REBOOTING NETWORK...

[stringmods]

DATA UPGRADE COMPLETE

> Connecting to network. Current Time 1:11 1/28/10AC
> colonyzero is operational and online
> Audio playback operational
> Video playback operational
> Eruditio protocols perficiendis

LOADING 100%
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> Searching databanks
> One(1) Video Playback available
> WARNING Recording appears to be unstable. Data may be corrupted.

PLAY? この後、後戻りはありません...

Y/N
> Y

LOADING RECORDING.
T▋ME ΙΖ:ΩΙ Ι/Ζ▋/Ι▋A▋

[The feed turns on. It seems to be a recording that the nanomachines are picking up - but the sound is distorted. The voices echo and the lighting is dim at best. There's a persona lighting the the way, but most of what you can see and hear is water. Rows and rows of waterfalls are reflecting the reddish night of the 13th hour. Strange glowing mushrooms provide most of the light that isn't from the four figures walking forward.

The video stops and static causes it to skips ahead. The roar of the waterfalls is now even closer, and the camera shakes constantly to the rhythm of footsteps.


The area they are at it gigantic. More than forty feet, the giant robotic figure behind them is not having any troubles moving along with them. It is easy to guess that this is Brainstorm. The cloaked figure, Orpheus. The pointed hat, McGonagall. Someone else behind her, and it looks to be Q.

For some reason half of the Seven are here during the 13th hour...]

▋░░░▋▋▋░▋▋▋ don't like ▋▋░▋░ look ▋▋░▋░▋▋░░░▋. ▋▋░▋░▋▋░░░▋ door suddenly appear ░░░▋▋▋░▋▋▋▋░▋░an ▋▋░▋░ of the open ▋▋░▋░▋▋░░░ 13th hour ▋▋░░░▋░▋▋░ ill omen.

[That sounded like Orpheus' voice]

While ▋░▋▋░ I would agree ░▋▋▋░▋▋▋▋░, ░▋▋▋░▋▋▋▋░▋▋░▋░▋▋ cannot wait,▋▋░▋░▋▋▋▋░▋░▋▋░░░▋░▋░▋▋▋▋░▋░ opportunity will ░▋▋▋▋░▋▋░▋░. Fortune favors the bold,░▋▋▋▋░▋▋░▋░. ▋░▋░▋▋▋▋░▋░▋ perhaps another message ▋▋░▋░▋▋░░░▋░▋▋░░░▋▋▋░░░ ghostly fellow...

[And that was Q...]

Regardless, ▋▋░▋░▋▋░░░▋░▋▋░░░▋▋▋░░ carefully, lest this is a trap. ▋░▋▋░░░▋▋▋░ enough bloodshed ░▋▋░░░▋░▋▋░░ tournaments ▋▋▋░▋░▋▋░░░▋░▋░▋...

[Mcgonagall]

▋▋▋░▋░▋▋░░░▋░▋░▋ is just one blasted surprise after another. ▋░░░▋░▋▋░░░▋▋▋░▋▋░░░▋░ checked to ▋▋░▋░▋▋░░░▋ fool of a mayor ▋░░░▋░▋▋░░░▋▋▋░▋▋░░░ spreading any more asinine rumors.

[If the condescension didn't give Brainstorm away, the mechanical resonation of his voice would have.]

▋▋░▋░▋▋░░▋░░░▋▋▋░ agree with Q. ▋░░░▋▋▋░░▋▋░░░▋▋▋░▋▋░░ figure out ░▋▋░░░▋▋▋░▋▋░░ being asked ░▋▋░░░▋▋▋░▋▋░░. ░▋▋░░░▋░▋▋░ there are no monsters yet.

[Wait who was that voice? Those who had meet or conversed with Eiichiro would recognize him, and understand that the recording came from his own nanomachines. That would explain why the camera was shaking so much.]

░▋▋░░░▋░▋▋░ Jinx the expedition! ░▋▋░░░▋░▋▋░ what ░░▋▋▋░░▋▋░░ and creatures lurk only ready to--

[And Orpheus again]

--oh do stop ▋▋░▋░▋▋░░▋░░ prattle of yours! ▋▋▋░░▋▋░░░▋ move on...

[Q rightfully interjecting.]

ERROR FEED U▩STABLE DATA INF▩RMATION.
> REPAIRING

90/100
▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋░▋

> DATA L▩AD COMPLET▩
> PRESS TO CONTIN▩E

[The video flickers off again, and suddenly the sound of the waterfalls is behind them.

There is now a large door, with strange cryptic runes that look more like a mixture of different human civilization and culture than a single entity. Greek-Egyptian pillars, writing that doesn't seem to match any language current or past on earth known. Aztec and Japanese-style paintings on the wall.

It's hard to see, and the feed seems to be getting worse and worse.

There is, however a symbol appearing before them]

> REPAIRING _

[The feed flickers again and it seems that the door was somehow opened, and they area already inside.

This time it is much easier to see. There are strange glowing crystals lighting up the room.

Looking around, humanoid figures are forming a circle, pointing to it. And in the dead front, three ten feet tall statues of strange creatures.

There is deadly silence.

Wait...

...is one of the statues starting to mov--

The feed cuts again.]

ERROR ERROR ERROR FEED UNSTABLE DATA INFORMATION.
> REPAIRING

> CONTINUING FEED
> PRESS TO CONTINUE⌛▋▋??▋

[Some time seems to have passed. Eiichiro appears to be breathing heavily with one hand being healed by Q's persona. It looks like they were locked in battle. The statues are still there, but have changed position.]

▋▋▋░░▋▋░░░▋ over?

[And now a pedestal rises from underground, the glow from the center crystal blinding even the view for a few seconds. When you can see it again, it appears to be a strange block spinning in the air.]

▋▋▋░░▋▋░░░▋ personally ▋▋░▋▋░▋▋▋▋░░▋▋░▋ want to--

[Suddenly the feed cracks and pops, and flashes of images appear in rapid succession.]

MINERVA! HOLD ▋▋░▋▋▋▋░░▋▋ HAND!

[That was Q's voice. Frantic.

The crystal has expanded. It looks like a large glowing white mass- and in another change, it seems like both Minerva and Q were pulled inside by gigantic white tendrils.]

▋▋▋░░▋▋ really, ▋▋▋░░░ all it has ░░░▋▋▋▋░? ░░░▋▋▋▋░░░▋▋░░▋▋ blasted tentacles, I swear I wonder why I work ░░▋▋░░▋▋ people ▋▋▋░░░▋ sometimes...

[There's the sound of an energy weapon discharging a few times, then a pained noise from Brainstorm.]

▋▋▋░░░▋ Stop that! No! I'm ▋░░ smart to die ▋░░ ▋▋▋░░░▋▋░!

[It grabs both him and Orpheus and they disappear.

The camera flickers again, as another tentacle comes closer to the view, and then violently grabs Eiichiro by the leg before dragging him into the white light--]

ERROR LOST CONTACT!
ERROR LOST CONTACT!
ERROR LOST CONTACT!
ERROR LOST CONTACT!

[...and then the feed shuts down completely.]

> ...REPLAY? _

[Note: This video will be available in the databanks, so if your character is still out cold, they can find out about this later.]

Comments

[Video]

[pistolsakimbo]

[...Rune's voice is very soft and shaky, still trying to absorb everything she'd just seen.]

...I-I think we're in trouble now...

Re: [Video]

[greyerrant]

We are not. But they are. Ferrus, where did this signal originate from?

text;

[drakenguard]

I don't believe this.

I thought the seven were supposed to have some intelligence between them? Oh, yes, some mysterious temple that has been locked by an unknown power has decided to open its doors. Let us transverse its depths without reconnaissance or telling anyone.

I wouldn't be surprised if they all died. However Brainstorm's obnoxiousness is nigh immortal so who knows.

[NOT SYMPATHETIC OR WORRIED IN THE SLIGHTEST]

[Text]

[blitzkriegzwei]

Ordinarily I'd be inclined to chide you for speaking that way about the Seven, but you do present a good point. If not for this video record, we would have no idea what happened to them, or at least not till one of the remaining Seven told us what happened. Their lack of foresight makes me uneasy.

text

[putonagoodshow]

we'll put your complaints on their gravestones, how about that

[Sorry Yamato, he may like you like you, but now is Not The Time.]

[Text]

[blitzkriegzwei]

...So we've lost a large portion of the Seven.

I suppose our next mission is going to be to retrieve them?

At least the Network's back up.

Re: [Text]

[greyerrant]

That was my assumption, yes.

[Voice]

[sageprincess]

[A sigh, and then a quiet voice, still weakened by injury.]

I do not suppose anyone knows where this mysterious cavern is...? It appeared as though they were traversing during the 13th Hour.

[Voice]

[whereibelong]

I was about to ask the same thing. Is it somewhere in the city...?

[But it was so huge...] Or under it, maybe?

[Voice]

[stolemylook]

...idiots.

[Yeah, there's a bit of bitterness in Dark Pit's voice, but at the same time...]

So. Who's going after them, and when?

[forceofnature]

Just a regular ol' eager beaver, aren't you?

How about 'you' and 'right now'? Go, Pittoo, go, Pittoo, go~!

[voice]

[forceofnature]

Ooh, very snazzy. Eldritch abominations always add some pep to the plot.

Is it time to build another Lunar Sanctum? I think it's time to build another Lunar Sanctum.

[itsfromtheshow]

Don't even hesitate to ask for help. Moon-based space stations happen to be a technical specialty, child!

[NOT HERE]

[primordial]

[HE'S STILL TOO HURT TO TALK but this is either very, very good, or very, very bad.]

[Hopefully leaning towards good because HEY IT'S LIKE HIS FAMILY HE NEVER THOUGHT HE HAD APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE]

[family reunion times please except not really]

[text]

[greatseal]

[Normally, one or two comments in poor taste Minako could ignore, but this is her best friend's father. Her best friend who isn't here to worry about him. And after recent events... that kind of thing stings more than it should.]

Could we all please stop making light of this situation? Four people are missing and in serious danger. That's what we need to focus on.

[text]

[prototype_blues]

They're probably being light about it to keep themselves from freaking out.

[Just a wild guess, since Blues has no idea what the hell he just watched, Minako.]

[ voice ]

[gforceinmyfaaaace]

What did I just watch...?

[ Pit still sounds very groggy and tired, and he probably shouldn't be dallying on the network in his condition, but, hey. A hero's a hero no matter how badly beaten up he is.

That, and Pit is nosy and bored. Laying around in the hospital is not his idea of a good time. ]

Voice

[ontheirside]

Thaaat doesn't look so good.

Good thing this city's full of Superheroes who'll just jump at a chance to fight off Oswald the Octopus there and carry out an epic rescue mission.

[Not him, of course, noooo.]

Voice

[dancingonapin]

You mean the hospital full of superheroes? I believe many of them are currently decommissioned. It's a shame, really.

[He personally isn't finding himself so concerned or involved as he is just amused by everything happening.]

video

[von_schweetz]

Is that supposed to happen? That looked like it wasn't supposed to happen...

text

[notifwhen]

It's not supposed to happen.

But don't worry. We're going to fix it.

[Video]

[flyonadog]

[...well, Rock looks flat-out freaked out by this, but he tries to make himself look serious. It doesn't work very well, though, considering just how easily that thing took out that big robot.]

W-well, I'm not sure what that was that got those people, but I'll help find out if I can. I'm built for this kind of thing.

[text - anonymous]

[prototype_blues]

No.

You're not.

[Audio]

[not_that_scary]

[Mother of fuck, were those TENTACLES?]

Damn, it was like looking into the abyss back in Morrigu Barrow Wall. [Cubia...] Fuck, is that thing trying to invade this place? What was it?

[Text]

[maybe_a_king]

[Because she's too tired to do this through voice, even if typing one handed is hard.]

Will we be told of the location of this place in order to organize a rescue or will another small band of people stumble upon it with perhaps even less preparation as the Seven?

text

[notifwhen]

Look.

We did our best with what we had!

The government had their focus on the tournament because they were worried about the Anoli's immediate threat. We are trained Persona-users, scientists, and fighters. It's not as if we went in completely blind. Would you really expect that of Q or Brainstorm? Or of Ms. McGonagall?

Sometimes things happen that you didn't anticipate. A demon that was hiding before suddenly decides it wants to eat you. Or the Anoli end up being more than you could handle. Do you expect us to be able to tell the future?

[Watching But Not Here]

[themortalhalf]

[ Well, shit. ]

Text

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Guys, I'm sure they're not trying to keep us in the dark on purpose.

But Ideo, if you didn't want us to get involved, it's a little late. People are going to want answers or at least try to help. Everyone here has a means to defend themselves anyway and nobody just wants to sit here and do nothing. At least consider that.

text;

[doesasordered]

Can someone please explain any of what we just saw here

voice;

[spaztastic]

It looks like they've been kidnapped by that... thing.

not here just watching and being team mom--

[destinedwaters]

[...Oh, Light. This didn't remind her of anything at all. But then, if the next thing that takes place is others wanting to help (which she can see plainly)- okay, so she wants to help, too. But still-!]

[Ugh, she needs to get better faster so she can. Also so that she can even help her friends and make sure the more severely injured are looked after, and since others have said what she would have already...]

[video]

[otakuro]

...Corrupted data, huh?

[Well Atsuro's found something to do in the hospital.]

Guys, can someone bring me my laptop from my room? I'm going to try to restore as much of this file as I can.

...
...

...And has anyone figured out who decided to play this file to us? Doesn't this feel a little like how they lure in new victims in horror movies...?

text

[putonagoodshow]

the recording was set to be automatically backed up on the network, as Reiko, Ciel and I were monitoring the situation from base

as for why it automatically played, i have no idea. i managed to get the network up and running while all this was going on, and it just popped up on it's own. we hadn't even gotten all of this video when we were monitoring it live

[video]

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie watches the video with eyes and mouth wide open. When it's over, she blinks, sending a shudder down her spine. Something out those...whatever they were...reminded her of her own death, in another world. Taking a deep breath, Selphie stares into her screen*

We have to get those things.

[Video]

[echo_of_a_jedi]

Do you suppose that's what's inside the Mictlan?

Re: [Video]

[greyerrant]

Yes.

[video]

[selematpagi]

I don't get it! Was this what that guy with the tie and the mask was talking about?

[ These plot twists make her head throb... ]