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

[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?

text

[maybe_a_king]

Forgive me if I implied you didn't. That was rude of me and for that I apologize. That was not what I meant, Miss.

I'm simply pointing out the fact there are many people here who will go looking for this place in the hope of saving them or finding out what happened. We were told we were meant to be heroes and clearly there is something down there that should not be.

If we--[Because Arturia knows she would try to go after them. She is at least that self aware, even if what Reiko says hits close to home.]--go in on our own, we will wind up like your friends, or worse. What I am suggesting is trying to be open with us about what went on and including us in any attempts at a rescue to help stave off any further tragedy from others blindly rushing in.

text

[notifwhen]

[Well, she seems to be slightly pacified? If you can detect that over text.]

That's why we're trying to tell you guys NOT to rush in!

I don't know why you seem to think we're keeping it a secret. We know as much as you do, with maybe an extra who-knows how long of Brainstorm yelling at Orpheus over navigating.

text

[maybe_a_king]

It feels like it with the first response being not to rush in when replying to us here.

Perhaps, with the Network back up, posting an a proper announcement to answer questions and tell us what we need to know would be better in pacifying the crowd? Many of us are still upset and angry over the Anoli's attack, many of us are injured, and many are afraid or simply want to feel as if we're managing to do something against threats such as these.

So please, when you yourself have had a moment to breathe, will you tell us: Where is this place? When was it discovered? Why was the exploration done at the same time as the Tournament? And, most of all, how we can begin to help you get them back?

text

[greyerrant]

I think I have an idea where this might have taken place. At least... the start of an idea. We should look to the Mictlan.

Re: text

[maybe_a_king]

I've already suggested so several times. It's either there or we scour around for some kind of cave system as that place was clearly underground. Perhaps find and follow a stream of some kind?

text

[greyerrant]

Possibly. I intend to gather some trustworthy warriors and at least one technical adept and infiltrate it, if possible, and effect a rescue of our hosts.

[ He'll leave the decision of volunteering for this kind of thing in her hands, however. ]

text

[maybe_a_king]

I would like to go if I am healed by that time. [Duh.]

However, if we wait until things calm down a bit, we might be able to get more answers and not rush in so blindly. I am speaking with Miss Reiko about the issue at the moment and will give you details as soon as I am able.

text

[greyerrant]

You would be welcome to come, but do you think your uncle would object? [ Though if it came down to it he's unsure if he'd side with Arturia or Mordred over the issue. ]

A wise decision. 'Information is victory' as Guilliman once wrote. Just be aware that if we wait too long, they may be irretrievably lost to us.

[ Though a small part of him wonders if that might not be for the best regarding Brainstorm. ]

text

[notifwhen]

How many times do I have to tell you guys not to go running in on your own?! Σ(▼□▼ )

text

[greyerrant]

I am Astartes. We're the first into any battle.

text

[notifwhen]

This isn't a battle! From here on out, it's a rescue mission! You can't just run right into these things.

[hypocrisy thy name is reiko]

Re: text

[greyerrant]

It is a battle, specifically an exfiltration.

text

[notifwhen]

It's not a battle!（＞д＜）

text

[maybe_a_king]

Mr. Loken, please. She is right. At the very least we should wait until some have healed. Yes, you are Astartes, but most of us are not and we should be prepared. I hate it as much as you, but she is right. We need to wait a few days before we try, even if to ensure we have as many warriors as possible.

text

[notifwhen]

We've been more concerned with trying to find out what happened to our friends.

You don't know what that place is? I thought it was obvious that it was Mictlan.

As for the timing, I can't say it was my idea. But we had to do something soon.

text

[maybe_a_king]

I assumed so and many are guessing that. However, I thought it best to get confirmation first so I thank you for that. It is appreciated.

Could you tell us why there was a rush? And what did you intend to do? Many have explored the Mictlan, including myself, and found ourselves unable to get beyond the surface of it.

text

[notifwhen]

The others said they had a dream about some kind of door, and had to go that night. Q thought it was a message from the ghost kid, so we did the best we could with what we had. You all know how that turned out.

text

[maybe_a_king]

Ghost kid? Do you mean the boy from just after the Scorpion Incident?

text

[notifwhen]

Yep, that's the one! He's shown up at our lab a lot since then.

text

[maybe_a_king]

Really? Does he still only appear within reflections?

text

[notifwhen]

Mostly. The lab has a lot of reflective surfaces, but since they're mostly metal, they always look a bit warped.

text

[maybe_a_king]

And you've gotten to be friends with him? Does he have a name?

text

[notifwhen]

I don't know if you could really call him a friend. He just sort of shows up every now and then. He's never said anything to us, until those dreams.