Back to the Lab (ID)

[DanteMGalileo]

"Okay, is that a 2 or a 3? They look almost the same to me..."

Although William's pep had remained, that pep did not translate into knowledge of this world's numbers. The question seemed to be directed at both Lydia and Ryan. "Look at me, talking to a voice in my head... Y'know, though I could never get used to this, this isn't quite as bad as you make it out to be, Perce."

"That's because this Lydia person you're talking to, a, actually seems to be offering helpful advice, and b, probably can't take your body for an unauthorized joyride," Percy responded. His sword was drawn, and he seemed very alert. "It's going quite smoothly, all things considered. I don't like this."

"Yeah, things going smoothly isn't normal for us, but I'm not complaining!" William brushed off the brunette's concern. "For once, things are actually going according to plan instead of going to hell!"

"I'm afraid you just jinxed us."

Yep, you totally just jinxed us.

From a rooftop, a purple cat-like creature watched the group. Seeing the blonde seemingly talk to himself, Mara put a paw below her chin. Unless the blonde buffoon suddenly developed schizophrenia, then this is exactly what I think it is. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, the cat demon followed them, keeping her eerie green gaze upon them.

At the back of the group, Percy frowned. "... Alright. I'm gonna trust you on this one." Closing his eyes, his consciousness slipped away into himself, as another rose to the top. Red markings appeared, and when he opened his eyes again, they were red. Imago scowled deeper.

[Pink Moon Wolf]

"Yeah, that's a 3. I guess they do look pretty similar," Lydia responded, studying her monitor intently as William looked around at the city block they were walking down. "42nd will be the next street over, then I'm pretty sure it's a right from there. Uh, look to your left... Is that...? Yeah, you'll take a right."

For the time being, Lydia had docked Proteus II in William's thoracic cavity. When she wasn't watching the screen, she fiddled with the radio, still trying in vain to get a signal from mission control. She had little to offer throughout the trip to the lab outside of conversation, after all, but she mostly didn't speak unless she was directly addressed. The last thing William needed was a chatterbox in his head.

She... tactfully opted not to respond to Percy's observations on the influence she had over William. Or her host's observations on the ease of the situation. Instead, Lydia took a quick look out her window and mumbled to herself just loudly enough for Will to hear through her headset, "Sheesh, is that what my liver looks like...?"

Shaking off that uncomfortable train of thought, Lydia spoke up at a more appropriate volume, "So I'm not sure how exactly we're gonna get you guys past security. I'm hoping it'll be enough if you tell them that I sent you."

[ColArana]

Ryan was paying close attention to the layout of the area. "Okay... so.... I'm pretty sure we're close. That was 37th, so we must be really close. 42nd and Saturn, was it right? Yeah, must be just a little further then if we follow this street." He suggested, as he tried to move on down the way. "So yeah, that was a three." He added to William. "You're learning pretty quickly!" He complimented.

Ryan was trying not to talk much about the voice in Will's head, but it was difficult. At the notion of the group being jinxed however...

"Jinxed us? I mean.... Unless we get lost it should be fine, right? It's not like anyone's after us is it?" Ryan naively inquired.

[DanteMGalileo]

"Listen, human," Imago said, his voice overlapping Percy's. "You're so disgustingly naive. Nothing is simple when my vessel and the blonde buffoon get involved." He pointed the sword he carried up. "There's something following us. I can sense it. Why do you think the vessel let me out?"

"... Hi, Imago." William's tone was deadpan at the demon's arrival. "... Yes, he does this a lot..." He mumbled. He returned to looking at Ryan. "Hey, thanks... Shame my brother's not here. He'd be great at getting us past security. Oh well, that's life..."

Imago glared upward. Mara, in response, raised a paw as if waving hi. Hello, Sir Imago. Nice skin you've got there.

"Uh, Imago, what're you glaring a-"

Before William could finish that statement, the red-eyed demon jumped up, landing on assorted rubble, before landing on the rooftop. "... I'm not going after him. So, uh... only a few more blocks 'til the 42nd, yeah?"

[Pink Moon Wolf]

"Oh, good to know..." Lydia muttered, soaking in what Will was seeing. After Imago's departure, she warily continued, "Uh... Should we be concerned? I'm no demonologist, and I know you just said he does this a lot, but I get the feeling he may be onto something when he says we're being watched. Or... maybe I'm just on edge from all this bullsh*t..."

She took a deep breath. "Well, whatever. Lab's just right down this street. Maybe he'll watch our back the rest of the way..."

[ColArana]

Ryan did a stutter step. By which, I mean there was a very abrupt break in the rhythm of his walk cycle as Imago spoke up, which he tried to ineffectively cover up. "I uhh.... assume you're the aforementioned demon that Percy was saying lived in his head." Ryan determined. "How exactly did that happen?"

Then he actually paid attention to what Imago said.

"But what do you mean we're being followed? Why would anyone be follow--" And then Imago was gone in a flash, to the rooftops. Ryan looked at William in puzzlement. "Does he... usually do that?" He inquired. "Ah, you're right. We're almost there!" He added, breaking into a jog. Ryan was a little unsettled by Imago's claim that someone was following them. He was... well. Hopefully they'd make it with no problems, right? After all.... there wasn't anything to be afraid of....

Right?

[DanteMGalileo]

"I'll... fetch him once we've gotten Lydia out..." William shook his head, trying to remember their current objective. "Cripes..."

It wasn't too long before the numbers on the signs changed. "Is that a 4? Unless you guys use a different number system than us, I'm gonna guess that's a 4? ... I swear, I'll show you what my writing system looks like when we get ya outta there..." He began whistling, and some of his pep had returned. "So, uh, question? Is it a covert or clandestine faculty?"

---

Several blocks away, Imago jumped from rooftop to rooftop. "All right, I know you're there! Show yourself, cretin! I'd love to present Queen Malebolge with your filthy head!"

Dead silence answered him.

[Pink Moon Wolf]

"If you say so..." Lydia wasn't about to argue. William knew Percy and his demon better than she did. If he didn't feel inclined to got after Imago, then she'd just have to trust him. Whatever go her back to normal faster.

There was a rather genuine chuckle after William offered to share his universe's script. "That sounds interesting, actually." Then there was a snort. "You know 'covert' and 'clandestine' are basically synonyms, right? Well, in any case, Mexus is pretty public when they wanna be. Need-to-know basis, if you catch my drift. They've made a lot of the island's flashier tech, but they also have a ton of projects that they keep under the radar. I'm honestly worried how they'll react to your knowledge of the miniaturization program... but hey, not like it's your fault you got mixed up in it."

[ColArana]

"And here we are." Ryan stopped at the street corner. "We travelled down Saturn to 42nd... Is this the place Will?" He asked, taking a look at the nearest building. It didn't look like anything special from the outside. He looked around the fence protecting the property and tried to open the gate, carefully.

"It doesn't look too special..." Oh thank goodness. If Will was just crazy then there was no weird conspiracy plot. Wait. Why would there even be a conspiracy plot even if Will wasn't crazy. Ryan ran a hand through his hair. "Geeze.... Day's barely gotten rolling and it's already wearing on me. Alright, are we ready to check this place out then?" He offered. Even if the gate was locked, they could probably hop the fence, right?

[DanteMGalileo]

"Uh... Is this the place, Lydia?"

William stopped in front of the fence, crossing his arms. "So... how do we get in?" He pressed a hand against the fence. "I doubt we'll be able to jump it, what with the barbed wire on top." With a sigh, a dark blue blade handle appeared in his hand, a glowing blue scimitar-like blade appearing shortly after. "You think they'd mind if I cut this thing open? Or do any of you have any other ideas?"

[Pink Moon Wolf]

"Yeah, this is the place..." Lydia responded, nodding at the building on her monitor. She didn't speak up about it, but the sight of the locked gate didn't sit right in her gut. If she remembered correctly, Joe was on security duty today. Even on days when Mexus carried out their most important work, Joe wasn't one to lock the gate...

"Uh, maybe put the sword away, pal..." Lydia grunted awkwardly as she flipped a few switches. "I think I can get us in there. Go stand by the gate's lock. Don't touch it, just stand next to it."

As William did as she instructed, Lydia muttered to herself, "Breaking and entering my own workplace. Guess it was only a matter of time. Okay, good, right there. Gonna see if I can hit it with my electromagnetic booster."

Upon activating the booster, the automated lock keeping the gate shut immediately let out a loud, static hum, the door rattling from the electrical impulses. A mere second later, sparks jumped from the lock with a loud crackle and a click.

Somewhere inside the facility, an alarm was gong off.

Lydia hastily switched off the booster, staring nervously at her screen. "Okay, I think that did it..."

[ColArana]

Ryan stood patiently outside as William started to draw out a sword. "You can use magic too? That sword looks amazing dude!" He exclaimed giddily like a child at Christmas. The barbed wire wouldn't have been a problem for Ryan, he could have dragged William over the fen-- well actually if it came right down to it, Ryan might have collapsed the damn thing climbing over it with his stupid new weight.

But before he needed to do that, William did something. Apparently. Because there was a loud click and the gate seemed to short circuit, and Ryan felt a strange feeling. His metal parts seemed to tingle for a moment. Just a moment though, as he was far enough away from William, compared to the door that it didn't cause his own mechanisms any issues.

"Shit, was that you!?" Then he heard the alarm. "Because if so, I hope you have a plan. Well umm... let's head on in then?" He pondered as he tried to push the gate open, and head toward the facility. "Sooner we work out what's up with you the better."

[DanteMGalileo]

"Oh, uh, no, that wasn't me. I'm gonna guess Lydia did somethin' in me..." William shrugged at the display and the subsequent door opening. "As for the sword, that's about the only bit of magic I can do without losing control..."

He took a few steps forward, picking up the alarm. "Hey, uh... Are you sure this is safe? Usually alarms mean stay the fuck outta there or run for your lives..."

A shadow creeped along the opposite end of the building, a dragon-cat creature. Well, well, well, it thought. My little mice made it here. Looks like Sir Imago is still on that wild goose chase, too.

[Pink Moon Wolf]

"Just stick to the plan, alright?" Lydia insisted, confident but at least somewhat empathetic. "Don't show aggression and tell 'em that Lydia Pendleton sent ya. If you plead your case, I'm completely certain they'll know exactly what you're talking about."

Soon enough, several security guards poured out of the building and pointed their guns at the two men standing outside the shorted gate. One of them quickly made his voice heard. "FREEZE! You two! Down on the ground, hands in the air!"

"Hi, Joe."

[ColArana]

"Hey hey hey!" Ryan's hands were up, but he didn't go down to the ground. "It's fine, it's fine! My friend here's a bit confused and wandered in!" He exclaimed, quickly and in a panicked tone. Ryan wasn't big on confrontations, and had been a generally law abiding citizen until this point.

Dad finds out about this, I'm so frigging grounded. He bemoaned in his mind. "Will? Tell me the voice is telling you what to do here, and it's not "attack!" Ryan shot out at his companion.