Fallout: Beyond Equestria, 76: Tragedy's End (Part 5)

[2014-03-05 13:25:43] <Little_Gloom> 3There is a low rumble that shakes the entire cellar, followed by a loud grinding sound and a piercing squeal as the cog-shaped door is pulled back into the vault and swung to the side.
[2014-03-05 13:25:52] <Little_Gloom> 3Noble_Heart raises a hoof briefly as she comments. "The griffin did mention visiting your home. And striking a deal with a Reaper there. Perhaps he met these loonies and learned from them?"
[2014-03-05 13:25:57] <Little_Gloom> 3Get_Lost winces, holding her ears.  Then looks upwards.  "Think anything up there heard that?"
[2014-03-05 13:26:03] <Little_Gloom> 3Noble_Heart flattens her ears as well, looking towards the entrance. "We would imagine that anything nearby has heard. It might be wise to barricade the doors if possible."
[2014-03-05 13:26:12] <Little_Gloom> 3Shatara winces at the all-too-familiar screetch of metal-on metal.
[2014-03-05 13:26:17] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream looked rattled for a moment as she realized what was going on. That... Was entirely too likely.
[2014-03-05 13:26:23] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright points at the door that just opened. "I'm pretty sure creatures miles away heard that. Let's get inside, now. It's a stable, after all."
[2014-03-05 13:26:29] <Little_Gloom> 3A familiar voice, that of the griffin Bonaparte, speaks up in the silence that follows the scream of the door.
[2014-03-05 13:26:36] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream 's jaw goes agape, her grip instead immediately for her gun with the new voice. She was on-edge as it was.
[2014-03-05 13:26:41] <Little_Gloom> 3(With thanks and praise to Scorch Mechanic! https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62984274/tape_4.mp3 )
[2014-03-05 13:26:47] <Little_Gloom> 3---oooOOOooo---
[2014-03-05 13:26:56] <Little_Gloom> 3One of them approached me last night, the one with the hooves of flame.  (The walls and defenses of my sanctuary meant nothing to it.)  It stared into me while I slept, manifesting in my dreams, and we bargained.
[2014-03-05 13:27:02] <Little_Gloom> 3Not that I should call it that, for there was little negotiation to be had.  They’re offer is terribly straightforward: power for service.  I was, it seems, correct in my estimation that the reapers are not a threat – they seem unable to affect the realm of the living directly.  That is why they need… emissaries.
[2014-03-05 13:27:08] <Little_Gloom> 3If I but accept – let them breathe into my soul, darken a part of it so that it may serve as a conduit of their power – then they will allow me to wield it so long as they can call on me.
[2014-03-05 13:27:15] <Little_Gloom> 3Even though I am a griffin… as one would expect upon realizing the power comes from something outside myself, and I will merely shape it.  Like a canal shapes the water that runs down it.
[2014-03-05 13:27:22] <Little_Gloom> 3It is all perfectly logical.  Spirits (according to the zebras of Froggy Bottom Bog) house a part of their power and essence in enchanted items, and what are Reapers but a type of spirit?  I am shocked that it had never occurred to be before, but why should the Stars Above be the only Ones who can give the gift of necromancy?
[2014-03-05 13:27:32] <Little_Gloom> 3When next I sleep, I owe them an answer.  But was there ever really a question?
[2014-03-05 13:27:37] <Little_Gloom> 3---oooOOOooo---
[2014-03-05 13:27:44] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream furrows her brow. Necromacy. This was bad juju.
[2014-03-05 13:27:52] <Little_Gloom> 3The group run inside the vault... to find themselves in what appears to be a small control center.  Several chairs wait empty in a line before a large console, one huge screen with two smaller ones to each side rise over several terminals and a board of controls.  The floor bears the symbol of the Lunar Royal Army.
[2014-03-05 13:27:55] <Little_Gloom> 3There is a single door on one wall bearing the universal symbol of a restroom.  In one corner are two large lockers.  In the opposite corner, a squat Sparkle~Cola refrigerator and a table with a coffee urn and some coffee mugs looks out of place.
[2014-03-05 13:28:36] <Little_Gloom> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session Seventy-Six: Tragedy's End (Part Five) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW5n3k2VgZE&feature=youtu.be&t=55s
[2014-03-05 13:28:49] * Golden_Dream totally starts to raid the fridge. Score!
[2014-03-05 13:29:01] <Little_Gloom> 3Shatara tilts his head as things become comfortably unfamiliar. He looks over the consoles.
[2014-03-05 13:29:10] <Little_Gloom> 3    Bookwright "Oh, sweet relief!" He makes for the restroom with haste.
[2014-03-05 13:31:08] * Noble_Heart frowns and surveys the room. This was odd. "We would not have expected to see a room such as this. Especially in a place of learning."
[2014-03-05 13:32:40] <Little_Gloom> 3With the slightest nudging, the consoles start to wake up.  The four smaller screens to the side of the large one flicker with static-filled images of the school, one of them panning across the central square, the others stationary.  In one, a Shatara can see a small troop of dead school children ambling towards class.
[2014-03-05 13:33:53] <Little_Gloom> 3The large screen lights up with a flashing warning, and the terminals begin to flicker on, spewing lines of data and code.
[2014-03-05 13:36:35] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright pushes through the restroom door and finds himself in a short hallway.  On one side of the hallway are doors (marked conveniently for mares and stallions) with a drinking fountain nestled between.  Lockers line the other wall, ending at another, unmarked door.
[2014-03-05 13:37:46] * Bookwright enters the men's room and makes use of its facilities.
[2014-03-05 13:42:04] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream is rewarded with a full six-pack of Sparkle~Cola (as well as a half-empty bottle of Sunrise Sarsaparilla and a strange yellow stain).
[2014-03-05 13:43:17] * Shatara watches the creepy undead students for a moment, before trying to make some sense of the spewing code.
[2014-03-05 13:43:58] * CopyCat gazes at the monitor showing the forsaken foals on their way to class. "This place... was this place supposed to keep those foals safe?"
[2014-03-05 13:44:08] * Golden_Dream half-lids her eyes, picks the bottlecap up from the Sunrise Sarsaparilla if it's there, then gladly takes the six-pack. She hoofs the working Griffon one for his hard work.
[2014-03-05 13:46:09] * Noble_Heart frowns and looks over the consoles. "We can only imagine this was some sort of security station. Though why they would require such an overly defended door We cannot imagine." She furrowed her brows. "We suspect there is more to this outpost than first meets the eye."
[2014-03-05 13:48:01] <Little_Gloom> 3The stallion's facilities are small, utilitarian, and somewhat occupied by the skeleton collapsed over the toilet.  Much of the skull is torn apart, likely the work of the combat shotgun that has fallen between the toilet and the nearby supply shelf.  There are old stains from blood and decay on the toilet and across the floor, the water murky and foul.
[2014-03-05 13:50:26] * Bookwright pauses. A poignant scene, yet somehow peaceful. He moves the skeleton aside gingerly with telekinesis before using the toilet.
[2014-03-05 13:51:04] * Golden_Dream notably doesn't look as energetic or vibrant as usual. She starts to amble up to Noble. "Hey. Could y' do me a favor and sweep th' place fer anything odd?"
[2014-03-05 13:51:14] * CopyCat peers at the code over Shatara's shoulder. "Blonde, brunette, red head," she adds helpfully.
[2014-03-05 13:51:50] <Little_Gloom> 3The shelving nearby holds cleaning supplies and extra rolls of toilet paper, as well as a magazine that Bookwright's spell isn't identifying as a record.
[2014-03-05 13:52:18] * Bookwright does some light bathroom reading.
[2014-03-05 13:53:11] * Shatara accepts Golden_Dream's beverage offering, though his sciencing is distracted by thoughts of stupid sexy mares.
[2014-03-05 13:53:19] <Little_Gloom> 3The magazine (Happy Parents) is an order catalogue for baby furniture and supplies.
[2014-03-05 13:56:05] * Bookwright stows it (and the shotgun) in his bags anyways. Records of day-to-day life is often the hardest to get ahold of. He washes up, and returns to the group.
[2014-03-05 13:56:40] * Noble_Heart looks down towards Golden Dream, then back towards the controls with a frown. "We can look into the nature of these machines, and intend to explore this facility as thoroughly as possible. Beyond that? We are uncertain what you might wish of Us."
[2014-03-05 14:03:55] * Bookwright "The facilities are still working, if anypony needs to use them. There was a shotgun suicide in the men's though. Golden_Dream, would you like a combat shotgun?"
[2014-03-05 14:04:36] <Little_Gloom> 3Looking over the terminals, Noble_Heart is able to glean that the system has been in high-alert status since the massacre.  One of the terminals is reporting a 100% loss of life.  Another is running checks on "L.A.B."s, indicating failure to respond from each in turn.
[2014-03-05 14:05:04] * Golden_Dream attempts to take her cloak and armor off. "Sure. I'd really like one. Lemme take a look at it." She sighed. "... Ya'll might wanna start takin' yer stuff off, too."
[2014-03-05 14:06:34] <Little_Gloom> 3One one of the screens, several Academy Foals charge by, eyes glowing pink, mouths open in hostile screams.
[2014-03-05 14:07:16] * Noble_Heart checks over the terminals and frowns. "It would seem that this place was indeed in use at the time of the massacre. It must have been the security offices for the campus or something similar." She looked towards the massive Stable-like door. "Though We still have difficulty imagining they would require such elaborate defenses." She looks back to the terminals just in time
[2014-03-05 14:07:17] * Noble_Heart to spot the ghouls rush past. "It seems We may have visitors soon. It would be best to move on as quickly as possible.
[2014-03-05 14:07:18] <Noble_Heart> "
[2014-03-05 14:08:53] * Shatara tries his best not to be distracted by Golden_Dream's disrobing. The peculiarly riled-up ghouls help some.
[2014-03-05 14:10:05] * Bookwright lobs the combat shotgun to Golden_Dream. "Have fun."
[2014-03-05 14:11:08] * Golden_Dream looks over the gun after making sure nothing... Stuck to her.
[2014-03-05 14:11:33] * CopyCat frowns at the hostile-looking foals. "Oh dear. Would it be possible to close those doors again?"
[2014-03-05 14:12:21] * Bookwright looks around for the controls to close the big door.
[2014-03-05 14:12:55] * Noble_Heart takes a look at the controls to try and find a way to close the doors as well. Sealing themselves in would be dangerous. But less dangerous than fighting the ghouls outside.
[2014-03-05 14:13:13] * CopyCat has useful suggestions. "Try hitting all the buttons."
[2014-03-05 14:17:47] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright quickly deciphers the helpfully-labeled console controls.  Klazons again sound as the massive arm moves into place, attaches to the huge, gear-shaped door and slides it closed with a grating, teeth-aching squeal of metal on metal.
[2014-03-05 14:18:42] * Bookwright "Okay. Now we're locked in. Safe, for the moment."
[2014-03-05 14:20:12] * CopyCat flattens her ears until the screeching noise stops. "A lock-in... Did anypony bring any booze?"
[2014-03-05 14:21:05] * Shatara blinkblinks at CopyCat.
[2014-03-05 14:23:14] * Bookwright "I've got a flask of unknown provenance that I found in the crystal kingdom. If you want to take a swig, I can dig it out for you."
[2014-03-05 14:23:57] * Noble_Heart flattens her ears at the resounding noise. Then breathes a sigh of relief as it slides finally back into position. "We would suggest taking this opportunity to fully explore the facility. There may be something valuable which survived here isolated from the pink."
[2014-03-05 14:26:01] * Golden_Dream takes a look at the shotgun, doing her best not to look phased by the door closing. "Old, classic Ironshod design. Built fer clearing out bunkers, trenches, foxholes, an' tight indoor places. Looks like somepony got this thing cheap after it'd been shot out durin' th' war. This thing's barrel looks like it's seen more buckshot than a bordello." She looked up at the rest. "Ya'll make sure...
[2014-03-05 14:26:02] * Golden_Dream ...none of yer armor is stickin' t' you?"
[2014-03-05 14:27:21] * CopyCat turns to Bookwright. "Actually... yes I would like to try some. And then I can get naked, since Golden_Dream is being so insistent."
[2014-03-05 14:27:24] * Bookwright checks his armor and other accoutrements for welding or sticking.
[2014-03-05 14:27:53] * Bookwright fishes out the flask of unknown provenance from his pack and gives it to CopyCat.
[2014-03-05 14:28:27] * CopyCat takes a swig.
[2014-03-05 14:28:58] * Golden_Dream looks up at Bookie as he's passing off the flask. "Prolly a bad idea, Bookie. Remember that one time she ate a bunch of sprinkles and got us all hyper?"
[2014-03-05 14:29:39] <Little_Gloom> 3Fermented crystal berries make for a find swig.
[2014-03-05 14:31:19] * CopyCat sighs. "Most refreshing. Quite a kick, too."
[2014-03-05 14:31:43] * Bookwright "Too late now, Goldi." To CopyCat, "Well give it here then, I haven't had alcohol in months."
[2014-03-05 14:32:31] * CopyCat passes it back and then tries to unbuckle herself from her armour.
[2014-03-05 14:32:53] <Little_Gloom> 3The facility takes little time to explore.  Aside from the main room, there are only the two bathrooms, a small closet and a shower room.  Most of the lockers are empty or contain faded personal items of no real interest or value.  However, two are padlocked, and the large lockers in the main room are locked as well.
[2014-03-05 14:34:39] * Bookwright tipples before passing it to Golden_Dream. "Mmm! Very strong. Not so nice, but quantity of alcohol has a quality all its own."
[2014-03-05 14:35:49] * Golden_Dream takes the alcohol, then shakes her head and passes it to the next pony. "I... Don't drink while I'm in a bad situation. Booze t' me is an 'everything's awesome' sorta drink."
[2014-03-05 14:38:16] * CopyCat wriggles out of her custom-fitted crystal barding and sways a little before lounging on a chair.
[2014-03-05 14:38:42] * Shatara can't help but blush as more mares get naked. Stupid sexy ponies.
[2014-03-05 14:39:16] * Noble_Heart took a few moments to check and make sure the crystal armor was not sticking to herself. Though given her relative lack of exposure to the pink cloud compared to her companions that seemed highly unlikely to be an issue. "It would seem that we shall need the expertise of those who know how to bypass locks once more."
[2014-03-05 14:40:35] * Golden_Dream isn't aware that she's being at all sexy. I mean, she's too young for really any of this, although she seems too old for all she knows. She proceeded to lift the pickaxe from her saddlebags and slide it over to Noble. "Should help on anything door related or somethin' like that."
[2014-03-05 14:45:07] * Noble_Heart looks down at the pickaxe and lifts it in her telekinesis. "We can certainly attempt to remove the locks from some of these with this. Though We would fear that perhaps the things inside might be ruined in the process..."
[2014-03-05 14:46:01] * Bookwright "I can take those locks right off the chains without unlocking or damaging them, if need be.
[2014-03-05 14:51:23] * Golden_Dream shrugs, then plops down on the ground. The pink seemed to take a lot out of her.
[2014-03-05 14:52:13] * Noble_Heart nods her head. "We could teleport the locks off, We suppose. But that would be quite draining and stressful. Better to allow one with the skills to remove them to attempt it first. Then utilize such things only when necessary."
[2014-03-05 14:52:32] * Shatara turns his attention back to the monitors with a frown. Intelectually, he knows he should probably get out of his own armor, but...in front of the others...?
[2014-03-05 14:53:36] * Golden_Dream stares at her not-quite pipbuck, pressing the buttons a little. She looked to see if the darned thing was welded to her leg or not.
[2014-03-05 15:00:59] * Bookwright "Naw, I mean I can make a few chain links in tangible and slide the padlocks right out."
[2014-03-05 15:03:08] * Golden_Dream looks at Shatara being uncomfortable. "What's wrong? I doubt those ghouls'll get through around a hundred tons of steel."
[2014-03-05 15:03:30] * CopyCat giggles to herself. "We could turn away first if you like, Shatara."
[2014-03-05 15:04:08] <Little_Gloom> 3On the screen where the angry Academy Foals were seen minutes before, another dead colt appears pulling a wagon piled with something hidden under a tattered tarp.  His academy cloak melded to him, partially obscuring a cutie mark -- he probably had it less than a month before the end.
[2014-03-05 15:06:08] * Bookwright "Or Get Lost could open 'em for us. Perhaps that's the best way to do it."
[2014-03-05 15:10:13] * Shatara flushes with further embarrassment.
[2014-03-05 15:11:09] * Golden_Dream rolls her shoulders, trying to stay awake. "Alright, alright. We got limited food and only a case a' Sparkle. We need a plan t' deal with th' ghouls outside th' door, if they're even there."
[2014-03-05 15:14:47] * CopyCat rotates in her chair. "Could we tell them to go to their rooms?"
[2014-03-05 15:15:05] * Golden_Dream cracks open a bottle of Sparkle Cola and takes a drink. The flavor wasn't her favorite, but the caffeine content would pep her up a little bit, hopefully. "You think that'd work on all of 'em?"
[2014-03-05 15:18:07] * CopyCat looks at her reflection in the monitor glass. The face of Luna looks back. She shakes her head. "Probably not. The one in the playground did not recognise Luna at all. But it would be better than being forced to hurt them."
[2014-03-05 15:18:56] <Little_Gloom> 3The cyberpony goes to work on the large lockers as the others pass around Crystal Empire alcohol.
[2014-03-05 15:21:44] * CopyCat puts a hoof out to stop herself spinning. A melancholy air enters her voice. "Or... or would that be better? What if they would be better off being freed from this terrible fate? What if we're actually hurting them by being too kind?"
[2014-03-05 15:22:31] <Little_Gloom> 3The first locker opens to reveal two suits of Canterlot Security Armor and two boxes of shotgun shells, one of which has a picture of a purple dragon breathing green fire on it.
[2014-03-05 15:23:18] * Golden_Dream stares at CopyCat and gives her a grave look. "Copycat, let me tell you something very unpleasant." She let off a sigh, trying to brace herself for what she was about to say. "Feral ghouls are not ponies. They do not see you as a thing that thinks and communicates, they see you as dinner. I ain't sure about that, but I know that by letting them hurt you, ya'll make th' world worse for yer...
[2014-03-05 15:23:19] * Golden_Dream ...pain fer' nothin', an' I don' wanna let that happen. Alright?"
[2014-03-05 15:28:11] * CopyCat hangs her head. "They can't be cured. No matter how hard we try. So would the kindest thing be to end them? To free them from what they've become?"
[2014-03-05 15:29:04] <Little_Gloom> 3The second locker holds another Combat Shotgun as well as mounts for three more, and two pulse grenades.
[2014-03-05 15:29:21] * Noble_Heart looks over the controls, curious if there was a way to cut into the school's PA system, or something similar, here. "We are uncertain. The one in the playground did respond to Golden Dream's request to play 'tag' after all. Perhaps they are not so far gone as to be feral, but merely without anyone else to interact with for so long?"
[2014-03-05 15:30:57] * Golden_Dream sighs and leans back when Noble speaks up. The thought that they could be thinking things hurt. "I ain't so sure. But I do know killing them or disablin' them is what's prolly best for th' folks that'll come here after us, if there are any."
[2014-03-05 15:39:56] * Bookwright shakes his head. "I couldn't countenance merely disabling them. Either let them die or let them go on. The spark of life, or unlife, or something, lives on in them out there. You saw her, she played tag for Celestia's sake!"
[2014-03-05 15:45:31] * Golden_Dream glowers at Bookwright. "Yeah. Tag. That's th' game you play when you stab someone in th' side, ain't it?" She sniped, pointing at the scar on her side.
[2014-03-05 15:46:33] * Bookwright "It is when all your wounds heal instantly and without pain."
[2014-03-05 15:46:42] * Shatara helpfully points out: "well, that was after you turned 'er into the jingly bell in a cat toy..."
[2014-03-05 15:47:28] * Bookwright "What's a cat toy?"
[2014-03-05 15:47:48] * CopyCat 's ears perk up.
[2014-03-05 15:47:51] <Little_Gloom> 3Noble_Heart is able to find the emergency PA override.  In the process, she discovers that L.A.B. is an acronym for Littlehorn Artillery Brigade.  This control system is linked into those huge cannons that the caravan ponies had seen spotting the floor of Crescent Moon Canyon.
[2014-03-05 15:49:12] * Bookwright abandons the conversation. "There was a door at the end of the restroom hallway that I forgot to check. I'm gonna go do that now."
[2014-03-05 15:49:35] * Noble_Heart raises her eyebrows, her voice going low. "This... This was not just a -school-. This was a -fortress-." She chewed on that internally as she looked over the PA controls. "We have found a way to broadcast a message. Perhaps We could instruct the foals to return to their dormatories?"
[2014-03-05 15:51:31] * Golden_Dream makes a snappy retort. "So tag's th' game y' play when y' maul anyone! That's a real bad way t' play tag!" She then glared at Shatara. "And what would you've done in that situation? Waited fer' them t' make th' first move? No. Screw that, I wanna stay alive, thanks."
[2014-03-05 15:54:47] * Shatara slinks back down quietly.
[2014-03-05 16:01:13] * Bookwright returns to the restroom hallway and gingerly opens the unmarked door in the back.
[2014-03-05 16:02:32] * CopyCat nods at Noble_Heart. "That would probably be for the best. If we're lucky then perhaps there was a bell that signalled the start of class. If anything would be firmly implanted in their memories, it would be that."
[2014-03-05 16:03:24] * Noble_Heart taps her chin and nods to CopyCat. "We have found overrides for the P.A. system. But We are uncertain if We can trigger the bells from here. Most likely the controls here were meant for emergency use."
[2014-03-05 16:06:35] * Golden_Dream scratches her chin. "I dunno. Maybe there was somethin' that they rehearsed in case of emergency that they'd know real well? Ah' mean, this was a school on th' border of a galdurned war, you'd think that there'd be somepony that they'd listen to that would say somethin' that they'd listen to immediately."
[2014-03-05 16:07:19] * CopyCat peers at the consoles. "The emergency system might be linked to the bells too... Get Lost, could you take a look? If anypony could find a way to get it to work then it's you. I bet you could even science! up your own bell if you needed too!"
[2014-03-05 16:08:24] * Golden_Dream ponders silently for a moment. "Didn't we find that one tape that had somepony official-soundin' on it? Copycat, do ya'll think ya'll could change yer voice t' that?"
[2014-03-05 16:09:04] * Noble_Heart taps her chin and looks to the L.A.B. labels. Quietly considering a few moments. "We imagine they must have had some kind of emergency shelter plan in the case of attack... Though what announcement might match such a necessity We are uncertain."
[2014-03-05 16:09:26] * Get_Late trots next to the console and checks it "maybe... what do you want this thing to do?"
[2014-03-05 16:10:11] <Little_Gloom> 3The door Bookwright had not checked leads to a small room with a closet, some benches, and an open doorway with a tarp hanging across it.  Beyond the tarp is a shower stall.
[2014-03-05 16:10:47] * Bookwright "A real gosh darned shower. Wow. I wonder if the water supply is sealed...?" He tries the tap.
[2014-03-05 16:11:31] * Noble_Heart looks to Get Lost. "We were hoping perhaps to trigger the end-of-class bell. Or an emergency bell. Something which the ghouls might still recognize and respond to."
[2014-03-05 16:11:32] <Little_Gloom> 3The closet door is not locked, and opens to reveal a maintenance suit and two shelves.  One holds a toolbox, the over holds several fluffy towels.
[2014-03-05 16:12:14] * CopyCat nods to Golden_Dream. "If I heard it again then I could try it. I'd need to borrow your ears though to make sure I sounded right."
[2014-03-05 16:12:42] * Get_Late "well, let's see if i can bypass the lockdown and lower the alert, then... probbably it will open some more options..."
[2014-03-05 16:14:08] * Golden_Dream 's expression grows lean and long. She didn't mind, but it always seemed odd whenever Copycat did the mind stuff to her. "Alright, I'm game." She turns around and brings a hoof to the side of her face. "Bookie, could ya'll come back here when y' can and play back that one record of that one pony we found?"
[2014-03-05 16:16:49] <Little_Gloom> 3It takes a minute or two, but Get_Lost is able to bypass the lockdown and lower the alert, ridding the main screen of its big, red warning.  A host of options come up that were not available before.  Camera control, maintenance routines, L.A.B. control, emergency protocols and Canternet.
[2014-03-05 16:16:59] * Get_Late tries to work on the console, seeing if there is something interesting she can do from this console. "say... those ghouls... are they completely lost or there is hope to find some still clearly thinking foal?"
[2014-03-05 16:17:47] * Golden_Dream rubs her face. "I dunno, alright? I'm jus' tryin' t' think of some way we can get outta here with our lives."
[2014-03-05 16:17:58] * Shatara quietly watches Get_Late work the computers.
[2014-03-05 16:25:32] * CopyCat perks her ears up again and calls out: "Oh, Bookwright, did that shower work?"
[2014-03-05 16:26:16] * Get_Late "getting out is overrated..." the mare tries to get the control of the loudspeaker
[2014-03-05 16:28:07] * Noble_Heart taps her chin. "We believe that at least some of them are still foal-like in their thoughts and actions. Not completely lost. Merely trapped, re-living their last day over and over."
[2014-03-05 16:30:35] <Little_Gloom> 3At Bookwright's command, the shower turns on, spurting water with streamers of pink.
[2014-03-05 16:30:52] * Get_Late gains control of the loudspeakers and speaks in the microphone "ah-ehm... important message for the student joy: pearl sheen and herald want you to know that they love you"
[2014-03-05 16:30:58] * Bookwright quickly turns it off. "Too much to hope for, I guess."
[2014-03-05 16:31:18] * Bookwright grabs some fluffy towels, and returns.
[2014-03-05 16:31:42] * Shatara oohs at fluffy towels.
[2014-03-05 16:35:14] * Noble_Heart keeps her eye on the security camera feeds, frowning slightly.
[2014-03-05 16:35:20] * Bookwright "Shower works, but the water system is contaminated with pink stuff."
[2014-03-05 16:37:23] * CopyCat pouts. "But I haven't had a proper wash since we left the Crystal Empire."
[2014-03-05 16:37:51] * Golden_Dream perks up a bit. "I could probably still use the shower water for somethin'. Maybe some sorta poison." Never waste an opportunity to be more prepared for a fight.
[2014-03-05 16:38:12] * Bookwright holds out a fluffy towel. "Rag bathing or nothing."
[2014-03-05 16:41:28] * CopyCat sighs but she takes the towel. "Thank you," she says, before giving herself a rub down.
[2014-03-05 16:42:26] * Get_Late "now, to everyone litening to this: if you understande these words, we're here to help as  much as we can. please gather in the playground"
[2014-03-05 16:42:55] * Get_Late turns to the others "anything else?"
[2014-03-05 16:43:55] <Little_Gloom> 3After a moment, the Academy Foal with the wagon can be seen walking back the way he came, the wagon and its covered payload behind him.  A few seconds later, the other dead children previously seen charging towards the security station are seen ambling after him.
[2014-03-05 16:44:34] * Noble_Heart frowns and contemplates. "We do not believe so. But Joy should be found if possible. We still hope that perhaps some part of who he was yet lingers."
[2014-03-05 16:45:38] * Shatara feels a strange recognition, like the image on the screen was something from those cheesy mystery cartoons in the stable library.
[2014-03-05 16:46:50] * CopyCat (now freshly towelled down) hugs Get_Late. "You did it! At least, I think you did it. You're so clever, there may even be some hope for these foals after all."
[2014-03-05 16:49:12] * Golden_Dream ponders this, then finishes her Sparkle Cola and puts a cap on it. "Hey, everypony that hasn't gotten a bottle of this Sparkle Cola yet, drink up now." Her mood visibly soured when that plan seemed to work. Cold guilt started to eat at the edges of her gut.
[2014-03-05 16:51:18] <Little_Gloom> 3A minute later, movement can be seen on the screen whose camera stares over the school's largest playground.  The foal with the wagon walks into view, appearing between the dandling chains of the ten-seat swing-set.  Behind him, the twin pink lights of other Academy Foals hover.
[2014-03-05 16:52:47] * Bookwright mutters low, "Alright Lost. They're gathering. What do you intend?"
[2014-03-05 16:53:06] <Little_Gloom> 3The foal walks into the playground and three other foals follow.  He stops, points, and they trod over to the twisted metal circle of the merry-go-round and climb onto it.  Then, the foal with the wagon turns and walks away, disappearing from the camera's view again.  The other foals sit on the merry-go-round, still as death.
[2014-03-05 16:53:10] * CopyCat lays a comforting wing across Golden_Dream's shoulders. "Do not worry for what might have been. Instead be glad that we have friends who can offer hope even when all seems lost."
[2014-03-05 16:54:05] * Noble_Heart looks up at the video and frowns. "That's... Unusual. That foal with the wagon acts to direct the others. We would not think that any of them would have 'authority' in a place like this."
[2014-03-05 16:55:33] * Get_Late "uhm... looks like the pony with the wagon still has some awareness... maybe we should try to talk to him..."
[2014-03-05 16:57:14] * Golden_Dream doesn't seem much better off. Her expression was stony, her jawline seemed to harden a bit. "I ain't worried about what might've been." She was, but not in the way she was saying. Her thoughts fell more along the lines of what it meant to be sapient and a person. The thought that she'd been killing innocents seemed to be a long standing issue that's been putting conflict in her brain for a...
[2014-03-05 16:57:16] * Golden_Dream ...long, long time.
[2014-03-05 16:58:09] * Golden_Dream hoofs Copycat a bottle of Sparkle Cola. "Drink this quick. I gotta use the bottle." Her tone was low and worried.
[2014-03-05 16:59:06] * CopyCat nods at Golden_Dream and drinks the offered cola. "But just in case, perhaps I should take that other weapon we found~ hey, this is good."
[2014-03-05 16:59:28] * Noble_Heart taps her chin, looking down at the controls. "It is difficult to say what might bring them around. We were merely thinking of setting off the emergency broadcast system. Of the sort that might be triggered in the case of an attack, or a fire drill. Something which would see the foals returning to their dormatories rather than randomly littering the streets."
[2014-03-05 17:00:58] * Get_Late "well then. i promised to try and help them, so... i'll go and see what i can do, i guess"
[2014-03-05 17:01:11] <Little_Gloom> 3As the group waits, drinking Sparkle~Cola and discussing their options, the dead child with the wagon once again appears, walking onto the playground, this time from the direction of the sandbox.
[2014-03-05 17:02:32] * CopyCat turns to Shatara. "Could you help me into my barding again, please? The parts I can't see myself are still tricky."
[2014-03-05 17:02:37] <Little_Gloom> 3Five more Academy Foals follow.  Two of them have pink glows around their horns, and the Pink Mist that surrounds the five of them is thick enough to obscure their hooves.  It washes away from them, thinning out as it adds to the thin Pink that layers the ground.
[2014-03-05 17:03:06] * Golden_Dream looks up, passing Sparkle Cola bottles around and collecting empty ones. "Ask th' wagon pony t' nod if it understands us. An' lemme see if ya'll got camera footage of th' tower th' reaper pony pointed out."
[2014-03-05 17:03:35] <Little_Gloom> 3The colt with the wagon points, and the five Academy Foals clamber onto the twisting metal skeleton of the playground's jungle gym (which appears to have originally held the shape of the Royal Castle in Canterlot).
[2014-03-05 17:04:27] * Shatara blushes and nods to CopyCat.
[2014-03-05 17:04:30] * Get_Late nods and speaks in the microphone again "joy, it is you pulling the cart? please wave at the camera"
[2014-03-05 17:04:32] <Little_Gloom> 3The dead child once again turns to leave, but his heavily-laden wagon gets stuck in the sand and he spends a few moments tugging it free before wandering out of sight again.
[2014-03-05 17:05:23] * Noble_Heart watches the video feeds and frowns. "We do not think it would be wise to go there right now. Not until We have a better idea how to handle this. But it seems that the one with the wagon is listening. He appears to be gathering the others to the playground, as requested." She furrows her brow. "We admit wonder as to what might be in that wagon which is so important."
[2014-03-05 17:06:21] * Get_Late can i make a wild guess? miss cherilee's corpse
[2014-03-05 17:06:25] <Get_Late> ""
[2014-03-05 17:06:26] <Little_Gloom> 3A moment later, the dead child walks back into view.  Then waves at the camera.  Then walks away again.
[2014-03-05 17:06:33] <Little_Gloom> 3The wagon follows.
[2014-03-05 17:07:45] * Get_Late "very well, now i think we should talk to him. he must know that his dad is alive and i want them to meet again. if you aren't with me i won't force you upon this"
[2014-03-05 17:08:09] * Bookwright "...no, surely not. But it seems so. I guess that must be Joy."
[2014-03-05 17:09:47] * CopyCat tilts her (once again armoured) head. "Who is Joy?"
[2014-03-05 17:10:07] * Get_Late "and with now, i mean as soon as he finidhed gathering his friends... maybe somewhere else than the playground"
[2014-03-05 17:10:08] * Noble_Heart frowns and furrows her brow. "Yes. We agree that it is most certainly Joy that is pulling the wagon." She taps her chin. "And that some conversation must be had." She sighs quietly. "It may be best to go meet them. Though We are concerned about meeting so many in one place."
[2014-03-05 17:10:52] * Bookwright "Joy is the son of Herald, a pony prolonged by wholley different effects than what Joy experienced. I believe that Herald has mostly lost his mind, unfortunately. It seems to have been replaced by a tree. Long story."
[2014-03-05 17:11:32] * Bookwright "We could ask him to meet us in outside the vault."
[2014-03-05 17:12:26] * Noble_Heart nods her head. "We believe that would be best."
[2014-03-05 17:12:48] * Get_Late "firts, we should let him finish what he's doing, then we will ask him to meet ad see how we can help him and the others..."
[2014-03-05 17:13:04] * Golden_Dream groans and hung her head. Why did things have to be so complicated? "Just finish up yer goddamned cola already."
[2014-03-05 17:13:38] * CopyCat finishes her cola and passes the bottle to Golden.
[2014-03-05 17:16:51] * Golden_Dream takes the bottle and puts it with her own.
[2014-03-05 17:19:48] * Bookwright "Um, he might not be able to. It's possible the wagon and he are, urgh, inseparable."
[2014-03-05 17:23:28] * Get_Late nothing that a half decent bonesaw can't fix....
[2014-03-05 17:24:16] <Little_Gloom> 3Get_Lost checks one last thing on the console, pulling up details on the power source for the security station.  One of the terminals starts listing information, a perusal of which shows that the station's original power source, the Hippocampus Type XXI generators that also powered the school have not been functional for over two hundred and thirty years...
[2014-03-05 17:25:49] <Little_Gloom> 3...but the security station's power feed was switched to that of an offsite New Futures Type-A Reactor shortly before the generators failed... several years after the Massacre at Littlehorn.
[2014-03-05 17:27:34] * Get_Late shrugs "okay, we can't blow the whole place up guys... no gaia valley last resort strategy.... we need a better plan i guess"
[2014-03-05 17:29:21] * Noble_Heart frowns. "We are not concerned about sterilizing this place. These foals have not left the school in centuries. It is doubtful they would do so now. And even more doubtful that they would travel far enough to find someone they could harm. We are merely concerned for them, and Ourselves."
[2014-03-05 17:30:26] * CopyCat picks up the as-yet unclaimed Combat Shotgun found in the weapon cabinet. A careful observer would note that the way she checked over the weapon was exactly the same as Golden_Dream had done a few minutes before, down to the last motion.
[2014-03-05 17:31:36] * Get_Late "well, okay, but i wanted you to know that we don't have that option even if we need it."
[2014-03-05 17:34:16] * Bookwright activates the microphone. "Will student Joy please come to the shed near the playground?"
[2014-03-05 17:34:26] <Little_Gloom> 3The  offsite location of the reactor is just over ten miles south-by-southeast of the school, addressed as "New Futures Research, Tragedy's End".  The tag for the facility is uploaded to every PipBuck in the room.
[2014-03-05 17:35:18] * Golden_Dream takes in a deep breath, and lays out the bottles in the shower. When and if the ponies get done with them, she'll turn on the water while staying at the side of the water until they hopefully fill, then turn it back off quickly. She'll then take the towels from the closet and, making very sure not to make contact with the tainted water, wipe off the sides of the things.
[2014-03-05 17:36:37] <Little_Gloom> 3The water that fills the bottles is mildly pink, very diluted but still dangerous.
[2014-03-05 17:38:37] * Bookwright "I'm going to go speak with Joy, see if we can't get the story of this place from him."
[2014-03-05 17:39:02] * Golden_Dream caps them and then puts them away. If the closet or lockers also have some sort of labeler or blank stickers, she also proceeds to label them with a skull and crossbones.
[2014-03-05 17:39:13] <Little_Gloom> 3As the bottles are filling, Joy leads two more Academy Foals to the playground, directing them to the teeter totter.  The first three dead children brought here have stopped sitting and staring, and are now slowly turning the merry-go-round in a mimicry of play.
[2014-03-05 17:41:26] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream is able to find a labeler in the toolbox, as well as a maintenance kit.
[2014-03-05 17:42:38] * Golden_Dream blinks. She thinks this is called serendipity, but she isn't quite sure. She'll then proceed to hoof the maintenance kit to Shatara. "We leavin'?"
[2014-03-05 17:43:27] * Get_Late nods in approval when bookie speaks in the microphone
[2014-03-05 17:44:32] * Bookwright actuates the controls to open the vault door. "You can close it behind me if you like. If worst comes to worst, I can teleport back in here."
[2014-03-05 17:46:05] * Golden_Dream gulps and nods. "Right."
[2014-03-05 17:47:25] <Little_Gloom> 3Once more the air is filled with the grinding squeal and the sound of klaxons as the door opens.  On the screen, the Academy Fouls all stop and turn as one, their eyes glowing a fierce pink and their mouths opening in an unholy rasp.  All except for Joy, who rasps at them and points.  The foals settle and go back.
[2014-03-05 17:48:05] * Noble_Heart turns to face the door, intent to go out with Bookwright.
[2014-03-05 17:48:12] * Shatara accepts the maintinence kit and gulps a bit.
[2014-03-05 17:49:09] * CopyCat trots up next to Bookwright and Noble_Heart. "You should not go alone. We will be beside you."
[2014-03-05 17:49:50] <Little_Gloom> 3A moment later, the dead foals on teeter-totter are trying to make it go up and down, unfazed by the fact that it is stuck in place.  One of the ones on the merry-go-round starts pushing it in circles again while the other two stare motionlessly.
[2014-03-05 17:50:24] * Get_Late follows bookie "as if i will let you go alone, you silly"
[2014-03-05 17:51:30] <Little_Gloom> 3The five on the jungle gym glare in the direction of the security station with bright pink eyes as rivers of thick Pink pour over the ground around them, slowly but visibly thickening the Pink Mist around the playground.  However, they stay put.  And Joy once again turns away, the wagon shifting.
[2014-03-05 17:52:08] <Little_Gloom> 3Something falls from beneath the sheet -- a hoof concealed in armor.  But Joy stops and telekinetically puts the hoof back in place under the tarp, then pulls the wagon out of sight.
[2014-03-05 17:53:58] <Little_Gloom> 3As the huge gear-shaped door swings open, Golden_Dream finds herself face to face with the Reaper who wears Its wings like a cloak.  It is standing just outside the door, feet from her.  Silently, it beckons and turns walking towards the cellar steps.
[2014-03-05 17:57:53] * Golden_Dream stares right at the reaper and follows hesitantly. "Copycat, bubble please." She mutters before going too far. She then addressed the Reaper in question. "I'm tired of this hide-and-go-seek bullshit. You stay close, or I'm done playing the game with you."
[2014-03-05 17:58:22] <Little_Gloom> 3The Reaper stops at the bottom of the steps, turning to look at Golden_Dream again, silently insistent that she follow.  Then steps up and out of the cellar.  The cellar doors appear to have been torn apart by something... or things... trying to get in.
[2014-03-05 17:59:19] * Bookwright "Uh. Golden_Dream. What are you looking at?
[2014-03-05 18:00:41] * Golden_Dream narrows her eyes. "You know damn well, Bookie." She was not in a very good mood right now.
[2014-03-05 18:01:59] * CopyCat takes a deep breath, emptying her mind and letting herself drift in the collected sea of unconciousness. She focuses on her spells through the calm, letting her zen state take over. Power of Friendship infuses her friends, before being triggered by her Shield spell a few moments later. Everyone gets a bubble.
[2014-03-05 18:03:36] * Bookwright "Uh, right. Sorry."
[2014-03-05 18:03:37] <Little_Gloom> 3The Reaper leads the way through the back alleys and onto one of the main cobblestone streets.
[2014-03-05 18:04:03] * Bookwright follows Golden_Dream, but only to the shack.
[2014-03-05 18:05:46] * Golden_Dream attempts to roll up the stairs. "Stop. We gotta wait for somepony, spirit."
[2014-03-05 18:06:01] * CopyCat joins Bookwright, but their immediate gaol was to meet up with Joy, not to follow the reaper that Golden was seeing.
[2014-03-05 18:06:03] * Noble_Heart is indeed moving with the others towards the outside.
[2014-03-05 18:07:20] <Little_Gloom> 3The Reaper stops in the street and waits, barely visible to Golden_Dream through the alley.
[2014-03-05 18:11:00] <Little_Gloom> 3After a few minutes waiting, Bookwright begins to realize that either Joy isn't coming, or Joy won't come until he has first brought every Academy Foal to the playground first.
[2014-03-05 18:12:56] * Bookwright is patient enough to wait a little while, but not long. He decides to risk shouting. "Joy? JOY! Can you hear me? Please, come talk to me."
[2014-03-05 18:13:30] * Noble_Heart frowns and looks to the playground. "Perhaps we should keep looking for a bit and return later? It seems that the gathering of foals will take some time."
[2014-03-05 18:15:15] * Bookwright sighs. "I guess you're right. Let's go then."
[2014-03-05 18:16:19] <Little_Gloom> 3The Reaper is still waiting when the group exit the alleyway and into the street.
[2014-03-05 18:16:22] <Little_Gloom> 3There are two wagons here which look to have collided, both broken and one overturned with a missing wheel, the skeletons of their pullers fused into the harnesses, the skeletons of fouls piled in the one that remains upright as if the children all tried to hug each other as the Pink Cloud got them.
[2014-03-05 18:17:23] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright's spell is picking up numerous records further up ahead.
[2014-03-05 18:18:48] * Bookwright grimaces. "This is a foul place. I will be glad to put it behind us."
[2014-03-05 18:19:30] * Noble_Heart frowns at the sight of the foal skeletons. "It is a sad place. We would give those who died here a proper funeral if We could."
[2014-03-05 18:19:39] * CopyCat nods sadly.
[2014-03-05 18:21:43] * Golden_Dream was very quiet for a moment, then proceeded to quietly trot over to the reaper. "I don't suppose I'll get any answer from you. If you could talk, ah think you'd have told us why you asked us here. But here's somethin' you can answer with a nod. Are what we're to do gonna put these folks t' rest?"
[2014-03-05 18:22:24] <Little_Gloom> 3The Reaper turns and moves up the street towards the classroom buildings, where most of the records seem to be.  As It moves, Golden_Dream notices other Reapers watching through alleyways or on rooftops, their expressions unfathomable.
[2014-03-05 18:22:55] <Little_Gloom> 3Although there is one, a Reaper whose hooves flicker with flame, who seems disapproving.  That one turns its back on the street and those in it, moving out of sight.
[2014-03-05 18:31:33] * Golden_Dream doesn't like the non-answer. It took more effort than it really should to avoid shouting at them, chewing them out. She tried to hold back tears, and only really succeeded in having them come down in a bigger strength. Why the fuck did this happen? Was there a reason for these foals to die? Was there a reason why they came back? Has she been killing innocent ponies who still wanted to live?...
[2014-03-05 18:31:35] * Golden_Dream ...Would it matter if it meant her life? Was this a punishment for her, to see all this, to be forced to watch as her decisions that she felt would keep her safe and find that they would come at the cost of other ponies? How many times has she made that kind of decision without knowing?"
[2014-03-05 18:31:43] <Little_Gloom> 3--- End of Session ---