( MEMES ) TEST DRIVE >> 004.

[contagio]

THE TEST DRIVE



Like it or not, you've been dragged from your world into the sanctum. It's a pretty nice city, all things considered--sci-fi, high-tech, glamourous.... Except, of course, for the giant dome encircling it, and the threat of glitching, contaminated zombies at your door. Looks like humanity's built itself a fortress that looks suspiciously like a cage, too. 

The object of this meme is to get people familiar with the world of the Sanctum, and to try to see if their characters would fit in a sci-fi utopia such as this. Here are your options:
1. Intro: Waking Up. Make your intro post, folks. You wake up in a strange place, and get a strange transmission to go with it. There's a pair of glasses connected to some sort of communications network, but otherwise not much else in the room with you. What are you going to do? 

2. Environmental Glitching. Last time you looked outside, it was a fairly standard winter day: a few low clouds, not much sunshine, maybe a little snow on the ground. Nothing to write home about, other than the fact that it was all created by advanced technology. Now? Blizzard conditions in an artificial winter, under an artificial sky. People are trapped, frozen in, and the Militia is engaging in rescue operations in multiple Districts. Are you going to help your fellow man? Provide shelter or assist with digging people out of the snow? Or are you going to do something else? It's up to you. 

3. A Serial Killer on the Loose. Several months ago, the Sanctum was terrorized by a serial killer known as XXX. Immune and Survivor alike fell victim. XXX was eventually caught and brought to justice...only the news stations are reporting that XXX has escaped, and Immune have gone missing overnight. Do you keep a low profile, or find safety in numbers? Do you try to seek out the serial killer, or do some digging of a different sort?

4. Memory Glitch. Yesterday there was a parade through District Two that turned into an anti-Bifrons protest. Today? Anyone you mention it to either has no idea what you're talking about or is making a good show of feigning ignorance and concern for your mental stability. Has your memory been tampered with? Or are you truly losing it?

5. Military Training. Everyone's got to start somewhere. You're training the green folks, maybe you're one of the newcomers yourself. Maybe you haven't even touched a gun before in your life. Either way, you'd better start now.

6. Network Glitches. Strange messages are coming through the network, embedded in posts from other users. Beyond anonymous and completely untraceable, these posters claim that Bifrons has changed more about you than you know. It's suggested that you look into past dealings with Kilo to gain better understanding of what you're up against. Do you investigate?

7. Wildcard. Choose your own adventure or create a cocktail from the presented options! The choice is YOURS.

Comments

3

[tearmeanewone]

A)

[The door swings open, and Elizabeth tucks the maglock key back into her breast pocket. Well, the necessity of breaking and entering apparently hadn't changed much, but the methods had certainly received an upgrade.]

[After a moment's pause, Elizabeth enters the room and starts looking around. This was the site of the second-to-most-recent disappearance, the first one was still teeming with security and investigators. She didn't expect to uncover much, obviously, but there was always a chance.]

[She starts with the blacklight.]



B)

[Well, what did she have to lose, really? Out of anybody, she was probably the least afraid of dying.]

[Tranq darts and crossbow in hand, Elizabeth makes very carefully mapped rounds of Immune residential areas, starting with District 02. Or maybe XXX would just find her, either way--]

You sure you should be doin' this?

[Elizabeth's radio came to life, Booker's voice coming through crackly as it always did. She spared a glance down at it, then refocused.]

It's what I did before I wound up here, sneaking around, smacking splicers before they shot me. It's kind of comforting.

Or you have a death wish.

[That was a little too close to the mark for her liking, but what was she supposed to do? Tell the voice in her head that it was wrong?]

Or I could do some good somewhere. I'm smart and fast enough for it.

That, I'm not gonna argue with.

[Elizabeth smiles from her shadowed corner and tucks her radio away before moving forward.]



((OOC: Either way, she's doing some pretty shifty stuff. Interrupt? 8D))

A

[complicatedliar]

[And finds Loki, just leaning against one of the walls. As if it's the most natural thing in the world and he belongs here.]

I'd no idea this was the new party spot for the Sanctum.

[tearmeanewone]

[It's immediately obvious that Elizabeth has had the life scared out of her-- but to her credit, she does train her crossbow almost immediately on him before she really takes stock of what she's seeing. Once she realizes it's not who she thought it might be, she lowers it. At least it's only loaded with tranq darts.]

God, you scared the life out of me. [She frowns.] Some party, unless we're not the only ones here...?

Lucy-B091 | Halo

[reengineered]

2

[Lucy isn't entirely sure why she's not that cold. It's adrenaline, she thinks, not bothering to try to process the significance of body chemistry and her enhancements in making sure that she doesn't stop, won't stop until the last person is accounted for. Not a hero, not really, not in the conventional way. Why would she ever look at herself like that? It's better to see herself as she is: tough, capable, fragile n a level no one needs know about, but completely and utterly durable otherwise. She is an instrument through which to achieve success, and that's what matters right now.

A hand out, maybe even two, she pulls people from drifts, steadies them and guides them to safer ground when they lack the ability to trudge over themselves. She pushes through doors, chips away at ice and digs, digs, until she gets people to safety.

In a brief lull, she pauses to catch her breath, looking up to the artificial sky and huffing a bit. Just another day of surviving, she thinks. Though she's in her own little world for a moment, she soon acknowledges anyone nearby with a small nod before getting back to her task.]


5

[You start with a gun in hand, looking at it in a confused manner, perhaps curious, perhaps frightened. Everyone does. But maybe you're more advanced than that. Either way, Lucy looks at you with a stern expression, not bothering to speak as she delicately repositions your gun and gives you a nod. She seems about to speak, but hesitates, moving down the short line and making sure everyone is ready. It's a dummy exercise, no real shots fired, but if your position is good and you understand the gun, you'll get a small comment of approval when all is said and done. It's her job to teach people to be fighters.]

Nice job.

[It's spoken quietly, but firmly enough that you know it's sincere.]


[OOC; Canon point is during Glasslands, shortly after her confrontation with Dr. Halsey.]

5

[solarpanels]

[practice is no excuse to slack off, and though they're a little irked that they're being corrected -- they know what they're doing -- it's simple to turn back on the necessary mindset. needing to prove themselves, to obey and rise beyond. stay in line, hold fire, every time you miss the area you will do...

and then dialing it back down when it's all done, flashing the woman a quick smile.]

You think? What do I have to do to get a "great" job?

[reengineered]

[Lucy pauses for a moment, looking somewhere between contemplative and stern. She's used to the super serious sort, and she wants everyone to be up to level. Of course, even now she's been held back, can't use her Spartan abilities, can't do what she does best to the limit she usually would, but she'll keep trying and play to her own strengths. That said, she won't go easy on anyone. Sparing of words, almost hesitant when she does speak, Lucy gives her analysis.]

Shoot straighter.

[Because everyone could stand to improve.]

2

[mind_ovr_matter]

[ One of the trade-offs to being as privileged as she is to be a Bifrons employee is the necessity to expend her time and effort when it comes to things like this clean-up effort. It isn't exactly the kind of thing she'd been looking forward to doing, but it turns out that it isn't too bad. It's cold, but it's good to put a friendly face to the corporation and show the citizenry that it cares.

She happens to be passing by the young woman when her eyes focus on Caitlin and Caitlin returns the small nod when it's offered. ]

Hello.

[reengineered]

[Friendly face. Yeah. Okay, it's still just weird being around somewhat normal folks. She looks like she doesn't know what to say for a moment, but she forces out a response.]

Hello. You're fine?

[A little gesture indicates the situation at hand.]

Damon Baird | Gears of War

[declassify]

2) [It's easy, Baird thinks as he trudges through the snow, a shovel in hand, to forget how much snow sucks. Not that he can talk too much, after all, snow is snow is snow no matter the planet, but he's not exactly used to it. Not after running around the coast with beaches and palm trees reminding him just how warm it can actually be, even during the cold months. It's why he's bundled up in his gear, goggles pulled over his eyes, with a fluffy hat on his head.

It's perfectly fashionable and functional, don't judge him.

When he approaches a door, or some other location where he thinks a person is, he trudges a path there (because shoveling takes effort and he's not putting that into anything until he makes sure someone is there to need it), and bangs his fist against the door or nearest surface to get someone's attention.]

Hey! Anyone in there?

5)

[There's few things Baird will grumble at, training isn't usually one of them. There is a benefit to knowing how your weapon kicks and aims, the mechanics to it and how to compensate for them. It's basic science and mechanics and Baird knows those things, right down to a T really.

But there is something to be said for being treated like he's a newbie to the squad with no experience what so ever. Yeah sure, this isn't home, this isn't the fight against the Locust, but the concept is the same. Point the dangerous end at the enemy and pull the trigger until they stop twitching, stupid simple and even the most thick headed could figure it out.

So being treated like he knows nothing, well, that's enough to make him scoff and grumble under his breath to the person next to him.]

It's like they think it's rocket science, which I could tell you, it's not.

2

[complicatedliar]

[If he just ignores you, will you go away? Probably not. Annoying. Very annoying. Because this means he'll have to move house again. Next time, he's going to find a place that looks completely condemned from the outside. Maybe then he won't have any random visitors.

But Loki does recognize this one as a fellow Immune. And all of the Immune are at least potential allies, since none of them have much of a reason to like Bifrons or its sycophants.

So fine. He opens the door.]

Are you lost?

steph brown (crau) >> dcu

[controlledvariable]

2

[All Steph can think is that she's so glad her Batgirl suit came along on this little trip with her. The insulation and internal heating is incredibly helpful when there's a damn blizzard going on outside, especially when she's trying to help people. She's also grateful she got used to the snow in the past few months, it makes moving through it easier, although it never got quite this bad.

Still, there are people that need help, so Batgirl is out in the snow, sometimes working alongside the Miltia, sometimes searching the snow drifts on her own, hauling people out and wrapping them in her cape until she can get them somewhere safe. It's exhausting work and just a little depressing, but she won't stop until her legs give out under her.

5.

[Being tossed into a new, strange city with zombies lurking outside isn't what Steph wanted, and the best way she has to deal with that is to throw herself into training.

Dressed in civvies, workout clothes to be exact, she still clearly doesn't need the training so much as she just seems eager to use the facilities. She's even proficient with firearms, but her preferred spot is sparring against the training instructors or finding a punching bag to beat the shit out of. She's quick and just a little ruthless, not worrying too much about hurting the instructors opposite her or hurting herself on the equipment.

She just has a lot of anger she needs to work out.]

7

[When she isn't throwing herself into training, Steph spends most of her time exploring the city either as herself, or as Batgirl. She feels a little like she's outgrown the latter, but until she has the resources to make herself a new uniform, she'll stick with the identity, because in a new place she isn't planning to be so open about who she is, just in case.

It's Batgirl that patrols the well off districts, keeping an eye out for anyone in case they're in danger, and it's Batgirl that responds to any official requests for the Immune to help. The suit, her weapons, they make her better equipped for that sort of thing.

It's Steph who spends her time in the poor districts, talking to people and investigating what she can about the government, the Immune, the Dystrophy and anything that she thinks might help this world, or help get her home. She blends in as best she can, but sometimes it's hard to hide that she isn't local. Especially when she lends her other skills to people who need it, taking a first aid kit to District Four and offering medical assistance to anyone who needs it. It doesn't feel like enough, but it's the least she can do.

On the rare occasions she allows herself to relax, she can usually be found in a bar somewhere, lingering over one or two drinks for the night. She never gets drunk, she's just there because it gets her out of her head for a little while.

And it sure as hell beats being alone.]

5

[stopmjolnirtime]

[ Day in, day out, the militia trainees- try. They try. Some of them to better than others, some are better suited to the ranged weaponry than group tactics, but most are a sad, sad hand at close quarters combat. The dependence upon guns has made the idea of protecting themselves with their fists absurd to most and tis this mentality that leaves Thor fit to weep out of exasperation at least once or twice a session. How is he to teach them anything if they've no true desire to learn?

Any new faces are welcome. Those that can handle themselves in hand to hand? Doubly so. One as skilled and efficient and brutal as this young warrior? He calls a halt to all other drills and rounds them up to watch her beat one of his fellows into the ground for the third time despite the size and weight difference. ]

And that, young warriors, is why tis vital to master these techniques. My Lady- [ Thor extends a hand to the beaten instructor, helping them up. ] Have you patience for another bout?

what a perfect username

[controlledvariable]

It's just Steph.

[She knows she's just been used as a demonstration, so she might as well give him her name, rather than be called My Lady. Not that she seems particularly bothered by it; there's more amusement in her tone than anything else, even as she checks the wrappings on her hands and takes a step back so the instructor can get up without her hovering.]

And sure, if you think you can handle it.

[No matter how angry and worn out by all this she is, Steph refuses to stop being a little shit.]

ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ ɢʟɪᴛᴄʜ; ʀᴏʟᴇ ʀᴇᴠᴇʀsᴀʟ

[echopraxia]

( it isn't actually unusual for benevenuta - vanessza, as she introduced herself upon arrival, a hungarian expat in france who seems to take things sometimes too much in stride - to give somebody a politely blank look and inform them, apologetically, that she hasn't got a clue what they're talking about. it is further not at all unusual for this to result in intense frustration on the other person's part, either convinced that they're losing their minds or that she must know, she must be lying, and--

--well, it's usually that she's lying. she's become so very good at it that not lying, even when she wishes to, is difficult; something uncomfortable that doesn't come naturally to her. she parts with true information about herself like a queen bestowing favours, hoards it otherwise like the fiercest of dragons, and really dislikes the sudden, worrying idea that perhaps that most sacred of things (her mind, her memory-- more than four centuries of history, of choices and control) has been tampered with. because she doesn't know what they're talking about, and their certainty is chillingly familiar. she's stood here, shrugging helplessly in the face of such conviction before: it has never been genuine. so she doesn't know, but--

maybe she should.

maybe that's something she should be pursuing.

maybe, after work, it's time to start digging through to see who else does or does not remember the things someone seems to think she really ought to. ask a few discreet questions. widen her eyes a little, flex her fingers like she's nervous, press her hand to her chest and catch her breath in a clever mimicry of startlement-- the pursuit of truth might take her down paths she hadn't intended "vanessza" to so directly explore, but that's fine. she gives good "in over her head". )

Sorry, I-- someone gives me your name. ( her english is accented, but decisive if not always entirely correct. )

[goddamngrenades]

[ While he'd expected it to become a shitshow in short order once the farmhands from District 4 showed up to offer their support a full on protest and near riot was not what he'd thought he'd be cleaning up after. At least it'd been a relatively peaceful protest until security arrived. Then it'd become a real shit show. That no one else seems to remember it except the odd anomaly? Doesn't surprise him as much anymore.

Live through one memory rewipe you stop expecting the sanctity of your mind to mean anything. He's in the fourth district for the night, checking in with the people he'd seen get the worst of security's attention when she approaches. Nerves are normal in this district, normal under the dome, but that someone's been passing his name around? Makes him wonder what she'd been asking after. ]

You've been looking for York- or Foxtrot 12? [ One's him, one's his arms dealing handle. Either's appropriate in this district. Someone as nervous as her probably could use a concealed pistol or tazer, he has a few on hand if that's what she wants. ] Either way, I'm your man.

[ He offers a hand and what he hopes to be a winning smile. ]

How can I help you?

[echopraxia]

( ...well, that's convenient; she'd been looking for both of those men, as it happens: one for information, one for, good guess, a gun. she's not helpless without one, but she has become accustomed to being able to kneecap a motherfucker and run, over the years. )

Ah-- well, then, for you.

( she hesitates-- not uncertain of what to say, precisely, but seeming to decide whether or not she's going to say it, now she's come this far. )

You were mentioned to me, I have been-- not asking questions about riots. Listening to questions.

( learning what the questions are, first. )

Epsilon | Red vs. Blue

[differentsideofmyself]

[Well... This voice may be familiar. Seeing as anyone that's spoken to Church is unlikely to be able to tell the difference.]

Well...

Isn't this just fucking great? Really. I'm so thrilled to be here. Honored in fact. Nothing like the fun of getting dragged into someone else's bullshit like this. [That annoyance and sarcasm. It's burning.]

And if you believe any of what I just said? You're on the level of Caboose. Advice? You really don't want to be on that level. I mean, he's not bad... But he's not the brightest guy either.

At any rate, has anyone seen a woman named Carolina around? Red hair, green eyes, sea foam green armor, and very good at kicking ass? I somehow got separated from her when I got given this human body.

Sis, if you get this? Please respond. [Okay, yea, well normally, he wouldn't be saying that publicly, but he needs to check on her, damn it.]

((OOC: Sorry about the repost. Needed to check something))

Voice

[ghostthatlingers]

[This voice is going to sound awfully familiar as well and she's never had the joy of meeting Epsilon so count her as confused. She knows Church is here and isn't dumb enough to ask a bunch of questions he already knows the answer to, so who the hell is this? Sound kind of AI if they've been given a human body...]

Who wants to know?

[just_monitoring]

I'm possibly familiar with a Carolina by that description. [BB sounds congenial enough, but he's wary. This guy sounds like a piece and a half of angry and that much unbridled emotion puts the AI on edge. No good came from brash decisions in a moment of emotional outburst.]

[goddamngrenades]

Sis? Since when is she your-

[ What the hell. What the ever loving- he thought he'd had enough of this jackass but apparently he's decided he does, in fact, know Carolina. Or that he's remembered. And now he's acting all surprised.

Fantastic. ]

Church, you know she's here, she lives across the hall from you.

Epsilon | Red vs. Blue

[pastdoesntdefine]

Epsilon? [Pay no attention to the sheer relief beneath the words that follow] You would complain about having a human body. As least they didn't find you a mongoose instead.

..really. Sis? [On an unsecure line? He must have be worried.]

lara croft → tomb raider

[crofts]

2.
( Wake up in a strange place and suddenly, blizzards.

Blizzards. Those certainly inspire fond memories, don't they? It's not even a specific thought or internal dialogue, but Lara has the feeling of sarcasm, and that's about enough. The sudden change is disturbing as well, uncomfortable and unpleasant beyond the conditions themselves.

What was it Reyes had said? Something about her being bad luck, people around her coming to bad ends. It was one thing to be in Yamatai, another to be here, but both in succession and both with this weather was making her start to think it was her. She shivers, tells herself that she didn't but that she really needs to find warmth, and try to get her bearings. So far there did seem to be one perk: not everyone who saw her here wanted her dead.

That didn't keep her from keeping a sharp grip on her pickaxe. Information, that's what I need.

However, she did have the sneaking suspicion that would require climbing. Everything lately seemed to require climbing, although the weather didn't really lend itself to getting a good outlook. )

Warmth, then.

( To herself, one arm across her abdomen and gripping the other (which is still gripping that pickaxe, yes) as she tries to push through a snow in ragged, bloodied clothes that aren't really up to the task.

Lara Croft: She makes good life choices. )

[wibblywobblytimeywimey]

[Hold on, bloodied and ragged armed woman trudging angrily through the snow? Not something the Doctor can resist. (Well, he can't resist someone in trouble, and she certainly is. The other attributes only serve to be both concerning and curious.)

He's not the most cautious in his approach, giant coat big on his gangly form and goggles obscuring part of his face, a hand on his head to keep the hood from flopping off as he bounds through the snow.]

Ahoy there! [Wait, that would be more appropriate if they were on the sea. Oh well, he's said it. Roll with it.] Excuse me, sorry, you look like you're in a spot of bother. A couple of spots. [Is that blood hers or someone else's?]

Come on then, let's get you inside before you turn into a popsicle. Would you like my coat? There's practically room enough for two in here.

Raptor Red

[swift_seizer]

2.

[ Yesterday it was sunny and warm outside. Today there are heaps of snow piled high. Red has seen snow in this volume before, but never quite so suddenly-- and never after a hot day.

She still isn't fully accustomed to the idea that humans wear clothes to protect themselves from detrimental weather (or that they just wear them in general...) and thus she ventures out butt ass naked into the thick of it. The uncomfortable cold does not dissuade her from climbing up a snowy embankment... and then rolling down it while squealing with laughter. ]

[petitions]

[South Dakota is headed back to her workspace after ironing out threatening with violence a disagreement with a vendor, but she has to stop and stare at her friend for a moment in sheer and utter amusement. The sudden wintry downfall was a shock, but it hadn't taken South long to whip something together so she wouldn't freeze. Obviously this wasn't something Red had stopped to consider.]

Hey. Red. Polar Bear club meets at the lake.