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

[babel_hacker]

[Atsuro's eyes were automatically drawn to the various broken technology in the room. He would go and examine them, but the red lights caught his attention and he followed them to find a robotic skeleton...and it spoke.]

Wha--you can talk!

[Give him a moment to get over his shock.]

[1st_response_is_anger]

Woah, a talking robot! *It had a heavy voice but at least it didn't sound like it was coming out of a Speak and Spell.*

[vivariummods]

ANDROIDS WITH SPEECH CAPABILITIES ARE HARDLY NOVEL INVENTIONS, ESPECIALLY HERE...BUT THAT IS BESIDE THE POINT.

I HAVE A PROPOSITION FOR YOU. BUT FIRST, I MUST KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF YOUR CAPTORS.

WE ARE OUT OF THE RANGE OF THEIR SENSORS FOR NOW. YOU CAN BE HONEST.

[elliexir]

[ Ellie has no idea how to take this. Flying monkey? Yes, but a talking robotic skeleton? Hell no. ]

You mean that rat thing? Because I think most of us are on the side of wanting to get rid of it.

[ Unless someone here thinks otherwise... ]

[toybombs]

[Rio had pretty much dashed behind Ellie the moment it began to speak, and even now she only just barely peers out from behind her.]

Sh-should we say things like that? How do we know h-he isn't just collecting information from them...?

[vivariummods]

[ Unfortunately(?), it hears Rio and replies. ]

THINK TO YOUR CAPTORS. WHAT IS THERE TO GAIN TO COLLECT OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS OF TEST SUBJECTS? WHY WOULD THEY BE INTERESTED?

[toybombs]

[Ohgod it heard her.

With one of her usual squeaks, she's back to cowering behind Ellie. Carry on, folks.]

[fushuuu]

[standing off to the side, arms crossed but stance ready]

The people who have us are assholes. What're you going to do about it?

[vivariummods]

IF I WERE TO OFFER YOU THE POSSIBILITY TO LEAVE THIS WAREHOUSE, WOULD YOU ACCEPT?

[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]