DOUBLE BLIND

[vivariummods]

Shortly after the conversation with Zero ends, Zero opens the doors of the Garden and allows everyone to leave. However, the rest of the warehouse isn't better than the Garden: The lights are still off, leaving everyone surrounded in darkness. The temperature just keeps on dropping, reaching near freezing point. The air feels more and more polluted, making it difficult to breathe without coughing, and nothing seems to be working as they should be. The electronic doors refuse to open without any power source, cutting off access to the cafeteria and dorms. At the very least, Zero has managed to open all the doors leading to puzzle rooms and has informed the group that new areas are now accessible to them, but they're on their own should they want to enter any other rooms. Before the screens in the Garden turn off, Zero finally informs them that a new feature has been unlocked on their bracelets: any test subject wearing a bracelet may communicate with one another with the bracelet acting as a communication device. Holding onto the left button will enable the line to open just like a walkie-talkie. As long as test subjects are in the warehouse, they will have no troubles speaking with one another. What if they wish to talk to Zero? Zero's time is not be riffled, but they were generous enough to appear whenever anyone found a screen and pressed the on button a total of three quick successions. And with that, Zero disappears from the grids and finally leaves everyone in complete darkness, leaving only one last piece: "Best of luck, Test Subjects." BASIC INFO ✖ MISSIONS ✖ MINGLE

Comments

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji let out a short laugh and crossed his arms. "Oh, but he does care. Maybe not about Calhoun's pieces, exactly, but he did finally show his face. Now he's even deigning to argue with us lowly test subjects. And he's committed to this experiment, too, no doubt about that."

[not_that_sasuke]

"Whatever this experiment is about." That's one of the big mysteries...

What is even the point to all of this?

"He mentioned other test subjects, too... What do you think he meant by that?" He seemed to be pretty confident the others would be willing to fight them, but over what?

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji thought this over. "Well, whatever it is, it's clearly important to him. And it's apparently pretty likely that his experiment is going to fail -- though he wasn't real clear on what that actually meant for us."

"Since he was threatening us with them, there must be another group here like us. At least one. But what's this thing that we have that they don't? That's what I don't understand..."

[blind_badass]

Maybe...it feels metallic and sort of...like a foot, now that I think about it. *Snake put it in his pocket.* We'll probably need it later on. Let's go.

*He did chuckle a little.* Where will we find a dress big enough to fit Jake?

[fairsfair]

It's your sole mission to make the worst jokes ever, isn't it?

[ okay, jake's done now (probably). ]

Just when you think you're getting used to everything, something new happens. [ He goes over to check out what happened to Calhoun's paw. It seems all charred up. ] Looks like we're done here. Let's go.

[puzzlinglad]

[this face, you're both horrendous individuals.]

Well Zero's not going to like that. Let's hope he's less soporil happy than his... whatever Calhoun is. Worker, I suppose.

[not_that_sasuke]

"We have the necessities I guess, but... as long as you have enough points, you should have access to them." R...ight? Zero wouldn't really make a game where they had to fight to even get that much, would he...?

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji sighed. "One thing me and Hershel were kicking around was if they ain't cooperate with each other as much as we do. If so, they might be a lot lower on points. There was a long time where Clive couldn't get into the cafeteria."

Imagine a warehouse full of Zeloses...

[skyentificmethod]

[you know you get a kick out of it, hershel, just step on up and give it a try]

Partial charcoal briquette, you might say.

[not_that_sasuke]

...What a terrifying thought.

"So even if they aren't actively working for Zero, they still work as a threat." That... would be just lovely to deal with, yeah.

"Do you think it's really just one other group?" He's not entirely sure how to start with gauging the logistics of any more. All he knows is, the place is huge as it is, and apparently Zero has an incredible amount of resources to support at least two groups participating in his insane 'experiment.'

[detectiveofthewest]

"It could be more." Heiji had to admit that at this point, even if he'd resisted it as long as he could. "Apparently, Zero's trying to examine 'all possibilities'. Dunno what that means, exactly, but can ya really run a comprehensive 'experiment' with only two test groups? In Zero's book, anyway..."

"I'd really rather not get into conflicts with any other test subjects. We all wanna get out of here; there's no reason we should be fighting with each other instead of addressin' the real problem."

[skyentificmethod]

[she sighs, relieved that they can get to relative safety]

If there's no Calhoun, is there no more store? There's gotta be useful supplies in here somewhere.

[vengefulyears]

I was just heading to the infirmary to see if there's anything I can use there to treat my knee. Would you mind giving me a hand?

[It might be helpful to have someone with a working pair of legs around. And who is just a little bit taller than him.]

[skyentificmethod]

[together they make a tall person!]

Hey, sure, it's worth a shot.

[they start squeaking on down the hall!]

Is there anything in particular you want to keep an eye out for? I know it's not a drug, but I'm hoping there's some more of that detergent stashed away.

[vengefulyears]

[squeak squeak squeak]

Cold compresses would be nice, but I don't recall ever seeing those in the infirmary before... If we can at least find some basic aspirin, I'll consider this trip a success. And we can certainly keep on the lookout for detergent as well, of course. I think we could all use that. [Because what is washing clothes....]

[skyentificmethod]

[the real reason zero wears a gas mask is because his captives smell so bad]

Painkillers would indeed be a find. I don't remember seeing any during the last power outage, with the ranging robots and all, but this time the supply closets are unlocked, so who knows what treasures await. I mean, the stuff in those medkits had to come from somewhere.

[welp, it doesn't take them that long to get to the infirmary. it's kind of dark inside but the door is wide open! what could possibly go wrong?]

[formicarium]

Do not flatter yourself, thinking that you have anything useful in exchange.

I can show you the footage that Calhoun has "generously" showed your fellow subject, but expect no more than that.

[puzzlinglad]

I see. [He probably should be angry about it but he really isn't, if anything he just feels kind of defeated, the feeling of another door shutting tight.]

[He considers trying more, pushing, but frankly he didn't have it in him, not now at least. He knew there was next to nothing he could say that Zero would listen to, and absolutely nothing he'd be willing to offer that Zero might have the vaguest interest in.]

[He takes a step back from the screen.] I'm sorry for wasting your time then, if you'll excuse me.

[vengefulyears]

[Clearly this is 100% safe so Clive will just squeak right on into the infirmary.]

Exactly. We're bound to find something of--

[And then suddenly the door slams shut behind them.]

......Use...... [What the hell? Clive squeaks back over to the door and tries to open it again, but it's locked now.] Well, this isn't good.

[skyentificmethod]

Are you serious?

[a few extra tugs prove that yes, he is]

Don't tell me we have to solve this stupid puzzle to get out of here again... Ugh, let's just get what we need and figure that out later.

[looking around the room seems the same just darker, the lights on the card reader are blinking softly, and very subtle up lighting highlights the major puzzle bits so it's not pitch black but not that much better either. With a sigh, Ema starts further into the room to check out this supposed supply closet. Of course that's when the video screen flickered on and the screaming started.]

[vengefulyears]

[Clive looks at the screen as the screaming starts, but the only thing that's actually on the screen is static. He watches it for a little longer to see if the static will fade at all and give them an actual picture, but it doesn't look like it's going to do that anytime soon. So then he decides that the screen and the obnoxious screaming aren't worth his attention and goes over to the medicine cabinet. Unfortunately, the doors have been removed and the cabinet is completely empty.

He tries to speak loudly enough to be heard over the screaming.] Well, the medicine cabinet's empty. If I remember correctly, some of the medicine was needed to solve the puzzle in this room as well, so if they're not in that closet either, I don't think it will be possible to solve it again.

[skyentificmethod]

Great...

[grimacing, Ema goes for the closet as the scream abruptly cuts off and the lights begin to flicker, apparently for effect. It seems to work as Ema hisses in a breath, a million luminous eyes staring at her...

...Well, taking another look, that is not exactly the case. But what the closet does hold is shelves and shelves of extra doll heads, carefully positioned to look outward towards the room, eyes glowing faintly red and faces all sculpted in wretched expressions. The bodies are piled in the back corner, since it wasn't creepy enough in there. Next to them are various canisters: some sort of oil, vinegar, Tang, pea soup. On top of a pile of musty blankets is a small box of sundries such as small knives, flints, paper scraps, and a sudoku book with half the puzzles cut out. A conspicuously empty space in the other corner has a tall bottle of Soporil, but none of the other drugs.]

There's plenty of stuff in here, but I don't know that any of it is what we're looking for unless you really need creepy attack dolls. [though surely they wouldn't go off without being fed the wrong drugs, right?]