[Massive Infiltration Plot] || [Semi-Open]

[great_king_of_evil]

Characters: All the characters who signed up for this infiltration, too many to write them all here. Characters who stay behind and do not infiltrate can tag into the mingle thread.
Setting: The Cafeteria, then the Elevator's Shaft and finally the Administrative Floors. The 29th of July, in the morning.
Format: Action most likely.

Summary: A month ago Ganondorf planned an infiltration to go and pay a visit to Riki's floor-- Given what has happened these last weeks, the 'Evil Alliance' has accepted to allow Enoch and the people he gathered to use the infiltration in order to do their own thing. Namely, retrieve scientific instruments from Jason's laboratory, so as to study the Collar Fluid. The infiltration will begin on the 1st floor, the Cafeteria.

The first thread is a traditional mingle thread, happening before the infiltration and briefing begin; anyone can tag into it. The second thread is a quick briefing before the infiltration starts, where Enoch and Ganondorf will explain to everyone what to do and what to expect in case they don't already know. Then there are the seven group threads, one for each individual team infiltrating.

The OOC post is here for more information. If you have signed-up but didn't pick a group yet, please do so here. While the infiltration takes place, the villains who stayed behind are unleashing a distraction on the tower and those who don't go.

Warnings: Administrative floors, danger, death, horror. Anyone tagging here is probably going to die, or at the very least meet with a terrible fate.

Mingle || Briefing || Meanwhile, in the Cafeteria...

Group 00 (Ganondorf, Sephiroth [OU], Veigar, Ocelot and Jin)
Group 01 (Enoch, Lancer [AU3], Patrick Dawn, Tohko, Raven and Ryoji)
Group 02 (Xion, Fon Master Ion, Yu Narukami, Asch, Luke, Jonouchi Katsuya, Dark Pit and Sheba)
Group 03 (Nesir Aeser, Zett Takajo, Kain Highwind, Solas and Minato Arisato)
Group 04 (Kyoko Sakura, Amelia, Shepard, Homura Akemi, Terra, Sephiroth [AU2] and Labrys)
Group 05 (John Egbert, Rose Lalonde, Naoya Toudou, Dave Strider, Riki [AU3], Sora and Riku [OU])
Group 06 (Zelda, Ruler [AU1] and Saber [AU5])

Comments

[no_longer_a_king]

[Arturia is quiet for a moment, then speaks up about it:] Ruana took me to watch variations of my own world, for example, while she was still asleep.

[Her voice is carefully neutral. No, she won't speak of what she specifically saw there. It's too near and dear to her heart to want to share unless she absolutely has to. Seeing the people she cares for alive and happy even if only for brief instances? Seeing a bustling world once more instead of ruins or the Tower or a desolate battlefield?

Arturia had woken up crying that morning in sheer relief that somewhere, out there, people were untouched by the Virus, simply going about their lives. That in some worlds Shirou survives the Grail War. Not a lot--it felt like only one in forty worlds--but at least in some.

They had not seen the other self who was in this Tower with her and whose disappearance had made Arturia shut down. But that's for another day. Right now her mind is on something as simple as people sitting around a familiar table, eating, almost carefree and untroubled by something as monumental as the end of the world.]

[animusnpcs]

You were conscious? That's interesting--it obviously shouldn't happen. The psychoradiation would still poison you even in an unaware state, so that might explain it.

[She pauses and looks at Arturia, though it's difficult to tell the emotion with the gas mask over her face.] I'm led to believe Ruana has on occasion requested company while she watches other worlds. I hope it wasn't a bad thing.

[no_longer_a_king]

[Arturia shakes her head.]

No. It's been.... even before I was brought here. It's been a long time since I've seen people simply go about their daily lives. That it was some version of people I cared about gave me some measure of peace that things work out for them somewhere across the worlds.

[sageprincess]

[Zelda doesn't comment on Arturia's experience, thinking it's not her place to. She does afford a small moment of silence, though. With any luck, hopefully they'll be able to restore an amount of peace to the worlds before this is all over.]

... I do not know what exactly triggered our consciousness. The boycott, perhaps, but even those who did not participate woke up while time was suspended.

[animusnpcs]

The collar checkups that did go through were--rushed, as far as I'm aware. They weren't all completed properly, so it's at least a good hypothesis as to why.

[no_longer_a_king]

I was brought in so much I was dizzy by the time I managed to escape the retrieval units.

[FIVE TIMES. FIVE TIMES. WHYYYYYYY? Because RNG, that's why.]

[sageprincess]

The infirmary certainly looked like the epitome of chaos by the end of the week.

[So. Deadpan. Here's another one that got picked up and dragged around a lot.]

... I have to say, though, if whatever is in the fluid is allowing them to bring us into poisonous areas without our knowledge or consent, I will be glad to be rid of it. Is there anything more you can tell us about your plan next month? Or is it something you would rather not take any risks in getting to the administrators?

[animusnpcs]

I'm not sure exactly what the collar fluid does except that I know it has multiple uses--and none of the retrieval units are trained in separating out compounds and drugs. There are a few of us trying to learn, but it takes time...

[Time she doesn't think they have.]

If you--the residents, not necessarily you three specifically--can discover what goes into your collar fluid, it would be possible to remove whatever hindering effects it has on you and keep only what you need to live. Of course, you'd need the cooperation of the units during your collar checkups, but that's where my plan comes in.

[faithstaynight]

Plan?

[Well, that gets her a curious look from Ruler.] What sort of plan?

[animusnpcs]

After that collar boycott, Jason decided to make a few changes to the collar checkup system. I don't know everything, but I do know he's going to have a group of retrieval units do the checks from now on.

I'm going to be part of that group. Me and some other retrieval units whose collars have been chipped.

[She sounds excited--her grin can be heard even under the gas mask.]

[sageprincess]

So... if we analyze the fluid and get the information to you, you and your allies can remove the limiting drugs right from under Jason's nose... he would not even be able to realize something was wrong until it was too late!

[Zelda sounds a bit awed, impressed with the idea.]

Right, is there anything else we can do to help ensure your plan is a success? How will we contact you without attracting suspicion, for instance?

[animusnpcs]

The collar checkup room is bugged but not videotaped--they can hear us, but not see us. If you write down anything you need to tell me and give it to me, no one will know.

[sageprincess]

I see. It should not be too difficult to relay that to the scientists for whenever they complete their research.

[She pauses, however, thinking.]

Though... I think it would be easier if we had something to call you that would not require ducking into a bathroom in order to avoid letting slip that we have allies amongst the retrieval units. An alias, of sorts. What do you think?

[She addresses both her companions and R-037 herself in her question - if any one of them says it isn't worth worrying over, she'll drop the subject.]

[animusnpcs]

An alias? [R-037 pauses, considering it.] Yes, that would make sense. Any of the administrators would be able to tell you were talking about me if you were calling me R-037.

[faithstaynight]

[Ruler smiles, and nods in agreement.]

A fine idea. [She turns to R-037 at this.] And with all the help you've given us... you deserve to be addressed as more than just a code.

[no_longer_a_king]

You are a person, after all.

[sageprincess]

[Underneath her own mask, Zelda smiles as well, nodding.]

Then it is settled. [To R-037:] Do you have a name in mind you would like to use as your own?

[animusnpcs]

I'm afraid I don't know much about appropriate names. You all have so many different ones, and it's not really something we had programmed into us. [She sounds a little sheepish.] I'll take suggestions, though!

[sageprincess]

["You all have so many different ones--" oh gosh why is that so cute.]

Let us see, then...

[Despite her face being blocked off by the mask, she brings her hand to her chin out of habit. After a moment of silent thought, she eventually speaks up again.]

... What do you think of Aria? It is a musical term, really, but as it is one for a particularly expressive melody, I think it is rather appropriate. The 'R' sound is fairly prominent as well, but not as overtly so as it is in your designation.

[faithstaynight]

A fine choice.

[But, since they're all supposed to be picking names themselves... hm. Ruler's brows furrow in thought. The girl's name definitely has to mean something, so she can't just go with the names off the top of her head. So instead she dug through names that were given to her through the Grail, heroes and beings from myth until she found...]

As for my suggestion, I'd like to offer "Ariadne", the woman who gave a legendary hero the key to navigating a dangerous labyrinth. It is appropriate as well, because of the help you offered to us when we first met. It, too, has the prominent "R" in the one that Zelda suggested.

[no_longer_a_king]

Iris.

[If it weren't for the mask, they would see how sheepish Arturia looks because of how simple her choice is compared to theirs.]

It's a violet and white flower, very beautiful. I simply like them and think it's a fitting name for you.

[Unlike Ruler, she hadn't dug very far into the Grail or she would have found better justification than 'I like it.']

[animusnpcs]

They're all nice... [R-037 seems to deliberate quite seriously for a little while.] Aria, I think. I--, ah, I like music. It's the first thing I ever really liked that didn't have anything to do with my duties.

[sageprincess]

You do? [Zelda sounds surprised, but in a pleasant sort of way.] Oh, I wish you could meet one of my friends - he hears music in everything.

[But this isn't the time to be wistful over silly things when they all have responsibilities to keep, so Zelda offers a small curtsey in lieu of a bow of her head (the hood rather gets in the way of that).]

I am glad to be of service, then, Aria.

[no_longer_a_king]

Then, since we have no further business here....

[Since there is nothing more they can ask at this point, really.]

Do you know how to get us back upstairs?

[animusnpcs]

I guess you can't really climb back up the elevator. [Aria sounds a bit amused at the idea, though she quickly grows serious again.] I can let you use a retrieval unit elevator.