Week 7

[airlockedmods]

[Well that weekend sucked. The Champions are down a dad and a bean and shrinking their numbers smaller and smaller, less and less.

There's no sign of life in the spaceport aside from PAL's omnipresent voice and SIS, the helpful asSIStant who has some control over certain heres and theres in the spaceport. She (and PAL) are available at all times and can appear anywhere if called. There is, however, a new floor to explore. Just hop in the elevator and pchoo.]


Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Don't forget to check in, check your memory regains! and put in for item regains))

Comments

[kingshaming]

[Time to explore! Xander heads towards the hatches]

Are these... where ships can port?

[airlockedmods]

[It sure looks like it. Unfortunately they look to be locked tight.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

[More like fortunately let's not accidentally open some airlocks or something??] Yeah. Little ones, like, personal vehicles or ones built for just a short trip, looks like. [He looks up at the stars.] Docking bay. If this is the top, then if we find any elevators, they'd just lead straight down.

[Church reluctantly mosies on further--is it just hatches all the way down?]

[airlockedmods]

[Pretty much. There's also a larger, sealed off door down the way- to them this should all seem very familiar. If it weren't for the lack of podiums and an Overseer's platform, this would look just like the courtroom.]

[kingshaming]

The courtroom... That door seems to be our only option.

[Let's go poke it]

[airlockedmods]

[There's a switchboard by the door with lit-up buttons-

But there seems to be something happening on the other side of the docking bay, past several of the thick metal support beams. There's a figure standing down that way with their back to them in front of a glowing, hovering projected screen.

How's your stealth, boys?]

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Church taps Xander on the shoulder, nods at the FIGURE and SCREEN and WE ARE NOT ALONE! And then holds up a fist. ...He's a military guy, he knows some fucking jargon. Stay. Trust him. He's...

...Okay they're not hugely different in size, but there's less danger if just one of them goes, and Church has fucked up enough today.

He approaches, slow, quiet, around beams. Trying to get a look at the screen. And maybe the person(?) in front of it.

Nat 20, bitches, show your cards.]

[kingshaming]

[Xander stays as told, ready to charge if Church is caught, but otherwise staying put. Two less feet is two less things to make noise, after all]

[airlockedmods]

[The person in front of the screen is standing very straight and tall despite their smaller stature and, based on their silhouette, wearing a flared skirt of some kind. Church and Xander won't be able to see their face but it's hard to mistake that long silver-blue hair.]

Wizard, this is Barbarian. Can you hear me?

[motherfucking_ghost]

[It's a near damn thing, Church nearly calls out to her, because SIS, what are you doing here? He straightens and opens his mouth--

--thinks better, keeps low, shuts his god damn trap. He's gonna chill here for a little bit and listen in.]

[airlockedmods]

[It's only a few seconds before the screen comes to life. There's not much visible, unfortunately; the room on the other end is dark, and you can only make out what appears to be a person's silhouette. They seem to have long hair that flows down their back, but their voice is deep.]

Barbarian? This is Wizard. I read you. What's happening?

[motherfucking_ghost]

[You fucking dorks and your fucking D&D classes and your fucking darkness. Church pulls a little further back to make sure he's not potentially seen by Wizard Jesus, but he's still here. Listening. Watching. Waiting to strike--wait...]

[airlockedmods]

Losing Ardyn has caused many fractures in the group but they are trying. The new motive is also very worrying. I am not sure how much you have been able to see for yourself.

...How are the others? Bard was not doing well the last I was aware.

[airlockedmods]

...I've seen enough. It isn't much better on the other side. If they can't remain unified...I don't know what will happen.

[The figure shifts slightly, and responds in a lower voice:]

Things haven't gotten any better. There isn't much we can accomplish, and everyone knows it. Bard isn't doing well, Cleric is spread too thin, and I'm worried about what Paladin might try if this goes on. [A sigh.] How are you? Considering the circumstances, of course.

[airlockedmods]

I see. I will have to try harder then.

[SIS's shoulders slump forward.]

I am...worried. I am doing my best to keep their spirits up and keep them unified but it is more difficult than I anticipated with what they did to PAL. I am especially worried Church may do something very stupid.

[airlockedmods]

You're doing the best that you can. If all goes well, we can restore PAL later on. As long as...

[.....

Yeah, let's talk about Church. The figure makes a sound that might be a snort.]

He does tend to do that.

[airlockedmods]

[She nods solemnly in understanding. If all goes well. Aren't those the magic words?]

Still, he has been very nice to me since they woke up. They all have. [Her face can't be seen but it sounds like there's a smile in her voice but it fades quickly into a more serious tone.] There was an incident,
when Church and Junpei went back into the simulation. I am still not sure how but I glitched into the dead simulation.

[airlockedmods]

You did? They must be running all of it from the same server. That's how they were doing it before...remember what happened with Florida? That's probably why they didn't put any holodeck in the mall.

[He shakes his head.]

I know you're trying to help, but please, be careful. You're just as trapped as the rest of them right now. We've been trying to locate you all, but there's not enough good shots of the windows. Though, now that we have contact, I don't suppose you could just give me your coordinates directly? Or at least some starmaps. I'm not sure what Junpei and Church made of my message, but they've been...understandably distracted.

[airlockedmods]

That has been my theory as well. They've learned from the second group.

Junpei has been trying to make headway with it but he has also been having a hard time. I believe speaking directly to Yuuri and Ardyn did improve things for him however. As for the starmaps I will get them to you as quickly as I can. Or speak to one of them by the windows for a prolonged amount of time. Whichever is more discreet. I can tell you from my observations that I am not sure we are actually in the Cancer Nebula.

[She turns her head slightly, not enough to notice Church but enough to look like she's thinking.]

I should get back. I do not trust leaving them alone with PAL for too long. [She turns back to the screen.] Tell Paladin to hold off just a little longer. Perhaps have him and Cleric take Bard out for a day. Make sure you're getting adequate rest as well.

Saving us is a priority but you cannot do much if you are all malfunctioning.

[airlockedmods]

[Wizard hmmmmms quietly.]

Of course. I'll see what I can do. And - you know I like talking to you, dear, but please only call if you're sure it's safe. It's more important for you to stay hidden.

Either way, we'll talk later. Be careful.

[Call ended.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

[He lingers for a few moments after Wizard Jesus disappears from the screen...and then takes a few quiet steps forward.]

...SIS...?

[airlockedmods]

[She whips around, startled and wide-eyed.]

Church? How did you get down here?

[kingshaming]

That... Would be my doing.

[Here comes Xander, with his Warp cube]

[airlockedmods]

[...]



What the fuck.

[kingshaming]

SIS, language.