WELCOME TO A SHITTY JAMJAR-ESQUE PSL STARTER

[uzuki]

Good morning! Have a shrill alarm followed by an almost robotic voice on repeat. "If you have seen the pilot of Omega Res Novae..." "Security Breach. Please enter the administrator passcode at a designated command terminal." is the bland phrase that is being repeated at 60 second intervals.

Sure, you're probably confused. After all, you've somehow been deposited in a sterile metal room, in an (albeit comfortable) completely plain bunk. But, there's little time to get your bearings. That alarm will probably drive you insane before long, and it isn't likely that you'll stop it on your own. It should compel you toward the door, which opens automatically into a metal hallway. On one side there are numbered doors identical to the one you've just exited. On the other? Windows! Because some benevolent creator wanted to let you immediately see that you are stuck on an archaic space station.

There is a metal ring (where you currently are), surrounding a clear dome that is accessible by two large corridors. There seems to be greenery inside of the dome. Not, that it matters, since those access points seem kind of far.

On the bright side though, there is a hangar somewhere along the ring! And it has one of those handy command terminals right outside of it too.

Comments

And he's the one least likely to figure out AU shenanigans quickly...

[misplacedxsheath]

He didn't have any weapons to bring with him, the Benefactors saw to that. He doesn't even have his longcoat, instead dressed in a drab, off white jumpsuit that fits so tightly it must have been made specifically for him. But still, beyond the wardrobe change, the uncharacteristic lack of weaponry and the screen that seems to be embedded into his left arm, there's no mistaking his identity. There's also no mistaking the surprise and confusion on his face when she turns and aims an Ether at him, though by sheer reflex he readies himself to dodge.

"What makes you think I have any hand in this situation? Even if I knew what this place was, I've no reason to turn upon you, nor any of our people save for one."

Re: And he's the one least likely to figure out AU shenanigans quickly...

[pellegri]

She actually raises an eyebrow at his reaction. She's very familiar with his tactical arsenal, and this doesn't seem right at all. And to go to such lengths to lie about his allegiances? Still, given the state of reality itself in recent months, she's not going to let her guard down so quickly.

"I truly wish I could accept your words. But, I can't. If you speak the truth, then I am sorry. I will not freely give trust to a man who has attempted to turn the entire world against me."

[misplacedxsheath]

Between the weeks of learning to allow himself more of his emotions, the headache he's had since he awoke, and the strangeness of this encounter, his expression at her accusation is clearly perplexed. His last conversation with Pellegri had been tense, it was true, but trying to turn the world against her?

"I've done nothing of the sort. What lies has Heinlein perpetuated in my absence to give you an impression of that sort?"

[pellegri]

"Heinlein?"

Now that causes her to drop her threat of ethers. There was no more Heinlein, no more Ormus. At least, no longer by those names.

"I have not heard that name in what seems like forever. But, if he is still your concern, then something has changed. However, if this is a ruse I will not hesitate to defend myself."

[misplacedxsheath]

"We spoke regarding him only days before my abduction, even the events I suffered doesn't make a mere two months seem as though it were forever."

Unless...the Doctor had mentioned time travel, hadn't he? Was it possible she was from the future? But no, that still wouldn't make sense of what she was saying. According to his current plan, he would have simply left for McBurn's world after making certain Heinlein wouldn't manipulate Ormus any further. there was no reason anything he intended would make her see him as an enemy, unless she truly refused to accept that Heinlein was deceiving them.

"Nothing you've said thus far makes sense with what I recall. What could have transpired to leave us in such opposition that you regard me as a threat?"

[pellegri]

"Our deaths... And resurrections."

She knows how it sounds, but at the same time, she has an easier time saying seemingly absurd things to Margulis than to anyone else. because no one ever wants to resurrect richard

"It is a long story. Before we catch up, so to speak, I think the alarms demand our attention."

[misplacedxsheath]

Deaths...his hand reflexively goes to his lower chest, where McBurn's knife had pierced his lung. Not the deathblow, but the one that had left him dying and near helpless. But no, that hadn't been real, just part of the elaborate simulation. He'd seen with his own eyes that his real body was still alive an unharmed.

"Fair enough...between that noise and this headache, I can scarcely focus on my own thoughts. There must be a terminal around here somewhere, unless one of these doors blocks access to a security office."

[pellegri]

"Perhaps, but..." She motions to the windowless side of the hallway. "These doors are all identical, aside from their numbering. It would take us hours to check each one. I believe we should check the corridors. If there is a security office it will surely be marked in some way."

She casts him a sidelong glance, in an attempt to gauge his reaction. She's not sure if he expects them to fall into old roles, but it's possible that whatever has transpired for him will make him surprise her.

[misplacedxsheath]

"Presuming our captors didn't intend it to be camouflaged, but that possibility isn't a reason not to at least make a circuit."

Honestly, he's not sure if it's learning about Heinlein or the events of the Champions Excellence Program. or - most likely - both that have humbled him. Either way, the end result is that he's grown comfortable in a role of advice rather than direct command, and he doesn't seem to mind Pellegri taking initiative. He does, however, give the doors a brief, almost hopeful glance.

"Besides, we may run into others with the same idea. I'd like to know if it was us specifically who were targeted, or if whoever brought us here was after a broader scope of people."

[pellegri]

Well, that's a pleasant surprise. She'd really expected some sort of power struggle. But this openness to collaboration is interesting, and spurs her to survey the corridor in each direction. The sooner they take action, the sooner they can solve all these mysteries.

"I agree, and I would like to know as well. This way?" She'll start to the left because the lighting looks slightly different that way. There may be a command screen operating around the bend.

[misplacedxsheath]

"It certainly seems most likely to at least have something different from where we're standing now."

As he walks, keeping pace but maintaining a slight distance after her initial reaction to him, he checks the screen on his arm again. If Pellegri looks at it, she'll see that it's a clunky looking computer interface embedded directly into his forearm...evidently non-functional, as it doesn't react at all to whatever he's trying to do.

[pellegri]

She does notice. Of course, it's not every day someone gets some strange old technology embedded in them and doesn't get it removed.

"Problems?" She asks, biting back normally acerbic tone slightly. She does care, at least a little.

[misplacedxsheath]

"Not precisely. I'd been concerned at first that my presence here was the fault of the same people who forced this device on me, but given its inactivity, that seems unlikely."

His finger sparks against the device, his own signature purple electricity flying uselessly off of it.

"The problem now, aside from the fact that I can't be fully rid of it under these circumstances, is that it removes my primary suspect for the cause of our situation."

[pellegri]

"If that's the sort of thing they do, then I am not sure I consider removing them from suspicion a problem."

She'll keep her skin intact from now on, thanks.

"I could think of one who would do this, but... I don't know. It doesn't seem exactly like what he would do. He has a twisted sense of humor that he employs to ruin the lives of others."

[misplacedxsheath]

"I can think of multiple people who fit that description. Including those I initially suspected...but this is too simplistic for any of them. A grating alarm might wear upon our patience, but none of them would go to so much trouble simply for that."

[pellegri]

"Yes... It seems our situations haven't been dissimilar, in that regard. I might be willing to hear this grating sound forever if it meant never crossing paths with Krelian again."

Maybe that's an exaggeration... But then again, the situation that she'd left behind by being brought to this station was one of the closest things to a nightmare she could imagine.

[misplacedxsheath]

That name isn't familiar, and this whole thing makes him wonder if he's not the only one who's been subjected to things that should be impossible. He notes it as something to ask about later...once he's figured out just why Pellegri seems to distrust him so much now.

"Personally, I'd rather Twiright over this. Despite his nature and duplicity, he can at least be prompted to usefulness if it's to his benefit as well."

[pellegri]

Aside from the usefulness part, their situations were sounding more and more comparable. She would have to ask him to expound when they gained some semblance of control over the situation. For now Margulis gets a sympathetic nod.

And as luck would have it, the corridor widens just before it ends at the security controls. The screen is flashing under the lockdown.

"Well, we found this. Unfortunately, hacking is not my forte."

There is a perfectly ordinary looking door next to the panel. It has a half-circle window, so maybe she can just go peek through that.

[misplacedxsheath]

"It's never been a particular area of expertise for me, either..."

They both know which of their old group was best with computers. But even if Margulis didn't suspect Jin would find him deserving of this fate, it seems to be just the two of them here so far.

"If these rooms originally housed the staff for this place, one of them might contain something useful in shutting off this system. The fact that it's still active at all does suggest that the station's occupants left in somewhat of a hurry...but searching each of them would take quite a while, even with Chhaya."

[pellegri]

"What other choice do we have? Unless we melt the components and see if that ends the cacophony."

She smirks, only half joking. If all else fails, use force, right?