The End of the Chase

[airlockedmods]

[After several enlightening mishaps and meeting several well-intentioned aliens, the clues from the scavenger hunt have led both teams to the pool on the west side of the building. There are several other aliens milling about, staring up at the windows to try and find the green one.

The last clue has been received. It's time to regroup, find where to go next, and confront the mastermind of this... network-sponsored scavenger hunt.]

Comments

[ratherdoweddings]

Okay, everyone. The awnings have green stripes, but it looks like we'll have to find a specific window. Should we split up again like Thomasin-chan suggested?

[stitch_in_time]

You and Thomasin, me an' Togami, you think?

[He still doesn't like the idea much, but it might be necessary.]

Be careful if we do, we don't want these fans getting too riled up.

[Green pane, pane... that typically means window, but are there any other meanings of the word he's forgetting?]

[airlockedmods]

[A professional wrestler dressed in lime colored spandex suplexes a passerby

"I'M THE GREEN PAIN" he yells

you were all wrong

it's GWF time

...no, it's kind of hard to see what color the windows are with the sun brightly overhead. A few aliens dejectedly drift away, or get called away to go to dinner with their parents/chaperones.]

[refusedtoleave]

[She's still lost, but looks like the fountain idea was wrong.

Any tall buildings or objects? Because that's what she's looking for.]

How long is this going to go on for?

[airlockedmods]

[The hotel itself looms pretty significantly overhead.]

[refusedtoleave]

[Anything green there? She's going to die if it's hotel room on the xxth floor.]

[airlockedmods]

[The sixth-floor hallway is pretty deserted. It doesn't seem as though anyone else has followed the survivors up here.

Remember, you're going to Room 6524. Will you knock, or try to get in yourselves?]

[ratherdoweddings]

[Yurika looks at the rest of the group.]

Should we?

[cyan_maid]

...The worst we could do is disturb someone, right? And if they ask, we can always apologize.

[refusedtoleave]

Just try the door, we can say we got our room number wrong if this isn't the place.

[airlockedmods]

[Well! This is...this is a weird, weird experience, honestly. Jaycee was over the moon to meet the actual Airlocked! actors, but you all are acting so strange, it's sorta hard to keep that excitement going.

So he'll focus on what he's got left to do here.]

Let me just - [He moves past the group, peering out the door and down the hall before shutting it behind them.] It kinda doesn't seem like anyone else is comin'. We thought this might happen, we can redo the window thing in a bit...

[He sweeps some of the confetti out of the entryway and into the bathroom with his tail, then gives up and goes to perch on the end of his bed.]

So, are you gonna wait and congratulate the winners with me, or...what d'ya actually wanna do? [...this is awkward.] You want some drinks?

[kingshaming]

Actually, can you give us just a moment...

[He lowers his voice and speaks to the others so hopefully Jaycee can't hear.]

Well, is it worth it to keep trying to get the reward? Shall we tell him?

[Xander doesn't sound too sure about this: it would break this poor guys heart]

[cyan_maid]

[Whispers back,] We - we do need the money. And the others have every right to a message, don't they? Not to mention...be able to see what these guys are up to next...

[refusedtoleave]

We need the money to keep looking.

[stitch_in_time]

It'd put him in danger too.

[More or less danger than they're in, who knows. Jaycee presumably has the basic rights of any given person actually native to this universe, but that also means the studio knows where he lives, more or less.]

But we need to keep the ship fueled somehow. Can't exactly park it over a spacetime rift and let it soak in the energy.

[Yet.]

[curdle]

Will he believe us if we say this too is part of the act?

[ She doesn't really think so; they've all said so many different things. ]

That they film us still, in secret?

[stitch_in_time]

Okay then.

[Since it looks like they have something of a consensus, the Doctor steps back towards Jaycee, giving the others one last look.]

Jaycee. I can call you that, yeah? That's not just a screenname or something? You're a pretty big fan of the show- I mean obviously, or they wouldn't have asked you to host this little shindig- but let me ask you something. All the promotion they've done, all the bonus content and home releases, have they ever shown any backstage stuff? Bad takes, video diaries, commentaries, that kind of thing.

[airlockedmods]

[Jaycee, who relocated to the other side of the bed to sort of awkwardly twiddle his claws together and pretend not to be trying to eavesdrop while the others had their secret conference over there, perks up at the sound of his name.]

Yeah, that's my name! SkepticJaycee's just what the channel's called, I just picked it 'cause it sounded neat...

[Right. Anyway.]

Oh - well, no, not really. Closest you get is probably reaction series like mine! I've done it for everything they've released so far...except, uh, Lovelocked. [Lizards don't really blush but his gaze darts to Jamie for a second before he quickly looks down and away in what sure looks like embarrassment.] Why d'ya ask?

[stitch_in_time]

[So if it means proving their story, a quick trip back to the Temerity with one humansona holo-disguised lizardman can't hurt, right?]

[Hopefully not, cause here they all are.]

CECE, we miss anything exciting? We've got someone who'd like to say hello.

[airlockedmods]

[CECE's opened the door for them.]

Welcome back, Doctor. Did you enjoy the convention? I see that you have brought a foreign energy signature with you.

[ratherdoweddings]

He's our friend! Well, I think so. C.E.C.E., meet Jaycee-san! I know we didn't tell you we'd be bringing civilians, but, well...

[stitch_in_time]

The convention was... an experience, let's say.

I'll tell you all about it later, if you like.

[airlockedmods]

Well, I guess that's all...sort of settled, then?

[Jaycee seems a little uncertain about speaking up over everyone, but he's been on the Temerity for a little while now and, as neat as it is, he'd like to get off.]

I should probably get back sooner or later and tell the networks we've got a winner. Just let me jot down my username and password for you - it can watch other stuff too if y'want, there's other InterGal shows. Yl'lb Ein, whatever. Um. [Where was he] Yeah, an' tell me what you want the message to be! It's gotta be short, now, kinda Spitter-length. An' then I guess...

...well, god, I don't know. I feel silly, I dunno what I could do for you, but you want my phone number or somethin'...?

[ratherdoweddings]

Thanks again! We'll call you if we ever need help, I promise.

[Yurika looks at the others and clears her throat.]

What do we say? Something that isn't obvious to the network, but that the others will get -- like Temerity's messages to us!

[stitch_in_time]

A code that doesn't look like a code... maybe use some kind of initial code? Take each letter in the real message and use 'em as the first letter of a longer one. It'd have to be short, but it'd look less suspicious.