Chapter Text
Technically, some would say this thing could read minds, but he went further. What he was working on was not just to show other people's dreams, but to also move the mind inside to experience them firsthand. This kind of technology had always interested the government, but they had never dared to ask for it. Robotnik knew that even they understood the absurdity of such a request. Back then, he would have just sent them back to watching their science fiction movies. But now, after what he had been through... Yes, it would be possible.
Stone was away on business for a week. He called every day, but it wasn't the same. Robotnik tried to ignore the itch under his skin every time he answered. Since they had started hiding in Crab it felt strange to be separated like this again. After that failure in Green Hills, it seemed the agent would never let him out of his sight again.
There's no point in making a device that shows you other people's dreams if there are no people within a kilometer radius of you. For an exception, it would be really helpful to have company.
When was Stone supposed to be back anyway? He didn't ask, of course. It wasn't that he missed him, he just needed a test subject.
In a moment it seemed to him that the world around began to tremble from the number of thoughts, which would be strange after the varnish of godlike powers in his blood. As it turned out, it was only the Crab.
Footsteps could be heard in the distance.
Robotnik frowned. Damn. He should have paid more attention to what Stone was talking about in his calls. For some reason, he didn't even think he would be gone for so lo...
"Stop. What footsteps?"
His suspicions were confirmed when the man entered the lab with his hands full of packages. Not even his stupid face was visible behind them. Robotnik couldn't help but smile at that.
"Sir, I'm back. How do you feel about dinner?" He put the food on the table and, without even looking at Robotnik, hurried to open the refrigerator. After which he immediately grimaced, "You know, food, not what you've been eating for the last week."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Robotnik pretended to continue fiddling with the device. He felt relieved. If Stone hadn't returned, he would probably start thinking all sorts of stupid things out of boredom.
"I see you have a new project," Stone gathered all the dishes in the room to wash them, "It looks interesting. What is it for?" He picked up a dirty frying pan and sniffed it. Getting poisoned by some chemicals that the doctor had mixed here in his absence was not in the plans for the evening.
"I'm just improving my VR technology. There's no project."
Robotnik was considering his options. Right now, Stone was the only person he could test this thing on. He already knew that to enter someone else's dream, he would have to lose consciousness, and that would be very inconvenient outside the Crab. Yes, he could always ask Stone to move them to a more populated place, but they wouldn't risk it that much for the sake of a prototype Robotnik had built out of boredom. If the doctor was going to intrude on Stone's personal thoughts, it would be better to do it without the agent's knowledge, for more accurate results. Not that he himself was very excited. He didn't know how stable this thing was in practice and whether it could harm them. That was out of the question, of course, but it was always better to be safe than to lie in a hospital bed like a vegetable later. We'd been there, thank you, better not to repeat it.
He sat there for a while, lost in thought, listening to Stone prepare dinner. The agent moved around their small, makeshift kitchen, completely oblivious to the stares he was being given. Always efficient. He had no time to return before he had taken control of every detail again. For some reason, Robotnik felt like drinking coffee.
"Stone, if I conducted an experiment on your mind without your knowledge, would you tell me if you felt any discomfort or strange changes in your behavior?"
Stone stopped stirring and looked at him suspiciously over his shoulder.
“If you were really doing something like that, I would certainly like to know about it,” he turned down the heat and turned to face him. “What kind of changes are we talking about?”
"I don't know, headaches, insomnia, ringing in the ears, fake memories, changes in habits — all that nonsense." As he counted, Robotnik thought Stone's face briefly revealed a smile, but he hid it too quickly behind his serious expression.
"If anything like that starts happening, I'll definitely let you know," He took the clean plates and started setting the table, "And now, why don't you take a little break and eat."
Robotnik would never admit it, but he had come to miss Stone's food in such a short time. Perhaps if he had known he was so skilled at the stove earlier, he would have added it to his duties long ago. Sometimes he allowed himself to be amazed at how diverse the man's skills were.
"You're lucky I'm hungry," Robotnik sat down at the table and helped himself to a giant portion, "Breaks only slow down progress."
Stone simply smiled at this, "We both know that you like breaks. Even if not for food," He helped himself to a portion and began to count, "then for dancing, movies, coffee... And even sleep in the end."
Robotnik was chewing with his mouth full. “Well, I don’t like the latter, don’t lie. It’s a waste of time,” He had no time to swallow before he had another mouthful of food, “It’s not that I have a lot to do right now, but I just don’t see anything attractive about lying unconscious.”
Stone frowned slightly at his manner at the table.
"Even dreams are so absurd," Robotnik decided to scout the area, if there was such a possibility.
"Oh, and what about them?"
"It would seem that our brains are simply processing information that usually doesn't make much sense. Pictures, sounds, all kinds of sensations are ground up in the blender of our minds. But some people give it such meaning. Did you know that people believe that their dreams can affect their fate? Gabriella had a dream about a rabbit in the last episode, so she went to read how it would affect her sister's engagement. These are obviously not scientific conclusions. Personally, I don't usually dream clear images, at least I don't remember them. Stone, what do you usually dream about?"
"Uh... Work?" He looked a little confused.
"Ha! So you dare to lecture me about breaks when you yourself are working even in your sleep!"
Stone laughed, "Okay, you caught me there," he thought a little, "I don't really remember my dreams, usually they are some kind of altered and mixed memories. Although once I did dream about Halloween, where Walters in a duck costume was swimming in a pond and quacking loudly. I threw candy at him then. I think it can be classified as a nightmare."
"Don't give me this image, I'm actually eating!" Robotnik pointed his fork angrily at Stone, "And don't you dare smile like that, I'm serious!"
"Sorry, sorry. I really can't remember anything interesting," He shrugged and continued eating.
"So other people are present in your dreams. Have you ever dreamed of me?"
Stone choked and immediately coughed.
"Chew it, for God’s sake."
"Sorry, sorry," He reached for a napkin, "I mean, yes. Of course I dream about you, I mean you're in my dreams... I mean, ah, obviously you're there, I said myself that I dream about work! And I work with you, for you... And I see you every day, so..."
Stone was a little red and tried not to look at him. Stupid sycophant.
“Of course,” Robotnik ignored his mumbling.
In fact, that was more than enough. If Stone was telling the truth, Robotnik would be able to successfully test the technology. Walk through Stone's boring, fantasy-distorted day and, if he was lucky, he wouldn't even notice. He was already squirming a little with impatience for this night and hoped Stone hadn't sensed his excitement.
After a short silence, the agent spoke again.
"You know, Doctor, even the imaginary you always seems busy. How does he even find time to linger in my mind?" He leaned a little on his elbow and blinked slowly. It had been a long day.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Stone. Why would anyone want to linger there?” he realized the irony of what he had said.
“Hmm,” Stone picked up the dishes to wash, “I’ll finish this and get ready for bed. Is there anything else you need, sir?”
"No, I think I’ll go too. It’s good to lie in bed sometimes instead of in a chair,” he stretched and stood up from the table.
"Glad to hear that, Doctor. Good night."
"Whatever you say, sycophant."