THE FINALE - 【 ZERO 】 ESCAPE

[vivariummods]

It's been ten days since the so-called "anniversary" on Day 90. Every single trace of a makeshift casino has been cleared out, leaving this suspiciously identical second warehouse empty (and the doors within that lobby locked), and Calhoun has mysteriously stopped dropping by as often as he should have. In the rare times he did drop by, he hemmed and hawed about what was happening and outright avoided answering any questions, shrieking that he's a busy mouse and he shouldn't be harassed by test subjects. Thus, for nine whole days, not a single particular event has occurred. No Calhoun Hours, Ambidex Games, or even a little announcement. It's not until the morning of the tenth day that something finally transpired. A loud siren goes off and the sound of a heavy door being slid open echoes from the second warehouse's lobby. Within seconds, however, both nuances cease and silence returns...

Comments

[babel_hacker]

[Atsuro frowns as he looks out the elevator doors.]

I don't think so... If it's a part of the design, anyone using this elevator normally would like to cross over without stepping in that.

[A pause.]

Unless they wear a full body suit.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Can't see much through the fog," said Heiji, covering his mouth with his arm. He was pretty sure he recognized that smell, and he sure as hell didn't trust a mysterious pool of water (????), who knew what eight-legged evil dwelt within those depths...

"We're stopped in the middle of a pool. Can't tell what it's filled with -- lemme check if it's reactive."

Heiji took out a sad-looking roll of bandage and rolled it out so the very end dangled into the water. Just in case it was going to burst into flames or corrode and blacken horribly. If it didn't react, he'd use it to gauge the depth of the liquid (?) that filled the pool.

[vivariummods]

[ The bandage fortunately does not burst into flames, but it does immediately soak in the water(?) and turns into a disgusting brown colour. At the very least, it didn't corrode or melt? ]

[blind_badass]

So...do we cross at all? And where should we cross? *Because Snake's going to need a few directions.*

[detectiveofthewest]

"Unless this elevator starts moving, I guess we're gonna have to," said Heiji, frowning. He switched on his flashlight and described what he could see of the room.

"Whatever's in this pool looks pretty gross... how about this? I'll try and see if I can get across. If the liquid's shallow enough, maybe I can get someone over on my shoulders."

He wasn't actually a big fan of the idea, but he didn't want to see what that gunk would do to Snake's arm, either.

[not_that_sasuke]

"If it turns out to be deep, we might be able to pull people who can't swim across." If the bandages are long enough, they could use that as a lifeline of sorts. It was basically the same idea they'd had with Clive in the obstacle course room, albeit hopefully without a current to fight against.

[blind_badass]

Is it too wide for anyone to jump across? *Perhaps avoiding danger altogether, so to speak?*

[skyentificmethod]

Looks like it. Unless you had a heck of a long jump, and probably more of a running start than there is in an elevator full of people.

[chews on her lip, since pretty much every experience with water they've had has been unfortunate]

Think we could get any of the elevator panels off? Maybe we could make a bridge.

[babel_hacker]

We can try if they don't sink. Or impossible to pull off.

[Atsuro glances around the elevator, looking for anything they can use. From the looks of it, going into the... water and walking through is their most likely choice.]

'cuz there's still going in there and crossing to the other side.

[not_that_sasuke]

The elevator panels would have to support our weight, too. I don't think that will work.

[Granted, he's not an engineer, but... it seems pretty unlikely.]

[toybombs]

So someone will just have to go in, then.

[Seems simple enough to her. But then again, she's also not volunteering for the job.

Hop to it, Heiji.]

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji was already dipping a toe into the water(???), and if nothing in there came up to get him, he'd simply see if he could wade/swim across.

Carefully, though. Who knew what was in that goop. Probably ghosts. Or lake monsters.

[vivariummods]

[ Asides from some really disgusting seaweed and some trash, there doesn't seem to be any lake monsters or ghosts. It's just really gross and deep. ]

[detectiveofthewest]

Well, Heiji could deal with gross. Once he was reasonably sure it was safe, he'd return to the elevator. "Trash and seaweed," he said. He turned to Snake first. "Want a ride? I can take you over on my shoulders."

Since Snake's arm posed the biggest problem. He might be persuaded to give someone else a ride, too.

[babel_hacker]

[After a certain game, Atsuro thinks he could go into the gross looking water. Especially when it looks like Heiji isn't being attacked or getting sick.

He carefully step into the water, mentally going "ew..." and take a few steps to test the water resistance. How easily he can move through it at this depth and water weight. He looks back at the group, looking at the other members.]

Yeah, there's trash and seaweeds in here. [It's mostly said to back up Heiji's answer. He can feel them, even as he tenses up when he felt what seems like seaweed brushing against his skin.] It's not too bad so far.

[Although, only those in the second group would probably understand what he means. He glances over at Rio.]

... Hey, Rio. Mind if I carry you?

[blind_badass]

Well, if you're sure, Heiji. *In reality, Snake didn't want to have his clothes mucked over with God knew what.* Will this be a fireman's carry?

[detectiveofthewest]

"Nah. Get up on my shoulders so you stay out of the muck as much as you can." No sense getting any dirtier than necessary. Heiji backed up to the entrance of the elevator, reaching back with both hands to help Snake along.

"Kinda like that elevator at the beginning, huh?"

[blind_badass]

Except a little backward. *Snake did his best to climb onto Heiji's shoulders. It was true, though. That in the beginning, they'd just been two strangers who quickly cooperated to solve a puzzle. Who had any idea what they would end up meaning to each other?*

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji made his way across the pool to deposit Snake carefully at the other end. "Hey, anyone else need a ride? Sasuke?"

He was pretty tiny, after all.

[toybombs]

[She perks up when Atsuro makes his offer.]

You would do that? For me?

[Aww, what a sweetheart!

And even if he had some... untoward plan, she's confident she can survive it.]

Should I  sit on your shoulders, too? [At least they'll make a much more ordinary looking pair, given Rio is short as opposed to tall and gangly.]

[not_that_sasuke]

I'll be fine. Take Skye.

[True to his word, he slides into the water, frowning slightly. It's deep, cold, and altogether unpleasant... but not really the worst thing he's encountered so far. He has to tread water a little at the deeper parts, but he makes it across in one piece.]

[detectiveofthewest]

Nah. He looked over in Ellie and Maria's direction, though, just in case. Otherwise it was out of the pool and off to examine the room.

[1st_response_is_anger]

*Maria wasn't about to let anyone carry her across. She wasn't as tall as Heiji but not as short as Sasuke. She kept her jacket above her head while she walked and squished around the platform.*

All I see are posts and gas masks. What else is around here?

[fushuuu]

[Maria may have been an independent lady who didn't need no man, but Kaidou watches to make sure she and Ellie get through the gross water without incident anyway, trying to ignore how his shorts will likely never be pure white again.

[and indeed there are a lot of posts and gas masks. but also...]

...Elevators?

[skyentificmethod]

Ambidex Rooms? ...What are those doing here?

[frowning, she goes closer to examine them, not going inside, though...the betrayer...huh.]

Anything special about those posts and masks?