[d20 Modern] RESIDENT EVIL: Damnation [PG -17]

[Fanog]

1st Floor – Organ Hall
Clairemont Mansion

Michael is quite relieved when he finds out that Carlson will be there to oversee the operation. It isn't just that he didn't quite know where to start, it's also the raven-haired woman; Something about her makes him quite nervous. She's just so... unresponsive, closed. It makes him quite uncomfortable.

Michael follows the Sergeant's orders closely during the disarming, mostly just watching to see if the others didn't miss anything. When the detcord has been removed, Michael notices the odd mechanism in the inside of the organ.

"Sir, I found something odd here that may explain why the organ was rigged." While crouching closer and studying the device, he continues talking. "There is some kind of mechanism here that is activated by playing the organ. My suggestion is that the detcord was just a security measure to prevent us from ever activating it. But whatever the mechanism is is, they probably didn't want to destroy it as a precaution. They were only ready to blow it up when it become necessary, by us finding the organ and playing it. Does that make sense? I can't make out what it does, but if they didn't want to destroy it, it must have been important."

Michael continues investigating the device, paying extra attention to finding all of the I/O-methods for the device. It's activated by the keyboard, but what does it do? If it activates anything else, there should be a path out, possibly a wire or crutch sticking out out of the organ... Through the wall, or the floor maybe?

 

[loxmyth]

This close to the Seargent, Jac felt her head swim, just a little. Course, she'd never admit it in present company. She knew she should have stepped back. She had no idea how good Anders' was at this demolitions thing, and it would certainly mean her life. But for some reason, she didn't feel quite that bad literally placing her life in this man's hands. Somehow, being beside seemed the safest place in the whole world right now.

As he disconnected the last wire and stood back to admire his handiwork, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Good job," she congratulated him with a smile and a quick squeeze of his hand. It was so warm, his hand. Almost too much heat for a real person. Or maybe, he was more than real? Because suddenly he felt like what life must feel like. She caught his eyes for a minute, trying to figure out what was going on in that head of his. What's he thinking?

But they were fighting for their lives here. She couldn't take the time to pour her heart out right here to him, even if she'd been so inclined, or if she thought it would do much good. He'd said that she looked like crap, after all, so she couldn't be too alluring at this point in time, soaked in sweat and the body fluids of the undead.

No, now wasn't the time. So she wrapped herself back in her cold attitude of detachment, shielded herself behind her mask of dispassion. She disengaged his hand, and set to retrieving the detcord.

 

[Gurdjieff]

1st Floor – Organ Hall
Clairemont Mansion

Trying to get a good look at what exactly was happening a bit in front of her, Maria walks away from the door she was still guarding. Her footsteps sound a lot louder now she's in a room with good accoustics. Her finger strokes the wall and any flat surfaces, checking for dust.
"So if I get this clear..." Maria start, looking around the room she's standing in "you just removed a bomb which should prevent us from reaching the trigger you just found? Can you see what would activate this trigger?" Bringing the light of the torch a bit more into the room, Maria sniffs the air. This room looks like some kind of chamber the Phantom of the Opera would feel at home in. What horror will be lurking around here... I can't believe that we encountered zombies, dogs and that huge spider, to find this room unguarded. She looks up at the ceiling, trying to spot anything unusual.

 

[Keia]

1st Floor – Organ Hall
Clairemont Mansion

As he disconnected the last wire and stood back to admire his handiwork, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Good job," she congratulated him with a smile and a quick squeeze of his hand.

After Anders finished disconnecting the bomb, the emotional and tension relief was quite high. Exultation that everyone was still alive, satisfaction at his work, the emotions and chemicals released into his bloodstream gave him almost a natural high . . . then he felt her hand on his and she smiled.

Flood gates were almost released and emotions almost came pouring out. Questions, undeniable feeling for her, fear, nervousness, definite attraction, ‘let’s talk now ‘cause we may never get another chance,’ those feelings and more flew across Anders face and was reflected in his eyes. Anders reined them all in though . . . people were depending on him – she was depending on him. And he didn’t even know her name. . . .

Anders looked to Jac and smiled, “Thanks, . . .” and before Anders could add anything more, the moment was interrupted . . .

Originally posted by Michael Smith
"Sir, I found something odd here that may explain why the organ was rigged . . . I can't make out what it does, but if they didn't want to destroy it, it must have been important."

“I agree, the wiring was definitely set to blow the organ up if it was tampered with, casualties were secondary,” Anders said, somewhat abruptly, concealed anger at being interrupted at his first chance to talk . . . Anders looked to Smith and Jac and asked, “Smith, Miss . . . take a look at the organ see where the wiring going. Be careful, I have visions of that show The Goonies playing in my head.”

The careful part was directed with direct eye contact with Jac, but the moment had definitely passed by looking at her.

To the others re-entering the room, Anders ordered “Be careful touching anything. The organ was wired, so other things could be as well. Looks like the stakes just got higher.”

 

[KitanaVorr]

Clairemont Mansion

1st Floor – Organ Hall

Maria Moreno

Your emotions heightened, you glance aroud the room, upon the ceiling, but you don't notice anything amiss. The room looks tastefully if antiquatedly decorated. Your eyes do pick up the not so subtle tension and strengh of feeling that pass through Anders and the raven-haired woman. You also can't help but notice that now the woman, who you trust as much as you trust one of those dogs, has alot of det cord.

Michael Smith

All your work trying to figure out how the organ worked resulted in not as much knowledge as you had hoped. From what you can see, the keyboard does operate it - but only a certain succession of keys would unlock whatever the mechanism did. Apparently its more a mechanical device, working on the movement of gears and pressure locks. Perhaps to open something? Close something? Move something? You don't know.

You can see that whatever it is extends into the wall and from the disappears to some part of the house. To see further you have to break into the organ or the wall. And you definitely don't have the tools to do that. You'd need an axe or something to do it properly.

 

[Festy_Dog]

1st Floor – Organ Hall
Clairemont Mansion

Isaac begins his search anew, but this time is a lot more cautious.

Clues... anything to figure out whats going on, how to get out.

If he finds one of the unlit candles in the room he'll light it off one of the others' torches and continue searching.

 

[Fanog]

1st Floor – Organ Hall
Clairemont Mansion

"Well," Michael continues, crouched as far into the organ as he can, "the mechanism is definately activated by the keyboard, but as far as I can tell only a specific combination or sequence of keys will activate it. The device is partially built into the wall, so it could have any number of effects, virtually anywhere in the house."

Michael prepares to crawl out of the cramped space he was occupying. He had totally missed any tension going on in the room. "Sir, as long as I can't get a better view of the mechanism, the effects of playing the organ could really be anything. Seeing as how we don't have the equipment to lay the device bare, I think it's better to leave it alone, Sir."

 

[mistergone]

1st Floor – Organ Hall
Clairemont Mansion

Yuri wanders back into the room and casts the light of his torch around. His eyes settle on the organ again.

I bet I could play that thing. How hard could it be?

Turning back to the room in general, he looks at each person around him.

Hm, everyone seems okay for now. Amazing really. Maybe my theory is wrong? He particularly studies the asian woman. If I'm not wrong, she'll be the fist to go. Unless there's a trigger. Hm. Maybe the body has to actually die first.

Idylly examining some of the furniture in the room, Yuri speaks up again.

"My vote is to keep moving, Sarge. We still haven't found any sign of the rest of the team. And what about finding a generator? Sure would be nice to ditch these fire hazards."

Yuri keeps wandering about the room, shining the torchlight high and low, and finally ending up near the doors on the north wall.

 

[Keia]

1st Floor – Organ Hall
Clairemont Mansion

Anders replied to Michael, "Okay Smith, then we'll leave it alone for now. Who knows, maybe we'll find some sheet music or notes to play that will trigger something, but I'd rather find out what it does before playing it. Is that an elevator closet over there? Why don't to give it the once over, but make sure it is trapped as well? I'd be curious to see how many levels are in this place."

Anders then headed over to Yuri. "If you've got a minute, I was wondering if you'd take a look at this arm," Anders said as he indicated his arm that the dog had bit into. The acid had done a piece of work to it.

"I don't know about you, but this place for some reason makes me think of the obstacle course back at boot. As for what's next, we keep exploring, room by room, taking what we can and looking for those who were missing," Anders told Yuri. Voice lowered Anders added quietly to Yuri, "Plus, we've got our mission, if there ever was one. Yuri, did the lieutenant mention anything to you of our mission or objectives here?"

 

[mistergone]

1st Floor – Organ Hall
Clairemont Mansion

"If you've got a minute, I was wondering if you'd take a look at this arm," Anders said as he indicated his arm that the dog had bit into. The acid had done a piece of work to it.

"I don't know about you, but this place for some reason makes me think of the obstacle course back at boot. As for what's next, we keep exploring, room by room, taking what we can and looking for those who were missing," Anders told Yuri. Voice lowered Anders added quietly to Yuri, "Plus, we've got our mission, if there ever was one. Yuri, did the lieutenant mention anything to you of our mission or objectives here?"

Yuri takes the Sarge's arm and examines it in the torchlight. Having Anders hold his torch, he opens the first aid kit and begins to minister to the damaged arm.

"Hm, well at least you got it washed out, good. Yer gonna have some heinous scars here," he says wryly, then lowers his voice. "I probably know less than you, Sarge. Download some info from a computer in a secret lab. That's all I know. Keep the team in working order. That's my job." He pointedly looks at Smith. I assume we can still complete the mission." His gaze goes to the civilians. "But between me and you, what have we lost sight of here? Eradicate the evidence. Clean up the mess. That's what we do, right?" He looks at the Sargeant, and something is there... or more precisely not there in his eyes. "Control the situation, extract information, seperate the chaffe. It's what we do. It's our job. Our mission. Enough public relations. We don't do that. Everything is FUBAR, yeah, but we have a job to do, that's all we know for sure."

Yuri claps Anders on the shoulder and raises his voice again, closing up the kit and stowing it back on his belt.

"Good enough to go, Sarge. Ship-shape." He smiles, but all humor is gone from the expression. Taking the torch back, he returns to quiet contemplation.