Episode 9: Folie à Deux

<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sits quietly on the common room couch, going through his tablet. As with the first, all of his clothing is white or shades of off-white. It was taking some time to find everything he needed stored in the tablets files, these sorts of memories weren't as important and didn't seem to transfer perfectly.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...how annoying."
<Rasia> Psh. So you have to sit and poke a bit of plastic for a couple hours. Whiner.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He shifts around a bit, reorganizing the information. Then he adds a few notes to the sparse observation file the last one kept.
<Darkling> Still not that much info in there yet. After seven weeks you would have thought the first would have gathered more.
Rasia lifts her head, peering just over the couch at what Wilhelm's doing.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> This is pathetic. What had he been doing with his time? But then, here he was waiting for word from Freyja. She was supposed to put him in touch with a new contact, someone that can get him into the base. That was a good start.
<Rasia> Freyja, huh? The last one wasn't a fan of her, despite her assets. Such a poofter.
<Darkling> Maybe your new contact had already done so, there's a few unchecked messages in your email.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> So that's what the pinging sound was. Good to know. He accesses his...the email account.
<Darkling> Well, it is technically yours, have to keep up appearances.
Rasia wiggles her nose.
<Darkling> Oh look, penile enlargement emails. Vacation offers. More junk. How did you even get junk email on this account?
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ." Anything useful here at all?
<Darkling> A single email on it's own, from a Mr. Vaettir.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Before opening it looks over his shoulder to Rasia. "Something you need?"
<Rasia> "!" She glares at him, as Hel finally finishes climbing up her sweater and onto the couch.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stands with the tablet and walks off, but not before giving both Hel and Rasia a pat on the head.
<Rasia> A huff, sending Hel tumbling onto the couch..
<Wilhelm_Faustus> As he walks toward his room he opens the email.
<Darkling> A short message, it simply reads: I've got what you want. Meet me at the coffee shop on the north corner of your block. You'll know who I am.
<Corrin> "Pilot Wilhelm." Corrin says uncertainly, stopping mid-step in the hallway. He's looking right at him, staring.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He's in his room for a short time, then emerges with a carry sling pack on. He closes the door and makes for the elevator.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stops, tablet lowering as he looks to the boy. "Pilot Corrin."
Corrin looks away, and he shifts from foot to foot, uncertain. After a moment, he speaks. "Do you remember what happened? Before the...accident?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Not particularly. The gas and the blow I suffered from the debris has fragmented my memories of most of that day."
Corrin nods, looking back, gaze skittering past the other pilot. He still seems more baffled than anything. "Right. Sorry, Pilot Wilhelm. Have you seen the Captain?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "No." With that he continues to his room and closes the door.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Soon he's making his way to the elevator, wearing a carry sling pack likely to contain his tablet and...who knows what else. He presses the call button and waits patiently.
<Darkling> The Captain is in his room of course, typing away at some files on a screen.
Rasia watches the exchange from a distance, eyes turning to Corrin.
Corrin stands there for another moment, then shakes his head and continues towards for the living room. He's out of the way by the time Wilhelm reappears.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Soon enough Wilhelm reappears, closing the door behind him. A slips on a carry sling pack as he heads for the elevator, pressing the call button and waiting patiently.
<Darkling> *ding*
Corrin is sitting in one of the chairs in the living room, looking at the floor. He glances up at the noise, opens his mouth as though about to speak, then closes it again a moment later, turning back around.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He steps inside the presses the button for the lobby. He stares out from the elevator wordlessly as the doors close.
Corrin goes back to staring at the floor, rubbing his forehead with one hand and frowning.
Rasia creeps closer to Corrin, leaning over to see what he's looking at.
Rasia nudges the boy.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He makes his way through the lobby and out the door into the streets. After a moment to find north he sets off for the coffee shop on the corner of their block.
Corrin looks up, startled. "Oh. Hi, Pilot Rasia."
Rasia signs carefully. 'What wrong'
<Darkling> Gators. That's the name of the coffee shop.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He makes his way inside, hands slipping into his pockets.
<Darkling> There's a normal assortment of people inside. Friends chatting, business people having a break and discussing work, and a man in the corner. White suit and all, even a white fedora.
Corrin just looks baffled, brow furrowing. "Pilot Rasia. Do you have your tablet?" he responds after a moment of thought.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> The hat was a bit much. He makes his way to the corner and slips into the seat across from the man, offering a single nod.
Rasia blinks, scampering off for her room to pick up the hunk of ignored plastic and bring it to Corrin.
<Darkling> A vanilla envelope slides across the table as the man lifts his hat slightly to reveal a snakelike face twisted into a grin. "We do meet young prodigy."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "That we do, Mr. Vaettir. An interesting assignment you've been given." He's already opening the envelope, peering inside.
<Corrin> "Thanks." Corrin mutters, powering the device up and opening the word processor before handing it back.
<Darkling> "One of many I'm happy to perform." His words flow out with quite a flourished act, as if indeed he was putting on a show.
<Rasia> It takes her a moment. Oh! She slides the keyboard up. 'What's wrong?'
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He empties the content of the folder onto the table, already sorting through it.
<Darkling> A new keycard, a face similar to his own on it, some floorplans, a few photos of personnel and a guard shift schedule .
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Everything he needed. Excellent. It all slides back into the envelope.
<Darkling> "Pleased with the services rendered?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Very."
<Darkling> "Good good!" A waitress comes over and sets down two iced coffees, the one in front of Wilhelm is marked for no sugar. He pays her and waves her off with a wink.
<Corrin> "What's wrong?" Corrin echoes out loud, looking up. "Nothing, really. Pilot Wilhelm's fine. The accident was bad, but it was just an accident. Nothing...else happened. And we get the week off. It's just...well, I don't know."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> It almost disturbed him, that this man knew him well enough to know he didn't like sweets. Of course Freyja was involved, so it wasn't cause for alarm. "What are your specialties?"
Rasia leans forward, urging him to continue with her eyes. This is...different, being someone's problem-dump.
<Darkling> "A more astute question would be 'What aren't my specialties?'"
<Darkling> He leans back in his chair, not touching his drink.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Impressive, then." He takes a sip of his own.
<Corrin> "I'm sorry about what I...and Lahja said next to the jeep."
<Darkling> "Should you need anymore stellar service, don't hesitate to contact me."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I won't. Hesitate, that is." The envelope is stuffed into his bag before he stands.
<Darkling> "Pleasure doing business with you." A tip of his hat and a smile.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Until next time Mr. Vaettir." He picks up his drink and leaves.
<Rasia> More typing. 'Made me worry. But Wilhelm's alright now.'
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Is he? Didn't something seem...different about him?
<Rasia> Go away, Doubt.
<Corrin> "Yeah. He's fine." Corrin doesn't quite grin, the expression fading a moment later anyway. "I'm sorry about what I...well, we said at the dome. I thought I saw something that didn't happen."
Rasia simply shakes her head.
<Corrin> "It just seemed so real at the time. Like a dream, you know? But it didn't happen. Wilhelm's fine." Corrin frowns. "Really should have told the Captain he was going, though."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Ding. The elevator doors part, Wilhelm stepping out as he sips on his iced coffee.
Rasia jerks her head around, growling at the boy.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> An eyebrow raises. What had he done to be growled at. Then he remembered, he never really understood why. Best to let it slide this time. With a shrug he continues on to his room.
<Rasia> Dunno. Maybe she's just pissed she didn't have a chance to make all your shit smell bad while you were out.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sits at his desk, laying out everything he'd been given. Best to familiarize himself with the material. He can put it to use tonight, once everyone is asleep.
<Rasia> Well. Almost everyone.
Corrin just watches. "Yeah. Nothing's wrong." he repeats. "Think we'll have more testing soon?"
Rasia turns her head back to Corrin, fidgeting with her tablet. 'Probably. Hoping for another fight. My Unit likes to fight.'
<Darkling> A scratching on the tank reveals Nidhogg crawling about.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Hm. Time to eat, perhaps. He stands, paperwork briefly forgotten. He pulls out a smalled container, alive with smaller insects for Nidhogg to eat. He uses forceps to capture one of the insects, then places it in the larger tank.
Corrin reads the reply, nodding. "They're just weapons, Pilot Rasia. You've got the right idea, though. Nothing wrong with wanting to do our duty. It's what we're here for. To fight the enemy."
Rasia cocks her head to one side, staring at the boy. 'I'm a weapon too.'
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Perhaps tomorrow he'll buy a baby mouse for Nidhogg's monthly treat. He sits back down, pouring over the information provided to him.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> There's a knock at Wilhelm's door. A very quiet knock.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His paperwork is quickly stuffed into a desk drawer. "Come in."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja opens the door and enters, her eyes like bloodshot saucers. She enters and closes the door behind her. "Hello, Wilhelm. How about that cow gas?" She says nervously. She's obviously a bit spooked.
Corrin actually pauses to think before replying. "We're all weapons. All of us pilots are, but not like that. We know why we're fighting. We know why it matters. We care if we win. We care about duty and orders. Units don't. They're just things, like a rifle or a hammer. A rifle doesn't know why what it's doing matters."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Rather potent, mostly methane. We're lucky the explosion wasn't bigger."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Did it make you see strange things or have delusions?"
<Rasia> A long pause, as she parses out his distinction. 'I'll show you.'
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "No, after I was struck by the debris, that was it for me." He turns in his chair to face her. "What did you think you saw?"
<Corrin> "Show what?" Corrin says, confused.
<Rasia> 'My Unit is alive.'
<Corrin> "But it's a machine."
Rasia shakes her head, giving up for now. She might be articulate, but engaging in debate about feeling the rods rammed through your muscles and weights implanted in your stomach...
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It's hazy now. But I thought you got shot and Corrin and I were captured." Lahja says, obviously shaken. She shakes off her unnaturally timid tone for a moment. "Corrin was an idiot, even when captured."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Well, I'm fine. As are you, aside from the confusion caused by the hallucinations." He rises from his chair and approaches her.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Yes. When Lit told me what really happened I didn't believe it at first. I thought it was just what we were supposed to tell people. But here you are."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He presses his forehead to her own. "No fever." He looks into her eyes, using a finger to pull down each eyelid. "No residual effects from the gases." Suddenly his tone lowers severely. "What if your hallucination was the truth?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> An amused look crosses her face at the quick checkup. She opens her mouth as if to say something, but then stops at that question, growing quiet. "Why would it be? Why would... if it were..." She seems at a loss now, rather distressed by the question.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "You could always ask Corrin what he saw. But if he did see the same thing, it could just be a case of folie a deux." He continues in a hushed tone.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Folie a deux?" She asks, her tone quiet.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Shared psychosis. Basically, the same hallucination, seeing as we human beings are more sensitive to suggestion then we realize. Understand?"
Corrin just sits there in the sudden silence. "You're not that bad, Pilot Rasia." he comments awkwardly. "Got the right idea about our duty."
Rasia blinks, laughing at the boy. It's...awkward, with her guard in place. She types up carefully. 'Take the leash off, and we can go hunt.'
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Corrin must have started it, then. He probably hallucinates about seeing you shot more than I do." Hard to tell whether she buys it or not. But she sounds amused.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Obviously, it has to be a hallucination. I'm not dead, after all."
Corrin looks at the message in confusion, then suddenly gets it. "Hey! Not funny."
Rasia grins inside her guard.
<Corrin> "Not funny." Corrin grumbles.
Rasia gives him a nudge, actually joking with the boy.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I suppose so... " Lahja sighs, seeming to accept the idea a little more. There was always the possibility that moon aliens beamed him up and used advanced medical technology. "It's easier this way."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Anything else?"
Corrin is nudged. "Yeah, well...at least I didn't kill an endangered species." he retorts, though without real malice.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Oh... no. I don't think... what's that?" She asks, a certain tank catching her eye.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Hm?" He looks over his shoulder. "Nidhogg."
Rasia pushes her eyebrows together.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Nidhogg?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He walks to the tank, peering inside. "Scolopendra gigantea. Thirty cenimeteres long."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja approaches and looks to the centipede. Her eyes widen a bit. "That's impressive..."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Their venom contains contains acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin, proteases and a cardiodepressant factor. Of course, it is not fatal. It will cause severe swelling, chills, fever and weakness, though. Very painful."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "What do they eat?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "They're carnivorous. So mice, birds, frogs, small lizards..."
Corrin sighs. "It was nice there, wasn't it? The beach, the sun, the animals..."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods, casting an appreciative look at Nidhogg. "Kind of like a cat. WIth a lot more legs."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I'll be buying him a treat tomorrow." He clasps his hands behind his back, moving slowly toward the door.
Rasia nods, touching her chin, and passing the tablet again. 'Something else to put on the list.'
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods, following toward the door. All the while she imagines Nidhogg swallowing a mouse whole.
<Corrin> "And another reason to win."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He opens the door for her. "I hope you feel better now."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I do. Thank you, Wilhelm." And with that she exits the room with a nod.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> The door closes behind her.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sits back down at his desk, back to pouring over information for tonight.
<Darkling> Hours pass by. Nighttime now.
<Rasia> Whap whap whap whap.
Corrin has gone back to his old routine of pacing back and forth.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm wanders into the common room, then out onto the balcony.
Corrin heads into the hallway to the pilot rooms yet again.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He takes the ladder up to the roof, and starts reaching. Again, imperfectly connected memories were causing some annoyance for him.
<Darkling> There's a pack hidden, about where you remember it being placed.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Ah, yes, there is it. He opens it up, pulling out the contents.
<Darkling> Rope, a multitool, lots of black clothing, and a smaller bag.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He pulls out the fake ID given to him and sets it aside before stripping down. At least its dark out now. He glances up once, looking toward the moon. He's quick to dress in the black clothing provided, securing the gear on his person.
<Darkling> Got everything you need?
<Rasia> What'cha up to, Ego?
<Darkling> Thinking this black is slimming, and it's a long way down to the ground. We better not fall.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> No risk, no reward. We're expendable. With everything provided earlier stuffed into his pack he starts to secure the rope.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Of course, I'm not about to try fighting any armed guards either. Information only.
<Darkling> Time is ticking. They'll notice you're gone if it takes too long.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Yeah yeah. He starts down the side of the building.
<Darkling> You make it to the ground easily enough.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Embraced expendability made that less frightening than it should have been. A moment to get his barrings and he starts running for the base.
<Darkling> It's a decent run, however the streets aren't crowded and it's a tad cooler at night in the dome.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> That was certainly helpful. He wondered, briefly, if his lowered body temperature would fool thermal observation. No tome to speculate, he had serious work to do.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He slowed his pace as he approached the base the the forest area surrounding it. He knew where the guards were always posted, and would go around to find a opening.
<Darkling> There was an emergency access noted on your maps, twenty feet into the woods past the tenth lamppost.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> That will have to do. He makes his way along until he can see the tenth lamp post, then turns and moves deeper into the woods.
<Darkling> A locked grate leading into what looks like a water outlet.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Hrm. A swipe of his keycard should do it...
<Darkling> A green light displays it is unlocked, followed by a click and the grate swinging open slightly.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He opens it the rest of the way and makes his way in, pulling the grate shut behind him. He takes a moment to consult the map again, then starts moving.
<Darkling> Three hundred feet forward and there should be a ladder leading down to another passage. That one should lead into the base.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> The map gets tucked away and he picks up the pace.
<Darkling> Everything is where it should be, and before long you're at the door leading into the base. Here's where it gets fun.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He has the map back out, tracing his steps tot he door he's now outside of.
<Darkling> Well, good thing to sort out now would be: where did you want to go?
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Information on Rasia is first and most important. Likely locations with that information would be...
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He traces a finger along the map, reading over names and notes of the various locations.
<Darkling> A few possible locations... Medical, science, security, Lit's base office.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Lit's office would be a good place to start. He takes a moment to memorize the path there...then an alternate route.
<Darkling> You need to go up one level. At this time of night there won't be many people or guards at least.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He opens the door, peering out into the hallway.
<Darkling> Empty.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He slips into the hallway, gently closing the door behind him. He turns and starts down the hall, eyes and ears sharp for guards.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He manages to make it to Lit's office without confrontations or encounters, only a close call. Perhaps the vent system was a better option next time he had to do this.
<Darkling> The dorr is locked, requiring key card access again.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He gives his card a swipe.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> The fake ID anyway...you know.
<Darkling> Your source seems superb at his job, the door opens.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> An actual surprise this evening. He hadn't expected it to work. He enters the office, peering around.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He didn't want to linger.
<Darkling> Not much to his office, a cot on one end, a desk with a computer, multiple monitors, a few picture frames.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A moment to look at the pictures then. He isn't in -that- big of a hurry. You never know what you could learn.
<Darkling> Lit and Rasia in one. She looks annoyed to have posed.
<Darkling> A few people in another, with a bit slimmer looking Lit, it must be old. Another one, a small village from the looks of it, no snow on the ground either.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A world without snow...
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He turns his attention to the mans desk, sitting in his seat.
<Darkling> The monitors flicker on, must have sensed his presence. Already logged in, what are the odds.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Moments like this made a mission beautiful. He sits forward and cracks his knuckles. Information on subject Rasia.
<Darkling> There's some personnel files open already, notes about each of the pilots, some latest entries, links to past information, all in a neat hierarchical system.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His curiosity gets the better of him, opening information on Rasia and himself. Lets see what Lit has, hm?
<Darkling> On Rasia, well it seems Lit has some extensive videos on her training regime, and some of the feats they were able to get her to perform over the years.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He produces his tablet...it would be going with him everywhere from now on...and connects it to the computer. He'd need these videos for later review. Might as well watch one while they load.
<Darkling> Intuitive Combat Session One sounds interesting.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Yes, yes it does.
<Darkling> Files start copying over as it plays.
<Rasia> The video's from a fixed camera. A few of them, actually, on multi-screen. One displays Rasia being released into a dim maze, blindfold torn away. The black suit she's wearing fluoresces under the lights. Others depict other subjects being released at different places and times, all wearing the same garb. A tense start, as they stalk and explore the corridors.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sits back, elbow on the arm of the chair and chin in hand.
<Rasia> Well. At least one can assume it's Rasia, anyway. Several years younger and smaller, but she's got that white hair already. Shouting, as two subjects encounter one another. Erratic, vicious fighting styles. If this is a training exercise, it's certainly a bloody one. It takes another ten minutes for Rasia to find prey of her own, and almost immediately the fight turns against her.
<Rasia> The tablet's speakers crackle as her arm is destroyed, twisted back on itself so far she could tickle her own elbow. If such a thing were even possible, the grapple gets uglier from there. Rasia bites an ear, her foe, another female, pummels her stomach. It's a long seventy-six seconds until there's a clear winner by strangulation. Whether the girl is dead or not, the camera doesn't focus on her long enough to say.
<Rasia> The whole exercise lasts upwards of an hour, Rasia's worthless arm exploited ruthlessly by two other combatants until she gets the bright idea to tie her arm to herself. By the end of the ordeal, she's bleeding from cuts and gashes, and by her limp she's probably broken her ankle as well.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He shuts off the video and sits in silence, staring at the computer screen.
<Rasia> Her screams were different.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He could still hear them.
<Darkling> A beep on the tablet registers that the files are done copying.
<Rasia> Is that why #1 didn't investigate any further? Couldn't stomach it?
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He finishes it off with the rest of the files Lit keeps on Rasia. Progress reports, medical reports and behavior charts.
<Darkling> Those copy over much faster and it signals when it is done.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> With a good chunk of information on Rasia now secured, he wanted to see what Lit had on him.
<Darkling> Nothing so extensive. You recognize some of the files even. Doctored up papers on his origins and family. Again similar files to Rasia's about his behavior, progress report, and a very lacking medical file.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Good. He closes it down, making it sure to leave it the way he found it.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Time to leave. He'll return for more information from other divisions after what he has is stored properly.