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piper902021-01-14 07:28 pm
piper90npcs) wrote in piper902021-01-14 07:28 pm
Jorgmund Emergency Announcement
[In the middle of the night, when even the night watch shifts should be pacing through the dorm area, there’s a peal of noise from the communicators impossible to ignore or sleep through. It’s clearly an alarm of some sort, like tornado alerts back on Earth. It goes on for solid three minutes, long enough for everyone to move on from being woken by it to loathing it, before a message shows up on the communicators-
-and the doorways out of each of the dorms are sealed with a semi-translucent forcefield.
On the communicator screen, Richard Washburn shows up and straightens his tie.]
Hello, employees. Believe me, I’m not any happier about this midnight interruption than you are, but we’re currently in a state of – mild – emergency. I don’t want anyone to get overly excited, but until the situation is resolved, you will remain in your dorms. Depending on how long this takes, all activities scheduled for tomorrow morning have been suspended.
The reason for this is that we have an intruder in your living quarters. We have this footage from a few weeks ago.
[A new image shows up on the communicator: a security camera video of a Santa Claus with a line of the highest executive-level parents and their small children waiting to tell him their wishlist. A little girl in pigtails and a sparkly t-shirt of a Christmas tree hops up onto his lap.
“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa says, and he boops her nose. “Aren’t you a peach? Tell me, little one. What would you like for Christmas?”
“I want a big plastic spider!” the girl says excitedly.
“A creepy little child, aren’t you? Well, that’s just swell, because that’s my favorite flavor,” Santa says, and then – blurry on the security camera footage – transforms into a mass of black goo, latching onto the little girl’s face and suctioning to stay on. The child’s mother screams and yanks her daughter away, and the footage shows pure pandemonium as some parents lunge forward to help the mother with her daughter while other parents snatch their own children and start running. In all the chaos, the black goo vanishes.
Washburn flicks the footage away and reappears on the screen.]
Thankfully, there were no fatalities in this incident, and after we couldn’t find any evidence of the attacker, we assumed that it was a freak incident of the Stuff. However, there was recently another unsuccessful attack on a teenager by this same creature posing as one of the tutors on the Rig, and then again on another thankfully unharmed child disguised as another child, and then on another child under the guise of a children’s television show host named “Mr. Rogers”, and tonight-
[He takes a deep breath, annoyed, as if this is somehow the Hires’ faults.]
-tonight we found a security breach to your floor, and we have good reason to believe that the shapeshifter is posing as one of you.
We know this: we know it poses as figures appealing to children, so for obvious reasons, you won’t be allowed anywhere near any Jorgmund staff whatsoever until this is resolved. We know that its ability to disguise itself is relatively seamless. And we know that it preys on minors.
If you can determine who among you isn’t at all appealing to children, we can consider releasing you from your dorm and discussing next steps to search out whoever’s been replaced.
If this starts taking long enough that it jeopardizes the Jorgmund’s mission, we may start taking more drastic measures to ensure that we aren’t harboring any imposters.
I’ll keep you updated if you keep me updated.
-and the doorways out of each of the dorms are sealed with a semi-translucent forcefield.
On the communicator screen, Richard Washburn shows up and straightens his tie.]
Hello, employees. Believe me, I’m not any happier about this midnight interruption than you are, but we’re currently in a state of – mild – emergency. I don’t want anyone to get overly excited, but until the situation is resolved, you will remain in your dorms. Depending on how long this takes, all activities scheduled for tomorrow morning have been suspended.
The reason for this is that we have an intruder in your living quarters. We have this footage from a few weeks ago.
[A new image shows up on the communicator: a security camera video of a Santa Claus with a line of the highest executive-level parents and their small children waiting to tell him their wishlist. A little girl in pigtails and a sparkly t-shirt of a Christmas tree hops up onto his lap.
“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa says, and he boops her nose. “Aren’t you a peach? Tell me, little one. What would you like for Christmas?”
“I want a big plastic spider!” the girl says excitedly.
“A creepy little child, aren’t you? Well, that’s just swell, because that’s my favorite flavor,” Santa says, and then – blurry on the security camera footage – transforms into a mass of black goo, latching onto the little girl’s face and suctioning to stay on. The child’s mother screams and yanks her daughter away, and the footage shows pure pandemonium as some parents lunge forward to help the mother with her daughter while other parents snatch their own children and start running. In all the chaos, the black goo vanishes.
Washburn flicks the footage away and reappears on the screen.]
Thankfully, there were no fatalities in this incident, and after we couldn’t find any evidence of the attacker, we assumed that it was a freak incident of the Stuff. However, there was recently another unsuccessful attack on a teenager by this same creature posing as one of the tutors on the Rig, and then again on another thankfully unharmed child disguised as another child, and then on another child under the guise of a children’s television show host named “Mr. Rogers”, and tonight-
[He takes a deep breath, annoyed, as if this is somehow the Hires’ faults.]
-tonight we found a security breach to your floor, and we have good reason to believe that the shapeshifter is posing as one of you.
We know this: we know it poses as figures appealing to children, so for obvious reasons, you won’t be allowed anywhere near any Jorgmund staff whatsoever until this is resolved. We know that its ability to disguise itself is relatively seamless. And we know that it preys on minors.
If you can determine who among you isn’t at all appealing to children, we can consider releasing you from your dorm and discussing next steps to search out whoever’s been replaced.
If this starts taking long enough that it jeopardizes the Jorgmund’s mission, we may start taking more drastic measures to ensure that we aren’t harboring any imposters.
I’ll keep you updated if you keep me updated.
no subject
[ Another classic dad line. ]
no subject
[ There is an audible kick to his shin. ]
Y'know what you are? You're a fuckin' parody of yourself.
no subject
no subject
[ South doesn't interject throughout the rest of the conversation, but she does roll her eyes and mock-gag in places. By the time York's talking about Delta she has the decency to look awkward, at least, but she still just huffs at the look North gives her.
She's surprised that Delta didn't appear at the mention of his name or York's troubles, and actually jumps a little when he projects afterwards instead. ]
Fucking hell, you little—
I would also like to pass on a warning to Theta.
[ South squints at him. ]
no subject
no subject
[ Delta's hologram moves over to Theta. ]
South's mindscape is... unique. It is in extreme contrast to what I, personally, was used to with York and will no doubt differ similarly to what you are used to with North. Her mind is loud and notably hostile and her feelings toward us [ AI ] are extremely obvious.
Oh my g— really, Delta? I already said the kid didn't have to do mine if he really didn't want to, fuckin...
Yes. However, if Theta chooses to do so because he feels it is important, he should be made aware of what he is choosing to do.
no subject
Okay. Thank you, Delta.
We should talk more.
no subject
Yes, Theta, we should.
[ He looks at South. She rolls her eyes. ]
Whatever. I'm not gonna stop you two talking. Long as you don't like, wake me up or any shit like that.
[ Whilst she never exactly said they couldn't talk before, she's not exactly been facilitating it, so this is technically an improvement. Technically. ]
no subject
[ North smiles. ]
I think they just made your day, didn't they, Theta?
They did.
no subject
[ South has a comment on the tip of her tongue about how it'll at least stop York being able to pester her as much about letting Delta talk to people... but she chooses not to voice it, after that. Closes her mouth before a single word comes out. ]
That is good to hear, Theta. If it will help with your apprehension about leaving North, I will also continue to project and vocalise during the verification process.
no subject
Really? I'd really appreciate that, thank you, Delta.
no subject
It is the least that I can do, seeing as I am unable to aid in the process myself.
That one isn't even my fault, I didn't actually tell them to put you in that thing.
Regardless. I am unable to act in Theta's place and so I will instead do what I can to help in a less direct fashion.
no subject
[ Theta gives a long look at Delta. ]
I think I'll do it.
no subject
I will remain visible at all times and I can assure you that outside of any damage done by my absence, York's mind is a safe place to be.
[ South turns her head away to roll her eyes at that. ]
At least if we can get cleared I can get out there. Can't leave you behind if I do though, Delta, might actually need you.
[ That and if York's cleared too and she left him, he could steal him. Or North could just hand him over, she knows well where he stands even if they haven't talked about it. ]
I am aware. Once Theta is safely returned to North's implants for the final time, I will be prepared to assist elsewhere.
no subject
[ When the guards arrive they're all prepared and raring to go. ]