EVERYONE'S TRUTH - BEGINNING

[vivariummods]

Since the second group's first Calhoun Hour, the mouse in question hasn't appeared in the warehouse for longer than 30 minutes at a time. He only arrives during the early mornings to tape a random fruit of the day (apples, oranges, and pears so far) before scurrying off with his wagon. He refuses to provide any sort of medical relief for any of the test subjects, and does nothing more but providing the bare minimum to survive. So, when Day 9 rolls around, three days since that faithful finger breaking/eye blinding experience, it's no different; Calhoun comes in, tapes up some bananas, then promptly leaves afterwards, all without a word. An hour after he leaves, though... The screen in the Greenhouse, up against the wall besides the entrance, finally comes to life for the first time. It flickers on and on, flashing brightly. At first, there's nothing but static. Soon enough, though, it stays a consistent green tint. A blinking cursor hovers at the bottom and stays there for a few seconds, before it begins to type. DO NOT DRAW ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES COME TO THE LOBBY AND GO THROUGH THE NEWLY OPENED DOOR I WILL MEET YOU THERE....... And it ends there...

Comments

[elliexir]

Wait, are you serious?

[ She looks to the others, because did she just hear right? They could get out of here? ]

[fushuuu]

...What's the catch?

[babel_hacker]

...I'd accept. But is there anything to it? A catch? Getting us into your debt or...?

[vivariummods]

All I ask is for your assistance. If you truly wish to leave, then I would need your full cooperation.

Do you accept, or do you wish to remain trapped like rats?

[toybombs]

[So that's what this is all about.

Her reaction is immediate. Despite cowering not just a moment ago, she quickly steps out from behind Ellie, her whole body tense with desperation. It's the look of someone willing to grasp at straws if it means salvation.]

P-please-! I don't... I don't want to be here anymore!

[elliexir]

Rio...

[ Ellie is definitely surprised to see Rio step out like that, but she can completely sympathize with her. They've only been here for nine days, but it's already been pretty awful. She can't see anything out of her one eye and she certainly doesn't wan to stay any longer for something else to happening, so she nods in agreement. ]

All right, guys, let's get the hell out of here.

[babel_hacker]

Yeah.

[He understands why Rio would want to leave, and why Ellie would also agree. He does, too, and he have to take his chances with this possibility.]

I'm going.

[He looks at the rest, waiting for their response.]

[fushuuu]

Who are you? And what do you need us to do?

[vivariummods]

I am here to help. You are not the only ones kept like this, but we want you to be the last. Only I have been able to get through the firewall, and your captor will be searching for me. So if you truly wish to be saved, I will need your assistance.

First, you must take care of the beast-shaped artificial intelligence. There is a port at the back of its head. Insert this to disable it.

[ The android produces what looks like a thumb drive, offering it to the group. ]

Then we can disable the power and some other critical systems. Then you can be saved.

Will you agree to this?

[elliexir]

[ Ellie reaches out to grab the thumb drive. She doesn't immediately pocket it, but hold it out for everyone else to see. ]

You mean Calwhatever? Because about that... He's got this weird bullshit shocker in our bracelets. The last time we tried something, he stopped us that way.

[ Referring back to how Ellie and Kaidou got shocked decently bad which had them pull back. ]

[babel_hacker]

[Atsuro is looking carefully at the thumb drive. A virus, perhaps?]

Yeah. We need to do something about the bracelets first, in case he notice us and use it against us.

[It depends on their approach, but if Calhourn feels threatened in any way...]

[1st_response_is_anger]

Wait wait wait back up. *Surely she wasn't the only person who caught what the robot said.*

What do you mean we're not the only ones kept here? There's other people off where we can't find them?

[vivariummods]

Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about the bracelets. If you wish to do something about them, then you must do it on your own.

And perhaps so. Regardless, whether there are others or not though, we will ensure your group will be the last of this outrageous test. Therefore, do as I request.

[toybombs]

S-so... we have to be sneaky? [But who of them could possibly manage that...?]

[fushuuu]

Or just overpowering. There's more of us than there are of it.

[vivariummods]

[abruptly, a skree of static comes from the robot before it goes completely silent for a beat. then--]

--Time is short. We must leave this place before we are all lost. Once you have disposed of the AI, I will be able to contact you again.

Take back your rights, take the first steps towards salvation.

[the robot's eyes flicker and go out, its body sinking to a seated position]

[babel_hacker]

[Atsuro slowly step forward and tap the robot's body.

Nnno response? He turns to face everyone.]

If what it said is true, I think... we should all get on the same page here. Who's going along with trying to disable the mouse?

[elliexir]

[ While holding onto the USB with one hand, she uses the other to raise it up. ]

Count me in. Kaidou and I tried to take it down earlier but thaaat didn't really go too well... but we kind of got an idea of what it'd be like.

[fushuuu]

[he nods, crossing his arms]

If there's any chance of getting out of here, we should take it.

It was easily distracted. If we make a plan ahead of time and work together next time, it shouldn't be a problem.

[1st_response_is_anger]

Well...it can't hurt to try, anyway. Who is any kind of expert with disabling technology because that sure isn't me. *Also, finger still kinda broken.*

[elliexir]

I can distract it, no problem, but uh, someone else gotta do the disabling part. That's not me.

[ She holds up the flash drive for anyone to take, whoever is good at electronics or whatever. ]

[babel_hacker]

[He raise his hand.]

...I know my tech. More of a software kind of guy, but I can also handle hardware as well.

[fushuuu]

If we get it distracted, then hit it harder from behind, we should be able to hold it down long enough that you can do your thing.

It'll try to fight back. So we'll have to move fast and hard.

[toybombs]

Th-this sounds so dangerous...

[She's starting to shake at the thought. Fighting? Even though they can be shocked through their bracelets??]

P-please be careful everyone.

[Surely they wouldn't hold it against her if she didn't participate, right?]

[elliexir]

Yeah, we gotta take it out fast because the bracelets hurt a shitton, so wait till I distract it enough then go for it.

[ She'll hand the flash drive to Atsuro because she doesn't know what the fuck to do about that, then turn to Rio. ]

Uh, it's probably better if you sit this out, Rio...