estoria | « 001 ⇢ INTERLUDE001.EXE »

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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

Or some super-dangerous virus that they got from one of the worlds they restored or from the flamingos!!

[He is starting to get excited for that possibility. If there are any guards with ears in the vicinity they probably heard him, too.]

[ Hinata's knock on the door doesn't echo; it seems the space behind said door isn't that big.

And there's a voice from behind the door, soft and distinctly feminine, but otherwise too muffled to make out any words.

There don't seem to be any guards at all; nothing comes for them, no matter how loud Vector is. ]

[Oz, who's been poking around outside of the cage just to make sure there's nothing to miss on the outskirts, pauses once he catches the sound of that voice.]

Hey... Does anyone else hear that?

[His brow furrows a little as he listens, even though he can't pick up anything being said. He doesn't fully enter the cage itself yet but pokes his head in.]

—Should we try to open it anyway? [Even though it's suspicious as heck, good lord - he seems to agree with Katsura.]

[Hinata brings his ear closer to that locked door, frowning. No... he really can't make out anything, though he heard the voice.]

It sounds like a woman's in there, but I wouldn't say anything for sure.

We can test it, but I don't know if opening it's a good idea... If we even could, it seems locked, and we're not going to blow it open. [KATSURA.

But Hinata will hesitantly move to put his hand on the door handle, look back to make sure everyone's ready IN CASE OF MONSTER. It's probably locked but he'll give it a testing jiggle anyway.]

[She's just going to ignore the doomsday ideas that half of the group came up with, and she moves into the cage and nods at Oz's statement.]

Yeah, it definitely sounds female.

[HM...how to get past the lock, though. Even though it might be a trap, but there's nowhere really to go but forward.]

I wonder if one of those robots have something that could help with this.

[She could hack, but she wasn't the world's best lock picker.]

A locked-up female? [Coming closer, he gives the contraption a curious look.]

Do you think that this could be this mysterious Lilith woman that Hermes was talking about on the network a while ago? It seems that she has gone missing a while ago.

[Rummaging through his pocket, he pulls one of the two things he has picked up before out and holds it up. It seems like a chip or code-card.] Do you mean something like this? I picked it up earlier when I was looking at one of the robots.

[Orrr it's an utterly useless piece of hardware, but whatever. He only took it as alibi for also picking up some other scraps whose setting up interests him, but maybe it'll turn out useful after all.]

_{[ It's almost as if Katsura feels Hinata's vibes of NO, cause right before Hinata says something about blowing it open, Zura is lowering his hand that holds his other timer bomb. ]}

Tch. I don't see any other way it could be opened.

_{[ But then he glances at Vector. ]}

Unless you have something there.
Ah. Let's see this lock a little better first.

_{[ GOING IN. He's making his way through inside of the cage to press his ear against the door, and while he's there, he's investigating how this door is locked.

Then he calls out: ]}

Ahhh, hello in there! How is the weather on the other side?
_{[ ??? ]}

Edited 2015-07-02 03:38 (UTC)

[Kat...sura.......

But Oz will step in after that, though he hangs back a little bit like he's eying up the locked door (which he is). Everyone else has the eavesdropping thing down, anyway.]

I could try to take it down if it doesn't unlock with that, and if everyone wants to keep going forward.

[A nod over toward the card in Vector's hand and the card chippy thing he's holding. There's enough space in here for him to work, probably, but... for obvious reasons he'd rather not.]

[ Hinata's jiggling of the handle does indeed produce nothing; the door seems to be locked up tight. That aside, there is a place to put a chip or scan a code, just as there is a numbered code pad next to the door. Seems there's a number of ways that you could get in!

Also there's a definite response to Katsura, but mostly it's still too muffled to make out.

For all of the softness of the voice, though, she definitely sounds angry. ]

I feel that way about monsoon season too.
_{[ it wasn't even monsoon season but ok.

Katsura looks over at the rest of them, unsure. ]}

Clearly this woman is also wanting to see if Amy-san gets a divorce or not. We must rescue her. Do you think we should rescue her?
_{[ ... right? Anyway. ]}

Usually the universal code is: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start. K*nami Code.
Ah, but there are just numbers here. Maybe there's a clue?

Katsura, no-one cares about the weather or that show but you.

[someone has to say it... and look, whoever's in there is getting annoyed by that stupid stuff. Hinata sighs. But the looking around for clues is actually a good idea.]

...Before anything, want to go around and check out this room more? Then we can try, er, your card there and that code pad and-- [gestures at Oz]

It could end up being LILITH in there. I can't tell for sure or anything. And then it could be something worse... [But either way, he'll step from the door TIME TO LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM FOR EVIDENCE this is his genre it's fine]

I'll help you look.

[The chip seems to be the easiest thing (if it works), but she turns away from it to start looking. Unfortunately, it wasn't something she could just hack, so she keeps looking around for something else that'd help them out. She's not that sure she'll actually find anything, since it's so clean, but she's helping anyway.

At least they potentially have two (three, if Katsura is allowed to bomb the door again) ways to get in.]

Hm. May I? [Ducking into the cage, Vector gives the code-pad and slot a look.]

I think our best bet is to first put in the chip card, then we can try [~~dick-bombs'~~] Katsura-san's code. If we replace the direction buttons with what you'd use for them on a numerical keyboard it should go like this: 8 for up, 2 for down, 4 for left, 6 for right, and so on... 5 or Enter could stand be stand-ins for start. So it should be 8-8-2-2-4-6-4-6- either 8 or 2 - 1 and then enter or 5.

[He clicks his tongue. If the device takes a code that long, that is. They have no way of knowing how many tries they'll get.]

Thinking logical, we should try it with Hinata-kun and me inside. Katsura'a-san's bomb is a weapon that can't be used for close range fight but can deal with removing the cage if need be from both sides, whereas Oz-kun's and big sis' weapons are more versatile outside because they can still reach inside as well. That leaves one close-range fighter and [one who can be easily sacrificed] me.

[Another pause.]

Maybe it's not Lilith but the old lady who is the new big boss, too. Do you think this could be some sort of coup? Mosley could be using us as scapegoats for things going out of control and there being regrettable ...collaterals.

_{[ It's not dick-bomb, it's Katsura.

That's a lot of words from Vector, and they all make sense-- it appears Katsura is following the conversation, but the second he finishes his logical plan, Katsura slaps a fist into his hand passionately. ]}

If there is an old lady in there, we must save her!! I'll be happy to do most of the saving!!

_{[ . . . ]}

One person should try to unlock the door and the rest should stay back in case this cage is some sort of trap. What if the cage closes itself if it knows its trying to get hacked?
_{[ Katsura says this, but doesn't move. .... ]}

[KATSURA??? Not that Oz has moved yet either... This is it, a cage full of morons.]

She seemed pretty well-prepared, didn't she? If Mosley was trying to set up a coup, I think it would have to be a lot more complicated than this.

[But he glances out toward where Hinata and Shepard are after that, waiting to hear about any potential progress. As far as Katsura's actually reasonable suggestion goes:]

If someone does get closed inside, we might still be able to get the door back open. [Hopefully without the use of dick bombs but they sure don't have a great track record so far.] Or I could try to keep it open... Rei's right; I have a long-distance range, so I might be able to anchor a chain in from the outside.

[And one less moron in the cage now as Oz steps back out, eying the open door to see what angle it might swing shut at if it were to swing shut at all.]

[PRETTY MUCH A CAGE FULL OF MORONS...

She understands how Vector's plan makes sense, but she doesn't want anyone to die on her watch again, either. So she doesn't really leave the cage, yet, though she's slowly making her way to the door on her search for the code.]

I have more than enough ammo for whatever's in there if we need it, at least.

[Still so unsure on what to do. Obviously staying in the cage is probably the most dangerous option, but she doesn't want to just leave it and let everyone else possibly die. But then there's the one standing outside too...

She'll have to trust someone in this group as she would from her own team, but it's difficult, because some of them look so young, but she knows that's just something she'll have to get over here.]

[Oh you heroes...

Vector bites down on the remark that small spaces cramped with people make it really easy for stray bullets to find the wrong people. At least the chain-one is already out.]

Alright. I'll try it with the chip card and the code, then.

[Gesturing for the others a last time to go get out, he inserts the part he has taken from one of the security guards and then quickly types in the code.]

[ Luckily for all of their planning, their initial plan actually works. The chip is accepted into the system, the display screen lighting up with Security Credentials Accepted, a computerized voice reading out the same.

The door unlocks, opening just slightly.

And now it's quite clear that, while the words are still indecipherable from this distance, the woman within is incredibly unhappy with everything that's happening. Maybe it's because their security credentials were accepted?

Either way, there's a muffled but very distinctively angry ranting coming from inside that room. ]

[That was easy. Hinata warily turns back toward the door... and yeah no he can pick up on that angry tone from here.]

Why does she sound even madder?

[MAYBE THEY SHOULD LOCK IT BACK UP.]

It's because you didn't knock! Never unlock the door without knocking, especially if it's a lady and you're not! What if she is using the toilet? Why didn't we think about this?

_{[ .... like hell he is going to go in there now. ]}

[...This group of people, though. But at least they were able to put in the code, and while she tilts her head a little bit to see if she could pick out anything, she couldn't.

Her curiosity gets the better of her again and she moves towards the door, putting her hand on it but not pushing it yet.]

I'll go in first again, if you're worried about walking in on something unpleasant.

[Y....eah....to calm Katsura's nerves or something whatever.]

[A MISTAKE HAS BEEN MADE, POSSIBLY... But they've come this far?!]

Besides, what if it's someone who really does need help? We can't just leave her in there.

[Oz will step back into the moron cage and move to stand behind Shepard, clearly ready to back her up if need be.]

Yeah, what if she's been stuck in there without any toilet paper for who knows how long? I don't think we'd ever be forgiven for coming this far and then walking away for that~

[And here goes his love for completely out there logic plays again, picking up Katsura's idea and running with it. Anyway, he'll step to the side and wait for those who want to go first like a good little boy ~~for now~~]

. . . OLD FILE OVERWRITTEN . . . CHECKPOINT FINAL.SAV . . .
. . . CONTINUING TOUR.EXE. . .

[ When they finally finish their toilet debate and open the door, they will find...well, someone who isn't entirely human.

She's behind another set of bars, these protected by what seems to be a retina scanner, chained to the floor by a large chain around her neck. Clawed hands are chained together as well, and there are cameras trained on her from every single direction, but at a safe distance. Otherwise, her cell is completely empty.

And as they walk in, she looks up at them with narrowed, angry eyes and spits an unfamiliar word at them, something their implanted translators can't seem to pick up. ]

[Yeah, she's just going to keep going or be held up by more paranoid toilet talk, and she looks surprised for a minute when she steps in to see the girl.

She glances around the room, mentally taking stock of the cameras, and the chains and scanner.

...She's not sure what to make of the unfamiliar language, though.]

Do you understand me?

[Maybe she could, but she's just not sure. Talking to her otherwise would just seem like a waste if there was no understanding there.]

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▶ FINAL CHECKPOINT.SAV

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