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Post by beastly on Oct 6, 2023 23:08:11 GMT -6
((OOC: A lot of chatter, info is exchanged, Jonny looks through the last cubical))
Jonny squinted at the lady. Vegas? What did she want to know that for? He didn't look that young, surely?
"I'm 18, an adult, why?"
“You have parents waiting for you at home?”
"...Yeah."
His dad would be really mad if he got stuck in this stupid office building and died. ...Probably more than mad. That was fine, Jonny wasn't going to die here. He had too many responsibilities to die here.
Jonny paused as he started going some poor idiot's desk. Hopefully the owner wasn't dead.
“Any chance they know where you are right now? Maybe come looking?”
"Nope," Jonny said frowning.
They probably wouldn't look for him until he didn't show up to his shift at the grocery store tomorrow.
“Halloween night. Right. Well, if they ground you for breaking curfew, young man, I’ll back you up.”
Jonny snorted. The idea of this lady explaining to his father and older sister that he hadn't been out up to trouble and had instead been trapped in a building tickled him.
"Ha. Vegas, right? It's Jon."
“Jon, let’s hope one of these cubicles has a flamethrower.”
Jonny chuckled again, and continued his search.
“Not much here, but … I found a note about the electrical situation. Keycards may not work between floors. Great.” Vegas called over to Malvin.
“Haven’t found anything yet… Lost a candy bar though.” Malvin called back.
“You can have a water if you’re thirsty.”
Jonny watched a waterbottle as it was held above the cubicles.
“I’m good. Hopefully one of these guys was an alcoholic..” Malvin muttered.
Jonny found himself, as he often was, glad that his sister had dumped Malvin.
“Find anything good, Jonny?”
"A whistle. And a note. Hang on...Says the bathroom is out of order.... on the f5th floor."
Jonny looked at the note in his hand again. The bathroom had been bad on this floor, though... Maybe the monsters really liked the bathrooms.
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Post by jarahamee on Oct 7, 2023 1:44:46 GMT -6
In the Lounge:
Faith slammed the door on the fingers of whatever it was that had reached around the door. She slammed many times, hard enough to break them, and even as she pulled away, the now broken fingers were left protruding from the crack in the door. Whatever it was on the other side did not make any sound. There was no thrashing or other hint of struggle. Instead, there was simply a soft bump against the wall, the same way as the first time, followed by another on the door. Again, the handle jiggled. Faster now, as if the creature on the other side had learned that this was a way to open the door. With a soft click, the door swung inward by a few inches. The fingers on the top of the door remained there, shifting only slightly, but were joined by another set of fingers on the top middle portion, then yet another at the bottom. Did this thing have three hands? Were there more than one creature? There was a rhythmic, twitching pattern to the way the fingers moved, as if a wave of energy passed through all of them, and something large gently bumped against the edge of the door, as more of the hands appeared. Then even more. Five pairs of hands, leaving dark trails behind where the fingers scrabbled but found no purchase. No arm, and no body. With each undulation, the dark doorway opened a little more. Something very large and shadowy was on the other side. Nagi moved away towards the Reception area. Strid moved past the two and tried Security, which did not open, and the Stairwell, which did not open with the use of this keycard. He skims the technical notes, and finds that most of it appears to be nonsensical raw data arranged in sheets; completely useless for his purposes. From what he can gather, it seems to be about the production and refinement of a substance called “Alpha-2.” In Design and Development:
Vegas searches the first cubicle on the East side of the room. This cubicle has several decorated clipboards. The clipboards seem to contain technical data relating to the project they are working on. There are artistically decorated tiles to the right of the computer.
On the desk she finds a glass vial of off-yellow liquid with a note that says, “Experimental mixture 131.” She also finds a keycard: “Aerin Smith: Quality Documentation”
Malvin searches the next cubicle. This cubicle has a throw pillow on the chair, and some photos of different cities from around the world.
The computer here appears to be turned on, though the screen flickers now and again. There are several folders on the desk top that Malvin can see.
Malvin also finds a whale-shaped stapler, which appears to have quite a few staples still in it.
Jonny inspects the last cubicle. This cubicle seems to have a number of different coffee cups strewn around the computer. There is a haphazard set of decorations which represent what one might assume are videogame characters. There are some blank post-its strewn on the floor.
On the desktop, Jonny finds a large pair of scissors, and a single legible note;
The note reads: “At least they can’t see us.” Attachments:
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Post by MP on Oct 7, 2023 15:18:42 GMT -6
[OOC: F nopes out of the room, urging any remaining people to vacate. She drags Nagi with her to Design and Development and lets the occupants know about the man-handed monster.]
Nope. No. No sane person could be expected to deal with this. Faith looked around her and realized the others had already abandoned the room. Cowards. With a final glance over her shoulder, she hurried out of the room as well. The hobo stepped in past her, and she shook her head at him.
"If it gets out, I'm going to lure it in there." She pointed back out at Design and Development. "Don't stick around."
It would be better if the hobo would just leave the room so she could close the Lounge door. It might not stop the hand-thing - it seemed to be slowly learning - but she'd at least hear it if it tried to come out.
"Keep going. This way. That thing is coming out."
She spoke curtly to the albino in the lobby, tapping the back of his wrist with impatient fingers to get his attention. Once she had it, she simply grabbed his wrist and towed him after her. The last thing they needed was him making noise that might attract the thing.
She followed the sounds of conversation to Design and Development and shoved inside, hoping they'd found some kind of exit. Maybe a weapon that could ward off invincible hand demons. Her eyes went to the big hobo, then to the panicky one. They were just chattering back and forth like teenage girls.
"That thing is coming out," she snapped at them. "Hurry up. If it comes this way, we need to be ready to lock it in here."
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Post by hadopelagic on Oct 7, 2023 19:13:13 GMT -6
[OOC: Vegas pockets the vial and card, and then clicks on a couple noncorrupted documents in Mal's computer.]
Vegas pocketed the keycard and stared wide-eyed at the vial of ... something? An experimental drug? She held it up and asked, "I guess they’re into pharmaceuticals? I found a card to Quality Doc.”
Mal replied, “I found a whale stapler and uh there’s files on this computer… probably important.”
“A computer that WORKS?” She couldn't care less about staplers and pocket protectors and pens etc, but if he'd found a working computer, they could use it to communicate with the outside world or potentially understand more about BioCell.
Mal said, “Yeah.. it’s flicky but turning it off then on again feels like a bad idea…”
Quickly, after shoving the vial in her pocket, too, Vegas moved to his cubicle and stepped alongside him. She quickly surveyed the computer's desktop. The wifi was gone; no internet connection, even by cable. Furthermore, Vegas could tell that many of the files were corrupted. "Internet's useless." She clicked on a couple of noncorrupted documents and then stepped aside, giving Mal space to read along.
At that moment, Faith entered the room. What did she mean?? The thing was coming out? How? Hadn't they barricaded the doors?
"Oh, god ..."
ITEMS Vial of experimental liquid Keycard to Quality Doc
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Post by indeath on Oct 7, 2023 19:35:46 GMT -6
((Mal asks for more time so they can access the files. Pockets the stapler. Watches Vegas access the computer.))
Mal pocketed the stapler. It would at least cause a little pain to their enemy. Besides who could resist a whale stapler? He wasn’t super happy to see The Karen. She was supposed to have defeated the hand thing.
“Oh yeah… the hand thing. I thought you were beating it off… Uh not in a sexual way. With the door. Obviously. We found files, important files so uh maybe don’t herd it in here just yet?”
He looked over Vega’s shoulder impatiently as she clicked away. Last computer he owned got corrupted beyond recognition by malware. At least the screen was filled with ads for sexy people but it didn’t help with work or actually accessing any of the sites.
“I’m Mal… Just in case we perish here.”
He didn’t like the idea of the hands beast being anywhere.
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Post by beastly on Oct 7, 2023 20:47:51 GMT -6
((OOC: Jonny has stupid thoughts. Obtains scissors. He shows off the scissors and shares that the things can't see.))
Jonny pawed through the last desk, wrinkling his nose at the mess. He was happier with his new pair of BIG SCISSORS, if something got close they could... maybe... stab it? He contemplated the idea for a moment, frowning at the little post-it note message. The things had no eyes? They couldn't see?... Why were the eggheads writing to each other like this? He scratched his head, listening as Mal and Vegas spoke.
When the lady that seemed to kind of be in charge along with the big guy spoke, Jonny poked his head out of a cubical. He laughed nervously, and ran a hand over his face. He had really hoped maybe the things were somehow tied only to the bathrooms.
"Well, shit. Uh. we're gumshoeing it. The things were all the way up in the 5th floor bathroom, and they can't see. And, we got science loot."
Jonny held up the scissors.
"There's little notes everywhere talking about stuff."
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Post by Sharei on Oct 7, 2023 21:25:08 GMT -6
[OOC: Strid opens the Quality Documentation door. He then sprints to the bathroom door to try and close it on the monster. He throws a rock into the bathroom to distract it, then closes the door on it while it's going after the rock. Uses his sweater to tie the door handle to the sofa to prevent it being opened again. Yells for Faith to come and help while he holds the door closed. ]
Keycards Connie Niels: Receptionist. Ralph Merlot: Quality Documentation
Items Small glass bottle Ballpoint pen
Painted rock Flat chocolate bar
The stairwell door buzzed at him. Still locked. Strid growled under his breath and tried the only door he hadn't yet with the new card - the one on his right labeled Quality Documentation. Well, he knew it'd said that on the badge, but he had really been hoping for an exit over another office room. Still, when the door beeped green at him and whooshed open, Strid flashed a victory grin that was all teeth. It was about time they started getting somewhere.
Except that even if they did, they wouldn't have the time they needed to properly explore. Strid turned his head as the doorknob behind him rattled again, the many hands reaching around the door to pull it open. A large, shadowy figure was huddled behind it, and everything about that shape in the darkness set off warning bells in the back of his mind. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, and as he sprinted across the distance to the opening door, he knew only two things: he couldn't let it out, and the others had fucked off.
Good to know who could be counted on and who couldn't. Well, that wasn't any different than normal, was it? You only had yourself to take care of yourself. At least that Faith woman seemed willing to lend a hand, up to a point.
Skidding to a stop in front of the bathroom door, Strid fished out the pained rock and tossed it through the gap in the bathroom door. He'd been aiming for behind the thing - make a clatter, make a noise, draw it's attention and make it let go - but the rock never made it that far. The hands did let go, but to catch the rock instead, limbs reaching faster than he was comfortable with.
In the brief moment that the creature had let go, however, Strid grabbed ahold of the door handle and slammed it shut with a bang. Wasting no time, the big man yanked off his sweater and tied one arm of it around the door handle. Making sure it was secure with one hand and holding the sweater taut to keep the door closed, Strid looped the other arm around the leg of the sofa and tied it off. The couch was large, heavy, and it stretched the clothing to it's limit. That meant that if this creature wanted to open the door again it would have to pull hard enough to break the cloth - not an easy feat, even for the strong.
Getting back up, Strid grabbed the door handle himself for extra security.
"HEY! GRUMPY LADY!"
The shout wasn't meant for the monster. It echoed back to Design and Development.
"Gimme a hand in here! I have a new door open but I'm a little preoccupied keeping a shitstorm at bay to investigate!"
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Post by Marshmallow on Oct 7, 2023 22:00:22 GMT -6
[OOC: Nagi gets dragged out of the lounge by Faith and deposited in D&D. Does not like the sound of a monster - monsters aren't real though, right? Tells the others that "Someone needs to help Strid" Tries not to panic and attempts to make himself marginally useful, starts feeling his way along the perimeter of the room, checking for any signs, objects, cabinets or other searchable things the others might not have investigated yet.]
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Post by jarahamee on Oct 8, 2023 0:47:25 GMT -6
In the Lounge:
Strid unlocked Quality Documentation. This large office has many cubicles. The lights here are bright yellow and intensify the aggressively beige cast of the walls. Four are placed in the central area, and three are arranged to the north and to the south. There are no obvious exits in this room. He then returned to the men’s bathroom, closing it firmly and winding his sweater around it after the strange HAND CREATURE retreated to act as a pulley and prevent the door from being easily opened again. On the other side of the door, he felt what he assumed was the shadow he had seen collide with the door, at first softly, then more heavily. The handle rattled against him, and he could feel the force of…whatever it was colliding, grasping, and then releasing the handle. It scrabbled around against the door, with what he now knew were its nails, and then, he felt it grip again, rattling with more force this time. But for now, the door, and his grip, hold. In Design and Development: The rest of the group gathers in the safety of Design and Development. From this distance, you no longer hear the bumping of the creature against the bathroom wall, though you can see the door remains firmly shut, thanks to the efforts of Strid.
Nagi finds a can of “ lizard cola” on a small side table in the corner. Vegas opens the files and begins to read them. Many of the files are damaged, and some appear to be raw data from some kind of research, but a few are legible.
File 1: SIPHON- These are undesired results of alpha-2 exposure on experimental subjects. Regeneration is flawed, and they spawn many hands, but their cognitive and physical abilities appear to suffer. They appear to lack a central nervous system. They cannot see or hear, and appear to move at random. Their method of propulsion is unknown. We believe that their movement and their ability to levitate are both products of their origin.
File 2: It is important to remember that each experimental subject type has different limitations. Please make sure to remain physically distant from any that may make physical contact to avoid Alpha-2 exposure. Keep aware when around of those with higher threat levels. Attachments:
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Post by MP on Oct 8, 2023 17:54:59 GMT -6
[OOC: Faith gives Strid her jacket in case they need to block off the ladies' room and goes to loot Quality Documentation (north desks, then south, then center, in that order). ]
Faith's head turned at the shout. There were only two women here, and it wasn't the time to sit around wondering who the hobo was shouting to. She took several running steps, stumbled, and pulled off her shoes with a curse. These things would only slow her down. And the heels might make a decent weapon. She hefted one as she charged into the room, ready to stab something if need be.
But no, the hobo really did have things under control. She took a look at the sweater tied around the door and shrugged off her own jacket.
"In case you hear one behind the other door," she said, tossing it to him. "Otherwise, I want it back."
Armed with a stiletto heel in each hand, she continued on through the new door. Quality Documentation. Which meant more boring desks, apparently. She paused in the doorway, shoe cocked and ready to swing, listening for any threats she might have to stab - an ambusher in the cubicles, maybe, or a new door full of monsters.
Seeing nothing, hearing nothing, she lowered her weapon and glanced over the group of desks. North, she decided, and then south. Those were the corners of the room, furthest from the door, where she was most likely to get hemmed in if something came in behind. She could search the center group once she'd gotten the more dangerous ones out of the way.
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Post by indeath on Oct 8, 2023 18:24:39 GMT -6
((Malvin is excited/terrified to gain that information. Suggests going to the room with the large guy in it.))
Malvin pointed at the screen excitedly. Though it was definitely fear as well. Mostly fear.
“That’s the bathroom thing!! All hands. Shit. It was a person? I always fancied an extra arm but not like this… Wait… There’s worse than handsy around? I do not feel adequately equipped to deal with all this.”
Malvin needed a stiff drink, something to take the edge off the rising panic. Trapped in a building with failed experiments that were contagious? No thank you. He’d rather spend another evening with Jon’s sister and that was saying something.
“We should probably join the other guys… Safety in numbers and all that.”
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Post by Sharei on Oct 8, 2023 20:29:45 GMT -6
[OOC: Strid continues to hold the door closed against the insistent rattling of the door knob. He increases the strength of his grip on it to keep it from turning and tells Faith to hurry up. ]
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Post by beastly on Oct 8, 2023 21:06:26 GMT -6
(OOC: Jonny goes to back Faith up with scissors.)
Jonny gathered from Malvin's excited noises that the monsters were people. That. Was not ideal. none of it was, of course, but the whole thing didn't feel real. It felt more like a movie. But he could die in this movie. He looked at the scissors in his hand.
"I'm gonna go back her up." He tried not to look as scared as he was feeling, he didn't know what this was and that was really bothering him for some reason.
He followed after, running with scissors.
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Post by hadopelagic on Oct 8, 2023 21:53:58 GMT -6
[OOC: Vegas warns people NOT TO TOUCH THE THING, and then she raids a cubicle in Q&D]
What was Alpha-2?
Horrified, Vegas realized that she was carrying a vial of SOMETHING in her pocket. Would Experimental mixture 131 turn her into a monster?
"Don't touch it," she said, quietly, and then she shouted, "Don't touch it! Don't let it touch you! STRID! DON'T LET IT TOUCH YOU!"
No wonder the creature had moved quietly. It could levitate! How? Birds and bugs flew using wings; fish and jellyfish drifted in water. But no creature on earth could levitate.
At least it couldn't see or hear them.
But could it sense them? Clearly! How? Vibrations? Chemicals? Heat? Freaking telepathy? Nothing was off the table.
Everyone was leaving D&D; seeing no useful files, aside from the two she'd already read, Vegas stood and gave Mal a pat on the shoulder, as if urging him to follow. "This is some Umbrela corp bullshit," she hissed.
Then, Vegas scampered into Q&D. As she passed (briefly) Strid, she repeated, "If it touches you, you're screwed!" After that, she turned to the south part of Q&D, to tear apart another cubicle.
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Post by Marshmallow on Oct 8, 2023 22:42:38 GMT -6
[OOC: Nagi tries to wake himself up from what is clearly a dream but with no success. He follows the herd to QD and begins searching the south cubicles by touch to look for keys or other potential items of interest.]
The night just got weirder and weirder. From arriving in this place on a whim (and without even his service dog, not that he'd have wanted her present given everything else) to murders and monsters, and some sort of experimental substance. And now there was one of these test subjects just... on the loose? In the bathroom? Nagi shook his head in disbelief. These were the kind of things that happened in sci-fi books, not reality!
"I'm dreaming," he muttered to himself. "I have to be. I'm dreaming, this is a nightmare, it's not really happening..." Of course, if it were a dream and he were lucid, surely he could then just... change the dream! Easy! Right?
When he pinched himself, nothing happened. He wasn't any more awake, and the voices around him weren't any less panicked. When he tried to focus on being somewhere else, all he got was wishful thinking. He could still smell the lobby's floor cleaner from the open door, still hear the footsteps and mutterings of strangers. He was still standing next to the same office wall he was a moment ago, and still holding a beverage can in one hand.
If this was a dream, it wasn't one he had any say in. But it felt real enough.
Nagi pocketed the can. If nothing else, maybe he could throw it as a distraction or something. The others were filing back out of the room, and so he followed. They had probably already picked that office clean of anything useful before he'd gotten there anyway. He paused for a moment in the lounge - he could hear the muffled movement of the creature behind the door, and Strid's struggle to keep it closed. Nothing much he could do to help, so he'd have to settle for just being another set of senses looking for a way out. "You guys figure this is the kind of place to have hidden doors? Or, maybe vents big enough to crawl through?" he asked no one in particular. "Or I don't know, maybe we can climb the elevator shaft?"
In Quality Documentation, Nagi navigated his way toward the south end of the room. When his cane found a cubicle, he pushed the chair aside and began carefully searching the desk and drawers by touch.
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