[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

[image description: Maes in full suit and helmet trails behind Charon's animatronic bird as it searches through for paranormal activity.]

 
 

Charon deploys the bird before the group gets moving, its mechanical flutters quick as it flaps ahead of everyone.

The hallways through the Stasis section are the same as ever, the mood feeling far more dour than the cleanup efforts in the cells. Maes can't help but have a nasty grimace.

The dog's loud steps and clattering tail kept things from getting too quiet, Charon more than raring to go.

MAES: ...Intake's layout.

 

Maes swallows.

MAES: ...Devil's Advocacy had a system for candidates that- it was-
ROSETTA: Culling the rejects.

 

Rosetta's voice is dull, hollow.

MAES: ...yes.
CHARON: Mm... how much has it been cleared out since then?
CHARON: I recall hearing mentions of machines.
MAES: Not enough.

 

Maes sighs.

MAES: Intake alone is the size of a warehouse, and the titan-class kill floor alone would take weeks to deconstruct and fully scour the area.
MAES: Everything is entirely powered down, but...
CHARON: Still a hazard to wander through I imagine.
CHARON: And a bad reminder.
ROSETTA: Understatement.

 

Rosetta's tail thumps.

JESTER: The smell of rot alone-
MAES: It...never really left.

 

Jester wrung his hands.

JESTER: It's definitely worn down, but...
JESTER: ...I'd hate to think the ghost lives in there, all alone...
CHARON: It won't have to for long if all goes well.
MAES: ...we can hope.
MAES: The majority of Intake is open floor, visible enough from most places, but again- we have no power.
MAES: The kit Synna gave you should have a flashlight-

 

He tapped it, tucked away in his cloak.

CHARON: I got it ready.
CHARON: Should I bring out the proxy now?
MAES: Mm. Best to familiarize them.
CHARON: Scoot back-

 

Before he could finish, the light bristle of Mar's dress filled the room.

MAR: Hello..

 

Maes' tone softens.

MAES: Mar.
MAES: You'll do well with this.
CHARON: Of course..
CHARON: I've been filled in on everything of course.
CHARON: We can pass details around even when not around directly. Shared memories.
MAES: Useful...
MAES: Right.
MAES: ....There are four kill floors we have to worry about, in varying sizes.
MAES: All four take up the same amount area, but are based on size class.
MAES: The small-class kill floor has more individual stations, whereas the titan-class takes up the full size with one assembly line.
MAES: Depending on wherever this thing is hiding, we'll either have to be around larger machinery, or pick through tighter quarters.

 

The proxy audibly shuffled.

MAR: Didn't consider the possibility of a large ghost..
JESTER: ...if it's titan class...

 

Jester sucked in air.

JESTER: Bad.
JESTER: Very bad.
MAES: Did it seem that big?
JESTER: Nnnnno, but- not...small-sounding.
CHARON: How big are we talking?

 

The dog poke around through his pockets.

MAES: Rosetta's a large class, so is Smith.
MAES: Titans are the class above that.
JESTER: ...were.
MAES: Were.
CHARON: ...I'll be able to bail us out.
CHARON: Not sure how much more than that.
ROSETTA: If it's a titan, we're fucked.

 

Rosetta puts it plainly.

ROSETTA: They were the first to go in the final cull, for obvious reasons.
ROSETTA: ...Not that there were all that many left.
JESTER:...the only remaining ones were old.

 

Jester's voice is soft.

JESTER: Old...doesn't work out for us.
CHARON: I don't believe in unwinnable situations.