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]

Propping his arm on his knee, Reno jabs his fist into his cheek and sighs. But, at least there's a silver lining. If Naoya turns into a zombie, at least he'll get eaten first.

That is, until he notices the glittering things. This is an effect of the glamour? Standing up, he tries to go toward one, trying to aim at it with his javelin.

[bloodyashes]

Silence. He hates silence. Asch pointedly scuffs a foot across the floor, hoping that will make some noise, but no luck. Anyone watching him at that point will see that he's obviously very uncomfortable. His breathing is intentionally measured and even, and he tips his head towards Tobias in acknowledgement of the telepathic message.

When things begin to glitter at the edge of the darkness, he watches with a mix of skepticism and paranoia. They might not even be real, but if they are...

[animusnpcs]

Reno's javelin is swallowed up by the glittering things, which giggle--the only audible sound in the room.

It's still impossible to see what the glittering things actually are, though.

[attheclocktower]

What if he was trying to hide what he was doing? The glittery things, the ones getting closer... what if they were more of the robots, hiding in the dark Riki was creating?

She's learned Strike Raid over her time in the Tower, and bringing her Keyblade out of the ground, she tries it now, thowing her Keyblade forward and calling it back to her, trying to see if it strikes anything. Or if she'll even be able to tell.

It was better than nothing.

[greyerrant]

Loken thinks back to the battle against the daemon on sixty three nineteen... this sort of half-perceptible foe seems strangely familiar. But he's going to hold, Astartes nerves being basically unshakable. And of course... his persona is as well.

[keybearer]

Riku's grip on his Keyblade tightens. If it weren't for the silence, he probably would've hissed or growled out his frustrations. Though it's tough to make out the glittering things, he focuses his mind on pinning them down. Raising his Keyblade above his head, he tries launching a Graviga spell at the unknown figures. Does it work?

[evokingfool]

The absolute silence was unsettling, with the darkness masking how uneasy Minato looked by this. The timing after the retrieval unit's warning doesn't help, or the glittery things he thought he saw.

He's not imagining them, right?

Sheathing his evoker, his hand reach for his sword instead, quiet and attempting to follow the things with his eyes.

[sageprincess]

Ask the retrieval unit if it knows what is happening, she tries thinking in Tobias' general direction and praying his telepathy works like that. She observes the glittery... things with suspicion, but following one leads to glance at Asch, and... right, sound elemental thing. He's probably not doing well with this. There's not much she can do, but she does reach out for his hand, taking it in her own.

... The giggling is what gets to her, though. That sounds far too much like shadow children for her to be comfortable. Tense, she doesn't attempt engaging them in any way beyond watching them when she can.

[midgarhorizon]

Reno curses, loudly, not that it matters in the silent darkness. That's one weapon out. Backing up where he thought he came from, he uses a foot to look for Naoya's body until he finds it, or what he thinks is Naoya. Without any actual powers and the fact those things just ate his javelin, he's fairly useless at the moment. Better to keep near the guy in case they need to get out quickly.

[warriorscribe]

It's too quiet. But he's not alone. He's not alone, that's the important thing. Everyone's here and he reaches out for the nearest person's shoulder, to remind himself of that even if Riki takes their sight away entirely. He watches the glittery things warily when he sees them, but his focus is on everyone else, watching, making sure they're all right - especially the retrieval unit.

[imperialsun]

The silence is unsettling, especially after all that commotion. Naoya grips his strength, making sure that despite the what's happening he stays sane, hands tightening on his sword instead of the clasped necklace, narrowing his brows in concentration, even if he can't see anything but the glittering forms.

It reminded him of a place he had visited with Maki once. He needs to make sure the others are there too, and attempts to touch out to the nearest person.

[evokingfool]

He tensed when he felt someone's hand on him, but relaxed when it didn't feel hostile. The darkness and the silence was getting to him, but he reminded himself that the others were here as well and experiencing it with him.

Nothing like his earliest experience with the Dark Hour.

Whether they can see it or not, he gave a brief nod and watched the glittery things. He would utter a quiet "thanks", but no sound uttered from his mouth.

[the_white_rider]

Gandalf would try to lighten up the room once again, using his powers to create a bright light atop the staff; who knew if it'd work this time though.

As for these glittery things-- The glamour being manipulated, it could be anything ranging from real threats to mere illusions. Hopefully, it would be the latter.

[slightlyoblivious]

It's not the glitter that bothers Yukiko. It's the glitter combined with creepy laughter. It's impossible to tell what anything is in the dim light, whether it's an illusion or something else.

She squints into the darkness, trying to figure out how other people are handling it. It's almost instinctive when she holds out her hands. If she makes contact with someone else, she'll squeeze their hand.

[animusnpcs]

Xion's keyblade is swallowed up--it doesn't return to her, and the giggling grows louder. Riku's spell doesn't seem to have any effect, though it's difficult to tell why in the darkness.

Gandalf's light illuminates the characters, but not the space between or beyond them--it looks as if they're all standing in a perfectly black void, except for the things which glitter and swirl around them.

[attheclocktower]

Her Keyblade wasn't coming back. It wasn't coming back. Why wasn't it coming back? It was hers, not the Towers. Real powers, not some fabricated glamour illusion.

She tries to will it to disappear and reappear in her hand, wherever it is. He shouldn't be able to do that. It was impossible. It was the glamour. It had to be. It had to be.

No matter what happens though, Reno had asked her to watch him. Fight him if he lost control like Naoya had. She can see him at least, in the overwhelming darkness. She carefully tries to move position, to shift closer to him. Both for her own comfort and so she can do as he instructed.

[animusnpcs]

When Xion attempts to resummon her keyblade, it reappears in her hand.

[keybearer]

Even if Gandalf's spell doesn't illuminate everything, just seeing the others squeezes a sigh out of Riku. Good, so they're all still here. That the giggling's growing louder isn't providing much reassurance, but all things considered? It could be a million times worse.

His Graviga spell failed, but what about something else? Brow furrowing, Riku flicks his weapon, shooting a small breeze at the glittering forms.

[animusnpcs]

The glittering things seem to wobble and fall back a little, though they regroup quickly enough. They're closing in on all sides.

[sageprincess]

Zelda's cautious stare gradually becomes more of a glare the longer this goes on, watching the walls that had once been with a mix of wariness and contempt. Whatever Riki's doing, she can't imagine acting rashly will do them any good.

A glance to the retrieval unit. It's still working, despite the darkness and looming glittery things. It must be able to see through whatever is going on.

Right, then. Rather than risk whatever might happen should those things get too close, Zelda decides to take a more defensive approach. Those looking her way will see her mouth something - an incantation, more out of habit than necessity - summoning a blue, diamond-shaped shield around herself, Asch, and Samus (should the mun be okay with that). Hopefully it'll work.

[slightlyoblivious]

Yukiko mouths a 'Thank you' in Gandalf's direction - being able to see everyone else is a relief, even if the glittering things are hardly that. Whatever they are, she can only imagine what they'll do if they touch one of them, and none of the possibilities are any good.

She takes a few steps towards the retrieval unit, careful not to get too close to the glittering perimeter.

For now, she isn't going to risk casting anything. Wind magic might be harmless enough, pushing the creatures back, but burning them might just make them angry. It had worked against the metal, but she's not going to push her luck.

[animusnpcs]

As the glittering things grow closer, vague shapes appear--reaching hands and shining teeth and wide, compound eyes, clawing and giggling and staring.

[notayoungkitten]

Ocelot has been watching warily the entire battle. She has no magic at her disposal; she's entirely out of her element. She's not even sure that she can shoot at the vague shapes.

Are they just glamour, or are they really there?

She moves with Yukiko to protect the retrieval unit. At the very least she can use her body to put a wall between the unit and whatever this latest attacker is.

I got permission for this from Matt last night

[puppy_lancer]

Lancer has to work hard to keep himself from shuddering when he hears the laugh. It sounds like the shadow children...and like the children he found the last time he had been down here.

When he sees the shimmering things take form, he takes a step back in surprise...and almost trips over Naoya's unconscious form. If he could hear himself, he would have uttered a few choice swear words as he pulls Naoya up from the floor. Then, he sends a burst of fire at the creature, trying to get it to retreat away from him.

Got godmod rights to Lucifel again - Ally had to miss tonight too :(

[warriorscribe]

Enoch backs away from the things that appear, towards the chipped unit, pulling Lucifel with him. He's unarmed, but he can take a few hits thanks to his armor if he can't simply dismiss the illusion. When he's near the terminal, he closes his eyes. Not real, they're not real, they're not real...

He'd never succeeded in not acknowledging things in Heaven - but then, he'd never tried to. And even if it didn't work with the blood back in February, well. It didn't matter. It was his only other option against them.

Lucifel would have a much easier time doing the same, however, as lack of acknowledgment was an angel's natural state.