EVENT ★ LABYRINTH III: THE ESCAPE

[futurologists]

LABYRINTH III The correct passageway to the inner ring of the maze is hidden behind a thick wall of vines. After cutting through the plants, the structure of the maze is noticeably different: the overgrown plants continue creeping up the walls, but the walls are no longer brick and stone, composed instead of some sort of blue metal with holes and divots carved elaborately into the surface. From some holes gush forth pure, clean water; from others, acidic liquid. The air is cool and crisp, the plants creating a lush, dim environment lit by eerie blue lights spread throughout this section. The lizards, rats, and other monstrous creatures seem to be absent from this area of the maze, replaced instead by rhinoceros-sized beetles. The beetles each have a single horn protruding from the head, and their hard carapaces make them difficult to kill -- a better method might be to simply climb somewhere high and wait for the beetle to get bored. But unlike the other monsters encountered in the maze, the beetles seem to have something else on their mind beyond wanton violence: they can sometimes be found rolling massive balls of dung throughout the corridors of the labyrinth. (This might explain why the plants are so lush closer to the center.) There is little time to explore this section of the labyrinth before there's a flicker of light all around and more ALASTAIR recruits suddenly appear, most dressed in a freshly pressed uniform and carrying extra food and supplies. They have been told that the cloaking surrounding Asterion Labyrinth is so strong and complex that Oska was only able to send in a handful of recruits at once for a relief effort. In order to leave, they'll have to locate the escape mechanism that lies deep within the labyrinth; the remaining Asterion Prison correctional officers know its general location, but not precisely what it entails. All they know is that it will require technological cunning to operate and that it's heavily guarded. After five days, the portal room is found. THE PORTAL ROOM The center of the labyrinth is a large, circular room with a raised platform in the middle. On this platform rests a circle of computer consoles surrounding another platform, on which sits an empty circular frame 2.5m (8') in diameter. This is the dormant portal, and it is now Audentes's task to turn it on and find their way back to Oska. Because the portal is not made for interdimensional travel, it must be overclocked, which will cause it to burn out and explode once it is used. In order to override the safety protocols in place to prevent such dangerous tampering, the control panels must be unlocked -- and unfortunately, the locks are all complicated puzzles, ranging from the numerical to sliding pieces into place to complete a pattern. There are many of these puzzled scattered around the portal room, and once they are all unlocked, it's a simple matter of flipping the power override switches. Ignore the dangerous humming sound and the way the frame suddenly fills with violent purple energy. That's probably normal. The new recruits have the correct coordinates to locate Oska, which has temporarily lowered its cloaking shield to allow Audentes to return. So there is a bit of a time crunch. Adding more to the difficulty of the situation is the presence of a monster lumbering around the circular portal room. Six meters (20') high, the beast is best described as a minotaur, but perhaps not in the traditional sense: while it resembles a bipedal bull, it is an amalgamation of flesh and machine with its body covered in pistons and glowing lights. One of its hands is an enormous axe and it belches fire and acid. Despite its head resembling an herbivore, the piles of desiccated bones scattered throughout the portal room tell a different story. Upon seeing the group, the minotaur charges. Mavahari, the Zymandis recruit, rushes to meet it with her sword drawn. Inmates and correctional officers do their best to fight it as well, but something becomes quickly apparent: it cannot be harmed by projectile weapons. The machinery of the beast keeps it protected from most attacks, though electricity will stun it and acid will corrode its metal. But in order to injure the minotaur, it must be stabbed between the metal plates where its vulnerable flesh remains. During the battle, the minotaur fights viciously and without regard for its own safety. The first casualty comes early: the minotaur swings its axe toward Mavahari, who is pushed out of the way by George. The axe connects with him solidly, sending him flying into the wall with a shuddering impact. George lies there still, but there's no time to mourn. The beast continues its rampage. Once the minotaur is defeated, you'll have to quickly decide what to do with the correctional officers and inmates who have followed Audentes through the Asterion Labyrinth. The overclocked portal won't hold forever, and the longer Oska leaves its cloak down, the better chance they have of being found by their enemies. OOC NOTES This log will last for six IC days: five days for exploration and one day at the center of the maze. We have also recently altered the calendar this month, so make sure you review it! IMPORTANT: Participation in the solution poll is mandatory for August AC. Failure to participate will result in an automatic strike. The only exception is for those who are exempt from August AC. The poll will close on 11 August 23:59 UTC. If you have any questions about the labyrinth that aren't answered here, please direct them to the Leramzen dossier. Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ and you may submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

Comments

[sadgay]

[Wow, he said "no offense"...clearly that means he is exempt from dealing with any attitude he might get in return for said offensive statements.

His breath catches and shudders as the shield is knocked and its wielder is pushed back. It's not the close contact with a stranger that he minds so much as the imminent threat of annihilation, His expression twists with the force of his disbelief. Forgive him for finding the whole situation absolutely ridiculous: he comes from a thoroughly mundane world in which creepy labyrinths and giant cyborg monsters are restricted to appearing in movies and the like.]

Oh, great, a freakin' paladin! [He throws his hands up in mock celebration - whoop-dee-doo.] Isn't that some Dungeons and Dragons crap? Where's your sword of plus-one attack, or whatever?

[secondnature]

[What if Voltron were actually a known entity outside of his universe? And Loki's pop culture references (hint: it's been a year and Keith still doesn't know that that's why Loki knows what Voltron is). He makes a frustrated sound and summons his bayard, which appears in his left hand at the moment.]

See, it's a sword. [He asked for the sword and he gets the sword. At the moment, Keith has the vague vague desire to turn it on the guy behind him, because he's rude. Ruder than Keith! Full offense locked and loaded, etc.

He huffs, resting the sword down.]

You've got the wrong idea otherwise. I've only fought a dragon once, and it was ... special circumstances.

[A princess had been turned into a dragon.]

[sadgay]

[Sorry, he was more of a Thundercats sort of kid, but he would likely recognize the name Voltron. (That, however, would introduce a whole new set of things to freak out about.) Connor does not look any more assured for this admission. His voice, which had cracked to a hysterical pitch, now flattens in disbelief.]

You've fought a dragon. You've actually fought a dragon.

[Excuse him while he drags his hands down his face. In that instant, a stray shot of acid rains against Keith's shield, spattering to the ground and gnawing through the metal. This prompts Connor, ever the optimist, to groan:]

Oh god, we're gonna die...

[secondnature]

If you keep sounding like that, of course you're gonna die. Look, we have to move. We can't stay here, because believe it or not, I don't want you to die. [Being hit by acid might be something that wouldn't be so bad, though! Okay, he'd never do that to someone, but the tension that rips through Keith's back makes it clear that he's not happy with the guy he's saving.]

Do you have anything on you? A weapon of some kind? [If not, then it's gonna be up to Keith alone for what comes next. He'll do it. He just needs to know if this guy will listen to him.

Right now, he's banking on a hard no.]

[sadgay]

Of course I don't have a weapon.

[His words rush out like a stampede with the force of his panic. He glances over to the pack of supplies he had been hauling through the labyrinth but had flung from himself once he leaped into hiding. It is heavy enough that theoretically it could be employed as sort of bludgeon, but that would be entirely dependent on the strength of his arms, which at present are trembling and tense. He shakes his head sharply.]

And even if I did have one, you're insane if you think I'm getting anywhere near that thing.

[secondnature]

Why would I shield you from it, and then ask you to fight? [That's the stupidest thing he's ever heard. It doesn't matter if Keith's original question would help Connor along to that exact interpretation. Because it likely would still be an opinion he'd hold.]

I want to get you somewhere safer, but you might need to be able to knock it away as we move. But since you are apparently completely unable to fight, I'll have to improvise. [Is the weird Dungeon and Dragons kid judging him? Probably. Or judging him more.]

[sadgay]

[He hisses out an answer:]

I don't know! Because you're a lunatic in a space suit?

[Thank you for reminding him of how spectacularly useless he is here. He runs his hands through his hair, trying to hide the way they tremble and likely failing in that regard too.]

Fine, okay-- What's the plan, paladin man?

[secondnature]

[It's not the first time today he's had to come up with a plan for this fight. Hopefully the fight itself doesn't last much longer, or he'll have to just start giving up on plans and just start slashing at the acid-spitting, fire-breathing creature that wants to kill all of them. What would've happened if they never got their weapons? Were they supposed to find weapons in the cave?

Keith considers for a moment while another member of Audentes distracts the minotaur.

Then he pulls out a small bag, pushing it toward Connor.]

I'm gonna get you to where the injured are. That way, you can pass out what's in there. I think they can heal. [There are five vials inside of it that indicate as much, but Keith knows that anything can be found in this labyrinth.]

There should be more coverage there. [In case that's not obvious. More coverage likely means more people covering him. It's the best Keith can offer.]

i'm sorry this is so lame HSDKSHD

[sadgay]

[He accepts the pouch that is thrust into his hands and nods dumbly. His mind is sharp: he should be able to think of some way to help, but all the strategies he knows are for the courtroom, not the battlefield.]

Okay...I can do that.

[His words carry no optimism, however.]

So are we going on three, or what?

[secondnature]

[There is one thing that Keith has never known: the right amount of natural fear for a moment like this. He's been sarcastically afraid of Lance's piloting, but the reality is that being stagnant, idle, and purposeless was more terrifying than dangerous situations like this. He can sense that he's dealing with a "civilian." He just hasn't had to worry about someone like that a lot. Everyone who's come off that way—like Sonia, for instance—has turned out to not be that way. She wouldn't be shaking here.

But this guy is, and that says a lot.

So, he tries this, right before it's go time:]

Just keep your eyes on where you're going. Nothing's going to hurt you. I've got you. [Because at least he's confident that he can give his all.

It's something.]

And—on three is good. You can count us when we're ready. [That feels like the right choice.]

[sadgay]

[He catches a glimpse of Keith's face through his visor and realizes for the first time how young his defender is, who would not look out of place sitting in a freshmen level class at Middleton. Eighteen is good enough for the army, yet the absolute confidence with which the younger man carries himself is somehow jarring to Connor, who in this moment feels too weak and insignificant to even remember what confidence feels like - who, when he looks back to those years of his life, sees only a dumb kid.

All he can do is swallow his fear - or try to swallow his fear, because it looms far bigger than him - and nod again.]

Okay... [He picks himself up off his ass and settles into a crouch instead, his muscles poised, ready to release the tight coiled tension and pump with everything they've got.] One...two...

[He counts slowly and shakily, dreading the moment when he must make his legs move.]

...Three.

[And they're off.]

[secondnature]

[Back in Woodhurst, there were a lot of people like Connor. They were scared of the infected. They were scared of what was happening to them. He recalls having to inject the cure into the body of various individuals as they struggled to deal with exactly what was going on with them. He knows exactly how hard it had been, though this is the first time he's really felt it with a teammate. Helping someone like this is why he protects the universe back home, and the timeline here. He knows he's a fighter. Nothing will change that.

As they run, Keith keeps his hand to Connor's back to assure him that he's there, shield held to his right up so that they aren't immediately hit. The minotaur seems to grasp their escape route right at the last few feet, and that's when Keith's hand drops from Connor's back, summoning his bayard back up.]

Go. I've got this.

[He launches himself at the minotaur to ensure that he does, and ensure that Connor can move those extra few feet safely.]

[sadgay]

[Keith's hand hovering at his back is motivation for Connor to push himself to run faster, to ignore the pain throbbing in his leg, the skin of which he had torn in a rather ungraceful fall days earlier. Then suddenly his hand is gone, and Connor makes the mistake of whipping his gaze back over his shoulder.

He sees the minotaur, its ax cleaving the air, its ugly mouth spitting flames, and suddenly his legs forget how to retain their solid state, the sinews seeming to become unbound from the bones, sending him stumbling the last stretch to safety. There he doubles over, slapping his palms to his knees, to try to catch his breath. He fumbles then to open the pouch and extract from it one of the vials that Keith had entrusted him with.

Except he has little idea what purpose the substance inside might serve, and so he looks around with uncertainty clouding his expression.]

Uh...who's hurt?