Ex Machina; Infiltration

[animusmods]

Characters: Riki and the infiltration team
Setting: administrative levels
Format: any
Summary: Riki's efforts must be sabotaged. Stealth is the name of the game and time is of the essence.
Warnings: psychological horror

Though the chipped unit does not follow, he sees to it that the team advances the rest of the way. At the end of the lit corridor is a set of double doors, heavy-duty polished metal with small windows set into each one.

Through the windows, a massive machine is visible, connected to thousands of holographic screens that are hard to make out at the speed at which they're being manipulated. The machine sits in the center of the room and is networked to four elaborate terminals stationed along the walls via a complex tangle of panels, wires, and towers. Each of these terminals controls its own set of floating screens; the sheer amount of holographic monitors in the room is disorienting, and really, it's hard to tell what's connected to what.

In the chair in the middle of the enormous set-up is Riki, maneuvering all of the screens with the same ease with which most people breathe. His back is to the doors that lead into the room, and for the moment, he is utterly engrossed in his work.

Comments

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch visibly shudders at the mention of that. That week, that room, the utter isolation...*

I...I plan to talk to him. It might seem suspicious to you but I've made it a habit of trying to open communication with them so often I think he might not suspect me. If we draw him far enough, it may be too late for him even if he does come to suspect.

*He takes a deep breath, forcing himself to look at the situation.* Once the others are behind us... *what? What kind of disturbance could they make?*

[midgarhorizon]

No, I'm right behind you on that. I was thinkin' the same thing. For all we know he might be tryin' to restore things right now, or fuck, he might be trying to revive the power cores. Askin' him what the fuck he's going, he might answer, y'know?

[Reno's sort of at a loss to the disturbance, too, just give him a second...]

Lemme think. The plan of action is the terminals are supposed to go down first, right? Then we hit all the stops with the distraction and get him outta there.

[Stupid idea time!]

I'd do anything for a watergun right now...

[warriorscribe]

*Don't make him laugh or they'll have their distraction all too soon!

But he's on to something, at least. Keeping it simple is the way to make it not seem contrived. So why not the simplest of them all?*

If our means is conversation...we could retreat some ways and call out to him as if we are trying to find him, couldn't we?

[midgarhorizon]

I was thinkin' that's probably the best way we can do it. Not too obvious, open, kinda like we were lookin' for him?

[It makes sense in an insidious kind of way, but there's a lot hat could go wrong, too.]

Yeah... I mean, we've been real cooperative with him doing that energy shtick, why wouldn't he respond? At least just to get us outta the way.

[warriorscribe]

*There always was. There always was risk - Riki could simply attack them where they stood, for instance. But distractions that seemed incidental were few.*

Yes...and I don't believe he knows we've found his deception. That could work in our favor.

[midgarhorizon]

Oh yeah! I almost forgot we've been able to keep things secret from 'em. He probably doesn't unless he's a lot more resourceful than we thought. And we lie our heads off 'bout how we got down here, at least provided he doesn't kill us.

[A beat.]

Might be our best chance. We're probably batpants insane for doing this, but I got nothin' else.

[warriorscribe]

We're insane for doing any of this, I think. *But who in this tower isn't at least a little insane after all this? He gives Reno a tiny smile.*

[midgarhorizon]

Be more insane not to, huh?

[warriorscribe]

Mm. *He nods.* ...He...he may already suspect who helped us down here. The way I organized that may not have been wise.

But in that case, he likely won't think to ask how or where, exactly. All we must say is that we have our secrets. Or, of course, lie.

[midgarhorizon]

There's nothing we can do 'bout that now; we're here. Maybe we can convince him he triggered some sort of glitch with all that crap he's doin'. Seems as useful as the next lie, and there might be somethin' to it. Even Riki's gotta have limits.

[warriorscribe]

I'd rather fabricate nothing and leave it to his imagination. He may even suggest a method for us in speculation, though he seems too intelligent for that.

*But who knows. He may be exhausted from all this work. Maybe he won't even try?*

[midgarhorizon]

Heh... fill in the blanks? All right.

[Reno can live with that, if they don't all die first. He makes a grimace.]

If it comes down to it, I won't say no if we gotta cover for the others, long as they get outta here. You with me, Enoch?

[warriorscribe]

If they attract his attention by mistake? Of course.

*Real armor means he can even take a hit if he needs to.*