Character Info (Now with included character stats!):

https://pastebin.com/u/Siiren_QM

Previous thread(s):

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/4158908/

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/4170002/

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/4207482/#p4250184

>Ambitious as the plan is, you think you guys should put a little more thought into this plan before you jump the gun, as there are there are some holes in this plan, like the (insert plan hole here).

Also think I've done thread music once, but here's this post's theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgV-PAWUyR0
Thought it was rather intense.

“What if… What if there’s really nothing there?” You ask, slowly and tentatively. “They probably just left out all of the stuff they don’t want the public to see.”

Matt, of course, has taken that into consideration. In fact, that’s the main reason he wants you and Bernard to scope out area of the facility that he had marked as questionable. It’s the biggest chance for a break for you guys, and, if there really is nothing there, you and Bernard can just cut your losses and teleport right out of there.

There’s another objection of yours, glaringly obvious from the start, and that would happen to be the mutants themselves. And that’s what you tell Matt very heatedly.

So many mutants already dead and many more still in captivity, the mere thought nauseates you. Even if it were Pharos himself there, you don’t know what that secondary voice would make you do at the sight of all of those people you failed to protect.

“Isn’t what we’re doing already enough?”

Those are the parting words of your argument, because you’re doing what you can to save mutants. You’re sure that some may fall through the cracks, but you honestly think you’ve rescued a startling majority of the ones who have been in danger.

(1/2)

>>4252215

“Yes and no. Because we’re cutting the leaves, Ellie, not the roots, if you get what I mean...” Of course, you get what he means: that what you’re doing right now is a short-term solution for a long-term problem, because FutureLabs will only get more aggressive as time goes on, and their forces will only continue to strengthen the longer the effects from the Mutant Terror Act remain in place.

Still, you can’t think of not rescuing any mutants that you may encounter. It’s wrong— wrongwrongwrongwrong— and you’re supposed to save them! Save and protect— because that’s who you’ve become! Your head throbs and pulses as the mantra repeats itself in your head— saveandprotectprotectprotec—

From beneath the table, you can feel your fingers threatening to shift into points within your clenched fists, while some scales blossom across your cheeks. You don't know when you started feeling short of breath-- like the air had been ripped straight from your lungs-- nor do you know when your pulse started jackrabbiting in your ear like has been. However, once you realize what's happening, you reign in your control with a vice-like grip, not looking anyone in the eyes-- even when a well-meaning hand places itself on your shoulder.

“Listen, Ellie,” The hand belongs to Bernard, whose concern for you is written clearly across his face. “I don’t like this as much as you do, but stickface has a fair point.” The hand on your shoulder tightens, and you realize that this probably affects Bernard more than it affects you, because he actually knew the people who had been brought to the Crux. “We all have to do stuff we don’t like.. ’S just a stupid part of life…”

Deep down, you know that Matt’s right, and that this city council will be the perfect time to go. You know that for a fact you will be saving more lives in the long run.

>What do you say?
>”Give me some more time to think about it.”
>”I don’t think I can do this, guys.”
>”Fine. I’ll do it… Just…look out for me…”

>>4252221

[/spoiler]Also there's a fun fact I was supposed to give about Bernard to whoever asked in the previous thread:[/spoiler]
Bernard's of Swiss heritage.

>>4252221
>”Fine. I’ll do it… Just…look out for me…”
>>4252230
thanks

>>4252221
>>”Fine. I’ll do it… Just…look out for me…”

We ARE protecting them, in a way. Or rather, we're doing preparation work so that we understand how better to help them in a way that we don't get caught out and lose the chance to help MORE in the future.

Also, wow, that's a rather somber sounding theme.

>>4252221
>”Fine. I’ll do it… Just…look out for me…”
Get in, get something incriminating against futurelabs, get out, leak info create a place where mutants can actually adjust to/learn control over their powers

>>4253488
>>4252680
>>4252258

“Fine. I’ll do it… Just…look out for me…”

That last part is more for Bernard, because he’ll be the one beside you during this endeavor of yours. He nods, looking serious as during that first fight you had together. Matt, meanwhile, looks nonplussed at what seems to be a sudden change of heart, despite the fact that you knew what you would be doing from the instant Matt suggested the plan.

With the amount of thought he already put into this idea, there’s a high chance that Matt had considered every alternative long before you did. Not that it makes it any better, but at least you know your brother understands— he understands what you— and most certainly Bernard— are mentally going through right now.

The hand on your shoulder lingers , but, eventually, Bernard makes to depart with Matt, the two heading back to your neighborhood. A promise to meet up with them later, and you’re left alone at your table.

The ringing of the bell above the cafe’s exit has caused the waiter to return, but upon realizing that the place is nearly empty, he busies himself by polishing the countertops.

All-but-forgotten in the heat of the conversation, you stare down at your unfinished drink. Aside from the waiter’s low humming, it’s nearly silent in the café.

Despite the tumult of emotions you had been feeling before, whatever fight you had felt before seeps out of you, unbidden, and you feel your shoulders sag. Your fish form is no longer threatening to break free from it’s confines— a positive, you think— although you definitely want to train or swim later just to blow off some steam.

The waiter, meanwhile, continues his menial task of shining the countertops, humming all the while, but you think he can definitely see what your face looks like right now (or had looked like)— not that you care what some waiter thinks of you.

The conference, which is at the end of next week, is not too far away.

You have plenty of time to prepare, so you don’t have to worry about it more than you have today.

>So, for now, what will you do?
>reconvene with Matt and Bernard; train
>go for a swim; meet up with them later
>start thinking about stuff you’ll need
>write-in

Also: roll d100 for a certain something to arrive sooner
>100: arrives within the next few days
>90-99: arrives at the end of the week
>60-80: arrives a few days before the conference
>0-50: guess you need to wait a little longer...
>1: Your package was sent by media mail on mistake; good luck ever getting it

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>4253727
>go for a swim; meet up with them later
>start thinking about stuff you’ll need

Not mutually exclusive.

No whammies!

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>4253727
>start thinking about stuff you’ll need

>>4253727

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>4254008

>>4254011

>go swim; meet up with them later

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>4253727
>go for a swim; meet up with them later

make sure our mutie urges are satisfied so we don't accidently transform again

good roll for costume pls

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>>4254174
>>4254018
>>4253810

Exiting the café, you head down the cobbled streets that lead towards your neighborhood.

Once you reach your neighborhood, you don’t make straight for Matt and Bernard. Instead, you use the closest outcropping of rock to leap right into the murky depths of the bay.

The underwater scenery is a blur as you pump your limbs as fast as they can possibly go, and it’s not long before you can sense the fish— many, many fish swimming all around you— and, if you weren’t underwater, there would definitely be moisture in your mouth.

The fish are no match for you, and the texture of the soft, decadent flesh coupled with its euphoric taste have you tearing through the schools until your stomach is filled to the brim.

As you’re floating far beyond the reach of the shore, you contemplate the innumerable places in the depths that you could swim and sink and hide, because you’ve swam countless times in the bay, yet you’ve never actually taken the time to actually explore it.

You’re nearly about to dive deeper into the water until you realize that the daylight’s fading. You think you should probably get going now, because you promised Matt and Bernard that you’d meet up with them soon. Besides, it’s not like the bay’s going anywhere, you think, and you shoot off in the direction of your beach.

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>>4254223

Your patch of beach is not far from where they are, so, after ensuring that none of the redness had somehow stuck to your clothes, you swim in the direction of where you’re sure the two boys are.

Matt and Bernard are sparring at one end of the beach, and, although Bernard is putting up a good fight, it’s clear he’s sacrificing his technique in lieu of speed. With a sweeping kick, Matt knocks him to the ground, and Bernard, evidently tired of having to fight powerless, teleports behind him.

Already expecting the trick, Matt whips around and blocks the following strike, but not before Bernard attempts a punch to the shoulder, the brunette grabbing hold of the teleporter’s fist and pulling it behind his back. He’s slammed to the ground in an instant— but not too harshly, because it’s a spar— and Matt pulls the other teen to his feet.

It’s not long before the two spot you on the water, and so you clamber up the rocks to join them.

You’re quite full and just the slightest bit tired, but you think you’d like to train if you had the extra energy.

>What do you do?
>Relax, enjoy the company of Matt and Bernard, worry about training another day
>Train for a little bit; nothing too much, just a powerless fight at the most
>Consider the necessities for the upcoming plan, other things you may want to do over the coming week-and-a-half
>write-in

That's it for today! Can't wait to get into this stint though!!! Can't wait for the supersuits either!!

Also want to say that anyone who hasn’t rolled for the supersuits yet can still roll.

>>4254230
>Consider the necessities for the upcoming plan, other things you may want to do over the coming week-and-a-half

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>4254230
>Consider the necessities for the upcoming plan, other things you may want to do over the coming week-and-a-half

>>4254230
>>Consider the necessities for the upcoming plan, other things you may want to do over the coming week-and-a-half
Maybe something like a Go Pro to record what we find from our perspective.

>>4254230

>Consider the necessities for the upcoming plan, other things you may want to do over the coming week-and-a-half

Can't leave all the thonk to Matt

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>>4254245
>>4254285
>>4254580
>>4255351

While Matt and Bernard continue their training, you find yourself a rock to sit against and think about what you’ll need in the next week-and-a-half.

Comms are a must. Not that you and Bernard will end up separated, but it’s always good to be prepared. Matt's binoculars would also come in handy with their night vision capabilities; even though you're able to clearly see through darkness, Bernard cannot do the same.

As for a camera, a ProGo would definitely work better than a regular camera or smartphone camera, since you don’t have to worry about flashing and camera noises. You know for a fact that Matt has one, so you’ll have to ask him for it later, as well as as something you can use to attach it to yours or Bernard’s body.

Briefly, very briefly, you consider swiping John’s ID for this task, as he always leaves it on the counter by the door, but you come to the conclusion that the ID usage is traced across FutureLab’s facility; and what is traced back to John will imminently be traced back to you.

So nope, you’re not going to risk yourself like that. Not at all.

However, there may be some extras hiding in that knick-knack box of his— the one where you found the comms. Heck, there might even be some papers lying around his office that could have some sort of information.

The thought of papers jogs something in your mind, the numbers 2-3-1 and 0-5-4 flitting through your conscious.

2-3-1… you tap your finger against your leg… 2-3-1…

And that’s when you remember what the number was for— a code to the emergency sedation buttons located throughout the laboratory, which you remember from that document of John’s you had read— and, even though you don’t plan on actually going inside the facility, you commit that information to your memory.

054 was probably something similar, you think— either a code or a room number or even a code to a room. For whatever reason, you make a mental note of that number too, because you wouldn’t have remembered it in the first place if it wasn’t important at all.

Once more, you mentally take list of the stuff you have so far, the things you have being:
>A ProGo camera
>Your comm devices
>the numbers 231 and 054
>Matt's binoculars

Though the list of items you have is short, you think it’s good so far.

If there’s anything else you think would be of potential use for you and Bernard, you should probably tell Matt later when you ask him for the camera, but, for now, you will relax, content with the knowledge that you're (mostly) set for this upcoming mission of yours, although you will need to make sure that everything's in working order in the coming days.

>Do you suppose you're all set?
>Yep. We got the gadgets we need-- we're golden!!!
>Nope. We need (write-in item)

next part should be in sooner rather than later
Super suit time!!!

>>4255617

>Yep. We got the gadgets we need-- we're golden!!!

>>4255617
Waiting for sexy fish
>>4255637
+1

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>>4255662
>>4255637

Over the coming week, you spend your time testing out the ProGo’s effectiveness while you’re out on the town. It’s surprisingly capable for a such a small camera, able to capture every last detail of your leaps and jumps over the rooftops, so it should be no trouble at all to capture some footage through some window in the dark.

You also make sure that Bernard also is capable enough at handling the binoculars and the ProGo, as you still haven’t settled on who should be the one to carry the camera.

It’s on one of these days before the conference that Matt arrives home with a large box, dropping it onto the floor with an unceremonious ’SLAM!’

“Hey— why didn’t you let me carry that for you?”

“Cause I got a set of working arms. And you were sleeping.” He points out.

One of the things Matt had done after you sent in the measurements was purchase a P.O. box. It wasn’t out of paranoia that the package would be traced back to your house, but, since John tends to be in and out of the house at sporadic hours, Matt figured it would be safer to have the box where your oldest sibling would not be able to see it.

Jenna Lubinska

124 Stuart Ln
Stillwater NJ, 342242

You don’t waste time in quickly pulling out your phone and texting Bernard about the package’s arrival, and no sooner than the messages are delivered is when a burst of green light fills the room, the teleporter sitting on your couch like he’d always been there.

He springs right off of the couch, striding right up to the sizable box, and the look on his face is exactly how you feel at the sight of it: like a kid on Christmas morning. There's something about getting stuff in the mail that never fails to excite you, and this time being no different than the rest.

Tearing open the box with ease, you find that inside of the box are three more boxes, each of them bearing the alias of their respective recipient. Once you've passed the boxes around, you all head to separate rooms to change, though not without helping Matt and Bernard open their boxes first.

(1/?)

>>4255858

While I'm in the process of writing the next part, does anyone actually remember what 054 was?

>>4255865
>remembering
Is it ok to cheat and go back to old threads?

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>>4255883

Nope. Not cheating at all.

But no soup for you!!!

>>4255887
Guess I don't get any soup then.
Went back, thread 2, the answer is
Disposal of specimens:

In the case that the subject unexpectedly deceases during any experimental process—

No.Your heart leaps into your throat.Nonononono—

—disposal may be completed at room 054.

>>4255617
>Nope. We need (write-in item)
Some 5-hour energy or in-universe equivalent for bernard so he definitely doesn't pass out (because apparently caffeine helps him with that?)

>>4255897

It's pretty effective at keeping him awake.

Also note that secret rich boi likes his fancy coffee

>>4255858

Being used to the feeling of your typical ratty hoodies, you’re not quite ready for how closely the suit hugs your skin. It definitely shows just how fit you’ve gotten over the past year, the short sleeves doing nothing to hide your toned arms, nor the cling of the fabric helping to hide the muscle of your legs. There’s also a hood on the back, which you’re quite happy about, alongside the fact that the suit is waterproof. It’s waterproof!! You think with giddiness; because if need be, you’d be able to get it wet without destroying it.

Shifting into your fish form, you kick into the air to get a feel for the fabric-- like a glove, you think—and you can’t help but grin a sharp-toothed grin into the mirror, as you can’t help but note that this is quite the leap from what you were wearing previously. No doubt, it will last far longer than any hoodie.

Curious to see what Matt’s and Bernard’s suits look like, you head back to the living room on webbed feet.

Matt’s wearing what appears to be some sort of dark jumpsuit, mirroring the strike of a bat. Considering how much stuff he carries around, you had expected the entire thing to be laden with pockets upon pockets. Instead, there’s a belt with all manner of clips and storage compartments attached to his waist, which you think is pretty neat alongside the pockets the suit actually has.

Bernard, meanwhile, is striking all manner of poses in his costume. Like yours and Matt’s, the main part is a a one-piece deal. However, unlike Matt’s suit, his appears to have some padding around the abdominal area— a necessity for a fist-fighter. There’s also the mask that Bernard’s sporting. Much sturdier and better looking than the one from the Crux, you think it’s a fitting design for him.

Upon noticing you, they stop their motions to see what kind of costume you had gotten. Matt gives a silent nod of approval at the design, while Bernard suddenly becomes distracted by something else in the room. For a brief second, you think he had been scandalized by your costume’s form-fitting design, but you dismiss that thought, because he’s back in your airspace in a flash and clearly pleased as ever at the sight of you three in the hallway mirror.

>>4255897

Will remember this for upcoming posts

(2/?)

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>>4255916

“Hey! We all look like comic book heroes, don’t we?” Bernard’s enthusiasm is as contagious as ever, and you can’t help but agree. You put your arms on your hips, and you think that the three of you standing before the mirror resembles a movie cover.

“Mosquito Man was pretty good.” Matt says offhandedly. “I liked it before they replaced the original guy with that new guy.”

“Mikey Merrell?”

“Yes.” The word is said through gritted teeth. “…Mikey Merrell…”

Reading comics had been a shared pastime of yours and Matt’s when the two of you were little kids. Every weekend, the two of you would dash to the nearest comic stand to get your hands on the newest issue of something. If you had to choose a favorite hero, it would probably be the Unbeatable Behemoth, Snow Leopard, or Dazzle Dame.

“That reminds me…what are you wearing to the conference, Matt?” You ask him.

“My school uniform.” He says it as if it were obvious.

“Makes sense.” There’s a beat of silence, and then you hear Bernard make a pained face like some FutureLabs goon shot him in the thigh.

“Stickface, don’t remind me about school…”

More silence from you and Matt decides to ask, “How old are you again, Bernard?”

“Eighteen.” Is the simple answer.

“Waitwaitwait…” You’re reeling at this previously unknown tidbit of information, because you honestly thought Bernard was younger than he looked. This might explain why he’s taller than Matt by over a half a head.

“You’re older than both of us?” Your tone is slightly incredulous.

“Yeah.” He says. “Turned it in January.”

(3/4)

Got costume designs for Elise and Matt too. Haven't drawn them out yet.

>>4255922

“But you don’t look it at all.” You tell him.

“Well I thought you were younger than stickface until you told me yourself, fishface.” The blonde returns.

“Touché.” And that’s that.

Still, the new information leaves you curious, and you feel the need to ask another question before this topic is completely swept under the rug.
>What do you ask?
>Ask about school (”Do you still go to school? Did you graduate? etc)
>Don’t ask anything
>Write-in

That's it for tonight. Was having too much fun writing and lost track of time.

>>4255925
>Ask about school ”Do you still go to school? Did you graduate?"
I'm starting to worry again about Bernard's lil sis. I also find it interesting that they got similar abilities.

>>4255930
+1
I didn't remember him having a sister

>>4255932
Lightly implied that the little girl and mother we saved earlier with his help was his family. It's really more a wild guess, though.

>>4255932

Check the end of thread #2. I answered the question there I think.

>>4255934
I looked there and the only question related to him was someone asking if Blink was john

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>>4255953
>>4255934
It was I, me, who asked the question
>Is X related to Y?
>Is Blink the older sibling of Sophie?

To which Siren said
>Answering question #02 in the form of a meme cause.
And posted this image

>>4255925
>>4255925
>"If you're 18 haven't you graduated? Concerned about college?"

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>>4256201
>>4255932
>>4255930

”Does that mean you still go to school?” You ask.

Bernard shakes his head.

“So you’re in college then.” It’s half-conclusion, half-guesswork from you, but the declaration from you causes the teleporter’s face to twist.

“Actually, I’ve been graduated for two years…” He says after a long, stretching moment. “…graduated from Belvédère High.”

Similar to yours and Matt’s high school, Karlskirche Academy, Belvédère High was a private school meant to put kids on the fastback to quick graduation and college success. A rival school of yours, any and all sports or academic events between Karlskirche and Belvédère High had always been meet with large and excitable crowds.

Though, like all private schools, the tuition would have no doubt been a hefty sum, implying that Bernard is (or was) actually more well-off than he appears to be. You can see the gears turning in Matt’s head, as he has obviously come to the same conclusion.

In all the time you had known Bernard, he had never once spoken about anything about his life before the Crux— no family life, school life, or anything of the sort. Everything he has said so far has been rooted in the near-present, and he looks increasingly uncomfortable under your searching gaze as you continue to think and wonder.

You have several seemingly-unrelated pieces that paint an incomplete picture, and it only makes you want to know more about the puzzle that is your friend.

What do you do?
>Prod. There’s obviously something more to this than meets the eye.
>Don’t prod. Let him tell you in his own time.
>Write-in

If you couldn't tell in the picture, Bernard's wearing a cravat tie.

>>4256505
>>Don’t prod. Let him tell you in his own time.

Curious, but s'no big. We'll figure it out eventually; it's not fun to be given the answers to a puzzle. The fun is in...well, figuring it out yourself.

>>4256505
>Don’t prod. Let him tell you in his own time.

>>4256505

>Don’t prod. Let him tell you in his own time.

I'd prod but I don't want to upset him before the big mission

>>4256505
>Don’t prod. Let him tell you in his own time.

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When searching for suitable highschool names: just found out that Konigsburg is indeed a real place.

The more you know...

Now back to the quest...

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>>4256510
>>4256529
>>4256712
>>4256808

“Belvédère High, you say? Didn’t you kick the captain of their baseball team in the shin, Matt?”

That had been the first and last time Matt had gotten detention in his life. Since the captain of Belvédère High’s baseball team had been caught cheating, Matt had gotten away with quite the light punishment given the crowd that day. You thought it was hilarious at the time, while John had a conniption.

“Yep.” A smirk forms on Matt’s face as he recalls the memory. “Totally worth it.”

A snort of laughter from Bernard at that, and you can see him visibly loosening up at the change in topic. In all the time you had known him, you don’t think he had ever looked so upset, and it didn’t seem like he was upset at you for asking the question— not one bit.

No matter, you’re glad that he’s back to his usual self, all smiles and excited energy.

Whatever story Bernard has to tell, you’re sure he’ll tell you in his own time. For now, you think it better to focus on the present and what lies ahead.

(1/2)

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>>4257179

Further Internet searching of the keyword 'Konigsburg' has turned up a rather interesting fact...

There actually was a city named Konigsberg that existed from 1255 to the end of WWII...

...although today, it runs under a different name: Kaliningrad.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6nigsberg

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>>4257179

The day of the conference, John is home early. Even though you’re in the kitchen, you can very clearly hear him getting ready, as he is a flurry of motion through the house.

Upon entering the kitchen, you notice that John is wearing a normal dress shirt under his lab coat, while his usually-disheveled hair is actually neat for once. While he’s straightening his tie, you decide to make some simple conversation with him as you pass him a cup of coffee.

“What are you two getting ready for?” You ask, even though you know the answer.

“City council meeting at five--didn’t Matt tell you he's going too?”

You shrug, the gesture vague enough that it could mean either yes or no.

“I would've invited you, but the event is closed to the public. And I'm lucky I even got Matt a seat there.” John looks quite sheepish, in fact. “How about as an apology we get some ice cream next week— just you and me?”

The thought of ice cream makes your stomach churn, and, although you very much appreciate the gesture of kindness, you know you’ll be vomiting it up at the end of the day. “You don’t have anything to apologize for— honest.” You try, but your older brother is undeterred.

“Come on. Just let me do something nice for you, Elise.” He presses, and his insistence only makes you feel more guilty, which is how you find yourself committed to the ordeal of eating normal food on John’s next off day. “Anyways, what are you going to be doing while I’m gone?”

“Nothing special. I’ll probably read a book or watch a movie.” The lie slips easily from your tongue. “Or maybe I’ll try to cook something for once…”

“Good. Just don’t get too crazy with the stove.”

“I won’t.” You smile and nod, and, not long after, John calls for Matt.

Hair combed, suit jacket ironed, and face shaven (as Matt claims to have some facial hair), you think he looks the picture-perfect example of a good, straight-laced student.

Matt spares a glance behind you, and he looks like he wants to say something before you throw yourself into danger. Good luck. Stay safe. Be careful. Although Matt says none of those things, you can tell what he’s thinking just by looking at his face.

“See you later, Ellie.” Are his parting words before the door slams shut, and, with that, you’re already texting Bernard over.

It doesn’t take long for you and Bernard to don your suits, comms, and whatever else you’ll be bringing. You had even taken the thought to take several bottles of Super Vital Shot— the energy shot that keeps you going for hours. Not that you think Bernard’s in too much danger of passing out on the mission, since he will only be teleporting the two of you, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Before you set out, there’s just one last thing to take care of:
>Who gets the ProGo?
>You
>Bernard

>>4257323
>Bernard

Going to say him because ideally we'll be too acrobatic and mobile during combat to keep good visuals, even with stabilization.

>>4257323
>Bernard
since he has more chance of escaping combat

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>>4257387
>>4257390

>List of stuff we have:
> x1 ProGo Camera
> x5 Super Vital Shots
> x1 Night-Vision Binoculars
> Copy of Matt’s Blueprints
> x2 Comm devices

It’s Bernard who ends up taking the ProGo, because he’s less likely to damage it. With that matter settled, the two of you head on your way.

Considering where you’re going, you’re slightly, very slightly on edge, but then again, who wouldn’t be?

The first leg of the journey is done on foot, and, by the time FutureLabs is in sight, sun has long dipped beneath the water. From where you stand, the lab’s facade is clearly visible, the building no less imposing from a distance than you think it would be up close, and, like Matt had surmised, there’s virtually no one around, save for some suited guards on the outer bridge.

Once you're teleported on the outer grounds of the facility, your inner-paranoia expects swarms of goons to come out of nowhere, but, after thirty seconds of nothing happening, you’re no longer on edge like you were.

The two of you take extra care as you traverse the building, mindful of any security cameras present and using a teleport every now and then.

The longer you circle the monolith, the more your comm hisses and crackles. It’s been doing that ever since that first teleport onto the facility, the noises getting more insistent the further in you go. Though, if it were a problem, Bernard would’ve been complaining about it long ago.

>(1/?)

Got the next part partially-written but am tired, kings!

See you all tomorrow!

>>4257616

Also feel free to speculate on what could trip our duo up.

>>4257621
I strongly doubt they have anti-teleportation walls, since teleporters never existed before.
I wonder if Elise has anti-tranquilizer antibodies now because of that one time she got hit with one.
>they caught Bernard's sister

>>4258510

Yep! Mutants haven't been around long enough for FutureLabs to have produced any anti-mutant technologies. And heckkit if we have to save Sophie again, I just might have a conniption.

A hint to one potential tripper-upper: it's closer than you think.

>>4258510
>anti-tranquilizer antibodies

>>4258531
>it's closer than you think.
Well, it does seem like the comms are being jammed. Maybe we should turn them off. Maybe FutureLabs has something that can detect our radio waves?

>>4258918

ID change because shitty quarantine boomers are probs sucking up all of the wifi and had to switch to something faster.

Right on the money with the comms!!! But they're not being jammed.

If you recall from thread two, the comms were retrieved from a box of FutureLabs gear in John's room. Once they were in FutureLab's range, they automatically reconnected to the lab's communication network.

>>4257567

It takes a couple of teleports to figure out where you are relative to Matt’s blueprints and another few to find the area he marked. Once you’re there, you find that there are a multitude of windows for you and Bernard to spy through. Some of them have you squeezing your bodies onto the sills for dear life as you watch and listen for any guards that happen to pass by, while others have a more stable foothold like the one you’re on now. You also have to take extra care not to press yourselves too closely to the windows due to the fact that they easily teeter.

Inside the lab is nearly as vacant as the outside, and, with each window you peer into, you’re met with the same white-washed walls and floors. Some of the places have just plain offices, others contain vast walls of computers and other various electronics, while the rest are stocked with beakers and test tubes of all sizes and colors. Unfortunately, none of these rooms have the proof you need.

At the current moment, the only thing of note you see is a woman with long, curly hair wheeling a metal cart, and, as she passes your window, your comm fizzles harshly, though it stops once she disappears through a set of sliding metal doors.

You knew that there was the possibility that you wouldn’t end up seeing anything useful on the main floors. That would just be too easy, you think. However, you know what you read on that document— you know very well what this place is hiding.

And even though you had been the most reluctant to do this mission, now that you're here, you don’t want to leave without getting what you came here for.

(2/?)

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>>4259256

The comm fizzles again, cutting you from your thoughts, but, instead of shorting out, the noise slowly, very slowly evens out.

Once the static clears, you can clearly hear voices on the other end of the line.

Voices that are neither yours nor Bernard’s.

Neither of you dare to utter a word, but you can see the teleporter’s face visibly sink as he also realizes what’s going on, and you tear the comm from your ear, crushing it in your palm before taking Bernard’s and doing the same.

As you watch the remains of the tiny devices fall to the ground, you see the glow of the flashlight from beyond a bend just around the corner of the building. Too slow and too late to hide, you think, your mind automatically flits to a teleport.

But if you do so, there’s a chance that the light from Bernard’s teleport will end up alerting the guards to your presence.

And that's the last thing you want.

>What do you do?
>roll d100
>risk a teleport a short distance away
>go through the window and find temporary cover
>duck down, wait for the guards to bypass you
>knock out the guards
>write-in

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>4259261
>duck down, wait for the guards to bypass you

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>4259261
>>duck down, wait for the guards to bypass you

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>4259261
>>go through the window and find temporary cover

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>ID change again cause normal wifi works like dog crap

Ducking down, you and Bernard keep yourselves as low to the window as possible. Although the footsteps come right beneath you, they manage to overlook you completely, and, soon enough, the guards are far enough away that the two of you can get up again and resume your surveillance.

It’s more watching and waiting on yours and Bernard’s parts, but the two of you remain patient at your vigil.

Once more, the woman with the curls reappears through those sliding metal doors. This time, she hangs around to enter some data into a notepad and grab some more chemicals on that tray of hers. However, it’s clear to see that the sleeves of her lab coat are stained.

They are stained in a very unmistakable red.

When the woman is no longer in sight, having headed back through the doors from which she came, you signal urgently to Bernard at what you had clearly seen. And had the window been open, you’re sure that there would’ve been that sweet, metallic scent lingering in the air.

>What do you do?
>Check out those doors; see where they lead
>Go in, but look around and see if there’s anything you can use to remain undetected (roll d100 for this only)
>Keep at your post; see if anything else happens
>write-in

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>4259261
>duck down, wait for the guards to bypass you

If they do notice us we can still just teleport

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>4259476
>Go in, but look around and see if there’s anything you can use to remain undetected (roll d100 for this only)

another 93 please

>>4259477

OH heck you just posted right as I did!!!

Dice are going great tonight, so I hope we can curbstomp some goons while the going's hot!!!

>>4259479

Oof. Spoke too soon.

But we can apply the 93 to the roll if everyone else agrees it's fair.

>>4259479
>>4259484
I got the exact opposite of what I asked for :(

Other anons please save me

>>4259476
>>4259484
That's nice of you, but I don't think it'd be fair.

>Check out those doors; see where they lead.

I'm thinking there's gotta be some way we can track the scent of blood.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>4259476
>Go in, but look around and see if there’s anything you can use to remain undetected (roll d100 for this only)
>>4259477
great roll anon

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>>4259506
>>4259479

>alrighty. I'm going to play fair with the dice rolls this time
>tfw we can't dress like bonafide FutureLabs goons…

Teleporting inside the room, you are quick to scope out your surroundings in search for anything of use, eyes landing on what seems to be a supply closet. That’s where you head, because it seems to be your best bet for anything.

While you rifle through the various supplies, Bernard takes one of his Super Vital Shots. It isn’t long before you happen upon some hazmat suits, so you toss one to Bernard before taking one for yourself, slipping it over your suit.

They’re big, bulky, and plastic holds your webbed feet irksomely— so much that you consider shifting back to your normal self so that it doesn’t bother you while you walk. No, you think, not wanting to risk your identity in FutureLabs of all places.

The two of you also make sure to loop a medical mask over your faces, because the last thing you want anyone at FutureLabs seeing are actual mutants traipsing around in a facility that experiments on and kills mutants. Then you each take a spray bottle and rag so the two of you don’t look suspicious, although it could be argued that Bernard leaving his suit half-zipped for the camera would be pretty sketchy for anyone who looked close enough.

(1/2)

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>>4259618

With another teleport, you’re beyond those metal doors and into a small, compact room— a small, compact room that happens to be an elevator.
From your side, Bernard fidgets slightly, unsure of what to make of this newly-discovered space.

A push of a button, and you feel yourself moving down, down, down.

And you can’t help but feel on edge as you fathom on what might be beyond those doors.

As your mind runs through the innumerable possibilities for what could lie beyond the doors, the elevator grinds to a halt, effectively snapping you out of whatever thoughts you were having and opening up to an wide, white-washed hallway. It’s quiet where you are, but you can hear something up ahead. You think this is probably where the majority of the activity actually happens at FutureLabs and why there was virtually nobody on the upper floor.

All the while, there is one thought in your mind that rings clear as day.

This… was not in the documentary…

>Now, with this new section of FutureLabs before you, what do you do?
>roll d100
>Follow the scent of blood
>Explore the hallways
>Go towards the voices
>write-in

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>4259627
>Explore the hallways
i'd recomend waiting a bit for rolls since it's late at night

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>4259627
>Follow the scent of blood

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>4259627
>Follow the scent of blood
You getting all of this Bernard?

>>4259660
*Blink
We use our hero names when we're on the job

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>>4259660
>>4259650

Suspense music added just cause:
Choose your mood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soUQBfZnB9M&list=PLUi56N9RcnjClLk61PArFB8M-uNyIcjk2&index=7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QbbSlj_ge8

There’s a bit of heaviness in your feet as you take the first steps into the sterile hall.

That sweet coppery scent still hangs like a miasma, so much that you can taste it on the back of your tongue.

“You getting this, Blink?” You ask him, making sure to call him by his codename.

“Mhmm…” He says, the response slow and drawn out, and the two of you press forwards, Bernard watching your back this time as you follow the tinge in the air. The further you go, the more those voices at the beginning fade, and, soon, the only noise you hear is the sound of feet on tile.

Your breath is hot and humid against your face, which is covered by not one, but two masks; and it doesn’t take long before everything starts to look the same. The only deviance from the blankness of the white-washed hallways are grey-tinted windows and sometimes the occasional staircase.

There are so many twists and turns that, if not for the fact that the scent of blood had been gradually increasing, you would think you were going in circles. Every now and again, you’re forced to swallow down a mouthful of saliva— an involuntary reflex on your part. And you think you could spend days in these halls— or even weeks— and you would never be able to tell day from night.

Once or twice, when it could not be avoided, a scientist or two had managed to pass you and Bernard, but they ended up paying no mind to you whatsoever.

Eventually you end up in a corridor with several doors packed tightly together. Up until this point, you don’t think the smell of blood has been more pungent— so pungent in the tight little hallway that you’re not sure where it is. A whisper to Bernard to be on guard, and then you set to jostling the various doorknobs, one after another.

(1/2)

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>>4260631

Despite that nothing has happened as of yet, you feel so paranoid with your back in the open that someone might just catch you.

So very paranoid.

So paranoid that you can’t help but gasp in relief when one of the doors gives way, and you nearly trip over your own feet as you tumble into the open space.

But that feeling is short-lived, because you hear it before you see it; and Bernard notices too, if the stiff way he’s standing is any indication. Time seems to slow as you take in the sight before you, where where a simian-like figure is splayed on the table at the very end of the room.

It’s heartbeat thrums like a jackrabbit, fast but weak at the same time.

Red— like some sort of macabre Jackson Pollock painting— it is covered in it. From every inch of fur to the table surrounding it and even the floor, there is blood (so much of it); and the smell is so cloyingly strong that it pierces through both of your masks and threatens to cloud your mind.

From afar, the figure might’ve been mistaken for some sort of animal with its hand-like feet and visible tail. However, closer inspection yields a head of hair that is highly atypical for any species of primate.

Because this is not an animal, nor an it. It is a he—

—He is a human being.

>What do you do?
>Check for consciousness
>Try to talk to him
>Undo the bindings
>write-in

>>4260680
>Check for consciousness
Not haramberino

>>4260680
>Check for consciousness

>>4260680
>>Check for consciousness

>>4260680
>Try to talk to him

futurelabs genocide when

>>4260680
>Check for consciousness
>Talk to the camera, quietly
"You see this? This is what they're doing here. Not "rehabilitation". Human experimentation."
>make sure to leave time to check other doors to reinforce evidence that it isn't just one mutant being experimented on.

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You don’t dare prod Caesar for obvious reasons, but you get close enough so that you can see if he’s awake. Wherever his injuries may be, it’s difficult for you to tell due to the thick fur covering his body, much more fur than you ever thought he had.

With every extremity of his bound to the table, there’s no escape from the whims of the scientists, nor is there any reprieve from the fluorescent lights that beam from above, which are so harsh that your looming over him is enough for the ape-like mutant to stir. Like leaden bricks, Caesar’s eyes languidly open, but they seem to be looking through you rather than at you.

“Hey government, feds, whoever’s listening— see this?” You say to the ProGo, trying not to choke on the smell of blood with each intake of breath. “This is not the mutant rehabilitation that FutureLabs promised. This is human experimentation.”

While Bernard stands besides you filming, he appears to be completely at a loss from the scene before him. Because even though Caesar’s still a mutant, he’s also barely a teenager— a teenager that Bernard had known for quite some time.

Had you not been so focused on tuning out the smell of blood, you may have been able to sense the other heartbeat entering your periphery, and it isn’t until you hear the jiggle of the doorknob that the two of you spring away from the table right as the door flies open, only to reveal the curly-haired woman from before.

She’s carrying more tools, more boxes now, which makes you think that whatever she has been doing to Caesar’s only just begun; and she doesn’t even acknowledge the two of you as you pretend to wash some beakers with the cleaning supplies you had taken. However, once you feel the eyes on your shoulder, Bernard spares a glance to you, signaling that it’s time for you to go.

(1/2)

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>>4261406
>>4261311
>>4261117
>>4260953
>>4260830
>>4260719

>tfw redarded cause forgot to link in first post

It takes about every ounce of your willpower not to go back and free Caesar, but anything other than heading out the door would have this woman suspicious of the two of you.

Again, you have to fervently remind yourself that this is not a rescue mission.

“You know that janitors aren’t supposed to be here.” Both you and Bernard stop short, as this is the first direct contact with any of the scientists that has happened. You’re nearly ready to tell Bernard to high-tail it out of this place with a teleport until the woman opens her mouth again.

“You’re not supposed to be here when there’s an experiment in progress.” The two of you try not to look visibly relieved at the fact that you hadn’t been caught, and you give an affirmative noise in her direction before the room is filled with a terse silence. “You can leave now.”

At that, you and Bernard continue towards the exit, but not before the woman opens her mouth again.

“Actually, I may need one of you to scrub the area over there.” She points to somewhere on the other side of the room. “Right… down… there…”

The two of you nod, heading towards the area in unison until the woman calls again.

“Oh no… no no no.” The curly-haired woman’s voice stops the both of you in your tracks once more, and it has your neck prickling from the sound of it. “It only takes one janitor to scrub a stain off the floor, not two.” She says. “FutureLabs doesn’t hire people like you for just anything, you know?” And you’d think the tone of her voice is almost… chastising.

In the end, it’s Bernard who heads for the stain, just to make sure you don’t do anything rash. If he hasn’t been around you long enough to notice everything— and you consider Bernard to be quite perceptive of things—then no doubt Matt already told him what to look out for from you.

Your hand is on the doorknob and you’re just about to step outside, but you sense it, rather than see it.

A click of a gun— a real, actual gun— and you spring to the area where Bernard is with blinding speed, right as the sound of a compressed shot fills the air.

Your shoulder explodes with pain, and there's a cold anger that courses through you like a poison.

>roll d100
>how y’all wanna phuq this bitch up?
>btw alarms are not tripped; we're still in the green

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>>4261456

Image of new fren for reference
Her name is Ursula.
I think.

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>4261456
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B62ACxuq8Pw
Seriously, wrestle the gun from her arm and knock her air and lights out

>>4261463

>tfw double retarded and forgot to change her file name name

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>4261456
She has temporarily forfeited rights to use that arm.

That is, break it.

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>4261466
>>4261470
Combine these, crush gun barrel afterwards

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>4261456
Running dropkick

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>>4261549
>>4261470
>>4261466

“You look surprised, Kelpie.” The way she uses your codename is condescending, and you think she looks fascinated at the fact that you’re still standing from a bullet wound. “But you should know that down here we don’t play games with our test subjects… or intruders for that matter.” Her finger tightens on the trigger, and she shoots again, once, twice, where a bullet grazes the same shoulder, but that matters little to you.

The pain is irrelevant.

The pain means nothing.

What matters is that this ruthless, conniving wench tried to kill Bernard—your friend— without mercy, and, whether it’s the cold fury that’s washed over you or the smell of blood that still permeates the air, your mind is buzzing, buzzing, buzzing with a sole directive. Protect.

There’s a feeling in your bones, like a liquid form of whisper, and you know what you want to do before you’ve even done it. Your body moves on instinct, uninhibited by the bulkiness of the plastic suit, and you take the arm with the gun in a tight, crushing grip. There’s a satisfying crunch as delicate bone is shattered under your immense strength, the pistol clattering to the floor.

A choked gasp resounds from the woman, whose eyes are blown wide at the sudden onslaught of pain, and, where there was once cool, calculation in her gaze, there’s now palpable fear.

(1/2)

>>4262766

“I’m not going to kill you, if that’s what you’re thinking…” You never legitimately talk to the enemy while on the job, but, for some reason, you feel the need to do so, because you want this experience stick with this woman for a very long time. “…and I know I can’t honestly can’t speak for all mutants, but I’m pretty sure most of us have standards. There’s enough blood in the room as it is.”

Without warning, you slam your hands against both sides of her head, and her eyes roll back before her body falls limply to the tile, unconscious. Just for good measure, you destroy the gun by tearing the barrel straight off of it, throwing it off to the side.

You had never harmed a normal human like this in your entire time as a mutant, but, considering what she just tried to do and what she had been doing before, you can’t say you feel bad. Checking the room for Bernard, you’re relieved to see that the teleporter is okay— a little shaken at seeing you get shot, but otherwise completely unharmed.

Caesar, meanwhile, had thankfully not gotten caught in the crossfire of your fight but is still very much out-of-it.

>Now that the woman (read twatface McGee) is unconscious, and you’re no longer in any immediate danger, what do you do?
>Take her body somewhere out of sight
>Address the bullet that still happens to be in your shoulder
>Leave the room ASAP
>write-in

Also what should we do with Caesar?
>Free him from the binds
>Take him with us
>Leave him, but come back if we have the chance
>Leave him. You don't know the extent of the damage that's been done
and are not equipped to deal with it
>write-in

>>4262776
>Address the bullet that still happens to be in your shoulder
Before the hole closes and it has to be dug out even more
And
Leave him. You don't know the extent of the damage that's been done and are not equipped to deal with it
As much as we love the "brutal experimentation until death" trope, I would assume the scientists would like to extend the life of subjects for as long as possible, especially due to limited supply.

>>4262776
>Address the bullet that still happens to be in your shoulder
>Leave him. You don't know the extent of the damage that's been done and are not equipped to deal with it

>>4262776
We don't have the medical training to deal with either Siren or Ceasar injuries.

What Blink should do is search the woman for her keys or her ID. We find her office, take all her files, paper or electronic and we leave.

Siren needs to bandage up her wound. We don't want them to get a sample of our blood.

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>>4262977
>>4262911

As the rush of the fight slowly fades, you remember one tiny detail that had managed to escape you during the fight.

The bullet. It is still lodged in your shoulder, and it would probably be best to remove it as soon as possible before your regeneration closes over it.

Gesturing Bernard over to inspect the damage, you’re glad he’s not squeamish at the sight of blood. The bullet hole is mostly closed, but not entirely so.

Your only choice is to reopen the wound, which Bernard is reluctant to do, but you’re quick to reassure him that this will be better than having a large piece of lead embedded in your body. Thankfully, there is no shortage of scalpels in the room, so it’s easy to find one that you can use.

With a much frustration and an ounce of combined ingenuity— where, after reopening the bullet wound with the scalpel, Bernard had reached one of his fingers inside to teleport the bullet out of your wound— the bullet is dislodged from your shoulder. No sooner than the bullet is gone than the wound’s already closing, so you don’t think it will be too long until it is completely healed; but you cover it with some cotton and medical tape just to stop the blood from spilling all over the place.

With the bullet wound taken care of, the two of you retrieve your cleaning tools and set to cleaning the rest of the blood as well as you possibly can. While you also don’t want to leave any trace of your presence behind, you also don’t want anyone getting their hands on sample of your blood, because you’re not quite sure what these scientists would do with it.

What a sight the two of you must look like, covered in blood.

You probably blend in better here, all things considered.

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>>4263417

Sparing a glance back to Caesar, you notice that he looks a little more aware than he was before. However, when you get close enough that he can see both you and Bernard, the primate-like teen bares his teeth at you and screeches like he’s being tortured.

The screeching doesn’t cease until you’re out of Caesar’s line of vision. Though, you can still see long canines edging from his lip. You suppose that all animal-related mutations have some sort of instinct-related drawbacks, and you feel a strong sense of sympathy for the injured teen before you.

You don’t know what they’ve done to him or what the extent of the damage is, and, as much as you wish you could take him with you out of this nightmare— loathe as you are to admit it— the scientists are far more equipped in keeping Caesar alive than you are.

“Don’t worry Caesar.” You tell him reassuringly. “We’ll save you. Just hold out for us, okay?”

“Yeah.” Bernard adds in. “Be strong, buddy.”

Before you’re out of the room for good, you are sure to take the keycard off of the curly-haired woman’s body (who you learn is named Ursula), because you don’t know if that could come in handy.

Out of the corridor and back into the hallway, you’re not sure where to go next, and you don’t know how long you have until someone else finds Ursula’s unconscious body.

>what do you do?
>head to the stairs; see what else there is to find
>go back to the elevator area; try to find the source of those voices
>stay on this floor and keep looking through rooms
>get out
>write-in

Fun fact: the monkey that Caesar resembles the most is the brown tufted Capuchin monkey
Also new theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJw3MmL-Omk
For the whole thread!!!

>>4263428

Completely forgot to say we needed d100 for our degree of success.

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>4263428
>stay on this floor and keep looking through rooms
quick look and then leave

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>4263458
This then
>>4263428
>head to the stairs; see what else there is to find
It shouldn't matter how deep we go in because Bernard can just teleport us out anyway.

>>4263428
>stay on this floor and keep looking through rooms

If they do all the human experimentation in one place it's the best way to stir up anti FutureLabs sentiment.

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>4263428
>>4263704
Forgot my roll

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No update atm...

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BUT SUITS!!!

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YEET!!!

Sorry kings no actual update tonight.

Got busy with irl stuff and kind of forgot, so enjoy the drawfaggotry above for now.

>>4265173
It's ok, thanks for checking in
Nice drawings as always

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>>4263458
>>4263704
>>4263706

The two of you decide to stick to the same floor for a short while longer, because you can always teleport back to the stairs if need be, and there’s more than one floor to see.

Most of the rooms that are not in use are locked, as you and Bernard come to find, while others do in fact have some scientists afoot.

Not wanting to be caught, you briefly deliberate on how you can get into the rooms undetected so Bernard can film, which is when the numbers 2-3-1 return to the forefront of your mind— the code to the sedation gases that John had written down. Although you’re a little dubious about it, you think it’s worth a shot, and it doesn’t take much to type the number into the keypad and press the little, red button beside it.

When there’s a thump from the other side of the door, you know that the gas has worked, and you wait for a minute or two until you think it’s safe enough to go inside. You utilize the sedation gas in every room you come across that isn’t devoid of mutants, scientists, or whoever else, and you find that not all rooms actually have mutants. Some just happen to have scientists doing their scientist thing, but, if less people are awake to discover your presence, then that’s better for you.

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>>4266126

Not too far from where you currently are, there’s another stairwell, and you would think that, for such a high-tech place, FutureLabs would have something a little more… futuristic to bring people from floor-to-floor.

Heading into it, you find that you’re not merely on the first floor, but are instead in one of the middle ones.

Huh. You think. Just… how big is this place? Because just with this floor alone you felt that there was no end in sight to the twisting, turning halls. Now, you wonder if you’ll have time to go through everything before someone inevitably finds the trail of unconscious bodies you left in your wake.

From up above, you can hear noise like wind passing through a tunnel; and, given how long the elevator ride was, you find it very strange that you would be hearing such noises so deep underground. Downstairs, meanwhile, seems to have more activity going on, as your enhanced hearing is able to pick up.

>What do you do?
>go upstairs, where the strange wind-tunnel noise is
>go downstairs, where there are more people

>>4266129
>go upstairs, where the strange wind-tunnel noise is
don't wanna test my luck with our time

>>4266129
>go upstairs, where the strange wind-tunnel noise is

>>4266129
>go upstairs, where the strange wind-tunnel noise is

File: FloorPlans.png (152 KB, 1200x1000)

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Half-cobbled floor plan for reference.

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>>4266478
>>4266160
>>4266142

Once up the stairs, you find that there are two doors present: one that leads to another floor and the other, which is where the wind-like noise is. Unlike the doors on the floor you were just on, this one requires an ID card. A swipe from Ursula’s ID, and the door opens to a long, narrow hallway.

You are aware that you could’ve just teleported to the other side of the door, but who knows who could’ve been there.

The further you go into the hallway, the less sterile the air seems to be, and the more amplified that wind-tunnel becomes, along with a low, mechanical whirring. It isn’t long before you reach the end, where you see several large metal fans lining the far wall. However, when you clear the door, you have to stop short before you accidentally plunge yourself over the rails, because the sight that greets you and Bernard leaves you both dumbfounded.

What lies before you can only be described as some sort of octagonal chasm that, while not as long as that first floor you were on, is definitely deeper.

“Wow…” You breathe, staring down over the guardrails. With each layer, there’s an endless array of metal doors positioned just a few meters apart, and your gut tells you think that this is likely the place where FutureLabs keeps the mutants.

“Guess this is where they keep all the mutants…” Bernard echoes your thoughts.

(1/2)

>>4266942

Another stairway at the opposite end of the platform leads to the first floor of this prison, and so that’s where you head. There are dozens of mutants in varying degrees of wakefulness dressed in white garb, none of them looking like obvious mutants. Though, neither you nor Bernard actually come off as obvious mutants in your daily lives, so you think there must be some other method in FutureLab’s storing of their captives.

Another floor-and-a-half later, and you’re ready to skip straight to the bottom floor if only for the fact that you think your footage is sufficient. You’re about to signal to Bernard for a teleport, when you’re stopped short by the sound of someone’s voice.

‘Hey—‘The voice calls, and you whip around, only to find no one behind you. ‘Hey. Hey you two!’

“Do you hear that?” You ask Bernard.

He nods, also looking around for the source of the voice.

As you’re tuning your senses in every direction to find the source of the voice, whoever it is that’s calling out to you has not waned in volume, no matter how far you’ve moved from the original spot. That’s when it dawns on you that this voice— whoever it is— is probably in your head.

>What do you do?
>see what they want
>ignore the mutant
>write-in

>>4266965
>see what they want

>>4266965
>see what they want

maybe we can do a prison break

>>4266965
>see what they want
They're pretty awake. Give them an interview?

>>4267084
>>4267033
>>4266985

‘What are you doing in my head?’ You mentally ask to the mutant whose voice is in your head in order to test if the connection works both ways. The presence takes on a self-satisfied air, like they found the answer to something they already knew.

‘Since you actually considered responding to me, I figured that you weren’t part of the usual guards who do the rounds. Those bastards never even consider responding to me.’ The mental voice responds. ‘I just want to know exactly who it is I’m talking to.’ By reflex, you take another look around to see where the voice is.

’Come to cell 324.‘ The mutant tells you after a long beat, and, if you didn’t know any better, you’d think the voice was irritated.

Cell 324 isn’t too far from where you are, and you can’t see the rest of the mutant from the tiny gratings of the prison door, because his face is nearly embedded into it— that’s how hard he has to press his face in order to see you and Bernard, and it’s enough that you can see the geometric shapes that comprise his eyes.

“Can we talk out loud now? Cause it’s kind of weird to have some guy’s voice in my head.” Bernard says aloud, but, somehow, you can feel the echo of his words in your mind.

’No kidding.’ You think, mostly to yourself. However, when both the mutant’s and Bernard’s heads are both staring at you (with the former giving you quite the glare), you realize the mutant definitely heard that. For a moment, you think that he's used his ability to glean more information than he should about you, such as your identities, but you've thought of... your friend's name several times, and nothing's happened. So you reason that, even though the mental connection goes both ways, the mutant is only able to hear what you directly say between the three of you. You make sure to think in terms of your aliases, just in case.

The mutant also reminds you rather irritatedly that the walls are highly reinforced and nearly-soundproof, which is proven by a several hard knocks on his end of the door.

You had several questions you wanted to ask him about his time in FutureLabs in general, but, with a very obvious problem of your ProGo lacking its own telepathic link to your conversation, a live testimony from a mutant will be impossible. Maybe you can ask him more about this mutant-containment wing in general and find out more about it.

>(1/2)
meant to write this out earlier, but housemates insisted that I do some weird stuff like "go outside" and "get some fresh air." That's how I ended up finding some weird shiny ball in the sky today. It hurt my eyes when I stared at it.

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Though, before you can even think to start asking him questions, his thoughts interrupt your own.

‘Your mind feels familiar, but I don’t remember your name…’Fractal eyes flick between the two of you before they stop on Blink. ‘You—‘ His eyes widen in recognition. ‘You’re Blink, right?’ Blink looks taken aback that someone here recognizes him, but it isn’t too far-fetched to think that something like this would happen.

‘Who are you?’ You inquire; because, if Blink knew this guy from the Crux, then shouldn't you have seen him? You think you'd remember someone with such distinctive eyes.

‘I’m Conduit.’The name doesn’t ring a bell.

‘The bomb-guy?’

‘There's only one mutant bomber in the whole of Konigsburg.’ The declaration is almost a proud one.

Looking between you again, the mutant’s eyes seem to be searching for something, but they ultimately fail to find it.

’Where’s Pharos?’ The mutant sounds… disappointed. Disappointed that Pharos is not with you.

You come to the realization that this is yet another one of Pharos' fanatics who had never quite been released from his vocal spell. A closer look, and it's visible to see that there's something not quite right in Conduit's eyes.

>what do you say?
>”He basically ditched you rofl”
>”We aren't working for Pharos.”
>”We don’t know where Pharos is.”
>write-in

>>4269041
>”We don’t know where Pharos is.”
Slow and steady

>>4269041
>”He basically ditched you rofl”

Gotta break that brainwashing somehow. Explain his power too.

>>4269041
"Pharos is a brain-washing hack who's power is to influence other mutants. I only broke out of it cause he messed with my little brother, who isn't a mutant."

Ask if he's talked with the other mutants and knows their powers. I think with Blinks teleporting, we can help some of them escape, then they can use their powers to help the rest.

We got a huge room full of mutants and a way to break them out, I say we do it.

>>4269041
>>”We don’t know where Pharos is.”

It might be cathartic to just dismiss someone that opposed you viciously, but it's generally a bad idea, since all that'll do for most normal folk is piss them off and entrench them since, 'well, you wouldn't be so violently against it if I was doing something you understood, right?'

That's not how logic works, but this has very little to do with logic in the first place- it's emotion. And thus, requires empathy.

>>4269041
>”We don’t know where Pharos is.”
Pharos's spell only breaks when he admits what his power is, anyway. No use trying to convince this guy of anything.

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>>4270610
>>4269629
>>4269065

‘We don’t know where Pharos is.’ You tell Conduit, because you really just don’t know. Moreover, there’s just something off about this mutant that suggests telling him something wrong about Pharos would be worse for you.

‘You don’t?’ He asks slowly, and the weight on your mind from Conduit’s mental presence multiplies tenfold.

You shake your head, something in Conduit’s eyes seeming to intensify at the confirmation. Like a roiling storm, the presence in your mind shifts almost violently as his composure slips. There’s nothing but silence on the other end of the mental connection, but you feel an influx of emotions—emotions that are not yours, and there’s no doubt that Blink can feel it too.

Yet another mind, so far trapped within Pharos’ delusions that they can’t fathom any other reality than the one Pharos made for them.

You allow Conduit a moment to process the new information, and it isn’t until he’s slipped that disinterested mask back onto his face that you think he’ll answer your next question, which is whether or not he’s been trying to contact the other mutants.

He has, but it the bomber seems to hold a deep disdain for anyone who does not adhere to Pharos’ will. Mostly, he’d been corresponding with the Crux’s stronger mutants when they were still on the same floor, the typical subject being the matter of escape. However, with no opportunity to convene and the guards all-to-eager to shoot, any escape attempts so far have been non-existent.

After being transferred down to the lower floors, the higher Crux members still kept talking to Conduit, but, one by one, they simply stopped. You find it odd that fellow Crux members would just simply stop talking to one-another when they were so loyal to each other.

>>4270746

There’s a far-off look in Conduit’s geometric eyes that, even without the emotion transfer, speaks volumes. Dreams of electrical wiring, of the soft tick-ticking of a timer, and the flames that follow after, all of it goes back to repainting the world the way Pharos envisioned it. You wonder if these were things Conduit actually intended to share with you or if they were transferred without his knowledge.

Still, you squash down any alarm that rears its head in case Conduit can somehow sense that, but now he is looking at you with clear intent.

‘Hey, Blink. Scales.’ He says, addressing you both. ‘You are able to get me out of here, wouldn’t you?’

>What do you do?
>Take him with you, no further questions asked
>Take Conduit with you, but on a condition (write-in)
>Don’t let Conduit out; tell him why
>Lie (roll d100 for this choice); say you’ll come back for him, but don’t
>Write-in

>(2/2)

>>4270756
>Take Conduit with you, but on a condition (write-in)
Let's tell him about Pharos power and if he isn't too shocked, we'll try telling what we do, that we don't fight all normal humans

>>4270756
>Don’t let Conduit out; tell him why
"We're just here to document and leak info about the treatment of mutants in here. We aren't equipped to jailbreak anyone. They know your face, and we have nowhere to hide you."
All truths.

>>4270782
>Let's tell him about Pharos power
It doesn't work like that. Only Pharos can tell others about Pharos's power in order to break the spell. Us telling others about his power only causes massive cognitive dissonance.
Unless Selkie and Blink can share the memory of Pharos admitting his ability to Bludgeon... hmmmm.....
We can try this. But no letting him out. If it works then we can use him to broadcast the memories to all the other mutants.

>>4270756
>Don’t let Conduit out; tell him why
This guy's a massive danger. Shouldn't be here, but shouldn't be free.

Seconding
>Don’t let Conduit out; tell him why
"We're just here to document and leak info about the treatment of mutants in here. We aren't equipped to jailbreak anyone. They know your face, and we have nowhere to hide you."
All truths.

>>4270800
Forgot to add, Pharos said his power worked better on those whose ideas were closer to his own. Seeing how deep in the brainwashing Conduit is, he may just be a mutant supremacist regardless.

>>4270756
>Don’t let Conduit out; tell him why

Nah bro you're kinda a nut sorry

also >>4270800
makes good points

>>4270805
We should also ask him if he knows where any important information and documents are kept

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>>4270800
>>4270805
>>4270825
>>4270886

‘You don’t deserve to be here, Conduit, but we can’t take you with us.’ You tell him outright, because this guy has likely killed dozens of people, and you’re not sure how you would live with yourself if more deaths happened because of him. You also mention that you’re not equipped for a jailbreak, emphasizing the fact that they do not use tranquilizers here, but the bomber has none of it.

‘But you’re Crux. You have to help me.’ Desperate, wild eyes turn to Blink. ‘You— you’ll do it, won’t you?’

‘No, Conduit.’ Blink shakes his head. ‘Kelpie’s right. The got guns, and they’re lookin’ for a good opportunity to blow our brains out. We’re not even workin’ for the Crux anymore.’ Stunned silence from the imprisoned mutant.

‘What do you mean, you’re not working for the Crux? All mutants are Crux.’ Conduit argues, disbelieving.

‘The Crux is dead. It’s been dead for a while.’ The words are from Blink. ‘And it’s not coming back anytime soon.’

Somehow, the statement that had come from Pharos’ former higher-ups has more effect on Conduit than you expected it would, because the mental presence lulls for a moment as if trying to process this newfound information. A few more seconds spent without a further word, and you feel something from his mind— like he’s come to a startling conclusion— which is when he shifts his focus back to you.

‘You—’ It seethes. ‘You must have done something to make him act this way, because the real Blink would never disobey Pharos.’ The voice speaks with the utmost certainty; and you don't even have the time to process the shame you feel from beside you before Conduit’s mental presence inserts itself into your mind like gangly spider legs, reaching, grabbing, and searching for any speck of information that will prove him right.

Though not debilitating, it’s definitely painful as the prodding hands get more violent in their search. Blink, though not a victim of Conduit’s power, can feel your pain from the connection and looks ready enough to spring into Conduit’s confinement and knock him out.

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>>4271078

Faintly, you recall that all of this is for a guy who hasn’t shown his face in who knows how long. A guy that most of Konigsburg has all-but forgotten.
It is in that moment of pain that you think you can show Conduit something he can’t ignore, and you focus your mind on a memory of a time that might as well been ages ago.

Since it had been quite long ago, the memory isn’t completely clear, but you make sure to focus on the most important things: the cruel treatment of your brother, the sinister grin on Pharos’ face as he tells his power to him, the feeling of the mental string being snapped.

‘If you’re trying to fight back, know that I’m the one who holds the main connection.’ Conduit snidely tells you.

‘No. I’m not. Just watch.’ And you press forwards to the most important part of the memory.

‘“It’s my power— I call it Les Misérables. I can use it to affect people’s systems of belief and rally them around my causes… but only the people I want it to affect.”’

‘That’s... That's Pharos.' Blink mentally affirms Conduit's statement.

‘“Then you’ve been lying to all these people here.” Those were Bludgeon’s words. “You lied to my sister too, freaking jackass.”’

‘“Lying’s a bit of a nasty word, don’t you think? I like to think of it as a nudge in the right direction.”’

With the memory completed, Conduit is left staring at the both of you, and the mental claws retreat back into the recesses of their owner. The fractals in his eyes are moving, almost frenetically, as the bomber thinks of some sort of way to justify what he’d heard.

‘Even if Pharos was a bad person, his ideas… weren’t wrong.’ Conduit eventually says; but you can feel he’s trying as hard as he can not to unravel at the seams. ’Konigsburg still has a lot of people who need to be punished, and he was the only one who cared enough about us to do anything about it.’

If Pharos actually cared enough about the other mutants, he would have stayed in the hospital with them; he would’ve stuck with them until every last one of them was dragged out by their arms and legs and into FutureLabs’ depths. But he didn’t.

You don't tell this to Conduit, as you think he can only take so many revelations in a single night.

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>>4271094

Now that he’s told you everything you needed to know, Conduit insists on being left alone, but, before you leave, you tell him to relay a message to the other mutants:

‘Don’t give up hope just yet! The M-Guard is working hard!’

Is it simple? Yes.

Corny? Most definitely.

It was all you could think of in the current moment, but you think it will be enough to give them the strength they need to endure the treatment of FutureLabs until rescue arrives. You also tell Conduit to show the other Crux members the memories that you had shown him, because they all have a right to know. At least when he says he will, you can hear the truth from the mental connection.

Although you had spent way too much time talking with Conduit, he did give you some information before you parted ways.

First, off, he had said said that the most dangerous mutants are kept on the lowest floor, and that there’s a small office nearby.

While trying not to look like you’re running to the bottom floor, you take your route with long, purposeful strides.

As promised, you a total of two doors on the bottom floor, which is strange because you thought that the setup would be the same as the rest of the place. However, you could also reason that stronger mutants require extra measures to prevent escaping, so, if there’s anywhere some of the really strong Crux members may be, it would be behind either of those doors.

>Since both doors look the same, it’s hard to tell which door goes where.
>Roll 1d2
>Go to the prison offices
>Go to the high-security wing

>>4271104

Meant to write this as:
>Where do you choose to go?
>Go to the prison offices
>Go to the high-security wing

I mean... you can dice roll if you want for lulz but it’s not mandatory.

>>4271104
>Go to the prison offices

>>4271104
>Go to the prison offices
Take all the paper documents. Break the computer and take the hard drive. We don't have the skills or time for hacking

>>4271104
>Go to the high-security wing

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>>4271144

Elise and Bernard be like pic related

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>>4271123
>>4271144

It requires a peek through both doors, but you manage to find the office. Bernard opts to stay by the door, and you’re not too keen on separating. However, he argues that it would be strange if somebody found a couple of supposed janitors rifling around the place. Besides, there’s nothing much to film with the ProGo inside an office— that’s also another reasoning of his.

Ursula’s ID allows you to get in without any problems, and, once inside you’re met with a surprisingly small office. With only a few desks, some file cabinets, and a single desktop computer, it only spans two sections of the prison’s octagonal arrangement.

A glance to the clock on the wall shows you just how late it is. No doubt the conference has finished by now, where Matt is quietly waiting for you at home.

Not wasting a moment, you head straight for the file cabinet. Of course it would require a key, but the metal lock is no match for your strength, and the metal peels open with a snap.

Unfortunately, everything in the cabinet happens to be just record-keeping for the captured mutants. A scan of the desk with the computer, on the other hand, yields a stack of files that have the words 'mutant' and 'trial' in its long-winded paragraphs.

You grab the files, which aren't too many, and think of what to do with the computer that likely has more information than any of the paper files in the room.

Although you don’t have the skills or means to hack, one thing you can do is smash the chassis and take the hard drive. Thankfully, from watching Matt build his own desktop, you do, in fact, remember which part of the computer is the hard drive as you pull apart the chassis to reveal the components inside.

>>4271879
Oh boy
we'll be lucky if we don't damage the thing extracting it

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>>4271899

It’s when you’re pulling the hard drive into your grasp that you’re suddenly overwhelmed— overwhelmed with the loud and blaring sound of an alarm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_9KR3mYkUo&list=PLzzpZuUfJ7QSiL7WB6dC9KkrdsXyMpI6F&index=1

It was only a matter of time— only a matter of time before this would happen, you think, and it’s without warning that the stark-white room is pitched into blackness.

Your heart makes a leap into your throat, but it’s not out of fear from the dark or the current situation in itself. You can see in the room perfectly, so much that you can tell from afar that the lights have been cut from the outside.

Unlike you, Bernard can’t see in the dark— not like you can.

Shit. Shit. Frig. FrIG.

Taking the files and hard drive beneath your arm, you dash to the doorway. Bernard is a little further from the edge of the door than you think he should be, and, in the darkness of the bottom floor— where not even the red alarm lights can pierce— he looks like he doesn’t know what to do, because the entirety of the floor is crawling with guards.

They haven’t noticed either of you, not yet, but you know that their guns will be trained on you the second you cross the threshold.

However, when one of the guard’s flashlights trains on Bernard, all caution goes down the drain.

“Blink! Move!” You shout, and he’s gone in a flash of green, a bullet piercing the wall of where he had just been.

Now, they definitely notice you and can see you with their equipment, and there's the audible cocking of not one but several guns. Rifles, to be precise, and you spring to the side before anyone can pull the trigger.

There’s the flashing of green from all around, as Bernard teleports all over the place. Though, he cannot afford to stop-- not for a second.

You need to regroup. You need to get back to Bernard as fast as possible, because the guards will only get more vicious the longer you avoid them, and you don't know when Bernard will flag.

>roll d100 (-5 for overloaded hearing)

>>4271989
>Really should've probably left earlier. Need to grab him and just start bouncing.

Rolled 62 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>4272008
>>4271989
The hell? I rolled.

Rolled 54 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>4271989

Rolled 61 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>4271989
>roll d100 (-5 for overloaded hearing)
Oh no

>>4272055
I'm gonna pretend that says -5

Rolled 97 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>4271989
oh boy oh fuck

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>>4272104
>>4272055
>>4272018
>>4272009

You aim a kick at the guard closest to you before he can think to fire, and he crashes into whoever’s behind him before you leap up to the next tier, where there happens to be even more guards.

They fire at you relentlessly, the ratatatat-- of the gunfire adding to the cacophony of the too-loud noise. Amidst the chaos, you take a second to tear the plastic off of your feet with the arm that’s not holding the files and hard drive so they can grip your surroundings better, as you had nearly slipped from the rails.

There’s more thundering footsteps from around the corner, which is when you’re springing back over it to get onto the next floors.

You're a blur of rapid movement-- blur of instinctual action and reaction-- and your motion becomes a dance of jumping, dodging, and striking as you zig-zag from one place to the next.

It’s not only the guards that have their guns trained on you that you have to strike down— you also knock out anyone in the background who tries to get a shot on Bernard.

Only once did someone shoot you, this time in the thigh, but you drown out the pain in the same way that you drown out the blaring sound of the alarm.

It isn’t until you nearly crash into the teleporter that the chaos and gunfire disappears in an instant, though FutureLabs is still visible from afar.

Staring back at the place that you had just been not even twenty seconds ago, the two of you are left with breaths heaving and hearts beating wildly in your chests. Pulling off the hoods of your hazmat suits, you both can agree that you both look like you’d been put through a wringer.

>>4272334

Bernard pulls out a Super Vital Shot, finishing it in a single gulp.

The hard drive and files are still beneath your arm. How you kept them all together is something that you consider a miracle. There’s also the sensation of skin trying to reposition and repair itself around the bullet, but you can worry about that later.

With Bernard’s hand on your shoulder, you’re teleported back into your neighborhood. The crashing of waves against the rock has never been a more welcome sound to your ears as you begin the trek back to your street.

Just before rounding the corner to your apartment complex, you strip yourselves of the cumbersome hazmat suits and stifling medical masks. Something about the action feels liberating, but then you also are made very aware of the fact that there are several holes in your suit, which is yet another problem that can wait.

There’s a dumpster not too far off that looks rather tempting, as you don’t want to be seen carrying these blood-soaked suits home. However, you also think that you should find a way to dispose of them smartly.

>What do you do with the hazmat suits?
>Take them home with you; hide them and worry about disposal later
>Put them in the dumpster; can’t be seen with these things at home

>>4272348
>>Take them home with you; hide them and worry about disposal later

We'll burn them later.

>>4272348
>Take them home with you; hide them and worry about disposal later

Don't want them running DNA tests on them when found.

>>4272348
>Take them home with you; hide them and worry about disposal later

>>4272348
>Take them home with you; hide them and worry about disposal later

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>>4272471
>>4272523
>>4272633
>>4272654

You and Bernard end up taking the hazmat suits back to the apartment, because you figure that the police are stupidly good at finding these kinds of things. You also remember to have Bernard turn off the ProGo before shifting back to your normal form, even though you could have just edited it out later.

There are footsteps from the upper floor of the apartment, which means that Matt is still awake and waiting for both of you. With the amount of time you spent at FutureLabs, he has no doubt jumped to the worst conclusions. You’re not even up the stairs before the door is opened, and you’re met with the sight of a haggard-looking Matt.

Thankfully, your suit’s dark color hides most of the blood, but his eyes are instantly drawn to the hole on your thigh, where a bullet is currently embedded. The skin has completely healed over it, so it’s going to be a little trickier to get the bullet out this time.

“Hey Matt. I got shot.” You joke in an attempt to lighten the mood. “How was your evening?” Matt’s pallor only seems to deepen, and the only thing he says is, "My room. Now." before he turns on his heel, you and Bernard heading straight to his room.

After waiting for Matt for a few minutes, he returns with an antiseptic, some cloth, medical forceps, and a small scalpel. Where he got all these things is beyond you, but Matt is scarily apt at getting the things he wants.

Taking the hazmat suits you’re still holding, he sets them off in a corner, locking the door behind you. Then, Matt proceeds to have you lay on a towel on the floor, tying a tourniquet on your upper leg. You wonder why you need all of this fussing for a simple bullet wound if you’re not even bleeding in the first place.

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>>4273069

“If the bullet isn’t already touching the femoral artery, I would say it’s pretty freaking close…” He explains.

“What does that mean?” Because any damage to any artery is bad.

“It means that you could’ve died if you were normal, but it looks like your regeneration was able to build around the bullet to accommodate it. That’s why I made the tourniquet. Cause if I end up having to mess with an artery to get to the bullet, there’s going to be a shit-ton of blood.”

Surprisingly, Bernard takes that information worse than you, because he looks positively shellshocked at Matt’s explanation. You, on the other hand, are just thankful that you and Bernard managed to get out of FutureLabs without any further injury.

“We should probably get some food in your system before we start.” Bernard needs no further prompting, and he’s back with a slab of meat in seconds, crouching so he can hand it to you. You shift so it’s easier to tear into the meat, but you don’t eat it with the same fervor that you usually do. Although exhaustion is finally starting to hit you, the extra food in your body helps you feel a little more whole.

While Matt works on taking the bullet from your leg, you try to think of something to talk about to pass the time and distract yourself from the fact that your brother is cutting right into your leg. Between the fact that he has to fight against your regeneration and the fact that he’s not an actual doctor, it’s a slow and arduous process to get to the bullet and avoid anything vital.

>What do you talk about?
>The mutants, particularly the Crux members you saw at the Labs
>The lab itself, especially about the fact that there’s a whole underground part to it
>The staff, and the fact that everyone there wanted to shoot to kill
>The fact that you did way more than "just scope" the labs
>write-in

>>4273072
>>The lab itself, especially about the fact that there’s a whole underground part to it
>>The staff, and the fact that everyone there wanted to shoot to kill

"So we got lost but not lost. Things happened."

>>4273073
+1

>>4273072
>The lab itself, especially about the fact that there’s a whole underground part to it
>The staff, and the fact that everyone there wanted to shoot to kill

So i'm hoping we can go full Assange, but let's see what we got first

>>4273163
>>4273096
>>4273073

“So we ended up getting lost but not lost, and things just escalated from there.”

“How so?” Is the questioning noise from Matt, who’s very-much immersed in his task.

“Remember that documentary you were watching? The part of the lab that they showed wasn’t the main part of the lab. There’s actually a whole underground part—the entrance was right where you marked it on the blueprint.”

“Looked like somethin’ from a movie.” Bernard adds from where he’s propped himself against the wall.

“Yeah. It did.” And you can’t help but think back on FutureLabs white-washed walls and too-bright lights. “We didn’t actually plan to go in, but we ended up following someone after we had to destroy our comms.”

Matt is quiet at that, but you know he wants some elaboration on why you destroyed the most useful devices that you had. “We kind of had to cause they were tuned-in to FutureLabs’ network.”

Maybe you should’ve considered that the comms you had taken from John’s knick-knacks would do something like that with them being FutureLabs-tech and all, though it’s too late to do anything about it now.

There’s a harsh intake of breath, and you wonder what’s the matter before you hear a, “Got it,” from Matt before you feel the forceps latch onto the bullet. The sensation of having it removed reminds you of what it feels like to pull a stubborn root from the ground, except your leg is the ground and the bullet is the root.

You hear a small, metallic clink when he drops the bullet to the floor, and although you were definitely bleeding before when Matt had made the first cut the absence of the bullet has renewed the flow of warm blood down your thigh. Rather hurriedly, Matt dresses your leg with cotton and gauze, and you can feel the bleeding slow as new sinew and muscle forms in the empty space where the bullet was.

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>>4274430

“Wait a second.” Bernard interrupts. “Why couldn’t you just let me teleport it out?”

“Cause I’m not letting you touch Ellie’s leg with unsanitary hands.”

“But I did it before.” The teleporter points out, and he realizes a moment too soon what he’d said, as Matt’s face considerably darkens.

“You did what?” Is the response that comes through gritted teeth. The way he’s gripping onto the scalpel suggests he’s not-at-all happy at finding out that you got shot a second time, but, given that Bernard could’ve died from a shot at such close range, it was better that you take the bullet instead.

“We got the bullet out.” You tell Matt as you prop yourself up against the bed. “Which reminds me-- did you know that everyone at FutureLabs carries guns?”

Matt shakes his head, which is what leads you into the topic on how everybody was out to kill you-- including the scientists. Given that whoever tries to escape from FutureLabs has seen what goes on in its facilities, you’re certain that they do not want anyone (intruders included) to carry the knowledge to the outside world; and, since the mutants are in their custody, FutureLabs can kill with absolutely no repercussions.

Plausible deniability at its best, you think.

So wrapped up in telling Matt about FutureLabs, you forgot to ask him how the conference went, but you’re completely exhausted from the night you just had.

>What do you do?
>Ask him when you’re more awake
>Ask him about it now in full detail
>write-in

>>4274465
>Ask him when you’re more awake

>>4274465
>Cliffnotes version. Major bullet points now, and we can go into detail tomorrow.

>>4274465
Backing >>4274494

>>4274465
"I don't think just leaking the footage on Youtube will be enough. We should break into the Konisburg news station and broadcast it to everybody in the city. That way Futurelabs can't just delete the footage from the internet before it spreads."

>>4274494
>>4274504

“How did the conference go?” Although you don’t really want the full scoop at the moment, the general details will be enough until you’re more awake.

“The feds ended up giving FutureLabs another chance to get their stuff together, but it was honestly a real shitshow.” Matt informs you. “Atticus Charles showed up. He was a dick.” That’s not surprising to you at all.

He looks like he wants to say something else, but, from off to the side, you can both see Bernard’s eyes are drooping as he’s trying and failing to stay conscious. “Both of you honestly look terrible, so we can talk about it tomorrow when John’s not home— the footage too.”

You end up unpacking and leaving the stuff you had from the mission with Matt, shifting back to normal before unlocking the door and saying goodnight to Matt.

While making your way back to your room, you hear the padding of footsteps from behind you, as Bernard is walking in the direction opposite of the closet with the air-mattress, so you wonder if the blonde had just lost his way in the dark or was too groggy to notice.

However, when you turn around, there’s a hollow look to his purple-bagged eyes that starkly contrasts with his light-toned skin. It's a look that goes further than just typical exhaustion, and it fills you with concern for the blonde that had been through a great deal tonight.

>What do you do?
>Ask him if he’s alright.
>Help him to his closet.
>write-in

>>4274593

Didn't realize this post was here cause didn't refresh the page before updating.

Just noticed it now.

>Op's rartedness strikes again

>>4274653
"We'll get them out of there. And if the footage isn't enough to get them out, we'll do it ourselves."

>>4274653
>Ask him if he’s alright.

>>4274653
>Ask him if he’s alright.
This better not be Conduit's secret actual ability

>>4274810

Conduit is an accelerationist NEET whose only desire is to make bombs and mentally pester his mummy for chicken nuggies all day.

His power range is a good fifty feet due to the fact that he's rarely exercised it outside of closed quarters and does not include the ability to completely take over people's minds.

Also, he has no need to frig stuff up with the M-Guard; even though he still loves Pharos' ideals, Pharos isn't around to "accelerate" the Konigsburg situation, so the M-Guard messing stuff up is the best he's going to get in terms of stirring the metaphorical shit-pot.

>>4274653
>Ask him if he’s alright.

>>4274653
>Ask him if he’s alright

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>>4275904
>>4275877
>>4274810
>>4274745

“Bernard, are you alright?” Your voice is a low whisper in the dark hallway, the only noise being the ticking of a clock, before Bernard breaks the silence.

“I dunno. I guess it just hit me right now…” He says. “…That I could’ve died.”

Oh. You think, understanding dawning. Of course Bernard would be troubled by that— any normal person would be shaken had they had a gun shot at them. However, you guys get shot at all the time when you’re doing your mutant business, and it never seemed to trouble him at all, which is why you suspect that there must be some other reason as to why he seems particularly disturbed.

“I know was kinda stupid of me that I fell for that Ursula’s trick, but, if you weren’t there, that would’ve been it.” Had she killed Bernard in the end, she probably wouldn’t have felt one shred of remorse afterwards, which is why you still don’t feel bad about breaking her arm.

“And I mean, I know it’s over now, but who would’ve known if I died besides you and stickface?”

You don’t know what to say to that, because his words confirm what you’ve been suspecting the whole time you had known him as a friend— that you and Matt are the only people he has.

Still, for Bernard to finally admit this to you, it takes you wholly by surprise.

>>4276466

What’s more surprising is when lean arms wrap themselves around you in a hug.

There's an unspoken message of gratitude in the gesture, as gangly limbs attempt to express their thanks. And, although it's a little awkward because Bernard is taller than you, it is also warm and sincere.

When he untangles himself from the hug, you notice that he looks a little better, some of the light having returned to his eyes. The rest is nothing a good night of sleep can’t fix, and the two of you bid each other goodnight, parting ways to your respective rooms.

Settling beneath the covers and closing your eyes, it’s easy for the exhaustion to overtake you, and you fall into a deep, content slumber.

didn't want this ending up so touchy but I've always thought Bernard to be a hugger
Off-topic: Anyone's states/regions/wherever reopened yet?

>(2/3)

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>>4276581

The next day sees you, Matt, and Bernard gathered at the kitchen table like generals discussing the tides of war, where the three of you are ready to discuss the happenings of the night prior.

Having woken up at the crack of noon, you’re the last one at the table, the only thing having woken you up being the sunlight shining directly into your eyes.

>What do you start talking about?
>The footage; Matt would definitely like to know what he’s going to see
>The files and hard drive; not even you know what’s there, but you want to find out and see what you can make of it
>The conference; while it’s still fresh on Matt’s mind

>>4276586
>The conference; while it’s still fresh on Matt’s mind

nothing else degrades with time

nothing reopening yet here, sadly

>>4276586
>>The conference; while it’s still fresh on Matt’s mind.

In steps, which is probably the best bet, honestly.

>>4276586
>The conference; while it’s still fresh on Matt’s mind

>>4276586
>The conference; while it’s still fresh on Matt’s mind

We will continue this discussion of conference habbenings tomorrow, kings.

Feel free to theorize the many ways on how we will make FutureLabs get rekt and how they will try to get us rekt.

We should hijack the local news and broadcast a short clip highlighting all the horrible stuff we found to everyone in town. Once people know the video exists, spread it as far through the internet as we can. Chances are Futurelabs will take down all our posts, but by that time it will have been copied, mirrored and spread to everyone in the country, or even the world. And sent copies of the footage to every news outlet we can. One of them is bound to be not corrupt and actually do their duty to the public.

Also do all our internet stuff through proxies, public internet and cheap burner laptops/tablets so we don't get tracked back home.

>>4277138
Considering that the antimutant stuff is only in Konigsburg, if we send the info to news stations outside Konigsburg the info will get out to the entire country and then the FBI pretty fast. It would be harder to broadcast it inside Konigsburg, but it would be possible.

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>>4276640
>>4276621
>>4276600
>>4276595

Since it’s still fresh on Matt’s mind, you guys decide to discuss the city council, because you’ve been waiting to hear all about it since you came home last night. Once that topic’s been agreed on, your brother doesn’t need any further prompting to begin his information dump.

“Well, I should probably tell you guys that they talked about us.” Matt begins. “Everyone basically knows we’re all school-age kids, and they have a general idea of our powers— I mean that I’m still classified as a mutant, and the official power they have listed for me is a danger sense or some shit like that, cause we always get to the fights before them.”

“So what else did they have to say about us?” You ask, scooting your chair further towards the table.

“Apparently, if you guys weren’t mutants, you would be getting charged for trespassing on the bank, because it’s federal property, and the sentence for that is either a fine, imprisonment, or both. I imagine it's worse cause it's a bank and not like an office, base, or anything like that.” Since the cameras were all shot and you hadn’t actually taken anything, you have to wonder how much of a case the authorities could actually make against you.

“All of this bull over standin’ around some gold?” Bernard huffs, obviously displeased at the newfound information. “We didn’t do anythin’ wrong.”

“That’s the government for you, Bernard.”

“But I think the feds are more pissed over how Atticus Charles has been managing the police force.” Mismanaging is more like it, you think, not wanting to interrupt. “Did you know that they sent more police after us than they kept at the bank after we got Jenna out— freaking retards.” The remark at the end makes you quirk a grin.

Judging by the look on his face, it seems like Matt wants to move on to the next topic. However, you should probably ask Matt something else before he moves off the subject of you guys, or the M-Guard more specifically.

>What do you ask?
>”They haven't figured out who we are yet, have they?”
>”Did Atticus Charles have anything to say about us specifically?”
>”What does this mean for us?”
>write-in

>>4277874
>”Did Atticus Charles have anything to say about us specifically?”
>”What does this mean for us?”

>Apparently, if you guys weren’t mutants, you would be getting charged for trespassing on the bank

does this mean we're off the hook because we're muties, or they're coming after us even harder because we're muties?

>>4277874
>”Did Atticus Charles have anything to say about us specifically?”

>>4277874
>”They haven't figured out who we are yet, have they?”

>>4277925

So and so, because the government has no scientific understanding of mutants.

The most they've been told is that mutants are unstable variants of humans, and the fact that they're not equipped to deal with them is pretty much the reason that they're still giving FutureLabs another chance.

Once the feds realize what's actually going on, they will pretty much forget that some crazy kids happened to skip into a federal bank cause underground human lab, amirite?

>>4277925
>>4277944

”Did Atticus Charles have anything to say about us specifically?” Is what you ask.

“He did, actually. He said we’re impeding mutant safety by not letting the mutants get taken away.” You find that ironic, considering Atticus Charles is the one behind all of the people experimenting on mutants deep underground. And to think you have proof of it now!

Matt also mentions that before you guys started deliberately going after mutants FutureLabs would catch up to thirty mutants in any given month. In the last month-and-a-half, however, their count had amounted to a measly four. Inevitable as it may be— that some mutants will inevitably fall through the cracks of your notice— four is a far cry from the many more that FutureLabs was kidnapping prior.

“They’re actually going to start dedicating a task force to specifically deal with us.” Something about that strikes you as not good. Not good at all. “They didn’t go into specifics though, because it’s something that needs to be discussed between the police force and FutureLabs.” And that’s all Matt was able to get from the matter. It’s something you’ll definitely keep in mind when going out from now on— not that the goons from FutureLabs weren’t trying to shoot and capture you before, but an actual task force meant to take the three of you down means that they will only be more aggressive and more persistent in their methods.

“I actually got to meet him.” Matt’s voice shakes you from your thoughts, your slight unease replaced with shock.

“What?” You’re not sure if it was you or Bernard who had said that, as you were thinking the same thing.

>(1/?)

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>>4278458

“It was mostly with John, and they eventually started talking about me and my grades and what I was doing after high school. He offered me an internship from now until the end of the summer.”
“What did you say?”

“No. What do you think Ellie?” He looks affronted that you even asked him the question.

Aside from the fact that you don’t need Matt to be your extra set of eyes in FutureLabs (nor would you want him to be), you also know that he has absolutely no interest for research or anything related to what FutureLabs does.

“So wait you said it was a shitshow last night, stickface.” Bernard interrupts. “Where was the shitshow?”

“I was getting there.” Matt says. “Midway through the conference, about half the crowd there tried to publicly call out Atticus Charles for the particle accelerator incident.”

That makes sense, because you remember reading sometime after the incident that a lot of people ended up dying; some ended up mysteriously ill, dying soon afterward because their bodies couldn’t take the radiation; some had their bodies simply implode on instant before their loved ones’ eyes; others just simply fell limp, lifeless on the spot, like puppets with their strings cut loose. Though these circumstances ended up affecting only small percentage the blast’s victims (about 0.01% to be exact), death is death, and the man who is responsible for that still runs free.

As Matt had been saying, some of the crowd had tried to incite a citizens arrest on Atticus Charles but ultimately failed due to the high presence of cops at the council. Lawyers among the crowd had presented a case against him in full detail, but Atticus Charles denied any and all allegations of the particle accelerator being the cause of anyone’s deaths with every plausible scientific excuse in the book— water pollution, air, pollution, poor physical or mental condition of the deceased— even going so far as to ask for proof in the form of autopsy samples from bodies that no longer exist.

Even the CEO of Huber Enterprises had been among the crowd of people clamoring and vying for Atticus Charles’ arrest, and Matt had described the look on his face as one of pure fury.

Huber Enterprises is one of the largest non-science-based companies in Konigsburg, so of course you would recognize the name. It seems like everyone from the everyday-man to the biggest businessman has a bone to pick with the untouchable doctor.

>(2/?)

body imploding is like pic related

We might have a lead with the Huber CEO. What are the odds he has a family member in the labs?

>>4278477

“Oh. And there was a heckler. I got video of it.” Matt then pulls out his phone and quickly scrolls into his camera roll, holding it out for you to see.

He had to hold the phone at his side so John wouldn’t notice what he was doing, but you can clearly hear the voice of a young man shouting over Atticus Charles’ words.

“Bullshit!” The voice shouts. “Freaking bullshit!” And then it devolves into a highly passionate one-man chant. “Mutant rights are human rights! Mutant rights are human r—“ The heckler is cut off by pained screams, followed by even more pained screaming.

“He got pepper sprayed, tasered, and dragged out by security. It was pretty tight there, so nobody knows how he actually got in.” As Matt thinks back on the memory, you see a smirk form on his face.

All things considered, that was probably the most amusement he got out of being there. “It was pretty funny.”

You share a laugh with Matt anyways despite feeling bad for the guy. Bernard is laughing too, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. You think for some he looks pretty sobered about the whole thing, and perhaps it's because you did just have a long discussion about some pretty heavy topics. Before you can ask the teleporter if he's okay, he’s back to his usual, smiling self and is laughing along with you and Matt once more.

With the talk of the city council over, there’s more information that you’ve yet to go over, such as the files, hard drive, and ProGo.

But you've been at your seats for quite some time, as you hadn't taken pause even once during the course of the whole discussion.

>What do you do?
>See if anyone wants to go over the hard drive and files
>Take a break for now; the hard drives not going anywhere anytime soon
>Take a break, but get out of the house; clear your mind with a change of scenery
>write-in

For getting out of the house, where do you choose to go?
>The rocky beach; it’s close by and easy
>Howler’s Lake; it’s a bit of a drive, but you haven’t been there in a while
>The cafe; a nice, simple place to hang out together
>write-in

>(3/3)

>>4278566
>See if anyone wants to go over the hard drive and files

>>4278566
>See if anyone wants to go over the hard drive and files
Matt is on the hard drive. Bernard and the MC on files. Make Matt make tea/coffee too.

>>4278559

The odds are none at all.

He's among the crowd of people who have lost family members to the accelerator.

>>4278602
Damn, I was hoping his son is Ceasar

>>4278607

I have a backstory for Caesar, which makes me think I should start making a pastebin for all my side characters.

Long story short, Caesar had a normal, happy life until the accelerator exploded, and, since his mutant features were so prominent, he had to be confined to the house all day. This was torture for him, since it's a monkey's natural instinct to climb and move, as well as a financial burden for his parents (due to diet). He used his powers to get out of the house, which is how he happened upon Blink, who showed him to the Crux.

The Crux was his only manner of human interaction outside his family, and they were all nice to him, so he didn't hesitate to join. Since he was young, he didn't participate in any crime.

He happens to be one of my favorite (Crux) side characters. Him and Pharos.

>>4278607

If you want the full scoop on Huber, his full name is Phillip Huber.

He's the big boss of Huber Enterprises, which is a large banking firm, and he's one of the most prolific people in Konigsburg in terms of money.

He's not a widower though, his wife being named Bianca Huber.

That goes to the pastebin too. Eventually.

>>4278566
>See if anyone wants to go over the hard drive and files

>>4278566
>See if anyone wants to go over the hard drive and files

I'd imagine we'd be pretty motivated after seeing what we did.

>>4278566
>See if anyone wants to go over the hard drive and files

>Lake.

I have to admit car I'm surprised that everyone is so against this guy. Pleasantly surprised, but surprised nonetheless.

Also, speaking of water...

I'm wondering if it's possible that whatever happened could've gotten into the water supply or spread beyong Koningsberg another way...

>>4279294

With how he's kept himself out of the media and public eye and how the media had said virtually nothing about the particle accelerator, people have had a hard time actually pinning Charles for his dickery, and what better place to confront him than a nice, enclosed room in front of some feds?

Of course it didn’t work, but, when you lose a family member and the dickface who’s responsible is right in front of you, what do you have to lose?

The blast's range did affect a city or two outside of Konigsburg, but the cases are so few that it's not even mentioned. By the end of the thread, I should figure out where Konigsburg stands on the USA map-- probably NJ cause it has a lot of coastline.

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>>4279211
>>4278777
>>4278576
>>4278570

Too stubborn to quit now, you want to see the rest of the files through. In fact, you actually feel more motivated than before after going over the city council happenings, your resolve reinvigorated by the fact that there had been people trying to make a stand against Doctor Atticus Charles, and decide that it’s best if you cover the hard drive and files ASAP.

Your energy is contagious, even though everyone seems to be stiff from sitting so long, Matt and Bernard likewise want to get cracking on the files, but you think you’ll get some coffee going for the two of them so that they’re awake as possible for this.

While Matt retrieves the files and hard drive from his room, you fire up a moka pot (because the regular stuff you make for John could never keep you awake when you could drink it), and soon its aroma fills the air as Matt brings his laptop to the table, along with the files and hard drive.

“Coffeeeeeee…” Bernard moans like a zombie as he gratefully takes his cup, while Matt retrieves his without word. Once everyone’s properly caffeinated, the three of you set to work, with Matt working on the hard drive and you and Bernard on the files.

Unclipping the files, you peel off the first page, reading the header of the files.

The Epsilon Trials:

>roll d100 for file content quality
>LET'S DO THIS!!!

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>4279901

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>4279901

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>4279901

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>4279901

test

Crashing kings, so I'll have to skip out for tonight.

In the meantime, roll a d6 for shits and giggles for one of the random drawfaggotries that I happened to never use. Whichever number is the most frequent is the one that gets posted.

>1: Bernard's alternative mask design
>2: A shitpost
>3: Pure cringe a mofo jojo reference
>4: John combs his hair (for once)
>5: The pic that gives you guys the absolute wrong idea
>6: Some weirdo that screams about mutants

Rolled 3 (1d7)

>>4280424
>7: All of the above

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4280424
pls 3 or 5

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4280424
You can’t tease us after that number 5

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>4280424
Here goes.

>>4280507
1d6 anon

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4280553

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4280424
Random roll roulette referendum

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4280424
Hope it's 5

Shit...

Was hoping that either #5 or #1 won but looks like we tying for #6 or #3.

Kind of tempted to roll myself but too paranoid that the result will be crappy, so, unless there's a break in the tie before, 13:00 UTC, I'll roll a d2 to decide between cringe and weirdo.