Zero Divide: Episode #2 "Black Star"

[Victim]

They grew us; that's what gives them the legal right to do whatever they want.

"Stone knives are better than nothing," Ashley comments. "If we want to avoid fighting, then we should probably seal the tubes back up and fill them with goo or ruined organs. If it looks like something emerged from those tubes, then the team here will start looking for us."

"We should find whatever means of egress we can. With our current information, we can't even get to Tram B3, much less have an alternative. Sending one person that way might be workable," she adds, glancing towards Michael.

"From the number of labs, and B levels, this facility seems big enough that it's unlikely that a barrier we breach would be an external wall. Especially if B means basement." Focus people.

Ashley will assist Alan in taking blood samples to expedite the process.

 

[Vanifae]

"We should find whatever means of egress we can. With our current information, we can't even get to Tram B3, much less have an alternative. Sending one person that way might be workable," she adds, glancing towards Michael.

"From the number of labs, and B levels, this facility seems big enough that it's unlikely that a barrier we breach would be an external wall. Especially if B means basement."

“Tram B3 is down the hall, you will need to take the service elevator 3 to Floor 3 and then down the hall. I can provide a light path for you to follow, though it is advised that all personnel should remain calm until VSC Emergency Response arrives,” the VI responds to Ashley.

“Approximate travel time is eight minutes by foot, Tram B3 is operational. Is there anything else I could assist you with?” the program asks.

Dee looks at Alan, “I don’t trust anyone, but at the moment unless you know of a quicker exit I say we take the Tram, avoid this Cleaning Crew and decide the moral issues later; survival is at the top of the chain. Michael if you see this Cleaning Crew try to lead them away from us with your duplicates… I suggest we get moving right now, we can assume they have weapons that we do not and obviously the training to use them.”

Dee then looks around, “We don’t have time for a vote,” she reaches down and rips a pipe from the wall with sheer brute strength, “better then nothing.”

 

[Velmont]

"Let's go." answers Ian who starst to run down the hall, keeping an ear to any coming Cleaning Crew.

 

[Shalimar]

"I vote for not being here when the guys with guns and bad attitudes show up." Haven says in agreement with Ian.

"Please give us the lighted pathway to B3," the blonde teen told the VI before popping his head out of the doorway to look down the hall. After a moment he steps out into the hall way.

 

[James Heard]

Dee looks at Alan, “I don’t trust anyone, but at the moment unless you know of a quicker exit I say we take the Tram, avoid this Cleaning Crew and decide the moral issues later; survival is at the top of the chain. Michael if you see this Cleaning Crew try to lead them away from us with your duplicates… I suggest we get moving right now, we can assume they have weapons that we do not and obviously the training to use them.”

Dee then looks around, “We don’t have time for a vote,” she reaches down and rips a pipe from the wall with sheer brute strength, “better then nothing.”

"Lady, why should anyone trust you either? You're a dangerous loose cannon too," Alan says. Annoyed, he finished examining the other pod for inhabitants and collecting samples.

This is all a set-up. Something is wrong here, and it's all a set-up.

He calls to Ashley over his shoulder.

"I don't have the time to make you a cavewoman."

To the helpful voice providing directions:

"What is the quickest way to the emergency exits? Are we under quarantine protocols? Please tell us the location of the intruders relative to our position."

 

[Shayuri]

"A point?" Facade says with false lightness.

"If there's people coming...they're probably coming on the tram. Maybe we should see if there's another way out."

 

[Avalon®]

"Wait! How sure are we that that passage is not crawling with these 'cleaners'? Sure we can send one of Michael's doubles out there but that may give away our position."

"V1, are there any personel or emergency responce teams on the route to Tram B3?"

 

[Victim]

"What's the destination of Tram B3? What other trams are operational?"

 

[Hammerhead]

The Chamber

Michael bit his lip in frustration, glancing at Facade. "I'm heading to the tram. Listening to Mira hasn't gone wrong yet, and I'm going to bet she can plan an escape better than the rest of us." He quickly walks towards the door that leads to the service elevator, conjuring five more duplicates as he moves; he staggers once from the strain, then keeps going.

Let's not rely too much on the computer, people. The cleaning team aren't intruders; they're emergency personnel. And you can bet that if they're not monitoring our usage, they will be soon. Or at least that's what I'd do...put a computer guy on the lines. Cleaning room by room might take too long, and bullet wounds might be a little difficult to cover up. Explosives? No, too much capital invested here. If it were up to me, I'd flood with place with deadly neurotoxin.

The Hallway

Michael's duplicate blinks surprisingly at the little girl in the hallway, approaching her warily. "Hi there. I'm Michael," he says gently. "Look, sweetie, I don't quite know what's going on here, but there's some bad men coming here to hurt you. Are your parents here or something?"

 

[James Heard]

"We're thinking of a key, confirming our prison," Alan says rapidly, obviously falling back into his weird mental fugue-speak again.

"Moses or Sesostris? What footsteps will pick our bones with whispers?"

Think. What would Elvis do?

"What if there's a good reason that one of us is in here, and they're just trying to figure out which one of us is killed Santa Claus?" Alan mumbles.

This is so not good.