Reality Check is an Eternal Champions complete story that appeared in the Eternal Champions Special.
Staff
- Michael Cook - script
- Brian Williamson - pencils
- Stephen Baskerville - inks
- Dondie Cox - colours
- Richard Bird - letters
Story
Training hard in The Battle Room of Fortress Eternity, RAX Coswell has just dealt Shadow Yamoto a Lock and Load Attack and won a bet that Shadow now has to go out into the city with him. Shadow refuses, stating she only agreed to the battle for training purposes and that evenings out in the town would not serve The Eternal Champion's purpose. Right on cue, their master arrives and informs that it would be a good idea to go out and see the world The Overlord has created, the one that they will hopefully save.
Later, RAX is over the moon that the "old-timer" has acted as matchmaker, but Shadow still refuses to sink to his level, focusing on the information given to them about The Dream Bank, a nightspot in the city. On arrival, RAX notes that he has seen more action in a cemetary, while Shadow comments that bars in her time were filled with karaoke and arcade machines, where everyone is laughing and full of life. The pair enter the dreary establishment, where a robot bartender insists that all drinks are free, courtesy of The Overlord. They are soon distracted when Shadow removes a virtual reality helmet from a customer, revealing that he has been dead for a long time, immersed in a powerful illusion. The bartender continues, saying that The Overlord provides for every need, human thought and imagination are redundant. When RAX refuses to join in the charade, the heroes are surrounded by hefty robot guards, insisting that all "flesh units" will live their lives in synchronisation with The Dream Bank. The Champions leap into action, tearing up the guards, but Yamoto is captured and placed into a virtual reality helmet. Before she can struggle too much, she realises how much she enjoys this peaceful world and dances to her new life. In the real world, RAX is furious at her treatment and rescues her, Yamoto realising that it was a narcotic for the mind and was how humanity has been enslaved.
The fight continues, but Yamoto heads straight for the off-switch, freeing the men from their VR units. Bolstered by extra units, the humans outnumber the powerful robots. To finish things off, RAX uses his arm cannon to destroy the Dream Bank console, shutting down all the androids and freeing one small area of space and time from The Overlord's control.
Trivia
- This is Richard Bird's final lettering contribution to Sonic the Comic. It is also Dondie Cox's first and Stephen Baskerville's only one.
- RAX appears to be calling a "female" robot a "Barman".
- One of the synchronised humans bears a resemblance to Dylan, Casey's young friend from Kid Chameleon. Both stories were drawn by Brian Williamson.
- RAX and Shadow's actions here will have no bearing on time and space, since their mission is to change the past, stopping this adventure from ever happening.
Timeline
The previous Eternal Champions story was Death Isn't Forever. The next is Brains & Brawls.