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

[midgarhorizon]

You leave that to me and the others, and focus on getting those computers shut down. If you see something on the screens we can use, memorize it. We'll figure it out.

[Reno's stern tone is... unusual.]

[attheclocktower]

[It is, and that earns him a surprised look.]

I'm... I'm not sure we can trust what he tells us though. We should try to see what he's doing ourselves.

[On the computers. The files he's manipulating. The programs he's running, watch what he's doing instead of what he's saying. Though they won't have much time, and there's so much]

[midgarhorizon]

I know, but that's why you are not going to engage him directly. We lose you and your skills, and we're done. You keep your eyes on the computers.

[He's got a lot of reasons why he says that, but putting his own feelings aside... he knows he's right. There's not a lot of people with her set of skills and they need her.]

Get the information you can and get it back to the others. And you keep going, no matter what happens.

[His voice loses that stern edge, and his shoulders slump.]

That's what bein' a Turk is.

[attheclocktower]

[The approach he used was actually very effective. She's startled at first, at the almost harshness of his order. But when he impresses the importance of what she can do, the shock fades, replaced by something else. Determination, and resolve. Instead, she nods grimly.]

Alright.

[She hesitates, her voice falling to something softer as well]

Just... don't die, okay?

[She can't say "be safe" or "don't get hurt." Even this request is pushing it, but... the bigger concern isn't the temporary death they all experience here. What's more important is the meaning behind it. Don't disappear from her life. Don't go away forever, like Rick had for so many other people.]

[midgarhorizon]

[Reno quirks his eyebrows; also not terribly usual for him, but this is not the typical kind of situation.]

'Kay, Ma, I'll try.

[More seriously, he places a hand on her shoulder and squeezes.]

I have to show you Costa del Sol, remember?

[attheclocktower]

[Xion's face lightens considerably. She even smiles]

Right.

[Watch out, Dad. You're getting hugged.]

[midgarhorizon]

[OH YEAH? She's getting squished.]

Just keep an eye on what you're supposed to, kiddo. It'll be fine.

[attheclocktower]

[Xion remains in the hug for a few seconds, before pulling back, her face falling into a determined expression]

I will.