restraint," Sonic called over his shoulder, straightening with a quick flick of his quills.
"Congratulations," Regina replied dryly as she twisted sharply to the side, avoiding a razor-sharp swipe from a Dark Talon.
Dropping low, she smoothly holstered her Glock and switched to her Stun Saber. With a sharp snap-hiss, the energy blade flared to life, its electric hum filling the air. In one fluid motion, she slashed upward in a clean arc, cutting through the creature's torso. The Dark Talon let out a distorted screech before collapsing into writhing tendrils of black mist.
Sonic, meanwhile, was a blur of blue energy, zipping between the remaining Neoshadows. Each strike from his Homing Attack landed with pinpoint accuracy, bursting the Heartless into fragments of dark mist that dissipated into the flickering shadows. He darted across the walls, ricocheting like a pinball and leaving faint streaks of light in his wake.
"Too slow! Nope, missed me—try again!" Sonic taunted, his voice echoing down the corridor as he zipped past another Neoshadow.
Regina pivoted sharply, her sabre crackling as she deflected a claw swipe aimed at her back. With one decisive step forward, she drove the blade through the creature's chest and twisted it sharply. The Heartless writhed and dissolved, leaving behind a faint shimmer of static darkness.
"Are you fighting or playing tag?" Regina barked, her tone cutting through the chaos as she kicked away a Neoshadow that clawed at her boot. The creature sprawled onto its back, giving Regina a perfect angle to slam saber down, dispersing it instantly.
Sonic finally landed beside her in a smooth crouch, his gloved fist slamming the last Neoshadow into the floor with a finishing blow. The impact sent a small shockwave outward, scattering wisps of dark mist into the stale air.
"Tag and victory!" Sonic announced smugly, straightening up with a cocky grin. He brushed his hands together with exaggerated satisfaction, as though the Heartless had been little more than an afternoon chore. "See? Heartless-free, no fuss. I'm good at Multitasking."
"Multitasking," Regina muttered under her breath, flicking her Stun Saber off with a crackle as its light faded. "You make it look exhausting."
Sonic grinned as he tilted his head toward her.
"And you make it look grumpy. We balance each other out."
"Keep telling yourself that," she replied, though her words carried a faint edge of amusement.
Regina moved ahead, her amber eyes sweeping the hallway with practiced precision.
"All clear. For now," she announced flatly.
"Good. Can we take a moment to appreciate how great a team we make?" Sonic teased, stretching out his arms. "You slash, I dash—it's almost poetry."
"Poetry?" Regina echoed, giving him a skeptical glance as she checked her ammo count. "You've got an interesting definition of the word."
"Hey, I'm just saying—it works," Sonic admitted.
Regina didn't respond immediately, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. When she finally spoke, it was quieter, more measured.
"…For now."
Sonic's grin softened into something a little less cocky, a little more genuine.
"I'll take that as a win."
Regina shot him a sharp look but let it slide this time.
"Keep moving. Tom's waiting."
The two continued onward, side by side, their steps echoing through the dark corridors as the top floor loomed ever closer.
Sora, Donald and Goofy
The trio moved cautiously through the dim corridor, the air thick with tension. Shadows flickered along the walls, the faint hum of unseen machinery buzzing in their ears. Sora's Hidden Dragon Keyblade glimmered faintly with its fiery red hue as he gripped it tightly, leading the way.
"Stay sharp, guys," Sora said, his tone firm but upbeat.
The words had barely left his mouth before dark mist swirled ahead of them, coalescing into familiar shapes. Several Neoshadows crawled out of the darkness, their yellow eyes glowing ominously. Also the Dusks emerged, their sinewy bodies twisting and bending unnaturally, filling the hallway with their unsettling movements.
"Heartless and Nobodies?!" Goofy called out, raising his shield. "They're really crawlin' outta the walls!"
"Bring it on!" Sora grinned, spinning his Keyblade into position.
The Neoshadows leapt forward in unison, claws slashing through the air. Sora dashed ahead, his Keyblade trailing flames as he swung upward, striking the closest Neoshadow and sending it crashing into the others.
"Fire!" Sora shouted, casting a low-level spell.
A burst of flame ignited from his Keyblade, engulfing a group of Dusks in an explosion of embers. The Nobodies hissed and recoiled, their silver forms bending and flickering before they dissolved.
Donald was already in motion, his staff glowing as he flung a spell toward an advancing NeoShadow.
"Thunder!"
Bright bolts crackled, striking the Heartless and scattering them across the hallway. One tried to pounce on Donald, but Goofy barreled forward, shield-first.
"Hyuck—take that!" Goofy shouted as he slammed into the creature, sending it skidding into a nearby wall before it vanished into mist.
"Thanks, Goofy!" Donald huffed, adjusting his grip on his staff.
"Anytime, Donald!" Goofy grinned, standing protectively in front of him as the final Neoshadow lunged at Sora.
Sora dodged smoothly, flipping over the Heartless before landing with a spinning strike of his Hidden Dragon. The fiery arc connected cleanly, the last Heartless bursting into dark smoke as Sora landed on his feet.
"Whew, that's the last of 'em—for now," Sora said, catching his breath as he straightened.
Donald and Goofy regrouped beside him.
"Let's hope that's all of em," Donald muttered, scanning the hallway warily.
The trio pushed onward, turning down the next corridor toward the elevator. But as they approached, something stopped them dead in their tracks.
"Uh… guys?" Sora said slowly, pointing ahead.
There, in the middle of the hallway, was a strange, wavy distortion in the air. It shimmered faintly, bending the light around it like a heatwave on a summer road. The walls on either side rippled unnaturally, as though the very fabric of the room had been twisted.
"What is that?" Goofy asked, tilting his head and squinting at the anomaly.
"It looks… all wobbly," Donald added, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Sora stepped cautiously closer, curiosity overtaking him.
"Be careful, Sora!" Donald warned.
"I just wanna see…" Sora muttered, before turning back to his friends. "Donald, try throwing something in there. See what happens."
"What, you want me to just toss something into that thing?" Donald scoffed.
"Well, we can't touch it, can we? Just throw something small!" Sora reasoned.
With a disgruntled sigh, Donald dug around his person and pulled out an ether.
"This better not be a waste," Donald grumbled.
He flung the small glowing bottle toward the distortion. The second it hit the shimmering space, the ether twisted violently. It bent and stretched in midair, its form warping like a funhouse mirror before snapping out of existence.
The group froze.
"W-Where'd it go?" Goofy stammered, leaning forward with wide eyes.
Sora frowned, stepping back with a mix of confusion and unease.
"One second, it's twisting and bending… and the next, it's just gone," Sora muttered, scratching his head.
"Well, we're not going through that," Donald huffed. "No telling what would happen if one of us stepped in there!"
"Yeah," Sora agreed.
Just then, Sora's wrist communicator let out a familiar, deep double-beep. The small green light flickered to life on his wrist.
"Yo, Sora," came Rick's voice, crackling slightly over the comm.
Sora raised the communicator closer, the light switching to red as he spoke.
"Rick! Did you see that weird… thing?"
"Yeah, I saw it on the cameras," Rick replied, his voice tinged with both confusion and intrigue. "Whatever it is, it's messing with the structure of the hallway. Distorting it somehow. I've got no clue what it's doing, but I'm betting Kirk has something to do with it."
"So, it's linked to Kirk?" Sora questioned.
"Gawrsh, is that what Kirk's been up to this whole time?" Goofy asked aloud.
"Maybe," Sora replied, his eyes still fixed on the shimmering distortion. "But we're not getting through it."
"Shame Tails or Cid aren't here," Donald muttered. "They'd probably figure this out in no time."
"Yeah," Sora agreed with a faint smile. "Or Shadow. They're good with this kind of stuff."
Rick's voice chimed back in over the communicator.
"Don't worry about that. I've got another access point to the lower levels," Rick assured them. "It's not far. I'll guide you there."
Sora brightened at that, lowering his communicator slightly.
"Okay! Just let us know where to go."
"Head back and take a right at the next corridor," Rick instructed. "The new access point's down there."
Sora nodded, determination in his eyes.
"Got it. Thanks, Rick!"
As the trio turned to follow Rick's directions, Sora glanced back at the distortion one last time.
"What is that thing…" he murmured to himself before moving forward.
Donald and Goofy stayed close, their tension easing slightly as they followed Sora to the next route.
"Let's hope this new way doesn't twist up like that one," Goofy said warily.
Sora gripped his Keyblade tighter, a fire of determination sparking in his chest.
"We'll figure this out—and we'll stop Kirk," Sora said firmly. "Come on, guys!"
"Right!" Donald and Goofy echoed in unison, charging forward alongside him.
Meanwhile...
Deep within the shadowy labyrinth of the facility's lower levels, Kirk stood at the edge of a flickering control console, his sharp eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and something far darker. Around him, Shadow Heartless twitched and prowled like loyal sentinels, their glowing yellow eyes reflecting off the cold metallic walls.
"Creatures of darkness, merging with these… anomalies," he muttered to himself.
Kirk tapped the console with impatient fingers, muttering under his breath.
"Other realities," he murmured, almost to himself. "If the Third Energy is doing this… then perhaps they can do more. Not just power." His voice grew steadier, colder. "Control."
The words of the hooded man echoed in his mind, dripping with venomous wisdom.
"Embrace the darkness within. Let go of your doubts. Together, we can unlock the full potential of your creation."
"Potential," Kirk repeated, his voice a mix of scorn and wonder.
"All my life, I have faced doubters. They've all held me back. But now... I can shape this chaos into something unparalleled," he remarked.
He turned to the Heartless, their unblinking eyes fixed on him like loyal pets. A smirk twisted across his face.
"You obey me, don't you? The stranger said you would. And yet... why?" His brow furrowed. "A side effect of the distortions? Or is it something more? Something... primal?"
The question lingered, unanswered, but the darkness around him seemed to grow thicker, seeping into the corners of his heart. He straightened, casting off the last shred of hesitation.
"I don't need to know why. Only how," he muttered, his voice hardening. "The reactor. The time draws near."
Kirk turned sharply, the Shadow Heartless parting for him as though recognising his authority. He strode down the dim corridor, his footsteps heavy against the metallic floor. The Third Energy Reactor was close, its hum vibrating through the walls.
Unbeknownst to Kirk, a pair of steely eyes tracked his every move from the shadows. Silent, calculating, and resolute.
Kirk's voice carried down the corridor, tinged with madness and ambition.
"Let's see how far the limits can be pushed," he remarked confidently. "If these creatures can merge with these primal beasts… what's stopping them from merging with something greater?"
Sonic and Regina
The duo finally pushed through the last flight of stairs, emerging onto the top floor. Regina exhaled sharply, brushing a loose strand of red hair out of her face as she surveyed the hallway ahead. Long, dimly lit, and eerily quiet, it felt unsettling after the chaos they had just fought through.
"Well, that was fun," Sonic quipped, stretching his arms behind his head. "Didn't think we'd make it through that last wave."
Regina, reloading her Glock 34 with practiced precision, glanced sideways at him.
"You call that fun? You've got a strange definition of the word."
"What can I say? I thrive under pressure," Sonic replied with a grin, before his ears twitched at a faint sound coming from the hall.
"…Kupo!"
Both Sonic and Regina froze. Regina's instincts flared, her body going rigid as she whipped up the Glock 34 in a fluid motion, her sharp amber eyes narrowing as they swept the hallway with lethal precision.
"What was that?" she demanded, her voice a mix of alertness and annoyance. "Sounded like someone coughing up a hairball."
"Kupo!"
Regina spun toward the sound as a small, creature drifted out from a nearby doorway, its tiny wings flapping lazily as it floated in the air. Its pom-pom bobbed cheerfully above its head, and its small pouch rattled with items.
"What the—" Regina remarked, her Glock 34 aimed at the creature. "What is that thing?!"
Sonic, however, immediately relaxed, flashing a smirk.
"Whoa there, Regina, no need to shoot the fuzzy guy. That's just a Moogle," he explained.
Regina's eyes narrowed as she gave the creature a once-over.
"A what?" she asked in disbelief.
The Moogle floated closer, waving its little arms cheerfully.
"Kupo! I'm a Moogle, kupo. Your friendly travelling merchant!"
Regina blinked, her grip on her weapon loosening only slightly.
"Travelling… merchant?" she repeated.
"That's right," Sonic said casually. "They pop up all over the place, setting up shop to sell supplies. Don't ask me how they get around, but they're reliable."
Regina shot him a skeptical look before turning back to the Moogle, lowering her weapon.
"You're telling me there's a floating stuffed animal… selling supplies? Here? In the middle of a facility filled with monsters?" she questioned, slightly bewildered.
"Kupo! Business is business!" the Moogle chirped happily. "Not the safest spot, but heroes like you need supplies and checkpoints, kupo."
Regina muttered something under her breath about needing a drink after this, but she straightened up, clearly considering the situation.
"Fine. Supplies, huh? What've you got?" she probed.
"For 500 Munny, kupo, you can get this new firearm—the Chrono Blaster! Long range, precise, and packs a punch!" The Moogle revealed cheerfully.
"A Chrono Blaster?" Regina echoed, her interest piqued despite herself.
"And for 250 Munny," the Moogle continued, "you can upgrade your Stun Saber—makes it stronger and shocks longer, kupo."
Regina raised a brow.
"Sounds great but Munny? Not dollars and cents?" she asked.
"Nope. Munny only, kupo!" the Moogle replied matter-of-factly.
"Great. Because that makes perfect sense," Regina moaned.
Sonic, clearly enjoying the exchange, stepped forward.
"Relax, Regina. I got this." He reached into his glove and pulled out a pouch of Munny, jingling it in his hand. "I'll cover it. Just send me the bill when the mission's over, ok?"
Regina shot him a suspicious look.
"You're buying me weapons?" she asked, taken back by the hedgehog's gesture.
"Consider it a team-building exercise," Sonic replied with a grin. "Besides, we're in this together, right?"
The Moogle floated happily as Sonic handed over the Munny.
"Thank you, kupo!" it said as it produced the Chrono Blaster and the upgraded Stun Saber. Regina examined the firearm, impressed by its sleek design, before clipping it to her gear and replacing her old saber with the newer model.
"Not bad," she muttered begrudgingly. "I'll admit it's better than running dry in the middle of a fight."
Sonic grinned as he turned back to the Moogle.
"Alright, pal, I'll take a few potions too. Five should do it."
"That'll be 100 Munny, kupo!"
Sonic handed over the remaining currency with a casual flourish, grabbing the glowing potions and pocketing them.
"Supplies secured. But you know what I just realised," he said, with a smirk growing on his face.
Regina, double-checking the Chrono Blaster's settings, sighed as though bracing for whatever nonsense he was about to drop.
"Do I want to know?" she asked bluntly.
Sonic leaned in slightly, his grin widening into something conspiratorial.
"If we'd known this Moogle was up here, Donnie wouldn't have needed to toss us that potion for Tom earlier," he remarked.
Regina froze mid-check, her amber eyes narrowing as the weight of his words hit her. Slowly, she turned to face him, her tone flat as a board.
"What… did you just say?" she questioned in confusion.
Sonic shrugged, completely unfazed.
"I mean, convenient, right?" he teased. "Almost like someone skipped ahead in the script and forgot this little guy was here."
Regina blinked, clearly thrown by the sheer absurdity of the statement.
"Script? What script?" she quizzed, bewildered.
The Moogle, still floating innocently nearby, tilted its head as if trying to piece together the conversation.
"Kupo? I don't understand. Was that… a joke?"
"Trust me, no one does," Sonic sighed with a smile, and shrug of his shoulders.
"I'm surrounded by lunatics," Regina muttered.
"Not lunatics—professionals," Sonic quipped, tapping his temple knowingly. "Besides, a little hiccup never hurt anyone."
The Moogle floated closer, still baffled.
"Hiccup, kupo?"
Regina shot the Moogle an incredulous look before swinging her attention back to Sonic.
"Do you ever stop talking? Ever?" she moaned.
"Not really," Sonic replied, grinning. "Gotta keep things interesting, you know"
The Moogle's pom-pom drooped slightly as it stared at Sonic in genuine confusion.
"You heroes are so… strange, kupo," they admitted.
"Strange?" Regina muttered. "That's one way to put it."
"Endearing," Sonic corrected. "Now come on, Regina. Tom's waiting for us to save him. And I've got more meta waiting if things get too quiet."
Regina glared at him, raising a warning finger.
"If you say script one more time…" she warned.
Sonic held his hands up in mock surrender, that ever-present smirk glued to his face.
"Fine, fine. I'll stick to saving lives and looking cool. You're no fun."
The Moogle watched them leave with a bewildered shake of its head.
"Heroes, kupo… I'll never understand them."
Sonic glanced back over his shoulder, just loud enough for the Moogle to hear.
"It's okay. Nobody does," he called back.
"Move!" Regina snapped, her patience wearing thin as she stormed down the hallway.
Sonic chuckled, falling into step beside her.
"She's starting to like me. I can tell."
Regina groaned loudly.
And with that, they pressed onward, the faint sound of Sonic's laughter echoing behind them, leaving the poor Moogle still wondering what in the world had just happened.
Regina's Chrono Blaster and Upgraded Stun Sabre:
Chrono Blaster:
"Time waits for no one—except this beauty."
A high-precision firearm designed for long-range combat. The Chrono Blaster delivers devastating energy rounds with pinpoint accuracy, making it perfect for picking off enemies at a distance. Its unique design incorporates temporal stabilization, allowing for reduced recoil and a satisfying zap with every pull of the trigger. Great for crowd control—one shot can send Heartless stumbling back!
Upgraded Stun Sabre:
"Why just fight when you can fry?"
This enhanced melee weapon crackles with stronger energy, increasing its damage output and shocking enemies for longer durations. Perfect for slicing through Heartless and leaving them twitching. It's sleek, deadly, and delivers a jolt that's anything but friendly.
Sora, Donald and Goofy
Back with our favourite trio, they followed the route Rick had guided them to, moving through the facility's quieter hallways. It was unnervingly calm compared to their earlier encounters. Apart from a few stray Shadow Heartless and Dusks—they faced little resistance.
"Man, this route is almost… boring," Sora said as he dispatched a stubborn Dusk with a quick combo of his Hidden Dragon Keyblade. The creature dissolved into wisps.
"I wouldn't complain if I were you," Donald grumbled, his staff crackling faintly with magic. "We've had enough surprises for one day."
"Gawrsh, I don't mind a little break from the chaos," Goofy added lowering his shield, as they approached the elevator. "Rick sure knew what he was talkin' about with this route."
As they reached the elevator, Sora pulled out the Keycard Regina had handed him earlier. The door's panel blinked red for a moment, then shifted to green with a soft beep, and the metallic doors hissed open.
"Nice," Sora said, stepping inside. Donald and Goofy followed, and the doors slid shut behind them with a low rumble. The elevator shuddered slightly before beginning its descent.
For a moment, there was silence save for the hum of the elevator. The group, at ease, dematerialised their weapons. Then Goofy broke it with a thoughtful drawl.
"Say, fellas, I've been thinkin'... Which do ya think's been more chaotic—this place or that world with those AMS agents?"
Sora blinked, glancing at Goofy.
"AMS? Oh, you mean… G, James, Gary, Harry, and Amy, right. On that world, Venice was it?" he recalled.
"Yep, that's them!" Goofy nodded eagerly. "Remember all the crazy stuff we had to fight there? Like, uh… what were those weird creatures again?"
"The Davids?" Sora replied.
"Yeah, but there were stronger ones too," Goofy added, scratching his chin in thought.
Donald flailed his hands, feathers puffing up slightly as he chimed in.
"Justice and Strength! Oh, and the Emperor!" he recalled, remembering back to those dangerous creatures.
"Yeah!" Sora laughed, shaking his head as he recalled their earlier adventures. "I think the weirdest part was Goldman, though. That guy was something else."
Donald imitated Goldman's dramatic delivery with an exaggerated scowl, raising his hands ominously.
"'Disturbing the life cycle of nature!' Blah, blah, blah!" he mocked.
Sora and Goofy burst out laughing.
"Man, that guy was off his rocker," Sora chuckled. "I don't know if Kirk's worse or not, though. He's got that same 'I'm-a-genius-and-you-can't-stop-me' attitude, but at least Goldman didn't have dinosaurs."
"Yeah, but don't forget how Goldman would just monologue," Goofy chimed in, a thoughtful frown tugging at his face. "He sure loved listenin' to himself talk."
"Compared to Doctor Kirk, they are so different. Kirk just hides underground messing with everything. He's not that dramatic, I don't think..." Sora mused, leaning back slightly against the elevator wall.
"Not yet," Donald muttered darkly. "I bet if we don't stop him soon, he'll start doing speeches too!"
"If he does, I'll make sure to let you blast him with a Thunder spell right in the middle of it," Sora replied playfully.
"Hmph!" Donald smirked smugly, crossing his arms. "I'd do it, too."
Goofy chuckled, "Gawrsh, Kirk might be messin' around, but somethin' tells me he ain't as flashy as Goldman. Still, he sure is dangerous…"
"Yeah," Sora agreed, his tone shifting slightly as he grew serious again. "Dangerous or not, we're stopping him before he causes any more trouble."
The elevator continued its steady descent, the hum filling the space once more. Goofy tilted his head slightly, as if piecing things together.
"So what do ya think's worse: a crazy scientist with dinosaurs… or a businessman with mutant creatures?"
"Neither. I think we're the ones they should've been afraid of," Sora admitted with a smirk.
Goofy chuckled warmly, and even Donald cracked a small grin.
"Right," Donald said confidently, straightening his stance, summoning his staff. "We'll stop Kirk just like we stopped Goldman."
The elevator let out a low chime, and the hum slowed to a halt. Sora straightened as the doors opened with a quiet hiss, revealing the dimly lit lower levels.
"Alright," Sora said, stepping forward. "Let's finish this mission."
"Yeah!" Donald and Goofy echoed in unison, following closely behind.
The trio marched out into the shadows of the lower levels, their playful conversation giving way to focused determination.
Sonic & Regina
The office was dimly lit, the weak glow of fluorescent lights flickering overhead. A massive window stretched across one wall, revealing the stormy night sky of Ibis Island—a haunting black canvas streaked with distant lightning. The scene's stillness was broken only by the faint hum of equipment and the low rustle of a breeze seeping through cracks in the structure.
Regina was the first to step inside, her sharp amber gaze narrowing.
"Tom!" she called, spotting him immediately.
Slumped up on an overturned desk, Tom looked barely conscious, his body limp and his lab coat torn. The disguise—a researcher's uniform—was dirtied, and his face looked pale.
Sonic was already moving, crossing the room in a blur.
"I got him," he said, with a potion materialising into his gloved hand. "Hang in there, pal. You look like you've been through the wringer."
Tom groaned faintly, shifting as Sonic lifted his head. His eyes fluttered open, squinting groggily as the hedgehog pressed the bottle to his lips.
"What… the hell?" Tom rasped, his voice weak. "Is that… a blue porcupine?"
Sonic froze, one brow twitching.
"Seriously? Porcupine?" He shook his head, letting out an exasperated sigh. "I'm a hedgehog, for crying out loud. Now, drink up."
Regina strode forward, kneeling beside Tom as he coughed and finally drank. His expression twisted briefly in confusion.
"…Mint tea?" he muttered weakly, blinking at the potion in Sonic's hand. "Tastes like mint tea…"
Sonic chuckled, rising to his feet.
"You're not the first person to say that, pal," he admitted.
Regina placed a steady hand on Tom's shoulder as he tried to move.
"Take it easy," she ordered, her tone sharp but layered with concern. "You're not going anywhere yet."
Tom leaned back against the desk, letting out a slow, rattled breath. His voice was stronger now, though still strained.
"Regina… Kirk's insane. His experiments… they have nothing to do with energy development anymore. He's—" He grimaced, clutching his side. "—he's using the Third Energy to tear into places he shouldn't. Distorting… reality itself."
Regina's expression hardened.
"What do you mean?" she questioned.
"Dinosaurs, the dark creatures… it's all connected," Tom continued, his breathing uneven. "He's—augh—pulling them from different points. Different worlds, maybe. It's out of control."
Sonic, who had been silently listening, suddenly stiffened. His ears twitched sharply, and his green eyes darted to the window. Something was coming.
"Move!" Sonic shouted, his voice cutting like a blade.
Without waiting, he grabbed Regina's arm and yanked her to the ground, tumbling them both to the far side of the room.
The glass window exploded inward with a deafening CRASH, shards raining down like jagged stars. Wind howled through the room, scattering papers and debris as a monstrous shape swooped in.
It was enormous—a Pterodactyl Heartless with obsidian-black wings that filled the space. Its body was twisted and skeletal, its wings streaked with glowing veins of darkness. Jagged talons gleamed menacingly, and its eyes burned with eerie yellow light as it let out a blood-curdling screech that shook the walls.
"Tom!" Regina shouted, scrambling back to her feet just in time to see the creature's claws clamp around Tom's arms.
"Regina!" Tom's voice broke through the chaos as the Heartless yanked him upward, lifting him toward the shattered window. His face twisted in panic. "Regina—!"
"NO!" Regina cried, bolting forward, her Glock 34 raised, firing blindly at the monster. The bullets sparked off the creature's wings, leaving no mark. In a sickening instant, it was gone—Tom disappearing into the dark storm outside, his final scream echoing into the night.
Regina skidded to a halt at the window's edge. Her amber eyes were wide, her chest heaving.
"TOM!" she screamed into the void, her voice raw with anguish.
Behind her, Sonic was frozen in disbelief, staring at the empty night sky. He clenched his fists, his expression darkening.
"Damn it," Sonic muttered under his breath, his voice low and serious.
He stepped up beside Regina, close but not intruding. For a moment, he hesitated, glancing up at her. The height difference was stark—she stood tall and rigid, one hand gripping the broken window frame as if willing Tom to come back. Sonic's expression softened, his fists unclenching slightly.
"Regina," he began, his voice steady but compassionate. "I know this—"
Regina didn't respond, her shoulders trembling faintly as the wind howled through the shattered glass. She didn't slump or collapse—she wasn't the type. But Sonic could see it, the crack in her composure. The moment where it all became too real.
"…This is my fault," she whispered finally, her voice barely audible over the storm outside. "I was too late."
Sonic frowned, his emerald eyes narrowing with a mix of determination and empathy. He couldn't reach her shoulder, but his words could reach farther than his hands.
"No," he said firmly, stepping to her side so she could see him. "Don't do that to yourself."
Regina's head turned slightly, just enough to glance down at him, her amber eyes fierce and glinting with a barely-contained storm of emotions.
"Don't," she warned, her voice sharp. "I don't need a pep talk, hedgehog."
"It's not a pep talk," Sonic replied evenly. "It's the truth." He gestured sharply to the broken window and the empty void beyond. "What just happened—this? It's not on you. That Heartless, came in fast and dirty. It could've taken anyone."
Regina looked back to the void, gripping the frame tighter.
Sonic kept going, his tone softer but still edged with urgency.
"But standing here blaming yourself isn't gonna help Tom. You want him back? Then we move. Now."
For a long moment, neither of them said anything. The only sound was the wind, rattling through the fractured remains of the window. Finally, Regina's grip loosened just a little, and she let out a shaky breath. Slowly, she straightened up turning back to Sonic. Her amber eyes had lost the gloss of despair; they burned now with renewed resolve.
"You're right," she said, her voice low but steady. She reached for her new weapon, The Chrono Blaster. "We're going after that thing."
Sonic nodded, a faint smile playing at the edge of his mouth.
"That's more like it. That flying creep shouldn't get too far," Sonic remarked. "With the potion working through Tom's system, he might give that thing a hard time."
Regina shot him a glance, her usual sharpness returning.
"You're still not off the hook. If you slow me down, I'm leaving you behind," she confirmed bluntly.
"Slow you down? You wish. Come on, Red, we've got a rescue to pull off," Sonic remarked.
"Don't call me Red," Regina shot back automatically, but there was no real bite to her words this time.
Together, the two rushed back out into the dimly lit hallway, their footsteps pounding in unison, the storm outside a reflection of the chaos that now drove them forward.
Part 4 is complete, and we're slowly but surely approaching the big boss fights of this world! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported, reviewed, favourited, and followed the story so far. Your encouragement means the world and keeps me going.
This chapter brought together a mix of action, character moments, and some fun nods to the source material and the larger story. I thought I'd share a few Easter eggs and fun facts sprinkled throughout:
The Control Room scene takes direct inspiration from the original Dino Crisis game cutscene, staying true to its tense and atmospheric tone.
The rift and distortion moment in the hallway was also inspired by a similar event in Dino Crisis. Originally, Rick throws in a coin to test the strange anomaly—here, I replaced it with Donald tossing in an Ether to keep it fitting for the Kingdom Hearts vibe.
Sora, Donald, and Goofy's conversation about Venice references the world based on House of the Dead 2 from the first story. It's a nice nod to that arc and a fun little callback to the chaos of fighting alongside G, James, Gary, Harry, and Amy. I get a lot feedback about how much readers enjoyed that world.
The Moogle making an appearance in dangerous areas is a running gag. It has a habit of setting up shop in the most precarious places—like in The Land of Dragons, where it casually opened for business in a village that gets burnt down. They sure like to live dangerously, huh?
Sonic's quip, "Someone skipped ahead in the script," was a playful meta joke referencing my earlier writing mistake. Does Sonic know he's breaking the fourth wall? I'll leave that for you to decide. Also, this is a playful jab at myself aha!
The potion tasting like mint tea is another recurring gag from the series. It's become a staple, and I always enjoy weaving it back into the story. Ethers taste like fruit tea, according to Ulala.
Finally, the scene with Tom being taken was slightly altered. In the original Dino Crisis, it's the T-Rex that smashes through and grabs him. Here, I opted for a Pterodactyl Heartless instead. It felt like a better fit for this version of the story, plus it's a fun nod to how annoying that Pterodactyl could be in the game—constantly swooping down and grabbing Regina at the worst moments.
This chapter was a blast to write and adapt, and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. I'm looking forward to wrapping up this world soon—I think there are about two parts left before we move on to the next arc.
Thanks again for reading and supporting the story. Let's keep the adventure going!