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

[catphishing]

You really think we can outrun that thing?

[They're safer here. Maybe it makes them cowards to crouch down here while the others fight, but Connor's so new. He doesn't dare leave him, so he just clutches his wrist, keeping him by his side.]

[sadgay]

No, not really. But if it starts coming this way I'm sure as hell not going to stick around waiting for it to ax me. And neither are you. [His head stays down and his eyes stay closed. His breath continues to come rapidly, running away from him, and he can't seem to rein it in. He feels like he isn't getting enough air, like there are holes in his lungs leaking all the air he's gulping down. All he can do his hold his hand to his temple, press his shoulder into Oliver's, and pray to all the gods he doesn't believe in that this will be over soon.]

[catphishing]

[That clearly hadn't been helpful. He regrets his words almost immediately. It isn't easy having to dive head first into a mission, and Oliver of all people should be able to appreciate that. He puts an arm around Connor's shoulder, pulling him in close.]

It's okay. Breathe for me, Connor. Just keep breathing slow.

[If the minotaur comes in their direction now they won't even hear it coming, but he tries not to think too hard about that.]

[sadgay]

[Although he cannot purge the tension from his shoulders, he allows himself to sink into Oliver. He sputters as if trying to stay afloat, as if nearly drowning although his feet never leave dry land, but after several long moments of concerted effort, he does manage to slow and deepen his erratic breaths little by little.] It's not... [He gulps in more air.] It's not okay, it's not-- God, I don't wanna die. [This is not the first time Oliver has seen him so worn down that all the mess inside spills out, nor is it the first time he has used him as a crutch when he doesn't know what else he can do. While a part of him is grateful for Oliver's steady presence at his side in this moment, another part of him cannot help but be ashamed to let Oliver see him in such a state. He had rejected Connor, after all: he wasn't his problem to take care of anymore.]

[catphishing]

You're not going to die.

[He really hopes that doesn't turn out to be a lie. The sounds of the battle sound closer than he remembers, but he doesn't dare move from where he is to check.]

If I can survive eight months here then you're not going to be gored on your first day.

[He really regrets saying that. Somehow he doesn't think that joke's going to land as well as he thought it would when it was still in his head.]

[sadgay]

[The timing and delivery on the joke is awful, but he manages a weak imitation of a laugh, little more than a breath that falls more sharply than the rest, which have become more steady by the minute.]

You underestimate my enormously shitty luck.

[He lets his eyes open as he keeps forcing deep, ravenous breaths into his lungs, and in a moment of weakness he allows his head to lay on Oliver's shoulder. He wonders how the other man can remain so steady while disaster sweeps around them, how he can have such stalwart faith that they will make it through this alive.]

[catphishing]

[The truth is Oliver doesn't feel very steady. He doesn't feel steady at all.

His heart is pounding in his chest and keeping his own breathing in check is a struggle. He doesn't know with any certainty that they're going to survive, but Connor needs to believe that he does.

The only thing that is keeping him grounded is that, and the contact does help ground him. The weight of his head and familiar smell is nice. It helps him pretend they aren't constantly at risk of being charged at should the robot come their way. He can't think of another joke, or anything light to say. He just squeezes Connor's shoulder, resting his face in Connor's hair.]

We'll see.

[sadgay]

[They must make a strange scene to stumble upon, the two of them huddling behind a heap of desiccated bones and curled into one another. The others would think him useless: he knows that some already think as much, and frankly he cannot argue with their assessment. Helplessness is a feeling against which he had fought so hard that he nearly forgot what it was like, until that night nearly a year ago when everything unraveled. Now it seems to grow more familiar day by day.

All he can do is mumble noncommittally against Oliver's shoulder and keep breathing, in and out in a rhythm made steady only by force. In an out, while beyond their hiding place the battle rages on and the minotaur is worn down; in and out, while he tries to vanish from his surroundings, but for Oliver beside him.]