CALHOUN HOUR - CAMPING

[vivariummods]

It's another day, it's another start of Calhoun Hours. Bright and early in the morning, Calhoun marches into the middle of the first floor lobby and shrieks into his megaphone. "All right, up to the Garden with all of you! C'mon, hurry up, I'm not going to wait for you lazy bunch!" He impatiently taps on his paw on the ground, but then stops. "Hmm, actually, nah, take your time. I'll just meet you all there in a jiffy!" And with that, he rushes off to take the stairs to the Garden. Listen to him and slowly make your way, or rush up, it doesn't matter. After everyone assembles in the artificial room, Calhoun is standing by the waterfall, staring off into nothing. He just nods to himself a few times and doesn't even seem to notice the presence of the test subjects though. It's not until about ten seconds later that he turns and tilts his head. "Whoa, don't sneak up on me like that, test subjects! Sheesh, trying to give this mouse a heart attack?" He huffs but then slides back to his regular mood. "So! Today's event will be called camping! Yeah, I got no clever name for it, sue me, but whatever, go set up a tent or other prep-work. I couldn't bring in all the supplies for this so you'll just have to make due until later tonight." He runs away from the waterfall, but manages to trip on nothing a few steps in. He stays on the ground, as if trying to trick everyone that he's going to stay there for a while, but then pushes himself back up to make his way to the centre of the Garden. He then raises his arms out, as if he's presenting something. "Even though I didn't manage to grab everything, I hope you like what I did to the place! Sure looks like a real campground, huh?" Asides from a few tent kits scattered around, there... isn't actually much at all. A few of the screen grids (that normally display the sky) are either turned off to a boring black colour or in a constant static display, but asides from that, everything looks exactly the same. Calhoun doesn't seem to really care though as he keeps on talking. "Soooooooooooooooooooo, get to it, or something. Do whatever you test subjects do during events like these, chip chop chap!!" BASIC INFO ✖ MINGLE

Comments

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji unfolded a set of instructions, frowning as he looked over the diagrams. Then looked over at the tent supplies. Then looked back at the instructions. He had no idea if he'd ever set up a tent before, but he was going to give it a try. Who knew what was going to happen with these events...

He started assembling what was eventually supposed to be a tent pole, probably. "Is he even tryin' this time? The least he coulda done was given us some firewood..."

[lemme know if you want to do anything particular!]

[vengefulyears]

Clive was sitting nearby, periodically glancing at the instructions as he also assembled tent poles. Yeah, he had definitely never done this before.

"Well, there's plenty of wood around that we can use, at least." They had the trees, the benches, and the wooden path that went all around the garden. Clive secretly hoped that no one would use the benches, though, they were nice to have. "Do you have anything that can be used to chop up wood?"

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji laughed. "The shovel, maybe? If we were really desperate. I bet Calhoun would pitch a fit if we broke his stuff."

Actually, considering Calhoun had screamed at them not to break his stuff when he'd opened the garden, and he already seemed to have it in for Heiji...

"So how about it? You think you were an outdoorsman before? I think the hardest part comes after the poles are finished."

[vengefulyears]

"He should have thought of that before deciding not to provide us with proper firewood." Clive had no sympathy for that rat. And really, who cares if they got knocked out for a bit. At least it wouldn't be Clive because he wasn't physically capable of collecting wood at the moment.

"No, I don't feel like I've ever done this before," he said as he carefully began to put the tent poles in their proper positions, relying entirely on the pictures in the instructions. "I don't know how much help I can be after this." Just an advanced warning that he might have to go grab Hershel or whoever for the rest.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji cared, he didn't want to be dragged off by robots or some shit.

"It's okay. You should be takin' it easy right now, anyway." He frowned as one end of the tent pole did its best to jab him in the face. Thanks, Calhoun. "What I'm worried about is what's gonna happen when he comes back. He's plannin' something, I just know it."

[vengefulyears]

Just sacrifice Clive to the robots, as long as he wouldn't actually get hurt then he could deal with it. Also A+ job you're doing with that pole over there, Heiji.

"Of course he is. I just hope it doesn't involve running away from anything."

[detectiveofthewest]

Thanks bro, look we can't all be like Clive Dove, who was apparently some kind of pole-handling expert.

"You mean like the robots all over again?" Heiji made a face. GOD, robots, always ruining everything. "Ugh, I hope so, too. What's it gonna be this time, robot bears?"

Robot bears after their pic-a-nic baskets?

[not_that_sasuke]

Sasuke will look over the instructions Heiji holds as best as he can. Hmm... They should probably lay the tent out flat to begin with. They can fuss around with all of the other supplies after that.

"He had plenty of time to set it up." Seriously, what's up with Calhoun these days?

[detectiveofthewest]

"And did ya see how he was just hangin' out, nodding to himself? Maybe he was gettin' marching orders from someone." Heiji glanced upward.

"He mentioned bringing more supplies tonight. But somehow I don't think it's marshmallows or sweetfish." Cut Heiji some slack, he was hungry.

"I think we'd better set up these tents the best we can."

[not_that_sasuke]

You and your bottomless pit of a stomach, Heiji.

"It's weird... Did he ever freeze up like that earlier in the game, or has it only been recently?" What's going on? Is there something big going down right now elsewhere?

"I think you're right. I'll go get the tent laid out." That much should be simple enough. His leg has healed enough that crouching down is more of a twinge than an actual jolt of pain, and he can handle that much as he tugs the edges of the tent to lay it flat over the ground.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Only recently. I wonder if this has anything to do with him leavin' on that 'vacation' of his a little while ago. I assumed whoever made him was gonna do some maintenance on him, but he came back pretty quick."

Halfway through the instructions, it looked like the author had simply given up and started dumping random pictures and arrows on the paper. "Damn, these are worse than origami instructions. I think it's upside down."

[not_that_sasuke]

"I hear he froze up when he... overheard me. Back when I think you, Hershel, and Snake were at the shop." Because obviously Heiji couldn't have known what Sasuke was up to at that time, that was definitely a thing he did of his own initiative that was completely unrelated to the others' presences.

"Is it?" Figures. Like Calhoun would make this at all easy on them. Hopefully if they can just figure out at least one of them, they can just disregard the instructions for the rest.

[detectiveofthewest]

"He sure did. Which probably means he's got some kind of wireless communications setup. Fun, huh?" The tent pole Heiji was holding did its absolute best to snap up and jab him in the eye. It was like this thing had a mind of its own. Heiji ducked and scowled ferociously at it.

"Or... actually, no. Even if we turn it over, it don't have those pockets on the side. Hey, are these instructions for a different model?"

[blind_badass]

That would be hoping for too much. *Snake seemed to be actually enjoying the activity of setting up the tent and putting it together.*

[detectiveofthewest]

And it wasn't like working with Snake was all bad. Actually, Heiji rather liked it. It was nice being able to work with him on something constructive.

"It's weird, though... when we first got here, he was just kinda staring off into space and nodding to himself. He's been doing stuff like that more often lately. And the screens displaying the sky... some of them are turned off or displaying static. That never happened before."

[blind_badass]

That's interesting. It might mean something as simple as basic maintenance or that they're tinkering with the screens for a purpose. *Not that Snake cared either way. Working on the tent was like working on a math problem, in a way.*

[detectiveofthewest]

"Or maybe there's somethin' wrong with them. You know, it's odd that more things in this warehouse haven't malfunctioned. It's a big operation, and technology ain't always that reliable. 'Specially new or experimental technology."

Like the kind that had taken away their memories. Funny how it always seemed to work so perfectly. But Heiji had another question for Snake.

"Do you... um. If these things are still around at nighttime, do you wanna sleep in the same tent?"

[blind_badass]

Oh? *Snake turned his head to Heiji and smiled.* Well, I'd like to but that might depend on how things are arranged between us all. We might get assigned tents for all we know.

And by the way, detective...*Snake's smile grew deeper.* Wherever did you get that nice little present you slipped in my back pocket?

[detectiveofthewest]

"That's true. I just thought it'd be nice to sleep together again." Heiji leaned slightly up against Snake's shoulder. Even he could hardly believe he was saying these things, but -- "Last time was really nice."

It was too bad Snake missed the expression on Heiji's face when he dropped his question, but the surprise, at least, was audible in his voice. "Wha -- ! ...From the store. They started stocking them, so I... asked Calhoun what the deal was. Ugh, it was seriously the worst."

[puzzlinglad]

Eventually have Hershel as he walked up beside Heiji, voice low when he spoke. "This is very odd indeed." Not going to even bother with super secret codes and such this time? No, at this point he's pretty sure that not making vocal comments about it would be more suspicious than anything.

He glanced over to Heiji, frowning. "I have a very bad feeling about all this."

[detectiveofthewest]

"No kidding." Heiji looked a bit uneasily at the staticky screens. "If Calhoun was real, I'd wonder if he was crackin' up on us. But the last time he gave us a bunch of supplies and ran, we had to dodge robots."

"...Let's try and make sure Clive's all right. He can't run in his condition."

[puzzlinglad]

"Maybe he's playing some part." He watched Calhoun for a moment, wherever the heck Calhoun was now. "... it really doesn't seem so, though. I guess it's hard to tell with him."

Sigh. "Whatever the case you're right, Clive's in no condition to defend himself from whatever's coming. I can probably carry him slowly from place to place but if it comes to running away I'm not sure how helpful I'll be."

[detectiveofthewest]

"I don't think he is. He's been too spacy lately; somethin' is going on, and I think it's only a matter of time before we find out what." Of course, it would be awful nice if it was the police, come to rescue them...

"I can carry him, too, but it's not gonna be an ideal situation if it goes on for hours like that last one. And Sasuke and I are still injured..."

[puzzlinglad]

"The way the warehouse is reacting has me the most worried. Do you think something's wrong with whatever systems run this place?" This time he casted his worried look to the malfunctioning grids. "I'm not sure what we can even do if power starts failing or something like that."

And he nodded. "Maybe Jake will be willing to carry him if need be. They seem to have an uneasy truce right now, though a truce nonetheless. Other than that-" He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not really sure how many people here can carry him easily. Ema, possibly, maybe Snake. Alfendi's clearly out."

[detectiveofthewest]

"I'm actually surprised it's lasted this long without any major malfunctions," said Heiji. "The memory technology, too. Complex systems have a lot of moving parts. Programs freeze up, mechanical parts fail. The fact that we haven't been seein' a lot of those failures so far is one of the reasons I thought there had to be several people running things here. But if the power's out... I wonder."

He looked at his bracelet. "Calhoun can control these things without physically touching them, yeah? Meaning that he's got some way of transmitting a control signal to these things to get it to inject us or whatever he wants. If those transmission systems were no longer active, we'd just be lugging bits of dead metal around with us."