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

HEAT UP

[not_that_sasuke]

[Okay though, it's getting seriously cold in here and he's only got a short-sleeved shirt. And he's getting the feeling it will only get worse as time goes on...]

Do any of you think there's a way to get the heating going again...? Even if we get supplies, if the temperature keeps dropping like this, we might just end up freezing to death.

[puzzlinglad]

[Man that's rough, dude. Hershel sighs.]

There might be. We could try asking Zero. [A face. Zero's just. great.] Or just explore in hopes of finding something.

[And have a few moments of staring at Sasuke before he frowns and shrugs off his cardigan, holding it out.] Here, at least I have long sleeves. [You thought you could get a few tags in without fretting? Never.}

GATHER FOOD

[fairsfair]

[ Jake has his handy clip-on flashlight so he has no problem being in the dark like this. He also has the jacket Ema got him along with his original one, so he's okay with the cold. Honestly, the only thing he's super concerned about is food, and with the power out, it's going to be a pain in the ass getting into the cafeteria (he didn't even know about the food storage doors, so that's a whole other mess). ]

Anyone up for breaking and entering?

[not_that_sasuke]

[Hershel it is entirely too early for this, calm down. He shakes his head, but with how dark it is and how slight his movements tend to be, it may be hard for Hershel to see as much.]

No, I'll be alright as long as I keep moving. You should keep it just in case.

[Like if Clive needs more to bundle up in because he isn't exactly mobile at the moment.]

...Maybe I'll check it out. One of these rooms might have a solution; it's worth a try.

TAKE IT BACK

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji peered around the corner at the cafeteria doorway at the washroom entrance, and at the moldering robot wobbling back and forth right outside the door. More of them were inside, from the sound of it. "What're all these robots doin' in the washroom? Y'think they're up to something?"

Well, you know. Either way, they'd need to get them out of there if anyone was going to use it again ever.

[not_that_sasuke]

How inconvenient of them.

"Is there something in there that has them interested, or is it just a coincidence...?" Either way, they'll probably need to do something about it sooner rather than later.

[puzzlinglad]

I never thought I'd say yes to someone saying that. [The world was truly a magical place these days.] What did you have in mind, exactly?

[There were a few things they needed, afterall. Take your pick. He'd pretty much have to agree food was very high on that list, though.]

[puzzlinglad]

[Never. It's not in his blood. He does, however, accept that answer, for now, sighing as he shrugs it back on.] If you're sure, the offer's open though.

I'll come with you, two sets of eyes are better than one, right? [He smiles and yeah, it's probably impossible to see in the dark.] Maybe we should try the incinerator puzzle room, I doubt it's working but if we can turn it on we'll probably be able to keep that room warm at least.

[not_that_sasuke]

[Going into an incinerator for heat seems... somewhat dangerous... but hey, it's worth a shot.]

Sure, let's try it. Do you remember where it is?

Placeholder for Heiji

[detectiveofthewest]

[Leaving this here in case someone wants to thread random stuff outside of missions, such as:

A) stealing books from the library, Heiji will be using an impromptu book cart to nab mystery novels and some textbooks, but idk if anyone wanted anything else
B) running into something horrible in the pool, like a robot or perhaps a sea creature that is completely unrelated to robots that has a vendetta against Hershel and Heiji hmm
C) messing around in the rec room
D) idk lying down on one of the beds in the private rooms for a second and accidentally falling asleep because they've all spent 2 months sleeping on the floor/ground]

[detectiveofthewest]

"I dunno. I got some rotten meat from the incinerator earlier... dunno if they'd all go for it, though. And when I talked to Zero, he said he couldn't predict how the robots would react to the virus. So they might be more dangerous than before."

On the other hand, his curiosity was out of control. What were they doing in there...?

"If we could lead 'em off or trap 'em somewhere, maybe take out a couple of them, we could find out. Either way, they don't look like they're gonna leave on their own."

[puzzlinglad]

[As long as there's no sudoku puzzles...]

First floor, I think it was the red room? [He starts towards said area, though he spares a glance to Sasuke.] Ah, if you haven't had a chance to go in there yet I have to warn you, the smell is rather vile.

B, of course

[puzzlinglad]

One of the first interesting things Hershel noticed in their wanderings was in the gym. "Heiji, come look at this." He called, stopping by a door that most certainly wasn't there before- or more a wall that decided to open, really, but same thing. There were a few of them around, and for a moment he wondered if it was a supply closet, but the small hallway behind it killed that thought where it stood.

Curiosity got the better of him, and in he went, stopping when the far door opened to reveal- "A pool?"

Re: B, of course

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji peered over Hershel's shoulder, and made a face. "So that Calhoun was really holdin' out on us, huh? It's a pretty good-sized indoor pool, too..."

He stepped into the room, picking up a long-handled pool net that had been left lying on the ground. "This must be for picking stuff outta the water. Maybe there's a life preserver around here, too? Not that I guess it'll do us much good..."

[skyentificmethod]

For your first foray into the world of cat burglary, You should start with securing food and water, unless you think jumping through Zero's hoops is gonna get us any reward at all.

[isn't heat and clean air and non-robot-infested toilets its own reward? Apparently not. Ema stuffs her hands into her hideous Christmas sweater, that and constant irritation will have to keep her warm]

Either of you have a crowbar? We've already lost one round against doors in here, so tools might be useful.

[fairsfair]

[ If either of them ever show signs of being cold or something, Jake will toss them his jacket. ~*~Friendship~*~ ]

Sorry, but I left it in my other pair of pants. [ har har ] The caf doors shouldn't be as strong as the garden's, so should be easy enough to pry open on my own.

[puzzlinglad]

"I wonder if he planned on unlocking these too." Hershel mused as he followed, eying the slippery floor for a moment before trying to walk more carefully.

"Unless someone can't swim I don't think it'd be all that much help. Well, maybe we could use the padding for something..." He kneeled down to skim his hand over the water thoughtfully. "This might be a good trap for the robots, if we can get some in here and get them to slip into the pool- though it could be dangerous if anyone fell in there with them."

[puzzlinglad]

Not as glamorous as the movies make it out to be then. [Wisely not going to suggest talking to Zero because, frankly, he's pretty sure the two of you would somehow pick a fight and get soporiled or something equally unwise. This is chaperone duty, clearly.]

We might be able to find something to help, there's a lot of debris and such lying around. [He rubs his arms because his stupid shirt may be the height of fashion but not of being an Antarctic explorer.] Not that I doubt you wouldn't try prying the door open yourself and getting your fingers broken in the process.

[detectiveofthewest]

The dark water rippled as Hershel skimmed his fingers through it. It was quiet in the pool room, aside from the occasional drip of water from somewhere in the room. Maybe a leak...?

The surface of the water cast Hershel's reflection back at him, pale and with a slight greenish cast. The effect was rather eerie: the way it distorted the image of his face, the way it made him look almost like a spectral version of his true self. In fact, part of it seemed to be rising out of the --

An arm shot out of the pool, breaking the illusion. Not a human or robot arm, but one that was all-too-familiar and covered with thick suckers. It grabbed for Hershel's face in a sudden splash of water.

[vengefulyears]

The dashing princess held onto his kawaii prince as he was lifted up for the umpteenth time since receiving his injury. Yeah, they were both probably used to this by now.

"Not much different than before, really. Even the slightest movement causes it pain, but I've grown accustomed to it now. It's not getting any worse, at least, so I suppose that's a good sign."

[fairsfair]

Something tells me that all we're going to find is junk, unless you remember where Zero left a couple of door-opening tools around here.

[ He doubts it, since if there were any, then it would have made it a lot easier to break into locations earlier, but he'll go along with it if either Hershel or Ema think it's a good idea to grab something. Also, taking notice of that arm rubbing and pausing for a split second before taking off one of his jackets and just... tossing it/draping it over Hershel's head. (He would have done it over your shoulders but honestly, it'd probably just fall). He also tosses Ema his pair of giant leather gloves, after seeing how she's using that Godforsaken sweater as some mittens. He grabs his finger-less ones from his pockets to put on. ]

... Here.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji frowned. "Wish we had an actual doctor Tenma to look at it for ya. That bruise looked pretty painful. Probably take at least a week or two for that to fade." He'd ruffle your hair, Clive, but maybe Hershel was going to have to do that instead because both of his hands were occupied.

He nudged open the door to the generator room, looking around for the wheelie chair.

[puzzlinglad]

Tomorrow was going to be a good day. "If it gets any worse maybe we should consider a med kit- not that we'd really know how to use it in this case." No hair ruffling, he's no kawaii shounen prince, but he did pat Clive's arm sympathetically, which hey, pretty outrageous for him.

After taking a look inside- and thankfully finding nothing waiting to kill them- Hershel headed straight for the chair. It looked sturdy enough, and when he sat down to test it it moved easily but with a resounding and annoying squeak. "Well... it works at least." Squeeeeak squeak squeak, okay he was getting off this damn thing now.

[puzzlinglad]

The atmosphere was positively horror movie, and it was probably telling that even with all they'd been through and continuously went through that the air made Hershel a little uneasy. He was about to make a comment to Heiji to that effect, maybe get ribbed a little for being a big baby, but then something caught his eye from the pool and-

"Bloody h--" What was he going to say? We'll never know, because in order to dodge this ridiculous nonsense he pushed himself to the side, forgetting the wet surface of the area around the pool, and slipped straight into the water. This probably left poor Heiji defenseless against the vengeful arms seeking purchase on the edge of the pool, climbing, searching, knowing it's prey was near.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji set Clive down on the chair now that Hershel was done... er, test-driving it. "Yeah, but that squeak is pretty annoying. Wonder if they've got any oil to fix it with in this storage closet..."

And there Heiji was, rummaging through the supply closet. "Seems like mostly cleaning supplies. I wonder if there's anything flammable. Tools would be good."