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

[bloodyashes]

About time. Those closest to Asch (Tobias, on his shoulder, and Zelda) will hear a long, quiet exhale of relief before he mutters a curse under his breath - something about Riki riding Akzeriuth all the way down to the core.

"That was... less unpleasant than expected." He frees his hand from Zelda's grip in order to wrap it hesitantly around her shoulders and help steady her.

[attheclocktower]

Xion gives Reno a nervous nod, letting him know she was fine, though still a little shaky. Things seem to be returned to normal, for now, but given what happened last time...

"We should be ready to go as soon as you're done," she says, sounding a lot more confident than she feels, "Maybe... make sure the path is clear."

Because for all they know they may need to run, and the last thing they need is their escape route cut off.

[notayoungkitten]

She's felt useless for most of this. She's a soldier, dammit, but she also has no magic abilities at her disposal. What can she do? "If it comes to something that takes physical damage I still have five bullets. They're film only, but the projectile should still do damage.

If it's something immune to physical attacks again, however, I can only serve as a distraction."

[greyerrant]

"Mamzel Zelda. You have an army of sorts, here. There will be no backwards step until the time comes."

He looks stern, but then, he always does. The Angel of death, the grey angel, the witness to true history, here to see one last thing done, before the end.

And his green brother, standing shoulder to shoulder with him now, hefting a ghostly weapon at his side.

[animusnpcs]

All the machines and lights snap to life at once. For now, there's just the sound of the various computers in the room turning on, and the lights are almost blindingly bright. Only the machine in the center and the terminal the retrieval unit is working at are unaffected.

[slightlyoblivious]

"I'm hoping we don't get hit with something that needs magic to clear it out, too. I'm not sure how much more I've got in me," Yukiko says, nodding at Zelda.

She covers her eyes with one hand a moment later. "Looks like we've gone from one extreme to the other. Thanks for that, Riki, since I'm sure you're listening."

It's hard to see it under her hand, but she's rolling her eyes.

[attheclocktower]

Xion yelps at the lights, slapping her free hand over her eyes. A little bit of time makes it a bit easier to bear, but only a bit, and it still hurts.

"Should we turn them off again?" she calls over towards the retrieval unit at the computer.

[ninjainviolet]

"Hey!" Sheena covers her eyes with a hand and turns away from the source above her. She had wanted to speak to the person who had said something about physical damage, but now she has no idea where they are for the moment.

So, she addresses the room at large.

"Hey, everyone! If you have a weapon that can't do elemental damage, but only physical, let me know! I have the ability to briefly add that sort of thing to any weapon!"

[midgarhorizon]

Before the lights go back to bright enough to take out a small city, Reno glances over at Lancer and nods. "Yeah, I think Naoya's all right. Stop bein' a fucking idiot and use your brain next time, I almost went in after ya. I don't want to tell Dee I lost you."

Rubbing a hand over his forehead, he takes a deep breath. "Yeah, someone should. I could go check out the escape route. Cu, can ya summon your spear again?"

[notachickenhawk]

Tobias flaps from Asch's shoulder and lets out a shriek. <Ow! No one has a dimmer switch? What gives?>

He flutters off of Asch and takes a lap around the room, checking to see if he spots anything weird.

[keybearer]

When the lights flash on, Riku lowers his weapon and shields his eyes with his free hand. Gritting his teeth, he tries peering through the gaps in his fingers and towards those computers.

"I think we should at least look at the computers. If they're turning back on, that can't be good news." He then turns to Sheena. "And just what kind of 'things' are you talking about?"

[animusnpcs]

"Riki's taken control of most of the computers," the retrieval unit explains.

The whole room shimmers with film and electrical pulses suddenly.

[puppy_lancer]

Lancer gives a nervous chuckle in response to Reno.

"Sorry. I'll be more careful next time. And you keep on being careful too. Dee's gonna be worried if you don't make it back either."

He frowns as he hears the question about his Gae Bolg. It had been snapped by that monster which almost killed him, but he hadn't felt its destruction. It was part of him--if it was destroyed permanently, he would know.

"...I'll try."

He mutters, holding his hand out and willing his spear into existence. With a flash of red light, it appears in his hand again.

"Whoa, I guess I still can."

...And just in time for something big to happen, it seems.

[warriorscribe]

Enoch squints at the lights and turns his gaze to the still normal terminal behind him. What would Riki do next...?

"Should we try to shut them down again, or is it better to remain near you, to guard you?"

[ninjainviolet]

Sheena's also thinking about taking a look at the computers. She may not know much about them, but maybe there's something on the screen? Her eyes adjusting to the light, she starts in that direction, stopping and turning in Riku's direction.

"'Things?' Oh! I can use Seals to add an element to someone's weapon. You know like Fire, Ice, Light. That sort of thing."

She's about to say more when things start happening, and she immediately takes a battle stance.

"What's going on?" she asks the retrieval unit.

[animusnpcs]

"Pull the plugs, don't mess with the terminals," the retrieval unit says. "You'll have to take that off, though."

He gestures to the area beneath one of the terminals where there's a bolted on plate.

[midgarhorizon]

Reno watches Lancer summon the spear, then squints immediately when the light hits and pulls his goggles down over his face- thank you, Elena! When Chip mentions the bolted plates, he gets up from his position beside Naoya and scrambles over to one.

"You heard 'em!" He yells, and starts examining the bolted plate for the best way to get it up.

[greyerrant]

"Would brute strength be sufficient?" Loken asks, and moves his hulking form towards the terminal with the bolted plate, drawing the chainsword and the orc sword he acquired. Figuring a film AND real weapon would get the required result, one way or another.

[keybearer]

Hmm, so they have to pry the plate open, eh? Riku's eyes drift down to his belt, and he scoops up the crown-shaped charm attached to it. After threading it through his Keyblade's hilt, he transforms his weapon into a sleek, black form, complete with a flat, pointed tip.

"Well, there's only one way to find out."

Squinting, he slips over to the plate, attempting to pry up one of the corners with his Key.

[animusnpcs]

Anything made of film simply melts against the walls. The real weapons fare better, though there's a pulsing sort of hum in the walls that may not bode well. The plates are bolted in very tightly.

[notachickenhawk]

<I'm out for this one. I don't have thumbs.> Tobias lands on Asch's shoulder again, leaning over to preen his feathers. <That humming doesn't sound good, though.>

[stitchedupbodyguard]

Veronica pulled a blade from her cloak and walked over to one of the terminal plates. She gave it a once over hesitantly before sliding her blade into it.

And then her swords melt.

"...Well that's not good."

[notayoungkitten]

She instantly puts a hand to her gun, just to reassure herself that it's still there.

Damn. This isn't good. And there's the humming from the walls that causes her to look around sharply. What's going to happen now?

"Be on guard."

[ninjainviolet]

Joining those at the plate, Sheena kneels down and pulls a real kunai with a ring on one end from a boot. "Will this help?" She asks, looking up and around at the others.

She has a bad feeling the plate and the humming are connected and the sooner they get it off, the sooner the humming will stop.

[attheclocktower]

Xion hurries, following Reno over to the plate that he's at.

... it's dumb and it probably won't have any effect at all, but, remembering the door earlier and all the times she's used and seen it used before, she reaches out and taps the plate twice with her Keyblade.

It was worth a shot, and wouldn't take more than a few seconds.