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For Science. You monster.
- "Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss."
- - -Ralph Waldo Emerson
It's hard to say how long they're in that room. All of it comes in flashes, momentary lapses into consciousness before going under again like being brought down by the undertow and just as alarming. Just as painful. Lungs burning, sick happens, extreme temperatures... numbing cold and stinging heat.
On one occasion they both wake up briefly to a familiar feminine voice: "They can't regenerate on their own yet. As you can see here on the Control te tip of his pinky hasn't regenerated. But here, with the application of the regenerator, you can observe how we can slice off almost microscopically thin layers of Subject A, and it will regenerate. We've been doing this for at least three times as long as our last experiment.."
Stefan is aware of searing pain as a lazer does just that. Slicing off layers off his hand with destructive precision only in the next moment to feel a rush of warmth and sleepiness as his fingers grow back. Only to begin the process all over again.
The nightmares are the worst part of it all. The Mind trying to compensate in feverish chaos the unconscious reasons for what they are enduring.
And then they both wake. They are not on the awful prickly looking chairs, no, they are on medical cots. They are in the same room though separated by what appears to be a thin but unnaturally strong pane of glass. The walls around them are featureless and white and shoot up twenty feet. The last 5 feet and the ceiling are mirrored glass. There's probably no strain in deducing that these are 'observation' rooms. They have been dressed in plain white paper clothing, like jumpsuits only made out of woven paper fibers. The temperature is a steady 60 degrees F.
Pembroke stares at the ceiling a long moment, licking his lips, frowning at the memory of the tastes, even if it's been washed away. He takes a deep breath, and then another. There were threats. There was pleading. There were attempts at seduction, interrogation, intimidation... but it just goes on. "I've died. The Christians were right. This is Hell."
Stefan can hear Sebastian quite clearly. The pane only seems to separate them physically.
Stefan blinks his eyes and is awake. But he closes them again, feeling exhausted with his mind going through a haze of emotions from anger foremost to intense pain that finally causes him to scream out to more anger at himself for letting his pain show. His more alert mind coming to the forefront he licks dry lips and tries to figure out where he is and more to the point - how to get the hell out. Hearing a familiar voice he turns his head towards it if he can. "Pemmy...?" He asks, his voice sounding strange to him, hoarse and he realizes his throat is sore.
In their rooms are the medical cots, each room is also equipped with a 'shelf' that serves as a desk with light stools to sit on. There are even paper and wax pencils for them to write with. A toilet with a rolling partition to afford privacy. The walls are featureless save for a doorway area which seems to have no features. At least on the inside. Suddenly, from hidden speakers within the walls, a voice speaks. "Good morning, Gentlemen." A perky voice bubbles from the walls.
Pembroke rises from his cot and checks out what they have been offered. Rolling the privacy curtain a bit to check it out. "Is it morning? So hard to tell right now." and then testing the door to see if it won't open, or actively punishes the attempt.
Stefan scowls at the sound of the perky voice, "Yeah. Right. Like a give a damn what type of morning it is."
It doesn't budge, so there's no reason for punishment...
"Tsk, so moody. I bet you're hungry. Let me explain that there is no escape so it's just best to do what we tell you."
A klaxon alarm sounds. "Food is about to arrive. Please step back from the door." An electronic voice says. "Food is about to arrive. Please clear the door." The voice sounds again.
Pembroke backs away from the door. Mentally timing the end of the first sentence. One Mississippi, two Mississippi... until the food slot opens.
Stefan sits up on the table and stares at the doorway. He glances down at his hands, and then over towards where he heard the voice and watches Pembroke.
The counting doesn't matter. The voice continues until Pembroke is about six feet back from the door. Since Stefan hasn't bothered to get near the door his door opens, upwards and only about four feet to accommodate a strange little robot, box-shaped with four wheels and a camera mounted as a 'head'. It speaks in an electronic voice. "Pardon Me. Coming Through." The automatic attendant drives in, the door sliding back down behind it. Then the little robot parks. On the sides of the attendant, there are what appear to be roll-up doors, like a large mobile breadbox. Pembroke receives the same sort of attendant once he's backed up far enough from the door.
Pembroke hmms. Four feet is larger than he expected. He'll approach the robot to take the breadbox. "I take it the only way we leave here is flat on our backs, tags on our toes?
Stefan stares at the robot and finally moves towards it. He says in a tired voice, "I don't think they plan to drop us off in front of the house."
"As I told you in the beginning. If you cooperate you will not need to be reclamated, only sanitized." The voice replies. In the breadboxes are burritos with little cups of salsa, pico de gallo and guacamole. "Our subjects have protested the sterile supplements that we often provide. So we have modified our menu to accommodate the happiness of our subjects. Since we tested you both and there was no evidence of veganism or specific diet you would be comfortable with this selection for you. But if you have any requests our dietary team has been very excited to try creating new flavors."
Pembroke looks up at the ceiling a moment and takes a bite of his burrito. Doing his best to do so neatly. Sitting down on whatever seating is available. "Happiness?" and he glances around a moment. "Rather boring to keep the mind occupied..."
"You will be allowed enrichment and even outside time if you behave. It is a bit like incarceration.." A bit? "But in the end, you will both thank us for everything we're doing for the good of the species." The bubbly vice ensures. "I'll leave you to eat. But remember, everything is being recorded for posterity so try not to be too foul-mouthed... Stefan." ANd the speaker goes silent. The food attendants wait patiently for the dirty dishes leaving the two kin to themselves for a bit.
Stefan takes the box and frowns, "You want requests? How about steak then? With baked potato and asparagus spears?" He sniffs at the burrito and moves with the box back to the cot.
Stefan gets no reply.
Pembroke watches the ceiling as he eats, contemplating possibilities still. "I don't actually believe that you know. But hey, as far as prisons go, this isn't the worst."
Stefan glances over at Pembroke before he bites into his burrito, "Nothing fucked up about yours?"
They're actually very tasty. A very nice carne asada burrito, not too spicy and not too heavy but tasty for those who enjoy it. And the various sauces also seem to be quite tasty. Uber tasty even. The tomatoes are the tomatoiest tomatoes. And the steak is the most succulent cuts of meat they've ever laid teeth on.
Pembroke looks at what's left of his burrito. "It's... odd. Very good. But I think we're testing some kind of food additive."
This is normal. And it will be for... a week? Has it been weeks? It's hard to say really. The food is delicious, and Stefan gets his steak, fully loaded potato and asparagus. Served with sides if butter, hollandaise, and even steak sauce. AS long as they behave requests are met. Day in, day out. All three meals and even a mid-day snack. They are allowed to write, they even get to request music. But there are a few things they will discover during this time.
First, they must be at least six feet from the door when the meal deliveries are made. Second showers are never necessary because they /always/ wake up clean. Third, they do not choose when they sleep. Usually, the trigger is kind enough to wait until they're sitting or laying down when the trigger music plays and both of them fall asleep within seconds.
A week of this, at least that's what it seems like given their daily cycles. Upon waking, at lunch, and dinner they are asked questions. Often seemingly innocuous things; how was the food, how did they sleep, how
do they feel, are they in any pain.
At the beginning of the 'eighth' day, the Doctor waits for than to wake before greeting, "Good Morning. It is your first day of enrichment. Please eat your breakfast and then your day will begin."
This increases the activity in their day. The doors open fully and the featureless almost maze-like series of hallways lead them without fail to a large room with desks and a massive flat screen in front of it.
Here their powers are usable. But they quickly find that it's limited to within the room. And there's never any human's in the room. They are initiated with 'Indigo' testing; Stefan is the subject, Sebastian is the control. Card reading, puzzle and maze exercises, precog and empath testing, logic gates and tests for psychic phenomenon with physical manifestations; electromancy, pyromancy and the like. And so long as they 'behave' outwardly they are told they will be rewarded with 'one hour' of 'outside time' at the end of the week.
Pembroke finds it hard to not fidget. Fortunately, as a guy, he has something to fidget within that empty cage. The trip to the 'testing' area is.. slow.. as he attempts to explore possibilities of not finding his way into it. But without human or at least living, bodies around... his skills are barely usable. The occasional trance perhaps. "You know, if you really do want to see skills, you'll have to send a subject in for me to demonstrate on. These... college parlor tricks went out of style in the nineties."
The next few days of testing, a tiny timid mousey woman who looks rather constantly shell shocked is allowed into the room with Pembroke as his 'subject'. She is slated for reclamation.
Stefan finds little to do in the room, except talk a bit at times in Pembroke's head. Although at least one the lights seem to go off by themselves. He seems to be reluctant to do anything else except shuffle the papers around and seem bored after reading whatever little material might be there. "Too bad this isn't a library."
Stefan rolls Intelligence + Subterfuge vs 6 for 0 successes.
Stefan rolls Intelligence + Subterfuge vs 6 for 4 successes.
Stefan rolls Intelligence + Subterfuge vs 6 for 3 successes.
Pembroke does demonstrate his variety of skills. Checking the woman for any kind of implants. Making small adjustments to her internal anatomy. Even rewriting her personality. Twice. And making it so he can command the personality shift at will. He also seeks out any similar skills she might have. Seeking a way to get a message out, if only a word or two.
Stefan rolls Manipulation + Subterfuge vs 6 for 2 successes.
Stefan rolls Manipulation + Subterfuge vs 6 for 1 successes.
Stefan rolls Manipulation + Subterfuge vs 6 for 3 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
The woman is too broken for any of that. Rewriting her is easy-peasy, so is testing on her. She's practically brain dead. Any skills she had were long ago experimented away.
Stefan is at first still having to battle his anger at the situation. So much so that it takes him a few days to work out ways to seem cooperative while he tries to find a way out. Even if he is falling into routines. Instead of ripping up things he begins to read and at least look as if he is going over things. He does pay attention to what Pembroke is doing though.
Pembroke well, does overlay two personalities. One lacking empathy almost Hanibal Lecter like, but without the intelligence, one with increased libido. Both seem to act like almost cartoon caricatures. Certain small, odd behaviors respond to odd stimuli. A finger-snapping makes her bark like a dog. A whistle makes her cower in fear. A desire to return to Doctor Sebastian ramps up hard whenever she's not in his presence as he programs her to act as though his presence is addictive. Fuck these people are thorough with security.
Stefan seems to get bored though and starts to use anything handy - cardboard, pencils, odd bits of this and that, even a nut or piece he might be able to switch off one of the robots if he can manage it - to begin to fashion items. He seems to like keeping his hands busy doing something. And even in the room on the cot he will flex his fingers and rotate his wrists in exercises.
The week continues and then, after a session and being let back to their rooms for lunch. They are promised 'out time'. Their doors open and this time the halls have -changed-, visibly changed, like some sort of weird transformer building. The hall leads straight and to the left and a set of double doors. They step through these doors and onto what looks like a perfect little park area. There's a large man-made lake with boats, running paths, a large open field with sports equipment. Perfect apple and oak trees in full Summer Bloom although technically in California it's wintertime. The area they are allowed to wander and move about in is fashioned much like a Central Park type area.
Pembroke pauses a moment, hands-on-hips. "Are we actually here, or is this some kind of VR illusion? And if so, is it Star Trek, walk into the illusion room, or do we get to watch Ted Logan fight with Elrond?"
Stefan says, "That's what I was about to say..." he walks over to a tree, and rakes his fingernail against the bark and then sniffs it. He describes the scene to Pembroke, lake and all. "Are you seeing it as I am?"
The bark flakes off. There's no evidence of weather damage, invasive fungal species or insect damage though.
Pembroke takes a look at Stefan a moment... "I'm going to try something..." and he uses his telepathy on Stefan, checking to see if there are any illusions breaking the line from Stefan's eyes and ears to his brain. I mean, he can hijack sensory input, maybe checking if someone else is will work
Stefan is used to Pembroke's mental intrusion and welcomes it most of the time to be able to communicate without speaking out loud.
They find their powers are usable here in this area. And there doesn't appear to be any spells or illusions... It all seems very real. As they step out further though they will notice something is off about the sky... Beyond the hazy blue of atmosphere.. up past the very real clouds hanging in the warm sky. It is the backdrop of what looks like galaxies and swirling vortexes.
Pembroke looks up and mutters 'fuuuuuuckkkk... I knew I should have paid more attention to the lessons to the spirit world lessons....."
The guys are free for the duration of the rest of the day... The time of day does seem to happen, later the sky will darken and make it easier to see the spangled sky above. But the temperature remains warm.. they go undisturbed.
Stefan had been moving around, picking up little rocks, leaves, and other small objects. He turns to look at Pembroke and then follows his gaze upwards. He frowns, "Then all this /is/ some type of illusion? Or are you saying we are in another world?"
It's all very real! Or it all seems very real. Gravity works, nothing is unusual or falls or skips or seems out of place. It's very much like any other Summer day in the park.
Pembroke sighs, finding.. or making (breaking off a twig) something to throw upward to see if gravity still works higher up. "I don't think we're in Kansas. Or this entire thing is more elaborate than my meager skills can penetrate."
Eris rolls 10 (10 dice) vs 6 for 7 successes.
Eris rolls 10 (10 dice) vs 6 for 5 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
Eris rolls 16 (16 dice) vs 6 for 8 successes.
Eris rolls 16 (16 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
Eris rolls 10 (10 dice) vs 6 for 5 successes.
Eris rolls 10 (10 dice) vs 6 for 5 successes.
Stefan watches Pembroke, "You can't throw that high. We shouldn't be able to see that, so something's not right here." He moves to the lake and dips his hand into it. He scoops up a little water and looks at it closer. He pauses before tasting it though, always suspicious. "Any idea what the end game is here? "
Eris rolls 1 (1 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
Eris rolls 1 (1 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
The water tastes like lake water, well minus the fishiness. There's even moss growing on the stones.
Pembroke watches the stars for a moment. Simply... walking. "Trying to make Kahn Noonien Sing? Or maybe something equally impressive, but less.... difficult to control."
Their dinner is brought to them via the paths. The delivery robots driving to their location and parking awaiting their arrival. The robots also serve to keep food warm until they're ready to eat. But they are otherwise undisturbed and most definitely the only animal life in this place at this time. It is quite nice if a little unnatural without the sounds or presence of fauna.
Stefan walks with Pembroke and then glances over at him, "Anything about that woman or about this that you recognize at all?" And then mentally he asks <Pentex maybe?> He looks over at the food but doesn't appear to be in any hurry.
Pembroke looks around, shaking his head. "Not a thing. It's just wayyyyyy to clean."
'Dinner' is fried chicken, thick-cut potatoes and picnic fare along with chocolate cake for dessert. There's even .. Saspirilla? Yes. Icey cold thanks to the way that the robots are configured to keep warm food warm and cold things cold. However, as it becomes 'dark' and the expanse of the sky in all its weirdness is almost overwhelming an alarm comes from the doors. "Please return to your rooms. Please return to your rooms. Please return to your rooms.." It will continue in its insistent repetitive monotone until they comply.
Pembroke pauses, watching the dark. Whispering just slightly... "That... I might. Daddy's home..."
Stefan eats but only pretends to be enjoying it. Everything tastes the same in this prison for him. As the darkness falls and the alarm sounds he freezes and stares at the door. "What if we just didn't go? Sleep here underneath the trees..." He looks to Pembroke in confusion.
"Please return to your rooms... Please return to your rooms..."
Pembroke looks toward the door. "Well, when dealing with cosmic forces... there are no friends. Not really. But there's not likely to be another window for escape." and he strides toward the dark. "This might be a trick, it might be a test... or it might be a way out. Whether we survive the trip is... well, we're fucked. Fucked alive, or fucked dead... not sure."
Eris rolls 6 (6 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
Pembroke rolls Perception + Alertness vs 6 for 2 successes.
Stefan rolls Perception + Alertness vs 6 for 1 successes.
Sebastian will see her first as she darts to follow them. Maybe it's the familiar white paper dress, or the way the too skinny mousy woman moves with an odd slightly broken gait and awkwardly hides behind the nearby bushes. She doesn't speak, just moves to a tree and presses to the side of it, half hiding her face and lifting a pale hand to flop it at him weakly with curled fingers.
Stefan smirks and can't resist saying, "Looks like your girlfriend found her way here. Maybe she knows more about this place than we do.
Pembroke glances back. Well, a sacrifice might help. So he crooks his finger toward her and beacons her to follow. Ignoring the klaxon and heading toward the darkness. "Have you seen that before, chickadee?"
Stefan rolls Perception + Empathy vs 6 for 0 successes.
Pembroke rolls Perception + Empathy vs 6 for 6 successes.
She quivers in her spot and looks towards the alarm then back at them. Her fingers tremble before she scampers over to Pembroke and hits him like a sack of feathers, clinging to him and burying her face in his chest as she shakes her head vigorously from side to side. She's non-verbal and she's insanely weak but she lifts her gaze and a squirming queasy working of her lips. She's nothing more than a shell but he can feel her pressing against him. She lifts a skeletal hand to brush at his cheek.
Pembroke tries to reach into her mind, fan that flame of self she started developing. Bust through the webs in her calcified head and find whatever is left inside.
"Please return to your rooms.."
Pembroke rolls Perception + Awareness vs 6 for 0 successes.
Stefan rolls Perception + Awareness vs 6 for 4 successes.
Pembroke rolls Intelligence + Empathy vs 6 for 0 successes.
Stefan rolls Perception + Awareness vs 6 for 2 successes.
Stefan plants his feet in place, and keeps looking around. He finally says, "I think you might be right."
Pembroke tries a new track, wiggling his finger back and forth. "One, two, I'm here for you.." maybe he can't hit it directly, but instead get her to help herself. "Come out, come out.l
She just makes another noise and then looks up and starts to shudder and covers her ears.
"Please return to your rooms. The doors will close in ten minutes." The serving androids turn and start along the path towards the doors.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 2 successes.
Eris rolls 1 (1 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 7 for 0 successes.
Pembroke looks at the door, looks at the dark, looks back at the door. "There's an opportunity to escape. It won't likely come again. And I may not be recognizable after, but for now..." and back to striding toward the dark.
Eris rolls 3 (3 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
Stefan doesn't waste time considering it, he just heads out with Pembroke, glancing upwards and then over his shoulder in about even intervals.
Stefan rolls Willpower vs 6 for 4 successes.
Pembroke rolls Willpower vs 6 for 2 successes.
She panics, gasping, her hands flailing in wild gestures but Pembroke continues on his way away from the facility. The woman makes a weird sound, a raspy moan and she continues to clutch her head. Stefan knew this was coming, he'd felt it. So his mind is a little more prepared for what happens. The broken young woman sobs quietly but the miracle is they continue to be able to breathe as a blue shimmer shines across the sky and the atmosphere almost entirely disappears. Gravity remains but it is minimal and the lights that line the rather normal-looking grey brick building flash and the doors close at exactly ten minutes from the announcement before the last of the atmosphere is sucked away. They breathe, but it's weird, it feels almost like the air is already in their lungs. After the feeling like drowning for about sixty seconds, they find themselves ... who knows where.
Pembroke may regret this little bit of discord he's thrown into their captor's plans. But only in as far as he has no clue what's going on. Dropping to his knees momentarily, despite the lower gravity. Taking a breath when he can... if he can... he finally looks around his new environment, to see how it has changed, or where it dropped him.
It's not new. The park just ends and thereafter there is a wide-open... Space. Space? It's hard to say. With it is a pressure and a high squeal that lingers in the back of the mind like something just out of frequency underlying real life. The facility they were in is adrift in it. It's overwhelming. Pembroke can jump off the edge though if he'd like...
Stefan remains in place by Pembroke, watching the darkness come and surround them. He glances back to see no building now "What now?" He asks his friend.
Pembroke peers at the little things coming up, at the space beyond. His eyes seeking some.. understanding. But without the skill to navigate the spirit world.... he'd be in no better shape, probably a lot worse. So he turns back toward the girl and tries to pry loose her sense of self once more, "I... am not sure."
Pembroke rolls Intelligence + Empathy vs 7 for 4 successes.
Pembroke looks at Stefan for a moment. "It's like her mind is... a blank slate. But there are... things.. she remembers.. out here. Damn, and she also managed to take out some guard. Oops, we should have gone back inside."
Stefan frowns at Pembroke, "You're supposed to know more than I do about things. You sure as hell aren't showing it now. We should have gone BACK to our capturers?"
She's gone back to clinging to poor Pembroke, like a little leech. She clings and makes unintelligible noises at nothing at all. Out in the expanse of space.. shadows dance amidst the vacuum.
Pembroke shrugs, slightly. "Wel, I hadn't imagined all my fuddling in her brain would produce such good results. And hey, I have never said I was good with this floating around the ether thing. Can you get the door back open? If she can disable guards, we might be able to get home whatever way they do. Otherwise, we have to take a chance that the shadows recognize enough of us like their own to help, and hope we can pay the ferryman."
Stefan heads back to where he remembered the building was and looks for the doorway.
The path leads back. The park is still there they are simply in space... Opening the door, however, is going to take an act of some larceny or electronic expertise since they are automatic doors.
Stefan loses one Willpower
Stefan rolls Manipulation + Computer vs 6 for 1 successes.
Stefan reaches out the doorway and concentrates, utilizing his will to simply cause the door to open. He reaches out and touches it if he is able to but such isn't really necessary.
Eris rolls 1 (1 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 2 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 7 for 3 successes.
The door hisses and gives and then? And then alarms start to go off. Loud terrible sirens inside as the door opens allowing them access. Inside the doors are two men in what looks like storm trooper gear, both are laying on the ground and look like they were somewhere in their eighties. Odd. The door opens allowing them into the halls, klaxon lights are whirring all over and the mechanical voice insists: "Dimensional Barrier Breeched. Threat Level Alpha. Repete, Threat Level Alpha. All subjects are being automatically terminated. All personnel to designated areas."
"Dimensional Barrier Breeched. Threat Level Alpha. Repete, Threat Level Alpha. All subjects are being automatically terminated. All personnel to designated areas."
Again... and again. There are sounds of feet on tiles down the halls and a hissing sound emitting from somewhere along with the gasping cries of dozens of people.
"Dimensional Barrier Breeched. Threat Level Alpha. Repete, Threat Level Alpha. All subjects are being automatically terminated. All personnel to designated areas."
It's instinctual. The barefooted wraith of a woman steps forward, clutching the chest of her paper dress and steps forward, holding onto Pembroke's hand.. they run forward.
"Evacuate to desingated areas. One minute until complete decompression."
"Dimensional Barrier Breeched. Threat Level Alpha. Repete, Threat Level Alpha. All subjects are being automatically terminated. All personnel to designated areas."
Pembroke keeps an eye out, and a calming hand on her. The monsters out there may be /their/ monsters... but when it comes to cosmic forces, they aren't really anyone's 'friend'. Oh, and then the alarms start. "Okay, new plan. Stop listening to me. Seriously, My plans are terrible." So he follows the woman. Hey, her ideas seem to be better than his
Eris rolls 3 (3 dice) vs 8 for 2 successes.
Pembroke loses one Willpower
Pembroke rolls Stamina vs 8 for -1 successes.
Stefan would roll his eyes if the words "All subjects automatically terminated.>>Set us some of that hurry home shit... Lead on Dr. Who."
Pembroke loses one Willpower
Stefan rolls Stamina vs 8 for 1 successes.
"Complete Decompression imminent. Dimensional securities activated. Dimensional Barrier Breeched. Threat Level Alpha. Repete, Threat Level Alpha. All subjects have been automatically terminated. All personnel to designated areas."
She scrambles along, twisting and sliding barefoot on the tile. She drags them along, yanking on them heading for what looks like an open door that leads into a strange-looking office area. She pushes at them to get inside, Pembroke is losing air and only makes it into the door with a sheer force of willpower as the pressure in the air starts to grow increasingly intense making it hard to move, hard to breathe, hard for hearts to beat.
The door is slammed shut and the frail little broken woman collapses on the floor as a hiss sounds from the doorway, sealing the guards quarters off. This must have been before they had made it to the door.
They notice there are lockers marked with Subject Numbers against the far wall.
Pembroke sucks wind. Hard. wheeeeeeze in, wheeeeze out. Huff, puff, and motions to the lockers...
Stefan reaches over to help Pembroke make it through and then looks over at the woman. He tells them both, "I'm going for those lockers" He seems to be breathing better than his friend so he heads there to try to open them.
The woman is fetal and pulling at her hair. and trying to cover her ears. Whatever's happening is not pleasant for her. The lockers contain personal items and effects. There are at least twelve lockers that have stuff in them and amongst them are their items that they had on them when they'd gone to the open house. They are all packaged separately in mylar bags.
Pembroke caresses the girl's hair, reaching into her mind to calm, just a little. "Do you know the way out? The way the doctors take when they leave?"
Stefan gets excited as he finds their things. He gathers them up and tucks them underneath his arm as he continues to go through the lockers to see what he can find.
Clothing, mostly, and wallets and money. They seem to have no use for personal items here. There's a little slot next tot he lockers that reads 'destruction' in black paint above it, it's surrounded with black and yellow caution paint. The mousey woman just sobs softly and is lost in her own little world. Outside the alarms continue to sound and some really strange noises are coming from beyond the airlocked door. She has no answers for Pembroke. But they are in a secure area. There are desks and a phone and even a wall of screens. The screens show scenes of corpses littering several of the rooms shown.
Stefan finds his charms and hands Pembroke's his Wyrm Hide Charm. "Use it."
In images of the hallways, strange things and alien creatures crawl through the halls, scratching at walls and tearing through the corpses of the two guards.
Stefan rolls Stamina + Survival vs 4 for 5 successes.
Pembroke nods to Stef. "See if you can find a path on those monitors while I rifle the lockers for anything else of use or her id."
Pembroke rolls Stamina + Survival vs 4 for 5 successes.
Stefan loses one Willpower
Stefan rolls Intelligence + Computer vs 6 for 4 successes.
Stefan rolls Intelligence + Investigation vs 6 for 4 successes.
Stefan rolls Manipulation + Computer vs 4 for 5 successes.
Stefan finds Pippin still in the pocket of his jacket and 'wakes' him up, linking with him telepathically.
Pembroke steps into the hallway, but since chicky is keeping things mostly breathable, so he doesn't drain her. He does pause a moment... "Is there a room marked 'gear', 'supplies', or maybe 'pressure suits'?
Not between the guard room and the 'Trasport' room.
Stefan finds Pippin still in the pocket of his jacket and 'wakes' him up, linking with him telepathically. He closes his eyes and by willpower, he activates the Wyrm Hide gift, his skin turning into a lumpy, leathery, smelly hide but it helps to protect him from injury. On his ear, he slips the bobble that allows him greater Alertness.
Eris rolls 3 (3 dice) vs 6 for 2 successes.
Eris rolls 3 (3 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
Eris rolls 3 (3 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
Stefan shakes his head, "No, but I've found the Transport room on the computer, and printed out the directions. Pippin has them. We'll follow him."
Pembroke takes several deep breathes. In and out, in and out... motioning for pippin to lead the way as he hurries down the hall, doing his best to minimize effort and maximize movement as he hustles for the next door.
Stefan loses one Willpower
Pembroke loses one Willpower
Pembroke rolls Stamina vs 6 for 2 successes.
Stefan rolls Stamina vs 6 for 2 successes.
Stefan loses one Willpower
Stefan rolls Stamina vs 6 for 0 successes.
Pembroke loses one Willpower
Pembroke rolls Stamina vs 6 for 3 successes.
Pembroke rolls Stamina vs 6 for 3 successes.
Stefan loses one Willpower
Stefan rolls Stamina vs 6 for 0 successes.
Pembroke tries to help Stefan keep going, even as his eyes start to blur and he finds himself longing to surrender to the shadows. Just.. a little... further.
Stefan clings to Pembroke but forces himself forward also using Pippin's eye to help him navigate them both.
Pembroke sticks his head around one corner to see teeth and ichor, turning down the next hallway. Yanking doors open behind him as he runs for his life. But any possible door he opens to divert attention from himself and his colleagues. If there happen to be living workers here... so much the better.
Doors are impossible to open on a whim, they are electronic and the system would need to be overridden completely. There's just no time for that. Eventually, they get to the Transport doors and there is a final barricade. There's a retinal scanner next to the door and it's currently locked out.
Stefan is still having to cling to Pembroke and while Pippin isn't scared of what he sees with that eye Stefan is and he gasps as his reality gets another twist and then yet another.
Eris rolls 3 (3 dice) vs 6 for 2 successes.
Stefan rolls Willpower vs 6 for 5 successes.
Stefan loses one Willpower
Stefan rolls Stamina vs 6 for 2 successes.
Pembroke rolls Stamina vs 6 for 0 successes.
Eris rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 4 successes.
Eris rolls 1 (1 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
Pembroke slumps against the door. He got them this far... oh, that's nice... just time for a little nap while Stef gets the door open. Sluuuuuuump all the way to the floor.
Stefan rolls Manipulation + Computer vs 4 for 2 successes.
Well, he slumps as Stefan focuses on the computer and the mousy little figure curls up against Pembroke and leans in to just..make out with him a little while he's unconscious. It's not too weird. Because after a moment she manages to stand with Pembroke slumped against her. She trembles while she waits and the door opens with a sucking whoosh of sound as the pressurized Transport room is exposed to the vacuum. They all find themselves moved by the sudden pressure change but they make it into the room. Once they pass the sensor the room closes back up again. It leaves them all gasping for a full minute as the air pressure returns and life support kicks on in the Transport room.
This room has two catwalks on both sides of the room with equipment across the top. In the center of the room is a large sleek white-metal circle that humms with a soft magnetic whirr.
Stefan notices Sebastian slump but his attention goes to the door and he works concentrates and works on bypassing the controls. He instead sends a mental thought to Pippin to check on him and the small rat-like being scurries over to him. As the woman helps him up though he ends up scurrying away through the now opening door.
Pembroke leans his weight heavily against the woman with him, suuuucking in the air as it reaches him. And despite the issues, the first thing he does is be an ass, and try to take a little willpower from her. (Soulstealing, taking one point to get himself back on his feet better.)
Pembroke rolls Willpower vs 6 for 4 successes.
Stefan moves towards the circle and first tries to see if he can determine anything about it before he motions for Pembroke and the woman and says, "She is she knows anything about this. Transport... but to where? I guess anywhere is better than here right now."
She is a rocking blithering mess. She really has no understanding right now, sort of clinging to Pemmy for any sort of support at all. There are no buttons below, only the consols up top.
Pembroke sighs as the well is dry. Stumbling toward the disc. "Well, it might just be their base on Earth, Try.. try... is it open-ended or have to go back to a specific location?
Since Pemmy is barely on his feet Stefan heads upstairs, "I'm going to try to see if I can figure out how to make this thing work. Say a prayer to the Father that it has directions."
Stefan loses one Willpower
Stefan rolls Intelligence + Computer vs 6 for 3 successes.
Stefan gives a look over the control system and, unlike what they say in the movies, it all seems pretty damned user-friendly. Complications mean missteps and this is not the kind of place that has built-in missteps.
Speaking of which the alarms have turned off. The sirens have stopped, though the klaxon lights still flash.
Stefan goes with his instincts and sets the controls before heading back downstairs, "Get in the circle, Pemmy. We're getting the hell outta here."
Stefan gets the thing booted and a voice calmly says, "Thirty Seconds to contact. Please prepare for Dimensional Translocation." The pleasant female computer voice says and then starts to count down. The little mousy thing continues to cling to Pembroke, working on instinct and implanted obsession alone.
Pembroke heads toward the circle, stumbling along with his new pet and tries to get home. "Shit, shit. Let's hope the next spot is easier to bust out of...
Stefan frowns as he drags the female with him, but his main thought is an escape. He leans over, swoops up Pippin and crams him into his jacket pocket as he steps inside the circle as well.
The sound of whirring becomes more steady and fills the room. The inner part of the circle seems to start to distort, showing the other side of the room like some liquid reflection that begins to twist into a whirlpool of refracted light. "Ten seconds to Dimensional Translocation. Nine. Eight." There are stairs to a platform that leads up to the giant circle. "Three. Two. One." Light flares from the center of the whirlpool and reflect what looks like the inside of a mining facility underground.
About that point the door replies. "System Override. Welcome, Director Omori. Transportation in progress. Doors will open in approximately two minutes."
Pembroke hustles through the newly opened door, He hopes he can breathe there. Well, maybe he should name his new pet 'canary', or something. "Is that the door ahead of us, or behind us"
Pembroke hustles through the portal before that door opens.
Stefan moves through as well repeating the name "Director Omori" under his breath.
They pop out in an underground mine. It's currently unmanned and the exit is up some metal stairs and along some catwalks. It takes a bit of time before they emerge out into what looks like the bottom fo a copper mine? There is truck equipment there but no workers here. Likely due to Winter Vacation.
Pembroke sighs, and flops forward. "Well, isn't this a trip. Got your cell? A GPS?"
Stefan pulls Pippin back out of his jacket, and sends him off "Look around for us." As the little creature scurries off he nods to Pembroke and pulls out his cell. "I'll see if we got any connection out here."
There is no connection for their cells. And Pippin finds no one here. There are landlines though...
Stefan frowns and pockets his cell, "No connection, but Pippin has spotted some landlines. Come on," he waves to Pembroke and starts off.
Pembroke sighs and looks around. "We need to get out of here before we're followed. Either call for help or find a vehicle to run for our lives. You're call."
Both are possible...
Stefan says, " Think I should call Eris while you look for some keys in one of these offices or check the vehicles."
Pembroke rolls Perception + Investigation vs 6 for 1 successes.
Stefan rolls Strength + Athletics vs 6 for 1 successes.
Pembroke rifles through desks and opens cabinets, and finally looks under the floormat of a truck and climbs in behind the wheel. Of course, who is going to steal a dump truck? Keys in ignition. Push clutch, turn key...
Stefan rolls Dexterity + Athletics vs 6 for 4 successes.
Stefan is just entering the office with the phone when he hears Pembroke start up the truck. He hurries to the phone and dials Eris' number.
Stefan finds the office locked and he curses under his breath but then picks up a large stone and throws it towards the office window. He has to do a bit of dancing to the side to prevent getting glass sprayed into his face when the window shatters. He is just entering the office with the phone when he hears Pembroke start up the truck. He hurries to the phone and dials Eris' number.
Getting the info to Eris is easy, which is, get safe then call. She is insanely practical in matters like this. She says she knows where the copper mine is, she'll meet them off the service road that leads out there.
However, they'll be cutting it close because there's a slow rumble from below the earth, almost three minutes after they emerged...
Pembroke has her put her seatbelt on. "Sit still and be a good girl now. I'm going to need my hands free."
Pembroke rolls Wits + Drive vs 6 for 3 successes.
Stefan practically runs from the office towards the truck, scoping up Pippin as he goes, and relates, "Eris is gonna meet us, but you need to MOVE! They're coming." He climbs into the truck, swinging a bit on the door before he gets it closed as Pembroke lurches forward.
Pembroke laughs and keeps on trucking. "Fuck, fuck. We need to haul ass and ditch this asap. It'll probably be low jacked, or whatever the hell it is they use."
The mousy wraith of a woman does as she's told. And they start going up, and up and up, The way out of the copper mine is to drive in an ever-widening spiral up the stepped mining process. What's left below are two old trucks that men flood towards at the large base of the mine.
Stefan glances behind them, "Dammit! I should have fucked up the cables on the other trucks. Just keep going, Pemmy. Eris is waiting for us at the service road."
Eris rolls 3 (3 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes.
Eris rolls 3 (3 dice) vs 6 for -1 successes.
One truck veers off the road due to the inexperience of the driver. The other stays on course though.
Pembroke just keeps the pedal down as they drive off. If anyone gets in his way between here and Eris, he'll just run them down. Oh, they're being followed...
Pembroke rolls Wits + Drive vs 6 for 5 successes.
Pembroke makes sure that every outcropping, bend, and the weak shoulder becomes a weapon in the war of wheels!
Even driving that massive truck, Pembroke can outmaneuver this mine and get them far enough ahead that they lose their headlights. They get to the road and there, as promised, is Eris in a large white SUV. She lets them load their companion in and then they're off, ditching the dump truck where they left it...
Fin
(TBC...)
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