Archeologist Anon- 2 Drilling and Breakthrough

>Rainbow brought the chopper down slowly.
>As the rotors slow, the four of you exit the helicopter and start getting boxes out.
>Another four figures exit the main complex.
>TS: “We only just beat the storm, let’s move it people.”
>A mad dash ensues as boxes are moved into the main building, and some people work on securing the chopper.
>The snow starts to pick up as you slam the door shut after the last of the team enters the building.
>?: “Ma’am you should have waited at McMurdo, you cut it too close with the storm.”
>The voice sounds middle aged, slightly grizzled
>TS: “At ease Major. There’s no harm done. Well everybody, introductions are in order.”
>She turns to face the four other team members
>TS: “Major Jason Fields”
>The man lowers his hood to show a balding head of hair kept in a buzz cut, and a large scar covering his left eye.
>JF: “Retired Ma’am.”
>TS: “Raymond Whitmore, he’ll be handling the mechanical necessities of the base.”
>Bland in almost every describable way, you’d guess he’s thirtyish. The scraggly hair and beard would indicate that he’s been out here a long while.
>Or he just doesn’t like to trim.
>RW: “And the kennels.”
>TS: “James and Amanda O’Brian. They’re the chief drillers.”
>He has short kept red hair, a few freckles.
>She is a brunette, keeps her tied into a bun.
>both of them are pretty average looking. You expected worse for Antarctic explorers.
>But the three girls you’ve been with are technically ‘Antarctic explorers’ too.
>JO: “Pleasure to meet you.”
>Slight accent. You can barely notice it. Too slight to pick out if it’s Irish or Scottish.
>AO: “I hope the temperature isn’t too uncomfortable for you guys. It can be rough the first few trips.”
>Californian.
>TS: “This is Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer, and Doctor Anonymous. “
>the meet and greets are cut short by the Major
>JF: “We should probably deal with assigning quarters ma’am.”

>After all of you finish removing your outdoor gear, the Major leads you through a hallway.
>It’s rather obvious that the building was put up in a couple weeks.
>JF: “Now as we are tight on space, you’ll have to double up on rooms. The far left has been taken by the O’Brian’s, and the far right by the Whitmore and myself. The door at the far end of the hallway leads to the toilets and showers.”
>Glancing into the near right room, you notice that it’s pretty sparse.
>Two cots, a pair of foot lockers, a clothes rack, a desk, and a single chair.
>JF: “I’d recommend that the doctor would use the other one.”
>He didn’t even talk to you directly, you can’t tell if he didn’t really want this job or he just doesn’t like people
>The left room is identical to the first, however includes a rather large bookshelf over the desk.
>Upon closer inspection you find that the books cover various civilizations, cultures, and languages.
>Should work as adequate reference material once you get to the ruin.
>RD: “I’ll bunk with Anon. One of us has got to take one for the team, huh?”
>Of course she will.
>JF: “Now ma’am, if you would follow me this way, I can show you to your office.”
>The crowd starts to dissipate. Twilight and the Major do their ‘official’ business, Whitmore (presumably) heads to the kennels, and the O’Brian’s begin walking off with Sunset.
>AO: “We’ll be in the rec room. Come find us later.”
>Leaving you alone with Rainbow.
>This has really happened a lot over the past couple days.

“Take one for the team?”
>RD: “Trust me, it’s for the best. Twi and Sunny are some of my best friends, but I cannot roommate with them for months.”
“And what would make me so much better?”
>RD: “Just a hunch. Besides, it feels a bit cool in here. We might need to huddle together at night for warmth.”
>And with that, she tosses her bag on a cot to claim it, and goes off into the base.
>Time to stock up, you personally brought:
>A half dozen pairs of clothes (mostly for warm climates), your notebook, your phone, the charger for said phone, and a smashed snickers bar.
>Grabbing the old candy bar you decide to tour the facility.
>The living space, a pair of large storage rooms, a utility closet, radio room, Twilight’s office (locked), a rec room, kitchen, infirmary, the generator room, the kennels (equipped with four huskies), and a garage (equipped with two snowmobiles, and the diggers).
>Outside is a third storage room, presumably where most of the fuel is stored.
>Whitmore told you that enough supplies are present to last six months, eight if you need to ration.
>You decide to join the others in the rec room.
>A sectional couch, TV, a couple shelves of DVDs, pool table, bar, and the couch’s coffee table should work well for poker if a few chairs are brought in.
>JO: “Oh and you three should know that this area is more or less of a dead zone. We have serious trouble trying to get radio contact with the outside world on the clearest of days.”
“Two hundred miles and a mountain range away from the nearest help, and in the middle of the Antarctic winter? What could possible go wrong?”
>JO: “Hang on to that sarcasm, it might just keep you sane through all of this.”
>AO: “Don’t mind my husband; he’s just trying to startle you.”

>JO: “Can’t blame me for trying.”
>SS: “So how long have the two of you been down here? I mean aside from this mission.”
>AO:  “Six years now, we’re probably the closest thing the continent has to permanent residents.”
>JO: “The two of us and Ray were all at the same research base back then. The three of us have been working with each other ever since.”
>AO: “And don’t mind Ray, he seems a bit strange at first but he has a heart of gold.”
>JO: “Now where was I? Right, the food: all of the stuff we have here is canned, non-perishable, or military style rations. It’s all shit but you’ll get used to it.”
>Jesus, it’s like you’re back in college
>RD: “Anon here is actually a decent cook. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind trying to make it better.”
>AO: “would you really do that? It’s been so long since we’ve had a decent meal.”
>JO: “And she can’t cook to save her life.”
“Sure, it’s not like I’ll be doing much around here for a while anyway.”
>Just like back in college. Thanks a lot Rainbow.
“Well for now, I think I’m going to head back to my bunk. I’ll see you guys around.”
>So far you have mixed feelings.
>On one hand: you’re stuck in the middle of a frozen wasteland for months, cooped up with seven people you barely know.
>On the other: It’s a paying job, you finally might do something that matters, free room and board, and overall the people don’t seem that bad.
 >Reaching your room, you decide to skim a few of the books that have been stocked.
>You have no idea what might be under the ice, so you skip around quite a bit.
>You end up losing track of time.
>RD: “Enjoying the collection?”
>You drop the book, not anticipating her approach.
>She comes over and retrieves it from the floor.
>RD: “A History of the Latin Language.”
“Yeah, until they can drill sown there’s not much for me to do but read. Or otherwise waste my time.”

>RD: “How do you think me and Sunny feel? I’m here as a pilot, and she’s here in case someone gets lost out there.”
“So it’s an exotic vacation?”
>RD: “Pretty much.”
>She begins to unpack her own things.
>RD: “Look, what I’m trying to say is: you’ll have plenty of time to read, try to actually enjoy yourself too.”
“I didn’t plan on staying in here most of the day. Just a bit jet lagged still.”
>Awkward silence.
“So, would you prefer movie or poker nights to be on Saturday?”
>RD: “Poker, definitely. Movie nights on Wednesday?”
“Well, we’ll have to check to see what the others want.”
>Time. That’s about the only thing you aren’t lacking for right now.
>Great choice of small talk Anon.
>Only a few more months of this.
>RD: “Yeah that’s group movie nights, but what about roommate movie nights?”
“Seeing as there’s only one TV, I’d say just to fit it in whenever.”
>RD: “Sounds good. It really is going out there isn’t it?”
>The storm outside sounded like it was dying down earlier, but has since regained its strength.
>RD: “four hours of sunlight is going to be hard to get used to.”
>At least the awkward forced small talk isn’t completely one sided.
>A clock is placed on your desk, and adjusted for the change in time.
>10 pm
>You start putting books back into place, marking a few for later reading.
>Might as well get it over with now.

“So, any room rules or habits I should know about?”
>RD: “Not really, I’m not that fussy.”
>She already sounds like the best roommate you’ve ever had.
>RD: “Wait, actually.”
>She quickly heads to the door and leans out it.
>RD: “I brought you something.” She returns with a coffee maker and a pair of cups in hand. “I found it in one of the storage rooms, I’m sure no one would mind if we ‘borrowed’ it permanently.”
>Best roommate ever.
>RD: “Oh and you should get some sleep. You’ve got to get up to make everyone breakfast tomorrow.”
“And why exactly should I do that?”
>RD: “Because I said.”
“Yes dear.”
>You meant that completely as a joke, right?
>She has a point though, you are tired. You go over to check through the kit Twilight provided you. In it you find suitably warm flannel pajamas.
>As you change, Rainbow heads over to close and lock the door.
>She then finds her own pair of sleepwear in her own kit and proceeds to change.
>The two of you go to your respective cots, and you reach to turn out the lights.
>For a few minutes you lay in darkness, the only sound being the storm raging outside.
>RD: “Hey Anon?”
“Yeah Dash?”
>RD: “Why don’t you come over here?  You know, to stay warm while we get used to the low temperature they keep this place at.”
>You get up and grab your own blankets as well, placing them over Rainbow’s cot.
>Before joining her under the first set.
>It actually does feel really cold.
>RD: “Thanks Anon, goodnight.”
“No problem, goodnight Rainbow.”
>You settle into position, arms around your roommate.
>Breathing slows to match hers.
>And you both drift off to sleep.

>The only way you could describe your rest as would be: peaceful.
>Peaceful until…
>*Knock knock*
>TS: “Wake up you guys. The storms died down, so we’re going to start the drilling today.”
>Like she actually needs you there for the drilling.
>RD: “Just a minute Twi.”
>As you slowly open your eyes, you find that Rainbow is facing you with her head tucked into your chest.
>It looks like she went back to sleep.
>Testing your theory, you begin to move her hair from over her eyes.
>RD: “Ten more minutes.”
>You can live with that.
>Resting your head atop hers, you put your arms back around her.
>You can hear a bit of chatter and movement outside your room. Sounds like the others are getting ready for the day.
“Come on Rainbow.”
>No verbal response from Rainbow, but she does tighten her grip around you.
“You know, if you stay in here much longer you’ll miss breakfast.”
>RD: “No I won’t, as long as I hold on to the cook.”
>Clever girl.
>You can now see a triumphant smile on her face, as she tightens her grip for a final hug around you.
>RD: “Alright. You can go now.”
>The two of you unravel your limbs and you rise to leave the bed.
>Damn it’s cold.
>You shift the covers you brought to her cot back to your own, then go see what the others are doing.
 >The rest of the team is can be found in the rec room. As that’s the only room that can seat everyone it looks like it’s the defacto dining room.
>most of them are just lounging and drinking coffee.
“Give me fifteen minutes.”
>You say to the team as you head off to the kitchen.
>And you get to work. If anyone doesn’t want what you’re cooking, then there’s more for you.

>You glance through the cabinets, the pantry, and the fridge.
>Bacon, bread, various spices, and eggs (better use those before they rot).
>One cooking montage later, you have eight plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.
>You begin taking plates to the rest of the team, and notice that Rainbow has finally joined them.
>As everyone but you and Rainbow have their plates, you think of one last thing.
>You noticed just what you need to make your favorite cup of coffee, so you fix a pair of them.
>Time to join the others. You grab the remaining pair of plates and coffee cups, then go to join Rainbow.
>She is sitting on the sectional along with Sunset. The others are at the bar, talking about how they’ll be setting up to drill today.
>You hand Rainbow her plate and coffee, which she promptly begins to consume.
>It just dawns on you that you and the three girls didn’t have much time to eat yesterday, so you dig in as well.
>Not bad, but you’ve done better. The coffee is spot on though.
>SS: “Thank you for cooking Anon, it was great.”
>Some gratitude for once, you could get used to that.
>RD: “Eh, the bacon was a bit overdone.”
>Sunset shoots a glare at Rainbow.
>RD: “What? It’s the truth.”
“Thank you Sunset, and what was that Rainbow? Next time you want it burnt?”
>RD: “What was that Anon? You want me to have your spare blanket?”
>Touché.
>SS: “So it looks like you two are getting along.”
>RD: “Honestly I just use him for his coffee.”
“What would you do without me?”
>RD: “Enjoy being the only one here with a room to themselves.”
>Snark levels have broken the charts.

>For better or worse, Twilight comes to deliver some news.
>TS: “The three of you should know, we’re going to begin drilling soon. The structure is a few hundred feet north of here, and a few hundred down. The best the drilling rigs can do is a twenty-five degree descent, so we’ve got a considerable amount of ice to go through. I’ve got good news and bad news. “
>TS: “Normally that would take quite a while, but I pulled some strings to get some experimental prototype rigs.  It should take us 36 days of drilling, so if the weather remains clear we’ll be down there in just over a month.”
>TS: “The bad news is that the weather won’t probably remain clear. Taking that into account, I’d say it will take almost two months.”
>Two months before your job actually begins.
>TS: “Now the three of you won’t be directly involved with the drilling, so I’d suggest you all settle in. If something happens and we need you, then you’ll hear from someone. Until that happens, you can just enjoy yourselves.”
>Glancing over, it looks like the others have left to go perform their various duties.
>TS: “If you need anything from me, you can find me in the office.”
>Twilight heads into the hallway, and leaves your line of sight.
“So, Two months.”
>RD: “Fun.”
>SS: “Oh don’t be so pessimistic you guys, I’m sure it won’t be that bad.”
“Actually I have an idea.”
>You need to rectify something.
>you’re in luck, moving to the DVD shelves you pick one specific movie.
“Stay here, I’ll be back with popcorn and fresh coffee.”
>Returning, you place the popcorn and drinks on the table, and go to put in the move.
>Grabbing the remote you go to turn off the lights, then take a place on the couch between Rainbow and Sunset
>Sunset looks at the DVD case with a perplexed look on her face.
>SS: “Predator, what’s it about?”
“You’ll see.”
>Play.

>They both seem to be interested. Rainbow likes that it seems like a normal action movie at first. Sunset seems to enjoy the music, probably more of a romance movie girl.
>When the group finds the skinned bodies Sunset shrieks.
>Followed by laughter from you and Dash.
>Rainbow really enjoys the commando raid. Guess she’s a fan of straight action movies.
>Stick around.
>She breaks out into laughter.
>As the second half starts to pick up you notice that Sunset seems genuinely scared.
>Dash on the other hand doesn’t seem fazed.
>Note to self: make multiple bowls of popcorn, Rainbow hogs it.
>Wait for it.
>GET TO THE CHOPPAH!
>SS: “Oh that explains the other day.”
>Dash elbows you after the line.
>Worth it.
>RD: “Wow, really Anon?
“Shhh, that’s not even the best one liner.”
>Back to the movie.
>As the hunter removes his mask, you feel Sunset’s head burrow into your shoulder.
>SS: “Tell me when it’s gone.”
>Lightweight.
“It’s gone.”
>You lied, and receive an elbow from Sunset before she places her head back into your shoulder.
>Worth it.
>Eventually Sunset leaves your shoulder, and looks back to the movie.
>Wait for it.
>You are one ugly motherfucker.
>The movie then finishes.
>SS: “No more scary movies please.”
>RD: “That was supposed to be scary?”
>SS: “Well it was to me.”
‘Sorry about that. But, I think I saw a movie that you would like better.”
>SS: “Sure, what about you Rainbow?”
>Rainbow nods in agreement as you go to switch out DVDs. As you place the new disk in, you almost feel bad for Sunset.
>Alien.

>As that movie comes to a close, Sunset ended up spending more of her time watching your shoulder than the movie.
>They both screamed when the chestburster popped, even though Rainbow tried to hide it.
>Overall you enjoyed the morning and afternoon, but you doubt that they’ll let you choose what movie to watch anymore.
>As the work day comes to a close, more people start filtering into the rec room.
>You end up playing a few games of pool with Ray, while the O’Brian’s set up a dart board and Rainbow and Sunset kept talking on the couch.
>Twilight and the Major even set up a chess board.
>Just like one big happy family.
>After you fix dinner for everyone, the night comes to a conclusion with a poker match.
>You figure that a lot of your days will end up something like this.
>For now, the night is over.
>Everyone starts filtering into their own rooms, so you and Dash do the same.
>RD: “Hey Anon, you have a decent taste in movies.”
“I thought they scared you both too much.”
>RD: “Me, scared? Never.”
“I distinctly remember a few screams that weren’t from Sunset.”
>RD: “I don’t know, you must be hearing things.”
“Sure I am. Goodnight Rainbow.”
>RD: “Yeah.”
>You turn off the lights, but just as you fall asleep, something wakes you.
>Rainbow sits up while gasping for air.
“Nightmare?”
>RD: “NO… ok yes.”
>So much for her nerves of steel.
>RD: “Move over.”
>Rainbow pushes you over before adding her own blankets to your cot, and slipping in under them all.
>As you are laying on your back, you feel Rainbow rest her head on your left shoulder; as she lies on her side putting her left arm and leg atop your body, you move your left arm to hold on to her.
>Using your free hand you brush away her hair that is obscuring her face, as you lean it to whisper:
“Goodnight Rainbow.”

>Be Twilight
>You had just finished briefing the rest of the team on how long the drilling should take.
>Only one key exists to the room, and the room had remained sealed until you had reached the base.
>Unlocking the room, you step into the office (locking the door behind you).
>The team that built this place had orders to add a secret room to the office. Hopefully everything is secure.
>You pull back a filing cabinet to enter the room.
>Snowmobile, with emergency radio beacon.
>Hidden door to reach the outside.
>Flamethrower.
>Base self-destruct button.
>Something happened at the other two bases. The people there thought that their bases should have been burned and destroyed. If this structure under the ice is related to what happened in ’82, then you have a duty to make sure the complex does not threaten the outside world.
>You exit back into your office, making sure to hide the entrance.
>And once again you reread the reports from the other bases. You’re sure there is something you’ve missed.
>Now that the drilling has started, you can’t shake the feeling that you’re about to open Pandora’s Box.
>Second guessing yourself serves no purpose, if you weren’t here than someone else would be. You need to stay rational, keep your head, and remain prudent.
>You don’t know what’s really down there. So let’s keep to the facts.

>”I’m gonna hide this tape when I’m finished, if none of us make it at least there will be some kind of record. The storm’s been hitting us hard now for forty-eight hours, we still have nothing to go on. One other thing, I think it rips through your clothes when it takes you over. Window’s found some shredded long johns but the nametag was missing, they could be any bodies. Nobody… nobody trusts anybody now. There’s nothing else I can do, just wait.  RJ MacReady, helicopter pilot, US outpost 31.”
>You have listened to the audio of the tape hundreds of times, the best piece of evidence recovered but also the vaguest.
>The message inspired the color coded uniforms you gave the team.
>But what was ‘it’?
>MacReady and Childs were found frozen among the burnt wreckage of Outpost 31.
>Aside from a bit of alcohol in their systems, they were in perfect health before their deaths. They froze to death holding flamethrowers, dynamite, and explosives. Whatever they were attacked by or attacking, they seemed to think that fire was their main weapon.
>The other bodies were what scared you the most.
>Burnt to a crisp then tossed in shallow graves. No workable DNA was found as the bodies were thoroughly burnt, but the sheer disfigurement of them made you sick.
>Did someone put bodies together in that amalgam, or could the bodies have been the ‘it’ MacReady mentioned.
>A knock on the door brings you from your thoughts, as you close the files.
“Coming.”
>Before going to the door you slip the files back into the cabinet, and double check that both the filing cabinet is locked and the hidden door covered.

“Hello Major, please come in.”
>You lead him over to your desk, as you take your own seat.
>Sitting across from you, he begins to speak.
>JF: “The first day of work has been completed ma’am.”
>The time must have passed quicker than you thought.
>JF: “The entrance to the tunnel is being secured now to prevent snow from overtaking it. The prototype rigs seem to be passing all expectations, however only time will tell if they have the endurance to get all the way down.
>JF: “My biggest concern however, is the lack of contact outside of this base.”
>JF: “If something were to go wrong, it would take a chopper ride to McMurdo and back to get help.”
“I understand the concern, but there’s nothing we can do about it.”
>JF: “That’s exactly what I don’t like about. Have you been acclimatizing?”
“Rather easily. The lack of space hasn’t been interfering with anything on my end. Actually, I was just going to head out to the rec room, care to join?”
>That wasn’t really a question, as he knows that anyone in here must be accompanied by you.
>You let him exit before locking the door behind you. Then the two of you join the others in the rec room.
>you notice something on one of the shelves. Grabbing the case you turn to the Major.
“You play?”
>JF: “Chess? Occasionally, but I have to warn you that I’m a career military strategist.”
>A joke? There might be hope for the old man just yet.
>Eventually you end up getting the upper hand; however the Major manages to force a stalemate.
 >You won’t go easy on him next time, but you know that he won’t as well.
>By the time you finish, the day is almost up.
>Time to turn in.

>Sunset soon enters, closing the door behind her.
“So, how was your day?”
>SS: “Oh not that bad. Anon put on a pair of movies.
“How were they?”
>SS: “Alright, but you know how I feel about horror. How was your day?”
“Mostly just going over some files and logistics work.”
>The two of you then begin getting ready for bed.
>SS: “So what do you think of Anon?”
“Well he has the necessary qualifications, as much as anyone can be qualified for this anyway. A bit inexperienced but he should be able to rise to the occasion.”
>SS: “I meant personally.”
“I haven’t been able to talk to him that much. He’s a decent cook, but a bit of a smartass. You’d probably get more by asking Rainbow.”
>You reach over to turn off the lights.
>SS: “Hey Twilight, could we leave those on just a bit longer?”
“Sure, it was just a movie though.”
>SS: “Very funny, actually I just want to talk a little longer.”
“Sure Sunset, what’s up?”
>SS: “So are Anon and Rainbow…?”
“Not that I know of, why do you ask?”
>SS: “Oh… just wondering. Hey, it is actually pretty late. Night Twilight.”
>You are rather tired yourself, so you reach over and turn off the lights.
“Night Sunset.”

>Be Anon
>The next two weeks blend together.
>You’ve gotten used to the rest of the team in that time.
>The Major is a hardass. Very by the book, but he knows where to draw the line. You respect the man, but wouldn’t go as far to call him friend.
>The O’Brian’s are alright: He’s an introvert and she’s an extrovert, he’s the pessimist to her optimist, he can be an ass and she makes up for it when he is. It’s kind of obvious they play off of each other a lot, like two halves of the same person.
>Ray is pretty cool. He doesn’t talk a lot but when he starts telling a story, the entire room stops what they’re doing and listens. Really he has started to feel like the team’s weird advice giving uncle.
>Twilight has remained mostly business, you only ever see her relax when she’s with Rainbow and Sunset. By now you are certain that she’s keeping something from everyone else, but you refrain from pressing the issue.
>Sunset is… sweet. You’ve talked to her quite a bit actually. Apparently after high school she wanted to see as much of the world as is possible. How did she put it? ‘The world is so big and every inch is covered with beauty, sitting in one small corner of it is a gross misuse of it.’
>Rainbow… well, is Rainbow. Most nights you’ve ended up in your own cots, but almost every night you’ll find yourselves talking for hours on end. You have kept to what you’ve told yourself about letting her initiate anything more between the two of you; but, sometimes you want to break down and just tell her how you feel. You keep telling yourself that it will pass, but it doesn’t.
>Got to stay professional. Maybe once this is all over…
>Maybe you’re just getting a little stir crazy.
>The drills almost reached the halfway point. The weather has been clear but a big storm is heading this way.

>The Storm picks up right before the team usually goes to bed, that means that no one will wake the work team, and by extension you, up tomorrow morning.
>You are in your room talking with Rainbow, she chose what movie night would be today.
“You know I never would have guessed that your favorite genre would be spy movies.”
>RD: “They’re just so exotic and intense. It’s like something I would never be in.”
“We’re in Antarctica, how much more ‘exotic’ can you get.”
>RD: “Well as we just saw, Bond went to the moon. Take me up there, and then we’ll talk. And besides, you call this intense?”
“Are you calling my company that boring? That hurts.”
>Your record for one conversation of just one-upping each other’s comments is around an hour.
>RD: “Yeah right.”
“So, any plans for day one of the storm?”
>RD: “A few. Move over.”
>Scooting to the far side of your cot, Rainbow adds her blankets to yours, hits the lights off, then slides in the bed.
>RD: “I plan to sleep in. but the beds and pillows here suck, so you’ll just have to do.”
>You’re not complaining.
>The two of you face each other and embrace, as your legs twist together, your arms wrap each other’s bodies, she rests her head in your chest, and you rest your head into hers.
>RD: “Goodnight Anon.” She says slightly muffled by your chest
“Goodnight Rainbow.” You reply into her forehead.
>The raging storm outside didn’t stop either of you from quickly falling asleep.

>You open your eyes.
>Lying in a snow bank, surrounded by fire.
>The night’s sky looks different than the one you are used to from growing up.
>But now that you’ve seen the Antarctic stars, they do seem familiar.
>The fires are dying.
>Slowly the heat from the fires lessens, and you are overcome with cold.
>Surrounded by snow and ash.
>But something is wrong.
>The ash is moving, joining into several small spheres.
>As you reach out to touch one, the spheres change.
>Morphing into fireflies, all of them dead.
>All but one.
>The bug takes flight, and you rise to follow it.
>The occasional flash from it being your only guide in the waste.
>You have to catch it, but it always seems just out of reach.
>The creature start to fly upward and in one last ditch attempt, you cusp the bug in your hand.
>As you bring it down, the snow is gone- replaced with waist high grass.
>Opening your hand, the firefly is gone.
>But you see a new light.
>You walk for what seems like an eternity, but eventually the source of the light is uncovered.
>A home, much like the one you grew up in.
>You continue walking towards it.
>As you reach the house, the door opens and a figure comes out of it, running towards you.
>You don’t know why, but you run to meet it.
>Just before you meet, you can make out the figure. It’s Rainbow.
>The two of you in a tight embrace, as if you both will never let go.
>Before drawing each other in for a passionate kiss.
>Slowly she draws her lips away, as if she’s about to say something.
>But she is cut off, as a force bashes you away from the house.
>The two of you are now lying in snow, surrounded by burning ruins.
>And you wake up.
>The dream immediately fades away.

>Your eyes slowly drift open, and you find yourself and Rainbow still in the same position as you fell asleep in.
>She’s still fast asleep, and looks so calm.
>Careful not to wake her, you gently kiss her forehead.
>As the two of you are lying there, the storm’s wrath seems so distant.
>You adjust your arms to bring the two of you closer, and then put your head back down.
>You lie for quite some time, fully content in her embrace.
>RD: “Mmmmh”
>Sounds like she’s waking.
>RD: “Mmm. Goodmorning Anon.”
“Goodmorning Rainbow.”
>RD: “Don’t move, stay here. Just like this.’
>She tightens her own embrace, and the two of you continue to lay in serenity.
>You wouldn’t mind spending the entire day just cuddled up like this.
>”Grrrr.”
>Unfortunately it looks like Rainbow’s stomach doesn’t agree.
>RD: “Go make me breakfast.”
“I’m a bit trapped here.”
>She unwinds her legs from yours, and then releases her grip around you.
>Fine, looks like she’s going to stay there.
>You carefully move over her then off the bed, as she curls up under the blankets and waits for your return.
>RD: “Something sweet.”
>The things you do.
>You set the coffee maker in your room to brew before leaving.
>You head off to the kitchen, passing through the rec room.
>Ray and the Major seem to be sharing war stories over beers.
“Morning.”
>RW: “Cheers.” They raise their glasses as you pass by.
>You continue on to the kitchen.

>Alright, something sweet.
>Too bad that you have such a limited selection.
>Let’s see.
>After a look around the kitchen you decide on what to do.
>As you finish cooking, you bring a pair of identical plates back to the room.
>You set your own on the table, and go to present Rainbow’s to her.
>Waffles with extra syrup, toast lightly buttered with a sprinkling of sugar and a dash of cinnamon, and a few slices of bacon just how she likes it.
>RD: “Breakfast in bed, thanks Anon.” she says with a slight blush across her cheeks.
>You head to the table to pour the coffee you set to brew.
>Grabbing two cups and your own plate, you return to the bed.
>Dash sits up, and you take up your place next to her.
>The two of you eat in relative silence.
>As quiet as it can be in the middle of a snowstorm.
>The quiet lasts for a short time after the two of you have finished.
>RD: “Thank you Anon.” she finally breaks the silence with.
“You already thanked me.”
>RD: “I know.”
“So, what do you want to do today?”
>RD: “Can’t we just stay in here?”
“You’d just end up getting bored. Come on, let’s go watch some movies, it’s not like there’s much else to do anyway.”
>You do have an idea for later though…

>The two of you spend the next few hours watching movies in the rec room.
>Honestly it’s not that different from any other day, but today it feels much more relaxed.
>Various people filter in and out of the rec room throughout the day.
>But it seems that the O’Brian’s opted to stay in their room for the day.
>A married couple staying away from everyone else on their first day off in weeks.
>What could they possibly be doing?
>Twilight and the Major were locked in a chess match.
>You think that for entire movie’s length neither of them even made a single move.
>Ray spent a lot of time checking up on some of the systems that he hasn’t been able to for a while.
>Sunset spent her time either watching with you guys or reading a novel that she found in the rec room.
>It feels so strange just having such a relaxed day while the forces of nature tried to demolish your hastily built complex.
>If Dad could see you now.
>He’d probably just use the situation as proof that you should have went to law school.
>The forth movie you’ve watched is now drawing to a close.
>RD: “So what now, another?”
“Actually, I have something else planned.”
>You lean in closer to avoid other’s hearing it, and whisper into her ear.
“Meet me at the utility closet in fifteen minutes.”

>Be Rainbow
>You would have gone crazy over the past few weeks without Anon.
>The break from everything was nice at first, but soon it got too repetitive.
>He’s clever, and he goes toe to toe with every smartass comment you throw his way.
>You love it.
>You only wish that he’d take that extra step.
>Eventually you concluded that maybe he’s just trying to stay professional with his coworker.
>If that’s the case then as soon as this job is finished, you’ll be the one taking that step.
>Waiting sucks.
>This morning was really sweet of him though.
>You made the breakfast request as a joke, but then minutes later there he was.
>And the way you act around each other- that has got to mean that your feelings are mutual.
>Right?
>Your mom always told you that the best things in life only come if you wait.
>But you were never good at waiting; you always lived spontaneously and in the moment.
>But when you’re around him, things just get so indescribable.
>It’s like everything slows down, like the moment will never end. But also speeds up, and it’s over in a heartbeat.
>Well, he asked you to go to the utility closet in fifteen minutes.
>It’s been fifteen minutes.
>Looks like you got here before him; let’s see what’s in there.
>the normal contents of the closet have been pushed to the sides of the room.
>A table has been set up with two chairs.
>You take a seat.
>Soon you hear the door open.
>A: “Guess what I found in the freezer.”
>He sets a pair of plates on the table. As you eye the steak set in front of you, he retrieves a bottle of wine and two glasses that he must have stashed earlier.
>He went through all that just to set up a romantic dinner.
>Maybe the wait is worth it.

>Be Anon
>Rainbow really seemed to enjoy the dinner.
>The blush on her face when you sat down was worth any amount of effort.
>You talked about what each of you would do once we finished here.
>Both of you aren’t entirely sure.
>Rainbow entertained the idea of the two of you, with Twilight and Sunset heading to her hometown for a reunion of sorts.
>You’d like that.
>As dinner draws to a close, you start to collect the dishes to return them to the kitchen.
 >Rainbow keeps the wine bottle and heads back to your room.
>As you are the defacto chef, you’ve moved things around in the kitchen a bit.
>But you keep it clean, and ordered (at least to how your mind sees ‘ordered’ as)
>Before returning to your room for the night, you head to the nearest window.
>The storm is still raging as strong as ever.
>Well, it’s been a long day; you should probably turn in for the night.
>Upon entering your room, you find Rainbow sitting on your bed, wine bottle in hand.
“Drinking straight from bottle? Classy.”
>RD: “Oh like you haven’t, come here.”
>As you sit on the bed next to her, she throws her arms around you.
>RD: “You know, I’m really glad that you’re here”
“Thanks Dash, the feeling is mutual.”
>Returning the embrace, you slip the bottle out of her hand and take a swig.
>The remainder of the evening is spent talking and passing the bottle with each other.
>Before the two of you drift to sleep in each other’s arms.

>Eventually you wake up.
>Looking between the two of you, you notice an empty bottle.
>You set it on the ground before reaching for the lights.
>Nothing happens.
>You flip the switch a few more times to makes sure.
>RD: “Mmm. Anon, what’s wrong?”
“It looks like our light’s burned out. I’ll go find a replacement.”
>RD: “Come back soon.”
>You leave the bed and grab a flashlight from your equipment.
>Does it feel a bit colder than usual?
>Beginning to walk to the storage rooms, chattering in the distance stops you.
>You go to investigate the dialogue, and find yourself at the generator room.
>RW: “I know what it means; we’d be dead within the day!” He screams from under one of the generators.
>JF: “And I’m just trying to reinforce the necessity of the repairs!”
>TS: “ENOUGH quit yelling at each other and let the man work.”
>Sunset notices you in the doorway, and approaches.
>SS: “We all woke up to find the power out, Ray’s trying to find out what the problem is.”
>RW: “Look, having all you over my shoulder isn’t going to help, just go somewhere else and let me work; I’ll tell you guys as soon as I know something.”
>As the others go to wait in the rec room, you go to deliver the bad news to Rainbow.
>She took it rather well, and the two of you then go to join the others.
>The temperature had to have gone down ten degrees by the time Ray returns.
>RW: “Alright, I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is we have the spare parts I need to fix the generator.”
“And the bad news?”
>RW: “I double checked and then triple checked to make sure, after that I checked through the manifest. We have the parts, but they’re in the shed- outside.”

>TS: “So someone has to go out into the storm?”
>RW: “I don’t see much other choice.”
>RD: “Sunset, come on. That’s why we’re here isn’t it?”
>As the group makes for the main entrance of the facility, the Major starts speaking while he, Rainbow, and Sunset are getting equipped for the excursion.
>JF: “Alright people, what we need is in the storage shed, that means going straight through the storm. I’ll waiting at the door back here. You two need to take forty paces straight ahead, and then forty straight back. We do NOT need you to get lost in that storm.”
>RW: “The box you need should be on the left side of the shed, it’s marked ’70A-421’ good luck.”
“Are you sure that you want to do this?”
>RD: “Of course I don’t WANT to do it, but it needs to be done. Don’t worry; I’ll be back before you know it.”
>The three of them then open the door, blasting the room with a gust of wind and snow.
>As the last of them is out, you close the door behind them.
>The only thing to do now is to wait.
>And wait.
>And wait.
“Shouldn’t they be back by now?”
>RW: “Just stay calm, they’ll be back.
>Stay calm, like hell you can stay calm.
>*THUD THUD*
>You open the door as Sunset enters carrying a small crate, which Ray takes from her then rushes off to fix the generator.
>The Major soon follows, closing the door behind him.
“Where’s Rainbow?”

>Sunset brings her hood down, and between heavy breaths manages to tell you.
>SS: “We must have got separated on the way back; I thought she was right behind me.”
“And why aren’t either of you out there looking for her?”
>JF: “Because it’s dark, we have no real sight lines, the storm would just end up getting us lost as well, and it’s exhausting just standing out there. We just have to hope she can find the complex, and work her way to the door.
>You begin putting on your own winter gear.
“Like hell I’m waiting.”
>JF: “Hold on.”
>He hands you half a dozen flares.
>JF: “Good luck. It’s 40 below out there, be quick.”
>With that, you open the door and step into the storm.
>At first you try yelling out for her, but your voice is drown out by the winds.
>You pop two of the flares, and set them by the door. You light a third that you keep in your hand.
>You then begin making your way to the supply shed, forty paces straight ahead.
>The snow seems impossible to trudge through, and the winds feel like they could knock you over at any second
>But you continue on.
>As you reach the secondary building, some feeling is starting to be lost in your fingers.
>You open the shed and yell for her inside, only to find it empty of life.
>Dropping the flare at the door of the shed, you begin making your way back.
>She got lost on the way back, so you have an idea.
>As you stand in the middle of the flares you’ve placed you light one and throw it as far as you can to your right.
>Then do the same to your left.
>Hopefully she will be able to make out at least one.
>You light your last flare and stand in the middle, looking into the storm, waving the flare as high as you can.
>By now you start to loose feeling in your legs.

>You look at the flare you threw down wind.
>It’s so far away, but do you see it moving?
>You work your way closer to investigate.
>It looks like the flare is moving towards you as well.
>Before it falls closer to the ground.
>You quicken your pace as much as possible.
>It’s moving- that has to be her.
>As you reach the flare, you find it in Rainbow’s hand.
>As she lies face first into the snow, weakly waving the flare above her.
>You kneel down to her, and grab her arm- placing it over your shoulders.
>Helping her to her feet; she begins to walk with you, although you can feel most of her weight being put onto you.
>You can barely make out the flares you placed at the door.
>But you keep moving towards them.
>The flares die just as you reach the door.
>You bang on the door twice, and Sunset opens it.
>Rushing in you set Dash on a bench.
>SS: “Get her coat and boots off; we’ve got blankets ready in the rec room.”
>You remove the gear she’s wearing that has been completely doused with snow, before picking her up and rushing her to the rec room.
>Rainbow is now sitting under a dozen or so blankets, while visibly shivering.
>You shed your own boots and coat, then go to join her. The body heat might help.
>TS: “You don’t know how lucky you are Rainbow. You were out there for almost ten minutes. There would have been permanent damage or worse if Anon didn’t find you when he did.”
>Rainbow doesn’t respond, but draws you closer under the blankets.
>She stays curled next to you in silence for the next twenty minutes.
>Until the lights spring back on. The generator must have been fixed.
>Rainbow then raises her head to your ear to whisper.
>RD: “Thank you”
>Before grabbing you even tighter.

>After that Rainbow insisted on sleeping in the same bed every night.
>You don’t blame her, the experience for you was horrible, but she could have died.
>The storm ended the following day, and the team resumed normal work schedules.
>After another two weeks had passed it was clear that everyone was getting tired of the repetition.
>With just a few more days of drilling left, a series of bad weather rolled through.
>An entire week of work was lost.
>But worse, you had run through all of the movies they had down here.
>You just need to hold on, four or five more days of drilling, and then your work can actually start.
>Finally the weather had cleared up enough for the drills to go back down.
>A few days later you were sitting in the rec room talking with Rainbow, Twilight, and Sunset.
>RD: “First thing I’m doing is getting a decent meal, probably fast food.”
“Gee, thanks.”
>RD: “Anon, we’ve been eating your food for over a month. I need something different.”
>SS: “When we get out of here, I don’t care what it is I do first, as long as it’s someplace warm.”
>TS: “Oh I’ll be dealing with paperwork from here for weeks, and actually I kind of like it down here.”
>RD: “How is that possible?”
>TS: “It’s quiet and away from everything, a perfect place to do work in peace.”
>SS: “So what are you going to do first Anon?”
“Oh I haven’t really given it that much thought, but I think tha-“
>You are cut off as you hear someone running towards the rec room.
>Soon James O’Brian scrambles into the room followed by his wife.
>He lowers his hood to speak.
>JO: “We just broke through; you have got to see what’s down there.”

>As everyone was getting equipped for leaving the base, Ray opted to stay behind as someone needs to stay up top.
>The O’Brian’s did not offer any description on what was down there, instead claiming that we need to see for ourselves.
>Soon they lead the group out to the tunnel, opening the gate of the garage they made before they started.
>You stare into the hole, unable to see all of the way down.
>They put in a platform to serve as an elevator, along with a few lights along the top of the shaft.
>They tell you that the elevator can support all seven of you, so you all filter on it.
>The ride down takes several minutes as you cover hundreds of feet through the ice.
>As you near the bottom the temperature seems to be warmer, just under freezing.
>You step off of the elevator into the cavern and
>No, that’s impossible.
>The Major reaches for a flare gun, and shoots it into the air ahead of you.
>TS: “It looks like the ice has formed a perfect dome over the structure.”
“How is that possible?”
>TS: “I don’t know.”
>The structure itself appears to be a large rectangle of solid stone, save for a main entrance.
>The ice up to the edges of the dome is rugged, but roughly flat.
>In front of the entrance, on either side are two large cubes of a similar stone.
>The face of each cube seems to have writing carved into it. And the writing on each side of a cube seems to be identical to the others.
>The group approaches the entrance, as you look at the writing.
>It looks like no writing you have ever seen.
>You take out a video recorder, and begin scrolling over each side.
>TS: “Alright, let’s head in. be careful and stick together. Anon, lead the way.”

>You notice that the O’Brian’s opted to head back to the elevator and wait.
>That leaves you, Twilight, Rainbow, Sunset, and Major Fields.
“Ok stay close to me, and don’t touch anything.”
>Video camera in one hand, and flashlight in the other, you enter the hallway.
>No doors
>The walls seem to be entirely unadorned. No carvings and no paintings.
>Soon there is a fork. The hallway continues, but a smaller passage lies on the left.
“Stay here.”
>you take a step into the passage.
>The basic layout of the room looks somewhat familiar. A pair of low stone slabs just out from the walls in the corners. To your left, a higher stone counter sits, with a knee high box just in front of it.
>Assuming all of the non-stone materials have degraded, it looks quite like a bedroom to fit two occupants.
>You don’t see anything else in the room, and head back to the rest of the group.
“Looks like some kind of living space; I can take a closer look later.”
>You then continue to move forward, leading the others behind you.
>The main entrance passage draws to a close, leaving the group in a room.
>To both the right and left, a hallway leads out of the room.
>The room itself is empty, save for a raised platform with a chair upon it.
>The chair is the only thing you’ve seen that is not entirely light brown. Although much of the chair matches the stone of the building, silver seems to guild it, and several light blue glass panels reinforce it.
>Looking down, the platform has a layer of blue glass topping the stone, with silver forming diagonal lines to the corners of the platform from the chair.
>A seat for a political or religious authority figure?
>The walls in this room are as bare as the hallway.
>You begin to head towards the right hallway in this room.

>As you enter the passageway, Major Fields drops a flare in the chair room.
>Another unadorned hallway, with two rooms turning off of it.
>One to the left, and one to the right, you take the room to the right.
>You wanted writing…
>The room is easily the largest of the complex, and each wall is covered with more of the writing from outside.
>A long table rests in the middle of the room, with three stone tablets lying on them.
>The tablets look to be about the size of a magazine, but much thicker.
>You place the three of them into your backpack.
>Then proceed to get a clear recording of the walls in the room.
>TS: “ANON!”
>You look around in the room to find Twilight missing.
>Following the voice, you run into the room on the left of the hallway.
>Of course the one to say ‘stay together’ would wander off first.
>TS: “I didn’t touch anything, but you should see this.”
>In the center of the room four glass panels extend from the ground to the roof, forming a cube.
>Well it would have, if one of them wasn’t broken.
>You get a clear recording of everything in the room, but there isn’t much to see.
>How old is this place that everything not glass or stone has degraded?
>Just one more hallway to check, hopefully you’ll find something more than what you’ve seen so far.
“Come on, we should get going.”
>The five of you head down the last hallway.
>Only to find that it is empty.
“That can’t be right; a hallway wouldn’t just go ten feet then end.”
>You begin to tap on the walls, hoping to hear if there is a hidden passage.
>No luck, not that you expected anything to actually be uncovered.
“Well, I can take a look at everything down here again, but I’d rather head up to start looking at this writing.”
>TS: “Go ahead, it’s late tonight anyway, let’s all head up and come back in the morning.”

>The five of you begin to make your way out of the structure.
>Something about it seems wrong.
>Everything is so utilitarian and blank.
>Maybe the tablets will tell you what this place was.
>As you exit the structure the temperature feels drastically different.
>It feels like the structure was easily twenty degrees warmer than the cavern.
>What have you found?
>The group begins to go to the elevator, only to find the O’Brian’s missing.
>TS: “James! Amanda!”
>Her yell reverberates around the dome.
>JO: “We found something, on the far side of the building!”
>The group starts to circle the building.
>What could it be?
>A secondary entrance?
>Maybe a door to a lower level?
>Or an artifact of some kind, something used by whoever made this place.
>You turn past the last corner and can see the couple kneeling, pushing aside snow to see the ice underneath.
>TS: “What did you find?”
>AO: “We don’t know, come look.”
>The group approaches the patch of ice.
>And your flashlight’s show a humanoid figure illuminated a few feet under the ice.

>TS: “Come on, there’s nothing more we can do tonight.”
>There seems to be a certain sense of urgency in her voice.
>Maybe even fear.
>But she is right, it is getting pretty late.
>The Team regroups at the elevator, and begins the ascent.
>We came down here to answer questions, but all we have right now are more questions.
>You still don’t know who built the place and for what purpose.
>You don’t know when the structure was built.
>You don’t know the purpose of the walls of text, or the glass cage, or the chair.
>And that… Thing under the ice, what could it be?
>Perhaps tomorrow will hold more answers.
>As the elevator reaches the surface, you find that it is dark outside.
>Short days still throw you off sometimes.
>The team heads back into the complex, and removes their gear.
>Some of the others stay up for a while, but you go into your room to look at the tablets.
>A few hours later, Rainbow enters the room.
>RD: “Having fun.”
“I’ve had no luck. The writing from down there doesn’t look similar to any recorded system of writing.”
>The individual figures on the writing seem to each be a rectangular grid, three long and four down. Various sections of the grid are indented to form various figures.
>Additionally, some figures add four more blips to the bottom of the grid, forming roughly a T shape.
>You have noted thirty-five symbols in all.
“Honestly, I’m completely lost. I was assuming that there would be a reference to some other language. Latin, Celtic, Mandarin, Something. But with nothing to go off of, I just don’t know.”
>By now Rainbow has gone to lie in your bed.
>RD: “Come on, you’re thinking too hard. Let’s get some sleep. I’m sure that it will still be there in the morning.”
>Maybe she’s right. You are pretty tired, and it’s not like your life is hanging on translating the tablets.
>You make your way into the bed, and let yourself fall to sleep.
>You’ll have a big day tomorrow.

>Morning.
>You wake up to find Rainbow in one of her usual positions.
>She’s still sleeping. You know that you have to wake her but for some reason you refrain from doing so.
>You have a really bad gut feeling. It’s telling you to stay in here all day.
>Don’t leave the room and just spend it with Rainbow.
>You wish that you could. But you can’t.
“Hey, Rainbow, it’s time to get up.”
>RD: “Do we have to?”
“I don’t want to either, but today is important. We have to.”
>The two of you slowly unwind, and prepare for the day ahead of you.
>You end up making a big breakfast for everyone, and then it’s back down.
>Twilight is overseeing Major Fields and the O’Brian’s as they dig the figure out of the ice.
>Sunset opted to stay topside for today, you think she was a bit afraid of the place.
>You and Rainbow will be in the main structure as you look around more.
“And remember Dash, don’t touch anything.”
>The two of you end up in the chair room again.
>The chair itself seems to be just a chair.
>More of a throne.
>You move on the walls behind the chair, looking for any seam in the stone. It looks as if there isn’t a single indication of any-
*Whiiiizzz*
*BHurrrh*
>You turn to find Rainbow sitting in the chair.
“I said don’t touch anything.”
>RD: “I just sat down, I didn’t think that-“
>She is cut off by the distinct sound of stone grinding against stone.
“Are you ok?”
>RD: “Yeah I just sat down and then it made that sound.”
“Speaking of sound, the grinding came from the empty hallway.”
>You move to look through the hallway.
“Go get Twilight and the Major.”

>Soon Rainbow returns with them.
>You haven’t moved a muscle.
>TS: “Anon what is it?”
“The empty hallway, we opened a chamber.”
>TS: “And?”
“Take a look.”
>She moves to look down the hallway. At the end of the ten foot hallway, a smaller chamber was opened.
>A dried corpse is sitting against the far wall of the room, staring down the hallway.
>TS: “Major go get the stretcher.”
>Twilight puts down her back pack to remove a pair of latex gloves and a breath mask.
>When the Major returns wheeling a stretcher, he does the same.
>TS: “Stand back Anon, we want as little to affect that body as possible, it could be the best indicator of what happened here.”
>You and Dash stand back to allow them to move.
>They wheel the stretcher closer, and unzip a body bag atop the stretcher. Carefully they pick up the mummified body, and place it inside.
>TS: “We’re going to take this up to the infirmary, be careful in that room.”
>As Twilight leaves, you start for the room.
>RD: “Are you sure it’s safe to go in there?”
“This place has been locked away for so long that any viruses or bacteria would be dead. That poor guy probably just starved.”
>The room itself is empty.
>However, one of the walls is covered with images of some kind, they look hand drawn.
>The first set of drawings shows a city, great towers reaching into the night sky.
>Then the city grows, as smaller buildings are connected back to the center.
>The third shows what looks like a meteor strike.
>Followed by a smoldering crater.
>Someone goes to look at the crater, but something latches onto it.
>Whenever that person touches another, then it takes on similar characteristics.
>The next picture appears to be a mass grave, filled with those who have been touched, on fire.
>But one survives, and is caged.
>Until it breaks the cage.

>This wasn’t a temple.
>It was a lab.
“Rainbow, these people must have been infected by a plague of sorts. Look at this, that’s why all of the different bodies are being burned. Plague control at its most basic. “
“The Meteor would indicate that the plague was either extraterrestrial in origin or (much more likely) they saw it as a punishment from their gods.”
“I think that this place was built to study a plague survivor. But something went wrong, so then our dead friend locked himself in here to leave some record. But he didn’t write in his own language, almost as if he knew that his people would never be able to come here again.”
>You still have no idea who it was that built this place, but at least you think you know why.
“Sorry if I ranted a bit.”
>But this is big.
>That’s one question answered, and now maybe more will follow now that you (think you) know about why this place was made.
>You don’t have any hard evidence, but it works given the layout of the building.
>Right across from the glass cage, was the room covered with writing.
>They even have a cramped bedroom, so obviously the place was never a large operation or a permanent home.
>Rainbow quickly interrupts your stream of thoughts.
>RD: “So if he locked himself in here, to avoid a plague.”
>Good, she managed to keep up.
>Why is she looking at you like that?
>…
“Oh shit.”
>RD: “We need to stop them from digging that other body up.”