Work Text:
[Start of log]
Day 1:
It’s day one of officially beginning life in the Grim. I, Nine, will be recording everything in case one day, someone else will live here. I don’t see it happening, but it could. So, just in case, I’m copying this log in two separate data files, so it’ll have more chance of surviving.
Nothing to report as of today.
Day 3:
The Grim lives up to its name. Nothing else is here. I’ll be initiating a scan to make sure. Just in case. Although, the noise of the battle would have scared anyone who was here off anyway.
Day 4:
The scan found nothing. I really am alone here.
Good.
Day 6:
Apparently, palm trees destabilize the environment to the point where it starts raining in a desolate wasteland. Sigh. Looking into making a more sheltered lab, in case this happens again. Some of my gadgets got totally wrecked.
Day 10:
Crap. Crap. Crap.
Day 20:
The reason for the radio silence: broken tech and rock-hard, well, rocks. Making a sheltered lab was harder than I thought it’d be. Nevertheless, I succeeded.
Day 22:
Chaos, I hate coconuts.
Day 24:
I’m working on reproducing the palm trees. This isn’t sustainable. And I can’t just live off coconuts forever, I need more variance, more vitamins. And I think I’d prefer death to a life where I only eat coconuts.
Day 26:
The palm trees failed to reproduce. Nothing else will grow. I can’t eat rocks. Supplies are numbered. I ran the math, even if I ration (which I will) I will starve to death in 172 days, approximately. Shorter than a normal hunger strike, but nutrients are lacking, and I’m already malnourished and (sigh) weakened by the Prism.
I shouldn’t have done what I did.
But it’s too late now.
Day 28:
Why? Why do I feel so…alone?
This is what I wanted, what I’ve always wanted! I should be happy, or at least numb. I shouldn’t be upset, even though I’m going to die, even though I’m going to die alone.
Even though I always die alone.
Day 31:
I’m not gonna die here. I’m not. I’m gonna get outta here.
Day 33:
I’ve started working on a prototype that resembles the Shatter Drive, only it’s not run on Prism energy. I’ve got the basic schematics down, but not the energy source.
Rrrrgh, this would be way easier with even a tiny piece of the Prism. But I’m resourceful, there’s a reason I’m still alive. I’ll figure it out.
Day 34:
I haven’t figured it out. But, I feel like I’m onto something. I only need it to work once, that makes it easier. I don’t need infinite energy. Just enough to…rip a hole in reality…yeah, that’ll be real easy.
More thinking is required.
Day 37:
I think I’ve got it.
The Grim isn’t the most stable anyways, I can put pressure on a weak point. It’s not like I’ll be coming back.
I really thought it’d be home, but…
Nevermind. The important part is that I’ll survive. I always do.
Day 40:
Owwwwwwww.
That did not work. And as I’m covered in burns as I write this, it actually made things worse.
Fuck.
I’ll have to divide the rations to the point of it almost not being enough, because…
One palm is dead. This reduces my time significantly. Fuck.
I’ll get past it.
Day 42:
Something strange happened today.
I was working on my scanner and it picked up a strange energy signature. A strong one.
Not Prism or Chaos energy, something else.
I only caught a blip, but I’ll keep working on it to see if I can triangulate the signature’s position.
Day 43:
Is it wrong that I kind of hope it’s Sonic?
As much as I want to hate him after everything, as much as I want nothing more than to never see him again, I miss him.
Damn it, I’m tired of being alone. I should never have gotten attached. I should have known better.
Day 46:
What the hell.
What the actual hell?!
Day 47:
I travelled to the triangulated position after triple-checking my coordinates. And what I found…
I can’t believe it. I mean, I can, but I can’t.
It was a hedgehog. A pale grey one, covered in ash and scorch marks. Unconscious. They seemed sick.
Against my better judgement, I brought them back to my lab.
I’ll get more answers once they wake up.
Day 49:
They still haven’t woken.
Day 50:
Oh man, I hadn’t spoken to someone in so long…
The hedgehog woke up. Apparently, their name is Silver, and they’re from 200 years after Sonic’s era. Their home’s all wrecked, and everyone is dying or dead, so they travelled back to make it right.
They’re too sick to leave right now, though, and maybe I could utilize their energy…
Time will tell.
Day 51:
Now I remember why I came here to be alone.
Day 53:
Silver has mostly recovered, although they’re still weak. And they’ve been displaying a remarkable ability; telekinesis.
They’ve lifted several things so far, including me. I didn’t like it.
They’re sort of like Sonic, but different. Hot-headed and determined, and hopeful. Naive, they believed I was a good guy straight away. They think the Grim is pretty. This world is going to kill them.
Or maybe they’re tougher than they seem.
Day 55:
Silver is…I’m struggling to wrap my head around it.
Apparently, Sonic’s the one who messed up their future by triggering some ‘Ilbis’ and ‘Mephiles’. And Silver is going to…kill him.
They’re desperate, I can tell. But they’re still kind to me.
I wonder why.
Day 57:
Today, Silver asked me why I’m here. I kept most of the story to myself, but told them bits and pieces.
Why?
I guess I’m a lonely fool who’s going to die anyway.
As another note, Silver hasn’t made much of a dent in my food, despite being starving. And they’re leaving soon anyway.
Day 60:
Silver left today.
Day 61:
I miss them. I shouldn’t, this is what I wanted, to be alone.
To always be alone.
I just…I guess I don’t want to die alone. Without anyone knowing or caring.
But it’s better to be alone. Safer.
That’s what I keep telling myself, anyways.
Day 63:
I’m running out of time.
Day 65:
I’m trying so hard, but nothing I’ve tried is working. If I had more time, maybe, but…
I don’t want to die.
I used to dream about the end of the world. I don’t remember the details. But it ended the same every time. All that was left was me, a backpack, and a beautiful place to die.
Now, I want to live. Fourteen years is far too short.
And if I do die, I don’t want to die alone. But I am alone, so what’s the use of hoping?
Day 70:
I only have ten days of food left. Technically, I won’t immediately die, but my mental facilities will rapidly decline. I’ll have trouble even staying awake. The chances of me successfully building an interdimensional travel device in that time is pretty much zero. Yes, I’m still working on it, but I don’t have power. Silver offered to help, but it didn’t work. And they’re gone now, anyways.
Day 74:
Have I mentioned I hate coconuts? Because, holy Chaos, I hate coconuts. I hate them so much that when I eat them, I want to kill people.
But even coconuts are better than starvation.
Day 76:
I still can’t travel through any portal.
I wish that…no. I wanted this. I wanted to be alone. This is my reward, suck it up. The world isn’t kind.
Day 80:
I’m out of food. It’s only a matter of time. I tried so hard, and I’ll keep trying, but…
If I don’t update this log for more than four days straight, I guess you’ll know what happened to me.
Day 82:
I’ve never been so hungry. Or so lonely.
I wish Sonic was here. I wish anyone was here, even Knucks.
As you can tell, the decline has already started.
Day 84:
My whole body aches. My head especially. I’m so tired…
Day 86:
I’m scared. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don't want to die.
I’m getting more and more tired.
I don’t want to die. I’m scared.
Day ???:
I lost track of the date.
I’m so tired. I wish Silver was here. They should be. Why did they leave?
I guess everyone leaves me.
I’m going to die alone.
Day ???:
I can’t even keep water down, now. I tried screaming for help, for Sonic or Shadow or Silver or Gnarly or Black or Rebel or…I forgot who’s supposed to be here.
No one came. I’m dying alone.
I wish Silver was here. They were kind. They will die alone.
Maybe we could have died alone, together.
Day ???:
I wish I hadn’t taken the Paradox Prism.
Sonic was in the wrong. I was in the right.
Maybe we were both in the wrong.
I feel sick.
Day ???:
I can barely stay awake. I’m dying, I know it. I forgot why I’m dying.
I’m curled up next to this log. I know I won’t wake up.
I’m going to sleep.
Maybe I’ll see Silver there…
Day ???:
This is my last entry. But not for the reason you’re thinking.
They came back for me! Claimed they’d missed me. They said that the future was safe and now they could save me, too.
Their eyes are pretty. Gold.
We’re leaving together.
Holy shit, I’m getting out of here. I’m leaving this Prism-forsaken place. Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!
I’m not going to die alone. I’m not going to die alone. I’m not going to die alone.
Silver came for me. I’m not going to die alone.
My best advice? Don’t give up hope. Hold on to what if. Because, maybe, if the stars align just right…You’ll find a way.
Or someone will save you. Someone like Silver.
I’m leaving this log so that you can survive, if you end up here.
I’m not going to die alone after all.
[End of log]