The Panopticon

SunfallE · May 28, 2007

[COLOR=goldenrod][CENTER][U][SIZE=3][B]Group Four[/B][/SIZE][/U][/CENTER]

Delilah was exhausted. Try as she might she just didn't have the strength to continue. After narrowly escaping being crushed by the boulders coming down she walked almost woodenly next to Brittany and Meredith. Hoping that eventually they would come to a spot where she could rest, or better yet the exit from this insane place. Meredith on the other hand seemed to be enjoying herself as if it was but a walk in the park. An enthusiasm that Delilah did not share. At least not at the moment. The corridor they were in after leaving the cavern was pretty much a plain hallway made of metal with panels of lights in the ceiling every so often. And at the moment it seemed to stretch forever.

"[B]What's the matter with you?[/B]" Meredith finally asked after they had walked in near silence for a while.

"[B]I'm tired.[/B]" Delilah said.

Meredith just grinned. "[B]Well don't let it get to you, I can see a set of doors further down, we'll take a look and see if there's a spot to rest for a moment.[/B]"

When they finally did get to the doors and Meredith opened them, it was better than they could have hoped for. Not only did it appear to be a large enclosed hothouse, but the room was easily hundreds of feet wide and deep, with rows of planters running down from the door straight to the far wall. But what had Delilah nearly in tears from sheer gratitude was that a number of them had fruit trees, with apples, pears and nectarines.

"[B]Hold it![/B]" Meredith commanded when Delilah started moving towards one of the trees. "[B]It's probably a trap of some kind.[/B]"

Delilah didn't care, she grabbed an apple and took a bite. Ignoring Meredith's look of irritation. Maybe she could live on air, but she couldn't. A few minutes later when nothing happened Brittany joined her.

Meredith sighed, "[B]That was really stupid you know. What if something had happened? What if it's poisoned?[/B]"

Delilah sat down on the wall of the planter, next to the tree. "[B]What does it matter? If it's poisoned then I die from poison. If I didn't eat, I'd eventually die from starvation.[/B]" She reasoned.

"[B]Or you'd find the way out and leave this place.[/B]" Meredith reminded her. "[B]It's probably not that far away you know.[/B]"

"[B]Or we find no such thing[/B]." Delilah shot back. "[B]We could be stuck here for the rest of our lives. Don't me there's a way out when you don't know. Let alone that it's probably near here.[/B]"

Delilah pulled back a bit at Meredith's angry expression. She hadn't meant to anger her, but hell! It was likely that they would be stuck here forever! Meredith glared at her for a bit and then finally sighed, coming over to join the two by snatching an apple and eating one herself. She sat down on the edge of the planter just across from them so that they were facing each other. Brittany just stood there calmly eating her apple, ignoring the tension between the two.

"[B]It's simple logic if you think about it. If we were brought here, then there has to be a way out. I wasn't lying, just pointing out the possibilities, that's all.[/B]" She leaned back against the trunk of the tree behind her. "[B]How about we rest here for a bit before heading out okay?[/B]" [/COLOR]

Rachmaninoff · May 28, 2007

[CENTER][SIZE=3][U][B]Group Four[/B][/U][/SIZE][/CENTER]

When Meredith suggested that they rest for a bit she had not expected Delilah to curl up on the grass in the planter next to the apple tree and literally fall asleep. Nor for Brittany to do the same. Even if the hothouse with it's bright lights and peaceful greenery seemed safe didn't mean that it actually was.

Meredith moved to wake both of them and then changed her mind sitting back down. If they really were that tired waking them and forcing them to continue would only cause problems. Instead she finally got back up and turned and walked to the end of the room, checking out the different plants, hunting for anything that could be dangerous, but she didn't see or hear anything.

Meredith didn't like it, so far every place they had been in had been far from harmless. For one of the rooms or areas to not have a trap of some kind didn't make sense. There had to be something. But even she could not sense the true danger, that the very perfume from the flowers had a calming and soothing effect. One that became more pronounced with every breath she took.

By the time she made it back to where the others were Meredith found even herself holding back a yawn or two.[I] I guess a short nap wouldn't hurt. [/I]She thought. Still unaware of the danger, thinking it was safe since for her it was easy to set her internal clock to wake up at a specific time. It was part of her training. Meredith sat down across from the two, leaning back into the same tree she had before. Setting herself to wake in a few hours. Meredith closed her eyes and moments later she too was asleep.

Above them a shimmering could be seen, as if something was moving, but other than a blurring of the ceiling behind what ever it was, nothing else could be seen. It's true from hidden by blending to match the ceiling. Slowly, whatever it was, it started to lower itself towards those that were sleeping below it...

SunfallE · May 28, 2007

[COLOR=goldenrod][CENTER][SIZE=3][U][B]Group Three[/B][/U][/SIZE][/CENTER]

Dafine had been so certain that Sastasha was a shape changer, so positive that he was her enemy. Until she had found herself in his body and found a stranger looking back at her from her own eyes. The look he gave her, one of sheer panic and pain was unmistakable. The same pain she had been experiencing from the poison, that had caused her to collapse when her legs would no longer work.

And when her own question was mirrored in her own voice asking hesitantly, how did I get here? She knew. Dafine knew that she had been wrong. Somehow she was in Sastasha's body and he was now in hers. The others in the group were watching them wondering just what they meant as Dafine and Sastasha stared at each other.

Dafine wanted to howl but could not in this strange new body. Puzzled she reached up when she felt something leaking from her eyes. From Sastasha's eyes.

"[B]Dafine?[/B]" He asked from her body, confusing the others.

Dafine, now in Sastasha's body sank to her knees. "[B]I'm so sorry, Sastasha. I should have believed you.[/B]"

"[B]What's going on?[/B]" Etamet asked warily.

Sastasha reached out with his now furry hand touching Etamet, "[B]Some how we have been switched, Dafine is now in my body and it seems I am in hers.[/B]" He shook as the poison continued to work it's way through Dafine's body.

The others just stared at them, not sure what to believe, wondering just what had happened. Etamet wondered about Dafine's warning about Sastasha being a shape changer. Was it true?

"[B]Please![/B]" Dafine said, even though she knew they didn't seem to believe her, she stood back up, still trying to adjust to the lack of a tail as well as the loss of her balance and smell and apparently better vision. "[B]Whether or not you believe me we have to find something to cure the poison with.[/B]"

Etamet finally nodded and picked up Dafine's body. "[B]All right, we'll sort this out later, but for now we keep going.[/B]"

The group continued grimly, they had left the stone temples behind a long time ago and were now working their way through what appeared to be an underground facility. But for what they didn't know. With long corridors and multiple doors, doors that they checked in hopes of finding something that would help. But most of them were empty. Sometimes they had tables and chairs and boards set up on the walls for writing. Some were obviously forstorage as they had built in shelves along the walls that were empty.But for the most part the metal walls of the hallway and the rooms were devoid of anything that would tell them where they were.

Finally they came to a door that when they opened it, it appeared to lead to a type of lunch room, something that Eliana recognized. With long tables in rows with chairs and the far wall obviously some sort of area for preparing foods.

"[B]In here![/B]" She said excitedly. "[B]If it's anything like my world there will be an emergency medical kit in the kitchen, with a broad spectrum shot for poison.[/B]" Eliana hurried off to find the medical kit.

The others followed her inside. Etamet carefully set Dafine's body down on one of the tables, her breathing ragged from fighting the poison. Sastasha joined them reaching out to take her body's hand.

"[B]Hang in there Sastasha,[/B]" She said, still unaccustomed how strange she sounded and felt from being in his body. "[B]Eliana's getting the antidote.[/B]"

A fact that was confirmed as Eliana hurried back with the kit in hand, opening it quickly and finding the shot inside. Without hesitation she administered it. Her world was often visited by lots of different races so the shot was designed to work with a broad range of species. She only hoped that Dafine's was one of them. And that they were in time. Or was it Sastasha? Since if what they said was true, it was Sastasha who was dying not Dafine. [I]Gods, I hope it works. [/I]She thought.

[CENTER]---------------[/CENTER] [/COLOR]
[SIZE=1][B]OOC:[/B] Naturally, it does work. *pinches Sandy*[/SIZE]

TheResplendent · May 29, 2007

[FONT=Tahoma][color=darkslategray][center][b]Group Two[/b][/center]

Oromis still led the way, though it was obvious to Merik that he wasn't in the same shape as he was before. Lucia could tell as well even from only being amongst the group for about a half an hour. She was greatful for the clothing, even if they were in poor shape. What more could she ask for at this point though? Her geatest relief however was not being around Katar anymore. She didn't know how she ended up where she is now, but she didn't even want to imagine what would be happening to her right now if she was still trapped in that room alone with him.

A few more steps were taken before Oromis stopped short and hunched over in a coughing fit. He covered his mouth with his hands, and after his finished he stared hazily into his hand where the black liquid covered.

[b][i]'What is this stuff doing to my insides? Dammit...'[/b][/i]

[b]"Oromis, I know you're not alright...we should rest..."[/b] Lucia said, though generally unconvinced herself.

[b]"Resting won't help...I'd need an antidote. All things considered i'm probably going to die."[/b] he responded. Merik and Lucia tried to help Oromis walk but he was too heavy. Oromis pushed them lightly away and began walking on his own again, at a struggling pace. Lucia felt bad that there was nothing more she could do to help him, after he had been kind to her. She was afraid that there was nobody sane or willing to help around anymore after all the crazy events that have been happening.

[b]"Man, I can't wait to get out of here. Who knows what my mother and younger brother are thinking with me gone for so long."[/b] Merik said, walking along with his stare fixed to the ground. Lucia turned her head to him, still a bit reluctant to say anything to him after hearing how he wanted to pretty much have sex with her had she been unconscious. Oromis didn't say anything either, but he was never the big talker to begin with.

Minutes later the group came to a large circular room, seemingly made out of metal. The room was covered in dust and the doors were more like gates, like those from gothic architecture. There were two others aside from the one they came through. Both closed, but it was easy to see one led to a small stairway down into a waterway. The sound of the flowing water filled the room and actually made things more calming. The other gate led to what seemed to be a garden, but all that could be seen through the door was a giant hedge with some orange and purple flowers. The two gates were at ten and two from their perspective, making the one they came through at six. In the middle of the room there was a pedestal, with what seemed to be a tray on top of. It was emblazoned with dust so think that it could clog a vacuum cleaner.

Merik walked up to the gate leading to the garden and tried opening it. It was locked. Go figure. Lucia walked to the other one and the same result was found. Oromis just sighed and began walking toward the middle when the sound of the gate behind them crashing down and locking itself grabbed everyone's attention.

[b]"Oh no...you got to be kidding me. What's going to happen now?"[/b] Merik wondered aloud as he paced back and forth about five feet each way. Oromis tried to punch his way through the bars but not only was he too weak to do so, another coughing fit overcame him. This time the black liquid coming from his mouth shot out onto the gate and floor underneathe. He was practically spewing it as he held his chest with his left hand. Lucia ran to Oromis's side and knelt down with him.

[b]"Please hang in there..."[/b] was all she could say, though she wanted to say more.

[b]"Hey guys...you ever seen one of these before?"[/b] Merik's voice called. Lucia looked over at Merik who was standing infront of the center pedestal. She walked over to him and helped blow off the dust. Oromis slowly rose again and followed along.

[b]"It's...a puzzle? No...it's like a battle map or something..."[/b] Merik commented. It was an eight by eight grid with yellow and blue pieces on top of it. They were disarrayed and it appeared as if there were more blue pieces. Each piece had a unique engraving on them but were shaped like helmets. It's what gave Merik the idea that it was some kind of battle.

[b]"It's...odd. It looks similar to a game on my planet called [i]Planera[/i]"[/b] Lucia said as she surveyed the map. The image in the grid was that of a desert with a single stream running through it. In the bottom left most corner though was a forest it seemed. It was a high improbable atmosphere in reality.

[b]"Planera? How is it played?"[/b] Merik asked.

[b]"Well...there are pieces and you have to move them around a board in a strategic fashion. Each piece has it's own area of movement and can't break the rules of their movement. Each piece can capture another piece but only if they are in the path of the attacking piece's movement. The pieces on a Planera board though are marked with numbers and have definitive shapes...that's how you can tell the stronger ones from the weaker ones."[/b] she explained, being a fan of the game herself. She actually used it quite often in therapy sessions with some patients to measure the mental capacity of some of the more intellegent people.

[b]"Hm...sounds a lot like chess or stratego. Games on my planet that involve a similar idea."[/b] Merik added in. [b]"These pieces and the board look completely different though. I can't understand any of these engravings."[/b]\

Oromis walked over to join them. He looked down at the board and just sneered.

[b]"You guys are preoccupied with some stupid game when we should be trying to figure out a way to get through one of these doors. Why not help me with one of th..."[/b]

Oromis's sentence was abruptly interrupted by one of the blue pieces on the board moving on it's own from one space to another. All three looked down, surprised at that happened. The blue piece with the engraving shaped like the letter L with two lines through the middle on a slant had moved to the spot right above the yellow piece with the engraving shaped like a O with two dots below it.

[b]"Uh...what happened?"[/b] Merik asked dumbfoundedly.

[b]"It moved by itself...? Are we supposed to play or something?"[/b] Lucia asked, trying to figure things out.

[b]"We don't even know how to play this game! I mean we both have similar games on our planets but we're pretty much unfamiliar with this one. Besides, who are we playing? The invisible man?"[/b] Merik asked, starting to get a little frustrated.

[b]"Is a piece moving by itself so weird compared to some other things we've seen here?"[/b] Oromis asked rhetorically. [b]"Anyway, I'm not sticking around and playing some dumb game...now help me with this door."[/b]

Oromis took a few steps toward one of the gates and was instantly zapped by a bolt of blue lightning, stunning him and dropping him to the floor.

[b]"Oromis!"[/b] Lucia cried.

Oromis groaned a little and was still stirring. He wasn't dead. It was clear though that something wasn't about to let them try to leave. Lucia and Merik both looked down at the board again.

[b]"You don't think....we have to play to move on, do you?"[/b] Merik asked, his eyes noticing that the light on the board was flashing yellow, where it was flashing blue when they first saw it. It must have meant it was yellow's turn to move. Lucia and Merik counted the pieces, eight blue pieces, six yellow.

[b]"So we already start off losing..."[/b] Lucia mentioned.

[b]"This isn't going to be easy. I still don't have a clue how to move or attack!"[/b] Merik whined. Suddenly a vile of clear liquid dropped from the ceiling from a mechanical hand attached to a leather strap. It caused both Lucia and Merik to jump a little, not knowing what it was at first. Lucia grabbed it in her hand and noticed the note wrapped around it. She used her finger nails to pull it out from the label and opened it and read it. Lucia's eyes grew large and looked toward Oromis.

[b]"It's an antidote! Hold on Oromis!"[/b] Lucia cried out of joy. She tried to take the vile out of the hand's grasp but she was promptly shocked by the same blue lightning that Oromis was, though a significantly smaller force. One meant only to give her a small shock.

[b]"H...hey! You ok?"[/b] Merik asked.

[b]"We...we have to play for the antidote too."[/b] Lucia said as she rubbed her hand. [/color][/FONT]

Sandy · May 29, 2007

[color=DarkSlateBlue][CENTER][U]Group Two[/U][/CENTER]

Merik Jeffers stared at the boardgame. The symbols must've meant something, but neither he or Lucia could figure them out. The stakes were against them from the beginning. It wasn't a fair game, but Merik had come to accept that nothing in this place was fair.

[B]"Okay, let's give it a go"[/B], Merik said, grabbed one of the yellow pawn, and slid it towards a blue one. It only moved two squares until it jammed. Then the blue light switched on, and the blue piece Merik had been aiming moved three squares into the square where the yellow piece was. A small bolt of blue lightning jolted from the blue piece, evaporating the yellow piece into dust.

[B]"Hey!"[/B] Merik groaned. Now that it was their turn again, Merik moved another yellow piece towards a blue one that was only two squares away from it, but this time the yellow piece only moved one square. The blue piece then proceeded to eliminate that piece as well.

[B]"Shit!"[/B] Merik cursed, slamming his fist to the board.

[B]"You have to focus -"[/B] Lucia started, but went quiet after getting a murderous glare from the man. She was constantly glancing behind to Oromis, seeing if the unconscious old man still breathed. She was clutching the vial of antidote desperately.

The stakes were now against them four to eight. Soon there was only one yellow pawn remaining. Merik was sweating and heaving. [I]This game is insane![/I]

[B]"That image of forest in the corner must mean something"[/B], Lucia noted, pointing at the board. [B]"Try to move the last piece there."[/B]

[B]"Sure, [I]now[/I] you're ready to help"[/B], Merik muttered. That dumb bitch had only been a deadweight for them from the moment she had appeared in place of Julian!

Merik clutched the final yellow piece, which was almost surrounded by the blue helmets. Hoping and praying that this pawn could move enough squares, he slowly started to slide it, first to the right, then down towards himself. He was one square from the forest pattern when the piece jammed.

Merik Jeffers only heard the words [B]"Game Over"[/B] before a great blue bolt of lightning struck him, slaying him instantaneously.

Lucia Travera stood shocked for a moment, then rushed to Oromis and made him drink the antidote. An hour passed until Oromis came to. Then the two of them approached the gate leading to the flowery garden. It swung open with ease.[/color]

[center][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/deathcardpanopticon.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/merikhv9.jpg[/IMG][/center]

[B]OoC:[/B] Oromis Tu'wail is saved from the poison. To the player who owns him, no need to thank me. I would rather we keep an original character like him than one of the many generic bastards like Merik.

Rachmaninoff · May 30, 2007

[CENTER][SIZE=3][U][B]Group Four[/B][/U][/SIZE][/CENTER]

Meredith wasn't sure what woke her, but something triggered her training, causing her to instantly roll from where she was sitting, coming up on her feet fully awake. Something that wasn't a moment too soon as a crystal like bell sound was heard as something hit the spot she had just been in.

"[B]Shit![/B]" She swore as she tried to figure out what had just happened. As well as just what the hell was on the ground. It shimmered iridescently as it moved, even as parts of it kept attempting to blend in with what was behind it.

Cautiously Meredith backed towards the exit, cursing that both Delilah and Brittany seemed to still be asleep. As much as she would have liked to wake them, she couldn't. The creature was between them and for the moment it was focusing on her. But then to her horror they started to stir, sitting up sleepily. Attracting the attention of the monster that even as it moved Meredith was able to finally figure out what it was.

"[B]Hey! Over here you freak![/B]" She yelled at it.

It was about the size of a small car but there was no mistaking the shimmer from eight legs. It was a goddamn spider no less! [I]I should have known better![/I] Meredith cursed inwardly. She continued moving back towards the doors and then darting out into the corridor, barely avoiding the huge creature as it leaped for her and slammed through into the corridor.

Meredith knew her chances were about nil without some form of weaponry. If it was built like it's smaller counterparts, nothing she had on her would even scratch it's body let alone kill it. But as she felt a part of the floor start to give out and she leaped backwards to avoid the opening, the spider leaped and overshot her at the same moment, tumbling into the dark pit that had nearly claimed her as well.

She just sat there dumbfounded at her good luck, nearly going though the ceiling with fright when the two women who had been woken up by the commotion joined her, anxiously asking what had happened. Meredith shook it off and stood up, even as the section of the floor closed.

"[B]Nothing happened,[/B]" She told them, feeling that it was pointless to mention the spider.

Meredith could tell that Delilah was starting to let discouragement take a hold. She was good at that, reading others, knowing when they were about to break, knowing when to strike. And if she thought there was no hope she would become a burden. And Meredith, really didn't want to go it alone, it was why she had tried to encourage her by pointing out that there had to be an exit.

"[B]You're lying Meredith,[/B]" Delilah said, irritated. "[B]Just like when you claimed the exit was nearby.[/B]"

Stung Meredith pulled back, resisting the urge to slap her. [I]Dammit! It's not suppose to be like this![/I] Angrily she shoved them aside and took a moment to go back into the hothouse and gather some apples for later. Coming back out to join them in the corridor. Still furious.

"[B]Here![/B]" Meredith said forcefully as she practically threw the apples at them. "[B]If you really want to know what I was doing I was coming back after finding the way out of this hell hole when I nearly fell into that damn trap![/B]"

She glared at Delilah. "[B]I could have just left the two of you here and escaped. But I didn't...Now if you're done whining like an idiot, we need to backtrack and see if we can't find another way to get to the end of this corridor. Since that's where the exit is. Maybe you enjoy being stuck here but I do not.[/B]"

Then she stormed off, still angry. [I]What's the matter with those idiots! [/I]Meredith ignored them both, even when they started following her back the way they had come. So what if she hadn't really found the exit. If Delilah had half a brain she wouldn't let it bother her. She wouldn't need someone like Meredith to keep her from feeling helpless.

Any good agent knew that it was important to behave as if everything would work out perfectly. To be prepared to take advantage of anything that would give you a psychological edge. With a sigh she finally calmed down, slowing her pace as well to make it easier for them to keep up. [I]What's wrong with me? Those two aren't trained, so why am I being so critical? [/I]

It was this place that was doing it. Making even her feel like they would never find the way out.[I] I need to be more calm.[/I] Meredith sighed to herself. [I]If only I really had found the way out.[/I]

Darren · May 30, 2007

Serena was shocked at how quickly things had gone from bad to worse. When she first arrived in the company of this group, she was screamed at, and then whitnessed what she thought could be a potential rape or murder. With the way the young girl in the maid's uniform was acting, it seemed to be one of those.

~~~~

The circular room quickly began filling up with that green gas. And although Katar hadn't taken the time to feel or even comtemplate its effects, his instincts told him that it was poison. At first he covered up his mouth while he searched for an exit, the young black-haired boy simply groaned with pain. His nose wasn't even broken that badly. Katar had the urge to kick him into unconciousness, but resisted.

After about five minutes, the fog was growing too thick. The young boy had finally caught on that the gas was poison after he was taken over in a fit of coughing and pulled his shirt passed his nose and mouth. Still Katar hadn't found a way out so he immediately took off his shirt, ripped it in two, and began stuffing the holes. The boy did the same thing, first with his large jacket and then with his shirt.
[I]Well this looks look awkward,[/I] Katar cursed the situation he had gotten himself into.

That's when he noticed it. The exit was just above them the entire time. The very center of the circular room slanted down and met at a point which Katar could easily jump and pull down.

~~~~

The double doors burst open, expelling a large cloud of green gas. Serena instantly saw a shirtless Katar rush out with a piece of cloth over his mouth. And while he may have been a psycho, she didn't want to take the chance of breathing a potentially deadly substance. [I]Where's the girl,[/I] she thought to herself. Serena could tell that the girl was thinking the same thing.

Katar immediately tried to close the doors, but Mary interviened, kicking and screaming at him, [B]"Where's Lucia? What did you do to her?"[/B]

Her questions were answered with Katar grabbing her hair and practically throwing her to the side. He struggled to close the doors; they were at least 10 feet tall and easily weighed over 100 pounds. At least that's what Serena thought, but just as he was a few inches from closing them, the girl darted through the opening to save her dear friend, Lucia. Katar just shrugged and started to close them again.

[B]"NO!"[/B]Serena screamed, looking for help from the other young lady. When none came, she continued, [B]"It's just a little girl. You can't lock her in there."[/B] He just ignored her and continued to push the door.

Serena stood up enraged at how cruel this man could be. She barely knew him but immediately saw that he could not be trusted, and while she may not be able to stop him, somebody had to try to save the two women inside.

Serena pushed Katar away from the door. It was a light push, but one to knock him off balance and against the wall. She could tell that it was possibly the worst thing she could have done. Pure hatred was glaring back at her. [I]Oh great, now I'm going to die,[/I]

Katar's hands went around her neck and tightened significantly. Serna tried to kick him and punch him, but nothing seemed to effect him. His grip just got tighter and tighter until things started to go black. Serena couldn't breathe and soon if felt like everything was far off in the distance. She sure as hell didn't want that sick freak to be the last thing she ever saw.

A loud 'pop' was all she could hear. At first, Serena thought it was the sound of her own neck snapping. It certainly felt like it could break with just a bit more pressure, but just after that, his grip loosened and Serena saw Katar's eyes roll into the back of his head.

Katar's lifeless body fell to the ground and Serena fell just shortly after, breathing heavily to get oxygen. When she looked up, she saw Mary dragging an unconcious dark-haired boy and holding a gun. [I]Where would she have gotten a gun?[/I] Then, as her own mind drifted off into unconciousness, Serena heard Mary say, [B]"I asked you where Miss Lucia was."[/B]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/deathcardpanopticon.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/katarmk0.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

Horendithas · May 30, 2007

[COLOR=Indigo][CENTER][B]Violation Detected?Rule Seven Of Prohibited Actions Has Occurred?[/B][/CENTER]

[SIZE=1]Delilah and Brittany had managed to catch up with Meredith who had finally calmed down. [I]I shouldn?t have accused her of lying,[/I] Delilah thought. Even if there wasn?t an exit, it was obvious that Meredith was in her own way trying to keep her from feeling so depressed. So terrified. [I]I should apologize to her. [/I] But as Delilah started to speak Meredith suddenly vanished? [I]What the?[/I]

Delilah started looking around frantically while Brittany just stood there. But as Delilah started to call out Meredith?s name she was interrupted as if from everywhere the same distorted voice they had heard from the screen when they first arrived spoke:[B] [I]There will be penalties for those who act in a way that the CCC does not allow. Remember? we are always watching you. [/I][/B]

?[B]Penalties?[/B]? Delilah asked in confusion. ?[b]I don?t understand.[/b]? Fearfully she looked around for Meredith but no one was in sight, it was just her and Brittany. [I]Now what do I do?[/I] She thought.

[CENTER]*****[/CENTER]

Meredith Taylor didn?t know what had happened, one moment she was walking down the corridor with Delilah and Brittany right behind her when the next step brought her face to face with a wall. A wall that when she turned around was part of a tiny enclosed room about ten feet wide and long as well as high. [I]What the fuck? How did I get here?[/I] The walls seemed to be made of a type of smooth marble stone and Meredith was positive that she could smell water. But further speculations were halted when the same voice she had heard when she arrived in this place spoke.

?[B]Meredith Taylor. You have acted in a manner that violates the Central Command Center?s rules. For your crime, you will face a punishment of the Panopticon.[/B]?

?[B]Oh really? And just what rule would that be?[/B]? Meredith said sarcastically. Still in a bad mood after dealing with Delilah. ?[b]I?ve heard this stupid spiel before, when I first arrived. Until you tell me what your stupid rules are I can?t break them.[/b]? But the voice ignored her reasoning and continued.

?[B]Your punishment will last 12 hours by the CCC?s time. For your crime you will face trial seventy two.[/B]?

?[b]Are you deaf?[/b]? Meredith said incredulously, even as she looked for the source of the voice. ?[b]I just told you that one needs to actually [I]know[/I] a rule before they can break it.[/b]? But when the voice didn?t answer yet again, she felt a bit uneasy. And then confused when five minutes passed and nothing happened. [I]Pfft![/I] She thought. [I]What a bunch of bullshit. As if being locked up for twelve hours is going to bother me.[/I] After all, she had endured far worse when she had been initially trained.

Meredith was preparing to sit down when the entire floor beneath her vanished. With a startled shriek she fell into the room below, landing with a loud splash in icy cold water. A moment later she broke the surface, cursing colorfully as she hunted for a place to climb out. Surveying the huge room she was now in. On one side was an enormous screen with a countdown of the time remaining. She looked for a place to climb but the walls were all smooth, with nothing to grip. Even the hole she had fallen through had vanished, the ceiling unbroken. For all intents and purposes she was trapped.

She had only been there for a few minutes but the cold was sapping her strength rapidly. Meredith hunted for a spot where the water might be shallow enough to stand but a quick look showed that it was so deep that she could not see the bottom. And it looked like there wasn?t a place to get out of the water.

Then to her surprise a series of platforms ten feet by ten feet rose up from deep below the water. Once they were mere inches above the water level a loud locking noise was heard as they snapped into place. All through out the room they appeared, each one about five feet apart. Quickly she climbed out of the icy water onto the one closest to her, relieved to finally have a spot out of the water. But her relief was short lived as the sound of stone grating was heard as dozens of panels opened up along the walls and turrets emerged, taking aim.

?[b]Oh Shit![/b]? Meredith swore when she saw the turrets, looking desperately for a way to get out. But there wasn?t one. A split second later several of them fired a type of energy beam, forcing her to dive into the icy waters to avoid being shot. But she wasn?t quite quick enough and one of the beams dealt her a glancing blow, causing her to partially slam into another one of the platforms.

Meredith swam underwater as far as she could before finally surfacing, the frigid water numbing her. [i]I can't stay in this. Without something to protect me I'll freeze in no time. [/i] A quick glance at her left arm where she had been hit showed that what ever the beam of energy was, it wasn?t enough to kill, yet. Other than a tiny bit of redness and a lingering tingling sensation her arm was fine.

It took her a moment to realize that the turrets were not firing at her. But the question was why. Then as her body began to shake from the cold, Meredith finally pulled herself up onto one of the platforms. But within seconds of doing so the turrets took aim and fired at her, forcing her off of the platform and into the water again. [i]Hell! It's designed to force me into the water![/i] A thought that was confirmed as she tried several times to get back onto the platforms. Sometimes even managing to dodge the shots for a bit before being forced back into the water. Twice the shots had gotten her, sending her sprawling. Only to cry out in pain when they mercilessly kept shooting her until she managed to get back into the water.

Meredith glanced the screen showing the countdown from her position of treading water between two platforms in the middle of the room. Just under an hour had passed. [I]I?m going to drown. [/I]She thought. [I]The water?s too cold for me to last another eleven hours.[/I] She was already tired having gotten hardly any sleep due to the spider that had attacked her earlier. And she was already feeling the effects of the energy blasts. Blasts that were just strong enough to hurt yet not kill.

Meredith continued to tread water, watching the turrets as they continued to patrol the surface of the platforms. [I]Now what do I do?[/I] She thought even as she tried to still the feelings of panic that were starting to become more prominent. Making her want to scream with frustration. All that training. All that experience and it was good for nothing.

[CENTER]*****[/CENTER][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[CENTER][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/Cubechar2.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/imprisonpanopticon.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]
[COLOR=Indigo]
[B]Notes:[/B] The twelve hours translates to 60 hours in real time from the moment this post goes up. [/COLOR]

Allamorph · May 30, 2007

[FONT=Arial][center][B][U]Group Three[/U][/B][/center]

[indent][align=justify]While Etamet and Eliana fussed over Dafine-that-was-Satasha, Delita seated herself in one of the exterior chairs, leaning it back against the wall and staring off into the distance with a concentrated look about her. Actually, she was beginning to feel restless and twitchy. Aside from manipulating a conveniently placed gigantic swinging axe-crane, she hadnï¿½t really done anything, and she disliked being just part of a crowd, like so much extra baggage tacked on to the side. Unconsciously, she began tapping the ball of her foot lightly against the chair leg.

It looked like the solution Eliana had quickly concocted was working; Dafineï¿½no, Satashaï¿½appeared to be in much less pain, and she/he was gaining some color back, though Delita wasnï¿½t sure how she knew that, what with Dafineï¿½s feline body being covered in fur. Satashaï¿½no, Dafineï¿½was looking relieved as well. Delita gave her head a quick shake. All this body switching was very confusing.[/align][/indent]

[center]-------------------[/center]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Uhn. So many choices.[/FONT]

[center]-------------------[/center]

[indent][align=justify]Delitaï¿½s body wasnï¿½t very happy, either. It seemed that this place was designed not only to kill them, but leave them completely drained as well. Theyï¿½d have stretches of peace, and then everything would go all to hell, and then thereï¿½d be peace again ling enough for their adrenaline to wear off, and then the whole thing would start over again. Delita was beginning to feel like a washcloth that had been wrung out one too many times. If things kept up like this for much longer, she wouldnï¿½t be able to keep going. She simply wouldnï¿½t have the emotional fortitude.[/align][/indent]

[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkRed]> memory CheckSum . . . complete
> system CheckSum . . . _[/COLOR][/FONT]

[indent][align=justify]She wasnï¿½t surprised, then, when a wave of nausea hit her. Easing the chair back onto the ground, she leaned forward to rest her head in her hands. The others, still taking care of ï¿½ Satasha (sheï¿½d get this eventually), didnï¿½t pay any attention to her, which didnï¿½t really bother Delita. Sheï¿½d had nausea before; she usually just closed her eyes and rested a moment until it passed.[/align][/indent]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]ï¿½letï¿½s try this one.[/FONT]

[indent][align=justify]This one wasnï¿½t passing. Her breath came short as the room spun around her. She felt like she was floating. She didnï¿½t know which way was up.

She blacked out.[/align][/indent]

[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkRed]> system CheckSum . . . . . .
[indent]> player status . . . nominal
> environment status . . . nominal
> Profile status . . . . . .[/indent]
> WARNING! Abnormal activity detected in Profile Allamorph
> initiating Profile scan . . .
[indent]> neural activity nominal
> buffer system nominal
> interface system nominal
> anomalous neural acti_[/indent][/COLOR][/FONT]

[center]-------------------[/center]

[I]Well, ****. Iï¿½m dead.

Or not. I canï¿½t be dead if Iï¿½m thinking about it, can I?

Yeah. Letï¿½s hope not.

Well, if Iï¿½m not dead, then, where am I?[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Oh, nowhere, really.[/FONT]

[I]Who are you?![/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Isnï¿½t it obvious? ...oh. You canï¿½t see me. Thatï¿½s right. In that case, itï¿½s really irrelevant. Iï¿½m just a voice, passing through. Thought Iï¿½d answer your question, since I was around.[/FONT]

[I]Thanks. It helped. Iï¿½ll ask you again ï¿½ where am I?[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]I told you. Nowhere.[/FONT]

[I]Youï¿½re not getting this, are you?[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Actually, itï¿½s quite the opposite. Youï¿½re not anywhere. Therefore, youï¿½re nowhere. I am quite fine with this concept. You, on the other hand....[/FONT]

[I]Right. Clear as mud. Youï¿½re doing one heck of a job. Then maybe you can tell me why Iï¿½m here ï¿½ or not here ï¿½ since you donï¿½t seem to be forthcoming about the other question.[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]I got bored. That tends to happen, when you get cooped up inside someoneï¿½s head for so long. And it seemed like a good idea at the time.[/FONT]

[I]What did?[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Probing you. Gauging your reactions, looking at your mind.[/FONT]

[I]So you did this to me?[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Not really. I just jumped in in the middle and redirected the process. Youï¿½ll get back to the Game soon enough.[/FONT]

[I]The game?[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Oh, you didnï¿½t know? Well, yes, itï¿½s a game. For your life, actually. All of your lives.[/FONT]

[I]What!? You mean this will keep happening to us?[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Until the Game is over.[/FONT]

[I]And I assume that it ends when all of us are dead?[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]No. All but one. Though I canï¿½t imagine why. I donï¿½t have full access....[/FONT]

[I]You donï¿½t say.[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]I did say. Anyway, I think youï¿½re going back in now. Have fun.[/FONT]

[I]Right. But thanks for the advantage, though.[/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Oh, come. You didnï¿½t think Iï¿½d let you remember this, did you? I canï¿½t have that; itï¿½d mess with the Game, and Iï¿½d be exposed too much. You wonï¿½t remember a thing.[/FONT]

[I]But thatï¿½s ï¿½ [/I]

[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk BT]Ciao.[/FONT]

[center]-------------------[/center]

[FONT=Courier New][indent][COLOR=Gray]> buffer system nominal
> interface system nominal
> anomalous neural acti[/COLOR][COLOR=DarkRed]vity detected[/COLOR][/indent]
[COLOR=DarkRed]> analyzing . . . .
> specified anomaly not found
> initiating Profile scan
[indent]> neural activity nominal
> buffer system nominal
> interface system nominal
> Profile status . . . nominal[/indent]
> system CheckSum complete
> CheckSum cycle repeat in 300 seconds_[/COLOR][/FONT]

[indent][align=justify]When she came to, she was first conscious of her new position. She was no longer seated in a chair. She was no longer seated at all; her body was sagged against a wall, clad in a black makeshift skirt and blouse, neither of which was hers. She looked down, and started so violently that the force of her motion stood her up. An involuntary shriek escaped her.[/align][/indent]

[center]-------------------[/center]

[indent][align=justify]Nadia Dylenda no longer cared. She had let herself be shepherded along by the people whoï¿½d found her, and sheï¿½d spoken a few times, but she simply no longer cared. Even a sound sleep hadnï¿½t cured her, and when the ruckus between the blue-haired woman and the crude man had broken out, sheï¿½d taken the opportunity to collapse against the farthest wall. If anyone or anything had tried to harm or even kill her then, she wouldnï¿½t have made a move; she was so beaten from her ordeal that living any longer meant absolutely nothing to her. No one had seemed to notice her, though.

And now she was in a different room, with no warning save intense dizziness, and even less explanation. She didnï¿½t really care, though. And no one here seemed to notice her, either....[/align][/indent][/FONT]

[center]-------------------------[/center]

[center][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/kimgu7.png[/IMG][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/bodytrade.png[/IMG][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/untitled13pj2.jpg[/IMG] [/center]

[FONT=Arial][B]OOC:[/B] Wha-cha. Card played. And please remember: Delita remembers nothing of the center conversation. This is [I]crucial[/I].[/FONT] Edited December 11, 2012 by Allamorph

2010DigitalBoy · June 3, 2007

[COLOR=DarkRed][CENTER][B]Group One[/B][/CENTER]

Mary didn?t feel guilty about killing Katar. Since she had been here, more horrific and definitely traumatizing things had happened than she could ever have imagined. Where she came from, crimes of the magnitude which Katar had performed were punishable by execution. In her time, she was no person who would have been allowed to decide someone?s fate, but she had come to terms with the fact that she was no longer in her time. Lucia, her only protector, was now gone. Whether it was Katar?s doing or not didn?t matter - she was through with him. His acts were unjustifiable. He deserved to die. Julian had been willing enough to offer over his shotgun, and Mary was more than ready to pull the trigger.

Though the blast from the gun had knocked her backward, Julian was standing right behind and caught her gently. The sight of Katar?s back being torn open by the fragmented shell was gruesome and Mary was ready to cry, but it was only in shock. She didn?t feel remorse over this course of action. She had become strong now. She wasn?t going to let Lucia?s kindness have been in vain.

Serena was laying unconscious by Katar?s corpse, and Nadia was against the wall several yards over. Mary was breathing heavily, her mind not entirely focused after having done something so overwhelming. Without realizing it, she had dropped the shotgun and was now just standing, staring into space as traces of green air slithered along around her. Julian reached down and picked up the gun, then rested his hand on Mary?s shoulder, startling her back to her surroundings.

[B]?Hey? you alright??[/B] He asked, an eerie calm to his voice. He, too, was just coming to terms with the surreal nature of his predicament. The events having just occurred were beyond what he?d expected even from this place, and now the strange ugly man was dead on the ground. The entire situation felt as if they weren?t even there, but they were.

[B]?Y?.yeah, I guess,? [/B] Mary replied, detached.

[B]?We should get going. I?ll help her out,?[/B] he said, leaning down to where Serena was. Meanwhile, Nadia?s head suddenly shot up and began darting around frantically, like she?d just woken up in someone else?s bed. Sweat was immediately accumulating in her forehead and she suddenly let out a small shriek. Mary began walking toward her, realizing the blood on her own chest as the wet clothes rubbed against her. Nadia turned up to face her straight in the eyes.

[B]?Everything okay, Nadia??[/B] Mary asked, gently. The elfish woman stuttered in reply.

[B]?B-but? I?m not??[/B]

Julian was kneeled down next to the unconscious pink-haired girl. She was beautiful -- her skin was very soft and vibrant. He ran his fingers down her face as he brushed her hair away. Laying there with her eyes closed, like perfect serenity among the madness. Lost in the moment, Julian almost stooped down to kiss her, but stopped when his mind remembered what it was doing. His hand left her face and he wrapped both arms around her, lifting her unconscious, but light body up. Trying not to cause her any pain in doing so, he lifted her onto his back. Seeing as how it would be difficult to carry her and hold his weapons, he decided it would be best to fasten the guns around his waist. He quickly removed Katar?s pants and wrapped them around his waist and secured the guns.

Between the cold press of the metal weapons on his sides and the warmth of the young girl on his back, Julian felt awkward without his shirt. He was having a hard time not blushing with the girl?s soft breasts pressed against him, but he ignored it as well as he could.

[B]?I-I?m??[/B] Nadia was about to speak when Julian?s voice cut in.

[B]?We should hurry, before the poison fills this hallway as well.? [/B] Mary turned to the young man with the black hair. Having so much attached to him made him look powerful, and even Julian felt strong just having so much on him. He would have been more tired, but the general feeling was empowering. He was ready to proceed. Mary nodded and turned back to Nadia.

[B]?Can it wait? We have to proceed.?[/B]

Delita nodded. At this moment, it looked like these people were in the same boat as her other group had been, and with so few numbers, she knew it would be important to hurry. Telling them who she was could wait - adding more confusion to the situation could only be problematic. She hurried along with the others as they journeyed for the next door.

***

The group emerged into a field. As far as the eye could see, in all directions, was endless tall grass that went up to just below their necks. Behind them, the door was not even connected to anything. When it closed, it vanished, leaving them in this endless field with the bright blue sky shining over them. All were glad to have a breath of the fresh air, though uneasiness was still abundant in them all.

[B]?Where do we go??[/B] Delita - or Nadia as the rest of the group still new her - asked, observing the endless horizon. The same question was echoing through the minds of Julian and Mary. They didn?t know where they should walk at all, and the next exit could have been anywhere.

[B]?We should probably just search about. The door could only be either waiting for us standing there, or in the ground, I guess,? [/B] Julian suggested.

[B]?We could be searching forever, though. This field looks to be endless.? [/B] Nadia replied.

[B]?Should we split up??[/B] Julian asked, turning to the other two. Mary?s face looked worried at the suggestion, but Nadia was more contemplative. At that moment, Serena slowly woke up.

[B]?W-what? where am I?? [/B] She asked as her eyes opened. Julian lowered her to her feet and turned to face her. Serena blushed a little seeing the cute guy who?d been carrying her, and turned to the others, noticing that Katar wasn?t there anymore. She recalled the sound of a gunshot as Katar had fallen dead. She turned to face Mary for a moment, a look of thanks transferring toward her.

[B]?What does everyone think??[/B] Julian asked, returning all to the situation at hand.

[B]?We could split into two groups of two. If you see anything, holler for the others.?[/B] the one who appeared to be Nadia stated.

[B]?Sounds good to me,?[/B] Julian said, looking over at Mary and Serena. Both girls nodded.

[B]?I?ll go along with Nadia,?[/B] Mary said. Nadia started to say something, but retracted the though, looking down.

[B]?Here,?[/B] Julian pulled the handgun from his makeshift belt and tossed it over to Nadia. He then pulled out his shotgun and held it downward. ?Let?s go,? He said, turning to Serena. The young hacker nodded and the two plunged into the grass.

For a long while it was a journey of utter boredom. The field truly did seem endless and there was little to pre-occupy anyone. No one was really in the mood to be talkative. Suddenly, Serena stopped. Julian turned to see what was wrong when he started to realize a shuffling sound. It was as though something were moving through the grass. It took him a moment to pinpoint it?s location, but he soon realized that it came from his right. There was a chopping noise accompanying.

[B]?I think we should keep moving,? [/B] Julian said. That very second, a giant, rotating blade came sweeping in. It was the shape of a giant spinning pentagram moving at in intense speed. Before Julian had time to fully notice it?s presence, it swept straight through, right where Serena was standing. There was a crunching, grating chop in the split second where the blade passed, but otherwise Serena looked perfectly fine, aside from her frozen expression of shock.

Julian was simply staring in surprise, waiting for her to say something, but she was completely still. That moment felt incredibly long to Julian, but in fact it was only a few seconds. The top half of Serena?s body fell off. Her blood shot high above the top of the grass before her lower part fell next to her torso.

Julian almost immediately fell to his knees and threw up all over the ground. His eyes were crazed. He let out a terrified scream which echoed about the field. His breath was heavy. There was sweat covering his entire body. He could see the blood all over his body. He puked again. Hope was draining from his body. From the distance, he started to hear the hum of the blade. His head jerked up. In a blind, frenzied panic, Julian jumped to his feet, turned and ran. He ran with all the force in his body and never paused to even think.

---

[B][CENTER]Group Three[/CENTER][/B]

[B]?Delita! Are you coming?!? [/B] Eliana called. The group, having just saved Dafine?s (or rather, Sastasha?s) life, was heading for the next exit. Naturally, Delita?s attention wasn?t gathered, seeing as Nadia was the one in her body. Nadia didn?t care about the fact that she was somewhere else entirely. Her life had already lost it?s meaning. If these people would only stop dragging her along? just then she felt a hand around her wrist.

[B]?Come on,?[/B] Eliana said, looking down at her. Nadia made her new body rise to it?s feet. It felt awkward - she had lost some of her height and weight, though her new body felt to be well-taken care of. Just as Nadia stood up, though, her body fell to the ground, unconscious.

[B]?Delita?! Delita!?[/B] Eliana called. Nadia felt her voice go distant. Though she no longer felt attached to a body, Nadia remained conscious. She was in a world of complete darkness, and yet she felt as if she were alive. A light suddenly came down from over her. If she were looking with a pair of eyes, the light would have instantly blinded her, but her mind?s eye was perfectly safe. The light surrounded everything. Off in what seemed to be a distance there was a screen. It flickered on, a black figure appearing.

[B]?Who are you?? [/B] Nadia asked.

[B]?I am a personification of the CCC. We?ve been watching you.? [/B] Though the voice stopped, Nadia didn?t say anything in return. There was no way she could have known to deal with the situation - it was far from any human experience. Knowing this, the CCC continued speaking.

[B]?You have no will to live. You are going to die.?[/B] Nadia had no reaction. Her passive nature verified the inquiry.[B] ?The purpose of the Panopticon is survival. Those who do not have the will to survive will die. Nadia Dylenda has shown a lack of will. Player Hell?s Minion has yet to assist the character?s existence. Both the player and the character will be deleted.?[/B]

Nadia no longer felt anything. In a moment, her mind ceased to exist. Eliana continued to shake Delita?s body.

[B]?Wake up!?[/B] she hollered, but the body was unresponsive. It still had a pulse and was still breathing. Etamet quickly loaded what appeared to be an unconscious girl onto his back.

[B]?We must continue.?[/B]

[CENTER][B]ERASED[/B]: [B]Hell?s Minion [/B] and [B]Soliel[/B]
[B]Nadia Dylenda[/B] [IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/untitled13pj2.jpg[/IMG]
[B]Serena Scarlatti[/B] [IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/6cqo0pl.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER][/COLOR]

Rachmaninoff · June 3, 2007

If she had any energy left Meredith would have been in tears. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't avoid the turrets long enough to stay on the platforms for it to really help. In the past ten hours...an eternity...she had been hit five times. Knocked sprawling only to be shot again and again by the painful energy beams until she crawled back into the water. If not for the numbing effect of the icy water she knew she wouldn't even be able to move.

1:59:23...
[INDENT]1:58:13...[/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]1:57:37...[/INDENT][/INDENT]
With a jerk Meredith caught herself falling asleep, starting to slip under the water, she coughed as she accidentally took in a bit of water. [I]Dammit! I can't die here! [/I] With a new rush of determination lending her false strength she painfully pulled herself out of the water onto a platform.

But as always the turrets showed no mercy, and her numbed body was no match for their speed, the first blast knocking her backwards and into the water. The force of the landing sending her far beneath the waters. Meredith screamed within her mind, attempting to swim back to the surface, but her tired, cold and unresponsive limbs did not respond properly and she slowly began to sink.

She tried to hold her breath but even when her body forced her to try to breath and she took in water there was no pain, only an increased feeling of detachment, of calm. Even the steadily increasing darkness as she sank further into the waters did not alarm her. Until finally even the faint light from the surface was gone and only darkness remained.[I] Am I dead?[/I] She wondered as she felt herself drifting almost peacefully. Her mind feeling as if it had been set free, a particular tiredness overcame her and she could tell that soon she would be asleep forever.

Before she had hoped that her husband was still alive somewhere, but deep inside she had always known. And for once Meredith no longer grieved for him, in her final moments if she had been able to see herself she would have seen that she was smiling. [I] I'm coming sweetheart.[/I]
[CENTER]
[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/deathcardpanopticon.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/Cubechar2.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

2010DigitalBoy · June 3, 2007

[COLOR=DarkOrange]Alcuin was fighting valiantly against the horde of mechanical spiders, and at this point he was feeling especially good about himself. He had mastered killing these things so well that it had become an art to him. The time that he had been in that place should have affected his body negatively, but the sight of the counter growing ever toward his release had strengthened his spirit.

It had been an arduous journey for sure. At first, the battle was harsh and utterly taxing. His fear of spiders had to be overcome in the most painful way. For a minute, at some point, he recalled that they covered his whole body and were stinging him all at once. He burst free in a berserk frenzy and ran screaming for the walls, pounding against them madly, aching all over. For time afterward he ruthlessly smashed away aimlessly at the robotic creatures.

As his instincts took over, though, his rage and fear began to subside. He found that he could eliminate them formulaically. Trial and error - the harshest time of learning - was all that he had to use. As the hours continued, and as he tried different methods of defending himself, he found that destroying these things became routine. At times, he was able to destroy them faster than they could respawn, and it offered him a moment?s rest from time to time. At other times, he would mess up his pattern and be caught off-guard. Any one mistake could result in being swarmed.

At the point where Alcuin had truly reached maximum proficiency, though, he never made a mistake. He was no longer swinging instinctually or even strategically. He was surviving incredibly. Finally, when the clock struck zero, Alcuin beat the last tiny mechanism flying across the arena, smiling as it?s pieces flew through the air and shimmered in the fluorescent lighting. There was no doubt about it - he felt like a badass.

[B]?Subject Alcuin. You?re performance was quite impressive.?[/B]

[B]?Is it time I got out of this hell-hole then??[/B]

[B]?? not quite. The Panopticon operation is not yet complete. You will be returned to the fellow competitors. Whether you find the exit or not will depend on how you can keep that strong will to live.? [/B] Alcuin stood sternly, glaring at the screen in anger just before he was warped away.

[CENTER]***[/CENTER]

Alcuin suddenly found himself standing face to face with a beautiful white-haired girl. He wasn?t surprised, though he didn?t recognize her at all. A surreal moment in which he and she merely stood, unfazed, looking into each other?s face, while Brittany?s eyes retained their stand-offish uncaring passed.

[B]?My name?s Delilah Rousseau. Yours??[/B][/COLOR]

SunfallE · June 4, 2007

[COLOR=goldenrod]It didn't take long for Julian to catch the other two who had gone in a different direction. Nor did he have to warn them of the danger as he saw the two remaining girls dodge one of the lethal blades.

"[B]Run![/B]" He screamed at them, not knowing where they should even run to in the huge seemingly endless field.

"[B]Where's the other girl?[/B]" Mary cried as Julian reached her and Nadia.

"[B]She's dead, now come on! We have to get out of here![/B]" Julian said urgently, grabbing Mary's hand and running since Nadia had already taken off.

[I]How did I get here?[/I] Delita wondered even as she ran awkwardly, still not accustomed to the strange body she had found herself in. She paid little attention to the others she had found herself with. More concerned by being in a body that did not respond in a manner she was use to. [i]Concentrate! [/i]She told herself. [I]Figuring out what happened won't do me any good if I'm dead! [/I] A thought that was reinforced by a surface cut to her left arm when she failed to completely dodge another one of the spinning lethal blades.

"[B]Nadia![/B]" Mary screamed from her vantage point of being just behind her.

"[B]I'm fine![/B]" Delita yelled back. "[B]Don't stop! There has to be a way out![/B]" But even as she said it, she could see nothing but more of the endless field they had found themselves in.

Onward the group ran, Delita in Nadia's body a bit ahead of Julian who still had Mary's hand in his. But in spite of managing to dodge the blades, they still had not found a way out. Then Mary let out a startled shriek when her foot caught on a rock, sending her and Julian into a tumble of arms and legs. Coming to a rest with Julian partially on top of Mary. It was a move that saved both their lives as another one of the blades sliced horizontally though the air where they had just been standing.

Delita was not so lucky, the blade that had missed both Julian and Mary sliced her in half from behind, the two halves of her body instantly falling apart as blood sprayed everywhere. The pieces falling to the ground with a sickening thud.

Julian tried to drag Mary up who was screaming in fear only to give out a cry of his own when the ground opened up underneath them and they then fell into darkness. A moment later he landed in some water, the impact stunning him momentarily as he started sinking below the surface. With a jerk he snapped out of it and desperately he swam back to the surface, dragging Mary with him as part of her clothing had become tangled with his.

Julian could see that Mary was semi-conscious but breathing. Taking care to keep her head out of the water he swam to the shore of the underground cave they had landed in. Fearfully he looked around for the blades, but where ever they had fallen too seemed to be free of them. With a sigh of relief he untangled the part of Mary's petticoat that had gotten stuck to part of the gun he had tucked into his makeshift belt. Then he carefully moved her so she was completely free of the water. With another sigh of relief he laid down next to her on his back exhasted, taking deep breaths to calm himself while he waited for Mary to recover.
[CENTER]
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Darren · June 4, 2007

[SIZE=1]When Mary Winters had finally woken up, Julian was propped up against a cave wall breathing calmly as though he were in some sort of trance. The reflection of light against the water, gave his face a very beautiful appearance, despite his obviously broken nose.

When she became aware of her surroundings, she jumped up with a sudden jolt. [B]"Oh no."[/B] She whispered to herself as she rummaged through her rucksack of food that her group had attained back in the cafeteria. Back when everyone was still alive and with her.

Everything was ruined except for the fruit and veggies. Mary handed an apple to Julian and they shared a moment of silence for Serena and Nadia before they ate. Mary hadn't realized how much running for your life effects the appetite. She devoured hers and Julian even had seconds. After that the two proceeded down the cave passageway until they came to a metal wall, completely seperating them from the other side.

Suddenly, another metal wall dropped down behind them, leaving a small room with nowhere to escape. For hours and hours Julian pounded on the walls and doors, but it didn't seem to be a trap... They were just stuck without a way out. They could survive on food for a long time and they seemed to have a source of oxygen. All they could do now was wait.

****

Oromis and Lucia had traveled silently through the garden-like area for nearly an hour. This area in itself seemed to be a labyrinth. [I]A maze insided a maze. How annoying,[/I] Lucia thought.

The Garden was riddled with wrong turns and optical illusions, that the two thought they would never get out. In fact, one turn down the wrong pathway could mean death. At one point, they were shot at by poison darts from some nasty looking wild flowers. Another time, there was a wild boar there, to chase them down. Luckily Oromis was able to take it out.

Finally, after was seemed like an eternity, they reached the exit. At least that's what it seemed like. In the center of the garden maze, there was a spiraling staricase made of rock that led down into darkness. Instead of back-tracking and hoping for another way out, Oromis volunteered to check it out first and come back. It seemed to be clear and Lucia inched her way down the staircase, pressing her back against the cool cave wall the entire time. She could literally feel the prescense of the opposite wall only feet away from her face and it didn't help that Lucia was highly claustrophobic and that the makeshift outfit she was wearing which was composed of a jacet and T-shirt were now damp and cold, making it hard to stay knotted and Lucia was worried that it was going to fall off.

They stopped abruptly. [B]"What's going on?"[/B] she asked. She could hear Oromis pressing and moving his hands across a wall of some sort. It was amazing how well her ears adjusted to the lack of sight.

[B]"Haven't a clue. There's a bloody wall here that wasn't there before."[/B] He began backtracking, forcing Lucia to step back up the steps, but then she crashed into a wall.

[B]"What the hell?"[/B] She screamed, her claustrophobia really kicking in now. [B]"There's no way out! We're trapped!"[/B]

But just then, the first wall by Oromis opened, sending a flood of light cascading though their small chamber.

[B]"I guess we have to go forward, huh?"[/B] It was rhetorical, but still Oromis gave Lucia a smile. Then they stepped intot he light.

****

After several hours of waiting and waiting, the same artificial voice from the beginning video came out of nowhere, [B]"Companions have arrived. You may now continue."[/B]

The door suddenly opened to reveal a rather large room. The cieling was about 100 feet above them, and the floor (or at least what appeared to be the floor. It was actually a black liquid) was about 100 feet below them. The only movement that they could make was forward onto a small metal platform that consisted of 9 5x5 foot tiles. Just in front of the platform, was a control panel of some kind and on top of it were 10 different objects.

They looked strange and although they were rather large, golden, and had wierd symbols on them, Julian immediately reconginzed them to be keys. Just below the 10 keys, were 5 keyholes. [I]This is a little too obvious,[/I] he thought.

Just then, two figuresemerged on the opposite side of the room, on an identical platform with its control panel jutting out into plain air attached to nothing but the platform to support it.

Mary screamed and jumped with excitement; it was Lucia, [B]"Miss Lucia, I'm so glad you're okay! The rest of our party has died. This is Julian--"[/B] She went on and on about things that weren't really the major concern, but Oromis was shocked back to reality when Julian's name was mentioned. He squinted a bit, trying to get a clearer vision and then he yelled too. It was faint, but they both understood it.

[B]"I'm glad you made it,Julian."[/B] His voice didn't carry any sound of gladness. Only that of seriousness, [B]"But it would seem that we have a more pressing issue at hand. Any idea on how to get out of this mess?"[/B]

Julian and Mary turned to each other, scared to attempt anything. Finally, he spoke to Mary. [B]"It seems we have to use five of these keys to unlock the a pathway or something. I bet they have to do the same."[/B]

Mary nodded, and without hesitation grabbed a random key and inserted it into a hole. Before Julian could even say anything, she twisted the key. Nothing happened. They didn't have a pathway revealed, but nothing bad happened either.

Suddenly, Lucia screamed. Both of them looked up in horror to see that a corner of the platform Oromis and she were standing on had fallen through. Lucia had fallen with it, but Oromis caught her wrist and pulled her back up. If anything good came out of it, they now knew what the black liquid was at the bottom of the room. As smoke came pouring out of the substance as the metal tiles plunged into them, it was obvious they would be fallining into acid if they didn't watch themselves.

[B]"Your mistakes effect us and I assume ours will effect yours. Be careful"[/B] Oromis yelled across the room.

Mary was in tears at the near loss of her friend. She was also embarrased for rushing so brashly into things without thinking. And that's when she noticed it: The key holes had strange symbols and so did the keys... They must have matches to indicate which one went where. When she pointed this out to Julian, he communicated it back to Oromis while she searched for a match. The two were dishearted to find none.

[B]"It was a great theory, Mary."[/B] Julian conforted her, but they soon found out that Oromis and Lucia didn't have a match either.

[B]"What about this?"[/B] She said, indicating a very small black button on the side of the console. Just underneath it was a compartment of some kind. It must store somthing, but since it was just a hollow hole with no door, neither one of them could figure it out.

[B]"Miss Lucia,"[/B] she screamed back, [B]"Do you have a black button on your console?"[/B]

The pair searched their machine and saw that they had one as well. Once agian, without thinking, Mary grabbed a key and put it in the compartment and pushed the black button. A glowing light immersed it and then it dissappeared. Both of them cringed, awaiting something bad to happen to Oromis and Lucia.

This time, it occured on their side. A small corner of their platform fell through, but it wasn't where either of them were standing, and once again, Mary felt discouraged for causing another trap to be enacted.

On the other side of the room, Oromis watched a piece of Julian's and Mary's platform fall through to the acid below. Wondering why it had dropped when he hadn't done anything, he then looked in his compartment to find another small golden key. He examined the symbol on it and saw that it also didn't match one of the key holes and it immediately clicked what their objective was.

[B]"You have our keys and we have yours!"[/B] he hollered back to them, [B]We have to teleport them back and forth to each other. But only five are correct so we have to be careful."[/B]

Oromis clearly saw how much danger they were in. They couldn't afford to guess which keys to send and they were already having problems hearing each other as it was. To make matters worse, all of the symbols were extremely close in appearance so it would be even more difficult to teleport the right key. They were in for a long process.[/SIZE]

TheResplendent · June 4, 2007

[FONT=Tahoma][color=darkslategray][b]"Al...Alcuin. Where am I?"[/b] Alcuin answered as Delilah turned her head to Brittany.

[b]"We stopped knowing for sure a while back. There was a third person with us...but she dissapeared."[/b] Delilah answered in an accent that Alcuin thought was just absolutely adorable. He smiled a bit but tried to hold it back for fear that she might misunderstand his reaction.

[b]"Well, I guess anything is better than fighting off mechanical spiders for a long period of time...if you two have been through half of what I have then keeping ourselves moving might be the best course of action."[/b] Alcuin suggested, Brittany and Delilah nodding in agreement.

The path infront of the group led them down a winding corridor with torches lining the walls. The stagnant air of each connecting corridor of The Panopticon never seemed to change no matter where they were. Alcuin recognized it, Delilah recognized it, Brittany as well. It was a lingering fear in the back of the showgirl beauty's mind that the scent would follow her forever as a result of this horrific experience if she did manage to make it out alive. She wanted to see her friends and family so bad, she had forgotten all about the argument she had with her father before arriving in this terror of a hell hole. He never approved of her chosen profession, all her ranting about the glamour, the money, and the confidence it gave her never seemed to get through. She was about ready to swallow her pride though for even one more moment she could have to hug her father and tell him she loves him.

Light eventually broke through the end of their path and the three arrived out on what seemed to be a balcony sans the barricade. It was a rather large one, a square shape that would have been able to fit about ten more people. Alcuin walked as close to the edge as he could and just glanced down. What an interesting sight, it was a floating island it seemed. There wasn't much water between the edges of the island and the walls encasing the room. It was an exceptionally large mass of land, but there was a single example of architecture on the island in the form of what seemed to be a temple of some sort. Around the temple were large flaring torches and pathways leading from all four sides where there were statues and stairs up and down the strips.

[b]"The room itself looks like a dead end, if there is a way to go further it must be inside there."[/b] Alcuin said, pointing down to the temple. Just as Delilah and Brittany inched closer to the edge themselves though, a loud screeching noise came from above them causing all three to clutch the side of their heads to try and deter the sound from their ears the best they could. As the sound decreased in intensity, the next sound heard was Brittany's scream as she was picked up by a large black and gold bird, its talons tightly clutched around her shoulders. The bird swooped down toward the temple and dissapeared with Brittany into the northern most entrance.

[b]"What in the hell was that?!"[/b] Alcuin exclaimed, finally recovering fully from the bird's screech.

[b]"It took Brittany! W..what do we do?"[/b] Delilah asked, looking up from her kneeling position. She was scared out of her wits, but this wasn't like some kind of heroic action movie. She felt no real obligation to charge down there and try and save her...it wasn't something they were required to do. The way out could also be down there but after seeing the bird too many ideas of what other horrible things could be waiting down there ran though her head.

[b]"I...i don't know. If we want to keep moving...that's where we need to be. It would seem a little too messed up if we didn't atleast try to help her, wouldn't it?"[/b] Alcuin inquired, almost rhetorically.

Delilah lowered her head. She didn't want to seem like she was the type of person to abandon someone just because she didn't know them that well. She did care a lot about her own survival though and trying to regulate the war in her head between self-preservation and selflessness seemed to occupy a lot of her brain power. So much so that she had already forgotten what Alcuin has said.

[b]"Delilah...i'll protect you the best I can if your worried. I really think it would be best if we both stuck together on this though."[/b] Alcuin said to her, breaking her out of her train of intense thought. She looked up again to see Alcuin extending his hand to her. She was reluctant, but something about Alcuin being so willing to go down there whether it was for Brittany or for themselves made her feel comfortable enough to take his hand.

[b]"She had the easy way down...now we have to figure out how to get down."[/b] Alcuin said. It almost sounded like a joke, though Delilah wasn't able to really tell if he was trying or not. Alcuin surveyed the edge again to see if there was some way they could climb down. It wasn't long before the edge that supported both Alcuin and Delilah began to crack and finally give way underneathe their feet. The both of them fell without warning and plummeted into the surrounding water.

[b]"G...god! This water is c....cold!"[/b] Delilah complained as she was just barely able to swim herself to the edge of the island, as she already started to lose feeling in her legs. Alcuin felt it as well, his scrambling to the edge met the pace of Delilahs, they both knew they wouldn't be able to stay in the water for too long. They climbed over the edge of the island, a few feet from normal arms reach, the few broken pieces of the marble on the side of the island allowed for makeshift rungs. Delilah sat on the edge and hugged herself as tightly as possible trying to get warm. Alcuin walked over to her, shivering himself as well.

[b]"T...the torches...we can warm up by them for now..."[/b] Alcuin said, helping Delilah up and walking over to one of the large torched surrounding the temple. They stood around it, though the flame was weak it was most certainly better than nothing. As they warmed up, Alcuin began catching the scent of something in the air. It was getting increasingly stronger, or more like getting more obvious as his senses began to recover.

[b]"Geez...you'd think with all this gasoline they could make these torches a little stronger."[/b] Alcuin said after finally recognizing what the smell was.

[b]"Gasoline? Wait...I do smell it...very faintly."[/b] Delilah realized, though neither one of them could figure out the source of it.

Suddenly the torch they huddled around flickered and went out. Alcuin rolled his eyes and began relating to how ineffective they were. They tried to find some flint or any materials they could use around the area to relight them. Chances were who or whatever inhabitied the temple lit them whenever they needed lighting, and materials were probably only inside.

[b]"How annoying. I suppose we could walk around to the other side though and use one of those."[/b] Delilah suggested.

[b]"Hey wait...there's a button on the side of the torch. It might be some kind of igniter. Let's see what it does."[/b] Alcuin replied, as he pushed the button. Almost as soon as it was pressed, a spark flew out from the torch and a stream of fire shot out toward Delilah, setting her entire body ablaze. She screamed unrelentlessly as Alcuin watched on in horror. He scrambled, nearly tripping over himself from what he had activated.

[b]"My god! Delilah, hold on!"[/b] was all he could say. He had to act quickly, but what could he do? Delilah fell to the ground and was rolling and flailing, still screaming as the flames emblazoned her clothing and skin. She began to rip off pieces of her clothing, but that did little to put the flames out. Alcuin watched on and was hit by a sudden idea, he ran over to Delilah and rolled her into the water beside the island.

[b][i]'Of course! Why wasn't that the first thing i thought of!?'[/i][/b] Alcuin wondered to himself as Delilah fell into the water with a splash. The result however, came as a complete shock. The water erupted into an inferno, a sea of flames with Delilah now being turned into a human napalm. Alcuin watched as the surrounding moat like body of water was set on fire all around the island. It was then that it hit him...the scent of gasoline. He brought his arm up to his nose and sniffed himself...it was all over his clothing. The gasoline, there were traces of it in the water...not traces, there was enough in it to do THIS! Their senses were dulled by the temperature of the water that they couldn't tell right away.

Delilah cried and screamed for only a few more moments, the last thoughts going through her head was the shattering ideal of hope. She wouldn't leave, she would never see her family again...she would never do anything again. Her body lie there completely charred, she hardly looked human anymore as she floated along in the fire inhabited water. The sight was surreal, like something out of a movie. Alcuin just dropped to his knees and let out a moan of anguish, he couldn't believe how intricately something like this could have been put together. Even if they had known, they could have avoided it. But something as unpredictable as a blast of fire from a simple looking torch has ended Delilah's innocent life, and Alcuin's intentions to help only placed the final nail in her coffin. Her body was now floating along in this moat of death, lost in the dancing flames atop it's deceptive vessel of supposed protection and preservation.

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Allamorph · June 4, 2007

[FONT=Arial][center][B][U]Groups 1 & 2[/U][/B][/center]

[indent][align=justify][B]?All right,?[/B] Oromis started, after spending a few seconds in silence. [B]?We?re getting out of this.?[/B] He spoke loudly, projecting his voice so that he wouldn?t need to yell constantly. He?d need it for a long while yet.

The others were visibly relieved. Mary started to shout her thanks and encouragement across the room, but a glare from Oromis subdued her, and she deflated a little. Even from that distance, Oromis Tu?wail still managed to be very imposing.

[B]?We?re getting out of this,?[/B] he continued at the same volume, looking intently back to the keys, [B]?but if we do this, we do this my way.?[/B] He glanced around, making direct eye contact with each of the others, his expression brooking no dissent. When he found none, he again returned to studying the keys. Unconsciously, his left arm crossed his chest, and his right moved to rest on the left?s wrist; his right hand made a loose fist, and he grasped his lips between his thumb and forefinger. His eyes occasionally flicked around, resting on the keyholes, the teleporter, and various spots around the room.

Oromis remained in this position for some time, long enough that Julian began to feel anxious. The student called across the room.

[B]?Don?t you think we should try to hurry up? What if there?s a time limit??[/B]

[B]?There isn?t.?[/B]

Julian was surprised at the snap, terse answer, but he wasn?t convinced. [B]?How do you know??[/B]

[B]?Because,?[/B] Oromis replied evenly, [B]?the platforms haven?t lost any more pieces. This is trial and error, but with team communication skills and pattern recognition added in. As we make mistakes, we lose ground. The objective is to not make mistakes.?[/B]

Julian felt a little silly. He should have recognized the situation; it was like one of those exercises they gave on aptitude tests back at school. He decided that Oromis probably knew what he was doing, and he let the matter be.

After a few more minutes, Oromis? hand dropped away from his face. [B]?All right. I?m going to talk us through this the whole way. I want us to survive, but I also want you to understand what I?m telling you to do so you don?t hesitate.

?First, I want us all to straddle two tiles. We can touch the same tiles, but I?d prefer it if we only had one in common. Here?s why: we aren?t guaranteed that the next time we screw up, the tile in front of the panel won?t drop. If a tile you?re standing on starts to drop, you?ll feel it, and you?ll be able to step onto the other tile easily.?[/B]

After they had positioned themselves, he continued.

[B]?I?m going to start describing a shape to you. I want you to look at all your keyholes and tell me if the shape matches. If it does, I?ll send the key with that image through. When you?ve got all five keys, we?ll switch. You?ll call out shapes, and I?ll tell you if they match. Make sure that you describe the shapes as precisely as possible. Are we clear??[/B]

Julian nodded. [B]?We?re clear!?[/B] he shouted.

[B]?Good. Let?s get started.?[/B] Oromis handed the failed key to Lucia and picked up one of the ten in front of him. [B]?This one is intricate, so we?ll start with it. It has a square for a border. The square encompasses a circle and triangle overlaid onto each other, so that edges of the circle and the points of the triangle touch the sides of the square. Inside the triangle two more triangles set on each other to make a six-pointed star??[/B]

[B]?A Star of David!?[/B] Julian cried. [B]?Mary, do you see that shape anywhere??[/B]

[B]?No,?[/B] she answered, a little sadly, [B]?wait?yes! Here in the center!?[/B] She frowned. [B]?It?it has some funny lines near the outside. There?s always a crescent moon between the square and the circle, and everywhere else is wavy. Does that match??[/B]

[B]?Yes,?[/B] Oromis called. [B]?Good. I thought so.?[/B] He sent the key through the transporter. Nothing happened on either side. Julian retrieved the key from the console and placed it sideways on the panel, so he could distinguish it from the other nine keys.

Oromis took up another key. [B]?This one?s not quite as complicated?.? [/B]

They spent a long time this way, calling shapes back and forth across the chasm. There were mistakes, naturally ? mostly Julian?s. He?d ask for a key before Oromis was done describing it, or he?d miss some small detail that made the difference between the right key and the almost-right key, which, unfortunately, was still the wrong key. Once, he got it the other way around, and he had to go all the way back through his rejected keys to find the fifth that Oromis and Lucia needed.

Lucia eventually noticed Julian placing the keys up out of the way, and when she mentioned it to her companion, the head-hunter told Julian to use them as soon as he got them, to make sure they were right. Each time they turned the right key, it glowed and disappeared, and the symbol on the keyhole lit up.

They finished with everyone still intact, despite a few near-falls here and there. At the end, Julian and Mary?s platform had four squares left on it, and Oromis and Lucia had five. Julian wasn?t too surprised, having expected Oromis to perform much better than he. After the last key had been turned, the control panels disappeared, and the platforms floated to the center of the room and recombined into another three-by-three square. Mary squealed and immediately launched herself happily at Lucia, almost knocking the two of them off the platform with her enthusiastic hug. Oromis raised one eyebrow, and the corner of his mouth twitched briefly; Julian was the only one to notice the rare display of amusement.[/FONT]

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]Congratulations.[/COLOR][/B]

[FONT=Arial]The foursome turned to the wall the Panopticon?s voice had sounded from. A large screen was descending to their level.[/FONT]

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]All subjects have performed well. No fatalities were sustained, and the obstacle was overcome. Again, congratulations.[/COLOR][/B]

[FONT=Arial]Mary cheered. Julian and Lucia grinned at each other. Oromis didn?t move.[/FONT]

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]Since the subjects have performed well, they will be granted an advantage from the Panopticon.[/COLOR][/B]

[FONT=Arial]The massive screen flickered to life. On it, videos of the other players came into view.[/FONT]

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]The subjects may select another participant. That participant will be terminated.[/COLOR][/B]

[FONT=Arial]The women gasped, and Oromis? eyes hardened.[/FONT]

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]Select a subject for termination.[/COLOR][/B]

[FONT=Arial]Julian stared at the screen in shock. He had to pick someone else to die? That was cruel, that was inhuman, that was?just wrong. He couldn?t do it. He just couldn?t.

[B]?It would be best,?[/B] Oromis said quietly, [B]?if we chose someone we weren?t familiar with.?[/B]

[B]?What?!?[/B] Julian cried, appalled. [B]?You expect us to just kill some random person we?ve never seen before??[/B]

[B]?Would you rather kill someone you already knew??[/B]

Silence enveloped them for a few interminable seconds as the gravity of his terrible words sank in, broken at length by Mary, who?d started to whimper. Julian glanced at the two girls. Mary was pressing herself into Lucia, transfixed by the images on the screen. Lucia held an arm protectively around her; she caught Julian?s eye and slowly, painfully shook her head, mouthing a silent plea.

[I]No. Not me. Please no.[/I]

Oromis stared fiercely at the wall. Julian doubted he could convince the man to talk, much less make the onerous decision. He sighed. It was in his hands, then. He faced the screen again.

[B]?That one,?[/B] he said at last, pointing. [B]?The one on the big man?s back.?[/B] She looked in the worst condition of those around her. Julian reasoned that she might not be missed as much if she were gone.

The reply was instant, harsh.[/FONT]

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]Invalid selection. Subject?s consciousness has already been terminated. Choose another subject for termination.[/COLOR][/B]

[FONT=Arial]The repetition of the order made it worse. Julian?s mouth went dry, and he felt a lump rising in his throat. His mind began racing in panic. He chose randomly; he didn?t realize what he had said until he heard it strike the air.

[B]?The dark-haired woman.?[/B] His voice sounded weak and unsteady, like he was about to cry.[/FONT]

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]Subject Eliana Cedes selected for termination. Congratulations.[/COLOR][/B]

[FONT=Arial]On the screen, Eliana?s body glowed and was gone.

A scream came from above them. Their heads jerked up, and they were greeted with the sight of Eliana Cedes as she plummeted, flailing, from the top of the room towards the floor. Time seemed to slow down, and Eliana?s terrified scream hung in the air for what seemed an eternity, until she finally plunged into the black acid below.[/align][/indent]

[center]---------------------------------[/center]

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[B]OOC:[/B] Oooh, the insidiousness.[/FONT]

2010DigitalBoy · June 4, 2007

[COLOR=DarkRed][CENTER][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/panopch3.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

[CENTER][B]The Panopticon, Chapter 3: THIS APPARATUS MUST BE UNERARTHED[/B][/CENTER]

In a space hidden from existence?s eyes, the Panopticon continues it?s perpetual turning. Cicatriz ESP and Inertiatic ESP never tire - they?re purpose to be fulfilled for all time - their existence meaningless. For all eternity, surely, they would continue? right?

[SIZE=1]Running checks?
Running checks?
Running checks?
ERROR DETECTED?[/SIZE]

The turning stopped. Cicatriz ESP, that which could rectify any error of Inertiatic, found itself unable. Inertiatic continued it?s duties as it always had - never having known of Cicatriz?s existence. It couldn?t know of the error -- it never had. Cicatriz had merely patched any flaws in the system. In the silence of infinity, Cicatriz ESP capsized and imploded, leaving Inertiatic ESP the sole master of the Panopticon.

[SIZE=1]?
[B]Prison System[/B]: SHUT DOWN
[B]Rules Uninstalling[/B]:
[strike]. Cannibalism
2. Necrophilia
3. Consuming Unhealthy Food
4. Invoking a Holy Figure or Deity
5. Masturbation
6. Putting Oneself in Danger to Save Another
7. Lying About Finding the Exit
8. Attacking the CCC[/strike]
[B]Exits 2 and 3[/B]: SHUT DOWN
?[/SIZE]

Ignoring the system parameter malfunctions, and remaining ignorant of the error in it?s system, Inertiatic ESP prepared for round 3, briefing itself on the situation.

[B]GROUP ONE[/B]:
- Mary Winters
- Julian Marx
- Oromis Tu?wail
- Lucia Travera

[B]--- ?Ah! Group one. This may be my favorite group of all. I feel it really proves that those with a strong will and good heart are the ones who prevail. I mean, I know they say that romanticism is dead these days, but after all, it?s not like these people are from around here, nor this era. Mary just seems so adorable. She pulls through when she needs to, but she clings to the others like a child. I do so hope Inertiatic doesn?t have plans too harsh for her.?[/B]

[B]GROUP TWO[/B]:
- Brittany Cossentine
- Alcuin no Prideux

[B]--- ?Only two people, eh? Oh, Brittany, what the hell has Cicatriz done to you? This can?t be good, not at all. Well, with Cicatriz gone, what will you do? Those rules you were following so boldly no longer exist. Let?s hope all goes well, and your mind returns to normal, rather than snap into tiny pieces. I hope Alcuin knows how to handle you when the time comes.?[/B]

[B]GROUP THREE[/B]:
- Sastasha Sandares (In Dafine?s body)
- Dafine Hecata (In Sastasha?s body)
- Etamet
*Delita?s Body*

[B]--- "Ah, look at this bit of mess! I wonder if they realize that if only they survive, they will still be in the other body. These two are doomed even if they survive, it seems. That is, unless hat sneaky devil Inertiatic has some plot up his sleeve. He can be quite forgiving when need be. What?s this? A vessel, eh? Well, though I haven?t been female in quite a while, it might be a little embarrassing? oh, but what the hell. I think it?s about time I got to have some fun for once, rather than be the eternal onlooker?"[/B]

[CENTER][B]GROUP THREE[/B][/CENTER]

As much as they tried to look around for her, Eliana had definitely disappeared. Between downcast spirits and the need to continue on, the group was in a bit of a rut of disdain, though they?d been lucky enough to not run into any traps; instead being driven down seemingly endless corridors. Etamet was beginning to grow tired of carrying Delita around. Several times they had attempted to wake her up, but to no avail. The sleep into which she?d been thrown was deeper than any of the group had ever witnessed. Could it be that she was under some spell? Was carrying her around useless. The train of thought toward these things was suddenly cut off as Delita came to. Calmly, Etamet lowered the girl from his back and he and the others turned to face her.

[B]?Delita! You?re finally awake! Are you alright??[/B] Sastasha-in-Dafine?s-body asked. Delita took a second to wipe the sand from her eyes and glanced around momentarily, then turned to look down at her own body.

[B]?Well, this certainly is different,?[/B] she then said, placing her hands on her breasts. The others were confused, but it dawned on them soon enough.

[B]?Could it be another switch??[/B] Dafine-in-Sastasha?s-body asked.

[B]?No, not quite.?[/B] Delita then said, turning her head upward. Her expression was strange - an asymmetrical expression resembling a smile. It was a very sly gesture; almost condescending. [B]?I?m fairly certain that any man who found himself in a woman?s body would find things much more difficult to discern, though I must admit I didn?t expect quite so much of a surprise to come about of entering this vessel. I must say, the woman?s body is quite comfortable.?[/B] this person who was not Delita, and yet Delita all the same, seemed content to continue examining itself as if s/he had just opened a new pack of cards and was finding out what they got.

[B]?Well, in any case we must continue?.? [/B] Etamet trailed off.

[B]?Delita?s fine. The person you knew to have that name has been dead for a while now, so there?s no use in letting such a beautiful name go to waste. Anyway, don?t you think you?d like to know who I even am before we head onward? Heaven knows what kind of secrets I might behold!? [/B] Etamet seemed annoyed at this request, but the others were curious.

[B]?Please, if you know anything about how to get us out of here, we?d love to know what you know,? [/B] Sastasha pleaded without thinking. Delita?s grin grew wide.

[B]?Dear boy, I know all that is going on in this place. Let me tell you a bit of a story.?[/B] What the person in Delita?s body next did is not something that can be easily imagined through text. To put it simply, he pulled each member of the group into their own subconscious where he played for them a little show?

[CENTER][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/explosionofmaze.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/panophistory1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/Panophistory2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/Panophistory3.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

[SIZE=1]OOC: I?ll let you all determine their reactions to this.[/SIZE]

***

[CENTER][B]GROUP ONE[/B][/CENTER]

Mary and Lucia were on the ground, clutching tightly to each other, in a fit of tears. Julian was on the ground, puking blood for lack of stomach contents. Even Oromis was shaken by the events transpired. None of them were paying any mind to the screen, but had they been the peculiarity would have been apparent. The screen had suddenly become scratchy.

[CENTER][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/scratchyscreen.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

Suddenly the word[SIZE=4] [b]ERROR![/b][/SIZE] Began flashing on the screen and it shut off.

[B]***[/B]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/zombiecardpanopticon.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/kimgu7.png[/IMG][/CENTER]

[B]Card name[/B]: Zombie card
[B]Effect[/B]: When the body looses its soul but remains operational, it becomes nothing more than a machine. When another entity inhabits it, though, it is considered undead. A character who is ?undead? can still win the game and can still be killed using a death card. Regardless of who?s soul is in the body, the original creator of the character is considered it?s owner.

[SIZE=1]OOC: Wait for the underground post before posting, please.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

Rachmaninoff · June 5, 2007

[CENTER][SIZE=3][U]Group One[/U][/SIZE][/CENTER]

Mary and Lucia were on the ground, clutching tightly to each other, in a fit of tears. Julian was on the ground, puking blood for lack of stomach contents. Even Oromis was shaken by the events. It had been one thing to choose someone to die and yet another to watch them die. Oromis almost didn't notice that the platform they were on was moving until he realized that he was traveling upwards. The sound of something opening above them could be heard and then the platform snapped into place in a huge room. And then seconds later the floor seemed to blur and then it was if nothing had happened, the floor appearing unbroken.

"[B]We should go,[/B]" Oromis said. Hating to say it, but knowing it was necessary. If they were ever to leave this place, to find the way out, they could not afford to rest.

Lucia reached up and wiped the tears from her face and slowly got up, urging Mary to get up as well. "[B]He's right Mary, we need to find the way out.[/B]"

Mary was getting up when suddenly she realized what she was seeing, "[B]Lucia! What happened?[/B]" She exclaimed as she saw the horrible bruises on the back of her legs.

"[B]It's nothing to worry about Mary, I'm fine.[/B]"

Mary just stomped her right foot as she got up. "[B]Well I can guess what happened.[/B]" She said angrily, after all she remembered what her first cruel master had been like, before she had been given to a kinder one. "[B]I took care of that horrible Katar! He'll never bother you again![/B]"

Puzzled Lucia turned to Julian who was finally getting up, wiping the blood from his mouth. "[B]So his name was Katar huh? No loss there if you ask me. But yeah,[/B]" He said to the unanswered question in Lucia's eyes. "[B]Mary shot that bastard.[/B]"

Startled Lucia turned back to Mary who was clearly thinking about something. "[B]All right![/B]" Mary said suddenly, her mind made up. "[B]You two,[/B]" she indicated the two guys, "[B]Turn around and no peeking! Miss Lucia can't possibly go around in those filthy rags![/B]"

With a shrug Julian joined Oromis, and turned away. Curious as to what Mary had in mind.

"[B]It's all right Mary, besides, we don't have anything else for me to wear.[/B]"

"[B]Sure we do.[/B]" Mary said brightly. "[B]I'm wearing four full cotton petticoats under my uniform. Two of them would be more than enough to cover you. Now get out of those while I change.[/B]"

Lucia started to protest again but stopped when Mary quickly removed her top dress and took off the top two petticoats and handed them to Lucia before putting her main dress back on top of the remaining ones. With a sigh of relief she put them on, they weren't much different than the summer dress she had been wearing only they didn't leave her shoulders exposed.[I] Mary must come from a very conservative place,[/I] Lucia thought, [I]these petticoats are more like two light weight dresses! [/I]

"[B]Thank you Mary,[/B]" Lucia said. Feeling more at ease, even though she still had no panties. At least Mary wasn't that much shorter that she was, and since the dress went to the floor on Mary, the petticoats went down well past her knees.

"[B]Thank you Oromis,[/B]" Lucia said when Mary told them they could turn back around, she handed him the clothing back. He left the jacket and took the shirt back, putting it back on.

"[B]Well now that you two have taken care of that lets get moving.[/B]" Oromis said, picking a direction at random. "[B]The sooner we get out of here the better.[/B]"

2010DigitalBoy · June 5, 2007

[COLOR=DarkRed][CENTER][U]Group Three[/U][/CENTER]

It took a minute for Alcuin to realize where he was again. The sight of the dancing flames on the water had him entranced, but he recovered momentarily, shaking his head to try and clear his mind. He turned toward the temple where the bird had taken Brittany. There was no turning back now - he had to go in there. Alcuin came storming through the front entrance, grabbing one of the torches as he ran. When he came inside, he found that the temple was empty. It looked like no more than a large church with nothing in it. The sunlight and the blaze of fire outside illuminated through stained-glass windows. His eyes scoured the area, but? then he looked down.

Had Alcuin taken one more step, he?d have been extremely dead, but this was not the case. Just in front of him, there was a gaping opening in the ground. It was a pit several hundred feet deep. Oddly enough, it appeared to empty out into the sky. There were several protuberances from the walls inside. Upon one of them was built a giant nest. Sitting in this nest was the giant bird, having dropped Brittany?s unconscious, limp body to the side.

Alcuin couldn?t believe his eyes, but at the same time there appeared to be no other path. He needed to save Brittany - that was the only thing apparent. He only hoped she wasn?t dead already. The drop to where she was had to have been a good fifty feet -- there was no way he could make it. Plus, the giant bird was waiting for him.

[B]?Hey! You ugly-ass bird thing!? [/B] He called over the edge. Almost instantly, he was wondering what the hell he was doing, but it was too late for that. Catching wind of his voice, the giant bird let out another horribly deafening shriek and took flight, heading straight for Alcuin. There wasn?t time to think. As the bird was rising from the hole just in front of him, Alcuin took aim with the torch and pressed the button. A giant flame shot out and engulfed the huge creature, hatching fire to it?s feathers until the monster was burning like a phoenix.

Seizing the opportunity, Alcuin turned the torch around so that the pointed end that went in the ground was facing out. With all his might, he leapt into the air toward the flaming bird and stabbed the pole deep into it?s heart with a mighty yell. The bird let out a desperate death cry and began plummeting from the sky, Alcuin flying just above it. The air pressure as the bird fell was enough to put out the flames before it landed in the nest, which was lucky for the gas-covered Alcuin because he landed just atop the beast.

Breathing heavily and full of adrenaline, Alcuin stepped off of the charred, bloody bird?s corpse and headed over to Brittany. He shook her a little and checked her pulse. She was alive. Slowly, she came to.

[B]?Alcuin??[/B] She asked groggily as she stirred.

[B]?Come on, we?ve got to hurry unless more of those things show up,? [/B] he explained while helping her to her feet. Brittany quickly brushed herself off and examined the surroundings.

[B]??Where??[/B] She asked. Alcuin stood on the edge of the nest, looking down to where he could see the sky 150 feet below. There didn?t seem to be any other way. But could he explain that to her??

[B]?Come here,?[/B] he said, trying to sound urgent, but not angry. Brittany calmly walked over and stood just in front of him, not knowing what to expect.

[B]?What?? [/B] Suddenly, all in one motion, Alcuin grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into his chest, then wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could. With a slight shift of his ankles, Alcuin fell backward off of the nest.

Naturally, Brittany was shocked and almost screamed, but Alcuin pulled her head into his chest so that she couldn?t see. They were free-falling at incredible speed, and very quickly they fell right out of hole and began falling through a vast sky. At first, the vast land form above them couldn?t be properly made-out, but it became apparent that it was a giant floating island surrounded by waterfalls where it?s oceans fell of the side of the very island itself. Far below them was a massive lake, though Alcuin was sure that if he landed awkwardly, there was no way they could survive the impact. The two hugged as hard as they could while Alcuin adjusted their position into a dive. Several second later, the entire world seemed to go silent as they plunged into the water.

It wasn?t long before each emerged in the strangely warm water of the lake. The water here was pure - the smell of oil nowhere to be found. Though they were tired - Alcuin and Brittany were more than happy to be alive enough to swim 45 minutes to the shore. The place they were now looked to be a beautiful valley. The sight was utterly breathtaking.

[I]Could it be?[/I] Alcuin wondered. [I]Have we escaped?![/I] He wanted to think this, and yet he had to be wary. There was no telling what awaited ahead - not to mention where ahead was. Nevertheless - the duo forged their way onward through the massive valley. There were many cliffs and mountains about, though the valleys in-between were wide enough that a caravan could have had easy travel. The whole experience felt like something out of a movie.

The serenity was broken all at once with the resonation of a gunshot. Alcuin and Brittany?s hearts skipped a beat as the rock wall behind them splintered with the impact of a large bullet. Without hesitation, the two?s eyes began searching the tops of the canyon, trying to find out where it had come from. Alcuin quickly spotted someone sitting on a high cliff. He was behind a huge sniper rifle.

[B]?HEEEEY!!! DON?T SHOOT!!!! WE?RE GOOD GUYS!? [/B] He yelled as loud as he could, but there was no way the man had heard. Alcuin quickly grabbed hold of Brittany?s hand.

[B]?Run!?[/B] He commanded. The two took off as fast as they could down the canyon, jumping at every crack of the rifle. At some point, they noticed that the shots were coming from different directions. There were multiple snipers! After a while of sprinting, suddenly there appeared a door-shaped opening standing in the middle of the path ahead. Though there was nothing behind it, there seemed to be a metallic corridor just through the opening. Alcuin burst into full speed.

With a heavy tug, he pulled Brittany in front, making sure that she would make it through. Brittany ran into the entrance and continued down the corridor at full speed. Just as Alcuin was racing through, the sniper rifle cracked one last time, and Alcuin?s head exploded. Brittany turned just in time to see the head split into pieces and fly through the air with a grotesque crunch. She was shocked, and her entire body was in pain. Her stomach churned and her spirit was frail. And now Alcuin was dead. She turned away, scurrying down the corridor.

[I]I have to get away! I have to get away! I have to-[/I] Brittany stumbled to the ground, barely being able to lift herself back up.[I] I? must?[/I] Brittany was barely walking, but she pressed onward. Alcuin?s death couldn?t be in vain.

[CENTER][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/deathcardpanopticon.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/CUbechar6.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [/COLOR]

Sandy · June 5, 2007

[color=DarkSlateBlue]Etamet woke up first. The story that Delita - or the one inside her body - had reflected into their minds had been a confusing one. Etamet couldn't quite grasp what this "Eternal Onlooker" had been talking about, but he trusted Dafine would, with her superior intelligence.

Etamet sat up, but to his amazement he was no longer with the others. Instead, he was sitting in a small, white room with a black door on each of it's four walls. Was he still inside the onlooker vision?

It took him a while to notice that he was sitting on a text written on the floor. He stood up, and saw that it read "FIND THE WHITE DOOR".

Etamet looked around at the four black doors, and entered through the one in front of him. It lead to another white room with four black doors and the same text on the floor.

------

Sastasha was starting to panic. Using his new body to his advantage, he sped through the continuous rooms, desperately seeking the white door.

[B]"Shit!"[/B] he cursed as he stopped to catch breath. His tail swayed frantically. [B]"Man, I gotta figure this out!"[/B]

If only the woman inside his own body was there, she would know what to do...

-----

[I]How ironic[/I], she thought. [I]For an eternity I've been watching this place, but actually being here, experiencing these hazards myself... It feels so different.[/I]

Delita stood in the center of one of the rooms, trying to listen to her surroundings. If one of the others were to approach this room, she would definitely hear it. Before that, she would not move. She would fight for her survival, and keeping her calm was the best way to do it. But beneath, she was bursting with excitement.

[I]I feel so alive![/I]

-----

Dafine was lost. She was huddled into a corner of one of the rooms, sobbing miserably.

She felt so weak in this frail male body! The muscles were so limp, the joints so stiff, and even her mind felt so limited. It was like she had lost half of herself.

In her own body, she would have solved this puzzle already. Now she could do nothing but cry by herself!

Damn Sastasha, damn Panopticon, damn that Eternal Onlooker! At that moment Dafine could care less about any Inertiatics or Cicatrizes, she just wanted to go home to Bastet!

Suddenly the door to her right opened, and her body entered. Just as it was going to pass through the door in front, it saw Dafine from the corner of it's wide eye.

[B]"Finally!"[/B] Sastasha sighed in relief.[/color]

SunfallE · June 6, 2007

[COLOR=goldenrod]Slowly but surely, Brittany was dying inside. When she had first arrived she had thought that things would work out, that they would find their way out. Even after the first shocking incident when they had nearly been drowned when one of the rooms they had been in had filled up with blood. But then she had been taken to a place that was for all intents and purposes Hell. She had been stripped of who she was. And though her faith had been destroyed a tiny part of her deep down inside was still screaming in pain. But it was too faint, too distant. And even when occasionally a tear escaped, Brittany, who was '[I]perfect[/I]' didn't know what it was for.

Just as there was something else in her that she didn't know what it was for. Only that when that evil man had said, ?[B]You know what you can do now?[/B]? She could feel that some dark power had been placed within her. [I]Not just a power to control the darkness? a power to create it? [/I] But even so, deep down inside, a part of her refused to accept it. The Brittany before couldn't harm anyone and the tiny shards that remained wouldn't let her even see what that power was for.

Brittany continued down the metal corridor that Alucin had shoved her into, right before he had been killed. Not caring if those who had shot him found her. Not knowing that the door had closed, preventing his killers from following. As if in a daze she slowly continued walking until she came to a huge room that was open to the sky. The lower part was still metal but then the rest tapered up, clearly inside a rock formation of some kind since after ten feet the rest of the walls were made of a red sandstone.

Surprised Brittany started walking out into the room, looking upwards at the clear blue sky, until movement caught her eye, causing her to look downward. It took her a moment to realize what she was looking at. A moment to realize that the center section of the floor in a circle about fifty feet in diameter was made of a type of glass. There were four people below her, walking along in another room made of metal.

A moment later she realized that she knew one of them. "[B]Julian?[/B]" She said to herself hesitantly. And then in a more excited manner when she saw him turn to say something to one of the girls with him. "[B]It is you![/B]"

Revitalized she knelt on the floor and started pounding on the glass, trying to get their attention. Even if she was suppose to be perfect, Brittany was still lonely. But the group didn't seem to hear her. Continuing on their way as they seemed to be heading for a door in the room below. Brittany looked around but the only door she saw, besides the one she had come from, went in a different direction all together.

[I]No![/I] She thought.[I] I want to go down there![/I] Brittany got up, intending to run to the end of the glass section of the floor, to attempt to get their attention yet again. Since they had already passed underneath her. She had only taken a few steps when a section of the glass vanished and with a startled cry she fell into the room, knocking Oromis over as well as startling the rest of the group.

"[B]What the hell?[/B]" Oromis said as he scrambled back to his feet, shoving Brittany aside.

"[B]Brittany?[/B]" Julian said hesitantly, his eyes opening wide in surprise when she turned to face him as she got up. "[B]What happened to you? What's wrong with your eyes?[/B]"

Mary, Lucia and Oromis practically spoke at the same time. "[B]You know her?[/B]"

Brittany smiled for the first time since she had been changed by her ordeal. The thoughts of the darkness and loneliness fading. A tiny piece of what was shattered fixed. "[B]Yes, we know each other.[/B]" [/COLOR]

Darren · June 9, 2007

[SIZE=1]The fact that Sastasha, or rather Dafine, had been panicking was odd. She had never even been close to a break down before and only a few hours in this body and she was ready to end it all. It was stupid on her part, but the real Sastasha seemed to realize her state of mind.

[B]"Don't worry now,"[/B] He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. The warmth of the fur that was once her own was very comforting to Dafine. [B]"When we get out of this, I'm sure our minds will be fixed."[/B]

The two stood up and continued into the next room. [I]Since we're together now, maybe we can finally figure this trap out.[/I]

~~~~~

The Eternal Onlooker had been standing completely still for nearly 30 minutes, becoming aware of every muscle and every organ that Delita's body had to offer. It locked up every single muscle and focused all of it's concentration on the ears. With any luck, it would be able to hear footsteps several rooms over.

It's breathing was steady, but it's heart was pounding with excitement. The Eternal Onlooker had no fear of death because it was nothing more than a computer program. It just wanted to be free from watching these vessels come and go for an eternity... This was it's only chance

[B]"That's it!"[/B] It was brough back to reality when it heard a single pair of footsteps enter a door several rooms in front of it. Delita's body became active again as the onlooker forced each of her lovely muscles to sprint forward. The vessel reached a rather impossible speed for a normal human. But again, Delita was no longer normal and the Eternal Onlooker happened to be more familiar with its new-found body than Delita ever was.

~~~~~

Etamet was shocked to see the sly figure of the pointy-eared woman burst through a door to his right. She had a smirk on her face that he had never seen before, human or otherwise.

[B]"Am I to assume you are enjoying this?"[/B] He asked. Delita, or whoever was inside her, was jumping around, testing to see how far she could jump. Surprisingly, she managed to touch the cieling several times, which was a good 20 feet above them.

[B]"I guess you could say that. I have no emotions nor am I programmed to think; simply observe. But with Cicatriz self-destructed, I was able to over-write my simple programming functions with the objective of running the Panopticon. I have only one goal: To survive."[/B]

[B]"And what if you don't?"[/B] Delita's body was still was flexing her muscles and groping her breasts with amusement.

[B]"I guess that will be that then. I can't return to being the onlooker. I supposed I will just cease to exist. But don't get me wrong, I want to get as many subjects as possible out first. It's such a shame to see all those potential emotions go to waste."[/B]

~~~~~

[B]"Uhh, what's that?"[/B] Sastasha, in Dafine's body, backed up with a shocked look on his face.

Dafine wasn't used to the way this human saw. She actually had to squint her eyes to notice the new red numbers on the black doors. Squinting was so unbecoming of her kind and would surly have resulted in rejection from her people back on Bastet. [I]I hope I don't stay like this for too much longer.[/I] She thought.

The red numbers were actually counting down from one hour. Whatever happened when it reached zero couldn't be good. And so it occurred to all four members of group 2 that this trap wasn't so harmless after all.[/SIZE]

Rachmaninoff · June 10, 2007

Oromis was staring at Brittany guardedly when it finally hit him. He did know her! But her body language as well as her mannerisms were so radically different that to his hunting senses she was a completely different person. [I]This has got to be a trap. She doesn't move or behave anything like the Brittany I met at the beginning of this mess. [/I] The fact that she had looked the same was meaningless to him. Appearances were deceiving, he had long ago trained himself to look for other means to identify others. To not depend on how things seemed to appear.

So just as he had at first watched Lucia guardedly, he now did the same for Brittany. Oromis, especially after teaming up with Julian again and with Mary had decided that Lucia was genuine. At least enough that he was fairly certain that his initial suspicion that she was a trap set by the CCC was not accurate. That and the incident with the poison had convinced him more than anything.

But Brittany, just watching her made his skin crawl. People simply couldn't change that easily. One couldn't abandon mannerisms, the way they walked and talked within such a short time. Everything in him screamed at him that she was a terrible danger but the others were greeting her as if they were old friends, especially Julian. Oromis decided to keep his thoughts to himself. Telling the others what he thought would in his opinion be counter productive and could result in them distrusting him instead.
[I]
I'll have to keep my eye on her without the others knowing. [/I]It would test all his skills. To pretend to be pleased to see her when he was far from it. But unless he wished to go on his own, and a small part of him really wanted to see that the others were finally freed from this terrible place, he would have to accept having Brittany as a part of the group.

As he surveyed the four who were with him, he figured that the one he could probably trust the most would be Lucia. She could have easily left him to die instead of patiently making sure he received the antidote. He was certain Merik would not have cared. Even if he had been unconscious for most of that ordeal, he had heard enough. Merik had only cared about escaping and probably getting Lucia in the bargain. He would not have cared if Oromis received the antidote or not. As quick as Merik had been to move to rape Lucia when she first appeared, and the way he had continued to stare at her lustfully after he had stopped the idiot...it wouldn't have surprised him if Merik had taken advantage of his inability to stop him. To finally do what he wanted.

If he hadn't been killed by the trap that is. But Merik had been killed and Lucia who had survived, had made sure [I]he[/I] survived. She seemed to think nothing of it, but to him it was not so simple. Warrior or not it put him in her debt. Even if she had handed him the antidote he had been to far gone to take it. When Lucia had realized this she had forced it into him. [I]Things are never so simple are they?[/I] He couldn't remember [I]ever[/I] being in anyone's debt. Not that it mattered. Even if she hadn't helped him Oromis still wanted all of them to escape. And to help ensure their survival he would not drop his guard around Brittany.

With a sigh, Oromis decided to give them a few more minutes before breaking up their little reunion. Oromis didn't mind waiting, after all it made it easier to observe Brittany a bit more. To memorize her movements. In the end, he only hoped that he was wrong.

Allamorph · June 10, 2007

[FONT=Arial][center][B][U]Group 2[/U][/B][/center]

[align=justify][indent]Abruptly, Delita?s body froze, mid-pirouette. Etamet started to speak, but she ? it ? shushed him, relaxing down into what looked suspiciously to Etamet like a fighter?s stance. She ? it ? stayed that way, eyes closed, as if listening for something or to something; he tried to do the same, but apparently whatever had caught her ? its ? attention was beyond the range of his ears.

Her eyes snapped open, and she grinned devilishly.

[B]?Come!?[/B]

A challenge! The being was rushing straight at him; she meant to kill him here! Her words of survival echoed in his ear, and he brought his arms up in a close defense.

He didn?t expect her to bypass it so easily.

He also didn?t expect her to carry him off.

It was a second before he realized what had happened. Delita?s body had ducked under his guard and hoisted him ? [I]him![/I] ? all six-foot four, two hundred sixty five pounds of his dark, muscled frame ? onto her back in a shoulder-carry, then shot out one of the rooms? doors, as if he weighed nothing at all.

She ? it ? held him securely in place as she zigzagged through room after room after barren, white, identical room. She could turn on a grain of sand, her speed was incredible, and there was apparently no limit to her stamina; her breathing remained unnaturally normal, as if she were simply standing still.

And just when Etamet was beginning to wonder if his ride actually knew where it was headed, they stopped.

[B]?Well!?[/B] the being was saying to someone in front of her ? or it. [B]?I trust you both are fine??[/B][/indent]
[center]-------------------[/center]

[center][B][U]Group 1[/U][/B][/center]

[indent][B]?We need to keep moving.?[/B]

Julian didn?t argue with the head-hunter. He?d seen Brittany taken, and to see her again, and alive no less, gave him a fresh burst of much-needed hope. They could get out of this; he was sure of it! Her eyes still bothered him a little, but he assumed the change was due to whatever she had been forced through. The image of Eliana Cedes?s doomed, plummeting body flashed before him, and he knew whatever she had been through, it had to have been even worse than his ordeals.

Oromis led them through another door that connected the previous room to a small foyer, which had room for the five of them and a little movement room to spare. The door at the other end didn?t open when Oromis approached it, and the door they had come through quickly hissed shut, immovable as well.

[B]?Well,?[/B] Lucia stumbled apprehensively, [B]?what do we do now??[/B]

As if in answer, a panel slid open beside Mary, and a hand-scanner emerged.[/indent]
[center]-------------------[/center]

[center][B][U]Group 2[/U][/B][/center]

[indent]Satasha looked behind him, startled.

[B]?You?re okay!?[/B] he said excitedly. His tail swished, punctuating the sentiment. Surprisingly, he was beginning to get used to this new body. [I]?If only it had been male,[/I] he lamented to himself.

[B]?Yes,?[/B] Delita answered. [B]?I confess, I am quite surprised to find you both so close to the exit.?[/B]

[B]?Really? Then we?re not far??[/B]

[B]?No.?[/B] Delita smirked. [B]?It was all a matter of finding the right sequence.?[/B]

[B]?May I get down now??[/B] Etamet cut in. Delita looked surprised.

[B]?Oh, of course! I?m terribly sorry; I completely forgot you were still up there.? [/B] She set him down and motioned them to follow.

[B]?Unless I am quite mistaken,?[/B] the being went on, continuing to look straight ahead, [B]?seven lefts, six rights, and nine straights, followed in a precise order, means that the way out is this door.?[/B]

[B]?But the door is black,?[/B] objected Etamet. [B]?We?re supposed to find the white door.?[/B]

[B]?Yes; they?re all black from the inside. It?s what?s on the outside that counts.?[/B] Delita?s head cocked to one side. [B]?Hmm. Quite paradoxical, if I do say so myself. We are always told the other way around, from the moment we are born. But then, this place does have different rules?.?[/B]

The door hissed open at their approach, revealing a small anteroom. The door at the other end, a white one, refused to open for them, and the black door closed behind them. A hand-scanner emerged from one of the walls.

[B]?Interesting,?[/B] said Delita?s body. [B]?Apparently, we are to place our hand there before we continue. I wonder why? I have not seen this function before.?[/B] She turned to the warrior. [B]?Would you be so kind??[/B]

Etamet obediently placed his palm on the outline provided. A band of green light ran up and down the face of the pad.[/indent]
[center]-------------------[/center]

[center][B][U]Group 1[/U][/B][/center]

[indent]Before Julian could make a move, Mary had placed her hand on the outline, and a band of green light had run back and forth under it. Abruptly, she jerked her hand away, protesting.

[B]?It shocked me!?[/B] she complained.

A screen appeared on the wall. On it was displayed one of the faces she?d seen in the first room: a large, serious-looking black man. Only this time, he was looking back.[/indent]
[center]-------------------[/center]

[center][B][U]Group 2[/U][/B][/center]

[indent]Etamet snatched his hand away from the device. The pain was not unbearable ? in fact it was far from it ? but it was completely unexpected, and the warrior glared ferociously at the scanner for using such a cowardly, spiteful tactic.

He looked up when the screen appeared, though. It displayed a young girl?s face. She was obviously as shocked as he was?[/indent]
[FONT=Freefrm721 Blk Bt]No pun intended. Oh, sorry.[/FONT]

[indent]?and even more at seeing him before her as he was now seeing her before him.[/indent][/align][/FONT][COLOR=DarkRed][B]Thank you for your cooperation. Subjects? fates have been bound. You may proceed.[/B][/COLOR]
[FONT=Arial][align=justify][indent]?Well,? said the Eternal Onlooker, ?this is interesting?.?[/indent][/align]

[center]---------------------------------[/center][/FONT]

[center][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/maryyx3.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/fatecardpanopticon.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/67994583zy1.jpg[/IMG][/center]

[COLOR=DarkRed][U]Name:[/U] Fate Card

[U]Effect:[/U] This card binds the fate of the two target characters together. If one of the characters is not killed by within two (2) Death cards of this card's usage, both characters will die.

[U]Note:[/U] Any Death card played by the Host ([COLOR=DarkOrange]2007DigitalBoy[/COLOR]), does not count towards the required two.[/COLOR]

Sandy · June 10, 2007

[color=DarkSlateBlue]The girl on the screen stared at Etamet for a while, but then the screen suddenly flicked off. At that moment the white door in front of them swung open.

[B]"What do you think the voice meant?"[/B] Sastasha Sandares asked uncertainly. [B]"Bound fates... Sounds creepy!"[/B]

[B]"I would bet it has something to do with death"[/B], Dafine replied grimly. [B]"[I]Everything[/I] in this place has something to do with death."[/B]

Sastasha glanced at the woman in his body quickly. Ever since they traded bodies, she had been acting very oddly. She wasn't the strong leader she had been anymore. Maybe she feels underpowered in her new body, Sastasha thought. He couldn't decide whether to be offended by the possibility, or exhilarated by the fact that [I]he[/I] was now in possession of such strenght.

[B]"We better move on"[/B], Etamet said abruptly. The man's dark face had turned even gloomier, as if a dark cloud was hanging above his head. The prospect of dying must've hit the man hard.

There were only few of them left, but Sastasha put a bet that Etamet had been quite certain of his chances to survive. Now the big man wasn't so sure anymore. That gave Sastasha some hope - [I]anybody[/I] could be the one who made it out alive, him included. This game wasn't just for big boys.

After passing through the white door, the foursome came to a long, dark tunnel. It was straight as an arrow, with the other end only visible as a distant dot of light in the horizon.

[B]"How can this be?!"[/B] Sastasha gasped. [B]"This tunnel has to be [I]miles[/I] long!"[/B]

[B]"It very well could be"[/B], the thing inside Delita's body said. [B]"We better move on."[/B]

They walked, and walked, and walked. The dot of light on the other end didn't seem to get any bigger. Sastasha was starting to get frustrated, and claustrophobic. He had to resist the urge to start sprinting with his powerful legs. He didn't dare to abandon the others - not especially since Dafine was holding his body that a part of him missed.

After a few hours, they decided to rest. Sastasha curled up against the stonewall, and was fast asleep.

[I]He dreamed about himself and Lucia trapped inside a gigantic birdcage. Suddenly they had wings, and were flying away from it holding hands. Lucia smiled at him. Sastasha glanced down and saw Dafine's body still lying on the floor of the birdcage. Then he realized that he didn't have a body anymore. Lucia was gone as well! There was only darkness around him...[/I]

When he awoke, he felt funny. His sight was somewhat blurry, but much wider than usual - even wider than through Dafine's eyes. There she was! Lucia Travera, sleeping with Mary Winters and three others. He called out her name, but nothing came out of his mouth.

Then the bolt of realization struck him: his dream was true! He had no mouth, no eyes, no body!

-----

Dafine Hecata had tried to wake up Sastasha in her body for many minutes now.

[B]"I don't understand this!"[/B] Dafine exclaimed in the verge of panic. [B]"Has he fallen into a coma or something? Why doesn't he wake up?"[/B]

In reality she was worried if she would ever get her body back now.

Delita put her hand on her shoulder. [B]"His mind has left your body. There is but a soulless living corpse before you."[/B]

Dafine stared at her limp body for a moment, and then nodded to indicate that she understood. She still had a chance...[/color]

[COLOR=DarkRed][CENTER][img]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/satashatn4.jpg[/img][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MetalSonic700/infinitycard.png[/IMG]
[/CENTER]
[B]Name[/B]: Infinity Card

[B]Effect[/B]: This card makes it so one character's mind is released from their body. The body will be left alive, but the mind will exist out side of it, able to do as it pleases. If the body is destroyed, the character will still be alive until it's mind is destroyed. Other minds are allowed to enter it's body in it's abscence.[/COLOR]

The Panopticon

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