Collar Checkup Boycott

[animusmods]

Characters: open to all
Setting: infirmary; around the Tower in general
Format: party-style all week; please note the date your post is taking place in the subject line
Summary: The results of the collar boycott slowly become clear...
Warnings: standard Tower warnings
Note: You may NPC your own retrieval units.

The results don't begin to become clear until Tuesday--Monday passes more or less without incident, except for the number of orange-collared residents who miss their checks. And on Tuesday, the retrieval units are out to search for them. It doesn't seem like they were meant to recover so many, though: a clever resident will be able to avoid their retrieval unit entirely. And so, some oranges continue to have escaped their collar checkup today.

It's worse on Wednesday. Retrieval units are out and about again, but this time to try and search for the yellow-collared residents who skipped the day before. No orange-collared residents are searched out at all, and even then there seems to be enough confusion in the programming of the retrieval units any boycotting yellows can run off and hide if they're careful about it.

By the time Thursday arrives, there's a general, obvious level of confusion in the retrieval units' retrieval programming. They were obviously not programmed to be searching for so many colors at once. Some residents may find themselves being dragged in for a second collar check this week, even if they went to theirs, and the infirmary seems to be working at double time. No one even bothers to search for the two wayward greens.

By Friday the retrieval units are out in a number that seems more fitting for a small militia than anything else. Still, they seem more intent on tracking down the greens--their programming still telling them to retrieve those who were missed the day before--but they don't seem to know which greens they're looking for. Anyone with a green collar may be dragged in for a collar check, possibly multiple times today.

Saturday is chaos in the infirmary. The retrieval units seem to have entirely lost sight of who they're actually searching for, and anyone brought into the checkup room will be able to see how messy and confused it looks, with no real time to clean it and orange through violet collar fluid all lined up at once where normally only the color of the day and of the day before would be out at all. Again people may be brought in for multiple checks while those intent on evading capture can remain elusive.

But Sunday--on Sunday the entire process breaks down. There's too much volume for the retrieval units to handle, and they scatter about in a strange catch and release program, dragging anyone they catch to random places around the Tower before letting them go. They don't seem to be entirely certain of what they're supposed to be doing.

Something else happens on Sunday, as well...

Comments

[brbtalkingtogod]

I'm Archangel Lucifel.

[He then turns his head to look in the direction of the scribe.]

That's Enoch, Heaven's scribe.

[If they were going into detail then it was just the proper way of introducing themselves.]

What is it?

[fionnuisce]

Don't tell me.

[Flatly:]

It's the same as the vials, isn't it?

[not even BATTING AN EYE at the archangel and whatnot.]

[doc_brown]

[ Doc didn't reply immediately, switching the slides to see if the other liquid brought better results, which it obviously didn't. ]

I'm afraid so!

[ He looked away from the microscope finally-- They could take a look by themselves if they so wanted, and he shook his head. ]

I cannot see anything-- It's as if the liquid was devoid of any structure let alone particles! In fact according to this microscope, the liquid does not have a physical existence!

[ Except it actually goes the other way around. ]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch buries half his head in a hand with a sigh.*

Glamours work as they should except where they don't want it to. Of course it isn't that easy...

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick returns all the appropriate nods and smiles at those he's just met (not worrying too much about the extraneous titles and information because, well, different worlds and all that, too confusing to bother). And--for the first time since she put her clothes back on--he catches Sertoria's eye and gives her a slightly warmer blush as well. Don't worry, he remembers. Not any less modest, though.]

[Happy introductions aside, it seems that Doc is running into some problems. Rick feels slightly more comfortable and decides to have a look himself, giving the old scientist a weary glance first before he looks at the incriminating sample. Then, after affirming, he passes a confused glance at Enoch.]

Glamours...those, um...are the t-tower ill-illusions, right? As in...

[He's not sure how to explain it, so instead he motions vaguely by swiping his hands around his upper body. He means to refer to the wire frames, but that could be ambiguous.]

[fionnuisce]

Right. Basically 'everything you can possibly see and any powers one could have' falls under the definition.

[He pinched the bridge of his nose with a defeated sigh.]

Which means my magecraft won't do a damn thing either. So what will?

[doc_brown]

... Real tools. The microscope is unreal, hence it cannot study real matter. To study the liquid, we need something as real as it.

Unfortunately, I can think of only one individual in the tower who possesses the scientific instruments we need.

[ You know who. ]

[fionnuisce]

Goddamnit.

[if you thought he was grumpy before...]

How in the hell are we going to waltz into Jason's laboratory and get his equipment? I don't know about any of you, but I've got bugger all for ideas on that front.

And if we can't do that, then this whole escapade has produced nothing but landing all of us in immeasurable trouble for no results.

If I ever get my hands on whoever thought up this damned collar rebellion, I'm going to throttle them.

[bashfulshifter]

[After Waver's outburst, a small, sheepish voice comes from behind the pair of flustered scientists.]

...I'll go.

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. It would be wrong of him, to be here and stay silent.*

...I will, too.

[fionnuisce]

You're bloody well not leaving me out of it.

[brbtalkingtogod]

I guess a lot of us want to go. However, we should also think of those who stay here with the liquid. If they already sent units to get us who says if they won't try to find out where the stolen collar liquid is.

[They might have a lot of it, but if there was information that could be used against the more dangerous administrators then Lucifel assumed that they would do anything in their power to stop that.

Even if they didn't have the tools for that yet.]

[warriorscribe]

Well...Sertoria can store one within herself if need be. But she's stronger and faster than I am, so...perhaps she would be of more use than I. No matter what we do, all of us are in danger. How many do you think should stay with the containers?

[fionnuisce]

... [Waver sighed, crossing his arms.]

When it comes down to it, I don't stand well in a fight compared to how people like Sertoria probably do. It would probably be smarter for me to stay here.

MY BAD GUYS. gomen

[immortalia]

[ Sertoria listens in to what they're saying, nodding in understanding to their plan. ]

The only couple of problems I see being worrisome is not knowing how to stay in touch with you should the situation goes downhill. My usual form of communication devices has been failing ever since my arrival here. Although...

[ She taps at her cheek in thought. ]

How do magical means work for communication? Waver, can you do that? The only other problem I can think of is what would happen if they were to overpower me. They managed to severely limit and tamper with my power supply just a couple of days ago. I am sure they can just as easily do it again.

[doc_brown]

I am less of a fighter than any of you, I would be better off staying here as well. This way we could be ready to use the instruments as soon as you all return! I believe however that I could open the way for you to access to Jason's laboratory.

[ Hacking the elevator shouldn't be that hard. He sighs though because, problems. ]

But if we go now, we run the risk to be found by Riki! [Happened less than a week ago and he wasn't eager to have that happening again.] And even if we are not caught by him, Jason is probably in his laboratory as we speak.

[ He scratches the back of his head and thinks, speaking mostly for himself. ]

However, if we could wait ten days, we would have the time to devise a plan to keep Riki's eyes off us and Jason would be in charge of the tower, which I assume means he could no longer look after his laboratory...

[ But then there is the problem of knowing whether or not they'll still have the liquid by then. Difficulties. ]

[brbtalkingtogod]

My powers aren't of much use at times, though fighting is a different matter and I am able to do so. Staying behind or fighting, wherever you think I would fit.

There is the problem of Jason being aware that people will come and try to break in, which means the security will be even higher than it used to be.

[So the factors of danger were much higher than before as well.]

I would go along to get what we need. However if we decide to wait and think of a plan until then I could keep an eye on the liquid, so there is no reason to worry about that.

[Lucifel could get them to a safe place whenever there would be the need for it.]

That is one possibility. There is no way of telling what else could happen that could pose a risk.

[fionnuisce]

While you're right in saying we can't go now, the problem lies in two places: one, we don't know if these containers will be here in ten days. Two, we don't know if we'll be here or alive in ten days.

How were you planning to get us access to his lab in the first place?

[bashfulshifter]

...I d-don't know, ah...h-how we'll get in, but...people have d-d-done this before, r-right? I-I mean, we'll need to, um, a-adapt, probably, on the sp-spot.

[Rick scratches at his chin thoughtfully.]

...If we...if we do have a-a-a way to communicate, ah... [Vague gestures; the idea of "magic" communication is a bit too abstract a concept for him to find a word for it.] ...Then I...I can sc-scout ahead, figure...f-figure out h-how to get in. M-Maybe even b-before Jason's term, t-to know what we're, um...d-dealing with.

[immortalia]

[ Sertoria gingerly touches an area around her chest, as if checking to see the area is fine. She stops leaning on the back of a table and looks at the group seriously. ]

I have two abilities I have only used once here in the tower. One is my Blazefire Cannon that I have to charge for about fifteen to thirty seconds. When it is fully charged, I can send out waves of energy in a large radius that can tear a hole in the door for a... flashier entrance to Jason's laboratory. I can only use this ability once per battle.

My second one is a motion stopping attack called Price of Sins. I launch a sphere of energy that allows my targets to suffer continual damage and shocks. I can use this on the retrieval units and anyone else who comes in my way.

[ A pause and Sertoria moves her hands behind her neck, pushing a button on her neck restraint and her bracelets around her wrists. The devices are placed on a table beside her, still blinking. ]

System SPERO is running at 100% efficiency. Power is at 100%. Rerouting stored energy in to arms, legs and central. Time until completion: Two minutes and fifteen seconds. Additional commands, CXEV5001?

[ The android frowns at her real name being broadcasted so openly to these new people. ]

It's Sertoria. Sertoria Cani. Not CXEV5001.

What I had around me is something akin to a limiter and also another fail-safe if my system goes haywire. I have been willingly dampening my true abilities for hundreds of years.

Will this be sufficient enough power?

[doc_brown]

[ He nodded to Rick when he said people have done this before. ]

I can get you access the same way the others tried a couple days ago-- [Referring to the decoy team.] By using the elevator and altering it to allow you access to the administrative levels! However, this would require a distraction it would seem.

[ And the distraction, Doc cannot do. ]

However I would suggest not to rely on "magical" means of communication! Not only I doubt they are reliable, but would they be to disable our abilities then we would find ourselves in a delicate position.

[ Before finally turning to Sertoria when she mentions 'flashy' entrance to Jason's lab. ]

I believe we should go for a more stealth-based entrance! Until we find out what the drug is and a mean to suppress it, Jason and his retrieval unit can instantly kill us! This is why studying the liquid is key to prevent this from happening.

[immortalia]

[ It's when Doc mentions the word stealth that Sertoria gets an idea in her head. ]

Doc, do you still have the stealth camouflage from when our bodies were swapped? I could use that.

[fionnuisce]

I'm afraid I'm a little stuck for more mundane communication. I come from a world focused almost entirely on magecraft, so other than that I'm roughly the equivalent of your average college professor.

[Sigh.]

But assuming that's not disabled, I have Volumen Hydragyrum here; it's a measure of mercury that I can form into a shield or focus into several forms of attack. [Holding up his right hand, Waver indicated the bright red design burned into his skin.]

And I can call for my much tougher and faster friend as backup. Provided we keep our abilities, I should think evading capture with both containers is well within our power. Regardless of communication, I can do my best here.

[warriorscribe]

So those who can move the containers quickly should remain up here. That is...Waver, Lucifel, Sertoria. The rest of us...

*Enoch watches a retrieval unit carrying someone else downstairs. His own hasn't caught up - has it gone off in pursuit of someone?*

Should we wait until the retrieval units are in better condition? It would be difficult to meet if any of us could be carried off at any point...

[doc_brown]

[ Doc looks obviously slightly dubious at the claim of a world based almost entirely on witchcraft but then look at Sertoria. ]

Unfortunately I no longer have it! The administrators didn't see fit to give it back to me following my stay at Hinoto-Ri!

[ Which is a shame because that stealth camouflage had been damn handy. He then turns to Enoch and Rick. ]

I believe waiting would be wiser. Meanwhile I will make a list of all the instruments I need-- I will do my best to limit the list to the strict necessary, but to study the liquid in depth will require many instruments, for the most part small and fragile. Yet a few like the microscope will be bigger and heavier!

If you do go to Jason's laboratory, you'll have to carry the instruments back here without breaking them and at the same time be capable to counter any security measures you meet! Needless to say we're going to need more help.