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« 001 ⇢ INTERLUDE001.EXE »

Who: Mosley and these unfortunate souls
When: OOC: 6/27, IC: 1/26
Where: CERES Research Tower
What: Mosley takes a few lucky souls on a tour of the CERES offices.
Rating/Warning: PG-13: Some violence, injuries and possible death.

▶ VIDEO.EXE | IC: 1/25

[ The broadcast comes bright and early for those paying attention to their CereVices; the man who appears on the screen is strikingly pale, white-haired and piercingly blue-eyed. He looks young, no more than nineteen or twenty and he's dressed in a crisp black and white suit. He stares into the screen for a long moment, long enough to be, frankly, just a bit uncomfortable.

And then white eyelashes blink and an awkward, unsure smile spreads across his face. He lifts a hand to fix his tie and speaks. ]

This is Mosley.

[ The smile drops, leaving him with a blank expression once again. ]

CERES has decided in a show of good faith to open our doors to you. I have been given the task of, [ He lifts his hands to emphasize with air quotes. ] "being your tour guide." If that is what I must do, so be it. The lazy worm does not get the apple, after all.

[ He looks down at the tablet on his desk, giving it a few taps and suddenly an icon appears on the bottom right hand of the video. ]

That link will bring you to a listing to make an appointment. You will be given a time. Show up promptly or do not, it is no matter to me. The tour will leave ten minutes after your given time and that will be that. Tours will only last a few hours so you needn't worry about the rest of your day. You will certainly return home in time to catch the latest episode of [ Air quotes again. ] "Banana is the New Black." I hear there's going to be a cliffhanger!

[ A pause and he looks oddly thoughtful. ]

I suppose you could also steal it off the internet? [ Blank again. ] Which would be wrong. Our lawyers will contact you if you do that. Do not.

[ And then another of those awkward smiles before quickly turning into something a bit startled and he taps his tablet again, ending the video. Replies to this feed have been disabled, unfortunately. Seems like someone isn't feeling very chatty. It's a miracle. ]

▶ ACTION.EXE | IC: 1/26

[ The next day, that Monday, those who take Mosley up on his offer will find that him standing there right in front of the main CERES office building, waiting. It’s with that same disconcerting smile that he unlocks the door and ushers them in.

Welcome, all of you, to our lovely CERES!

The group will find themselves standing in a lobby. Clean white walls and floors, a bright blue rug leading towards the elevators on the far wall, and a white reception counter. At the counter are two CERES robots answering calls and directing any visitors (though the lobby seems quite empty today) and on the wall behind them is a hologram of the CERES logo for all to see. Mosley stands in the center of the carpet in his usual suit and claps his hands together, putting on a smile. ]

Welcome to CERES.

[ And then the smile drops. Voice flat, he continues. ]

There has been... talk over the past few months that we at CERES have not been working 24/7 to help you, our clientele, return to your homes safely and soundly. There has also been... talk that we do not do anything. That this entire company is a farce, which is honestly quite hurtful to both me and the other hardworking staff at this company. Mr. Vincere had his way of running this place but Ms. Recreare is fond of a more hands on approach. We want to share that approach with you.

[ He spreads his hands to indicate to the building around them. ]

CERES has many fingers in many jars and they've all been sealed tight for a while. We would like to open those jars. So once again, welcome to CERES and please follow me.

[ After that, Mosley turns and begins to lead the group off. ]

▶ RUN.EXE | MOD NOTES

This is the event log for these sign-ups! Your groups have been sorted below; here are a few handy links for you:

Group 01 | OOC plotting
Group 02 | OOC plotting
Group 03 | OOC plotting
Group 04 | OOC plotting
Group 05 | OOC plotting
Group 06 | OOC plotting
Group 07 | OOC plotting
Group 08 | OOC plotting
Group 09 | OOC plotting
Group 10 | OOC plotting
There is no tagging order, so feel free to tag in whatever way works best for you as a group.

The tours will technically last 3 hours icly, but that may change as ic events happen; oocly, the threads will last as long as necessary, though Mosley will come and collect your characters if they are moseying around too long! There will be mod involvement in each of the tours.

If there are any questions, feel free to ask them here. You are welcome to plot with your groupmates by using the ooc top level comments linked above. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hinata's mind is still on how Mosley's expression changed and he thought for a second of his history, wondering if that was what the hell he was talking about— BUT NOPE SUDDENLY THERE'RE ROBOTS WITH GUNS. And a suspicious button and no way out.

At least some of them seem prepared for a fight; speaking of, Hinata's hands suddenly have a knife and a gun where they didn't before.]

There's no way back; we can only try to get past those robots or try hitting that button...!

[Vector’s lips twitch at the reference, but he makes sure to keep the same look of wide-eyed confusion and awe on his face that he has maintained for most of the time ever since they arrived here. (With exception of making sure to grimace and look exhausted when the stairs just.took.no.end…!, of course. He also trailed behind a bit so that nobody would notice the suspicious lack of sweat on his skin.)

The setup paired with the sudden departure of their guide has him wonder how long it is going to take before hell breaks loose and something is trying to kill the- Ah, yep, there is it.]

Whoa! Hey now, we’re not- ! We were INVITED to come here-!!

[Yeah, everybody’s got their deadly toys out and is shouting already. Time to 'eep' and dive for safety behind the others – and close to the pretty red button since he’s already at it. He wonders what will happen if he plays along and actually pushes it.]

[ as soon as Shepard has raised her gun, the robots are on full guard, lifting their own weaponry, which seem to consist of stun guns and rifles of their own. They're mostly focused on Shepard and Hinata as the main threats, but as they lift their weapons and open fire, those stray bullets might cause troubles for everyone else as well.

Take cover!

Meanwhile the red button is still sitting there, unpressed and pristine. ]

_{[ Everything is happening so fast, so much at once. It's enough for him to reach inside and ... pull out one of his bomb that he kept so snugly nestled in there. You know, no big deal.
He shifts the weapon behind his back, also watching the button in the corner of his eye. Nobody is gonna press it? ]}

I don't trust it. There isn't a reason to trust it. It's put there to tempt us.
_{[ He remarks, speaking to the person closest to him, which happens to be Oz. His wrist flicks, bobbing the device up and down behind his back as if he is trying to get others to pay attention to it. It doesn't look like a bomb, but it does have a flashing red light on it as if it were some kind of weapon.

Just then, they're opening fire, and Katsura ducks, though the bullets manage to get his beautiful CGI hair.. and the round of one of his shoulders. ]}

[While Oz isn't exactly used to weapons like that, the blinking red light generally does mean that Something's Going To Happen, so it catches his attention after he looks over to respond. WELL... He'll just trust Katsura to do whatever it is that Katsura's going to do, apparently.

In the meantime, because he does indeed agree with the button suspicion, he calls over in the direction of the panel without really checking to see who's there.]

He's right, I think! Don't press it yet!

[A blade-tipped chain rockets forth seemingly from thin air after he speaks, aiming for one of the guard's guns. Though his focus is forward, Oz himself is busy dodging and keeping to the sides so he doesn't get his dumb ass shot too badly.]

[Yeah, she's definitely taking cover now that she's being shot at, but it's not before she gets grazed with a bullet. She'll be starting to shoot at them, and takes stock of the rest of the people with her before her eye catches Vector.]

You guys got another plan up your sleeve, then?

[Not that she's opposed to making one up as she goes, but she's busy rolling and dodging robot fire while she's trying to shoot at them in return. She is thinking, though, and if they could get rid of the robots, they could probably figure out something.]

[Katsura looks like he has some other plan up his sleeve-- But Hinata doesn't get a good feeling from anything that blinks red like that. He can barely spare the time to look at it, though.

Not when those robots are focusing on him. He feels one graze his arm, not far from where he's gotten shot before, but before him shimmers something light gold that, oddly, deflects another bullet.]

Katsura, oi... [HE'S TRYING TO TALK and say something like don't do anything stupid/hasty/too dangerous but no he has to dart out of the way of another series of bullets, firing back at the robots.]

[Vector pulls his fingers away from the button with a jerk, inwardly frowning at the attention he’s getting just at the wrong time and his guise keeping him from hitting it anyway with the pleasure of a sadistic king. Ugh, if the woman would just look somewhere else…!

Outwardly he grimaces as he returns the look, worry written in big letters on his face as he presses himself as tightly and snugly to the wall beneath the button as possible. If everybody tries to shoot everybody else that moves remaining still should give him a pretty good chance at just being overlooked, right? Or at least to be considered a less interesting thing for the robots to aim at compared to the rest.]

.....! Where did you get that from?! [A thing that'll most likely go boom from thin air, a force shield and magical chains, interesting. He didn't know that humans can do things like that here.

A ricochet sings past his ear and he ducks, mumbling a curse.]

I don't know what you guys want to do, but can we please try and all survive this?! They seem to think we're some sort of intruders, maybe that button's the emergency switch to stop them if such a malfunction happens!

It seems too obviously marked for that!

[Or maybe they're all just a bunch of contrary hooligans who don't like doing what they're told WHO KNOWS...

Either way, Oz is too busy to actually stop anyone from button mashing if they really wanted to. He's still focused on disarming the guards, barely seeming to notice as a bullet grazes by his knee.]

.. It came where most balls are found!
_{[ his only response. Why did you have to ask that? ]}

_{[ But ah, yes. Of all the people to get stuck with, poor Vector gets paired up with all the paranoid skeptical ones. Nice.
Katsura would jump into action with his katana if he had brought it, but he didn't want to appear suspicious.

Whether or not these guys are friends who are just confused and protecting the facility or this place had malicious intent, they were firing and it looked like there was no way to escape. It was time to cause a bit more destruction.

Katsura lifts the timer bomb high into the air, his finger over a small button. ]}

This is an explosion! A small one, but it should help us! Stand as far back as you possibly can! We have 8 seconds to take cover!
_{[ He asserts himself forward in front of everyone and presses the button, tossing the timer bomb like a baseball pitch. This is when he gets hit again on his arm.

It goes whirling towards the robots. Whether or not they catch it or allow it to go past their shoulders towards the gate— who knows.
Katsura does pivot on his heel, getting clipped on his shoulders and back again by the bullets as he makes a run for the further possible place he could manage to run. Probably best if you do that too. ]}

[ The robots don't seem to intend to let that bomb fly by, but unfortunately, they're not programmed to deal with bombs. So they do the less than sensible thing and they shoot it.

The bomb explodes in mid-air, approximately three-fourths of the way to the robots. It explodes, and scatters them all. When the smoke clears, the robots are in pieces, an eerie silence covering the space instead.

And in the wall, there is a small hole, just large enough for a person to crouch and get through, if they were to try. ]

[Shepard's attention does turn away from Vector after a minute -- because at least she's assured that he'll probably be okay for now. She's got to focus on what she's doing atm, and Katsura is doing something even more interesting.

...

Yeah, she's running for it as soon as he launches the bomb; she's been in way too many scenarios like this to be caught in the crossfire. And, if by some chance someone isn't moving quickly enough away from the bomb, she'll grab them and move them out of the way too.

She ducks when the bomb actually goes off, attempting to drag the other person down with her. If she's successful, she's covering their head as well as her own. Shepard doesn't trust the silence either, so she looks up by the time that it's gone so quiet, and looks at the hole in the wall.

...Instincts are telling her she should probably go through that hole. But she's got to pick herself up off the ground, first.]

Is everyone okay?

[That's also very important.]

[There is a cough as Vector frees himself from the debris. He is dusty, full of small burns and scrapes but otherwise seemingly fine as he leans against the wall.]

Uh.... Thanks? [Shooting Shepard a shaky smile, he shakes his head.] My ears are ringing. But I think I'm still whole.

[Looking at the others, his eyes grow wide.]

But they are bleeding! Are you al- [A hasty step, a stumble: one accidentally landed on and pressed red button. Bingo~]

[ Vector hits the red button, and abruptly, the alarms shut off.

But in exchange, it appears to have set off the overhead fire sprinklers.

So now you're all soaked. Well that was underwhelming. ]

_{[ Katsura plugs his ears as the explosion goes off and stays low to the ground until the dust settles, only to be drenched by the sprinklers. Blood seeps through his clothing from his injuries on his shoulders, back, and his right arm, but this doesn't keep him entirely down. What's good to know is that the robots are gone.

Slowly, Katsura pulls to his feet. ]}

Damn.
This is why you should always stay with the tour guide. Damn.
That guy..

_{[ He turns around and puts his focus on everyone else. ]}

My only other weapon on me is another one of those should we come across anymore trouble.
Ah.
_{[ maybe he should apologize? he guesses. ]}

Sorry.
_{[ doesn't sound sincere.. ]}

Can we pass through? I would like to if nobody else will.

You gave us fair warning, so thanks for that.

[He can hear the insincerity in that apology okay HE CAN HEAR IT--

But more importantly, Katsura already seems pretty banged up, and they can't be sure that things will stay this peaceful in the hall... The best thing to do would be to find an exit quickly, right? He glances back over toward the panel where the button is, checks briefly to make sure Vector and Hinata look all right, and then offers Shepard a smile.]

I'm fine. Um— but I'd like to go through first if we're going to try the hole. [A beat, somewhat discomforted, and then:] If something is on the other side, I'll be able to heal, so we can minimize some of the danger.

[Hinata's had way too much of explosions to last him a lifetime-- when it had gone off, he'd flung himself back as far as he could, summoned up his Aura and counted on that thin shield of light to protect him. By some miracle, it had.

His hair is looking a little singed (no the ahoge isn't gone), but he's otherwise whole as he coughs and peers at what they've wrought.

--and then he's wet so what a fabulous day.

Grimacing and ignoring the bleeding grazes in several places on him, he slowly heads toward the hole, peering at it.] I'm all right, too. [SOMEHOW.]

Why don't we go one after another? You, then Katsura, and I'd like to come too [and he thinks Bloody McBombs Away might need a little support hence why he heads toward him], and... [He pauses and glances to Shepard and Vector inquiringly.]

Edited 2015-06-28 11:57 (UTC)

[When she gets up and wipes her bangs out of her face (thanks, sprinklers), she moves them behind her ears and regards Katsura when Vector brings him to her attention. She moves over to him, and looks at him with concern.]

I have bandages, if you need them.

[She doesn't really want to let him run around bleeding, but there's always a chance that she'll still be refused.

She looks over at Oz and Hinata and frowns; she'd definitely want to go through that hole first, but standing around here and fighting about it is only going to waste their time.]

I'm coming too. I'd like to be one of the first ones to go through, just in case things go to hell again.

[She might not be the first one out, but being in the back would also drive her crazy.]

[Vector’s eyes linger on Katsura for a long moment as he ignores his apology. Instead he wonders if this hadn't been within the range of Katsura’s plans for coming here all along. The hiding place for those bombs certainly speaks for it. But then, they all seem a bit too well prepared for normal sightseeing citizens.

Speaking of the tour guide… Where the hell did that whitey go off to? His eyes dart back to where Mosley vanished and then towards the still locked door on the other side once more before they settle on the hole in the wall. Going down there seems like the most heroic, stupid thing to do. Not to mention of neckbreakingly incriminating, if this is all a trick from CERES to find out which of them aren't exactly their allies.

Realizing that he’s the last who hasn’t spoken up, he grimaces.]

I guess that makes me the only one who thinks that it might be for the best to figure out where exactly we are and where Mr. Mosley went in that case. I don't mind if you want to go explore, but I don't think I can fight or protect myself in case we meet robots like that again and-

[he raises his arms and drops them in a frustrated gesture as his voice and face fill with regret.]

-I don't want to weigh you down any more. I already pushed that button even though you said not to... I'm sorry. I'll just stay here and call for help over my CereVice. I wish you the best of luck.

_{[ His plan all along was to burn off Hinata's ahoge. Curses, foiled again (except not really.)
Katsura supports himself to his feet against the wall, a shudder passing his lips when Shepard offers to bandage him up. The biggest injury seems to be on his arm which he keeps by his side. ]}

There isn't much time for that, but ah.. I should at least cover my arm with something.

_{[ He knows how to bandage himself up from plenty of injuries he suffered in his war, then gives the hole a glance. Katsura is typically a leader, but he's willing to let whoever go first. ]}

It doesn't matter, but we probably shouldn't argue about it here.

_{[ and then, to Vector: ]}

You can't! You can't stay here by yourself, especially if you said you can't fight or protect yourself! We're in the midst of a place that has proven to be dangerous.. I won't allow that!

_{[ He doesn't know this guy well at all, but he's an ally so he won't easily be brushed off. ]}

Should we split up?

[VECTOR GOT STUCK WITH A BUNCH OF SHONENS what a terrible fate...]

If Rei wants to stay here, one other person should... [And now he's torn, because he doesn't want to leave Vector alone, but he also doesn't want anyone else to get axed if they go through the wall first?! But he knows that Katsura is right: now isn't the time or place to argue about who goes first, and they don't have spare time to putter around trying to make these decisions, either. So he glances back toward the doors on the opposite side and then moves over to the hole. If nothing is there, they can at least come back to get Vector again and focus their efforts on the locked doors in here.]

I'll go through, so whoever is coming to look, please be ready!

[And if no one else makes a dive for it first, Oz will lead the way through the hole to victory!! Or death, or maybe cake.]

[SHONEN SHONEN GO GO GO

Hinata doesn't want to stay behind, but leaving someone behind is... especially if they can't protect themselves... So while he watches Oz head toward the hole, he addresses Vector:] Katsura's right, you know. [Words Hinata never thought he'd say...] And there's no way that we can check where Mosley went with that wall still in the way.

It might be dangerous to go through that hole, but it'll be worse if you're here alone and something happens. Who knows if that button activated something else besides the sprinklers...

[He wrings out his wet sleeves, waving with his other hand to indicate that the others should go on ahead. If it comes to it, he'll hang back here while the others go ahead.]

. . . NEW FILE CREATED . . . CHECKPOINT #001.SAV . . .
. . . CONTINUING TOUR.EXE. . .

[ Into the hole they go! The hole seems to have blasted their way into an old, abandoned hallway. The floor creaks beneath their feet, and everything is rusty and decayed; be careful, because some pieces of the floor may just fall out from under them, dropping into the darkness.

But otherwise, they seem alone, and it's a straight path, if they can keep going forward. While there is a door some ways beyond, in front of them, it's somewhat open already.

The lights flicker occasionally, but for now, they stay lit, if dimly. ]

[She takes out some bandages from one of her pockets, and takes Katsura's arm to quickly bandage it. Even though he mentioned that he'd do it, it was already in her hands so there was that.

But when Vector speaks up again, she's torn. She doesn't want him to stay here by himself (and let's be real she doesn't want to leave anyone in the first place), but she doesn't want the others to go on ahead and get into who knows what either.]

Look at it this way: we don't have a way out yet and who knows what'll happen between wherever we end up and here. We might not even be able to come back to get you if we find the way out -- in that case, you're at the mercy of CERES, and I'm not so sure I trust them right now.

[A beat.]

I'm not going to make you go, but I'll personally protect you if you're worried about that. There's safety in numbers, and I'd prefer we didn't get split up at all.

[She'll move towards the hole though when Hinata waves his hand, though she's still undecided...]

_{[ Katsura seems fine with Shepard's assistance, a little tip of his head to show his appreciation. He clicks his tongue together with a soft sigh, looking at Vector again.

Cue the inspirational piano music. ]}

Don't feel like you are a burden. We are all in this together. We've all come here from different places with different goals, but today, we're united under the same mercy of this place. I consider you all allies _{[ maybe a few of you are friends too ]} and as long as we are here, we should acknowledge the fact that we all have something in common.. and that is being brought to this place from our homes which are seemingly destroyed. We share these same feelings and thoughts of confusion.

Nobody is a burden.

_{[ Katsura shifts, as if he is moving towards the hole. If Shepard also moves when he does, he allows her to go in first. If not, he goes right in, but only with remarking: ]}

Ah. I also need to make sure I get home in time for Banana is the New Black. Amy-san is threatening a divorce so I can't miss it.

_{[ ??? ]}

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▶ CHECKPOINT ONE.SAV

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