vivarium | CALHOUN HOUR

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CALHOUN HOUR - CAMPING

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

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Then, Subject 2, I will simply need to rebuild him. Trifling, but time consuming.

Heiji wasn't really crazy about the idea of helping Zero, either. But...

"I'm hearin' what you're gonna get out of us fetching Calhoun for ya, but I ain't hearin' much about what's in it for us. So spill. I'm sure it ain't going to be that simple, so I assume you've got some kinda offer we can't refuse."

A little more information would be nice as well. [Hershel adds with a frown.] You haven't really explained to us what's going on, or what this virus is. It puts us at a disadvantage not to know what we're up against here, if we did decide to help.

And really, why should we help in the first place? It's not as though being trapped in a small, uncomfortable space is any different of a situation than the last two months. Heiji's right, all this sounds like your problem, not ours.

You seem to think that I'm generous enough to offer a reward. I am not like my assistant, I do not engage in these "fun games". It is within your best interests to help me, if you consider your situation, but should you not, then realize that you are preparing yourself for the consequences.

[ Then to Hershel: ]

There is no need to explain as to what this virus is. I'd say that you're all rather useless in assisting me in this scenario. You should be much more concerned about yourself. This blackout has cut off all source of heat and power. What will you eat? How will you find your way around? Will you manage to hold off against the other "test subjects"?

Whether you survive or not, that does not concern me, but do not assume that you are in a position of power here. If you do not wish to help me, then so be it, but don't be foolish enough to believe you know more about this warehouse than me and that you can control what happens here.

[...Wait a sec.]

Other 'test subjects?' What do you mean by that? Are there others we'll have to worry about if we agree to look for Calhoun?

[Not that he's agreeing to anything, mind. But it seems like an important piece of information.]

Heiji didn't really buy it. If Zero truly gave no shits about their situation, he wouldn't be sitting here threatening them. Hell, he wouldn't even deign to talk to them. But he was more interested in Sasuke's question at the moment than in antagonizing his captors (for once), so he waited for the response.

Did you truly believe that you were the only test subjects partaking in my experiment? That is quite the narrow and self-centered thinking that you possess there.

[The thought had crossed his mind before, but...]

Then what makes them dangerous? Do we have sonething they don't? If we're all trapped here, we should be in the same boat.

What should we expect?

And you've still never answered why you can't just do it yourself. Or ask these other victims we're supposed to be jealous you like more.

"Do they consist of the test subjects that were removed from here and quarantined? What happened to them? Or can we assume those those guys're just gone forever and there's a whole new bunch we need to look out for?"

...Well, more like Heiji just wanted to know what happened to Kuzuryuu and the others.

[ Just swarming Zero with questions, huh? There seems to be something amusing, as Zero's tone isn't as monotone for the next sentence. ]

I suppose that it is quite possible to say that you all possess something they do not. Jealousy is a strong and fascinating emotion. It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on.

[ Was that a Shakespearean quote? Hm, well, the amusement ends there as they get right back into the the formal tone they had before. ]

I don't see as to why I should answer who your fellow test subjects are. If you truly insist on playing as the foolish lone wolves, then I will leave it to you to find out and how to deal with them.

As for Test Subject 6, who appears to be suffering from lower mental capacities than the others, I believe that this is a prime opportunity to assist one another. You eight require information and assistance to make your way among the warehouse, and I require Calhoun. I can rebuild him, should you reject my offer, but do not flatter yourselves thinking that I need you. I've simply come with a proposal in lieu of how generous I can be.

"What kind of assistance are we talkin' about? Supposin' we do help you, and we really are as 'useless' as you say, aren't you gonna have to baby us through this warehouse of yours?"

What did they have that the other test subjects didn't...?

[ What the shit is with this numbering thing?? At least Calhoun's nicknaming made sense, but the numbers aren't as clear. Was that in the order they were kidnapped or what?? ]

If he doesn't "need" us in the first place, then whatever he's offering probably isn't even not worth it.

How foolish. Information is much more valuable than any physical "prize".

[ But now addressing Heiji's question. ]

You have explored less than an eighth of what this warehouse has in store. Does it not sound useful to converse with someone familiar with the layout? More so if they provide information as to what rooms will be key to your survival, such as food and a source of heating? Who is to say how long you will be stuck in this predicament, and how long you would last when you don't know where to go. Accept my offer, and I will assist in answering whatever you need, should I see it fit.

So...play gofer for you and your overblown ego in the hopes that maybe you'll deign to give us some tips on surviving the rat maze you put us in in the first place? You're really not good at this bargaining thing. Sure, information is great, but guarantees are better. If all you can offer is 'terrible' and 'terrible with your self-important commentary,' I think the choice is pretty clear.

*Snake had been very silent, listening to Zero tell them what he knew, even about potential other "test subjects." It seemed simple. Stay here and let things get worse or attempt to make it better.*

Now, now, Ema. *Really, you and your temper!*

Well, Zero, I for one am not scared of the dark, but I think I'd miss being warm. Either you can find Calhoun or you choose not to or you legitimately cannot find him and need our help.

Since we don't have a choice on what to do, I wouldn't mind a little aid on how to accomplish that goal, exactly.

"...I gotta agree with Snake. It's not like we're promisin' to go steady or anything." Heiji agreeing with Snake on a major game decision, how weird...

"More information at this point is better than none, and it's true we don't know how to get the power back on. And if a generator or something like that is actually damaged instead of just needing to be reset, we won't have the tools or knowledge to fix it. Unless one of us is an electrical engineer, which I'm kinda doubting at this point. So I'm willing to give it a try."

Besides, they could always gleefully betray Zero later if they got the opportunity. Normally Heiji didn't approve of such shenanigans, but the guy was kind of a grade A douchebag/kidnapper/accessory to murder, so.

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CALHOUN HOUR - CAMPING

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