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]

IT WAS HIM

IT WAS THAT SHITLORD WANKER OCTOPUS, Heiji didn't know for absolutely sure of course because all octopi pretty much looked the same but he was pretty confident in his deduction because several of this octopus's arms looked a bit shorter than the others and also it was apparently out to get Hershel. He went for Hershel at once, but slipped on some of the water that had splashed onto the tiled surface around the pool and fell.

Through the pain, he realized that he'd instinctively grabbed at the pool net. They couldn't fight that aquatic menace, not on its own turf (HOW DID IT SURVIVE IN THE POOL WEREN'T OCTOPI SALTWATER MONSTERS). But maybe he could drag Hershel toward the shallow end where they'd have a better chance?

He thrust the net end of the pole into the water. "Hershel, grab onto the pole! I'm gonna haul you to the shallow end!"

[skyentificmethod]

I thought there might have been one in one of the rooms, but if you think you can hulk out and bust through the doors without, let's do it. Best to check out what we're up against, anyway.

[she hesitates, frowning at the gloves]

You realize these are like five sizes too big. And that I have at least some degree of cold preparedness, unlike some kids. [an exasperated look for Hershel, no one is safe] At least you've got the equivalent to a warm hat with all that hair.

[puzzlinglad]

Ema, don't encourage him to break his fingers- though I suppose she has a point, we might as well go see what we're in for. Maybe we'll be lucky and won't need to... what was it? Hulk out? [Americans.]

[anything else he had to say was smothered by Jake's coat in his face- not a surprising method of handing something over by any means. why pass something when you can just throw it over the person.]

It's not- [Still muffled, have a long suffering huff but okay he's got it off now, excellent.] It's not my fault, there's no bloody way I was going to keep that sweater. [fucking inappropriate christmas sweater he sort of destroyed for spare cloth. he puts the coat on, probably looking absolutely ridiculous because he doesn't have the shoulders of ten quarterbacks. hey, it's warm though, score. his gratitude is sincere.] Thank you very much, Jake.

[puzzlinglad]

"How does the bloody thing survive in chlorine?!" That was the important thing Hershel decided to yell when he surfaced. It may not have been the most logical use of his energy but it had to be done. He was so done with this octopus. So done.

After sputtering a bit- at least he could apparently swim, that was good to know- he turned to where he heard Heiji. "Yes, alright-" He answered, grabbing for the pole.

The octopus wasn't done with you yet though, dude, it reared its fearsome tentacles and tried to wrap around Heiji's leg, any attempt at getting a grip on him to... who knows. Nefarious purposes, no doubt.

[fairsfair]

Glad to see how much you trust me.

[ He is totally not going to break his fingers, he did it plenty of times before. I mean, have you see every single time he opened doors with Sherry? They're professional door kickers/priers, but c'mon, follow him. He'll lead the way downstairs to the cafeteria. ]

You sure do like complaining about everything, don't you? [ Referring to Ema, not responding to Hershel's thanks because he's a monster like that. ] Learning 'thank you' might be helpful.

[ Not said with any malice or anything. You know, his usual teasing self. ]

[skyentificmethod]

[she doesn't sound too fussed about it, following down on lookout for whatever might be down here as they approach the cafeteria door, last time they were in the dark it was filled with robots and that was pretty shit]

Maybe, but I think I'll stick to complaining about trying to work these Truckasaurus fingers. Don't want anyone to think I might've gotten a virus too. And don't let your fingers freeze either, that won't be helping our door-opening chances very much.

...You realize, Hershel, if you'd kept that sweater you'd have a pair of gloves of your own right now.

[detectiveofthewest]

Maybe if Alessa hadn't STABBED HEIJI IN THE LEG EARLIER, Heiji could have gotten out of the way faster. As it was, though, now he had an octopus half-wrapped around his calf and half-wrapped around Hershel and this was not ideal. He nearly tripped over the thing, but managed to keep his balance and drag himself toward the shallow end of the pool, which was still tranquil and nice and ended in stairs that went up maybe and did not yet know the horror that was octopus fights.

Luckily, it seemed like he could make fairly good headway with the octopus dividing its attention between the two of them. It wasn't pretty but... maybe it would be all right? At least until the octopus thrashed around angrily and squirted ink at Hershel's hair. Now it was just being spiteful.

[puzzlinglad]

[following too, also vaguely uneasy because agreed, last time dark and robots happened was bullshit and he was quite done with that.]

[also trying not to openly smile at jake's expense at 'truckasaurus fingers,' rude ema.] I think complaining about things like this is Ema's way of saying thank you. [he offers jake with a smile that is surely not at the expense of either of them.] So this is when you make some sort of monosyllabic grunt as a you're welcome.

I did keep it to make gloves, I'll have you know. Well, more like mittens I guess, and they were a gift to Heiji, who I hope is actually using them given the circumstances. [even if they looked like absolute shit.] Ah, it looks like the cafeteria itself is open at least... [the door was being deceptively helpful. he approached suspiciously, walking in to find that nothing tried to kill him. good start. there didn't seem to be a scrap of food around though.]

[skyentificmethod]

...That was simple.

[of course the room seemed extra echoey and cavernous now that it was empty and unlit. ema unconsciously drops her voice, since nothing about this seemed ominous at all]

Now, there should be an extra supply room in the back, right?

[fairsfair]

[ Oh, well, that was anticlimactic. He was kind of hoping for more, since he likes a challenge and all. He takes a quick look around then approaches what appears to be the door. ]

Looks like this is it.

[ He examines it (hmm, maybe he'll be able to hulk this open), then notices the panel. He points at it. ]

Want to give this a try? Before I take a crack at it.

[blind_badass]

I'm a little perturbed that I can't get to any of my things but I'll make do. Even if we have to fight them with rotten meat. *Snake followed easily behind him.*

Heiji, if it starts to get too dark for you, let me know and I'll go on ahead. At least you'll be more comfortable holding my hand if it happens.

[detectiveofthewest]

"I do have a flashlight, y'know. I'd just rather not use it 'cause those things are attracted to it."

...Though he wouldn't mind holding Snake's hand. "C'mon, it looks like the shutters to the basement are slightly open. We can get through if we duck under it." He navigated himself under the shutter, put down his things, and put a hand up and through the gap for Snake to grab. "It's right over here, y'feel it? Here, take my hand."

D for fun

[blind_badass]

*Snake had been running around helping with missions where he was able. Now he was cold and hungry and tired. Snake found himself at the doorway of a room that sounded disaster free for the moment and he sighed with relief.* Is there anyone here? *It wouldn't hurt to ask in case someone else had claimed the room.*

[blind_badass]

*Snake took the hand and crawled through the shutter. As soon as he was through, he dusted himself off.* Heiji, this is where the maze took place, isn't it? I can remember the pattern of the rooms mostly, except for those that I hadn't been to. We'll need to determine a logical place where the power hub would be.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Yeah, I think it is. Kinda hard to tell where we are, though..." Heiji moved over to the nearest doorway and peered through the door, then closed it.

"Okay, I got it. You know the room with the patrolling robot, and then through it is the room with the tripwires? That's where this door leads, and I think that's where we need to go. The hub's supposed to be closer to the center of the maze."

[detectiveofthewest]

"Light...?" Heiji rubbed at his eyes a bit and looked up, realizing that he'd fallen asleep kneeling, with the upper half of his body draped over the side of the bed in one of the private rooms. He hadn't meant to, had only intended to rest for a moment, but...

"What's wrong? You sound beat."

[blind_badass]

Very well. Let's be on our way. Since I know the tripwires are coming, I might be able to get through the room unscathed.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Yeah. Let's just play it safe. We gotta get past the robot guard first." Heiji waited until the clanking sounds of the robot seemed to turn and head away from them; if he remembered right, there was a side passage there that the robot would check even though it was a dead end.

"C'mon," he said quietly, stepping out into the hall. "It's goin' down that side passage."

ZERO MISSION

[blind_badass]

*Snake decided to concentrate on missions he could be most useful. Gathering medicine bottles sounded like a great way to collect bottles of arsenic for all he would be able to tell. Other tasks needed more muscle. Taking up Zero's offer to build a barricade sounded about right, but Snake couldn't do it all on his own. He'd need some help. Someone who would get angry over getting afraid of a robot rush. He smiled and used the talking function on his watch.* Oh, Ema? Do you mind helping me?

[blind_badass]

*Snake took quick steps alongside Heiji down the hall and then to the room with trip wires. Very carefully he placed his feet. Sometimes he barely brushed a wire before stepping elsewhere. It was a slow process but it did help him navigate the room.*

Delightful, as always. Except...I sense there's a screen somewhere. *Not that he could feel it but that Snake could sense the sound of one on.*

[detectiveofthewest]

"I hear it, too." A high-pitched sound... but right now, Heiji was interested in avoiding the wires. He felt around carefully, but it was dark and it wasn't like he could say anything. When they were about halfway through the room, there was a banging noise in the direction of the door they'd entered from, like something metallic striking a heavy object.

"Light," he said urgently. Robots? "We gotta hurry." And that was exactly what Heiji tried to do, while trying simultaneously not to get hit by a wire or trip over something in the dark.

The sound of a wire stretching taut, then snapping with an audible twang. Something was behind them.

[skyentificmethod]

[Ema hadn't been expecting a call and has to click around a bit before she figures out how to make the bracelet actually talk back, but eventually she figures out the Dick Tracy two-way radio, geez, how many boxes of cereal did Zero have to eat to get this one.]

Snake? ...Where are you, are you in trouble?

[skyentificmethod]

[touches the panel gingerly?

...though nothing happens so perhaps it was just way too gingerly. so she touches it again, with considerably less ginger and more force]

[blind_badass]

*Oh wonderful, nothing like pressure to deal with on top of everything else. Snake picked up the pace and his feet to hop from one safe place to another. He made it to the exit without mishap. Flawless victory!*

There's definitely a screen in this room. Hurry, Heiji, it might be something important we have to do.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji was hurrying as fast as he could, with the sounds of wires snapping behind them to spur him on. There wasn't just one something behind them, there were now many. He made it to the other end and touched Snake's shoulder.

"I'm here, but I can't see anything." Nor did he want to turn on the light and spur their pursuers on.