#hs: invaders

[burningm0th]

There does seem to be to be a duct system. How are you with tight spaces?

-lsk

This wasn't the first time [HS] had crawled through an air duct to get to where they needed to be.

...Though with any luck, it at least might be their last.

Surveillance is what corporate beasts like HR Tech do best, which makes the probability of successfully sneaking in through the front door basically zero. So in through the air ducts it is.

They wouldn't exactly call themself claustrophobic, but the sight of an accessible exit grate from within the vents was still a welcome one.

◈ ⪯That's going to put you in the hallway. Easy in.⪰

◇ So not an office or anything? We can probably get deeper into the building than that, can't we?

◈ ⪯There's another grate to what appears to be a central lab a little further ahead, but I. Hm. I mean if there are staff here right now, they're more likely to be in a more critical space like that, and we're trying not to get you killed. That's way too risky.⪰

◇ A central lab has got to be a huge lead though. We should be able to assess whatever's going on in there through the grate itself, right? That won't necessarily reveal us...

What does [HS] do?

◇ Continue towards the lab grate

◈ Exit promptly into the hallway

Voting ended onAug 28, 2024

[burningm0th]

[HS] examines the equipment strewn about the lab.

...And all of it looks more expensive than they're used to.

On the one hand, it looks like there's electric microscopes, chemical storage equipment, heating utensils--just the things one might expect in any sort of science lab. It's so standard that they're certain one of these cabinets must contain PPE--goggles, aprons, gloves and the like.

Then there's also the more... mechanical things around the room. [HS] can only imagine the things must serve some insane, specialized series of purposes. Structures of levers and arms and cables, affixed to the tables and powered by hidden sources.

They decide they aren't going to touch those.

Quickly scanning the room again, they're able to discern which counter the person in the coat had taken something from. The space is largely empty save for a few scattered hand tools--tweezers, scalpels, and what looks to be a soldering iron. They're all sat a little ways away from a sizeable built-in sink.

...Wait a moment. It looks like there's something in the sink as well. It's so small, they almost didn't notice it amidst such hulking equipment--a tiny vial, about two centimeters in length, full of something... red.

◇ ...What on earth?

◈ ⪯What?⪰

◇ Found something. Should I--?

◈ ⪯Ah. Eh--hm. I... can't recommend that, no.⪰

◇ What, do you know what it is?

◈ ⪯...Well. Maybe.⪰

What does [HS] do?

◇ Take the vial

◈ Leave it

Voting ended onSep 5, 2024

[burningm0th]

[HS] continues towards the lab grate, determined to get closer to the action.

...Or whatever theoretical action may lie ahead, that is.

They crawl forwards until another light source reveals itself, and sure enough it's another grate. With the right angle, they're able to see through its openings into the central lab.

And in doing so, [HS] was just in time to witness the end of a white coat trail out of view, followed by the slamming of a door. Their heart skipped a beat or two; that must have been an employee. But now, the lab's been left unattended...

◇ ...Phew. Look, we've got an opening, let's hurry.

◈ ⪯PLEASE hold off for like a second, [HS]. We know somebody else is here now, we should REALLY wait until the coast is clear. What are you going to do if they come back right away?⪰

◇ Er... hide.

◈ ⪯Hide--???⪰

What does [HS] do?

◇ Hurry into the lab and find a hiding spot

◈ Wait and see if the coast really is clear

Voting ended onAug 30, 2024

[burningm0th]

[HS] waits to see if the coast is really clear, at the behest of their Squip.

...And thank goodness they did. Mere moments later the door to the central lab opened once more and the very same person in that trailing white coat came strolling back in, muttering... something.

"--awareness need to be triggered beforehand..? Maybe. Version seven's approach to maintaining the consciousness is significantly different than its predecessors... here we go."

[HS] can only see so much through the grate, but as best they can tell the person in the lab coat trots to the counter at the other end of the room and takes something. Shortly afterwards, the person leaves a second time. And this time, they seem to stay gone for good.

...They find themself reminded of the Squip 'hierarchy' they've heard so much about, the way some units are granted just leagues of authority over others. They shudder.

◇ ...Alright, let's move.

Into the lab they go! While bright in comparison to the ventilation shafts, the room itself is rather dimly lit. Miscellaneous equipment is strewn about, and some sort of computer terminal sits at the far end of the room.

While no longer in as much of a rush--

◈ ⪯--Moving quickly with intent is key here. Where should we start?⪰

What does [HS] do?

◇ Examine the equipment

◈ Attempt connecting to the terminal

Voting ended onSep 3, 2024